Melrose City (part 1 of 2)

Melrose City

fELEOSE was incorporated May 3, 1 "^ jO, and is one of the youngest lit the towns in old Middlesex. It IS situated seven miles from -ton, directly north, on the hue of the Boston and Maine Eailroad, on which it has three depots, - Wyoming, Jlelrose, and the Highlands, or Stoneham ; from the last of which a horses with the town of Stoneham, two Previous to its incorporation most of the territory now Melrose was known as North Maiden; a small portion, now forming tiie northwestern corner of the town, being set otf from the eastern part of Stoneham, March 15, 1853. It was named after Melrose, Scotland, at the suggestion of Mr. William Bogle, havnig, it is said, great similarity in its natural features with the renowned seat of Melrose Abbey.

Melrose contains a superficial area of about 2,900 square acres, 2,7;iO of which are taxable. It is two and one eighth miles in length, and has an average width of two miles. It is bounded on the north by Wakefield, on the east by Saugus, on the south by Maiden, and on the west by Stoneham and a corner of Medford. It has four villages : Wyoming, at the south part of the town ; tiie Centre ; the Highlands, at the north ; and Norrisville, in the northeastern part. Its surface is charmhigly diversified with hill, valley, pond, and stream. From the summits of a number of its elevations - particularly Boston Rock in the south, Barrett's Mount in the centre, and West Rock, or Vinton Hill, in the north - extensive views of the surrounding country and of the ocean may be had. L Pond, situated in the centre of the town, so named from its shape, contains about thirty acres, and upon its borders are many of the finest residences. This pond received its name as early as 1638, nine years after the settlement of Charlestown, in whose records it is then mentioned ; and it was so called in manv other earlv documents.

It is often spelled "Ell," an undoubted misapprehension from its sound. It has recently been stocked with black bass and alewives by a fishing association under the protection of state law. Long Pond, in the eastern portion of the town, part of which is in Melrose and part in Saugus, is the source of the Saugus River. This and Swain's Pond, in the southeastern part of the town, were named as early as 1660, being then referred to in the Charlestown records. Dix, formerly Little, Pond, near the centre, is small, but it is the legendary pond of Melrose, rumor giving it a fathomless bottom from time immemorial.

L Pond and Spot Pond brooks, outlets of tiieir respective ponds, are the only streams, and both unite a little below Wyoming, and run into tlie Maiden River, an affluent of the Mystic.

Melrose was once a part of Charlestown. Early differences concerning boundaries were settled by the General Court, which passed several orders relating to the domain now Maiden and Melrose. July 2, 1633, Mystic Side, now ilalden, was granted to Charlestown, wiien it was ordered that the "grounde lyeing betwixte the North Ryv'^ and thecreeke on the north side of M' Mauacks (Maverick's) and soe vpp into tiie country, shall belong to the inhabitants of Ciiarleton." " Up into the country'^ not proving sufficiently definite, anotlier order was passed, March 3, 1636, as follows : " That Charles Town bounds shall run eight myles into the country from their meeting-howse, if noe other bounds intercept"; and the Charlestown records of 1638 say that, "the Gen" Court had setled theire Bounds, by granting eight miles from the old Meeting-house into the Contry Northwest Northrly." At about this time some of the inhabitants of Charlestown crossed over aud settled on the north side of the Mystic River, and Thomas Coitmore had built a mill near Jlount Prospect, or Waite's Mount, as early as 1640. May 11, 1649, Mystic Side -was set off from Charlestown by the Geueral Court, with this brief act of incor- poration : " In answer to the peticon of seuU inhabitants of Misticke side, tlieir request is granted, viz., to be a distinct tonne of themselves, & the name thereof to be Maulden," - thirty words in all : the act of the same General Court, ilay 3, 1850, two hundred years afterwards, incorporating Maiden's fair daughter, Melrose, contains seven sections, with six hundred and forty-eight words.

Wiien Maiden was incorporated nearly all of its territory above the settlement, a tract of 2,300 acres of undivided land, covering what was afterwards North Maiden, now Melrose, was a dense forest " full of stately timber," and " indeed generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilderness." In time it came to be known as the "common lands," or "the commons," becoming valuable as woodland and pasturage ; and various votes were passed by the town for its preservation and utility. The Maiden Records, March ii6, 1694, contain the report of a committee " to run lines between the Common and proprietors' lands, as follows : Run y' bounds Round Reedy pond y' bounds are first a great buttenwood tree before Joseph Lines dore - and so bounded Round with seuerall trees marked with letter C next common." November 20, of the same year, it was " Voted, That y' common shall bs divided : bottom and top, yt is, land and wood " ; and. six days afterwards, a committee of tliree, Major William Johnson, Captain John Brown, and Captain John Smith, reported to the town the manner in whicli it should be done, giving to every freeholder in the town a proportion 'according to his ratable estate. A committee of seven was then appointed to proceed with the division, and it was ordered that they " employ an artis to lay out the lots." Every lot was to " run 82 poles in liMigth," and there was to be allowed " two poles in breadlli between every name to be written distinctly, and ye lots be well shutHed togetiier, and (me man chose by the town to draw them out of a bag. Tiie first name drawn to have the first lot." Tiiis division was tiius made in 1695, when seventy-four freeholders, then in Maiden, received their respective allotments.

are among our citizens to-day. There are some of the old homesteads now standing, portions of which are at least two hundred years old ; such is the case with the Jabez and Jonathan Lynde houses on Washington Street, and the Joseph Lynde house on Main Street, near Maiden line. The Lyndes once owned nearly all of the southern part of Melrose, and several of the old homesteads are still occupied by members of this numerous family. They are all descendants of Ensign Tiiomas Lynde, who settled in Maiden very soon after its incorporation in 164.9, and who was the eldest son of Thomas, who came from England, settled in Charlestown, and became a freeman in 1634.

Li the " Possesion of Richard Sprague in Charltowne limites," in the Charlestown land records of 1638 the twelfth item is, " Sixtie acres of land by estimation, more or lesse, scituate in pond fielde, bounded on the one side by Ralph Sprague, on the northeast by ell pond and the river that conies through the meadow into Ell pond, and on the northwest by the coihon." Richard Sprague was one of the three brothers, Ralph, Richard, and William, who came to Charlestown in 1629. The Spragues of Melrose are descendants of Ralph, the oldest of the three. His son John early settled in Maiden, and his son Phineas came to what is now Melrose about the year 1700. A grandson of this Phineas, also named Phineas, was the Revolutionary patriot of whom many interesting anecdotes have been told. His farm was on the plain, and his homestead on Foster Street, where now stands the residence of Mr. Liberty Bigelow. He kept a diary, and his account of the ever-memorable Dark Day is worthy of record.

"Friday May the 19th 1780. - This day was the most Remarkable day that ever my eyes beheld the air had bin full of smoak to an uncommon degree So that wee could scairce see a mountain at two miles distance for 3 or 4 days Past till this day after Noon the smoak all went off to tiie South at sunset a very black bank of a cloud appeared in the south and west the Nex morning cloudey and thundered in the west about ten oclock it began to Rain and grew yere dark and at 12 it was allmost as dark as Nite so that wee was obliged to lite onr candels and Eate our dinner by caiidel lite at Noon day but between 1 and 2 oclock it grew lite again but in the Evening the cloud caim over us again the moon was about the full it was the darkest Nite that ever was seen by us in the

The various families of Greens descended from Thomas Green, who settled in ilaldeu about tlie year 1651. He early owned a farm of sixtythree acres at the Highlands, which was exempted when the commons were divided, according to a vote passed in town-meeting May 18, 1694-, " that Samuel Green [son of Thomas] shall Injoy his hous and v' land v' staud:^ on and ^u nuich land about It as y' Commite shall se cause to lay to It " ; and the records, in referring to lot number Gi, say " part east against Eedduig Ehode and part on y^ west of y^ Greens farm." Portions of this same farm are in the possession of the descendants of Thomas Green to-day.

The Upham<, uf whom we still have many families, auscuRlal from John Upliani, who was admitted freeman in 1631, and settled in Maiden about the year 1650. His son. Lieutenant Phineas tJpham, took a prominent part in King Philip's AYar, being severely wounded at tlie battle of Narragansett Fort, December 19, 1675, from the effects of which wound he died the year follow-ing. Phineas, the grandson of Lieutenant Upham, was the first to come to Melrose, and settled on Upham Hill, where there are still living several families of descendants on the old homesteads, on one of which, that of George Upham, is still seen the oldfashioned well-sweep with its " iron-bound bucket." The Barretts are descendants of James Barrett, who settled in Charlestown in 1635, and who afterwards came to Maiden, where his son James was born in 1644. His son, Deacon Jonathan Barrett, rame to Melrose about the year 1705, and built iiis lionu-stead on Barrett Lane, now Porter Street. Captain Jonathan Barrett, a great-grandson of Deacon Jonathan, was the first manufacturer of shoes in Melrose, commencing at his iiomestead on Vinton Street, at what is now known as the Mountain House. Li " y' olden time" this locality was called The Village, where the jieople from different parts of the town used to congregate for social chat and pleasure. Cajjtain Barrett died ]N"ovember IS, 1831, and his funeral sermon, delivered in Maiden, November 35, 1821, on "the Lord's Day after the Interment," by Rev. Aaron Green, was published in a pamphlet. His shoe business was continued by the late Mr. George Emerson ; and in later years shoe-manufacturing has been quite an extensive branch of industry m Melrose.

