Needham Town (part 3 of 12)

For more than thirty years, with an occasional exception in the seventies and eighties, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker was chosen annually at the Republican caucus a delegate to the State Convention, and after he attained the age of ninety years his presence attracted considerable attention, particularly in 1907 when he was in his ninety-fourth year. On more than one occasion there was a contest, and the convention was in session till late, but in no case did Mr. Tucker go home until the business was completed.

"after a long Difpute the Following order was Given Needham March y« 12: 1749/50. We the Subfcribers felectmen of the Town of Needham Orderd John Mills Conftable to put to Vote whether it be the Mind of the Town to allow all the freeholders to Vote in Town for a Moderator

The vote was in the affirmative and John Fisher, "a freeholder", was then chosen moderator. Under his ruling at this meeting four men, Thomas Fuller, Jr., Jeremiah Eaton, Ezekiel Richardson, Jr., and Edward Beverstock were allowed to vote, against the protest of Capt. Robert Fuller, the town clerk and one of the selectmen, and seven others. At the adjourned meeting on the 19th John Woodcock and ten others protested, but without avail. Capt. Fuller and twenty-two others then petitioned the General Court, March 29, setting forth that none of the four men whose votes were questioned were legal voters (assessed on £20 in addition to the poll tax), and asking the General Court to declare the town meeting illegal. Archives, Vol. 115, p. 617. This petition was written by Capt. Fuller and the petitioners were ordered, April 4, to serve notice on the selectmen and the moderator to appear on the nth, if the General Court was sitting, otherwise on the first Friday of the next session. Under date of April 11, 1750, John Fisher,

Esq., the moderator, replied In behalf of three of the selectmen, Josiah Newell, Aaron Smith and Jonathan Smith, and himself. He asserted that his ruling was correct, and that the assessors for 1749 had erred in valuing real estate at only one year's income, when it should have been "doubled" six times, and asking for his costs, and that the petition of Fuller should be dismissed. Archives, Vol. 115, p. 626.

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and that "the Persons objected to were legally qualified & ought to have been admitted to vote", therefore the "Proceedings of Said Meeting are hereby confirmed". Archives, 115, p. 706. That the assessors had made a mistake is clear from the statute then in force, which provided that to qualify a man to vote his real estate valued at the amount of the "rents or income thereof for the space of six years" must equal £20. This required amount was reduced, however, by the deduction of the personal property, which was assessed by a different method, and contributed to qualify its owner as a voter.

For a long time the warrants for town meetings recited the qualifications required of voters, and they were as follows, quoting from the warrant for April 4, 1796, "to Notify and warn the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of said town Quallified by law to Vote in Town meetings Viz* Such as pay to one Single tax besides the Poll or Polls a Sum equal to a Single Poll Tax to Meet and afsemble at the East Meeting house". The warrant for the Presidential election on November 7, dated October 31, 1796, reads as follows: "having a freehold estate within said Town of the annual Income of three pounds or any efi:ate to the value of Sixty Pounds". Similar qualifications were required of voters at the elections of State officers. Including the representative, and consequently there were men who could vote In town affairs only. The April warrant for the State election preceded that for the town meeting, which was often on the same paper. In 1821 the amendment to the Constitution proposed by the Convention of 1820 was ratified by the people, and the property qualifications were abolished, but payment of a poll tax, and residence In the town for a year were required qualifications of a voter. In 181 1 there were 207 men In Needham whose names were on the voting list for the State election, and of these twentythree, all of the Ks were Kingsberys, and there were sixteen Smiths and thirteen Fullers. In February, 1844, there were 505 voters in Needham, of which number there were twenty-six Kingsburys (note the change in the spelhng of this name), twenty-one Fullers and eleven Smiths. The removal of the property qualifications presumably had increased the number of voters, and the town had grown somewhat in population between 181 1 and 1844. In 1857 there were 446 legal voters in Needham, in 1865 495, in 1875 915, in 1885 603 in Needham and 551 in Wellesley, in 1905 943 in Needham, of which 852 were registered, and 932 in Wellesley, of which 853 were registered. In 1910 there were 930 registered voters in Needham, and 982 in Wellesley.

The women of Needham promptly availed of the law passed in 1881 permitting them to vote for school committee, although the number of names on their voting list was not large until the exciting campaign of 1896. The greatest number of registered women voters in any one year has been 288. In 1882, and again in 1883, an article was inserted in the warrant for the annual town meeting to see if the town would favor municipal suffrage for women, but the vote was adverse. There were some comical episodes connected with the discussion of this serious problem, especially in the case of a well-known resident of Charles River Village, who worded the opening line of his plea for suffrage so unfortunately that he was unable to proceed. The vote on the Constitutional Amendment on November 5, 1889, which was presented to the voters thus: "Is it expedient that municipal suffrage be granted to women" was as follows: Yes, Men, 122, women 62; No, Men 281, women 4.

The first board of Registrars of Voters in Needham was appointed on June 27, 1884, and consisted of Cyrus W. Jones, Republican, for three years, James S. Hall and Edgar H. Bowers, Democrats, for two years and for one year respectively, and the town clerk, who was ex-officio a member. Mr. Jones was chosen chairman, and served as such for three years.

The annual town meeting has been held in March since the incorporation of Needham, and in addition to choosing the town officers, the men brought in their votes for County treasurer, and continued to do so until 1855 inclusive. In 1820 Needham neglected to vote for County treasurer at the proper time, and concluded that a subsequent meeting was too late. On April 22, 1822, the town refused to vote for a County treasurer. There was usually an adjournment of the annual meeting, unless the business was deferred to the May meeting, which was held primarily to choose the representative to the General Court. At the May meeting after the representative had been chosen, or the town had declined to elect one, a moderator was placed in charge of the meeting, and business was transacted under the warrant. There were many special town meetings, particularly when Church affairs required attention. The earliest warrant on record is the one for the meeting on June 26, 1719, and it was some years later before warrants were regularly recorded. The first recorded elections of a moderator are for the meetings on May 21, 1714, and March 6, 1716, on both of which occasions Lieut. Robert Cook was chosen. Lieutenant, later Captain Cook, is known to have presided over sixty-seven town meetings, and there were fifty-nine other meetings, most of them prior to 1725, in the records of which the names of the moderators were omitted.

In 1727/8 the town officers were chosen by a plurality vote, as now; previously "a majority over all" had been required. The town frequently voted "to Lengthen out the

Meeting for the space of one Hour", presumably because the meeting was supposed to close at sunset. As earlv as 1720 "paper Vots" were used. The last appearance of Captain Cook as moderator was at the adjourned town meeting on March 16, 1746/7. At the annual meeting, a week before, he was duly elected "& proclaim^" moderator, but got tired, - he was then seventy-seven years old, - and declined "ftanding Moderator any Longer faid Day". The town however insisted upon re-electing him, whereupon he adjourned the meeting to 9 o'clock on the morning of Monday, March 16. On July 5, 1759, the constables were instructed to warn the citizens of the annual town meetings by "Notification for the futer". In 1783 it was voted "that Notifications Should be Set up at Each Meeting Houfe", and the next year "That March April and May Meetings Should be warn'd by the Conftables Setting up Notifications in Several Publick Places". For years the constables made charges for warning town meetings, and in 1787 It cost five shillings to warn one half of the town. Later it was six shillings, and the methods have changed until now it costs nearly fifteen dollars to warn the voters in the territory corresponding to less than one half of the old town. In 1823 it was deemed sufficient notice to post an attested copy of the warrant, "two Sundays" previous to the meeting, "at each Congregational Meeting house in said town", but from early times there had also been some form of personal warning. The printed copy of the warrant, which is now left at every house in the town, apparently dates from 1844, when the "overseer of the Alms house" was to warn the meetings by "a copy to each farm". For "verbaly warning" the West of the April meeting in 1830 John W. Slack was paid $3. In 1844 and 1845 copies of the warrant were required to be posted, at least two Sundays before the day of the meeting, In each of the three meetinghouses, also at the paper-mill in the South part of the town, and at the blacksmiths' shops at both the Lower and the

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Upper Falls. The old practice of issuing two separate warrants addressed to the two constables is confusing, as only one of the warrants was recorded. Later it became customary to refer in the town records to the unrecorded West, or East, warrant, as the case might be. In 1749/50 John Mills had an order for £1 as compensation for warning one half of the town for the May meeting in 1749, and even then one constable seldom warned the whole town.

In 1854 there were sixty-six town officers, not including the committee on the affairs at the almshouse, or the prudential school committees, and in 1910 there were eighty-seven, omitting the police, ordinary firemen, and numerous employees of the town. A number of ex-officio positions held by the selectmen are also excluded from the count.

It was not unusual to adjourn to the evening, or in modern times to call a special meeting in the evening, but most of the town business until about 1894 was done in the daytime. The meetings were called at different hours, often at one o'clock, P.M. All of the business, except the election of officers, is now deferred to 7. 45, or 8 P.M., and it has been said that the change was not made in the interest of good government. The conditions of a suburban town render evening meetings popular and inevitable. The town meeting of December 10, 1885, was adjourned during the funeral of the venerable Joseph Richards, who died December 8, aged eighty-seven years and ten months. He was a native of Needham, and was a good representative of a type of New Englander even then fast disappearing. The funeral was in the First Parish Church, which is near the town hall. On November 4, 1773, there was no meeting-house to assemble in, and the town met on its site and voted to "Adjourn the meeting to a Valley or Botton in the Pines Near where the Meeting was Appointed". On the i8th the town voted to adjourn to "Thirfday" December 9, "at the Same warming Ploufe where the Town Met this Day". On February 7, they met again in this "warming Houfe", but at a meeting held on July 4, 1774, they adjourned to the next Monday at two o'clock "To the Dwelling Houfe of Li*. William Mackintafli Innholder". This custom of adjourning to taverns grew, and on June 10, 1783, the meeting was adjourned "one Quarter of an hour: To meet at the Dwelling Houfe of M^ Ephraim BuUard Innholder in Needham. To meet at Seven of y® clock", which was an unusually late hour for a town meeting, even when the days were long. When Lieutenant Mackintash had become a Colonel several meetings were adjourned to his house. Some meetings were held in the West Meeting-house within the memory of persons now living, although in 1785, 1787 and 1792 the town refused to have even one third of the meetings in the West. Perhaps the first town meeting held in the West Meetinghouse was that of June 10, 1778. In 1795 the town voted to hold an annual town meeting there, and to "Change by Rotation yearly". In 1822 the vote was to hold two thirds of the town meetings in the East Meeting-house, including "all the ocational or annual Meetings". The Presidential and State election in 1836 was held in the "Vestry under the Meeting-House in the West Parish", and until the new poor-house was built meetings were held in this vestry.

