1 Book \ 1 (.'KlVKiHT DkPUHir Homes of Our Forefathers Boston, Old England and Boston, New England FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY EDWIN WHITEEIELD E. WHITEFIELD ;n TREMONT STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Copyright by Edwin Whitej i\ all rights reserved HOMES OUR FOREFATHERS Boston, England. FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS By EDWIN WHITEFIELD. COPYRIGHT BY EDWIN WHITEFIELD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. BOSTON : E. WHITEFIELD, 211 TREMONT STREET. * J - [ DEDICATI THIS BOOK Id MY I1K1.DVKD WIFE W illlci U T WHOSE SYMPATHY V N 13 V S S I ST A N ( I I I WOl I.I' NEVER HAVI BEEN COMPLETED E. WIIITEFIELD •.v PREFACE. In presenting this work to the public I wish to say a few words. Last year I visited England for the special purpose of sketching and hunt- ing up whatever there might be of interest in the Boston which gave its name to our own city, and I thought that by bringing together in one volume the two Bostons, I could produce a work which would be much more interesting than if they were published separately. I can honestly say that no labor, time, or expense has been spared in accom- plishing this object : and I have endeavored to the best of my ability to produce a work of which Bostonians, both English and American, will not be ashamed. It is not in some respects all that I could desire, but where any imperfections have occurred they were unavoidable, and will, I trust, be not too severely criticised. I need scarcelv say to those who have seen my other work, "Homes of our Forefathers in the Six New England States," that this volume has been gotten up in a far more expensive style; and I Hatter myself that a generous public will ap- preciate the effort I have made to please them. In conclusion, I wish to return my sincere thanks to those who have given me information respecting the buildings herein represented. The Aspinwall House, now in Brookline, when built stood on land that formed part of Boston. (3) INDEX ENGLAND. Alms House 14 Bridge [6 Burton House }8 Chantry Chapel 24 Cotton, Rev. John iSv Foxe's Birthplace 26 v/ Flemish House 36 * Grammar School 2S S Guildhall 22v Heron's Hall 52^ Historical Notes 9-10 House on Church Street .... 40- House on Archer Lane House on Stanbow Lane Hussey Castle .... Jerusalem House . . . Knight's Tomb .... L \nv's Tomb Monastery Rochford Tower . . . St. Botolph's Church . Shod Friar's Hall . . Three Tuns Inn . . . White Horse Inn . . . 33 NEW ENGLAND. Aspinwall House u-" Auciimuty House 64^ Badger House 106' Blackstone House 138^ Blake House 100 ■• CAPEN House 1-4 Christ Church 132^ Clough House 98 Clough-Vkrnon House [30 Crafts House 74^ Curtis House 7 > v Fverett House Fanueil House 102 < 10S' First Meeting House 136" Galloupe House . . Gardner House . . . Gray House .... Green Dragon Tavern Hancock Tavern . . Hartt House . . . Kimball-Parker House 86 ^ 70 80 S2 King's Chapel . . . Lincoln House . . . Mather-Eliot House Newman House . . . Old Feather Store . ochtorlony house Old Corner Bookstore Old State House . . Old South Meeting Ho Paul Revere House . Pierce House Province House Sheafe House Shirley House Sun Tavern Thoreau House Tileston House Tremere House Warren House Wells House 114 1 120 * us go* 94 128 HO 59 134 96 6S ^4 62 66 60 7^ 126 9- ~i- ' 104 (5) HISTORICAL NOTES. Boston in Lincolnshire, England, is situated on both sides of the Withani River, at a distance of about six miles from its mouth. There is a probability that the Romans had some kind of a settlement in this neighbor- hood, or perhaps lower down the river, in order to prevent pirates from ascending the Witham and attacking their city of Lindum, now Lincoln, as the river was deeper then than it is now, and vessels of considerable size could ascend as far up as Lincoln. But it is not until the middle of the seventh century that we have any definite knowledge of this place, then called Yecanhoe, or Icanhoe. According to an old writer. John of Tynemouth, a monastery was founded here by St. Botolph in the year 650, and he died here A.D. 680. This monastery, and whatever settlements might have been connected with it, was destroyed by the Danes in the year 870 ; and from this period until 1090 we have no record of what transpired. But it is certain that there was at that time some kind of a village ; for we are informed that in that year Alan, Earl of Brittany, gave a church, as the gift of the Church of St. Botolph, to the abbey of St. Mary at York. In the reign of Henry II., about 1160, we find that Boston, then called St. Botolph's Town, was the property of Conan, Earl of Richmond. After his death, in 1171, it belonged to the Crown, until 1241. During this time Boston must have been growing, for we hear of the manufacture of woolen cloths being carried on here to a considerable extent. The commerce of Boston, also, must have been considerable at this early date, for even in 1205 the share of taxes paid by Boston was greater than that of any other port in England except London, the latter paying £836, and Boston £789. The merchants of Flanders and the Hanseatic League carried on a large trade with Boston about this time, and some of them occupied houses there ; the remains of two or three of which may still be seen. In 1285 Boston must have been surrounded by a wall, as a grant was made by Edward I. of a toll to the burgesses of Boston in aid of repairing said wall. This grant is very interesting for many reasons, and especially to show that the people of that period enjoyed not only the necessaries, but most of the luxuries, that their descendants do at the present time. The following is a partial list : — For every one hundred pounds of pepper, ginger, cinnamon, one farthing. For every one hundred pounds of sugar, liquorice, and pimentum, one farthing. For every frail of raisins and figs, one farthing. Every barrel of steel wire, one farthing. (9) For every one hundred pounds of wax, rice, and almonds, one half- penny. For every one hundred pounds of cloves, mace, nutmegs, one penny. For every one hundred pounds of saffron and silk, one penny. Ton of hone)', one penny. For every one thousand yards of best gray cloth, one penny, etc. During the century from 1200 to 1300, Boston suffered severely from several floods. In 1369 Boston was made a staple town for the sale of wool, leather, etc. This word "staple" was applied in the commerce of the Middle Ages; in the first instance to the towns in which the chief products of a country