JULY 4th, 18 90. ZSOTH 7\NN1\7ERs7xRq OF THE Firsf Wbife Sefflemenf wifbin ‘the: Terrifom of WINCHESTER. “A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.” MACAULAY: ffzlctary cg/' Ezzglamz’. CHARLBSTOYXZN . . . . . . 1633. WATERFIELD _ . . . . . . 1533. CHARLESTOXXZN VILLAGE, . . . . 1640. WOBURN . . . . . . 4 . 1642. WINCHESTER . . . . ‘ . . 1350, PREFACE. I1‘ is difficult to reduce, Within the limits of the following‘ article, the interesting and abiindant data collected by the active amid l1onorzLry men1be1's of the Winchester Historical Society, co11ce1-1'1i11.g the history of Winchester. Many historical events, an account of Which would be app1'o1.:>1'iate to at complete history, are of necessity omitted or but slightly touched upon. It is hoped that the intention of the Historical Society may soon be carried out, and £1. history of Wi11cl1este1' written in a more interesting d.11Cl comprehensive n;1m111er than is possible in this sketch. Thanks are due to Mr. VV. R. OL1tte1~c>f VVobu1-n for a,ssista.nce in the prepar:?Ltion of this article. Much Valuable nm,tter furnished by him, but omitted for want of space, :ma,y appear in the inore perma,ne11t publication znlluded to." ARTHUR E. VVHITNEY. GEORGE S. LITTLEFIELD. 1! Historical Sketch of (Dincbesier. O-DAY, VVinohester celebrates the 250th anniversary of the first white settlement Within her borders, Two centuries and a half ago the territory now embraced in VVinchester was a wild, unsettled part of Charlestown, called VVaterfield. It was a . part ot the original territory granted to Charlestown by the General Court i11 1633 and defined in 1636 as extending “eight miles into the Country from their meeting house.” May 13, 1640, the General Court granted Charlestown 4‘ two miles at their head line, provided they build within two years; ” Oct. 7, 1640, they also voted: “ Charles Towne petition is granted them, the proportion of four mile square, with their former graunt to make or village.” (Massachusetts Colony Records.) A These last additions to Charlestown’s original grant extended much beyond th present northerly line of the eight mile limit or “ Waterfield ” and embraced the ter- ritory of the present City of Woburii and the towns of Burlington C‘ Shaw Shin ”) and Wilmiiigtoii C‘ The Land of Nod”). The wild lands of Waterfield (1633) included only the territory along the banks of our Aberjona River from Mystic Pond to the land of John Harvard (VVinchester Highlands), and the territory bordering on Horn Pond and Horn Pond River; as its name implies, it was a water- field. It was surveyed and allotted to the inhabitants of Charlestown previous to 1638. (See Charlestown Book of Possessions.) By this record, supplemented by a map of Waterfield, drawn by the late George Cooke (Wii1cl1este1' Record, Vol; II., No. 2), Winchester can define and locate her land owners of 1638. They included such men as Edward Converse, Edward Johnson, Increase Nowell, Zacha- riah Symmes, John Harvard, Thomas Graves, Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richard- son, Williain Frothingham, George Bunker, and many others whose connection with our early history we are proud to ackiiowledge. It is evident from both the Charlestown and Massachusetts Colony Records that it was the intention of Charlestown to allot the newly acquired territory to her own citizens and to establish a village near the site of Wate1*fielcl,. hence our second name “ Charlestown Village.” ’ 5 6 Nov. 4, 16410, a committee of thirteen was chosen by the town to “ set the bounds between Charlestown and the village and to appoint a place for the village.” It seems that the committee did not agree in their decision, as the VVoburn Records subsequently state that “it was in part assented to and part denyec .” It appears also, that after securing the grant of new land a project developed among the leaders of the Charlestown church to establish a new church and a new town. Hence on Nov. 4, the 072/m'c,Zi (not the inhabitants) of Charlestown, of which Rev. Zachariah Symmes, the ancestor of the Symmes family in VVinchester, was pastor, chose a committee of seven, Edward Converse, Edward Johnson, Ezekiel Richardson, John Mousall, Thomas Graves, Samuel Richardson, and Thomas {ichardson as com- missioners for the erection of a new church and town, where a » “ village ” had been originally designed within the limits of Charlestown. (Charlestown Records.) In the colonial days the authority of the Puritan church was equal, if not superior, to the civil authority; thus it was through the instrumentality of the c/e.m'ck, not the ‘town, of Charlestown that our territory, first VVaterfield, then Charlestown Village, was finally annexed to W<:)l>L11'11 in 1642. Though the church appointed the commis- sioners above referred to, yet when a large number came forward to join the new town, the church became afraid that Charlestown would become “depopulated.” She therefore discountenanced the enterprise and watched all who were in favor of it with a “jealous eye.” Subsequently the commissioners seem to have overcome the opposition of the church or to have out—voted the opponents of the new departure, as at a church meeting held Dec. 3, 1640, it was voted “full power is given to Edward Converse and Company to go on with the work.” It does not appear that the town government opposed the ‘church commissioners, though the General Court did not incorporate VVoburn into a separate town till Oct. 6, 1642. The act is a model of brevity: “ Charlestowne Village is called VVooburne.” (Massachusetts Colony Records, Vol. II.) Notwithstanding the passing of this act, the bounds between the two towns were not definitely fixed till Dec. 16, 1650, when Charlestown tardily acceded to the repeated solicitations of VVoburn, and a joint committee settled the bounds. This dilatory action of Charlestown seemed to show they were not anxious