Medford City (part 13 of 14)

The fact that tlie references are so few is a proof tliat Medford was an exceptionally quiet place, with few attractions to travellers. On this point a most competent critic^ writes as follows : - of any other, except Charlestown, in the bay, it is remarkable that the early histor}' is very meagre. From several statements of its proportion of the public chaiges in the colony rates, it must be concluded that it was, within the first eight years, superior in wealth at difierent times to Newbury, Ipswich, Hingham, Weymouth, all ancieut towns, furnished with regular minbters. 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 puf|X)ses. When tliat establishment was withdrawn, I suppose the town languished many years. Simon Bradstreet and James Noyes preached. Tlie cousecjuences of tlieir subsecjuent destitution of the best means of religion were very unhappy. The town was jxiorly inhabited, the {jeople much divided, occasionally prosecuted for their deficiencies, and 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, tVhitmore, Tufls, Francis, Bradshaw, Symmes, Boyall, Bkinchard, and Seccomb. Descendants of most of these still remain in the town or its vicinity. Boston luiving in this case, as in many others, drawn largely from its rural neighbors.

India H HUiorjf. - The renowned Sachem of the Pawtuckets was Nanepashemit, who removed from Lynn, in 1615, and took up his abode on Mystic Biver, where he was killed in 1619. During his short and eventful residence in Medford his house was placed on Bock Hill, where he could best watch canoes in the river.

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

" Remnants of the Indiaa tribes were common till the beginning of the present centwy. In Medford they lired in Turkey Swamp. So late eren as onr daj farmere in Medford hafe ploughed up stone arrow-heads, stone drills, and other Indian weapons and tools. No Indian necropolis has jet been disrovered, though one probably exists on the borders of our pond."

*' Some years ago Mr. Simms, the present superintendent of the Mystic Water- Works, called my attention to some human bones which he had discovered near the road leading from Curtis Street to the engine-house. On visiting the place and aiMkiug ali|Jtt

After the death of Naiiepashemit, his wife^ as queen and squaw sachem^ reigned. She married Webcow;it, the physician of the tribe, " its powvow, priest, witch, sorcerer, and chirurgeon/' In 1637 the Sqnaw Sachem deeded a tract of land in Musketaqnid (Concord). In 1639 she deeded a tract to Charlestown (now Somen^ille) ; also another tract to Jotliam Gibbon of Boston. This last deed is as follows : -

"This testifies that I, the Sachem which have right and possession of the ground which I reserved from. Charlestown and Cambridge, which lies against the Ponds of Misticke witli tlie said ponds, I do freely give to Jotliam Gibbon, his herres, executors, and assigns for ever ; not willing to have him or his disturbed in the said gift after my death. And. this I do without seeking too of him or any of his, but I receiving many kindnesses of them, and willing to acknowledge tlieir acantiont, we discoTered tLe skeletons of an adult and of an inCiDt within a few inrlies of the surface, the head, in each inttaace, turned toward the west

"it that time it was not suspected that they were Indian remtiiu, and not|iing more was thought of the matter until last Booth, when Mr. Simms again brought me a few bones aud a specimen of red ochre which had been dug up near the place vbere the skeletons had been previous!/ discovered.

"A new load has been constructed the present year, leading iDore directly from the reservoir on the top of College Hill to the Pniiping Works on the Mystic, aud at the junction of this with the 'OJd road the workmen engaged in making a sidewalk found eight or ten skeletons of adults, within a foot of the surface, the heads all^pkced toward the west The bones were for the most part quite fragile, only a few of the longest being strong enough to1>nr removal from the clayey soil in which they were cmbedded. The molar teeth were very much worn down, though otherwise in excdknt 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 cirmlar form.

''.Underneath the same skeleton was dug out a fine atone chisel, made of dark poqihyry, whose length is about six inches and its breadth aboat two inches on the cutting edge. This is presen-ed in tlie 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 Civorite war-paint of the Indians, would seem to iudicatc strongly that this is the necropolis of the .Mcdford Indians, whose riisteoce had been suspected, but could not be detcriniucd until these eicayatious for a highway hnd been made through it.

"Its location is on the northwest slope of College Hill, about midway between its summit aud the Mystic River, at the junction of the two roads leading from Curtis Street to the eugine-housc of the Mystic Water-Works. ** With great res]>eet I on

" The 15th of the 2d mo., J639 : Wee, Web- Cowet and Squa Sachem, do sell unto the inhabitants of the towne of Cliarlestowne all the land witliin the line granted them by the Court (excepting tlie farmes and the ground on the west of the two great poiids, called Misticke Ponds), from the south side of Mr. Xowell's lott, neere the upper end of the ponds, unto the little runnel that cometh from Capt. Cook^s mills, which the Sc^ua reserveth to their use, for her life, for the Lidians 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 Scjua Sachem, she doth leave all \vtx lands, from Mr. Mayhue's house to neere Salem, to the present Governor, Mr. John Winthrop, sen., Mr. Increase Nowell, Mr. John Willson, Mr. Edward Gibons, to dispose of, and all Indians to depart ; and, for sattisfaction from Cliarlestowne, 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.

" 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 iK)ssessed and improved by Thomas 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 Mr. Cooke, on the north formerly in the possession of ^Ir. Increase Nowell.

'' This demand and claim was made in the person of Joiui FcnncU and Mr. William Sims, the 25th of March, 1662, at the house of Thomas Gleison.

Sagunon Johu, whose Indian name was Wonohaqualiam, lived in Medfonl, aud probably occupied at times the house of his Esther. He was friendly to our ancestors; he gave them permission to settle, and afterwards apprised tliem of the premeditated assault of the unfriendly Indians. He died in Medford, December 5, 1633.

"The testimony of Benjamin Crispe, aged about 51 years. Testifieth and saith that about twentysix years agoe, Sqoa Sachem told mee often times, dut shee had given unto Jotliam Gibbons 500 acres or more of land, lying neer the broolce, that now goes by tlie Name of Capt. Cooke's hrookc, which said Land has a house built upon [it] long since, and part of the said Land fensed in ; and fiii&er this Depomnt saith that Major Gibbons possened the whole Land, for his sonne Jotham. Gibbons about 26 years agoe, and farther this Deponent saith ttiat M^ajor Gibbons would linve had mee improove this Land tliat now is in contcoversie for his sonne, Jotliam Gibbons, and sent by his men unto mee to fence in the said Land, and tins was about the time above ^id. Gharls-towne', 17, 10, 166S.

"The testimony of Richard Beers, Benjamin Crispe and Garret Church, Testifieth and saith that Mr. Thomas &fnyhew lived at/MisMck aliat Meadford in the yeare, one thousand six hundred thirty and six. Charls-Towne the l/th of the 10th, 1662.

"l, lliomas Convars, do further testify that I WIS sent to those GenUemen for a resignation of this load now in controversie add do other. Chaiislowne, 17, 10, '62.

"I, Joseph Hills, aged about 60 yeares, testify that about 1638, Ur. Davison livpd at Meadford house, who shewed me the accomodations of the fiirme, being about to take the said farmc and stock of him and Captaine 'Will. Ting ; and I testify that Ur. Mayhew did not then dwell at Meadford house to the best of my Knowledge. 17, 10, 1663.

Tlie old two-story brick house ia East Medford, on Ship Street, is one of tin most precious relics of antiquity in Xew England. Tliat it was built by Mr. Cradock soon after the arrival of bis comiuny of carpenters, fishermen, and fanners, is abundantly proved. It lias been called the Fort and the Garrison House, because its wnlLi were so thick, and because it liad close outside shutters and port-holes. It is certainly well pbccd for a house of defence. It is on Lind slightly elevated, where no higher land or rocks could be used by enemies to assail it, and is so near tlie river as to allow of reinforcements &om Boston. Its walls are eighteen inches thick. There were heavy iron bars across the two hirge arched windows, which are near the ground, in tlie bock of the lu>use; and there are several fire-pr&of closets within tlie building. Tlie house stood In an open field for a century and a half, and could be approached only by a private road throitgli gates. ' As tlie outside door was cased with iron, it is certain tliat it was intended to be fire-proof. TIwr was one pane of glass, set in iron, placed iii the back wall of tlic western chimney, so .u tor a^r^a sight of persons coming from the town.

