I I ll I llilliiiiliilliiiili D laili lllliiil III lUlluiiiifliilHBa^Sfl ^ A M i ■ICHUSETTS ! II Class. Book //^Ch Copyright N^_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. HISTORY OF NEEDHAM MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY OF NEEDHAM MASSACHUSETTS 1711-1911 Including West Needham Now the Toivn of Wellesley TO ITS Separation from Needham in 1881, WITH SOME References to its Affairs to 19 ii BY GEORGE KUHN CLARKE, A.M., LL.B. PRIVATELY PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS f-r^ / N5C(j> Copyright, 191 2, by George Kuhn Clarke THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. i ^ TO Ki)t iMemorg of mg JFttcntr The Honorable ENOS HOUGHTON TUCKER A MAN PROMINENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND WIDELY ESTEEMED, THIS HISTORY OF THE TOWN, WITH WHICH HE WAS IDENTIFIED FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, IS DEDICATED preface The Town of Needham is one of the old towns of the Commonwealth that has become a suburb of Boston, and is rapidly increasing in population. It has long been known as a healthy town situated upon a plateau high above the level of the sea, with a light and dry soil, and for more than twenty years it has had a water supply that is recognized as exceptionally fine. In recent years it has been easy of access, by frequent and rapid trains, and Boston can now be reached in less than half an hour. It is a law-abiding community, mainly of the Anglo-Saxon race, and many families from larger places find here congenial people and pleasant homes. Such a town seems worthy of a printed town history, and for many years those most interested in it have awaited the appearance of a man, or woman, who would undertake this work. For thirty years I have been accustomed to read the town records, and as early as 1884 I prepared for the History of Norfolk County an account of the votes passed by the citizens of Needham relating to the War of the American Revolution. Later I contributed numerous articles on local topics to the Dedham Historical Register and to other periodicals. When a young man I wrote a sketch of the town to the beginning of the Revolu- tionary War, but this I never expected to publish, and did not perfect it, although some subjects were treated with much detail. For years I anticipated that a town history would be written by a native of Needham whose knowledge of the past exceeded mine. Two men were occasionally mentioned, one of whom, Charles Curtis Greenwood, was known as a collector of ancient documents, such as surveyors' ii PREFACE plans, deeds, military commissions, and old sermons. Pos- terity is probably indebted to Mr. Greenwood for the pres- ervation of many old papers, particularly those relating to Dedham prior to 1700. Ten years ago the Bicentennial of the town was no longer far distant, and there seemed to be no one to write its history unless I did it. Not realizing fully the hard work Involved, I decided to undertake It, and in the autumn of 1904 began In earnest. After a year or so I thought I would make a record of the time thus expended, and In August, 191 1, found that I had already devoted about three thousand hours to my task, and had the proof yet to read. What the total expenditure of time will be I cannot estimate, but for several years have felt that had I known in the beginning what I was undertaking this history would never have been written by me. It is published entirely at my own expense, without financial aid from the town or from any one. I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Thomas Sutton, our town clerk, for his unfailing courtesy and encouragement, and to the many persons who have cheerfully given helpful Information when requested. It Is perhaps necessary to remind some readers of this book that on September 2, 1752, the Act of Parliament adopt- ing the Gregorian Calendar took effect, and that eleven days were omitted from that month — for example, what would have been the nineteenth under the old calendar became the thirtieth. The Julian Calendar, previously in force, began the year on March 25, while many nations were using the Gregorian Calendar which began the year on January i. This confusion led the subjects of the Sover- eign of Great Britain and Ireland to write the double dates during the months of January, February and March, and this was commonly done during many years. The Julian Calendar had become, moreover, astronomically Incorrect, and varied eleven days from the more accurate Gregorian PREFACE iii method of reckoning the years. It should also be borne in mind that formerly there was no standard as to the spelling of words, and that illiteracy should not be hastily imputed because a writer did not spell according to modern rules. Although local history is made up of petty details, I have avoided as far as possible reference to the various controversies that have arisen in the town at different periods. I have done my best to give a correct and trustworthy history of the Town of Needham, and hope that it will prove of value not only to persons now living, but to future generations. George Kuhn Clarke November 17, 191 1. illustrations Portrait of George Kuhn Clarke Frontispiece ^ Daniell House Facing page 1 8"^ Amos Lyon House " i8^ Fuller-Mills House " 46^ Paine-Mills House " 46^ Lyon's Bridge " 118^ Day's Bridge " 118 "^ Newell's Bridge " 120-" Fisher's Bridge " 1 20 X Town Hall " 192"^ West End School-house " 328 Jonathan Bacon's House " 328 ^ Needham High School " 354 ^ Tolman-Gay House " 45 ^ Mann-BIackman House " 45 ^ Doctor Josiah Noyes's House " 57^'' Old Oak on the Training Field " 614' Portrait of Francis Asbury Burrill " 6i4v/ Portraits of Mr. George Hiram Gay, of the Honorable Enos Houghton Tucker and of Mr. Ezra Fuller . " 618 HISTORY OF NEEDHAM tKte Jftrst Settlement of J^eetifjam After the close of the great Indian war In 1676, fear of the Red Men no longer influenced the pioneers of New Eng- land, who began to establish their homes in the remoter portions of the townships. On April 13, 1680, the inhabi- tants of Dedham purchased of an Indian a territory four miles long by five wide for ten pounds in money, forty acres of land, and Indian corn to the value of forty shillings. This tract included not only the Town of Needham, as it was prior to 1797, but also Dedham Island, which contains nine hundred acres. The forty acres of land reserved by the Indian, or confirmed to him, were at the Upper Falls. The Indian grantor was William Hahaton, or Nehoiden, who evidently could write his name, but was in doubt as to the spelling, if his signatures to different deeds are auto- graphs. The town officials of Dedham were even more uncertain, for eight variations of this name appear in their records for five years, 1680-4. However, the memory of William is preserved in the re- gion where he presumably dwelt so long ago by the following local names: — in Needham Nehoiden Street and Hahaton Field, in Wellesley at the present time a Nehoiden Club, formerly a post-office called Nehoiden, now Wellesley Hills, and in Westwood Nahatan Street. When that town was incorporated, in 1897, it was alone the objection of the member from Nahant that prevented the proposed town from bearing the name of Nahatan. The city of Newton has a Nahanton Street in its southern ward, a Nahaton Hall lo THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM at the Upper Falls, and a Neholden Road in the Waban section. Directly after the purchase from Hahaton, or Nehoiden, an Indian, whose name is variously spelt Magus, Maugus, Magos, Mogast or Maguse, claimed a tract of land extending toward the "Herd yard" and including the hill that bears his name. That is to say, he claimed Wellesley Hills, al- though it was within the territory that Hahaton had already conveyed to the white men. The inhabitants thought it best to pay Maugus eight pounds, and received a deed from him in January, 1680/1. Magos was one of the prisoners at Deer Island in the winter of 1675, but the following spring he was made lieutenant of a company of Christian Indians collected by Capt. Samuel Huntting to go against the Indian enemy. In 1902 the late Otis Pettee had in his possession three original documents of interest; viz., deed of William Hahaton, perhaps called Nahaton in the body of the instrument, to Robert Cook of Dorchester of the forty acres of land at the Upper Falls, which the inhabitants of Dedham had confirmed to Hahaton (this deed, which is handsomely written, is dated 1700, or 1701, recites the history of the land, and conveys the fish weirs); a deposition of Amos Nahortan, son of William, who was at the time of the document, January 4 (7), 1747, eighty-two years old, to the effect that some sixty years previous his father had sold to John Magus two acres at the Upper Falls, and that this land was not included in the sale to Mr. Cooke; a deposition of Sarah Tray, dated May 20, 1748, stating that her grandfather. Magus, owned the said two acres, and that her parents, Catharine and Ephraim, dwelt there, using the wigwam and rock house, and that they cut wood for fuel, dried their fish, etc. The Indians could not have reserved a spot more noted in later times for its wild beauty. Besides abiding in the summer in the "Hemlock Gorge Reservation", as their fishing ground is now named. Magus is said to have had THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ii a wigwam near a spring on the south slope of Maugus Hill.i There is little trace of the Indians in Needham, but one of their fish weirs exists in the Charles River, north of the street of that name, and extends at an angle from the Cheney estate, formerly the Col. John Jones place, to the land for- merly belonging to Messrs. Alden and Pope.^ Although the Indian titles were recognized and extinguished by the people of Dedham in 1680, land had for many years been granted on the north side of the Charles River to persons who had improved it. Before and after King Philip's War Indian servants were not uncommon in Dedham, and several men gave bonds to the town to secure it against expense because of such Indians. In 1676 Samuel and Benjamin Mills gave a bond on account of "twoo young endians", and Benjamin devoted a wolf bounty to pay the fines of five shillings each, demanded of his father and himself, for having the said Indians without the consent of the selectmen. The records of the Proprietors of Dedham are of great value in regard to the lands, but are silent as to dwellings on the north side of the Charles prior to 1694. The first eleven printed volumes of the Suffolk Deeds bring the records down to 1680, but contain few documents relating to Ded- ham. The most important Dedham deed is that of William "Parcke", Attorney, to Anthony Fisher, father of Capt. Daniel, of upward of two hundred acres in Dedham, includ- ing a portion of "Rosemarie" Meadow. This deed is dated 20 8 mo., 1652, but was not acknowledged, or recorded, till 1672/3, and is in Vol. VIII. of the Suffolk Deeds. In Vol. I. are two quaint mortgages from Samuel Mills to Governor Thomas Dudley: — the first for £8, on twelve acres, interest ' Horace Mann was sceptical as to the residence of Magus, at any season, at "Sachem's Hill," but admitted that when not in Natick with the other Indians, among whom he was a teacher, Magus did dwell at the Upper Falls. There are in Wellesley Hills the Maugus Club and the Maugus Press. Maugus Avenue leads from Washington Street to Maugus Hill. 2 Mr. Charles H. Mitchell has a considerable collection of arrow heads, and other Indian implements, found in Needham and vicinity. 12 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM payable semi-annually in "cleare wheat", butter and cheese; the second for £6, 6s., 8d., on a dwelling, barn, and ten acres, payments to be made April and October in wheat, in cheese, in butter at 6d. per pound, or its equivalent money. These mortgages were dated 1647, and were for three years. The indebtedness was for a cow. In the following pages are many quotations from probate papers and from deeds, and those copied by Mr. Clarke are verbatim. Abstracts made by others are correct in sub- stance, and where the original language is used are in most instances exact. From 1743 to 1761 the West End was a part of Natick, and, consequently, in Middlesex County. It is quite likely that documents at other periods also found their way to Cambridge. ALDEN Henry Alden was in Needham in 171 1, and his descend- ants have lived in the same locality ever since. In 1728/9 John Alden administered on the estate of his father, Henry, of which Robert Cook, John Smith, and Eleazer Kingsbery were the appraisers. The inventory, which in- cluded books, amounted to £576, 135.^ In 1771 three Alden families lived on what is now Central Avenue. Silas dwelt on the place which has long been the home of the Hurd family, and built in 1801 the house now owned and occupied by William Emery Hurd; the old house was burned. Silas Alden was an officer in the Revolution, and later a lieutenant-colonel of militia, and was familiarly known as "Old Growl". The Honorable Enos H. Tucker well re- membered him, and said that he was stout, of medium height, and wore side-whiskers as was then the custom, 1 Of twenty-one families represented by the petitioners for the Incorporation of Needham, two centuries ago, only five or six have descendants in Needham in 191 1 of the same surname as the petitioner. Of these the ancient Fuller family is repre- sented by but one young lady. The town of Wellesley adds two or three names to this brief list. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 13 beards not being in favor. In 1842 the oldest of the Alden houses was one of the most ancient dwellings in town; it stood a short distance south of Hurd's Corner, on the easterly side of Central Avenue, a little north of the present house of William B. Levering. ALDERIDGE — ALDRIDGE — ALDRICH Thomas Alderidge of Dedham, whose widow's dower was set off in 1718, had, besides the "School Ground" (see "Roads"), about one hundred and five acres extending from Nehoiden Street to Mark Tree Road. This land, with the exception of four acres granted to him, he bought of Cornelius Fisher. A grant was made to Alderidge in 1674 of two acres "of swampy upland, at North Hill". (Pro- prietors' records.) In 1728 Joseph Lyon of Dedham was appointed to administer on Mr. Alderidge's estate, the latter's widow not having completed that duty, and in 1729 the final division was made. Samuel Alderidge, not a son of Thomas, deeded in 1714, for £200, to Joseph Boyden several parcels of land, in all containing upward of one hun- dred acres, with dwelling-house, barn, orchard, etc. This land apparently included the Mann-Blackman farm, but although the house now standing there is ancient, it is probably not the one mentioned in 17 14. Samuel Alderidge made his home with Boyden for many years, and was the second benefactor of our schools. "I give unto the Schoole in Needham for therse ufe and benifitt the full sume of five pounds" (will dated December 18, 1721, proved April 9, 1722). The money was received by the selectmen of Need- ham on February 27, 1722/3. He also directed that grave- stones be put at his grave, but it does not appear where he was to be buried. By his will he gave his kinswoman Mary Coude £10, kinswoman Sarah Woodcocke £5, kinsman Benjamin Lyon, son of Joseph of Roxbury, £5, if he lived to the age of twenty-one, Daniel Boyden, son of Joseph, £4, Rebecca 14 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Boyden, daughter of Joseph, £i. The executors were Joseph Boyden of Needham and John Gay of Dedham, and they were also the residuary legatees.-^ In modern times the surname is usually spelled Aldrich or Aldridge. AYRES — AYERS Nathaniel Ayres bought thirty acres of Josiah Kingsbery in 1738, for £200. In 1745 he and Francis Very, "Cooper" (also our school master), mortgaged the same land to James Bowdoin, Esq., of Boston for ninety-three and three fourths ounces of coined silver sterling alloy, and gave a bond for one hundred and eighty-seven ounces to pay the ninety-three and three fourths ounces, with interest, on or before June 11, 1746. The estate of Ann Ayres, widow of Nathaniel, was appraised at £465 in 1 74 1, and divided as follows: — to Nathaniel Tol- man, son of said Ann, buildings and land, he to make pay- ments to his brothers and sisters; viz., Ebenezer Tolman, Thomas Tolman, John Ares, Jemima Tolman and Mary Tol- man £58, los., 8d. old tenor, each. On January 21, 1741, Josiah Newell, Ebenezer Newell and John Paine had reported that the estate was "not Capable" of division, but the Court appointed Nathaniel Man, Amos Fuller and Jeremiah Fisher to appraise it. Among the items were "The Wood Lot at High Rock" £70, "The Lot Called the School Ground" £50, and "The Pine Neck Meadow" £20. In ^ Joseph Boyden owned fifty acres at the Chestnut Trees, and twelve acres at Pine Swamp Neck. In 1735 he kept a tavern in Sutton, and in 1738 removed to Worcester, where he died April 17, 1748. After Mr. Boyden theAlderidge farm of ninety-six acres and buildings was owned by Nathaniel Man, who sold it in 1765 to Joseph Colburn. In 1784 Timothy Broad, executor of Joseph Colburn, sold to Thomas Gardner and Moses Man, for £710, thirty acres "with a house and barn and Slaughter house," sixty acres and also six acres, total ninety-six. The same year Mr. Gardner sold his interest in the buildings, and in a part of the land, to Moses Mann, who bought additional land. Mr. Mann was a well-known butcher, and that business had been conducted on the premises before his time. Nathaniel Mann, an earlier owner, was son-in-law of the Rev. Mr. Townsend. About 1763 he removed to Natick, but in their old age he and his wife lived with Dr. Morrill, who had married their daughter, and whose homestead is now a part of the Hunnewell estate. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 15 1771 William Bowdoln, Esq., lived near the river, in the valley on the north side of the road leading from the Turn- pike to the Lower Falls, and later this was the home of David Ayres; there is still some vestige of the cellar, but the ground Is swampy. BACON John Bacon and his wife came to Dedham In 1640, It Is said from Ireland, and were the ancestors of many of the Bacons who have lived In Needham.^ John Bacon was a fence viewer In Dedham In 1694, ^^^ ^ surveyor of high- ways there In 1702. In 1700 he had land on the north side of the Charles River, and In 1729 John, perhaps the same, conveyed ten acres "near the Chestnut Trees" (Forest Street) to his son John in "Consideration love to Dutiful Son John and for the purpose of Settling My Earthly Estate". In 171 1 Samuel Bacon lived on the west side of what is now Hunnewell Street, near Webster Street, and owned much land. Horace Mann wrote that Stephen Bacon built a rude house in the southeast corner of "The Leg" In 1705, and later a better one, and that both existed in 1886, the first house, or rather a portion of It, as a shed. In 1895 Mr. Mann said that a part only of the second house was standing. In 1724 Stephen Bacon lived south of the Framlngham road, which was then Irregular in shape, a mere path, and Timothy on the north side, and west of the present Deacon Wight place. Robert Jennison, for half a century a noted builder, "finished" a house for John Bacon In 1743, and one for Timothy in 1744, but It does not appear whether "fin- ished" necessarily referred to a new house. Mr. Mann said that Henry Bacon's house built In 1755 was extant In 1895. On February 11, 1774, John Bacon of Needham, "Gentle- man", sold Samuel Morse of Natick and Isaac Underwood * There is an abstract of Michael Bacon's will, dated 1648, in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. VII. i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM of Needham, both "Yeomen", seventy acres for £iio, 14s., 6d., and mentions "Brother Henry Bacon". John's wife, Abigail, signed the deed. Ten years later the grantees sold fifty acres of this land for £120 to Benjamin Ward of Need- ham and acknowledged the deed before Josiah Newell, Justice of the Peace, whose name is familiar to those who examine deeds of that period. The Bacons owned much land In the westerly part of the town after the Revolutionary War, and Lieut. John, killed at West Cambridge April 19, 1775, lived at the junction of Bacon and North Main Streets, now In Natick, at the ex- treme end of "The Leg". One of the last acts of the noted Col. John Jones as a Colonial magistrate was on July 25, 1774, when he fined Ephralm Bacon of Needham for "un- lawful absence from the public worship of God, Lords' Days, three months as expressed in a Bill of Indictment filed in y° Court of General Sessions of y" peace". Colonel Jones was well known through all this region, and was President of the Court of Sessions when Norfolk County was created in 1793. BAKER Lieutenant John Baker, from whom Baker's Field takes its name, was a carpenter and builder In Dedham, and served in various town offices. Land was granted to him in "Burch plaine" as early as 1680. BROAD Hezekiah Broad was an inhabitant of Needham before its incorporation, and in 1709 Ebenezer Ware, "Husband- man," had sold to Robert Cooke, "hornebreaker", and Hezekiah Broad, "Tayler," "both of s^? Dedham", ten acres in Rosemary Meadow for £60. Ware's wife, Martha, signed the deed. In 1710 Mr. Broad sold Jonathan Smith one hundred acres north of the Sherborn road by the "Pond Brook", and on a proposed highway. On March 12, 1746/7, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 17 Hezeklah sold to Thomas Broad fifty acres, with a house and barn, In the 4th Hundred near Weston line. In 1773 Josiah Broad of Holden, Thomas Broad of Needham, Moses Fisk of Needham, Josiah Morse and Hezekiah Broad, both of Natick, all five of them "Yeomen", conveyed to Ephraim Jackson of Newton, "Gentleman," forty-five acres near Maugus Hill, "it being the house lot of the said Hezekiah Broad of said Needham deceased". The Broads had other possessions, and the Rev. Stephen Palmer knew as Broad's Pond the pond that is now Morse's Pond, it then presumably taking its name from Thomas Broad, who lived near by. There was a Broad homestead on Bacon Street, west of Oak Street, and in Natick there is Broad's Hill. A century ago Timothy Broad lived in the house known as the Pierce, or Peirce house, which was destroyed by fire on May 6, 1885. Three other old houses on Charles River Street have been burned within thirty years. Three more old landmarks in that neighborhood have been pulled down, but a portion of one of them, the Chamberlain house, was removed from Grove Street to the southerly side of Charles River Street, and located in a field, where it is the residence of the super- intendent of the Ridge Hill Farms. BROWN "Betty Brown House" On April i, 1773, Samuel Brown of Newton, "Yeoman," bought for £220, of John Fuller, Jr., of Needham, " Yeoman," fifty-five acres of land with house and barn, and also thirteen acres separate from the homestead. Mercy was the name of Mr. Fuller's wife. Samuel Brown later bought three parcels of land, amounting to fourteen acres, and also one lot near the West Meeting-house, which latter piece was sold him by Isaac Mills. Prior to 1800 Mr. Brown purchased from Philip Floyd six and three quarters acres on the Sher- born road. The Brown house was on, or near, the site of 1 8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the residence of the late Charles B. Dana, in Wellesley, and was built about 1702. Miss Betsey Brown, a daughter of Samuel, and a generous benefactress of the West Church, lived in the ancient house until her death in 1855. Mrs. Charles C. Greenwood has a drawing of this typical old homestead, sketched in 1861 by the late Timothy Newell Smith, who has placed posterity under obligations to him for views of other quaint old buildings, all of which have since disappeared. BULLARD Nathaniel Bullard bought land of one of the Dewings. He was admitted to the Church in Needham in September, 1727, and "laid hold on the Covenant 25 years since in Sudbury". He died June 17, 1754. Nathaniel was the father of Major Moses and of Ensign Ephraim Bullard. COOK Edward Cook was a field driver in Dedham in 1698, 1705, '06, '08, and '09, and lived in that part of the town which is now Needham. He died in 171 1, and his grave- stone, judging by the date, is the oldest in the graveyard on Nehoiden Street. In 1696 he had a grant of six acres at Maugus Hill. On January i, 1700/1, the selectmen of Dedham consented to the purchase by Robert Cooke of Dorchester of forty acres of land "granted to William Nahaton neer the vper falls". Robert Cook of Needham was born in Boston, and his father's name was Robert. The younger Robert Cook had a brother, William, on account of whose service in the war against Canada in 1690 he was granted land in "Dor- chester, Canada" (Ashburnham). Robert was a surveyor of highways in Dedham in 1706, constable 1709, selectman 1710. He was one of the first settlers in what is now Need- ham, and lived on his farm near Cook's Bridge at the Upper DANIELL HOUSE AMOS LYON HOUSE THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 19 Falls. His record for long service in many different town offices has been rivalled to the present time (191 1) only by that of the late Solomon Flagg. Captain Cook was also con- cerned with much of the private business of his fellow towns- men, and his name frequently occurs in the County records. He is called a "Horn Breaker" in some documents. In 1727 he was administrator of the estate of his son, William. Robert died April i, 1756, aged eighty-six years, and was probably buried next to his wife in the old graveyard on Nehoiden Street. DANIELL Joseph Daniell, son of Samuel of Medfield, and grandson of Robert Daniell of Watertown and Cambridge, was a surveyor of highways in Dedham in 1705, field driver 1705, '06, constable 1706, tythingman 1707, '08. He had a grant from the Proprietors of Dedham of six acres at Maugus Hill on November 26^ 1700, and at his decease, June 8, 1720, at the age of forty-three, he owned about one hundred and fifty acres of land in Needham^ most of it near his home, which was not far from where the Orthodox Congregational Meeting-house now stands in Wellesley Hills. He was buried in the old graveyard in Needham, and his gravestone was there in the sixties, but is now missing. His estate was valued at £904, os., 4d., and Lydia "Daniels" of Medway was the administratrix. The widow's name was Lydia, that of the eldest son was Joseph, and the other sons were Jasper and Samuel, the daughters being Lydia BuUen and Mary Daniell, all of whom were living in 1729, when the estate was divided. Jeremiah Daniell, a grandson of Joseph, Sr., died in 1784. He had lived in the house, still standing, at the corner of Washington and Oakland Streets, but, old as this house is, it is hardly likely that it dates back to 1720. There is a good printed genealogy of the Daniell family of Needham by Moses Grant Daniell, A.M., a native of this town. 20 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM DEWING Lieutenant Andrew Dewing, who was living in Sudbury in 1640, had a garrison house, somewhere near the Charles River, and probably west of the place where the Nine Arch Bridge now stands. In 1676 he had charge of fifty Indians. Andrew had the bounty of twenty shillings for killing two wolves in 1664. The records of the Proprietors of Dedham contain the particulars of a number of grants of land to Andrew Dewing 165 1- , although the tracts were not ex- tensive; the majority were in the western part of the town, a few in Rosemary Meadow, and others near the Great Plain. Andrew Dewing died September 7, 1677. As early as 1683 the Bacons acquired by marriage an interest in some of the Dewing lands, and in 1771 a Bacon family was living on the Gay-Reynolds place, which had been Dewing property. Jonathan Dewing, son of Lieut. Andrew, when under age, had been a soldier in King Philip's War. In 1729 he sold to Nathaniel Bullard, who also was a "Hus- bandman", twenty acres part upland and part swampy in a plain near Natick Brook, located in Needham and in Natick Dividend. It was bounded on the southwest by land be- longing to Andrew Dewing, on the northeast by the land of Henry Dewing, on the southeast by a small brook, and on the northwest by waste land. The inventory, dated 1741, of Jonathan Dewing, amounted to £962, 3s., 2d., and included his homestead, and land in the Rosemary Meadow, in Horse Neck, and in Pine Swamp. In 1744 Edmund Dewing mortgaged his dwelling, barn and forty acres to John Trail of Boston, merchant, for one hundred and eighty- seven ounces ten penny weight of coined silver sterling alloy troy weight, and the next spring he mortgaged to the same merchant for a like amount the homestead of his late father, Andrew Dewing, with eighty acres. These mortgages were paid within a few years. Lieut. Andrew Dewing's son, Andrew, was chosen in 1671, '72, '75 and ^']'j to burn woods THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 21 "for the Island Side". He was to perform that duty in 1678, '81-3, and was a constable in 1707, '08. He died January 14, 1717/18, and was the father of another Lieut. Andrew Dewing. The estate lately owned by Messrs. Alden and Pope was included in the Dewing property, and, after the incorporation of the town, there were two houses occupied by Dewing families on what is now Grove Street. The Dewings also owned land that now belongs to Charles H. W. Foster, and between this land and the present Central Avenue, once called Fisher's Meeting Road, was the farm and homestead of Josiah Newell. This Dewing territory was part of the Natick Dividend granted by the Dedham people in 1660 to half a dozen planters, of whom Andrew Dewing was one. Each right is said to have consisted of about seventeen or eighteen acres, in the proportion of two thirds upland and one third meadow, but an individual might secure two or more cow commons, as the tracts were called, according to his means and the size of his family. Horace Mann said that Andrew Dewing had over eight hundred acres in this region, and deeded farms to his sons, but the deeds do not appear to be on record. The Natick Dividend may be described as east of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company's tracks, and bounded on the northeast by Maugus Hill. The Hundreds Dividend was substantially a territory west of the railroad tracks, and extending from the Lower Falls to Blossom Street. The inventory of Andrew Dewing,^ dated 1746, amounted to £1404, 9s., gd., and in- cluded his homestead on the northeast side of the road, "Stone Swamp" on the west side, land in Natick, and two acres near "the Wigwam". The estate was divided in 175 1, and the heirs were Jeremiah and Solomon Dewing, the latter also by purchase representing Dorothy Ware, and Mary, wife of John Chickering. There were one hundred and fifty ^ Mr. Benjamin F. Dewing published in 1904 an excellent history, or genealogy, of the Dewings, which distinguishes between the different men who bore the name of Andrew in successive generations. Mr. Dewing possessed a large amount of valuable biographical matter that he did not include in his book. 23 ruv. uisroRV ok nkipham acres, most of it o.ist ot S.nvinill iMw^-k in Xoedham. but twt^ho .KTos wove west of the brook m "Daniels Hill" in Natick. There was a branch of the Dewing fannly in Natiek, and they were pro!nit\ent in the n\\litar\' annals, as were those resideiu in Xewlhatn. \\\ i""! .i Pew ing famil\- U\edwluTe did the late C^vM^e A. ALlon. .\\\d auot!\er where tonnerly sto».xl the Chamberlain house, perhaps in that same house. A third Dewing tan\ily dwelt southwest of the Gay-Reynolds place, presun\ably in the house afterward the home of Jacob Pierce.' In 1771 Charles River Street ended at the Gay farm, then owned and occupied by Bacons. Ebenezer Dewing, son of Henry Dewing, while returning fiv»m Cambridge on his wagon, on November 25, 1700, was murdered near the house of John n.;\ enport in Newton, by a negro named Titus, a servant of Edward Durant of Newton. The jury brought in a verdict of noi s:iiih\\ apparently on the gn>und that Mr. Dewing might have mistaken the iden- tity of his assailant, and that other evidence than that ob- tained fn>m a dying man was necessary. Ebenezer lived on a portion of the Dewing lands on a farm later known as the Gay-Reynolds place, on Charles River Street. DRVRY Joseph nr;:r\, "Cordwainer", son of Caleb Drury of Sudbury, bought of Jonathan Underwvxx'. of Natick, "Hus- bandman", on April 4, 175^, thirty-two acres, apparently a part of the John Underwoovi farm, on the west side of the present Bacon Street; he K^ught also an orchard of one half acre, bounded northeasterly on the ro>ad now Bacon Street, the price for both parcels amounting to £153, $s. Priscilla I'nderwvxxl wife of Jonathan, released dower. Tn 1701 Drury with the Vowu oi WVstvNzt, invArijiMy stv'l »'•>?'.: jv- - . isd this forui is iK^t uuk'.vwrt m Neeohim, Although sev^ .vb's desceucists hA\-* wtUtca their »Aiue$ /M>*,v. Till" HIS TORY OF NKKPHAM 23 pinvh.u- ably one ot the three houses that Hv>race M.nm said were built by the Inderwoods. another being the Farvis house. The old John Goodenow house, at the Waban Conserva- tories, was at one time the residence of Captain Prurv, who erected the dwelling west of it. Joseph Orury lost his life from the fall of a temporarv structure at his coal pits, and on March iv'>\ irr> b.plivaiiu Drury, "Student", John Hacon. Jr., and Zeruiah, his wife, Lydia Drury, as guardian of F.lizabeth a minor, all of Xeed- ham. conveycvi to Jv\ 1743 > giving his intended wife, Elizabeth Cheney, a mourning suit throughout, to be delivered to her immedi- ately after his decease, also a cow and £30; he was then "Sick". He distributed £370, old tenor, to his mother, Elizabeth Mather, sister Hawes and her children, brother Ithamar Smith, sister Elizabeth and her children, sister Abigail Smith and brother Joshua Smith; to the latter he devised land and "Housings", and named him as executor and residuary legatee. The will of Jonathan Smith, dated January 31, 1749/50, gave to his wife, Martha, the house- hold goods, valued at £200, old tenor, the west end of the house, and an honorable maintenance by his executors. No bargain made by her was to stand for more than one year. Son Jonathan had had land given him by deed of even date to the value of £700, but was to have £500 additional, and also £200 for labor done "for me" after he was of age. Son Timothy had already had £500. Son Aaron was de- vised "all my Land lying on the East Side of the Road Lead- ing from Jonathan Dewings to the Widow Rebecca Smith's", valued at £1000. Presumably this was the Smith homestead next to Waban (Bullard's) Brook, where Capt. Aaron Smith, the devisee, lived at the time of the Revolutionary War, and which his great-grandson, George Smith, who died in 1884, gave by will to Wellesley College; although greatly changed the old house is still standing, and is used by the College as a hospital. Son David had the residue of the land, with buildings, the whole valued at £1000, and shared the personal property with his brother Aaron, before men- tioned; David and Aaron were the executors and were to pay their father's debts, but were not to sell the homestead while their mother lived, and were required "to carry her to meeting as often as she desires to go and to her Brothers THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 6l and Sisters once in two years if she has a mind to go & is able". The executors were also to give her proper burial. Daughters Martha Dewing and Abigail Smith were each be- queathed £200, only half to be paid while their mother lived. Probably the testator was the Jonathan Smith who lived where the Wellesley Town Hall and Library now stands, and who died April 22, 1752. In 1761 Abiel Smith was one of the blacksmiths of the town. In 1842 one of the ancient houses was the Luther Smith house, then in poor condition, which stood just east of the residence of the late Dr. James H. Grant, and near the rail- road track; in 1842 Mr. Fulton was living there. The Church records inform us whence James Smith and his wife came: "Jan: 9. 1726. James Smith iff Mary his Wife admitted into the Church. They came from Ireland A.D. 1718 & Brought a Teftimonial with them iromM-l John Stirling Minifter of the Congregation of Belly kelly in the County of Londonderry". In 1727 James Smith bought of John Fisher, Jr., and Elizabeth, his wife, fifteen acres on the "Great Playne" for £23, los., which land had been granted to Elder John Huntting in 1643. The Smiths lived on this estate for many years, and it is now the home of the family of Dea. George Gay Stevens. The large elms in front of the modern house are said to have been planted by Capt. Robert Smith, an officer in the Revolution, whose home was on this place. James Smith died May 18, 1754 (his grave- stone says May 16), and his son Capt, Robert died October 18, 1800, and was also buried in the old graveyard. TOLMAN Nathaniel Tolman died in Needham February 7, 1729, in his thirty-eighth year, according to his earlier gravestone, which disappeared subsequent to 1861, and has been replaced at the expense of Mrs. Anna M. Tolman Pickford. In 1737 Eleazer Kingsbery was guardian of Jemima and Ebenezer Tolman, and Jonathan Smith of Mary Tolman. In 1743 62 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Thomas Tolman, son of Nathaniel deceased, was fifteen years old, and chose Timothy Kingsbery as his guardian. UNDERWOOD John Underwood of Needham bought in 1714 of Hopestill Bent of Sudbury, who had been taxed in Needham in 171 2, one hundred and fifty acres "Having for the South westerly Corner mark a heap of stones and a stake standing in the North line of the Township of Natick and from thence running Northerly to a Red oak tree mark'd standing on the Westerly side of the Cartway which leads from the house that was Cornett William Brown's to Natick". "Easterly by the land of said Coller and Rice to a brook and So run- ning by s? brook to a stake standing on the Southerly said in a meadow, which is the North Easterly corner mark And from thence running off and running Southerly crofs a brook which runs into another brook which is commonly called Strawbery Meadow brook", "and thence Southerly to Natick Township Line, and thence running off and running westerly by s^ Natick North Line to the heap of stones and stake first above mentioned". The lengthy deed from which the foregoing is quoted was signed on January 21, 1714/15, and acknowledged on April 16, 171 5, before Hopestill Browne, Justice of the Peace. Mr. Bent's deed mentions "Elizabeth his Well beloved Wife"; "said Coller and Rice" refer to John Coller and Ephraim Rice. Mr. Horace Mann incorrectly stated that John Underwood was a son-in-law of Mr. Bent, and Mr. Clarke quoted him in his volume of Wellesley Epitaphs. This farm is west of the Waban Con- servatories, and the house is the first on Walnut Street, north from Bacon Street. In walking from the noted Sta- tion Tree, where Needham, Weston and Natick joined, along the westerly line of The Leg, this estate is about half- way. Horace Mann wrote that John Underwood built the house in 1716, and stated in 1895 that it was one of three houses built by Mr. Underwood and his sons, and that all THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 63 these houses were then in existence. The house of 1716 was apparently the "Jonathan Bacon House", as it is now called, which is owned by the heirs of John Bacon, 3d. WADKINS — WATKINS On March 9, 1710/11, Edward Cook deeded to Andrew Watkins, ' Husbandman", son of his wife, Elizabeth Cook, by an earlier marriage, all of his land in Needham, including his home. The land consisted of ten acres at Maugus Hill, and six acres in the Natick Dividend, "my Common Right" as a Proprietor of Dedham. See grant to Edward Cook in 1696. In 1720 Andrew Watkins, ' Yeoman", and Mary, his wife, sold the ten acres, and also four acres "near to the Damm in Rosemary Meadow", for £140, to Josiah Kings- bery and Hezekiah Broad, reserving the life rights of "Our Loving Mother Elizabeth Cooke the Relict Widow of Ed- ward Cook ". Mr. Watkins removed from Needham. WARD Edward Ward, son of John, and grandson of William Ward of Sudbury, gave a tankard to the Natick Church on August 23, 1730, and joined the Church on February 6, 1742/3. He had come from Newton to Needham, and had a mill on Natick Brook; Ward's Mill and Ward's Brook were soon familiar names. The present Oak Street was then the road, or pathway, travelled by persons who came to Ward's Mill from Sudbury, and from the farms in that direction. The Coller and Dunn families are said to have lived on Oak Street prior to the Revolution. Ward's Lane ran west not far from the junction of Central and Pond Streets. On March 21, 1733, Thomas Frostof Needham, "Husbandman", sold to Edward Ward of Newton two acres in Needham "on the North Side of a troden Path leading from Framingham to Boston and on the Westwardly Side of a Certain Brook run- ning out of one Pond into another Pond" for £60 "Currant 64 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Money". In 1738 Zachariah Mills, of Needham, "Black- smith", sold to Edward Ward, "Miller", also of Needham, sixteen acres and one hundred and thirty-one rods of land in Needham "Beginning at the Brook on which said Wards Mills Stand" for £90. The "Mill Pond" is referred to in this deed. Edward Ward died in January, 1749, aged seventy- eight years (Ward Genealogy). Samuel Ward, son of Ed- ward, married Miriam, daughter of Samuel Morse, and died December 13, 1754, aged thirty-four years. At the time of the Revolution Benjamin Ward lived in The Leg, and in 1788, probably earlier, owned a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, with buildings. There was a Ward farm, or farms, near North Main Street, in the extreme western part of Needham Leg. In 1789 Benjamin Ward of Needham was killed by a yoke of unruly oxen, but it does not appear whether it was Ben- jamin in his forty-fifth year, or his son, or namesake, in his fourteenth year, as both died in 1789. WARE Robert Ware of Dedham, father of Ephraim and Ebenezer, both of whom lived to be very old, had a land grant in Rose- mary Meadow in 1654, and another beyond the Great Plain in 1662/3. Iri his will, dated 1698/9, Robert devised land at Maugus Hill and at Chestnut Hill. In 1730 Samuel Ware of Dedham, "Weaver ", sold for £20 to Ephraim Ware of Need- ham five acres at Maugus Hill, and in the inventory of the former, made in 1736, five or six acres at "Magers Hill" were included. In the division of Ephraim Ware's estate, July 22, 1757, son Ephraim had the homestead and eight acres, with the exception of two acres assigned to Robert. Ephraim was to have all three of his father's "Common Rights", one half acre in Rosemary Meadow, all the personal property, except that given to Deborah Ware, and he was to pay all the debts of his father, as well as to give Hannah Metcalf, "his Sister of Wrentham", £2, 13s., 4d., and to THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 65 contribute one half of the necessary support for his sister Margaret Frost for eight years. Robert, besides the two acres of homestead, was given half an acre In Rosemary Meadow, and was charged with one half of the support of his sister Margaret, who was to live at the house of one or the other of her brothers. Deborah had three acres on the south- erly side of "Pine Plain", and was excused from attending the court on account of "Great Age", together with Eleazer Metcalf and wife, and Margaret Frost. The estate was small. Ephraim Ware died March 26, 1753, in his ninety-fourth year "as tis tho't", and Mehetabel, widow of the "Aged Ebenezer Ware", died suddenly November 2, following. The ancient Ware homestead by Longfellow's Pond Is elsewhere referred to, but mention should be made of the house of Joseph, and later of Daniel Ware, Esq., which stood on the west side of Cartwright Street, and was said to be one hundred and forty-five years old in 1858; it was taken down on July 13, 1885, and the house of the younger Daniel Ware, on Brook Street, which was built as early as 1800, was removed about 1900. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker spoke highly of the widow of Daniel Ware, Esq. He said that the Reuel Ware house on Brook Street, near the junction with Benvenue Street, was built by Capt. Reuel Ware, or by his father; the latter's widow lived there. Lieut. Ephraim Ware, who was a benefactor of the First Church, lived in what we know as the Longfellow house on the Turnpike. The Tucker family then lived In the ancient Ware house, now Mr. Sheridan's. Enos H. Tucker, the elder, at one time lived In the house known as the "Johnson Place", and which had once been the home of Capt. Reuben Ware. The house was on Charles River Street, nearly opposite to the driveway of Charles H. W. Foster, and was burned on May 31, 1886. The late Emma Forbes Ware of Milton published a Ware genealogy In 1887, and after her decease a greatly enlarged work was printed in 1901 from her manuscript. 66 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM WOODCOCK Jeremiah and John Woodcock of Needham were sons of John Woodcock of Dedham, and grandsons of John Wood- cock of Attleborough. Jeremiah was a field driver in Ded- ham in 1702, '03, '05, '06, fence viewer in 1705, '08, surveyor of highways in 1709, and constable in 1710. In 1695 John Gill sold for £15 to John Woodcock fourteen acres of up- land on the Great Plain, for £15, and in 1716 John Wood- cock and wife, Sarah, deeded to their son Samuel land in Broad and Rosemary Meadows. The John named in these deeds was the father of Jeremiah and John of Needham. Timothy Dwight was the justice before whom John Wood- cock and many other grantors acknowledged their deeds. In 1699/1700 Ebenezer Ware sold to Jeremiah Woodcock five acres joining the land of John and Sarah Woodcock, and near the Great Plain, and one acre of the common or un- divided land. In 1707 Edward Day and wife, Rebecca, Jonathan Wight and wife, Elizabeth, all of Wrentham, and Josiah Newell and wife, Hannah, sold to Jeremiah Wood- cock twenty acres near the Great Plain, part mowing and part arable, for £40, and in 1726 Jeremiah Woodcock sold to Timothy Kingsbery three acres of swamp at the "Great Slows" on the Great Plain road leading to Capt. John Fisher's, and one and one fourth acres in Broad Meadow, all for £5. In 1734 Jeremiah Woodcock bought five acres on the "Plain Road" from James Kingsbery, and in 1739 Mr. Woodcock deeded to his son Michael, who was born Decem- ber I, 171 1, one undivided half of his home place, which contained one hundred acres, with one half of the buildings, situated on the road from Dedham to Needham; and also one half of twenty acres on the Great Plain, and one half of five acres in Broad Meadows. Michael was to pay £100. Barnabas Woodcock and Francis Very were witnesses to this deed, which was acknowledged before John Fisher, Justice of the Peace. Most of the old deeds were witnessed THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM (>J by two or more persons, usually relatives or neighbors, and the names of some of the justices of the peace, as that of John Fisher, Josiah Newell, and others, are familiar to all searchers of titles in the counties where they dwelt. In 1742 Jeremiah and Michael Woodcock conveyed to Capt. John Holbrook of Roxbury eight acres of plowland for £130. In 1733 Jeremiah had apparently borrowed £200 on a "Land Bank" mortgage, and in 1742 gave up eighty acres and also twenty-five acres, the latter on the Great Plain, to offset this indebtedness. There are two deeds of 1745 in which he appears as grantor, and that year he and Hannah, his wife, son Michael and his wife, who was also named Hannah, mortgaged to Benjamin Bird, Esq., of Roxbury, one hundred and forty acres, the description of which is lengthy, for £1506, old tenor. Mr. Bird, who was a justice of the peace, was in the habit of lending money, and held other mortgages on the lands of Deacon Woodcock, and of his sons. Dea. Jeremiah Woodcock died September 27, 1752, N. S. In 1745 Nathaniel Woodcock, born in Dedham, September 14, 1707, son of Jeremiah, conveyed his homestead and fourteen and one half acres, for £198, 12s., old tenor, to Mr. Bird. There were stone walls in Needham early in its history, as these old deeds refer to them. At one time Dea. Jeremiah Woodcock was a large owner of land, distributed over the eastern portion of the town, but in his latter years he sold much of it. He had owned several houses, and the site of his homestead is unknown to the writer, as it was to the late Charles C. Greenwood. petition for tfje incorporation of tl)e tKoton of i^eebiiam FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE STATE ARCHIVES Petetion for the Incorporation of Needham. TO His Ex22: Jofeph Dudley Efq" Cap* Gen«!'' & Gov- ernour in Cheif% In, And Ou", Her Maj*''=^ Province of y« Mafsachusetts Bay in New England &c And To the Hon®''- able the Councel, & Houfe of Rep" Sentatives In Gen^Jili Court Afsembly The Humble Petetion of Sundry the Inhabitants of the Town of Ded- ham, in y^ County of Suffolk in N.E. whofe Names Are under written Humbly Sheweth That Wheras there is A Certaine Tract or Parcell of Lands of About five Miles Square Situate Lying And being within the Limmitts & bounds of y Sd Town of Dedham On y^ Northerly Side of Charles River & is Bounded Round with Charles River, Watertown Line & Natick Line; Upon y® which Tract bounded as Aboue Said there is Already fettled upwards of forty & five — famylies, Many of which by reafon of their Remote Living from y^ place of y^ publique Worfhip of God in o"'' Own Town, Some 6.7.8.&io.Miles. Which Renders it Utterly Impofsible for us with o"' familyes, Duly to Attend On y® publique worfhip of God there, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 69 And 7°"'' poor petetion®''s being Humbly App'"^henfive That Chrift Gofpell Ordinances, with His Gratious p'^'sence in y« Mid ft of them is y^ Cheife glory of o"'' Land; And that it is o"' Indif- pencable Duty to Seek After y^ Injoym. of it. And That the Lord of y® Universs who Hath Made Man for his Own Service, Takes no pleafure In Seeing Such a Numb*'' of families as we are alredy Arived to, Content o"''Selves Like the Brute Creaturs to grafe upon y^ Earth Only; And To Starve o"' own Sols, & y® Souls of o"'' poor Children that he hath given us y^ Charg off — We have heretofore, & Latly, Made O"'' Hum|il£ Adrefses To o"' Town of Dedham to whom we have a Memb<='"ly relation, for Redrefs of our Greevance, Humbly praying their Leave & Approbation, that y® p"Sent Inhabitants Living within y^ bounds Aboue Mentioned; togather with Such as Shall from Time to Time Inhabit Among them; Excepting Only the Inhabitants Living on y^ Great Island, Should be free'd from Minifterial Charg in o"''Town, To y^ Intent y°"'' poore petetion^" Might be A free people of them Selves, for y^ Setting up y^ publique Worfhip Among them, as in & by y^ petetion we p'^fented to them. May More fully Appear. Yet Not with Standing are as Likly as Ever, to remaine Deftitute both of Schooling & preaching, unlefs Helped & releived by this Hon^''^ Court, And y°"' hon''". Will Judge what May be Expected of A people That Cannot Injoy, Either the Means of Education Mann®", Nor Grace, Your Poor Petetion*'" Therefore Humbly pray this Hon^r^ Court to pety us, & So To Compafionate o"'' Affaiers As to Give us Such releife in this Matt®'' as in y°"'' wifdom you Shall See Meet, And if it May pleafe this Hon^^ Court, To Grant That all y® Prefent Inhabitants Living within y® Bounds Aboue Mentioned, That is to Say Between Charles River, Watertown Bounds. & Natick Bounds To Gather with Such as Shall from Time to Time Inhabit Among them Excepting Only y® Inhabitants Living on y® Great Island 70 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Comonly So Called & Recorded in Sd Dedham Town Book, be Allowed The Bounds Aboue Mentioned; To be A Diftinct Town Shipp To To y^ Intent we May be Allowed & Enabled To Settle & Support y^ Gofpell of Chrift Among o"''Selves with'"" Sd Bounds, & in Due Time as god Shall Enable us, A Shool for y" Education of our Children, & be freed from all Rates & Taxes in Any Other part of y" Town of Dedham, & be^sg favoured with y® Injoym* of thofe Immunities & priviledges that we May Do Duty, & Receive previledge Among our- Selves. We Humbly Offer to y« Confideration of this Hon«T<* Court Some Reafons, why we Defire to be A Town-Shipp Rather Then A Precinct Viz 1 Firft becaufe y® Tract of Land within y® bounds Pete- tioned for is as we App^^hend Capible of Accomidating A fufficiant Numb^"" of Inhabitants with thofe Alredy Set- tled to Make A Decent Townfhip, & therfor a School fore y^ Education of youth will Soon be Necefary. 2 The Diftance of o""" Livings, from & y^ Difficulty of y* way to Our Chh & School in Dedham is Such that at Some Seafons of y^ yeare by reafon of y" Wat^'' being high we Can Neither Attend Chh Meetings, Town Meetings Nor School meetings, & So Loofe all o"^' priviledges at once. 3 Becaufe we Defire peace & Quiet Nefs in y° Injoym* of y^ favours petetioned for, Without w- we canNot be hapy. — for it hafs been Observed of Some, that in y" firft plant- ing of Chhes there Often Arifes Storms In Oppofition from their Own« Towne as Some Times Drives y" Moving, & ufualy y weaker party under y^ wing of y^ Slvlle Gov^^'m*^ for help & Shelter & when freed as aprecin"* Only, have Afterward Mett with Such hard Meafures from their Town as have been hard to Bare We Defire to blefs y^ Lord that has placed us under y« Care & Conduct of A GoV^'nm*. So Rellgiou^y DIfpofed as THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 71 to Take Care that y® Gofpell be preached to all as fare as May be So that Even y" poor Indians are in that way pro- vided for & Not Neglec we are hence Incour'^ged to Hope & pray that we may So Share In y" Compafslons, & Favour of this Hon'T^ Court, That we may have Caufe to rejoyce, in y® Injoym*^ of y® favours Defired, & petetioned for. And y^ poor Petetion*=" as in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray Benjemin mills Sener Andrew Dewing fenr John Fisher Ephrem Ware Richard more Robart Cook Jeremiah Woodcok Henry Alldin thomas madcalf Benlemin Mills Junr Eleazar Kingsbery Ebenezer Ware James KIngsbry Joslah Kingsbery Joseph Hawes Jonathon Duin John Smith Jun Thomas flfuller Robert ffuUer Chrlftopher Smith John gill John Parker Juner John Mackintier ifaac parker hezekiah broad Mathias ockinton Andrew Dewing Junr William Mills Zechariah Mills Jonathan parker Timothy kingsbery Samuel bacon Andrew wadklns Jofhuaway Smith Samuel parker John Fisher Juner John woodcok Edwart cook Stephen Huntting John parker 72 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM This page is numbered 622 in the Archives, and is followed by an order that notice be served on the selectmen of Ded- ham, calling on them to answer the foregoing petition the "Second Tuesday of their next Sefsion". This order was "Sent down for Concurrance" from the Council "27^^ June. 1710: If^ Addington S." "June 28: 1710. Read & Concurr'd John Clark Speaker" On the back of this paper is written: "Oct- ° 171 1. "Dedham Farm"« Petetlon Dedham Farmers To Petetion./" be a Township May 1710" Then follows the Act of Incorporation of the Town of Needham, which passed the Council November 5, as certi- fied by Isaac Addlngton, the Secretary, and was sent to the House, where "Nov'': 6: 171 1. Read, & Concurr'd. John Burrlll Speaker" The Original Bill is in the records of the General Court, and is signed by the Governor thus: "Consented to . J. Dudley" (Vol. 9, p. 162). The bill In the Archives differs from that in the General Court records In the use of capital letters and in punctuation. It appears impossible to ascertain when the Governor signed this Act, and the sixth day of Novem- ber, Old Style, equivalent to the seventeenth day. New Style, must be considered the birthday of the Town of Needham, notwithstanding the observance of the sixteenth in 181 1. The chief of the Archives Department called the writer's attention to a mistake in the Manual of the General Court as to this date, and explained its origin. As there is nothing that commands more respect than a venerable error. It is probable that this one in the Manual will be quoted as an authority till the end of time, although corrected. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 73 Page 624 of the Archives Is the petition of the selectmen of Dedham, viz., " Samuel guild Thomas Fuller Robart Cook Joseph Wight", asking that the question of dividing the town be deferred till the May session. Their request was granted by the Council and House, October 31, 1710, with the following advice inserted by the Council: "And it Is Recommended to the Town and the Petitioners to take care to procure an able minister to preach in this out part of the Town in the mean time". State Archives, Vol. 113, pp. 620-624. THE BOUNDARY CONTROVERSY BETWEEN DEDHAM AND NEEDHAM On May 28, 171 1, a committee of the town of Dedham had reported In favor of the incorporation of the north part of the town, but designated a boundary line quite different from that desired by the petitioners for the new town, and later obtained by them. The report recommended that "a streight Line be run and Stated from Charls rluer at a place called the Landing place below Enfign KindricKs houfe to Charls rluer towards the South weft so as to com- prehend and take in the houfe and houfe lot of John Smith Sen""". This line ran from Kendrlcks Bridge southwesterly, and north of Bird's Hill, crossing Great Plain Avenue near Augustus Eaton's, thence crossing Webster, High Rock and South Streets to the Charles near the residence (1908) of Ezra Fuller. The report also contained a proposition as to the Province tax. The petitioners objected to the narrow limits proposed by Dedham, and addressed a peti- tion to Governor Dudley, the Council and House, dated June 7, 171 1. They "Enform this Honoured Court" that notwithstanding the recommendation made to Dedham by the General Court the petitioners had had to pay the minis- ter themselves. "Never y" Lefs procurd y^ Revl'^i m'' Hale to preach with us This winter Seafon till Now & have paid him to satiffactlon for his service". "That y® Land petl- 74 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM tioned for to be A Township, was purchafed by y® Town of Dedham of One W- Nehoiden Indian in y« year 1680 as of Record will apear to This Hon^ Court. And: Therefore we hope will not be Aledg'd as any Intrenchm* opon y« Towns former grant." Most of the lands "are already Laid out into Diftinctt proprlys" and will be more valuable after the incorporation. The petitioners pray "that we may be Either freed as A Townfhip, or have Conveniant Scool- ing & preaching Maintain*^ Among us at y^ Gen®" Charg of y® whol Town benjemin mills Sen John Fifher In y« Name & Robert Cook behalf of y° Benjemin Mills jun said Pettion"" Jeremiah Woodcoke John Smith There are various papers, and certified copies of town records introduced to prove the Nehoiden trans- action. On February 8, 1711/12, Needham appointed Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell to treat with Dedham as to the boundary, and on March 10 the mother town chose three men to appeal to the General Court to change the line in favor of Dedham, and the same day Needham selected Jeremiah Woodcock, Joseph Daniell and John Smith, Jr., to maintain that "the Longe Diche, a straite Line from Riuer to Riuer" should be the line. "Sargeant" John Fisher and Robert Cook were added to the committee and directed to answer the Dedham men before the General Court. On April 7 the same citizens, with the exception of Ebenezer Ware in place of Daniell, were chosen "to Come to a Loveng a Greement" with Dedham. The General Court ended the controversy by deciding in favor of the existing line. On February 15, 1714, Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., and Ensign Robert Cook were named by the town to THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 75 "run" the line with Dedham; evidently an important perambulation. The following document relates in part to the boundary question : March 12, 171 1. Petition of the Town of Dedham as to the line. On June 5, 1712. "Ordered that a comm*^« of both Houfes be appointed to go upon the Place to confider of a Line of divifion between the faid Towns, Having great Refpect to the ancient Town of Dedham, to hear both Sides & to Endeavour to bring them to an Agreem* between felves; Otherwife to propofe what they judge most agreable for the Benefit of both Towns, & Make Report to this Court at their next Sefsion, And Penn Townsend & Ephraim Hunt Esq^.^ are appointed of the Committee for this Affair, The faid Comm^^^ alfo to confider & determine any difference that may be amongft the Inhabitants of Needham referring to the Place for Setting up their Meeting Houfe". State Archives, Vol. 113, pp. 620-629. EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF NEEDHAM On the inside of the cover of the first volume of the town records, besides an item as to a school, is written "Needham Old Town Book 1707/8". The first page reads as follows: The pettitions of the Inhabatance of y® North Side of Charles River in y^ year 170 8/9 we made our adreses to the towne of Dedham for Libeity thatt we might attaing the gofpel amongstt our Selfes. . . March 10 in 1710 we made our Requistt to the town of Dedham againe for the Same Libeity May 15 1710 we made our adressis to the towne of Dedham a gaine for the fore menfhoned prive- liges. . . March 8 170 7/8 a petition was put to the town of Dedham for a lought forty ore fifty Acors of Land for the minestrey one the North side of Charls Rever wher j6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM apone the towne & proprietors Choas Sar-Eleazer Kings- bery John Gay & Thomas Ockinton a Commit for to make lands & Sitt oight Said Land and make ther Return there of to be Recorded the Said Comity haue Laid out one the north Sid of Charles River — 40 and Six Acors of Land in one parcill and 13 Acors in another which aCordingly is Recorrded in the book of Dedham ReCor^^ aS foloweth Dedham March the 19 1710 11 Att a meeting of the pro- prietours of this town Itt was this Day proposed to the pro- prietours to graint to the pititioners on the north part of this town two parCells of Land for pul*vie (?) for the miniftre one for a houfe Lot and another for a wood Lott the first parcell abbutteth north upon Rosemary meadow & east and upon a way Coming from s*^ medow towards the Weft and South and upon Rofemary meadow brook in part Eaftt The other parcell is one the Eaft Side of a hill abutting upon the way leading to Rosemary medow and Robart flfuUers towards the north Containing abought 20 aCers. The proprieators in Anfwer to the petitioners do Sitt aparte and R*' and graintt thatt the aboue Said Land pittitioned for Shall be grainted to the pititioners to them and their heyers for Euer for the minef — from on genera- tion to another for euer and nott to be Sold nor alien from the mineftre for euer but to Remalne for the publick ufe for the minestre one the north Side of Charles Riuer This is atrue copiy takin outt of the townes book of Dedham ReCords given by the Clark of Said town Joseph Wight — On the second page is recorded the Act of the General Court of August 22, 1712, locating the meeting-house. On the third page is an attempt at a copy of the first part of the petition for the incorporation of the town. This petition was printed in full, with modern spelling and with some slight changes, as an appendix to Mr. Palmer's Cen- tury Sermon of 181 1, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ^^ NEEDHAM IN ENGLAND From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, in four volumes, 183 1, it appears that Needham Market is in the County of Suffolk in the Parish of Barking, Hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, nine miles northwest of Ipswich. Population 1300 in 183 1, 1393 in 1880. There is also in England another Needham, a parish in the Hundred of Earsham, Norfolk, one and one fourth miles southwest from Harleston. Popu- lation 351 in 183 1. It is in the southern part of the County of Norfolk near the County of Suffolk. Dedham is in the northeast corner of the County of Essex, and but a short distance from the boundary between that County and Suffolk. Population 1651 in 183 1. Suffolk is south of Norfolk, and Essex is south of Suffolk. Some of the roads in Needham were laid out prior to 171 1, and others appear to have never been formally designated, but were early paths or trails. It is known that there were such paths through this region in the time of the Apostle Eliot, but he is said to have travelled on the Dover side of the river in his journeys from Roxbury to his Indian con- gregation at Natick. In the records of Dedham are original descriptions of roads now in Needham, and the following is a summary of those pages, with some paragraphs quoted verbatim: In 1687 a cart road was laid out on the north side of the Charles River to the "school ground," and also a leading way to its northern portion. In 1718 this "school ground" belonged in part to Thomas Aldridge's estate, and in 1765 to the heirs of his daughter. Widow Mary Lyon, and for them John Jones made a plan of the land, which extended from Green Street, as it is now called, to Solomon Fuller's Brook, and also included three acres on the easterly and southerly corners of South Street and Dedham Avenue. The total area belonging to the heirs of Mrs. Lyon was thirty-two acres, according to Mr. Jones's neatly drawn plan. In 1694 a way was laid out over Rosemary Meadow Brook, and in 1698-9 John Fuller, Nathaniel Gay and John Smith laid out a road from the town, Dedham, to the Lower Falls, possibly not the falls now known by that name. In 1 701 that part of Great Plain Avenue formerly known as Causeway Street was laid out as a road, and also a road was laid out from the Great Plain road to the residence of THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 79 John Smith. A few years later Smith lived on High Rock Street, on the farm since owned by Joseph Richards, and if he lived there in 1701 the road then laid out was presumably a part of Webster and High Rock Streets. On the map of the town made in 1771 South Street does not extend east of Webster Street. In 1700 or 1701 Eleazer Kingsbery, John Smith and John Rice laid out a way from the "Great Plaine" toward Maugus Hill. On March 24, 1703, "John Smith & John Rice are chosen a Commity to lay out a highway from great Plaine to Birch plaine to the southeast corner of Joseph Hawes lot and strait up by his house to Striffe medow Brook at the Common weading place". The return was made February 18, 1703/4; this road was apparently a part of Great Plain Avenue. On March 4, 1705/6, Smith and Rice were appointed to satisfy Joseph Daniell, through whose land a road had been laid out, with a piece of the common land adjoining his. On December 25, 1706, the selectmen appointed John Fuller, Sr., and John Smith, Sr., "a Commity to lay out a highway from the house of James Kingsbery to the house of Robert Cook and from thence to Charles River". "John Smith fen & Thomas Metcalfe being Deputed to lay out a h way make return of their laying out faid way from the way leading to the houfe of Josiah Kingsbery by the houfe of Robert ifuller as the fence now ftandeth untill it is paft the land of faid Robert ffuller & from thence it is bounded by marked trees untill it Come to the road leading from the Jofeph Haws to ftrife medow Brook & from thence to the Medow of faid Jofiah Kingsbery"; March 8, 1707/8. The latter road was from Forest Street, passing by the ancient Fuller house, and over the hill, joining Great Plain Avenue some distance east of Brook Street.^ ^ The descriptions of these old roads are not clear, and Mr. James Mackintosh may be correct in saying that there never was a town road from the Robert Fuller house to Hawes Field, or connecting with the Great Plain road. If he is right, then the road that ran from Wellesley Avenue to Great Plain Avenue, through Hawes Field, was the one referred to. 8o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM In 171 1 the selectmen of Dedham appointed Daniel Fisher and Andrew Dewing, Sr., "to lay out a high way from Sherburn Road to the farm of Jonathan Gay which he bought of the town of Dedham". They laid it out two rods wide, and it must have been a road from Washington Street, possibly Pond and Oak Streets. The Turnpike was not built till 1808. The farm of Jonathan Gay was the "School Farm" of three hundred acres, which the town of Dedham sold to Mr. Gay for £50 by deed dated January i, 1699/1700; it may be roughly described as extending from Morse's Pond to the Weston line, and until the latter part of the last century was owned almost entire by the Stevens family, who still (1900) possess a considerable portion of it. John Pain and John Rice were a committee "to Lay ought away from Thomas ffuller dayre House to the great playn road by order of the Select men." On June 2, 1713, the report was made as to the laying out of the said road, "by Matthias Ockintons houfe this way is Laid oute upon the Land of Benjeman gay a rod and on half" (illegible), and was recorded on the first page of the Needham town records. The town accepted, on February 23, 1715, the report of Jeremiah Woodcock and Timothy Kingsbery, who on March 17, 1714, had made an alteration in the "Road Runing before the houfe of matthew Tambling". On June 22, 1714, the selectmen appointed John Parker, Sr., and John Smith, Jr., to view the premises, and to report as to a highway through land of Thomas Fuller, and by the house of Joseph Haws, in order to enable Josiah Kings- bery to get to his meadow. They reported the 24th, and began the proposed road near a bridge over Strife Meadow Brook, but Mr. Fuller objected, and July 3, the selectmen changed the proposed location, starting this time "from y west end of y<= Cancy leading ouer birch meeadow in at a paye of draw Bars unto fuller's field and so marked trees not uery far from y® side of burch meadow and so through a track of wood land to Josiah Kingsberys meadow and by y^ THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 8 1 sid of s*^ meadow seuerl Rods (upon fuller's land) and so acros ouer a place of meadow to Jame Kingsbery's meadow". This road ran from Forest Street, near the Country Club, over the hill in a southwesterly direction, and joined Great Plain Avenue east of Brook Street, and not far from the junction of the avenue and another old road, which also ran from Forest Street. On November 9, 1714, Sergeants Metcalf and Fuller with Eleazer Kingsbery were appointed to lay out a "Roade from Needham meetting houfe to the new bridg by y'' houfe of Leu*° Cook", and on the i6th the town accepted a road from the road leading from Robert Fuller's to the meeting house "unto Rosemary medour brook and so offer y^ brook and offer Rosemary brook neck unto fox medow as it is marked and so to Henery alldings & by his houfe offer the brook unto Le*" Cooks Land". This is now Central Ave- nue, from the junction with Forest Street to the Upper Falls. At a town meeting October 11, 171 5, a petition was pre- sented for a road through the house-lot of Henry Alden, the road to be "turned nearer the houfe of William Mills fo as to help the Sd mills with away to his hous & not go throw y® hous lot & orchar*^ of Henery Allding this petition was Grainted". The selectmen laid it out through the land of William Mills, William "Eattin", Henry Alden, Joseph Mills and Lieut. Cook "to the houfe Lot of william mills & would have Layed out this Road into the Road Layed out to the bridg but Leu*° Cook forbad us & we Stopt". This was the old road through Hahaton Field to the Upper Falls. ^ On January 4, 1716, in answer to a petition "to have the way layed out upon the Land of Lent Cook to the new bridg", Joseph Boyding, Joseph Mills, Joseph Bar- bure, James Kingsbery and Ebenezer Ware were appointed a committee, and reported January 4, "begining where 1 This road was discontinued by vote of the town in 1896, although twice in 1893 a similar article was dismissed. 82 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM you Left of". This was the completion of Central Avenue at the Upper Falls. January 19, 1716, Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Newell were named a committee to lay out a road "from Joseph barbars bares to the way Leading to poles Ifland". Their work was not satisfactory, and two of the selectmen later performed the duty. On May 14, 1716, the town voted to "have the Laft way that was Layed out by the Houfe of william mills to be the way from the meeting Houfe to the bridg by Le"* Cooks houfe". On October i, 1716, John Smith, Sr., John Rice and Timothy Kingsbery, selectmen, on petition for a road "to y« River by Ens Kindrecks" laid one out "begining upon the Land of Thomas aldridg and fo to the Land & Meadow of Joseph Barbur to the River where the Bridg is to be Raised". On February 3, 1718, the selectmen on petition of Josiah Kingsbery appointed Lieut. Cook and Ebenezer Ware "to have a hyway Layed out from his houfe to the Road goin to Dedham by Ebenezer Mills Houfe". They reported February 8, favoring a road "a long on the Lower Sid of Rosmary medow Damm & So a long too & offer Rosmare medow plain by william Eatons Houfe & So along one the East Corner of Lieu Cook land to the Road". On February 3, 1718, John Smith, John Rice and James Kings- bery were appointed to lay out a road "from the great playn Road over a Crost the Hill to the Hyway going from the damm to y« meeting Houfe". They reported on the 14th. On January 29, 1720, there was a petition of Samuel Wilson and Thomas Fuller, Jr., for a road "from Charles River throgh the land of faid willson and the Said fullers and Jonathan parkers land by the house of the tha® said parker till it coms to the top of the hill by the plain"; re- port made on January 30. Jonathan Parker and Jeremiah Woodcock as a committee laid out this road, which was from the Hanks Place, where Wilson then lived, to Central Avenue, viz., Charles River Street. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 83 In March, 1719/20, in answer to a petition of Jonathan Smith for a highway from his house to the highway near Christopher Smith's house, the selectmen appointed the petitioner and Joseph Hawes to lay out a road and report. On January 23, 1720/1, there was a petition for a road "from y® Road going throw y^ Chefnut trees; to y" dwelling houfe of Chrlftph. Smith"; the report on this was made the 24th by Joseph Haws, Joslah KIngsbery, Christopher Smith and Nathaniel Bullard. Apparently Mr. Smith lived on the Reuel Ware place, and the road laid out in- cluded a small section of Great Plain Avenue and a portion of Brook Street. On February 13, 1 720/1, on George Robin- son's petition, John Smith, Sr., Eleazer KIngsbery and Heze- kiah Broad were appointed "tovew and Lay out Sd way from the land of Sd Gorge Roblnfon to y« Country Road"; they reported on the 14th; apparently Robinson lived near where Newton, Weston and Wellesley join. On February 21, 1 720/1, there was a report of Ephralm Ware, Thomas Metcalf and Robert Fuller, a committee, "to vew and Lay out a road from y^ Road pafmg by y^ houfe of Ephralm ware" "we have Laid it out untlU it Coms unto y" North west Corner of michells metCalfs medow & by the weft End of Sd metCalf medows throw Jofiah KIngsbery Land" "a littell pond on y« Eaft Side" "over a brook to Sd ffullers Houfe frame Eaft and upoi Sd ffullers Land in part and part in y« Land of y® Hirf of Joseph Danell" "& So into y« Road y* leads from y® meetting houfe to Robert ffuller Dewelling Houfe"; this is Brookside Road and a part of Wellesley Avenue. Probably Ephralm Ware then lived in the old house south of Longfellow's Pond. Within twenty-five years this ancient homestead of the Wares showed its age to the passer by, and Miss Emma F. Ware of Milton had one photograph taken of it, which pho- tograph cannot now be found, nor can the negative. This estate is owned by Mr. Sheridan, who has made extensive additions to the house. Formerly the main roof sloped to 84 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM within a few feet of the ground at the rear, and there were porches on the east end and at the back. June 21, 1721, "In perSuance of an order from the Select Men we have Layed out y" hy way two Rods wide begining near the Dwelling Houfe of John Smith Sen and from thence by the hy Rock as the way is drawn till it meets with the way that Leads from Dewings throw y^ Great playn Samii Willfon Thom: ffuUer Commity" Mr. Smith lived on High Rock Street. On September 21, 1721, Captain Cook, John Smith, John Rice and Josiah Kingsbery were chosen to arrange with Henry Pratt and William Chub as to some land wanted by the Town of Weston for a highway. On October 12, 1722, the selectmen appointed Josiah Kingsbery, John Smith and Ephraim Ware, Sr., "to Vew and Mark out Rode from Rose mery meedow dam to the Houfe of Henry AUdens"; this they did on the 17th, and also laid out a road from Alden's to Ephraim Ware's. The following January, in answer to a petition of Josiah Newell, Samuel Smith and Aaron Smith, the selectmen appointed Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Deacon Woodcock and Lieut. Thomas Fuller to report on a way "from Jofiah Newells houfe to the Meeting houfe"; part of Central Avenue. Their report on the 24th was favorable. On June 6, 1726, Ensign Thomas Fuller and Josiah Newell were chosen "to View & lay out" a highway from near Capt. John Fisher's to the meeting house. They reported Sep- tember 12, stating that Joseph Mills, who was to be notified, had been present. This road "begining att y^ East Corner of John Fishers fild and so as y^ Old Rode" was accepted by the selectmen March 16, 1726/7, "Exfepting throw Joseph Millef Lot". On May 20, 1728, the town voted to continue the "Road Leading from the house of Samuel Smith unto the Great THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 85 plain and so through the Greate-plain unto James Kingsberys Dweling houfe"; the selectmen and Josiah KIngsbery were to "Macke the Bounds", and reported on the 22d. On March 27, 1729, "In anfwer to a Request of Decon Timothy Kingsbery It was put to the Town whether thay would disalow and alter the Road that goeth through His the sd Decon Timothy Kingsberys Land that he has Latly purchased of Hezekiah Fuller of Dedham and Through the Land of Thomas Fuller of Dedham aforefd and take up with and Accept of a Road from the Brook by William Ock- intons House as it is Now Drawn and mark* Two Rods Wide unto the house of Decon Timothy Kingsbery and so along untill it Comes unto the old orignall Great plain Road ". Thomas Fuller was to have his timber and wood that were on the said land. On March 22, 1736, John Rice, Captain Cook, Jonathan Smith, Josiah Kingsbery and Ensign Nathaniel Bullard were appointed to view a road from Ensign Thomas Fuller's and Joseph Hawes's; on May 17th the town made a slight change in the lines as run by the committee. En- sign Fuller lived on Great Plain Avenue in the Fuller-Mills house, which is probably the oldest house in Needham, as it was built as early as 1708. At the annual meeting 1737/8 the town accepted "of the Road or Hyway from Wefton Line Leading into the Road Leading to Jeremiah Gays Land or Dwelling Houfe", but the clerk noted that this was not to be recorded till after the adjourned meeting on the 28th. This road was laid out by Selectmen Fisher, Smith and Josiah Kingsbery, and may have been the westerly part of Blossom Street, which in 1771 did not extend to the Weston line, but turned westerly at Parker's and ran to Stevens's house in Parker Plain. On page 73 of Vol. II. of the town records is a description of a road laid out by Selectmen Robert Fuller, Woodward and Amos Fuller, and accepted by the town. On April 3, 1738/9, the town accepted a road laid out by former select- men in answer to a petition of "Sundry of the Inhabitance 86 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM of the Towns from Natick Line to Sherborn Road with a littil alteration throw the Land of Lef* Thomas Metcalf and the Church Land belonging to Dedham". On February 19, 1738/9, a petition of John Goodanow, John Underwood, Timothy Bacon, Edward Ward, Thomas Frost and Josiah Broad, all residents of "The Leg", was presented, and it stated the need of a road from "Natick Line to Sherburn high Way" as they had "no way to Mill or Market".^ This was an old way, and the town granted the petition, but a year later reconsidered, as the petitioners would not give some necessary land. On May 19, 1740, the town voted to discontinue this road, but on July 7 ap- pointed Ensign Robert Fuller and Peter Edes to ascertain the amount of damage that Hezekiah Broad and others would suffer if the road was laid out; July i, 1741, the town refused to allow Mr. Broad £2, i6s. for his going to Court about this road, but May 16, 1743, the selectmen granted to Robert Fuller £1 "for his paying it to a Lawyer in the Cafe of the wefterly Inhabitants petition to have a jury to Lay them out a Road Leading into Shearbourn Road fo Called in the year 1742 in april". On March 11, 1739/40, the town accepted "a new Drawn Road in Lieu & stead of the old one Between the houfes of Aaron Smith & Timothy Kingsberry Juni", (South Street), and confirmed "a Road or High way Leading from the houfe of John alden as it is now Drawn to y® brook Called ox meadow Brook at the Lower end of James Kingsberrys meadow in the Room and Stead of the Road Leading from Said Brook towards the Lower falls till it Comes to the Crofs Road that Leads to the meeting Houfe". The same day Captain Cook, Ensign Robert Fuller and James Kingsbery were chosen "to treat with the felect men of Newton with Respect to Laying out a Road or High way to the Cart Bridge 1 On pages 80 and 81 of Vol. II. of the town records is a description of this road, dated February 16, 1738/9, and signed by John Fisher and Jonathan Smith, two of the selectmen. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 87 over Charles River". On March 14, ij^j/^, the town ac- cepted the road as laid out "from D^ Jofiah Newel His Dwelling Houfe to the Cart Bridge ouer Charles River Near his houfe", but no land damages were to be paid. The same day a way "from the Dwelling Houfe of Cap" John Fifher to the Cart Bridge over the Charles Charles River Near faid Fifhers houfe" was also accepted. This way was the southern portion of Central Avenue. On March 30, 1750, the selectmen appointed Amos Fuller, Nathaniel Man and John Pain to lay out a highway "from M^ William Mills's to a Highway Lay'! out from Dedham to Poles Ifland alfo from SI Mills's to the Highway leading through great Plain, alfo to the Highway by John Pain's"; perhaps a part of Greendale Avenue, which with Broad Meadow Road formed the "through" public way. In 1 77 1 there was a road running northerly from Great Plain Avenue to Joseph Colburn's (Blackman's), but it ended there. On March 9, 1752, the town accepted from Hezekiah Broad a gift of the land used for a road near Isaac Mills's. Two years later a road from William Mills, Jr's., house lot to the road leading by Jeremiah Eaton's house was accepted by the town, provided there were no land damages. John Alden and Josiah Eaton, "the Selectmens Committy", had reported October 11, 1753, as to this road. Messrs. Mills and Eaton lived between Webster Street and the river, and presumably this was the old road laid out in 171 5 and discontinued in 1896. The same day that this road was accepted, March 11, 1754, the town voted to discontinue "the Road Leading from the Road by mr Caleb Kingsbery's a Croft Cheftnut Hill to the Road Leading by mE Jofeph Hawes's to mi Chriftopher Smiths from Being an Open Road and allow it only to be a Leading Road Provided they have Gates to go through in Said Road". Mr. Kingsbery lived where the Wellesley Country Club is; Mr. Hawes on the hill north of Edward G. Fuller's, and Mr. Smith probably on Brook Street. 88 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM On March lo, 1755, the town accepted a road "Leading from the Road nere Strife meadow Bridg to y^ Road Lead- ing from Chrlftopher Smith to David Smiths" provided It was as good as the old road, and cost the town nothing. Jonathan Deming, Jonathan Smith and Ephralm Bullard were appointed to view this new road, which apparently was the modern Brook Street. The same day the town voted to discontinue "y Road Leading from the Road that Leads through y Cheftnut Trees By Cap^ Caleb KIngsberys houfe to the Road that Leads from m^ Ephralm Wars to Jeremiah Woodcocks from being an open Road and allow It to be a Leading Road for three years Provided they have Gats to go through in Said Road". This road seems to be identical with that part of Wellesley Avenue between the club house and Brookside Road. On February 22, 1756, Samuel and Joseph Macklntler, appointed by the selectmen, of which board Samuel was a member, reported that they had layed out a road "from the Houfe of m"" Henry Dewing Jun^ to the Road Leading from m^ Jonathan Gay to mi: Thomas Gardners"; apparently Grove Street, which in 1771 ended at Benvenue Street, the latter road then ran southwesterly, turned to the west, and came out onto the Sherborn road (Washington Street) near Bullard's tavern. This change in an old road was accepted by the town at its annual meeting In 1756. On May 23, 1758, there was a report from David Smith, Jesse KIngsbery and Jonathan Huntting, who had been appointed by the town In March "to Vew the Road Near Robert Cunningham which Ifaac Mills Petitions to Fence up". On March 12, 1759, the town voted to discontinue "the Road Leading from Ephralm Wars to the Meeting Houfe as far as Peter Edes Land lies upon Said Road for two years Provided Ephralm Ware Hangs two Gates Sutible", and also discontinued "the Road Leading by Cap*" Caleb KIngs- berys Houfe to the Road that Leads from Ephralm Wars to the Meeting Houfe from being an Open Road and allow it i THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 89 only to be a Leading Road Provided he be at the Coft of Providing two Gates". On February 23, 1761, three of the selectmen laid out a road two rods wide "From the Houfe of m' Nathaniel Fifher to the Cart Bridge Leading over Charles River near De'' Fifhers Houfe"; evidently Central Avenue south of Charles River Street. In May, 1762, the town dismissed the article in reference to a road in the west part of the town near the house of Alexander Campbell. Mr. Campbell seems to have been the only person who wanted it. At the annual meeting in 1764 the ninth article was to see if the town would accept a road, one and one half rods wide, through "Cedar Swamp Plain", and Aaron Smith, Jr., Josiah Woodward, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Josiah Newell, Jr., and Lieut. Day were chosen to ascertain what the land damages would be. At the adjourned meeting, March 16, a road was accepted "Near the Houfe of Uriah CoUer Ju= As it is now Used and Improved on the Eaft Side of y^ Said Coller's Fence in the Room of a Road within Said Coller's Fence", and in May the road laid out the year before "From the Brook on the Southerly Side of Cedar Swamp Plain: And Runing Northerly to Natick Line " was also accepted. It was the road referred to in the ninth article at the annual meeting. Cedar Swamp is in the west part of the modern Wellesley. On May 22, 1766, the town accepted a road "as it is Laid out from Sherburn Road (So Called) To the Road that Leads by EnfE Lemuel Pratts houfe to Wefton": there to be no land damages. This road was on land of Josiah Up- ham, Jr., and on that of Henry Pratt, deceased, according to the report, under date of February 13, 1766, of a special committee consisting of Joseph Daniell, Caleb Kingsbery and Samuel Huntting. On March 14, 1768, the town ac- cepted "a Leading Road as it is laid out: from the Houfe of Josiah Ware; through Samuel Mackintier's Land: To the Road that Leads by Said Samuel Mackintiers Houfe: Upon Conditions that the Said Samuel Mackintier has 90 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Libberty to pafs and Repafs through the Land of the Said Joslah Ware to his Wood Land". Mr. Ware lived on Cart- wright Street. The report of Ephraim Jackson, Ebenezer Huntting and Oliver Mills, who laid out this road, is dated March 13, 1768, and is recorded in full. At the same meeting the town accepted a road "over Rofemerry Meadow Damn" in place of one "below Rofemerry Meadow Damn", which latter road was discontinued. The report of the committee, Ephraim Jackson, Josiah Woodward and William Mackin- tafh, was dated March 4, and contained these words: "And in Cafe the Flume wants Repairing or New Building it is to be Done at the Expence or Charge of the Propriators of the above Said Meadow". At the annual meeting in 1770 the town discontinued "the Road Leading from Sherburn Road; Towards Josiah Woodwards; as far as the Road is now Laid Out. Adjoining to the Land and fence of Samuel Daniel; and Accept of the Road that is now Laid out; on the Land of ml Joseph Daniel : in the Room and Stead of the old Road". The selectmen had appointed two of their number, Robert Fuller and Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, to lay out this new road in company with Lemuel Pratt, and their report is dated March 9. On March 15, 1771, the town accepted "a Road Leading from Ml Benjamin Mills'es Land as it is Marked Out: and Now Travilled in on the Eafterly part of John Kittley's Land Untill it Comes to Great Plain Road : With Out Co ft and Charge to the Town And it paft in the Affirmative". The town also accepted a road "as it is Marked Out from the North wefterly Corner of Ml Joseph Colburn's Land: On the Land of Lii Amos Fuller: Untill it Comes to the Road that Leads to Poles Island (So Colled) With Out Coft and Charge to y® Town". The reports as to these two roads are on page 23 of Vol. IL, and are dated March 6, 1771. Ebenezer Fuller Robert Smith \ Committee. William Smith THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 91 Perhaps the present Broad Meadow Road Is the one referred to. The town also accepted a leading way "as it is Marked Out through the Land of Mr Josiah Ware: To a wood Lot Belonging to the Heirs of Mi Samuel Mackintier Deci with out Co ft and Charge to y^ Town:" This was on Ridge Hill and a continuation of a road. The report, which is dated March 4, 1771, is on page 23 of Vol. H. Aaron Smith Samuel Daggett \ Committee. Oliver Mills On March 16, 1772, Josiah Newell, Esq., Lieut. William Mackintafh and Samuel Daggett were a committee to see about a road which ran between Ensign Eliakim Cook's house and barn and ended at the Widow Judeth Mills's, but on May 28 the town refused to accept it. Early in 1773 the town paid Timothy Newell and Michael Metcalf fifteen shillings each for attending the Court of Sessions in Boston, and Mr. Shephard and John Jones, Esq., three shillings each for writing for the town, including an answer to the petition before the court as to a road in the west part. On May 19, 1773, the town appointed Dea. John Fisher, Michael Metcalf and Lieut. Jonathan Day to treat with the owners of the land through which it was proposed to lay out a road, viz., from Natick line and Lieut. John Bacon's house, on what is now North Main Street in Natick, to the brook by Theodore Broad's mills and thence to Sherburn road. The committee reported at the next March meeting as directed.^ At the May meeting in 1773 the town dismissed article thirteen which was to see if they would open a road through the Chestnut Trees. At an adjourned meeting on March 1 On pages 57 and 58 of Vol. III. of the town records is the report of the select- men who relocated the westerly part of Bacon Street. Lieutenant Bacon's house has been greatly changed, and is the tenement house just west of the drinking fountain. 92 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 23, 1775, the town accepted a road from Natick line near the house of Moses Fisk to the road "that Leads from the Neck of the Ponds to Bofton", but there was to be no ex- pense to the town. The report of the laying out of this road by Selectmen Robert Fuller, Nathaniel Fisher and Ebenezer Fuller, is dated February 14, 1775, and is recorded. The road was one and one half rods wide, and ran through Moses Fisk's land to Isaac Underwood's and through Mr. Underwood's to the southeast corner of Joseph Drury's orchard. On May 29 the town accepted a road "from John Kings- bery's Houfe as the Road is now Traveled in, Untill it comes to the Road leading by John Aldens Houfe to the Uper falls. As it is Laid Out Two Rods wide, through the Land of Josiah Eaton and Jeremiah Eaton, In Exchange for part of an Old way that was Laid Out from Dedham to the Lower falls: Viz That part of Said Old way that Goes through Jeremiah Eatons Land; Beginning at William Milleses Land Near Rofemerry Pond, and from thence Runing to the Road Leading from Josiah Eatons to John Aldens". At the meeting of March 23 Josiah Newell, Lieut. Day and Amos Fuller had been chosen to view this proposed road, and to report at the May meeting, which they did. On February 24, 1778, the town accepted the report, dated the i6th, of Amos and Thomas Fuller, a committee appointed by the selectmen "to Lay out a way; Beginning at the Road by Nathaniel Ware's and so thrugh M'' William Millse's Land into the Road above Rofemerry Pond; And alfo from the Road by the North End of John Hall's Lot to Kindrecks Bridge (So Called) And make Return to the Subfcribers as Soon as may be". At the annual meeting the town took action, and named Josiah Eaton, Capt. William Smith and Henry Dewing to lay out the same pro- posed road; in their report to the May meeting they de- scribe this road as "From the Corner of John Hall's Land THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 93 as the way is now Drawn and Travil'd into Kindrick's Bridge (So Called), And alfo a New way as it is laid Out Upon the Said Mills'es Land Two Rods wide Adjoining to Nathaniel Ware's fence as it is Mark'd Out; Viz Beginning Near Said Ware's Barn, And Runing from thence into the Road above Rofemerry Pond (So Called) The land Said Roads are laid Out Upon to be Given by Said Mills, in Ex- change for that Part of an Old way formerly laid Out from Dedham to the Lower falls: Going thro Said Mills'es Home Lot, Viz from the Land of Jeremiah Eaton, as far as the middle of a watering Place at Rofemerry Pond (So Called) Formerly Referved by Ebenezer Mills for a watering Place, As the Same is Specify'd in a Plan and Deed Given to Na- thaniel Longley The Town Alfo Referving Liberty for Lieu* Robert Fuller his heirs and Afslgns (and Others Concern'd) to pafs and Repafs thro Gates and Barrs In Said Old way, as far as it Concerns them to Cart their wood and hay". The town accepted this road "Provided Said William Mills makes the New Road a Good and Pafsable Road". In the old times the "Rofemerry" meadows were flooded by reason of the sawmill dam on Wellesley Avenue, and the pond was much further north than the present Rosemary Pond, which was then insignificant, and has since beendugout. In 1782 Isaac Mills was paid £2, 8s., "for Land of said Mills that a Road was laid Out upon. Between Said Millse's and y Weft, Meeting Houfe". On March 10, 1783, the town accepted a road laid out "Two Rods wide On the Southwefterly Side of John Tol- man's House lot as the Same is Marked Out, In the Room of a Part of the Old Road Called Newell's Road as far as it joyns on Said Tolmans land. Provided there be no Coft to y" Town for the Same". On May 27, 1783, the town re- jected two proposed roads in the West part, but was favor- able to one "as it is laid Out from the Corner of Nathaniel Tolman's field to the Stick Bridge (So Called) Provided it is no Coft and Charge to the Town". The record is as follows: 94 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM "We the Subfcribers being, Petitioned to: to lay out a way from the Stick Bridge (So Called) Near Lieu* Jonathan Gay's Nearly by the Dwelling Houfe of Doci Jonathan Davis, and So till it Comes to the Road by the Corner of Nathaniel Tolman's Land and we Having laid Out Said Road as Follows Viz: Beginning near Said Corner and So by Stakes on the North Side till it Comes to the Corner of Said Gay's Land Near the Stick Bridge above mentioned; Said Road to be one Rod and a half wide South of Said Stakes Needham July y« 6:^^ 1781. John Fifher W£? Fuller Aaron Smith Select Men" Article 9 of the warrant for March 13, 1786, was to see if the town would "Difcontinue a Road Leading from Ml Timothy Newells, through the Land of M' Ebenezer Day to the Road Leading from John Tolman's to Lie* Samuel Townfends And Accept of Another in the room that Should be Prefented to them at this Meeting". Capt. Aaron Smith, John Slack and Jofeph Kingsbery, Jr., were the com- mittee to view the proposed new road, and the article was dismissed May 11. Article 10 was to see if the town would lay out a leading way "from y® Land of Ml Elmun Tolmans to the road that leads from Lie* Jonathan Gay's to the Meet- ing Houfe", and this article was also dismissed. On March 15, 1787, the town voted to "Open a Road from the Road Leading from Efq Newells to Mi Samuel Daggetts' to Cap'' Caleb Kingsbery's Houfe which was Shut up as a Leading way Several years ago," and accepted a "Road from Said Kingsbery's to the Road Leading from Samuel Ware's to the Eaft Meeting Houfe, as it is now Travlled by said Kingsbery's: Field on the Southerly Side of a Hill In Lieu of the Road Laid Out over Said Hill to the aforesrd Road Leading from Wares to the Meeting Houfe". At the May meeting, 1788, the town reconsidered Its vote THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 95 of March, 1787, "to open a Leading Road over Cheftnut Hill (So Called)", and the selectmen were "to Stake out the wedth of the aforeSald Road". The desired result does not appear to have been accomplished, as in 1796 the town chose William Fuller, Esq., Aaron Smith and Ad* Daniel Ware a committee on this road, and in May, 1796, the subject of the "Chefentree Road" was deferred to the next meeting. At the May meeting in 1796 the town accepted a "Road from the North end of Mi Nath^^ Wilson's lane to the Paper Mill and from thence to the Roa'^ leading from M? Nath^* Fifhers to Fifuers Bridge (so Called) as it is now Traviled if the Same may be done free of expense to the Town ex- cepting highway work"; the committee to lay out this road consisted of Ephraim Jackson, Lieut. Oliver Mills and Enoch Fisk. In 1796 the town put up twenty "Guide posts", some of which were painted and lettered by Edward Russell of West Needham.^ In 1797 Ensign Nathan Dewing, Enoch Fisk and Adj. Ware were chosen a committee in reference to a road from Capt. Josiah Newell's house. In 1799 the town refused to discontinue the road leading from Capt. John Tolman's house "to the Rode leading from Grate plain to Fishers Rode so Called from being an open rode and have it a Bridle way with Good Gates at each end". In 1800 the town voted not to "turn the way leading from the mark'd tree so called to the Road leading from the Meet- ing house to Dover on Land of Cap* Jofiah Newell as it is now fenced out"; Joseph Fisher had petitioned for this change. In connection with transferring Henry and Capt. Nathan Dewing and Amos Morse to the Northwest highway 1 The town has expended in the course of one hundred years a large sum for guide boards, but the record of them is chiefly interesting for the names of the painters. Many of the guide boards were renewed in 1829, at which time Luther Barrett painted and lettered twenty-four for f 18. The town records in some in- stances call these signs "Direct boards". g6 THE HISTORY OF nVeDHAM district, March, l8oi, mention Is made of the road from "the Gravel pit So Called Near Said Henry Dewlngs house to Sherburn Road". Article 7 of the warrant for the March meeting In 1803 was to see if the town would accept a road "one Rod and half wide from the land of L*; Lemuel Mills' on Land of Sal- mon Barney to the Road leading from Cooks Bridge to the East meeting house in the place where the Selectmen have staked out the same". The matter was postponed, and brought up under the May warrant and dismissed, with the result that Lieut. Mills, the petitioner, brought suit in the Court of General Sessions, and in October Benjamin Slack,^ David Smith, Jr., and Royal M-^Intosh were chosen to represent the town in this case. In October, 1803, the town accepted a "Road from Wllfons corner (so called) to the center of the Bridge" at the Dover line. Wilson's Corner was at the junction of South and Charles River Streets. In December, 1803, Lieut. Jonathan Gay and Ben- jamin Slack were appointed agents to answer the committee named by the Court of the General Sessions of the Peace "to View the Road from Will 5? Bogles in Weston to the widow Olive Parkers In Needham agreeable to the Petition of Richard Kimball and others". In 1804 the town twice refused to accept the road laid out by the selectmen at the request of Jonathan Ellis, and a road laid out at the request of Lieut. Adam Jones had the same fate. Mr. Ellis appealed to the Court, and the town named Benjamin Slack, Enoch FIsk and James Smith to settle with him, and late in 1806 they reported favorably, but there was to be no expense for land taken "or abuttle- ments of the Bridge on the lower part of the s^ Bridge with the peers and Cappieces: and so long as the proprietors of the Mills of which the s*? lower part of S*? Bridge makes a 1 The town was than engaged in troublesome and expensive litigation with Mr. Slack, who apparently sued the town for money expended by him, and others, in maintaining the school near the Lower Falls; the town finally settled the claim. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 97 Dam supports the above which the sd town is Exempted from Doing; then said town to support the uper part of the Bridge with string pieces and plank". In April, 1807, the town dismissed the article to discon- tinue the road from Jonathan Gay, Jr.'s, to the "mark tree so Called", and to make it merely a leading way with bars and gates. Thirty years ago this road was passable, but has grown up to woods. Arthur Whitaker partially cleared the western portion about 1903. In May the ninth article was to see if the town would "Straten the road from opposite Daniel Ware's barn as Strait as will best accomo- date to the bridge north of the powder house". In March, 18 14, the town accepted the road staked out by the selectmen "in the South part of the Town near the Slitting Mill" "two Rods wide: running from the old road south of M^ George Fisher's new house" "to the River between the blacksmith's shop and the new house on Cap! Josiah Newell's Lan'^ built by Jonathan Newell". In April, 18 17, the town granted Major MTntosh a road as laid out by the selectmen, but he was to make a good road at his own expense "Except his own highway tax the present year which is to be worked out on Said Road and when Said Road is compleated he is to Discontinue the Road over the hill which is now traveled". In 1820 Benjamin Slack and Peter Lyon laid out a road through land of Daniel Hunting, and between the dwellings of William Eaton and Dea. Alden. In 1822 the town voted not to oppose "the Road now pending before the Court of general Sessions". In 1823 the town accepted the road (Rosemary Street) between the houses of Warren Dewing and William A. Kingsbury, pro- vided it was made at private expense, and voted to discon- tinue the old road from Mr. Dewing's to the Great Plain road when the new road was completed. Late the next year a committee reported in favor of extending the road from Lieut. Jonathan Gay's "to Natick", and the following 98 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM April $200 were appropriated for that purpose. This is the west portion of Charles River Street. In 1825 the town accepted the favorable report of a com- mittee as to a road from Dover to Newton, and voted "to discontinue the road from near Spencer Fullers to the road leading from the east meeting in Needham to Dover, in compensation for the one leading from said road to the Mills". This was also a part of Charles River Street. That year Major M'^Intosh, Elisha Lyon, Esq., and Capt. Reuel Ware were a committee to oppose the petition of William Bogle and others for a road (Blossom Street) from Weston to the Worcester Turnpike. In April, 1826, the town voted to discontinue "a peice of Shurburn road in Needham near Ware & Wilder's Store to M'- Seth Colburns". In 1829 some pieces of road north of the poor-house were accepted, and others discontinued. In 183 1 a new road was built near Major Macintosh's tavern, presumably that part of Central Avenue that is between Great Plain Avenue and the north end of Noyes Street. In 1832 the selectmen were instructed " to oppose the Corporation of the Worcester & Central turnpike road from their relinquishing them and become a town expence". This involved also the care of fifty feet of the bridge at the Upper Falls. The Worcester Turnpike was chartered March 7, 1806, built in 1808, and for many years its proprietors collected toll at different points. Daniel Dadmun had charge of the toll-gate just north of Blossom Street. In 1832 the proprietors were desirous of turning over to the towns their rights and obli- gations. Two years later William B. Parker, Benjamin Slack and William Flagg were a committee "to see If the toll gate might be moved for the Interest and convenience of the Inhabitants of the town of Needham". Late in 1833 the road over Chestnut Hill was discontinued, and a new one, now Wellesley Avenue, accepted. Chestnut Hill is the long hill west of Forest Street. On April 20, 1835, the town appointed Thomas Kings- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 99 bury, Benjamin Slack, and Moses Garfield to report as to the repairs needed on the turnpike, which had been "put on the town". That year the western portion of what is now Cartwright Street was laid out as an "open road" by the selectmen, having been only a "Bridle Way", and Brook Street was changed for about fifty rods, so that Reuel Ware's house was no longer on the south side of the road, but on the north, as at the present time. In 1837 a committee was directed to oppose a road which the County Commissioners were asked to lay out "from Widow Abigail Cheneys to the Upper Falls", and in 1838 a new road from Charles River to the North school was made, and there were minor changes in that section that year, and in the years directly following. The familiar name "Mark Tree Road" occurs in 1838.^ In 1840 the selectmen were to protect the interests of the town "where fences are set in too narrow", encroaching upon town roads, and the highway surveyors were made a committee to change district lines. The town accepted a short piece of road near "Flag House Hill", running south to Great Plain road, and discontinued the old road from that hill to the said Great Plain road. In 1841 there were four small bridges in the West Centre highway district. In 1848 the town paid Lewis Beals and Stephen Hays the large sum of $900 for building a road from West Needham "Depot" to William D. Kingsbury's. This road had been laid out by the County Commissioners, and the year before the town had sought of the General Court relief from an order of the Commissioners in reference to it, or a part of it. The two following years considerable work was done in the Lower Falls section, and Central Avenue was straightened south of Charles River Street, and the latter street near Spencer Fuller's was also improved to the South Mills. ^ This is the name in general use, although the selectmen reported it as Marked Tree Road when a list of approved, or suggested, street names was prepared by them in 1876, and the latter name was confirmed by vote of the town. lOO THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM In 1849 the old road from the Lower Falls to Weston was discontinued, as a new one had been built which ran by the house of Amos Allen, Esq., who was a justice of the peace, and for some years rather prominent in town. The same year Dexter Ware, George K. Daniell and Dea. Asa Kings- bury were a committee to consider discontinuing the old road from Grantville "depot" to Grantville Hotel. In 1850 the road was straightened between the houses of Dea. Jonathan Newell and George Revere, although it curves at the present time (191 1). In 185 1 the town directed the selectmen "to fill up or otherwise make safe the dangerous watering places", which led to the disappearance of those wayside pools, a few of which may still (191 1) be seen in Dover and in other towns. In 1852 the selectmen were authorized to discontinue the old road from Parker Plain to the Methodist meeting-house, and to lay out a road from land of Ephraim Loker and James Reynolds to "Pine Plain so called". At this period many of the roads were straightened, and new ones pro- posed, which in several instances were not constructed for some years. The "McCracken road" from "near the Noyes Place, to the Worcester Turnpike" appears to be the road that Thomas Kingsbury built by contract in 1858 for about $400. Among the roads straightened was that part of Neholden Street between the blacksmith's shop and Garden Street, which until 1855 ran by the front door of the home of Artemas Newell, Esq., who laid out and graded the new road, the town discontinuing the old one. Hillside Avenue from Webster Street to Hunnewell Street was accepted in 1857. The next year William Flagg built Lovewell Road at a cost to the town of upward of $400, and Seaver Street was built at this time. Meeting-house Hill, Neholden Street, was reduced in 1854, and important changes made in that road, and again in 1859-60, when the elaborate stone wall was built by William Gilbert Jones, a skilful mason, samples of whose work are familiar objects, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM loi although the builder is unknown to the present generation. John Kingsbury, 2d, cut down Meeting-house Hill in 1859, dumping the material on the green to the westward, much to the disgust of Davis C. Mills, who had carefully graded and seeded the place. In the course of years John F. Mills, a son of Davis C. Mills, in a large measure repaired the damage. It is difficult to trace the changes made in the roads dur- ing 1840-59, partly because in many instances there was no special appropriation, and particularly as the result of losing the road book, or books. Sixty-five years ago Great Plain Avenue was crooked and the portion opposite Garden Street was farther south, and there was a curve by Mark Tree Road which made the road southwest of the Munson house. It came out Onto the present course just east of the Mcin- tosh ledge. At the time this road was straightened a rattle- snake was shot on the ledge south of the present Marsh house. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated that in his youth there was no such road as the westerly part of Grove Street, which now runs by Dana Hall. The year 1859 was one of activity in road building, and John Fuller constructed the Libby Road, and bridge, at an expense exceeding $1100, while John J. Perry made a new road near the railroad station in Wellesley for $400. The fine trees on Washington Street in Wellesley Hills were set out by John Curtis and John W. Shaw during the Civil War, or shortly before. South Street was laid out by the County Commissioners in 1861. During the Civil War road building was at a stand-still, but in 1865 Hunnewell Road, now Hunnewell Street, was made, an appropriation of $300 having been granted for that purpose. The name of this street is derived from Samuel Hunnewell, an early inhabitant, and it has been said that the present street includes a cart path that anciently led to his house. In 1866 "Highlandville Road", which is 102 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Highland Avenue from Great Plain Avenue to Hunnewell Street, was constructed by J. B. & C. Dacey for $1950, according to plans drawn by Robert Mansfield. At the annual meeting in 1867 the town declined to accept a road laid out by the Honorable E. K. Whitaker from Great Plain Avenue to the new County road near the Oakland Institute, but voted "that the County Commissioners should terminate the new County Road by taking East Street as the rout to Great Plain Avenue". During the year ending January 31, 1868, there were heavy falls of snow, and it cost the town over $1600 to break out the roads. In 1868 the selectmen were authorized to spend $1000 on what is now Greendale Avenue between Kendrick Street and the "Dedham Road". In 1 87 1 and 1872 the town expended about $9500 re- building and widening the bridge at Lake Crossing, and constructing the arch under the road, according to plans of J. Franklin Fuller. Johnson & Richmond were the con- tractors. This arch is not to be confused with the passage way under the Boston & Albany Railroad track. In 1871 $1500 were voted to enable the selectmen to pur- chase gravel banks. Another costly improvement of the highways in 1871 and 1872 was the widening of Washing- ton Street at the Lower Falls, which contributed largely to- ward necessitating a loan of $20,000. Maple Street was accepted in 1871, but not built until 1873, in which latter year $1000 was spent on Mark Tree Road. Central Street was also rebuilt in 1873. The early seventies were years of enterprise in Needham, and many new streets were petitioned for. In 1874 the town spent $18,000 on its roads, and Reser- voir Street was built, Hillside Avenue north of West Street opened for travel, and Chestnut Street was widened from South Street to Day's Bridge according to an order of the County Commissioners issued the preceding year. The last piece of work cost only $500. Wellesley Avenue was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 103 relocated in 1875 in consequence of the construction of the Sudbury River conduit, but the City of Boston bore the expense, and paid the land damages. Brook Street was remade in 1878, and the Ireland gravel land was purchased for $500. In 1879 the selectmen advised an appropriation for sidewalks, the abutters to pay one half of the expense, and in 1880 $300 were voted for this object, and thus be- gan the construction of sidewalks in Needham, to result in fine concrete walks, some of them extending long distances. In 1884 a special appropriation of $300 was again made for sidewalks, and the next year the same amount was voted as one of the annual grants. The first concrete sidewalk in Needham was built in 1890 or 1891. The question of drainage occupied the attention of the town both before and after the division, and was a road matter. Great difficulty has been experienced in draining the vicinity of the Needham station, and in 1880 $1100 were appropriated for that purpose. In 1878 the County Commissioners had ordered the widening of Highland Avenue, and in 1879 it was made fifty feet wide between Great Plain Avenue and Webster Street, the change being almost entirely on the east side, where the damages were considerable. In 1880 the road which ran close to the house of Henry F. Durant, Esq., was straightened, largely at his expense, improving the street, but it was not until after the division of the town that a much greater change was made in the street, giving Mrs. Durant a fine lawn. In 1884 Causeway Street was included as a part of Great Plain Avenue, making the avenue extend from Wellesley to the Dedham line. Hillside Avenue was continued from West Street to Rosemary Street by Maney Brothers, con- tractors. Their price was to be $1750, but they obtained $2457.62 in a suit, and the town also paid Mrs. Morton about $600 for land and damages. In 1889 Great Plain Avenue from Noyes Street to Curtis I04 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Mcintosh's house was straightened and widened by order of the County Commissioners at an expense of over $4000. Opposite the old Mills house the road is said to have been anciently in the meadow, and west of the big elms. Lieut. Fisher Mills took some young elms to Boston to sell, but a few were rejected by an official as imperfect, and when he got home he set them on the east side of the road. In 1888 the town had purchased a large stone crusher, which, with an Atlas engine and the freight charges, cost about $2100. The first steam roller dates from 1901, and was made by the Buffalo Pitts Company. It is a twelve ton machine, and cost $2800. The first watering cart owned by the town was bought in 1899 and cost $325. These additions to the facilities of the street department have made improved methods of road building possible. The first efficient use of the stone crusher in Needham, resulting in a "stone road", was when Nathaniel Wales was superin- tendent of streets in 1896. Mr. Wales also served in 1887 and 1888. In 1897 Webster Street between Central and Greendale Avenues was widened, and Great Plain Avenue from Curtis Mcintosh's to the Wellesley line; the expense of the first- mentioned work was nearly $8000, and of the second about $2800. In March, 1902, the town restored the old name of the Broad Meadow Road, and during that year South Street was again reconstructed. In 1902 Great Plain Avenue from Highland Avenue to Garden Street was widened by order of the County Commissioners, which resulted in the removal. May 2, 1904, of some fine elms south of the common. The elms extending from Nehoiden Street to the Baptist Church were set out by Edgar K. Whitaker and sons on the day that the Cochituate water was introduced into Boston, which was October 25, 1848. A sidewalk was also made by Mr. Whitaker, or land for one given, and there were banks of shrubs placed by the roadside. The Kingsbury-Whitaker- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 105 Morgan place then included the land between Neholden Street and Highland Avenue. The Whitakers are said by Mr. James Mackintosh, and others, to have set out trees on both sides of the road from Marked Tree Road to Pickering Street. The first State road built in Needham was a mile of High- land Avenue, beginning at the bridge, and the work was done in 1902 by the local street department under super- vision. The cost was about $6100, of which $5340 was paid by the Commonwealth. In 1905 the town took the contract for a second mile of State road to begin at Day's Bridge and to extend north over Chestnut Street, and completed it the following year at a cost of about $6500, practically the whole expense being paid by the Commonwealth and the Newton and Boston Street Railway Company. In 1905 Grove Street was out of repair, and was remade after the manner of a State road at a cost of about $2250, and reflected credit upon the street department. South Street has been an expensive highway, and in 1906 $1500 were spent to make It equal to a State road. Elaborate improvements were made on Hillside Avenue and Rosemary Street in the years 1907-9, including walls, iron fences and sidewalks. The wall by the pond was built in 1908 and 1909 and is two hundred feet long and in some places ten feet high. The large willows on the shore were removed in 1907. In 1909 means were adopted to permanently lay the dust on some principal streets, and Tarvia B. was used success- fully on two and one half miles of road, and the more tem- porary Terracolio on six miles. On Highland Avenue, a State Road, Asphaltoil was ap- plied hot, and is expected to last two years. In 1910 "Dust suppression" became an important item in the highway expenditures, five and one half miles being covered with Tarvia B., and about six miles sprinkled with an asphalt oil emulsion. io6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Needham has grown rapidly within a few years, and much land has been put upon the market by men who are not otherwise identified with the town. In too many instances names without significance have been given to new streets, often as a compliment to some friend or relative, or perhaps selected at random by a surveyor. When the citizens are asked to accept a street and to vote money for Its construc- tion, it would seem proper that the name should then be subject to change, or the question of Its appropriateness referred to a committee. Care of tfje iligfjtoaps anb tfje Buties of ?|igf)toap ^urbepors By a law enacted on December 6, 1693, each town was required to choose annually two or more Surveyors of Highways, who were to be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties. Refusal to serve as a highway surveyor involved a fine of twenty shillings, and for neglect of duty when in office it was £5. Every male inhabitant over sixteen years old was liable to be called upon for work on the roads, and there was a fine of 2s., 6d. per day for absence when summoned, unless represented by a substitute. The failure to send a cart and team was punished with a fine of six shillings per day. The selectmen had power to lay out particular and private ways, and the Court of Quarter Sessions received applications for public roads. The appro- priations for the highways during the Provincial period averaged about £50 per year in Needham, although only £26, i6s., 4d. "Lawful Money" in the years 1750 and 1751. When In "Land Bank Bills", or other depreciated currency, the sum voted was nominally large, and was £450 In 1748. The grant was usually £90 each year from the close of the War of the Revolution to 1795, Inclusive, but was raised to £135 In 1796 and 1797. The next year the appropriation was for the first time reckoned In dollars, and was of $500. This was the amount annually voted by the town until 1803, when it was increased to $600, and so continued for many years. During the thirties the average amount of the grant was $775, in the forties It was $1000, and In the fifties io8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM S1694.80. The appropriations for the highways were small during the Civil War, but before the close of the decade had risen to $10,000 per year. For ten years after the divi- sion of the town, 1881-90, the average cost of the roads was under $7000 a year, but has since greatly increased. Eighty years ago the expense of breaking out the roads in winter did not exceed $25, although the falls of snow are said to have been heavier than at the present time. Beginning with 1846 the town annually authorized the selectmen to have the roads broken out, but there was no special appropria- tion for this purpose until 1873, when $1200 were granted. In 1721 the town voted to do "ouer Hyway Work by a Rate", and for more than a century this was substantially the annual vote in Needham, and accorded with the general custom In New England. The rate was necessarily based upon "Last years bills", as most of the tax was worked out by the men and boys in the spring. As late as 183 1 at least one half of the road work was done in May, and only one seventh of the money was reserved for the winter. There were years when a portion of the highway tax was required to be paid in money. It was not unusual to permit men to work out their taxes on what were practically private ways. For example: On May 22, 1755, the town voted "to allow ten of Dea° John Fifhers Neareft Nabours to work out there Proportion of the High way Rate in the Road Leading to his Mill". In 1784 Dea. John and Nathaniel Fisher, and Josiah Newell, Jr., were to "work Out their Highway Rate In y^ Highway Near their Mills." The mills referred to were the grist- mill and the sawmill In the South part of the town. In 1789 a similar vote was passed, and Simeon Colburn, Jonathan and George Fisher were permitted to work out their taxes on the road previously mentioned, and were In addition to Nathaniel Fisher and Josiah Newell, Jr. On May 12, 1791, the town voted to "allow the proprietors of broad Medows (So Called) that use the Causway that THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 109 Leads into Said Medows over Poles Island to work one Day Each on Said Causway and to be allowed for Said work as done in the Highways". In 1802 Capt. Josiah Newell was allowed $8.66 for work which he did on the highways for seven men who failed to do their part. In "working" out these taxes there was too much "soldiering", and in 1836 the town directed the surveyors to "cut down" the pay "if any person is not faithful at his work". On June 5, 1743, the town voted to allow for road work "one Shilling old tenour per Hour for a fingle man", and two shillings was considered fair pay "for a man and Teame". This was nominally high compensation, and the amount was doubled in 1748, but was probably no better than 3d. per hour in good money, which was the value placed upon the road work in 1753, either for a man or for a "Teame". The latter expression referred to oxen well into the nineteenth century. There was no change in the highway wages till 1778, when the pay was six pence per hour; in 1780 it was six shillings, and in 1781 "Six Dollers" in sadly depreciated currency. In 1782 it was again in hard money, and was four pence per hour for each man; this was increased to six pence in 1796. Nine cents was the value placed upon an hour's work on the roads in 1798, and for fifty-four years, 1 799-1 853, there was no advance from ten cents per hour, which was the amount established in 1799, either for one man or for a team, with the exception of two years. In 1828 eleven cents were allowed per hour, and in 1829 twelve and one half cents. In 1854 the pay was twelve and one half cents for an hour's work, and continued un- changed to the time of the Civil War, when it varied from ten to fifteen cents. One horse was reckoned the same as one man, but in "War time" a yoke of oxen were estimated as earning a shilling an hour. In i860 the inhabitants of Needham worked out $1500 of the highway grant for that year. In the spring of 1806 the town voted to provide each no THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM highway district with "a good Plow for the use of highway work of Sufficient size to accommodate them: And Choose a committee to Build the Same". The committee consisted of Daniel Felton, Maj. Mcintosh, Lieut. Lemuel Mills, Enoch FIsk, David Smith, Jr., and Jacob Pierce. Mr. Smith had much to do with the roads. In 1809 the town paid $5 for a plough, but one for the West District cost $9.17 in 1811. In the early years the Town of Needham chose four or five Surveyors of Highways each spring, but there were no defi- nite districts. For some reason only two surveyors were elected in 1722, and again in 1730, and but three in 1724. The first record of Highway districts in Needham is found in the vote of May 17, 1736, which named Captain Cook, Jeremiah Woodcock, Henry Dewing and Peter Edes, to- gether with the selectmen, a committee "to Devide the Highways of the Town for Five years". At the annual meeting in 1767 Capt. Ephraim Jackson, Lieut. Day, Jona- than Deming, Isaac Underwood and Ensign Cook were instructed "to divide the Roads into DIftricts that shall Continue from year to year Dureing the Towns Pleafure". Later divisions were based upon that of 1767, although the lines of highway and school districts were from time to time changed, either on the recommendations of special committees, or by vote of the town under articles in war- rants; if only one or two estates were concerned the latter method was often availed of. After the creation of districts the number of surveyors was seven until reduced to six by the annexation of the West End District to Natick In 1797. From 1822 to 185 1 the number of districts was nine, and there was a surveyor for each of them. In 185 1 there was a new division into ten dis- tricts, which number was reduced to four in 1867. A fifth district was formed from the others in 1874, and was known as the Centre District, but the next year there were but four, which remained the number to April 10, 1876, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM iii when Augustus Stevens was made sole superintendent of streets. In 1878 Charles Hiram Dewing, who had been a surveyor of highways under the old system, as had Mr. Stevens, was chosen colleague of the latter, and had charge of the East portion of the town. In 188 1 the town was divided, and Mr. Stevens became superintendent of the streets of Wellesley, and Mr. Dewing of those of Needham. With the exception of two years Mr. Dewing served until his death in 1895, and was thoroughly competent, and highly respected. Since 1901 David Hugh Livingston, a popular, genial citizen, has been the superintendent, and has met the in- creasing demands of his position with progressive efficiency. His resignation took effect on June i, 191 1, when he became superintendent of streets in Dedham. In 1874 the selectmen urged the election of road commis- sioners, and the question of choosing such officials has been repeatedly before the town, particularly In 1890. Since 1876 the selectmen have been annually elected surveyors of highways by hand votes. Of the old-time surveyors of highways entitled to mention in the town history, either on account of length of service or because of their ability In office, are the following: Capt. William Pierce, Upper South and West Centre Districts. John Kingsbury, Centre and Great Plain. Dea. George G. Stevens, Great Plain. George Otis Kingsbury, East. Charles M'=Intosh, Centre. Asa Fuller, West Centre. The highway surveyors were collectors of the highway taxes, and by a vote of 1781 the town directed them to pay unexpended balances to the town treasurer. At the annual meeting In 1838 the town voted "that the highway survey- ors be Chosen by the districts and Sanctioned and approved by the Select-men", "Districts to meet for Choice of 112 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Highway Surveyors Monday next". This arrangement was in force for years, the town directing when the meet- ings should be held, often designating the same evening for the choice of district, or prudential, school committees, but at a different hour. In 1838 the highway surveyors were chosen between 4 and 6 P.M., and the meetings were notified by the surveyors. The moderators on these oc- casions were required to make returns to the selectmen. As collectors of a portion of the taxes the surveyors were subject to rules, and in 1838 were directed to bring in their books to the selectmen "before their year expires". In 1839 they were to make their returns to the town treasurer "on polls & personal property before July, on Real Estate before November next". The last vestige of the separation of the highway taxes from other town assessments was eliminated in 1874. The highway system was a favorite subject for discussion, and for the consideration of special committees, during the nineteenth century, and subsequent to 1881 there were attempts to return to old methods. In 1858 the surveyors were instructed to remove loose stones from the roads as often as once a month, and this vote was repeated in later years. In 1859 the selectmen and the surveyors, acting together, were authorized to buy gravel. For some years prior to the abolition of highway surveyors, as distinct from the selectmen, the latter directed the expenditure of the greater part of the highway grant. In 1869 the compensation allowed a surveyor of highways in Needham was $3 per day. The record of the laying out of roads in Needham is con- tained in special books, the volume beginning in November, 1859, continuing in use to 1901. The earlier book, or books, is said to have been burned in the great fire in Boston in November, 1872. iBribgesi On February 15, 171 3/14, "Thes Town being sencabell of their need of a County breig ouer Charlls River and the town being not all of a mind in which place this breig Shold be Stated voted in the aflfarmitive that thay would Stand too whatt the Honered Comunitty Shold doe in Statting a place for a breig ofer Charls River bitween the uper falls & broad Medows". On January 27, 1730/1, the town chose Andrew Dewing, John Fisher and Robert Fuller a committee to petition the General Court "that Cambridg Great Cart Bridg ouer Charls River Might be taken Down". On April I, 1752, John Fisher, Esq., was chosen agent to urge the General Court to free the town of Needham from all expense on account of a bridge over Neponset River because they "have eight Bridges over Charles River that they help Maintain". COOK'S BRIDGE Cook's Bridge is the only ancient bridge in Needham that has lost its old name, as far as popular usage is concerned. It took its designation from Capt. Robert Cook, who was, with the exception of the minister, the most prominent citizen of Needham from 171 1 to 1756. Early in the last century the Cook family removed from this locality, and gradually the old name, Cook's Bridge, faded away, and ceased to appear in the records of Needham and Newton, but on March 16, 1903, the town by vote declared the names of the bridges, designating this one as Cook's Bridge. On October 18, 1742, the town appointed Captain Cook, 114 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Robert Fuller, Eleazer Kingsbery, James KIngsbery and Jeremiah Eaton "to finifh the Rebuilding one Halfe part of the Cart Bridge Ouer Charles River Near Eliakim Cook's". John Alden repaired this bridge in 1750; Eleazer Kingsbery replanked it In October, 1752, and In 1753; he also made repairs in 1756, '60, '64 and '69. John Mills repaired this bridge In 1755, as did Ensign Eliakim Cook in 1761. On May 22, 1766, the town chose Capt. Ephralm Jackson, Capt. Eleazer KIngsbery and Dea. John Fisher to join with Newton in "Rebuilding" this bridge, although three years later the town refused to repair its half. Daniel Wight worked on It the next year, and John Marean built, at the expense of Needham, one half of the "Stone Buttlement" in the river at the Upper Falls. In 1778, and from time to time for many years, the town repaired "Cook's Bridge", "Kendrick's Bridge", "Fisher's Bridge", "Day's Bridge", "Pratt's Bridge" and "new Bridge", and these items are of Interest chiefly as illustrat- ing the use of the old names. ^ Considerable repairs were made on "Cooks Bridge (so Called) " in 1796. Lieut. Moses Garfield repaired this bridge in November, 18 17, when he employed for the work David Ayers and Samuel Floyd. John Westcoat did stone work at this bridge In 1844, when other repairs were made on Cook's Bridge and on the Turnpike bridge. In 1873 the bridge at Ellis's Mills, Upper Falls, was re- built at a cost to Needham of $400, and about as much was expended on Cook's Bridge; the next year the town rebuilt the stone foot-bridge. Cook's Bridge was widened and partly rebuilt by the ^ The "White Oak Plank" used on these bridges was often purchased from Lieutenant, later Colonel, Jonathan Kingsbery, who had a sawmill on Rosemary Brook, on the westerly side of what is now Wellesley Avenue, and who was for years the principal lumber dealer in town. It may seem unnecessary to give details of these repairs, but there is so little about the early bridges on record that everything relating to them is of some interest. In 1771 there was a ford way about half a mile north of Cook's Bridge. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 115 City of Newton In 1897 on account of the proposed use of it by the Newton and Boston Street Railway Company, which paid $1250, reducing Needham's share of the expense to $960, or about one fourth of the total cost. This bridge has three stone arches, and there is a wooden walk on the west side, which is supported by timbers. BRIDGE NEAR ELLIS'S MILL, UPPER FALLS Repairing the bridge "near the Cotton Factories" in August, 1846, resulted in the town having to pay to Barney L. White $900 for obstructing the water, interfering with the dam, etc., although the cost of the labor and material for the repairs of the bridge was less than $200. This bridge, which is on the Turnpike, and west of Cook's Bridge, was at the time of the division of the town a wooden structure, resting on wooden piers, and remained unchanged until 1905. The contractor who tore it away states that he thinks that a portion of the timbers had been in this bridge for a century and a half. The dam near It was also of wood. There was a ford In the Charles about seventy-five rods west of the Turnpike. KENDRICK'S BRIDGE Kendrick's Bridge Is near the "Landing place", which is referred to In the early records, and where apparently there was some sort of bridge in 1716. As the bridges were then usually neighborhood affairs, the town records prior to 1740 are silent as to several of the older ones. On May 23, 1757, the town granted certain men "who were at the Charge of Building the Bridge Neare Cap*" KIndrecks the Liberty to work out there Highway Rate in Repairing Said Bridg' this year". In 1765 Josiah Eaton, Jonathan Smith and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen to join with Newton in rebuilding this bridge. Capt. Kings- bery, who had the previous year been on a committee to ii6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM arrange the matter with Newton, and who had had experience, appears to have directed the work, although Mr, Eaton was active. Theophilus Richardson was the "Carpenter for Training the Bridge Near CapB Kindrecks".^ Jeremiah, Eleazer and Ebenezer Fuller worked "Cuting & Carting Timber for said Bridge", which timber was purchased from the townspeople, much of it at about nine shillings per "Tun." In 1772, or early in 1773, Kendrick's Bridge was repaired by Captain Kingsbery and Benjamin Mills, and about the same time work was done on Pratt's and Day's Bridges; the men then employed were Timothy Newell, Enoch Kingsbery, Ebenezer Fuller, Ellakim Cook and Joseph Daniell, Jr. Within five years "Kindricks Bridge" needed attention, and in 1792 Lieut. Oliver Mills rebuilt it. Need- ham's share of the work lasted until December, 1793, and tons of timber, including two and one half and four-inch planks, were supplied by Lieut. Mills, who got the "Cap peice" from Norman Clark of Newton. The Lieutenant worked on the bridge twenty-eight and one half days him- self and boarded Samuel Fisher, who, with Royal and Gid- eon Mcintosh, Timothy Dewing, Capt. Robert Smith and Enoch Mills, were hired at four shillings per day each. Ensign Michael Harris and Ebenezer M^'Intosh also fur- nished timber, Jonathan Kingsbery stone, and Robert Fuller the long "Cheftnut Sticks". The oxen, for which the town payed 5s., 9d. per yoke per day, belonged to Lieutenant Mills, Jonathan Kingsbery, Enoch Mills and Nathaniel Ware, Jr. In i860 this bridge was partly rebuilt, and at that time, or in 1 86 1, work was done on the road, now Kendrick Street. There was considerable controversy with Mr. Munson, the ^ Capt. Caleb Kenrick, as he spelled his surname, lived near this bridge. Dr. Samuel A. Green in his book entitled "Groton during the Revolution" gives the epitaph of Capt. Kenrick's wife, who, to escape the turmoil of the war, visited her daughter, Mrs. Dana, in Groton, and died there. The name of Kendrick's Bridge, often Kindreck's, Kindrick's, or Kendreck's in the old records, but rarely, if ever, Kenrick's, is familiar to thousands who frequent the river in summer and winter. The names of our other bridges are comparatively unknown to the public. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 117 contractor, as to what he ought to do to fulfil his agreements relative to this road. Kendrlck's Bridge was carried down the river by the freshet of 1886, and It cost Needham about $1000 to repair the damage, and to build a new abutment; the City of Newton also expended at least $500. In the town report of 1886 this bridge Is correctly called Kenrlck's. It is a wooden bridge, and was again repaired In 1902. THE CAUSEWAY The construction of the Causeway was one of the very early enterprises of Dedham. The bridge itself was never within the limits of Needham. In 1783 the bridge near Thomas Payn's (Glancy, 191 1) was repaired, and in 1791 Needham was at some expense "for a Bridge on the great Caufey built the last year". VINE ROCK bridge; Vine Rock Bridge was built prior to April, 1736, by resi- dents of Dedham, Needham and Medfield, and at their own expense, after unsuccessful attempts to have It made a County bridge; it was repaired by the town of Dedham in 1742. The residents of Needham always objected to paying for work on this bridge, and In 1760-2 there was a controversy, which Involved the attendance of Ensign Lemuel Pratt and Nathaniel Fisher on the Court In Boston In 1760. In De- cember, 1768, the selectmen of Needham granted £3, lis., 7d., 2f. to pay Abner Ellis, town treasurer of Dedham, "Needham's Part of Repair of Vine Rock Bridge" in 1759 and 1760, and charges of the Court; also £1, 8s., 4d., 2f. for repairs In 1766. Dea. John Fisher and Michael Met- calf effected the settlement with the selectmen of Dedham, but in 1772 Aaron Smith, Jr., was granted twelve shillings for "Afslfting the Select Men in the Affair of Vine Rock Bridge". The next year Dedham called on Needham to Ii8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM pay one half of the cost of rebuilding this bridge, which was outside of the limits of Needham, and the demand was refused then, and again in 1785. The town paid Joslah Ware, Michael Metcalf, Capt. Caleb KIngsbery and Na- thaniel Fisher considerable sums to contest It, but later had to grant to Mr. Fisher about £10, for repairing this bridge, and something over £1 to Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery. In 1787 Col. M'^Intosh, our member of the General Court, secured the passage of an Act, November 13, 1787, which released Needham from an assessment of March 6, on ac- count of this bridge. The Act was probably the result of a petition from Needham, dated June 21.^ NEW BRIDGE (LYON'S BRIDGE) The map of Needham In 1771 designates a bridge where Lyon's Bridge is now as the "New Bridge". On October i, 1740, Amos Fuller, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., and Joslah Newell, Jr., were chosen "to repair or build the New Bridg between the s*^ Towns of Dedham & Need- ham". On March 8, 1741/2, this committee was granted £26 for rebuilding the "Cart Bridge Caled New Bridge". The money had been appropriated the previous May. Mr. Newell repaired this bridge ten years later, and In 1756, or 1757, Lieut. Amos Fuller replanked It with white oak, at a cost of 3/4d. per foot for the material. In May, 1763, the town chose Timothy Newell, Ebenezer Fuller and Lieut. Jonathan Day to rebuild "new Bridge between Needham and Dedham". Lieut. Day was paid £8, 2s. for rebuilding one half of It at that time, and in 1774 Timothy Newell and Ebenezer Fuller again had charge of the repairs. In 1785 the town voted to discontinue New Bridge, but that same year paid Nathaniel Tolman and Aaron Smith, Jr., for put- ting It in order. In 1807 Lieutenants Ware and Garfield with James ^ About 1844 the road for some distance was changed, or closed, and a new bridge built farther east. LYON S BRIDGE DAY S BRIDGE THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 119 Smith were charged with repairing the bridges over the Charles, and were instructed not to assume for the town more than two fifths of the cost of repairing "the bridge called new bridge". In 1826 money was expended on this bridge, Including $45 paid Reuben Richards for building "the middle peer". Lyon's Bridge was rebuilt in 1877 by William H. Ward, contractor, for $10,000; John M. Harris was the engineer. As both the County and Dedham shared the expense, it cost Needham only $4520, including the work on the ap- proach, which was done by Michael Kiernan. This bridge is built upon one bold arch. DEDHAM AVENUE BRIDGE Needham's portion of the expense of building Dedham Ave- nue Bridge, which dates from 1871 to 1873, was about $5000. The King Iron Bridge Company contracted for the bridge itself, but John Kiernan constructed the abutments, and in 1872 brought suit against the town, and got a verdict of ^39^-73' Charles Linehan had the contract for Dedham Avenue at $10,000. This bridge was damaged by the fresh- ets in 1886, and repaired by the two towns at an expense of about $300. It was an iron bridge, planked, and the span was eighty-five feet. In 1902 Needham expended about $250 for stringers, planks and labor on it. The iron bridge was replaced in 1909 and 1910 by a two-arch concrete bridge, according to plans of B. T. Wheeler, and cost $19,028.35, Needham paying one fifth. DAY'S BRIDGE In 1754 Selectman Skinner had a considerable bill for "money Expended in the Afair of the Bridg by Jonathan Days", and "the affair of Days Bridg" was in the Court a year or two later. In May, 1756, Timothy Newell, who furnished material for bridges at this period, David Smith and Hezekiah Gay were chosen "to Rebuild y^ Bridg Nere I20 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Leu* Days", meaning that part of It "Laid upon Needham by the Quarter Sefsions". In the sixties Lieut. Jonathan Day made repairs on the bridge "Called Days Bridge", and again in 1793, when he was a Major. Day's Bridge was rebuilt in 1799, John Day having a bill of $69.50, and in the years 1822, 1843, 1873, 1883 and 1904 it was either rebuilt or extensively renewed. In 1843 William Eaton did the carpenter work, and Ephralm Parker, a well-known stone mason, was employed to build a "Stone Pier in the River at Days Bridge". Mr. Parker did other work for the town the same year, including "turning an Artch Bridge & raising the road near Daniel Morses house", at a cost of nearly $230. Day's Bridge Is a wooden bridge, built, as is customary, on stone piers. It was lifted up by the great freshets of 1886. Day's Bridge is referred to in deeds prior to 1795. NEWELL'S BRIDGE Newell's Bridge Is said to have taken its name from Joslah Newell, who had a rolling-mill on the Dover side of the river. There was evidently a bridge in that locality long before 1800, but our records are silent. On May 10, 18 13, the town chose Lieut. Garfield, Daniel Ware, Esq., and Benjamin Slack, Esq., "to meet the Com- mittee in Dover In regard to the Mill Bridge so call- and make a report to the town". There had been a bridge near the Slitting Mill for nearly twenty years, and on July 2d the town voted "to joine with the District of Dover In building a new Bridge over Charles River, near the Slitting mill in the south part of the Town and laying out a new road as stak- out by the selectmen And discontinue, the Road that is now occupied as a town way, and the Bridge". The same committee, with the addition of Major Ebenezer Mcintosh and Lieut. Lemuel Kingsbury, was appointed to attend to this work, which was accepted after some controversy as to discontinuing the old road. George Fisher appears to have NEWELL S BRIDGE f- >«• tn" FISHER S BRIDGE THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 121 directed the building of this bridge, or perhaps contracted for it, but the orders show payments to him of only $150. In 1829 Joseph Newell was paid $6 for services of himself and two yoke of oxen drawing stone for two days to repair the abutment of the bridge at the South Mills. Several hundred dollars were spent that year on the bridges, in- cluding Cook's, where Henry Crafts repaired the abutments, Mill Bridge at the Lower Falls, "KIndrick's", on which $200 were expended, "neck Bridge", and perhaps others. In 183 1 there was a foot-bridge about one hundred and twenty-five rods east of Newell's Bridge. At this period the bridge was occasionally called the "Bridge at the South Mills", but usually "Newell's Bridge", which is the name in 191 1. This bridge was rebuilt as a stone arched bridge in 1847 by Haselton & Fuller, and Needham's half of the expense, including flowage damages, was about $1750. FISHER'S BRIDGE The records do not say when a bridge first crossed the Charles at Fisher's Bridge, but It was long before 1763, when the town paid Nathaniel Fisher, who lived near, for repairing the bridge, and in 1765 Dea. John Fisher was granted £10, 9s., 4d. for timber, labor and boarding men, "in Rebuilding one half of the Bridge Over Charles River Near the Houfe of the Said Dea- John FIfher", probably in 1764.^ In 1777 Nathaniel Fisher was granted £8 for 153 feet of "oak Plank, which he put onto Fifhers Bridge", and In 1786 the bridge was rebuilt at considerable expense. Ebenezer Clark, who worked on New Bridge in 1785, was nine days "in Framing and Ralfmg Fifhers' Bridge", and there were orders in favor of others for labor and materials employed on this bridge at that time "and the Wharfage joining". 1 Deacon Fisher lived on the east side of Central Avenue, then " Fisher's Meeting Road", and next to the river, on the estate of fifty acres which John Fisher bought of Caleb Wheaton in 1746. 122 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM This bridge was partly, or wholly, rebuilt in 1807, and in 1847 Haselton & Fuller built the stone arches, of which there are three, as in Newell's Bridge, built by them the same season. The cost of both bridges is included in the $1750 already referred to. These two bridges, which are crossed by a roadway in appearance like the rest of the street, have required but little attention for sixty-five years. PIERCE BRIDGE What is now Charles River Street formerly ended at the Gay-Reynolds place. Jacob Pierce lived some distance south of the road, with a driveway nearly opposite the en- trance to the Gay-Reynolds house. In April, 1851, the town directed its selectmen to peti- tion the County Commissioners to lay out the road now leading to Pierce Bridge, but in 1853 the matter was still in controversy. In 1855 the bridge was built, and it cost Needham $1812.37, of which amount $1500 were paid to Ephraim Parker for constructing the abutment walls, and the balance to A. K. Howe for the bridge itself. The bridge has been extensively repaired at different times, and in 1886 the freshet damaged it, and Needham and Dover together expended about $300 in consequence. In 1900 it was again an expense to the town. It is a wooden bridge supported on piles, the ends of the bridge resting on stone piers. Pierce Bridge is perhaps near the site of "Stick Bridge", a small bridge existing as early as 1782. The town records in 1851 contain a description of the proposed road from the Gay-Reynolds place toward South Natick, and it is therein stated that the road is to end "near Indian dam". The road was built by Capt. William Pierce in 1859, and for many years was called Pierce Road. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 123 PRATT'S BRIDGE,: WASHINGTON STREET, LOWER FALLS On the map of 1771 a bridge Is called Capt. Pratt's Bridge, and for many years our town records gave it that name, or simply Pratt's Bridge. Josiah Woodward, Captain Pratt and Josiah Upham worked on this bridge 1770-2, and in the latter year Pratt and Upham presumably assisted Capt. Ephraim Jackson when he rebuilt it, using white oak timber at 19s., 4d. per "Tun". Lieut. William Fuller, Jeremiah Daniell and Eliphalet Kingsbery replanked the bridge in 1783 and also in 1784, when a committee from Needham appeared before the "Courts' Committee Refpecting the County Bridge Near the Lower falls". In 1792 the repairs of "pratts Bridge" were considerable, and William Fuller, Esq., supplied planks and "Raves". In 1809 a special committee of five was chosen to repair the bridges, and to determine whether it was necessary "to repair or build prats Bridge". Moses Garfield rebuilt this bridge in the autumn of 1809. Repairing the "Buttle- ment and building a wall" for Pratt's Bridge in 18 18 re- sulted in having to pay Silas Wilson $160 for damages. Lieutenant Garfield supplied the planks and the labor for the bridge itself. He was prominent in town for years, and di- rected much of the bridge repairing and road building. In 1823, or 1824, over $160 were needed for this bridge, includ- ing "Stone work". In 1839 William Lyon directed the expenditure of nearly $300 to repair, or rebuild, either Pratt's Bridge or the Mills Bridge which was near his house. In 185 1 upward of $200 were spent on a bridge at the Lower Falls, presumably Pratt's. In 1856 the town voted to build "a Stone bridge over Curtis's Flume, provided the Town be legally obliged to do it, and that Curtis will do what towards it they consider just and proper." By the word "they" the selectmen are referred to. 124 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM More than $500 was expended on Pratt's Bridge in 1867, and in 1878 the selectmen, in their annual report, called attention to the fact that this bridge cost the town from $100 to $300 nearly every year, although $3000 had been expended in 1873 to rebuild and widen it, according to a plan drawn by Daniel Pratt. In 188 1 it was a wooden bridge, but there were three arches under it, two small ones close to the Needham side, and a larger one, not a true arch, but pointed at the key- stone, on the Newton side. All these arches were built to conduct water to the mills. MILLS BRIDGE The Mills Bridge was so designated on the map of 1771; it connects Walnut Street, Wellesley, with Wales Street, Newton. John Slack built "the Bridge Near Hoogs Snuff Mill at the Lower falls" in 1792. Work on Pratt's Bridge the same year has been referred to, and it is possible that Mr. Slack assisted in rebuilding that bridge rather than the one near his house. The reference to the snuff-mill favors this suggestion. In 1845 Ephraim Parker contracted to build a "Stone Arch Bridge" for $323.50, and it was evi- dently the Mills Bridge, which has two stone arches. In i860 Needham expended $120 on the foot-bridge at the Lower Falls, George Spring attending to the work, and in 1874 Newton rebuilt this bridge and Needham paid $261.36 toward the cost. This foot-bridge is for the conven- ience of persons wishing to cross from the mills on the New- ton side, or from Washington Street, to the mills in what is now Wellesley, and is nearer to the Mills Bridge than to Pratt's. HIGHLAND AVENUE BRIDGE Highland Avenue Bridge, and the road to it from Webster Street were built in 1875, and cost Needham about $13,000, which was less than the appropriation. Barney Dorety & THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 125 Son were paid $5275 for building the road, and William H. Ward $6000 for Needham's half of the bridge, as per contract. It is a fine bridge with three stone arches, and a concrete roadway over it. THE SMALLER BRIDGES In 1784 repairs were made on the "Bridge near M"" David Smith's". The next year Moses Fisk relaid with oak planks the bridge near Theodore Broad's, The "Bridge by Broad's Mills" was repaired by Cyrus Pratt in 1792, and perhaps also in 1794, when Daniel Haynes was paid $2.75 for "Cart- ing four Logs to M^ Bigelows' mill to make plank", to be used on this bridge. In 1799 the "Bridge by Broad's Mills" was again repaired. In 1816 Daniel Morse, a successor of Theodore Broad, agreed to support "the Westerly Bridge below my Mills and keep it good repair so long as I own said Mills or improve the same". This bridge is on Central Street, near Wood's paint-factory, and the one near David Smith's is on Brook Street, over Dewing's Brook. BULLARD'S BRIDGE Bullard's Bridge is a little bridge over Waban, formerly Bullard's, Brook. In 1783-4 the "Bridge Near Cap* Aaron Smith's" was replanked. In 1868 nearly $1100 was spent to rebuild this bridge, then designated as "the bridge near Solomon F. Smith's". BROWN'S BRIDGE Brown's Bridge is on Grove Street over Dewing's Brook, near the residence of the late Charles B. Dana. In October, 1825, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Artemas Newell, Esq., and Thomas Kingsbury were chosen a committee to build one half of "Browns bridge (so Called)". It does not appear why the town was to build but one half, and it is possible that this little bridge is not the only one that has been called 126 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM "Browns". In 1869 this bridge over Dewing's Brook was repaired, or reconstructed, at an expense of $500. SAWMILL BRIDGE Sawmill Bridge is over Rosemary Brook, on Wellesley Avenue, and is close to the site of Col. Jonathan Kingsbury's sawmill. William Jones repaired the bridge in 1867 or 1868. NECK BRIDGE Neck Bridge, which is a short distance north of the junction of Central Avenue and West Street, is often mentioned. In the deed of Benjamin Richardson to the town of half an acre of land, for a gravel pit, in 1870, the place is de- scribed as two hundred and thirty-four feet "east from the centre of Rosemary brook at Neck bridge". "SOL" FULLER'S BRIDGE "Sol" Fuller's Bridge is on South Street over "Sol. Fuller's Brook"; the latter name is still occasionally used by the older residents. See "Ponds and Streams". This bridge is referred to in the town records in 1822 as the "Bridge near the Solomon Fuller old house", and repairs were frequently made upon it, as on all the bridges, which required more or less attention annually. Subsequent to 1800 special committees were from time to time appointed to repair the bridges, but they undertook no work of historical importance. AQUEDUCTS The aqueduct through which flows the water brought from Lake Cochituate to supply the City of Boston was con- structed in 1846-8, and is a noticeable feature in portions of Wellesley, particularly at the Lower Falls, where the arch is over Cedar Street. The land taken for this conduit was taxed by Needham for years after the taking, first on a THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 127 valuation of $4400, and in 1849 at $5800. In the latter year the town agents were directed to settle with the "Boston Aqueduct". In 1874-6 the Sudbury River conduit was built in both East and West Needham, to increase the water resources of Boston, and the noted Nine Arch Bridge, a foot-bridge in the south part of Wellesley, was then constructed. The writer went through a portion of this conduit, including the bridge section, when it was in process of building, and was attracting many sightseers. The General Court in 1876 authorized Newton to take lands in Needham to protect its water supply, but the area was limited to one thousand yards from the river, and be- tween Kendrick's Bridge and the new bridge near Newton Upper Falls (Highland Avenue). In 1889 Newton was authorized to take an indefinite amount of land in Needham, to further protect its water supply, with the result that in 1890 the assessors of Needham attempted to tax Newton for a large territory in the Broad Meadows, with the buildings thereon, and two years later Brookline was assessed for sixty-two and eight tenths acres at Powell's Island. New- ton's seizures amounted to five hundred and ninety-six acres, and in 1893 the General Court ended the contro- versy on the taxation by a law requiring a city or town taking land in another city or town to pay to the latter an- nually a sum equal to the current tax on the average as- sessed valuation of the land for the three years prior to the seizure; there is no provision in reference to buildings. Under this Act the City of Boston, and later the Common- wealth, has paid Needham each year about $40 on account of the thirty-four and one half acres that were taken in the seventies for the Sudbury River conduit. Late in 1892 the town had appointed a committee, consisting of the se- lectmen and three other citizens, to petition for such a law, as there had been difficulty in collecting these assessments, and litigation with Newton in reference to them. 128 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ECHO BRIDGE Another remarkable stone bridge was completed In 1876, at a cost of $200,000. It is across the Charles at the Upper Falls. Here the distance is five hundred feet between the headlands, one hundred and thirty-two feet between the abutments, the bridge is seventy feet high, consists of six arches, and consumed two years in building. Mr. Phelps of Springfield was the contractor, and no accident occurred either to any person or to the machinery. This bridge is known as Echo Bridge, and is visited by thousands. It is a foot-bridge only, but contains the conduit. 0lti ifWapg of i^eebfjam noto in tfie 1. "Map of Needham End (at the time of the survey being part of Natick). Samuel Livermore, Surveyor, November II, 1724." Vol. 15, p. 20. The statement enclosed in paren- theses is incorrect, as this territory was not a part of Natick in 1724. This map is a good one, indicating the roads and houses. 2. "Map of a part of Needham, nearly enclosed by Natick, showing residences of Stephen Bacon and others, who peti- tion to be set off to Natick: November 28, 1724." Vol. 34, p. I. 3. "Plan of part of Needham (enclosed by Natick), whose inhabitants desire to be set off to Natick." Surveyed Sep- tember, 1730. Vol. 7, p. 9. 4. "Plan of Needham, showing residences and names of inhabitants (Probably later than 1771.)" Vol. 14, p. 12. 5. "Plan of Needham, showing Natick Pond and Charles River." "Barachias Mason, Surveyor, 1771." Vol. 14, p. 12. This is a valuable and interesting plan; it gives the names of the inhabitants, locating their residences; also names of the bridges. 6. "Map of the Parish of Natick, including what was for- merly a part of Needham; showing roads and residences of whites and Indians. Samuel Livermore, Surveyor" August I, 1749. Vol. 33, p. 17. See also Vol. 5, p. 26. The descriptions are from the State catalogue, not from the maps themselves, which the writer has, however, care- fully examined. I30 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Map 2 shows that in 1724 there were only six families in Needham Leg, viz., those of Stephen Bacon, Samuel Morse, Timothy Bacon, John Underwood, John Goodenow and Thomas Frost. Map 5 shows that the little bridge over Waban Brook was called Bullard's Bridge in 1771. Fisher's Mill was where the Waban Mills now are. Captain Pratt's Bridge and Mills Bridge were at the Lower Falls. Fisher's, Day's and Cook's Bridges are named, and what is now Lyon's Bridge was then "New Bridge". Maps 4 and 5 are practi- cally the same. There is a curious little sketch, made in 1791, of the Charles River through Dedham, Needham and Newton, with an almost poetic description of the damage to the meadows from flowage for which the proprietors of Eliot's Mills were responsible. The complainant dwells upon the natural charms of this region, injured by what he considers un- necessary flowage. (House files 3922; also maps.) The map of 1794 was the result of an Act of the General Court, June 26, and was made by "Jonathan Kingsbery Ju^ Sur- veyor", on a scale of two hundred rods to the inch. It shows the meeting-houses and factories, but not the dwellings. From the "Shire town to the Center of said town is six miles" "The Reputed distance from y^ Metropolis to y« Center of said Town is Fourteen Miles". At the Lower Falls was a paper-mill, a sawmill, a grist-mill, a "Trip ham- mer Shop" and a fulling-mill. The "Pond called Broads Pond" was estimated at thirty acres; "The part of the Pond called Cochituate Pond that lies in Needham Contains Six Acres and half" "The part of Bullards Pond so Called that lies in Needham Contains Seven Acres & half". "The Brook that runs into and out of Broads Pond so called was not an actual Survey". There was a sawmill and a grist- mill east of Broad's Pond, and another grist-mill, west of the pond, apparently on Hawes Brook. Kingsbery's own saw- mill (Wellesley Avenue) is indicated, as is a sawmill on what is now Nehoiden Street. There was then a bridge, a paper- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 131 mill and a grist-mill at Charles River Village. Archives, Maps, Vol. 15, p. 14. On April 5, 1830, the town appointed Asa Kingsbury, William Flagg and Rufus Mills "to procure a map of the town of Needham, agreeable to a refolve passed in the Gen- eral Court the last winter Seffion", and in May, 1833, although a similar article had been dismissed the year before, voted to give a copy to each family in town. The fine map of Needham made in 183 1 by Dea. Asa Kingsbury, son of Col. Jonathan, who prepared that of 1794, was pub- lished in 1836, and gives the location of each dwelling-house with the name of the owner, as well as indicating the public buildings, factories, etc. Dr. Josiah Noyes, who had ample opportunity to be familiar with all the region, assisted in the survey by means of an arrangement which recorded the number of revolutions of a wheel of his chaise on particular roads. In March, 1836, William B. Annin was paid $110 for engraving six hundred copies of this map, but the pre- vious May Dr. Noyes, Dea. Asa Kingsbury and Mr. Kim- ball had been chosen a committee to procure one thousand, in order that there might be some to sell, after each family had received one map.^ Another excellent map, that of 1856, furnishes similar information to that of 183 1, and the town paid "H. F. Walling, for 420 plain Maps, and 180 colored and mounted" $399. Each family in town was presented with a plain map, but there was a charge of fifty cents for a colored one, which brought over $80 into the town treasury. The only streets named on the map of 1856 are Washington, High, Forest, Seaver and Lovewell Road, the latter now Cottage Street. The hill over which Florence Avenue now runs was designated as Florence Grove. Later maps of the town, and atlases including Needham, ^ It does not appear that Dea. Kingsbury was paid more than $32 for his original survey in 183 1, but a year later the committee chosen in 1830 had an order for $28 for services. 132 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM are familiar to the present generation, and are not of special Interest. The division of the town In 1881 led to the cir- culation of maps showing the old parish lines. PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINES The perambulation of the line with Dedham has already been referred to. From 1714 to the present time "Peram- bulations" are recorded in the town books, and a few facts and Items may be of interest. Some of the early committees appointed by the different towns to "Run y^ line" and "Re- new the Marks" were paid only two shillings per day for each man. "Jonathan Smith & Iserul Mills were Chosen a Commlty to Run y« line Brtwixt Needham & Weston ^ nov™ 19, 1723 & performed sd work on y^ Second munday of Jane" next & brought y^ Return & the time Set to glue Weston Notice again Will be upon April in y year 1726". The same Needham men ran this line in 1726, and Mills was paid five shillings for his work In 1723 and 1726, and Smith three shillings. Later four or five shillings per day was the compensation for the special services of town offi- cers. In 1794 Needham paid Ephraim Jackson twelve shillings for a dinner for Its selectmen and those of Newton "that afsisted In Surveying the line". Until recent years our selectmen not Infrequently had a dinner at the town's charge, but the toddy disappeared from the bill many years ago. By the law of 1734 a town was liable to a fine of £15, one third to the informer, and the balance to the poor of the delinquent town, if the boundaries were not perambulated every three years. The law requires such perambulation at the present time, and the writer recalls perambulating the line between Needham and Wellesley on a November day in 1896, an occasion when, with failing light, certain ^ The Town of Weston has not only printed its "Vital Records" in the best manner — that is, verbatim — but also its town proceedings, records of perambula- tions, early tax lists, etc., thus furnishing a model for other towns to imitate. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 133 zealous officials were mired in cold water, while the more luxurious remained on the Pierce Bridge. PLANS OF THE TOWN REFERRED TO IN ITS RECORD On May 24, 1769, Michael Metcalf and Capt. Lemuel Pratt were chosen "To take a Copy of the Plann of the Town of Needham which is Now in the Propriators Clark's office at Dedham", and the committee was authorized to "Chufe a Surveyor to afsist them". On March 11, 1771, Messrs. Metcalf, Pratt and Isaac Underwood were chosen to take a plan of the town, which resulted in the 1771 map, previously referred to. Barachiah Mason was granted £3 in 1772 "for Surveying and Planning the Town". The members of the committee were paid for seven and one half days at three shillings per day. In September, 1794, the town directed its selectmen to "take the Care of planing the Town agreable to a Refolve of the General Court" "in the Best and Cheapest manner they can". Col. Jonathan Kings- bury made the survey and drew "a Plan to lodge in the Secretary's office", where it may be seen to-day. Enoch Parker and Epes Mansfield assisted the Colonel at fifty cents per day; they presumably carried the chain. In 1866 new stone bounds were placed on the Weston line, which had been surveyed, and a plan was drawn by Robert Mansfield, who for many years did surveying for the town. During Mr. Mansfield's latter years, John Mor- ton Harris, Frank L. Fuller, Emery Grover, Esq., and Ephraim Wilson were also employed as surveyors or civil engineers; subsequent to 188 1 Charles Atherton Hicks was a civil engineer occasionally in the service of the town. Mr. Harris was much younger than Mr. Mansfield, but may be regarded rather as his contemporary than as his successor, as he did important work for the town before the Civil War, and, in all, for over thirty years. Mr. Harris died in 1884, aged sixty-five years, and Mr. Mansfield in 1890, aged eighty-seven years. In 1908 the 134 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM boundary monuments on Blossom Street, Needham and Weston, and on Washington Street, Needham and Natick, remained unchanged, although the town of Wellesley was twenty-seven years old. PROPRIETORS OF MEADOW LANDS By Act of the General Court, approved March lo, 1797, twenty-two men and one woman, Hannah Fuller of Dedham, were incorporated "Proprietors of Meadow Lands Lying on Charles River within the Towns of Newton, Dedham, & Needham for the purpose of Drawing off the Stagnant Waters, and for the better Improving the Same". Of these proprietors William and Ebenezer Mcintosh, Amos and Moses Fuller, Michael Harris and John Slack were of Needham. iBlti Hocal i^ameg, ^onbg anb Streams! In the Dedham records the Great Plain is mentioned as early as 1636, Broad Meadow and Rosemary Meadow in 1648, North Hill in 1660, Powell's Island in 1676, Wolf Pit Hill in 1669 and The Wolf Pit in 1698/9. Apparently Wolf Pit Hill is between South Street and the river, perhaps one of the hills not far from the barn on the Kingsbury-Stedman-Ingols place; Wolf Pit Meadow is re- ferred to in the old deeds. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated in 1902 that there was a wolf pit just north of South Street, near the old road that ran from South Street to Mark Tree Road. Pine Swamp Neck was a name used in 1737, and probably earlier. The writer has two old plans inscribed "Wid*^ Mary Lyons lot in Pilferfhire in Needham Eaft of y® way Divided Nov. 22. 1765", "Plan of 31*. 0.37 of land in Pil- ferfhire at Needham Sold by Thomas & Pelatiah Lyon To W™ Mackentofh & Sam. Daggett and Divided between 'em as within — 1766". "This Prick^ line of Divifion was made Ap^ 10. 1766. Jofiah Newell Ep' Jackson Jn° Jones This land belonged to Thomas Aldridge prior to 1700, and later to his only daughter, Mary, wife of Josiah Lyon, and included the territory between the locality popularly known as Dog Corner and Mark Tree Road. The first- mentioned plan was of the estate on the westerly side of 136 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Central Avenue, and the second plan of the land on the easterly side; the latter section was owned in 1765 by David, Daniel, Rachel and Hannah Lyon, heirs of Mary. Apparently Birch Plain was the western portion of the Great Plain extending toward the present Wellesley line, and Pine Plain was in West Needham, including the region since known as Unionville. Ridge Hill, now covered with a growth largely chestnut, and but little pine, was sometimes called "Pine Hill" a century ago. Bullard's Hill is between Wellesley College and Blossom Street, and takes its name from the Bullard family, who lived on the estate now form- ing a part of the college grounds. Dug Hill is a portion of Central Avenue, a short distance east of Pine Street. Bird's Hill takes its name from John Bird, a former owner, who was a soldier in the Revolution. In the inventory of William Eaton of Dedham, 1726, a tract of land, on which he had a house, is described as bounded on "the old road leading from Ebenezer Wares to a place called the Neckfield towards the south". HIGH ROCK The noted High Rock, which appears on the town seal, is referred to in the Dedham records under date of April 20, 1649, when "M"' John Allen Pastor and Eleazer Lusher giue notice of thier discouery of a mine of mettall or other minerall whervnto they lay clayme to them thier hiers executors or assignes for euer by vertue of the order of the Town in that case pvided w"^ lyeth betwixt Charles Riuer towards the south and the high Roche neer the Great Playne towards the north, and in or neer about a smale stoney valley being encompased on the south . north and west sids with Rochey hills the east end of the sd valley opening towards a stoney brooke therby notice heere of giuen to the men whose names ar subscribed being of the select men Joh: K Kingsbery Joshua Fisher". Under date of May i, 1649, the town clerk recorded "Lieft Joshua THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 137 Fisher and Sergeant Danlell Fisher glue notice of thier expectation of a Mine of Mettall clayming the benefit of the Town order to them and thier hiers. Lying on the north side of Charles Riuer and on the west side of a brooke that runnes, in to said Riuer ouer against the Farme late m' Cookes, and on the south side of the great Playne". For years the settlers of Dedham hoped to find valuable miner- als in their township, and appear to have been repeatedly disappointed. This supposed mine "ouer against m"" Cookes Farme" Is noted In the Dedham records in March, 1647. Prior to February 18, 1834, Richard Richardson of West Cambridge became the owner of High Rock, but the deeds recorded In Norfolk and Suffolk Counties furnish, appar- ently, no clue as to how he obtained it. His wife, Mehit- able Smith, whom he married in Needham, November 6, 1777, may have acquired It by Inheritance, but it does not appear who her parents were. She died in West Cambridge October 30, 1808, aged fifty-two years, and it Is a coincidence that David Smith of Needham, whose will was dated 1803 and probated in 1808, had a daughter Mehitable, born Octo- ber 23, 1756, but she became Mrs. Whiting, and died before her father, the settlement of whose estate reveals no trace of his owning High Rock. Richard Richardson had twelve children, his daughters Mehitable and Abigail marrying, in succession, Edward Smith of Arlington. According to Dr. Noyes's diary High Rock was sold at auction on November 30, 1835, ^^d the records show that Edward Smith of West Cambridge, as executor of Richard Richardson, late of Ashby, deeded, on December 4, his interest In fifteen acres of land In Needham to Daniel Kimball for $247. High Rock was on this land, and as long as the Rev. Mr. Kimball had the academy the Rock was a favorite resort of his pupils. In 1859 Mr. Kimball sold the land to Sherman Bowers, and the latter conveyed It in 1872 to Frederic N. Woodward and Robert Turner, both of Newton. In 1877 Mrs. Henri- 138 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM etta Williams became the owner of over one hundred acres of woodland in Needham, which included the Rock, and since her death in 1890, or 1891, this property has belonged to her heirs, one of whom is the Honorable George Frederick Williams. Mrs. Williams got the land by the foreclosure of a mortgage, and, although taxed to her from 1877, the title was not perfected till November, 1884. High Rock is on the seventeen-acre lot, formerly called fifteen acres more or less, now known as the Kimball Lot. The Rock is referred to as a landmark in deeds prior to 1750, as well as in those of later date. Bullard's Pond, now Lake Waban, is called Cunningham's Pond on an early map. Lake Waban contains one hundred and nineteen acres, and is connected with Charles River by Bullard's Brook, now better known as Waban Brook, and with Morse's Pond, formerly Broad's Pond, by Natick Brook. Morse's Pond is a beautiful sheet of water, west of the tracks of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company. At one time it included thirty-eight acres, but now only about twenty. West of Morse's Pond is a small pond, some- times called PIckerell Pond on old maps, and a century ago there was a mill there. Jennings Pond is south of the Turn- pike, and since 1797 in Natick. The lakes on the Ridge Hill Farms were formed at great expense by William Emer- son Baker, who came to Needham in the late sixties, and for twenty years had a famous show place of upward of eight hundred acres, where many valuable animals were to be seen, including fine specimens of the American Bison. Mr. Baker had grottoes, subterranean tunnels, curious trick floors and mirrors, and other amusing features. He enter- tained in 1875 the Fifth Maryland Regiment for two days, or longer, and expended large sums of money on similar occasions, usually making the dedication of a pig-pen, or a bear's funeral, the nominal object of costly hospitality. The Maryland troops came to Boston to take part in the Centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1888 Mr. I THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 139 Baker built a large hotel on his estate, and named it Hotel Wellesley, although it was in Needham, his purpose being that others might enjoy the Ridge Hill Farms. This hotel was burned December 19, 1891, having been but little used for several years. One of the artificial lakes on this estate is extensive, and required the labor of a large force of men, eighty It Is said, and many teams and carts for nearly two years. Longfellow's Pond, not the pool In the college grounds, and the Reservoir Pond are "artificial" In their origin. In recent years the former has been nearly dry much of the time. The Rosemary Pond Is largely the result of exca- vation, and the erection of a dam by Lemuel Lyon, which took place within the memory of people now living.^ The Blacksmith's Pond was formerly but a brook, referred to In old deeds, and was created by the construction of dams, as was the little pond north of Nehoiden Street, and next to the hinge-factory. South of Bacon Street, near Oak Street, in what was Need- ham Leg, there was once a sufficient stream to run a grist- mill, which was patronized by persons living as far away as Sudbury. Natick Brook Is mentioned in connection with the industries. Dewlng's Brook runs from Wellesley Hills in a southwesterly direction, passing under Wellesley Avenue, Brook, Grove and Dover Streets, and unites with Bullard's Brook, both joining the Charles River near the Nine Arch Bridge. In recent years the course of Dewlng's Brook has been somewhat changed between Wellesley Avenue and Brook Street In consequence of parkway construction. Noyes's Brook Is named for the minister, and is an attract- ive feature of the beautiful park, which Includes the town ^ Extensive improvements were made in the vicinity of Rosemary Pond in 1907-9, and in the latter year William Carter placed four swans on the pond, enclosing perhaps half an acre of water with a wire fence, and anchoring a swan- house some distance from the shore. In 1909 a motor boat, the property of Mr. Carter, was for the first time seen on this pond. In 191 1 wild geese and other water fowl are with the swans. I40 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM hall and library, all given to the Town of Wellesley by Mr. Horatio H. Hunnewell. Strife Meadow Brook runs between the Mackintosh farm and Ridge Hill, and in Wellesley is known as Fuller's Brook. Strife Meadow Brook and Birch Meadow are re- ferred to in the Needham records as early as 17 14. In the will of David Smith, 1803, is a reference to "Nashfield brook". Rosemary Brook runs from the pond of that name through the Rosemary Meadow to Longfellow's Pond, which latter was once merely a part of the brook. "Rofemerry medow Plane" is mentioned in 1789. Mill Brook is referred to in deeds of the eighteenth century. "Sol Fuller's Brook" flows through the farm once owned by Solomon Fuller, a soldier of the Revolution, and later by Capt. John Harris, John M. Harris, and Samuel Sutton and family, and finally empties into the Charles River near the Dedham Avenue Bridge. Hubbard's Well was a noted spring, and was near the place on Greendale Avenue where William H. Sullivan lived in 1900. ©ibisiiong of tfje ^oton anb Cfjanges in pounbariesi ANNEXATION OF THE WEST END, OR NEEDHAM LEG, TO NATICK On November ii, 1724, Stephen Bacon, John Under- wood, Thomas Frost, Samuel Morse, John Goodenow and Timothy Bacon addressed a petition to the Honorable William Dummer, Lieutenant-Governor and Acting Gov- ernor, to the Council and House, reciting that they were "all Settled Inhabitants upon a Tract of land purchased of Ded- ham men runing up in a long & narrow form", and stating that their land was "Within the ancient Bounds of Natick Plantation Since Accounted to belong to Needham". They desired to be annexed to Natick, as they were near the meeting-house there, and seven miles from the one at Need- ham. They said that some of them attended meeting in Sudbury or Sherborn until the Rev. Mr. Peabody came to Natick, and preached within two miles of their homes. The Town of Needham had ignored their complaints. The six petitioners were all of the heads of families then dwelling in The Leg, where there were only six houses. See Archives, Vol. II, p. 408. These men were ordered to serve notice on Needham for the 27th Instant, and they were answered by Timothy Kingsbery, John Fisher and Robert Cook, select- men of Needham, under date of November 26, 1724. The remonstrance contains a resume of the history of the town, and states that by reason of the poorness of the Soil" the resources of the people were very limited, although aided 142 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM by Dedham and Newton friends "(who 'tis certain, have been very kind & helpful both to our Minister & to us)". After Mr. Peabody came to Natick the dwellers in the Springfield Parish of Dedham went to Natick to Church, and in Newton the meeting-house had been removed to a place convenient to those who formerly attended the ser- vices in Needham. This remonstrance was handsomely written by Mr. Townsend, and called attention to the fact that the Church at Natick was amply provided for, while "much of our Land wild, poor, unsubdu'd, & but little profitable" "our Township (which at the biggest is not accounted to be above 5 miles Square including the Tract which our Westerly Petitioners now possess) is not ours as it is in other places: much of it belongs to Proprietors in Dedham, which lies wild & unprofitable and is of no service to us" "we have been visited of late years with sicknesses & mortality whereby nine or ten of the Principale men of the Town have been remov'd". As to the objection of the petitioners to being taxed, the selectmen stated that there was no reason why they should not be. Archives, Vol. 11, p. 409. The same petitioners repeated their attempt to get set off five years later, but with less encouragement than In 1724, when the House had been favorable to them. Accord- ing to a plan made In 1724 there were then thirteen buildings in Needham Leg, but In 1749 there were only nine houses, and apparently two of those were Indian habitations. The controversy In 1729 Is referred to In the town records, and Captain Cook, Joslah Kingsbery and Andrew Dewing were granted £1 each for services on the committee "for Entring the Reasons at the Generall Court why the West Corner of the Town Might Not be Lay- to Natick". On May 17, 1732, the town refused to free Stephen Ba- con, John Underwood, Samuel Morse, Timothy Bacon and John Goodenow from the Minister's rates, but the previous September had excused seven families living west of Natick THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 143 Brook from paying their share of a £40 rate for fencing a portion of the Ministerial Land. A petition of John Goodenow and others, dated March 31, 1743, was presented to Governor Shirley, the Council and House, and was read in both Houses April 8, read again, together with the answer of Needham, and dismissed on June 3. General Court Records, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 38 and 280 and Archives, Vol. 12, p. 266. The original petition, which is in the Archives, Vol. 12, p. 264, is endorsed on the back by eighteen of the Natick Indians, who favored the annexation of the people on the "Westerly Side of Saw-Mill Brook". There is also a sup- porting petition signed by John Loker and sixteen other white men, including Ebenezer Felch, Joseph Mills, Henry Bacon, John Coolidge, Robert Jennison, Jonathan and Daniel Dewing, Ephraim and Stephen Jennings. They denied that there was a scheme to remove the meeting- house from the Indians, and fourteen of the latter also signed this petition, but on May 26 some of them had changed their minds, as on that date twenty-iive Indians, including some who had signed the Loker petition, besought the General Court not to annex the estates of John Goode- now and the others to Natick. This last Indian petition was supplemented by one signed by Daniel Morse and seven other white citizens of Natick and dated June i. See Archives, Vol. 12, pp. 267-269. The protest of the people of Needham, adopted in town meeting May 16 and dated June 3, contains interesting statements, viz., — The petitioners were one tenth of the men of Needham, and better men than they lived further from the meeting-house, and attended the services regularly. Mr. Peabody had the benefit of the "publick Reveneue Given to Gospelize the Indians", and besides also owned one nineteenth of the whole town of Natick, while Mr. Townsend was compara- tively poor. The objections to granting the petition were concisely stated, in language dignified but sarcastic, and were 144 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM grouped under four headings, the substance of which was: Goodenow and the others were not obliged to go to Church in Natick, or to pay anything if they did go there. The people of Needham paid Mr. Townsend in addition to their other taxes, and if the petitioners would only do likewise at Natick "by Way of Liberallity and Gratittude" "we beleve and are of the opinion that it would Give Good Satisfaction to m'' peabody and to the Inhabitants of Natick". Other matters were touched upon, and this answer was signed by Robert Cook, Samuel Parker and Robert Fuller as a committee on behalf of Needham. The document was neatly written by Mr. Fuller. Archives, Vol. 12, p. 270. Another petition asking for annexation to Natick was presented, and notwithstanding the adverse action of June 3, 1743, a bill passed the Council and Hojse and was signed by Governor Shirley February 25, 1743/4. The signers were the same as in 1724, with the exception of Morse, and with the addition of Edward Ward and Moses Fisk. The following is from the town records: On May 16, 1743, the town voted not to grant the prayer of the Westerly Inhabitants for annexation to Natick, and chose Nathaniel Bullard, Capt. John Fisher, Captain Cook, Robert Fuller and Samuel Parker a committee to show the General Court why the petitioners "Should not be set off to Natick". Early the next year this committee, with the exception of Fisher, were granted £1, 7s., lod, each for attending to their duties as remonstrants, and Mr. Fuller's account included a charge for "Drawing of Resons". RESTORATION OF THE LEG TO NEEDHAM IN 1761 On April 19, 1759, the petition of John Coolidge and others, calling themselves "a Committee of the Parifh of Natick", was before the General Court, asking for a committee to run the line between their land and Needham, alleging that the Act of 1743 had been ignored by the selectmen of Need- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 145 ham whenever they perambulated the line, and that the Needham assessors taxed land that was in Natick. An answer was received from the selectmen of Needham, after due notice had been served on them. On June 13 William Brattle, Esq., was named on behalf of the Council to act with Colonels Clap and Marcy of the House, and "to repair to the Lands mentioned". Colonel Marcy replaced Colonel Partridge, who had been named a member of this committee on June 7, and on November 10 Woodbridge Brown, Esq., was appointed in the room of Moses Marcy, Esq., then absent. The whole matter was dismissed by the General Court. See its Records, Vol. 22, p. 609, and Vol. 23, pp. 14, 42 and 122. On March 29, 1760, a petition of Amos Fuller and others, selectmen of Needham, in favor of restoring The Leg to that town was before the General Court, and after due notice, no answer coming from the territory concerned, the Council voted in favor of the restoration, but the bill failed in the House on January 29, 1761. The House then ordered a second notice served on the inhabitants of The Leg, with the concurrence of the Council. On June 23, 1761, the committee reported to the General Court that when this territory was annexed to Natick In 1743, "Needham then being against parting with them, and Natick against receiving them" the General Court had been deceived as to the motives of the petitioners, who then claimed that they desired to be nearer to a meeting-house In their own town, when as a fact thay did not go to meeting in Natick, but their intent was "that of removing the meeting house very far from the Indians and nearer to them- selves". The committee further stated "that the Peace of Natick makes it necefsary that they return to Needham again". There had been much trouble, and the "English", as the Indians called them, would not pay anything toward building the meeting-house or for the minister's salary. Archives, Vol. 24, p. 62. 146 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM This report in favor of restoring The Leg to Needham was signed by the well-known Benjamin Lincoln, and on June 23, 1 76 1, the Council adopted the report, and the next day the House concurred. Thus for the peace of Natick, rather than for that of Needham, a group of men became citizens of the latter town, and were to keep up a continual fight for years. Again and again they forced the calling of a town meeting in order to act on articles that had been repeatedly voted down, and which they had no prospect of carrying. Lieut. Timothy Bacon appears to have been as active among them as any one. In Vol. 14, pp. 223 and 225, State Archives, are some documents classed as Ecclesiastical, which relate to this con- troversy, but other original papers for 1759-61 seem to be missing, perhaps used and lost in later years, when the same issues were before the General Court. Most of the docu- ments relating to a division of the town appear to have been consulted from time to time till 1881, and were worn nearly to fragments. The town records contain the following information in reference to the restoration of The Leg to Needham : In March, 1760, Lemuel Pratt was granted £2, 8s., "for money paid to the General Court Commity upon Natick Line and for Coppys from Records", and the same month the town voted to petition the General Court "that that part of Needham that was annexed to Natick Should be sett to Needham again". In May, 1761, Ephraim Bullard, the inn-keeper, had an order from the selectmen for £1, I2S., 6|d. "for the Cost of the House for Entertaining the Courts Committy Sent up in the year 1759 And for the Entertainment of the Select men of Needham when met the S^ Committy to Settle the Line Between Needham and Natick: And for Cash Paid for a Copy of Needham Peti- tion". There were the charges for several warnings out of town, and recording the same, included In Mr. Bullard's bill, and the expense of entertainment was certainly moderate. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 147 In January, 1762, Lieut. Amos Fuller was granted £1, 13s., 2d. "for his Paying the GenU Courts Committy in the affair of Natick and Needham The time they met at Wil- liam Morses Inholder in Natick", and Mr. BuUard was allowed 19s., io|d. for paying Mr. Morse in 1761 on ac- count of the General Court's Committee and the selectmen of Needham, also eight shillings "for his Tending at the Gen" Court upon account of the westerly Part of the Town Being Set Back to Needham again". It appears that Lemuel Pratt had paid eight shillings "for Two Petitions or answers in the affair of Natick and Needham". On March 14, 1763, the town chose a committee consist- ing of Ensign Lemuel Pratt and Jonathan Dewing to answer the petition of Stephen and John Bacon, "now in y« Court or any other that Shall here after be Sent in by any of y* west End with Respect to there being Set back to Natick"; some one moved to substitute the selectmen for the com- mittee named, but the motion was voted down. The mem- bers of this committee were granted the sum of six shillings each for their services. On May 18 the town was opposed to the request of Lieut. Timothy Bacon and others for annexation "with there Lands lying westerly of the Brook by y^ wids Wards: and Jeremiah Gays Land, to Natick", and at the an- nual meeting in 1765 took similar action, and refused to free the petitioners from their share of the Minister's rates. In May of that year the town was still opposed to the re- annexation to Natick of the inhabitants west of "Wards Brook", but in February, 1767, voted not to oppose the petition of Isaac Underwood and others. Three months later. May 21, the town declined to excuse the inhabitants in The Leg from the Minister's rates, or to consent to their restoration to Natick. On March 18, 1768, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Lieut. Jona- than Day, Michael Metcalf, Ensign John Bacon and Wil- 148 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Ham Smith were chosen a committee "to View the Lines as far as it Concerns Needham Exprest in a Plan Presented to the Town Relating to Li* Timothy Bacon and Others Being Incorporated into a Distinct precinct; with part of the adjacint Towns; and make Report at may Meeting". It was on their report that the town voted, May 18, to make no opposition. Early in 1769 Michael Metcalf and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery were granted two shillings each "for Viewing and Runing the line Projected for a Precinct by the west part of the Town". In 1768 Lieut. Timothy Bacon had his Minister's rates abated for 1767, and there was a general abatement of these taxes for the current year as far as the inhabitants west of Ward's Brook were concerned. Later demands for similar abatements were refused. On July II, 1774, th^ town voted to exempt "the west End and pine Plain as far as is Mentioned in said petition'* from all charges for building the meeting-house in the place selected. Abatements of the Minister's rates were granted to Captain Farris and others subsequent to 1780, and these taxes were a source of annual controversy. The restoration of The Leg to Needham did not discourage further attempts to divide the town, and on June 7, 1768, a petition was before the General Court signed by certain inhabitants of Needham, Natick, Sudbury and Weston asking "to be erected into a distinct and separate District" "they having already obtained the Consent of Needham & Natick for this purpose". The petitioners were ordered to notify the towns of Sud- bury and Weston to appear on the "second Wednesday of the next sitting of this Court" to show cause "why the prayer should not be granted". General Court Records, Archives, Vol. 27, p. 320. This petition, addressed to Governor Francis "Barnard", the Council and House, describes the remoteness of the petitioners from a meeting-house, alleges the need of one THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 149 in their midst, and refers to a plan of the proposed district, which plan was made by John Jones, Esq., January 30, 1768. The petitioners asked for a committee to view the land. The only signer from Needham was Capt. William Paris, a staunch Episcopalian, but he doubtless represented others who were Orthodox, as did John Felch, the only signer for Natick.^ Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 521, 523. There is a petition in the State Archives, Vol. 118, pp. 796- 807, addressed to Governor Hutchinson, the Council and House, and dated February 22, 1774, which recites the old grievance of their being seven miles from the Needham meeting-house, and states that by the annexation of their lands to Natick the shape of that town would be improved. They proposed to join to Natick the territory "lying Wefterly of a place in Needham commonly known & Called by the name of Pond-hole". The petition also mentions Ward's Mill and "a tree commonly known & Called by the Name, ^ "This is to Certifie that William Farris Esq is a Member of Chrlft Church in Cambridge and a Communicant; and that his Rate is duly paid to Said Church. Wittnss our hands at Cambridge this 8'!' day of april 1763. Eaft Apthorp Minister John Vassall Church Wardens" The foregoing certificate is recorded in the town records, and Captain Farris was relieved of his share of the Minister's rates for 1762 by vote of the town. Capt. Farris appears to have been an Englishman, or possibly an Irishman, who had been a captain-lieutenant in Shirley's Regiment in 1745, and had also seen service in 1749 and 1759. Retired as a half-pay officer he lived for a time in West Cam- bridge, but it is said that his domestic arrangements did not meet the approval of his neighbors there, and that consequently In 1761 he bought of Joseph Underwood a farm of seventy acres, with house, barn and outbuildings. In this deed the grantee is described as "William Faris of Cambridge" "Gentleman". See Suffolk Deeds Lib. 97, fol. 82. The Captain passed the rest of his life quietly on this farm, for "The Leg" was then a secluded place, although the Natick Committee of Inspec- tion is said to have annoyed him more or less during the War of the Revolution. He was a citizen of Needham, and if the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety of his own town let him alone it does not appear why he should have been troubled by Natick officials. If the tradition is correct that he did not hesi- tate to say that the "Patriots" were all traitors, he certainly got off very well. His surname is Faris on his gravestone at North Natick. The house in which he lived is on Walnut Street, and in 1908 was the residence of Henry Rose. Capt, Farris was a Justice of the Peace, and an undated assessor's "Invoice", probably later than the War of the Revolution, shows that he was one of three persons in Needham who were taxed for money at interest, and that of the two negro slaves in town he owned one and William Bowdoin, Esq., the other. I50 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Station tree, being a corner between Needham Natick & Wefton". Signed by Isaac Underwood John Bacon Mofes Fisk Joshua Fisk Stephen Bacon Aaron Moulton John Bacon Jun"^ Joseph Bacon Joseph Drury The reply was dated March 5, and signed by Samuel Welles and thirty-five others, citizens of Natick. It is long and sarcastic, and includes the greater part of the Legislative committee's report for 1761; also calls attention to a similar attempt seven years before, and asserts that "the said Isaac and Only Nine others" represent no one but them- selves, and that twenty-nine families affected by the peti- tion are unrepresented by the signers "for the twenty nine that are silent have no doubt as great an Aversion, to their being Taxed at Needham (or anywhere Elfe) as the said Isaac & nine others".^ The petitioners "are no further from their Centre than they were when they Purchased their Lands", and their annexa- tion would have "the most fatal Consequences to Natick — having heretofore been greatly Afflicted and Perplexed, by those discontented, uneasy & unhappy Neighbours, who were Connected with us from 1745, to June 19, 1761. at which time they were in Mercy to themselves & us. Set back to Needham". The remonstrance further recites what a curse these men had been to the Natick Church, and asserts that they do ^ There appear to be but eight names attached to the petition in addition to Isaac's. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 151 not attend any Church, "but of Choice the most of them Uphold, Encourage &; Countenance a Separate Meeting, Constantly on Lords days and Employ a Lay=man one Child of Watertown to Exhibit to them in Needham, at a greater Distance from the said Isaac and the other nine then it is to Natick Meeting house." "That by far the greatest part of the Inhabitants of the Weft of Needham, included in the Proposed Line, are of the Number of those that have Lay Teachers to Admiration — And fome of them have already Taken the Benefit of the Law relating to Baptists". The Court is further reminded that "the County Line would be Altered" if the prayer is granted, and warned that the Natick petitioners in favor of this annexation "are of the stamp with those Described in the West of Needham." A petition of Ephraim Jennings and thirty-two other citi- zens of Natick in behalf of Underwood follows on page 805. On February 23 the House appointed March 9 for a hear- ing, if the General Court was then sitting, otherwise the first Thursday of the next session, and on the 24th the Council concurred. On June 8, the petition and the answer of Sam- uel Welles was again read in the Council, and George Leon- ard and Jeremiah Preble, Esqrs., were chosen a committee to consider the matter jointly with members of the House, which named Capt. Brov/n, Col. Whitcomb and Mr. Free- man. On the 9th the Council accepted the report of this committee that the petition should be dismissed, but the next day the House nonconcurred, and deferred consider- ation of the subject to the 21st, if the General Court was then in session, otherwise to the third Wednesday of the next session, which postponement was concurred in by the Council the same day. There was no immediate result of these petitions, and the annexation desired by Underwood and his neighbors was not to be realized till June 22, 1797, although the town 152 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM voted to grant separation on May 23, 1776, but reconsidered on June 4. On March 7, 1793, the town by a vote of 52 yeas to 79 nays refused "to with Draw their petition now in the General Court Refpecting Setting off part of the Town of Needham to the Town of Natick", and on May 13, declined to' send a committee "to attend petition in the General Court re- fpecting forming Needham and Natick into two Towns". THE TOWN DIVIDED IN 1797 Controversies as to the meeting-house, and it might be said as to all town affairs, made the time ripe for another effort to divide the town, and when Marshall Spring and twenty- five others, including Mehitable Loker and Martha Dewing, petitioned the General Court in 1797 to annex their estates to Natick, there was no serious opposition from Needham, although the matter was fully discussed at town meetings in February and May.^ The inhabitants of the West Pre- cinct had brought forward their scheme of having the pre- cinct made a separate town, but had been voted down at the latter meeting, and then appointed William Fuller, Esq., Enoch Parker and David Smith, Jr., their agents to oppose the annexation of The Leg to Natick, which they did vigorously, alleging: That the West Precinct was entitled to notice as if it was a town; that less than one half of the petitioners were inhabitants of Needham; that the East Parish and The Leg were in league against the West Precinct, or Parish, where there was "constant preach- ing on Sundays In their Meeting House". In February, 1797, a remonstrance signed by William Fuller and sixty-five others of the West Parish was received by the ^ In March, 1790, Natick had voted to "allow the Inhabitants of Needham to come in ", and in 1793 Sherburn, and in 1797 the District of Dover, had passed similar votes. In May, 1796, eleven residents of Natick had asked the " west Perrifti " if they would receive them, and in June there was an affirma- tive answer, although a committee was appointed to protect the interests of the Parish. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 153 General Court. This document had been signed by three persons whose names appeared on the Spring petition, and alleged fraud when the vote favorable to the wishes of the petitioners had been passed In the Needham town meeting "Although a woman not an Inhabitant and perfons not voters were permitted to vote and Counted with the fup- pofed and pretended majority". The General Court granted the request of the West Parish for a committee to view the territory which it was proposed to annex to Natick, but the bill passed, and became law on June 22, 1797. Families represented by thirty-six men, living southwest of Bullard's Brook were annexed to Need- ham, and Natick acquired The Leg, the exchange being not unfavorable to Needham, although it lost 1656 acres and gained only 404I acres and Bullard's Pond. This exten- sion of the town of Needham for three quarters of a mile along Washington Street brought a welcome addition of valuable estates, and substantial citizens whose names will be found in Chapter 22 of the Acts of 1797. Nearly all of the Hunnewell estate is in this section, and the Church in the West Precinct gained Dr. Morrill and the others who then dwelt on the land now owned by the Hun- newell family. Prior to 1797 the geographical centre of the West Parish was a point in the middle of the road, Centre Street, between Morse's and Bullard's Ponds ; later it was near where the meeting-house stood. Liability for all town and parish grants already voted was maintained In the bill of 1797, and the next January the General Court decreed that the inhabitants transferred by the Act of 1797 should continue, apparently Indefinitely, to pay their State and County taxes to the town from which they had been separated. The dispute about taxes in 1793 between the East and West Parishes had left the people Irritated, and those In the West rarely neglected an oppor- tunity to refer to It. The Precinct of Dover instructed its selectmen on January 154 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 8, 1801, to petition the General Court to change the boun- dary in order that certain inhabitants who lived three miles from the Dover meeting-house, and were within one mile, more or less, of the meeting-house in the West Precinct of Needham, might have their estates annexed to Needham. This petition was presented, but referred to the next Gen- eral Court. THE WEST PRECINCT PETITIONS TO BE MADE A TOWN The year 1801 is memorable as witnessing the first of the many attempts of West Needham to be a town, distinct from East Needham, and which culminated in the incorporation of Wellesley in 1881. In May, 1801, the Town of Needham by Colonel Kingsbery, its agent, and the First Parish, repre- sented by five of its members, protested against granting a petition which David Smith, Jr., had presented to the General Court asking that the West Precinct with parts of Natick and Dover should be incorporated as a town or dis- trict. Mr. Smith's petition is not now on file. In February, 1802, the First Parish again protested against the proposed new town, and informed the General Court that there were but 226 rateable polls in Needham, that seventeen had joined the West Precinct from Natick, for ecclesiastical purposes, and that with its many bridges, each district recently supplied with a "Convenient Schoolhouse", a loss of more territory would render Needham too poor to send a representative to the General Court; this was signed by Silas Alden, Jonathan Gay, John Tolman and Amos Fuller, Jr., on behalf of the First Parish. The Town of Natick also remonstrated against the scheme for another town. At this period several plans were proposed to the West Parish by the East Parish, with a view to union and reconciliation, but without result. Smith's petition was referred to the next General Court. See Senate files 2880, I and 2, 2881, 1-3. On June Q, 1802, the West Precinct petitioned to be made a THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 155 town together with part of Natick, Including those of the latter town who had "signed" to Dover for Church privileges. The substance of this petition was: 1. Natick persecuted those who had signed to the West Precinct. 2. They were In two towns, and a minority In each; also In two Counties. 3. Their militia had been weakened by the annexation of The Leg to Natick and by other causes. 4. Their minister wa^ denied his right to perform the marriage ceremony. This petition was referred to the next General Court. Under date of June i, 1803, a well written and able protest on behalf of Natick was signed by William Fariss and Wil- liam Goodenow, the petition of the West Precinct again being before the General Court. As this remonstrance con- tains facts of historical value the substance Is given briefly: 1. Needham claimed to have acquired but 404I acres from Natick In 1797, ignoring 148 acres of water, but counting an equal area of water gained by Natick as if it were land, thus making a total of 1656 acres. 2. Needham Leg never belonged to the West Parish, but always to the East. 3. "We do not conceive that the respectability of a Militia consists wholly In numbers". There Is also an undated statement of valuations, In sub- stance as follows: The East Parish has 126 polls, 83 dwelling-houses, real estate by tax bills $742.02 The West Precinct and others have 121 polls, 85 dwelling- houses, real estate by tax bills $742.02 The rest of Natick has 131 polls, 86 dwelling-houses, real estate by tax bills $690.94 "Valuation of the Needham Leg set to Natick as by Needham Valuations" $160.78 156 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Polls in the Needham Leg set to Natick 27, dwelling- houses 19. Proposed to be joined from Natick to the West Precinct, Natick valuation, $162.47 Polls from Natick 24, dwelling-houses 22 Value of the Needham Leg by Natick valuation $111.91 "The afsefsors of Natick lowered the Leg about one quarter in their valuation". There are also two undated protests on behalf of the Town of Needham signed by John Tolman, and these documents deny the alleged hostility of the East Parish to the West, and call attention to the following facts: Two, and often three, of the five selectmen, as well as the town clerk, are of the West Precinct, where one third of the annual town meetings are held, although the East Meeting- house is more central. The West Precinct, according to these papers, has taken unfair advantage of the omission of the words "heirs & asfigns" from the Act of 1778, for the persons affected have contributed towards building the meeting-house, and have "erected Chaise houses". THE CONTROVERSY AS TO THE INTERPRETATION OF THE ACT OF 1778 As this difficulty had much to do with the attempts to divide the town, an explanation of it is offered here, although it is to some extent a digression from the main topic. The question was raised by the officers of the West Pre- cinct in 1793, and was contested eight years, and when set- tled left much hard feeling. When the West Precinct was created in 1778 the Act allowed persons resident on the west side of the line to retain their connection with the "old parifh" by filing in the office of the Secretary of State, within twelve months, a declaration of their desire to do so, and a similar privilege was granted those living on the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 157 east side, but preferring the new West Precinct. This proved to be largely in favor of the "old parifh", and in 1793 it was discovered that the declarations, which people claimed to have filed with the Secretary of State, were missing, and that the Act did not contain the words "heirs & afsigns". In the West it was asserted that the privilege of choosing between the parishes was personal, did not attach to estates, was never intended to be perpetual, and that it was imma- terial that the right had not been resigned. The West Par- ish then proceeded to tax the heirs and assigns of persons who had preferred the East Parish, but were on the west side of the line, and the East Parish voted money to resist, and offered the General Court a list of 1793, which Michael Metcalf and others successfully petitioned the Court to accept, and to give it the force of an original record. On a petition of Benjamin Slack and others, dated June 9, 1800, the questions were re-opened, and the Supreme Judicial Court decided in favor of the West Precinct. This decision did not prove to be final as the Standing Committee on Parishes of the General Court voted in February, 1801, by a majority of one, to allow those opposed to the settlement made by the Supreme Court to bring in a bill. In opposition the West Precinct was represented by Major Hezekiah Broad, David Smith, Jr., Nathaniel Bullard, Lieut. Daniel Ware and Lieut. Nathan Dewing, who informed the General Court that their delay in settling a minister was due to the "Revolution with Great Britton", and to the depreciation of the currency, and asserted that the East Parish was hostile, and had induced men to sign over to it by offering twelve or fifteen years exemption from taxes. They expressed indignation at the attempts made in 1793 to obtain a new Act including the words "heirs and assigns". This document was signed by Messrs. Smith, Bullard and Ware, and their opposition to the bill defeated it, but from time to time there were petitions to the General Court asking that one or more estates might be transferred to one parish 158 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM or the other; usually the petitioners had "leave to with- draw". See Senate files 2419, 1-4, 2715, 1-6, 3026, 1-7, 3779, I- The family of Col. Jonathan Kingsbery was much involved in this controversy, as its members wished to belong to the East Parish, and their home, which was where the Wellesley Country Club is now, was but a short distance from the line on the west side. PROTESTS AGAINST DIVISION OF THE TOWN RESUMED To return to the Tolman protests: They declare that far from it being true, as alleged by the petitioners in behalf of the West Precinct, that those of that Precinct had eight times been obliged to defend their rights, the facts were that eight times the East Parish had been compelled to resist their "Aggrefsions". These Tol- man documents call attention to the fact that Needham has a new school-house in each district, emphasizes the often repeated statement that Needham Leg was never at any time a part of the West Precinct, and states that another division would make Needham a very small town. The whole matter continued to be referred to the "next General Court" until 1805, when the petitioners had leave to withdraw. Senate files 3327, 1-15. At the May meeting in 1804 an article in the town warrant in favor of a new town to be formed of parts of Needham and Natick was dismissed, and the same month George Fisher, Samuel Pratt and Captain Tolman, agents for the Town of Needham in reference to the question of division, were to meet at Luther Dana's.^ On September 22, 1817, at a town meeting held in the East meeting-house it was voted to "have the west Parish In- corporated into a new town or District", but this vote was reconsidered on October 27, and a committee consisting of 1 Early in the last century Luther Dana, and later his heirs, were taxed for land in Needham formerly owned by Sir Peter Warren. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 159 eleven was named, viz., Capt. Elisha Lyon, Major Mcintosh, George Fisher, Capts. Artemas Newell and Jonathan Gay for the East, Daniel Ware, Esq., Maj. Chester Adams, Peter Lyon, Capts. George Smith and Jonathan Fuller for the West; they were to select a non-resident as the eleventh man, but do not appear to have done so. As Captain Lyon was a Justice of the Peace and "Squire Ware" a military officer the array of talent on either side appears to have been exactly equal. They reported unani- mously In favor of division at an adjourned meeting at two o'clock on November 24, and It was a friendly and equitable report. The East was to have the School Land In Dover to offset the excess of bridges to be maintained, and the "Am- munitions In the Town magazine — Camp Utensils", and other town property, was to be sold at auction and the proceeds divided; the "present Parish line" was to be the dividing line. As the result of a petition dated January 12, 1818, and signed by Daniel Ware, George Smith and Chester Adams "Agents for the Inhabitants of the Westerly part of Need- ham", a committee of the General Court viewed the pro- posed line, and approved of It, but the East Parish protested against the division of the town, and was represented by Dr. Samuel Gould, Enoch Fuller and Lemuel Kingsbury. The three last named denied that the town was nine miles long, and asserted that It was but seven and a half, and its breadth, north and south, four and one half miles. As to the Inconvenience to the people of West Needham in at- tending town meetings, one third were held there, and then certain inhabitants of the East had to travel fully six miles; moreover the East Meeting-house was within half a mile of the line. They further call attention to the following facts: The West had the representative at least half of the time, always two or three of the five selectmen, the town treas- urer for twenty-five years, and in 1818 all of the selectmen, as well as the town clerk and treasurer. i6o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The statement that the East "Is freely consenting" is un- true, as there are not more than six persons, perhaps only four, in that section who favor division, and in the West there are people opposed to it. "There factories cheifly consist of two paper mills" one of them more than twenty-five years old, and in a decade, 1 800-10, the population of the town had increased but twenty-five. "it seems to be their design, in a sense, to trepan the Legis- lature", as this attempt to divide Needham is preliminary to a demand for a part of Natick. The petitioners suggested no name for the proposed town, and, although the situation seemed to favor them, they received leave to withdraw in February, 1818. The whole matter was gone through again in 18 19, Peter Lyon, Jonathan Fuller and David Smith then representing the West, and Dr. Gould, Asa Kingsbury, 2d, and Calvin Gay the East; the three last named called attention to the fact that the residents of the West Precinct had to cross the East Parish to reach the Shire town. The General Court appointed a committee to view the territory at the expense of the West Precinct, and the subject was referred from one General Court to another until February, 1822, when after five successive years of controversy the peti- tioners had leave to withdraw. Senate files 6862, 1-13. There is a reference under date of June 11, 1821, to a peti- tion of Seth Lyon and others, which may indicate a secon- dary petition not now on file. Early in 1824 the West Pre- cinct, by its agents Benjamin Slack and Jonathan Fuller, again petitioned the General Court for division, and Jona- than Ellis, Israel Whitney, Jonathan Gay, Jr., Artemas Newell and Ebenezer M'=Intosh, representing the East Parish, protested that the "main roads from Dedham to Worcester" were not "crofs roads", nor impassable at seasons, but that the reverse was true. They asserted that the boundary between the parishes did THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM i6i intersect many "Settlements", and denied the statement of the West "that the Inhabitants of the east Parish have at times been overbearing and pursued measures disrespect- ful to the West Precinct". In twenty-one years the West had elected sixty-five select- men and the East but forty, and the town clerk and the town treasurer have been of the West twenty-four years, as against eighteen years when these officials resided in the East Parish. The protest reminds the General Court what the real dimensions of the town are, and of the fact that the East Parish has more bridges and a larger number of poor to maintain than the West Precinct. Leave to with- draw was given the petitioners on February 13, 1824. Senate files 7145, 1-4. In April, 1823, the town had voted against division ^6 to 45, but on May 23, 1825, the vote was in favor of it, as was a report signed by Elisha Lyon, Esq., Benjamin Slack, Esq., Amraphel Smith, Capt. Jonathan Fuller, George Fisher, Colonel Rice, Lieut. Curtis M'^Intosh, Aaron Smith, Esq., and Capt. Reuel Ware. The tenth member of this committee was Artemas Newell, Esq., but he did not sign the report. In 1834 Gen. Rice, Benjamin Fuller, Dr. Noyes, William B. Parker, the Rev. Mr. Kimball and Royal M<=Intosh were a committee "respecting Changing the name of said town", but it does not appear what name was proposed or what this committee recommended; the matter was disnjissed on November loth. In 1852 there was another agitation for the separation of the West from the East, and for the fifteenth time, beginning with 1 801, a petition for such division was before the Great and General Court. General Rice and Emery Fiske, Esq., were prominent in this movement, and, at the March meeting, the latter pro- posed: 1st. To "sell the town Farm and the personal property thereon and pay all debts". 2d. The West to yield all i62 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM claims to the School Land in Dover. 3d, The West to pay the East $1000 per year for five years, provided the oppo- sition to the division ceased. All of these suggestions were adopted on March 8, by 155 yeas to 118 nays, but the General Court was adverse. The name then suggested for the new town was Oakland. In 1859 was issued the printed report of a committee ap- pointed to propose terms of division. It contains a val- uable account of the condition of the town at that time, and its tone is amicable, and its recommendations just. The committee had been named on November 8, 1859, and con- sisted of three from each side: — Artemas Newell, Lauren Kingsbury and Galen Orr for the East, and William Flagg, John W. Shaw and George K. Daniell for the West. They reported to the town on December 6, and on the 27th their report was adopted by a vote of 74 to 48, but the General Court did not grant division. THE TOWN OF WELLESLEY INCORPORATED, AND THE SEVEN- TEENTH ATTEMPT AT DIVISION SUCCEEDS The Civil War engrossed the attention of the citizens, and the time was not favorable to divisions, but in 1880 plans were carefully and quietly matured in the West, and, after an apparent slumber of twenty years, although constantly in the minds of those most interested, the issue of the divi- sion of the town was revived. The division was contested before the General Court, and the residents of East Need- ham held meetings, appealed to friends throughout the State to assist them by influence, and secured the Honorable Charles R. Train to appear for them at the Legislative hearings. The petitioners had retained the Honorable Josiah G. Abbott, a resident of Wellesley Hills, then Grantville, and also the Honorable Patrick A. Collins. On April 6, 1881, the Town of Wellesley was created, and Needham lost more than half of its population, a still greater proportion of the valuation, and about four ninths of its THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 163 area. The line between the old town and the new one corresponds with the ancient Parish lines, with the excep- tion of slight deviations in favor of Wellesley at both ends. Needham received about $30,000 from Wellesley, and was freed from the town debts, but the town hall and the town farm were acquired by Wellesley. The history of the later efforts to divide the town, which were successful, has been prepared by Capt. Joseph E. Fiske, who had a prominent part in effecting the division, and whose father, Emery Fiske, Esq., had been a leader in a similar movement nearly thirty years before. The first board of selectmen of the Town of Wellesley consisted of Lyman K. Putney, John W. Shaw and Walter Hunnewell. Mr. Putney and Mr. Shaw were both leaders in dividing the town, and the latter was active in the campaign with the same object in 1859. TURTLE ISLAND TAKEN FROM NEEDHAM On June 21, 1803, Turtle Island in the Charles and one- quarter of a mile "below the upper Falls so called in said River, being the same Island, upon which the Newton Iron Works Company have erected their Manufactury", was taken from Needham and annexed to Newton. See Acts of 1803, Chapter 32. This island is shown on the map of 1794, and is a short distance west of Cook's Bridge. The town at its May meeting had appointed Lieut. Jonathan Gay, Capt. John Tolman and Samuel Pratt to answer the petition of Rufus Ellis, the agent of the Newton Iron Works, and also that of Daniel Ware and others, who were seeking to divide the town. JBM^ion of ti)t Count? of Suffolk The prejudice against "the Boston Clique" seems to have flourished long ago, as on October 3, 1726, the town voted to "have the County divided from Bofton", and on March I, 173 1/2, chose Captain Cook a committee as to a New County diftinct from Bofton". In 1735 and again in 1738 Needham favored the division, Boston to be a separate county or district. On March 10, 1760, the town voted to "join with the Reft of the Country towns in this County in Petitioning the General Court for a Division of the County", and on Decem- ber 26, 1775, chose Colonel Mcintosh to sign the petition for it. Ten years later the sentiment of Needham was un- changed, and it was voted "that y" Selectmen Should be the Committee to Conduct the Affair of Dividing the County of Suffolk", but in 1786 the petitioners had leave from the General Court "to withdraw". On May 8, 1788, Robert Fuller, Jr., and Colonel "Mackintafh" were chosen a committee to advocate a new county with Dedham as the Shire town. In October, 1790, the town clerk was directed to sign a petition for division, and on May 8, 1792, Amos Fuller and William Fuller, Esq., were selected to further it. In September, 1793, Capt. Josiah Newell and Amos Fuller were appointed by the town "to meet a Convention of the County at Gays Tavern in Dedham" on "Thirsday" the 1 2th instant to consider "matters as Refpects Setting of a part of the County of Norfolk to the County Suffolk". The division so long petitioned for had then been made. A convention of the towns in the new County of Norfolk was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 165 held at Henry Vose's in Milton on May 15, 1794, and Colonel Kingsbery represented Needham. On March 15, 1898, Needham voted to Instruct its repre- sentative in the General Court "to oppose In every legiti- mate way, the scheme known as a greater Boston county, or any other legislation which shall tend to dismember Norfolk county or disrupt Its time honored institutions". CONVENTIONS On September 20, 1768, Lieut. Amos Fuller and Joslah Newell, Esq., were chosen "to act for them as a Committee in Convention with Such as are Chofen in Boston: and Such as may be Sent to join them: From the Several towns In this Province". This convention was "To Confult what meafures were beft for the good of the Province". Mr. Newell was paid sixteen shillings for his services as a delegate. On July 4, 1774, the town voted that £1, 9s., 3d. "Should be paid to the Honiii^ Thomas Cufhing Efq": Out of the fine that the General Court have Remitted to Needham for their Not Sending a Reprefentitive In the year 1773. It Being Needham's Proportion of Five Hundred Pounds to pay a Committee that the Court have Chofen to Sett in a Congrefs in One of the Neighbouring Governments". On August 31 the town chose Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Capt. Lemuel Pratt, Jonathan Deming, Samuel Daggett and Capt. Caleb Kingsbery "To attend a County Conven- tion at the Houfe of M^. Woodward Inholder in Dedham on Tuefday the Sixth Day of September Next at Ten O'clock before Noon, To Deliberate and Determine Upon all matters as the Diftrefsed Circumftances of this Province May Require". On September 30 Capt. Eleazer Kings- bery was chosen representative and delegate to the Pro- vincial Congress, which was to meet at Concord the second Tuesday in October. It assembled at Salem October 7, and that day adjourned to Concord. 1 66 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The notice, dated December lo, 1774, from the Provin- cial Congress at Concord to the towns to choose delegates to meet at Cambridge on the first day of February, or sooner if necessary, is recorded in our town records, and on January 26, 1775, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery was chosen delegate, to whom in August £14, 19s., 8d. were granted for attending the County Convention and the Provincial Congress. On May 29, 1775, Colonel M'^Intosh was elected delegate to the Third Provincial Congress to be held at the meeting- house in Watertown, and that day £18, 2s., 8d. were voted "To pay the Committee that Met with County Congrefs: and to pay Cap? Eleazar Kingsbery for his Attending at the Provincial Congrefs'es". The Third Provincial Congress met on May 31, 1775. On October 29, 1776, the town by vote approved the "Council and Houfe of Representatives, to act as One Joynt Body in forming a New Conftitution of Government", and a year later Colonel M'^Intosh was granted £5, 13s., 4d. for twenty-five days attendance at the "Provincial Congrefs in 1775", and 6s., 8d. "for a Copy of the Order of Court for Impowering the Town to Chufe a Constable". The delegates to the various Congresses and Conventions were usually paid in currency of fluctuating value. On May 26, 1777, the town instructed its representative that "by Reafon of the prefent war Still Raging [we] are of the Oppinion that the Honourable Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives Should poftpone Coming into a New form of Government at prefent". On October 19, 1779, Colonel M'^Intosh was chosen to "Represent the Town in a Con- vention to be held at Cambridge on the Twenty Eighth Day of October Inftant Relating to a form of Government"; he attended twenty-eight days in Cambridge and Boston in 1779 and 1780, and received as compensation £336 in greatly depreciated currency. At an adjourned town meeting held in the West Church on THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 167 June 10, 1778, a draft for a Form of Government, sub- mitted by the General Court, had been rejected, after consideration by a committee consisting of Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Josiah Eaton, Michael Metcalf, Josiah Newell, Esq., and Capt. Aaron Smith; the vote was fifty-six to two. Similar action was taken on May 24, 1779, and on August 2 of that year Capt. Robert Smith had been elected dele- gate to a Convention to be held at Cambridge with refer- ence to deciding on a Form of Government, but he did not attend. The same day, August 2, 1779, Colonel M'^Intosh and Robert Fuller, Jr., were selected as delegates to a convention which was to be held at Concord on the first Wednesday of October for the purpose of fixing the price of merchandise. Needham's local committee "to State the articles of marchandize and Cuntry Produce &c", grew out of this convention, and consisted of Josiah Newell, Esq., Dea. John Fisher, John Slack, Ebenezer Newell, Capt. Aaron Smith, Lieut. William Fuller and Timothy Newell, and on August 16 the town voted that "Grain Should be Stated Two Shillings in a bufhel Lower then it was Stated by the Convention at Concord", otherwise the report of the local committee, approving the action at Concord, was accepted. On September 20 the town acted "upon a Circular letter Sign'd by Coif Benjamin Hammond Chairman of Com- mittee of the Several towns Relative to Bofton Market Act", by choosing Robert Fuller, Jr., and John Slack "to meet with the Committees of the Neighbouring Towns at maj°^ Eben? Whitting's". On March 15, 1787, the town chose Capt. Aaron Smith and Robert Fuller, Jr., "to Meet with y« Delagates from other Towns in y" County of Suffolk at Timothy Gay's Inholder in Dedham on y^ laft wednefday of march 1787". On December 10, 1787, Colonel M'^Intosh was chosen the dele- i68 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM gate to the convention In the State House for "Confidering and acting on the Propofed Fedrial Conftitution". THE STATE CONSTITUTION On May i8, 1780, the Rev. Samuel West, Nathaniel Fisher, Michael Metcalf, Capt. Aaron Smith, Josiah Newell, Esq., Samuel Daggett, Jonathan Smith, Robert Fuller, Jr., and Moses Fisk were chosen "to Confider the Conftitution of Government, and make Report to the Town at the Adjourn- ment of this Meeting"; on the 29th the meeting was again adjourned, this time to June 6 at 4 o'clock P.M. The record of the original meeting, May 18, reads "Then at a Meeting of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Said Town of Needham, That are Twenty One years of age and Qualli- fied as the New Conftitution Directs: For the Bifmefs Here- after Mentioned".^ The able report of the committee was signed by all its members except Messrs. West, Aaron Smith and Daggett. It approved the proposed Form of Government in the main, but took exception to the Third Article: "we would Men- tion in few words the Arguments that Satisfies us as to the Impropriety of Said Article, or rather the falfhood of the Principle on which it is founded: Religion is a matter with Refpect to which all Mankind have an Equal right to Judge and act for them felves; But it is Impofsible for Civel Law to Intermeddle with it with out Infringing that Right; We would alfo remark, that in Our Opinion the Sufpention of the writ of Habeas Corpus be Confined to times of War; And Limmitted to the Term of Six months: And lastly that it be Determined that the Said Form Should be Re- vifed at the end of Fifteen years, from the time of its taking Place Which Time we Refer to the wifdom of the Honour- able Convention"; dated May 18, 1780. ^ For the first time the town clerk records the name of the moderator as M'^Intofli, previously he had spelled the Colonel's surname M'^Intafh. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 169 The town rejected the Third Article, and accepted the others with the following amendments: "that y^ Confti- tution of Government Should be Revifed in Seven Years", "Every Freeholder Should Vote for Senator, Council, Reprefentative", "that y« Town Should Chufe their own Juftice within their own Town", "Every Town Should Chufe their own Regifter of Deeds in their Own Town," "That the Legiflatur Should not have power to augment the Value of money as Mentioned in the Conftitution". On September 4, 1780, the first State election was held in Needham, and the duly qualified electors brought in their votes for Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and six "Coun- cillors and Senators". "Hon''}'' John Hancock Efq'" had sixty-two votes for Gov- ernor and "Hon''!^ James Bowdoin Efq""" three votes; this was a light vote, as on April 2, 1787, Governor Bowdoin had six votes and John Hancock one hundred and thirty- six. For many years Needham was strongly Jeffersonian, and rarely cast Its vote for a successful candidate for any State office. The first election of a Representative in Con- gress under the Federal Constitution was on December 18, 1788, when Fisher Ames, Esq., had twenty-six votes and the Hon. Samuel Adams two votes. The same day the Hon. Jabez Fisher, Esq., and General William Heath, Esq., had each thirty votes for "Two Candidates for Electors to Vote for President and Vice President for the United States agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court of the Common Wealth". General Washington was the only candidate for President in 1788. In 1791 repeated ballotings, extending from March to August, were necessary before any candidate for "Reglfi:er" of Deeds had a majority over all. In the days of the Province the County Treasurer was elected annually by the people at the annual meetings in March, and in 171 5 they were given the privilege of voting 170 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM for a Registrar of Deeds for a term of five years. The March elections of these two County officers continued until the law of 1855 fixed the terms of both at three years, and changed the election to November. The County treasurers had already been chosen for 1855, but the registrars of deeds had been elected in March, 1851, for terms of five years, and they were legislated out of office the first Wednesday in January, 1856. There was usually a light vote polled for both treasurer and registrar. On November 2, 1792, Needham cast only twenty votes for four Representatives In Congress for the Counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex, combined, and fourteen votes for five Presidential Electors. The following January John Slack had an order for six shillings "for one Journey to Concord to Carry the Votes for Federal Representatives". On May 6, 1795, the town was in favor of Revising the Constitution," but in 1820 was opposed to a Constitutional Convention, having no confidence in the dominant party, and refused in August by 42 votes to 12 to choose a delegate, although on Octo- ber 16, Aaron Smith was elected. On April 9, 1821, Need- ham rejected seven of the fourteen amendments proposed, viz., the 2d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, loth, and 14th. On April i, 1822, Governor Brooks received sixty-six votes in Needham, and the Hon. William Eustis one hundred and seventeen, and for the three Senators for Norfolk County the Jeffersonians cast one hundred and nineteen votes to sixty- four. It was not until 183 1 that the election of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and Senators was changed from April to November. For reasons not now apparent Needham was Whig during the administration of President Jackson, but Democratic from 1838 to 1847, Governor Marcus Morton usually polling a decided majority, and In 1840 President Van Buren carried the town by 151 to 130, in spite of the tidal wave in favor of General Harrison. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 171 In 1844 the Liberty Party had arisen, and included in its ranks Dea. Elisha Lyon and others who had been Democratic leaders, with the result that 22 votes were given to the ticket headed by James G. Birney, and the Democrats had a plu- rality only, the vote being: — Polk 134, Clay 121. Later the Know Nothing Party prevailed overwhelmingly, but the Republican Party has been dominant from its foun- dation, although in years especially favorable to the Demo- crats the vote has been comparatively close. At times there has been independent voting for County officials and for representative in the General Court, Richard Cunningham of Wellesley having carried Needham for the latter office within a few years. In April, 1840, the town voted 66 to i in favor of a pro- posed Constitutional Amendment relative to the apportion- ment of Senators and Representatives in the General Court. Emery Fiske, Esq., was the delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1853. On November 14, 1853, Needham rejected one of eight proposed Amendments: — the 3d by 118 votes to 113, and accepted the 5th and 8th by 117 to 116. All of the others were lost by a tie vote of 117 to 117. The six Amendments voted on in 1855, three in 1857, and two in i860 excited but little interest in Needham, and were all accepted by the town except the first one proposed in 1855, which was to allow a plurality to elect; this was defeated by 16 to 10. The following November the town cast 283 votes. Later Amendments to the State Constitution have failed to bring out a large vote in Needham, but it is worthy of notice that on April 22, 1889, there were 188 votes in favor of a Prohibitory Amendment and 162 against it. For more than thirty years, with an occasional exception in the seventies and eighties, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker was chosen annually at the Republican caucus a delegate to the State Convention, and after he attained the age of 172 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ninety years his presence attracted considerable attention, particularly In 1907 when he was in his ninety-fourth year. On more than one occasion there was a contest, and the convention was In session till late, but In no case did Mr. Tucker go home until the business was completed. (©ualificationg of looters: The following is the substance of a controversy as to the right to vote in 1750: "after a long Difpute the Following order was Given Needham March y« 12: 1749/50. We the Subfcribers felectmen of the Town of Needham Orderd John Mills Conftable to put to Vote whether it be the Mind of the Town to allow all the freeholders to Vote in Town for a Moderator Jofiah Newel fnr Zecheriah Mills Aaron Smith Select men The vote was in the affirmative and John Fisher, "a freeholder", was then chosen moderator. Under his ruling at this meeting four men, Thomas Fuller, Jr., Jeremiah Eaton, Ezekiel Richardson, Jr., and Edward Beverstock were allowed to vote, against the protest of Capt. Robert Fuller, the town clerk and one of the selectmen, and seven others. At the adjourned meeting on the 19th John Wood- cock and ten others protested, but without avail. Capt. Fuller and twenty-two others then petitioned the General Court, March 29, setting forth that none of the four men whose votes were questioned were legal voters (assessed on £20 in addition to the poll tax), and asking the General Court to declare the town meeting illegal. Archives, Vol. 115, p. 617. This petition was written by Capt. Fuller and the petitioners were ordered, April 4, to serve notice on the selectmen and the moderator to appear on the nth, if the General Court was sitting, otherwise on the first Friday of the next session. Under date of April 11, 1750, John Fisher, 174 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Esq., the moderator, replied in behalf of three of the select- men, Josiah Newell, Aaron Smith and Jonathan Smith, and himself. He asserted that his ruling was correct, and that the assessors for 1749 had erred in valuing real estate at only one year's income, when it should have been "doubled" six times, and asking for his costs, and that the petition of Fuller should be dismissed. Archives, Vol. 115, p. 626, Captain Fuller had stated in his petition that application had already been made to the General Court by "two of the offending party", who apparently wanted the doings of the annual meeting confirmed. The petition was read in the Council on April 13, and in the House on the 17th, together with the answer of Fisher, and the assessors were ordered to "lay before this Court an Account of the Method they took in forming their Valuation Lift". Assessors Josiah Newell, Jr., and Eliakim Cook filed a copy of the "Single Rate" for 1749, Archives, Vol. 115, pp. 620-622, which list is in the Archives, Vol. 115, pp. 614-625, together with all the other papers in the case. The papers include certified copies of the votes, protests, and three statements of citizens, who were present both at the annual meeting and at the adjournment. The first is signed by Jonathan Gay and Jeremiah Fisher, the second by Nehemiah Mills and Jesse Kingsbery, and the third by Robert Fuller, Jr., Peter Edes and Josiah Eaton. The three last named asked for a declaration as to the law, in order that there might be no more disputes, and they asserted that the four men were not legal voters. On June 2 the Council appointed John Hill, John Quincy and John Joseph Pyncheon, Esqrs., and on the 5th the House named Colonel Clap, Mr. Gray, Mr. Tappen and Mr. Oliver as a committee to hear the case and report. On June 12 the General Court dismissed the petition of Capt. Fuller and his sympathizers, and declared that the petitioners and the assessors "mistook the Senfe of the Law, as to Qualifications of Voters in Town Affairs", THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 175 and that "the Persons objected to were legally qualified & ought to have been admitted to vote", therefore the "Proceedings of Said Meeting are hereby confirmed". Archives, 115, p. 706. That the assessors had made a mis- take is clear from the statute then in force, which provided that to qualify a man to vote his real estate valued at the amount of the "rents or income thereof for the space of six years" must equal £20. This required amount was reduced, however, by the deduction of the personal property, which was assessed by a different method, and contributed to qualify its owner as a voter. For a long time the warrants for town meetings recited the qualifications required of voters, and they were as follows, quoting from the warrant for April 4, 1796, "to Notify and warn the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of said town Quallified by law to Vote in Town meetings Viz^ Such as pay to one Single tax besides the Poll or Polls a Sum equal to a Single Poll Tax to Meet and afsemble at the East Meeting house". The warrant for the Presiden- tial election on November 7, dated October 31, 1796, reads as follows: "having a freehold estate within said Town of the annual income of three pounds or any efiiate to the value of Sixty Pounds". Similar qualifications were required of voters at the elections of State officers, including the repre- sentative, and consequently there were men who could vote in town affairs only. The April warrant for the State election preceded that for the town meeting, which was often on the same paper. In 1821 the amendment to the Consti- tution proposed by the Convention of 1820 was ratified by the people, and the property qualifications were abol- ished, but payment of a poll tax, and residence in the town for a year were required qualifications of a voter. In 181 1 there were 207 men in Needham whose names were on the voting list for the State election, and of these twenty- three, all of the Ks were Kingsberys, and there were six- teen Smiths and thirteen Fullers. In February, 1844, there 176 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM were 505 voters in Needham, of which number there were twenty-six Kingsburys (note the change in the speUing of this name), twenty-one Fullers and eleven Smiths, The removal of the property qualifications presumably had increased the number of voters, and the town had grown somewhat in population between 181 1 and 1844. In 1857 there were 446 legal voters in Needham, in 1865 495, in 1875 915, in 1885 603 in Needham and 551 in Wellesley, in 1905 943 in Needham, of which 852 were registered, and 932 in Wellesley, of which 853 were registered. In 1910 there were 930 registered voters in Needham, and 982 in Wellesley. The women of Needham promptly availed of the law passed in 188 1 permitting them to vote for school committee, although the number of names on their voting list was not large until the exciting campaign of 1896. The greatest number of registered women voters in any one year has been 288. In 1882, and again in 1883, an article was in- serted in the warrant for the annual town meeting to see if the town would favor municipal suffrage for women, but the vote was adverse. There were some comical episodes connected with the discussion of this serious problem, especially in the case of a well-known resident of Charles River Village, who worded the opening line of his plea for suffrage so unfortunately that he was unable to proceed. The vote on the Constitutional Amendment on November 5, 1889, which was presented to the voters thus: "Is it expedient that municipal suffrage be granted to women" was as follows: Yes, Men, 122, women 62; No, Men 281, women 4. The first board of Registrars of Voters in Needham was appointed on June 27, 1884, and consisted of Cyrus W. Jones, Republican, for three years, James S. Hall and Edgar H. Bowers, Democrats, for two years and for one year respec- tively, and the town clerk, who was ex-officio a member. Mr. Jones was chosen chairman, and served as such for three years. ^oton iWectingg The annual town meeting has been held in March since the incorporation of Needham, and in addition to choosing the town officers, the men brought in their votes for County treasurer, and continued to do so until 1855 inclusive. In 1820 Needham neglected to vote for County treasurer at the proper time, and concluded that a subsequent meeting was too late. On April 22, 1822, the town refused to vote for a County treasurer. There was usually an adjournment of the annual meeting, unless the business was deferred to the May meeting, which was held primarily to choose the representative to the General Court. At the May meeting after the representative had been chosen, or the town had declined to elect one, a moderator was placed in charge of the meeting, and business was transacted under the warrant. There were many special town meetings, particularly when Church affairs required attention. The earliest warrant on record is the one for the meeting on June 26, 1719, and it was some years later before warrants were regularly recorded. The first recorded elections of a moderator are for the meet- ings on May 21, 1714, and March 6, 1716, on both of which occasions Lieut. Robert Cook was chosen. Lieutenant, later Captain Cook, is known to have presided over sixty-seven town meetings, and there were fifty-nine other meetings, most of them prior to 1725, in the records of which the names of the moderators were omitted. In 1727/8 the town officers were chosen by a plurality vote, as now; previously "a majority over all" had been required. The town frequently voted "to Lengthen out the 178 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Meeting for the space of one Hour", presumably because the meeting was supposed to close at sunset. As early as 1720 "paper Vots" were used. The last appearance of Captain Cook as moderator was at the adjourned town meeting on March 16, 1746/7. At the annual meeting, a week before, he was duly elected "& proclaim^" moderator, but got tired, — he was then seventy-seven years old, — and declined "ftanding Moderator any Longer faid Day". The town however insisted upon re-electing him, where- upon he adjourned the meeting to 9 o'clock on the morn- ing of Monday, March 16. On July 5, 1759, the con- stables were instructed to warn the citizens of the annual town meetings by "Notification for the futer". In 1783 it was voted "that Notifications Should be Set up at Each Meeting Houfe", and the next year "That March April and May Meetings Should be warn'd by the Conftables Setting up Notifications in Several Publick Places". For years the constables made charges for warning town meetings, and in 1787 it cost five shillings to warn one half of the town. Later it was six shillings, and the methods have changed until now it costs nearly fifteen dollars to warn the voters in the .territory corresponding to less than one half of the old town. In 1823 it was deemed sufficient notice to post an attested copy of the warrant, "two Sundays" previous to the meeting, "at each Congregational Meeting house in said town", but from early times there had also been some form of personal warning. The printed copy of the warrant, which is now left at every house in the town, apparently dates from 1844, when the "overseer of the Alms house" was to warn the meetings by "a copy to each farm". For "verbaly warning" the West of the April meeting in 1830 John W. Slack was paid $3. In 1844 and 1845 copies of the warrant were required to be posted, at least two Sundays before the day of the meeting, in each of the three meeting- houses, also at the paper-mill in the South part of the town, and at the blacksmiths' shops at both the Lower and the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 179 Upper Falls. The old practice of issuing two separate war- rants addressed to the two constables is confusing, as only one of the warrants was recorded. Later it became custom- ary to refer in the town records to the unrecorded West, or East, warrant, as the case might be. In 1749/50 John Mills had an order for £1 as compensation for warning one half of the town for the May meeting in 1749, and even then one constable seldom warned the whole town. In 1854 there were sixty-six town officers, not including the committee on the affairs at the almshouse, or the prudential school committees, and in 1910 there were eighty-seven, omitting the police, ordinary firemen, and numerous em- ployees of the town. A number of ex-ofhcio positions held by the selectmen are also excluded from the count. It was not unusual to adjourn to the evening, or in modern times to call a special meeting in the evening, but most of the town business until about 1894 was done in the daytime. The meetings were called at different hours, often at one o'clock, P.M. All of the business, except the election of officers, is now deferred to 7.45, or 8 P.M., and it has been said that the change was not made in the interest of good government. The conditions of a suburban town render evening meetings popular and inevitable. The town meet- ing of December 10, 1885, was adjourned during the funeral of the venerable Joseph Richards, who died December 8, aged eighty-seven years and ten months. He was a native of Needham, and was a good representative of a type of New Englander even then fast disappearing. The funeral was in the First Parish Church, which is near the town hall. On November 4, 1773, there was no meeting-house to as- semble in, and the town met on its site and voted to "Ad- journ the meeting to a Valley or Botton in the Pines Near where the Meeting was Appointed". On the i8th the town voted to adjourn to "Thirfday" December 9, "at the Same warming Houfe where the Town Met this Day". On Feb- ruary 7, they met again in this "warming Houfe", but at i8o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM a meeting held on July 4, 1774, they adjourned to the next Monday at two o'clock "To the Dwelling Houfe of Li*. WiUiam Mackintalh Innholder". This custom of adjourn- ing to taverns grew, and on June 10, 1783, the meeting was adjourned "one Quarter of an hour: To meet at the Dwelling Houfe of Me Ephraim BuUard Innholder in Needham. To meet at Seven of y® clock", which was an unusually late hour for a town meeting, even when the days were long. When Lieutenant Mackintash had become a Colonel several meetings were adjourned to his house. Some meetings were held in the West Meeting-house within the memory of per- sons now living, although in 1785, 1787 and 1792 the town refused to have even one third of the meetings in the West. Perhaps the first town meeting held in the West Meeting- house was that of June 10, 1778. In 1795 the town voted to hold an annual town meeting there, and to "Change by Rotation yearly". In 1822 the vote was to hold two thirds of the town meetings in the East Meeting-house, including "all the ocational or annual Meetings". The Presidential and State election in 1836 was held in the "Vestry under the Meeting-House in the West Parish", and until the new poor-house was built meetings were held in this vestry. On March 13, 1780, it was voted to "Chufe the Town Clerk and the firft Select man at One Vote"; Lieut. Robert Fuller was chosen. The custom then was to elect each official separately, as is still done in some Massachusetts towns. In 1803 the clerk was paid $4.36 for recording fifty- four births and deaths. In 1845 he was allowed $12 per year, and was paid for the preceding two years. In 1875 the town voted that the candidates for town officers, except the surveyors of highways, should be voted for on one ballot. This, however, did not prevent a variety of ballots. The moderators in the days of the Province were: — Captain Cook, already mentioned, Dea. Jeremiah Wood- cock four meetings, 1719-33, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf two THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM i8i in 1722, Ensign Thomas Fuller one in 1729/30, John Fisher, Esq., twenty-nine from 1729 to April i, 1752 (he died May 6, and was a noted moderator who presided over many annual meetings), Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery fifteen, 1732/3-48/9, Robert Fuller two in 1749, Dea. Josiah Newell twenty, 1750-70, Lieut. Amos Fuller eighteen, 1755-61, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery twenty-one, 1759-75,^ Michael Metcalf twenty-seven, 1763-76, Dea. John Fisher five, 1767-76,^ Lieut. Jonathan Day two in 1774, '75, Josiah Newell, Esq., two in 1776, John Slack on June 4, 1776, Col. William Mcintosh on June 24, 1776, which was the last town meeting held before the Declaration of Independence. The first meeting after July 4, 1776, was that of July 15, when Josiah Eaton presided. Of the moderators prior to July 4, 1776, Michael Metcalf presided over five meetings subsequent to that date, the last one in 1791, Dea. John Fisher one in 1779, Josiah Newell three in 1777. The moderators since the Declaration of Independence, not mentioning those who have presided over less than ten meetings, are as follows: The Honorable Emery Grover ^ seventy-eight from 1874 to March 31, 191 1, Col. M'^Intosh seventy-four, which, together with the meet- ing just preceding the Declaration, gives him a total of seventy-five from 1776 to June 10, 1793, William Flagg, Esq., fifty, 1835-60, Daniel Ware, Esq., forty-five, 1803-17, Colonel Alden thirty-six, 1787-1804, George K. Daniell thirty-two, 1850-81, Lieut. William Fuller thirty-one, ^ On December 22, 1773, when the excitement as to the location of the meet- ing-house was at its height, Messrs. Metcalf, Fisher and Day all in turn refused to serve as moderator, and Captain Kingsbery was elected and accepted. The name of the moderator of the town meeting on August 31, 1774, was not recorded. 2 On July 16, 1907, and on January 7, 1908, Judge Grover was chosen modera- tor, in the absence of Mr. Moseley, who had been elected for the year, and on one occasion, in I909.^ the Judge was called to the chair, and presided throughout the meeting. The service in 1909 Is not included in the total of meetings credited to Mr. Grover, neither is any meeting counted for Mr. Moseley unless he was present. The reader is reminded that the writer does not, as a rule, give the title of "Esq." in this history subsequent to 1845. 1 82 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 1780-1801, Israel Whitney, Esq., thirty, 1828-43, Benjamin Slack, Esq., twenty-nine, 1804-31, William G. Moseley twenty-eight from 1899 to Mar. 31, 191 1, Marshall Newell twenty-two, 1861-75, Capt. Elisha Lyon nine- teen, 1824-47, Edgar H. Bowers fifteen, 1867-1900, John W. Titus fourteen, 1894-8. Beginning with 1903 the mod- erators have been elected at the annual meeting for the year. In 1893 the town voted to pay the moderator of the annual town meeting $15, but this was discontinued after a few years, and it was not until 1907 that the moderator was again paid, the town then voting him $25 for the year. REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL COURT Ensign Robert Cook was the first Representative from Needham, and was elected May 19, 1712. On May 11, 1713, Benjamin Mills, Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., and Ensign Cook were chosen a committee to wait upon the General Court to get the town excused from sending a member. There were many years when no representative was sent, and the town was fined in consequence. The fines varied from £22, is. in 1730 to £12 in 1773. The town re- peatedly by means of a committee, or by petition of the selectmen, whichever way the town directed, or through the efforts of the next member from Needham, got these fines either remitted or refunded. Sometimes the fines for several years were refunded at one session, and the town appropriated this money toward the minister's salary, or for the schools. The reasons given for not sending a member are shown by the petition of 1774, which was signed by the selectmen and presented to the General Court. They re- ferred to the great cost of the poor, the many bridges "& Support of a a considerable Bridge over S'* River in a part not contiguous to the S^ Town", and asked to be excused from the fine incurred for 1773, and to be exempted from sending a member in 1774. They succeeded so far as the fine already imposed was concerned. Selectmen Josiah THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 183 Newell, Esq., and Nathaniel Fisher were paid £1, 12s. and £1, i6s., 4d., respectively for going to Boston in reference to this matter. Needham was fined £45 for 1788, but in 1789 the General Court refunded the money, which was used in 1790 to pay town debts. In 1799 the fine previously incurred, amounting to $90.56, was remitted. Other towns were included in these Acts. Needham was unrepresented from 18 17 to 1823 (seven years), and for 1822 the fine was $100. On May 18, 1724, the town granted Dea. Timothy Kings- bery £18 for serving as representative, but as early as 1727 the members of the Great and General Court were paid by the Province, and the exact amount depended upon attend- ance at the sessions. The amount paid was added to the Province tax of the town from which the member or members came. On May 20, 1728, the town met to choose a Repre- sentative — "The Select Men Caused the presept Directed to the felectMen of the Town For to Be Read in the Audiance of the Town, and alfo Coled Upon the Voters, then Afsem- bled for to Bring in thire votes for the Choice of a Repre- sentitive as the Law directs infolded, the Town Brought in thire Votes fo Slow Spending the Time untill allmost Night, That then the Select men Demanded to Know what the Matter was and it was declared by feveral of the Town that they ware not willing for to fend a Reprefentitive this year". The selectmen divided the house, and finding a majority in favor of sending adjourned to the next day, and issued a new warrant for May 24, when Josiah Kings- bery was chosen. While William Bowdoin was representa- tive he gave his pay to the town, and the money was used for the schools. There was some delay in realizing on three notes, amounting to £32, is., 6d., "His Wardiges For Serving this Town as a Reprefenitive " in 1755. For four years Mr. Bowdoin thus gave his salary to the town, and in 1759 Amos Fuller did likewise, and 22 "Dollors", 5s., re- ceived from Mr. Fuller were used for the poor. On July 1 84 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 26, 1779, Dea. John Fisher, the representative, informed the town that his compensation "was made up in the pay role" "More than his wages Came to", and the excess, £28, I2s., was voted into the town treasury. On May 17, 1781, the town instructed its Representative in the General Court, Colonel Mcintosh, to "Use the beft of his Intreft" "Refpecting Certain Men Owning Large tracts of land In the Eaftward parts, and paying little or no Tax for the Same"; these lands were presumably in what Is now Maine. In 1785 the town chose a committee of five "to Gue our Reprefentative Some Inftructions ", and directed him to "Oppose Ralfing a land Tax". It was a common practice in New England to Instruct the representative by votes passed in a town meeting. TOWN RECORDS The records of the Town of Needham are In excellent con- dition. The only striking peculiarity Is that In the first vol- ume of Proceedings, 171 1-3 1, many of the dates are written new style, which suggests a copy rather than the original, although the book appears ancient. The earlier volumes were substantially bound in hog-skin. The double dates appear in the first part of Volume I, and again in 1727/8. At the May meeting In 1729 the town voted to have "a New Town Book bought for to Reglfiiure Births and Deaths in", and the following spring thirteen shillings were granted to Capt. Robert Fuller "for His Buying Two Town Books". On September 20, 173 1, the town voted to buy "a (New) Town Book," to be paid for from the "Lafi: Loan Money", which amounted to £1, 2s., and at the annual meeting, March i, 173 1/2, chose "the feverall Town Clerks that have Been in the Town Namely De Timothy KIngsbery Jofiah Newel John Fifher & Robert Fuller for to Tranfcribe Births In to a New Town Book and to Rectlfie any Mifi:akes that appears there In". On March 2, 1767, Robert Fuller, Jr., was granted 7s., 6d. "for a new Book to Record Births In", THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 185 and October 4, 1770, twelve shillings for a town book. In 1769 Amos Fuller, Jr., was paid six shillings for a new town treasurer's book; the oldest one now in the possession of the town. In 18 17 Solomon Flagg had procured a "Chest to keep the town books in and other papers"; perhaps the chest still owned by the town. In 18 19 a trunk was purchased for the use of the selectmen. In 1853 the town bought a safe, which cost, including freight, $152.72. Since 1876 the town has repeatedly been at considerable expense to pro- tect its records, which now number upward of thirty manu- script volumes, some of them containing more than five hundred pages, and including twelve books of town pro- ceedings. There are fine vaults in the new town hall. In 1883 Needham appropriated $100, as a beginning, and the town clerk, then Mr. Greenwood, and George K. Clarke were "to join with the Town of Wellesley In printing the records of the town for the first 100 years of its existence", but a similar appropriation unexpectedly failed In Wellesley in consequence of the neglect to consult a political leader, who resented the alleged slight. All of the conditions were then favorable for doing the work In the best manner and at moderate cost, as the preparation of the copy and the edit- ing were to have been free of expense to the towns. On March 20, 1893, acting under article 18, which was based upon a petition of Edgar H. Bowers and others "to see If the town will take action In regard to the collection and publication of Its history from its first settlement to the present time", the citizens appointed a committee, consist- ing of Edgar H. Bowers, Charles C. Greenwood, James Mackintosh and Emery Grover, to "Inquire into the matter of preparing and publishing the history of the town, and report upon the expense and expediency of such publica- tion, and any facts In connection with the same". Mr. Greenwood declined positively to write a history of the town, and the subject continued In abeyance. On March 17, 1902, i86 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the town appointed as a "Committee on a Town History" Thomas Sutton, George K. Clarke, T. Otis Fuller, Louis A. Holman, Francis E. Reed, William A. Probert and Edwin V. Lawrence. This committee reported in the Town Report for 1902, advising that no action be taken until Mr. Clarke had had ample opportunity to prepare a history of the town. CURIOUS ITEMS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS In the warrant for the town meeting on May 20, 1745, was the following article: "to See what the Town will do with their Law Book that Cap* Robert Fuller keeps in his hands". On March 14, 1757, the town voted to allow "Thomas Metcalf Town Clerk his Co ft and Charge in Defending himfelf and Town in that Eregularous Vote which was Paft in May Meeting in the year 1754 which he was Complaned of to our Superior Court for not Recording". Two years later he got £8, 8s. as the result of this vote. On May 15, 1761, the selectmen granted Samuel Mackintier six shillings for attendance upon the Superior Court "Upon the Requeft of m"" Thomas Metcalf our Late Town Clerk in the affair of that Erregular Vote which M' Townfend Complained of him for not Recording". On February 18, 1766, the selectmen deducted from £2, 6s., g^d. granted to Mrs. Hannah Coller for teaching the sum of 6s., 7 2d. "which She Ordered Eleazer Kingsbery Ju='" to take Upon the Account of Shoes Said Kingsbery Got for her Upon her Defire". On October 27, 1766, the town instructed Lieut. Amos Fuller, its representative in the General Court, not to vote "To have the Damages that was Suftained to Per- ticuler Perfons in Bofton in the year 1765: Repaid". A rate of £40 was voted on March 19, 1779, the money to "be put into the hands of the Select= men To be Used at their Decretlon: To Help Zebadiah Pratt to his eye Sight again". Pratt had been a Lexington Alarm man, and per- haps had been injured in the service of the town. Blasting rocks was occasionally the cause of serious mutilation in THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 187 the days of yore. On August 31, the selectmen granted him £30 "to Enable him to go to a Doctor in Order to Git his eye sight". In 1782 Col. Mcintosh was granted £9, 2s. *'for money he paid for a horfe for the Town, and for Pafture- ing four horfes one week, and Shewing one horfe". On May 12, 1783, there was an article in the warrant "to See If it be the mind of the Town to Receive the Abfentees to Come and Dwell amongst us, and It paft in the Negative". The town then voted to "Exclude" the absentees, pre- sumably referring to the Loyalists, one of whom was the Rev. Mr. Townsend's son Gregory, then in exile at Halifax. On April 20, 1786, Joseph Mudge, Jr., had an order for eighteen shillings "It being the Fees Upon an Execution he Had agalnft C0I2 Ws Mllntofh and Lieu* Robert Fuller in Favor of John KIndreck". In 1786 Timothy Newell re- ceived from the town treasurer "one Eight Dollor Bill in New Emifion" which was "Counterfit", but the town later paid him in good money. That year Col. M<=Intosh charged twelve shillings "for finding a room fire and Candles for the Select men". In 18 10 the town treasurer, Lieut. Daniel Ware, found himself in the possession of a counterfeit bill, and the town allowed him S4. In 1833 there was discussion in a town meeting as to a bad $10 bill purporting to be on the Burrellville Bank. In 1857 the selectmen were directed "to construct a true Meridian Line". Solomon Flagg, the town treasurer, sent some money In a letter, which never reached its destination, and in 1868 the town reimbursed him. PUBLICATIONS BY THE TOWN In early times there was but little printing at the expense of the town. In 1819 $5 were paid to Herman Man & Co. for blank orders for the use of the selectmen, which blanks must have saved much labor, as previously all the orders were written i88 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM in full. On April 4, 1842, the town voted to print a report of its receipts and expenditures, for the year ending April 5, "and to furnish each Voter with a Copy". Thomas Kings- bury, Elisha Lyon and William Lyon were the committee which had the matter in charge, and the little pamphlet of eight pages, without a cover, is from the press of H. Mann, Book & Job Printer, Dedham. A similar report was printed in the spring of 1843, but no other report appeared in print until one for the year ending April i, 1852, and this contained fourteen pages. From 1852 to the present time the town report has appeared annually, and for twenty years has been a large book, often containing ndarly four hundred pages. The first printed school report was for the year 1849/50, and is larger than the early town reports, as it contains eight pages, octavo. It has the imprint "Roxbury: Norfolk County Journal Press. Over Central Market. 1850". In 1856 the report of the General School Committee appeared with the town report, and again in 1857 and in 1858, but this was not usually the case until 1870. Prior to 1865 the financial year closed in April, or in February, and from 1865 to 1877 on January 31. The town report was for the financial year, which was confusing, as no calendar year was complete in a volume. There are two town reports for 1877, one for the year ending January 31, and the other to December 31. The early editions of town and school reports were of five hundred copies, and cost about $12. The record of deaths has been included in the town report from 1864, of marriages from 1871, and of births from 1885. From 1877 to 1888 the town clerk's record of the doings at the annual town meetings, and adjournments thereof, were printed in a small pamphlet, which was without colored covers until 1888. In 1889 the town clerk's records were also included in the town report, which was issued the fol- lowing spring. Beginning with 1890 the town report has contained the records of all of the meetings during the cal- endar year, not excepting the Federal and State elections. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 189 From 1866 to 1870 the town reports give a roster of the principal town officers, and commencing with 1871 are in- tended to give the names of all of the officials. The valua- tion and tax lists were printed in the town reports for i860, '62, '64, and annually from 1868. Several of the depart- ments issue reprints of their reports, and the school com- mittee have done so for many years. In 1877 the valuation list was issued separately. TOWN SEAL At the annual meeting in 1890 the selectmen, together with George K. Clarke and Emery Grover, were chosen to procure a town seal, and after careful consideration of sev- eral designs, some of them suggested by members of the committee, reported the one adopted on March 2, 1891, and ever since in use.^ TOWN AGENTS AND LAWSUITS On May 28, 1792, Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt. Josiah Newell and " Cor-* Joseph Mudg " were chosen "agents to act on behalf of the Town, and Carry on all Caufes or Suits at Law in favor or againft the Town", and such agents were chosen in earlier times as needed; the number rarely exceeding three. Two or three town agents were chosen annually for many years, but since 1879 the selectmen have been the town agents by vote of the March meetings. William Flagg, Esq., was town agent for fourteen years between 1837 and i860. In common with other towns Needham has had con- siderable litigation, and some of the cases have reached the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth. The set- tlement of the poor, road cases before the Court of Sessions, claims for damages for injuries resulting from alleged defects ^ In the pageant, or procession, on September 19, 191 1, during the Bicen- tennial celebration, the float representing the Town Seal was one of the best features. John F. and Sumner B. Mills personated the two white men, and George Lyman Kingsbury, the Indian, Nehoiden, which was appropriate as they are descendants of some of the first inhabitants of the town. I90 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM in highways, and, in later years, controversies with corpora- tions have supplied most of the causes. These cases excited interest at the time, and some of them were costly, but none of them are now of importance. In settlement of the "Murphy Case" the town paid annually several hundred dollars to the widow and minor children of Patrick Murphy, who lost his life on October 7, 1898, while employed by the town, in consequence of the caving in of the gravel bank at "Hewitt's Pit". These payments ceased in 1910, and had amounted to $4000. From 1800 to 1850 the town employed as counsel Horatio Townsend, Laben Wheaton, B. Whitman of the firm of Whitman & Morton, James Richardson, Joseph Harrington, Theron Metcalf and Ezra Wilkinson. Mr. Richardson was "our attorney" at times from 1809 to 1849. In those days the fees and charges for legal service were very moderate, rarely exceeding $20 for trying a case. In later times the Honorable Frederick D. Ely, Henry E. Fales, the Honorable Emery Grover and the Honorable Thomas E. Grover have been among the more conspicuous counsel retained by the town. TOWN HALL The last town meeting before the division of the town was that held on March 7, 1881, in the town hall at the alms- house, with George K. Daniell, Esq., as moderator. Al- though it was the annual meeting, and a board of selectmen was chosen, it was soon adjourned to April 4, on which day the town met in Parker Hall, dissolved the annual meeting of March 7, and proceeded under a new warrant with Emery Grover, Esq., as moderator. The veteran town clerk, and a few others from what had been the West part of the town were present. The town continued to meet in Parker Hall to March 13, 1882, and on that date adjourned to the 20th, but then met on the site, as the hall had been burned on the i8th at 5.30 A.M., together with the house near, built in the fifties by Frederick Marchant. The Parker Building was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 191 a total loss, and included the stores and the post-office. The principal store was the grocery of Edmond B. Fowler, and the fact that the post-office safe had been blown open by burglars indicated an incendiary fire. This hall, long known as Village Hall, was built in 1854 by Stephen F. Harvey,^ and enlarged more than once. Obed C. Parker, who was from Nantucket, purchased it and transformed it into a comparatively large building with a good-sized hall up one flight. The writer recalls the celebration in the autumn of 1870 when the remodelling was completed. Mr. Parker had a grocery on the ground floor, but had several successors before the structure was burned. When the town met on the site on March 20, 1882, it voted to adjourn to the Baptist vestry, where town meetings were held for two years, with the exception of a meeting at 8 P.M. on July 27, 1883, which was in Good Templars Hall, Odd Fellows Building, with George K. Clarke as the moderator. The town had anticipated leasing a portion of a building that was planned for the site of the Parker Hall, but its construction was indefinitely postponed, and In 1884 the town leased the hall and several rooms in the new Moseley Building at a rental of $650 per year for five years, and expended $1125 to fur- nish the premises. Herbert Moseley sold this block in 1889 to Henry F. May, and the town leased from the latter. The first meeting in this hall was that at 4 P.M. on August 4, 1884; Edgar H. Bowers was moderator. In 1888 a com- mittee of five, which had been chosen to consider building a town hall, reported by its chairman, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker, that a suitable hall could be built for $27,500, and also submitted a plan of Mr. M^Kay of Boston for a brick town hall with granite trimmings, which he stated would cost from $25,000 to $30,000. The town, however, decided to accept an offer made by Herbert Moseley, and leased of him for another term. 1 In 1855 Mr. Harvey was assessed on ^2800 for this building, and also for stock in trade valued at $3000. 192 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM NEW TOWN HALL On March 2, 1902, the town accepted the report of a committee of nine in favor of building a town hall. Edgar H. Bowers was the chairman of this committee, which had been chosen on November 26, 1901. On March 17, 1902, a building committee was chosen consisting of Rodman Paul Snelling, Daniel Webster Richards, Emery Grover, John Edward Buckley and Harrie Sumner Whittemore. The corner stone of this fine public building was laid by the Grand Lodge of Masons on September 2, 1902, and it was dedicated on December 22, 1903, at 8 o'clock in the evening. The cost. Including furnishing, was about $57,500. The hall is located on the Common, and consequently no land was purchased. In August, 1902, $250 were voted to defray the expenses attending the laying of the corner stone, which ceremony was a part of the Old Home Week programme. It took place in the afternoon, there having previously been a procession headed by Dodge's Cadet Band of Natick, which later participated in the exercises. The furnishing of the hall was only to the extent of $2500 in 1903, and since many expensive desks, etc., have been added. The plans for the town hall were drawn by Winslow & BIgelow, and Mead, Mason & Co. were the contractors. TOWN CAUCUS The town caucus is somewhat peculiar to Needham, and is unintelligible to people who never heard of a caucus called by the selectmen to nominate town officers, and having no connection whatever with Federal or State politics. Such a caucus was first ordered by the town at its annual meeting in 1875, and was to be called the following year at least four days before the annual town meeting. Until recently this caucus has rarely been omitted, and on the whole has been of advantage to the town. The first caucus after the divi- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 193 sion of the town was held in Parker Hall on April 6, 1881, with Emery Grover, Esq., as chairman, and George K. Clarke as secretary. BY-LAWS In 1870 a committee of nine was chosen to draft by-laws for the town, and the next spring this committee was in- creased to twelve. By-laws as to truants were adopted in 1877 and in 1887, and a general code in 1880, which latter was submitted to the Superior Court for approval. Town by-laws have since been adopted on March 2, 1891, and plumbing regulations, or by-laws, in 1894 and in 1896. At the annual meeting in 1900 the nine o'clock curfew law, which had been rejected the previous year, was accepted, but public sentiment did not sustain its enforcement. On January 13, and on March 7, 1910, the town adopted a code of by-laws, which were approved by the Attorney General on March 30th. THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE On December i8, 171 1, the town chose Benjamin Mills, Richard Moore, Sergeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Jeremiah Woodcock, Robert Cook, Ephraim Ware, Andrew Dewing and Timothy Kingsbery a committee to decide where to build a meeting-house. The sites proposed were a little plain upon the hill against Matthias Ockinton's field, ^ and a similar elevation on the south end of North Hill. All but Moore and Dewing reported on Christmas day in favor of the location first mentioned, and the meeting was "lengthened" to consider the matter. It was voted to build, and £80 were appropriated, one half to be paid in work. Ensign John Spring of Newton was their choice for master workman, and Messrs. Mills, Fisher, Smith, Wood- cock, Cook and Ware, of the former committee, with Ser- geant Jonathan Gay, Thomas Fuller, John Smith, Jr., Joseph Mills, Eleazer Kingsbery and George Robinson, were chosen as a building committee. The town meeting on Christmas day illustrates the disregard which the Puritans had for that festival. The location was not then finally settled, and was referred to the General Court, whose com- mittee reported, June 18, 1712,^ in favor of the place where the frame already lay, and where the meeting-house was built. Thus was temporarily silenced a controversy that was to last for generations. On June 9 a committee of ^ This field is now a part of the writer's homestead, and is called "The Ock- inton Field." 2 There is no petition on file, asking for this committee, and the order of the General Court forms a part of that relating to the boundary. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 195 ten, including Lieut. John Fisher and Benjamin Mills, was chosen to solicit subscriptions for the "Honerabell Raisen" of the meeting-house, and August 26, £20 were voted for the building, and in 1713 this was increased by £50, making £150 to date. On October 29, 171 2, the town chose Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., and Thomas Fuller a building com- mittee, perhaps superseding that named on Christmas day. William Clark sawed the lumber, and in June, 1713, £2 were due to Lieut. John Fisher for "Glafmg of the meetting House". On September 15, 1713, the town selected Ensign Robert Cook, Jeremiah Woodcock and Josiah Kingsbery to look after Ensign Spring, "the Carpender", and to finish the meeting-house so that it could be used. On August 16, 1714, Spring receipted for £23 in full for services, but on June 21, 1715, the house was unfinished, although in use, and £50 were voted to be expended under the direction of Lieut. Cook, John Rice and Joseph Boyden, with Capt. Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Sr., Ebenezer Ware, Jeremiah Woodcock and Thomas Metcalf to advise them. Many of the prominent inhabitants had worked on the meeting-house, but Jeremiah Woodcock finally completed it for £80 and prior to June i, 1717, in accordance with his bond and with the vote of the town, August 31, 1716, when various propositions as to the number and location of pews were voted on separately. There was presumably no dedication, and in the Century Sermon Mr. Palmer suggested that the house was probably used for worship soon after it was raised, and that perhaps the Rev. Mr. Deming was the first to preach in it. In 1724 forty shillings were added to the school rate to finish the meeting-house, and in 173 1 the town voted to repair the outside. From 1720, when John Bradish set glass, "the breches in the Meeting house windows" required not infre- quent attention. Edward Child (Childs) was for many years "the Glafher", and from 1743 to 1751 Timothy Ellis also 196 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM did such work. In 1769 John Childs was paid £1, 14s., id. "for his Glafing Two New windows at the Meeting houfe" in 1768, and replacing other glass. On March 14, 1736/7, the town voted a rate of £40 to repair the meeting-house, build pews, and prepare a place for the town's stock of ammunition. Under this vote about £10 were paid to Eleazer Kingsbery, £8 to Samuel Parker and £56 to Capt. John Fisher. The previous year Jonathan Smith and Benoni Woodward had been chosen a committee to make repairs, but the means were not provided. A report of Messrs. Fisher, Kingsbery and Parker was rejected at a meeting on November 28, 1737, but £35 were finally voted to pay for necessary repairs not anticipated. In 1745 some repairs were made, and in 1748 the selectmen appointed Caleb Kingsbery "to Mend the feats in the Meeting houfe and put up and faften the Cafements that want and to alter the powder Cheft for the Town ftock ammunition to be put in and to find a lock and Key if need be &c". He was paid £3. In 1749 Aaron Smith strengthened the doors with irons, and on October 4, 1752, the "over plufh" of the representative's pay was devoted to repairs, and also a rate of £6, 13s., 4d. Deacon Fisher, James Smith and Jonathan Parker were the committee on repairs, which proved to be considerable. Three of the workmen boarded five days with Ensign Thomas Fuller at the Fuller-Mills house. On June 5, 1760, the report of Samuel Mackintier, Tim- othy Newell and Amos Fuller, Jr., was accepted as to repairs of the east end and roof; they had been appointed May 24, 1759. On May 18, 1763, the town voted to repair the meet- ing-house, and chose Michael Metcalf, Ebenezer Fisher and Capt. Ephraim Jackson a committee for that purpose; about £8 were later granted to the members of this committee for the work. On January 31, 1769, £1, 12s., were granted to Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher for three window frames and sashes, and putting them up at the meeting-house. Prior to 1769 there were small repairs from time to time. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 197 At four o'clock on the morning of October 18, 1773, the Rev. Mr. West, who lived where George K. Clarke resides, was awakened by a light shining on his eyes, and discovered nearly the whole roof of the meeting-house enveloped in flames. It was very dry, and only the hinges, some nails, and a piece of red plush or velvet from the pulpit are known to have been saved. The people gathered at the ruins, many of them in great distress, and bitter against the in- cendiary, whose identity is still "known only to God". The feeling in regard to a new meeting-house, and its loca- tion, had become intense, and had borne its fruit. At a town meeting on November 18, 1773, a reward of £10 was offered to the person or persons "that Shall make Difcov- ery of what Perfon or Perfons that Set the Meeting houfe on Fire So that he or they May be brought to Conviction". The last sermon preached in the old meeting-house was on the day before it was burned, when Mr. West chose for his text "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord". Ps. IV. 5. The same day he baptized Jeremiah, son of Amos and Esther (Kingsbery) Fuller; Mrs. Fuller's aunt Ruth was the first child baptized in this meeting-house and her son Jeremiah was the last. On March 4, 1774, Nehemiah Mills, Jr., was granted six shil- lings "For Two Days and half Labour, In Taking Care of the Hinges, and Nails, and Bricks, of the Meeting Houfe after it was burnt". Mrs. Charles C. Greenwood has a piece of the cloth, rescued by Ebenezer Newell, who lived just beyond the burying-ground, where George H. Rollins dwells in 191 1. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker had an ancient oak panel, 9I inches by 12I inches, which he stated came from the pulpit of this meeting-house, pre- sumably before the fire. The following persons took care of the meeting-house, but as there was no artificial heat until 1799, the principal duty was "to Keep & Sweep y« meetin houfe", — John Gill in 171 8, '19, '23, at twenty shillings per year for the first two 198 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM years, James Kingsbery in 1724-31, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., in 173 1-3, '54, '55. John Pain agreed to take care of the meeting-house, if excused from serving as constable, from April, 1735 to April, 1736, but apparently did not. Ebenezer Lyon cared for it in 1734-6 at £2 per year, Hezekiah Kings- bery in 1736-45, Mrs. John Fuller in 1746-8, Nathaniel Ayers in 1748, '49, '55-8, Deacon Woodcock in 1749-51, and his widow, Hannah, in 1752. On June 5, 1754, the Rev. Mr. Townsend was granted £1, is., 4d., for his servant's taking care of the meeting-house in 1753 ; this was probably the negro Homer, who died April 9, 1754. Amos Fuller, Jr., took care of the meeting-house June, 1758-66, Lieut. Samuel Town- send a part of 1752, John Kingsbery in 1766, ''d']^ Ebenezer Newell in 1767-73. Mr. Newell was the first custodian of the new meeting-house, and was succeeded by Jube (colored) in 1785. Mr. Newell had charge in 1791-7. SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE Seating the Meeting-house was a very serious matter in old times, and success was difhcult, as social position, taxes paid, official station and age were all to be considered. On May 13, 1720, the town voted that the men should sit in the front gallery, the women in the pews under the stairs, and chose Capt. Cook, Lieut. Fisher, John Rice, "Sargeant" Daniell and Timothy Kingsbery to arrange the details. On November 29, 1725, Capt. Cook, Dea. Timothy Kings- bery and Ensign Thomas Fuller were instructed to "New plafe the Meetting Houfe", but not to place any boy under twenty, for they were to go in the "Weft Corner", or any girl under eighteen. On August 9, 1733, the same worthies, with Lieut. Metcalf instead of the Ensign, were to "dig- nifie" the seats, and on May 17, 1736, with the addition of James Kingsbery, they were again chosen to "place" the meeting-house. In March, 1737, the town voted to build new seats, and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 199 in June two pews in the northerly corner. On March 14, 1737/8, "the Two old pues under the ftairs and the two Corner pues at the front Door" were to be "Raifed in Dlgni- fication", but a committee that attempted to make changes in the "Dignificatlon of fix of the pues" failed, and their report was rejected on the 28th. At the May meeting the "Dignlfication" was accepted, and Josiah Kingsbery, Na- thaniel BuUard, Josiah Newell, Jonathan Smith and Jere- miah Fisher were named as a committee to seat the people. The town allowed the women to occupy the right-hand part of the front gallery "Ecept the hind Pens"; although the next annual town meeting forbade them to have the front of the gallery. On June 19, 1738, the report of the committee chosen in May was accepted, but on January 7, 1739/40, the town reconsidered all that had been done as to "Digni- fying the Seats", and adjourned to "next monday Come fevennight". At the meeting on May 19, 1740, Captain Cook, John Fisher, Esq., Ensign Robert Fuller and Jonathan Smith were chosen to place the people. The next day, by a close vote, "the Houfe being Devided by the Pould", the women were allowed part of the "Frunt Gallery". On the last day of June, however, the whole subject of seating the meeting-house was reconsidered. It was voted that the women were to have three seats at the right of the front gallery; that "the women Shall have the right hand in the Body of Seats Below & the Eaft Side Gallery & to Set in the Pews Below whare their Husbands Shall be Plac'd"; the pew "by Madam Townfends Pew fould be for women"; and that "out Town People that Congregate with us to Sett whare they Pleafe in any of the Common Seats". Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Ensign Robert Fuller, Peter Edes, Josiah Newell and Jonathan Smith were to draft the "Dignifycation". On July 7 the report of the committee chosen in May was ac- cepted, and it was voted to "divide the Two Pews under the Stares & make four of them". The committee to draft the 200 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM "DIgnifycation" was also to seat the people. Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., however, served In place of the Deacon, and BenonI Woodward was added. This committee was to divide two pews and "to mend up the Pew by the Eaft Door". Apparently In despair the whole matter was dropped until May 23, 1753, the articles In the warrants having been dis- missed, but In May the town chose a committee of fifteen with full power to seat the people for two years. The meet- ing was then adjourned to "y« Second Lecture Day", which was the 12th, on which day the report of the committee was accepted, and the town voted "that thofe young men that were One & Twenty Years old Should Set In Frunt Pue In the Galere and thofe that were Eighteen years old Should Set In the Side Pue In theGalIre". In May, 1755, the town again voted to seat the people for two years, added five to the committee named In 1753, and directed them to report "the Second Lecttor Day". In 1762 and 1767 committees, each consisting of seven men, were chosen to place the people in the meeting-house, and on June 8, 1770, a committee of fifteen was "to Seat Perfons in the Seats and Pues in y« Meeting Houfe". On November 9 Joslah Newell, Esq., Dea. John Fisher and Joslah Ware were designated for the same duty, and there is no further reference In the town records to this matter, which had occasioned a number of town meetings, and caused much controversy. DISCONTENT IN THE WEST In May, 1733, the town, rejecting two petitions, refused to relieve the westerly inhabitants from their ministerial rates, but on March 14, 1736/7, exempted those living "beyound the Brook by Edward Wards Mill from baring aney Charge in Repairing of the Meeting Houfe", and the following June extended the exemption to the charges for repairing and building pews. At the May meeting In 1738, a request for relief from the minister's rate was refused. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 201 THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE On May 28, 1772, the town declined to build a meeting- house in Baker's Field, which a committee and Mr. Mason, the surveyor, had designated as the geographical centre of the town. This field, which was owned before 171 1 by John Baker, adjoins the homestead of the late Curtis Mcintosh on the west. The town voted to build "on the North Side of the Meeting houfe; As Near as it Could be Conveniently Built"; but neither appropriated money nor chose a com- mittee. Of the two principal votes, the first was on the loca- tion, the second as to building. On March 8, 1773, an article as to building was dismissed, but on November 4 the votes of the previous May were confirmed, against a strong oppo- sition, and on the i8th £200 were voted to be raised by a tax "this year" by the "Single Rate that is yet to be made; And by the Same Rules that the Other Town Taxes are Raifed by this year". The town chose by ballot Michael Metcalf, Dea. John Fisher, Capt. Lemuel Pratt, Lieut. William Mackintafh and Amos Fuller a building committee, and instructed them to take a plan or plans "Of One or more of the meeting Houfen in the Neighboring Towns". On December 9 it was voted that the meeting-house should be sixty feet long and forty- three feet wide, and the committee were to consult "with Some Skilful! Carpenter or Carpenters what Bignefs the under frames Should be made", and to get timber "in the Beft manner they can". They were to take further advice and to procure "winder frames and Safhes made in the Befi; and cheapefi: Manner they Can", "Oake Bords to Shingle and Clabbord on", and "pitch pine Bords for the Flowers". On February 17, 1774, the committee was empowered to obtain a carpenter and 15,000 feet of "white pine Timber for the Beams of the Meeting Houfe", and in March the town voted to borrow £100, lawful money, to meet the 202 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM expense. There was one meeting in April and two in June at which votes were passed as to shingles, clapboards, "Stones to Under pin", nails and glass. On June 27 the committee was instructed to lay the foundation, raise the building, and have it "Inclof^ after it is Raif'd in the Beft and Cheapeft Manner they Can". The meeting-house was raised on August 2d and 3d, 1774.^ The people of the East, after prayer, got to work at half past five in the morning, and the West Needham contingent, which had threatened to obstruct the raising, did not arrive till nine, and finding the work far advanced, peaceably but sullenly withdrew. In the autumn of 1880, on an occasion of almost equal im- portance, the tables were turned, and the affair of 1774 was referred to in triumph. Adam Blackman of Stoughton was the principal builder of the Second Meeting-house, and was satisfactory. The materials for the construction of this meeting-house were purchased, as the numerous orders granted by the selectmen prove, in small quantities of many individuals, most of them Needham people. Of the larger items were the timber, joists and shingles bought of Dea. John Fisher, boards of Joseph Daniell, timber of Robert Fuller, and "Joice Laths Boards" of Josiah Newell, Esq. Sixty-one and one half pounds of "Iron Bolts" were bought for £1, i6s,, lod. of Aaron Richardson, seventy-eight pounds of "Stur up Iron" for £2, 6s., 9d., 2f. of Jonathan Bixby; two thousand shingles, seventy feet of "Cants for window Caps and window Stuff", and some "Claboards" were furnished by May & Williams. Samuel Wight supplied "Spikes, Hinges, and Door Latches", Josiah Newell, Jr., nails. Thomas Fuller, Oliver Mills, Samuel Bacon, Lemuel Mills, Samuel Alden, Ensign Eliakim Cook, Moses Bullard, Michael Metcalf and Eleazer Fuller carted material, chiefly boards, from Boston. Silas Alden * Mr. Palmer, in his "Century Sermon," stated that the Second Meeting-house was raised on August 3d and 4th, but Mr. West, if his autobiography is correctly quoted, gave the dates as 2d and 3d. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 203 and Ellakim Cook were each granted sixteen shillings for "Carting Two Hogfheads of Lime from Bolton", and Lemuel Pratt £2, is., 3d. for going to Waltham and to Dedham, carting "Two pine Beams from Bofton", "Sawing Timber for window Caps", "Joice" etc. Ebenezer Fisher laid two thirds of the lower floor and Amos Fuller the rest of it, which took him twenty-two days; Mr. Fuller also "put up" carpenters. Ezekiel Richardson, Jr., sold the committee eight bushels of "hair to put in the Lime to Plafter". The following persons were also employed on the meeting- house: — John Clark, Theophilus Richardson, Jr., Ebenezer Clark and sons, William Smith, Jonathan Day, Robert Smith, Elisha Mills, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, Ebenezer Fuller, Timothy Newell, Enoch Kingsbery, Simeon Fisher, John Tolman, Richard Richardson (he worked about eighty- three days at 2s., 8d. per day), Samuel Richardson and his boy. Aaron Richards worked thirty-eight days at 2s., 6d. per day. Dea. John Fisher had much to do with building the meeting-house, and obtained clapboards and shingles of William Sanger of Watertown. Colonel Mackintash was also active, and among his claims were items "for Rum, and Other articles he found for the Ralfmg of the Meeting Houfe", some of which "articles" were bought of Moses Davis. Timothy Newell was granted 7s., |d. for a "Cheefe at the Ralfmg"; Ebenezer Newell had an order to pay him for "Boarding Carpinters", "and Keeping the Mafons Horfes when they Plaiftered"; Mr. Newell was also paid £7, i8s., 8d., 3f. for "Entertaining Pepple" when the meet- ing-house was raised. The meeting-house was not finished for about four years, but service was held in it on Sunday, August 21, 1774, when Mr. West preached from Job XXII, 21- '' Acquaint now thyself with him and he at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee'\ The meeting-house was painted in 1793 by John A. Haven for £36, and in 18 12 the parish paid $97 for paint. 204 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM THE FIRST CHURCH-BELL IN NEEDHAM On June 3, 181 1, it was voted at a Parish meeting "to build a Steeple to their Meeting house, of a decent form, and fit to support a bell of a size sufficient to accomodate the Parish", and that month, and the following March, $750 were voted for repairs and for the "Tower". The names of the subscribers for the bell included those of women, and they are recorded in the Church books. The bell was made by Paul Revere & Son, and cost $407.61. On November 15, 181 1, it was in place, and was rung. Mr. Palmer wrote in the Church records "the first Chh bell ever rung in this town". This bell is still (191 1) in use. For the elaborate rules, prepared by Mr. Palmer, for ringing it on certain days and occasions see the Dedham Historical Register for January, 1893. On April i, 1812, Ralph Day was paid $1.17 "for fixing the Hammer to toll the Bell with". THE THIRD MEETING-HOUSE The last service in the Second Meeting-house was on Sunday, April 24, 1836, and two days later the interior of the building was stripped, and the windows removed, by a general turnout of the parishioners; Richard Boynton, Jr., took down the frame. The old noon-house^ was transported to "Peppermill Road" (Hunnewell Street), and became the house of Jon- athan Ware, who was known as "Old Peppermill"; in 191 1 the Treaner family lived in it. Although much of the material from the old house went into the present one, the porches were made into a dwelling I The noon-house was an ancient institution, and when the people remained to the afternoon service it was a headquarters for sociability and gossip. Many of our people went to the minister's during the noon intermission, often nominally to get water from the fine old well east of his house. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 205 on what is now Central Avenue, and some of the ancient doors were utilized there. ^ The new house stood at right angles with the earlier one, and farther from the highway. It was formally dedicated July 26, 1837. Early in 1879 it was moved across a portion of the VN^riter's homestead, where it remained for three weeks or more, and then to Great Plain Avenue whence it was taken to its present site, where after much renovation, which resulted in the disappearance of the old-fashioned pews, it was rededicated on January 15, 1880. Several long-absent sons and daughters of Needham were interested in these changes of the Church, and one of them, Othman Wallburg, painted a beautiful open Bible on the ceiling above the pulpit. Mr. Wallburg was not born in Needham, but passed his youth here, and later became a talented artist.^ The horse sheds were rebuilt, or increased in number, in 1830, but deeds prior to 1800 refer to the "Noon House and Horse Stables". A granite bank wall was built in 1858 along that portion of the land on the western extremity of which stands the oak, probably the oldest tree in Needham. The next year the substantial fence of granite posts, connected by chains, on which we used to swing in happier days, was placed around the "Church Lot", and the trees were set out. Of the many gifts in 1879 to the Church and Parish some of the larger were: one thousand dollars from Mrs. Wyman of Baltimore toward the expense of moving and renovating the Church, and seven hundred dollars for the same object from Dr. Israel Whitney Lyon, a generous benefactor of this Church and Parish at other times. ^ In 1870 this house was the home of William Gilbert Jones, better known as William Jones, an old-school mason, road builder and town officer. The property was owned in 191 1 by Rupert D. G. O'Leary. ^ This open Bible, on a large disk of different shades of blue and gold, was lost to posterity during a renewal of the tinting of the ceiling. It was covered up or destroyed, which was an act of vandalism, for it harmonized admirably with the new cream-tinted ceiling. 