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 Headquarters, corner of Main and Woburn Sts. 
 
 
 ce five minutes before the procession moves. 
 
 visions are formed, and not later than 10 o'clock. 
 
 will move through the following streets : Harnden, 
 
 i, Woburn, Summer Ave., Mineral, High, Woburn, 
 
 J staff and Chief Marshal; Reviewing Stand, corner 
 
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 t Headquarters on Woburn St. on Tuesday morning 
 
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 >rder, 
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 l6 44 
 
 250 
 
 th 
 
 1894 
 
 Anniversary of the Incorporation 
 
 OK 
 
 . . REDDING . . 
 
 BY TUB TOWNS OK 
 
 READING, 
 WAKEFIKLD, 
 
 AND 
 
 NORTH READING. 
 
 BANQUET, 
 
 **^s 
 
 AT READING, 
 
 . . May 29, at 5.30 P. M
 
 Oon arc tocleomt, genllcmtn ! (Come, musicians, plan. 
 
 ROMEO AND JULIET. 
 
 Program m 
 
 INVOCATION 
 
 Be present at our table, Lord ; 
 Be here and everywhere adored ; 
 These mercies bless, and grant that we 
 May feast in Paradise with Thee. 
 
 Tune : Old Hundred. 
 
 (An old English grace. All are invited to join.) 
 
 . Rev. F. S. ADAMS 
 
 qoo& digestion to nou all; anb onct more 
 sootoer a torlromc on you, J'Sltlromr all. 
 
 HRNKV VIII. 
 
 4)m Itt us bvcatbr. 
 
 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. 
 
 SELECTION . . ..... QUARTETTE 
 
 ADDRESS . WALTER S. PARKER, President of the evening 
 
 SELECTION ........ QUARTETTE 
 
 TOASTS AND RESPONSES, in behalf of the President of the 
 United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
 
 His Excellency, the Governor, FREDERICK T. GREENHALGE 
 Hon. CARROLL I). WRIGHT, U. S. Com. of Labor 
 
 SELECTION ..... 
 Massachusetts in the Past " 
 
 QUARTETTE 
 Ex-Gov. A. H. RICE
 
 "The Legislature" 
 
 SELECTION . 
 
 " Our Educators " 
 
 [ Hon. WM. M. BUTLER, Pres. of the Senate 
 Hon. CHARLES F. BROWN 
 . SOLON BANCROFT, Esq. 
 
 f "The Press" 
 ! "The School" 
 
 SELECTION ..... 
 " Grand Army of the Republic " . 
 " Sons of Veterans " . 
 SELECTION ..... 
 
 " Our Friends and Neighbors " j 
 "Our Industries" 
 
 " Ve Ancient Town" . 
 
 ORCHESTRA 
 
 . STEPHEN O'MEARA 
 Rev. A. E. WINSHIP 
 
 QUARTETTE 
 
 Capt. JOHN G. B. ADAMS 
 
 J. B. MACCABE 
 
 ORCHESTRA 
 
 . O. V. WATERMAN 
 . GEO. A. MARDEN 
 
 Hon. H. G. WADLIN 
 FRED W. HATCH 
 
 ! ji foas tuber so bctbumpib bith tooibs 
 first callcb mn brother's fatber bat). 
 
 KING JOHN. 
 
 SELECTION . 
 
 QUARTETTE 
 
 dbc car, touch, Mitrll all plcascb from tbe table rise. 
 
 3M once, goob nio^t : 
 Stanb not upon tbt orftcr of nour going, 
 Uit qo at once. A Itinb goob night 
 o all. 
 
 MACBETH. 
 
 MUSIC. 
 
 By REEVE'S ORCHESTRA. 
 
 By THE BEACON MALE QUARTETTE, 
 
 GEORGE J. PARKER. ARTHUR B. HITCHCOCK. 
 
 GEORGE W. WANT. DAVID M. BABCOCK
 
 if- fitfpf !%! ! Iff! 
 '1*

 
 BOSTC 
 
 shers. 
 
 WEDNESDAY MORN] 
 
 INCORPORATION DAY, 
 
 Reading's Celebration 
 Marred by Rain. 
 
 Whole Town Was Sad, and 
 Everybody Kicked, 
 
 Postponement of Several 
 Events Necessitated. 
 
 Public Meeting Addressed 
 by Gov, Greenhalge, 
 
 
 aid), and the very air of the sacred edi- 
 fice spoke of antiquity to the stranger. 
 
 Reeves' band aroused the audience to 
 a lively pitch, and then Mr. Walter S. 
 Parker, chairman of the Reading gen- 
 eral committee, called the assemblage 
 to order. In a few well chosen words 
 \M" then introduced Gov. Greenhalge, 
 who said he was delighted to be there. 
 
 "Any one can be a selectman on 
 sunny days," he said, "and any one can 
 be chief magistrate of the commonwealth 
 In sunny weather. The strength and 
 value of the commonwealth is shown at 
 a time when difficulties confront the 
 community, and is measured by the 
 courage with which it meets the diffi- 
 culties." 
 
 In mentioning his appearance in the 
 pulpit he spoke of the early religious 
 training of the Readings and its great 
 influence on the 
 
 CIVII, (iOVK.RNMENT OF TODAY. 
 
 At the close of the Governor's ad- 
 dress, Chairman Parker said that as the 
 sun was coming out the parade would 
 start at 3 o'clock. The effect of this
 
 araur in tut- .uiciiiuuii 
 and Ball in the Evening, 
 
 A bitter disappointment. 
 
 That was the mornine experience for 
 old Mother Reading 1 , yesterday, when it 
 came her turn for hilarity in the joint 
 celebration of the quarter-millennial 
 celebration of ancient "Redding." 
 
 It was the second and last, or "Incor- 
 poration" day of the observance, and 
 not one in a thousand had any idea 
 that nature would be so fickle after giv- 
 ing WakHU-ld SD glorious a day on 
 Monday. 
 
 It's too bad." cried the ladles. The 
 men echoed the sentiments, but added a 
 
 MR. HARLF.Y PRF.NTISS. 
 
 Chief Marshal. 
 
 announcement tended to a breaking up 
 of the meeting to a greater or less de- 
 gree. 
 
 I,ieut.-Gov. Wolcott said he did not 
 know what words he could add to those 
 of the Governor, but he joined him in 
 the general congratulations. The early 
 days were days of hardship and penury, 
 although days of heroic struggle and 
 days which laid the foundation of the 
 nation. 
 
 He spoke of the articles in the his- 
 torical collections in the high school 
 building, and compared them, in gen- 
 eral, to the luxuries of today. He told 
 of the motives which had induced those 
 early hardy settlers to push their way 
 into the then unbroken forests of pres- 
 ent Reading, and then he took up the 
 services the Headings had extended in 
 the several wars in which the country 
 had engaged. 
 
 Hon. Carroll D. Wright, a resident 
 of Readirier. also indulged in remarks 
 concerning the weather. He slated that 
 it had been suirtrested that he and Hun. 
 Horace <;. Wadlin should indulge in a 
 eeneral talk on statistics, and tliere- 
 fore u-ive the citi/.'iis something dry. 
 Thev had declined, however, as the 
 aericultunil d. looked on 
 
 tile \veitther. Hlwavs f'H- the bell, 
 
 r, and had full 
 men!
 
 Ing: to the programme, .M 
 
 Francis to;ich"d ;i match to the huge 
 bonfire 01- 'ill an.! a (lam.- soon 
 
 shot into the heavens, rctitcting its 
 light for miles around. 
 
 'Ph.- rir- was kept up till da 
 Tin-re \vas a struggle for mastery be- 
 tweeii Die flames iiin.1 the rain, but the. 
 fire got a clean knock-down at e 
 deluge. 
 
 About 8 o'clock yesterday morning the 
 
 downpour began, and wh-n the anxious 
 
 pened their eyea then- 
 
 seemed little hope for a pleasant day. 
 THE WHOLE TOWT ! KI.T SU>, 
 
 ami everybody kicked. 
 
 At S::;i) o'clock the sun tried to strug- 
 gle through the clouds, but made a. dis- 
 mal failure of it. Rain fell in torrents 
 till noon, then tapered off for clearing 
 weather till > o'clock, when Old Sol was 
 himself again. 
 
 Reading- was a pretty dreary town all 
 the morning. The bands pre-empted all 
 the halls, played whist and smoked till 
 they got tired, and then practised 
 marches and ball music for the edifica- 
 tion of the onlookers. 
 
 The military men enjoyed themselves 
 as best they could, and did not seem 
 to fret any more than did the bands, 
 whose pay was assured, rain or shine. 
 
 far the largest measure of anx- 
 iety fell on the shoulders of the va- 
 rious committees Reading- had appro- 
 priate.! J4(iOO for the fun and as much 
 more wan sub >mj \Vak-lieM 
 
 and North Heading were fully as Had. 
 Chief Marshal Prentiss rode around in 
 the wet until he was soaked, trying to 
 see some Indication of the sun appear- 
 ing, and the telephone station was over- 
 burdened with anxious queries on the 
 prospect In general. 
 
 Th" 1M Massachusetts school regi- 
 ni'Tit was to have its annual field day 
 in the town. The tents were all 
 pitched, and baked beans, rolls and 
 fruit by the barrel were on hand for 
 the boy soldiers. The field day was 
 the first feature of the day that was 
 postponed till Saturday. 
 
 Then one after another feature was 
 postponed all the morning long all 
 but the hell ringing and salutes by He- 
 
 concluding 
 
 the crowd tot outside II 
 and staff 
 Inii' aroiino i.. u.-i rhe lin.- of ;. 
 
 Consid-rint:' ihe conditions to be over- 
 come. 1 1: \y it s really an e 
 l-iit one. First came Baldwin's ('ad.-t 
 band, then the sltrnal coips of the I'd 
 brigade under the leadership of l.ieut. 
 llenrv Snratue: the chief marshal and 
 staff, the indenendent corps of Cadets 
 of I'.oston. l.-)0 strong, under command 
 of Mai. Georsre R. Rogers, and then the 
 invited tiuests In barouches. 
 In the .a rrlaues were: 
 (li.v. (irpfahalijt 1 , I.ieut.-Gov. Wolcott, 
 On. J)alton, ineinbern of the Governor's giatT, 
 Senator lirovvn of Heading, representative 
 crol't nint Miller. lion, rarroll li. \\-riglil, Coin 
 niander-in Chief .1. :. U. Adams of the <;. A. It. and 
 many others of note. 
 
 Following these came the I,awi- 
 ry (two guns) under comman 
 l.ieut. Sanborn. This company ' 
 the salute at the appointed time. 
 
 A few more barouch.-s. containing 
 ex -Mayor Hart of Boston, and s. 
 men and leading citizens from 
 three Readings, follo.wed. 
 
 The second division was under themar- 
 shalshlp of D. \\". \\Vston. It was "led" 
 by the lOverett drum corps and fol- 
 lowed by ,1. F. Ruggle.s camp L'.'!. S. of 
 V., veteran post 194, (3. A. It., veterans 
 in carriages and in barges, and 
 temperance brigade. 
 
 TIIK KIIU- DKI-AI: i HI 
 
 came next, led by the Salem Cadet 
 band, and lined up in following order: 
 Reading fire department, K. C. Xich 
 chief: engine 1. hose 1. Sunnier hi 
 and ladder trucks (built in 17r>9). 
 ^. hose :,'. and barouches with veteran 
 and invited firemen; WakehYld depart- 
 ment. Chief Kriglneer Flanders 
 charge; American Watch 
 bnnd. engine !. Wakefield volume 
 company, and Greenwood ho*. 
 pany. The North Reading depaiime 
 followed, and a tally-ho contain!: 
 bers of Reading Athletic club 
 up th.- i. 
 
 Charles K. ITusscy was marshal of '' 
 fourth division, which was
 
 Lawrence battery. 
 
 The firemen started In for a parade, 
 but this was 
 
 NOT A KLORIOI S 
 
 The town was vory handsomely dec- 
 orated, and business blo.-ks, private 
 dwellings, town house and the old 
 house opposite the Common, where < 'ol. 
 Bancroft, father of the historian, and 
 e stopped, and Odd Fel- 
 lows' Hall, whore thr reception com- 
 mittee held forth, and the Reading 
 Athletic Club, where the press head- 
 quarters, under charge of Chairman 
 >. . Loring. were located, being the 
 more noticeable. By afternoon many 
 decorations were a conglomeration of 
 colors. 
 
 The Governor and invited guests ar- 
 il train at 10 o'clock, and 
 the customary salute was fired. The 
 party was driven to the reception com- 
 mittee's rooms, where the party re- 
 1, the visitors being introduced by 
 Senator Brown of Reading. 
 
 In the party were Gov. Greenhalge, 
 Lleut.-Gov. Wolcott, Congressman 
 Stevens, ex-Gov. Tuttle of New Hamp- 
 shire, Adjt.-Gen. Dalton, Gen. David- 
 son and Cols. Benton, Carr, Paige and 
 Moses. 
 
 The party was entertained at luncheon 
 by Hon. Horace G. Wadlin, and time 
 was killed In various ways, till it was 
 led to hold a general public meet- 
 ing in the Old South Church at 2 
 o'clock. Meanwhile, everybody who 
 visit. 'd the open houses, at which 
 committeemen. railroad men and others 
 
 i in the old-time fashion. 
 It was -2 o'clock, with just a shade of 
 light in the heavens somewhere, when 
 the church was packed with moist 
 humanity. This church society Is one 
 Of the oldest in the state Cits history 
 has been published In The Boston Her- 
 
 ronoweu 
 
 (some 20 In all) containing th 
 iing Temperance Union and 
 school children. In this division 
 was a float representing the Pllgft 
 fathers. The Woman's Relief Corp 
 also had a float representing a happ> 
 home scene. 
 
 This ended (h.. parade feature. Th"< 
 march was through many of the princi- 
 pal streets, and was in progress upward 
 of two hours. After this the invited 
 guests were driven to the reception 
 enmmii toe's headquarters, and shortly 
 afterward carriages were again taken, 
 thi; time to Black's block, the big 
 wooden structure opposite the railroad 
 station, for the grand banquet. 
 
 At 6 o'clock the bell ringing and sa- 
 lute firing were on again, and during the 
 evening there was a band concert on 
 the Common. The green was lighted 
 throughout with red and green flre. 
 and presented a pretty scene. 
 
 The firemen held a banquet in Lyceum 
 Hall at 1 o'clock. Chief Engineer Ed- 
 ward C. Nichols was toastmaster, and 
 addresses were made by ex-Chief Ben- 
 jamin Boyce of Reading, Chief Flan- 
 ders of Wakefield, Chief Simonds of 
 North Reading, ex-Chief Marchant of 
 Gloucester, Engineer Crowe of the same 
 city, ex-Chief Osborne of Salem and 
 Chief A. F. Richardson of Danvers, 
 In the evening the department had a 
 ball in the same hall, which was largely 
 attended. With this feature ended the 
 celebration of 1894. 
 
 BANQUET AND SPEECHMAKING. 
 
 Closing Feature of the Reading Quarter- 
 Millennial Celebration. 
 The vast hall in P'-ck's block, Read- 
 ing. wa filled to overflowing last even- 
 
 l CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.)
 
 ^*< ** 01 -' rt> (0 O 3 ^-K i iJ II *** 
 
 w^oorfM OB a o ^ ?p?c^p;r5 
 
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 ^IJI ^i^bl^i 
 
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 X 
 
 c:
 
 O 
 
 GHNHALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TOWN OF READING, MASS. 
 
 INCLUDING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF 
 
 WITH 
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SKETCHES, 
 
 1 
 
 * 
 
 FROM 1639 TO 1874. 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 By HON. LILLEY EATON. 
 
 
 
 
 ; 
 
 ; The hills are dearest, which our childish feet 
 M.IVL- climbed the earliest; and the streams most sweet 
 Are ever those at which our young lips drank, 
 Stooped to their waters o'er the grassy bank." 
 
 WIUTTIBR. 
 
 
 9s *&*jf 
 
 V # 
 
 4", 
 
 . 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 34 SCHOOL STREET. 
 
 1874.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, 
 
 BY JOHN S. EATON, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 
 EXPLANATORY PREFACE. 
 
 IN order that the readers of this Historical Record may fully understand 
 its origin, and the method of its completion, these explanatory pages are 
 presented. 
 
 In the month of February, 1865, the Hon. Lilley Eaton delivered a lecture, 
 containing a portion of the historical reminiscences herein recorded, and 
 subsequently received the following letter : 
 
 HON. LILLEY EATON 
 
 [COPY.] 
 
 "SOUTH READING, Feb. 25, 1865. 
 
 Dear Sir, The undersigned, your fellow-townsmen, would respectfully tender you 
 their congratulations for your very interesting lecture, delivered at the Town Hall, on 
 Wednesday evening last. They feel that it is to you, more than any one else, that the 
 town is indebted for the high position it occupies in intelligence and progress ; to you, 
 who have so long been identified with its schools, and all that goes to educate us in 
 the paths of knowledge and prosperity ; to you, who deem no labor too great that will 
 enrich the present from the gleanings of the past ; to you, who, in the halls of legisla- 
 tion, have represented us so long and so well. 
 
 Happy is the town which claims a citizen of equal worth with the one we are now 
 addressing. 
 
 As everything relating to the history of our town is worthy of permanent record, we 
 respectfully request you to prepare a copy of your lecture, or a history of the town, 
 for publication. 
 
 We are, Dear Sir, 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 THOS. EMERSON. 
 S. O. RICHARDSON. 
 EDWARD MANSFIELD. 
 (Signed,) JONAS EVANS. 
 
 K B. WILEY. 
 C. WAKEFIELD. 
 P. H. SWEETSER." 
 
 In compliance with the above request, the preparation ot these records 
 was speedily commenced, and from year to year their collection and arrange-
 
 j v EXPLANATORY PREFACE. 
 
 ment were carried forward with a patience alike remarkable and unwearied, 
 in the confident expectation of their completion and publication under his 
 personal supervision. 
 
 The unexpected death of Mr. Eaton, which occurred on the i6th of Jan- 
 uary, 1872, at the age of seventy years, prevented the accomplishment of this 
 design, and the manuscript he had prepared was found to be in some portions 
 incomplete. 
 
 In accordance with the wishes of many of the inhabitants of Wakefield, 
 and others, who desired copies of the records which had been thus laboriously 
 obtained, and by authority of the town of Wakefield, the work has been com- 
 pleted through the agency of a committee appointed for the purpose. 
 
 Although its completion has been effected by hands less skilful than those 
 employed at its commencement, an attempt has been made to carry out the 
 original design (as far as such design was apparent), in the arrangement and 
 embellishment of the work, and to present it to the public, as nearly as has 
 been possible, in the form he had expected it to assume. 
 
 In the more ancient records, there may be detected occasional omissions 
 of dates, which (it is presumed) were not found in the original search for them, 
 and no later attempt has been made to supply them. 
 
 In the records of recent years, such omissions have been mainly supplied. 
 
 We therefore present these so nearly completed records of the vanished 
 years and early settlers of this venerable town, fully confident that their im- 
 perfections will .find ample compensations in the value, variety, and interest of 
 recorded historical incidents, in the entertaining anecdotes and personal de- 
 scriptions, and in the patriotic, poetic, and eloquent sentences which mark 
 the composition of the original historian. 
 
 JOHN S; EATON, I 
 
 LUCIUS BEEBE, 
 RICHARD BRITTON, < 
 
 CHESTER W. EATON 
 
 Publication.
 
 tctttftt.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 *T is good sometimes to travel back 
 
 To days of " auld lang syne," 
 Retrace the ancient fathers' track, 
 
 Along the mossy line ; 
 Visit the old ancestral homes, 
 
 Our parents' virtues learn, 
 And round their monumental stones 
 
 Let veneration burn. 
 Review the trials that they bore, 
 
 In old primeval years, 
 To gain this fair and goodly shore, 
 
 Mid toil and want and fears ; 
 Observe their efforts here to raise 
 
 The standard of the Cross, 
 Where they might preach and pray and praise, 
 
 No prelates to oppress. 
 And how, in after-times, they grew 
 
 The tree of liberty, 
 And, from its topmost branches threw 
 
 The flag of victory ; 
 That same bright flag, whose starry fold 
 
 Their loyal sons admire, 
 And spite of traitors, will uphold, 
 
 With sword and blood and fire. 
 
 ANIMATED life-long with perhaps rather more than an average share of 
 sentiments as above expressed, loving with ardor my native home, revering 
 whatever was time-honored and worthy, it has always been my delight " to 
 inquire for the old paths, and to walk therein" ; to use my leisure hours in 
 exploring the ways of the fathers ; and collect, as I had opportunity, what- 
 ever was antique, curious, and interesting, storing it for occasiona 
 reference. 
 
 It was known to my fellow-citizens that I had sucli collections in store ; 
 that I had for many years of my life been conversant, often officially, with the 
 municipal, literary, financial, and social progress of the town of South Read-
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 ing ; and was more or less familiar with the course of events in the three 
 Readings, for the last half-century. They therefore very kindly invited me to 
 prepare for the press these historical collections and reminiscences, gener- 
 ously agreeing to assume the pecuniary responsibility of the publication. 
 
 Thus invited and encouraged, I consented to undertake the duty, regretting 
 my want of ability to do justice to the subject, and my want of leisure, on 
 account of a multiplicity of other pursuits, to bring to the performance of the 
 work that power and devotedness which the importance of the object de- 
 manded. 
 
 I can truly say, however, that while I am not insensible to the honor or 
 being the chosen historian of my native town, I do not engage in the work 
 rom any expectation of pecuniary advantage ; for my service in the matter 
 will be entirely gratuitous. Neither do I thus seek literary fame ; for-I make 
 no pretence to rhetoric or fine writing. Nor do I offer it as a complete history 
 of the old town of Reading, fully sensible that it is very far short of exhausting 
 the subject : but the publication is made from a sincere desire to arrange and 
 preserve so much of our municipal history as is already collected, and so 
 assist the future historian with many valuable facts and annals that might 
 otherwise be soon lost and overwhelmed in the vortex of the swiftly receding 
 tide of time. 
 
 L1LLEY EATON. 
 
 IVakeJidd, 1871.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 [PAGBS 1-41.] 
 
 A CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NoTAtn.R EVENTS, FROM THE 
 FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN, IN 1639, TO 1700. 
 
 Early settlement Petition to Court for land The first grant of land Lynn Vil- 
 lage, incorporation and name Reading, England Names of first settlers 
 First mill First meeting-house First Church First military company, and 
 other military matters William Witter, a Baptist, prosecuted Tax of first set- 
 tlers at Lynn General division of land Death of Rev. Henry Green, and 
 settlement of Rev. Samuel Haugh, and names of the members of the Church 
 First bridge over Ipswich River, and order about attending town-meetings 
 Chadwell's Neck Fitch's Way Order about lumber, etc. Clerk of the Writs 
 
 Precautions against fire, scolding, swearing, and unlawful wooing Town herd, 
 fences, land grants, etc. Extract from Johnson, etc. Additional grant of land 
 by the Court, and an order in reference to town-meetings Baptists of Lynn 
 imprisoned, fined, and whipped, etc. Another division of lands Order about 
 cutting timber Road from Reading to Chelsea laid out Road from Andovcr 
 to Reading laid out Sale of liquors to the Indians Smith's Ordinary Slaves 
 
 Minister's salary Division of lands Cattle on Common Witchcraft and 
 theft Town way laid out, town-meetings, and new gallery Commissioners for 
 small causes, minister's pay, troop of horse, and division of lands in North Parish 
 
 Fitch's Lane Authority to join in marriage Pound Order about gallery and 
 division of lands Order about Quakers, and John Weston admonished Death 
 of Rev. Mr. Haugh and settlement of Rev. Mr. Brock, and seats of women and 
 children in meeting-house regulated, and order about dogs and dog-whipper Land 
 north of Ipswich River laid out Tho. Tower Corn and saw-mills, and earth- 
 quake Lands exchanged, lands granted, and Herdsmen, Sealer, and Commis- 
 sioners appointed Burial-ground fenced Two-mile grant confirmed Division 
 of the Great Swamp, and minister's rates Names of owners of houses Water 
 privileges granted Bounty on wolves Right to cut wood in Great Swamp 
 defined Uncivil behavior admonished, fined, and otherwise punished Wood- 
 end, stone wall, ladders, town-meeting Order about stubborn children and pa- 
 rents King Philip's war Fish petition Relative standing of Reading in 
 the Colony Petition for defence against the Indians Stock ide fort Gar- 
 rison houses and garrison soldiers Curious petition to Court in relation to mil-
 
 i CONTENTS. 
 
 itary mntters Shoemaker Petition to Court in relation to public worship 
 Rate for building new meeting-huose or parsonage Grant of land in payment 
 of a survey of two-mile tract Town presented to Court for deficiency of a 
 Grammar School, and for a defect in highway, and Mr. Brock, licensed to take Mr. 
 Haugh's land First parsonage, description, assignment, and sale Copying of 
 old town books ordered Highway between Woburn and Reading Report 
 of committee on the parsonage Death of Winnepurkit Petition of William 
 Hawkins Bounty for bears Two moderators Names of inhabitants on 
 north side of Ipswich River, and grant of land to them Ministerial barn 
 Grant of land in Nipmug Country to soldiers in the Indian war Highways to 
 Woburn and Charlestown laid out Another division of public lands Rate 
 to pay for land purchased of the Indians Captain Savage sues the town for 
 possession of land Death of Deacon Cowdrey Bounties paid for bears 
 Death of Rev. Mr. Brock, and subscription for a new meeting-house Indian 
 war Major Swayne appointed Commander-in-Chief Settlement of Rev. Mr. 
 Pierpont Location of new meeting-house, and Hart's Corner Canada ex- 
 pedition Leather sealers Warning out of town, and soldiers' debentures 
 Dr. James Stimpson Witchcraft Sale of the old meeting-house, and another 
 general division of land, and names of drawers and their taxes Free School 
 Mystic Bridge Tithing men Bounty for blackbirds, and a school rate Tav- 
 ern Shade trees Assessors School-house Minister's salary, how paid 
 New meeting-house improvements Order in relation to a separate parish on 
 north side of Ipswich River Horse sheds Chirurgery Agreement with a 
 school teacher Mystic Bridge Minister's pay Eaton's mill. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 [PAGBS 43-127.] 
 
 A GENEALOGICAL LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS, WITH THE SUCCESSION OF THEIR 
 FAMILIES FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL 
 NOTICES OF MANY OF THEM. THIS LIST is INTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 
 NAMES OF ALL THE MEN WHO SETTLED IN THE TOWN PRIOR TO THE YEAR 
 1700, WITH SOME LATER ONES.* 
 
 i ABBOTT, p. 42. 
 
 4 ARNOLD, p. 43. 
 
 (3) Lamson. 
 
 7 BATCHBLDER, p. 45- 
 
 Davis. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 Leathe. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Graves. 
 
 
 Lovejoy. 
 
 Dix. 
 
 Hewes. 
 
 5 BANCROFT, p. 43. 
 
 Me teal f. 
 
 Ellesley. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Bacon. 
 
 (5) Parker. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 Hartshorne. 
 
 2 ANGIBR, p. 43. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Lewis. 
 
 Murch. 
 
 (3) Eaton. 
 
 Woodman. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 
 Pluramer. 
 
 3 ANOUGH, p. 43. 
 
 Fitch. 
 
 6 BARRETT, p. 45. 
 
 Poore. 
 
 Newman. 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Bennett. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 * The names of heads of families are arranged alphabetically, and printed in large type ; those names 
 that have been connected with these families by marriage follow in smaller type, under each family head 
 respectively, and can be further examined in the body of the Genealogy.
 
 
 CUNlt 
 
 '.NTS. 
 
 IX 
 
 Sweetser. 
 
 15 BRYANT, p'. 55. 
 
 S COOK, p. s. 
 
 Wiley. 
 
 White. 
 
 Arnold. 
 
 
 
 
 Fitch. 
 
 26 COWDRRY, p. $8. 
 
 31 DlCKBRMAN, p. 62. 
 
 8 BBLKNAP, p. 47. 
 
 Frothingham. 
 
 Batchelder. 
 
 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Ho ut well. 
 
 32 I >ix, p. 62. 
 
 9 BKLLPLOWBR, p. 47 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Burrill. 
 
 Fitch. 
 
 Cutler. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 (2) Emerson. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 
 10 BENNETT, p. 47. 
 
 Weston. 
 
 Hartfhornc. 
 
 33 DUNTON, p. 63. 
 
 
 
 Lilley. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 ii BORMAN, p. 47. 
 
 16 BURNAP, p. 56. 
 
 (2) I'arker. 
 
 
 
 Antrim. 
 
 Policy. 
 
 34 DUTTON, p. 63. 
 
 12 BOUTWBLL, p. 47. 
 
 (a) Browne. 
 
 Steams. 
 
 Hooper. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Stimpson. 
 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 33 DUSTIN, p. bj. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Weston. 
 
 Tower. 
 
 Davis. 
 
 Grover. 
 
 
 Colson. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Li Hey. 
 
 27 CURWIN, p. 60. 
 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Newhall. 
 
 
 36 EATON, p. 63. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 28 CUTLER, p. 60. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Krothingham. 
 
 Rice. 
 
 Bellflower. 
 
 (3) Boutwell. 
 
 Hartshurne. 
 
 Sawyer. 
 
 Haines. 
 
 (2) Browne. 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Hewett. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 Lewis. 
 
 Stearns. 
 
 Pike. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Manning. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Delver. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Upton. 
 
 Underwood. 
 
 Dodge. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 Verry. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Sibley. 
 
 Weston. 
 
 
 (3) Emerson. 
 
 Stimpson. 
 
 Woodward. 
 
 29 DAMON, p. 60. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Frothingham. 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 17 BURT, p. 58. 
 
 Batchelder. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Townsend, 
 
 Fiske. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 (2) Hart. 
 
 Walkup. 
 
 Gilbert. 
 
 Bragg. 
 
 Hartshorne. 
 
 
 Lariford. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Holden. 
 
 13 BROCK, p. 49. 
 
 
 (2) Emerson. 
 
 Howard. 
 
 llaugli. 
 
 18 BUTTERS, or BUT- 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Hurcom. 
 
 
 TERY, p. 58. 
 
 Gerry. 
 
 (2) Kendall. 
 
 14 BROWNK, p. 49. 
 
 
 (3) Cowing. 
 
 Lamson . 
 
 Badger. 
 
 19 CARTER, p. 58. 
 
 Holden. 
 
 (a) Lilley. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Locke.. 
 
 Leman. 
 
 Mason. 
 
 Bulkley. 
 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 Moore. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 20 CHADWICK, p. 58. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 (4) Nichols. 
 
 Dtx. 
 
 Jenkins. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 Nurse. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Stocker. 
 
 Rand. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Fellows. 
 
 Trevit. 
 
 (3) Smith. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 Fiske. 
 
 
 Sweetser. 
 
 Pierce. 
 
 Gerrish. 
 
 31 CHANDLER, p. 58. 
 
 Symonds. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 
 Taylor. 
 
 Roberts. 
 
 Hartshorne. 
 
 22 CLARK, p. 58. 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 Russell. 
 
 Jaques. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 (a) Townsend. 
 
 Upton. 
 
 I .am son. 
 
 Swam. 
 
 Wiley. 
 
 Wiley. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 
 Wright. 
 
 
 Osgood. 
 
 23 COLB, p. 58. 
 
 
 37 EDWARDS, p. 68. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 
 30 DAVIS, p. 62. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Spraguc. 
 
 24 C ILSON, p. 58. 
 
 Bontwell. 
 
 
 Stearns. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Unmhoine. 
 
 38 EMERSON, p. 68. 
 
 W hippie. 
 
 Dustin. 
 
 Poor. ' 
 
 Badger. 
 
 b 
 
 

 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Merriam. 
 
 Whittredge. 
 
 Oakes. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 Story. 
 
 (2) Woodward. 
 
 Orr. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Sweet ~er. 
 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Bruce. 
 
 
 47 FOSTRR, p. 79. 
 
 Perry. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 46 FLINT, p. 72. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Buckley. 
 
 (2) Abbott. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 Barker. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Symonds. 
 
 Conant. 
 
 Batchelder. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Bradford. 
 
 (2) Foster. 
 
 Stone. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Brooks. 
 
 (2) Goodwin. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Dix. 
 
 Bitmap. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Townsend. 
 
 Dresser. 
 
 Burns. 
 
 Hartsliorne. 
 
 Uphatn. 
 
 (3) Eaton. 
 
 Burrill. 
 
 Johnson. 
 
 Vinton. 
 
 (2) Emerson. 
 
 Buxton. 
 
 Merrow. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 Farrar. 
 
 Dsinon. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 White. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 Deblois. 
 
 (2) Roberts. 
 
 
 (2) Howard. 
 
 Downton. 
 
 Taylor. 
 
 32 GROVHR, p. 85. 
 
 Johnson. 
 
 (4) Eaton. 
 
 Townsend. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 (2) Nichols. 
 
 Evans. 
 
 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Farnham. 
 
 48 FRANCIS, p. 80. 
 
 53 HARNDKN, p. 85. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 (2) Flint. 
 
 
 Sherman. 
 
 Richardson. 
 
 (2) Folger. 
 
 49 GOODWIN, p. 80. 
 
 
 (2) Smith. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 54 HART, ]>. 85. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 French. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Winborne. 
 
 Townsend. 
 
 Frost. 
 
 Lunt. 
 
 
 Upton. 
 
 Gardner. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 55 HARTSHORNS, p.Ss. 
 
 Wakefield. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 (2) Boutwell. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 (2) Graves. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 (2) Williams. 
 
 Green. 
 
 Weston. 
 
 (2) Burnap. 
 
 
 Hardy. 
 
 Wiley. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 39 ENDICOTT, p. 69. 
 
 (3) Hart. 
 
 Wot ton. 
 
 Haseltine. 
 
 
 Hayward. 
 
 
 Hopkinson. 
 
 40 EVANS, p. 69. 
 
 Herrick. 
 
 50 GOULD, p. 81. 
 
 Lamscn. 
 
 Alexander. 
 
 Holt. 
 
 Aborn. 
 
 Nurse. 
 
 Convers. 
 
 Hubbard. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 Osgood. 
 
 Dunton. 
 
 Hunt. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 (2) Pearson. 
 
 Green. 
 
 (2) Hutchinson. 
 
 Hart. 
 
 (4) Swain. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 Taylor. 
 
 Sweetser. 
 
 Kimball. 
 
 (2) Smith. 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 Townsend. 
 
 Lewis. 
 
 Sweetser. 
 
 
 
 Nelson. 
 
 
 56 HASELTINS, p. 87. 
 
 41 EVERETT, p. 70. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 51 GRKBN, p. 82. 
 
 Hartsliorne. 
 
 Edwards. 
 
 Nickerson. 
 
 Ash. 
 
 
 
 (3) Osgood. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 57 HASTINGS, p. 87. 
 
 42 FAIRFIEI.D, p. 70. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Cook. 
 
 Edwards. 
 
 Palfrey. 
 
 Phelps. 
 
 Deadman. 
 
 
 Skipperway. 
 
 (2) Pope. 
 
 Evans. 
 
 58 HAUGH, p. 87. 
 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 Farmer. 
 
 Baker. 
 
 43 FELCH, p. 71. 
 
 (3) Putnam. 
 
 Gerry. 
 
 Booth. 
 
 Cutler. 
 
 Richardson. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Brock. 
 
 Deane. 
 
 Russell. 
 
 Green. 
 
 Bulkley. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 (4) Sawyer. 
 
 Hay. 
 
 Davis. 
 
 
 Stone. 
 
 Hadley. 
 
 Herbert. 
 
 44 FISH. p. 71. 
 
 Taylor. 
 
 Kinerson. 
 
 Raiusford. 
 
 Lewis. 
 
 j Train. 
 
 Knight. 
 
 Savage. 
 
 
 Tucker. 
 
 Larmbee. 
 
 Svinins. 
 
 45 FITCH, p. 71. 
 
 (6) Upton. 
 
 Marble. 
 
 Usher. 
 
 Low. 
 
 Wakefield. 
 
 Newhall. 
 
 Walker.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 59 HAY, p. 90. 
 
 73 KENDALL, p. 93. 
 
 Stimpson. 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Apple ii. n. 
 
 r.nuiwell. 
 
 Tuttle. 
 
 Menow. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 Hryant. 
 
 Wallis. 
 
 (2) Newhall. 
 
 Chandler. 
 
 I Hint. in. 
 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 85 Ml LI. BK, p. 97. 
 
 Policy. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 Gale. 
 
 NichoU. 
 
 
 (3) Richardson. 
 
 Kidcler. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 86 MOKRILL, p. 97. 
 
 Underwood. 
 
 Lucus. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 
 Winn. 
 
 Mansfield. 
 
 
 87 NBWHALL, p. 97. 
 
 
 Myrick. 
 
 74 KNOWLTON, p. 94. 
 
 
 92 PEARSON, [- 103. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 
 88 NICHOLS, p. 97. 
 
 Batche'der. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 75 LAMSON, p. 94. 
 
 (2) Bancroft. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 Hartshoroe. 
 
 Barrett. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 Porter. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 BatcheMer. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Kaddin. 
 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Ring. 
 
 76 LAUKIN, p. 94. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Sweetser. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 
 (2) Damon. 
 
 93 PHBI.PS, p. 103. 
 
 
 77 LRAMN, p. 94. 
 
 (3) Eaton. 
 
 Putnam. 
 
 60 HKKBBRT, p. 92. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 Eustis. 
 
 
 Haii K h. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 94 PHIPPS, p. 103. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 
 Haugh. 
 
 
 Smithwick. 
 
 78 LEWIS, p. 94. 
 
 Hay. 
 
 95 PIKKPONT, p. 103. 
 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 Herbert. 
 
 Angler. 
 
 61 HKSCBY, p. 92. 
 
 Taylor. 
 
 Hersey. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 
 Kendall. 
 
 Gale. 
 
 
 79 LILLHY, p. 95. 
 
 Lamson. 
 
 Hay. 
 
 62 HILLS, p. 92. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 (2) Nichols. 
 
 Perkins. 
 
 
 Chase. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Rin K . 
 
 63 IIunoKiNs, p. 92. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 (2) Stimpson. 
 
 Sawyer. 
 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 Wiley. 
 
 
 64 Mom. MAN. p. 92. 
 
 Hutchinson. 
 
 
 96 PIKE, p. 106. 
 
 Rout well. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 89 NURSF, p. too. 
 
 Cutler. 
 
 Gerry. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Leffingwell. 
 
 Morrill. 
 
 Wright. 
 
 Hartshorne. 
 
 
 Webber. 
 
 
 Roberts. 
 
 97 POLLBY, p. 106. 
 
 
 So MARSHALL, p. 95. 
 
 
 Everett. 
 
 65 HOOPER, p. 93. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 90 PALFREY, p. 100. 
 
 
 
 
 Fairfielcl. 
 
 98 POOLE. p. 106. 
 
 66 HUTCHINSON, p. 93. 
 
 81 MARTIN, p. 95. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Jeffrey. 
 
 Laukin. 
 
 
 Barrett. 
 
 Leighton. 
 
 
 91 PARKER, p. 100. 
 
 Belknap. 
 
 
 82 MAVERICK, p. 95. 
 
 (2) Bancroft. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 67 JACKSON, p. 93. 
 
 Harris. 
 
 Batchelder. 
 
 Edwards. 
 
 Taylor or Tower. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Bright. 
 
 Fitch. 
 
 
 Stetson. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Gibson. 
 
 68 JENKINS, p. 93. 
 
 
 Bursham. 
 
 Hescey. 
 
 Chadwick. 
 
 83 MclNTIRB, p. 96. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 I. em an. 
 
 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 69 JENKINSON, p. 93. 
 
 84 MERKOW, p. 96. 
 
 (2) Eaton. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 
 Brooks. 
 
 Elle:ley. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 70 KKDBH, p. 93. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 
 Foster. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Richardson. 
 
 71 KKLSON, Pg93 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 Wakefield. 
 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 
 72 KEN, p. 93. 
 
 Pearson. 
 
 Green. 
 
 99 PRATT, p. 109. 
 
 Pepper. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 Hopkin*. 
 
 Boulwell.
 
 Xll 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Harris. 
 
 Clark. 
 
 121 TOWNSEND, p. 119. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Hart. 
 
 Green. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 Wakefield. 
 
 Jenkins. 
 
 (2) Hartshorne. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 
 Knowlton. 
 
 Lawrence. 
 
 Evans. 
 
 100 RICE, p. 109. 
 
 Lilley. 
 
 Marshall. 
 
 
 
 Lynde. 
 
 Morse. 
 
 122 UNDERWOOD, p. 120. 
 
 101 RICHARDSON, p. 
 
 no. Maverick. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 
 Mead. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 Cutler. 
 
 102 ROBBINS, p. no. 
 
 Merrill. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Miles. 
 
 James. 
 
 Noyes. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 
 Paifrey. 
 
 Williams. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 loj ROBERTS, p. no. 
 
 Pierce. 
 
 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 116 TAYLOR, p. 117. 
 
 123 Ul'HAM. p. 120. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 (2) Sherman.. 
 
 Harrington. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Nurse. 
 
 Smith. 
 
 Hooper. 
 
 
 Pierce. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Stimpson. 
 
 124 UPTON, p. 120. 
 
 Taylor. 
 
 (3) Sweetser. 
 
 
 Cross. 
 
 Shelton. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 117 TEMPLE, p. 117. 
 
 Goodale. 
 
 
 Webb. 
 
 ( 2) Bancroft. 
 
 Gray. 
 
 104 ROGERS, p. no. 
 
 Wiley. 
 
 (3) Beard. 
 
 Hayward. 
 
 
 Woodman. 
 
 Beck. 
 
 Mclntire. 
 
 105 RUSSELL, p. no. 
 
 
 Buck. 
 
 Stimpson. 
 
 Mclntire. 
 
 in SOUTHWICK, p. 114 
 
 Carter. 
 
 Swallow. 
 
 
 Herbert. 
 
 Coggin. 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 106 SADLER p. no. 
 
 Southwick. 
 
 (2) Damon. 
 
 Upton. 
 
 
 Weston. 
 
 Dix. 
 
 Wilkins. 
 
 107 SAVAGE, p. in. 
 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 
 Haugh. 
 
 112 SQ.UIER, p. 114. 
 
 E!a. 
 
 125 VlNTON, p. 121. 
 
 Norton. 
 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Brooks. 
 
 Quincy. 
 
 113 STIMPSON, p. 114. 
 
 Evans. 
 
 Green. 
 
 Symms. 
 
 Atwell. 
 
 Fowle. 
 
 McLeod. 
 
 Walker. 
 
 Boynton. 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 
 (3) Bryant. 
 
 Harnden. 
 
 Parker. 
 
 108 SAWYER, p. in. 
 
 Cowdrey. 
 
 Hemphill. 
 
 Richardson. 
 
 Burnap. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Holden. 
 
 Stacy. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Dan forth. 
 
 Jenkins. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Ltlley. 
 
 Fuller. 
 
 Locke. 
 
 W;ley. 
 
 Nurse. 
 
 Hartshorne. 
 
 Lovejoy. 
 
 Wilson. 
 
 Rich. 
 
 Knight. 
 
 (4) Nichols. 
 
 
 Town send. 
 
 Laughton. 
 
 Noyes. 
 
 126 WAKEFIELD, p. 121. 
 
 Wood. 
 
 Leffingwell. 
 
 (6) Parker. 
 
 Bridge. 
 
 
 Means. 
 
 Pierce. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 log SCOLLEY, p. III. 
 
 (2) Nichols. 
 
 (2) Pratt. 
 
 Pratt. 
 
 
 Parker. 
 
 (4) Richardson. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 no SMITH, p. in. 
 
 Ridgeway. 
 
 (2) Temple. 
 
 Hardy. 
 
 Bancroft- 
 
 Sanborn. 
 
 (2) Townsend. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Bill. 
 
 Teprell. 
 
 (2) Weston. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 (3) Boardman. 
 
 Upton. 
 
 
 Hemenway. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 
 118 THOMPSON! p. 119. 
 
 Poole. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 114 SUTTOM, p. IIS- 
 
 Hartshorn. 
 
 
 (4) Burnap. 
 
 
 Upton. 
 
 127 WALKER, p. 123. 
 
 Cutter. 
 
 115 SWAIN, p. 115. 
 
 
 Dole. 
 
 (5) Damon. 
 
 Allen. 
 
 119 TONEY, p. 119. 
 
 Haugh. 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 Appleton. 
 
 
 Jewett. 
 
 Evans. 
 
 Boutwell. 
 
 120 TOWER, p. 119. 
 
 *Savage. 
 
 Felch. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Crocker. 
 
 
 (2) Gould. 
 
 Buck. 
 
 Dustin . 
 
 128 WALION, p. 123. 
 
 (a) Green. 
 
 (2) Burnap. 
 
 Jackson. 
 
 Bartlett.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 (2) Hrown. 
 
 Fitch. 
 
 Goodwin. 
 
 132 WILLIAMS p. 127. 
 
 Hurnap. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 (2) Green. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 Con.int. 
 
 Town send. 
 
 Hawkes. 
 
 ' 
 
 Emerson. 
 
 
 Hay. 
 
 133 WlNBORNB, p. 127. 
 
 Green. 
 
 131 WILEY, p. 125. 
 
 Mansfield. 
 
 Hart. 
 
 Hawkes. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 
 Munjoy. 
 
 (3) Browne. 
 
 (2) Poole. 
 
 134 WOODWARD, p. 127. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 Sherman. 
 
 Bancroft. 
 
 Tarbell. 
 
 Cooley. 
 
 (2) Smith. 
 
 Hurnap. 
 
 Williams. 
 
 Damon. 
 
 Sprague. 
 
 Lcaman. 
 
 
 Davis. 
 
 Tapley. 
 
 Teal. 
 
 129 WEI.I.MAN, p. 125. 
 
 Dunn. 
 
 Vinton. 
 
 Rubbins. 
 
 Browne. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 (l) WUey. 
 
 
 
 Edes. 
 
 
 135 WORMWOOD, p. 127. 
 
 130 WESTON, p. 125. 
 
 Edmands. 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 [PAGES 128-202.] 
 
 A CONTINUATION OF CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NOTABLE 
 EVENTS, FROM 1700 TO 1812. 
 
 George Lillie Stocks Indenture with schoolmaster School meadow School 
 wood Elizabeth Jonson Death of Widow Kendall Stephen Dix drowned 
 
 Indian attack Agreement with schoolmaster Schools Death of Rev. 
 Mr. Pierpont and candidates for the succession, and petition of Ipswich River 
 and Sadler's Neck proprietors School at Woodend, and ram pasture Pas- 
 toral invitations Petition for the North Parish French and Indian War, and 
 names of soldiers Rev. Richard Browne invited Parsonage, first and second 
 
 Law against desertions Settlement of Rev. Mr. Brown, schoolmaster and 
 town clerk Parsonage land Incorporation of North Precinct, and first meet- 
 ing Town votes in relation to North Precinct North Precinct invites Rev. 
 Daniel Putnam, and votes concerning meeting-house and parsonage Deaths 01 
 Hannah Felch and John Brown, Esq. North Precinct petitions for common 
 land Mr. Putnam ordained Early settlement of North Precinct, and names 
 and residence of early settlers List of tax-payers in North Precinct in 1720 
 Herbage in Lynn Common Bills of credit Members of First Church in 1721 
 
 Lynnfield church members and North Precinct ditto Small-pox First 
 Parish parsonage, and singing Sale of rights in lands at Lynn Petition 
 about fish Common land assigned to the parsonage Petition of North Pre- 
 cinct in relation to Mr. Putnam First Parish contribution Division of school 
 money Town order about geese and timber trees First Parish Church struck 
 by lightning New bell Stoneham incorporated Annexation of north part 
 of Maiden asked for Lynn herbage Earthquake Fish Bills of credit 
 Mystic Bridge Indian deed Dismissal of Stoneham church members \Vm. 
 Williams and son drowned Ten families from Maiden annexed Seating the 
 meeting-house Petition for a Third Parish Incorporation of Wilmington 
 Financial condition Old pulpit cushion North Precinct School Child 
 drowned Death of Rev. Mr. Brown Funeral expenses Settlement of Rev.
 
 xiv CONTENTS. 
 
 Mr. Hobby Ordination expenses Parsonage land and house Repair of 
 the meeting-house Highways and common lands Parsonage Throat dis- 
 temper Mystic Bridge Bridge over Saugus River Common lands 
 Enlargement of the parsonage house Deer Town expenses Horse block 
 
 Suicide North Precinct meeting-house Whitefield Tavern Common 
 lands Nova Scotia expedition Jos. Underwood Daniel Emerson Cap- 
 ture of Louisburg, etc. School-house at North Precinct Jos. Swain 
 Hobby's salary New meeting-house and pound at North Precinct New 
 Style Sale of Negroes John Kimball Capt. Fitch Death of William 
 Hobby, Jr. Death of Rev. Mr. Putnam Ordination of Elias Smith at 
 Middleton French Neutrals Settlement of Rev. Mr. Stone at North Pre- 
 cinct Town pound Mystic Bridge Sickness of Mr. Hobby His death 
 His funeral Stamp Act Action of the town in relation thereto Joseph 
 Frye Woodend petitions to be set off from the First Parish Action of the 
 parish Young Men's Christian Association First Parish votes to build new 
 meeting-house Woodend again seeks a separation Description of new meet- 
 
 . ing-house Sale of pews, and original purchasers Woodend petitions General 
 Court for a separate parish Old parish opposes General Court grants the 
 petition, and Third Parish incorporated First meeting of Third Parish Act 
 of incorporation of Third Parish Rev. Caleb Prentiss settled at First Parish 
 List of inhabitants of Third Parish at its incorporation Powder house Third 
 Parish meeting-house completed Third Parish parsonage bought Rev. 
 Thomas Haven settled at Third Parish, and Mr. Haven's letter of acceptance 
 First Parish sell their parsonage to Mr. Prentiss Third Parish sell their par- 
 sonage to Mr. Haven, and accept the share of ministerial lands apportioned to 
 them by the town Lists of voters in the several parishes in 1771 Dr. Jabez 
 Brown's letter Alewives Choristers Third Parish sue Jona. Eaton for 
 trespass on ministerial land First Parish defend Jacob Burnap settled at 
 Merrimac, N. H. Jabez Carter and family Disagreement between First and 
 Third Parish about meeting-house settled, also the suit against Jona. Eaton 
 Boston Tea Party Spirited action of the town in relation to public grievances 
 
 Patriotic resolves of the town for the maintenance of their rights Deputies 
 chosen to a Provincial Congress Roads in North Precinct Commencement 
 of the War of the Revolution, and the part that Reading took therein Battle of 
 Lexington and Concord Call from the army for wood, and the town's response 
 
 Capt. James Bancroft, and other able men in Reading - Army stores in First 
 Parish meeting-house Orders for powder, wood, and hay Battle of Bunker 
 Hill Letter of Benj. Brown and John Walton in reference to refugees and pro- 
 visions How town-meetings were warned British prisoners sent to Reading 
 
 Hay and blankets for the army Town vote to stand by Congress to the last 
 
 Independence declared Population of Reading in 1776 Cato, a negro 
 Death of Mrs. Haven Donation people Tory prosecutor Col. Brown's 
 order Lieut. Foster to be ready to march at shortest notice Number of sol- 
 diers on the rolls in Reading Selectmen petition for fire-arms, etc. Order for 
 a draft Surrender of Burgoyne "Articles of Confederation" approved by 
 the town Clothing sent to Concord for the Army Town voted against the 
 Constitution of 1778 Militia notified to be ready to march to Boston- Mo- 
 nopoly Delegate to a Constitutional Convention Small-pox Proportion of 
 recruits from each parish. More men called for Qu^ta always filled New
 
 .CONTENTS. V 
 
 Constitution (of 1780) unanimously accepted Dark day Reef for the army 
 Continental soldiers, and how paid Rev. Mr. Whitney, of Xorthboro' Value 
 of old and new emission Warning out of town First Parish debt Death ot 
 Rev. Mr. Haven Third Parish repurchase their parsonage Dissatisfaction 
 with Rev. Mr. Prentiss First Parish burial-ground, and treasury First Parish 
 petition for incorporation as a town Social Library formed Shay's Rebellion 
 
 Rev. Mr. Sanborn invited to settle with Third Parish His letter of accept- 
 ance Warning out Mysterious disappearance of Thos. Sweetser His sup- 
 posed skeleton afterwards found More warning out School-dames rejected 
 Mr. Sanborn ordained Watts' Hymns School Committee and appropria- 
 tions School-dames restored Small-pox inoculation Dr. John Walton 
 Stove in West Parish meeting-house French victories Civic feast Liberty 
 tree and pole Baptist Society and ML Moriah Lodge organized Baptist So- 
 ciety secretly purchase land for a church Baptist Society erect their first meet- 
 ing-house Rev. Mr. Nelson Death of Rev. Mr. Prentiss, with biographical 
 and genealogical items Turnpike opposed Samuel Wiley's house burned 
 Baptist Church in First Parish constituted, and Rev. Mr. Nelson settled Turn- 
 pike favored Law suit, Baptist Society versus Lynnfield Death of Rev. John 
 Mellen Common lands confirmed to the several parishes Persons drowned 
 
 First Parish purchase a hearse Cold Friday Dr. John Hart, Jr. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 [PAGES 203-241.] 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 
 
 Organization of First Church First meeting-house and parsonage Succession of 
 ministers List of deacons Baptist Society and Church in South Reading, 
 now Wakefield Organization and erection of first meeting-house First min- 
 ister, Rev. Mr. Nelson Rev. Mr. Davis, second minister, with biographical 
 sketch Removal of meeting-house Death of Lilley Eaton Resignation of 
 Mr. Davis Third minister, Rev. Mr. Warne Death of Naomi Badger 
 Fourth minister, Rev. Mr. Huckins Fifth minister, Rev. Mr. Sawyer Meet- 
 ing-house burnt, and second meeting-house erected Seventh minister, Rev. Mr. 
 Cole Eighth minister, Rev. Mr. Evans Ninth minister, Rev. Mr. Adams 
 Tenth minister, Rev. Mr. Phillips Death of important members Donation 
 from Mrs. E. E. '-Viley Eleventh minister, Rev. Mr. Bullen Twelfth minister, 
 Rev. Mr. Willmarth List of deacons of Baptist Church of South Reading 
 Universalist Society organized First pastor, Rev. Mr. Newell Second pastor, 
 Rev. Mr. Morse Third pastor. Rev Mr. Jewell Erection and dedication of 
 their first meeting-house Fourth pastor, Rev. Mr. Lyon Fifth pastor, Rev. 
 Mr. f Barden Seventh pastor. Rev. Mr. Hicliborn Eighth pastor, Rev. Mr Moore 
 Ninth pastor, Rev. Mr. S:nith Tenth pastor, Rev. Mr. Eaton Enlarge- 
 ment of the meeting-house Eleventh pastor, Rev. Mr. Hayward The Second 
 Church of Old Reading and First of North Reading organized First pastor 
 Rev. Mr. Putnam Second pastor, Rev. Mr. Stone Third pastor, Rev. Mr. 
 Pierce Fourth pastor, Rev. Mr. Eastman Fifth pastor, Rev. Mr. Lewis
 
 xv i CONTENTS.. 
 
 Sixth pastor, Rev. Mr. Orcutt Seventh pastor, Rev. Mr. Allen Eighth pastor, 
 Rev. Mr. Jones List of deacons First meeting-house of North Reading 
 Second meeting-house Third meeting-house Universalists become the own- 
 ers Orthodox portion of parish separate and erect a new meeting-house Par- 
 ish meeting-house remodelled Town Hall Succession of Universalist pastors 
 
 Baptist Church and Society of North Reading organized Opposition encoun- 
 tered First meeting-house erected Succession of pastors and biography of 
 Rev. Mr. Heath Meeting-house burnt and second meeting-house erected 
 Succession of deacons Licentiates Notice of Dea. Eliab Parker, Jr. Old 
 South Church, of Reading First minister, Thomas Haven Brief notice of 
 his death Graves of himself and wife Second pastor, Rev. Peter Sanborn 
 A difficult field and a stormy council Great revivals Mr. Sanborn's marriages 
 
 Third pastor, Rev. Samuel Green His principal publications Early life 
 Fourth pastor, Rev. Jared Reid Fifth pastor, Rev. Aaron Pickett Early life 
 .Funeral sermon Sixth pastor, Rev. Lyman Whiting, D. D. Early life 
 Marriage Publications Seventh pastor, Rev. Wm. Barrows Early life 
 His preaching His writings Marriages Deacons of Old South Church 
 Liberal Church in Reading Its formation Original members Church edi- 
 fice Occasional preachers Union of First and Second Universalist Societies 
 
 Rev. G. G. Strickland Rev. Mr. Waitt Liberal Ladies' Association 
 Rev. N. R. Wright Rev. S. M. Barrington War of Rebellion Creed 
 Generous donations New church building Salem Street Baptist Church, 
 Reading Its formation Original members Years of trial Erection of 
 church edifice Missionary work Ministers Church officers, etc Second 
 Advent Society of Wakefield organized St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic) 
 of \Vakefield organized Meeting-house erected Pastor, Rev. Mr. Fitzpatrick 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and Society organized First pastor, Rev. Mr. 
 Potter Place of worship Second pastor, Rev. Mr. Gray Third pastor, Rev. 
 Mr. Atkins Purchase of Albion Hall building Bequest of Mis. Jennings 
 Episcopalian Society of Wakefield organized Bethesda Church, Reading 
 And additional Church history. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 [PAGES 242-272.] 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 First educational town action, in 1680 First Free School, in 1693 First teacher 
 First school-house erected between 1694 and 1707 Early members of School 
 Committee and appropriations Annual appropriations from 1780 to 1811 
 Town votes respecting schools and school-houses Three new school-houses 
 built in Wakefield in 1799 Description of school-house formerly located on the 
 Common Grammar School established in 1791 First regular School Com- 
 mittee chosen by the town in 1792 Names of Committee Men until 1811, in- 
 clusive School Committee's Reports List of early teachers of Reading prior 
 to year 1800 School history of South Reading (now Wakefield) from 1812 
 South Reading Academy, incorporated 1829 Names of early Trustees Town 
 House erected in 1834, with two rooms therein for scho. Is High School cslab-
 
 CONTENTS. xvii 
 
 lished in 1845 List of teachers and graduates Presentation of diplomas to 
 first graduates, and speech of the Senior Member of Committee (Hon. Lilley Eaton) 
 Purchase of South Reading Academy building in 1847 Annual appropria- 
 tions of the town of Wakefield since its incorporation as South Reading Names 
 of School Committees since 1812 School statistics for 1873 School history 
 of the town of Reading since 1811 Annual appropriations by Reading for 
 schools, since 1811 Members of School Committee since 1811 School his- 
 tory of the town of North Reading High School in 1868 Set off from Read- 
 ing, 1853 Annual appropriations School Committees from 1812 Private 
 Academy Statistics of Schools in the three towns in 1867-8. 
 
 CHAPTER VI.. 
 
 [PAGES 873-280.) 
 
 MILITARY AFFAIRS. 
 
 First military corps of Reading First captain, Walker Indian warfare Second 
 captain, Poole Third and fourth captains, Brown and Swain List of succes- 
 sive commanders Personal descriptions of officers, and training days Grog 
 and gingerbread Martial and other spirit Music Its last (not least) captain, 
 and its death Military organizations in North and West Parishes Successive 
 captains Formation of cavalry company, about 1800 Its commanders Or- 
 ganization of company of riflemen, about 1812 Its first officers and members 
 Change of uniform and name Roll of the company in 1814 Formation of the 
 Richardson Light Guard Its first commissioned officers Adoption of name 
 Successive captains Response to the order to march in defence of the National 
 Capital, April 19, 1861 Preparations for the march Roll of the company 
 Departure Subsequent movements and return. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 [PACKS 281-295.] 
 
 MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 
 
 Selectmen of Reading, from 1647 to 1868 Selectmen of Wakefield, from 1812 to 
 1873 Town Clerks of Reading, from 1644 to 1862 Town Clerks of Wake- 
 field, from 1812 to 1873 Representatives from Reading, from 1650 to 1870 
 Representatives from Wakefield, from 1812 to 1873 Representatives from 
 North Reading, from 1854 to 1863 Senators, from 1815 to 1873 Councillors 
 Delegates to Constitutional Conventions Delegates to First Provincial Con- 
 gress Civil Officers of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with dates of 
 commissions, up to 1869. 
 c
 
 CONTENTS. 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 [PAGES 296-320.] 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF INHABITANTS AND DWELLING-HOUSES IN THE THIRD 
 PARISH, NOW READING, AT ABOUT THE TIME OF ITS INCORPORATION AS A 
 PARISH, 1769. 
 
 Capt. Samuel Bancroft, Dea. Samuel Bancroft, James Bancroft, Esq., Lieut. Joseph 
 Bancroft, William Bancroft, Captain Abraham Foster, Widow Abigail Merrow, 
 Thomas Richardson, Joseph Bancroft, Emory Bancroft, John Boutwell, Isaac 
 Burnap, Wid. Mary Merrow, Andrew Beard, Nathaniel Batchelder, David Batch- 
 elder, Samuel Damon, Joseph Damon, Lieut Jonathan Eaton, Thomas Eaton, Sr. 
 Joshua Eaton, Thomas Eaton, 3d, James Eaton, Ebenezer Emerson, Nathaniel 
 Emerson, John Emerson, Samuel Farley, Widow Felch, Captain Abraham Fos- 
 ter, Jonathan Foster, Benjamin Foster, Timothy Hartshorn, Jonathan Nichols, 
 Richard Nichols, John Nichols, Richard Nichols, Capt. Nathan Parker (haunted 
 house), Col. Nathan Parker, John Parker, Benjamin Parker, Phineas Parker, 
 Daniel Parker, Jonathan Parker, Ephraim Parker, Joseph Parker, Amos Pierson, 
 Timothy Pratt, Sr., Timothy Pratt, Jr., Samuel Pratt, Dea. Timothy Pratt, Jr., 
 Daniel Pratt, James Weston, Dea. David Emerson, Edward Richardson, Thomas 
 Symonds, Jeremiah Swain, Jacob Swain, Thomas Hartshorn, Jacob Townsend, 
 Jonathan Temple, Lieut. John Temple, Dea. John Temple, Isaac Weston, John 
 Weston, John Weston, Jr., Jonathan Weston. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 [PAGES 321-408.] 
 
 SOUTH READING, 1812. 
 
 Causes which led to its incorporation " Federalists " and " Republicans " De- 
 scription of the town's appearance in 1812 Stage to Boston Roads Build- 
 ings Number of inhabitants Valuation Taxes Common Old masters 
 and early female teachers Religious Societies Old burial-ground Engine 
 company Dwelling-houses Descriptive sketches of owners of dwellings at 
 that time On Main Street: Lemuel Tileston, Joshua Burnham, Thomas Mel- 
 burn, James Gould, Eleazer Baker, Charles Nichols, Thomas Clement, Joseph 
 Cordis, William Stimpson, Thomas Evans, Sen., Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, Jonathan 
 Emerson, Widow Olive Newell, John White, Sen., Jesse Carter, Lilley Eaton, 
 John Gould, Jeremiah Bryant, Thomas Emerson, Jr., (Hon.) William Williams, 
 Stephen Hale, Lilley Eaton, Sen., Jacob Eaton, Burrage Yale, Thomas Bryant, 
 Aaron Bryant, John Rayner, Archibald Smith, Samuel Wiley, Joseph Bryant, 
 Cornelius Sweetser, Noah Smith, Paul Sweetser, Sen., Adam Hawkes, Jr., 
 Caleb Foster, Paul Sweetser, Jr., Joshua Tweed, Benjamin B. Wiley, John Hart, 
 Doctor Spaulding, Jonathan Evans, Samuel Evans, Nathan Bryant, John Waitt,
 
 CONTENTS, xix 
 
 Aaron Green, Benjamin Emerson, Jr., Charles Green On Greenwood Street : 
 Reuben Green, Nathan Green On Oak Street: Benjamin Walton, William 
 Williams On Nahant Street : Joseph Eaton, George Sweetser, Capt. Thomas 
 Emerson, Sen., Benjamin Emerson, John Smith On Water Street : Nathaniel 
 Wiley, Leonard Wiley, Jeremiah Green, John Vinton, James Wiley, Peter B. 
 Wiley, Eli Wiley On Salem Street: Thomas Evans, Jr., Thomas Swain, 
 Molly Parker, Lemuel Sweetser, Timothy Poole, Benjamin Badger (Sen. and 
 Jr.), Amos Evans, Elizabeth Bryant, James Walton, Thomas Woodward, Eben- 
 ezer Bryant, Thomas Skinner, William Patch, Jeremiah Brown, William Brown, 
 John Brown, Samuel Peters, Michael Burditt, William Gould, Daniel Gould, 
 Issachar Stowell, Benjamin Peters, John Brown, 2d, Timothy Walton, Ebenezer 
 Walton, Andrew Walton, Oliver Walton, Sen., Adam Hawkes On Vernon 
 Street : Peter Gould, John Sweetser, Thomas Swain, Caleb Green, Jonathan 
 Pratt On Lowell Street : Elijah Merrill, Reuben Newhall, Samuel Sweetser, 
 Lydia Sweetser, Aaron Burditt, Thomas Parker, James Burditt, Edward Burditt, 
 James Grain, Widow Sarah Burditt, John Burditt On Church Street : Reuben 
 Emerson, David Gardner, William Deadman, Nathaniel Brown, James Harts- 
 horn, Jr., Francis Hay, Ebenezer Wiley, Joseph Atwell, Henry Knight, William 
 Emerson On Elm Street : Amos Boardman, Timothy Kinsman, James Nich- 
 ols, John Hay, James Hartshorn, Sen., Jeremiah Hartshorn, Benjamin Swain, 
 Suel Winn, William Simpson, Rebecca Bryant, James Boutwell, David Smith, 
 William Lambert, John Lambert, Davis Foster On Prospect Street : John B. 
 Atwell, Aaron Cowdrey, Jesse Dike, Jesse Pope, William Beard, Cornelius 
 Sweetser, Jr., Joseph Hopkins, Ebenezer Hopkins On Cedar Street: James 
 Emerson (Sen. and Jr.), Enoch Stocker, Charles Gould, Daniel Gould. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 [PAGES 409-461.] 
 
 FROM 1812 TO 1844, INCLUSIVE. 
 
 Act of Incorporation of town of South Reading First meeting of new town, and 
 list of town officers elected Second meeting and town action War of 1812 
 
 Resolutions adopted Wood for Schools Action against Jonas Parker for 
 trespass Petition for a Congressional Representative District Celebration 
 of the return of peace, 1815 Great gale Bell purchased by town Disa- 
 greement between members of School Committee regarding teacher, and its 
 results, 1827 Incorporation of South Reading Academy Lyceum organized 
 
 Law cases Emerson versus Wiley decided Celebration of Independence, 
 1832 Town statistics, 1832 Dedication of Universalist meeting-house, 1839 
 
 Ornamental trees planted, 1842 Work commenced on Boston and Maine 
 Railroad (extension), 1844 Bi-Centennial Celebration of First Parish Bi- 
 Centennial Celebration by the united action of the towns of Reading and South 
 Reading Account of celebration Address by James Flint, D. it. Poem by 
 Hon. Lilley Eaton.
 