On March 13, 1780, it was voted to "Chufe the Town Clerk and the firft Select man at One Vote"; Lieut. Robert Fuller was chosen. The custom then was to elect each official separately, as is still done in some Massachusetts towns. In 1803 the clerk was paid $4.36 for recording fiftyfour births and deaths. In 1845 he was allowed $12 per year, and was paid for the preceding two years.

In 1875 the town voted that the candidates for town officers, except the surveyors of highways, should be voted for on one ballot. This, however, did not prevent a variety of ballots.

in 1722, Ensign Thomas Fuller one in 1729/30, John Fisher, Esq., twenty-nine from 1729 to April i, 1752 (he died May 6, and was a noted moderator who presided over many annual meetings), Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery fifteen, 1732/3-48/9, Robert Fuller two in 1749, Dea. Josiah Newell twenty, 1750-70, Lieut. Amos Fuller eighteen, 1755-61, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery twenty-one, 1759-75,^ Michael Metcalf twenty-seven, 1763-76, Dea. John Fisher five, ijGj-'jG,'^ Lieut. Jonathan Day two in 1774, '75, Josiah Newell, Esq., two in 1776, John Slack on June 4, 1776, Col. William M'^Intosh on June 24, 1776, which was the last town meeting held before the Declaration of Independence.

Of the moderators prior to July 4, 1776, Michael Metcalf presided over five meetings subsequent to that date, the last one in 1791, Dea. John Fisher one in 1779, Josiah Newell three in 1777. The moderators since the Declaration of Independence, not mentioning those who have presided over less than ten meetings, are as follows: The Honorable Emery Grover ^ seventy-eight from 1874 to March 31, 191 1, Col. Mcintosh seventy-four, which, together with the meeting just preceding the Declaration, gives him a total of seventy-five from 1776 to June 10, 1793, William Flagg, Esq., fifty, 1835-60, Daniel Ware, Esq., forty-five, 1803-17, Colonel Alden thirty-six, 1 787-1 804, George K. Daniell thirty-two, 1850-81, Lieut. William Fuller thirty-one,

^ On December 22, 1773, when the excitement as to the location of the meeting-house was at its height, Messrs. Metcalf, Fisher and Day all in turn refused to serve as moderator, and Captain Kingsbery was elected and accepted. The name of the moderator of the town meeting on August 31, 1774, was not recorded.

2 On July 16, 1907, and on January 7, 1908, Judge Grover was chosen moderator, in the absence of Mr. Moseley, who had been elected for the year, and on one occasion, in 1909.'', the Judge was called to the chair, and presided throughout the meeting. The service in 1909 is not included in the total of meetings credited to Mr. Grover, neither is any meeting counted for Mr. Moseley unless he was present. The reader is reminded that the writer does not, as a rule, give the title of "Esq." in this history subsequent to 1845.

1780-1801, Israel Whitney, Esq., thirty, 1828-43, Benjamin Slack, Esq., twenty-nine, 1804-31, William G. Moseley twenty-eight from 1899 to Mar. 31, 191 1, Marshall Newell twenty-two, 1861-75, Capt. Elisha Lyon nineteen, 1824-47, Edgar H. Bowers fifteen, 1867-1900, John W. Titus fourteen, 1894-8. Beginning with 1903 the moderators have been elected at the annual meeting for the year. In 1893 the town voted to pay the moderator of the annual town meeting $15, but this was discontinued after a few years, and it was not until 1907 that the moderator was again paid, the town then voting him $25 for the year.

Representatives In The General Court

Ensign Robert Cook was the first Representative from Needham, and was elected May 19, 1712. On May 11, 1713, Benjamin Mills, Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., and Ensign Cook were chosen a committee to wait upon the General Court to get the town excused from sending a member. There were many years when no representative was sent, and the town was fined in consequence. The fines varied from £22, is. in 1730 to £12 in 1773. The town repeatedly by means of a committee, or by petition of the selectmen, whichever way the town directed, or through the efforts of the next member from Needham, got these fines either remitted or refunded. Sometimes the fines for several years were refunded at one session, and the town appropriated this money toward the minister's salary, or for the schools. The reasons given for not sending a member are shown by the petition of 1774, which was signed by the selectmen and presented to the General Court. They referred to the great cost of the poor, the many bridges "& Support of a a considerable Bridge over S'^ River in a part not contiguous to the S'^ Town", and asked to be excused from the fine incurred for 1773, and to be exempted from sending a member in 1774. They succeeded so far as the fine already imposed was concerned. Selectmen Josiah

The History Of Needham 183

Newell, Esq., and Nathaniel Fisher were paid £1, 12s. and £1, i6s., 4.6.., respectively for going to Boston in reference to this matter. Needham was fined £45 for 1788, but in 1789 the General Court refunded the money, which was used in 1790 to pay town debts. In 1799 the fine previously incurred, amounting to $90.56, was remitted. Other towns were included in these Acts. Needham was unrepresented from 18 17 to 1823 (seven years), and for 1822 the fine was $100.

On May 18, 1724, the town granted Dea. Timothy Kingsbery £18 for serving as representative, but as early as 1727 the members of the Great and General Court were paid by the Province, and the exact amount depended upon attendance at the sessions. The amount paid was added to the Province tax of the town from which the member or members came. On May 20, 1728, the town met to choose a Representative - "The Select Men Caused the presept Directed to the felectMen of the Town For to Be Read in the Audiance of the Town, and alfo Coled Upon the Voters, then Afsembled for to Bring in thire votes for the Choice of a Representitive as the Law directs infolded, the Town Brought in thire Votes fo Slow Spending the Time untill allmost Night, That then the Select men Demanded to Know what the Matter was and it was declared by feveral of the Town that they ware not willing for to fend a Reprefentitive this year". The selectmen divided the house, and finding a majority in favor of sending adjourned to the next day, and issued a new warrant for May 24, when Josiah Kingsbery was chosen. While William Bowdoin was representative he gave his pay to the town, and the money was used for the schools. There was some delay in realizing on three notes, amounting to £32, is., 6d., ''His Wardiges For Serving this Town as a Reprefenitive" in 1755. For four years Mr. Bowdoin thus gave his salary to the town, and in 1759 Amos Fuller did likewise, and 22 "Dollors", 5s., received from Mr. Fuller were used for the poor. On July

26, 1779, Dea. John Fisher, the representative, informed the town that his compensation "was made up in the pay role" "More than his wages Came to", and the excess, £28, I2s., was voted into the town treasury. On May 17, 1781, the town instructed its Representative in the General Court, Colonel M<=Intosh, to "Use the beft of his Intreft" "Refpecting Certain Men Owning Large tracts of land in the Eaftward parts, and paying little or no Tax for the Same"; these lands were presumably In what Is now Maine. In 1785 the town chose a committee of five "to Gue our Reprefentative Some Inftructions", and directed him to "Oppose Raifing a land Tax". It was a common practice in New England to instruct the representative by votes passed in a town meeting.

Town Records

The records of the Town of Needham are in excellent condition. The only striking peculiarity is that in the first volume of Proceedings, 171 1-3 1, many of the dates are written new style, which suggests a copy rather than the original, although the book appears ancient. The earlier volumes were substantially bound in hog-skin. The double dates appear in the first part of Volume I, and again in 1727/8. At the Alay meeting In 1729 the town voted to have "a New Town Book bought for to Regifi;ure Births and Deaths in", and the following spring thirteen shillings were granted to Capt. Robert Fuller "for His Buying Two Town Books". On September 20, 173 1, the town voted to buy "a (New) Town Book," to be paid for from the "Lafi: Loan Money", which amounted to £1, 2s., and at the annual meeting, March i, 173 1/2, chose "the feverall Town Clerks that have Been In the Town Namely De Timothy Kingsbery Jofiah Newel John FIfher & Robert Fuller for to Tranfcrlbe Births in to a New Town Book and to Rectlfie any MIfiiakes that appears there In". On March 2, 1767, Robert Fuller, Jr., was granted 7s., 6d. "for a new Book to Record Births in", and October 4, 1770, twelve shillings for a town book. In 1769 Amos Fuller, Jr., was paid six shillings for a new town treasurer's book; the oldest one now in the possession of the town.

In 1817 Solomon Flagg had procured a "Chest to keep the town books In and other papers"; perhaps the chest still owned by the town. In 18 19 a trunk was purchased for the use of the selectmen. In 1853 the town bought a safe, which cost, including freight, $152.72. Since 1876 the town has repeatedly been at considerable expense to protect Its records, which now number upward of thirty manuscript volumes, some of them containing more than five hundred pages, and including twelve books of town proceedings. There are fine vaults in the new town hall.

In 1883 Needham appropriated $100, as a beginning, and the town clerk, then Mr. Greenwood, and George K. Clarke were "to join with the Town of Wellesley in printing the records of the town for the first 100 years of its existence", but a similar appropriation unexpectedly failed In Wellesley in consequence of the neglect to consult a political leader, who resented the alleged slight. All of the conditions were then favorable for doing the work in the best manner and at moderate cost, as the preparation of the copy and the editing were to have been free of expense to the towns. On March 20, 1893, acting under article 18, which was based upon a petition of Edgar H. Bowers and others "to see If the town will take action in regard to the collection and publication of its history from its first settlement to the present time", the citizens appointed a committee, consisting of Edgar H. Bowers, Charles C. Greenwood, James Mackintosh and Emery Grover, to "Inquire Into the matter of preparing and publishing the history of the town, and report upon the expense and expediency of such publication, and any facts in connection with the same". Mr. Greenwood declined positively to write a history of the town, and the subject continued in abeyance. On March 17, 1902, the town appointed as a "Committee on a Town History" Thomas Sutton, George K. Clarke, T. Otis Fuller, Louis A. Holman, Francis E. Reed, William A. Probert and Edwin V. Lawrence. This committee reported In the Town Report for 1902, advising that no action be taken until Mr. Clarke had had ample opportunity to prepare a history of the town.