2o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Of the earlier gifts was the eight-day clock presented in 1837 by Ebenezer Fisher, Jr., of Dedham. In 1887 James Mackintosh raised a considerable sum of money and paid off the mortgage on the meeting-house and land. He con- tributed liberally himself, as is his custom, and devoted much time to interesting others. To complete the vestry, which was dedicated October 14, 1888, five hundred dollars were contributed through the Rev. Solon W. Bush. There seems to be no doubt that this money was the gift of either Mr. Bush or of his esteemed wife, although he did not admit it. The furnishing of the vestry was by donations, as was the improvement of the interior of the meeting-house at other times. In 1893 the Parish received under the will of Mrs. Mary B, Emmons six acres of land, which in 1896 was sold for $1500. There was no attempt to heat the meeting-house until 1799, when a stove was set up; the first furnace was procured in the autumn of 1858. The meeting-house was equipped with electric lights in 1898, and the vestry, or chapel, in 1902. Henry Michael M°Intosh wrote the following in regard to the first meeting-house in the West Precinct: "My Father bought a meeting house located at West Needham, took it down and removed it to the land opposite of the now Rollins house, except three of the Porches, which were placed where the house now stands and made the body of the house. The sounding board was put over the front door. The meeting house contained much timber, oak joist, oak boards, oak clapboards, and thin oak boards split and spread open for lathing, blacksmith made wrought nails &c. The high pews were made of nice pine panel with turned rounds set in near top. The porch house was finished up as much as could be out of the building removed. The sounding board was nicely made, and after it had been a part of the Rollins house for years it was taken down, as I was informed, and removed to the parish vestry." Michael M'^Intosh THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 207 used a part of the material from the meeting-house in build- ing a barn and some shops. In a list of the names of contributors to the Massachusetts Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, printed in the appendix to the Rev. Daniel Dana's sermon, May 28, 18 17, are the following: — Dea. H. Fuller, Mrs. C. Fuller, Miss Coolidge, Mrs. R. Noyes, all of Needham, and the Cent Society of Sherburne and the Cent Society of Needham, both of the societies contributing through the Rev. Mr. Noyes. Mrs. C. Fuller was doubtless Charlotte, wife of Dea. Heze- kiah, and Mrs. R. Noyes was Rebecca, wife of the Rev. Thomas Noyes. TYTHINGMEN In Needham the original and usual number of tythingmen was two, but occasionally three or four. In 18 15 the town increased the number of tythingmen from two to ten, which seemed quite unnecessary, as these officers had then been without duties for many years. At the annual meeting March 4, 1 8 16, a committee, consisting of Azariah Walker, Benjamin Slack, Esq., and David Mills, reported that "it is necessary to have Six Tithingmen", and they were ac- cordingly chosen, but in 1817 the number was again two. The tythingmen were not abolished in Needham till 1867, and Everett Johnson Eaton, John Kingsbury, Freeman Phillips and Richard Boynton, chosen at the annual meeting in 1866, were the last ones. DIVISION OF THE TOWN INTO TWO PARISHES On May 28, 1764, the town heard the petition of Dr. William Deming and others "Relating to Removing y^ meet- ing Houfe in Said Needham: To the Centre of the Town", but rejected the proposition then and again the following March. In May, 1765, and March, 1768, the town refused to have a plan made "to find where the Center of the Town 2o8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM is", and on the latter date declared against "Seting of Mi Jonathan Deming; and Some others to Natick": On November 4, 1773, the town was opposed to division, but heard the petition of Mr. Deming and others, who asked for a committee of five: — two chosen by each party, and a chairman acceptable to both. The town would not have such a committee, or build at the geographical centre, and on February 7, 1774, chose Josiah Newell, Esq., Lieut. Jonathan Day, Nathaniel Fisher, Timothy Newell and Josiah Eaton to answer a petition requesting the General Court "To State a place to Set the Meeting Houfe Upon in Said Town". Twice in 1774 motions to reconsider the vote locating the meeting- house were defeated, and on June 17 the town declined to accept the judgment of the General Court, but directed the selectmen to answer Mr. Deming and the others. On July 4th and nth the town refused to reopen the question of the location, each time by a tie vote, viz., 44 to 44 and 43 to 43. On October 3 the petitioners were denied exemption either from their share of the cost of the new meeting-house or of Mr. West's salary, but the same day the vote for a "DIftlnct Precinct" and another meeting-house was carried, and a proposition that the meeting-house, already raised, "be Removed to Baker's field (So Called)" was rejected. Reconsideration of these votes was defeated the next March, but "Cron'" Nathaniel Fisher, Col. M<=Intosh, Amos Fuller, Dea. John Fisher, Henry Dewing and Josiah Eaton were chosen a committee to make "Propofels of Reconciliation to the Wefterly part of Said Town; Relating to the Meeting Houfe Lately Erected in Needham". On March 30 this committee reported unanimously in favor of freeing from payments toward the new meeting- house that portion of the town that "Lyeth at a Greater Diftance weftwardly from the Meeting Houfe" than "that part of the Town that Lyeth Eaftwardly of the Meeting Houfe, where the meeting Houfe Now Stands". The report THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 209 was not accepted, and at the earlier March meeting the town had declined to appoint a committee to settle the boundary between the parishes. On April 8, 1776, the town directed its selectmen and John Slack, Capt. Robert Smith and Ebenezer Newell to answer the petition of the West, then before the General Court, and in June chose another committee to attempt a reconciliation, offering the West equal privileges in the meeting-house "without any Co ft of Building Said Houfe". The foregoing abstract of the action taken by the town in reference to its division into two parishes is sufficiently complete to give an idea of the attitude of the citizens. The petition of 1774, with some particulars attending its con- sideration, follow in this narrative. On February 3, 1774, the petition of Jonathan Deming and others, inhabitants of the Westerly part of Needham, was before the General Court. They asked for a committee to decide where the meeting-house should be erected, or that there should be two parishes. They were ordered to serve notice on the Town of Needham to show cause on the 17th why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted. On that day the Council dismissed the petition, but the House appointed a committee on the 24th to consider the matter, and this committee reported on May 28 that the meeting-house ought to be at "the second centre, about three quarters of a mile Northwest of the place where the old House stood", but did not think it best for the General Court to interfere. The petition was dismissed. General Court Records, Archives, Vol. 30, pp. 139 and 177. On June 10, 1774, the petition for the division of the town into two parishes was before the General Court, and a notice was ordered for the 21st if the Court was then sitting, otherwise for the third Wednesday of the next Session. The original Petition for the Division of the Town 210 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM into Two Parishes is in the State Archives and reads as follows : To His Excellency Thomas Gage EsqF Cap* General and Governor in Chief in and Over His Majestys Province of Mafsachufetts Bay, The Honorable Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives, in General Court Afsembled the 26*^ Day of May. A.D. 1774. The Memorial of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the West- wardly Part of the Town of Needham, Humbly Sheweth. That your Memorialits have for a Number of years Past Attended the Publick Worship of God in the Meeting Houfe in 8? Town Lately Confumed by Fire, which stood more than a Mile from the Centre of the Town, and have thereby been put to Extraordinary Cost and Difficulty, which has been a very great hardship, Especially to thofe Living Remote. Some being more than Four Miles Distant therefrom and others within the Limits more than Six Miles. And whereas a Vote hath been Pafsed (by a Trifling Majority) at a Town Meeting, for Erecting a New Meeting Meeting Houfe where the Former Houfe stood, and they Perfist therein. Notwithstanding Repeated Applications hath been made for Erecting it at, or near, the Centre of the Town, and the Opinion of a Committee from this Hon- orable Court for the Same; under which Cruel hardship and Opprefsion, Your Memorialists must Remain Remedilefs without the Interpofition of this Honorable Court. They therefore most humbly Pray that the said Town of Needham may be Divided into Two Seperate Parishes in Such Man- ner & Form as to Your Excellency and Honors, in your great Wisdom, shall be thought most Convenient; and your most Humble Suppliants (as in Duty bound) shall Ever Pray. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 211 Stephen Hunting Mofes Bullard Eliphalet Kingsbery Josiah Upham Saml Kilton David Trull John Edes Jonathan Smith Jun' Joseph Haws Samuel Danils Ephraim Stevens Robert Cunningham David Smith Samuel Brown Jonathan Smith John Nefs Aaron Smith Thomas Lescombe Wfj Fuller Peter Jenison Jefse Kingsbery Jeremiah Haws Lemuel Pratt Jonathan Deming Sam^i Daggett Jacob Parker Sam®? Hunting Joseph Mudg Daniel Hunting John Fuller John Fuller Jun wodow Sarah Edes Lemuel Brackett Samuel Pratt Sam^i Brackett Jonas Mills Daniel gould Isaac Mills Samuel Greenwood Amos Mills Wedow Hanah Mackintier Nathaniel Dewing Jofiah Ware Eleazer Kingsbery Caleb Kingsbery Sam?* Mackentier Wedow Martha Dewing Thomas Broad Thoder Broad Ephraim Bullard Mofes Feltt Read in the House June 3, and committed to Capt. Brown of Abington, Col. Whetcomb and Mr. Freeman of Harwich. Read in the Council June 8, and George Leonard and Jedediah Preble, Esqs., were joined to the committee of 212 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the House. On the 9th the Council ordered the petitioners to notify the Town of Needham for the third Wednesday of the next Session of the Court; concurred in by the House the loth. Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 725, 726. Those desiring a new parish sought the attention of the General Court during the War of the Revolution, but were informed that the Court had other business, and their re- quest was not granted till April 28, 1778. THE FIRST PARISH ORGANIZED The First Parish in Needham was organized on November 9, 1778, with Colonel Mcintosh as moderator. The officers corresponded to those of the Town, which the Parish super- seded in ecclesiastical matters. The Parish was assumed to be identical with East Needham. From 1778 to 1892 the parish committee consisted of three persons, with the ex- ception of 183 1-5 (five years), when the number was five.^ Until 1834 all the real estate within the limits of a parish, wherever the owners lived, was taxable for Church purposes, subject to the laws of 181 1 and 1823. These laws permitted persons to file with the town clerk certificates of connection with another religious body, and by this means have their ministerial tax paid to the minister of their choice. These certificates were duly recorded by the town clerk. After the division into two parishes the assessors of each had the same powers as to "Minister's Rates" that the town asses- sors had previously possessed, and a considerable number of the First Parish rate books and valuation lists are pre- served. In 1874 the time of the annual parish meeting was ^ Mr. Augustus Eaton was a member of the committee of the First Parish for 1857-74, 1880-9, inclusive (twenty-eight years), a length of service unequalled in its annals. Until 1892 Mrs. Diana Persis Washburn was the only woman ever elected on the parish committee. She was a member from December, 1875 to December, 1879. Dea. Otis Morton, Jr., was one of the parish committee for 1858-64, 1866-83 (twenty-five years), Dea. Isaac Shepard for 1783, 1788-90, 1794-1802, 1806, 1811-19 (twenty-three years), and Maj. Ebenezer M'^Intosh for 1805, 1807, 1812-15, 1817-19, 1821-6, 1830-2 (eighteen years). THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 213 changed from March to December, but is now In January. The First Church in Needham still (191 1) has the dual organization of Church and Parish. The Dedham Historical Register for 1891 contains an account of the Clerks and of the Treasurers of the First Parish, and this periodical for 1892 and 1893 has a summary of the Parish records to 1842. In the volume for 1892 there Is also a list of the Deacons of the First Church, with brief biographical notices. All of these articles were con- tributed to the Register by George Kuhn Clarke. The following are samples of some of the early votes passed by the First Parish: — December 15, 1778. "The Hinds Seats In the body Voted by the Parish for the Negors to Set In"; i8th. "It was Voted by the Parish that no Hats Shall be hanged on the Gallery Pillows, The Gallery Seats from the East AUe to the front Voted by the Parish to the Singers". The First Parish had to assume the debts Incurred by the town in building the meeting-house. Adam Blackman, the builder, sued the parish, with the result that it was some years before his claims were settled, and that the parish was long In debt. Neglect to swear the parish officers led to an Act of the General Court, January 20, 1790, legalizing the doings of the First Parish for a series of years. Within a few years of the division It is probable that the people of both parishes realized that the support of two Churches was a burden, and the efforts for reunion, as revealed In the State Archives, Indicate that such a plan was not unpopular. On March 12, 1792, the town voted "to petition the general Court to Send a Committee to join Needham and Natick into two Towns more Convenient then they now are. So that two meeting housen may accomodate both towns", and on May 7 chose Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt. 214 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Joslah Newell and William Farris a committee to act with a committee appointed by Natick. The latter town selected Hezekiah Broad, Thomas Broad and Joshua Fisk, and the two committees petitioned under date of June 5. In this document they refer to the irregular shape and the poverty of the two towns, the fact that people had a right to sign over to the First Parish, although living six or seven miles from its meeting-house. Moreover they said that Natick could not decide where to locate its meeting- house, and that the people of the West Precinct in Needham were unable to finish theirs. They express the hope of "restoring & establishing peace & enabling us to support the public worship of God in a decent manner", and allege that Needham was too poor ever to have had two parishes, and that Natick was involved in endless controversies about the meeting-house. On June 11, a committee was appointed by the General Court in answer to this application, but its signers were to bear the expense of viewing the territory they described. Even free entertainments at Bullard's tavern failed to secure a favorable report, and the petitioners had leave to with- draw. While this matter was pending the First Parish chose Colonel M'=Intosh and eight other leading members "to wait on the Committee Chosen by the General Court for the purpose of joining the Two Towns of Needham and Natick so as Two meeting houses would Accomodate both Towns". At the same parish meeting, which was on August 23, 1792, a conciliatory vote was passed, looking to a reunion with the West Precinct, but under date of March 7, 1793, forty-five men and women of that precinct sent to the Gen- eral Court a bitter protest against the schemes to wipe out the "Second Parish". So far from exciting the sympathy of the Legislators, the petitioners were answered by a report that the West Parish "should be dissolved", and a change was proposed in the boundaries of the towns involved, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 215 similar to that actually effected in 1797. In this report the familiar bounds were referred to, viz., Damon's Brook, Sta- tion Tree, etc. According to the report, the ownership of the West Meeting-house was to be divided between the Town of Needham, and the individuals who were to be joined to Natick. The rest of the inhabitants of the West Precinct were to have equal rights in the East Meeting- house with those people of the East heretofore attending there. Liberty was given to bring in a bill, which the Senate amended on March 12, dealing with the disposition of the unfinished meeting-house. Later the measure was killed, doubtless to the relief of the people opposed to the union, although in 1799 a petition was received at the State House from residents of the West Precinct desiring changes such as they had resisted in 1792 and 1793. Senate files 1537, 1-3, 2523, and House files 3623, 3808, 3900. At the April meeting in 1820, acting under article seven, the town chose by ballot Jonathan Ellis, Col. Chester Adams, Capt. Gay, Leonard Kingsbury, Capt. Lyon, Enoch Fisk, Esq., and George Fisher to report to the town in May as to a plan for uniting the town in one Society for public worship. THE WEST PRECINCT In 1774 money was subscribed by many persons to build a meeting-house in what is now Wellesley, and a Precinct was organized January 19, 1775, with Capt. Lemuel Pratt as moderator. It was legally organized July 6, 1778, with Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery presiding, and dissolved April 4, 1870, when Augustus Fuller was the moderator. Its records are in fine condition, and there is much infor- mation as to the West Precinct in the excellent "History of the Wellesley Congregational Church", by Rev. Edward Herrick Chandler, 1898. In the spring of 1709 the town of Dedham, in answer to a petition, had granted £8 to pay for preaching north of the river, and during the winter ending in 171 1 Mr. Hale is said to have preached there, at the expense of the inhabitants. During the first eight years of the town of Needham the meetings in reference to building a house for worship and securing a minister were numerous, occupying more space in the records than other affairs. It is a considerable task to condense the facts, and yet include details that may be of interest. At the first meeting of the new town a subscrip- tion was taken to secure preaching for four months, and at the next, December 11, 171 1, Sergeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell were chosen to engage a minister, the Rev. Josiah Oaks, A.M. (Harvard 1708), then acting as their pastor, to be their first choice. On March 10, 1711/12, the selectmen were to agree with him to remain with them "if we can atain the Houfe of Robert Fuler to meete in upon y^ Lords Dayes for a year". This house is one of the oldest in town, and is now owned by Charles H. Snow, having been for many years the summer home of Miss Annie M. Clarke, the well-known leading lady at the Boston Museum. On June 12, 171 2, as Mr. Oaks declined to stay, the town voted a rate of £25 to pay for preaching, including what was due Ensign Robert Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Thomas Metcalf for entertaining Mr. Oaks, and also voted to engage Mr. Deming for three months. The latter's Christian name does not appear in our records, but he was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 217 presumably Identical with David Deming, A.M. (Harvard 1700), later the minister In Medfield. On August 12 the town offered Mr. Deming £50 and his wood to preach for a year with a view to settlement, and Lieut. Fisher, Benjamin Mills, Sr., John Smith, Sr., Robert Cook and Richard Moore were to negotiate with him. On October 29 the town voted to pay Robert Fuller twelve pence per week for the use by Mr. Deming of a portion of his house and barn, with the condition that In case Mr. Fuller wanted his little room in the spring he should pro- vide Mr. Deming with another study. In March Mr. Deming with his horse and cow, which had been kept at the town's expense, left Mr. Fuller's, and on March 16, 17 12/3, the town by forty votes formally gave him a call. This action was perhaps the result of the appoint- ment at the annual town meeting, on March 2, of a committee of four to advise with the Reverend Elders with regard to Mr. Deming. A salary of £60 and wood was offered him, together with a settlement of £60, which was to be paid before December i, 1713. On May 11 Lieut. Fisher, Ensign Cook and Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen collectors of Mr. Deming's salary, and by direction of the selectmen, December 29, Fisher was to pay £9, 6s. direct to Mr. Deming, Cook was to pay £8, 13s., 3d., and Kingsbery £6, 5s,, 3d. to the selectmen, but Constable Mills com- pleted the collection. Mr. Deming declined after long negotiation. Of the numerous committees chosen from 1713 to 1720 to supply the pulpit and to seek advice of the "Reverend Elders", only a few will be mentioned. There were no less than twenty-one other committees, usually consisting of three men, but occasionally of more, and Ensign Cook, later a captain, served on nine of these committees, Benjamin Mills, Sr., on eight, Lieut. John Fisher, later a captain, and Timothy Kingsbery on seven each. Sergeant Joseph Daniel!, Jeremiah Woodcock, John Smith, Sr., and Ebenezer Ware 2i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM on six each. Some of these committees were important, even when their efforts were fruitless, and the men serving on them were leaders in the community. A minority was opposed to Mr. Deming, and a Council of Elders met in Needham the second Wednesday of Septem- ber, 1714, to adjust the difficulties. Messrs. Robert Breck, A.M., of Marlborough, Joseph Belcher, A.M., of Dedham, Peter Thacher, A.M., of Milton, and John Swift, A.M., of Framingham were invited by the town, and Mr. Deming was to select others, but perhaps did not, as he left town soon after, and on April 20, 1717, receipted in full for services in Needham. The people seem to have been discouraged as to obtaining a minister, and on November 16, 1714, they appointed a committee to consult the noted Doctors of Divinity Increase and Cotton Mather, the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, A.M., of the Old South Church in Boston, and Messrs. Belcher, Thacher and John Danforth, A.M., the latter of Dorchester. With the three last named they con- ferred at other times. In December £30 were voted to pay for preaching, and at the annual meeting, March, 1714/15, after listening to the written advice of the three ministers last mentioned, the town voted to hear three candidates sug- gested by them. Lieutenant Cook, Sergeant Daniell, Joseph Boyden, Samuel Parker, George Robinson, Joseph Mills and James Kingsbery were at this time the committee to find a minister. April 13, 1715, was appointed a day for fasting and prayer, and Benjamin Mills and John Smith were to secure the assistance of the "Elders". The selection of a day to especially invoke the Divine help in securing a minister was customary in later times in Needham. On April 19, 1715, the town considered the names of four possible candidates, and the choice was between the Rev. Samuel Terry, A.M. (Harvard 1710), and the Rev. Mr. Crag- head. Mr. Terry won both on a ballot and by a hand vote, but declined the call, although there was a liberal THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 219 subscription ^ toward his settlement, which was to be £80. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Joseph Boyden were chosen to negotiate with the "worthy mr Terry". On August 23 the town called Mr. Craghead, but without result. On June 6, 1716, the town considered the names of Messrs. Perkins, Allen, Clark and Crocker, but did nothing further than to appoint a committee to consult with the Rev. Mr. Belcher of Dedham, the Rev. Mr. Baxter of Medfield and the Rev. John Cotton, A.M., of Newton. In November, 1716, £50 were voted to "Soport & uphould the worshlpt of god", and Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Ebenezer Ware were to ask the Fellows of Harvard College to furnish them with a minister for four months. In December an attempt was made to obtain the services of Mr. Walter, but with what success does not appear. In January, 1718, a rate of £25 was voted to pay ministers and for their entertainment, but probably there were many Sundays at this period when no one officiated. On April 15 the town met to hear the negative answer of Mr. Spear, and appropriated £60 for preaching. In November the select- men, who acted as a committee to supply the pulpit when there was no special committee, agreed to go to the college for a minister. Early in 1718/19 Joslah KIngsbery and John Fisher, Jr., were paid for keeping ministers over Sunday, which Indi- cates that they had as good houses and lived as comfortably as any. On July 22, 1718, the town called Mr. Elmer, probably Daniel Elmer, A.M. (Yale 1713), and sent a committee to consult Messrs. Belcher, Tweft, Breck and Loverlng. The call to Mr. Elmer was repeated August 13, a salary of £70 with the, use of the Ministerial land and his firewood was offered him, together with a settlement of £100, but In vain, although a committee was named to get * This subscription list is at the end of the first volume of town records, and was chiefly of money, but Thomas Fuller, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Israel Mills gave "in Sawing," Zachariah Mills "in Smith work," Hezekiah Broad "in board," Robert Fuller "in Labor or timber" and Josiah Newell in work. 220 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the Rev. Dr. Mather and Mr. Wallsworth to hear their differences. On May 13, 1719, £54 were voted for preaching, and Wednesday, June 10, was set apart for fasting and prayer. Messrs. Belcher, Baxter and Cotton were requested to assist on the fast day, and three of the first citizens were a committee for "setin these elders". On July I the town voted to meet on the 29th, and to have present as advisers Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, William Williams, A.M., the latter of Weston, and Cotton, and to call a minister, which they did in the person of Nathaniel Prentice, A.M. (Harvard 17 15). Mr. Prentice gave a nega- tive answer to the committee, which consisted of Captain Fisher, Lieutenant Cook and Timothy Kingsbery. On March 11, 1719/20 (which date, like many others, is written new style, although the books appear to be ancient), the town treasurer had made payments to the following ministers, viz.. Prentice, Messenger, Wigglesworth, Thomas Robe, Townsend, Foxcroft, Baass, Cook, Sparrowhawk, Seaver and Pierepont, and to Lieut. Cook, Nathaniel Harris, John Fisher, Jr., Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Kingsbery for "Keping" them. On December 4, 1719, the town asked the help of Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, Cotton and Allen, and appointed Captain Fisher, "Sargeant" Thomas Fuller and Josiah Newell to secure the attendance of these Elders at 10 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, December 29, at which time the town unanimously called the Rev. Jonathan Townsend, A.M., offering him £80 per year for his salary and a settlement of £100. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook and Jeremiah Woodcock were to arrange with Mr. Townsend, who accepted January 25, 1719/20. MR. TOWNSEND'S MINISTRY Mr. Townsend's letter is of considerable length, dignified and well written, but according to the copy in our town book he dated it new style, which is unlikely. He was then only twenty-two years old, a native of Lynn, and a graduate THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 221 from Harvard College In the class of 1716. This letter was read to the town February 3, and a committee of eight was chosen to advise with Mr. Townsend and Mr. Belcher as to the day for the ordination, and to Inform the people when Mr. Townsend "will come to dwell among us". Any one familiar with the records can guess very closely the mem- bership of the committees appointed at this period by the town to deal with either Church or secular affairs. The eight included, almost as a matter of course, Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook, Benjamin Mills, Sr., and Timothy KIngsbery. On February 25, 1720, there was a town meeting to plan for the ordination. In addition to those who took part, a number of ministers were guests of the town, and Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Jeremiah Woodcock arranged with the Rev- erend Elders. John Fisher, Lieut. Cook, John Smith, Sr., John Rice, Joslah KIngsbery, Thomas Metcalf and Timothy KIngsbery were the general committee to take charge of the ordination. The following is verbatim from the original Church book written by Mr. Townsend : — Jonathan Townfend's Chh. Book. Bought May 19, 1720. s. d. Pret: 2/ 6. The new style took place SepF 2. 1752- when eleven days were omitted - and y° next day was called SepF 13 — Title Page. THE RECORDS OF The CHURCH of CHRIST in NEEDHAM Kept by Jonathan Townfend for his own Service, Ufe, & Satiffaction. -7720.- Jets 16.4. And they delivered them the decrees for to keep &c: 2 Chron : 15.12. And they en- tred into a Covenant to feek the Lord God of their Fathers, 222 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM with all their heart, & with all their Soul: 14. And they fware unto the Lord - . Jer. 50.5. They Shall afk the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, faying. Come and let us joyn our felves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that fhall not be forgotten. Page I of the Records. Annales Needhamenfes Ecclefiafticae. The Church = Covenant. Wee whofs Names are hereunto fubfcribed apprehending our Selves called of God to join together in Church=Commun- ion do acknowledge our unworthinefs of fuch a priviledge and our inability to keep Covenant with God, or to perform any Spirituall Duty unlefs Chrift shall enable us thereunto, and in humble Dependance on free grace for Divine Afsift- ance and Acceptance, wee do now thankfully lay hold on his Covenant, and would choofs the Things that pleafe him. Wee declare our Serious Belief of the Chriftian Re- ligion, as contained in the Sacred Scriptures, and with fuch a View thereof as the Confefsion of Faith in our Churches has exhibited; heartily refolving to conform our lives unto the Rules of that Holy Religion as long as wee live in the World. Wee give up our Selves unto the Lord Jehovah who is Father, Son, & Holy Spirit; and avouch him this Day to be our God, our Father, our Saviour, & our Leader, and receive him as our Portion. Wee give up our Selves unto the Blefsed Jefus who is the Lord Jehovah, and adhere to him as the Head of his Church, and rely on him as our Prophet, Prieft and King to bring us unto eternall Glory. Wee acknowledge our indifpenfible Obligations to glorify our God in all the Duties of a Godly, Sober, and a Righteous Life; and particularly in the Duties that we ought to dif- charge as in a Church-State, and as a Body of people afso- ciated for an Obedience unto him and an Enjoyment of him in all the Ordinances of the Gofpell: and wee therefore depend upon his gracious afsiftances for our faithfull Dif- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 223 charge of the Duties thus incumbent on us. Wee do alfo give our Selves to one another in the Lord, defiring, intending and (with dependance upon help from on high) engaging and covenanting to walk together as a Church of Chrift in the Faith and Order of the Gofpell as far as wee fhall have the Same revealed unto us: Confcientioufly attending the Word of God, the Sacraments of the New Testament, the Difcipline of his Kingdom and all his H0I7 Inftitutions in Communion with one another; lovingly watching over one another and watchfully avoiding all finfull ftumbling- blocks and contentions as becomes a people whom the Lord has bound up together in a Bundle of Life. Att the fame time wee alfo prefent our offspring with us unto the Lord, purpofmg with his help to do our part in the Methods of a Religious education, that they may be the Lords. And all this wee do flying to the blood of the Everlafting Covenant for the pardon of our many Sins; and praying that the Glo- rious Lord who is the Great Shepherd would delight to dwell in the midft of us, and prepare & ftrengthen us for every good Work to do his Will, working in us that which will be well pleafmg to him. To be glory for ever & ever. Amen. Needham. March 18. 1719/20. Jonathan Townfend Pallor. William Mills Benjamin Mills Senr Deacon John Pain Junr John Pain Senf Samuell Wilfon Robert Cook Jonathan Parker Benjamin Mills Jun. John Fifher Deacon Jeremiah Woodcock Stephen Hunting Thomas Metcalfe Samuell Bacon Deacon Timothy Kingsbury Jofiah Newell Jofeph Boyden Nathanaell Tolman Deacon Eleazar Kingsbury ^ Jofeph Barber ^ In the book all these signers are starred except Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, who outlived Mr. Townsend, and died January 27, 1767. Lydia Metcalf, who died December 18, 1770, aged ninety-three years, was the last survivor of the first female members, although Deliverance Parker died March 11, 1770, aged ninety- nine years. 224 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM E vivis cefserunt Stelllgerl Needham. March 20. 1719/20. — This Day the Rever- end M? Jofeph Belcher Paftor of y Church of Chrift in Dedham came to gather the Church In Town abovef?. He preach'd all day, after prayer after Sermon In the Afternoon he read the Probations of Lieut: Rob\ Cook. Saw}} Bacon, Jofeph Boyden, & W'? Ddills who were then gathered with us Into our Number, though they never were In full Communion with any Church before. Then my difmifslon from Lynn, Timothy Kingfbury^s from ye old South Church in Bofton and /ow'^ Parkers from old Roxhury were read, then the Covenant was read that was fign'd 2 days before by 20 perfons, & wee declar'd a Church of Chrift which we were not before, after this Mr Belcher pray'd for a Blefsing upon us in a short [Illegible] prayer. Wee Sang Stanza In Pf: 135. The Proclamation for a Solomn publick [line illegible] Page 2 Annales Needhamenfes Ecclefiafticae. March 2j. iyiQ/20. I was ordained a Paftor of the Church of Chrift in Needham by the Reverend Mefsieurs Joseph Belcher of Dedha?n, Jofeph Baxter of Medfield, John Swift of Framingham & Will"} Williams of Weftoivn. M'' Belcher gave mee my Charge, & M'' Baxter the Right hand of Fellowfhip, In the Name & at the defire of the Churches that were prefent by their Delegates. Mr Cotton of Newtown with his Church were fent to & accordingly came, but there not being room in the Pulpit for him, he acted nothing In the matter of my Ordination. NB I preach'd from Rom: 1.15.16. June ig, 1720. Wee received to our Number & Commun- ion, our Sifters [Married & unmarried] that were difmifsed from the refpective Churches they belong'd to. Thefe were Rebecca Fifher, Abigail Smith, Dorothy Dewing, Submit Cook, Sarah Kingfbury, Mercy Parker, Mary Woodcock, Lydia Metcalf, Lydia Ockinton, Sarah Tombling, Mary Barber, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 225 Anne Pain, Sufanna Dezving, Sufanna Kingfbury, Rebecca Hunti7ig, Elizabeth Wilfon, i^ Sufanna Pain from Dedham, Deliverance Parker from Newton & Hannah Parker from Roxbury. On the fame Day the Congregation joyned with the Church in contributing fomthing to defray our Charges in providing Vefsells, Hnnen &c. [necefsary things] for the Lords Table. s. & a bout 6^ 10. was gathered, or £5 = 93 = o July 5, i'/20 The Ordinance of the Lords Supper was firft admiftred in this Church of Chrift: Wee had near or about 50 Communicants, a few befides our felves, twas a comfortable fight, a pretty Show, confidering our infancy. The Lord increafs us both in Number & holinefs. On the fame day Deacon Timothy Kingfbury^s Daughter Ruth was baptized. Aug. 7. i/'20. I propof'd to the Church (before the Con- gregation) the having the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper adminftred once in Six Weeks, & I took their Silence for a confent to and compliance with the Propofall. On April 20, 1720, Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Newell were chosen deacons, but as they both declined the choice was made, on May 17, of Jeremiah Woodcock and Timothy Kingsbery. Deacon Woodcock resigned January 7, 1729/30, because it was "not agreeable to the mind of the Church that the Deacons be ordain'd", and Eleazer Kingsbery succeeded him on February 4. Both Kingsberys were deposed on January 9, 1746/7; Eleazer's offence was that he "went over to y® Anabaptists". The same day Josiah Newell, Jr., Joshua Ellis and John Fisher, Jr., were elected deacons. Deacon Ellis lived in the Springfield Parish, Dover, and in 1758 assisted to organize a Church there. Deacon Newell resigned November 21, 1783, and Deacon Fisher died October 17, 1788. Isaac Shepard was chosen November 21, 1783, and died August 22, 1 8 19. Col. William M'=Intosh served from April 226 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 19, 1790 to November 22, 1803, when he resigned. Lieut.- Col. Silas Alden, irreverently known as "Old Growl", was elected in his place, and died in office February 22, 1826. Zachariah Cushman was deacon from September 21, 1819, to his death June 11, 1826, and George Fisher from Septem- ber 21, 1819, to his decease, November 13, 1845. Newell Smith was chosen deacon May 31, 1822, but declined, although he bore the title until his death, October 10, 1866. He was sometimes called "Deacon Could Be", but the town records give him the title without qualification. Jon- athan Newell was deacon from August 25, 1822, until he died on July 8, 1853, the Rev. Daniel Kimball, A.M., Sep- tember I, 1826 to June 3, 1859, when he resigned, Capt. Ellsha Lyon from September i, 1826 to May 19, 1849, when he resigned, Thomas Kingsbury, Esq., and Timothy Daniell were chosen in July, 1849; Deacon Kingsbury died May 14, 1859, and Deacon Daniell March 5, 1894, his resigna- tion of August 5, 1859, never having been accepted, although his later years were passed in Roxbury. Alvin Fuller and George Gay Stevens were elected deacons June 3, 1859; the former's resignation was accepted June i, 1872, as he had joined the new Unitarian Society in Grantville, and Deacon Stevens died November 30, 1875. O^i^ Morton was deacon from June i, 1872, to his decease, June 2, 1890. The Dedham Historical Register for 1892 contains an account of the deacons of this Church, contributed by George Kuhn Clarke. "Oct: 7: 1730. At a Chh. Meeting at My Houfe. After Prayer. Voted, That Deacon Woodcock pay in speedily to Deacon Timothy Kingsbury the money in his hands, viz. : 20 Shillings which Mf Mayhew gave to the Chh, and the ouer- plus of the Chh's Contribution, viz.: iy = i^-, or I4«=9**-. or thereabouts, to buy a Flagon, No usury to be paid". On August 20, 1738, the Church and congregation contributed at a special service £12 for "Sacramental Vefsels". "At a Chh: Meeting at my House, April. 6. 1741. Voted alfo, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 227 That It is the expectation & desire of the Chh that the Deacons procure the Baptlfmal Water. But Deacon Eleazar Kingfbury then fignlfi'd that he refus'd to do It". On April 6, 1741, the Church voted to have a contribu- tion of the Church members of at least one shilling each "y? next Sacrament Day", and of six pence each on every other "Sacrament Day" for a year "to provide the Sacra- mental Elements". Days of "Fasting and Prayer" were occasionally observed, particularly when religion seemed at a low ebb, or illness was prevalent. There were six, or more, of these fasts from 1727 to 1744, and the record of a few of them win illustrate the spirit that Inspired their observance. ^' June, 14. 1^2/. We, the Church & Congregation in this Place, observed a Day of Fasting and Prayer to afk for y? outpourings of y? Spirit of grace on the rising Generation, & the revival of decaying Religion. Mr — Dexter began with prayer in y? forenoon, M,'' Peahody preach'd from Matt: 17. 21. M' Baxter began with ee prayer in the Afternoon, & I preach'd from Deut: 30.6.^^ On November 21, of the same year there was a "Town-Fast, occafioned by the Earth- quake (Oct: 2g. 1727.) " Nov: 16. 1743. A Fast was observ'd In this Town upon the accf of the low and languishing circumstances of divers perfons among us; Some having been 111 for fundry months, & others for divers years, and Phyficlans proving of little or no value to 'em. M? Dexter preach'd A. M. from PJal: iig. g2. and Mr Peabody P. M. from Job: 5.6'." " Sept: 12. 1744. We in this Place obferv'd a Town-Fast, occasioned by SIcknefs both Inflicted & threatened. Mr Tyler pray'd A. M, Mf Walter preach'd from John: g. 4. I pray'd P. M. & Mf Peabody preach'd from Num: 16. 46." The substance of an able plea, made at a town meeting, by Mr. Townsend In behalf of the Scotch-Irish is recorded on the last page of the Church book, and is dated February 18, 1723/4. To the credit of our town no attempt was made to expel these immigrants, who had left home to find 228 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM freedom of worship, and many of whom became valued citizens here. In some other towns they had fared ill, and had been driven from place to place. Mr. Townsend had a taste for chronicling events, and for forty-two years he faithfully kept the records of the Church in a neat, but minute hand, recording two hundred and thirty-eight admissions to the Church, two hundred and nineteen marriages, one thousand and thirty baptisms, and the births and deaths.^ Few baptisms were recorded during the vacancy In the pulpit, which followed Mr. Townsend's ministry. Mr. West, however, chronicled one hundred and seven admissions to the Church, one hundred and fifty-three marriages and three hundred and fifty-nine baptisms for 1764-88. The total number of baptisms recorded in the books of this Church to 1905 is about two thousand. The old Church records contain the usual accounts of Church meetings, the election of delegates to attend ordinations and installations, cases of Church discipline, and public confes- sions of what was called a violation of the Seventh Com- mandment, although technically the offence was seldom so serious. Perhaps the sinners afforded as much edification as the saints when confessions were in order. Mr. Townsend used Latin In the records when It seemed desirable to do so. He was highly esteemed by the community, and his services were often required in ecclesiastical councils, sometimes at a considerable distance. His skill as a peacemaker was recognized, and the following extract from the Church records will Illustrate an application of It at home when there was ^ It is unfortunate that his record of births, five hundred and forty-seven in number, and of deaths is lost for the years 1720-48. The first birth in existing records is numbered five hundred and forty-eight; he did not, however, give the name of the child in every instance. This record of births and deaths, together with the marriages to 181 1, including some from the town books, and all of the baptisms to 1849, were prepared for the press by George Kuhn Clarke, and appeared in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register in the years 1901-3. There were eighteen hundred and fifty- three baptisms. The "Baptisms recorded by the Ministers, or Clerks, of the Church in the West Precinct in Needham, 1798-1849," numbered four hundred and seven, and the record of them was copied by Mr. Clarke, and appeared in the Ded- ham Historical Register in 1901. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 229 a serious quarrel between the two leading citizens of the town. " March, 2g. 1736. This Day We the following perfons, Jonathan Townfend, Jeremiah Woodcock, Timothy Kings- bury, Eleazar Kingfbury, Thomas Metcalf, Jofiah Newel, Henry Prat, Benoni Woodward, Zechariah Mills, & Samuel Parker, having heard what Capt: Cook, & Capt. Fisher had to fay respecting the feveral matters of difference and difpute between them, They agreed to leave it with us, and fit down and abide by our advice and determination in the matter, and after fome difcourfe among our felves we united and concurr'd unanimously In y? following opinion and advice to 'em, viz: We, fome of yf Brethren of y? Chh here, having heard what Capt: Cook, & John Fisher Esqr have to fay about all paft matters of difference between them, do declare it to be our opinion that every paft difficulty and uneafmefs be forgiven and pafsed by by them, and we advlfe the faid contending brethren to bury all their differences In one com- mon grave of forgetfulnefs, and for the time to come to live and act together as brethren and Christians ought to do.' This advice they both thank'd us for, and accepted of: after this we fang Pfal: ijj. I calFd for a Tankard of Drink, and drank to both the heretofore contending, but now recon- ciled brethren, wifhing & praying, that y- peace of God which pafses all underftanding might keep their hearts and minds thro' Christ Jesus, and that they, and all of us, for the time to come mih live and act together in love and peace that the God of love and peace might be with us, to which Capt: Cook faid. Amen. I gave the Tankard Into Capt: Cook's hand, he drank himfelf, and drank to Capt: Fisher, we all drank, et fic finitur, so the matter ended." From the warrant for the town meeting on May 20, 1754, It appears that Mr. Townsend had written a letter and wanted a grant of £66, 13s., 4d. "for my yearly Sup- port for the future & allow me Intreft for the Fourty pounds granted three years ago as an Arrearage. If this Shou'd 230 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM pafs in the affirmative well But if it Shou'd pafs in the Negotlve Then whether the Town be willing to make up former Deficiencies to the amount of Sixty six pounds thirteen shillings & four pence for each year Viz. for the years 1750: 51: 52: & 53. This I expect Shou'd pafs in the affirmative & then the Town may expect that it will be there Bufinefs to Seek for Some other perfon to Supply the place of Minister here for the future". Undoubtedly Mr. Townsend's original letter was much better as a composi- tion than the article in the warrant. The Town voted "no" on the question of a salary of £66, but voted to make the £90^ as good as a like sum was in 1720 "according to the Vallow of Silver". On May 23, 1757, the town declined Mr. Townsend's "Perpofels", whatever they were. Mr. Townsend was a serious, dignified minister of the old school, but had tact, and held the affections of his people to the end. It is true the peace of the Church was inter- rupted about 1746, when some parishioners began to hear lay preachers, usually illiterate, and to seek "new lights".^ Mr. Townsend wrote in the Church records "On Nov: 16. 174.8. A Chh=Meeting was attended at the Meeting- Houfe, y« defign of which was y? refi:oration and establifh- ment of peace among us, if pofsible,-But fome of the difsat- isfied Brethren rigidly infisting on leave and liberty to have illiterate Teachers among them, and to feperate from us when, and as often as they wou'd, the Meeting was broke up without obtaining the defired end. But James Smith desired to be reunited to us,". At this period the minister's salary was in arrears, as it * According to the records Mr. Townsend's original salary was £80, and yet the amount is clearly stated as £90 in 1754. * The New England Historic Genealogical Society has an original letter, dated June 12, 1747, and addressed to Mr. Townsend by the following malcontents, viz., — "Eleazer Kingsbery Timothy Kingsbery James Smith John Kingsbery Nath: Tole- man Jo^htan Smith unr william Ockinton Archabell Smith." The letter refers to the election of new deacons, and charges the minister with neglect. On June 23 a Church meeting was held to consider these "matters of uneafinefs," and a committee was chosen to answer the disaffected. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 231 was difficult to collect the rates voted for him. The depre- ciation of the currency complicated matters, but the people never questioned Mr. Townsend's right to the equivalent of the £90 originally agreed upon. There were votes from year to year in reference to his salary, and to the ultimate payment of arrears. When the town met August 26, 1762, Mr. Townsend was ill, and October 14 a rate of £18 was voted to pay his funeral expenses; the town had supplied the pulpit for some weeks. On March 16, 1764, Ensign Eliakim Cook, Josiah Newell, Esq., and Michael Metcalf were appointed to make a final settlement with the heirs of Mr. Townsend, which they did March 10, 1766, when £16, IDS., 62d. was paid, discharging in full all obligations, including gratuities. Mr. Townsend died September 30, 1762, in the sixty-fifth year of his age and the forty-third of his ministry, and was buried in the old graveyard near his home. His house was built in 1720, and is now the residence of the writer, but has been much changed. In Mr. Townsend's time it lacked the southerly quarter, and the porches at the north and west. It had a pitched roof, or rather two such roofs at right angles, the east chimney was on the easterly side of the parlor, and the windows had "diamond panes". The alterations of the interior have been numerous, but the northerly and westerly rooms have either remained prac- tically unchanged, or have been restored by uncovering the old ceilings, and by putting ancient material, such as the oven door, back into its place. It is said that from the estate of his father-in-law, Capt. Gregory Sugars, Mr. Townsend got some money which enabled him to build this house. Captain Sugars commanded a squadron of thirteen sail, the largest of the squadrons, in the expedition against Canada in 1690. The land, eight acres, was probably bought from the heirs of Thomas Aldridge of Dedham. Mr. Townsend also owned twenty and one quarter acres of outlands, partly on North Hill, including where Charles Kingsbury Cutter 232 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM and Francis Hinckley now live. Mr. Townsend had seven children and a grandson born in the house that he built, and in which he dwelt for more than forty years, and where he and his wife and one daughter died. His eldest son, Jonathan (Harvard College 1741, A.M.), was the minister at Medfield, and the second son, Samuel, was prominent in Needham until about 1789, when he removed to Tyringham, Mass., where he died September 11, 1822, aged ninety- four years. In 1790 Samuel Townsend sold to John Clap for £210 his farm of fifty-five acres, with a house on the north side of what is now High Rock Street, near South Street, and with a barn and corn-barn on the south side of the road. Also "my Hornstall so called", three acres of meadow "near great Causey", and an undivided half of twenty acres that he owned with Eliphalet Kingsbery in Broad Meadow. Gregory, the youngest of the three sons, was loyal in the Revolution, fled to the British dominions north, and never returned, but lived in Halifax, and died there in 1798 or 1799. It is only in recent years that our historians have recognized the high character and great sacrifices made by the Loyalists or Tories at the time of the Revolution. While Continental Europe was still under feudal and despotic rule. Great Britain was comparatively free, and the Americans enjoyed more liberties than any other subjects of the British Crown. Open rebellion, even when petty grievances involved great principles, seemed desperate and foolhardy to many Ameri- cans, especially to those of education and social position. They thought the chances of successful resistance small, which would probably have been the case had the mother country been able to exert her full strength, unhampered by opposition at home, and by the necessity of employing troops and ships elsewhere. That there were some Loyalists in Needham, besides old Captain Faris, may be inferred from a sketch, written long ago, of the life of the Rev. Samuel West, D.D., Mr. Townsend's successor. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 233 Six of Mr. Townsend's sermons were published, and the writer has seen some in manuscript. Those printed are: i. Two on the annual Fast, March 21, 1727/8. 2. Two on the deaths of Solomon Cook and Samuel Kingsbury, who were drowned in Boston Harbor, preached May 13, 1737. 3. One on the death of Thomas Gardner, Jr., killed by lightning, preached April 4, 1746. 4. One at the annual Convention of Ministers In Boston, June i, 1758. FROM THE DECEASE OF MR. TOWNSEND TO THE SETTLEMENT OF MR. WEST On October 4, 1762, the town voted to use the balance of the rates collected to supply the pulpit, and a committee of five was chosen to provide preaching for "Part of this year". It was also voted to pay "M'"Thair one of the Tutors at the Colledge" (the Rev. Ebenezer, Harvard 1753, A.M.) for preaching one Sabbath "for m"" Townfend wilft he Lay in his Laft Sicknefs".^ The Rev. Bunker Gay, A.M., of Dedham, Harvard 1760, also preached one Sunday. On March 14, 1763, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Josiah Eaton and Timothy Newell were chosen to provide preaching. After the death of Mr. Townsend the ministers who came to Needham to supply the pulpit usually stopped with his family, and "Madame Townfend" was paid four shillings per week by the town for entertaining them. In the spring of 1763 the Rev. Zabdiel Adams, A.M., Harvard 1759, officiated eight Sundays and on a Fast day for £1. 4s. per day, which seems to have been the usual price for "supplies". On September 12 the town "by Paper Votes" added Deacon Fisher, William Smith, Amos Fuller, Jr., and Aaron Smith, Jr.,^ to the committee to provide preaching, and instructed them to engage the Rev. Samuel West for another month. On December 5 "The Town have Concured with the Churches Choice that they have made of ml Samuel West ^ From the town treasurer's book. ^ This was "Hawk" Aaron, who took the place of his uncle, Lieut. Aaron, as the latter declined. 234 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM to take the Paftoral Charge of them by Forty Seven Votes: And there was Fourteen that Did not Concur with theChurch in there Choice of mi Samuel West". The town also voted Mr. West a settlement of £133, 6s., 8d., of which one half was to be paid the first year, and the other half the second year. His salary was to be £73, 6s., 8d., and Jonathan Deming, Josiah Newell, Esq., and Nathaniel Fisher were chosen to "wait on mr. West". During the year 1763 and the early part of 1764 the min- isters stopped over Sunday at the house of Amos Fuller, Jr., and the town paid him 3s., 4d. per week. Mr. Fuller's house, the Fuller-Ritchie-Newell house, is about half a mile east of the old meeting-house site, and was built about 1754. Others who preached in Needham at this time, ac- cording to the town treasurer's book, were: the Rev. Samuel Cotton, A.M., Harvard 1759, four Sundays in October, 1762, the Rev. Edward Brooks, A.M., Harvard 1757, seven Sundays in November and December, two in May, 1763, and two in June, the Rev. Edward Russell, A.M., Harvard 1759, four Sundays in January and February, 1763. Mr. Gay, previously mentioned, had officiated four Sundays in December, 1762, and January, 1763, the Rev. Mr. "Door" one Sunday in March, and the Rev. Joseph Bowman, A.M., Harvard 1761 and at Dartmouth 1802, eight Sundays, dates uncertain.^ THE REV. SAMUEL WEST'S MINISTRY On March 12, 1764, the town voted to ordain Mr. West on April 25, and chose Ensign Eliakim Cook, Lieut. Amos ' From the Account Books of William Mills, born 1718, we learn that the Rev. Mr. Childs preached May 29, 1763, and again on August 21. This was presumably Stephen Childs, A.M., Harvard 1738, as his first name under the second date is not entirely illegible. The Rev. Mr. Haven preached June 10, 1763, and the Rev. Samuel West took his first text in Needham, June 19, 1763, from John III, 3d verse. "Mr. hollihock " officiated June 12, and the Rev. Mr. Bowman preached September 14. The Rev. Jason Haven, A.M., is probably the minister referred to. On the i6th of some month in 1764, date illegible, "A mr Word preacht at Capt Canrackf"; this doubtless refers to the house of Captain Kenrick. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 235 Fuller, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery (who declined), Nathaniel Fisher, and Capt. Ephraim Jackson a committee "to Pro- vide for the Council the Church Shall Send for to Ordain ml Samuel Weft:" On the i6th Capt. Caleb KIngsbery took the place of Capt. Eleazer. Captain Jackson was granted £5, IS., lod. "for providing for the Council". Mr. West's letter of acceptance, dated February 4, 1764, was addressed "To the Church and Congregation In Needham". At the ordination there were present the Rev. Thomas West of Rochester, father of the Rev. Samuel, the Rev. Thomas Balch of Dedham, the Rev. Andrew Tyler of Dedham, the Rev. Samuel Woodward of Weston, the Rev. Amos Adams of Roxbury, the Rev. Jason Haven of Dedham, First Church, and the Rev. Samuel West of Dartmouth. Mr. Tyler began with prayer, Mr. West of Dartmouth preached, Mr. Thomas West gave the charge, Mr. Woodward prayed, and Mr. Balch gave the right hand of fellowship. Owing to the large attendance the ordination took place In the open air. Mr. West had been graduated from Har- vard College In 1761, and was twenty-six years old when he came to Needham, and unmarried. From June 19, 1763, he had frequently preached In the town, and had boarded with Lieut. Aaron Smith on the South Road.^ On February 23, 1769, Mr. West was married to Priscllla Plimpton of Medfield, and April 28 he purchased for £200 the house and lands of his predecessor, Mr. Townsend, with the ex- ception of about seven acres of outlands. Mr. West later increased his outlands from thirteen acres to thirty-five, and he also had the use of the Ministerial land. On Thurs- day, April 17, 1769, he brought his young wife to the old parsonage; the day was cold and gloomy, and he had to leave her and go half a mile to procure fire from the nearest neighbor, probably either Amos Fuller or Oliver Mills. Mr. ^ In his autobiography, which was formerly in the possession of Mr. John J. May of Boston, Mr. West describes the Lieutenant's wife, Martha (Ware), as one "who possessed all the virtues which piety without refined education could furnish to a mind or person to whom nature had been peculiarly indulgent." 236 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM West employed from four to six carpenters for two months, at a cost of £100, to repair the house, as it was then In a poor condition. This house continued the home of Mr. West as long as he remained In Needham, and here his four children were born. He was a scholarly and faithful minister, very courteous and discreet. While In Needham It was his custom to have meetings in private houses for people unable to attend the regular services, and by his good judgment and tact these meetings were successful. For particulars of his patriotic efforts at the time of the Revolution, and of his acceptance in 1788 of the call to the Hollls Street Church, Boston, when he had previously declined other calls, see Mr. West's autobiography. The excellent memoir of him by the Rev. Thomas Thacher, and Felt's Annals of the American Pulpit, In which latter work Mr. West Is classed with the pioneer Unitarians, may also be referred to. The writer has seen only a copy of the autobiography, but the sketch by Mr. Thacher Is not a rare publication. Eight pamphlets. In- cluding nine sermons, and some articles In the Columbian Centinel are all of the printed contributions made to litera- ture by Mr. West.^ While at Needham so much of Mr. West's time was con- sumed In preparing boys for college, in carrying on his farm and in pastoral duties, that he got into the habit of preaching without notes, and his people grew to prefer to have him do so. For many years pupils boarded and studied with Mr. West, and the large west chamber is still called "the school room", and on its walls, beneath the modern paper, are ample evidences of Its ancient use. The Rev. Stephen Palmer, Mr. West's successor, had students at his house, and it Is said that the Rev. Mr. Townsend, 1720-62, increased his slender income in the same way. Mrs. West was blamed by the people of Needham for her husband's leaving town. The change greatly Improved their ^ See the American Quarterly Register, Vol. VIII, p. 53, 1836. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 237 circumstances. Although Mr. West's salary was raised to £80 in 1786, he "forgave" his people at different times nearly £250, and in 1774 he had no salary at all. On November 4, 1773, the town voted "that mi Weft Should Preach Near where the Meeting Houfe Stood: Provided it be no Coft to the Town for a place to Preach in". Dart- mouth College conferred the degree of S.T.D. (D.D.) on Mr. West in 1798. He lived to 1808. By the census of 1765 Needham contained 129 houses, 168 families, and 945 inhabitants, of whom 14 were negroes. THE REV. STEPHEN PALMER'S MINISTRY After Mr. West left, the pulpit in the First Church was supplied by Messrs. Oliver Dodge, Jacob Coggin, Hezekiah Packard, Hendricus Dow, Emerson Foster, Nathan Under- wood, Thomas Adams, Thaddeus Mason Harris, Solomon Spalding, Smith, Alden Bradford, Joshua Chamber- lain, and perhaps others. Most of these preachers were recent graduates of Harvard, and while in Needham boarded with Thomas Hubbard Townsend, who had purchased Mr. West's home. Mr. Dow received a call to Needham, August 2, 1790, which he declined. On October 30, 1791, the Rev. Stephen Palmer, A.M., Harvard 1789, first preached in Needham, and on June 11, 1792, he received a call here, which he accepted August 5, and was ordained on November 7, an ideal day. The Rev. Mr. Newell of Stow, a native of Needham, began the ordi- nation with prayer, the Rev. Jason Haven of Dedham preached from 2 Timothy H, 2, the Rev. Joseph Jackson of Brookline made the ordaining prayer, the Rev. John Ellis of Rehoboth gave the charge, the Rev. Roland Green of Mansfield prayed, and the Rev. George Morey of Walpole gave the right hand of fellowship. Thus began the ministry of one of the best men and most influential ministers that our town has known. Some of the older people say that he was the ablest that the Church has had. The friendship 238 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM between the young minister and the aged Colonel M'^Intosh began when Mr. Palmer boarded at the Mcintosh home- stead, on what Is now Great Plain Avenue. It perhaps led to the call, and lasted through life. Mr. Palmer bought the place where his predecessors had lived, and on May 28, 1794, when he took possession, he found his parishioners gathered there, and preparations for his comfort made. His home coming appears to have been much more satisfac- tory than that of Mr. West. Mr. Palmer's salary had been fixed at £80, settlement £130, and he was to have his fire- wood, and the use of the "Ministerial Land". From 1797 his salary varied from $300 to $333.33. Although an Ortho- dox minister In good standing, he was so liberal that when a Unitarian succeeded him. It seemed no radical departure. Mr. Palmer was a large, stout man, and when In the pulpit he wore a great deal of lace at his throat. He never entered the meeting-house for a regular service until the people were seated, when he bowed to right and left as he passed up the aisle. He prayed with his eyes wide open, and fixed on the top of a certain window. The christening basin, still In use, was his gift, and was first used May 5, 18 16. That year the Parish bought, from the proceeds of wood sold on the Ministerial land, four silver plates and eight cups, which were first used July 21, 1816. The earlier communion vessels, with the exception of a silver tankard given by the will of Thomas Hubbard Townsend in 18 10, were of pewter.^ In 1803 Mrs. Catharine Palmer presented the folio Bible, now in the Sunday School library. Thirteen years earlier the Church had received a now forgotten legacy under the will of Mrs. Elizabeth.'' Cook, wife of Ensign Eliaklm Cook.^ Mrs. Catharine Elizabeth (Smith) Fuller, born September 30, 1820, was the last child baptized by Mr. Palmer, and the last survivor of the large ^ For a full account of the silver of the First Church and Parish see the book known as Clarke's Wellesley Epitaphs. 2 The Probate records of the Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk fail to supply any trace of Mrs. Cook's estate. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 239 number baptized by him. She died March 20, 1907, the day the 187th anniversary of the Church was observed. Mr. Palmer was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and contributed to its publications. His printed sermons number fifteen, and include two "Charges" and two offerings of the "Right Hand of Fellowship". His revision of "Watts Psalms and Hymns, with occasional Hymns", i8ii,was published, and used in many churches. His "Century Sermon" is referred to elsewhere in this volume. The few of his funeral discourses which have come down to us are admirable, particularly that on the death of Colonel Mcintosh, who died January 3, 1813. For a more complete list of his writings, see the American Quarterly Register, Vol. VHI, p. 53, 1836. Mr. Palmer wrote an autobiography, a copy of which, or of a portion of it, is in the possession of the Dedham Historical Society. His son. Dr. Joseph Palmer, was also a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and presented the Church in 1837 with the mahogany Communion table, which is still in use. Mr. Palmer died of paralysis, and breathed his last in the lower north room of his house, on October 31, 1821, aged fifty-five years, and was buried in the Palmer-M^Intosh tomb, but his remains were later removed to a lot. The people of his charge bore the expense of his funeral. During his Illness, which lasted two years, the pulpit was supplied by Messrs. Read, Lemuel Capen, A.M., Everett, and Thomas Rich, who were paid from seven to ten dollars per Sunday. LATER MINISTERS The Rev. William Ritchie, Dartmouth 1804, was installed as Mr. Palmer's successor December 12, 1821, and died February 22, 1842, aged sixty-one years, and was burled In Needham, his flock bearing the expense. Mr. Ritchie's salary was to be $474, and, according to ancient custom, he 240 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM was to have ten cords of oak wood and ten of pine "brought to his door yearly", but by agreement made in 1824 sixty- five dollars was to be given him annually in lieu of the wood. As a matter of fact his parishioners continued to bring him six cords of oak wood and six of pine, the latter split; he also had the use of the Ministerial land north of the meeting- house. In 1829 he gave up his rights in this land. That year no tax for his salary was levied, and subscriptions were relied upon. In 1832 "the subscription [was] offered to ladies". In 1834 the law authorizing taxation of all prop- erty in a parish for the support of the minister was finally repealed, having been much weakened by amendments subsequent to 1800. Mr. Ritchie's salary in 1840 was but $400. The cost of entertaining the Council at Mr. Ritchie's installation was $69. At first he boarded with the widow of his predecessor, but as he had a family, which included some noisy boys who disturbed Mrs. Palmer, he began soon to consider a home of his own. He purchased the Amos Fuller house, on Nehoiden Street, later the home of Artemas Newell, Esq., and lived there the remainder of his life. The house was struck by lightning on March 22, 1835. On April 24, 1836, he preached twice at the last services held in the Second Meeting-house. The Rev. Lyman Maynard was Installed September 7, 1842, and was the minister for four years. His pastorate was uneventful, but by vote of August 26, 1844, unfermented wine was to be used at the communion. In 1859 "the fruit of the vine" In an even milder form was substituted, and later sweetened water was used. Mr. Maynard bought of Galen Orr in 1844 two acres of land with buildings on Central Avenue, and made his home there. Mr. Orr had built the house on the premises in 1843, and had removed there a portion of the old Fairbanks barn, from what is now Great Plain Avenue, near Greendale Avenue, and made the exist- ing barn from it. Mr. Maynard sold this property in 1847 to George Revere, who also owned the Townsend estate and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 241 the Nehoiden Block. Mr. Revere sold the Maynard place In 1859, and the Nehoiden Block property ten years later, and in 1905 and 1906 both these properties were again ac- quired by the owner of the Townsend estate. Mr. Maynard weighed two hundred pounds, and appeared like a farmer. Mr. Tucker relates that one hot summer day Luther Morse, the blacksmith, who lived on Nehoiden Street, loaned the minister a small horse for harrowing, and was indignant when he learned that the parson was riding horse-back. Mr. Maynard died October 7, 1862, aged sixty-one years and eight months. The Rev. Charles Henry Appleton Dall, A.M., Harvard 1837, Divinity School 1840, commenced preaching in Need- ham October i, 1846, and was installed February 7, 1847. In 1847 the parsonage west of the graveyard was built for his use at a cost of $2500, but he occupied it only from March I, 1848 to the end of 1849, when he closed his ministry. He was for many years a noted missionary in India, the first that the Unitarians had there. His wife, Caroline Wells Healey Dall, who Is living in 191 1 at an advanced age, is widely known as an authoress, and is a remarkably strong char- acter. Mr. Dall died in India July 18, 1886, aged seventy- one years, after a service there of more than forty years. The Rev. Nathaniel Gage supplied the pulpit for 1850, the Rev. James Francis Hicks, Meadville, was ordained over this Church July 14, 1852, and was the minister to January 2, 1853, and the Rev. George GIbbs Channing sup- plied the pulpit In the years 1853 and 1854.^ The Rev. Andrew Napoleon Adams, Harvard Divinity School 1855, began to preach in Needham in June, 1855, was ordained November 21, 1855, and concluded his ministry in 1857, engaging soon afterward in a business career. He died in Fair Haven, Vermont, his birthplace, March 13, 1905, in his seventy-sixth year. Prior to going to the Harvard Divinity 1 Mr. Channing boarded with the widow of Dea. Jonathan Newell, on Central Avenue; the house is now owned by Mr. Johnson. 242 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM School he had studied at Meadville Theological School. The Rev. John Stetson Barry, A.M., Tufts 1861, honorary, was installed October 13, 1858, and resigned March 12, i860. He died in St. Louis December 11, 1872, in his fifty-fourth year. The Rev. George Homer Emerson, D.D., supplied the pulpit to December, 1866, and was a Universalist as were his immediate predecessors, Adams and Barry. The Rev. Dr. Emerson received his D.D. from St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y., 1871. He died in Salem, Mass., March 24, 1898, aged seventy-six years. Dr. Noyes wrote in his diary, under date of 1830, "Uni- versalist meeting in East Needham — Balch preached — " The Rev. Albert Buel Vorse, Meadville Theological School 1862, was the minister from March 14, 1870 to April 8, 1871, when he resigned to accept the call of the newly organized Unitarian Society in Grantville. The Rev. Solon Wanton Bush, Brown 1845, Harvard Divinity School 1848, was the minister of the First Church and Parish in Needham for nearly eighteen years, and preached his farewell sermon February 17, 1889. He was greatly interested in the welfare of his people, kind and patient, and much beloved. It is reasonably certain that either he or Mrs. Bush was the unknown donor of $500 toward paying for the vestry or Parish House, which was erected and dedicated near the close of his ministry. He died in Boston on March 19, 1898, in his eightieth year. The Rev. Charles Adams Allen, Harvard 1858, Meadville Theological School 1864, succeeded Mr. Bush in October, 1889, but was not installed, and his last sermon as the minister of this Church was preached May 14, 1893. Mr. Allen is a scholarly and able man. The Rev. Philip Slaney Thacher, Meadville Theo- logical School, became the minister April 26, 1894, when he was installed. He preached his last sermon as the pastor of this Church April 29, 1901. In the afternoon the seventy- fifth anniversary of the Sunday School was observed, and fourteen young people united with the Church. The Rev. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 243 William Willett Peck, Wesleyan 1895, preached his first sermon in Needham on December 8, 1901, after he had accepted a call, and his farewell discourse on February 9, 1908. His ministry had been successful, but he received an attractive invitation to go to Winchendon, and his people in Needham were unable to offer any great advance in his salary. Before he went to Wesleyan Mr. Peck had been a student in the Flartford Theological Seminary, and subse- quent to 1895 he took courses in the Harvard Divinity School. The Rev. Joseph Adams Puffer, A.B., Wesleyan, S.T.B., Boston University 1900, began to preach regularly on June 21, 1908, having accepted a call given him on May 19, and was at Needham till the close of 191 1. Sunday services have been held from time to time for eighty years at Charles River Village, or the South Mills, usually on the Dover side in Noanet Hall, often called New- ell's Hall. This hall was burned about 1868, and since then the religious meetings have been in the school-house. In the nineties there was a Sunday School Association, and a Sunday School, and in 1893 the Rev. George W. Andrews of Wellesley preached there. In earlier times the Unitarians and Universalists had services at the South Mills, and the ministers of the First Church in Needham frequently spoke there. It has not been unusual for the pastor of this Church also to have charge of a congregation at the South Mills, or at Dover, which latter town has an old and fully organized Unitarian Church. Mr. Allen organized a small society which worshipped Sunday afternoons in a hall at Newton Highlands. His successor, the Rev. Philip S. Thacher, who was minister at Needham 1 894-1901, was also for a portion of those years minister at Dover, where he held services every Sunday afternoon. In 1876 there were only thirty members of the First Church in Needham, but the First Parish was a larger body, and there were many persons connected with the Society who were members of neither Church nor Parish. The 244 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Sunday School then consisted of eight teachers and seventy- five scholars, and the well-remembered Dea. Otis Morton was the superintendent, and also the Church clerk. George Kuhn Clarke was elected president of the Norfolk Conference of Unitarian and other Christian Churches in October, 1907, and served to October, 1910, being the first president that Needham has had of this Conference, although it has been in existence since December, 1866. "TWO HUNDREDTH" ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST CHURCH On March 20, 191 1, the "Two Hundredth" anniversary of the First Church was observed by an old-time service, such as had not been held there since the century before the last. The programme was as follows: Organ voluntary Mrs. Edith Lyman, Welcome by the minister, the Rev. J. Adams Puffer, then a service participated in by the Rev. Mr. Puffer, the Rev. E. Edward Marsh, the Rev. Newton Black, the Rev. William R. Lord, the Rev. William W. Peck, and the Rev. John de La Montaigne Waldron. The "Long Prayer" by Mr. Waldron was impressive and admirable, but limited, however, to fifteen minutes. The Rev. Mr. Lord, an able and accomplished man, read portions of a sermon preached by the Rev. Jonathan Townsend in 1727/8, on the occasion of a Fast to avert the wrath of God. The Historical Tablet was unveiled by Frederick Stillman Kingsbury, a descendant of Josiah Kingsbery, and of other first settlers of Needham. Mr. Kingsbury read the historical inscrip- tion, and the list of ministers which followed on the tablet. He was assisted by his second cousin, Emily Holland Kings- bury, and by Alvin Gay Stevens, the latter representing the Fullers, the Gays, the Eatons, and other old families of this town. George Kuhn Clarke gave an address of about fifteen minutes on "The Beginning of our Church", in which he pictured the conditions existing when the town was incorpo- rated, and the then inseparable union of Church and State. Mr. John Fisher Mills read a portion of his paper on "Music THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 245 of Y^ Olden Tyme". He is a descendant not only of the Mills family, which has been prominent in this locality from its first settlement by the white men, but of the Fullers, the Fishers, the Cheneys, and a number of the other pioneer families. It is singularly appropriate that he is chairman of the parish committee in the bicentennial year. The Rev. Mr. Peck read some extracts from the early Church records, with comments. The Rev. Mr. Lord gave the Benediction. The music was fine, and consisted of a large choir, and a number of instruments. Among the hymns sung were — "Before Jehovah's Awful Throne", "Russia", "Complaint", "David's Lamentations", "Northfield" and "Old Hundred". The evening closed with a social hour, with refreshments, and will be long remembered. The Church was organized on March 20, 1719/20, which would make it one hundred and ninety-one years old on March 31, 191 1, according to the calendar now in use. The ob- servance was suggested by the fact that the town is two hundred years old in 191 1. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN WEST NEEDHAM The Congregational Church in West Needham was or- ganized on September 6, 1798, with ten members, seven men and three women, of whom six had been members of the First Church. Before the end of 1798 eight more persons joined with them, and that year the meeting-house, begun in 1774, was completed at a cost of about £1345. In 1834 it was replaced by another, which was dedicated January i, 1835. The contract price of the new meeting-house was $2750 with the old one. A portion of the latter, including a porch, is now a part of the house of George H. Rollins of Needham. There were other expenses connected with the new meeting-house, which in its turn was superseded by the Third Meeting-house, which was dedicated July 11, 1872, and which cost upward of $28,000. The Second Meeting- house was moved, and is now the main building of Dana 246 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Hall. The original amount of land with the Church was only half an acre, bought for £2, but other land was acquired later. In 18 16 extensive repairs were made on the meeting- house. In 1824 it was heated, in 1857 coal was first used there, and in 1869 a furnace was obtained. The Precinct bought a hearse in 1805, a bass viol in 1838, and its first organ in 1856 for $650. Their first Church Manual was printed in 1828 and the second one in 1859. In 1869 a parsonage was built. Their earliest communion set was bought in 1798 for $18.25. The second one was purchased in 185 1, and was the result of a gift of $190,79 in 1833 ^Y Mrs. Persis Ware, who was also the benefactress of the First Church. It consists of two tankards, two plates and six cups. In 18 12 this Church began to use the "fourth book of hymns", prepared by the Rev. Stephen Palmer of the First Church, and in 1861 voted to hire a "Seraphine" for the choir. In 1864 the name of this Church was changed to "The Wellesley Congregational Church". Classes for re- ligious instruction were formed in 1806, and in 1828 the Church took charge of the Sunday School, which had existed for some years. The School of the First Church in Needham dates from 1826, and it is a question which was the pioneer Sunday School in town. In 1776 Mr. Brooks and Mr. Adams preached accept- ably in the unfinished West Meeting-house, and boarded with Jonathan Deming. Later the Rev. Daniel Oliver and Jonathan Whitaker, A.M., supplied. The Ministers of this Church to 1881 have been: — Rev. Thomas Noyes, A.M., 1799-1833, Harvard 1795, Brown, honorary, 18 17. Rev. Joseph Washburn Sessions, A.M., 1833-42, Bowdoin 1829, Andover Theological Seminary 1832. Rev. Harvey Newcomb, 1842-6. Rev. Andrew Bigelow, 1846-53, Amherst 1838. Rev. Abijah Richardson Baker, D.D., 1854-61, Amherst 1830, A.M. 1833, Andover Theological Seminary 1835. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 247 Rev. George Gardner Phipps, 1868-78, Amherst 1862, Andover Theological Seminary 1865. Rev. Perez Dickinson Cowan, 1878- , Amherst 1866, Union Theological Seminary 1869. DEACONS Joseph Daniell, 1799-1805. William Bigelow, 1799-1812. Asa Kingsbury, 1805-49. Hezekiah Fuller, 1812-49. William Flagg, 1849-61. Augustus Fuller, 1849-85. Daniel Morse, 1861-70. Whitman S. Winsor, 1870-86. The valuable history of the Wellesley Congregational Church, by Rev. Edward Herrick Chandler, 1898, contains portraits of its ministers and views of the successive meeting- houses, and renders unnecessary further details as to this Church, which is no longer within the limits of Needham. ANTIPEDOBAPTISTS On August 24, 1774, the town clerk recorded a list which was certified by certain men "being Chofen a Committee by the Society of the people Called Antipedobaptists, who meet together for Religious worfhip on the Lords Day in Needham" that Isaac Mills, John Edes, John Smith, Amos Mills, Nathaniel Tolman and Martha Dewing "Do Fre- quently and Ufually when able attend with us in Our Meeting for Religeous worfhip on the Lords Day, and we Do Verily belive are, with Refpect to the Ordinance of Baptifm of the Same Religious Sentiments with us. Jonathan Smith Samuel Greenwood ■ Committee." Oliver Haftlngs On March II, 1750/1, the town had chosen Capt. Robert Fuller and Dea. Josiah Newell, to go to the General Court "to get a Refolve on the Law Respecting Anabaptifts 248 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Paying Rates to the Minifter where they dwel for their Servants or Sons under age". FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEEDHAM The Baptists organized a Church in Needham in 1780- Ten years later there were fifteen members, and the Rev. Noah Baker, an itinerant minister, was the pastor. A foot-note in The Annual Register of the Baptist Denomination^ published by John Asplund, records under date of January 9, 1790, "No fellowship hardly with other churches". The Universal Register of the Baptist Denomination in North- America for 1790-3, and for a part of 1794, omits Needham, and in a foot-note says that the Rev. Mr. Baker, then at Chelmsford, was "Formerly Paftor of Needham Church (now difTolved)". The History of the Baptists^ Vol. II, by Backus, states that the Rev. Mr. Baker was the minister at Needham in 1784. It is evident that he preached for some years in Needham, where there was a Baptist Church. The Rev. Caleb Blood, minister of the Baptist Church in Newton in 178 1-8, baptized people in Needham, and presumably preached here. The last persons baptized by him in this town were two girls, or women, and the immersion was in Amos Fuller's sawmill pond. That this Church had ceased to exist by 1795 is stated by another authority. The Rev. Joseph Grafton, whose active life ended about 1830, left a list of the towns in Massachusetts where he had preached, and in it mentions Needham. He preached on the first Sun- day in January, 1830, a sermon in which he gave a history of the Baptist Church in Newton Centre, and in which he said "in the town of Needham, adjoining Newton, there were a number who embraced the Baptist sentiments. Among others, the two deacons of the Congregational Church, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Townsend, viz. Timothy and Eleazer Kingsbury. They united with the second Baptist church in Boston (now Warren Ave.). Sev- eral of their descendants are members with us (i. e. Newton THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 249 Centre)." The certificates filed from 1805 to 1820 with the town clerk, in order to escape taxation for the support of the dominant Church, are evidence that there were upward of twenty families in Needham who worshipped as Baptists, the majority of them in Medfield or Newton. Investiga- tions of the Church in Medfield indicate a larger number of Baptists resident in Needham than do these certificates. From 1835 to 1837 Baptists living in Needham, Dover and Natick held meetings in the house of Dea. Calvin French, who lived on the Dea. John Fisher place, which is near the river on the Needham side. On October 3, 1837, a Council was called to consider establishing a Church, and decided that the request for one was premature. On June 20, of the next year, however, a Council gave consent, and the Needham and Dover Baptist Church was formed, with a small meeting-house erected in Dover, on land given by Deacon French. Until i860 this Church stood near the large oak, on the east side of the road, a short distance beyond Fisher's Bridge. In i860 the Church was moved to the hill east of what is now Springvale Park, and is since known as the Springvale Baptist Church, although services have rarely been held there in recent years. The History of Dover, by Frank Smith, contains a picture of this Church. In September, 1854, a subscription was circulated in Needham to build a Baptist Church on the Great Plain, and was signed by thirty-three persons, including two brothers who gave jointly. George Rowland headed the list with $500, and three women contributed. The signers were not all Baptists, as several men interested in the de- velopment of the town gave $100 each, with the result that on September 17 $900 had been pledged, and was soon increased to $2000. Dea. George Rowland engaged at his own expense the Rev. Amos Webster to preach in the Great Plain school-house, and the first services were held there on Sunday, September 24, with an attendance of fifty-six in 2SO THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the morning and seventy-four in the afternoon. The sub- scribers to the building fund met on October i6, and voted to form the First Baptist Society. The signers of these Resolutions were: Messrs. Whitaker, Rowland, Burnham, Avery, Morton, Charles Fuller, George W. Palmer, William O. Swan and James D. Robinson. A building committee was appointed, consisting of George Rowland, Jonathan Avery, Edgar K. Whitaker, John Burnham and Stephen F. Harvey. Mr. Rarvey declined to serve, and Charles B. Morton was chosen in his place. On November 6 the build- ing plans were adopted, and on the 15th an informal ad- visory council gave encouragement by a favorable report. On April 27, 1856, twenty-seven persons voted in favor of a Church organization, which was formed on May 26. The Rev. Allen Eleazer Battell ^ was chosen moderator, and Charles M. Dinsmoor clerk. Letters were read dismissing twenty persons from other Churches to form the new one, eight, including Dea. John Rowland and family, were from Newton Upper Falls, of the two from Newton Centre, one was Miss Jane G. Avery, now Mrs. William Carter, the only constituent member of the Church who is still a member in 191 1, five came from the First Baptist Church in Cambridge, two, Deacon Burnham and his wife, from the Baptist Bethel in Boston, one was from the Union Baptist Church in Boston, and two, Charles Fuller and his wife, from the Needham and Dover Baptist Church. The Articles of Faith and the Covenant of the First Baptist Church in Charlestown were adopted. The Church was named the Needham Plain Baptist Church, and Charles M. Dinsmoor was chosen church clerk. On June i, 1856, five persons were received as members, and they are counted as constituent members, as the Recog- nition Council was not held till June 11, on which day there were appropriate services in which the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. 1 The Rev. Mr. Battell was a native of Dover. A sketch of his life in the Mas- sachusetts Baptist Anniversaries, 1896, gives his middle name as Elihu. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 251 Smith and others took part. On June 22 four members of the Sunday School were baptized by the Rev. Allen E. Battell in the pond near Isaac H. Greenwood's blacksmith's shop. Mr. Battell had preached an impressive discourse in the morning, and the Rev. Joseph W. Parker, D.D., made an address at the pond. This was the first baptism in a pond since the Rev. Mr. Blood had officiated. The Sunday School was formed in May, 1855, and began with four teachers and twelve scholars, but within a few months had eight classes with an average attendance of forty, or more. The fiftieth anniversary of the Sunday School was observed in June, 1905. The first letter from the Church in Needham to the Boston South Baptist Association was written in 1856, and stated that the Sunday School numbered ten teachers and sixty-six pupils, and that Charles M. Dinsmoor was the superintendent. The first services in the new Church were held in June, 1855, in the vestry, for the upper audience room was not finished till 1872, although in 1856 $4200 had already been expended on the building. In 1871 the debt was reduced $700, and by a great eff"ort $4154 were soon obtained, the debt was extinguished, and the Church building completed and furnished. The Rev. Dr. Smith had raised $1000 outside of the town for this Society. The Church was dedicated on June 5, 1872, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. William Lamson of Dedham, and an original hymn was sung, which the Rev. Dr. Smith had written for this occasion. In June, 1884, it was voted to have a baptistery in the Church, and the first baptism in it was on March 29, 1885. In 1889 a parsonage was finished, and in 1896 the Church was raised, and a cellar made under it. In 1901 an addition was built on the rear to give room for a new organ. The land on which the Church stands formerly belonged to the Edgar K. Whitaker estate, a portion of which is now owned by John J. Morgan, and earlier was a part of the Dea. Timothy Kingsbery farm, which in old times extended 252 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM for more than a mile. The land was sold for $350 by two trustees to George Rowland on February 18, 1853. By a deed dated December i, 1854, George H. Howland conveyed this land to his father, Dea. George Howland, and others as trustees for the Society. Several more deeds were neces- sary to perfect the title, including releases from Mr. Whit- aker and Henry Safford, which were obtained in 1870. The Church lot contains 40,600 square feet. The building com- mittee consisted of the five men chosen on October 16, 1854, and the contract was made on December 8, 1854, and is recorded at Dedham in the Registry of Deeds (Lib. 237, fol. 24). The bell was bought by subscription In August, 1876, and cost upward of $100. "The Bell we will have and the Clock we hope to have" was a watchword for a year or two, but the latter, which cost $785, Including some alterations In the Church which it Involved, was not obtained until the new century. At one of the festivals to raise money for the bell and clock an appropriate poem by George Avery was dis- tributed. The seats In the Church were made free In 1880. For the year ending November i, 1861, the Rev. Frederick Augustus Willard received as pastor only his house rent and $216.49, Including $65 from the Baptist State Conven- tion. From 1862 to the present time this Church has been designated officially as "The First Baptist Church In Need- ham", Ignoring the name adopted In 1856. To the year 1872 the Society had nominally existed In addition to the Church, but at the dedication Deacon Howland in behalf of the trustees of the Society transferred to Dea. William Moseley, representing the Church, the land on which the edifice stands. This land, according to the deed of the gift, was to become the property of the Church if a house of worship was finished and Its congregation maintained Bap- tist principles. A constitution and by-laws were adopted by this Church on January 20, 1875, and these have been but little changed. On November 30, 1888, It was voted THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 253 that the Church should be organized as a legal corporation, and that the deacons should convey to it the property of the Church. This Church has steadfastly maintained the doctrines of the Baptist faith as understood by its founders. Covenant meetings were formerly held in the daytime on week days, and were largely attended. In the spring of 1857 in addi- tion to the weekly prayer meetings there were gatherings of the young people at dwelling houses for religious study, and these were rarely omitted on the designated dates, the attendance being from twenty to forty. The annual re- unions of the Church date from 1887. The interest in mis- sionary work dates as far back as 1856, and was stimulated by the Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Smith's visit In 1880 to the mission fields In Europe and Asia. On August 29, 1880, a farewell service was held in the Church, which testified to the esteem in which Dr. Smith was held by the Baptists of Needham, and on his return two years later he spoke one Sunday even- ing in this Church. Home and Foreign missions have been liberally sustained, and no less than twenty-four good causes have engaged the attention of the people of this First Baptist Church, the contributions averaging $150 per year for fifty years, which is most creditable in view of the slender resources for many years. The Ladies' Circle and the Further Lights Society have done much for the missions. The former organization was formed on March 15, 1855, and the latter on December 29, 1897. The Senior Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor dates from July 27, 1887, and the Junior Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor from February 3, 1900, the former having forty members in 1906, and the latter forty-seven. The Men's League was organized under the auspices of this Society on March 16, 1898, and numbers about eighty. It meets in the vestry on a Monday evening once a month, during eight months of the year, when, after brief religious services, some practical subject is presented by a speaker, often a 254 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM man of note from out of town. The meeting is followed hy a social gathering and simple refreshments. The League is entirely nonsectarian, and has Catholic members, as well as Protestants of different denominations. The Boys' League dates from December 17, 1899, and for two years used the vestry, but a gymnasium was provided for them in the rear of the cellar, and they met there for the first time on December 5, 1901. On Sunday, June 10, 1906, "The Jubilee Anniversary" of The First Baptist Church in Needham, was commemo- rated by appropriate services. Monday evening was "De- nominational Night", when there were distinguished speak- ers from out of town, all of them ministers. Tuesday after- noon was "Woman's Session", and there were addresses by women noted in missionary fields. Tuesday evening was de- voted to a reunion, at which letters were read from former pastors and members, and of the ministers the Rev. Messrs. Read, Clark and Webb were present and gave addresses. The observances of the anniversary concluded Wednesday evening, which was designated "Fellowship". Dea. Thomas Sutton presided, the Unitarian, Orthodox and Episcopal ministers spoke briefliy, and George Kuhn Clarke gave an historical address, which presented phases of the early religious history of Needham. On all of these occasions there was excellent music. At the completion of fifty years there were two hundred and forty-two members of this Church, of which forty-six had been received within one year, and the total number of members during the half century was five hundred and five, of whom two hundred and fifty-two had been received by baptism, two hundred and twenty-five by letter and twenty- eight by experience. Mrs. Jane G. A. Carter wrote a poem for the anniversary, which referred to the successive pastorates. Mrs. Carter's father, Jonathan Avery, had been an original contributor for the building of the Church, and subscribed $100. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 255 In 1876 there were seventy-seven members of this Church, and the Sunday School had ten teachers and eighty-five pupils, John Moseley, superintendent. He was also the treasurer of the Church, and Thomas Sutton was the clerk. The Pastors of the First Baptist Church in Needham have been as follows: — Rev. Amos Webster, D.D., from 1854 to October, 1855; graduated at New Hampton Literary and Theological In- stitution in 1848, received the degree of A.M. from Colby University in 1867, and the same year that of D.D. from Columbian College. He edited the Christian Era from 1855 to 1875. Needham was his only pastorate, although he was a well-known preacher for more than thirty years. Died in Hyde Park February 14, 1894, aged nearly seventy-seven years. Rev. Frederick Augustus Willard, A.M., accepted a call to Needham. on December 7, 1856, and preached his farewell sermon there on November 12, 1865. He graduated at Amherst in 1826, and at the Newton Theological Institu- tion in 1830, where he had studied for three years. Died in Philadelphia March 17, 1866, aged fifty-nine years. Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, D.D., the noted divine, and author of "America," preached at Needham from 1866 to 1873, and from 1877 to 1880. He graduated at Harvard in 1829, at Andover Theological Seminary in 1832, A.M. Harvard, D.D. (S.T.D.) Colby University 1853. Died November 16, 1895, aged eighty-seven years. Rev. Stephen Gano Abbott, A.M., accepted the call to Needham on December 21, 1873, and resigned on June 4, 1876. He studied at the Hancock (N. H.) Literary and Scientific Institution, graduated at New Hampton (N. H.) Literary and Theological Institution in 1848, honorary A.M. from Bates College 1867. Mr. Abbott was chaplain of the First New Hampshire Regiment in the Civil War, was at one time a member of the Vermont Legislature, and later chaplain of the New Hampshire House of Representa- 256 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM tlves; also a trustee of New London Seminary, and moder- ator of the Dublin, N. H., Association 1888-91. Died Feb- ruary 9, 1901, aged eighty-two years. Rev. Edward Andrew Read, A.M., elected pastor on Jan- uary 6, 1881, accepted on the 12th, began his services at Needham on the 19th, and his resignation was accepted on March 23, 1883. He graduated at Colby in 1875, and at the Newton Theological Institution in 1878. Rev. William Herman Clark, A.M., elected on December 19, 1883, resigned on January 9, 1887, and his resignation was accepted on the 17th, as he was in ill health. He was of the class of 1864 at Hebron Academy, Me., graduated at Colby in 1867, and was made A.M. in 1871. Rev. Nathan Smith Burton, D.D., elected on June 13, 1887, commenced his pastorate on September i, and resigned on September i, 1893. He graduated at Western Reserve College in 1846, then studied theology there for one year, thence to Newton Theological Institution for his second year, returned to Western Reserve College and graduated there in Theology in 1850. He was made a Doctor of Divinity by Denison University in 1863. Rev. Robert Lee Webb, Ph.D., called on October 31, 1893, accepted on November 8, ordained on the 27th, resigned on July 24, 1904, Ph.D. Columbian, now George Washington University, D. C, Newton Theological Institution in 1893. He also studied elsewhere for the degree of Ph.D. Rev. Charles Edward Sawtelle, called on October 3, 1904, accepted on the i6th, commenced his pastorate on the 23d, ordained on November 30th. He graduated at Colby in 1896, and at the Newton Theological Institution in 1904. The Deacons of this Church have been as follows: — George Howland May 26, 1856, resigned on Octo- ber 24, 1863, and removed from town. John Burnham May 26, 1856, died September 4, 1869. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Charles Fuller 257 William Moseley Levi E. Day Edward J. Chadbourne Robert W. Ames Thomas Sutton John Moseley October 24, 1863, removed from town in 1867, or 1868. December 5, 1869, elected for life on December 4, 1901, died Sep- tember 13, 1909. December 5, 1869, resigned April 23, 1871. January i, 1875, removed from town prior to May i, 1878. December 18, 1878, died Septem- ber 18, 1888. December 15, 1886- . December 15, 1886- , elected for life on December 4, 1901. He has been treasurer of the Church since December 15, 1875. December 4, 1901, for life, died July 24, 1902. December 4, 1901- . December 4, 1901- . Thomas James Crossman December 7, 1904- . Albert Edward Brownville December i, 1909- . The First Baptist Church in Needham has never lacked unselfish workers, and the spirit of helpfulness has led them to strive with courage, and self-sacrifice, to bring people without a Church home under the influences of their Church, to instruct neglected children, and to do their best to uplift the community. In the early days their numbers were small, but a group of earnest people by constant faithful service kept this Church from closing its doors and gave a considerable portion of their resources to its work. This was true as late as 1869, when a loyal few faced a difficult financial situation. Of the ministers of this Baptist Church it may justly be said that they have not only possessed ability and high George V. Richardson Richard Henry Bond Robert Burns Walker 2S8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM character, but that in their deportment and their dress they have ever been consistent with their calling. The list of deacons is a roll of good men, and zealous Christians, recog- nized as including in their number some of the most influ- ential men of this town. No Church ever had more loyal sons than Deacons William Moseley and John Moseley, and the former in the early seventies, when some people thought that the Church must be given up, served at one time as deacon, church clerk, treasurer, Sunday School superintend- ent and janitor. Of those worthy of mention in connection with the first years of this Church is Gustavus Fellowes de Lesdernier, who was the clerk, and who died October 15, 1869. His son of the same name is identified with this Church, and a regular attendant at its services In 191 1. There are five memorial windows in this Church. The three on the west side are in memory of Annie Moseley, of Ann Hills Sutton, and of the Rev. Amos F. Spalding, the first on the east side is in memory of Alonzo M. Mace, and the second of Dea. John Burnham, and of his wife, Martha M. Burnham. METHODISTS In 1792 the noted Jesse Lee preached in the West Church, and many who were weary of the old theology heard him gladly, including a number who had become Antlpedobap- tists, and for many years the Methodists of the Needham Circuit were much in earnest. In 1796 the Rev. George Pick- ering, an able man, had charge of this circuit, and a few years later the first Methodist Meeting-house in Needham was built on land granted to Edward Hawes in 1661.^ The 1 From "Memorials of the Introduction of Methodism into the Eastern States: By Rev. A. Stevens, A.M.", Boston, 1848, and from "Memorials of the Early- Progress of Methodism in the Eastern States: (Second Series.)", by the same author, Boston, 1852, the following facts have been obtained as to the Needham Circuit, which in 1809 included twenty towns. It derived its name in consequence of the early establishment of the Methodist Society in Needham. In the first of these volumes is the statement that Joseph Snelling dedicated the "old Methodist Chapel of Needham" in 1798, and, as he went to Martha's Vineyard that year as minister, the dedication in Needham probably took place early in the spring. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 259 location was on Blossom Street on a knoll close to the Weston line, and the builders were Lot Jennison and Lieut. Winsor Moulton. The late John Mansfield said that he saw this meeting-house raised, and that a black bottle was handed to the man who first walked the "ridge". Many years later the meeting-house was moved eastward, and has long been on the Parker place. In recent years the early characteris- tics of the building have disappeared, but there are photo- graphs of it taken prior to the more radical changes. Father Isaac Jennison, Joel Pierce and Tyler Harrington were leaders among the Methodists, and were known as "The Three Apostles". Mr. Harrington lived in the ancient house, still standing, on the west side of the road leading to Weston from Blossom Street. The Harrington homestead, which is in Weston, is typical of many that existed in Provincial times. It stands on a hill with great trees around it, and numerous old outbuildings. On the other side of the road from where the Methodist Meeting-house stood, but in Weston, in one of the oldest houses in this region, there dwelt the childless "Deacon" William Bogle and his wife Mary, most devoted Methodists. Each Sunday they not only entertained the minister, who was perhaps one of the founders of the faith in America, but brewed beer and pre- pared food each Saturday to refresh the brothers and sisters, some of whom came long distances to the services on the Sabbath.i In this book it is not clear whether Jesse Lee preached in Needham in 1 791 or 1792, but it distinctly says that his was the first Methodist sermon in Needham, and that it was preached on October 6, and that Mr. Lee left town the next day, although there were many hearers, and some besought him to tarry longer. He was in Needham later, but George Pickering was for several years the Presiding Elder of the Conference, and to him the people in the Needham Circuit looked for leadership more than to any of the other able and zealous founders of the Metho- dist faith in New England. The Rev. Jesse Lee in "A Short History of the Metho- dists in the United States of America", which was published in Baltimore in 18 10, under date of September, 1791, informs us that "The Methodists preached" "in Natick on the loth, and in Needham on the 13th of the same month. Before that time they had never had a Methodist preacher among them". The Rev. Mr. Lee does not tell us who preached. 1 This house is said to have been built by the Collers, and was their homestead until about 1721, when it passed into the possession of Nathaniel Dewing, and for 26o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Mrs. Bogle's epitaph, in the South graveyard of Weston, is most appropriate: " A heart, the sufferer to relieve, A home for Pilgrims of the Lord; A long and pious life were hers, She rests, according to His word." Epes Mansfield was another leader in the Needham Cir- cuit. As late as 1843 camp meetings were held near the Bogle house, and some now living have attended them, and have worshipped in the old Methodist Meeting-house. The original communion service of this Church was pre- sented in 1901 to the New England Methodist Historical Society. The ministers assigned to the Needham Circuit by the annual Conferences, which were held in May, June or July, Included men noted for ability, and almost without exception devoted and self-sacrificing servants of God, who were wor- thy of the esteem In which they were held by thousands of Christians. The famous Francis Asbury visited the Need- ham Circuit late in July, 1800, and doubtless at other times. The list of the early appointments to this Circuit, which It should be remembered was a large territory. Is as follows : 1792 John Allen, 1793 John Hill, 1794 Amos G. Thomp- son (to change In three months), 1795 John Vanneman.?, 1796 George Pickering and Joshua Hall, 1797 Daniel Ostrander and Ellas Hill, 1798 Joseph Snelling,EpaphrasKIbby and Daniel Brumley, 1799 Stephen Hull and Elijah R. Sabin, 1800 John Finne- gan and Nathan Emery, 1801 Joseph Snelling, sixty years, or more, was his residence and that of his son, Nathaniel. When the town lines were perambulated in the eighteenth century by the selectmen of the towns concerned, this house was their rendezvous and headquarters. In early times this farm was known as "The Westown Farm," and was within "The Land of Contention". Mrs. Charles C. Greenwood has a drawing of the Bogle house, showing the gambrel roof and the huge chimney. When the latter was taken out in 1898 the bricks filled the yard. Within the memory of the writer a number of the oldest houses in this section have been spoiled as specimens of the early homes by pulling out the fine old chimneys. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 261 1802 Joshua Soule and Daniel Perry, 1803 Reuben Hub- bard and Thomas Ravlin, 1804 Nehemlah Coye and Joel Ricker, 1805 Clement Parker and Erastus Otis, 1806 John Gove and Thomas Asbury, 1807 Benjamin Hill and Isaac Scarrett, 1808 John Tlnk- ham and Isaac Locke, 1809 Benjamin R. Hoyt, Nathan Hill and Elijah WlUard, the latter a local preacher, i8ioIsaacBonney and Robert Arnold, 181 1 Isaac Bonney and Ellas Marble, 1812 Ellsha Streeter and John Blvory, 1813 Orlando Hinds and V. R. Osborn, 1814 Orlando Hinds and Zenas Adams, 1815 V. R. Osborn and B. Otheman, 1816 Orlando Hinds, 1817 V. R. Osborn and B. Otheman, 18 1 8 Isaac Bonney and John Lindsay (perhaps Mr. Lindsay had also served this Circuit a portion of 1814), 1819 David KUburn and Isaac Stoddard, 1820 V. R. Osborn and Joel M'Kee, 1821 Benjamin Hazelton, 1822, '23 Erastus Otis and George Falrbank, 1824 Benjamin Hazelton, J. E. RIsley and I. M. BIdwell, 1825 John Lindsay, Jared Perkins and H. S. Ramsdell, 1834 Charles Virgin. From the record book, hereinafter referred to, It appears that from 1844 to 1848 Messrs. Tyler Harrington, Nathan Rice, Joseph E. Pond, James Porter and Calvin B. Blanchard preached to the Methodists in Needham, the Rev. Mr. Har- rington from time to time for many years, and apparently for more than one period of two years. A number of hours were expended In attempting to identify these early minis- ters, and to verify their names, but with imperfect success. The Rev, B. Otheman was probably identical with the Rev. Bartholomew Otheman, who attended the Methodist Con- vention In Boston, June, 1866, when Messrs. J. E. RIsley 262 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM and I. M. Bidwell were also present. In 1792 the number of Methodists in the Needham Circuit was reported as thirty-four, in 1793 as fifty, 1793, '94 as seventy-six. In 1802 there had been a slight increase from 1801. In 1796 and 1797 the Boston and Needham Circuits were combined under the name of the Boston and Needham Circuit, but the next two years the Needham Circuit appears to have been separate, and unattached to any District. From 1800 to 1805, inclusive, the Needham Circuit was one of those in the Boston District, and in 1806 it was a part of the New London District. In 1 801 the Rev. Joseph Snelling, while of the Needham Circuit, preached in four different places alternately on the Sabbath, and had formed Methodist societies in Weston and in Harvard. On July 12, 1802, the Rev. George Pickering stopped in Needham to demand the return of the minister's rates, amounting to upward of $100, which had been col- lected by the local authorities from Methodists. On this occasion the Rev. Francis Asbury was with Mr. Pickering, and they were on their way to Milford. Of the ministers of the Needham Circuit it may be said that the Rev. Joshua Hall was a veteran apostle, the Rev. John Finnegan a quaint character, and that the Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt was only twenty years old in 1809, when first appointed to the Need- ham Circuit, and that he was later again assigned to that Circuit. Thomas Orr states that Mrs. Susan Burrill said that Whitefield preached from a rock back of where the Burrill house now stands on Central Avenue, and that the slope was then wooded. The land then belonged to the First Parish. For years after the meeting-house on Blossom Street was given up, the Greenwoods, Charles Hiram Dewing and others attended Church at Newton Upper Falls, but in April, 1867, the Methodist Episcopal Church at Highlandville was or- ganized, with the Rev. John W. Coolidge as pastor. Many residents of Highlandville were members of the Church at THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 263 Newton Upper Falls, and thirty-four united with the new Church from the older one. In a book seven and one half by five and five eighths inches are the records of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Society in Needham from June 28 to December, 1842. On June 28 the following were chosen a committee to manage the Church affairs: — Tyler Harrington, Ephraim Cutting, Joel Peirce, John Mansfield, Robert Mansfield, John Stevens and Charles Ayres. John Mansfield was chosen secretary. Mr. Batchelder had entertained the ministers during the last year without charge, and offered to continue to do so. William C. Clark was chosen "to write to Hadassah Stevens at the west to preserve the records of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and society in Needham if in her possession and send them back if she can with Safety". It does not appear what became of these earlier records. Various com- mittees were appointed, including three to visit "absent ones". Of the women then prominent in the Church were Elizabeth Mansfield, Eunice Stone, Prudence Mansfield, Sarah Peirce, Nancy Loker, Sarah Greenwood and Esther Hodges. On July 9 it was voted to have the Sacraments administered four times a year and to buy a trunk. Some cases of Church membership and discipline were also con- sidered at this meeting. On October 8, 1842, John Mans- field was chosen treasurer by the committee, whose meetings have been referred to. The treasurer's accounts for the years 1860-8 follow in the book, and from them it appears that the meeting-house was sold on March 9, i860, to Michael Cavnaugh for $200, and that the money was loaned to the Methodist Church at Newton Upper Falls. The committee met at John Mansfield's on May 25, 1861, and chose "B' Marcy" chairman, and John Mansfield secretary and treas- urer. It was then voted to present Joel Peirce with twelve dollars. The trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Needham had met at Mr. Mansfield's on May 15, the Rev. Thomas Marcy "Stationed preacher at Natick presiding", 264 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM and it had then been voted that as "Methodist preaching, had been commenced at the Vilage near West Needham Depot" "J. Mansfield and his associates be Empowered to draw on our treasurer for Twenty Five Dollars to support the Expences of said place of worship during this present conference year". The next record is that of a meeting of the trustees at the house of Tyler Harrington in Weston on November 14, 1866. There were present L. R. Thayer, who was chairman, Broker Cromack, Noah Perrin, Aaron Fisk and John Mansfield. It was voted to increase the number of trustees to nine, and the following were chosen: — Noah Perrin, Charles H. Dewing, Charles H. Flagg, Mark Lee and Lewis N. Sumner. This meeting adjourned to January 2, 1867, when Mr. Perrin and Mr. Flagg were chosen a com- mittee to consider "having a meeting established at Need- ham Plains and report to the Presiding Elder." They voted $25 to the Rev. John M. Bailey of the Church at the Upper Falls, for expenses "at the Plain". On March 13, 1867, there was another adjourned meeting when Brothers Lee, Sumner, Charles H. Dewing and Flagg were appointed a committee to secure, with the help of the Rev. Mr. Bailey, services at Highlandville and at the Lower Falls. On March 20, 1868, the trustees chose Lewis N. Sumner secretary and treasurer in place of John Mansfield, who had resigned, and passed resolutions on the deaths of Father Joel Peirce and the Rev. Tyler Harrington. The Rev. J. W. Coolidge was pres- ent as their minister. On February 5, 1870, John A. Wing was chosen treasurer, and Mark Lee secretary, and the trustees "for the coming year", according to a record of March 18, were Noah Perrin, Charles H. Dewing, Charles H. Flagg, Mark Lee and John A. Wing. A small appro- priation had been made, in case it was needed, to pay the expense of services in Highland Hall. These meetings of the trustees were held at private houses, sometimes at Charles H. Flagg's on Brookside Road. The treasurer's account shows that the property of the older Church passed to the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 265 one established at Highlandville, and It is evident that the former continued, or was merged into the new one. On June 18, 1874, the Rev. Gilbert R. Bent and William Carter were selected to raise hy subscription $1000 In order to purchase a lot containing 20,000 square feet of land, which land had formerly belonged to Jonathan Avery. The price paid was $1000, and the deed from John Avery to Charles H. Dewing, Jonathan Avery, Charles H. Flagg, Mark Lee, William Carter and John A. Wing, trustees rep- resenting the Methodist Episcopal Church in Needham, Is dated June i, 1874. After the Church was incorporated in 1876 the surviving trustees and John Avery executed deeds to perfect the title in the Church. The first meeting of the corporation was on September 20, 1876, with Alexander Lynes as moderator. He was chosen president, Mark Lee secretary, and William Carter treasurer. The Church was built that year, and the building committee consisted of Alexander Lynes, William Carter, Mark Lee, Otis E. Bowen, Cyrus G. Upham, Andrew T. Bemis and John Lee. The land was paid for by January 4, 1876, and the cost of the Church with its furnishings was about $10,000. For nine years the Society had met in Highland Hall. From Sep- tember ID, 1877 to March 26, 1882, nothing was recorded in the book used by the Methodists who had the earlier meeting-house, but In 1882 the records were resumed In that same book, and continued In It to 1892. A book in- scribed on the front cover "Records of Quarterly and Board Meetings of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Needham and Newton Lower Falls" commences with the records of the Quarterly Conference on April 16, 1867, and concludes with that of June 27, 1880; thus two books were In use during the years 1867-77. The Methodists at the Lower Falls met for eleven weeks In the hall at the hotel, and then in another place, presumably Boyden's Hall, where one or more conferences were held. In August, 1868, the Sunday School at the Lower Falls was 266 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM reported as numbering thirty. The situation at this village appears to have been encouraging through the year 1868, and then the records are silent as to the Lower Falls; probably because nearly all of the active Methodists lived elsewhere. In 1867 Mark Lee was superintendent of the Sunday School at Highlandville, and two years later the school had a membership of one hundred and forty-two, with an aver- age attendance of ninety, an increase of seventy-four in four years, as the school had been reported as numbering sixty-eight in 1865. In 1869 one hundred and twenty books were added to the school library, and many have since been acquired. There were forty Church members in 1869. There were seventy members of this Church in 1876, and it had a Sunday School of eighteen teachers and one hundred scholars. Mark Lee was the superintendent. He was also the clerk and treasurer of the Church. The increase in the Church membership was small for fifteen years, but the average attendance at the morning service during the third quarter of 1890 was one hundred and twenty-nine, the num- ber reaching one hundred and sixty-seven on one occasion. There were then about two hundred persons connected with the Sunday School, of whom fifty were under seven years of age. Early in 1900 the school attendance reached one hundred and sixty-two, and the Church began the new cen- tury with about one hundred members, which number has since doubled. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the incor- poration of this Church was observed on Sunday, October 6, 1901, and by a supper on the evening of the following Wednesday. In 1889 the anniversary of the dedication of the Church, which was in August, was selected as Chil- dren's Day. In 1896 a children's meeting was held every Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Of the later superin- tendents of the Sunday School were: — Joseph B. Thorpe from 1893 to 1898, Horace A. Carter 1898-1903, Thomas F. Pickett 1903-1908, Preston Mitchell 1908- . During the pastorate of the Rev. John Peterson, who was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 267 also the minister at Newton Upper Falls, the services were held in the afternoon. In 1890 the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, which had been an important branch of the Church for some years, took charge of the Wednesday evening meetings, and as early as 1883 the Ladies' Circle was an important auxiliary. The latter is now known as the Ladies' Aid Society. The Mudge Society of Christian Endeavor has at times numbered upward of seventy-five, including associates, and the Junior Society of Christian Endeavor, which was estab- lished December 22, 1901, has had more than fifty members. This Junior Society is for youths between the ages of seven and sixteen years, and has held its regular meetings on Sun- day at 4 P.M. The older Society assumed the expense of providing the Church with electric lights in 1900. Preston Mitchell, the efficient secretary of the Church, was presi- dent of this Society for some years In the later nineties. The cause of Temperance has always had earnest advocates In this Church, and in 1893 there were two juvenile battalions of the Loyal Temperance Legion. In 1902 a gymnasium costing about $400 was completed, chiefly through the liberality of William Carter, William Gorse and Joseph B. Thorpe, and soon a Young People's League was formed In order to avail of Its privileges under proper direction. In 1906 the Boys' Fraternity, consisting of boys and young men from twelve to nineteen years of age, was supervised by the County Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, the minister taking charge of the Bible instruction, and of the military drill. In 1906 a Men's Club or League was formed, which soon numbered seventy. This League entertained the Cricket Club of the Young Men's Christian Association at a supper In 1907. MUSIC The Churches of Needham have had good music for many years, and the Methodists have excelled In this respect. 268 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM During the pastorate of Mr. Johnston his son Ernest ren- dered Important service as chorister. In 1902 Horace A. Carter organized a Sunday School orchestra, which was under the successful management of Mr. Bullock. In 1906 a Men's Glee Club was formed with Albert L. Perkins as Its president, and In 1907 the Church purchased a fine Estey organ costing about $2100, of which sum $750 was con- tributed by Andrew Carnegie and $500 by William Carter. There Is a Men's Chorus connected with the Church, but it is not the regular choir. This Church spends (1909) about $200 per year for its music. IMPROVEMENTS OF CHURCH AND BUILDING OF A PARSONAGE In 1889 extensive repairs were made upon the Church, which was formally re-opened September i. In 1892 William Carter gave $200 toward improvements of the Church and its grounds, including concreting the walks and beautifying the lawn. The next year the question of owning a parsonage was considered, with the result that in 1898 Mr. and Mrs. William Carter gave a lot of land on the northeast side of Hunnewell Street, and a parsonage costing $3000 was built there. William Gorse was the chairman of the building committee, and J. H. Preston of Boston was the architect. The same year, or early In 1899, William Carter at his own expense repaired the auditorium of the Church, Franklin Low contributing carpenter work, and rendering other ser- vices. In 1896 Mr. Carter had enlarged the singers' gallery, and in 1901 and in 1904, when considerable sums were ex- pended on the Church edifice, he gave liberally. From Mr. Carter's election as steward on April 26, 1867, he has been a leader in this Church, serving as a trustee for forty years, often chairman of the board, and at one time superintendent of the Sunday School. When he bought the building now the Lower Mill of the William Carter Company, the old bell, once the property of George Ashwell, was still there, and this bell Mr. Carter gave to the Church. In 1897 the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 269 Church voted to permanently care for and decorate the graves of Joseph and Rachel Poyner, as the latter had be- queathed to the Church a portion of her small estate. In 1896 the Church received $600 from an unknown friend toward the extinguishment of the debt, which was paid In full soon after. In 1900 the Church received $500 under the will of Mrs. Dorcas R. Avery, who had long been a supporter of Its worship. Mrs. Susan Burrlll gave the first hundred dollars toward the cost of the Church building, and Mrs. Phebe Gorse, wife of William Gorse, raised the first shovel of earth when work was begun on the site. Mrs. Burrlll was a benefactress of the Methodist denomination by her will. MINISTERS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HIGHLANDVILLE, NOW NEEDHAM HEIGHTS Rev. J. W. Coolldge 1867, '68; Rev. Stephen Cushing 1869, '70, '78, '79; Rev. Samuel Henry Noon 1871-3, a member of the class of 1868 In Wesleyan University, but did not graduate, Boston University School of Theology 1869, S.T.B.; Rev. Gilbert R. Bent 1874-6, Boston University School of Theology 1854; Rev. William Silverthorn 1877, Boston University School of Theology 1859; Rev. R. W. Harlow 1880, '81; Rev. Zacharlah Atwell Mudge 1882-5, of the class of 1839 at Wesleyan University, but did not graduate; honorary A.M. there In 1854, author of many publications; Rev. John Peterson 1886-90, Wesleyan Uni- versity 1857; Rev. William WIgnall 1890-3; Rev. Benjamin J. Johnston 1893-7; Rev. Joseph Henry Thompson 1897- 1901, Wesleyan University 1878; Rev. Garrett Beekman 1901-6, Boston University School of Theology 1870; Rev. Norman Egbert Richardson 1906, '07, Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, 1902, B.A., Boston University School of Theology, S.T.B., was one year In the Graduate School, and in 1907 was made a Fellow of Boston University. He studied philosophy and theology a year and a half in the 270 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Universities of Berlin and Marburg, Germany. He preached his farewell sermon in Needham August 31, 1907. Rev. Elam Edward Marsh 1907- , Williams College 1890, A.B., Boston University School of Theology 1893, S.T.B. He began his ministry in Needham the last Sunday in October, 1907. Until 1871 the School of Theology was at Concord, N. H., and was called the Methodist General Biblical Institute. The Methodist ministers in Needham have officiated at a great number of baptisms, weddings and funerals. The Rev. Mr. Beekman reported more than fifty weddings. The number of trustees is eight, and there are now thir- teen stewards. The number of the latter was five in 1867. In 1876 there were six trustees and eight stewards. The Secretaries, or Recording Stewards, succeeding Mr. Sumner have been: — Mark Lee in 1868, '69, '72-81, William Carter in 1869-72, Charles Evens , Joseph B. Thorpe in 1883-9, James Smith Beless 1889-93, Horace A. Carter in 1893-7, Thomas S. Walton in 1897, '98, Preston Mitchell in 1898- . The Treasurers: Mr. Sumner apparently did not serve when chosen, as Mark Lee was the treasurer in 1867. It is possible that the former was treasurer of the trustees only. John A. Wing was treasurer in 1868, and was in office some years, Charles Thorpe in 1 881-91, Charles W. Jones in 1891- . On June 15, 1892, the Church voted resolutions ap- preciative of Charles Thorpe, a highly respected citizen, who died May 2. He had served the Church not only as its treasurer, but as a trustee and as one of the stewards. Of the men prominent in this Church, and some of them its officers for many years, are, or have been, Noah Perrin, Charles H. Flagg, Charles H. Dewing, Mark Lee, William Carter, William Gorse, Jonathan Avery, Charles and Joseph B. Thorpe, Charles Evens, John Thompson, Alexander Lynes,^ William Humberstone, George L. Kennedy, James ^ Mr. Lynes gave the Church important financial aid. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 271 Smith Beless, Horace A. Carter, Charles W. Jones, Oliver Crisp, Cyrus G. Upham, George Clews, Francis T. Probert, Preston Mitchell, and Frederick H. Horrocks. The women have been most loyal and devoted to this Church, but to mention individuals discriminatingly is a task to which the writer is unequal. The Women's Foreign Missionary Society and the Standard Bearers have been well organized in this Church, and the subscriptions by the people to such charities as the relief of the sufferers by the San Francisco and Chelsea fires have been liberal, and there has been no neglect of good causes, many of them not denominational. The equipment of the different societies is of the best, and if anything is needed, as was a piano by the ladies in the nineties, the sons and daughters of the Church raise the money by personal sacrifices If necessary. In 1908 the name of the Church was changed to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Needham Heights. The Standard Bearers numbered forty-four in 1904, and is one of its newer organizations. ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN GRANTVILLE, NOW THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN VVELLESLEY HILLS On December 24, 1846, a meeting was held at the house of the Rev. Harvey Newcomb, at which were present, Mr. Newcomb, Reuel Ware, John Batchelder, Reuben Ware, Dexter Ware, FItzwilliam Rogers and Charles Noyes. Mr. Newcomb was the moderator and Mr. Rogers was the clerk, and with John Batchelder they were appointed "to draw up articles of Confession of Faith & Covenant, and Ecclesias- tical Principles & rules". At an adjourned meeting on the 28th a committee of six was chosen to arrange for dismission from the Church in the West Precinct, and they adjourned to January 7, 1847, but no meeting was held on the 7th. A day of "Fasting and Prayer" was observed at the house of Mr. Newcomb on January 21, the morning being set aside for private devotions, and the afternoon and evening for 272 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM meetings. On this day the Confession of Faith, the Covenant and the rules were adopted, and the Church named the Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville. The fol- lowing were dismissed from the West Church to form the new one: — William H. Adams, Mary A. Adams, Hannah D. Pettingill, H. Elizabeth Pettingill, John Batchelder, Rebecca S. Batchelder, Dexter Ware, Mary C. Ware, Rebecca A. Ware, Mary Jane Dix, George Smith, Eunice Smith, Charles Noyes, Sarah B. Noyes, Abigail Smith, Reuben Ware, Lydia P. Ware, Louisa M. Ware, Fitzwilliam Rogers, Mary C. Rogers, Reuel Ware, Hannah Ware, A. Elizabeth Ware, L. Emeline Ware, R. Willard Ware, Susan Winship, Harvey Newcomb and Alithea A. Newcomb, twenty-eight in all. This list is dated December 14, 1846, and with the addition of the names of Silas G. Williams and Mary Williams, who were received from the First Church in Newton on January 24, 1847, includes the thirty original members of this Church. A Council was held at the house of the Rev. Mr. Adams on January 27, with the Rev. Lyman Gilbert of West Newton as moderator, and the Rev. Samuel Hunt of Natick as the scribe, but the majority of the delegates from the nine Churches represented decided that it was unwise to organize a Church then. On February 3, 1847, those desiring a Church in Grantville submitted to the West Church a lengthy argument, in three divisions, showing why the decision of the Council should not be considered as conclusive, and asking for another Council, which was held at Mr. Adams's on February 24, with the Rev. Jacob Ide, D.D., of West Medway, as moder- ator, and the Rev. Mr. Hunt as the scribe. This Council reversed the finding of the previous one, and organized the Church that afternoon. The services were as follows: Prayer by the Rev. Sewell Harding of East Medway, Sermon by the Rev. Joseph Haven, Jr., of Brookline, from ist. of Timothy, 3d. C. and 15th. v.," Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hunt, Recognition by the Rev. Dr. Ide, and the Right Hand of THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 273 Fellowship by the Rev. Lyman Gilbert. Six Churches were represented in this Council. At a meeting of the Church March 5, with Mr. Newcomb as moderator, it was voted to obtain a record book, and that the clerk, Mr. Rogers, should procure a Communion Service for the next Sabbath. At an adjourned meeting, October 6, the Rev. Mr. Adams and the deacons were directed to extend to Mr. Newcomb the call which the Church had voted to give him on September 23, and which he accepted on November 15.^ He was in- stalled on December 9, when ten Churches were represented, and the Rev. Dr. Ide and the Rev. Mr. Hunt again served as moderator and scribe respectively. Prayer was offered by Dr. Ide, the Invocation and Reading of the Scriptures was by the Rev. Andrew Bigelow, Introductory Prayer by the Rev. John W. Allen of Wayland, Sermon by the Rev. Nehemiah Adams, D.D., of Essex Street Church, Boston, Installing Prayer by the Rev. Lyman Gilbert, Charge by Dr. Ide, Right Hand of Fellowship by the Rev. Edward Dowse of " Sherburne," Address to the People by the Rev. Joseph Haven, Jr., Concluding Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hunt, and the Benediction by the Pastor. On January 13, 1848, Silas Williams and the deacons were chosen a Commit- tee on "Religious Instruction", which became one of the regular annual committees, as was the "Committee of Enquiry and Discipline". On March 2, 1848, a "Fast" was observed. The house which Mr. Newcomb built in 1848, and where he lived, is now (191 1) the home of Richard Cunningham. At a meeting of the Church on March 16 the pastor was the moderator, as usual, and it was voted to make appli- cation to the Middlesex South Conference. The Rev. Mr. Newcomb, the Rev. Mr. Adams and Deacon Batchelder were appointed to superintend the printing of the Confession of Faith and the Covenant. At this time the Communion 1 The Church gave the original call to a minister, and it was necessary that the Society should concur, which sometimes caused delay. 274 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM was celebrated once in two months. In a letter dated October 22, 1849, the Rev. Mr. Newcomb asked for a Council, as there appeared to be some dissatisfaction, although the Church then voted by a large majority that they were desirous that he should remain with them. The Council met November 8, five Churches being represented, and their decision was that Mr. Newcomb had better "seek another field of usefulness", which he did, and on June 20, 1850, the Rev. William Barrows was called by the Church. On July I Deacon Batchelder, Silas Williams and Elbridge Gardner were chosen a committee to join with the Parish Committee in extending the call to Mr. Barrows, who accepted on July 12, and on August 22 the Council met, with seven Churches represented, and two additional min- isters present. The Rev. Constantine Blodgett of Pawtucket was the moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Newcomb was the scribe. The sermon was preached by the Rev. George Richards of the Central Church in Boston. On March 13, 1 85 1, it was voted to add to the Communion Service, and Brother Henry Robinson was to procure the new vessels. A record was made of the first death that occurred in this Church, which was that of Dexter Ware, who was killed by the cars at Grantville station on October 20, 185 1, and whose funeral was held in the Church the 23d. The first case of discipline was heard in 1851, but the accused was mildly dealt with. This Church has always contributed liberally toward denominational objects, and in 1854 gave $134.23, in 1867 $236.60, and in 1873 $275.56. On January 22, 1856, Mr. Barrows was dismissed at his own request by a Council, and on July 16 the Church called the Rev. Edward S. Atwood, who accepted on August 13, and was ordained by a Council October 23. The Society had con- curred with the Church on July 29, and had chosen Mar- shall S. Scudder, Flavins J. Lake and Henry S. Batchelder to join with the deacons and William H. Nye, representing the Church, in extending the call. At the ordination Pro- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 275 fessor William G. T. Shedd of Andover preached the Sermon. On March 29, 1859, a Council decided that Mr. Atwood ought to remain, and withdraw a proffered resignation, which he did, but was dismissed by a Council held on Sep- tember 21, 1864. On December 20 the Rev. William R. Eastman was asked to supply the pulpit, and June 13, 1865, he was called by this Church, but declined. On May 6, 1867, the Rev. Charles H. Williams was called, accepted on June 3, and was ordained by a Council July 25. In giving the call the Church was represented by Marshall S. Scudder, Joseph E. Fiske and Charles T. Wilder, and the Society by Ellsworth Torrey, Henry S. Batchelder and George W. Moulton. At the Installation the Sermon was preached by Professor Roswell D. Hitchcock, D.D. The Rev. Mr. Williams resigned November 7, 1868, and the Rev. James M. Hubbard was called by the Church on December 7, accepted on the i8th, and was installed by a Council on the 29th, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Joshua W. Wellman, D.D. The committee on behalf of the Church consisted of Mr. Scudder, the Rev. William S. Smith and Captain Fiske, and the Society was represented by Reuel Ware, Henry A. Ball, Henry S. Batchelder and George D. Ware. There is a gap in the records, which are resumed in pencil in the latter portion of the same volume. The first meeting of the Church thus recorded was the annual meet- ing on March 9, 1871. The Rev. Mr. Hubbard resigned, and was dismissed by Council on January 13, 1874. The Rev. John L. Harris was called by the Church on May 6, accepted on the 27th, and was installed by a Council on June 18. Albion C. Clapp, Hugh M^Leod and the Rev. Francis B. Perkins tendered the call for the Church, and Ellsworth Torrey, Henry L. Sanderson and Dr. Isaac H. Hazelton for the Society. The Installation Sermon was preached by the Rev. Henry M. Dexter, D.D. The Rev. Mr. Harris re- signed on November 6, 1875, and was dismissed by a Coun- 276 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM cil on December 31. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards was called by the Church on January 18, 1876, and was installed by a Council on March i, when the Rev. John O. Means of Boston preached the sermon. The Church chose Captain Fiske, Henry L. Sanderson and the Rev. Mr. Perkins to extend the call, and Edwin O. Bullock, George D. Ware and Hezekiah Fuller represented the Society. The Rev. Mr. Edwards was much esteemed, and had a successful ministry. On March 18, 1876, the minister, with the Rev. Mr. Perkins and Deacons R. Ware and G. D. Ware, were selected to revise the Manual, which was printed the next year. The Church is therein called the "Orthodox Congre- gational Church, Grantville, Mass.", and a list published in 1891 is designated a " Catalogue of Wellesley Hills Con- gregational Church". In 1876 this Church had eighty-five members, and a Sunday School consisting of twelve teachers and ninety pupils. Henry L. Sanderson was the superintendent. In 1909 there were two hundred and forty-five members of the Church, and two hundred and fifteen teachers and scholars in the Sunday School. The Rev. Mr. Newcomb's salary was $500 per year, Mr. Barrow's $600, Mr. Atwood was at first given $800, which was increased to $1000 in 1859, and which continued to be the amount of the minister's salary for years. The Rev. Mr. Edwards was called at $1500; two years later the current expenses of the Society were about $1800, an increase of $150 in six years. In 1879 the expense of the music was $100, the rent of the parsonage $300, and the care of the Church $75. An organ was bought in 1859. The present organ cost $3500, and was the gift of Charles T. Wilder in memory of his wife, Mary. The first meeting to form a Society, in connection with the Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville, was held in the "Railroad Passenger House" on May 6, 1846, with the Rev. Mr. Adams presiding, and Dexter Ware as the secretary. There were also present Capt. Reuben Ware, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 277 John Batchelder, Charles Merrill, George K. Daniell, Fltz- william Rogers, E. P. Chapin, Capt. Reuel Ware, Daniel Hurd, Israel Hunting, Samuel W. Dix, Ambrose Arnold, John S. Bird and Richard Parker. The project of building a meeting-house was at once brought forward, and com- mittees were appointed, but at different dates, there being some fourteen adjourned meetings. The chief duties of the committees were to raise money and to select a site for the building, which was not to cost over $4000. A circular was issued, dated "North Needham May 20. 1846", stating that loans and gifts were solicited to build a meeting-house on the Sherburne Road " for the use of the " Orthodox Trin- itarian Congregational Church and Society", the shares to be of $100 each, and in case of loans the payment was to be by pews. At this time there were twenty-eight subscribers, Reuben and Dexter Ware each taking three shares. A lot containing one hundred and forty-four rods was pur- chased for $250 of Joseph W. Maynard on September 9, 1846.1 On August 23 six men petitioned Benjamin Slack, Esq., to issue a warrant for a meeting of the "Third Congrega- tional Society", which he did for September 3, 1846. The Rev. Mr. Adams was the moderator, Dexter Ware was chosen clerk, John Batchelder treasurer, Capt. Reuben Ware, John Batchelder and Fitzwilliam Rogers Society Committee, Capt. Reuel Ware collector, and Capt. Reuel Ware, Dexter Ware, Mr. Rogers, Luther Horr and Samuel W. Dix a building committee. A little later Mr. Rogers was succeeded on the latter committee by E. P. Chapin. ' This land was part of eight and three quarters acres and thirty-one rods which Mr. Maynard had bought for $1698, of John S. Bird on August 22, 1846. On December 14, 1847, Mr. Maynard executed a deed ratifying the previous one, to the " Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational Society in Grantville in Needham ", and correcting the name of the grantee to " Grantville society". John Batchelder, the treasurer of the Society, acted in its behalf. Mr. Maynard and his wife, Priscilla B., did not acknowledge this second deed till December 21, 1849. The rest of the land bought of Mr. Bird was sold to Reuben and Dexter Ware on September 9, 1846, and had a frontage of over six hundred feet on the " Sher- burne " road, the Church lot intervening. 278 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM There followed fourteen adjourned meetings, the last one being dissolved on July 9, 1847. There was delay in securing the lot, and legal advice was obtained from Judge S. Leland. On September 24, 1846, the "Grantville Society" chose Reuel Ware, John Batchelder, Emery Fiske, who had served on the first committee to select a site, Daniel Hurd and Reuben Ware to prepare the spot for the under- pinning. On October 4, 1847, a committee was named to act with the women in furnishing the meeting-house, which was adorned with "a. rod & Vane for the Tower". The gift of a bell was received in November from Moses Grant of Boston. It does not appear just when this Church was dedicated, but there was a vote to dedicate it. This bell was not in use in the Church in 1909. In March, 1847, the Society is called in its records the "Congregational Society of Grantville in Needham". On February 11, 1847, the Society had voted to have "Regular Public Services in Rev. W. H. Adams Hall next Sabbath" at 10.30, A.M., and at 1.30, P.M. They met in the "Vestry" March 16, 1848. The records in the late forties consist largely of details as to the disposal of pews, often by the clerk, who acted as auctioneer, there being thirty-three pews unsold in 1850, the whole number, sixty-two, having been appraised at $4574 in 1847. A plan of the meeting-house floor, showing the pews, is inserted in the volume. Late in 1849 the Society owed $290.76, including interest, on account of the land. Hunter & Neal had been the contractors for the meeting-house, but the figures do not appear in the records. In 1894, or earlier, the question of a new Church was con- sidered, and on September 11, 1900, the following building committee was chosen: — Flavins J. Lake, chairman, Lyman K. Putney, the Rev. Parris T. Farwell, George D. Ware and Timothy Wallace Travis. The architect was George F. Newton of Boston, the contractors Robert Wilson, and also Norcross Bros. Co. There was also considerable day work, and the total cost was $43,000. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 279 This beautiful stone Church was dedicated In the after- noon and evening of February 17, 1903, when the Rev. Alexander M'^KenzIe, D.D., made an address, and other prominent men took part In the exercises. The annual meeting of the Church, on January 2, 1902, had been held in the Unitarian Church, the two Churches, or Societies, having exchanged courtesies of this nature at different times. The old Church was sold to John Croswell for $150. When the Church was completed the organ was presented. The pulpit furniture was given as a memorial of William and Caroline W. Helkle, also a clock for the Sunday School room In memory of Harold Keith, and a sum of money to be expended In this room In memory of Mrs. M. F. Parker. Mrs. Parker was killed, with her son, In a railroad accident at Quincy. Most of the early meetings of the Society were presided over by either Capt. Reuben Ware or Silas Williams, and of the later moderators Flavins J. Lake is preeminent, from 1857 to 1881, and perhaps since. In the absence of the minister a Church meeting was usually governed by one of the deacons. These meetings were changed from March to January by vote of March 8, 1876, and with occasional exceptions the annual meetings of the Society have been held in March or April, and the last one on record is that of April 30, 1896. The Society survives the Incorporation of the Church to which it had voted, on March 11, 1894, to transfer its property as soon as the incorporation was completed. By an Act approved by the Governor on March II, 1885, the "Grantville Religious Society" became the Wellesley Hills Congregational Society. On April 15, 1884, Captain Fiske had been appointed to secure such legislation, as on January 14, 1884, the Church had voted to change its name by substituting Wellesley Hills for Grantvllle. Four baptisms of infants are recorded in the Church book for 1857, but without definite dates, and appear to be the only ones thus recorded for many years. When the 28o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM pulpit was vacant ministers were secured, the services held regularly, and the communion was administered. The records of the Church to 1909 are contained in six volumes, and those of the Society in one volume. Names of the Ministers to 1881 : — Rev. Harvey Newcomb, December 9, 1847-November 8, 1849. He had been the minister of the West Church, in what is now Wellesley. Died August 30, 1863, aged sixty years. Rev, William Barrows, D.D., August 22, 1850-January 22, 1856. He was at Phillips Andover Academy 1834-6, graduated at Amherst 1840, D.D. 1867, Union Theological Seminary 1845. Author of Civil War pamphlets, etc. Died September 9, 1891, aged seventy-six years. Rev. Edward Sumner Atwood, A.M., October 23, 1856- September 21, 1864, Brown 1852, Andover Theological Seminary 1856, D.D. from Brown 1883. Died in Salem, Mass., May 13, 1888, aged fifty-five years. Rev. Charles Henry Williams, A.M., July 25, 1867-Decem- ber 29, 1868, Yale 1858. Rev. James Mascarene Hubbard December 29, 1869- January 13, 1874, Yale 1859. Rev. John Lambdin Harris June 18, 1874-December 21, 1875. Mr. Harris was ordained as a Methodist minister at Macomb, 111., in i860, and continued in that denomination till 1873, when he went to the Pacific Congregational Church at New Bedford. Rev. Jonathan Edwards, A.M., March i, 1876- , Yale 1840. Deacons: Reuel Ware January 21, 1847, till his death on August 15, 1882. John Batchelder January 21, 1847. He wished to retire in April, 1861, but apparently died in office March, 1864. Henry S. Batchelder June 17, 1864, till his death on May 10, 1875. George D. Ware March 5, 1868 to the present time (191 1). THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 281 Rev. William S. Smith December 7, 1868 to 1874. The elections of Deacons Ware and Batchelder were con- firmed on March 5, 1847. On June 10, 1864, Hezekiah Fuller was elected deacon, but declined that honor. Clerks of the Church: Fitzwilliam Rogers December 24, l846-Januar7 13, 1848, Silas Williams 1848-51 (four years), Henry G. Perkins 1852-6 (five years), Denison D. Dana 1857-65 (nine years), Flavins J. Lake 1866 (April i9)-i88o (fifteen years), Frank L. Fuller 1881- . Treasurers of the Church: John Batchelder March 5, 1847-March I, 1855, Reuel Ware 1855-68 (fourteen.? years with no record for 1869 and 1870), the Rev. William S. Smith 1871 (no record of any Church officers for 1872 and 1873), Hezekiah Fuller 1874-80 (seven years), Albion R. Clapp 1881-9 (nine years). In 1850 Dexter Ware and Silas Williams were chosen as auditors by the Church, and it was customary for both Church and Society to elect two auditors. In 1850 the latter chose a board of three assessors in addition to the Society Committee, and distinct from it. Clerks of the Society: Dexter Ware September 3, 1846- 50 (five years). No record for 185 1. In April, 1856, Mr. Perkins was requested to record the meetings of March 21, May 21 and 28, then existing in temporary form. Henry G. Perkins 1852-4 (three years), Denison D. Dana 1855-6 (four years), Reuben N. Ware 1857, '58, Samuel B. Cogswell 1859, '60, Henry S. Batchelder 1861-5 (five years), William S. Ware 1866, ''^'j^ George D. Ware 1868-70 (three years), Joseph E. Fiske 1871-3 (three years), Frank L. Fuller 1874- . Treasurers of the Society: Dea. John Batchelder Sep- tember 3, 1846-55 (twelve years), Flavins J. Lake 1856, '57j '79, '80, Denison D. Dana 1858, Charles T. Wilder 1859-62 (four years), F. S. Monroe, Jr. 1863-71 (nine years), Ellsworth Torrey 1872, Joseph E. Fiske 1873, 282 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Henry L. Sanderson 1874-7 (four years), he held this office some years subsequent to 1881, Albion R. Clapp, 1878, '81- . George D. Ware was one of the Society Committee, known later as the Parish Committee, In 1856, '57, '59-64, ^66- 81 (twenty-four years), and probably since. Mr. Lake was on this committee In 1855, '59, '73-8 (eight years). He has for many years been prominent among the assessors of Massachusetts. Superintendents of the Sunday School: The Rev. William H. Adams January 13,1 848- , Dexter Ware May 1 1 , 1 848- March 13, 1851, Elbrldge Gardner 1851, '53, '54, George Ellery Clarke 1852, William H. Nye 1855, '56, Marshall S. Scudder 1857-67 (eleven years). Flavins J. Lake 1868, '74, E. F. Thayer 1871, Henry L. Sanderson 1876, '77, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards 1878, Edwin O. Bullock 1879- . Assistant Superintendents of the Sunday School: Flavlus J. Lake 1867. He was chosen in 1879, but declined to serve. Dea. George D. Ware was the librarian of the Sunday School for half a century, with the exception of an occasional year, when he declined to serve. He held this position as late as 1898, and perhaps since. Mr. Lake was chosen superin- tendent of the Sunday School by the teachers in 1868, and their choice was ratified by the Church. For many years the annual meeting of the Church was held in March, when the Church officers were elected, together with the superin- tendent, treasurer, and librarian of the Sunday School. There Is no record of the election of any Church officers for the years 1869, '70, '72, '73. Beginning with 1874 the annual meeting has been held In January. EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Religious meetings were held in the school-house on the Great Plain prior to the organization of either the Baptist or the Evangelical Churches, and It was the hope of Dr. Noyes and others that all would unite in estabHshing an THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 283 Orthodox Church, but the zeal of George Howland and other decided Baptists made this impracticable. The Rev. Dr. Burgess of Dedham learning that a number of people in East Needham desired "that the Institutions of the Gospel as founded by the early settlers in New England should be established in their vicinity " generously commenced a series of meetings in Nehoiden Hall on the first Sabbath of April, 1855, and continued them to the first Sabbath in May, 1856. On the last Monday in April, 1856, citizens met and chose Moses Winch, Dr. Noyes and Charles E. Keith a committee to provide preaching during the ensuing year. The meetings were held in Nehoiden Hall during May and June, when Village Hall was obtained and fitted for use as a place of worship, and the first Sabbath in July Dr. Burgess preached the first sermon there. On April 2, 1857, those interested in forming a Church met in Village Hall, when letters from other Churches were read recommending six persons for membership in the new Church. On the 9th there was another meeting, when more letters were read, and on the 23d a third meeting was held at which it was voted to invite to an Ecclesiastical Council the Church in Dedham, of which the Rev. Dr. Burgess was the pastor, and the Churches in Dover, Medfield, West Needham, Grantville and Newton Centre. Moses Winch, Dr. Noyes and Charles E. Keith were chosen a committee to issue the letters missive. On May 5 a Confession of Faith and a Covenant were adopted, and at one o'clock, P.M., on the 6th the Council met in Needham and formed the Church. Each of the Churches invited was represented by the pastor and one deacon, except that in Newton Centre, whose minister did not attend. The Rev. Joy H. Fairchild of South Boston sat in the Council by invitation. The Rev. Dr. Burgess was the moderator, and the Rev. Edward S. Atwood of Grantville was the scribe. The "Ecclesiastical Polity, Covenant, and Creed" are recorded on pages 5-10 of the first volume of the Church records. The original 284 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM members of this Church were: Dr. Joslah Noyes, Mrs. Eliza- beth Noyes, Sarah W. Nay, Mrs. Jane W. Pickering, Rachel Smith, Charles E. Keith, Mrs. Margaret O'Neil, Josiah Davenport, Mrs. Sarah Davenport, Mrs. Peady R. Mills, Mrs. Rebecca Bullen, Ellen M. Bullen (later Mrs. Greene), Marietta J. Bullen, Mrs. Lucinda O. Kingsbury, William B. Pickett, Mrs. Mary A. Pickett, Moses Winch, George E. Newton, Pamelia Smith, Susanna Harris, Henry Webber, Mrs. Adrianna G. Webber, John Mills, Mrs. Abigail C. Mills, the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, Sarah A. Eastman, Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., Mrs. Susanna Hardy. On March 21, 1858, the Church chose Dea. Elisha Lyon and Dr. Josiah Noyes deacons, but both declined to serve. On January I, 1859, the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, who had succeeded Dr. Burgess as acting pastor, ended his ministry in Needham, and on February 18 the Church called the Rev. Edward E. Strong, but he did not accept. On January 10, 1859, Moses Winch was chosen clerk, and all of the records prior to that date appear to be also in his handwriting. On April I the Rev. William B. Greene began his duties as acting pastor, and was to serve them for many years. On July 6, 1859, a Sunday School was formed with Frederick Marchant superintendent, Cyrus G. Upham librarian, Cyrus W. Jones secretary, and Ellen M. Bullen treasurer. The Chapel was built on land given by Charles E. Keith, and was dedicated on December 28, 1859,^ when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Edward N. Kirk, D.D. This building cost about $1500, and continued in use until the new Church was ready for occupancy. The Chapel, with the land, was sold at auction in May, 1890, for $1905, to Edmond Commons. The lot contained 10,972 square feet, and the deed from Mr. Keith is dated January 25, 1861, and refers to the "Church and other buildings" thereon. Rights of way, thirty-five feet in width, were granted from the southern portion of the lot to Great Plain Avenue, and to East Street, ^ The records of the Society state that the Chapel was dedicated on the 2pth. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 285 by which name a part of Highland Avenue was then called. The Evangelical Congregational Society and the Evangelical Congregational Church were the grantees. Mrs. Abigail Collins Mills was the first subscriber toward the expense of building this Chapel, but died before it was dedicated. In December, 1859, the Ladies' Friendly Society presented all of their "rights and interests in the New Chapel & its furniture to the Evangelical Church and Society of Needham". There is no record of Church meetings from April 17, 1859 to March 21, 1872, when Josiah Davenport and Nelson S. Read were chosen deacons. Calvin Perry was the clerk in 1872, and continued in ofRce to December, 1874. On May 18, 1873, the Church asked the Rev. Augustus C. Swain to become its minister, and requested the Society to contract with him. Mr. Swain accepted the call, which was extended to him by a joint committee of the Church and the Society. On June 25, at 10 A.M., a Council was convened in which six neighboring Churches participated. The Rev. Samuel H. Dana of Newton Highlands was the scribe, and the Rev. Mr. Edwards was the moderator, but resigned dur- ing the Council, and the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Larabee of West Roxbury was chosen in his place. The ordination services began at 2 P.M. Mr. Swain resigned on March 19, 1874, his resignation was accepted, and an Ecclesiastical Council met in the chapel at 2 P.M., April 22, and the relations of pastor and people were dissolved. The Rev. Elihu P. Marvin, D.D., was the moderator on this occasion, and the Rev. Samuel E. Lowry the scribe. On December 29, 1874, Dea. Alden Harlow was chosen clerk, and died in office September 29, 1890. He was also treasurer of the Church for several years, and held that office at the time of his death. On September 28, 1875, the Church voted to unite with the SuflFolk West Conference of Churches, and the following February appointed a commit- tee, consisting of the Rev. John E. M. Wright, Charles E. 286 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Keith and Deacon Harlow, to prepare a Church Manual, which was printed. On February 28, 1879, it was voted to offer the use of the Chapel to the First Parish from 2 to 6 P.M. each Sabbath, "while their house of worship is being repaired". On July 16, 1882, a call was given the Rev. Lewis W. Morey, with which the Society concurred. He was ordained and installed by an Ecclesiastical Council, which was held in the Chapel at 3 P.M., on September 6, when six Churches were repre- sented. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards was the moderator, and the Rev. George G. Phipps was the scribe. The ordination services began at 7 P.M. Mr. Morey's resignation was ac- cepted on January 15, 1886, as he had received a call which he felt he should not decline. The pastoral relations were dissolved by an Ecclesiastical Council, participated in by five Churches, which met in the Chapel at 3.30 P.M., on February i, 1887. The Rev. Daniel L. Furber, D.D., was the moderator, and the Rev. Joseph B. Seabury was the scribe. The Church on the 3d passed resolutions expressing their esteem for Mr. Morey. The first wedding in the new Church was that of George Evens and Annie Ella Graves. The Rev. Mr. Gleason, who succeeded Mr. Morey, officiated. On September 11, 1888, the Church voted to convey to the Evangelical Congregational Society its rights in the real estate, which had been held in common with the Society. On October 26, 1890, the balance of $500 required to pay in full for a bell was raised at a Harvest concert, and the bell, which is said to weigh a ton, was rung to announce that the money was obtained. The Rev. Dr. Avery S. Walker preached in Needham on February 24, and on March 10, 1895, and was called on March 19, the Society concurred on April 2, and he accepted on the 2 1 St. At his installation, on July 2, the introductory prayer was by the Rev. Dr. George M. Adams, the right hand of fellowship was given by the Rev. Dr. Albert H. Plumb, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 287 and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Alonzo H. Quint, all of these ministers leaders in their denomination. Dr. Walker resigned on May 8, 1898, and was dismissed by an Ecclesiastical Council on June 8th. He will be remembered as one of the able men who have preached in Needham. In 1895 the pews were made free, and on December 6, of that year, new "Standing Rules, Articles of Faith and Cove- nant" were adopted by the Church, and were later printed. On March i, 1896, four deacons officiated for the first time, when sixty-four persons joined the Church, and twenty-seven were baptized. On March 6 was held the first of the annual reunions, since a feature in this Church, and one hundred and forty-two individuals answered to the roll call, each making brief remarks, or giving a quotation from Scripture, Four of the original members of the Church were then living in Needham, but of them Mrs. Jane W. Pickering alone was present. On April 9 new by-laws were adopted, and it was voted to change the name of the Church to The First Con- gregational Church of Needham, which was incorporated on May 5, and the Evangelical Congregational Society con- veyed its property to the First Congregational Church of Needham in July, 1896. The First Church in Needham pro- tested against the new name, claiming to be the First Con- gregational Church, and declared that the word "Congre- gational" related to a form of Church government, and was not synonymous with the word "Orthodox", whatever the popular misuse of it might be. In the interest of harmony and good feeling the members of this Orthodox Church re- sumed in 1897 the name of "The Evangelical Congrega- tional Church of Needham", although the change involved formalities which extended over several months. On June 4, 1896, two new contribution boxes were first used. They were made and presented by William Roberts, and uphol- stered by the Ladies' Friendly Society. On April 10, 1899, the Church called the Rev. Ralph J. Haughton, of South Paris, Me., who accepted on the 14th, and on June 9 288 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM thanks were voted to the Rev. Henry J. Patrick, D.D., who had supplied the pulpit most acceptably for fourteen Sab- baths when there was no settled minister. Dr. Patrick sub- sequently preached for them. Mr. Haughton resigned on March i, 1901, and the Rev. Frank Philip Estabrook was called on June 21, and accepted on the 29th. On June 29, 1905, the Church called the Rev. Daniel R. Kennedy, Jr., who accepted on July 10, and was ordained and installed on October 17. Mr. Kennedy resigned Feb- ruary 23, 1908, and although his people unanimously re- quested him to remain at a meeting held on March 5, and offered an increased salary, he was dismissed by an Eccle- siastical Council on March 26. On the 20th the Church passed resolutions complimentary to Mr. Kennedy. On June 19, 1908, the Rev. Melville A. Shaver, of Alton, N. H., was called and accepted. He had preached In Needham on May 3d and 30th, and his first sermon as pastor was on September 6th. On January 2, 1907, the mortgage on the Church property was burned. As early as 1892 efforts had been made to reduce the debt, then $8000, but in 1906 upward of $2000 remained unpaid. During 1906 the money was raised, largely through the energy and determination of Edward G. Herdman, a prominent member of the Church. Members of the First Baptist Church In Needham gave $50, as a token of sympathy and goodwill. The membership In the Evangelical Congregational Church and Sunday School at different dates has been as follows: In 1876 there were seventy-seven members of the Church, and the Sunday School consisted of thirteen teachers and one hundred pupils. Nelson S. Read was the superintendent. At the close of 1895 there were one hundred and fifty-three Church mem- bers, of whom forty-seven were males. Twenty-nine of the members were then non-resident, of whom ten were men. The admissions to the Church In 1895 had numbered thirty- four, of whom eleven were men. The Sunday School had shown an average attendance from April i to December THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 289 31 of one hundred and thirty-two, including the teachers. At the end of 1896 there were one hundred and thirteen famihes connected with the Church, and there had been forty-seven baptisms during the year. On December 31, 1900, there were two hundred and twenty-three members of this Church, of whom seventy-eight were men. Of this number ten men and eighteen women were then non-resident. It is said that when the new Church was built Mrs. Peady R. Mills, widow of Matthias, gave $1000, and that Mrs. Joanna E. Mills, widow of John, a brother of Matthias, gave $500. Mrs. Mary W. Mann, wife of Daniel Mann, then gave $500. In 1893 a legacy of $500 was received by the Church, or the Society, under the will of Mrs. Joanna Mills, and in 1899 six shares of the capital stock of the Framingham National Bank by the will of Mrs. Peady Mills. Both of these ladies had made gifts to the Society in 1882, when the Chapel was in part refurnished. This Church has usually had good music. Galen Orr not only played the small organ during the first twenty years of the Church, but furnished the instrument. Edgar H. Bowers, another prominent citi- zen of the town, sang in the choir for many years, and in the middle seventies was designated as the "Chorister". His son, Allston R. Bowers, has also been a member of this choir. Mrs. Joanna E. Mills bought an organ for $500, or $600 (the cost is variously stated), and it was used in the Chapel for years, but after the completion of the new Church it was sold by the Church, or the Society, in part payment for a new organ. The large stained glass window, in the west side of the Church, is in memory of the Rev. William B. Greene, and of his wife, Ellen M. Greene, and was presented in 1904 by their daughter, Mariette R. Greene. In July, 1 89 1, the Society bought for a parsonage a house and land adjoining the Church. The price was $3000, and the place had been rented by the ministers before 1891. The first Communion service was purchased in 1857 by 290 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM subscription, through the efforts of the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, and cost $60 or $70; a chest was bought about the same time. On January i, 1897, thanks were voted to Dea- cons Snow and Adams for two silver plates presented by them for the Communion service, and late in 1900 the Junior Christian Endeavor Society made a gift to the Church of a set of individual Communion cups. On March 7, 1875, it had been voted to discontinue the use of fermented wine. The Church records contain references to anniversary observances, and note the action of the Church on many occasions when delegates were chosen to attend Ecclesias- tical Councils, or other meetings. The Evangelical Congregational Society, as distinct from the Church, met for the election of its first officers in Village Hall on July 27, 1857. The meeting was held under a warrant issued by Moses Winch, a Justice of the Peace, on July 18, in compliance with a petition dated June 6, and signed by twenty-eight men. Mr. Keith was chosen clerk. Dr. Noyes moderator, John Mills treasurer, Matthias Mills collector, and Otis E. Bowen, Moses Winch and Dr. Noyes a "Stand- ing Committee". Messrs Keith, Winch and Frederick Marchant were named a committee to prepare some by- laws, which were adopted on August 3d. On March 16, 1858, Dr. Noyes was elected clerk, and served for twelve years. The records as kept by him may serve as a model for recording officers. The Standing Committee for 1858 con- sisted of Matthias Mills, George H. Hardy and Otis E. Bowen. Galen Orr had been elected a member of this com- mittee, but declined to serve. Cyrus W. Jones was the collector from 1858 to 1865. The Rev. Moses Winch was the moderator of five of the early meetings of this Society, Deacon Harlow of thirty-five, Emery Grover, Esq., who was the moderator of nearly eighty town meetings prior to April, 191 1, presided over thirty-nine of the meetings of the Evangelical Congregational Society from 1871 to 1895. Charles Edward Keith was a founder of this Church and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 291 Society, and did much to secure its permanency. He was a member of the Standing Committee in i860, '64-9, '71-5 (eleven years), and filled other offices. From 1872 to 1875 he had as his colleagues William R. Mills and Nathan Parker, both of whom were for some years active and influential in this Society. Deacon Harlow served on the Standing Committee in 186 1-4, '67-70, '81-3 (eleven years), and Judge Grover was on this committee for several years. The Honorable Galen Orr was a liberal contributor for the support of this Society, and was one of its Standing Commit- tee in 1859, '65-9 (six years). His family have continued prominent in this Church and Society. In 1873-6, '78, '79, the members of the Standing Commit- tee were also chosen assessors. The first recorded election of a sexton is that of Moses Winch on March 12, i860. In 1863 Cyrus G. Upham be- came the sexton, succeeding George H. Hardy, who had served but a single year. On March 14, 1882, women were admitted to member- ship in the Society, or Parish, with the same rights as men, but Miss Catherine L. Bates Is the only woman who has been a member of the Standing Committee. Miss Bates was elected in 1894. On May 16, 1882, the time of the an- nual meeting was changed from March to the first Tuesday in April. Since the Society transferred its property to the Church it has met irregularly, and there has been no meet- ing subsequent to one on June 23, 1899. The last Standng Committee was chosen in 1895, and consisted of George A. Swallow, Edmund G. Pond, who has been prominent in this Society and in the town, and Henry S. Locke. Ministers of the Evangelical Congregational Church: — Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, Brown 1809, A.M., Andover Theological Seminary 1815, D.D. MIddlebury 1835, died December 5, 1870, in his eighty-first year. At Needham April, 1855 to May, 1856. Rev. Lucius Root Eastman, Amherst 1833, A.M., Andover 292 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Theological Seminary 1836, died March 29, 1892, aged eighty- two years, six months, fourteen days. At Needham Febru- ary 8, 1857 to January i, 1859. Rev. William Brooks Greene, Yale 1845, died Septem- ber II, 1895, aged nearly seventy-two years. At Needham September i, 1859 to April i, 1873. Rev. Augustus C. Swain, Madison Theological Semi- nary (Baptist), connected with Madison (now Colgate) College at Hamilton, N. Y. Mr. Swain was at Needham June 25, 1873 to April 22, 1874. He died Rev. John Edwin Wheeler, at Colby University 1854, graduated at Amherst 1857, and at the East Windsor The- ological Seminary in 1862, died March 18, 1893, aged fifty- nine years, six months, nine days. At Needham April 29, 1874 to April I, 1875. Rev. John Ebenezer Moseley Wright, educated at Bow- doin College and at Bangor Theological Seminary, died April 13 1895, aged seventy-two years, ten months. At Needham July 7, 1875 to April I, 1880. Rev. Lewis William Morey, Dartmouth 1876. At Need- ham April 6, 1882 to February i, 1886. Rev. John Francis Gleason, Kimball Union Academy, N. H., 1854, Amherst class of 1858, A.M. 1871, student in Georgetown Medical College 1868-70, and at Columbian Theological Seminary, Washington, 1870-2. He served in the Union Army 1861-4. At Needham April i, 1886 to September 30, 1894. In 1909 he was settled over the Church at Amherst, and was chairman of the school com- mittee there. Rev. Avery Skinner Walker, A.B. and A.M. Oberlin College, Ohio, also graduated at Union Theological Semi- nary, New York City, D.D. from Drury College, Mis- souri. Licensed to preach by the Third Presbytery of New York City. At Needham July 2, 1895 to June 26, 1898. Rev. Ralph James Haughton, Richmond College and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 293 Seminary, near London, England. At Needham May 14, 1899 to June I, 1901. Rev. Frank Philip Estabrook, Syracuse University, Theological School of Boston University. At Needham September i, 1901 to September i, 1903. Rev. Daniel Rolfe Kennedy, Jr., Syracuse University 1902, Hartford Theological Seminary 1905. At Needham September i, 1905 to March 31, 1908. Rev. Melville Arthur Shaver, Toronto University, and Victoria College, the latter for Theology. At Needham September i, 1908 to December 31, 1909. He accepted a call to the Maple Street Church in Danvers, one of the important Churches of the denomination, with an excep- tionally large congregation. Rev. John de La Montaigne Waldron, graduated in 1897 at the Rev. Dwight L. Moody's School at Mt. Hermon, then studied Theology at Pennington Seminary, New Jer- sey. At Needham, 1910- . Several of these ministers were acting pastors, and were never installed over this Church. Deacons : Nelson S. Read chosen March 21, 1872, and April 27, 1873, resigned 1880. Alden Harlow April 27, 1873 to his death September 29, 1890. Asa L. Haskell April 9, 1880 to his death July 19, 1890, aged eighty years and six months. Albert B. Dresser January 24, 1890 to December 31, 1899, and January i, 1902 to his death December 11, 1905. Walter F. Snow January 24, 1890 to Decem- ber 30, 1896. Cyrus G. Upham October 31, 1890 to December 294 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 31, 1898, January i, 1900 to December 31, 1903, and January i, 1905 to his death October 18, 1906. Albert D. Kingsbury, M.D., October 31, 1890 to August 23, 1895 (resigned), and Janu- ary I, 1901 to January i, 1903. December 26, 1895 to Decem- ber 31, 1897, and January I, 1899 to December 31, 1900. December 31,1 896 to November 10, 1897, when he resigned. January i, 1898 to December 31, 1901. January i, 1898 to December 31, 1900. January i, 1901 to December 31, 1904, and January i, 1906- January i, 1903 to May 18, 1906, when he resigned. January i, 1904 to April 29, 1905. January i, 1907- January i, 1907- January i, 1908- Joseph H. Adams George A. Swallow Joseph M. Nickerson Henry M. Walradt Auren J. Whitney George B. Haven Benjamin W. Rideout Henry Shepherson Edgar H. Bowers Almon B. Stetson The deacons were chosen for terms of four years by vote of the Church passed on April 9, 1896, and for some years were formally ordained. The later clerks of the Church have been: — Walter F. Snow 1892-4, who was treasurer 1892-4, '96, '98-July 12, 1907, Albert B. Dresser 1895, ^^^o treasurer, Joseph Willett April 15, 1896- , and is the present efficient THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 295 clerk. Joseph M. Nickerson was treasurer for 1897, and William Willett, son of the clerk, from July 12, 1907 to October 2, 1908. Clerks of the Society: — Dr. Josiah Noyes 1858 to his death in January, 1871, Calvin Perry 187 1-4, William H. Crocker 1875-8, Alden T. Harlow 1879-85, Charles P. Holmes 1885-8, Harold C. Childs 1888, '89, Edgar H. Bowers 1889, '90, Walter F. Snow 1891- . Treasurers of the Society: — John Mills 1857-71, nearly fifteen years, Charles E. Keith 1872-5 (four years), Nathan Parker 1876, Edgar H. Bowers 1877, '78, 1881-5, Albert F. Daniels 1879, Ezekiel C. Frost 1880, Joseph H. Adams 1886, '87, 1892-4 (five years), Albert B. Dresser 1888-91 (four years), Walter F. Snow 1891- . The treasurer was also chosen collector for certain years. SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH Saint John's Church was the first Catholic Church in Needham, and services were held in it on April 18, 1875. It was free from debt when dedicated on May 8, 1881, by His Grace the Archbishop of the Diocese of Boston. The Rev. Michael Dolan was then the pastor, and subsequently the Rev. Patrick H. Callanan has been for many years the priest in charge of this Church. SAINT JOSEPH'S CHURCH Saint Joseph's Church is built upon what was known as the "Ladies' Lot". In the seventies the women interested in removing the meeting-house of the First Parish to the Great Plain raised money and bought this land, and for years it was held by trustees. The corner-stone of Saint Joseph's was laid with impressive ceremonies on September 20, 1891, by the venerable Archbishop Williams, who ar- rived about 3.35, P.M. An eloquent address was given, and the corner-stone was laid about 5.15. It was a perfect 296 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM day, and many persons witnessed the beginning of the first Catholic Church within the limits of the present Town of Needham. For many years the Catholics had attended Saint Mary's Church at Newton Upper Falls. The Church is free from debt, and the number of communicants con- stantly increasing. On Sunday July 2, 1905, three hundred and fifty persons attended the morning service, the Church, including the galleries, seating five hundred. From the beginning to the present time the Rev. Timothy J. Danahy, a graduate of Holy Cross College, has been the pastor, although his principal charge has been Saint Mary's Church at Newton Upper Falls. The Rev. Fr. Danahy has been assisted by the following curates: — The Rev. Matthew T. Flaherty, who was at Saint Mary's over twelve years, but at Needham only a brief time, and since then the pastor at Concord, Mass., the Rev. Cornelius J. RIordan, who was at Needham about ten years, and for some years has been the pastor at Rockport, the Rev. William J. Farrell, who was at Needham a comparatively short time, and is now the curate at Saint Patrick's Church, South Lawrence, the Rev. Frederick J. Allchin, who preached his first sermon at Saint Mary's on New Year's day 1905, and his farewell in this parish on New Year's 1908, now curate at Saint Paul's Church in Dorchester, the Rev. Michael F. Callahan, since curate at Saint Mary's Church in Ayer, the Rev. Denis H. Donovan, who is the present curate. The Rev. Fr. Donovan was formerly at Saint Patrick's Church in South Lawrence. All of these clergy- men have been of Saint Mary's Church, of which Saint Joseph's is the Mission, although the latter is an important Church. Several of these curates have been highly esteemed, and Father RIordan particularly so. His parishioners presented him with a thousand dollars when he left Saint Mary's. The Sunday School numbered one hundred and twenty-five in 1905, and Charles H. Crowley was the super- intendent from its formation until his lamented death on THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 297 December 28, 1910. Saint Joseph's Church has been en- riched by memorial windows donated by the following persons: — Jeremiah F. Buckley, Philip Fanning, Patrick M^Namara, John Sullivan, James J. Shine, Margaret E. Durbin, Ellen and Johanna Collins, Martin J. Walsh, Richard Stanton, Thomas Gahaghan, William H. M'^Owens and Edmond Commins. In the vestibule there is a window in memory of Dennis Crowley, and in the choir are three windows: — one given by the Sunday School, another by the Choir, and the third, the north window, by John H. Fitzgerald. There is also a beautiful window on either side of the altar. A fine memorial window was presented to the new Church at the Upper Falls by Charles H. Crowley some two months prior to his death. The fourteen Stations in Saint Joseph's Church are hand- some, and were presented by the following persons, or by their families as memorials : — I. The Rev. Fr. Timothy J. Danahy, II. Michael Mannix, III. George D. Donovan, IV. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Foley, V. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Reid, VI. Mary Gallant, VII., VIII. and IX. were given by the Lovers of the Holy Cross, X. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Michael O'Keefe, XL Ellen E. Driscoll, XII. Lewis Hasenfus, XIII. Catherine Glancy, XIV. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Gahaghan. The names of the original contributors to this Church were placed in the corner-stone, and it is said that James Mackintosh was the only Protestant whose name is in this list. UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF GRANTVILLE The Unitarian Society of Grantville was formed February 8, 1 87 1, and on May 5 the Rev. Albert Buel Vorse was installed as their minister, and continued to serve them until his death on January 21, 1899. He had been the minister of the First Church in Needham. The first meeting of the Society appears to have been held February 27, 1871, when officers were elected, and the same month the Society pur- 298 ' THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM chased Maugus Hall, and made it into a Chapel. It is singular that this Chapel is now (191 1) John Croswell's house, and the old Orthodox Church is his barn, both having been removed to Forest Street. Maugus Hall was originally the railroad station, and had been moved before it was taken to Forest Street. In 1876 there were twenty-five members of this Society, and the pastor was superintendent of the Sunday School, which consisted of five teachers and forty scholars. The Standing Committee then consisted of John W. Shaw, Rebecca Eaton, David C. Perrin, Harriet P. Lane and William Henshaw. The records of this Society begin with its incorporation, which dates from November 22, 1877. The incorporators were Charles Gavett, Elisha Livermore, John W. Shaw, George H. Howison, Oliver C. Livermore, Oliver Smith, Charles H. Dillaway, David C. Perrin, Josiah A. Osgood, Isaac Sprague, S. Harris Austin, Rebecca Eaton and Louisa E. Austin. The first meeting was held on December 20, 1877, when S. Harris Austin was moderator and Charles Gavett tempo- rary clerk. Mr. Gavett was chosen clerk of the Society, Rebecca Eaton treasurer, and the Standing Committee con- sisted of John W. Shaw, David C. Perrin, George H. Howi- son, Rebecca Eaton and Louisa E. Austin. By-laws were adopted at this meeting. In addition to the thirteen in- corporators twenty-seven other persons signed the record book, assenting to the by-laws, and these forty were the original members of the Society. The twenty-seven referred to were Harriet P. Lane, Sarah A. Gavett, Caroline M. Lane, Sarah E. Shaw, Annie H. Spencer, Hannah A. Eaton, Annie M. Eaton, Eliza A. Kingsbury, M. M. Russell, Harris Russell, James H. Beck, Lizzie H. Beck, Olive C. Valentine, Elizabeth Eaton, Charles M. Eaton, Carrie L. Jenness, Francis D. Fisher, Sarah E. Fisher, Ellen P. Perrin, Abby W. Smith, Mary P. Austin, William Henshaw, Sarah THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 299 H. Henshaw, L. J. Livermore, Sylvester M<=Intosh, Abbie Wells and Mary C. Smith. In 1878 the Society received a legacy of $5000 under the will of Miss Eliza Powers. The first year after the incorporation of the Unitarian Society of Grantville its expenses were $1551.47, fully met by the receipts, which included $675.41 from the Ladies' Sewing Circle. The Rev. Mr. Vorse then had a salary of $1500, but he desired to make a contribution toward the expenses for the ensuing year, which led to the adoption of resolutions thanking him, and expressing the high esteem in which he was held. In January, 1879, the Society lost by death Mr. David C. Perrin, a devoted member, and appropriate resolutions were voted at its annual meeting on April 7, 1879. Repairs of the Chapel were under consideration in 1879, and on May 2 the Orthodox Congregational Society sent a most cordial invitation to the Unitarians to occupy their Church after- noons if the proposed repairs rendered their own place of worship unsuitable for meetings. This kind offer was repeated, and availed of when the new Church was built a few years later. Upward of $500 was expended on the Chapel, of which $500 was from the legacy of Miss Powers. At the annual meeting in 1880 the date for future meetings was changed from the first to the third Monday in April. Two years later there was an article in the warrant regarding changing the name of the Society, but, although no action was then taken, the warrant issued April 9, 1883, was addressed to Oliver Smith, "a member of the Unitarian Society of Welles- ley Hills, formerly Grantville", which new name has con- tinued to 191 1. It does not appear that the Society actually voted to change its name until April 20, 1885, when a com- mittee was chosen to obtain the necessary legislation. In 1890 the by-laws were amended, and the Standing Com- mittee, consisting of five, was chosen for terms of one, two and three years, future elections to be for three years. On April 20, 1885, resolutions were adopted in reference 300 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM to the death of Miss Harriet P. Lane on July 24, 1884. She was not only one of the founders of the Society, but a member of the Standing Committee at the time of her decease, having served since April i, 1878, when she took the place of Mrs. Louisa E. Austin, who had declined re- election. Mr. Gavett was still the clerk of the Society in 1890, and Miss Eaton was the treasurer. Both of them had held these offices prior to the incorporation. S. Harris Austin was the moderator of every Parish meeting from 1877 to 1889, in- clusive. Mr. Shaw had been one of the Standing Committee from the incorporation, and was in office in 1890, apparently its chairman during the entire period. THE NEW CHURCH On May 4, 1886, the Society appointed the following building committee: — John W. Shaw, William Henshaw, Oliver C. Livermore, S. Harris Austin, Emma L Towne, Rebecca Eaton, Charles Gavett, Frederick A. Whiting and Frank F. Baldwin. After many meetings and much con- sideration the Society built In 1887 the beautiful stone Church, which was dedicated November 20, 1888. The earlier plan had been to build a wooden Church costing about $7500, the more elaborate structure having been decided upon May 12, 1887, when the plans of the archi- tects, Rotch & Tilden, were adopted. Of the $7800 con- tributed by persons not members of the Society Mr. Hora- tio Hollls Hunnewell gave $5000. The Honorable Joslah G. Abbott furnished the stone. John W. Shaw not only gave the bell, but built a fireplace and chimney and finished a portion of the building at his own expense, besides bearing part of the cost of the grading. Miss Mary J. Faulkner presented a stained glass window, and Mrs. Sarah G, Badger, Miss Laura G. Dlllaway and Mrs. Clara L. WInton an organ costing $1000. Mrs. Badger's gift of $500 for the organ was a legacy left in her will to the Society. Mr. Shaw THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 301 was the chairman of the building committee and rendered most valuable service, which was recognized by vote of the Society on May 13, 1889. Porter & Fuller were the con- tractors for the foundation. The total cost of the new Church was $18,288.12, and the old Chapel was sold for $400. In 1890 and 1891 the Society built a parsonage, costing about $8000. It Is near the Church, but on the opposite side of the street from It. In nineteen years the Ladles' Sewing Circle contributed $10,288.43 toward the expenses of the Society. There has been no Church organization as distinct from the Society, and no deacons. A large volume called the Register con- tains a record of baptisms, beginning In 1889, and some marriages and deaths. In this book Is a historical summary which says that the Society dates from February 7, 1871, and that the Rev. Mr. Vorse was called April 3, and ac- cepted the 7th. ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH In 1 87 1 an Advent Society was organized at Highland- vllle, and for years met In Low's Block, at the corner of Highland Avenue and West Street, but in 1889 apparently had ceased to hold services. Samuel G. Low was the Elder, and the other chief men were Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, who got his title in 1835 from the then newly organized Bap- tist Church in Newton Upper Falls, and John Hastings, the clerk of the Society. They had few associates, although in 1876 they had a Sunday School of thirty, which was just double the number of Church members. EPISCOPAL CHURCHES The Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, of the Oakland Hall Institute, had services of the Episcopal Church In his school- room Sunday afternoons In the late sixties and early seven- ties, but It was not till several years after the division of the town that there was an attempt to establish an Episco- 302 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM pal Society, although from 1814 many residents of Need- ham had been members of Saint Mary's Church at the Lower Falls, which is but a short distance from the town line. The effort made in the eighties to have Episcopal services on the Great Plain was abandoned after two or three years, the number of Episcopalians not being sufficient to main- tain worship, notwithstanding the devotion of individuals. Charles S. Courtenay, later a lieutenant-colonel, was the organizer of the proposed Society, and the meetings were in the small hall In the upper story of the Moseley Building, since known as the May Building. Services were, however, held from time to time, and on October 28, 1894, the Rev. Frederick Pember, B.A., a graduate of the University of Oxford, and admirably qualified for his work, had a service in the smaller Masonic hall In the Kingsbury Block, with the result that Christ Church was formed on August 19, 1895, with twenty members, the majority of whom were from Highlandvllle. For nearly five years the morning service was in the Masonic Hall, Great Plain, and the Sun- day School met there at noon, the evening service alone being in Highland Hall at Highlandvllle. At Easter 1900 it was decided to have all of the services at Highlandvllle, and the vestry was authorized to procure the necessary land for a Church. They bought 11,600 square feet of land at the corner of Highland Avenue and Mellen Street, with two buildings besides a blacksmith's shop on it. The latter was moved to the rear of the lot, and the other buildings were skilfully transformed into a Church by J. W. M'^Cabe of Newton Lower Falls, according to plans of Gordon Fisher of Newton Highlands. The building committee consisted of James B. Lester, chairman, Albert E. Collishaw and Charles E. Beckman. The lot has a frontage of eighty-three feet on Highland Avenue, and of one hundred and fifty feet on Mellen Street. The Church is sixty feet by twenty-five feet, interior meas- urement, with an altar of quartered oak on which is a solid THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 303 brass cross, the gift of the Sunday School. The Superior of St. Margaret's Home gave an engraved brass altar desk, and service books for the altar and the reading desk. The picture of Christ, above the altar, is the work, and gift, of a local artist, David Richards. The Church is lighted by electricity, and has solid oak pews and choir stall with panelled ends. At the dedication of the Church, on Sep- tember 26, 1900, the Rev. Frederick Pember, the rector, read the first lesson, and the sermon was preached by the Bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence. Addresses were made by the Rev. Mr. Hayes of Saint Andrew's, Wellesley, and by the Rev. Mr. Williams of Grace Church, Newton Highlands. The Church then had seventy members and a flourishing Sunday School. The Needham Recorder for September 29, 1900, contains an account of the dedication, and a description of the Church. Mr. Pember's health failed, and on June 29, 1903, his people reluctantly accepted his resignation, which was dated May ID, and later adopted resolutions expressing their apprecia- tion of his faithful and efficient ministry. On Sunday, October 28, 1906, the Church observed its twelfth anniver- sary, and the Rev. Mr. Pember preached the sermon. It is still (191 1) his custom to preach at Christ Church on Palm Sunday. The successors of the Rev. Mr. Pember have been: The Rev. Arthur Wellesley Chapman, "tempo- rary minister in charge" from November, 1903 to August, 1904, inclusive, the Rev. Newton Black, A.B. from the Philadelphia High School, which has college courses, studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and at the Philadelphia Theological School, and received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity from the latter institution. The Rev. Mr. Black began his ministry in Needham on January i, 1906. The following have been Wardens of Christ Church: Senior Warden — Albert E. Collishaw from August, 1895 to the present time, with the exception of the year beginning at Easter 1896, and ending at Easter 1897, when Eben 304 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Smith was in office, Junior Wardens — Paul R. Hudnut August, 1895-Easter 1896, Albert E. CoUishaw Easter 1896-Easter 1897, Peter Willgoose Easter 1897-Easter 1898, George B. Fowle Easter 1898-Easter 1900, Charles E. Beckman Easter 1900-Easter 1902, William H. Stanton Easter 1902-Easter 1903, Samson Hammersley Easter 1903 to the present time. The other officers in 191 1 are — Clerk William C. Payne, who has served for years. Treas- urer Eben W. Smith, Vestrymen William Mitchell, M.D., William Downes, James A. Ackroyd, John W. Lester and Henry Godfrey, Jr. Six hundred persons are connected with this Church, and one hundred and ninety-seven communicants. The Sunday School numbers one hundred and fifty-two pupils and fourteen teachers. William C. Payne is the superintendent. On February 26, 1896, at eight o'clock in the evening, the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, confirmed twenty persons, the Episcopalians meeting in the Evangelical Congregational Church. These were apparently the first services of the kind held in Needham. HOLY TRINITY MISSION Holy Trinity Mission included the territory from Charles River Village to Highlandville, and was organized in 1900, with the consent of Christ Church, by George B. Fowle and others, who had been active in Christ Church, and its meet- ings were held in the lesser Masonic Hall in the Kingsbury Block. Mr. Fowle had been the superintendent of the Sunday School of Christ Church and continued at the Mission, which was in the care of the Rev. Frank Hoffman Bigelow of Saint Paul's Church, Natick, who was succeeded in this duty by the Rev. William Edward Hayes, rector of Saint Andrew's Church in Wellesley. The Rev. George Nat- tress was the successor of Mr. Hayes both at Saint Andrew's, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 305 and at Holy Trinity Mission. He was followed by the Rev. Arthur Wellesley Chapman, who was for a time in charge of Christ Church. From 1906 to July, 1908, the Rev. Mr. Black of Christ Church also ofhciated at the services of Holy Trinity Mission, which closed with the service on the last Sunday in July, 1908, although it was self-supporting. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH In July, 1897, Mrs. Estelle Russell Freeman arranged to have services of the Christian Science Church at her home, 36 Warren Street, Needham, and in 1898 a Society was formed. In May, 1899, a Sunday School was organized, and in July, 1900, Wednesday evening meetings were commenced. In September, 1901, the congregation had become too large to meet in a private house, and Masonic Hall was secured. On August 65 1902, the First Church of Christ Scientist was organized, and later services were held in Fowler's Hall, until the Society removed to Christian Science Hall, which is in a new building on Great Plain Avenue. The Sunday School includes all under the age of twenty years, and meets directly after the morning service, which is held each Sun- day at 10.45. Oi^ Wednesday evening at 7.45 there is a testimonial and experience meeting to which all are cordially invited. In connection with this Church there is a reading room, which is open to the public from 3 to 5 P.M. every day, except Sundays and holidays, and also on Saturday from 7 to 9 P.M. At this room Christian Science literature may be read on the premises or purchased. The purpose of this Church is to maintain the worship of God in accord- ance with the doctrines and teachings of Christian Science as contained in Science and Health, with Key to the Scrip- tures, by the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy. The Bible and this book are the only pastors of this Church, but Henry A. T. Dow is First Reader, Mrs. Lena L. Clancy Second Reader, and Charles E. Orcutt superintendent of the Sunday School. 3o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The members of this Society are not numerous, but are earnest and zealous in their faith, and ready to work for their Church. CHURCH ATTENDANCE The numerous and useful organizations formed to assist in the work of the different Churches cannot be enumerated in this history, but there are a few that should be mentioned: The Ladies' Aid Society of the First Parish was formed in 1852, and has been the mainstay of the First Church from that year to the present time. The ladies have worked constantly for its social and financial interests, and hold a fair in the early winter, and for some years also an annual May Festival, both of which occasions are attended by the citizens generally, and are regarded as important social affairs. Our Social Club and the First Parish Guild, both of which were formed for the young people during the years that the Rev. Charles A. Allen was the minister of the First Church, were valuable for a time, but were not destined to long life. Number of persons present at the usual religious services held in the Churches and places of worship in Needham, morning and afternoon, on Sunday, May 29, 1859: — A.M. P.M. Average. First Parish 188 172 180 West Needham 162 157 159^ Grantville 118 99 108^ Baptist 65 67 66 Evangelical 64 65 64^ 597 560 578^ The names of persons certified as contributing from 1821 to 1828 to the support of other Churches than that established were: — THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 307 Baptist Church in Weston: — Samuel Sevens. Baptist Church in Newton : — Isaiah Fisk, James Rankins, Joseph Severns, Asa Kingsbury, 2d, John Jones, Luther Hunting, Lewis Smith. Saint Mary's Church, Newton Lower Falls, Episcopal: George W. Hoogs, Abram Rice, Jonathan S. Bartlett, Josiah Smith, Horace Starr, John Hastings, Caleb Bucknam, Lem- uel Lyon, Jonathan Bowditch, Samuel Dalrymple, Henry F. Bartlett, Luther Ware, Henry T. Small, Michael M<'In- tosh, William Bigelow, Nathan Hyde, Joshua Ayers, William Durant, Adolphus Durant, Lemuel Rittenhouse, John Hastings, Jr., Horatio Whitney, David Ayers, Cromwell Whitney, Newell Williams, Woodbury Hill, Dana Hastings, Ebenezer Ayers, Ezra Morse, Thomas Wiggins, John Gill, William Everett, Hezekiah Allen, Joseph Biglow, Otis Smith, H. I. Hotchkiss, Rebecca Stedman, Mary Stedman, Amos Lyon of Newton, Eliphalet Stevens of Weston, Jere- miah Daniell and Harvey Ambler. Saint Paul's, Dedham, Episcopal: — Joshua Brown. Methodist Church in Needham: — Levi Jennings, Henry Travis, Daniel Dedman, Abraham Morrill, Franklin Ste- vens, Aaron Greenwood and Daniel Ware. First Congregational Parish in Natick: — Nathan Dewing, Jr., Ethel Jennings, Reuben Ware, John Atkins, Hezekiah Broad, Elijah Esty, Isaac Biglow, Samuel Morrill, Abraham Biglow, John Atkins, Jr., Calvin Shepard, Calvin Sawin, Ebenezer N. Pettee, Samuel Lawton, Samuel Jones, John Bacon, Amos Bacon, Oliver Bacon, 2d, Rufus Viney.^, Arthur Clark and Dexter Whiting. Some of these men were citizens of Natick, but presumably all were tax-payers in Needham. In 1822 Ethel Jennings and Daniel Ware were certified as of the Church in the West Precinct, and Enos H. Tucker was "a Member of the religious Society in the first Parish in Needham Called Congregational ". 3o8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM CHURCH MUSIC "Jan: 7. iy2Q, jo. At a Chh. Meeting at yf House of B 5 Joseph Boyden. After Prayer, Voted, that it is agreeable to the mind of yf Chh that Mf John Smith tune the Pfalm, if he pleases, when he is present, & able to do it (And read it to (I suppofe) if he chooses to do both. Voted, That Deacon Kingsbury fhall read & tune yf Pfalm in M^ Smithes abfence till May next; Voted. That Canterbury , S* David's, York, Brunswick, Southwel, Pfal : 100 tune, and Litchfield or London be sung regularly in the Congregation till next May". ''Feb : 4. i^2Q. 30. Voted, That the Pfalm be fung regularly at yf time of the Administration of y? Sacrament of the Supper, and that Brother Samuel Parker be desired to Tune the Pfalm in and for the Congregation in the abfence of Mf John Smith". The foregoing is from the Church records, and the fol- lowing from those of the town: — On May 22, 1765, the town voted "no" on the article "To See if the Town will lay aSide the Psalms that were Compofed to be Sung in the Defenting Churches and Con- gregations in New=England ", and also on that "to approve of the Old England Church Psalms (Otherwise Called Brady and Tate)". It was voted "to Sing Docl Watts Hymes in the Publick Worfhip" and "to Agree Upon a Certain Number of Tunes to be Sung". Ensign EUakim Cook, Michael Metcalf and Lieut. Jonathan Day were chosen a committee "to pitch Upon the Tunes that are moft proper", and Ensign Cook, Ebenezer Huntting and Ebenezer Fisher were the "Two or three proper Perfons to Tune the Psalms in the Publick Worfhip". On March 12, 1770, Thomas Alden and Michael Metcalf were chosen "to add to Li* Filher to Tune the Pfalm on the Sabbath Days". At its annual meeting in 1795 the First Parish declined to have a "Chorester or Choresters to lead y^ Tune In Public THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 309 Worship", but in 1798 chose Enoch Mills, Major Moses Man, Capt. Ebenezer M'^Intosh and Nathaniel Wilson, Jr., as choristers, and the Church selected Timothy Smith and Dea. Isaac Shepard as "Choristers for Sacremental occa- sions", and requested "the singers of the Congregation" to join "with the singers of the Chh" at the Communion. In 18 19 Israel Whitney and Dr. Samuel Gould were chosen choristers by the Church, and in 1822 Samuel M'=Intosh took the place of Mr. Whitney. The Church choristers "to regulate" the singing at the Communion were then William W. Mann, Israel Whitney and the Rev. Daniel Kimball. In 1801 the First Parish bought a "Base viol for the use of the Parish in Public Worship". Michael Harris, Jr., was "to use the Same". Harris was a captain in the militia, and prominent as a town and parish officer when in his twenties. He lived on the Metcalf homestead, where the Convalescent Home of the Children's Hospital is now lo- cated. In 1807 the bass viol was for sale, but within the memory of people now living William Willard Mann, a fine musician, played the clarinet, and Dr. Josiah Noyes the violoncello as part of the service. Josiah Eaton played a bass viol in the choir, and Artemas Newell a trombone. There were six instruments In this church orchestra at one period. In the years preceding and following 1900 the services were enriched by the music from the cornet of Howard Tisdale and the violin of Walter E. Morgan. Early in the last century Capt. Timothy Bullard played the bass viol, and at times the clarinet, in the West Precinct, and Post- master Charles Noyes added his flute to the music of the choir. For several decades Solomon Flagg, Jr., sang tenor in this choir, and on secular occasions, such as a Farmers' picnic, often sang Perry's Victory^ and other old songs, when he was more than eighty years of age. Both he and his father, Solomon, Sr., were skilled performers on the snare drum. On December 6, 1813, the Parish voted the large sum of 3IO THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM seventy-five dollars "to support a singing School in s'^ Parish in the Winter ensuing", and liberal appropriations were made for a singing school in later years. Dr. Noyes recorded, under date of January 5, 1829, "Singing School opened — Capt: Brett teacher". There have been many faithful men and women who have sung in the Churches of Needham from their youth to past middle life, and were always in their places, and never received any pecuniary reward. The Eaton family has been prominent in the choir of the First Parish for at least four generations. WiUiam Eaton, who died in 1876 at an advanced age, was for many years a member of it, and was a brother of Josiah Eaton, previously mentioned. Mary Gay, later the wife of Capt. Curtis Mcintosh, and her sister, Lucy, afterward Mrs. Charles Brackett, were in this choir for a long time. They were fine singers, one a soprano, the other an alto, and were daughters of Capt. Jonathan Gay, who lived in the ancient Tolman-Gay house on Central Avenue, now owned by the heirs of Curtis M^ntosh. Lemuel Kingsbury, 2d, was the leader of this choir, and his wife, who played several musical instruments, also ren- dered valuable service. Mr. Lemuel Kingsbury was fol- lowed by Lyman Edward Kingsbury, a tenor singer, who led the choir for thirty years. His son, George Lyman Kings- bury, has sung the bass for a longer period, although not invariably a member of the choir as his father was. The elder Mr. Kingsbury at times led the music with his violin. On April 7, 1895, the 175th anniversary of the Church was commemorated, and John Fisher Mills then read a paper relative to the music in the First Church since the previous century, which paper was printed in the Needham Chron- icle. On March 5, 1905, Mr. Mills sang the tenor for the last time, retiring after a service of thirty years, and the congregation later presented him with a handsome silver "loving cup" suitably inscribed. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 311 In 18 1 3 the St. David Musical Society was formed "for the cultivation and promotion of genuine classical Church Musick", and Included residents of fifteen towns. The three special meetings In each year were held at Framing- ham, and the Anniversary meeting on September 6, In the different towns In rotation, Needham being one of them. MINISTERIAL LAND DEDHAM RECORDS The selectmen of Dedham called a town meeting for No- vember 2, 1710, on account of a school, and "as to an affair refering to the Inhabitants of the north part of this town." At a town meeting on November 13, In compliance with a recommendation of the General Court, notice of which was served on the selectmen "Laft Saturday about twelve of y Clock", on October 31, 1710, "The Town haue by their vote freed the petltlnors of the north part of our town from paying to our minlfters Salary so Long as they shall haue an able minlfter to preach amongst themSelves untlU the generall Court at the Sefions thereof In may next". On February 12, 1710/11, a committee of five was appointed at a town meeting to report at the annual meeting "as to the affair of y° pitltloners of the north part of this town". The report was accepted on March 12, 1710/11. On March 19, 1710/11, "This day It was propofed to the proprietors of this town to Grant to the petitioners of the north part of this town two parcells of land for publick use for the minlstrey one parcell for a houfe Lot and another for a wood Lot the firft parcell abutteth north on Rofemary meadow & eaft and upon away coming from s"^ meadow toward the West [?] and South and upon Rofemary brook in part eaft. The other parcell Is on the Eaft side of north hill abutting upon the way leading to rofemary meadow & Robert ffuller towerds the north containing about 20 acers. The proprietors in Anfwer to the pitltloners doe Set apart and 312 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM referue and grant that the afore s"^ land pititioned for shall be granted to the pitltloners to them and their -ers for ever for the minlftrey from one generation to another for eUer and not to be Sold nor alienated from the miniftrey foreuer but to remain for the publick use for the miniftrey on the north side of charles River." On May 14, 171 1, a committee of two, Capt. Daniel Fisher and Capt. Samuel Guild, was appointed to appear before the General Court to answer the petition of the inhabitants of the North part. It has been said that the total area of this land was one hundred and thirty acres, but according to the deeds and plans there were about one hundred and twenty acres bounded by the present Parish Street, Central Avenue, Nehoiden and Rose- mary Streets, two acres on the west side of Central Avenue, opposite the westerly end of Parish Street, and twenty-one acres on the east side of North Hill. In all about one hun- dred and forty-three acres, including the burying-ground, which in 183 1 was only one acre. The minister of the First Parish Church had the use of a portion of this land as late as the time of the Rev. Mr. Ritchie, 1821-42, and at the division of the town into two parishes the whole of it was appropriated by the First Parish, although the Second Par- ish protested for a century. In 1803 the First Parish de- fended its minister in a suit brought by the Rev. Thomas Noyes, minister of the Church in the West Precinct, "for the said Palmers refusing to Relinquish one half of the Min- isterial Land lying in the East Parish".^ The control of this land by the First Parish was by no means unquestioned by the town, which leased portions of it in 1790 and con- tinued to do so for years. The various notes due to the town for the use of this land by individuals are prominent in the reports of the committee to reckon with the town treasurer subsequent to 1800. The Macintoshes were among * "A Manual for the Congregational Church in West Needham", 1859, calls attention to the alleged violation of trust by the First Parish in alienating the land and failing to devote it to the perpetual support of an Orthodox ministry. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 313 the last, if not the last, to rent a part of the Ministerial land from the town, which land Enoch Fisk petitioned the town in 1801 to divide between the two parishes. In the meantime the First Parish voted on January 21, 1793, to sell part of "y^ Ministeral lands", and a committee headed by Colonel M<=Intosh secured an Act of the General Court, February 24, 1795, authorizing them to sell sixty acres, subject to any rights that the Second Parish might have. The first sale under this Act was of ten acres in 1795, to Jeremiah Kingsbury, who built in 1805 the house that was the residence of the late Arthur Whitaker. Subsequent Acts of the General Court further enlarged the power of the First Parish to sell its lands, and in September, 1896, the site of the first three meeting-houses, with the land south and west, including the old Training Field, was sold to Frederick P. Glover, and in 1902 the sale of the cemetery and the land to the north of it completed the alienation of the Ministerial land. In 1830 Dea. Asa Kingsbury with William Ellis, both competent surveyors, made a plan of the Parish land, showing the sales to that year, but not including the tract on North Hill, or that adjoining Rose- mary Meadow. After the town ceased to interfere, the First Parish leased portions of its land for cultivation and pas- turage, and at times derived considerable sums from the sale of wood. There were many years when the minister did not avail of his privilege of using this land, or required only a part of it. In 1908 Miss Martha Anna Clarke pur- chased of the executor of Mr. Glover the site of the meeting- houses, the Training Field, and some land in front of the Nehoiden Block Lot, which is also a part of the Ministerial land. The following items from the town records illus- trate the customs of the past: On November 29, 1723, the town "Voted that their Should be fouer men Chosen to notifie the whole Town to Cut & Cart wood for y« R** mr Townsend", and Captain Fisher, Joseph Boyden, Samuel Parker and Christopher Smith were chosen. At the March 314 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM meeting in 1725 Mr. Townsend offered to accept £10 in lieu of wood, and on May 17 the town voted to give him £7. On March 29, 1728, Captain Fisher, Deacon Woodcock, James Kingsbery, Robert Fuller and Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., were chosen by the town to run the lines "in the Ministry land ". The lands of Deacon Woodcock and of James Kings- bery joined the "Ministry land" on the west, on North Hill. In June, 173 1, John Fisher, Peter Edes and William Chub were designated to fence ten acres on this hill for Mr. Townsend's use "for His Cows & Other Creatures". A rate of £40 was voted, and the fence was to be done by August I, but there was delay, and discussion about it in several town meetings, and in 1732 another committee was chosen, but nothing was done. In May, 1738, Captain Cook, Jeremiah Woodcock, Joseph Haws, Peter Edes and Jona- than Smith were named to view a piece of land that Mr. Townsend wished to have fenced, and the meeting was adjourned for half an hour. When they came together to resume their legislative duties, the committee reported that it would cost £20 to fence ten acres, which was voted, and Captain Cook and Jeremiah Fisher were to expend it, the lumber to be obtained on the Ministerial land. In March, 1738/9, John Fisher, Esq., and Henry Dewing were to fence the land, and in July, 1741, the selectmen were in- structed that this ten-acre tract was "to be fenced in to Ds Jeremiah Woodcock". The following February the town chose Deacon Woodcock, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf and Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., to run the line between the Min- isterial land and that of Samuel Daniell. On September 12, 1743, the town voted to pay Mr. Townsend £20 for fencing this land; as the town had been going to do it for twelve years, it is not strange that Mr. Townsend, who probably needed the pasture, finally did it himself. In 1755 the town refused to fence ten acres for a "pafter", but in 1761 Amos Fuller, Jr., Aaron Smith, Jr., and James Man were chosen to fence "a Part of the Miniftrey Land this THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 315 year", viz., the east side and the south end with a Stone Wall this year", and a tax of £13, 6s., 8d. was voted for the purpose. In 1760 a committee was to renew the bounds around the "Towns Land", possibly the "School Land", but presumably the "Ministeral Land". In May, 1765, the town rejected a proposition to sell the Ministerial land, "Excepting Proper Places for the Meeting Houfe: Burying Place and Training Field". From time to time committees were chosen to renew the bounds around this land, and in 1766, or 1767, Deacon Hewins made a plan of It. For assisting Deacon Hewins, Nathaniel Fisher was granted fourteen shil- lings, Dea. John Fisher 7s., 6d. for three days' time, and Michael Metcalf four shillings. Amos Fuller, Jr., was paid three shillings "for some Entertainment" for the "Surveyor" and Lieutenant Day i6s., 6d. for assisting and paying Deacon Hewins in part, also for searching records and "for a Quarter of a Lamb he found for their Use when they were Planing Said Land". In March, 1768, a proposition to sell wood to pay for this plan was voted down. BROOKLINE MINISTERS' WOOD LOT IN NEEDHAM On March 5, 1759, Samuel White of Brookline conveyed to the selectmen of that town twenty acres of land on the north side of the Sherborn road in Needham, for a "minis- terial" wood lot. In 1805 it was called in the Brookline town records "the Church Lot in Needham", and it was assessed to the First Parish of Brookline in 1880, the year preceding the division of our town, and was then eighteen and one quarter acres. CEMETERIES The Needham Cemetery Includes a portion of the land granted by the inhabitants of Dedham In 1710/11 for the support of the ministry on the north side of the Charles River. On December 4, 171 1, the Town of Needham chose a committee consisting of the five selectmen and Jonathan 3i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Gay, Jeremiah Woodcock, Thomas Metcalf and Eleazer Kingsbery to "Stake and Bound outt a pleace for the Buerr- ing of the dead of this town in". They selected the well- known place, where interments are said to have been made prior to 171 1, the first that of a child in the winter season. The earliest date of a death, recorded on a stone, is Decem- ber 4, 171 1, which is scratched on a rough field stone in memory of Edward Cook. Barely an acre of ground re- ceived nearly all of the dead of the town, until the space was exhausted, although only a fraction of the graves are marked by stones. On May 20, 1728, the town designated "the Second Mon- day of June Next for to Clear the burrying place". On June 24, 1776, the town voted "That the Burying Place Should be Inlarged", and chose a committee of seven to attend to it, but it does not appear that any report was made, or any action taken, and in 1778 the First Parish assumed the responsibility for the burying-ground, and four years later voted to enlarge it. In June, 1837, the Parish voted to allow Royal Mcin- tosh and Mrs. Rebeckah Newell and children to build tombs, but it does not appear that they availed of this permission. In 1839 the sexton was authorized to charge not less than fifty cents, or more than a dollar and a half, for the inter- ment of a person not of the Parish, the money received to be applied to keeping the gates and grounds in "repair". In 1842 it was voted "that our Burying Ground be free and accessible to any one living in the town or who may wish to bring their friends from out of any other town to be buried there". On April 10, 1843, Edgar K. Whitaker, Newell Smith, George Revere, the Rev. Mr. Kimball and Thomas Kingsbury were chosen to see what could be done to improve the appearance of the burying-ground, and they made an interesting report on June 26. They stated that on the 14th "a large gathering of the native inhabitants of the town resident and non-resident, with other friends met at THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 317 the Rev. Mr Maynard's Meeting House and after religious services and addresses," the company partook of the re- past prepared by the ladies near the Church". Ira Cleve- land of Dedham and Dr. John D. Fisher of Boston had accepted Invitations to speak, and presumably did so. From this "Tea Party" the Charitable Sewing Society realized $155.17 for the burylng-ground. At a meeting held by the women on June 19 they asked that four men be added to the committee "for improving the Burial Ground", and on the 26th William Stedman, Warren Dewing, John Mills and William Pierce became members of the committee, of which Mr. Kimball was the treasurer and Mr. Whitaker the secretary. In April, 1844, acting on the report of the committee. It was voted to enlarge the burylng-ground, but not at the expense of the Improvement fund, by Including a strip of land "not to exceed in extent ten rods beyond the present bounds"; a similar vote was passed in November, 1846. The size of the burylng-ground, about 1843, and prior to the addition of this new section, which included Mr. Whitaker's own lot, is Indicated by the walls on the east and west. The tombs were on the western boundary until the forties. A row of trees Indicates the course of an earlier eastern wall, and the present wall Is twenty feet east of the former one. This "Committee on the Improve- ment of the Burying Ground" continued an annual one until 1870, when the Parish Committee was given full con- trol of the cemetery. In 1862 a form for deeds to be given to the purchasers of lots was first considered, but it does not appear that such deeds were in use earlier than 1870, when the question of selling the cemetery was referred to a committee, as were several propositions as to deeds, regulations, etc. At that time It was voted to have a plan of the cemetery, but the elaborate volumes of plans, showing the location of each grave, were not in use till about 1895. After propositions to sell the cemetery had been familiar for years, James 3i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Mackintosh and other prominent citizens formed an asso- ciation, which was Incorporated In 1884 as the Needham Cemetery Association, but did not effect a purchase of the graveyard from the First Parish. In 1899 there was a new Act of Incorporation, with the result that on November 29, 1902, the Parish conveyed the cemetery to the Association for $3750. Five trustees with a treasurer are now In control, and many improvements have been made. John F. Mills, superintendent since 1883, has from the beginning of his administration managed the cemetery according to business principles and modern Ideas, of which his predecessors were innocent. There have been conflicting statements as to what changes were made in 1846, when there was a general turn out of the Inhabitants of the town to clear up and plough the burylng-ground. It Is reasonably certain that many stones were then lying about, and that others were taken up, and not put back correctly, and therefore no longer mark the last resting places of those they commemorate. The remains of the Rev. Jonathan Townsend and family are in the valley, near the road, and in a line with the grave- stone of Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, but prior to 1907 the stones were for many years on the hill, and several rods east of their proper locations. When the fine new wall was built in 1875, principally from a legacy of $300 received under the will of Mrs. Sarah Fuller, the line was straightened, and a number of graves were disturbed.^ Mrs. Fuller was the widow of Timothy S. Fuller, and died February 25, 1874, and In 1876 the Parish voted that her lot should have per- petual care, which it has since had. At the March meeting of the First Parish In 1871 it was voted to have the tombs closed, rounded and grassed over. There were then five ^ The bones from these graves were put into the bank. The writer has heard remarkable stories of the skeleton of a very tall man, found when the bank was dug into, and of an ancient coffin with three silver handles on each side. The burying-ground was doubtless encroached upon when an earlier wall was built. The granite stairs to the east of the Fuller monument, leading from the sidewalk, were taken away in 1875 when this new wall was made. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 319 tombs. The Palmer-MTntosh tomb, built in 1803, was in a crumbling condition. It was broken in and largely re- moved, when some remains were placed in lots, but those of Colonel M'^Intosh and his son, Major Ebenezer, with their wives and members of their families are in the bank next to the Fuller Tomb. In 1909 James Mackintosh laid the foundation for a handsome monument, completed in 1910, and inscribed with the names of the Colonel and his wife, and of the Major and his wife. The Fuller tomb, perhaps the oldest, was elaborately rebuilt in 1872, but the Harris Tomb, constructed in 181 2, and which joins the Fuller Tomb on the north, shared the fate of the Mcintosh Tomb. The fourth tomb was the strongly built vault of Moses Gar- field & David Ayers, 18 17, from which the mound was removed by Superintendent Mills without injury to the masonry. Lieutenant Garfield was given leave to construct this tomb in 1816. The granite receiving tomb, and its duplicate in the yard of the Church in Wellesley, were built in 1854 by the town, under the direction of a committee consisting of the select- men and Sextons George Jennings and George E. Eaton. The work was done by William Jones, a skilful mason. Five ancient gravestones have disappeared since 1861, pre- sumably when the wall was built. The stones missing are those of Joseph Danels, the ancestor of a family prominent in Needham, who died in 1720, of Ester Smith, died 1724, aged 4 yrs., of Margret Wodcok, died 1727, of Nathaniel Tolman, died 1729, and of Israel Gill, died 1744, aged 3 yrs.^ The present gravestone of Nathaniel Tolman was formerly that of Mrs. Lucy S. Lyon, who died in 1833, and whose name was cut on a new monument in a lot in 1876, when the slate gravestone was abandoned. Subsequent to 1890 Mrs. Anna M. Tolman Pickford obtained this stone, had it skilfully re-cut in imitation of the lost slab, and erected where the grave of her kinsman Tolman is said to be. Mr. * The spelling of the names is verbatim from the missing stones. 320 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Mills recovered twenty-four footstones from culverts in 1898, and all but one, possibly two, were restored to their proper locations. In the years 1904-07 the elaborate Greene Mausoleum was built by Mariette R. Greene, and cost, with the land, upward of $20,000. On April 14, 1864, Lauren Kingsbury, Galen Orr and Abijah Greenwood were chosen a committee by the town to report on "enlarging the Burying Ground in the Centre of the Town", but there was no result, and in 1873 the selectmen urged the town to establish a new cemetery remote from population. In 1874 the question of establishing two cemeteries was referred to a committee consisting of Dr. Elbridge G. Leach, William R. Mills, Enos H. Tucker, L. Allen Kingsbury and Lewis Wight. The following March the committee reported that the town should buy of Jona- than Fuller the land which later became Woodlawn Ceme- tery, and add to it the land which the Wellesley Congrega- tional Church had acquired some years before for cemetery purposes, but had never used; these two parcels together would be thirty acres. For the East they advised purchas- ing the First Parish Cemetery, and adding to it the O'Neil and Morton properties, thus increasing the acreage of that cemetery from eighteen to forty acres. William R. Mills, a good representative of the old sentiments and traditions of the town, made an able minority report of eleven pages, reviewing the history of the burying-ground, and asserting that the town still owned it. He referred to the tender associations with the old yard, and urged the inhabitants of the East and West to be united in death if they could not be in life. Mr. Mills did not think the committee fairly made up, and questioned their judgment in advising the purchase of the Fuller land for the West, believing, if they must have a separate cemetery, that there was a large tract of more available land south of Wellesley Avenue. The town dismissed the whole matter, but ordered the reports printed. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 321 FUNERALS In the old days the bearers actually bore the remains to the burying-ground, often walking with their burden for miles, and it is perhaps not strange that stimulant was required. Later an open wagon painted black was used, and by 1802 the parishes appear to have owned "Herses", but in 1845 the town purchased two hearses for $230, and in 1867 two new "funeral cars" for $1300, thus for a time owning four hearses, until one of them was sold to Daniel Warren for $15. The committee to buy the "funeral cars" in 1867 consisted of James Mackintosh, Moses Winch and Sexton George E. Eaton, and in 1868 two new hearse- houses were built by the town. The one in the West cost $264.75, and was built by Hezekiah Fuller. One of the old hearse-houses was moved in 1874, ^^^ '^^ ^o"^ the tool- house of the Needham Cemetery. In the early seventies there was an old hearse kept in a shed at the east end of the line of horse sheds in the rear of the First Church. The town also owned the biers, which usually cost $10 each, and kept them in repair. On January 29, 1717/8, the town voted "to provid a buerall Cloath", and in 1753 Timothy Newell was granted £3, IIS. "for Broad Cloth and Triming for a Poole or Grave Cloth", presumably the same referred to in the order of July 15, 1754, allowing John Brown 5s., 4d. "for Making up a Grave Cloth". In March, 1807, the First Parish voted to buy a "Burying cloath". On January 30, 1753, Dea. Josiah Newell was granted 9s., 3d. "for Six pair of Gloves for the funeral of Nicholas Mutter", and three years later seven pairs were required for the funeral of a man who had been a great expense to the town. In 1773 the town buried a French and Indian War veteran from the house of Michael Bacon, and the cost of the gloves was considerable. The town paid for "Lining to Lay out" the poor, and In 1783 It cost four shillings for each sheet used for that pur- 322 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM pose, but in 1843 "grave Cloths" for a woman were valued at $1.65. In 1825 "cambrick" was used for "gownes" to lay out both men and women, but In 1799 three yards of India cotton, with tape and thread, had been used for the shroud of a poor woman. There was no Church bell in town till 181 1, and on March 30, 18 1 2, the First Parish adopted elaborate regulations, prepared by the Rev. Mr. Palmer, for ringing the bell on various occasions, including the "passing bell" the morning after a person deceased. When the writer was a boy it was customary for Charles A. Hines, or Francis Asbury Burrill, to toll the Church bell as soon as a death was known, and the strokes were counted by many people who stopped to listen, as now when an alarm of fire is given. In the early seventies Sumner B. Mills had a long-haired hound named Butler, with a powerful voice, and whenever the bell tolled Butler stationed himself on the terrace in front of the Mills house, which was a short distance west of the Church, and in a most effective manner howled in unison with the bell, beginning and ceasing with each stroke. The tolling con- tinued for a long time when the decease of an aged person was thus announced. In the first half of the last century the town paid for tolling when one of the poor died. For many years "Frank" Burrill, referred to as tolling the bell, was one of the best known, most officious and omnipresent individuals in town. See sketch of him later in this volume. In 1727 Robert Fuller was granted seven shillings for digging the grave of the first person assisted by the Town of Needham, and in 1753 Dea. Josiah Newell acted as undertaker. From 1756 to 1775 Theophilus Richardson, Moses Dewing and Josiah Lyon were the gravediggers, and 2s., 8d. appears to have been their regular charge for digging the grave of an adult. A short time before the war this was increased to 3s., 4d., and in 1774 Mr. Richardson was paid by the town 2s., 8d. for digging the grave for a child. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 323 Amos Fuller was undertaker and gravedlgger for twenty years, or more, his career extending into the last century. Elijah Ware dug graves in 1787, '88, and Epes Mansfield in 1794. In 1804 Luther Dana, the first sexton of the West Precinct, charged $2.50 for the grave of a woman, including "extra in diging away the snow &c", and seventy-five cents "for Liquor he paid for the people who afsisted in burying the said Mary". Until late in the nineteenth cen- tury no attempt was made to open graves in the cemetery in East Needham when the ground was frozen hard, and some winters the receiving tomb had many temporary oc- cupants. Charles A. Hines dug graves for thirty years, or more, between 1840 and 1880, and after his time Luther Kingsbury, a worthy and respected citizen, was long a familiar figure in the cemetery, serving as "first grave- digger". He was lame and bent, and appeared aged and feeble, but was absent from his work only four days prior to his death on May 4, 1904, and the grave of a child, made by an associate, alone intervened between the last one dug by Mr. Kingsbury and his own. Capt. Ebenezer Fisher, who lived in the old house on the corner of Central Avenue and Charles River Street, made the coffins for more than one generation, and prior to the depreciation of the currency charged the town from six shillings to 7s., 4d. for the coffin of an adult, and some- times not more than is., 9d. for that of a child. In 1781 he was granted £80 in currency for making the coffins for two widows, who had long been on the town, and who died in 1780. Amos Fuller was allowed £24 of the same kind of money for digging their graves. From 1783 to 1800 the town paid from $2 to 13s., 6d. for the coffins of grown people, and Joseph Mudge, John Tolman and John Clark made coffins during this period. It is difficult to judge of the cost of the funerals of the well- to-do from prices paid by the town, but from an old bill it appears that in 1802 Amos Fuller charged John Tolman 324 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM only $6 "for his mothers Coffin, diging the Grave and attendance". The sextons of the West Precinct, Luther Smith, 2d, 1815-32, and Dea. Hezeklah Fuller, 1833-50, often furnished coffins, but William Eaton, Jr., and his sons, evidently made most of the coffins for the town from about 1825 until it became the custom to buy them ready made. The ven- erable Augustus Eaton said that It was often necessary to work at night and on Sunday in order to have the coffin ready in season, and there were Instances when It was made before the death of a person fatally ill. Richard Boynton, well remembered by some of our citizens, also made coffins. The town paid $3 to $4 for the coffin for an adult and $2, or less, for that of a child during the first half of the last century. When a certain man died at a great age, who had been prominent In Needham, but in his last days obliged to ask aid, the town expended more than usual in order that the coffin might have "trimlngs". From 1890 to 1895 Charles Curtis Greenwood contributed to the Dedham Historical Register "epitaphs from the OLD BURYING GROUND, NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. With Notes." After Mr. Greenwood's decease In 1897 George Kuhn Clarke edited the balance of the manuscript contain- ing two hundred and thirty epitaphs, which appeared in the Dedham Historical Register in 1897 and 1898. The latter year a reprint edition of sixty-five copies was Issued, con- taining six hundred and twenty-five epitaphs and Including nearly all of the inscriptions to the year 1861; also the dates of upward of five hundred births, baptisms, marriages and deaths, not found upon the stones. SEXTONS AND SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE CEMETERY IN EAST NEEDHAM Timothy Smith 1800, Capt. John Tolman 1 801-4 (four years), Royal Mcintosh 1805-7 (three years), Capt. Jona- than Gay 1808-11, '13, '17-25, '28, probably also in 1826 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 325 (sixteen years), Israel Whitney, Esq., 1812, '14-16, '29, '31-9, probably also in 1830 (fifteen years), Capt. Abijah Greenwood 1827, Dea. Thomas Kingsbury 1840-50 (eleven years), George E. Eaton 1851-73 (twenty-three years), Charles Willard Morton 1873, as associate of Mr. Eaton, 1874-82 alone (ten years), John F. Mills January 8, 1883- . The election was held in March until 1874. At the parish meeting on December 28, 1874, the office of superintendent was created, and that of sexton discontinued. For nearly two years the title of superintendent had been used by Mr. Morton. Officers of the Needham Cemetery Association: — Tempo- rary president Edgar H. Bowers, treasurer William Moseley, resigned November 22, 1902, clerk George Willard Tisdale; all chosen on January 16, 1900. Trustees : — William Carter 1903- , chosen president by the trustees on January 19, Dea. William Moseley 1903- April, 1904 (resigned), George Willard Tisdale 1903- , Edgar H. Bowers 1903- , Emery Grover 1903- , George K. Clarke 1904 (April 26)-September 8, 1910 (resigned), Joseph B. Thorpe, April 191 1- . Treasurers: — Emery Grover, temporary, succeeding Mr. Moseley on November 29, 1902, George Lyman Kingsbury January, 1903-April, 1904, Harrie S. Whittemore 1904- June, 1906 (resigned), clerk 1903-6, Thomas Sutton June 2, 1906- , also clerk. The first election of officers after the purchase of the ceme- tery was on January 5, 1903, when trustees were chosen. WEST NEEDHAM About 1774 a graveyard was commenced south of the location selected for the new meeting-house in the West, but the earliest interment there represented by a grave- stone is that of Ebenezer Huntting, who died June 22, 1777, aged twenty-two years, a victim to disease contracted in the army. The burying-ground was later enlarged, and 326 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Miss Betsey Brown, who died in 1855, left a bequest, from which the Church realized about $6000, for its further exten- sion, and in 1858 land was purchased west of the grave- yard, but in 1871 this was sold, and land bought on Welles- ley Avenue. This old graveyard was sadly neglected for years and suffered from vandalism, although a benefactor of Wellesley College is buried there, and interments have been made within a few years. In 1898, at the time of the Centennial of the Church, there was some attempt to clear up, and in 1906 a Village Improvement Society did effective work, and without offending those who reverence "God's acre". In the past there has been much done in this yard that was objectionable to the antiquary. The roads through the graveyard were constructed years ago, and it is not clear what happened then, but there are graves under these roads. WOODLAWN CEMETERY On May 2, 1871, the town granted to the Wellesley Con- gregational Society the right to use for a cemetery "any land that they may buy of Jonathan and Edwin Fuller and James Welsh, either or all of them"; an Act of the General Court had been obtained March 24, 1871. This land, which is on Wellesley Avenue, was purchased in 1871, but was sold, and land on Brook Street acquired, which became Woodlawn Cemetery in 1877. This exchange was ratified by vote of the town on April i, 1878. The remains of more than two hundred persons have been removed from the graveyard in Wellesley to this one, and the Wellesley Con- gregational Society owns a series of lots in the northern section, where are about forty ancient slate stones brought from the old yard, with the bones of those that they com- memorate. In many instances the foot-stones are said to have been left in the old graves. In 1882 the Wellesley Congregational Society sold the cemetery to a corporation for $1800 and $1000 in stock, and later a portion of this THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 327 stock was transferred in exchange for the lots In Woodlawn Cemetery, which are credited to the Betsey Brown Fund. GRAVEYARD IN NORTH NATICK The old graveyard on Main Street, North Natick, is the burial place of many early inhabitants of Needham, some of their gravestones bearing dates prior to 1750. Since 18 12 some residents of the Lower Falls, Needham side, have been laid to rest in the yard of Saint Mary's Church. For an elaborate account of these graveyards see EPITAPHS FROM GRAVEYARDS IN WELLESLEY (FORMERLY WEST needham), north NATICK, AND SAINT MARY's CHURCHYARD IN NEWTON LOWER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, with Genealogical and Biographical Notes by george kuhn CLARKE, LL.B., I9OO. This book contains five hundred and forty-five dates of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths not found upon the stones. SAINT MARY'S CEMETERY The greater part of the land now this cemetery was sold at auction on December 15, 1873, by Samuel E. Sewall of Melrose, guardian of Amasa Winchester, the ward owning over two hundred acres in Needham. The property was bought for $2873.73 on behalf of Archbishop Williams, and the deed stated that the area was thirty-five acres and 21,916 square feet. In March, 1879, the town consented that the Turner lot, which is one half acre between Wellesley Avenue and Cedar Street, should be used for a cemetery. It had been pur- chased the previous June of Mrs. Eliza Morgan, formerly Mrs. John Turner,, who had married Henry B. Morgan of Newton. Mrs. Bridget Egan, wife of Patrick Egan, died September 7, 1878, aged sixty-five years, and was the first to be buried in this cemetery, which in 191 1 has many tenants, and contains some fine monuments. ^Ci)00ls! Until 1795 the school-houses were owned by proprietors, and there is but little reference to them in the town records. On May 12, 17 14, the town voted that "Matthew Tamling & John Fisher Should teach Children to read and wright". Both men were residents of the town, and Mr. Fisher was a prominent member of a prominent family. On January 14, 1718/19, the town voted to have a "moving Schoole and Keep* at three places in the Town", and appropriated £6, which Jeremiah Woodcock, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and John Smith, Jr., were to expend in carrying out the vote. In October, 17 19, Mr. Woodcock had an order for £2 for taking care of the school one month, which probably in- cluded procuring and paying a teacher, and in March, 1719/20, John Smith, Jr., had £1 "for taking y^ care of y^ Scholle" for two months. At the annual meeting on March 21, 1720/1, the town directed the selectmen to take "pru- dent Care" to have a school "for the good of the town & advantag of Childran", and appropriated £6 "for y® Charg of y° Schoole". On December 11 Ensign Thomas Fuller and John Fisher were appointed "to treat with mr Danill Fuller to keep Schoole", and he was paid £8 for teaching fifteen weeks, probably in different parts of the town. Mr. Fuller was born April 20, 1699, son of Thomas and Esther (Fisher) Fuller, graduated from Yale College in 1721 (A.M.), and became a minister. The foregoing is all the information contained in the records of Needham as to its schools and teachers during the first decade of its existence as a town. A school is supposed to have been kept on our side of the river for a time before the incorporation. WEST END SCHOOL-HOUSE JONATHAN BACON S HOUSE THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 329 On February 27, 1722/3, the selectmen received £5 from the executors of Samuel Aldridge, a gift from Mr. Aldridge for the maintenance of the school, and on November 29 the town voted to have "a Stated Schoole", and granted £6 for it. On January 11, 1725, £15 were appropriated, and the Inhabitants of the West End, The Leg, were to have their share of the money to maintain "a Schoole amongst them". It was also voted "that their Should be a Schoole Keept in four parts of the town", viz., one near the house of John Smith, another near the home of Ephraim Ware, who apparently lived close to the Rosemary Brook, where a dam later formed Longfellow's Pond, the third near the house of Deacon Woodcock, and the fourth near Joshua Smith's. Stephen Bacon was to receive the money "Belonging to the Weft End of the Town for thare benefit of a school for the yeare 1725". There were three school- houses in the West End prior to 1800, and the first one is said to have stood on land now owned by Dea. Willard Amory Wight, the second on the estate of the heirs of Edmund M. Wood, and the third, a well-remembered building, stood close by the road, at the foot of the hill, on the west side of Bacon Street. The site of the latter is owned by the heirs of John Bacon, 3d. One of the school-houses was of brick, presumably the second, as the earliest was a "moving school" and hauled about by oxen, and is said to have been drawn as far as Wellesley Flills. On May 16, 1726, the town considered a proposition to build a school-house, and the following March the need of a "chool houfe or houfen" engaged attention, but without immediate results in either instance. On October 3, 1726, the town had voted to peti- tion the General Court that the unimproved lands of non- residents might "be Rated for the use of the Chool". Other quotations from our quaint old records indicate that for some years "Chool" was a favorite spelling of "School". On May 17, 1727, two petitions were before the town, the first, dated May 13, was signed by Jonathan Dewing 330 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM and ten other men, and stated that the westerly Inhabitants had been to the expense of purchasing and moving a school- house, and requested the town to establish a place for it "Neare the place where it Now ftandeth". The town consented, provided the petitioners would pay for the land. This quaint petition is printed verbatim In the book known as Clarke's Wellesley Epitaphs, pages 126 and 127. The location of the building was probably the one near Widow "Orgiles" (Orgills), which the town voted on May 20, 1728, to "DIfalow". The other petition was signed by Ebenezer Ware and twenty-six others, and asked the town to build a school-house "att the Meetting Houfe", and the yeas "had it". At the annual meeting in 1743/4 there was an article In the warrant to annul this vote of May 17, 1727, and on March 11, 1754, the town declined to build a school- house near the meeting-house. At the same May meeting in 1727 it was voted that inhabitants that subscribed for no place for a school should pay "to the School Neareft there Dwellings". On May 6, 1728, a petition of Joslah KIngsbery and twenty-four other men living In the west part of the town was presented, and they pledged them- selves to pay William Chub if he would build a school-house between the houses of Nathaniel Bullard and Henry Pratt. On June 24 the same men took measures to obtain a school- house, as their plan to build one near the house of Daniel Pratt had been approved by the town on May 20, when £12 were appropriated for the schools. The subscription to pay Mr. Chub amounted to £31, los., and apparently by 1732 a school-house was located on Linden Street, Wel- lesley Hills, near Mrs. John W. Shaw's house which was oc- cupied in 1905 by the Livermore family. The Rev. Daniel Kimball in his valuable series of historical papers, given before the Lyceum in the winter of 1 841/2, said that there was such a school-house, and mentions 1732 as the date. There does not appear to have been any school in what is THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 331 now Wellesley Hills at the time of the War of the Revolution, or for seventy-five years after, and the fate of the building of 1732 is not revealed. John Smith was paid £3 for keep- ing school in January, 1726/7, and Samuel Wilson, also a Needham man, a like sum for teaching the following month in the same winter. Mr. Smith had a school in April and May, 173 1. Joseph Pynchon, A.M., Harvard 1726, was paid £12, 15s. for keeping school in 1727. On July 4, 1729, the selectmen appointed Abigail Parker "Single woman", to keep school "one month or two this year". She taught two months that summer, apparently In the West, and was paid £3, 4s. by the hands of Henry Pratt, who in December was chosen "to treat with M' Robert pepper for to Keep a School amongst us" for "one Month or two this winter". Miss Parker taught in Needham terms of two months in the summers of 1730 and 1733, and is the first female teacher of whom we have any record. In those days the teacher rarely remained more than four weeks in the same part of the town, for its territory was too large for one school, and the children of the West had to share with those of the East. In the spring of 1729/30 John Goodenow receipted for seventeen shillings allowed the families west of Natick Brook for a school, and that section subsequently had its share of the appropriation. In the summer of 1730 Miss Jemima Littlefield kept school in Needham for two months, and for thirty years she continued our "School Dame", with the occasional omission of a summer. It is possible that she taught every summer, and that the selectmen's records are incomplete. There seems to be a more connected story of the schools in the West, where she often taught, than of those in the East. Apparently her last term was in 1760. She was a daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia Littlefield of Newton Lower Falls, and was born August 19, 1697, and died in 1773. The only other woman who taught in Needham for many 332 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM years, when Massachusetts was a Province, was Mrs. Hannah Coller, who was the widow of Mr. Horton when she married Joseph Coller on November lo, 1732, and in 1762, or earlier, she was again a widow. She taught in all of the districts, with the possible exception of the West End, and was often the mistress of the Great Plain school. Her first term, the place not stated, was In the summer of 1745, and her last in that of 1773, when she taught the Brick school twelve weeks. She died In 1800 or 1801. In 1729 twelve shillings were paid to William Ockinton, East, for the use of his house for a school. In the summer of 1730 Captain Cook, John Smith, Robert Fuller, Josiah Kings- bery and Andrew Dewing were chosen to answer the peti- tion for a school which the Westerly inhabitants had pre- sented to the General Court, and this petition may have led to an appropriation of £20 made at this time, with the further result that in September the selectmen "agreed for to Hier a Gramer Schoole Mafter" for two months. Captain Cook and Henry Pratt, who had a good deal to do with the schools, were to "agree" with a master, and to provide a place for his "Entertainment". Robert Cook, the younger, was engaged for that winter, the next year for five months, and at intervals to 175 1. In May, 173 1, John Smith and Henry Pratt were "to Treat with and agree with a Schoole Dame or Miftris to Keep a School at the Schoole Houfe for the space of Three months next Coming in"; evidently a departure in the direction of more education. A petition of the "Most Easterly or South Easterly Inhabitants", dated January 17, 173 1/2, was granted on March i, and the town approved the location which the petitioners, Joseph Boyden, who lived on the Blackman place, and twenty-nine others had obtained for a school-house, — "a Corner of Land Belonging to Samuel Bacon at the Crofs ways Near the Houfe of Caleb Smith". Early in 1733 the town treasurer paid twelve shillings for the use of a house to keep school in. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 333 There were years when the town neglected to maintain a school as required by law, and was presented at the Court of Quarter Sessions and fined £1, 17s. Dea. Timothy Kings- bery paid the fines, and in 1734 and again in 1736 he was reimbursed by the town. The Dedham Historical Register for 1903 contains an exhaustive account of the schools and teachers in Needham to 1775, with the exception of some of the teachers for the years 1771-5, and only a few of the more conspicuous teachers from 173 1 to the present time will be mentioned in this history, as there have been several hundred employed by the town. Mr. Clarke also contributed to the same publication in 1900 and 1901 articles giving particulars as to the schools and teachers from the spring of 1841 to that of 1843, and from 1851 to 1859. In the spring of 1741, and subsequently, there was a school in the house of Jeremiah Fisher, on Charles River Street. The house was later known as the "Liddy Fisher House". In February, 1747/8, the selectmen gave an order of £6 to Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery and to Josiah Newell, Jr., "for their Going to Bofton upon the account of the Town Being profeuted for not Keeping a Schoole". At the March meeting in 1752 the town considered the question of build- ing school-houses, but it went over to the May meeting, and there was no result. In 1765 the town dismissed a petition of Samuel Daniell and others in reference to a school-house, and also refused to allow the building located by a vote of the town near the house of Joseph Mudge to be sold. This school-house that certain men wished to sell was probably the one in what is now Wellesley Hills, and which dated from 1732. There were school-houses on the Great Plain and in the south part of the town in 1763, and in what is now the village of Wellesley in 1765. The school for the Centre, as it was later known, was kept in 1766 at the Capt. Robert Fuller house, still standing, but in 1769 there was a brick school-house. In 1768 and 1772 there was 334 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM a school in Eliphalet Kingsbery's house, which probably was on Oakland Street, and in the latter year there was one for four weeks at Samuel Daggett's. Of the teachers in the Provincial period the following should perhaps be mentioned: Francis Very began a two months' term in December, 1733, and taught in Needham, from time to time, till 1747. On December 3, 1735, he was engaged to teach four weeks in the West, "Omitting Satter- day ", for £4, and on the i8th was secured for another four weeks. He taught in a school-house, perhaps the one on Linden Street, or possibly the first four weeks at the West End, and late in January he contracted for a third term of four weeks, this time in the East if the "Neighbour Hood" provided a proper house for him to teach in, otherwise he was to continue in the West. Peter Vialas of Hopkinton taught in Needham for eighteen years, until his death, which occurred in our town April 21, 1756. He is referred to in the records as "our School Mafter", and presumably was successful, as he usually received the highest wages then paid by the town. Among the numerous undergraduates from Harvard College, most of them minors, who taught winter terms in Needham were: — Jonathan Townsend, Jr., A.M., Harvard 1741, afterward the minister at Medfield, and Jonas Clark, A.M., Harvard 1752, later the noted min- ister at Lexington during the Revolution. Mr. Clark was here in 1 750/1, and there were others who became ministers. The Rev. Mr. Townsend's younger son, Lieut. Samuel, kept school in 1757-63, and Capt. John Jones taught here. He was later a well-known magistrate, surveyor, colonel of militia, and the owner of the fine estate, just across the river in Dover, now the property of the Cheney family. Of the young men belonging to the town who were esteemed com- petent to keep school were several Fullers and Kingsberys, and also Jonathan Newell, A.M., who graduated at Harvard in 1770, and was the minister at Stow from October 11, 1774, to his death, October 4, 1830, at the age of eighty-one years. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 335 He was a son of Joslah Newell, Jr. Practically all of the women teachers belonged in town. Beginning in 1763 Robert Fuller taught in Needham most of the winters until 1795, usually at the Brick school-house near his home, but several seasons at the Great Plain, and more than one term at the Lower Falls. In February and March, 1774, he had the South school. Mr, Fuller was prom- inent in town, as were other members of his family. When he was master of the winter school at the Great Plain in 1784/5 the school was at the house of Aaron Smith, Jr. ("Hawk Aaron"), on South Street. The summer school had been at the same house in 1780, when Mr. Smith's aunt. Widow Martha Smith, a most estimable woman, lived there. At times it had been at other houses on South Street; as early as 1774 at Elisha Mills's, and in 1784 at Solomon Fuller's. These facts rather corroborate the tradition that a school-house once stood on the east corner of Great Plain Avenue and Webster Street (not the north corner), and that it was burned about 1780. Why the school- house was not used In 1774 does not appear. Joseph and John Haven of Dedham, both undergraduates of Harvard, were teachers in Needham shortly before the Revolution. Joseph was subsequently for many years the minister at Rochester, N. H., then a wilderness, where he did much missionary work, and was interested in the wel- fare of the Indians. John became a surgeon, and was lost at sea. Another teacher at this period was Zedeklah Sanger, Harvard 1771, an eminent divine in later life. Of the male teachers resident In Needham, who had schools for a series of years, were: — Isaac Shepard, schoolmaster from 1770 to 1792, Jonathan KIngsbery, Jr., afterward a colonel, who occasionally had a school from 1772 to 1796, Joseph KIngs- bery, Jr., from 1773 to 1795, and Joseph Mudge, Jr., from 1773 to 1793. Of the women Mrs. Esther Newell, Great Plain school- mistress from 1773 to 1784, is worthy of mention. 336 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Until modern times women rarely, if ever, taught a winter term in Needham, and men were not employed in the summer. Readers of this history may remember what the district schools were in the winter, when there were pupils nearly twenty-one years old, stalwart fellows who worked out-of-doors all of the year, and yet many of them painfully backward as scholars, and often mutinous. The writer has seen his teacher, an undergraduate of Harvard Univer- sity, obliged to strike many vigorous blows with a heavy ruler before it was an accepted fact that an attempted rebellion was a failure, and that the master was competent to keep that school, and that the well-disposed pupils were to have a chance to avail themselves of their rather limited opportunities. This experience with a district school in the winter, however, was not in Needham, but in Worcester County. In 1780 the First Parish twice considered building a school-house "for the Use of Sd Parish", but without re- sult, and according to the Parish records Moses Mann gave £40. "for the School" in 1793. On March 15, 1785, on petition of Edward Jackson and others, the town chose a committee consisting of Michael Metcalf, Josiah Newell, Jr., Amos Fuller, Joseph Mudge, Jr., Moses Fisk, Edward Jackson and Ensign Eliakim Cook. Neither the petition nor the report is recorded, but presum- ably this committee divided the town into school districts, and their report was adopted on May 11, the vote being on "the Report of y^ Committee that was Chofen to Devide the Town into Diftricts or wards for y^ better Accomodating of Schools". In March, 1787, Edward Jackson, Nathaniel Fisher and John Slack were to make "Some Alteration in the School Diftricts", and in 1789, 1790, 1791 and 1793 similar committees were chosen, and from time to time in later years. On March 8, 1790, the town chose a committee of three in each district "to provide a teacher or teachers for each School and to Procure wood". This was the be- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 337 ginning In Needham of the district, or prudential, committees, which were chosen annually by the town, with the exception of 1802, until March 6, 1843, when it was voted to leave to each district the choice of its prudential school committee. This action was commended by the "Superintending School Committee" in their report for 1842/3. These district committees were often inefficient, and were wisely abolished in 1854. In 1790 the town voted to allow "the Diftrict on great plain" to spend the balance of their appropriation for 1789 in finishing their school-house. The writer is inclined to think that there may not have been any school-house in that locality for nearly, or quite, ten years after the old building was burned. In the winter of 1791/2 Isaac Shepard taught twelve weeks "at the New School House in Needham South Dif- trict", and for more than ten years he was the teacher of this school. He furnished the wood for the fireplace, usu- ally at nine shillings per cord. Mr. Shepard had the Great Plain school several winters before the War. In 1790 the town paid one shilling per foot for wood delivered at the Brick school-house, and on July 26 the first order for repairing a school-house was granted by the select- men, and was for ten shillings in favor of Lieut. John Tolman on account of the Brick school-house. Two years later Jonathan Kingsbery, Jr., was paid 2s., 2d., for setting glass in the Brick school-house. Needham may pride itself on the long school terms it gave its children, not only in the first fifty years of the nineteenth century, when forty weeks was not unusual, and thirty-six rather below the average of the districts, but prior to 1800, for then many of the terms were for sixteen weeks both winter and summer, and for years twelve weeks had been the rule, with occasional exceptions. At that period the school year was much shorter in most localities, and as late as 1869 many of the Massachusetts towns main- 338 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM tained schools for only twenty-four weeks each year. In November, 1793, Reuben Estey had fifteen shillings for the use of a room for a school in 1791. In the winter begin- ning in 1791 a school was "Kept at the Houfe where Joseph Stedman Lived", presumably the old Stedman house on the east side of Washington Street, near where Dr. Bancroft lives. The "House Improved by Joseph Stedman" con- tinued a seat of learning for some years, as the town hired a room in it for the school. In 1786 there was a school- house on what is now Church Street, but apparently in 1791 it was not available. At this period a school was kept at the house of John Willson, who lived on the Hanks place near Newell's Bridge. In 1791 the Upper Falls school was still at Colonel Alden's dwelling, and as late as 1795 the Great Plain school was at the house of Aaron Smith, Jr., on South Street. In 1796 there was a school at Enoch Parker's, on Blossom Street, and in 1797 one at Enoch Davenport's. In the winter of 1793/4 "there was a school at the Upper Falls for six weeks kept by Amasa Alden at the house of William Alden, Jr. In the summer of 1792 Joseph Daniell furnished a "Room for a School" at his house at the Lower Falls for eighteen shillings for the term, and the school was there in the winters of 1793/4, '95/6. Between 1793 and 1796 this Lower Falls school was sometimes at the house of Elijah Morse, who was paid $3 for the use of a room in the summer of 179s, and also at Lieut. Zibeon Hooker's and at Ephraim Jackson's. Lieutenant Hooker received $2 for the use of his room. There is an S. A. R. marker on his grave in Saint Mary's Churchyard. The following is the record of a School District meeting in 1791: — Inhabitants of the weft School Clafs In Needham on December 27*'* 1791 Duly notifyed and meet firft made choice of Mofes Fifk moderator Second. Voted to Build a Brick School houfe In the Senter on the Road from Theo- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 339 dore Broads Brook to Natick Line Near where Ifaac Coolidge now Lives and Voted to Raife Forty Five Pounds Voted that mr Thomas Broad mr William Farris and Mofes Fifk be a committee to provide meterials for the Same Gentlemen Selecmen of the Town of Needham Pleafe To Put an article In your warrant for your Next Meeting To See if the Town will Vote that forty five Pounds Shall Be alTest upon and Raifed By the weft End School Deftrict For the Ufe of Building them a School houfe. Mofes Fifk (From the original). In May, 1792, the town authorized this assessment of £45, and in March, 1795, it was increased by £20, which was duly assessed and paid. Jonathan Bacon had then succeeded Mr. Broad on the committee. At the meeting in March, 1795, £45 were assessed upon the South district for a school-house, which Capt. Ebenezer Fisher, Captain Newell and Deacon Shepard were to build. In 1795 the town also expended £75 for a school-house in the Lower Falls district, under the direction of Joseph Daniell, Enoch Fisk and Benjamin Slack. On September 14, 1795, there was held the first of a series of town meet- ings devoted to school matters, and progressive action was taken. The town however dismissed an article to build school-houses for the whole town, and assess proportionately each district, the money to be spent within the limits of the district where it was raised This proposition was a sort of compromise between the old and the new. Amos Fuller, Capt. Josiah Newell, Capt. Ephraim Bullard, William Farris, Enoch Fisk, Colonel Alden and Colonel Kingsbery were chosen "to see what they can purchase each School- house in the Town for". On December 7, after three ad- journed town meetings, the committee reported that the Proprietors would sell their school-houses as follows : " Center Brick School" house £52, "great plain" "Estamate" £60, South £30, "west Meeting house" £36, "west End Dif- 340 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM trict" £65. The report was accepted, together with an- other of the same committee changing the lines of the school-districts, which matter they had also been authorized to consider. There were five school-houses, and although the town then extended to Lake Cochituate, it was proposed to escape building two new ones by reducing the districts to five. There was no school-house, or practically none, in the Upper Falls district, but the selectmen had already ordered £75 paid to the building committee in the South district. Evidently there was no new school-house at the Lower Falls in December, 1795, when the town voted to merge the Lower and Upper Falls districts into the Center Brick and the West Meeting-house districts. This plan made it as inconvenient as possible for a large proportion of the children; for example, it extended the Great Plain dis- trict westward to the present Wellesley line, although many families had for years been in the Centre (Brick) district, and were nearer to its school-house. The West End district was to extend westerly of "Broad and Stevens Brook (so Called) including Ephraim Stevens Ju''". At the December meeting £350, a large sum, had been voted to repair the school-houses, and Amos Fuller, Ensign Nathan Dewing, Capt. Ephraim Bullard, Moses Fisk and Enoch Fisk appointed to "Build School house where they are needed". At the annual meeting in 1796 the vote estab- lishing the new districts was reconsidered, and a different committee on districts was appointed, whose report was accepted in May, when the committee on building school- houses was also dismissed, and that matter referred to the district committee. A committee of twenty-one, three from each district, was also chosen to meet the proprietors of the school-houses, "and to Procure a Quitclaim". In De- cember, 1796, the selectmen drew thirty orders in favor of the proprietors of the new Great Plain school-house to re- imburse them for what they had expended, eight orders on account of the house near the Lower Falls, eighteen for the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 341 proprietors in the South, twenty-three for those in the West Meeting-house district, and seventeen to residents in the Brick School district, most of whom represented their predecessors. Presumably the building in the latter dis- trict was the same erected in 1769 on land given by Michael Metcalf, whose nephew, Ensign Michael Harris, received in 1796 $17.45 for what his uncle did "to y® aforesaid house"; probably in addition to the gift of the land. Mr. Metcalf was an old bachelor with a remarkable talent for mathe- matics, using the kitchen floors of his acquaintances to illustrate his skill as a "Lightning Calculator". In 1796 $216.66 were paid to William Farris, Moses Fisk and Jonathan Bacon, Jr., "which the Inhabitants of said Town voted to give the Proprietors of the west end school Diftrict (so called) in said Town, for the school House by them built for said Proprietors". Early in 1797 $200 addi- tional were voted for building and repairing school-houses. Colonel Kingsbery was the only one of the appraisers of the school-houses in 1796 that gave three full days to that duty, and he received three dollars. At the March meeting in 1797 the town voted "to build & set up a school House on Land of William Alden Jun?", but having prepared the frame the town delayed ten years, while for a long time the frame lay upon the ground. It was finally set up, and in 1807 a vote was passed to "cover" it "so as to be conven- ient for a summer school", which for many years was the only school that it was customary to keep in that district. This building stood on land owned by the late George Wright, and was on the northerly side of Webster Street. At the May meeting in 1798 the town had refused to allow the inhabitants from Colonel Alden's to "Cooks Bridge", includ- ing Lieut. Lemuel Mills, to pay school money to Newton, or to have "liberty to join Newton". At the same meeting in 1798 committees had been chosen to select a site for a school-house, and to build one, and in 1801 the building committee had been increased to five, all without immediate 342 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM results, as already stated. Colonel Alden boarded the work- men while they were "setting up a frame near his house for a School house", and supplied them with rum, sugar, etc. Dea. Thomas Eustis, who lived near Wellesley Square, made the window frames, sashes and "glasing" for this school- house. The Brick school-house was extensively repaired in 1799; the material, bought of Jonathan KIngsbery, Jr., alone cost about $130. During the early years of the last century the school children appear to have increased their efforts to furnish occupation to Jeremiah Daniell, Nathaniel Morrill, Jared West, Abel Weld and others who set glass. For genera- tions the renewal of the glass in the school-house windows was a considerable expense to the town, and subsequent to 1840 the superintending school committee commented, from time to time, on the destructive disposition of the children. A few items will illustrate the purchases of school furni- ture in 1801, and for many years subsequent: — a "Write- ing or Book Defk" $4.25, one "pair of fire Dogs". These articles were for the South school-house, which was repaired and improved in 1801 and 1802, and are typical of the equip- ment bought for other schools. A pair of andirons cost the town $2 in 1812. By 1815 stoves had been introduced into most of the school-houses, if not all of them. The stove for the Great Plain cost $15, and that for the Brick, with the funnel, $29.50. In 18 14 the town voted "to furnish a Stove for the Plain school district and others if wanted", and the school committees were to apply to the selectmen "for repairs on the school-houses and for purchasing Stoves &c: this year". The box-stoves, which were used in the school-houses for half a century, and which many persons well remember, cost from $8 to $15. The benches for the children were made by the local carpenters. After a delay of six years, and much discussion, the town in May, 1809, appointed Nathaniel Ware, Joseph Newell, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 343 Daniel Ware, Esq., Moses Garfield and Dea. Asa Kings- bury to build a school-house in the West district, as the district formerly the West Meeting-house district was then designated. In September Nathaniel Ware and Lieu- tenants Garfield and Gay were "to procure a spot to set the new school house on", and to dispose of the old one "when it is no longer wanted", which was not to be for some time. The new school-house was south of Blossom Street, and not far from where is now the Fiske Dormitory. The town found that considerable land went with the old one, which was on Church Street, but, after two committees had reported on the matter, it was decided in 181 1 to sell. The land for the new school-house was purchased of Aaron Smith for $30, and the building cost upward of $500. The old school-house of 181 1 appears to have stood about where the barn is in the rear of the tavern so long the home of the Flagg family. There was a question as to the town's title, but after investigation by a committee it was decided that the land could be sold, and the town treasurer was author- ized to execute a deed of it, when a sale was made. At the April meeting, 18 17, it was voted to sell the old school- house "near M^ Flaggs" at auction at the May meeting, the moderator, or some one he should appoint, to act as auctioneer. Josiah Ware bought this old West school- house for $30.50 at the auction. The school money was annually apportioned, among the districts, by the assessors, according to the taxes raised in each, and in 1805 the "Great plain" had $155.36, the South $98.32, the West $122.90, the "Brick School" $109.69, the "Lower falls" $94.79, and the "Upper falls" $18.18. In the succeeding years the West and Lower Falls districts grew in taxable property until they exceeded the Great Plain district, and by 1821 the South district had distanced the Brick. In the early thirties the North district grew rapidly in wealth and displaced the West, which had long led, and the Brick school, or Centre, district took the 344 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM third place in the list. In 1836 $940 were divided among the districts as follows: North $235.92, West $216.92, Centre $141.70, Great Plain $133.40, South $111.17, East $100.89. On page 231 of Vol. V. is recorded the consent of the Rev. Mr. Palmer and twenty-six others to have a new school- house near the East Meeting-house instead of "near neck Bridge", which latter was understood to be the location selected when the town at its last April meeting voted, on a report of the committee on altering the school districts, "that a school-house be erected for the Brick school district in the most central convenient place". In 18 15 the Brick school-house was removed to the Centre from opposite the modern Convalescent Home on Forest Street, where there had been a school-house since 1769. The new house was rebuilt from the old bricks, and was not enlarged, which policy resulted in a new house within twenty-five years. On May i, 1815, Benjamin Slack, Esq., Major Mcintosh, Aaron Smith, Capt. Artemas Newell and Jeremiah Kings- bury were a committee "for the purpose of moving one of the school-houses in the Brick School district or to build a new school-house so as to accomodate said dis- trict". The Major rebuilt it that autumn by contract for $393- In the early winter of 18 16/7 Stephen Tyng gave up the South school after a brief experience, and Miss Mary Newell, who had taught there several summers, took the school and kept it for ten weeks, receiving $4.50 per week, besides board, which was a master's pay. She was the first woman to teach a winter school in Needham, with the possible exception of some early teachers. On March 3, 18 17, the town voted to "Expend the Inter- est annually of the Money Due to the Town for wood sold on the School lot in Dover, in additeon to what is granted by said Town for that purpose". As some of these notes given for wood remained unpaid for many years, and the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 345 rates of interest were high, the schools derived substantial sums for a long time from this source.^ In 1 8 17 the town bought planks for benches, and also shingles in Boston, which George Fisher carted to Needham. There were 8000 shingles, for which Jabez Ellis was paid $28, and Spencer Fuller $25 for laying them at the South school. At the annual meeting in 1818 a special committee of six, one from each school district, was chosen to repair the school-houses, and in October, 1825, Artemas Newell, Esq., Colonel Rice, Capt. George Smith, Elisha Lyon, Esq., and Major M'^Intosh were chosen to consider the question of school accommodations, but their report appears to have resulted only in a committee to repair in 1827. In 1822, and occasionally for some years, the Brick school district, later the Centre district, was designated as the "Middle District". As early as 1827 the town bought many school-books, and the committee made due returns to the assessors, who added to the tax bill of the father, or guardian, the cost of the books which he had failed to provide. The town school report of 1839 calls attention to the law as to books, and that of April, 1842, reminds "Parents, Masters and Guar- dians" that they must "furnish School Books for their Chil- dren". The report of 1839 commented upon the music introduced into two of the schools, and urged that it should be taught in all of them. In this report the committee in- sisted that the text-books must be uniform, or music, black- boards, and other recent innovations, would be of but little avail. Within three years the recommendations of the com- mittee as to music were adopted in all of the districts, and were a great success when there was a musical teacher like 1 It does not appear that any wood was sold on the School Land prior to 1776, or that the proceeds were devoted to the schools until 18 17, but from that year to the close of the Civil War the schools received not less than $90 each year, which was increased to $100 in 1859. Successive sales of wood created these funds. It is possible that from 1817 to 183 1 there were years when the interest on notes did not equal $90. 346 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Solomon Flagg. There were several public-spirited citizens who volunteered to instruct the children In music when the teacher was unable to do so, and valuable service was ren- dered In this way. In 1882 the town employed Henry Joshua Whittemore as Instructor, or supervisor, of music in all of the schools, and for several years he was assisted by his daughter, Miss Mary Estelle Whittemore. Mr. Whittemore retired in 1895 from the service of the town. In April, 1829, following the report of a committee, of which General Rice was chairman, the town established the Upper Falls School district; there had been only a summer school in that locality.^ Four dollars were added to the school money for the Brick school district In order to make up for the almshouse prop- erty, which was withdrawn from the tax list. At this period there was a tiresome controversy as to the Great Plain school-house, which some persons had hauled to near Blind Lane (Green Street), and which others later replaced on its former site near Webster Street. In May, 183 1, a committee reported on the situation of the several school districts", principally as to the location of the school-houses, and the town voted to "Equalize the school houses" "that the best School house should be Apprised, and that all other School houses should be made Equil by the town & that Each district shall receive his proportion of money as apprised to expend as they please In building & repairing their school houses". The appraisers were Aaron Smith, Esq., Moses Garfield, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Thomas Kingsbury, Capt. Reuben Ware and Rufus Mills, Esq.,^ and their report was accepted. On June 9 a rate of $400 was voted to "Equalize", but It was all re- considered at an adjourned meeting, and In August a com- ^ There was a small amount spent on this school-house in 1829, when William Eaton, Jr., did some carpenter work, and Samuel Scott, the mason, was employed. 2 Town Clerk Kingsbury recognized fully the right of the Justices of the Peace to the title of "Esq.", although he usually omitted military titles. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 347 mittee of six were "to build, repair, & remove the school houses In the town agreeable to the report of the Committee at May Meeting". Late In December, 183 1, the Great Plain school-house was repaired by Joseph Colburn, and It cost about $150. In 1833 a committee was chosen to sell the old school- house in the South district, and Charles Rice bought it a year or two later for $36. The West school-house was too small, and In April, 1833, the town, acting on the report of a committee, voted to make alterations In It, which work was done by the well-remembered Richard Boynton, whose bill, $200, was not paid till early In 1835. In 1835 the in- sufficiency of the Centre school-house became serious, and It was decided to enlarge the front ten feet, making a school- room of twenty-three square feet, exclusive of the entry. The old bricks were used, but eight thousand new ones were also required. The land for this school-house was purchased late In 1835 from the First Parish for $50 and the adjoining lot on which the old house had stood. Lemuel Lyon, 2d, owned the building In which the school was kept in the winter of 1835/6. William Eaton, Jr., who was the principal builder in East Needham for many years, did the carpenter work, and Underwood and Train, from out of town, were the masons; the latter boarded with Luther Morse. This school-house, built in part of old material, cost not far from $800, although two years before the town had paid Paul Dewing less than $400 for building the South school-house. In April, 1837, Spencer Fuller, William Eaton, Jr., and Abijah Greenwood were chosen to build a new school-house for the Great Plain district, and $500 were appropriated for the purpose. The old school- house was sold at auction the following year, and Is said to form a part of the house until recently occupied by Benjamin L. Barr. The later thirties witnessed the beginning of a Renais- sance, or "Great Awakening", as to education, and by 1845 348 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM there were new school-houses In nearly all of the districts, and they compared favorably with those in the adjoining towns, for they had blinds, some of them were painted, and they were equipped with stoves, and the sills were banked for the winter. The more efficient members of the school committee made upward of twenty visits a year to the town schools, for which they were paid sixty cents per visit, and there was a marked improvement In the qualifications of the teachers, and In the methods of instruction. The opening of the next decade brought maps and globes into the schools, and several district school libraries were established, as the result of encouragement received from the Commonwealth. The prudential school committees continued to engage the teachers and to provide fuel and other supplies for the school buildings. The meetings In the different districts to choose the prudential committee were called and warned by the outgoing committee at least seven days before the time set, and were usually, perhaps Invariably, held In the evening. In 185 1 each district was directed to choose but one man to be prudential school committee, and three years later the old district system was abolished, although for some years subsequent a man was chosen in each district to provide wood and to take care of the school-house. In 1839 the town had directed the selectmen to put blinds on four of the school-houses, also "the lower Falls and Upper Fall school-houses to furnish something Inside to keep the sun out". The school committee In the spring of 1 841 described these two school-houses as unfit for the time, and that year General Rice, Dexter Ware, William Eaton, Spencer Fuller and Abijah Greenwood were chosen a com- mittee to build a new school-house In the North district, and $600 were appropriated. The town directed this committee to call on Henry Mann, Esq., for a plan, and William Eaton was the builder. Mr. Eaton presumably had completed the house by October, 1842, when $864 were paid him. In 1844 the town decided to buy all of the land between the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 349 roads in order to extend the grounds of the North school, and a portion, if not the whole, of the large triangle which now forms the school-house lot was then obtained from Amos Allen for a moderate sum. The town borrowed the money to pay for this land. Later a committee was appointed to stake out a school-house lot, and General Rice was authorized to sell a part for not less than what the town paid for the whole. In 1844 the local committee was authorized by the town to procure the blinds for this new school-house. The successive school-houses in the North district have been on, or near, the same site to 191 1, which cannot be said of the school-houses in any other old district in Needham or Wellesley. The new school-house in the Upper Falls dis- trict was built by Richard Boynton in 1842 at a cost of $474, and the town authorized its treasurer to borrow the money. The building committee, William Eaton, Thomas Kings- bury, Elisha Lyon, Otis Sawyer, Spencer Fuller, William Flagg and John S. Bird located the new house on the south corner of what is now Central Avenue and Webster Street, where it still remains, but has long been a dwelling. In 1844 the town bought a piece of land of William Flagg for $60, and chose Capt. Reuben Ware, William Eaton, Deacon Lyon, Mr. Kimball, Spencer Fuller, William Flagg and John Mansfield a committee with authority to select a site for a new school-house for the West district, and to sell the old house at auction for not less than $125. The town borrowed temporarily $750 to build this school-house, but it cost $960, besides $124.50 for eighty-three chairs, and $13 for two tables. Dea. Hezekiah Fuller was the builder. The report of the school committee in the spring of 1846 stated that all of the teachers were good, and that the em- ployment of women teachers for the winter terms in three districts, viz.. East, Centre and Great Plain, had proved a "profitable experiment". The East school had then been taught for two winters by a female, and persuasion was largely taking the place of the rod in all the Needham schools. 3 so THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The Centre school was at that time large, and the building quite inadequate. For some years the parents had shown increasing interest in the schools, and for five years, or more, the examinations had been well attended by them. The report for 1843/4 had referred to the great advantage in having two rooms in the school-house, and two schools in winter, in both the North and West districts. In the winter of 1837/8 Martha B. Morse taught "the small school in the west district" fifteen weeks. In 1845 William Eaton made repairs on the South school- house to the amount of $400, and in 1849 the town paid Robinson & Roberts nearly $300 for painting four school- houses, and one or more buildings at the town farm. The cost of the lead and oil, provided by the town, brought the expense of painting to nearly $500, and it was the first large expenditure of this kind that the town had had. In the latter year a good sized wooden school-house was built for the Centre district, and the total cost was $1700 including furnishing. It was a two-story building, and was in use till burned in 1878. The site was a few rods southwest of the old Brick school-house, and at a less elevation from the road. The site had been selected in 1845 by a committee, and was purchased of George Revere for $30; the latter had acquired this land from the First Parish. The building committee for this school-house, as finally selected, consisted of Timothy N. Smith, Mr. Kimball, Thomas Kingsbury, Lemuel Kings- bury, William Pierce, Daniel Ware and Capt. Reuben Ware. Members of these special committees were paid for their services, as were the selectmen and other town officers. Hezekiah Fuller was the contractor for the Centre school- house, and Jonathan Fuller, Jr., did the mason work. In 1855, after some years of consideration, the town built school-houses for the Great Plain and for Grantville at a total cost of about $5400. Timothy N. Smith constructed that on the Great Plain, and Gardner & Fuller the one in Grantville. The Grantville school dates from 1854 when THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 351 Aliss Caroline L. Kingsbury taught twenty-nine children, forming a primary school. The house erected by Mr. Smith replaced an entirely inadequate building, which after two removals is now a dwelling-house on the Hicks estate. This school-house, and at least one before it, had stood on the north corner of Great Plain Avenue and Webster Street, but the new one was placed some distance further east on Great Plain Avenue. The school-house for the Northwest district, Unionville, was secured in 1858 after seven years of defeat, and was sadly needed, as in the winter of 1857/8 thirty-seven children attended school in a small room totally unfit for school purposes. This school in the Northwest had been established in the summer of 1854 with twenty-six pupils, and Miss Hannah J. Ware was its first teacher. The building committee for the school-house in the Northwest consisted of George Spring, Silas G. Williams, William Flagg, Abijah Greenwood, Lauren Kingsbury and Franklin Stevens, and the same committee also directed in 1858 the construction of the North school-house, expending in all about $4000. The houses built in 1855 were under the supervision of a committee of nine, not identical with the original committee to which had been referred early in 1854 the entire question of new school-houses, including the location of them. In 1857 the town directed the selectmen to put up on the school-houses the laws of the Commonwealth "in relation to killing birds, stealing fruit, and depredations on gardens". In i860 the school committee each devoted annually about fifteen days to the schools, and were paid Si. 50 per day. On August 28, 1870, the school committee issued a cir- cular establishing rules intended to check unnecessary ab- sence and tardiness. This circular would not be popular at the present time (191 1), as it refers to "the poorer classes", and informs them that they had better avail themselves of the schools, which are maintained at the expense of others and paid for "by those who have the least need of such schools". 352 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM HIGH SCHOOLS At the annual town meeting in 1853 the superintending school committee and Solomon Flagg, Lewis Sumner, Charles C. Greenwood, Josiah H. Carter, George K. Daniell and Moses Winch were chosen to consider the advisability of establishing one or more high schools, and to report on the school system of the town as a whole. The committee reported to the town in April, and the report was ordered to be printed, and a copy supplied to "every legal voter". In November the report was adopted, and the Rev. Mr. Kimball, the Rev. Mr. Barrows, Nathan Longfellow, E. K. Whitaker, Dr. Noyes, Lewis Sumner, Jonathan Fuller, J. H. Carter and Capt. Reuben Ware were to introduce the changes recommended by the former committee, but with no authority to establish a high school. On April 14, 1864, a committee, consisting of B. G. Kim- ball and C. C. Greenwood for the Centre, Lauren Kingsbury and Jonathan Battles for the Great Plain, Henry Wood and Charles Blaisdell for Wellesley, the Rev. E. S. Atwood and M. N. Boyden for Grantville, with Marshall Newell at large, was chosen to consider "the establishment of a high school", and to report in four weeks. The result was that the com- mittee reported that the town was legally bound to have a high school, and on May 12 it was voted to have two, the cost not to exceed $1200 per year each, and $2500 were appropriated. A committee of eleven was named to locate these schools, and they were authorized to contract to pay rentals not exceeding $300 per year for each school. This was additional to the $1200 before referred to, and neither amount was expected to include furnishings. On March 6, 1865, it was "Voted, that the town establish & maintain two Schools, of the grade & character, of School provided for, in Sec. 2^, Chap. 38 of General Statutes, one to be located on the West side of the town, the other on the East side of the town, which said Schools shall be for the benefit THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 353 of all the inhabitants of the town, and the attendance of Scholars upon said Schools, shall be regulated by the School Committee as may be found most convenient". The select- men were to provide rooms for these schools, or for one of them, whenever notified by the school committee that there were a sufficient number of scholars. There was provision made for closing a high school if it was found to be unneces- sary. Both schools were opened in May. The East High School was first kept In the upper part of the Centre school- house, but in the fall removed to Village Hall, which was leased from Obed C. Parker for four successive years for the school. The first teacher was Silas Bundy Rawson, who had thirty-two pupils with an average attendance of twenty- eight. He was from Maine, and later became a minister. He did his best with the scholars from the ungraded schools, and is favorably remembered. The school committee from time to time to 1875 urged the union of the two high schools, and In 1868 a committee consisting of L. A. Kingsbury, the Rev. W. B. Greene, Emery Grover, Galen Orr, C. R. Miles, Lauren Kingsbury and C. B. Dana was chosen to consider building one or more high schools. Their report in favor of building was made to the annual meeting In 1869 and accepted, but another committee was chosen to consider details, with the ulti- mate result that no house Intended solely for high school purposes was erected at that time. The West High School opened In Maugus Hall, which was then owned by the Maugus Hall Association, who leased a room to the town. The town did not expend a large sum for furnishings, and In the autumn the school was established In Waban Hall, over Shattuck's grocery- store, Wellesley, and remained there until the fall of 1869. Waban Hall is a part of the store building, then owned by Jonathan, Granville and Augustus Fuller. In 1869 the school was poorly accommodated In a hall at Grantvllle hired of Sylvester MTntosh. In their report for the year 354 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ending in the spring of 1872, the school committee stated that prior to 1871 the West High School had alternated between Grantville and Wellesley from year to year, moving the furniture, although three quarters of the pupils lived in or near Grantville. On the completion of the new school-house at Wellesley the high school was located there, but returned to Grant- ville when the large Shaw school-house was ready for occu- pancy. The school-grounds at Grantville had been enlarged by a purchase from the Boston & Albany Railroad Company of some land that had belonged to the Torrey estate. David S. Farnham, the first teacher of the West High School, had thirty-four scholars enrolled, with an average attendance of thirty-two. In 1867/8 the pupils in the East High School were in- structed by the Rev. Jonas B. Clarke of the Oakland Hall School, and the town paid tuition to the amount of $598. Mr. Clarke gave lectures before the high school on elemen- tary science during other terms. The East High School Alumni Association was formed on June 24, 1880, and meets annually. Since the division of the town the word "East" has been omitted from Its name. In the spring of 1896 the need of an additional school- house was generally admitted, and a committee of sixteen was chosen to consider the entire question. Eleven of the committee, feeling that the comfort and health of the large number of young children was of the first importance, reported in favor of a new school-house on Lincoln Street, or in that locality, the expense to be about $7000. Five members of the committee reported advising a costly high school, and the minority report was adopted on June i, and immediately there arose a controversy as to the site. On June 22 $30,000 were appropriated, to be met by the Issue of bonds, and $4000 additional for the purchase of a lot of land somewhere on Highland Avenue, between Mr. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 355 NIckerson's and Highlandville, according to the language of the vote. On October i these votes were reconsidered, and, as a two-thirds vote to issue bonds could not be ob- tained, $30,000 were appropriated to be raised by taxation in 1897, and $3000 were to be taken from the School Fund to buy land on the east corner of Highland Avenue and Rosemary Street. Feeling ran high, and resulted in an in- junction from the Supreme Judicial Court so far as the appropriation was concerned, which injunction might have also included the vote selecting the site had it not been for a document unexpectedly produced. This school-house was an issue in the town election the following spring, but the selectmen then chosen to do certain acts at once were un- able to do anything, and on March 9, 1897, John Moseley offered to give the town a fine lot of land, next to Saint Joseph's Church, as a location for the school-house, and this gift was accepted, and again, more formally, on April I. A new building committee was chosen, consisting of Arthur Wallace Pope, chairman, Henry S. Locke, Henry M. Walradt, and the school committee, Francis de M. Dunn, Mrs. Adeline E. Harris and John W. Titus. Aaron Twigg had been named for a place on this commit- tee, but declined to serve. The new committee discarded the plans prepared by the architect employed by the first committee, and engaged the services of Whitman & Hood, whose plan was finally adopted. The deed from Mr. Mose- ley was formally accepted on July i, and the munificent gift of this large lot, one of the best in town, was the most valuable present that the Town of Needham had received since its incorporation. The high school building was dedicated on September i, 1898, and a number of gifts of pictures and equipment had then been received, including Its first flag from George Kuhn Clarke, who had previously presented large flags to the Dwight and Kimball schools. The cost of this high school building was about $33,000, of which $5000 were taken 356 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM from the School Fund. F. G. Coburn & Co. were the builders. In September, 1910, there were one hundred and sixty- seven pupils In the High School, Including some third and fourth-year scholars from Dover. In September, 191 1, there were one hundred and thirty-eight pupils, none from Dover attending. SEVEN NEW SCHOOL-HOUSES On March 18, 1867, the town referred to the school com- mittee the proposition to "establish and locate a school at Highlandville". Thefirst school-house was built therein 1869, at a cost of about $7800, and was one of three school-houses erected that year. The work was done by the day, chiefly by Oliver Pickering and Andrew G. Gardner, who employed the other carpenters. This school-house was dedicated on April 27, 1870, at 3 o'clock, and Miss Jane G. Avery read a hymn which she had written for the occasion. After consideration by two large committees, the town voted in 1869 to build new school-houses In Wellesley and in Grant- vllle, the former to be In the vicinity of Kllborn Place, and the latter on the site of the primary school, or In Its Imme- diate neighborhood. For each building $7500 were appro- priated, to which were added the proceeds from the sale of the old houses, and from land. If any was sold. A loan of $15,000 was authorized, and Galen Orr, Freeman Phillips and Charles B. Dana were chosen a building committee for both houses. The house at Wellesley was built by Mr. Phillips, and cost $10,000, Independent of gifts of money from H. H. Hunnewell, Henry F. Durant, Edmund M. Wood and William E. Baker, which were gratefully acknowledged by the town. This school was named the Hunnewell School, and the house was dedicated on April 15, 1870, at 3 o'clock. Mr. Hunnewell presented the town with the land. The school-house at Grantville was not erected till 1874, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 357 owing to differences of opinion as to the needs of that sec- tion, and cost $21,000; the contractors were Clapp Bros. and Thwing & Clapp Bros. This school was named for John W^ Shaw, who presented it with a clock, a bell and a globe. Further particulars as to the Grantville school-house will be given in connection with the one in the North district. The school at Wellesley had been a grammar school, and that at Grantville a mixed school, but when the new build- ing at Wellesley was completed the hitherto migratory high school, as previously stated, was kept there. The new East school-house, which is much nearer to the Upper Falls than its predecessors, also dates from 1869, and cost $6600. There were then seventy children between the ages of five and fifteen in that locality. The building com- mittee was the same as for the school-house at Highland- ville: — Simeon Grover, Jonathan Avery and Oliver Picker- ing. Messrs. Pickering and Gardner were the principal builders, and the work was done by the day. In 1869 the town also voted $7500 for a new school-house on the Greai. Plain, which was immediately commenced. Galen Orr, Freeman Phillips and Charles B. Dana were chosen a building committee, and a loan of $7500 was authorized. The school-house on the Great Plain was to contain the East High School in its French roof, and was built by Mr. Phillips by contract, and cost $11,500. The "East High School House" was dedicated on May 17, 1871, at 2 o'clock. The old house was bought at auction by the school committee for $2800, and removed to Greendale (formerly Pudding Point), ^ by William B. Jewett, at an expense of $1250, where it was remodelled for $1209.69. It is still (191 1) the home of the Harris School, which was opened in the fall of 1872, with seventeen pupils taught by Miss Fannie E. Longfellow. The large lot on which the school- house formerly stood was sold for $1000 in 1875. ^ Usually pronounced " Puddin Pint " by old-fashioned people. 358 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM In 1872 the town declined to employ a superintendent of schools, and did not have one till Frank E. Parlin began his duties in September, 1893. He gave two fifths of his time to Needham, and the remainder to Natick. His suc- cessor, Henry M. Walradt, also served elsewhere. It was not until 1907 that Needham had the entire time of a super- intendent, when Walter Knight Putney was engaged. In 1874 the town voted to assess $10,000, and to borrow $20,000 to pay for the school-houses to be built in Grant- ville and in the North district, and chose as a building com- mittee for Grantville Flavins J. Lake, Lyman K. Putney and Gamaliel Bradford, and for the Lower Falls the Honor- able George White, William Heckle and Henry B. Scudder. That year Needham expended nearly $50,000 on education. George Spring was the contractor for the North school- house, which cost almost $15,000, the old building bring- ing $1000. In 1873 the school committee had urged the erection of a house near Aqueduct Bridge. The old building at Grantville was sold for $2898.90, and is now a double house on Washington Street. After some years of consideration and delay it became evident that a large appropriation for a new school-house in the South district could not be obtained, but the town built a house there in 1876 for about $5200, Captain Fiske, Freeman Phillips and Marshall Newell serving as the build- ing committee. On April i, 1878, the town accepted a bell given by citizens, and which was already in the tower and in use. In 1876, and for ten years or more, a school was kept in the French roof of the Odd Fellows Building on the Great Plain, and the school committee advised the construction of a small school-house on the same lot with the Kimball school-house. The Kimball building was only five years old, but was already so inadequate that one de- partment, as stated, was occupying a hired room in a fire trap, which was burned in 1887, but fortunately when the school was not in session. The Intermediate school was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 359 the one in the Odd Fellows Building in 1880, and in other years. In 1877 the committee urged the town to build a school- house between the Great Plain and HIghlandville, and recomme'nded improved instruction in drawing and music. During the seventies there had been a great advance in grading the schools, and in methods of teaching, which progress has continued to the present time. In 1878 twenty children from Needham attended school in Natick, and their tuition at $12 each was paid by the town. The school-house at the Centre was burned on the even- ing of January 30, 1878, and that year a new one was built on a large lot purchased of Davis K. Mills, and early in 1880 the old site was sold for $50 to John Ward, owner of the Neholden Block property. Richard Marks was the con- tractor for the new building, which cost $4500, and the Hon- orable Galen Orr, Charles H. Flagg and Thomas Whitaker were the building committee. After the school-house was burned the pupils in the upper department went to HIgh- landville for the remainder of that term and the whole of the next. A shop where knit-goods had been made, near the school-house lot, very poorly sheltered the primary school for several months, but in the autumn the new house was ready for use.^ In 1880 a committee of five was chosen to consider the insufficient school-houses on the Great Plain and at HIgh- landville, and in April the majority reported in favor of two new buildings, both not to cost more than $6000, but the minority preferred one adequate house between the two ' The Needham Chronicle and Wellesley Advertiser said of the loss of this school-house: "The destruction of the Centre Schoolhouse did not cause much interruption to the schools, the pupils of one being sent the next morning to Highlandville Schoolhouse, while the others were accommodated in a building formerly used for a hosiery factory ". On Wednesday night the Centre School House, in which two Schools were kept, was discovered to be on fire, and although quite a large number were soon on the ground, nothing could be done to prevent its destruction. The fire was doubtless of incendiary origin. We understood that it was insured for $1,500." 