Needham Town (part 2 of 12)

On May 23, 1757, the town granted certain men "who were at the Charge of Building the Bridge Neare Cap*" Kindrecks the Liberty to work out there Highway Rate in Repairing Said Bridg' this year". In 1765 Joslah Eaton, Jonathan Smith and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen to join with Newton in rebuilding this bridge. Capt, Kingsbery, who had the previous year been on a committee to arrange the matter with Newton, and who had had experience, appears to have directed the work, although Mr. Eaton was active. Theophilus Richardson was the "Carpenter for Training the Bridge Near Cap5 Kindrecks".^ Jeremiah, Eleazer and Ebenezer Fuller worked "Cuting & Carting Timber for said Bridge", which timber was purchased from the townspeople, much of it at about nine shillings per "Tun."

In 1772, or early in 1773, Kendrick's Bridge was repaired by Captain Kingsbery and Benjamin Mills, and about the same time work was done on Pratt's and Day's Bridges; the men then employed were Timothy Newell, Enoch Kingsbery, Ebenezer Fuller, Eliakim Cook and Joseph Daniell, Jr. Within five years "Kindricks Bridge" needed attention, and in 1792 Lieut. Oliver Mills rebuilt it. Needham's share of the work lasted until December, 1793, and tons of timber, including two and one half and four-inch planks, were supplied by Lieut. Mills, who got the "Cap peice" from Norman Clark of Newton, The Lieutenant worked on the bridge twenty-eight and one half days himself and boarded Samuel Fisher, who, with Royal and Gideon MTntosh, Timothy Dewing, Capt. Robert Smith and Enoch Mills, were hired at four shillings per day each. Ensign Michael Harris and Ebenezer Mcintosh also furnished timber, Jonathan Kingsbery stone, and Robert Fuller the long "Cheftnut Sticks". The oxen, for which the town payed 5s., 9d. per yoke per day, belonged to Lieutenant Mills, Jonathan Kingsbery, Enoch Mills and Nathaniel Ware, Jr.

In i860 this bridge was partly rebuilt, and at that time, or in 1861, work was done on the road, now Kendrick Street. There was considerable controversy with Mr. Munson, the

^ Capt. Caleb Kenrick, as he spelled his surname, lived near this bridge. Dr. Samuel A. Green in his book entitled "Groton during the Revolution" gives the epitaph of Capt. Kenrick's wife, who, to escape the turmoil of the war, visited her daughter, Mrs. Dana, in Groton, and died there. The name of Kendrick's Bridge, often Kindreck's, Kindrick's, or Kendreck's in the old records, but rarely, if ever, Kenrick's, is familiar to thousands who frequent the river in summer and winter. The names of our other bridges are comparatively unknown to the public.

The History Of Needham 117

contractor, as to what he ought to do to fulfil his agreements relative to this road. Kendrick's Bridge was carried down the river by the freshet of 1886, and it cost Needham about $1000 to repair the damage, and to build a new abutment; the City of Newton also expended at least $500. In the town report of 1886 this bridge is correctly called Kenrick's. It is a wooden bridge, and was again repaired in 1902.

The Causeway

The construction of the Causeway was one of the very early enterprises of Dedham. The bridge itself was never within the limits of Needham. In 1783 the bridge near Thomas Payn's (Glancy, 191 1) was repaired, and in 1791 Needham was at some expense "for a Bridge on the great Caufey built the last year".

Vine Rock Bridge was built prior to April, 1736, by residents of Dedham, Needham and Medfield, and at their own expense, after unsuccessful attempts to have it made a County bridge; it was repaired by the town of Dedham in 1742.

The residents of Needham always objected to paying for work on this bridge, and in 1760-2 there was a controversy, which involved the attendance of Ensign Lemuel Pratt and Nathaniel Fisher on the Court in Boston in 1760. In December, 1768, the selectmen of Needham granted £3, lis., 7d., 2f. to pay Abner Ellis, town treasurer of Dedham, "Needham's Part of Repair of Vine Rock Bridge" in 1759 and 1760, and charges of the Court; also £1, 8s., 4.6., 2f. for repairs in 1766. Dea. John Fisher and Michael Metcalf effected the settlement with the selectmen of Dedham, but in 1772 Aaron Smith, Jr., was granted twelve shillings for "Afsifting the Select Men in the Affair of Vine Rock Bridge". The next year Dedham called on Needham to pay one half of the cost of rebuilding this bridge, which was outside of the limits of Needham, and the demand was refused then, and again in 1785. The town paid Josiah Ware, Michael Metcalf, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery and Nathaniel Fisher considerable sums to contest it, but later had to grant to Mr. Fisher about £10, for repairing this bridge, and something over £1 to Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery.

In 1787 Col. M'^Intosh, our member of the General Court, secured the passage of an Act, November 13, 1787, which released Needham from an assessment of March 6, on account of this bridge. The Act was probably the result of a petition from Needham, dated June 21.^

On October i, 1740, Amos Fuller, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., and Josiah Newell, Jr., were chosen "to repair or build the New Bridg between the s^ Towns of Dedham & Needham". On March 8, 1741/2, this committee was granted £26 for rebuilding the "Cart Bridge Caled New Bridge". The money had been appropriated the previous May. Mr. Newell repaired this bridge ten years later, and in 1756, or 1757, Lieut. Amos Fuller replanked it with white oak, at a cost of 3/4d. per foot for the material. In May, 1763, the town chose Timothy Newell, Ebenezer Fuller and Lieut. Jonathan Day to rebuild "new Bridge between Needham and Dedham". Lieut. Day was paid £8, 2s. for rebuilding one half of It at that time, and in 1774 Timothy Newell and Ebenezer Fuller again had charge of the repairs. In 1785 the town voted to discontinue New Bridge, but that same year paid Nathaniel Tolman and Aaron Smith, Jr., for putting it In order.

The History Of Needham 119

Smith were charged with repairing the bridges over the Charles, and were instructed not to assume for the town more than two fifths of the cost of repairing "the bridge called new bridge". In 1826 money was expended on this bridge, including $45 paid Reuben Richards for building "the middle peer".

Lyon's Bridge was rebuilt in 1877 t>y William H. Ward, contractor, for $10,000; John M. Harris was the engineer. As both the County and Dedham shared the expense, it cost Needham only $4520, including the work on the approach, which was done by Michael Kiernan. This bridge is built upon one bold arch.

Dedham Avenue Bridge

Needham's portion of the expense of building Dedham Avenue Bridge, which dates from 1871 to 1873, was about $5000. The King Iron Bridge Company contracted for the bridge itself, but John Kiernan constructed the abutments, and in 1872 brought suit against the town, and got a verdict of $398.73. Charles Linehan had the contract for Dedham Avenue at $10,000. This bridge was damaged by the freshets in 1886, and repaired by the two towns at an expense of about $300. It was an iron bridge, planked, and the span was eighty-five feet. In 1902 Needham expended about $250 for stringers, planks and labor on it. The iron bridge was replaced in 1909 and 1910 by a two-arch concrete bridge, according to plans of B. T. Wheeler, and cost $19,028.35, Needham paying one fifth.

Day'S Bridge

In 1754 Selectman Skinner had a considerable bill for "money Expended in the Afair of the Bridg by Jonathan Days", and "the affair of Days Bridg" was in the Court a year or two later. In May, 1756, Timothy Newell, who furnished material for bridges at this period, David Smith and Hezekiah Gay were chosen "to Rebuild y^ Bridg Nere

I20 The History Of Needham

Leu* Days", meaning that part of it "Laid upon Needham by the Quarter Sefsions". In the sixties Lieut. Jonathan Day made repairs on the bridge "Called Days Bridge", and again in 1793, when he was a Major.

Day's Bridge was rebuilt in 1799, John Day having a bill of $69.50, and in the years 1822, 1843, 1873, 1883 and 1904 it was either rebuilt or extensively renewed. In 1843 William Eaton did the carpenter work, and Ephraim Parker, a well-known stone mason, was employed to build a "Stone Pier in the River at Days Bridge". Mr. Parker did other work for the town the same year, including "turning an Artch Bridge & raising the road near Daniel Morses house", at a cost of nearly $230. Day's Bridge is a wooden bridge, built, as is customary, on stone piers. It was lifted up by the great freshets of 1886. Day's Bridge is referred to in deeds prior to 1795.

Newell'S Bridge

Newell's Bridge is said to have taken its name from Josiah Newell, who had a rolling-mill on the Dover side of the river. There was evidently a bridge in that locality long before 1800, but our records are silent.

On May 10, 18 13, the town chose Lieut. Garfield, Daniel Ware, Esq., and Benjamin Slack, Esq., "to meet the Committee in Dover in regard to the Mill Bridge so call- and make a report to the town". There had been a bridge near the Slitting Mill for nearly twenty years, and on July 2d the town voted "to joine with the District of Dover in building a new Bridge over Charles River, near the Slitting mill in the south part of the Town and laying out a new road as stak'? out by the selectmen And discontinue, the Road that is now occupied as a town way, and the Bridge". The same committee, with the addition of Major Ebenezer M'^Intosh and Lieut. Lemuel Kingsbury, was appointed to attend to this work, which was accepted after some controversy as to discontinuing the old road. George Fisher appears to have

The History Of Needham I2I

In 1829 Joseph Newell was paid $6 for services of himself and two yoke of oxen drawing stone for two days to repair the abutment of the bridge at the South Mills. Several hundred dollars were spent that year on the bridges, including Cook's, where Henry Crafts repaired the abutments, Mill Bridge at the Lower Falls, "Kindrick's", on which $200 were expended, "neck Bridge", and perhaps others.

In 1831 there was a foot-bridge about one hundred and twenty-five rods east of Newell's Bridge. At this period the bridge was occasionally called the "Bridge at the South Mills", but usually "Newell's Bridge", which is the name in 191 1. This bridge was rebuilt as a stone arched bridge in 1847 by Haselton & Fuller, and Needham's half of the expense, Including fiowage damages, was about $1750.