Curious Items From The Town Records

In the warrant for the town meeting on May 20, 1745, was the following article: "to See what the Town will do with their Law Book that Cap* Robert Fuller keeps In his hands". On March 14, 1757, the town voted to allow "Thomas Metcalf Town Clerk his Co ft and Charge In Defending himfelf and Town In that Eregularous Vote which was Paft In May Meeting In the year 1754 which he was Complaned of to our Superior Court for not Recording". Two years later he got £8, 8s. as the result of this vote. On May 15, 1761, the selectmen granted Samuel Macklntler six shillings for attendance upon the Superior Court "Upon the Requeft of m'' Thomas Metcalf our Late Town Clerk In the affair of that Erregular Vote which M'' Townfend Complained of him for not Recording". On February 18, 1766, the selectmen deducted from £2, 6s., 9! d. granted to Mrs. Hannah Coller for teaching the sum of 6s., 72d. "which She Ordered Eleazer KIngsbery Ju='' to take Upon the Account of Shoes Said KIngsbery Got for her Upon her Defire". On October 27, 1766, the town instructed Lieut. Amos Fuller, Its representative In the General Court, not to vote "To have the Damages that was Suftalned to Pertlculer Perfons In Bofton In the year 1765: Repaid". A rate of £40 was voted on March 19, 1779, the money to "be put Into the hands of the Select^ men To be Used at their Decretion: To Help Zebadlah Pratt to his eye Sight again". Pratt had been a Lexington Alarm man, and perhaps had been injured In the service of the town. Blasting rocks was occasionally the cause of serious mutilation In the days of yore. On August 31, the selectmen granted him £30 "to Enable him to go to a Doctor in Order to Git his eye sight". In 1782 Col. M'^Intosh was granted £9, 2s. "for money he paid for a horfe for the Town, and for Paftureing four horfes one week, and Shewing one horfe".

On May 12, 1783, there was an article in the warrant "to See if it be the mind of the Town to Receive the Abfentees to Come and Dw.ell amongst us, and it paft in the Negative". The town then voted to "Exclude" the absentees, presumably referring to the Loyalists, one of whom was the Rev. Mr. Townsend's son Gregory, then in exile at Halifax. On April 20, 1786, Joseph Mudge, Jr., had an order for eighteen shillings "it being the Fees Upon an Execution he Had againft C0I2 Ws M^Intolh and Lieu* Robert Fuller in Favor of John Kindreck". In 1786 Timothy Newell received from the town treasurer "one Eight DoUor Bill in New Emifion" which was "Counterfit", but the town later paid him in good money. That year Col. M'^Intosh charged twelve shillings "for finding a room fire and Candles for the Select men". In 18 10 the town treasurer, Lieut. Daniel Ware, found himself in the possession of a counterfeit bill, and the town allowed him $4. In 1833 there was discussion in a town meeting as to a bad $10 bill purporting to be on the Burrellville Bank.

Publications By The Town

In 1819 $5 were paid to Herman Man & Co. for blank orders for the use of the selectmen, which blanks must have saved much labor, as previously all the orders were written in full. On April 4, 1842, the town voted to print a report of its receipts and expenditures, for the year ending April 5, "and to furnish each Voter with a Copy". Thomas Kingsbury, Elisha Lyon and William Lyon were the committee which had the matter in charge, and the little pamphlet of eight pages, without a cover, is from the press of H. Mann, Book & Job Printer, Dedham. A similar report was printed in the spring of 1843, but no other report appeared in print until one for the year ending April i, 1852, and this contained fourteen pages. From 1852 to the present time the town report has appeared annually, and for twenty years has been a large book, often containing ndarly four hundred pages. The first printed school report was for the year 1849/50, and is larger than the early town reports, as it contains eight pages, octavo. It has the imprint "Roxbury: Norfolk County Journal Press. Over Central Market. 1850". In 1856 the report of the General School Committee appeared with the town report, and again in 1857 and in 1858, but this was not usually the case until 1870. Prior to 1865 the financial year closed in April, or in February, and from 1865 to 1877 on January 31. The town report was for the financial year, which was confusing, as no calendar year was complete in a volume. There are two town reports for 1877, one for the year ending January 31, and the other to December 31. The early editions of town and school reports were of five hundred copies, and cost about $12. The record of deaths has been included in the town report from 1864, of marriages from 1871, and of births from 1885. From 1877 to 1888 the town clerk's record of the doings at the annual town meetings, and adjournments thereof, were printed in a small pamphlet, which was without colored covers until 1888. In 1889 the town clerk's records were also included in the town report, which was issued the following spring. Beginning with 1890 the town report has contained the records of all of the meetings during the calendar year, not excepting the Federal and State elections.

The History Of Needham 189

From 1866 to 1870 the town reports give a roster of the principal town officers, and commencing with 1871 are Intended to give the names of all of the officials. The valuation and tax lists were printed in the town reports for i860, '62, '64, and annually from 1868. Several of the departments Issue reprints of their reports, and the school committee have done so for many years. In 1877 the valuation list was Issued separately.

Town Seal

At the annual meeting in 1890 the selectmen, together with George K. Clarke and Emery Grover, were chosen to procure a town seal, and after careful consideration of several designs, some of them suggested by members of the committee, reported the one adopted on March 2, 1891, and ever since In use.^

Town Agents And Lawsuits

On May 28, 1792, Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt. Joslah Newell and " Cor-* Joseph Mudg " were chosen "agents to act on behalf of the Town, and Carry on all Caufes or Suits at Law in favor or againft the Town", and such agents were chosen in earlier times as needed; the number rarely exceeding three. Two or three town agents were chosen annually for many years, but since 1879 the selectmen have been the town agents by vote of the March meetings. William Flagg, Esq., was town agent for fourteen years between 1837 and i860. In common with other towns Needham has had considerable litigation, and some of the cases have reached the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth. The settlement of the poor, road cases before the Court of Sessions, claims for damages for injuries resulting from alleged defects

^ In the pageant, or procession, on September 19, 191 1, during the Bicentennial celebration, the float representing the Town Seal was one of the best features. John F. and Sumner B. Mills personated the two white men, and George Lyman Kingsbury, the Indian, Nehoiden, which was appropriate as they are descendants of some of the first inhabitants of the town.

in highways, and, in later years, controversies with corporations have supplied most of the causes. These cases excited interest at the time, and some of them were costly, but none of them are now of importance. In settlement of the "Murphy Case" the town paid annually several hundred dollars to the widow and minor children of Patrick Murphy, who lost his life on October 7, 1898, while employed by the town, in consequence of the caving in of the gravel bank at "Hewitt's Pit". These payments ceased in 1910, and had amounted to $4000. From 1800 to 1850 the town employed as counsel Horatio Townsend, Laben Wheaton, B. Whitman of the firm of Whitman & Morton, James Richardson, Joseph Harrington, Theron Metcalf and Ezra Wilkinson, Mr. Richardson was "our attorney" at times from 1809 to 1849. In those days the fees and charges for legal service were very moderate, rarely exceeding $20 for trying a case. In later times the Honorable Frederick D. Ely, Henry E. Fales, the Honorable Emery Grover and the Honorable Thomas E. Grover have been among the more conspicuous counsel retained by the town.

Town Hall

The last town meeting before the division of the town was that held on March 7, 1881, in the town hall at the almshouse, with George K. Daniell, Esq., as moderator. Although It was the annual meeting, and a board of selectmen was chosen. It was soon adjourned to April 4, on which day the town met In Parker Hall, dissolved the annual meeting of March 7, and proceeded under a new warrant with Emery Grover, Esq., as moderator. The veteran town clerk, and a few others from what had been the West part of the town were present. The town continued to meet in Parker Hall to March 13, 1882, and on that date adjourned to the 20th, but then met on the site, as the hall had been burned on the i8th at 5.30 A.M., together with the house near, built In the fifties by Frederick Marchant. The Parker Building was a total loss, and included the stores and the post-office. The principal store was the grocery of Edmond B. Fowler, and the fact that the post-office safe had been blown open by burglars indicated an incendiary fire. This hall, long known as Village Hall, was built in 1854 by Stephen F. Harvey,^ and enlarged more than once. Obed C. Parker, who was from Nantucket, purchased it and transformed It Into a comparatively large building with a good-sized hall up one flight. The writer recalls the celebration In the autumn of 1870 when the remodelling was completed. Mr. Parker had a grocery on the ground floor, but had several successors before the structure was burned. When the town met on the site on March 20, 1882, It voted to adjourn to the Baptist vestry, where town meetings were held for two years, with the exception of a meeting at 8 P.M. on July 27, 1883, which was in Good Templars Hall, Odd Fellows Building, with George K. Clarke as the moderator. The town had anticipated leasing a portion of a building that was planned for the site of the Parker Hall, but Its construction was indefinitely postponed, and in 1884 the town leased the hall and several rooms In the new Moseley Building at a rental of $650 per year for five years, and expended $1125 to furnish the premises. Herbert Moseley sold this block In 1889 to Henry F. May, and the town leased from the latter. The first meeting In this hall was that at 4 P.M. on August 4, 1884; Edgar H. Bowers was moderator. In 1888 a committee of five, which had been chosen to consider building a town hall, reported by its chairman, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker, that a suitable hall could be built for $27,500, and also submitted a plan of Mr. M'^Kay of Boston for a brick town hall with granite trimmings, which he stated would cost from $25,000 to $30,000. The town, however, decided to accept an offer made by Herbert Moseley, and leased of him for another term.