" The bricks ar« not English bricks either in size, color, or workmanship. . Tliey are from eight to eight and ^ lialf inches long, from four to four and a quarter incbe.s widfi^ and from two and a quarter to two and three quarters iiiclies thick. They have the cqlor of the bricks made afterwards in East Kfedford. They are hastily made, but very well burned. They are not like the Euglish bricks of the Old South Church in Boston. The house has undergone few changes. Mr. Francis Sliedd, who bought it about fifty years ago, found the east end so decayed and leaky tliat he took a part of it down and rebuilt it. There is a tradition tliat in early times Indians were discovered lurking around it for several days and nights, and tliat a skirmish took place between them and the white men ; but we have not been able to verify the (acts or fix the date.

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

laige. 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.

''Hie third house was built by Major Jonathan Wade, who died in 1689. It was sometimes called^ like the other 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. AVhen first built it was only half its present size; the addition was made by Benjamin Hall, Esq., about seventy-five years ago.*'

The Boyall House, so called from having once been occupied by Colonel Iloyall, 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 Engbnd. The deep fireplace where the blacks prepared their food is still there, and tlie 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 mth a pair of stout chimneys, rises above the pitched roof. The cornice and comers are reheved by ornamental wood-work, while the west face is panelled, and further decorated with fluted pilasters. On this side, too, the original windows ai^ seen.

"The Soyall House stood in the midst of grounds laid out in degant taste, and embellished with fruittrees and slirubbery. These grounds were sep- "^tcd from the highway by a low brick wall now demolished. The gateway oi)ening u])on the grand avenue was flanked by wooden jwsts. Farther to the right was the carriage-drive, on either side of ]*'hich stood massive stone gate-posts, as anticjne ^" appearance as anything about the old mansion. Seventy paces back from the road, along the broad Sravelled walk, bordered with box, brings you to ^e door.

"Behind the house, as we view it, was an endosed 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, with 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 i)anelled 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 enriched 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. Tlic 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.*'

Bni'ingniiihed Citizens, - The most noted citizen of Medford in the early part of the eighteenth centurv was undoubtedly John Usher. He* inherited considerable money from his father, and increased it liy successful business, first as a bookseller and afterwards in foreign trade. He was a counsellor under Dudley, and counsellor and treasurer under Andros. He was a son-in-law of that Samuel Allen, a London merchant, who bought out the claims of the ^[ason heirs to the proprietorship of New Hampshire. Usher was made lieutenant-governor there in 1092, and was thenceforward engaged in endless controversies with the settlers.

Office lenudns^ and quotations will be found in the fourth volume of Palfrey's history. This author writ^ : '' 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 bat for commonwealth government, which pray libera noi/ " 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 Masaachusetts 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 written to England for. He complains his office is a burden to him, and so His 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 Boyal, December 26, 1788, for £10,350.

He left a son, Bev. John Usher (H. C. 1719), a clei^grman at Bristol, B. I., whose son was also ordained, and descendants are still living in that state. An own cousin to Lieutenant-Governor Usher was Bobert Usher of Dunstable, who left descendants, one of whom, Robert, moved' to Medford, where he died in 1798. Of his sons, Bev. James M. Usher has been prominent in political affiiirs, as has also Boland 0. Usher of Lynn, late United States marshall for Massachusetts.

In 1724 Medford acquired as its pastor Bev. 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 opposed Whitefield and his revivals, but he also wrote against witchcraft. He married Jane, daughter of Bev. Benjamin Colman, and he printed biographies of his wife and his £ither-in-law. Mrs. Turell was one of our few American authoresses before the Bevolution, and she was perhaps the most able of them. Her memoirs show that she possessed a decided poetical inclination^ and her 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 Blackwoo(F9 Magazine, when any literary ability in an American was deemed a wonder. Both husband and wife may be included among oar notabilities.

'' Before her second Year was compleated she could s^jeak 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 Govemour Dudlev, with other Wise and Polite Gentlemen, liave plac'd her on a Table and setting round it ownM themselves diverted with her Stories. Before she was four Years o^ (so strong and tenacious was her Memory) she could^ say the greater Pdrt of the Assembly's Catechism, many of the Psalms, some hundred Lines of the best Poetry, read di$tinctly,.and make pertinent Bemarks on many things she read.

' 1 Pear the Great Eternal One above. The God of Grace the God of Love: He to whom Seraphims Hallelujah's sing, And Angeb do their Sougs and Praises bring. Happy the Soul that does in Heaven rest» Where with his Savior he is ever blest; With heavenly Joys and Rapture is possest. No Tho'ts but of his God inspire his Breast. Happy are they that walk in Wisdom Ways, That tread her Paths, and shine in all her Rays.'

" When I was first inclinM (by tlie Motions of God's Providence and Spirit) to seek her Acquaintance (which was about the Time she entered her nineteenth Year) I was surpriz'd and cliarmM to find her so accomplisliM. 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 manv of their best Tho'ts h^ own : And as she went into more free Conversation^ she discoursed how admirably on many Subjects !

' From the soft Shades, aud from the balmy Sweets Of Medford's flow'ry Tales, and g^reen Retreats, Your absent Delia to her Father sends And piays to see him 'ere tlte Summer ends.

* Nov whfle the Eartb's with beauteous Verdure dj'd . And Flora paints tlie Meads in all her Pride; While laden Trees Poinonia's Bounty own. And Ceres Treasures do the Fields adorn. From the thick Smokes, and noisj Town, O come. And in these Plains a while forget jour Home.'

**T1ie People, among whom she liv'd the last eight Years of her Life, both Old and Young had a Love and Veneration for her ; as a Person of the strictest Virtue and undefil'd Religion. Her Innocence, Modesty, Ingenuity, and Devotion charmM 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 Banks, to whom her Virtues were known ; Mourning, for the Loss sustained by ourselves, not for her, nor a9 otliers who have no Hope. For it i^ beybnd Doubt that she died in the Lord, and is Blessed.''

About 1737 Isaac Boyall returned from Antigua, where he had gained a fortune, and estab- U^ied himself at Medford. He died two years Inter, leaving a son, Isaac, and a daughtier, Penelope, who married Henry Vassall.

The son inherited a grand estate, and lived in tlie house ^till known by his name,^ in a style proportionate to his wealth and standnig. He was a representative fromCharlestown from 1743 to 1752, was chosen a councillor in 1752, 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 here. He always claimed that he left intending only to go to Antigua for his health. His property was, however, sequestrated, and he never returned, dying in London in 1781. He left three daughters, married respectively to Thomas Savel, Sir William Pej)perell, the younger, and George Erving, and through them has many descendants now in England. By his will he gave the town one hundred aci*es of land in Granby in aid of the schools. He also gave to Hansard College 2,000 acres in Granby and Boyalston, which gift was to endow a professorship of law^ physic, or anatomy, as might be deemed best. In 1815 tlie Boyall Professorsliip of Law was accordingly established.

The Boyall property in Medford was kept together, and it seems tliat in 1805 the legislatuie gave a deed of the land to Robert Fletcher of London, and 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 Medford had reason to be proud of the thcee sons of Peter Seecomb. These were Eev. 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 Faiher Abheif% IFilly often reprinted. Another son was £ev. 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 the following graduates are to be credited to Medford: Thomas, John^ Simon, Joshua, Simon, Cotton, Simon, and Cotton Tufts, Aaron Porter, Ebenezer Turell, Ammi C Cutter, William Whitmore, Samuel and Edward Brooks, William Symmes, Samuel Angier, David Osgood, John Bishop, and Ejrfiraim Hall. Since that date the list has greatly increased, and stili grows.

The most distinguished citizen bom in the town was John Brooks, governor of Massachusetts for seven vears from 1816 to 1823. He was bom in Medford in 1752, his family being one of the most numerous and prosi)erous 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 Beading, where he married, but abandoned his home at the beginning of the Bevolutionary War. He was in the fight follo\ring the battle of Lexington, and joined the anny: besieging Boston. He served throughout the war with great credit, arriving at the rank of colonel. Later he received tlie position t)f major-general in the state militia. Beturning to Medford when peace was declared, he attained a prominent place as a phy^ sicinn, whilst political honors were also freely bestowed upon him. The inscription upon his Hionumcnt 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 faitliful friend. Li his manners, he was a gentleman ; in morals.

pine; 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 Penys victory on Lake Erie.

Other branches of the Brooks family have produced notable men. Samuel Brooks (cousin to Caleb Brooks, father of fi^venior John) had sons, Thomas and Edward. The grandson of the former was Bev. Charles Brooks, who was bom 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 ac(][uired a lai^ fortune in commerce at Boston, but who retained alwavs 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 fiather of four clergymen, one of them being Bev. Phillips Brooks of Trinity Qiurch, Boston.

