Newton City (part 4 of 8)

Bev. Mr. Greenougfa on one occasion expostulated with him for instructing his pupils in astronomy, - a favorite study of the venerable master; but with a natural genius for teaching, great capacity, and keen conscientiousness, he endeavored to give his pupils the highest and best in his power. ' The influence of Mr. Da\is as an enterprising citizen' has been Iiighlj beneficial to the town. Most of the trees which adorn the streets of West Newton were set out by him. The large elm in front of the old tavern-house, so called, was set out by John Barber, who gave to the town the land im* proved for the West Parish Burial-Ground, and was the first male tenant of it. A woman who had died of small-pox 'had preceded him. After Mr. Davis relinquished teaching in West Newton, on account of the pressure of other duties, his daugb* ter. Miss Harriet L. Davis, took up the work, and was a most successful teacher until she was compelled by failing health to dismiss her school. Her father gave instruction to her pupib on certain days of the week in astronomy, geology, etc., and when she was laid aside by sickness, he eontinoed the school for several weeks, hoping for her restoration.

Under the influence of a newlv awakened educational zeal, the first normal school for the uistruction of female teachers was commenced in Lexington, Massachusetts, and afterwards removed, under the auspices of that great educator aud philanthropist, the Hon. Horace Mann, then residing in West Newton, on Walnut fitreet, to the village of his abode. It was his favorite plan to keep the school under his constant super\'i$ion. The school found its home in the building of the Fuller Acad^ emy, which was bought for that puri)Ose. The Bev. Cyrus Pierce, called generally Father Pierce, was the first teacher. A model school was established in the immediate vicinity in connection with the normal school, where the pupils of. the latter had opportunity by personal teaching to put to practical use the instruction they received. Tliii school, aftcnvards under the care of Mr. Eben Steams, continued for a few years to have its scat in West Newton, where it was a most successful enterprise. It was removed afterwards to Framingliam.

Tlie late Marshall S. Rice, Esq., for twentyseven years the town-clerk of Newton, and holding office when the town obtained incorporation as the city of Ne\^'ton, came into Newton Centre, in 1824, and estoblished a private school for boys, in which more thaii a thousand pupib received a portioDj either greater or less^ of their education. His residence and school were on Centre Street, in the mansion formerly the estate of Henry Gibbs, Esq., firom whom' Gibbs Street receives its name, nearly opposite the first parish meeting-house. In this ancient house the ordaining council of ministers and delegates met and dined tc^ther on the occasion of the ordination of Bev. Dr. Homer, February 14, 1782. The apple-trees in the orchard north of Mr. Sice's house were raised from the seeds planted by his own hands, and the two fine inaples in front of the house were brought by him in his chaise-box, when they were saiilings of a foot in height, from New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Mr, Sice died February 24, 1879, aged seventyeight years and eight months, i - a man universally xespected and lamented:

- in the year 1830 an academy was commenced at Newton Centre, under a board of nine trustees. Tbfe land occupied by the academy building on Centra Street, neatly opposite Grafton Street, and adir occupied as a dwelling-house, was given to th^ IxMird of trustees for tliat purpose by Marshall S. Bice, Esq. An addition was made to the estate jn 1831, by purchase, for the purpose of erecting « boarding-house: This was a flourishing school lot many years. The first preceptor was Mr. Elbridge Hosmer, who was followed in succession by 'Messrs. Ebenezer Woodward, Bev. John B. Hague, -Bartholomew Wood, and Bev. E. H. Barstow, who .wab the last teacher. After this the academy building was sold for a private residence. The boardinghouse, in 1866, became the seat of a home and -school for young giris, orphans and others, rescued ^m the haunts of vice in the neighboring city of .Boston. This benevolent institution was, in all its history, under the charge 6f Mrs. Bebecca B. Pomeroy, an efficient, self-denying, and faithful iriend and ministering angel in the nlilitary hospitals of Washington during the civil war, and specially in the home of the chief magistrate of the nation, Abraham Lincoln. On a Sabbath afternoon, June 14, 1868, one of the inmates of the house set fire to the building, iEind it was burned to ashes, -and the site has remained unoccupied till the present time. The Home was reorganized in the house -formerly owned and occupied by Mr. Ephraim 'Jackson, southeast of the llieological Institution, and continued till 1872, when it was disbanded. Four little orphan girls, members of this institution, became the nucleus of the Orphans' Home, established on Chaidi Street, Newton, in Novem* ber, 1872, and whidi afterwards was removed tc the Episcopal parson^, which was purchistsed foi its use.

Professor Charles Siedhof, from a German gym* nasium, kept a family school for boys from about 1848 to 1853, in the southernmost of the twc houses erected for professors on the Institution land at Newton Cenlie. Both these liouses have since been removed, and now stand, altered and enlarged, on Cypress Street. The school of Professor Siedhof was afterwards temoved to the old Clark house on Centre Street, south of Wiswali'i Pond, now occupied by Mr! Jepson.

Lasell Female Seminary, in Aubumdale, was com^ menced in the fall of 1851, by Professor Edward LaseU. The large building occupied by the institution was erected in the same ye&r. Professor Lasell died soon after the institution was opened, and it was taken in charge by Josiah Lasell, a brother ot the professor, and a brother-in-law, George W. Briggs, Esq., under whom it enjoyed a marked degree of prosperity. In 1864 the property was purchased by Professor C. W. Gushing. In 1873 it was acquired by ten gentlemen' of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and reopened undei the superintendence of Professor Charles C. Bragdon. About eighteen hundred young ladies have been attendants of the school.

Moses Burbank tangfat a classical atid high school for boys from 1848 to 1852 in the basement of the First Baptist Meeting-house at Newton Centre. Thfs was both a boarding and day school. Several other and more recent private schools have existed in different parts of the town, which have held a high rank and done honorable service; but it is unnecessary, as they belong to the latest times, to speak of them partiealarly.

The First Baptist Oiurch in Newton was organized July 5, 1780, numbering thirfy-eight members. Tliere had been members of the Baptist denomination in the town many years previously. Mr. Jonathan Willard, of Newton Lower Falls, joined the First Baptist Church in Boston, December 7, 1729. Noah Parker joined the Second Baptist Church in Boston, July 21, 1749. Several others, later, joined the Baptist Church in Leicester. May 14, 1753, Noah Wiswall and others presented a petition to the town that they might be released from paying a ministerial tax for Um support of the clergymen of the town^ they being conscientious Baptists. Bat the town voted tliat tbeir petition be not granted. March 13^ 1756^ John Hammond and otliers^ who were Baptists, requested of the tonii that they might not be rated for the support of the ministry; but their request was met, after some debate, by a prompt refusal. Ill 1774 ten persons - John Dana, John Kcnrick, Caleb Whitney, Thomas Parker, Eben Bartlett, Joseph Hyde, Nathaniel Parker, Thomas Tolman, Widow Abigail Bichardson, and Elisha Bartlett - , addressed another memorial to the town, certifying that they were Antipsedobnptists, and generally worsliipped with people of that persuasion. In June, 1776, the town, urged by the importunity of these repeated petitions, at last excused James Richards and Edward Hall from paying the ministeria) taxes, and four years later the First Baptist Qmrch was formed.

In tlie autc^mn of 1740 Bev. George Whitefield preached in Newton and the vicinity, and a general interest in religion attended his ministry. From his labors sprang a movement which resulted in the formation in several towns of Separate, or New Light churches, so called. A church of this name was organized in Newton. They held their assem^ blies at the house of one of their members, Mr. Xathan Ward, who became their pastor. Most of tlie members afterwards adopted the views of the Baptists, and formed the nucleus of the First Baptist Church. They held their meetings at first in dwelling-houses, and afterwards in a school-house, ilic worship being conducted by Deacon Jonathan liichardson and Mr. John Dana, and occasionally ^)' visiting mimsters. They continued their wor- 'hip in this manner nearly twenty years. In the spring of 1780 Mr. Elhanan "Winchester, who after- ^vnrds embraced and preached the doctrine of universal restoration, visited Newton, he being then '1 Baptist, and several persons received baj^tism at ''is liands, who were embodied into the church -'illy 5, 1780, as before stated, byi)ublic cerembniis, ])robably in a room iii the house of Noah U'i>\vall, since the home of the heirs of Deacon /.Ml her Paul. The first ])astor was the Bev. Caleb JiJikmI, who continued to serve the church till January 2-1-, 1788. When he became pastor the tiitinber of members was seveotv-three : at his dismi^^ion, liinety-two; number of admissions, ninetcrn.

were to be forty feet by thirty-two, and tlie expense about £300 specie, or 81,000. The land was given for the building by Noah WiswaP. Dreading the encumbrance of a debt, the parish wis several years in accomplishing the enterprise, and it Mas not till April, 1795, fourteen years after the commencement, that the edifice stood complete. During this period a subscription had been set on foot five times for the purpose of carrying on the work. The frame of the house still stands, transformed into a dwelling-house, on the east, side of Wiswall's Pond. A vote was pssed March 19, 1782, [' that the singing be carried on, in a general ^&y> by reading a line at a time in the forenoon, and a verse at a time in the afternoon.^' In the first meeting-house no person could have a pew who subscribed less tlian £10 towards the building, llie church contained twenty wall-pews, that is, six on each side and four on each end, and '^f9^r pews back of the body seats.'' In 1802 the house was enlarged by the addition of seventeen feet to the west side, which gave space for twenty-four^ new pews. The salary of Mr. Blood was £6P, " and the loose money contributed on the Lord's days.'' The contribution-box was carried around on the lower floor every Sabbath, and in the gallery only once a month, until the year 1815. Bev. Joseph Grafton was ordained pastor June 18, 1788, liaving received a call after he had preached sixteen Sabbaths. Tlie salary promised him was for the first year £55, equal to §183, to be paid, quarterly, '' and after that to make such additions as his necessities require and our circumstances admit of." After Mr. Grafton became pastor, in addition to the salary and eight cords of wood, £ 20 a year were granted '' in consideration of the enhanced price of the necessaries of life." Several members of the parish purchased for £ 75, or $250, " half the place that Mr. Blood used to own," and gave it to Mr. Grafton as a " settlement," or present, in token of fssteem and good-will. This estate Mas the triangular estate owned and occupied by the late George C. Band, Escj., and bounded by Centre, Homer, and Grafton streets. The value of the whole estate, therefore, at that period was only S500.

