The History of Dedham, from the beginning of its settlement in September 1635 ... to May 1827

Front matter

I Fires. At Dedham, on Saturday morning, a barn airacli , I ed to the Octagon House, winch was tired by the careless fcj Use ut tricttun matches, in (tie D-tmlm children, was con- ) suined. The hulei escaped. *. > /£-"j--/ Dedham Village. [For ihe Transcript. J From the days of the Revolution up to the ad vent of the "striped pig," in 1840, the town of Dedham had literally remained in statu quo. Every feature about it, all the people aud buildings, wore the same appearance, from year lo year. Whether the last named memorable event was in any way connected with the matter, we know not, but certain it is that immediately thereafter a marked change came over tlie spirit of the quiet dreams of the inhabitants, aud the village actually began to look like its sister towns. Gentlemen of wealth and taste moved out from town, the old mansions of the place fell into the hands of men with modern ideas, — the cobwebs, dirt, and dust of ages were speedily swept to the winds, and, with the assistance of masons, painters, and carpenters, the houses were converted into ornamental residences.

Cottages without number, built with taste, and surrounded by grounds elegantly laid out, sprang up, appa re nil y under some magical influence, and Easi street, Garden Row, the "Island," &c have he come as beautifully spotted wilhpretty buildings, as any of the sireels in the town you have adopted as a place of residence, Mr Editor. The new Episcopal Church, one of the hand somest in the Slate, was also erected through ihe liberality of these city gentlemen, who entertained fears that the old church (put up two hundred years since) would crumble ahouttheir ears, some blustering Sabbath. Not lo be entirely outdone, the other societies made an expert application si! the paint brush to the exterior of their several churches, and with admirable effect. One of the pioneera in the work of vivifying the town, hav recently purchased a lot of land in the hearl of the village, wilh a determination to increase ihe debt of gratitude due him from the inhabitants.

Anl we doubt not, he will succeed, I Oa Among other things making a residence in Dedham more desirable than formerly, will be the opening ofthe new branch railroad, through Wesi Roxbury, lessening ihe distance from town nearh or quite two miles. The early morning and last aiiernoon trains are to run through without stops, making the trip in twenty minutes. In comfori able cars, and under the charge of two skilful and very gentlemanly conductors, ihe ride will be a pleasant one, of a summer's afternoon,—particularly wilh a copy of the Transcript in one's hand. The people are sanguine of al least a pro rala re duction of fare,—but too much confidence should not be placed in such an idea, as it is well known that the ways of railroad directors are exceeding curious, sometimes, and past finding out.

Preface

. Some facts related in the following sketch, will appear trivial. I am not certain that a sufficient reason can be given for extending the history of a town of no considerable extent, to so many pages. Several considerations, however, have prevailed over this doubt. It has appeared to me that a town like Dedham, having its first settlement at an early date, having copious materials for an history, and nearly resembling a much larger extent of country around it, in its character and past transactions, might be properly selected for a full historical and topographical description. The history of a town, although much of it must necessarily have only a local interest, may yet be so arranged, that it may afford some views of society, not exhibited in more general histories. It may bring us nearer the homes, and enable us to see more distinctly the do ings of the inhabitants.

It may assist us in tracing the origin of manners and customs, and in judging of the influence of laws and public proceedings, on the character of the people.

PREFACE.

. Under all forms of government in this state, whether it were colonial, provincial, or republican, many important measures, and especially all revo lutionary proceedings, have been submitted to the primary assemblies of the people, to be examined and acted on by them. During the revolutionary war in particular, towns and parishes not only ex pressed their opinions on many subjects connected with that event, but they actually exercised much of the jurisdiction of a national government in pro secuting that war. How these small corporations, organised solely for municipal or parochial purposes, transacted that business, how they succeeded in procuring soldiers and warlike stores, and did other things to promote the same great end, is a proper subject for historical inquiry. Reflections of this kind have induced me to state facts somewhat minutely, which if they be not viewed in their con nection as causes or effects, are comparatively speaking, of no importance.