were sold, and afterward to the merchandise sold at these towns. From this period until the present time, Boston has increased in wealth and population very slowly, and now numbers only about 25,000 people. do) ST. BOTOLPH'S CHURCH. This elegant structure, claimed to be the largest parish church (with- out cross aisles) in Europe, was commenced A.U. 1309, in the third year of Edward II. ; and in the following year Dame or Lady Margaret Tilney laid the foundation stone, on which she, Sir John Truesdale, and Richard Steven- son laid £5 each as contributions toward the expenses. Two hundred years passed away before this building was finished. It is 300 feet long and 100 feet wide within the walls ; and the tower, claimed to be the tallest and noblest in Europe, is 300 feet in height, including the lantern. It can be seen at a distance of 40 miles by land, and at a still greater distance by sea. The walls are built of stone, and the roof is hand- somely ceiled with oak, supported by tall and slender pillars. Before the building of the tower the church was adorned by four turrets, two of which still remain. Restorations have at various times been made to this church. In 1854 the southeast chapel was restored at cost of $3,250 by some citizens of Boston, Mass., as a memorial to the Rev. John Cotton, a former vicar of this church, who emigrated to New England in 1633. Here are some interesting statistics : — Steps to the tower, 365 ; corresponding to days in a year. Windows in church, 52 ; corresponding to weeks in a year. Pillars in church, 12 ; corresponding to months in a year. Doors in church, 7 ! corresponding to days in a week. Steps to library, 24 ; corresponding to hours in a day. Stairs to chancel, 60; corresponding to minutes in an hour. " SHOD FRIARS' Hill. til'ul building, erected within the last twenty years, is in val style of architecture ; but whether ted in the early days by the Shod Friars I have ■ :m. It is wi-11 worthy of a visit. rother) were mendicant orders in the Roman Catholic rral varieties, or brotherhoods, such as the k, et< .. and some <>f them went barefooted. I do not know ■ this hall belonged. i mendicant 1 1 • 1 i ^ i« m •- tramps, ami Chaucer > have been built before the church. rstahlishment of poorhouses in England there were church h in .t measure supplied their place : and here, at stated times, \\ came to receive money, clothes, or food. This is a brick building, and bears the maw il antiquity. («4) THE 'BRIDGE. In ilit year 1305 a patenl grant was made to the town of St. Botolph loi tin- support "i a bridge, and in 1328 another patent grant was made for a toll, tn keep the bridge in repair. This old bridge, which was built of wood, id not stand where the present one dues, and it was probabrj removed about ir i ;"<>■ and another built. a number of bridges have been built and rebuilt since that time, ind in 1802 it was decided to ereel a new one of iron, which was opened for avel in 1807. The total expense of this elegant and substantial structure o ($i 10,00 rch '•) this bridge is eighty-six feet in span, and the breadth of the bout forty feet. The abutments are placed very low, so that the con- t\ "I the arch offers scarcely any obstacle to the passage over the bridge, ed across in very nearly a horizontal direction. 1 HI I . fOHN CO! TON'S VICARAGE. Mi. [ohn Ci)tton was the son of Rowland Cotton, and was born al December |th. 1585. While pursuing his academical studies at Km. m>. { manifested such strength of judgment and extent <>l made him admired by the most eminent men of the University. !li- w.i- settled as minister in Boston, remaining there twenty years: but atisfied thai the Church of England was not much more than hall nd openly declaring these opinions, he was threatened with perse- cution, lie appealed t" his friend the Earl of Dorset; who, after warmly ding "it his behalf with the Archbishop of Canterbury, informed Mr. I iliat it lie had been guilt} "i drunkenness, uncleanness, or any such Mult he could have obtained his pardon; hut as he was guilty of Puritanism mformity, his crime was unpardonable; and therefore him to flee for his safety. This advice he t"<>h: and with two other ministers, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone, embarked mi board the same Mew England, — arriving there September 3d, 1633. He was soon afterward selected as their first minister by the Winthrop Colony, s generally supposed, named their settlement Boston, in honor "i Mr. Cotton. Here he lived respected and beloved until his death. which took place December 2.51!. 1652, in the sixty-eighth year of his lb- was buried in what is now called Kind's Chapel Burying nd. 4r ROCHFORD TOWER. Rochfords were an ancient and noble family. Raymond de >rd Ih-IiI property in Boston as earl} as [293, and may have built this ndant of his. Sir John R.. was famous for his long travels kalv, etc., and he also translated Josephus' History. He was I li^h Sheriff of Lincolnshire during the reign of Richard 1 1. In the fifteenth century this property passed out of the Rochford family into that of the Kymes ; but whether by intermarriage or purchase is nol know n. erward fell into the hands of the Crown b) sequestration, and is now the properl Dean and Chapter of Westminster. This tower is built of brick, and quadrangular, having an octagon turret 011 it-, southeast angle, which contains a flight of seventy steps, com- municating with the upper apartments. The top is covered with lead, and d with an embattled parapet. This tower had formerly a moat around it. which is now filled up. ; THE CHI 1. 