 XX CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 [PAGES 462-480.] 
 
 HISTORICAL RECORD OF WAKEFIELD FROM 1845 TO 1874. 
 
 Notable events Important town action Laying out of new streets and naming of 
 old ones* etc. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 [PAGES 481-566.] 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Situation Soil Topography Manufactures Trade Public buildings Pop- 
 ulation Valuation Railroads Rivers Lakes Mills, etc. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 [PAGBS 567-573.] 
 
 BURIAL-GROUNDS. 
 Location Epitaphs Description of Lake Side Cemetery, etc. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 [PAGES 574-6S7-] 
 
 REBELLION RECORD. 
 
 The memorable igth of April, 1861 Departure of the Richardson Light Guard for 
 Washington Service at the National Capital The Virginian campaign 
 Prisoners at Bull Run Expiration of three, months' term Return and recep- 
 tionRecruiting of three years' men Sixteenth Massachusetts Army of 
 the Potomac Flag raising, July 4, 1861 Return of prisoners captured in Bull 
 Run battle Account of their home reception Third enlistment of the Rich- 
 ardson Light Guard for one hundred days Relief and Sanitary Associations 
 Triumphal review at Washington of the returning victorious troops from 
 Richmond Rolls of Enlistment, South Reading, Reading, and North Read- 
 ing Roll of Company E, Sixteenth Massachusetts, regular service, three years' 
 enlistment Roll of Company D, Fiftieth Massachusetts, nine months' service, 
 1862-3 Roll of Company E, Fiftieth Massachusetts, nine months' service, 
 1862-3 Report of Recruiting Committee of town of South Reading .List of 
 enrolled men, and amount paid by each in aid of filling quota, under call of July 
 18 1864 Names of volunteers under call of July 18, 1864.
 
 CONTENTS. xxi 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 [PAGES 658-683.] 
 
 LIFE SKKTCHES OF DR. NATHAN RICHARDSON, HON. JOHN PRENTISS, HON. 
 THOMAS EMERSON, HON. LILLEY EATON, HON. PAUL HART SwkETSEK, DR. 
 SOLON O. RICHARDSON, AND CYRUS WAKEFIELD.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A. INDIAN DEED OF LYNN AND READING. 
 
 B ") 
 
 P,* [-LAYING OUT OF NORTH PARISH, IN 1666. 
 
 D. LIST OF SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 E. PETITION OF NORTH PRECINCT TO THE TOWN FOR AID, IN 1719. 
 
 F. REV. RICHARD BROWN'S PETITION, 1719. 
 
 G. SOLDIERS IN FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS, 1745 TO 1760. 
 
 H. ROLLS OF THE THREE MILITARY COMPANIES OF READING, 1775. 
 HH. REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES. 
 I. COL. BENJAMIN BROWN'S LETTER FROM THE SEAT OF WAR, 1776. 
 J. ANECDOTES OF CAPT. JAMES BANCROFT, AND LETTER OF HIS 
 
 WIFE, 1777. 
 
 K.. LIST OF DONATION PEOPLE, 1775. 
 L,. BIOGRAPHY OF HON. JOHN HART, BY HIS SON, DR. SAMUEL 
 
 HART. 
 
 M. CEREMONIES AT WAKEFIELD ON ITS CHANGE OF NAME. 
 N. CEREMONIES AT READING AT THE DEDICATION OF SOLDIERS' 
 
 MONUMENT. 
 O. OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF DWELLING-HOUSES, FROM 1765 TO 
 
 1865, OR LATER. 
 
 P. INAUGURAL EXERCISES, AT WAKEFIELD, IN DEDICATING NEW 
 
 TOWN HALL. 
 Q. DEDICATION OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, IN WAKEFIELD, 
 
 OCT. 10, 1872. 
 
 R. AGREEMENT WITH MILL-OWNERS ON SAUGUS RIVER. 
 S. LEGISLATIVE ACT FOR SUPPLYING WAKEFIELD WITH WATER.
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PACK. 
 
 ABBOTT, EBENEZER T. (Portrait) ... 43 
 
 BECKWITH, R. S. " 587 
 
 BARNARD, B. F. " 579 
 
 BATCHELDER, GEORGE " 46 
 
 BATCHELDER, JOHN 301 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, WAKEFIELD 507 
 
 BOSTON AND MAINE FOUNDRY, WAKEFIELD 488 
 
 EATON, LILLEY (Portrait) Frontitfiiece. 
 
 EATON, JOSEPH H. " 67 
 
 EATON, JOSEPH " 98 
 
 EATON, J. S. " 340 
 
 EATON (COAT OF ARMS) Pre/act. 
 
 EATON MANSION 339 
 
 EATON (LILLEY'S LATE RESIDENCE) 341 
 
 EMERSON, THOMAS (Portrait) 662 
 
 EMERSON, MRS. RUTH " 344 
 
 FLINT, ADDISON 76 
 
 FLINT, CHARLES F. " 78 
 
 FLINT, DANIEL " 77 
 
 HART, SAMUEL " 363 
 
 HARTSHORN, JAMES " . 393 
 
 HAY, JOHN " 93 
 
 HAY, WILLIAM " 91 
 
 HILL, CHARLES H. " 34* 
 
 KINGMAN, SAMUEL " 404 
 
 McKAY, THOMAS " 596 
 
 MEETING-HOUSE ERECTED IN 1688 303 
 
 PARKER, RICHARD (Portrait) 3' 
 
 PRENTISS, CALEB " 193 
 
 PRENTISS, JOHN " 194 
 
 RATTAN WORKS, WAKEFIELD 484,485 
 
 RICHARDSON, NATHAN (Portrait) 658 
 
 RICHARDSON, SOLON O. " 671
 
 xx j v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PACK. 
 
 SANBORN, PETER (Portrait) 8 9 
 
 SMITH, NOAH " 353 
 
 SMITH, NOAH, JR. " 354 
 
 SWEETSER, PAUL H. " 668 
 
 TWEED, BENJAMIN F. " 357 
 
 UPTON, EDWARD " I2 
 
 WAKEFIELD, CALEB "..... 122 
 
 WAKEFIELD, HORACE P. " "3 
 
 WAKEFIELD, CYRUS " 6 " 
 
 WAKEFIELD, C. (LATE RESIDENCE OF) 5<>S 
 
 WAKEFIELD HALL S 10 
 
 WARREN, HORACE M. (Portrait) S?8 
 
 WHITE, JOHN " 33 8 
 
 WILEY, BENJAMIN B. " "8 
 
 WILEY, FREDERIC S. " 359 
 
 WOODFIN, J. H. " 575
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 PACK. 
 
 Act incorporating town of South Reading ...... 409 
 
 Third Parish rf r->. 164 
 
 Act of Legislature for supplying water to Wakefield and Stoneham . 811 
 
 Agreement with mill-owners, Saugus River 810 
 
 Alphabetical list of persons in military and naval service, during Re- 
 bellion, from South Reading ........ 600 
 
 Alphabetical list of persons in military and naval service, during Re- 
 bellion, from Reading ......... 633 
 
 Alphabetical list of persons in military and naval service, during Re- 
 bellion, from North Reading " 650 
 
 Anecdotes of Capt. James Bancroft, and wife's letter (1777) . ; i ; 703 
 
 Banking institutions . .; . 540 
 
 Baptist Church edifice, Wakefield 506 
 
 Biographical sketch of Hon. John Hart 716 
 
 Boston and Maine Foundry . . . . . . . . ' ', 487 
 
 Burial-grounds and epitaphs 567 
 
 Cemetery, Reading . . 54' 
 
 Centennial Celebration, 1844 (Parish) 425 
 
 " (Town) 426 
 
 Centennial Poem, 1844 . . . . . . .../ *<i .. 427 
 
 Chronological and historical sketches, 1700 to iSi2 . . . . ,v 128-202 
 
 Civil officers . ........ *'...'. . . 293-295 
 
 College graduates 471-474 
 
 Dedication of Soldiers' Monument, Reading . 749 
 
 " " High School building, Wakefield 789 
 
 Descriptive list, inhabitants of Third Parish, 1769 296-320 
 
 " " " " First Parish, 1812 321-408 
 
 Division of lands, and minister's rates, 1692 37 
 
 Donation people, list of, 1775 . .'..'. . . . '' 7'5 
 d
 
 xxv i GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Earliest list of male inhabitants 1 1 
 
 Early settlers, arranged alphabetically . . . ... . . 42-127 
 
 Ecclesiastical history 203-241 
 
 Education 242 
 
 Enrolled men, South Reading 654 
 
 Female Antislavery Society, Reading . . . . . . 515 
 
 Historical incidents, 1639 to 1700 '. 1-41 
 
 " " 1700 to 1812 128-202 
 
 " " 1812 to 1844 409-461 
 
 " 1844 to 1874 462-471 
 
 In memoriam 658 
 
 Inaugural ceremonies, Wakefield, change of name .... 723 
 
 " exercises, " hall dedication 760 
 
 Indian deed of Lynn and Reading 687 
 
 Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield 57 l 
 
 Lawyers 47 2 
 
 Letter of Col. Benjamin Brown from seat of war, 1776 ... 711 
 
 Libraries of Reading 5*3 
 
 " Wakefield 49 6 
 
 Local manufactures, Wakefield 482 
 
 " " Reading S 2 5 
 
 Mercantile affairs . .......... 5 21 
 
 Military affairs ..... ..... 2 73 
 
 Minister rates in 1666 ... ....... 1 9 
 
 Miscellaneous ............ 4i 
 
 Municipal affairs ..... ...... 2 I 
 
 New buildings in Wakefield ......... 56 
 
 Newspapers " " ... ...... 
 
 North Parish, laying out of, 1666 ... ..... 692 
 
 Old dwellings in Wakefield . < 5 2 
 
 Owners of dwellings in 1667 
 
 " " or occupants, 1765 to 1865 759 
 
 Personal reminiscences (by Hiram Barrus) 545, 
 
 Petition of North Parish, in 1719 696
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 XXVll 
 
 FAGS. 
 
 Petition of Rev. Richard Brown, 1719 -". 697 
 
 Physicians . . .... . . . . .. .... 473. 5 6 4 
 
 Population 501 
 
 Poem, flag-raising in 1 86 1 583 
 
 " Wakefield Town Celebration ........ 741 
 
 " " Hall Dedication . . . . * . . . . 776 
 
 " Grand Review at Washington 598 
 
 Post-office, Reading 511 
 
 Professional 472 
 
 Railroads . 510,518 
 
 Rattan Works, Wakefield . 483 
 
 Rebellion history 574 
 
 " record, South Reading 600 
 
 " " Reading 633 
 
 " " North Reading 650 
 
 Representatives 290 
 
 Residents of Reading doing business in Boston 552 
 
 Revolutionary history (by Hiram Barrus) 700 
 
 Rolls of the three military companies of Reading, 1775 . . . 698 
 
 Roll of Company E, i6th Massachusetts Regiment .... 651 
 
 " " D, 50th " " 652 
 
 " E, soth " " 653 
 
 Selectmen 
 
 Senators 
 
 School appropriations 
 
 " Committees, before 1812 . 
 
 " " after 1812 . 
 
 " graduates 
 
 " history 
 
 " teachers 
 
 Sketch, life of Dr. Nathan Richardson . 
 
 " " Hon. John Prentiss 
 
 " " Hon. Thomas Emerson . 
 
 " " Hon. Lilley Eaton . 
 
 " Hon. P. H. Sweetser 
 
 ' " Dr. S. O. Richardson 
 
 " " Cyrus Wakefield . 
 
 Slaves 
 
 Soldiers in French and Indian Wars, 1745 to 1760 
 
 " Revolutionary War . 
 
 Subscription, new meeting-house, 1688 . 
 
 281 
 292 
 
 244,260 
 247 
 
 261, 262 
 
 259, 266 
 
 242-272 
 
 248-250 
 
 658 
 
 661 
 
 663 
 
 665 
 668 
 
 671 
 677 
 542 
 697 
 693 
 34 
 
 Topography 
 
 481
 
 xxviii GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Tornadoes' 543 
 
 Town clerks 289 
 
 \ 
 
 Valuation 5 O1 
 
 Volunteers, South Reading, call of 1864 657 
 
 War of 1812 4" 
 
 War of Rebellion 574 
 
 Years, from 1639 to 1700 1-41 
 
 " " 1701 to 1811 128-202 
 
 " " 1812 to 1844 409-461 
 
 " " 1845101874 ' . . ' . ' 462-471 
 
 Young Men's Christian Association, 1767 158
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HISTORY OF READING. 
 
 INCLUDING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF WAKEFIELD, READING, AND NORTH 
 
 READING. 
 
 THE old town of "Redding" as it is written in the early rec- 
 ords of the town, and in its act of incorporation, began to be settled in 
 1639. In this year was it born, and its birth was duly chronicled in the 
 Colonial records, thenceforward to live, improve, and, from time to time, 
 to write its name and its fame in the annals of its country's story. Until 
 this year (1639) it had remained in almost primeval solitude ; the light 
 of civilization had not penetrated its shadowy forests, or its march 
 subdued the roughness of its scenery or the wildness of its inhabi- 
 tants. A few Indian lodges, scattered along its rivers and around its 
 lakes, for purposes of hunting and fishing ; and about the cellar-holes 
 and sites of whose ancient wigwams are still found, occasionally, the 
 granite arrow and tomahawk heads : these afforded its only evidence 
 of human denizens 
 
 This particular territory was claimed as a part of the domain and 
 hunting-grounds of the Saugus tribe of Indians, whose chief seat, and 
 the residence of whose sachem, was in the neighborhood of the sea, in 
 the heart of what is now the city of Lynn, but then called Saugus. 
 
 The township of Lynn had begun to be settled in 1629, ten years 
 before, and its inhabitants desired to extend their territory farther in- 
 land. 
 
 Accordingly, we find that in this year, 1639, sundry inhabitants of 
 Lynn petitioned the Colony Court for a place for an inland plantation 
 at the head of their bounds. Their bounds, at said date, included the 
 present towns of Saugus and Lynnfield, then unsettled. 
 
 The Court granted the aforesaid petition, and gave the town of Lynn 
 " four miles square," at the head of their bounds, or so much thereof 
 as the place will afford, upon condition that the petitioners shall, within 
 two years, make some good proceeding in planting, so as it may be a
 
 2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 village, fit to contain a convenient number of inhabitants, which may 
 in due time have a church there ; and so as such as shall remove to 
 inhabit there, shall not withal keep their accommodations in Lynn, after 
 their removal to the said village, upon pain to forfeit their interest in 
 one of them, at their election." 
 
 Under this grant the settlement commenced. The earliest settlers 
 of this territory were probably all from among the early settlers of 
 Lynn. In 1640, the Court further ordered, "that 'Lynn Village,'" the 
 name first given to the territory, "should be exempted from taxes as 
 soon as seven houses should be built, and seven families settled." 
 
 In 1644, a sufficient number of houses having been built, and a suffi- 
 cient number of families having been settled, the Court further ordered, 
 "that 'Lynn Village' should take the name of 'Redding.' " 
 
 This last order of the General Court constitutes the act of incorpo- 
 ration of the old town of Reading. 
 
 It was named, it is presumed, in honor and memory of Reading in 
 England, whence some of the first settlers of Lynn Village, it is said, 
 emigrated. 
 
 " Reading, England, is a borough and market town, having separate 
 jurisdiction, in the county of Berks, twenty-six miles (S. E. by S.) from 
 Abingdon, and thirty-nine miles (W. by S.) from London. Population 
 in 1831 was sixteen thousand. It is supposed to have derived its name 
 either from the British word ' redinj signifying fern, with which the 
 soil abounded ; or from ' rhyd} a ford, and ' ing* a meadow, which, from 
 its situation on a tract of land intersected by the river Kennet, appears 
 to be the more probable. It is a very ancient town. It was taken 
 from the Saxons by the Danes in 871, and was the scene of several 
 important ancient battles. 
 
 " It is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Kennet, which, 
 after passing through it, divides into two branches, uniting again pre- 
 viously to its confluence with the Thames. It is in form an equilateral 
 triangle ; is well paved ; lighted with gas ; contains a public library, 
 grammar, Lancasterian, and other schools ; has been formerly engaged 
 extensively in the manufacture of woollen cloth, sheeting, sail cloth, 
 pins, etc., and contains iron foundries, breweries, and boat-building 
 establishments, and is, moreover, largely engaged in the flour and grain 
 trade. It has an abbey and vicarage, one Roman Catholic, three Bap- 
 tist, two Independent churches, and one church each of Friends and 
 Methodists. William, archbishop of Bourdeaux, in the reign of Henry 
 III, and Archbishop Laud, principal minister of Charles I, who was 
 beheaded on Tower Hill in 1644, were natives of Reading."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 3 
 
 Our town of Reading, when incorporated, included, in the "four 
 miles square grant," substantially the same territory as now constitutes 
 the present towns of Reading and Wakefield. The territory of the 
 present town of North Reading was added by a subsequent grant made 
 in 1651. 
 
 This compass of land, thus assigned as the town of Reading, contin- 
 ued as a single parish, transacting its municipal and parochial affairs 
 through one and the same executive until 1713. 
 
 The earliest settlements were made in what is now the town of Wake- 
 field. We are unable to state precisely who were the very first to build 
 and locate upon the territory. It is probable that several families re- 
 moved hither from Lynn in the same year, and as early as 1640. 
 
 The settlers who came here before the incorporation of the town in 
 1644, received their grants of land probably from the town of Lynn. 
 The early records of Lynn, which should give the account of such 
 grants, are wanting. Several leaves of the first book of records of 
 Reading, containing the doings of the town for the three or four of the 
 first years, are also wanting. 
 
 These respective records, if preserved, would, doubtless, have fur- 
 nished more exact information in relation to the time and order of 
 the arrival of the very early settlers. There is reason to conclude, how- 
 ever, that the following persons, with their families, were inhabitants at 
 or about the year of incorporation, viz. : 
 
 Nicholas Brown, who settled first on the east side of the Great Pond, 
 where L. Beebe, Esq., now is, and afterwards in the east part of 
 the town, where Edward Upton was in 1868. 
 
 Thomas Clark. 
 
 John Damon, who settled on the Common, where was formerly the 
 Quannapowitt House. 
 
 William Cowdrey, who settled on Cowdrey's hill. 
 
 George Davis. 
 
 Robert Dunton. 
 
 Samuel Dunton. 
 
 Josiah Dustin, who settled near where now is E. E. Emerson's house. 
 
 Jonas Eaton, who settled on Cowdrey's hill. 
 
 William Eaton, who settled on east side of Great Pond. 
 
 Zackery Fitch, who settled on Salem Street, near where Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Aborn was in 1868. 
 
 Isaac Hart, who settled near where John F. Hartshorn now is. 
 
 Thomas Hartshorn, who settled on Elm Street, where Joseph Harts- 
 horn now is.
 
 4 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 William Hooper. 
 
 Thomas Kendall, who settled where Mrs. James Emerson now is. 
 
 John Laukin. 
 
 Thomas Marshall. 
 
 William Martin. 
 
 John Pearson. 
 
 John Poole, who settled where the rattan factory now is. 
 
 Thomas Parker, who settled on Lowell Street, where Suel Winn lately 
 
 owned. 
 
 Francis Smith, who settled at north end of Smith's Pond. 
 John Smith, who settled at place last named. 
 Jeremy Swayne, who settled in northeast part of the town where David 
 
 Batchelcler now owns. 
 Thomas Taylor. 
 Edward Taylor. 
 
 Richard Walker, lived on the place formerly owned by Major Suel Winn. 
 Samuel Walker. 
 John Wiley, who settled in Woodville. 
 
 1644.: The earliest entry that is found upon the town records is 
 the following, which was made at the latter end of the oldest book of 
 records, the first few leaves thereof being lost, viz. : 
 
 " Articles agreed upon betwixt the towne on the one part and John 
 Poole on the other part, for the privilege of a Water Mill, for the use and 
 service of the towne : 
 
 " ist. The aforesaid John Poole is to buyld the Mill and sett it on 
 the end of Sargent Marshall's lott by the Marsh meadow ; the same to 
 be made fitt for use, able to do the towns work, betwixt this and the 
 1 5th Aug next ensuing ; ad. The said John Poole. is t6 continue and 
 maintain the said Mill for use, able and sufficient for the town's use,_ 
 from time to time, he and his assigns, and to repair the same at his 
 own expense, coste, and charge. 3d. The towne of Reading hath 
 given and granted unto John Poole the liberty to bring the River out 
 of its natural course, in such convenient place as may be most meete, 
 without trouble or disturbance. 4th. The towne hath given liberty to 
 the said John Poole to choose and take such, (land ?) for the Mill, as 
 shall be needful for the Mill in any lott or place about the ground. 
 5th. The towne doth also covenant with said John Poole to bring 
 their corn to the Mill 2 or 3 days in the week for grinding their grists, 
 and not have him attend the whole week, unless more days are required 
 to do the work ; they do likewise covenant neither to sett up nor to
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 I 
 
 allow to be sett up any other Mill within the bounds of Reading, to 
 hinder the custom of said Mill, so long as the said Poole, his heirs, or 
 assigns shall well and sufficiently grind (for?) the towne's use." 
 
 There is no doubt that the first meeting-house was erected at about 
 this time. There is no record of its erection ; but we know by subse- 
 quent references that one had been built before 1657, as some improve- 
 ments on it were made in that year. The record of its erection was 
 probably written upon those missing leaves, and was therefore erected 
 before 1647. 
 
 Tradition said it stood on the Common, near where the post-office 
 building now is. It was, no doubt, a rude, roughly-built structure of 
 moderate dimensions. 
 
 "It was sold in 1692 for twenty-five shillings and a 'watch-house 
 frame,' and the money payd to Capt. Browne in part pay for the scoole." 
 
 1645. 1'his vear > J 645, the First Congregational Church was gath- 
 ered, being the twelfth in the colony ; and the Rev. Henry Green, from 
 Watertown, was ordained its first pastor. For further particulars of 
 Rev. Mr. Green, see subsequent account of Early Settlers. 
 
 This year the Court ordered that a military guard should be kept in 
 every town against surprise by the Indians. 
 
 A military company had been already formed in the town, of which 
 Richard Walker was captain. 
 
 The Court further ordered that youth from ten to sixteen years old 
 shall be trained by an officer of each company on muster days in the 
 use of small guns, half pikes, and also of bows and arrows, lest the 
 Colony should be destitute of powder. This year a synod of the 
 " elders of the churches throughout the United Colonies met at Cam- 
 bridge to agree upon some answers to books written in defence of 
 anabaptism and other errors, and for liberty of conscience, as a shelter 
 for their toleration and so forth." 
 
 1646. This year, 1646, William Witter, of Lynn, was presented by 
 the grand jury at Salem court,. for saying that "they who stayed whiles 
 a child is baptized, do worship the divell, and do take the name of the 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in vain," and was required to make public 
 confession to satisfaction the next Lord's day, being fair, in the open 
 congregation at Lynn. This William Witter was a Baptist, and died in 
 1659, aged seventy-five.
 
 6 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 John Brock, the future minister of Reading, graduated at Harvard 
 College this year. 
 
 In a Town Rate of ,80, in Lynn, just before the settlement of Read- 
 ing, 
 
 s. 
 
 John Poole was taxed I 15 
 
 Nicholas Browne was taxed ....... I 10 
 
 Richard Walker " " I o 
 
 William Halsey, or Hescey, was taxed I o 
 
 William Cowdrey " " o 10 
 
 William Martin " " o 10 
 
 Tho. Marshall " " o 10 
 
 Zackery Fitch " " o 10 
 
 The above-named persons all came to Reading. 
 
 1647-6-10. The town ordered, "that there shall bee a genrall 
 devision of land and meadow, according to parsons and cattell ; 
 for evari parson tow akers, and to evari beste one aker ; and he, whose 
 estate will not amount to tenne akers, shall have tenne akers ; and no 
 man to exsede twenti akers ; and so for medow, he, whose estate will 
 not amount to fife akers, shall have fife akers ; and so evari man accord- 
 ing to parsons and estate, tow akers for a parson, and one for a 
 beaste." 
 
 Chose for committee to superintend this division, Wm. Cowdrey, 
 Tho. Marshall, John Smith, and Richard Walker. 
 
 This was perhaps the first general division of lands, and probably 
 referred to territory in the central part of what is now Wakefield ; but 
 the particular assignment of lots, under this order, has not been pre- 
 served. 
 
 This year the General Court enacts, " that if any young man attempt 
 to address a young woman without the consent of her parents, or, in 
 case of their absence, of the County Court, he shall be fined ^5 for the 
 first offence, 10 for (he second, and imprisonment for the third." 
 
 1648. In May, Rev. Henry Green, first pastor of the church, died. 
 
 The church then invited Samuel Haugh, of Boston, to supply in his 
 room. Mr. Haugh commenced preaching here November, 1648, and 
 was ordained pastor March 26, 1650. For further particulars of Mr. 
 Haugh, see subsequent account of Early Settlers. 
 
 The names of the brethren and sisters of the church at Reading, from 
 the 29th September, 1648, to 1650, inclusive, as prepared by Mr. Haugh, 
 at the time of his ordination :
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 7 
 
 Francis Smith, William Martin, 
 
 Mrs. Frances Green (widow), Tho. Bancroft, 
 
 William Cowdrey, Judith Poole, 
 
 Joanna Cowdrey, Edward Taylor, 
 
 John Pearson, Christiana Taylor, 
 
 Maudlin Pearson, Sister Martin, 
 
 Brother Dunton, Lydia Laukin, 
 
 Thomas Kendall, Elizabeth Wiley, 
 
 Rebecca Kendall, Elizabeth Hart, 
 
 Thomas Parker, Zackery Fitch, 
 
 Amy Parker, Mary Fitch, 
 
 George Davis, William Eaton, 
 
 William Hooper, Martha Eaton, 
 
 Elizabeth Hooper, Jonas Eaton, 
 
 Mary Swayne, Grace Eaton, 
 
 Joanna Marshall, John Bachelder, 
 
 Tho. Marshall, Rebecca Bachelder, 
 
 Left* Marshall and wife, Abigail Damon, 
 
 Tho. Hartshorn, Left- ( John) Smith, 
 
 Susanna Hartshorn, Catharine Smith. 
 
 N. B. The following persons were added soon after, viz. : 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Haugh, Lydia Dustin, 
 
 Samuel Walker and wife, Alice Clark. 
 
 This year, 1648, the building of a bridge over Ipswich River, four 
 miles from Reading, on the road from the Bay, nearest, through Haver- 
 hill to the eastward, was provided for. 
 
 Francis Smith, of Reading, had leave of the Court to draw wine in 
 Reading for the refreshing of travellers and others, he paying excise, as 
 the law in that case provides. 
 
 This year the town ordered and agreed "that any six of the towns- 
 men, seeing any just cause for a general meeting, and give warning 
 both of the time and place, that such men that shall be absent, not 
 being able to satisfy the company, shall pay i2</ for every such de- 
 fault ; and further, it is agreed that if one shall depart the meeting, not 
 having leave, such person shall pay 6d. for every such default ; and for 
 executing this order, they have chosen William Cowdrey." 
 
 The town ordered, " that the neck that is called ' Chadwell's Neck * 
 is given to Timothy Coper, and also 12 akers of medow, upon thes con- 
 disons : If he come to improve it, ether by bilding or by fencing, by the 
 last of the 3d month of 1649 ; if he do not come, the land and medow 
 retorns to the towne ; and his heirs consent to pay 50 shillings to the 
 towne for disapoynting them of an inhabbitant." He came not.
 
 8 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Town ordered, " that Goodman Fitts (Fitch) shall have full sattisfact- 
 son for a towne hieway downe his Lot in land contiguous." 
 
 Town ordered, " that all F boards and planks shall pay tow pence 
 uppon the hundred, sold or carried out off the towne." 
 
 In June, Margaret Jones, of Charlestown, was hung in Boston for 
 witchcraft. 
 
 First election of surveyors of highways, chose John Poole, William 
 Martin, Henry Felch, and John Pearson. 
 
 1649. Town ordered, "that there shall be no Mill Path through 
 Mas. Haugh's ground, nor no other way." 
 
 N. B. Mr. Haugh owned the place recently owned by the late Noah 
 Smith, Esq. 
 
 Wm. Cowdrey is chosen clerk of the writs, and Edward Taylor, 
 constable. 
 
 The office of clerk of the writs included among its duties the re- 
 cording of the action of the town as well as the record of writs, issued 
 for trial of small causes. 
 
 This year, " the towne ordered that there being manni sad acsidantes 
 in the Contree by fire, to the great damning of manny, by joining of 
 barnes and haystackes to dwelling houwses, tharfor no barne nor hay- 
 stacke shall be sett within six polles of anni dwelling howse opon pan- 
 nilte of twentie shillings." 
 
 Also ordered, "that every dwelling house shall have a sufficient 
 lather (ladder) standing by the chimney for the preventing of the dam- 
 age of fire, and this to be binding by the tenth day of April, 1650, opon 
 the pannilte of tenne shillings." 
 
 Three married women were this year fined five shillings apiece for 
 scolding. 
 
 Nicholas Pinion was fined for swearing. Matthew Stanley, for win- 
 ning the affections of John Tarbox's daughter, without her parents' 
 consent, was fined ,5, with 2S. 6d. fees. 
 
 Ralph Roote was "authorized by the court to confirm the sale of a 
 house and land in Reading, belonging to his daughter Sarah, a minor, 
 to Thomas Taylor, of Watertown. 
 
 1650. Town granted to Tho. Hartshorn, " tanne (10) akers of 
 planting land, at the west end of Wm. Cowdrey's houselot," upon this 
 condition, that it is ours to give. Also, in the same place, " 2 akers to 
 Tho. Clarke, 4 a. to Goodman Sawyer, and 3 a. to Tho Marshall, viz. 
 Clarke ist, Hartshorne 2d, Sawyer 3d, and Marshall 4th."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 9 
 
 Town agreed with John Smith for having bulles to goe with the towne 
 heard, for one year, and for the year he is to have 2 IQS. 
 
 Town ordered " that every man's fence is to be five rayles, or such a 
 fence as the surveyors of fences shall judge to be equivalent to five 
 rayles ; to be put up for the sufficient keeping out of cattell and hogges, 
 by the ist month." 
 
 This year, March 26, Rev. Samuel Haugh was ordained the 2d pas- 
 tor of the church of Reading. See subsequent list of Early Settlers. 
 
 June 19, General Court ordered, "in answer to the petition of Mr. 
 Samuel Haugh, for the confirmation of a ground of fower hundred acors 
 of land, formerly granted to Mr. Atherton Haugh, that his petition 
 should be granted, and the aforesaid land layed out nere the bounds of 
 Concord northwest, and the Court doth appoint Capt. Willard and 
 Sergt. Blood to lay out the same." This land was afterwards sold to 
 Sergt. Blood. 
 
 The General Court ordered "a book lately imported from England, 
 composed by Wm. Pinchon, of Springfield, on 'Redemptional Justifica- 
 tion, to be burnt in Boston Market, and its author called to accougt." 
 Capt. Richard Walker, the representative from Reading, and five 
 others, dissented. 
 
 Johnson, in his " Wonder Working Providence of Zion's Savior in 
 New England," published about this time, says : " That about the year 
 1645, tne town of Reading had her foundation stone laid ; this and the 
 town of Woburn were like the twins in the womb of Tamer, Reading 
 thrusting forth the hand first, but her sister Woburn came first to the 
 birth. Reading is well watered, and situate about a great pond, be- 
 sides it hath two mills, the one a Saw-Mill, the other a Corn-Mill, which 
 stand on two several streams ; it hath not been so fruitful for children 
 as her sister Woburn hath ; her habitation is fallen in the very centre 
 of the country ; they are well stocked with cattle for the number of 
 people. They have gathered into a church, and ordained a pastor from 
 among themselves at the same time ; a young man of good abilities to 
 preach the word, and of a very humble behavior, named Mr. Green, he, 
 having finished his course, departed this life not long after, whose labors 
 are with the Lord. After him succeeded in the place one Mr. Hoph, 
 a young man, one of the first fruits of New England, a man studious to 
 promote the truths of Christ." 
 
 These pastors are both remembered in the following quaint verse, 
 also written by Johnson :
 
 I0 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 11 On earth's bed thou at noon hast laid thy head, 
 
 You that for Christ (as Green) here toil have taken, 
 When nature fails, then rest it in earth's dead, 
 
 Till Christ, by 's word, with glory thee awaken ; 
 Young Hoph, thou must be second to this man, 
 
 In field encounter ; with Christ's foes shall thou 
 Stand up, and take his bright sword in thy hand, 
 
 Error cut down, and make stout Stomach's bow ; 
 Green 's gone before, thy warfare 's now begun, 
 
 And last it may to see Rome's Babel fall ; 
 By weakest means, Christ, mighty works hath done, 
 
 Keep footing fast, till Christ thee hence do call." 
 
 1651. Octo. "The Court doth graunt to the inhabitants of Read- 
 ing, as an addition to their former bounds, a certayne tract of land, 
 about two miles content, lying between Mr. Bellingham's farm (in An- 
 dover) and the great river (Ipswich), and so to joyne their former fower 
 miles graunt, so as it hath not been already graunted to any towne or 
 person, nor prejudicing any former graunt." This territory is now 
 North Reading. 
 
 Town ordered, in ist month, "that every man shall youke his hogges 
 by the 6th of the 26. month next, upon penalty of paying sixpence for 
 every day that any hogg shall be found unyouked, after they are to be 
 youked ; every youke is to be as long as the hogg is heigh, and to be 
 six inches above his neck." 
 
 Also, " that no public meeting shall hould any longer than one can 
 see to wright or read in the place of meeting ; and whatever is done 
 afterwards is of no validiti ; and any nine men shall have power to acte 
 any bisseness that is to be done uppon that meeting day." 
 
 Also, " that in the greatest levies that shall be made, the Poll shall 
 be but 2 s. 6d. per head, and so proportionable for lesser levies ; the 
 reste to be put on estates." 
 
 Also, " that the Selectmen shall have power over all prudential offi- 
 cers, except giving away land and timber." 
 
 Nicholas Brown, Edward Taylor, Zackery Fitch, and Jonas Eaton, 
 were fined 6d. each for being late at town meeting ; and Geo. Davis 
 was fined is. 6d. for absence. 
 
 John Clarke, John Crandall, and Obadiah Holmes, came from New- 
 port and attended a Baptist meeting that was held at the house of Wil- 
 liam Witter, in Lynn, where Mr. Clarke began to preach. Here they 
 were arrested as disturbers of the peace, were taken to Boston, and 
 there imprisoned from the 2oth to the 3ist July, when they were sen-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 II 
 
 tenced by the Court of Assistants, Mr. Holmes to pay a fine of 30, 
 Mr. Clarke, 20, and Mr. Crandall, .5. 
 
 The fines of Clarke and Crandall were paid, but Mr. Holmes refused 
 to pay his, or surfer it to be paid, and was retained in prison till Sep- 
 tember, when he was dismissed with thirty stripes. 
 
 The General Court enacted this year, " that if any males of less prop- 
 erty than 200 wear gold or silver lace, or buttons or points at their 
 knees, or walk in great boots (because leather is scarce), and if any 
 females, not possessed of .200, wear silk or tiffany hoods or scarfs, 
 they shall be prosecuted and fined. 
 
 1652. This year the town ordered, 
 
 " That the lottes that was to be laid out to be on Woburn line, is to 
 be laid out on the Playne, and are to begin at the end next to Birchen 
 Playne ; and if the Playne will not be enough for all, the rest to be laid 
 out in the Pine Playne at Dirty Breech meadow, and to begin at the 
 hither end next to the town." 
 
 Under this order the lots were drawn as follows : 
 
 Henry Felch 
 
 Ensign Marshall 
 
 Jonas Eaton 
 
 Samuel Dunton 
 
 Henry Bellflower 
 
 Tho. Marshall (carpenter) 
 
 Isaac Hart 
 
 John Smith 
 
 Jeremy Swayne 
 
 John Bachelder 
 
 John Pearson 
 
 Nicholas Browne 
 
 Capt. Walker 
 
 Francis Smith 
 
 Zackery Fitch 
 
 John Poole 
 
 Geo. Davis 
 
 drew 
 
 Acres 
 10 
 20 
 II 
 
 10 
 
 17 
 
 IO 
 10 
 10 
 12 
 10 
 
 H 
 20 
 20 
 2O 
 18 
 20 
 II 
 
 Acres 
 
 Jeremy Fitch drew 10 
 
 William Cowdrey " 20 
 
 Josiah Dustin " 10 
 
 Tho. Parker " 15 
 
 Tho. Clarke " 10 
 
 William Martin " 14 
 
 Robert Dunton " 10 
 
 Edward Taylor f 1 1 
 
 Samuel Walker " 14 
 
 William Hooper " 10 
 
 Tho. Kendall " 14 
 
 John (or William) Laukin " 10 
 
 William Eaton " 10 
 
 Tho. Taylor " 10 
 
 John Damon " 10 
 
 Robert Burnap " 10 
 
 John Wyley 10 
 
 This is the earliest complete list of the male inhabitants of Reading 
 to be found. 
 
 Ordered by the town this year (1652), "that no man, after this pres- 
 ent day, shall fall any Oak, Spruce, or Pine trees, fit for boards, within 
 3 miles of the Meeting-house, except it be for his own use, upon the 
 penalty of 5 shillings for every tree so fallen ; and if any man shall fall
 
 I2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 any timber for boards, beyond the 3 miles, and shall sell any of the 
 same out of the town, he shall pay 12 pence for every hundred so sold 
 for the use of the town." 
 
 1653. Town ordered (Jan'y n) "that no man shall, after the pres- 
 ent day, fall any trees upon the Common for firewood, before the old 
 wood is cut up, that is fit to be cut up, within a mile of EdwM Taylor's, 
 and within a mile of Wm. Laukin's ; nor shall any man fall any trees 
 beyond a mile of Edw'd Taylor's or Wm. Laukin's, for firewood or oth- 
 erwise, but shall cut up all the bodys and all, upon penalty of i2</. for 
 every load of wood he so falls." 
 
 Also ordered, " that all clapboard trees, palisade trees, rayle trees, 
 and trees for posts that are already fallen, shall be cut out by the ist 
 April next ensuing; and that it shall be' lawful for any man to take 
 them as his own if not so done." 
 
 Geo. Davis and Tho. Clarke were chosen to gather up that part of 
 Mr. Haugh's rate that will not be freely payd without constraint. 
 
 Town further ordered, " that Thomas Browne, the Dish Turner, hath 
 free liberty to fall ash trees and maple trees within the bounds of the 
 town of Redding, upon the Common, upon condition that he shall pay 
 ' scott and lotte ' to the town of Redding." 
 
 " And that Walter Fairfield have free liberty to fall trees for his trade 
 upon condition that he shall pay ' scott and lotte ' to the town of Red- 
 ding." 
 
 N. B. When persons were taxed (in parish affairs) not to the same 
 amount, but according to their ability, they were said to pay scot and lot. 
 
 A report of a committee for laying out a country highway between 
 Redding and Winnesimett (Chelsea), made to the Colony Court in 1649, 
 being set aside as "not so behoofful to the country" as was desirable, 
 another committee, consisting of Thomas Marshall, John Smyth, and 
 John Sprague, were appointed by the court to make another examina- 
 tion with a view to find the best route for a highway from Redding to 
 Winnesimett, and their report, made September 10, and adopted, was 
 as follows : 
 
 " From Reddinge town through Maiden bounds, between the Pond 
 and John Smyth's land, and so on by the east side of Mr. Joseph Hill's 
 land to ' New Hockley Hole,' and so on in the old way by the Cowpen, 
 and thence along on the east side of Tho. Coytmore's lott, by Ele Pond, 
 in the old way to Tho. Lynd's land, then through the first field, and so 
 on to Maiden Meeting House, and so on to Chelsea " 
 
 Sept. 10. "Capt. Richard Walker, Thomas Marshall, and Nicholas
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. !j 
 
 Holt, being appoynted by the Court to lay out the County highway from 
 Andevour to Reddinge, have thus agreed to follow the cart-way from 
 Andevour to Goodman Holt's farm, leavinge his howse about a quarter 
 of a mile on the left hand, and so on in a strayte South, or nere a South 
 lyne, to the falls of Ipswich river, according to the marked trees, and 
 so from a river uppon the like strayght lyne to the head of a meddow, 
 called the Great Meddow, to the Saw Mill l in Reddinge, and from 
 thence through common cornefields to the Meeting house, leavinge the 
 lott of Josias Dustin on the right hand, and Zackariah Fitts, his lott, on 
 the left hand ; and we agree that the said highway shall be fower rods 
 wide at the least in all places, except through the common fields of Red- 
 dinge, and there not to be less than two rods wide." 
 
 Henry Felch, being convicted of "departing the publique assembly 
 when the ordinance of baptism was about to be administered, was ad- 
 monished by the Court of his sin, and ordered to pay costs to Jonas 
 Eaton two shillings." 
 
 1654. "Zachariah Fitch and Joseph Dustin," over whose land the 
 road from Andover was laid in 1653, " having petitioned the Court for 
 the removing of a highway layd out through their planting ground," 
 received this answer : " The said highway shall be and hereby is sus- 
 pended from being made use of for the present, and that the first high- 
 way formerly layd out shall be made use of, and accounted the only 
 Country highway till this Court take further order." 
 
 N. B. The piece of highway suspended. as above was that part of 
 the present Salem Street that is west of Daniel Nichols', and was early 
 known and long called Fitch's Lane ; and the " first highway " referred 
 to above extended from the present Vernon Street westerly, over the 
 present Sweetser street to Main Street, near the house of Wm. White ; 
 and this last named way was long the main road to Andover and Salem. 
 
 This year " Wm. Cowdrey was empowered and ordered by the Court 
 to sell wine of any sort, and strong liquors, to the Indians, as to his 
 judgment shall seem most meet and necessary for their relief in just 
 and urgent occasions, and not otherwise, provided he shall not sell or 
 deliver more than one pint to any one Indian at any one time upon any 
 pretence whatever." 
 
 The General Court agreed " that for the dispatch of business the 
 Deputies shall eat and especially dine together in the Court House 
 chamber. Lt Phillips was to supply each of them with breakfast, din- 
 
 1 Said saw-mill stood where " Newcorab Saw- Mill" recently stood.
 
 ! 4 . GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 ner and supper, and a cup of wine or beer with the two last meals, and 
 fire and bed, for 3 shillgs a day." 
 
 John Brock was appointed one of a commission to divide lands in 
 York, Me. 
 
 Ensign John Smith, of Redding, having been licensed to keep an 
 Ordinary, was fined 2 s. " for not having a sign." 
 
 1655. This year there were 20 slaves 14 males and 6 females 
 in the town. 
 
 Robert Burnap, Jr., is chosen to keep the pound, and is to have two 
 pence for every head he turns the key upon. 
 
 Town agreed, " that our pastor, Mr. Haugh, should have his yearly 
 maintenance payed him eVery quarter, one half in wheat, pease and 
 barley, and the other half in rye and Indian, and to make even every 
 half year." 
 
 This year " the meddow from Jeremiah Swayne's meddow, downe be- 
 low the falls, was divided by lott among the settlers," and the following 
 changes from the list of drawers as given under the year 1652, appear, 
 viz. : 
 
 " Omitted : Ensign Marshall, Henry Bellflower, John Pearson, Francis 
 Smith, Jeremy Fitch, Robert Dunton, and John Laukin. 
 
 Added : Nath. Cutler, Wm. Laukin, John Weston, Samuel Haugh, 
 Peter Palfrey, Tho. Chandler, Tho. Hartshorn, James Pike, Tho. But- 
 ton, Robert Burnap, Jr., and John Browne." 
 
 1656. Town ordered "that every inhabitant that is in the town 
 when Mas. Haugh's salary is made shall pay for the whole year, al- 
 though he go out of the town before the year is out." 
 
 Ordered, " that no man shall turn any cattell upon the Common from 
 the middle of March till herding time, upon the penalty of 6d. for every 
 cow or beast thus turned." 
 
 In June, Mrs. Ann Hibbens was executed in Boston for the supposed 
 crime of witchcraft. 
 
 Isaac Hart was convicted of stealing hay. 
 
 1657. Town ordered, "that a town way be laid out from the Com- 
 mon, in the middle of the town, to the Country Way, at the other end 
 of Goodman Bustin's lott, one pole upon Josias Bustin and one pole 
 upon Goodman Fitch." 
 
 Also, " that there shall be two general town meetings every year : one 
 on the first second day in February yearly, and one the first second day
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 1 5 
 
 of December yearly ; and every inhabitant that shall absent himself 
 from these meetings, shall pay zs. 6d. if he be not there by 9 o'clk in 
 the morning." 
 
 Also, " that the Selectmen have power to make a levy for the building 
 of a gallery, to the value of 6 or 7 pounds." 
 
 Also, " that liberty be given to some young men to build a gallery 
 between the two great beams on the south side of the Meeting-house, 
 for two seats breadth, upon condition the gallery shall be their own, 
 and to sell to any townsmen that the town shall approve o" 
 
 1 658. Town chose, for Commissioners to try small causes, Nicholas 
 Browne, Peter Palfrey, and Wm. Cowdrey. 
 
 Town ordered " the minister's pay this year to be in Wheat and 
 Barley, in Pease and Rye, and in Butter and Indian." 
 
 The Court ordered, "that Lynn, Reading, and Rumney Marsh 
 (Chelsea) have liberty to raise a troop of horse and choose their offi- 
 cers, provided they be not ferry free, nor have five shillings yearly 
 allowed them from the country as other troops have." 
 
 Forty-six persons were assessed this year to pay the minister. 
 
 Jeremiah Swayne, Sen r , the father of Major Jeremiah, died. 
 
 This year the town ordered and agreed " that the meadows in the 
 ' Two Mile Grant ' shall be divided into three rows, from West to East ; 
 and that we are to begin to lay out the lotts of meddow, at the East end 
 of that row as lyeth next to Ipswich river and so to come West, and 
 then the second row and so to go East, and then the third row to run 
 West \ and then to take all meadow in the ' Four Miles ' at one row, 
 and so to run it to the West part of our bounds." 
 
 Also ordered, " that there shall be a Highway of tenn poles broad 
 left at each end of all those lotts of Upland beyond Ipswich river." 
 
 Names of the inhabitants of Redding, with the several plots of Up- 
 land that were given to every man, as it fell to them by lott, on the 
 north side of Ipswich river, with the number of akers, viz. (Feb. 14, 
 1658 or 9). 
 
 A. P. 
 
 Wm. Cowdrey, 188 57 
 
 Richard Walker, 200 57 
 
 Wm. Hooper, 50 14 
 
 John Weston, 70 20 
 
 Walter Fairfield, 40 1 1 
 
 John Buttery, 32 9 
 
 Ezekiel Morrill, 47 13 
 
 Benja. Bellflower, 91 25 
 
 A. P. 
 
 Thos. Clark, 277 30 
 
 Geo. Lilley, 40 10 
 
 Nicholas Browne, 327 90 
 
 Nathan! Cutler, 60 17 
 
 Tho. Kendall, 214 o 
 
 James Stimpson, (illegible.) 
 
 Henry Felch, " 
 
 Matthew Edwards, "
 
 i6 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Wm. Laukin, 
 (Name illegible), 
 Wm. Eaten, 
 Tho. Burnap, 
 Jonas Eaton, 
 Zackery Fitch, 
 Tho. Parker, 
 Edward Taylor, 
 John Wyley, 
 Henry Wormwood, 
 Peter Palfrey, 
 Samuel Dunton, 
 Geo. Davis, 
 John Damon, 
 Jonathan Poole, 
 Josiah Dustin, 
 
 A. P. 
 
 (illegible.) 
 
 60 16 
 
 204 52 
 
 43 " 
 
 US 36 
 
 116 27 
 
 John Bachelder, 
 Wm. Martin, 
 John Smith, 
 Samuel Haugh, 
 Robert Burnap, Jr., 
 Tho. Taylor, 
 Henry Bellflower, 
 Nath'l Cowdrey, 
 James Pike, 
 Isaac Hart, 
 John Poole, 
 Robt Burnap, Sen., 
 John Browne, 
 Isaac Burnap, 
 John Brock, 
 
 A. 
 226 
 183 
 190 
 
 399 
 1 02 
 1 20 
 
 47 
 85 
 40 
 
 9i 
 206 
 
 399 
 
 47 
 40 
 40 
 
 p. 
 o 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 G 
 
 O 
 O 
 O 
 O 
 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 N. B. The last two names seem to have been subsequently added. 
 A great earthquake this year. 
 
 Isaac Hart admonished by the Court " for divers evill and naughty 
 speeches against the Court." 
 
 1659. "A highway was laid out this year through Zackery Fitch's 
 lott, for a Town Highway for Cart and horse and foot this highway 
 is layd out from the Common to County highway, at the lower end of 
 the lotts j is to be a pole broad from the Common up to the white oak 
 stump ; and from thence to the other end of the lott, it is to be one 
 pole and three quarters broad. Furthermore, it is agreed that Brother 
 Fitch is to have the gate that the town made, and. to hang it up, but the 
 town to maintain it ; and Brother Fitch is to make another gate at his 
 own charge, and to sett it up at the other end of the lott, and to main- 
 tain it at his own charge. 
 
 " This is a perpetual agreement for us." 
 
 (N. B. This is the highway over Fitch's Hill from Main to Vernon 
 Streets.) 
 
 Wm. Cowdrey, of Reading, authorized to join parties in marriage. 
 
 "Redding being presented for not having a sufficient pound, are in- 
 joyned to reforme before the next County Court under a penalty of 
 ^5, and are to pay costs of Court 2S. 6d." 
 
 1 66 1. The town " did agree with Jonathan Poole, John Browne, Jr., 
 Matthew Edwards, and Nath'l Cowdrey, about the Gallery, viz : that it 
 should be taken down and sett up in the west side of the new Meeting-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF PEADfNG. ij 
 
 house, but one seat broad, and the , and five young men should 
 
 sit in it so long as the town should see cause, and that the town should 
 give them three pound." 
 
 The town ordered, " that John Smith, Jonathan Poole, John Browne, 
 Jr., and Wm. Cowdrey, lay out the two mile grant and four mile grant 
 beyond the river." 
 
 Also ordered, " that there shall no upland be layd out on the South 
 side of Ipswich river, nor given to any man for the time to come ; but 
 it shall be for Common." 
 
 Also ordered, " that all the meadow that is common on the South side 
 of Ipswich river, near to the hundred acres, shall be layd out to every 
 inhabitant by equal proportion, as every one is in Mas. Haugh's levy in 
 the year 1661, but none to John Browne of the hill, because he had 
 3 acres given to him the same day this order was made." 
 
 Mary Dyar, a quaker, was hung in 1660 ; and this year the Court 
 ordered, " that hereafter, quakers, when discovered, shall be made bare 
 from the middle upwards, tied to a cart, and whipped through the town 
 towards the boundary of Massachusetts ; and if returning, that they 
 shall be similarly punished, with the addition of being branded with the 
 letter R. on the left shoulder ; and if coming back a third time, that 
 they shall be banished on pain of death." 
 
 John Weston " admonished and to make public acknowledgment for 
 challenging Thomas Clark in the field to fight." 
 
 1662. March 30, Rev. Samuel Haugh, second minister of Reading, 
 died at Boston. (See subsequent list of early settlers.) 
 
 The town ordered, " that no woman, maid nor boy nor gall shall sit 
 in the south alley and east alley of the Meetinghouse, upon penalty of 
 twelve pence for every day they shall sit in the alley after this present 
 day." 
 
 Also, " that every dog, that comes to the meeting, after this present 
 day, either on Lord's day or lecture-day, except it be their dogs, that 
 pay for a dog whipper, the owner of those dogs shall pay sixpence for 
 every time they come to the meeting." 
 
 The names of twenty-six men are recorded as agreeing to pay to the 
 dog whipper. 
 
 Rev. John Brock came to Reading this year and was ordained No- 
 vember i3th, as the successor of Rev. Mr. Haugh. There was given, by 
 the town, " to Mas. Brock all the neck of land, that lyeth between the 
 200 acres, that were Mrs. Richard Sadler's and the meadow that is 
 called Bare Meadow, provided that every man shall have free liberty to 
 3
 
 IS GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 fetch his hay out of Bare Meadow ; and a highway is to be layed out 
 through this land to the meadow for that same purpose. 
 
 N. B. Mas. Brock did not accept of this land, but took "twenty 
 pounds in lew of it." Sadler's neck, so called, is in North Reading, 
 and is the tract of upland, lying on the south side of Ipswich River 
 and between said river and Bare Meadow. 
 
 It was so named after Richard Sadler, of Lynn, who was Town 
 Clerk of Lynn in 1641, and went back to England in 1646. Mr. Sadler 
 owned at one time, it seems, 200 acres of the said tract. 
 
 January. The town ordered, " that all the land and meadow beyond 
 Ipswich river, that is given out into great lotts, shall be layed out be- 
 tween this day and March come a twelve month ; and the men, that 
 are to lay out this land and meadow, shall have two pence an acre, 
 round, the man." 
 
 The town " sold to Tho. Tower of Redding, half an acre of land 
 near to the lott of Josias Dustin for to sett his house upon, for which he 
 is to give the town two pence. John Smith and Wm. Cowdrey were 
 chosen to lay it out for him, where it shall be." 
 
 1663. This year, Josselyn, an eccentric traveller, visited New Eng- 
 land, and in his published account thereof says : " In the centre of the 
 country, by a great pond side, and not far from Woburn, is situated 
 Reading ; it hathe two mills, a saw mill and a corn mill, and is well 
 stocked with cattell." 
 
 N. B. The corn mill stood near where the rattan factory now is, 
 and the saw mill stood on the site of the mill formerly known as New- 
 comb's mill, at the northerly end of Vernon Street, in South Reading. 1 
 Both mills were originally built and owned by John Poole and his heirs. 
 
 January 26, there was an earthquake. 
 
 1664. The town "exchanged lands with Matthew Edwards, he 
 paying 30 shillings and a gallon of liquor to boot." 
 
 Town gave to John Smith, Jona. Poole, John Browne, and William 
 Cowdrey, " all the Slip or Tract of land (if there be any) that lyeth be- 
 tween the line that Bray Wilkins or his sons did run, which was the 
 supposed line of Mas. Bellingham's Farm, and the line, that Maj- Haw- 
 thorne and Ensign Howlett did agree to be the line, etc." 
 
 1 The reader is desired to bear in mind that wherever the name " South Read- 
 ing " occurs, the present town of " Wakefield " is referred to.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. ig 
 
 1665. A herdsman was appointed for taking care of the cattle upon 
 the town commons, and for securing them from the wolves, and secur- 
 ing the meadow, " that the cattell may not eat up and destroy in the 
 Somer, what should be for them in the winter." 
 
 Deacons Tho. Kendall, Tho. Parker, and William Cowdrey were ap- 
 pointed Commissioners for ending small causes. 
 
 Robert Burnap, Jr., was chosen Sealer of Weights and Measures. 
 
 1666. The town ordered the Burying-place to be fenced in with 
 pine ray/fs. 
 
 This was the first Burial-Ground, and was the spot of land in South 
 Reading, now Wakefield, on which the old Town House and Yale 
 Engine House stood in 1873. 
 
 This year " the Court laid out the Tract of land of the ' two miles,' 
 formerly granted to the town, and confirmed the same." 
 
 The town ordered " that the ' Great Swamp,' and all other Swamps 
 that are wett and fitt to make meadow, shall all be (divided) quantity 
 and quality considered, to every man, according to each man's propor- 
 tion." 
 
 Names of the inhabitants that drew land in the " Division of the 
 Great Swamp," with their minister rates in the preceding year : 
 
 s. d. s. d. 
 
 Geo. Davis, 299 Nath'l Cowdrey, I 15 7 
 
 John Browne, i 10 5 Mas. Walker, I 10 3 
 
 Ralph Dix, 144 Tho. Kendall, 2 i 10 
 
 Wm. Cowdrey, I 18 I Henry Felch, 169 
 
 Hananiah Parker, o 19 3 Henry Bellflower, o 10 8 
 
 Henry, servant to John Smith, i 8 5 Geo. Thompson, o 15 o 
 
 Jeremiah Swayne, 127 Nath'l Cutler, o 16 9 
 
 John Bachelder, Jr., i 6 4 Geo. IJlley, 086 
 
 Tho. Clark, i i 6 Philip Mclntire, o o 10 
 
 Joseph Fitch, I I 6 John Poole, 2 14 5 
 
 Abr'm Bryant, o 16 I Josiah Dustin, I o o 
 
 John Browne of the hill, i 2 n John Damon, o 18 8 
 
 Josiah Browne, o 15 2 James Boutwell, o 12 3 
 
 Tho. Taylor, i 8 3 Tho. Dustin, I 19 8 
 
 John Bachelder, Sen., I 6 5 John Eaton, I I 3 
 
 John Wyley, I 9 3 Benja. Smith, 165 
 
 Nicholas Browne, I 18 7 John Buttery, 099 
 
 Cornelius Browne, o 12 8 James Pike, i 4 7 
 
 Samuel Fitch, o 17 2 Edward Taylor, 2 I o 
 
 Henry Merrow, i i 9 Robert Burnap, Sen., 3 2 3 
 
 Benjamin Fitch, in 5 Robert Burnap, Jr., I 10 2
 
 20 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 . *. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 O II 
 
 8 
 
 Tho. Burnap, 
 
 o 18 
 
 5 
 
 Isaac Hart, 
 
 3 16 
 
 6 
 
 Mas. John Brock, 
 
 o 17 
 
 8 
 
 Richard Nichols, 
 
 o 13 
 
 6 
 
 Tho. Hodgman, 
 
 I IO 
 
 ii 
 
 John Weston, 
 
 I 9 
 
 7 
 
 Sam Dunton, Jr., 
 
 O II 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 1 6 
 
 5 
 
 Fdward Marshal], 
 
 John Parker, 
 
 Jonas Eaton, 
 
 Nath'l Goodwin, 
 
 James Stimpson, 
 
 William Eaton, I 10 n John Weston, o 
 
 Tho. Hartshorn, I 9 7 Sam Dunton, Jr., o 
 
 Richard Harndtn, 
 
 N. B. Matthew Edwards, Wm. Hooper, Tho. Colson, Tho. Hodgman, Samuel 
 Dunton, and Jona. Poole, did not draw land at that time, for the reason, probably, 
 that they had received special grants. 
 
 The above table shows, not only who were inhabitants at this date, 
 but their relative standing as to property. 
 
 1667. This year the town ordered and agreed "that all the privi- 
 leges of land, timber and commons shall belong unto the present houses, 
 now erected, and to no other, that shall be erected hereafter." 
 
 There were at this time, already erected, fifty-nine houses, owned as 
 follows : 
 
 John Bachelder, 
 Henry Bellflower, 
 James Boutwell, 
 John Brock (3 privileges), 
 John Browne, Sen., 
 John Browne, Jr., 
 Nicholas Browne, 
 Cornelius Browne, 
 Josiah Browne, 
 Abr'm Bryant, 
 Thos. Burnap, 
 Robert Burnap, 
 Robert Burnap, Jr., 
 Thos. Clark, 
 Wm. Cowdrey, 
 Nathaniel Cowdrey, 
 Nathaniel Cutler, 
 John Damon, 
 Benja. Davis, 
 Joseph Davis, 
 
 Ralph Dix, 
 Samuel Dunton, 
 Samuel Dunton, Jr., 
 Josiah Dustin, 
 Jonas Eaton, 
 William Eaton, 
 John Eaton, 
 Henry Felch, 
 Joseph Felch, 
 Benja. Fitch, 
 Samuel Fitch, 
 Isaac Hart, 
 Daniel Hartshorn, 
 Tho. Hodgman, 
 Wm. Hooper, 
 Tho. Kendall, 
 George Lilley, 
 Henry Merrow, 
 Tho. Parker (2), 
 Hananiah Parker, 
 
 John Parker, 
 James Pike, 
 John Smith, 
 Benj. Smith, 
 James Stimpson, 
 Richard Sutton, 
 Jeremiah Swayne, 
 Jonathan Poole, 
 Thos. Taylor, 
 Edward Taylor, 
 George Thompson, 
 Tho. Tower, 
 Tho. Hartshorn, 
 Richard Nichols, 
 Matthew Edwards, 
 Nathaniel Goodwin, 
 John Weston, 
 John Wiley. 
 
 1668. The town ordered, "that no man after this date shall come 
 into the town, here to inhabit, without the consent of the town ; but 
 he shall put in security, to secure the town of all charges that shall 
 come thereby."
 
 I 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. ' 21 
 
 This year the town made the following agreement with Jonathan 
 Poole, who lived on the site of Wakefield's rattan factory : " The 
 town of Reading doth give to the aforesaid Jonathan Poole and to his 
 heirs and assigns, free liberty of the river, that now the Corn Mill 
 stands upon, without molestation from any other, so long as the said 
 Jonathan Poole, his heirs and assigns, shall keep the said Mill in good 
 and sufficient case to grind the town's corn only (except there be suffi- 
 cient water to grind out of town's men's corn), and to maintain the 
 same from time to time, at his own cost and charge. And to keep the 
 Millhouse in such repair as may secure men's corn and meal, and to 
 clear the river to the Mill from time to time, at his own cost and 
 charge. This sufficiency of grinding, we mean so much as the water 
 will grind, with the best husbandry as may be used." 
 
 1669. Town ordered, " that a bounty of twenty shillings be offered 
 for every wolf killed in Reading for the ensuing seven years." 
 
 Town agreed concerning the Great Swamp, "that all the wood that 
 grows on any man's lott, shall be free For our townsmen to cutt, and so 
 to be for Common Forever ; Provided they cutt not down any marked 
 trees, that are between man and man ; neither shall any man fire the 
 wood that is on his own lands, but it shall grow there until the owner 
 or some of the townsmen shall make use of it ; and he that cutts the 
 wood shall cutt up Butt and Top." 
 
 1671. Benja. Davis was chosen Clerk of the Market, or Sealer of 
 Weights and Measures. 
 
 Josiah Dustin, an original settler, died. 
 
 Thomas Clark, Ordinary Keeper at Redding, convicted on his own 
 confession of suffering disorderly persons in his house at an unreason- 
 able time of night, and of threatening the Grand Jury, was sentenced 
 to pay 15 shill and 5 pence. 
 
 Silvester Haye and Elijah Browne, for wanton dalliances, were whipt. 
 
 Tho. Hodgman and his wife, Cornelius Browne, John Wiley, Sam'l 
 Dunton, and Sarah Eaton, " for their uncivill carriages in an unseason- 
 able time of night at Tho. Clarke's house, were admonished and fined 
 costs." 
 
 i6j 2 . Town ordered, "that if any man shall entertain any dog or 
 bitch, and if they shall come to the meeting, contrary to the town's 
 order, they shall either pay according to the town's order, or else, 
 shall forthwith hang him until he is dead."
 
 22 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The Court ordered, " that all such women, as are convicted before 
 any proper Court or Magistrate, for Railing or Scolding, shall be 
 gagged, or set in a ducking stool and dipped over head and ears three 
 times, in some convenient place of fresh or salt water, as the Court 
 shall order." 
 
 Saml Dunton and wife were summoned to Court to answer " for not 
 coming to the publique worship of God on the Lordsday." 
 
 1673. This year the term "Wood End," as applied to what is now 
 Reading, first occurs in the town records. 
 
 Town ordered, "that all owners of stone wall shall make some Fence 
 upon the stone wall, for the keeping of sheep from doing damage, upon 
 penalty of ten shillings." 
 
 Also ordered, " that every inhabitant shall have a sufficient ladder to 
 his chimney, within one month, upon penalty of 10 shillings." 
 
 Nicholas Brown and Wm. Eaton, early settlers, died. 
 
 1674. Town ordered, " that there shall be but one town meeting in 
 a year, except upon a special occasion." 
 
 Jonas Eaton and George Thompson, early settlers, died. 
 
 Samuel Dunton of Redding, appearing before the Court and being 
 convicted of bringing up his children in a rude, irreligious, profane, and 
 barbarous manner, contrary to the word of God and the laws of the 
 Commonwealth, the Court doth order " that the Selectmen of said town 
 do take care to dispose of the children of said Dunton to service or 
 apprenticeship, as they may be capable, and in case they be obstructed 
 therein through the refractiveness and stubbornness in parents or chil- 
 dren, they ar to inform the Court, who will proceed with them accord- 
 ing to law by committing them to the House of Correction until they 
 will learn to submit themselves ; and the said Dunton is ordered to pay 
 costs." Mary Pike, for fornication, sentenced to be whipt or fined. 
 
 1675. This year commeneed the famous Indian War, known as 
 " King Philip's War." 
 
 The town of Reading were required to furnish their quota for the 
 Massachusetts troops. Among those who entered the- service from this 
 town were : Jeremiah Swayne, Major ; Jonathan Poole, Captain and 
 Quarter-Master; Tho. Bancroft, Samuel Lamson, David Bachelder, 
 James Case, Samuel Damon, Gabriel Taylor, Thomas Nichols, William 
 Roberts, Nicholas Lunn, John Arnold, William Arnold, William Rob- 
 bins, Thomas Brown, Ebenezer Flint, Daniel Flint, Joseph Hartshorn,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 2 $ 
 
 John Weston, Richard Smith, and probably others. Samuel Haugh, 
 son of Rev. Samuel Haugh, was impressed, but hired a substitute. 
 
 William Cowdrey, Jona. Poole, Jeremy Swayne, Robert Burnap, and 
 Tho. Parker, petitioned the Court, " that, whereas the Iron Works at 
 Lynn stop fish from coming up to refresh and relieve the people, some- 
 thing may be done to remedy the matter." 
 
 Of a Colony rate of 1553 6s. 4</., ordered by Court, Reading paid 
 16 9-r. \\d. Of forty-nine towns in the Colony assessed, twenty-eight 
 were higher, and twenty lower than Reading. 
 
 1676. The following petition was presented to the Governor and 
 Council : 
 
 " Your humble petitioners desire to present something for the good of the town 
 " ist That, if your Honors see cause, to give power to stay our inhabitants to- 
 gether; otherwise we judge it may weaken the whole and hazard the town. 
 " 2d. To give power to let land, not improved, to persons in want 
 " 3d. Then when your Honors shall see cause, to draw off the out towns, that our 
 town may receive some more inhabitants, to strengthen us to stand as a frontier town ; 
 whereas if they draw into the inner towns, we remain still weak, and so must come in 
 one after another. 
 
 " 4th. Having soldiers out at several towns, whether and when it may be expedient 
 to have them home, our town being weak and possibly shortly like to be a frontier. 
 
 "JONATHAN POOLE. 
 THOMAS BANCROFT." 
 
 John Damon was appointed Lieutenant of Reading company. 
 