In this essay I have endeavoured, so far as my materials would permit, to exhibit a faithful view of society in this place, in a retrospect of one hundred and ninety years. In doing this, 1 have endeavour ed on the one hand, to avoid the error of bestowing extravagant or unmerited praise, and on the other, to give no just cause of offence, by an improper narration of private affairs, having no relation to the general character. I have attempted to do what gratitude and justice require to be done, to make

PREFACE.

. known the substantial virtues, and the real merit of the present and past generations in this town, but in doing this, I have not submitted to the disgrace ful and immoral task of composing an historical sketch, and therein suppressing all notice ot the errors or follies of past times, as some have suggest ed ought to be done. I have hesitated whether the events of the last twenty years, should be here in related, but I have concluded, that as a witness of events can give a more satisfactory account of things, the history should be brought down to the present time. The records of the town and parishes, and of the first church, have been my authorities, except when I have quoted others. These records I have care fully perused, and have found them so circumstan tial in some cases, that they would authorise me to state some facts, no where directly asserted.

When I have depended on tradition, I have given notice of it. Before the reader finally condemns me for de scending too much to small affairs, I hope he will reflect that there are some popular precedents to lead me astray, among which are Espriellas Letters and governor Winthrop's Journal, and I might like wise mention as additional motive, an increasing taste for these kinds of historical details. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Grants from the general court. Ancient boundaries. Original state of the land. Forests. Swamps. First crops. Origin of Mother Brook. Description ofthe village in 1664. Present boundaries. Parishes. Description of the town at the present time 9

Chapter II

How a settler became a proprietor ofthe lands. Mode of dividing lands at first. Common ploughfield. Wood Lands. Rules for making future dividends of lands established in 1656. Disputes arising therefrom. Finally settled by committee of general court. Measures to extinguish the Indian titles. Treaty with king Philip and other sachems. Measures to establish other plantations. Med6eld in the records called Bargarstowe. Wrentham called Wollomonopoag Deerfield called Petumtuck. Natick Indians principally under the care of Mr. Eliot 17

Chapter III

Name of the town. Records. Incorporation. Town-covenant. Town legislature of seven men. By-laws. Wood reeves. The example of a society formed out of its simple elements. Measures to support public worship. Method of supporting ministers. Parish funds. School funds and Schools 31

Chapter IV

Building mills. Corn mills. Water mills. Saw mill. Introduction of trades. Modes of cultivating the land. First articles carried to Boston market. Stock of cattle. Horses. Swine. Sheep. Wolves. Wildcats 37

Chapter V

First company, twenty-four. Second company, twelve. Increase in fifty years. Compendium of the doings and improvements of fifty years. Indian war. Character ofthe first generation. Principal men, Edward Allyne, John Allin. Eleazer Lusher, Daniel Fisher, Timothy Dwight. Reflections 41

Chapter VI

Annals ofthe town from 1686, to 1736. Parishes begin to be settled. Vacancy in the ministry eight years. Town indicted for not keeping a grammar school. Inhabitants and proprietors of Dedham become distinct bodies. Sherburne dividend. Three sets of town officers choseB one year. Schools badly supported. Law CONTENTS. against new comers. Bills of credit. Disputed elections. School farm. Tyot, or second parish, incorporated. Clapboardtrees, or third parish, incorporated. Census. Review ofthe last fifty years 55

Chapter VII

An account of events from 1736 to the close of the revolutionary war. Neponset river becomes the east boundary of Dedham. Land bank bills. Revolutionary proceedings. Votes against the Stamp tax. Indemnity for losses by the riots in Boston. Non importation agreements. Vote against the Judges salary. Resolution to resist. Tea drinkers denounced, and posted as enemies to the country. Minute men. May 27, 1776, Independence declared by the town. Preparation for war. Exertions to procure soldiers. First draft of a state constitution approved. Exertions to procure soldiers. Amount of town expenses for the war estimated. Anecdote relating to Mr. Clark the Episcopal minister of Dedham. Mr. Dexter. Adoption ofthe State constitution. A review of this period 64

Chapter VIII

An account of events from 1784 to 1826. Practice of giving instructions to representatives. A specimen. Votes in relation to the insurrection of 1786. Dedham becomes the shire town of Norfolk county. Political parties. Doings in relation to the war of 1812. The people approve the war, and oppose the measures designed to counteract it. State convention of November, 1820. Stability of character. The influence and spirit of husbandmen strongly predominates. Condition of professional men Changes taking place by the influence of villages. Recent events calculated to diffuse erroneous opinions of the character of the inhabitants. The small number of persons found on the criminal docket. The large number of freeholders proportioned to the whole population. Their comfortable situation. Increasing attention to education, to moral and religious instruction.