1) til 1.1.. This is on South Street, and is a very ancient building, originally M- i" the Guild of the Blessed Mary; and built probablj as earl) as i|i«i, now used 1>\ the mayor and corporation as a Town Hall, also for public meetings, lectures, etc. The front, represented in the engraving, is what dilapidated, and shorn of much of its architectural beauty. It was given to the corporation ol Boston in 1554, 1\\ 1 tenry VI 1 1 .. and i'\ : 1 1 < • 1 1 1 for theii corporate and judicial proceedings. Massive pinnacles formed) decorated the sides as well as the centei '•1 th<- gable. The large window is still in a tolerable state of preservation. A CHANTRY CHATEL. This old building, which stood on South Place, was in all probability a chantry, and was doubtless erected at a very early date. A chantry was a building erected in Roman Catholic countries In per- sons who It-it legacies for tin- purpose of having masses sung or chanted for the benefit <>i their souls, ami such persons were generally buried under them. These buildings were sometimes erected separately, but were generally attached to churches and monastic establishments. In cathedrals and large churches they were generally constructed within the church, often within the piers, and were usually enriched with sculpture and elaborate tracery, and adorned with gilding and painting. ' fOHN FOXE'S BIRTHPLACE. This building has been greatly altered, and would not now be recog- nized from the accompanying picture, which represents it as it was in 1517. when Foxe was born. lit- was sent early to Oxford College, where he at- tained greal proficiency in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Before he left college he abandoned the Roman Catholic faith, and this being discovered he was expelled, and for mam years suffered much from persecution. During the reign of Mary he was obliged to leave his native land, seeking refuge in [Jasle. After the death of Mary he returned to England, 1559. and died in I. Minhm. 15*7. in the seventieth year of his age. Besides the book by which he is best known, the "Book ol Martyrs.'' he wrote many other learned works, mostly ol a controversial character. Illl- GRAMMAR SCHOOL. This school, which is built of brick, was erected by the mayor and ses of the town in [567, being tin- ninth year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Over the entrance is a tablet stating this fact. The lirst head master was Walter Woodroffe, and his salary was H20 ($100) per annum. The plot of ground in which this school stands was called the Mart Yard, by reason that the great annual fair was held in it. 28 HUSSEY CASTLE. This old tower stands in an inclosure on the fasten) side of St. John's Row, and is only the main portion of an extensive building erected \ by Sir William Hussey, in the reign oi Edward IV. He was chief justice of the Court of King's Bench in 1481. A descendant of his who was made a baron by I lenry VI 1 1 .. and who had main other honors conferred upon him. having abetted an insurrection by the people "i Lincolnshire against a subsidy that had been imposed en them, he was in |une. 1538, he- headed at the city of Lincoln, and all his property confiscated to the Crown. This portion "i it \\ as afterw ard given t<> the tow n of Boston, which still retains • a it. h is built of brick, and is in a ver\ ruinous condition. There is a strong probability that fohn (r. Whittier, the poet, is a de- dant, on his grandmother's side, of this family. OLD MONASTERY. This is a portion of a I >ominican monastery standing on Sibsey Lane ; i man} years after the suppression ol the religious houses in the time ■ ■I Henry VIII. this was used for various purposes, mostly for storage, but is now in such a dilapidated condition that it will probably never be repaired. It dates back to about 1300 or thereabouts. All the four orders of mendicant friars were established in Boston soon after A.M. [300, and in [380 I quarrel and battle took place among these friars, in which many were killed and wounded. OLD HOUSE ON ARCHER LANE. This is a very quaint old building, dating hack, probablj . to the reign oi Edward III., if not still older. It is very dilapidated, and nothing about its history can be gleaned that is at all reliable. ■ £ 31' -« FLEMISH MERCHANT'S HOUSE. This is a portion of a large house standing on Mitre Lane, which is believed to have been built by a Flemish merchant, in the reign of Edward I. Tin- initials E. K. (Edward Rex) arc plainly marked on the gable. It is now in a very dilapidated condition, and is mostl) used as a storehouse. WHITE HORSE INN. This stood «'ii White Horse Lam-. It is mentioned in 1564, and was held of Hussey Hall. This was a verj ancient house, and was kept as an inn until about [680, when the license was removed to Furthend Lane. In 1674 this house was held by James Cook, who paid one pound of cummin earh to Hussey Hall. This was a verj curious old building. The principal door, it will be observed, is in what is usually called the old Dutch style. 1NCIENT HOUSE ON CHURCH STREET. Thi is a very ancient building; but little or nothing that is reliable i an be ascertained respecting it. It is used as a depository for religious pub- lications. It was probably built about 1470. ■ CURIOUS HOUSE ON STAN BO W LANE. is a very curious ancient house. It belonged to the Robinson i.miih, . formerly of great distinction and influence, and must have been built as earh as [570, and probably much earlier. The second door to the right is a curious one. and the ornamentation of the upper part of the house is verj peculiar indeed. The large window is of course modern. In the interior are :ine specimens of carved work. The first Mayor of Boston was Nicholas Robinson, in 1545. TOMB Oh' A KNIGHT. This is the effigy of a Knight wrought in alabaster, but has neither coat of arms nor inscription. It is probable from the dress and sculpture of this figure that it belongs to the thirteenth century. These ancient tombs are placed under low arches in the wall, which m> doubt were constructed for this purpose. This figure probably represents Sir Frederick Tilney, who accompanied Richard the Li on -hearted to the crusades. This knight was of more than ordinary stature and strength, and per- formed prodigies of valor in the various battles fought for the possession of the I Ioly Land. ■• The knight is dust. IN- good sword rust. His soul is with the saints we trust." H TOMB OF A LADY. By some this is supposed to represent Dame Margaret Tilney, who laid the foundation stone of St. Botolph's Church; hut as the inscriptions have been obliterated we are left to conjecture ; but there can be no doubt that this is the effigy of some fair and noble lady, who doubtless presided as the Queen ol Love and Beauty at many a joust and tournament in the days oi auld lang syne. '•Now caracoled the steeds in air, Now plumes and pennons wantoned fair, As all around the lists SO wide In panoply the champions ride. This knight his youthful strength to prove, Ami that to win his lady's love." ■■■ , I ! i I HARNHAM-Kl !R TON HOI 'S7: . The heirs of Richard Wyles occupied a house at what is now called Burton Corner, in i6ii, then called Barnham House for which they paid a quit-rent to the lords of Poynton Hall of io£d (22 cents) and half a pound of pepper. In 1661 this property was held b\ Andrew Burton, and his grand- son John paid the above quit-rent in 1692. This is a most charming place, as may readily be seen by looking at tin- opposite page. i THE JERUSALEM HOUSE. The site of the Hospital of St. John was on the west side of Bargate Drain : but nothing now remains of it except an old building called Jerusalem House; lint whether this is one of the original buildings, or whether some of the materials of the hospital were used in the erection of this house, is uncer- tain : at all events this is a very interesting and very old building. The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, or Knights Hospitallers, as the) were also called, had a Hospital in Boston, and two noted masters of the Order belonged here. One of them, Alexander de Poynton, was master of the Hospital outside of St. Botolph's in 1276; and another was Sir Wm. Weston, the last Lord Prior of England, at the time of the dissolution of the Order, in 1 5 jo. He died on the day tin- Priors- was suppressed. jfc.