Maria (Gowfen) Brooks,^ called by Southey " the most impassioned and most imaginative of poetesses," was borh in Medford in 1797. At fourteen ahe married Mr. Brooks, a wealthy Boston merchant, who had interested himself in her education. Widowed in IS£3, she went to Cuba, which subsequently became her home, and where she died about 1845.

Her most important YcotVyZSphiel; or, The Bride ofSeveUy was published in 1835, 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 lier the name of Maria del Occidenie. Her son. Colonel Horace Brooks, U. S. A., entered West Point through the interest of Lafayette.

Bev. David Osgood, the successor of Mr. Turell, was an author of some note ; Brooks gives tlie titles of some twenty pamphlets published by him. - Bev. Convers Francis and his sister, Mrs. Lydia Ifaria Child, are both to be reckoned among our native authors, although the former happened to be bom in a neighboring town. Their fatlier was a Medford man, and the fsimily liad been here for several generations. Mrs. 'Child was bom at Medford in 1802. Her literarv career bej?an before she was twenty, Kohomoh\it\\\^, published in 1821, and The Reheh in 1822. The catalogue of her printed works is too lengthy for our space, not to men- tion contributions to newspapers, controversial essays, etc., which her busy pen lias produced. It is sufficient to say that she achieved success in fiction, biography, icsthetic literature, and what may be termed the literature of the kitchen; )xtx Frugal Uou9ewffe liaving had a prodigious sale. But the governing purpose to which much - we may say most - of Mrs. Cliild's literary life has been dedicated was the abolition of slavery, aiid in this cause her labors were unremitted until the day when emancipation became a fact assured by the logic of events. Her Appeal for Africans, printed in 1833, wai the first American antislavery book. From, that time this dominant motive may be traced in the long list of Mra. Child's publications. In 1841, ui conjunction with her husband, David Lee Child, of Boston, whom she married in 1828, she edited The Andilavery Standard, in New York. It should be no small gratification to one who is now '^ looking towards sunset,^' to know that emancipation acliieved was the legitimate result of persistent agitation and unwavering devotion to a cause by herself and others of a like life-purpose with herself. Mrs. Child now resides in Wayland.

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

We may ako recall the fact tliat Bev. John Fierpont, also an antislavery and temperance reformer, and a voluminous author, preached for seven years in Medford, and died here in 1866.

Several of tlie clei^ymen who liave been settled here for a time liave been emuieut as authors, but none perliaps are distinctively connected with our town. Bev. Edward B. Hall, who was bom here, spent nearly all his life in Providence, and most of liis writings are comiected with his {Kistorate there.

^ Son of Colonel Timothj Bigelow, of Worcester, and a lavjv of some note. He was born in 1767. and died in 1821. Mr. Bigelow served many terms in the 2i[assachusctts legisbture. His son, John P. Biirelow, was mayor of Boston ; his daoghtcr, Katberine, married Hon, Abbott Lawrence. - "Eo.

settlement Every settler was of necessity a soldier encamped in a hostile comitry. , Every generation had a war, and the martial spirit of New England has never flawed. As a little town, the Medford contingent was naturally joined to the troop of some neighbor. In 165$ the Medford men were allowed to join the Cambridge band instead of the Charlestown troop. It is greatly to be regretted tliat 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 quite numerous family. The writer was a niece of Bev. John Eliot, and may have hoped to obtain special favor through her influential relative.

''To the Hon. Simon Bradstreet, Esq., Governor, and the rest of the Honored Magistrates now ritting in Boston, The humble petition of Bachell Whitmore, wife of John Wliitmore. /'Whereas, your Petitioner's husband was impressed into the Countryes service against the Indian Enemy, and is now with Major Swayne at NewecliAwanick, and your Petitioner and her two children are very weake and ill, and unable to help ourselves and do any thing for our Relief and the rest of the family, as severall of the neighbors can and have informed your llonors. Doth therefore humbly request the favour from your Honors that her husband Jolm Wlritmore may be dismissed the present service, and that your Honors would plea§e 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.

Tliere was a company of militia in ^ledford before the Revolution ; and, when troublesome times came, they were ready for duty. It was the eiglith company in the first regiment of the first brigade of the third division. Scth 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 eame ont^" says the adjutant-general, ''on the 19th of April, 1775, and were in service $ve days, and were undoubtedly in the battles of Lex-' ington and Concord." The names of the men com^ posing the company on that memorable occasion are all recorded on the muster-roll ; and they were all Medford men, as follows : - other Medford men : Benjamin Floj'd, Jam^ Wvman, Jonah Cutler, John Smith, William Bucknam, and Jonas Bond. Tliey ser\'ed eight months in 1775 -76.

After the Revolution there was a company of militia in the to^m, which was disbanded in 1840. The ^ledford Light Infantry was organized as an independent cor])s in 1785, and resigned its charte^^. in 1828. The Brooks Phalanx lasted from 1841 to* 1810. Tlie 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 tliose who fel| in the war, and it bears the following names : Lieutenant-Colonel J. G, Chambers, Lieutenant William H. Burbank, Edward Gnstine, L. M.

Fletcher^ Frank A. Xeen, E. Sprague, D. T. Newcomb, D. Xolan, A. H. Stacy, D. JilcGillicuddy, a Harding, J. Stetson, J. M. Powers, C. W. Wil- Hs, F. Curtin, 'James Haley.

Ecclesiastical History

Tk 1699 the town engaged* the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge of Portsmouth as their minister. Before that time Rev. Benjamin Colroan 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 ixirishioners, 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 1722; and November 25, 1724, Rev. Ebenezer Turell was ordained. For fifty years Mr. Turell discharged his duties acceptably, receiving 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 flock 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. Tliose remaining were duly incorporated as the First Parisli of Medford, March 31, 1824. In 1826 Mr. Bigelow was obliged to leave from illhealth, and Februar}' 28, 1827, 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 1856. April 15, 1857, Bev. Tlieodore Tebbetts was installed, and to him succeeded Rev. Edward C. Towne, April 17, 1861. He remained until 1867 ; and March 3, 1869, Rev. Henry C. DeLong, the present pastor, was ordained.

as we have seen, in 1823, and its pastors have been the following : Rev. Aaron Warner, ordained Sejitember 1, 1824, di!lmissed October 2, 1832; Rev. Gordon Winslow, ordained June 12, 1833, dismissetl November 12, 1834; Rev. Levi Pratt, ordained August Iff, 1833> died August 9, 1837; Rev. A. R. Baker, ofdained April 25, 1838, dismissed September 20, 1848; Rev. E. P. Man-in, ordained February 25, 1852, dismissed November 8, 1865; Rev. James T. McCollum, ordained November 8, 1865, died November 25, 1874.

TAe Third CoiigrefaiioHal {TnnU4inan) Cknrekj called also the Mystic Church, was an offshoot of the Second 'Church. It was established Mav 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. Manning, ordained January 5, 1854, dismissed February 17, 1857; Rev. Elias Nason, ordained November 10, 1858, dismissed November 19, 1860; Rev. Edward P. Hooker, ordained Novembcr 13, 1861, dismis^ March 31, 1869; Rev. Solon 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 establishment of an Orthodox Church in West Medford drew much from both. The death of Mr. McCoUom 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 installed June 30, 1875. The Mystic Church building was enlarged, and re-dedicated January 12, 1876.

1828> .w]ien the first church was built. It was. rebuilt in 1845, mainly by the exertions of Be v. Mr. Pickering. The custom in this denomination of making annual changes in the preachers ])revents us from offering a list of those who have held this place. The present minister is Rev. T. C. Watkins.

The Baptists of Medford were without a church nntil July 7/1841, when a regular organization was effected. Tlie record of ministers is as follows : Bev. 6. W. Bosworth, settled September 8, 1841, resigned, 1845 ; Bev. B. C. Grafton, settled July,. 1845, resigned April, 1846; Bev. G. C. Danforth, settled August, 1847, resigned October, 1848; Bev. E. K. Fuller, settled April, 1849, resigned April 1, 1854; Bev. 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: Bev. T. E. Keely, settled September 9, 1856, dismissed July 31, 1857 ; Bev. G. M. Preston, settled 1858, dismissed June, 1S68.

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, 1868; dismissed May, 1870. . Bev. J. G. Bichardson was settled May, 1871; dismissed May, 1877. Bev. J. P. Abbott m-as settled December 19, 1877.