The society was incorporated by the legislature of ^lassachusetts, and the act of incorpqration signed by the governor February 12, 182L The ministry of Mr. Grafton extended over a period of forty-eight yean and six months, and he had many hearers, not only citizens of Newton, but from sev- enl of the neighboring towns. The whole tf umber admitted to the church during this period was five hmidiod and sixty-seven. In consequence of the incr^siug infirmities of Mr. Grafton, through age, Bev. Fitederic Augustus Willard, of Worcester, was elected colleague pastor, and installed November '25, 1835. A new meeting-house was erected on tlie pfesent^site in the year 1836, the land for whicli WIS a donation from' Mrs. Deacon Eben White, Sr., formerly Mrs. Elizabeth King, a member of the churchy The house, as originally finished, contained seventy-six pews, of which six in the northwest comer were appropriated, free of rent, to be occupied bjr the students of the Newton Tlieological Institution. The cloclc, the gift of Deacon Beuben Stone, was transferred from the fonner -meethig-house. The last service in the old meeting-house was the funeral ceremonies of the senior pe»tor,who died December 16, 1836, aged seventyifine, having been pastor nearly half a century. Hie number received into the church during Mr. Grafton's ministry was five hundred and sixtyseven. His reuiains rest in the cemetery on Centre Street The monument commemorating his virtues and attesting the affection of his people -was erected through the eflbrts of the late Thomas Edmands, Esq., to whom the public is indebted i<K the neat and faithful inscriptions. After two years tfnd eight months Mr. Willard left Newton^ and was settled in Abington, South Danvers, and Jfeedliain, and was lecturer on chemistry in Louisville, Kentucky, and died in Philadelphia in 1866. Daring his ministry seventeen were received into the church.

The fourth pastor was Bev. S. F. Smith, whose service continued twelve years and six moiitbs, - from January 1, 1842, to June 30, 1854, - and during that period one hundred and six were admitted to the church. The fifth pastor was Bev. (Xikman Sprague Steams. His term of service began September 23, 1855, and closed May 31, 1868. During his ministry two hundred and two were received into the church. Tlic sixth pastor was Bev. William N. Clarke, whose term of service commenced May 16, 1860. Tlie church edifice, erected in 1836, painted white on the outside, and having a spread of elegant crimson damask behind the pulpit within, was wholly reconstructed in 1855-56, and the low tower, formerly in the middle of the east front, was replaced by the ateeple on the southeast comer and the low tower on the northeast comer, as at present: The church lias been twice since altered and improved, 1869 and 1874. A supplementary clmpe erected' at Thompsonville in 1867, for a neij hood Sabbath-school.

After the decease of Mr. Mcriam, the I pastor of tlie First Parish, in the year 178 toun and ^larish having become distinct from other, the First Church and society united iac Bev. Jonathan Homer to be their i)a^tor, ai invitation was accepted. Tlie ordhiation oa February 14, 1782. At the public service ; meeting-house the church formally inenewed call, and the pastor elect in like manner rei his acceptance of it. Dr. Homer graduat Harvard University in 1777, and received tl gree of Doctor of Divinity from Brown Uiiivi His entire ministry as sole pastor of the t was forty-four years. His whole residen6e the church was fifty-one years and six m< During his ministry a new church was buil fourth from the commencement of the towi dedicated November 21, 1805. His pri study for many years was directed to ascerti the precise condition in which the English vi of the Bible was left by the translators of James, and the successive variations iir th< in the translations of Wickliffe, Matthewe, dale, Coverdale, Sogers, and the rest. Dr. I manifested great enthusiasm ni this brarn study, ^nd wrote many notes, which he propo: a future time to publish. But he left them ] decease in a scattered and disordered state, sc no use could be made of them. Dr.' Home; August 11, 1843. Dr. John Codman of Do ter preached on the occasion of Iiis funeraL veinber 14, LS27, the infirmities of Dr. \ being such as to require aid in tlie pastoral Bev. James Bates was ordained colleague p and they both resigned the cliarge simultaiie April 7, 1839. Bev. William Buslmell wi stalled pastor in May, 1842; resigned D ber 13, 1846; died April 28, 1879. Dan Furber was ordained December 1, 1841.

The Common at Newton Centre was giv the town as a training-field probably as ea 1700. There is no formal record of tlie doii but tradition ascribes the gift mahdy to Jor Hyde, Sr., who died in 1711, at tlie rijje t eighty-five years. Mr. Jackson thinks he have given nearly two thirds of it, and that than one third was given by Elder Wiswall or his root. In 1702 Mr. Hyde also gave to tlie selectmen of Newtoa in trust half an acre of land near Oak Hill, for the benefit of the school in tlie south part of the town. This half-acre of land was sold after many years, and a small fund accumulated from the proceeds, which was divided among the iiihihitants of the south school-district by vote of the town, pro rata, according to the taxes which each one paid. . This Jonathan Hyde liad twentythree children, to whom he distributed his property bj deeds of gift a few years previous to his decease. Various records show by incidental testimony that tlie Common was regarded and used for many years as tlie projierty of the town ; besides . which, the existence of bound-marks and fencing aud undisputed possession for a hundred and seventy years seem to indicate a sufficiently secure title.

A similar tract. of land, to be used also for a training-field, was given in 1753, by Captain Joseph Fuller, to the military comi)any of Captain Ephraim Williams and their successors forever. Tills Common was located at Newtonville, near Washington Street; but in 17S7 the land reverted to the heirs of the original proprietor, they pnying the town for it thp sum of two pounds. This insignificant price shows how little value was at tliat time put upon real estate.

The first grist-mill in the town of Newton was erected by Lieutenant John Spring, on a stream called Smelt Brook, at the outlet of BuUough's Pond. Mr. Spring resided o|)i)osite the cemetery on Centre Street, and opened Mill Lane, now Mill Street, to accommodate the patrons of his mill. Previous to the erection of dams on Charles Eiver, alcwives, smelts, herring, and other fish used to pass np the river as far as Newton Upper Falls ; and fish-reeves, annually elected, were charged with the duty of protecting the fishing interest on the river. Smelt Brook, on which Lieutenant Spring erected his grist-mill, undoubtedly received its name from the graceful shiners which found their way into its waters.

Charles Biver, called by the Indians Quinobequin, encircled a large part of Newton, its channel forming, the boundary line on the north, west, and south sides of the town, being a continuous curving line more than fifteen miles in length. The falls on the river invited the spirit of enterprise at a very early period. Tlie first mills were erected at the Upper Falls. At tliis part of its course the waters of the river fall perpendicularly twenty feet, and then descend thirty-five feet in the course of half a mile. Here a saw-mill ^-as built in 1688 by John Clark, whose fsither, Hugh Clark of Boxbury, conveyed to him by deed of gift sixty-seven acres of land in New Cambridge in April, 168L This land was on the easterly side of Centre Street, at the training-field, and his house was on the spot now occupied by the old house formerly Deacon Ebenezer AVhite's, on the west side, a few rods north of the First Baptist Church at Newton Centre. Li 1675 John Clark died, bequeathing to his. sous William and John the saw-mill on the river, and the land adjoining. The mill and eight acres of loud were appraised at £180. In May, 1708, John Clark conveyed to Nathaniel Parker one quarter of the saw-mill, stream, dam, and eel-weir, . and half an acre of land for £13, with an open highway from the county road to the mill and ed-*^ weir. Soon afterwards William Clark conveyed tcu Nathaniel I>ongley one quarter of .the same, and these four proprietors and equal owners built in addition a grist-mill and fulling-m\U. In 1720 Noah Parker became the sole owner of the mills and appurtenances. At his death in 1 768 this whole property passed into the hands of his son, Thomas Parker, his administrator, who sold the same to Simon Elliot of Boston, with about thirtyifive acres of land, house, barn, etc., for £1,700 in 1778 and 1782. Mr. Elliot, who was a tobacco^ nist, erected snuff-mills, and that business, with the grist-mill, was carried on by him and his son. General Simon Elliot, till 1814, with additions of other works. In that year the screw-factory, wiremill, four snuff-mills, annealing shop, and dwelling-house were sold to the Elliot Manufacturing,. Company, Frederick Cabot, agent. This company removed the grist-mill, and erected on its site. a cotton-factory, which was under the superintendence of Mr. Otis Pettee, Sr., for five years. Mr. Pettee then erected extensive shops for buihling machinery for cotton-milb. Many manufactories in the south and west and in Mexico have been supplied with their entire machinery from these works.

In 1S41 Mr. Pettee purchased all the property of the Elliot Manufacturing coii\pany, and carried on the business till his death in February, 1833. Mr. Pettee was one of the prime movers and most energetic and liberal patrons of the Charles Biver Bail road, now the New York and New England, Woousocket Branch.

Jjbl 1790 the Newton Iron Works Company Built a' rolling-millj and commenced operations in 1800, opposite the small island in the river, whete a dam was built and a saw-mill erected in 1783.

In 1809 a new manufactory was built for making cut nails. Nails were sent by the cargo frmn the manufactory in Newton to New Orleans and Hit West Indies, to be used in the construction of sugar-boxes, in which they were thus returned to every port on the Atlantic seaboard. The same year the Worcester Turnpike was constructed thronffh this estate, and the bridge was built over the river. In 1813 this company erected a cottonfiuitory on the same dam, on the Needham side of the river. In 1821 Mr. Ellis bought out this company and became sole owner. In 1823 a new company of seven persons was incorporated nuder the name of the Newton Factories, and in 1835 Kofus and David Ellis became sole owners of the property. In later years the cotton-factory was destroyed by fire, and has not been rebuilt. The rdlling-mill, adjoining the bridge, was long managed by the late Frederic Barden, Esq.