36o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM villages. West Needham was not represented on this committee. This question came up again in 1884, and in 1885 the town received $30,403.05 in its settlement with Wellesley, which sum, after paying expenses amounting to $2750, was made a School Fund. Of this money $11,000 were expended to enlarge the Kimball and Avery school-houses and $2500 to heat them with steam. A lot of land adjoining the Avery school-grounds was purchased in 1885, and the two school- houses, the Kimball and the Avery, were cut in twain, the ends separated, and the space filled with new work, to which wings were added. On August 4, 1884, the town appropri- ated $700 to pay for school-books, and has since made annual grants for this purpose. By vote of the town the South school was named the Parker School on April i, 1878, in honor of Jonathan Parker, whose home was near, and who was killed at West Cambridge on April 19, 1775. In 1886 the other schools were appropriately named as follows: Those at the Great Plain, then all in one building, the Kimball School, in honor of the Rev. Daniel Kimball, who did much for education in Needham, those at Highland- ville, the Avery School, in honor of Jonathan Avery, who was the pioneer in developing that section, the one at the old Centre, the Dwight School, in honor of Timothy Dwight, who gave the School Land to the town, the school at the Upper Falls, the Eliot School, in honor of the Apostle to the Indians, and the one at Greendale, the Harris School, in honor of John Morton Harris, a useful member of the school committee who died in the spring of 1884. In 1889 the town refused to build a new school-house on the Great Plain, but the next year expended $1500 to improve the ventilation of the Kimball school building. Until April, 1895, the instruction in drawing was given by the regular teachers in the different schools, but that year a special instructress was employed, and a drawing teacher is now considered indispensable. In 1897 $4000 were appro- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 361 priated for improvements of the Avery school-house, in- cluding better ventilation, and also $250 for the Kimball school building. The latter sum was taken from the School Fund, which was virtually extinguished on November 12, 1897, when the selectmen burned the bonds of the "Electric Light Loan" to the amount of $13,500, par value, in which the balance of the fund had been invested. This action had been authorized by the town on "All Fools Day" (April i), 1897. Appropriations which formerly would have seemed large have been made from time to time for modernizing the school-houses, and for the health and comfort of the pupils, and in 1905 and 1906 a new Avery school-house was built, on the opposite side of the street from the older one, which continues in use. The new building, which is of red brick with sandstone trimmings, cost about $23,000, with the land and grading, and was ready for occupancy in Septem- ber, 1906. Horace A. Carter gave 5000 feet of land on the southeasterly side to enlarge the grounds, and Alfred J. Mercer an equal amount on the east. The building com- mittee consisted of the school committee, and William Gorse, who was the chairman, Joseph B. Thorpe, Edmund G. Pond, Henry Godfrey, Jr., and William P. Bailey. The architect was Lemont D. Litchfield, and the contractor J. J. Prindeville. In 1908 the length of the Eliot school-house was doubled, the porch being moved forward, and two wings added, at a cost of nearly $10,000. TEACHERS Of the teachers subsequent to the Declaration of Inde- pendence there are a number that for one reason or another are referred to in the following pages, in several instances because of long service. Doubtless there are a hundred more that are worthy of a place in this town history, but an expression of our gratitude to them, and a fitting notice 362 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM of their faithful labors, must be deferred to a special history of our schools, yet to be written. Dorothy Hall, daughter of David, taught the West End school at least seven of the summer terms from 1776 to 1789. When she first had this school she was a minor, and her wages were paid to her father. She is called "Mifs Dolly" in our town records, and is said to have been a successful teacher in other towns as well as in Needham. Widow Elizabeth Drury, West End 1778-92, a noted teacher in several towns. Samuel Coolidge, West End 1781-90. Sarah Townsend, 178 1-8, usually taught in the Brick school-house. Dr. Timothy Fuller, Harvard College 1787, a son of Amos, Great Plain 1783-96. Dr. Fuller died in 1799. Moses Alden had the school at the Upper Falls 1785-96, and ap- parently he taught the summer term in 1796, an unusual experience for a man in those days. Moses Kingsbery, Jr., Brick or West Meeting-house 1786-97. Jonathan Gay, Jr., later prominent for many years as Capt. Gay, Great Plain or Brick 1798-1820, with the excep- tion of one term at the Upper Falls. Mary Harris, daughter of Ensign Michael Harris, usually taught the Brick school 1800-16, although she had the Great Plain school in the summer of 1806. Dr. Samuel Gould, Great Plain 1802-28, with the exception of a term at the Upper Falls in the winter of 1803/4. Israel Whitney, sexton, cobbler and town offi- cial, taught the Great Plain school in the winter of 1807/8, and at the Brick school-house four winters, 181 2-16. Miss Abigail Walker, a teacher of whom various anecdotes are told, 1810-30, several districts, particularly the Great Plain. John Tolman Great Plain or South 1810-21. Mary Fisher, daughter of George Fisher, later Mrs. Leonard Battelle, South 18 17-21. She was the Honorable Enos H, Tucker's first teacher, and he made her name familiar to the writer. Job Haskell, Great Plain 1824/5. George Hiram Gay and Ezra Fuller, both of whom lived to a great THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 363 age, were recipients of his instruction and correction. Solo- mon Flagg began to teach in 1826 and for thirty-eight years was a schoolmaster in Needham and in other towns. He is identified with several districts, notably the West and South. Mr. Tucker, who at difi"erent times attended school in every district in Needham, and also in a district in Dedham, said that Mr. Flagg was his best teacher, and that he learned a great deal from him. Miss Lucy Dakin Hunt, Centre, or small school in the West, 1837-50, except 1847, when she was at the Great Plain. Gustavus Adolphus Somerby taught at the Centre in the winter of 1 840/1. He belonged to a well-known Newbury family, and was prominent among the lawyers of Boston, gaining a reputa- tion as a keen and able counsel for the defence in the noted trial of Alley accused of the murder of Abijah Ellis. Charles Hiram Dewing, later for many years superinten- dent of streets. South two winters, 1847/8 and 1849/50. Miss Charlotte Kingsbury, of a well-known West Needham family, 1848-65, North, East, Great Plain and Centre. Miss Kingsbury was a severe teacher, and stories are told of hcj skill in tripping up boys, and of mediaeval punishment;.. Adeline Maria Eaton, later Mrs. John M. Harris, 1849-63, East, South, Centre, but chiefly the primary school on the Great Plain. Miss Charlotte M. Sawyer, later Mrs. Luthei Allen Kingsbury, North and Grantville 1853-65. She taught the latter school 1856-65, and her sister, Miss Harriet Elizabeth Sawyer, later Mrs. Ezra C. Dudley, East or West or Centre primary, 1854-9, and in 1865 succeeded Char- lotte at Grantville, where she taught in 1866. They were daughters of Otis and Charlotte Sawyer. Albert Palmer, A.M., Dartmouth 1858, later State Senator, and Mayor of Boston in 1883, was master of the Great Plain school five winters 1853-8, and his brother, Alanson, who was grad- uated at Dartmouth in i860, and was A.M., had the Centre school two winters, 1855-7, and the South two, 1858-60. A third brother, Wilson, Dartmouth i860, Albany Law 364 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM School 1864, LL.B., taught the East school two winters, 1855-7, ^^^ the Centre four winters, 1857-61, a remarkable combination of brothers. Miss Caroline Elizabeth Dewing, now Mrs. Wise, was one of Needham's best teachers and had the North school in 1856, '65, '66, '72-4, West primary in the winter of 1856/7, also summer terms, which included all of the pupils, 1857, '58, '63, '67, '68; Great Plain, upper school, winters of 1858/9, '60/1, summer of 1859, South winter of 1862/3, Centre 1864, '65. Miss Angelina Elizabeth Hofses, Centre 1857; well- remembered as the teacher of the Centre primary for twenty- one years, retiring in 1878. Isabella Sumner Kingsbury, assistant at the Avery School 1876- . Others who have taught for more than twenty years in Needham are: Martha Frances Kingsbury, Dwight School (grammar), Mary Maria Sutton (now Mrs. Thomas J. Crossman), Dwight School (primary) and assistant at the Kimball School, Mary E. Glancey, Harris School, Eliza- beth A. Lester, Eliot School and assistant at the Avery School, Florence E. Eaton, assistant at the Kimball School. Miss Sutton resigned at the close of the school year in 1910. APPROPRIATIONS. — TEACHERS' WAGES The appropriations prior to 1800 were: 1733-49 from £20 to £80, usuallyold tenor and badly depreciated, 1750-9, £13, 6s., 8d. when in hard money, and 1760-76 from £20 to £60, in money not always of the best quality. Of the £50 voted in 1745 £20 "of it [was] to be laid out for a School Dame and the other thirty pounds to be laid out for a School Mafter". Between 1735 and 1749 the ratio varied from three to seven shillings of currency for one shilling in hard money, and the wages of the men teachers were as high as £12, los. per month and their board from thirty to thirty-five shillings per week. At this time £2, los. per month, in hard money, was considered fair pay, and board could be had at from five to THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 365 six shillings per week. The wages of a woman teacher were about four shillings per week, hard money, and her board was reckoned at about two shillings. The teachers were by no means all paid alike, as, for example, the town would board Mr. Vialas and his horse, and pay him in addition perhaps ten shillings per week, when in some instances a young man resident in the town received only ten shillings, although he boarded himself. It was also true of the women that some were in demand and when they taught in Needham were paid more than others. Appar- ently certain elderly widows were not in a position to dic- tate as to their compensation, although they may have been fairly competent teachers. The average appropriation for schools was: 1781-90 £65, 1791-5 £110, 1796-9 $475. During the War of the Revolution the teachers were paid in currency so greatly depreciated that in 1780 a man re- ceived £250 per month, equal, however, to not more than £3, los. in hard money, perhaps somewhat less. A woman was paid £84 for teaching four weeks, when from about 1763 to the beginning of the war the best female teachers, who boarded themselves, got but 5s. 4d. per week. After the war many of the women were not paid more than four shillings per week till subsequent to 1800, and even as late as 1 841 a young teacher. Miss Mary Adams, was paid $18 for a term of twelve weeks. From 1788 to 1795 the wages of the male teachers varied from los., 6d. to sixteen shillings per week, depending somewhat upon the efficiency of the teacher, and the board of a man was from five to six shillings per week, which when furnished by the town reduced his net wages accordingly. In 1793/4 Eleazer Taft, who was master of the South school, received nearly £1 per week, including his board and the care of his horse. From 1795 to 1820 the pay of the teachers increased, and in 1804 some men could command $6.50 per week, and in 1819 $7.75, but in twenty years the cost of board had risen from 366 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM $1.75 to $3.50 per week. During this period the advance of the women's compensation had hardly kept pace with the expense of living. In 1802 the board was more than one half of the teacher's wages, and had been for at least fifty years, but by 1820 the female teachers had been gradually advanced to $3 per week, and board did not then exceed $1.50 per week. In 1840 Needham paid the male teachers, exclusive of board, an average compensation of $19.97 P^'' month, the board averaging $9.28 per month, and in 1850, without estimating the cost of board but including it, $35.36 per month. In 1840 the women received but $6.28 per month, and board averaged $6, making the total compen- sation $12.28 per month, but in 1850 there was a decided advance, partly due to the employment of women in the winter, to an average of $18.62 per month, including board. STATISTICS 1 840/ 1. Children in town between the ages of four and sixteen 387. Number enrolled in the schools: Summer 307, average attendance 208. Winter 373, average attendance 264. Under four years of age 45, over sixteen 27. Teachers: Summer 6 women. Winter 6 men, i woman. Aggregate number of months that school was kept: Summer terms, all districts combined, 23 months and seven days. Winter 24 months and seven days. Total 47 months and fourteen days. There were also two private schools, presumably the Rev. Daniel Kimball's in East Needham and Mr. Adam's in West Needham, in which there were on the average 32 scholars, whose tuition amounted to $418. These pri- vate schools were kept an aggregate of 15 months, which was an increase of three months since the preceding year. 1 850/1. Children in town between the ages of five and fifteen 387. Number enrolled in the schools: Summer 310, average attendance 241. Winter 400, average attend- ance 293. By districts: West 93, North 73, Centre 69, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 367 East 56, South 50, Great Plain 46, Nine schools. Teachers: Summer 6 women, Winter 5 men, 4 women. Aggregate number of months that school kept: Summer terms, all districts combined, 27. Winter 33. Total 60 months. 1 860/ 1. Children from five to fifteen 561. Enrolled: Summer 471, average attendance 343. Winter 504, average attendance 390. Teachers: Summer 11 women. Winter 5 men, 7 women. Aggregate number of months of school: Summer 55. Winter 45. 1 870/ 1. Children from five to fifteen 689. Number of individuals enrolled 818, average attendance 538. Teachers 2 men, 15 women. 1 880/1. Children from five to fifteen 885. Individuals enrolled 1058, average membership 724, average attendance 628. Teachers 2 men, 25 women. 1881/2. Children from five to fifteen 509. Individuals 590, average membership 451, average attendance 388. Teachers i man, 13 women. 1885/6. Children from five to fifteen 453. Individuals 587, average membership 502, average attendance 444. 1 890/ 1. Children from five to fifteen 479. Individuals 639, average membership 520, average attendance 473. Teachers 2 men, 16 women. 1900/1. Children from five to fifteen 592. Individuals 732, average membership 662, average attendance 603. Teachers 2 men, 20 women, not including the instructors in music and in drawing. 1905. Children from five to fifteen (September i) 836 — boys 418, girls 418. Individuals 830 — boys 416, girls 414, average member- ship 791.6, average membership per teacher 29.3, average attendance 736.5. Teachers 2 men, 28 women. 1910/11. Children from five to fifteen (September i) 896 — boys 468, girls 428. Individuals enrolled January i, 191 1, 1075 — boys 559, girls 516. Teachers 3 men, 34 women. 368 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM THE SCHOOL LAND IN DOVER Mr. Timothy Dwight, an honored citizen of Dedham, gave to the town of Needham thirty-four acres of land in the Springfield Parish of Dedham for the benefit of the school, but he died January 26, 1717/18, without having executed the deed. This omission was remedied by his sons, Henry and Seth, who gave the town deeds in 1727, but, although the selectmen granted Andrew Dewing on November 13, 1727, the sum of £1, los. "for Gitting the Deeds & gitting of s*^ Deeds upon Record of a Certaine peac or parsell of Land Given s*^ [?by] mr Timothy Dwit Late of Deedham for the benefit of a School in this Town", there was trouble about the title as late as 1764. Quaint votes were passed in 1744, 1744/5, 1748? 1749/5O5 and committees repeatedly appointed " to git the Deeds " "Executed According to Law ", as the second of these votes stated. The deeds were never recorded till June i, 1876. Henry Dwight describes the land in his deed to the town as thirty and one half acres, sixteen rods, and as originally granted "to Peter Woodward deceast layed near the Indian Plantation called Natick upon a plaine within", and in Seth's deed the land is stated to be a part of "Natick Devident". From January 14, 17 1 8/19, to modern times committees were appointed to care for this land, "Run the Lines", lease it, or to sell the wood. On May 20, 1745, the question was raised as to "the Towns power to fell the land that M"" Dwight gave", and Captain Cook, Capt. Robert Fuller and Jonathan Smith were chosen to investigate, and to ascertain what it would sell for. In 1764 the town voted to sell the land, but six years later was convinced that in order to do so authority must be given by the General Court, and the committee which was chosen on May 23, 1770, to "Take a Plann of the School Land: Given by M'' Dwight to y* Town: Lying in Springfield the Forth Parrifh in Dedham:" was instructed on June 8 to "Put in a Petition into the General Court to THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 369 Sell Said Land". John Jones, Esq., "Surveyer" of "Need- ham's School Lot in Dedham;" drew the "Petition to the General Court for Sale". In 1776 wood was sold on the land, but that year a small portion of it was let "Under Improvement", and apparently in 1 79 1 the town voted to let the whole of it, which would account for there being no income from the sale of wood for many years. In 1795 the town declined to lease the land, and there were sales of wood in October, 1803, when the proceeds, chiefly represented by notes, amounted to $762, and the expenses to $18.14. Perhaps wood was sold in 1801, cer- tainly in June, 1816, there was an important sale, with Nathaniel Bullard as auctioneer; Solomon Flagg furnished "Rum for Vendue School wood". For half a century the income thus derived yielded the schools annually from $90 to $100, even more in certain years, as the fund was rein- forced by sales in 1825, 1839, 1859 and 1864. Only $205.33 was realized in 1859, as a part of the School Land had been burned over in 1855, but it amounted to $866.49 in 1864. This tract was taxed by Dover to the year of its sale, the bill for 1808 and 1809 amounting to $6.02 for two years, and that for 1898 to $11.06. The School Land was sold in 1902 for $6000, and became a part of the Cheney estate, the proceeds forming the Dwight School Fund. In 1839 the town voted to sell some land and wood which it owned with individuals "in High Rock", and a partition was to be obtained if the other tenants in common did not wish to sell. On December 31, 1739, Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, John Fisher, Esq., and Dea. Jeremiah Woodcock were "Chofe a Committee to treat with Dedham Select men . . . Concern- ing the Land and money which was given for the ufe of the School". This was apparently Church land and school money possessed by Dedham, and not the Dwight land, as on May 29, 1755, Amos Fuller and Dea. Josiah Newell were 370 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM chosen "to See what proportion of the Church Land formerly Granted to Dedham Belongs to Needham". PRIVATE SCHOOLS Miss Thayer had a private school, presumably for girls, in West Needham in 1820. In 1826 the Rev. Daniel Kim- ball, who had been the principal of Derby Academy, Hing- ham, from 1808 to 1826, came to Needham, and opened a day and boarding school, or academy, for boys and girls, in his house at the corner of Great Plain Avenue and Mark Tree Road. Mr. Kimball personally conducted the school for about fourteen or fifteen years, and then his son Henry C. Kimball had charge of it for some two years, the school coming to an end about 1843. The writer has met a number of the pupils at this school, where studied the Honorable Alexander H. Rice, Governor of Massachusetts in 1876-8, and others of note. Elizabeth Hunt, later Mrs. Noyes, attended this academy, coming from Boylston, and there were other girls whose homes were in Worcester and vicinity. Charles Hiram Dewing, Charles C. Greenwood and Augustus Eaton were among the Needham boys who were day scholars there, the latter entering the school in 1841, after Henry C. Kimball had in a measure taken his father's place. The only criticism of the school was that the boarding scholars were not fed liberally, but as Mr. Greenwood was a day scholar this did not affect him, and he had a life-long affec- tion and reverence for Mr. Kimball, who was an active and useful man in the community. He died January 17, 1862, in his eighty-fourth year, and there is a sketch of his life in the History of Norfolk County, 1884. Mr. Kimball is chiefly remembered in Needham for his valuable services on the school committee. For particulars of the building in which the Rev. William H. Adams kept his private school in West Needham from 1846 to 1852 see the account of the post-offices, as he was the first postmaster at Grantville. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 371 The Oakland Institute, a "Classical and English Boarding School for Youth of Both Sexes at Needham, Great Plain, Mass.", was opened on May i, 1856, and the first entire school year was divided into two sessions of twenty weeks each, extending from September 10, 1856 to July 7, 1857, with three weeks' vacation from January 27 to February 18. Charles M. Dinsmoor, the principal, taught the English branches and Latin, Mrs. C.N. Dinsmoor, the "Preceptress", was teacher of Mental and Moral Philosophy, as well as of certain English branches. William H. S. Ventres, A.B., Harvard 1855, taught Latin, Greek and Mathematics, and "Mdm." Urbino, formerly Miss L. Buoncore, gave in- struction in Modern Languages and Ornamental Branches. The tuition was from $200 to $240 per year for the boarding scholars, and $6 per quarter for the day pupils, who took only the "common branches", with an addition of $2 for the "higher branches". A second circular was issued, and one, or both, of these circulars stated that "the Institute building is new and spacious" with "all modern improve- ments " "situated on an elevation, it commands an extended view of the beautiful rural country around, which is unsur- passed in the variety of its scenery". The building had been erected by Mr. Dinsmoor especially for a school. Before coming to Needham Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmoor had had five years' experience as teachers in Framingham and Newton. Under date of July, 1857, Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., as principal, informed the public by circular that the "Oak- land Institute" a "Classical and English School", at Need- ham, "will be resumed July 7". It was to be a day school, and the tuition $4 and $6 per quarter, each language taught to be $2 per quarter extra. The Rev. Adiel Harvey, who had been a Baptist minister in Weymouth, was the next principal of the Oakland Institute, and it was then a board- ing school for girls only. The Harveys were prominent in the social life of the town. On November 7, 1862, a "Musi- 372 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM cal Soiree" was given, the music to commence at 7.30 o'clock in the evening, on which occasion some war songs were included in the programme. These "Soirees", which took place at the close of the school terms, are still remem- bered with pleasure. There were girls from the South and other distant sections among Mr. Harvey's pupils. From 1867 to 1872 the Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, A.M., owned the property, and had a boarding and day school for boys there, the boarders rarely exceeding twenty in number, or the day scholars ten. Annual exhibitions were given in June in Village Hall, afterward Parker Hall, and the writer, who was a day scholar at this school from April, 1870 to the close of 1871, has a vivid recollection of those occasions, in one, or more, of which he had a part. Music was furnished by a fine band, and there was a special late train to Boston. Military drill had been a feature of this school, but was abandoned prior to April, 1870. Mr. Clarke called his school the Oakland Hall School, judging by the exhibition programmes, instead of Oakland Institute, which latter name had been used by his predecessors. Mrs. Clementina B. Cummings owned the property for about ten years, succeeding the Appleton Temporary Home for Inebriates, and it was in her time a good summer board- ing-house known as "The Pines". Later the estate was bought by John Moseley, who removed the large building to May Street. GRADUATES OF COLLEGES The following young men born in Needham, or resident there at the time of entering college, graduated during the first one hundred and fifty years after the incorporation of the town: Jonathan Townsend 1741, Jonathan Newell 1770, Ephralm Drury 1776, Timothy Fuller 1787, Daniel Clark Sanders 1788, S.T.D. 1809, President of the Univer- sity of Vermont, Samuel West 1788, Calvin Whiting 1791, Luther Mills 1792, Nathan Plimpton West 1792, Isaac THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 373 Morrill 1805, Joseph Palmer 1820, M.D. 1826, James Ritchie 1835, Benjamin Gage Kimball 1835, Henry Colman Kim- ball 1840, Joseph Emery FIske 1861 (A.M. 1871), Andover Theological Seminary 1867. All of the foregoing graduated at Harvard College, and all received the degree of A.M. except Drury, Fuller and the Kimball brothers. George Ellery Clarke, A.M., was graduated at Williams In 1851. A large number of students have prepared for college at the Needham High School within the last twenty years, and some of them have had fine records In the great universities. WELLESLEY COLLEGE Wellesley College was founded by Henry Fowle Durant, a prominent lawyer of Boston who made his summer home In West Needham before the Civil War, and In 1864 owned about two hundred acres there. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Durant lost by death their only son, and consecrated the remainder of their lives to the service of others. The College was Incorporated on March 17, 1870, as the Wellesley Fe- male Seminary, and the name was changed to Wellesley College on March 7, 1873. Mrs. Durant laid the first stone of the first building of this institution, which was destined to become great within a few years, on August 18, 1871, and on September 14, of that year, the corner-stone was laid. The land was given by Mr. Durant, and he bore the expense of the original, or Main, building, the construction of which he directed. It Is beautiful and artistic inside and without, of fine proportions, and built in the best manner. It Is In the shape of a double Latin cross, and more than seven millions of bricks, and twenty miles of steam, water and gas pipes were required. On September 8, 1875, the Main Building, which provided for thirty teachers and three hundred students, was opened for use; the first graduating class was that of 1879, which numbered eighteen, and from 1875 to 1885 more than twenty-three hundred students were registered. There were forty-one graduates in 1880, and In 374 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the autumn of that year the college had three hundred and seventy-two students, and others had applied, but could not be received for lack of room. Charles B. Dana gave to the college the old Church, which he had moved to his own land, and it was then intended for normal and graduate students, but in 1881 it became the main building of Dana Hall, a preparatory school, which later required several large buildings. On May 27, 1880, the corner-stone of Stone Hall was laid, and in September, 1881, this fine building, the gift of Mrs. Valeria G. Stone of Maiden, was opened for use. It is a dormitory for one hundred undergraduates, and cost $100,000. On June 10, 1880, the corner-stone of the College of Music was laid. This college is on a knoll, over- looking the lake, and was one of the munificent gifts of Mr. Durant. The College of Music was used in June, 1881. These are the college buildings that existed when the College was within the limits of Needham, and the constant extension and expansion of this grand institution to the present time does not appertain to this town history. When the College opened its doors in 1875 there were twenty- nine professors and teachers, of whom Miss Ada Lydia Howard was the chief, and not only the first president of Wellesley College, but said to be the first woman in the world who held a college presidency. She served from 1875 to 1882, received the degree of Litt.D. from Mt. Holyoke in 1890, and died in 1907. In 1885 the College possessed four hundred acres of land, an addition of one hundred acres since 1875. Mr. Durant's tremendous energy, great influence and ability were enlisted in favor of the division of the town, and East Needham had no man who could cope with him, al- though he was then much out of health, and died October 3, 1 88 1. By founding this noble College Henry Fowle Durant made his name immortal. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 375 THE PUBLIC LIBRARY For some years Cyrus William Jones, a careful collector of facts, has been gathering material for a history of the libra- ries in Needham prior to March 5, 1888, when the Free Public Library was created by vote of the town. Mr. Jones's work is now completed, and is expected to appear as a volume of more than fifty pages. He gives a full account of the Social Library, which was formed In 1796 and merged in the Needham Library Association eighty-three years later, by transfer of its property, and also describes the somewhat numerous local or neighborhood libraries, exist- ing in different parts of the town in the nineteenth century. These local libraries were usually subscription or circulating, and the Needham Library Association, formed in the early seventies, was owned by Its stockholders. There were also three, or more, school district libraries, organized in the early forties, and two Agricultural libraries, dating from before the Civil War. There was an old library of religious books connected with the West Church, and the Sunday Schools have had their collections of volumes, in some instances for more than half a century. After the loss by fire of nearly all of the books of the Need- ham Library Association, the town voted to have a public library, and designated it, on March 19, 1888, the Needham Free Public Library, appropriating the dog taxes, $428.10, to Its support. An Old Folks concert yielded about $75 for the library, which with fines made an addition of nearly $100 to the income. During 1888 ten hundred and seventy- eight volumes were acquired, largely by gift. In 1889 the town granted $200 besides the dog taxes, and continued this annual amount in 1890, but in 1891 increased It to $300 and the dog taxes, which was the usual appropriation until the new building was erected. The first librarian was Francis de M. Dunn, who served from 1888 to the spring of 1892, with Mrs. Riella J. Dunn as the assistant. The latter year 376 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Mrs. Dunn became librarian, and held that position until April I, 1908, when she was succeeded by Miss Ella R. M'=Dowell. The organization and development of the library was a labor of love with Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, and for many years they rendered important services to the community. From its commencement to October, 1898, the library was in the small hall on the second floor of the Moseley Building, later known as the May Building. When the High School- house was completed the library occupied two fine, large east rooms on the first floor, and remained there till July, 1908, at which time it was removed to the Town Hall, having the two easterly rooms on the Chapel Street side. The formal opening of the library in the High School building took place on December 3, 1898, with appropriate exercises. The fine oak furniture, which cost $687.15, was the gift of the Library Building Fund Association, which had been collecting money for some years. Miss Helen M. Knowlton, the artist, loaned the library twenty-five valu- able paintings, and several persons presented good pictures, including Francis de M. Dunn, who gave three. Early in January, 1903, it was announced that Leonard Dawson had secured by correspondence an off"er from Andrew Carnegie, D.C.L., to give ten thousand dollars for a library building, and the town accepted this gift on March 2. After a spirited contest it was voted to locate the new building in Highlandville on land donated by William Carter, and on March 16 a building committee was chosen consist- ing of Mr. Dawson, Mr. Carter, Francis de M. Dunn, Charles E. Stanwood, Robert B. Walker, James F. Ryan, Henry T. Childs, George K. Clarke and William Gorse. The first sod was removed on the site by Samuel Hudson on June 5, 1903, when there were appropriate exercises, in- cluding addresses by several officials, and singing. There was another large attendance of the citizens, and similar exercises, on August 20, when Mrs. Jane G. A. Carter laid the corner-stone. The keys were informally handed over THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 377 to the selectmen on April 6, 1904, and on June 18 the dedi- cation exercises were held in the town hall with addresses hy Lieutenant-Governor Curtis Guild, Jr., and by the Hon- orable Samuel L. Powers, member of Congress from this district. An excellent portrait of the venerable Samuel Hudson was then presented to the library by his son. At other times Mr. Carter gave the granolithic walks, Thomas G. Lester presented the historical tablet, and Selectman Joseph B. Thorpe gave the fountain for drinking water. The cost of the building with its furnishings was upward of $13,000, Including $440 donated by citizens, and the expense of grading, and other outside work, made the total about $14,000. The town reports for 1903 and 1904 contain full particulars as to this building. The contractors were Fissell & Wagner, and the architect was Albert Ran- dolph Ross of New York City, Walter L. Parks assisting him. For years it has been the policy of the trustees to obtain annually some books of permanent and increasing value, and there is reason for pride in these volumes, which in- clude a goodly number of fine English works. In 1890 the library contained two thousand and one volumes, and the circulation for that year was ten thousand two hundred and twenty-seven, in 1900 there were approximately six thousand two hundred and seventy-five books, and a circulation of fifteen thousand three hundred and five, in 1910 there were upward of thirteen thousand bound volumes, and the cir- culation was twenty-eight thousand and sixty-two, not counting twenty-three hundred and ninety-eight magazines and pamphlets. Catalogues were printed In 1889, In July, 1892, 1895 (In- cluded books received from January, 1890 to January, 1895, except those found in the list of 1892), and in 1899. The catalogue of July, 1892, Is only of the books added to the library. In 1908 and 1909 a complete card catalogue was prepared, and a printed catalogue for home use was dis- 378 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM trlbuted In July, 1909. The total cost of these catalogues exceeded $1200, and was all paid from the regular appro- priations. There were twelve hundred copies printed. In 191 1 the older library Is open three afternoons and three evenings each week, and the newer one Saturday afternoon and three evenings. On March 23, 1909, books were sent to the Eliot School for the use of the pupils, the principal, Miss Alice H. Eber- hardt, having offered to act as assistant librarian, and this arrangement was continued until the neighboring delivery station was fully established. On September 28, 1909, a delivery station was opened for the service of the public at Mrs. Margaret F. McDonald's store, Upper Falls, and books have been sent there each Tuesday, the local circulation rapidly Increasing. In 1909 and 1910 three hundred and forty-five books were received from Miss Helen M. Bean, executrix of George Fellows Bean. When the town was divided Mr. Bean desired to go with Wellesley, but his house was left on the Needham side by a few rods. It Is said that he rarely. If ever, visited any of the villages of Needham, and conse- quently did not vote from 1881 till his death, April 14, 1909. In his last illness his thoughts returned to the old town, and he said that he wished to give his books to Its library, but died before he had carried his Intention into effect. For years he had been a reader of good literature, and the pur- chaser of many volumes, some of which remained In their original boxes at the time of his decease. Miss Bean sur- vived her brother but little over two years, and the destina- tion of the rest of Mr. Bean's library Is not known to the writer In June, 191 1. The trustees have been: — Albert Ebur Miller, M.D., 1888-97 (nine years); chairman 1892-6 (five years). Mrs. Jane Greenough Avery Carter 1888-97 (nine years). Samuel Hartwell Jones 1888 to his death May 3, 1893, aged seventy-three years; chairman 1888-91 (four years). THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 379 Samuel Hudson 1888 to his death December 11, 1905, aged eighty-six years; chairman 1902. Mrs. Alice Mayo Hicks 1888- . Francis de Maurice Dunn, A.B., 1888- . George Kuhn Clarke, A.M., LL.B., 1894- ; chairman 1897-1901, 1903- . Thomas Sutton 1 897-1902, resigned early In 1902. James Benjamin Lester 1897-9 (three years). George Edmund Jones 1900-5 (six years). Winthrop Morton Southworth, A.B., 1902. Robert Burns Walker 1903- . William Carter 1906- . Harry Woodard 1906-10 (five years). William Gorse 191 1- . The first trustees were elected on March 19, 1888. Samuel H. Jones had been president of the Needham Library Asso- ciation for several years, George K. Clarke Its secretary from February 10, 1885, and George W. Southworth was the librarian for a long period, serving for a time also as treasurer. Snbugtriesi UPPER FALLS In 1688 John Clark of Watertown is said to have built a dam where is now the "Upper" or "Snuff Mill Dam", and in 1782 Thomas Parker constructed one by Turtle Island, about one hundred rods west of the other dam. Both Clark and Parker had sawmills; the later mill, and probably also the earlier one, was on the Newton side. About 1800 Rufus Ellis, who was the leader in industrial enterprises at the Upper Falls, completed a more permanent dam, and erected on the island the buildings of the Newton Iron Works Company, of which he was agent in 1799, but later sole owner under the name of Rufus Ellis & Co. In 18 14 Mr. Ellis built a cotton-factory on the Needham side, and equipped it with three thousand spindles for weaving sheet- ings, and in 1823 he formed the Newton Factories Company, which included this cotton-mill.^ By 1833 Rufus Ellis and David Ellis were the sole proprietors of the Newton Fac- tories Company, and some years the Needham mill was taxed to Rufus Ellis only. The cotton-mill was leased in 1840 to Milton H. Sanford of Medway, who was to make Osnaburghs for the Southern market, but in 1844 Barney L. White became the lessee, and made improvements, including new wheels, and replaced the machinery for the manufacture of sheetings. In 1848 Salmon S. Hewitt leased ' In 1815 George Bird was taxed for "Ellis Paper Mill " located in East Need- ham, apparently at the Upper Falls, but this mill has not been identified. The wood used in the construction of the cotton-mill in 1814 is said to have been pur- chased at auction in Boston, and was originally taken on a prize captured at sea during the War of 1812. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 381 the mill, which on May 8, 1850, was entirely destroyed by fire, and never rebuilt. At the division of the town the water-privilege and the stone storehouse were still owned by the heirs of David Ellis, to whom the property had been taxed in 1850. After the fire Mr. Ellis erected a nail-factory on the site of the cotton-mill, but it was operated only some six years, and was later changed to a grist-mill, and burned in 1873. The natural fall of the water at the Upper Falls is twenty- six feet, fifteen feet at the upper dam, and eleven feet at the lower. Many residents of Needham were employed in the mills on the Newton side, and in the thirties the Elliot Manu- facturing Company conducted a savings department for Its employees, and some of the Needham girls thus accumu- lated money for their wedding outfits. In 1840 the plant was sold to Otis Pettee, although his title did not become complete until 1845, and the depositors were paid in full, and their accounts closed. In 1889 there were perhaps seventy-five of these pass books in the attic of the late George H. Kuhn, treasurer of the Elliot Manufacturing Company from 1832 to 1845, who also had the books of the company. The first pass books were of twelve leaves, ruled for cash but not lined, the covers of a reddish tint and grained, and the dimensions six and five eighths inches by four and one eighth inches. Later pass books were both ruled up and down, and lined horizontally. These books contained eight leaves each, with grained covers of a brownish tint, and the dimensions were five and five eighths Inches by three and six eighths Inches. A third style of pass book was like the second except that there were fourteen leaves, with pinkish covers, and the books measured four and six eighths inches by three and one quarter inches. The paper of all of these books was of a quality to last. Of the few books preserved 52 Is the highest number; Elmlna Hale's number was 51, and Eliza Bullough of Needham was a 382 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM depositor in 1840. Most of the deposits did not exceed $75, but some were over $100, and Jason Morse, whose book was numbered 13, had $542.21 to his credit. High rates of interest were allowed. These details are given to illustrate the efforts of this company to encourage thrift and because the apparent success of this early system of saving may be of interest. LOWER FALLS The First Mill at the Upper Dam was owned in 1825 by Amos Lyon, later Amos Lyon & Co., who had purchased it from the estate of Ephraim Jackson, Jr. This paper- mill was the one nearest to the Upper Dam, and was burned on May 19, 1834, together with the machine-shop of Ware & Clark, which was close to it on the east. The paper-mill was rebuilt, but the business was not successful, and about 1843 it was bought by Nathaniel Wales, Jr., & Co., later the firm of Wales & Mills, William Mills being the junior partner. There was a fire at their stockhouse on June 11, 1843, but how serious it was does not appear. For ten years Wales & Mills made paper at this mill, and then sold the plant to Thomas Rice, Jr., and until the death of his son Frederick W., which occurred after the division of the town, it was one of the mills of the Thomas Rice Paper Company. The mill was burned in 1869, or 1870, rebuilt, and was again destroyed by fire in 1894, when owned by Robert Bishop, who was then erecting a large plant on the site of the Second Mill, intending to make the cotton and paper material that is placed under carpets. THE SECOND MILL AT THE LOWER FALLS In 1800 the heirs of Col. Ephraim Jackson were taxed for a paper-mill in Needham.^ In 18 16 Solomon Curtis 1 In 1 8 15 Moses Grant, Jr., was assessed in Needham for a paper-mill formerly owned by Ephraim Jackson, but whether the First or the Second Mill is not cle^r. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 383 and William Hurd, "Papermakers", both of Newton, bought of William Parker, a Boston merchant, the paper- mill which he had acquired the year before from Ephraim Jackson, with the exception of one building that had been consumed by fire. The purchase included all rights in the dam and "Flooms", as well as the wheels and other machin- ery. In 1 8 16 an agreement as to water-rights was made, and Simon Elliot and Solomon Curtis then represented two thirds of a paper-mill and of a sawmill on the Needham side, and Hurd and Bemis the other third. The paper and fulling-mills were to have the first right, and the sawmill the fourth right. In 1822 Isaac Stevens, John Clark and Rufus Ellis, all of Boston, sold for $1000 to John Nichols and George Hooker, both of Newton, "Paper makers", a water-privilege and buildings in Needham, and soon after Mr. Hooker conveyed his interest to Allen C. and William Curtis. The same year Allen C. Curtis, William Curtis, John Nichols, all of Newton, "Paper Makers", and Rufus Ellis of Boston sold to John Dodd of Boston, one and one half acres at the Upper Dam in Needham, with paper-mill, flumes, dam rights and two engines. The deed stated that by the agreement of 1816 theirs was the first of the six "Paper Mill rights", and named the four parties to the said agreement as follows: 1st, Simon Elliot and Solomon Curtis, 2d, Moses Grant, 3d, William Hurd and Charles Bemis, 4th, John Ware. The deed also reserves the water-rights conveyed to Amos Lyon, which were to run his mill. Mr. Dodd sold this prop- erty to Harris H. Wolcott and Lorenzo D. Willis in 1828, and in a short time they transferred it to Henry D. Wolcott. Alexander H. Twombly, a creditor of Messrs. Wolcott and Willis, acquired the property in 1830, which then included also a nail-factory, and the next year sold it to William Hurd and Lemuel Crehore. In 1834 Mr. Crehore conveyed his undivided half to Mr. Hurd, who for a dozen years car- ried on the manufacture of paper. Jones & Rice were the 384 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM owners in 1848, then Mr. Boit took the place of Mr. Jones? and he was soon succeeded by Moses Garfield, who was in business with Charles Rice, Jr., until 1863, when Mr. Gar- field bought out Mr. Rice, and for about four years contin- ued alone. Mr. Garfield sold the mill to Thomas Rice, and it became one of the mills of the Thomas Rice Paper Com- pany. For forty years the Rice mills made the paper for the Boston Evening Transcript. In the early years these mills produced about one ton of newspaper per day, having each a sixty-two-inch forming machine, four beating ma- chines, and fifty horse-power. Thomas Rice paid $16,500 for the Wales & Mills plant and $22,000 for the mill long known as the Garfield mill. In 1868 the water-privileges were each assessed at $5000. The Honorable Thomas Rice was born in that part of Needham now Wellesley Hills. The Second Mill was taken down about 1893 by Robert Bishop. The Machine-shop, once an important industry, employing one hundred men, dates from 1832, when Reuben Ware and William Clark erected the building which was burned in 1834. In 1846 the shop, which had been rebuilt, came into the possession of Joseph Stowe, and in 1850 Henry P. Eaton, Rufus Moulton and Harvey Eaton bought it; the latter died in 1852, and the shop was again burned in 1853 and rebuilt. In 1854 Mr. Jordan joined with Messrs. Eaton and Moulton, and in 1855 the firm was Eaton, Moul- ton & Jordan, but the latter soon retired, and for years Eaton & Moulton were the only proprietors, until Adam Beck became their partner in 1858. Mr. Beck was the sole owner in 1876, and continued the business to his death in 1905, although two of the buildings had been made into tenements. From i860 to 1862 the machine-shop appears to have been taxed to Lemuel Crehore, who long had inter- ests on both sides of the river. The Third Paper-mill at the Upper Dam was on the site of Benjamin Slack's fulling-mill, which he had sold in 1806 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 385 to Peter Lyon, assigning to Mr. Lyon in 1807 a bond ob- tained In 1799 from Ephralm Jackson to let the water through and to raise the dam to a mark picked on a rock.^ This bond proved to be a personal one and not assignable, and in 1822 Mr. Lyon conveyed the property to William and Adolphus Durant of Newton. In 1831 William Durant, who had bought out his brother, Adolphus, or "Apolas", as the deed (1831) called him, sold the mill, "Raghouse", and all of the water-rights and privileges, to John L. Rice of Newton. The land was only one quarter acre, and there was a "coper house" on it. The price is not clear, but the largest mortgage on the property at any time prior to 1840, that of 1825, when the Durants bought the mill, was less than $4000. The same day that he bought the mill Mr. Rice conveyed an undivided half to Luther Crane, who sold it to Thomas Rice in 1835 for $4000.- John L. Rice died about 1834, and his brother, Thomas, and brother-in- law, Moses Garfield, took the mill, but the latter withdrew from the firm by 1840, when for a brief time Benjamin F. Martin succeeded him. For twenty years Thomas Rice was the sole owner of this mill, and did an important busi- ness until about 1867, when he sold the property to the Dudley Hosiery Company. The Evans Collar Company had occupied the building for a year, or more. ' In November, 1799, Ephraim Jackson of Needham, "Miller", gave a bond of $2000 to Benjamin Slack, "Clothier ", to "convey water through the said Jack- sons damn near his Grist mill into the pond of the above named Benjamin Slacks fulling mill sufficient and for the purpose of carrying a paper mill or any other mill that may be erected near said pond ". Jackson was also "to build or caus'd to be built one half of a new Damn where the fulling mill damn now is" and to permit the fulling-mill "Damn" to be raised. In 1799 Peter Lyon was taxed for a paper- mill in Needham, in 1802 for one half of Ephraim Jackson's paper-mill, valued at $600, and in subsequent years for a paper-mill without other description. There was once a canal by Walnut Street, further east than that now used, but the mill owners nearer the dam appealed to the Court, and got it closed. ^ This deed granted all of the real estate and the water-privileges conveyed to John L. Rice "and me" since August 10, 1831, by Benjamin Slack and A. C. & W. Curtis, except what Rice & Crane may have conveyed, meaning all that Rice & Crane had had at the time of Rice's death. Presumably Rice & Crane had ex- pended considerable money on the works, for when Mr. Crane bought the un- divided half the consideration was stated to be 386 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM In a mortgage of one of these mills In 1814 "the new dam acrofs the River" is referred to. William Hoogs is said to have built in 1790 the Second, or Lower, Dam, at the Lower Falls and to have soon after erected a paper-mill on the Newton side, which mill his son William sold in 1809 to Peter Lyon, and it was the prede- cessor of the mill of Augustus C. Wiswall & Son. The site is now (191 1) included in the Reservation. Apparently before he built this paper-mill Mr. Hoogs had a tannery near the ford below Pratt's Bridge, and presumably on the Newton side. In 1794 Edward Jackson of Newton deeded for £200 "one undivided moiety of y® stream which runs through y- s- Land", and a paper-mill, to Francis Wright and Joseph Greene of Boston, "Merchants". The land bounded on the "County Road Bridge", and was the other half of that conveyed by Mr. Jackson to William Hoogs, for £100 on August 5, 1793, and which they In turn had the same day granted to Messrs. Wright and Greene, who executed articles of agreement "to build & erect a set of paper works in Needham". The deed to Wright and Greene from Jackson and Hoogs refers to the "back water dam In the river", and recites "Together with the exclusive right of the stream for the recting of a Paper mill to be owned by the Grantors, together with the Grantees & Stephen Crane of Watertown". The grantees were to have one quarter, and Messrs. Crane, Wright and Greene each one quarter, but Mr. Crane acquired only one eighth, which he sold In 1796 to Messrs. Wright and Greene for $500. There were then buildings on the land, including a paper-mill. Jackson and Hoogs had been allowed £200 on the expense of building as they had furnished the land. In 1809 William Hoogs bought of Mr. Wright four forty eighths, of Russell Sturgis sixteen forty eighths, and of Joseph Greene, or his estate, twenty-one forty eighths for $3333.33, all the inter- est that these Boston men had In the land and paper-mill. Mr. Hoogs was already the owner of seven forty eighths. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 387 Apparently Mr. Greene was dead in 1803, when Francis Hoogs discharged the obligations under a bond for $6423, which William Hoogs, the elder, who was not living in 1802, had given to Messrs. Wright, Sturgis and Greene in 1800. In 1799 Dea. Francis Wright & Co. were taxed for one half of a paper-mill in West Needham, and their interest was valued at $939, which was doubtless a nominal appraisal. In 181 1 the Hoogs paper-mill was owned by Samuel Brown of Needham, who had been a creditor of Mr. Hoogs. In 1816 Mr. Brown sold it, together with "moulds felts & all other utensials",for $4000 to Artemas Murdock of Needham, who in 1 81 8 deeded the property to Charles Rice at a large advance in the consideration. In 1835 Gen. Charles Rice conveyed this paper-mill on the Needham side, with a dry-house and out-buildings, to Parker H. Pierce of Boston, who had acquired one of the two mortgages then on the property. Joseph Greenwood and Paul Dewing succeeded General Rice, but the latter retired in a few years, and about 1847 Mr. Greenwood sold the plant to Benjamin Farlis, who was from Salem. In 1 85 1 this mill was owned and operated by Allen C. Curtis, the well-known papermaker, under the firm name of A. C. Curtis & Son, and they sold it during the Civil War to Thurston Priest, who had a paper-mill at Water- town. In 1866 it was taxed to Joseph G. Loring and William B. Newbery of Boston, and for a time Loring & Co. made paper from Esparto grass, but the mill was burned, and the privilege and remaining buildings were bought by Binney & Co., who had a fire in 1868, when the plant was known as Binney's Mill. In 1870 and 1871 the property was assessed to the Boston Belting Company, but was not used by them, and it was sold to Charles Francis of Brookline, who built a mill. As early as 1874 the establishment was owned by Richard T. Sullivan, who erected several buildings on the premises, and for many years he and his representatives have manufactured "shoddy", or carbonized wool there. 388 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The older paper-mills on this site made about one ton per day each. In the later decades of the nineteenth century Billings, Clapp & Company had their chemical works where is now the mica plant, which is west of the R. T. Sullivan Company's mill. In Norfolk County alone there are on record at least one hundred deeds and mortgages affecting these mills at the Lower Falls,, and the writer has devoted much time to examining the earlier ones. There were many real estate transactions in the vicinity of the mills by Edward Jackson, and by different individuals who bore the name of Ephraim Jackson, beginning with Colonel Ephraim, the tavern- keeper at the Lower Falls, who died in the army in 1777. Below the Upper Dam the fall of the water is sixteen feet on the Newton side, and ten on the Needham side, with the exception of a place near the Third Mill, where it is but six feet. On the brook in the ravine, which is northwest of Saint John's Church, and near the Lower Falls, preliminary steps were taken prior to 1850 to establish an industry, and a dike and a canal were constructed, perhaps also a building. This enterprise was not a success, but as early as 1851 Henry Wood started here the manufacture of mineral paint, and, it is said, began also to make bricks from Portland cement and sand with a mixture of lime, an Industry con- tinued by him and his successors for many years, but even- tually given up. These paint works were among the few of that kind then existing, but before i860 were burned by an incendiary, it was supposed, and Mr. Wood resumed business on Natick Brook, where an important and extensive manu- factory flourishes in the present century, under the control of Mr. Wood's successors, Henry Wood's Sons Company.^ * Its letter-head in 191 1 describes it as "Makers of Fine Colors", and states that its business was "Established 1837 by Henry Wood". The present Henry Wood of this company is a son of Edmund M. Wood. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 389 When Mr. Wood retired in 1866, his son, Edmund M. Wood, formed a co-partnership with Horace Humphrey, and in the early eighties they made about six tons of paint per day. In 1873 there had been a fire at their paint-shop to which Natick firemen were summoned. At one time they are said to have made utensils from copper and tin plate at their paint-factory. Edmund M. Wood was connected with various enter- prises, including the Middlesex Stone Brick Company, and was the proprietor of the great Waban Conservatories, which are situated on one of the ancient Goodenow farms, in what was Needham Leg. These conservatories are noted abroad, as well as in this country, for the large number of huge greenhouses devoted entirely to roses, and there are few, if any, rose conservatories in the world that rival these in size. Mr. Wood died in Natick in 1901. After the loss of the paint-shop, and the removal of Mr. Wood, General Charles Rice built there a grist-mill and a planing-mill, which were carried on by his son Charles, who also erected a paint-shop about fifteen feet from the mills. This shop was leased for a number of years to Hanchett & Morse, paintmakers, but the two mills and shop were burned completely; it was thought that the fire was incen- diary. Charles Rice, Jr., had a deed of this property from his father about i860, and built the present large shop, which he rented to Farwell & Conant for a silk-factory, and for seven years spool silk was made there. Isaac Farwell removed to Newton, and Mr. Rice subsequently leased the building for various purposes. In 1870 Charles Rice, Jr., was assessed on $2400 for two acres of privilege and a silk-factory. LONGFELLOW'S MILL In 1836 Isaac Keyes of Needham sold to Zenas and Luther Crane of Newton, "Papermakers ", one and one quarter acres of land on the Worcester Turnpike, with a paper- 390 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM mill. Mr. Keyes also granted permission to raise the dam two feet higher, and to flow his land above it. In 1847 Rebekah Crane "of the Village of the Lower Falls in New- ton", administratrix of the estate of Zenas Crane, sold an undivided half of this property at auction, and it was bought by Nathan Longfellow for $1100, who at the same time acquired the other half of Luther Crane at the same price. This mill stood at the northwesterly end of Longfellow's Pond, and for years Mr. Longfellow did a fair business there, but the old building was burned in 1870. On Natick Brook the "Praying Indians" had a sawmill in 1658, but it was destroyed by the white men during King PhiHp's War, and the saws were taken to Sudbury; the pond was known as "y^ sawmill pond". This sawmill on Natick Brook is said to have been the first in Eastern Massachusetts, not including the District of Maine. The Henry Wood's Sons' paint-works have been referred to. Eighty years since Daniel Morse had his grist-mill on this brook, and earlier Thomas Broad ran a sawmill at or near the same place. Mr. Wood bought the privilege and mill of Mr. Morse. Within the territory granted to Edward Hawes in 1661, and formerly called "Hawes Hundred", there was nearly two centuries ago a mill on the stream once known as Hawes Brook, which brook connects Morse's and Nonsuch Ponds. About 1725 this mill came into the possession of the Loker family, who were inhabitants of Needham for several gen- erations. In 183 1 there was a mill on this site, and it is possible that Otis Jennings made paper there in 1834, when he was taxed for paper-mill stock. For some years before and after the division of the town, James Tucker & Co. had a shoe-factory of considerable size at the corner of Washington and Cottage Streets in Wellesley, but the prevailing sentiment of the people of Wellesley did not favor an industry of that kind, and the factory was purchased by Mr. H. H. Hunnewell and Mrs. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 391 Durant and given to the College for a dormitory, and is known as "The Eliot". MILL AT CHARLES RIVER VILLAGE This beautiful and valuable water-privilege has been more often availed of by lessees than by owners. Jesse Lyon, a Mr. Daniell and Moses Grant were early proprie- tors of a paper-mill here, but were not the first ones, as there was a paper-mill, or mills, in the south part of the town in 1796. From 1826 to 1840 John Welles was taxed for this property, together with the Ambler house, except in 183 1-9, when Josiah Newell, who ran the paper-mill, or his assignees, were the nominal owners. In 1842 and 1843 Barden & Newell were assessed for this mill, and from 1844 to 1846 Benjamin Newell alone. Mr. Newell was for years a paper-manufacturer, but from 1849 to 1852 the plant was owned by Otis Pettee. Christopher Hancks was designated in deeds as a "Paper- maker" from 1 8 16 to 1835, and Benjamin Newell was succeeded by Hancks & Hagar, and they, prior to the Civil War, by Goss & Russell, who were lessees from H. H. Hunne- well and others, trustees. Apparently William L. Ward purchased this mill about 1862, and made shoddy. He was soon followed by Porter & Lancey, in whose time the mill was burned, together with a small house erected within the mill-grounds by Mr. Ward. All of the foregoing made coarse wrapping paper, but William Hill & Son, who had a small paper-mill on the Dover side, bought from the mortgagees the privilege on the Needham side, built a mill there and made Manilla paper in the early seventies. In 1877 Eugene H. Sampson had acquired the plant, and named it the Waban Mills. He made leather-board for ten years, when he sold out to Edwin Hill, who expended $15,000 for an equipment to make bookpaper, including a Fourdrinier machine eighty feet long. After six years the cost of freight on the wood used for pulp led Mr. Hill 392 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM and his sons to retire from the business, and in 1892 Frank H. Brown purchased the property of Mr. Hill. In 1893 the mill was burned, and for some years Mr. Brown grad- ually replaced the buildings intending to make paper. Upward of half a century ago there was a nail-factory near the river, east of the paper-mill, and within the grounds of the mill. Dr. Noyes noted in his diary "Building the Dam C. River", September 2, 1828, and "Breach made in Dam at Dover Iron Works", September 23, 1832. More than a century ago supplying poles for barrel- hoops and faggots for the bakers of Roxbury and Boston formed such a considerable industry in Needham that the faggots came to be known as Needham Currency, and, judging by some old accounts, were bartered for goods, New England rum representing an undue per cent of the trade. The manufacture of glue was introduced into Need- ham by Robert Evans, who lived on the O'Neil place, at the corner of Rosemary Street, near Nehoiden Street. He had as apprentices John Mills and Allen Fisher, and did not intend that they should learn the whole process of mak- ing glue, but they did acquire the knowledge, owing to certain complications, and Mr. Mills became a successful manufacturer on a larger scale than Mr. Evans, whose shop was also his dwelling. Mr. Mills for many years made glue in his shops on Great Plain Avenue, nearly opposite the old Mills place, and acquired a fortune. His brother, Matthias, had shops in the rear of his house on Central Avenue, and later purchased John's and made glue in them until into the seventies. In 1872 four nephews of John and Matthias Mills, associating with them for a few months their brother-in-law, Timothy Otis Fuller, built two shops a short distance west of the older ones, and for several years manufactured glue. They found, however, that the conditions had changed from the older time, and that there was great difficulty in getting the stock, which once was I THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 393 abundant and cost but little more than the expense of transporting it a few miles; moreover competition with large concerns was ruinous. The business involved night- work, which did not add to its attractions. Galen Orr and his brother Thomas made glue in shops off of Great Plain Avenue, about half a mile west from the railroad track, and Nathan Mcintosh produced some on the premises where his home was. Lemuel Kingsbury had glue shops on Great Plain Avenue, about half a mile east of the rail- road, and Otis and J. Willard Morton had a glue plant north of Rosemary Street, and not far from the railroad, but the best days of these glue industries were prior to the Civil War, and few of them survived to 1870, although the shops remained for many years. The glue shops were all in East Needham, and that part of the town was also en- gaged in the manufacture of hats, and in 183 1 there were three small hat-factories, — Lemuel Lyon's was about where the boiler rooms of the Lower Mill of the William Carter Company are now. William G. Jones had a hat- shop on Central Avenue, and between the Lyon houses on Greendale Avenue, near Lyon's Bridge, was the hat- shop of Joshua B. Lyon. Hats, however, do not appear to have been made in Needham much after 1850, although William Bennett is designated as a hatter in 1853. Appar- ently Mr. Jones's place of business was in the old "Bake Shop", which was built by Rufus Mills in the thirties. Mr. Mills was a baker but a short time, and the building was for many years a dwelling. About 1830 Michael Mcintosh bought the property where the hinge-factory is. The dam was then known as the Amos Fuller Dam, and there was a dilapidated sawmill, which Mr. Mcintosh ran for two winters, and did a considerable business, as the accumulation of logs and lumber on the premises testified. He paid the Rev. William Ritchie $500 for this water-privilege and land, rebuilt the dam In a substantial manner, put In a flume, and blasted a ledge 394 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM for the pit and raceway, which was for a twelve-foot water- wheel, with six buckets. He also had another wheel "in the same race way 40 feet with two feet buckets these two wheels, and steam engine were burnt with the buildings". There was a fall of about twenty feet where the first wheel was. Mr. Mcintosh, who was a skilful machinist, black- smith, moulder, pattern-maker and inventor, had pre- viously had a shop on Great Plain Avenue, west of the residence of the late George C. M<=Intosh, where he carried on the business of a country blacksmith, besides making blind-hinges. The need of motive power led him to pur- chase the water-privilege, and after he moved to his new site his business rapidly increased, requiring additions to the plant until there were nine roofs. He continued to make hinges and fastenings, and also had a sash and blind-shop, which stood where the west end of the present hinge-fac- tory is, but was much larger, and was equipped with the most improved machinery valued at $5000. Here for some years an average of four hundred sashes per day were made, except in the warm weather, and one year Mr. M'^Intosh had a contract to furnish the sashes and blinds for one hundred brick houses that were built in Boston. Mr. Joseph Fisher, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Josiah Noyes, was Mr. Mcintosh's principal man, and was a first-rate me- chanic who could make machinery. In 1840 [1841?] the entire property was destroyed by fire, and no insurance was received because of the introduction of a steam-boiler with- out permission. There was certainly a fire at Michael Macintosh's mill in 1841, as on November 29 of that year a selectmen's order was drawn to pay $2.97 for refresh- ments supplied to the firemen on that occasion. Edward A. Mills remembers seeing the firemen from the Upper Falls hastening to this fire, and says he was much impressed by their red shirts. Mr. Henry Michael Mcintosh, who was eighty years old in 1907, when he furnished the fore- going information as to his father's business career, stated THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 395 that he did not remember when the new dam was built, but did "recollect some gravel was added to the dam and a new sluice way was made at the east end of the pond to carry off the excess of water. It used to be so that all the water could be drawn out of the pond and leaving but the brook, but some water was always left on account of the fish". Michael M'^Intosh owned the Kingsbury-Rollins place, and had in all about sixty acres bordering on the ponds. His son said that the ponds were very high in cer- tain seasons, and flowage damages had to be considered then, as in Mr. Orr's time. "The small pond next to the hinge factory is not as wide as it was". "On Father's side he filled up and made a wall to the water line, and made a garden of that part. Previous to 1840 Mr. Luther Morse's blacksmith's shop stood mostly on piles over the end of the South corner of the small pond up to the road. On the opposite side of the road from Mr. Morse's shop was the large pond, and there were no buildings, the space of land between road and water belonged to Father; it was land east side, water west side, and he bought the land of Mr. Ritchie so as not to pay flowing damages". (Letter of Henry M. M'^Intosh of September 26, 1907.) Mr. M<=In- tosh also sent to the writer an interesting plan he drew of his father's manufactory, including the immediate vicinity. He died March 13, 1908, aged eighty years, seven months and fifteen days. The sash and blind-shop, which was taller than the present building, was plainly seen from Neholden Street, but the other portions of the plant were farther to the east and north, and were conspicuous from Rosemary Street. About 1836 Mr. M'^Intosh had located a grist-mill at the Amos Fuller Dam, and had obtained large granite mill-stones from Salem, but lack of water led him to abandon this business. About 1835 he had peti- tioned the General Court for permission to build a reser- voir between the hills, southeast of the George C. Mcin- tosh ice-pond, and to draw water from Pine Swamp for 396 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM his mill-pond by means of a ditch, which was to run nearly parallel with Great Plain Avenue, and to cross the road near where the Daniel Kingsbury barn stood. He stated that this would lower the water about six feet in the swamp, and redeem many acres of land, but the opposition of the mill-owners on Charles River was fatal, and Mr. Mcintosh had leave to withdraw his petition. The blacksmith's shop, referred to by Mr. H. M. M'^In- tosh, was moved to the south side of the road, and about 1837 Isaac H. Greenwood built another shop adjoining the Luther Morse shop on the south. For many years Mr. Greenwood followed his calling as a blacksmith on this site, and in the early seventies John H. Fitzgerald became his associate, and later his successor, remaining in the old shop until about 1900, when he removed to a larger estab- lishment on Chapel Street. Mr. Fitzgerald took down the Morse shop manyyears ago, and the Greenwood shop in 1906. In 1844 Galen Orr acquired the M'^Intosh water-power, together with five acres of land, with buildings thereon, extending to the junction of Nehoiden and Rosemary Streets, and also two acres on the other side of Nehoiden Street, opposite the larger parcel. He built some shops, and for many years carried on a successful business as a manu- facturer of blind-hinges and fastenings. In 1872 he asso- ciated with him his son-in-law, Edgar H. Bowers, under the firm name of Galen Orr & Co. Mr. Orr died in 1881, and Mr. Bowers has continued the industry. Mr. Orr was one of the most enterprising citizens of Needham, and in his youth had learned the business, or trade, of a nail- maker, working, it is said, in the nail-factory at Charles River Village. From 1839 to 1844 he made hinges on forges, at home, on Central Avenue in the house which he sold to the Rev. Mr. Maynard in 1844. Atone time Mr. Orr had a grocery store in the Nehoiden Block, then sometimes called the Revere Block, as it was built by Mr. Revere in 1844, and owned by him for twenty-five years. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 397 Lemuel Lyon built the dam at the northwest end of Rose- mary Pond, which owes its origin to this dam, and to excavations made by Mr. Lyon, who for a year employed John O'Neil, with a horse and cart, to remove land from one side-hill, and gravel from another. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated that in his youth he worked digging out this basin. Henry M. Mcintosh said he well remembered when the place was an alder swamp and Dewing's peat- meadow, and recalled a road by Dewing's Hill. Although a part of Rosemary Brook, it is not strange that for some years the pond was known as Lyon's Pond. Mr. Lyon built a small mill, and did business under the firm name of Lyon & Hersey. Their chief industry was the manufacture of huge beaver-hats, with bell-shaped crowns, large rims, and covered with long hair. One of these hats was in the possession of the late Dr. Noyes at the time of his decease, and Leon Divoll is said to have been a skilled hat-maker in the employ of Mr. Lyon. The Lyon mill was burned and rebuilt, and before 1850 had become the silk-mill of Lemuel Cobb, who was from Dedham, and who had some mulberry trees and silk-worms.^ In 185 1 Galen Orr acquired the property succeeding Robert Prentiss, who made batting, and for some six years had a cotton-batting-mill, known as the Rosemary Brook Batting Mill. Later he sold the machinery, and In i860 had a grist-mill there, dealing in flour. This business he continued for several years, and Charles A. Hines, better remembered as the veteran grave- digger, was Mr. Orr's miller. Apparently Mr. Orr retained some of the batting until the Civil War, as he then supplied the women of Needham with it, and they prepared It for 1 At the time that Mr. Cobb started his silk-mill it was thought that a new industry of importance had come to town, and some people, particularly the women, were zealous in setting out mulberry trees in order to feed the silk-worms, anticipating employment, but were disappointed, although the trees remained for many years. There are, or were a few years since, mulberry trees that Mr. Cobb set out near his mill. He was followed by Messenger Brothers in the business of winding silk, and they in turn for a time by Rufus Haven Mills and Dexter Town- send Mills. 398 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the use of the soldiers, particularly for the hospital service. Beginning with 1857 he had for a year and a half engaged with Thaddeus Bullen of Haverhill in the manufacture of tacks and iinishing-nails in the former batting-mill, but it was not a success. In 1864 Mr. Orr sold this property to George and Edward Smith Ashwell for $3000. It then included the dam, mill-privilege, one half acre of land, and "Also the right to raise water by means of said dam to the height of the top of a copper bolt, driven into a hole drilled in a rock in the race way of the upper mill privilege of said Orr and to flow all lands which will be flowed by a pond raised to that height". Another half acre of land near had been purchased by Mr. Orr of Warren Dewing, and was also conveyed by this deed. George Ashwell, who lived in Needham, soon became the sole owner, and in 1866 he deeded the plant to Isaac A. Hatch of Boston, to George Ashwell (the grantor) and to David A. Andrews, as co-partners under the name of Hatch, Ashwell & Co. This firm erected a new mill, adjoining the old batting-mill, and transferred their title to the Ashwell Manufacturing Company, which engaged in the manu- facture of hosiery and jackets, chiefly the former. The old mill is referred to in deeds as "Orr's lower mill". From 1868 to 1874 the building was occupied by Samuel Sutton & Co., manufacturers of hosiery, and also of yarn, including Merino. They gave employment to one hundred persons, as they had other hosiery establishments in Needham. Mr. Sutton was an experienced and wealthy manufacturer, and his two older sons were in partnership with him, Thomas Sutton having an interest in the business before he was eighteen years old. Samuel Sutton is said to have been the pioneer in Needham in the employment of power machinery tor making hosiery. At first the legs only were made by power, then later also the feet. The goods had to be sewed. Mr. Sutton was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire, February THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 399 24, 181 2, came to America in 1833, and died in Needham June 6, 1897. From 1868 to 1874 this building also continued the mill of Isaac A. Hatch & Co., who had the two upper floors during the time that Samuel Sutton & Co. had the lower floors. From 1874 to 1879 the former company had the whole plant, and made hosiery and some jackets. In 1880 William Claflin and others as trustees owned this property, and about 1883 it came into the possession of Richard T. Sullivan, who made blankets there for a brief period.^ From 1884 to 1887 the plant was owned by the Keeler Manu- facturing Company, who made a high grade of what is tech- nically known as cut, or flat, underwear, employing upward of one hundred persons. In 1888 William Carter bought the mill, with other property, at a bargain, and leased it to the Union Cycle Company, which company increased the size of the building, and did a large business in the manufacture of bicycles. About 1902 the plant became Mill No. 2, or the Lower Mill, of the William Carter Com- pany, which transferred all of its machinery to this mill. Notwithstanding the traditional "Old Indian Curse" resting on this valley, the industry now located there ap- pears to be entirely successful. Before the Lyon dam was built there was a small one at what is now the south end of the large pond, where the water flows in from the hinge-factory pond, and there was a building in which an Englishman, named Townsend, had two carding machines for making woolen rolls. Henry M. M'^Intosh said that he saw the machines in operation, and that after the Lyon mill was burned Mr. Lyon built a small dam near the one that Mr. Townsend had, and a canal was made along the side-hill extending several hundred feet to a building subsequently finished into a dwelling- house. There was no water-wheel on this canal, and later it was filled up. ^ It is said that before Mr. Sullivan had this mill shoddy was made there. 400 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The extensive greenhouses of Denys Zirngiebel, formerly of the Botanic Gardens of Harvard University, have been located in Needham for forty years, or more, and are justly noted for rare and beautiful flowers. In 1868 James Cart- wright had greenhouses on Cartwright Street in what is now Wellesley, and his family has continued in the business, both in Needham and Wellesley, to the present time (191 1). Prior to the Civil War James Cartwright had been a grower of fine vegetables in Needham. Arthur Whitaker for a number of years supplied Marston's restaurants with sweet corn, and was described in the news- papers as the " Corn King of New England ". In September, 1903, he sent to Boston, by his own teams, three hundred bushels per day, and is said to have had ninety acres in sweet corn, but apparently the acreage was nearer seventy- iive. Mr. Whitaker was an enterprising man, and for more than twenty years the Hillside Farm, as he called his estate, was widely and favorably known, and its herd of cows, about forty in number, was a credit to its owner. He died in 1906, while in the prime of life. John T. Wye made "Ladies'" Scotch gloves in Leicester, England, and came to Needham in the early eighties. His sons, William H. and George E., did business on a small scale for some years, and then built a factory on Pleasant Street, on the Great Plain, and established an important industry. They made "Ladies'" mittens, and for a time silk gloves. It has been said that Robert G. and William Roper, while in the employ of the Wye Brothers, made athletic goods on a hand-frame, outside of the regular work- ing hours, and that in this way the Wyes were led to make a variety of athletic goods, including sweaters and aquatic garments. About 1900 the firm of Wye Brothers dissolved, and William H. built a factory on Highland Avenue, where he has since continued the manufacture of aquatic and ath- letic garments, employing forty, or more, persons. His eldest son, William H. Wye, Jr., is associated with him in THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 401 business. George E. Wye incorporated his Industry as the George E. Wye Company, and makes the same kind of goods as his brother, giving occupation to about forty people. The "Great Dane" sweaters are made by this company. John J. Wye, another son of John T., made gloves on one of the hand-frames, such as were In common use as late as 1894, but now makes sweater coats. Needham had Its share of small shoe-shops, usually by the roadside, where shoes already cut out were brought to be soled and heeled by men whose other occupations were varied, many of them being farmers. There were perhaps a dozen of these shops in town, but In 1907 Needham and Wellesley did not contain more than four of them, all then used for other purposes than shoemaking. The shop on Blossom Street, where Isaac Flagg for many years cobbled shoes, passed the residence of the writer on September 18, 1903, on Its way to a new site, where it was to be used, but not as a shoe-shop. After Mr. Flagg ceased to work on shoes It had continued to be the shop of a shoemaker until a short time before Its removal. Some work was done in these small shoe-shops as late as the seventies, and the Rimmele Brothers continued the business for many years subsequent to 1870. About the time that the railroad came through East Needham, Charles E. Keith engaged in the manufacture of heavy shoes, employing a number of men, and for years carried on the business in Keith's Block, which formerly stood where the Kingsbury Block is now. The Keith building has been moved at least twice, and now fronts on Chestnut Street. Stephen F. Harvey was a con- temporary and associate of Mr. Keith In the making of shoes. The firm was Keith Brothers & Co. In 1857. In 1856 shoes were made, or put together. In the Nehoiden Block by George B. Revere. In 191 1 the William Bourne and Son Piano Company are building a factory on Highland Avenue, intending to re- move their long-established business to Needham. Charles 402 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM E. Bourne has been a citizen of this town for twelve or thirteen years, and owns the Bourne Building, formerly the May Building, which is the principal business block in Needham. INDUSTRIES OF NEEDHAM HEIGHTS This portion of the town, although its natural advantages are greater than in other sections, owes its settlement and growth chiefly to its industries. Jonathan Avery, who was instrumental in bringing the knit-goods business to Needham, died April 19, 1875, aged sixty-eight years, nine months and seven days, and had then witnessed a development which probably exceeded his expectations. The village of High- landville, as it was called for fifty years, is situated upon a high plateau commanding fine views, and has an excellent record for its healthfulness. As early as 1900 there was a disposition to change the name, and an attempt was made to call it Needham Highlands, but this was obviously impracticable with Newton Highlands within five miles. After consideration a change became popular, and on May 28, 1907, the name of the post-office became Needham Heights, and by the following November the name of the railroad station conformed to that of the post-office. Never was so important a transformation made more easily or more completely, or with less opposition, and in a brief time the name which for half a century had been familiar was pass- ing into oblivion. It is now more than sixty years since English people began to locate in Needham, and many of the best citizens of the town have been, and are, of English birth. Within twenty years the appearance and speech of many of the people were characteristic of their earlier homes, and when the writer was a youth, Highlandville was decidedly Eng- lish, and yet in 191 1 it is only in the speech of a few of the older inhabitants that Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire is suggested. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 403 John Turner came to Needham prior to 1833,^ and lived for many years on what is still known as the " Turner Place ", at the junction of Brookside Road and Oakland Street. In the late forties and early fifties he gave em- ployment to a number of his countrymen in making knit- goods in a shop near his house, and was one of the first to engage in this industry in Needham. He died in 1854, but in 1856 there were several English families living on Brookside Road, either at the Turner place or not far from it. WiUiam Freeman came to Needham from England In 1848, and a year or two later located near Mr. Turner, and was one of the first knitters in town; his descendants are numerous and well known. The Beless family came to Needham in 1852, from Lough- borough, Leicestershire, and in 1856 the brothers James, Thomas and John had already made their homes at what is now Needham Heights. James and Thomas were then partners, and made gloves, stockings and some jackets. Their brother John was similarly employed, and all three lived on High Street. As early as the Civil War, if not before, the Belesses also made underwear, and were the pioneers in this line of goods, which now made on a large scale, and by different methods, forms the principal industry of the town. The Beless family when they first came to Needham occupied the small house at the corner of Greendale Avenue and High Street, and have always been respected citizens. Gloves and stockings stretched on boards to dry were a familiar sight about town until after 1880, and all of the work was done on hand-frames. With few exceptions the English people who came to Needham were engaged in the knit-goods industry, and small shops containing one or 1 Mr. Turner of Newton, who was seventy-four years old in 1909, then stated that his grandfather, John Turner, came to Needham as a weaver in 1825, first living in the ancient Ware house, now owned by Mr. Sheridan, and that John Turner, Jr., lived on the Floyd place. Edwin Turner, another son of John, was the father of the informant, and resided on Cedar Street seventy years ago. 404 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM more frames were to be seen throughout the eastern part of the town, principally in Highlandville. These shops were also numerous about the old Centre, but rare in the South section. THE WILLIAM CARTER COMPANY The William Carter Company, formerly the firm of Wil- liam Carter and Company, has long conducted the most important industry in town, and its development repre- sents the results of more than thirty years of energy and enterprise. Mr. William Carter, the founder of this busi- ness, has made a great variety of knit-goods at different periods, but for years the children's underwear, and the union suits for all ages, have been extensively advertised, and favorably known throughout the United States. The treasurer of one of the largest mills in New England when asked what he knew of the William Carter Company re- plied: "I know that they [meaning the Carters] make as high a grade of goods as are made in this country, and that they keep up their standard. That is their reputation". The plant of this company has been repeatedly Increased in size, and no expense has been spared to procure the best machinery that is made, even when it is necessary to import together with the machine a man to run It or to care for it. In 1880 Mr. Carter had machinery, and In the eighties and nineties manufactured "Hosiery and Fancy Knit Goods." The Lower Mill has been referred to, and In 1909 a further addition was made to the company's means of production by the purchase of the Springfield Knitting Mill, a four-story brick structure, in Springfield, Massachu- setts. A portion of this mill had been used for the manu- facture of yarn, and the rest of it for knit-goods of a coarser quality. It was equipped with two thousand spindles, and gave employment to about two hundred and fifty persons. William Carter has no less than five sons associated with him in making knit-goods, but William H. and Horace A. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 405 have the chief responsibility. The number of persons employed at the mills in Needham is between three and four hundred. In addition to much advertising, Including some of the best magazines, the company have agents in different cities, and to some of them considerable salaries are paid. William Carter was born in Alfreton, Derby- shire, England, and arrived in America on January 28, 1857, the fiftieth anniversary of which event was duly observed by a large reception which he gave in the town hall. Mr. Carter often visits his birthplace in the summer season, and has appropriately named the new street on which his mansion in Needham Heights is located, Alfreton Road. Mark Lee, who was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, Febru- ary 27, 1829, came to Needham In 1853, and for a year lived on the Turner place near the junction of Oakland Avenue and Brookside Road. In 1856 Mr. Lee with his brother, John, who for many years has been a manufacturer in New Brunswick, N. J., made gloves in a small building, now a dwelling-house, on Hunnewell Street. In 1864 they built the older portion of the large factory now Mill No. i of the William Carter Company, and in 1869 William Carter became a member of the firm then Lee, Carter & Co. Mark Lee retired from the company in 1875, ^^^ Mr. Carter continued the business alone. Mr. Lee invented a machine for testing the strength and tension of yarn, another for putting striped colors into stockings, and when he was post- master at HIghlandville he patented a double postal card, which attracted the attention of the postal authorities, but which was not adopted. In the eighties Mr. Lee was super- intendent of a mill at Laconia, N. H. He died January 12, 1890, and his portrait hangs on the wall of the selectmen's office, and there is also one in the town report for 1889. Among the offices held by Mr. Lee was that of member of the board of health 1887-90. Lee, Carter & Co. made hosiery, some cardigan jackets, 4o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM and gloves, and had less than one hundred employees, mostly men. Mr. Carter had manufactured cardigan jackets before he became a member of this firm. Alexander Lynes, a man of sterling integrity and worth, was born in Leicester, England, and came to Needham during the Civil War, and died in this town January 2, 1897, aged seventy-one years, four months and fifteen days. For many years he made hosiery, also cardigan jackets, gloves and underwear, at one time employing over one hundred men. About 1886 he introduced power machinery, having used the old hand-frames exclusively till then, and was the first in Needham to make children's underwear. It is said that he continued to employ some hand-frames as long as he was in business. In the early nineties Mr. Lynes retired, and his factory off Hunnewell Street was purchased by John F. Brooks, later the head of the John F. Brooks Company, who continued the manufacture of children's underwear, having at times seventy-five employ- ees. A brick wing has been added to the factory on the south. The Thorpe family were from Sutton in Ashfield, Notting- hamshire, and came to Needham soon after the close of the Civil War. About 1883 Joseph B, and John Thorpe engaged in business for themselves, and were the first in town to make "ladies'" full-fashioned mittens, which required less sewing than the earlier gloves known as cut work. John Thorpe is to be credited with having person- ally made the first silk mittens that were made in Needham. They continued together for a year, or more, and then made extra fine silk and Merino mittens independently of each other. In the late eighties John Thorpe also manu- factured some hosiery, caps, etc. at his shop on West Street. Both were makers of "ladies'" silk mittens, and were the only manufacturers of "Ladies' Silk Goods" in town, or of any other distinctly silk goods. Both made "ladies'" silk hosiery, as well as mittens. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 407 The factory of Joseph B. Thorpe, on High Street, dates from 1893, and has been twice enlarged. He followed Mr. Lynes in making children's underwear, which has continued his principal product. In the late seventies Robert Shaw and his son, Herbert, had a factory where Christ Church is now, and had a patent on glove machinery. Prior to 1880 John and Thomas Scotton made hosiery in a shop at the corner of Hillside Avenue and Webster Street, and employed upward of twenty-five persons. Later Thomas Scotton had a shop on Hunnewell Street, and John did a smaller business on Webster Street. Twenty-five years ago there were a number of small establishments where elastic stockings and other elastic goods were made. Dea. William Moseley was a veteran in this business, and for many years resided on Maple, or Oak, Street on the Great Plain, and in his latter years manufactured in a shop near his house. At one time he made "women's" hosiery, but did not continue this line of goods for more than four years. Deacon Moseley served in the Civil War, and was one of the most highly respected citizens of the town. He was born in Duffield, Derbyshire, September 4, 1824, came to the United States in 1854, and to Needham in i860. He died September 13, 1909. William Gorse has for many years been a manufacturer of elastic goods in his shop on Hunnewell Street, and since about 1896 his son, Frank W., has had a similar business of his own. Mr. Gorse was born in Duffield, Derbyshire, came to Needham during the Civil War, and is a prominent citizen. For years John Moseley rented a portion of Carter's factory, but in 1883 he purchased an acre of land nearly opposite, and Moseley & Co. built a factory, which was seriously damaged by fire in 1906 and rebuilt. This factory is on the site of the planing-mill of Webber Brothers, who sold the property to John F. Mills, and he carried on the 408 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM grain business there. The planlng-mill was burned some time before Mr. Moseley's purchase. In 1888 Moseley & Co. made woolen hosiery and chil- dren's fine underwear, and in 191 1 the product Is chiefly children's underwear and gloves. This Industry gives em- ployment to about fifty persons, and In the nineties was known as the Highland Mills. William Roper and his family came from Hawick In Roxburghshire, Scotland, to Guelph, Canada, In 1864, and in 1881 they removed to Needham, and became makers of athletic goods on hand-frames In a small shop on West Street. The firm name In 1888 was Roper & Sons. After Mr. Roper's death his sons, Robert G. and William, enlarged their shop and Introduced machinery, and in a few years their business expanded, and Roper Bros, had a fine plant devoted exclusively to the manufacture of ath- letic goods, the first one answering that description In New England. Robert G. Roper died In 1898, aged forty- two years, and William In 1907 at the age of forty-nine years. At the time of the death of the latter they were making the goods for Wright & Ditson, and the business has been continued by Robert B. Smith, formerly the superintendent in their factory. Among the well-known woolen manufacturers in Needham have been Charles S. Hall of Hunnewell Street, who in the eighties made a specialty of "Ladies' and Children's Fancy Mitts" of worsted and silk, Toone Bros., later William Toone & Co. of Hunnewell Street, and Joseph Langdale, Dale Street; the latter made fine woolen gloves. Samuel Hudson, who had a love for books and learning, and was for many years a trustee of the Free Public Library, advertised in 1888 " Shetland Shawls, Polka Mittens, Gloves and Hosiery". He lived on Hunnewell Street, and made the goods there. His portrait Is in the new library. Several of the men mentioned did only a small business, but It all contributed toward the growth and prosperity THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 409 of the town. In 1908 a few individuals were still engaged in making the coarse woolen gloves on the hand-frames, and Frederick Lathom made gloves of a finer grade in the same way. Facts relative to the Industries of Needham from the State Census: — In 1865 about $300,000 were invested in manufacturing, and the stock used was reported as worth about $333,000, and the goods made were valued at about $527,000. There were two hundred and twenty-one men and one hundred and eighty-five women employed in making these goods. In 1875 about $640,000 were invested in manufactories, and the product was about $1,375,000. The stock used was estimated at $495,752. The two factories that made paints and colors represented a capital of $245,000, and the product was valued at $550,000. Next in importance were the eleven hosiery establishments, which represented a cap- ital of $251,000, and produced goods estimated at $520,000 (57,354 dozen). The other manufacturing industries were as follows: — paper, capital $25,000, product $96,000, Manilla paper, capital $18,000, product $26,000, shoddy, capital $10,000, product $25,000, boots and shoes, capi- tal $10,000, product $70,000, mouldings and doors, capital $30,000, product $25,000, elastic hose and bandages, capital $9700, product $19,600, blind-hinges and fastenings, capi- tal $15,000, product $10,000, glue, capital $4350, product $13,025. There were seventy-three manufacturing plants, and they employed six hundred and forty-three men and one hundred and nineteen women. In the hosiery business there were two sets of machinery, fifty-four hand-looms, on which woolen goods were made, and three on which worsted goods were made. There were seven steam-engines in Needham, and their total horse-power was actually about two hundred and thirteen; the eleven water-wheels had a nominal horse-power of four hundred and sixty-three. In 410 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the different census tables the statements are conflicting in the absence of explanations. In one place the value of the buildings used for manufacturing is estimated at $149,400, and the machinery at $168,000, of which $50,000 was im- ported. The motive power in eighty-eight instances was by hand, and four machines were run by the feet. These were evidently the English "frames". One table indicates that there were thirty-eight places where hosiery was made, having previously given the number as eleven. The former figures seem more reasonable. Another table states that four hundred and ninety-three men and two hundred and twelve women were employed in the town making articles for sale, and the inference is that four hundred and three men and all the women were given work by the hosiery or silk industries. It says that two hundred and thirty-five women were given some work at home, and presumably most of them sewed gloves. It nowhere appears whether the two hundred and twelve were included in this number, or not. The amount paid in wages annually was then estimated at $341,220. The statement that there were four glue plants in Needham in 1875 is clear, and probably correct. In some tables the products of the building trades, wood, and a variety of merchandise are evidently included. In 1885 the capital invested in manufacturing was re- ported as $302,827, the stock used was estimated at $170,1 18, and the finished products as worth $377,247. There were thirty-three private manufacturing establishments, with thirty-eight individuals interested as partners, and there were two corporations with fifteen stockholders. There were three hundred and sixty-nine persons employed, and the wages paid them amounted to $109,817. Two hundred and fourteen women were given some work at home by the fifteen hosiery and knit-goods shops and factories. At three places silk goods were made. In 1895 the capital invested in manufacturing was prac- tically the same as in 1885, but the value of the stock used THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 411 was $322,047, and the products $720,777; the latter in- cluded "work done", which may cover a wide range of trades. The machinery and motive power was valued at $114,631, and the buildings at only $27,406. Five hundred and fifty-eight persons were in different employments, but apparently were not all engaged in manufacturing. There were twelve steam-boilers, with a total horse-power of three hundred and thirty-seven, twelve steam-engines, with a horse-power of two hundred and twenty-three, and the two water-wheels were credited with fifty horse-power. Thirty- two establishments made hosiery, and all were carried on by private Individuals, or firms. The seventy-four establish- ments classed as manufactories gave occupation to three hundred and eighty-eight persons, of whom one hundred and ninety-three made hosiery. In Needham $164,221 were invested in making "Hosiery and Knit Goods", and the stock used was estimated at $103,815, and the" value of goods made and work done" at $247,771. There were thirty-nine partners, or stockholders, in this business, and the amount paid in wages was $70,119. This was a particularly dull period, and many plants were idle. The census of 1905 states that there were $546,196 In- vested in manufacturing, that stock worth $327,029 was used, and that the product was valued at $688,024. There were twenty-four establishments of all kinds, and appar- ently sixteen firms and three corporations made clothing. The number of partners, or stockholders, was thirty-two. Employment was given to three hundred and sixty persons, of whom one hundred and nine were males over sixteen, and two hundred and thirty-nine were females over sixteen. The smallest number employed at any time during the year 1904 was three hundred and four, and the largest was four hundred and twenty-nine. The amount paid in wages was estimated at $155,432, and the average number of days when the plants were in operation was two hundred and ninety-two. There were seven steam-engines, three gas, or 412 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM gasoline, engines, two water-wheels credited with thirty horse-power, and two electric motors, the latter of fifty-five horse-power. BEAMS PLACED IN THE BED OF THE CHARLES RIVER About 1830, before steam-power was employed, there was a demand for water to run the mills at Dedham, and where the river divides, one stream forming Mother Brook, the mill-owners deepened the channels in a dry season. The Commonwealth then required beams to be placed in the bed of the river to regulate the amount of water flowing In either channel. A short distance west of Highland Avenue Bridge, In Needham, the river is narrowed thirty or forty feet, by means of walls which form a channel. Eleven beams each about fifteen Inches wide, and placed six feet apart, were located In the bed of the river, and can be plainly seen when the water is low, or when passing over them in a boat. These channels were constructed by Otis Pettee, the elder, an enterprising and energetic man, and his work appears to have been well done, for the walls and beams seem in good condition after the lapse of eighty years. On the east of the Turnpike Bridge, at the Upper Falls, was a basin of several arches for the storage of water. The facts about these beams and the channel were obtained from the venerable Henry Michael M'^Intosh. THE NEEDHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND BOARD OF TRADE The Needham Business Association and Board of Trade was organized In the spring of 1906, with William Carter, the principal manufacturer in town, as its president. The membership was then limited to sixty, but was extended to one hundred in 1910. The interests of Needham are largely residential, but the board serves an Important purpose in affording a means of concurrent action on all sorts of matters connected with the welfare of the town. Much attention has THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 413 been given to securing the best railroad facilities, remedying grievances, and to "village improvement" work. There are a number of standing committees. The board usually meets on Monday, but until November, 1907, the meetings were on the third Wednesday of each month, and were then changed to the third Thursday. RAILROADS On April i, 1834, the selectmen were directed to attend "to the Incrochments made on the town roads by the Boston & Worcester railroad". This railroad was opened to West Newton on April 16, 1834, ^^^ to West Needham, Grant- ville, on June 20th following. On September 4, 1867, the Boston and Worcester Railroad Corporation was consoli- dated with the Western Railroad Corporation under the name of the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, and on February 17, 1883, purchased of the New York and New England Railroad Company for $411,400 its road from Brookline to Cook Street in Newton Highlands. The New- ton Circuit of the Boston and Albany was opened on May 16, 1886. CHARLES RIVER RAILROAD On March 6, 1851, the town resolved in favor of extending the Charles River Railroad to unite with the New York and Boston Railroad, the resolve to be sent to the General Court. By notice dated December 30, 185 1, the subscriptions for the capital stock of the Charles River Railroad were called in to the amount of $25 per share, payable on or before February 2, 1852. On certain days these payments could be made at the following places: — i. Nahaton Hall, Newton Upper Falls. 2. House of Marshall S. Rice, the treasurer, Newton Centre. 3. Office of Artemas Newell, Esq., Brook- line. 4. House of E. K. Whitaker, Needham. The notice of the opening of the railroad to Needham was dated May 25, 1853, and took place on June i. A special 414 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM train left the Boston and Worcester Railroad station at 12 M. on that day, and stopped five minutes at each way station to receive stockholders and guests. The notice states that "On the arrival of the train, a procession will be formed at the Great Plain Station, Needham, and proceed to a Grove in the vicinity of the station, where a collation will be pro- vided. The return train will leave Needham at 5.15 P.M. Committee of Arrangements E. C. Hutchins Henry Billings H. W. Jones Artemas Newell E. K. Whitaker Marshall S. Rice" This grove has been for many years owned by John J. Morgan. The opening of the railroad transferred the business of East Needham to the Great Plain, and In 1879 the meeting- house of the First Church and First Parish was removed from the old Centre, the flag pole, which was a fine tall one, was soon after taken away, and the eclipse of the "Centre" became total. The unwillingness of one citizen to give his land Is said to have led the railroad prospectors to abandon the route by the Centre, and to substitute that over the Great Plain, where land was cheerfully offered. In 1855 the Charles River Railroad became a part of the New York and Boston Railroad Company, and was united with the Charles River Branch Railroad and with certain roads In Rhode Island and Connecticut. In 1865 the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad Company acquired the New York and Boston. In 1873 the General Court ratified and confirmed to the New York and New England Railroad Company all of the fran- chises of the Boston, Hartford and Erie; the former repre- sented the bondholders under the Berdell mortgage of 1866, who had been incorporated as the New York and New Eng- land Railroad Company. This new company was in turn purchased by Its mortgagees in 1895, who were authorized to change its name, and they called it the New England THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 415 Railroad Company, although they had been Incorporated the previous year as the New England and New York Rail- road Company. The New England Railroad was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company under an Act of the General Court passed In May, 1898, and in 1905 the latter company was authorized to purchase the former, and obtained a deed In the spring of 1908. In 1 87 1 the town had petitioned for flagmen at the grade crossings. In 1878 William Emerson Baker completed a large hotel in Needham, which he named Hotel Wellesley, and within a year or so he persuaded the New York and New England Railroad Company to build a branch from their road at Charles River Village to this hotel, raising a bridge over the tracks at Central Avenue, and running along the river to a point southwest of the hotel. This road was op- erated for several summers and then abandoned, the town removing the bridge and restoring Central Avenue to a reasonable grade In 1889. The expense was about $750, of which the railroad paid $300, and Harold W. Windram $200. In 1889 the town had a controversy with the railroad as to Oak Street, as the County Commissioners refused to lay out a road over a railroad crossing at grade. The railroad claimed the right to close the crossing, and the town brought suit, employing Henry E. Fales as counsel. The next year the town removed the obstructions placed by the railroad company, replanked the crossing, and ultimately won its contention. This is not the only instance In which the town has had a controversy with the steam railroad, and In later years dissatisfaction with the street railways has led to official action from time to time. At a town meeting on December 21, 1892, the town unani- mously urged the Old Colony Railroad Company to build a road from South Framingham to West Roxbury, and offered "a free right of way over lands owned by the town 4i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM within the town", but nothing more than surveys resulted, and presumably these were not inspired by the town's liberal offer. STREET RAILWAYS In March or April, 1893, the selectmen of Needham granted a franchise to the Needham Street Railway Company from the Wellesley line to the Dedham line over Great Plain Avenue, also over Webster Street, and on Great Plain Avenue and Highland Avenue from the Needham post-ofRce to the Newton line. The petition was signed by William Carter, William G. Moseley, James Mackintosh and thirteen others. It was an ambitious project, and in March, 1893, the petitioners, or some of them, asked the Board of Aldermen of the City of Newton for a franchise over some of the principal streets of that city, the descrip- tion ending with "through Walnut Street to the Boston and Albany Railroad in said City of Newton". The location granted in Needham was accepted by the directors of the company on April 8, 1893. Dr. Albert D. Kingsbury was then an officer of the corporation, and subscriptions were received for stock. On January 7, 1896, the selectmen conceded a franchise to the Needham and Newton Street Railway Company to lay tracks on the easterly side of Chapel Street to Highland Avenue, thence on the easterly side of this avenue to Morton Street, thence in the centre of the avenue to a point opposite a private way on the north side of the property of the Methodist Church, thence on said Highland Avenue, on the easterly side, to the Newton line. Charles Atherton Hicks was interested In this enter- prise, as in others for the development of the town. A bond of $1000 was given as a guarantee, but the death of Albert C. Pond of Newton prevented the construction of the railroad, and the town surrendered the bond, after some discussion. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 417 THE NEWTON AND BOSTON STREET RAILWAY COMPANY The Newton and Boston Street Railway Company re- ceived a franchise from the selectmen, William G. Moseley, Francis L. Fuller and George K. Clarke, on February 2, 1897, and was the first street railway built and operated in Needham. The locations were accepted by the directors on February 24th. The corporation was desirous of this franchise, and the selectmen were negotiating in order to protect the town from expense caused by damage to its streets while the road was being built, and to have the company assume certain responsibilities for the care of the streets it was to use, particularly with reference to the removal of snow. Reduced fares for the school children, and the acceptance of transfer checks from other street railways within the limits of the town, so that but one fare should be collected for a continuous ride from one section to another, were matters then under consideration, and everything was progressing favorably. A public hearing was necessary, and It was held in the town hall on December 7, 1896, where It was declared that the road was "a neces- sity", the selectmen were criticized for attempting to pro- tect the interests of the town, and everything was to be left to the generosity of the railroad officials. "What we want Is a railroad, and I don't care whether the fare is five cents or ten" was the statement of one orator, and equally discreet sentiments were expressed by others to the evident amusement of the representatives of the Newton and Boston Street Railway Company. The selectmen declined to accept the verdict of this meeting, but were nevertheless embarrassed by its action, and could not secure for the citizens all of the advantages that they might otherwise have had. Early in 1907 grievances against this street railway company were discussed In town meetings, but the events at the time the franchise was granted were ignored, and criticism was confined to the selectmen for 4i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 1907. The petitioners for this railway were Horace B. Parker and five others, and their petition of November 10, 1896, asked for a franchise "to the Square at Needham De- pot", but this the selectmen, with a view to the future, refused to grant, and time has shown the wisdom of their position. Extensions of this franchise have been granted, but only two of them are of special interest. On January 15, 1900, a permit was given to extend wires on three poles of the West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway Com- pany, across the tracks of the steam railroad, in order] to supply the Natick and Cochituate Street Railway Company with additional power. On February i, 1907, an extension of the tracks on Chestnut Street, from South Street to Great Plain Avenue, was granted. THE NATICK AND COCHITUATE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY This was the second street railway that materialized in Needham, and the location or franchise was obtained from the selectmen of Needham on November i, 1897, and the first car ran from Wellesley to Needham at one o'clock P.M., on April 6, 1899. The franchise had granted a location not only to the present terminus, but to the Dedham line via Great Plain Avenue, Dedham Avenue and Great Plain Avenue again to the Dedham line, but the location east of the track of the steam railroad was subsequently can- celled by mutual consent, and would have expired by limi- tation on November i, 1899. OTHER STREET RAILWAYS The Needham and Boston Street Railway Company was granted a location by the selectmen on November 10, 1898, on petition of Charles Atherton Hicks and four others. The railway was to start on the easterly side of the tracks of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Com- pany (New England Railroad Company), and to run over THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 419 Great Plain Avenue to the Dedham line. It was to be com- pleted by June i, 1899, but on May 25, 1899, the select- men extended the time one month. On February 14, 1899, an additional location via Dedham and Harris Avenues to Great Plain Avenue, crossing Webster Street, had been granted by the selectmen, and this was practically substi- tuted for the earlier plan so far as the route was changed by It. Charles Atherton Hicks, who subscribed for sixty shares, was president of this railway company, Frederic G. Tuttle clerk, and Edward F. Howe treasurer, but the con- trol was acquired by others, who built the road, which was advertised to open for travel on June 28, 1899. On June 6 the selectmen had consented that the Needham and Boston Street Railway Company should exchange cars with the West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway Company at the Dedham line. In 1900 the Needham and Boston became a part of the West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway, and in 1901 of the Old Colony Street Railway. On peti- tion of seven men. Including some citizens of Needham, a franchise was granted on November 4, 1899, to the Natick and Needham Street Railway Company. The route was from Great Plain Avenue, over Chestnut, South and Charles River Streets to the Dover line. In 1901 this railway be- came a part of the South Middlesex Street Railway, and the cars ceased to run on December 18, 1903. Within two years the tracks were removed, with the exception of those on Chestnut Street, which were later acquired by the Newton and Boston Street Railway Company. The selectmen, however, for a time withheld the franchise from the latter company because it Increased Its fares to six cents, and required two fares Instead of one to Watertown. When the Natick and Needham Street Railway was first opened there was considerable travel over It, as was the case with all of these roads, but in this Instance it was particularly dependent upon pleasure riders and did not last. On November 28, 1899, the selectmen granted a franchise 420 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM to the Medfield and Needham Street Railway Company from Day's Bridge on Chestnut Street to South Street, but no road was built, nor has the Boston and Providence Street Railway Company availed of a franchise granted them by the selectmen on March 5, 1905. This latter road was petitioned for by James F. Shaw and four others, under date of December 6, 1904, and the proposed route was on Highland Avenue to Webster Street, thence on Webster Street to its intersection with Great Plain Avenue, thence via this avenue and Chestnut Street to the Dover line at Day's Bridge. NEW STEAM RAILROAD In August, 1905, the New England Railroad Company began to build a railroad from a point south of the Needham station in order to connect with the Boston and Provi- dence Railroad at West Roxbury. Both of these railroads were leased and operated by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company. The lease of the Boston and Providence to the Old Colony Railroad Company was the first of the consolidations now controlled by the New York, New Haven and Hartford. This new railroad was elaborately constructed, with many costly bridges over the roads, several of them in Needham, and was completed and opened for travel on Sunday morning, November 4, 1906. Its superior service has brought Needham within twenty-one minutes of the South Terminal station; many of the trains are express between the new station at Need- ham Junction and the Back Bay, and others stop only at West Roxbury. In 191 1 an extensive granolithic platform, largely roofed, was completed at the Needham station. All of these railroads, including the street railways, had formal openings, and the first cars run were practically private cars, as is the custon. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 421 ENGINEERS AND CONDUCTORS Henry Hitchcock ran the engine that drew the train at the opening of the Charles River Railroad, but whether this was the opening through to Needham is uncertain. In the early days of this railroad Mr. Hitchcock was the engineer between Brookline and Needham, and drove the "Mercury", James M. Alger taking the train between Brookline and Boston with the "Lion". Mr. Alger had driven the "Lion" drawing the gravel cars between the Upper Falls and Brookline during the construction of the railroad. The "Marshall Rice" and the "Hiram Allen" are said to have been the first engines in regular use on the Charles River Railroad. From 1861 to the present time (191 1) Myron A. Munson has been known to successive generations as a conductor, and a respected citizen of Needham. He is in charge of trains between Boston and Cook Street, via the railroad completed in 1906, and has survived all the re-organiza- tions, leases and sales of the different railroads connecting Needham with Boston. Another genial and popular con- ductor, and a familiar figure to all who have used the steam railroad for the past thirty years, was George Frederick Story, who succeeded Luther J. Hamlett of Woonsocket. Mr. Story died November 2 (or i), 1909. For a quarter of a century Edmund C. Hawes of Woon- socket ran trains through Needham, retiring in the early nineties on account of age. Mr. Hawes is pleasantly re- membered. For twenty-two years ending in 1889 Enos H. Tucker was the superintendent of the Woonsocket Divi- sion, and his son, Frederic H. Tucker, who was a railroad official for thirty years, acquired his early experience on this division. Of the engineers Horace [G.?] Witherell was a faithful servant of the public, who lost his life many years ago at the crossing of the Providence Railroad, near Hunt- ington Avenue. John Heath and Charles A. Lord, both 422 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM citizens of Needham, are veteran drivers of the locomo- tives that have drawn in safety the train loads of people to and from their daily occupations in the city. Isaiah W. Heath and Daniel Barnes were for years engineers on the Woonsocket Division, and both lived in Needham. FILLING OF THE BACK BAY IN BOSTON WITH SOIL FROM NEEDHAM In 1859 Myron C. Munson of Shirley began to transport gravel to fill the Back Bay in Boston from East Needham, near the Charles River and southeast of the village of the Upper Falls. Powerful locomotives drawing forty loaded cars, and the best machinery were employed, and in ten years hills were levelled, more than one hundred acres east of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad were totally changed in character, and the work was extended west of the railroad to Central Avenue. In this territory were several special tracks, and two hundred men were required, as there was no cessation of the trains at night. This re- moval of gravel from Needham continued into the early seventies. The first reference to It is the vote of the town on December 27, 1859, which referred to the selectmen the proposition of the "Gravel Company" as to taking down the hill between Otis Alden's and Joslah Eaton's, and in June, 1863, an offer of Mr. Munson to remove the hill near Kendrlck's Bridge, and to build a proper road, was re- ferred to the selectmen, with the provision that Mr. Munson give a bond, which he did, and as late as 1873 this bond was the subject of discussion. Hundreds of acres were transformed Into a desert by the removal of this soil, to the depth of many feet, and for twenty-five years the land was practically of no value, and the valuation of $10 per acre was thought to be high. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 423 LAND ENTERPRISES In 1853 Daniel Ayers of Lowell bought the Jesse (Luther) Kingsbury farm of sixty-eight acres, which extended from Washington to Worcester Streets, and on the southeast side of the former to the brook. Mr. Ayers built Kingsbury and State Streets through this farm, and he also purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres of Holman, Paine and Childs, between Forest Street and Wellesley Avenue, reaching from Washington Street and the aqueduct to a point opposite the Abbott Road. This territory was called Bostonville, and was the subject of the first real estate boom in Needham; auctions were held and free lunches provided for possible purchasers. It does not appear whether people were brought to these auctions at the expense of the owners of the land, as was the custom in the nineties when such sales occurred at River, Fremont or Home Parks. In Bostonville space was left for Churches, school- houses and other public buildings, and for a time there was active competition to secure lots in the contemplated city, which Mr. Ayers assured the purchasers was inevitable. This land in Bostonville was the first that was taxed in lots in Needham, and in the sixties was designated by the names of its former owners, — Kingsbury Land, Paine Land or Holman Land. In i860 the Blanchard Land was also assessed in lots to many different owners. Soon after the railroad came to the Great Plain, a Mr. Whitaker made a prospective plan of "Needham Great Plain Village," showing a thickly settled place, with a high school where is now the blacksmith's shop of John H. Fitzgerald. Highland Avenue was then called East Street. The land of Stephen F. Harvey, on the west side of Chest- nut Street, was laid out in lots for a long distance, and also the land of Charles E. Keith to the west of it, and close to the railroad. About 1854 Mr. Harvey built Village Hall, which was a small structure. 424 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM From 1869 to 1872 many houses were built in East Need- ham, as well as in West Needham, and the demand for house-lots led to the belief that the whole town was about to show a rapid growth. Charles E. Keith and others on the Great Plain had been enthusiastic for years, and some of them had paid high prices for fields and pastures, which, in some instances, they still possessed in 1905. TheNehoiden Land Company was organized by William H. Crocker in 1875, and offered attractive building sites on the Great Plain. About the same time the Avery Land at Highland- ville had been divided into lots, and was owned by William Carter, and in the West John W. Shaw had laid out in lots an estate on Laurel Avenue. Similar enterprises multi- plied. Prior to 1876 Dr. Albert E. Miller was the owner of the Colburn and Morton estates (Nehoiden Land Com- pany), and that year became a resident of Needham, and rapidly developed "Millerville ", where he built and sold many houses. William Carter was constantly engaged in land and building enterprises in Highlandville, which vil- lage owed its origin to the courage and foresight of his father- in-law, Jonathan Avery, who induced industries to locate there, provided houses, and is justly regarded as the founder of this important portion of the town. Avery Square, Avery Street, and the Avery School perpetuate his memory. The years 1893 and 1894 saw the beginning of a number of the "parks" that since have attracted much attention. On the Great Plain there were several fine tracts of land offered for sale in lots, including Oakland Park, of which John Moseley is the owner, and Oakhurst, then controlled or owned by Charles Atherton Hicks, who constructed a costly boulevard through it, on which the tracks of the street railway, now the Old Colony, were laid. Mr. Hicks was usually in advance of the time, but there can be no question that his enterprises benefited the town, if not the investor. Dr. Larkin Dunton developed River Park, one hundred THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 425 and twenty acres on the west side of the railroad, near the Upper Falls, and also, to a smaller extent. Home Park, for- merly Fuller Land, on the east side of Highland Avenue. Frank W. Yerxa was the principal owner of Fremont Park, which, before there were sales, contained sixty acres. This park is on Highland Avenue, and southeast of River Park, and at the junction of Central and Wellesley Avenues was Highland Park, which had less area than some of the other parks in that vicinity, and by 1898 had many owners. In some instances lots of five thousand feet in one of these parks were sold for more than the assessed valuation of ten acres of the same land when the parks were first planned and laid out. The sales in the larger parks near the river were usually at auction on Saturday afternoons, and often on the installment plan. Subsequent to 1900, particularly after the new railroad was opened in 1906, the development of real estate was rapid, and cannot be followed in this history; the advance in prices has corresponded with the increased demand for houses and house-lots. The Co- operative Bank has been an important factor in the growth of the town, and The Needham Associates, consisting of Dr. Albert E. Miller, F. Ernest Thorpe, and a Boston partner, have built seventeen good houses in six years at a cost of nearly $100,000, and Mr. Thorpe, the active asso- ciate, has bought and sold a large amount of other prop- erty for this trust, or syndicate. The assessed valuation of some of the land that has been improved by these Asso- ciates has increased six fold. BANKS The Needham Savings Bank was incorporated on April 7, 1874, ^^d the Honorable Galen Orr became its president, and Emery Grover secretary and treasurer, but the bank never did a large business, and after a few years it was given up. The depositors received their money in full, but lost some interest. 426 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The Needham Co-operative Bank was incorporated on April 21, 1892, and began business on May 9. This bank is one of the most important and successful institutions in Needham, and from January 8, 1906 to May i, 191 1, its assets increased from about $100,000 to $309,392.29. On May i, 191 1, there were nine hundred and thirty-nine members, and there were seven thousand five hundred and ninety-eight shares, the latter representing twenty-three of the thirty-eight issues. The thirty-ninth series of shares is now offered for sale, and the bank has paid at the rate of six per cent, compounded semi-annually, from its in- corporation. The authorized capital is one million dollars. Dr. Albert E. Miller has been the president and William G. Moseley the secretary and treasurer from the beginning, and the management has been both prudent and enter- prising, resulting in a bank which has the confidence of the community. The bank held its first meeting in the town hall in the Bourne Building, as it is now called, and for fourteen years had its office in this building, renting the library room for certain hours. From the autumn of 1898 it regularly leased these premises until the room was granted by the town to the Grand Army of the Republic, when the bank was removed to the banqueting hall above, returning to the second floor when the town clerk transferred his office to the new town hall. In 1906 the bank moved into a commodious banking-office at 234 Great Plain Avenue, in Fowler's Block, and on November i, 1910, it occupied a still more spacious office at 232 Great Plain Avenue, where the treasurer is on duty an entire day and evening each month, and at advertised hours at other times. iWilitatrp mim& The Act of November 22, 1693, required each town to have one barrel of good powder, two hundred weight of bullets, and three hundred flints for every sixty enlisted men; the selectmen to furnish the poor with arms and ammunition according to the decision of the chief commis- sioned officers in the town. The personal equipment to be kept ready by each citizen was prescribed in detail by the law. TOWN AMMUNITION AND POWDER-HOUSE On September 12, 1721, a rate of £16 was voted "to procuer a Stock of Amminition for y^ Company & also for pay for to make in a pound & Stocks", and in May, 1746, the town voted "the Bird Money to be Layed out for ammunition". In 1748 the town treasurer paid Lieut. Zachariah Mills £1, old tenor, "for his Buying and Bringing up from Bofton y^ Town Stock of ammunition". On July 12, 1753, Lieut. Amos Fuller, Timothy Newell and Lieut. Aaron Smith were chosen to procure "a place to Keep the Town Stock of Arms and Amunition". This powder-house cost £6, 8s., 2d., 2f., but it does not appear whether it was in the meeting-house, or was an independent building. When the meeting-house was burned in 1773 town ammunition was kept in the loft, apparently in a chest, and the first distinct powder-house that has been located is the one that stood on "Powder House Ledge", west of Nathaniel Wales's barn. In 1764 four pence were granted to Michael Met- calf "for a Staple for y^ powder houfe", and on June 2, 428 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 1777, the town voted "to Sell y^ Houfe Called y powder Houfe", and after an adjournment for a quarter of an hour, chose Col. M:5lntafh, as the town clerk spelled the Colonel's name for many years, to "be Vandue Mafter to Sell the powder Houfe". In 1774 the town purchased of Jonathan Patten "Two Cafks of powder and Thirty Pound of Bullets and Fifty Flints and One Pail", for £8, 4s., 9d., 2f., and during the war bought powder, "Guns Locks Flints and Lead". On December 15, 1777, the town voted "That the Selectmen Should Sell the Six new Guns, and the Six New Gun Locks, and One Hundred pounds of the Lead", also the "New Flints", that had been assigned to Needham by the General Court. In 1796 the town refused to build a powder-house, but In 1800 appointed Colonel Kingsbery, Daniel Smith, Capt. Ebenezer M^'Intosh, Colonel Alden and James Smith a committee to build one. The powder- house built in 1800 cost upward of $100, and James Smith and Daniel Sanger, the masons who laid the bricks, boarded at Captain Macintosh's. There Is a payment of $7.50 for one thousand bricks delivered, and also one of $2 for carting a like quantity from Watertown. Perhaps the two lots were Identical. In 1835 Israel Whitney took away the powder- house, but traces of It remain on Powder House Ledge to this day (191 1). SPANISH WAR OF 1740 The Soldiers from Needham under command of Admiral Vernon In 1740/1, In the expedition against the Spanish colonies In the West Indies, particularly Cuba, were: — Jere- miah Smith, aged 18, blacksmith, enlisted May 27, 1740, in Capt. John Prescott's company, Jonas Cooke, aged 23, mason, enHsted July 12, Richard Fuller, aged 28, husband- man, enlisted July 24, Jn° George, aged 20, husbandman, enlisted July 20, John CoUer, aged 26, husbandman, en- listed July 17. The four last named were in Capt. Stephen Richards's company. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 429 For verbatim copies of muster-rolls see the Year-book of the Society of Colonial Wars In Massachusetts, 1899, pp. 80, 92-94. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR During the French and Indian Wars "the Leg" or "West End" was temporarily a part of Natick, and the military service of Its Inhabitants was credited to that town. In the War of the Revolution The Leg furnished a brave quota for Needham, of whom were Lieut. John Bacon, of the Minute Men, slain at West Cambridge April 19, 1775, and his six sons. Lieut. John had served In the "Old War" of 1745-8, and had been at Annapolis Royal. In 1748/9 the town voted £20 each to John Brown, William Mills, Jr., and Thomas Gardner; the claim of the latter was on account of his son Daniel. These grants were to refund money paid "when Impreft to Goe Into his Majefty's ferulce". A year later £20 were allowed to HopestlU Field for a similar reason. On May 22, 1755, the town voted to "Refer all the Lifted Solders" to the next meeting.^ In 1767 the town reimbursed Alexander Farle £2, los., "which he paid Towards HIreIng a man or men Into His Majefty's Service about Eight years ago", but declined to excuse Henry Dewing "from paying of Two Notes that he Gave as a fine for a Soldier that Lived with him. That was Under his Care and abfented him Self From Training". Six years later these notes were returned to Dewing to be cancelled. Col. William M<=Intosh (Mackintosh) Is the most distin- guished soldier that has been Identified with Needham; he began his military career some ten years before he came here to live. When the forces were raised to repel the incursions of the French at Crown Point and at Lake Cham- plain, he received an ensign's commission, September 9, 1 In 1759 Henry, Daniel and Stephen Bacon, Jr., presumably inhabitants of "The Leg," then a part of Natick, paid £8, £4, and £4 respectively for substi- tutes to go to the war. 430 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 1755, and soon after joined the army at Fort Edward. This was the dark period of the war following Braddock's defeat. While in service at Lake George Ensign M*'Intosh was made a first lieutenant, his commission bearing the date of March 13, 1758. He was destined to be a brave and able officer in the War of the American Revolution. From a muster roll, dated December 4, 1754, of a "Com- pany in His Majesties Service Employ'd for the Defence of the Eastern frontiers under the Command of Jofeph Willson Captain", it appears that Daniel Gardner of Needham enlisted on May 31, 1754, at £1, 6s., 8d. per month, and was discharged on September 7, having served three months, two weeks and two days. His total wages were £4, 19s., id. Archives, Vol. 93, p. 134. From the roll of "Col. Timothy Ruggles Company in a Regiment whereof he is Colonel Fort Edward July 26, 1756", were obtained particulars of the following Needham men, all of whom, except Humphrey, had been at one time in Captain Kingsbery's company of Colonel Brinley's regiment. Age Where bom Occupation Lieutenant William Humphrey 26 Dorchester Sergeant Theophilus Richardson 36 Wobum Farmer Josiah Lyon 33 Roxbury Cordwainer Corporal Jesse Knap 27 Newton Blacksmith Drummer Jacob Stoil 20 Dedham Blacksmith John Beaverstock 18 Needham Farmer John Clark 26 Roxbury Farmer Nathaniel Fisk 26 Sherburne Farmer Jacob Fullham 37 Weston Farmer Daniel Gardner 26 Brookline Farmer Samuel Glover 26 ' Dorchester Farmer William Parker 27 Needham Cordwainer John Robinson 23 Boston Farmer Jonathan Torry 19 Seacomb Carpenter Thomas Tolman 16 Dorchester Farmer Nathan Whittemore 20 Dedham Farmer These fourteen men were all volunteers. Archives, Vol. 94, P- 357. A muster-roll dated October 11, 1756, states that Capt. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 431 John Stebbins, who had commanded this company, died August 18, and that Lieut. WiUiam Humphrey became captain. Richardson and Lyon were sergeants, Knap and William Doggett were corporals, Beaverstock, Fisk, Parker, and Whittemore were dead, Clark was lame. Corporal Knap and Private Fullham (Fullam) were sick at Albany, Glover, Gardner and John Farrow were "sick", Stoil was the drummer, Elijah "Kenderick", Robinson, Torry and Tolman were still in active service. There are many other names in this roll, but not those of Needham men. Archives, Vol. 94, p. 496. From a roll of Capt. William Bacon's company were obtained the following facts: — Bacon was sick, as was Private Joseph Lyon. Lieut. Ephraim Jackson was at Albany, and Corporal John Woodcock at Fort Edward; both sick. Adam Blackman, David Fairbanks, Moses Felt and William Smith were in the service, John Smith was dead, Ebenezer Pratt had been "Killed or taken w'" Hodges." "Mustred" October 11, 1756. Archives, Vol. 94, p. 454. Blackman was not a resident of Needham, but was later well known here as the builder of the Second Meeting-house. "Return of the Men inlifted or impreffed for his Maj- efty's Service within the Province of the Massachusetts- Bay, in the Regiment whereof Francis Brinley Esq; is Colonel, to be put under the immediate Command of His Excellency Jeffry Amherst, Esq.; General and Commander in Chief of His Majefty's Forces in North-America, for the Invafion of Canada". Then follow sixteen names, all of men resident in Needham except Gergery, who was of Weston: — John Bird thirty years old, had his own gun, Theophilus Richardson forty, Moses Pratt twenty-nine, John Kitley twenty-six, Christopher Capron twenty-six, Jabas Upham twenty-four, had his own gun, Ephraim Upham eighteen, son of Josiah, John Fellows twenty (John Kingsbery was his "Mafter"), Nehemiah Mills twenty, 432 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM son of Nehemiah, had his own gun, Josiah Lyon thirty- six, Elijah Gergery twenty-one, Jonathan Wittemore twenty- one, had his own gun, Jeremiah Dewing forty-three, John Keaith thirty, Elijah Parker seventeen, son of James, had his own gun, Andrew Gardiner "Impressed". The first four enlisted on March 26, Lyon and Keaith on March 31, and all of the others on "Aprill 2". Richardson had been at "Lack Georg" in 1756 (1758?), and Pratt, Kitley, Ca- pron, Jabas Upham, Lyon, Gergery, Wittemore and Keaith had been "In the Campain at the Lacke" "y^ Leak Georg" in 1758. "Needham — Aprill 10^ 1759 Eleazar Kingsbery Cap*°". Archives, Vol. 97, p. 172. "A Roll of Officers and men in Cap* Thomas Cheevers Comp? in Col° Frye's Regiment and in service In the Prov- ince of Nova Scotia after the first of January 1760 & the time of their discharge": — John Fellows, Moses Felt, John Kitley, John Keith, James Man, Moses Pratt, Theophilus Richardson, Ephraim Upham, Jonathan Whittemore, Josiah Lyon, Robert Smith. There were sixty-nine men in this company including Elijah Gregory. The Needham men had all been paid to the latter part of November, 1760, except Upham and Smith, the former having received his pay on September 13, and Smith to August 7. Archives, Vol. 98, p. 440. Another roll of this company, dated December 20, 1760, contains the name of Christopher Capron, but not the names of Josiah Lyon or Robert Smith. The men had enlisted in March and April. 1759, and had been in service from eighty-five weeks and five days to eighty-seven weeks and three days, and were entitled to from £38, 6s., 3|d. to £39, 6s., 7d., with the exception of Ephraim Upham, who was drowned September 13, 1760, which reduced the length of his service to seventy-five weeks and two days, and the amount due him to £33, 17s., 7d. Payments were made in supplies from time to time by the commissary THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 433 or captain, and the roll gives the value of what the individ- uals had thus received. On the back of this document is endorsed "Muster Roll of Capt. Thomas Cheever & C° at Fort Cumberland from Mar. 31^.* 1759. to Nov^ 26. 1760. Boston Dec^ 23. 1760". Archives, Vol. 98, p. 215. "A Muster-RoU of the Company in His Majestys Ser- vice, Under Command of Eph™ Jackson Esq'": Captain Jackson was of Roxbury, and the following were of Needham : — Lieutenant William Humphrey, Sergeant Jonathan Ca- pron. Corporal Nathaniel Blackenton, Privates Job Cume- cher, Nathaniel Chamberlain, William Dunn, Nathan Fuller, and Josiah Hawes, the latter a son of Josiah Hawes. Elijah Kendrick and Baz^ Lyon appear to have been also credited to Needham. These men had enlisted between February 13 and April 14, 1760, and served till near the end of the year, some of them as late as December 3. The captain had £9 per month, the lieutenant £5, the sergeant £2, 3s., id. and the corporal £1, i8s., 7d. "The whole of Wages due to each Man" shows the captain entitled to £94, 3s., 6d., the lieutenant to £52, 13s., 7d., and the others to from £13, 7s., 6d. to £19, 17s. The non-commissioned offi- cers and privates were all allowed for "120 miles 5/4" "Billiting Home, at 8d. per Diem", and, officers included, were charged six shillings each for baking their bread. The paymaster and commissary, and occasionally the captain, made trifling payments, in money or supplies, from time to time, all of which were duly charged and deducted from the total pay. Archives, Vol. 98, pp. 236, 237. "A Return of Men Inlifted for His Majeftys Service for the Total Reduction of Cainadae" has the names of the following Needham men, and tells when they were enlisted, and by whom: — Jonathan Capron, born in "Atelburey", 27 years old, Nathaniel Chamberlain, born in Roxbury, 41, Elijah Kindreck, born in Newton, 46, Andrew Gardner, born in Brookline, 47, Zebediah Pratt, 22, Nathan Farrow, enlisted by Mr. Warren, was a native of Lancaster, 18, 434 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Joseph Whitmore, born in Newton, 28, Thomas Whitmore, born in Petersham, 17, Ebenezer Skinner was his "Mafter", Josiah Haws, 18, son of Josiah, Abijah Man, 18, son of Nathaniel, Nathaniel Blackinton, born in Attleborough, 31, Elisha Parker, 18. They were all enlisted by Lieutenant Humphrey, and were born in Needham, unless otherwise in- dicated. The dates of enlistment were all in February and March, 1760, and vary a few days from those given in the roll of Captain Jackson's company, but in the cases of Kin- drick and Haws the difference is more material. This roll states that both enlisted on February 18, but the previous roll gives the date as March 21 and 5 respectively. The dates of this return are March 5 and 21, 1760. Archives, Vol. 98, p. 115. On page 118, of the same volume, is another roll of a portion of this company, dated either in April, or March, and Capron is credited with enlisting on March 14, whereas on pages 236 and 237 it is the 21st, but on page 115 it is given as the 19th. The French and Indian War has been called the training- school of the officers and soldiers of the American Revolu- tion, and it is certain that during the long struggle between the English and French for supremacy on this Continent thousands of New England men, including some from Need- ham, received instruction in the art of war from able British officers, and that so far as experience was concerned the Americans were well prepared for the War for Independence. There were British commanders who were not popular or successful, but others were, and no one was more beloved than George, Third Viscount Howe, a brigadier-general who fell on July 6, 1758, at Ticonderoga, and of whom it was said "with him the soul of the army seemed to expire". Lord Howe was admired by the Massachusetts men, and our General Court appropriated £250, which were expended for his monument in Westminster Abbey. His younger brother, William, was a major of Light Infantry at the time THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 435 Quebec was taken, and led the forlorn hope of twenty- four men that forced the entrenched path by which General Wolfe's army scaled the Heights of Abraham. In 1775 Major-General Howe was the senior of the three generals ordered to Boston to assist General Gage, and was In com- mand at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and It Is said that his remarkable escape, when practically all of the other British officers were shot down, was due to the fact that behind the American breastworks were many veterans of the earlier war. General Howe was extremely reluctant to serve against the New Englanders, because of early associations with them, and had an Interview with the King In which he stated the situation, and asked to be excused, but His Majesty Insisted upon his joining General Gage In Boston. "A Muster Roll of the Company in His Majestys Ser- vice under the Command of Robert Fuller." Robert Fuller, "Cap*-", Zecherlah Mills, "Luii!-*", Nathaniel Bullard, "Enfig5 ", Henry Duing, "Sarg*", Jonathan Chandler " Sargt "^ John Allden, " Sarg* ", Jonathan Parker, " Corp" ", Jofiah Upham, "Corp'i", Jofeph Daniel, "Corpi^", Jofiah Ware, "Corp'i", Ephraim Bullard, "Drumi", Jofiah Woodward, "Drum"-", Jeremiah Gay, "Centenll", Jona- than Gay, Ifaac Mills, Nathanael Aiers, Samuel Bacon, Robert Fuller ji "by HIer", JelTe Kingsbery, Samuel Huntting, Stephen Huntting, Daniel Huntting, Ifrael Huntting, Jofiah Newel j^, David Mills, Uriah Coller, Nathanael Tolman, John Mills, William Mills j-% Jeremiah Eaton, Jonathan Mills, John pain ji, Ephraim pain, Thomas pain, Ithemar Smith, John FIfher j', Jacob Mills, Thomas Broad, Daniel Gardner, Jofiah Hawes, Daniel pratt ji, Samuel Daniel "by HIer", William Cook, Samuel Edmund, Nathan Edes "by HIer", Jacob Fullam, Archabald Smith, peter Sanders, Ebenezar Clark, John pepelo, Ebenezer pratt, Ebenezer Ware ji, Nathanael Blackinton, Samuel Gay, David Roblnfon, Jofhua parker, Samuel Richards, 436 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Aaron Smith j^, Benjamin Ledothe, Samuel Ware, Robert Field, Seth Tombling.^ "The following foldiers Names" are in a list by them- selves: — William Allden, Samuel Mackintier, Reuben Dunton, Thomas Metcalfe, John Coller, Jonathan Whitte- more, William Smith, Thomas Mills, Israel Sanders, Com- fort Wheaton, David Dewing, Abraham Ireland, John Brown, Caleb Kingsbery "Clerk". The fourteen last named began their service on September 25, and served three days, with the exception of Dewing, Ireland, Brown and Kingsbery, who were credited with but two days, re- ceiving IS., lod. each, while the other ten had 2s., 9d. per man. Of the sixty-two men whose names are in the longer list, preceding the fourteen, all apparently had served five days. Captain Fuller was entitled to 9s., 2d., the lieu- tenant to 6s., 8d., the ensign and sergeants to 6s. id., the corporals to 5s., lod. each, and the privates to 4s., yd. per man. The total for the seventy-six men amounted to £16, i6s., 6d. with the addition of £18, 12s., 9d. for "Billeting." "Suffolk: fs April 6*^ 1748 Cap* Robert Fuller made Oath to the above Muster Roll of the Company under Subfiftance 348 days his Command and Marched in to Boston being 49 weeks and five days and were in Service the time Entered hereon, before me Jacob Wendall Jud: Pea: 18-12-9 Robert Fuller Cap*°. Examined pr E. C." Archives, Vol. 92, pp. 64 and 65. MILITIA There is no record of the militia officers under the Second Charter until shortly before the Revolution, unless there was special service, and as our town clerks were apparently exact in their use of titles it seems needless to enumerate ^ The spelling of the names in the muster-roll is followed verbatim in this list. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 437 these early militia officers, all of whom are mentioned In this history In connection with civil affairs. Asa Kings- bury, who was elected town clerk on March 7, 1825, Ignored most of the military titles, and since his time but few of them have appeared In the records of town proceedings In Needham. Capt. John Fisher commanded the first military com- pany formed in Needham, and had evidently served In the militia before the town was Incorporated. He had been a soldier in King Philip's War. There Is an old undated letter, among other valuable papers that belonged to the late Honorable Enos H. Tucker, In which Robert Cook, Jr., expressed his thanks to the members of the military com- pany for electing him clerk about the year 1730 (?). "A List of The Military Soldiers In Natick under the Command of Cap* John Coolldge Taken By me this nine- teenth Day of Ap''Il: 1757:" gives the names of forty-two men, of whom sixteen were more or less connected with Needham: — Lieutenant Thomas Sawin, Ensign John Bacon, Sergeant Isaac Goodenow, Sergeant Isaac Under- wood, Corporal Ephralm Jennings, James Man, Henry Bacon, Elijah Kindreck, Samuel Morse, Jeremiah Bacon, Daniel Bacon, Thomas Hall, David Hall, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., Thomas Kendrick and Joseph Dun. There were also twenty-three "Alarm Men" at Natick, Including the minister, the Rev. Stephen Badger, Stephen Bacon, Jr., Robert Jennison, Moses Fisk, John Bacon, Daniel Dew- ing and Joseph Drury. Elijah Goodenow was the clerk for these companies. Archives, Vol. 99, p. 83. In June, 1771, Ebenezer Fisher was captain of the Need- ham company, Seth Wlllson the lieutenant and Timothy Kingsbery the ensign. Archives, Vol. 99, p. 385. SHAYS'S REBELLION On January 18, 1787, the town refused to vote money "to Incurldge the Men that are now Called for from y^ 438 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM town of Needham", but declared that they "will Stand by Government in every thing that is Rational ". From a note-book of Capt. Jonathan Kingsbery it appears that both companies met at the East Meeting-house at the same hour that this town meeting was held, and that two days before the West Company had met at the West Meet- ing-house for the purpose of detaching fourteen men to rendezvous at Roxbury on the 19th, and that on the 226. the West Company met at Lieut. Ephraim Bullard's tavern and detached the following men for thirty days' service: — Seth Gould, Thomas Discomb, Jr., Solomon Brackett, Benoni Muzzey, Nathan Mills, William Kingsbery, David Trull, Jr., Abijah Stevens, Amos Morse, Daniel Hawes, David Bacon, Eliab Moore, Nathan Dewing and Abel Stevens. On February 6, 1787, an order came to detach nine men for six weeks' service, but it was countermanded on the same day. In 1787 the West Company had a number of parades and "viewing arms" near the West Meeting- house, which was their usual place of assembling. This parade ground was not too far from Bullard's tavern, where they occasionally met by order. Captain Kings- bery noted under date of June 5th and 19th, 1788, that twenty-six men came to the muster at the West Meeting- house "in Frocks." General Pond then commanded the brigade, which had a muster each autumn, sometimes at Walpole. There was evidently some sympathy with Shays in Need- ham, and it is remarkable that there was not more, as many of the farmers were heavily in debt, and had mort- gaged their farms to non-residents at high rates of interest. MILITIA In 1794 there were rumors of wars, which, as in these later days, involved expense. On August 4, 1794, Lieut, Oliver Mills, Capt. Robert Smith, Aaron Smith, Jr., Lemuel THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 439 Mills, William Fuller, Esq., Capt. Ephraim Bullard and Moses Fisk were chosen to consider and report "refpecting an allowance being made to those men that are Drafted as minute men". On September 29 the town voted to "make up to those men that are Detach'd to hold themselves in readinefs as minute men or those that are or may be pro- cured to take their place twelve Dollars per month Includ- ing the Continental monthly pay from the time they march and are in Service"; also one dollar per man "for their time in pafsing mufter providing they Should be Called upon to pafs Mufter." An appropriation of £15 was voted "to procure Aminltlon to Supply the Deficiency". At the March meeting in 1800 the town voted to pay the militia of the town who paraded at Walpole on September 30 and on October i last one dollar per day each for their time, and also to "provide powder Balls and flints a Quan- tity sufficient for the Melltia of said Town for the purpose of being Viewed Annually to remain the property of the Town to be Deposited in a Military Chest in charge of some man or men Chosen for that purpose ". At the May meet- ing these votes were reconsidered, but in March, 1802, the town voted to pay one dollar per day to each militia man who had performed duty at the muster at Walpole the pre- vious September. In 1809 one dollar per day was voted to the men, twenty in number, "that were detached and In- spected last fall". On July 20, 1812, it was voted "that the Soldiers that were detached from this Town in May last, should be paid, if called into active service and do serve While they serve and no longer ". Their pay was to be made up to $15 per month each, and $5 were to be paid when "first called Into active service, and the remainder in six Months after ". In 1815 the town voted "to give those soldiers that were detached in the year 18 14, belonging to the Town of Need- ham" $7 each in addition to the public pay, and in 1816 the selectmen were to furnish the soldiers with arms and 440 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM equipments. Thus meagre are the records of the town for the War of 1812. In the following list of Needham militia officers it may be assumed with reasonable certainty that the individuals had risen from the ranks and had served in the lower grades, which are not here mentioned, the name appearing only under the highest position that the man obtained. The names of the officers of the Norfolk Rifle Rangers will be found elsewhere. Unless otherwise indicated the regiment was attached to the Second Brigade of the First Division. Brigadier General: — Charles Rice 1828. Colonels: — William M<=Intosh, First Suffolk, 1776- , Warren Dewing 1825-7, Josiah N. Bird 1833, then living in Dedham, but while adjutant, 1830-1, he had been of Needham, William B. Parker 1835, Joshua Brown Lyon 1838. All but Colonel M'=Intosh were of the First Regi- ment, which name superseded that of First Suffolk when Norfolk County was created in 1793. Lieutenant-Colonels: — Silas Alden 1788, Jonathan Kings- bury 1795-9, Moses Mann 1800-3, Chester Adams, 1819- . Majors: — Moses Bullard 1782-6, Jonathan Day 1794, Ebenezer Mcintosh 1803, '04, Joseph Warren Lyon 1828-31. For many years there were two companies of militia in town, the East and the West. Captains, with the approximate dates when commis- sioned: — John Bacon 1780, West, Isaac Goodenow 1782, West, Ephraim Bullard 1796, or earlier. West, John Clap 1796, Daniel Ware 1796, regimental adjutant, John Tolman 1801, East, Nathan Dewing 1801, West, Michael Harris, Jr., 1803, East, Abel Stevens 1806, West, George Smith 1807, West, Jonathan Fuller 181 1, West, Timothy Bullard 1813, West, Elisha Lyon 1814, East, Lewis 1818, East, Ebenezer Fuller 1820, West, Reuben Ware 1821, Calvin Gay 1823, Hollis Mann 1824, East, Timothy Newell Smith THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 441 1825, East/ Nathan White 1828, aid-de-camp, Abijah Greenwood 1829, East, William Pierce, Franklin Stevens 183 1, West, Reuel Ware. Lieutenants: — William Fuller 1777, Josiah Upham 1778, Enoch Kingsbery 1780, Timothy Kingsbery 1780, Jona- than Gay 1782, Jonathan Smith 1789, Lemuel Mills 1797, George Bird 1798, Ephraim Ware 1801, Moses Garfield 1804, Fisher Mills 1805, William Fuller 1814, Jonathan Newell 1816, Samuel Alden 1816, Lemuel Kingsbury 1823. The swords of Lieut. Oliver Mills and Lieut. Jonathan Gay were on exhibition in 191 1. Ensigns: — Michael Harris, Sr., Asa Cheney 18 18. Ap- parently all of the foregoing were officers of the First Suffolk Regiment, or First Regiment of Infantry, of the Second Brigade of the First Division. First Lieutenant and Paymaster of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company: — The Honorable Emery Grover, joined the company in 1885, was elected first ser- geant of artillery in 1888, lieutenant in 1890, and has been the treasurer since 1893. Charles Seaver Courtenay was the commander of the British Military and Naval Veterans of Massachusetts from 1903 to 1905, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and acted as brigadier-general on the "British Sunday", during the visit to Boston of the Honorable Artillery Com- pany of London in 1903, when various organizations were under his command. He was also prominent when the 43d Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's, came from the Dominion of Canada to Boston in 1905. There were other occasions on which Colonel Courtenay represented his command. In 1909 he was commander of the Imperial and Colonial Veterans. He became an officer of the 7th Royal Fusiliers early in 1855, and served nearly two years in the Crimea ^ Captain Smith commanded the East Company at the laying of the corner stone of Bunker Hill Monument in 1825; his handsome' sword, scabbard and sash were conspicuous in the Historical Exhibit during the Bicentennial celebration. 