 To show the feeling of alarm and apprehension existing at this time 
 among the people of Massachusetts, occasioned by the bold and bloody 
 raids into the colony of the hostile Indians, it may be mentioned "that 
 several considerable persons made application to the Court, and pro- 
 posed it as a necessary expedient for the public welfare, and particularly 
 for the security of the whole county of Essex and part of Middlesex 
 from inroads of the common enemy, that a line or fence of stockades 
 or stones (as the matter best suiteth), be made about eight feet high, 
 extending from Charles river, where it is navigable, unto Concord river, 
 from Geo. Farley's house in Billerica ; which fence, the Council were 
 informed, would not be above twelve miles, a good part whereof is 
 already done by large ponds that will conveniently fall into the line, by 
 which means the whole tract will be environed for the security and 
 safety (under God) of the people, their houses, goods and cattle, from 
 the rage and fury of the enemy." 
 
 The Court ordered, " that one able and fit man from each of the
 
 24 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 included towns should meet at Cambridge to survey the ground, esti- 
 mate the expense, etc." 
 
 Many of the towns erected "Garrison houses," as they were called, 
 which were large, strongly-built houses, with thick plank walls and sur- 
 rounded with palisades, into which the people, upon a sudden alarm, 
 might retire and defend themselves. Such a building was erected at 
 this time in what is now North Reading, on the farm of Geo. Flint, 
 one of the earliest settlers of that part of Reading, and tradition says 
 " the marks of Indian bullets might be long seen upon the doors." 
 
 Indeed, many other houses, built about this time, had plank walls 
 inlaid with brick, for the same purpose of affording a place of security 
 in case of a hostile attack. 
 
 The Council sent the following order to Capt. Swain of Reddirjg : 
 
 " Capt. Swain : The Council having taken into consideration the present state of 
 matters, as to the common enemy, do judge meet to order that forthwith upon receipt 
 of this, you garrison, and as soon as may be draw up the garrison soldiers, under your 
 command, of the towns of Hadley, Hatfield, Spiingfield and Westfield, and with them 
 to march to Deerfield and the places thereabouts and then search for and destroy the 
 common enemy, etc." 
 
 1677. "A motion from Redding, 23-3-1677." (Copied verbatim 
 from Mass. Records.) 
 
 " To the Honourable General Court, boath Governor and Majistrates, with the 
 Deputies, now sitting in Boston : 
 
 " The request of your humble servants, being part of the inhabitants of the towne of 
 Redding ; This Honoured Court, not being altogether ignorant of the state of our 
 towne, to which your humble suppliants boath belong, Respecting the compleation of 
 our Military Officers, we would not fill up lines with compliments to trouble this 
 Honoured Court, But, Briefly, to give a narrative of our condition, and so humbly 
 beging that this Court would put an issue to our Bissenis, which is like to have so ill 
 a consequence, if it lay longe as now it doath. There hath bin some Strange actions 
 relating to military officers, whereby we are become tow parties in the towne, one in 
 opposition agaynst the other ; wee apprehend wee have bin ingenious (ingenuous ?) to 
 the other party, notwithstanding great eregularities they run into ; our party, as wee 
 apprehend, is very considerable, though not the Major part in number ; wee yielded to 
 them that voted for Captain Swaine, and prefered their minds to the Court, by setting 
 our hands to itt, that was sent to the Court, though wee voated for Captain Poole, for 
 not one of those hands that voated for Captain Swaine was sent to the Court when 
 he was presented to the Court ; now, notwithstanding ther is, in our parte, the chiefest 
 partes for heades and estates amongst which ar Decons, Commissenors and Select- 
 men, and the Major parte of the freemen, yet wee, not being wilful, but condescended 
 to prefer their mindes to the Court, and concluded that though Capt. Swayne was not 
 a freeman, yet if the General Court see cause to confirm him, wee should have been 
 satisfied with what your honors had done. But he being not accepted, the matter is 
 yet to doe ; the towne running only upon tow perssons, wee would be glad to have our 
 bissenes to bee promoted to the consideration of this Honoured Court.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 2 $ 
 
 " Our numbre upon trial for voate for Capt. Poole was 2d voate. 
 
 " There hath been several meetings and agetations, since Capt. Swayne was presented 
 to the Court, and they will have all the youth to voate that hath not taken the oath of 
 fidelity to the Commonwealth. And soe wee are outvoated, and they are not willing 
 the Court should hear both parties and what wee have to saye this being delivered 
 after our ingenuity (ingenuousness ?) to them, and they will do nothing ; and so the 
 towne is brought into tow parties. 
 
 "And it begins to have influence into Towne matters, to strive to circumvent one 
 another in our Actions, which wee feare will have a bad consequence. Therefore 
 wee humbly intreate the Honored Court that you would be pleased to issue the case 
 for us, and settell some abell and meete person in the place of a Capten amongst us, 
 that our strife may bee at an ende. And wee know wee must at your Honners appoynt- 
 ment sett downe quiett. As to our Lieutenant, wee could wish the Honored Court 
 did thouerly understand his Abillities as to heade and estate. 
 
 " Your humble servants, not having else to ad, but ever to praye for devine protec- 
 tion and Guidance to your honners and remayne your humble petitioners. 
 
 " WM. COWDREV, 
 THOMAS PARKER, 
 MATTHEW EDWARDS, 
 THOMAS HARTSHORN, 
 NATHANIEL COWDREY, 
 JOHN BROWNE, 
 JOHN BACHELLER, 
 BENJN. FITCH, 
 HANANIAH PARKER." 
 
 The above petition shows that party spirit early moved in the breasts 
 of our forefathers ; and that formerly, as well as latterly, the same great 
 principles of Conservatism and Radicalism were antagonistic and 
 earnest. These two rival candidates for military honors were sons of 
 the first settlers, and both smart, capable men. Capt. Poole was the 
 older, being then 43 years old, and Capt. Swayne being 33 years old. 
 Capt. Poole had already held the office of Captain, and Swayne was 
 aspiring. The age, wealth, and official dignity of the town were for the 
 older candidate, while Young America went for the younger competitor. 
 
 Capt. Swayne appears to have outstripped his rival in the race, for 
 he was soon appointed Major, while Capt. Poole became, or continued 
 to be, Captain, and was also Quartermaster. Capt. Poole, however, 
 died the next year, greatly lamented. 
 
 They both did good service in the Indian wars, and their names are 
 famous. 
 
 Land was granted this year to Jonathan Eaton, with privilege of wood 
 and herbage, on condition that he continue in town and follow the trade 
 of shoemaker. 
 4
 
 2 g GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1678. "To the Honoured Generall Courte, now assembled in 
 Boston : 
 
 " The humble petision of the inhabitants of the towne of Redding, Humbly Show- 
 eth That whereas our case, being as your pettissiners humbly conseive, soe sircum- 
 stanced, as wee Know not the like in all Respects and not Knowing which waye to 
 helpe ourselves But By humbly accquainting yo 1 honners with our state your 
 honners beeing the Fathers of the Commonwelth to which wee doe belonge ; and yo? 
 petissiners humbly hoping that yo' honners will helpe soe far as may bee to the Re- 
 lieving of us in our case ; It being soe with us that wee are butt a poore place, very 
 few above sixty families, Abell to pay to the Ministry, and several! of them have 
 more need to Receive than to paye, if wee were a place of ability as many others 
 bee ; and to us their is Adjacent farmers, which bee constant hearers of the word, 
 with us, which goes not at all to their owne towne, Butt Transiently as others doe ; 
 Neither came they one the Sabbath daye butt bee breakers of the Lawe of god and 
 of this commonwelth as we conseive. And to many of them itt would be soe intol- 
 erable a burthen, that many of them must necessarily refraine from the public worship 
 of god, established amongst us, for prevention of which they doe heare with us, which 
 seems to be very hard for us to maintayne Ministry and Meetinghouse conveniently 
 for them, and others to force them to paye their hole Rates to their one townes, as 
 others do ; or if some of them bee Betterminded, the bisenes lyeth so att the present, 
 that wee have nothing from them all or next to nothing. 
 
 " Another thing that your humble petisioners desire to declare to your honners is 
 thatt wee have now not roume enough in our Meeting house for ourselves, but the 
 Adjasent farmers being one third or very neare one third as mutch as wee, wee muste 
 build anew before itt bee Longe, for the house will bee too littell for them and us, 
 which wee hope your honners will consider how the case is like to bee with us, if 
 nothing bee considered. Butt as wee hope itt is the waye, that god would have us to 
 take to leave the case to your honners, we desire humbly soe to doe, and quiettly to 
 reste to this honoured Courte's good pleasure as to what hath been declared. 
 
 " And shall ever pray In the name & by the consent of the Reste of the inhab- 
 itants of the towne. Wm. Cowdrey, Robert Burnap, Jona. Poole, Thomas Parker, 
 Jeremy Swaine." 
 
 These " Adjasent Farmers " were the people of Lynn End, now 
 Lynnfield, and of Charlestown End, now Stoneham. 
 Mr. Hooper, an early settler, died this year. 
 
 1679. Town agreed "that there should be a rate of 60 or 70 
 pounds for the building of a new Meetinghouse or the repairing of the 
 old one, and this to be paid in shingles at IQJ. per hundred, clapboards 
 and boards at $s. per hundred, Cider at IQJ. per barrell, Corn ; hogs 
 and tobacco at 6 pence per pound, and one third discount for cash." 
 
 An additional Rate for the same purpose was soon after ordered. 
 
 This money or these funds were not appropriated for the building of 
 a new Meeting House, but a Committee, consisting of Capt. Swayne, 
 Mas. John Browne, and Mas. Hananiah Parker, were chosen, to whom
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 2 J 
 
 were delegated "general powers to expend such sums of money as 
 the town should raise from time to time for building or buying, etc." 
 
 This Committee, as appears by their Report subsequently made, ex- 
 pended the funds aforesaid, partly in repairing the old Meeting House, 
 and chiefly in buying land for, and in building the first Parsonage. 
 
 Jeremiah Swayne was appointed Captain by Court 
 
 John Pearson, an original settler, died. 
 
 Whereas some years since the General Court did order the town of 
 Redding to a second survey of the " two miles grant," in performance 
 of said Order, the town did agree that Mas. Nathaniel Walker should 
 have a tender of all the said land, included in the said grant, that was 
 not in particular proprieters ; before the said Walker, defraying the 
 charges of the second survey of said land. Mas. Shubael Walker per- 
 forming the above said work at his own charge ; the town is humbly 
 requested to resolve who shall enjoy the premises. The town by a vote 
 did resolve the question : " that they that did the work should enjoy 
 the premises." This resolution was afterwards confirmed by the Court. 
 
 1680. Hananiah Parker appointed Ensign by the Court. 
 
 It was enacted this year that the freemen in voting for public officers 
 should use Indian corn. 
 
 Dec. The towne of Redding being presented to the Court for defect 
 in their highways and want of a Grammar Schoole, they have liberty 
 given them till April Court to make their answer, and they are enjoyned 
 then to bring a certificate yt their school master is sufficient as the law 
 requires. 
 
 This year Mrs. Brock was " licensed to sell so much of Rev. Mr. 
 Haugh's lands as will pay debts, notwithstanding they were entailed." 
 
 1681. Feb. 6. Town agreed " that the house now a building, and 
 land bought for the minister shall be for the inhabitants of Reading 
 and their heirs forever, and for the use of the ministry, and so to be 
 forever." This house, which was the first Parsonage, stood near the 
 corner of Main Street and the present Albion Street, where the Per- 
 kins Building now is. The lands connected therewith, ten acres, was 
 purchased of Timothy Wiley for 102. 
 
 It was occupied by Rev. Mr. Brock until his decease in 1688. Upon 
 the settlement of Rev. Pierpont in 1689, the town voted : 
 
 " That Mr. Jonathan Pairpoynt, our minister, should have the one half of the land, 
 that the town bought of Timothy Wiley, with the building thereon : namely, the North 
 side of said land ; we say : the aforesaid land with the building thereon, we hereby
 
 2 8 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 give unto Mr. Jona. Perpoint, his heirs and assigns forever, he, the said Mr. Perpoint, 
 continuing in the ministry with us so long as God shall enable him so to do. 
 
 " The condition of this gift of the town unto Mr. Peirpoint, is such, that the town 
 paying or causing to be paid unto the Relict, or heirs of the aforesaid Mr. Peirpoint, 
 within twelve months after his the aforesaid Peirpont's decease, the sum of One hun- 
 dred pounds in money, and also to reimburse him or them, for what the building is 
 better at his decease than it is, at his now (1689) entrance upon the same, then the 
 said land with the buildings thereon shall return to the town, unto their dispose." 
 
 It will be noticed as a literary curiosity in the above vote, that the 
 Clerk spelled his Pastor's name in four different ways, and that neither 
 way was correct. 
 
 The next succeeding year, 1690, the town voted, "that the house 
 and tenn acres of land belonging is given to Mr. Jonathan Peirpoint, 
 his heirs and assigns forever, he paying to the town fifty pounds." The 
 ^"50 was duly paid. The estate, after Mr. Pierpont's death, was sold, 
 and, in 1762, became the property of John Vinton, whose daughter mar- 
 ried Samuel Wiley, the late owner of the place. 
 
 This year the town voted, " that the old town books shall be tran- 
 scribed, that is all material things." 
 
 1683. Dea. Thomas Parker, an early settler, died. Court ap- 
 pointed " Lt. Wm. Johnson, Deacon Conversse, Hananiah Parker and 
 Capt. Swayne a committee to rectifie and settle the highway between 
 Oburn and Redding." 
 
 The following account, as rendered by the Committee who built the 
 first Parsonage, is curious and instructive : 
 
 An Accoumpt given by the Committee, of land sould, and of the two Rates past 
 into their hands, and parte of greate rate, the 9*11 of y nth mo. of 1683, which (Com- 
 mittee) weare Mas. Browne, Capt. Swayne, And Ensigne Parker, as followeth : 
 
 Item, To Timothy Wilele (Wiley) for the purches of land for the min- s. d 
 
 isteriall house 102 o o 
 
 " For meanding the Meatting House Yhard 219 
 
 " " brickes and pauving tile bought II 7 6 
 
 " " nails bought for the house 403 
 
 " " limestoone, 2 tunn I 10 o 
 
 " " by order of Selectmen, payd 5 15 u 
 
 " " payed by Mas. Browne, 600 of boards I 10 o 
 
 " " " to John Eaton for apple trees I 17 o 
 
 " " " by bro. Barker and bro. Joseph (Browne ?) i 6 6 
 
 " " frameing the leanto and 700 of boards delivered at the house 
 
 and for making and laying of Troues (Troughs ?) in the 
 
 Dreane and spreading of gravel 31? o
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Item, For work done in making of bricks and carting of them home 
 
 and for carting a tunn of lime stoone I 14 6 
 
 " " time spent as a Committee man 060 
 
 (N. B. The foregoing payments were by Mas. Browne) 
 " " payd by CapL Swayne for carting of clay and boards to the 
 
 house 39 
 
 " " carting and loodeing of stones 120 
 
 " " " of a loco of brickes I o o 
 
 " " a bill from the Selectmen o 17 o 
 
 " " one days digeing of clay & day carting on 6 
 
 " " seting up the orchard fence 015 o 
 
 " " one day and i seting of apple trees o 3 9 
 
 " " 4 load of brickes & carting 012 o 
 
 " " 535 f eete f boards & carting I 8 o 
 
 " " writeing of a bond and coppie 020 
 
 " " pulling down the ould house o 14 o 
 
 " " 900 of shingles 090 
 
 " " digeing and carting of clay to make bricks o 18 o 
 
 " " carting of half a tunn of lime stoone 050 
 
 " " frame! ng of the poarch 200 
 
 " " binding and carting of shingles 030 
 
 " " time spent as Committee man ( J. Swayne) i 12 o 
 
 Payd by Ensigne Parker : 
 
 " " carting and hewing of timber 14 o o 
 
 " " " of 4200 of brickes 440 
 
 " " 1469 foote of board 400 
 
 " " laying 8000 shingles 112 o 
 
 " " covering the house I o o 
 
 " " work done at Seabred Taylor's house 200 
 
 " " carting of half a tunn of limestoone 050 
 
 " " " and binding of shingles 036 
 
 " " time spent as Committee man (Ens. Parker) 2 10 o 
 
 There yet reste in the Committee's hands, in money, and as money, in 
 
 nails and in goods : 906 
 
 Viz: 
 
 In Ensigne Parker's hands, in goods and nails, but s . d. 
 
 parte of them spent, 650 
 
 In Capt. Swayne's hands in goods as money o 13 o 
 
 In Mas. Browne's hands, in money and goods as money 226 
 
 s. d. 
 906 
 /. d. 
 N. B. More payd to Josiah Browne o 14 o 
 
 *. d. 
 The totall of these sums is 197 17 5
 
 30 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1684. This year, Dea. Thomas Kendall, an original settler, died. 
 
 A further account of expenses, for the Parsonage, showed that an addi- f . d. 
 
 tional sum was paid of 135 18 9 
 
 The former account was 197 17 5 
 
 Total cost of Parsonage 333 16 2 
 
 Hananiah Parker was appointed Lieutenant of Reading Company in 
 room of Lieu. Damon, and Sargt Goodwin appointed Ensign. 
 
 This year Winnepurkitt, or Wenepoykin, the reigning Sachem of the 
 Saugus tribe of Indians, died at the age of 68. 
 
 He was the son of Nanepashemet, who resided at Medford. He 
 succeeded his older brother Montowampate in the chieftainship of the 
 Saugus tribe, who died in 1633, aged 24. It is said that Montowam- 
 pate took for his bride in 1629, the beauteous Wenuchus, or Weetamoo 
 (daughter of Passaconaway, Sachem of Pennacook, now Concord, 
 N. H.), whose bridal and tragic fate is poetically described by Whittier, 
 in his " Bridal of Pennacook." 
 
 Wenepoykin, who was b. 1616, married Joane Ahawayet, daughter of 
 Poquannum, of Nahant. He was the last of the Saugus Sachems, and 
 died in 1684. His widow died in 1685. 
 
 " They had one son, Manatahqua, and three daughters, Petagunsk, 
 Wattaquutinusk, and Petagoonah, who, if early historians are correct in 
 their descriptions, were as beautiful, almost, as the lovely forms which 
 have wandered on the rocks of Nahant in later times." (His. of Lynn.) 
 
 This year, on petition of Wm. Hawkins, and Anna his wife (daughter 
 of Edward Burcham, deceased), the Court ordered, "that the 121 acres 
 of land lying between the Southerly side or bounds of the Newhall lotts 
 and the Southerly side or bounds of old Mr. Robert Burnap's land, as 
 per the plot appears, be, by a sworne surveyor divided and laid out into 
 three equal parts or proportions, according to the original grants of the 
 town of Lynn, as other lotts lye in length from Easte to West, and that 
 that bigger part thereof, lying next to the land of said Burnap Lent, 
 towards the North, is undoubtedly, and shall be accounted the land, 
 and be in plenary possession of the said Wm. Hawkins, in right of his 
 wife Anna, daughter and heire of Edward Burcham, deceased." 
 
 1685. This year the town offered a bounty of 15^. for the killing of 
 an old bear, and los. for the killing of a sucking cub. 
 
 This year the town chose two moderators to preside at its town 
 meetings, this practice continued several years. 
 
 Town voted, that all those persons that inhabit on the north side of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 3! 
 
 Ipswich River, in our town bounds, viz. John Upton, Sen r ., John Upton, 
 Jr., George Flint, Thomas Burt, Philip Mclntier, John Phelps, Richard 
 Harnden, and Francis Hutchinson, shall have those two pieces of land, 
 namely : 4< the towne's land in Sadler's Neck, so called," and " that 
 piece of Common land, that lyeth at the upper end of Mr. Bellingham's 
 farme and belongs to the towne." 
 
 Town ordered, " that the old ministerial barn be pulled down and a 
 new one 20 x 20 built." 
 
 The Court granted to Jeremiah Swayne, Samuel Damon, Samuel 
 Lamson, Wm. Robbins, James Pike, Jr., and James Nichols of Reading, 
 and to sundry inhabitants of Lynn, Beverly, and Hingham, a tract of 
 land in the " Nipmug Country," 8 miles square, for their services in the 
 late Indian War. 
 
 Highway from Reading to Woburn laid out as follows : " Beginning 
 at ye Country road near Sarg' Parker's house " (Serg* Parker lived 
 where M. F. Leslie now, 1868, lives), "and so along by the meadow, 
 caled Hoopper's Meddow, and by the foot of ye hill, which is above ye 
 leest of three ponds ; from thence to the way marked out by Sarg* 
 Parker, throwe Charlestown land to Woburn River, neer John Richard- 
 son's house, and so up by the side of ye hill, before said Richardson's 
 door ; and then to turn westward to the way called Woburn Town 
 Highway ; and then to continue that way throw John Richardson's 
 land, Tho. Graves' land, and over ye river againe, and from thence up 
 betwixt Nathaniel Richardson's barne and orchyard, and so continew- 
 ing in that way till it meets with the Country highway that comes from 
 Wobourne by the Converses' Saw Mill, in testimony that this is our 
 joy'nt agreement, we have hereunto set our hand this Mar. 31, 1685 
 John Cutler of Charlestowne, John Greene of Maiden, Jeremiah Swayne 
 of Redding, Francis Moore of Cambridge, Jemes Converse of Wo- 
 borne." 
 
 A highway from Reading to Charlestown (probably to what is now 
 Stoneham) was also laid out this year. There was another division of 
 public lands this year among the several inhabitants. 
 
 1686. It appears that the towne of Reading purchased of the 
 Indians the territory of Reading some years prior to this date, for the 
 sum of about ten pounds ; but it had not been paid for. 
 
 This year an assessment was laid to raise the money ; and the follow- 
 ing is a " Coppie of A Rate made to be payd in money, to be payd 
 to the Indians for the purches of the town's land :
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Joseph Hartshorne 
 John Woodward 
 Capt. John Browne 
 Edward Taylor 
 Joseph Browne 
 John Bacheller 
 Jonas Eaton 
 John Eaton 
 Tho. Nichols 
 Ralph Dixe 
 Wid. Dustin 
 Lt. Hananiah Parker 
 David Bacheller 
 Rob' Burnap Sen' 
 Tho. Burnap Sen 
 Thos Burnap Jr 
 Capt Jer. Swayne 
 Cornelius Browne 
 Josiah Browne 
 Timothy Wiley 
 Matthew Edwards 
 Samuel Fitch 
 Benj. Hartshorne 
 Saml Lamson 
 Nathl Cowdrey 
 Tho. Taylor Senr 
 Tho. Taylor Jr. 
 John Browne 
 John Parker 
 Wm Hupper 
 Dea. John Damon 
 Tho. Damon 
 Jona. Eaton 
 Joshua Eaton 
 James Stimpson 
 Henry Felch 
 John Felch 
 John Weston Jr. 
 Tho Jackson 
 Wid. Merrow 
 Tho. Bancroft 
 Jeremiah Pike 
 John Boutwell 
 John Eaton Jr. 
 Nathl Cutler 
 John Thompson 
 
 j. d. 
 
 o 5 Benja Fitch 
 
 6 Joseph Fitch 
 
 4 2 John Weston 
 
 1 5 John Dunton 
 
 2 6 Lt. Haysey 
 
 3 10 Francis Smith 
 
 1 6 Left Smith 
 
 5 i Capt Eph. Savage 
 
 2 7 Saml Dunton 
 
 4 o Adam Coulson 
 
 6 Dea. Wm. Cowdrey 
 
 3 5 Tho. Clarke 
 3 2 Tho. Arnall 
 
 1 9 Nicholas Rice 
 
 I 4 Rob* Burnap Jr 
 
 1 2 Tho. Hodgman 
 
 5 6 James Boutwell 
 
 2 9 Ens. Nathl Goodwin 
 
 2 II John Nichols 
 
 3 o Abrm Bryant 
 
 6 o John Burnap 
 o 10 Nathl Parker 
 
 o IO James Pike Sen' 
 
 6 James Pike Jr. 
 
 1 5 James Nichols, 
 3 4 Samuel Damon 
 
 o 6 Mas. John Herbert 
 
 o 8 Francis Hutchinson 
 
 2 7 Isaac Hart 
 
 9 Richard Harnden 
 
 1 2 Geo. Flint & Bro. 
 
 5 Joel Jenkins 
 
 1 6 John Upton 
 
 1 9 John Upton Jr 
 o 6 Tho. Burt 
 
 2 2 Philip Mclntier 
 o 2 John Phelps 
 
 o 3 Capt. Curwin 
 
 6 Edward Hutchinson 
 
 1 8 John Scolley & Ruffe 
 
 2 4 Mas. Hills 
 
 o 3 Mas. Wmborne 
 
 6 Ens. Newell 
 
 1 7 Town of Reading 
 i 3 John Richardson 
 o 6 
 
 s. d. 
 
 5 3 
 
 i o 
 
 o ii 
 
 O II 
 
 5 2 
 
 3 " 
 
 3 9 
 
 17 3 
 
 9 
 
 1 2 
 
 i 6 
 
 i 5 
 
 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 2 II 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 8 
 6 
 3 
 7 
 6 
 
 9 
 9 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 II 
 
 5 
 10 
 
 6 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 7 10 
 
 3 5 
 
 2 9 
 
 1 3 
 
 2 O 
 
 o 7 
 
 3 9 
 2 4
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 33 
 
 Our ancestors received a deed from the Indians of their township. 
 (See Appendix A.) 
 
 This year, Capt. Ephraim Savage (the wealthiest and a very influen- 
 tial inhabitant of Reading), having prosecuted the town and attached 
 land, the town chose " their trusty and well beloved friends, Capt. Jere- 
 miah Swayne and Mas. John Browne their true and lawful attorneys to 
 defend the town and implead Capt. Ephr Savage at the next County 
 Court." 
 
 In this suit, Capt. Savage sued for possession and title to about 300 
 acres of meadow land in the " two mile grant " (now North Reading), 
 and being part of a tract of land called " Burcham Meadow," so named 
 after Edward Burcham, who was an original proprietor of a large por- 
 tion of it. These 300 acres had been granted by the town to Shubael 
 Walker for services rendered, as has been already explained under the 
 year 1679. Capt. Savage, in right of his wife, who was wid. of Oba- 
 diah Walker and dau. of Rev. Mr. Haugh, contended for the title 
 to the land. 
 
 The case was decided in favor of the town. 
 
 1687. This year, Dea. Wm. Cowdrey died, aged 85. He was one 
 of the very earliest settlers of the town, and one of its most useful and 
 estimable citizens. He was Town Clerk from the settlement of the 
 place as long as he lived ; and although for the last few years of his 
 life he was too feeble to perform the duties of the office, the town 
 would not elect a successor, but chose a Town Clerk, pro tcnipore, for 
 six years. He was always one of the Selectmen, and generally chair- 
 man, and often a Representative to General Court, and wrote nearly 
 all the wills of his fellow-citizens made during the time. 
 
 This year the town chose his son, Nathaniel Cowdrey, Town Clerk, 
 in his father's stead. 
 
 Adam Colson, also an early settler, died this year. 
 
 This year the town paid James Stimpson 15 shillings for killing an 
 old bear ; paid John Eaton of ye plain, and some others, 2^. for killing 
 three young bears ; paid John Upton, Jr., George Flint, and Steven Fish 
 for killing one old bear and two young ones, i. & 15 shillings ; and 
 paid Richard Harnden 15 shillings for killing one old bear. 
 i 
 
 1688. This year Rev. John Brock, the third pastor of the church 
 in Reading, died, aged 68. For further particulars concerning Mr. 
 Brock, see subsequent list of early settlers. 
 
 5
 
 34 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 A subscription fora new Meeting-house was obtained, and the follow- 
 
 ing is a list of the names and contributions of the subscribers : 
 
 
 * d. 
 
 
 t- d. 
 
 Rev. John Brock 
 
 > Is O 
 
 Robert Burnap 
 
 500 
 
 Joseph Hartshorn 
 
 200 
 
 Joseph Burnap 
 
 2 O O 
 
 John Woodward 
 
 200 
 
 Sergt Tho. Hodgman 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. John Browne 
 
 IO O O 
 
 James Boutwell 
 
 800 
 
 Joseph Browne 
 
 500 
 
 Wid Rebecca Kendall 
 
 I 10 
 
 Edw<J Taylor 
 
 300 
 
 Seabred Taylor 
 
 2 O O 
 
 John Bachelder 
 
 800 
 
 Sergt John Parker 
 
 900 
 
 John Eaton Sen 
 
 800 
 
 Jonathan Eaton 
 
 300 
 
 Tho. Nichols 
 
 6 10 o 
 
 Joshua Eaton 
 
 706 
 
 John Dix 
 
 500 
 
 Dea. John Damon 
 
 2 O O 
 
 Left. Hananiah Parker, 
 
 IO O O 
 
 Thos Damon 
 
 5 o o 
 
 David Bachelder 
 
 o 15 o 
 
 Matthew Edwards 
 
 600 
 
 Maj Jere h Swayne 
 
 IO O O 
 
 Wm. Hooper 
 
 2 1C O 
 
 Cornelius Browne Sen 
 
 3 10 o 
 
 John Weston Jr 
 
 2 O O 
 
 Josiah Browne 
 
 400 
 
 James Stimpson 
 
 2 O O 
 
 Timothy Wiley 
 
 400 
 
 Geo. Walker Jr 
 
 I 10 
 
 Tho. Burnap Jr 
 
 2 10 
 
 Sergt. Henry Felch 
 
 2 O 
 
 Dea. Benj. Fitch 
 
 800 
 
 Daniel Merrow 
 
 2 O O 
 
 Joseph Fitch Jr. &. Sen' 
 
 4 12 o 
 
 Capt Tho. Bancroft 
 
 7OO 
 
 John Weston Sen* 
 
 100 
 
 Richard Harnden 
 
 35 
 
 John Boutwell, 
 
 3 oo 
 
 John Eaton, of the plain 
 
 7OO 
 
 Jeremiah Pike 
 
 270 
 
 Samuel Lamson 
 
 400 
 
 James Pike Sen' 
 
 2 15 
 
 John Upton 
 
 600 
 
 Nath'l Cutler 
 
 600 
 
 John Upton Jr 
 
 2 IO 6 
 
 John Tomson 
 
 13 2 
 
 Philip Mclntier 
 
 3.00 
 
 John Burnap 
 
 o 18 o 
 
 Tho. Burt 
 
 209 
 
 Sergt Nath'l Parker 
 
 500 
 
 Geo. Flint 
 
 3 10 o 
 
 Samuel Damon 
 
 500 
 
 Francis Hutchinson 
 
 3 o o 
 
 James Nichols 
 
 470 
 
 Wid. Phelps 
 
 060 
 
 John Felch 
 
 O II O 
 
 Stephen Fisk 
 
 100 
 
 Joseph Dutton 
 
 2 O O 
 
 Sam'l Dix 
 
 2 O O 
 
 Sergt Abr m Bryant 
 
 700 
 
 Jonas Eaton 1 1 ' 
 
 N. .B The 
 
 John Nichols 
 
 700 
 
 John Browne of the hill 
 
 figures 
 
 Benja Hartshorne 
 
 500 
 
 Joseph Felch 
 
 against 
 these five 
 
 Samuel Weston 
 
 I 10 
 
 James Pike Jr 
 
 names are 
 
 NatW Goodwin 
 
 800 
 
 Tho. Taylor Jr 
 
 illegible. 
 
 The following subscriptions were received from persons living at 
 
 Lynn End, then a part 
 
 of Lynn, 
 
 and now Lynnfield : 
 
 
 
 s. d. 
 
 
 * d. 
 
 John Pearson 
 
 6* 12 O 
 
 John Bancroft 
 
 300 
 
 Maudlin Pearson 
 
 I 10 
 
 Hananiah Hutchinson 
 
 ' I IO O 
 
 Peter Haies 
 
 i 15 o 
 
 Benj. Hutchinson 
 
 100 
 
 Abra'n 1 Roberts 
 
 I 10 
 
 Edward Hutchinson 
 
 2 10 
 
 Wm Robbins 
 
 I O O 
 
 Isaac Hart 
 
 10 I
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 35 
 
 s. d. *. d. 
 
 Daniel Cowing i 10 o Shubael Stearns o 10 o 
 
 John Gowing 200 Timo. Hartshorne 3 o o 
 
 Capt. Tho. Bancroft 500 Robert Gowing 3 i o 
 
 Daniel Eaton 2 90 Nath'l Gowing I 19 o 
 
 Abr Wellman o 13 6 Edw'd Marshall 2 10 6 
 
 Isaac Wellman o 19 o John Townsend 2 o o 
 
 Robert Uaots I 50 Geo. Lewy or Lewis 2 o o 
 
 John Poole 7 i 6 Tho. Aelwell Figures illegible. 
 
 The following subscriptions were received from persons living at 
 Charlestown End, then a part of Charlestown, and now Stoneham : 
 
 t. d. s. d. 
 
 John Gould 4 18 4 Michael Smith o 10 o 
 
 Daniel Gould 3 o o Tho. Cutler I o o 
 
 Tho. Gerry 3 o o Samuel Cowdrey I o o 
 
 Matthew Smith Sen' o 10 o Andrew Phillips I o o 
 
 Matthew Smith Jr 2 10 o 
 
 Joseph Richardson of Woburn paid o I o 
 
 This year " the people of Massachusetts, in addition to the griev- 
 ances which they suffered under the tyranical administration of Sir 
 Edmund Andros, were again, after a twelve years' respite, afflicted with 
 he horrors of an Indian war. It was called Castine's war, from the 
 Baron de Saint Castine, a Frenchman, who had married a daughter of 
 Madochawando, the Penobscot chief, and whose house, in his absence, 
 had been plundered by the English. The Canadian French also united 
 with the Indians in their depredations, which were continued at inter- 
 vals till 1698." (Coffin.) 
 
 Aug. 29. " Maj. Jeremiah Swayne of Reading was appointed and 
 commissioned by Court as Commander in chief of all the forces now 
 raised and detached out of the several Regiments within the Colony, 
 against the Kennebec and Eastern Indians and their confederates, with 
 power to fight, take, kill and destroy the said enemy by all the ways 
 and means possible." He was furnished by the Court with ten pounds 
 for fitting himself for the expedition. 
 
 Maj. Swayne had his head-quarters at Salmon Falls, in Berwick, Me., 
 and was engaged in several battles with the enemy, and had the repu- 
 tation of being an able and brave officer. 
 
 June 26, Rev. Jonathan Pierpont was ordained and settled, as the 
 Fourth Pastor of the church in Reading. For a further account of Mr. 
 Pierpont, see subsequent list of early settlers. 
 
 The town voted, " that the new Meeting house, when sett up, should 
 stand at Hart's corner, or near thereabouts."
 
 36 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " Hart's Corner " was probably the corner near where John F. Harts- 
 horne now lives, and the new Meeting-house, which was the second, and 
 which was erected about this time, stood in the easterly part of what is 
 now the larger old Burial-Ground, on the spot where is now the monu- 
 ment of Rev. John Mellen. 
 
 1690. A company of soldiers was called for from Reading to join 
 in the Canada Expedition, in connection with the Indian War, and 
 Ephraim Savage was appointed its Captain. Jonathan Poole and 
 Nath'l Goodwin were subalterns. Maj. Jeremiah Swayne is nominated 
 for one of the magistrates for this year. 
 
 Paid " Goodwif Lilley, for sweeping the Meeting house for the year 
 1690, three bushells of Indyun Corne." 
 
 1691. Jeremiah Swayne was empowered by the Court to join par- 
 ties in marriage at Reading. Dea. Benja. Fitch and Sergt. John Parker 
 were appointed Leather Sealers. 
 
 Gershom Davies, Henry Merrow, and Andrew Beard were warned 
 out of town. 
 
 This ceremony was performed, from time to time, for many succeed- 
 ing years, in relation to such new-comers as, in the opinion of the 
 town, were likely to need pecuniary assistance. 
 
 " Jonathan Poole was appointed to carry the soldiers' ' debentors ' to 
 Boston, and to bring up thence their Bills of credit and deliver them to 
 the Selectmen." These " debentors " (debentures) were Government 
 certificates and evidence of claim upon Government for services in the 
 Indian War. 
 
 " Widdow (James) Stimson, appearing before the Selectmen, com- 
 playning to them that her house is not habitable, by reson of the stoop 
 falling done, her husband, Dr. James, had recently 'deceased ; her 
 son James joined in the complaynt, and together prayed for aid in 
 securing their corne and provision. Jeremiah Pike was appointed to 
 assist the son in removing the corne and provisions to the house of 
 Sergt John Parker, and to instruct and oversee the said James, that he 
 doth improve his time in carefull tending of the cattell, and providing 
 fire wood convenient, that his mother may not suffer ; also to advise 
 and order him in managing his affairs, that he makes neither strip nor 
 waste of his father's estate, until there is further order taken and a 
 settlement of the estate by the Court. Dec. 1690." (N. B. James 
 was now 21 years old.)
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 37 
 
 This falling house, the late residence of Dr. James Stimpson, then 
 recently deceased, stood on Cowdrey's hill ; and Sergt. John Parker 
 lived where M. F. Leslie resided in 1868. 
 
 1692. This year commenced the famous witchcraft delusion, which 
 occasioned so much terror, distress, and suffering in Massachusetts. 
 " It originated in Salem Village, now Danvers or Peabody, in the fam- 
 ily of the minister, whose daughter and niece, girls of ten or eleven 
 years of age, and other girls in the neighborhood, began to act very 
 strangely ; appeared to fall into fits, would creep into holes, under 
 benches and chairs, put therriselves into odd postures, and, as the phy- 
 sicians who examined them could give no satisfactory name to their 
 apparent disorder, and probably feeling that they must say something, 
 one of them very gravely pronounced them bewitched. From this be- 
 ginning, originating in fraud and imposture, and continued by super- 
 stition and ignorance, the fearful results of that terrible excitement 
 succeeded." In the language of Rev. Charles W. Upham, "All the 
 securities of society were dissolved. Every man's life was at the mercy 
 of every other man. Fear sat on every countenance ; terror and dis- 
 tress were in all hearts, silence pervaded the streets ; many people left 
 the country ; all business was at a stand, and the feeling, dismal and 
 horrible indeed, became general, that the providence of God was re- 
 moved from them, and that they were given over to the dominion of 
 Satan." 
 
 From this terrible affliction Reading was not exempt. 
 
 Four women, belonging to Reading, were arrested and examined for 
 witchcraft, and imprisoned in Boston for it. Their names were Lydia 
 Dustin, Sarah Dustin, Mary Taylor, and Sarah, wife of Nicholas Rice. 
 They were subsequently acquitted. 
 
 This year the town sold the old " Meeting house " for twenty-five shil- 
 lings and the building of the Watch House frame. " This money was 
 payd to Capt. Browne in part pay for the scoole." 
 
 This year there was another general Division of lands, on the East- 
 erly and Westerly sides of the town. The list of the names of the 
 Drawers is given, with their respective minister taxes, for the purpose 
 of showing who were residents of the town at this date, and their rela- 
 tive pecuniary reputation. 
 
 * d. t . d. 
 
 Sergt. Henry Felch o 10 o Jonh Merrow 070 
 
 Seabred Taylor 060 James Nichols o 15 o 
 
 Joshua Eaton 120 Jonathan Eaton o 14 2
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 
 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 Josiah Hodgman 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 i 
 
 Jereh. Swayne 
 
 James Pike 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 6 
 
 Henry Merrow 
 
 James Pike Jr. 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 9 
 
 Tho. Clarke 
 
 Tho. Parker 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 o 
 
 James Boutwell Jr. 
 
 John Eaton (of the plain) 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 John Bachelder 
 
 John Burnap 
 
 o 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 Jona. Pierpont 
 
 John Weston Jr. 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 Tho. Boutwell 
 
 Maj. Jereh Swayne 
 
 I 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 John Dickerman 
 
 Francis Smith 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 o 
 
 John Herbert 
 
 Joseph Felch 
 
 o 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 John Woodward 
 
 John Nichols 
 
 I 
 
 13 
 
 o 
 
 Joseph Burnap 
 
 Stephen Weston 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Cornelius Browne Sen r 
 
 John Damon 
 
 o 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 Joseph Hartshorne 
 
 John Boutwell 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Robert Burnap 
 
 Samuel Fitch 
 
 o 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 John Eaton Sen' 
 
 Nath'l Cutler 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 Jonas Eaton 
 
 Jereh Pike 
 
 o 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 Joseph Fitch "> 
 
 Nath'l Goodwin 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 o 
 
 Joseph Fitch Jr. y 
 
 John Weston Sen: 
 
 o 
 
 7 
 
 ii 
 
 John Dunton 
 
 James Boutwell Sen 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
 
 
 Wm. Cowdrey 
 
 Capt. Ephraim Savage 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 Cornelius Browne Jr. 
 
 John Parker 3d 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 Samuel Poole 
 
 Sergt Tho. Hodgman 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 Tho. Nichols 
 
 Wm. Hooper 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 IO 
 
 John Dix 
 
 Nath'l Parker 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 Dea. Benj. Fitch 
 
 Tho. Damon 
 
 o 
 
 15 
 
 9 
 
 Jona n . Poole 
 
 Nicholas Rice 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
 John Browne 
 
 Wm. Arnold 
 
 I 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 John Pratt 
 
 John Browne (of the hill) 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 Capt. John Browne 
 
 John Felch 
 
 o 
 
 ii 
 
 o 
 
 Sam'l Dunton 
 
 Benj. Hartshorne 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 i 
 
 Isaac Southwick 
 
 Joseph Browne 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 Timothy Wiley 
 
 David Batchelder 
 
 o 
 
 14 
 
 10 
 
 David Hartshorne 
 
 Tho. Burnap Sen' 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 Hananiah Parker 
 
 Wid. Dustin or Colson 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 John Parker 
 
 Tho. Burnap Jr. 
 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 Francis Hutchenson 
 
 Saml Lamson 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 2 
 
 Stephen Fiske 
 
 o 15 
 8 
 
 7 
 I 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 1 8 
 
 'a 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 o 18 
 o 4 
 
 * 3 
 
 12 
 
 1 12 
 I O 
 
 d. 
 IO 
 
 3 
 5 
 o 
 6 
 o 
 
 i 13 
 
 O 12 
 
 o 18 
 
 6 
 
 1 9 
 
 1 10 
 
 2 8 10 
 
 090 
 
 o 14 
 
 O II 
 
 9 
 
 1 O 
 
 10 
 
 1 5 
 
 i 4 
 
 o 
 
 7 
 o 
 o 
 
 9 
 o 
 I 
 7 
 5 
 8 
 n 
 
 5 
 o 
 
 3 
 o 
 
 3 
 9 
 
 (not stated) 
 
 1693. Town voted that there should be a Free School kept in the 
 town. 
 
 The town had been presented to the Court in 1680 for want of a 
 Grammar School, and in 1692 an appropriation of 25 shillings was 
 made in part for the school ; so that it may be inferred that some sort 
 of a school had been maintained before ; but the above vote affords 
 the first evidence of a Public Town School. 
 
 For several years the town had been taxed towards the maintenance
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 39 
 
 of Mystic Bridge in Medford, on the ground, it is presumed, that the 
 people of Reading were obliged to pass over that bridge in going to 
 Boston. The town had frequently complained of the injustice of the 
 tax ; but this year it voted, " that they will not be at any charge to 
 repair Mystic bridge unless compelled to it by law." 
 
 Town chose Tythingmen for the first time. 
 
 Town voted a bounty of two pence a head for blackbirds killed be- . 
 tween May i, and the middle of June. 
 
 Town voted, " a Rate of four pounds for a scoole in the towne for 3 
 months, and if longer time, proportionable and two pounds for the 
 west end of the town (Woodend) and one pound for those that live on 
 the north side of Ipswich river, if they sett up a scoole for reading and 
 writing, and so proportionably for longer time, if the Selectmen see 
 dtose." 
 
 Town paid 2 pounds for mending the Stocks and Pound. 
 
 John Browne, Esq, was one of a Committee of ten persons, ap- 
 pointed by the Court, to prepare an address to their Majesties for the 
 continuance of Gov. Phipps. 
 
 1694. Town voted, " that there should be but one house of enter- 
 tainment in town." 
 
 Voted, also, " that there shall be stiade trees left upon the Common ; 
 and that no person shall fall, girdle, bark, or lop any of these trees, left 
 for shade, marked with the letter ' R.' upon pain and penalty of 5-r. per 
 tree." 
 
 Voted, also, " that no tree shall be marked that stands within 3 or 4 
 poles ,of the South or West sides of any man's land." 
 
 Town chose for the first time a separate board of assessors, viz. : 
 Capt John^Browne, Dea. Benja. Fitch, and Capt. Tho. Bancroft. 
 
 Town "paid 2S. yd. for fitting up the house where Mas. Lines kept 
 scoole." 
 
 This Master Lines may have been Nicholas Lynde (son of Joseph, of 
 Charlestown), who graduated at Har. Coll. in 1690. 
 
 Mr. Pierpont's salary this year was ,35 in money and .35 in 
 produce. 
 
 1695. Joseph Upton was schoolmaster in 1694-5. 
 
 " At a meeting of the proprietors of the Meeting house, both of Red- 
 ding and of Lynn, it was agreed that all the overplush, that was yet to 
 come in should be ' improved about the Meeting house, under the
 
 40 ENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 direction of a Committee.' Chose Capt. Browne, Capt. Swayne, Capt. 
 Bancroft, Left. Pearson, Dea. Damon, Dea. Fitch and John Bachelder 
 to order and give liberty to make seats for the best advantage, and to 
 seat persons ; with power to improve the corners and back seats in the 
 M. House, for the whole that may be, both for ornament and conven- 
 ience ; and if any matter be difficult among themselves, to advise with 
 ten or more of the principal proprietors in the matter of the removing 
 or cutting of seats, if need be." 
 
 1696. " The glory of God being the chief end, that all men's actions 
 ought to aim at, and the promotion and upholding of the public worship 
 of God, being one great part of our duty, we, the freeholders and other 
 inhabitants of Reading, having considered the great distance of such 
 in this town, as live on the North side of Ipswich river and Barte 
 meadow, from the place of God's worship among us, whereby they 
 many times labor under great difficulty in coming to God's house, 
 oftentimes cannot come, and seldom can bring their children, do there- 
 fore at a general town meeting, held by the proprietors and other 
 inhabitants, on the 2d of March 1695-6 ; we, for ourselves, our heirs 
 and successors, vote unanimously, agree and order, and be it hereby 
 enacted, ordered and confirmed, that all that tract of land, in our 
 township, lying on the North side o/ Ipswich river, so called, that is to 
 say: bounded Westerly by Woburn, by Andover Northerly, and by 
 Salem line Easterly ; as also all that land in our township, lying on the 
 North side of Bare Meadow, commonly called ' Sadler's Neck,' as it is 
 bounded 'by Lynn line of township with us, and so to river aforesaid ; 
 we say that when, and as soon as that there is such a suitable and 
 competent number of inhabitants settled on the tract of land aforesaid ; 
 that when they do call and settle and maintain a godly, learned, ortho- 
 dox minister, that they shall be free from paying to the minister or 
 ministry in the town, or on the South side of the aforesaid river, and 
 that for so long as they so do." 
 
 The town also voted, " that our neighbors and friends of Lynn (Lynn- 
 field) shall have liberty of the Common for 2 or 3 poles of land, for to 
 make sheds for their horses to stand in on Sabbath days or Lecture 
 days for the term of 10, 15 or 20 years, or longer, if the town see 
 cause, where the Selectmen may appont them. Also such of the 
 inhabitants of Reading as will, to have the same privilege." 
 
 The Selectmen " cleared Maj. Swayne of the arrears of his highway 
 work, in consideration of what he has done for Robbard Cann and 
 Goodwife Lilley in 'Chioriors' (chirurgery ?) and Physic."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 41 
 
 Maj. Swayne was a physician. 
 
 1697. "The Selectmen did agree with Jonathan Poole for the 
 keeping a scolle in this tovvne for to tech the young people to wright, 
 to read and to cast up accounts, soe far as ye said Poole could, and 
 they cappable to larne, in the time. \ . 
 
 " The scoole was to be opened on the 27th December, and soe to con- 
 tinue two month sartian ; and said Poole is to have and be alowed for 
 his pains 2 per month, money, and soe proportionabl for longer time, 
 if sd. Poole doth atend that sarvice for longer time than two month ; 
 to be payd before or upon some time in November next after ye date 
 hereof. 
 
 " Furthermore, it was agreed with said Jonathan Poole, that hee should 
 fiend firewood for the use of said scoole at 6/s. per month, for two or 
 three months of the time the scoole held : but if said Poole found it 
 hard soe to done, yn hee was to have some consideration alowed him 
 on this account." 
 
 1698. The Mystic bridge case having been decided against the 
 town at the Inferior Court of Pleas, the town voted to join Woburn 
 and Maiden in prosecuting an appeal to the Superior Court. 
 
 Town voted " that Mr. Pierpont's salary, which had been 35^ in 
 money, and $$ in Country pay, shall hereafter be 6o annually in or 
 as money." 
 
 1699. Voted " that the town will pay ioj. towards the purchasing 
 of land on Lyn side of the river, at Daniel Eaton's Mill to the better 
 accommodation of the County road to Salem." This Daniel Eaton 
 was the son of Wm. Eaton, and lived in Lynnfield, and his mill was on 
 the site recently occupied by S. G. Lane's Organ Factory. 
 
 1700. Hannah Person, wife of Isaac Person, warned out of town. 
 She was born, married, and lived many years in Maiden. She refusing 
 to go on the constable's order, a warrant was issued by James Converse, 
 Esq., for her forcible removal. 
 
 6
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A GENEALOGICAL LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS, 
 
 GIVING THEIR LOCATION, SO FAR AS KNOWN, THE SUCCESSION OF THEIR 
 FAMILIES FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS (WHEN THEY REMAINED IN THE 
 TOWN), WITH SUCH HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THEM 
 AS WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE AFTER THE LAPSE OF TWO CENTURIES. 
 
 IT is intended that this list shall include all the names of all the men 
 who settled in the town prior to the year 1700, with their descendants 
 for two, three, and sometimes more generations. 
 
 It is not presumed that the list is complete, or that it is free of errors ; 
 but it is as nearly correct as our time and means have enabled us to 
 make it, and will be found sufficiently so, we believe, to be interesting 
 to the antiquarian, and enable many a descendant to trace his gene- 
 alogy to the fathers and mothers of ancient Reading. 
 
 ABBOTT, Ebenezer, of Andover, had five children, viz. Ebenezer, 
 Ephraim, Hannah, Betsey, and Sally. 
 
 ABBOTT, Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer of Andover, born 1757 ; married, 
 1783, Sarah Graves, and settled in Reading, N. Parish, and had 
 chil. : Ebenezer, born Mar. n, 1784; Ephraim, b. 1786; Sally, 
 b. 1788 ; Eliab, b. 1790, and died in the war of 1812 ; Sally, zd, 
 b. 1792 ; Daniel, b. 1794; Lydia, b. 1796 ; Nabby, b. 1799, and 
 Joshua, b. 1 80 1. 
 
 ABBOTT, Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Sarah, who was b. 1784 ; m. 
 1807, Betsey Swain ; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and d. 
 1867 ; his wife d. 1852. His chil. were: Ebenezer T., b. 1808 ; 
 Sumner S., b. 1809 ; Betsey, b. 1810 ; Benja. S., b. 1812 ; Joseph 
 H., b. 1814; Samuel E.,b. 1816 ; Sarah, b. 1818; Frederic, b. 
 1820; Wm. W., 1827, and Daniel G., b. 1829. 
 
 ABBOTT, Ebenezer T., son of Ebenezer and Betsey, who was b. 1808 ; 
 m. 1835, Ruth Hewes; lives in North Reading; is a citizen of 
 high respectability ; has done much to promote the prosperity of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 43 
 
 that portion of old Reading, and is a pillar in the Baptist Church 
 there. Has had chil. : Granville S., b. 1837 ; Hortense S., b. 
 1840, and Grafton T., b. 1849. 
 
 EBENEZER T. ABBOTT. 
 
 ABBOTT, Granville S., son of Ebenezer T. and Ruth, b. Feb. 27, 1837 ; 
 m. 1863, Susan H. Davis, and has had chil. : Granville D., b. 
 1866, and Chas. H., b. 1867. (See List of Graduates, etc., 
 Chap. XL) 
 
 ANGIER, Mary, probably dau. of Edmund, of Cambridge, and sister of 
 Rev. Jona. Pierpont's wife, b. 1663 ; m. 1700, John March, of 
 Newbury. 
 
 ANOUGH. Philip, son (illegitimate) of Philip Anough and Hannah New- 
 man, b. 1725. 
 
 ARNOLD, William, his wife was Elizabeth; she d. 1795. Chil.: Re- 
 becca, b. 1681, and m. 1701, Wm. Bryant; William, b. 1684; 
 Thomas, b. 1687 ; Mary, b. 1689 ; Joseph, b. 1692. 
 
 BANCROFT, Tho. (Lieut), b. in England in 1622, son of John and Jane ; 
 purchased land in Lynn (now Lynnfield), and built a house near 
 Beaver Dam. He also bought land in the westerly part of Read- 
 ing, and is spoken of as residing in Reading at the time of his 
 second marriage in 1648. He probably lived chiefly at Lynn 
 (now Lynnfield). He m., ist, Elizabeth, dau. of Michael Bacon, 
 of Dedham; m., 2d, 1648, Elizabeth, dau. of Michael and Sarah
 
 44 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Metcalf ; he d. 1691, aged 69. Chil. : Thomas, b. 1649 ; Eliza- 
 beth, b. 1653, and m. Joseph Browne ; John, b. 1656 ; Sarah, b. 
 1660, and d. 1661 ; Raham, b. 1662, and d. 1683 ; Sarah, b. 
 1665, and m. John Woodward; Ebenezer, b. 1667; Mary, b. 
 1670, and was unm. in 1691. 
 
 BANCROFT, Dea. Thomas, son of Lt. Tho. and Elizabeth (Metcalfe), 
 b. 1649 ; m. 1673, Sarah, dau. of Jona. and Judith Poole ; was 
 an officer in King Philip's Indian War, and a selectman several 
 years. . He lived in the westerly part of Reading, where was 
 the ancient Bancroft homestead. He built the fourth house in 
 West Parish near the Abr'm Temple place. Chil. : Thomas, b. 
 1673; Jonathan, b. and d. 1675; Sarah, b. 1676, and m. Abr m 
 
 Bryant; Mehitabel, b. 1678, and m. Parker; Jonathan, b. 
 
 1681, and m. Sarah , and d. 1702 ; Rahum, b. 1684 ; Judith 
 
 b. 1688, and rn. Parker; Samuel, b. 1691, and d. 1692 ; 
 
 Samuel, b. 1693; Elizabeth, b. 1696, and m. 1713, John 
 Lampson. 
 
 BANCROFT, Dea. John, son of Lt. Thomas and Elizabeth (Metcalfe), 
 b. 1656 ; m., ist, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Elizh (Kendall) 
 
 Eaton. She d. 1704, aged 42. He m., 2d, Hannah . He 
 
 resided in Lynn (now Lynnfield), where he was deacon, and 
 has many descendants. 
 
 BANCROFT, Capt. Ebenezer, son of Lieut. Thomas and Elizabeth, b. 
 
 1667 ; m. Abigail ; inherited the homestead of his father ; 
 
 sold out and removed to Lynnfielc 1 . He d. 1717, aged 50. 
 
 BANCROFT, Capt. Thomas, son of Dea. .Thomas and Sarah (Poole), b. 
 1673 ; m. Mary Webster. Chil. : Thomas, b. 1696 ; Joseph, b. 
 1698 ; Benja., b. 1701 ; Jona., b. 1703 ; Edmund, b. 1709. He 
 d. 1731, aged 58. He was selectman and representative. 
 
 BANCROFT, Dea. Raham, son of Dea. Thomas and Sarah (Poole), b. 
 1684 ; m., ist, 1706, Abigail, dau. of Jonas and Hannah (Mason) 
 Eaton. She d. 1728, aged 40; m., 2d, 1730, Ruth, dau. of 
 Samuel and Mary Kendall. She d. 1758, aged 56. He d. 1758, 
 aged 74. Rev. Mr. Hobby, in recording his death, says of him, 
 "That good man, my friend, Dea. Bancroft." Chil. : Joshua, b. 
 1712, and m., ist, Mary Lampson, and 2d, Wid. Eaton ; Abigail, 
 bap. 1715 ; David, b. 1718, removed to Worcester; James, b. 
 1729, and d. young; Ruth, b. 1731, and m. Eph m . Parker, and 
 d. 1751 ; Abigail, b. 1733, and d. 1750 ; Judith, b. 1735 ; James, 
 b. 1739; m,, ist, 1757, Sarah Pearson, and 2d, 1786, Sarah Par- 
 ker ; was captain, justice of the peace, selectman, and repre-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 45 
 
 sentative, and d. 1831, aged 92. He was a soldier in the Rev- 
 olution, and for 46 years a deacon of the 3d Church. An able, 
 honest, and faithful man. He was grandfather of the late Hon. 
 Tho. Emerson, of Wakefield. (See Appendix J.) 
 BANCROFT, Samuel, Capt, son of Dea. Thomas and Sarah (Poole), b. 
 1693 ; m., ist, 1713, Sarah, dau. of Samuel and Mary (Nichols) 
 Lampson. She d. 1733, aged 43. M., ad, 1733, Sarah Leathe, 
 and m., 3d, Mehitabel Fitch. He was captain, selectman, and 
 representative, and d. 1772, aged 79. Chil. : Samuel, b. 1715 ; 
 Wm.,b. 1717; Edm d ., b. 1718, and d. 1740; Nathaniel, b. 1720; 
 Sarah, b. 1722 ; Jacob, b. 1723 ; Jeremiah, b. 1725 ; Caleb, b. 
 
 BANCROFT, Samuel, Jr., Esq., son of Capt. Samuel and Sarah (Lam- 
 son), b. 1715 ; m. 1735, Lydia, dau. of Nathan'l and Elizabeth 
 Parker. He was deacon, justice of the peace, selectman, and 
 representative ; d. 1782, aged 67 ; she d. 1813, aged 98. Chil. : 
 Samuel, b. 1736 ; m. Sarah Holt, and became a judge in Nova 
 Scotia ; Lydia, b. 1738 ; m. 1761, Z. Johnson, of Andover ; Sa- 
 rah, b. 1740, m. Daniel How, of Andover, in 1764; Mary, b. 
 1742, and m. 1765, Rev. Francis Lovejoy ; settled in Maine or 
 New Hampshire, and was ancestress of the martyr Lovejoy ; 
 Mehitabel, b. 1744,01. 1767, John Nichols ; Elizabeth, b. 1746 ; 
 m. 1769, Nath'l Cheever ; Anne, b. 1749 ; Edmund, b. 1751; m. 
 1770, Sarah Pool ; Caleb, b. 1753 ; m. 1776, Susan Tay ; Aaron, 
 b. 1755 ; m. Lucetta Chandler, and was Rev. Dr. Bancroft, of 
 Worcester, and father of Hon. George Bancroft, the historian of 
 the United States ; Lucy, b. 1758, and m. 1780, Dr. Joseph Gray. 
 
 BARRETT, James, by wife Ann had Dorcas, b. 1695. 
 
 BARRETT, Jonathan, by wife Abigail had James, b. 1703. 
 
 BARRETT, Hannah, m. 1703, James Bennett, of Groton. 
 
 BATCHELDER, John, an early settler ; the exact place where he first 
 located is not known. His descendants early removed to the 
 northerly part of West Parish (now Reading), where they are 
 still to be found. He was here as early as 1651. His wife's 
 name was Rebecca; she d. 1662 ; he d. 1676 ; was selectman 
 several years. Chil. : John, David (record of their births not 
 found) ; Mary, b. 1635, an< ^ m - 1660, Nathaniel Cowdrey, and 
 d. 1729 ; and two sons who d. in infancy. 
 
 BATCHELDER, John, son of John and Rebecca ; m., ist, 1662, Sarah ; 
 she d 1685 ; m., 2d, 1687, Hannah ; she d. 1693 > m - 3^> l( >94, 
 Hannah. He d. 1705 ; his wid. d. 1722 ; he was a select-
 
 4 6 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 man. Chil. : Rebecca, b. 1663, and m. David Hartshorne ; 
 
 John, b. 1666 ; Henry, b. 1668, and d. 1688 ; Sarah, b. 1670,. 
 
 and m. 1691, John Pratt ; Samuel, b. 1671 ; Nathaniel, b. 1674 ; 
 
 Mary, b. 1688. 
 
 BATCHELDER, David, son of John and Rebecca ; m. 1679, Hannah 
 Plummer. Chil. : Samuel, b. 1680 ; Mary, b. 1683 ; Hannah, 
 
 b. 1685 ; David, b. 1687 ; Jonathan, b. 1689. 
 BATCHELDER, John, son of John and Sarah, b. 1666 ; m. 1696, Sarah 
 
 Poore. Chil. : Sarah, b. 1697 ; Rebecca, b. 1700 ; Mary, b. 
 
 1703 ; Samuel, b. 1707 ; Elizabeth, b. 1710. 
 BATCHELDER, Samuel, son of John and Sarah, b. 1671 ; m., ist, 1694, 
 
 Mary ; she d. 1701; m., 2d, Elizabeth, wid. of Joseph Sweet- 
 
 ser, of Charlestown, and dau. of Tho. and Mary White, and b. 
 
 1671. He d. 1704 or 5, and his wid. m. John Pearson. Chil. : 
 
 Samuel, b. 1695, who probably d. young ; William, b. 1697, and 
 
 was a non compos mentis; Mary, b. 1698; Henry, b. 1700; 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1703. 
 BATCHELDER, Nathaniel, son of John and Sarah; b. 1674; m. 1703, 
 
 Hannah Ellsley, and d. 1763, aged 89. He had settled in W 
 
 Parish, near Herrick Batchelder place. Chil. : Jonathan, b. 
 
 CAPT. GEORGE BATCHELDER. 
 
 1705; m. 1728, Sarah . Lewis, and d. 1754; Hannah, b. 1709; 
 m. i73o,*Samuel Dix ; Nathaniel, b. 1714; m. Abigail Flint, and 
 was grandfather of the late John B., Esq., of late Capt. Geo. B.,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 47 
 
 etc., of Reading, and the great-grandfather of the present David 
 B., of Wakefield, and David, b. 1716 ; Sarah, b. 1719. 
 
 NOTE. The name is doubtless the same that, in some families and places, is 
 spelled " Bacheller." 
 
 BELKNAP, Abraham, probably son of Abraham of Lynn and Salem, 
 by wife Elizabeth had chil. : Samuel, b. 1694, and d. 1695 ; 
 Abraham, b. 1695. 
 
 BELLFLOWER, Henry, by wife Ann had chil. : Hannah, b. 1656 (who 
 m. 1678, John Cutler) ; Deliverance, b. 1662 ; Mary, b. 1668. 
 His wife d. 1682, and he d. 1703. 
 
 BELLFLOWER, Benja., m. 1659, Abigail ; d. 1661 or '70, at Salem. He 
 was a Quaker, who, after sentence of banishment for his opinion, 
 renounced it. 
 
 BENNETT, James, probably son of James of Groton, by wife Eliza- 
 beth had chil.: Sarah, b. 1745; Wm., b. 1754; Elizabeth, b. 
 1761. 
 
 BORMAN, Richard, by wife Ann had chil. : Ann, b. 1702 ; Jane, b. 
 1704. 
 
 BOUTWELL, James, son of James and Alice, of Lynn; b. 1642 ; m. 
 1665, Rebecca, dau. of Dea. Thomas and Rebecca Kendall ; 
 she d. 1713, aged 69, and he d. 1716, aged 74. He was called 
 Sergt. Boutwell. Chil. : James, b. 1666 ; Thomas, b. 1669 ; John, 
 b. 1671 ; Rebecca, b. 1674, and m. Thomas Poole ; Sarah, b. 
 1677, and m. 1698, John Townsend, of Lynn ; Tabitha, b. and 
 d. 1679 ; Tabitha, b. 1680, and m. 1701, Wm. Cowdrey ; Ken- 
 dall, b. 1682, and m. Lucy Damon ; Mary, b. 1685, and m. Eben- 
 ezer Emerson; Elizabeth, b. 1687, and m. Benja. Hartshorne. 
 
 NOTE. The ancient homestead of the Boutwell family was the place now occu- 
 pied by Dana Parker, in Reading. 
 
 BOUTWELL, John, son of James and Alice of Lynn, b. 1645 > m - 1669, 
 Hannah, dau. of Geo. Davis, and d. 1719, aged 74. Chil.: 
 John, b. 1670; Hannah, b. 1672; Sarah, b. 1674; James, b. 
 1677 ; Mary, b. 1680, and m. 1700, Jona. Thompson ; Elizabeth, 
 b. 1683, and m. 1707, Joseph Sibley; Sarah, b. 1686, and m. 
 1706, Samuel Lewis; Susanna, b. 1689, and m. 1712, Timothy 
 Manning ; Thomas, b. and d. 1692. 
 
 BOUTWELL, James, Jr., son of Sergt. James and Rebecca (Kendall), 
 b. 1666; m. 1690, Elizabeth Frothingham, of Charlestown, who 
 afterwards m. Lt. Benj. Swain. James, Jr., d. 1744, aged 47.
 
 48 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1693 ; Ruth, b. 1697 ; James, b. 1699 ; 
 Samuel, b. 1703 ; Hannah, b. 1709. 
 
 BOUTWELL, Dea, Thomas, son of Sergt. James and Rebecca (Kendall), 
 b. 1669 ; by wife Abigail had chil. : three sons, who d. in in 
 fancy ; Abigail, b. 1696 ; Mary, b. 1698 ; Martha, b. 1700 ; Dea. 
 Thomas, d. 1737, aged 68. He lived on the place now owned 
 by Mrs. James Emerson. His grandfather, Dea. Tho. Kendall, 
 leaving no sons, made Dea. Bout.well his heir and successor ; 
 and he in his turn leaving no sons, made his grandson, James 
 Emerson, the grandfather of the late James Emerson, the hus* 
 band of the present occupant, his heir and successor. 
 
 BOUTWELL, John, son of Sargt James and Rebecca (Kendall), b. 1671 ; 
 m. 1695, Gt3.ce, dau. of John and Dorcas Eaton. Settled in 
 West Parish near the Amos Parker place. Chil. : Rebecca, b. 
 1697 and d. 1703; Dorcas, b. 1698 ; Tabitha, b. 1700; John, 
 b. 1702. 
 
 BOUTWELL, John, son of John and Hannah (Davis), b. 1670; m. Sarah 
 - ; was a soldier in the Narragansett war. Chil. : b. 1693 ; 
 John, b. 1695 ; Tho., b. and d. 1697 ; Thomas, b. 1699 ; Sarah, 
 b. 1702 ; Jacob, b. 1705 ; Jona., b. 1709 ; m. 1733, Elizabeth 
 Foster ; removed to Wilmington, and was the ancestor of 
 Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, of Groton, representative in congress, 
 ex-governor, secretary of the U. S. treasury, etc. ; Bethiah, b. 
 
 BOUTWELL, James, son of John and Hannah (Davis 1 ), b. 1677 ; m. Ab- 
 igail, dau. of Dr. James Stimpson. Chil.: Ebenezer, b. 1700; 
 m. Thankful - , and removed to Framingham ; James, b. 
 1709 ; m. 1744, Rachel Walkup, and removed to Framingham. 
 