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

The first building, of wood, was consecrated yizy 11, 1850; the present stone edifice, built at the expense of Mrs. Gorham Brooks, and costing about 840,000, 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 81 1>000; and an endowment fund of 315,000 was raised by the jKirishioners. The church is steadily growing in strength and numbers.'

The : JFeBt Medfonl Congregational Church {Triuilarian), - 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) Church.

There have been but two pastors, the first being Bev. Edwin L. Jaggar (who resigned in 1874, owing to ill-health), and the present minister, Bev, Marshall M. Cutter. The church building is on Harvard Avenue, West Medford, 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 Jeffries Papers, published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. XXXII. pp. 816, 317.

Trade and Manv/ac/urea. - T^e only large branch of manufacturing ^rhicU ))a3 been carried on in Medford is that of ship-building. July 4, 1631, Governor Winthrop launched at Mystic a bark of some tliirty tons called The Blessing of the Bay. In the next two years the servants of Mr. Cradock built at least ttro vessels here, one being of two hundred tons' burthen. For the next century and a half vessels were built, oirned, and sailed from Iiece. As, for example, in the Boston Nam- Letter, June 9, 1707, we note, as entered inwards, sloop Callipatch, Francis Wliitmore, from Connecticut.

It was, however, after 1800 that this industry leceived its impetus, and Brooks records the names of Magoun, Turner, Lnpham, Sprague, JameSj

Fuller, Rogers, Stetson, Waterman, Ewell, Curtis, Foster, and Taylor as worthy " to be held in grateful remembmnce for many generations." From 1803 to 1854 there were built at Medfonl five hundred and thirteen vesseb, with a total of 232,206 tons, valued at 310,449,270. This industry, however, has passed away.

For many years the business of making bricks has been carried on here, and in the last census it figures as the 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 Medford crackers, established by Mr. Francis.

Source changes here: from History of the Town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from Its First Settlement in 1630 to 1855, by Brooks, Charles, published 1886; 6,955 words in this source stream.

Medford City

This society was organized April I, 1872. The chapel, corner of Bowers and Holton Streets, in which the society now worships, was erected in 18/3, and

The society has increased in numbers and strength along with the growth of the village, and is now enjoying a greater degree of prosperity than at any former period of its history.

The present officers of the church are : Rev. C. W. Wilder, pastor ; Nelson Taylor, William McLean, S. C. Johnson, Leonard Stearns, O. M. Winship, George Hatch, P. G. Scoboria, W. H. Beekman, and L. H. LoverinL;, trustees ; N. Taylor, W. McLean, S. C. Johnson, L. Stearns, O. M. Winship, G. Hatch, P. G. Scoboria, W. H. Beekman, R. Gilmour, M. W. Pierce, and J. F. Richardson, stewards ; S. C. Johnson, superintendent of Sunday school.

Catholic Church

The first public service of the Catholic Church was held in the Town Hall in 1849, and was conducted by Rev. Manassas P. Doherty. The attendance gathered from several of the neighboring towns. Services were held once a month, and the congregations were quite large. Confessions were heard in the old Wade House, standing where Small's Block is now located, and occupied by Eugene and Daniel Vaughan.

In 1864 Rev. John Ryan took charge of the Medford Church, and was a most earnest worker ; and under his administration the church on Salem Street was erected, and the first service held on Christmas, 1855. This church was then in Medford ; but the land on which it stands is now, by Act of the Legislature, a part of Maiden.

Catholic Church History Of Med Ford

March 24, 1876, the Catholics purchased the church of the Trinitarian Society on High Street, and at Easter of the same year held their first service ; Rev. Mr. Gleason superintending the church on Salem Street, and also the new one on High Street.

In 1883 the church on High Street became a separate parish, and the Rev. Richard Donelly became the pastor, and at this time (1886) occupies that position ; and the society is prospering under his faithful pastoral care.

to the provisions, prescribed in an Act to regulate fire-departments, passed on the gth of April, 1839; ar>d the said fire-department when so established, and the several members thereof, and all the officers and companies appointed by them, and the said town of Medford, and the inhabitants thereof, shall be subject to all the duties and liabilities, and be entitled to all the privileges and exemptions, specified in said Act, so far as the same relate to them respectively."

The rules and regulations were drawn up, and the ninth section provided that the act establishing the fire-department should not take effect until it was "accepted and approved by the inhabitants of the town." It was approved by the town, and the present fire-department organized in due form.

Nov. 6, 1850: The town voted that large cisterns should be sunk in the ground in various parts of the town, and be filled with water, to be used only in case of fire.

In 1840 was published a pamphlet, entitled "State Laws and Town Ordinances respecting the Fire-Department of the Town of Medford." It contained the Act of the General Court of April 9, 1839; also the Act of April 17, 1837, "to prevent bonfires, and false alarms of fire;" als^o "extracts from the Revised Statutes, chapter 18;" also "an ordinance for preventing and extinguishing fires, and establishing a fire-department in the town of Medford, passed by the board of engineers, April 25, 1840;" also further "extracts from the Revised Statutes, chapter 58." "Approved by the town, April 29, 1840."

The ordinance passed by the board of engineers had the approval of every well-disposed citizen in Medford. A brief abstract is as follows: -

Fines for carrying fire openly in the streets, from two dollars to twenty dollars; for allowing to remain any defective chimney, deposit of ashes, etc., five dollars to twenty dollars ; chimney set on fire at improper times, two dollars. Engineers shall remove combustible materials where dangerously placed. The engineers shall choose a chief engineer and officers, control the engines, and make all clue regulations; engineers shall repair to the place of lire immediately, and take all the steps necessary to extinguish the fire and secure property. There shall be hook, ladder, hose, sail, and engine carriages. The chief engineer shall have full command, and make an annual report to the town. No one shall be a member of the firedepartment under eighteen years of age ; nor under twenty-one, unless by request of parents. First Tuesday of May, each company shall choose officers. Duties of several officers specified. Engines, after a fire, shall be cleaned; and, once in two months, the companies exercised. Duties of firemen, to protect life and save property. Badges to be worn. Disobedient members dismissed. Duties of citizens who are present at a fire. Officers of a company may be discharged. When buildings, not on fire, shall be demolished. The ordinance closes with the folloxving twenty-first section: "The members of the several companies shall not assemble in the houses intrusted to their care, except for the purpose of taking the engine or apparatus on the alarm of fire, or for drill and exercise, and of returning the same to the house, and taking the necessary care of said apparatus after its return."

Any citizen of Medford, whose memory goes back thirty years, will call to mind the volunteer fire-associations of that time. They were composed largely of the active young men of the town, some forty or fifty being usually attached to each engine. The members were willing to serve without pay, and were held together by a lively esprit dc corps, and a thorough love for the service. There were three engine-companies in the town, - the " Gov. Brooks," the " Gen. Jackson," and the "Washington," - these being the names given to the excellent hand-engines belonging to the town. A strong but good-natured rivalry existed between the companies : each felt bound to maintain the superiority of its own " machine," and every fire witnessed a friendly contest between them. It was a happy day for any company when it had succeeded in " wasJdng " the tub of its rival.

In 1862 the town purchased a steam fire-engine. The volunteer associations were disbanded, the old machines sold, and the fire-department was put on a more compact and effective footing. The members have ever since been paid, including the hose-companies, whose apparatus is kept in buildings conveniently located in different parts of the town.

In 1880 the town erected a large engine-house at the corner of Main and South Streets. The building is of brick, substantially built, and of handsome architectural proportions. The basement affords convenient accommodations for the steam fire-engine, the hook-and-ladder carriage, and a hose-carriage, with the draught-horses used in the service. The tower is utilized for the storage of hose, and the upper rooms of the building are appropriated to the use of the fire-companies.

The following table shows the names of all those who have been engineers in the Medford Fire-Department, and the years in which they served : -

History Of Medford Board Of Health

Medford elected a Board of Health, for the first time, in 1872. Up to that time the selectmen performed the duties that now devolve on those officers. Under the laws of the Commonwealth, they have the entire charge of the sanitary interests of the town. Their names, with the years they have served, are as follows : -

Water-Supply

The question of water-supply was agitated in the town of Medford as early as 1866, but no action of a decisive character was taken until three years later ; yet the feeling in this direction was so strong, that it resulted in securing an Act of the Legislature in 1867, incorporating the Spot Pond Water Company, made up of three gentlemen from each of the three towns of Maiden, Melrose, and Medford, with the end in view of saving the pond for the use in those towns, if within any reasonable time they should desire, as municipalities, to utilize its waters ; the right being reserved to the three towns, in the Act of Incorporation, to purchase the franchise and corporate property. The members of the corporation representing the town of Medford were James O. Curtis, Charles V. Bemis, and Benjamin F. Hayes.