Thomas and Beiioui Vinton, direct descendants of John Vinton, of Lynn, who came to this country not far from 164:3, settled in that part of Melrose called the Highlands, then a part of Stoneham, about the year 1742. Thomas left three sons, Thomas, Timothy, and Ezra, all of whom had farms at the Highlands ; the old homesteads are yet standing. These three brothers joined Captain Sprague's company of minute-men which iiiinrlicd from Stoneham, to Lexington when the ricxolutionary alarm was sounded. During the latter part of the eighteenth century a number of other families came to Melrose, among them the Howards, the Emersons, Pratts, Grovers, Edmundses, Larrabees, Boardmans, Hemenways, Tainters, Goulds, Coxes, Eatons, and FuUers.i

At a session of the General Court held Septeui- | ber 10, 1653, a committee of three, Thomas Marshall, John Smith, and John Sprague, was " chosen to lay out the country high way between Reddinge and Winnesemett." This was the first and only road through Melrose for many years. The various bounds were given by the committee, beginning at Reading, until it reached Melrose, and then they say it is to run " along on the east side of Thomas Coytmores lott, by Ele Pond, in the old way, to Thomas Lynds land, then through the first field, and so by the field by his howse, from thence, on the old way, by Maldou meeting howse, through the stony broade in good grounde, and six or eight where need rec]uires." " The old way " here referred to means the old, crooked Indian path, or trail, in use before this date, winding hither and thither, going around this hill, shuiniing that swamp or bog, and over which the early traveller wended his way between Reading and Chelsea. On a plan of Maiden surveyed by Peter Tufts, Jr., of Medford, in 1795, the only roads laid down in what was then North Maiden are the main road, called the Reading road, and a Stoneham road, which leaves this near the corner of what are now Wyoming Avenue and Main Street, where stands the Masonic Hall. There is one essential change between the main road as laid out in 1653 and that on this plan; it then went to the right of Boston Rock, in going north from Maiden, and at the time the plan was made it passed to the left. The old-time residents of North Maiden had to wend their way down this old road to " middle-town " whenever they attended divine worship, or when they wished to vote on electiondays, or take part in any of the town-meetings. The present :\Iain Street was built in 1806. A short time previous to this, in 1798, a two-horse stage, the first public conveyance through Melrose, commenced running between Boston and Reading, driven by Mr. Parwell Brown ; and after the new road was built stage lines between Boston, Andover, and Haverhill were established, which .also carried the mails.

The first preaching service in wliat is now ]\Ielrose was in the year 1813, and was held in the little old district school-house which was situated near the corner of the old road, now Lebanon Street, and Ujiham Lane, now Upham Street, which led up to the hill on which lived so many of the LTphams. This school-house was the only one then in North Maiden. From these meetings the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1816, which continued to hold its services in this house until 1818, when a small meeting-house was builton the green at the junction of Main and Green streets. This was occupied until 1842, when it was removed, and a larger edifice built on the same spot, and dedicated November 30, of that year. In this the society worshipped until 1857, when it was sold, moved to the corner of Main and Essex streets, became Concert Hall, and was burned November 30, 1875, just thirty-three years from the day it was dedicated. The society then built the church now used by them on Main Street, which was dedicated April 1, 1857. Wright says in his HistoricalDiscourse, preached at ilalden on Thanksgiving Day, December 1, 1831, "Two individuals, formerly members of this church, are now successfully engaged in publishing the tidings of salvation to their fellowmen." This refers to Rev. Frederick Upham and Rev. Warren Emerson, both born in Melrose, and both still preaching, - the former in Fairhaven, Mass., and the latter in West Thompson, Conn. The present pastor of this church is Rev. Isaac H. Packard.

During the years just previous to 1828 serious troubles, " petty jealousies, and bitter animosities," had existed in this church ; certain members became displeased with the form of church government, and in that year events culminated in a division, a new church being formed, called the Protestant ^lethodist ; sometimes called the Reformed Methodist. This society bought the old district school-house, and moved it down to Main

Street, comer of Upham, where it was enlarged and dedicated in 1830. After repeated but unsuccessful attempts to reunite these two societies, the Protestant Methodists built a new edifice in 1841, removing the old church to the corner of Foster and Myrtle streets, where it became a tenement house, and was afterwards burned. On the 1st of January, 1856, this society was merged in the First Baptist Church, which continued to worship in this meeting-house until July, 1873, when it was sold to the Catholics, and moved away to give place to the present brick chapel, which was dedicated November 17, 1874. Eev. Robert F. Tolman is the present pastor.

The Orihodox Congregational Church was formed July 11, 1848. Its first meeting-house was built on Foster Street, and dedicated May 17, 1849. Previous to this services had been held in the house of Dr. Levi Gould, opposite the present Methodist Church. After that services were held at the house of Deacon Jonathan Cochrane, and then at the centre depot of the Boston and Maine Railroad. Their meeting-house was remodelled and enlarged in 1858, and destroyed by fire February 17, 1869. The present church edifice was dedicated October 26, 1870, and the Rev. Albert G. Bale, the present pastor, was settled December 3, 1868.

The Universalist Socieii/ vi3.s organized in 1849, and the meetings held in Academy Hall, then standing on Berwick Street, afterwards moved to Main Street, where it became Lyceum Hall, and was destroyed by fire August 21, 1870. The meeting-house on Essex Street now used by the society was built by them and dedicated in 1851. Rev. Charles A. Skinner is the present pastor.

Trinity Church {Episcopal) was formed May 20, 1857, its first service being held at the residence of Mr. Samuel Rice on Lake Avenue, afterwards in Waverley Hall. The present church, on Emerson Street, was erected and dedicated in 1859. Rev. Henry A. Metcalf is now the rector.

The Unitarian Congregational Church was organized July 17, 1867, and the church on Emerson Street was dedicated May 1, 1872. Rev. Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., is the present pastor.

The Catholic Church was formed in April, 1873. The society, having purchased the old Baptist Meeting-house, moved it to Dell Avenue, and commenced services therein in October of that year. Rev. Dennis J. O'Farrell is the present priest.

The only school in Melrose for many years was kept in the little unpainted district school-house, whose after history as a church has been traced. It was built in the year 1800, was twenty by twenty-five feet, and was situated on a knoll on the old road, now Lebanon Street, about a dozen rods south of Upham Street. In this old schoolhouse Robert Gerry, who died in Stoneham, April 1, 1873, in his ninetieth year, taught school during the winter season for twenty-four years in succession, commencing in 1803. Here the North Maldenites were taught to " Reed and wright and to Refmetick." The boys and girls of the west part of the town came " across lots," passing by the old Howard house, still standing on Main Street, and crossing L Pond Brook on a log. After this house was sold to the Protestant Methodists a new one was built on Upham Street, in 1828, by the schoolmaster, Robert Gerry, for the town of Maiden. This was burned in 1845, and the one built on its site was the only one owned by Melrose when incorporated ; in this was kept a primary, intermediate, and grammar school. This house was burned in April, 1874, and was succeeded by the present grammar-school structure. A high school was established in 1857, and the present high-school building, between Emerson Street and Lake Avenue, was built, and dedicated July 15, 1869. There are now seven school-houses, with sixteen schools. Value of buildings, $55,000, and of school property, §3,150.

When the Revolutionary War broke forth, and the alarum-note from Concord and Lexington sounded for men " to resist the minesteral troops," nearly every able-bodied man living in North Maiden joined the Maiden company, under the command of Captain Benjamin Blaney, which marched nnmediately for Concord ; a few joined the " alarm Hst" of about sixty men, mider Captain Nayler Hatch, which proceeded to Beacham's Point and threw up a fort. Captain Hatch's company remained at the fort during the day, and after returning to town at night a number of the men started for Concord, to join their comrades in battle. The names of those who took part in this contest, living in Melrose, were Sergeant Jabez Lynde, Nathan Eaton, Joseph Lynde, Jr., Ezra Howard, John Vinton, Benjamin Lynde, William Upham, Ezra Upham, John Grover, 3d, Unite Cox, Joseph Barrett, Jr., Phineas S])rague, John Grover, Jr.,

John Gould, Pliiueas Sprague, Joseph Lynde, and Jolin Pratt. The two Spragues were father and son; the father living on Foster Street and the son on Porter Street. Of the father, Wright says, in his discourse, he was " a most daring advocate of American rights. He was quite advanced in life at the breaking out of the war; but one of the individuals connected with Captain Hatch's company, mentioned as starting for Concord in the night, after having lain at Beacham's Point during the day. Mr. Sprague was very deaf; but his heart was as impervious to fear as his ears were to sound. And when the rest of his party were flying from the view of tiie enemy, he was seen upon a piece of rising ground swinging his liat, and shouting ' Victory ! ' "

The follow^ing receipt was given for bounty paid by Mr. Joseph Barrett, wlio was the grandfather of Mr. Artemas Barrett, from wliom this and other documents have been obtamed.

" Rec'' of ftp Joseph Barret the sum of Twelve Pounds Solid Coine in full of all Accompts, Debts Dues and Demands Against M' Josepli Lyonds or M' Josepli Barretts Class for Procuring a man for three years' service in the Army.

Some of the citizens of Nortli Maiden had been in the previous wars of the country, aiul others furnislied substitutes, and the following is the receipt of one of tliese substitutes.

"Received of Phinehas Sprague june'r eight Pounds lawful money it being for my going a Solger to forte Cumberland and I had a promes not of Six Pounds be fore

In the Civil War of 1861-65 Melrose has a noble record. Fort Sumter was fired upon April 13, 1861. The first call u])on Massachusetts for three months' troops was by telegram, April 15, wlien five citizens of Melrose responded, and four of tliem were in the fir.st battle of Hull Run. May 3, came the Pn-sideut's call for three years' men, and May 6, a town-meeting w.is held in Concert 'llall, at which it was voted, "That the Town of Melrose approprinlc the sum of 83,000 for the relief of the I'aniilies of the citizens of Melrose, now absent in the service of the United States, or who may hereafter volunteer into the service of the TTnitrd States, or the slate of Massachusetts. Also that above all other appropriations the sum of fifteen dollars per month be paid to those persons having families, and the sum of ten dollars per month to those who are single men, during their time of service in the war now pending."