to divide their town, and explains descriptions of some of the Charlestown farms : “ Situate in "Woburne in Charlestowne bounds.” (Page 27, Charlestowne Book of Possessions ; John Green, Recorder, 16415.) The southerly line of Wolourn as laid out by the joint committee followed the present line of our Church St., from Cambridge St. to the High School house, thence in a straightline to near the Black Horse Tavern into the “ Common,” or woods. The record reads as follows : “- This first wee agree upon: That the Line of devision bettweene the two Townes shall runne from Cambridge Line by ye Northwest end of Mr. N owell’s Lott and so all along bettweene Mr. Sims’s Ffarme and Edward 7 Convers’s Ffarme untill it come to the East side of them adjoyneing to Charlestowne Common.” i From this description it can be seen that much of the present territory of Wirichester, excluding all south of Rangely and Black Horse Hill, was a part of VVoburn from this date until 1850, and the union was most happy and prosperous. Having traced. the transfer of our territory from ancient Charlestown to VVoburn, let us consider the state of the country about the time of the transfer. Think, for a moment, that in 1635-40 this territory was considered by the people of the sea—coast settlements as a 4“ remote land,” with which they were little acquainted, and peopled in their imagination with wild beasts and possibly still wilder men. In reality it was a scraggy wilderness, difiicult of penetration. Edward Johnson, one of the early explorers, says in his contemporary description of it, that it was a “ watery swamp ” difficult to travel through, the country being covered with an “unknown woods.” Sometimes the explorers in their work passed through thickets where their hands were forced to make way for the passage of their bodies, at times their feet clambering over the crossed trees, that had fallen, on which, if they missed their foothold, down their feet sank into an uncertain bottom of water, where they would wade up to their knees, tumbling, sometimes higher and sometimes lower, till wearied with this toil they would seek a place of rest, but instead thereof, as the end of this trial came near, they would meet with a scorching plain, where their difficulties were increased, the ragged bushes there scratching the legs of the adventurers foully, even wearing the stockings on the limbs of the men through to the bare skin in the space of a short time, and if not otherwise well defended with boots or buskins, their flesh would be torn; some not amply well provided with such guards have had the blood trickle down at every step. 011 the plain, -besides, the sun cast at that time such a reflecting heat from such plants as the sweet fern, whose scent was very strong, that some of the party from that cause were near fainting, being unable to bear the odor which so severely oppressed them, though, in other respects, they had “very able bodies to endure much travel.” Further, they were ignorant of their path, and were at times out of sight of the sun, and were bewildered too by their compass miscarrying in crowding through the bushes. The Indians, fortunately, were not so formidable in this section as their imagination pictured. At this early period the white settlers were some» times obliged to burrow themselves in the earth under some hillside for their first shelter. To improve this habitation they would cast the earth aloft upon timber, and the short showers were warded off from the summit of their lodgings, but the long rains penetrated through. Johnson says the people were cheerful in these humble habitations. “ Every one who could lift a hoe to strike it into the earth aided in raising the first crop; but they had to stand stoutly to their labors and tear 8 up the roots and bushes which abounded, the first year bearing them in useful vegetables a very thin crop,” — so thin, indeed, “- that they were forced to cut their bread very thin for a long season.” As a help they lived upon fish which abounded in the streams ; and they were helped much by raising Indian corn, which they prepared after the manner of the Indians. As for meat they “looked not for any in those times; ” unless they could barter with the Indians for venison or raccoons, whose flesh was considered not much inferior to lamb. One thing they had learned, in the words of Johnson, that the “ toil of a new plantation ” was “ like the labors of Hercules, never at an enc .” The first record we have relating especially to this unexplored country was in 1635, when “ Edward Converse, Williain Brackenbur , and Mr. Abraham Palmer were desired to go up into the country upon discovery three or four days, for which they were to be satisfied at the charge of the town.” (Charlestown Records.) Edward Converse, the staunch Puritan, was the leader in this and subsequent explor- ations. He was one of VVinthrop’s company and an inhabitant of Charlestown as early as 1630, and one of the selectmen from 1635 to 1640. He established the first ferry between Charlestown and Boston on the site of the present Charles River Bridge, paying £40 per year rental to the Colony for the franchise. He might be called the father of VVinchester, as, in 1640, he built a11d occupied the first house, on the site of the present Thompson estate next to the Post Office. He also established the first “ cornne mill” on the site of the present Wliitiiey mills previous to 1649, probably in 1641. This was the first business establishment in VVinchester. At VVoburn he was a selectman for 19 years, from 1644, when the first town officers were chosen. He was a deacon in the church from 1642 till his death in 1663, and represented the town at the General Court. For many years he was one of three commissioners “ for ending small causes.” (Trial justice.) All the facts show that Converse was from his arrival on the shores of Massachusetts