Previous to 1800 the business carried on at the Upper Falls by wat^r-power was small, being only three snuff-mills, a grist-mill, and a saw-mill, and only about six families resided in the place. In 1850 there were, at the upi)er dam, one cotton-factory, with about nine thousand spindles ; machine shops sufficient to accommodate about three hundred workmen ; and a steam furnace for iron castings, employing about fifteen workmen. At the lower dam was a rolling-mill, working about 1,500 tons of iron into various shapes; a nail-factory, making about five hundred tons of cut nails; a cotton-factory (on the Needham side), with about 2,000 spindles, and manufacturing about 500,000 yards of cotton clotli annually. There were then in the Upper Falls village about 1,300 inhabitants.

The first religious society at the Upper Falls occupied the meeting-house now in possession of the First Methodist Church. The building was commenced in the autumn of 1827, and dedicated February 27, 1828. The land on which the meeting-house is built was given for this purpose by the Elliot Manufacturing Compny. The building cost about 33,300. - Of this amount the Elliot Manufacturing Company paid three fifths, and ^Ir. Bufus Ellis two fifths. The society was incorporated as Tlie Upper Falls Heligious Society, and the pulpit was supplied mainly by preachers of the Unitarian faith about five years. In 1832 tlie church ediCce was tcfid to Marshall S« Bace, Esq., of Newton Centre, and it has since been, occupied l)y the First Methodist Society of Newton.

The Methodists in Newton first formed a ''class," btit in consequence ii removals it was dissolved. In April; 1828, another ''class" was formed, of seventeen members, the germ of the present Metlio* dist Society at Newton Upper Falls. The church was organized November 11, 1832, numbering fifty-three members. Tlie meeting-house, purchased by Mr. Bice, has been repeatedly enkrged and improved. The first stationed preacher was the late Bev. Charles K. True.

The Second Baptist Church in Newton (Upper Falls) was organized February 8, 1835, numbering fifty-five members, all of whom were previously members of the First Baptist Church. The meeting-house, which liad been erected two years eariier, was dedicated March 27, 1833. It was elected on land given for the purpose by Mr. Jonathan Bixby, an efficient and leading member of the church, and in whose house the meetings had been held before the church-building was erected* Tlie property was divided into twenty shares, of which Jouatlian Bixby owned seven; three others, two each ; and seven others, one each. The first pastor, Bev. Origen Crane, was ordained September 14, 1836. He was succeeded by Bev. C. W. Denison, S. S. Leighton, A. Webster, and W. C. Bicliards. The congregation was very much weakened by tlie removal of members, resulting from clianges in tlie character of the business, and ultimately by a change in the character of the popuktion.-

A Universalist society was organized in Septem-* ber, 1841, at Newton Upper Falls. They erected a meeting-house, which was dedicated in May, 1842, and cost about $1,300. Their only regular pastor was Bev. Samuel Skinner, who left in 1845. Tlie society finally relinquished the enterprise, and the meeting-house was changed to a vilhige hall, called Elliot HalL

Catiiolic services were first held at Newton Upper Falls in 1 843 or 1844. The celebrant was Father Strain, of Waltham, and his chapel a room in the house of Mr. James Cahill. A beginning was made to collect funds for the erection of a church in 1852. In 1860 the congregaiion began to assemble reguhrly in Elliot Hall, numbering about three hundred. In 1867 the Catholic cliurch was built, forty feet by seventy-six, and dedicated November 17, 1867. In 1875 this church was enlarged by a transept, forty feet by

Newton Lower Falls is two miles distant from Newton Upper Falls» and has two dams, the upper of sixteen feet of water, the lower of six. Iron-* vorks» a forge, and trip-hammer, were erected here in 1704, when the water-power was first utilized. In June, 1708, John Leverett, Esq., conveyed to Jolm Hubbard, of Boxbury, four acres of land on Charles Biver, at Newton Lower Falls, being the same land which the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in Cambridge granted to him, and the same which is now occupied by all the mills on the Nei^ton side of the river, In 1705 John Hubbard, merchant, of Boston, conveyed to his son, Nathaniel Hubbard, one half of the fouracre lot above referred to, *' together with half of the iron-works thereon, with two fire hearths and a hammer wheel, which said John Hubbard and Caleb Church, of Watertown, are now building in partnership on said land, with as much of the stream as may be necessary for said works, with half the' dam, flume, head-wares, running and going gear, utensils and appurtenances to the forge belonging/' John Hubbard died in 1717. , In 1722 Nathaniel Hubbard, in consideration of £ 140, conveyed to Jonathan Willard> bloomer, of Newton, part of a tract of land purchased of John Leverett, with a smith's shop thereon. This Mr. W^illard had occupied the smith's shop as a tenant several years previous to his purchase and partnership with Hubbard. He is said to have been an ingenious, upright, and couscientious man, and the first Baptist in the town. He was the principal man of the iron-works and of the village for nearly half a centur}-. He died in 1772, aged ninety-five. Among the various kinds of business carried on here are iron- works, saw-mills, gristmills, snufi'-mills, clothing-mills, leather-mills, paper-mills, calico-printing, machine-shops, etc.; bat the manufacture of paper has been the principal business for the. last half-century, during which eight or ten paper-mills have been in constant o])- eration. The first pajier-mill was erected at the Loweri Falls about 1790, by Mr. John Ware, brother of Dr. Henry Ware, HoUis Professor of Divinity in Harvard University. The paper-making business, in the progress of years, assumed very iniportant proportions. The mills, here, under the auspices of Thomas Bice, F^q., for many years a most useful and influential citizen of the town, and his brother, Alexander H. Bice, Esq., ex-goveruor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, for a long time supplied all the paper for one of the most \iidely circulated daily journals of Boston. The growth of the vilLige at the Lower Falls, previous to the enjoyment of railroad facilities, was very slow. In 1800 the whole number of families did not exceed eight or ten. In 1823 there were 405 inhabitants and about 33 dwelling-houses ; in 1837, 4-93 inhabitants and about 88 families; in 1847, 560 inhabitants and about 103. families;, in 1850, 627 inhabitants and about 121 fatniliea and 80 dwelling-houses.

Public worship after the form of the Episcopal Church was first held in Newton Lower Falls in the autumn of 1811. The meetings were at first in the district school-house, and the service was read by Mr. John B. Getting. An Episcopal parish was organized April 7, 1812, and Major Solomon Curtis and Thomas Durant were chosen wardens. A hall for worship was procured in a building ,at the west corner of Main and Church streets. Thp society was incorj)orated by the> legislature of Mft^ sachusetts in June, 1813. Samuel Brown, a merchant of Boston, presented to the society two acres of land for a church and cemetery. The cornierstone of the church was laid September 29, 1^13, and the church dedicated April 29, 1814, Bev, Bishop Griswold officiating. Public worship was afterwards conducted mainly by graduates of Cambridge who were students in theplog}', and by temporar)' supplies, till November 28, 1822, whai Bev. A. L. Baury was installed rector. The Sunday-school was organized in the spring of 1818« The church was enlarged in 1838, and the basement converted into a lecture-room. Mr. Banry was rector till September, 1851. His successors were Bcv. Henry Woods, 1851 to 1858;.';Bcr. Andrew CroswelJ, 1853 to 1856; Bev. Henry Burroughs, 1856 to 1858; Bev. Benjamin F. Dte Costa, 1859; Bev. Winslow W. Sever, 1860 to 1865; B«v. Joseph Kidder, 1865 to 1868; Bev. Bichard F. Putnam, 1868 to. 1875. Bev. Henry Mackay, installed in 1876, is the present pastor.

West Newton, owing to the advantages of its location, but more to the enterprise of its inhabitants, early took a high position among the villages of the town. The large tavfrn-house, so called, still standing, shows the phice to have been, an im« portant one at an early period. Many stagecoaches, passing regularly through the village from towns, fjEtrther v^ysi, gave it prestige. Vf\\ea the Boston and Worcester Bailroad was constructed^ its station at West Newton gave the citizens of all the vicinity greater facility of going back and forth to the metropolis, and very soon suggested the possibility of doing biusiiiess in the city, and at the same time enjoying .the repose and the healthful atmosphere of the country. Tlie Fuller Academy, the first normal school, the model school, and the fact that the town-meetings were held at West Newton alternately with the meetings at Newton Centre, contributed still more to the growth of the village. The first meetings held by Unitarians in West Newton took place in the summer of 1844 in the hall of the hotel, but were discontinued in August. Tliey were revived again in 1847, and held in the lilli^ hall. Among the prominent early members were William Parker, Esq., and tlon. Horace Mann. |tev. Arthur B. Fuller spent three months in West Newton in 1847-48, and aided in gathering the society. The first pastor was Bev. MTilliftm Qrne White, who was ordained in the village hall November 18, 1848. The first communion service was held January 7, 1849. After two yeairs Mr. White resigned his office and removed to Keene, N. H., where he was pastor twenty-seven years. Bev. William H. Knapp was pastor from 18^1 to 1853, and the next year Bev. C. E. Hodges engaged to preach on Sabbath afternoons at West Newton, and Sabbath forenoons in Watertown. Bev. Washington Gilbert followed for two years, Bev. Joseph A. Allen for two years, Bev. W. H. Sayary for three years, John C. Zacchos for two years, and bter, Bev. Francis Tiffany. After worshipping in the village liall thirteen years, the present church edifice was built, and dedicated November 14, 1860. . The BaptiH Church at AVest Newton was organized in Newtonville, December 1, 1853, and held meetings in Tremont Hall several years. The first pastor was Bev. Joseph M. Graves ; the second, Bev. B. A. Edwards. In March, ISCO, their unfinished- house of worship, built of brick, now the Methodist Church of Newtonville, was sold on aecount of embarrassments, and tlie meetings were suspended till June, 1S66, when the church was reorganized at West Newton, semccs being held in the village hall, and tlie pulpit supplied by students of the Theological Institution. The church edifice, near Lincoln Park, was dedicated in August, 1871. The poston since the reorganization have been Bev.

In 1874 about twenty colored i)ersons in West Newton fonned a church, denomiiuited the Mvrtle Baptist Church. They erected a small chapel (dedicated in June, 1875), and soon increased in number to one hundred and eighteen. Bev. Edmund Kelly was pastor one year.

Father Michael Dolan took charge of a congregation of about two hundred iiersous of the Bomau CathoUc persuasion in Boyden Hall, Newton Ix)Wlcr Falls, and with these persons in 1874-75, at a cost of about 315,000, he built a church on Washington Street, now St Bernard's Catholic Church, West Newton, near lincolu Park.