-ii-* ■ ■ 2 aMP* I ///■ROWS HALL. This was a fine old mansion, ol considerable extent, and was called Heron's and sometimes Hernshaw Hall. The stones used in its erection were said tu haw been taken from the church of St. John of Jerusalem, when that building was pulled down, so that this building would probably date back t<> about 1580, about which time this church was ordered to be taken down. HU THE THREE TUNS INN. This was a noted old tavern, and among other things is famous from the circumstance that Oliver Cromwell slept here the night before he fought the battle of Winceby, one of the most important engagements during the Civil War. This is .1 very curious building, on account of the peculiar zigzag style of arranging the brickwork. 54) BOHfoWilHi HOMES OUR FOREFATHERS BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND. FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY EDWIN WHITEFIELD. COPYRIGHT BY EDWIN WHITBFIBL ALL RIGHTS RHSBRYED. BOSTON : E. WHITEFIELD, 211 TREMONT STREET. THE OLD STATE HOUSE. The following is a clear and succinct history of the famous old build- ing: •■ On this spot stood, until its burning, Oct. 3, 171 c, the first town house of Boston, founded in 1657 by the liberality ofCapt. Robert Keayne. Here, in 1713, was erected the second town house, whose walls endure to this day. as do the doors and root", constructed in 17 17, after a second tire had devas- tated its chambers. Here the loyal assemblies obeyed the Crown ; here the spirit of liberty was aroused and guided by the eloquent appeals and saga- cious counsels of Otis. Adams, Quincy, Warren, Cushing, and Hancock: here the child Independence was born: here Washington received the tribute of an enfranchised people : here was installed the government oi a new Stale : here for ten years our civil rulers assembled : and here, by the vote oi the City Council of 1881, have been reconstructed, in their original form, the Council Chamber and Representatives' Hall, — hallowed by the memories ot the Revolution. May our children preserve the sacred trust." SUN TAVERN. vard Bendall, the lirst owner of this estate, established in 1637, by "to Noddle's Island" (East Boston), "and t> before the town." \ Cove, called BendalPs Cove, at that 1 from the : I- the lied by Faneuil Hall, Quinc) Market, and the granite ■ the harbor, and at the head of the Cove, directly in front of the dock, afterward called the Town Dock, from which Square derives its name. • iid. ill. the estate came into the possession of Symon Lynde, i England, who died in [687 ; and in his will, dated [685, he mentions "having already given and bestowed upon and unto each of my two . Samuel and Nathaniel, considerable estate, of and in which they are d and possessed." The Sun Tavern estate fell to Samuel Lynde, and is referred to as ••tin- house ol the -aid Samuel Lynde" in a conveyance from Elisha Hutchinson to Benjamin Fitch, dated Jul) jj. i;oj. It was probably presented Samuel by his father, as his portion, upon the occasion of his mar- , ■ . and was occupied l>\ him as a residence probably until after the year 17c hi. I tyle of architecture (with the two projections), and the framing 1 the house, indicate it as one i>i tin- earliest of tin- colonial struct- and mode of building being in vogue much earlier than 1676. and hut little used in towns after that date. Although tin- two stories are. re- spectively, hut eight feet, and seven and a halt' feet in height, the principal timber- an- ol clear pine, twelve inches square, and the smaller framing of white oak, six inches square. Tin- marks, still upon the timbers, prove that they were hewn by hand, and were undoubtedly cut from the immediate vicinit) . The first reference t" it as a public house is in a conveyance by Samuel Lynde t<> Benjamin Fitch, dated Nov. 30, 1709,111 which it is called •• the Sun Tavern, now oi 1 upied h\ Thomas Phillips." In 17J1 Samuel Meers was the landlord, who. in 1 7 j 7 . was "lately deceased." By the will of Samuel Lynde, dated July jo. [720, he gives and bequeaths unto his daughter, Mary Valentine, and her husband, fohn mine 1 aftei legacies), all his real and personal estate (" part of which was the Sun Tavern, with the tenement, shops, and land, at the head of the Town l> >n"), and in 17.(1 it was com eyed b\ Thomas Valentine to Joseph Jacks.m, for twenty-four hundred and seventy pounds ■•in good bills oi 1 redit on the Pro\ ince." kepi In Captain James Day. in 1755. and the Scots' Charitable held their meetings in it in 1750. During the siege of Boston it was taken possession of by the British, who changed its name to the "King's It remained in possession of the heirs of the Lynde family until 1 7 j 1 . and -nice then it has had but four owners. It is now the property oi Mr. t- ha \\ Galloupe, in whose possession it has been tor more than a quarter oi ,ii entury. It i- probably the oldest, and certainly one of the most interesting, of the lew remaining colonial buildings in existence in this city. 60 THE CHILD-SHE AFE HOUSE. This noted house stood al the corner of Essex and Columbia Streets, and was taken down a few years since. It was built by Thos. Child, a native <>i' Boston, England, about 1728, who lived here for many years in grand style. The property afterward fell into the hands of the Sheafe family, and at the breaking oul of the War. Lord Percy made this house his headquarters. The Sheafe famih was a noted one in many respects. One iers, Roger Sheafe, a great favorite of Lord Percy, became a prominent general in the British army, under the title of Sir Roger Hale Sheafe, Bart., and died in Edinburgh, 1851. THE AUCHMU1Y HOUSE. This fine old house stands at the corner of Washington and Cliff Streets, and was built by fudge" Auchmuty, probably about 1756. He was a member of Governor Hutchinson's Council. When the British evacuated rem ed to Halifax, and the property was confiscated to the State. G ernoi Sumner lived in this house and died here, and here his body lay in state before it was removed to the State House. The First Baptist Society of Roxbury was gathered in this house, and here Rev. Dr. Sharp preached the first sermon. During the Civil War all the work of the Roxbury Sanitary Society was collected in this house, and sent to the general office. It is now the residence of Mr. C. F. Bradford. Ch) THE SHIRLEY HOUSE. This large and handsome mansion, standing on Shirley Street. Roxbury, was built by Governor Shirley, and here he died, March J4. 