As the Rebellion progressed many other meetings were held, and votes passed in aid of raising volunteers and other necessary matters. Two hundred and three of her citizens entered the service, and two commissioned officers and twenty-one enlisted men gave their lives to their country. This roll of " unreturning brave " is as follows : Lieutenant George Thomas Martin, Lieutenant George James Morse, William Francis Barry, Nathan H. Brand, Jonas Green Brown, Albert Waterston Crockett, Edmund Wallace Davis, Henry Franklin Fuller, Augustus Green, Martin Greene, James Roland Howard, William F. Krantz, Richard Lever, Benjamin Lyude, George Warren Lynde, William Henry Macey, Sidney Bradford Morse, Francis Peabody, George Elwyn Richardson, Thomas H. Stevens, John Eastman Stilphen, Jolin Parker Shelton, and Benjamin F. Wilde.

Since the close of the war others have died from diseases contracted while in the service, and liave gone hence to " the land of the hereafter" to meet their comrades and their God. Besides her own citizens, Melrose furnished for the various quotas two hundred and fifty-one men, making a total number of four hundred and fifty-four, which was a surplus of seventy-three men above the number called for by- the United States. She contributed $38,000 for war expenses, besides the various and multiplied amounts given by individuals for bounty and charitable objects during its continuance. According to its population and wealth, no town in the commonwealth did better service than Melrose during this attempt to disintegrate our nation. A full and detailed history of the action taken in this internecine war has been given in the 3Ielrose Memorial; The Ann ah of Melrose in ihe Great. Rebellion <./1861-65.

Through the instrumentality of this Rebellion the fearful evil of slavery was swept from our land. During the last century our own territory here in .Melrose was cursed by this traffic, as is witnessed by the following original document conveying two human .beings into bondage to Mr. Phineas Sprague, Jr.; the same person who afterwards hired the substitute for the French AVar, who served in the Revolution, and who wrote the account of the Dark lliv in 17S0.

" Know all men by these present that I Thomas Nickels of Eeding In the County of middlesex gentilmau for and in Consideration of the sum of thirty three pounds six shillings and Eight pence lawfull mony of New England to me in hand paid by piniash Spraigue Jun of JIalden in the same County above s" Cordwinder whereof I do hereby acknowledge tlie Receipt and my selfe therewith fuly and entirely satisfied have bargened sold set over and Deliverd and by these present in plain and open markit acording to the due fourm of law in that ease mad and provided do bargain set over and Deliver unto the said phinas Spraigue Jun a negro woman namd pidge with one negro boy to have and to hold to his proper use and behoofe of him the said phinas Spraigue his heirs, executors administrators and assigns for ever and I Thomas nickles for my self my heirs executors administrators and asigns ganst all in all manner of person I shall warrant and for ever Defend by these present. In witness whereof with the Deliver of the bargained persons I have set to my iiand and seal the twenty five Day of april in the 17 fifty three year of y' Raign of oure Souerign lord gorg the Second ouer grate Britton.

In 1869 the three towns of Maiden, Medford, and Melrose unitedly purchased the franchise of the Spot Pond Water Company, which was chartered by the legislature in 1867. Several protracted to^Ti-meetings were held, and strong opposition was made, before Melrose voted to join her neighbors in the introduction of this water; but now that it is running through sixteen miles of our streets, supplying houses, fire-hydrants, manufactories, and public buildings, so great a blessinohas it proved, that no consideration would induce the inhabitants to part with it. Situated as Spot Pond is, it being a natural reservoir one hundred feet above the general level of the town, fed wholly by springs, it is not only a ciiarming sheet of wate"r surrounded by beautiful scenery, but forms one of the best supphes of pure, soft water to be found in the state. The water-works were finished and the water introduced August 26, 1870. The cost to the town has been $174,551.44. There are over nine hundred water-takers. The present

At the annual town-meeting held March 27, 1871, the Melrose Public Library was organized by the passage of the following vote, whicii was offered by David Fairbanks, Esq. : " That the money now in the treasury, refunded to the town by the county treasurer, pursuant to Chapter 250 of the acts of the legislature in 1869, and all that shall hereafter accrue to the town under said act, be appropriated for a public library and reading-room." This refers to what is known as the dog-tax. At this same meeting Frederic Kidder, Elbridge H. Goss, and Charles C. Barry were elected trustees, and the library was opened the following November, with 1,400 volumes. It has been since sustained by a small annual aj^propriation in addition to the above sum. Its circulation lias increased each year, and the library now has 4,000 volumes. Miss Carrie M. Worthen is the librarian, and the trustees remain the same, with the exception that in 1873 Miss Hamiah Lynde and Miss Addie A. Nichols were added to the board. The town has, besides tlie public library, one circulating and eight Sabbath-school libraries.

April 15, 1872, the tomi voted to build a townhall on Its lot of land corner of Mani and Essex streets. It was finished and dedicated June 17, 1874, and the address was delivered by Mr. George F. Stone. It is a fine brick structure, costing $65,000. It has a bell weighing two thousand pounds in its tower, and the clock was a gift to the town by the Hon. Daniel Russell, the present state senator.

Melrose is the home of several authors. Samuel Adams Drake has written several standard historical works : Old Landmarks and Historic Personages of Boston, Historic Fields and Mansions of Middlesex, Nooh and Corners of the Neiv England Coast, besides other historical publications. Mr. Drake has also been a contributor to the leading magazines, and to the revised edition of the Encj/clopcedia Britannica} His most recent work. Captain Nelson, a romance of the Revolution of 1689, is pronounced a successful revival of American historical fiction.

At the breaking out of tiie Civil War Mr. Drake was a resident of Kansas, which then had no organized militia or public arms, while her eastern border was threatened by a population hostile to the Union. Having been appointed adjutant and inspector-general, Colonel Drake took a prominent part in putting the state in a posture of defence, and in organizing troops for service in the field. Having served as colonel of the 1st regiment of state troops, he was in Februar}', ISei, promoted to be brigadier-general. In July, 1864, he was made colonel of the 17th Regiment of Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which he led during the memorable invasion of Missouri by the rebel general Sterling Price. Mr. Drake has resided in Melrose since 1870.

Frederic Kidder has written several historical works : The Abenaki Indians, Eastern Maine and Nova Scotia in the Revolution, E.rpi'diliaii of Captain John Lovewell, The Boshui Mixx,i,-r,', First N. H. Regiment in the Revolution, and, in connection with Dr. A. A. Gould, a History of New Ipswich, N. H., his native town. Mr. Kidder also made a valuable contribution to the vexed question concerning the first discoverer of the mainland of America, entitled. The Discover// of North America by John Cabot, which was printed in the Historical and Genealogical Register.

William Frederick Poole, now librarian of the Chicago Public Library, was for many years a resident of Melrose, and while here contributed to The North American Review, and other magazines, several articles of historical and educational character; among them Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft, ^The Witchcraft Delusion of 1693, The Battle of the Dictionaries, and other orthographical papers. He has since published Antislavery Opinions before the year 1800, The Ordinance of 1787 and Dr. Manasseh Cutler. His Index to Periodical Literature has a world-wide reputation.

Mary Ashton Livermore, so often called the " queen of the jjlatform," whose voice and pen are always used in behalf of woman, temperance, and all other causes that benefit humanity, has made her home in Melrose for the past dozen years. She has been editorially connected with the press for over twenty years. In 18.58 her luisband, Rev. D. P. Livermore, went to Chicago to become editor and publisher of The Neio Covenant, Mrs. Livermore becoming assistant editor. "When the Rebellion broke out she became connected witli the Sanitary Commission at Cliicago, and, as president of the board of directors, perlbrmed a vast amount of labor in suslainiiiff that bcnelicent movciriciit.

Soon after peace was declared she started a paper called The Agitator, which fras afterwards merged in The Woman's Journal at Boston, of which she became editor. She held this position for two years, and is still connected with the editorial staff. For the past three years she has been president of the Massachusetts Woman's Temperance Christian Union. Her published books are Fen Pictures ; or. Sketches from Domestic Life, and a temperance prize tale, which was written and issued over thirty years ago, was out of print for a quarter of a century, and recently republished ; it is entitled. Thirty Years too Late. It has been well said, "Every vice finds in her a determined foe, and every reform has in her an able, but not a bigoted champion."

George P. Burnham, who came to Melrose the year it was incorporated, has written nine or ten works on ornithology. His first was a History of the Hen Fever: A Humorous Record; and last. Our Canaries, and other Pet Birds. He has written an antislavery story. The Rag-Picker ; or, Bound and Free, besides other works. When the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Burnham was a presscorrespondent in Washington. He received an appointment on the general staff by the President, as brigade commissary, with the rank of captain, and was assigned by the secretary of war to General Banks' command at New Orleans. He afterwards served in the same capacity in the Army of the Potomac, under General Grant.

Robert F. Leighton, while master of the Melrose High School, prepared several text-books for schools ; Greek Lessons, adapted to Goodwin's Greek Grammar ; Latin Lessons, adapted to Allen and Greenough's Latin Grammar ; and Harvard E.ramination Papers, in two volumes. Since becoming master in the Brooklyn High School he has written a History of Rome.

In 1870 Gilbert Nash issued a volume of poems entitled Bay Leaves; and in 1878 Everett W. Burdett wrote a History of the Old South Meetinghouse in Boston.

Melrose has one newspaper, The Melrose Journal, which was also for a siiort time published as The Melrose Visitor, a weekly paper established in 1868. A few numbers of a paper called The Melrose Advertiser were issued in 1856.

Besides its literary celebrities, several well-known artists Iiave made Melrose tiieir home, finding among its picturesque hills and dales abundant materials for their i)encils. For several years, J.

Foxcroft Cole, the eminent landscape and cattle painter, resided at the Highlands, of which region he has made several fine views. George F. Higgins and George K. Morse are both very clever landscape-painters. Charles Furneaux is a portrait and landscape painter, perhaps rather excelling in his landscapes. Miss Mary K. Baker and Abbott Fuller Graves are flower-painters ; the former has an established reputation, and has given the world some most excellent pieces ; and the latter, a most promising young artist, has produced some admirable specimens of his handicraft, and if he maintains his present high standard, a brilliant future awaits him.