 BOUTWELL, James, son of James and Elizabeth (Frothingham), b. 1699 ; 
 m. 1721, Judith Poole, of Lynn; removed to Sudbury and 
 Leominster ; had a large family of children, and d. in Leominster 
 in 1745. 
 
 BOUTWELL, John, son of John and Grace (Eaton), or of John and 
 Sarah ; b. 1702 or 1695 > m -> Ist > Elizabeth Parker; had a 2d 
 wife. Chil. : all by ist wife ; Betty, b. 1724 and d. 1809 ; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1726 and d. 1814; Hannah, b. 1728 and d. 1812, 
 single; Kendall, b. 1736 ; removed to Amherst, N. H., and d. 
 1820 ; John, b. 1739, and m. Ruth Bryant, and d. 1825 ; Rebecca, 
 b. 1742, and m. 1768, Jere h Bryant, and d. - ; James, b. 
 1745, and m. 1770, Tabitha Bryant, and d., and four other 
 children who died in infancy.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 49 
 
 BROCK, Rev. John, b. in Stradbrook, England, in 1620 ; came over 
 in 1637; graduated at Har. Coll. in 1646; preached first in 
 Rowley ; afterwards at the Isle of Shoals, and settled in Read- 
 ing in 1662, as successor of Rev. Samuel Haugh, whose widow 
 he married. (She was Sarah, dau. of Rev. Zachariah Symms of 
 Charlestown.) She d. in 1681, and he d. in 1688, aged 68. Mr. 
 Brock is represented as an eminently pious man. Mitchell, of 
 Cambridge, said of him : " He dwells as near heaven as any 
 man upon earth." Rev. Mr. Allin, of Dedham, said of him : " I 
 scarce ever knew a man so familiar with the great God as his 
 dear servant, Brock." There were several very remarkable co- 
 incidences between Mr. Brock's prayers and providential occur- 
 rences afterwards. While at the Isle of Shoals, a man, whose 
 principal property was his fishing boat, and who had been very 
 serviceable in conveying to the place of meeting the inhabitants 
 of other islands, lost his boat in a storm. He lamented his loss 
 to Mr. Brock, who said to him, " Go home, honest man, I '11 
 mention the matter to the Lord ; you '11 have your boat to-mor- 
 row." Mr. Brock made the matter the subject of special prayer. 
 The next day the anchor of a vessel fastened upon the boat and 
 drew it up. The people at the Isle were persuaded by Mr. 
 Brock to observe one day in each month as an extra season for 
 religious exercises. On one occasion the roughness of the 
 weather had for several days prevented fishing. On the day of 
 meeting the weather was fine and the men wanted the meeting 
 put by. Mr. Brock, perceiving they were determined not to 
 attend, said to them, " Catch fish if you can ; but as for you 
 that will tarry and worship the Lord Jesus Christ this day, I 
 will pray unto him for you, that you may take fish till you are 
 weary." Thirty men went away and five tarried. The thirty 
 caught four fishes. The five who tarried went out afterwards 
 and took about five hundred. 
 
 Mr. Brock was probably the son of Henry Brock, of Dedham. 
 " He was dismissed from the Dedham church," says his own 
 memorandum upon the Reading church record, "and joined to 
 the Reading church on the Lord's day before the ordination, 
 and Nov. 13, 1662, he was ordained, and the day after he was 
 married to Mrs. Mary Haugh, a widow, indeed." He had no 
 children. 
 
 BROWNE, Nicholas, son of Edward Browne, of Inkburrow, Worces- 
 tershire, England ; settled first at Lynn, removed early to Read- 
 7
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 ing ; appears to have owned the place now owned by Edward 
 Upton's heirs, and also the place on side the pond, now owned 
 by Lucius Beebe. 
 
 His wife's name was Elizabeth. He d. 1673. His children 
 
 were: John, b. about 1634; Edward, b. 1640; Joseph, b. 
 
 1647, an early settler of the West Parish, and lived near the 
 
 Thad. B. Pratt place ; Sarah, b. 1650 ; Cornelius, b. ; Jo- 
 
 siah, b. ; and perhaps Elizabeth, who m. 1663, Hananiah 
 
 Parker. 
 
 In 1660, 'Mr. Browne sent his son John to England to look after 
 certain property to which he had become heir, and furnished his son 
 with a power of attorney, of which the following is a copy : 
 
 " Know all men by these presents, that Nicholas Browne, of Redding, in the 
 County of Middlesex, in the Massachusetts Colonie of New England, sonne of Jane, 
 the daughter of Thomas Lide, which said Jane was the wife of Edward Browne, 
 father of the said Nicholas, who lived and died in the parish of Inkburrow, in the 
 County of Woster, in the realme of England ; the said Nicholas Browne, on the fifth 
 day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty, stile of 
 England, appeared before me, Robert Howard, dwelling in Boston in the Colonie 
 aforesaid, Notary and Tubellion public by authority of the General Court of the said 
 Colonie, admitted and sworne, and in presence of the witnesses hereafter named, the 
 said Nicholas Browne declared and manifested that of his own accord he hath nom- 
 inated, assigned, made, ordayned, constituted and appointed, and in his place and 
 stead, by these presents, doth nominate, assign, make, ordayne, constitute and ap- 
 point his eldest sonne, John Browne, now bound for England, his true and lawful 
 attorney, for him the said Nicholas Browne, his father, in his name and stead and to 
 his use, to call William Rand of Inkborough aforesaid to accompt what of shops, 
 houses and lands, that by discovery are found to be appertayning and belonging unto 
 him the said Nicholas Browne as next heir unto the Lides, which the said Rand by 
 former power unto him granted from the said Nicholas Browne hath recovered. 
 Also, what monies he hath received for rents or arrearages of rent, profits and sheep 
 rents, heretofore and of late due, arising, growing and properly belonging unto the 
 heires of the said Lides. And the said houses, land, tenements, hereditaments and 
 appurtenances whatsoever, by him the said Rand recovered as aforesaid, to enter into, 
 and in the name of him, the said Nicholas Browne, to give possession to such tenant 
 or tenants as he the said John Browne likes of, that will hier the same, by lease or 
 yearly rent. Also to demand all such monies as aforesaid, received by the said Rand, 
 allowing and paying unto him the said Rand the one half of the true vallue of the 
 said houses and lands so recovered and the half of the said monies for the said Rand's 
 cost, charges and paynes he hath bin at thereabout. 
 
 And as concerning the premises to doe any such act or acts as aforesaid, as if he, 
 the said constitutor, were personally present. Ratifying, allowing and holding for- 
 ever firm and stable all and whatsoever his said sonne, as his attorney shall lawfully 
 dee or cause to be done by vertue hereo
 
 OF THE TOWJf OF READING. ^ 
 
 In witness whereof the said Nicholas Browne hath hereunto put his hand and seall 
 the said fifth day of October, in the year 1660. 
 
 NICHOLAS BROWNE. (L. s.) 
 Signed &c. in 
 presence of 
 ROBT. HOWARD Not Pub, 
 
 This Deed acknowledged by the 
 said Nicholas Browne, Oct 6, 1660. 
 Before me, Ri. BELLINGHAM, Depy. Gov." 
 
 BROWNE, John (" of the hill "), probably lived on " Cowdrey's Hill," 
 near where John A. Tyler now lives, and probably gave name to 
 the small pond in front of Mr. Tyler's, long called " Brown's 
 Pond." Whether he was related to Nicholas aforesaid doth not 
 appear. He m., ist, 1659, Elizabeth, dau. of John Osgood, of 
 Andover. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1660, and d. early ; Elizabeth, 
 b. 1661, and m. 1684, Benja. Hartshorne ; Hannah, b. 1664, 
 and d. 1667 ; Sarah, b. and d. 1668 ; Mary, b. 1771, and d. 
 
 1773 ; his wife d. 1673, an< ^ ^ e m -> 2< ^> 1681, Sarah , and 
 
 by 2d wife had chil. : John, b. 1682 ; Mary, b. 1685 ; Nathaniel, 
 b. 1688 ; Stephen, b. 1693. 
 
 BROWNE, Sarah, perhaps sister of John above named ; m. 1662, Robert 
 Burnap. 
 
 BROWNE, Elizabeth, perhaps another sister of the same ; m. 1663, 
 Hananiah Parker. (Savage says she was dau. of Jona. Browne.) 
 
 BROWNE, John, Esq., son of Nicholas and Elizabeth, b. 1634; lived 
 on the farm now owned by Dr. Francis P. Hurd ; m., ist., 
 Ann, dau. of Rev. John Fiske, of Wenham and Chelmsford ; she 
 d. 1681, aged 36 ; m., 2d, 1682, Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. Edward 
 Buckley, of Concord, and wid. of Rev. Joseph Emerson, of 
 Mendon. She d. 1693, aged 55 ; m., 3d, Rebecca, wid. of 
 Samuel Sprague, of Maiden, and she d. 1710, aged 76. He d. 
 1717, aged 83. Chil., both by ist wife : Anna, b. 1678, and m. 
 1696, to Peter Emerson ; Sarah, b. 1679, and d. 1680. He 
 was captain, justice of the peace, selectman, and representative. 
 
 " Witty, yet wise, grave, good, among the best 
 Was he, the memory of the just is blest," 
 
 Says his tombstone. 
 
 BROWNE, Cornelius, son of Nicholas, and brother of the last named ; 
 m. 1665, Sarah Lamson. She d. 1683. Chil. : Nicholas, b. and 
 d. 1666 ; Cornelius, b. 1667 ; Sarah, b. 1669 ; Sarah, b. 1670 ;
 
 52 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 John, b. 1671; Hannah, b. and d. 1673; Abigail, b. and d. 
 
 1674; Samuel, b. 1675; Susanna, b. 1677; Mary, b. 1679; 
 
 Hannah, b. 1680; Wm., b. 1682. 
 BROWNE, Josiah, son of Nicholas, and brother of the last named ; m. 
 
 1667, Mary Fellows, and d. 1691. Chil. : John, b. 1668 ; Josiah, 
 
 b. 1670 ; Mary, b. 1673 ; Josiah, b. 1675, an ^ m< I 7> Susanna 
 
 Goodwin ; Elizabeth, b. 1678 ; Ebenezer, b. 1682 ; Jonathan, 
 
 b. 1684 ; Phebe, b. 1688. 
 BROWNE, Joseph, son of Nicholas, and brother of the last named ; b. 
 
 1647, andm. Elizabeth, dau. of Tho. Bancroft. Chil. : Elizabeth, 
 
 1671, and d. 1674 ; Elizabeth, b. 1676 ; Nicholas, b. 1677, and m. 
 
 1700, Rebecca Nichols ; d. 1713 ; Joseph, b. 1679, and d. 1723 ; 
 
 Thomas, b. 1682 ; Ebenezer, b. 1684 ; Eben*., b. and d. 1688 ; 
 
 Hepzibeth, b. 1693. 
 BROWNE, Edward, probably son of Nicholas ; b. 1640 ; m. 1679, 
 
 Sarah Dix, and d. 1685. Chil. : Edward, b. 1680 ; Stephen, b. 
 
 1682 ; Stephen, b. and d. 1685. 
 
 NOTE. Gen. Benja. Browne, of Revolutionary fame, who d. in 1801, was the son 
 of Dea. Benja., who was the son of Nicholas, who was the son of Joseph, who was 
 the son of Nicholas, Sen* 1 . Wm. Locke Brown, Esq., who d. in 1862, was also a de- 
 scendant of Nicholas, Senr, through Cornelius, Samuel, etc. The late John Brown, 
 2d, was son of Pearson Brown, who was son of Jacob, who was son of Nathaniel (and 
 Eleanor Stearns), who was son of Josiah (and Susan Goodwin), who was son of 
 Josiah (and Mary Fellows), who was son of Nicholas, Sen'. 
 
 BROWN, Rev. Richard, was the fifth minister of Reading ; came from 
 Newbury; was the only son of Richard and Mary (Jaques), 
 and grandson of Richard and Elizabeth (Badger) ; his grand- 
 father was one of the earliest settlers of Newbury. Richard 
 (the third) was b. 1675 > m - I 73> Martha Whipple, dau. of John 
 Whipple, of Ipswich ; grad. at Har. Coll. in 1697; ordained pas- 
 tor of the church in Reading in 1712, and d. 1732, aged 57. 
 Chil. : Martha, b. 1704 ; John, b. 1706 ; Wm., b. 1708 ; Mary, 
 b. 1709 ; Katharine, b. 1712, and m. 1732, Joseph Gerrish, of 
 Newbury; Richard, b. 1716 ; Sarah, b. 1718 ; Elizabeth, b. 1720. 
 After his decease his widow and children returned to Newbury. 
 Mr. Brown, before his settlement at Reading, was Town Clerk 
 five years, and Schoolmaster eleven years, at Newbury. Upon 
 resigning his office of Town Clerk, when about to remove to 
 Reading, he wrote upon the fly-leaf of the town book as follows : 
 
 " I have served Newbury as schoolmaster eleven years and as town clerk five years 
 and a half, and have been repaid with abuse, contempt, and ingratitude. I have sent
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 53 
 
 nigh as many to College as all the masters before me since the reverend and learned 
 Parker. Those, that I have bred, think themselves better than their master (God 
 make them better still), and yet they may remember the foundation of all their grow- 
 ing greatness was laid in the sweat of my brows. I pray that poor unacknowledging 
 Newbury may get them that may serve them better and find thanks when they have 
 done. If, to find a house for the school when the town had none ; if, to take the 
 scholars to my own fire when there was no wood at school, as frequently ; if, to give 
 records to the poor, and record their births and deaths gratis, deserves acknowledg- 
 ment, then it is my due, but hard to come by. 
 
 " Est aligua ingrato meritam exprobare voluptas 
 Hoc fruar, hoec de te gaudia sola ferum." 
 
 We here insert some extracts from a journal, kept by Mr. Brown, 
 verbatim et literatim : 
 
 " I Richard Brown was born in Newbury Sept 12, Anno 1675 and educated 
 under the wing of my parence, especially my mother, wh was a pious and prudent 
 woman, and endeavored to instill into this her son the principals of Religion and 
 holiness ; yea she traveled in Birth with m e again to have + formed in me, and was 
 upon all opportunities discourcing to me Life and Death, sin and holiness, Heaven 
 and hell, to raise in me a Love, a Licking and Longing aft' the one, and a hatred and 
 abhorance of the othr ; she w 8 unwearied in her watchings, instructions, admonitions, 
 warnings, reproofs & exhortations, that she might bring up this her son in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord, and continued she to train me up betimes, and when she 
 had causd ,me to read well at home, she sent me to school und r an ingenious and 
 learned mast', M* Edward Tompson, undr w m I profited much and went on w^ 
 delight in Gramer, Sententiae and Cato. But then I w 8 deprived of my masf, wo, 
 being calld to the ministry, Left the schoole to his pupils gr* damage. Aft r came Mr 
 Shove, to w> I went yet profited Little ; then came anoth* 1 w tarried not Ixmg ; then 
 came Mr John Clark of Exeter, a worthy man und r w m I studied one year, by whome I 
 was sent to, tho not well fitted for, the Colledge ; for by this change of mast" I suffered 
 gt damage. I went to Colledge 1693 and there I spent 4 years under the care & in- 
 spection of that worthy man M' William Brattle, then fellow ; w> being in the heat 
 of youth and active, I spent too much time in play & pastime, w I aft r gty" bewailed. 
 When those 4 years w r expired July Anno 1697 I had given me with the rest of my 
 class the Degre of B : B of Arts. My Parence not being well able to keep me longer 
 at Colledge, I was forcd much against my will to leave the Coll : and to return home, 
 w w much to my disadvantage ; for being at home I wanted books, and more, money 
 to buy them ; so w* forcd to Borrow here and there as I could. By this, then I lost 
 much time & contracted a listlessness to study, yet read ov* all the vollums of Foxes 
 Acts and Monuments, w I much delighted in, and know much of espetially the two 
 last vollums, w I read ov' diverse times, where, in my young years, I showd a tend r 
 heart, y* could not forbare melting into tears, wh n I read of the cruelty showd against 
 the Masters and Blessed servants of Jesus Christ. Thus continued I, sometimes 
 Reading History and sometimes Divinity for two years, w being near expired, tho 
 much against my mind, yet being oVpowerd w 111 importunity, I was prevaild with to 
 preach in June '99, and when I came into the pulpit, being naturally bashful!, and 
 seeing a great throngue and crowde of people before me, my spirit w 8 overwhelmed
 
 54 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and ready to sink ; but even then, when I was quite at a loss as to myselfe, yt word W 
 the Lord spake to young Jerrimy, w n God w s sending him on an Embassy to his peo- 
 ple Israeli, 'fear not their faces lest I confound thee before them,' w a gt support to 
 me and enabled me to goe to the close of those dutys, with a full gale." 
 
 "Feb. 21, 1700 I was called to Teach the Gramr school in NewbT, which I ac- 
 cepted, and went on w th delight to train up youth in Learning and the knowledge and 
 fear of God and teaching them to reverence yr Superiors. When I sit in my School 
 I oft think of Melancton's word to Bucholizer wth delight : 
 
 " Quint n Solatin Pies Pedagoga assidentibus castis Angelis, sedere in coelu incon- 
 taminato juniorem qui Deo placent, et Docere tenera, ingenia, ut recte agnoscant et 
 invocant Deum ut deinde organa " 
 
 " I continued in the school and preached sometimes as occasions presented for 
 helping one and another." Being called upon to preach on a certain Fast day in 
 place of Mr. Tappan the Pastor at Newbury, he says, in his Journal, ' I was much 
 concernd for the work of that day, how I should address myselfe to the people W I 
 consider^ the abounding of sin yt provoked God's anger against us & highly meritted 
 o r deep humiliation ; I was much prest for plainness, but concluded (not w ta out some 
 pressure on my spirit for it) to lay open in peticular y sins yt most openly abounded 
 and to press them home. And Providence bringing and directing me to yt word 
 Hosea 6 I w r on I discoursd largely and plainly ; w r upon some w r highly offended, 
 as taking all to themselves ; and no doubt but they had reason enough, yet I intended 
 not them in perticular. G* vV their rage against me, they threatened me to my face, 
 But more Behind my Back. There w s but one family thus moved, the rest w r well 
 satisfied and took in good part w' I then deliverd to them. But the head of that 
 family w s so far transported wth rage and desire of Revenge, yt, meeting me one night 
 in the Dark, we being both on horseback, I had a little past him, he ' subraissu revo- 
 cavi voce,' called me wth a low voice, as tho he would speak with me, yet wth a gt deal 
 of emotion, w I at first percieved not, But wn I drew near and percieved w* spuring he 
 used to come at me I knew not w* he would of me, But I was presently informed, wn 
 w tn the scurrilous terme of Rogue y' he gave me once and again, I percieved a hand 
 up to strike at me, we he did, But providence so orderd it, yt I w s out of his reach, w 
 he had not Eyes to see, But supposd himselfe as near as his passion. But I, (thanks 
 be to God) turning my horse left him to himselfe, in the midst of his madness to vent 
 it by himselfe in the Dark, without ever a blow. Aff, they threatned that they would 
 meet me sometime in the Dark and kill me ; his son sent me a lett r , and in it, yt he 
 would be my murderer, with many scoffing tanting and Railing termes, from all w 
 God delivered me. 
 
 " Oct. 1 703 I am at this day & have been for many days und' a sad, dreadful and 
 trembling condition ye Comforter yt hath relievd me, is withdrawn Life seems 
 gone and I, tho' living, am as one amongst the Dead. I cant meditate as once 
 I find a dreadfull backwardness to pray, wn I would lift up my heart to God my soul 
 seems to be pressed down as with a heavy weight Satan besets me gains ground 
 upon me my Lusts overtake me, my Darling yet loathed sin thus aft r a sweet 
 calm comes a furious storm, yt bruises and batt 13 me on every side my Lusts fall one 
 way the world another way and my own wicked heart plays the trayt? to my soul, and 
 all to pull me down into endless pain. O God eternal ! infinitely gratious, a prayer 
 hearing God, a sin parclonjng God, w art a present help in times of trouble & distress 
 do not forget me, turn unto me in Love to my soul & turn me unto thyselfe, yt I 
 may love, fear and serve thee Pardon my iniquity & take away my sin undertake
 
 OF THE TOWN OF RFADTNG. 
 
 55 
 
 for me let thy hand be underneath to uphold O Lord revive thy work, quicken 
 thy grace in me, enlarge my soul Let thy visitations Refresh me, thy grace 
 strengthen me, thy word enlighten me and thy good Spirit guide me thro" this world's 
 darkness to the Light of Eternal Glory, Amen." 
 
 Mr. Brown often in his Journal refers to his contests with the temp- 
 tations of Satan, in relation to the lusts of the eye, laments his weak- 
 ness in resisting them, calls them his besetting sin, but records his 
 eventual victory over them through divine assistance. 
 
 March 2, 1706, he records in his Journal the birth of his son John, 
 and says : 
 
 " The Lord love him. Thou hast given him to me, O Lord, and I have given him 
 up to thee, in the ordinance (of Baptism) & I pray that thou wouldst take him into 
 the number of thy Jewels, into covenant with thyselfe, cleanes him with the blood of 
 Jesus from his original uncleanness, and keep him whilst in the world from the evil 
 of it Let him grow up before thee and encrease with all the encrease of God till 
 perfected amongst the numb 1 of the glorified saints." 
 
 " Sept 17, 1711. I laid down ye school in Newbury in order to go to Redding to 
 preach ye gospel there, at y' frequent and earnest request Nov. 7. I brought my 
 goods from Newbury to Ipswich ; Nov. 9, from Ipswich to Redding, and Nov. 15, 
 moved my wife and family to Redding ; the Lord of the harvest make me prudent 
 and faithful in my Stewardship unto death, that I may receive a crown of life 
 diverse persons here were not free to my coming, but G. so overruld, y* since, yJ are 
 some of my best frinds." 
 
 " Jume 25, 1712 I was ordained Past' of this Chh & reed the dreadfull charge from 
 the mouth of Mr. Shepard of Lynn and ye right hand of fellowship by Mr. Tappan of 
 Newbury ye other Elders, y* laid on hands w' Mr. Green of Salem Village, Mr. 
 Fox of Woburn and Mr. Parsons of Maulden." 
 
 " Here I have mett with many and gt trials, I found yt some w exprest much re- 
 spect & forwardness for my coming did not really desire it ; & some of them that 
 showed love had only a designe (yrby) to cross their neighbours & gain y' wills of y m ; 
 & my gt**t troubles have risen fr. such persons. I have mett w*h no abuses like y" 8 I 
 received fr. yn. I have found it a vain thing to trust in man, he is fickle and subject 
 to change. Ld, let my soul trust in y alone, w art the same yesfday to day & 
 forever. I have some comfort mingled w* my troubles I am made to sing of 
 mercy as well as judgm* I hope it pleases God to own my poor lab" here, many 
 are added to the Church & some call me y* spiritual Father O yt I may be an in- 
 strument to turn many to righteousness & to build y m up in faith & holiness." 
 
 " I have mett w^ much trouble by Mr Allin & much fr. Lynn End Ld. pardon 
 me & keep me men wait & watch for my halting." 
 
 " Sept 12, 1719 I am this day 44 years old & have reed fr. G. more y" ^thou- 
 sand mercies for which I have made but poor returns Ld pardon me & make me 
 thankful : I do humbly renue my Love : w* G. y 8 day & give myself to him, my whole 
 
 selfe, and resolve yt by his grace I will lab* to live more closely v^ him." 
 
 
 
 BRYANT, Abraham, a blacksmith, lived on Elm Street, south side, west 
 of Joseph Hartshorne's ; m., ist, 1664, Mary, daughter of Dea.
 
 56 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Tho. Kendall. Chil. : Mary, b. 1666, and m. 1684, John Weston ; 
 
 Rebecca, b. 1668, and d. 1670; Abraham, b. 1671 ; Thomas, b. 
 
 1674; Anna, b. 1676; William, b. 1678; Kendall, b. 1680; 
 
 Abigail, b. 1683, and d. 1694; Tabitha, b. 1685. His wife d. 
 
 1688. He m., 2d, Ruth, widow of Samuel Frothingham, of 
 
 Charlestown. She d. 1693. 
 BRYANT, Abraham, son of Abraham and Mary, b. 1671 ; b wife Sarah 
 
 had chil. : Mary, b. 1695 > Sarah, b. 1698 ; Abraham, b. 1700; 
 
 Jona., b. 1706, and d. 1708 ; Jona., b. 1708 ; Samuel, b. and d. 
 
 1710 ; Ebenezer, b. 1712. He d. 1714, aged 43. 
 BRYANT, Thomas, son of Abraham and Mary, b. 1674 ; m. 1696, Mary 
 
 Fitch, and had chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1697, and d. 1698 ; Thomas, 
 
 b. 1700 ; Elizabeth, b. 1702 ; Mary, b. 1706 ; John, b. 1707. 
 
 NOTE. He settled in No. Parish, near the Barnard Place ; was Captain. 
 
 BRYANT, William, Esq., son of A raham and Mary, b. 1678; m. 1701, 
 Rebecca, dau. of Wm. and Elizabeth Arnold. Chil. : William, 
 b. 1702 ; Joseph, b. 1704 ; John, b. and d. 1706 ; John, b. 1708 ; 
 Timothy, b. 1712; Rebecca, b. 1715; Jona., b. 1717; Samuel, 
 b. 1720; Catharine, b. 1722 ; Samuel, b. 1726. He was Cap- 
 tain, Colonel, Selectman, Justice of the Peace, etc. He d. 1757, 
 aged 79. 
 
 BPYANT, Kendall, son of Abraham and Mary, b. 1680; m. 1704, Eliza- 
 beth, dau. of Maj. Jeremiah Swaine, and Mary (Smith). Chil. : 
 Elizabeth, b. 1705 ; Kendall, b. 1709 ; Anna, b. 1709 ; Jere- 
 miah, b. 1714; Mary, b. 1717; James, b. 1719; Hepzibeth, b. 
 1722 ; Abigail, b. 1724. 
 
 BRYANT, William, son of Wm. (Esq.) and Rebecca, b. 1702 ; by first 
 wife Anna had chil. : Anna, b. 1733 ; William, b. 1735 ; and by 
 second wife Sarah, had John, b. 1738; Martha, b. 1740; Na- 
 thaniel, b. 1743 ; Mehitabel, b. 1746 ; Caleb, b. 1752 ; Tho., b. 
 1756. He was a shovel-maker, and removed to Sudbury. 
 
 BRYANT, Jeremiah, son of Kendall and Elizabeth, b. 1714; m. 1734, 
 Ruth Thompson, of Woburn, and had chil.: Ruth, b. 1735; 
 Phebe, b. 1737 ; Ruth, b. 1740; Jeremiah, b. 1742 ; Bridget, b. 
 1746; Josiah, b. 1748; Ebenezer, b. 1753; Anna, b. 1755; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1755. 
 
 BURNAP, Robert, Senr., an early settler in the easterly part of the town, 
 died in"i689 ; his wife was Ann, who d. 1681. He was select- 
 man 14 years. Chil. : Isaac, who m. 1658, Hannah Antrim, of 
 Salem, and owned half a farm in Salem, and d. 1667 ; Robert ;
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 57 
 
 Thomas (probably, possibly brother to Rob't, Sen.); Ann and 
 Sarah. 
 
 BURNAP, Robert, Jr., m., ist, Ann , who d. 1661 ; m., ad, 1662, 
 
 Sarah Broune, and she d. 1695. He was selectman 19 years, 
 and d. 1695. Chil. : Sarah, b. 1653 ; John, b. 1655 ; Rob't, b. 
 1657, and d. 1674; Mary, b. 1661 ; Elizabeth, b. 1664, and m. 
 1683, Jona. Eaton; Lydia, b. 1667; Samuel, b 1675, and d. 
 1676 ; Benja., b. 1677 and m. 1700, Elizabeth Newhall, of Mai- 
 den; Mary, b. 1681 ; Dorcas, b. 1679, and m. 1700, Will. Saw- 
 yer; Joseph, who m. 1690, Tabitha . 
 
 BURNAP, Thomas, probably a brother or uncle of the last named ; m. 
 1663, Mary Person, of Lynn ; they both d. 1691. He is called 
 Mas. Thomas Burnap upon the town record, on account either 
 of age, wealth, or wisdom. Chil.: Thomas, b. 1664; Ebenezer, 
 b. 1666, and d. 1690 ; Mary, b. 1668 ; Bethiah, b. ^670, and d. 
 1673 ; Sarah, b. 1672 ; Ann, b. 1674; Bethiah, b. 1677, and m. 
 1696, Tho. Grover; Esther, b. 1681. 
 
 BURNAP, John, son of Robert, Jr., and Ann, b. 1655, and m. 1684, Mary 
 Rice. Chil. : Dorcas, b. 1685 ; Mary, b. 1687 ; John, b. 1689 ; 
 Isaac, b. 1694; Abraham, b. 1696; Elizabeth, b. 1691. 
 
 BURNAP, Thomas, Jr., son of Mas. Thomas and Mary. b. 1664 ; m. 
 1688, Sarah, daughter, probably, of Samuel and Sarah Walton. 
 Chil. : Thomas, b. 1689 ; Sarah, b. 1690 ; Mary, b. 1692 ; Eb- 
 enezer, b. and d. 1693 > Elizabeth, b. 1694, and m. 1724, Benja, 
 Smith, and was great-grandmother of the late David, Noah, and 
 Archibald Smith ; Rebecca, b. 1695, an< ^ m - 1 7 2( >> Ephraim 
 Weston; Martha, b. 1697, and m. Ebenezer Stearns, of Sutton; 
 Ebenezer, b. 1699 ; Abigail, b. 1700, and m. John Lilley ; Hep- 
 zibeth, b. 1701, and m. John Woodward ; Timothy, b. 1706 ; 
 Bethiah, b. 1707 ; Ruth, b. 1711, and m. John Smith ; Anna, b. 
 1713, and m. 1737, Jeremiah Brown, and d. in early life. 
 
 BURNAP, Capt. Joseph, son of Robert, Jr., and Ann ; m. 1690, Tabitha 
 
 , and d. 1744. Chil. : Tabitha, b. 1692, and m. Ebenezer 
 
 Flint ; Elizabeth, d. young ; Sarah, b. 1694, and m. Jere h Swain ; 
 Abigail, b. 1699, and m. James Smith; Joseph, b. 1701 ; Sam- 
 uel, b. 1703 ; Lydia, b. 1706, and m. 1727, Wm. Upton, of 
 Salem; John, b. 1708, and m. 1732, Ruth Smith; Martha, b. 
 1710, and m. John Walton; Isaac, b. 1713, and m. 1736, Su- 
 sanna, dau. of Eben r and Bethiah Emerson, and was father of 
 Rev. Jacob Burnap, D. D., of Merrimack, N. H. ; Hepzibeth, 
 who m. 1725, Nath'l Emerson. Capt. Joseph, aforesaid, and 
 8
 
 58 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 perhaps his father Robert, Jr., lived on the late Capt. Jonathan 
 Weston's place in West Parish. 
 
 BURT, Thomas, by ist wife Sarah had chil. : Sarah, b. 1676 ; Elizabeth, 
 b. 1678; Martha, b. 1680; Thomas, b. 1685; John, b. 1687, 
 and d. 1689; Samuel, b. 1689; (by zd wife Mary), had John, 
 b. 1692 ; Ebenezer, b. 1695, and m. 1722, Ruth Fiske ; Benj., 
 b. 1700. He lived in the North Parish. 
 
 BURT, Thomas, Jr., son of the above, b. 1685, m. 1711, Elizabeth Lari- 
 ford, and had Sarah, b. 1711, who m. 1732, Joseph Gilbert, of 
 Boston. 
 
 BUTTERS, or Buttery, John, had chil. : John, b. 1660 ; Elizabeth, b. 
 1662 ; Sarah, b. 1664. 
 
 CARTER, Thomas, m. 1713, Abigail Locke, of Woburn. Chil. : Thomas, 
 b. 1715; Abigail, b. 1717. 
 
 CHADWICK, Samuel, m. 1685, Mary Stocker. Chil. : (born at Woburn,) 
 Mary, b. 1685, and m. 1704, Joel Jenkins; Martha, b. 1687, 
 and d. soon; Martha, b. 1689, and m. 1716, Robt. Trevitt, of 
 Charlestown. He was killed at Reading, 1690, by the falling 
 of a tree. 
 
 CHANDLER, Thomas, had a son John, b. 1655. 
 
 CLARK, Thomas, removed to Reading from Lynn. His ist wife was 
 Else, or Alice, who d. 1658 ; he m , 2d, 1658, Mary, sister of 
 Major Jeremiah Swain ; she d. 1688, he d. 1693 ; was a select- 
 man. Chil. : Perley, who had a dau. Elizabeth, b. 1669 ; Han- 
 nah ; Elizabeth, b. 1659 ; Thomas, b. 1661, and d. 1673 ; Mary, 
 who m. 1794, John Bancroft, Jr., of Lynn. 
 
 COLE, John, probably from Lynn; m. 1691, Mary . Chil. : Mary, 
 
 b. 1693 ; Martha, b. 1695 > J ona -> b. 1698 ; Jona., b. 1699. 
 
 COLSON, Adam, m. 1668, Mary, dau. of Josiah Dustin. Chil. : Josiah, 
 b. and d. 1673 > Elizabeth, b. 1676 ; Lydia, b. 1680 ; David, b. 
 1682; was schoolmaster from 1679 to J 68i > ne ^- l ^7> anc ^ 
 his wid. m. 1698, Cornelius Browne, Sen r . 
 
 COOK, George, of Carolina, d. in Reading in 1710. 
 
 COWDREY, Dea. William, b. 1602, d. 1687, aged 85 ; his wife's name 
 was Joanna, who d. in 1666. Chil. : Nathaniel, b. ; Mat- 
 thias, b. 1641, and d. 1663 ; Bethiah, b'. 1643, ar >d married prob- 
 ably Policy. He settled first at Lynn, removed thence to 
 
 Reading in 1642, lived on the present site of the late "Quanna- 
 powitt House " on the Common, was deacon, clerk of the writs, 
 town clerk, selectman, and representative, and was for a long 
 time a most influential and useful citizen. He willed " half of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 59 
 
 homestead to son Nathaniel and half to grandson Nathaniel ; 
 also, to son Nathaniel what he lives on." 
 
 COWDREY, Nathaniel, son of Dea. William and Joanna; m., ist, 1654, 
 
 Elizabeth ; she d. 1659 ; m., 2d, 1660, Mary, dau. of John 
 
 and Rebecca Bachelder. He d. 1690, and his wid. d. 1729, 
 aged 94. He settled on Cowdrey's hill, so named from him, on 
 a farm, a portion of which is still owned and occupied by Jonas 
 Cowdrey, his descendant ; his dwelling stood some rods westerly 
 of the house now owned by Maj. G. O. Carpenter. He was 
 town clerk and selectman. Chil. : Samuel, b. 1657 ; Elizabeth, 
 b. and d. 1659 ; Nathaniel, b. 1661 ; Rebecca, b. 1663 ; Wil- 
 liam, b. 1666; Joanna, b. 1673; Susanna, b. 1676; Nathaniel, 
 b. 1679 ; Elizabeth, b. 1689. 
 
 COWDREY, Samuel, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth, b. 1657 ; m. 1685, 
 Elizabeth, dau. of Hananiah and Elizabeth Parker, perhaps 
 had a 2d wife, Martha. Chil. : Ruth, b. 1687 ; Mary, b. 1689 ; 
 Martha, b. (at Lynn) 1693. 
 
 COWDREY, William, son of Nathaniel and Mary (2d wife), b. 1666 ; m., 
 ist, Esther, who d. 1698; m., 2d, 1701, Tabitha, dau. of Sergt. 
 James Boutwell. He succeeded his father at the homestead on 
 the hill. He d. 1726, and his wid. d. 1745. Chil. : Elizabeth, 
 b. 1695 ; William, b. 1702 ; Susanna, b. 1697, and m. 1723, Jo- 
 seph Burrill ; Tabitha, b. 1705 ; Rebecca, b. 1708, and m. 1730, 
 John Goodwin; Nathaniel, b. 1710; Mary. b. 1713; Esther, b. 
 1717. 
 
 COWDREY, William, son of William and Tabitha, b. 1702 ; m. 1724, 
 ' Mary Thompson, and had chil. : William, b. 1730 ; Joseph, b. 
 
 1733- 
 
 COWDREY, Nathaniel, son of William and Tabitha, b. 1710; m. 1736, 
 Tabitha, dau. of Thomas Hartshorn, succeeded his father on the 
 homestead. He d. 1745. Chil. : Nathaniel, b. 1737 ; William, 
 b- 1739 ; Thomas, b. 1742 ; James, b. 1744, and d. 1745. 
 
 COWDREY, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Tabitha, b 1737 ; m. 1758, 
 Sarah, dau. of John and Sarah (Lilley) Parker. Chil. : Nathan- 
 iel, b. 1759, and m. Jerusha Emerson; Sarah, b. 1761, and m. 
 
 1782, Wm. Emerson, late of Melrose ; Esther, b. 1764, and m. 
 
 1783, Wm. Stimpson, Jr.; Ezra, b. 1766; Mehitabel, b. 1768, 
 and m. 1787, Samuel Weston ; Hannah, b. 1770; Isaac, b. 
 1772 ; Isaac, b. 1774; Aaron, b. 1777. He also succeeded his 
 father on the old homestead, and was in turn succeeded by his 
 youngest son, the late Aaron Cowdrey.
 
 60 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 COWJDREY, Jonathan, by wife Rachel had a dau. Susannah, b. 1755, 
 who m. 1782, Rev. Charles Stearns, of Lincoln. This Jonathan 
 Cowdrey was of a distinct family from the foregoing ; resided 
 but a few years in Reading; was living about 1765 where Col. 
 James Hartshorn lived in 1870 ; was a clock-maker, etc. 
 
 CURWIN, Capt., was taxed in 1686 as of the North Parish. 
 
 CUTLER, Nathaniel, son of John and Mary, of Hingham ; his mother 
 m. for a second husband, - Hewitt, and she d. at Reading 
 in 1681. He (Nathaniel) m. 1655, Mary -- , and had chil. : 
 Mary, b. 1656; Nathaniel, b. 1659; Hannah, b. 1662, and m. 
 1681, James Pike; Sarah, b. 1665; Lydia, b. 1669. His wife 
 Mary d. 1708; and he m., 2d, 1709, Elizabeth Haines, who d. 
 
 CUTLER, Thomas, brother of the foregoing, m. 1659, Mary Very, of 
 Salem, and had chil. : Thomas, b. i66oj Sarah, b. 1666 ; Ruth, 
 b. 1668; David, b. 1670; Jona., b. 1678. He d. 1683, and his 
 wid. m. 1684, Matthew Smith, Sen. 
 
 CUTLER, Edward, had a dau. Mary, b. 1663. 
 
 CUTLER, John, m. 1678, Hannah, dau. of Henry Bellflower. 
 
 CUTLER, Thomas, of Charlestown, perhaps the son of Thomas and 
 Mary; had chil. : Thomas, b. 1691 ; Elizabeth, b. 1692, and d. 
 1693; Hannah, b. 1696 (all in Charlestown); Mary, b. 1698, 
 and d. 1703 ; Ebenezer, b. 1700; Ruth, b. 1704, and d. 1706. 
 
 CUTLER, Nathaniel, m. 1700, Elizabeth Underwood, of Watertown. 
 Chil. : Mary, b. 1701 ; Nath'l, b. 1702 ; Elizabeth, b. 1705 ; 
 John, b. 1705 ; Jona., b. 1711. t 
 
 NOTE. The Cutler family lived in the easterly part of the town, near the spot 
 occupied, in 1868, by E. W. Wood. They early removed to Charlestown (now 
 Stoneham), Medway, Shrewsbury, etc. 
 
 DAMON, John (Deacon), came, it is said, from Reading, England ; set- 
 tled first, perhaps, on Cowdrey's hill, where was a very early 
 seat of the Damons. The family, some of them, soon located 
 in the West Parish, where their descendants have owned until 
 recently. His wife's name was Abigail. He was a selectman, 
 and died 1708, aged 87, and his widow d. 1713. Chil. : John, 
 b. and d. 1651; John, b. 1652; Abigail, b. 1654, and m. Na- 
 thaniel Rand; Samuel, b. 1656 ; Joseph, b. 1661. 
 
 DAMON, Thomas, perhaps brother of the above ; settled on Cowdrey's 
 hill, and had a son Thomas, b. 1659. 
 
 DAMON, John, son of Dea. John and Abigail, b. 1652 ; m., ist, 1678*
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. fa 
 
 Susan Wiley; and 2d, m. Ruth . Chil. : by Ruth, Joseph 
 
 and Mary (twins), b. 1697. 
 
 DAMON, Samuel, son of Dea. John and Abigail, b. 1656 ; was a soldier 
 
 in Narragansett war ; m. Mary , and had children : Samuel, 
 
 b. 1681 ; Mary, b. 1683, and m. Tho. Taylor; Ebenezer, b. 
 1686; Abigail, b. 1689, and m. Richard Nichols; Esther, b. 
 1691, and m. Daniel Gowing; Benja., b. 1693 ; Mercy, b. 1695, 
 and m. Ebenezer Parker; John, b. 1697 ; Tabitha, b. 1703, and 
 m. John Townsend. He d. 1725, and his widow d. 1727. 
 
 DAMON, Thomas, son of Thomas, b. 1659 ; m. 1683, Lucy Ann, dau. 
 of Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Mendon, whose widow had married 
 Capt. John Browne, of Reading. He d. in 1723, and his widow, 
 Lucy Ann, d. 1740. Chil.: Lucy Ann, b. 1684, and m. 1706, 
 Kendall Boutwell ; Joseph, b. 1686, and m., ist, 1707, Mary 
 
 Bacheller, and 2d, Lydia ; Thomas, b. 1690, and d. 1703 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1693, and m. Benj. Gerry; Hannah, b 1695, anc * 
 m. Samuel Leman ; Susanna, b. , and m. Nathaniel Town- 
 send ; Mehitabel, b. 1699, and m. Nathaniel Cowdrey; Mary, 
 b. 1701, and m. John Holden, of Woburn ; Thomas, b. 1703 ; 
 
 Edward ; John, b. 1709; Abigail, b. 1713, and m. Robert 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 DAMON, Samuel, son of Samuel and Mary, b. 1681 ; m. 1707, Priscilla 
 Wright, and had chil. : Samuel, b. 1708 ; John, b. 1712. 
 
 DAMON, Ebenezer, son of Samuel and Mary, b 1686 ; by wife Eliza- 
 beth had chil. : David, b. 1710, and m. 1731, Esther Gowing; 
 Jona., b. and d. 1712 ; Samuel, b. 1716, and m. Annis Gowing ; 
 Ezra, b. 1721, and m. Ruth Bragg; Mary, b. 1723 ; Jona., b. 
 1726 ; Edward, b. 1728, and m. Elizabeth . 
 
 DAMON, Benj a., son of Samuel and Mary, b. 1693; m - I 7 I 4> Mercy 
 Flint, and had chil. : Mehitabel, b. 1715, and m. 1745, Nath'l 
 Bancroft, of Sherburne ; Martha, b 1718; Timothy, b. 1721 ; 
 Benja., 1723; Hepzibeth, b. 1725 ; Abigail, b. 1727. 
 
 DAMON, John, son of Samuel and Mary, b. 1697 ; m. 1722, Rebecca, 
 dau. of John and Sarah Pratt. Chil.: John, b. 1723 ; Samuel, 
 b. 1726; Hepzibeth, b. 1729, and m. 1755, Ebenezer Smith; 
 Timothy, b. 1732, and d. soon ; Hannah, b. 1735, and m. 1765, 
 Thos. Symonds; Rebecca, b. 1736; Daniel, b. 1737; John and 
 Timothy (twins), b. 1738-9 ; Rebecca, b. 1740. He d. in 1755, 
 aged 57. 
 
 NOTE. Parson Hobby in recording his death, says, " a poor unhappy man, who, 
 having plunged himself into the depths of enthusiasm, forsook the ordinances and
 
 6 2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 house of God ; at length, withheld all prayer, and by his former excessive fasting, for 
 days and weeks together, threw himself into a consumption, of which he died." It is 
 also said of him that he felt himself called upon by a spiritual communication to 
 imitate the Saviour and to fast forty days and forty nights, and he undertook to do so. 
 
 DAMON, Samuel, son of John and Rebecca, b. 1726 ; m. 1754, Abigail, 
 dau. of Isaac and Mary Smith. Chil. : Samuel, b. 1756, and 
 m. 1779, Abigail Sweetser; Daniel, b. 1757, and m. 1782, Anne 
 Emerson ; Benja., b. 1760 ; Abigail, b. 1763 ; John, b. 1766, and 
 m. 1790, Hepzibeth, dau. of Ebenezer and Hepzibeth Smith; 
 Rebecca, b. 1768. 
 
 DAVIS, George, came from Lynn, and d. 1667; was selectman and 
 had chil. : Joseph (probably); Hannah, b. 1648, and m. 1669, 
 John Boutwell ; Sarah, b. 1651; Elizabeth, b. 1654, and m. 
 1678, Timothy Wiley; Mary, b. 1657 ; George, b. 1660; Susan- 
 na, b. 1662 ; and perhaps John, who d. in 1660. 
 
 DAVIS, Joseph, son (probably) of the above. Chil. : Joseph, b. 1669, 
 and d. soon ; Hannah, b. 1672 ; Caleb and Joshua, twins, b. 1673, 
 the latter m. 1697, Rebecca Poor, and had Ruth and Sarah; 
 Thomas, b. 1676, and m. 1698, Hannah Hartshorne. 
 
 DICKERMAN, John, m. 1691, Sarah . Chil. : John, b. 1692 ; 
 
 Thomas, b. 1693 ; Sarah, b. 1694. 
 
 DICKERMAN, John, son (probably) of the above, b 1692 ; by wife Mary 
 had John, b. 1715 ; Tho., b. 1716. 
 
 Dix, Ralph, was of Ipswich in 1647 > a fisherman ; removed to Read- 
 ing in 1662 ; wife's name was Esther. He lived on the place 
 now owned by heirs of Hon. Tho. Emerson. Chil. : (born in 
 Ipswich,) John, b. 1659; Samuel, b. 1661 ; (born in Reading), 
 Stephen, b. 1664; Stephen, b. 1672, and perhaps Sarah. 
 
 Dix, Samuel, son of Ralph and Esther, b. 1661 ; ist wife's name was 
 Elizabeth, who d. 1693 ; 2d wife's name was Hannah Smith, of 
 Charlestown, who d. 1696. Chil. : Elizabeth (probably), b. 
 1689 ; Stephen, b. 1692, and drowned in the Pond in 1705 ; 
 Hannah, b. 1694; Ebenezer, b. and d. 1696. 
 
 Dix, John, son of Ralph and Esther, b. 1659 ; m., ist, Lydia, in 1692, 
 and she d. 1699 ; m., 2d, 1700, Anna Fitch. He succeeded to 
 the homestead of his father. Chil. : John and Lydia (twins), b. 
 and d. 1693; Lydia, b. 1695, a "d d. 1709; Sarah, b. 1697; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1699 ; Anna, b. 1702 ; Samuel, b. 1706 ; Mary, b. 
 1708 ; Jona., b. 1710 ; James, b. 1712 ; Edson, b. 1714. 
 
 NOTE. It is said that Rev. Samuel Dix, Har. Coll. 1758, and Hon. John A. Dix 
 late U. S. Senator from New York,- were descendants of Ralph Dir.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 63 
 
 DUNTON, Robert, was selectman of Reading, 1647 to 1649. 
 
 DUNTON, Samuel, probably a son or brother of the foregoing, came 
 from Lynn, and had chil.: Samuel, b. 1647 ; Hannah, b. 1649 ; 
 Nathaniel, b. 1655 ; Elizabeth, b. 1658 ; Sarah, b. 1660 ; Mary, 
 b. 1662 ; Ruth, b. 1664; and perhaps John and Thomas. He 
 d. 1683, and his wid., whose name was Anna (probably), d. 
 1689. 
 
 DUNTON, Samuel, Jr., son of the foregoing, b. 1647 '> by wife Sarah, had 
 chil.: Samuel, b. 1674; Sarah, b. 1677; Rebecca, b. 1679, an d 
 d. soon; Ebenezer, b. 1681. 
 
 DUNTON, John, probably brother of the last above-named ; by wife 
 Ruth had chil. : John, b. 1686 ; Samuel, b. 1688 ; Ruth, b 1690, 
 and m. 1713, Samuel Gould; Elizabeth, b. 1692; Thomas, b. 
 1695 > Joseph and Mary, twins, b. 1697, of whom Joseph d. 
 soon; Sarah, b. 1700; Hepzibeth, b. 1702. 
 
 DUTTON, Thomas, b. about 1626 ; ist wife's name was Susan ; she d. 
 1684, and he m., 2d, 1684, Ruth, dau of Wm. Hooper. Chil.: 
 Thomas, b. 1648; Mary, b. 1651 ; Susanna, b. 1653 ; John, b. 
 1656; Elizabeth, b. 1659; J se P n > b. 1661, and m. 1685, Re- 
 becca Fitch; Sarah, b. 1662 ; James, b. 1665 ; Benj., b. 1669. 
 He removed first to Woburn, and after to Billerica, where he 
 was in 1675. His son Thomas was in the Indian war at the 
 East, and had a remarkable escape in 1677, when many were 
 killed. 
 
 DUSTIN, Josiah, lived near the southeast corner of the " Great Pond," 
 and d. 1671. Chil.: Josiah; Lydia ; Hannah, who m. 1662, 
 Thomas Tower; Mary, b. 1648, and d. 1649; Mary, b. 1650, 
 and m 1668, Adam Colson ; Sarah, b. 1653. 
 
 EATON, Jonas, lived on the N. W. part of Cowdrey's hill ; by wife 
 Grace had chil.: Mary, b. 1643, died single in 1732, aged 90; 
 John, b. 1645 ) Jonas ; Joseph, b. 1651 ; Joshua, b. 1653 ; Jona- 
 than, b. 1655 ; David, b. and d. 1657 ; Sarah, b. , who m. 
 
 1671, Joseph Dodge. He was a freeman in 1653, a selectman, 
 and d. 1674. 
 
 EATON, William, was brother of Jonas ; came here from Watertown ; 
 was a freeman in 1653 ; by wife Martha had chil.: Daniel, b. 
 1638, in Watertown ; Martha, who m. Thomas Brown, of Cam- 
 bridge ; another dau., who m. Francis Moore ; and Mary, who 
 was single in 1673. He d. 1673, and his wid. d. 1680. 
 
 EATON, John, son of Jonas and Grace, b. 1645 > lived probably on 
 Cowdrey's hill; d. 1691 ; by wife Dorcas, had chil. : Jonas, b.
 
 64 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and d. 1677 ; Grace, b. 1678, and m. 1695, J onn Boutwell ; 
 Noah, b. 1678; Thomas, b. 1679; Jonas, b. 1680, and m. Me- 
 hitabel, and removed to Framingham ; Joseph, b. and d. 1681 ; 
 Benja., b. 1683; perhaps Joseph again; Dorcas, b. 1688; Ste- 
 phen, b. 1689 ; and Phebe, b. 1690, who m. 1716, Jona. Nichols. 
 
 EATON, Jonas, son of Jonas and Grace, b. about. 1647 or '48 ; m. 1677, 
 Hannah Mason, and had chil. : Jonas, b. 1678 ; Jonas, b. 1680 ; 
 John, b. 1681 ; Mary, b. 1683; Hannah, b. 1685; Abigail, b. 
 1688; Jonas, b. 1690; Sarah, b. 1693. This family became 
 early settlers of the West Parish, near the Prescott place. 
 
 EATON, Joshua, son of Jonas and Grace, b. 1653 ; m., ist, 1678, Re- 
 becca, dau. of Dea. Tho. Kendall; she d. 1690; m., 2d, 1690, 
 
 Ruth . He d. 1717, aged 64; lived in the westerly part of 
 
 the west parish ; was selectman and representative Chil. : Re- 
 becca, b. 1679; Elizabeth, b. 1681, and m. 1700, Sam 1 Lam- 
 son; Joshua, b. 1683 ; Thomas, b. 1685 ; Abigail, b. 1688. 
 
 EATON, Jonathan, son of Jonas and Grace, b. 1655 ; m., ist, 1683, 
 Elizabeth, dau. of Rob' Burnap, Jr. ; she d. 1688 ; m., zd, Mary 
 
 ; lived on the homestead on the hill; d. 1743, aged 88; 
 
 was Lieut, and selectman. Chil : Sarah, b. 1684, and m. John 
 Poole ; Jonathan, b. 1686; was a soldier in the Nova Scotia 
 Expedition, and d. at Annapolis Royal in 1711; unmarried. 
 Elizabeth, b. 1688, and m. Joseph Parker ; Mary, b. and d. 
 1691; Samuel, b. and d. 1693 ; Mary, b. 1694, and m. 1716, 
 Josiah Nurse; John, b. 1697; Samuel, b. 1702; Nathaniel, b. 
 about 1700, and m. Lydia ; Noah, b. 1704, and m. Phebe Lilley, 
 of Woburn ; Joanna, b. and d. 1708. 
 
 EATON, John, son (probably) of Wm. and Martha, and born perhaps at 
 Watertown; m 1658, Elizabeth, dau. of Dea. Thomas Kendall; 
 settled probably on the Plain in westerly part of West Parish, 
 and d. 1691. Chil.: Thomas, b. 1660, and d. 1661; Elizabeth, 
 
 b. 1662, and m. Bancroft; Rebecca, b. 1665, and m 1680, 
 
 Thomas Nichols; John, b. 1666; Martha, b. 1668, and m. 
 1685, Timothy Hartshorne; William, b. 1670; Thomas, b. 1673, 
 and d. 1674; Tabitha, b. 1675, ar) d rn. 1690, Joseph Burnap; 
 Hepzibeth, b. 1680, and m. 1697, Sam 1 Frothingham, of Charles- 
 town; Hannah, b. 1683; Benja, b. 1684. 
 
 EATON, Daniel, son of Wm. and Martha, b. 1638, at Watertown. 
 Chil. : William, b. 1665 ; Daniel, who. d. 1667 ; another Daniel, 
 b. 1667; a dau., b. 1669; Ann, b. 1671; Martha, b. 1673; 
 Priscilla, b. 1676; Daniel, b. 1678; Mehitabel, b. 1680.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 65 
 
 EATON, John, son of 7 John and ElizabNand grandson of Wm. and Mar- 
 tha, b. 1666; m. 1691, Hannah ; she d. 1721, and he d. 
 
 1727 ; he lived in the North Parish. Chil. : John, b. 1692, and 
 d. 1724; Hannah, b. 1694, and m. 1720, Edward Harcum 
 Thomas, b. 1696 ; Hepzibeth, b. and d. 1698 ; Timothy, b. 
 1699, and m. 1727, Mary Delver ; Israel, b. 1702, and m. 1726, 
 Diadem Howard, of Salem ; Paul, b. 1706, and d. 1733 
 Silas, b. 1709, and m. 1736, Jerusha Gould, of Andover; Eben- 
 ezer, b. 1712 ; Barnabas, b. 1718. 
 
 EATON, William, son of John and Elizabeth, b. 1670 ; m. 1695, Mary 
 
 , and removed to Lynnfield. Chil. : William, b. 1696 ; 
 
 Jeremiah, b. 1698; Elizabeth, b. 1700; Jacob, b.. 1703 ; Benja., 
 b. 1705. 
 
 EATON, Thomas, son of Joshua and Rebecca, b. 1685 ; m. 1708, Lydia 
 Pierce, of Watertown ; succeeded to his father's homestead ; 
 was captain, selectman, and representative ; d. 1774, aged 91. 
 Chil.: Thomas, 1 b. 1712, and d. 1723; Jonathan, .b. 1714, and 
 settled in Woburn ; Ruth, b. 1716, and m. 1734, John Nichols ; 
 Lydia, b. 1718, and d. 1725 ; Hannah, b. 1721, and m. 1739, 
 James Nichols ; Abigail, b. 1724; Lydia, b. 1727, and m. 1750, 
 Philip Russell, of Lexington; Thomas, b. 1729; Rebecca, b. 1731 ; 
 Joshua, 2 b. 1734, and d., the town record says, in 1772, and 
 Thomas Eaton's will confirms it. 
 
 EATON, Joseph ; he was probably either the son, or, through John and 
 Dorcas, the grandson of Jonas and Grace ; m. 1709, Mary Pear- 
 son, of Lynnfield. Chil. : Joseph, b. 1711 ; Mary, b. 1714, and 
 m. 1734, Nathaniel Upton ; Benjamin, b. 1720 ; Sarah, b. 1722 ; 
 Pearson, b. 1725. 
 
 EATON, John, son of Jonathan and Mary, b. 1697 ; m. Abigail Roberts ; 
 d. 1758, aged 61. Chil. : John, b. 1723, and m. 1744, Elizabeth 
 Boutwell, and settled in West Parish, near Tim. Hartshorn 
 place ; Thomas, b. 1725 ; Abigail, b. 1727, and d. 1729 ; James, 
 b. 1733, and m. 1758, Lois Damon, and was grandfather of the 
 present Joseph Eaton, of Wakefield. 
 
 EATON, Nathaniel, son of Jonathan and Mary, b. about 1700 ; m. Lydia 
 
 ; lived in the westerly part of Wakefield, on the place 
 
 owned, in 1868, by Davis. Chil. : Nathan, b. 1726 ; Jona- 
 than, b. 1728; Lydia, b. 1730; Nathaniel, b. 1732 ; Mary, b. 1734; 
 
 1 This Thomas was grandfather of Mrs. Joshua Prescott, late of Reading. 
 
 2 A son of this Joshua was killed in battle at the taking of Burgoyne in 1777, and 
 was the father of the late Mary Kayner, of South Reading. 
 
 9
 
 66 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 William, b. 1737, and m. 1762, Rebecca Flint ; Elizabeth and 
 Sarah, twins, b. 1740 ; Sarah, m. 1760, Jonathan Poole ; Susanna, 
 b. 1746. 
 
 EATON, Noah, son of Jonathan and Mary, b. 1704; m. Phebe Lilley, of 
 Woburn, and d. 1770 ; his widow, Phebe, d. 1786. Lived awhile 
 at the homestead on the hill ; afterwards, in 1732, he purchased 
 of Benjamin Gibson, of Boston, the former homestead of Zach- 
 ariah Poole, leather-dresser, who had sold to said Gibson and 
 removed to Medford, the same place formerly owned by Dea. 
 Jacob Eaton, at the corner of Eaton and Crescent Streets. On 
 this place, which included the land on both sides of Eaton 
 Street, and extended easterly to the " Lot End Road," now Ver- 
 non Street, he lived until his death. Chil. : Noah, b. 1728, and 
 settled in Woburn; Phebe, b. 1731, and m. 1749, Thomas Hart, 
 of Lynnfield ; Katharine, b. 1735, and d. soon; Hannah and 
 
 Lilley, twins, b. 1738 ; Hannah in. Boutwell, of Amherst, 
 
 N. H. ; Lilley, m. 1762, Sarah, dau. of Dea. Brown Emerson ; 
 Katharine, b. 1744, and m. John Emerson; Susanna, b. 1749, 
 and Reuben, m. 1773, Sarah Hart. 
 
 EATON, Jonathan, son of Thomas and Lydia, b. 1714; m. Mary, dau. 
 of Joseph and Mary Damon ; was a Lieut, and selectman sev- 
 eral years ; lived on the place in " Woodend," then so called, 
 recently known as the Jonas Parker place, and now owned by 
 Chas. Tweed. The old house was burnt down some 40 years 
 since, either before or soon after his place passed out of the 
 family. Chil. : Jonathan 1 , b. 1735 j m - I 759> Lucy Ann Holden, 
 and removed to Stoneham ; Lydia, b. 1740; m. Lieut. Nathan 
 Eaton; Edmund, b. 1742 ; m. 1766, Sarah, dau. of Dea. Benja. 
 and Sarah Brown ; lived at one time on the place now owned 
 and occupied by heirs of Hon. Tho. Emerson, and died 1796. 
 He was father of late Dr. Joseph Eaton, Surgeon in the United 
 States army, and grandfather of Gen. Joseph H. Eaton (son of 
 Dr. Joseph), an officer in the Mexican War, and a Colonel and 
 General in the war of the Rebellion. Also, grandfather of 
 Mrs. Leonard Wiley, of Wakefield. 
 
 " COLONEL JOSEPH H. EATON, PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF BREVET BRIGADIER- 
 GENERAL, U. S. A. 
 
 " Colonel Joseph H. Eaton, the able and efficient assistant to the Paymaster- 
 General, and the author of the ' Paymaster's Manual,' has been officially notified by 
 
 1 This Jonathan Eaton was grandfather of the wives of Henry Knight, John White, 
 Jr., and Joseph Eaton, of Wakefield; and other grandchildren.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 the Secretary of War that the President has, ' for faithful and meritorious services in 
 the pay department,' appointed him to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet in the 
 regular army, to date from March 13, 1865. This is an excellent appointment, and 
 one well earned by long and faithful services. 
 
 "Joseph Horace Eaton, in September, 1831, entered West Point from Massachu- 
 setts, and was brevetted a second lieutenant of the third infantry in July, 1835 ; a first 
 lieutenant in the same regiment in September, 1838. From February, 1839, to June, 
 1843, Lieutenant Eaton was 'Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics' at the West 
 Point Military Academy. Lieutenant Eaton accompanied General Zachary Taylor to 
 Mexico as an officer of his staff, and was distinguished for gallantry and merit in the 
 sanguinary battles fought by General Taylor. Promoted after the battles on the Rio 
 Grande to the rank of captain, he was in September, 1846, brevetted major, 'for gal- 
 lant and meritorious conduct ' in the bloody conflicts around Monterey ; and in Feb- 
 ruary, 1847, was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, again 'for gallant and meritorious 
 conduct' in the battle of Buena Vista. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Eaton remained 
 with General Taylor during the war, and in December, 1856, resigned his commission 
 in the army. 
 
 " At the beginning of the rebellion, Colonel Eaton, having again sought service in 
 the army, was in 1861 commissioned an additional paymaster, and in April, 1864, was 
 transferred to the regular army as paymaster, with the rank of major. He was sub- 
 sequently brevetted lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and now again brigadier-general, 
 4 for faithful and meritorious services in the pay department.' " 
 
 EDWARDS, Matthew, came in the "Speedwell" from London in 1657; 
 m. 1657, Mary, dau. of John Poole ; was a freeman in 1669 ; d. 
 1683, aged 52. Chil. : Mary, b. 1659; Sarah, b. 1660; Mat- 
 thew, b. 1662, and d. 1663; Elizabeth, b. 1664; Matthew, zd,
 
 68 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 d. 1689, aged 21 ; Sarah, b. 1673 ; Abigail, b. 1675 ; Elizabeth, 
 b. 1679. 
 
 EMERSON, Peter, son of Rev. Joseph Emerson, ist minister of Mendon, 
 whose widow, Elizabeth (dau. of Rev. Edward Buckley and 
 granddau. of Rev. Peter Buckley, early ministers of Concord), 
 became the 2d wife of John Browns, Esq., of Reading ; b. 1673 ; 
 m. 1696, Anna, dau. of John Browne, Esq. (his step-father), and 
 Anna (Fiske) Browne ; was selectman and town clerk many 
 years, and d. 1751, aged 78. Chil. : Anna, b. and d. 1697; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1699, and m. 1724, Elias Smith ; Anna, b. 1701 ; 
 Brown, b. 1704; Lucy, b. 1706, and d. 1735 ; Sarah, b. 1708 ; 
 Jonathan, b. 1711 ; Mary, b. 1713, and m. 1738, Jonas or James 
 Eaton; Daniel, b. 1716; Katharine, b. 1718, and m. 1745, Jo- 
 siah Conant, of Dunstable. Peter Emerson succeeded to the 
 homestead of his father-in-law, John Browne, Esq., the place 
 now owned by Dr. Francis P. Hurd. 
 
 EMERSON, Ebenezer, brother of the foregoing, m., ist, 1707, Bethiah, 
 dau. of Nathl. Parker; she d. 1715 ; m., 2d, 1716, Mary Bout- 
 well and two other wives; lived on the place now known as 
 " Franklin Weston place," in Reading. Chil. : Bethiah, b. 1709, 
 and m. 1731, Nathaniel Parker; Susanna, b. 1713, and m. 1738, 
 Isaac Burnap ; Ebenezer, b. 1716, and m. 1746, Anna Nichols; 
 James, b. 1720, and m., ist, 1744, Mary Farrar, and m., 2d, 
 Elizabeth Nichols, and settled on the place now occupied by 
 Wid. James Emerson, in Wakefield ; Joseph, b. 1721, and m. 
 1749, Phebe Upton, and settled on the place now occupied by 
 heirs of Hon. Tho. Emerson, in Wakefield. Chil. : Joseph, b. 
 
 , settled in Royalston ; Phebe, b. , and m. 1774, Tho. 
 
 Richardson; Naomi, b. 1755, and m. Benja. Badger; Elias, b. 
 
 1757, and d. 1759 ; Elias, b. 1759, and m. Howard ; Mary, 
 
 b. 1761, and m. Benj. Johnson; Sarah, b. 1763 ; Bethyah, b. 
 1765; Ephraim, deacon, b. 1767, and d. unmarried; Charles, 
 
 b. 1769, and m. Rebecca Bryant; Zerviah, b. 1773, and m. 
 
 Foster, and, 2d, Howard ; Thomas, b. 1724, and m., ist, 
 
 1747, Elizabeth Bruce; she d. 1793, aged 63; m., 2d, 1793, 
 Mary Dresser, and she d. 1806, aged 74. He d. 1810, aged 85. 
 He also settled in the South Parish. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1753, 
 and m. 1777, Benj. Emerson; Hannah, b. 1755, and m. 1793, 
 Timothy Wakefield (2d wife); Thomas, b. 1757, and m. 1782, 
 Ruth Bancroft; Jerusha, b. 1762, and m. 1782, Nathaniel Cow- 
 drey; Susanna, b. 1764, and m. 1793, Wm. Williams; Jona-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 6 9 
 
 than, b. 1768, and m. Martha Williams; Lucy, b. 1770, and m. 
 1788, Aaron Damon; Lois, b. 1772, and m. 1791, John Smith. 
 
 EMERSON, Dea. Brown, son of Peter and Anna, b. 1704; m. 1724, 
 Sarah, dau. of John and Sarah Townsend ; succeeded his father 
 on the homestead ; was town clerk and selectman for many 
 years. He d. 1774, aged 70. Chil. : Peter, b. 1726; m., ist, 
 1754, Rebecca, dau. of Jonathan Poole ; she d. 1758; m., 2d, 
 1761, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Dix. As oldest 
 son he succeeded to the homestead, but sold out and removed 
 to Harvard ; was father of the late Peter B. Emerson, of Wake- 
 field, and other children. Sarah, b. 1728; John, b. 1732; and 
 Lucy, b. 1735, d. in 1737 of throat distemper; Jacob, b. 1737, 
 Har. Coll. 1756, m. 1775, Margaret, wid. of Dr. Oliver 
 Swain, and dau. of John Walton ; was deacon and town clerk, 
 and d. 1811 ; John, b. 1739 ; m. 1764, Katharine, dau. of Noah 
 Eaton, and was father of the Rev. Reuben and Dr. Brown 
 Emerson ; Sarah, b. 1741 ; m. 1762, Lilley Eaton, and d. 1821 ; 
 Daniel, b. 1743; Timothy, b. 1746; and Brown, b. 1749, Har. 
 Coll. 1778, m. and removed away. 
 