Tlie village of Aubumdale originated in a suggestion of tlie Bev. Dr. Lyman Gilbert to the late Bev.C. D. Pigeon (graduated at Harvard Uuiversilv, 1818, died 1872) . While Newtonville was. only'a flag-station on the Boston and Worcester Bailroad, and its growth was all in the future. Dr. Gilbert casually remarked to Mr. Pigeon that he anticipated that it would come to be a place of importance, and that money invested in land at that locality would prove a success. He believed thatif a small number of persons, from five to eight, woufd purchase season-tickets between that iK)iut and Boston, with the intention of making daily trips to the city, the railroad corporation would make it a regular stopping-place, and thus it would soon become the nucleus of a considerable village. Mr. Pigeon, a descendant of John Pigeon, whose name became famous at the begiiming of the Bevblutionary War as the stanch patriot who gave two field-pieces to the town of Newton, said to liimself, " And why not also a similar station on the same conditions a mile or two farther westward ? *' where the home of his ancestors was still standing. Acting on the thought, his plan was formed, and Aubumdale began to be. The first important enterprise in that part of the town was the erection of the Lasell Female Seminary. Numerous residents soon began to come in.

The Congregatmial Church, in Aubumdale, was organized November 14, 1850, with thirty-three members. The hall of the Lasell Seminary was placed at the dis])osal of the church for two years after its organization, and the religious services were conducted in tuni by several resident ministers, - Bev. Sewall Harding, Bev. J. E. Woodbridge, and fiar. H. G. Wheeler. Tlie church edifice was dedicated in 1857, nud lias been since enlarged. The pastors have been Eev. E. AV. Clark, 1857 - 1861 ; Bev. A. II. Carrier, 186i-1866; and Eev. Calvin Cutler, installed in May, 1867.

,Thc Centenary Methodist Cliurdi, at Aubumd^Ie, originated in meetings first held in August, 1S60, in private houses, and afterwards in an unoccupied school-liouse. The first sermon by a Methodist - clergyman, preached in the interests of Methodism in this part of Newton, was by Bifv. George W. Mansfield, November 18, 1S6Q. The sacrament of the Lord^s Supi)er was first administered by Hev. L. P. Frost, of Waltham/ December 1, 1860. The Sabbath school wa$ commenced, January 27, 1861. The church was oi^nized, with twelve membersf. May 25, 1862. The place of worship which had been occupied by the society was burned July 22, 1865. Thei comer-stone of the new chapel was laid December 25, 1866, and the chapel dedicated May 25, 1867.

- Episcopal worship was held in. a hall standing near the comer of Auburn and Lexington streets, Aubnmdale, as early as 1858. This liall was afterwards burned. A meeting was held to organize the parish at the house of Jeremiah Allen, West Newton, September 8, 1871. Regular services were first held in the village hall, West Newton, July 16^ 1871, and continued from that date, either in the same Imll, the Unitarian Church, or t^e chapel of Lasell Seminary, Aubnmdale. In July, 1872, Eev. C. S. Lester became the first rector, and resigned in March, 1873. He was succeeded by. Eev. H. W. Fay. and Eev. Francis AV. Smith. The name of the society was changed, April 16, 1877, from the Church of the Messiah of AVest Newton to the Church of the Messiah of .AVest Newton and Auburndale. Tlie services havq since been held in the chapel of the LascU .Seminary. Mr, Smith resigned October, 1877.

In April, 1635, a strip of land on the south side of Charles Eiver two hundred rods in lenc^th and sixtv rods in breadth, near the location of the bridge subsequently erected, was set apart to Watertown,. thus irivini? to AVatertown seventv-five mutual arrangement, this space was increased to eighty-eight acres. The whole length of the riverbounds of Newton, from 1679 to 1838, was fifteen and fifty-one rods ; the whole length of its land-bounds, nine miles minus fifty-one rods. The whole length of its land and water bounds together, in 1838, was twenty-four miles, and the town contained an area of 14,513 acres. In 1838, 1,800 acres from the south part of the town were ceded to Eoxbury, and in 1849, 640 acres from the northwest part to AValtham, reducing the area to 12,073 acres. Covering, geographically, a wide area, as it did in the begimiing, its villages were mainly disposed around the circumference, and the actual centre of the town was left nearly in its native wildness, until in the latest times it has been covered by an Irish population.

In 1660 the bridge was built across Charles Eiver called the Great Bridge, connecting the north and south sides of the river. It was le* paired a few years later, the timber being used for tliat purpose which had been prepared to fence the' town with a stockade as a protection against the assaults of Indian invaders, -=- the termitiation of King Philip's AVar and the humiliation of the sav* age tribes rendering such a defence no longer necessary. In 1690 this bridge was rebuilt at the joint ex])ense of Cambridge and Newton, with some aid from the public treasury. It was across this bridge that tlie troops of Lord Percy marched on the 19th of April, 1775, to meet their humil* iating defeat at Concord and Lexington. Tlie American patriots took up the flooring of the bridge to prevent Percy's advance, laying the planks id a pile not far away, that they might be conveniently restored when the danger was past. But Lord Percy's men soon found them and replaced them. Tliis is the bridge in Cambridge over Charles Eiver which has been long known ai Brighton Bridge, comiecting, as it does, the tQwna of Cambridge and Brighton. Before the erection of Cambridge Bridge (West Boston Bridge), the travel from Cambridge jwssed, by this bridge, through Brookline and Eoxbury, over the ntek, to Boston.

In 1741 mention is made of a bridge at Newton Upper Falls, called Cook's Bridge, uniting Newton with Needham. In 1743 the records si)eak of a bridge between Neu-ton and AVeston. In 1753 a new bridge was completed between these towns, ninety-eight and" two thinls feet in length. In 1761 a bridge was built between Newton and AValtham, at the joint ex])ense of the two towns. It cost the town of Newton £ 12 16^. 5 f/., much of the timber for the structure having been given for the purpose by private parties. In 1765 the town voted to build one half the bridge called Kenrick's Bridge, the name being dae to the foet that the land of John Keiirick> one of the first settlers of Newton, was in ;this immediate vicinity. Tlie bridge on Boylston Street was built in connection witli tlie Boston and Worcester Turnpike in 1809. A bridge at the North Village was built by the Messrs: Bemis betwe^ 1790 aud 1796. The bridge on Needham Avenue was built at the same time with that bighwajr, in 1876. Tlie first bridge at Newton Lower Falls was constructed previous to 1726.

The spirit of enterprise on one hand, and the desire for greater convenience on the other, wliich characterized the people of Newton from the beginning, and led them, in the earliest times to seek separadon from Cambridge, continued to operate at a later period. Several families at the south part of the town, finding that they were nearer to the meeting-house in Boxbury than to their own, petitioned to be set off to tliat town for the purposes of public worship;. and after much debate and opposition their petition was granted. When the meeting-house of the First Parish Church was built in ita present location^ the decision and the putehase of the land were preceded by long-continued and earnest inquiries as to the geographical centre of the town, tlie comparative distance from that point of the various families in the outskirts, the number of families attending worship in each portion of the town, and the possibility of providing for the equal rights aud privileges of all. And it was in consequence of these inquiries and the result of them, that the town determined to purchase of Mr. Nathaniel Parker, in 1716, the land on which the church edifice has stood without opposition from that date to tlie present time. In the earliest days of Newton this land was part of the estate of Mr. Jonathan Hyde. The course of events in later times lias shown that the fathers of the town, unwittingly, formed a wise decision which entitles them to the gratitude of posterity.

In the period extending from 1838 to 1845, the question of the division of the town into two independent organizations was warmly contested. Two or more lines of division were at different times proposed, partly xi-ith jeference to geographical extent^ partly vni\\ reference to population and the location of the different villages in the town. Owing to the peculiar configuration of Newton, and the dispo^ of most of its villages at that period nearly on the circumference, because of the water privileges on Charles lUver on the one hand, and the conveniences created by railway stations along the line of the Boston and Albany Railroad on the other, many favored a division. Others preferred to remain a united ^)eople, maintaining tluit no line of division could be drawn trhich would be alike equitable to the organizations formed on each side of it. Some favored division, but were not satisfied with any of the lines pro** posed. Petitions and counter-petitions to the town proved uimvailiug. Petitions were numerously signed and presented to the legislature of Massachusetts, advocated, contested, accepted, rejected. Among the champions in favor of division who were most forward in debate was Mr. Setb Davis, of West Newton ; on the other side were Rev. Samuel Skinner, then residing at Oak Hill, and the late Thomas Edmands, Esq., of Newton Centre, all good and true men and upright citizens, and conscientious in the advocacy of th^ir several views. Tlie |)eople were instructed by the earnest aud excited discussion. Sometimes a compromise was made. A vote was passed to hdd the townmeetings half the time at tlie West Parish and lialf the time at the Centre. Then, an arrangement was entered into to use tlie luill of Fuller Academy, for town purposes, nltemately with a new town-hall to be erected at the east part of the town ; and in conformity with this vote a hall was erected near Newton Centre, on Centre Street, opposite the building formerly used as the meeting-house of the First Baptist Church. Under the ahcient system of town governments and parishes in the state of Massachusetts, when the parish and the town were one, the meeting-house was the property of the town, and the natural and rightful place for the to\ni-meetings. But when the parish and the town became separate organizations, aud the people were gathered into several parishes m the same town, each erecting its own church edifice, no parish was any longer under obligation to supply a place for the town-meetings to the entire town. The First Parish about this time objected to the holding of the town-meetings in their place of worship, which no longer belonged to the town, but to a single society; and this action doubtless urged the citizens to a definitive settlement of the difficulty. About this time a vote was passed to hold all the town-meetings at West Newton. The town-hall that had been built at Newton Centre was, after an interval, removed to the northeast comer of Station and Centre streets; and used bj tlie people as a village ball for lectanesand public meetings, receiving the name of Ljfceum Hall. It was afterwards removed again to. a point nearer the railroad station, and became a stable, iind was ultimately burned. When the new church of the West Parish Society was built on its present site, the old meeting-house, removed a few feet westward, was remodelled as a toTO-lmll. After Newton became a city, the same bttildingy again altered and enlarged, and fitted to tile wants of the several municipal offices, was tiansformed into the city hall. An increasing population and new elements among the |)eople, the system of graded schools, an improved })olice, an efficient fire department, pride in the history of the town, and a more equable growth in all its parts, exercised a unifying influence ; and the divisionof the town has been not only no more mooted but no more desired. And its present status as a united city, as a culminating argument, has made it finally and indisputably one. . I I