In March, '1869, the town appointed E. Boynton, jun., Elizur Wright, R. P. Hallowell, F. E. Foster, and Henry L. Stearns, as a committee on the matter of a watersupply for the town, from the Mystic Water-works. In September of the same year, they made the following report: -

Report Of Committee

That, while the article under which we were appointed contemplated the introduction of water from the Mystic Works, they have taken the liberty to investigate also the feasibility, and comparative 'cost, of supplying the town from Spot Pond, in conjunction with Maiden and Melrose. The committee, through its chairman, waited upon the chairman of the Mystic Water-works, and learned of him that contracts had been made with Chelsea, Somerville, and Boston, based upon the following agreement, with slight alterations : viz., The towns and cities supplied are to lay and maintain all the pipes, stopgates, meters, hydrants, and every thing connected with the distribution of the water, and guarantee the City of Charlestown, free from any expenses for repairs, for three years, paying twenty-eight dollars for each three hundred and fifty inhabitants, as compensation for such number of hydrants as they may see fit to introduce.

Water-rates are to be charged the same as now fixed in Charlestown, with the privilege of raising them above Charlestown rates in certain contingencies ; Charlestown to collect the water-rents, and to pay to these towns and cities fifteen per cent on amounts less than $20,000, and from $20,000 to $30,000 twenty per cent, less the amount of charge for hydrants and other incidental expenses. At the last annual town-meeting, it was voted to accept the Act to authorize the town of Medford to procure a supply of water ; which Act simply authorized Charlestown to supply Med'ford with water, upon such terms as might be agreed upon between said city and town, and therefore conferred no special privileges upon the town. Hence, in negotiating with Charlestown, we should be placed on the same footing as the other purchasing towns and cities; and the chairman of the [Charlestown] Water Board stated, that, if any arrangement were made, it would conform in general terms to the contract made with Somerville. The cost of laying the pipes would, of course, be the same, whether we took the water from Charlestown or Spot Pond, inasmuch as the quantity and size of the pipe would be the same in either case. In reference to taking the water from Spot Pond, the following facts should be stated : -

The pond, when full, covers 296 acres, and has a water-shed of about 1,100 acres; the level is 143.53 feet above Medford marsh, or high tide.

The average daily supply of water for 217 days was, in 1838, 1,800.000 gallons; the minimum, 1,600.000 gallons; and the maximum, 2,900,000 gallons. At present the right to take the water is vested in the " Spot Pond Water Company," composed of three persons from each of the towns of Maiden, Medford, and Melrose, incorporated in 1867; the Act being found in chap. 208 of the Acts and Resolves of that year. In this Act, sect. 8 provides " that the towns of Melrose, Maiden, and Medford, or any two of them in case the remaining town declines to participate in said purchase, may at any time within fifteen years from the time this Act takes effect, purchase the franchise of said corporation, and all its corporate property, by paying for all expenditures, and ten per cent interest." Under this Act, it is understood that no expenditure has been made, and therefore nothing will have to be paid, by the to\vns. Maiden has already voted to purchase the franchise, and Melrose will undoubtedly concur ; so that it becomes necessary that Medford take action also in concurrence, in order to reserve the rights she now has in the Act above-named.

From Mr. Norman, an eminent hydraulic engineer and contractor, we have the following estimates of cost of pipes, hydrants, and cut-offs, laid for a distance of eight miles through our streets, but not including cost of rock excavation: viz., 4.000 feet 12-inch pipe, 5,000 feet lo-inch, 3,000 feet 8-inch, 15,000 feet 6-inch, 20,000 feet 4-inch, all to be of cement, with sheet-iron basis, at not exceeding $65,000. In addition to this, the town would have to pay its fair proportion for an enlarged main pipe from the outlet to our line near Maiden, which would be about $6,000, and also our equitable proportion of any damages to property, whether of mill-owners or others.

ist, That if the town should vote to take water from Charlestown, we should be obliged to expend from $75,000 to $100,000, and receive scarcely any thing, as the fifteen per cent on our water-rents would but little more than pay for the use of hydrants.

2d, That if water is taken from Spot Pond, the cost will not be greatly above that of taking it from Charlestown, and the town will receive all the water-rents.

3d, That if the town should vote to purchase the franchise of the Spot-Pond Corporation, it does not oblige us to proceed at once to introduce the water; but, after the main-pipes are laid to Maiden, we should be expected to pay our equitable proportion of their increased size.

4th, That there is danger that, unless the town takes some action in reference to this matter at once, we may lose the privilege of obtaining it from either Spot Pond or Charlestown, at some future time, when the necessities of the town would require it.

5th, The expense to the town of introducing water would not be less than $75,000, and might reach $100,000, provided we should lay nine or ten miles of pipe.

ist, That a committee of seven be appointed to make careful examination in reference to the wants of the town in regard to water, and obtain definite propositions from responsible contractors as to the cost of introducing it, to be submitted to the town at the town meeting in November next.

2d, That the town unite with the towns of Maiden and Melrose, or either of them, in purchasing the franchise of the Spot-Pond Water Company, under the provisions of the eighth section of chap. 208 of the Acts of 1867.

At this same meeting, Messrs. D. A. Gleason, B. F. Hayes, and D. W. Wilcox were appointed a Board of Water Commissioners, and they were authorized to purchase the franchise of the Spot-Pond Water Company, in connection with Maiden and Melrose.or either of them. They were also instructed "to contract for the construction of all works necessary for the introduction of a supply of pure water trom Spot Pond into Medford, and for conducting the same throughout such streets as in their judgment may be expedient, or as they may be hereafter directed by the town. In January, 1870, the Commissioners made a partial report to the town, stating that they had purchased the franchise of the Water Company, at a total expense of $741, Medford's share being $247 ; and that it was the opinion of the majority of the Board that an independent route, by way of Forest Street, was for the best interests of the town.

Messrs. Shedd & Sawyer, civil engineers, were employed to make a general survey ; and they made an extended report to the town at that time. In April of the same year, Mr. Wilcox resigned from the Board, and Mr. James O. Curtis was elected for the balance of the term. On May 24, 1870, a contract was made between B. F. Hayes, J. O. Curtis, and D. A. Gleason, in behalf of the town, and George H. Norman.

About eighteen miles of pipe were laid under the original contract. In the spring of that year it was voted, "that the town issue, and hereby authorizes and directs the issue, of its notes, scrip, or certificates of debt, in form required by law, to an amount not exceeding one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, payable twenty years from the date of issue, and bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually."

The water was first let on to the pipes for the use of the town in the fall of 1870, and was supplied by way of Maiden, through the Salem-street main. This gave a supply to only a portion of the town ; but, in the spring of 1871, the Forest-street main was finished, and the whole town was supplied with water through our independent main, direct from the pond.

New mains have been laid from year to year, until, in February, 1884, there were thirty-four miles and eight hundred and ninety-one feet of mains. Through' these water is supplied to one hundred and fifty-eight hydrants, twelve hundred and forty-four houses, forty-one stores, twenty-two manufactories, one hundred and forty-nine stables, six churches, eleven school-houses, three enginehouses, and four drinking-fountains.

In 1878 a sinking-fund was started by the town, towardsthe payment of the water-debt ; and in February, 1886, there was on hand, for that purpose, $59,097.44.

The present board of water-commissioners consists of Messrs. D. A. Gleason, F. E. Foster, and W. B. Thomas. Mr. R. W. Go\v, the present superintendent, has been connected with the works since 1871.

Burying-Grounds

The places used by the first settlers of Medford for the burial of the dead are not positively known. Whether from unwillingness to follow England's example, in providing expensive and well-secured graveyards, or from their inability to do so, we cannot say ; but the fact is clear, that such provisions for the dead were not made. The oldest gravestones in the present graveyard, near Gravelly Bridge, were brought from England, and are remarkable for their width, thickness, and weight. The oldest bears the date of 1691.

March 20, 1705: "Put to vote, whether the selectmen shall discourse Mr. Dudley Wade, referring to the proposals made this meeting by Stephen Willis, jun., in said Wade's behalf, respecting the burying-place in Medford, and make return thereof to the town at the next town-meeting. Voted in the affirmative."