I Fisher'S Bridge

The records do not say when a bridge first crossed the Charles at Fisher's Bridge, but it was long before 1763, when the town paid Nathaniel Fisher, who lived near, for repairing the bridge, and in 1765 Dea. John Fisher was granted £10, 9s., ^d. for timber, labor and boarding men, "in Rebuilding one half of the Bridge Over Charles River Near the Houfe of the Said Dea- John FIfher", probably in 1764.^ In 1777 Nathaniel Fisher was granted £8 for 153 feet of "oak Plank, which he put onto FIfhers Bridge", and In 1786 the bridge was rebuilt at considerable expense. Ebenezer Clark, who worked on New Bridge in 1785, was nine days "In Framing and Raifmg FIfhers' Bridge", and there were orders in favor of others for labor and materials employed on this bridge at that time "and the Wharfage joining".

^ Deacon Fisher lived on the east side of Central Avenue, then " Fisher's Meeting Road", and next to the river, on the estate of fifty acres which John Fisher bought of Caleb Wheaton in 1746.

This bridge was partly, or wholly, rebuilt in 1807, and in 1847 Haselton & Fuller built the stone arches, of which there are three, as in Newell's Bridge, built by them the same season. The cost of both bridges is included in the $1750 already referred to.

These two bridges, which are crossed by a roadway in appearance like the rest of the street, have required but little attention for sixty-five years.

Pierce Bridge

What is now Charles River Street formerly ended at the Gay-Reynolds place. Jacob Pierce lived some distance south of the road, with a driveway nearly opposite the entrance to the Gay-Reynolds house.

In April, 185 1, the town directed its selectmen to petition the County Commissioners to lay out the road now leading to Pierce Bridge, but in 1853 the matter was still in controversy. In 1855 the bridge was built, and it cost Needham $1812.37, of which amount $1500 were paid to Ephralm Parker for constructing the abutment walls, and the balance to A. K. Howe for the bridge itself.

The bridge has been extensively repaired at different times, and in 1886 the freshet damaged it, and Needham and Dover together expended about $300 in consequence. In 1900 it was again an expense to the town. It is a wooden bridge supported on piles, the ends of the bridge resting on stone piers. Pierce Bridge is perhaps near the site of "Stick Bridge", a small bridge existing as early as 1782. The town records in 185 1 contain a description of the proposed road from the Gay-Reynolds place toward South Natick, and it is therein stated that the road is to end "near Indian dam".

The History Of Needham 123

On the map of 1771 a bridge is called Capt. Pratt's Bridge, and for many years our town records gave it that name, or simply Pratt's Bridge. Josiah Woodward, Captain Pratt and Josiah Upham worked on this bridge 1770-2, and in the latter year Pratt and Upham presumably assisted Capt. Ephraim Jackson when he rebuilt it, using white oak timber at 19s., 4d. per "Tun". Lieut. William Fuller, Jeremiah Daniell and Eliphalet Kingsbery replanked the bridge in 1783 and also in 1784, when a committee from Needham appeared before the "Courts' Committee Refpecting the County Bridge Near the Lower falls". In 1792 the repairs of "pratts Bridge" were considerable, and William Fuller, Esq., supplied planks and "Raves".

In 1809 a special committee of five was chosen to repair the bridges, and to determine whether it was necessary "to repair or build prats Bridge". Moses Garfield rebuilt this bridge in the autumn of 1809. Repairing the "Buttlement and building a wall" for Pratt's Bridge in 18 18 resulted in having to pay Silas Wilson $160 for damages. Lieutenant Garfield supplied the planks and the labor for the bridge itself. He was prominent in town for years, and directed much of the bridge repairing and road building. In 1823, or 1824, over $160 were needed for this bridge, including "Stone work".

In 1839 William Lyon directed the expenditure of nearly $300 to repair, or rebuild, either Pratt's Bridge or the Mills Bridge which was near his house. In 1851 upward of $200 were spent on a bridge at the Lower Falls, presumably Pratt's.

In 1856 the town voted to build "a Stone bridge over Curtis's Flume, provided the Town be legally obliged to do it, and that Curtis will do what towards it they consider just and proper." By the word "they" the selectmen are referred to.

More than $500 was expended on Pratt's Bridge In 1867, and in 1878 the selectmen, in their annual report, called attention to the fact that this bridge cost the town from $100 to $300 nearly every year, although $3CXX) had been expended in 1873 to rebuild and widen it, according to a plan drawn by Daniel Pratt.

In 1 88 1 it was a wooden bridge, but there were three arches under it, two small ones close to the Needham side, and a larger one, not a true arch, but pointed at the keystone, on the Newton side. All these arches were built to conduct water to the mills.

Mills Bridge

The Mills Bridge was so designated on the map of 1771; it connects Walnut Street, Wellesley, with Wales Street, Newton. John Slack built "the Bridge Near Hoogs SnuflF Mill at the Lower falls" in 1792. Work on Pratt's Bridge the same year has been referred to, and it is possible that Mr. Slack assisted in rebuilding that bridge rather than the one near his house. The reference to the snuff-mill favors this suggestion. In 1845 Ephraim Parker contracted to build a "Stone Arch Bridge" for $323.50, and it was evidently the Mills Bridge, which has two stone arches.

In i860 Needham expended $120 on the foot-bridge at the Lower Falls, George Spring attending to the work, and in 1874 Newton rebuilt this bridge and Needham paid $261.36 toward the cost. This foot-bridge is for the convenience of persons wishing to cross from the mills on the Newton side, or from Washington Street, to the mills in what is now Wellesley, and is nearer to the Mills Bridge than to Pratt's.

Highland Avenue Bridge, and the road to it from Webster Street were built in 1875, ^^^ cost Needham about $13,000, which was less than the appropriation. Barney Dorety &

The History Of Needham 125

Son were paid $5275 for building the road, and William H. Ward $6000 for Needham's half of the bridge, as per contract. It is a fine bridge with three stone arches, and a concrete roadway over it.

The Smaller Bridges

In 1784 repairs were made on the "Bridge near M' David Smith's". The next year Moses Fisk relaid with oak planks the bridge near Theodore Broad's. The "Bridge by Broad's Mills" was repaired by Cyrus Pratt in 1792, and perhaps also in 1794, when Daniel Haynes was paid $2.75 for "Carting four Logs to MJ Bigelows' mill to make plank", to be used on this bridge. In 1799 the "Bridge by Broad's Mills" was again repaired. In 18 16 Daniel Morse, a successor of Theodore Broad, agreed to support "the Westerly Bridge below my Mills and keep it good repair so long as I own said Mills or improve the same". This bridge is on Central Street, near Wood's paint-factory, and the one near David Smith's is on Brook Street, over Dewlng's Brook.

Bullard'S Bridge

Bullard's Bridge is a little bridge over Waban, formerly Bullard's, Brook. In 1783-4 the "Bridge Near Cap= Aaron Smith's" was replanked. In 1868 nearly $1100 was spent to rebuild this bridge, then designated as "the bridge near Solomon F. Smith's".

Brown'S Bridge

Brown's Bridge is on Grove Street over Dewlng's Brook, near the residence of the late Charles B. Dana. In October, 1825, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Artemas Newell, Esq., and Thomas Kingsbury were chosen a committee to build one half of "Browns bridge (so Called)". It does not appear why the town was to build but one half, and it Is possible that this little bridge is not the only one that has been called

Sawmill Bridge

Sawmill Bridge is over Rosemary Brook, on Wellesley Avenue, and is close to the site of Col. Jonathan Kingsbury's sawmill. William Jones repaired the bridge in 1867 or 1868.

Neck Bridge

Neck Bridge, which is a short distance north of the junction of Central Avenue and West Street, is often mentioned. In the deed of Benjamin Richardson to the town of half an acre of land, for a gravel pit, in 1870, the place is described as two hundred and thirty-four feet "east from the centre of Rosemary brook at Neck bridge".

"Sol" Fuller's Bridge is on South Street over "Sol. Fuller's Brook"; the latter name Is still occasionally used by the older residents. See "Ponds and Streams". This bridge is referred to in the town records in 1822 as the "Bridge near the Solomon Fuller old house", and repairs were frequently made upon It, as on all the bridges, which required more or less attention annually. Subsequent to 1800 special committees were from time to time appointed to repair the bridges, but they undertook no work of historical importance.

The aqueduct through which flows the water brought from Lake Cochltuate to supply the City of Boston was constructed in 1846-8, and is a noticeable feature in portions of Wellesley, particularly at the Lower Falls, where the arch is over Cedar Street. The land taken for this conduit was taxed by Needham for years after the taking, first on a

The History Of Needham 127

In 1874-6 the Sudbury River conduit was built In both East and West Needham, to Increase the water resources of Boston, and the noted Nine Arch Bridge, a foot-bridge In the south part of Wellesley, was then constructed. The writer went through a portion of this conduit, Including the bridge section, when It was In process of building, and was attracting many sightseers.

The General Court In 1876 authorized Newton to take lands In Needham to protect Its water supply, but the area was limited to one thousand yards from the river, and between Kendrlck's Bridge and the new bridge near Newton Upper Falls (Highland Avenue). In 1889 Newton was authorized to take an Indefinite amount of land In Needham, to further protect Its water supply, with the result that In 1890 the assessors of Needham attempted to tax Newton for a large territory In the Broad Meadows, with the buildings thereon, and two years later Brookllne was assessed for sixty-two and eight tenths acres at Powell's Island. Newton's seizures amounted to five hundred and ninety-six acres, and In 1893 the General Court ended the controversy on the taxation by a law requiring a city or town taking land In another city or town to pay to the latter annually a sum equal to the current tax on the average assessed valuation of the land for the three years prior to the seizure; there is no provision In reference to buildings. Under this Act the City of Boston, and later the Commonwealth, has paid Needham each year about $40 on account of the thirty-four and one half acres that were taken in the seventies for the Sudbury River conduit. Late In 1892 the town had appointed a committee, consisting of the selectmen and three other citizens, to petition for such a law, as there had been difficulty In collecting these assessments, and litigation with Newton in reference to them.