The Newton Theological Tnstitltion

This institution was ojiened in 1825, under the {ntronage of the Baptist denomination. The land in Newton Centre on which the buildings are sit- ^lated was formerly the estate of Mr. John Peck. Instruction in the institution was first given in a liouse, since removed, on a lot next west of the Harback House, near the junction of Ward Street and Waverley Avenue. The first officer in the institution was Professor Irah Chase. Tlie first class which graduated consisted of but two members, Eli B. Smith ^nd John E. Weston. The territory belonging to the institution at the beginning consisted of about eighty acres of land, and was afterwards enlarge^ by the purchase of forty additional, bounded by Pound Lane (Cypress Street) on the soutli. Centre Street on the west, and Station Street on the north, including the present school-house lot and the site of many fine residences on streets since laid out. The comely mansion-house which stood on the crown of the hill Mas used in the early days of the institution for a steward's residence and boarding-house for students. Tlic attic story, containing four dormitories for students^ used to be denominated " the crow's nest.'^ A stranger on a certain occasion, alluding to th^ breezy situation of the building and the cupola on it, perhaps also to the annual grist o( young men sent forth from its halls, pleasantly asked the Bev.

Mr. Oiafton, who was a man of wit, if that building was a mill. He replied, '' Not exactly ; I never heard of but one peck being ground there.*' The humor is explained by the fact that Mr. Peck ex* pended a great deal of money in adorning and developing the estate, from which he never received any returns; and the neighbors used to call the place Peck's' Folly. Two houses for the use of professors were built on the south side of Institution Avenue, about half-way from the summit of the hill to the Common ; they have since been removed to Cypress Street, and remodelled. A third house for the same purpose was built near the west line of the original estate, first occupied by Bev. B. Sears, D. D., and now by Gustavus Forbes, Esq. The following have been professors in the institution : Bev. Irah Chase, D. D.; Bev. Henry Jones Bipley, D. D.; Bev. James Davis Knowtes, A. M.; Bev. Barnas Sears, D. D.; Bev. Horatio Balch Hackett, D. D.; Bev. Bobert Everett - Pattison, D. D.; Bev. Albert N. Arnold, D. D.; Bev. George of the institution, it appeared that the whole nuiii> ber of students in the institution, whose names ar6 recorded in the historical catalogue, was six hundred and ninety-nine, of whom, at that date, one hundred and seventv-two had died. Of the whole immber, about fifty-five have been, for a longer or shorter time, presidents or professors of colleges or theological seminaries, and fifty-four - more than one for each year of the existence of the institution - had served as missionaries in foreign lands. And of these, one, Bev. John Taylor Jones, translated the New Testament into the Siamese language; another, Bev. Francis Mason, translated the whole Bible into the Sgau Karen, and a third, Bev. Durlin L. Brayton, the whole Bible into tlie Pwo Karen, languages of Burmah ; a fourth, Bev. Josiah Goddard, translated into Chinese the whole New Testament and three books of the Pentateuch. Many of the alumni have been widely known as editors, writers, and translators, " and the volumes which they liave given to the public would .make a library worthy of any man*s attention.** The cash paid for the original estate was §4,250 ; expense for alterations and repairs, 83,748.45 ; total.

History -Of Middlesex County

9,7,998.45.' Besides the subscription to pay thb imoant, & siiOcing fund was instituted at tlie begiiuiing to pay the sabries of the first professors, ud afterwards a 8100,000 fund, a $200,000 fund, and a library building fund of about 940,000. Several acres of the estate liave been sold for building purposes ; these portions are on the nest, bordering on the Common and Centre Street, extending tlie whole distance from Cypress Street to Station Street ; and on the north, bordering on Station Street, and including several streets which have been laid out within the territory, especially' Chase Street, Biplcy Street, and Kiiowles Street, named in honor of the first three professors.

' The corner-stone of the Eliot CImrch edifice, Ifewton, was laid March 19, 1845, witli religious services. The building was dedicated July 1, 1845, and the cliurch otganized the same day. The church was composed of thirty -seven members, of whom thirty-one were from the First Parish Church in Xewton Centre. The name of Hon. William' Jackson heads the list, and his influence and counsel were at the fourKlation of this important measure. William S. Leavitt, the first pastor, was ordained December 3, 1815, and was dismissed at his own request, November 8, 1853. In the spring of 1849, the house of worsliip, being iusufitcient to accommodate the increasing congregation, was enlarged by the addition of twenty-eight pews, making the whole number ninety-two, and reopened for public services May 13, 1849. The secoEid pastor, Bev. Lyman Cutler, was installed October 25, 1854 ; but his health declined rapidly from tlie time of liis settlement. He was able to preach but once a day for eight successive Sabbatlis ; he administered the sacrament the first Sabbath in January, 1855, and then asked for a suspension of his labors for three months, which was granted. But he continued to decline, and died April 28, 1855. June 11, 1856, Kev. J. W. WeHmaa was installed pastor, and remained in office about seventeen years. The old chureh-building was removed a few rods northerly, and converted into a pnblic hall, and the present house of worship, ou the original site, was commenced about January 1, 1860. The corner-stone was laid on the day of the state Fast, April 5, 1860, and the church was dedicated on tlie following Fast-day, April 4, 1861.

Tie CkauHiug Churchy at Newton Comer, had its origin in meetings held by a few persons of the [ Unitarian faith in Union Hall. The society was formed September 2, 1851, and the Sabbath-school iras organized in April, 1852, the late Dr. Henry Bigelow being superintendent. The Rev. Convers Francis, professor in the Divinity School at Cambridge, supplied the society with preaching. January 3, 1853, Eev. Joseph C. Smitli, Calvin Bailey, and Samuel G. Simpkins were appointed to prepare a form expressive of their common faith and fellowship. The first pastor of tlie society was the Bev. Joseph C. Smith, who preached i\\t last sermon in Union Hall, and the dedication sermon of the new house of worship erected for the society, - in February, 1856. The church was organized in February, 1853. Mr. Smith supplied the pulpit four years, and then, on account of failing health, he left, and sailed for the Sandwich Islands, where he died in December, 1857. His remains were brought to this country, and rest in the Newton Cemetery. The second jMstor was Bev. Edward J. Young, who was ordained June 18, 1857, and resigned Marcli 15, 1869, to become professor in the Divinity School of Harvard University. May 30, 1860, the church edifice was struck by lightning, but tlie fluid passed into tiie grouud, doing but little damage to the building. iev.. Eli Fay, the third pastor, was installed May 4, 1870, and resigned March, 1873. He was followed by Bev. George W. llosmer, D. D., formerly president of Antioch College, Ohio, who commenced his service November 14, 1873, being at that time within two weeks of threescore years and ten. In 1867 the house of worship was enlarged by being sawed iuto two parts ; and the back part wa» removed southwardly towards the line of the railroad and the vacant space refilled.

BaplUt Church, Newton Corner, - Public worship was fir^t held by several members of Baptist churches residing in Newton Corner, in the village I hall, in the spring of 1859. The church was organ- ! ized June 7, 1860, with twenty-one members. The ohurch edifice was built on the comer of Washinirton and Hovey streets, in 1864. Five Indian skeletons and several ancient copper coins were turned up by the laborers in digging the cellar for the building. The remains Mere found in different parts of the ground, about two feet below the suriaee. This spot was probably, once the seat of an

Indian settlement, and here they buried their dead. The jaw of one, which was in perfect preservation, with the full number of teeth, and double all round, was placed in the box which was sealed and deposited under the comer-stone. The coins, it is said, are believed to have been made during the reign of George I., bearing the date of 1720 or 1 7£9. There were also two or three arrow-heads.

The communion service was given to the church in April, 1865, by Messrs. Quiucy and Harwood. The pastors have commenced service as follows: Bev. G. Robbins, June 30, 1860 ; Jeremiah Chap> lin, April 20, 1862 ; John Tucker, Jr., October 31, 1865 ; Thomas S. Samson, May 1, 1878.

The church edifice was dedicated in the autumn of 1864. In April, 1874, ten years later, the following statistics were recorded: Beceived up to date, by baptism, seventy-eight ; by letter, one hundred and fifty-seven; by experience, five ; total, two hundred and forty. Members, April 14, 1874, one hundred and forty-six. The largest number admitted in any one year hitherto (1874) was twenty-nine.

Grace Church. - The first services of the Episcopal Church in this part of Xcwton were held in the old Union Hall, May 30, 1855. The paridi was organized in the parlor of Stephen Perry, Esq., father of the present Rev. William S. Perry, Bishop of Iowa. Mr. Perry's house stood on the east side of the street leading to AVatertown Bridge. An Episcopal parish was, organized September 25, 1855. Eev. T. T. Fales, for many years rector of the Episcopal Church in Waltham, was invited to become the first rector, but declined. Tlie call was then extended to Bev. John Shigleton Coplqy Greene, son of the late Gardiner Greene, Esq.^ of Boston, who accepted the charge. He cbmmeiiced his service in Januar)', 1856, gave liberally towards the erection of the chapel, and built the school-house and rectory at his own expense. . The comer-stone of the chapel, at the comer of Washington and Hovey streets, opposite the Baptist Church edifice, was laid May 28, 1858, and the church, designed to accommodate; about two hundred and twenty-five liearers, cost nqt far,from 84,000. JJr Greene resigned his office in 1864, after a sen'ice of nearlv nine vears. The second rector was Eev. P. H. Steenstra, wlio held office from Novembeu, 1864, till July 1, 1869, and was followed by Bey; Henry Maver. The fourth rector was Bev Joseph S. Jenckes, from July, 1872, to September^ 1874 ; and the fifth, Bev. George AV. Shinn, from

Jannaiy, 1875, to the present date. The corner* 8toi)e pf the present church edifipe was laid September 4, 1872, - the stone being the same stone used in the foundation of the church-building on Washington and Hovey streets. The cost of the church, including the land, was about §105,000. The new church was used for public worship the first Sabbath in December, 1873. The old churchbuilding was afterwards sold, and removed to Watertown. The chime of bells was the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Trull Eldridge, who presented the money on Christmas Day, Pecember 25, 1872. The bells, with the framework on which they rest, weigh about 8,300 pounds, and cost $4,400. The largest bell ^reighs 2,140 pounds.