an influential man in all enterprises which favored the extension and good government of the first settlements. An interesting episode in the life of Edward Converse, displaying his indepen- dent and patriotic character, was his arrest for refusal to promulgate the King’s letter in 1662. This missive asserted the King’s supreme authority over the colonies, cur- tailing the liberties which the early settlers had hitherto enjoyed unmolested. Edward Converse was one of the most outspoken of the patriots and denounced the letter as an embodiment of Popery. He was summoned before the General Court in 1663 but was acquitted, as that body was composed of delegates fully sympathizing with the same views but not so outspoken. We have seen that the peninsula which was called by the Indians, Mishawum--- an eminently descriptive cognomen in their dialect—and which is known to us to-day as “ Charlestown,” was the site of the original settlement of that municipality. $7) To this 1111e1e11s., t1f'€LC1‘1tS of te1.'11'it01'y 111 the i11te1'ic>1' were a1c1ded., till t11e z11‘e211 of 111111137 p1'ese11t towns Wee e0Ve1:ed., the 11z111'111e 2111111 j1111-is(11ieti011 of C1;1z11'1estoW111 0Ve:1‘s11z1c1mVi11g 3111. .3ut the 1f)I'(T)(3eSS of (1.1ei11t1eg'1'z1ti<:1111 .$1OC1)1'1. 1;)egz11’11. '_11‘111e<11>1(i1t0'w11 of VV0bu1"11 W315 t11e%fi1'et to he set off 111 11:342. C111.iL1‘1€;*St('_")\V11, at 1e1:1gt1*1 e11c.>1-111 of this 211111 0the;1: eXte1*11z11. te1'1'itc_>1‘y, 1'1z1e e1e11‘111‘1ke11 219311111 to lees t11z1.11 h1e1‘ 01'igi11z11 1i111its, a,11<:1 111 the eoungse of time 1121.5 even lmst 11e1'1_1:11111e., ei111{‘i111g' her z111eie11t c1ig1'1ity :>11'1<;1 i(11e11t1ity:1111 that of hel" still y0'11111.g"c11' si.et1e1' ctiety z1111<1.1 '1111eig'1"111:‘1<1“>1'~——— B0stm'1. . ” ' 1 ’.1 ‘ ,r'- a 1- I ‘fly 3 -'«;5| 1'‘ "' v .1: 1:~ - . —~+~—11--.1. 1, 1 ‘ -1 1 1.»; :1 M '“ ‘. -.' ‘ ":11 ‘'.’»11 , 11 1 _ , I, . 1 1,: ‘ .5‘ 5’. u‘ ' r‘ ‘ 1 1 .1 :1 _1. "“lc7‘ . 9 9.: ‘- - " '-'-'r 1. . " - II ' "" '1' U :01 '2 " " V 4 1...... . ~ , . ~ 1 In a" W‘ 5‘ - . . ,. 1 .-' 4 , -_ 3’ ,' L 1. ,«'- ‘ ‘ u 1,1\". ’ 1f\~_§‘_ .5111-1 1 A 11 14!: 1 1,111 ‘P ' ' M11‘ yr;“'i«".11",»,'r. . I 11.‘. ;. 1' -it -‘)’M5;‘v 1'! kn .‘ 111.1111 am 1114,‘ x 1: '1 .1 1 "111 '11.‘1'11:.111 - ~' “1 /1* 1 I.‘ "1 ' .1‘ ‘ H -1‘. W -4' ,» 1 t ‘,1 11 11 11111111111321 ,1: My - M H'}11|1,;).‘,1‘: 1“ :14f:,1_-'111,~41;r1.11111 12,111. 1 1 1 A 111.11.. I, . -. ,-1 g {f~;‘ (1I11(j’>NV']£I*:9‘1E 11<">1r;<:11:, 1«:1'1,1‘«:<:'.'1‘11~:11 1640. Posterity owees 21 g'11'ea,t debt t('j1) the pe11-sever-2111c:e of the first eeeec1e1*s f1~o111 C11'1z111'1eet<:1\v1111, especially to Ec11wa11'(1 C(')11V'G1'.S(i‘., the fi1'St settler in VVz11te1'fie1(.1. The si1e11ee z*111(1 e1it11de <11 this f(‘)1'@St 1.'11?(:1ec1 at g1'ea,t eo11t1'z1st to him f1'e111 t11e s111'1'o1.11e1c1i111gs he 1121d e1'1joye<_1 111 E11g1211:1d, a.11.<;1 tlmse he 1'.1fl1(;1 just left be11i11c1 111 the eo111pa.et ‘::111<;1 e<11111pz11-zttively active 1ri1121ge<1:f C1.1£'LI'16St0\V11. G1'ad112111y, 11'l(‘)VV€V€I', the W11(;181;'1‘l6SS beea,111e 2t fe1.'t111e1a1111<:1. The wild beztets were sez1tte1*ed, z111c1 plenty and eo111fo1°t z1,ho1111c1ec1. 1 1 Let me new eo11si<;1e1' the 111z1t111’a,1 fez1tu1'es of VVz1.terfie1c1, a1111c1 the localities Well 1{1]OW11 to the ea.1*1y eet1t1e1's. '1‘11ese were 1VI1istiek Poml, Spot Po11c1, H01-11 Po11c1, 10 Horn Pond River, Horn Pond Mountain, the Aberjona River, Rag Rock, and Cheese Rock, all of which are now known by the same names, and appear on very early maps, even before the settlement of VVoburn. And so appear VVinter Pond, and Wedge Pond, but not so distinctly defined. Mistick Pond in early times was considered to be sixty fathoms (360 feet) deep, and its neighbor, Fresh Pond, in Cambridge, to be forty fathoms deep. How much this depth may be overstated, those who manage the municipal water--works at those places best know. The fathers evidently believed them to be ponds of very deep water, and at that time they were stocked with myriads of fish, and people came long distances from Charlestown, Boston, and Cambridge, to catch them for food, and for manure for their lands. The highway from V.Voburn to Mistick Bridge (Medford) passed through the centre of the present town of Wi11cl1este1°, and there is extant a report of the laying out of this way in 1660. It had, however, existed as a highway as early even as 1646, and evidently as early as the building of the first house upon it in 1640. It was described in part as the highway from “ Woburn meeting—house ” to “ Edward Converse’s mill,” and the “parting of the ways of the Converses and Richardsons, to their now dwellino‘—houses ” is mentioned. Throucrh Winchester it ran 4‘ aloncr u on 2:: t3 b a brow ” until it came to a bridge “made at a place called Half—Way Swamp.” The bounds were “ marked trees” on one or both sides, or in the middle of the way. The “ mill—pond ” and “ corne mill” of Edward Converse are mentioned in connection with this highway, also an “ enclosure ” belonging to him, and his “ old orchard ” and the “ mill—dam.” The whole way was practically a forest path. Let us now refer to the Woburn Town Records for some of the facts referring to the work of the early settlers. These records are dated 1640, although it C has been seen that Wobtirn was not incorporated until 1642, the first town officers chosen in 1644, and the bounds established in 1650. It is now believed by the best authorities that these early records are made up of original, private memoranda of events, written by Edward Johnson, the first town clerk of Woburn (1644) and transferred to the town books at a later date. It will be noticed that they are written in the past tense, not the present. They are certainly the most complete and interesting record of early local history, possessed by any city or town. Winchester should gladly contribute her