The beginning of manufactures and trades. Some faults. Increase of paupers. Of intemperate men. Want of sufficient liberality towards men of active and independent minds. The Ames family 75

Chapter IX

Ecclesiastical matters. Extracts from the church records, written by the reverend John Allin, relating to the gathering the Dedham church. Ordination of teacher and elder. Discipline. Ministry of the reverend William Adams. Ministry of the reverend Joseph Belcher. Of the reverend Samuel Dexter. Ofthe reverend Jason Haven. Events since 13J3. History ofthe churches and ministry in the other parishes . . 1JL . . ATsV €^\ chapter x. Petition for grant of land for a township. List of freemen admitted townsmen previous to 1647. Succession in the ministry. School page. Parish funds and benefactors. Town and parish expenses. Divisions of the land, and descriptions of property. Notices of manufactories. Tables of mortality and comparative longevity. Memoranda for natural history. Local customs. Suggested improvements. Rural scenes. Conclusion THE 9&f 0to?ff <of &t$t%&m+ $f 0to?$> 0s W$W$jMim»

Chapter I

Grants from the general court. Ancient boundaries. Original state of the land. Forests. Swamps. First crops. Origin of Mother Brook. Description of the village in 1664. Present boundaries. Parishes. Description of the town at the present time. IN the year 1635, the general court then sitting at New tovvne, granted a tract of land south of Charles river to twelve men. The next year nineteen persons, including the first twelve, petitioned the general court, then at Bos ton, for an additional grant of all the lands south of Charles river, and above the falls, not before granted, and for a tract five miles square, on the north side of Charles river, for the purpose of making a settlement. A grant was made agreeable to this petition. The land included in the last grant, constitutes the following towns at the present time.

Dedham, which now contains three territorial parishes, and three poll parishes. Medfield. Wrentham. Two territorial parishes, and a society of baptists. Needham. Two territorial parishes. Bellingham. Two religious societies. Walpole. Franklin. Dover. Natick and part of Sherburne. Under the grant of five miles square, north of Charles river, the grantees acquired a title to Dedham Island, Needham, Natick, and three thousand four hundred acres i in the east part of Sherburne. Philemon Dalton purchased three hundred acres of Samuel Dudley, of Rox bury, situated on or near the south line of Roxbury, and between that line and Dedham village. This land, al though within the bounds of Roxbury when purchased, was afterwards considered a part of Dedham ; and was ceded to the proprietors of the town, by the original pur chaser.

The boundary line between the towns at this place was for several years a subject of dispute, but was finally decided by a committee of the general court, in favor of Dedham. The eastern boundary of Dedham, during a century from its first settlement, was a considerable distance west of Neponset river, running nearly pa rallel with the general course of the river, and about a mile distant from it. But the towns of Stoughton and Dedham, by mutual consent carried back the boundary to Neponset river, and it has ever since remained the di viding line between the two towns. The great care be stowed by the first settlers, in fixing their boundaries with precision, and afterwards at proper periods examining and re-establishing the monuments which denoted them, has had a happy effect in preventing disputes on that subject.

Ancient state of the land. — No record exists which de scribes the situation of the meadows on Charles and Neponset rivers, or the forests. The meadows on Ne ponset river were so far cleared of trees and underwood, that they produced grass. The inhabitants of Dedham in the beginning of their settlement, hired those meadows of Israel Stoughton for a pasture for their young cattle. A tradition existed at an early period, that the grass, called fowl meadow, which is superior to that of any other kind in the fresh water meadows, was first brought to the meadows in Dedham, by a large flight of wild fowls, and that from thence the meadows and the grass received their names.* All the rivers and streams were clogged with trees, roots and other matter, which had been ac cumulated by time. The water was in consequence much * Dr. Nathaniel Ames, the elder, in his Almanack for 1764, gives the following account ofthe origin of fowl meadow grass.