Hon. Daniel W. Gooch was born at Wells, Maine, January 8, 1830. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1843, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1846, and came to Melrose, then North Maiden, in October, 1848. He was a representative to the General Court in 1853, and to the state constitutional convention in 1853. He was elected representative, and served in the thirty-fifth, thirtysixth, thirty-seventh, and thirty-eighth congresses ; he was a member of the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War during its four years of investigations, and its chairman on the part of the House. He was also elected to the thirty-ninth congress, but resigned his seat September 1, 1865, having been appointed naval officer for the port of Boston by President Johnson, which position he held about one year. In 1868 he was elected a delegate to the Chicago convention. In 1872 he was again elected, and served as representative for the fifth Massachusetts district in the forty-third congress. In 1875 he was appointed pensionagent at Boston, a position which he still holds. The first vote of Mr. Gooch was thrown for the Free-Soil party, with which' he acted until the Eepublican party was organized, since which time he has ever been an earnest supporter and champion of its principles.

Hon. Samuel E. Sewall was born in Boston, November 9, 1799, and came to Melrose a year or two after the Boston and ilaine Railroad was built, which was opened for travel July 4, 1845, when there were but two or three hundred inhabitants. He has been identified with the antislavery movement in Massachusetts since its first small beginnings, being one of the very few who johied William Lloyd Garrison when he came to Boston in 1830, and commenced his lifelong crusade against slavery. Mr. Sewall was an active member of the Massachusetts Antislavery Society, and of the National xlntislavery Society; and when the Liberty party was inaugurated he was for two years their candidate for governor, "and ever afterwards acted with that and the Free-Soil party until they were merged in the Eepublican party. In 1853 he was elected to the state senate from Stoneham, his residence then being just within the line of that part of Stoneham which was detached and set oif to Melrose the year following. This was the only political office he has ever held. While in t

Source changes here: from History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, by Drake, Samuel Adams, published 1880; 7,027 words in this source stream.

Melrose City

^^^ELROSE was incorporated May 3, 1 8j0, and is otie of the youngest of llie toims in old Middlesex. It 15 situated seven miles from Boston, directly north, on the line of the Boston and Maine Eailruad, on nliich it lias three depot?, - Wyoming, Melrose, and the Highlands, or Stoneliam ; £^3?KiS^fe?^ from the last of which a horse- Tailroad connects vilh the town of Stoneliam, tn-o miles distant. Previous to its incorjioration most of the territory noir ^lelrose was known as North Maiden; a small portion, now forming tiie northwestern corner of the town, being set otT from the eastern part of Stoneliam, March 13, 1S33. It waa named after Melrose, Scotland, at the suggestion of Mr. William Bogle, having, it is said, great simibrity in its natural features witli the renowned seat of Melrose Abbey.

1felrt>se contains a superficial area of about 2,900 ^uare acres, S,72U of which are taxable. It is two and one eighth miles in length, and lus an average width of two miles. It is bounded on the north by Wakefield, on tlie east by Saugus, on liie south by JIalden, and on the west by Stoneliam and a comer of Mcdford. It has four villages : Wyoming, at the- south part of the town ; the Centre ; the Higlilands, at the north ; and Norrisville, iu tJife DOrtheastem part. Its surface is charmingly diversified with hill, valley,- pond, and stn-ain. From the summits of a number of its elevations - particolariy Boston Rock in the south, Barrett's Mount' ill the centre, and West Rock, or Vinton mil, in the north - extensive views of tiie surronnding country, and of the ocean may be liad. L Pond, situated in the centre of the town, so named from its shape, contains about thirty acres, and upon its borders are many of the finest residences. This pond received its name as early as loss, nine years after the settlement of CliarlestowD, in whose records it is (hen mentioned ; and it was BO called in many other early documents.

It is often spelled "£11," an undoubted misap- ])rehension from its sound. It lias recently been stocked with black bass and alenives by a fishing association under the protection of state law. Long Pond, in the eastern portion of the town, part ot which is in Melrose and part in Sougus, is the source of the Sangus River. This and Swain's - Pond, in the southeastern )xirt of the town, wete named as early as 1660, being then referred to in the Charlestown records. Dix, formerly Little, Pond, near tlie centre, is small, but it is the legendary pond of Melrose, rumor giving it a fothomleaa bottom from time immemorial.

L Pond and Spot Pond brooks, outlets of their respective ponds, are the only streams, and both unite a little below Wyoming, and run into the Maiden River, an atSuent of the Mystic.

Slelrose was once a part of Charlestown. Early differences concerning boundaries were settled by the General Court, which passed several orders relating to the domain now SLildcn and Melrose. July 2, 1633, Mystic Side, now ilalden, was granted to Cliarlestowii, when it was ordered tliat the "grounde lyeing betwixte the Xorth Eyv'' and the creeke on the north side of M' Mauacks (MaverickV) and soe vpp into tlie country, s1mll belong to tiie inhabitants of Charleton." " Up into the country " not proving suflicientiy definite, anotlier order was passed, March 3, 1636, ns follows : "That Charles Town bounds shall nin eight myles into the country from tlieir meeting-howse, if noe other bounds intercept"; and the Charlestown recordi. of 1638 Mv that, "the. Gen" Court had selled tlieire Bounds, by granting ei^ht miles from tUe old Meeting-house into the Contry Xortliwest Xorthrly." At about this time some of the iuhnbitanls of Cliarlestown crossed over and settled , on the nortli side of the Mystic Uivet, and Thomas Coitmore had built a mill near Mount Prospect, or Waite's Mount, as early as 1C40. May 11, 1649, Mystic Side was set off from Charlestown by the General Court, with this brief act of incor- poiatiou : '' In answer to the peticon of seilll inhabitants of Misticke side^^ their request is granted, to be a distinct toune of themselves, & the name thereof to be Maulden/' - thirty words in all : the act of the same General Court, May 3, 1850, two hundred years afterwards, incorporating Maiden's fair daughter, Melrose, contains seven sections, with six hundred and forty-eight words.

When Maiden was incorporated nearly all of its territory above the settlement, a tract of 2,300 acres of undivided land, covering what was afterwards North Maiden, now Melrose, was a dense forest *y full of stately timber,'^ and ^' indeed generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilderness/' In time it came to be known as the '' common lands,'' or ''the commons,'' becoming Taluable as woodland and pasturage ; and various were passed by the town for its preservation and utility. The Maiden Records, March 26, 1694, contain the report of a committee '' to run lines between the Common and proprietors' lands, as follows: Bun y* bounds Eound Beedy pond 7* bounds are first a great buttenwood tree before Joseph Lines dore - and so bounded Bound with seuerall trees marked with letter C next common." November 20, of the same year, it was *' Voted, That y* common shall be divided : bottom and top, yt. is, land and wood " ; and six days afterwards, a committee of three. Major William Johnson, Captain John Brown, and Captain John Smith, reported to the town the manner in which it should be done, giving to every freeholder in the town a proportion according to his ratable estate. A committee of seven was then appointed to proceed with the division, and it was ordered that they ''emjdjoy an artis to lay out the lots." Every lot was to '' run 82 poles in length," and there was to be allowed '' two poles in breadth between every range of lots for highways.^. . . . Every proprietor's name to be written distinctly, and y« lots be well shuffled together, and one man chose by the town to draw them out of a bag. . Tlie first name drawn to have the first lot." This division was thus made in 1695, when seventy-four freeholders, then in Maiden, received their respective allotments.

Melrose had been occupied several years before -*the commons" were divided. The Spragues, Lyndes, and Qreens had possessions here before then, and at about that time or a little later came the Barretts, Upliams, Howards, and Yintons. Some of these families have been here over two centuries, and the descendants of all of them are among our citiaens to-day. There vtt sotaie of the old homesteads now standing, portions .of which AK ftt least two hundred years old ; such is the case with the Jabez and Jonathan Lynde lu>uses on Washington Street, and the Joseph Lynde house on Main Street, near Maiden line. The Lyndes once owned nearly all of the soutliem part of Melrpse, and several of the old homesteads are still occupied by members of this numerous family. They are all descendants of Ensign Thomas Lynde, who settled in ]|ilalden very soon after its incorporation in 1649, and who was the eldest son of Thomas, who came from Engkind, settled in Charlestown, and became a freeman in 1634.

In the ^'Possesion of Bichard Sprague in Charltowne limites," in the Charlestown laud records of 1638 the twelfth item is, ''Sixtie acres of land by estimation, more or lesse, scituate in pond fielde, bounded on the one side by Balph Sprague, on the northeast by ell pond and the river that comes through the meadow into Ell pond, and on the northwest by the comon." Bichard Sprague was one of the three brothers, Balph, Biehard, and William, who came to Cliarlestown in 1629. The Spragues of Melrose are descendants of Balph, the oldest of the three. His son John early settled in Maiden, and his son Phineas came to what is now Melrose about the year 1700. A grandson of this Phineas, also named Phineas, was the Bevolutionary patriot of whom many interesting anecdotes have been told. His farm was on the plain, and his homestead on Foster Street, where now stands the residence of Mr. Liberty Bigelow. He kept a diary, and his account of the ever-memorable I^rjp Day is worthy of record.

"Friday May the 19th 1780. - This day was the most Bemarkable day tliat ever my eyes beheld the air had bin full of smoak to an uncommon degree So that wee could scairce see a mountain at two miles distance for 3 or 4 days Past till this day after Noon the smoak all went off to the South at sunset a very black bank of a cloud appeared in the south and west the Nex morning cloudey and thundered in the west about ten oclock it began to Bain and grew vere dark and at 12 it was allmost as dark as Nite so that wee was obliged to lite our candels and Eate our dinner by candd lite at Noon day but between 1 and 2 oclock At grew lite again but in the Evening the cloud cairn over us again the moon was about the full it was the darkest Nite that ever was seen by us in the world."