Echo Bridge

Another remarkable stone bridge was completed in 1876, at a cost of $200,000. It is across the Charles at the Upper Falls. Here the distance is five hundred feet between the headlands, one hundred and thirty-two feet between the abutments, the bridge is seventy feet high, consists of six arches, and consumed two years in building. Mr. Phelps of Springfield was the contractor, and no accident occurred either to any person or to the machinery. This bridge is known as Echo Bridge, and is visited by thousands. It is a foot-bridge only, but contains the conduit.

1. "Map of Needham End (at the time of the survey being part of Natick). Samuel Livermore, Surveyor, November II, 1724." Vol. 15, p. 20. The statement enclosed in parentheses is incorrect, as this territory was not a part of Natick in 1724. This map is a good one, indicating the roads and houses.

2. "Map of a part of Needham, nearly enclosed by Natick, showing residences of Stephen Bacon and others, who petition to be set off to Natick: November 28, 1724." Vol. 34, p. I.

3. "Plan of part of Needham (enclosed by Natick), whose inhabitants desire to be set off to Natick." Surveyed September, 1730. Vol. 7, p. 9.

5. "Plan of Needham, showing Natick Pond and Charles River." "Barachias Mason, Surveyor, 1771." Vol. 14, p. 12. This is a valuable and interesting plan; it gives the names of the inhabitants, locating their residences; also names of the bridges.

6. "Map of the Parish of Natick, including what was formerly a part of Needham; showing roads and residences of whites and Indians. Samuel Livermore, Surveyor" August I, 1749. Vol. 33, p. 17. See also Vol. 5, p. 26.

\I<>rs!e> Titft'Oihy Baomi, John Underwood, John Goodenow and Thotn\A$ Frvvst. \Iap 5 shoxrs that the little bridge o\-er W^han Brcv>k xrA$ called Bmllard's Bridge in 1771. Fisher's ^!:^1 -ix-;?? xrhere the Waban Mills now are, Captain Pratt's :'^ .". \lllls Brivige wen? at the Lower Falls. Fisher's,

The History Of Needham 131

On April 5, 1830, the town appointed Asa Kingsbury, William Flagg and Rufus Mills "to procure a map of the town of Needham, agreeable to a refolve passed in the General Court the last winter Seffion", and in May, 1833, although a similar article had been dismissed the year before, voted to give a copy to each family in town. The fine map of Needham made in 183 1 by Dea. Asa Kingsbury, son of Col. Jonathan, who prepared that of 1794, was published in 1836, and gives the location of each dwelling-house with the name of the owner, as well as indicating the public buildings, factories, etc. Dr. Josiah Noyes, who had ample opportunity to be familiar with all the region, assisted in the survey by means of an arrangement which recorded the number of revolutions of a wheel of his chaise on particular roads. In March, 1836, William B. Annin was paid $110 for engraving six hundred copies of this map, but the previous May Dr. Noyes, Dea. Asa Kingsbury and Mr. Kimball had been chosen a committee to procure one thousand, in order that there might be some to sell, after each family had received one map.^

Another excellent map, that of 1856, furnishes similar information to that of 183 1, and the town paid "H. F. Walling, for 420 plain Maps, and 180 colored and mounted" $399. Each family in town was presented with a plain map, but there was a charge of fifty cents for a colored one, which brought over $80 into the town treasury. The only streets named on the map of 1856 are Washington, High, Forest, Seaver and Lovewell Road, the latter now Cottage Street. The hill over which Florence Avenue now runs was designated as Florence Grove.

* It does not appear that Dea. Kingsbury was paid more than $32 for his original survey in 183 1, but a year later the committee chosen in 1830 had an order for $28 for services.

one third tso the informer^ and the balance to the poor of the . .-at town^ if the botincaries were not perambuJatecJ . . "^^e law . .'t perambctlatiQa

The History Of Needham 133 Plans Of Tiie Town Referred To In Its Record

On May 24, 1769, Michael Metcalf and Capt. Lemuel Pratt were chosen "To take a Copy of the Plann of the Town of Needham which is Now in the Propriators Clark's office at Dedham", and the committee was authorized to "Chufe a Surveyor to afsist them". On March 11, 1771, Messrs. Metcalf, Pratt and Isaac Underwood were chosen to take a plan of the town, which resulted in the 1771 map, previously referred to. Barachiah Mason was granted £3 in 1772 "for Surveying and Planning the Town". The members of the committee were paid for seven and one half days at three shillings per day. In September, 1794, the town directed its selectmen to "take the Care of planing the Town agreable to a Refolve of the General Court" "in the Best and Cheapest manner they can". Col. Jonathan Kingsbury made the survey and drew "a Plan to lodge in the Secretary's office", where it may be seen to-day. Enoch Parker and Epes Mansfield assisted the Colonel at fifty cents per day; they presumably carried the chain.

In 1866 new stone bounds were placed on the Weston line, which had been surveyed, and a plan was drawn by Robert Mansfield, who for many years did surveying for the town. During Mr. Mansfield's latter years, John Morton Harris, Frank L. Fuller, Emery Grover, Esq., and Ephraim Wilson were also employed as surveyors or civil engineers; subsequent to 1881 Charles Atherton Hicks was a civil engineer occasionally in the service of the town. Mr. Harris was much younger than Mr. Mansfield, but may be regarded rather as his contemporary than as his successor, as he did important work for the town before the Civil War, and, in all, for over thirty years.

boundary monuments on Blossom Street, Needham and Weston, and on Washington Street, Needham and Natick, remained unchanged, although the town of Wellesley was twenty-seven years old.

Proprietors Of Meadow Lands

By Act of the General Court, approved March lo, 1797, twenty-two men and one woman, Hannah Fuller of Dedham, were Incorporated "Proprietors of Meadow Lands Lying on Charles River within the Towns of Newton, Dedham, & Needham for the purpose of Drawing off the Stagnant Waters, and for the better Improving the Same". Of these proprietors William and Ebenezer Mcintosh, Amos and Moses Fuller, Michael Harris and John Slack were of Needham.

In the Dedham records the Great Plain is mentioned as early as 1636, Broad Meadow and Rosemary Meadow in 1648, North Hill in 1660, Powell's Island in 1676, Wolf Pit Hill in 1669 and The Wolf Pit in 1698/9.

Apparently Wolf Pit Hill is between South Street and the river, perhaps one of the hills not far from the barn on the Kingsbury-Stedman-Ingols place; Wolf Pit Meadow is referred to in the old deeds. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated in 1902 that there was a wolf pit just north of South Street, near the old road that ran from South Street to Mark Tree Road.

Pine Swamp Neck was a name used in 1737, and probably earlier. The writer has two old plans inscribed "Wid° Mary Lyons lot in Pilferfhire in Needham Eaft of y« way Divided Nov. 22. 1765", "Plan of 31*. 0.37 of land in Pilferfhire at Needham Sold by Thomas & Pelatiah Lyon To W" Mackentolh & Sam. Daggett and Divided between 'em as within - 1766". "This Prick*i line of Divifion was made Api" 10. 1766.

This land belonged to Thomas Aldridge prior to 1700, and later to his only daughter, Mary, wife of Josiah Lyon, and included the territory between the locality popularly known as Dog Corner and Mark Tree Road. The firstmentioned plan was of the estate on the westerly side of

Central Avenue, and the second plan of the land on the easterly side; the latter section was owned in 1765 by David, Daniel, Rachel and Hannah Lyon, heirs of Mary.

Apparently Birch Plain was the western portion of the Great Plain extending toward the present Wellesley line, and Pine Plain was in West Needham, including the region since known as Unionville. Ridge Hill, now covered with a growth largely chestnut, and but little pine, was sometimes called "Pine Hill" a century ago. Bullard's Hill is between Wellesley College and Blossom Street, and takes its name from the Bullard family, who lived on the estate now forming a part of the college grounds. Dug Hill is a portion of Central Avenue, a short distance east of Pine Street. Bird's Hill takes its name from John Bird, a former owner, who was a soldier in the Revolution.

In the inventory of William Eaton of Dedham, 1726, a tract of land, on which he had a house, is described as bounded on "the old road leading from Ebenezer Wares to a place called the Neckfield towards the south".

High Rock

The noted High Rock, which appears on the town seal, is referred to in the Dedham records under date of April 20, 1649, when "M^ John Allen Pastor and Eleazer Lusher giue notice of thier discouery of a mine of mettall or other minerall whervnto they lay clayme to them thier hiers executors or assignes for euer by vertue of the order of the Town in that case pvided w'^*' lyeth betwixt Charles Riuer towards the south and the high Roche neer the Great Playne towards the north, and in or neer about a smale stoney valley being encompased on the south . north and west sids with Rochey hills the east end of the sd valley opening towards a stoney brooke therby notice heere of giuen to the men whose names ar subscribed being of the select men Joh: K Kingsbery Joshua Fisher". Under date of May i, 1649, the town clerk recorded "Lieft Joshua

The History Of Needham 137

Fisher and Sergeant Danlell Fisher glue notice of thier expectation of a Mine of Mettall claymlng the benefit of the Town order to them and thIer hiers. Lying on the north side of Charles Rluer and on the west side of a brooke that runnes, in to said Rluer ouer against the Farme late m' Cookes, and on the south side of the great Playne". For years the settlers of Dedham hoped to find valuable minerals In their township, and appear to have been repeatedly disappointed. This supposed mine "ouer against m'' Cookes Farme" is noted in the Dedham records in March, 1647.