New Town Hall

On March 2, 1902, the town accepted the report of a committee of nine in favor of building a town hall. Edgar H. Bowers was the chairman of this committee, which had been chosen on November 26, 1901. On March 17, 1902, a building committee was chosen consisting of Rodman Paul Snelling, Daniel Webster Richards, Emery Grover, John Edward Buckley and Harrie Sumner Whittemore. The corner stone of this fine public building was laid by the Grand Lodge of Masons on September 2, 1902, and it was dedicated on December 22, 1903, at 8 o'clock in the evening. The cost, including furnishing, was about $57,500. The hall is located on the Common, and consequently no land was purchased. In August, 1902, $250 were voted to defray the expenses attending the laying of the corner stone, which ceremony was a part of the Old Home Week programme. It took place in the afternoon, there having previously been a procession headed by Dodge's Cadet Band of Natick, which later participated in the exercises. The furnishing of the hall was only to the extent of $2500 in 1903, and since many expensive desks, etc., have been added. The plans for the town hall were drawn by Winslow & Bigelow, and Mead, Mason & Co. were the contractors.

Town Caucus

The town caucus is somewhat peculiar to Needham, and is unintelligible to people who never heard of a caucus called by the selectmen to nominate town officers, and having no connection whatever with Federal or State politics. Such a caucus was first ordered by the town at its annual meeting in 1875, and was to be called the following year at least four days before the annual town meeting. Until recently this caucus has rarely been omitted, and on the whole has been of advantage to the town. The first caucus after the divi-

The History Of Needham 193

In 1870 a committee of nine was chosen to draft by-laws for the town, and the next spring this committee was increased to twelve. By-laws as to truants were adopted in 1877 and in 1887, and a general code in 1880, which latter was submitted to the Superior Court for approval. Town by-laws have since been adopted on March 2, 1891, and plumbing regulations, or by-laws, in 1894 ^^^ i^ 1896. At the annual meeting in 1900 the nine o'clock curfew law, which had been rejected the previous year, was accepted, but public sentiment did not sustain its enforcement. On January 13, and on March 7, 1910, the town adopted a code of by-laws, which were approved by the Attorney General on March 30th.

The First Meeting-House

On December i8, 171 1, the town chose Benjamin Mills, Richard Moore, Sergeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Jeremiah Woodcock, Robert Cook, Ephraim Ware, Andrew Dewing and Timothy Kingsbery a committee to decide where to build a meeting-house. The sites proposed were a little plain upon the hill against Matthias Ockinton's field,^ and a similar elevation on the south end of North Hill. All but Moore and Dewing reported on Christmas day in favor of the location first mentioned, and the meeting was "lengthened" to consider the matter. It was voted to build, and £80 were appropriated, one half to be paid in work. Ensign John Spring of Newton was their choice for master workman, and Messrs. Mills, Fisher, Smith, Woodcock, Cook and Ware, of the former committee, with Sergeant Jonathan Gay, Thomas Fuller, John Smith, Jr., Joseph Mills, Eleazer Kingsbery and George Robinson, were chosen as a building committee. The town meeting on Christmas day illustrates the disregard which the Puritans had for that festival. The location was not then finally settled, and was referred to the General Court, whose committee reported, June 18, 1712,^ in favor of the place where the frame already lay, and where the meeting-house was built. Thus was temporarily silenced a controversy that was to last for generations. On June 9 a committee of

' There is no petition on file, asking for this committee, and the order of the General Court forms a part of that relating to the boundary.

The History Of Needham 195

ten, Including Lieut. John Fisher and Benjamin Mills, was chosen to solicit subscriptions for the "Honerabell Raisen" of the meeting-house, and August 26, £20 were voted for the building, and in 171 3 this was increased by £50, making £150 to date.

On October 29, 171 2, the town chose Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., and Thomas Fuller a building committee, perhaps superseding that named on Christmas day. William Clark sawed the lumber, and in June, 171 3, £2 were due to Lieut. John Fisher for "Glafmg of the meetting House". On September 15, 1713, the town selected Ensign Robert Cook, Jeremiah Woodcock and Josiah Kingsbery to look after Ensign Spring, "the Carpender", and to finish the meeting-house so that It could be used. On August 16, 1714, Spring receipted for £23 in full for services, but on June 21, 1715, the house was unfinished, although In use, and £50 were voted to be expended under the direction of Lieut. Cook, John Rice and Joseph Boyden, with Capt. Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Sr., Ebenezer Ware, Jeremiah Woodcock and Thomas Metcalf to advise them. Many of the prominent inhabitants had worked on the meeting-house, but Jeremiah Woodcock finally completed it for £80 and prior to June i, 1717, In accordance with his bond and with the vote of the town, August 31, 1716, when various propositions as to the number and location of pews were voted on separately.

There was presumably no dedication, and in the Century Sermon Mr. Palmer suggested that the house was probably used for worship soon after it was raised, and that perhaps the Rev. Mr. Deming was the first to preach in it. In 1724 forty shillings were added to the school rate to finish the meeting-house, and in 173 1 the town voted to repair the outside. From 1720, when John Bradlsh set glass, "the breches in the Meeting house windows" required not infrequent attention. Edward Child (Childs) was for many years "the Glalher", and from 1743 to 175 1 Timothy Ellis also did such work. In 1769 John Childs was paid £1, 14s., id. "for his Glafing Two New windows at the Meeting houfe" in 1768, and replacing other glass. On March 14, 1736/7, the town voted a rate of £40 to repair the meeting-house, build pews, and prepare a place for the town's stock of ammunition. Under this vote about £10 were paid to Eleazer Kingsbery, £8 to Samuel Parker and £56 to Capt. John Fisher. The previous year Jonathan Smith and Benoni Woodward had been chosen a committee to make repairs, but the means were not provided. A report of Messrs. Fisher, Kingsbery and Parker was rejected at a meeting on November 28, 1737, but £35 were finally voted to pay for necessary repairs not anticipated. In 1745 some repairs were made, and in 1748 the selectmen appointed Caleb Kingsbery "to Mend the feats in the Meeting houfe and put up and faften the Cafements that want and to alter the powder Cheft for the Town ftock ammunition to be put in and to find a lock and Key if need be &c". He was paid £3. In 1749 Aaron Smith strengthened the doors with irons, and on October 4, 1752, the "over plufh" of the representative's pay was devoted to repairs, and also a rate of £6, 13s., 4d. Deacon Fisher, James Smith and Jonathan Parker were the committee on repairs, which proved to be considerable. Three of the workmen boarded five days with Ensign Thomas Fuller at the Fuller-Mills house.

On June 5, 1760, the report of Samuel Mackintier, Timothy Newell and Amos Fuller, Jr., was accepted as to repairs of the east end and roof; they had been appointed May 24, 1759. On May 18, 1763, the town voted to repair the meeting-house, and chose Michael Metcalf, Ebenezer Fisher and Capt. Ephraim Jackson a committee for that purpose; about £8 were later granted to the members of this committee for the work. On January 31, 1769, £i, 12s., were granted to Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher for three window frames and sashes, and putting them up at the meeting-house.

The History Of Needham 197

At four o'clock on the morning of October 18, 1773, the Rev. Mr. West, who lived where George K. Clarke resides, was awakened by a light shining on his eyes, and discovered nearly the whole roof of the meeting-house enveloped in flames. It was very dry, and only the hinges, some nails, and a piece of red plush or velvet from the pulpit are known to have been saved. The people gathered at the ruins, many of them in great distress, and bitter against the incendiary, whose identity is still "known only to God". The feeling in regard to a new meeting-house, and its location, had become intense, and had borne its fruit. At a town meeting on November 18, 1773, a reward of £10 was oflFered to the person or persons "that Shall make Difcovery of what Perfon or Perfons that Set the Meeting houfe on Fire So that he or they May be brought to Conviction". The last sermon preached in the old meeting-house was on the day before it was burned, when Mr. West chose for his text "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord". Ps. IV. 5. The same day he baptized Jeremiah, son of Amos and Esther (Kingsbery) Fuller; Mrs. Fuller's aunt Ruth was the first child baptized in this meeting-house and her son Jeremiah was the last. On March 4, 1774, Nehemiah Mills, Jr., was granted six shillings "For Two Days and half Labour, In Taking Care of the Hinges, and Nails, and Bricks, of the Meeting Houfe after it was burnt". Mrs. Charles C. Greenwood has a piece of the cloth, rescued by Ebenezer Newell, who lived just beyond the burying-ground, where George H. Rollins dwells in 191 1. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker had an ancient oak panel, 9I inches by 122 inches, which he stated came from the pulpit of this meeting-house, presumably before the fire.

The following persons took care of the meeting-house, but as there was no artificial heat until 1799, the principal duty was "to Keep & Sweep y" meetin houfe", - John Gill in 171 8, '19, '23, at twenty shillings per year for the first two years, James Kingsbery in 1724-31, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., in 173 1-3, '54, '55. John Pain agreed to take care of the meeting-house, if excused from serving as constable, from April, 1735 to April, 1736, but apparently did not. Ebenezer Lyon cared for it in 1734-6 at £2 per year, Hezekiah Kingsbery in 1736-45, Mrs. John Fuller in 1746-8, Nathaniel Ayers in 1748, '49, '55-8, Deacon Woodcock in 1749-51, and his widow, Hannah, in 1752. On June 5, 1754, the Rev. Mr. Townsend was granted £1, is., 4d., for his servant's taking care of the meeting-house in 1753 ; this was probably the negro Homer, who died April 9, 1754. Amos Fuller, Jr., took care of the meeting-house June, 1758-66, Lieut. Samuel Townsend a part of 1752, John Kingsbery in 1766, ''d']^ Ebenezer Newell in 1767-73. Mr. Newell was the first custodian of the new meeting-house, and was succeeded by Jube (colored) in 1785. Mr. Newell had charge in 1791-7.