Meikodiii Chnrch, Newton Corner. - Union Hall was hired as a place for meetings for tlijs Methodist people of Newton Comer, February 1, 1884. .Eev. Dr. Cobleigh, editor of Zion's Heral4, was the first preacher. The society was organized April 21, 1864, the constituent members being twenty in number. The land on which the church is erected was originally low and wet, and the whole tract, about two acres, was filled. The cost of the church, including the land, was about $9,000. It was dedicated September 26, 1867. The following have been the pastors : Bev. C. Cromack, Eey. C. 8. Bogers, Rev. S. F. Jones, Rev. A. A. Wright, Bev. Fred. Wood, Rev. W. E. Huntington, and Bev. 8. Jackson.

Uuiversalisi Church. - A society existed for several years called the Newton and WatertoiBm Uuiversalist Society, whose meeting-house stood in Watertown, north of the border-line of Newton. The church edifice was dedicated August 15, 1827, and the church formed March 16, 1828. The members were thirteen in number, nine belonging to Newton and four to Watertown. The society was served by about fourteen successive pastors, and finally dissolved about 1866. The churchbuilding was sold for a school-house, and still occupies its original location. The tower was removed, and the bell sold to the Second Baptist Church in Newton (Upper Falls), and is still in use by that society. The communion furniture was formerly the property of the First Uuiversalist Church in Boston (comer of Hanover and North Bennett streets, now the Seamen's Bethel), and one of the cups was brought from England by Rev. John Murray. Tliis society may be regarded as the beginning of the Uuiversalist Society now at Newtonville.

completed as far as Nee^ham, the polac qf Hfe began to stir at a point in Newton intermediate between Newton Centre and Newton Upper Ealb.' 'Hus locality had been the seat in former years of the well-known Bacon Tavern, a place ^of considerable resort, and also of the Mitchell Tavern, kept afterwards by Mr. Mancy Thornton. The, intersection of several streets, the Worcester Turnpike, now Boylston Street, the Dedham Road, now Centre Street, and the old Sherburne Road, rendered it a situation of importance in the days of stage-coaches, teaming, winter singing-schools and sleighrides^ clubs and merry-makings. On the location of the railroad a station was planted here, and some enterprising gentlemen purchased land and b^n to lay out streets in anticipation of futuxe growth. The name of the station was successively Oak Hill, Newton Dale, then Oak Hill again, and finally Newton Highhinds. The level bind, stretching for a long distance in every direction, is well adapted for building purposes, demanding little or no expense for grading; and the facilities for reaching the neighboring city of Boston soon attracted a considerable population. As in all the early towns of New England, so in this new village, the church and the school came at the beginning. One of the public schools of the town, the Hyde School, was erected at a central point.

The Congregational Church here originated in meetings Qrst held in Faniham's Hall, in November, 1871. . A church edifice and chapelwere erected in 1872. For a considerable time the meetings were held in the chapel ; the church was finishied and dedicated in 1875. The land on which it stands was the gift of Moses Crafts, Esq. The cost of the house was about 316,000. The church was organized June 13, 1872, composed of twenty-seven members, of whom twenty-three were dismissed for the purpose from the First Church in Newton. The first pastor was Bev. S. H. Dana, who was ordained October 9, 1872. Mr. Dana held ofBce till May, 1S77, when he resigned. The second pastor was Bev. G. G. Phipps. Deacons, James F. C. Hyde, Samuel N. Woodward, Albert F. Hay ward; members, February, 1878, fifty-six.

Chestnut Hill Chapel, with the school-house attached, was given by the late Thomas Lee, Esq., to the families residing at Chestnut HilL The property was placed in the care of trustees, with authority to sell it and devote the proceeds to charity when it should be no longer empjbyed for religious or educational purposes. The sodety oiganized in 1861^ and the chapel dedi« cated to Christian worship October 2^ 1861. The first pastor was Bev. William A. Whitwell, wlio remained pastor till his death in 1865. He was succeeded by Bev. Artemas Bowers Miizzey and Mr. Bockingham.

Unitarian Churchy Newton Centre, - In tlie aatomn of 1877 persons attached to the Unitarian fidth, belonging in Newton Centre and Newton Highlands^ commenced holding worship in the hall in White's Block, Station Street, near the railroad depot. The first service was held on Sabbath, Noveinber 11, 1877. Bev. Dr. Bufus P. Stebbins was called as the first pastor, and regular worship has been maintained since the above date. Ckapel at TAompsoHville. - Thompsonville, a Tillage half a mile southeast of Newton Centre, acquired its name from the name of Mr. Thompson, a laboring man, who lived a kind of hermit life in that locality: A few families, chiefly Germans, became residents of the place, and a room was hired at the expense of members of the First Baptist Church, and a Sabbath-school commenced March 6, 1867. The number present was fortyfive. The chapel was erected during t]i6 following summer^ and dedicated November 9, 1867. At the close of eleven vears, it was stated that no Sabbath had passed without a public service. Licluding the cost of the cha|)el, up to March 31, 1878, $1,700 had been laid out to sustain the chapel and school, and a quarterly collection taken up in the First Baptist Church supplied the funds. It was in this immediate vicinity that the New light excitement commenced nearly a hundred years before, which was among the elements leading to the formation of the church now holding out its helping hand to support this fission.

. TJie Central Con gret^at tonal Churchy Netnton^ vilUy grew out of a neighborhood conference meeting, first held at the house of Mr. Natlianiel D. Vose, December 11, 1867, and continued weekly, until it resulted in the formation of a cKnrch and society, the purchase of a house of worship, and the settlement of a pstor. The chn])el on the corner of Washington and Court streets, previously occupied by the Methodist society, was opned for the regular Sabbath sen'ices of this new society, April 8, 1868. The churcli was oiganized September 8, 1868, and Rev. Josepli B. Clark was installed pastor. The constituent members numbered thirty-six. Mr. Ckrk resigned July 1, 1872. The church edifice was enlarged in 1869.

The second pastor, Bev. James B. Danforth, was installed January 2, 1873, and resigned March 17, 1874. He was followed by Bev. £. Frank Howe, who was installed December 6, 1876. The original cost of the church edifice was S 6,500. It was en? larged the second time in 1875, and re-dedicated November 6, 1875. Its seating capacity was now about six hundred and fifty. Beacons, William A. Goodwin, D. Wayhmd Jones, M. D., William P.. Slocum, Henry C. Hay den, Charles £. Chester, fidward W. Greene.

The New Church (Swedeuborgiau). - The first families in Newtonville holding the Swedenborgian faith were those of Mr. Davis Howard and, a year later, Mr. T. H. Carter. The former, shortly after his removal to Newtonville, died. The church services were read first at the house of Mrs. Howard, and afterwards for several years at the' house of Mr. T. H. Carter. As the families attached to this faith increased, a hall for worship was hired in the village, and in October, 1857, Bev. John Worcester Mas invited to preach regularly. This arrangement continued eleven and a half years, and the services were held during that time in f6ur difierent halls. The chapel on Highland Avenue was built in 1868 - 69, on land given for the purpose by Mr. T. H. Carter, and dedicated April 11, 1869. It will seat about two hundred and seventyfive j)ersons. At the same date a society was organized with twenty-nine members. Bev. John Worcester was installed pastor December 2'6, 1869. Among the original members were Messrs. T. H. Carter, H. L. Keyes, B. M. Pulsifer, Edwin Pield, S. I. Kellogg, and F. N. Palmer. In February, 1878, the society numbered sixty-three members.

The Uuicersalist Sociefjf of Newlouville embraced at the outset several persons who had been connected with the former Newton and Waterto^u Universalist Society and the Waltliam Universalist Society. The first meeting was held in the small hall over Williams's drug-store in NewtoJivfllc Square, in February, 1871. The following spring the society removed into Tremont Hall. The society was legally organized in April, 1871 ; the corner-stone of the church on Washington Park Jwas laid October 22, 1S72, and the building was dedic;ited June 26, 1873. The church is of stone, and suited to accommodate three hundred hearers. Bev. J. Coleman Adams, the first pastor, was ordained December 19, 1872. The church was organizcil in February, 1873, M-ith thirteen members.

originated in a Methodist chss formed in 1857, and composed of members previously residing in Watertown. The question of fortning a Methodist society was first agitated in the spring of 1860. The first public meeting of the society on the Sabbath was held March 24, I860, in the piano-forte vareroom - of Mr. Amasa Dexter. The public services were shortlv afterwards held in Tremont Hall, and the first pastor of the society appointed by the- conference, Bev. G. W. jilansfield, commenced his labors April 14, 1S60. The chapel on the comer of Washington and Court streets, now occupied by the Central Congregational Society, was their first house of worship, dedicated in April, 1860.

The Xihurch was organized May 17, 1860, consisting of twenty-four members. Two of them were in the Union army in the war of 1861 - 1865. The Sabbath-school was organized April 21, 1860.

Another society in the village, which had com- Bienced the brick church near the railroad station, having become weakened by removals, so that they were unable to finish the work, desired to sell the edifice which they were unable to hold. It was purdiased by the Methodist Society for about i 6,000, finished, and dedicated in August, 1863.