"The famous fowl meadow grass/' says he, " was brought into a spacious meadow on Neponset river, by the wild fowl, which frequent that place, where it first made its appearance about fifty years ago. The seed is now collected, and carried into many parts of the country."— Hutchinson's History, vol. 1, p. 425. CHAP. I.] HISTORY OF DEDHAM. longer retained on the meadows. There are numerous votes in the town records, relating to the clearing of the streams of Charles and Neponset rivers. Numerous com mittees were appointed, to devise plans for lowering the water in Charles river. Hay, of a very coarse kind, was in the beginning of the settlement obtained from these meadows. In some places on the bank of Charles river, trees are imbeded in the mud eight or ten feet, and are as low as the bottom of the present bed of the river.

From these and other data, it is supposed that the Charles river meadows have gradually arisen from a broken impenetrable swamp, covered with fallen trees, and the greatest part of the time covered with water, to its present state. The grass in many places has much im proved in quality within present recollection. A coat of peat, from three to four feet in depth covers these mea dows, and may have been principally formed within two hundred years. The deep soil ofthe upland was covered with large trees, principally oak. The large oak tree now standing in front of Mr. Avery's dwelling house in East street, of sixteen feet circumference, is probably much older than this town, and forcibly reminds us, how strong and stately stood his old companions of the forest. Wig wam and Purgatory-Swamps were dismal places.

They were covered with a thick growth of cedars and hemlock. These with much underwood rendered these places almost impenetrable. Wigwam Swamp became the resort of wild beasts. It being near the village, the wolf-howl was heard from it. To break up that den, it was made a condition of every grant of land, that the grantee should clear away the wood standing on a certain quantity of land in the swamp. The land when first cleared produced wheat and flax, although these crops cannot now bo produced. From the frequent mention of wheat being made a tender in payment, and the contracts to be fulfilled by the payment of wheat, it may be inferred that it was a usual crop. But I discover no evidence to oppose the statement of Hutchin son that wheat began to blast after the year 1664. The rich mould which had been created by time, rendered the lands productive.

It may be presumed that all their crops were good at first, except that of English grass. That article was very scarce for many years, for in 1649 the wet season prevented the making of hay on the meadows, and there was great distress here on that account. The inhabitants went from this town to the Wrentham meadows to cut grass that year. Origin of Mother Brook. About a quarter of a mile north of the new court house in Dedham, Mother Brook starts out of Charles river and runs in a proper and direct course round the high lands near the village, and then at the only place where it could find a passage, goes easterly and joins the Neponset river, forming in. its course between tiie two rivers five mill seats of great value. This stream thus leaving its principal bed and running off to join a neighbouring stream has been represented as a natural curiosity ; at least the inhabitants have no knowledge of its having been caused by man.

When I discovered the record of its being an artificial work, a natural, but ground less fear was excited, that it would do harm to publish the truth concerning it. Abraham Shaw had been encouraged to build a water mill in the first year of the settlement and a committee was appointed to designate the place. Shaw soon after died, but the committee suggested the measure of forming this new stream, which is recorded in these words : " 2Sth day, 1st month, 1639. Ordered that a ditch shall be dug at common charge, through upper Charles meadow unto East Brook, that it may both be a partition fence in the same, and also may form a suitable course unto a water mill, that it shall be found fitting to set a mill upon in the opinion of a workman to be em ployed for that purpose." The water mill was soon after built, as we shall see hereafter.