The various fomiliea of Greens descended from ThoniM Green, who settled iu Maldeu about the Year 1631. He earl}' onoed a farm of sixtythree acres at the HijiUands, which was exempted when the commons were divided, according to a vote passed iu tovn-meetiug May 18, 1691, "tliat Samuel Gieen [son of Thomas] shall Injoy his hous and j* land y' stands on and so mucli land about It as y* Commite shall se cause to lay to It '' ; andtbe records, iu referring to lot number 64, ny " part east against Bedding Rhode and part on y* west of y* Greens farm.*' Portions of this laim farm are in the possession of the dcscendauts of Thomas Green to-day.

mitted freeman in 1631, and f«ttled in ^falden about the year 1630. His son, Lieutenant Pliinens Upham, took a prominent part in King Philip's War, being severely wounded at the bnttle of Xarngansett Fort, December 19, 1675, from the effects of which wound he died the year following, Pliinoas, the grandson of Lieutenant Upham, was tiie first to come to Melrose, and settled on Upham Hiil, where there are still living several fninilies of descendants on the old homestcidx, on one of which, that of Geoi^ Ujiham, i» still seen the nldfasliioned well-sweqi with its " iron-bound bucket." The Barretts are descendants of J.iincs Barrett, who settled in Cliarlcslown in 1633, and who afterwards came to Maiden, where his son James was bom in 1644. His son, Deacon Jonathan Barrett, mme to Melrose about the year 1705, and built his homestead on Barrett Lane, now Porter Street. Captain Jonathan Barrett, a great-grandson of Deacon Jonatlian, was the first manu&cturer of shoes in Melrose, commencing at his homestead on Vinton Street, at what is now known ai the Monnt.iin House. In " y* olden time " this locality was called Tlie Village, where the peoplefrom different parts of the town used to congregate for social chat and pleasure. Captain Barrett (lied November 18, 1821, and hrn funeral sermon,' flelivcred in Maiden, November ib, 1821, on "tlie Ijonl's Day after the Interment," by Bev, Aaron Green, was published in a jmrnphlet. His shoebusiness was continued by the late Mr. George Emerson ; and in later years shoe-manufacturing lias been quite an extensive branch of industn' in Mrtrose. ^

Thomas and Benoui Yinton, direct descendants of John Vinton, of Lyim, who came to this country not far from 1643, settled in that part of Melrose called the Highlands, then a part of Stoneham, about the year 1742. Thomas left three sous, Thomas, Timothy, and Ezra, all of whom had farms at the Highlands ; the old homesteads are yet standing. These three brothers joined Captain Sprague's company of minute-men which marched from Stoneham, to Lexington when the Bevolutionary alarm was sounded. During the latter part of the eighteenth century a nmnber of other families came to Melrose, among them the Howards, the Emersons, Pratts, Grovers, Edmundses, Larrabees, Boardmans, Hemenways, Tainters, Goulds, Coxes, Eatons, and Fullers.*

At a session of the Greneral Court held September ^10, 1653, a committee of three, Thomas Marshall, John Smith, and John Sprague, was '^ chosen to lay out the country high way between Beddinge and. Winnesemett." This was the first and only road through Melrose for many years. The various bounds were given by the committee, begiiming at Beading, until it reached Melrose, and then they say it is to run '' along on the cast side of Thomas Coytmores lott, by Ele Pond, in the old way, to Thomas Lynds land, then through the first field, and so by the field by his howse, from thence, on the old way, by Maldon meeting howse, through the stony broade in good grounde, and six or eight where need requires.'* ** The old way '' here referred to means the old, crooked Indian path, or trail, in use before this date, winding hither and tliither, going around this: hill, shunning that swamp or bog, and over which the early traveller wended his way between Beading and Chelsea. On a plan of Maiden surveyed by Peter Tufts, Jr., of Medford, in 1 795, the only roads laid down in what was then North Maiden are the main road, called the Beading road, and a Stoneham road, which leaves this near the comer of what are now Wyoming Avenue and Main Street, where stands the Masonic Hall. There is one essential change between the main road as laid out in 1653 and that on tliis plan ; it then went to the right of Boston Bock, in going north from Maiden, and at the time the plan was made it passed to the left. The old-time residents of North Maiden had to wend their way down this old road to '' middle-town ** wlienever they attended divine worship, or wlien they wished to vote on electiondays, or take part in any of the town-meetings. The present ]ilain Street was built in 1806. A short time previous to this, in 1798, a two-horse stage, the first public conveyance through Melrose, commenced running between Boston and Beading, driven by Mr. FarwcU Brown ; and after the new road was built stage lines between Boston, Andover, and Haverhill were established, which also carried the mails.

The first preaching service in what is now Melrose was in the vear 1813, and was held in the little old district school-house which was situated near the corner of the old road, now Lebanon Street, and Upham Lane, now Upham Street, which led up to tike hill on which lived so many of the Upliams. Tlris school-house was the only one then in North Maiden. From these meetings the Methodist Episco^ml Church was oiganized in 1816, which contiuued to hold its services in this house until 1818, when a small meetiug-house was built on the green at the junction of llifain and Green streets. This was occupied until 1842, when it was removed, and a larger edifice built on the same spot, and dedicated November 30, of that year. In this the society worshipped until 1857, when it was sold, moved to the comer of Main and Essex streets, became Concert Hall, and was burned November 30, 1875, just thirty-three years from the day it was dedicated. The society then built the church now used by them on Main Street, which was dedicated April 1, 1857. Wright says in his HistoricalDiscourse, preached at Maiden on Tlianksgiviug Day, December 1, 1831, "Two individuals, formerly members of this church, are now successfully engaged in publishing the tidings of salvation to their fellowmen.'' This refers to Bev. Frederick Upham and Bev. Warren Emerson, both born in Melrose, and both still preaching, - the former in Fairhaven, Mass., and the latter in West Thompson, Conn. Tlie present pastor of this church is Bev. Isaac H. Packard.

During the years just previous to 1828 serious troubles, " petty jealousies, and bitter animosities,'' had existed in this church ; certain members became displeased with the form of church government, and in that vear events culminated in a division, a new church being formed, called the Protestant Methodist; sometimes called the Beformed Methodist. This society bought the old district school-house, and moved it down to Main

Street^ comer of Upham, where it was enlarged and dedicated in 1830. After repeated but unsuccessful attempts to reunite these two ^ocieties^ the Protestant Methodists built a new edifice in 1841, removing the old church to the comer of Foster and Myrtle streets, where it became a tenement house, and was afterwards burned. On the Ist of January, 1856, this society was mei^d in the First Baptist Church, which continued to worship in this meeting-house until July, 1873, when it was sold to the Catholics, and moved away to give place to the present brick chapel, which was dedicated November 17, 1874. Bev. Bobert F. Tolman is the ptesent pastor.

The Orthodox Congregational Church was formed July 11, 1848. Its first meeting-house was built on Foster Street, and dedicated May 17, 1849. Previous to this services had been held in the house of Dr. Levi Gould, opposite the present Methodist Church. After that services were held at the house' of Deacon Jonathan Cochrane, and then at the centre depot of the Boston and Maine Sailroad. Their meeting-house was remodelled and enlarged in 1858, and destroyed by fire Febmaiy 17, 1869. The present church edifice was dedicated October 26, 1870, and the Bev. Albert 6. Bale, the present pastor, was settled December S, 1868.

The UniverealUt Society was organized in 1849, and the meetings held in Academy Hall, then standing on Berwick Street, afterwards moved to Main Street, where it became Lyceum Hall, and was destroyed by fire August 21, 1870. The meeting-house on Essex Street now used by the society was built by them and dedicated in 1851. Bev. Charles A. Skinner is the present pastor.

Trinity Church {Episcopal) was formed May 20, 1857, its first. service being held at the residence of Mr. Samuel Bice on Lake Avenue, afterwards in Waverley Hall. The present church, on Emerson Street, was erected and dedicated in 1859. Bev. Henry A. Metcalf is now the rector.

The Unitarian Congregational Church was organized July IT*) 1867, and the church on Emerson Street was dedicated May 1, 1872. Bev. Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., is the present pastor.

Tie Catholic Church was formed in April, 1873. The society, having purchased the old Baptist Meeting-house, moved it to Dell Avenue, and commenced services therein in October of that year. Bev. Dennis J. O^Farrell is the present priest. The Melrose Highlands Church was organized

The only school in Melrose for many years was kept in the little impainted district school-house, whose after history as a church has been traced. It was built in the year 1800, was twenty by twenty-five feet, and was situated on a knoll on the old road, now Lebanon Street, about a dozen rods south of Upham Street. In this old schoolhouse Bobert Gerry, who died in Stoneham, April 1, 1873, in his ninetieth year, taught school during the winter season for twenty-four years in succession, commencing in 1803. Here the North Maldenites were taught to '' Beed and wright and to Befmetick.'' The boys and girls of the west part of the town came " across lots," passing by the old Howard house, still standing on Main Street, and crossing L Pond Brook on a log. After this house was sold to the Protestant Methodists a new one was built on Upham Street, in 1828, by the schoolmaster, Bobert Gerry, for the town iof Maiden. This was burned in 1845, and the one built on its site was the only one owned by Melrose when incorporated ; in tliis was kept a primary, intermediate, and grammar school. This house was burned in April, 1874, and was succeeded by the present grammar-school structure. A high school was established in 1857, and the present liigh-school building, between Emerson Street and Lake Avenue, was built, and dedicated July 15^ 1869. There are now seven school-houses, with sixteen schools. Value of buildings, $55,000^ and of school property, $3,150.