proportionate share, to preserve and publish these records. a On February 10, 1640 (O. S.), “ The first bridge was laid over the Aberjona River over against Edward Convers’ house, and called Could Bridg.” The site of this bridge was at the present centre of Wi11cheste1*, on the spot where the bridge now stands, near Whitney’s Mill Dam. It was called Cold Bridge, probably because it was made in mid-winter, during severe weather. This spot was also called below the bridge “ The King’s Ford.” A few days later forty persons came 11 from Charlestown to the place where the village was to be located. These persons spent their time in marking trees and laying bridges, say the records, but the diffi- culties before them appeared so great and “ the way being so plain backward, that divers never went forward again! ” It is further recorded “On the 25 of 6 mo. 1641. Things going heavily on and many Blocks in the way especially sum of their own company disheartening, this day was sett apart for humble seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer whom they found gratious in keeping upp the spirits of sum to the work.” By the next entry (the next day) it seems that those whose “spirits” were kept 4‘ up to the work” engaged in an arduous undertaking: “26 of 6 mo. 1641: A Bridg was made across Horn Pond River; though the place was soe boggy it swallowed up much wood before it could be made pasable, yet it was finished and called Longe Bridg.” The location of this bridge was, beyond doubt, on the ancient highway from VVoburn to the Converse Mill, in the rear of the present house of Mr. Sullivan Cutter, in VVinchester. This is proved beyond controversy by the results of recent research, by Mr. Arthur E. Whitney, Mr. W. R. Cutter, and others. (See Winchester Record, Vol. II., N o. 8.) Later than the date last mentioned (1652), Edward Johnson, the author of “ The Wonder‘ WOPl{l11g Providence,” writes that “the situation of the town of Woburii was in the highest part of the yet peopled land” and “full of pleasant springs and a great variety of very good water.” The abundance of water, he remarks, “ the summer’s heat causeth to be more cooler, and the winter’s cold maketh more warmer.” The meadows were not large, “ but lie in divers places to particular dwellings 3 ” the same “ doth their springs.” There was no great quantity of “plain land” in any one place, and the land was very fruitful in many places, and the rocks and swamps yielded ‘-4 very good food for cattle.” The people, says Johnson, were “ very jaborious ——if not exceeding,--— some of them.” Not much is known about the building of the first house. It was built during the year 1640, and on January 4, 1640 (O. 8.), a meeting of the settlers was held in it. Its location was near the site of the house of the late Deacon Benjamin F. Thompson on Main Street, "Winchester. It was on the easterly side of the road, and between the road and the river. His mill was on the opposite side of the read, now Whitney’s mill. In 1702 this house was overshadowed by a large and shady elm, standing on the same side of the road with the house, and immediately in front of it, as is common with ancestral shade-trees. The tree was cut down about 1841. Sewall speaks of this tree in his diary (1702). After the Converse occupation of this house for several generations, Abel Richardson, in 1774, became the owner of it, probably the same house built, owned, and occupied by the original Edward Converse. Abel Richardson, a soldier of the French and Revolutionary 12 wars, died here at great age, in 1881, and in a few years his estate was sold. There is a description ezxttant of this house as it appeared in 1798, and a picture of the same accompanies this sketch. It was thirty—five feet by thirty; area 1,050 square feet. There were nineteen windows and one l1L1.1ll.(Il.l'(i‘,Cl and fifty-five square feet of glass. The house was two stories in front and one in the rear. VVith the land only on which it stood, it was valued at six hundred and fifty dollars. The other buildings connected with the estate were an old woo<_l—house, a chaise-house, a barn, and a grist-mill. By 18-11 the old house had disappeared, and it must, therefore, have stood about two hundred years. After the Boston and Lowell railroad was opened through South \Voburn, now Wincliester, in 1835, a village soon grew up. The inhabitants were mainly farmers, and there were a few mills on the larger streams. In 1850 the village was incorpo- rated the town of "Winchester ; a11d from that time the growth. has been co1r'istant, owing to favorable railroad facilities and superior natural attractions ; and to-day it is widely known for its fine residences, its cultured and wealthy citizens, and the ele- vating influence of its institutions. A few other matters which have a particular relation to VVinchester territory are here alluded to, as of especial interest on this occasion. There is in the first volume of the VVoburn town records a description of estates near the centre of VVinchester, of date‘, 1692 to 1699. These lands belonged to the Converses and there is a description of other lands located in this part of W'oburn of date also as early as the year 1678. VVe are*unable to particularize here ; but the familiar names of Horn Poiicl Hill, Horn Pond, VVinter Pond, W'edge Pond, the Aberjona River, Blind Bridge, and Indian Hill are there mentioned. VVaterfield, Rctickfielcl, Cold Bridge, Long Bridge, and Elbow Hill have not retained their original. names. Would it not be well to revive some of these in the future naming of public places? Blind Bridge, first named Long l*31-idge, had a greater vitality as a name than some of the above mentioned, and is familiar to the oldest citizens. :i.i‘lgc Hill (near the site of the Unitarian Church) was the evident successor of Elbow Hill, and is remembered by persons now living, though the height