Prior to February 18, 1834, Richard Richardson of West Cambridge became the owner of High Rock, but the deeds recorded In Norfolk and Suffolk Counties furnish, apparently, no clue as to how he obtained it. His wife, Mehitable Smith, whom he married in Needham, November 6, 1777, may have acquired It by Inheritance, but it does not appear who her parents were. She died in West Cambridge October 30, 1808, aged fifty- two years, and It Is a coincidence that David Smith of Needham, whose will was dated 1803 and probated in 1808, had a daughter Mehitable, born October 23, 1756, but she became Mrs. Whiting, and died before her father, the settlement of whose estate reveals no trace of his owning High Rock. Richard Richardson had twelve children, his daughters Mehitable and Abigail marrying, In succession, Edward Smith of Arlington. According to Dr. Noyes's diary High Rock was sold at auction on November 30, 1835, and the records show that Edward Smith of West Cambridge, as executor of Richard Richardson, late of Ashby, deeded, on December 4, his interest in fifteen acres of land in Needham to Daniel Kimball for $247. High Rock was on this land, and as long as the Rev. Mr. Kimball had the academy the Rock was a favorite resort of his pupils. In 1859 Mr. Kimball sold the land to Sherman Bowers, and the latter conveyed It In 1872 to Frederic N. Woodward and Robert Turner, both of Newton. In 1877 Mrs. Henri- etta Williams became the owner of over one hundred acres of woodland in Needham, which included the Rock, and since her death in 1890, or 1891, this property has belonged to her heirs, one of whom is the Honorable George Frederick Williams. Mrs. Williams got the land by the foreclosure of a mortgage, and, although taxed to her from 1877, the title was not perfected till November, 1884. High Rock is on the seventeen-acre lot, formerly called fifteen acres more or less, now known as the Kimball Lot. The Rock is referred to as a landmark in deeds prior to 1750, as well as In those of later date.

Bullard's Pond, now Lake Waban, Is called Cunningham's Pond on an early map. Lake Waban contains one hundred and nineteen acres, and Is connected with Charles River by Bullard's Brook, now better known as Waban Brook, and with Morse's Pond, formerly Broad's Pond, by Natick Brook. Morse's Pond is a beautiful sheet of water, west of the tracks of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company. At one time It included thirty-eight acres, but now only about twenty. West of Morse's Pond is a small pond, sometimes called Pickerell Pond on old maps, and a century ago there was a mill there. Jennings Pond Is south of the Turnpike, and since 1797 In Natick. The lakes on the Ridge Hill Farms were formed at great expense by William Emerson Baker, who came to Needham In the late sixties, and for twenty years had a famous show place of upward of eight hundred acres, where many valuable animals were to be seen, including fine specimens of the American Bison. Mr. Baker had grottoes, subterranean tunnels, curious trick floors and mirrors, and other amusing features. He entertained In 1875 the Fifth Maryland Regiment for two days, or longer, and expended large sums of money on similar occasions, usually making the dedication of a pig-pen, or a bear's funeral, the nominal object of costly hospitality. The Maryland troops came to Boston to take part in the Centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1888 Mr.

The History Of Needham 139

Baker built a large hotel on his estate, and named it Hotel Wellesley, although it was in Needham, his purpose being that others might enjoy the Ridge Hill Farms. This hotel was burned December 19, 1891, having been but little used for several years.

One of the artificial lakes on this estate is extensive, and required the labor of a large force of men, eighty it is said, and many teams and carts for nearly two years.

Longfellow's Pond, not the pool in the college grounds, and the Reservoir Pond are "artificial" in their origin. In recent years the former has been nearly dry much of the time. The Rosemary Pond is largely the result of excavation, and the erection of a dam by Lemuel Lyon, which took place within the memory of people now living.^ The Blacksmith's Pond was formerly but a brook, referred to in old deeds, and was created by the construction of dams, as was the little pond north of Nehoiden Street, and next to the hinge-factory.

South of Bacon Street, near Oak Street, in what was Needham Leg, there was once a sufficient stream to run a gristmill, which was patronized by persons living as far away as Sudbury. Natick Brook is mentioned in connection with the industries. Dewing's Brook runs from Wellesley Hills in a southwesterly direction, passing under Wellesley Avenue, Brook, Grove and Dover Streets, and unites with Bullard's Brook, both joining the Charles River near the Nine Arch Bridge. In recent years the course of Dewing's Brook has been somewhat changed between Wellesley Avenue and Brook Street in consequence of parkway construction. Noyes's Brook is named for the minister, and is an attractive feature of the beautiful park, which includes the town

' Extensive improvements were made in the vicinity of Rosemary Pond in 1907-9, and in the latter year William Carter placed four swans on the pond, enclosing perhaps half an acre of water with a wire fence, and anchoring a swanhouse some distance from the shore. In 1909 a motor boat, the property of Mr. Carter, was for the first time seen on this pond. In 191 1 wild geese and other water fowl are with the swans.

I40 The History Of Needham

Strife Meadow Brook runs between the Mackintosh farm and Ridge Hill, and in Wellesley Is known as Fuller's Brook. Strife Meadow Brook and Birch Meadow are referred to In the Needham records as early as 1714. In the will of David Smith, 1803, Is a reference to "Nashfield brook".

Rosemary Brook runs from the pond of that name through the Rosemary Meadow to Longfellow's Pond, which latter was once merely a part of the brook. "Rofemerry medow Plane" is mentioned in 1789. Mill Brook Is referred to In deeds of the eighteenth century.

"Sol Fuller's Brook" flows through the farm once owned by Solomon Fuller, a soldier of the Revolution, and later by Capt. John Harris, John M. Harris, and Samuel Sutton and family, and finally empties into the Charles River near the Dedham Avenue Bridge. Hubbard's Well was a noted spring, and was near the place on Greendale Avenue where William H. Sullivan lived In 1900.

Annexation Of The West End, Or Needham Leg, To Natick

On November ii, 1724, Stephen Bacon, John Underwood, Thomas Frost, Samuel Morse, John Goodenow and Timothy Bacon addressed a petition to the Honorable William Dummer, Lieutenant-Governor and Acting Governor, to the Council and House, reciting that they were "all Settled Inhabitants upon a Tract of land purchased of Dedham men runing up in a long & narrow form", and stating that their land was "Within the ancient Bounds of Natick Plantation Since Accounted to belong to Needham". They desired to be annexed to Natick, as they were near the meeting-house there, and seven miles from the one at Needham. They said that some of them attended meeting in Sudbury or Sherborn until the Rev. Mr. Peabody came to Natick, and preached within two miles of their homes. The Town of Needham had ignored their complaints. The six petitioners were all of the heads of families then dwelling in The Leg, where there were only six houses. See Archives, Vol. II, p. 408. These men were ordered to serve notice on Needham for the 27th instant, and they were answered by Timothy Kingsbery, John Fisher and Robert Cook, selectmen of Needham, under date of November 26, 1724. The remonstrance contains a resume of the history of the town, and states that by reason of the poorness of the Soil" the resources of the people were very limited, although aided by Dcdham and Newton friends "(who 'tis certain, have been very kind & helpful both to our Minister & to us)". After Mr. Peabody came to Natick the dwellers in the Springfield Parish of Dedham went to Natick to Church, and in Newton the meeting-house had been removed to a place convenient to those who formerly attended the services in Needham. This remonstrance was handsomely written by Mr. Townsend, and called attention to the fact that the Church at Natick was amply provided for, while "much of our Land wild, poor, unsubdu'd, & but little profitable" "our Township (which at the biggest is not accounted to be above 5 miles Square including the Tract which our Westerly Petitioners now possess) is not ours as it is in other places: much of it belongs to Proprietors in Dedham, which lies wild & unprofitable and is of no service to us" "we have been visited of late years with sicknesses & mortality whereby nine or ten of the Principale men of the Town have been remov'd". As to the objection of the petitioners to being taxed, the selectmen stated that there was no reason why they should not be. Archives, Vol. 11, p. 409.

The same petitioners repeated their attempt to get set off five years later, but with less encouragement than in 1724, when the House had been favorable to them. According to a plan made in 1724 there were then thirteen buildings in Needham Leg, but in 1749 there were only nine houses, and apparently two of those were Indian habitations. The controversy in 1729 is referred to in the town records, and Captain Cook, Josiah Kingsbery and Andrew Dewing were granted £1 each for services on the committee "for Entring the Reasons at the Generall Court why the West Corner of the Town Might Not be Lay- to Natick".

On May 17, 1732, the town refused to free Stephen Bacon, John Underwood, Samuel Morse, Timothy Bacon and John Goodenow from the Minister's rates, but the previous September had excused seven families living west of Natick

The History Of Needham 143

A petition of John Goodenow and others, dated March 31, 1743, was presented to Governor Shirley, the Council and House, and was read in both Houses April 8, read again, together with the answer of Needham, and dismissed on June 3. General Court Records, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 38 and 280 and Archives, Vol. 12, p. 266.

The original petition, which is In the Archives, Vol. 12, p. 264, Is endorsed on the back by eighteen of the Natick Indians, who favored the annexation of the people on the "Westerly Side of Saw-Mill Brook". There is also a supporting petition signed by John Loker and sixteen other white men, including Ebenezer Felch, Joseph Mills, Henry Bacon, John Coolidge, Robert Jennison, Jonathan and Daniel Dewing, Ephralm and Stephen Jennings. They denied that there was a scheme to remove the meetinghouse from the Indians, and fourteen of the latter also signed this petition, but on May 26 some of them had changed their minds, as on that date twenty-five Indians, including some who had signed the Loker petition, besought the General Court not to annex the estates of John Goodenow and the others to Natick. This last Indian petition was supplemented by one signed by Daniel Morse and seven other white citizens of Natick and dated June i. See Archives, Vol. 12, pp. 267-269. The protest of the people of Needham, adopted In town meeting May 16 and dated June 3, contains interesting statements, viz., -

The petitioners were one tenth of the men of Needham, and better men than they lived further from the meeting-house, and attended the services regularly. Mr. Peabody had the benefit of the "publick Reveneue Given to Gospelize the Indians", and besides also owned one nineteenth of the whole town of Natick, while Mr. Townsend was comparatively poor. The objections to granting the petition were concisely stated, In language dignified but sarcastic, and were grouped under four headings, the substance of which was: Goodenow and the others were not obliged to go to Church in Natick, or to pay anything if they did go there. The people of Needham paid Mr. Townsend in addition to their other taxes, and if the petitioners would only do likewise at Natick "by Way of Liberallity and Gratittude" "we beleve and are of the opinion that it would Give Good Satisfaction to m' peabody and to the Inhabitants of Natick". Other matters were touched upon, and this answer was signed by Robert Cook, Samuel Parker and Robert Fuller as a committee on behalf of Needham. The document was neatly written by Mr. Fuller. Archives, Vol. 12, p. 270.