The growth of the North Village of Newton date^ back to a period of more than a century ago, when David Bemis purchased thirty -nine acres of land on the Watertown side of Charles River, and subsequently twenty-five more, - embracing all the land now covered by the buildings on that side of the river. In 1778 David Bemis, with Dr. Enos Sumner, who then owned the land on the Newton side of the river, constructed the dam across the river, where it now stands. A ^xiperiqill was erected here in 1779, and the business of nlanufacturing paper was carried on successfully more than forty years, l^fany of the workmen and much of the machinery requisite were imported from Euroi)e^ So important was the enterprise considered in a public point of view, that when the establishment was burned down, the legblature of Massachusetts made a^])ecial grant to enable the owners of the mill to rebuild. The process of paper-making was then slow and tedious, requiring as many months as it now requires days. Each sheet was made singly by dipping the mould into the pulp, and then turning it over upon a woollen felt, to wliieh the pulp adhered. Upon this another felt was laid for the reception of another sheet, and thus the process was continued. Mr. Jacob Mead, an ingenious citizen of Waltliam, subsequently invented a machine for weaving copper wire for the construction of paper-moulds, which proved a great convenience to the public^ aud highly remunerative to the inventor.

All the land bounded by Charles Riter on the southerly, that is, the Newton side, extendmg from or near Watertown lirte to a yiomi on Charles Biver, near the north end of Morse Island, afterwards called Fox Ishind, belonged, during a century or more from the first settlement of Newton, to Richard Park and John Fuller; and their descendants. The former owned six hundred acres of the easteriy portion, and John Failer the westerly portion, containing seven hundred aiid fifty acres. John Fuller had seven sons, whose names all began with the letter J. This valuable tract of bnd was ceded in 1849 to Waltliam, and is the territory now occupied by the Waltham Watch Factory. For more than a century it bore the name of Fuller's Comer. The fkther, with some or all of his sons, while traversing the then ^vilderness, refreshed themselves with cake^^and cheese, and drank from the brook near which they reclined, which hence gained the name of Cheesecake Brook, by which name it is still known.' At a hter hour they cooked some wild game on a small conical hill, which from that time onwards for half a century was known as Cook Hill ; but the name has now become obsolete.

Besides the manufacture of paper on the Newton side of the river, David Bemis built and carried on a grist-mill and snuff-mill on the Watertown side until his death in 1790, it being the first mill on tliat side at that place. At his decease the property on the Watertown side n'as inherited by his two sons, Luke and Seth, the latter of whom in 1796 made preparations for the manufacture of chocdlate, dye-woods, and medicinal roots and woods for use, and carried on these branches of business successfully till about the year 1803. At that time he commeAeed spinning cotton by machinery. At this early day, when few factories were in operation, it was tlie custom to manufacture cotton cloth for domestic use in the family. All fiimilies were possessed of spinningwheels, and nearly all had looms. Hence there was a great demand for " Bemis' warp,** which was much superior to that spun by baud. The woof

The preparation of the cotton for carding was at that time slow and expensive, the cotton being picked by hand at an expense of about four cents ,a pound. This gave employment to a great many people in the families in tlie vicinity. Mr. Bemis subsequently invented a machine for this purpose, which was denominated ''the devil,'' which performed the work in a much more expeditious and satisfactory manner. It did not differ materially from the cotton-pickers in use at the present day. . In 1808 or ISQO Mr. Bemis, with the aid of foreignf weavers using hand-looms, began to maimfacture somewhat extensively sheeting, shirting, bed-ticking, satinet, bagging for ^jacking cotton at the South, and cotton duck.

la the fall of 1812 Mr. Bemis commenced the manufacture of illuminating gas from coal, under the direction of an English expert, and the lighting of his factory .by the same in 1812-13 is jBaid to have . been the first attempt to illuminate with coal-gas in the United States. Many |)ersons from a distance visited the factory to witness the experiment. . But tlie situation of the gas-factory near Mr. Bemis' dwelling-house, and the many .leakages of the pipes, whicli were of tin, rendered it. objectionable, and after the second year the ex- ]^riment was discontinued. It is, however, a fact 'worthy of record thafcarburetted hydrogen gas was used for illuminating purposes liere two years before it came into xxst in England.

For the first eighteen or twenty years the operativf^ in the various brandies of business in this locality were summoned to their work by the blowing of a tin. horn. It is said that at that i)eriod tliere was not a bell in Newton, AValtham, or Watertown. In process of time the liorn fixed its name upon the village, which for many years bore the soubriquet of Tin Horn. It is said, however, that this title is a coinage of later times, -uo such name having been in use until subsequent to the employment of the tin horn for the purpose specified.

In 1821 Mr. Scth Bemis became sole" owner of the whole water-jiowcr, mills, etc., and soon afterwards sold to the Boston Manufacturing Company twelve inches of the power; that is, he lowered his dam one foot, receiving §12,000 for so doing. lie then re-conveyed to his brother Luke and four or five others a joint hiterest in the establishment under the firm name of the Bemis Manufacturing

Company, and during tlieir corporate continuance carried on principally the manufacture of satinets and cotton duck until 1830, when this company was dissolved.

On the dissolution of the Bemis Manufacturing Company, Mr. Seth Bemis, in company with Thomas Cordis, one of the old company, bought out the entire property of said company,, and continued tlie same business until 1839, when Thomas Cordis sold out his interest to Seth Bemis and his son, Seth Bemis, Jr. They used tlie water-power on both sides, partly for the manufacture of cotton

Source changes here: from History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Ed, published 1890; 64,493 words in this source stream.

Newton City

village only, and they transacted their town business free from all dictation or interference of Cambridge. On that day they took into their own hands the management of the prudential affaira of the village as completely as any other town, and conducted them according to the will of the majority of the freeholders until Newton became a city. For town purposes they were independent, but for a number of years they were still taxed with Cambridge for State and county purposes, to wit, the repairs of the Great Bridge between Cambridge and Brighton. Nor were they permitted to send a deputy to the General Court till 1688, when the separation was fully consummated, and Newton became a free and independent corporation. Dea. John Jackson, the first settler of Cambridge Village, and nine others were dead when the town of Newton became wholly independent.

After an extended and careful investigation by different historians, " there seems," says Mr. Paige, in his " History of Cambridge," "no reasonable doubt that the village was released from ecclesiastical dependence on Cambridge and obligation to share in the expenses of religious worship in 1661 ; became a precinct in 1673; received the name of Newton in December, 1691 ; and was declared to be a distinct village and place of itself, or, in other words, was incorporated as a separate and distinct town by the order passed January 11, 1687-88, old style, or January 11, 1688, according to the present style of reckoning.

" While by her separation from Cambridge, Newton lost in territory, she found, indue time, more than she lost. By the limitation of her boundaries she cut herself off from ' Master Corlet's faire grammar schoole,' though she retained as much right in the University as belonged to any and every town in the Commonwealth. She was deprived of the prestige of the great men whose dignity and learning brought fame to the Colony ; but she has since been the mother of governors and statesmen, of ministers and missionaries, of patriots and saints. And in the progress of years she added to her reputation as the scene of that great enterprise, the translation of the Bible into the language of her aborigines, and the first Protestant missionary eflbrts on this Continent. Subsequently she had the first normal school for young ladies (continued from Lexington) ; several of the earlier and the best academies and private schools, and finally the theological institution, whose professors have been and are known and respected in all lands, and whose alumni have carried the gifts of learning and the gospel to every part of the earth. She left the rustic church near the College, by the inconvenience of attending which she was so sorely tried ; but she has attained to more than thirty churches within her own borders."

rate upon the town of twelve pound six shilling. Eight pound is to pay the debety for his service at the General Court in 1693, and the other fore pound six shilling is to pay for Killing of wolves and other nesesserey charges of the Town."

The organization of the First Church in July, 1664, and the ordination of Mr. John Eliot, Jr., as pastor, had in the meantime consummated the ecclesiastical, though not the civil separation of Cambridge Village (Newton) from Cambridge. The first meeting-house in Cambridge Village was erected in 1660.

Six years after Charlestown was settled, the whole State of Massachusetts consisted of only twelve or thirteen towns, of which Newton paid the largest tax. In the records of a court held at Newtown, September 3, 1634, is this item: " It is further ordered that the sum of £600 shall be levied out of the several plantations for publique uses, the one-half to be paid forthwith, the other half before the setting of the next Court, viz., Dorchester, 80 ; Roxbury, 70 ; Newtowne, 80 ; Watertown, 60 ; Saugus, 50 ; Boston, 80 ; Ipswich, 50; Salem, 45; Charlestown, 45; Meadford, 26 ; Wessagasset (Weymouth), 10 ; Barecove (Hingham), 4."

It is evident from this record that Newton possessed at that time as much wealth as any plantation, and, excepting Dorchester and Boston, more than any other in the Colony. In 1636 Newton had so prospered that she stood in wealth at the head of all the towns, and numbered eighty-three householders. This year the rates levied upon the several towns stood as follows : Newton, £26 5s. ; Dorchester, £26 r<s.; Boston, £25 108.; Watertown, £19 10s. ; Roxbury, £19 5s. ; Salem, £16 ; Charlestown, £15 ; Ipswich, £14; Saugus, £11 ; Medford, £9 15s. ; Newbury, £7 10.?. ; Hingham, £6; Weymouth, £4.

The question of the boundaries of the new towns in the wilderness was not readily nor easily settled. It was necessary that agriculture, in its various branches, should be an important factor in the occupations of the early settlers. Hence they felt the need of much land for cultivation, and for their flocks and herds. At the outset, after the extinction of the Indian titles, generous grants were made by the General Court to towns and individuals. The people of the various towns, however, began, at an early period, to demand more land. The farmers specially craved meadow land, free from wood, and suitable for mowing fields without the labor of clearing, of which they could avail themselves at once for the support of their stock. A committee was appointed in 1636 to investigate the Shawshine country, now including the town of Andover, and to report whether it was suitable for a plantation ; and 1641 this order was psissed : " Shawshine is granted to Cambridge, provided they make it a village, to have ten families there settled within three years ; otherwise, the Court to dispose of it."

was rendered in 1642, and being unfavorable, the Court enlarged their grant, and gave the petitioners further time to effect a settlement. This new grant read as follows : " All the land lying upon the Shawshine River, and between that and Concord River, and between that and the Merrimack River, not formerly granted by this Court, are granted to Cambridge, 80 as they erect a village there within five years, and so as it shall not extend to prejudice Charlestown village or the village of Cochitawist, uor farmes formerly granted to the now Governor of 1200 acres, and to Thomas Dudley, Esq., loOO acres, and .'iOOO acres to Mrs. Winthrop ; and Mr. Flint and iMr. Stephen Winthroj) are to set out their heade line toward Concord."