1771- It is said that most S: Nfiles; but whether an ancestor of his built the house is uncertain. It afterward came int.) possession o( the Gardner family, and was sold very recently, and will either be taken down or moved to another place. The rounded corners ol this house were added by Governor Gardner's father. fe&y&a THE WARREN HOUSE. This house was built by Gen. Jos. Warren's grandfather, in 1720. It was used as quarters by Col. Dav. Brewer's regiment in 1775. It was pulled down by Dr. |. C. Warren in [846, and a stone house built on the spnt where tin- old one stood. Gen. [os. W'ancn, one of the first martyrs to the cause of liberty in New England, was horn in this house. June 11. 1741. He was one ol the must talented, tearless, and active of the early patriots. This view is from a model. THE CRAFTS HOUSE. This house is situated on Tremonl Street, near the Brookline line, and is one of the oldest in Boston, ft was built in 170^. by Jno. Ruggles. Back .,1 ihe house is the orchard where all the celebrated Roxbury russets origi- nated. Some of the apple trees measure now more than twelve feet in circumference. \n 1 lamination of the title to this house and the four-acre orchard in which it stands, shows that until very recently it had never been conveyed by deed. In [639 ii was granted by the town ol Boston to Thos. Ruggles, who, five years later. " knowynge all men must dye," left it by will to his son John. In October, [658, ••John Ruggles, being by God's hand weak in body yet light in memory, blessed be (i<>d." made his will, which was approved at a "Meetinge of the Magistrates, giving this home 1< »tt to his sonne fohn," who owned it until [705, when it passed, by agreement, to his relative Eben Crafts, ed in [722, and the lot descended to his son Eben, who lived in this house until 1789, when he died and left it to his son Eben, who resided here seventy-five years, and died in lS6.|. His trustees sold the old house and home lot to Stillman I!. Allen. Esq., and this was the first ^^d ever made of the premises, 74) THE CUR'/ IS HOUSE. This interesting old house stood near the Boylston Station on the Providence Road. It was taken down about three years since. It was built by William Curtis, about [640, and was always in possession of his descend- ants until its recent sale. Washington occupied it for a short time at the com- ■ Revolutionar} War. THE THOREAU HOUSE. This old building stands on Prince Street. It is in a very dilapidated condition. It is chiefly noted for having been for man}- years owned by the Thoreau family. Jno. Thoreau, grandfather of Henry, the well-known and somewhat eccentric writer. < B -ton from the Island of Jersey, in 177.,. and soon afterward bought this house of the Orrok family. It was at that time about fifty years old. having been built about 1720 by a man named Sherwin. The i <>f the Thoreaus to Concord, where Henry was born, took place in 1800. but this property remained until recently in possession of Maria Tho- reau, the last of this family. THE GEE-GRAY HOUSE. This building stands on Prince Street, at the corner of Lafayette Ave- nue. It \\ as pn ibably built by the Rev. Joshua Gee ; at all events it belonged i" him when he died, in 1750. This house was used as a military hospital during the occupation of Boston h\ the British troops, especially after the battle of Bunker I [ill. It was afterward noted for having been the residence of Capt. Wm. Gray, who was a noted ship-owner, and who built Gray's Wharf. It is now in a dilapidated condition, and will probably soon disappear. So) GREEN DRAGON INN. This was in its day a very famous tavern, especially preceding and during the Revolutionary troubles. It was probably built by Deputy-Gov- ernor Stoughton, ami it afterward had many owners. In [695 it was kept by Alex. Smith. In 171,^ it became the property of Dr. Win. Douglas, the cele- brated Scotch physician. This interesting old building stood '>n Union Street, and there is a stone tablet in the front wall of Nos. S0-N6. showing the dragon carved in relief. It was taken down in iSjS. The first religious servic es 1 if the Sandemanians were held here, in 1 7' i | . At the breaking out of the Revolutionary troubles it was a prominent resort of the leading patriots. This is evident from the following sample of patriotic poetry pub- lished at this period : — "Rally, Mohawks! bring out your axes, And tell King George we'll pay no taxes ( )n his foreign tea. His threats are vain : he need not think To force our wives and girls to drink His vile Bohea ! Then rally, boys ! and hasten on To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon." (82) ////:' PROVINCE HOUSE. riir Province House was situated about sevenrj feet west of what is now Washington Street, almost opposite the Old South Church, with ample grounds filled with shrubbery and flower gardens, and altogether a must attractive place. It was built in 1679 for a private residence by Peter Sar- geant, a wealthy London merchant, who came here a tew years before. In 17 i'' the Pro\ ince purchased it for the use of the < fo\ ernment, and se\ era! of al governors afterward made it their place of abode. Alter the Revo- lution it was occupied for State offices until the present State House was com- pleted. In r8ii it was granted to the Massachusetts General Hospital, who ; t for ninety-nine years to David Greenough. In [864 it w a_s nearly destroyed by lire. What has been left of it is so surrounded by other build- ings that it is difficult to trace its remains. The vane, made of copper and nting an Indian, has been preserved, and is owned by the Massachu- setts I listoi ii ,ii Society . (84) //// g ///' u /'/■ //' n si . Hou e," No. t6 I lull Street, was erected in 17:1 In a Mr. Clough, and was purchased bj Mr. Benjamin Gallop (afterward tailed Galloupe ), in 177-. who died in 1776. just after the Declaration of [ndepend- The estate then became the property of his youngest son, Richard, and after Richard's death was inherited b\ the youngest daughter, who mar- ; ■ . William Marble, and w as sold In him in 1 S77. a short time alter the death of his wife. This house was occupied by the British troops in 1775. and was the headquarters oi General Gage <>n the day of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Its timbers were cut in the vicinity. Benjamin Gallop, owner of the so-called "Galloupe House," on 1 lull Street, was the grandsi 1 !'