itself has been levelled. Indian Hill, now Andrews’ Hill, is mentioned in a deed of 1650, and this name appears in Edward Converse’s inventory of 1668. Our “common” is mentioned in Edward Converse’s will, 1659, and he expresses therein a wish for its continuance as such. Ridge Hill is mentioned in the inventory of a descendant of Edward Converse in 1767, and Wedge Pond Hill is another name common at this time. 1 The celebrated resemvczti2'on, for the Indians was situated on the western shore of Mystic Pond, where the remnants of the tribes could plant and hunt without molestation; the wear above the ponds (nearly opposite the" Everett estate) being reserved for the Indians to fish at while their queen lived. She died about 1662, drowning herself, it is seictl, in the waiters of £1. brook, still l1>ez11'i1o'1g the 11;:1111e, “ I11clie11 Brook,” Wliioh flows into l\/lystio Pond a. few rods from the present ‘Winchester and Arlington line, near the lhviglit estate. _In VVinel1ester limits also were the f€L1‘11'1S of Johii Hen-v::-1.1'(;l, the minister from whom lrl211'va.1'cl College was 11zt111ed, 211.111 of '.l‘l1o1nz1s (}1'z1ves, rnaster of the 1‘i1-st ship built in Boston, and z1fte1'We1o'cls 1.‘(3£Ll'~z‘L(l]I1'1l1['2Il under Croinwell. Here were the lots of the nuinerous 211111 lo11g-lived fa,1.111ily of the Riel‘1z11'dso1.s1s, of the Converses, Carters, Gz1.rd11ers, Johiisons, Syinnies, Nowells, ziuid others. The R-232297“ is 1nen- tioned in the early Cliatrlestoxvii g1-zznits of 1688; it is eellecl The AZ>er2e;7'0m1: in 1611. In 1670, the t1.'.-mgie clezttlri of Samuel C‘o1.1ve1‘se, the so11 of Edwzu-d, oeoiirred at the old Converse mill, from 2111 i11j1;11'y ea.used by the Watei-—\vl1eel. (See ‘ VVi11ehester Record, Vol. II., No. 1.) This S1‘111111el Coiiverse left one son, who xves the zuioestor of tl1e ll?-Ion. Ecli\va.r<;l S. Converse, of Mel<;le1;1, eoiispieuous for his noble zmcl cl1z1rit:»1.ble deeds. . Wi11el11este1*z1lso was the scene, on April 10, 1676, during Kiiig Phi1ip’s ‘WEL13 of 21 triple inurder pe1petr£1te(:l by Indiztns. A bzmd of l11<:lie11s entered the house of Seinuel Rl(‘3l1fl11.'(.l.‘5O1'1 (VV:1sl1i1i1gt<:>11 $treet, 116&'L1' P1-i11oe AVe11ue,), while he ericl his son were at work hi the fields, killecl and seztlped his wife I“.T.‘£t111)2':tl.l1., 21nd his son Tl1o1nes. The nurse seized the bztbe l;“:li1i1ll’.1.1T1‘¢'tl”l., :;1.11d fled to the gn1*1'iso1‘1 house (11.ezl-11° the present Joseph Stone estztte). To save her own life she dropped the babe, whom the liicilizms killed. The sztveges Were pursued by Mr. Rlcllfl-1'ClS(')1i1 z111cl :1 pztrty of neiglibors, z1.11do1"1e was shot 11ez1;r 21. rock on the West side of tlie preseiit }lig~l1lsncl Reservoir; the rest were pursued to l.1y111_l1'lield, but eseepecl the punish- ment due them. Aniorig the n1ilita.ry heroes of the COlO111fl.l period, living in the limits of W111- ohester, were the followiiig : +- 1. John C£L1't(“.1‘, lztptztiii. Died 1692, z1g'ecl76. His house was on the site of the present Andrews estate. He wires eiiisign of the t1-ai11~ba.11(l in VVoburn, 1651 to 1661; lie11te11a.1:1t, 1664 to 1672 ; zmcl oepteiii of the Woburn Military Co111pe.11y, from 1672 to 1692. His period of oiiioe as eo1n1na.11der of the Town Military Company covered the period of .l{i1.i1g Philip’s W211-, 1675-76. In the Ge111era.l Court Records is this entry: “ Upon 21 niotion in belnilf of VVoburn Co1npa11_y, it is ordered, tha.t Lieut. Jolin Cz11éte1' be oeptztiiii, VVillie111 J oh11so11, lieutenant; zuicl T Jeines Converse, eiisigiig to the foot eo1i11pz111y~tl1e1'e ” —-1672. The oflioe1's thus 11a.111ed Were all V\7i11eli1ester resideiits. 2. Willieiii Joli1nson., Major. Died 1704, z1ge(il 7-1. E]1S1g1’1 of the VVol:)111-11 Militmy Coiiipzmy, 16641 to 1672; lieutenant, 1672 to 1688; ozipteiii, 1690 to 1691 ; inejor, 1692 to 1704. He was one of tlie court of essistzuits of the eolony, zmd no citizen of the town in his time ettztiiiecl to higher oivie ofliee. On the ni,g'ht of 14 August 28, 1695, he was in active service with three hundred men under arms, at Billerica, in an endeavor to discover a body of the Indians in force; the savage enemy having killed and captured some fifteen persons at Billerica several days before. He lived at the West Side near the Luke Reed estate. 7 3. James Converse, Lieutenant. Died 1715, aged 95,--— the last survivor of the signers of the Woburn town orders of 1640. He was a sergeant, 1658 to 167 E2 ; ensign, 1672 to 1688; and lieutenant, his highest military ofice, 1688 to 1715. He lived and died in a house built by Edward Converse, his father, on the site of the present Dodge House on Church Street. 4. James Converse,-— son of the preceding,———— Major. Died 1706, aged 61. Sergeant, 1674 to 1687 ; ensign, 1689; captain, 1689 to 1692; major, 1698 to 1706 ; he was a captain in the public service for three years in the war against the Eastern Indians in New Hampshire and Maine. With a very small force he defended Storer-’s Garrison at VVells, with slight loss, against a much superior force of French and Indians, withstanding a siege of several days. This memorable action occurred in 1692. Cotton Mather immortalized it in his great history of New England, and Converse, for his gallant conduct and bravery, was made a major in 1693. He was associated at one time in his Eastern career with the celebrated Colonel Benjamin Church, and succeeded Church as commander of the Massachusetts forces in Maine, operating against the Indians and French. His house was the one occupied by his father, before referred to. He married the daughter of Capt. John Carter. 