 EMERSON, Daniel, son of Peter and Anna, b. 1716 ; Har. Coll. 1639 ; 
 became a minister ; settled in Hollis, N. H. ; was great-grand- 
 father of Rev. Alfred Emerson, formerly settled at South Read- 
 ing, and in 1868, at Fitchburg. 
 
 ENDICOTT, Gilbert, a yeoman from Dorchester ; had a son James, b. 
 1696. 
 
 EVANS, Nathaniel, came from Wales, it is said, and with his father, 
 Henry Evans, settled in that part of Maiden that was annexed 
 in 1729 to Reading, his son's family being one of the ten fami- 
 lies set off at that time, from Maiden, and annexed to Reading, 
 and constituting what is now the village of Greenwood. He 
 lived on the farm now owned by Charles W. Green, and his 
 house was situated a short distance easterly of the house now 
 occupied by said Green. He married, before 1680, Elizabeth, 
 dau. of Samuel Dunton, Sen., a young lady, of whom tradition 
 says " that her temper was less amiable than her looks," which 
 occasioned the remark among the neighbors " that Evans had 
 spoiled his family for the sake of a pretty face." He d. 1710, 
 and his wid. d. in 1740. Chil. : Nathaniel, b. 1680, and per- 
 haps John, who m. 1719, Sarah Sweetser. 
 
 EVANS, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth, b. 1680; m. 1704, 
 Abigail Townsend ; probably succeeded his father on the orig
 
 70 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 inal homestead. He d. 1750, and his wife d. the same year. 
 Chil. : Abigail, b. 1705; Sarah, b. 1707, and m. 1732, Josiah 
 Convers, of Maiden; Andrew, b. 1709; Elizabeth, b. 1711, and 
 d. 1718; David, b. 1715; Elizabeth, b. 1719; Jonathan, b. 
 1722 ; Mary, b. 1723, and d. 1747. 
 
 EVANS, Jonathan, son of Nathaniel and Abigail, b. 1722; m. 1744, 
 Eunice 1 , dau. of David and Martha Green, and d. 1797. He 
 lived on a farm at the south'erly end of Smith's Pond, and his 
 house stood near where is now the Boston & Maine Railroad 
 bridge, the track of the railroad having been laid directly 
 through the cellar of said house. He d. in 1797, aged 75. 
 Chil. : Jonathan, b. 1746, and settled in Winchendon ; Thomas, 
 b. 1749, and m. 1776, Rebecca, daughter of Eben r Smith; 
 Jonas, b. 1751; Amos, b. 1754, and settled in Marblehead ; 
 Samuel, b. 1756, and succeeded to his father's homestead; 
 Eunice, b. 1758, and m. 1788, Timothy Alexander, of Mendon ; 
 Timothy, b. 1762; Sarah, b. 1763; Lois, b. 1767; Abigail, b. 
 1768. 
 
 EVANS, Andrew, son of Nathaniel and Abigail, b. 1709 ; settled in 
 Woburn, and was grandfather of the present Capt. Asaph 
 Evans, of Wakefield. 
 
 EVANS, David, son of Nathaniel and Abigail, b. 1715 ; married Hannah, 
 and lived in a house that stood a little southward of his brother 
 Jonathan's. This old house was removed about 1750 or '60, 
 to the corner of Main and Salem Streets, and was taken 
 down by Lilley Eaton in 1804. This David Evans had chil. : 
 Nathaniel, b. 1751, and settled in Peterboro', N. H., and was 
 father of Col. Nathaniel, of Stoddard, N. H. ; Esther ; David ; 
 Nathan ; Silas, who settled in Hillsdale, N. Y. ; and Hannah, 
 who d. in the almshouse in So. Reading. 
 
 EVERETT, Francis, m. 1675 ( at Cambridge), Mary Edwards, who was 
 probably a dau. of Matthew and Mary Edwards, of Reading. 
 Chil. : Francis, b. and d. 1676 ; Mary, b. 1678 ; Francis, b. 
 1680. 
 
 FAIRFIELD, Walter, son of John and Elizabeth Fairfield, of Salem, m. 
 1654, Sarah Skipperway ; the mother of Walter ml for her 2d 
 husband Peter Palfrey, of Reading, as his ad wife. Chil. : (of 
 Walter) Sarah, b. 1655 ; Samuel, b. 1658, and d. 1660 ; Samuel, 
 b. 1660; and William, b. 1662, removed to Wenhajn and was 
 
 1 " This woman had more dignity of manners, and was more reserved and discreet 
 in conversation than her husband."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 71 
 
 representative 27 years, was speaker of the house in 1741, and 
 d. the next year, aged 80, leaving six sons, of whom Rev. John, 
 of Saco, Har. Coll. 1757, was one. 
 
 FAIRFIELD, Benjamin, brother of Walter aforesaid, d. 1664. 
 
 FELCH, Henry, settled first at Watertown, removed to Reading in 1647, 
 was selectman, and d. 1699. Chil. : Hannah, b. 1650, and d. 
 1668 ; Elizabeth, b. 1655 '> John, b. 1659 ; Samuel, b. and d. 
 1661 ; Samuel, b. 1662, and d. 1683 ; Elizabeth, b. 1666 ; Han- 
 nah, b. 1672 ; Ruth, b. 1672. His wid., whose name was Han- 
 nah, d. 1717, aged 100, nearly. 
 
 FELCH, John, son of Henry and Hannah, b. 1659. Chil. by wife Eliza- 
 beth : Elizabeth, b. 1686; John, b. 1688; Samuel, b. 1690; 
 Hannah, b. 1692 ; Mary, b. 1695 ; Daniel, b. 1697, and d. 
 1703 ; Nathaniel, b. 1699 ; Ebenezer, b. 1701 ; Abigail, b. 1703, 
 and m. 1726, Ebenezer Cutler, of Shrewsbury. 
 
 FELCH, Joseph, by wife Mary, had chil. : Mary, b. 1689, and d. 1690 ; 
 Mary, b. and d. 1691 ; Mary, b. 1693 ; Joseph, b. 1695, and d. 
 1710; Samuel, b. and d. 1698; Mr. Joseph d. 1727, and his 
 wid. d. 1729. 
 
 FELCH, Dr. Daniel, m. 1702, Deborah Deane, of Charlestown. Chil. : 
 Daniel, b. 1703, and d. 1713; Daniel, b. 1718; Deborah and 
 Sarah, twins, b. 1720. 
 
 FELCH, Samuel, son of John and Elizabeth, b. 1690; m. 1714, Katha- 
 rine, dau. of Dea. Francis Smith. Chil. : Katharine, b. 1715 ; 
 Jemima, b. 1716. 
 
 NOTE. We know not the original seat of the Felch family; but about 1765,3 
 Samuel Felch was living on or near the spot where Adam Hawkes now lives. 
 
 FISH, Stephen, by wife Mary, had chil. : John, b. 1687 ; Ruth, b. 1688 ; 
 Mary, b. 1691 ; Ebenezer, b. 1693 ; Nicholas, b. 1698; Benja., 
 b. 1701, and d. 1703. He appears to have lived in what is now 
 North Reading. 
 
 FISH, John, son of Stephen and Mary, b. 1687; m. 1711, Mary Lewis, 
 and had chil. : Mary, b. 1712 ; John, b. 1715 ; Stephen, b. 1721, 
 and d. soon; Ruth, b. 1724; Experience, b. 1730; Jacob, b. 
 
 1733- 
 
 FITCH, Dea. (Zachery), settled first at Lynn ; was a freeman in 1638 ; 
 removed to Reading about 1644 ; lived in South Parish, on Sa- 
 lem Street, then called Fitch's Lane ; owned " Fitch's Hill," so 
 called ; his house stood near where D. Swett, Jr., now lives ; 
 was deacon and selectman. His wife's name was Mary ; had
 
 72 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 children : Zachery, who d. in 1647 ; Joseph, Sarah, Benjamin, 
 John, Jeremiah, Thomas. He d. 1662. 
 
 FITCH, Joseph, son of Zachery and Mary, m. 1661, Hannah Sweetser, 
 dau. of Seth Sweetser, of Charlestown, and d. 1694, aged 60. 
 His wife d. 1673. Chil.: Hannah, b. and d. 1662 ; Joseph, b. 
 1663 ; Hannah, b. 1664 ; Benja., b. 1667. 
 
 FITCH, Dea. Benja., son of Zachery and Mary, m. 1665, Elizabeth 
 Story, and she d. 1697. Chil. : Benja., who removed to Bos- 
 ton, and Zachery, who d. young. 
 
 FITCH, Samuel, son of Zachery and Mary; m., ist, 1673, Sarah Low, 
 and she d. 1679 ; m., 2d, 1681, Rebecca Merriam. Chil. : Sam- 
 uel, b. 1674 ; Job, b. 1676 ; Sarah, b. and d. 1680. 
 
 FITCH, Joseph, son of Joseph and Hannah, b. 1663 > by wife Anna had 
 chil.: Joseph, b. 1689, and d. young; Anna, b. 1690, and d. 
 1697; Zachery, b. 1693 ; Joseph, b. 1695, and was a captain, 
 and d. 1754. The father d. 1695, an d his wid. m. 1700, John 
 Dix. 
 
 FITCH, Stephen, by wife Mary had Stephen, b. 1695. 
 
 FLINT, George, son of Thomas and Ann, of Danvers, b. 1652 ; d. 1720, 
 aged 68. He is called on the records " Sergt. Geo. Flint." 
 He went to Reading before the year 1682, and settled on land 
 he acquired by inheritance from his father, and was the first of 
 the name in the town. He was a farmer, and resided in the 
 North Precinct, now the town of North Reading. Tradition 
 says that his was the first framed house in the Precinct, and that 
 it was early used as a garrison-house, while there were hostile 
 Indians in the Colony. Another circumstance connected with 
 this family is, that on a certain Sabbath all the family were ab- 
 sent at church (five miles distant) but two daughters of Sergt. 
 Flint, who were left at home in charge of the house. During 
 their absence, one of the daughters took a pistol, and, aiming it 
 at the other, said : " Suppose you were an Indian, how easily I 
 could shoot you ! " At that moment the pistol went off and 
 lodged its contents in the shoulder of her sister, which crippled 
 her for life. Sergt. Flint was selectman of the town and a very 
 influential citizen. He m., ist, Elizabeth, dau. of Nath 1 and 
 Elizab h (Hutchinson) Putnam ; she d. 1697 ; m., 2d, Mrs. Su- 
 sannah Gardner; she d. 1720. Chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1685, and 
 m. Ebenezer Damon ; George, b. 1686 ; Ann, b. 1687, and m. 
 1706, Jonathan Parker; Ebenezer, b. 1689 ; Nathaniel, b. 1690, 
 and d. young; Mary, b. 1691, wounded, accidentally, as afore-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 73 
 
 said; Mercy, b. 1692, and m. Benja-. Damon; Nathaniel, b. 
 1694, and removed 1722, to Tolland, Ct. ; Hannah, b. 1695, 
 and m. 1716, John Hunt; John, b. 1696, and d. in infancy. 
 
 FLINT, Ebenezer, son of Capt. Tho. and Mary (Dounton) Flint, of 
 Danvers; was nephew of Sergt. Geo. aforesaid; b. 1683 ; lived 
 in the North Precinct ; m. Gertrude, dau. of Joseph and Bethsua 
 (Folger) Pope. He d. 1767. Chil. : Nathaniel, b. 1708, and 
 m. 1749, Hepzi. Woodward ; Ebenezer, b. 1711, and m. 1737, 
 Mary Putnam, and settled in Dracut; Nathan, b. 1716, and m. 
 Lydia Hutchinson, and settled in Amherst, N. H. ; Amos, b. 
 1718, and m. 1741, Mary Graves, and removed to Amherst, N. 
 H. ; Lois and Eunice. 
 
 FLINT, Dea. William, son of Capt. Thomas and Mary, b. 1685 ; m. 1713, 
 Abigail, dau. of John and Abigail (Kendall) Nichols, and grand- 
 dau. of Dea. Tho. Kendall. He d. 1736. Chil.: William, b. 
 1714; Abigail, b. 1719, and m. 1751, Nathl. Bachelder; Eliza- 
 beth, b. 1722, and m. 1745, Isaac Osgood ; James, b. 1724; 
 Joseph, b. 1726, and m. Sarah Putnam, and settled in Salem 
 Benja., b. 1728; Mary, b. 1730, and m. 1751, Joshua Osgood 
 Kendall, bap. 1733 ; Jacob, bap. 1734, and d. young. Lived in 
 North Precinct, " on south side of the river, and about half a 
 mile below the centre of the village." 
 
 FLINT, Jonathan, son of Capt. Thomas and Mary, b. 1689 ; lived in the 
 North Precinct; m. 1723, Mary, dau. of Adam Hart. Chil.: 
 Lydia, b. 1723, and m. 1752, Hezekiah Upton; Jonathan, b. 
 1730. 
 
 FLINT, George, son of Sergt. George, b. 1686 ; lived in the North Pre- 
 cinct, in the western part, in a locality known as " Pudding 
 Point" ; m. 1713, Jerusha, dau. of Joseph and Bethsua (Folger) 
 Pope, and d. 1781. Chil.: Susanna, b. 1715, and m. 1736, 
 Wm. Flint; Jerusha, b. 1718; Elizabeth, b. 1720, and m. 1744, 
 Joseph Lewis ; Abigail, b. 1726 ; George, b. 1728, and m. Han- 
 nah Phelps, of Andover; Eliezer, b. 1731 ; Hannah, b. 1733, 
 and m. 1765, Jabez Upton. 
 
 FLINT, Ebenezer, son of Sergt. George, b. 1689 ; lived in North Precinct, 
 near Andover line ; d. 1778 ; m. 1714, Tabitha, dau. of Joseph 
 and Tabitha Burnap. Chil.: Tabitha, b. 1714, and d. young ; 
 Ebenezer, b. 1716; Eunice; John, b. 1720; Tabitha, b. 1721; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1723 ; Jacob, b. 1729 ; Hepzibeth, b. 1732; Ann, 
 b. and d. 1734. 
 
 FLINT, Nathaniel, son of Ebenezer and Gertrude, b. 1708; m. 1749, 
 10
 
 74 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Hepzi. Woodward, and d. 1756. Chil. : Nathaniel, b. 1750, and 
 removed to New Boston, N. H Zibah and Lois. 
 
 FLINT, Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Tabitha, b. 1716 ; lived on the 
 homestead with his father in North Precinct ; was in the old 
 French war, and was shot by an Indian in N. H. ; m. 1738, 
 Abigail, dau. of Henry and Sarah Sawyer. Chil. : Abigail, b. 
 1739, and d. 1759; Daniel, b. 1740, and slain in the war; . 
 Ebenezer, b. 1742 ; Abigail, b. 1744; Benja., b. 1746. 
 
 FLINT, Capt. John, son of Ebenezer and Tabitha, b. 1720, and d. 1802 ; 
 lived in North Precinct on the homestead of his grandfather, 
 Sergt. Geo. Flint. The place is now or was lately owned by J. 
 Gowing. He is represented as a man of " stern aspect and of 
 temper inflexible to a fault." M., ist, 1744, Joanna Farnham ; 
 she d. 1753 ; m., 2d, Tamar Hunt, who d. 1802. Chil. : John, 
 b. 1745 ; settled in Lyme, N. H. ; was a Lieut, in the war of the 
 Revolution; Joanna, b. 1746, and m. 1767, Thomas Eaton- 
 James, b. 1749, and settled in Bridgton, Me.; Levi, b. 1753, and 
 succeeded to his father's homestead; Ebenezer, b. 1761, and 
 settled in Tewksbury and Charlestown ; Hepzi., b. 1764, and 
 m. 1783, Joshua Damon. 
 
 FLINT, Capt. William, son of Dea. Wm. and Abigail, b. 1714, succeeded 
 to the homestead; m. 1736, Susanna, eldest dau. of Geo. and 
 Jerusha (Pope) Flint, and d. 1790. Chil. : William, bap. 1737 ; 
 Jerusha, b. 1739, and m. 1761, Nath. Sawyer; Susanna, b. 
 1741 ; Lucy, b. 1743, and d. 1749 ; Naomi, b. 1745, and d. 
 1749 ; Hezekiah, b. 1748, and removed to Ohio ; Eli, b. 1751 ; 
 Aaron, b. 1754. 
 
 FLINT, James, son of Dea. Wm. and Abigail, b. 1724, and d. 1802 ; was 
 a gunsmith and farmer ; lived in the North Precinct ; m., ist, 
 1747, Hannah, dau. of Rev. Daniel Putnam ; m., 2d, 1765, Mary 
 Hart. Chil. : James, b. 1754, and d. unm. ; Kendall, b. 1756, 
 and d. young; Hannah, b. 1759, and m. 1786, Benja. Buxton ; 
 Daniel, b. 1761 ; Adam, b. 1766 ; Jacob, bap. 1768 ; Elizabeth, 
 bap. 1782, and m. 1808, Charles Eaton ; Mary, bap. 1773, ar) d 
 d. unm. ; James, b. 1779 ; Charlotte, b. 1784, and m. 1805, 
 Tho. Whittredge, 
 
 " He lost his life in the amusement of fowling and fishing, of which he 'was 
 extremely fond through life. On the day of his death he entered a wood in quest of 
 game ; and not being successful with his gun, he took his angling lines, with a small 
 boat, and went out on Swan's Pond for the purpose of fishing. Making a misstep, as 
 is supposed, he fell overboard and was drowned." " In him," it is said, " the Chris-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 75 
 
 tian religion lost a uniform friend and supporter, the community in which he lived an 
 ingenious artist and useful member, and his country a true patriot." 
 
 FLINT, Benja., son of Dea. William and Abigail, b. 1728 ; m., ist, 1755, 
 Peggy Sawyer, and m., 2d, 1762, Rachel Upton ; lived in the 
 North Precinct ; was a lieutenant in the French war, and, with 
 his brother Kendall, was in the expedition to Crown Point, in 
 1755. Chil. : Benja., b. 1757, and settled in Swanzey, N. H. ; 
 Wm., bap. 1763, and m., ist, 1785, Hannah Eaton ; m., 2d, 
 Edith Herrick; and m., 3d, 1804, wid. Sarah (Graves) Abbott ; 
 Peggy, b. 1760 ; Betty, who m. John Brooks ; Rachel, b. '1765, 
 and m. 1786, Asa Hart ; Anna, b. 1767, and m. Nathaniel Har- 
 dy ; Ezekiel; Kendall, b. 1771 ; Simeon, b. 1775; Lucy, b. 
 1773, and m. Edw. Baxter; James, b. 1777 ; Abigail, b. 1779, 
 and d. unm. 
 
 FLINT, William, son of Capt. Wm. and Susanna, b. 1737 ; m., ist, 
 1766, Martha Kimball ; m., zd, 1808, Mrs. Mary C. Gould; 
 succeeded to the homestead; had chil.: William, bap. 1769; 
 Patty, bap. 1770, and m. John Green; Eli, bap. 1773; Peter, 
 bap. 1775; Tamar; Timothy, bap. 1780; Hepzi., bap. 1782, 
 and m. David Upton; Micah, bap. 1784, and d. 1803; Elias, 
 bap. 1786. 
 
 FLINT, Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Abigail, b. 1742 ; m. 1764, 
 Asenath Holt; m., 2d, 1789, wid. Mary Damon Taylor; had a 
 large family of children, and removed, 1802, to Wilton, N. H., 
 where he d. 1829. 
 
 FLINT, Benja., son of Ebenezer and Abigail, b. 1746; lived on the 
 homestead of his grandfather, Ebenezer ; " was noted for his 
 great firmness of purpose and determination of will, and was much 
 respected for his blameless life and personal worth;" m. 1768, 
 Olive, dau. of Rev. Isaac and Elizabeth Richardson, of Woburn, 
 and d. 1837. Chil.: Benja., b. 1769, and settled in Norway, 
 Me. ; Olive, b. 1771 ; Betsey, b. 1773, and m. 1796, Wm. Pratt ; 
 Sarah, b. 1775; Thurza, b. 1778; Rutha, b. 1780; Addison, b. 
 1782; is a deacon; m., ist, 1804, Sally Upton; m., 2d, 1833, 
 wid. Mary E. (Foster) Burrill ; Isaac, b. 1784 ; m. 1807, Lydia 
 Frost ; settled in Greenwood, Me. ; was a justice of the peace, 
 representative, and d. 1858. 
 
 FLINT, Col. Daniel, son of James and Rebecca, b. 1761; lived in the 
 North Precinct; m. 1783, Priscilla, dau. of William and Priscilla 
 Sawyer. Col. Flint was a farmer ; " possessed, in an uncommon 
 degree, a strong and vigorous intellect, with indomitable perse-
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 DEA. ADDISON FLINT. 
 
 verance and great native force of character. With very limited 
 advantages of acquiring an education in youth, he nevertheless, 
 by diligent self-culture, overcame this deficiency, so that he not 
 only managed his own affairs with system and accuracy, but in 
 the various offices of justice of the peace, selectman, etc., faith- 
 fully and acceptably transacted a large and intricate amount of 
 public business, oftentimes requiring legal forms and knowledge. 
 He represented his native town several years in the State Legis- 
 lature, participated freely in the debates, and guarded well the 
 interests of his constituents. He was a member of the Consti- 
 tutional Convention of 1820, where he was active, vigilant, and 
 energetic, and rendered good service by his acute and discerning 
 intellect In his social relations he was genial, courteous, and 
 companionable, of an eminently pacific disposition. JChil. : 
 Priscilla, b. 1784, and m. 1801, James Nelson, and afterwards, 
 in 1807, m. Moses Abbott, and d. 1811 ; Margaret, b. 1786, and 
 m. 1813, Rev. J. Bradford ; Hannah Putnam, b. 1789, and m. 
 1811, Samuel Train, and d. 1851 ; Ann, b. 1791, and m. .1812, 
 Edward Tucker, and d. 1814 ; Mary, b. 1793, and m. 1832, 
 David M. Russell ; Daniel, Major, b. 1795, and m. 1821, Sarah, 
 eldest dau. of Rev. Dr. Peter and Sarah (Stone) Eaton, of 
 Boxford, and granddaughter of Rev. Eliab Stone, of North 
 Reading.
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 77 
 
 MAJOR DANIEL FLINT. 
 
 FLINT, Adam, son of James and Mary (Hart), b. 1766; he m. 1792, 
 Mary, dau. of Joshua and Mary Osgood ; he d. 1808, by drown- 
 ing in Martin's pond, in North Reading. 
 
 " He was, in common with his father and many of his ancestors, extremely fond of 
 fishing and gunning, and it was in pursuit of the former amusement that he lost his 
 life. It is a remarkable fact that his father, whom he succeeded on the homestead, 
 lost his life in another pond in the same town under similar circumstances. He is 
 remembered by many as a warm-hearted and excellent man, a kind neighbor, and 
 upright in all his dealings." 
 
 Chil. : Adam, Mary, Abigail, Charlotte, who d. young, and Silvia, 
 Julia Ann, b. 1808; m. Joseph French, and d. 1841. 
 FLINT, Rev. Jacob, son of James and Mary, b. 1768; graduated at 
 Har. Coll. in 1794; studied theology with Rev. Eliab Stone, 
 pastor of his native parish ; ordained pastor of the church in 
 Cohasset, Mass., in 1798, where he continued until his death, in 
 1835. "As a husband, father, brother, and friend, he was all 
 that could be desired. Beloved in social life beyond most men, 
 his people blessed him when he entered their doors. He was a 
 good patriot, a well-read theologian, a faithful minister, and a 
 pious Christian." M., ist, Silvia Barker, who d. 1816; m., 2d, 
 wid. Nickerson. Chil. : Joshua Barker, physician, settled first 
 in Boston, and then in Louisville, Ky. ; Jacob ; Cranch ; and 
 Mary Elizabeth.
 
 78 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 FLINT, Rev. James, D. D., son of James and Mary, b. 1779 ; grad. at 
 Har. Coll. in 1802; m. 1805, Lydia Harriet Deblois ; was or- 
 dained pastor of the church in East Bridge water, Mass., in 1806. 
 This connection was dissolved at his own request in 1821 ; in- 
 stalled pastor of the East Society in Salem, 1821 ; d. in Salem, 
 1855. He was a man of the most extensive and varied culture. 
 As a scholar, a preacher, a poet, and a critic, he was eminent 
 and distinguished. Some of his hymns and occasional odes 
 will long be remembered and used on account of their singular 
 beauty and felicity of expression. He delivered an Historical 
 Address (which will be found in this history) at the bi-centen- 
 nial celebration of the incorporation of Reading, in 1844. He 
 had nine children. 
 
 FLINT, Peter, son of Wm. and Martha, bap. 1775 ; m. 1802, Mary, 
 dau. of Tho. and Elizabeth Burns, of Milford, N. H., and d. 
 1842. His wid. d. 1866. Chil. : Peter Greele, b. 1804, and m. 
 1829, Hannah A. H ay ward ; Charles Frederic, 1 b. 1808, and m. 
 
 CHARLES F. FLINT. 
 
 1 Charles F. Flint died at North Reading, in 1868, at the age of 60 years. He 
 had been all his life a most unwearied worker, and is reported to have accumulated a 
 large property. At the time of his death, he was President of the Salem and Lowell 
 Railroad Company, and was also one of the board of directors of Wamesit Bank of 
 Lowell. He was known to every one in North Reading and vicinity, where for years 
 he had been engaged in about every important enterprise that had been started. Mr
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 79 
 
 1840, Harriet N. Evans; Sylvester G., b. 1809, and d. 1814; 
 Mary B., b. 1810, and m. 1831, Wm. Wakefield, and d. 1842; 
 Elizabeth Jane, b. 1816, and m. 1834, Andrew Upton ; Timothy ; 
 Gilman, b. 1819, and d. 1858 ; Martha, b. 1822, and d. 1845. 
 FLINT, Rev. Timothy, son of Wm. and Martha, bap. 1780; grad. at 
 Har. Coll. in 1800; m. 1802, to Abigail Hubbard, of Marble- 
 head ; ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Lunen- 
 burg, in 1802 ; dismissed 1814, at his own request, for the pur- 
 pose of emigrating to the West. 
 
 " He was well known in America and on the other side of the Atlantic, as the au- 
 thor of various works, that have given him a rank among the most distinguished wri- 
 ters of the country. Of a genius highly imaginative and poetical, he united with a 
 vigorous intellect and discriminating judgment, a quick sensibility and warm affec- 
 tions, a vivid perception and enjoyment, a deep-felt and ever-grateful recognition of 
 the author of the beautiful, grand, and lovely in nature, of the true and good, the ele- 
 vated and pure, the brilliant and divinely gifted in human endowment and character, 
 and possessed a rare felicity and power of embodying in glowing and appropriate 
 language his impressions of the outward, and what he conceived and felt of the in- 
 ward and spiritual world." 
 
 He d. at the residence of his brother in Reading, in 1840. 
 He had five children. 
 
 FOSTER, Samuel, was probably the son of Andrew or Abraham Foster, 
 of Andover, and a descendant of Abraham, of Ipswich, and of 
 Reginald Foster, who came from Exeter, in England, in 1638. 
 He m. 1701, Sarah, dau. of Abraham and Sarah Roberts, and 
 d. 1762, "at an advanced age," says his will, made during the 
 month in which he died. He lived in the westerly part of Read- 
 ing, near Wilmington line, and owned much land. Chil. : Abra- 
 ham, b. 1703; Samuel; Ebenezer, who m. 1731, Deborah 
 Roberts, of Wilmington ; Jonathan, b. 1712 ; Benja., b. 1715 ; 
 Sarah, who m. in 1726, Benja. Parker ; Elizabeth, who m. 1733, 
 Jona. Boutwell. 
 
 FOSTER, Abraham, son of Samuel and Sarah, b. about 1702 ; m. 1733, 
 Susanna, dau. of Thos. and Susanna Hartshorne ; he d. 1753, 
 
 Flint stood high in the estimation of those associated with him in business, and his 
 death has caused a void in his native town which must long remain unfilled. We 
 learn that it is probable the origin of his sudden attack of illness was in consequence 
 of a fall in Salem, but a few days before. He slipped upon the sidewalk, and fell in 
 such a manner that his head struck the walk, rendering him for a moment almost 
 unconscious, or so nearly so that he was helped to his feet by a stranger. He soon 
 after complained of the severity of his injuries, and physicians are of the opinion 
 that congestion of the brain (which was the cause of his death) was the result
 
 8o GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 aged 48, ; lived in northwest part of West Parish. Chil. : Su- 
 sanna, b. 1734; Abraham, b. 1735, and m. 1758, Rebecca 
 Goodwin; Daniel, b. 1740; Sarah, b. 1743; David, b. 1745; 
 Edmund, b. 1752; grad. at Yale Coll. in 1784; became the 
 minister of Littleton, Mass., and d. 1826 ; was in the battle of 
 Lexington, and a member of the Constitutional Convention in 
 1820 ; Elizabeth. 
 
 FOSTER, Jonathan, son of Samuel and Sarah, b. 1712 ; m. 1733, Doro- 
 thy, dau. of John and Ann Merrow, and lived in West Parish, 
 near Ebenezer Emerson place. Chil. : Ann, b. 1735, and m. 
 1758, John Goodwin ; Jonathan, b. 1737, and m. 1761, Sarah 
 Townsend ; Dolly, b. 1738, and m. 1760, Raham Bancroft, of 
 Worcester; Sarah, b. and d. 1742 ; Sarah, b. 1744; Samuel, 
 who m. 1767, Judith Poster (his cousin). 
 
 FOSTER, Benja, son of Samuel and Sarah, b. 1715 ; by wife Elizabeth 
 had chil. : James, b. 1742, and m. 1765, Elizabeth Flint; set- 
 tled in Danvers ; was father of the late Aaron Foster, of Dan- 
 vers, and grandfather of Capt. Aaron Foster, of Wakefield. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1744, and m. Johnson ; Judith, b. 1746, and 
 
 m. Samuel Foster, Jr. (her cousin) ; William, b. 1749; Samuel, 
 grandfather of the late Caleb Foster, of South Reading ; Benja., 
 m. 1770, Jemima Eaton; Mehitabel, m. 1774, Arnos Taylor; 
 Martha, m. 1778, John Gould, of Wilmington. 
 
 FRANCIS, Stephen, had a son John, b. 1657. 
 
 GOODWIN, Nathaniel, m., ist, 1665, Mary Lunt ; m., 2d, 1776, Susanna ; 
 was called " Ensign Goodwin " ; lived on the side of the pond ; 
 d. 1693 ; was many years a selectman, and several times town 
 clerk and representative. Chil. : Nathaniel, b. and d. 1667 ; 
 Nathaniel, b. 1669, and d. young; Mary, b. 1671 ; Elizabeth, b. 
 1673 ; John, b. about 1676 ; Nathaniel, b. 1678 ; Hannah, b. 
 1690 ; and perhaps Kendall, Timothy, Jeremiah, and Susanna. 
 
 GOODWIN, Nathaniel, son of Ensign Nathaniel and Mary, b. 1678 ; m., 
 ist, Susanna, and had Abiel, b. 1695 ; m., 2d, Mary, and had 
 Sarah, b. 1702, and d. 1703 ; Nathaniel, b. 1706 ; John, b. 1709 ; 
 Sarah, b. 1711, and Thomas. 
 
 GOODWIN, Dea. John, son of Ensign Nathaniel and Mary, b. about 
 1676 ; m. 1696, Tabitha Pearson, of Lynnfield ; was selectman, 
 town clerk, and deacon, and sustained a high character for 
 ability and virtue. The venerable mansion, taken down a few 
 years since by James Eustis, that stood on the site of Mr. Eustis's 
 present dwelling, was erected by Dea. Goodwin. He d. 1757,
 
 OF THE TOWX OF READING. 8 1 
 
 aged 81. Chil. : Tabitha, b. 1697, and m. 1724, Thomas Wiley ; 
 
 Mary, b. 1700; Susanna, b. 1704, and d. soon ; Elizabeth, b. 
 
 1706, and m. 1733, John Weston ; John, b. 1709; Susanna, b. 
 
 1712, and m. 1735, Timo. Bryant; James, b. 1714. 
 GOODWIN, Timothy, probably son of Ensign Nathaniel ; m. 1708, Eliza- 
 beth, dau. of Nathaniel Cowdrey. Chil.: Timothy, b. 1710; 
 
 Hannah, b. 1715 ; Timothy, b. 1718; Johna., b. 1720; Hepzi., 
 
 b 1722; Samuel, b 1725. 
 GOODWIN, Capt. John, son of Dea. John and Tabitha, b. 1709 ; m., ist, 
 
 1738, Mary, dau. of Kendall Parker, Esq. ; m., 2d, 1776, Sarah, 
 
 widow of Capt. Cornelius Wolton. Chil. : John, b. 1739 ; Mary, 
 
 b. 1741, and m. 1764, James Nichols; Samuel, b. 1744. 
 GOULD, John, by wife Abigail, who d. 1687, had chil. : John, b. 1671 ; 
 
 Abigail, b. 1672; Daniel, b. i6fci, and by wife Martha had: 
 
 Samuel, b. 1691 ; Abraham, b. 1693, the father of Capt. Abr ra , 
 
 whose dau. m. Dr. Hart; Isaac, b. 1696. He d. 1712, aged 69. 
 GOULD, Daniel, perhaps brother of the preceding, d. 1697, aged 43. 
 
 By wife Dorcas had: Dorcas, b. 1685 ; Daniel, b. 1687, and d. 
 
 1689 ; Daniel, b. 1689 ; David, b. 1691 ; Joanna, b. 1694. 
 GOULD, Jeremiah, m. 1701, Mary Brown, and had chil.: Mary, b. 
 
 1703; Abigail, b. 1706; Jeremiah, b. 1709; Sarah, b. 1710; 
 
 John, b. 1714. 
 GOULD, Daniel, son of Daniel and Dorcas, b. 1689; m. 1710, Susanna 
 
 Pearson, and had chil.: Susanna, b. 1714; Dorcas, b. 1716; 
 
 Sarah, b. 1719 ; Tabitha, b. 1721 ; Daniel, b. 1724, the father of 
 
 Daniel, Esq. 
 
 NOTE. The foregoing Gould settlers lived on lands that were situated partly in 
 Reading and partly in Stoneham, near the town line, on the farms of the late Charles 
 Gould, Daniel Gould, Esq., and Capt. Abraham Gould. 
 
 GOULD, William, came from Ipswich; bap. 1726; was son of "Major 
 Gold," perhaps of Major Joseph Gould, who was a descendant 
 of Zacheus, the very earliest settler of that part of Ipswich and 
 Salem, that was incorporated as the town of Topsfield, in 1650. 
 Said Zacheus Gould is supposed to have come to America in 
 1638, and settled in what is now the western part of Topsfield, 
 in 1643. A descendant of old Zacheus who has written a his- 
 tory of the Gould family of Topsfield, speaking of one of the 
 early members of the family, says : " I know little of him, except 
 that he was a man very much set in his way ; which," he adds, 
 "is peculiarly characteristic of the family." He says further,
 
 82 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " they are good, peaceable, and industrious members of society, 
 warm and steady friends, and kind and benevolent to all. They 
 content themselves with their own private affairs, highly esteem- 
 ing their own ways, customs, and habits, without looking much 
 beyond themselves to be benefited by the improvements or vain 
 philosophy of others. Honesty, justice, and truth are the char- 
 acteristics of the family." William Gould came to Reading be- 
 fore 1749; m., ist, 1749, Lydia, dau. of Abraham and Elizabeth 
 Smith; m., zd, 1753, Hepzibeth, dau. of James and Abigail 
 Smith. Chil. : Wm., b. 1750; Wm., b. 1754; Hepzibeth, b. 
 1756, and m. 1782, Samuel Foster, of Boston; John, b. 1758, 
 and m. 1785, Mary, dau. of Phineas Sweetser; James, b. 1760, 
 and m. 1786, Rebecca, dau. of Dr. John Aborn, of Lynnfield ; 
 Nathaniel, b. 1763; Samuel, b. 1767. He lived in the house 
 recently occupied by his son, the late John Gould, Esq., and 
 now taken down. 
 
 GREEN, Henry, first minister of Reading, was an inhabitant of Water- 
 town in 1642, a freeman in 1640. Owned 72 acres of land in 
 Watertown, which had been granted him by the town. Gov. 
 Winthrop says, that "in 1642 or 3, divers families going from 
 Watertown to plant Martha's Vineyard, procured a young man, 
 one Mr. Green, a scholar, to be their minister, in hopes soon to 
 gather a church there. He went not" This was Rev. Henry. 
 Green, who was ordained at Reading in 1645 ; he m. Frances, 
 dau. of Dea. Simon and Joanna Stone, of Watertown. Frances 
 came over to America in 1635, at the age of 16, so that at her 
 husband's ordination in 1645 sne was 2 & years old, and we may- 
 suppose that Rev. Henry was then about 30. He died Oct. n, 
 1648. Johnson, the quaint historian, says of him : " He was a 
 man of toil, faithful and devoted to his work, and early fell." 
 He had chil. : Joanna and Nathaniel, and perhaps others. 
 Bond, the historian of Watertown, says : 
 
 " It appears that Rev. Henry Green left only two children that lived to maturity, 
 and that his widow, Frances, married a second husband and had other children. It 
 has not been ascertained what became of his daughter, Joanna, or whether his son, 
 Nathaniel, had wife or family. The son resided in Watertown as early as 1694, when 
 he subscribed towards repairing the meeting-house. After this, he appears to have 
 become indigent or helpless. In 1709, Mary Stone, his uncle Simon Stone's widow, 
 presented a complaint to the selectmen, that Nathaniel Green, an inhabitant of Water- 
 town, is destitute of a place of abode. Same date, the selectmen agreed to meet to 
 enquire what estate of Green may be found in the possession of Mrs. Mary Stone. 
 Afterward, the selectmen ' desired Jabez Beers to take Nathaniel Green as far as he
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 83 
 
 hath occasion, and the rest of the time to spend with Samuel Spurr at the shoe- 
 maker's trade.' In 17(0, the selectmen 'ordered the treasurer to receive of the heirs 
 of Simon Stone, deceased, payment on Green's estate; and in 1711, Simon Tainter 
 agreed to keep Nathaniel Green four years.' So much for the family of Rev. Henry 
 Green." 
 
 NOTE. The following Green families appear to be a distinct branch from that of 
 Rev. Henry. 
 
 GREEN, Thomas, son of Samuel and Mary (Cook) Green, and grandson 
 of Thomas Green, who 'settled in Maiden as early as 1651. 
 Thomas (Jr.) was b. 1669 ; m. 1698, Hannah, dau. of John 
 and Hannah (Green) Vinton, of Woburn ; lived in that part of 
 Maiden that was annexed to Reading in 1729, now known as 
 the village of Greenwood. He occupied the place formerly 
 owned by the late Reuben Green. He d. 1725, and his wid. m. 
 John Pool of Reading. Chil. : Hannah, b. 1699, and m. Eben- 
 ezer Parker; Thomas, b. 1702; Joshua, b. 1708; Jonathan, b. 
 1714. 
 
 GREEN, William, son of Samuel and Mary of Maiden, b. 1674; m. 
 1707, Elizabeth, dau. of Edward Farmer, of Billerica. He lived 
 on the place now owned and occupied by Chas. W. Green, and 
 had chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1708; Eunice, b. 1709 ; Wm., b. 1711, 
 and d. 1713 ; Wm., b. 1715 ; Nathan, b. 1719. 
 
 GREEN, Thomas, son of Thomas and Hannah (Green) Green, b. 1702, 
 and m. about 1726 or '27, Mary, dau. of Dea. Daniel Green, of 
 Stoneham. He succeeded to the homestead of his father. He 
 owned land in Reading, Maiden, Stoneham, and elsewhere. He 
 d. 1750, aged 51. Chil.: Mary, b. 1728, and m. 1751, Ebenezer 
 Smith; Thomas, b. 1731; Daniel, b. 1733; Hannah, b. 1735, 
 and m. 1756, Jacob Swain; Sarah, b. 1738, and d. young; 
 Amos, b. 1740, "a joiner," went to Amherst, N. H. ; Nathan, 
 b. 1743, and d. young; Sarah, b. 1745, and m. 1768, Isaac 
 Smith, 3d ; Nathan, b. 1748 ; lived in N. H. ; was a miser and 
 d. unm. 
 
 GREEN, Wm., son of Wm. and Elizabeth, b. 1715 ; m. 1736, Susanna, 
 dau. of Lieut. Daniel Gould, of Stoneham ; succeeded probably 
 to the homestead of his father. He d. 1772, aged 58. Chil. : 
 Wm., b. 1737, and m., ist, 1760, Eliz h Townsend; and m., 2d, 
 1800, Joanna Hadley, and was father of the late Caleb Green ; 
 
 Susanna, b. 1739, and d. young ; Susanna, b. 1743, and m. 
 
 Townsend ; Aaron, b. 1754, and m., ist, - Hay, and after m., 
 2d, Sarah Green, and was the grandfather of Chas. W. Green, Esq.
 
 84 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 GREEN, David, son of Samuel and Mary (Cook) Green, b. 1685 ; lived 
 on the place formerly occupied by Charles Green, and probably 
 owned also the farm now owned by heirs of Hon. P. H. Sweet- 
 ser. He d. 1754, aged 70. M., ist, 1713, Martha, dau. of 
 John and Martha Pratt ; m., 2d, Hannah,, dau. of John and 
 Sarah Marble. Chil. : David, b. 1714; Martha, b. 1716, and 
 m. 1732, Joseph Upham; Elizabeth, b. 1718, and m. 1741, Jo- 
 tham Walton ; Lois, m. 1741, Amos Upham, of Maiden ; Eunice, 
 b. 1726, and m. 1744, Jonathan Evans. 
 
 GREEN, Col. David, son of David and Martha, b. 1714; lived in 
 
 Greenwood, near Stoneham line ; m. Ruth ; d. 1781, aged 
 
 67. He was captain, colonel, selectman, and justice of the 
 peace. Chil.: David, b. 1737, and d. 1738; David, b. 1741, 
 
 and removed to Amherst, N. H. ; Ruth, b. 1744, and m. 
 
 Upham, and removed to Amherst, N. H. ; John, b. 1747, and 
 
 m. 1771, Abigail, dau. of David Gerry; Isaac, b. ; m., ist, 
 
 Lois, and 2d, Mary . 
 
 GREEN, Thomas, son of Thomas and Mary (Green) Green, b. 1731 ; 
 m. 1754, Lydia, dau. of Jeremiah and Sarah Swain. He lived 
 on the site now occupied by Wakefield's Rattan Factory build- 
 ings ; was a miller; was called Capt. Green. He d. 1810, 
 aged 79. Chil. : Lydia, b. 1755, and m. 1775, Josiah Bryant; 
 Mary, b. 1757, and m. 1783, Wm. Deadman ; Thomas, b. 1759, 
 and m. 1781, Mehitabel Pratt, and removed to Maine; Jere- 
 miah, b. 1762, and m. 1782, Martha Green, of Stoneham, and 
 succeeded his father on the homestead, and was carpenter and 
 miller. He d. 1840. Hannah, b. 1764, and d. unm. ; Judith, 
 b. 1769, and m. 1791, John White. 
 
 GREEN, Daniel, brother of the preceding, b. 1733 ; m., ist, 1760, Ruth 
 Oakes, of Medford; m., 2d, 1801, Wid. Joanna (Oakes) Gerry, 
 who was niece to his first wife. He lived in Stoneham till 1785, 
 where he was selectman, town treasurer, and deacon. About 1 785 
 he removed to Reading, on to the place recently occupied by 
 Charles Green ; was selectman in Reading one year. Chil. : 
 Daniel (Capt.), b. 1761, and m., ist, 1783, Sarah Evans ; m., 2d, 
 1807, Mary Evans ; m., 3d, 1838, Eliz h (Evans) Ash (all sisters) ; 
 Nathan, b. 1765; m. Betsey Orr, of Charlestown ; Reuben, b. 
 1767; m. Huldah Newhall, of Lynnfield ; Ruth, b. 1769, and 
 became in 1814, the 2d wife of Thomas Green, of Stoneham, 
 who was father by his first wife (Anna Knight), of Rev. Samuel 
 Green, Har. Coll. 1816, and pastor of F.ssex St. Church, Boston,
 
 
 
 , jv yy
 
 OF THE TOWN OF RFADING. 85 
 
 and of Rev. David Green, Yale Coll. 1821 ; Abigail, b. 1771, 
 and m. 1792, Nathan Simonds, of Stoneham ; Rhoda, m. Thad- 
 deus Perry; Mary, m. about 1800, Samuel Larrabee ; Charles, 
 b. 1785, and m. Mary, dau. of Aaron Green ; and by the 2d wife : 
 Isaac, b. about 1802, and m. Kinerson. 
 
 GROVER, Thomas ; m. 1696, Bethiah, dau. of Thomas Burnap. Chil. : 
 Ebenezer, b. 1698; Mary, b. 1700. 
 
 GROVER, Matthew, by wife Naomi had chil. : Naomi, b. 1706 ; Joseph, 
 b. 1708; John, b. 1710; Leonard, b. 1714; Edmund, b. 1716. 
 
 HARNDEN, Richard ; m. 1666, Mary . He d. 1693. Chil. : John, 
 
 b. 1668; Benj., b. 1671; Ebenezer, b. 1674; William; Eben- 
 ezer, b. 1679 ; Hepzib h , b. 1688. 
 
 HARNDEN, John, son of Richard and Mary, b. 1668 ; m., ist, 1690, Su- 
 sanna ; she d. 1707; m., 2cl, 1707, Sarah Sherman, of 
 
 Lynnfield. Chil. : Susanna, b. 1691 ; Abigail, b. 1692 ; Susanna, 
 b. 1695 ; Mary, b. 1699 ; Hepzi., b. 1701 ; John, b. 1703 ; Hep- 
 zi., b. 1705 ; Susan, b. 1708. 
 
 HARNDEN, Benja., son of Richard and Mary, b. 1671 ; m. 1691, Mary 
 
 , and had chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1692; Hannah, b. 1694; 
 
 Benja., b. 1697 ; Richard and Samuel, twins, b. 1699. 
 
 NOTE. The early Harnden families lived in that part of Reading that was an- 
 nexed, in 1729, to Wilmington. 
 
 HART, Isaac, came over in 1637 as servant to Richard Carver ; stopped 
 first at Watertown ; was at Lynn in 1640; removed to Reading 
 in 1647. His wife's name was Elizabeth. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 
 1651, and m. 1667 (at Maiden), John Winborne ; Samuel, b. 
 1656; Adam, b. 1666; Rebecca, d. 1670. He settled first in 
 the south part of the town, near and west of the present site 
 of Congregational Meeting House, and removed to North 
 Reading. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Thomas, an early settler on the place, a part of which 
 is still occupied by a descendant, Joseph Hartshorne. He was 
 
 a freeman in 1648; was a selectman. M., ist, Susanna , 
 
 who d. 1659 ; m., 2d, 1659, Sarah, wid. of Wm. Lamson, of 
 Ipswich. Chil.: Thomas, b. 1642; John, b. 1650; Joseph, b. 
 1652; Benja., b. 1654; Jonathan, b. 1656; David, b. 1657; 
 Susanna, b. 1659 ; Timothy, b. 1661. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Thomas, son of Thomas and Susanna, b. 1642 ; m. 1671, 
 Hannah Goodwin. She d. 1673. Child : Mary, b. 1672. He
 
 86 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 probably removed to Haverhill, where it is said he took an oath 
 of fidelity in 1677. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Joseph, son of Tho. and Susanna, b. 1652 ; wife's name 
 was Sarah. He was a soldier in King Philip's war. Chil. : 
 Susanna, b. i677;(Sarah, b. 1679 :jMary, b. J 68i ; Abigail, b. 
 i686;(Joseph, b. 1 688 ) Tabitha, 1690. t . &*^&J*jL.t, >J f - 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Benj., son of Thomas and Susanna, r .b. 1654; m., ist, 
 1682, Mary, dau. of Geo. Thompson; she d. 1682; m., 2d, 
 1684, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Eliz h (Osgood) Browne. He 
 d. 1694, aged 40; had chil. : Mary, b. and d. 1682 ; Benja., b. 
 1685 ; Elizab h , b. 1686, and m. 1703, Nathaniel Haseltine, of 
 Haverhill; Hannah, b. 1689, and m. 1733, Joseph Boutwell ; 
 Jonathan, b. 1690 ; Susanna, b. 1692. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, David, son of Thomas and Susanna, b. 1657 ; m. Deb- 
 orah, and had Samuel, b. 1692. David was a soldier in the 
 Indian war. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Timothy, son of Thomas and Susanna, b. 1661 ; by wife 
 Martha had chil. : Timothy, b. 1688; Thomas, b. 1691 ; John, 
 b. 1693, and d. 1695 ; Martha, b. 1696, and m. 1717, Francis 
 Nurse ; John, b. 1698 ; Mary, b. 1701 ; Hepzi h , b. 1703, and m. 
 1721, James Pearson, of Lynn ; Samuel, b. 1708 ; David, b. 1710. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Benja., son of Benja. and Elizabeth, b. 1685 ; m. 1716, 
 Elizabeth, dau. of Sergt. -James Boutwell. Chil. : Benja., b. 
 1720; Jonathan, b. 1721; Elizabeth, b. 1724; and James, b. 
 1727, and d. 1729. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Tho., son of Timothy and Martha, b. 1691 ; by wife 
 Susanna had chil. : Susanna, b. 1710 ; Tho., b. 1713 ; a dau., b. 
 1715; Tho., b. 1718; Hepzi., b. 1721. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Samuel, son of Timothy and Martha, b. 1708; m. 1731, 
 Abigail, dau. of Thomas and Mary Taylor. Chil. : Abigail, b. 
 1732 ; Mary, b. 1734, and m. 1752, Jona. Pearson; Timothy, b. 
 1737 ; Susanna, b. 1740. 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Benja., son of Benja. and Elizabeth (Boutwell), b. 1720 ; 
 m. 1742, Mary, dau. of Jeremiah and Sarah (Burnap) Swain. 
 Chil.: Benja., b. 1744, and m. Abigail, and was father of the 
 late Thomas, and great-grandfather of the late Benj. M., Esq., 
 of Reading; Mary, b. 1746; James, b. 1750 (Dea. James), m. 
 1771, Sarah Hopkinson, and was father of Col. James, Eben- 
 ezer, Joseph, and other children : William ; Jonathan ; Jeremiah, 
 b. 1760, and m. 1786, Margaret Swain; Mary, b. 1765; and 
 Samuel, b. 1768.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 8/ 
 
 HARTSHORNE, Jonathan, son of Benj. and Elizabeth (Boutwell), b. 
 1721 ; m. 1748, Elizabeth, dau. of Jeremiah and Sarah (Burnap) 
 Swain. He d. childless, and his wid. m. 1774 (second wife), 
 Rev. Joseph Swain, of Wenham. 
 
 HASELTINE, Nathaniel; m. 1703, Elizabeth Hartshorne. 
 
 HASTINGS, Joseph, came from Cambridge (perhaps son of John and 
 Lydia, of Cambridge, and b. 1669); m. 1699, Elizabeth, dau. of 
 Matthew Edwards. Chil. : John, b. 1700; Elizabeth, b. 1702; 
 Lydia, b. 1705; Mary, b. 1708; Joseph, b. 1711; Hannah, b. 
 
 I7I3- 
 
 HAUGH, Rev. Samuel, second minister of Reading, son of Hon. Ather- 
 ton Haugh, of Boston, who came from Boston, England, where 
 he had been Major. Samuel, it is probable, was born in Eng- 
 land, and came over in 1634 with his father. He was educated 
 at Har. Coll., but did not graduate. He m. Sarah, dau. of Rev. 
 Zechariah Symms, of Charlestown ; began to preach at Read- 
 ing in 1648, and was ordained pastor at Reading, in March, 
 1650. He d. Mar. 30, 1662, at the house of his brother-in-law, 
 Hezekiah Usher, in Boston. Chil. : Elizabeth, who m. Capt. 
 John Herbert; Samuel, b. 1650, and d. 1651 ; Samuel, b. 1651 ; 
 removed to Boston, and m. Ann, dau. of Rev. Edward Rains- 
 ford, and had Samuel, b. 1676; Ann, b. 1677; Atherton, b. 
 1678; "both these sons of Samuel, Jr., of whom Chief-Justice 
 Sewall was guardian, died before middle age ;" Sarah, b. 1652 ; 
 m., ist, O. .Walker, and m., 2d, 1678, Ephraim Savage, of Bos- 
 ton and Reading; Zechariah, b. and d. 1654; Mary, b. 1655, 
 and m. Tho. Baker, of Boston; Rebecca, b. 1660, and d. 1661. 
 Rev. Samuel owned and occupied at Reading, the place of the 
 late Noah Smith, Esq. He also owned houses and lands at 
 Boston, Braintree, and Cambridge. His estate at his death was 
 appraised at 1,822 7*. 5</., a large estate for those days. His 
 Reading place, in the distribution of his estate, fell to his dau. 
 Elizabeth, wife of -Capt. John Herbert, of Boston, who removed 
 thereto. His will, written in his own hand, in beautiful style 
 and penmanship, shows somewhat the peculiar talents and char- 
 acter of the writer. The following is a copy : 
 
 In the name of God : Amen. I, Samuel Haugh, of Reading, in the County of 
 Middlesex, in New England, being in good health and sound memorie, but put in 
 mind of my mortality, both by the word gf God, the death of many near relatives 
 formerly, and the frequent diseases, whereby it has pleased the Lord of late years and 
 now at present to visit his people in this country Do make and declare this my last
 
 gg GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Will and Testament, in writing, this twenty-fifth day of October in the year of our 
 Lord One Thousand six hundred and fifty-seven, to the end that when my latter end 
 may be near, I may not be troubled with matters of the world. 
 
 First, therefore, I beseech the Lord of his infinite grace and mercie in Jesus 
 Christ, that he would more and more strengthen my faith in those gratious promises 
 of his, in which he hath formerly given me to trust in him ; for the pardon of my 
 great and many sins and for the accepting of my person through the pretious merits 
 of my dear Redeemer and the good Lord cover all the weaknesses and imperfec- 
 tions of my poor endeavors in this weighty imployment, he hath called me unto ; 
 accepting through Christ the sincere desire of my soul therein, to promote his king- 
 dom ; concerning all which I beg the sparing mercye of God in Christ Jesus. Fi- 
 nally, the peace of God's Zion, the prosperity of his Jerusalem, and in particular of 
 that little flock of Christ, among whom he hath set me, I implore, for Christ Jesus' 
 sake. And when it shall please God to call me out of this transitory life, I do hereby 
 bequeathe my soul unto the Lord Jesus, who hath so dearly bought it. My body I 
 desire may be decently interred, to sleep in the dust, until the resurrection of the just. 
 Believing in Christ Jesus to enjoy a glorious resurrection, even the fruit of my re- 
 demption, at that great day, according to his faithful promise. My wife and children, 
 whom God of his grace hath given me, I again resign to his merciful care and provi- 
 dence, humbly craving the sure mercys of the Covenant for them ; even the remem- 
 brance of that Gratious promise to them, (" I will be a God to thee and to thy seed,") 
 which I account abundantly more worth than all outward enjoyments. And for that 
 portion of outward estate, which God hath gratiously given unto me as his steward, I 
 thus, in his fear, dispose thereof: 
 
 First, I will that all my debts be discharged and my funeral expenses, which I 
 leave to the discretion of my Executors. 
 
 Item I give these following legacies, in token of my sincere and hearty affection 
 unto the persons as follows : 
 
 Imprimis To my dear father in law, Mr. Zechariah Symms, pastor of the church 
 at Charlestown, twentie shillings; To my dear mother in law., Mrs. Sarah Symms, 
 twentie shillings ; To my dear uncle, Mr. Peter Buckley, teacher of the church at 
 Concord, Bishop Usher's Annals of the New Testament ; To every of my dear 
 brothers and sisters, to wit : Capt. Tho. Savage and his wife ; Mr. Hezekiah Usher 
 and his wife ; Left. Wm. Davis and his wife Mr. Humphrey Booth and his wife, 
 Mr. Wm. Symms and his wife, Mrs Ruth Symms, Mr. Zeckariah Symms, Jr., Deborah 
 Symms and Timothy Symms, to each of all these, ten shillings. 
 
 Item Unto my two negroes, Frank and Mary, (If they survive me) let my 
 father's will be performed. 
 
 It. Unto the church at Reading let that silver bowl, given by my father to them, 
 after my decease be surrendered up. 
 
 It. Unto my beloved daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary, I give all my houses 
 and lands that I shall dye in possession of within the town of Reading, with all the 
 accommodations, properly thereunto belonging, together with all the quick stock, 
 that I shall then have at Reading. 
 
 Item To my beloved son Samuel Haugh, I give all my farm at Cambridge, 
 together with all the stock that is or shall then be upon the same property, belonging 
 unto me. Also, I give unto my said son,, my Librarie and manuscripts, to wit, if he 
 prove a scholar. And my will is that he be educated in Learning at the College. 
 Also, I give unto my said son, Samuel Haugh, the reversion of my house and land in
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 8 9 
 
 Boston, now in tenure of Mr. Peter Oliver, to come to him at my wife's death. What 
 I have herein willed to each of my children, I give to them and their heirs, of their 
 bodye lawfully begotten. Also, that they shall every one enter upon what I here 
 give them, at the age of one and twentie years, or the time of their lawful marriage, 
 which shall soonest happen. In case that any of the daughters should dye, the sur- 
 viving sister or sisters to be their heir or heirs. In case all of them dye before they 
 come to be twentie one year old, their brother Samuel shall be their heir. In case 
 my son Samuel dye before he be one and twentie, his sisters shall equally share what 
 is herein willed to him, (as it is also my will that they equally share what I have 
 willed them, excepting any peeces of plate, that have been given to any of them be- 
 fore.) In case that Samuel should dye before age, or will not be a scholar, then I 
 give my Librarie unto my dear nephew, Wm. Whittingham. In case Wm. Whitting- 
 ham dye, I give them to wit my said Librarie to my beloved brother Latham Symms. 
 In case all my children should dye before their age or lawful marriage, then I will 
 one half of my estate shall be given to my dear wife, to her and her heirs forever ; 
 the other half to be divided between Wm. Whittingham, Martha Whittingham and 
 Elizabeth Whittingham Wm. to have a double share. 
 
 Item : I give to my dearly beloved wife Mrs. Sarah Haugh, my little negro boy, 
 and also Mary, negro, if Frank dye before me. Also, I give unto my said wife, dur- 
 ing her life my house and land in Boston, now in tenure of Mr. Peter Oliver ; and all 
 the land at Braintree now in tenure of Samuel Basse and his partners. Also, I will 
 that a true inventorie be taken of all my goods and household stuff; and that they 
 shall be prised to the just value of them, according to the discretion of the Apprisers 
 that shall take the inventorie. Item : I will that my beloved wife shall have the use 
 of the same household stuff, during her widowhood, all of it. And in case of her 
 marriage I will that her husband shall enter into bonds to make good the household 
 stuff to the value they shall be apprised at, and in kind to the several partyes, and at 
 the time I shall herein appoint ; only in consideration of loss and decay, I do allow 
 five pounds out of the full price, if my wife survive me three years ; but that five 
 pounds to be abated out of that sort of household stuff, which the children shall 
 allow. 
 
 Item : I give unto my dear wife a part of all my household stuff, during her life, to 
 wit : a fourth part ; and to that end, I will that before her marriage the said household 
 stuff shall be justly parted into four parts, of each kind whereof she shall have her 
 fourth part during her life. And she shall have liberty to use the other three parts 
 until they are to be disposed of, as followeth, viz. : I will that my four children, Sam- 
 uel, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary, shall have the other three parts of the household stuff 
 parted equally among them, and delivered to them at their several ages of one and 
 twentie, or at their lawful marriage, which shall soonest be. If my wife marry again 
 and her husband do not put in sufficient surety before marriage with her for the per- 
 formance of my Will in point of the household stuff, according to the full meaning of 
 this my Will, then shall he and my said wife lose the benefit of that part of my Will 
 concerning household stuff. 
 
 Item : Seeing that I cannot foresee what providences of. God may fall out after my 
 death, which may occasion some of my children more than others to be in want, I 
 leave it therefore in the power of my dearly beloved wife to make her will concerning 
 that land of mine at Braintree, given her during her life, together with that part of 
 the household stuff given her during life, provided she give it to some or all of said 
 forenamed children, Samuel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, according as she shall find caus. 
 12
 
 QQ GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 But if she doth not make a will of them, while she is in perfect memorie, then the 
 land shall fall by inheritance to my son Samuel, and that part of the household stuff 
 shall be divided among the sisters. If my wife choose the law of the Countrie con- 
 cerning dowries, then my will concerning her shall be void. If God take away all 
 those, whom I have willed my estate unto, before the time I have appointed for them 
 to receive it, then the College shall enjoy the same. But if any of them live to that 
 age, they shall have the benefit of the will, according to the plain meaning of the Will. 
 And of this my last Will and Testament, I make my dearly beloved wife, Mrs. Sarah 
 Haugh, together with my dearly beloved brethren, Capt. Tho. Savage and Mr. Heze- 
 kiah Usher, my Executors and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament To 
 each of my Executors I give three pounds, in token of my endeared affection to them, 
 and in confirmation hereof, I have set to my hand and seal. 
 
 SAMUEL HAUGH. [L. s.] 
 
 This Will and Testament, I signed and sealed this twentie-fifth of January, 1657. 
 
 Witness : 
 
 WM. SIMMES, SAMUEL HAUGH. [L. s.] 
 
 WM. COWDREY. 
 
 CODICIL: 
 
 Whereas in my indorsed novissimum I ordered my land at Brantry as part of my 
 wife's jointure, and my housing and land that are at Reading, all of them as part of 
 my daughter's portion, I have thought meet to make this change in that Will, (in this 
 only) to wit : that I leave it to my wife's choyce, which of these to take four or five 
 year, the other to be my daughters' ; and of that, which she shall choose, I do 
 give her power to make a will, provided she doe give unto some or all of those chil- 
 dren, that are between us, according as she shall think meete having respect partly 
 unto those that may most need it, and partly and espetially to those, that are most 
 obedient to her. The rest of my Will lett stand untouched. 
 Witness my hand this 2d of September, 1661. 
 Witness : By me, 
 
 WM. COWDREY, SAMUEL HAUGH. [L. s.] 
 
 THOMAS CLARK. 
 
 NOTE. Besides what I have given to Frank and Mary, I doe give them a cow. 
 
 Upon further consideration, I have thought meete to make some further alteration 
 of my last Will and Testament, concerning my librarie : 
 
 If my son Samuel prove a scholar, I give my Librarie unto him ; if he prove no 
 scholar, then my will is that my librarie be divided between my dear wife, and my be- 
 loved brother Mr. Zachery Symms Jr. and my beloved cousin Wm. Whittingham, pro- 
 vided he prove an approved minister, otherwise, by virtue hereof he shall fall short of 
 his share : 
 
 Given under my hand this 29th of March, 1662. 
 
 Witness : 
 
 HEZEKIAH USHER, SAMUEL HAUGH. [L. s.] 
 
 HULLDAH DAVIS. 
 
 NOTE. His wid. m. Rev. John Brock. See Brock's Genealogy. 
 
 HAY, James, d. 1682. 
 
 HAY, Patrick, m. 1685, Mary Kidder.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 DR. WILLIAM HAY. 
 
 HAY, William, a physician, a native of Scotland; m. 1717, Abigail 
 dau. of Dea. Thomas and Abigail Boutwell ; he occupied the 
 place on Elm Street, formerly owned by the late Geo. W. Harts- 
 horn. Dr. Hay was selectman in 1744. His wife d. 1779, and 
 he d. 1783, aged 100, nearly. Chil. : Thomas, b. and d. 1718; 
 Abigail, b. 1719, and m. 1750, Rev. Joseph Emerson, 1 of Groton ; 
 
 William, b. and d. 1722 ; William, b. 1723, and m. Gale, 
 
 and settled in Merrimac, N. H. ; Thomas, son of William, 2d 
 b. 1762, and settled in Dublin, N. H. ; m. 1792, Rebecca Poole, 
 and d. 1839; Edmund, son of William, 2d, settled in Boston; 
 John, b. 1737, m. about 1760 to Sarah Ring. 
 
 HAY, John, son of Dr. William, m. Sarah Ring, as above, about 1760 ; 
 settled first in Woburn ; was a physician ; removed to Reading ; 
 died 1815. Chil.: Sarah, b. 1762, and m. Dudley Porter; Jon- 
 athan Pierpont, b. 1765, and m. Hepzi Appleton ; Charlotte, 
 
 b. 1766, and m. I. S. Thompson, and 2d, Flint; Charles, 
 
 b. 1769; Abigail, b. 1771, and m. John Chandler; Elizabeth, 
 b. 1773, and m. Samuel Nichols; Permela, b. 1774, and m. 
 
 1 Joseph Emerson, of Groton (West Parish, now Pepperell), was the son of Rev. 
 
 Emerson, of Maiden; H. Coll. 1743; ordained at Pepperell, 1747; m. Abigail 
 
 Hay, in 1750, and d. 1775, aged 51. Chil.: Mary, b. 1751 ; Joseph, b. 1754; Eben- 
 ezer, b. 1762 ; Samuel, Moody, twins, b. 1757; Joseph, Sewall, twins, b. 1764.
 
 02 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 DR. JOHN HAY, 
 
 Timothy Sweetser ; Anna, b. 1776, and m. Jesse Pope ; John, b. 
 1777, and m. Sarah Lucas ; George, b. 1779, and settled in 
 Kentucky ; Mary, b. 1781, and m. R. Raddin ; Francis, b. 1783, 
 and m., ist, Mansfield, and 2d, Myrick. 
 
 HERBERT, John, came from Boston ; was in early life a mariner and sea- 
 captain ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. Samuel Haugh. He lived 
 on the place recently owned by the heirs of Capt. Noah Smith, 
 and which fell to his wife in the distribution of her father's (Rev. 
 Samuel Haugh) estate. Capt. Herbert was town clerk and 
 selectman several years, and wrote a very handsome hand. He 
 had one child : Mary, b. 1684, and m. Thomas Nichols, who 
 succeeded to the place. His wife Elizabeth d. when her dau. 
 Mary was one week old. He d. 1712. 
 
 HERBERT, Jonathan, m. 1713, Anna Southwick, and had Anna, b. 1715. 
 
 HESCEY, William, m. 1681, Judith Poole ; d. 1689 ;; was a lieutenant, a 
 man of note. 
 