Another petition asking for annexation to Natick was presented, and notwithstanding the adverse action of June 3, 1743, a bill passed the Council and House and was signed by Governor Shirley February 25, 1743/4. The signers were the same as in 1724, with the exception of Morse, and with the addition of Edward Ward and Moses Fisk.

The following is from the town records: On May 16, 1743, the town voted not to grant the prayer of the Westerly Inhabitants for annexation to Natick, and chose Nathaniel Bullard, Capt. John Fisher, Captain Cook, Robert Fuller and Samuel Parker a committee to show the General Court why the petitioners "Should not be set off to Natick". Early the next year this committee, with the exception of Fisher, were granted £1, 7s., lod. each for attending to their duties as remonstrants, and Mr. Fuller's account included a charge for "Drawing of Resons".

Restoration Of The Leg To Needham In 1761

On April 19, 1759, the petition of John Coolidge and others, calling themselves "a Committee of the Parifh of Natick", was before the General Court, asking for a committee to run the line between their land and Needham, alleging that the Act of 1743 had been ignored by the selectmen of Need- ham whenever they perambulated the line, and that the Needham assessors taxed land that was in Natick. An answer was received from the selectmen of Needham, after due notice had been served on them.

On June 13 William Brattle, Esq., was named on behalf of the Council to act with Colonels Clap and Marcy of the House, and "to repair to the Lands mentioned". Colonel Marcy replaced Colonel Partridge, who had been named a member of this committee on June 7, and on November 10 Woodbridge Brown, Esq., was appointed in the room of Moses Marcy, Esq., then absent. The whole matter was dismissed by the General Court. See its Records, Vol. 22, p. 609, and Vol. 23, pp. 14, 42 and 122.

On March 29, 1760, a petition of Amos Fuller and others, selectmen of Needham, in favor of restoring The Leg to that town was before the General Court, and after due notice, no answer coming from the territory concerned, the Council voted in favor of the restoration, but the bill failed in the House on January 29, 1761. The House then ordered a second notice served on the inhabitants of The Leg, with the concurrence of the Council.

On June 23, 1761, the committee reported to the General Court that when this territory was annexed to Natick in 17435 "Needham then being against parting with them, and Natick against receiving them" the General Court had been deceived as to the motives of the petitioners, who hen claimed that they desired to be nearer to a meeting-house in their own town, when as a fact thay did not go to meeting in Natick, but their intent was "that of removing the meeting house very far from the Indians and nearer to themselves". The committee further stated "that the Peace of Natick makes it necefsary that they return to Needham again". There had been much trouble, and the "English", as the Indians called them, would not pay anything toward building the meeting-house or for the minister's salary. Archives, Vol. 24, p. 62.

This report In favor of restoring The Leg to Needham was signed by the well-known Benjamin Lincoln, and on June 23, 1 76 1, the Council adopted the report, and the next day the House concurred.

Thus for the peace of Natick, rather than for that of Needham, a group of men became citizens of the latter town, and were to keep up a continual fight for years. Again and again they forced the calling of a town meeting in order to act on articles that had been repeatedly voted down, and which they had no prospect of carrying. Lieut. Timothy Bacon appears to have been as active among them as any one.

In Vol. 14, pp. 223 and 225, State Archives, are some documents classed as Ecclesiastical, which relate to this controversy, but other original papers for 1759-61 seem to be missing, perhaps used and lost in later years, when the same issues were before the General Court. Most of the documents relating to a division of the town appear to have been consulted from time to time till 1881, and were worn nearly to fragments.

In March, 1760, Lemuel Pratt was granted £2, 8s., "for money paid to the General Court Commity upon Natick Line and for Coppys from Records", and the same month the town voted to petition the General Court "that that part of Needham that was annexed to Natick Should be sett to Needham again". In May, 1761, Ephraim Bullard, the inn-keeper, had an order from the selectmen for £1, I2S., 6|d. "for the Cost of the House for Entertaining the Courts Committy Sent up in the year 1759 And for the Entertainment of the Select men of Needham when met the S^ Committy to Settle the Line Between Needham and Natick: And for Cash Paid for a Copy of Needham Petition". There were the charges for several warnings out of town, and recording the same, included in Mr. Bullard's bill, and the expense of entertainment was certainly moderate.

The History Of Needham 147

In January, 1762, Lieut. Amos Fuller was granted £1, 13s., 2d. "for his Paying the GenU Courts Committy in the affair of Natick and Needham The time they met at William Morses Inholder in Natick", and Mr. Bullard was allowed 19s., io|d. for paying Mr. Morse in 176 1 on account of the General Court's Committee and the selectmen of Needham, also eight shillings "for his Tending at the Gen^' Court upon account of the westerly Part of the Town Being Set Back to Needham again". It appears that Lemuel Pratt had paid eight shillings "for Two Petitions or answers in the affair of Natick and Needham".

On March 14, 1763, the town chose a committee consisting of Ensign Lemuel Pratt and Jonathan Dewing to answer the petition of Stephen and John Bacon, "now in y^ Court or any other that Shall here after be Sent in by any of y^ west End with Respect to there being Set back to Natick"; some one moved to substitute the selectmen for the committee named, but the motion was voted down. The members of this committee were granted the sum of six shillings each for their services.

On May 18 the town was opposed to the request of Lieut. Timothy Bacon and others for annexation "with there Lands lying westerly of the Brook by y^ wid? Wards: and Jeremiah Gays Land, to Natick", and at the annual meeting in 1765 took similar action, and refused to free the petitioners from their share of the Minister's rates.

In May of that year the town was still opposed to the reannexation to Natick of the inhabitants west of "Wards Brook", but in February, 1767, voted not to oppose the petition of Isaac Underwood and others. Three months later. May 21, the town declined to excuse the inhabitants In The Leg from the Minister's rates, or to consent to their restoration to Natick.

Ham Smith were chosen a committee "to View the Lines as far as it Concerns Needham Exprest in a Plan Presented to the Town Relating to Li* Timothy Bacon and Others Being Incorporated into a Distinct precinct; with part of the adjacint Towns; and make Report at may Meeting". It was on their report that the town voted, May 18, to make no opposition. Early in 1769 Michael Metcalf and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery were granted two shillings each "for Viewing and Runing the line Projected for a Precinct by the west part of the Town".

In 1768 Lieut. Timothy Bacon had his Minister's rates abated for 1767, and there was a general abatement of these taxes for the current year as far as the inhabitants west of Ward's Brook were concerned. Later demands for similar abatements were refused.

On July II, 1774, the town voted to exempt "the west End and pine Plain as far as is Mentioned in said petition" from all charges for building the meeting-house in the place selected. Abatements of the Minister's rates were granted to Captain Farris and others subsequent to 1780, and these taxes were a source of annual controversy.

The restoration of The Leg to Needham did not discourage further attempts to divide the town, and on June 7, 1768, a petition was before the General Court signed by certain inhabitants of Needham, Natick, Sudbury and Weston asking "to be erected into a distinct and separate District" "they having already obtained the Consent of Needham & Natick for this purpose".

The petitioners were ordered to notify the towns of Sudbury and Weston to appear on the "second Wednesday of the next sitting of this Court" to show cause "why the prayer should not be granted". General Court Records, Archives, Vol. 27, p. 320.

This petition, addressed to Governor Francis "Barnard", the Council and House, describes the remoteness of the petitioners from a meeting-house, alleges the need of one in their midst, and refers to a plan of the proposed district, which plan was made by John Jones, Esq., January 30, 1768. The petitioners asked for a committee to view the land. The only signer from Needham was Capt. William Faris, a staunch Episcopalian, but he doubtless represented others who were Orthodox, as did John Felch, the only signer for Natick.^ Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 521, 523.

There is a petition in the State Archives, Vol. 118, pp. 796- 807, addressed to Governor Hutchinson, the Council and House, and dated February 22, 1774, which recites the old grievance of their being seven miles from the Needham meeting-house, and states that by the annexation of their lands to Natick the shape of that town would be improved. They proposed to join to Natick the territory "lying Wefterly of a place in Needham commonly known & Called by the name of Pond-hole". The petition also mentions Ward's Mill and "a tree commonly known & Called by the Name,

1 "This is to Certifie that William Farris Esq is a Member of Chrift Church in Cambridge and a Communicant; and that his Rate is duly paid to Said Church. Wittnss our hands at Cambridge this 8* day of april 1763.

The foregoing certificate is recorded in the town records, and Captain Farris was relieved of his share of the Minister's rates for 1762 by vote of the town. Capt. Farris appears to have been an Englishman, or possibly an Irishman, who had been a captain-lieutenant in Shirley's Regiment in 1745, and had also seen service in 1749 and 1759. Retired as a half-pay officer he lived for a time in West Cambridge, but it is said that his domestic arrangements did not meet the approval of his neighbors there, and that consequently in 1761 he bought of Joseph Underwood a farm of seventy acres, with house, barn and outbuildings. In this deed the grantee is described as "William Faris of Cambridge" "Gentleman". See Suffolk Deeds Lib. 97, fol. 82. The Captain passed the rest of his life quietly on this farm, for "The Leg" was then a secluded place, although the Natick Committee of Inspection is said to have annoyed him more or less during the War of the Revolution. He was a citizen of Needham, and if the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety of his own town let him alone it does not appear why he should have been troubled by Natick officials. If the tradition is correct that he did not hesitate to say that the "Patriots" were all traitors, he certainly got off very well. His surname is Faris on his gravestone at North Natick. The house in which he lived is on Walnut Street, and in 1908 was the residence of Henry Rose. Capt. Farris was a Justice of the Peace, and an undated assessor's "Invoice", probably later than the War of the Revolution, shows that he was one of three persons in Needham who were taxed for money at interest, and that of the two negro slaves in town he owned one and William Bowdoin, Esq., the other.

I50 The History Of Needham

The reply was dated March 5, and signed by Samuel Welles and thirty-five others, citizens of Natick, It is long and sarcastic, and includes the greater part of the Legislative committee's report for 1761; also calls attention to a similar attempt seven years before, and asserts that "the said Isaac and Only Nine others" represent no one but themselves, and that twenty-nine families affected by the petition are unrepresented by the signers "for the twenty nine that are silent have no doubt as great an Aversion, to their being Taxed at Needham (or anywhere Elfe) as the said Isaac & nine others".^

The petitioners "are no further from their Centre than they were when they Purchased their Lands", and their annexation would have "the most fatal Consequences to Natick - having heretofore been greatly Afflicted and Perplexed, by those discontented, uneasy & unhappy Neighbours, who were Connected with us from 1745, to June 19, 1761. at which time they were in Mercy to themselves & us. Set back to Needham".