5. Samuel Converse, Sergeant, 1669. Accidentally killed at his father’s mill 1669-70. _ Afew interesting military events of the period are as follows: In 1691, the selectmen of VVoburn appointed 44 Lieut. James Converse and Sergt. Matthew Johnson to seek out to procure a supply of ammunition, according to law, for the town.” This was in response to an order from the higher powers, and a desire to avoid the imputation of negligence, --—-for in 1680, the town, failing to observe strictly the law regarding ammunition, had been fined, and this fine was remitted on the petition of Lieut. William Johnson and James Converse, and the promise to be “more observant ” in the future. On Sept. 5, 17 24, an engagement with the Indians occurred at Dunstable, in which three Woburn men were killed. One of these certainly was a Winchester resident: ——-—Benjamin Carter, who, according to the inscription on his old gravestone at Dunstable, was “aged 28 years.” The English were beaten in this attack, and it is related that the men of Carter’s family, when they heard of the manner of his death, cast contemptuous phrases upon it, saying, 4‘ they would not be such boys as to be killed by the Indians I ” It is also related that the last seen of s Benjamin Carter, by his family, when he set out on this fatal expedition, was when 15 he rode down Indian, now Andrews’ Hill, being mounted on horseback, through the crooked path near the junction of Cambridge and Church Streets. His father was Lieut. John Carter, son of Capt. John Carter. Some of the military men of this locality, before the American Revolution, were Josiah Converse, captain, 1706 to 1717 ; Robert Converse, captain, 1726 to 1736; Samuel Carter, captain of cavalry, commissioned 1744 (died 1787, aged 92 years) ; Samuel Belknap, Senior, captain and lieutenant, 1748 to 1752; J abez Carter, captain and lieutenant, 1748 to 1771 ; Ebenezer Converse, captain and lieu- tenant, 1753 to 1764; John Carter, lieutenant, 1700 to 1727; VVilliam Belknap, lieutenant, 1762 to 1767; Josiah Converse, ensign, 1714 to 1726 (died 1748); Daniel Reed, ensign, 1747 to 1755. Samuel Belknap, a captain and patriot of the Revolution, lived on the present James Russell estate. Bill Russell, a Revolutionary pensioner, was a lieutenant- colonel of cavalry in the militia of 1807. Samuel B. Wl1ltG was a lieutenant—colonel of militia in 1839. Francis Johnson was a major of militia in 1807. We have not the space to enumerate privates or officers of a lower rank. _ ‘ Much more could be written concerning the early history of VVinches'ter, did space admit, but some idea of the importance and ancient character of the hostelry known as the Black Horse Tavern, should be mentioned. This house at one time gave a name to the vil1age,-—-it bein called Black Horse Village. As long ago as the year 1761, Giles Alexander sold it to Noah Wy111a11, it having been licensed before that time for an inn or tavern, and Wyrnaii continued to keep it. Noah Rich- ardson owned and kept it in 1774. During the Revolution it was an important rendezvous for the patriots. It was also at that time on an important stage route from Boston to Portsmouth. In 1792, it was described as on the upper route to Casco Bay in Maine. In 1813, the high-«sounding name of the route from “ Boston to Montreal” was applied to this road, and in the following year the route “ to Montreal and Quebec I ” c 1 In 1814, on a Sunday evening, Stephen Swan returned home from Dorchester Heights with the company of light infantry of which he was a member, which put up at Black Horse Tavern. The company had been absent on that service seven weeks, guarding the heights on account of the war. Soon afterward, the great and impor- tant news of peace was received at this tavern, travelling to Boston from New York in 32 hours,-—-242 miles I Slower times than these! ! From 1834 to 1836 "Winchester, near the crossing of the Boston and Lowell Railroad at Main Street—-«ancient as the first settlement of the region-———was called the “ VVoburn Gates,” because gates were closed when trains were passing. The original scheme of the railway connecting Boston and Lowell did not contemplate any provi- sion for business at this place, and no depot was built. Passengers had to Walk to 1 (ll VValnut Hill and pay $1 fare to l:%<:>st<:m.. The building‘ first used as a station was a small sl1oen;1aker’s shop, about 10 by 15, which answered every purpose, till the in.c1'ease of the Village rendered a larger building necessary. This depot was opposite Lyceum Hall; a second and third lluilding were erected here, each larg;er than its predecessor. In 1872, after bitter opposition, the depot site was fixed at the present location. F01‘ two years after the ope1.1i1'1g of the railroad, few clianges were observed. But there was a man whose eagle eye saw the zt(”lVrei1:1t2Lgg'es of $(':>11tl‘1 VVoburn for business and the probability of the founding of a new town. This was Samuel Steele l*{icl1ar(:lson, a large inainifacturer of shoes in W'oburn, and then consirtlered a rich man. , He was born in VVoburn, July 19, 1806, son of Calvin and Sarah. The family were residents of l7%.icl1z?L1'clsc>11.’s Row, now embraced in VVinchester. He was active in whatever he 1111Cl€31'tC)Ol{. His Inanner was inspiring, and he gave life and Vigo1' to all his uncle1ftals:i171gs. He possessed some peculiarities. For instance : “ From l’o1‘tla.11<_l to New Orleans he would travel often in aclvance of rail1"oads and steamboats, with his coat under his arm, a shoe in his hand, and a Clf1fl.1".l.g’€3 of linen in. liis pocket ; never waiting for anyone, yet always behind in startin.g'. Once, on the Mississippi River, he was left at Memphis, but before the boat got to the next lz‘1.11cli1t1g' he was there, ready to spring aboard on its arrival.” He was a man, writes one who well knew hiin, “propelled by a mind intensely nervous and surpassingly active.” VVhen he went to South lVoburn in 1836, it we s “ a small place with a blacksinitli and wl.:1eelwrig-ht shop, a11d a little g1'oce1*y store; Gutter’s mill was g'1'i11Lli11g; corn and l.)eg-.i1.