Seating The Meeting-House

Seating the Meeting-house was a very serious matter in old times, and success was difficult, as social position, taxes paid, official station and age were all to be considered. On May 13, 1720, the town voted that the men should sit in the front gallery, the women in the pews under the stairs, and chose Capt. Cook, Lieut. Fisher, John Rice, "Sargeant" Daniell and Timothy Kingsbery to arrange the details. On November 29, 1725, Capt. Cook, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery and Ensign Thomas Fuller were instructed to "New plafe the Meetting Houfe", but not to place any boy under twenty, for they were to go in the "Weft Corner", or any girl under eighteen. On August 9, 1733, the same worthies, with Lieut. Metcalf instead of the Ensign, were to "dignifie" the seats, and on May 17, 1736, with the addition of James Kingsbery, they were again chosen to "place" the meeting-house.

The History Of Needham 199

in June two pews in the northerly corner. On March 14, 1737/8, "the Two old pues under the ftairs and the two Corner pues at the front Door" were to be "Raifed in Dignification", but a committee that attempted to make changes in the "Dignification of fix of the pues" failed, and their report was rejected on the 28th. At the May meeting the "Dignification" was accepted, and Josiah Kingsbery, Nathaniel Bullard, Josiah Newell, Jonathan Smith and Jeremiah Fisher were named as a committee to seat the people. The town allowed the women to occupy the right-hand part of the front gallery "Ecept the hind Peus"; although the next annual town meeting forbade them to have the front of the gallery. On June 19, 1738, the report of the committee chosen in May was accepted, but on January 7, 1739/40, the town reconsidered all that had been done as to "Dignifying the Seats", and adjourned to "next monday Come fevennight".

At the meeting on May 19, 1740, Captain Cook, John Fisher, Esq., Ensign Robert Fuller and Jonathan Smith were chosen to place the people. The next day, by a close vote, "the Houfe being Devided by the Pould", the women were allowed part of the "Frunt Gallery". On the last day of June, however, the whole subject of seating the meeting-house was reconsidered. It was voted that the women were to have three seats at the right of the front gallery; that "the women Shall have the right hand in the Body of Seats Below & the Eaft Side Gallery & to Set in the Pews Below whare their Husbands Shall be Plac'd"; the pew "by Madam Townfends Pew fould be for women"; and that "out Town People that Congregate with us to Sett whare they Pleafe in any of the Common Seats". Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Ensign Robert Fuller, Peter Edes, Josiah Newell and Jonathan Smith were to draft the "Dignifycation". On July 7 the report of the committee chosen in May was accepted, and it was voted to "divide the Two Pews under the Stares & make four of them". The committee to draft the

"Dignifycation" was also to seat the people. Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., however, served in place of the Deacon, and Benoni Woodward was added. This committee was to divide two pews and "to mend up the Pew by the Eaft Door". Apparently in despair the whole matter was dropped until May 23, 1753, the articles in the warrants having been dismissed, but in May the town chose a committee of fifteen with full power to seat the people for two years. The meeting was then adjourned to "y® Second Lecture Day", which was the 12th, on which day the report of the committee was accepted, and the town voted "that thofe young men that were One & Twenty Years old Should Set in Frunt Pue In the Galere and thofe that were Eighteen years old Should Set in the Side Pue In the Galire". In May, 1755, the town again voted to seat the people for two years, added five to the committee named in 1753, and directed them to report "the Second Lecttor Day". In 1762 and 1767 committees, each consisting of seven men, were chosen to place the people in the meeting-house, and on June 8, 1770, a committee of fifteen was "to Seat Perfons in the Seats and Pues In y^ Meeting Houfe". On November 9 Joslah Newell, Esq., Dea. John Fisher and Joslah Ware were designated for the same duty, and there is no further reference in the town records to this matter, which had occasioned a number of town meetings, and caused much controversy.

Discontent In The West

In May, 1733, the town, rejecting two petitions, refused to relieve the westerly inhabitants from their ministerial rates, but on March 14, 1736/7, exempted those living "beyound the Brook by Edward Wards Mill from baring aney Charge in Repairing of the Meeting Houfe", and the following June extended the exemption to the charges for repairing and building pews. At the May meeting in 1738, a request for relief from the minister's rate was refused.

The History Of Needham 201 The Second Meeting-House

On May 28, 1772, the town declined to build a meetinghouse in Baker's Field, which a committee and Mr. Mason, the surveyor, had designated as the geographical centre of the town. This field, which was owned before 171 1 by John Baker, adjoins the homestead of the late Curtis Mcintosh on the west. The town voted to build "on the North Side of the Meeting houfe; As Near as it Could be Conveniently Built"; but neither appropriated money nor chose a committee. Of the two principal votes, the first was on the location, the second as to building. On March 8, 1773, an article as to building was dismissed, but on November 4 the votes of the previous May were confirmed, against a strong opposition, and on the i8th £200 were voted to be raised by a tax "this year" by the "Single Rate that is yet to be made; And by the Same Rules that the Other Town Taxes are Raifed by this year".

The town chose by ballot Michael Metcalf, Dea. John Fisher, Capt. Lemuel Pratt, Lieut. William Mackintafh and Amos Fuller a building committee, and instructed them to take a plan or plans "Of One or more of the meeting Houfen in the Neighboring Towns". On December 9 it was voted that the meeting-house shouM be sixty feet long and fortythree feet wide, and the committee were to consult "with Some Skilfull Carpenter or Carpenters what Bignefs the under frames Should be made", and to get timber "in the Beft manner they can". They were to take further advice and to procure "winder frames and Safhes made in the Befi; and cheapeft Manner they Can", "Oake Bords to Shingle and Clabbord on", and "pitch pine Bords for the Flowers".

On February 17, 1774, the committee was empowered to obtain a carpenter and 15,000 feet of "white pine Timber for the Beams of the Meeting Houfe", and in March the town voted to borrow £100, lawful money, to meet the expense. There was one meeting in April and two in June at which votes were passed as to shingles, clapboards, "Stones to Under pin", nails and glass. On June 27 the committee was instructed to lay the foundation, raise the building, and have it "Inclof:^ after it is Raif'd in the Beft and Cheapeft Manner they Can". The meeting-house was raised on August 2d and 3d, 1774.^ The people of the East, after prayer, got to work at half past five in the morning, and the West Needham contingent, which had threatened to obstruct the raising, did not arrive till nine, and finding the work far advanced, peaceably but sullenly withdrew. In the autumn of 1880, on an occasion of almost equal importance, the tables were turned, and the affair of 1774 was referred to in triumph.

Adam Blackman of Stoughton was the principal builder of the Second Meeting-house, and was satisfactory. The materials for the construction of this meeting-house were purchased, as the numerous orders granted by the selectmen prove, in small quantities of many individuals, most of them Needham people. Of the larger items were the timber, joists and shingles bought of Dea. John Fisher, boards of Joseph Daniell, timber of Robert Fuller, and "Joice Laths Boards" of Josiah Newell, Esq. Sixty-one and one half pounds of "Iron Bolts" were bought for £1, i6s., lod. of Aaron Richardson, seventy-eight pounds of "Stur up Iron" for £2, 6s., gd., 2f. of Jonathan Bixby ; two thousand shingles, seventy feet of "Cants for window Caps and window Stuff", and some "Claboards" were furnished by May & Williams. Samuel Wight supplied "Spikes, Hinges, and Door Latches", Josiah Newell, Jr., nails. Thomas Fuller, Oliver Mills, Samuel Bacon, Lemuel Mills, Samuel Alden, Ensign Eliakim Cook, Moses Bullard, Michael Metcalf and Eleazer Fuller carted material, chiefly boards, from Boston. Silas Alden

* Mr. Palmer, in his "Century Sermon," stated that the Second Meeting-house was raised on August 3d and 4th, but Mr. West, if his autobiography is correctly quoted, gave the dates as 2d and 3d.

The History Of Needham 203

and Eliakim Cook were each granted sixteen shillings for "Carting Two Hogfheads of Lime from Bolton", and Lemuel Pratt £2, is., 3d. for going to Waltham and to Dedham, carting "Two pine Beams from Bofton", "Sawing Timber for window Caps", "Joice" etc. Ebenezer Fisher laid two thirds of the lower floor and Amos Fuller the rest of it, which took him twenty-two days; Mr. Fuller also 'put up" carpenters. Ezekiel Richardson, Jr., sold the committee eight bushels of "hair to put in the Lime to Plafter".

The following persons were also employed on the meetinghouse: - John Clark, Theophilus Richardson, Jr., Ebenezer Clark and sons, William Smith, Jonathan Day, Robert Smith, Elisha Mills, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, Ebenezer Fuller, Timothy Newell, Enoch Kingsbery, Simeon Fisher, John Tolman, Richard Richardson (he worked about eightythree days at 2s., 8d. per day), Samuel Richardson and his boy. Aaron Richards worked thirty-eight days at 2s., 6d. per day.

Dea. John Fisher had much to do with building the meeting-house, and obtained clapboards and shingles of William Sanger of Watertown. Colonel Mackintash was also active, and among his claims were items "for Rum, and Other articles he found for the Raifmg of the Meeting Houfe", some of which "articles" were bought of Moses Davis. Timothy Newell was granted 7s., f d. for a "Cheefe at the Raifmg"; Ebenezer Newell had an order to pay him for "Boarding Carpinters", "and Keeping the Mafons Horfes when they Plaiftered"; Mr. Newell was also paid £7, l8s., 8d., 3f. for "Entertaining Pepple" when the meeting-house was raised.

The meeting-house was not finished for about four years, but service was held in it on Sunday, August 21, 1774, when Mr. West preached from Job XXII, 21- ^ Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee^\

The First Church-Bell In Needham

On June 3, 181 1, it was voted at a Parish meeting "to build a Steeple to their Meeting house, of a decent form, and fit to support a bell of a size sufficient to accomodate the Parish", and that month, and the following March, $750 were voted for repairs and for the "Tower".

The names of the subscribers for the bell included those of women, and they are recorded in the Church books. The bell was made by Paul Revere & Son, and cost $407.61. On November 15, 181 1, it was in place, and was rung. Mr. Palmer wrote in the Church records "the first Chh bell ever rung in this town". This bell is still (191 1) in use. For the elaborate rules, prepared by Mr. Palmer, for ringing it on certain days and occasions see the Dedham Historical Register for January, 1893.