When the Bevolutionary War broke forth, and the alarum-note from Concord and Lexington sounded for men " to resist the minesteral troops," nearly every able-bodied man living in North Maiden joined the Maiden company, under the command of Captain Benjamin Blaney, which marched immediately for Concord ; a few joined the '' alarm list'^ of about sixty men, under Captain Nayler Hatch, which proceeded to Beacham's Point and threw up a fort. Captain Hatch's company remained at the fort during the day, and after returning to town at night a number of the men stalled for Concord, to join their comrades in battle. The names of those who took part in this coutest]^ living in Melrose, were Sergeant Jabez Ljude, Nathan Eaton, Josepli Lynde, Jr., Ezra Howard, John Vinton, Benjamin Lnule, William Upham, Ezra Upham, John Grover, 3d, Unite Cox, Joseph Barrett, Jr., Pliineas Sprague, John Grover, Jr.,

John Ctould, Fhineas Spragae^ Joseph Lynde, and John Pratt. The two Spra^eawere father and son; the father living on Foster Street and the son on Porter Street. Of the father, Wright says, in his discourse, he was " a most daring advocate of American rights. He was quite advanced in life at the breaking out of the war; but one of the individuals connected with Captain Hatch's company, mentioned as starting for Concord in the night, after having lain at Beacham's Point during the day. Mr. Sprague was very deaf; but his heart was as impervious to fear as his ears were to sound. And when the rest of his party were flying from the view of the enemy, he was seen upon a piece of rising ground swinging his hat, and shouting' Victory !' ''

The following receipt was given for bounty paid by Mr. Joseph Barrett, who was the grandfather of Mr. Artemas Barrett, from whom this and other documents have been obtained.

" C^KBUDoz, Aug* 17, 1781. "Bee* of M' Joseph Barret the sum of Twelve Pounds Solid Coine in full of all Accompts, Debts Does and Demands Against M' Joseph Lyonds or M' Joseph Barretts Class for Procuring a man for thiee years' service in the Army.

Some of the citizens of North 3ilalden had been in the previous wars of the country, and others famished substitutes, and the following is the reoeipt of one of these substitutes.

"Jan. 13. 1761. '^Beceived of Phinehas Sprague june'r eight Pounds kwful money it being for my going a Sblger to forte Cumberland and I had a promes

- In the avil War of 1861-63 Melrose has a noble record. Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1861. The first call upon Massachusetts for three months' troops was by telegram, April 15, when five citizens of Melrose responded, and four of them were in the first battle of Bull Bon. May 3, came the President's call for three years' men, and May 6, a town-meeting was held in Cbncert Hall, at which it was voted, ''That the Town of Melrose appropriate the sum of §3,000 for the relief of the families of the citizens of Melrose, now absent in the service of the United States, or who may hereafter volunteer into the service of the United States, or the state of Massachusetts. Also that above all other appropriations the sum of fifteen dollars per mouth be paid to those persons having fiimilies, and the sum of ten' dollars per month to those who arc single men, during their time of service in the war now pending.**

As the Rebellion progressed many other meetings were held, and votes passed in aid of raising voluntcer3 and other necessary matters. Two hmidred and three of her citizens entered the service, and two commissioned officers and twenty-one enlisted men gave their lives to their country. This roll of *' unreturniug brave ** is as follows : Lieutenant Qeorge Thomas Martin, Lieutenant George James Morse, William Francis Bariy, Nathan H. Brand, Jonas Green Brown, Albert Waterston Crockett, Edmund Wallace Davis, Henry Franklin Fuller, Augustus Green, Martin Greene, James Boland Howard, William F. Krantz, Bichard Lever, Benjamin Lynde, George Warren Lynde, William Henry Macey, Sidney Bradford Morse, Francis Peabody, George Elwyn Bichardson, Thomas H. Stevens, John Eastman Stilphen, John Parker Shelton, and Benjamin F. Wilde.

Since the close of the war others have died from diseases contracted while in the service, and have gone hence to " the land of the hereafter" to meet their comrades and their God. Besides her own citizens, Melrose furnished for the various quotas two hundred and fifty-one men, making a total number of four hundred and fifty-four, which was a surplus of seventy-three men above the number called for by the United States. She contributed 838,000 for war expenses, besides the various and multiplied amounts given by individuals for bounty and charitable objects during its continuance. Ac* cording to its population and wealth, no town in the commonwealth did better service than Melrose during this attempt to disintegrate our nation. A full and detailed history of the action taken in this internecine war has been given in the Mdroie Memorial; The Annals of MelfOie in tie Great Rebellion of l%6\^6h.

Tlirough the instrumentality of this Bebellion the fearful evil of slavery was 3wept from our land. During the last century our own territory here in Melrose was cursed by this traffic, as is witnessed by the following original document conveying two human beings into bondage to Mr. Phineas Sprague, Jr.; the same person who afterwards hired the substitute for the French War, who served in the Revolution, and who wrote the account of the Dark Day in 1780.

" Enow all men bj these present that I Thomas Nickels of Beding In the County of middlesex gentilman for and in Consideration of the sum of thirty three pounds six shillings and Eight pence lawfull monj of New England to me in hand paid by piniash Spraigue Jun of Maiden in the same County above s^ Cordwinder wiiereof I do hereby acknowledge the Beeeipt and my selfe therewith f uly and entirely satisfied have bargened sold set over and Deliverd and by these present in plain and open markit acording to the due fourm of law in that case mad and provided do bargain set over and Deliver onto the said phinas Spraigue Jun a negro woman namd pidge with one negro boy to have and to hold to his proper use and behoofe of him the said phinas Spraigue his heirs^ executors administrators and assigns for ever and I Thomas nickles for my self my heirs executors administrators and asigns ganst all in all manner of person I shall warrant and for ever Defend by these present. In witness whereof with the Deliver of the bargained persons I have set to my hand and seal the twenty five Day of april in the 17 fifty three year of y* Eaign of oure Souerign lord gorg the Second ouer grate Britton.

In 1869 the three towns of Maiden, Medford, and Melrose unitedly purchased the franchise of the Spot Pdnd Water Company, which was chartered by the legislature in 1867. Several protracted town-meetings were held, and strong opposition was made, before Melrose voted to join her neighbors in the introduction of this water; but now that it is running through sixteen miles of our streets, supplying houses, fire-hydrants, manufactories, and public buildings, so great a blessing has it proved, that no consideration would induce the inhabitants to part with it. Situated as Spot Pond is, it being a natural reservoir one hundred feet above tlie general level of the town, fed wholly by springs, it is not only a charming sheet of \vater surrounded by beautiful scenery, but forms one of the best supplies of pure, soft water to be found in the state. The water-works were finished and the water introduced August 26, 1870. The cost to the town has been 8174,551.44. There are over nine hundred water-takers. The present

At the annual town-meeting held March 27, 1871, the Melrose Public Library was organized by the passage of the following vote, which was ofiered^by David Fairbanks, Esq.: ''Tliat the money now in the treasury, refunded to the town by the county treasurer, pursuant to. Chapter 250 of the acts of the legislature in 1869, and all that shall hereafter accrue to the town under said act, be appropriated lot a public library and reading-room.^' This refers to what is known as the dog-tax. At this same meeting Frederic Kidder, Elbridge H. Goss, and Charles C. Barry were elected trustees, and the library was opened the following November, \iith 1,400 volumes. It has been since sustained by a small annual appropriation in addition to the above sum. Its ciitulation has increased each year, and the Ubrary now has 4,000 volumes. Miss Carrie M. Worthen is the librarian, and the trustees remain the s&me, witji the exception tlmt in 1873 Miss Hannah Lynde and Miss Addie A. Nichols were added to the board. Tlie town has, besides the public librai]p> one circulating and eight Sabbath-school . libraries.

April 15, 1872, tbfe town voted to build a townhall on its lot of land comer of Main and Essex streets. It was finished and dedicated June 17, 1874, and the address was delivered by Mr. George F. Stone. It is a fine brick structure, costinff 365,000. It lias a bell weighing two thousana pounds in its tower, and the clock was a gift to the town by the Hon. Daniel Sussell, the present state senator.

Melrose is the home of several authors. Saknuel Adams Drake has written several standard historical works : Old Laudtnarks aud Historic Perton* ages of Boston^ Historic Fields and Mansions of Middlesex, Nooks and Corners of the New Eng^ land Coast, besidies other historical publications. Mr. Drake has also been a contributor to the leading magazines, and to the revised edition of the Envi/cloptedia Britanniea} His most recent woiAcj Captain Nelson, a romance of the Revolution of 1689, is pronounced a successful revival of American historical fiction.

At the breaking out of the Civil War Mr. Drake was a resident of Kansas, which then liad no organized militia or public arms, while her eastern bolder was threatened by a population hostile to the Union. Having been appointed adjutant and inspector-general, Colonel Drake took a prominent part in putting the state iii a posture of defence, and in organizing troops for service in the field. Having served as colonel of the 1st regiment of state troops, he was in February, 1864, promoted to be brigadier-general. In July, 1864, he was made colonel of the 17th Regiment Of Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which he led during the memorable invasion of Missouri by the rebel general Sterling Price. 'Mr. Drake has resided in Melrose since 1870.

Frederic Kidder has written several historical works : The Abenaki Indiane, Eastern Maine and Neva Scotia in the Revolution, Expedition of Cap^ tain' John Zovewell, The Bo9i4>n Massacre, First N. H. Regiment in the Revolution, and, in connection with Dr. A. A. Gould, a History of New IpsUffieh, N. ff., his native town. Mr. Kidder also made a valuable contribution to the vexed question concerning the first discoverer of the mainland of America, entitled. The Discovery of North America by John Cabot, which was printed in the Historical and Genealogical Register.

William Frederick Poole, now librarian of the Chicago Public Library,* was for many years a resident of Melrose, and while here contributed to T%e North American Review, and other magazines, several articles of historical and educational character; among them Coiion Mather and Salem Witchcraft, The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692, Tie Battle of the Dictionaries, and other orthographical papers. He has since published Antislavery Opinions before the year 1800, The Ordi» nance of 1787 and Dr. Manasseh Cutler. His Index to Periodical Literature has a World-wide reputation.

Mary Ashton Livermore, so often called the ''queen of the platform," whose voice and pen are always used in behalf of woman, temperance, and all other causes tliat benefit humanity, has made her home in Melrose for the past dozen years. She has been editorially connected with the press for over twenty years. In 1858 her husband, Eev. D. P. Livermore, went to Chicago to become editor and publisher of The New Covenant, Mrs. Livermore becoming assistant editor. When the Rebellion broke out she became connected with the Sanitary Commission at Chicago, and, as president of the board of directors, performed a vast amount of labor in sustaining that beneficent movement

Soon after peace was declared she started a paper called The Agitator, which was afterwards merged . in The Woman's Journal at Boston, of which she became editor. She held this position for two years, and is still connected with the editorial -stafiF. For the past three years she has been president of the Massachusetts Woman's Temperance Christian Union. Her published books are Pen Pictures; or, Sketches from Domestic Life, and a temperance prize tale, which was written and issued over thirty yeara ago, was out of print for a quarter of a century, and recently republished ; it is entitled, ' Thirty Years too Late. It has been well said, ''Every vice finds in her a determined foe, and every reform has in her an able, but not a bigoted champion.''