It does not appear what this proposition was, or what action the town had upon it. Probably it was a proposal to sell the town some land for a place of burial ; and we presume it was accepted, because, May 15, 1717, we find the following record : -

" Put to vote, whether the town will choose a committee, to join with the selectmen, to view some land offered by Mr. Aaron Cleavland and John Willis, for the enlargement of the burying-place near Mistick Bridge ; and bring in a report to the town of the same, at the next town-meeting, both of the price of said land, and the convenience of the same lor the use aforesaid."

This passed in the affirmative ; and the selectmen, Capt. Tufts, Deacon Willis, Deacon Whitmore, Ensign Francis, Capt. Brooks, and Ensign Hall, were appointed the committee to plan the enlargement proposed. The committee reported June 10 of the next month, when the town passed the following vote : -

"May 12, 1718: "Put to vote, whether the burying-place, some time -past bought of Mr. Aaron Cleavland, be continued in said Cleavland's hands, as to the herbage, until the town give further order; and. when the town see cause to fence it, it shall be fenced at the town's proper cost; and whether that, forthwith, a board fence be erected at the front of the land, with a gate and lock. Voted in the affirmative."

This vote would lead us to infer that the enclosure was ill cared for ; and the need of new fences is learned from the vote of Nov. 26, 1733, which was as follows: "Voted to have the front of the burying-place fenced in." At the same meeting, they directed '-' that the fence should be made of good cedar posts, white-pine boards, with handsome double gates, colored red." We apprehend that extraordinary care was not fashionable. One might infer that the "front" only was secured by a fence. From that day to the beginning of the present century, it was not unusual to let these precious, and we may add sacred, spots be exposed to the visits of vagrant animals.

The "Old Burying Ground," as it was called, being near the most populous part of Medford, was better defended by walls than was common in many towns ; yet we remember the wall on its east side, as low, broken, and insufficient.

March 5, 1739: It is, for the first time, proposed to build tombs ; and the north side of the graveyard is designated as the most proper place. None were built until many years later.

The town passed the following vote, May 11, 1786: "Voted to give liberty to any person to build a tomb in the burying-ground." This custom of burying the dead in tombs grew so fast and strong that almost every family had a tomb, or part of one. This prevented the erection of gravestones, and thereby deprived posterity of all the knowledge derived from these authentic records. It was the custom, in the earlier times, for a family to choose the spot in the burying-ground where they would gather their dead ; and for others to invade this spot was considered an outrage on social rights and Christian feelings. In the old burying-ground, there are many remains of this ar- rangement ; and we trust that no sacrilegious hand will now be laid on these sacred relics. In the south-west corner of that ground, the slaves are buried; but no monumental stones were raised. Are there as many gravestones now standing within the old burying-ground as were there fifty years ago ? We think not. Where are they? Can the mouths of the tombs answer?

There were six tombs built in 1/67 by private gentlemen. Benjamin Floyd was the builder. They are those nearest the front gate, on its western side, and are under the sidewalk of the street. The bricks of which they are built were made in the yard west of Rock Hill. The common price of a tomb was then one hundred and two dollars.

Though many new tombs had been built, and some little additional space secured in the old burying-ground, still there was need of further accommodations for burial ; and the town therefore voted, May 11, 1812, to request the selectmen to consider what further provisions could be made. This led to the appointment of a committee in May, 1813. A new burying-place seemed to be necessary, and the committee so reported. No definite action was had until May, 1816, when another committee reported, that the land which the town had purchased in Cross Street, near Mr. Turner's ship-yard, for the position of an alms-house, had better be used as a burying-ground. The town acceded ; and then ordered that the land be laid out in lots, that a proper fence be built around it, and that trees be planted in such number and order as to make the enclosure appear as such a place should.

March 7, 1853 : Voted to remove the pound on Cross Street, and extend the burial-ground to the line of said street, and build thereon a suitable iron fence, with stone basement.

The next movement for another burying-ground was March 6, 1837, when the town passed the following: " Voted that the article relative to purchasing land for a burial-ground, in the easterly part of the town, be indefinitely postponed."

For many years the eastern wall of the old buryingground was broken and insufficient. The attention of the Hon. Peter C. Brooks was directed to the subject in 1846 ; the consequence was an offer of five hundred dollars from that gentleman to the to\vn, for the purpose of building a granite wall along the whole eastern front of the ground. The town accepted the offer, and voted thanks, Nov. 8, 1847. There was a strip of land, twenty feet or more, added here to the old limits ; and the new granite wall encloses it. This strip was laid out in lots, and sold at auction Aug. 3, 1848.

The establishment of the cemetery of Mount Auburn had created in this neighborhood a strong preference for such burial-places ; and Medford resolved to have one. The following vote was passed, Nov. 13, 1848: "Voted that the subject-matter of the fifth article in the warrant, relative to procuring additional land for burial purposes, be referred to a committee of five, to examine locations, obtain prices, etc., and to report at the next March meeting.

Nov. 12, 1849: The committee reported it expedient to buy ten and a half acres of land, at fifty dollars per acre, of Leonard Bucknam. The town concurred, and empowered the committee to make the purchase.

March 4, 1850: "Voted to choose a committee to lay out and otherwise improve said new burying-ground." Also voted to expend five hundred dollars accordingly.

After further examination of this land, the 'committee recommended an abandonment of the above plan ; and, March 10, 1851, the town voted to build an alms-house on said land.

July 19, 1852: The subject came before the town ; and Messrs. George W. Porter, Robert L. Ells, Paul Curtis, John B. Hatch, and Sanford B. Perry were chosen a committee "to purchase land for a cemetery." These gentlemen examined several spots, and finally recommended one owned by Mr. Edward Brooks, situated nearly opposite the head of Purchase Street, in West Medford, and containing twelve acres. It had a varied surface of hill, valley, and plain ; was well covered with young oaks and beautiful forest-trees; its soil was dry, and not liable to injury from rain ; the absence of ledges made digging easy ; and its retired and accessible position rendered it peculiarly fit for such a sacred appropriation. The committee obtained the consent of the owner to sell, and the price was five thousand dollars. They recommended the purchase; and the town accepted and adopted their report, Aug. 16, 1852. Thus an extensive and beautiful cemetery was secured to future generations.

History Of Bedford

The committee declined further service ; and Messrs. Sanford B. Perry, Paul Curtis, Edmund T. Hastings, George T. Goodwin, and James R. Turner were chosen to attend to all further business connected with the subject. March 7, 1853, the town instructed the committee to build a receiving-tomb, to lay out roads and paths, to erect fences, and make such improvements as they saw fit.

Oct. 13, 1853: The committee made their first report. They recommended that the cemetery be called OAK GROVE CEMETERY. Among the rules and regulations were the following: -

"The cemetery shall be under the care of the selectmen, who shall appoint a superintendent. Any citizen, who may become the owner of a lot, must submit to the conditions. Fences appropriate to the place may be built to enclose lots. No lot can be used for any purpose except the burial of the dead. No tree shall be cut down without the consent of the Cemetery Committee. Any funeral monument or structure may be erected, except a tomb. Trees, shrubs, and flowers may be planted and cultivated. Any improper structure or offensive inscription shall be removed by the committee. No tomb shall be built within the cemetery, except by special vote of the town. No burials for hire. No disinterment, except by permission.

- The town-clerk shall be clerk of the Cemetery Committee. All deeds shall be executed in behalf of the town. The lots shall be appraised, numbered, and recorded, and the right of choice sold at public auction. Lots may afterwards be sold by the selectmen. Duplicate keys of the gates and receiving-tomb shall be kept by the officers. No dead body shall remain in the receiving-tomb, during warm weather, more than twenty days. No grave for any person, over twelve years of age, shall be less than five feet deep. All burials in the free public lot shall be in the order directed by the committee. No body shall be disinterred without permission of the committee. No carriage shall be admitted within the grounds, unless by permission, or when accompanied by the owner of a lot. No refreshments, smoking, unseemly noise, discharge of fire-arms, or disorderly conduct, allowed. Vehicle's admitted must be driven no faster than a walk. All writing upon or defacing of structures, all breaking of trees or gathering of flowers, forbidden. No individual shall be the proprietor of more than two lots. The town of Medford will forever keep in good repair the fence, gates, carriage-ways, and footpaths of the cemetery, and make a secure place of burial for the dead, and an attractive resort for the living."

This brief abstract of the report of the committee shows the town anxious to make the most generous appropriations for this sacred and cherished object.

March 6, 1854: The town accepted and adopted the report of the committee appointed to direct the preparation of the cemetery for use. The items of their bill of costs

The place was solemnly consecrated by religious services, performed within the enclosure, Oct. 31, 1853; and then the lots were offered for sale at public auction. Thirtyone lots were sold on the first occasion for $634.50; and the highest price given for choice was $15, and the lowest $i. The highest price fixed upon the best lots was $20; and the lowest price for a lot, $5.