442 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM with this regiment. After six months at Aldershot they were ordered to India, and were there for three years, 1857-9. Soon after the completion of his service in India, Mr. Courtenay resigned his commission, after six years in the same regiment, and landed in Canada on the day that Fort Sumter was first fired upon. Needham is indebted to him for the circle, or little park, near the railroad station. He con- structed it under adverse conditions, and for many years the citizens have annually raised money to adorn it with beautiful flowers. Colonel Courtenay died in Needham August 19, 1909, in his seventy-fourth year, and had one of the few mili- tary funerals that the town has witnessed in modern times. Cavalry: — Captains: — Josiah Newell 1788, Josiah Newell 1810, Artemas Newell 181 1, '12, Jonathan Gay 1817, Curtis M'^Intosh 1825 '26, David Franklin Henderson March 2, 1887-February 21, 1891. For a portrait and sketch of Captain Henderson see "Regiments and Armories of Massachusetts", published in 1899 or in 1900. Cornet: — Joseph Mudge, Jr., 1792. With the exception of Captain Henderson, who com- manded the Roxbury Horse Guards, all of the cavalry officers from Needham were of the uniformed company, which included residents of Dedham, Needham, Dover and Medfield. Until the Norfolk Rifle Rangers were organized this company of cavalry was the only uniformed company that had been connected with Needham. Cornet Timothy Kingsbery appears to have been the solitary cavalry officer resident in Needham in the days of the Province. MILITIA ITEMS FROM THE SELECTMEN'S ORDERS In 1801 $16 were granted "to pay Eight Soldiers of the Company of Cavelry belonging to Needham that did Military duty at Walpole" on September 30 and October I, 1800. Capt. Ephraim Bullard, of the West company, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 443 had had thirty-four officers and soldiers at the muster, and Captain M*=Intosh, of the East company, fifty-three. All of the men were paid $2 each by the town. The next year the East company went to Walpole with fifty-six men and the cavalry included eleven from Needham. In 1800 Captains M<=Intosh and Dewing required nearly thirty pounds of powder for the parade at Dover, and for years the militia companies used from two to four quarter casks of powder annually. In addition to the powder, which cost fully fifty cents per pound, sometimes sixty cents, the town from time to time purchased a hundred weight of balls and five hundred flints. Beginning about 1810 the town paid, on the average, $5 per year to individuals who made cartridges for the two companies, and the East com- pany alone disposed of eight hundred cartridges one fall, at which season there was the brigade muster. Paper for these cartridges was another item, and such expenses con- tinued as long as the old militia law was in force. The powder was often bought of French and Everett, knapsacks in 1822 of William H. Brown, and the "equipments", "Camp Kittles", which latter cost considerable, were ob- tained from different Boston firms. In 1 8 14 a " Chest for the powder house" was purchased, and In 1824 forty belts for Capt. Mollis Mann's company cost $20. In 1820 the town voted to furnish each officer and soldier with twenty-four cartridges which were to be kept at the powder-house. In 183 1 the town dismissed article seven, which was "to see if the town will vote to abate the poll taxes of those persons who uniformed themfelves and did mili- tary duty in the Company Commanded by Cap* Franklin Stevens of said town, agreeable to the law of this Common- wealth, passed on the 12th day of March 1830", but the next year voted "that Soldiers who have Complyed with the law to intltle them to a remittance of a poll tax, should be benefit by it, whether the return from their Commanding officers was legal or not". 444 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The Norfolk Rifle Rangers were provided with ammu- nition, and paid $2 each for services at the annual brigade muster. THE NORFOLK RIFLE RANGERS As this is the only uniformed military organization that Needham has ever had/ and as it was one of the "crack" militia companies of the State, it seems proper to give a somewhat detailed account of it. Fortunately its records are complete, and one of its officers, Lieut. Enos H. Tucker, an ideal assistant in investigating local history, lived to the close of 1907. Early in 1832 William B. Parker, who was much inter- ested in military matters, and forty-eight other young men petitioned the Governor and Council for authority to form "an independent corps of Rifle-men by the name of the Norfolk Rifle Rangers to be attached to the first Regiment second Brigade first Division". They stated that there was then but one military company in Needham, the other having been disbanded. The petition went through the usual course and was granted, and they were ordered to meet at Estes Kimball's tavern in West Needham on April 26, on which occasion they chose William B. Parker captain, Paul Dewing first lieutenant, John Welles Lyon ensign; there were also five sergeants and seven corporals. Ben- jamin W. Parker was clerk, Otis Jennings treasurer, Henry Starr surgeon; of the various committees was that on "Musick," which consisted of Samuel M'=Intosh and Eben Flagg. On the first Tuesday in May the Company met at My- rick's Hotel. Captain Parker and four others were requested to purchase "Rifles and Uniforms": "each member should have a priveledge of owning and keeping his Rifle". It ^ It is true that the cavalry company that flourished in the years following the Revolution had a uniform, but it included men from Dedham and Dover, and perhaps other towns, although Needham had a large representation. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 445 was also voted that "Belts be of black patent leather", "barrells of the Rifles stamped", "black plume sixteen inches high", "brafs in centre of the caps, and the cord to be all gilt, the same braid on the top as on the coat", "cuffs of the coat be the same as the CityGaurds", "pantaloons be the same as the pattern only fuller in front", "stocks be black bombazeen ", "that the buttons of the company have N R R and, 'On Hand' inserted on them, likewise that the pantaloons have a leaf on the front", "drills shall be with guns or rifles until further orders", "music shall have red coats white pantaloons and leather caps". A committee of three was chosen to "inspect and prove the Rifles". It was their intention to make their first public appearance on the 4th of July, but the uniforms were not ready, and it had to be deferred to September 13th. There were several meetings during the summer, subscriptions were asked for, fines were imposed for absence from drill, or coming late, and one man was discharged for slandering the corps. On August II they had accepted the "knapsacks according to the pattern", "the thirteen inch black plume", and voted that the "pantaloons shall be plain". On the 25th they voted "that Capt. Parker be authorized to provide as good a dinner as the season can afford when we shall first appear in uniform". On September 13, 1832, the Rangers met at 8 A.M. with "Knapsacks canteens and all other military equipments complete", and marched to the Lower Falls, where they "partook of a eolation served up by Peter Lyon, and then March'd to the Uper Falls and partook of another served up by Owen Colburn, then Marched to Estes Kimballs and partook of a dinner served up by E Kimball and Furnised by some of our Townsmen". On Wednesday, October 3, they went to muster for the first time. The company met at Myrick's Tavern at 8 o'clock in the morning, paraded about town, and then marched to Dedham where they arrived at noon, and had dinner at Alden's Hotel. After the dinner they proceeded to Walpole, 446 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM a usual place for brigade musters, and "at the edge of the Town was met by the Walpole Light Infantry and escorted by them to our encamping ground where we piched our Tents for the night ".^ In April, 1833, the Rangers voted "To send the rifles, to M' Pratt of Roxbury to be stained". During the early years of this company there were many drills, and parades with collations. They took especial pride in their music, to obtain which they assessed themselves a dollar, or more, per member on every important occasion. Their refresh- ments, which usually cost from seventy-five cents to one dollar per man for a day, were supplied for the muster in September, 1833, by Artemas Newell, but often by the tav- ern-keepers. They met impartially at Myrick's and Hoogs's Taverns and at Slack's Hotel.^ At the muster in 1833 they reported at Harvey Clapp's Hotel in Walpole at 5.30 A.M. On September 15, 1833, they had celebrated their second anniversary with a parade, and banquet at Myrick's Tavern; salutes were fired, presumably with some of the powder that the town occasionally granted them. Ordinarily their music consisted of a drum, fife and two bugles, but at muster they had a small band. At the muster on October 7, 1835, when the Rangers rendezvoused at Henderson's in Medway at 6 o'clock A.M., the music committee, Samuel M'^Intosh and Artemas Newell, provided a band of eight pieces, and it cost the members $5.44 each for music, etc. At this muster "the Company volunteered with the remainder of the Battalion to Skirmish with the Indians" under the command of Colonel Holbrook. ^ Lieutenant Tucker related that on the occasion of one of the musters at Wal- pole, Robert Smith arrived at Dedham very lame in consequence of wearing new boots, and when the time came to resume the march to Walpole, Mr. Smith was advised to pour a pint of rum into his boots. He had just begun to do this when the captain commanded the men to "fall in", and in his haste Smith poured the entire pint into one boot; as the result he reached muster with one foot in good condition, but with the other in a state that rendered him unfit for service. ^ In 1835 Moses Crafts succeeded John W. Slack as the proprietor of the hotel lately known as the Elmwood Park Hotel, and for a time called it "Crafts Inn". Mr. Blanchard kept this hotel in 1838, and Colonel Shepard in 1840. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 447 The annual muster occurred early in October, and the Rangers usually left Needham the day before. On Sep- tember 19, 1843, with eight pieces of music, they marched to the railroad station, Grantville, "and rode to Boston in the cars." "From the Boston Depot, marched to the Common, were inspected and reviewed and performed the regular duties of the day. Partook of dinner at the Western Rail- road House at 75 cents per man". They returned to Need- ham in the cars, and marched to the armory, which the town allowed them in the town building, and broke ranks after "A vote of thanks, was passed to the Musicians for the hon- ourable and Satisfactory manner with which they performed their duty". On May 29, 1844, they voted "To have the company training two days in succefsion and go on an excur- sion", which resulted in a target shooting match on Sep- tember 17, which was won by Samuel Pratt. The target was presented by Lieut. Charles E. Alden, who also gave a pencil as a prize for the "best three shots". On the i8th they were refreshed at the Upper Falls by Lieutenant Randall and A. H. Small, and then marched to West Newton, and dined in the "Newton Railroad House" for fifty cents each. They went back to Needham in the cars. They had five pieces of music from Newton Upper Falls, and Messrs. Bartlett and Cutting of the Brigade Band. On the 24th they started from their armory at 5 A.M., and took the cars for Boston, where they "Formed in Brigade line and performed the usual duties Partook of dinner at Pantheon Hall at 75 cents per man". On this occasion they had five pieces of music from the Upper Falls and two from Fitchburg. On October 19, 1843, a "celebration of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis" was held near the junction of Washington Street and Oakland Street in West Needham. Brig.-Gen. Charles Rice personated Lord Cornwallis and Col. Warren Dewing was General Washington. The armies were great numbers of men and boys from Needham and the neighbor- ing towns, with a few militia companies, including one 448 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM from Waltham. Capt. Timothy Newell Smith of the Rangers declined to participate, and First Lieut. Charles E. Alden was on the staff of one of the commanders as quarter- master, consequently the command of the Rangers devolved upon Second Lieut. Enos H. Tucker. Col. Richard M. Johnson, Vice-President of the United States, 1837-41, was a spectator, as were Henry Wilson and Nathaniel P. Banks. On September 14, 1840, the company had voted to accept "of Muskets untill we can obtain Rifles from the State and to wear white Pants while we use the muskets", and also to get gray fatigue caps. The next July the Rangers voted to "have the State arms on the caps instead of the eagles". There were fines for defective equipment, such as "priming Wires and Brushes", as well as for coming late to drills, which were usually in the daytime. At times some members furnished substitutes. Charles A. Hines, a member of the company, had charge of the armory. On May 25, 1841, a committee of three, Including Enos H. Tucker, Jr., who had joined on May 17, 1840, was appointed "to see if the Select Men will provide 20 Balls and a quarter of a pound powder for each member to be kept at the Armory"; they reported success on September 6th. At the May meeting the Rangers had also voted "to have the Plumes shortened to ten inches before next meeting". At the meeting on July 2, 1841, their new "pants" were to cost $3.50 per pair, and a committee was to get "pompoons for Company". Lieutenant Randall had presented them with a sign for their armory. In 1843 they wisely took measures to secure the uniforms of those who left the company. Dippers were a part of the equipment. After flourishing for more than ten years the interest in the company declined, and on May 6, 1845, the clerk was directed "to return Rifles and Equip- ments which belong to the State to the Arsenal: for which service he shall receive the balance of funds now in his hands". The volume of records of the Rangers, in the custody of the town clerk of Needham, contains the lengthy THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 449 constitution with a preamble and twenty-six articles. There were amendments in 1842, and the pages bear the signatures of seventy members of the company, including many famil- iar names: — Matthias Mills, Galen Orr, George E. Eaton, Elisha Hiram Lyon, Augustus Fuller, George L. Kingsbury. At the election of officers of the Rangers it was the custom for a major to preside, and sometimes Maj. Paul Dewing, their former captain, was the officer selected. The successors of the original officers were: Captains: — Paul Dewing August 17, 1833, vice Capt. Parker become lieutenant-colonel, John J. Gorham April 12, 1836, vice Capt. Dewing elected major, (Capt. Gorham was chosen orderly sergeant when the company was organized), Russell Smith May 3, 1839, he had then commanded for some months, and it is probable that Capt. Gorham, who is described as a *^'tall, dark man", had removed from town, Thomas Orr September 20, 1841, who had then commanded for some months, Timothy Newell Smith May 31, 1843. First Lieutenants: — John W. Lyon August 17, 1833, Russell Smith September 21, 1836, William Gay May 3, 1839, Thomas Orr May 26, 1840, Timothy Newell Smith September 20, 1841, Charles E. Alden May 31, 1843. Ensigns: — John J. Gorham August 17, 1833, William Gay April 12, 1836, Thomas Orr May 3, 1839. At the election on May 26, 1840, no ensign was chosen, but both a second and a third lieutenant. Second Lieutenants: — Timothy Newell Smith May 26, 1840, who joined the company the same day, Charles E. Alden September 20, 1841, Enos H. Tucker, Jr., May 31, 1843. Third Lieutenants: — Charles E. Alden May 26, 1840, Enos H. Tucker, Jr., September 20, 1841, Benjamin F. Randall May 31, 1843. Clerks: — John J. Gorham April 6, 1833, Lauren Kings- bury August 17, 1833, Enos H. Tucker, Jr., September 3, 1840, Enoch Brown Winch September 20, 1841, Charles T. Tucker May 31, 1843. tCfie WBiax of tfje American a^ebolution Prior to the Convention at Dedham in September, 1774, there is nothing in our records to indicate the approaching storm, except a vote of the town on December 22, 1773, not "to join with the Committee of Correfpondence of the Town of Bofton; Relating to the Importation of Tea". On March 23, 1775, however, the town voted that the collec- tors of the Province taxes should thereafter pay them to Henry Gardner, Esq., who had been appointed by the Pro- vincial Congress, and not to the Honorable Harrison Gray, the agent of the Crown. The names of the delegates from Needham to the Pro- vincial Congresses, and to the various Conventions, are given elsewhere in this history. On May 29, 1775, Capt. Robert Smith was chosen a Com- mittee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. The names of his successors, with the dates when they were chosen, are: — John Slack, Michael Metcalf and William Smith, on March 11, 1776, William Smith, Lieut. Ebenezer Fuller and Joseph Daniell, Jr., on March 10, 1777, Josiah Eaton, Henry Dewing and Ebenezer Newell on March 9, 1778, and re-elected on March 11, 1779, Moses Man, Aaron Smith, Jr., and Eleazer Fuller on March 13, 1780, Crowner Nathaniel Fisher, Capt. Robert Smith and Capt. William Smith on April 5, 1 78 1, who perhaps held over, as there is no record of the choice of such a committee in 1782, and John Slack, Robert Fuller, Jr., and Aaron Smith, Jr., on May 12, 1783. There is but little on record of the doings of these committees, although the opposition to the British rule largely centred in them. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 451 LEXINGTON ALARM On the morning of April 19, 1775, the news that the British were on their way to Concord was brought to Bul- lard's Tavern, and the alarm was given by Ephraim Bullard, the tavern-keeper, or by his son of the same name, who fired a gun on BuUard's Hill. The West Company of militia rendezvoused at this tavern, great fires were made in the house, and bullets were moulded, the women assist- ing. The West Company was the first from Needham to arrive at the scene of the conflict. In "The Leg" the alarm was sounded by the trumpet of Abel, or Nero, Benson, a negro. The news was received in East Needham about nine o'clock in the morning, from a messenger who rode through the town on his way to Dedham, and the militia company was drawn up in their minister's east driveway, as the ammunition was then kept in his house. The Rev. Mr. West addressed them earnestly, and gave his bless- ing. In the cellar of Mr. West's house, now the home of the writer, is a large brick chimney closet, which may have been the place where the military "Stores" were deposited. At Watertown the East Company stopped for refreshments, but reached West Cambridge in time to join in harassing the King's troops on their retreat.^ Seven Needham men were killed or wounded at West Cambridge: — Sergeant Elisha Mills, forty years of age, blacksmith, lived on what is now South Street, near Webster Street. The tradition is that he stepped out of a barn to fire at the enemy, and fell riddled with bullets. By the kindness of his neighbor, "Hawk" Aaron Smith, who * In my childhood I was often taken to call upon a very ancient blind lady, Miss Agnes Austin, who was born in Charlestown, and lived there for many years, and who delighted to tell her visitors that she saw the British troops under Earl Percy and Lieut.-Col. Smith on their return at the close of the memorable nineteenth of April, 1775. A considerable number of the soldiers had thrown away their red coats and much of their equipment. The first legacy that I ever received was under the will of this venerable lady, who was a distant connection of my family. — G. K. C. 452 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM afterward married his widow, his body was brought to Needham in a cart, on the 20th, and buried in the old graveyard. The others who died that day were interred at West Cambridge. Jonathan Parker, also of the East Company, was twenty- eight years old, and lived a short distance south of the present Pierce house on Charles River Street, but on the other side of the road, a wooden tablet marking the site. He literally left his plough in the field, west of his house, to answer the call of duty, was surprised at West Cam- bridge by a flank guard at a barn, and shot while attempt- ing to reach the woods. The Parker School, near his home, is named for him. John Tolman of the East Company, while lying behind a wall with several others, was discovered by a flank guard. Those not disabled stood up, and Tolman twice tried to fire at the main column, but the powder flashed in the pan, although after his first failure he had cleared the vent with a pin from his shirt collar. He then found himself in a cross fire, and was struck between the shoulders by a bullet, which later was extracted from his breast, and is still preserved. After long suffering he recovered, and died in Fairhaven, Vt., in 1835, ^g^d eighty-two years. He lived on the "Gay Farm" on Central Avenue. In 1906, or 1907, his remains and those of his wife were brought to Needham, and in- terred in the Tolman lot. A large white gravestone and a footstone came with the bones, and there is now an S. A. R. marker on his grave. His great-granddaughter, Mrs. Anna M. Tolman Pickford, bore the expense of the removal. None of the West Company were seriously hurt, but of the Minute Men First Lieut. John Bacon, aged fifty-four years, was killed on a ledge of rock in Menotomy. He was with "Old Hawes," a former comrade in the French and Indian War, and Bacon had been lying behind a wall with his powder in his hat. Suddenly Hawes said, "Run or you are dead, here 's the guard ", and as they attempted to get TOLMAN-GAY HOUSE MANN-BLACKMAN HOUSE THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 453 over the wall Bacon was shot near the third button of his waistcoat. The next day his son, John, recognized his father's old striped hat on a roll of clothes in a school-house at West Cambridge. Lieutenant Bacon's house, now a tenement and much changed, stands on North Main Street, near Bacon Street, and west of the watering trough. He was an energetic man, and frequently had eight or ten In- dians and negroes, and four yokes of oxen working on his farm. Nathaniel Chamberlain, another Minute Man, and a French and Indian War veteran, was slain, aged fifty-six years. Amos Mills, a cousin of Elisha, lived on what is known as the Abijah Stevens place on Blossom Street. He was a Minute Man, and was killed at West Cambridge, aged forty-three years. Lieut. Eleazer Kingsbery, of the Minute Men, was struck in the leg by a bullet, but it did not penetrate his leather breeches. The five men killed at West Cambridge all left widows and large families. On November 10, 1845, Rufus Mills, Israel Whitney and General Rice were chosen by the town a committee with reference to a monument to commemorate these five men, but nothing was accomplished until Mrs. Sarah Eames Mills Kingsbury and other ladies raised the necessary money in 1851, and placed on the hill in the old graveyard the handsome granite monument inscribed with the five names, and the words "For Liberty they died." The monument at West Cambridge (Arlington) is a granite shaft marking the common grave of twelve men slain on April 19, 1775. This memorial was erected in 1848, and bears on the east side an inscription giving the names of three Cambridge men, but a temporary tablet of later date on the west side has the names of the other nine, including the four from Needham. 454 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM LEXINGTON ALARM LISTS The muster-rolls of the two companies of militia, and of the Minute Men from Needham were copied verbatim, at an expenditure of much time, with the purpose of re- producing them in full, but the writer has reluctantly de- cided that it is not feasible to do so, owing to the many columns, the great number of figures, the abbreviations with superior letters, and the profuse punctuation. Muster-roll of the Minute Men "A Muster Roll of the Travel and Service of a Company of Alarm Men in Needham under the Command of Caleb Kingsbery in Colo" Aaron Davis's Regiment That March'd in Consequence of the Alarm Made on the 19^^ of April 1775. Which is as Followeth Viz.*" Then follows the elaborate muster-roll referred to with these forty names: — Caleb Kingsbery, Capt. John Bacon, 1st Lieut. Killed. Eleazer Kingsbery, 2d Lieut. Wounded. Daniel Gould, Serg. Samuel Daggett, Serg. Isaac Underwood, Serg. Ephraim Stevens, Serg. Samuel Brown, Corp. Samuel Daniell, Corp. Thomas Hall, Corp. Ephraim Bullard, Drummer. Privates : John Fuller Ezekiel Richardson Jefse Kingsbery Privates : Joseph Mudg Henry Dewing Josiah Ware Stephen Huntting David Hall Jonathan Smith Jacob Parker Moses Felt David Smith Thomas Discomb Ifaac Goodenow Ju' Abijah Mills Samuel Greenwood Josiah Lyon THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 455 Privates : Theodore Broad Ithamar Smith John Edes Ju' Henry Gale Nathan^ Kingsbery. Nehemiah Mills Ju' Nathan?' Chamberla Killed David Hagar Amos Mills Killed Jonas Mills Seth Willson Elijah Houghton Many of them had travelled thirty miles, some thirty- six, and Mudge only nine miles, for which they were paid one penny per mile. This was for the distance to and from their homes. Most of them were in service two days, at IS., 5d., |f. per day, but of the last seven in the Hst all but Houghton served from six to nine days at the same pay per day. The total claim for the company amounted to £16, i8s., lod., 2f. "Needham March 14: 1776 Caleb Kingsbery Colony of the Mafs* bay March 15 1776 Captain Caleb Kingsbery within named made Solem Oath to the truth of the within Roll by him Subscribed According to the beft of his Knowledge Before Sam* Holten Jur peace thro' the Colony Compared with the Original and therewith agrees E. Starkweather 1 „ j'^^ Turner J In Council Ap: 22^-iyy6 Read & allowed & ordered that a Warrant be drawn on the TreasT for £16: 18: 102 in full of the within Roll Needham Perez Morton D Sc Cap* Caleb Kingsbery Roll-Copy £16:18 :io|" Archives, Vol. 12, p. 164. 456 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Muster-roll of the East Company of Militia "A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Cap* Robert Smith in Colonel William Heaths Regiment Needham January 2. 1776." Robert Smith, Capt. Oliver Mills, Lieut. Silas Alden, Ensign Elisha Mills, Serg. Killed Jon* Gay, Serg. Tho. Fuller, Serg. Eleaz. Fuller, Serg. Sam Alden, Corp. Sam Fifher, Corp. Eliakim Cooke, Corp. Eben Day, Corp. Eben Clark, Drummer Josiah Filher, Fifer Privates: John Mcintosh Jon* Parker Killed Isaac Shepard Josiah Eaton Jun Sam Ware Jun Nath. Willson Rich^ Blincowe Mofes Eaton Jonathan Ware Jon? Kingsbery Sam Paine Theop. Richardson Jr. Solomon Fuller Nath Filher Jn Ezra Mills Aaron Ayres Privates : Philip Mills William Eaton Lem Eaton Aaron Fifher Lemi Mills Tim? Fifher Rob* Fuller J' Joseph Colburn Joseph Colburn J' Jere Woodcock Jerm Eaton Elmon Tolman Eben Wilkinson Sam Edes Tim? Dewing Benj? Ware Amos Fuller J"" Benj? Mills Jun' Joseph Stowell Aaron Paine Josiah Lyon Jun Daniel Wight Joseph Ware Eben Richardson Thomas Fifher David Newell Simeon Fifher Elijah Fuller John Tolman THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 457 Privates: Nathan Newell John Bird W"? Smith Eben Clark Sam Wight Tim 8. 1779 "Blankitts" for the army. each 7, 10. 178 1 Josiah Newell "for the Use of his Blan- kett about Two Years " Pig, silver 1782 Lieut. William Fuller money paid "for Shoeing Horfes Purchafed by y® Town for Publick Service" 30- 10, 15- * Jonathan Huntting made twelve pairs of shoes for the soldiers in the spring of 1778, for which he had an order the following year for £21, 12s., with the addi- tion of eighteen shillings for interest on his claim, which had waited nine months. The difference between the purchasing power of hard money and the currency of the war period is illustrated by this table, the reasonable figures representing the hard money prices. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 537 £ s. d. "going to Bofton One Day Refpecting holding James Farris as a Needham Man in a late Campaign". 6. "Gun for Town bought of Mr Oliver Gay" 1775 I, 4. PRICES AFTER THE WAR: 1783 Winding sheet for poor woman 4. One half quire of paper for rates i. 1787 Wood, delivered, per cord 12, 6. 1789 Shoes per pair 7, 6. Indian corn per bushel 4. Mutton, per pound, charged the town by Moses Man, a butcher i. 1791 Wood, for school-house, per cord 12. Meal per bushel 4. 1794 Wood, for poor, per cord 15. 179s '96 Wood, for poor, per cord ^3-33 Two barrels of cider for a poor man at $2.50 5. 1798 Meal per bushel I. 1801 Standing wood per cord 3. Indian Cotton per yard .25 1808 Israel Whitney, the shoemaker, charged the town for a pair of shoes for a man 2. 1814 Oak, or pine wood, delivered at school- houses, per cord 4.50 1829 "winter gown" for a poor woman 3. The most ancient tavern in Needham was that of Ben- jamin Mills, whose license was dated July 2, 1705, and whose house near the Lower Falls is mentioned by Judge Samuel Sewall in his famous diary as a place where the Royal Governors, and other dignitaries, were wont to refresh themselves when journeying to the inland towns of the Province. On May 17, 1732, the town voted down propositions "to have three Taverns fet up in the Town this year", or to have two taverns, or even one. On October 28, 1755, a Resolve of the General Court became law, which authorized the Court of General Sessions of the Peace for Suffolk County to license Samuel Richards, of Needham, "Inn- holder", who had failed through sickness to renew his license at the proper time. On May 11, 1785, it was "the mind of the Town that the Selectmen Should Put the Law in Execution Refpecting thofe Perfons that Spend their time and Intreft Unnecefarily at Taverns, or elfewhere", and a similar vote was passed in 1791. Moses Mann was licensed to sell "foreign distilled Spirits at his Shop" for one year by "Th Gorham Supervifor of the Revenue for the District of Maffachufetts", countersigned by "Tho. Clarke Collector of the Revenue for the eighth Divifion of the third Survey, in the Diftrict of Maffachusetts" October 28, 1795. Morse's Tavern, then in the limits of Natick, was much patronized before the Revolution, as was Bullard's, which latter was on Washington Street where is now the eastern THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 539 lodge of Wellesley College. Ensign Ephraim Bullard, the landlord of the tavern, died in 1779, and several of the Bullards appear to have been successful innkeepers. Major Moses Bullard, a brother of this Ephraim, removed to Boston, and kept the noted Sun Tavern there from 1789 to 1794. Flagg's Tavern is still standing at the corner of Washington and Church Streets in Wellesley, and was kept a century ago by Solomon Flagg, Senior. He was father of our late town clerk, and came to Needham from Boston in 1805. Colonel Mcintosh entertained many people at his house on what was later Great Plain Avenue, and his son, Major Ebenezer, had the M*=Intosh Tavern, on or near the site of the house of Charles Kingsbury Cutter, at the corner of Great Plain and Central Avenues, the latter road not then existing. Noyes Street was the old road. The Major was succeeded by his son Francis, and he by Davis C. Mills, who had the tavern one year. Nathan Mcintosh, son of the Major, followed Mills. Isaac Myrick was the last to keep a tavern on this spot, and after the building had been used for some years as a store by Rufus Mills and others it was burned in February, 1844. The tavern hall was a favorite place for dances, and Mr. M'=Far- land taught dancing there, and fiddled for the dancers. Mr. Miller, who drove the stage that ran through Dover, succeeded Mr. M'^Farland as the fiddler. The Honorable Enos H. Tucker related to the writer anecdotes of the dances in this tavern. One winter, just before a party, the floor was washed and ice formed on it, with the result that while dancing a cotillion Abby Daniell slipped and fell. Mr. Tucker said that in the cotillion there were often two rows of young people extending the entire length of the hall. After the tavern was burned Ezra Fuller, Jr., built a house and store on the site, and he and his brother-in-law, Timothy Newell Smith, had a general store there. A part of this later building is now Mr. Cutter's house, but much changed, and the ell, the northern portion. 540 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM was removed by Matthias Mills many years ago, and is now the residence of the Pierce family on Central Avenue, opposite the Gay farm. Aaron Smith, Jr., known as "Hawk Aaron", removed to Plainfield, Connecticut, in 1799, but previously had kept tavern in his house on South Street, opposite High Rock Street; the house had been for many years the home of his uncle, Lieut. Aaron Smith. Isaac Felton had a hostelry near Smith's, on the north side of South Street, near Web- ster Street. Many people recall the old Felton house, but few now remember Isaac Felton, who died in 1842, aged sixty-three years. Hoogs's Tavern, later known as Rice's Block, stood next to the railroad track at the Lower Falls, and was burned early in the morning of February 27, 1905. George W. Hoogs, a native of Newton, kept a tavern there for many years prior to 1850, and his family lived in what was then known as the "old part". Mr. Hoogs had a store and a bar in the southern portion, and in the hall above it Mr. M'=Farland had a dancing school at times. The early tax collectors usually received taxes at Hoogs's Tavern one day each autumn. The stage coaches regularly stopped at Wales's Tavern on the Newton side. This tavern had a second story that was larger than either the first or third, but was not an ancient building, and was burned on June 8, 1868. It stood on the corner of Washington and Wales Streets, and it was here that Nathaniel Prentiss Banks gave dancing lessons, including among his pupils some young people from Needham. The Metropolitan Park Commission removed a much older tavern on Wales Street in Newton. The moment one is half-way across the bridge formerly known as the Mills Bridge, going north. Walnut Street becomes Wales Street; the latter is a very short street. Sargent's Tavern was at the junction of Washington Street and the Turnpike in Wellesley Hills, and was built about THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 541 1 8 10. It was long owned by William MInot of Boston, who leased it to successive tavern-keepers. From 1846 to 1849 a hotel was taxed to Daniel Stone, and apparently it was the same that Mr. MInot had owned, as his name then dis- appeared from our tax lists. In later times the property was owned by John W. Shaw, who leased it. In 1834 this tavern was kept by John W. Slack, when the coming of the railroad influenced him to give it up. Among his successors have been Moses Crafts and Mr. Blanchard. Col. Lemuel Shepard, who came from Dedham, was a well-known land- lord of this hostelry, and it long bore his name. Mr. M'^Bride was the tavern-keeper at one time, and during the Civil War Mrs. Tenney was the landlady. Dr. Newhall followed her, and is said to have built the large barn. In 1 88 1 Elisha Livermore was the proprietor of the Elmwood Park Hotel, as the house was then called, and in 1908 Capt. Oliver C. Livermore kept it. In 1908 the estate was sold and was made a public park. The citizens of Welles- ley raised $10,000 by subscription for this object, and the town appropriated $10,000. Many meetings and social gatherings have been held in this house, which has been taken away, and in the thirties Meridian Lodge of Masons met there. POST-OFFICES The first post-office in Needham was established on May 17, 1826, and that day Rufus Mills was appointed post- master, and served to 1839. For some years he had the post-office in his house, now the home of the writer, but later removed it to Daniel Kingsbury's store, which is the dwelling-house now owned by Mrs. Marianna Whitney on Central Avenue, near what is popularly known as Dog Corner. Mr. Kingsbury, and later George E. Eaton, kept store there, and Mr. Eaton lived in the house. It was the custom of the tax collectors to sit a few hours each year at the different stores, taverns, and at the almshouse, and for 542 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM some years in the forties taxes were received at this store. When Mr. Mills first became postmaster the mail was brought once a week from the Upper Falls by Lemuel Mills, Jr., who went after it on horseback, but this was changed to twice a week, and later to three times.^ Israel Whitney succeeded Rufus Mills, and for some years had the office in his house, when he removed it to the newly erected Nehoiden Block. Mr. Whitney's methods were informal, and people helped themselves as they saw fit to the mail, which he spread on a table. Elbridge Smith of Evanston, 111., who was born in Needham, wrote of Mr. Whitney in 1902: "the old Postmaster, Israel Whitney, who was Justice of the Peace and cobbled our shoes, would bring the mail, from his house close by, down to the school yard in his leather apron, with his specks on the end of his nose, which was pretty long, and the children would collect around him; he would then distribute the mail to the children, who in turn would take it where it belonged when they went home". In 1908 the old shoemaker's shop of Israel Whitney, with a slide in the door through which he once passed out the mail, was detached from the house, which was for many years the home of Bill Burrill, and moved back to form part of a shed or henhouse. The second post-office in town was the one established in West Needham, with Charles Noyes, son of the Rev. Thomas Noyes, as its first postmaster. He was an optician, and had the office in his shop, where as early as 1830 the mail was brought twice a week by the "Daily Line" of * In November, 1909, Mr. Edward Mills, a son of Rufus Mills, loaned the present postmaster, Albert E. Brownville, a little trunk in which he said his father kept the letters received. The trunk was on exhibition in the window of the post- ofHce for some time, with a suitable inscription, but the stand which once accom- panied it could not be found, although known to have been in the possession of one of the Mcintosh families. This trunk is only seven and three eighths inches by four and one fourth inches on the inside, and two and seven sixteenths inches deep, and was kept by Mr. Mills on the mantelpiece. Mr. Sumner B. Mills has an old trunk with various compartments which is said to have been used by either the first or second postmaster. It is twice as large as the one described; both were in the loan exhibit in September, 1911. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 543 stages, which were advertised to leave Wildes's, 11 Elm Street, Boston, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 A.M., and other days at 11 A.M. These stages ran to Uxbridge via Newton, West Newton and Natick. Mr. Noyes was succeeded by William Flagg, who held the posi- tion twenty-five years. The post-office at Charles River Village was established on January 6, 1851, and Josiah Newell was its first post- master. The post-office at Grantville dates from November, 1851, when the Rev. William H. Adams was appointed postmaster, and the office located in his house. Mr. Adams had a private school in Grantville 1846-52, and the school was in the house known as the Stanwood house, which then stood on the east side of Washington Street, having been moved from its original site, which was west of the present railroad station. This removal was caused by the building of the railroad. This migratory house was again moved, this time to Maple Place, and within a few years it has been transferred to the Abbott Road, where it was occupied for some years in the nineties by Miss Sarah Elizabeth Laugh- ton, A.M., who had a boarding-school and day-school for girls there. The post-office at Highlandvllle, now Needham Heights, was established on December 19, 1871, and Jonathan Avery was its first postmaster. Although no attempt is made to give lists of the post- masters, something should be said about the third postmaster at Highlandvllle, John James Whetton, who was one of the best citizens of the town, but whose refusal to allow his name to be used for town office results in his not occupying the place in this history that he otherwise would. He was born in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on October 21, 1844, and in his younger days followed the sea, having some interesting experiences, including that of being pur- sued by the famous Alabama, when he was one of the crew 544 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM of the Great Britain. He came to Needham In 1870, and engaged in the grocery business; a few years later he pur- chased the store of Mark Lee at HlghlandvUle, and was a successful merchant, dealing chiefly in groceries. He also represented the Cunard, Dominion and Allan steamship lines. In 1890 Mr. Whetton succeeded Mark Lee as post- master, and continued in office the rest of his life, contribut- ing by his efficiency to raising the post-ofRce to a higher class. He died suddenly at the sea shore on September 6, 1903, and his funeral on the 8th was one of the largest that has taken place in town for many years. A full-rigged ship Is appropriately chiselled upon his monument. Rural delivery was Introduced Into Needham on June 4, 1900, in connection with the post-office at Wellesley, and then, as now, included a section in the southwestern part of the town. Chester A. BIgelow has been the carrier from the beginning, and has never missed a trip. Four months after the establishment of this route another man, starting from the post-office at Wellesley Hills, began to deliver mail in the northwestern part of Needham, and with some changes this delivery has continued to the present time. On September i, 1902, a delivery connected with the Needham office was first made, and at the end of one year, George Lyman Kingsbury, the delivery agent, had handled seventy-six thousand pieces of mail, two thirds of which were delivered to individuals. STAGES] In 1808 a stage left Daggett's, In Market Square, Boston, for Newton and Needham on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 4 P.M. On May 3, 1830, the town dismissed article 3, which was "to see what measure the town will take with regard to the recovery of the one hundred and sixty dollars In money that the town paid in the year 1829 to John Williams and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 545 Royal Mflntosh for damage done to their Stage by upsetting near the house of Jonathan Gay, Jun in Needham". After the Boston and Worcester Railroad was opened to Grantville Marshall Newell daily drove a stage from East Needham to connect with the trains, and for a time, at least, he kept his horses and vehicles in the very ancient barn on the Townsend place, which estate is now the home of George Kuhn Clarke. This stage was a huge affair painted yellow, and the body of it was hung on leather straps and at certain seasons of the year, when the roads were at their worst, it was marvellously encrusted with mud. The late Francis A. M'=Intosh, then a youth, entered the employ of Mr. Newell, and within a day or two was told to wash the stage early in the morning, that imposing vehicle being in great need of such attention. At breakfast Mr. Newell asked "Frank" if he had washed the stage, and he said, "Yes". "Well, did you get it clean.?" said Mr. Newell. "Yes, I guess so, I used four pails of water" was the reply. Some people will appreciate the fact that in those days the only comfortable way to wash a wagon was to take it to a stream or pond, and must sympathize with Frank, who had lugged four buckets, or pails, of water. W^t tKoUm'g ^oor When Needham was incorporated there was one woman receiving public aid, and she was the only person "on the town" who belonged north of the Charles River. She had been assisted since 1694, and contributions were collected for her on Sundays. This happy condition did not last, and before many years there were a number of destitute persons, most of them elderly widows, some of whom lived to a great age and were on the town for decades. The large majority of Needham's poor have had occasional aid only, and the number "put out" or sent to the town farm has been comparatively small. A widow taught school in town for thirty years, and was an equally long time dependent, boarding at either William Eaton's or Nathaniel Ware's, the town paying but little until the in- firmities of age made her a care rather than a helper. She died at Mr. Eaton's in 1800 or 1801, and he was allowed $1.50 for going to Milton to notify her daughter of the mother's death. Some of the poor lived with the same families for years, while others were subject to frequent changes. It was not unusual in early times for the town to compensate individuals for the care of their nearest relatives, and in the last century the selectmen made contracts for such maintenance. One item will illustrate: On May 19, 1748, the town granted a rate of £80 for the poor "forty pounds of it to be payd to John parker as a Gift for his Care of and providing for his Grandmother some years Last past". John did not live to get this money, and four years later the selectmen gave his brother, Jacob, as administrator THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 547 of John, an order for £5, 6s., 8d. "Lawfull money of New= England which is Equeuile nt to Forty pounds old tener that the Town gave unto y« Said John Parker Deceaft as a Gift for taking Care of his Grandmother Some Years". The terms on which the entirely dependent poor were placed at the auction annually held by the selectmen in October or November is illustrated by the following: "The Conditions that those persons who are Supported by the Town of Needham are to be put out for the term of one year from the first day of Nov^ 1800 is as follows Viz* — Said persons are to be put to those persons who will keep them at the lowest terms. — Those that take them are to Support them decently, with food. Clothing &c. and at the expiration of said year to remove them to the place where they are to be kept the year ensuing as well Clothed as they received them (extra Sicknefs to be allowed for) and no pay to be allowed to those persons for keeping the poor after the end of said year except they take them for another year". There were then "put out" four women, three of whom, if not all, were old, and one man. The terms ranged from 2s., 6d. to 6s., 8d. per week, depending upon whether the indigent person was useful about the house or farm. Within the recollection of the writer the insane were kept in the towns, and the Honorable Enos H. Tucker stated that his Grandmother Tucker for years boarded an unfor- tunate woman, whom few could manage, receiving from the town the then high compensation of $5 per week. In 1744 Amos Fuller provided for a child for a year for £5. At the death of a pauper the personal effects were sold at auction by the town, when "sorry" prices were realized, and the de- scriptions of the articles were the reverse of attractive. The expense for liquor at auctions is referred to in the chapter on Temperance, and elsewhere in this book, and as the auction of the poor was held in a tavern its proprietor supplied the drink and brought in a bill. One of the earlier orders of this kind was granted to Ebenezer M<=Intosh in the spring of 548 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 1793 for five shillings "worth of philip he found when the poor of the Town were put out", and is remarkable only for the small sum named for that particular occasion, it often costing several dollars. There are a great number of items in our records relating to supplies for the poor, but a few will suffice to illustrate their character: In 1755 and 1756 a certain man was most destitute, and cost the town a considerable sum. Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., procured a "Coat and Sheet" for him, and Ebenezer Skinner a "Blan- kett and a sheet and a Shirl". Dr. John Allen of Newton brought in a bill of £2, i8s., 8d. for "Attendance and Med- icine", and Dr. Deming of West Needham one for £2, which the town paid, but when he presented another bill for £3, los. the town declined to pay it, and the Doctor was still urging his claim in 1758. In 1761 Seth Wilson boarded a poor woman a year and a half for £7, 8s. In 1771 Josiah Woodward charged the town six shillings "for making a horfe Litter to Remove the wid° ****** and Afsifi:- ing their in altho Difapointed". There are many orders for "Cotton and Lining Cloath for Cloathing", shoes, etc. There are some curious items among the orders for the poor: In 1795 Elman Tolman was allowed six shillings for "Sugar Chocolate Buiscuit for Molly ****** in the year 1793", and in the winter of 1795/6 a poor man was furnished by the town with two barrels of cider at a cost of $2.50 per barrel; presumably the select- men considered cider a necessity, or thought they were applying the Golden Rule. QUESTIONS OF DOMICILE OR SETTLEMENT The legal domicile of persons receiving, or asking, aid from a town was a fertile source of controversies and litiga- tion two centuries ago, as it is to-day, and Needham had its share, sometimes involving considerable expense, and giving the selectmen an opportunity to see something of the world. In 1742 a widow living in Needham, and who THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 549 had been married there in 1728, petitioned the General Court for leave to sell one third of her late husband's real estate, which had been set off to her by the Judge of Pro- bate, although the deceased had left all of his property to Jonathan Townsend and Samuel Smith. She was ordered to serve notice on a man who was an heir-at-law of the testator. General Court Records, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 380 and 410. From 1769 to 1771 Needham had a contest with Southborough as to the settlement of this woman, who had apparently deeded some land to the Town of Needham, presumably as part payment for aid. The case was heard in the Court at Worcester, and in 1771 Southborough was ordered to pay to Needham £19, 9s., 4d., which sum must have been largely expended in travelling, as Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Lieutenant Mackintafh and William Smith, the special committee on behalf of Needham, were not the only citizens whose presence was required at Worcester. Lieutenant Day had investigated the matter at South- borough, and "the Lawer in the affair" was paid twelve shillings, exactly the amount that Benjamin Mills charged for a horse "to Worcefter Laft march". Captain Kingsbery, who presumably had oxen only, obtained William Fuller's horse in order to attend court. The year 1787 saw a con- troversy with Framingham as to the domicile of two fami- lies, one of which, consisting of a man, his wife and five children, had been assisted by Needham. During 1793 and 1794 a similar difficulty required jour- neys to Worcester and Boston, and the payment of £1, IQS. to "Esq. Ward", the town counsel. In addition to visiting other towns to obtain facts it was often necessary to re- move poor persons from one town to another. As early as 1744 the selectmen occasionally secured a bond to protect, or indemnify, the town on account of a poor person, or family, within its borders, and for more than a century instances will be found in the Acts and Re- solves of reimbursement by the State, when it was legally 550 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM responsible for some one who had been assisted by the town. The War of the Revolution brought upon the town the care of the soldiers, and of those they left at home; more- over, the years following the war were not prosperous, and Needham had many Inhabitants who received aid between 1 78 1 and 1800. The writer has before him the long list of the poor of our town from its incorporation to the close of 185 1, and there were very respectable people among them, some of whom had themselves been overseers of the poor when In their prime. In our cemetery there are at least one handsome monument and several gravestones, placed by descendants or relatives, above the remains of persons who died at the Town Farm. In 1789 Robert Fuller was paid for "writing Seven Indentures to bind out poor Children". By these indentures girls remained in the control of the town until they were eighteen years of age. For many years the town had to pay money on account of its citizens who were prisoners in the "Goal" at Dedham, or in the House of Correction in Boston, especially when the im- prisonment was for debt, and the man's release was neces- sary to keep his family "off the town". From 1803 to 1807 the town had an undesirable family occupying George Newell's house, and their foraging was expensive, as they did much damage to Philip Floyd and others, besides burning Nathaniel BuUard's posts and rails; for all of which the town paid. THE POOR-FARM On May 19, 1773, the town rejected a proposition to ob- tain "a work Houfe for the Poor of the Town", and in 1778 twice declined to have "a Houfe for Such of the poor as have no house to live in". Subsequent to 1800 the subject was repeatedly before the town, and on April 7, 1828, Moses Garfield, Major M'=Intosh, General Rice, Benjamin Slack, Esq., Artemas Newell, Esq., EUsha Lyon, Esq., and Capt. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 551 George Smith were appointed a committee "to see how they can purches a farm for a Poor house and report at the adjournment of this meeting". Later in the day the town voted to buy the Emily Kingsbury farm, then owned by John Welles of Boston, and directed Captain Gay, Aaron Smith, Esq., and Artemas Newell, Esq., to receive the deed from Mr. Welles. Thus fifty-five years after the first consideration of the matter, and after several committees had reported upon it, a poor-house was obtained, and the annual placing out of the poor to the lowest bidder ceased in Needham. A committee was named to prescribe rules and regulations for the government of the poor-house, and supplies were purchased for it, and for the farm, during the summer and autumn of 1828; Mrs. Kingsbury was paid $170 for carts and farm implements. At the annual meet- ing in 1830 a committee was appointed to consider buying four acres of land adjoining the poor-farm, and in April Artemas Newell, Esq., Amraphel Smith and Aaron Smith were to report on the cost of the "paupers" for two years. This was the first appearance of the annual committee, consisting of three men, appointed to investigate the condi- tion of affairs at the almshouse, and the committee reported in print from. 1853 to 1858 inclusive. In 1830 the town voted to insure its buildings, and Wil- liam Flagg as agent obtained a policy on the almshouse for which the town paid a premium of $38.38. At the annual meeting in 1832 the town voted to buy a bathing tub "for the use of the town". It was to be kept at the almshouse, and to be under the control of the selectmen, who in January, 1834, drew an order for $10 to pay for it. In 1830 "Alms- house Cells" had been constructed, and iron work was purchased for them. The house was damaged by lightning in 1833. On April 3, 1838, a large committee was chosen to consider building a town house, and to estimate the cost, and on May 7 the town voted to proceed to build, 552 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM choosing Jabez Smith, Dexter Ware and Spencer Fuller a building committee with instructions to consult with the selectmen as to the plan and the location. On No- vember 12 the town met in its new hall, and appointed a large committee to take down the old house, and to remove the outbuildings. The town borrowed $500 to pay for a new piggery and other outbuildings, and the masons, Charles Wilson and Charles Underwood, as well as some of the carpenters, stayed at the house of John Kingsbury, whose bill amounted to $167.03. The new barn was built in 1857 by Timothy N. Smith, who was paid $1047, and in 1874 the town hall was much enlarged by Oliver Pickering, contractor, at a cost of upward of $9000. The first town hall was a part of the almshouse, and can hardly be consid- ered a separate building. When it was completed in 1838 it was placed in the custody of the keeper of the almshouse, subject to the authority of the selectmen, and it was voted that "it may be occupied for public political, and other Civil meetings, that the town provide lamps for the town hall, and those that appoint meetings in said hall are to furnish oil". A year or two later a charge was made for the use of the hall for certain purposes. As late as 1852 there were no settees, or clock, in this hall. Large committees were chosen from time to time to con- sider the management of the poor-farm, and in 1842 there was an article in a warrant to see if the town would rent it, but the "noes" prevailed. The question of selling the town farm was referred to a committee in 1872, who were to consider having an asylum instead, but nothing came of their deliberations, unless it was the lock-up, which was built in 1873 at a cost of about $1000. There had been an attempt to establish lock-ups in the basements of some of the school-houses, but the town wisely declined to have them. The town had early considered buying of Moses Garfield some woodland adjoining the town farm, but apparently purchased neither peat meadow nor woodland till 1845, when THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 553 William Pierce was paid upward of $108.41 for four acres of peat meadow. Later than 1870 peat was more or less used for fuel In Needham, and the peat, cut In long blocks and built up In piles or little towers to dry, was a familiar sight in the meadows. Rates of interest were high, and until 185 1 the town annually paid Mr. Welles $200, some years $300, without reducing the debt. The "Surplus Revenue" had been relied upon to pay for this property, and In 1837 a census was taken In order to show what sum the town might claim from the Federal Government, but there was much delay in getting the money. At the division of the town In 1881 the average number of regular inmates of the poor-house was about twelve, some of whom lived to great age, and each spring their familiar forms appeared seated under a favorite tree. When a certain man went to the almshouse at the age of seventy- two years, he had an opportunity to associate with his father, who had been there for a long time. Many people remember both father and son, who bore the same name, and were the last representatives in Needham of one of its oldest families. Since 1881 a few Individuals, entirely dependent on the town of Needham, have been boarded at this farm, which Is the property of the Town of Wellesley.^ In 1899 the question of establishing a poor-farm was dis- missed by a town meeting, and the arrangement with Wellesley was approved. The average appropriations for the poor have been: — 1782-90 about £62, 1791-1800 $360, 1801-40 $505, 1841-60 $780, 1861-70 $1890, 1871-80 $3263.75, 1881-90 $2385, 1891-1900 $3060, 1901-10 $3750. The selectmen have been annually elected as overseers of the poor the greater part of the time since 171 2. On March 11, 1750/1, three overseers were chosen, and took * In 1910 the Town Farm was discontinued, and the fine estate leased to the Wellesley Country Club. 554 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM the money oath, which fact was carefully recorded for years, and applied to the town officers generally. There does not appear to have been any election of overseers of the poor from the spring of 1761 to March 9, 1778, when Timothy Newell, Samuel Ware and Capt. William Smith were chosen. In 1779 they were chosen by "Hand Votes". There had been five of these overseers in 1757 and in other years. On April 8, 1822, Captain Gay, Artemas Newell, Capt. Elisha Lyon, Calvin Gay and William W. Mann were elected overseers of the poor, and were the first for many years, as distinct from the selectmen. In September they were authorized to draw on the town treasurer "for pauper Expenses". The separate board was not continued, but was revived again in 1845 by the choice of Otis Sawyer, Capt. Reuben Ware and Daniel Hurd, who were to serve without pay. Mr. Sawyer declined and Alvin Fuller, 2d, was elected in his place, but this distinct board was short- lived, and no determined effort has been made to restore it. From 1 76 1 to 1789, inclusive, with the exception of 1781, '82, and possibly other years, three wardens were chosen, whose duty it was to care for the poor.^ The title of Warden, which the managers or keepers of the poor-farm bore in later times, was probably derived from these now forgotten wardens of an earlier period. The Wardens of the Town Farm have been: — Israel Whitney July, 1828-July, 1833, Joseph Newell July, 1833- April, 1834, Daniel Ware April, 1834-April, 1838, John Kingsbury April, 1838-April, 1841, and April, 1845-April, 1846, Jacob Hardon April, 1841-September 14, 1841, Alvin Fuller, 2d, September, 1841-April, 1845, James Smith April, 1846-April, 1851, E. G. Byington April, 1851-1852, Ezekiel Peabody April, 1852-April, 1859, and March, 1873 to the division of the town. Dexter Kingsbury April, 1859- * In 1769 Capt. Caleb Kingsbery had an order for seven shillings ''that you Paid at Bofton to Git a Sitation for Lii Jonathan Day he not being willing to take the Oath of a Warden". THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 555 March, 1867, Benjamin Joy March, 1867-March, 1871, Daniel A. Warner March, 1871-March, 1872, Edward L. Ward March, 1872-March, 1873. The wife of the warden was quite as important as he was, and the salary, which from 1828 to 185 1 was $50 per quarter, was recorded as paid to "Israel Whitney and Wife", and invariably the efficiency of the wife was considered. For some years from 1840 a warden was advertised for when one was wanted. FRENCH NEUTRALS The dark chapter in New England history that tells the story of the forcible expulsion from their homes of the inoffensive French farmers, and their distribution in the British provinces, is reflected in the annals of Needham. The following is quoted from Vol. III., p. 1061 of the Province Laws: — "April 25, 1757. A Petition of Amos Fuller of Needham — Setting forth that there are Twelve of the French Inhabitants of Nova Scotia placed there, and as the Town is very small — Praying that they may be removed elsewhere". The petition recites that whereas there were five of the "Nova Scotia People placed there by the Government in 1756", "the sheriff had sent twelve and one since". In consequence of this petition of Selectman Fuller the General Court ordered five of the French to be removed to Wrentham at the expense of Needham. See General Court Records, Vol. 22, p. 185; also the Province Laws (printed). Vol. IV, p. 97. The bill sent to the General Court by the selectmen shows that Needham had provided for "Thirteen of the Familie of the Lebland^" from December 20, 1757 to February 13, 1758, but at the latter date seven of them were removed to Stoughton; the other six were in Needham to March 15, 1758, and in the care of the town. The account further states "we have Provided for Three a Old Man and his wife and One of his Dafters. Being in a noor State of health to the 20 day day of January 1759". 556 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM "To Houfe Reant £2= 8=0 = To Fire Wood 4 = 10=0 = To Indian Corn and Meal = 34 Bufhill 4 = 11=0 = To Rie & Rie Meall = I Buftiill & half & one Peck = 5 = 11 = 1 To 141 2/ of Salt Poork Cleare of Bone 2 = 16 = 8=0 To 353 3/ of Frefh Poork. at Sundry Prices 4 = 13=2 = 2 To 89 Pounds of Beaf at Sundry Prices = 16 = 5=0 To 124 1/ Pounds of Mutting at 18 pence p. F Pound 1=4 = 10 = 3 To I Bufhill Frofs Fifhe = 1 = 10 = 2 To 35 Pounds of Chease at Sundry Prices = 6=0 = 2 To II Gallon! of milk = 3 : 11 : i To 4 Bufhill & One Pint of Beanes 1 = 1=5=0 To 6 Bufhill & half of Patators = 14 = 1=0 To 6 Bufhill of Turnopts 0=6 = 3 • ^ & half a Peck To Cabbidges = 1=2 = 2 To one Bufhill of Salt = 3=2 = 1 To mouing Seaven of them to Stoughton & the Other Familey Twife in the Town with Mony Expended for Said 0-16 = 4-0 Earos Except'd £25 =0 = 6=0 < Select Men THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 557 Needham Janauery . 20<^. 1759. Amos Fuller Thomas Metcalf Robert Fuller Jun' Eleazer Kingsbery Jun- | j^^^^j^^^ g^j^^,, Archives, Vol. 24, p. 133. An account dated March 20, 1760, and signed by all five of the selectmen, amounted to £21, is., 7d., o., and included "To 36 Gallon of milk 19 4". " Six of the Family of the Leblanc Since the 20*^^ Day of January 1759: To the 20*i» Day of March: 1760; of the Family There is an aged man and his wife near Seventy years of age; and has a Daughter Weekly not able to Labour But Little for her Mantainance". Archives, Vol. 24, p. 284. On January 30, 1761, Samuel Watts of the Committee of the General Court "to alot to every Town in the County of Suffolk There proportion of the late Inhabitants of Nova Scotia Called French Neutures " directed an order to the selectmen of Needham "to take care of " "Francis Liblanc margreet his wife; Peter & Simeon their Sons. & you are hereby directed to Send Sibbel Liblanc to the Selectmen of the Town of Bofton, & Ann Lublanc to the Select men of the Town of Stoughton who are directed to Recive them". On page 459 is another account of the selectmen of Needham, signed by all of them, and dated March 4, 1761, for £20, i6s., 9d. expended for the French Neutrals including "Doc^ William Deming accompt" £3, 8s., 8d. On March 2, 1762, the selectmen granted Dea. Josiah Newell 6s., 5d. which he had paid "for the Support of the old French woman; And also 13-4 for his Finding Ten Yards of Cloath for a Bed Tick for the old French woman in the year Paft". On June 28, 1762, the selectmen gave Alexander Shephard of Newton an order for £1, 6s., 8d. for his house "that our French Nutrals Live in for one Year Paft Ending April 558 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM y« i^, 1762", and on December 28, 1764, he was allowed £1, 2s., lod. for the use of his house in 1763 "for the French Nutrals". "To Liut Robert Fuller for the Matiance of the French Nutrells & for paying Abiel Smith for Buring the Old French man June 29, 1761", £8, i6s., 6d., 2f. (town treasurer). On June 28, 1762, the selectmen had granted the sum named to Mr. Fuller "for his Paying for the Support and Maintainance of the French Nutralls in Said Town; For one Year Past which Said year Ended at March Meeting 1762 Exclufive of the houfe Rent for Said year; And alfo for his Paying Abiel Smith his Charge and Coft for his Buring the ded French Man who Deceaft June y« 29^^, 1761". In 1763 Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery was reimbursed for money "Paid to Support y^ French Neutralls" £6, 3s., 2id., and Alexander Sheppard "for his House for the French to Live in" £2 (treasurer). In 1765 Mr. Shepard received £1, 8s., lod. "for Rent of his Houfe". INDIANS The occasional residence of Maugus and his family at the Upper Falls has been referred to in the opening chapters of this book, but subsequent to the first settlement of the town there appear to have been no Indian inhabitants regularly living within its limits, although there was a colony of negroes, with more or less Indian blood, dwelling along the south shore of Bullard's Pond (Lake Waban), and on what is now the Pond Road. The scanty record of the Indians, who were found from time to time in Needham, is as follows : — On March 5, 1765, the Widow Rachel Warren was granted £2 "for her providing and taking care of an Indian Squaw which happened to fall Sick and Lame in Said town; Named Deborah Jack". The next year Joseph Mackintier was allowed £4, 7s. for boarding this Deborah Brand alias Deborah Jack seventeen weeks and two days, William Brown 13s., 4d. for boarding her in March, 1766, and Josiah Newell, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 559 Esq., twelve shillings for clothing for her "y^ winter paft". Lieut. Amos Fuller was paid one shilling for a warrant to take her to Bridgewater, and Robert Smith, one of the con- stables, £2, 6s., 9d. "for Tranfporting Deborah Jack an Indian woman from Needham to Bridewater". Early in 1766 Capt. John Jones was granted is., 6d. "for his Drawing a petition to the General Court on account of Deborah Brand", and in June, 1767, the town treasurer received £9, 1 8s., 8d. from Josiah Edson "one of the Guardians for y® Indians in Bridgewater", for expenses incurred by the town because of Deborah Brand alias Jack. On March 5, 1766, Joseph Daniell, Jr., was allowed 6s., 8d. "For the Coft and Charge of Buriering an Indian Child which Died at his Father Daniel's in the Year 1765". In the Journal of the Massachusetts House of Repre- sentatives, p. 95, under date of January 5, 1768, is the following: "A Petition of William Deming of Needham, Physician, praying that he may be allowed for Attendance on William Frazer, an Indian, in his last Sickness; and also on his Widow and Children as per Account annexed. Read and committed to the Committee appointed to consider the State of the Indians in the Provence". In July, 1776, Michael Bacon petitioned the General Court stating "That one Alexander Quapifh a Poor Indian Belonging to this State who was taken Sick in the Army Near Cambridge and was Difmifed Came to the Houfe of your Petitioner in Said Needham in a Suffering Condi- tion on the 15*^ Day of November 1775 And Remained there Sick untill the 23^^ Day of March 1776 and then Died, and your Petitioner was at Great Trouble & Charge in Boarding Nurfing, and Burying Said Indian". This petition was endorsed by three selectmen, and accompanied by a bill of £6, 8s. of which eight shillings were for a coffin, and three shillings for "Diging his Grave". Archives, Vol. 214, pp. 57 and 57!. S6o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM WARNINGS OUT OF TOWN Under the First Charter there was legislation as to the entertainment of strangers, and in 1692 to prevent people from gaining a settlement it was necessary for the selectmen to issue an order to a constable, whose duty it was to warn the intruder out of town within three months of the arrival of such a person, and the service of such warning was re- quired to be recorded with the clerk of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace. In 1701 the time was extended to twelve months, and it was the duty of every householder who harbored a stranger for forty days to notify the select- men of that fact under a penalty of £5, but in 1726 the time was reduced to twenty days, and the fine for failure to in- form the selectmen was made forty shillings. By the law of 173 1 the exact date when the stranger arrived in town, and the name of the place from whence he or she came, were essential to a proper notice to the selectmen. On March 6, 171 2/13, the town voted that no person should entertain any one not an inhabitant of the town without the advice of the selectmen, excepting only able-bodied persons, who were in no danger of becoming public charges. Every individual locating in a new place expected to be warned out, and it was no personal reflection. When Dr. Joshua Wheat came to Needham in 1729 to practice medi- cine he was promptly warned out, and in his case the action of the officials was not as absurd as in some other instances, for the Doctor did not prosper. In 1753 Jacob Fullam, the well-known Indian agent, was warned out, and in 1765 Mrs. Eunice Bartlett of Newton, one of our teachers, had a similar experience because she brought her little daughter, Lois, to Needham. In 1766 Ensign Timothy Cheney, a substantial yeoman, who came from Newtown with his family, was warned, and this custom continued to the close of the century. The list of the individuals warned out of town has a value for those interested in family history, as" THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 561 the names of whole families, sometimes their ages, together with other facts, are found in these warnings as recorded by our town clerks, who kept a fairly complete record of them to the time of the Revolution. In 1743/4 Constable William Chub was allowed twenty- four shillings, old tenor, for "warning Divers perfons out of this town and for his Returning SM to y^ Clerk of y* Quarter SelTions", and four years later Dea. Eleazer Kings- bery and Henry Dewing were to have £2, 5s. for going to Boston "to git a warrant to Carry Nicholus Mutter out of Town". This expensive Mutter affair is referred to else- where in this book. In 1772 Constable Josiah Ware had £2 for twenty-eight warnings and recording them, in 1774 Constable Ebenezer Fuller charged eight pence each for thirteen warnings, and Lieutenant Alden at the same rate for forty- two warnings in 1776, or early in 1777. The following is a copy of one of the selectmen's warrants : "Suffolk: fs To Either of the Conftables of the Town of Needham in Said County Greeting You are in the Name of the Commonwealth of Mafsa- chufetts Directed to warn and Give Notice unto the Follow- ing perfons hereafter Mentioned in this warrant who has lately Come into Town for the purpofe of abiding therein not haveing obtained the Towns Confent Therefor, that they Depart the Limets thereof, with their Children or others under their Care if Such they have within fifteen Days, Viz." Then follow the descriptions of eight families, giving the names of the wife and children in each, and stating when and from whence they came to Needham. One of these families was that of Zibeon Hooker, "Gentleman", who had been an officer in the War of the Revolution, and who was in his old age one of the last survivors of the Battle of Bunker Hill. It included his wife, Sarah, and five children, all of whom were from "Sherburn", and arrived in Needham in May, 1792. At the other extremity of the social scale S62 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM was Ceaser Cummlngs, Negro, his wife, "Pafince", and six children, all from Natick in 1789. There was one unattached woman, and four men, including Dr. Ebenezer Star, "Phyfi- tion"; the latter came from Weston in 1791. The warrant concludes: "And of this Precept with Your Doing thereon, you are to make return into the office of the Clerk of the Town within Twenty Days Next Coming, that Such further proceedings may be had in the Premifes as the Law Directs Given under our hands and Seals at Needham aforefaid this Twenty ninth Day of April in the Year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Ninety three Aaron Smith Ju' Silas Alden Selectmen Jofiah Newell • of Jonathan Kingsbery JuF Needham" Robert Smith The fact that so many persons were grouped in one war- rant, and that some were not recent arrivals, indicates the slackness then attending the enforcement of this law, which formerly had been taken more seriously. SAN FRANCISCO RELIEF Independent of the money raised by the Churches for the relief of the sufferers by the earthquake and fire in San Francisco in April, 1906, and of liberal private contribu- tions, there was a public, or town, subscription amounting to $761.50. SMALLPOX AND HOSPITALS On June 2, 1777, the town refused "to Provide a place or places for a Hofpital or Hofpitals for the Small Pox", and instructed their representative. Deacon Fisher, that he "Should Use his Intrft to put a Stop to all y® Hospitals" but on September 8, 1792, voted "to have a Hospital or Hospitals in said Town for the purpose of persons that are Inclined to have the Small pox to Repair to for that purpose THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 563 and to be under proper regulations " "each Docter that shall attend said Hofpitals Should give a bond to the Town Treafi of Fifty pounds to be paid by them for each person they Shall Enoculate before each patient Sign a bond of Ten pounds To said Treaff in Case either of them go out of the Limmits Set by the Selectmen and Said Committee round the Hofpitals they Refpectively belong to" "The Doctors Should have liberty to Enoculate till the First monday in October". Nathan Dewing, Moses Fisk, Colonel Alden, Cornet Joseph Mudg (as he wrote his name), Dr. Samuel Gould and Benjamin Slack were chosen to manage the hospitals. In 1806 the town was at some expense on account of the smallpox, and article 3 of the warrant for September 18, 1809, read "to see if the Town would wish to have the Kine Pock go through the Town", the select- men to "afsist any one if in their judgment they shall think proper". Thanks were voted to the Town of Milton "for their benevolent communication in regard to the Kine Pock", and the following April Drs. Gould and Morrill and David Ayers were chosen to superintend "the inocula- tion with the Cowe Pox". In 181 1 Dr. Gould charged the town seventy-five cents for "Inonclating three persons with the kine Pock". On May 13, 18 16, a committee, con- sisting of one from each school district, was chosen "to manage Communication Gen! Hospital". At the annual meeting in 1833 the selectmen were chosen a committee "to attend to the Inoculation of the kine pox", and in 1836 Capt. Josiah Newell's old house was wanted as a "Hospital for the small Pox", and Dea. Jonathan Newell was induced to move out of it. This was probably the ancient Newell house that stood in the pasture between Charles H. W. Foster's and Central Avenue. This disease was prevalent in the State in 1872 and in 1873, and Needham did not escape, which resulted in the building of a pest-house on the poor- farm, and considerable expense in caring for the sick. Since 1874 this structure has been used for various purposes. 564 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM BOARD OF HEALTH In 1877 the selectmen were chosen as the board of health, but in 1885 a separate board was elected. In 1891 the select- men again became the board of health, and Albert M. Miller, M.D., was appointed "Health Officer", and served four years. Dr. Miller had been a member of the board of health 1885-90. The Institution of human slavery never flourished In Needham, but a few blacks were held in bondage here, as the Church records and Inventories of estates testify. At the time of the War of the American Revolution Capt. William Farls, a Loyalist, and William Bowdoln, Esq., were the only slave holders in town, and were each taxed for one slave. In 1775 "two negro Child-? Belonging to Cap? William Faris named Prince & Silvia" were baptized by the minister of the First Church. The late Horace Mann stated that he found the names of four slaves of Capt. Faris (Farrls) : — Jack, who went to England in 1779, Sylvia, who was sold to Sir Henry Frankland, Terence, who died of the smallpox, and Phebe. Mr. Mann said that the Phebe Included In his list was supported by the Farrls family In her old age. If so, apparently there were two Phebes. In 1789 Eliab Moor was granted £3, 6s. for " Board- ing and Nurfing Phebe Farrls a Black woman", David Hall £1, los. "for a Sheet and hankerchief that Said Phebe was burled in", David Bacon seven shillings for her cofhn, and William Dunton three shillings for digging her grave. She died after a long Illness during which she was attended by Dr. Morrill. Her child was also "on the town" In 1789, and in 1792 Phebe's son was boarded with Jethro Cato, a negro. About 1790 a "Malatto Girl" is referred to in the town records. It does not appear whether Elizabeth Zetor, "Mulatoe", had been a slave or not, but in 177 1 the town bore the expense of her last illness and burial. 566 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM FREE NEGROES In i8oi Boston Fude was a conspicuous negro, or half- breed, whose family is often mentioned in the records, and he ultimately came on the town. His daughter, wife of "prince Cook", got badly burned in 1802, but not fatally, and that year her child died, its coffin costing the town $1.33- Pomp Allen was in Needham as early as 1804, and Cato Boston in 18 16, when the town attempted to rid him of pediculidae. In 1817 "Boston" was "in gaol", but it does not appear whether Boston Fude or Cato Boston was thus imprisoned. Late in 1816 Luther Smith, 2d, for many years the sexton of the West Precinct, buried "Rebeccah Jahaw who died at Primas Kings", and in 18 17 the Sisco family was on the town, including the "wife of Sisco a person of color". Susan Kitteridge and Jenny Kitteridge were also assisted. Jethro Cato died about 1817, or 1818, and his widow Dinah, who lived just at the point where Charles River Street and Pine Street come together, was a ward of the town, and such items as $5 for "repairing Mrs. Dinah's house" are among the selectmen's orders. The old South school-house was east of her dwelling and nearer to it than the school building that was burned on August 18, 1899, and which had been used for social gatherings for some years. Owing to its proximity to Dinah's, this school was called the Dinah School, and after the lapse of a century this name is occasionally heard. It is not quite as serious an offence to speak of the Parker School as the Dinah School as it is to refer to Greendale by its ancient name of Pudding Point, a designation discontinued within thirty years. Dinah's little home finally came into the possession of the town, by authority of the General Court, and a part of the place was sold in 183 1, and the remainder a few years later. Royal Woodward paid $15.25 for the "Dinah Barn" in 1835. The property is referred to in town warrants as the "Dinah Farm". The Coffee family long existed in THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 567 Needham, but by July, 1823, both Ishmael and his wife were dead. There was one Newport Green, who boarded colored people, and he may have been of mixed race. The Natick Indians, which included remnants of several tribes, had by 1750 a considerable infusion of negro blood, and it is probable that Oliver Cromwell, Jethro Cato, and others represented both races. The rather notorious Jupiter Coffee, who had been a slave, intermarried with an Indian, and a citizen of our town, than whom no man was better known twenty-five years ago, was said to be of Coffee and Indian descent. On April 7, 1851, the town adopted a preamble and reso- lutions as to the Fugitive Slave Law, which was not accept- able to Needham, and three years later protested against the "admission of Slavery into territory now free". ^fipsiciang Dr. Joshua Wheat came to Needham in 1729 and lived nearly opposite the northeast end of Longfellow's Pond, on the corner at the termination of Oakland Street. It does not appear that his practice became lucrative. He died March 2, 1762, at Jonathan Huntting's house. Dr. John Allen of Newton, previously referred to, attended the poor in Needham from about 1743 to 1756. In 1768 Dr. "Downna" was granted £1 "for his coming to one time when he Broke his Bones the Laft year"; this presumably refers to Dr. Eliphalet Downer of Newton, who practiced here prior to the Revolution, as did Dr. Nathaniel Ames of Dedham and a Dr. Adams, all of whom were employed by the town. In fact the orders given for attendance upon the town's poor are about the only source of information avail- able as to the doctors who had patients in Needham before 1825. Dr. William Deming, who lived on the east side of what is now Washington Street, north of Wellesley Avenue, in a house which Robert Jennison finished in 1755, was our earliest resident physician with the exception of Dr. Wheat. Dr. Deming practiced in town about thirty-five years, until his death in 1789 at the age of sixty-two years. His grave- stone is in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley. He died of the "great cold" or influenza, during an epidemic. It has been said that the old-school doctors left the care of children en- tirely to the women, and this is true to a great extent, but Dr. Deming was the recipient of quaint orders on account of "Sundry Vifets and Medicens applied" to children who were on the town. Dr. Nathaniel Tolman, whose family THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 569 were of Needham, ministered to the poor of the town before 1775, and from 1774 to 1792 Dr. Josiah Starr of Weston attended them at times. In 178 1 Dr. WiUiam Ward, and in 1783 Dr. John King, the latter of "Newtown," were employed by the town. In May, 1791, Dr. Isaac Morrill of Natick, who became a citizen of Needham in 1797 by the change in the boundary, had been "Doctering" the town's poor for some years. He was one of our earliest resident doctors, and lived to be ninety-one years old, dying May 5, 1839. He presented to his successor. Dr. Noyes, some ancient and unpleasant-looking surgical instruments, samples of which have been presented to the Dover Historical Society by Mr. Ward N. Hunt. Dr. Morrill lived on Wash- ington Street in a house now owned by the Hunnewell family. Dr. Timothy Fuller was born in East Needham, and lived there, presumably practicing his profession, but he died January 12, 1799, at the early age of thirty-three years. There are selectmen's orders in his favor on account of attendance on the poor. He studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Willard of Uxbridge. In 1792 Dr. Peter Fisk of West Needham, who long practiced in Needham, was em- ployed by the town at £2, 2s. per year to treat the poor, but Daniel Breding, who does not have the title of Doctor in our records, was also paid for medical services. Dr. Fisk removed to Warwick and died there. Dr. Ebenezer Starr, a son of Dr. Josiah Starr, came to town in 1791, but removed to Newton Lower Falls, where he was in practice about forty years to his death August 24, 1830. He occa- sionally had a bill against the Town of Needham, and pre- sumably had patients there other than the poor. Dr. Samuel Adams, M.B. 1794, M.D. 1802, Harvard, is said to have settled in East Needham, but removed to Boston, and thence to Cincinnati, where he died in 1845, aged seventy-four years. Dr. Samuel Gould came to town about 1800, and lived on the north corner of what is now Highland Avenue and Rosemary Street. He practiced medicine, and his name 570 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM occurs among those whose services were availed of by the town. Until into the nineteenth century bleeding was a favorite prescription, and Dr. Gould resorted to it after Dr. Noyes came to town in 1825. Dr. Gould removed to Dedham between May i, 1828, and May, 1832. All of our earlier doctors were more or less in public office. Dr. Mor- rill served as a tythingman in 181 1, '13, '15, '18, and as fence viewer in 18 16. Dr. Gould appears to have been more prominent as a school-master and town officer than as a physician. In addition to payments to doctors resident in towns as distant as Boston and Cambridge, for Needham was some- times responsible for persons who had removed from town, but had not acquired other settlements, there were orders from 1795 to 1820 in favor of the following physicians living in near by towns: — Drs. George Caryl of Dover, Jesse Wheaton of Dedham, Asa Adams, Aaron(,?) Wight of Med- way.? earlier of Medfield, Aaron Hill, Marshall (?) Spring of Watertown?, Benjamin Waterhouse of Cambridge, John Ball Kitteridge (Kittredge) of Framingham, William Stone, Daniel Swan of Medford, Alexander Thayer of Boston(.?), Jeremy Stimson of Dedham and Samuel Flanders. From 1821 to 1850 the local doctors, particularly Dr. Noyes, at- tended the poor, but the names of the following out of town practitioners occur: — Drs. Moore, Stephen H. Spaulding of Newton Upper Falls 1 841-3, Henry Starr, Simeon Burt Carpenter, successor of Dr. Ebenezer Starr at Newton Lower Falls, and later at Dedham many years, Ezra Nichols of Newton, who set a broken leg, E. L. Warren, surgeon, and Tappan Eustis Francis of Brookline, surgeon. Dr. Francis located at Newton Lower Falls in 1848, and was there about three years. Edward Warren was a physician at Newton Lower Falls from 1840 to 1857. Dr. Josiah Noyes came to Needham in 1825 and practiced there till his death in 1871. A sketch of his life will be found later in this book. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 571 Dr. Albert Dexter Kingsbury, M.D. Georgetown Uni- versity, D. C, 1869, succeeded Dr. Noyes, so far as East Needham was concerned, coming to town about the time of the latter's decease. Dr. Kingsbury has had an extensive practice, and has been prominent in the affairs of the town and of the EvangeHcal Congregational Church. He has been commander of Galen Orr Post G. A. R. Kingsbury Block bears his name, and he is the owner of other property in the business section. During the years 1894-9 he was away from town, and in 1894 and 1895 Dr. Frank P. Hudnut occupied his house, and in a measure had his practice. Dr. Osman H. Hubbard took Dr. Hudnut's place from 1895 to 1898, and remained in town a year or so after Dr. Kingsbury's return. Dr. Henry Tucker Mansfield, M.D. Harvard 1869, has been a highly respected citizen of Needham, and an able and faithful physician in that town for nearly forty years. He has been the town doctor for many years, and is esteemed by all for his kindness of heart and genial manners. He also is a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the navy. Dr. Albert Ebur Miller, M.D. University of Pennsyl- vania, acquired real estate interests here in the seventies, and became a citizen of this town in 1876, and for consider- ably more than thirty years has practiced medicine here, at the same time continuing his office in Boston. Dr. Miller is one of the most prominent residents of the town, and his wife, Mrs. Vesta Delphine Miller, was a greatly beloved physician, of whom some account will be found in the chap- ter devoted to Temperance. Dr. Albert Monroe Miller, M.D. Dartmouth 1882, is a nephew of Dr. A. E. Miller, and has practiced in this town and vicinity since his graduation, also serving as agent of the board of health, as a town physi- cian, and at the present time as a medical inspector of the schools. Dr. James Henry Grant, M.D. Bowdoin 1856, was for many years a noted doctor at Newton Upper Falls, and came 572 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM to Needham to pass his declining years, but occasionally attended a patient, some of the older people preferring him. He was a doctor of the old school, a familiar figure on our streets, and recognized as a sturdy champion of good govern- ment. He impressed the writer as a rugged character, large in body and mind. He died December 24, 1900. Dr. William Mitchell of Needham Heights, M.D. McGill College and University, came to town in 1898 or 1899, and is an able and successful physician. Dr. Charles Wood Pease, M.D. Dartmouth 1899, is one of the younger doctors in town, and practiced here for some time before removing to Merrimac. He returned to Needham in 1904, or early in 1905, and resumed his practice in this locality. Since 1900 Dr. Merton K. Cole has practiced here as an osteopathic physician, and for a number of years lived in town. Dr. J. Walter Schirmer, a young homeopathic prac- titioner, located in Needham in 1909, or 1910, and is a fine musician in addition to professional accomplishments. He received the degree of M.D. from Boston University in 1908, and did post-graduate work at the University of Vienna in 1909. He is instructor in sanitary science at the Boston University School of Medicine, and assistant ortho- paedic surgeon at the Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital. Isaac Hills Hazelton, who was born May 17, 1838, ap- pears to have been the only physician resident in what is now Wellesley in the early seventies. He graduated at the Medical School of Harvard University in 1861. Under date of June 7, 1909, Dr. Hazelton wrote: "I came to Grantville (now Wellesley Hills) August, 1872. At that time Dr. Townsend, of South Natick, and Dr. Lord of Newton Lower Falls had the greater part of the practice in these parts. Dr. Townsend had been in S. Natick many years having the best of the work to do. Before Dr. Lord went to Newton Lower Falls there were two physicians there, Dr. Warren and Dr. Perkins, who must have been in practice in 1850." "I was an Assistant Surgeon in the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 573 regular Navy 1861-5: think I served longer than any man in town, full four years." "Am Companion In the Loyal Legion." "The house I now live in was built before the Revolutionary War as two men lived here who went to Concord ". The doctors referred to by Dr. Hazelton were Dr. George J. Townsend, who for years came to West Needham daily, often several times In a day, and Dr. Friend D. Lord, who died December 8, 1883, in his sixty-second year. Uranus Owen Brackett Wingate, M.D. Dartmouth 1875, located In what Is now the Town of Wellesley in 1875, and practiced there till 1886, when he went to Milwaukee, where he has been a professor in the Wisconsin College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, and a well-known writer on medical topics. When sixteen years old he entered the Union Army and was with General William T. Sherman. About 1876 Dr. George H. Hackett came to the West part of the town, but does not appear to have remained there more than a year or two. DOCTOR JOSIAH NOYES Josiah Noyes was born in Acton, Mass., October 8, 1801, and in childhood removed with his family to Westmore- land, N. H. In 1825 he received the degree of M.D. from Dartmouth College, and that year went to Needham to visit his uncle, the Rev. Thomas Noyes, then minister of the West Church there. It was late In the evening when Josiah reached Needham Centre, and he accepted an in- vitation to pass the night at the house of Major Ebenezer M'=Intosh. This house had been built by the Major in 1822, and was purchased by Dr. Noyes In 1835, and was his home during the rest of his life. The estate consisted of two acres, with barn, ox-shed and other outbuildings, and joins the home of the writer, who was the Doctor's next neighbor on the north. Young Noyes was so favorably impressed with Needham that he decided to remain, teach- 574 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM ing school and practicing medicine. For some years he boarded at a house that stood close to the Charles River, on the easterly side of South Street, in Charles River Vil- lage. On November 12, 1834, he removed to the Centre of the town, and December 19, 1835, he was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of David and Nancy (Cutting) Hunt of Boylston. Mrs. Noyes was born in Boylston, September 5, 1815, and died in Needham, September 21, 1902. She came to Needham in 183 1 to attend the private school, or academy, of the Rev. Daniel Kimball, and was highly re- spected by successive generations. Dr. Noyes was a founder of the Needham Temperance Society, and was active in the temperance cause throughout the County. He was no less prominent in the lyceums, and was well known as a lecturer on scientific topics. For sixteen years, 1828-34, '36-44, inclusive, he was a useful member of the Superin- tending School Committee. His interest in everything of a scientific character was unfailing, but in botany he ex- celled, and the manuscript volumes, which contain speci- mens with his notes, his "herbarium," as he called them, have been consulted in recent years by expert botanists, who say that the books are of great value. It has been said that Dr. Noyes was invited to give twelve lectures on Comparative Botany in the Lowell In- stitute courses, and was to receive $1200 as compensation, a large sum in the eyes of a country doctor, but that he was too modest in estimating his own abilities, and declined the tempting offer. He had some skill as a surveyor, and assisted materially in the preparation of the 183 1 map of the town. He played the violoncello in the Church, and had a small organ at his house, which afforded him much pleas- ure; he was also a singer. His diary, 1825-36, has been of service to local antiquaries, and his note-books show his scholarly interests, as do his astronomical and other charts, which were made with skill and much patient labor. He kept an elaborate record of the weather, of the coming of THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 575 the birds, of the appearance of the flowers, described his practice, and told of the journeys that he made to West- moreland, N. H., to visit his relatives. It is to be re- gretted that his journal subsequent to 1836 has not been preserved. He was prominent in the Masonic fraternity, a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Pil- grim Society, and doubtless of other organizations. In 1857 he and his wife were among the original members of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Needham. He was a strong Jeffersonian, and his support of President Jackson was offensive to some persons, including his wife's family. Dr. Noyes had a large practice, and was greatly beloved. He furnished the medicines, and until late in life his fee was fifty cents in the daytime, and seventy-five cents in the night, but his carelessness as a collector was proverbial, and he was sadly imposed upon. In many instances there was no disposition shown to pay him his modest bills, and his administrator could obtain only $1700 out of ^7000 charged. Much of it was outlawed, and considerable sums were offset by fictitious claims; a familiar trick in the older Needham, when the creditor was dead. Many anecdotes are still told of the Doctor, who was of the "old school", although in some respects ahead of his time, and the writer can recall the venerable white horse and the chaise that made their daily rounds. The Doctor died after a brief illness January 6, 1871, and his grave is marked by a monument erected by the people whom he served so faithfully for three generations. The picture of the Doctor's house was contributed by his brother-in-law, Mr. Ward Nicholas Hunt, but lacks the long shed on the east end of the dwelling, and the ox-barn, which was at right angles with the other barn, and between it and the well-curb. Both of these buildings were taken away within a few years of the Doctor's death. Noyes Street is named in memory of Dr. Noyes. Jf ire JSepartment For many decades a fire Involved the town in expense for "spirit and Sugar", or for rum, and our records mention the fires, such as that "in Needham woods May y^ 5*'» 1826" in connection with Hquor bills, and as incidental to them. In 1829, or early in 1830, there were fires at the Rev. Mr. Ritchie's house, now owned by Augustus W. Newell, at William A. Kingsbury's, at Nathan Macintosh's and at Amraphel Smith's, all in East Needham, and these fires appear to have been quenched, in part, with liquor. On April 3, 1838, the town voted to "exempt the Engine men from a Poll tax", and late in 1840 to "furnish a hose Carriage for the Use of the Engine Company at the Lower falls", the cost not to exceed $35. In 1843 the town ap- pointed a committee to raise money by subscription for a new engine for the Lower Falls, although the majority of the members of the fire-company there were Newton men, and the apparatus was kept on their side of the river. This committee, which consisted of Colonel Rice, William Flagg, Lyman Greenwood, Galen Orr, Elisha Lyon and Richard Boynton, was also to consider the question of fire protec- tion at the Upper Falls, where there was also an engine-com- pany. They reported, and in 1844 the town appropriated $150 for fire-engines: — Lower Falls $60, East Needham $60 and the Upper Falls $30. The town treasurer paid $35 for the Lower Falls hose-carriage to the "Treasurer of Engine Company Number i ". It had been customary for the town to pay for the refreshments for local and out- of-town firemen when doing duty in Needham, and in 1840 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 577 Francis Keyes was paid $1.50 for services in Engine Com- pany Number 2, Upper Falls, and in the forties $25 per year, or more, were regularly paid to Nathaniel Wales, Jr., and other members of Cataract Engine Company Number I, at the Lower Falls. In 185 1 the town paid $70 to E. C. Jenkins, Francis Boyd, J. B. Martin, P. Frost, Jr., G. W. Moulton, Oliver Morse, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., Elijah Si- monds, Charles Rice, Jr., Willard Hurd, George K. Daniell, George Spring, John Appleton and John J. Ware for ser- vices in Cataract Engine Company for the year ending April I, 1 85 1. In 1850 $70 had been paid to Nathaniel Wales, Jr., and to others, not naming them, as enginemen of Number i. In 1849 Josiah Eaton and others were paid $9 for serving a year in Engine Company Number 4, Upper Falls, and in 1850 Henry E. Burton and others had $45 for serving as enginemen in this company for one year. These payments were the result of a vote passed in 1849 to pay the "Engine men" $5 each. In 1857 the selectmen were directed to buy five hundred feet of hose, which was to be kept at the Lower Falls. By a vote of the town in 1870 the number of "Engine- men" at the Upper and Lower Falls was to be limited to thirty-five, viz., thirty-one firemen and four hosemen; the firemen were to receive $10 per year, each, and the hose- men $15. That year Charles S. Morse was paid $270 for the services of twenty-one firemen and four hosemen of Cataract Engine Number i, and S. H. Potter $80 for five firemen and two hosemen of Mechanics Engine. Exactly the same amount was paid to the same number of men in 1 87 1, and until the close of 1876 these payments were con- tinued, amounting in 1874 to $296.28 for Cataract Engine Company and $123.42 for Mechanics Engine Company, the total expenditure on account of fires exceeding the customary appropriation of $500, which was increased to $750 in 1875, but again reduced to $500 in 1876. From 1877 578 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM to the division of the town in 1881 the engine-companies were paid for special services only, which in some years reduced the cost of extinguishing fires below $100, and in 1880 the grant was decreased from $500 to $200. The pay- ments for the engine-companies were made to W. R. Dimond in 1875. There were no fire officials in Needham until March 4, 1833, when the town chose George W. Hoogs, William Flagg, William Pierce, Davis C. Mills, Tyler Pettee and Dea. Elisha Lyon as firewards. Prior to that date the fire depart- ment included practically all the men and boys in the town, some of whom were provided with fire-buckets and canvas bags; the latter for the removal of smaller articles, including babies, from burning buildings. In 1880 there were twelve firewards, and of these Bill Burrill, 2d, had served twenty- six years, and was a familiar figure at fires, where he some- times roped off the burning premises, to keep people from danger, which, however, he never shunned himself, and always issued many orders, particularly to the boys. From 1872 to 1884 the firewards were appointed by the select- men, and in 1885 the latter were authorized to choose a board of five "Fire Engineers", in place of the firewards, and these engineers were also the only forest firewards until 1904, when the selectmen named four of the engineers and two other citizens as "Forest Firewards." In their report for 1874 the selectmen advised the construction of reservoirs at Grantville, Wellesley and Needham, the purchase of hand-engines for the two latter places, and fire-buckets and ladders for all three, and also for Highland- ville. The subject was referred to a committee consisting of Edgar H. Bowers, John M. Harris, John Mansfield, Mark Lee, Joseph E. Fiske and the firewards at the Upper and Lower Falls. The town then owned hose at the Lower Falls, perhaps the same that was purchased in 1857, and in 1875 voted $500 to renew it, and provided twelve badges for the firewards at a cost of $21.25. ^^ 1876 the special THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 579 appropriation of $500 had been expended for four hundred feet of number one hose, and fifteen Johnson pumps which were obtained from the National Manufacturing Company for $99.50. In 1877 a hose-carriage with axes was bought from the City of Newton. For many years the following out-of-town companies did duty in Needham: — Cataract Engine Number i, Eliot Engine Number I, Mechanics Engine, all of Newton, and occasionally one of the Natick companies. At the fire at Eaton & Moulton's machine shop in 1853, besides Cataract Engine Number i, there were present Engine Company Number 5 of Newton Corner, Number 6 of Newton Centre, Number 3 of Waltham, and Number 7 of Brighton. In 1882 the town chose a committee to consider the whole question of protection from fire, and as a result twenty Johnson pumps, six blankets, one hundred feet of hose, and a hook and ladder truck, the latter costing $760, were pur- chased. The next year the equipment was increased by two, or more, ladders, and two dozen fire-buckets, and in 1884 the fire-engine Niagara, built in 1843, and still pre- served as a curiosity, was bought from the town of Hing- ham for $250. The engine Independence Number 2 and a hose-wagon were obtained from the town of Randolph for $350. Niagara was a prominent feature in the Bicen- tennial pageant in 191 1. In 1885 the engine-house at what is now Needham Heights and also the one on Chest- nut Street were built by Henry S. Locke, contractor, for $3000, on land acquired for the purpose. On March 4, 1889, $900 were appropriated for a fire-alarm system, and that year the bells of the First Church and of the Methodist Episcopal Church were made alarm-bells, boxes were placed at the engine-houses, and one at the junction of Nehoiden and Rosemary Streets; the latter was box 46. The first fire-alarm was rung on Fast Day 1890, from box 28, the Great Plain engine-house, by Henry Derby Rodgers, who was the first superintendent and organizer of our 58o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM fire-alarm system, and who served until he resigned on May I, 1895. He had much enthusiasm for the fire depart- ment, and with little or no compensation rendered valuable service. Although Mr. Rodgers had an exacting occupation in Boston, he was usually one of the first to report for duty when there was a fire, and was an energetic and efficient fireman. The town had fifty miles of fire-alarm wires in 1905, and the system has since been perfected. In 1910 $1300 were appropriated for an automatic repeater, which at some additional expense was installed in the assessors' ofiice. In 1890 a hook and ladder company was formed and the department included upward of ninety men. The engine- companies continued to be Niagara Number i, at the Great Plain, and Independent Number 2, at Highlandville, but, as the result of the introduction of town water, both were disbanded on January i, 1891, and two hose-companies took their places. For the latter two hose-wagons were bought for $711, and two thousand feet of hose for $1250, increasing the quantity of hose owned by the town to three thousand feet. In 1905 the department consisted of a hook and ladder company and a hose-company of ten men each at the Great Plain, a hose-company of ten at Highlandville, one of four, which had been formed in July, 1893, at the Upper Falls, and another of five men at Greendale. The last mentioned was organized in 1900, and provided with a reel and five hundred feet of hose. In 1905 the town bought a combina- tion wagon, carrying both hydrant and chemical hose, a ladder, two pony extinguishers, and various implements, together with a chemical tank. This wagon cost $1200, and was located at Station Number 2. In 1907 the town paid $1800 for a similar wagon for Station i. On January i, 1908, Combination Company Number i took the place of Hose Company Number i, at the Great Plain, and on March 24 Hose Company Number i was THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 581 re-established at Charles River Village, the apparatus having been transferred from the Great Plain. Since 1 88 1 the town has owned no horse except one pur- chased in 1905 for the use of the Water Department, and the horses for the fire service have been hired. In 1901 a Firemen's Relief Association was formed in the department for mutual assistance in case of disability from illness or accident resulting from the duties of the service. The appropriation for the Fire Department was $1625 in 1890, $2075 in 1895, $2206 in 1900, and $3806 in 1910, besides $4000 for hydrant service and $1800 for the improve- ment of the fire-alarm system. A large sum for hydrant service, in addition to the amounts named, has been annu- ally granted since the introduction of water. The Needham Fire Department was efficient even in the days of small resources, and had some hard battles with the devouring element. The courage and good judgment shown at such fires as that which destroyed the Odd Fellows Building in 1887, and endangered the business section, deservedly called forth the highest praise.^ The Chief Engineers have been: — Thomas James Cross- man, 1885 (resigned), Henry Augustus Kingsbury, 1885, 1894-1908, George Adams, 1886-90 (five years), John Henry Whittemore, 1891-3 (three years), Henry Howard Upham, 1908- . * At midnight of May 12, 1887, as the latest train from Boston stopped at Needham, fire was seen issuing from the basement of the Odd Fellows Building, and the engineer gave the alarm by the whistling of the locomotive. The firemen saved the rest of the business section, but the Odd Fellows Building was entirely destroyed. In addition to a number of stores and offices, the building contained the Needham Chronicle printing plant, and the library of the Needham Library Association. A considerable number of valuable books from the private library of the Rev. Solon W. Bush had been received within a day or two, and were still in the cases in which they came. The loss of this gift from Mr. Bush was especially regretted, and also the destruction of the reprints of the town records from 171 1 to 1720, which perished with the Chronicle office. 582 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM TOWN WATER In 1799 Ephraim Jackson of Needham, "Miller", gave a bond of $200 to Simon Elliot of Boston, Esquire, that in consideration of $50 he would "convey from a certain Spring situate in a meadow, owned by me the said Ephraim, which lies on the south side of Charles River adjoining the Estate of Benjamin Slack & South of the fulling mill in said Water in pitch pine logs of a bore of two inches, a crofs the River to the Island, now owned by one John Ware". This somewhat lengthy instrument, among other privileges, grants a "perfect right title & enjoyment in & to the said spring with the waters therein to his & their sole use, benefit & behoof forever", and the grantee may enter on the land of the grantor to repair the works which were to be "done & finished" before October i, 1800. Early in 1887 the question of a water supply was con- sidered important, and in July $500 were voted for the use of a committee, which consisted of Dr. Albert E. Miller, C. Atherton Hicks, Thomas Frederick Peabody, James E. Cahill and William Carter. This committee had been chosen in March to investigate the sources and means of obtaining water. In December Mr. Hicks read an elaborate report on the subject, which was accepted, and Dr. A. E. Miller, T. F. Peabody, William Carter, Everett J. Eaton and Edgar H. Bowers were chosen to petition the General Court for an enabling Act. The Act was approved on March 8, 1888, and Needham was authorized to issue bonds to the amount of $75,000, to meet the expense of the intro- duction of water. This authority to issue bonds was ex- tended by $30,000 in 1891, and by subsequent Acts to $280,000. By an Act approved on March 24, 1888, the Town of Wellesley had been empowered to furnish Needham with water, and on April 26, 1890, a similar privilege was granted to the City of Newton, but neither of these Acts THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 583 has been availed of beyond supplying the Hotel Wellesley and estates on Grove Street, through which street Welles- ley extended its mains in 1888. The first attempts to obtain a two thirds vote in favor of town water were failures, although the meetings were largely attended, and there was much excitement, but on November 7, 1889, it was carried by a vote of 322 to 144. The first water commissioners were elected on December 3, 1889, and before the end of 1890 the more densely populated portions of the town were supplied with water of the best quality from the Colburn Spring. The mains were extended until in 1905 practically the entire community had the town water. In October, 1897, the town took action to secure the "permanent preservation of the purity of its water supply", and the following year the water reservation of fifteen acres was increased to seventy-three and one half acres by the purchase of the balance of the Colburn farm. Well Number 2 was made in 1900, and cost over $5000. In 1902 the Hicks Spring was added with seven acres of land at an expense of about $2600. The basin near the pumping station dates from 1903, and covers seven acres. It has a capacity of nine million gallons, and has a core wall, gate-house and two bridges; water was let into it from the Hicks Spring on November 18, 1903. Lewis E. Hawes, who has been the town's engineer from the beginning of the water system, superintended the construction of this basin. About 1825 the land now forming the town's water reservation was owned by Mr. Dunton, who had a narrow strip containing ten acres, and extending from Blind Lane (Green Street) to the Boulevard, and by George Kingsbury, known as "Nighthawk", who lived where the Glancys do, near the Causeway, and who owned the swamp of forty acres. After the old roadside drinking-places were destroyed the town apparently did nothing to replace them until 1875, when four watering-troughs were established. In 1891 584 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM three drinking-fountains for animals were provided, and a year later cups were attached to these fountains. In 1 891 less than ten million gallons of water were pumped, but in a dozen years the quantity exceeded one hundred million gallons annually. In 1910 more than one hundred and twenty-one million gallons were pumped. The pumping station is on about an acre of land purchased of Dr. Elbridge G. Leach, and the stand-pipe is on Ryan's Hill, nearly a mile to the northeast of the station. The Water Commissioners have been: — John Moseley, 1889-92. John Manlove Hodge, 1889-July 8, 1899 (re- signed). James Mackintosh, 1890 (chosen January 29, vice James Wentworth Brown, who had declined to serve) -5 (six years); chairman the entire time. George Albert Adams, 1893-6 (resigned). Edmund George Pond, 1896- 1901, '04- , chairman 1896-8, '01, '05, '08, '09, '11. Frederic Gould Tuttle, 1896-Oct. 22, 1903, chairman 1899, 1900, '03. George Henry Toone, 1900- , chairman 1902, '06. William Carter, 1902- , chairman Oct. 28, 1903, '04, '07, '10. Superintendents: — John M. Hodge, 1890, '91, Joseph W. Leonard, Jan. i, 1892-June i, 1893, George A. Adams, June I, 1893- . Engineers: — John M. Hodge, i89a-August, 1895, Charles H. Mitchell, August, 1895- . STREET LIGHTS On March 13, 1871, the town dismissed article 16, which was to see if the town would light certain streets by gas. In 1874 the town expended $150 on account of forty-six street lights maintained by the Grantville Street Light Com- pany, and four lights cared for by residents of East Needham. The next year there was but one, possibly two, street lamps in the latter section, although $450 were appropriated for street lights, and in 1878 most of the one hundred and seventy-nine lamps were in the West. In 1881 the General THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 585 Court authorized the Newton and Watertown Gas Light Company to lay and maintain pipes in Weston and Need- ham, but East Needham derived no benefit from this Act. The effort to introduce street lights Is said to have origi- nated with the Needham Improvement Society, and in 1883 James Mackintosh raised by subscription about $1320, with which eighty-eight street lamps, with posts, were obtained, and the town voted to care for them. In 1888 there were one hundred and eight lamps, and kerosene was used; in 1893 the number of lamps was one hundred and twenty-seven. In 1885 the appropriation for their maintenance was $800. Henry D. Rodgers was active in securing and establishing these lights, and is said to have cared for and lighted some of the earlier lamps for a week, without pay, and in addition to his regular occupation, which required many hours each day. On March 7, 1892, and again on May 31, of that year, the town accepted by large majorities Chapter 370, of the Acts of 1891, which authorized towns and cities to es- tablish and own lighting plants, and public opinion In Need- ham was then strongly against contracting with a com- pany or corporation. In furtherance of this view $10,000 were appropriated on June 23, 1893, bonds running for thirty years to be Issued. The selectmen were to be com- missioners of the sinking fund, and were to establish an electric lighting system, but on September 15 they were instructed by the town to contract with the Eliot Falls Electric Light Company for the current. At the latter meeting an additional issue of bonds for thirty years, amount- ing to $3500, was voted. There were to be three hundred lights, for which the town was to pay $175.85 per month. At the town meeting on March 20, 1893, the selectmen had reported that the cost of nineteen miles of poles and wires would be $11,021, but the actual expense amounted to about $14,000, met by the "Electric Light Loan". The last of these bonds matured In 1924, but were extinguished S86 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM at a much earlier date, together with the School Fund. The Hawes Electric Company installed the poles and wires. The Natick Gas and Electric Company succeeded the Eliot Falls Electric Light Company, and In 1898 the con- tract with the former was renewed for five years, but in 1899 it was sublet to the Greendale Chemical and Electric Lighting Company, which in 1903 transferred its rights to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. The price per light was then to be $10 annually. In February, 1908, the select- men and a committee of the town sold the poles and wires to the last-named company for $11,000, and made a con- tract with that company for twenty years, current and material to be furnished to the town at $12 for each street light per year, and all of the expense of maintenance to be assumed by the company. This contract went into effect on September i, 1908. The street lighting plant was re- peatedly extended prior to 1908, and the annual cost doubled in ten years. In 1910 $8000 were appropriated for lighting the streets. In March, 1902, the town voted to light the dials of the clock on the Baptist Church, and a few years later a light was also established in the cupola of the town hall, which illuminated the town clock and served as a beacon seen for a long distance. About 1903 a Gas Lighting Company was formed In Needham, but without result. TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES The first reference in the town records to a telegraph line is the vote of March 16, 1868, directing the selectmen to give a hearing on the petition of the Franklin Telegraphic Company, with notice to all persons who may be interested in the kind, height and location of the "Posts". The later history of the location of hundreds of telegraph and telephone poles in Needham, with the consequent dis- figurement of the landscape, roadsides and trees, is similar to that of other towns. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 587 PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS The Common on the Great Plain contains 65,135 square feet of land, and was purchased In 1884 of George P. Davis for $2850. In Its eastern corner there was a fine, large natural basin, similar to the one on the estate now owned by Charles D. Burrage. This basin was used as a dump in the eighties, and was finally filled, such features not being appreciated in those days. The town hall covers a portion of the site of it. The Common at Needham Heights con- tains 18,096 square feet, and was bought in 1884 of Isaac T. Burr for $650. It has been made beautiful by the local Improvement Society, with the assistance of individuals. The triangle known as Dedham Avenue Park was given to the town by individuals, and accepted by vote on March 3, 1890. In 1897 three Custodians of Public Grounds were chosen, and in March, 1898, it was voted to elect three Park Commissioners in 1899. On March 7, 1904, four and one half acres bought In 1871 of James Wallace Black were declared a park. This land is on South Street, near Green Street, and was originally acquired for the gravel. In 1907 the town owned three gravel pits : — Alden, on Webster Street, Richardson, near Rosemary Brook on the east side of Central Avenue, north of West Street, and the Ireland land on the Great Plain, north of the terminus of Pickering Street. The Thorpe Memorial Park was presented to the town by Joseph B. Thorpe in a letter dated February 11, 191 1, and is in memory of his daughter, Sarah Bessie Thorpe, who died in Berlin, Prussia, January 13, 1908, while a student there. The gift was accepted by the town on March 6th. It is bounded by Hunnewell, Webster and West Streets. From 1902 the citizens have annually been assessed on account of the Metropolitan Park system, although they derive but little direct benefit from the reservations. For some years the amount was about $1600, but in 1907 it was $2000, and has since increased. In connection with 588 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM this park system Needham was assessed $37.78 in 1906 for the Wellington Avenue Bridge, which is north of Boston. The Commonwealth allows $50 per mile each year for the repair of State roads, and the excess of this expended in any town is assessed upon it. Needham has annually had a small sum from this source in its tax levy, but it has never yet exceeded $50 in any one year. In 1910 $350 were ap- propriated for the care of the parks. MASONIC Among Dr. Noyes's papers was an undated list of the Needham Masons, apparently written in the thirties. The Masons then were: — Jonathan Ellis, Jonathan Newell, George W. Johnson, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Lemuel Lyon, Moses Mann, John Tolman, Paul Dewing, Asa Kingsbery, Daniel Kingsbery, Ebenezer M'^Intosh, Rufus Mills, Is- rael Whitney, Jabez Morse, William A. Kingsbury, William Eaton, Jr., Royal M°Intosh, Charles Rice, Otis Jennings, Leonard Kingsbury, Timothy Bullard, Timothy Wood- cock, Luther Smith, James Smith, Luther Ware, Daniel Ware, Alvin Fuller, Peter Lyon, Esq., George W. Hoogs, Stephen Hurd, (illegible) Lyon, Henry Bartlett, Isaac Felton, John M^Farland, Ellis Stedman, Thomas P. Weston, Nathaniel Craft, Tyler Pettee, John Kingsbury, Richard Boynton and Ebenezer Fuller. Most of these men, perhaps all of them, were members of Meridian Lodge, which met in Sargent's Tavern, and which later removed to Natick. NORFOLK LODGE Norfolk Lodge is named for Thomas Howard, Eighth Duke of Norfolk, who was Grand Master of the English Masons in 1730 and 173 1, and one of the few Masons of this Catholic house. This lodge includes most of the promi- nent citizens of Needham, and has an important part in the life of the town. The history of its origin is as follows: — On the evening of April 6, 1874, a number of Masons resid- ing in Needham met together to take the necessary steps S90 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM for the formation of a lodge, and a petition was sent to the Grand Lodge, upon which a dispensation was granted in the organization of a lodge, and officers were appointed, Emery Grover being named as Master. The first regular communication was held in Odd Fellows Hall, in Parker Hall, on Monday evening. May 25, 1874. The lodge con- tinued to hold regular communications for a year, and on July I, 1875, a special communication was called for the purpose of receiving the charter, and in order to be formally constituted. On this occasion Grand Master Perclval Lowell Everett and other officers and members of the Grand Lodge were present, and the charter has the date of May 18, 1874, and bears twenty-eight names, headed by that of Emery Grover, the first Master of this lodge. The lodge has twice lost by fire all of its property, except the charter and records. The first fire was in May, 1882, when Parker Hall was burned, on which occasion Isaac R. Stearns and others risked their lives to save the charter and records of Norfolk Lodge, and the second fire was that which consumed the Odd Fellows Building in May, 1887. The meetings have since been held in rooms especially fitted for the purpose in Kingsbury Block. In 1908 this lodge numbered nearly two hundred members. The beautiful seal of this lodge is a reproduction of the coat-of-arms of the Duke of Norfolk in whose honor it was named, and for years attempts have been made to discover some likeness of this duke, but none appears to be in exist- ence. The writer was at one time Interested in this matter and had assistance In England, but no portrait was found in any of the collections, or great libraries, and none of the numerous representatives of the Howards, including five peers, apparently knew of any such portrait. In December, 1909, Charles Dana Burrage of Needham was chosen Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter and in December, 191 1, was elected for the third time. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 591 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS Eliot Lodge Number 58 was Instituted at Newton Upper Falls on January 30, 1845, but on May 22 of that year the charter was surrendered, and there was no serious at- tempt to revive it till 1869. The charter was again taken up on February 25, 1870, and when first instituted the lodge met every Wednesday evening in the Parker Building, it then met from 1874 to 1887 in the Odd Fellows Building, where it lost all of its property by the burning of the building on the night of May 12 and 13, 1887. After the fire it held its meetings for years in the Masonic Hall, Kingsbury Block, and then removed to Needham Heights, where it meets in Highland Hall. Within two years of the fire the lodge purchased a fine paraphernalia. The meetings have been held on Tuesday evenings for a long time, but at different periods on Thursday evenings. In 1890 there were about fifty members, and on December 31, 1910, there were one hundred and four, which in March, 191 1, had increased to one hundred and fifteen. Sincerity Lodge Number 173 of Wellesley and Home Lodge of Newton Upper Falls, both of which are prosperous, were originated by former members of Eliot Lodge. Sincer- ity Lodge was organized on August 9, 1875, and at first met every Monday evening in Waban Hall. In 1908 it had a membership of upward of one hundred, and had a hall especially adapted to its uses in Shattuck's Building. OTHER SOCIETIES AND ORDERS Nehoiden Lodge Number 624 Knights of Honor was opened on May 17, 1877, and in 1889 had over forty mem- bers. For years this lodge met in the Odd Fellows Hall on alternate Wednesday evenings. In 1904 the members united with King Philip Lodge at Natick and Nehoiden Lodge ceased to exist. 592 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The Ancient Order of United Workmen, Needham Lodge Number 75, was organized January 3, 1887, and had eigh- teen members in 1889. The meetings were semi-monthly on Friday evenings in Masonic Hall. The membership reached two hundred on December 29, 1908. The United Order of the Golden Cross, Needham Com- mandery Number 327, was organized on November 17, 1887, and in 1908 had ninety-nine members, and met the first and third Mondays of each month in the Masonic Hall, Kingsbury Block. The Improved Order of Redmen was organized in Need- ham on March 26, 1892, and lasted about two years, meet- ing semi-monthly on Wednesday evenings in Masonic Hall. Saint Elmo Council of the Royal Arcanum was Instituted on March 4, 1896, and met semi-monthly on Wednesday evenings in Masonic Hall till it removed to Needham Heights, then HIghlandvIlle. There were fifty members of this Council in 1908. The United Order of the Golden Star has been represented in Needham since July 8, 1900, by Rosemary Commandery Number 10, which has met the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the Masonic Hall, Kingsbury Block, and in 1908 had upward of two hundred members. Within the past twenty years there have been formed in Needham a number of mutual benefit associations, and other orders and societies for the purpose of insurance, or help in times of trouble, but most of them have never obtained a permanent foothold, or a considerable member- ship. The Anglo-American Lodge Number 75 Sons of Saint George, is composed of Englishmen, and their sons and grandsons, and was organized in Needham on Decem- ber 14, 188 1, and its meetings were held in Highland Hall once or twice a month on Wednesdays. It is a mutual benefit order, and those eligible to election to membership must be between the ages of eighteen and fifty, and are required to recognize the existence of a Supreme Being. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 593 The members of Lodge Number 75 united with Garfield Lodge in Boston and the meetings in Highlandville ceased. LADIES' CHARITABLE SOCIETY According to Dr. Noyes's diary the "Ladies' Charitable Society" was organized at the "Point", on July 3, 1833, and another society, with the same name, in East Needham on July 18 which held a meeting at the house of the Rev. Daniel Kimball on the 31st. There seems to be nothing more in the Doctor's diary about the society at the "Point" and no one appears to know of it, but the East Needham Society continued for several years, perhaps more than ten, the members meeting once a month, sometimes oftener, at the homes of the principal citizens. Mrs. Noyes, and others whom the writer has known, were members of the Ladies' Charitable Society, and in 1847-9, when the Rev. Mr. Dall was here, the women of the First Parish had an organization of which Mrs. Noyes was the secretary. Whether this later society was a forerunner of the Ladies' Aid Society, or chiefly charitable, is not clear. It probably was the Ladies' Charitable Society previously referred to. NEEDHAM WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE LEAGUE Needham has for years been a stronghold of Woman Suffrage, and as early as June 12, 1873, the "Needham Woman Suffrage Club" was formed at the residence of Mrs. Eliza W. La Croix, and by the end of that year thirty- seven women and thirteen men had signed as members, assenting to its constitution and by-laws. In June, 1874, the first anniversary was celebrated in the grounds of the fine estate of Edward La Croix, which property Mr. La Croix had developed from a tract of woodland, and where he had built a spacious house. The place is now the resi- dence of Charles D. Burrage, and is known as "Twin Oaks". At this picnic of the suffragists there were two hundred 594 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM guests, and Lucy Stone and other friends of the cause spoke. The writer remembers hearing William Lloyd Garrison, the elder, speak at this picnic, or at another one under the auspices of the suffragists. In 1887 the name was changed to League to conform to that of similar organizations, and has continued active to the present time. This Women's Suffrage League is very dear to some of the best women in Needham, and its foundress, Mrs. La Croix, a bright, cheerful woman, much given to hospitality, is affectionately remembered by many. This League at one time had one hundred members. NEEDHAM NATIONALIST CLUB The Needham Nationalist Club was another advanced organization, which met at a private house, once a month, usually on a Monday evening, from 1891 to 1893, when it was given up. Charles Atherton Hicks was a leader in this club, and it included some of the most intelligent people in Needham, who discussed the great economic and social questions of the day, and listened to papers and addresses by strangers. SOCIAL AND LITERARY UNION The Social and Literary Union was organized by the young people on January 27, 1880, although its first president, Charles Atherton Hicks, does not appear to have been elected until February 10. Early in 1881 this association numbered about seventy, including several from Grant- ville. It met at the homes of the members at least once a month, sometimes oftener, and the musical and literary programmes were excellent. Several successful entertain- ments in behalf of good causes were given in Parker Hall, and for two years the Union was most flourishing, and continued till about 1884. George Kuhn Clarke and Isaac R. Stearns were presidents, succeeding Mr. Hicks, and both THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 595 served two terms. Mr. Stearns was for years a leader in the social life of the town, and was an accomplished stage- manager, whose services were in demand whenever an entertainment was contemplated. Robert E. Denfeld, principal of the East High School, was a prominent member of the Social and Literary Union, and his brother, Louis E. Denfeld, master of the West High School, also contributed to its success. Just before the Civil War there had been a Union Literary Association in East Needham, and this had divided into two distinct societies. YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGHLANDVILLE On November 11, 1880, several active members of the Methodist Church met to form a Young Men's Christian Association; George Clews was chosen to preside, and W. S. Russell acted as secretary. This was not the first meeting, as a committee then reported, but it is the earliest on record. On the 13th the Association was organized by the choice of Joseph B. Thorpe as president, George Clews vice-president, W. S. Russell secretary and Charles Thorpe treasurer, and these officers were continued during the two years that the Association was active, with the excep- tion of Mr. Russell, who was succeeded on October 11, 1 88 1, by Oliver Crisp. At the meeting on November 13, 1880, It was voted to open a reading-room and to keep it open each week day evening. At a meeting on the 23d the membership fee was fixed at a dollar, and a subscription list was started to raise the necessary money, some of the members having loaned enough to obtain supplies. The reading-room was opened at 6.30 P.M., on the 24th, Oliver Crisp In charge, and during the remainder of Novem- ber fifty-nine persons visited the room, the number increas- ing the following month to more than sixty in a single week. The reading-room was the same later occupied by the branch of the Needham Free Public Library, and was in Low's Block at the corner of Highland Avenue and West Street. 596 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Nine newspapers, or magazines, had been presented by the members, and twelve more were subscribed for, which number was increased from time to time. Early in i88l the "boy problem" confronted the Association, and in May it was voted to admit none under fifteen years, and in October the number was limited to three each evening, but boys of twelve were then allowed to have admission tickets. In November the age limit was again made fifteen years. On May 27, 1882, the Association voted to accept the Constitution sent by the State Secretary of the Y. M. C. A., but on November 1 1 voted to close the reading-room at the end of the year. The Association was formed with a desire to help the young men and boys, and was continued for two years at much self-sacrifice on the part of the mem- bers, who took turns in looking after the reading-room. A strawberry festival was held by the Y. M. C. A. on June 20, 1882, in the vestry of the Methodist Church, and one half of the net proceeds were given to the Church. The numerous meetings of the Association were mostly at private houses, but occasionally at the reading-room, and in the spring of 1881 two, or more, meetings were in Advent Christian Hall. When the Association was first formed there was much consideration of the project to unite with a society, or circulating library then in the village, or to establish a library, and this was not entirely abandoned till it came to an end. From the records it does not appear what was the result of an effort to have a stereopticon, pre- sumably for illustrated lectures. In addition to the officers, already mentioned, George L. Kennedy, William Humber- stone and William Scotton were active, and these few men took all of the responsibility and did the work. NEEDHAM IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES From 1883 to 1885 there was an Improvement Society, which accomplished something toward making the centre of the town attractive, and a similar organization existed THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 597 in the late nineties. There is a vigorous society at Needham Heights, until lately Highlandville, dating from 1893, which has done much to promote "Village Improvement". CHAUTAUQUA LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC CIRCLE Vincent Circle of the Chautauqua was formed in Need- ham on August 18, 1884, and held its last recorded meet- ing on June 2, 1890. The class was usually about twenty- five, and the courses outlined were faithfully pursued, the members meeting alternate weeks at private houses to answer the roll-calls, and to read choice selections from literature. In 1889 a study of Concord, and of the writers whose residence in that town has made it famous, was a feature. Some persons continued their connection with Vincent Circle for six years, others took only a portion of the subjects, and a number of the students were present at Lake View on July 18, 1888, when they received diplomas. THE TEA AND TOAST CLUB The Tea and Toast Club was formed in 1886 and met at the houses of its members once a month during the entire year. This club was of a literary character, and consisted of sixteen ladies, whose annual party, designated "Gentle- men's Night", was a social event at which on one or more occasions every man entitled to attend was present. This somewhat exclusive club was active till about 1900, and is in existence in 191 1. MONDAY CLUB The Monday Club was organized in October, 1899, and has met alternate Mondays from October to May, inclusive, at the homes of the members, no meeting having been post- poned, or lacking a quorum, in twelve years. The member- ship consists of thirty-four ladies, and there has been a waiting list. The purpose of the club was the study of 598 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM literature, but since joining the State Federation of Women's Clubs in 1904, the scope has been much enlarged, and the consideration of public questions included. One or more essays prepared by members are read at each meeting, usually presenting the result of the writer's study of an author, or of some foreign land, or relating to art, or to an economic or social question. Reports from the State Feder- ation, and extracts from current publications touching matters of public interest are also read. UNITARIAN CLUB The Unitarian Club was formed in February, 1905, and is connected with the First Parish, meeting in its vestry, and contributing to its expenses. This club had a member- ship of over sixty in 1908, and meets once a month from October to June. The meetings are given to sociability, and to listening to papers on various themes, as well as to general discussion. The Unitarian Club has a series of dances each winter, and occasionally has a dramatic enter- tainment. In some particulars this club is the successor of the Unity Club, which was organized about ten years earlier under the auspices of the First Parish, but as a non- sectarian literary society. For some reason the Unity Club barely survived four seasons, although the papers read before it were exceptionally good, and while the Uni- tarians were in the majority. Deacon Sutton of the First Baptist Church was at one time the president, and the non- sectarian character was carefully preserved. The name, intended to signify brotherhood and fellowship, appears to have been regarded with suspicion in certain quarters. Why the Unity Club failed and the Men's League succeeded is an interesting question, as in a general way the resem- blance is marked. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 599 NEW CENTURY CLUB On May 5, 1909, three hundred ladies met in Bourne Hall to form a New Century Club, and that day one hundred and thirty-five paid the admission fee of two dollars. Mrs. Edith B. Greeley was chosen president, and Isabelle P. Boyd secretary. There had been elaborate preparation for this event, and prominent representatives of the Federa- tion of Women's Clubs were present and made addresses. By the first of December the number of members had in- creased to two hundred and ten. ALBION CRICKET CLUB Needham has had good teams that have made creditable records in base ball, foot ball and other sports, but its cricket players have given the town its chief prominence in athletics. The Albion Cricket Club existed from 1867 to 1897, with occasional periods of inactivity, and some of its members were noted wherever there was interest in this game. James Dring had been a skilful player in Eng- land, as had William Gorse and Thomas Beach. Among other players entitled to mention, as prominent more than thirty years ago, are Thomas and Stephen Lester, Robert Bennett, Charles Banner, the latter an expert bowler, now living in California. Many of these men were excellent cricketers when past middle life, and never lost their fondness for this game. The four Thorpe brothers, John, Thomas, Joseph B. and Charles, were all actively interested in cricket, and played well. Charles was remarkable, considering that he had but one hand, and often made many runs. During two active seasons this club never met defeat. Their grounds were first on the Kimball estate, on the north side of Great Plain Avenue, then they had the field opposite the Avery School, later George Otis Kingsbury's field, and finally 6oo THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM land on High Street, where they had a club house. Many seasons have brought laurels to the Needham cricket players, which in some years have been gained in the Dominion of Canada, as well as in the States, and in 1908 with half of the cricket season over the players from Needham Heights were "still in the lead for the season's honors", and at the close ranked as third. This prominence was in spite of the fact that there were one, or more, contesting clubs that con- tained "imported material". In the latter year the name of Frank W. Gorse appears among the "bowling stars". ORGANIZATIONS FOR AMUSEMENT For forty years, or more, Needham has been rich In amateur actors, some of whom excelled, and there have been a succession of dramatic clubs, as well as tennis clubs, a Rod and Gun Club, and various "teams" devoted to sports. The drama received a great impetus during the seventies and early eighties from the presence In town of Isaac R. Stearns, and, before Needham became suburban, a play excited much interest, and a large attendance was assured. In 1901 a Golf Club was formed, and the grounds of the town water reservation, formerly the Colburn farm, were secured. This attractive territory of about forty acres commands fine distant views, and seemed an ideal place for golf, and for two years the club flourished, although it never had one hundred members, and twice that number were necessary if the grounds were to be kept in good order. During two winters the club had a series of dances, and in the pleasant season many enjoyed the golf. Early in 1903 it became evident that there were not enough persons who had leisure for the game, and were ready to pay assess- ments sufficient to warrant incurring considerable expense, and consequently the grounds soon became unfit, and the construction of the railroad through this land in 1905 has rendered a revival of this club impracticable. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 60 1 TEMPERANCE AND TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES On May 4, 1829, which was before the Temperance Society was formed, the town voted "to put the law in force re- specting Idlers and tavern hanters", and the next spring decreed that the surveyors of highways "Should provide no Splritous liquers, at the expense of the town in working out their highway taxes". In 1837 Mr. Kimball, William Flagg, William Clark, Leonard Battle (Battelle) and Josiah B. Lyon were a committee of the town to "put in force the licence law against all those who violate the Same." In 1845 Capt. Reuben Ware made an attempt to have the town "prevent the sale of Intoxicating drink in town, the ensuing year", but the article was dismissed. In 1854 the town in- structed its selectmen to enforce the "Liquor Law", but be- came much dissatisfied with the official "Liquor Agent", and the "adulterated articles" with which he had been supplied.^ In 1870 the town voted that "no person shall be allowed to sell Ale, Porter, Strong beer, or Lager beer in this Town". A similar vote was passed the next year by 48 to 4. In 1882 the town voted 105 to 87 In favor of licensing the sale of intoxicating liquor, and in 1884 by 159 to 108, but for many years the vote has been largely against it. The first Temperance meeting In Needham was held in the West Meeting-house on January 3, 1828. The Needham Temperance Society was formed on April 8, 1830, as the result of a largely attended meeting held at the almshouse one week before. The officers for 183 1 were the Rev. Daniel Kimball president, Benjamin Slack, Esq., vice-president. Dr. Josiah Noyes secretary, Moses Garfield, Jonathan Ellis, Dea. Hezekiah Fuller, William A. Kingsbury and Isaiah FIsk directors. It was the custom of the society to observe Independence Day, and on July 5, 1830, the Rev. Mr. Kimball gave an address in the First Church. This patriotic meeting was devoted in part to the subject of ' Dexter Kingsbury was the Liquor Agent for 1862-5, Isaac Clapp 1867. 6o2 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM temperance, and Mr. Kimball's address was printed that year by H. & W. H. Mann, printers of Dedham, and is a pamphlet of sixteen pages. In 183 1 the constitution and names of the members of the society appeared in a pamphlet of seven pages, printed by the Politician & Advocate Press of Dedham. The by-laws consisted of eight articles, and seventy-four men and one hundred and thirty-five women, mostly of the West Parish, belonged to the Temperance Society. Besides the regular quarterly meetings there were temperance lectures, and on January 20, 1834, a Tem- perance Convention was held at the house of Mr. Kimball. Needham was prominently represented by delegates in the Norfolk County Temperance Society, and Mr. Kimball and Dr. Noyes contended incessantly against the evil which was much in evidence in Needham, as in hundreds of other towns, but the society was several years old before the First Parish ceased to supply its choir with liquor, and no funeral or auction was then complete without it. The expenditures by the town for spirit and sugar when the poor were auctioned off at the tavern each November had ended, as the town had acquired an almshouse, but drink was furnished by the town at the burials of its charges. In 1 8 14 the town could not repair the little Sawmill Bridge, or do any work, without "spirit and Sugar". About 1840 the Washingtonian movement reached Needham, and there were mass meetings, with much enthusiasm, resulting in a great reformation. At a meeting held in the First Church, a banner, the gift of Mr. Moses Kimball, was for- mally presented to the local Temperance Society by Adelaide Phillips, then a little girl, who stood on one of the window seats, that all might see her. There were picnics and con- certs, and Edgar K. Whitaker of Needham and the Rev. Edwin Thompson, a Unlversalist minister of Walpole, were active in the cause in our town.^ On December 19, ^ While the Washingtonian crusade was at its height a large number signed the pledge, including the late Jeremiah Kingsbury, who lived where Mrs. Arthur THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 603 1857, the Nehoiden Division Sons of Temperance Number 15 was organized by William N. Eayrs, and is in 191 1 one of the oldest temperance societies in Massachusetts. It originally met in Nehoiden Hall, at the old Centre, and since October 3, 1867, in Highland Hall, above the store at Needham Heights.^ About 1883 the meetings were held in the vestry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve charter mem- bers but two are now living in Needham: — Cyrus W. Jones and John E. Richards. The Division has had over two thousand members, and they are now scattered through twenty States. Its fiftieth anniversary was appropriately observed, and Messrs. Jones and Richards were present. Early in 1858 Mr. Eayrs formed the juvenile Nehoiden Band of Hope, which had picnics and concerts, besides regular meetings in Nehoiden Hall. The Band flourished for about five years, when Mr. Eayrs left town. In 1866 the Union Temperance Band was organized, and consisted of the Unitarian, Baptist, Orthodox and Methodist Sunday Schools. The Band has met the third Sundays of January, Whitaker now (191 1) resides. Mr. Kingsbury was brought into the hall to sign by his neighbor "Deacon" Newell Smith. Some will recall the peculiarities of the old blacksmith, Isaac H. Greenwood, who had a defect in his palate, and almost invariably began a remark with the appropriate words "toe te toe". Mr. Kings- bury had a similar eccentricity, and as he left the hall with Mr. Smith he said, "Fact fact Deacon we will have a little toddy in haying time". 1 Nehoiden Hall was built in 1844 by George Revere, who from 1830 to 1870 lived where George Kuhn Clarke does, and it was a large hall with a store, kept by Mr. Revere, beneath it. In this hall many dances and festivals were held, as well as political and Civil War meetings, including those connected with recruiting. Enlistments took place under the old oak to the south, which with its companion tree, the Greenwood oak, antedates the town. In 1869 Jonathan Avery bought the building and made it into tenements, and in 1906 the estate was purchased by Miss Martha Anna Clarke, and the Nehoiden Block removed by William Carter to the "Sand Hole" on Rosemary Street, where Mr. Carter had other property. Mr. Cyrus W. Jones has an extensive collection of programmes, circulars, etc., and among them is one that reads as follows: — "Social Ball | Nehoiden Hall | East Needham | Friday Evening, March 7, 1845 | Dancing to commence at 7 o'clock | Tickets $1.50 including refreshments"] The managers were Edgar K. Whitaker, Galen Orr, Moses Mann, Rufus Mills, Charles Curtis and Josiah H. Carter. Music by Moses Mann, Eben Flagg and Artemas Newell. 6o4 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM April, July and October, once a year in each of the four churches, and its meetings have been largely attended, with fine music and able addresses. For many years the Union Temperance Band has influenced the young people for good, and its banner is inscribed "Temperance the Handmaid of Religion". In 1895 the Episcopal Sunday School was invited to join, and for a time some of its members at- tended meetings of the Band. The Union Temperance Band is considered as a continuation of the Nehoiden Band of Hope, and consequently was fifty years old in 1908. In the early seventies there was Autumn Lodge Number 94, Independent Order of Good Templars, which met every Friday evening in Waban Hall. High Rock Lodge Number 47, I. 0. of G. T., was organized about the same time, and met every Tuesday evening in the Parker Building, then sometimes called the Greenwood & White Building, or White's Building. Later its meetings were in the Odd Fellows Building, but the lodge lasted only a few years. On November 17, 1879, Social Lodge Number 8, 1. O. G.T., was chartered, and lasted about six years, meeting Thursday evenings in Odd Fellows Hall. Hillside Lodge Number 116, I. O. G. T., was organized, and met In Highland Hall Tuesdays. Crystal Wave Lodge Number 152, I. O. G. T., was chartered on November 21, 1894, and was a success for a number of years, its membership increasing from twenty-nine to seventy. The meetings were held in the Baptist vestry and later in the chapel of the First Church. In 1876 a Temperance Reform Club was formed, and May 22 one hundred and nineteen signed the pledge in Parker Hall. On June 8 the club had a torchlight proces- sion, and on the i6th two banners were presented to it in Parker Hall. The leaders were D. Banks M^'Kenzie and the Rev. Louis Charpiot, who were connected with the Appleton Temporary Home for Inebriates, which institu- tion occupied for about ten years, 1872-81, the estate on THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 605 which previously had been the Oakland Hall Institute. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union dates from May 28, 1886, and in 1904 had forty-two regular members and twenty-one honorary. The Union held its early meetings in the First Parish Church, but in later years met at the residence of Dr. Vesta D. Miller, who was president from its formation until her decease. In 1888 the Union or- ganized a Loyal Legion, juvenile, at Highlandville, which did good work for ten years, also a Loyal Legion on the Great Plain, and this was a success for two or three years. Both of these Legions had large memberships, and they flourished as long as the women who were their leaders could give the needed time. In February, 1903, a branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was formed at Highlandville, and from about 1893 to 1895 there had been a Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union In that village. The History of Needham would be incomplete without some reference to Dr. Vesta Delphine Miller, who was de- voted to many good causes, particularly to that of Temper- ance. For more than thirty years she practiced medicine, and was skilful, faithful and self-sacrificing, often in emer- gencies acting as nurse for many hours at a time, regardless of her own health. Many families depended upon her as their physician and friend, and her comparatively sudden death on February 23, 1908, caused sorrow In numerous homes. Her funeral was on the afternoon of the 25th, and was largely attended, the Rev. Charles E. Sawtelle and the Rev. Robert L. Webb officiating. Mrs. Miller brought comfort and hope not only to many, who recovered from illness, but to others who could not, and no one was more sincerely esteemed than she was. She received the degree of M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Boston, but had previously studied at the New England Female Medical College, 1865, and at the Cincinnati Medi- cal College. Subsequent to obtaining her degree she at- tended the New York Post-Graduate Medical School. 