■ na lam Gallop, who in [688, as second officer oi the Sloop Mary. — Capt. Samuel Pease, Commander (who was fatall) 1 during the engagement) , — captured the notorious pirate Tom round, who was afterward hung in chains upon the (then) island called e, in Boston 1 [arbor. The grandfather of this Benadam was the sou of Capt. John Gallop, who was slain at the famous Narragansetl Swamp fight, in [676, while in command oi his own company and the Mohegan Indians, and the grandson oi Capt. John Gallop, who. in 1636, in Narragansett Bay, captured the vessel which was taken In the Indians from John Oldham, and of whom Cooper, in his Naval History, says, foughl ■•the first engagement that probabl) ever occurred between the inhabitants of the American Colonies ami enemies afloat." "Gallop's tsland," in Boston Harbor, was owned and occupied by the lattei Captain John ; and the island of Nix's Male, upon which the pirate was hung, was also granted to him in 1636, by the Colonial Government, and con- tained at that time twelve acn of high land, all of which has since entirely ued. (86) HANCOCK TAYERN. In a narrow alley leading oul of Faneuil Hall Square, called Corn Court, stands an ancient hostelrj . which claims to be the oldest inn now remaining in Boston; but it has been so changed that it bears little resem- to the original building, which doubtless was not more than t\\.. high. There is little doubt that the present building occupies the site of the first inn built in Boston, by Samuel Cole, in [634. 'This building has long since disappeared, and the present brick structure was erected about 1 7 s< '- or thereabouts, and it was. like the Green Dragon, a place of resort by the patriots in the early Revolutionary days. It was not known by its present name until after the election of John Hancock as Governor, in 1780, when John Duggan was the landlord. During the last days of the eighteenth century this inn was the favor- of noted foreigners who visited this country, among win mi ma} be mentioned Talleyrand and Louis Philippe, [t was also a favorite resort of I '" njamin Franklin. 88 NEWMAN HOUSE. COR. SALEM VND SHI VFE STR I This was probably built by Jonathan Dwight, about 17^7. He sold il in 17) 1 to Thos. Newman. R bert, one of his sons, was Christ Church, and was und mbtedl) the man who hung the lanterns in the tower as a signal to Revere. British officers were quartered in the house, but young Newman climbei 1- window to the back shed, which is shown in the view, and then easily jumped to the ground, whence, having the keys, he entered the church, and having hung the lanterns returned to his room in the same way, without having any suspicions attached to him. It is possible he was arrested, but nothing could be prosed against him. It has been recently taken dovs n. __M ■■ .„: » ml ~^HHH1 — fWI *v -I ►— -, 1 THE PAIhlE-TREMERE HOUSE. This is probably the oldest brick house now remaining in Boston. It was probably built by John Paine, and he sold it to Wm. Downe, in [674. It stands at the extreme end of North Street, and has long been in posses- ere familj . Its peculiarities may be seen at a glance: the heavy bands, the vari- ous shapes of the windows, its massive chimneys, etc., are well worthy ol notice; and the reai of the house, as well as the interior, arc well worth a visit. 7 HE OLD FEATHER STORE. 'This old and w ell-know n building, which \\ as taken down about i860, si 1 at the corner of North Streel and Dock Square. It was built in 1680. Its overhanging stories and main gables, and other features, so different from the monotonous appearance of surrounding buildings, always rendered it an object of curiosity to strangers visiting Boston, and it is a great pity that it has not been preserved as a memento of by -gone times. Almost all kinds of business have been carried on here; among others the Simpsons kept a leather store here: hut why this particular business rather than any other should have become it-- cognomen, 1 am unable to saj . 1 h PAIjL reveres house. This house stands on North Square, and was built in [678 b\ Robert Howard. It had afterward several owners, and in 1770 John Erving sold it to Paul Revere. He lived here about thirty years, and afterward removed to a brick house in Charter Street. The exterior has been materially changed. It had originally three windows in the upper story, and the trout door in the middle oi the lower story. Paul Revere was descended from a French Huguenot family. He was horn in Boston (where is not known), Dec. 21, 17. Wi- llis career as a leader in the great struggle for liberty and independ- ence is so well known that it is needless i" go into details. Alter th< of the war he resumed his business as a -old and silversmith and a manufac- turer of hells, for which he was very famous. The first hell he east was in [792. It weighed 912 pounds, and cost nearly C 7 5 . This famous bell is said to he still in existence. 