The Third Meeting-House

The last service in the Second Meeting-house was on Sunday, April 24, 1836, and two days later the interior of the building was stripped, and the windows removed, by a general turnout of the parishioners; Richard Boynton, Jr., took down the frame.

The old noon-house^ was transported to "Peppermill Road" (Hunnewell Street), and became the house of Jonathan Ware, who was known as "Old Peppermill"; in 191 1 the Treaner family lived in it.

^ The noon-house was an ancient institution, and when the people remained to the afternoon service it was a headquarters for sociability and gossip. Many of our people went to the minister's during the noon intermission, often nominally to get water from the fine old well east of his house.

The History Of Needham 205

The new house stood at right angles with the earlier one, and farther from the highway. It was formally dedicated July 26, 1837. Early In 1879 It was moved across a portion of the writer's homestead, where it remained for three weeks or more, and then to Great Plain Avenue whence it was taken to its present site, where after much renovation, which resulted In the disappearance of the old-fashioned pews, it was rededicated on January 15, 1880.

Several long-absent sons and daughters of Needham were interested In these changes of the Church, and one of them, Othman Wallburg, painted a beautiful open Bible on the ceiling above the pulpit. Mr. Wallburg was not born in Needham, but passed his youth here, and later became a talented artist.^

A granite bank wall was built in 1858 along that portion of the land on the western extremity of which stands the oak, probably the oldest tree in Needham. The next year the substantial fence of granite posts, connected by chains, on which we used to swing In happier days, was placed around the "Church Lot", and the trees were set out.

Of the many gifts In 1879 to the Church and Parish some of the larger were: one thousand dollars from Mrs. Wyman of Baltimore toward the expense of moving and renovating the Church, and seven hundred dollars for the same object from Dr. Israel Whitney Lyon, a generous benefactor of this Church and Parish at other times.

^ In 1870 this house was the home of William Gilbert Jones, better known as William Jones, an old-school mason, road builder and town officer. The property was owned in 191 1 by Rupert D. G. O'Leary.

^ This open Bible, on a large disk of diiferent shades of blue and gold, was lost to posterity during a renewal of the tinting of the ceiling. It was covered up or destroyed, which was an act of vandalism, for it harmonized admirably with the new cream-tinted ceiling.

Of the earlier gifts was the eight-day clock presented in 1837 by Ebenezer Fisher, Jr., of Dedham. In 1887 James Mackintosh raised a considerable sum of money and paid off the mortgage on the meeting-house and land. He contributed liberally himself, as is his custom, and devoted much time to interesting others. To complete the vestry, which was dedicated October 14, 1888, five hundred dollars were contributed through the Rev. Solon W. Bush. There seems to be no doubt that this money was the gift of either Mr. Bush or of his esteemed wife, although he did not admit it.

The furnishing of the vestry was by donations, as was the improvement of the interior of the meeting-house at other times. In 1893 the Parish received under the will of Mrs. Mary B. Emmons six acres of land, which in 1896 was sold for $1500. There was no attempt to heat the meeting-house until 1799, when a stove was set up; the first furnace was procured in the autumn of 1858. The meeting-house was equipped with electric lights in 1898, and the vestry, or chapel, in 1902.

Henry Michael M'^Intosh wrote the following in regard to the first meeting-house in the West Precinct: "My Father bought a meeting house located at West Needham, took it down and removed it to the land opposite of the now Rollins house, except three of the Porches, which were placed where the house now stands and made the body of the house. The sounding board was put over the front door. The meeting house contained much timber, oak joist, oak boards, oak clapboards, and thin oak boards split and spread open for lathing, blacksmith made wrought nails &c. The high pews were made of nice pine panel with turned rounds set in near top. The porch house was finished up as much as could be out of the building removed. The sounding board was nicely made, and after it had been a part of the Rollins house for years it was taken down, as I was informed, and removed to the parish vestry." Michael M'^Intosh

The History Of Needham 207

In a list of the names of contributors to the Massachusetts Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, printed in the appendix to the Rev. Daniel Dana's sermon, May 28, 18 17, are the following: - Dea. H. Fuller, Mrs. C. Fuller, Miss CooHdge, Mrs. R. Noyes, all of Needham, and the Cent Society of Sherburne and the Cent Society of Needham, both of the societies contributing through the Rev. Mr. Noyes. Mrs. C. Fuller was doubtless Charlotte, wife of Dea. Hezekiah, and Mrs. R. Noyes was Rebecca, wife of the Rev. Thomas Noyes.

In Needham the original and usual number of tythlngmen was two, but occasionally three or four. In 18 15 the town increased the number of tythlngmen from two to ten, which seemed quite unnecessary, as these officers had then been without duties for many years. At the annual meeting March 4, 1 8 16, a committee, consisting of Azariah Walker, Benjamin Slack, Esq., and David Mills, reported that "it is necessary to have Six TIthlngmen", and they were accordingly chosen, but in 18 17 the number was again two. The tythlngmen were not abolished in Needham till 1867, and Everett Johnson Eaton, John Kingsbury, Freeman Phillips and Richard Boynton, chosen at the annual meeting in 1866, were the last ones.

Division Of The Town Into Two Parishes

On May 28, 1764, the town heard the petition of Dr. William Deming and others " Relating to Removing y® meeting Houfe in Said Needham: To the Centre of the Town", but rejected the proposition then and again the following March. In May, 1765, and March, 1768, the town refused to have a plan made "to find where the Center of the Town

On November 4, 1773, the town was opposed to division, but heard the petition of Mr. Deming and others, who asked for a committee of five: - two chosen by each party, and a chairman acceptable to both.

The town would not have such a committee, or build at the geographical centre, and on February 7, 1774, chose Josiah Newell, Esq., Lieut. Jonathan Day, Nathaniel Fisher, Timothy Newell and Josiah Eaton to answer a petition requesting the General Court "To State a place to Set the Meeting Houfe Upon in Said Town". Twice in 1774 motions to reconsider the vote locating the meetinghouse were defeated, and on June 17 the town declined to accept the judgment of the General Court, but directed the selectmen to answer Mr. Deming and the others. On July 4th and nth the town refused to reopen the question of the location, each time by a tie vote, viz., 44 to 44 and 43 to 43.

On October 3 the petitioners were denied exemption either from their share of the cost of the new meeting-house or of Mr. West's salary, but the same day the vote for a "Diftinct Precinct" and another meeting-house was carried, and a proposition that the meeting-house, already raised, "be Removed to Baker's field (So Called)" was rejected. Reconsideration of these votes was defeated the next March, but "Cron'-" Nathaniel Fisher, Col. M<=Intosh, Amos Fuller, Dea. John Fisher, Henry Dewing and Josiah Eaton were chosen a committee to make "Propofels of Reconciliation to the Wefterly part of Said Town; Relating to the Meeting Houfe Lately Erected in Needham".

On March 30 this committee reported unanimously in favor of freeing from payments toward the new meetinghouse that portion of the town that "Lyeth at a Greater Diftance weftwardly from the Meeting Houfe" than "that part of the Town that Lyeth Eaftwardly of the Meeting Houfe, where the meeting Houfe Now Stands". The report

The History Of Needham 209

On April 8, 1776, the town directed its selectmen and John Slack, Capt. Robert Smith and Ebenezer Newell to answer the petition of the West, then before the General Court, and in June chose another committee to attempt a reconciliation, offering the West equal privileges in the meeting-house "without any Co ft of Building Said Houfe".

The foregoing abstract of the action taken by the town in reference to Its division Into two parishes is sufficiently complete to give an Idea of the attitude of the citizens. The petition of 1774, with some particulars attending Its consideration, follow in this narrative.

On February 3, 1774, the petition of Jonathan Deming and others, inhabitants of the Westerly part of Needham, was before the General Court. They asked for a committee to decide where the meeting-house should be erected, or that there should be two parishes. They were ordered to serve notice on the Town of Needham to show cause on the 17th why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted. On that day the Council dismissed the petition, but the House appointed a committee on the 24th to consider the matter, and this committee reported on May 28 that the meeting-house ought to be at "the second centre, about three quarters of a mile Northwest of the place where the old House stood", but did not think it best for the General Court to interfere. The petition was dismissed. General Court Records, Archives, Vol. 30, pp. 139 and 177.

On June 10, 1774, the petition for the division of the town into two parishes was before the General Court, and a notice was ordered for the 2ist If the Court was then sitting, otherwise for the third Wednesday of the next Session.

To His Excellency Thomas Gage EsqF Cap* General and Governor in Chief in and Over His Majestys Province of Mafsachufetts Bay, The Honorable Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives, in General Court Afsembled the 26*.'' Day of May. A.D. 1774.

That your Memorialits have for a Number of years Past Attended the Publick Worship of God in the Meeting Houfe in s^ Town Lately Confumed by Fire, which stood more than a Mile from the Centre of the Town, and have thereby been put to Extraordinary Cost and Difficulty, which has been a very great hardship. Especially to thofe Living Remote. Some being more than Four Miles Distant therefrom and others within the Limits more than Six Miles.

And whereas a Vote hath been Pafsed (by a Trifling Majority) at a Town Meeting, for Erecting a New Meeting Meeting Houfe where the Former Houfe stood, and they Perfist therein. Notwithstanding Repeated Applications hath been made for Erecting it at, or near, the Centre of the Town, and the Opinion of a Committee from this Honorable Court for the Same; under which Cruel hardship and Opprefsion, Your Memorialists must Remain Remedilefs without the Interpofition of this Honorable Court. They therefore most humbly Pray that the said Town of Needham may be Divided into Two Seperate Parishes in Such Manner & Form as to Your Excellency and Honors, in your great Wisdom, shall be thought most Convenient; and your most Humble Suppliants (as in Duty bound) shall Ever Pray.

The History Of Needham

the House. On the 9th the Council ordered the petitioners to notify the Town of Needham for the third Wednesday of the next Session of the Court; concurred in by the House the loth. Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 725, 726.