‘1_1a1li11g to saw niahogany. The old Abel RlCfl1é"L1‘(l.’i4(‘I)1’l. mill was tli1.'1 over with age, the roof falling in, and the rnillstones sunk in the stream below. The cars had been. run- ning'_ two years.” (Sketch of S. S. Richardson, by Natl.raniel A. l*{icl1an~<_lsc>1‘1, in VVoburn .f0u.m2.aZ, Dec. 17, 1886.) , He obtained possession of the ancient (;3<;>11»ve1'se mill site, and of a 1z1.1'g'e tract of land adjoiiiiiig it, and repaired or entirely rebuilt the old 1nil.1 and built several dwelling-houses, and a slice factory, where the Lyceum Hall alterwards stood. He also purclrased the Black Horse tavern and fa.r1n. W In 1887, however, liaving speculated in eastern lands too extensively, he became . financially embarrassed, and the interests of the new village suffered. His place, however, was taken by a man of still greater fina1.1cia1 ability, and one of the most el"ficie11tpro1note1-s of the future prosperity and distinctive clraracter of \Vincl1ester. This was Benjamin F. Thoinpson, brother of the well—l:nown G-e11e1'al Abijali Tl1on1p- son of VVoburn, who had lived at the Centre. Lil<;e— he brother he had begun busi- ness in a small way, renioving to the South xri.lle1.ge in 1837 or 1888, to the old Converse mill. After a time he purchased land and built a tannery, now Plnlip VValdn1yer’s. In the older village at the Centre he had been a well-established in- fluence for good. His ga1'cle11 in "Woburn was a special attraction of the town. His 17 ' person and surroundings were distinguished by a refined and cultivated taste, denot- ing attention to the proprieties of a thoughtful and discriminating habit of life, and in all his business relations and transacti.ons, there was a co1'1'espo11ding‘ correctness. His Word was considered by all who knew him, as good as his bond. Such was the man who now joined his fortunes with the village of South iVVoburn, and latterly of' the town of Wl11Cl18St€I‘. The late Oliver H. Clark says of the period of 1836 to 1888, that there was but little business at that time in Wi1‘1cl“1este1‘. The streets were likewise few. Main Street, or the great road from VVoburn to Medford, was then very much as it now is. The houses also were not numerous, and in his article he attempts a description of them and of the establishments for business, the principal one being the old 1nahogany~mill, of the Messrs. Cutter. The original mill was burned in 18-11, and immediately re—built, and an important business begun. The “ Gates ” were ponderous affairs to protect travellers from cla.nger at the railroad crossing on Main Street, and were swung open and closed by the bystanders. At that time it was not uncommon for persons to travel miles to see the steam monster, as people then called the locomotive. The trains, however, were few and far between, the engines small, and the cars much like the old—fasl1ionecl stage—co-aclies, with the doors on the sides. The engineer was not protected, as now, by a cab, and the conductor and brakeman rode on the top of the cars. The speed of these trains, according to the statement of the late Eli Cooper, one of the earliest locomotive engineers on this road, was considerable, perhaps as great as many of the trains now. The proceedings on stoljiping at stations were those of the most approved English fashion of that date. They are described quite minutely in the Winchester Record, Vol. 1., Page 57, by Mr. Abijali Thompson. The early depot- masters were John Robinson, shoemaker; John Donahoe, the first to make the position a regular business; and Captain Nathan J aquith. C‘/aptaiii Jaquith combined the duties of depot—master, baggage-master, and gate—tender in one office. He was active and energetic, and besides this, started the livery business in the village. He died Feb. 16, 1875, at the advanced age of ninety—three years, ten months, and sixteen days. . A very interesting picture of the centre of South VVoburn village in 18-10 is given in a VlBW from a painting by Dr. R. U. Piper, a copy of Which is presented in the VVinchester Record, Vol. 1., Page 59. S The village vvhich had thus sprung up 4‘ just eight miles from Boston,” by ‘railroad, was given a still more positive character as an independent community by the formation of a church parish in 1840. A house of Worship was dedicated Dec. 30, 1840, and Was altered and enlarged in 1852, and destroyed by fire on March 20, 1853 3 and its successor was dedicated Oct. 11, 1851, being erected near 18 the site of the former. nBehind this edifice, in 1844, the parish established a small buryingground. This was afterwards given up, and on April 7, 1851, the town voted to choose a committee to purchase a lot for a cemetery, which was named Wildwood Cemetery. On the site of the ancient Converse mill purchased by S. S. Richardson, a new one was built in 1838—89. _ In this latter structure quite a variety of business was carried on: sash and blind making by Leonard Gilson and others; veneer sawing by Harrison Parker in 1848. This building was burned Jan. 18, 1845, and soon rebuilt. In the building burned, Amos VVhittemore built one of the first machines invented for pegging shoes. It was his invention, and attracted much attention when new. Joel Whitney occupied the first floor at this time, having removed from South Reading in 1844. This mill was owned for many years by Harrison Parker. Further along on the same street, near the junction of Washington and Main -Streets, was the blacksmith shop of Major Francis Johnson and Nathan B. Johnson. It was one of the most famous shops of the region, and much work was done in it for the Boston and Lowell railroad. . In the evenings in winter, the glowing fires were seen in full blast, and the air of enterprise about the place was inspiring and in- vigorating. The antiquity of this stand can be traced into the former century, when horses were shod here belonging to the ancient stage-coaches. jAt Symmes Corner were blacksmith and wheelwright