The source of East Brook was more than one hundred rods east of the Nor folk and Bristol turnpike where it crosses this stream. At this point a curious observer may see the truth of this account, in the original slate of the ground ; he will in vain seek for any natural bed of this stream. In addition to this evidence the tradition of cutting the canal for this stream, has been preserved in one family, which from fear of consequences, have refrained from divulging the fact. Description of the village in 1664. The first settlers agreed that each married man should have a house lot of twelve acres; part upland, and part meadow. In loca- CHAP. I.I HISTORY OF DEDHAM. ting the lots by such a rule, they must necessarily be near each other, on the margin ofthe meadows near the mod ern village. Such in fact was the case.

In 1664, ninety-five small houses near each other were situated within a short distance of the place where the new court house now stands ; the greater part of them east of that place, and around Dwight's brook. A row of houses stood on the north side of High street, as that road was then called, which extends from the bridge over Dwight's brook west wards by the court house. The total amount of the value of these houses was 691 pounds. Four only of the houses were valued at 20 pounds. The greater number were valued from three to ten pounds. The greatest num ber of these houses were built soon after the first settlement commenced. There were then very few carpenters, joiners or masons in the colony. There was no saw mill in the settlement for many years. The only boards which could be procured at first, were those which were sawed by hand.

The saw pits, now seen, denote that boards were sawed in the woods. The necessary materials, bricks, glass and nails, were scarcely to be obtained. These houses therefore must have been principally con structed by farmers, not by mechanics, and have been very rude and inconvenient. They were probably log houses. Their roofs were covered with thatch. By an ordnance of the town, a ladder was ordered to extend from the ground to the chimney, as a substitute for a more perfect fire engine. Around these houses nothing was seen but stumps, clumsy fences of poles, and an uneven and unsubdued soil ; such as all the first settlements in New England present. The native forest trees were not suitable shades for a door yard. A shady tree was not then such an agreeable object as it now is, because it could form no agreeable contrast with cleaved grounds.

Where the meeting house of the first parish now stands, there stood for more than 30 years a low building, thirty six feet long and twenty wide, twelve feet high, with a thatched roof, and a large ladder resting on it. This was the first meeting house. Nearby was the school house standing on an area of 18 feet by 14, and rising to three stories, The third story however was a watch house of small dimensions. The watch house was beside the ample stone chimney. The spectator elevated on the little box called the watch house, might view this plain, on which a part ofthe present village stands, then a common plough field, containing then about two hundred acres of cleared land, partially subdued ; yet full of stumps and roots. Around him at a farther distance, were the herd walks, as the common feeding lands were called, in the language of that time.

One of these herd-walks was on Dedham Island north of Charles river, and one was at East street and more fully in view. The other herd walk was on South plain. The herd walks were at first no better cultivated than cutting down the trees, and carrying away the wood and timber, and afterwards, when it was practicable in the spring of the year, burning them over under the direction of town officers called wood reeves. Land thus treated would in the spring appear barren ; for nothing would be seen but black stumps, the burnt soil, and the rocks. It would scarcely appear better when the wild grass and the cropped shrubs next succeeded. The meadows were not yet cleared to any great extent. Beyond these herd walks, was a continued wilderness, which was becoming more disagreeable to the inhabitants, for the cattle and goats and swine seem to have allured the wolves to their neighborhood.

The dense swamps about Wigwam were not yet cleared. The numerous dogs in the plantation, which were so troublesome to the worshipping assembly, were not a sufficient guard against the wolves. The inhabitants for many years after this period encouraged their hunters by additional bounties to destroy these troublesome enemies. The herd walks in 1659 contained 532 acres, and the inhabitants then had feeding therein 477 cattle. The roads were very imperfect. We hear of persons passing on the bridge and cause way at Dwight's brook, when the water thereon was as high as the horses belly, so late as the year 1700. A law of the colony as well as the dangers of the people, compelled the first settlers to build their houses near each other. The necessity of adhering to this law, continued more than 50 years.