George P. Bumham, who camfe to Melrose the year it was incorporated, has written nine or ten . works on ornithology. His first was a History of the Hen Fever: A Humorous Record; and last. Our Canaries, and other Pet Birds. He has written an antislavery story. The Rag^Picker; or, Bound and Free, besides other worl». When the Bebellion broke out, Mr. Bumham was a presscorrespondent' in Washington. He received an appointment on the general staff by the President, as brigade commissary, with the rank of captain, and was assigned by the secretary of war to General Banks' command at New Orleans. He afterwards served in the same capacity in the Army of the Potomac, under Greneral Grant.

Bobert F. Leighton, while master of the Melrose High 'School, prepared several, text-books for schools: Greek Lessons, adapted to Goodwin^ s Greek Grammar ; Latin Lessons, adapted to Allen and GreenougKs Latin Grammar; a)id Harvard Examination Papers, in two volumes. Since becoming master in the Brooklyn High School he' has written a History of Rome.

In 1870 Gilbert Nash issued a volume of poems entitled Bay Leaves; and in 1878 Everett W. Burdett wrote a History of the Old South Meetinghouse in Boston.

Melrose has one newspaper. The Melrose Journal, which was also for a short time published as The * Melrose Visitor, a weekly paper established in 1868. A few uumben of a paper called The Melrose Advertiser were issued in 1856.

Besides its literary celebrities, several well-known artists have made Melrose their home, finding among its picturesque hills and dales abundant materials for their pencils. For several yean, J.

Eoxcroft Cole, the eminent landscape and cattle painter, redded at the Highlands, of ^vhich jegion be baa made several fine views. George F. Uiggins and George B.. Morse are both very clever landscape-painters. Charles Fumeaux is a portrait and landscape painter, perhaps rather excelling in his landscapes. Miss Mary K. Baker and Abbott Fuller Graves are flower-painters ; the former has an established reputation, and has given the world acme most excellent pieces ; and the latter, a most promising yoong artist, has produced some ad^ii- TaUe specimens 6l his handicraft, and if he maintains his present high standard, a brilliant future awaits him.

Hon. Daniel W. Gooch was bom at Wells, Uaine, January 8, 1820. He graduated at Dartmouth CoU^.in 184S, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1846, and came to Melrpse, then North Maiden, in October, 184S. He was a representative to the General Court in 1852, and to the state constitutional convention in 1853. He was elected representative, and served in the thirty-fi^fth, thirtysixth, thirty-seventh, and thirty-eighth congresses ; be was a member of the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War during its four years of investigations, and its cliairmau on the part of the House. He was tXso elected to the thirty-ninth coDgiress, but resigned his seat September 1, 1865, having been appointed naval officer for the port of Boston by Fmident Johnson, which position he held about one year. In 1868 he was elected a delegate to. the Chicago convention. In 1872 he was: again elected, and served as representative for the fifth Massachusetts district in the forty-third congress. In 1875 he was appointed pensionagent at Boston, a position which he^ still holds. The first -vote of Mr. Goodl was thrown for the Fiee-Soil party, with which he acted until the Bepublican party was organized, since which time he haa «ver been an -earnest supporter and champion of '.its principles.

. Hon. Samud* E. Sewall was bom in Boston, November 0, 1799, and came to Melrose a year or two after the Boston and Maine Railroad was built» which was opened for travel July 4, 1845, when there were but two or three hundred inhabitants. He has been identified with the antislaverv movement in Massachusetts since its first small beginnings, being one of the very few who joined William Lloyd Garrison when he came to Boston in 1830, and commenced his lifelong crusade against slavery, . Mr. jSewall was an active member of the Massachusetts Antislavery Society, Imd of the National Antislavery Society; and when the Liberty party was inaugurated he was fur two years their candidate for governor, and ever afterwards acted with that and the Free-Soil party until they were mei^fed in the Eepublican .jxirty. In 1852 he was elected to the state senate from Stoneliam, his residence then being just within the line of that part of Stoneham which was detached mA set off to Melrose the year following. This was the only political office he has ever held. While in the senate he was instrumental in p&ssing a number of wise and salutary laws, one of them being that which gives aliens the right to hold real estate; and he drafted a bill which became a bw two or.. three years afterwards, giving married women the right to hold property ; and from tliat day to thia \ he has ever been among the foremost, with voice and pen, in advocating the passage of laws for the - benefit of women, and a stanch advocate of Ihe doctrine of Woman Suffrage. . ^

Melrose has three cemeteries. Melrose Cemo-^: tery, in the centre of the town, is the oldest. Wyo- : ming Cemetery, containing twenty-one acres, in the southern part of the town, was purchased and laid out in 1856, and is the one now principally used. The Jews have a cemetery on {in wood Avenue.*

Battery C, of the Massachusetts Volunteer Mili-. tia, lias its headquarters in Melrose, [with itsarrmory on Dell Avenue. The Fire Department haseighty-one hydrants of Spot Pond water well distributed throughout the town. There are loxkt' companies: Liberty Bigelow Hook and Ladder:. Company, with twenty-five members, Bussell Hose Company, N. D. Blake Hose Company, and the Highland Hose Company, nith fifteen members each ; also one hand-engine, - the Endea\«or.

There are several other societies and associations in Melrose not yet spoken of, and which can- only be mentioned. There are six temi)erancc organizations, namely. Guiding Star Lodge Xo. 28, Lidependent Order of Good Templars, Siloam Temple of Honor No. 29, Siloam Social TemjJe of Honor No. 6, Cadets of Temperance No. 6, Loyola Tem* perance Cadets, and the Catholic Total Abstinence Societv. - -

Masonic Hall was built in 1866 by the Waverley Masonic Association /or masonic purposes, and in this Wyomhig-Lodge> Waverley Boyal Arch (%ap-

BUnderj of Kni^ts Ten^ilan hold tlieir meetiiigs. The Mekosc Lodge No. 157, Independent Opler of Odd Fellowa, and the Qoldeii Kule Degim Lddge No. 23, I>aughtets of Bebtskali, hold their meetings in Temple of Honor Hall, comer of Main and Foster streeU. The U. S. Grant Post No. 4, O. A. B., Tfts organized ia 1866. The litem; sooietiei are the Bouudabout Club, Fraiddin Fraternity, Cmteunial Club, Avon Club, and the 0. 0. S. Club. The High School Alumni holds an anuoal gathering. ' The Melrose Ljceum (^ves an annual conne of lectures and entertainments in the town* lull. The Knights of Honor and the fioyal Arca- Diun each have a lodge. The Crystal Lake Boat- Qnb has its headquarters on L Pood. And there vet the Melrose Orchestra, and the Wyoming MOsical and Social TTuion, which has taken the place of the Melrose Musical Association. Truly it may be said, that of societies - teligioos, temperance, educational, fraternal, charitable, military, and social ^~ Melrose has a great abundance. - Ta& growth of Melrose has been very even, as iriU be seen by the different censoses. When incorporated in ISiiU, it had a population of 1,260 ; in

Situated as it is, so near Boston, with adnunble railroad facilities, delightful and varied scenery, charming drives, with every facility for home comfort and enjoyment, churches of nuny denominations, good schools, an unfailing supply of pure vaterfor dwelhngs and public buildings', with societies and assooiations of almost every kind, Melrose will continue to grow in the future, as it baa in ' the past, and, in a time not far distant, there will, periiaps, be another city in the good old commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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; 12,367 words in this source stream.

Melrose City

His place embraces one hundred acres. He employs sixty-five men and twenty-five horses ; uses three thousand cords of manure each year, beside fertilizers, and is the most extensive market gardener in this part of the country. He is the leading producer of celery, and also has a large seed store at 34 South Market Street, Boston. He grows large quantities of seeds to supply the market gardeners, and ha,'- been instrumental in introducing many new kinds o' vegetables.

Mr. Rawson is an energetic, public-spirited man. and occupies many prominent positions. He is president of the Middlesex Agricultural Society of Concord ; president of the Market Gardeners' Association of Boston ; member of the Stace Board of Agriculture and one of the Executive Committee of that board; member of the Board of Control of the Massachusetts Experiment Station at Amherst; president of the Brackett Club, which was instrumental in electing J. Q. A. Brackett Governor in 1889; chairman of the Republican Town Committee and a member of the School Committee - now serving his third term ol three years each. He is a parliamentarian of ability and often officiates as moderator of the town-meet ings. He is a well-known lecturer on agriculture ; is the author of a work entitled "Success in Market Gardening," and also of a work on celery culture. In the spring of 1890 he was appointed, by the Governor, chairman of the Gypsy Moth Commission. Mr. Rawson is a man of large executive ability, and has filled the various positions to which he has been called with credit to himself and the satisfaction of the public.

February 20, 1868, Mr. Rawson united in marriage with Helen M. Mair and their family consisted of two children, only one of whom (Mabel) survives. His wife died May 4, 1872. He married his present wife, Sarah E. Mair, September 21, 1874, and their family consisted of three children, two of whom (Alice and Herbert) survive.