96 THE CLOUGH HOUSE. This stands at the corner of Sheafe and Margaret Streets, and was built about i 7 j j by Benjamin Clough. h afterward came by marriage into V 1 ' famil) . and continued to be owned by them until It is the oldest house on the street. The front door used to be on the south side, where was a large garden. W8) isggmmm~7^^^~^ : /- :^^ i THE -HI 4KE Ih >l \/:. This very old house is in Dorchester; was built in 1650. by Deacon James Blake, [t stands in the reai oi Cottage Street. The descendants of Deacon Blake were prominent men in the town of Dorchester, as well as It is not certain, although quite probable, that this James Blake was a nephew of the celebrated Admiral Blake, who was horn at Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, England, in [598. The Admiral was an ardent Repub- lican, and did good service on land, as well as at sea. BIRTHPLACE OF EDWARD EVERETT. This was built about i 770. I Rev. Oliver Everett was pastor of the New Smith Church in Bos- ton in 1782, ami after giving up his pastorate there removed to Dorchester, ami in this house his son, the noted Edward Everett, was born in 1794. It stands on the corner of Boston and Pond Streets. It is said to have been occupied by General Washington. It is said that Koht. Oliver, a West India merchant, built this house. // ELLS MANSION. The oldest part of this building (the most prominent portion in the picture) was probably built about 1670, but by whom it is difficult to say. The farther portion is somewhat more modern. A. lam Winthrop owned it in ml afterward it passed through many ownerships. For nearly a hun- dred years past it has belonged to the Wells family. It is probably the oldest wooden building now standing at the North End of Boston; and its timbers are so substantial that it may last for many \ ears 3 et. It is the only old house left in Boston having two projecting stories ; and this fact alone is proof of its antiquity. ,..., THE BADGER HOI SE. This old house is on Prime Street, corner of Thatcher Street, and was built about 17=''. probabl} by Benjamin Brown, and afterward owned by Caleb Champney. Col. Thos. Badger bought it in 1802. He was quite a prominenl man in his time. This building, which, quaint and somewhal dilapidated, has, with the exception of the simp in front, been very little 1 hanged. (106) THE FANEUIL MANSION. 'This large and handsome building stood nearly opposite King's Chapel, was built by Andrew F., the uncle of Peter Faneuil, and he became the wealthiest merchant in Boston. The Fane.uils were descended from a French Huguenot family, who fled from France to avoid persecution. Here In lived in a style that befitted his wealth and position. But he is best known for Ids munificent gift of the structure that bears Ids name to the town of Faneuil did not live long after the completion oi the Mali: and in i;''i it unfortunately caught fire and burnt to the ground. The new hall w as completed March i.j. 1 70 | . Miss Quincy thus describes this mansion: "The deep courtyard, ornamented by flowers and shrubs, was divided into an upper and lower platform In a high ^laeis, surmounted h\ a richly wrought iron railing. The edifice was of brick. The terraces that rose from the paved court behind the house weic supported by massive walis of hewn granite, and were ascended b>. flights oi steps. \ grasshopper glittered on a summer house which commanded a view second onlj to that from Beacon Hill." THE OUD CORNER BOOKSTORE. The land upon which this well-known building stands belonged, in the early days, to William Hutchinson. It afterward passed through several ownerships, and in the fire of Octo- ber, 171 i. the buildings which stood here wen- burnt down: and in the following year the present brick building was erected, by a Mr. Crease. I 1 tl '1 tte the property has been sold and re-sold, and, in i s i;. the fronl pari was used as an apothecary shop In Dr. Sam'] Clarke, father of the Rev. fas. Freeman Clarke, until 1828; since which time it has been famous as a bookstore. During all this time it has. of course, none through man\- alterations; so that at the present time it retains very few of its orginal features. THE ASVINWALL HOUSE. This i 'Id house, standing on Aspinwall Avenue, 1 1 1 line, opposite St. 'aul's Episcopal Church, was built al i In Peter Aspinwall, who came from Toxteth Park, neai Liverpool, England, in i 630. ! le si ttled first in Dorchester, where he lived till [650, when he and Roberl Sharp bought of William Colburn the farm on which this house stands. The house has never been owned by any one hut a direct descendant of Peter Aspinwall. It is owned now by the Honorable William Aspinwall, to whom it was devised by his lather, the late Colonel Tin mi as Aspinwall, who died in 1876, and to whom it had been devised by his lather, the late Dr. William Aspinwall. who died in [823. Mr. Aspinwall is in the sixth generation from his ancestor Peter. Since 1803 the house has not been occupied by any member of the Aspinwall family, Dr. Aspinwall having moved in that year to the house built by him on the road to Watertown, now railed Washington Street. This last house is owned and occupied by the only grandson of its builder of the same name — the Honorable William Aspinwall before mentioned. di KING'S CHAPEL. tall wooden building was erected on this spot for conducting re- ligious servii irding to the forms of the Church of England, under the govern \ndros. but it was not until 17 |w that Governor Shirley laid the foundation stone of this quaint old edifice. In 1783, under the ministry of Mr. Freeman, the society abandoned of the Trinity, and thus the first Episcopal Church became the first Unitarian Church of New England. The first organ ever used in New England was given to this society, in 1713, 1\\ Thos. Brattle. In the hur\ ing ground adjoining lie the remains of Rev. John Cotton. I I'-ii-. also, wen- interred the following governors: John Winthrop, in 1649; John Endicott, [665; John Leverett, [679; and Wm. Shirley, 177 1 . besides many other eminent men. (>M) KIMBAL L -PARKER HOUSE. This peculiar old house stands on Unity Street : was built by El Kimball about 1710, or perhaps somewhat earlier, and he sold it to Caleb Parker in 1724, and it has continued in the possession of his descendants until the present time. The bricks are said to have been imported from England, and are larger than those in general use. It has wide bands similar to those in the Tremere 1 louse. (116) THE MAJHER-EL101 HOI Si . This is a portion of an old wooden building squeezed in between two larger buildings, near the north corner of Hanover and Bennett Streets. Built b} Increase Mather in [677, and here he died in 1723. Here his son, Cotton Mather, was born, and spent his early days. Ft afterward was owned by Rev. Andrew Eliot, and thru by his son. Jul in Eliot, D.D., who was born in [754, and who, alter preaching a few years in different places, was ordained as the successor oi his father, in iJ7<). pastor ol the new North Church, Boston. lie died in 1813. This house has been disfigured In a miserable little shop built in front of the lower story, and which is not represented in the picture. ORAhlGE-LlNCOLhl HOI W. This building stands at the corner of Salem and North Bennett Streets. It was built by Robert Orange, about [716, and he kept it as a tavern until his death, in 17s (• ' l - after changing hands several times, be- came the property of Noah Lincoln, who lived here until his death, in [856. Since that time it has undergone main- changes and alterations; but the old paneled chimneys still remain. 