Those desiring a new parish sought the attention of the General Court during the War of the Revolution, but were informed that the Court had other business, and their request was not granted till April 28, 1778.

The First Parish Organized

The First Parish in Needham was organized on November 9, 1778, with Colonel M'^Intosh as moderator. The officers corresponded to those of the Town, which the Parish superseded in ecclesiastical matters. The Parish was assumed to be identical with East Needham. From 1778 to 1892 the parish committee consisted of three persons, with the exception of 183 1-5 (five years), when the number was five.^

Until 1834 all the real estate within the limits of a parish, wherever the owners lived, was taxable for Church purposes, subject to the laws of 181 1 and 1823. These laws permitted persons to file with the town clerk certificates of connection with another religious body, and by this means have their ministerial tax paid to the minister of their choice. These certificates were duly recorded by the town clerk. After the division into two parishes the assessors of each had the same powers as to "Minister's Rates" that the town assessors had previously possessed, and a considerable number of the First Parish rate books and valuation lists are preserved. In 1874 the time of the annual parish meeting was changed from March to December, but Is now in January. The First Church in Needham still (191 1) has the dual organization of Church and Parish.

The Dedham Historical Register for 1891 contains an account of the Clerks and of the Treasurers of the First Parish, and this periodical for 1892 and 1893 has a summary of the Parish records to 1842. In the volume for 1892 there is also a list of the Deacons of the First Church, with brief biographical notices. All of these articles were contributed to the Register by George Kuhn Clarke.

December 15, 1778. "The Hinds Seats In the body Voted by the Parish for the Negors to Set In"; i8th. "It was Voted by the Parish that no Hats Shall be hanged on the Gallery Pillows, The Gallery Seats from the East Alle to the front Voted by the Parish to the Singers".

The First Parish had to assume the debts incurred by the town in building the meeting-house. Adam Blackman, the builder, sued the parish, with the result that it was some years before his claims were settled, and that the parish was long in debt.

Neglect to swear the parish officers led to an Act of the General Court, January 20, 1790, legalizing the doings of the First Parish for a series of years.

Within a few years of the division it is probable that the people of both parishes realized that the support of two Churches was a burden, and the efforts for reunion, as revealed in the State Archives, indicate that such a plan was not unpopular.

On March 12, 1792, the town voted "to petition the general Court to Send a Committee to join Needham and Natick into two Towns more Convenient then they now are, So that two meeting housen may accomodate both towns", and on May 7 chose Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt.

Josiah Newell and William Farris a committee to act with a committee appointed by Natick. The latter town selected Hezekiah Broad, Thomas Broad and Joshua Fisk, and the two committees petitioned under date of June 5.

In this document they refer to the irregular shape and the poverty of the two towns, the fact that people had a right to sign over to the First Parish, although living six or seven miles from its meeting-house. Moreover they said that Natick could not decide where to locate its meetinghouse, and that the people of the West Precinct in Needham were unable to finish theirs. They express the hope of "restoring & establishing peace & enabling us to support the public worship of God in a decent manner", and allege that Needham was too poor ever to have had two parishes, and that Natick was involved in endless controversies about the meeting-house.

On June 11, a committee was appointed by the General Court in answer to this application, but its signers were to bear the expense of viewing the territory they described. Even free entertainments at Bullard's tavern failed to secure a favorable report, and the petitioners had leave to withdraw. While this matter was pending the First Parish chose Colonel M'=Intosh and eight other leading members "to wait on the Committee Chosen by the General Court for the purpose of joining the Two Towns of Needham and Natick so as Two meeting houses would Accomodate both Towns".

At the same parish meeting, which was on August 23, 1792, a conciliatory vote was passed, looking to a reunion with the West Precinct, but under date of March 7, 1793, forty-five men and women of that precinct sent to the General Court a bitter protest against the schemes to wipe out the "Second Parish". So far from exciting the sympathy of the Legislators, the petitioners were answered by a report that the West Parish "should be dissolved", and a change was proposed in the boundaries of the towns involved, similar to that actually effected In 1797. In this report the familiar bounds were referred to, viz., Damon's Brook, Station Tree, etc. According to the report, the ownership of the West Meeting-house was to be divided between the Town of Needham, and the Individuals who were to be joined to Natlck. The rest of the Inhabitants of the West Precinct were to have equal rights In the East Meetinghouse with those people of the East heretofore attending there.

Liberty was given to bring In a bill, which the Senate amended on March 12, dealing with the disposition of the unfinished meeting-house. Later the measure was killed, doubtless to the relief of the people opposed to the union, although in 1799 a petition was received at the State House from residents of the West Precinct desiring changes such as they had resisted In 1792 and 1793.

At the April meeting in 1820, acting under article seven, the town chose by ballot Jonathan Ellis, Col. Chester Adams, Capt. Gay, Leonard Kingsbury, Capt. Lyon, Enoch FIsk, Esq., and George Fisher to report to the town in May as to a plan for uniting the town in one Society for public worship.

The West Precinct

In 1774 money was subscribed by many persons to build a meeting-house In what Is now Wellesley, and a Precinct was organized January 19, 1775, with Capt. Lemuel Pratt as moderator. It was legally organized July 6, 1778, with Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery presiding, and dissolved April 4, 1870, when Augustus Fuller was the moderator.

Its records are in fine condition, and there Is much information as to the West Precinct in the excellent "History of the Wellesley Congregational Church", by Rev. Edward Herrick Chandler, 1898.

In the spring of 1709 the town of Dedham, in answer to a petition, had granted £8 to pay for preaching north of the river, and during the winter ending in 171 1 Mr. Hale is said to have preached there, at the expense of the inhabitants. During the first eight years of the town of Needham the meetings in reference to building a house for worship and securing a minister were numerous, occupying more space in the records than other affairs. It is a considerable task to condense the facts, and yet include details that may be of interest. At the first meeting of the new town a subscription was taken to secure preaching for four months, and at the next, December 11, 171 1, Sergeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell were chosen to engage a minister, the Rev. Josiah Oaks, A.M. (Harvard 1708), then acting as their pastor, to be their first choice. On March 10, 1711/12, the selectmen were to agree with him to remain with them "if we can atain the Houfe of Robert Fuler to meete in upon y^ Lords Dayes for a year". This house is one of the oldest in town, and is now owned by Charles H. Snow, having been for many years the summer home of Miss Annie M. Clarke, the well-known leading lady at the Boston Museum.

On June 12, 171 2, as Mr. Oaks declined to stay, the town voted a rate of £25 to pay for preaching, including what was due Ensign Robert Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Thomas Metcalf for entertaining Mr. Oaks, and also voted to engage Mr. Deming for three months. The latter's Christian name does not appear in our records, but he was

The History Of Needham 217

On August 12 the town offered Mr. Deming £50 and his wood to preach for a year with a view to settlement, and Lieut. Fisher, Benjamin Mills, Sr., John Smith, Sr., Robert Cook and Richard Moore were to negotiate with him. On October 29 the town voted to pay Robert Fuller twelve pence per week for the use by Mr. Deming of a portion of his house and barn, with the condition that In case Mr. Fuller wanted his little room In the spring he should provide Mr. Deming with another study.

In March Mr. Deming with his horse and cow, which had been kept at the town's expense, left Mr. Fuller's, and on March 16, 1712/3, the town by forty votes formally gave him a call. This action was perhaps the result of the appointment at the annual town meeting, on March 2, of a committee of four to advise with the Reverend Elders with regard to Mr. Deming. A salary of £60 and wood was offered him, together with a settlement of £60, which was to be paid before December i, 1713. On May 11 Lieut. Fisher, Ensign Cook and Eleazer KIngsbery were chosen collectors of Mr. Demlng's salary, and by direction of the selectmen, December 29, Fisher was to pay £9, 6s. direct to Mr. Deming, Cook was to pay £8, 13s., 3d., and KIngsbery ^^j Ss-j 3d. to the selectmen, but Constable Mills completed the collection. Mr. Deming declined after long negotiation.

Of the numerous committees chosen from 17 13 to 1720 to supply the pulpit and to seek advice of the "Reverend Elders", only a few will be mentioned. There were no less than twenty-one other committees, usually consisting of three men, but occasionally of more, and Ensign Cook, later a captain, served on nine of these committees, Benjamin Mills, Sr., on eight, Lieut. John Fisher, later a captain, and Timothy KIngsbery on seven each, Sergeant Joseph Danlell, Jeremiah Woodcock, John Smith, Sr., and Ebenezer Ware on six each. Some of these committees were important, even when their efforts were fruitless, and the men serving on them were leaders in the community.

A minority was opposed to Mr. Deming, and a Council of Elders met in Needham the second Wednesday of September, 1714, to adjust the difficulties. Messrs. Robert Breck, A.M., of Marlborough, Joseph Belcher, A.M., of Dedham, Peter Thacher, A.M., of Milton, and John Swift, A.M., of Framingham were invited by the town, and Mr. Deming was to select others, but perhaps did not, as he left town soon after, and on April 20, 17 17, receipted in full for services in Needham. The people seem to have been discouraged as to obtaining a minister, and on November 16, 1714, they appointed a committee to consult the noted Doctors of Divinity Increase and Cotton Mather, the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, A.M., of the Old South Church in Boston, and Messrs. Belcher, Thacher and John Danforth, A.M., the latter of Dorchester. With the three last named they conferred at other times. In December £30 were voted to pay for preaching, and at the annual meeting, March, 1714/15, after listening to the written advice of the three ministers last mentioned, the town voted to hear three candidates suggested by them. Lieutenant Cook, Sergeant Daniell, Joseph Boyden, Samuel Parker, George Robinson, Joseph Mills and James Kingsbery were at this time the committee to find a minister. April 13, 1715, was appointed a day for fasting and prayer, and Benjamin Mills and John Smith were to secure the assistance of the "Elders". The selection of a day to especially invoke the Divine help in securing a minister was customary in later times in Needham.