Chapter Xv By Elbridge H. Goss

Early History. - The choosing of selectmen and other officers at annual town-meetings was first adopted by Massachusetts; and to Charlestown - of which Melrose was originally a part - belongs the honor of establishing the first "Board of Selectmen," in 1635, six years after its settlement. Dorchester, two years before, had tried a plan which approached this idea, but the inhabitants of Charlestown matured and consummated it, and adopted an order, the original of which is still preserved, with its signatures,

" In cousideratiou of the great trouble and chearg of the Inhabitants of Cliarlestowne by reason of the frequent meeting of the townsmen in generall and yt reason of many men meeting things were not so easily brought unto a joynt issue. It is therefore agreed by the sayde townesmen ioyntly, that these eleven men whose names are written on the other syde (w'th the advice of Pastor and Teacher desired in any case of conscience), shall entreat of all such business as shall conscerne the Townsmen, the choise of officers excepted, and what they or the greater part of them shall conclude, of the rest of the towne willingly to submit unto as their owne proper act, and these 11 to continue in this employment for one yeare ne.\t ensuing the date hereof, being dated this : 10th of February, 1034 (1635).

Soon afterward the General Court embodied this idea in its legislation, and made all the necessary arrangements for town government. From that day to this the town-meeting has been the true glory of New England ; and before the Revolution it was, indeed, " the nursery of American Independence."

" Each town was a small hut perfect republic, as solitary and secluded in the New England wilderness as the Swiss canton among the Alps. No other practicable human institution has been devised or conceived to secure the just ends of local government so felicitous as the town-meeting."

The town of Melrose was incorporated May 3, 1850. Most of its territory previous to incorporation was known as North Maiden. A small portion of it, now forming the northwestern corner of the town, was set off from the eastern part of the town ofStoneham, by legislative act, March 15, 1853. The name of Melrose was suggested by William Bogle, a native of Scotland, who had been a resident for several years, coming before the Boston and Maine Railroad was built, - which was opened July 4, 1845 - and when he had to go back and forth by the stage-coach line, which commenced running between Boston and Reading in 1798. It is situated in the most eastern part of the county of Middlesex, seven miles directly north of Boston. It has a superficial area of 2921 acres, about 2700 of which are taxable.

It is bounded on the north by Wakefield, on the east by Saugus (which is in the county of Essex), on the south by Maiden and on the west by Stoneham and a small corner of Maiden. Its shape is somewhat irregular, having a width on the Wakefield line of about a mile, dn the Saugus line two and one-half miles, about three miles on the Maiden, and two and a half on the Stoneham and Maiden line. Its surface is pleasantly diversified ; it has hills, valleys, ponds and streams. The larger part of the settlement is in the valley, which has L Pond in its centre. As the town is growing rapidly, the hills on either side are being fast encroached upon, that on the east being already largely occupied with fine residences. The line of hills on the west side of the valley is more wooded, and in the southerly part there is a pretty waterfall, from the edge of what may be termed a manypath-lined wildwood, which lies partly in Melrose, partly iu Maiden and partly in Medford.

Within the town's borders there are several summits, from which very extended views of the surrounding country may be had - from the ocean on the east, the Blue Hills on the south, Mount Wachusett on the west and Mount Monadnock and other distant summits on the north. These local summits are Mount Zion, Mount Hood, Boston Rock, Atlantic Rock, Barrett Mount and Vinton Hill or West Rock.

The largest body of water within its limits is L Pond, containing about thirty acres, so named from its shape, and so referred to in the Charlestown Records as early as 1638. In early documents it has been variously spelled Ell, Eel, Ele and L ; the diiferent spelling probably arising by a misapprehension of the sound.

The other ponds are Swain's, Bennett, Dix, Highland and Long pond ; this latter extends into the town of Saugus. Both Long and Swain's Ponds were named as early as 1660, being thus referred to in the Charlestown records. L Pond Brook, the outlet of that pond, runs through the centre of the town, and is joined at Wyoming by the Spot Pond Brook, the outlet of Spot Pond, which lies within the territory of the town of Stoneham. Both these brooks, thus united, flow into the Maiden River, at Maiden.

Melrose has five divisions or settlements : the Middlesex Fells - generally called Fells - and Wyoming in the southern part, the Centre, Melrose Highlands in the north, and Norrisville in the northeastern part, each having a railroad depot, with the exception of Norrisville. The Highlands depot is also called the Stoneham depot, as for many years ahorse railroad has connected with that town, two miles distant. About two years ago the Maiden and Melrose Horse-Railroad was extended from Maiden, running through Main and Green Streets to Norrisville, thence through Franklin Street and connecting with that at the Highlands Station, the whole consolidated with the East Middlesex Horse-Eailroad Company.

Originally the territory of Melrose belonged to the town of Charlestown, which was settled in 1629, and was a far more extensive region than now, as it included what is now Maiden, Everett, Melrose, Woburn, Stoneham, a small part of Canlbridge, Somerville, Burlington, a large part of Medford, and Reading. Diflerences of opinion connected with the boundaries of the different towns arose, and were settled by the General Court. July 2, 1633, Mystic-side (now Maiden) was granted to Charlestown, audit was ordered " that the ground lyeing betwixte the North Ryv' [sometimes called " Three Myle Brooke," now Maiden RiverJ i*i the creeke on the north side of

M'. Mauacks, & soe vpp into the country, shall belonge to the inhabitants of Charlton." As " vpp into the country " did not determine how far the line should go, another order, passed March 3, 1636, was more definite: " Ordered, that Charles Towne bounds shall run eight myles into the country from their meeteing-howse, if noe other bounds intercept, reserueing the pprietie of flermes graunted to John Winthrop, Esq., M'. Nowell, M'. Cradocke & M'. Wilson, to the owners thereof, as also ffree ingresse & egresse for the serv's & cattell of the said geutt, & common for their cattell, on the backeside of M\ Cradocks flerme." And the Charlestown records of 1638 say that " the Gen" Court had setled theire Bounds by granting eight miles from the old Meetinghouse into the Contry Northwest Northrly."

As Charlestown increased, its inhabitants passed over the Mystic River as early as 1640, and in that year a mill was built near Mount Prospect, by Thomas Coitmore. In 1649, this "Mystic-side" was set off by the General Court, and named Maiden, from a town in England bearing that name, whence some of the early settlers came. Captain Edward Johnson, in his " Wonder-Working Providence of Zicn's Saviour in New England," says that Maiden was settled "by certain persons, who issued out of Charles Town, and indeed had her whole structure within the bounds of this more elder Town, being severed by the broadspreading river of Mistick, the one from the other, whose troublesome passage caused the people on the North side of the river to plead for Town-privildeges within themselves, which accordingly was granted them."

The act of incorporation was brief, as compared with one passed nowadays : " Upon the petition of Mistick-side men, they are granted to be a distinct towne, & the name thereof to be called Mauldon." All the northern part of this new town, a tract of over two thousand acres, was for many years called " The Commons." It was " full of stately timber," and, says the Charlestown records, " indeed generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilderness." It was the home of the Indian and the wild beast. It has been said that when the first settlers at Boston sent out an exploring expedition, they came as far as the line of small hills in Maiden, and turning back, reported that beyond the hills was a dense wilderness, and that probably nobody would ever penetrate the jungles.

In the process of time this land came to be very desirable both as woodland and pastur.age ; and action was taken by the town looking to its preservation and utility. The Maiden records, March 26, 1694, contain the report of a committee " to run lines between the Common and proprietors' lands, as follows: Run y'' bounds Round Reedy pond, y'' bounds are first a great buttenwood tree before Joseph Lines dore - and so bounded Round with seuerall trees marked with letter C next common." November 20th of the same year it was " Voted, That y* common shall be divided : bottom and top, yt is, land and wood ;" and November 26th a committee of three - Major William Johnson, Captain John Brown and Captain John Smith - reported to the town the manner in which it should be done, giving to every freeholder in the town a proportion according to his ratable estate. A committee of seven were chosen to proceed with the division. It was voted that this committee "employ an artis to lay out the lots." Every lot was to " run 82 poles in length," and there was to be allowed " two poles in breadth between every range of lots for highways . . . Every proprietor's name to be written distinctly, and y" lots be well shuffled together, and one man chose by the town to draw them out of a bag. The first name drawn to have the first lot." This division was thus made in 1095, when seventy-four freeholders, then in Maiden, received their respective allotments.

But a number of families had taken up their abode in this region ere this division of " the commons " took place. They were theSpragues, the Lyndes and the Greens ; soon after carae the Barretts, Uphams, Howards and Vintons. There are many representatives of all these families in Melrose to-day. At a little later date, a while before, or at about the time of the Revolution, came the Pratts, Grovers, Emersons, Edmundjies, Herrings, Larrabees, Boardmans, Hemenways, Tainters, Goulds, Coxes, Eatons and Fullers. Most of these families also have many descendants still living in Melrose.

Some of these older families have an interesting history. As to the Lyndes : In former times they have owned nearly all of the southern territory of Melrose. Thomas Lynde came from England, settled in Charlestown, and became a freeman in 1634. His son, Ensign Thomas Lynde, came to Maiden very soon after its incorporation, and from him all the Melrose Lyndes descended. There are several of the old homesteads of this family still remaining, one of them, that on Washington Street, being at least two hundred years old.

At a town-meeting held May 18, 1694, it was voted "that Samuel Green shall Injoy his hous and y" land y' stands on, and so much land about It as y' Commite shall se cause to lay to It," and the records, referring to lot No. 64, say, " part east against Redding Rhode and part on y' west of y° Green's farm." This refers to a farm of sixty-three acres situated at the Highlands, and belonging to Samuel Green, who was a son of Thomas, who settled in Maiden about the year 1651.

In 1629 three brothers, Ralph, Richard and William Sprague, settled in Charlestown, and their names are first on a list of inhabitants for that year. Richard and William signed the document establishing the first Board of Selectmen in Charlestown, and Ralph was one of the eleven selectmen then elected. John, the oldest son of Ralph, settled in Maiden, near the Coitmore Mill, which was for many years in possession of the Sprague family. The youngest son of John, Phineas, came to Melrose not far from the year 1700. The old homestead was on what is now Foster Street, and the residence of the late Liberty Bigelow stands on its site. The grandson of Phineas, also named Phineas, was the Revolutionary patriot of whom many interesting anecdotes are told ; and he succeeded to the old farm and homestead on Foster Street. He kept a diary, which gives a few details concerning the old couplet :