1 . THE HARTT HOI SE. ill 1.1. STB Ml. Built, probably, about [740, l>\ Baker. The Hartts were greal shipwrights. Capt. Edmund limit built in his own yard the famous frigate " Con- stitution," and main other famous ships. Edward, his oldest son, bought this house, in [803, of the heirs oi AJex. Baker. IT.-.M CAPEN HOUSE. This was built by a descendant of Bernard Capen, who came to this country [633, and settled in Dorchester. He was a ver} old man when he came t<> this countrj . as he died five years afterward, aged seventy-six. I lis gravestone is supposed to have been the oldest in New England. This house is on Union Street, corner of Marshall Lane, and was for several generations owned and occupied by the Capen family. It was once the great dry-goods store ol Boston; and here Benj. Tl ipson (afterward Count Rumford) and Samuel Parkman served as apprentices to Hopestill Capen. 124 TILES WN HOUSE. COR. PRINCE Wl> MARGARET STREETS. John Tileston, who lived in this house, was the most noted school- master that Boston ever had. He was born in Boston, Feb. -7. 17. ,5. In 1 7 f > j he was appointed master of the school in Bennett Street, at a salary of $500 per annum : and heir he remained until 1819, when he retired ; but his salary, which he- richly deserved, was continued to his death, Oct. £3, [826. This house where he lived so long was once a very pleasant domicile, shaded by trees, but it has been shockingly disfigured, and. added to that, it retains scarcely any semblance of its former respectability. He left no de- tnts. OCHTORLONY HOUSE. NORTH STREET. The exact age of this house is not known ; Dr. John Perkins lived here in [695. It was sold to Capt. Edward Martyn, in 1 7 1 7 . and his widow sold it to Andrew Tyler, whose wife was sister to Sir William Pepperell. In 17' 1 - it was purchased In Capt. David Ochtorlony, a son ol the Laird ofPitforthy, in Scotland. Captain Ochtorlony's sun David entered the British army, in which he attained high distinction, becoming a Major-General and a Knight G nd Cross of the Bath. I lis lather died in this house, and it has since had several owners, and the front on North Street has been entirely chang< d ; but the side and end retain their antique appearance, except the windows, which have modern sashes in them. ("8) Z:< CIa)UGH-YERNON HOUSE. The old house stands on Vernon Place, off Charter Street, and was probably built by William Clough, as he was living here in [698. It is a fine specimen ol the houses built in early times. It will be noticed that the second story al the end overhangs the lower part considerably, which fact alone would attest its great age. The middle door and the stack of chimneys are also v\ orthv of m itice. CHRIST CHURCH. ON S VLEM STR E] T, I IPPl >S1 n III l.l. STR I I r. This is the oldest church edifice now standing in Boston, having been built in [723. Its style of architecture is very plain and simple, but is very substantially built. It possesses a chime of eighl bells, brought from England in [744, and here the first organ was placed in 17s' 1 : the present organ took its place \ ery recently. On the oth of October, [804, a violent storm blew down the steeple, and the present one was erected in [807, which is eighteen feet lower than the old one. but exactly similar to it in style. name of this building is Christ Church, but it is now gen- erally known as the " Old North Church." There is no reasonable doubt that it was from the windows of this church the lanterns were hung as a signal to Paid Revere, April 18, 1775. In front of the tower is a tablet with the following inscription: — -nil. SIGN \l. LANTERNS OF l'.\l I. REVERE, displayed in iii!'. steeple 01 this church April 18, 1775. W \l; M.h THE COl NTKV CONCORD. si \ ' OLD SOUTH MEETING-HOUSE. This, the third church organized in Boston, was built in 173c). replac- ing a wooden building. Many important meetings were held here at the breaking out of the Re\ 1 ilutionarv War. Benjamin Franklin, who was born in a house on the opposite side of the street, was baptized here. Its walls have resounded to the eloquence of Whitefield. Ii is no longer used for sacred services, but is a historical museum building. F/RS T MEET/NG-HOUSE. • 1\ represents the first meeting-house built by tin settlers ol Boston, as correctly as any other that has been before pictured of it. Wi 1 w >\\ little more than that its walls were built of clay or mud. and that it was covered with a straw roof. It stood opposite to, and very near, where the ' >hl Stair I louse now is. (136) WKK^B^^B^ i^^^^^^^ : ' ■ BLACKSTONE'S HOUSE. no certainty as to Blackstone's settlement m; but judging from what little we can glean from Winthrop's His- tory of Mew England, it is probable that he came from England, with Captain Wollaston, in [625, and left that company on Morton's arrival, and m settlement in 1626, so thai on the arrival of Winthrop he had been living >me three or four years. He sold out all his claim to the Winthop jn [i We find by the records that at a court 1 April, [633: ••his that Mr. Wm. Blaxton shall have 50 acres set out for him near to his house , forever." It is quite probable that he was a clergyman of the Chun h ol England, of a liberal turn of mind, and that he did not fall in with the strict and sombre notions of the Puritans, and therefore left them, to what is new Rhode Island, w lure he laid out a farm on the stream called after him, Blackstone River, a few miles from Providence. 1 [ere he lived until his death. Ma\ 26, [675. Hi vas married July 4, [659, to Sarah Stephenson, a widow, by Govern l ndicott. lie well improved his 1:1 apples from his farm were held in high repute. About a year after his death the Indians burnt his house, and a valu- able library was thus destroyed. I he proper spelling of his name was Blaxton, as this is the way he signed it at Emanuel College, Cambridge, wl k hi degrees of A.I!, and A.M., in 1 6 ; ai I [621. As he was alone when found by Winthrop's company, and had no means ol obtaining glass for his windows or shingles for his house, it was undoubtedly built of clay or mud. and covered with hay or straw . and the chimin bu rough stones, plastered with clay. It stood some- when 1 1 of Beacon and Charles Streets, vers near the water. ■*&t^,*^4***&&& BRAffl F • _ R p ss