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not attend any Church, "but of Choice the most of them Uphold, Encourage & Countenance a Separate Meeting, Constantly on Lords days and Employ a Lay=man one Child of Watertown to Exhibit to them in Needham, at a greater Distance from the said Isaac and the other nine then it is to Natick Meeting house." "That by far the greatest part of the Inhabitants of the Weft of Needham, included in the Proposed Line, are of the Number of those that have Lay Teachers to Admiration - And fome of them have already Taken the Benefit of the Law relating to Baptists".

The Court is further reminded that "the County Line would be Altered" if the prayer is granted, and warned that the Natick petitioners in favor of this annexation "are of the stamp with those Described in the West of Needham." A petition of Ephraim Jennings and thirty-two other citizens of Natick in behalf of Underwood follows on page 805.

On February 23 the House appointed March 9 for a hearing, if the General Court was then sitting, otherwise the first Thursday of the next session, and on the 24th the Council concurred. On June 8, the petition and the answer of Samuel Welles was again read in the Council, and George Leonard and Jeremiah Preble, Esqrs., were chosen a committee to consider the matter jointly with members of the House, which named Capt. Brown, Col. Whitcomb and Mr. Freeman. On the 9th the Council accepted the report of this committee that the petition should be dismissed, but the next day the House nonconcurred, and deferred consideration of the subject to the 21st, if the General Court was then in session, otherwise to the third Wednesday of the next session, which postponement was concurred in by the Council the same day.

There was no immediate result of these petitions, and the annexation desired by Underwood and his neighbors was not to be realized till June 22, 1797, although the town

On March 7, 1793, the town by a vote of 52 yeas to 79 nays refused "to with Draw their petition now in the General Court Refpecting Setting off part of the Town of Needham to the Town of Natick", and on May 13, decHned to send a committee "to attend petition in the General Court refpecting forming Needham and Natick into two Towns".

The Town Divided In 1797

Controversies as to the meeting-house, and it might be said as to all town aflfairs, made the time ripe for another effort to divide the town, and when Marshall Spring and twentyfive others, Including Mehltable Loker and Martha Dewing, petitioned the General Coui;t in 1797 to annex their estates to Natick, there was no serious opposition from Needham, although the matter was fully discussed at town meetings in February and May.^ The Inhabitants of the West Precinct had brought forward their scheme of having the precinct made a separate town, but had been voted down at the latter meeting, and then appointed William Fuller, Esq., Enoch Parker and David Smith, Jr., their agents to oppose the annexation of The Leg to Natick, which they did vigorously, alleging: That the West Precinct was entitled to notice as If it was a town; that less than one half of the petitioners were Inhabitants of Needham; that the East Parish and The Leg were In league against the West Precinct, or Parish, where there was "constant preaching on Sundays In their Meeting House".

^ In March, 1790, Natick had voted to "allow the Inhabitants of Needham to come in ", and in 1793 Sherburn, and in 1797 the District of Dover, had passed similar votes. In May, 1796, eleven residents of Natick had asked the " west Perrifti " if they would receive them, and in June there was an affirmative answer, although a committee was appointed to protect the interests of the Parish.

The History Of Needham 153

General Court. This document had been signed by three persons whose names appeared on the Spring petition, and alleged fraud when the vote favorable to the wishes of the petitioners had been passed in the Needham town meeting "Although a woman not an Inhabitant and perfons not voters were permitted to vote and Counted with the fuppofed and pretended majority".

The General Court granted the request of the West Parish for a committee to view the territory which it was proposed to annex to Natick, but the bill passed, and became law on June 22, 1797. Families represented by thirty-six men, living southwest of Bullard's Brook were annexed to Needham, and Natick acquired The Leg, the exchange being not unfavorable to Needham, although it lost 1656 acres and gained only 404^ acres and Bullard's Pond. This extension of the town of Needham for three quarters of a mile along Washington Street brought a welcome addition of valuable estates, and substantial citizens whose names will be found in Chapter 22 of the Acts of 1797.

Nearly all of the Hunnewell estate is in this section, and the Church in the West Precinct gained Dr. Morrill and the others who then dwelt on the land now owned by the Hunnewell family. Prior to 1797 the geographical centre of the West Parish was a point in the middle of the road, Centre Street, between Morse's and Bullard's Ponds ; later it was near where the meeting-house stood.

Liability for all town and parish grants already voted was maintained in the bill of 1797, and the next January the General Court decreed that the inhabitants transferred by the Act of 1797 should continue, apparently indefinitely, to pay their State and County taxes to the town from which they had been separated. The dispute about taxes in 1793 between the East and West Parishes had left the people irritated, and those in the West rarely neglected an opportunity to refer to it.

8, 1801, to petition the General Court to change the boundary In order that certain Inhabitants who lived three miles from the Dover meeting-house, and were within one mile, more or less, of the meeting-house in the West Precinct of Needham, might have their estates annexed to Needham. This petition was presented, but referred to the next General Court.

The West Precinct Petitions To Be Made A Town

The year 1801 Is memorable as witnessing the first of the many attempts of West Needham to be a town, distinct from East Needham, and which culminated In the Incorporation of Wellesley in 188 1. In May, 1801, the Town of Needham by Colonel Kingsbery, Its agent, and the First Parish, represented by five of Its members, protested against granting a petition which David Smith, Jr., had presented to the General Court asking that the West Precinct with parts of Natick and Dover should be incorporated as a town or district. Mr. Smith's petition is not now on file. In February, 1802, the First Parish again protested against the proposed new town, and Informed the General Court that there were but 226 rateable polls in Needham, that seventeen had joined the West Precinct from Natick, for ecclesiastical purposes, and that with Its many bridges, each district recently supplied with a "Convenient Schoolhouse", a loss of more territory would render Needham too poor to send a representative to the General Court; this was signed by Silas Alden, Jonathan Gay, John Tolman and Amos Fuller, Jr., on behalf of the First Parish. The Town of Natick also remonstrated against the scheme for another town. At this period several plans were proposed to the West Parish by the East Parish, with a view to union and reconciliation, but without result. Smith's petition was referred to the next General Court. See Senate files 2880, I and 2, 2881, 1-3.

The History Of Needham 155

town together with part of Natick, including those of the latter town who had "signed" to Dover for Church privileges. The substance of this petition was:

Under date of June i, 1803, a well written and able protest on behalf of Natick was signed by William Fariss and William Goodenow, the petition of the West Precinct again being before the General Court. As this remonstrance contains facts of historical value the substance Is given briefly: from Natick In 1797, ignoring 148 acres of water, but counting an equal area of water gained by Natick as if it were land, thus making a total of 1656 acres.

There are also two undated protests on behalf of the Town of Needham signed by John Tolman, and these documents deny the alleged hostility of the East Parish to the West, and call attention to the following facts:

Two, and often three, of the five selectmen, as well as the town clerk, are of the West Precinct, where one third of the annual town meetings are held, although the East Meetinghouse Is more central. The West Precinct, according to these papers, has taken unfair advantage of the omission of the words "heirs & asfigns" from the Act of 1778, for the persons affected have contributed towards building the meeting-house, and have "erected Chaise houses".

Act Of 1778

As this difficulty had much to do with the attempts to divide the town, an explanation of It is offered here, although it is to some extent a digression from the main topic.

The question was raised by the officers of the West Precinct in 1793, and was contested eight years, and when settled left much hard feeling. When the West Precinct was created in 1778 the Act allowed persons resident on the west side of the line to retain their connection with the "old parlfh" by filing In the office of the Secretary of State, within twelve months, a declaration of their desire to do so, and a similar privilege was granted those living on the east side, but preferring the new West Precinct. This proved to be largely in favor of the "old parifh", and in 1793 it was discovered that the declarations, which people claimed to have filed with the Secretary of State, were missing, and that the Act did not contain the words "heirs & afsigns". In the West it was asserted that the privilege of choosing between the parishes was personal, did not attach to estates, was never intended to be perpetual, and that it was immaterial that the right had not been resigned. The West Parish then proceeded to tax the heirs and assigns of persons who had preferred the East Parish, but were on the west side of the line, and the East Parish voted money to resist, and offered the General Court a list of 1793, which Michael Metcalf and others successfully petitioned the Court to accept, and to give it the force of an original record. On a petition of Benjamin Slack and others, dated June 9, 1800, the questions were re-opened, and the Supreme Judicial Court decided in favor of the West Precinct. This decision did not prove to be final as the Standing Committee on Parishes of the General Court voted in February, 1801, by a majority of one, to allow those opposed to the settlement made by the Supreme Court to bring In a bill.

In opposition the West Precinct was represented by Major Hezekiah Broad, David Smith, Jr., Nathaniel Bullard, Lieut. Daniel Ware and Lieut. Nathan Dewing, who Informed the General Court that their delay in settling a minister was due to the "Revolution with Great Britton", and to the depreciation of the currency, and asserted that the East Parish was hostile, and had Induced men to sign over to It by offering twelve or fifteen years exemption from taxes. They expressed indignation at the attempts made in 1793 to obtain a new Act Including the words "heirs and assigns".

This document was signed by Messrs. Smith, Bullard and Ware, and their opposition to the bill defeated it, but from time to time there were petitions to the General Court asking that one or more estates might be transferred to one parish

Protests Against Division Of The Town Resumed

They declare that far from it being true, as alleged by the petitioners in behalf of the West Precinct, that those of that Precinct had eight times been obliged to defend their rights, the facts were that eight times the East Parish had been compelled to resist their "Aggrefsions". These Tolman documents call attention to the fact that Needham has a new school-house in each district, emphasizes the often repeated statement that Needham Leg was never at any time a part of the West Precinct, and states that another division would make Needham a very small town.