 HILLS, Mas. ; was taxed in 1686 for the Indian purchase. 
 
 HODGKINS, Wm. ; by wife Deborah had Samuel, b. 1695. 
 
 HODGMAN, Thomas, m. 1663, Mary, who was (probably) the young 
 widow of Ezekiel Morrill. It is thought that Hodgman had no 
 children, but that he adopted one Josiah Webber, who took the 
 name of Josiah Hodgman. Thomas d. 1729, and his widow d. 
 1735, aged 95. 
 
 HODGMAN, Josiah, son of Josiah Webber, and adopted son of Thomas
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 93 
 
 ,.? I Hodgman, b. 1668; m., ist, 1691, Elizabeth ; she d. 1712 ; 
 
 m., 2d, 1724, Grace, widow of John Boutwell ; had a son, 
 Thomas, b. 1693. He (the father) d. 1749 ; his widow d. 1756. 
 
 HODGMAN, Thomas, son of the above-named Josiah, b. 1693, and set- 
 tled in West Parish, near and south of Prescott place ; m. 1714, 
 Abigail Gerry, of Stoneham. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1715 ; Josiah, 
 b. 1721 ; I Benjamin, b. 1722; Jonathan, b. 1725; Thomas, b. 
 1727 ; David, b. 1729 ; Timothy, b. 1731 ; John, b. 1733. 
 
 HOOPER, Wm., came over in 1635, at the age of 18 \ was one of the 
 very early settlers of Reading. He d. 1678, aged 61. Chil.: 
 Mary, b. 1647 y James, b. and d. 1649 ; Susan, b. 1650 ; Ruth, 
 b. 1653 ; Rebecca, b. 1656 ; William, b. 1658 ; Hannah, b. 1662 ; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1665 ; Thomas, b. 1668 ; John, b. 1670. 
 
 HOOPER, Wm., son of William, b. 1658;' by wife Susanna had chil. : 
 William, b. 1687 ; Elizabeth, b. 1689 ; Ruth, b. 1691. He was 
 a selectman in 1685. 
 
 HUTCHINSON, Francis, came here from Lynn; b. in England in 1630; 
 m., ist., 1661, Sarah Leighton ; she d. soon ; m., 2d, Martha 
 
 , who d. 1708 ; removed early to the North Precinct, and d. 
 
 1702. Chil. : Francis, who m. 1708, Mary Jeffrey, of Lynn ; 
 Thomas, whose wife was Mary, and had chil. : Adam and 
 Thomas (twins), b. 1712, and Lydia, b. 1721. 
 
 HUTCHINSON, Samuel, sold in 1670, the place on side of Great Pond, 
 next above Capt. T. Emerson's former residence. 
 
 JACKSON, Thomas, m. 1685, Hannah Taylor, or Tower. 
 
 JENKINS, Joel, m. 1704, Mary Chadwick; livedjn the North Precinct. 
 Chil. : Mary, b. 1705 ; Joel, b. 1707 ; Samuel, b. 1709. 
 
 JENKINSON, Barnard ; by wife Mary had Mary, b. 1703. 
 
 KEBBE, or KIDDER, Edward, d. 1694. 
 
 KELSON, Thomas, had chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1663; Susanna, b. 1666. 
 
 KEN, Robert, came from Salem ; had a blacksmith's shop upon the 
 Common ; it stood near what from him was called " Ken's 
 
 Pond," now filled up. His wife's name was Mary ; had 
 
 chil. : Mary, b. 1684, and m. 1707, Edward Pepper, of Salem ; 
 Susanna, b. 1687; Robert, b. 1689 ; Elizabeth, b. 1691 ; Anna, 
 b. 1698. He probably returned to Salem. 
 
 KENDALL, Dea. Thomas, an original settler, removed here from Lynn ; 
 was brother of Francis, of Woburn ; lived on the " James Emer- 
 son place," corner of Cedar and Church Streets ; was deacon 
 and selectman for many years, and a very influential citizen. 
 He d. 1681, and his widow, Rebecca, d. 1703, aged 85. Chil. :
 
 04 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1642, and m. 1658, John Eaton; Rebecca, b. 1644, 
 and m. 1665, James Boutwell ; Mary, b. 1647, and m - l66 4> 
 Abraham Bryant; Hannah, b. 1650, and m. 1667, John Parker; 
 Sarah, b. and d. 1652 ; Sarah, 2d, b. 1653, and m. Samuel Dun- 
 ton ; Abigail, b. 1655, and m. John Nichols ; Susanna, b. 1658, 
 and m. Nathaniel Goodwin ; Tabitha,- b. 1660, and m. John 
 Pearson ; and Thomas, b. 1663, and d. 1664. Dea. Kendall 
 had no son that lived to adult age, and his name has long since 
 disappeared from our municipal record ; yet perhaps there is no 
 one of the first settlers that can be pointed out, whose blood, 
 through his eight daughters diverging, has come down to us 
 through so many families, and still flows in the veins of so many 
 of the present population of the town. 
 
 KNOWLTON, Benoni, son of Marah, b. 1689. 
 
 LAMSON, Samuel (probably a son of Wm. Lamson, of Ipswich, who d. 
 there in 1659, and whose wid., Sarah, m. in 1661 Thomas Harts- 
 horn, of Reading, and with her children came to Reading) ; m. 
 1676, Mary, dau. of Richard Nichols. Chil. : Samuel, b. 1677 ; 
 Mary, b. 1678; Ebenezer, b. 1680, and d. 1681 ; William, b. 
 and d. 1681 ; Joanna, Jx 1682 ; Ebenezer, b. 1685 ; John, b. 
 1686; Sarah, b. 1689; Elizabeth, b. 1691; Samuel, Sen., d. 
 1692. 
 
 LAMSON, Samuel, son of Samuel and Mary, b. 1677 ; was a carpenter, 
 and by wife Elizabeth had chil. : Samuel, b. 1701 ; Rebecca, b. 
 1702 ; Elizabeth, b. 1709. Samuel Lamson, father or son, lived 
 near the late Daniel Damon place. 
 
 LAUKIN, or LAKIN, Wm., m. Lydia Brown, and had chil. : Lydia, b. 
 1650; Mary, b. 1652 ; Wm., b. 1655 ; John, b. 1657 ; Jona., b. 
 1 66 1. He early removed to Groton, where he had other chil- 
 dren. 
 
 LEAMAN, Samuel, came from Charlestown ; by ist wife, Margaret, had 
 Nathaniel, b. 1694, and perhaps Samuel ; m., 2d, 1715, Hannah 
 Damon. 
 
 LEAMAN, Samuel; probably son of Samuel and Margaret; m. 1716, 
 Mary Bryant, and had chil. : Margaret, b. 1717 ; Mary, b. 1719 ; 
 Samuel, b. 1721 ; Nathaniel, b. 1726. 
 
 LEWIS, Samuel; came probably from Lynn; m. 1706, Sarah, dau. of 
 John and Hannah Boutwell. Chil.: Sarah, b. 1707; Mary, b. 
 1709; Samuel, b. 1714, and m. 1736, Mary Taylor; Abigail; 
 Ebenezer, b. 1717 ; Phebe, b. 1720 ; Joseph, b. 1722 ; Lydia, b. 
 1724; Benjamin, b. 1727.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 95 
 
 LILLEY, George ; m., ist, 1659, Hannah Smith ; and m., ad, 1667, Jane 
 
 . Chil. : Hannah, b. 1660; John, b. 1662; Reuben, b. 
 
 1669 ; Abagail, b. 1672 ; George, and perhaps Samuel. He set- 
 tled in W. Parish, near the old Tho. Sweetser place, and was 
 schoolmaster at Woodend in 1683, and d. 1691. 
 
 LILLEY, Samuel ; perhaps and probably son of George ; by wife Han- 
 nah had chil. : Samuel, b. 1695 ; John, b. 1697, and m. 1723, 
 Abigail Burnap; Hannah, b. 1700, and m. 1719, Ebenezer Bur- 
 nap; Sarah, b. 1702, and m. 1723, John Parker; Jona.,b. 1705 ; 
 Mary, whom. 1728, Nathaniel Goodwin; David, b. 1712; Eliz- 
 abeth, b. 1714. He lived in the West Parish, near the Centre, 
 on the place now occupied by John Burrill, and afterwards re- 
 moved to Sutton. 
 
 LILLEY, Samuel, son of Samuel and Hannah, b. 1695 > m< I 7 1 ^, Abigail 
 
 Wright. Had chil.: Phebe, bap. 1717; Sam 1 , bap. 1719, and 
 
 removed to Woburn and Sutton. From the Sutton branch of 
 
 the Lilley family have sprung, it is said, O. K. Hutchinson, Esq., 
 
 Superintendent of the Reform School at Westboro', and Judge 
 
 Chase, the late Chief-Justice of the United States. 
 
 LILLEY, John, son of George and Hannah, b. 1662.; m. Hannah, and 
 
 settled in North Woburn. Chil.: John, b. 1691, and probably 
 
 d. between 1670 and '74, unm.; Hannah, b. 1694; Sarah, b. 
 
 1696 ; Rebecca, b. 1699 ; Susanna, b. 1702 ; Phebe, b. Feb. 
 
 + 1705, and m. Noah Eaton, of Reading, and her oldest son (Noah 
 
 ' Eaton, Jr.) succeeded to his grandfather's (John Lilley) estate 
 
 in Woburn. 
 
 MARSHALL, Thomas ; was called Lieut; was a carpenter ; was dismissed 
 with his wife from Lynn Church to Reading Church before 1648 ; 
 wife's name was probably Joanna. They had chil. : Abigail, b. 
 1644; Elizabeth, b. 1649 j Thomas, b. 1650, and d. 1651 ; Su- 
 sanna, b. 1652 ; he was selectman, and was son of Capt. Tho., 
 of Lynn. 
 
 MARSHALL, Edward; m. 1665, Mary Swain. 
 
 MARTIN, William, one of the earliest settlers, and was selectman in 
 1647, '48, and '51, and early removed to Groton, where it is said 
 he m. the widow of Wm. Laukin, who had also removed from 
 Reading to Groton. 
 
 MAVERICK, Anna, wid. of Elias Maverick, of Charlestown and Winni- 
 simmet ; dau. of a wid. Elizabeth Harris, who became the wife 
 of Dea. Wm. Stetson, of Charlestown. Anna, by her husband
 
 96 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Elias, had several chil., among whom was Ruth, who m. 1680, 
 Francis Smith, of Reading. Mrs. Anna d. 1697. 
 
 MclNTiRE, Philip, lived in the North Precinct. Chil. : Philip, b. 1666 ; 
 Thomas, b. and d. 1668; Daniel, b. 1669; Mary, b. 1672; 
 John, b. 1679; David, b. 1688; and perhaps others. His 
 descendants are numerous. 
 
 MERROW, Henry, came from Scotland ; m. 1661, Jane Wallis, a young 
 wid. in Woburn ; lived in Reading, West Parish, and there d. in 
 1685, aged 60. Estate appraised at ,322 ; debts, ^5. Chil. : 
 ist, Daniel, b. 1662 ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of Dr. James Stimpson ; 
 succeeded his father on the homestead ; 2d, John, whose wife's 
 name was Deliverance, lived in Reading, near his brother Dan- 
 iel ; had seven chil., and d. 1735 ; 3d, Henry, who m. Miriam 
 Brooks, of Woburn, and removed thither ; 6th, Samuel, b. 1670 ; 
 wife's name was Mary; removed from Reading, about 1720, to 
 Oyster River, now Durham, N. H.; was the ancestor of the New 
 Hampshire Merrows ; was a physician, and d. about 1 740, at Roch- 
 ester, N. H., where his sons had settled ; 7th, Joseph, b. 1675, and 
 d. 1695. There were also four daughters. Many of Dr. Samuel's 
 descendants have become eminent in civil and professional life, 
 among whom are Horace P. Tuttle, of the Cambridge Observa- 
 tory, and C. W. Tuttle, Esq., a lawyer in Boston. Edward 
 Merrow, son of John and Ann, and grandson of John and De- 
 liverance aforesaid, m. Mary, dau. of Wm. and Tabitha Cow- 
 drey, and lived in Reading, West Parish, on the Hartshorn 
 place, and had chil. : ist, Edward, b. 1738, who joined the army 
 in the French war, about 1757, took the small-pox, and d. His 
 father, on hearing of his sickness, hastened to his assistance, 
 but arrived too late, his son being dead. He started homeward, 
 but his grief was so great at the loss of his only son, that he re- 
 turned to bring the remains home with him. He caught the 
 malignant disease and there d. also. There were four daugh- 
 ters, viz. Ann, b. 1743, and m. Nathan Pearson; Tabitha, b. 
 1745, and m., ist, Timo. Pratt, and 2d, Abram Gould; and 
 Esther and Mary. 
 
 MERROW, Henry, son of John and Deliverance, b. 1686; m. 1710, 
 Abigail Parker, and had chil. : David, b. 1711 ; Abigail, b. at 
 Woburn, 1713 ; Ruth, b. 1715 ; Hepzi., b. 1717 ; Ruth, b. 1721. 
 He died 1761. 
 
 MERROW, John, son of John and Deliverance, b. 1688; by wife, Ann, 
 had chil. : Ann. b. 1711, and d. 1713 ; Dorothy, b. 1712, and m.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 97 
 
 J 733> Jona. Foster; Edward, b. 1714, and m. 1737, Mary Cow- 
 drey, and d. 1758, of small-pox; John, b. and d. 1719. 
 
 NOTE. The Merrow family lived in the West Parish, on the lands now occupied 
 by the families of Joseph and Emory Bancroft. 
 
 MILLER, Humphrey ; m. 1677, at Cambridge, Elizabeth Smith, probably 
 the dau. of Matthew Smith, of Reading. Chil. :. Thomas, b. 
 1678; Matthew, b. 1680; Elizabeth, b. 1683; Hannah, b. and 
 d. 1684. He d. 1684. 
 
 MORRILL, Ezekiel ; probably from Cambridge ; wife's name was Mary. 
 He d. 1663, while on a visit to Roxbury. 
 
 NEWHALL, Ens. ; was taxed in 1686 as of the North Precinct. 
 
 NICHOLS, Richard ; came from Ipswich ; lived in the westerly part of 
 the South Parish, on the place subsequently known as the Lam- 
 bert farm. He d. 1674. His wid. Annas d. 1692. Their chil. 
 were : Mary, Thomas, James, John, Richard, and Hannah. 
 
 NICHOLS, Capt. Thomas, son of Richard and Annas, m. 1680, Rebecca, 
 dau. of John and Elizabeth Eaton ; was selectman from 1691 to 
 1722 ; was deacon and representative, and d. 1737. Chil. : 
 Thomas, b. 1682 ; Rebecca, b. 1684, and m., ist, in 1700, Nich- 
 olas Brown, and m., 2d, Dea. Jona. Barrett; Ebenezer, b. 1686 ; 
 Judith, b. 1688; Abigail, b. 1693, and m. 1711, Jacob Hersey, 
 or Hussey; Elizabeth, b. 1699; Timothy, b. 1702; Daniel, b. 
 1707. 
 
 NICHOLS, James, son of Richard and Annas, m. 1682, Mary Poole, 
 probably dau. of Jona. and Judith. She d. 1711, and he d. 1745, 
 aged 87. Chil. : James, b. 1683 ; Mary, b. 1685, and m. 1707, 
 Benjamin Wiley; Jona., b. 1691 ; William, b. 1696; Sarah, b. 
 1699, and m. 1722, Joseph Burnap; Ebenezer, b. 1703. 
 
 NICHOLS, John, son of Richard and Annas, b. 1651 ; m. Abigail, dau. 
 of Dea. Tho. Kendall. They both d. 1721, aged, he 70, she 66. 
 Chil.: John, b. 1677, and d. 1721; Richard, b. 1679, and d. 
 soon ; Richard, b. 1682 ; Thomas Kendall, b. 1686 ; James, b. 
 1688; Nathaniel, b. 1691; Abig 1 , b. 1694, and m. 1713, Wm. 
 Flint; Samuel, b. 1696 ; Benj., b. 1699 ; Joseph, b. 1702; This 
 family settled in the West Parish. 
 
 NICHOLS, Richard, son of Richard and Annas; m. 1706, Abig 1 , dau. of 
 Samuel and Mary Damon. He d. 1732. Chil.: Abigail, b. 
 1708, and d. 1732 ; John, b. 1711 ; Mary, b. 1713 ; Richard, b. 
 I 7 I 5J Joshua, b. 1718; Hepzi., b. 1721; Mehitabel, b. 1723; 
 Jacob, b. 1726. This family settled in the West Parish. 
 13
 
 9 8 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 DR. JOSEPH EATON (father of Gen. J. H. Eaton. See page 67). 
 
 NICHOLS, Dea. Thomas, son of Capt. Tho. and Rebecca, b. 1682 ; m. 
 Mary, dau. of Capt. John Herbert, and succeeded to his father- 
 in-law's place. His wife was granddau. of Rev. Samuel Haugh. 
 Dea. Thomas, d. 1745, aged 63. Chil. : Herbert, b. 1705 ; 
 John, b. 1708, and d. soon; John, b. 1712, and m. 1734, Ruth, 
 dau. of Capt. Tho. Eaton; Samuel, b. 1714; Jacob, b. 1719. 
 
 NICHOLS, James, son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1683; m. 1707, 
 Joanna, dau. of Samuel and Mary Lamson. Chil. : James, b. 
 1708 ; Joanna, b. 1712 ; Mary, b. 1713, and d. 1741 ; James, b. 
 1719; Zechariah, b. 1721. 
 
 NICHOLS, Nathaniel, son of John and Abigail, b. 1691 ; m. 1715, Isabel 
 Hay, of Charlestown (now Stoneham). Chil. : Mary, b. 1717 ; 
 Nathaniel, b. 1719; Abigail, b. 1721. 
 
 NICHOLS, Ebenezer, son of Capt. Thomas and Rebecca, b. 1686 ; m., 
 ist, Abigail, and m., 2d, Anna. He lived in the South Parish, 
 near the Pond, on the place now occupied by Mrs. F. B. Eaton. 
 Chil. : Mary, b. 1719 ; Anna, b. about 1720 ; Rebecca, b. 1724 ; 
 Ebenezer, b. 1733, and perhaps Lydia and Eunice. 
 
 NICHOLS, Col. Ebenezer, son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1703 ; m. 
 Susanna ; was selectman, justice of the peace, representative, 
 colonel, etc. He lived on the place long known afterwards as 
 the " Rayner place," and his house stood near where now stands 
 the residence of Mrs. Dr. J. G. Brown. Chil. : Ebenezer, b.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. go 
 
 1725, and d. soon ; Edmund, b. 1727, and d. 1729 ; Susanna, b. 
 1729; Elizabeth, b. 1732, and m. 1749, Jeremiah Bancroft; 
 Katharine, b. 1734, and m. Dr. Wm. Stimpson; Edmund, b. and 
 d. 1741 ; Wm., b. 1743, and d. 1745 ; Susanna, b. 1748; Eben- 
 ezer, b. 1750, and perhaps Richard. 
 
 NICHOLS, Wm., son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1696 ; by wife Abi- 
 gail had chil. : Wm., b. 1721, and m. 1754, Phebe Stimpson; 
 Joshua, b. 1724; Abigail, b. 1726; Samuel, b. 1729. 
 
 NICHOLS, Samuel, son of John and Abigail (Kendall), b. 1696 ; m., ist, 
 Rebecca, and m., 2d, Abigail. Chil.: Samuel, b. 1723; Abi- 
 gail, b. 1726, and other children, among whom was James, b. 
 
 1735, an d he (James) was grandfather of the late Rev. Samuel 
 Nichols, the present Hero W. Nichols, James Eustis, etc. He 
 d. 1810, aged 75. 
 
 NICHOLS, Samuel, son of Thomas and Mary (Herbert), b. 1714; m. 
 
 1736, Mary Bancroft, and had Sarah, b. 1739. 
 
 NICHOLS, Richard, son of John and Abigail, b. 1682 ; m. 1706, Abigail 
 Damon, and had chil. : Abigail, b. 1708 ; John, b. 1711 ; Mary, 
 b. 1713 ; Richard, b. 1715 ; Joshua, b. 1718 ; Hepzi., b. 1721 ; 
 Mehitabel, b. 1723 ; Jacob, b. 1726. 
 
 NICHOLS, Jona., son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1691; m., ist, 1713 
 Elizabeth Boutwell ; she d. 1715 ; m., 2d, 1716, Phebe, dau. of 
 John and Dorcas Eaton. Chil.: Jona., b. 1715, and d. soon; 
 Jona., b. 1717; Elizabeth, b. 1719; Phebe, b. 1721, and d., 
 1749 ; Benja., b. 1723 ; Hepzi., b. 1726 ; Joseph, b. 1728 ; Wm., 
 b. 1731, and d. 1737 ; Abigail, b. 1734, and d. 1737. 
 
 NICHOLS, Timothy, son of Capt. Thos. and Rebecca, b. 1702 ; by wife 
 Hannah, had chil.: Hepzibeth, b. 1727; Hannah, b. 1729; 
 Timothy and Thomas (twins), b. 1731 ; Sarah, b. 1737 ; Moses, 
 b. 1740; Lucy, b. 1743. 
 
 NICHOLS, Daniel, son of Capt. Thos. and Rebecca, b. 1707 ; m. 1729, 
 Elizabeth Batchelder, and had chil. : Daniel, b. 1730 ; Eliza- 
 beth, b. 1732; Didimus, b. 1734; Amos, b. 1736; Esther, b. 
 1738; Abigail, b. 1741. 
 
 NICHOLS, John, son of Richard and Abigail, b. 1711 ; m. 1733, Joanna, 
 dau. of James and Mary Nichols. Chil.: Hannah, b. 1734; 
 John, b. 1736; Abigail, b. 1738 ; David, 1 b. 1741 ; Kendall, b. 
 
 1 David Nichols, son of John and Joanna, settled in Gardner, was father of Isaac, 
 of Gardner, and grandfather of Lyman Nichols, Esq., of Boston, president of Boston 
 National Bank.
 
 I00 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1743; Simon, b. 1745; William, b. 1747, and was grandfather 
 of Wm. Nichols, Esq., late counsellor-at-law in South Reading. 
 
 NURSE, Francis, son of Francis and Rebecca, of Salem, b. 1661. His 
 mother was executed in 1692 for witchcraft. His wife's name 
 was Sarah, and his chil. were: Francis, b. 1688 ; Benjamin, b. 
 1690, and m. 1713, Elizabeth 'Roberts ; Josiah, b. 1694, and m. 
 1717, Mary Eaton ; Jona., who m. Abigail . 
 
 NURSE, Francis, son of Francis and Sarah, b. 1688; m. 1717, Martha 
 Hartshorne, and had chil.: Jona., b. 1719; Martha, b. 1722 ; 
 Timothy, b. 1724; Samuel, b. 1726; Caleb, b. 1729. 
 
 PALFREY, Peter, was of Salem in 1626 ; a representative from Salem in 
 1635 > removed to Reading as early as 1652 ; was selectman in 
 Reading in 1652, '3, and '7; d. 1663, "well stricken in years"; 
 was a man who was "much betrusted." His first wife was 
 Edith ; second wife was Elizabeth, widow of John Fairfield, of 
 Salem ; third wife was Alice, who d. 1677, "far stricken in 
 years." Chil. : by first wife, Jonathan, b. 1635 ; Jehoidan, Mary, 
 Remember, and perhaps others. Jehoidan m. 1661, Benjamin 
 Smith, of Reading, and d. 1662. 
 
 PARKER, Dea. Thomas, came over from England in the " Susan Ellen,' 
 in 1635, at the age of 30 ; stopped first at Lynn ; was a freeman 
 in 1637. His son Nathaniel removed to the West Parish among 
 its early settlers, and was the common ancestor of the West 
 Parish Parkers. D'ea. Thomas lived in the easterly part of the 
 town, on the place where his descendant and namesake, and 
 official successor, the late Dea. Thomas Parker lived, and where 
 he d. in 1822. His wife's name was Amy. He was selectman. 
 He d. in 1683, aged 78, and his wid. d. 1690. Chil. : Hana- 
 niah, b. 1638 ; Thomas; Joseph, b. 1642, and d. soon; Joseph, 
 b. 1645, and d. soon ; Mary, b. 1647 ; Martha, b. 1649 > Nathan- 
 iel, b. 1651; Sarah, b. 1653, and d. soon; Jona., b. 1656; 
 Sarah, b. 1658 ; John. 
 
 PARKER, Lt. Hananiah, son of Dea, Thomas and Amy, b. 1638 ; m., 
 ist, 1663, Elizabeth, dau. of Nicholas Brown; succeeded to his 
 father's homestead ; was a freeman in 1679 ; his wife, Eliza- 
 beth, d. 1698; m., 2d, 1700, Mary, dau. of Wm. Bursham, of 
 Watertown, and wid. of Dea. John Bright, of Watertown. He 
 was selectman, town clerk, and representative, and perhaps 
 captain. He d. 1724, aged 85, and his wid. Mary d. 1736, aged 
 86. Chil. : John, b. 1664 ; Elizabeth, b. 1668, and m. 1685, 
 Nath 1 Cowdrey; Sarah, b. 1672, and d. soon; Hananiah, b.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. IOI 
 
 1674, and d. soon; Ebenezer, b. 1676, and m. 1697, Rebecca 
 Newhall ; Hananiah, b. 1681, and d. soon. 
 
 PARKER, Sergt. John, son of Dea. Thomas and Amy ; settled on Cow- 
 drey's Hill, where M. F. Leslie has since resided ; m., ist, 1667, 
 Hannah, dau. of Dea. Thomas Kendall ; she d. 1689 ; m., 2d, 
 Thankful. He d. 1698. Chil. : John, b. 1668; Thomas, b. 
 1670, and d. 1689 ; Hannah, b. 1672, and d. 1689 ; Rebecca, b. 
 
 1675, an d d. 1689; Kendall, b. 1677 ; Abigail, b. 1679, and d. 
 soon; Jonathan, b. 1681 ; Daniel, b. 1686; Abigail, b. 1688, 
 and d. soon; Hananiah, b. 1691 , Rebecca, b. 1693; Thomas, 
 b. 1695 > Elizabeth, b. 1698. 
 
 PARKER, Thomas, son of Dea. Tho. and Amy ; by wife Deborah had 
 chil. : Thomas, b. 1668; Samuel, b. 1670; Sarah, b. 1672; 
 Deborah, b. 1674; Jona., b. 1678, and d. soon; Elizabeth, b. 
 1681 ; Abigail, b. 1683, and in. 1710, Henry Merrow; Ruth, b. 
 
 1686, and d. 1705 ; Joseph, b. 1688, and m. 1711, Eliza h , dau. 
 of Jona. Eaton. 
 
 PARKER, Nathaniel, son of Dea. Tho. and Amy, b. 1651 ; m. 1677, Be- 
 thiah Polly, who was probably the dau. of John Polly, of Rox- 
 bury, whose wife Bethiah was dau. of Dea. Wm. Cowdrey, of 
 Reading, and whose dau. Bethiah was bap. 1659. He, Nathan- 
 iel, settled in the West Parish, near where is now the centre of 
 Reading (on the Sanborn Place, where it is said he built the 
 first house in the West Parish). He was the first person interred 
 in the West Parish grave-yard. Chil. : Bethiah, b. 1678, and d. 
 soon ; Nathaniel, b. 1679 > Stephen, b. 1684, and d. soon; Be- 
 thiah, b. 1685, and m. 1707, Ebenezer Emerson; Susanna, b. 
 
 1687, and m. 1707, Joseph Underwood ; Ebenezer, b. 1689, and 
 m. 1714, Mercy Damon; Stephen, b. 1692, and m. 1713, Eliza- 
 beth Batchelder; Caleb, b. 1694; Timothy, b. 1696; Obadiah, 
 b. 1698; Abigail, b. 1699; Amy, b. 1701; Amy, b. 1702; 
 Phineas, b. 1704. 
 
 PARKER, Samuel, son of Thomas and Deborah, b. 1670 ; m., ist, Martha ; 
 m., 2d, Hannah. Chil. : Martha, b. 1689 ; Nicholas, b. 1697, at 
 Lynn ; Samuel, b. 1701 ; Hannah, b. 1703 ; Ruth, b. 1709 ; 
 Joseph, b. 1701; Eunice, b. 1712, in Woburn ; Elizabeth, b. 
 
 PARKER, John, son of Hananiah and Elizabeth, b. 1664 ; by wife Deliv- 
 erance had chil. : Hananiah, b. 1691, and d. 1711, at Port Royal, 
 N. S., while in the military expedition ; Andrew, b. 1693 > Josiah, 
 b. 1694; Mary, b. 1695, and d. 1709; John, b. and d. 1696;
 
 I02 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Ede, b. 1697 ; John, b. 1703. He, the father, removed to Lex- 
 ington, where his wife d. in 1718, and where he d. in 1741, aged 
 77. He was the ancestor of the late Rev. Theodore Parker, 
 and of Capt. John Parker, who commanded the Lexington com- 
 pany on the i Qth April, 1775. 
 
 PARKER, John, son of John and Hannah, b. 1668 ; m. 1691 or 4, Eliza- 
 beth, and settled near the Aaron Parker place in W. Parish, 
 where he built third house of that Parish. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 
 1695, an d d. 1703; John, b. 1697; Abigail, b. 1699; John, b. 
 1701; Benjamin, b. 1703; Elizabeth, b. 1704; Elizabeth, b. 
 1706; Joseph, b. 1707, and d. soon; Mary, b. 1710; Joseph, 
 b. 1711 ; Tho., b. 1716. 
 
 PARKER, Ebenezer, son of Hananiah and Elizabeth, b. 1676 ; m. 1697, 
 Rebecca Newhall, and had chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1698 ; Eben- 
 ezer, b. and d. 1699 ; Ebenezer, b. about 1701 ; Hepzi., b. and 
 d. 1703 ; Rebecca, b. 1706 ; Sarah, b. 1711 ; Hananiah, b. 1714. 
 
 PARKER, Kendall, son of Sergt. John and Hannah, b. 1677 ; by wife 
 Ruth had chil. : Ruth, b. 1704, and m. 1722, Joseph Bancroft, 
 and was the grandmother of the late Joseph Hopkins ; Mary, 
 b. 1712, and m. 1738, John Goodwin. He was justice of the 
 peace, etc. He succeeded to his father's homestead. 
 
 PARKER, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Bethiah, b. 1679 ; by wife 
 Elizabeth had chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1703; Phineas, b. 1704; 
 Bethiah, b. 1707, and m. Hezekiah Winn, of Wilmington ; 
 Nathaniel, b. 1710; Lydia, b. 1716; Nathan, b. 1719, and lived 
 in the West Parish ; built the house now owned by James Davis ; 
 was captain, and father of the late Col. Nathan Parker, and 
 grandfather of the late Hon. Edmund Parker; Mehitabel, b. 
 1721 ; Caleb, b. 1725. 
 
 PARKER, Jonathan, son of Sergt. John and Hannah, b. 1681 ; m., ist, 
 1700, Mehitabel Bancroft ; she d. 1703 ; m., 2d, 1706, Barbara 
 Elseley. Chil. : Mehitabel, b. and d. 1703 ; Sarah, b. 1708 ; 
 Mary, b. 1709, and d. 1710; Mary, b. 1711 ; Hannah, b. 1716 ; 
 David, b. 1719; Amy, b. 1720; Hepzi., b. 1723; Daniel, b. 
 1725 ; Elisha, b. 1727. 
 
 PARKER, Jonathan, Jr. ; probably a grandson of Dea. Thomas ; m. 
 1706, Anna Flint, and had chil. : Timothy, b. 1711 ; Anna, b. 
 1714; John, b. 1717 ; Mary, b. 1719 ; Kendall, b. 1723. 
 
 PARKER, Ebenezer ; probably son of Ebenezer and Rebecca, and b. 
 about 1701 ; m. Hannah, dau. of Thomas and Hannah (Vinton) 
 Green, Chil.: Ebenezer, b. 1723; Thomas, b. 1725 ; Hannah,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 103 
 
 b. 1727; Rebecca, b. 1730; Lois and Eunice (twins), b. 1732; 
 Mary, b. 1734; Green, b. 1736; Joshua, b. 1738; Susanna, b. 
 1740. The father d. 1753 ; the mother d. 1756. 
 
 PARKER, Thomas ; probably son of Ebenezer and Hannah, and b. 
 1725 ; m. 1749, Sarah Parker, and had chil. : Thomas (Deacon), 
 b. 1751, and m. 1773, Sarah Richardson, and had no chil.; 
 Phebe, b. 1757 ; Ebenezer, b. 1754, and m. 1779, Lucretia Rich- 
 ardson ; Lydia, b. 1763, and m. 1785, Herbert Richardson ; Wil- 
 liam, b. 1759, and d. 1776, at Stillwater, in the American army ; 
 Ichabod, b. 1761, and m. 1785, Abigail Eaton ; Hananiah and 
 James (twins), b. 1765 ; Hananiah m. 1787, Molly Pope ; James, 
 d- 1783 ; Jacob, b. 1767, and m. 1787, Martha Gould ; Lucy, b. 
 
 PEARSON, John ; one of the earliest settlers, and one of the first seven 
 church members. He d. in 1679, aged 64, and his widow, 
 Maudlin, d. 1690. Chil. : John, b. 1650, and James, b. 1652. 
 
 PEARSON, John, son of John and Maudlin, b. 1650; m. Tabitha, dau. 
 of Dea. Tho. Kendall. Chil. : Tabitha, b. about 1676, and m. 
 1696, John Goodwin; James, b. 1678, and m. 1698, Hepzibeth 
 Swain ; John, b. and d. 1682 ; John, b. about 1684, and m. 1706, 
 Elizabeth Batcheller; Rebecca, b. 1686; Kendall, b. 1688; 
 Susanna, b. 1690, and m. 1710, Daniel Gould; Mary, b. 1692, 
 and m. 1709, Joseph Eaton. 
 
 NOTE. This family removed to Lynnfield about 1689. 
 
 PHELPS, John, came from Salem, and settled in the North Precinct ; d. 
 before 1688. He had a wife whose name may have been Abi- 
 gail, and by whom he probably had the following children, most 
 of whom were probably born in Salem : Abigail, b. 1669 ; John, 
 b. 1671 ; Henry, b. 1673 ; Joseph, b. 1675 ; Abigail, b. 1678 ; 
 Samuel, b. 1680 ; Hannah, b. 1683 ; and by his second wife had : 
 Elizabeth, b. 1702, and Mary, b. 1706. 
 
 PHELPS, John, son of John and Abigail, b. 1671 ; m. 1701, Elizabeth, 
 dau. of John Putnam, of Salem, and had chil. : Elizabeth, b. 
 s 1702 ; Mary, b. 1706. 
 
 PHIPPS, John, by wife Mary had John, b. 1699. 
 
 PIERPONT, Jonathan, fourth minister of Reading, son of Robert and 
 Sarah (Lynde) Pierpont, of Roxbury, b. 1665, Har. Coll. 1685 ; 
 ordained at Reading, 1689 ; m. 1691, Elizabeth, dau. of Ed- 
 mund Angier, of Cambridge. Chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1693, and 
 m. 1716, Tobijah Perkins, of Topsfield; Jonathan, b. 1695;
 
 IQ4 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Sarah, b. 1697, and m. 1721, Enoch Sawyer, of Newbury 
 Thomas, b. 1700; Har. Coll. 1721 ; settled in Danvers, and d. 
 1753 ; Anna, m., ist, Edmund Gale, of Marblehead, and, 2d, 
 
 Ring, of Marblehead; Joseph, b. 1706; Mary, b. 1708, 
 
 and m. 1727, Joseph Bancroft. Rev. Jonathan d. 1709. He 
 lived on, or near, the corner. of Main and Albion Streets. The 
 following extracts, from a journal kept by Mr. Pierpont in his 
 early life, will furnish some idea of his feelings and style of 
 thought and expression at about the time of his settlement here, 
 and before and after : 
 
 44 July 10, 1682. I was admitted a member of Colledg. Mr. J. Cotton, a pious and 
 learned man, was my Tutor. It pleased God to awaken me by the Death of y* 
 pious Youth, Edw. Dudley. I thought it would go ill with me if God should sud- 
 denly take me away. 
 
 "July i, 1685. I took my first degree. 
 
 44 July 4, 1685. I removed from Cambridge to my father's house. 
 
 " Feb. i, 1686. I went to Dorchester to keep school. While I lived at Dorchester 
 it pleased God to awaken me by the word preached. 
 
 44 Aug. 8, 1686. I 'preached my first sermon at Milton ; Text : i Pet 5 : 5. And 
 giveth grace to the humble." 
 
 44 July i, 1687. I was invited to preach at Deadham, for a quarter of a year. By 
 the advice of Ministers and my friends I accepted the Call. 
 
 "Sept. 1 8, 1687. The church at Deadham with the town invited me to continue 
 in the work of the Ministry in order to settlement. 
 
 44 Nov. 8, 1687. I had an invitation to the work of the Ministry at New London. 
 
 41 Nov. 13, 1687. I was again called to settle at Deadham, But meeting with Op- 
 position, I was discouraged from accepting the call. 
 
 " Dec. 18, 1687. I gave this answer, ' That I did not see my way clear to settle 
 among them,' and so I took my leave of the people of Deadham. 
 
 41 Feb. 19, 1688. I joyned in ful comunion with the Church of Ch't in Roxbury. 
 
 44 Apl. 12, 1688. I had a call to preach the word at Sandwich. 
 
 " May 5, 1688. A public Fast, appointed by reason of a sore drought ; when the 
 afternoon Exercise began, God sent a plenteous rain. 
 
 44 May 16, 1688. I had a call to the work of the Ministry at Newberry Village. 
 
 " May 22, 1688. I had a call to Northfield. 
 
 44 June 19, 1688. I went to the Funeral of the Rev. Mr. Brock, at Reading. I 
 took notice that the good people much lamented the death of their Pastor. He was 
 a man who excelled most men in Faith, Prayer, and private Conference. After the 
 Funeral I was Desired by some of the principal persons in the place to preach among 
 them on the first Sabbath in July. 
 
 "July i, 1688. I preached at Reading. Text : Heb. 12 : 5. 
 
 "July 4, 1688. I took my second degree. 
 
 " July 15, 1688. I preached again at Reading, and being desired, I continued to 
 be helpful at that place, till I went to- Sandwich. 
 
 44 Aug. 8, 1688. I went to Sandwich, according to my promise, and continued there 
 a month. The people there were very desirous of my settlement among them. But 
 I kept myself free from an engagement to them, as my Father counselled me.
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. Io ^ 
 
 " Sept 9, 1688. I was helpful at Reading. The people at Reading gave me a 
 Call. I was in a great strait, and knew not which way to move. I had inclinations 
 to go to Sandwich : ist, Because I saw there was an opportunity to do service for 
 Ch* in y* place ; 2d, The generality of the people (except the Quakers) were Desir- 
 ous of my coming among them ; 3d, The young men in y place were in danger of 
 being drawn away by the Quakers, if a minister was not speedily settled among them. 
 The people of Reading urged me to accept their invitation. They told me : ist 
 They had observed remarkable Providences, directing and leading them to make 
 choice of me for their minister ; 
 
 2d. They were unanimous in their Calling me ; 
 
 3d. The town was in great danger of being divided, if I accepted not their call ; 
 
 4th. The young people were very desirous of my coming among them ; 
 
 5th. The longer I was with them, the more desirous were they of Enjoying my 
 labors. 
 
 " I looked up to God and waited on him to lead me in the way wherein he would 
 have me go. I asked advice of the Reverend Elders what to do in my present case. 
 Some counselled me to go to Sandwich, but the most were for my going to Reading. 
 
 1 asked Counsel of my Relations. They advised me to accept the call at Reading. 
 My Honored Father was averse to my going to Sandwich. He once told me, he had 
 often sought to God to discover his mind to him in this matter ; and the oftener he 
 comended this case to God, the more unwilling he was that I should go to Sandwich. 
 His words had great influence on me. After some time I thought God called me to 
 service at Reading. My way seemed to be cleer to go thither. 
 
 "Nov. 28, 1688. I removed to Reading and lived with Capt Savage. 
 
 "Dec. 6, 1688. We kept a public Fast at Reading to seek unto God for his pres- 
 ence with us, in the work before us. 
 
 " Jan'y 30, 1689. The church in Reading invited me to accept the office of a Pas- 
 tor among them. 
 
 " Feb. 27, 1689. We kept another public Fast. 
 
 " May 29, 1689. A Fast was kept by the church and town of Reading. 
 
 "June 26, 1689. I was ordained Pastor of y Church of Ch* in Reading. Text: 
 
 2 Cor. 2:16. Mr. Morton gave me the charge. Mr. C. Mather gave me the right 
 hand of fellowship. 
 
 " Aug. 12. I began publicly to catechise the children in Reading. 
 
 " Dec. 31. Mr. Fox, Mr. C. and myself with some others kept a day of Prayer for 
 a maid who was deprived of the use of her reason. It pleased God to give a remark- 
 able answer to" y 8 prayers put up to him, for before the day was ended, the use of her 
 understanding was wonderfully restored to her." 
 
 "Aug. 13, 1690. This day my horse threw me, but God preserved my Life and 
 Limbs. 
 
 " OcL 8, 1690. I had the preceding week an impulse on my spirit to set this day 
 apart for public prayers to God for our friends who were gone to Canada. When I 
 proposed the matter to the Congregation, some desired that it might be deferred. I 
 answered, we know not what need our friends might stand in of our prayers. I have 
 since been informed that on this day they engaged with their enemies. And it 
 pleased God that not a man that went from this town was slain. 
 
 " Dec. 10. We spent time in prayer to God for our friends who were returned 
 from Canada, and were sick of a sore fever. And though many of them were likely 
 to die, yet they all soon recovered.
 
 I0 6 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 "July 30, 1691. Having obtained the consent of my parents, I gave Mrs. E. A. a 
 visit 
 
 (NOTE. The prefix of Mrs. to the name of a maiden was not uncommon in early 
 times.) 
 
 " Oct 29, 1691. I was marryed to Mrs. E. A., a pious and prudent Person. 
 
 " Feb. 25, 1693. Our first child was born, which was a daughter." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Green, of Danvers, who attended the funeral 
 of Mr. Pierpont, says : " There was a general lamentation ; he 
 was a man of great worth." Judge Sewall, in his journal, June 
 3, 1709, writes : "Rev. Mr. Pierpont dies at Reading, a very 
 great loss. June 6, Artillery day, I went with Mr. John Wil- 
 liams, of Deerfield, to y e funeral of Mr. Pierpont at Reading. 
 His bearers were Leverett, Brattle, Wadsworth, Colman, Green, 
 Fox Mr. Jona. Corwin and I followed next after the relations ; 
 none else of the Council were there." The wife of the late Dr. 
 John Hay, of South Reading, was the granddaughter of Rev. 
 Mr. Pierpont. 
 
 PIERPONT, Jona, son of Rev. Jonathan, b. 1695 ; Har. Coll. 1714. In 
 1715, he was appointed schoolmaster at Reading, at ^40 per 
 year. 
 
 PIKE, James, came from Charlestown ; had wives, Naomi and Sarah. 
 Chil. : Jeremiah; John, b. 1653; Zachariah, b. 1638, and perhaps 
 James. His wife Sarah d. 1693, and he died 1699. 
 
 PIKE, Jeremiah, son of James, m. 1671, Rachel Leffingwell, dau. prob- 
 ably of Michael, of Woburn. Chil. : Jeremiah, b. 1674 ; James, 
 b. 1676, and d. soon ; Ebenezer, b. 1677 > Michael, b, 1678 ; 
 James, b. 1679 ; Rachel, b. 1681 ; Wm., b. 1687. 
 
 PIKE, James, perhaps brother of the last named; m. 1681, Hannah, 
 dau. of Nathaniel Cutler. Chil. : James, b. 1682 ; Martha, b. 
 1685 ; John, b. 1687 ; Samuel, b. 1690 ; Jona., b. 1693 ; Han- 
 nah, b. 1695. 
 
 POLLY, John, son, probably, of George, of Woburn, m. 1681, Mary 
 Everett, perhaps sister of Francis. Child : Elizabeth, b. 1683. 
 He removed to Woburn, and had other children. 
 
 POLLY, Edward, by wife Mary had chil. : Mary, b. 1696 ; Elizabeth, b. 
 1698 ; Edward, b. 1699. 
 
 POOLE, John ; came here from Lynn ; was at Cambridge in 1632 ; was 
 one of the earliest settlers of Reading, and probably the wealth-' 
 iest. He lived on the present site of Wakefield's rattan factory, 
 where he built the first grist-mill and fulling mill of the town. 
 He also owned much land at the north end of the Great Pond,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 lO/ 
 
 including the farm lately owned by Dea. Caleb Wakefield, and 
 extending easterly, included the late Newcomb mill, where said 
 Poole erected the first saw-mill, and included also the present 
 farm of heirs of Benjamin Cox, of Lynnfield. He divided his 
 estate between his son Jonathan and his grandson John. His 
 wife Margaret d. in 1662, and he d. in 1667. Chil. : Jona., b. 
 1634, and succeeded to the homestead ; Mary, who m. 1657, 
 Matthew Edwards, and perhaps Sarah, wife of Wm. Barrett. 
 
 POOLE, Capt. Jonathan, son of John and Margaret, b. 1634, probably 
 at Cambridge. Succeeded his father on the homestead, and 
 also owned, in conjunction with his son John, much land at the 
 north end of the pond. Was the second captain of the Reading 
 company. "Was much valued in Philip's Indian war;" "was 
 a Captain under Major Appleton, at Hadley ; " " was President 
 of a Council of War in the winter of 1675-6 ;" was selectman 
 justice of the peace, and representative, and d. 1678, aged 44. 
 By wife Judith had chil. : Sarah, b. 1656, and m. 1673, Thomas 
 Bancroft; Judith, b. 1658, and m. 1681, Wm. Hescy ; Mary, b. 
 1660, and d. 1661 ; Mary, b. 1662, and m. 1682, James Nichols ; 
 John, b. 1665; Jonathan, b. 1667 ; Thomas, b. 1673, and m. 
 1695, Rebecca ; William, b. 1677; Elizabeth, b. 1678. 
 
 POOLE, John, son of Capt. Jonathan and Judith, b. 1665 ; lived at the 
 north end of the Great Pond. His grandfather John Poole 
 bequeathed him one half of his estate in that vicinity, including 
 the late residence and farm of Dea. Caleb Wakefield, the " New- 
 comb Mill," and the "Benja. Cox Farm in Lynnfield." Was a 
 lieutenant ; d. 1721, aged 56. By wife Mary had chil. : John, b. 
 1688 ; Nathaniel, b. 1691. 
 
 POOLE, Jonathan, Esq., son of Capt. Jona. and Judith, b. 1667 ; suc- 
 ceeded his father on the place now occupied by the Rattan 
 Works; m. 1691 or '92, Bridget Fitch. They both died in 
 1723, he at the age of 56. He was selectman and justice of 
 the peace. Chil. : Jona., b. 1692 ; Benja., b. 1694 ; Zachariah, 
 b. 1696, and d. 1698 ; Elizabeth, b. 1698, and m. 1720, Nicholas 
 Belknap, of Boston; Samuel, b. 1700; Wm., b. 1702; Zach- 
 ariah 2 ' 1 , b. 1708, and lived on the place formerly owned by 
 Dea. Jacob Eaton, at the corner of Crescent and Eaton Streets ; 
 sold and removed to Medford ; Mary, b. 1711 ; Judith, b. 1714, 
 and d. 1714; Bridget. His will, made 1723, divided his real 
 estate among his sons Benjamin, Samuel, and Zachariah ; and 
 after providing for his wife Bridget, and remembering his
 
 I0 3 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 daughters Elizabeth (Belknap), Bridget, and Mary, goes on to 
 say: 
 
 " I give to Jonathan (the eldest son), my cloak and cane, and this is over and above 
 what I had given him before, by Deed, which I count was more than a double portion 
 that I gave by Deed." 
 
 POOLE, John, son of Lieut. John and Mary, b. 1688. He succeeded 
 his father on his homestead at the north end of the Pond. By 
 wife Sarah had chil. : John, b. 1713 ; Nathaniel ; James; Jona- 
 than, b. 1720; Sarah, b. 1721, and Elizabeth, b. 1724. He d. 
 1758, aged 70. 
 
 POOLE, Jonathan, son of Esq. Jona. and Bridget, b. 1692 ; by wife 
 Esther, had Esther, b. 1717 ; lived on the place now occupied 
 by the Rattan Works ; sold out his paternal homestead and re- 
 moved to Lynnfield, retaining, it is hoped, the old " cloak and 
 cane " which he inherited from tiis father. 
 
 POOLE, Benja., son of Esq. Jona. and Bridget, b. 1694; m. Mehitabel, 
 dau. of Benja. Gibson, of Boston. Lived on the place now 
 owned by heirs of late Leonard Wiley ; was selectman and jus- 
 tice of the peace, and d. 1732, aged 38, much lamented. Chil. : 
 Benjamin, b. 1725 ; removed to Woburn ; William, b. 1726 ; re- 
 moved to Danvers, and was ancestor of Fitch Poole, Esq., of 
 ,,.; Danvers; Mehitabel, b. 1728, and m. Capt. Joseph Fitch, of 
 Boston; James, b. 1729 ; Bridget, b. 1731. 
 
 POOLE, Samuel, son of Esq. Jona. and Bridget, b. 1700; lived on the 
 Common on the old Tavern place ; by wife Rebecca, had chil. : 
 Rebecca, b. 1731, and d. 1737 ; Samuel, b. 1733 ; Jonathan, b. 
 1737, and m. 1760, Sarah Eaton, and succeeded his uncle Benj. 
 Poole, on the place recently occupied by his grandson Leonard 
 Wiley; Mary, b. 1740 ; Thomas, b. 1744, and d. soon ; Thomas, 
 b. 1749, and m. 1771, Mary Parker. Mr. Samuel d. 1752. 
 
 POOLE, Jonathan, son of John and Sarah, b. 1720; lived on the place 
 recently sold by Dea. Caleb Wakefield ; was grandfather of Dea. 
 Wakefield's first wife. By wife Mary Leman, whom he m. at 
 Charlestown in 1741, had chil. : Jonathan, b 1747, and m. 1769, 
 Anne Bancroft, and was grandfather of Hon. H. Poole Wake- 
 field ; Sarah, b. 1749; Samuel Sheldon, b. 1751, and removed 
 to Nova Scotia; Timothy, b. 1753, and d. soon ; Timothy, b. 
 1762 ; m., ist, Lucy Pope, and m., 2d, Jerusha Richardson, 
 and was father of Dr. Alexander Poole and of Franklin Poole, 
 Esq., now residing in Wakefield.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 IO9 
 
 NOTE. The Poole family, for several of the early generations, were leather- 
 dressers, and eminent for wealth, talents, and influence. 
 
 POOLE, Samuel, 2d, son of Samuel and Rebecca, b. 1733, by wife 
 Elizabeth had chil. : Joseph Eaton, b. 1759 ; Rebecca, b. 1761, 
 and m. 1780, Charles Eaton, and d. 1836, aged 76. 
 
 POOLE, Thomas, son of Samuel and Rebecca, b. 1749, and m. 1771, 
 Mary Parker, had chil. : Polly, b. 1772 ; Thomas, b. 1773 ; 
 Lucy, b. 1775; William, b. 1778; Nancy, b. 1781; Archibald, 
 b. 1783; and Samuel. (gJV&a.c. ) 
 
 PRATT, John, son of John and Rebecca Pratt, of Medfield (who was a 
 blacksmith); John (the son), b. about 1665; m. 1691, Sarah 
 c V x S removed to Reading ; lived on the "Side the Pond," on 
 the " John White, Sen., place," now owned by Lucius Beebe, 
 Esq. He d. 1744, in his 8oth year. Chil. : John, b. 1692 ; 
 Sarah, b. 1694, and m. 1743, Isaac Smith (second wife); Sam- 
 uel, b. 1696; Rebecca, b. 1698, and m. 1722, John Damon; 
 Edward, b. 1700; Timothy, b. 1702. His wid. d. 1751, in her 
 8ist year. 
 
 PRATT, Samuel, son of John and Sarah, b. 1696 ; his wife's name was 
 Joanna. Settled in the easterly part of the West Parish, near 
 where Herrick Batchelder's heirs now own. He d. 1735. 
 Chil. : Samuel, b. 1719 ; Joanna, b. 1721 ; John, b. 1723, and d. 
 1737; Daniel, b. 1725; Mary, b. 1727; Ephraim, b. 1729; 
 Sarah, b. 1731 ; Sarah, b. 1733. Some portion of this family 
 settled on the Lovejoy place in West Parish. 
 
 PRATT, Timothy, son of John and Sarah, b. 1702 ; m., ist, 1724, 
 Tabitha, dau. of John and Grace Boutwell ; succeeded to his 
 father's homestead. Chil. (by first wife) : Dorcas, b. 1725, and 
 m. 1750 to Thomas Wakefield, grandfather of Dea. Caleb Wake- 
 field and of the late Cyrus Wakefield, Esq. ; Timothy, b. and d. 
 1727 ; Timothy, b. 1730 ; Tabitha, b. 1734 ; John, b. 1737 ; m., 
 2d, Abigail, and had chil. : Abigail, b. 1738 ; Isaac, b. 1740, and 
 was grandfather of the present Nathan Parker Pratt, Esq. ; 
 Sarah, b. 1744. This family, a portion of them, early removed 
 to the late Timothy Wakefield place, and to the place now owned 
 by the said Nathan P. Pratt, in West Parish. It appears, how- 
 ever, that John Pratt, probably the son of Timothy aforesaid, 
 was living on the old homestead by the " Side of the Pond," in 
 
 1765. 
 
 RICE, Nicholas, had a wife Sarah ; she d. 1698. In 1692, she was 
 charged with witchcraft and imprisoned in Boston jail. Her
 
 IIO GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 husband petitioned the General Court for her release, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " The humble petition of Nicholas Rice of Reading sheweth, that whereas Sarah 
 Rice, wife to the petitioner, was taken into custody, the first day of June last, and hath 
 since lain in Boston Jail for witchcraft, though in all that time nothing has been made 
 to appear, for which she deserved imprisonment or death. The petitioner has been 
 a husband to the said woman above twenty years, in all which time, he had never 
 reason to accuse her of any impietie or witchcraft ; but the contrary, she lived with 
 him as a good, faithful, dutiful wife, and always had respect to the ordinances of God, 
 while her strength remained ; and the petitioner on that consideration, is obliged in 
 conscience and justice to use all lawful means for the support and preservation of her 
 life ; and it is deplorable, that in old age, the poor decrepid woman should lye under 
 confinement in a stinking jail, when her circumstances rather require a Nurse to 
 attend her. May it therefore please your Honors to take this matter into your pres- 
 ent consideration, and direct some speedy method, whereby this ancient and decrepid 
 person may not forever lye in such misery, wherein her life is made more afflictive to 
 her than death. And the petitioner shall, as in duty bound, ever pray. 
 
 "NICHOLAS RICE. 
 "READING, Oct. 19, 1692." 
 
 (She was soon after discharged from prison ) 
 
 RICHARDSON, John, was taxed in 1686. 
 
 ROBBINS, William, m. 1680, Priscilla James ; had Elizabeth, b. 1680 ; 
 probably removed early to Boston. 
 
 ROBERTS, Abraham, by wife Sarah had Mary, b. 1681, and m. 1714, 
 William Shelton, of Salem. The following may also have been 
 the children of Abraham and Sarah : Sarah, who m. 1701, Sam- 
 uel Foster; Ann, who m. 1707, Caleb Taylor; Elizabeth, who 
 m. 1713, Benjamin Nurse; Abigail, who m. 1721, John Eaton, 
 and Abraham, who m. 1726, Elizabeth Pierce. 
 
 ROBERTS, Giles, by wife Deborah had a dau. : Deborah, b. 1711, and m. 
 1731, Ebenezer Foster, of Wilmington. This Giles may have 
 been the son of David Roberts, of Woburn, who had a son 
 Giles. 
 
 ROGERS, William, had chil. : Mary, b. 1669 ; Abigail, b. 1671 ; William, 
 b. 1672 ; Sarah, b. 1674 ; John, b. 1676; Grace, b. 1678. 
 
 RUSSELL, William, by wife Elizabeth had Ebenezer, b. 1688. 
 
 RUSSELL, Ebenezer, son of William and Elizabeth, b. 1688 ; by wife 
 Deborah had chil. : Deborah, b. 1712, and m. 1729, Joseph 
 Mclntire ; Ebenezer, b. 1714; Samuel, b. 1716; Nathan, b. 
 1718 ; William, b. 1721 ; Stephen, b. 1725 ; Elizabeth, b. 1730. 
 
 SADLER, Richard, owned land in Reading ; settled in Lynn ; was town 
 clerk in Lynn in 1640 ; returned early to England. He owned 
 a tract of land lying between Ipswich River and Bare Meadows
 
 OF THE TOWN OF RFADING. \\\ 
 
 t 
 that was called from him " Sadler's Neck," now the southerly 
 
 part of North Reading.. 
 
 SAVAGE, Ephraim, came from Boston ; was a captain. His first wife 
 was Mary Quincy, of Braintree. His second wife was Sarah, 
 wid. of Obadiah Walker, and dau. of Rev. Samuel Haugh, by 
 whom he had chil. : Sarah, b. 1678 ; Mary, b. 1680 ; Richard, 
 b. 1682 ; Elizabeth, b. 1685 ; and Hannah, b. 1687, at which 
 time the mother died. Capt. Savage m., 3d, 1688, Elizabeth, 
 wid. of Timothy Symmes, and dau. of Capt. Francis Norton, of 
 Charlestown, by whom he had Hannah, b. 1689. His third 
 wife d. 1710. He lived in Reading not many years ; returned 
 to Boston, where he had a fourth wife. Was a man of ability 
 and influence. 
 
 SAWYER, William, by Abigail Lilley had Henry, b. 1697 ; m. 1700, 
 Dorcas Burnap, and had other chil. : Dorcas, b. 1701 ; Rachel, 
 b. 1703, and m. 1723, Tho. Rich ; Lydia, b. 1705, and m. 1726, 
 Daniel Townsend, of Lynn; William, b. 1708, and m. 1730, 
 Mary Wood; Isaac, b. 1711; Susanna, b. 1717; Bethiah, b. 
 1720; and probably Jacob, who m. 1733, Elizabeth Damon. 
 
 SAWYER, Henry, son of William and Abigail, b. 1697 ; m. 1718, Sarah 
 Nurse. Chil. : Abigail, b. 1719 ; Josiah, b. 1721 ; Reuben, b. 
 1723; Sarah, b. 1726; Francis, b. 1728; Hepzi., b. 1730; 
 Caleb, b. 1732. 
 
 NOTE. The Sawyer family settled in the North Precinct. 
 
 SCOLLEY, John, was taxed in 1686 as of the North Precinct. 
 
 SMITH, Francis, was a freeman of Watertown in 1637 ; stopped awhile, 
 it is said, at Chelsea Ferry, or Rumney Marsh, and came to 
 Reading about 1647 ; settled at the north end of Smith's Pond 
 (so named from him) ; he owned a large tract of land in the 
 vicinity of the pond and extending into Woodville (now so 
 called). His house stood, it is said, near where is now Wake- 
 field Junction railroad Station. He was selectman ; died 1651. 
 Chil. : John ; Benjamin, b. at Watertown, 1637 ; Hannah, who 
 m. 1659, Geo. Lilley; Mary, who m. 1664, Jeremiah Swain. 
 
 SMITH, John, son of Francis above named ; m., ist, 1647, Catherine, 
 dau. of Isaac Morrill, of Roxbury ; she d. 1662; m., 2d, 1663, 
 Mary Bill, who may have been the Mary Bill said to have been 
 a passenger in the " Planter," in 1635, and being then eleven 
 years old. He was called Lieut, at his 2d marriage. Chil. : 
 John, b. 1651; Mary; Sarah, b. and d. 1654; Isaac, b. 1655 ;
 
 II2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Benjamin, b. 1657, and d. 1658; Francis, b. 1658; Abraham, 
 b. 1661 ; James, b. 1663 ; Jemima, b. 1670. 
 
 SMITH, Benjamin, son of Francis, b. 1637 ; m. 1661, Jehoadan, dau. of 
 Peter Palfrey; she died 1662, and he died 1691. Chil. : Benj.> 
 b. 1661, and d. 1662. 
 
 SMITH, Matthew, probably from Woburn ; ist wife was Elizabeth, who 
 d. 1680; m., 2d, 1684, Mary Cutler, at which time he is called 
 Sen., and had one child : Thomas. 
 
 SMITH, Francis, Deacon, son of John and Catherine, b. 1658; m. Ruth, 
 dau. of Elias and Ann (Harris) Maverick, of Charlestown and 
 Chelsea. He was selectman, town clerk, and a deacon for a 
 long time. He succeeded to the old homestead of his father. 
 His wife Ruth d. 1717, aged 62 ; he died 1744, aged 85. Chil. : 
 John, b. 1680 ; Isaac, b. 1682 ; Abraham, b. 1687 ; James, b. 
 1690; Catherine, b. 1693, and m. 1714, Samuel Felch; Benja- 
 min, b. 1692 ; Ruth, b. 1694, and m. 1732, John Burnap ; Mary, 
 b. 1696, and m. 1722, Abraham Knowlton, and was grandmother 
 of Hon. John Hart; Elias, b. 1698, and m. 1724, Elizabeth 
 Emerson. 
 
 SMITH, Samuel, perhaps from Lynn ; wife's name was Priscilla ; had 
 chil. : Samuel, b. 1701; John and Priscilla (twins), b. 1707; 
 Mehitabel, b. 1713. 
 
 SMITH, John, eldest son of Francis and Ruth, b. 1680 ; m. 1705, Eliza- 
 beth Lynde ; settled in Woodville on the Almshouse Farm, and 
 had chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1706 ; Ruth, b. 1707, and m. 1732, John 
 Burnap; John, b. 1710; m. 1738, Ruth Burnap, and subse- 
 quently two other wives, but had no children ; was deacon, and 
 succeeded his father on the Almshouse Farm ; Thomas, b. 1712, 
 settled in Lynn, and was father of Sarah, who m. Cornelius 
 Sweetser, of South Reading, and grandfather of John, who mar- 
 ried Lois Emerson; Anna, b. 1714; Francis b. 1716; m., ist, 
 1746, Sarah Boardman ; lived on the place long owned by Widow 
 Benjamin Emerson ; was deacon* had no children ; made Col. 
 Amos Boardman, his wife's nephew, his heir; m., 2d, Widow 
 James (Boutwell) Bryant; Joseph, b. 1719, who was father of 
 Joe Smith the idiot. 
 
 SMITH, Isaac, son of Francis and Ruth, b. 1682 ; lived on the place 
 formerly occupied by Dr. John Hart. His first wife's name was 
 Mary Pierce, of Charlestown (Stoneham), whom he m. 1709; 
 she d. 1740 ; m., 2d, 1743, Sarah Pratt; he d. 1779, in his gSth 
 year. Chil.: Mary, b. 1710, and m. Michael Sweetser; Sarah,
 
 OF THE TOIVN OF READING. U^ 
 
 b. 1712 ; Abigail, b. 1713, and d. 1724; Martha, b. 1715, and m. 
 1734, Samuel Noyes, of Newbury; Isaac, b. 1717; m. 1741, 
 Susanna Wiley ; Jonathan, b. 1719, and m. 1743, Martha Webb, 
 of Woburn; Catherine, b. 1721, and m. 1739, Joseph Woodman, 
 of Newbury; Phebe, b. 1723 ; Abigail, b. 1725, and m. 1754, 
 Samuel Damon; Timothy, b. 1729, and m. 1751, Mary Damon, 
 and settled in Amherst, N. H. ; Maverick, b. 1732, and m. 1754, 
 Martha Smith, and settled in Amherst, N. H. ; and perhaps 
 Samuel. 
 
 SMITH, Abraham, son of Francis and Ruth, b. 1687 ; wife's name was 
 Elizabeth ; settled, it is said, on Loel Emerson place in Wood- 
 ville. Chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1720, and m. 1740, Ed. Damon; 
 Lydia, b. 1723, and m. 1749, William Gould, and d. 1752 ; Je- 
 mima, b. 1726, and m. 1753, Tho. Jenkins, of Maiden ; Mary, 
 b. 1727; Abraham, b. 1730; Martha, b. 1732, and m. 1754, 
 Maverick Smith; Stephen, b. 1736, and d. 1754. 
 
 SMITH, James, son of Francis and Ruth, b. 1690, or '91 ; m. Abigail, 
 and settled on the late Dea. Ezekiel Oliver place in Greenwood. 
 Chil.: Abigail, b. 1721; Hepzibeth, b. 1724; m. 1753 (as sec- 
 ond wife), William Gould ; Esther, b. 1727, and m. 1755, James 
 Bancroft, of Lynn, ancestor of late Capt. Henry Bancroft, of 
 Lynnfield; James, b. 1730, and m. 1773, Susanna Mead, and 
 was father of the late Miss Catey Smith; Ruth, b. 1732, and 
 d. 1738. 
 
 SMITH, Benjamin, son of Francis and Ruth, b. 1692 ; m. 1724, Eliza- 
 beth, dau. of Tho. and arah (Walton) Burnap. He succeeded 
 to the ancient homestead of his father; his wife d. 1748, aged 
 54. He d 1781, in his goth year. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1728, 
 and m. 1752, Amos Boardman, of Chelsea; Ebenezer, b. 1730; 
 m., ist, 1751, Mary Green ; m., 2d, in 1753, Hepzibeth Damon, 
 and 3d, 1780, Mary Sherman ; Elias, 1 b. 1731 ; Har..Coll. 1753 ; 
 became the minister of Middleton, and d. 1792 (1791, says Town 
 Clerk of Middleton). 
 
 SMITH, Ebenezer, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth, b. 1730; m., ist, 
 1751, Mary, dau. of Thomas Green; she d. 1753, aged 21; 
 in., 2d, 1755, Hepzibeth, dau. of John Damon; and m., 3d, 
 Mary Sherman. He d. 1796, aged 66, and his wid. d. 1802, 
 aged 73- He had succeeded to the ancient homestead. After 
 his death the farm, consisting then of some 80 acres, was sold 
 
 1 See under 1759. 
 15
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 to Dr. John Hart for $4,000. Chil. : Mary, b. 1752, and m. 
 1770, Capt. David Smith; Benjamin, b. and d. scoi ; Ebenezer, 
 b. 1756, settled in Vermont; Rebecca, b. 1758, and m. 1776, 
 Thomas Evans; Elizabeth, b. 1761, and m., ist, 1785, Israel 
 Walton; m., 2d, Paul Sweetser; Benjamin, b. 1764, and m. 
 1785, Betty Sherman, and settled in Hillsboro', N. H. ; Hepzi- 
 beth, b. 1770, and m. 1790, John Damon. 
 