6o6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM NEEDHAM LYCEUM The following Is from some loose sheets in a note book of Dr. Joslah Noyes: Needham Jan. 7th 1831. People from various parts of the town of Needham met at the Alms-house to consider the nature, purposes and objects of Lyceums; and deter- mine whether it would be expedient to form an institution of this kind — if deemed expedient, what measures were best to establish one and bring it into successful operation. — To regulate the meeting they chose Moses Garfield — Moderator Josiah Noyes — Clerk — Copious remarks were made at this meeting, a consti- tution read &c — It was thought best to defer transacting much business till a subsequent meeting that more might be present. Accordingly Voted, that the meeting be ad- journed to Friday Jan, 14th, 6 o'clock, P. M. at the Alms- house — and that notice thereof be given from the several pulpits in town on the Sabbath, Jan. 9th. Meeting ad- journed — Josiah Noyes Clerk at s^ meeting Adjourned meeting Jan. 14th 183 1 After reading several Constitutions of Lyceums and the Constitution of the Working Men's Society of Dedham the proceedings of the Meeting for forming a Work Men's Society for Needham, — considering the expediency of having one Society or two in the town, — comparing the natures objects and uses of each and both conjointly — It was thought best to have but one Society for the town to accomplish the objects of both — According — it was — Voted that a Committee be chosen to form a Constitution and determine the name of the Society made up of the two aforenamed. Voted that the Committee of twelve appointed at the meeting for forming a Working Men's Society be this Committee. (See their names below) — THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 607 Voted that this meeting be dissolved J. Noyes Clerk of s. adjourned meeting — Moses Garfield Charles Rice Reuben Ware Spencer Fuller William Flagg a*" Committee to meet at the Alms-house William Eaton, Jr — Wed, Jan, 26, at 6 o'clock. Israel Whitney Amraphel Smith Josiah Noyes Ebenezer W. Mslntosh Committee appointed at the meet- Daniel Kimball ing to form a Working Men's Rufus Mills Society, to form a Constitution The Lyceum was of great educational value to Needham, as it was throughout rural New England, but in our town it did not survive the Civil War. The meetings were usually held semi-monthly during the winter, either in a school- house or at the almshouse. These different places of meet- ing gave all sections of the town opportunities to attend, and there were courses of lectures by Dr. Noyes on chemistry, by the Rev. Daniel Kimball on local history and other topics, and instructive subjects were treated by out-of- town speakers, some of them from a distance. Although Dr. Noyes refers in his diary to a "Debating Society", which met at Myrick's Tavern in the winter of 1834, ^ feature of the Needham Lyceum was the discussion of questions such as "Civilization", "Books and observation", "Colum- bus and Washington", "War or reference of nations", "Capital Punishment", "Superiority of intellect in man or woman", the "Bank Question" and "Slavery", each of these two great issues requiring more than one meeting, "Levelling System", "Wealth and Knowledge", etc. Dr. Noyes was much interested in the Dover Lyceum, which was organized the same year as the one in Needham, and lee- 6o8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM tured before it on chemistry, illustrating by experiments. Presumably the lectures given by Dr. Noyes in Needham, Natick and other places were similar. The Dover Lyceum sometimes met in Noanet Hall, or Newell's Hall, which was just across the river, and was the meeting place of various organizations. In the winter of 1841/2 the Rev. Daniel Kimball gave a series of lectures on local history, which are valuable, particularly those relating to the oldest houses in town, many of which have since disappeared. Mr. Kim- ball's manuscript, or a copy of it, was in the possession of the late Charles C. Greenwood. A programme of the "Closing Exercises" of the Needham Lyceum on April 2, i860, includes an address by its pres- ident, the Honorable Edgar K. Whitaker, and various literary features. The meeting was to be held at Village Hall, at 7I o'clock "precisely", and the directors were Otis E. Bowen, Augustus Eaton and Charles E. Keith. NEWTON, NEEDHAM AND NATICK SOCIETY FOR APPREHENDING HORSE THIEVES This society was formed at Charles Denny's tavern on April 19, 1822, with Benjamin Slack as moderator and John W. Slack as clerk. On May 3 they met at the same place, adopted a constitution, which was printed, and at an adjourned meeting, on June nth, Ebenezer Starr was chosen president, John W. Slack clerk, and five directors and seven riders were also elected. The earlier meetings were held in the afternoon, but the annual supper soon became the principal feature of the society, and involved small assessments. The notices of the meetings were addressed to the clerk and signed by the president and vice- president. There were about fifty members, and after the first year the number of directors was increased to seven, and some years as many as ten riders were chosen. On April 8, 1835, they had a supper at Nathan F. Crafts's and then disbanded. The funds were divided among the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 609 twenty-nine members then In good standing, which gave them $2.86 each. Their records were by vote deposited in the office of the town clerk, who was also clerk of the society, and have remained there to this day. The president suc- ceeding Mr. Starr was Benjamin Slack, 1826-32. In 1833 the time of the annual meeting was changed from June to January, and Henry Crafts was chosen president and served two years, when William Farris became the last president of this society, with Seth Davis as vice-president. The second clerk was John Sargent, the tavern-keeper in Welles- ley Hills, who was in office 1824-6. John W. Slack was again clerk in 1826-32, Miciah ^ M. Rutter 1832, Town Clerk Asa Kingsbery ^ 1833- . NEEDHAM YOUNG PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION The Needham Young People's Association is the result of a meeting held in the library rooms at the town hall on June I, 1910, for the purpose of forming a Boys' Club, and in the autumn of that year Bourne Hall was transformed into a gymnasium, which is now (191 1) well equipped. Classes in athletics, for boys and girls, are conducted by competent teachers, and this gymnasium is an important institution, furnishing a headquarters for the young people, and providing them with varied resources and amusements. Louis A. Holman has directed this work with untiring devotion and with no pecuniary compensation. AGRICULTURAL AND KINDRED SOCIETIES Residents of Needham were active in the old Norfolk Agricultural Society, as some are to-day in Middlesex and Norfolk Pomona Grange Number i. Patrons of Husbandry of Massachusetts. On April 30, i860, there was a meeting in Village Hall to form the Needham Horticultural Society, * The reader is reminded that in this book names are spelled as found in the records. 6io THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM on which occasion Edgar K. Whitaker was chairman and George W. Palmer secretary. The organization was per- fected on May 7, when the constitution was adopted, and the objects of the Society are therein declared to be "the promotion of Horticulture, and incidentally Agriculture, Floriculture, and general Improvements". Mr. Whitaker was elected president, Holland N. Batcheller secretary and Charles E. Keith ist vice-president, and these gentlemen were re-elected annually until the society ceased to keep records. They took as their motto "Labor omnia vincit", and during the first year held nine public meetings, besides their elaborate exhibition on the evenings of September 24 and 25, when there was a display of fine fruits, beauti- ful flowers, and specimens of women's skill in artistic direc- tions. There were seventy-six contributors to this exhibi- tion, some of them offering several samples of fruit and flowers, and the list is interesting as it gives the names of the difi^erent varieties of apples, pears, grapes, and numerous vegetables, then esteemed most choice. The women made these occasions a success, and a brief list illustrating their ambitions in the line of fancy work at that time may be of interest: — Miss Jane Avery (now Mrs. Carter) "i Picture of a Rose — in water colors" "i Crayon Head". Miss Harriet E. Sawyer "i Beautiful Fruit Picture, in Water Colors". Picture frames decorated with corn, cones and "Leather Work" were in fashion, as well as frames of hair. Miss Harriet E. Kingsbury brought, among other articles, "i Ottoman of Raised Worsted Work", and some bead work. Similar contributions were received from others. Mrs. F. F. Stedman "Hair Work, elegantly framed" "2 Embroidered Vests". Miss Myra Smith (Mrs. Greenwood) " I Beautiful Wax-work Bouquet of Flowers in a Glass Case". Miss Sarah C. Mills (Mrs. Cutter) "i What- Not, Elegantly Wrought in Leather". Mrs. Noyes excelled in decorating picture frames with cones and "Burrs", and really beautiful specimens of her work are preserved THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 6ii at her former home. Most of the ladies were not content with one or two samples of handiwork, but presented a number, "Wrought" slippers and suspenders were also a source of honorable pride. In the very long list of vege- tables and flowers are included "3 Mammoth Squashes, 96, 98 and 105 lbs", sent by James Cartwright, "125 Varieties of Cut Flowers, rare and beautiful" from James Gray of West Needham, vegetables from the Oakland Hall Institute, and flowers from the "Young Ladies of Oakland Hall Institute". Henry H. White (Wight?) exhibited "i Chess Board, inlaid with 94 pieces of wood", and Charles E. Keith "i Sample Double Sole Nailed Miners' Shoes", and "Plough Shoes" and "Hunters Shoes". The profusion of this display of flowers and vegetables was remarkable and on lesser occasions there had been beautiful exhibits. Mrs. Ebenezer Whiting Mcintosh had rare flowers, and brought to one of the meetings "a dish of asters containing twenty five varieties". The same evening Master Channing Whitaker exhibited a "Cabbage Rose Measuring T[h]ree feet and five inches in diameter", and "last and least a small vase standing upon the north west Corner of the tables presented by Mr. Keith, admired for its humble symplicity". Many visitors attended the public exhibition, and the society was active in setting out shade trees, visiting noted farms and orchards, such as the pear orchard of John Gordon in Brigh- ton, and had every prospect of usefulness when the Civil War came, which absorbed the attention of all, with the result that the society adjourned sine die on the first Mon- day of October, 1862, and the records came to an end. The previous June they had voted "to have no Strawberry festi- val this year". Besides lectures, the society had planned for general improvement in the cultivation of fruits and flowers, and proposed to stimulate competition by prizes. George W. Palmer, an active member, was the proprietor of the "Needham Plain Nursery", and had his first annual sale of trees in 1861. During the first fourteen months of 6i2 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM its existence the society had had a lecture on botany from Dr. Noyes, which apparently was enjoyed, and Mr. Henry O. Hildreth of Dedham, and others from out of town, had addressed them. The Needham Horticultural Society printed a pamphlet of sixteen pages in October, i860, in which its purposes were set forth, and a report of its prin- cipal exhibition followed. There were then sixty-one regular members and twenty-two honorary members. NEEDHAM FARMERS AND MECHANICS ASSOCIATION The Needham Farmers and Mechanics Association was organized in the autumn of 1877, largely through the efforts of Abel F. Stevens of Wellesley, who was its first president and served three years. For two seasons Agri- cultural Fairs were held in Parker Hall, the animals exhibited occupying temporary quarters in the square at the north of the hall, and in the yard of Eaton's stable. At these fairs there were many interesting exhibits from Needham, and adjoining towns, showing that the enthusiasm which char- acterized the members of the old Horticultural Society had by no means died out. The women contributed to the success of these fairs, and their work in various domestic departments, as well as with the needle, was most cred- itable. The Association had seventy members in 1888, and about one hundred in 1908, the membership including residents of Needham, Wellesley, Dover, Natick and Sher- born. From the fall until into the spring meetings are held every two weeks, sometimes in a hall, but more often at a private house, when subjects of importance are considered, and speakers from out of town present topics of which they have special knowledge. The membership has never been limited to men, and for thirty years this association has been of great value to the community. In the early nineties there was a Poultry Club in town, and Highlandville, now Needham Heights, is well known at exhibits in Boston, and in more distant places, as the resi- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 613 dence of the owners of fancy pigeons, to whom prizes are repeatedly awarded. There were pigeon and poultry "fan- ciers" in that portion of the town nearly forty years ago. TREES In 1870 the town accepted the act of the General Court "concerning shade and ornamental trees in Highways and Streets". Five years later the selectmen urged the choice of two Foresters, and the protection of shade trees. On March 5, 1900, George Warren Colburn was elected Tree Warden, the first in Needham, and $100 were appropriated for his use. Mr. Colburn was succeeded in 1908 by John E. Richards, and the latter in 1909 by Ernest E. Riley. In 1910 the appropriation for the work of the tree warden was $700. Since 1880 a large oak tree on Great Plain Avenue by George C. Mcintosh's has been cut down, and also another great oak on the same avenue by land of Thomas Orr. The late Thomas Orr was expert in relating experiences, and while he was cutting down the oak a severe thunder storm arose, and Mr. Orr, short of limb, started for his house, which was struck by lightning just as he got there. He said, "I ran like the very devil, and the lightning struck the house just as I shut the door". An oak on land of John J. Morgan, near Nehoiden Street, and another a short distance west of the cemetery, on the same street, were cut down. All of these were large trees, but not as ancient as the Greenwood oak and its mate at the west end of the old Training Field. These two venerable trees are probably over three centuries old, but unfortunately the Greenwood oak, vigorous until about 1903, died in 1908, leafing out a little that year for the last time. The noon-house is said to have once stood close by it. The other old oak, which is directly opposite the driveway of the Townsend place, and since 1908 a part of that estate, was looking badly in 1904 when George Kuhn Clarke employed the tree warden to fill the decayed 6i4 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM places with cement, remove the dead wood, and to brace the largest limb by means of an iron rod. After this treat- ment the old tree showed a remarkable revival of vigor, and in 1907 it was again cared for, and the brace repaired, by the tree warden at Mr. Clarke's expense. In 191 1 it is in good condition. The late Charles C. Greenwood collected in his grove of less than one acre specimens of a great number of trees and shrubs, and north of his house he had an artificial pond, or large, shallow basin, devoted to pond lilies and other aquatic plants. The canker worms never seriously damaged the orchards in Needham, and appeared in this town for a limited time only, but in 1904 it was rumoured that Gypsy and Brown- tail moths had been observed, and the next year about $174 were spent in combatting them, Ernest E. Riley having been appointed "Superintendent for Suppressing Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths". In 1906 $1693.78 were expended, of which the town paid $1426.03 and the property owners $267; in 1907 the cost was increased to $2793.44, twelve men drawing pay for services. In 1908 the expense was about $6500, of which the town appropriated $2325, the assessments amounted to $1637.65, and the Commonwealth paid the balance; nineteen men were then employed. The first appropriation by the town for this purpose was $800 in 1905. The first appearance of the elm beetles in Needham, with serious injury to the trees, was in 1907, and that year and in 1908 they were a far more destructive pest than the moths, which latter have not, apparently, made great head- way in town. l^esiDents; of i^eebfjam tofjo fjabe Iibeb The names of the men and women of Needham who have reached the age of ninety years are as follows : — Ephraim Ware, March 26, 1753, aged ninety-four years. ^ Joseph Hawes, March 8, 1756, aged ninety-two years. Mary Gay, March 7, 1757, aged ninety-seven years, two months. Ebenezer Ware, 1765, aged ninety-eight years. Widow Deliverance Parker, March 11, 1770, aged ninety- nine years. Widow Lydia Metcalf, December 18, 1770, aged ninety- three years. She was the last of the original members of the First Church. Josiah Ware, July 3, 1798, aged ninety-one years. Eliakim Cook, August 2, 1801, aged ninety-one years. Widow Esther Fuller, November 6, 1801, aged ninety years. Jonathan Smith, June i, 1809, aged ninety-three years. Col. William M=Intosh, January 3, 1813, aged ninety- one years; born in Roxbury. Widow Jemima Perry, January 10, 181 5, aged ninety- seven years. Widow Grace Broad, March 18, 1821, aged ninety-one years. Widow Mary Smith, May 25, 1821, aged ninety-one years. Jeremiah Woodcock, March 4, 1824, aged ninety-two years, four months. Widow Rachel Smith, May 18, 1825, aged ninety years. * The date following the name is that of death, and all of these nonagenarians died in Needham unless otherwise indicated and most of them were born there. 6i6 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Dinah Cato, December 27, 1830, aged ninety years. Widow Lois Brown, June 22, 183 1, aged one hundred years; if she was born on November 9, 1733, as appears to have been the fact, she was under ninety-eight when she died. Widow Sarah Kingsbury, February 12, 1832, aged ninety- four years. Benjamin Davenport, December 27, 1833, aged ninety-one years. Dr. Isaac Morrill, May 5, 1839, aged ninety-one years. Widow Abigail BuUard, August 29, 1842, aged ninety years. Widow Jemima Kingsbury, March 29, 1843, aged ninety- seven years, six months. Widow Mehitable Fisher, January 30, 1846, aged ninety- four years, eight months. Widow Hannah Gay, April 11, 1847, aged ninety years; died at Nashua, N. H. Widow Mary Wilson, November 11, 1847, aged ninety- seven years. Widow Esther Mills, September 15, 1853, aged ninety- seven years, four months, sixteen days.^ Sarah Mansfield, September 5, 1854, ^ged ninety-three years, eight months, twenty-four days. Widow Lucy Kelley, October 31, 1857, aged ninety years, three months. Samuel Pond, October 2, 1858, aged ninety-four years, five months, one day; born in Newton. Hadassah Cisco, September 24, 1864, aged ninety-six years, three months, two days. Rachel Alden, October 22, 1865, aged ninety-one years, five months. * Between 1848 and 1864 there were four persons died in Needham in their ninetieth year, of whom Sarah Mills, wife of Lieut. Fisher Mills, was aged eighty- nine years, ten months and fourteen days. She died October 9, 1857, and was born in Waltham. There were also three women who died in their eighty-ninth year, and one in her eighty-eighth. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 617 Esther Flagg, September 11, 1866, aged ninety-two years, sixteen days. Margaret Glancy, February 21, 1869, aged ninety-six years; born In Ireland. Elijah Woodcock, April 13, 1872, aged ninety-three years, three months, two days. Lewis Jones, November 4, 1872, aged ninety-four years; born In Roxbury. Olive Colburn, January 30, 1873, aged ninety-one years, eleven months, three days; born In Dover. Henry Clark, November 3, 1873, aged ninety-two years, eleven months, ten days; born in Lexington. Betsey Bowers, October 4, 1875, aged ninety-one years, ten months, nineteen days; born in Pepperell. Sarah Nay, December 23, 1878, aged ninety- three years, ten months, two days; born in Canaan, N. H. Rachel B. Gay, May 6, 1879, aged ninety-three years, six months, eighteen days; born In Dover. Jane D. (Hunt) Lamb, June 20, 1882, aged ninety-six years, ten months; born In Maquolt, Me. Elizabeth (Fleming) Risk, September 16, 1887, aged ninety years, three months, seventeen days; born in Scot- land. Sarah (Clapp) Davenport, August 16, 1889, aged ninety- five years, four months, twenty-one days; born in Dor- chester. Mary Nixon, December 4, 1893, aged ninety-two years. John Henderson, March 9, 1896, aged ninety-one years, twenty-seven days; born in Ireland. Caroline Enslin Blackman, November 27, 1897, aged ninety-three years, nine months, nineteen days; born In Boston. William H. Beckwith, March 24, 1898, aged ninety-one years, seven months, eight days; born in Halifax, N. S. Elizabeth Klvlan Obryan, September 7, 1903, aged ninety- one years, one month, one day; born In Ireland, 6i8 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Israel D. Woodbury, January 15, 1904, aged ninety years, ten months, eight days; born in North Beverly. William T. Eldridge, May 25, 1906, aged ninety years, three months, four days; born in Sharon, N. Y. George Hiram Gay, January 7, 1907, aged ninety-four years, eleven days. James M. Shores, April 21, 1907, aged ninety-six years, seventeen days; born in Canton, Conn. Catherine Dwyer, September 11, 1907, aged one hundred and two years; born in Ireland. If her age is correctly stated Mrs. Dwyer is the oldest person that has died in Needham. Enos Houghton Tucker, December 30, 1907, aged ninety- three years, five months, twenty-five days. Hannah K. Harding, March 3, 1908, aged ninety years, four months, nineteen days; born in Ashford, Conn. Allanson C. Potter, June 27, 1908, aged ninety years, seven months, twenty-four days; born in Mannilaus (Man- lius.?), N. Y. Ezra Fuller, January 19, 1909, aged ninety-three years, nine months, ten days. Calise Roseleau, December 5, 19 10, aged ninety-three years; born in Canada. Lucy Sutherland, December 9, 1910, aged ninety years, three months, six days; born in Shapleigh, Me. Mary Eliza Crawford, December 10, 1910, aged ninety years, four months, twenty days; born in Union, Conn. From 1865 to 1910 inclusive there were seven persons who died in their ninetieth year, including Permelia Smith, born in Lynnborough, died in Needham April 8, 1872, aged eighty- nine years, ten months and seventeen days, Betsey Gage Kimball, born in Bradford, died November 11, 1873, aged eighty-nine years, nine months and fifteen days, Anna (Spencer) Blasland, born in New Haven, Conn., died August 25, 1876, aged eighty-nine years, nine months and one day, James Smith, born in Needham, died March 28, 1894, aged eighty-nine years, eleven months, twenty-four THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 619 days, Henry Nash, born In England, died April 10, 1906, aged eighty-nine years, eight months and three days, Winthrop F. White, born In Acton, died May 29, 1907, aged eighty-nine years, eight months and nineteen days. There were also seventeen persons died from 1865 to 19 10 who were In their eighty-ninth year, and of these was Hiram Carr, a native of North Haverhill, N. H., a venerable and familiar figure In the streets of our principal village. Mr. Carr died October 19, 1906, aged eighty-eight years, nine months and nine days. On October 30, 1906, George H. Gay, then aged ninety-four years, the Honorable Enos H. Tucker, ninety-two years and nearly four months, and Ezra Fuller, ninety-one years and seven months, lacking some days, were photographed to- gether on Mr. Fuller's grounds. All three were born in Needham, and with the exception of some years that Mr. Tucker was away, when In his prime, they all passed their entire lives in Needham. At the funeral of Mr. Gay a large bust of the First Napoleon, "Who [did] bestride the narrow world like a Colossus" when our venerable citizen was born, stood on the mantel near the head of the casket. Mr. Tucker and the writer sat together at the foot. "Like shadows gliding o'er the plain. Or clouds that roll successive on, Man's busy generations pass; And while we gaze, their forms are gone. *He lived, — he died'; behold the sum. The abstract of the historian's page! Alike, in God's all-seeing eye. The Infant's day, the patriarch's age." John Taylor. FRANCIS ASBURY BURRILL Needham has had Its share of original characters whose sayings or conduct would furnish materials for entertaining sketches. The writer knew many of these persons who were 620 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM living in the last century, and has heard anecdotes of others, but there are relatives or friends to be considered. Most of these quaint or peculiar individuals belonged to fairly well-to-do families, and but few to the small element that may be described as degenerate representatives of the old New England stock. The latter are an interesting study, and exist chiefly in the more remote towns. They appear to have found no opportunities in this country, and to be badly "run out", although in some instances the first two or three generations in the New World were respected. There seems to be no reason why a brief biography of "Frank" Burrill should not be included in the town history, and certainly he was as versatile a "Jack of all trades", and as well known in the town, until within a few years, as any man within its limits. He was born at the town- farm on September i6, 1830, and represented three great races, — the Caucasian, the American Indian and the African. According to the town records his maternal ancestry was of mixed Indian and African descent. His name was recorded as William Wyman,^ but Mrs. Susan Burrill, an excellent woman, who lived on the Robert Fuller place, and near the poor-farm, was attracted to him because he was "such a pretty baby", and took him to her home. Mrs. Burrill had no children, and after a time adopted this infant, although her husband positively declined to have any part in the transaction. She named him Francis Asbury, in honor of the great Methodist divine, but the child's beauty did not last, and he grew to be rather a trial to his adopted mother, but was useful at times, as he was always the first to appear on important occasions, such as fires, where he was conspicuous. There are stories of his bravery, or recklessness, not only at fires, but when other opportuni- ties for getting killed presented themselves. Forty years ago it was the custom for the bo3^s and young ' Mrs. Burrill had his birth recorded under his new name, and this time the date of birth is September 17. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 621 men to gather on the triangle near the Church and play "three old cat" and scrub, and Frank joined them in their games till he was approaching fifty, his peculiar laugh resounding throughout the neighborhood. When less than twelve years old the writer was accustomed to play ball with Frank. This "common" is now private property, but prior to 1895 it belonged to the First Parish. For years Frank rang the Church bell to announce deaths, Sunday services, fires, and whenever there was an opportunity to ring it, particularly on the Fourth of July, when he was one of the noisiest persons in the town. The tall flag-pole was of especial interest to him, and he had charge of the flag. He was handy with tools and with machinery, and did a good deal of "tinkering" without pay. In consequence of judicious flattery. In a few instances he engaged In com- bats, the most elaborate of which was a duel fought with revolvers on North Hill one pleasant afternoon. The neigh- borhood was agitated by this momentous meeting, but as It was before the days of telephones It was some time before Officer Wragg arrived, and shots had been fired, though without the result hoped for by some people. During the excitement Frank repeatedly called out, "Stand up to it like a man", his opponent replying, "A life for a life". Frank never went to jail till he was about seventy years old, when an unappreciative corporation refused to recog- nize him as a privileged character, and resented his building a wall across Its street railway at the foot of a hill. Mrs. Burrlll left her real estate to the Methodists, subject to the life rights of Frank, and for thirty years the house was rented, Frank living In a shop which he built on the premises. Young men and boys annoyed him at times in his latter years, and he resorted to fire-arms, evidently not shooting to kill, although in at least one instance he wounded a boy. The father of the injured youth was at first somewhat annoyed by the "accident", but soon took a reasonable view of the affair, and there was no further reference to It. 622 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Early in 1906 Frank was discovered ill in bed with the fire out, and the town physician was sent for, who on his arrival pronounced the disease to be pneumonia, and advised that the patient should be taken to a hospital, but Frank said that he preferred to stay in the shop. That winter several active men in the prime of life had died of this dread sickness in Needham, and the doctor, who was an excellent one, is said to have taken a gloomy view of his patient's prospects, saying that there was no use giving stimulants unless he gave a gallon at a time, but in a month Frank went personally to Natick to procure "supplies". He died after a brief illness February 25, 1908, in his seventy- eighth year, and his funeral, which was held in a marvel- lously cold place, was attended by the chairman of the selectmen, Edgar H. Bowers, by the writer, and by several other persons who felt an interest in Frank. Requiescat in pace. The town has had many a citizen who was a worse man than old Frank. Vi&it of ^regibent OTasfjington to ileebijam It has been said that General Washington passed through West Needham on his way to Cambridge in 1775; whether he did so or not he was in Needham on the morning of No- vember 6, 1789, on his return to New York from his Presiden- tial tour of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He had passed the night of the 5th in Watertown, and dined on the 6th at Sherburne, now Sherborn. These facts are from the President's diary. At the Needham town line he was met by a cavalcade headed by his former companion-in-arms, Col. William M'^Intosh, whom he is said to have recognized at once. It was a day when rain or snow was threatening. The tradition is that the President stopped at Needham Lower Falls, under the elm that since has borne his name, and that he drank from the ancient well and praised the quality of the water. He proceeded to Sherburne along the street that for many years has been Washington Street. This old well was filled by Charles Rice, who planted a tree above it, and Frederick Curtis has a sketch, made about 1844, of the house which stood in the shade of the Washing- ton elm. This house was unpainted, and was sometimes called the "Black House". It was a typical early eighteenth century dwelling, with the roof sloping nearly to the ground. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION This was observed at the Meeting-house on November 16, 181 1, and Mr. Palmer preached his admirable and well- known "Century Sermon", which was printed in December 624 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM by Herman Mann of Dedham. On April 6, 1812, the town chose Dr. Samuel Gould, Daniel Ware, Esq., and Isaac Shepard, Esq., "a Committee to exprefs their gratitude to the Rev^. Stephen Palmer for his extraordinary exertions in preparing and delivering his Sermon which Comprises an accurate history of the Town". Mr. Palmer gracefully acknowledged a letter from this committee, and also ad- dressed an able letter to the people of Needham, which Is worthy to be read by later generations. On May 11 the town voted to receive these letters, which were recorded. The town possesses Mr. Palmer's original letter, dated April 25, 1812, acknowledging the thanks of the committee. Apparently only one hundred copies of the sermon were printed, of which the town voted fifty to Mr. Palmer, six to the Rev. Mr. Noyes, and the balance of the edition to the town treasurer to dispose of. OLD HOME CELEBRATION In 1902 August 31, September i and 2 were devoted to an "Old Home Week" celebration. The plan for this home- coming was presented by the Rev. Robert L. Webb at a town meeting held on June 16, 1902, and a committee of five were then appointed to select one of twenty-five to arrange for It, the expenses to be met by private subscrip- tions. At the first meeting of the committee of twenty- five, known as the "General Committee", they named an "Executive Committee" of six, of which the Rev. Mr. Webb was the chairman, and three other committees, and later appointed seven more committees. The Executive Committee chose Henry D. Blackman as secretary and John F. Mills as treasurer, and all of the various committees did efficient work. The celebration began on Sunday, which was a beautiful day, with appropriate services In the Churches. On Monday, and again on Tuesday, the bells In the Churches rang at sunrise, and at half past nine on Monday Howard A. Grossman and J. Emery Coulter of the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 625 "Excursion Committee" took charge of a party of twenty- five persons in four carriages and visited twenty-four points of historical interest in the town, including the Townsend house. Ten large signs had been placed indicating the site of the first meeting-house, of the old training-field and other historic places, and the party were accompanied by John F. Mills, whose knowledge of the town is exceptional, and who did much to make the celebration- a success. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Whitaker received and refreshed the sight- seers at the Hillside Farm, and the three hours' drive was much enjoyed. During the forenoon there were sports, including a ball game on Washburn's Field. The Brookline Band furnished music during the sports. In the evening fully five hundred persons assembled in the town hall to hear the historical address of George Kuhn Clarke, who had been chosen Historian by the General Committee. The local papers spoke highly of this address, and it was printed practically in full in the Needham Recorder and in other papers. After the conclusion of the address there were other speakers in answer to invitations from the presiding officer, who was Dr. Albert E. Miller, and John T. Wye read an original poem entitled "Our Dear Old Home". On the platform were seated several guests, and prominent citizens of the town, including the Honorable Enos H. Tucker, then in his eighty-ninth year. The decorations, arranged by a committee of which Armand J. Mathey was the chairman, deservedly attracted much attention. The Webster Quartet furnished music. On Tuesday there was a party to visit places of interest, similar to that on Monday, and which started at ten o'clock; they were given refresh- ments by John A. Tilton and by Mrs. Curtis M'^Intosh. Late on Tuesday afternoon was laid the corner-stone of the new town hall by the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massa- chusetts, the members of the board of selectmen and the building committee participating. Fully three thousand persons witnessed these impressive ceremonies, which had 626 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM been preceded by a procession headed by Dodge's Cadet Band of Natick, which gave a concert from five to six P.M. on the common. Later there was a collation for the Masons and others in the town hall, and in the evening the town officers had a reception in that hall, followed by addresses by ex-Mayor Charles H. Coulter of Brockton, William Carter and others. Prizes for success in the various games were awarded by the Honorable Emery Grover, who had been prominent at the laying of the corner-stone of the new hall. Prizes were also given to Thomas J. Crossman and to Armand J. Mathey, the former in recognition of his having the best decorated store, and the latter the best decorated house. Edgar H. Bowers, the chairman of the selectmen, presided on Tuesday evening, and Knowlton & Allen's orchestra furnished the music. There was enthu- siasm for the Rev. Mr. Webb, who had been the leader in planning and carrying out the programme, and he was called upon at a late hour to speak. The "Old Home Week" ended with a social dance in the hall. The weather was fine during the three days of the celebration, which was a great success, and attended by many former residents of Needham, including Josiah H. Carter, who was upward of ninety years of age and had been a town officer in Need- ham prior to 1850. BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION No attempt has been made to give in this town history an account of the elaborate Bicentennial celebration by the Town of Needham in September, 191 1, as a volume descrip- tive of those memorable days is to be issued by the town, but it is desirable to record what occurred in November, 191 1, when the real birthday was observed. On November 15 the bell of the First Church was rung in recognition of the fact that it was first heard on November 15, 181 1, and on the 17th, the anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town, the various bells were rung and flags were dis- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 627 played. In the evening the Needham Historical Society met in the First Church, when the charter members signed the by-laws, and listened to the reading of a portion of the Rev. Stephen Palmer's Century Sermon and also an ex- tract from his sermon commemorative of Colonel William Mcintosh. On the evening of the 20th the Music Study Class of Needham gave a musical play in Bourne Hall, the title being " Nehoiden " and the scene High Rock Woods prior to 1680. This play was written by Mrs. William C. Moseley, who adapted old English and Indian melodies and ballads to it. Several of the performers excel as singers and the acting was good; all of the parts were taken by women. William Nehoiden " wore the ancient powder- horn owned by Sumner B. Mills, and said to have once been the property of the Indian Nehoiden (or Hahaton). NEEDHAM AUTHORS In 1765 Elizabeth Harris wrote verse inspired by the death of friends, and twenty years later Caleb Fisher, a native of Dedham, but who lived in Needham, wrote in the Byronic strain about women, the poet then having reached the discriminating age of fifteen years. There have been two ministers of the Church in the West Precinct who have been conspicuous as writers, the Rev. Harvey Newcomb and the Rev. Abijah R. Baker. Mr. Newcomb was the author of one hundred and seventy- eight books, all of a religious character, and chiefly for the use of young people, particularly for Sunday Schools. Two of these books had a circulation of thirty-four thousand copies each, and others were nearly as popular. Mr. New- comb's great work, which is still an authority, is the "Cyclo- pedia of Missions", 784 pages, published by Scribners, 1854. Mr. Baker was brilliant and versatile, and wrote a number of books for Sunday School use. Of these "The Catechism Tested by the Bible" had had a sale of half a million copies 628 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM to the year 1871, and was published in six different languages, including Arabic and Hawaiian. In Hawaii the use of this book was established by the Government. President Lin- coln said that he had taught from the religious text-books of Mr. Baker, and that he especially liked "Tim the Scis- sors Grinder", the first in a series of popular stories written by Mrs. Baker. She was Harriette Newell Woods, daughter of Professor Leonard Woods of Andover, and was the author of two hundred volumes, mostly religious novels. Wash- ington Irving referred to certain of her writings in terms of praise. The Rev. Mr. Baker wrote "Divine Sovereignty in Human Salvation", which required thirty editions to satisfy the demand. Other books of his were a success, and his printed sermons and addresses numerous. Dr. William Thomas Green Morton, the discoverer of the use of Ether as an anaesthetic, published comparatively little, but his friend Mr. Rice wrote an interesting volume entitled "Trials of a Public Benefactor, as Illustrated in the Discovery of Etherization", 1859. This book gives an account of the troubled life of Dr. Morton. A complete list of the books, pamphlets and magazine articles written by residents of Needham during the cen- tury ending in 191 1, would be undoubtedly a long one, and, as is the case with the fauna and flora of the town, must be prepared by others than the writer of this history. The establishment of Wellesley College added to the list of authors in Needham, both of prose and verse, and within the limits of the present town there have been no less than fifteen persons who have written verse during the past forty years, and much of it has been printed. NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS Between October, 1868, and December, 1870, Charles E. Keith published five numbers of The Sierra Magazine, purporting to be issued in Needham and San Francisco. These numbers contained in all about one hundred and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 629 twelve pages, and were devoted to poetry and miscellaneous matter written by Mr. Keith. In January, 1871, appeared the first number of The Beautiful Worlds which Mr. Keith intended for a semi-annual, and which was entirely filled with verses. As a matter of fact this periodical was limited to six numbers, the second appearing in October, 1871, and the last in July, 1873, ^^e average number of pages being about twenty-two. The first issue of The Sierra Magazine had contained lines addressed to Lake Cochituate, and verses on High Rock and on Needham. These contribu- tions to the magazine were of considerable length, and the two latter are found also in the final number of The Beautiful World, the verses describing Needham having undergone some alteration in the mean time. All of these pamphlets were issued in book form by C. E. Keith & Co., 36 Bromfield Street, Boston: 1873, and were preceded by a Memoir of Royal Keith, with a genealogy. In 1874 George W. South worth, a native of Stoughton, established a printing office in Needham, and on Saturday, November 28, issued the first number of the Needham Chron- icle and Wellesley Advertiser, which after May 21, 188 1, that being the date of the last issue under the original name, became the Needham Chronicle without the words ^^ and Wellesley Advertiser'^ and to the present time has continued the principal source of local news for many of the citizens of this town. The paper has been changed and enlarged several times, and presents an attractive appearance. Mr. Southworth has the reputation of using good type, and a much higher grade of paper than is customary. This print- ing plant has been one of the features of Needham since 1874, and most of the town printing has been done there. The excellent quality of the paper used is shown by the good condition of the town documents after the lapse of many years. The Dedham Historical Society has the only perfect file of this paper from 1874 to 1897 that is known to the writer of this history. The office files were burned 630 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM with the Odd Fellows Building in 1887. Mr. Cyrus W. Jones, who is a collector of historical documents, has a file of the Chronicle that lacks only eight or ten numbers prior to the year in the nineties when he ceased to preserve the papers. The Needham Globe was issued by William G. Moseley on August I, September i and October i, 1878, and then ceased.^ The Needham News published by John D. Emmons was limited to Vol. i. No. I, which was issued on Friday, June 9, 1883, and The Needham Enterprise, May 18, 1887, did not exceed one number. The latter was the result of the enterprise of Bowers & Brown, printers, and appeared a day or two after their office in the Odd Fellows Building was destroyed by fire. The first number of the Needham Recorder appeared on December 8, 1894, and this paper has continued to the present time, and is practically an edition of the Natick Citizen, of which William T. Howard of Natick was until recently the editor and proprietor. Both the Chronicle and the Recorder have at times been involved in the storms of local politics, representing opposing factions, or parties, and much has been printed that cannot be accepted by the historian as fair or impartial. MUSIC AND MUSICIANS Paul Dewing, who was a military man, is remembered as sometimes playing a huge ophicleide, or tuber, horn. The Flaggs of West Needham and the Manns of East Needham were excellent musicians, and the Fries brothers, Henry, August and Wulf, contributed to give Needham a reputa- tion as the home of some exceptionally accomplished per- formers. Henry D. C. Fries lived in East Needham in the fifties, and his brothers were often there. Moses, William Willard and Joel Richards Mann, sons of Lieut.-Col. Moses * Mr. Moseley states that to the best of his recollection there were four numbers of the Needham Globe, and that the first was issued in July. Cyrus W. Jones says that August i is No. i, and that his file consists of three papers; evidently a file of this paper is extremely rare. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 631 Mann, who was an old-time chorister, were well known, and Willard as a clarinet player had few equals anywhere. Moses Mann, the younger, organized the noted Boston Brass Band. Isaac Flagg played the fife, Solomon Flagg, and his son Solomon, Jr., the snare drum, and Eben Flagg was a noted bandmaster associated with "Ned" Kendall, and who had a high reputation for his mastery of the bugle, cornet and clarinet. Eben Flagg engaged in contests of skill with some well-known bugle and cornet players, and was usually victorious. In 1861 he was the leader of Flagg's Band. It is said that for some time after his first wife's death he declined to play an instrument; he died in Wellesley April 30, 1893, aged eighty-four years and eleven months. Elisha Flagg, the father of Isaac and Eben, was skilled with the fife, and furnished martial music for the musters. The Nehoiden Glee Club flourished in the years im- mediately preceding the Civil War, and the writer has a programme of a concert given by this club in i860. After the war the Highlandville Cornet Band was organized in that village, and its members were of English birth. Thomas Beach led with an Et^ cornet. A uniform was obtained, and for years this band was one of the institutions of the town. The Needham Brass Band was formed at Highland- ville in the seventies, and for a time met in Highland Hall, but later on the premises of James Beless, who rendered generous assistance to the musicians in procuring uniforms and in various ways. In 1883 William Wragg was the business manager of the Needham Brass Band. About 1885 the band was given up, which was regretted, as its members were not only good musicians, but steady and reliable young men. In 1871, or 1872, the Nehoiden Cornet Band was formed at the Great Plain, with Charles Ewing, the druggist, as the leader. Mr. Ewing played a B t? cornet, and John Clews, who lived at Highlandville, added much to the music with his E cornet. The band sometimes 632 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM met In Highland Hall, and included a number of members resident In that part of the town. Alonzo Bond of Boston, a popular Instructor, was their teacher, but the organization barely survived a second summer. They had no uniform except caps. The writer remembers attending one of their rehearsals In Highland Hall, and recalls Mr. Bond's energetic manner. The Needham Choral Society flourished for a year or two soon after the division of the town. In 1907 Charles E. Cushing, who plays the cornet, formed an ex- cellent orchestra of eight pieces, known as the Needham Concert Orchestra. At times the musicians consisted of four ladies and four men, all but two of whom were resi- dents of this town. Since 1909 there has been a fine High School orchestra, familiar as the Needham Harmonic Orches- tra, and which includes ten, or more, pieces. Edward F. Howe has a good orchestra of some half dozen Instruments, and in 1910 the Needham Military Band was formed. In 191 1 the band numbers thirty-two musicians, some of whom are accomplished performers, and It is a source of pride to the citizens of the town. It has a uniform, and In 191 1 a fully equipped band-stand was erected on the common, the public subscribing some $800 for the purpose. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AS TO INDIVIDUALS, HOUSES AND LANDS, ETC. Sixty-five years ago an old black house stood just south of the residence of the late Sherman Bowers and was reached by a cart-path which ran from Webster Street to Rosemary Street. Joseph Mudge, Jr., was an auctioneer In 1790. Moses Mann was licensed in 1795 "to sell by retail distilled Spirits at his Shop" in Needham. Nathaniel Bullard and Royal Mcintosh were auctioneers in 1805, '06. Jabez Morse was a glazier In 181 5; Jonathan Bowdltch and Benjamin Davenport were then blacksmiths. Peter Lyon and Samuel W. Dix were blacksmiths at the Lower Falls under the firm name of Lyon & Dix In 1821. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 633 Early in 18 13 the General Court authorized the towns of Newton and Needham to jointly maintain a fire-com- pany at the Lower Falls. Needham was to furnish eight of the twenty-one enginemen, and thus became identified with Newton's oldest fire-company, which for many years has been known as Cataract Engine Company Number i. The Act of 1813 repealed one passed on June 18, 1812, which created the fire-company, and authorized the select- men of each town to appoint annually in March not more than ten enginemen, thus forming a company of twenty. The Thomas Kingsbury house, later the home of the Bowen family, at the corner of Highland and Greendale Avenues, was built in 1821. It is said that the old barns on the Noyes and Colonel Mcintosh places were both made from portions of a huge ancient barn that stood on the Robert Fuller, Jr., farm. When the Noyes barn was taken down in 1891 it had been on the same site for about seventy years. The house on Rosemary Street, which in 1906 was turned around and moved nearer the street by Mr. William Carter, and now greatly renovated stands north of the Nehoiden Block, was long conspicuous as an old tenement painted red, and the timber from which it was built was cut on Davis C. Mills's land off Greendale Avenue, not far from Great Plain Avenue. Newell Smith's house, later the home of Luther Kingsbury, was built in 1826 on Parish land. The Hagar house on South Street was built in 1827. William Bradley was a blacksmith in Needham in 1845. Artemas Newell, known as "Squire Art", had a reputation for giving good dinners at his house in Needham, and among his guests were Governor Banks, Thomas Wentworth Hig- ginson, and also the then Auditor-General of the Common- wealth and others. Squire Newell had much to do with securing the first railroad facilities for East Needham. The writer well remembers the Squire, who leaned heavily on a cane, and wore a rather brilliant dressing-gown. He died July 3, 1871, aged sixty-four years. 634 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM In i860 C. H. & G. W. Dewing had a store on the Great Plain, and Frederick Marchant and Timothy N. Smith had lumber yards close to the railroad, on the west side, and opposite to each other on Great Plain Avenue. Mr. Marchant's yard was on the north side of the avenue. On August 24, 1893, the one-act comedy entitled "My Uncle's Will" was given in the town hall for the benefit of the Needham Library Building Fund, and Miss Annie M. Clarke of the Boston Museum Company, who for more than fifteen years was a summer resident of Needham, appeared as Florence Marigold with Frank Andrews of the Grand Opera House, Boston, as Charles Cashmore. Miss Clarke is said to have also played the leading part in a drama given in Needham for the same fund, or other object of public interest. Needham felt an earthquake at 2 A.M. on February 5, 1908, and again at 8.30 P.M. on August 15, 1909. The church-bell, mentioned on page 204, weighs nine hundred and sixty pounds. THE HUNNEWELL ESTATE The Honorable John Welles had a fine estate in what is now Wellesley and in Natick, and in 1839 his son-in-law, Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, came to reside in West Needham, occupying the house formerly the home of Dr. Morrill. In 1852 the fine Hunnewell mansion was erected, and two years later the noted Italian gardens were laid out, with six terraces four hundred feet long and the upper terrace seventy feet above the level of the lake. These gardens contain over two acres, and, with the other features of this beautiful estate, are noted far and wide, and are annually visited by thousands of persons, who enjoy the generous hospitality of the owner and share with him the oppor- tunity to view the results of his taste and successful manage- ment. The azaleas and rhododendrons make a most bril- liant show in their season, and the place is attractive and THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 635 worthy of study at all times. The property consisted in 1 88 1 of about four hundred acres, of which one hundred and fifty acres were in Natick and the rest in Needham. Formerly sixty-six acres, with buildings, were owned by the Misses Susan and Jane Welles, but were later acquired by Mr. Hunnewell, who also bought thirty acres of the Dr. Morton estate. Ten acres of this land he gave to the Town of Wellesley for a park, and built there the fine town hall and library building, which he also presented to the town. The playground of twenty acres on Washington Street, and that in South Natick, are among his many presents to the people, and his kindly manners and generous deeds, without the slightest ostentation, made him beloved in the community where he lived for upward of sixty years. Prior to 1881 Mr. Hunnewell had gathered around him his chil- dren and grandchildren, and one mansion after another rose on the Hunnewell estate, until at the present time (191 1) the family occupies six or eight fine residences. The letter W may still be seen upon the gates of the Welles place as one approaches the Natick line. Hogs! anb ^ogreabes As early as 1632 there was legislation in Massachusetts to restrain the swine, and in 1636 the office of hogreave was created. Under both charters laws were passed, and amended from time to time, relative to swine running at large. In 1719 the town chose Jonathan Smith and Andrew Wodkins "for the Regelalating of Swine & Sworn", and on March 4, 1722/3, voted that "Swine Should Run at Larg". The vote of 1722/3, with slightly varying language, was annually repeated until 1768, when the majority was on the other side, but the vote was reconsidered at an adjourned meeting. In 1769 the sentiment was again unfavorable to the liberties of the swine, and from that time on, with the exception of 1770-5, it was rarely in their favor for two con- secutive years, although in 1790 the hogs were to be free a portion of the year. This was about the last of the votes that did not enjoin constant restraint.^ It is said that the pigs in early times wandered long dis- tances, remaining in the woods for months and rearing their families there. The General Court had enacted in February, 1713/14, that swine were to be restrained, and a fine of twenty shillings was imposed upon a man who ^ In 1781 the vote was "Swine to Run at Large this year Being well yoked and Ringed"; the next year there was a contest as to whether they would "Shut up their Hogs" from March 25 to May I, and from September I to October 31, but the votes which were once passed were later reconsidered. There was an annual controversy about the swine for many years, and as a nuisance and detriment to the town, because of the way in which they were kept, they have been a live issue to the close of the nineteenth century, and may be in the twentieth. In 1884 the citizens had much difficulty in getting rid of a piggery, containing several hundred animals, which a non-resident had located on Marked Tree Road, and but a short distance from the modern centre of the town. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 637 refused to serve as a hogreave, but In 1747 it was provided that the same person should not be chosen to that office oftener than once in four years. POUNDS AND STOCKS On May 11, 1713, Joslah Newell and Josiah Haws were chosen by the town to make a pound, and in December the former was granted £2, los., 2d. "for defraying the Charg of Sitting up a pound for this Town". In September, 1721, it was voted to build a pound and stocks, and the next May to rebuild the pound on land given by Josiah Haws. Mr. Haws lived on the hill north of where Edward Granville Fuller's house is, and it is not unlikely that the land he gave was identical with the site of the modern pound, which was at the entrance to the driveway of the late Michael W. Quinlan on Great Plain Avenue. Mr. Haws was to build the pound for £2, 5s. "upon the Land of S^ Haws which Land he Gives free for the ufe of the Town as Long as S"* pound" shall exist. He rebuilt it in 1733, and for more than twenty years had charge of it, and made the necessary repairs at the ex- pense of the town. In 1733 the town voted to build a pound near the house of Peter Edes, in the West, but reconsidered the vote a few days later. At the March meeting in 1744/5 £10 were appropriated to build a pound, and a year later Robert Ware and Josiah Newell, Jr., had performed the work, and another £10 were required to pay for it. From 1761 to 1764 Amos Fuller, Jr., made repairs on the pound, and in 1767 Capt. Ephraim Jackson was granted £9, 8s. "for his Building a Stone pound and Finding Meterials their for"; this stone pound appears to have resulted from a vote of May 22, 1766, which was to build a pound "Near Caps Jackfon's or Lis Mackintafh's: where it Shall be thought moft proper". The selectmen were the building committee. On March 14, 1763, the town refused to abate forty shillings "of the note that was Given by Mef" Lokers of Sudbery to Caps Eleazer Kingsbery Town Treafurer as 638 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM a Fine For their Breaking open Needham Pound", or to pay Ephraim and Moses Bullard two "Dollors" "for their Detecting Mef" Lokers in the act of Pound Breach". In 181 1 Lieut. Fisher Mills repaired the pound to the extent of $22.25. I^ 1847 the town directed the selectmen to sell the old pound if they could get $20 for it, and to build a new one on the town farm. It does not appear what action was taken under this vote, but in 1855 the selectmen were authorized to build a pound at the town farm, and it con- tinued in use until the division of the town in 1881, since which time the pound has been nominally at the stable of the pound-keeper. The law of 1648 awarded death by hanging to the dog that killed a sheep. In March, 1721, the town "a greed by a vote that no Ram Should go at Larg in the Common from the first day of august untill y« last day of October under penalty of 3 shilling or the Ram that Shall be taken up by any owner of Sheep in this town". Eleven years later a similar vote was passed increasing the time of restraint about a week. On March 13, 1738/9, John Fisher, Esq., James Smith and Aaron Smith were chosen a committee "to draw up Sumthing to bring to the Town Refpecting Rams Running att Large", and on May 16 the town passed the following vote: — "Whereas the Inhabitants of the town of Needham Labour under Dificultys with Respect to Rams going at Large which have been a great damage by reafon of the Sheeps Lambing in Winter Seafon It is There- fore Ordered. That from & after the Laft Day of July next until the first day of November yearly for such term of time as they Shall think Convenient no rams Shall be Suffered to go at Large in Said town under the Penalty of twenty Shillings to be paid by the Owner of Such Ram one Moiety to y" finder and the other Moiety to the poor of said town & every ram so found Running at Large to be posted up in Some Publick Place in S^ town with the Colour & Marks both natural & artificial & if noo owner appear THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 639 within the Space of Six days then the S^ ram to belong to y® finder of S^ ram he paying y« one half of y® Value of S^ ram to the Select men & overfeers of the Poor. The fore- going Order or by Law having been read three Several times voted that y^ Same be accepted & that John Fisher Esq? & Aaron Smith be & hereby are desired to prefent to y^ Court of Gen: Sefsions of y^ Peace next to be holden at Boston for their Appropriation". On May 14, 1789, a lengthy and elaborate vote restraining rams from going at large between the twentieth of August and the tenth of November "having had Three Several Readings in Town meeting legally afsembled past to be anacted by a Vote In the Affirmative". The town records contain under date of October 16, 1752, a description of two steers "Taken up Damage Fesant by Nathaniel Fisher of Needham", and the appraisal of these steers was recorded as taking place on the 28th. In the back part of Vol. IV. of our town records will be found a number of similar transactions more elabo- rately recorded. At the May meeting In 1779 the town voted "that their Cattel Should feed on the Roads and Commons In the Town". In 1801 James Smith petitioned the town to enforce the law of 1800, which authorized towns to restrain "Neat Cattle and horfes and horse kind" from going at large "without a Keeper", and the town voted to restrain said animals from May i to October "laft",and a sim- ilar vote was passed annually for fifty years, with rare excep- tions. The length of the period of restraint, however, varied, but later Included the entire year. The first Inspector of Cattle and Provisions In Needham was Samuel O. Fowle, M .D .V., who was appointed In 1893, and served for many years at a salary of $100, which has recently been increased to $300. POUND-KEEPERS The following list Is Incomplete as to the early pound- keepers, but the best that the records afford: — Joseph Haws, 1714 (May 12), '16-18, four years, probably 640 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM served for many years, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., appointed by the selectmen on May 19, 1746, Amos Fuller, Jr., appointed on May 12, 1766, "To be Pound Keeper For the year Enfuing", Major Ebenezer MTntosh, 1804-10, '13-17 (twelve years), Lemuel Fairbanks, 181 1, Lemuel Pratt, 1812, '13, '18, '19, '30, '32, Capt. Curtis M^'Intosh, 1820-5, '31 (seven years), Ebenezer Whiting M'^Intosh, 1833-7, '44, '45 (seven years), Jabez Smith, 1838, '40-3, '46 (six years). Bill Burrill, 1847, William F. Welch, 1848, James Smith, 1849, Charles M'=Intosh, 1850-2 (three years), Ezekiel Peabody, 1853-8, '75-81 (thirteen years). Dexter Kingsbury, 1859-66 (eight years), Benjamin Joy, 1868- 71 (four years), perhaps also served a part of 1872, Edward L. Ward, 1872, Everett Johnson Eaton, 1882, '83, '88-90 (five years), Robert Edwin Ames, 1884-7 (four years), Charles Hiram Dewing, 1891-5 (five years), Alger Emerson Eaton, 1896- . There seems to be no record of the election, or appoint- ment, of a pound-keeper in 1857, in 1867, in 1873 or in 1874. At the March meeting in 1857 the appointments of high- way surveyors, field drivers, surveyors of wood, sealers of leather, sealers of bread and surveyors of lumber were referred to the selectmen, but their selections were ratified by the town on April 2. These officers were again elected in 1859, but the pound-keeper, sealer of weights and meas- ures and the firewards have been appointed by the select- men for more than thirty years. The selectmen have also prepared the lists of other minor town officers when the town did not exercise that power. FIELD DRIVERS The field drivers have had only nominal duties In modern times, and never were important. In Needham the number was originally two, but was soon increased to four, and then reduced to three. There were rarely, if ever, more than five until 18 14, when eight were chosen; in 1818 there were THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 641 eleven, in 1828 twelve, and the number has since varied. In 1880 there were five, in 1898 eight, in 1904 four, and in 191 1 three. It does not appear to what extent the law as to cattle and swine going at large was enforced a century ago, but in later times it has not always been observed. In the years from 183 1 to 1853, inclusive, the fence viewers and the field drivers were combined into one list which numbered from six to thirteen individuals, varying at different dates. FENCE VIEWERS A law of December, 1693, required each town to elect two or more fence viewers, and as early as 1653 the select- men had duties as fence viewers. In 171 2 there were two fence viewers chosen by the Town of Needham, in 18 12 three, in 1854 six, and since 1867 the selectmen have been the fence viewers. The duties of the fence viewers involve considerable formality, and their findings have been recorded at the end of different volumes of the town records. There are no conspicuous instances of long service among them. For the names of the field drivers and fence viewers from 171 2 to 1776 see the lists of minor town officers later in this book. Early in 1772 Samuel Wight was granted 7s., 2d., 2f. for "Irons for the Stocks in Needham", and Lieut. Jonathan Day ten shillings for "Making & Setting Up the Stocks". WILD ANIMALS AND BOUNTIES Wolves were numerous in Dedham in its early days, but scarce after 1700, although* not unknown in West Dedham much later. In 1705 Benjamin Colburn received ten shil- lings for killing a wolf, and the bounty was not abolished till 1716. On September 7, 1730, Josiah Kingsbery, the treasurer of Needham, had paid £6 for wild cats killed "and fent to the Province Treafurer", and in the winter of 173 1/2 the assessors made a rate "to Defray the Nefsefsary 642 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Charges of this Town for this prefent year (With Refpect to the paying for Killing Wild Catts to gether with Other Charges of the Town". On April 4, 1791, the town voted a "Bounty of one Shil- ling for each Crow that may be killed within the limits of of Said Town by any of the Inhabitants of said town". Later the usual bounty was ten cents, but from 18 14 to 18 16 it was twenty-five cents, although subsequently again ten cents, and in 1805 and 18 18 there was no bounty paid by the town for crows. The season was from May l to July I, and in 18 16 the claims for crow bounties were to be brought in within sixty days. The later year seventy-eight crows appear to have thus lost their lives, and in 1827 one hundred and four crows were paid for at twenty cents each. It is said that there was fraud in connection with these claims. In 1868 the selectmen were requested by the town to instruct the constables "to prevent gunning on the Sabbath". DEER AND DEERREAVES In 1693/4 there was legislation in Massachusetts to pro- tect the deer, and in 1739 a law was enacted requiring each town to choose two deerreaves; "Dearreaves" our town clerks called them, and the deer were supposed to be pro- tected from January I to July i. On November 23, 1739, Jonathan Smith and John Goodanow "were Chofen to take care of the Deer as the Law Directs", and were duly sworn. Josiah Ware was deerreave for thirty-five years between 1743 and 1788, and some years had no colleague, notwithstanding the statute. The last deerreaves in Need- ham were Charles Deming and Lieut. Nathan Dewing who were chosen for 1798. All laws for the "preservation and increase" of moose and deer were repealed on February 27, 1797, with the exception that the laws continued in force on certain islands. For many years no deer were seen in Needham, but in the first decade of the twentieth century they became not infrequent visitors in different THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 643 sections of the town. In July, 1910, a buck was seen feeding in the writer's mowing land, and later the same day a doe appeared. In 1909 several had been reported, but usually only one was seen at a time. For the names of the deerreaves from 1739 to 1776, in- clusive, see the lists of minor town officers. DOGS By a law of 1798 owners of dogs were required to certify the number of their dogs to the assessors on or before April I, and after 1798 on or before May i, and each dog was to be taxed $1, and to wear a collar with the name of the owner of the dog on it. If not certified the tax was $2, and no tax exemptions applied. The assessors were to cause unlicensed dogs to be killed, and might pay as high as $2 for killing one dog, and draw on the town treasurer for the amount paid. Owners were liable for dog damages. Pay- ing this dog tax was to give no "habitancy". The law did not apply to the District of Maine. This law was the fore- runner of others, and in 1865 the tax on male dogs was made $2. In 1798 there were twenty-five dogs in the East part of the town and twenty-four in the West taxed at $1 per head. The number licensed in different decades has been as fol- lows: — 1900 260, 1905 357, 1910 339. As far as known to the writer dogs under the age of six months have been omitted from the census. From 1869 to 1888 the schools benefited by the dog taxes, and from 1889 the Free Public Library, which received $722.52 from this source in 191 1. Early in 1849 a large committee was chosen to enforce the dog law, and "to prevent dogs from going at large" unless the dog was "Muzzeled Sufficant to prevent his biting or doing damage, under a penalty of $10"; the committee was also to ask the General Court for a change in the law. In 1854 the town levied a tax of two dollars per head on all dogs running at large, and required the animals to be 644 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM licensed and to wear collars with their owners' names inscribed thereon. Failure to observe these regulations was to involve a fine of $io "without Judge or Jury". As late as 1852 there were no seats in the town hall, except for certain officials, and such as were brought in for aged men, and the older citizens say that at the town meet- ings the dogs were almost as numerous as the voters, and that these noble animals greatly disturbed the meetings. In 1859 there were still some sheep in Needham, and the inhabitants petitioned the General Court "for better pro- tection of Sheep from the ravages of Dogs", voting at the April meeting that if the General Court did not heed their re- quest then "the Town hereby request the Assessors to omit taking the Invoice of Dogs, and assessing a Dog Tax for the present year". In 1858 only thirty-one dogs had been reg- istered, of which number Davis C. Mills had three, presum- ably foxhounds, as he was well known as a fox-hunter through- out an extensive territory, and came of a hunting family. FISH On May 22, 1738, the town voted to petition the General Court to remove the "Comberance" at Watertown, which prevented fish from coming up the river, and in 1765 En- sign Lemuel Pratt was chosen by the town "to See to the Obfervation of the law Relating to y^ Catching of Fifh". Under date of May 31, 1786, forty-six men, most of them of Needham, petitioned the General Court to protect the shad in the Charles River, which were taken with "Seanes & Wares" to the great injury "of the poorer part of the Community". The petitioners stated "That moft of the Sluices at the Damns below the lower falls in the Town of Newton are so conftructed as to render the pafsage of the said fifh difficult, and at some feafons impracticable", and that as a result "thofe valueable fifh will foon be exterpated from the faid River". The General Court failed to legislate at that time in behalf of the shad (House Files 1992). ^tate, Count? anb tlToton Officers Judge of the District Court of Northern Norfolk: — Hon. Emery Grover, June 15, 1898- . Member of the Governor's Council: — Edgar Kimball Whitaker, 1851. State Senators: — Joseph Emery Fiske, 1876, ''"j'j^ Enos Houghton Tucker, 1888, '89. Representatives in the General Court: — Capt. Robert Cook, John Smith, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Josiah Kingsbery, John Fisher, Esq., William Bowdoin, Lieut. Amos Fuller, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Col. William Mcintosh, Dea. John Fisher, Nathaniel Fisher, Robert Fuller, Jr., Lieut. William Fuller, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, Lieut. Col. Silas Alden, Lieut. Daniel Ware, James Smith, Capt. Jonathan Gay, Jr., Capt. Elisha Lyon, Seth Colburn, Aaron Smith, 1712, '26, '39. 1714. 1723. 1728, '29, '31. 1735-8, '40, '41, '51 (seven years). 1752-5 (four years). 1756, '59-61, '66 (five years). 1768-72, '74, '79 (seven years) 1775, '^6, '80, '81, '83. 1777, '78. 1782, '85. 1787. 1789, '90. 1793, '98, '99> 1801, '03. 1796. 1805-7, '10-13 (seven years). 1808, '09. 1814. 1816, '39, '40. 1824, 1827. 646 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM George Fisher, Gen. Charles Rice, Rufus Mills, Thomas Kingsbury, Solomon Flagg, Jr., William Flagg, Dea. Asa Kingsbury, Emery Fiske, Capt. George Smith, Rev. Daniel Kimball, Edgar Kimball Whitaker, Henry Robinson, Lauren Kingsbury, George Keith Daniell, Charles Curtis Greenwood, Galen Orr, John Morton Harris, Joseph Emery Fiske, James Mackintosh, Lyman Knights Putney, Enos Houghton Tucker, Albert Ebur Miller, William Carter, Thomas Sutton, William Henry Carter, William George Moseley, 1830. 1831. 1832 (he was the first elected in November preceding the year of service), '33. 1834-6, '48, '49 (five years). 1834, '61. 1836, '37. 1837, '38, '42. 1840, '41. 1843, '44. 1846. 1847. 1850, '51. 1855, the district 1858. 1857, '66, '70. 1863. 1864. 1872. 1874. 1876, '77, '81. 1880, '83. 1885. '89. '04. '10. I 1895. 1903, 1906. 1909, The following were elected to represent Needham in the General Court and declined to serve: — John Smith, 1715* Josiah Kingsbery, 1730, Capt. Moses BuUard, 1781, Lieut. William F'uller, 1782. The representative was chosen at the May meeting until 183 1, and under the Second Charter, which includes the years 171 1 to 1776, he was the only official connected with the general government of the Prov- ince that was chosen by the people. The election of cer- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 647 tain County officers by the voters has already been referred to. In 1834, 1836, 1837, and 1840 Needham had two members of the General Court at one time, but there were many earlier years when no representative was chosen, and after the formation of the district the other towns included in it had each the representative for certain years according to an agreement of the local political committees. The years given in the list are those for which the member sat, without reference to the fact that since 1832 he has been elected in November of the previous year. From 1857 to 1876 Needham with Dover and Medfield formed the Four- teenth Norfolk district, but in 1876 the town of Norfolk was added and the number of the district was changed to the Ninth. In 1886 Millis took the place of Norfolk, and in 1906 Needham was separated from Dover, a town with which it had many associations and common interests, and also from Wellesley, which until 1881 was a part of Needham, and was united with Dedham to form the First Norfolk district. County Commissioner: — Galen Orr, 1872-9. Special County Commissioners: — Galen Orr, 1869-71, Everett Johnson Eaton, 1889-96 (died in office June 8). Commissioner of Insolvency: — Emery Grover, 1877- January, 1896, when the office was abolished. Deputy-Sheriffs: — Nathaniel Bullard, 1799-1816 (died in office November 27, 1816), Nathaniel Bullard, 1816-37 (died in office March 10, 1837), John Whiting Slack, 1828-34, William Wragg, 1893 (August 25)- . Assistant Registrar of Probate: — Edwin Manton Grover, A.B., LL.B., 1904-died April 28, 1905. Trial Justices: — George Keith Daniell, Emery Grover, July 31, 1868-June 15, 1898, when he became Judge of the District Court of Northern Norfolk. The Justices of the Peace to 1846 were: — Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, appointed December 19, 1728, October 25, 1737, and November 5, 1761, John Fisher, Jr., appointed February 648 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 21, 1734/5, Ebenezer Fisher, appointed June 21, 1751, and November 5, 1761, Nathaniel Fisher, appointed March 25, 1767, Capt. William Faris, Josiah Newell, 1775-89, Lieut. William Fuller, 1795-1802, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 1800- , Dea. Isaac Shepard, 1806-9, Benjamin Slack, 1807- , James Ford, 1807- , Capt. Daniel Ware, 1809-19, Enoch Fisk, 1814.^-27, Capt. Artemas Newell, 1821-30, Peter Lyon, 1821-38, Capt. Elisha Lyon, 1824- , Aaron Smith, 1826-33, Israel Whitney, 1833- , Amos Allen, no dates. Rev. Daniel Kimball, 1835- , Capt. George Smith, 1837- , Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, 1838- , William Flagg, 1838- , Gen. Charles Rice, 1841- , Edgar K. Whitaker, 1843- (of the Quorum in 1850), Capt. Reuben Ware, 1845- , Rufus Mills, 1846- . Coroners: — Nathaniel Fisher, appointed March 25, 1767, January 30, 1776, and October 17, 1 781, David Smith, Jr., i796?-i832, Enoch Fuller, 1809-29, Daniel Ware, 1818-32, Rufus Mills, 1 830-9, George K. Daniell 1871 and other years. SELECTMEN The names of the selectmen of Needham have been printed three times, but all of these lists contain errors, as they were made up from the records of the annual meetings only. The following is intended to be accurate: — Deacon Timothy Kingsbery, 1711-18,^ '20, '21, '23, '24, '32, '33. '36, '39, '47 (seven- teen years). Capt. John Fisher, 171 1, '14? '22-6 (seven years). John Smith, 1711? '13-16, '18, '20 (seven years). Benjamin Mills, 171 1? 'i9- Capt. Robert Cook, 1711-15, '18-21, '23, '24, '27- 31, '34. '35, '37, '39-47, (twenty-eight years). ' The years of election only are given and 1712-18 means seven full years, viz., from March, 1712 to March, 1719. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 649 Joseph Daniell, Deacon Jeremiah Woodcock, Richard Moore, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf, John Rice, Josiah Kingsbery, Deacon Eleazer Kingsbery, Benjamin Mills, Jr., John Smith, Jr., Josiah Newell, Joseph Hawes, Joseph Boyden, Joseph Mills, Henry Pratt, Andrew Dewing, Capt. Robert Fuller, Ensign Thomas Fuller, James Kingsbery, William Mills, John Fisher, Esq., Zachariah Mills, Jonathan Huntting, John Underwood, Jonathan Smith, Lieut. Amos Fuller, Benoni Woodward, Ensign Aaron Smith, 1712. 1712-14, '19, '22, '33 (six years). 171 2-14 (three years). 1714, '15, '18, '23, '27, '30, '3 1. 1715, '16, '18, '20. 1716, '17, '20-3, '25, '26, '28, '38 (ten years). 1716, '17, '21, '27, '29-31, '33, '36, '39, '41, '46-8 (four- teen years). 1717. 1717, '19, '22, '24, '26, '28. 1719, '22, '24, '25. 1719. 1721. 1723. 1725, '26, '28-31, '34, '35 (eight years). 1725, '27. 1726, '28-32, '34, '35, '37, '39, '42, '43, '46-9 (sixteen years). 1727, '29, '39. 1732, '41, '43- 1732. 1732, '36, '38, '45, '47, '50. 1734. '35, '43, '46, '47, '49- 1734, '35- 1736. 1736, '38, '49. 1737, '42, '43, '52, '54-8, '60, '61, '64, '65, '69 (fourteen years). 1737, '40- 1737, '40, '42, '44, '47-Si 6so THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Nathaniel Bullard, John Goodenow, Jeremiah Fisher, Samuel Parker, Josiah Newell, Esq., Eliakim Cook, Joseph Daniell, Nathaniel Mann, John Alden, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, Thomas Metcalf, Ephraim Ware, Jr., Lieut. Robert Fuller, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, John Mills, Ebenezer Skinner, Samuel Mackintyre, Samuel Daniell, Jonathan Smith, (elected and declined 1754; served nine years). 1740, '46 (elected and de- clined 1732). 1740. 1742, '44. '45, '47, '48, '50- 1744, '45- 1744/45, '47-51/53, '61, '62, '64-6, '69, '74, 'n (de- clined in 1754; he served sixteen years). 1750, '51, '59, '^^' 1751. 1751- 1752. 1752, '54, '59, '62, '70, '73. 1752-8, '60 (died 1760, Rob- ert Fuller was chosen on October 20). Metcalf was elected and declined on March 12, 1759; he served eight years. 1752. 1753-62, '6t, '68, '70, '72, '74, '76-8, '80, '84 (twenty years). 1753, '56-8, '60, '62, '64, 'e^, '67, '68, '70, '73 (elected and declined on March 12, 1759; he served twelve years). 1753. 1754- 1755-7, '60 (four years). 1755- 1758. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Nathaniel Fisher, 651 Lemuel Pratt, Ephraim Bullard, Michael Metcalf, Deacon John Fisher, Jonathan Deming, Timothy Newell, Josiah Eaton, John Kingsbery, Capt. Ephraim Jackson, Col. William Mcintosh, Seth Wilson, Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher, Capt. William Smith, Lieut. Jonathan Day, Amos Fuller, Benjamin Mills, Lieut. John Bacon, Samuel Daggett, Josiah Ware, Ebenezer Fuller, William Fuller, Esq., Lieut.-Col. Silas Alden, John Slack, Lieut. Oliver Mills, Thomas Fuller, Aaron Smith, Jr., Stephen Bacon, 1759, '62, '73, '74, '-]-], '78, '82, '85. 1 759-63 J '73 (six years). 1761. 1763-5, '67, '68, '71, '72 (seven years). 1763-5, '68, '75, '81 (six years). 1763. 1763, '69, '72, 'l^' 1766, '74. 1766. 1766. 1767, '68, '70, '75, '78, '80, '81, '83-5, '91, '92 (twelve years). 1767, '69. 1769. 1770, '75, '79- 1771. 1771, '72, 'l^, '89, '90- 1771, '84. 1771. 1772 (elected May 21), '79. 1773- 1774, '75 1775-81, '83-6, '88-92, '94-6, '98, 1800, '01 (twenty- two years). 1776, '80, '87, '88, '91, '93, '97-1802 (twelve years). 1777, '78. 1779, '86, '87, '89, '92, '94, '95 1779, '80. 1781. 1781. 652 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Robert Fuller, Jr., Enoch Parker, Henry Dewing, Eleazer Fuller, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, Capt. Aaron Smith, Jeremiah Daniell, Jonathan Smith, Dea. Isaac Shepard, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, Samuel Brown, Nathaniel Ware, Ebenezer Day, Enoch Fisk, Esq., Moses Fisk, Capt. Josiah Newell, Aaron Smith, Esq., Capt. Robert Smith, Lieut. Jonathan Gay, William Farris, Dr. Timothy Fuller, Col. Moses Mann, Samuel Pratt, George Fisher, Lieut. Moses Garfield, Maj. Ebenezer Mcintosh, 1782, '83, '87, '88, '92. 1782. 1782 (May 27). 1782, '83, '99, 1800-2 (six years). 1782, '90, '93-6, elected and declined in 1797, served '98, '99, 1800-3 (twelve years). 1783, '89; Captain Smith had been elected in 1781, but declined. 1783. 1784. 1784 (May 13). 1785. 1785-8 (four years). 1786. 1786. 1787, '88, 1818 (May 14). 1789. 1790, '91, '93. 1790-99, 1 801-4, '08-12, '17, '18 (resigned in May), '20, '22, '28, '29 (twenty-five years). 1793-5 (three years). 1796-8 (three years). 1796, '97. 1797 (May 11). 1799, 1800, '04. 1802. 1803, '04, '16, '18, '19. 1803, '04, '06, '08, '12-19 (twelve years). 1803-7, '18, '19, '21, '23 (nine years). THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 653 Daniel Ware, Esq., Royal M-^Intosh, Amos Fuller, Jr., David Smith, Jr., Benjamin Slack, Esq., James Smith, Dr. Samuel Gould, Capt. George Smith, Seth Colburn, Peter Lyon, Esq., Artemas Newell, Esq.. Israel Whitney, Capt. Reuben Ware, Gen. Charles Rice, Capt. Ebenezer Fuller, Capt. Curtis M'=Intosh, Thomas Kingsbury, Amraphel Smith, Dea. Benjamin Fuller, Joseph Newell, William Flagg, Davis Collins Mills, Solomon Flagg, Jr., Dexter Ware, William Alden Kingsbury, 1805-16 (twelve years). 1805, '07. 1805. 1 805-1 1 (seven years). 1806, '19 (May io)-22, '24-6, '31 (nine years). 1 807-1 1 (five years). 1809-12 (four years). 1817, '20, '22, '23, '26. 18 17, '19 (elected and de- clined in 1820, '21). 1817, '20-3, '25, '26, '34 (eight years). 1820 (April 3)-3, elected in 1824 and declined, '26-8, '30 (eight years); died in office May 23, 1830. 1824, '34. 1824-6, '43 (four years). 1825, '27, '28, '30, '32, '33. 1827. 1827, '28. 1829, '30, '32, '33, '35. 1829, '31. 1829, '31. 1830 (November i)-3 (three years and four months). 183 1-3 (resigned in 1833), '35, '36, '44, '45, '52, '59, '60; died in office February 16, 1861. 1832, '33, '43, '44- 1833 (April i), '42, '43, '46-9 (seven years). 1834, '35. 1834. 654 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Tyler Pettee, John Smith Bird, Col. Warren Dewing, Otis Sawyer, Michael Mcintosh, Reuel Ware, Spencer Fuller, Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, Jonathan Fuller, Jr., Emery Fiske, William Eaton, Capt. William Pierce, Moses Garfield, 2d, James Smith, John Mills, Ichabod Bullen, Daniel Grant, Timothy Newell Smith, George Keith Danlell, Joslah Howe Carter, Galen Orr, Charles Curtis Greenwood, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., George Rowland, Silas Gustavus Williams, Augustus Stevens, Dexter Kingsbury, Freeman Phillips, James Mackintosh, 1834. 1835. 1835, '36, '45-8 (six years). 1836, '52-5 (five years). 1836. 1836-8 (three years). 1837, '38. 1837, '38, '56, '57. 1837, '53-7 (six years). 1838-40 (three years). 1839, '42-4 (four years). 1839-44, '48, '51 (eight years). 1839-41 (three years). 1840, '41. 1841, '42. 1842 (April 5). 1844. 1849-51 (three years). 1850, '51. 1852-4 (three years); he was living in 1907 aged ninety- six years, and was then still active. 1855, '58-65, '72 (ten years). 1856, '57. 1858-60 (three years). 1858. 1861-8 (eight years). 1861-8 (eight years). 1869, '70, '72. 1869, '70. 1870, '75-7, '81, '84 (resigned in December, 1884); he had then served six years lacking less than three months. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 72. 655 George Spring, Edmund Mortimer Wood, Hezekiah Fuller, Capt. Joseph Emery Fiske, William Ritchie Mills, Everett Johnson Eaton, Mark Lee, Lyman Knights Putney, Joseph Haven Dewing, Enos Houghton Tucker, Henry Blackman, William Henry Harrison M<=Intosh, Frederick Pope Glover, William Carter, Frank Eugene Stedman, Thomas Sutton, Arthur Whitaker, Aaron Twigg, Edgar Howard Bowers, Francis Llewellyn Fuller, William George Moseley, George Kuhn Clarke,^ Walter Hewitt, Charles Elmer Stanwood, 1871, 1871. 1872. 1873-6 (four years). 1873, '74. 1873, '74- 1875-82 (resigned on May 5, 1882), '88, '89 (ten years); he died in office January 12, 1890. 1877 to the division of the town in April, 1881. 1878 to the division (three years). 1881-3, '85, '86 (five years). 1882 (May 29), '83. 1882, '83. 1884-8 (five years). 1884-7 (four years). 1887. 1888-91^ (four years). 1889-95 (seven years). 1890-3 (four years). 1892-4, '97-1900, '02, '04, '05, '07, '08 (twelve years). 1894-6 (three years). 1895, '96. 1896. 1897-1900 (four years). 1 897-1 900 (four years). * On March 5, 1888, the town voted to elect its selectmen and assessors for three years, and this vote took effect in 1889, but in 1894 the one-year terms were resumed. On March 2, 1903, the three-years term for assessors was again adopted. ' Mr. Clarke was the last selectman chosen from the old Centre, and until the election of Austin Potter in 191 1 there had been none for fourteen years from the entire western portion of the town. 656 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Walter Flint Snow, 1901, '03. Alfred John Mercer, 1901-3 (three years). Joseph Barke Thorpe, 1902-5 (four years). Daniel Webster Richards, 1904-6. Mr. Richards was a retired business man of ability, wide experience, and strong character. He rendered important service to the town, and died Octo- ber 4, 1906, while chairman of the selectmen. William Gorse, 1906. John Adams Tilton, 1906-10 (five years). William Arthur Probert, 1907- . Henry Thomas Childs, 1909- . Austin Potter, 191 1- . The following were elected, but never served as select- men: — Isaac Underwood, 1772, Capt. Moses Bullard, 178 1, Lieut. Ephraim Bullard, 1787, Luther Smith, 18 19, Capt. Timothy Bullard, 1819. The number of selectmen was five from 171 1 to 1845, with the exception of the following years: — seven in 1714, three in 1733, 1738, 1741 and in 1830, nine in 1747. In the early years, apparently to 173 1, the town clerk was ex- officio a selectman, but is included in the numbers given. Since 1845 there have been three selectmen each year. For- merly they received pay only for special services, such as perambulating the line, but occasionally the town furnished them with toddy, or other drink, at Morse's or Bullard's. For example: — on March 10, 1763, 19s., 4d. were granted to Landlord Bullard "for Some Entertainment the Select men had at his houfe in the Space of a year Pafi:". In the seventies the selectmen were paid $300 each per year for some years, but James Mackintosh declined all compensa- tion, and the writer has the impression that Mr. Mackintosh never drew a salary as selectman. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM es7 Town Clerks : — Timothy KIngsbery, Richard Moore, Josiah Newell, Capt. John Fisher, Capt. Robert Fuller, Thomas Fuller, Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, Eliakim Cook, Thomas Metcalf, Lieut. Robert Fuller, Moses Fuller, Dr. Timothy Fuller, Daniel Kingsbery, James Smith, Daniel Ware, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, Capt. Jonathan Gay, Solomon Flagg, Dr. Samuel Gould, Dea. Asa Kingsbury, Solomon Flagg, 171 1 (December 4)-i8, '20, '21, '23, '24 (eleven years and three months). 1714 (four months). 1719. 1722, '25-7 (four years). 1728-35, '37, '41-3, '46-9 (sixteen years). 1736, '38. 1739, '40, '44- 1745, '50, '51- 1752-60 (eight years and seven months); he died in office October 8, 1760. 1760 (October 2o)-his death May 12, 1788. May 12, 1788-96 (nine years); he was elected on June 9, 1788, and at the annual meeting on March 14, 1796, but declined the latter year. 1796 (May 9)-8 (three years). 1799. 1800. 1801. 1802-4 (three years). 1805-15, '23 (twelve years). 1816, '17, '22. Mr. Flagg was elected in 1820 and de- clined. 1 8 18-21 (four years). 1824 to his death on August 17, 1850. August 19, 1850 to the di- vision of the town April, 658 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Charles Curtis Greenwood, Harrie Sumner Whittemore, Thomas Sutton, 1 88 1 (thirty years and eight months). April, 1 88 1 to his death on June 7, 1897. by appointment of the select- men June 12, 1897. 1897 (July i)- . The following were elected, but never served as town clerk: — Michael Metcalf, March 14, 1763, Robert Fuller, May 13, 1793. Town Treasurers: Capt. Robert Cook, Thomas Metcalf, Josiah Kingsbery, Eleazer Kingsbery, Benjamin Mills, Jr., Thomas Fuller, Timothy Kingsbery, Benoni Woodward, John Fisher, Capt. Robert Fuller, Jonathan Parker, Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Timothy Newell, Nathaniel Fisher, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, Amos Fuller, 1712, '16, '18, '33-5, '39-45 (thirteen years). 1713- 1714, '19-22, '28-30, '36-8 (eleven years). 1715- 1717. 1723, '24. 1725- 1726; he was also elected in March, 173 1/2, but de- clined. '^l'2'l. '31, '32. 1746-9 (four years). 1750-5 (six years). 1756-63 (eight years). 1761; he was elected on March 9, and excused from serving May 21, when Cap- tain Kingsbery was again chosen. 1764, '65. 1766-8 (three years). 1769-90 (twenty-two years). THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 6S9 Moses Fuller, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, Daniel Ware, Esq., Capt. Jonathan Gay, Aaron Smith, Rufus Mills, Israel Whitney, Esq., William Flagg, Esq., Elisha Lyon, Esq., Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, Solomon Flagg, Levi Ladd, John Morton Harris, Thomas Sutton, Charles Elmer Stanwood, 1791, '92. 1793 to his death October 15, 1806. 1806 (November 3)-i8i8 (eleven years and five months). 1818-21 (four years). 1822-4 (three years). 1830 (April 5)-4 (five years). 1835-7 (three years); he was elected in 1830, and de- clined. 1838. 1839-52 (fourteen years). 1853 to his death on May 14, 1859. 1859 (May) to the division of the town. 1881, '83 to his death on August 8, 1905. 1882. 1905 (by appointment of the selectmen August 12) to March, 1906. 1906- . ASSESSORS The selectmen were also elected assessors in 1712-32, '34-7, '40, '43-8, '51-7, '59-63, '^-j, '68, '71, '72, '82. For these years see list of the selectmen. The Assessors from 1733 to 191 1 were: — Capt. Robert Cook, 17335 '38 (also twenty-five years when selectman, twenty-seven years in all, the longest service to date, 1911). 66o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM John Fisher, Jr., Benoni Woodward, Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, John Goodanow, Ebenezer Skinner, Ensign Robert Fuller, Amos Fuller, Zachariah Mills, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, CornetTimothyKingsbery, Jr.,1742.^ 17335 '39 (elected and de- clined in 1750). 1733, '38 (elected in 1741 and declined). 1738. 1739- 1739: '50 (June 25), '58 (May 25). 1741 (elected and declined in 1758). 1741. 1741. 1742. Peter Edes, Ensign Thomas Fuller, Dea, Josiah Newell, Esq., Eliakim Cook, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., John Fuller, Aaron Smith, Jr., Lieut. Robert Fuller, Lieut. Jonathan Day, Isaac Underwood, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, William Smith, Nathaniel Fisher, Robert Fuller, Jr., Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1742. 1749 (May 22). 1749. 1749. 1750, '66 (Captain in the latter year). 1750- 1758 (later Captain), 1787. 1764, '65 (elected on March II, as the selectmen ab- solutely refused to serve as assessors), '66, '69. 1764, '66, '69, '73, '75. 1764. 1765 (March 11), '70. 1765 (March 11). 1769. 1770, '74-81, '83-9, '92, '96, '98 (nineteen years). 177O5 '74, '77, '80. 1 The only example in our records of a father and son serving together on the board of assessors, and constituting its majority. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 66i Michael Metcalf, Josiah Upham, Joseph Danlell, Jr.,"' Capt. Robert Smith, Jonathan Kingsbery, Jr., Lieut. William Fuller, Amos Fuller, Joseph Kingsbery, Jr., Dea. Isaac Shepard, John Slack, Moses Fisk, Aaron Smith, Jr., Lieut. Ephraim Bullard, Capt. Josiah Newell, Enoch Fisk, Moses Fuller, Ensign Nathan Dewing, Lieut. John Tolman, Adj. Daniel Ware, Aaron Smith, 1773, '75, also elected in 1776 and declined, served in 1777-9, '81, '83, '84 (eight years). 1773- 1774- 1776 (had been elected in 1758 and declined). 1776, '78, '79, '82, '86 (Lieu- tenant), '90 (Captain)-5, '99 (Colonel)-i8o2 (Esq. in 1801); served fifteen years. 1777 (December 15), '83, '84, '89. 1780 (June 16), '81, '85, '86, '88-90, '93 (eight years). 1780, '96, 1801. 1785, '88, '91, '93-5, '97- 1802, '18 (Esq.); he served thirteen years. 1787. 1787. 1787.1 1790, '97 (Captain). 1791. 1792. 1794. '95- 1796. 1797. 1798, '99, 1 801 (elected on September 9), '03. 1800-2 (not elected till Sep- tember 9 in 1801), '04-17, '20 (elected 1824 and de- ' This was undoubtedly "Hawk Aaron". There were five assessors elected in 1787 and the town defeated a motion to make the number seven. 662 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Benjamin Slack, George Fisher, Royal Mcintosh, Capt. Michael Harris, Dr. Samuel Gould, Nathaniel Ware, Enoch Fuller, Solomon Flagg, Peter Lyon, Seth Colburn, Maj. Ebenezer Mcintosh, Capt. Jonathan Gay, Dea. Asa Kingsbury, Eleazer Kingsbury, Ethel Jennings, John Tolman, Artemas Newell, Esq., Israel Whitney, Thomas Kingsbury, clined), '25, '26 (Esq. in 1830, when he was chosen but declined), '31 (twenty- one years). 1803, '06 (Esq.), '18-22 (re- signed in 1822), '24, '27 (April 2), '28 (April 7), '31 (April 12); he served ten years. 1803, '06, '08, '16, '17, '19, '21, '23, '26. 1804, '05. 1804, '05, '07. 1807, '08, '12-15, '19? '22 (September 16) ; eight years. 1 809-1 1 (three years). 1809-11, '18 (four years). 1812-15 (four years). 1816. 1817; he was elected in 1827, but declined. 1821. 1820, '24 (April 5). 1822, '23, '27, '28, '32-4, '36- 41 (April 5 in 1841), '43 (April 3)-50 (twenty-one years). 1822, '25. 1823. 1824. 1825. 1826 (April 3), '27, '31, '38 (Esq.); he was also elected in 1 83 2, but would not serve. 1827 (April 2), '28, '30, '34-6 (resigned in 1836), '37, '38 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 663 Rufus Mills, Dexter Ware, William Alden Kingsbury, Amraphel Smith, Capt. George Smith, Capt. Reuben Ware, Solomon Flagg, Jr., William Flagg, Esq., Spencer Fuller, Capt. Elisha Lyon, Royal Mcintosh, Emery Fisk, James Smith, Davis Collins Mills, Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, Joslah Howe Carter, George Keith Daniell, George Jennings, George Emerson Eaton, Jonathan Avery, Silas Gustavus Williams, Daniel Morse, John Morton Harris, Charles Hiram Dewing, Charles Curtis Greenwood, (Esq.), '41 (April 5), '43-6 (twelve years). 1829, '32-4, '39, '42 (six years). 1829, '30, '35, '42; elected and declined in 1843. 1829. 1830. 1830 (April s). 1830, '42. 1832 (April 2), '33, '36 (April 11), '45, '57-9. '61-74 (twenty-one years). 1835, '46-8, '50-4 (nine years). 1836. 1837, elected and declined in 1 84 1, served in 1844. 1839. 1840. 1840, '43. 1841. 1847-52 (resigned in 1852), '53-6, '60, '64 (eleven years). 1849, '51, '52 (elected April 5). 1852-7, '61-7, '71, '73, '74, '77-80 (twenty years). 1855, '56. 1857. 1858, '59, '68, '69, '72. 1858-60, '70 (four years). i860; elected and declined in 1865. 1861-3. 1865. 1866-81 (sixteen years). In 1 87 1 he was elected on 664 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Mark Lee, Lyman Knights Putney, Dexter Kingsbury, Enos Houghton Tucker, Isaac Martin Kingsbury, George Avery, George Kuhn Clarke, Everett Johnson Eaton, William Henry Harrison Mcintosh, Edgar Howard Bowers, Curtis M'^Intosh, Arthur Whitaker, Thomas James Grossman, Franklin Low, George Willard Tisdale, John Fisher Mills, Robert Edwin Ames, Alger Emerson Eaton, David Hugh Livingston, Henry Thomas Childs, James Franklin Ryan, Alpheus Packard Boyd, Charles Measure, Alfred Parker, George Lyman Kingsbury, Arthur Warren Walkup, March 13, and he was also electfed for 1882, but de- clined. 1875, '^6. 1875, ''je. 1877-80 (four years). 1 88 1-3 (three years). 1881-4, '86, '87 (six years). 1882-4 (three years). 1884, elected for 1885 and declined, '86, '87, '95, '98- 1900 (seven years). 1885, '86, '88-91 (six years). 1885 (March 16). 1885 (April 29), '88-93 (seven years). 1887. 1889 (resigned). 1890-5, 1901 (seven years). 1892-4, 1 90 1, '02, '04-8 (ten years). 1 894-1 900, '04 (eight years). 1896, '97. • 1896, '97. 1 898-1 90 1 (four years). 1902. 1902- . 1903. 1903. 1905-7 (three years). 1908- . 1909- . Of the assessors who served prior to 1885 only three were living in 1907, and they had been the sole survivors for THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 665 several years: — Josiah H. Carter, ninety-six years old, Enos H. Tucker, ninety-three years old, chairman in 1882, '83, and George Kuhn Clarke, whose first service was in 1884, and who was chairman in 1895, '98-1900 (four years). Mr. Carter died September 29, 1907, and Mr. Tucker December 30, 1907, since which date Mr. Clarke has been the veteran among the assessors of Needham. The following were elected assessors, but never served: — Jonathan Parker, 1749, Jeremiah Fisher, 1749, Col. Charles Rice, 1826, '31 (General), Lemuel Mills, Jr., 1828, John Mansfield, 1841, Charles M<=Intosh, 1871, Herbert Moseley, 1885. Assistant Assessors " to afsist in taking the general valuation ": — Joseph Kingsbery, Jr., and Joseph Mudge, Jr., both elected on September 20, 1784, Lieut. Moses Garfield, 181 1, '13, '30, George Fisher, 1811, '22, Capt. Artemas Newell, 1813, Aaron Smith, 1821, Capt. Elisha Lyon, 1821, Maj. Eben- ezer M°Intosh, 1822, '30, Ethel Jennings, 1822, Israel Whitney, 1822, Amraphel Smith, 1830, '31, Dexter Ware, 1830, '3 1, Capt. Reuben Ware, 183 i,Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, 183 1, '50, William Alden Kingsbury, 1834, '35> '4°? Daniel Dedman, 1834, '40, Jonathan Fuller, 1835, Spencer Fuller, 1835, Otis Sawyer, 1835, '50, Gen. Charles Rice, 1850, Capt. William Pierce, 1850. SCHOOL COMMITTEE The following is a list of the School Committee from 1826 to 191 I : — Rev. Thomas Noyes, A.M., 1826-36 (eleven years). Rev. William Ritchie, A.B., 1826-36, '38, '40 (thirteen years). Capt. Jonathan Gay, 1826, '27. Israel Whitney, 1826. Artemas Newell, Esq., 1826, '27. Aaron Smith, Esq., 1826, '27. ee^ THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Benjamin Slack, Esq., Rev. Daniel Kimball, A.M., Rufus Mills, William Flagg, Dexter Ware, Capt. Reuel Ware, Dr. Josiah Noyes, M.D., Solomon Flagg, Jr., Isaiah Fisk, Elisha Lyon, Esq., Richard Boynton, Rev. Joseph W^ashburn Ses- sions, A.M., William Ritchie, Jr., Charles Mayo, Edgar Kimball Whitaker, Moses Winch, Nathan Longfellow, A.M., Reuben Totman Robinson, A.M., 1826, '27, '30, '32, '34, '35. 1827-36 (resigned), '43-8, '50-6 (twenty-three years). 1828-31, '33-5, '39 (eight years). 1828, '29, '32, '33, '37. 1828, '29, '37, '40-3 (seven years). 1830. 1828-36 (resigned), '37, '38, '39 (November ii)-44 (about sixteen years). 183 1, '45-51, '57-^1, '62 (Oc- tober 13), '63 (Novem- ber 30), '64, '70-81 (about twenty-six years; he was also elected for a term of three years in 1865 and declined). In 1862 he suc- ceeded Mr. Conant and in 1863 Mr. Colcord. 183 1-4 (four years). 183 1-3 (three years). 1832-5 (four years). 1834-6, '38 (April 3); served four years. 1839 (resigned). 1839. 1841, '42, '45. 1844. 1845-56, '58-60, '64-6, '70-5 (twenty-four years). 1849. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM eS'j Rev. William Barrows, A.B., later D.D., 1852-5 (four years). Luther Allen Kingsbury, 1856, '57, '65 (April io)-8, when he resigned (about five years). Benjamin Gage Kimball, A. B., 1857-62, '64, '65 (resigned before March meeting), '67 (appointed January 7), '71-3 (upward of ten years). Claudius Buchanan Patten, 1861-3 (resigned).^ Marshall Conant, A.M., 1862 (resigned after serving seven months), John Moore Colcord, 1 863 ; died November 13,1 863 } Rev. Frederick Augustus Wil- lard, A.M., 1863 (resigned that autumn). Rev. Edward Sumner Atwood, A.M., later D.D., 1863 (appointed May 5 vice Mr. Patten).! Rev. Adiel Harvey, 1863 (appointed November 30 vice Mr. Willard). Jonathan Battles, 1865-7 (resigned in his third year of service). Hon. George White, A.M., LL.B., 1867 (resigned). Rev. George Gardner Phipps, \\ Hon. Emery Grover, 1868, vice Judge White, '69, '^6 (April 3)-8i, '84-95, 1902-4 (twenty-three years during which he was chair- man eighteen). * Mr. Patten lived for some years in the Lower Falls district; from 1 866 to 1886 he was cashier of the State National Bank of Boston. Mr. Colcord had been an usher in the Phillips School, Boston, from September I, 1844, until his death, which was after an illness of three days. His home was where Nathaniel Wales resides, but there are few people now in Needham who recall him. He was born in Effingham, N. H., and was forty-three years old when he died. Mr. Atwood was a member of the school committee in Salem for eleven years subsequent to his being in Needham. 668 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Rev. William Brooks Greene, A.B., 1868-70 (three years). Rev. Elihu Parish Marvin, D.D., 1869. Merrill Norton Boyden, 1869 (April 5), '70. Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, A.M., Gamaliel Bradford, A.B., Henry Blatchford Scudder, William Ritchie Mills, Miss Charlotte Kingsbury, Mrs. Harriet (Chase) May, Edward La Croix, Isaac Hills Hazelton, M.D., Hon. Joseph Emery Fiske, A.M., Mrs. Maria Louise Ford, John Morton Harris, Mrs. Josephine Clarinda (Alex ander) Page, William Carter, Mrs. Adeline Eaton Harris, 1870, '71. 1870-5 (six years, resigned April 3, 1876). 1871-3 (three years). 1872-4 (three years). 1874-6 (three years). 1874-9 (resigned October i, 1879). 1875-7 (three years). 1875. 1876 to the division of the town in 1881. 1877 to the division. 1878-83 (six years). 1879-87 (resigned); she was appointed October i, 1879. 1882-93 (twelve years). 1887 (appointed October 24 vice Mrs. Page); she re- signed on March 6, 191 1, having served more than twenty-three years. John Wesley Titus, 1894-9 (six years). Francis de Maurice Dunn, A. B. ,1896-1901 (six years). James Benjamin Lester, 1900-2 (three years). Horace Albert Carter, I903~ • William George Moseley, 1905^ • Mrs. Susan Welles Fiske, 191 1- . THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 669 The following were elected to the school board, but never served: — William Clark, 1838, Charles Blanchard Dana, 1865, Clough Rice Miles, A.B., 1869. The first election for three years was in 1858. On March 7, 1870, the board was increased to six, but has been three since the division of the town in 1881. In 1904 and in 1910 attempts were made to resume electing a committee of six. Consitaftlcsi The constables were very important officers from the first settlement of Massachusetts and had many duties and small pay. It was difficult to find responsible men who were willing to serve, consequently the great number who were elected and excused, or fined for refusing to serve, or who asked the town to accept a hired substitute. In the latter case, when the town took favorable action, it often required that the man excused should give a bond that his substi- tute should faithfully perform his duties, particularly as a collector of taxes. In Needham the taxes were divided, as equally as was convenient, between the constables for the East and West parts of the town respectively. In the special rate made on January 24, 1732/3, for "Reliveing" a poor woman and her child, Constable William Chub, East, had £21, 4s. committed to him by the assessors, and Constable Timothy Bacon, West, had £20, is., 4d. The tax levy for the minister's salary for 1771 was divided be- tween the constables as follows: — Josiah Ware £49, 6s., 5§d., Moses Bullard £58, 13s., 6§d. It was many years before the collector of taxes was an official distinct from the constables. By the law of 1640 the constables were required to collect the taxes, and by that of 1646 they were to carry black staves five or five and one half feet long, tipped with brass for five or six inches. The law of 1646 was amended in 1675 by specifying when they could act officially without having their staves with them. In 1653 the fine for refusing to serve was increased from twenty shillings to £10 for the town of Boston and to £5 for the other towns, and remained £5 during the Provincial period. The law of 1658 defined THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 671 the very numerous duties, criminal and civil, of the con- stables under twenty-six headings, and In 1668 their respon- sibilities were extended to looking after the education of the young, and to enforcing the laws as to Industry. The con- stables were obliged to be sworn promptly, and In case of failure to pay the fine It was the duty of the town treasurer to prosecute In the Court of General Sessions of the Peace the Individual who refused to serve, and this was occasionally done In Needham as late as 1777. The law of 1692 exempted certain persons from serving as constables, and also pro- vided that no person should be obliged to serve oftener than one year In seven; failure to warn a town meeting subjected the offending constable to a fine of twenty shillings. The constables from 1712 to 1714 were: — Benjamin Mills, 1712, Ebenezer Ware, 1713, Thomas Fuller, 1714, Matthias Ocklnton, 1714. Although the constables were Important officers, and It was the Intention of the author to give complete lists of the minor town officers to 1776, It seems hardly worth while to name the one hundred men who followed Mr. Ocklnton from 171 5 to 1776, for the following reasons: — Most of those elected got excused If they could, or Induced the town to accept a hired substitute, or simply refused to serve, and in some instances were prosecuted and fined. During this period, 1715-76, nearly every reliable man in town was elected constable more than once, but the majority served only one year, and William Chub, prominent as a con- stable. Is the solitary individual who served more than three years. Mr. Chub was constable for the whole town in 1743. All sorts of devices were resorted to in order to escape holding this office. A favorite method was to promise to serve the next year, or at some future time, and in 1735 John Pain pledged himself to take care of the meeting-house from April, 1735 to April, 1736, if he was excused from serving as constable. The town accepted his offer, but he was a failure as a janitor, not doing "as he has undertook". 672 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM In 1747 Nathaniel Tolman and Henry Dewing were suc- cessively chosen for the East, but persuaded the town to accept young Ezeklel Richardson as a hired man ("attyered man"), "provided he will Bring Good Bonds men for fuer- ties for His paying the Rates that he fhall Have to Colect". Much time was consumed by the town in securing men to serve as constables, and the preparation of the list of those who actually did serve proved a severe task. It does not appear that any of the old-time constables made a special impression on the community except William Gilbert Jones, usually known as William Jones, who was a brave and efficient officer. He was first elected in 1842 and served for many years, a portion of the time as sole constable of the town, an unusual distinction. His greet- ing to delinquent poll-tax payers "Money or Dedham" is a familiar tradition, and his fight with the stalwart black- smith in West Needham has often been described. Mr. Jones is said to have remarked on this occasion "Hell or Dedham". Mrs. Caroline Wells Healey Dall never for- gave him for presenting the doctor's bill to her husband, then minister of the First Church, and compelling the reverend gentleman to pay it, in violation of all prerogatives, the fact that the physician was not a Unitarian, but an Orthodox, having no bearing upon the case. The doctor was careless about collecting, and his wife, wishing some money, gave a batch of bills to Constable Jones, including one made out to Mr. Dall. The doctor disclaimed all responsibility for his wife'^ disrespect for the clergyman, but it does not appear that Mr. Dall got the money back. Bill Burrill, 2d, constable nine years, and special police as late as the seventies, was another courageous and com- petent officer, but they were few in number in his time, and it is probable that the majority of the constables were chiefly anxious to avoid trouble, and were no more disposed to do police duty, or fitted for it, than some men that the THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 673 writer has known, but who were nominally constables, or policemen. Mr. Burrill was a good man and a worthy citizen, who served the town for twenty-six years as fireward, two years as auditor, two years as highway surveyor, and as a police- man during the construction of the Sudbury River conduit. He and his uncle. Bill Burrill, Senior, a veteran of the War of 18 12, and a near neighbor of the writer, were both annoyed all their lives by uninformed people who addressed them by the name of William. The elder Bill Burrill was presented with a watch inscribed incorrectly, and probate officials and others insisted upon having this Christian name wrong. The name of Bill came into the Burrill family in consequence of one of them marrying into the Bill family of Essex County. POLICE From the time of the Civil War, or earlier, special police were appointed in Needham for a year, or as occasion re- quired, but in the seventies and eighties there was practi- cally no police service in town except on the Fourth of July, and at periods when disturbances were anticipated, as during the construction of the Sudbury River conduit. On Sep- tember 15, 1893, the town passed a resolution favoring night police, as the result of the supposed presence on the Great Plain of a "fire bug", and consequently a night watchman was assigned to duty. In 1895 a night police was appointed for Highlandville, and two years later a man was given even- ing duty at the Upper Falls. As the town grew, and became the terminus of several street railways, the amount of day service was increased, and it has usually been efficient. In 191 1 there were no less than twenty-four police officers in Needham, but some of them were appointed to protect particular estates, and received no pay from the town. The appropriation in 1895 was $1400 and the fines, a total of $1592.80, in 1905 $3000, in 1906 $3400, 1910 $3300. From 1882 to 1900, inclusive, William Wragg, now deputy- 674 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM sheriff, was one of the constables and was also a police officer, rendering valuable service. His brother, George E. Wragg, was for several years an active and well-known officer, and was the first regular night policeman. In 191 1 Norman M'^Kenzie, night police at the modern centre of the town, and Armand J. Mathey, both brave and capable men, have served the town as police for more than a dozen years. Mr. Mathey's duties are partly as day officer on the Great Plain, but he is always to be depended upon when police protec- tion is desired in other portions of the town. The following lists give the names of the MINOR TOWN OFFICERS from 171 1 to 1776, inclusive. Overseers of the Poor to 1776: — Amos Fuller, 1751, '52 (May 2i)-4 (three years, ten months), Jonathan Smith, 1751, '52 (died in 1752), James Smith, 1751, '52, Ebenezer Skinner, 1752, '53, '55, Nathaniel Man, 1753, '54, Henry Dewing, 1754, '55, '57, '60, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1755, '57? '58, Jonathan Parker, 1756, John Fisher, Jr., 1756, '58, '59, John Kingsbery, 1757, '61, David Smith, 1757, Jere- miah Woodcock, 1757, John Bird, 1758, Benjamin Mills, 1758, Joseph Danlell, 1759, William Brown, 1759, William Alden, 1760, Seth Wilson, 1760, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 1761, Jesse Kingsbery, 1761. Wardens: — Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1761, Ebenezer Fuller, 1761, Isaac Underwood, 1762, Josiah Eaton, 1762, Timothy Newell, 1762, Joseph Drury, 1763, Ensign Ellakim Cook, 1763, Nathaniel Fisher, 1763, Moses Fisk, 1764, John Alden, 1764, Benjamin Mills, 1764, Samuel Danlell, 1765, James Man, 1765, Isaac Goodenow, 1765, William Smith, 1766, Samuel Huntting, 1766, Ensign John Bacon, 1766, Lieut. Jonathan Day, 1767 (he had been chosen in 1765 and de- clined), Stephen Bacon, 1767, William Mills, 1767, Capt. Lemuel Pratt, 1768, Samuel Greenwood, 1768, Ebenezer Skin- ner, 1768, Jesse Kingsbery, 1769, Silas Alden, 1769, Ebenezer THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 675 Ware, 1769, Ebenezer Newell, 1770, Joseph Danlell, Jr., 1770, Thomas Broad, 1770, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1771, Ebenezer Clark, 1771, John Ayers, 1771, Ensign Timothy Kingsbery, 1772, Thomas Fuller, 1772, Moses Fisk, 1772-4 (three years), Ellsha Mills, 1773, Samuel Kelton, 1773, Samuel Ware, 1774, Robert Smith, 1774, Stephen Bacon, Jr., 1774, Lieut. Moses BuUard, 1775, Eleazer Fuller, 1775, Jeremiah Daniell, 1775, Ephraim Pain, 1775, Samuel Alden, 1776, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1776, Benjamin Ward, 1776, John Slack, 1776, David Mills, 1776, Samuel Huntting, 1776. The following were elected, but were excused and never served: — Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1764, Ensign John Bacon, 1764, Robert Smith, 1768, Lieut. Aaron Smith, 1768. Surveyors of Highways, 1712-76: — Jonathan Parker, 1712, '13, Samuel Parker, 1712, '28, '35, Josiah Kingsbery, 1712, Christopher Smith, 1712, '20, '23, Samuel Mills, 1712, Joseph Haws, 17 13, Joseph Boyden, 171 3, '29, George Robin- son, 1713, Capt. John Fisher, 1714, '18, '20, '22, Jonathan Dewing, 1714, "Sargeant" Joseph Daniell, 1714, '19, '20, James Kingsbery, 1714, '18, '21, '30, Eleazer Kingsbery, 1714, "Sargeant" Thomas Fuller, 1715, '19, '25, '33 (En- sign in 1733), Benjamin Mills, Sr., 1715, Joseph Mills, 1715, '17, '19, '32, '37, Lieut. Robert Cook, 1715, '33 (Captain), Josiah Newell, 1715, Ebenezer Ware, 1716, '17, '27, '29, John Fisher, Jr., 1716, '19, '34, '46 (Captain in 1746), Heze- kiah Broad, 1716, '21, '25, Nathaniel BuUard, 1716, Ephraim Ware, Sr., 1717, '23, Andrew Dewing, 1717, John Woodcock, 1717, '31 (May 18), '35, '36, '41, Joseph Barber, 1718, '20, '26, '31, '35, '37, Daniel Pratt, 1718, Jonathan Smith, 1721, '40, '43, '44, Samuel Wilson, 1721, '26, John Rice, 1722, Henry Dewing, 1723, '29, '30, Samuel Bacon, 1723, Jere- miah Gay, 1724, '37, '43, '44, Aaron Smith, 1724, '35, Israel Mills, 1724, Nathaniel Ware, 1725, '36, '45, William Cook, 1725, Benoni Woodward, 1726, '32, Isaac Mills, 1726, '35, '42 (December 27, vice John Parker), Samuel Smith, 1727, '28, John Underwood, 1727, '29, Peter Edes, 1727, e'je THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM '36, '43, Edmund Dewing, 1727, Robert Ware, 1728, '33, '55, Timothy Bacon, 1728, Jeremiah Fisher, 1728, '30, William Chub, 1729, '40, John Alden, 173 1, '37, '39, '44, '55, Jeremiah Haws, 1732, David Fuller, 1732, Nathaniel Ayers, 1733, '37, John Mackentire, 1734, '38, '39, Timothy Kings- bery, Jr., 1734, '38, '48, Samuel Bacon, Jr., 1734, '43, Joseph Daniell, 1734, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1735, '42, John Goldsberry, 1736, Jonathan Parker, 1736, '40, '45, '49, Lieut. Andrew Dewing, 1736, '41, Josiah Eaton, 1737, '65, Jeremiah Wood- cock, Jr., 1738, Nathaniel Man, 1738, '44, '46, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, 1739, John Goodanow, 1739, Ebenezer Skinner, 1739, Amos Fuller, 1740, '59 (Lieutenant in 1759), Jonathan Gay, 1741, '43, '44, John Ockinton, 1741, John Parker, 1742 (died October 13), John Pain, Jr., 1742 (September 6), '45, William Alden, 1742, '46, '61, Josiah Upham, 1742, John Fisher, Jr., 1743 (May 16), '44, ^GG^ Samuel Huntting, 1744, Jesse Kingsbery, 1745, '65, Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1745, Samuel Daniell, 1746, '48, '57, '64, '74, Christopher Smith, 1746, Abraham Ireland, 1746, '47, Samuel Bacon, 1747, Samuel Mackentire, 1747, '69, Joshua Smith, 1747, Jonathan Dem- ing, 1747, '73, David Mills, 1748, Hezekiah Gay, 1748, '60, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 1748, '60, '70, Ebenezer Fisher, 1749, Jacob Mills, 1749, '50, Robert Cook, Jr., 1749, Nathaniel Tolman, 1749, '55, Nathaniel Fisher, 1750, '51, ''G']^ Thomas Pain, 1750, William Mills, Jr., 1750, Jeremiah Eaton, 175 1, ^6(i^ Ithamar Smith, 175 1, William Brown, 175 1, '57, '59, 'G(y, Samuel Chub, 175 1, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1752, Samuel Richards, 1752, Josiah Reed, 1752, David Smith, 1752, Seth Wilson, 1752, '55, '58, '59, 'Gs, Stephen Huntting, 1752, Jeremiah Dewing, 1753, Theophilus Richardson, 1753, Abraham Chamberlain, 1753, Lemuel Pratt, 1753, ''G'j (Cap- tain in lyGj), '72 (June 9), Ephraim Ware, 1753, Josiah Dewing, 1754, '56, John Mills, 1754, Josiah Woodward, 1754, '60, John Simpson, 1754, Joseph Mackintire, 1754, Ebenezer Huntting, 1 75 5, John Fuller, 1756, '66, Ephraim Bul- lard, 1756, '57, '66, Eliphalet Kingsbery, 1756, '57, '73 (May THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM e^j 19), John Bird, 1756, Nathaniel Ware, Jr., 1757, '69, Samuel Daggett, 1757, '72, '73, Joseph Mudge, 1758, Reube Dun- ton, 1758, Ebenezer Dewing, 1758, '59, Ebenezer Ware, Jr., 1758, Eliakim Cook, 1760, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1761, '62, John Ayers, 1761, '65, Timothy Newell, 1761, '62, Nathaniel Blackinton, 1761, Benjamin Mills, 1762, David Hall, 1762, '68, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1762, James Parker, 1763, Josiah Upham, Jr., 1763, '71, John Kingsbery, 1763, James Man, 1763, '69, Isaac Goodenow, 1763, Ebenezer Fuller, 1764, Capt. Ephraim Jackson, 1764, '68, Ensign John Bacon, 1764, William Mills, 1764, '75, Samuel Greenwood, 1764, Elisha Mills, 1765, '74, Joseph Drury, 1765, Thomas Hall, 1766, '74, Oliver Mills, 1766 (May 22), '70, '74, Amos Fuller, Jr., 1767, Timothy Dwight, 1767, Daniel Gould, 1767, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1768, '73, Ebenezer Ware, 1768, Amos Mills, 1768, Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher, 1768, Samuel Ware, 1768 (May 18), '69, '75, Benjamin Davenport, 1769, Joseph Hawes, 1769, John Bacon, 1769, Lieut. Jonathan Day, 1770, '72, Thomas Fuller, Jr., 1770, ''jG (no Jr. in 1776), Henry Dewing, 1770, John Bacon, Jr., 1770, Lieut. William Mack- intash, 1771, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., 1771, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1771, Thomas Broad, 1771, Eleazer Fuller, 1771, Eliakim Cook, Jr., 1771, Ephraim Stevens, 1772, ^'j6^ Michael Bacon, 1772, Samuel Alden, 1772, Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1772 (May 28), John Bacon, Jr., 1772, Silas Alden, 1773, Isaac Bacon, 1773, Jeremiah Daniell, 1773, Ebenezer Clark, 1773, Jona- than Kingsbery, 1774, Jonathan Gay, 1774, John Smith, 1774, William Leverett, 1775, ^'jd^ Moses Kingsbery, 1775, Josiah Newell, Esq., 1775, Ezra Mills, 1775, Benjamin Ward, 1775, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 1776, John Slack, 1776, Timothy Fisher, 1776, Moses Fisk, 1776, Lieut. Moses Bullard, 1776. The following surveyors were also elected but excused: — Nathaniel Bullard, 1726, '30, Eleazer Kingsbery, 1727, Zachariah Mills, 1730, Henry Dewing, 173 1, Jeremiah Fisher, 173 1, Ebenezer Newell, 1737, Samuel Parker, 1741, 678 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM John Woodcock, 1743, Robert Ware, 1743, Jonathan Hunt- ting, 1743, Samuel Bacon, 1744, Eliaklm Cook, 1748, Timothy Newell, 1750, Ebenezer Fisher, 1752, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1761, '68, '72, Daniel Bacon, 1763, John Ayers, 1768. Tythingmen, 1712-76: — John Parker, 1712, Ephraim Ware, 1713, Benjamin Mills, Sr., 1714, Jonathan Parker, 1715, '18, '19, Sergeant Joseph Daniell, 1716, '18, Joseph Haws, 1716, '24, '25, John Smith, Jr., 1717, Joseph Boyden, 1717, '20, Jeremiah Woodcock, 1718, '24, '34, Eleazer Kingsbery, 1719, Sergeant Thomas Metcalf, 1720, Samuel Parker, 1721, '23, '37, John Rice, 1721, Christopher Smith, 1722, Samuel Bacon, 1722, '30, '53, Samuel Wilson, 1723, '29, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1725, Joseph Mills, 1726, Zach- ariah Mills, 1726, '38, '40, '46 (Lieutenant in 1746), Heze- kiah Broad, 1727, '28, Daniel Pratt, 1727, '28, '46, Josiah Newell, 1729, '35, '38, '41, John Smith, 1730, Andrew Dew- ing, 173 1 (excused), Thomas Fuller, Jr., 173 1, Peter Edes, 173 1, '45, '47 (Ensign in 1747), Israel Mills, 1732, John Underwood, 1733, Lieut. Thomas Metcalf, 1734, Nathaniel Bullard, 1735, '37, Joseph Barber, 1736, William Chub, 1736, '41, '43, Stephen Bacon, 1739, James Smith, 1739, James Kingsbery, 1740, '45, John Woodcock, 1742, Josiah Ware, 1742, '50, '62, ''Gj^ David Mills, 1743, '47, Jonathan Parker, 1744, Ephraim Ware, Jr., 1744, Samuel Huntting, 1748 (the town refused to excuse him), 1763 (excused), '64, Nathaniel Tolman, 1748, Jonathan Smith, 1748, '49, Isaac Mills, 1749 (declined), Timothy Newell, 1749, '52, Ebenezer Fisher, 1750, '51, '53, '56, William Mills, Jr., 1751, '54, '56, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 1752, Stephen Hunt- ting, 1754, '60, Jonathan Smith, 1755, '72, John Simpson 1755, Samuel Daniell, 1756, '68, Nathaniel Fisher, 1757, '70, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1757, Samuel Mackentire, 1758, '59, '63, '68, Amos Fuller, Jr., 1758, ''65, Josiah Woodward, 1758, William Alden, 1758, John Kingsbery, 1759, '64, '69, Samuel Daggett, 1760, Reuben Dunton, 1761, John Mills, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 679 1761, William Smith, 1762, Ebenezer Skinner, 1763, Joseph Daniell, 1765, Benjamin Whitney, 1766, Thomas Pain, 1766, '74, Silas Alden, 1767, '71, '72, John Ayers, 1768, Benjamin Mills, 1769, Thomas Hall, 1769, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1770, John Alden, 1770, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1771, Isaac Underwood, 1771, Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1772, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1773, Ebenezer Clark, 1773, Nathaniel Tolman, 1773, Ephraim Stevens, 1774, Samuel Fisher, 1774, Oliver Mills, 1775, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1775, Samuel Huntting, 1775, Ensign Eliakim Cook, 1776, Jonathan Deming, 1776, Ebenezer Newell, 1776; all three sworn in 1776. Field Drivers, 1712-76: — John Gill, 1712, Andrew Wat- kins, 1712, '13, Jonathan Smith, 1713, '15, '20, '23, '27, '29, '33, Nathaniel Bullard, 1713, '23, William Mills, 1713, Andrew Dewing, 1714, Samuel Wilson, 1714, '20, Ebenezer Mills, 1715, Jeremiah Gay, 1715, '21, '27-9, '31, '33, '42 (seven years), Christopher Smith, 1716, Henry Dewing, 1716, Robert Cook, Jr., 1720, John Woodcock, 1721, '39, Edmund Dewing, 1722, '24, Ebenezer Mills, 1722, Joseph Barber, 1724, '38, '48, Jonathan Gay, 1725, Robert Ware, 1725, '37, Joseph Haws, Jr., 1726, Nathaniel Tolman, 1726, Isaac Mills, 1728, '41, '42, '45, '47, Jeremiah Hawes, 173 1, '35, '44, Hezekiah Kingsbery, 1732, '39, John Fuller, 1732, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1734, Robert Prentice, 1734, Josiah Broad, 1735, Isaac Gill, 1736, John Parker, 1736, '40, Ebenezer Skinner, 1737, '46, '47, Nathaniel Ayers, 1738, '40, Thomas Kinch, 1741, '43, '^4, James Parker, 1741, John Ocklnton, 1742, Jeremiah Fisher, 1743, Stephen Hunt- ting, 1743, '48, William Alden, 1745, Jesse Kingsbery, 1746, '55, Jonathan Mills, 1747, John Pain, Jr., 1748, Jonathan Deming, 1749, '55, William Smith, 1749, '59 (May 24), '64, Hezekiah Gay, 1750, Nathaniel Tolman, 1750, ''^^^ Christopher Smith, 175 1, '60, Jacob Mills, 1751, Samuel Daniell, 1752, '61, '62, Ebenezer Huntting, 1752, '62, Ellphalet Kingsbery, 1753, Ephraim Bullard, 1753, '54, Jeremiah Dewing, 1754, '56, Solomon Dewing, 1756, '58, 68o THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Robert Smith, 1757, Ephraim Ware, Jr., 1757, Joshua Parker, 1757, Nathaniel Fisher, 1758, Ebenezer Fuller, 1759, ^66 (perhaps did not serve as he was not sworn), Lieut. Samuel Townsend, 1759, Samuel Ware, 1760, '61, ^yG, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1763, '71, Nathaniel Kingsbery, 1763, '65, Moses Kingsbery, 1764, '68, '69, Reuben Dunton, 1765, David Smith, 1766, Elisha Mills, 1766 (May 22), Samuel Daggett, 1767, '68, Silas Alden, 1767, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1768, Moses Bullard, 1768, Oliver Mills, 1769, Amos Mills, 1769, Jonathan Gay, 1769, Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1770, '74, '75, Ebenezer Ware, 1770, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1770, Nathaniel Fisher, 1771, Thomas Fuller, 1771, Eleazer Fuller, 1772, Ebenezer Clark, 1772, Thomas Hall, 1772, David Ockinton, 1773, Henry Dewing, 1773, '76, John Ayers, 1773, Lieut. Jonathan Day, 1774, John Bacon, Jr., 1774, Moses Fisk, 1775, Aaron Pain, 1775, Nathaniel Tolman, 1776, Samuel Ware, 1776. There appears to be no record of the election of field drivers in 1717, 1718 and in 1719. Fence Viewers, 1712-76: — Thomas Fuller, 1712, '30 (Ensign, declined), Thomas Metcalf, 1712, '26, John Smith, Jr., 1713, '16, '19, '29, Joseph Daniell, 1713, '14 (Sergeant), '16, '17, '19, Joseph Mills, 1713, '16, '25, '31, Sergeant John Smith, 1714, John Parker, Sr., 1715, Ephraim Ware, Sr., 1715, '28, Joseph Boyden, 1716, '22, '26, James Kingsbery, 1717, William Mills, 1717, Robert Fuller, 1717, John Fisher, 1718, '20, Nathaniel Bullard, 1718, '22, John Rice, 1718, '24, Samuel Bacon, 1718, '21, '38, Samuel Wilson, 1719, '25, Joseph Barber, 1719, '27, Josiah Newell, 1720, '31, Chris- topher Smith, 1720, Nathaniel Tolman, 1720, '27 (excused), Ebenezer Ware, 1721, '27, Jeremiah Gay, 1723, Joseph Haws, 1723, '29, '30, '32, Matthew Tambling, 1724, Peter Edes, 1728, Robert Ware, 1730 (May 18, vice Thomas Fuller), '42 (September 6), '49, Jonathan Smith, 1732, '34, '35, '39-42, '44-7, '50 (twelve years), Edmund Dewing, 1733, Jeremiah Fisher, 1733, '36, Henry Dewing, 1734-6, '39-42, THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 68 1 '47, '48 (nine years), John Pain, 1737, Ebenezer Skinner, 1738, '46, '47, William Chub, 1742, Robert Fuller, Jr., 1743, Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1743, Jonathan Huntting, 1744, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1745, '46, Josiah Ware, 1748, Samuel Mackentire, 1749, Amos Fuller, 1749 (declined), Jonathan Deming, 1750, Samuel Danlell, 175 1, '58, '61, '62, '71, Josiah Dewing, 175 1, Josiah Woodward, 1752, John Edes, 1752, Christopher Smith, 1753, '55, '62, Hezekiah Gay, 1753, 'S7, William Smith, 1754, '56, '6y, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1754, '67, '69, '70, '72, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1755, Amos Fuller, Jr., 1756, '58, Jonathan Smith, 1757, David Smith, 1758, '60, William Mills, Jr., 1759, Josiah Eaton, 1759, Samuel Daggett, 1760, Ebenezer Huntting, 1761, '64, Ebenezer Ware, Jr., 1763, Jacob Parker, 1763, Isaac Under- wood, 1763, Ebenezer Fuller, 1763, '65, ^66, '69, '70-2, '74, ^76 (nine years), Josiah Upham, Jr., 1764, Thomas Hall, 1764, '75, '76, John Bird, 1765, '66, Thomas Broad, 1766 (May 22), Ebenezer Ware, 1767, Stephen Huntting, 1768, Nathaniel Fisher, 1768, James Man, 1768, Elisha Mills, 1769, '70, Moses Bullard, 1769, '70, Jonathan Smith, 1771, Thomas Fuller, 1771, '73, '76, William Fuller, 1772, William Smith, 1772, Aaron Smith, 1773, Robert Smith, 1773, Na- thaniel Ware, 1774, Moses Fisk, 1774, Joseph Daniell, Jr., 1775, Silas Alden, 1775 (vice Ebenezer Ware), Benjamin Mills, 1776. Committee to Reckon with the Town Treasurer 171 2- 76: — Sergeant John Smith, 1727, Josiah Kingsbery, 1727, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Thomas Metcalf and Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen on March 10, 1728/9, to reckon with the "two Late Trefuerers", and the town clerk, Capt. Robert Fuller, was added to the committee on May 14, 1729, Capt. Robert Cook, 1730 (chosen on January 27, 1730/1), Andrew Dewing, 1730, '32, Thomas Metcalf, 1730, Nathaniel Bullard, 1732, Zachariah Mills, 1732, Jonathan Smith, 1732, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1732 (those chosen on March I, 173 1/2, doubtless audited the accounts of the year then 682 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM just completed), William Mills, James Smith and Jeremiah Woodcock were chosen on March lo, 1734/5, to reckon with former town treasurers, Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, 1736-9, '43, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1736-9, Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, 1736-8, Capt. John Fisher, 1739, Samuel Parker, 1743, '44, Jeremiah Fisher, 1743, '46, '47, '49, Amos Fuller, 1744, '46, '47, Jonathan Parker, 1744, Josiah Newell, Jr., 1746, '47, '49, '60, '66; he was Deacon in 1749. The committee chosen on May 19, 1746, was to reckon with former town treasurers. If an auditing committee was elected every year the fact does not appear in the records. To continue the list: — Aaron Smith, 1749, '73, Jonathan Smith, Dea. Josiah New- ell and James Smith were chosen on June 25, 1750, to reckon with Capt. Robert Fuller, late treasurer. Ensign Eliakim Cook, 1753, '60, '63 (committee chosen September 12), Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 1753, '66 (Captain), '68, '69 (no " Juni"), '71, '74, Jonathan Deming, 1753, Timothy Newell, 1754, '58, Dea. John Fisher, 1754, '58, Ebenezer Skinner, 1754, '58, Hezekiah Gay, 1756, Nathaniel Fisher, 1756, '60, '75, David Smith, 1756, Michael Metcalf, 1763, '66, '68, '69, '71, '75, Ensign Lemuel Pratt, 1763, Lieut. Jonathan Day, 1768, '69, '70, '75, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1770, '71, '74, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 1770, William Smith, 1773, Lieut. William Mackintash, 1773, William Fuller, 1774, '7S' Aaron Smith, William Smith and William Mackintash were chosen on March 18, 1773, and reported for 1772, at a later date than was customary. Sealers of Weights and Measures The first law as to weights and measures in Massachusetts dates from 163 1, and four years later the towns were required to have standard weights sealed by the marshal, then James Pen. In 1647 the selectmen and the constables were to choose a sealer of weights and measures, who was to hold office until his successor was appointed, and the Auditor- THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 683 General of the Colony was to be prepared to supply the weights and other standards. In 1679 the County treasurer was the authority in these matters, and In 1680 an extensive equipment of new scales, weights, and measures was obtained from London by the Colony. On January 29, 1717/18, the town of Needham chose John Smith, Sr., Samuel Parker and Thomas Metcalf to provide "Scalls and weights Such as the Law Directs" and "Meafuers for Standards for this town", and In 1720 John Fisher was chosen "to Seal Wights and Meafuers the first munday in April appointed to bring y^ Sd Wights and meafuers to be proved". Mr. Fisher was not, however, the first sealer of weights and measures in Needham, Thomas Metcalf having been appointed in 1712. In 1773 two shillings were granted Capt. Caleb KIngsbery for repairing the "Towns Scale Beam". The sealer of weights and measures was usually chosen in May by the selectmen and one, or more, of the constables, acting to- gether, but in 1859, 1879, and other years, he appears to have been chosen in town meeting, or the nomination of the selectmen ratified. Late in 1802 the town paid Colonel KIngsbery $28.90 for a "Town Standard and for giting the same Sealed", and later in the year the Colonel obtained of RIchardAustIn a"palr of Brafs scalesfor the town standard", for $3, and also one "28 and one 7th weight for said town Standard". The latter cost $2.50. In 1909 the town appropriated $400 for public scales and that autumn a Fairbanks scales was placed on the north side of the town hall. A complete list of the sealers of weights and measures from i7i2toi7i6 cannot be prepared from the town records which contain only the names of the following: — Thomas Metcalf, 1712, '28, '39 (Lieutenant in 1739), Matthew Tam- bllng, 1713, '14, John Fisher, 1720, '21, Samuel Parker, 1729- 33) '35) '37 (seven years), Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1741, '43-9, '53-5 (he ceased to be "Jr." in 1752), '58 (twelve years), John Fisher, Jr., 1759. 684 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM The Haywards were a short-lived board, 1717-19, and consisted of either two or three men. This office was held by: — Christopher Smith, 1717, Henry Dewing, 1717, Jona- than Gay, 1718, Jonathan Smith, 1718, Edmund Dewing, 1718, Ephraim Ware, Jr., 1719, Zachariah Mills, 1719. Sealers of Leather The Sealers of Leather are referred to in the Acts of the General Court in 1692. Stephen Huntting was the first one in Needham and was chosen on March 14, 1719/20. Usually two were annually elected until they were abolished in 1867. In 1766 the town paid Samuel Daggett five shil- lings "for a hammer to Seal leather". In 1819-21 no sealers of leather were chosen, and in 1855 there were four. Lieut. Jonathan Smith was a sealer of leather thirty- three years between 1769 and 1819. Jonathan Smith, pre- sumably the elder, had served ten years between 1745 and 1772, but it is possible that Jonathan, Jr., later known by his military title, should be credited with some of these years. Ephraim Pain was a sealer of leather thirty-one years from 1757 to 1791. The Sealers of Leather from 1720 to 1776 were: — Stephen Huntting, 1720, '21, '30, Nathaniel Tolman, 1722, '23, Nathaniel Morse, 1725-8 (four years), Dea. Timothy Kings- bery, 1729, '46 (excused in 173 1), Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 173 1-4, '36, '38, '43, '44, '48, '49 (ten years), Dea. Jere- miah Woodcock, 1737, '39-42, '47 (six years), Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1745, Joshua Smith, 1748 (May 19), John Edes, ^7S^^ John Keith, 1751, Joshua Parker, 1752, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1753, Jonathan Smith, 1754-6, '59-61, ^66 (May 22), '71, '72 (nine years), Ephraim Pain, 1757-70, '73, '74, 'yS (seventeen years), Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1765, '66, '68, '70-3, '75, 'y6 (nine years), Moses Kingsbery, 1767, Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1769, '74, '75.^ ^ Apparently there is no record of an election of a sealer of leather in certain years, and in 1737, 1741 and 1747 Jeremiah Woodcock may have been either the Deacon or his son as the record fails to indicate which it was. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 685 Deerreaves, 1739-76: — John Goodanow, 1739-42 (four years), Jonathan Smith, 1739-42, '47-9 (seven years), Josiah Ware, 1743, '46, '49, '52-9, '61, '63-76 (twenty-six years and also nine years later, a total service of thirty- five years), Edmund Dewing, 1743, '44, Thomas Gardner, Jr., 1744, '46, Joshua Smith, 1746 (May 19), Henry Dewing, 1747, Nathaniel Man, 1748, Jeremiah Dewing, 1750, Jona- than Deming, 1750, '51, Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr., 175 1, Jeremiah Fisher, 1752, Jesse Kingsbery, 1753, Solomon Dewing, 1754, '57, Theophilus Richardson, 1755, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1756, '''j^ ("Lie*"), Jonathan Capron, 1758, Samuel Daggett, 1759, Lieut. Aaron Smith, 1760, '73-5 (four years), Ephraim Bullard, 1760, John Bird, 1761, Jonas Mills, 1762, Ebenezer Fuller, 1762, Samuel Huntting, 1763, Capt. Ephraim Jackson, 1764, Ebenezer Fisher, 1765, Jonathan Whitney, 1766, Ezekiel Richardson, 1767, Moses Dewing, 1768, '69, '71, Jonathan Gay, 1770, Samuel Ware, 1772. Hogreaves, 1719-76: — Jonathan Smith, 1719,' 22, '30, Andrew Watkins, 1719, Caleb Smith, 1720, John Wood- cock, 1720, '25, '31, Samuel Bacon, 1721, '33, Samuel Morse, 1721, Josiah Newell, 1721, Ensign Thomas Fuller, 1722, '27, '28, Hezekiah Broad, 1723, '29, Aaron Smith, 1723, Stephen Huntting, 1724, '45 (possibly two individuals), John Pain, 1724, Henry Dewing, 1725, Jonathan Huntting, 1727, Dea. Jeremiah Woodcock, 1728, Thomas Fuller, Jr., 1728, Israel Mills, 1729, Samuel Smith, 1729, Edmund Dewing, 1729, '48, Nathaniel Ware, 1730, '43-7, '52 (seven years), Jeremiah Woodcock, Jr., 1730, Jonathan Smith, 1730, '44, '46, '52, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 173 1, '36, Robert Ware, 1732, '38, Joseph Boyden, Jr., 1732, Josiah Ware, 1733, Samuel Bacon, Jr., 1733, Daniel Boyden, 1734, Eben- ezer Newell, 1734, Robert Prentice, 1735, Nathaniel Wood- cock, 1735, Joseph Daniell, 1736, Hezekiah Kingsbery, 1737, John Fuller, 1737, Edward Smith, 1738, '40, Stephen Dewing, 1739, Thomas Ockinton, 1739, '46-8, '56 (five 686 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM years), Nehemiah Mills, 1740, John Ocklnton, 1740, John Pain, Jr., 1741, Jesse Kingsbery, 1741, Samuel Huntting, 1742, '47, Nathaniel Tolman, 1742, Samuel Mackentire, 1743, '50, Josiah Woodward, 1748, Ephraim Bullard, 1748, Ebenezer Skinner, 1749, Caleb Kingsbery, 1749, David Mills, 1749, '50, '51, Hezekiah Gay, 1749, Samuel Richard- son, 1750 (he had declined in 1748), David Smith, 175 1, '52, '56, '59, '60, '64, Seth Wilson, 175 1, Uriah Coller, 1753, '56, '61, '63, Ebenezer Huntting, 1753, '54, Henry Dewing, Jr., 1754, Theophilus Richardson, 1754, William Smith, 1755^ 'S7, Samuel Daggett, 1755, Aaron Smith, Jr., 1755-? (three years), Peter Edes, 1757, Jesse Knap, 1757, Chris- topher Smith, 1758, Moses Bullard, 1758, '62, '63, Ebenezer Fuller, 1758, '60, Samuel Ware, 1758, John Bird, 1759, '64, Ensign Peter Richardson, 1759 (May 24), Samuel Greenwood, 1761, Moses Kingsbery, 1761, '66, Abijah Mills, 1762, '63, Reuben Dunton, 1762, '75, Thomas Hall, 1762, '65, '68, Nathaniel Kingsbery, 1762, Jonas Mills, 1764, '70, David Hall, 1764, '72, Ebenezer Dewing, 1765, '66, Nathaniel Ware, Jr., 1765, '6j, Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1765, '69, Nehemiah Mills, 1765, Jeremiah Gay, Jr., 1766, Ebenezer Wilkinson, 1766, Edward Beaverstock, 1766, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., 1766, Josiah Upham, Jr., 1767, '68, Amos Fuller, Jr., 1767, John Bacon, Jr., 1767, Moses Dewing, 1767, Henry Alden, 1768, Ebenezer Clark, 1768, Timothy Gay, 1768, David Ockinton, 1768, Thomas Descomb, 1769, Ithamar Smith, 1769, Samuel Alden, 1769, John Fuller, Jr., 1770, Jonathan Smith, 1770, Jonathan Kingsbery, 1770, '75, Elisha Mills, 1770, Jesse Kingsbery, 1771, Jonathan Deming, 1771, David Mills, Jr., 1771, William Mackentash, Jr., 1771, '73, Aaron Molton, 1771, Ephraim Woodward, 1771, Samuel Daniell, 1772, '^6, Amos Mills, 1772, Timothy Broad, 1772, Joseph Col- burn, Jr., 1772, William Smith, 1772, Eleazer Fuller, 1773, Oliver Mills, 1773, Stephen Bacon, Jr., 1773, Luke Mills, 1773, Isaac Underwood, 1774, John Ayers, 1774, Jere- miah Daniell, 1774, Jonathan Smith, Jr., 1774, Solomon THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 687 Fuller, 1774, Isaac Bacon, 1775, Amos Edes, 1775, Tim- othy Fisher, 1775, Richard Blencow, 1775, John M'=Intash, 1776, Lemuel Mills, 1776, Ebenezer Day, 1776, Jeremiah Smith, 1776, Timothy Huntting, 1776, Moses KIngsbery, 1776. Clerk of the Market and Sealers of Bread The duties of the Clerk of the Market do not appear to be clearly defined, but by Act of the General Court In Decem- ber, 1696, they were directed to Inspect all bread offered for sale, and If the loaf was below the required size to seize It, to retain one third of It as a fee, and to deliver the rest to the selectmen for the poor. The constables were directed to assist the clerk of the market when necessary. The office was held In Needham by John Fisher, Jr., In 1716, '17, '19, '22, and by Thomas Metcalf In 1718, but was discon- tinued In 1723. Sealers of Bread were first chosen In this town on March 16, 1772, when Timothy Newell, Lieut. William Mackintash and Ensign Ephralm Bullard were elected. The two former were succeeded the next year by Lieut. Jonathan Day and Ebenezer Newell. Sealers of Bread, usually two In number, were chosen annually until they were abolished on March 4, 1867. Amos Fuller, Jr., who served eleven years between 1789 and 1804, filled this office as long as anybody. Rufus Mills built "the Bake House", which In 1878 was removed from Its location close by the road, just south of where the granite steps lead to the Dwight School, to the slope of North Hill, where It has been occupied as a dwelling from time to time. In February, 1909, the Bake House resumed Its travels, was slid down from North Hill, and, after remaining partly In the road and partly on the BurrlU place for two or three weeks, it was ulti- mately located, by John F. Mills, on Rosemary Street, on what was once Parish land. The building was badly damaged by fire on the afternoon of July 13, 191 1. 688 THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM Deacon Timothy KIngsbery was Surveyor of Hemp and Flax from March lO, 1735 to the spring of 1739, but had no successor. Surveyors of Timber On March 14, 1774, the town voted to "Chufe Three Perfons to be Surveyors of Timber this year", viz., Michael Metcalf, Aaron Smith, Jr., and Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, but the next year none were chosen. There were two Sur- veyors of Lumber prior to 1844, when Seth Dewing became sole surveyor, and so continued for years, but later served with colleagues. In 1862 there were four surveyors of lumber. Surveyors of Wood The first Surveyors of Wood chosen in Needham were Benjamin Slack, Ephraim Bacon, Capt. Michael Harris, Jonathan Richardson, Lemuel Bracket, David Scot and Lieut, Jonathan Smith, who were elected at the annual meeting in 1805. Of these Messrs. Slack, Harris and Smith were prominent citizens, and Squire Slack held the ofhce of surveyor of wood for many years, as did Solomon Flagg, Sr., who was elected for the first time in 1806. Capt. Michael Harris, Jr., was precocious as an office-holder, and in his twenties filled positions of importance in the town and parish, in addition to that of a militia captain. Lieutenant Smith was an active man in Needham, and the Wellesley Town Hall and Library occupy the site of his house. The survey- ors of wood were later known as Measurers of Wood, and have seldom exceeded fourteen in number, although there were seventeen in 1878; some years they have also been Weighers and Gangers. In 1910 there were eight Measurers of Wood and Bark, two Surveyors of Lumber and six Public Weighers. William Flagg was a surveyor of wood for thirty-three consecutive years, 1828-60, and Robert Mansfield thirty years, 1861-90. A brother of the latter. THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM 689 John Mansfield, served twenty-six years between 1828 and 1859. Samuel W. Dix held this office for twenty-five years between 1821 and 1848, and Newell Smith an equally long time between 1825 and i860. George W. Hoogs was for twenty-one years a surveyor for the Lower Falls, between 1810 and 1841. JURYMEN In Provincial times the list of proposed jurors, prepared by the selectmen, or by a special committee, was offered to the town for acceptance, as at the present day, and some were excused by vote of the town. On occasion each name in the list was acted on separately, and committees were appointed to "Regulate the Jury Box's", which were kept locked until a juryman was required. In modern times the names are drawn by the selectmen and one of the constables. The first record of a juryman In Needham is when Ephraim Ware, Sr., was selected as a Grand juror on July i, 1719, and the second Instance is the choice of Captain Cook as a Traverse juror on March 11, 1733/4. Prior to 1776 the names of but twenty-nine other jurors are preserved In the Needham records; some of these were for the Superior Court, others for the General Sessions of the Peace or the Inferior Court. "For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night ". ^bbentra Apparently in ancient times The Hundreds Dividend reached some distance south of Blossom Street, and probably included the "School Farm", if not The Leg. The statement on page 21 that The Hundreds extended substantially to Blossom Street was influenced by the positive assurance of a native of West Needham (Wellesley), who has been regarded as an authority in such mat- ters, that that was the fact, but this opinion was at variance with impressions derived by the writer from the study of early records. It seems reasonably certain that the territory known in 171 1 as The Hundreds was larger than that so designated a century later. In 1859 the aqueduct in Needham broke and for live days Boston was without its supply of water. Israel Whitney was called "Deacon Would Be" by some people, but it does not appear how generally the worthy man's supposed ambition was thus recognized. Mr. Whitney had on one or more occasions received votes for the office of deacon, and his facetious title was in contrast with that of his neighbor, "Deacon Could Be." The Tea and Toast Club, referred to on page 597, has invariably consisted oi fifteen married ladies. The old oak on the Training Field was badly damaged in a severe gale in January, 1912, and Mr. Clarke arranged with the tree warden to do what was necessary for its preservation. The officers of the Needham Historical Society were chosen on October 10, 191 1, and John Fisher Mills then became its first president. 3nbex The alphabetical lists of Needham soldiers in the Civil War under the following headings : In- fantry, pages 404-502; Cavalry, pages 502-504; Artillery, pages 504, 505; and Navy, pages 506, 507, are not indexed here. The chronological lists of the minor town officers, pages 674-682, 684-687, are also not indexed here. A BATEMENT of taxes, 526, 527 ■^^ Abbott, JosiahG., 162, 300. Rev. Stephen G., 255 Abbott Post, G. A. R., 507 Abington, 211 Ackroyd, James A., 304 Act of Incorporation passed, 72 Acton, 573, 619 Adams, Dr., 568. Rev. Mr., 246. Rev. Amos, 235. Rev, Andrew N., 241, 242. Asa, 570. Chester, 159, 215, 440. George, 581. George A., 584. Rev. George M., 286. Joseph H., 290, 294, 295. Mary, 365. Mary A., 272. Rev. Nehemiah, 273. Samuel, 169. Dr. Samuel, 569. Rev. Thomas, 237. Rev. William H., 272, 273, 276-278, 282, 366, 370>543- Rev. Zabdiel, 233. Rev. Zenas, 261 Addington, Isaac, 72 Advent Christian Church, see Churches Advent Christian Hall, 596 Advent Society, 301 Agricultural and kindred societies, 609-612 Agricultural Fairs, 612 Agricultural libraries, 375 Alabama, 543 Alarm-bells, 579 "Alarm Men," 437, 454 Albany, New York, 431, 466, 487 Albion Cricket Club, 599, 600 Alden — Aiding — AUden — Alldin — Alldings, — , 41. Amasa, 338. Charles E., 447-449. George A., 22. Henry, 12, 71, 81, 84. John, 12, 86, 87, 92, 114, 435, 527, 650. Moses, 362. Otis, 422. Rachel, 616. Ruth, 40. Samuel, 202, 441, 456, 461, 474, 482. Silas, 12, 39, 97, 154, 181, 202, 226, 338, 339, 341, 342, 428, 440, 456, 461, 464, 465, 478, 482, 488, 516, 561-563, 645, 651. Thomas, 308. William, 56, 436. William, Jr., 338, 341 Alden and Pope, 11, 21 Alden family, 12, 13 Alden gravel pit, 587 Aldcn's Hotel, Dcdham, 445 Aldcrshot, England, 442 Aldridge — Alderidge — Alderig — Al- dridg, Mary, 135. Samuel, 13, 329. Thomas, 13, 78, 82, 135, 231. William, 40 Aldridge — Alderidge — Aldrich family, 13, 14 Alexander, Josephine C, 668 Alfreton, Derbyshire, England, 398, 405 Alfreton Road, 405 Alger, James M., 421 Allan steamship line, 544 Allchin, Rev. Frederick J., 296 Allen, Captain, 469. Rev. Mr., 219, 220. Amos, 100, 349, 648. Rev. Charles A., 242, 243, 306. Hezekiah, 307. Dr. John, 548, 568. Rev. John, 136. Rev. John, Methodist, 260. Rev. John W., 273. Pomp, 566 Almshouse, 179, 190, 524, 541, 551, 552, 602, 606, 607 Almshouse cells, 551 Altar, Christ Church, gifts of furnish- ings, 303 Alton, N. H., 288 Ambler, Harvey, 307 American Artillery, First Company, 470 American Quarterly Register, 236, 239 American Revolution, see War of the American Revolution Ames, Fisher, 169. Nathaniel, 568. Robert E., 640, 664. Robert W., 257 Amherst, Jeffry, 43 1 694 INDEX Amherst, 292 Anabaptists, 225, 247, 526 Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- pany, 441 Ancient Order of United Workmen, 592 Andersonville, Ga., 494, 504 Andirons, 342 Andover, 275, 628 Andrews, David A., 398. Frank, 634. Rev. George W., 243 Anglo-American Lodge, Sons of St. George, 592 Annapolis Royal, N. S., 429 Annin, William B., 131 Annual Exhibitions at Oakland Hall School, 372 Annual Register of the Baptist Denom- ination, 248 Anthis, Philip, 505 Antietam, Md., 501, 502 Antipedobaptists, 247, 248, 258 Appleton, John, 577 Appleton Temporary Home for Ine- briates, 372, 533, 604 Appropriations, at different periods, 1810-1910, 533 Apthorp, Rev. East, 149 Aquatic garments made, 400 Aqueduct Bridge, 358 Aqueducts, 126, 127, 691 Arlington, 453 Armory, Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 447, 448 Arnold, Ambrose, 277. Benedict, 485. Rev. Robert, 261 Arrow heads, 1 1 Artillery, names of Needham soldiers in the Civil War arranged alpha- betically, not indexed, 504, 505 Asbury, Rev. Francis, 260, 262. Rev. Thomas, 261 Ashburnham, 18 Ashby, 137 Ashford, Conn., 618 Ashwell, Edward S., 398. George, 268, 398 Ashwell Manufacturing Company, 398 Asphaltoil used on roads, 105 Asplund, John, 248 Assessment of taxes, 519-522 Assessors, see Town Officers Assistant Registrar of Probate, 647 Athletic garments made, 400, 408 Atkins, John, 307; John, Jr., 307 Attleborough, Atelburey, 23, (d^, 433, 434 Atwood, Rev. Edward S., 274-276, 280, 283, 352, 667; his salary, 276 Auction of the poor, 547, 551, 602 Auctioneers, 632 Auditors, see Town Officers Austin, Agnes, 451. Louisa E., 298, 300. Mary P., 298. Richard, 683. S. Harris, 298, 300 Authors, 627, 628 Autumn Lodge, L O. of G. T., 604 Avery, Dorcas R., 269. George, 252, 664. Jane G., 250, 356, 610. John, 265. Jonathan, 24, 250, 254, 265, 270, 357, 360, 402, 424, 543, 603, 663 Avery Land, 424 Avery School-house, 360, 361, 424, 599. Teachers, 364 Avery Square, 424 Avery Street, 424 Ayer, Saint Mary's Church, 296 Ayres — Aiers — Ares — Ayers, Aaron, 456. Ann, 14. Charles, 263. Daniel, 423. David, 15, 114, 307, 319, 563, Ebenezer, 307. John, 14, 483, 522, 678. Joseph, 487. Joshua, 307. Nathaniel, 14, 198, 435,464,465,477,478. Nathaniel, Jr-, 467 Ayres, see also Eayrs Ayres, Ayers family, 14, 15 Azaleas, Hunnewell estate, 634 r> ACKUS, Isaac, his "History of the -'-' Baptists," 248 Bacon, Abigail, 16. Amos, 307. Daniel, 429, 437, 678. David, 438, 565. Ephraim, 16, 688. Henry, 15, 16, 26, 143, 429, 437. Isaac, 457, 462, 466. Jeremiah, 437. John, 15, 16, 91, 147, 150, 307, 429, 437, 440, 452-454, 457, 459, 462, 463, 468, 483, 651, 675. John, Jr., 23, 150. John, 3d, 33, 63, 329. Jonathan, 339, 460, 462,481. Jonathan, Jr., 341. Joseph, 150. Michael, 15, 321, 459, 463, 559. Moses, 458, 460, 463,468. Oliver, 2d, 307. Samuel, 15,71,202,223, 224, 332, 435, 678. Stephen, 15, 129, 130, 141, 142, 147, 150, 329, 460, 483, 651. Stephen, Jr., 429, 437, 457, 462, 467. Timothy, 15, 26, 27, 86, 130, 141, INDEX 695 142, 146-148, 458, 462, 670. Wil- liam, 431. Zeruiah, 23 Bacon family, 15, 16, 20, 22 Bacon Street, 91, 453 Badger, Sarah G., 300. Rev. Stephen, 437 Badlam, Stephen, 473 Bailey — Balcy, John, 473. Rev. John M., 264. Luther, 473. Samuel, 458, 477. William P., 361 Bake House, 393, 687 Baker, Rev. Abijah R., 246, 627, 628. His "Catechism Tested by the Bible," 627. His "Divine Sover- eignty in Human Salvation," 628. George, 474. Harriette N. (Mrs. Abijah R.), 628. Her "Tim the Scissors Grinder," 628. John, 16, 201. Rev. Noah, 248. William E., 138, 139, 356, 415- Baker's Field, 16, 201, 208 Balch, Rev. Mr., 242. Rev. Thomas, 235 Baldwin, Frank F., 300 Ball, Henry A., 275 Bancroft, Dr., 338 Band-stand, 632 Bank tax, 534 Banks, Gov. Nathaniel P., 448, 540, 633 Banks, 425, 426 Banner, Charles, 599 Baptisms, First Church, 228, 324, 327. West Church, 228 Baptisms in pond, 248, 251 Baptist Church, see Churches, First Baptist Church Baptist State Convention, 252 Baptist vestry, 191, 251, 604 Baptistery, 251 Baptists, 151, 248, 249, 526 Barber — Barbar — Barbur — Bar- bure, Joseph, 81, 82, 223. Mary, 224. Nathaniel, 473 Barden & Newell, 391 Barnes, Charles L., 509. Daniel, 422 Barney, Salmon, 96 Barr, Benjamin L., 347 Barrel-hoops, 392 Barrett, Luther, 95 Barrows, Rev. William, 274, 280, 352, 667; his salary, 276 Barry, Rev. John S., 242 Bartlett, Mr., 447. Ebenezer, 475, Eunice, 560. Henry, 589. Henry F., 307. Jonathan S., 307. Lois, 560. Longley, 460, 478 Bass — Baass, Rev. Mr., 220 Bass viol bought, 246, 309 Batchelder, Mr., 263. Henry S., 275, 280, 281. John, 271-274, 277, 278, 280, 281. Rebecca S., 272 Batcheller, Holland N., 610 Bates, Catherine L., 291 Baton Rouge, La., 497 Battelle — Battell — Battle — Battles, Rev. Allen E., 250, 251. Eben- ezer, 475, 476, 478. Hezekiah, 478. Jonathan, 352, 512, 667. Josiah, 478. Leonard, 601. Mary (Mrs. Leonard), 362 Batting-mill, 398 Baxter, Rev. Joseph, 219, 220, 224, 227 Beach, Thomas, 599, 631 Beals, Lewis, 99 Bean, George F., 378. Helen M., 378 Beaufort, S. C, 496, 498 Beautiful World, Gzg Beaver-hats made, 397 Beaverstock — Beverstock, Edward, 173, 469- John, 430, 43 1, 463, 466, 467, 470 Beck, Adam, 384. James H., 298. Lizzie H., 298 Beckman, Charles E., 302, 304 Beckwith, William H., 617 Beef tax, 482, 527, 529 Beekman, Rev. Garrett, 269, 270 Belcher, Jonathan, 472. Rev. Joseph, 218-221, 224. Nathaniel, 479 Beless, James, 403, 631. James S., 270, 271. John, 403. Thomas, 403 Beless family, 403 Bells, see Church bells Belly kelly, Londonderry, Ireland, 61 Bemis, Andrew T., 265. Charles, 383 Benjamin, John, 469. Samuel, 473 Benjamin F. Butler Camp, Sons of Veterans, 508 Bennett, Robert, 599. William, 393 Benson, Abel or Nero, 451 Bent, Elizabeth, 62. Rev. Gilbert R., 256, 269. Hopestill, 62. Peter, 462 Benvenue Street, 88 Berdell mortgage, 414 Berlin, Prussia, 587 Bernard — Barnard, Gov. Francis, 148 Bethesda Church, Va., 500 Bible, in Sunday School library, 238; painting on ceiling of 3d Meeting- house, 205 696 INDEX Bicentennial Celebration, 189, 441, 579, 626, 627 Bicycles made, 399 Bidwell, Rev. I.M., 261, 262 Biers, 321 Bigelow — Biglow, Mr., 125. Abraham, 307. Rev. Andrew, 246, 273. Chester A., 544. Rev. Frank H., 304. Isaac, 307. Joseph, 307. William, 247, 307 Bill family, 673 Billerica, 27 Billings, Henry, 414 Billings, Clapp & Company, 388 Bills of Credit, 514 Binney & Co., 387 Binney's Mill, 387 Birch — Burch Meadow, 28, 53, 80, 140 Birch — Burch Plain, 16, 28, 34, 79, 136 Bird, Benjamin, 56, S"]. Ebenezer, 488. George, 380, 441. John, 136, 431, 457, 463, 467, 474, 479- John S., 277, 349, 654. Josiah N., 440 Bird's Hill, 24, 73, 136 Birney, James G., 171 Births, 184, 188, 228, 324, 327 Bishop, Robert, 382, 384 Bivory, Rev. John, 261 Bixby, Jonathan, 202 Black, James W., 587. Rev. Newton, 244, 303, 305 "Black House," 623 Blackinton — Blackenton, Nathaniel, 433-435- Othniel, 54 Blackinton family, 54 Blackman, Adam, 202, 213, 431. Caro- line E., 617. Henry, 655. Henry D., 624 Blackman place, 87, 332 Blacksmith shops, 33, 48, 97, lOO, 178, 394-396 Blacksmiths, 24, 60, 61, 64, 241, 394, 396, 632, 633 Blacksmith's Pond, 139 Blair, Gen. Francis P., 504 Blaisdell — Blasdale, Ensign, 474. Charles, 352 Blanchard, Mr., 446, 541. Rev. Calvin B., 261 Blanchard Land, 423 Blanket money, 463, 464 Blankets made, 399 Blasland, Anna, 618 Blencow — Blencoe — Blincow — Blin- cowe, Ann, 472. Richard, 456, 461, 472, 476 Blind-hinges made, 394, 396, 409 Blind Lane, 346, 583 Blodgett, Rev. Constantine, 274 Blood, Rev. Caleb, 248, 251 Blossom Street, 85, 98, 134, 691 Board of Health, see Town Officers Bodingham — Bodinham, Susanna, 48. William, 48, 54 Bogle, Mary, 259. Her epitaph, 260. William, 96, 98, 259 Boit, Mr., 384 Bolton, 203 Bond, Lieut.