The whole matter continued to be referred to the "next General Court" until 1805, when the petitioners had leave to withdraw. Senate files 3327, 1-15.

At the May meeting in 1804 an article in the town warrant in favor of a new town to be formed of parts of Needham and Natick was dismissed, and the same month George Fisher, Samuel Pratt and Captain Tolman, agents for the Town of Needham in reference to the question of division, were to meet at Luther Dana's.^

On September 22, 18 17, at a town meeting held in the East meeting-house it was voted to "have the west Parish Incorporated into a new town or District", but this vote was reconsidered on October 27, and a committee consisting of eleven was named, viz., Capt. Ellsha Lyon, Major M'^Intosh, George Fisher, Capts. Artemas Newell and Jonathan Gay for the East, Daniel Ware, Esq., Maj. Chester Adams, Peter Lyon, Capts. George Smith and Jonathan Fuller for the West; they were to select a non-resident as the eleventh man, but do not appear to have done so.

As Captain Lyon was a Justice of the Peace and "Squire Ware" a military officer the array of talent on either side appears to have been exactly equal. They reported unanimously in favor of division at an adjourned meeting at two o'clock on November 24, and it was a friendly and equitable report. The East was to have the School Land in Dover to offset the excess of bridges to be maintained, and the "Ammunitions in the Town magazine - Camp Utensils", and other town property, was to be sold at auction and the proceeds divided; the "present Parish line" was to be the dividing line.

As the result of a petition dated January 12, 1818, and signed by Daniel Ware, George Smith and Chester Adams "Agents for the Inhabitants of the Westerly part of Needham", a committee of the General Court viewed the proposed line, and approved of it, but the East Parish protested against the division of the town, and was represented by Dr. Samuel Gould, Enoch Fuller and Lemuel Kingsbury. The three last named denied that the town was nine miles long, and asserted that it was but seven and a half, and its breadth, north and south, four and one half miles. As to the inconvenience to the people of West Needham in attending town meetings, one third were held there, and then certain inhabitants of the East had to travel fully six miles; moreover the East Meeting-house was within half a mile of the line. They further call attention to the following facts: The West had the representative at least half of the time, always two or three of the five selectmen, the town treasurer for twenty-five years, and in 1818 all of the selectmen, as well as the town clerk and treasurer.

The statement that the East *'is freely consenting" is untrue, as there are not more than six persons, perhaps only four, in that section who favor division, and in the West there are people opposed to it.

"There factories cheifly consist of two paper mills" one of them more than twenty-five years old, and in a decade, 1800-10, the population of the town had increased but twenty-five.

"it seems to be their design, in a sense, to trepan the Legislature", as this attempt to divide Needham is preliminary to a demand for a part of Natick. The petitioners suggested no name for the proposed town, and, although the situation seemed to favor them, they received leave to withdraw in February, 1818.

The whole matter was gone through again in 18 19, Peter Lyon, Jonathan Fuller and David Smith then representing the West, and Dr. Gould, Asa Kingsbury, 2d, and Calvin Gay the East; the three last named called attention to the fact that the residents of the West Precinct had to cross the East Parish to reach the Shire town. The General Court appointed a committee to view the territory at the expense of the West Precinct, and the subject was referred from one General Court to another until February, 1822, when after five successive years of controversy the petitioners had leave to withdraw. Senate files 6862, 1-13.

There is a reference under date of June 11, 1821, to a petition of Seth Lyon and others, which may Indicate a secondary petition not now on file. Early in 1824 the West Precinct, by its agents Benjamin Slack and Jonathan Fuller, again petitioned the General Court for division, and Jonathan Ellis, Israel Whitney, Jonathan Gay, Jr., Artemas Newell and Ebenezer Mcintosh, representing the East Parish, protested that the "main roads from Dedham to Worcester" were not "crofs roads", nor impassable at seasons, but that the reverse was true.

intersect many "Settlements", and denied the statement of the West "that the Inhabitants of the east Parish have at times been overbearing and pursued measures disrespectful to the West Precinct".

In twenty-one years the West had elected sixty-five selectmen and the East but forty, and the town clerk and the town treasurer have been of the West twenty-four years, as against eighteen years when these officials resided in the East Parish. The protest reminds the General Court what the real dimensions of the town are, and of the fact that the East Parish has more bridges and a larger number of poor to maintain than the West Precinct. Leave to withdraw was given the petitioners on February 13, 1824. Senate files 7145, 1-4.

In April, 1823, the town had voted against division 76 to 45, but on May 23, 1825, the vote was in favor of it, as was a report signed by Elisha Lyon, Esq., Benjamin Slack, Esq., Amraphel Smith, Capt. Jonathan Fuller, George Fisher, Colonel Rice, Lieut. Curtis MTntosh, Aaron Smith, Esq., and Capt. Reuel Ware. The tenth member of this committee was Artemas Newell, Esq., but he did not sign the report.

In 1834 Gen. Rice, Benjamin Fuller, Dr. Noyes, William B. Parker, the Rev. Mr. Kimball and Royal M'=Intosh were a committee "respecting Changing the name of said town", but it does not appear what name was proposed or what this committee recommended; the matter was dismissed on November loth.

In 1852 there was another agitation for the separation of the West from the East, and for the fifteenth time, beginning with 1 801, a petition for such division was before the Great and General Court.

claims to the School Land in Dover. 3d. The West to pay the East $1000 per year for five years, provided the opposition to the division ceased.

All of these suggestions were adopted on March 8, by 155 yeas to 118 nays, but the General Court was adverse. The name then suggested for the new town was Oakland.

In 1859 was issued the printed report of a committee appointed to propose terms of division. It contains a valuable account of the condition of the town at that time, and its tone is amicable, and its recommendations just. The committee had been named on November 8, 1859, and consisted of three from each side: - Artemas Newell, Lauren Kingsbury and Galen Orr for the East, and William Flagg, John W. Shaw and George K. Daniell for the West. They reported to the town on December 6, and on the 27th their report was adopted by a vote of 74 to 48, but the General Court did not grant division.

The Civil War engrossed the attention of the citizens, and the time was not favorable to divisions, but in 1880 plans were carefully and quietly matured in the West, and, after an apparent slumber of twenty years, although constantly in the minds of those most interested, the issue of the division of the town was revived. The division was contested before the General Court, and the residents of East Needham held meetings, appealed to friends throughout the State to assist them by influence, and secured the Honorable Charles R. Train to appear for them at the Legislative hearings. The petitioners had retained the Honorable Josiah G. Abbott, a resident of Wellesley Hills, then Grantville, and also the Honorable Patrick A. Collins.

On April 6, 1881, the Town of Wellesley was created, and Needham lost more than half of its population, a still greater proportion of the valuation, and about four ninths of its area. The line between the old town and the new one corresponds with the ancient Parish lines, with the exception of slight deviations in favor of Wellesley at both ends. Needham received about $30,000 from Wellesley, and was freed from the town debts, but the town hall and the town farm were acquired by Wellesley.

The history of the later efforts to divide the town, which were successful, has been prepared by Capt. Joseph E. Fiske, who had a prominent part in effecting the division, and whose father, Emery Fiske, Esq., had been a leader in a similar movement nearly thirty years before. The first board of selectmen of the Town of Wellesley consisted of Lyman K. Putney, John W. Shaw and Walter Hunnewell. Mr. Putney and Mr. Shaw were both leaders in dividing the town, and the latter was active in the campaign with the same object in 1859.

Turtle Island Taken From Needham

On June 21, 1803, Turtle Island in the Charles and onequarter of a mile "below the upper Falls so called in said River, being the same Island, upon which the Newton Iron Works Company have erected their Manufactury", was taken from Needham and annexed to Newton. See Acts of 1803, Chapter 32. This island is shown on the map of 1794, ^^^ is a short distance west of Cook's Bridge. The town at its May meeting had appointed Lieut. Jonathan Gay, Capt. John Tolman and Samuel Pratt to answer the petition of Rufus Ellis, the agent of the Newton Iron Works, and also that of Daniel Ware and others, who were seeking to divide the town.

The prejudice against "the Boston Clique" seems to have flourished long ago, as on October 3, 1726, the town voted to "have the County divided from Bofton", and on March i, 173 1/2, chose Captain Cook a committee as to a

On March 10, 1760, the town voted to "join with the Reft of the Country towns in this County in Petitioning the General Court for a Division of the County", and on December 26, 1775, chose Colonel M'^Intosh to sign the petition for it. Ten years later the sentiment of Needham was unchanged, and it was voted "that y^ Selectmen Should be the Committee to Conduct the Affair of Dividing the County of Suffolk", but in 1786 the petitioners had leave from the General Court "to withdraw". On May 8, 1788, Robert Fuller, Jr., and Colonel "Mackintafh" were chosen a committee to advocate a new county with Dedham as the Shire town. In October, 1790, the town clerk was directed to sign a petition for division, and on May 8, 1792, Amos Fuller and William Fuller, Esq., were selected to further it. In September, 1793, Capt. Josiah Newell and Amos Fuller were appointed by the town "to meet a Convention of the County at Gays Tavern in Dedham" on "Thirsday" the 1 2th instant to consider "matters as Refpects Setting of a part of the County of Norfolk to the County Suffolk". The division so long petitioned for had then been made. A convention of the towns in the new County of Norfolk was

The History Of Needham 165

On March 15, 1898, Needham voted to instruct its representative in the General Court "to oppose in every legitimate way, the scheme known as a greater Boston county, or any other legislation which shall tend to dismember Norfolk county or disrupt its time honored institutions".

On September 20, 1768, Lieut. Amos Fuller and Josiah Newell, Esq., were chosen "to act for them as a Committee in Convention with Such as are Chofen in Boston: and Such as may be Sent to join them: From the Several towns in this Province". This convention was "To Confult what meafures were beft for the good of the Province". Mr. Newell was paid sixteen shillings for his services as a delegate.

On July 4, 1774, the town voted that £1, 9s., 3d. "Should be paid to the Hon'^J'' Thomas Cufhing Efq': Out of the fine that the General Court have Remitted to Needham for their Not Sending a Reprefentitive in the year 1773. It Being Needham's Proportion of Five Hundred Pounds to pay a Committee that the Court have Chofen to Sett in a Congrefs in One of the Neighbouring Governments".