 SOUTHWICK, Isaac, m. 1691, Ann, and had chil. : Anna, b 1694, and 
 m. 1713, Jonathan Herbert; Sarah, b. and d. 1696; Sarah, b. 
 1699, and m. Benjamin Southwick ; Isaac, b. 1703 ; Mehitabel, 
 b. 1706, and m. 1726, Ebenezer Weston. Isaac, Sen., lived in 
 the easterly part of the West Parish on the place now owned by 
 Eben D. Symonds. 
 
 SOUTHWICK, Benjamin, came from Salem; m. 1720, Sarah, dau. of 
 Isaac Southwick. Chil.: Isaac, b. 1720; Benjamin, b. 1722; 
 Sarah, b. 1724; Mercy, b. 1730. 
 NOTE. The Southwick family removed to Salem and Danvers. 
 
 SQUIER, John, probably came from Boston. Chil. : John, b. 1667 ; 
 Stephen, b. 1670. 
 
 STIMPSON, James, one of the earliest physicians of Reading; m. 1661, 
 Mary Leffingwell, and settled on Cowdrey's Hill. Chil. : Abi- 
 gail, b. 1663 ; Ruth, b. 1664 ; Thomas, b. and d. 1666 ; Abigail, 
 b. 1667 ; James, b. 1669 ; Thomas, b. 1671 ; Abigail, b. 1673 ; 
 Jonathan and David, twins, b. 1676; Mary, b. and d. 1678; 
 Mary, b. 1679 ; Benjamin, b. i8i ; Ebenezer, b. 1684. 
 
 STIMPSON, Naomi, who was called the wife of James Stimpson, Sen., 
 d. 1 68 1 ; may have been the mother of Dr. James. 
 
 STIMPSON, James, son of Dr. James and Mary, b. 1669 ; m. 1706, Sarah 
 Upton, and she d. 1708. Child : Sarah, b. 1708. 
 
 STIMPSON, Thomas, son of Dr. James and Mary, b. 1671, was a physi- 
 cian ; by wife Mary had chil. : Mary, b. 1699 ; Phebe, b. 1702 ; 
 Thomas, b. 1704; Hepzibeth, b. 1707, and m. 1730, John 
 Laughton, of Sudbury ; Sarah, b. 1709; Jonathan, b. 1712; 
 Timothy, b. 1714; David; Ebenezer, b. 1720. 
 
 STIMPSON, Thomas, son of Dr. Thomas and Mary, b. 1704 ; was. a phy- 
 sician ; lived on the " Side of the Pond," on the place lately 
 owned by John White, Sen. ; m. 1726, Elizabeth Bryant. Chil : 
 Phebe, b. 1730, and m. 1754, William Nichols; William, b. 
 1732; Thomas, b. 1735; James, b. 1737; Mary, b. 1740, and 
 m. 1758, William Bryant, Jr.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. n$ 
 
 + 
 
 STIMPSON, Timothy, son of Dr. Thomas and Mary, b. 1714; m. 
 1739, Mehitabel Parker, and had chil. : John, b. 1744; Mehit- 
 abel, b. 1749 ; Elizabeth, b. 1752 ; Thaddeus, b. 1753. 
 
 STIMPSON, Ebenezer, son of Dr. Thomas and Mary, b. 1720 ; was a 
 physician; m. 1748, Eleanor Damon. He died 1775. Chil.: 
 tbenezer, b. 1749; Eleanor, b. 1753, and m. 1771, Elijah Ful- 
 ler, of Middleton ; Mary, b. 1755 ; Mary, b. 1759 ; William, b. 
 1763. 
 
 STIMPSON, William, son of Dr. Thomas and Elizabeth, b. 1732 ; was a 
 physician ; lived at the homestead on " Side of the Pond " ; after- 
 wards at the corner of Main and Salem Streets ; m. Catharine, 
 dau. of Ebenezer Nichols, Esq. He-d. 1812, aged 80. She 
 d. 1831, aged 97. Chil.: Catharine, b. 1758, and m. 1791, 
 James Ridgway, of Boston; Elizabeth, b. 1760, and m. 1784, 
 Joseph Bryant, of Stoneham ; William, b. 1768, and m., ist, Miss 
 Danforth, of Lynnfield ; 2d, Miss Boynton, of Dunstable ; 3d, 
 wid. Teprel, of Boston; Susanna, b. 1770. 
 
 STIMPSON, Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Eleanor, b. 1749 ; m. 1780, 
 Esther Hartshorn, and had chil.: Mary, b. 1781, and m. 1798, 
 Rev. Peter Sanborn ; Ebenezer, b. 1782, and m. Mary Means, 
 of Amherst, N. H., and was father of Robert, of Charlestown, 
 who was b. 1800; Daniel, b. 1784; Nelly, b. 1789; Betsey, b. 
 1791; Abigail, b. 1793; Timothy, b. 1796; Esther, b. 1798; 
 John, b. iSoi. 
 
 STIMPSON, William, son of Ebenezer and Eleanor, b. 1763; m. 1783, 
 Esther Cowdrey, dau. of Nathaniel and Sarah. Chil. : Philo- 
 mela, b. 1790, and m. 1809, John B. Atwell ; William, b. 1793 ; 
 was a soldier in the war of 1812, and m. Lyclia Knight. 
 
 SUTTON, Richard, had a son Richard, b. 1674. He lived "Side of the 
 Pond," on the place afterwards owned by Tho. Nichols and 
 Timo. Goodwin. 
 
 SWAIN, Jeremiah, was at Charlestown in 1638 ; came to Reading 
 among the very early settlers ; lived in the easterly part of the 
 First Parish. He and his descendants appeared to have owned 
 a tract of land extending from the present residence of David 
 Batchelder to the farm of the late Issachar Stowell. His wife's 
 name was Mary. He d. 1658. Chil.: Jeremiah, b. 1643; 
 John, b. 1645 > Sarah, b. 1655 ; Elizabeth, b. 1651, and d. 1656 ; 
 and Mary, who was b. before 1643, and m., ist, in 1658, Thomas 
 Clark; married, 2d, 1665, Edward Marshall. 
 
 SWAIN, Jeremiah, major and doctor, son of Jeremiah and Mary, b.
 
 IZ 6 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1643 ; m. 1664, Mary Smith, and succeeded to his father's home- 
 stead ; was physician, selectman, justice of the peace, represen- 
 tative, assistant to the Governor, captain, major, etc. ; had the 
 command of a regiment that was sent against the Eastern In- 
 dians ; was a brave and talented officer and an able man. He 
 d. 1710, aged 67. Chil. : Jeremiah, b. 1665, and d. 1696 ; John, 
 b. 1667, and d. soon ; John, b. 1668, and d. soon; Benjamin, b. 
 1669; John, b. 1671, and d. 1696 ; Mary, b. 1674; Hepzibeth, 
 b. 1677 ; Sarah, b. 1682 ; Elizabeth, b. 1684. 
 
 SWAIN, Jeremiah, son of Maj. Jeremiah, b. 1665. His wife's name was 
 Elizabeth. They both d. 1696. Chil. : Jeremiah, b. 1693, and 
 m. 1715, Sarah Burnap ; Mary, b. 1695. 
 
 SWAIN, Benjamin, son of Maj. Jeremiah, b. 1669 ; ist wife's name was 
 Margaret; she d. 1713 ; m., 2d, 1714, Elizabeth, wid. of James 
 Boutwell. He was a physician, lieutenant, and selectman. He 
 d. 1747, aged 78. Chil.: Margaret, b. 1696, an^ m. 1720, Jo- 
 seph Allen, of Salem ; John, b. 1698 ; Benjamin, b. 1700; Mary, 
 b. 1702, and d. 1707 ; Thomas, b. 1705 ; Elizabeth, b. 1707, and 
 m. 1727, Jonathan Lawrence, of Lexington. ; Mary, b. 1709, 
 and m. 1733, John Williams, of Newbury ; Sarah, b. 1711, and 
 m. 1727, Daniel Morse, of Newbury; Anna, b. 1713, and m. 
 1732, James Parker; Hepzibeth, b. 1715, and m. 1732, Joseph 
 Appleton, of Ipswich. 
 
 SWAIN, Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth, b. 1693; m. 1715, 
 Sarah Burnap. Chil. : Jeremiah, b. 1717* Sarah, b. 1719; 
 Samuel, b. 1722; Mary, b. 1724; Elizabeth, b. 1726; Lydia, 
 b. 1729, and m. 1754, Thomas Green; Hepzibeth, b. 1731 ; 
 Jacob, b. 1733. 
 
 SWAIN, John, son of Dr. Benjamin and Margaret, b. 1698; m., ist, 
 
 about 1720, Mary ; she d. 1737; m., 2d, Mary . 
 
 Lived at the North Precinct. Chil. : John, b. 1721 ; Joseph, b. 
 1723, Har. Coll. 1744, and became minister of Wenham. Mary, 
 b. 1724; Hannah, b. 1725; Daniel, b. 1726; Mary, b. 1728; 
 Amos, b. 1730; Jonathan, b. 1732; Elizabeth, b. 1734; Mar- 
 garet, b. 1736; Nathaniel, b. 1740 ; Mary, b. 1743. 
 
 NOTE. Six of the above-named children, namely : Hannah. Daniel, Mary, Amos, 
 Jonathan, and Margaret, died in November and December of 1736 of throat dis- 
 temper. 
 
 SWAIN, Benjamin, son of Dr. Benjamin and Margaret, b. 1700; wife's 
 name was Sarah; had chil. : Benjamin, b. and d. 1729 ; William,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 117 
 
 b. 1732, and d. 1736 ; Sarah, b. 1738 ; Benjamin, b. 1740 ; Eliza- 
 beth, b. 1743. He removed to Woburn. 
 
 SWAIN, Dr. Thomas, son of Dr. Benjamin and Margaret, b. 1705 ; his 
 wife's name was Hannah. He lived on the place now owned 
 by David Batchelder; was a physician, and d. 1759, aged 53. 
 Chil. : Hannah, b. 1731, and m. 1749, Gen. Benjamin Brown; 
 Hepzibeth, b. 1733 ; Lucy, b. 1735 ; Thomas, b. 1738, and d. 
 soon ; Oliver, b. 1740 ; Samuel, b. 1743 ; Lucy, b. 1744, and d. 
 soon; Margaret, b. 1748; Thomas, b. 1751. 
 
 SWAIN, Oliver, son of Dr. Thomas and Hannah, b. 1740; m. 1762, 
 Margaret, dau. of John and Mary Walton ; was a physician, and 
 d. 1773. Chil.: Margaret, b. 1763, and m. 1786, Jeremiah 
 Hartshorn; Oliver, b. 1765, and m. 1789, Margaret Hartshorn, 
 
 Benjamin, b. 1767, and m. Buck; Thomas, b. 1771, and 
 
 m. Betsey Pope, and was a school-teacher. 
 
 SWAIN, Thomas, son of Dr. Thomas and Hannah, b. 1751 ; his wife's 
 name was Abigail. He was an eminent physician, and d. 1 780, 
 aged 30. Chil.: Lucinda, b. 1775 ; Thomas, b. 1780. 
 
 TAYLOR, Edward, had a wife Christiana, who d. 1673, an ^ he m., 2d, 
 1673, Elizabeth , and he d. 1694. 
 
 TAYLOR, Thomas, was of Watertown in 1642 ; removed to Lynn, and 
 afterwards to Reading. His wife's name was Elizabeth, by 
 whom he had Seabred, b. 1643. His wife d. 1650. 
 
 TAYLOR, Thomas, perhaps a son of the above ; m. 1671, Mary Hooper, 
 and had chil. : Thomas, b. 1672 ; Mary, b. 1675, and d. 1695 ; 
 James, b. 1678; Caleb, b. 1685. Tho., the father, d. 1691, and 
 his wid. in 1697. 
 
 TAYLOR, William, came from Lynn. 
 
 TAYLOR, Seabred, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, b. 1643; m. 1671, 
 Mary Harrington; had chil.: Elizabeth, b. 1675 ; Mary, b. 
 1676, and d. soon ; Mary, b. 1678, and m. 1697, Tho. Stimpson ; 
 John,b. 1681 ; James, b. 1688; Thomas, b. 1692. Seabred, the 
 father, d. 1714, aged 71. 
 
 TEMPLE, Richard, of Reading, son of Robert, of Saco, Me., who was 
 killed by the Indians in 1676. Richard was b. 1668 ; m. 1696, 
 Deborah, dau. of Dea. Thomas and Amy Parker, and d. 1737, 
 aged 69. Chil. : Josiah, b. 1694 (by a first wife) ; d 1737. He 
 had a fit while drawing water, and fell into the well and was 
 drowned; Thomas, b. 1695, an.l d. soon; Jonathan, b. 1699; 
 Phebe, m. John Tovnsend, of Charlestown ; John, b. 1704; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1706, and in. James Townsend; Jabez, b. 1709,
 
 H8 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and m. Mehitabel Nichols, and lived in Wilmington ; Ruth, 
 b. 1712, and d. 1757; Thomas b. 1714, and m., ist, Sarah 
 Parker, and, ad, Hepzibeth Nichols, and lived in Framingham ; 
 Ebenezer, b. 1716, and m. Hepzibeth Jenkins, and went to 
 Tewksbury. 
 
 NOTE. Mr. Richard Temple lived in the westerly part of the West Parish, where 
 his descendants still occupy. He was selectman in 1734 and '5. 
 
 "The Temples of England, from whom this family came, have long been of the 
 nobility, furnishing some of the most eminent and illustrious personages in English 
 history, among whom were knights, earls, and noble lords and ladies. Lord Gren- 
 ville, the younger Pitt, and, recently, Lord Palmerston, the late English Premier, 
 were of this family. The Winthrops of our own land are connected with it. The 
 first person of the name of Temple is said to have assumed the name after having 
 obtained a grant of land that had belonged to the Knight Templars." 
 
 TEMPLE, Jonathan, son of Richard and Deborah, b. 1699 ; m., ist, 
 1734, Sarah Harnden, and m., zd, 1759, wid. Sarah Damon. 
 Chil. : Sarah, b. 1735, and m. Caleb Bancroft, and went to 
 Temple, N. H. ; Mary, b. 1739, and d 1755 ; Jonathan, b. 1740, 
 and d. soon; Jonathan, b. 1760, and m. Hepzibeth Parker, and 
 went to Antrim, N. H. ; Jabez, b. 1763, and m. Hepzibeth Emer- 
 son, and went to Londonderry, N. H. ; Daniel, b. 1767, and m. 
 Sarah Beard. He was a deacon. 
 
 TEMPLE, John, son of Richard and Deborah, b. 1704; m. 1731, 
 Rebecca Parker ; m., 2 d, Sarah Weston. He was town clerk, 
 selectman, representative, and a member of the Continental 
 Congress, always serving, it is recorded, " to good acceptance." 
 He. d. 1776. Chil.: Phebe, b. 1732; Rebecca, b. 1734, and 
 m. Ephfaim Parker, and she d. 1784; Elizabeth, b. 1736, and 
 m. Joseph Bancroft, and she d. 1815 ; John, b. 1738 ; Timothy, 
 b. and d. 1740; Susanna, b. 1741; William, b. 1745. 
 
 TEMPLE, John, son of John and Rebecca, b. 1738; m., ist, 1761, Han- 
 nah Nichols; shed. 1796; m., 2d, Abigail Richardson; was 
 deacon, and d. 1^821. Chil.: John, b. 1762; James, b. 1765, 
 and m. Mary Fowle, and d. 1800; Jonathan, b. 1768, and m., 
 ist, Lydia Pratt, and, 2d, Lucina Parker ;' Richard, b. 1770, and 
 m., ist, Hannah Nichols, and, 2 d, Fanny Beard; Timothy, b. 
 1775, and m. Lydia Locke, and he d. 1832. 
 
 TEMPLE, William, son of John and Rebecca, b. 1745 ; m. 1768, Rebecca 
 Weston; he d. 1807. Chil. : Rebecca, b. 1769, and m. John 
 Temple, and she d. 1798 ; William, b. 1773; Susy, b. 1775, and 
 d. 1778.
 
 OP THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 IIQ 
 
 TEMPLE, John, son of John and Hannah, b. 1762 ; m., ist, Rebecca 
 Temple, by whom he had chil. : John, b. 1791; Peter, b. 1792, 
 and d. 1796; Rebecca, b. 1794, and d. 1798; Chloe, b. 1796, 
 and d. 1830 ; Peter, b. 1798, and m. Abigail Evans. First wife 
 d. 1798, and m., zd, Betsey Carter, and had chil.: Rebecca, b. 
 
 1800, and d. 1819 ; Betsey, b. 1801, and m. Jona. Buck, of Wil- 
 mington ; Lydia, b. 1802, and m. Ab'iel Holden, of Reading; 
 James, b. 1804, and m. Ann L. Beck, and went to Illinois ; 
 Charlotte, b. 1806, and d. 1807 ; William, b. 18*7, and m. Mary 
 Coggin ; Timothy, b. 1810, and rn. Sophronia Flint; Sally, b. 
 1813; Harriet, b. 1816, and m. Henry G. Richardson; Benja- 
 min, b. 1818; Mary Ann, b. 1821, and m. Daniel B. Lovejoy. 
 
 TEMPLE, William, son of William and Rebecca, b. 1773; m. Zerviah 
 Richardson, and had child : William, b. 1801, and m. Susanna 
 Noyes, and settled in New Hampshire. 
 
 TEMPLE, Daniel, son of Jonathan and Sarah, b. 1767 ; m. 1788, Sarah, 
 dau. of William and Sarah Beard; was a deacon, and d. 1836. 
 Chil.: Daniel, b. 1789; Har. Coll. 1817, and m., ist, Rachel 
 Dix, and, 2d, Martha Eld ; was a clergyman and a missionary 
 to Asia Minor; Sally, b. 1791, and d. 1829; Charles, b. 1794, 
 and m. Bridget Richardson ; Clarissa, b. and d. 1796 ; Clarissa, 
 b. 1797, and d. 1829 ; Jonathan, b. and d. 1800 ; Fanny, b. 
 
 1801, and m. Azor Richardson ; George, b. 1803, and m. Hep- 
 zibeth Damon, and d. 1831 at sea; Calvin, b. 1805, and m. 
 Mary Pierce ; was formerly railroad station-master at Reading ; 
 Mark M. (deacon), b. 1807, and m. Sarah Hemphill ; Nancy L., 
 b. 1809, and m. Lilley Eaton (of the Woburn Batons) ; William 
 T., b. 1811, and m. Lucinda Pratt; Joseph, b. 1814, and d. 
 1838 
 
 THOMPSON, George, came from Lynn to Reading about 1660 ; by wife 
 
 Sarah had chil.: Sarah, b. 1659, and m. 1680, John Upton; 
 
 John, b. 1661 ; David, b. and d. 1663 ; Mary, b. 1664, and m. 
 
 1682, Benjamin Hartshorne ; George, b. 1666; Elizabeth, b. 
 
 1669 ; Jonathan, b. 1671. George, the father, d. 1674. 
 THOMPSON, John, son of George, b. 1661 ; by wife Elizabeth had chil. : 
 
 Mary, b. 1690 ; John, b. 1691 ; George, b. 1694. 
 TONY, John, d. 1691. 
 TOWER, Thomas, m. 1662, Hannah Dustin. His servant, William 
 
 Crocker, d. 1681. He d. 1684, and his wid. m. T. Jackson. 
 TOWNSEND, George, probably son of Andrew, of Lynn ; removed from 
 
 Lynn to Reading, and by wife Rebecca had Rebecca, b. 1689,
 
 12Q GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and perhaps was father of Abigail, who m. in 1704, Nathaniel 
 Evans. 
 
 TOWNSEND, John, probably brother of the foregoing; m. 1698, Sarah, 
 dau. of James and Rebecca Boutwell. Chil. : Sarah, b. 1705, 
 and m. 1725, Brown Emerson; Jacob, b. 1712, and d. soon; 
 Mary, b. 1717; and perhaps other children. Mrs. Sarah d. 
 J 737 aged 60. 
 
 UNDERWOOD, Joseph, son of Joseph, of Watertown ; b. probably, 1650; 
 d. 1691 ;. by wife Elizabeth had chil. : Mary, b. 1673; Joseph, 
 b. 1675, ar >d d. soon; John, b. 1677, and settled in Charles- 
 town; Elizabeth, b. 1679, an d m. 1700, Nathaniel Cutler; Jo- 
 seph, b. 1681 ; Joshua, b. 1682, and settled in Sherburne ; and 
 perhaps others ; these children were born, some in Watertown, 
 and some in Reading. 
 
 UNDERWOOD, Joseph, probably son of Joseph and Elizabeth, and b. 
 1681 ; m. 1707, Susan Parker. 
 
 UNDERWOOD, Joseph, probably son of Joseph and Susan, m. 1739, 
 Ruth Bancroft. 
 
 UNDERWOOD, Joseph, probably son of Joseph and Ruth; m. 1762, 
 Mary Poole. Chil. : Mary, b. 1763, and m. 1785, Tho. Miles ; 
 Lucy, b. 1771 ; Joseph, b. 1773; Rebecca, b. 1775 ; Sally. 
 
 NOTE. This family lived on the place long owned and occupied by Rev. Dana 
 Clayes. They afterwards removed to North Reading and Chelmsford. 
 
 UPHAM, Thomas, of Maiden; m. Mary Brown, of Reading, in 1704. 
 
 UPTON, John, came from Salem ; settled in the northeasterly part of 
 the North Precinct; was a blacksmith; by wife Eleanor had 
 chil. : John, Joseph, Ezekiel, and probably Samuel, William, and 
 Sybel, who d. 1689, and Francis, who d. 1694. He, the father, 
 d. 1699. 
 
 UPTON, John, son of John and Eleanor; m. 1680, Sarah, dau. of 
 George and Sarah Thompson. Chil. : Sarah, b. 1681, and m. 
 1706, James Stimpson ; John, b. 1683 ; Mary, b. 1685, and m. 
 1706, Samuel Mclntire ; Joseph, b. 1687, and m. 1718, Abigail 
 Gray ; Ezekiel, b. 1689 ; Jonathan, b. 1692, and m. 1724, Eliza- 
 beth Wilkins, of Salem; Elizabeth, b. and d. 1694; Francis, b'. 
 and d. 1695 ; Elizabeth, b. 1696, and m. 1729, Joseph Cross; 
 Hepzibeth, b. 1700, and m. 1733, Robert Hayward ; and by 2d 
 wifeTabitha: Sarah, b. 1710; Ephraim, b. 1712; John, b. 1717; 
 Naomi, b. 1719. 
 
 UPTON, Joseph, son of John and Eleanor ; m. 1692, Abigail , and
 
 EDWARD UPTON,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF PEAD1NG. I2 l 
 
 had chil. : Joseph, b. 1692 ; Abigail, b. 1697, and m. 1713, Jo- 
 seph Swallow; Mehitabel, b. 1701, and m. 1726, Hezekiah Wil- 
 kins, of Boxford ; Ebenezer, b. 1702, and m. 1727, Sarah Good- 
 ale, of Salem ; Lucy, b. 1708, and m. 1733, David Wilkins, of 
 Middleton. 
 
 UPTON, Ezekiel, son of John and Eleanor; m. 1692, Rebecca , and 
 
 had chil.: Isabel, b. 1695; Amy, b. 1697; Francis, b. 1699; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1701 ; Ezekiel, b. 1703. 
 
 NOTE. From these settlers has sprung a numerous posterity, among whom may 
 be mentioned the late Benjamin Upton, Esq., son of Dea. Amos Upton, and grand- 
 father of the present Edward A. Upton, Esq., of Wakefield ; Elias Upton, of Maine, 
 of Har. Coll. 1802 ; and Hon. George B. Upton, of Boston, and E. W. Upton, Esq., 
 of South Danvers, all grandsons of said Benjamin Upton, Esq., who lived in the 
 North Parish, and is said to have been a man of sterling integrity, of good native 
 intelligence, of much firmness, and very stiff in adherence to his opinion. 
 
 VLNTON, John, son of John Vinton, Esq., and Elizabeth (Richardson) 
 Vinton, of Stoneham, and grandson of John Vinton, of Woburn, 
 and great-grandson of John Vinton, of Lynn; was born in Read- 
 ing, near Woburn line, in 1706. He m. 1731, Mary, dau. of 
 Ebenezer Parker, and had one son, John, b. 1732. He d. 1733, 
 aged 27. 
 
 VINTON, John, son of John and Mary, b. 1732 ; m., ist, 1755, Sarah 
 Swain ; m., 2d, 1758, Lydia, dau. of Thomas and Ruth Nichols. 
 He lived on the spot where now stands the " Perkins Building,'* 
 at the corner of Main and Albion Streets, a place notable as 
 having been the " First Parsonage." Chil. : Lydia and Mary, 
 twins, b. 1759; Lydia m. 1780, Thaddeus Richardson; Mary, 
 m. 1778, William Wilson ; Sarah, b. 1761, and m. 1780, Joseph 
 Brooks; John, b. 1763, and m. 1785, Mary Green, and was 
 father of John, Sarah, Eliza, Joseph W., Nathaniel, and James 
 G. ; Timothy, b. 1765, and m. Bracy McLeod; Rebecca, b. 
 1769, and d, at the age of 15 ; Nathaniel, b. 1772, and d. soon ; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1774, and m. 1794, Samuel Wiley, of South Read- 
 ing; Hannah, b. 1777, and m. Samuel Stacy. 
 
 WAKEFIELD, Joseph ; was in Boston as early as 1727. His wife was 
 Cossy Bridge. He was said to be a native of Wales, and an emi- 
 grant from France. His son Thomas was born in Boston. 
 
 WAKEFIELD, Thomas, son of Joseph and Cossy, b. in Boston, August 5, 
 
 1727; was adopted while an infant by Abraham Gould, of 
 
 Stoneham ; was apprenticed to Timothy Pratt, of Reading ; 
 
 married in 1750, Dorcas Pratt, dau. of Timothy and Dorcas 
 
 16
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 (Eaton) Pratt; d. 1791, aged 64. His wid. d. 1802, aged 77. 
 Chil. : Thomas, b. 1751 ; Joseph, b. 1752 ; Ebenezer, b. 1753 ; 
 Timothy, b. 1756. 
 
 WAKEFIELD, Thomas, son of Thomas and Dorcas (Pratt), b. 1751, in 
 Reading; m. 1772, Elizabeth Hardy, of Hollis, N. H., and d. 
 in Jaffrey, N. H., 1839. Chil. : James, b. 1782. 
 
 WAKEFIELD, Timothy, son of Thomas and Dorcas (Pratt), b. 1756; 
 lived in Reading ; was justice of the peace and representative, 
 etc. ; m., ist, 1778, Susanna, dau. of Joseph and Elizabeth Ban- 
 croft; m., zd, 1793, Hannah B., dau. of Thomas and Elizabeth 
 Emerson. Chil.: Timothy, b. 1779; Ebenezer, b. 1781; 
 Bridge, b. 1783; Caleb, b. 1785; William, b. 1787; Thomas, 
 b. 1789 ; Susy, b. 1791 ; John, b. 1795, and d. 1796. 
 
 WAKEFIELD, James, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hardy), b. 1782; 
 m. 1803, Hannah Hemenway, and settled in Roxbury, N. H., 
 and d. 1864. Chil. : James P., b. 1805 ; Sylvester, b. 1808, 
 and d. 1823 ; Cyrus, b. 1811 ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of late Capt. 
 Henry Bancroft; Enoch H., b. 1814; Elias, b. 1816, and d. 
 1818; Hannah H., b. 1820; May R.,b. 1827 ; Julia, b. 1831, 
 and d. 1863. 
 
 . UEA. CALEB WAKEFIELD. 
 
 WAKEFIELD, Caleb, son of Timothy and Susanna (Bancroft), b. 1785 ; 
 has been captain, deacon, justice, and representative; m., ist, 
 Matilda, dau. of Jonathan and Ann (Bancroft) Poole ; m., 2d, 
 
 =r Temple. Chil. : Horace Poole, b. Jan. 4, 1809 ; Marietta, 
 
 b. 1810; and other children.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 123 
 
 DR. HORACE POOLE WAKEFIELD. 
 
 WALKER, Richard, was at Lynn in 1630, where he was selectman, captain, 
 and representative ; appears to have resided a while at Reading, 
 but returned soon to Lynn, and there died very aged. 
 
 WALKER, Richard, son of the above, came to Reading from Lynn 
 among the early settlers ; lived on the place long occupied by 
 the wid. of Maj. Suel Winn ; was first captain of Reading Com- 
 pany, and was noted for his bravery as a captain in the Indian 
 wars ; he (or possibly his father) was selectman and representa- 
 tive of Reading in 1658 ; he soon returned to Lynn. 
 
 WALKER, Samuel, was dismissed from the Boston church to the Read- 
 ing church. Chil. : Samuel, b. 1643 ; Joseph, b. 1645 > a dau. 
 b 1647; Israel and Hannah, twins, b. 1648; John, b. 1650; 
 Benjamin, b. 1651, and d. soon ; perhaps removed to Woburn. 
 
 WALKER, Shubael, settled first at Rowley ; removed to Lyrm, and there 
 m. 1666, Patience Jewett, dau. probably of Joseph Jewett, of 
 Rowley; came to Reading and here had chil. : Richard, b. 1667, 
 and Mary, b. 1669; went to Bradford and there d. 1689. He 
 was selectman at Reading 1667 and '8. His wid. m. Richard 
 Dole. 
 
 WALKER, Obadiah, m. Sarah, dau. of Rev. Samuel Haugh ; had a dau. 
 Sarah, b. and d. 1674, and d. himself soon after. His wid. be- 
 came the third wife of Capt. Eph. Savage. 
 
 WALTON, Samuel, son of Rev. William Walton, of Marblehead, b. 1639 ;
 
 124 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 m. Sarah, and long lived in Marblehead, but late in life removed 
 to Reading to reside with his sons John and Samuel, and where 
 his wife Sarah d. in 1714, and where he d. in 1717, aged 78. 
 
 Chil. : John, b. 1627 ; Elizabeth, b. 1629, and m. Conant ; 
 
 Martha, b. 1632, and m. Munjoy (these b. in England) ; 
 
 Nathaniel, b. (at Hingham) 1636; the residue b. at Marblehead : 
 Samuel, b. 1639 ; Josiah, b. 1640, and killed by lightning at sea ; 
 Mary, b. 1644, and m. Robert Bartlett. 
 
 NOTE. Rev. William Walton aforesaid was educated at EmanuePs Coll., Eng- 
 land, where he took his degrees in 1621 and 1625; became a clergyman; came to 
 America before 1635 ; stopped a while at Hingham, aad afterwards settled at Mar- 
 blehead. His wife's name was Elizabeth. 
 
 WALTON, John, probably son of Samuel and Sarah, b! in Marblehead ; 
 removed first to Maiden and afterwards to Reading ; by wife 
 Mary had chil. : John, b. 1710; Josiah, b. 1711; Mary, b. 
 1714; Abigail, b. (at Maiden) 1716; Jotham,b. 1718; Jacob, 
 b. 1720 ; Nathan, b. 1729 ; Isaac, b. 1733. 
 
 WALTON, Samuel, probably son of Samuel and Sarah, b. in Marblehead ; 
 settled in Reading ; wife's name was Hannah ; had chil. : Han- 
 nah, b. 1703; Samuel, b. 1705; Sarah, b. 1707; William, b. 
 1709; Moses, b. 1712 ; Mercy, b. 1717 ; Jonas, b. 1720. 
 
 WALTON, John, son of John and Mary, b. 1710; m., ist, 1734, Martha, 
 dau. of Lt. Joseph and Tabitha Burnap ; she d. 1737, and he 
 m., 2d, 1739, Mary Williams. Chil. : Martha, b. 1735 ; Mary, 
 b. 1740; Margaret, b. 1742, and m., ist, Dr. Oliver Swain, and 
 2d, Dea. Jacob Emerson ; John and Hepzibeth, twins, b. 1744 ; 
 Bridget, b. 1746 ; and Benjamin, b. about 1751. He was a cap- 
 tain, and lived on the farm lately owned by Benjamin aforesaid. 
 
 WALTON, Josiah, son of John and Mary, b. 1711 ; m. Ruth , and 
 
 had chil.: Josiah, b. 1736; Ruth, b. 1738; James, b. 1740; 
 Timothy, b. 1743, married, and was father of the late Ebenezer 
 and James, of South Reading, and of Andrew of South Reading, 
 who d. in 1869; Lydia, b. 1745; Amos, b. 1749; William, b. 
 1751 ; Nathan, b. 1753 ; Ebenezer, b. 1756. 
 
 WALTON, Jotham, son of John and Mary, b. 1718; m. 1740, Eliza- 
 beth, dau. of David Green. Chil. : Elizabeth, b. 1742 ; Jotham, 
 b. 1744; Phebe, b. 1746; Martha, b. 1748; Hannah, b. 1750; 
 Sarah, b. 1755; Oliver, b. 1758; m. - - Tarbell, and was 
 father of Oliver, Leonard, John, Jotham, and other children ; 
 Rebecca, b. 1763. 
 
 WALTON, Jacob, son of John and Mary, b. 1720 ; m., ist, 1744, Eunice
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 125 
 
 Hawkes, of Lynn ; m., 2d, Elizabeth ; and 3d, wid. Thankful 
 Brown. Chil. : Jacob, b. 1745 ; Eunice ; Israel, b. 1748 ; Mary, 
 b. 1749 Lois, b. 1752 ; Israel, b. 1756 ; Samuel, b. 1765. 
 
 WELLMAN, Thomas, perhaps the son of Abraham, of Lynn, who had a 
 son Thomas, b. 1669. He m. 1697, Sarah, dau. of Josiah 
 Brown, of Reading, and settled probably in Lynnfield. 
 
 WESTON, John. "About the year 1644, being thirteen years of age, he 
 came from Buckinghamshire, in the west of England, to Salem, 
 Mass. His mother was then a widow. His desire to come over 
 was such that he concealed himself in a ship bound for America 
 until she sailed. He was a member of the first church in Salem 
 in 1648. He removed to Reading about the year 1652, to that 
 part which is now Wakefield. His land, of which he was a large 
 proprietor, adjoined the Meeting-house Square, and lay upon the 
 southeast part of Reading Pond, and extended thence southerly. 
 He was deeply engaged in religious subjects. He d. about 
 J 7 2 3> aged over 90 years. He was a man of great industry, ac- 
 cumulated a great estate, and paid the highest tax of any one in 
 his town." 1 (John Weston's manuscript.) He m. 1653, Sarah, 
 dau. of Zachariah Fitch, of Reading, the earliest marriage in 
 Reading of which there is any record ; had eight children, four 
 of whom became heads of families, forming four distinct 
 branches, namely : 
 
 WESTON, John, b. 1661 ; m. 1684, Mary-Bryant. Chil. : John, b. 1685, 
 and killed in 1707 in war; Abraham, b. 1687, and d. 1765, unm.; 
 Samuel, b. 1689 ; Mary, b. 1691 ; Stephen, b. 1693 ; Zachariah, 
 b- 1695; James, b. 1697; Benjamin, b. 1698; Jeremiah, b. 
 1700; Timothy, b. 1702; another, b. 1704; Jonathan, b. 1705 ; 
 Sarah, b. 1707 ; John, b. 1709. His descendants are numerous 
 in Reading and elsewhere. 
 
 WESTON, Samuel, b. 1665 ; by wife Abigail had chil. : Abigail, b. 1689 ; 
 Samuel, b. 1690. 
 
 WESTON, Stephen, b. 1667 ; m. Sarah Townsend. Chil.: Stephen, b. 
 1697 ; Isaac, b. 1699; John, b. 1707, and d. soon. 
 
 WESTON, Thomas, b. 1670; by wife Elizabeth had chil.: Thomas, b. 
 1695 ; Joseph, b. 1698 ; Ephraim, b. 1700; Ebenezer, b. 1702 ; 
 Josiah, b. 1708. 
 
 WILEY, John, one of the earliest settlers ; lived in " Little World," now 
 called Woodville. . He died probably in 1672. His wife, whose 
 
 1 The town records do not show that he paid the highest tax, or near it.
 
 126 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 name was Elizabeth, d. 1662. Chil. : John (perhaps) ; Benja- 
 min (perhaps), who m. 1707, Mary Nichols; Elizabeth, b. 1649; 
 Timothy, b. 1653 ; Susanna, b. 1655, andm. 1678, John Damon ; 
 Sarah, b. 1658. 
 
 WILEY, Timothy, son of John and Elizabeth, b. 1653 ; succeeded his 
 father on the homestead ; was selectman and representative, and 
 d. 1728; m., ist, 1678, Elizabeth, dau. of George Davis; she 
 
 d. 1695; m., 2d, 1697, Susanna . Chil.: John, b. 1679; 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1681, and d. soon; Elizabeth, b. 1690; Thomas, 
 b. 1697 ; and Timothy, probably. 
 
 WILEY, John, son of Timothy and Elizabeth, b. 1679 ; m. 1705, Dorcas 
 Green, and had Esther, b. 1721, and probably other children. 
 
 WILEY, Timothy, son, no doubt, of Timothy and Elizabeth, although no 
 record of his birth is found; m. 1714, Mary Poole, of Lynnfield, 
 and lived in Woodville ; had chil. : Sarah, b. 1715 ; Susanna, b. 
 1717, and m. 1741, Isaac Smith; Mary, b. 1721, and m. 1745, 
 Moses Bancroft; Lydia, b. 1724, and m. 1747, Adam Hawkes, 
 of Lynnfield, and was ancestress of George L. Hawkes, Esq., 
 now of Lynnfield; Timothy, b. 1725, and m. 1748, Elizabeth 
 Wiley; John, b. 1727; Nathaniel, b. 1729; Phineas, b. 1731. 
 
 W^LEY, Thomas, son of Timothy and Susanna (2d wife), b. 1697 ; m. 
 1723, Tabitha, dau. of John and Tabitha (Pearson) Goodwin. 
 
 Chil.: James, b. 1725, and m. Lois ; Elizabeth, b. 1727, 
 
 and m., ist, 1748, Timo. Wiley, and 2d, 1750, Jona. Brown; 
 Ebenezer, b. 1729 ; Ephraim, b. 1732. 
 
 WILEY, Ebenezer, son of Thomas and Tabitha, b. 1729 ; m. Elizabeth 
 Sprague ; he d. 1771, and his wid. m. 1772, Gen. Benjamin 
 Brown. Chil. : Elizabeth, who m. 1778, Thomas Edmands, of 
 Charlestown; James, b. 1755, and m. 1779, Mary, wid. of Peter 
 Brown, and dau. of Elias Bryant, of Stoneham, and father of late 
 James, of Philadelphia, Capt. Peter B. Wiley, of Charlestown, 
 and of Benj. B. Wiley, Esq., and of the late Ebenezer Wiley, of 
 South Reading; William, b. 1757, and d. soon; William, b. 
 
 1758, and m. Hannah Smith; John, b. 1760, and m. 
 
 Cooley; Ebenezer, b. 1762, and m. Catharine Dunn; Sarah, b. 
 1767. 
 
 WILEY, Nathaniel, son of Timothy and Mary, b. 1729 ; m. Mary Eaton, 
 of Andover, and d. 1822, aged 93. Chil.: Timothy, b. 1749, 
 and m. 1781, Susanna Hay, of Stoneham ; Mary, b. 1756 ; Na- 
 thaniel, b. 1759, and m. 1782, Sally Poole; Phineas, b. 1761, 
 and m. 1782, Susanna Green; Benjamin, b. 1763, and m. Miss
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 127 
 
 Sherman, of Lynnfield ; Edmund, b. 1766, and m. 1791, Nancy 
 Edes ; Ephraim, b. 1768 ; was father of Rev. Ephraim, a Meth- 
 odist clergyman ; Samuel, b. 1772, and m. 1794, Eliza Vinton ; 
 Eli, b. 1774; m., ist, Love Mansfield, and 2d, Lucy (Tapley) 
 Wiley. 
 
 WILLIAMS, Thomas, came from Boston ; by wife Hannah had Sarah, b. 
 1690, in Boston. 
 
 WILLIAMS, William, had chil. : Mary, who m. 1738, Richard Nichols; 
 James, who with his father were both drowned in the Great 
 Pond, in 1729, by the upsetting of a boat ; and probably other 
 children. 
 
 WINBORNE, Mas., was taxed 2s. in 1686 to pay for land bought of Indians. 
 In 1691, he sold land to the town, for payment of which a special 
 rate of 16 was made. Mr. Winborne was probably a non- 
 resident proprietor. His wife was a dau. of Isaac Hart, of 
 Reading. 
 
 WOODWARD, John, came from Newton to Reading; was b. 1649, and 
 was son of George and Mary Woodward ; m., ist, Rebecca Rob- 
 bins, of Cambridge; she d. 1686; m., 2d., 1686, Sarah, dau. of' 
 Thomas Bancroft, of Reading; she d. 1698 ; m., 3d, 1700, Mar- 
 garet Leaman, of Charlestown. Chil. : James, b. 1687, and d. 
 soon; Sarah, b. 1689, and d. 1706; Elizabeth, b. 1691; Mary, 
 b. 1694, and m. 1717, John Teal, of Charlestown (2d wife) ; 
 John, b. 1696; Margaret, b. 1701; Jonathan, b. 1703; James, 
 b. 1706; Joseph, b. 1711. 
 
 WOODWARD, John, son of John and Sarah (Bancroft), b. 1696; m. 
 1720, Hepzi., dau. of Thomas and Sarah Burnap. Chil.: John, 
 b. 1721 ; Timothy, b. 1723; Hepzi., b. 1725; Beulah, b. 1726; 
 Benjamin, bap. 1728; James, b. about 1730; Susanna, b. 1734. 
 
 NOTE. The ancient homestead of the Woodward family was the " Stimpson 
 Place," at the head of the Great Pond, in the South Parish, where we find a John 
 Woodward still living in 1765. 
 
 WOODWARD, James, son of John and Hepzi., b. about 1730; by wife 
 Rebecca had chil.: Margaret, b. 1761; James and Joseph, 
 twins, b. 1762 ; John, b. 1764; Elizabeth, b. 1766 ; John Cham- 
 berlain, b. 1769; Thomas, b. 1773; Rebecca, b. 1775. This 
 family settled in Lynnfield. 
 
 WOODWARD, Thomas, son of James and Rebecca, b. 1773 > settled in 
 South Reading, and was the original manufacturer of the cele- 
 brated " Woodward's Awls" and other "Improved Shoe Tools.' 
 
 WORMWOOD, Henry, drew land in 1658 ; nothing further is known of him
 
 I2 g GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL 
 SKETCHES FROM 1700 TO 1812. 
 
 1701. "June 6, At a meeting of the Selectmen, Geo. Lillie being 
 desired some time before to meet them to Receave the money deu to 
 him for keeping his mother, Jane Lillie, this present year, did apere, 
 the day aforesaid, befour the Selectmen, and the money being ofered to 
 him by the Selectmen, he refused to receave the same, notwithstanding 
 all fare arguments was yused to perswad him to receave the said 
 money." "Payd, for Iron Work for the stocks, 4^. 6df." Aug. 24, 
 " Then the Selectmen indented with Jno. Herbert to keep the toun 
 scoole to teach children in reding, w 'righting and sifering." Salary ;n 
 per year in money. 
 
 School Meadow was let to John Felch and Tho. Bancroft for 14*. in 
 money per year. 
 
 1702. Town voted, "that all such persons as sends their children 
 to school, and does not send wood, their just proportion shall be added 
 to their town rate." 
 
 This year, "the Selectmen, being informed that Kendall Parker, 
 Esq , had received into his house one Elizabeth Jonson, without the 
 knowledge of the Selectmen, and they sending for Kendall Parker, 
 Esq., on the same day, and he not coming till the next day, then the 
 Selectmen warned him forthwith to convey the said Elizabeth Jonson 
 out of town, or enter into bond to keep her from being a town 
 charge." 
 
 This year the town voted to enlarge the meeting-house. 
 
 1703. This year, Rebecca, wid. of Dea. Thomas Kendall, died. 
 (See Kar. Sett.) She was 85 years old at the time of her death, and 
 had long been a valued mother among the families of the early settlers. 
 She had a large family of children, ten, her grave-stone says, and she 
 Lft 175 grand- and great-grandchildren. Her children that lived to 
 have families of their own were all daughters, and married in different
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING, 
 
 129 
 
 families of the first settlers ; and although her name has become extinct 
 among the present inhabitants of the town, her blood still runs in the 
 veins of many of them. She was long nurse, midwife, and medical 
 attendant generally. 
 
 1705. Stephen, son of Samuel Dix, was drowned in the Great 
 Pond. 
 
 1706. Mr. John Rogers, of Salem, was appointed "to teach read- 
 ing, writing, casting accounts, and the Latin and Greek tongues, for 
 four months, at ,3 per month." 
 
 This year, five Indians from a party who had attacked Dunstable 
 ventured down to this town, and surprised and attacked the family of 
 John Harnden, who occupied a lonely cottage that was situated in 
 what was then the northwesterly part of Reading, but which, at the in- 
 corporation of the town of Wilmington in 1730, was included within 
 the bounds of that town. It is said that the cottage, long since gone, 
 stood some sixty or seventy rods southerly of the house now or recently 
 occupied by Jonathan Harnden, of Wilmington, in a pasture, where the 
 cellar and well may still be seen, near a large rock, since called " In- 
 dian Rock." The attack was made in the night-time ; Mr. Harnden 
 himself, it is said, was absent, leaving his wife and eight children at 
 home ; the Indians descended through the roof of the house (it was a 
 low house) and killed Mrs. Harnden and three children, and carried 
 away the rest ; but the children were recovered by the pursuers. They 
 left the house standing. It was afterwards occupied by a French 
 family by the name of Labador, whose business it was to pick to pieces 
 old cloths and make them into new ; they wore wooden shoes. The 
 " Shoddy " manufacture is not new. 
 
 Agreement with a schoolmaster: 
 
 Whereas we, whose names are underwritten, are empowered and intrusted by the 
 town of Reading for the giting and procuring of a Granier Scool master, we have 
 therefore agreed accordingly with Mr. John Rogers, of Salem, to teach as followeth, viz : 
 Reading, writing, casting accompts, and to teach them the Latin and Greek tongue, 
 for the space of four months, commencing the fifteenth day of November hence insu- 
 ing, until the fifteenth of March foloing, for the satisfaction whereof, we, hoe are the 
 subscribers, doe oblig ourselves and Selectmen for the time being to pay or cause to 
 be payd unto the said Rogers the just sum of twelve pound, current money of New 
 England, in confirmation whereof both parties have set to there hands. 
 
 JOHN ROGERS. 
 By order of ye Selectmen, JNO. HERBERT, Clerk. 
 
 This was probably the John Rogers who graduated at Har. Coll. in 
 1705, became a clergyman, and died in 1755.
 
 ,-Q GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1707. " Mr. Lewis was appointed School Master, at eleven pounds 
 for four months, and so proportionable for more time." This may 
 hive been Daniel Lewis, who graduated at Har. Coll. in 1707, became 
 a clergyman, and died 1753. 
 
 Town voted " that the Masters, and parents of the scolers, that goes 
 to scoole shall find the scoole wood." 
 
 " Capt John Browne and Left. Hanani. Parker were chosen a Com- 
 mittee to joyne the Selectmen in order to provide a Scool Master for 
 the towne scool." 
 
 1708. The town voted "that the northwest corner of the towne 
 shall have the scoole kept in there end one quarter part of the time for 
 this present year, and Ensign Parker was added to the Scoole Com." 
 
 The part of the town here referred to is what is now Reading, and 
 Ensign Parker was probably Nathaniel. 
 Agreement with a teacher : 
 
 Whereas wee, whose names are underwritten, are impoured and intrusted by the 
 Town of Readding for the giting and procuring of a Gramer Scoole Master ; we have 
 therefore agreed accordingly with Mr. John Webb of Brantrey to teach as foloeth, 
 viz : reading, writing, casting accoumpts and ( to teach the latine and greek tongues 
 for the space of three months commensing the nineteenth day of October until the 
 nineteenth of Janewary next insuing ; and for the satisfaction whereof, if he discon- 
 tinues to keep the scoole any longer, then we, who are the subscribers do oblig our- 
 selves and the Selectmen for the time being to pay or cause to be payd unto the above 
 said \Yebb the sum of Eight pounds five shillings in current money of New England, 
 that is to say, in silver at fifteen pennywait the pece of Eight, and bills of credit. But 
 before the three months was expired, on the fourth day of Janewary, at a meeting of 
 the Selectmen and Comity, they did then agree with the said Webb to continuy the 
 scpol for one whole year, including the three months, which year will expire the nine- 
 teenth of October next insuing ; and the Selectmen and Commite for the time being 
 doe oblig themselves and the Selectmen and Commite to pay or cause to be payd 
 unto the above said Webb, the sum of thirty pounds Current money of New England 
 as aforesaid at or before the nineteenth of October 1709 ; and for the trew perform- 
 ance of the above said premisis we have hereunto interchangeable set our hands. 
 
 JXO HERBERT, Town Clerk. 
 
 Mr. Webb does not appear to have signed the agreement. He was 
 probably the same John Webb who graduated at Har. Coll. in 1708, 
 became a clergyman, and died in 1750. 
 
 1709. This year, Rev. Jonathan Pierpont, fourth minister of Read- 
 ing, died, aged 44. (See Ear. Sett, for more particular account.) 
 
 At a meeting of inhabitants of Reading, and our adjacent neighbors 
 of Charlestown and Lynn, voted for a candidate for minister. Persons
 
 OF TH& TOWN OF READING. 131 
 
 nominated, viz : Mr. Flint, Mr. Mather, and Mr. Williams. Mr. Aza- 
 riah Mather was chosen by a majority of votes, as follows : By Reading, 
 68 v votes; by Lynn End, n votes (unanimous); by Charlestown End, 
 votes (unanimous). Mr. Mather was not obtained. He was probably 
 the son of Rev. Samuel, of Windsor, grandson of Timothy, and great- 
 grandson of Richard, of Dorchester j was born 1685; settled at Say- 
 brook, where he died in 1737. 
 
 The inhabitants and proprietors on the north side of Ipswich River 
 and on Sadler's Neck, this year asked the advice of the town where to 
 sett their meeting-house. The town chose Major (Jeremiah) Swain, 
 Left. (Hananiah) Parker, and Capt. (Tho.) Nichols a committee to 
 ascertain the minds of those inhabitants and proprietors, and so advise 
 them accordingly. 
 
 Town voted that the town school shall be kept in the Woodend one 
 quarter part of the time this year. 
 
 Ordered a Range-way to be sold near Parker's Saw-pit. 
 
 1710. Town voted "that ten acres of land at the Pond Head be 
 fenced for seven years for a pasture to keep the town Rams, if any men 
 appear to fence it at their own cost; only they shall have the grass to 
 mow early in June, and to keep it after for the rams. The rams to be 
 kept from the i6th of August to the i6th of November ; and every man 
 that brings his rams shall pay 2s. a head yearly to them that fence it in, 
 and no creatures to feed there but the rams." 
 
 In March, town voted " to invite Mr. Baker to preach on probation 
 as our minister." He came not. Perhaps this was Rev. Daniel Baker, 
 son of Daniel, of Yarmouth, who graduated at Har. Coll. in 1706, and 
 died in 1731. 
 
 In July, town voted a concurrence (70 to 7) with the church, in ex- 
 tending a call to Mr. Corwin to the work of the ministry, and offered 
 ;8o salary. He was not obtained. This was probably Rev. George 
 Corwin, or Curwin, who became minister of the first church in Salem ; 
 son of Jonathan, of Salem, born 1683 ; Har. Coll. 1701, and died 1717. 
 
 Mr. Tompson appointed to keep the town school for 6 mo. at the 
 rate of 30 pounds per year. 
 
 1711. The north side of Ipswich River petition to be set off as a 
 distinct parish. Petition not granted at this time. 
 
 In this year and in the preceding, expeditions were formed against 
 the French and Indians at Nova Scotia and Canada. Several regi- 
 ments went from Massachusetts, one of which was commanded by Sir
 
 132 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Charles Hobby, uncle to Rev. Wm. Hobby, who afterwards settled in 
 Reading. Among those who went in those expeditions, and other suc- 
 ceeding expeditions in the same direction, from Reading, were : 
 
 Lieut. Benj. Poole, William Brown, 
 
 " Timothy Goodwin, Henry Chandler, 
 
 " Samuel Eaton, Jacob Clark, 
 
 Sergt. Samuel Harnden, Jonathan Smith, 
 
 " Samuel Poole, Thomas Eaton, 
 
 " Benj. Nichols, Richard Brown, 
 
 Centinel Benj. Burnap, Adam Brown, 
 Jona. Eaton, who d, at Annapolis Royal John Smith, 
 
 1711, John Brock, 
 
 Samuel Pike, Ebenezer Smith, 
 
 Moses Eaton (killed,) James Nichols, 
 
 John Parker, Ebenezer Weston, 
 
 James Eitzhenry, Robert Pierce, 
 
 Edward Chamberlain, John Poole, 
 
 Thomas Bancroft, William Boyd, 
 
 Joseph Arnold, Edward Pratt, 
 
 John Boutwell, Thomas Damon, 
 
 Samuel Lampson, Abraham Foster, 
 
 Samuel Hartshorn, Ebenezer Nichols, 
 
 Ebenezer Damon, Joseph Bancroft, 
 
 William Eaton, Ebenezer Persons, 
 
 Benjamin Eaton, Jonathan Pierson, 
 
 Stephen Bryant, Parker. 
 
 George Brock, 
 
 This year, the town voted, with only four dissenting votes, to invite 
 Rev. Richard Browne, of Newbury, to settle as minister of Reading. 
 
 The town chose a committee " to treat with Mrs. Pierpoint about 
 buying her house." It has been already stated (see 1681) that the 
 first parsonage place became the property, partly by gift and partly by 
 sale, of Rev. Mr. Pierpoint, but the town voted to proceed to the erec- 
 tion of a new parsonage. 
 
 Voted, "to build a ministerial house of 40 feet long, 19 feet wide and 
 15 feet stud, with a room on the back side 15 feet square, and to build 
 a barn 20 feet square, n feet stud, and leanto on one side or one end, 
 for the use of the ministry." Voted, also, to " lay a pasture for the min- 
 istry from the Pound Square to the highway." Subsequently voted 
 "that the house shall be 41 feet long-, 19 feet broad and 15 feet stud, 
 with a leanto on the back side, the length of the house, n or 12 feet 
 broad." 
 
 N. B. This was the second parsonage house, and was a portion of 
 the building long known as the " Prentiss House," on the corner of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 133 
 
 Common and Lafayette Streets. It was enlarged in 1739 to its latest 
 size and form. It was subsequently sold to Rev. Caleb Prentiss, as 
 will hereafter appear. 
 
 There wereso^many desertions from the military and naval forces be- 
 longing to the expeditions above named, while detained at Boston, that 
 the General Court passed an " Act to punish all such as should entice, 
 harbor, conceal or convey away any soldier, marine or sailor of Her 
 Majesty's land and sea forces raised in the province for the present 
 expedition." This act was read and published by beat of drum, at 
 Reading, at 8 o'clock, A. M., July 5, 1711. 
 
 1712. This year, Rev. Richard Brown was settled as the minister of 
 the town! (See Ear. Sett.) The town voted, " that if Mr. Richard 
 Brown should die and leave a widow here in Reading, the town will 
 upon their own cost and charge transport Mrs. Brown to Newbury." 
 
 " Mr. Dodge was chosen Schoolmaster for 3 years at 30 pounds per 
 year." This was probably Daniel Dodge, of Wenham, and brother of 
 Samuel Dodge, who married in 1705, Mary, dau. of Hananiah Parker, 
 of Reading. A Daniel Dodge, perhaps the schoolmaster aforesaid, was 
 of Har. Coll. in 1710. 
 
 "The worthy Capt. Herbert being deceased, Francis Smith was 
 chosen Clerk and Selectman in his stead." 
 
 1713. This year, the town voted, "to fence in 3^ acres of land for 
 the ministry, to lye between Tho. Bryant's house and the Meeting- 
 house, near the Pond, in the most convenient place, and leave out to 
 the Common, from the back side of Cann's house a straight line to the 
 Draw bars near the horse block." 
 
 Then voted, " in lieu of the above, four acres, to be fenced in on the 
 back side of the Meeting-house, and so down to the Pond." 
 
 N. B. This refers to the old meeting-house, which stood in the 
 second burial-ground, near where now is the tomb of Rev. John Mellen, 
 and of course describes the same piece of land, concerning which there 
 was, a few years since, a warmly contested lawsuit, viz. : " Emerson 
 versus Wiley." (See Mass. Law Reports.) 
 
 This year, " so much of the territory of the town as lies north of Ips- 
 wich River," together with " Sadler's Neck," so called, was set off as a 
 distinct Parish by the name of the "North Precinct." 
 
 At the first meeting of the North Precinct, Nov. 27, Sergt. Geo. 
 Flint was chosen Moderator, and John Harnden, Clerk. 
 
 Town voted "to refund to the inhabitants of the new Precinct what 
 they have paid to the Rev. Mr. Browne for the present year."
 
 13 . GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The circumstances and conditions of the north part of the town hav- 
 ing become what was anticipated in 1696 that they would be, this 
 second parish was set off without any opposition. 
 
 Town voted " that the town will give something to the new Precinct 
 in convenient time." 
 
 1714. Town voted "to give to North Precinct thirty pounds, one 
 half when they have finished their Meeting-house, and the other half 
 when they build a ministerial house." 
 
 Town voted "to procure a new Bell, not to cost over 50 pounds." 
 
 1715. Jonathan Pierpont was appointed schoolmaster at 40 per 
 year. 
 
 Thomas Pierpont, brother of the above, only fifteen years old, taught 
 school in the Woodend. 
 
 The North Precinct received for schooling this year 2 16^. 
 
 1716. Jonathan Pierpont again appointed schoolmaster., 
 
 1717. Dr. Daniel Felch and others objected to the sale by the town 
 of Range lands. 
 
 Hannah Felch, wid. of Henry, one of the very early settlers, died 
 this year, aged 100, nearly. 
 
 John Browne, Esq., an early settler, and one of the most able, useful, 
 and respected, died this year, March n, aged 83. He is called <v The 
 worshipful John Browne " in the " Indian Deed." He was buried in the 
 most ancient burial-ground, near the site of the old Town House, where 
 his grave-stone has been seen, reading as follows : " To the memory of 
 Capt. John Browne, Esq., who, after he had served his generation by 
 the will of God, fell asleep Mar. n, 1717, aged abt. 83. 
 
 Witty, yet wise, grave, good, among the best, 
 
 Was he ; (the memory of the just is blest) ; 
 
 Prudent, a pattern, and more I say, 
 
 A hearty mourner for the sins of the day : 
 
 Bless'd God, when dying, that he fear'd not death, 
 
 His pious soul took wings, gave up her breath, 
 
 Dropp'd here her mantle in the silent dust 
 
 Which waits the resurrection of the just." 
 
 The North Precinct voted this year " to settle a minister amongst 
 them as fast as they can and in the best method they can ; " and " to 
 give him, that shall be chosen, twelve acres of land and fourscore 
 pounds in building and manuring." Voted " not to finish the Meeting- 
 house." N. B. This unfinished house was situated, it is said, on the
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 '35 
 
 ground now or lately occupied by Dr. Grosvenor's garden. It was 
 afterwards used as a school-house, and at last as a cabinet-shop by 
 Wm. Eaton. 
 
 1718. North Precinct voted "to give Mr. Daniel Putnam twenty 
 acres of land, exchanged with Sergt. Flint and Sergt. Eaton, if Mr. Put- 
 nam be our minister." 
 
 Also voted " to build Mr. Putnam an house of 28 feet long, 19 feet 
 wide, and 15 feet stud, a 'Lenter ' on the back side 10 feet stud, three 
 chimneys from the ground, and chamber chimney, and convenient par- 
 lor, and a convenient well, in lieu of the 100 pounds, if Mr. Putnam 
 find nails and glass for the house." 
 
 Petition of the North Precinct for common land : " To the freehold- 
 ers and other inhabitants of the town of Reading, qualified to vote in 
 town affairs : Hon'd fathers and Christian brethren, Inasmuch as it 
 has pleased the Lord of his goodness to incline your hearts to give us 
 .30, one half when we build and finish our meetinghouse and the other 
 half when we build our minister house, We think it our duty to return 
 you all humble and hearty thanks for your love therein to us expresst. 
 And if it might please the Lord to incline your hearts, now in our be- 
 ginnings, to give us the common land that lyeth in our Precinct, near 
 our meetinghouse, for ministerial use, so we may be a building a min- 
 ister's house, we shall readily accept it and account it an act of your 
 Christian charity and compassion towards us, who are and remain your 
 humble servants. 
 
 Ezekiel Upton, Joseph Upton, Senf, 
 
 Joseph Upton, Ezekiel Upton, Jr., 
 
 John Eaton, Wm. Flint, 
 
 Henry Phelps, Ebenezer Flint, 
 
 hi " Geo. Flint, 
 
 KiCh ^ ^ Gea Flint ' J r " 
 
 SamT Mclntire, J ose P h Swallow, 
 
 hi8 Saml. Phelps, 
 
 John X Upton, Sen., hu 
 
 mark Tho. X Burr, Sen. 
 
 his mark 
 
 John X Upton, Jr., !lis 
 
 mark V Tho. X Burt, Jr., 
 
 Jonathan Parker, ""* 
 
 Joseph^ Upton, Jr., J na 'J rk McIntire ' 
 
 !T k m " lt 
 
 i v* TT~( David X Mclntire, 
 
 Jona. X Upton, 
 
 mark T . _^ . 
 
 hl , Joseph Pudney, 
 
 Philip X Mclntire, John Eaton, Jr. 
 
 mark
 
 j.,6 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 See another petition for use of common land in Appendix E. 
 
 1719. Thomas Oliver, of Cambridge, who graduated at the College 
 this year, was appointed schoolmaster, and held the office for three 
 years. (See Rev. Richard Browne's letter on deficiency of salary in the 
 Appendix F.) 
 
 i>j20. Rev. Daniel Putnam, from Danvers, who graduated at the 
 College in 1717, was this year ordained as pastor of the second church 
 in Reading (the Precinct). There were thirty-nine members of the 
 church when Mr. Putnam was settled. 
 
 The town voted " to let the South Easterly part of the town have 
 liberty to set a school house on the Common land, where they think fit, 
 in some convenient place." 
 
 The settlement of the territory now constituting North Reading, was 
 probably commenced soon after the laying out of the " two mile grant," 
 in 1666. About 1680 we find located on the territory six families, 
 namely : 
 
 Francis Hutchinson. 
 
 Thomas Burt, lived probably in that part of Reading that became a 
 part of Wilmington. 
 
 John Phelps ; " Phelps' Field," on Park Street, near Middleton line, 
 where is an old cellar-hole, was probably the ancient seat of the family. 
 
 John Upton, Sen., lived, it is supposed, on the farm now occupied by 
 Mrs. Sylvester F. Haywood. 
 
 John Upton, Jr., probably lived on the place recently owned by 
 Charles F. Flint, Esq. 
 
 Philip Mclntire ; an ancient family seat of the Mclntires was in Thos. 
 Rayner's field, northeast of his house, where is a cellar-hole. 
 
 In 1682 to 1684: 
 
 George Flint, occupied a house that stood on the place now owned 
 by Jacob Cowing, and was a garrison house. 
 
 Richard Harnden, lived in that part of Reading that was set to Wil- 
 mington. 
 
 John Burnap, lived on the place recently occupied by Charles Holt, 
 where the house and barn were 'burned in 1867. 
 
 John Thompson. 
 
 David Hartshorn, lived where the late Timothy Hartshorn formerly 
 lived, in what is now Reading. 
 
 Samuel Cowdrey.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 137 
 
 Ephraim Savage owned land in Precinct, but lived in South Parish, 
 and removed to Boston. 
 
 Thomas Rice. 
 
 Adam Colson. 
 
 In 1685 and '6 : 
 
 Isaac Hart lived where Mrs. Hannah A., wid. of Peter G. Flint, 
 now lives. 
 
 Francis Nurse. 
 
 William Russell. 
 
 James Kebbe. 
 
 Samuel Leman. 
 
 In 1687 lo '89: 
 
 Edward Polly. 
 
 Thomas Taylor. 
 
 Samuel Chadwick. 
 
 Edward Taylor. 
 
 David Merrow. 
 
 William Hooper. 
 
 John Felch. 
 
 Samuel Dix, on the late Barnard place. 
 
 In 1691, John Eaton. 
 
 In 1692, Samuel Parker. 
 " Stephen Weston. 
 
 1720. The following is a list of tax-payers, in the Precinct, at the 
 time of Mr. Putnam's ordination : 
 
 Cap*. (Tho.?) Bryant Jonathan Mclntire. 
 
 Tho. Burt, Jr. Samuel Mclntire. 
 
 Ebenezer BurL Ebenezer Mclntire. . 
 
 Robert Brayford. David Mclatire. 
 
 Edmund Chamberlain. Thomas Nichols. 
 
 Samuel Dix. John Norish. 
 
 Benjamin Damon. John Phelps. 
 
 Mr. John Eaton, Sen. Henry Phelps. 
 
 Thomas Eaton. Joseph Pudney. 
 
 George Flint. Lt Jonathan Parker. 
 
 Ebenezer Flint, Sen. Ebenezer Russell. 
 
 Ebenezer Flint, Jr. Francis Nurse. 
 
 William Flint Stephen Roper. 
 
 Nathaniel Flint Thomas Rich. 
 
 Ebenezer Fish. John Rich. 
 
 Stephen Fish. William Sawyer. 
 
 Daniel Gooing. Joseph Swallow. 
 
 John Harnden. Dacon Taylor. 
 18
 
 138 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Benjamin Harnden. John Upton, Sen. 
 
 Benjamin Harnden, Jr. John Upton, Jr. 
 
 Adam Hart. Joseph Upton, Sen. 
 
 Thomas Hutchinson. Joseph Upton, Jr. 
 
 Edward Hurcom. Ezekiel Upton, Sen. 
 
 Zachariah Howard. Ezekiel Upton, Jr. 
 
 Samuel Leman. Jonathan Upton. 
 
 Samuel Lewis. Stephen Wright. 
 John Lewis. 
 A division of the First Parish is talked of. 
 
 1721. Town voted, "in order to explain and strengthen the Com- 
 mittee, viz: Capt. Burnap, Capt Poole and Mr. Timothy Goodwin, who 
 were chosen to look after the town right in the herbage in Lynn Com- 
 mon, it is our meaning therein that said Committee is fully empowered 
 to prosecute any person or persons that shall fence in land, the herbage 
 of which belongs in Common to the towns of Lynn and Reading ; 
 with power to treat with our Lynn friends in an order to an agreement ; 
 and with power to sell our town right in that land that Atwell and 
 Rhoades have fenced in." 
 
 Voted also " to take their share of the Fifty Thousand pounds, issued 
 by the Court." This was an issue by the General Court of what was 
 called " Bills of Credit," and was distributed to the several towns in 
 proportion to their taxes ; the bills to be repaid at a specified time. 
 
 Town voted " to let out this money at ' five in the hundred ' ; and 
 that no man shall draw out more than twenty pounds, and no man less 
 than five pounds, and any sum between the two ; that the bonds shall 
 run for one year ; and that trustees shall have a seventh part of the 
 interest on the money that shall be let out, for their trouble." 
 