From this time constant improvements have been made on the grounds. Every year new lots have been sold, thus increasing the interest in the cemetery. The town has made liberal appropriations for beautifying and protecting the place. Lots were taken so freely that the question as to enlarging the grounds arose; and in March, 1873, the town passed the following vote: -

"Voted that the Cemetery Committee be authorized to see Mr. Edward Brooks, and ascertain the price of the land lying south of the cemetery, and report at the next town meeting."

'-Voted that the proper committee be authorized to purchase the land of Mr. Edward Brooks, adjoining the cemetery, at a price not exceeding $1,000 per acre."

History Of Med Ford

February, iSSo, it was placed in the hands of five trustees. The present board of trustees consists of James Bean, B. C. Leonard, Japhet Sherman, Henry Burridge, and John P. Perry.

The Great Tornado

Medford long bore a sad testimony to the effects of the terrible tornado of Aug. 22, 1851. The tornado commenced about 5 o'clock, P.M., in Wayland, passed through Waltham and Arlington, and entered Medford a few rods south of "Wear Bridge." From this point it moved west by south to east by north, and kept this line till it ceased in Chelsea. Such extensive destruction of property from such a cause had never before been witnessed in this State. At a meeting of citizens, Aug. 28, 1851, the following votes were passed : -

'- Voted that the committee be instructed to consider the circumstances of the sufferers, and report cases (if any) where charity is deemed necessary.

" Voted that the committee be authorized to communicate with similar committees from other towns, in relation to the publication of the results of their investigations.

Report Of Committee Of Appraisement

Charles Rollins. -- Two dwelling-houses unfinished, which Mr. Rollins was building by contract, both entirely demolished, including, in one case, the cellar wall. One of these buildings was on the property belonging to T. P. Smith and others, $4,320; the other was for the Rev. Mr. Raskins, $1,450 . . 5,770

Rev. John Pierpont. - Buildings, $500; fruit-trees, Sroo . . 600 Heirs of Jonathan Brooks. - Buildings and fences, $677 ; fruittrees, $500; ornamental trees, 5200 ; fruit, vegetables, and

The other report of facts, in their relation to science, fills forty pages of a little pamphlet which was published Oct. 30, 1851, and which may be found among the papers of the Smithsonian Institute.

For the first two hundred years of our settlement, there were very few fires, and those few were mostly in the woods. The Indians had been used to clearing their planting-fields by the summary process of burning ; and they occasionally lighted a fire without regard to bounds or proprietorship.

Not more than one or two buildings were burned at the same time for many scores of years ; but during the last fifty years it has seemed as if former exemptions were to be cancelled by rapidly increasing alarms and widely extended conflagrations. Many worthy citizens have thus lost their barns at seasons when those barns were most full, and most needed.

The greatest and most distressing conflagration that ever occurred in Medford was on the night of the 2ist of November, 1850. It destroyed every building on Main Street and its neighborhood which stood between the bridge and South Street. The number, including dwelling-houses, workshops, and barns, was thirty-six. It commenced in the old tavern barn, at the north-west corner of the settlement, when the wind was blowing a gale from that quarter ; and it spread with such speed as to prevent all passage over the bridge from the north, where ten or fifteen engines were collected, waiting for the first opportunity for duty. There was but one engine in town north of the bridge, and but one bridge across the Mystic River. If, instead of a large barn, the first building burned had been a dwelling-house, or if the wind had been at any other point, the terrible destruction might have been stayed ; but, as every circumstance favored the spread of the flames, their progress seemed like lightning, and they appeared to leap with frantic fury from one building to another, as a starving man rushes to devour the first food within his reach. Before two o'clock the whole district was in ashes. It must have gone farther, had not engines from towns south of us arrived, and a few engines from the north been ferried across the river in scows. Nineteen engines were present, mostly from other towns ; and every fireman and citizen did his utmost.

the bridge, and who saw no way of going to the relief of their friends but by rushing through sheets of fire. If there be acute agony on earth, it is in witnessing calamities and pains which we have the wish, but not the power, to relieve.

The deprivations and exposures consequent upon such a catastrophe can better be imagined than described. Every heart and hand in Medford was ready to administer relief; and all was clone for the sufferers that an active sympathy could suggest. Before the first barn was consumed, couriers were sent to the neighboring towns ; and the firemen in each one answered with promptitude, and arrived in season to arrest the devastation. The amount of insurance on the buildings was in many cases small, and losses fell on those who could very ill afford them. $1,335 were immediately raised by subscription in Medford, and distributed by a committee to the greatest sufferers among the poor. To the honor of the sufferers, be it said, they met the waste of their property, the derangement of their business, and the suspension of their comforts, with firmness and patience. Before the ruins had ceased to smoulder, the sounds of shovel, hammer, and trowel announced the work of reconstruction ; and, before two years had passed, a new village, phcenix-like, had risen out of the ashes of the old.

The committee of investigation chosen to estimate the losses examined each case ; and their report was $36,000, after all insurances were deducted. About half of the property was insured.

In Medford, there were fewer " lands common " than in other towns. The making of fences was difficult at first, and the "pound" came early into use. It was placed so near a stream of water as to allow the cattle in it to drink. Where the first one in Medford was placed, we know not. The first record is as follows : -

" Feb. 25, 1684 : At a general meeting of the inhabitants, John Whitmore granted a piece of land for the use of the town, for the setting up of a pound ; which land lies on the south-east of John Whitmore's land, lying near John Bradshaw's house, and is bounded south on John Bradshaw, and east upon the country road. At the same meeting, the inhabitants agreed to set up a pound on the land aforesaid."

town's pound ; and said pound-keeper shall have, for pounding, twopence per head for horses and also neat cattle ; one penny for each hog ; and, fur sheep, after the rate of sixpence per score."

This answered all purposes until May 15, 1758, when the town voted to "build a new pound with stone." This was built accordingly, and placed on the west side of the " Woburn road," six or eight rods north of Jonathan Brooks's house, in West Medford. The walls of this pound were very high and strong, and bad boys thought they had a right to throw stones at the cattle there confined.

March 6, 1809: Mr. Isaac Brooks and others petitioned the town to have the pound removed. This petition was granted thus : "Voted to have the pound removed to the town's land near Gravelly Bridge, so called ; and said pound to be built of wood or stone, at the discretion of the committee." Trfere the pound remained only for a short time, when it was removed to Cross Street.

There were other pounds in town, and some of them remained until a recent date, and were in use. One was located in Back Street, afterwards named Union Street ; and still another, on the old Woburn road, on land of the late Jonathan Brooks. We have often seen cattle placed in pound for safe-keeping ; and sometimes, as we more than suspected, to gratify a feeling not altogether neighborly.

There is now but one pound in town, and that is seldom used. As the population increased, more attention wras given to the care of estates, and cattle were not allowed to run at large as in former times.

Local Diseases

That our Medford ancestors should have subjected themselves to the attack of some new diseases, or rather of old diseases in modified forms, is most probable. An early historian says of this region, " Men and women keep their complexions, but lose their teeth. The falling-off of their hair is occasioned by the coldness of the climate." He enumerates the diseases prevalent here in 1688: "Colds, fever and ague, pleurisies, dropsy, palsy, sciatica, cancers, worms." Consumption is not mentioned. We apprehend that the health of our fathers was unusually good. There .is scarcely mention of any epidemic. A new climate, poor food, scanty clothing, necessary exposure, hard work, unskilful physicians, may, in some cases, have caused desolating disease to do its rapid work of death ; but, as a general fact, health prevailed through the first fifty years.

1764: With reference to the prevalence of the smallpox in Medford, we find the following vote : " That a fence and gate be erected across the main country road, and a smokehouse also be erected near Medford great bridge, and another smokehouse at the West End, and guards be kept."

In 1755, a smokehouse was opened for the purification of those persons who had been exposed to the contagion of smallpox. It stood on the west side of Main Street, about forty rods south of Colonel Royal's house. Visitors from Charlestown were unceremoniously stopped and smoked.