No settlement having been made within the period designated, this grant was modified by the following order, passed by the General Court : "Shawshine is granted to Cambridge without any condition of making a village there ; and the land between them and Concord is granted all, all save what is formerly granted to the military company, provided the church present continue at Cambridge."

"The limits of this grant of rihawshiue, a.s of most of the grants of that period, are very indefinite, and it is not possible to define with precision what ij included. Unt it is generally admitted that the Shawshine grant extended to the Merrimack River. We know it included all the t«wn of Billerica, the greater portion of Bedford, and all that portion of Lexington north of the eight-railo line. Billerica was incorporated in !0r)5 into a town by the consent of Cambridge. It was at that time a large territory, bounded on (jatnbridgo Farms (I>exington), Chelmsford, Woburn and Concord." And thus Newton, from being territorially the smallest township in the Colony, became, at least for a season, the largest.

The small portion of Watertown, on the south side of Charles River, according to the settlement in lti:^5, included about seventy-five acres. The settlement ol l(i7.") increased the extent to about eighty-eight acres - enough to protect their fishing privilege - and afterwards called "the Wear (weir) lands." " In the year KiTl), when the town lines were established between Cambridge and New Cambridge, or Cambridge Village, it was expressly stipulated that this Watertown reservation on the south side of Charles River - 200 by 60 rods - .should be niainlaiiicd and held by Watertown for the protection of her lish-wcirs. They diil not wish to enter Into co-operation with this new l^olony in the carrying on of the fish business, and were very strenuous to have their rights protected. Indeed, they became dissatisfied and grasping, and in 1705 called for a commission to readjust tiie line for the belter protection of their fishing interest-s. ,lohn Spring, l'".dward .lackson and lObenezer Stone, on the part of Newton, with Jonas Bond and .loseph Sherman, of Watertown, composed that committee. They agreed upon a settlement which shortened the easterly line a few rods, and lengthened the southerly and westerly lines a few rods each from the original grant. Since this time there have been further re-adjustments of these boundaries, and it is evident in each of these that Watertown has lost nothing. The total acreage now held to Watertown, on the Newton side of the river, is nearly 150 acres, or a gain, above what was originally intended for her fish protection, of nearly seventy-five acres."

AVe have this record under date of March 3, 1636 : " It is agreed that Newton bounds shall run eight miles into the country from their meeting-house, and Watertown 8, Roxbury 8, Charlestown 8."

" In the year 1798, as appears from an article by Dr. Homer, in the ' Massach usetts Historical Collections ' for that year, the extent of Newton from north to south, measuring from Watertown line to Dedham line, was six miles and thirty-six rods, the measure being made along the county road, from east to west, measuring from the bridge at Newton Lower Falls to Cambridge, which at that date included Brighton or Little Cambridge, four miles, three-quarters & fifty-one rods. The whole town, including the several ponds, was, at that time, by careful estimate, reckoned to embrace 1 2,940 acres. At the same time Charles River, with its various windings, washed the edges of the town for about sixteen miles.

-' In 1838, 1800 acres of the extreme southerly part of Newton were set off to Roxbury. In 1847 about 040 acres at the extreme northwesterly part were set off to Waltham. After the construction of Chestnut Hill Reservoir by the city of Boston, a slight change was made in the eastern boundary of Newton by an exchange of land, so that these beautiful sheets of water might be entirely within the limits of Boston, and under its jurisdiction. Brighton having been annexed to Boston, the two cities - Newton and Boston - for a considerable distance near this point, border on each other."

The first settlers in Newton did not come in a body, but family after family. Of those who came into the town between lO.'W and 1664, the date of the organization of the first church - twenty in number - the ages of the majority were between twenty-one and thirty-five. Only five had reached the age of forty; two only were more than fifty. Notwithstanding the hardships of frontier life to which they were subjected, fourteen out of thirty, whose date of death is recorded, died more than eighty years of age, only eight under seventy, and only two under fifty.

One of the earliest settlers - Samuel Holly - was in Cambridge in 1636, and owned a house and eighteen acres of land adjoining John .lackscui in 1(!89. He sold .six acres of this estate to Kdward Jackson in 1613 for five pounds, and died the same year. The following are the names of the first twenty male settlers of Newton, extending to 1664, which was the date of the organization of ihe first church, and the ordiruitiou of John Eliot as the first pastor :

Newton

The descendants of some of these are still living. Deacon Jackson had a numerous progeny, - five sons and ten daughters, and about fifty grandchildren. The name has been familiar in Church and State from the beginning until now. Deacon Samuel Hyde and Jonathan Hyde still live in name in the history of horticulture and in the beautiful Common of Newton Centre. The Fullers were equally renowned for religious and civil influence. The Wards have held a place of honor in every generation. The name of Williams is perpetuated in the whole world through their labors of love and through Williams College, at Williamstown, Mass., which had its origin in the bequest of one of them, and which is it.self the mother of all the missionary organizations in the United States; for there the seed was planted which has brought forth fruit in many land.s. John Eliot, Jr., died young, but through his work he seems to be living still. The Kenricks have ever held a distinguished place. Hobart and Stone and Parker have -left their names embalmed in their history. Woodward and Clark were worthy of their posterity, who flourished more than 200 years after them, the sons worthy of such sires. John Staples, the schoolmaster, taught well the boys of his period. His broad acres, still distinctly marked, and his comely caligraphy in the town records,- - for he was town clerk twenty-one years,- - and the church of which he was long a deacon, are his enduring monuments. And not these alone. The ])lantation was founded in faith and prayer, by sturdy sons of the soil and independent thinkers, - men not to be turned aside from the right, and cherishing from the beginning the spirit and the principles which entitled them, as soon as the Colonial government was abolished, to all the privileges and prerogatives of freemen.

A considerable accession of settlers came to the original plantation of Cambridge as early as August, 1632. The Braintree Company, so-called, numbering forty-seven, headed by the Rev. Mr. Hooker, began a settlement at Mount Wollaston, but were compelled by the Court, for what reason is not stated, to remove to Newton. Dr. Holmes says : " It is highly probable that this company came from Braintree, in Essex County, in England, and from its vicinity. Chelmsford, where Mr. Hooker was settled, is but eleven miles from Braintree, and Mr. Hooker was so esteemed as a preacher, that not only his own people, but others from all parts of the County of Essex, flocked to hear him." "The same year" (1632), says Mr. Prince, " they built the first house of worship at Newtowne (Cambridge) with a bell upon it ; " which indicates that the early settlers were not summoned to worship by beat of drum, like Mr. Eliot's Indian congregation later. No record shows when a bell was first used on the first church in New Cambridge (Newton). Mr. Hooker's company arrived in Boston, September 4, 1633. Mr. Hooker was installed pastor and Mr. Stone teacher of the church October 11th, following, with fasting and prayer.

Two of this company, Simon Bradstreet and John Haynes, attained to the office of Colonial Governors of Massachnsetta. Mr. Bradstreet owned the estate now held by ex-Governor Claflin. Mr. Haynes received the earliest and largest grant of land in Newton, in 1034; was chosen Governor in 1635; removed to Connecticut with Hooker's company in 1636, and was < rovernor of Connecticut in 1639. He died in 1654, and this tract of land passed to his heirs.

The addition of the Braintree company to the population made the settlers feel that their territory was insufficient for their needs, and in May, 1634, they petitioned the General Court, either for enlargement or the privilege of removal. Messengers were sent by Mr. Hooker to explore Ipswich, and the Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers, and lands adjacent. The explorers of the Connecticut Valley brought a favorable report, which led to a petition to the Court, in September, 1634, for leave to move thither. The question was a very exciting one, and was debated by the Court many days. On taking the vote, it appeared that the Assistants were opposed to the removal and the Deputies were in favor of it. " Upon this grew a great difl'erence between the Governor and Assistants, and the Deputies. So when they could proceed no further, the whole Court agreed to keep a day of humiliation in all the congregations. Mr. Cotton, by desire of the Court, preached a sermon that had great influence in settling the question."

After various and unsuccessful eHbrts to come to an agreement, finally, the donations of land, which had been made provisionally, reverted to their original owners, and Mr. Hooker and his company obtained from the Court leave to remove wherever they |)leHsed, only " on condition that they should continue under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts." They took their departure the following year, and settled in what is now Hartford, Conn. Therefore Connecticut and its capital city must be ever regarded as the daughter of Newton. Mr. Trumliull thus describes their journey :

"About the beginning of June Mr. Hooker, Mr. Stone and about one hundred men, women and children took their departure from Cambridge and traveled more than a hundred miles through a hideous and trackless wilderness to Hartford. They had no guide but their compass, and made their way over nKmntains, through swamps, thickets and rivers with great difficulty. They had no cover but the heavens, nor any lodgings but those that simple nakure afforded them. They drove with them ItiO head of cattle, and by the way subsisted on the m''k of their cows. Mrs. Hooker was borne through the wilderneaa on a litter. The people carried their packs, arms and some utensils. They were nearly a fortnight on their journey. This adventure was the more remarkable as many of the company were per- 80U8 of high standing, who had lived in England in

Among the most interesting relics of antiquity are the records of early times. The quaint forms in which their doings were expressed, the acts of legislation made necessary by the emergencies of a new country, and the minute affairs carefully written down by those conscientioiis people, the announcement of which in our own times would hardly be deemed worth the breath which told them or the ink which recorded them, form an integral part of history. They reproduce the men and the times in vivid pictures. They are valuable and instructive, as showing the elements and beginnings of the civilization, the culture, the security and the elegance which we now enjoy. The records of the Colony, of Cambridge, of New Cambridge, and of Newton after its separation from Cambridge, and the Registry of Deeds of Middlesex County all give copious specimens, on which the historian delights to linger.

The following have reference to various matters pertaining to the interests of the town, taken, under the respective dates, from the records of Cambridge before the separation of Newton :

"At the Court held in Newtowne, Sept. 8, 1634, it was ordered that no person shall take tobacco publiquely under the penalty of eleven shillings, nor privately, in his own house, or in the house of another, before strangers; and that two or more shall not take it anywhere under the aforesaid penalty for each offence."