In 1682 complaints were made in town meeting, that some had built houses a mile and an half from the meeting house. It was prohibited at that time. But the law soon after began to be disregarded, and the inhabitants soon abandoned their first habitations ; CHAP. I.] HISTORY OF DEDHAM. and built houses in all parts of the present town. Sixty or seventy years time swept awery the humble village of the first settlers ; and the place was occupied by a few farmers for about a hundred years. When Dedham became the seat of justice for the county of Norfolk, then began the second village on the place of the former one. The present village including Connecticut corner, con tains upwards of one hundred houses. Nearly all of them are two stories high and convenient. More than four fifths of the houses are painted, a few are elegant, so far as that term can with propriety be applied to a wooden house.

The public buildings are three houses for public worship, a stone jail and a new stone court house. It may be estimated that the present town contains a quantity of land equal to a tract of six and an half miles in length and five and a half miles in breadth. The Norfolk and Bris tol turnpike runs from the Roxbury line, in a south west erly direction through the town, intersecting it lengthwise, leaving somewhat the greatest section on the west of it. There are sixty-seven miles of other roads. The extensive and valuable meadows on Neponset river are skirted with forests, sometimes with the evergreens of the low-land, and then with forests of oak and walnut. There are seve ral smooth plains of some extent. The uplands in some places have rocky or uneven surface unfit for cultivation. These places will always present the same appearance ; for they will be used only for growing wood, for which they are valuable.

Excepting these wood lands, which are not too extensive for their appropriated use, the surface is agreeably varied with rising grounds of a smooth surface. The ground most elevated in the town, is that where is situated the meeting house of the third parish. From that place the spectator has an extensive prospect. This spot may be considered as a place devoted forever in the affections of the people in that neighbourhood ; since their late pastor the Rev. Thomas Thatcher, on the occasion of pulling down the old meeting house for the purpose of building a new one thereon, so appropriately applied to it the text of his discourse, " Our Fathers worshipped on this Mountain." A tract of the best land in town is situated on the hills north of this meeting house. The stranger passing on the main roads in town, sees nothing, the buildings excepted, above ordinary interest.

Yet if he have a taste for a variety of rural scenes,* he may be delighted with places on Dedham Island, with the banks of the Mother Brook at the mills, with the thick woods south of Wig wam, and even with that forest called Muddy Pond woods, and wood lands south of it, and particularly with that high ground north of the third parish meeting house, called Fox hill. A village is about to arise at a place called the Mills, one mile and a half east of the Court house. The water power of five dams across Mother Brook, will soon move a considerable quantity of machinery ; and there must soon be a considerable increase of houses and pop ulation at that place, possibly it may in a short time ex ceed that around the court house. In the tables which I shall annex to this sketch, I shall give a more definite description of the rising manufacturing establishments at this place. * Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes Fluniina amem Sylvas que inglorius. — Virgil. CHAP. II.] HISTORY OF DEDHAM. 17

Chapter II

How a settler became a proprietor ofthe lands. Mode of dividing lands at firsl Common ploughsield. Wood Lands. Rales for making future dividends of lands established in 1656. Disputes arising therefrom. Finally settled by committee of general court. Measures to extinguish the Indian titles. Treaty with king Philip and other sachems. Measures to establish other plantations. Medfield in the records called Bargarstowe. Wrentham called Wollomonopoag. Deerfield called Petwntuck. Natick Indians principally under the care of Mr. Eliot. How persons became proprietors ofthe common lands. — Thf. second grant of the general court in September, 1636, enlarging the former one, for a plantation, was made to nineteen persons. These grantees of course were the sole owners until they admitted new associates.

This they did at first without demanding any compensation. By the fourth article in the town covenant, every man was entitled to have lots in town, who was admitted an inhabitant, and would sign the covenant, which obliged him to pay all sums imposed on him rateably, and subject ed him to the observance of all orders and constitutions necessary for the public peace, and a loving society. As the new comers were voted into the society, they immediately had lots assigned them. After the wood was cleared off their home lots, the in habitants applied to the wood reeves for leave to cut wood and timber, to cut hoop poles, and peal bark on the com mon lands. The frequent practice of cutting without leave caused much difficulty. In 1642, the proprietors, then forty-seven in number, agreed that 200 acres ofthe land where the houses now stand south of high street, should be made a common til lage field ; and that each proprietor's share therein, should be marked out and assigned to him by seven men chosen for that purpose.