-Col., 459. Alonzo, 632. Richard H., 257 Bonney, Rev. Isaac, 261 Bookpaper made, 391 Boots and shoes made, 390, 401, 409 Boston, Cato, 566 Boston, 103, 127, 164, 186, 202, 203, 276, 317, 363, 392, 421, 430, 447, 450, 460, 480, 481, 487, 539, 541, 543, 544, 55°. 557, 57°, 612, 617. Back Bay filled with Needham soil, 422. Baptist Bethel, 250. Central Church, 274. Essex Street Church, 273. Fire, 1872, 112. Grand Opera House, 634. HoUis Street Church, 236. Old South Church, 2 18, 224. Phillips School, 661. Second Baptist Church, 248. Siege, 1775, 459. State National Bank, dG^. Sun Tavern, 539. Union Baptist Church, 250. Water supply fails, 691 Boston and Albany Railroad Company, 354, 413, 416. Newton Circuit, 413 Boston and Needham Circuit, 262 Boston and Providence Railroad, 420, 421 Boston and Providence Street Railway Company, 420 Boston and Worcester Railroad Cor- poration, 413, 414, 545 Boston Aqueduct, 126, 127 Boston Belting Company, 387 Boston Brass Band, 631 " Boston Clique," 164 Boston Common, 447 Boston District, 262 Boston Evening Transcript, 384 Boston Harbor, 233 Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad Company, 414, 422 INDEX 697 Boston Market Act, 167 Boston Museum, 216, 634 Boston South Baptist Association, 251 Boston University, School of Medicine, 572 Bostonville, 423 Bound, Rev. Mr., 526 Boundaries, changes, 141-163; con- troversy with Dedham, 73-75 Bounties, Revolution, 459, 466-468, 471, 472, 476; Civil War, 490-492; for wild animals, 641, 642 Bourne, Charles E., 402. William, and Son Piano Company, 401 Bourne Building, 402, 426 Bourne Hall, 599, 609, 627 Bowditch, Mr., 42. Galen, 487. Jona- than, 307, 632 Bowdoin, Gov. James, 14, 169. William, 15, 149, 183, 531,565,64s Bowen, Otis E., 265, 290, 608 Bowen family, 633 Bowers, AUston R., 289. Betsey, 617. Edgar H., 176, 182, 185, 191, 192, 289, 294, 295, 325, 396, 578, 582, 622, 626, 655, 664. Sherman, 137, 632 Bowers & Brown, 630 Bowman, Rev. Joseph, 234 Box-stoves, 342 Boyd, Alpheus P., 664. Francis, 577. Isabelle P., 599 Boyden — Boyding, Daniel, 13. Han- nah, 48. James, 48. Joseph, 13, 14, 37, 81, 195, 218, 219, 223, 224, 308, 313, 332, 649. Merrill N., 352, 668. Rebecca, 14, 15 Boyden's Hall, 265 Boylston, 370, 574 Boynton, Richard, 204, 207, 324, 347, 349, 576, 589, 666 Boys' Club, 609 Boys' Fraternity, 267 Boys' League, 254 Brackett — Bracket, David, 467. Lem- uel, 211, 458, 688. Lucy (Mrs. Charles), 310. Samuel, 211, 458. Solomon, 438 Braddock, General, 430 Bradford, Rev. Alden, 237. Gamaliel, 358, 668 Bradford, 618 Bradish, John, 195 Bradley, William, 633 Brady and Tate, their "Church Psalms," 308 Brand, Deborah, 558, 559 Brattle, William, 145 Breck, Rev. Robert, 218, 219 Breding, Daniel, 569 Brett, Captain, 310 Brewer, Colonel, 459. Abigail, 59 Brick school district, see Centre, Brick, school district Brick school-house, see Centre, Brick, school-house Bridges, 58, 1 13-128, 159 Bridgewater — Bridewater, 559. Battle of, 487 Brigade Band, 447 Brigadier General, militia, 440 Bright, Michael, 463, 467, 481 Brighton, 579, 61 1 Brinley, Francis, 430, 43 1 British Army, 511 British Military and Naval Veterans, 441 British prisoners, 480, 481 "British Sunday," 441 Broad, Grace, 615. Hezekiah, 16, 17, 26, S3, 63, 71, 83, 86, 87, 157, 214, 219, 307. Josiah, 17, 86. Seth, 458, 467, 474, 481. Theodore, 91, 125, 211, 45S, 462, 480. Thomas, 17, 211, 214, 339, 390, 435, 527. Timothy, 14, 17, 457, 461, 462 Broad and Stevens Brook, 340 Broad family, 16, 17 Broad Meadow, 40, 52, S3, 57, 58, 60, 66, 108, 113, 127, 13s, 232 Broad Meadow Road, 87, 91, 104 Broad's Bridge, Theodore, 125, 339 Broad's Hill, Natick, 17 Broad's Mills Bridge, 125 Broad's Pond, 17, 130, 138 Brockton, 626 Bromfield, Edward, 56 Brook Street, 83, 88, 99, 103 Brookline, 44, 127, 237, 272, 3 IS, 387, 413, 421, 430, 433, 464, S70. Min- isters' wood lot in Needham, 315. First Parish, 315 Brookline Band, 62s Brooks, Rev. Mr., 246. Rev. Edward, 234. Gov. John, 170. John F., 406. Brooks, John F., Company, 406 Brookside Road, 83 Brown — Browne, Betsey, 17, 18, 698 INDEX 326. Frank H., 392. Hopestill, 62. James M., 584. John, 321, 429, 436, 459. Joshua, 307, 480. Lois, 616. Samuel, 17, 18, 211, 387, 454, 652. William, 62, 558. William H., 443. Woodbrldge, 145, 151, 211 Brown family, 17, 18 Brown Fund, Betsey, 327 Brown's Bridge, 125, 126 Brown-tail moths, 614 Brownville, Albert E., 257, 542 Brumley, Rev. Daniel, 260 Bryan — Bryon, Richard, 463, 469 Bryant — Briant, Captain, 469 Buck seen, 643 Buckley, Jeremiah F., 297. John E., 192, 519 Buckminster — Buckminister, Edward, 479 Bucknam, Caleb, 307 Buffalo Pitts Company, 104 Bugle players, 631 Bull Run, Va., 495, 497, 500 Bullard, Abigail, 616. Ephraim, 18, 88, 146, 147, 180, 211, 339, 340, 435, 438-440,442,451,454,488,539,638, 651, 656, 661, 687. Ephraim, Jr., 465. John, 458, 460, 462, 468. Jo- seph, 460, 462, 464, 474, 480. Moses, 18,202, 211,440,457,466,467,476, 477, 483. 516, 539, 638, 646, 656, 670. Nathaniel, 18, 20, 83, 85, 144, 157, 199, 330, 369, 435, 462, 480, 488, 515, 550, 632, 647, 650, 677. Timothy, 309, 440, 488, 589, 656 Bullard family, 18, 136 Bullard's Bridge, 125, 130 Bullard's Brook, 60, 125, 138, 139, 153 Bullard's Hill, 136, 451 Bullard's Pond, 130, 138, 153, 558 Bullard's Tavern, 88, 214, 438, 451, 486, 538, 539, 656 Bullen, Ellen M., 284. Ichabod, 654. Joseph, 487. Lydia, 19. Mari- etta J., 284. Rebecca, 284. Thad- deus, 398 Bullock, Edwin 0., 268, 276, 282 Bullough, Eliza, 381 Bunker Hill, Battle of, 435, 561. Cen- tennial, 138 Bunker Hill Monument, 441, 485 Bunker Hill Monument Association, 48s Buoncore, Miss L., 371 Burgess, Rev. Ebenezer, 283, 284, 291 Burgoyne, General, 481 Burnham, John, 250, 256, 258. Mar- tha M. (Mrs. John), 250, 258 Burr, Isaac T., 587 Burrage, Charles D., 486, 587, 590, 593 Burrellville Bank, 187 Burrill, Bill, 542, 640, 673. Bill, 2d, 578, 672, 673. Francis A., 322. Sketch of his life, 619-622. John, 72, Susan, 262, 269, 620, 621 Burrill place, 687 Burton, Captain, 469. Henry E., 577. Rev. Nathan S., 256 Burying-ground, see Needham Cemetery Bush, Rev. Solon W., 206, 242, 581. Mrs. Solon W., 242 Butcher, 14 Butler, Benjamin F., 508 Butler, hound, 322 Byington, E. G., 554 By-laws, 193, 5^8 /^AHILL, James E., 582 ^^ Calbayog, West Samara, Philip- pines, 511 Callahan, Rev. Michael F., 296 Callanan, Rev. Patrick H., 295 Cambridge, 12, 19, 22, 27, 149, 166, 167, 453,459,480,559,570,623. Christ Church, 149. First Baptist Church, 250 Cambridge Great Cart Bridge, 113 Camp Clorenta, 511 Camp Connell, 511 Camp Downes, 511 Camp Kittles, 443 Camp Meade, 509 Camp meetings of Methodists, 260 Camp Wetherell, 509 Campbell, Alexander, 89 Canaan, N. H., 617 Canada, 431, 433, 442, 459, 465-468, 528, 600, 618 Canker worms, 614 Canton, Conn., 618 Canton, N. Y., 242 Capen, Rev. Samuel, 239 Capron, Christopher, 431, 432. Jona- than, 433, 434 Caps made, 406 Capt. Pratt's Bridge, see Pratt's Bridge Captains, militia, 440, 441. Cavalry, 442. Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 449 INDEX 699 Cardigan jackets made, 405, 406 Care of the Highways, 107-112 Carey, William, 466 Carnegie, Andrew, 268, 376 Carpenter, Simeon B., 570 Carr, Hiram, 619 Cart Bridge, 86, 87, 89, 1 18 Carter, Horace A., 266, 268, 270, 271, 361, 404, 668. Jane G. (Mrs. William), 250, 254, 268, 376, 378, 610. JosiahH., 352, 525, 603, 626, 654, 663, 665. William, 139, 265, 267, 268, 270, 32s, 376, 377, 379, 399, 404-407, 412, 416, 424, 582, 584, 603, 626, 633, 646, 655, 668. William, and Company, 404. Wil- liam H., 404, 646 Carter, William, Company, 404-406. Lower Mill, 268, 393, 399, 404. Mill No. I, 405 Cartwright, James, 400, 611 Cartwright Street, Wellesley, 90, 99, 400 Caryl, George, 570 Castle Island, 464, 479 "Catalogue of Wellesley Hills Congre- gational Church," 276 Cataract Engine Company, Newton, 577, 579, 633 Catherine, Indian, 10 Cato, Dinah, 566, 616 Cato, Jethro, 565-567 Cattle, 639, 641; number at different periods, 531, 535 Catubig, Island of Samar, Philippines, Sio Causeway, 117 Causeway Street, 78, 103 Cavalry, 443, 444. Names ofNeedham soldiers in the Civil War arranged alphabetically, not indexed, 502- 504. Officers, 442 Cavnaugh, Michael, 263 Cedar Creek, Va., 501 Cedar Swamp, 89 Cedar Swamp Plain, 89 Cemeteries, 315-320, 324-327; see also Needham Cemetery; North Na- tick graveyard; Saint Mary's Cemetery; West Needham Ceme- tery; Woodlawn Cemetery Census, population at different times, 1711-1910, 237, 530, 532 Cent Society of Needham, 207 Centennial Celebration, 623, 624 Centennial of the Battles of Concord and Lexington, 485 Central Avenue, 21, 81, 82, 84, 87, 89, 98, 99, 136, 205, 415, 539 Central Street, 102 Centre, Brick, school district, 340, 341, 343-346, 349, 350, 352, 366 Centre, Brick, school-house, 44, 332, 333, 335, 337, 3.39, 342, 344, 347, 350, 353, 359, 360. Teachers, 362- 364 Ceolins, Clarkson, 505 Chadbourne, Edward J., 257 Chamberlain, Rev. Joshua, 237. Nath- aniel, 433, 453, 455 Chandler, Rev. Edward H., his "His- tory of the Wellesley Congrega- tional Church," 215, 247 Chandler, Jonathan, 435 Channing, Rev. George G., 241 Chapin, E. P., 277 Chapman, Rev. Arthur W., 303, 305 Charitable Sewing Society, 317 Charles River, 58, 68, 69, 73, 79, 82, 87, 89, 99, 113-115, 119-121, 128-130, 134, 136-140, 163, 644. Beams placed in its bed, 412 Charles River Branch Railroad, 414 Charles River Railroad, 413, 414, 421 Charles River Street, 17, 22, 82, 98, 99, 122, 419 Charles River Village, 25, 131, 176, 243, 304, 396, 415, 574, 581. Mill, 391, 392. Post-office, 543 Charleston, S. C, 504 Charlestown, 24, 451, 505, 510, 530. First Baptist Church, 250 Charlestown, N. H., 465, 466 Charpiot, Rev. Louis, 604 Chase, Harriet, 668 Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, 597 Cheever, Thomas, 432, 433 Chelmsford, 248 Chelsea, 271 Chemical works, 388 Cheney, Abigail, 99. Asa, 441, 488. Benjamin, 486. Elizabeth, 60. Joseph, 47. Timothy, 560 Cheney estate, 11, 369 Cheney family, 245, 334 Chescntree Road, 95 Chestnut Hill, 64, 87, 95, 98 Chestnut Street, 102, 105, 418-420, 579 700 INDEX Chestnut Trees, 14, 15, 44, 58, 83, 88, 91 Chicago, 111., 510 Chickamauga, Ga., 510 Chickering, John, 21. Mary, 21. Nath- aniel, 512 Chief Engineers, Fire Department, see Town Officers Child, Oscar C. A., 509 Children's Hospital, Convalescent . Home, 44, 309, 344, 533 Children's subscription to Bunker Hill Monument, 485 Children's underwear made, 404, 406- 408 Childs — Child, Mr., 151, 423, Ed- ward, 195. Harold C, 295. Henry T., 376, 656, 664. John, 196. Joseph, 486. Rev. Stephen, 234 Christ Church, see Churches Christening basin. First Church, 238 Christian Era, 255 Christian Science Church, see Churches Christian Science Hall, 305 Chub, William, 84, 3 14, 330, 561, 670, 671 Church Attendance, 306 Church bells, 624. First Church, 204, 322, 579, 621, 626, 634. Baptist Church, 252. Methodist Church, 268, 579. Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville, 278. Evan- gelical Congregational Church, 286. Unitarian Society of Grantville, 300 Church book, 221, 227 Church choristers, 308, 309 Church Covenant, 222, 223 Church lot, 205 Church Manuals, 246 Church Music, 308-311 Church orchestra, 309 Church silver, see Communion service Churches Advent Christian Church, 301 Christ Church, 302-305, 407. Church built, 302. Dedicated, 303. Minis- ters, 303. Wardens, 303, 304. Number of members, 304 Christian Science Church, 305, 306 Congregational Church in West Need- ham, 18, 166, 245-247, 258, 271, 272,280,306,320,375,573. Meet- ing-houses, 245. Its Church Man- ual, 246, 312. Its Ministers, 246, 247. Its Deacons, 247 Evangelical Congregational Church, 282-295,304,306,571. Confession Churches — Continued of Faith adopted, 283. Chapel built, 284, 285. Church Manual printed, 286. Bell bought, 286. Standing Rules adopted, 287. An- nual reunions, 287. Name changed, 287. Debt paid, 288. Sunday School, 288. Number of members, 288. 289. Music, 289. Organ bought, 289. Parsonage bought, 289. Communion service bought, 289, 290. Its Ministers, 291-293. Its Deacons, 293, 294. Its Clerks, 294 First Baptist Church in Needham, 40, 104, 248-258, 288, 306, 586, 598. Church built, 249-251. Its Sun- day School, 251. Its baptistery, 251. Its bell, 252. The Jubilee Anniversary, 254. Number of members, 254, 255. Pastors, 255, 256. Deacons, 256, 257. Me- morial windows, 258 First Church in Needham, 42, 47, 65, 179, 213, 216-246, 287, 297, 306, 308-310, 321, 414, 565, 579, 601, 602, 604, 615, 627, 672. Mr. Town- send's ministry, 220-233. His rec- ords, 221-230. His ordination, 224. His salary, 229-231. His sermons, 233. From the decease of Mr. Townsend to the settlement of Mr. West, 233, 234. The Rev. Samuel West's ministry, 234-237. His ordination, 235. His sermons, 236. His salary, 237. The Rev. Stephen Palmer's ministry, 237-239. His ordination, 237. His salary, 238. His sermons, 239. Later minis- ters, 239-244. "Two Hundredth" anniversary, 244, 245. Church music, 308-310. Ministerial land, 3 1 1-3 15. Cemetery, 316-318 First Church of Christ Scientist, 305, 306 Holy Trinity Mission, 304, 305 Methodist Episcopal Church, High- landville, 263-271, 307, 579, 595, 596, 603. Record book, 261, 263. Church built, 265. Its "Records of Quarterly and Board Meetings," 265. Its Sunday School, 266, 268. Its 25th anniversary, 266. Its music, 267, 268. Estey organ bought, 268. Repairs made and INDEX 701 Churches — Coniitiued parsonage built, 268. Its bell, 268. Its Ministers, 269, 270. Its Secre- taries, 270. Its Treasurers, 270 Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville, 271-282, 298, 299, 306. Confession of Faith adopted, 272; printed, 273. Organized, 272. Or- dinations, 273-276. Salary of min- ister, 276. Manual, 276. Number of members, 276. Its Sunday- School, 276, 279, 282. Its organ, 276, 279. Meeting-house built, 277, 278. Stone church built, 278, 279. Its records, 278. Its Minis- ters, 280. Its Deacons, 280, 281. Its Clerks, 281. Its Treasurers, 281, 282. Its Superintendents of the Sunday School, 282 Saint John's Church, 43, 295, 388 Saint Joseph's Church, 295-297, 355. Its pastor and curates, 296. Its Sunday School, 296, 297. Its memorial windows, 297 Unitarian Church, Grantville, 299-301 Cincinnati, Ohio, 569 Cisco, see Sisco City Point, Va., 493 Civil War, 484, 485, 490-511. Soldiers' Letter, 492, 493. Names of Soldiers arranged alphabetically, not in- dexed. Infantry, 494-502; Cavalry, 502-504; Artillery, 504, 505; En- gineer Corps, 505; Veteran Re- serve Corps, 505; Navy, 506, 507 Claflin, William, 399 Clancy, Lena L., 305 Clapp — Clap, Colonel, 145, 174. Al- bion C, 275, 281,282. Harvey, 446. Isaac, 601. John, 440. Sarah, 617 Clapp Bros., 357 Clapp's Hotel, Walpole, 446 Clarinet, played in church, 309. Play- ers, 631 Clarke — Clark, Rev., 219. Annie M., 216, 634. Arthur, 307. Ebcnezer, 121, 203, 435, 456, 457, 459. Eben- ezer, Jr., 464, 467. George E., 282, 373. George K., 12, 47, 62, 185, 186, 189, 191, 193, 197, 205, 212, 213, 226, 228, 244, 325, 355, 376, 379, 417, 485, 486, 535, 545, 594, 603, 613, 614, 625, 655, 664, 665, 691; his "WcUesley Epitaphs," 47, 238, 327, 330; his address, "The Be- ginning of our Church," 244; his ad- dress at "The Jubilee Anniversary," 254; edited "Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground, Needham," 324; his articles on the Needham schools and teachers in the Dedham Historical Register, 333. Henry, 617. John, 72, 203, 323, 380, 383, 430, 431, 457, 460, 466, 469, 472. Mrs. John, 472. Rev. Jonas, 334. Rev. Jonas B., 301, 354, 372, 668. Martha A., 313, 603. Norman, 116. Sarah (Mrs. John), 472. Thomas, 538. William, 195, 384, 601, 669. William C, 263. Rev. William H., 254, 256 Clarke estate, 53 Clay, Henry, 171 Clay Brook, 25 Clerks, First Parish, 212, 244; Town, see Town Officers Clerks of the Market, see Town Officers Cleveland, Ira, 317 Clews, George, 271, 595. John, 631 Clocks, First Church, 206. Baptist Church, 252, 286. Orthodox Con- gregational Church in Grantville, 279. Town Hall, 586 Coal first used in Cong. Church, 246 Coat-rolls, 459 Cobb, Lemuel, 397 Coburn & Co., F. G., 356 Cochituate, 30 Cochituate Pond, 130 Coffee, Ishmael, 567. Jupiter, 567 Coffee family, 566 Coffins, 323, 324 Coffron, John, 526 Coggin, Rev. Jacob, 237 Cogswell, Samuel B., 281 Colburn, Benjamin, 641. George W., 509, 613. H. Bradford, 33. Jo- seph, 14, 87, 90, 347, 456. Joseph, Jr., 456. Lemuel, 461. Olive, 617. Owen, 445. Samuel, 479. Seth, 98, 645, 653, 662. Simeon, 108, 462 Colburn estate, 424, 583, 600 Colburn Spring, 583 Colcord, John M., 666, 667 Cold Harbor, Va., 501 Cole, Merton K., 572 Collectors of taxes, see Town Officers, Tax Collectors 702 INDEX College graduates, 372, 373 College of Music, Wellesley College, 374 Coller — Choller, Hannah, 186, 332. John, 62, 428, 436, 468. Joseph, 332. Phinehas, 457, 459, 469, 470. Samuel, 479-481. Sarah, 472. Uriah, 435, 457, 459, 460, 464, 472-475, 480. Uriah, Jr., 89, 458, 462, 464, 474, 480 Coller family, 63 Collins, Ellen, 297, Johanna, 297. Patrick A., 162 Collishaw, Albert E., 302-304 Colonels, militia, 440 Colony tax, 529 Columbia, S. C, 504 Columbian Centinel, 236 Columbian Minerva, 47 Combination Company, 580 Commins — Commons, Edmond, 284, 297. Joseph, 37 Commissioner for Assessment, see Town Ofiicers, Assessors Commissioner of Insolvency, 647 Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- tion and Safety, see Town Officers Committee on a Town History, 185, 186 Committee on the Improvement of the Burying Ground, 316, 317 Committee to Reckon with the Town Treasurer and Auditors, see Town Officers Common, 192, 626. Great Plain, 587. Needham Heights, 587 Communion service. First Church, 226, 238. Congregational Church, 246. Methodist Church, 260. Ortho- dox Congregational Church in Grantville, 273, 274. Evangelical Congregational Church, 289, 290 Communion Table, First Church, 239 Conant, Marshall, 666, 667 Concord, 165-167, 170, 296, 451, 485, 573, 597 Concrete walks, 103 Conductors on the railroad, 421 Confederate prisons, 498, 501, 504, 505 Conferences of Methodists, 259, 260 Confirmation services, first held, 304 Congregational Church in West Need- ham, see Churches Congregational Society of Grantville, see Wellesley Hills Congregational Society Constables, see Town Officers Constitutional Conventions, 170, 171, 17s Continental Army, 459, 468-478 Continental Currency, see Currency Controversy as to the interpretation of the Act of 1778, 156-158 Convalescent Home, see Children's Hospital Convention of Ministers, 233 Conventions, 165-168 Cook — Cooke, Rev. Mr., 220. Ed- ward, 18, 63, 71, 316. Eliakim, 91, no, 114, 116, 174, 202, 203, 231, 234, 238, 308, 336, 456, 461, 615, 650, 657, 660, 678. Mrs. Eliakim, 238. Elizabeth, 63. Jonas, 428. Nathan, 478. Prince, 566. Robert, 10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 35, 41, 53, 55, 71, 73, 74, 79, 81, 82, 84-86, no, n3, 137, 141, 142, 144, 164, 177, 178, 180, 182, 194, 195, 198, 199, 216-221, 223, 224, 229, 314, 332, 368, 512, 516, 519, 645, 648, 658, 659, 689. Robert, Jr., 437. Sam, 469. Solomon, 233. Submit, 224. William, 18, 19, 435 Cook family, 18, 19, 113 Cook Street, 421 Cook's Bridge, 18, 81, 82, 96, I13-I15, 121, 130, 163, 341 Coolidge, Miss, 207. Isaac, 339. John, 143, 144, 437. Rev. John W., 262, 264, 269. Samuel, 362 Cooper, James, 473 "Corn King of New England," 400 Corn-mills, 46 Cornet, played in church, 309. Players, 631, 632 Cornets, cavalry, 442 Cornwallis, Lord, 447 Coroners, see Town Officers Corporation tax, 534 Cottage Street, 131 Cotton, Rev. John, 219, 220, 224. Rev. Samuel, 234 Cotton-batting-mill, 397 Cotton-mill, 380, 381 Coude, Mary, 13 Coulter, Charles H., 626. J. Emery, 624 Council of Baptists, 249 Council of Congregational Churches, 272-276 Council of Elders, 218, 235, 240 INDEX 703 County Commissioners, 99, 101-104, 122, 647 County conventions, 164-167 County officers, 647, 648 County road, 102 County tax, 153, 519, 525, 528, 530 County Treasurer, 169, 170, 177, 534, 683 Courtenay, Charles S., 302, 441, 442 Covenant meetings, 253 Cowan, Rev. Percy D., 247 Coye, Rev. Nehemiah, 261 Craft — Crafts, Abner, 459, 469. Henry, 121, 609. Moses, 446, 541. Nathan F., 608. Nathaniel, 589. Thomas, 470 Crafts Inn, 446 Craghead, Rev. Mr., 218, 219 Crane, Colonel, 469, 470. Luther, 385, 389, 390. Rebekah, 390. Stephen, 386. Zenas, 389, 390 Crawford, Mary E., 618 Crehore, Lemuel, 383, 384 Cricket players, 599, 600 Crimea, 441 Crisp, Oliver, 271, 595 Crocker, Rev. Mr., 219. William H., 295, 424 Cromack, Broker, 264 Cromwell, Oliver, 567 Crosby, Simon, 469, 470 Crossman, Howard A., 525, 624. Mary M. (Mrs. Thomas J.), 364. Thomas J., 257, 581, 626, 664 Croswell, John, his barn formerly Orthodox Church, 279, 298. His house formerly Unitarian Chapel, 298 Crowley, Charles H., 296, 297. Den- nis, 298 Crown Point, N. Y., 429 Crown Point Expedition, 528 Crows, 642 Crystal Wave Lodge, L O. of G. T., 604 Cuba, 428 Cumecher, Job, 433 Cumming — Cumings — Cummins, Aaron, 527. Ceaser, 562. Clementina B., 372. Joseph, 53. Lydia, 53. Moses, 527. Pasince, 562. Thomas, 470 Cunard steamship line, 544 Cunningham, Joseph, 527. Richard, 171, 273. Robert, 88, 211 Cunningham's Pond, 138 Cups given to Congregational Church, 246. To First Church, 238 Curfew law, 193 Currency, 56, 107, 109, 231, 514-517. Continental, 116,482, 514, 521, 529, 536 Curtis, Mr., 123. A. C, & Son, 387. Allen C, 383, 385, 387. Charles, 603. Frederick, 623. John, loi. Solomon, 382, 383, William, 383, 38s Curtis's Flume, 123 Cushing, Charles E., 632. Rev. Ste- phen, 269. Thomas, 165. Zach- ariah, 226 Custodians of Public Grounds, see Town Officers Cutter, Charles K., 231, 539. Sarah C, 610 Cutting, Mr., 447. Ephraim, 263. Nancy, 574 ■pVACEY, J.,B. &C., 102 ■*-^ Dadmun, Daniel, 98 Daggett — Daggitt — Doged — Doggett, Mr., 544. Abia, 41. Moses, 458, 466, 475, 476, 481. Samuel, 91, 94, 135, 165, 168, 211, 334, 454, 463, 473, 476, 484, 535, 651, 684. Samuel, Jr., 458, 467. William, 431 Daguerreotypes first taken in Needham, 30 Dall, Caroline W. H., 241, 672. Rev. Charles H. A., 241, 593, 672 Dalrymple, Samuel, 307 Damon's Brook, 215 Dana, Mrs., 116 Charles B., 18, 125, 353, 356, 357, 374, 669. Rev. Daniel, 207. Denison D., 281. Luther, 158, 323. Rev. Samuel H., 285 Dana Hall, loi, 245, 374 Danahy, Rev. Timothy J., 296, 297 Dance, Charles W., 505 Dances, 539, 626 Dancing school, 539, 540 Danforth, Rev. John, 218 Daniell — Danell — Danels — Daniel — Daniels — Danils, Mr., 391. Abby, 539. Albert F., 295. George K., 100, 162, 181, 190, 277, 352, 485, 490, 518, 577, 646-648, 654, 663. Jasper, 19. Jeremiah, 19, 123,307, 342, 457, 481, 652. Joseph, 19, 74, 79, 83, 89, 90, 198, 202, 216-218, 704 INDEX 247, 319, 338, 339, 435, 457, 559, 649, 650. Joseph, Jr., 116, 450, 559, 661, 678. Lydia, 19. Mary, 19. Moses G., 19. His Genealogy of the Daniell family, 19. Robert, 19. Samuel, 19, 90, 211, 314, 333, 435, 454, 650. Timothy, 226, 467 Daniell family, 19 Daniels Hill, 22 Danvers, IMaple Street Church, 293 Dartmouth, 235 Dartmouth College, 237 Daughters of the American Revolution, 486 Daughters of the Revolution, 486 Davenport, Benjamin, 616, 632. Enoch, 338. John, 22. Josiah, 284, 285. Sarah, 284, 617 Daverson, Joseph, 469, 470 Davis, Aaron, 454. George P., 587. Jonathan, 94. Moses, 203. Seth, 609 Dawson, Leonard, 376, 518, 519 Day, Ebenezer, 94, 456, 461, 472, 652. Edward, 66. John, 120. Jona- than, 89, 91, 92, no, 1 18-120, 147, 181, 203, 208, 308, 315, 440, 479, 549, 554, 641, 651, 660, 687. Levi E., 257. Ralph, 204. Rebecca, 66 Day's Bridge, 102, 105, 114, 116, 119, 120, 130, 420 " Deacon Could Be," 226, 691 " Deacon Would Be," 691 Deacons, First Church, 212, 225, 226, 230. Congregational Church in West Needham, 247. First Bap- tist Church, 256, 257. Orthodox Congregational Church in Grant- ville, 280, 281. Evangelical Con- gregational Church, 293, 294 Death, John, 26 Deaths, 184, 188, 228, 324, 327. By accident, 23, 64, 233, 274. By violence, 22 "Debating Society," 607 Declaration of Independence, 181, 465 Decoration Day, 507 Dedham, 9-1 1, 13-16, 18-21, 23-26, 28, 29, 32-34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 5i- 59, 63, 64, 66-70, 72-76, 78, 80, 82, 86, 92, 93, 103, III, 117-119, 130, 132-137, 141, 142, 160, 164, 165, 167, 188, 203, 216, 218, 219, 224, 225, 231, 233, 23s, 237, 251, 283, 315, 317, 335. 363, 368-370, 412, 416, 418, 419, 430, 440, 442, 444- 446, 450, 451, 466, 476, 478, 516, 528, 541, 550, 568, 570, 602, 627, 641, 647, 672. Boundary contro- versy, 73-75. Saint Paul's Church, 307. Ministerial land setoff, 3 1 1, 312. Working Men's Society, 606 Dedham, Essex County, England, 77 Dedham Avenue, 119, 418, 419 Dedham Avenue Bridge, 119, 140 Dedham Avenue Park, 587 Dedham Historical Register, 24, 204, 213, 226, 228, 324, 333 Dedham Historical Society, 239, 629 Dedham Island, 9, 24 Dedham Meeting-house, 34 Dedham School Farm, 32, 80 Dedman, Daniel, 307, 665 Deer, 642, 643 Deer Island, 10 Deerreaves, see Town Officers Dell — Deal — Dill, George, 469, 470. Timothy, 462 Deming, Charles, 642. Rev. Daniel, 195, 216-218. Jonathan, 88, no, 165, 208, 209, 211, 234, 246, 479, 530, 651. Moses, 475, see Daggett, Moses. Dr. William, 207, 548, 557, 559, 568 Democratic Party, 170, 171 Denfield, Louis E., 595. Robert E., 595 Denny, Charles, 608 Deputy-Sheriffs, 647 Derbyshire, England, 402 Des Moines, steamer, 502 Dewing — Duin — Duing, Andrew, 20, 21, 32, 33, 55, 71, 80, 113, 142, 194, 332, 368, 649. Benjamin F., 21. His "Genealogy of the Dew- ings," 21. C. H. & G. W., 634. Caroline E., 364. Charles H., in, 262, 264, 265, 270, 363, 370, 640, 663. Daniel, 143,437. David, 436. Dor- othy, 224. Ebenezer, 22. Edmund, 20, 684. Henry, 20, 22, 92, 95, 1 10, 208, 314, 429, 435, 450, 454, 461, 561, 652, 672, 677, 684. Henry, Jr., 88, 487. Jeremiah, 21, 432. Jonathan, 20, 37, 60, 71, 143, 147, 329. Joseph, 462. Joseph H., 655. Josiah, 457. Lydia, 33. Martha, 61, 152, 211, 247. Moses, 322. Nathan, 95, 157, 340, 438, 440, 443, 468, 474, 477, 488, 563, 642, 661. Nathan, Jr., 307. Na- INDEX 705 thaniel, 211, 259, 260. Paul, 347, 387, 444, 449, 589, 630. Seth, 688. Solomon, 21. Susanna, 225. Timothy, 116, 456, 476. Warren, 97, 317, 398, 440, 447, 48s, 654 Dewing family, 18, 20-22, S3, 84 Dewing land, 20-22 Dewing's Brook, 125, 126, 139 Dewing's Hill, 397 Dewing's peat-meadow, 397 Dexter, Rev. Mr., 227. Rev. Henry M., 27s Dike, Colonel, 464 Dillaway, Charles H., 298. Laura G., 300 Dimond, W. R., 578 Dinah Barn, 566 Dinah Farm, 566 Dinah School, 566 Dinsmoor, Mrs. C. N., 371. Charles M., 250, 251, 371 "Direct boards," 95 Discomb — Descomb, Thomas, 454, 481, Thomas, Jr., 438 Dividend, see Natick Dividend Division of the town into two parishes, 207-212 Division of Suffolk County, 164, 165 Divisions of the town and changes in boundaries, 141-163 Divoll, Leon, 397 Dix, Mary J., 272. Samuel VV., 277, 632, 689 Dodd, John, 383 Dodge, Rev. Oliver, 237 Dodge's Cadet Band, 192, 626 Doe seen, 643 Dog Corner, 48, 135, 541 Dog taxes, 375, 534, 643, 644 Dogs, 638, 643, 644 Dolan, Rev. Michael, 295 Dolbeare — Dolbier, Benjamin, 463, 471, 474, 475 Dominion steamship line, 544 Donovan, Rev. Denis H., 296. George D., 297 Door, Rev. Mr., 234 Doors of Second Meeting-house, 205 Dorchester, 10, 18, 48, 218, 430, 461, 617. Saint Paul's Church, 296 Dorchester, Canada, 18 Dorchester Heights, 460-462, 464, 480, 481 Dorety, Barney & Son, 124, 125 Dover, 52, 78, 95, 98, 100, 120, 122, 152- ^^$, 243, 249, 250, 283, 334, 344, 356, 391, 419, 420, 442-444, 49S, 509, 512, 539, 570, 612, 617, 647. Baptist Church, 249, 250. School Land, 159, 162, 368-370. Unita- rian Church, 243 Dover Historical Society, 569 Dover Iron Works, 392 Dover Lyceum, 607, 608 Dow, Rev. Hendricus, 237. Henry A. T., 30s Downer — Downna, Eliphalet, 568 Downes, William, 304 Dowse, Rev. Edward, 273 Drainage, 103 Drawing taught in schools, 359, 360 Dresser, Albert B., 293-295 Dring, James, 599 Drinking-fountains, 584 Driscoll, Ellen E., 297 Drury, Caleb, 22. Elizabeth, 23. Mrs. Elizabeth, 362. Ephraim, 23, 372, 373. Joseph, 22, 23, 26, 27, 92, 150, 437, 457, 481. Lydia, 23 Drury family, 22, 23 Dublin, N. H. Association, 256 Dudley, Harriet E. (Mrs. Ezra C), 363, Gov. Joseph, 68, 72, 73. Gov. Thomas, 11, 25 Dudley Hosiery Company, 385 Duel, 621 Dufheld, Derbyshire, England, 407 Dug Hill, 136 Dummer, William, 141 Dunn — Dun, Francis de M., 355, 375, 376, 379, 668. Jonathan, 458, 465, 478. Joseph, 437. Riella J., 375, 376. William, 433 Dunn family, 63 Dunton, Mr., 583. Larkln, 424. Reu- ben, 436. William, 565 Durant, Adolphus, 307, 385. Edward, 22. Henry F., 103, 356, 373, 374. Mrs. Henry F., 53, 103, 373, 391, 486. William, 307, 385 Durbin, Margaret E., 297 Dust suppression, 105 Duties of Highway Surveyors, 107- 112 Dwight— Dwit, Henr>% 368. Michael, 29. Seth, 368. Timothy, 55, 66, 360, 368 Dwight School Fund, 369, 533 Dwight School-house, 355, 360, 687. Teachers, 364 7o6 INDEX Dwyer, Catherine, 6i8 Dyer, Nathaniel, 477 EARTHQUAKE, 51, 227, 634 East Company, Militia, 440, 441, 443, 451. 452. Captains, 440, 441. Muster-roll, 456, 457 East High School, 353, 354, 357, 595 East High School Alumni Association, 354 East Medway, 272 East Meeting-house, see Meeting- houses East Needham, 127, 154, 212, 242, 283, 323, 324, 347, 366, 374, 380, 393, 401, 414, 422, 424, 451, 507, 545, 569, 571, 576, 584, 585, 593, 595, 630, 633 East Parish, see Parishes, First Parish East Samara, Philippines, 511 East school district, 344, 349, 367 East school-house, 357. Teachers, 363, 364 East Street, 102, 284, 423 Eastman, Rev. Lucius R., 284, 290, 291. Lucius R., Jr., 284, 371. Sarah A., 284. Rev. William R., 275 Eaton — Eattin — Eton, — ,461. Adeline M., 363. Alger E., 640, 644. Annie M., 298. Augustus, 24, 73, 212, 324, 370, 608. Charles M., 298. Elizabeth, 298. Eulaha, 51. Everett J., 207, 582, 640, 647, 655, 664. Florence E., 364. George E., 319, 321, 325, 449, 525, 541, 663. Hannah A., 298. Harvey, 384. Henry P., 384. Jeremiah, 23, 24, 50, 87, 92, 93, 114, 173, 435, 456, 462. Jeremiah, Jr., 461, 480. John, 23, 24, 32. John A., his "Ac- count of the Eatons," 24. Josiah, 23, 24, 87, 92, 115, 116, 167, 174, 181, 208, 233, 309, 310, 422, 450, 461, 468, 577, 651. Josiah, Jr., 456. Lemuel, 456, 466, 467, 480. Moses, 456, 462, 466, 467. Re- becca, 298, 300. Samuel, 481. William, 23, 24, 81, 82, 97, 120, 136, 310, 348-350, 456, 480, 485, 546, 654. William, Jr., 24, 324, 346, 347, 589, 607 Eaton & Moulton, 384, 579 Eaton family, 23, 24, 244, 310 Eaton, Moulton & Jordan, 384 Eaton's stable, 612 Eayrs, William N., 603 Eberhardt, Alice H., 378 Ecclesiastical, 194-215 Ecclesiastical Councils, 283, 285-288, 290 Echo Bridge, 128 Eddy, Rev. Mary B., her "Science and Health," 305 Edes — Eades, Widow, 24. Amos, 458, 460. Benjamin, 468, 469. Collins, 458, 460, 469. Jeremiah, 458, 460. John, 24, 211, 247. John, Jr., 455, 463, Nathan, 435. Oliver, 24. Peter, 24, 86, 88, iio, 174, 199, 314, 637, 660. Samuel, 456, 461. Sarah, 211 Edes family, 24 Edison Electric Illuminating Company, 586 Edmund, Samuel, 435 Edson, Josiah, 559 Edwards, Rev. Jonathan, 276, 280, 282, 285, 286. His salary, 276 EfHngham, N. H., 667 Egan, Bridget, 327. Patrick, 327 Elastic goods made, 407, 409 Elastic stockings made, 407, 409 Eldridge, WilUam T., 618 Electric Light Loan, 361, 585 Electric lights put in Meeting-house, 206 Electric motors, 412 Eliot, Rev. John, 78, 360 "Eliot, The," Wellesley College, 391 Eliot Engine Company, Newton, 579 Eliot Falls Electric Light Company, 585, 586 Eliot Lodge, L O. O. F., 591 Eliot School, 360, 361, 364, 378 Eliot's Mills, 130 Elliot, Simon, 383, 582 Elliot Manufacturing Company, 381. Savings department, 381, 382 Ellis, Abijah, 363. Abner, 117. David 380, 381. Eleazer, 512. Jabez, 345. Rev. John, 237. Jonathan, 96, 160, 215, 589, 601. Joshua, 225. Rufus, 163, 380, 383. Rufus, & Co., 380. Timothy, 195. Wil- liam, 313 Ellis Paper Mill, 380 Ellis's Mills Bridge, 114, 115 Elm beetles, 614 Elmer, Rev. Daniel, 219 Elms, 61, 104 INDEX 707 Elmwood Park Hotel, 446, 541 EI7, Frederick D., 190 Emerson, Rev. George H., 242 Emery, Rev. Nathan, 260 Emmons, Mary B., 206 Engine Companies, 576-580 Engine-houses, 579 Enginemen, 576, 577 Engineer Corps, Civil War, 505 Engineers on the railroad, 421, 422 Engineers, Fire Department, Water Department, see Town Officers English, Elizabeth, 472. Elizabeth M., 472. John, 460, 469, 472 English families in Needham, 402, 403, 405, 406 Ensigns, militia, 441. Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 449 Ephraim, Indian, 10 Episcopal Churches, 301-305. See Churches, Christ Church, Holy Trinity Mission "Epitaphs from Graveyards in Welles- ley (formerly West Needham), North Natick, and Saint Mary's Churchyard in Newton Lower Falls," 327 "Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground," 324 Esparto grass, 387 Essex County, 170, 673 Essex County, England, 77 Estabrook, Rev. Frank P., 288, 293 Estey — Esty, Elijah, 307. Reuben, 338 Ether, 628 Eustis, Thomas, 342. William, 170 Evangelical Congregational Church, see Churches Evangelical Congregational Society, 284-287, 289-291. Its officers and Standing Committee, 290, 291. Its Clerks, 295. Its Treasurers, 295 Evans — Evens, Annie E., 286. Charles, 270. George, 286. Robert, 392 Evans Collar Company, 385 Evanston, 111., 542 Everett, Rev. Mr., 239, Percival L., 590. William, 307 Ewing, Charles, 631 Exempt property, 533 Exempts, War of 18 12, 486-489 Expedition against Canada, 231 Ezra Newell Fuller Camp, Sons of Veterans, 508 PAGGOTS, 392 *■ Fairbanks, Deacon, 53. David, 431. Rev. George, 261. Lemuel, 640 Fairbanks barn, 240 Fairbanks scales, 683 Fairchild, Rev. Joy H., 283 Fairhaven, Vt., 241, 452 Fales, Henry E., 190, 415 Fanning, Fred L., 509. Philip, 297 Farie, Alexander, 429 Farlis, Benjamin, 387 Farnham, David S., 354 Farrell, Rev. William J., 296 Farrington, Ichabod, 478 Farris — Faris — Fariss, James, 460, 468, 473, 475, 537- Phebe, 565. Wil- liam, 148, 149, 155, 214, 232, 339, 341, 460, 565, 609, 648, 652 Farris family, 565 Farrow, John, 431. Nathan, 433 Farwell, Isaac, 389. Rev. Parris T., 278 Farwell & Conant, 389 Fast Days, 227, 233, 271, 273. Ser- mon, 244 Faulkner, Mary J., 300 Felch, Ebenezer, 143. John, 149 Fellows, John, 431, 432 Felt — Feltt, Abner, 458, 462. Moses, 211,431,432,454 Felton, Daniel, no. Isaac, 540, 589 Fence viewers, see Town Officers Field, Hopestill, 429. Robert, 436 Field drivers, see Town Officers Fife players, 631 Fifth Maryland Regiment, 138 Finance Committee, see Town Officers Financial, 512-537. Currency and town debts, 514-517. Town debt, 517, 518. Committee to reckon with the Town Treasurer and Auditors, 518, 519. Assessment of taxes — Assessors, 519-522. Col- lection of taxes — Collectors, 522- 525. Duties of the taxpayers, 525, 526. Abatement of taxes, 526, 527. Miscellaneous tax items, 527, 528. Province tax, 528-530. Census and statistics, 530-535. Prices of commodities, 535-537 Finishing-nails made, 398 Finncgan, Rev. John, 260, 262 Fire-alarm system, 579-581 Fire-companies, 576-580, 633 7o8 INDEX Fire Department, 576-581 Fire dogs, 342 Fire-engines, 576 Firemen, 394, 576, 577 Firemen's Relief Association, 581 Firewards, see Town Officers First Baptist Society, 250 First Church in Needham, see Churches First Church of Christ Scientist, see Churches First Congregational Church, see Churches, Evangelical Congrega- tional Church First Congregational Church, Wellesley Hills, see Churches, Orthodox Con- gregational Church in Grantville First Meeting-house, see Meeting- houses, First Church First New Hampshire Regiment, 255 First Parish, see Parishes First Parish Guild, 306 First Regiment of Infantry, 440, 441, 444 First settlement of Needham, 9-67 First Suffolk Regiment, 440, 441, 461 Fish, 644 Fisher, Aaron, 456, 466, 467. Allen, 392. Anthony, 11, 24. Caleb, 627. Cornelius, 13. Daniel, 11,24, 32,80,137,312-314. Deborah, 24. Ebenezer, 25, 196, 203, 206, 308, 323, 339. 437. 648, 651, 678. Elizabeth, 61. Esther, 328. Fran- cis D., 298. George, 97, 108, 120, 158, 159, 161, 215, 226, 345, 362, 485, 646, 652, 662, 665. Gordon, 302. Jabez, 169. Jeremiah, 14, 24, 25, 57, 174, 199, 314. 333. 647, 650, 657, 665, 677. John, 24, 25, 46, 55, 61, 66, 67, 71, 74. 84-87, 89, 91, 94, 108, 113, 114, 117, 121, 141, 144, 167, 173, 174, 181, 182, 184, 194-196, 198-203, 208, 216, 217, 219-221, 223, 229, 233, 249, 314, 315, 328, 369, 437, 472, 475, 512, 513, 562, 638, 639, 645, 648, 649, 651, 657, 658, 683. John, Jr., 220, 225, 435, 647, 660, 683, 687. John D., 317. Jonathan, 108. Joseph, 95, 394, 468, 477, 488. Joshua, 136, 137. Josiah, 456, 459. 462, 476, 478. "Liddy," 26, 333. Mary, 362. Mehitable, 616. Na- thaniel, 89, 92, 95, 108, 117, 118, 121, 168, 183, 208, 234, 23s, 31S. 336, 450, 467, 472, 480, S15, 530, 639, 645, 648, 651, 658, 660. Nathaniel, Jr., 456, 461, 466. Philip A., his "Genealogy of the Fisher family," 26. Rebecca, 224. Samuel, 26, 116, 256, 461, 483. Sarah E., 298. Simeon, 203, 456, 459. Thomas, 53, 456, 459, 468, 469, 479. Timothy, 456, 461 Fisher family, 24-26, 245 Fisher's Bridge, 95, 114, 121, 122, 130, 249 Fisher's Meeting Road, 21, I2I Fisher's Mill, 26, 108, 130 Fisher's Road, 95 Fishkill, New York, 460, 477, 478 Fisk — Fiske, Aaron, 264. Elijah, 27. Emery, 27, 161, 163, 171, 278, 646, 654, 663. Enoch, 27, 95, 96, no, 215, 313, 339. 340, 462, 480, 648, 652,661. Isabella H., 27. Isaiah, 27, 307,487, 601,666. Joseph E., 163, 275, 276, 279, 281, 358, 373, 507, 578, 645, 646, 655, 668. Joshua, 27, 150, 214. Moses, 17, 23, 26, 27, 92, 125, 144, 150, 168, 336, 338-341, 437, 439, 481, 516, 563. 652, 661. Nathaniel, 430, 431. Peter, 569. Samuel, 27. Susan W., 668. Thomas, 459. Fisk — Fiske family, 26, 27 Fiske Dormitory, 343 Fissell & Wagner, 377 Fitchburg, 447 Fitzgerald, John H., 297, 396, 423 Flag House Hill, 99 Flagg, Charles H., 30, 264, ^65, 270, 359 Eben, 444, 603, 631. Elisha, 488, 631. Esther, 617. Isaac, 401, 631 Lydia, 472. Solomon, 19, 185 187, 309, 343, 346, 352, 363, 369: 458, 459. 467. 469-472, 485. 489: 524, 539. 631, 657, 659, 662, 688 Solomon, Jr., 309, 631, 646, 653 663, 666. William, 98, 100, 131 162, 181, 189, 247, 349, 351, 543 SS^, 576, 578, 601, 607, 646, 648: 653, 659, 663, 666, 688 Flagg family, 343, 630 Flagg's Band, 631 Flagg's Tavern, 539 Flags, given to schools, 355. Put on graves of Revolutionary soldiers, 485. Silk flag given to Galen Orr Post, 507 INDEX 709 Flaherty, Rev. Michael T., 296 Flanders, Samuel, 570 Fleming, Elizabeth, 617 Florence, S. C, 505 Florence Avenue, 131 Florence Grove, 131 Floyd — Floid, Philip, 17,458, 460,462, 550. Samuel, 114 Floyd place, 403 Flute played in church, 309 Foley, Patrick J., 297. Mrs. Patrick J-, 297 Foot-bridges, 114, 121, 124, 127, 128 Ford, James, 648. Maria L., 668 Fords, 114, 115 Forest firewards, see Town OfRcers Forest Street, 15, 131 Forsyth, Samuel, 54 Fort Cumberland, 433 Fort Edward, 430, 431 Fort Gray, Plymouth, N. C, 504 Fort Sumter, 442 Fort Warren, 487 Fortress Monroe, 502 Foster, Captain, 469, 470. Charles H. W., 21, 52, 65, 563. Rev. Emer- son, 237. John, 474 Fowle, George, B., 304. Samuel 0., 639 Fowler, Edmond B., 191 Fowler's Block, 426 Fowler's Hall, 305 Fox, Joseph, 474 Fox meadow, 81 Foxcroft, Rev. Mr., 220 Foxhounds, 644 Framingham, 63, 218, 224, 311, 371, 509, 549, 570 Francis, Colonel, 463. Charles, 387. Tappan E., 570 Frankland, Sir Henry, 565 Franklin Telegraphic Company, 586 Frazer, William, 559 Fredericksburg, Va., 495 Free Public Library, see Needham Free Pubhc Library Freeman, Mr., 151, 211. Estelle R., 305. William, 403 Fremont Park, 423, 425 French, Calvin, 249 French and Everett, 443 French and Indian War, 429-436, 452, 453 French Neutrals, 555-558 Fries, August, 630. Henry D. C, 630. Wulf, 630 Frost, Edmund, 27. Ezekiel C, 295. Margaret, 65. P., Jr., 577. Sam- uel, 25. Thomas, 27, 63, 86, 130, 141 Frothingham, Benjamin, 46, Mary, 46. Samuel, 46 Frye, Colonel, 462 Fude, Boston, 566 Fugitive Slave Law, 567 Fullam — FuUham, Jacob, 430, 43 1, 43 5, 560 Fuller — ffuller — Fuler, Alvin, 226, 589, Alvin, 2d, 554. Amos, 14, 29, 85, 87, 90, 92, 118, 134, 145, 147, 154, 164, 165, 181, 183, 185, 186, 197, 201, 203, 208, 234, 235, 240, 248, 323, 336, 339, 340, 362, 369, 427, 479, 482, 514, 516, 520, 529, 53°, 535, 547, 555, 557, 559, 645, 649, 651, 658, 660, 661. Amos, Jr., 196, 198, 233, 234, 314, 315, 456, 461, 462, 464, 637, 640, 653, 687. Asa, III. Augustus, 215, 247, 353, 449; Benjamin, 161, 653. Cath- arine E., 30, 238. Charles, 250, 257. Mrs. Charles, 251. Charlotte, 207. Daniel, 328. David, 479. Eben- ezer, 90, 92, 116, 118, 203, 440, 450, 482, 488, 489, 561, 589, 651, 653. Edward G., 30, 35,87, 637. Edwin, 326. Eleazer, 29, 1 16, 202, 450, 456, 461, 462, 471, 482. Elijah, 456, 459, 468, 662. Elisha, 463, 474, 479, 480. Enoch, 159, 648, 662. Esther, 39. Widow Esther, 615. Esther (Fisher), 328. Esther (Kingsbery), 197. Ezra, 30, 73, 362, 618, 619. Ezra, Jr., 539. Ezra N., 508. Francis L., 417. Frank L., 133, 281, 655. Granville, 353. Hannah, 134. Hezekiah, 29, 58, 85, 207, 247, 276, 281, 321, 324, 349, 350, 601, 655. J. Franklin, 102. Jeremiah, 116, 197. John, 17, 28-30, 78, 79, loi, 211, 454, 458, 460, 462, 470, 473-475, 660. Mrs. John, 198. John, Jr., 211, 460, 477. Jonas, 30. Jonathan, 30, 159-161, 320, 326, 353, 440, 488, 665. Jona- than, Jr., 30, 350, 654. Judith, 46. Mercy, 17. A'loses, 29, 134, 458, 463, 657, 659, 661. Nathan, 433. Richard, 428. Robert, 28, 29, 35, 41, 44, 48, 71, 76, 79, 81, 83, 85, 86, 90, 92, 93, 113, 114, 116, 144, 164, 710 INDEX 167, 168, 173, 174, 180, 181, 184, 186, 187, 199, 202, 216, 217, 219, 233» 247, 3". 314, 322, 332. 335. 368, 435, 436, 461, 465, 514, 515, S20, 523, 530, 550, 558, 620, 64s, 649, 650, 657, 658, 660. Robert, Jr., 435, 450, 456, 462, 465, 471, 480,482, 557, 633, 652, 660. Sam- uel, 473,481. Sarah, 318. Solomon, 126, 140, 335, 456, 461. Spencer, 98, 99, 34S> 347-349, 552, 607, 654, 663, 665. Thomas, 28, 71, 73, 80- 82, 84, 85, 92, 173, 181, 194-196, 198, 202, 219, 220, 328, 456, 461, 514, 515, 649, 651, 657, 658, 660, 671. Timothy, 362, 372, 373, 569, 652, 657. Timothy O., 30, 186, 392. Timothy S., 318. William, 94, 95, 123, 152, 164, 167, 181, 211, 439, 441, 457, 471, 473, 475, 478, 479, 488, 516, 536, 549, 645, 646, 648, 651, 661. Fuller Dam, Amos, 393, 395 Fuller family, 28-30, 175, 176, 244, 245, 334 Fuller Land, 320, 425 Fuller Tomb, 318, 319 Fuller's Brook, 160 Fuller's Road, 29 Fulling-mills, 46, 130, 383-385 Fulton, Mr., 61 Funeral cars, 321 Funerals, 321-324 Furber, Rev. Daniel L., 286 Furnace, in Congregational Church, 246. In First Church, 206 Further Lights Society, 253 /^AGE, Rev. Nathaniel, 241. Gov. ^-' Thomas, 210, 435 Gahaghan, Thomas, 297. Mrs. Thomas, 297 Gaine's Mills, Va., 495 Gale, Henry, 455, 460 Galen Orr Post, G. A. R., 485, 507-509, 571 Galen Orr Relief Corps, 508 Gallant, Mary, 297 Gardner, Gardiner, Andrew, 432, 433, 459. Andrew G., 356, 357. Dan- iel, 429-431, 435. Elbridge, 274, 282. Henry, 450, 529. John, 472. Thomas, 14, 88, 429. Thomas, Jr., 233 Gardner & Fuller, 350 Garfield, George, 31. John, 31. Moses, 31, 99, 114, 118, 120, 123, 319, 343, 346, 384, 385, 441, 487, 550, 552, 601, 6q6, 607, 652, 665. Moses, 2d, 31, 654 Garfield family, 31 Garfield Lodge, Sons of St. George, 593 Garfield mill, 384 Garfield tomb, 31 Garrison, William L., 594 Gas Lighting Company, 586 Gasoline engines, 412 Gavett, Charles, 298, 300. Sarah A., 298 Gay, Aaron, 32. Asa, 461, 481. Ben- jamin, 80. Rev. Bunker, 233, 234. Calvin, 160, 440, 554. Ebenezer, 475. George H., 362, 618, 619. Hannah, 616. Hezekiah, 32, 119. Ichabod, 477. Jeremiah, 85, 147, 435, 458, 460, 463, 473, 474- John, 14, 32, 40, 76, 463, 468, 469. Jonathan, 32, 36, 45, 48, 74, 80, 88, 94, 96, 97, 154, 159, 160, 163, 174, 194, 215, 216, 310, 316, 324, 343, 435, 441, 442, 456, 461, 467, 480, 482, 485, 551, 554, 652, 657, 659, 662, 665, 684. Jonathan, Jr., 362, 545, 645. Lucy, 310. Mary, 310, 615. Nathaniel, 32, 78. Oliver, 475,476, 537. Rachel B., 617. Samuel, 32, 435, 479. Timothy, 167. William, 449, 479 Gay family, 32, 244 Gay Farm, 22, 53, 452, 540 Gay-Reynolds place, 20, 22, 122 Gay's Tavern, 164 Geese, wild, 139 General School Committee, see Town Officers, School Committee General valuation, 520, 521, 665 George, John, 428 Gilbert, Rev. Lyman, 272, 273 Gill, Benjamin, 477. Israel, 317. John, 32, 66, 71, 197, 307. Sarah, 57 Glancy, Catherine, 297. Margaret, 617 Glancy family, 54, 117, 583 Gleason, Rev. John F., 286, 292 Glover, Frederick P., 3 13, 655. Samuel, 430,431 Gloves for funerals, 321 Gloves made, 400, 401, 403, 405-410 Glue manufactured, 392, 393, 409, 410 INDEX 7n Goats, 531 Godfrey, Henry, Jr., 304, 361 Golden Cross, United Order of the, 592 Golf Club, 600 Good Templars, Independent Order of, 604 Good Templars Hall, Odd Fellows Building, 191 Goodenow — Goodanow, Ebenezer, 477. Elijah, 437. Isaac, 32, 33, 437, 440, 462, 483. Isaac, Jr., 437, 454, 466, 467, 482, 483, 522. John, 23, 27, 32, 33, 86, 130, 141-144, 331, 642, 650, 660. Mrs. John, 33. Lydia, 33. Ruth, 33. William, Goodenow family, 32, 33 Goodenow farm, 389 Gordon, John, 611 Gorham, John J., 449. Th., 538 Gorse, Frank VV., 407, 600. Phebe, 269. William, 267-270, 361, 376, 379, 407, 599, 656 Goss & Russell, 391 Gould, Daniel, 211, 454, 459, 462. Samuel, 159, 160, 309, 362, 563, 569, 570, 624, 653, 657, 662. Seth, 438 Gove, Rev. John, 26 1 Governor's Council, see Massachusetts, Council Grace, Lieut. J., 473 Grafton, Rev. Joseph, 248 Grand Army of the Republic, 426, 507- 509 Grant, Mr., 469, 470. Daniel, 654. James H., 61, 571. Moses, 278, 383,391. Moses, Jr., 382 Grantville, 162, 226, 242, 283, 350, 352- 354, 356, 370, 413, 447, 507, 543, 545, 572, 578, 594. _ Depot, 100. Orthodox Congregational Church, 271-282. Post-office, 543. School- house, 350, 354, 356-358, 507- Teachers, 363. Unitarian Society, 297-301 Grantville Hotel, 100 Grantville Religious Society, see Wel- lesley Hills Congregational Society Grantville Society, see Wellesley Hills Congregational Society Grantville Street Light Company, 584 Gravediggers, 322, 323, 397 Gravel banks, 96, 102, 103, 587 Graves, Annie E., 286. William, 480 Gravestones, 18, 19, 38, 41, 61, 149, 316, 318-320 Graveyard, see Needham Cemetery Gray, Mr., 174. Harrison, 450, 529, James, 478, 611 Greany, George, 505 Great Britain, ship, 544 "Great Dane" sweaters made, 401 Great Island, 69 Great Plain — Playn, 20, 23, 24, 29,35, 40, 53, 58, 61, 64, 66, 67, 79, 82, 84, 85, 87, 95, 135-137, 249, 295, 302, 371, 414, 423, 424, 579-581, 587, 605, 631, 634, 673, 674. Plan of village, 423 Great Plain Avenue, 78, 79, 83, loi, 103, 104, 418-420. Elms removed, 104 Great Plain school district, 340, 342- 344, 347, 349, 352, 360, 367 Great Plain school-house, 249, 282, 332, 333, 335, 337-340, 342, 346, 347, 350, 357, 358- Teachers, 362-364 Greaton, Colonel, 469, 470 Greeley, Edith B., 599 Green— Greene, Ellen M., 284, 289. Joseph, 386, 387. Mariette R., 289, 320. Newport, 567. Rachel, 37. Rev. Roland, 237. Samuel A., 116. Rev. William B., 284, 289, 292, 353, 668 Green Street, 346, 583 Greendale, 357, 360, 566, 580 Greendale Avenue, 87, 102 Greendale Chemical and Electric Light- ing Co., 586 Greene Mausoleum, 320 Greenhouses, 400 Greenwood, Aaron, 307. Abijah, 29, 320, 325, 347, 348, 351, 441- Charles C, 29, 67, 185, 353, 370, 608, 614, 646, 654, 658, 663. His "Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground, Needham," 324. Isaac, H., 251, 396, 603. John W., 29. Joseph, 387. Lyman, 576. Myra S. (Mrs. Charles C), 18, 46, 197, 260, 610. Samuel, 211, 247, 454. Sarah, 263 Greenwood & White Building, 604 Greenwood family, 262 Greenwood oak, 603, 613 Gregory — Gergery, Elijah, 431, 432 Grenville, S. C, 509 Griggs place, 52 712 INDEX Grist-mills, io8, 130, 131, 139, 381, 385, 389, 390, 395, 397 Grove Street, Natick, 27, 88, loi, 105 Grover, Edwin M., 647. Emery, 133, 181, 185, 189, 190, 192, 193, 290, 291, 325, 353, 425, 441, 590, 626, 645, 647, 6(>T. Simeon, 357. Thomas E., 190 Guanica, Puerto Rico, 510 Guantanamo, Cuba, 510 Guelph, Canada, 408 Guide boards, 95 Guild, Aaron, 464. Lieut.-Gov. Curtis, Jr., 377. Samuel, 73, 312 Gurney, John, 486 Gymnasium, 254, 267, 609 Gypsy moths, 614 tJAGAR, David, 455. Joseph, 487 ''■ "*■ Hackett, George H., 573 Hahaton, or Nehoiden, William, 9, 10, 18, 74, 189, 627 Hahaton Field, 9, 47, 81 Hale, Rev. Mr., 73, 216. Elmina, 381 Halifax, N. S., 187, 232, 617 Hall, Abner, 477, 480. Charles S., 408, 510. David, 33, 362, 437, 454, 467, 565- Dorothy, 33, 362. Mrs. Dorothy, 33. Hopestill, 463. James S., 176. John, 33, 92. Rev. Joshua, 260, 262. Mary, 33. Thomas, 33, 437, 454, 510. William J., 510 Hall family, 33 Hall farm, 33 Hamlett, Luther J., 421 Hammersley, Samson, 304 Hammond, Benjamin, 167 Hanchett & Morse, 389 Hancks, Christopher, 391 Hancks & Hagar, 391 Hancock, Maj-Gen., 479. John, 169 Hanks place, 82, 338 Harding, Hannah K., 618. Rev. Sewell, 272 Hardon, Jacob, 554 Hardwick, 38 Hardy, George H., 290, 291. Su- sanna, 284 Harleston, England, if Harley, William A., 505 Harlow, Alden, 285, 286, 290, 291, 293, Alden T., 295. Rev. R. W., 269 Harrington, Joseph, 190. Rev. Tyler, 259, 261, 263, 264 Harris, Adeline E. (Mrs. John M.), 355, 363, 668. Elizabeth, 627. Esther, 44. John, 44, 140. Rev. John L., 27s, 280. John M., 119, 133, 140, 360, 578, 646, 659, 668. Mary, 362. Michael, 44, 116, 134, 341, 362, 440, 441, 481, 488, 662, 663, 688. Michael, Jr., 309, 688. Na- thaniel, 220. Susanna, 284. Rev. Thaddeus M., 237 Harris Avenue, 419 Harris School, 357, 360, 364 Harris Tomb, 319 Harrison, Pres. William H., 170 Hartwell, Mary, 57 Harvard, Methodist Society, 262 Harvard College, 219, 510. Graduates, 372, 373- Botanic Gardens, 400 Harvey, Rev. Adiah, 371, 372, S(}j , Stephen P., 191, 250, 401, 423 Harvey family, 371 Harwich, 211 Haselton & Fuller, 121, 122 Hasenfus, Lewis, 297 Haskell, Asa L., 293. Job, 362 Haskins, Captain, 476 Hastings, Dana, 307. John, 301, 307, 459, 469, 487- John, Jr., 307. Josiah, 487. Oliver, 247 Hat-factories, 393 Hats made, 393 Hatch, Isaac A., 398. Isaac A., & Co., 399 Hatch, Ashwell & Co., 398 Haughton, Rev. Ralph J., 287, 288, 292 Haven, George B., 294. Rev. Jason, 234, 235, 237. John, 335. John A., 203. Rev. Joseph, 335. Rev. Joseph, Jr., 272, 273 Haverhill, 398 Hawaii, 628 Hawes — Haws, Mrs., 60. Anna, 34. Daniel, 438. David, 34. Debo- rah, 34. Mrs. Deborah, 34. Ed- mund C, 421. Edward, 34, 258, 390. Elizabeth, 34. Jeremiah, 34, 211. Jonathan, 34. Joseph, 34. 35. 55, 71, 79, 80, 83, 85, 87, 211, 314, 458, 460, 462, 463,469, 472, 480, 615, 637, 639, 649. Jo- seph, Jr., 458, 462, 464. Josiah, 34. 433-435, 452, 460. Lewis E., 583. Sarah, 34 Hawes Brook, 34, 130, 390 Hawes Electric Company, 586 INDEX 713 Hawes family, 34, 35 Hawes field, 35, 79 Hawes Hundred, 34, 390 Hawes Pasture, 35 Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, 408 "Hawk " Aaron, 233, 335, 451, 482, 540, 661 Hayes — Hays, Rev. William E., 303, 304. Stephen, 99 Haynes, Daniel, 125 Haywards, see Town Officers Hazelton, Rev. Benjamin, 261. Isaac H., 275, 572, 573, 668 Healey, Caroline Wells, 241 Health Officer, see Town Officers Hearse-houses, 321 Hearses bought, 246, 321 Heath, Isaiah W., 421. John, 421. William, 169, 456, 457, 461 Heikle — Heckle, Caroline W., 279. William, 279, 358 Hemingway, Jacob, 460, 481 Hemlock Gorge Reservation, 10 Henderson, Mr., 446. David, 466, 478. David F., 442. John, 617 Henry, John, 469, 470 Henshaw, Sarah H., 299. William, 298, 300 Herd yard, 35, 37 Herdman, Edward G., 288 Hewins, Deacon, 315 Hewitt, Salmon S., 380. Walter, 655 Hewitt's Pit, 190 Hicks, Alice M., 379. Charles A., 133, 416, 418, 419, 424, 582, 594. Rev. James F., 241 Hicks estate, 351 Hicks Spring, 583 Higginson, Thomas W., 633 High Rock, 59, 84, 136-138, 369, 627, 629 High Rock Lodge, I. O. of G. T., 604 High Rock Street, 79, 84, 232 High School Alumni Association, 354 High School Orchestra, 632 High schools, 352-356, 373. New build- ing, 354-356, 376, 508 High Street, 131 Highland Avenue, 102, 103, 105, 285, 420, 423 Highland Avenue Bridge, 124, 125, 127, 412 Highland Hall, 264, 265, 302, 591, 592, 603, 604, 631, 632 Highland Mills, 408 Highland Park, 425 Highlandville, 262, 302, 304, 355, 356, 359, 360, 376, 402, 404, 424, 544, 578, 580, 592,_ 593,597, 612, 631, 673. Methodist Episcopal Church, see Churches. Name changed to Needham Heights, 402. Post-office, 543. Schools, 356, 357, 359. See also Needham Heights Highlandville Cornet Band, 631 Highlandville Road, lOl Highway districts, no Highway Surveyors, see Town Officers Highway taxes, 108, in, 523, 524 Highways, appropriations, 107, 533, 534. Cost of breaking out the roads, 108. Taxes worked out, 108. Wages paid to laborers, 109. Plows purchased, no Hildreth, Henry O., 612 Hill, Aaron, 570. Rev. Benjamin, 261. Edwin, 391, 392. Rev. Elias, 260. John, 174. Rev. John, 260. Rev. Nathan, 261. William, & Son, 391. Woodbury, 307 Hillside Avenue, 100, 102, 103, 105 Hillside Farm, 400, 625 Flillside Lodge, I. O. or G. T., 604 Hinge-factory, 139, 393-396 Hinckley, Francis, 232 Hinds, Rev. Orlando, 261 Hines, Charles A., 322, 323, 397, 448 Hingham, 579. Derby Academy, 370 "Hiram Allen," engine, 421 "History of Norfolk County," 370 Hitchcock, Henry, 421. Rev. Roswell D., 275 Hodge, John M., 584 Hodges, — ,431. Esther, 263 Hofses, Angeline E., 364 Hogreaves, see Town Officers Hogs and hogreaves, 636, 637 Holbrook, Colonel, 446. John, dj Holden, 17 Holyoke.? — HoUihock, Rev. Mr., 234 Holman, Mr., 423. Louis A., 186, 609 Holman Land, 423 Holmes, Charles P., 295 Holten, Samuel, 455 Holy Trinity Mission, see Churches Home Lodge, I. O. 0. F., 591 Home Park, 40, 48, 423, 425 Homer, negro, 19S Honorable Artillery Company of Lon- don, 441 714 INDEX Hoogs, Francis, 387. George W., 307, 540, 578, 589, 689. William, 386, 387 Hoogs paper-mill, 386, 387 Hoogs Snuff Mill, 124 Hoog's Tavern, 446, 540 Hook and ladder company, 580 Hooker, George, 383. Henry, 55. Mary, 55. Sarah, 561. Zibeon, 338, 561 Hopkinton, 334 Horn breaker, 19 Horr, Luther, 277 Horrocks, Frederick H., 271 Horse Neck, 20 Horse Plain, 48 Horse sheds, 205 Horse thieves. Society for apprehending, 608, 609 Horses, number at different periods, 531,535. Value, 531, 532 Horton, Mr., 332. Hannah, 332 Hose, 577-580 Hose-carriages, 576, 579, 580 Hose-companies, 580 Hosemen, 577 Hosiery made, 398, 399, 404-41 1 Hospitals, 562, 563 Hotchkiss, H. I., 307 Hotel Wellesley, 139, 415, 583 Houdin, Captain, 469 Houghton, Elijah, 455 Houses, number at different periods, 237, 53°. S3I, 535 Houses Adams, 543 Alden, 13. Silas, 12, 338. William, Jr., 338 Ambler, 391 Avery, 24 Ay res, 15 Bacon, Henry, 15. John, 15, 91, 453. Jonathan, 63. Stephen, 15. Tim- othy, 26 Barr, 347 Beless, 403 Bodge, 49 Bogle, 259, 260 Broad, 17 Brown, 17, 18 Burrill, 262. Bill, 542 Chamberlain, 17, 22 Coller, 30, 259 Croswell, 298 Cutter, 539 Houses — Continued Daggett, 334 _ Daniel, Jeremiah, 19. Joseph, 338 Davenport, 338 Dewing, 21, 22 Drury, 23 Eaton, 24 Edes, 24 Estey, 338 Farris, 23, 149 Felton, 540 Fisher, Ebenezer, 25, 323. Jeremiah, 333. John, 25, 249. Liddy, 26 333. Samuel, 26 Fiske, 27 Flagg, 343 Fuller, Amos, 29, 240. Eleazer, 29. Ezra, 30. Ezra, Jr., 539. Jona- than, 30. Jonathan, Jr., 30. Moses, 29. Robert, 28, 29, 216, 233. Solomon, 335. Thomas, 28 Fuller-Mills, 28, 47, 85, 196 Fuller-Ritchie-Newell, 234 Garfield, 10 Gay-Reynolds, 122 Goodenow, Isaac, 32, 33. John, 23, 32 Greenwood, 29 Hagar, 633 Hall, 33 Harrington, 259 Hawes, Jeremiah, 34. Joseph, 34, 35 Hazelton, 573 Heidtke, 49 Hooker, 338 Hunnewell, 634 Ingols, 41 Jackson, 338, 527 Johnson, 65 Kingsbery — Kingsbury, Daniel, 4I. Eliphalet, 334. Jesse, 37. Jonathan, 40. Thomas, 633. Timothy, 40, 41. William A., 576 La Croix, 593 Longfellow, 65 Lyon, 35, 42, 393. Amos, 43. Edward, 42. Elisha, 517. William, 42 Mackintosh — M'^Intosh, 238. Eben- ezer, 573. Nathan, 576. William, 43 Marsh, loi Maynard, 240, 241 Metcalf, 44, 309 Mills, Abijah, 47. Amos, 47. Ben- INDEX 715 Houses — Continued jamin, 45, 358. Ellsha, 335. . Joseph, 49. Oliver, 28, 47. Rufus, 541. William, 45, 46 Morse, 27. Elijah, 338. Samuel, 52 Munson, loi Newcomb, 273 Newell, 52, 563 Noyes, 573, 575 Ockinton, 518 Orr, 240 Paine, 54 Parker, 55. Enoch, 338 Pierce, 17, 452. Jacob, 22 Rice, 57 Ritchie, 29, 576 Rollins, 206 Smith, 60. Aaron, Jr., 335, 338, 540. Amraphel, 576. Luther, 61. Newell, 633 Stanwood, 543 Stedman, 338 Tolman-Gay, 310 Townsend, 231, 235-238, 240, 241, 625. The " school room," 236 Turner, 403 Underwood, 23 Wales, 52 Ware, 65, 83, 403 West, 451 Whitaker, 40 Whitney, Israel, 542. Marianna, 541 Wight, 23 Wilson, 338 Howard, Abner, 474. Ada L., 374. Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, 589. William T., 630 Howard family, 590 Howe, A. K., 122. Edward F., 419, 632. George, 3d Viscount, 434. Gen. William, 434, 435 Howell, Captain, 474 Howison, George H., 298 Howland, George, 249, 250, 252, 256, 283, 654. George H., 252. John, 250 Hoyt, Rev. Benjamin R., 261, 262 Hubbard, Rev. James M., 275, 280. Osman H., 571. Rev. Reuben, 261 Hubbard's Well, 140 Hudnut, Frank P., 571. Paul R., 304 Hudson, Samuel, 376, 377, 379, 408. Portrait, 377, 408 Hull, Rev. Stephen, 260 Hull, 464 Humberstone, William, 270, 596 Humphrey, Horace, 389. William, 430, 431.433,434 Hundreds, The, 47, 54 Hundreds Dividend, 21, 691 Hunnewell, Horatio H., 140, 300, 356, 390, 391, 634, 635. Samuel, loi. Walter, 163 Hunnewell estate, 14, 153, 634, 635 Hunnewell family, 569 Hunnewell Road or Street, loi, 204 Hunnewell School, 356 Hunt, David, 574. Elizabeth, 370, 574. Ephraim, 75. Jane D., 617. Lucy D., 363. Nancy, 574. Rev. Sam- uel, 272, 273. Ward N., 569, 575 Hunter, Joseph, 469, 470 Hunter & Neal, 278 Huntting — Hunting, Abigail, 35 Amos, 480. Asa, 477. Converse 464. Daniel, 97, 211, 435. Dan- iel, Jr., 458, 462, 463. Ebenezer 36, 90, 308, 325, 458, 460, 466, 467. Hannah, 46. Israel, 277 435) 458, 460, 462, 466, 467. John 35, 56, 61. Jonathan, 36, 37, 88 458, 460, 466, 467, 477, 536, 568 649, 678. Luther, 307. Moses 458, 460, 463, 475, 480. Re- becca, 225. Samuel, 10, 35, 46 89, 211, 435. Stephen, 35, 56, 59^ 71, 211, 223, 435, 454, 481, 684 Timothy, 458, 462, 467, 483. Wil- liam, 458, 464 Huntting — Hunting family, 35, 36 Hurd, Daniel, 277, 278, 554. Stephen, 589. Willard, 577. William, 383. William E., 12, 39 Hurd family, 12 Hurd's Corner, 13 Hutchins, E. C, 414 Hutchinson, Gov. Thomas, 149 Huth, John, 505 Hyde, Nathan, 307 Hyde Park, 255 Hydrant service, 581 T CE-PONDS, 395 A Ide, Rev. Jacob, 272, 273 Illinois Volunteers, 509, 510 Imperial and Colonial Veterans, 441 Improved Order of Redmen, 592 Improvement societies, 596, 597 7i6 INDEX Independence, fire-engine, 579 Independent Engine Company, 580 Independent Order of Good Templars, 604 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 591 India, 241, 442, 510 Indian dam, 122 Indians, 11, 142, 143, 145, 390, 453> SS'^, SS9 Industries, 380-426. Upper Falls, 380- 382. Lower Falls, 382-389. First Mill, 382. Second Mill, 382-384. Machine-shop, 384. Third Paper- mill, 384-386. Mills at Lower Dam, 386-388. Paint-factory, 388, 389. Longfellow's Mill, 389, 390. Charles River Village, mill, 391, 392. Needham Heights, 402-404. Statistics, 409-412. Beams placed in the bed of the Charles River, 412. Needham Business Associa- tion and Board of Trade, 412, 413. Railroads, 413-416. Charles River Railroad, 413, 414. Street Rail- ways, 416-420. Newton and Bos- ton Street Railway Co., 417, 418. Natick and Cochituate Street Rail- way Co., 418. Land enterprises, 423-425. Banks, 425, 426 Infantr)', names of Needham soldiers in the Civil War arranged alpha- betically, not indexed, 494-502 Insane, 547 Inspector of Cattle and Provisions, see Town Officers Intermediate school, 358 Ipswich, England, 77 Ireland, Abraham, 436 Ireland gravel pit, 587 Irving, Washington, 628 Island of Panay, Visayas, Philippines, 510 Italian gardens, Hunnewell estate, 634 JACK, negro, 565 Jack, Deborah, 558, 559 Jackets made, 398, 399, 403, 405, 406 Jackson, Aaron, 464. Pres. Andrew, 170, 575. Edward, 336, 386, 388. Ephraim, 17, 90, 95, 1 10, 114, 123, 132, 135, 196, 235, 338, 382, 383, 385, 388, 431, 433, 434, 464, 527, 582, 637, 651. Ephraim, Jr., 382. Rev. Joseph, 237 Jacobs, Colonel, 476 Jahaw, Rebecca, 566 Japan, 42 Jeffersonians, 169, 170 Jenkins, E. C, 577 Jenness, Carrie L., 298 Jennings, Ephraim, 143, 151, 437. Ethel, 307, 662, 665. George, 319, 525, 663. Jonathan, 469, 470. Levi, 307. Otis, 390, 444, 589. Stephen, 143 Jennings Pond, 138 Jennison — Jeneson — Jenison, Isaac, 259. Israel, 469. Lot, 259. Peter, 211, 458, 459, 463. Robert, 15, 23, 33, 34, 47, 52, 57, 143, 437, 568 Jewett, William B., 357 Johnson, Mr., 241. Enoch, 460, 480. George W., 589. Richard M.. 448. William, 505 Johnson & Richmond, 102 Johnston, Rev. Benjamin J., 268, 269. Ernest, 268 Jones, Mr., 384. Adam, 96. Charles W., 270, 271. Cyrus W., 176, 290. 375, 603, 630. George E., 379 H. W., 414. John, II, 16, 47, 78 91, 135, 149, 307, 334, 369, 559 John W., 509. Lewis, 489, 617 Samuel, 378, 379. William, 126 205, 319. William G., 100, 205 393, 672 Jones & Rice, 383 Jordan, Mr., 384 Joy, Benjamin, 555, 640 Jube, a negro, 198 Junior Christian Endeavor Society, 290 Junior Society of Christian Endeavor, 267 Junior Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, 253 Jur>'men, 689 Justices of the Peace, 647, 648 T^'EELER Manufacturing Company, ■'^ 399 Kelghly, Thomas, 53 Keith — Keaith, C. E., & Co., 629. Charles E., 283, 284, 286, 290, 295, 401, 423, 424, 608, 610, 611, 628, 629. Harold, 279. John, 432. Royal, 629 Keith Brothers & Co., 401 Keith's Block, 401 Kelley — Kelly, Lucy, 616. William, 470, see Kitley, William INDEX 717 Kench, Thomas, 475 Kendall, "Ned," 631 Kendrick — Cancrack — Kenderick — Kendreck — Kenrick — Kindreck — Kindrick, Caleb, 73, 82, 115, 116, 234. Mrs. Caleb, 116. Elijah, 431, 433. 434, 437. John, 187. Thomas, 437 Kendrick Street, 116 Kendrick's — Kendreck's — Kenrick's — Kindreck's — Kindrick's Bridge, 24, 39, 45, 47,73, 92, 93, "4-117, 121, 127, 422 Kennedy, Rev. Daniel R., Jr., 288, 293. George L., 270, 596 Key West, Fla., 510 Keyes, Francis, 577. Isaac, 389, 390 Kibby, Epaphras, 260 Kiernan, John, 119. Michael, 119 Kilburn, Rev. David, 261 Killingly, Conn., 478 Kilmer, Mrs. Caroline, 49 Kilton, Samuel, 211, 457, 459, 460, 462 Kimball, Benjamin G., 352, 373, 490, 667. Betsey G., 618. Rev. Daniel, 26, 43, 45, 131, 137, 161, 226, 309, 316, 317, 330, 349, 350, 352, 360, 366, 370, 574, 593, 601, 602, 607, 608, 646, 648, 666. Estes, 444, 445. Henry C, 370, 373. Moses, 602. Richard, 96 Kimball estate, 599 Kimball School-house, 355, 358, 360, 361. Teachers, 364 Kine Pock, 563 King, John, 569. Primas, 566. Zeba- lon, 474 ^ King Iron Bridge Company, 119 King Philip Lodge, Knights of Honor, 591 King Philip's War, 20, 25, 390, 437 Kingsbery — Kingsbary — Kingsberry — Kingsbury, Albert D., 294, 416, 508, 571. Amasa, 30. Asa, 36, 100, 131, 160, 247, 313, 343, 346, 437, 488, 589, 609, 646, 657, 662. Asa, 2d, 307. Caleb, 38, 87-90, 94, 118, 165, 196, 211, 23s, 318, 436, 454, 455, 472, 481, 527, 554, 650, 658, 660, 683. Caroline L., 351. Charlotte, 363, 668. Charlotte M., 363. Clara M., 49. Daniel, 41, 396, 541, 589, 657. David, 464, 487. Dexter, 525, 554, 601, 640, 654, 664. Eleazer, 12, 37, 39, 41, 42, 47, 57, 61, 71, 1^, 78, 81, 83, 89, 114- 116, 118, 147, 148, 165-167, 181, 194, 196, 211, 215, 217, 223, 225, 227, 229, 230, 233, 235, 248, 316, 333, 369, 430, 432, 453, 454, 47i, 472, 479, 513-516, 520-522, 526, 530, 549, 550, 561, 637, 645, 649, 650, 658, 660, 662, 677, 688. Elea- zer, Jr., 186, 464, 520, 557, 660. Elijah, 38. Eliphalet, 37, 123, 211, 232, 334. Eliphalet, Jr., 458, 460, 462, 463. Eliza A., 298. Emily, 551. Emily H., 244. Enoch, 116, 203, 441, 457, 459, 462, 467, 483, 484. Esther, 197. Frederick S., 36, 244. George, 54, 583. George L., 36, 189, 310, 325, 449, 544, 664. George O., iii, 599. Hannah, 41, Mrs. Hannah, 40. Harriet E., 610. Henry A., 581. Hezekiah, 41, 198. Isaac M., 36, 664. Isabella S., 364. James, 29, 38-40, 66, 71, 79, 81, 82, 85, 86, 114, 198, 218, 314, 649. Jemima, 37. Widow Jemima, 616. Jeremiah, 313, 344, 602, 603. Jesse, 37, 38, 88, 174, 211, 423, 435, 454. John, 40, 92, lOl, III, 136, 198, 207, 230, 431, 552, 554, 589, 651. Jonathan,38,40, 114, 116, 126, 131, 133, 154, 158, 165, 339, 341, 428, 438, 440, 456, 458, 461, 467, 645,648,652,657,659,683. Jona- than, Jr., 130, 335, 337, 342, 481, 486, 562, 661. Joseph, 36, 458, 460,481,487. Joseph, Jr., 94, 335, 458, 462, 474, 661, 665. Josiah, 14, 36-40, 57, 63, 71, 79, 80, 82-85, 142, 183, 195, 199, 219-221, 244, 330, 332, 512, 514, 518, 641, 645, 646, 649, 658. Lauren, 40, 162, 301, 320, 351, 353, 449, 646, 654, 663. Lemuel, 120, 159, 350, 393, 441, 487. Lemuel, 2d, 310. Mrs. Lem- uel, 2d, 310. Leonard, 215, 589. LucindaO., 284. Luther, 323, 423, 633. Luther Allen, 320, 353, 667. Lyman E., 310. Martha F., 364. Mehetable, 40. Moses, 41, 462, 472. Moses, Jr., 362, Nathan, 486. Nathaniel, 39, 41, 455, 463. Phine- has, 464, 465, 477. Ruth, 225. Samuel, 233. Sarah, 224. Widow Sarah, 616. Sarah E. M., 453. Susanna, 225. Theodore, 37, 38. 7i8 INDEX Thomas, 39, 49, 98, 100, 125, 188, 226, 316, 32s, 346, 349, 350, 633, 646, 648, 653, 659, 662, 665. Tim- othy, 40, 41, 59, 62, 66, 71, 80, 82, 84, 85, 118, 141, 183, 184, 194, 198-200, 217, 220, 221, 223-226, 229, 230, 248, 251, 308, 333, 437, 441, 442, 472, 512, 514, 515, 526, 64s, 648, 657, 658, 660, 688. Timothy, Jr., 86, 548, 660. William, 438, 458, 464. William A., 40, 97, 576, 589, 601, 653, 663, 665. William D., 99 Kingsbery — Kingsbury, family, 36-41, 175, 176, 334 Kingsbury Block, 302, 304, 401, 508, 571,590-592 Kingsbury Land, 423 Kingsbury-Rollins place, 395 Kingsbury — Stedman — Ingols place, 13s Kingsbury — Whitaker — Morgan place, 104, 105 Kingsbury Street, 423 Kinston, N. C, 500 Kirk, Rev. Edward N., 284 Kitley — Kittley, John, 90, 43 1 , 43 2, 45 7, 460, 466, 467, 470. William, 463, 469, 470 Kittredge — Kitteridge, Jenny, 566. John B., 570. Susan, 566 Knapp — Knap, George L., 493. Jesse, 430,431 Knapsacks, 443, 445 Knights of Honor, 591 Knit-goods made, 402-404, 410, 411 Know Nothing Party, 171 Knowlton — Knolton, Daniel, 479. Helen M., 376 Knowlton & Allen's orchestra, 626 Kuhn, George H., 381 LACONIA, N. H., 40s La Croix, Edward, 593, 668. Eliza W., 593, 594 Ladd, Levi, 659 Ladies' Aid Society, Methodist Epis- copal Church, 267. First Church, 306, S93_ Ladies' Charitable Society, 593 Ladies' Circle, Baptist Church, 253. Methodist Church, 267 Ladies' Friendly Society, 285, 287 Ladies' Lot, 295 Ladies' Sewing Circle, 299, 301 Lafayette, Marquis, 485 Lake, Flavius J., 274, 278, 279, 281, 282, 358 Lake Champlain, 429 Lake Cochituate, 126, 340, 629 Lake Crossing Bridge, 102 Lake George, 430, 432 Lake View, 597 Lake Waban, 138, 558 Lamb, Jane D., 617 Lambstown — Lamstown, 37, 38 Lamson, Martha, 33. Rev. William, 251 Lancaster, 433 Land Bank Bills, 107, 513 Land enterprises, 423-425 Lane, Caroline M., 298. Harriet P., 298, 300 Langdale, Joseph, 408 Larabee, Rev. Benjamin, 285 Lathom, Frederick, 409 Laughton, Sarah E., 543 Lawsuits, 189, 190 Lawrence, Edwin V., 186. Bishop William, 303, 304 Lawton, Samuel, 307 Lay preachers, 230 Leach, Elbridge G., 320, 584 Leather-board made, 391 Leblanc — Liblanc — Lublanc, Ann, 557. Francis, 557. Margreet, 557. Peter, 557. Sibbel, 557. _ Simeon, 557 Leblanc — Lebland family, 555, 557 Ledothe, Benjamin, 436 Lee, Rev. Jesse, 258, 259. His "Short History of the Methodists in the United States of America," 259. John, 265, 405. Mark, 264-266, 270, 405, 544, 578, 655, 664. Por- trait, 405 Lee, Carter & Co., 405 Lee Croft, Yorkshire, England, 38 "Leg, The," see Needham Leg Leicester, England, 400, 406, 510 Leland, S., 278 Lentell, Benjamin, 29 Leonard, George, 151, 211. Joseph W., 584 Lescombe, Thomas, 211 Lesdernier, Gustavus F. de, 258 Lester, Elizabeth A., 364. James B., 302, 379, 668. John W., 304. Stephen, 599. Thomas, 599. Thomas G., 377 Leverett, William, 480 INDEX 719 Levering, William B., 13 Lewis, Captain, 440. James, 469. Jonas, 460. Samuel, his "Topo- graphical Dictionary," "]"] Levey, John, 469, 470 Lexington, 334,485, 617 Lexington Alarm, 186, 451-453, 461, 486 Lexington Alarm Lists, 454-458 Libby Bridge, 10 1 Libby Prison, 501 Libby Road, lOl Liberty Party, 171 Librarians, 375, 376, 379 Library, see Needham Free Public Library Library Building Fund, 634 Library Building Fund Association, 376 Lieutenant-Colonels, militia, 440 Lieutenants, militia, 441. Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 449 Lightning Calculator, 341 Lincoln, Abraham, 492, 628. Ben- jamin, 146. Levi, 486 Linden Street school-house, 334 Lindsay, Rev. John, 261 Linehan, Charles, 119 "Lion," engine, 421 Liquor Agent, see Town Officers Liquor Law, 601 Lisbon, Portugal, 5 1 Litchfield, Lemont D., 361 LIttlefield, Ebenezer, 331. Jemima, 331. Lydia, 331 Livermore, Elisha, 298, 541. L. J., 299. Oliver C, 298, 300, 541. Samuel, 129 Livermore family, 330 Livingston, David H., in, 664 Local names, 135-140 Locke, Henry S., 291, 355, 579. Rev. Isaac, 261 Lock-up, 552 Logan, Walter, 530 Loker, Ephraim, 100. John, 34, 143. Mehitable, 152. Nancy, 263 Loker family, 34, 390, 637, 638 London, England, 293, 683 Long Island, Boston, 484 Longfellow, Fannie E., 357. Nathan, 352, 390, 666 Longfellow's Mill, 389, 390 Longfellow's Pond, 65, 83, 139, 140, 329, 390, 568 Longley, Nathaniel, 93 Lord, Charles A., 421. Friend D., 572, 573. Rev. William R., 244, 245 Loring, Joseph G., 387 Loring & Co., 387 Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, 403 Louisville, Ky., 509 Lovering, Rev. Mr., 219 Lovers of the Holy Cross, 297 Lovewell Road, 100, 131 Low, Franklin, 268, 664. Samuel G., 301 Low's Block, 301, 595 Lowell, 423, 496 Lowell Institute, 574 Lower Dam, Lower Falls, 386 Lower Falls, 15, 21, 44, 46, 47, 55-57, 78, 86, 92, 93, 96, 99, 100, 102, 123, 124, 126, 130, 178, 445, 520, 538, 540, 558, 576-578, 623, 632, 689. Fire-company, 633. Industries, 382-389 Lower Falls school district, 339, 340, 343, 358, 667 Lower Falls school-house, 335, 338, 340, 348 Lowry, Rev. Samuel E., 285 Loyal Temperance Legion, 267, 605 Loyalists, 187, 232 Lumber yards, 634 Lusher, Eleazer, 136 Lyceum, 45, 330, 606, 607 Lyman, Edith, 244 Lynes, Alexander, 265, 270, 406, 407 Lynn, 220, 224 Lynnborough, 6l8 Lyon, Mr., 589. Abigail, 42. Amos, 43, 307, 382, 383. Amos, & Co., 382. Baza, 433. Benjamin, 13. Daniel, 136. David, 136. Ebene- zer, 42. Ebenezer, Jr., 42, 198. Edward, 42. Elisha, 98, 125, 159, 161, 171, 182, 188, 215, 226, 284, 345, 346, 349, 440, 485, 488, 4S9, 517, 523, 55°, 554, 576, 578, 589, 645, 648, 659, 663, 665, 666. Elisha H., 449. Hannah, 42, 136. Israel W., 42, 205. Jacob, 42. Jerusha, 42. Jesse, 391. John W., 444, 449. Joseph, 13, 431. Joseph W., 440. Joshua B., 393, 440. Josiah, 42, 135, 322, 430-432, 454, 459, 463, 469, 470, 472, 474, 536. Josiah, Jr., 456, 469. Josiah B., 601. Lemuel, 42, 139, 307, 393, 397, 720 INDEX 399, 589. Lemuel, 2d, 347. Lucy S., 319. Mary, 42, 78, 135, 136. Nathaniel, 42. Pelatiah, 135. Peter, 42, 97, 159, 160, 385, 386, 44S, 485, 589, 632, 648, 653, 662. Rachel, 136. Sarah (Mrs. Josiah), 42, 472. Seth, 42, 160. Thomas, 135. William, 35, 42, 123, 188 Lyon & Dix, 632 Lyon & Hersey, 397 Lyon dam, 397, 399 Lyon family, 42, 43 Lyon mill, 397, 399 Lyon's Bridge, 118, 119, 130, 393 Lyon's Pond, 397 McBRIDE, Mr, 541 McCabe, J. W., 302 McCracken Road, 100 McDonald, Margaret F., 378 McDowell, Ella R., 376 Mace, Alonzo M., 258 M<=Farland, Mr., 539, 540. John, 589 Machine-shop, 382, 384 Mclntire — McEntire — Macentire — Mackintier — Mackintire — Mack- intyre, Hannah, 211. John, 43, 71, 470. Joseph, 88, 558. Sam- uel, 88, 89, 91, 186, 196, 211, 436, 458, 462, 521, 650. Timothy, 462 Mclntire family, 43, 44 Mackintosh — Mackentosh — Mackin- tash — M^Intash — Mcintosh, Charles, iii, 640, 665. Curtis, 28, 43, 104, 161, 201, 310, 442, 640, 653, 664. Mrs. Curtis, 625. Ebenezer, 97, 98, no, 116, 120, 134, 159, 160, 212, 309, 319, 344, 345. 428, 440, 443, 487, 539, 547, 550, 573, 589, 640, 652, 662, 665. Airs. Ebenezer, 319. Eben- ezer VV., 607, 640. Mrs. Ebenezer W., 611. Francis, 539. Francis A., 545. George C, 394, 395, 613. Gideon, 116, 481. Henry M., 206, 394-397, 399, 412, 487- James, 79, 105, 185, 206, 297, 318, 319, 321, 416, 584, 585, 646, 654, 656. John, 456, 459, 461, 527. Mary, 310. Michael, 206, 307, 393-396, 654. Nathan, 393, 524, 539,576- Dr. Nathan, 43. Royal, 96, 116, 161, 316, 324, 462, 463, 475, 476, 545, 589, 632, 653, 662, 663. Samuel, 309, 444, 446. Syl- vester, 299, 353. William, 43, 90, 91, 118, 134, 13s, 164, 166-168, 180, 181, 184, 187, 201, 203, 208, 212, 214, 225, 238, 239, 313, 319, 428-430, 440, 460-462, 467, 470, 472, 473, 475-477, 479, 482, 484, 516, 522, 530, 539, 549, 615, 623, 627, 633,637,645, 651, 687. Mrs. William, 319. William H. H., 655, 664 Mackintosh — M<^Intosh family, 43, 44, 312,542. Farm, 140, 633. Ledge, loi. Tavern, 539. Tomb, 319 M^Kay, Mr., 191 M'Kee, Rev. Joel, 261 M'^Kenzie, Rev. Alexander, 279. D. Banks, 604. Norman, 674 M<=Leod, Hugh, 275 M<=Loughlin, Patrick, 505 M^Math, Colin, 511 M^Namara, Patrick, 297 Macomb, Illinois, 280 Macon, Ga., 504 M^Owens, William H., 297 Magus — Maugus — Magos — Mogast — Maguse, John, 10, 11, 558 Mails, 542 Majors, militia, 440 Maiden, 374, 510 Maney Brothers, 103 Manilla, Philippines, 511 Manilla paper made, 391, 409 Manlius, N. Y., 618 Mann — Man, Abijah, 434. Daniel, 289. H. & W. H., 602. Henry, 348. Herman, 188, 624. Herman, & Co., 187. Hoi lis, 440, 443. Horace, 11, 15, 21, 23, 27,33, 34, 52, 54, 58, 62, 565. James, 314, 432, 437. Joel R., 630. Mary W., 289. Moses, 14, 309, 336, 440, 450, 461, 462, 473, 476, 482, 483, 537, 538, 589, 603, 630-632, 652. Nathaniel, 14, 87, 434, 650. William W., 309,554,630,631 Mann-Blackman farm, 13 Mann family, 630 Mannilaus, N. Y., 618 Mannix, Michael, 297 Mansfield, Elizabeth, 263. Epes, 133, 260, 323. Henry T., 571. John, 259, 263, 264, 349, 578, 665, 689. Prudence, 263. Robert, 102, 133, 263,518,688. Sarah, 616 INDEX 721 Mansfield, 237 Manufactures, statistics of, at differ- ent periods, 1865-1905, 409-412 Maple Street, 102 Maps, 129-132, 574. 1771, 25, 79, 118, 123 Maquoit, Me., 619 Marble, Rev. Elias, 261 Marchant, Frederick, 190, 284, 290, 634 Marcy, Moses, 145. Rev. Thomas, 263 Marean, John, 114 Marietta, Ohio, 43 Mark tree, 97 Mark or Marked Tree Road, 99, 102 Markers put on graves of soldiers of the Revolution, 485 Marks, Richard, 359 Marlborough, 218 Marriages, 188, 228, 324, 327 Marsh, Rev. Elam E., 244, 270 Marshall, Captain, 469. Colonel, 469 "Marshall Rice," engine, 421 Marston's restaurants, 400 Martha's Vineyard, 258 Martin, Benjamin F., 385. J. B., 577 Marvin, Rev. Elihu P., 285, 668 Maryfield, Abigail, 48. George, 48 Maryland, 138 Mason, Barachias or Barachiah, 129, 133 Masonic Hall, Great Plain, 302, 305. Kingsbury Block, 591, 592 Masons, 626. Grand Lodge, 192, 590, 625. Grand Royal Arch Chapter, 590. Meridian Lodge, 541, 589. Norfolk Lodge, 589, 590 Massachusetts, Attorney General, 193. Auditor-General, 633, 683. Com- monwealth, 105, 127, 412, 491, 588, 614. Constitution, 168-171, 175, 176. Council, 68, 72, 73, 141, 143-146, 148, 149, 151, 166, 174, 209-212, 444, 4SS, 457, 458, 460, 461, 476, 484, 645. Court of Quarter Sessions, 91, 107, 120, 189, 333> 561 • General Court, 68, 72- 74, 76, 99> 113, 118, 127, 130, 131, 133. 134, 142-148, 151-155, 157- 162, 164, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 174, 'i^ll', 182-184, 186, 194, 208- 210, 212-214, 247, 311-313, 326, 329, 332, 368, 369, 395, 413-415, 428, '434, 468, 471, 473, 491, 514- 517, 521, 528-530, 538, 549, 555, 557, 559, 566, 582, 584, 613, 633, 636, 643-647, 684, 687. Manual, 72. Governor, 68, 721, 279, 444. House of Representatives, 68, 72, 73, 141-146, 148, 149, 151, 166, 174, 209-212, 215, 559. Secretary of State, 133, 156, 157. Senate, 154, 158, 160, 161, 215. State Archives, 68, 72, 73, 75, 129, 14I- 146, 148, 149, 173-175, 209, 210, 212, 213, 430-434, 436, 437, 4SS, 457-460, 462-466, 470, 471, 473- 479, 483, 484, 522, 530, 531, 557, 559. Superior Court, 186, 193, 689. Supreme Judicial Court, 157, 189, 355, 52s _ Massachusetts Baptist Anniversaries, 250 Massachusetts Historical Society, 239 Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital, 572 Massachusetts Medical Society, 575 Massachusetts Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, 207 "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors," 476 Massachusetts United States Volun- teers, 509-511 Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, 509 Mather, Rev. Dr., 220. Rev. Cotton, 218. Elizabeth, 60. Rev. In- crease, 218 Mathey, Armand J., 625, 626, 674 Matlock, Derbyshire, England, 405 Maugus, John, see Magus, John Maugus Avenue, Wellesley Hills, II Maugus Club, Wellesley Hills, 11 Maugus Hall, 298, 353, 492 Maugus Hall Association, 353, 492 Maugus — Maugost — Aiaugriat — Magers Hill, 11, 17-19, 21, 32, 37, 38, 63, 64, 79 Maugus Press, Wellesley Hills, 11 May, Eleazer, 40. Harriet, 668. Henry F., 191. Mrs. Henry F., 49. John J., 235 May & Williams, 202 May Building, 302, 376, 402, 509 May Festival, 306 Mayhew, Mr., 226 Maynard, Joseph W., 277. Rev. Ly- man, 240, 241, 317, 396. Anecdote of, 241. Priscilla B., 277 Mayo, Charles, 666. Thomas, 464 Mead, Mason & Co., 192 Means, Rev. John O., 276 722 INDEX Measure, Charles, 664 Measurers of Wood and Bark, see Town Officers Mechanics Engine Company, Newton, 577, 579 Medfield, 19, 117, 217, 219, 224, 232, 235, 249, 283, 334, 442, 570, 647 Medfield and Needham Street Railway Company, 420 Medford, 570 Medical inspector of the schools, 571 Medway, 19, 380, 446, 570 Meeting-house Hill, 100, loi Meeting-house tax, 523 Meeting-houses, East, 94, 96, 158, 159, 17s, 180, 215, 344, 438, 489. First Church, First, 75, 76, 81-84, 86, 88, 94. 95, 194-198, 313, 625, 671. Built, 194, 195. Repaired, 196. Burned, 197. Seated, 198-200. Second, 201-204, 240, 431, 623. Third, 204-207. Methodist, 54, 100, 258-260, 262, 263. Raised, 259. Orthodox Congregational, 19, 277, 278. West, 17, 93, 180, 215, 245, 246, 438, 489, 601 Melrose, 327 Memorial Day, 508, 510 Memorial windows, First Baptist Church, 258. Evangelical Con- gregational Church, 289. Saint Joseph's Church, 297 Menotomy, 452 Men's Chorus, 268 Men's Club, 267 Men's Glee Club, 268 Men's League, 598. Baptist Church, 253, 254. Methodist Church, 267 Mercer, Alfred J., 361, 656 "Mercury," engine, 421 Meridian Lodge, Masons, 541, 589 Merino made, 398 Merino mittens made, 406 Merrill, Charles, 277 Merrimac, 572 Messenger, Rev. Mr., 220 Messenger Brothers, 397 Metcalf — Madcalf — Metcalfe, Eleazer, 65. Esther, 44. Hannah, 64. Jonathan, 466. Lydia, 223, 224, 615. Michael, 44, 47, 83, 91, 117, 118, 133, 147, 148, 157, 167, 168, 181, 196, 201, 202, 231, 308, 315, 336, 341, 427, 450, 467, 471, 482, 516, S2I, 530, 651, 658, 661, 688. Theron, 190. Thomas, 35, 44, 55, 71, 79, 81-83, 86, 180, 186, 195, 198, 216, 220, 221, 223, 227, 229, 309, 314, 316, 436, 520, 555, 649, 650, 657, 658, 683, 687 Metcalf family, 44 Metcalf farm, 44 Methodist Episcopal Church, see Churches Methodist Episcopal Society, 263-265 Methodist General Biblical Institute, 270 Methodist Meeting-house, see Meeting- houses Methodists in Needham, 258-267, 621 Metropolitan Park Commission, 42, 540 Metropolitan Park system, 587, 588 Mica plant, 388 Middle school district, see Centre, Brick, school district Middlesex and Norfolk Pomona Grange, 609 Middlesex County, 12, 170 Middlesex South Conference, 273 Middlesex Stone Brick Company, 389 Miles, Clough R., 353, 669 Milford, 262 Military Affairs, 427-449. Town Am- munition and Powder-house, 427, 428. Spanish War of 1740, 428, 429. French and Indian War, 429- 436. Militia, 436-443. Shays's Rebellion, 437, 438. Militia items from the Selectmen's orders, 442. Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 444-449 Military Committee, see Town Officers Military Company of Exempts, 486-489 Militia, 25, 436-443. Officers, 440, 441. Cavalry, 442. Powder and equip- ment, 443. Muster-rolls, 456-458, 460-462 Mill Bridge, 120, 121 Mill Brook, 140 Mill Pond, 64 Millard, Noah, 458 Miller — Millar, Mr., 539. Albert E., 378, 424-426, 571, 582, 625, 646. Albert M., 564, 571. Hezekiah, 474. James, 530. Solomon, 475, see Mills, Solomon. Vesta D., 571, 605 Millers, 64, 385, 397 Millerville, 424 Milliken, Robert, 505 Millis, 647 INDEX 723 Mills, Abigail C, 284, 285. Abijah, 47, 454, 462. Adassah, 47. Amos, 47, 211, 247, 453, 455. Anne, 54. Benjamin, 11, 44-48, 71, 74, 90, 116, 182, 194, 19s, 217, 218, 221, 463, 466, 474-477, 538, 549, 648, 651, 671. Benjamin, Jr., 45, 46, 216, 219, 221, 223, 328, 456, 458, 462,466,467,649,658. Benjamin, 3d, 462, 466, 467. Charlotte, 50. David, 47-49, 54, 57, 207, 435, 457, 459, 477- David, Jr., 461. Davis C, loi, 524, 539, 578, 633, 644, 653, 663. Davis K., 359. Dexter T., 397. Ebenezer, 48, 82, 93. Edward (A.), 394, 542. Elisha, 203, 335, 451, 453, 456, 463, 469, 470. Enoch, 49-51, 116, 309,461,467. Esther, 51. Widow Esther, 616. Ezra, 456, 461, 467. Fisher, 104, 441, 448, 616, 638. Hannah, 50, 51. Mr. Hannah, 50. Hannah (Gay), 48. Hezekiah, 470. Isaac, 17, 48, 87, 88, 93, 211, 247, 435. Israel, 132, 219. Jacob, 48, 435. James, 50. Jemima, 50. Joanna E., 289. John, 46, 47, 114, 173, 179, 284, 289, 290, 295, 317, 392, 435, 527, 650, 654. John F., loi, 189, 244, 310, 318-320, 325, 407, 624, 625, 664,687,691. His paper on "Music of Ye Olden Tyme," 244, 245. Jonas, 211,455,460,469,480. Jonathan, 48, 435. Joseph, 45, 48, 49, 58, 81, 84, 194, 218, 649. Josiah, 469, 473. Judith, 46, 47, 91. Lemuel, 47, 96, no, 202, 341, 439, 441, 456. Lemuel, Jr., 542, 665. Levi, 50. Luke, 458, 460. Luther, 372. Mary, 47. Matthias, 289, 290, 392, 449, 540. Moses, 47, 50. Na- than, 438. Nathaniel, 47. Nehe- miah, 174, 431, 432, 460, 462, 480 Nehemiah, Jr., 197, 445, 460, 469 Oliver, 28, 46, 47, 90, 91, 95, 116, 202, 235, 438, 441, 456, 463, 467, 473, 483, 651. Mrs. Peady R. 284, 289. Philip, 456, 463, 467, Rhoda, 50, 51. Richard, 46. Ru- fus, 47, 131, 346, 393, 453, 539: 541, 542, 589, 603, 607, 646, i 659, 663, 666, 687. Rufus H., 397 Samuel, II, 44, 45, 48. Sarah 50, 51. Sarah (Mrs. Fisher), 616 Sarah (Mrs. William), 49, 50. Sarah C, 610. Simeon, 49-51. Solomon, 474, 475. Sumner B., 189, 322, 542, 627. Susan, 46. Thomas, 436. Timothy, 47. Wil- liam, 45-47, 49-51, 56, 71, 81, 82, 87, 92, 93, 223, 224, 234, 382, 649. His account books, 49- 51. William, Jr., 50, 429, 435. William R., 291, 320, 655, 668. Zachariah, 64, 71, 173, 219, 229, 427, 435, 649, 660, 677, 684 Mills, 34, 46, 108, 124, 130, 131. Num- ber of, 531 Mills Bridge, 47, 123, 124, 130, 540 Mills family, 44-51, 245 Mills place, 392 Milton, 42, 165, 218, 546, 563 Milwaukee, Wis., 573 Mine, 136, 137 Ministerial land, 143, 219, 235, 238, 240, 3 1 1-3 IS Ministers and Church matters, 216-327 Ministers' names. First Church, 220, 234,237,239-243. Congregational Church in West Needham, 246, 247. First Baptist Church, 255, 256. Methodist Episcopal Church of Highlandville, 269, 270. Ortho- dox Congregational Church in Grantville, 280. Evangelical Con- gregational Church, 191-293. Christ Church, 303 Minister's Rates, 200, 212, 248, 527, 528, 670 Minot, William, 541 Minute men, 439, 452-454, 457. Mus- ter-roll, 454, 455 Mitchell, Charles H., 11, 584. Preston, 266, 267, 270, 271. William, 304, 572 Mittens made, 400, 406, 408 Moderators, see Town Officers Monday Club, 597, 598 Monroe, F. S., Jr., 281 Moore — Moor — More, Dr., 570. Eliab, 438, 565. George, 505. Richard, 71, 194, 217, 649, 657 Moose, 642 Morey, Rev. George, 237. Rev. Lewis W., 286, 292 Morgan, Eliza, 327. Henry B., 327. John J., 40, 41, 251, 414, 613. Walter E., 309 Morrill, Abraham, 307. Isaac, 14, 153, 724 INDEX 373, 488, 563, 565, 569, 570, 616, 634, 635. Nathaniel, 342. Sam- uel, 307 Morse, Amos, 95, 438. Anna, 26. Charles S., 577. Daniel, 51, 120, 125, 143, 247, 390, 663. Elijah, 338. Ezra, 307. Jabez, 589, 632. Jason, 382. Joseph, 459, 460, 469, 470. Josiah, 17, 26. Luther, 241, 347, 395, 396- Martha B., 350. Miriam, 64. Oliver, 577. Samuel, IS, 26, SI, $2, 64, 130, 141, 142, 144, 437, S30- William, 147 Morse's Pond, 17, 80, 138, 153, 390 Morse's Tavern, 538, 656 Morton, Mrs., 103. Charles B., 2S0. Charles W., 32s, 525. J. Willard, 393. Gov. Marcus, 170. Otis, 212, 226, 244, 393. Perez, 455. William T. G., 628 Morton property, 320, 424 Moseley, Annie, 2s8. Herbert, 191, 665. John, 255, 2S7, 2S8, 3S5, 372, 407, 408, 424, 584. Gift of High School lot, 3SS. William, 252, 257, 2S8, 32s, 407. Mrs. William C, 627. William G., 181, 182, 416, 417, 426, S17, 630, 646, 6ss, 668 Moseley & Co., 407, 408 Moseley Building, 191, 302, 376 Mother Brook, 412 Motton, Aaron, see Moulton, Aaron Mouldings and doors made, 409 Moulton, Aaron, iso, 459, 460, 463. George W., 275, $77. Rufus, 384. Winsor, 259 Mt. Holyoke College, 374 Mudge — Mudg, Joseph, 189, 211, 323, 333, 454, 455, 457, 563- Joseph, Jr., 187, 335, 336, 442, 481,632, 665. Rev. Zachariah A., 269 Mudge Society of Christian Endeavor, 267 Mulberry trees set out, 397 Munson, Mr., 48. Myron A., 421. Myron C, 116, 422 Murdock, Artemas, 387 Murphy, Patrick, 190 Murphy Case, 190 Music, at 200th anniversary, 245. In Methodist Church, 267, 268. In First Church, 308-310. In the schools, 345, 346, 359 Music and musicians, 630-632 Music Study Class, 627 Musical Soiree, 371, 372 Muster-rolls French and Indian War, 430-437. Capt. Robert Fuller's Company, 435,436 War of the American Revolution, 454-466, 469, 470, 473, 474, 477- 479. Minute Men, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 454, 455. East Com- pany, Militia, Capt. Robert Smith, 456, 457- West Company, Mili- tia, Capt. Aaron Smith, 457, 458, 461, 462. Capt. Samuel Kilton's Company, 459, 460 Mutter, Nicholas, 321, 561 Muzzey, Benoni, 438 "My Uncle's Will," comedy played, 643 Myrick, Isaac, 539 Myrick's Hotel or Tavern, 444-446, 607 NAHANT, 9 Nahanton Street, Newton, 9 Nahaton, William, 10, 18; see Hahaton, William Nahatan, 9 Nahaton Hall, Newton Upper Falls, 9, 413 Nahatan Street, Westwood, 9 Nahortan, Amos, 10 Nail-factories, 381, 383, 392, 396, 398 Nantasket Island, 481 Nantucket, 191 Nash, Henry, 619 Nashfield Brook, 140 Nashua, N. H., 616 Natick, II, 12, 14-17, 21, 22, 27, 32, 44, 48, 62, 68, 69, 97, 1 10, 129, 134, 138, 154-156, 158, 160, 192, 208, 213- 215, 249, 259, 263, 272, 307, 358, 359, 368, 389, 429, 437, 458, 469, 527, 529, 530, 538, 543, 569, 579, 589, 591, 608, 612, 626, 630, 634, 635. Annexation of Needham Leg, 141-144. The Leg restored to Needham, 144-152. Exchange of territory with Needham, 1797, 152, 153. First Congregational Parish, 307. Saint Paul's Church, 304 Natick and Cochituate Street Railway Company, 418 Natick and Needham Street Railway Company, 419 Natick Brooic, 63, 138, 139, 331, 388, 390 INDEX 725 Natick Church, 33, 63, 142, 144, 150, 151 Natick Citizen, 630 Natick Committee of Inspection, 149 Natick Dividend, 20, 21, 46, 53, 54, 63, 368 Natick Gas and Electric Company, 586 Natick Indians, 25, 78, 129, 143, 145, 567 Natick Pond, 129 National Manufacturing Company, 579 Nattress, Rev. George, 304 Navy, 511. Names of Needham sol- diers in the Civil War arranged alphabetically, not indexed, 506, S07 Nay, Sarah W., 284, 617 Neal, Thomas, 530 Neck Bridge, 121, 126, 344 Neckfield, 136 Needham, Norfolk County, England, Jj Needham and Boston Street RaiWay Company, 418, 419 Needham and Newton Street Railway Company, 416 Needham Associates, 425 Needham authors, 627, 628 Needham Brass Band, 631 Needham Business Association and Board of Trade, 412, 413 Needham Cemetery, 18, 19, 25, 31, 39, 41, 44, 61, 231, 312, 313, 31S-321, 324, 325, 453, 485, 506, 508, 530. Committee on its Improvement, 316, 317. Deeds, 317. Sold, 317, 318. Tombs, 318, 319. Sextons and superintendents, 324, 325 Needham Cemetery Association, 318. Officers, 325 Needham Choral Society, 632 Needham Chronicle, 310, 493, 581, 629, 630 Needham Chronicle and Wellesley Ad- vertiser, 359, 629 Needham Circuit, 258-262 Needham Commandery, United Order of the Golden Cross, 592 Needham Concert Orchestra, 632 Needham Co-operative Bank, 425, 426 Needham Currency, 392 Needham End, 129 Needham Enterprise, 630 Needham Farmers' and Mechanics' Association, 612 Needham Free Public Library, 25, 375- 379, 408, Sp8, 534, 595, 643. Building at Highlandville, 376, 377. Catalogues, 377, 378. Trustees, 378, 379 Needham Globe, 630 Needham Harmonic Orchestra, 632 Needham Heights, 269, 271, 543, 579, 587, 591, 592, 597, 600, 603, 612. Industries, 402-404. See also High- landville 1 Needham Highlands, 402 Needham Historical Society, 627 , 691 Needham Horticultural Society, 609- 612 Needham Improvement Society, 585, 596 Needham Junction, station, 420 Needham Leg, 27, 33, 51, 52, 62, 64, 86, 130, 139, 155, 156, 158, 329, 389, 429,451,530. Annexed to Natick, 141-144, 691. Restored to Need- ham, 144-152. Finally annexed to Natick, 153 Needham Library Association, 375, 379, 581 Needham Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen, 592 Needham Lyceum, 606, 607 Needham Market, Suffolk County England, 77 Needham Military Band, 632 Needham Nationalist Club, 594 Needham News, 630 Needham Plains, 264 Needham Plain Baptist Church, see Churches, First Baptist Church in Needham Needham Plain Nursery, 611 Needham Recorder, 303, 625, 630 Needham Savings Bank, 425 Needham Street Railway Company, 416 Needham Temperance Society, 574, 601, 602 Needham Woman Suffrage Club, 593 Needham Women's Suffrage League, 593,594 Needham Young People's Association, 609 Negroes, 213, 237, 451, 453, 467, 478, 502, 530, 562, 565-567 Nehoiden, William, see Hahaton, Wil- liam "Nehoiden," play, 627 Nehoiden, post-office, 9 Nehoiden Band of Hope, 603, 604 726 INDEX Nehoiden Block, 241, 359, 396, 401, 542, 603, 633 Nehoiden Club, Wellesley, 9 Nehoiden Cornet Band, 631 Nehoiden Division, Sons of Temper- ance, 603 Nehoiden Glee Club, 63 1 Nehoiden Hall, 283, 492, 603 Nehoiden Land Company, 424 Nehoiden Lodge, Knights of Honor, 591 Nehoiden Road, Waban, 10 Nehoiden Street, 9, 18, 19, 41, 100. Pond, 139 Neponset Bridge, 113 Ness, John, 211 New Bedford, Pacific Congregational Church, 280 New Berne, N. C, 497, 504 New Bridge, 114, 118, 119, 121, 130 New Brunswick, N. J., 405 New Cambridge, 55 New Century Club, 599 New Emission bills, 515 New England and New York Railroad Company, 415 New England Historic Genealogical Society, 230, 519 New England Historical and Genea- logical Register, 15, 228, 485 New England Methodist Historical Society, 260 New England Railroad Company, 414, 415, 418, 420 New Hampshire, House of Representa- tives, 255 New Haven, Conn., 618 New London District, 262 New Orleans, La., 504 New York, city, 292, 623. State, 465, 466, sii New York and Boston Railroad Com- pany, 413, 414 New York and New England Railroad Company, 413-415 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, 415, 418, 420 Newbery, William B., 387 Newbury, 363 Newcomb, Alithea A., 272. Rev. Harvey, 246, 271-274, 280, 627. His ordination, 273. His salary, 276. His "Cyclopedia of Mis- sions," 627 Newell, Rev. Mr., 237. Artemas, 100, 125, 159-162, 240, 309, 344, 345, 413, 414, 442, 446, 488, 490, 550, 551, 554, 603, 633, 648, 653, 662, 665. Augustus W., 29, 576. Ben- jamin, 391. David, 456. Ebenezer, 14, 167, 197, 198, 203, 209, 450, 527,677,687. Esther, 335. Fred- erick H., 52. George, 550. Han- nah, 66. Isaac, 52. Jonathan, 97, 100, 226, 241, 441, 563, 589. Mrs. Jonathan, 241. Rev. Jonathan, 334, 372. Joseph, 47, 121, 342, 554, 653. Josiah, 14, 16, 21, 52, 53, 59, 66, 67, 82, 84, 87, 89, 91, 92, 95, 97, 109, 118, 120, 135, 164, 165, 167, 168, 173, 174, 181, 183, 184, 189, 199, 200, 202, 208, 214, 219, 220, 223, 225, 229, 231, 234, 247, 321, 322, 339, 369, 391, 442, 457, 461, 470-472, 475, 477, 482, 513, 515, 517, 519, 530, 536, 543, 557, 558, 562, 563, 637, 648-650, 652, 657, 660, 661. Josiah, Jr., 108, 202, 225, 333, 335, 336, 435, 457, 472, 482, 637. Lydia, 39. Mar- shall, 182, 352, 358, 490, 491, 545. Mary, 344. Nathan, 457. Rebeckah, 316. Reuben, 461,463, 475, 476. Timothy, 52, 91, 94, 116, 118, 119, 167, 187, 196, 203, 208, 233, 321, 427, 472, 483, 554, 651, 658,678,687 Newell family, 29, 52 Newell's Bridge, 32, 120-122 Newell's Hall, 52, 243, 608 Newell's Road, 93 Newhall, Dr., 541 Newport News, Va., 497 Newspapers and periodicals, 628-630 Newton, George E., 284. George F., 278 Newton — Newtown, 9, 17, 22, 24, 30, 33, 47,56,63,83,86,98,113-117, 124, 127, 130, 132, 134, 137, 142, 219, 224, 225, 248, 249, 341, 371, 380, 381, 386, 388, 416, 430, 433, 434, 486, 497, 504, 512, 540, 543, 544, 548, 557, 568-570, 576, 579, 582, 616, 633, 644. Baptist Church, 307. First Church, 272. Turtle Island annexed, 163 Newton & Boston Street Railway Company, 105, 115, 417-419 Newton and Watertown Gas Light Company, 585 INDEX 727 Newton Centre, 250, 283, 413, 579. Baptist Church, 248, 249 Newton Corner, 579 Newton Factories Company, 380 Newton Highlands, 243, 285, 302, 402, 413. Grace Church, 303 Newton Iron Works Company, 163, 380 Newton Lower Falls, 302, 331, 390, 569, 570, 572. Methodist Episco- pal Church, 264-267. Its Sun- day School, 265. Saint Mary's Church, 302, 307, 327 Newton, Needham and Natick Society for apprehending Horse Thieves, 608, 609 Newton Railroad House, 447 Newton Upper Falls, 10, 127, 250,262, 413, 447, 570, 571, 591. Baptist Church, 301. Methodist Church, 262-264. Saint Mary's Church, 296, 297 Niagara, fire-engine, 379 Niagara Engine Company, 580 Nichols, John, 363 Nickerson, Joseph M., 294, 295, 355 "Nighthawk," 583 Nine Arch Bridge, 20, 127, 139 Nixon, Mary, 617 Noanet Hall, 52, 243, 608 Nonagenarians, 615-619 Nonsuch Pond, 390 Noon, Rev. Samuel H., 269 Noon-house, 204, 205, 613 Norcross Bros. Co., 278 Norfolk, Duke of, 589, 590 Norfolk, 647 Norfolk Agricultural Society, 609 Norfolk Conference of Unitarian and other Christian Churches, 244 Norfolk County, 16, 23, 137, 165, 170, 238, 370, 388, 440, 529. Set off from Suffolk, 164. District Court, 645, 647 Norfolk County, England, 77 Norfolk County Commissioners, 415 Norfolk County Journal Press, 188 Norfolk County Temperance Society, 602 Norfolk Lodge, Masons, 589, 590 Norfolk Rifle Rangers, 440, 442, 444- 449. Officers, 244, 449. Uni- forms, 444, 445, 448. First pub- lic appearance, 445. Music, 446, 447. Musters, 446, 447. Corn- wallis celebration held, 447, 448. Records, 448, 449 North Beverly, 618 North Haverhill, N. H., 619 North Hill, 13, 28, 29, 39, 53, 135, 194, 231, 312-314, 621, 687 North Natick graveyard, 27, 149, 327 North River, 479 North school district, 343, 344, 348- 35°, 357, 358, 366 North school-house, 42, 99, 349, 351, 357, 358- Teachers, 363, 364 Northern Army, 477-479 Northwest Highway district, 95 Northwest school district, 351 Northwest school-house, 35 1 Nottinghamshire, England, 402 Nova Scotia, 432, 555, 557 Noyes, Charles, 271, 272, 309, 542, 543. Elizabeth (Mrs. josiah), 284, 370, 394, 574, 593, 610. Dr. Josiah, 131, 137, 161, 242, 282-284, 290, 295, 309, 310, 352, 392, 397, 569- 571, 589, 593, 601, 602, 606-608, 612, 666. Sketch of his life, 573- 575. Rebecca, 207. Sarah B., 272. Rev. Thomas, 207, 246, 312, 486, 488, 489, 542, 573, 624, 665. His "Address delivered at the West Parish in Needham, before the Military Company of Exempts, at their disbanding, on Wednesday, April 19, 181S," 489 Noyes barn, 633 Noyes place, 100, 633 Noyes Street, 539, 575 Noyes's Brook, 139 Nye, William H., 282 OAK HILL, 34 OakStreet, 63,80, 415 Oak trees, old, 205, 613, 614, 691 Oakhurst, 424 Oakland, 162 Oakland Hall School, 301, 354, 372 Oakland Institute, 102, 371, 372, 605, 611 Oakland Park, 424 Oaks, Rev. Josiah, 216 O'Brien, — Obrain — Obryan, — , 469. Elizabeth K., 617. Luke, 486. Mark, 486. Richard, 457 Obscow, Jonas, 477 Ockinton, David, 53, 462. Hannah, 728 INDEX 53. Lydia, 224. Matthias, 53, 71, 80, 194, 518, 671. Susannah, 53. Thomas, 53, 76. William, 53, 85, 230, 332 Ockington family, 53 Ockington Field, 194 Odd Fellows, 591 Odd Fellows Building, 358, 359, 591, 604, 630. Burned, 1887, 581, 590, Odd Fellows Hall, 590, 591, 604 O'Keefe, Michael, 297. Mrs. Michael, 297 Old Colony Railroad Company, 415, 420 Old Colony Street Railway, 419, 424 "Old Growl," 12, 226 "01dHawes,"4S2 Old Home Celebration, 624-626 "Old Home Week," 192, 624-626 Old local names, ponds and streams, 135-140 Old maps in the State Archives, 129- 132 "Old Peppermill," 204 "Old Snap," 27 Oldest house in Needham, 28, 85 O'Leary, Rupert D. G., 205 Oliver, Mr., 174. Rev. Daniel, 246 Olustee, Fla., 500 O'Neil, John, 397. Margaret, 284 O'Neil property, 320, 392 Ophicleide, or tuber, horn, 630 Orcutt, Charles E., 305 Orders and Societies, 589-614. Masonic, 859. Norfolk Lodge 589, 590. Odd Fellows, 591. Other Societies and Orders, 591-593. Ladies' Charitable Socitey, 593. Need- ham Women's Suffrage League, 593> 594- Needham Nationalist Club, 594. Social and Literary Union, 594, 595. Young Men's Christian Association of High- landville, 595, 596. Needham im- provement societies, 596, 597. Chautauqua Literary and Scien- tific Circle, 597. Tea and Toast Club, 597, 691. Monday Club, 597, 598. Unitarian Club, 598. New Century Club, 599. Albion Cricket Club, 599, 600. Organizations for amusement, 600. Temper- ance and temperance societies, 601- 605. Needham Lyceum, 606-608. Newton, Needham and Natick Society for apprehending Horse Thieves, 608, 609. NeedhamYoung People's Association, 609. Agri- cultural and kindred societies, 609- 612. Needham Farmers and Me- chanics Association, 612 Ordinations, Rev. Jonathan Townsend, 224. Rev. Samuel West, 235, Rev. Stephen Palmer, 237. Rev. Harvey Newcomb, 273. Rev. William Barrows, 274. Rev. Ed- ward S. Atwood, 274, 275. Rev. Charles H. Williams, 275. Rev JamesM. Hubbard, 275. Rev. John L. Harris, 275. Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards, 276. Rev. Avery S. Wal- ker, 286, 287 Organ, West Church, 246. Baptist Church, 251. Orthodox Congre- gational Church, Grantville, 276, 279. Evangelical Congregational Church, 289 Orgill — Orgels — Orgile, Richard, 53. Sarah, 53, 330 Orgill family, 53 Ormoc, Island of Leyte, Philippines, 511 Orr, Galen, 162, 240, 289-291, 320, 353, 356, 357, 359, 393, 395-398, 425, 449, 492, 493, 576, 603, 646, 647, 654. Galen, & Co., 396. Mrs. Galen, 507. Thomas, 262, 393, 449, 613 Orr's lower mill, 398 Orthodox Congregational Church in Grantville, see Churches Orthodox Congregational Meeting- house, see Meeting-houses Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational Church, see Churches, Orthodox Congregational Church in Grant- ville Orthodox Trinitarian Congregational Society, see Wellesley Hills Con- gregational Society Osborn, Rev. V. R., 261 Osgood, Josiah A., 298 Osnaburghs manufactured, 380 Ostrander, Rev. Daniel, 260 Otheman, Rev. Bartholomew, 261 Otis, Rev. Erastus, 261 Our Social Club, 306 Overseers of the poor, see Town Officers Overton, Thomas, 510 Ox meadow brook, 86 INDEX 729 Oxen, 64, 109, 116, 531, 532 Oxford, 37, 38 PACKARD, Rev. Hezekiah, 237 ■*■ Page, Jeremiah, 475 Page, Josephine C, 668 Paine — Pain — Payn, Mr., 423. Aaron, 456, 459, 468. Anna, 54. Anna (Mills), 54. Anne, 225. Ephraim, 54, 435, 472, 684. John, 14, 54, 80, 87, 198, 223, 464, 476, 671. John, Jr., 223, 435. Ruth, 54. Samuel, 456, 461, 480. Susanna, 225. Thomas, 117, 435 Paine family, 54 Paine Land, 423 Paine's Hill, 54 Paint works, 125, 388, 389, 409 Palmer, Alanson, 363. Albert, 363. Catharine, 238, 240. George W., 250, 610, 611. Joseph, 239, 373. Rev. Stephen, 17, 76, 195, 204, 312, 322,344,488,489,624. His "Cen- tury Sermon," 195, 202, 239, 623, 627. His students, 236. His minis- try, 237-239. His ordination, 237. His salary, 238. His writings, 239. His autobiography, 239. His revi- sion of Watts's "Psalms and Hymns," 239, 246. His "Sermon preached before the Military Com- pany of Exempts, in Needham, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 1814," 488. Wilson, 363 Palmer-M'^Intosh tomb, 239, 319 Pantheon Hall, Boston, 447 Paper-mills, 95, 130, 131, 160, 178, 380, 382-392, 409. First Mill, 382. Second Mill, 382-384. Third Mill, _ 384-386 _ Parish committee, 212, 245, 317 Parish House, 242 Parish records, 213, 221-229 Parishes, division of town into two, 207- 212. First or East, 42, 152-162, 212-215, 243, 262, 286, 295, 306, 308-310, 312, 313, 316, 318, 320- 322, 336, 347, 350, 414, 519, 593, 598, 602, 605, 621. West or Sec- ond, 152-162, 180, 214, 228, 271, 307, 312, 313, 602 Park — Parcke, William, 11 Park, Wellesley Hills, 541 Park Commissioners, see Town Officers Parker, Abigail, 331. Alfred, 664. Benjamin, 56. Benjamin W., 444. Rev. Clement, 261. David, 469. Deliverance, 55, 223, 225, 615. Ebenezer, 55. Elijah, 432. Elisha, 434. Enoch, 133, 152, 338, 463, 482, 516, 523, 652. Ephraim, 120, 122, 124. Hannah, 55, 225. Hor- ace B., 418. Isaac, 37, 56, 71. Jabez, 55. Jacob, 211, 454, 523, 546. Jacob, Jr., 460. James, 432. John, 54, 55, 71, 80, 546, 547. John, Jr., 71. Jonathan, 55, 58, 71, 82, 196, 223, 224, 360, 435, 452, 456, 527, 658, 665. Joseph, 55. Rev. Joseph W., 251. Joshua, 435. Josiah, 469. Mrs. M. F., 279. Mercy, 224. Nathan, 291, 295. Obed C, 191, 353. Olive, 96. Richard, 277. Samuel, 55, 56, 71, 144, 196, 218, 229, 308, 313, 650, 677, 683. Sarah, 55. Solomon P., 468. Thomas, 47, 55, 380. Wil- liam, 55, 383,430,431. William B., 98, 161, 440, 444, 445, 449 Parker Building, 591, 604 Parker family, 54-56 Parker Hall, 190, 191, 193, 372, 507, 590, 594, 604, 612. Burned, 1882, 590 Parker place, 259 Parker Plain, 85, 100 Parker School, 360, 452, 472, 566 Parks, Walter L., 377 Parks and Public Grounds, 587, 5SS Parlin, Frank E., 358 Parsonages, First Church, 241. Con- gregational Church, 246. Baptist Church, 251. Methodist Church, 268. Orthodox Congregational Church, Grantville, 276. Evan- gelical Congregational Churcli, 289. Unitarian Society of Grant- ville, 301 Partridge, Colonel, 145 "Passing bell," 322 Patrick, Rev. Henry J., 288 Patten, Claudius B., 491, 667. Jon- athan, 428 Pawtucket, R. I., 274 Pay-rolls. Revolution, 460, 475, 477. Capt. Robert Smith's Company, 1776, 460, 461. Capt. Aaron Smith's Company, 1777, 477 Payne, William C, 304 Peabody, Charles E., 505. Ezekiel, 554, 730 INDEX 640. Rev. Oliver, 141-144, 227. Thomas F., 582 Pease, Charles W., 572 Peat, 553 Peck, Rev. William W., 243-245 Peirce, see Pierce Pember, Rev. Frederick, 302, 303 Pemberton, Rev. Ebenezer, 218 Pen, James, 682 Pepelo, John, 435 Pepper, Robert, 331 Pepperell, 617 Peppermill Road, 204 Perambulation of town lines, 32, 58, 75, 132, 133, 145, 260, 656. Compen- sation, 132 Percy, Earl, 451 Periodicals, 628-630 Perkins, Dr., 572. Mr., 486. Rev. Mr., 219. Albert L., 268. Rev. Francis B., 275,276. Henry G., 281. Rev. Jared, 261 Perrin, David C, 298, 299. Ellen P., 298. Noah, 264, 270 Perry, Calvin, 285, 295, 490. Rev. Daniel, 261. Jemima, 615. John J., lOI Personal Property, assessed valuation at different periods, 532 Petersburg, Va., 493 Petersham, 434 Peterson, Rev. John, 266, 269 Petition for the division of the town into two parishes, 209-211. Names of petitioners, 211 Petition for the incorporation of the town, 68-71 Petitioners for incorporation, names, 71 Petitioners in boundary dispute with Dedham, names, 74 Pettee, Ebenezer N., 307. Otis, 10, 381, 391, 412. Tyler, 578, 589, 654 Pettingill, Captain, 469,470. H. Eliza- beth, 272. Hannah D., 272 Pews, First Church, 195, 196, 199, 200, 205, 206, 515. Christ Church, 303 Phebe, negro, 565 Phelps, Mr., 128. David, 530 Philadelphia, Pa., 255 Phillips, Adelaide, 602. Freeman, 207, 356-358, 654 Phipps, Rev. George G., 247, 286, 667 Physicians, 568-575 Pickerell Pond, 138 Pickering, Rev. George, 258-260, 262. Jane W., 284, 287. Oliver, 356, 37S> 552 Pickett, Mary A., 284. Thomas F., 266. William B., 284 Pickford, Anna M. T., 61, 319, 452 Pierce — Peirce, Colonel, 476. Jacob, 22, no, 122. Joel, 259, 263, 264. Parker H., 387. Sarah, 263. Wil- liam, III, 122, 317, 350, 441, 553, 578, 654, 665 Pierce Bridge, 122, 133 Pierce family, 22, 540 Pierce Road, 122 Pierepont, Rev. Mr., 220 Pigeon nets, 46 Pigeons, wild, 46, 49, 51. Fancy, 613 Piggery, 636 Pilfershire, 135 Pilgrim Society, 575 Pilsbury, Captain, 469 Pine Hill, 136 Pine Plain, 45, 65, lOO, 136, 148 Pine Swamp, 20, 29, 36, 395 Pine Swamp Neck, 14, 135 "Pines, The," 372 Plainfield, Conn., 540 Planing-mill, 389, 407, 408 Plank, Asa, 478. Isaiah, 478 Plans referred to in the records, 133, 134 Plates given to Congregational Church, 246. First Church, 238. Evan- gelical Congregational Church, 290 Plimpton, Priscilla, 235 Plough for roads bought, IIO Plumb, Rev. Albert H., 286 Plumbing regulations, 193 Plymouth, N. C, 504 Poles Island, 82, 87, 90, 109 Police, 673, 674 Political parties, 169-172 Politician & Advocate Press, 602 Polk, Pres. James K., 171 Polka mittens made, 408 Polls, number of, at different periods, 530-532 Pompoons, 448 Ponce, Puerto Rico, 510 Pond, Dr., 49. General, 438. Albert C., 416. Edmund G., 291, 361, 584. Rev. Joseph E., 261. Samuel, 616 Pond Brook, 16 Pond-hole, 149 INDEX 731 Pond Road, 558 Pond Street, 80 Ponds and streams, 138-140 Poor, see Town's Poor Poor-farm, Town farm, l6l, 163, 546, IS^h'i^, 638 Pope, Arthur W., 355 Population at different periods, 171 1- 1910, 532 Port Tampa, Fla., 510 Porter, Rev. James, 261. Joel, 472 Porter & Fuller, 301 Porter & Lancey, 391 Postmasters, 370, 405, 541-544 Post-offices, 191, 541-544 Potter, Allanson C, 618. Austin, 655, 656. S.H., 577 Poultry Club, 612 Pound-keepers, see Town Officers Pounds and stocks, 637-639 Powder chest, 196, 443 Powder-horn, 627 Powder-house, 427, 428, 443 Powder House Ledge, 427, 428 Powell's Island, 38, 127, 135 Powers, Eliza, 299. Samuel L., 377 Poyner, Joseph, 269. Rachel, 269 Pratt — Prat, Mr., 446. Cyrus, 125, 486. Daniel, 56, 57, 124, 330. Daniel, Jr., 435. Deborah, 34, 57. Ebenezer, 43 1, 435. Henry, 84, 89, 229, 330-332, 649. Isachar, 458, 462. Lemuel, 89, 90, 1 17, 133, 146, 147, 165, 201, 203, 211, 215, 520, 640, 644, 651. Moses, 431, 432. Phinehas, 56. Samuel, 57, 123, 158,163,211,447,458,652. Seth, 458, 460, 462, 466, 478. Zebadiah, 186, 433, 458, 463 Pratt family, 56, 57 Pratt Farm, 57 Pratt's Bridge, 57, 114, 116, 123, 124, 130, 386 Praying Indians, 390 Preble, Jedidiah, 211. Jeremiah, 151 Prentice, Rev. Nathaniel, 220 Prentiss, Robert, 397 Prescott, John, 428 Preston, J. H., 268 Prices of commodities, 535-537 Priest, Thurston, 387 Primary school, 356, 359 Prince, negro, 565 Prindeville, J. J., 361 Printing offices, 629, 630 Private Expedition to Providence, 1777, 472, 476, 477, 480 Private schools, 370-372, 543 Probert, Francis T., 271. William A., 186, 656 Proprietors of Meadow Lands, 134 Providence, R. I., 475, 481 Province Laws, 555 Province tax, 73, 450, 519, 520, 527- 530 Provincial Congress, 165, 166, 450 Prudential school committees, see Town Officers, School Committee Psalms tuned, 308 Public Grounds, 587, 588 Public Library, see Needham Free Public Library Public Weighers, see Town Officers Pudding Point, 357, 566 Puffer, Rev. Joseph A., 243, 244 Pulpit, First Meeting-house, relics preserved, 197. Orthodox Con- gregational Church in Grantville, furniture given, 279 Pumping station, 583, 584 Purchase of township, 9 Purkett, Henry, 469 Putnam, Col. R., 469, 470, 478 Putney, Lyman K., 163, 278, 358, 646, 655, 664. Walter K., 358 Pyncheon, John J., 174. Joseph, 331 QUALIFICATIONS of voters, 173- 176 Quapish, Alexander, 559 Quebec, 485 Quincy, John, 174 Quincy, 279 Quinlan, Michael W., 637 Quint, Rev. Alonzo H., 287 RAILROAD Passenger House, 276 Railroads, 413-416. Engineers and conductors, 421, 422 Rams, 638, 639 Ramsdell, Rev. H. S., 261 Randall, Benjamin F., 447-449 Randolph, 579 Rankins, James, 307 Rattlesnake shot, loi Ravlin, Rev. Thomas, 261 Rawson, Rev. Silas B., 353 Read — Reed — Reid, Rev. Edward A., 239, 254, 256. Eliphalct, 471. Francis E., 186. James J., 297. 732 INDEX Mrs. James J., 297. Nelson S., 285, 288, 293 Readville, 498 Real Estate, assessed valuation at diflferent periods, 532 Recognition Council, 250 Redmen, Improved Order of, 592 "Regiments and Armories of Massa- chusetts," 442 Registrar of Deeds, 169, 170 Registrars of voters, see Town Officers Rehoboth, 237 Representatives in Congress, 169, 170 Representatives in the General Court, I59> 165, 171, 177, 182-184, 186, 196, 645-647 Republican Party, 171 Reservoir Pond, 139 Reservoir Street, 102 Residents of Needham who have lived Ninety Years, 615-619 Revere, George, 100, 240, 241, 316, 350, 396, 603. George B., 401. Paul, & Son, 204 Revere Block, 396 Reynolds, James, 100 Rhode Island, 481. Battle of, 476 Rhode Island Campaign, 475-477 Rhododendrons, Hunnewell estate, 634 Richmond, Va., 501 Rice, Abram, 307. Gov. Alexander H., 370. Charles, 57, 161, 345-349, 387, 389, 440, 447, 453, 550, 576, 589, 607, 623, 646, 648, 653, 665. Charles, Jr., 384, 389, 577. Edmund, 33. Elizabeth, 57. Mrs, Elizabeth, 57. Ephraim, 62. Frederick W., 382. Isaac, 33. John, 48, 57, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 19s, 198, 221, 649. John L., 385. Judith, 48, 57. Widow Judith, 57. Marshall S., 413, 414. Mar- tha, 33. Matthew, 33. Rev. Na- than, 261. Nathan P., his "Trials of a Public Benefactor, as Illustrated in the Discovery of Etherization," 628. Sybilla, 33. Thomas, 384, 385. Thomas, Jr., 382 Rice & Crane, 385 Rice family, 33, 57 Rice, Thomas, Paper Company, 382, 384 Rice's Block, 540 Rich, Rev. Thomas, 239 Richards, Aaron, 203. Abijah, '478. Daniel W., 192, 656. David, 51, 303. Rev. George, 274. Hannah, 51. John E., 603, 613. Joseph, 79, 179. Nathaniel, 28. Reuben, 119. Samuel, 435, 538. Stephen, 428 Richardson, Aaron, 202. Abigail, 137. Benjamin, 126. Ebenezer, 456, 459, 463, 470, 472. Ezekiel, 58, 173, 454, 526, 672. Ezekiel, Jr., 203. George v., 257. James, 190. Jonathan, 688. Mehitable, 137. Mehitable (Smith), 137. Rev. Norman E., 269. Peter, 526. Richard, 137, 203, 457. Samuel, 203. Theoph- ilus, 116, 322, 430-432, 457, 460, 463. Theophilus, Jr., 203, 456, 464 Richardson gravel pit, 126, 587 Ricker, Rev. Joel, 261 Rideout, Benjamin W., 294 Ridge Hill, 91, 136, 140 Ridge Hill Farms, 17, 138, 139. Lakes, 138, 139 Riley, Ernest E., 613, 614 Rimmele Brothers, 401 Ringgold, Ga., 510 Riordan, Rev. Cornelius J., 296 Risk, Elizabeth, 617 Risley, Rev. J. E., 261 Ritchie, James, 373. Rev. William, 29, 239, 240, 312, 393, 395, 576, 665. His salary, 239, 240. William, Jr., 666 Rittenhouse, Lemuel, 307 River Park, 40, 423-425 Road books, 112 Road commissioners, iii Roads, 78-106 Robbins, George H., 507 Robe, Rev. Thomas, 220 Roberts, William, 287 Robinson, David, 435. George, 83, 194,218. Henry, 274, 646. James D., 250. John, 430, 431. Lemuel, 463. Reuben T., 666 Robinson & Roberts, 350 Rochester, 235 Rochester, N. H., 335 Rockport, 296 Rocks, The, 40, 41 Rod and Gun Club, 600 Rogers — Rodgers, Henry D., 579, 580, 585. Fitzwilliam, 271-273, 277, 281. Mary C, 272 Rolling-mill, 120 Rollins, George H., 197, 245 INDEX 733 Roper, Robert G., 400, 408. William, 400, 408 Roper & Sons, 408 Roper Bros., 408 Rose, Henry, 149 Roseleau, Calise, 618 Rosemary Brook, 23, 38, 114, 126, 240, 311,329,397 Rosemary Brook Batting Mill, 397 Rosemary Commandery, United Order of the Golden Star, 592 Rosemary — Rosemer — Rosemery — Rosemerry Meadow, 20, 40, 41, 63-66,76,93, 135, 140, 311, 313 Rosemary Meadow Brook, 76, 78, 81 Rosemary Meadow Dam, 82, 84, 90. Rosemary Meadow Plain, 82 Rosemary Plain, 29 Rosemary Plain Pond, 53 Rosemary Pond, 92, 93, 105, 139, 397 Rosemary Street, 97, 105 Ross, Albert R., 377 Rotch & Tilden, 300 Roxbury, 13, 42, 43, 52, e-], 78, 188, 224-226, 23s, 392, 430, 433, 438, 446, 462, 464, 481, 483, 530, 61S, 617 Roxbury Horse Guards, 442 Royal Arcanum, 592 Royal Artillery, 510 Ruggles, Timothy, 430 Rum, 203, 369, 392, 576 Rural delivery, 544 Russell, Edward, 95. Rev. Edward, 234. Harris, 298. M. M., 298. Simeon, 475. W. S., 595 Rutter, Miciah M., 609 Ryan James F., 376, 664 Ryan's Hill, 584 SABIN, Rev. Elijah R., 260 Sachem's Hill, 11 Sacramental Vessels, see Communion service Safford, Henry, 252 St. David Musical Society, 311 Saint Elmo Council, Royal Arcanum, 592 Saint John's Church, see Churches Saint Joseph's Church, see Churches St. Lawrence University, 242 St. Louis, Mo., 242 Saint Mary's Cemetery, 327, 338 Salem, 165, 242, 280, 387, 395, 667 Salisbury, Nicholas, 53 Salisbury, N. C, 498, 501 Sampson, Eugene H., 391 San Francisco, 271, 628 San Francisco relief, 562 "Sand Hole," 603 Sanders — Sandars, Rev. Daniel C, 372. Israel, 436. Peter, 435 Sanderson, Henry L., 275, 276, 282 Sanford, Milton H., 380 Sanger, Daniel, 428. William, 203. Rev. Zedekiah, 335 Santiago, Cuba, 510 Sargent, Captain, 469. John, 609 Sargent's Tavern, 540, 541, 589 Sash and blind-shop, 394, 395 Sashes made, 394 Savannah, Ga., 504 Savings department of Elliot Mfg. Co., 381 Sawin, Calvin, 307. Thomas, 437 Sawmill Bridge, 126, 602 Sawmill Brook, 22, 143 Sawmill pond, 390 Sawmills, 46, 108, 114, 126, 130, 131, 380, 383, 390, 393 Sawtelle, Rev. Charles E., 256 Sawyer, Charlotte, 363. Charlotte M., 363, Harriet E., 363, 610. Otis, 44, 349. 363, 554, 654, 665 Scarrett, Rev. Isaac, 281 Schirmer, J. Walter, 572 School-books, 345, 360 School census, 522 School Committee, see Town Officers "School Dame," 331, 332, 364 School district libraries, 348, 375 School Districts, 336-341, 343-35^ Committees, 336, 337, 348. Rec- ord of a meeting, 338, 339 School Farm, 53, 80, 691 School Fund, 355, 356, 360, 361, 517, 586 School furniture, 342 School ground, 13, 78 School-houses, 329-335, 337-351, 353- 361. Names, 360 School Land in Dover, 159, 162, 344, 345, 360, 368-370, 533 School reports, 188, 189, 345, 349, 350, 352-354 School teachers, 344, 348, 361-367. First woman, 331. Provincial period, 334, 335 School terms, 337 Schools, 13, 328-379, 534, 643- Early 734 INDEX schools, 328-335. School-houses, 329-335. 337-351- School dis- tricts, 336-341. 343-351- School teachers, 331, 334, 335, 348, 361- 364, 366, 367. Their wages, 364- 366. School money, 343-345. High Schools, 352-356. Appropriations 533. 534- Seven new school-houses, 356-361. Superintendents, 358. Appropriations, 364-366. Statis- tics, 366-367. School Land in Dover, 3 68-3 70. Private schools, 370-372 Scotch-Irish, 227 Scott — Scot, David, 688. Samuel, 346 Scotton, John, 407. Thomas, 407. William, 596 Scudder, Henry B., 358, 668. Marshall S., 274, 275, 282 Seabury, Rev. Joseph B., 286 Seacomb, 430 Sealers of Bread, see Town Officers Sealers of Leather, see Town Officers Sealers of Weights and Measures, see Town Officers Seating the Meeting-house, 198-200 Seaver, Rev. Mr., 220 Beaver Street, 100, 131 Second Dam, Lower Falls, 386 Second Meeting-house, see Meeting- houses, First Church Second Parish, see Parishes, West Parish Selectmen, see Town Officers Senior Young People's Society of Chris- tian Endeavor, 253 Seraphine hired, 246 Sessions, Rev. Joseph W., 264, 666 Severns — Sevens, Joseph, 307. Sam- uel, 307 Sewall, Judge Samuel, 44, 358. Sam- uel E., 327 Sextons, 324, 325 Shad, 644 Shapleigh, Me., 618 Sharon, N. Y., 618 Shattuck's Building, 591 Shattuck's grocery-store, 353 Shaver, Rev. Melville A., 288, 293 Shaw, Herbert, 407. James F., 420. John W., loi, 162, 163, 298, 300, 357, 424, 541. Gifts to Shaw School, 357. Mrs. John W., 330. Robert, 407. Sarah E., 298 Shaw School-house, 354, 357 Shays, Daniel, 438 Shays's Rebellion, 437, 438 Shedd, William G. T., 275 Sheep, 638, 644. Number at different periods, 531, 535. Value, 531 Sheldon, Colonel, 469 Shepard — Shephard — Shepherd — Sheppard, Mr., 91. Mrs., 52. Al- exander, '557, 558. Calvin, 307. Isaac, 54, 212, 225, 309, 335, 337, 339, 456, 467, 481, 488, 516, 624, 648, 652, 661. Lemuel, 446, 541 Shepherson, Henry, 294 Sherborn — Sherburn — Sherburne, 51, 141, 152, 273, 430, 561, 612, 623. Cent Society, 207 Sherborn — Sherburn road, 88, 89 Sherburne, Henry, 469 Sheridan, Mr., 65, 83, 403 Sherman, Gen. William T., 573 Shetland shawls made, 408 Shine, James J., 297 Shirley, Gov. William, 143, 144 Shirley, 422 "Shoddy" manufactured, 387, 391,399, 409 Shoe-factory, 390 Shoe-shops, 401 Shores, James M., 618 Shumway, Judith, 47 Sidewalks, 103 Sierra Magazine, 628, 629 Silk-factory, 389, 397 Silk gloves made, 400 Silk goods made, 389, 397, 400, 406, 408, 410 Silk hosiery made, 406 Silk mittens made, 406, 408 Silk-worms, 397 Sllverhorn, Rev. William, 269 Silvia, negro, 565 SImonds, Elijah, 577 Sincerity Lodge, I. O. O. P., 591 Singers, 213, 308-310 Singing School, 3 10 SIsco — Cisco, — ,566. Hadassah, 616 SIsco family, 566 Skeensborough, New York, 466 Skinner, Ebenezer, 41, 57, 119, 434, 548, 650, 660 Slack, Benjamin, 96-99, 120, 157, 160, 161, 182, 207, 277, 339, 344, 384, 385, 488, 519, 550, 563, 584, 601, 608, 609, 648, 653, 662, 666, 688. John, 94, 124, 134, 167, 170, 181, 209, 336, 450, 458, 462, 468, 471, INDEX 735 481, 482, 515, 651, 661. John, J., 482. John VV., 178, 446, 523, 541, 608, 609, 647. Thaddeus, 473 Slack's Hotel, 446 Slaney, Franklin W., 511 Slaves, 149, 565-567 Slitting-mill, 97, 120 Small, A. H., 447. Henry T., 307 Smallpox and Hospitals, 562, 563 Smith, Captain, 473. Lieut-Colonel, 451. Rev. Mr., 237. Aaron, 58- 60, 84, 86, 89, 91, 94, 95, 117, 118, 125, 161, 167, 168, 170, 173, 174, 189, 196, 211, 235, 343, 344, 346, 427, 451, 457, 458, 460-462, 467, 468, 471, 475, 477-481, 488, 514, 516, 540, 551, 638, 639, 645, 648, 649,652,659,661,665,675. Aaron, Jr., 213, 233, 314, 335, 338, 436, 438, 450, 457, 458, 462, 464, 480- 483, 540, 562, 651, 660, 661, 688. Aaron, 3d, 460. Abby W., 298. Abiel, 61, 458, 558. Abigail, 60, 61, 224, 272. Abigail (Mrs. John), 59. Abigail (Richardson), 137. Amraphel, 161, 551, 576, 607, 653, 663, 665. Archibald, 230, 435, 480, Arthur E., 518. Caleb, 58, 59, 332. Catharine E., 30, 38. Christopher, 58, 59, 71, 83, 87, 88, 313, 470, 474, 475, 684. Daniel, 428. David, 60, 88, 96, 119, 125, 137, 140, 152, 154, 157, 160, 211, 454. David, Jr., no, 648, 653. Eben W., 304. Edward, 60, 137. Elbridge, 542. Eliakim, 486. Elizabeth, 60. Elizabeth (Mrs. Joshua), 59. Ester, 317. Eu- nice, 272. Ezra, 59. Frank, his "History of Dover," 249. George, 60, 159, 272, 345, 440, 485, 487, 551, 646, 648, 653, 663. Ithamar, 60, 435, 455, 460, 470, 473- Itha- mar, Jr., 458, 460, 466. Jabez, 52, 552, 640. James, 61, 96, 119, 196, 230, 428, 554, 589, 618, 638-640, 645, 653, 654, 657, 663. Jason, 474, 475- Jeremiah, 27, 428, 458, 462, 463, 477. Joel, 486, 487. John, 12, 31, 37, 55, 58, 59, 71, 73, 74, 78-80, 82-84, 182, 194, 195, 216, 217, 221, 247, 308, 329, 331, 332, 431, 460, 466, 477, 512, 518, 645, 646, 648, 683. John, Jr., 328, 458, 467, 473, 520, 649. John, 3d, 458, 466. Jonathan, 16, 35, 53, 55, 58-61, 83, 85, 86, 88, 115, 132, 168, 174, 196, 199, 211, 230, 247, 314, 368, 441, 454, 457, 514, 515, 557, 615, 636, 642, 649, 650, 652, 684, 688. Jonathan, Jr., 211, 481, 684. Joshua, 58-60, 71, 329. Josiah, 55, 56, 307. Lemuel, 479. Lewis, 307. Luther, 61, 589, 656. Lu- ther, 2d, 324, 566. Mrs. Martha, 335. Martha (Mrs. Aaron), 235. Martha (Mrs. Jonathan), 60. Mary, 55. Widow Mary, 615. Mary (Mrs. James), 61. Mary C, 299. Mehitable (Mrs. Richard- son), 137. Mehitable (Mrs. Whit- ing), 137. Mehitable (Richard- son), 137. Moses, 58. Myra, 610. Newell, 226, 316, 603, 633, 689. Oliver, 298, 299. Otis, 307. Pam- elia — Permelia, 284, 618. Rachel, 284. Widow Rachel, 615. Ra- chel (Mrs. Caleb), 59. Rebecca, 59, 60. Robert, 61, 90, 116, 167, 203, 209, 432, 438, 446, 450, 456, 457, 460, 461, 467, 471, 476, 480- 483, 487, 559, 562, 652, 661, 675. Robert B., 408. Russell, 449. Ruth, 36. Samuel, 58, 59, 84, 458, 460, 462, 463, 470, 549. Rev. Samuel F., 251, 253, 255. Solo- mon F., 125. Timothy, 60, 309, 324. Timothy N., 18, 31, 46, 350, 351, 440, 441, 448, 449, 539, 552, 634, 654. William, 90, 92, 148, 203, 233, 431, 436, 450, 457, 473, 479, 527, 549, 554, 651, 660. William, Jr., 462, 464, 467, 474. Rev. William S., 275, 281 Smith family, 58-61, 175, 176 Snare drum players, 309, 631 Snelling, Rev. Joseph, 258, 260, 262. Rodman P., 192 Snow, Charles H., 28, 216. Walter F., 290, 293-295, 518, 656 Snow in roads, 102, 108, 417, 534 Snuff-mill, 124 Snuff Mill Dam, 380 Social and Literary Union, 594, 595 Social Library, 375 Social Lodge, L O. of G. T., 604 Societies, 589-614 Society of Colonial Wars in Massachu- setts, Yearbook, 429 Soirees, 372 736 INDEX "Sol" Fuller's Bridge, 126 "Sol" Fuller's Brook, 78, 126, 140 Soldiers' Letter, 492, 493 Soldiers' Lot, 506, 508 Soldiers' monument. Revolution, 453, 507. Civil War, 507, 508 Somerby, Gustavus A., 363 Sons of Saint George, 592 Sons of Temperance, 603 Sons of the American Revolution, New- towne Chapter, 486 Sons of the Revolution of Massachu- setts, 486 Sons of Veterans, 508 Soule, Rev. Joshua, 261 Sounding board, 206 South Boston, 283 South Framingham, 415, 509 South Lawrence, Saint Patrick's Church, 296 South Middlesex Street Railway, 419 South Mills, 99, 243 South Mills Bridge, 121 South Natick, 122, 572, 635 South Paris, Maine, 287 South school district, 339-341, 343, 344, 347, 358, 367 South school-house, 335, 337, 342, 344, 345. 347, 358, 360, 566. Teachers, 362-365 South Street, 79, 86, loi, 104, 105, 419 Southborough, 549 Southworth, George W., 379, 629. Winthrop M., 379 Spalding — Spauldlng, Rev. Amos F., 258. Rev. Solomon, 237. Ste- phen H., 570 Spanish-American War of 1898, 509- S" Spanish War of 1740, 428, 429 Sparrowhawk, Rev. Mr., 220 Spear, Rev. Mr., 219. Richard C, 509 Spencer, Anna, 618. Annie H., 298 Spool silk manufactured, 389 Spottsylvania, 499, 501 Sprague, Isaac, 298. John, 23. Wil- liam, 23 Spring, George, 124, 351, 358, 577, 655. John, 194, 195. Marshall, 152, IS3. 570. Mary, 467. Samuel, 467, 470 Springfield, 128, 404, 473, 474 Springfield, 111., 510 Springfield Knitting Mill, 404 Springfield Parish, Dedham, later Dover, 142, 225, 368, 478, 512 Springvale Baptist Church, 249 Springvale Park, 249 "Squire Art," 633 Stage coach, 545 Stages, 539, 540, 543-545 Stand-pipe, 584 Standard Bearers, 271 Stanton, Richard, 297. William H., 304 Stanwood, Charles E., 376, 655, 659 Starkweather, E., 455 Starr — Star, Ebenezer, 562, 569, 570, 608, 609. Henry, 444, 570. Hor- ace, 307. Josiah, 569 State Aid, 490 State Constitution, see Massachusetts, Constitution State Conventions, 171, 172 State, county and town officers, 645-669 State elections, 169-171, 175, 188 State Federation of Women's Clubs, 598, 599 State roads, 105, 588 State School Fund, 533 State Senators, 645 State Street, 423 State tax, 153, 521, 524, 529, 530 Station Tree, 62, 150, 215 Statistics, manufactures, 409-412. Val- uation, population, etc., 530-537 Steam-boilers, 411 Steam-engines, 409, 411 Steam roller purchased, 104 Stearns, Isaac R., 590, 594, 595, 600 Stebbins, John, 431 Stedman, Ellis, 488, 589. Mrs. F. F., 610. Frank E., 655. Joseph, 338. Mary, 307. Rebecca, 307. Will- iam, 317 Steelton, Pa., 509 Stetson, Almon B., 294 Stevens, Rev. A., his "Memorials of the Introduction of Methodism into the Eastern States," 258 His "Memorials of the Early Prog ress of Methodism in the Eastern States (Second Series)," 258. Abel 438, 440. Abel F., 612. Abijah 438, 453- Alvin G., 244. Augus- tus, III, 492, 654. Eliphalet, 307 Ephraim, 211, 454, 462. Ephraim Jr., 340. Franklin, 307, 351, 441 443. George G., 61, iii, 226 INDEX 737 Hadassah, 263. Isaac, 383. John, 263. Timothy, 487 Stevens family, 80 Stick Bridge, 93, 94, 122 Stimson, Jeremy, 570 Stirling, Rev. John, 61 Stockings made, 403 Stocks, 637, 641 Stoddard, Rev. Isaac, 261 Stoil, Jacob, 430, 431 Stone, Daniel, 541. Eunice, 263. Lucy, 594. Valeria G., 374. Will- iam, 570 Stone crusher purchased, 104 Stone Hall, Wellesley College, 374 Stone masons, 100, 120, 205, 346, 347 Story, George F., 421 Stoughton, 23, 202, 555-557, 629 Stoves, in Meeting-house, 206. In school-houses, 342 Stow, 237, 334, 529 Stowe — Stow, Joseph, 384. Timothy, 465, 466 Stowell, Hannah, 472. Joseph, 456, 463, 470, 472 Strawbery Meadow brook, 62 Street lights, 584-586 Street names, 106 Street Railways, 416-420. Tax, 534 Streeter, Rev. Elisha, 261 Strife Meadow, 37, 38, 59 Strife Meadow Bridge, 88 Strife Meadow Brook, 57, 79, 80, 140 Strong, Rev. Edward E., 284 Sturbridge, 55 Sturgis, Russell, 386, 387 Sudbury — Sudbery, 18, 20, 22, 33, 34, 62, 63, 139, 141, 148, 390, 637 Sudbury River conduit, 103, 127, 673 Suffolk County, 137, 164, 165, 167, 170, 238, 473, 478, 479, 484, 516, 538 Suffolk County, England, "]•] "Suffolk Deeds," 11, 57, 149 Suffolk West Conference of Churches, 285 Sugars, Gregory, 231 Sullivan, John, 297. Richard T., 387, 399. William H., 140. Sullivan, R. T., Company, 388 Sumner, Lewis, 352. Lewis N., 264, 270 Sunday School Association, 243 Sunday School orchestra, 268 Sunday Schools, 375. First Church, 242-244, 246, 603. Congregational Church, 246. Baptist Church, 251, 25s, 603. Methodist Churches, 265, 266, 603. Orthodox Congre- gational Church, Grantville, 276, 279, 282, 603. Evangelical Con- gregational Church, 284, 288. Saint Joseph's Church, 296, 297. Uni- tarian Society of Grantville, 298. Advent Christian Church, 301. Christ Church, 302-304, 604. First Church of Christ Scientist, 305 Superintendent for Suppressing Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths, see Town Officers Superintendents of Schools, see Town Officers Superintendents of Streets, see Town Officers Superintendents of Water Department, j^^Town Officers Superintending School Committee, see Town Officers, School Committee Superior of St. Margaret's Home, 303 "Surplus Revenue," 553 Surveyor of Hemp and Flax, see Town Officers Surveyors of Highways, see Town Officers, Highway Surveyors Surveyors of Lumber, see Town Officers Surveyors of Timber, see Town Officers Surveyors of Wood, see Town Officers Sutherland, Lucy, 618 Sutton, Ann H., 258. Mary M., 364. Samuel, 140, 398. Samuel, & Co., 398, 399. Thomas, 186, 254, 255, 257, 325, 379, 398, 598, 646, 655, 658, 659 Sutton, 15 Sutton, Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, Eng- land, 406, 543 Swain, Rev. Augustus C, 285, 292 Swallow, George A., 291, 294 Swan, Daniel, 570. James, 470. Wil- liam O., 250 Swans, 139 Sweater coats made, 401 Sweaters made, 400, 401 Sweet corn, 400 Swift, Rev. John, 218, 224 Swine, 636, 641. Number at different periods, 531, 535. Value, 531 Swords on exhibition, 441 Syleham, Suffolk, England, 24 Sylvia, negro, 565 Symms, William, 468, 470 738 INDEX TACKS made, 398 Taft, Eleazer, 365 Talbot, Mr., 30 Tambling — Tombling, Matthew, 80, 328, 683. Sarah, 224. Seth, 436 Tankards, given to Congregational Church, 246. First Church, 238 Tannery, 386 Tappen, Mr., 174 Tarvia used on roads, 105 Taverns and Post-Offices, S38-54S Tax lists, 31, 189, 522, 527 Tax rate, S 1.7, 532, 533 Taxes, 153. Assessment of, 519-522. Collection of, 522-525. Duties of the taxpayers, 525, 526. Abate- ment of, 526, 527. Miscellaneous tax items, 527, 528. Province tax, 528-530 Tea, 450 Tea and Toast Club, 597, 691 Telegraph and telephone lines, 586 Temperance and temperance societies, 574, 601-605 Temperance Convention, 602 Temperance Reform Club, 604 Tenney, Mrs., 541 Terence, negro, 565 Terracolio used on roads, 105 Terry, Rev. Samuel, 218, 219 Thacher, Rev. Peter, 218. Rev. Philip S., 242, 243. Rev. Thomas, his Memoir of Rev. Samuel West, 236 Thayer — Thair, Miss, 370. Alexander, 570. E. F., 282. Rev. Ebenezer, 233. L. R., 264 Third Congregational Society, see Wel- lesley Hills Congregational Society Third Meeting-house, see Meeting- houses, First Church Thompson, Rev. Amos G., 260. Rev. Edwin, 602. John, 270. Rev. Joseph H., 269 Thorpe, Charles, 270, 525, 595, 599. F. Ernest, 425. John, 406, 599. Joseph B., 266, 267, 270, 325, 361, 377, 406, 407, 587, 595, 599, 656. Sarah B., 587. Thomas, 599 Thorpe family, 406 Thorpe Memorial Park, 587 "Three Apostles, The," 259 Thwing & Clapp Bros., 357 Ticonderoga, New York, 434, 466, 467 Tilton, John A., 519, 625, 656 Tinkham, Rev. John, 261 Tisdale, George W., 325, 664. Howard, 309 Titcomb, Jonathan, 475 Titus, negro, 22 Titus, John W., 182, 355, 668 Tiverton, R. I., 476 Tobacco sent to soldiers, 493 Toddy, 132, 656 Toll-gate, 98 Tolling, 322 Tolman — Toleman, Ebenezer, 14, 61. Elmun, 94, 456, 463, 467, 468, 548. Jemima, 14, 57, 61. John, 93-95, 154, 156, 158, 163, 203, 323, 324, 362, 440, 452, 456, 459, 460, 463, 466,467,524,589,661,662. Mary, 14, 61. Nathaniel, 14, 48, 57, 61, 62, 93, 94, 118, 223, 230, 247, 319, 435, 461, 466, 568, 672. Thomas, 14, 62, 430, 431 Tolman family, 61, 62 Tolman lot, 452 Tombs, 31, 318, 319 Toone, George H., 584. William, & Co., 408 Toone Bros., 408 Torrey — Torry, Ellsworth, 275, 281. Jonathan, 430, 43 1 Torrey estate, 354 Town agents and lawsuits, 189, 190 Town ammunition, 196, 427, 428 Town auditors, see Town Officers, Auditors Town caucus, 192, 193 Town charges, appropriations, 533, 534 Town clerk, see Town Officers, Clerk Town clock, 586 Town debts, 163, 183, SH'^'^l, 523 Town documents, 629 Town farm, see Poor-farm Town-Fasts, 227 Town Hall, 163, 179, 185, 190-192, 376, 551, 552, 586, 634, 644, 683. New Town Hall, 192, 625, 626 Town meetings, 158, 159, 166, 175-182, 184, 186, 188, 190-192, 194, 199, 200, 210, 217, 221, 227, 339, 417 Town officers, 177, 179, 180, 189, 192, 554, 648-689 Assessors, 174, 175, 519-522, 524,526- 528, 532, 641, 643, 644, 655, 661, 664, 665, 670. Chronological list, 659-665. Term of office, 520. Pay, 520, 521 Auditors, 518, 673 INDEX 739 Town officers — Continued Board of Health, 405, 564 Chief Engineers, Fire Department, S8i Clerk, 159, 161, 164, 173, 176, 180, 184, 186, 188, 190, 212, 247, 249, 426, 428, 436, 437, 448, S18, 539, 609,642, 656, 681. Chronological list, 657, 658. Records, 188 Clerks of the Market, 687 Committee of Correspondence, In- spection and Safety, 149, 450 Committee to Reckon with the Town Treasurer,^ 515,^ 518, 519, 534. Chronological list, not indexed, 681,682 Constables, 178, 179, 670-673, 682, 683, 687, 689 Coroners, 648 Custodians of Public Grounds, 587 Deerreaves, 642, 643. Chronological list, not indexed, 685 Engineers, Fire Department, 578, 581 Engineers, Water Department, 584 Fence viewers, 570, 641. Chronologi- cal list, not indexed, 680, 681 Field drivers, 640, 641. Chronologi- cal list, not indexed, 679, 680 Finance Committee, 518, 519 Firewards, 578, 640, 673 Forest firewards, 578 Haywards, 684 Health Officer, 564 Highway Surveyors, 180, 640, 673. Chronological list, not indexed, 675- 677. Duties, 107-112. Number chosen,iio. How elected, 11 1, 112. Collectors of highway taxes, in, 112. Compensation, 1 12 Hogreaves, 636, 637. Chronological list, not indexed, 685-687 Inspector of Cattle and Provisions, 639 Liquor Agent, 601 Measurers of Wood and Bark, 688 Military Committee, 490 Moderators, 173, 174, 177, 178, 180- 182, 190, 191, 490, 491, 518 Overseers of the poor, 178, 550, 553, 5S4> 639. Chronological list, not indexed, 674 Park Commissioners, 587 Pound-keepers, 638-640 Public Weighers, 688 Registrars of voters, 176 Town officers — Continued School Committee, 112, 176, 179, 337, 342, 348, 351-361, 370, 574, 669. Chronological list of members, 665- 669. Reports, 188, 189, 345, 349, 350, 352, 353 Sealers of Bread, 640, 687 Sealers of Leather, 640, 684. Chrono- logical list, not indexed, 684 Sealers of Weights and Measures, 640, 682, 683 Selectmen, 79-89, 91, 92, 95, 96, 98- 100, 102, 103, 107, 110-112, 123, 124, 127, 132, 136, 159, 161, 164, 173, 174, 179, 180, 182, 183, 186, 187, 189, 190, 192, 196, 208, 216, 217, 219, 260, 319, 320, 328, 329, 331, 340, 353, 355, 361, 368, 394, 405, 416-420, 422, 427, 428, 439, 442, 472, 473, 475, 479, 482, 483, 487, 490, 491, 507, 515, 516, 518- 520, 526-528, 530, 538, 546, 548, 549, 551-555, 557-564, 566, 569, 577, 578, 585, 586, 601, 613, 625, 633, 637-642, 655, 656, 659, 682, 683, 687, 689. Chronological list, 648-656 Superintendent for Suppressing Gyp- sey and Brown-tail A'l'oths, 614 Superintendents of Schools, 358 Superintendents of Streets, in, 363 Superintendents of Water Depart- ment, 584 Surveyor of Hemp and Flax, 688 Surveyors of Lumber, 640, 688 Surveyors of Timber, 688 Surveyors of Wood, 460, 688, 689 Tax collectors, 522-525, 540, 541 Treasurer, in, 112, 159, 161, 185, 187, 220, 233, 234, 312, 332, 343, 480, 515-5x9, 522-524, 527, 534, 554, 563, 576, 624, 637, 641, 643, 671, 681, 682. Chronological list, 658, 659. Earliest book, 519. Salar}% 516 Tree warden, 613, 614 Trustees of the Loan Money, 514 Tythingmen, 207, 570. Chronologi- cal list, not indexed, 678, 679 War Committees, 483 Wardens of Town farm, 554, 555. Chronological list, not indexed, 674,675 Water Commissioners, 583, 584 Weighers and Gaugers, 688 740 INDEX Town physicians, 569-571 Town property, value, 532 Town publications, 187-189 Town records, 75, ify, 85, 86, 91, 115, 122, 126, 146, 184-187, 200, 219, 226, 466, 490, 513, 639 Town reports, 186, 188, 189,405 Town seal, 189 Town treasurer, see Town Officers, Treasurer Town water, 580, 582-584 Towne, Emma I., 500 Town's Poor, 546-563. Appropriations, 533, 534, 553- Questions of domi- cile or settlement, 548-550. Poor- farm, 550-555. French Neutrals, 555-558. Indians, 558, 559. Warn- ings out of town, 560-562 Townsend, Mr., 399. George J., 572, 573. Gregory, 187, 232. Horatio, 190. Rev. Jonathan, 14, 25, 36, 49, 142-144, 186, 187, 198, 220, 227-233, 235, 236, 244, 248, 313, 314, 318, 334, 513, 527, 549. His ministry, 220-223. His records, 221-230. His ordination, 224. His salary, 220, 229-231. His printed sermons, 233. His students, 236. Rev. Jonathan, Jr., 232, 334, 372. Mrs. Jonathan, 199, 233. Penn, 75. Samuel, 94, 198, 203, 232, 334,521,652,660,675. Sarah, 362. Thomas H., 237, 238. Townsend barn, 545 Townsend place, 613 Trail, John, 20, 25, 56 Train, Charles R., 162 Training Field, 313, 315, 613, 625, 691 Travel allowance to soldiers. Revolution, 461,463,464 Travis, Henry, 307. Timothy W., 278 Tray, Sarah, 10 Treaner family, 204 Treasurer, see Town Officers Treasurers of First Parish, 212. Book of first treasurer, 519 Tree Warden, see Town Officers Trees, 613, 614 Trial Justices, 647 Trip hammer shop, 130 Trombone played in church, 309 Trowbridge, Susanna, 48. Thomas, 48 Truants, 193 Trull, David, 211, 458, 463. David, Jr., 438 Trustees of the Loan Money, see Town Officers Turtle Island, 163, 380 Tucker, Mrs., 547. Charles T., 448. Enos H., 12, 25, 65, loi, 135, 171, 172, 191, 197, 241, 307, 320, 362, 363, 397, 421, 437, 444, 446, 448, 489, 539, 547, 618, 619, 625, 645, 646, 655, 664, 665. Enos H., Jr., 448, 449. Frederic H., 421. James, & Co., 390. Jerusha, 42 Tucker family, 65 Turner, Mr., 403. Abiel, 527. Edwin, 403. Eliza (Mrs. John), 327. Hezekiah, 478. John, 403. John, Jr., 403. John, of Plymouth, 455. Robert, 139 Turner lot, 327 Turner place, 403, 405 Turnpike, 80, 98, 99, 115 Turnpike Bridge, 114, 412 Tuttle, Frederic G., 419, 584 Tweft, Rev. Mr., 219 Twigg, Aaron, 355, 655. John L., 525 "Twin Oaks," 593 Twombly, Alexander H., 383 Tyler, Colonel, 474. Rev. Andrew, 227, 235 Tyng, Stephen, 344 Tyringham, 232 Tythingmen, see Town Officers T TNDERTAKERS, 322, 323 ^-^ Underwear made, 399, 403, 404, 406-408 Underwood, Cato, 467, 478. Charles, 552. Isaac, 15, 92, no, 133, 147, 150, 151, 437, 454, 527, 656, 660. John, 22, 62, 86, 130, 141, 142, 649. Jonathan, 22, 23. Joseph, 149. Rev. Nathan, 237. Priscilla, 22 Underwood and Train, 347 Underwood family, 62 Union, Conn., 618 Union Cycle Company, 399 Union Literary Association, 595 Union suits made, 404 Union Temperance Band, 603, 604 Unionville, 136, 351 Unitarian Club, 598 Unitarian Church, Grantville, see Churches Unitarian Society of Grantville, 242, 297-301. Incorporated, 298. Its Sunday School, 298. Original mem- INDEX 741 bers, 298, 299. Name changed, 299. New church built, 300, 301. Gifts, 300. Parsonage built, 301. The Register, 301 Unitarian Society of Wellesley Hills, see Unitarian Society of Grantville United Order of the Golden Cross, 592 United States Army, 491, 511 United States Colored Troops, 502 United States Volunteers, 510 United Workmen, Ancient Order of, 592 Unity Club, 598 "Universal Register of the Baptist Denomination in North America," 248 Universalists, 242, 243 University of Vermont, 372 Upham, Cyrus G., 45, 265, 271, 284, 293. David, 466. Ephraim, 431, 432. Henry H., 591. Jabas, 431, 432. Josiah, 123, 211, 435, 441, 457, 462, 467, 472, 473, 479, 483, 661. Josiah, Jr., 89 Upper Dam, Lower Falls, 382-384, 388 Upper Dam, Upper Falls, 380 Upper Falls, 9, 11, 18, 39, 44, 54-56, 81, 82, 92, 98, 99, 113, 114, 128, 163, 179, 357, 378, 38i» 394, 412, 421, 422, 425, 445, 447, 542, 576-578, 580, 673. Industries, 380-382. See also Newton Upper Falls Upper Falls school district, 340, 343, 346, 349 Upper Falls school-house, 338, 348, 349, 360. Teachers, 362 Urbino, Mrs. L., 371 Uxbridge, 543, 569 TyTALENTINE, Olive C, 298 ' Valuation lists, 189, 527 Valuation of the town at different periods, 1768-1910, 530-532 Van Buren, Pres. Martin, 170 Vanneman, Rev. John, 260 Vassall, John, 149 Ventres, William H. S., 371 Vermont Legislature, 255 Vernon, Admiral, 428 Very, Francis, 14, 66, 334 Veteran Reserve Corps, Civil War, 494, 505 Vialas, Peter, 334, 365 Village Hall, 191, 283, 290, 353, 372, 423, 492, 608, 609 Village Improvement Society, 326 Vincent Circle of the Chautauqua, 597 Vine Rock Bridge, 117, 118 Viney, Rufus, 307 Violets, 35 Violin played in church, 309, 310 Violoncello played in church, 309, ,574 Virgin, Rev. Charles, 261 Visit of President Washington to Needham, 623 Vorse, Rev. Albert B., 242, 297, 299, 301. His salary, 299. Henry, 165. William, 487 Voters, 173-176 Voting lists, 36 WABAN, 10 Waban Brook, 60, 125, 130, 138 Waban Conservatories, 23, 33, 62, 389 Waban Hall, 353, 507, 591, 604 Waban Mills, 130, 391 Walcott — Wolcott, Captain, 469. Harris H., 383. Henry D., 383. John W., 27, 52 Waldron, Rev. John de L., 244, 293 Wales, Nathaniel, 52, 104, 427, dfi"]. Nathaniel, Jr., 577, 654. Nathan- iel, Jr., & Co., 382 Wales & Mills, 382, 384 Wales Street, Newton, 124, 540 Wales's Tavern, 540 Walker, Abigail, 362. Rev. Avery S., 286, 287, 292. Azariah, 207. Rob- ert B., 257, 376, 379 Wallburg, Othman, 205 Wallin, George, 462 Walling, H. F., 131 Wallsworth, Rev. Mr., 220 Walnut Street, Wellesley, 124, 540 Walpole, 237, 438, 439, 442, 443, 445, 446, 602 Walpole Light Infantry, 446 Walradt, Henry M., 294, 355, 358 Walsh, Martin J., 297 Walter, Rev. Mr., 219, 227 Waltham, 203, 448, 579, 616 Walton, Thomas S., 270 Wamskutt, — , 470 War Committees, see Town Officers War of 1812, 439, 486-489 742 INDEX War of the American Revolution, 450- 489, 514 Lexington Alarm, 451-453 Lexington Alarm Lists, 454-458 Siege of Boston, 1775, 459, 460 Dorchester Heights, 460-462 Military duty at Roxbury, 462-464 Castle Island, 1776, 464, 465. 1779, 479 Canada and New York, 465-468 Continental Army, 468. One year men, 1776, 468. Three years' men, 1777-1780, 469-471. Votes of the Town relating to service in, 471, 472. Nine months' men, 1779, 473, 474. Six months' men, 1780, 474> 475- _ Care of the families of the soldiers, 472, 473 Rhode Island Campaign, 475-477 Re-inforcements for the Northern Army, 1777, 477. 1778, 477-479 Votes of the town and orders of the Selectmen relative to the War, 1778 and 1779, 479-482. 1780 to 1783, 482, 483 War taxes, 522, 527 Ward, Esq., 549. Widow, 147. Ben- jamin, 16, 26, 64, 463. Edward, 63, 64, 86, 144, 200. Edward L., 555, 640. John, 63, 359. Miriam, 64. Samuel, 64, 458, 460, 462, 463, 481, 485. William, 63, 569. William H., 119, 125. William L., 391 Ward family, 63, 64 Ward farm, 64 Ward Genealogy, 64 Wardens of Town farm, see Town Officers Ward's Brook, 63, 147, 148 Ward's Lane, 63 Ward's Mill, 63, 64, 149 Ware, A. Elizabeth, 272. Benjamin, 456, 468. Daniel, 65, 95, 97, 120, 157, 159, 163, 181, 187, 307, 343, 350, 440, 458, 467, 487, 554, 589, 624, 64s, 648, 653, 657, 659, 661. Mrs. Daniel, 65. Deborah, 64, 65. Dexter, 100, 271, 272, 274, 276, 277, 281, 282, 348, 552, 653, 663, 665,666. Dorothy, 21. Ebenezer, 16, 50, 64-66, 71, 74, 81, 82, 136, 195, 217, 219, 330, 615, 671. Ebenezer, Jr., 323. Elijah, 323. Emma F., 65, 83. Her "Ware Genealogy," 65. Ephraim, 64, 65, 71, 83, 84, 88, 118, 194, 329, 441, 461, 488, 615, 689. Ephraim, Jr., 650, 684. Esther, 36. George D., 275, 276, 278, 280-282. Hannah, 55, 272. Hannah J., 351. John, 383, 582. John J., 577. Jona- than, 204, 456, 461. Joseph, 65, 456, 459, 468, 470, 479, 484. Jo- siah, 89-91, 118, 200, 211, 343, 435, 454, 486, 561, 615, 642, 651, 670. L. Emeline, 272. Louisa M., 272. Luther, 307, 589. Lydia P., 272. Martha, 235. Martha (Mrs. Eben- ezer), 16. Mary C, 272. Mehet- abel, 65. Nathaniel, 92, 93, 116, 342, 343, 462, 546, 652, 662. Mrs. Persis, 246. R. Wlllfrd, 272. Re- becca A., 272. Retbei, 65, 271, 272, 276-279, 307, 346, 349, 352, 384, 440, 554, 601, 607, 648, 653, 663,665. Reuben N., 281. Reuel, 65, 83. 98, 99, 161, 271, 272, 275- 278, 280, 281, 441, 654, 666. Ro- bert, 64, 65, 637, 678. Samuel, 32, 64, 94, 436, 459, 467, 554. Samuel, Jr., 456, 461. William S., 281 Ware & Clark, 382 Ware & Wilder, 98 Ware family, 64, 65 Warner, Daniel A., 555 Warnings out of town, 560-562 Warrants for Town meetings, 177-179 Warren, Mr., 433. Daniel, 321. E. L., 570. Edward, 570, 572. Jona- than, 478, Sir Peter, 158. Rachel, 588 Warwick, 51, 569 Washburn, Diana P., 212 Washburn's Field, 625 Washington, George, 169, 447, 476, 479, His visit to Needham, 623 Washington, D. C, 42, 511. Union Chapel Hospital, 497. Adjutant- General's Office, 501 Washington elm, 623 Washington Street, 88, 102, 124, 131, 134, 153, 623. Trees, loi Washlngtonian crusade, 602 Water Commissioners, see Town Officers Water Department, 581, 583, 584 Water reservation, 583, 600 Water-wheels, 409, 411, 412 Waterhouse, Benjamin, 570 INDEX 743 Watering cart purchased, 104 Watering places, 100 Watering-troughs, 583 Waterloo, 496, 510 Watertown, 19, 34, 68, 69, 151, 166, 380, 386, 419, 428, 460, 466, 570, 623, 644 Watkins — Wadlcins — Wodkins, An- drew, 63, 71, 636. Mary, 63 Watson, Captain, 469 Watts, Isaac, his "Psalms and Hymns," 239> 308 Wayland, 273 Webb, Rev. Robert L., 254, 256, 624, 626 Webber, Adrianna G., 284. Henry, 284 Webber Brothers, 407 Webster, Rev. Amos, 249, 255 Webster Quartet, 625 Webster Street, 79, 104, 124, 420 Weighers and Gaugers, see Town Officers Weights and measures, 682, 683 Welch, William F., 640 Weld, Colonel, 464, 470. Abel, 342 Well, at Needham Lower Falls, 623. At minister's house, 204 Welles — Wells, Abbie, 299. Jane, 635. John, 391, 551, 553, 634. Samuel, 150, 151. Susan, 63 s Welles place, 635 Wellesley, 9, 12, 18, 35-37, 42, 83, 89, 103, III, 124, 126, 127, 132, 134, 140, 154, 176, 185, 215, 243, 280, 319, 333, 340, 349, 352-354, 356, 360, 378, 390, 400, 401, 416, 418, 485, 486, 498, 501, 517, 541, 544, 553, 572, 573, 578, 582, 583, 591, 612,631,634,635,647,691. Incor- porated, 162, 163. Saint Andrew's Church, 303, 304. Schools, 354, 356, 357- Railroad station, loi. Town Hall, 61, 635, 688 Wellesley Advertiser, 359 Wellesley Avenue, 83, 88, 98, 102, 114 Wellesley College, 35, 60, 373, 374, 391, 510, 533, 539, 628. Flag-raising, 486. Soldiers' monument, 486 Wellesley Congregational Church, see Churches, Congregational Church in West Needham Wellesley Congregational Society, 326 Wellesley Country Club, 37, 87, 158, 553 Wellesley Female Seminary, see Welles- ley College Wellesley Hills, 9-1 1, 19, 24, 27, lOi, 139, 162, 329-331, 333, 384, 540, 544, 572, 609, 691. First Congrega- tional Church, 271-282. Unitarian Church, 279 Wellesley Hills Congregational Society, 276-279 Wellesley Square, 342 Wellington Avenue Bridge, 588 Wellman, Rev. Joshua W., 275 Welsh, James, 326 Wendell — Wendall, Jacob, 436 Wesson, Colonel, 469 West, Jared, 342. Nathan P., 372. Priscilla, 235, 236. Samuel, 372. Rev. Samuel, 49, 168, 197, 202, 203, 208, 228, 232-234, 237, 238, 451, 513, 528. His ministry, 234- 237. His ordination, 235. His autobiography, 235, 236. His pub- lications, 236. His students, 236. His salary, 237. Rev. Samuel of Dartmouth, 235. Rev. Thomas, 235 West Cambridge, 16, 137, 149, 360, 361, 429, 451-453, 486 West Centre highway district, 99 West Church, see Churches, Congrega- tional Church in West Needham West Company, Militia, 438, 440, 442, 451, 452. Captains, 440, 441. Muster-roll, 1775, 457, 458. 1776, 461, 462 West Dedham, 461 West End, 12, 33, 148, 329, 332, 334, 429. Annexed to Natick, no, 141. See also Needham Leg West End school district, 338-341 West End school-house, 33, 339-341 West High School, 353, 354, 595 West Indies, 428 West Medway, 272 West Meeting-house, see Meeting- houses West Meeting-house school district, 340, 341, 343 West Meeting-house school-house, 339. Teachers, 362 West Needham, 95, 127, 136, 154, 159, 202, 206, 245, 264, 283, 325, 360, 366, 370, 373, 413, 424, 444, 447, 486, 501, 542, 548, 569, 573, 611, 623, 630, 634, 672, 691. Cemetery, 325,326,486. Post-office, 542. De- pot, 99 744 INDEX West Newton, 272, 413, 447, 543 West Parish, see Parishes West Point, New York, 470 West Precinct, 152-158, 160, 161, 206, 214, 215, 271, 309, 312, 323, 566, 627. Incorporated as town of Wellesley. .S^^ also Parishes, West Parish West Roxbury, 285, 415, 420 West Roxbury and Roslindale Street Railway Company, 418, 419 West school district, 343, 344, 349, 350, 366 West school-house, 343, 347, 349. Teachers, 362-364 Westcoat, John, 114 Western Railroad Corporation, 413 Western Railroad House, Boston, 447 Westminster Abbey, 434 Westmoreland, N. H., 573, 575 Weston, Thomas P., 589 Weston — Westown, 22, 34, 56, 58, 62, 80, 83-85, 89, 98, 100, 132, 133, 134, 148, 150, 220, 224, 235, 259, 264, 430, 431, 562, 569, 585. Its "Vital Records," 132. Methodist Society, 262. Baptist Church, 307. South graveyard, 260 "Westown Farm, The," 260 Westwood, 9 Weymouth, 371 Wheat — Wheet, Joshua, 49, 560, 568 Wheaton, Caleb, 25, 121. Comfort, 436. Elizabeth, 25. Jesse, 570. Laben, 190 Wheeler, B. T., 119. Rev. John E., 292. Samuel S., 493 Whetton, John J., 543, 544 Whig Party, 170 Whitaker, Mr., 423. Arthur, 97, 313, 400, 625, 655, 664. Mrs. Arthur, 603, 625. Channing, 611. Edgar K.,40, 102, 104, 250-252, 316, 317, 352, 413, 414, 490, 518, 602, 603, 608, 610, 645, 646, 648, 666. Rev. Jonathan, 246. Thomas, 359 Whitcomb — Whetcomb, Colonel, 151, 211 White, Barney L., 115, 380. Daniel, 474, 478, see Wight, Daniel. George, 358, (id"]. Henry H., 611. Nathan, 441. Nathan, Jr., 524. Samuel, 315. Winthrop F., 619 White Plains, N. Y., 477 Whitehall, N. C, 497, 499 White's Building, 604 Whitefield, Rev. George, 262 Whiting — Whitting, Calvin, 372. Daniel, 459. Dexter, 307. Eben- ezer, 167. Frederick A., 300. Moses, 459 Whiting family, 53 Whitman, B., 190 Whitman & Hood, 355 Whitman & Morton, 190 Whitmore, see Whittemore Whitney, Colonel, 464. Auren J., 294. Cromwell, 307. Horatio, 307. Israel, 160, 182, 309, 325, 362, 428, 453, 537, 542, 554, 555, 589, 607, 648, 653, 659, 662, 665, 691. Marianna, 541. Samuel, 463 Whittemore — Whitmore — Wittemore. Mrs., 49. Enoch, 470. Harrie S., 192, 325, 518, 658. Henry J., 346, John H., 581. Jonathan, 432, 436, 466. Jonathan, Jr., 457, 462-464, 467, 476. Joseph, 434. Mary E., 346. Nathan, 430, 431. Sarah, 50. Thomas, 434. Timothy, 470, 474, 475 Wiggins, Thomas, 307 Wigglesworth, Colonel, 469. Rev. Mr., 220 Wight, Aaron, 570. Daniel, 114, 456, 459, 468, 470, 478. Elizabeth, 6(>. Henry H., 611. Jonathan, 66. Jo- seph, 73,76. Lewis, 320. Samuel, 202, 457, 461, 466, 641. Willard A., 15, 52, 329 Wignall, Rev. William, 269 "Wigwam," 21 Wild animals and bounties, 641, 642 Wild cats, 641, 642 Wilder, Charles T., 275, 276, 281. Mary, 276. Theophilus, 464 Wildes's, Boston, 543 Wilkinson, Ebenezer, 456, 480. Ezra, 190 Willard, Rev. Elijah, 261. Rev. Fred- erick A., 252, 255, 667. Jonathan, 56. Lydia, 56. Samuel, 569 Willett, Joseph, 294. William, 295 Willgoose, Peter, 304 Williams, Archbishop, 295, 327. Rev. Mr., 303. Rev. Charles H., 275, 280. George F., 138. Henrietta, 138. John, 544. Mary, 272. Newell, 307. Silas, 273, 274, 279, INDEX 745 281. Silas G., 272, 351, 492, 525, 654, 663. Rev. William, 220, 224 Williams College, 373 Willington, Captain, 469 Willis, Lorenzo D., 383 Wills Alderidge, Samuel, 13 Ayres, Ann, 14 Fisher, John, 25 Hawes, David, 34. Joseph, 34 Huntting, Jonathan, 36 Kingsberv, Eleazer, 39. Josiah, 37, 38. Timothy, 40, 41 Rice, John, 57 Smith, Edward, 60. John, 58, 59. Jonathan, 60 Wilson — Willson, Charles, 552. Eliza- beth, 225. Enoch, 480. Ephraim, 133. Henry, 448. John, 54, 338. Joseph, 430. Mary, 616. Na- thaniel, 95, 456, 461, 464. Na- thaniel, Jr., 309. Robert, 278. Samuel, 82, 84, 223, 331. Seth, 437, 4SS. 460, 548, 651. Silas, 123 Wilson's Corner, 96 Wilson's Island, 58 Winch, Enoch B., 449. Rev. Moses, 283, 284, 290, 291, 321, 352, 666 Winchendon, 243 Winchester, Amasa, 327. Charles, 470 Windram, Harold W., 415 Wine used at communion, 240 Wing, John A., 264, 265, 270 Wingate, Uranus O. B., 573 Winship, Susan, 272 Winslow & Bigelow, 192 Winsor, Whitman S., 247 Winton, Clara L., 300 Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons, 573 Wise, Caroline E., 364 Wiswall, Augustus C, & Son, 386 WItherell, Horace G., 421 Woburn, 430 Wolcott, see Walcott Wolf bounty, ii, 45, 641 Wolf Pit, 29, 135 Wolf Pit Hill, 32, 58, 135 Wolf Pit Meadow, 135 Wolfe, General, 435 Wolves, 641 Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 605 Women voters, 176 Women's Foreign Missionary Society, 271 Women's suffrage, 593, 594 Wood, Edmund M., 32, 329, 356, 388, 389, 655. Henry, 352, 388-390 Wood's, Henry, Sons' Company, 125, 388, 390 Woodard, Harry, 379 Woodbury, Israel D., 618 Woodcock — Wodcok — Woodcocke — Woodcok, Barnabas, 66. Elijah, 617. Hannah (Mrs. Jeremiah), 67, 198. Hannah (Mrs. Michael), 6-]. Isaiah, 487. Jeremiah, 66, 6"], 71, 74, 80, 82, 84, 88, no, 180, 194, 195, 198, 217, 220, 221, 223, 225, 226, 229, 314, 316, 328, 329, 369, 456, 463, 467, 474, 487, S 13, 615, 649. Jeremiah, Jr., 198, 314, 463, 466, 640, 683. John, 48, 55, 57, 66, 71, 173, 431, 678. Margret, 319, Mary, 224. Michael, 6G, 67. Na- thaniel, 67. Samuel, 66, 458. 467. Sarah, 13. Mrs. Sarah, 66. Timothy, 589 Woodcock family, 45, 66, 67 Woodlawn Cemetery, Maiden, 510 Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley, 320, 326, 327, 568 Woods, Harriette N., 628. Rev. Leon- ard, 628 Woodward, Mr., 165. Benoni, 196, 200, 229, 649, 658, 660. Frederic N., 137. Josiah, 85, 89, 90, 123, 435,548. Peter, 368. Royal, 566. Rev. Samuel, 235 Woolen gloves made, 408, 409 Woolen goods made, 408, 409 Woolen rolls made, 399 Woonsocket, 421 Woonsocket Division, 421, 422 Worcester, 14, 160, 370, 549 Worcester & Central Turnpike, 98, 99 Worcester County, 336 Word, Rev. Mr., 234 Working Men's Society, 606, 607 Worsted goods made, 408, 409 Worsted mitts made, 408 Wragg, George E., 674. William, 621, 631, 647, 673 Wrapping paper made, 391 Wrentham, 48, 64, 66, 555 Wright, Francis, 386, 387. Francis, & Co., 387. George, 341. Rev. John E. M., 285, 292 746 INDEX Wright & Ditson, 408 Wye, George E., 400, 401, 510. George E., Company, 401. Henry, 510. John, 510. John J., 401, 510. John T., 400, 401, 510, 627. Jo- seph, 510. Joseph A., 510. Thomas, 510. Thomas E., 509. William, 510. William H., 400, 510. William H., Jr., 400 Wye Brothers, 400 Wye family, 510 Wyman, Mrs., 205. William, 620, see Burrill, Francis A. VT'ARN made, 398, 404 •* Yerxa, Frank W., 425 "York", 467 Young Men's Christian Association, County Secretary, 267. Cricket Club, 267. HIghlandville, 595, .596 Young People's League, 267 Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, 267 Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 605 'VETOR, Elizabeth, 565 ^-' Zirngiebel, Denys, 400 APR 19 1912 Pli LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 079 208 1 «