1775 : During this and some following years, there was fatal sickness in Medford from dysentery. Out of fifty-six deaths in 1775, twenty-three were children. In 1776, there were thirty-three deaths; in 1777, nineteen; in 1778, thirty-seven ; and in 1779, thirteen. No reason is given for these differences in numbers. Out of the thirty-seven deaths of 1778, eighteen were by dysentery, and twenty were children. Whooping-cough has, at certain times, been peculiarly destructive. Throat distemper, so called, is often named among prevalent causes of death. In 1795 ten children and three adults died of it between the 2Oth of August and the ist of November. Apoplexy seems to have destroyed very few lives. During the first fifteen years of Dr. Osgood's ministry, only one case occurred.

Oct. 15, 1778 : The town voted to procure a house for those patients who had the smallpox. No disease appeared to excite so quick and sharp an alarm as this. The early modes of treatment gave ample warrant for any fears. In 1792 the town voted that Mr. Josiah Symmes's house is the only one authorized as a hospital for inoculation.

The town has been visited by no epidemics of special severity since the time of these early records, and the statistics of mortality of the State show that Medford ranks as one of the healthiest towns of the Commonwealth. Under the supervision of our Board of Health, all cases of contagious disease are carefully isolated, and every precaution is taken to keep them within the narrowest limits.

Source changes here: from History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Ed, published 1890; 9,700 words in this source stream.

Medford City

From the beginning, Governor C'radock liad been an earnest and active friend of the new plantations, and had held wise and far-reaching views as to the means by which their prosperity could be secured. Some of his letters are extant, and furnish abundant proof of his enthusiastic devotion to the enterprise, at the same time giving us very favorable impressions of the character of the man. Writing to Endicott, in February, 1628, he says :

** We are very coutideut of your beat eodeiivors for the general good ; and we doubt not but Qod will in mercy give a blessing upon our lal>ors ; and we trust you will not be unmindful of the main end of our planta. tiou, by endeavoring to bring the Indians to the knowledge of the gospel, which that it may be speedier and better effected, the earnest desire of our whole company is, that you have diligent and watchful eye over jurown people; that they live unblamable and without reproof, and demean themselves justly and courteous towards the Indians, thereby to draw them to aflfect our persons, and consequentiy our religion ; as also to endeavor to get some of their children to train up to reading, and consequently to religion, while they are young ; herein, to young or old, to omit no good opportunity that may tend to bring them out of that woful state and condition they now ai'e in ; in which caae our predeces- Bors in this our land sometimes were, and, but for the mercy and goodueae of our good God, might have continued to this day ; but God, who out of the boundless ocean of his mercy bath showed pity and compassion to our land, he is all sufticient and can bring this to pass which we now desire in that country likewise. Only let us not be wanting on our parts, now wo are called to this work of the Lord ; neither, having put our hands to the plough, let us look back, but go on cheerfully, and depend upon God for a blessing upon our labors, who, by weak instruments, is able (if he see it good) to bring glorious things to pass.

" And now, minding to conclude this, I may not omit to put you in mind, however you seem to fear no enemies there, yet that you have a watchful eye for your own safety, and the safety of all those of our nation with you, and not to be too contident of the fidelity of the savages. It is an old proverb, yet as true, the burnt child dreada the fire. Our countrymen have suffered by their too much confidence iu Virginia. Let us by their harms learn to beware ; and as we are commanded to be innocent as doves, BO withal we are enjoined to be wise as serpents. The God of heaven and earth preserve and keep you from all foreign and inland enemies, and bless and prosper this plantation to the enlargement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, to whose merciful protection I commend you and all your associates there, known or unknown. And so, till my ne.\t, which shall he (God willing) by our ships, who 1 make account will be ready to set sail from hence about the 20th of this next month of March, I end, and rest."

" Above all, we pray you be careful there be none in our precincts permitted to do any injury (in the least kind) to the heathen people; and if any offend in that way, let them receive due correction. If any of the savages pretend right of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you endeavor to purchase their title, that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion."

The importance of the service which Governor Cradock rendered to the infant plantations is recognized in the" First Letterof the Governor and Deputy of the New England Company for a Plantation in Massachusetts Bay, to the Governor and Council for Loudon's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay, in

'* We pray you give all good accommodation to our present governor, Mr. Mathew Cradock, who, with some particular brethren of the company, have deeply engaged themselves in their private adventures in these ships, and those to come ; and as wo hold these men, that thus deeply adventure in their private, to be (under God) special instruments for the advancing and strengthening of the plantation, which is done by them without any charge to the company's general stock, wherein, notwithstanding, they are as deep or deeper engaged than any other.

"We have sent six shipwrights, of whom Robert Moulton is chief. These men's entertainment is very chargeable to us ; and by agreement it is to be borne two.thirds at the charge of the general company, and the other one-third is to be borne by Mr. Cradock, our Governor, and his associates interested in the private stock. We hope you will be careful to see theui so employed as may countervail the charge, desiring you to agree with Mr. Sharp that their labor may be employed two-thirds for the general company, and one-third for Mr. Cradock and his associates, praying you to accommodate said Mr. Cradock's people in all fitting manner, as he doth well deserve.

" Our Governor, Mr. Cradock, hath entertained [paid the expenses of] two gardeners, one of which he is conteut the company shall have use of, if need be."

It is probable that Mr. Cradock's people at once engaged in the fisheries, building, farming, and in such other employments as furthered the interests for which the settlement was established. Their patron kept a watchful eye over their welfiire. In the first year of their settlement he provided a man, Richard Waterman, "whose chief employment," he writes, " will be to get you good venison." Cradock's operations were not confined to Medford. He had an establishment also at Marblehead, where he employed " Mr. Allerton and many fishermen." As early as 1632, his agent, Mr. Davison, built a vessel of one hundred tons on the Mystic ; and the next year, one of two hundred tons. Davison, in 1638, under the authority of the General Court, built the first bridge over the Mystic River, a short distance from the site of the present substantial stone structure known as the Cradock Bridge.

The General Court, March 4, 1634, made a grant of land to Cradock as follows: "All the ground, as well upland as meadow, lying and being betwixt the land of Mr. Nowell and Mr. Wilson on the east, and the partition betwixt Mistick bounds on the west, bounded with Mistick River on the south, and the rocks on the north." In 1635 the court ordered that " the land formerly granted to Mr. Cradock, merchant, shall extend one mile into the country from the river-side in all places." These grants of land covered almost the whole of the north side of the valley of the Mystic within the present boundaries of Medford, and comprised about two thousand acres.

This included all the territory of Medford in the earliest stage of its history. Wood, in his description of the Bay Settlements, written in 1634, thus speaks of Medford :

" Towards the northwest of this bay is a great creek, upon whose shore is situated the village of Medford, a very fertile and i)leasant place, and fit for more inhabitants than are yet in it."

"The next town is Mistick, which is three miles from Charlestown by land, 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 offish, the English resort hither to take them. On the west side of this river the Governor has a farm, where he keeps 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. The last year one was upon the stocks of a hundred tons ; that being finished, they are to build one twice her burden. Ships, without either ballast or loading, may float down the river, otherwise the oyster bank would hinder them which crosseth the chaunel."

While Mr. Cradock must in justice be considered as the founder of the town of Medford, it is doubtful whether his connection with the settlement enured to its ultimate advantage. His monopoly of the land kept out small proprietors, thus restricting the settlement of a permanent population, and after his death, which occured in 1644, the settlement lost whatever benefit it had received from his patrona ge. Mr. Savage, in his edition of Winthrop's Journal, says :

" of so (loiiriahing .a town as Medford, the settlement of which had been made aa early as that of any other, except Cbariestown, in the bay, it is remarliable that the early history is very meagre. From several statements of its proportion 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 and Weymouth, all ancient towns, , , . Yet the number of people was certainly small ; and the weight of the tax was probably borne by the property of Gov. Cradock, there invested for fishing and other purposes. When that establishment was withdrawn, the town languished many years."

With our present scanty information, we can only conjecture that the population of the infant settlement consisted in a very large part of Mr. Cradock's dependants and tenants, and so remained for some years after his death. In 16.52 the heirs of Cradock quitclaimed to Edward Collins " all :hat messuage, farm or plantation, called Medford, in New England," by them owned. In 1656, Collins sold 1600 acres of the land, together with the mansion and buildings to Richard Russell of Charlestown. Five years after, Russell sold the " mansion-house " with 1200 acres of land to Jonathan Wade. After the death of Russell, his heirs sold 350 acres to Peter Tufts.

These successive sales ot large portions of the Cradock estate indicate little more than a change of proprietorship, and show that the taste for land speculation is not a thing of rescent origin. It was not till after the middle of the seventeenth century that the lands of Medford were sold in smaller parcels and the town began to enter upon a natural and healthy growth.