On August 31 the town chose Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Capt. Lemuel Pratt, Jonathan Deming, Samuel Daggett and Capt. Caleb Kingsbery "To attend a County Convention at the Houfe of M"; Woodward Inholder in Dedham on Tuefday the Sixth Day of September Next at Ten O'clock before Noon, To Deliberate and Determine Upon all matters as the Diftrefsed Circumftances of this Province May Require". On September 30 Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery was chosen representative and delegate to the Provincial Congress, which was to meet at Concord the second Tuesday in October. It assembled at Salem October 7, and that day adjourned to Concord.

The notice, dated December lo, 1774, from the Provincial Congress at Concord to the towns to choose delegates to meet at Cambridge on the first day of February, or sooner if necessary, is recorded in our town records, and on January 26, 1775, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery was chosen delegate, to whom in August £14, 19s., 8d. were granted for attending the County Convention and the Provincial Congress.

On May 29, 1775, Colonel M<=Intosh was elected delegate to the Third Provincial Congress to be held at the meetinghouse in Watertown, and that day £18, 2s., 8d. were voted "To pay the Committee that Met with County Congrefs: and to pay Cap? Eleazar Kingsbery for his Attending at the Provincial Congrefs'es ".

The Third Provincial Congress met on May 31, 1775. On October 29, 1776, the town by vote approved the "Council and Houfe of Representatives, to act as One Joynt Body In forming a New Conftitution of Government", and a year later Colonel M'^Intosh was granted £5, 13s., 4d, for twenty-five days attendance at the "Provincial Congrefs in 1775", and 6s., 8d. "for a Copy of the Order of Court for Impowering the Town to Chufe a Constable". The delegates to the various Congresses and Conventions were usually paid in currency of fluctuating value.

On May 26, 1777, the town instructed Its representative that "by Reafon of the prefent war Still Raging [we] are of the Oppinion that the Honourable Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives Should poftpone Coming into a New form of Government at prefent". On October 19, 1779, Colonel M^'Intosh was chosen to "Represent the Town In a Convention to be held at Cambridge on the Twenty Eighth Day of October Infi:ant Relating to a form of Government"; he attended twenty-eight days in Cambridge and Boston in 1779 and 1780, and received as compensation £336 in greatly depreciated currency.

The History Of Needham 167

June 10, 1778, a draft for a Form of Government, submitted by the General Court, had been rejected, after consideration by a committee consisting of Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Josiah Eaton, Michael Metcalf, Josiah Newell, Esq., and Capt. Aaron Smith; the vote was fifty-six to two.

Similar action was taken on May 24, 1779, and on August 2 of that year Capt. Robert Smith had been elected delegate to a Convention to be held at Cambridge with reference to deciding on a Form of Government, but he did not attend. The same day, August 2, 1779, Colonel M'=Intosh and Robert Fuller, Jr., were selected as delegates to a convention which was to be held at Concord on the first Wednesday of October for the purpose of fixing the price of merchandise.

Needham's local committee "to State the articles of marchandize and Cuntry Produce &c", grew out of this convention, and consisted of Josiah Newell, Esq., Dea. John Fisher, John Slack, Ebenezer Newell, Capt. Aaron Smith, Lieut. William Fuller and Timothy Newell, and on August 16 the town voted that "Grain Should be Stated Two Shillings in a bufhel Lower then it was Stated by the Convention at Concord", otherwise the report of the local committee, approving the action at Concord, was accepted.

On September 20 the town acted "upon a Circular letter Sign'd by Col? Benjamin Hammond Chairman of Committee of the Several towns Relative to Bofton Market Act", by choosing Robert Fuller, Jr., and John Slack "to meet with the Committees of the Neighbouring Towns at maj" EbenJ Whitting's".

On March 15, 1787, the town chose Capt. Aaron Smith and Robert Fuller, Jr., "to Meet with y^ Delagates from other Towns in y^ County of Suffolk at Timothy Gay's Inholder in Dedham on y^ laft wednefday of march 1787". On December 10, 1787, Colonel Mcintosh was chosen the delel68 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM

The State Constitution

On May i8, 1780, the Rev. Samuel West, Nathaniel Fisher, Michael Metcalf, Capt. Aaron Smith, Josiah Newell, Esq., Samuel Daggett, Jonathan Smith, Robert Fuller, Jr., and Moses Fisk were chosen "to Confider the Conftitution of Government, and make Report to the Town at the Adjournment of this Meeting"; on the 29th the meeting was again adjourned, this time to June 6 at 4 o'clock P.M. The record of the original meeting, May 18, reads "Then at a Meeting of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Said Town of Needham, That are Twenty One years of age and Quallified as the New Conftitution Directs: For the Bifmefs Hereafter Mentioned".^

The able report of the committee was signed by all its members except Messrs. West, Aaron Smith and Daggett. It approved the proposed Form of Government in the main, but took exception to the Third Article: "we would Mention in few words the Arguments that Satisfies us as to the Impropriety of Said Article, or rather the falfhood of the Principle on which it is founded: Religion is a matter with Refpect to which all Mankind have an Equal right to Judge and act for them felves; But it is Impofsible for Civel Law to Intermeddle with it with out Infringing that Right; We would alfo remark, that in Our Opinion the Sufpention of the writ of Habeas Corpus be Confined to times of War; And Limmitted to the Term of Six months: And lastly that it be Determined that the Said Form Should be Revifed at the end of Fifteen years, from the time of its taking Place Which Time we Refer to the wifdom of the Honourable Convention"; dated May 18, 1780.

^ For the first time the town clerk records the name of the moderator as M^^IntoHi, previously he had spelled the Colonel's surname M'^Intafli.

The History Of Needham 169

The town rejected the Third Article, and accepted the others with the following amendments: "that 7^ Conftitution of Government Should be Revifed in Seven Years", "Every Freeholder Should Vote for Senator, Council, Reprefentative", "that y^ Town Should Chufe their own Juftice within their own Town", "Every Town Should Chufe their own Regifter of Deeds in their Own Town," "That the Legiflatur Should not have power to augment the Value of money as Mentioned in the Conftitution".

On September 4, 1780, the first State election was held in Needham, and the duly qualified electors brought in their votes for Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and six "Councillors and Senators".

"Hon^I^ John Hancock Efq""" had sixty-two votes for Governor and "Hon'^l^ James Bowdoin Efq''" three votes; this was a light vote, as on April 2, 1787, Governor Bowdoin had six votes and John Hancock one hundred and thirtysix. For many years Needham was strongly Jeffersonlan, and rarely cast its vote for a successful candidate for any State office. The first election of a Representative In Congress under the Federal Constitution was on December 18, 1788, when Fisher Ames, Esq., had twenty-six votes and the Hon. Samuel Adams two votes. The same day the Hon. Jabez Fisher, Esq., and General William Heath, Esq., had each thirty votes for "Two Candidates for Electors to Vote for President and Vice President for the United States agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court of the Common Wealth".

In 1791 repeated ballotlngs, extending from March to August, were necessary before any candidate for "Regifi;er" of Deeds had a majority over all.

In the days of the Province the County Treasurer was elected annually by the people at the annual meetings in March, and In 171 5 they were given the privilege of voting for a Registrar of Deeds for a term of five years. The March elections of these two County officers continued until the law of 1855 fixed the terms of both at three years, and changed the election to November. The County treasurers had already been chosen for 1855, but the registrars of deeds had been elected In March, 1851, for terms of live years, and they were legislated out of office the first Wednesday in January, 1856. There was usually a light vote polled for both treasurer and registrar.

On November 2, 1792, Needham cast only twenty votes for four Representatives in Congress for the Counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex, combined, and fourteen votes for five Presidential Electors.

The following January John Slack had an order for six shillings "for one Journey to Concord to Carry the Votes for Federal Representatives". On May 6, 1795, the town was in favor of 'Revising the Constitution," but in 1820 was opposed to a Constitutional Convention, having no confidence In the dominant party, and refused in August by 42 votes to 12 to choose a delegate, although on October 16, Aaron Smith was elected. On April 9, 1821, Needham rejected seven of the fourteen amendments proposed, viz., the 2d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, loth, and 14th.

On April i, 1822, Governor Brooks received sixty-six votes in Needham, and the Hon. William Eustis one hundred and seventeen, and for the three Senators for Norfolk County the Jeffersonlans cast one hundred and nineteen votes to sixtyfour. It was not until 1831 that the election of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and Senators was changed from April to November.

For reasons not now apparent Needham was Whig during the administration of President Jackson, but Democratic from 1838 to 1847, Governor Marcus Morton usually polling a decided majority, and in 1840 President Van Buren carried the town by 151 to 130, in spite of the tidal wave in favor of General Plarrison.

The History Of Needham 171

In 1844 the Liberty Party had arisen, and included in its ranks Dea. Elisha Lyon and others who had been Democratic leaders, with the result that 22 votes were given to the ticket headed by James G. Birney, and the Democrats had a plurality only, the vote being: - Polk 134, Clay 121.

Later the Know Nothing Party prevailed overwhelmingly, but the Republican Party has been dominant from its foundation, although in years especially favorable to the Democrats the vote has been comparatively close. At times there has been independent voting for County officials and for representative in the General Court, Richard Cunningham of Wellesley having carried Needham for the latter office within a few years.

In April, 1840, the town voted 66 to i in favor of a proposed Constitutional Amendment relative to the apportionment of Senators and Representatives in the General Court.

On November 14, 1853, Needham' rejected one of eight proposed Amendments: - the 3d by 118 votes to 113, and accepted the 5th and 8th by 117 to 116. All of the others were lost by a tie vote of 117 to 117.

The six Amendments voted on in 1855, three in 1857, and two in i860 excited but little interest in Needham, and were all accepted by the town except the first one proposed in 1855, which was to allow a plurality to elect; this was defeated by 16 to 10. The following November the town cast 283 votes.

Later Amendments to the State Constitution have failed to bring out a large vote in Needham, but it is worthy of notice that on April 22, 1889, there were 188 votes in favor of a Prohibitory Amendment and 162 against it.