shops, where considerable business was carried on by Marshall and John Symmes. “ The act to incorporate the town of Winchester in the year 1850, is photo- graphed, and a copy is presented in the Winchester Record, Vol. I., Page 41. The new town was taken from Woburn, Medford, and West Cambridge (now Arling- ton). . The line given between VVoburn and Winchester, was half way between the‘ south side of Woburn Common and the depot at South Woburn. The act was passed April 30, 1850. The separation of this town from the older towns was not made without very vigorous remonstrances 011 the part of those whose territory was affected. Measures for a separation were first taken by inhabitants of the section to be set off, in December, 1849. The first meeting was held on Dec. 17. Benjamin F. Thompson and John A. Bolles, and other well-known citizens, were prominent in the project. A second. meeting was held Dec. 24, when the first representative from Winchester, Frederick 0. Prince, took active part in the proceedings. At this meeting the following names for the new town were proposed: Appleton, Avon, Channing, Waterville, Winchester, and Winthrop. The name of Winchester was decided upon in honor of Col. Wm. P. Winchester. The petition for incorporation was presented to the legislature on Jan. 19, 1850, and the request was granted on its first application. Hon. Albert H. Nelson of Woburn was engaged as counsel for the petitioners, and his services and influence 19 were valuable. 4‘ No money was used by either side to gaininfluence, not a dollar for lobby or a supper; ” and when the legislative committee visited VVinchester to examine the ground, they were given a very plain collation, not in a spirit of parsi- mony, but in accordance with the requirements of the occasion 3 indeed, had a more expensive entertainment been presented, the cause would undoubtedly have received injury. The citizens paid their counsel two hundred and fifty dollars, and Mr. Bolles, for his legal work, fifty dollars, also all the necessary expenses, the town com- mittee malzing no charge for their services. , The town of VVinchester was started clear of debt. Her motto was “ Economy and prompt payment,” and her leading town officers for the first year made no charge for their services, and the service was itself of the best. The choice of the name of VVinchester was fortunate in one respect, that it brought a welcome gift of three thousand dollars to be used in the erection of a Town Hall, or any other proper object of municipal expenditure. Colonel Wiiicliester was informed that the name was given to the town, at the ‘request of its inhabitants, out of compliment to him, and he, not being content with a mere verbal expression of his appreciation, begged leave to present to the new town the sum stated for the purposes before mentioned. The letter was dated at Boston, May 25, 1850. Colonel VVinchester died August 6, 1850, at the early age of forty—nine years, at his residence in W'atertown. He was a11 accomplished scholar in the French, Spanish, and Italian languages. The money presented by Colonel VVinchester was first expended on the purchase of W'ildwood Cemetery. The VVinchester fund was returned to the town treasury in 1885. Recently a part was transferred to the Town Hall account to purchase a clock, bell, and other furnishings for that building. On the bell in the tower an inscription is cast: “ This clock and bell commemorate the gift of Williani P. VVinchester to the town which bears his name.” Wiricliester had one advantage when incorporated: she was a new town, and could avail herself of the experience of many generations, and avoid the errors of older municipalities and shape her institutions after a more perfect pattern. Grreat attention was paid to schools and the town expenditure was principally for this object. At the outset she had no expensive public buildings to erect, and the fund contributed by Col. 'Winchester aided in the purchase of land for a cemetery. The school committee had charge of all the schools and schoolhouses,-—~— there were no school districts, and no district or prudential committees,—— and one common and uniform system of administration was applied to every school and school division. This arrangement was at that time an improvement on the methods in other towns, though common enough now. From the first year of her corporate existence there was a High School kept, in which the town had commendable E30 pride. eltli<')1.1gl1 the nuniher of fziniilies did not 1.‘e(1ui.1'e the n1z1.i.nte1r.Lnce of such a school. She ‘Wes then the snizrllest town in the State tl'm.t sust21.ine11ey expeiided for educz'Ltio1*2., was in one year, the second. In the civil Wm‘ of 1801 to 1805, the town furnirshed 3241 men, at J. pecuniary cost of 11ezu'ly thirty t.l1o11szL1‘1Ll dollars; this 21,n1ount was rztised by hiring money for at term of years, by 112L‘}{2*L131('Z)1t1, znicl liy subscriptiion; the town o‘l‘i*ice1‘s and others giving their services and expenses. The l11111.]if,)(*31‘ <.;)f men who died in the service was ten. In her qiiota. were ‘five persons 1)t3iL1‘i1'1.g‘ the rznilt of iznztjor-——— one on the st:-iii’, two of the coininisse,1'y, zmcl one of t.l1ein1ell‘\xi'i11g year. To the energetic perseVere.1;1ce and C(')I;11'fl,g‘E% of the 1-etc D:wi(.l N. i‘3l{11l11’1g'S, one of the inenlbers of the first hozn'd, is lztigely due the m'.lopti<>1;1 of an eco11.(;>1nica,l plztn of he grzwity supply, from irnpounding reservoirs. V\"le1e11 the systeni is completed, it will consist of two beautiful 1€‘Ll{E.‘t5, two hundred and twenty acres in mezt, at {L level one hundred and thirty feet zLb<:)V"e the town, surrounded by rocky hills, in the heart of the Middlesex Fells, micl free from all sources of c,o1'1.tzm1inetion. VVhen drive- ways are l'_)111.11), as conteinplztted, eloiig the shores znnl connected with the woodla.nd drives a,r