On April 19, 171 5, the town considered the names of four possible candidates, and the choice was between the Rev. Samuel Terry, A.M. (Harvard 1710), and the Rev. Mr. Craghead. Mr. Terry won both on a ballot and by a hand vote, but declined the call, although there was a liberal subscription ^ toward his settlement, which was to be £80. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Joseph Boyden were chosen to negotiate with the "worthy mr Terry". On August 23 the town called Mr. Craghead, but without result. On June 6, 17 16, the town considered the names of Messrs. Perkins, Allen, Clark and Crocker, but did nothing further than to appoint a committee to consult with the Rev. Mr. Belcher of Dedham, the Rev. Mr. Baxter of Medfield and the Rev. John Cotton, A.M., of Newton.

In November, 1716, £50 were voted to " Soport & uphould the worshipt of god", and Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Ebenezer Ware were to ask the Fellows of Harvard College to furnish them with a minister for four months. In December an attempt was made to obtain the services of Mr. Walter, but with what success does not appear.

In January, 1718, a rate of £25 was voted to pay ministers and for their entertainment, but probably there were many Sundays at this period when no one officiated. On April 15 the town met to hear the negative answer of Mr. Spear, and appropriated £60 for preaching. In November the selectmen, who acted as a committee to supply the pulpit when there was no special committee, agreed to go to the college for a minister.

Early in 1718/19 Josiah Kingsbery and John Fisher, Jr., were paid for keeping ministers over Sunday, which indicates that they had as good houses and lived as comfortably as any. On July 22, 1718, the town called Mr. Elmer, probably Daniel Elmer, A.M. (Yale 1713), and sent a committee to consult Messrs. Belcher, Tweft, Breck and Lovering. The call to Mr. Elmer was repeated August 13, a salary of £70 with the use of the Ministerial land and his firewood was offered him, together with a settlement of £100, but in vain, although a committee was named to get

* This subscription list is at the end of the first volume of town records, and was chiefly of money, but Thomas Fuller, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Israel Mills gave "in Sawing," Zachariah Mills "in Smith work," Hezekiah Broad "in board," Robert Fuller "in Labor or timber" and Josiah Newell in work.

the Rev. Dr. Mather and Mr. Wallsworth to hear their differences. On May 13, 1719, £54 were voted for preaching, and Wednesday, June 10, was set apart for fasting and prayer. Messrs. Belcher, Baxter and Cotton were requested to assist on the fast day, and three of the first citizens were a committee for "setin these elders".

On July I the town voted to meet on the 29th, and to have present as advisers Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, William Williams, A.M., the latter of Weston, and Cotton, and to call a minister, which they did in the person of Nathaniel Prentice, A.M. (Harvard 171 5). Mr. Prentice gave a negative answer to the committee, which consisted of Captain Fisher, Lieutenant Cook and Timothy Kingsbery.

On March 11, 1719/20 (which date, like many others, is written new style, although the books appear to be ancient), the town treasurer had made payments to the following ministers, viz., Prentice, Messenger, Wigglesworth, Thomas Robe, Townsend, Foxcroft, Baass, Cook, Sparrowhawk, Seaver and Pierepont, and to Lieut. Cook, Nathaniel Harris, John Fisher, Jr., Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Kingsbery for "Keping" them. On December 4, 1719, the town asked the help of Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, Cotton and Allen, and appointed Captain Fisher, "Sargeant" Thomas Fuller and Josiah Newell to secure the attendance of these Elders at 10 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, December 29, at which time the town unanimously called the Rev. Jonathan Townsend, A.M., offering him £80 per year for his salary and a settlement of £100. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook and Jeremiah Woodcock were to arrange with Mr. Townsend, who accepted January 25, 1719/20.

Mr. Townsend'S Ministry

Mr. Townsend's letter is of considerable length, dignified and well written, but according to the copy in our town book he dated it new style, which is unlikely. He was then only twenty-two years old, a native of Lynn, and a graduate from Harvard College In the class of 1716. This letter was read to the town February 3, and a committee of eight was chosen to advise with Mr. Townsend and Mr. Belcher as to the day for the ordination, and to Inform the people when Mr. Townsend "will come to dwell among us". Any one familiar with the records can guess very closely the membership of the committees appointed at this period by the town to deal with either Church or secular aflFalrs. The eight included, almost as a matter of course, Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook, Benjamin Mills, Sr., and Timothy KIngsbery. On February 25, 1720, there was a town meeting to plan for the ordination. In addition to those who took part, a number of ministers were guests of the town, and Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Jeremiah Woodcock arranged with the Reverend Elders. John Fisher, Lieut. Cook, John Smith, Sr., John Rice, Joslah KIngsbery, Thomas Metcalf and Timothy KIngsbery were the general committee to take charge of the ordination.

Kept by Jonathan Townfend for his own Service, Ufe, & Satlffactlon. -1720 - Acts 16.4. And they delivered them the decrees for to keep &c: 2 Chron : 15.12. And they entred Into a Covenant to feek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their heart, & with all their Soul: 14. And they (ware unto the Lord - . Jer. 50.^. They Shall afk the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, faying. Come and let us joyn our felves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that fhall not be forgotten.

Wee whofs Names are hereunto fubfcribed apprehending our Selves called of God to join together in Church=Communion do acknowledge our unworthinefs of fuch a priviledge and our inability to keep Covenant with God, or to perform any Spirltuall Duty unlefs Chrift shall enable us thereunto, and in humble Dependance on free grace for Divine Afsiftance and Acceptance, wee do now thankfully lay hold on his Covenant, and would choofs the Things that pleafe him. Wee declare our Serious Belief of the Chriftian Religion, as contained in the Sacred Scriptures, and with fuch a View thereof as the Confefsion of Faith in our Churches has exhibited; heartily refolving to conform our lives unto the Rules of that Holy Religion as long as wee live in the World. Wee give up our Selves unto the Lord Jehovah who is Father, Son, & Holy Spirit; and avouch him this Day to be our God, our Father, our Saviour, & our Leader, and receive him as our Portion. Wee give up our Selves unto the Blefsed Jefus who is the Lord Jehovah, and adhere to him as the Head of his Church, and rely on him as our Prophet, Prieft and King to bring us unto eternall Glory. Wee acknowledge our indifpenfible Obligations to glorify our God in all the Duties of a Godly, Sober, and a Righteous Life; and particularly in the Duties that we ought to difcharge as in a Church-State, and as a Body of people afsociated for an Obedience unto him and an Enjoyment of him in all the Ordinances of the Gofpell: and wee therefore depend upon his gracious afsiftances for our faithfull Dif- charge of the Duties thus incumbent on us. Wee do alfo give our Selves to one another in the Lord, defiring, intending and (with dependance upon help from on high) engaging and covenanting to walk together as a Church of Chrift in the Faith and Order of the Gofpell as far as wee fhall have the Same revealed unto us: Confcientioufly attending the Word of God, the Sacraments of the New Testament, the Difcipline of his Kingdom and all his Holy Inftitutions in Communion with one another; lovingly watching over one another and watchfully avoiding all fmfull ftumblingblocks and contentions as becomes a people whom the Lord has bound up together in a Bundle of Life. Att the fame time wee alfo prefent our offspring with us unto the Lord, purpofmg with his help to do our part in the Methods of a Religious education, that they may be the Lords. And all this wee do flying to the blood of the Everlafting Covenant for the pardon of our many Sins; and praying that the Glorious Lord who is the Great Shepherd would delight to dwell in the midft of us, and prepare & ftrengthen us for every good Work to do his Will, working in us that which will be well pleafing to him. To be glory for ever & ever. Amen. Needham. March 18. 1719/20.

^ In the book all these signers are starred except Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, who outlived Mr. Townsend, and died January 27, 1767. Lydia Metcalf, who died December 18, 1770, aged ninety-three years, was the last survivor of the first female members, although Deliverance Parker died March II, 1770, aged ninetynine years.

E vivis cefserunt Stelligeri Needham. March 20. 1719/20. - This Day the Reverend M?' Jojeph Belcher Paftor of 7^ Church of Chrift in Dedham came to gather the Church in Town abovef^. He preach'd all day, after prayer after Sermon in the Afternoon he read the Probations of Lieut: Roh{ Cook. Sam" Bacon, Jofeph Boyden, & JV"^ Mills who were then gathered with us into our Number, though they never were in full Communion with any Church before. Then my difmifsion from Lynn, Timothy Kingfbury^s from ye old South Church in Bofton and Jon"-. Parkers from old Roxhury were read, then the Covenant was read that was fign'd 2 days before by 20 perfons, & wee declar'd a Church of Chrift which we were not before, after this Mr Belcher pray'd for a Blefsing upon us in a short [illegible] prayer. Wee Sang Stanza in Pf: 135. The Proclamation for a Solomn publick [line illegible]

March 25. lyiglzo. I was ordained a Paftor of the Church of Chrift in Needham by the Reverend Mefsieurs Joseph Belcher of Dedham, Jojeph Baxter of Medfield, John Swift of Framingham & Will"^ Williams of Weftown. M' Belcher gave mee my Charge, & M' Baxter the Right hand of Fellowfhip, in the Name & at the defire of the Churches that were prefent by their Delegates. Mr Cotton of Newtown with his Church were fent to & accordingly came, but there not being room in the Pulpit for him, he acted nothing in the matter of my Ordination. NB I preach'd from Rom: 1.IS.16.

June ig, iy20. Wee received to our Number & Communion, our Sifters [Married & unmarried] that were difmifsed from the refpective Churches they belong'd to. Thefe were Rebecca Fifher, Abigail Smith, Dorothy Dewing, Submit Cook, Sarah Kingfbury, Mercy Parker, Mary Woodcock, Lydia MetcalJ, Lydia Ockinton, Sarah Tomhling, Mary Barber,

The History Of Needham 225

Anne Paifi, Sufanna Dewing, Sufanna King/bury, Rebecca Hunting, Elizabeth JVilfon, l^ Sufanna Pain from Dedham, Deliverance Parker from Newton & Hannah Parker from Roxbury.

On the fame Day the Congregation joyned with the Church in contributing fomthing to defray our Charges in providing Vefsells, Hnnen &c. [necefsary things] for the Lords Table.