 Voted to choose trustees by a paper vote. 
 
 Chose for trustees : Peter Emerson, Thomas Bancroft, and Thomas 
 Poole. 
 
 Voted the interest money to pay town charges. 
 
 " A catalogue of the brethren and sisters in full communion in the 
 first church in Reading, hereunder followeth : Jan. 3, 1720-1. 
 
 Richard Brown, Pastor. Anna, dau. of Peter and Anna Emerson. 
 
 Martha Brown, his wife. Mary Burt. 
 
 Dea. Tho. Boutwell and Abigail his wife. John Pratt and wife. 
 
 Dea. Tho. Nichols and Rebecca his wife. Sarah Pratt, dau. of above. 
 
 Joel Jenkins. Wid. Brown. 
 
 John Townsend and Sarah his wife. John Batchelder and his wife. 
 
 Tho. Bancroft and Mary his wife. Wid. Batchelder. 
 
 Lydia Bancroft. Ebenezer Nichols and his wife. 
 
 Wid. Sarah Bancroft. John Dix and his wife. 
 
 Samuel Bancroft and Sarah his wife. Lt. Swain and his wife.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 139 
 
 Raham Bancroft and Abigail his wife. 
 
 Stephen Western and Sarah his wife. 
 
 Phebe Rice. 
 
 Joseph Damon and Mary his wife. 
 
 Kendall Goodwin and Mary his wife. 
 
 Hannah Weston. 
 
 \Vid. Mary Weston. 
 
 Mary Felch, 
 
 John Parker and Elizabeth his wife. 
 
 Nathaniel Goodwin and Mary his wife. 
 
 Wid. Parker. 
 
 Deborah Temple. 
 
 John Boutwell and Sarah his wife. 
 
 Sarah Foster. 
 
 Abigail Nichols. 
 
 Mary, wife of John Fish. 
 
 Joseph Parker and Elizabeth his wife. 
 
 Joseph Eaton and Mary his wife. . 
 
 Samuel Lilley and Hannah his wife. 
 
 Jeremiah Swain and Sarah his wife. 
 
 John Merrow, Jr., and Ann his wife. 
 
 Deliverance, wife of John Merrow, Sen. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker, Jr., and Eliz'h his wife. 
 
 Wid. Sarah Bryant. 
 
 Nathaniel Stow. 
 
 Sarah Bryant 
 
 Mehitabel Bryant. 
 
 James Nichols. 
 
 Sarah Nichols. 
 
 Joseph Burnap and his wife. 
 
 Tho. Poole and Rebecca his wife. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker, Sen., and his wife. 
 
 Samuel Damon and his wife. 
 
 Wid. Grace Boutwell. 
 
 Tabitha Boutwell. 
 
 Samuel Lamson and Elizabeth his wife. 
 
 Jonathan Parker and Barbara his wife. 
 
 Joanna Nichols. 
 
 Jonathan Nichols and Phebe his wife. 
 
 Nath'l Batchelder and Hannah his wife. 
 
 Timo. Hartshorn, Sen., and his wife. 
 
 Timo. Hartshorn, Jr. 
 
 Eben. Emerson and Mary his wife. 
 
 Elizabeth, wife of Stephen Parker. 
 
 Goodwife Roberts. 
 
 Dorcas Brown. 
 
 Abigail Roberts. 
 
 Sarah Poole. 
 
 John Woodward and his wife. 
 
 Peter Emerson and Anna his wife. 
 
 Ruth Boutwell. 
 
 Lt. Hananiah Parker and his wife. 
 Ebenezer Parker and his wife. 
 Susanna Townsend. 
 Susanna Brown. 
 Anna Brown. 
 
 Edward Brown and his wife. 
 John Brown and his wife. 
 Mary, wife to Samuel Brown. 
 Serg't Thomas Burnap and his wife. 
 Mary and Rebecca Burnap. 
 Jonathan Poole and Esther his wife. 
 Thomas Weston. 
 Benjamin Poole. 
 Wid. Jeaggles. 
 
 Tho. Nichols and Mary his wife. 
 Capt. Jona. Poole and Bridget his wife. 
 Timo. Wiley, Sen., and his wife. 
 John Wiley and his wife. 
 Mary Wiley. 
 John Smith and his wife. 
 James Smith and Abigail his wife. 
 *Dea. Francis Smith. 
 Isaac Smith and his wife. 
 Timo. Goodwin and his wife. 
 Mrs. Pierpont 
 Mr. Jonathan Pierpont. 
 William Bryant and Rebecca his wife. 
 Benj. Burnap and Elizabeth his wife. 
 Mary Hodgman. 
 
 Kendall Boutwell and Lucy his wife. 
 Mary Boutwell. 
 
 Dea. John Goodwin and his wife. 
 Tabitha Goodwin. 
 Mary Goodwin. 
 
 William Hay and Abigail his wife. 
 Wid. Rebecca Davis. 
 John Nichols, Sen., and his wife. 
 John Nichols, Jr. 
 Wid. Dorcas Bryant 
 Kendall Bryant and his wife. 
 Tabitha Briant 
 Tho. Damon and his wife. 
 Mary and Lydia Eaton. 
 Jonathan Eaton and his wife. 
 Lt. Kendall Parker and his wife. 
 Wid. Taylor. 
 Wid. Brown. 
 Wid. Cowdrey. 
 Tabitha, Susanna and Elizabeth Cowdrey.
 
 140 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " Members of our Church in our Maulden (Melrose^ neighborhood": 
 Thomas Upham and his wife. Thos. Green and his wife. 
 
 Elizabeth Upham. Ye wife of James Taylor. 
 
 Ye wife of Richard Upham. 
 
 " Members of this Church belonging to Lynn End (Lynnfield) not yet dismissed " : 
 
 Lt Jno. Poole and Mary his wife. Hannah Walton. 
 
 Judith Poole. Wm. Russell (of So. Vill) and Elizabeth 
 Sarah Prates. his wife. 
 
 Kendall Pierson and Lydia his wife. William Batchelder. 
 
 Rebecca Williams. Goody Wellman. 
 
 Samuel Hart. Isaac Wellman and his wife. 
 
 Sarah Hart. Joshua Felt and his mother. 
 
 Shubail Stearns. Sarah Hawkes. 
 
 "Members of this Church in our Charlestown (Stoneham) neighborhood" : 
 
 Wid. Goold. Judith Gould. 
 
 Daniel Gould, Sen., and his wife. Ye wife of Jno. Goold, Jr. 
 
 Ebenezer Knight and his wife. Timo. Bauldwin and wife. 
 
 Naomi Holden. Mrs. Hay. 
 
 Thomas Gary's wife. Hannah Hay. 
 
 Wid. Belcher. Mrs. Abigail Gary. 
 
 Joanna Lawrence. Goody Cutler. 
 
 Mercy Parker. 
 
 Of Reading, 184 ; Lynn End, 20 ; Maulden, 7 ; Charlestown, 25. Total, 236. 
 Recorded by Richard Brown." 
 
 There were dismissed from Reading Church in 1720, to join Lynn 
 End -Church (Lynnfield) : John Pearson, John Townsend, Samuel 
 Parker, William Eaton, James Pearson, and John Going ; and to join 
 the North Precinct Church : Tho. Bryant, John Eaton, Tho. Taylor, 
 Jona. Parker, Samuel Dix, Samuel Lewis, Caleb Taylor, Tho. Nichols 
 (who returned), Wm. Flint, Benj. Damon, Samuel Leman, and Thomas 
 Burt. 
 
 The small-pox prevailed in the town to an alarming degree, espe- 
 cially in the North Precinct. 
 
 1722. The First Parish this year voted that Jona. Poole, Esq., Dea. 
 Tho. Nichols, Capt. Joseph Burnap, and Ensign Tho. Bancroft be a 
 Committee to consider how and where to enlarge the parsonage and to 
 make report. 
 
 An extract from first church record : 
 
 " Anno 1722. There having been sad confusions, which I often have observed for 
 several years past (and did cften in the Public mention which trouble and pray might 
 be reformed), in our singing ; some were above others, some before others, and all 
 was, as I apprehended, for want of going more together, which I urged to no purpose.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 141 
 
 And understanding that there was a Rule, I looked on it, and conceiving ye knowl- 
 edge and keeping of the Rule, would prevent this confusion in that part of our pub- 
 lic worship, I promoted learning to sing to that end ; several public lectures were had 
 to promote it; then I preached by myself, and 2d by Mr. Wm. Symes and 3d by Mr. 
 Fiske, where much was said to incourage it and in each of which they sang four times 
 exact by the Rule, no man opposing ; a school was set up ; many, both men and 
 women, learnt ; some indeed were not so clear in it, (as by mistake) conceiving it po- 
 pery ; but at length having been incouraged by several, as by all the Deacons, Capt. 
 Poole, Capt. Burnap, Ensign Bancroft, SergL Tho. Poole, Lt Bryant and Lt. Kendall 
 Parker, (most of whom came to the school), that learnt, the first night they begun, 
 (they?) sung with the wisht success, (4 of his family) (Kendall Parker's) attended 
 the school, he learnt himself; sang by Rule in his family diverse months together ; 
 and, as I observed, after sung by Rule in the Public, and as I hear set the tune by 
 Rule 3 times in the public, one day when I was sick ; and (being) urged by some to 
 bring it into the assembly, and especially by Deacon Boutwell, the eldest Deacon 
 several times ; on Nov. 8, being thanksgiving day, after the public worship was over, 
 I proposed it to the church and congregation to sing by Rule ; and by what I had 
 heard not expecting any opposition, I said that if they were all willing, I would take 
 their silence for consent, and no man answered one word, but all were silent and went 
 away." 
 
 RICHARD BROWN." 
 
 In December of same year, " took up a contribution in aid of Rev. 
 Daniel Putnam, of North Precinct, who is represented to be in great 
 straits." 
 
 Amount collected, .5 and lyj. 
 
 1723. Town voted "to sell to John Atwell (of Lynn), Reading 
 right in the land that he has fenced in about his house, twelve acres 
 at 12 pence per acre, which was paid down." 
 
 Voted also "to sell to Josiah Rhodes (of Lynn) Reading right in 
 his lot in the 600 acres for 20 shill. per acre." 
 
 Voted " that the Selectmen petition the General Court, concerning a 
 free course for the fish to come to Reading." 
 
 1724. First Parish voted "to take up two acres of land distinct, 
 in the low ground below the lower burying place and to add it to Mr. 
 Brown's Parsonage, upon condition, that after it is once fenced, he will 
 maintain the fence so long as he improves the above said two acres of 
 land ; and he does also engage that he will not desire the Parish to find 
 him any more hay or grass as long as he is our minister ; and he quit 
 the ministerial meadow to the use of the town, and engaging to let us 
 have a liberty of passing and repassing in the winter season, with horse 
 and cart over the land, that was formerly Isaac Han's, from Mr. Hoclg- 
 man's corner and so out at Dea. Thomas Nichols' house, that was for-
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 merly Landlord Burnap ; and upon condition that our friends and 
 
 neighbors in the Pond Row do the East side of the fence upon their 
 
 own cost and charge." 
 
 N. B. This is probably the land lying on the west side of Pond Street 
 The North Precinct vote this year "to apply to the Governor and 
 
 Council in relation to Mr. Putnam's troubles " ; (his lack of support, it 
 
 is presumed). 
 
 First Parish congregation contributed g $s. towards redeeming 
 
 " Blanchard " children. 
 
 1725. Town voted "that the school money be divided so that the 
 west end shall have what they pay, in proportion as they pay to the 
 Province tax ; and that the west end shall be divided from the town by 
 the families that live nearest to each school house." 
 
 Voted " that no geese shall go on the Common after the ist January 
 next, but that swine may." 
 
 Town voted " that all Oak, Walnut, Elm, and Buttonwood trees, that 
 are growing on the perpetuated Common, shall stand and not be cut 
 off, under a penalty of prosecution." 
 
 Charlestown End was this year incorporated as a town, by the name 
 of Stoneham. 
 
 1726. The town voted " that, upon the petition of our neighbors of 
 North End of Maiden, Richard Upham and William Green represent- 
 ing them, we will petition the General Court that a number of our 
 neighbors of North End of Maiden may be set to Reading." 
 
 Chose a Committee to prosecute encroachments upon Reading's right 
 in the herbage in the " 600 acres " in Lynn. 
 
 Voted to take 8 in money of Joshua Felt, for Reading's right in 
 six acres in the ' 600 acres " in Lynn. 
 
 1727. "Oct. 29," says the North Precinct church record, " there 
 was a terrible earthquake, which lasted at times, 3 months, and at the 
 end of the 3 months, very hard." 
 
 "July 2, Lordsday, just as the public exercise of the afternoon was 
 ended, at the South Parish meeting-house, there was terrible thunder 
 and lightning, which detained several persons at the M. House, and, 
 while a surprising clap struck the house, broke off the vane and spindle, 
 broke the turret in pieces, shivered off the clapboards on the west and 
 south sides, from the top to the bottom, and shattered one of the doors
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 143 
 
 in pieces that had just been shut, and struck a young man near it, 
 threw him on his face and stunned him, so that he bled very much, but 
 is since likely to do well. No other person received any considerable 
 hurt." 
 
 First Parish voted " to procure a new Bell for the meeting-house, 
 with the old Bell so far as that will go, and what that will not do, to be 
 paid by way of a Rate." 
 
 Also voted " to build a turret on the Meeting-house for the Bell." 
 
 1728. Town voted " that a Committee be chosen to look after" ob- 
 structions to the coming up of fish, and to threaten prosecution to them 
 that hinder them." 
 
 This year the General Court issued 60,000 pounds more of "Bills of 
 Credit," to be distributed to the several towns in proportion to their 
 taxes ; whereupon the town voted " to accept their proportion of the 
 same, according to the late act." 
 
 Voted " to let the money at six per cent, and that no man shall draw 
 out more than 20, and no one less than 5, and any sum between 
 these two, and for the trustees to take sufficient security for the money." 
 
 Chose for trustees: Thos. Bancroft, Thos. Poole, and Peter Emerson. 
 
 Thomas Bancroft gave a part of his pay as Representative to the 
 town. 
 
 1729. Town voted " to try to get clear of mending Mystic bridge in 
 future." 
 
 " The town met at ' Landlord Wesson's ' to hear the Indian deed of 
 our township read." See Appendix A. 
 
 First Church, this year, dismissed to Stoneham (probably to form the 
 church there) Messrs. Daniel Gould, Daniel Gould, Jr., Ebenezer 
 Knight, David Gould, Abraham Gould, Ebenezer Parker, Edward Buck- 
 nam, Tho. Cutler, Joseph Bryant, Jona. Griffin, and others (females). 
 
 This year William Williams and his son James were drowned in 
 Reading Pond, by the upsetting of a boat. 
 
 The north part of Maiden, including ten families, was annexed to 
 Reading. This annexation included the Green, Upham, and Evans 
 families, with their farms, and was that part of what is now Greenwood, 
 that was situated southerly of the old Smith farms. 
 
 1730. First Parish chose a committee, consisting of William Bry- 
 ant, Esq., Capt. Kendall Parker, Lieut. Thomas Eaton, Ens. Thomas 
 Nichols, and Joseph Eaton, to seat the meeting-house, and voted " that
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Real estate and age are the two first and chiefest rules to go by in seat- 
 ing the M. House." 
 
 Voted also, forty-five in the affirmative and fifty in the negative on 
 the question, whether the Parish would set off the northwest part of the 
 Parish, Woodend, so called, to be a distinct Parish by themselves, ac t 
 cording to the line in their petition. 
 
 Voted also " to petition to the General Court to restore all the lands 
 that are taken off of our township, on the South side of Ipswich river, 
 and on the east side of Andover road, from Jenkins bridge to Woburn 
 line." 
 
 Voted also "to allow the Northwesterly part of this Parish, or Wood- 
 end, so called, the sum of \i a year for support of preaching among 
 them in the winter season out of the Parish rate or treasury, during the 
 term of ten years, provided the said Woodend do give the said Parish 
 no trouble at home or abroad, referring to a separation ; and also that 
 the said Woodend do hereby oblige themselves to tarry with us during 
 said term often years." 
 
 Then chose a Committee to go to General Court to defend the 
 Parish from any breaking in from the North Precinct or elsewhere. 
 
 The town of Wilmington, including a part of Reading, was this year 
 incorporated. 
 
 The action of the First Parish, last above mentioned, was probably 
 occasioned by the following vote of the North Precinct, viz. : 
 
 " To petition the General Court for part of Reading, part of Lynn, and part of An- 
 dover, to be sett off to them to help support the gospel in said Precinct." 
 
 The Precinct Committee chosen to manage the affair were Capt. 
 Jona. Parker, Lieut. Ebenezer Flint, and Mr. Samuel Burnap. 
 Extract from the first church record : 
 
 "Jona. Brown and his wife, having been guilty of fornication, in having a child too 
 soon, they both owned their sins to the church, before the congregation, gave glory to 
 God, begged forgiveness of Him and the church, though he was only a child of the 
 church by baptism, but she had owned the covenant, and the church taking satisfac- 
 tion from their humble confession, restored them to their charity, and allowed them 
 baptism for their child, they being about to remove to Billerica." 
 
 The following statement exhibits the financial operations of the towr- 
 for the year 1730, and is inserted for comparison with those of late: 
 times : 
 
 "The Debts and Credit of ye Town of Reading in ye year 1730, Laid before ye 
 Town at a General Town meeting March I, 1731 :
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 145 
 
 s. d. 
 
 To Mr. Isaac Richardson for Schooling this Last year, 36 o o 
 
 " Wm. Bryant, Esq., for Entering 2 actions at Court, 040 
 
 " Mr. Thomas Eaton for Keeping his Aunt Mary ye last year, 11 o o 
 
 " Mr. John Batcheller for Keeping his cousen, Wm. Batcheller, 13 o o 
 
 " Mr. Ezekiel Upton for waiting 6^1 ye Court's Com. 2 days, o 10 o 
 
 " Ens. Francis Nurse for ye like service, o 10 o 
 
 " Ens. Geo. Flint for ye like service, o 10 o 
 
 " Daniel Gowing for timber for a Causeway, North Precinct, I 80 
 
 " John Hartshorn for making and setting up a gate in North Precinct, I o o 
 
 " Daniel Graves " " " " i o o 
 
 " Peter Emerson for serving ye town as Clerk and Treasurer, 2 10 o 
 
 " Peter Emerson for returning 2 precepts and i4 quire paper, 090 
 " Landlord Wesson for Selectmen's expense (where Mrs. Spaulding lives), 3 68 
 
 " Landlord Damon for Selectmen's expense (at North Precinct), 050 
 
 " Benj. Brown, Constable, warning 3 town meetings, gathering Rates, and 
 
 warning 2 persons out of Town, 2 3 5 
 
 " Abated to Wid. Suderick (Southwick ? ) her rate for 1729, 0114 
 
 " Abated to James Parker his rate for 1729, 090 
 
 " Abated to Stephen Flint his rate for 1729, o 12 9 
 
 " John Hartshfcrn for Sawing Plank for Lobs Pound Bridge, o 14 o 
 
 " Mr. Joseph Eaton for 5 days, 5 shillings a day, at ye Inferior Court, I 50 
 
 77 8 2 
 
 CONTRA is Credit: 
 
 *. d. 
 
 By ye Town Rate, 63 911 
 
 " Overplus in the Province Rate, . 4116 
 
 " Overplus in the Country Rate, on 7 
 
 " Received of Constable Ezekiel Upton, 150 
 
 " " Constable Joseph Upton, 5 10 8 
 
 " " Constable Ebenezer Flint, 455 
 
 " Constable John Swain, 300 
 
 " " Constable Timothy Wiley, 5 10 o 
 
 Lt Poole, Rent for a corner of ye Town's land, ) o ic 6 
 
 Do. and Peter Emerson ye last payment, ) 
 
 " " of ye interest of ye ^50,000 loan, 3 o 10 
 
 " Remaining in Constable Lewes, his hands, 3 2 5 
 
 " " Constable Kzekiel Upton's hands, 01411 
 
 " " Constable Flint's hands, I 12 11 
 
 " Wiley's hands, 268 
 
 99 17 4 
 
 77 8 2 
 
 Ye Town's Credit, 
 
 1731. Nov. 8, "Lt. Thomas Bancroft, our worthy Representative, 
 died of Nervous Fever." 
 19
 
 146 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 First Parish voted " to give the old ' Pulpit Cushion ' to the Woodend, 
 which they have asked for in a Christian and charitable way and man- 
 ner, in their subscriptions to the new one." 
 
 North Precinct chose a Committee to provide a place in which to 
 keep school, and voted to apply to General Court for help. 
 
 Committee : Sergt. Ebenezer Flint, Robert Russell, and Thomas 
 Hartshorn. 
 
 1732. Stephen Raper, eight years old, was drowned in Reading 
 Pond. 
 
 Rev. Richard Brown, minister of the First Parish, died this year Oct. 
 29, aged 57 years, after a ministry of twenty years. For further ac- 
 count of Mr. Brown, see " Early Settlers." 
 
 1733. Copy of a bill of expenses of the funeral of Rev. Mr. 
 Brown : 
 
 &*.*. 
 
 To Thomas Eaton for provisions, 2 I o 
 
 " Nathaniel Eaton for fetching up the wine, 0150 
 
 " Lt. Nathaniel Parker for 5 qts. Rhom, 080 
 
 " Samuel Poole for digging Mr. Brown's grave, 080 
 
 " Landlord Wesson for Rhom, o 10 6 
 
 " Wm. Cowdrey for making the coffin, 0150 
 
 " Andrew Tyler of Boston, 6 Gold rings for funeral, 10 18 o 
 
 " Benj. Fitch of Boston, Gloves, etc., 17 o o 
 
 " Mrs. Martha Brown for wine furnished, 5 o o 
 
 " Eben Storer of Boston, Sundries, 800 
 
 Total, 45 15 6 
 
 First Parish voted " to concur with the church " (94 in favor, whether 
 any were opposed is not stated), "in inviting Rev. Wm. Hobby to be 
 the minister of said Parish." 
 
 Also voted " to give Mr. Hobby ,200 as a settlement gift, and an 
 annual salary of ,120, 30 cords of wood brought yearly to his door, 
 and the use of the Parsonage." 
 
 Elijah Dodge, Thomas Green, John Townsend, Jr., and James Parker, 
 dissented from the vote allowing 200 as settlement, to which ,20 was 
 subsequently added. 
 
 Chose for a Committee to treat with Mr. Hobby : Deacons Nichols, 
 Boutwell, Smith, and Goodwin ; Esquires Kendall Parker and Wm. 
 Bryant ; Lt. Nathaniel Parker, and Messrs. Ebenezer Parker, Stephen 
 Weston, Thomas Upham, and Peter Emerson. 
 
 Voted, to set the standard for the money of the salary voted to the
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 147 
 
 ministry of the First Parish in Reading as " Eighteen shillings an ounce 
 in silver money, which shall be a standard as money rises arid falls." 
 (Subsequently reconsidered.) 
 
 Chose for a Committee on Ordination, viz. the four Deacons afore- 
 said, the two Esquires aforesaid, Lt Thomas Eaton, Ebenezer Parker, 
 Raham Bancroft, Thomas Nichols, and Nathaniel Batchelder. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hobby was ordained September, 1733. 
 
 Order of Exercises at the Ordination : Prayer (Introductory) by Rev. 
 Mr. Emerson of Maiden; Sermon (Text: 2d Tim., ii, 21) by Rev. Mr. 
 Appleton, of Cambridge ; Prayer (Ordaining) by Rev. Mr. Wellstead, 
 of Boston ; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Webb, of Boston ; Hand of Fellow- 
 ship, by Rev. Mr. Putnam, of (North) Reading ; Psalm and Benediction 
 by Ihe ordained. 
 
 Copy of a bill of expenses of the ordination of Rev. Mr. Hobby: 
 
 *. d. 
 
 Paid Mrs. Ann Archer of Boston, 2 18 o 
 
 " Jonathan Williams of Boston, i Bbl Wine, 1380 
 
 " Jonathan Call of Charlestons, Bread, 2 12 o 
 
 " Sundry others persons (36 in number), 46 8 i 
 
 65 6 i 
 
 First Parish voted " to accept of half an acre of the Parsonage land, 
 to enlarge our Burial place if Mr. Hobby giveth leave." 
 
 1734. Richard Upham, whom Parson Hobby calls "a saint in- 
 deed," died this year of Stranguary. 
 
 First Parish paid Isaac Smith and Ebenezer Damon 19^., for waiting 
 on Ruth Joy to Newbury. Paid also i8j. for a "Kalash," and 9*. 
 for a horse for the same purpose. 
 
 First Parish also voted in March " to repair the Parsonage house as 
 may be with convenience, and that the figure thereof be not altered." 
 
 In September, voted not to enlarge the Parsonage house. 
 
 1735. First Parish voted, ist, " not to build a new Meeting-house ; " 
 2d, to repair the old meeting-house thoroughly by shingling the roof in 
 the same form that it now is, except the taking off the north dormer, 
 and clapboarding the same as far as needful, and by plastering the 
 same meeting-house upon the beams, which plastering is the last thing 
 to be done. Then voted to take off the east and west dormers, and 
 carry out the gambrel roof so far south as is convenient Appropri- 
 ated .350 for said object 
 
 Old Mrs. Hodgman, wid. of Thomas, died in her g6th year.
 
 14 g GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1736. Town voted "that Messrs. Kendall Parker, Esq., Wm. Bry- 
 ant, Esq., Dea. Goodwin, Capt. Nichols, Lt. Eaton, Lt. Flint, and Mr. 
 Thos. Weston, be a Committee to view the circumstances and accommo- 
 dations of the highways in the town, and to bring in their thoughts and 
 propositions, what may best be done about converting the Commons to 
 some better use, than what it is at present." 
 
 Lt. Lamson, Thos. Wesson, Dr. Stimpson, Ebenezer Merrow, Eben- 
 ezer Felch, John Temple, and John Burnap dissented. 
 
 N. B. This vote is noticeable as being the commencement of a course of action by 
 the town, in reference to the common lands, that has been attended with important 
 consequences, which have been felt, through successive generations, to the present 
 day. 
 
 First Parish furnished for the Parsonage " A Post and Well Crotch," 
 that cost i i2s., and a "little Necessary house," that cost i i$s. 
 
 This year and the succeeding year the throat distemper prevailed 
 to an alarming extent throughout Massachusetts and New England. 
 Many in this town died of it. John Swain lost six children within two 
 months, and his wife soon after. Ebenezer Parker lost three in Feb- 
 ruary. 1837, and Dea. Brown Emerson lost three children in the spring 
 of 1837. From November 12, 1736, to May 23, 1737, thirty children 
 and two adults died of this disease in the town. 
 
 The General Court appointed a public Fast on account of the preva- 
 lence and mortality of the epidemic. 
 
 J 737- The town chose Kendall Parker, Wm. Bryant, and Samuel 
 Bancroft a Committee to make answer to the presentment of Mystic 
 bridge, at the next Inferior Court, and to search the records and try 
 whether they can find a privilege to that end of said bridge, that Med- 
 ford, Maiden, Woburn, and Reading have maintained for some time. 
 
 Town voted to leave to the Selectmen to agree with Lynn Selectmen 
 and Mr. Griffin, about erecting a bridge over Saugus River, near Mr. 
 Griffin's Corn Mill, that is for Reading to do one half of said bridge. 
 (This was the bridge, probably, at the eastern terminus of what is now 
 Salem Street, in South Parish.) 
 
 "June 7. Town voted "to alter the disposition of the Common land 
 from what it now is." 
 
 "Also, chose Ebenezer Parker, Capt. Nichols, Kendall Parker,' Esq., 
 Mr. Raham Bancroft, and Ebenezer Flint, a Committee to lay out all 
 necessary Ways and Watering places and all other conveniences that 
 shall be thought convenient, for alt the proprietors in the town, through 
 the Town Common, and make report at the next meeting."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 149 
 
 Capt Joseph Burnap, Dea. John Goodwin, Stephen Wesson, and 
 Isaac Burnap, entered their dissent against the town making any dispo- 
 sition of the common lands in said town. 
 
 Nov. 23. Committee reported as follows : 
 
 " We, the subscribers, being a Committee chosen by the town to take a view of the 
 common land in order to see what is necessary to be left for highways, watering places 
 and other public uses, having entered upon the aflair, consulted the same and Report 
 as followeth, viz : 
 
 " That all the Common between Capt. Thomas Nichols' (late Noah Smith's) and 
 the \Vid Pattison's (late Col. James Hartshorn's), and Dea. Fitch's gate (westerly end 
 of Salem Street), lay as it is, excepting the land, that lays upon the easterly side of 
 the road, that leads from the corner of Capt. Nichols' Stonewall, within six feet of the 
 cart path, until it comes to a white oak, standing near Esq. Poole's draw bars, below 
 his house, and so the line turns off up to said bars ; yet nevertheless a way is re- 
 served for Thomas Wesson (now Mrs. Lucinda Spaulding), and Dea. Gibson (late 
 Jacob Eaton's) up to their houses, which shall be left upon the Causeway, and said 
 way shall be three rods wide at the easterly end and three rods and a half at the west- 
 erly end. (Benj. Poole, Esq., lived where Leonard Wiley formerly lived.) 
 
 " Then we proceeded to the North end of the great Pond, and there we propose that 
 a way not less than four rods wide shall lay from the bridge at the mouth of the Pond, 
 up along the highland between the road, that goes round the hill and the. path over 
 the top of the hill, in a path that we call the middle way, and so it leads to the 
 way to John Poole's house (late Caleb Wakefield's) ; and from the westerly side of 
 John Poole's homestead, that there be a way four rods wide, through the common 
 land, in the most convenient place up to the Causeway at Jonas's bridge ; and that 
 there be a way three rods wide over the Island bridge ; yet still a bridle way is re- 
 served for the necessary use of the owners of Ash Swamp, and other ancient proprie- 
 tors, that have occasion to pass over the common land to their woodland, pasture or 
 meadow ; then we viewed the highway by Dea. John Goodwin's (now James Eustis'), 
 and we propose that the way from said Goodwin's house, up the hill to Kendall 
 Parker, Esquire's (M. F. Leslie's), and to Stoneham road, shall lay not less than four 
 rods wide ; and the road from said Goodwin's to Kendall Bryant's (who lived a short 
 distance west of Joseph Hartshorn's present residence), and so along to Barehill 
 brook, not less than four rods wide ; and that there be a way three rods wide from 
 the bridge at said brook, up round the soft ground over Damon's bridge and so out to 
 Jonathan Eaton's (late Jonas Parker's) ; and that there be a road of four rods wide 
 from said bridge up to Parker's Sawpit ; also, that there be a road three rods wide 
 from Jona. Eaton's, so along by the Widow Ruth Bancroft's up the hill and so to 
 Capt Thos. Eaton's pasture at Benjamin Wesson's, that is three rods wide, where 
 there is breadth of Common to accommodate. We also judge it necessary that there 
 be a highway two rods wide from the road that goes by Benj. Wesson's barn, which 
 shall lie over the higher part of the hill toward said Wid. Bancroft's (now Sumner 
 Hopkins') until it drops into the last proposed road Also, that there be a convenient 
 road from the Northeasterly corner of Ensign Wesson's homestead, along by the 
 house and so to Samuel Wesson's and Eben. Felch's, and so out by the end of the 
 meadow, that was Capt. Parker's to Charlestown road. From thence we proceeded 
 to Tare Breech hill, and we propose that the lower end of the Common by Knsign 
 Parker's up as far as the path, that comes from John Boutwell's stone wall, towards
 
 !^ GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Henry Merrow's lay common for public uses ; and that there be a road, three rods 
 wide from Henry Merrow's to the road, that goes out to Jona. Parker's ; still reserving 
 a convenient bridle way over part of Tare Breech hill for Eben. Nichols Sen., and Jere- 
 miah Swain to come to their proprieties. Also, we propose that there shall be a two rod 
 way left at the westerly end of Raham Bancroft's and DanieJ Merrow's homestea'ds, 
 through a piece of Common. Also, we propose that a convenient part of Brown's 
 Pond upon the hill side (the small pond near John A. Tyler's) be left for watering; 
 and also ten rods length Barehill brook, above the bridge, shall lay common ; and at 
 the lower end of VVid. Ruth Bancroft's homestead, there shall be another convenient 
 watering place left common. Also, at the pond at Samuel Wesson's shall be left 
 common. Furthermore, we think it necessary that where there is any convenient 
 house-lot, field or pasture land, that borders upon the Common land, and the Town 
 do not sell or dispose of the Common, so adjoining to the owner of such proprieties 
 then there shall be left a way from all such proprieties out to the highway before such 
 common lands are any way disposed of to any other person." 
 
 EBENEZER PARKER,] 
 KENDALL PARKER, I 
 THOMAS NICHOLS, \ Committee. 
 EBENEZER FLINT, 
 RAHAM BANCROFT, 
 
 >*, f 
 
 r. 
 
 FT, J 
 
 Nov. 29. Town voted "to accept the return of the Committee ap- 
 pointed to view the perpetual Common, except such ways as were laid 
 out before, according to record ; and the way round the hill by Mr. 
 Woodward's (late Wm. Stimpson's) is to be the lowest way on the west 
 side." John Temple dissented. 
 
 1738. First Parish voted "to enlarge the Parsonage house at a 
 convenient time and place; then referred the subject!* to the next 
 meeting." 
 
 I 739- Dec. 6. Parish voted to repair the Parsonage house as 
 soon as may be convenient. 
 
 Dec. 27. Voted to raise and pay to Capt. Thomas Eaton one hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds, in the old tenor, provided he doth repair and 
 finish the Parsonage house, according to the report of the Committee, 
 appointed to view the same, and to raise the north part of the roof even 
 with the south part, and make a gambrel roof to the same, to the ac- 
 ceptance of the Parish and Mr. Hobby. 
 
 The report of the Committee referred to above is as 'followeth : 
 
 " ist To raise up the back side equal to the fore-?ide and to advance a Beyell or 
 Gambrell roof, suitable in proportion to said house ; to board the roof and double 
 board the upper part of said roof and shingle said roof with good cedar shingles, and 
 to put up suitable weather boards ; to window frame and casement the foreside, east 
 end and backside, as they now are a to bigness ; also, new sett the old glass what 
 is good and to provide for and glaze the rest, that the old will not do ; to clapboard
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. j 5 r 
 
 the foreside, east end and backside and to head the windows that are needful and to 
 finish the covell, and make suitable for the foreside and backside, and case them and 
 do what is proper over the doors, and case the windows withinside of the addition ; to 
 finish the wall and Gable end with boards and clapboards and windows suitable to the 
 best part of the house, and eve-troughs and trunk for ye foreside of said house ; to 
 color all that is needful to be colored, with Spanish Brown, and to the finishing of the 
 inside of ye addition. 
 
 To lay two floors, to lathe and plaster the wall of the three rooms and to case two 
 rooms overhead and to make two partitions ; and to make suitable stairs and doors 
 for the addition, and to raise the chimney as high as is needful." 
 
 "Capt. Tho. Eaton took the job." 
 
 This improvement of the Parsonage house put the main house into 
 the same shape in which we find it in later years, and was the house on 
 Common Street in Wakefield, long known as the "Prentiss House," its 
 site being now occupied by the new High School building. 
 
 Town chose a Committee to enforce the law to prevent the killing of 
 Deer, out of season. 
 
 1740. Town this year appropriated ^120 for town expenses. First 
 Parish built a Horse Block for ye Parsonage, that cost one pound. 
 
 Dea. Benj. Brown's negro woman, Rose, committed suicide by hang- 
 ing. 
 
 North Precinct this year voted " to build a meeting-house, 46 feet in 
 length and 36 feet in breadth, on the land, that was given for that use 
 and finish it as decently as a meeting-house ought to be, for the public 
 worship of God, with that speed, which our necessity requireth or our 
 ability will admit of." 
 
 1741. This year Rev. George Whitefield preached on Reading 
 Common. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hobby went to hear him, and it was said that he afterwards 
 remarked " that he went to pick a hole in Whitefield's coat, but that 
 Whitefield picked a hole in his (Hobby's) heart." 
 
 Mr. Hobby afterwards wrote and published a defence of Whitefield, in 
 a letter to Rev. Mr. Henchman, of Lynn, who had written against him. 
 
 " READING, July the 6, 1741. 
 
 Whare as several of the Inhabetence of this town are of the mind that it is con- 
 venent to Have two tavens in this part of the town, and Whare as som are faverfull of 
 the Event thare of and as I, the subscriber, am a partisoner for the same, and as I Re- 
 gard the pece of this town, I promas, that if the Selectmen se Caus to aprebate me 
 this year, if it be the minds of the chefe of the Hed men of this town that it is detre- 
 mental to the pece of this town, I will Give it up another year and consarn myself no 
 father about it ; as wetnes my Hand. 
 
 THO. BANCROFT. WM. BRYANT JUN. 
 
 EBEN. NICHOLS,
 
 152 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 This year the town passed the following vote in reference to the 
 common lands, which has become a very important one, having been 
 adjudged by decisions of the Supreme Court as fixing, defining, and 
 consecrating the common lands. It was reported by a Committee, 
 consisting of Ebenezer Parker, Kendall Parker, Esq., Capt. Bancroft, 
 Wm. Bryant, Esq., Thomas Weston, Peter Emerson, and Ebenezer 
 Nichols : 
 
 Voted "that all the Common lands from Capt Thomas Nichols' (late Noah 
 Smith's) to the Great Pond (now Quannapowitt Pond), and so up the side of the Pond 
 as far as Timothy Nichols' little orchard (where J. G. Aborn's shoe factory now 
 stands), by the Pond, and that are now unfenced ; also all the land on the west side 
 of the Meeting-house that is between that and Hodgman's brook (the brook near 
 Church Street R R. crossing), and so from said brook up the great hill as far as the 
 Southwest corner of Dea. Goodwin's land (Dea. Goodwin owned where James Eustis 
 now owns), by the road ; also by the foot of the hill by Dea. Goodwin's, running 
 round the hill as far as Kendall Bryant's barn (Kendall Bryant lived a short distance 
 west of Joseph Hartshorn's) shall continue to lie unfenced as they are, excepting a 
 few poles against Dr. Hay's land (late Geo. W. Hartshorn's) not exceeding twenty, 
 for the use of the Old Parish, for highways, a Training field, and Burying place, and 
 the more convenient coming at the pond with flax and creatures, and also to accom- 
 modate the neighbors that live bordering on said land for their more convenient 
 coming to and improving their own land and buildings, all the aforesaid lands to 
 remain unfenced as they now are, and to the use of the Old Parish and neighborhood 
 above said forever, never to be disposed of for any other use whatsoever, without the 
 consent of every freeholder in the Parish." 
 
 Voted also " that the Common land in the Woodend, from the north side of the 
 Burying place, from the road running East to John Boutwell's land (now Dana Par- 
 ker's) and so running South to the corner where two roads meet, shall lie forever for 
 the use of that part of the Town for a Burying place and other public uses as they 
 shall have occasion." 
 
 1742. Joseph Underwood acknowledged to the church that he had 
 stolen corn from Noah Eaton. 
 
 1743. Daniel Emerson, son of Peter Emerson, of this town, was 
 ordained this year at Hollis, N. H. He graduated at Har. Coll. in 
 X 739- (See Early Settlers.) He died in 1801, in the fifty-seventh year 
 of his ministry and the eighty-fifth year of his age. Rev. Mr. Hobby, 
 of Reading, preached his ordination sermon. 
 
 I745-. This year an expedition was sent to Nova Scotia, and war 
 with the French and Indians was renewed. Massachusetts furnished 
 most of the troops for the expedition, which was quite successful, and 
 captured the city of Louisburg and the island of Cape Breton. Read-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 153 
 
 ing furnished its quota for this expedition, as well as for the war that 
 followed and that continued for ten or twelve years. Several French 
 captives from Cape Breton, who were residing in Reading, died this 
 year. Also, John Batt, aged thirty-two, and John Jeffrey, aged nineteen, 
 both died, having just returned from the taking of Louisburg. 
 
 For list of soldiers in the French and Indian wars of 1745 to 1757, 
 see Appendix G. 
 
 North Precinct voted to build a school-house. 
 
 1746. Joseph Swain, son of Capt. John, born 1723, graduated at 
 Har. Coll. 1744, was schoolmaster this year. 
 
 1748. Mr. Hobby's salary was raised to .300. 
 
 1749. This year the throat distemper again prevailed, and many 
 died ; among them Timothy Wiley, Jr., of whom Parson Hobby said : 
 "He died in ye vigor and strength of life, in full career after the O." 
 Age 24. 
 
 1750. Rev. Joseph Swain, the schoolmaster aforesaid, was this 
 year ordained at Wenham. Delegates to the ordination , Capt. John 
 Swain (his father), Dea. Brown Emerson, John Walton, and Samuel 
 Poole. 
 
 Nathaniel Eaton committed suicide by hanging. 
 
 A child of Wid. Bancroft, aged five years, who having eaten exces- 
 sively of trash in a hot day, returned home, and finding some rum, 
 drank about a gill, went into convulsions and in a few days died. 
 
 First Parish paid Mr. Hobby for his negro's sweeping the meeting- 
 house and ringing the bell one year (1749), ^"3 IQS. 
 
 1751. Josiah Temple, while in a fit, fell into a well and was 
 drowned. 
 
 Another of the French captives died. 
 
 This year the North Precinct voted to build a new meeting-house 
 on the land given for that purpose, 48 feet in length, 36 feet wide, and 
 22 feet stud, within one year so far as to plank and shingle it A 
 committee was chosen to build it. 
 
 Said Precinct also voted to build a pound with stone. 
 
 1752. The North Precinct Meeting-house was raised July 23, 1752, 
 Old Style. 
 
 20
 
 154 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 This year New Style was introduced into this country Previous to 
 this year two methods of reckoning time had been used. According 
 to one of these methods the year began on the 25th of March, February 
 being the rath month ; according to the other method, the year began 
 on the ist January, December being the i2th month. 
 
 Ebenezer Nichols, son of Capt. Ebenezer, who had just removed to 
 Souhegan (Amherst, N. H.), was drowned in passing the river. 
 
 1753. This year Thomas Nichols, of Reading, sold to Phineas 
 Sprague, of Maiden, a negro woman, Peggy, and a negro boy, for the 
 sum of ,33 6s. 8</., lawful money of New England. 
 
 The only child of William Gould, aged three years, was drowned in 
 a pit of water that with too much negligence had been left uncovered. 
 
 1754. John Kimball was convicted of stealing the velvet and 
 leather of the pulpit cushion, and fined by the Court.' 
 
 Died this year, Capt. Joseph Fitch, aged sixty, " an honor to ye hu- 
 mane nature and to the Christian name, fully satisfied with ye present 
 and ye hope of ye future life." (Hobby.) 
 
 1756. Died this year William Hobby, Jr., " in his last year in Col- 
 lege, and but a few months before he was to have taken his degree, 
 a son of great hopes, aged 18." (Hobby.) 
 
 I 757- North Precinct voted to procure a " Law-book." 
 
 1758. Rev. Mr. Hobby writes, " My dear friend and our excellent 
 neighbor, Edward Merrow, died of small-pox ; and that good man and 
 my good friend, Dea. Raham Bancroft, died of fever, aged 72 (or 4), 
 and his wife the same month." 
 
 1759. Nathan Eaton, from Pepperell, was warned out of town. 
 Rev. Daniel Putnam, pastor of the second church (N'orth Precinct), 
 
 died, having served in the ministry thirty-nine years (less nine days), 
 and in the sixty-third year of his age. During his ministry 194 persons 
 were added to his church; he baptized 491 persons, and married in 
 couples. 
 
 August gth was observed by the North Precinct as a day of Fasting 
 and Prayer in order for another pastor. 
 
 Elias Smith was ordained at Middleton' this year. He was son of 
 Benjamin and Elizabeth (Burnap) Smith, of Reading; born 1731;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 155 
 
 graduated at Har. Coll. in 1753; m. Catharine , and had chil. 
 
 Catharine, b. 1760, and m. 1791, Jos. Peabody ; Rebecca, b. 1762, and 
 d. 1790; Elias, b. 1765; Elizabeth, b. 1767, and became the second 
 wife of Joseph Peabody aforesaid ; Sarah, b. 1769, and d. 1775; Jo" 
 seph Bla.ichard, b. 1771 ; Hannah, b. 1773, and d. 1775 ; Fanny, b. 
 and d. 1775 ; Benjamin, b. 1777. 
 
 Joseph Peabody, above named, was a native of Middleton, removed 
 to Salem, became a successful and wealthy merchant, and was father, 
 by his second wife Elizabeth, of Messrs. George Peabody, Esq., and 
 Francis Peabody, Esq., of Salem. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Smith continued to be the minister at Middleton until his 
 death, which took place Oct. 17, 1791. The historian of Middleton 
 (David Stiles, Esq.) says of him, that "he was qualified to fill almost 
 any station in life, and was a faithful and successful minister. Soon 
 after his settlement he was chosen one of the trustees of Phillips Acad- 
 emy, and so remained until his death. He was once strongly solicited 
 to settle in Marblehead, with the promise of a much larger salary than 
 he was receiving in Middleton. His reply was " that he would not 
 leave Middleton for all Marblehead." 
 
 1760. Seven "French Neutrals" were quartered upon the town of 
 Reading this year by order of the Courts Committee. 
 
 First Parish voted to build a " Pound " with wood. 
 
 North Precinct this year invited Rev. Eliab Stone to be their pastor ; 
 to give him ;i6o as a settlement, and ,73 6s. %d. for his annual 
 support. 
 
 Mr. Stone accepted the invitation. 
 
 1761". First Parish voted to build a Pound with stone, and appro- 
 priated ;io 13^. 4</. for that purpose. 
 
 N. B. This pound was located on Main Street, about where Eben- 
 ezer Wiley's brick house now stands. 
 
 Rev. Eliab Stone was ordained May 2Oth as pastor of the second 
 church. Delegates from the first church to the ordination were Dea- 
 cons Benj. Brown and Brown Emerson, Col. Nichols, Capt. Gardner, 
 and Jona. Eaton. 
 
 This year the town was relieved from further tax for support of Mystic 
 Bridge, by payment of a sum of money agreed upon, as appears by the 
 following instrument : 
 
 Know all Men by these presents, that we, Samuel Brooks, Esq , Stephen Hall, 
 Esq., Zechariah Poole, Simon Tufts, Seth Blodgett and Benj. Parker, Jr., Gentlemen,
 
 156 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 all of Medford, in the County of Middlesex and Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 
 New England, a Committee chosen by the town of Medford to agree with Woburn, 
 Reading and Maiden, concerning the building, repairing and supporting of "Med- 
 ford Great Bridge," for and in consideration of the sum of fourteen pounds, lawful 
 money, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, and therefore hereby have, 
 and by these presents forever do acquit and discharge Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., John 
 Temple and Samuel Bancroft, Gentlemen, in behalf of the town of Reading, in the 
 County of Middlesex, aforesaid, they being chosen a Committee to agree with the 
 town of Medford as aforesaid, and do therefore for and in consideration of the sum 
 aforesaid, acquit and discharge the said town of Reading forever from all charges thac 
 ever have or ever shall arise on account of building and maintaining the said town of 
 Reading's part of " Medford Great Biidge" ; and in our said capacity do take upon 
 the town of Medford the care of supporting and building the aforesaid Reading's part 
 of said bridge. 
 
 In witness whereof, the Committee for Medford aforesaid have hereunto set our 
 hands and seals the twenty-first day of August, A. D. 1761, and in the first year of the 
 Reign of His Majesty King George the Third. 
 
 STEPHEN HALL. 
 
 Witness: Z. POOLE. 
 
 ROGER BILLINGS. SIMON TUFTS. 
 
 AARON HALL. SETH BLODGETT. 
 
 BENJ. PARKER. 
 
 Acknowledged before Wm. Reed, Just, of the Peace. 
 
 N. B. At this date, the travel from Reading, Woburn, and Maiden 
 passed over this bridge to Boston. Z. Poole aforesaid was of Reading 
 descent. 
 
 1764. Rev. Mr. Hobby, of the first church, having been long feeble, 
 seldom able to preach, and altogether insufficient, on account of disease, 
 to discharge the duties of the pastoral office, a large committee was 
 chosen by the First Parish to treat with him in relation to his discharge 
 from the office of pastor, and receiving an annuity during life. 
 
 First Parish voted that the contribution-box should be held every 
 Sabbath. 
 
 1765. This year Rev. Mr. Hobby, pastor of the first church, died } 
 June i8th, aged 58 years, after a ministry of thirty-two years. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hobby was the son of John and Ann, of Boston, born Aug. 
 17, 1707, and grandson of William Hobby, a merchant of Boston, by 
 wife Ann. Rev. William graduated at Har. Coll. in 1725, and settled 
 as the sixth pastor of the First Parish in 1733. His wife was Lucy. 
 
 Tradition says of him that he was a man of extensive learning and 
 much piety ; that he was an able writer and an imposing public 
 speaker. It is also said of him that he had a high opinion of the dig-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 157 
 
 nity belonging to the ministerial office ; that in his manners he was 
 somewhat pompous, wore a big wig, large knee-buckles, and other 
 showy sacerdotal vestments, especially on the Sabbath, when he entered 
 the temple of the Lord, and ascerided to the pulpit with dignity and 
 majesty. A doggerel verse made by one of his parishioners, contain, 
 ing, perhaps, more truth than poetry, has come down to us, giving the 
 vulgar sentiment in relation to several cotemporary divines of that day : 
 
 " Good Mr. Emerson (of Maiden), 
 Proud Mr. Hobby (of Reading), 
 Silly old Games (of Stoneham), 
 And Coxcomb Roby " (of Saugus)." 
 
 First Parish raised 26 13^. \d. to defray the expenses of Mr. 
 Hobby's funeral, one half to be paid to Mrs. Lucy Hobby for mourn- 
 ing, etc. 
 
 Mr. Hobby had several children, some of whom died in infancy, and 
 one while in College, as has been already mentioned. Two others, 
 Lucy and William, were unmarried, lived to be aged, were poor, and 
 returned to South Reading, and were assisted by the town. 
 
 The passage of the Stamp Act by the British Parliament appears 
 to have sent a thrill of indignation throughout the country. At a 
 town-meeting, held at Reading October 2 zd, voted to give the follow- 
 ing instructions to the Representative of Reading : 
 
 " To Ebenezer Nichols, who represents the town of Reading at the General As- 
 sembly : We, the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Reading, in town meet- 
 ing assembled, professing the greatest loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign, and our 
 sincere regard and reverence for the British Parliament, as the most respectable body 
 of men upon earth, yet at the same time are not insensible of the great distress which a 
 late exertion of their power, in the Stamp Act, must necessarily expose us to, we 
 think it proper with regard thereto, to give you, Sir, the following instructions, viz : 
 
 " That you cheerfully join in every proper measure that may have a tendency to a 
 Repeal of the Stamp Act, which imposeth such a grievous burden upon the American 
 Provinces and Colonies, and that you endeavor, by all possible means, consistent with 
 our allegiance to the King, and relation to Great Britain, to oppose the execution of 
 it, until the remonstrances, petitions and cries of these distressed Colonies shall reach 
 the ears of our Sovereign. And, Sir, we cannot think it advisable to agree to any 
 step for the protection of stamped papers or stamp offices ; we have already good and 
 wholesome laws for the preservation of peace and good order among his Majesty's 
 subjects, and are not apprehensive of any further tumults and disorder, to which we 
 have a steady aversion. 
 
 " Moreover, we must enjoin it upon you, that you use the strictest care to prevent all 
 unconstitutional Drafts upon the Public Treasury, at this time of uncommon difficulty 
 and distress ; but in all actings to maintain our Rights as free-born Englishmen," 
 
 Joseph Frye was authorized by the North Precinct to survey and
 
 I 5 8 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 make a plan of said Precinct. Such a plan was made, but we have not 
 been able to find it. 
 
 Mr. Frye died in 1766, soon after completing the survey and plan 
 aforesaid. He was a native of Andover ; bought the farm formerly 
 owned by Aaron Upton. He was a large man, weighing 365 pounds. 
 His wife was killed by lightning, and he then married wid. Mary Fos- 
 ter. He was seventy-seven years old at his death. 
 
 jy66. This year the First Parish concurred with the church in in- 
 viting Rev. John Lathrop to settle with them. Jeremiah Swain and 
 thirty-nine others (chiefly residents of Woodend) entered their written 
 dissent. He came not 
 
 Jeremiah Swain and others, of Woodend, this year petitioned the 
 First Parish to be set off as a distinct parish. The petition was re- 
 jected. 
 
 Said parish voted " that the new meeting-house, when built, shall be 
 located 8 or 10 pole something easterly and southerly from where the 
 M. house now stands." 
 
 To meet and allay the growing uneasiness of the northwest part of 
 the First Parish, it was voted this year, " that all those persons that 
 live more than four miles from Reading First Parish meeting-house, 
 shall have liberty to draw so much money out of said parish treasury as 
 one half of their minister's yearly-rate shall amount to, yearly and every 
 year, for ten years next ensuing, provided they live that distance from 
 said meeting-house that term, in said parish." 
 
 Voted, also, " that all those persons that live between 3 \ and 4 miles 
 from the meeting-house in Reading First Parish, shall have liberty to 
 draw so much money, yearly and every year, for the space or term of 
 ten years next ensuing, as one quarter of their minister's yearly rate will 
 amount to, provided they forbear petitioning for a parish during said 
 term, and live 3^ miles from said Meeting-house, and live in said parish 
 during said term." 
 
 Voted, also, " that all those persons in the First Parish, in Reading, 
 that live more than four miles from Reading First Parish Meeting-house, 
 and do not accept of drawing so much money out of the parish treasury 
 as one half of their minister's yearly rate amounts to, shall have liberty 
 to go off, they and their estates, to Reading North Parish or to Wil- 
 mington, which they shall choose, if they desire it." 
 
 1767. About this time a "Young Men's Christian Association" 
 was formed, probably the first in the town. As such societies are pop-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 159 
 
 ular at the present time, perhaps it would be interesting to see the con. 
 stitution of one formed a century ago : 
 
 " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being as we hope in some measure 
 sensible of the many obligations we are under unto God, and of the great care and 
 concern we owe our own souls and the souls of each other, would therefore enter into 
 those measures, whereby we may promote the honor of God and our own mutual edi- 
 fication, and since in the duties of prayer, reading the Word of God, meditation and 
 holy conversation, we are most likely to promote the glory of God, our own spiritual 
 knowledge, faith and comfort, and put ourselves in the way of the divine blessing, we 
 would set apart some time for the regular discharge of these duties, hoping in that 
 gracious promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, ' where two or three are met together in 
 his name, he will be with them and bless them ' ; and now giving ourselves unto God 
 in an everlasting covenant in dependance on the influences of his holy Spirit, without 
 which we can do nothing worthy of divine acceptance, we do, with all holy fear, re- 
 solve on the following things : In the first place we will meet together once a week 
 on Sabbath evening in some convenient place, where we will spend an hour and a 
 half or two hours in the following duties, in a regular manner : 
 
 " isL We will begin with prayer, in which we will take our turns in order from 
 time to time. 
 
 "2d. We will sing a psalm or hymn or some part of one. 
 
 "3d. We will read a sermon or some other discourse of divine things. 
 
 "4th. We will then one another of us take our turns in prayer, and then speedily 
 conclude with singing. 
 
 " 5th. Having discharged our duties, we will all of us return to our several places 
 of abode, endeavoring that the good that we may have obtained be in no danger of 
 being lost by vain company or bad discourse. 
 
 " 6th. If any one of the Society at any time be absent, he shall, at the next time of 
 his appearance, if desired, offer the reasons of his absence, and if his reasons shall ap- 
 pear too weak to justify his absenting himself, we will with a spirit of meekness rebuke 
 him, and admonish him of his duty. 
 
 " yth. If any one, at any time, shall refuse to meet with us any more, without suffi- 
 cient or justifiable reasons therefor, we will endeavor to convince him of his fault, 
 admonish him of his danger, and entreat his return. 
 
 " 8th. If any one be overtaken with any scandalous fault, we will deal with him in 
 such a manner as to us appears most likely to reclaim him. If he shall hereupon 
 manifest his repentance, we will forgive him. If he refuse to hear and repent, we will 
 blot out his name and banish him from the Society. 
 
 " 9th. We resolve to look out for sober-minded persons and invite them to our 
 Society. 
 
 " loth. Any person admitted to our Society shall be admitted by the consent of the 
 whole or major part of it, and any one desiring a dismission with proper reasons, shall 
 withdraw with the same consent 
 
 "nth. Considering how apt we are to forget this obligation, we resolve to read 
 over this covenant with God and one another once a month. 
 
 "This is the covenant, which in the name and fear of God, we would make with 
 God and one another, humbly entreating for the blood of our great High Priest, even 
 Jesus, who has shed his blood for the remission of sins, to wash away all our pollu- 
 tions and defilements, and the aids and assistances of the spirit of truth to guide us
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 into all necessary and saving truths, and the grace of Christ to assist us in and per- 
 fect all our duties. Now unto him, who is able to build us up in holiness and com- 
 fort, and to do for us far above what we can ask or think, be glory forever, Amen. 
 
 Daniel Emerson. Thomas Damon. 
 
 Joseph Parker. Ebenezer Stimpson. 
 
 John Joy. Joseph Emerson. 
 
 Chester Joy.- Robert Williams. 
 
 Bacchus. Samuel Sweetser. 
 
 John Walton, 3d. Ebenezer Nichols.* 
 
 Timo. Emerson. David Smith. 
 
 Jotham Walton Thomas Parker. 
 
 Samuel Goodwin. Ezra Mudge. 
 
 William Nichols. John Swain. 
 
 James Bryant Thomas Brown. 
 
 Amos Walton. Brown Emerson. 
 
 Josiah Bryant Nathaniel Pratt 
 
 Benjamin Williams. Cornelius Sweetser. 
 
 James Hartshorn. Abijah Smith. 
 
 Samuel Felch. John Burnam. 
 
 James Bennett. Aaron Emerson. 
 
 Isaac Smith. Benjamin Walton. 
 
 Daniel Smith. Benjamin Brown. 
 
 Jona. Gardner. 
 
 1767. In March of this year the First Parish voted "to make a 
 thorough repair of the old Meeting-house, as soon as may be, and to 
 make pews and,sell them, and raise ^"200 (by tax) to pay the balance." 
 
 In June, reconsidered the above vote about repairing the old meeting- 
 house, and voted " to build a new Meeting-house in the First Parish, 
 about 8 or 10 poles southeasterly from the place where the old Meeting- 
 house now stands ; the new house to be 70 feet long and 50 feet wide 
 and 26 feet posts (afterward changed to 28 feet posts), with a Steeple 
 and Porch, and chose Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., Capt. John Goodwin, 
 Samuel Bancroft, Esq., Jona. Eaton, John Batchelder, Timothy Pratt, 
 and Nathaniel Wiley a Building Committee." 
 
 An effort was made by Dea. Jonathan Temple, Dea. Samuel Ban- 
 croft, Mr. John Temple, Nathan Parker, and other Woodend people to 
 change the location of the new meeting-house to a site about half a mile 
 to the westward, which effort was unsuccessful. 
 
 In October, the Woodend people renewed their efforts for a separa- 
 tion, not wishing to be taxed for the new meeting-house ; and Jeremiah 
 Swain, Joseph Damon, and others petitioned the First Parish: ist, to 
 
 *NOTE. In 1770 Ebenezer Nichols, a member as aforesaid, was banished from 
 the society for breaking the seventh commandment
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. !6l 
 
 set off all the second Constables' District ; or, 2d, to set off all such 
 district as should in writing consent thereto. 
 
 This petition was not granted ; but the parish thereupon voted " to 
 give to those persons that live in ' Baremeadow Row,' so called, that 
 live more than 3 miles from the Meeting-house, including, with them, 
 Jonathan and John Nichols', James Eaton's, and Thomas Eaton's 
 houses, five pounds a year and yearly, for the space of ten years next 
 to come, and the money to be laid out in schooling as they shall agree, 
 upon condition they will cheerfully go on to build the Meeting-house 
 and settle a gospel minister among us." 
 
 Voted, also, " to give to the westerly and northwesterly part of the 
 parish (that is to say), those persons there, that live more than 3 miles 
 from the Meeting-house, and the money to be laid in preaching or 
 schooling, as they shall agree, so much money per year, yearly and 
 every year, for the space often years next to come, as is the same pro- 
 portion, according to the number of houses, as we gave 'Bare-meadow 
 Row,' upon condition they will cheerfully go on to build the Meeting- 
 house and settle a gospel minister among us." 
 
 1768. The First Parish meeting-house, as voted for in 1767, was 
 this year erected. It was the third place of worship erected by said 
 parish. 
 
 The parish voted to raise 600 to defray the expense of the new 
 church, and that the timber therefor may be cut from the parish min- 
 isterial lot. 
 
 Messrs. John Walton, Jr., and Andrew Beard, carpenters, were added 
 to the building committee already chosen. 
 
 The contractors were Messrs. David Nelson and Asa Tocld. 
 
 The frame was of oak, massive and heavy; at one end was a tower 
 with a handsome steeple or spire, shooting high up into the blue ether, 
 and at the other end a two-storied porch. Upon the apex of the spire 
 was a gilded weather-cock. At the time the house was built it was 
 voted " not to paint the clapboards, or do the roof with rosin, tar, and 
 sand," consequently the outside remained unpainted for many years. 
 
 The foundation of the building was a wall about three feet high, com- 
 posed of rough and mostly unhammered granite blocks, selected at 
 great pains from the surrounding forests, and was a curiosity on account 
 of its rare beauty and regularity, considering that its component stones 
 were mostly in their natural state. A tradition connected with this 
 foundation is thus related :
 
 1 62 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " One of the largest of these granite blocks, weighing several hundred pounds, was 
 lifted to its bed on the wall by old ' Doss,' a negro of Sampsonian strength, was then 
 or had been a slave, was afterwards a soldier of the Revolution, and used to live in a 
 hut near Bare Hill brook. Old ' Doss ' performed this exploit by ' main strength, 
 unaided, and without lever or bar ' ; and so notable was this feat considered at the 
 time, that the letter ' D,' the initial of the hero's name, was chiselled upon the face 
 of the stone by the artisans, to commemorate the achievement. Afterwards, some 
 person, either from envy of the hero's glory, or, more probably, from prejudice against 
 his color, hammered out and thus erased the honorable letter ; thus showing how 
 vain and transitory are all earthly marks of distinction, even when engraved in 
 granite." 
 
 The pews were originally disposed of in the following manner: 
 
 After selecting one for the minister, to be numbered one, then the 
 highest tax-payer had the first choice ; the second highest the second 
 choice, and so on. 
 
 The pews were numbered in the order of choice, no matter in what 
 part of the house they might be situated. 
 
 The first pew was sold for one hundred pounds, old tenor ; and then 
 dropped twenty shillings, old tenor, on every pew through the whole. 
 
 One hundred pounds, old tenor, was 13 6s. &/. New England cur- 
 rency ; and twenty shillings, old tenor, was 2S. 8d. New England 
 currency. 
 
 Dea. Brown Emerson, Capt. David Green, Capt. John Goodwin, and 
 Benjamin Brown, Esq., were a Committee to make the sale. 
 
 As the numbers of these pews show the relative standing, as to prop- 
 erty, of these old fathers, it may be gratifying to the curious to see 
 some of them : 
 
 No. i. Minister Pew. 
 
 " 2. David Green. 
 
 " 3. Thomas Eaton. 
 
 " 4. John Smith. 
 
 " 5. John Goodwin. 
 
 " 6. Ebenezer Nichols. 
 
 " 7. Ens. John Batchelder. 
 
 ' 8. Benjamin Smith. 
 
 " 9. Mrs. Eliza'h Lambert. 
 
 " 10. Ebenezer Wiley. 
 
 " ii. Brown Emerson. 
 
 " 12. John Pratt. 
 
 " 13. Nathaniel Wiley. 
 
 " 14. Isaac Smith, Jr. 
 
 " 15. William Green. 
 
 " 16. Jona. Eaton. 
 
 " 17. Joshua Eaton. 
 
 No. 18. John Batchelder. 
 
 " 19. Michael Sweetser. 
 
 " 20. Jonathan Evans. 
 
 " 21. John Walton and Oliver Swain. 
 
 " 22. Nathaniel Brown. 
 
 " 23. Thomas Green. 
 
 " 24. James Emerson. 
 
 " 25. Abraham Gould. . 
 
 " 26. Thomas Eaton. 
 
 " 27. Jonathan Brown. 
 
 " 28. John Nichols. 
 
 " 29. Tho. Damon and Jona. Hartshorn. 
 
 " 30. John Walton. 
 
 " 31. Susan Weston and Anna Emerson. 
 
 " 32. Jeremiah Brown. 
 
 ' 33. Tho. Emerson. 
 
 " 34. Samuel Poole.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 163 
 
 No. 35. Tho. Hay. No. 44. Benjamin Brown. 
 
 36. Nath'l and Jona. Cowdrey. 
 
 37. Noah and Lilley Eaton. 
 38 and 39, Jacob Upham. 
 
 40. Joseph Gould. 
 
 41. James Smith. 
 
 42. Daniel Bryant. 
 
 43. Joseph Bryant 
 
 45. Joseph Emerson. 
 
 46. Joseph Brown. 
 
 47. Benjamin Hartshorn. 
 
 48. John Vinton. 
 
 49. Tho. Parker. 
 
 50. Daniel , etc. etc. 
 
 In May, the inhabitants of the northwesterly part of the First Par- 
 ish, not satisfied with the offers of the parish, Joseph Damon, Jeremiah 
 Swain, and others of that said part of the parish, this year petitioned 
 the General Court to interfere and set them off as a distinct parish. 
 
 Whereupon the First Parish chose Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., Dea. 
 Brown Emerson, Capt. John Goodwin, Phineas Parker, Jona. Eaton, 
 John Walton, and Andrew Beard a committee to oppose said petition. 
 
 A Legislative Committee, having heard the parties, advised the First 
 Parish to agree to a line of division on the southerly side of Woodend. 
 In reference to which advice, the parish voted " that to divide the par- 
 ish would be ruinous to the whole, and that, therefore, they cannot 
 agree to any line of division : 49 in favor of agreeing to 68 against. 
 
 At the same time, on a proposition to remove the location of the new 
 meeting-house about half a mile to the westward, voted in the negative. 
 
 In June, the First Parish voted " to give to the inhabitants of Wood- 
 end, so called, twenty-two and a half pounds yearly and every year, for 
 ten years next to come, the money to be laid out in preaching or 
 schooling, as they shall agree, provided said inhabitants do not proceed 
 any farther for a separate parish, and relinquish what has already been 
 voted them ; or, if they do not accept this, then those inhabitants of 
 Woodend, so called, that live more than 3^ miles from the meeting- 
 house, shall have liberty to go to the North Parish, or Wilmington, as 
 they shall choose." 
 
 1769. February, the Woodend people still persisting in their efforts 
 for a division of the First Parish, said parish again voted against a 
 division. 
 
 Also voted in favor of setting off a part of the parish to North Pre- 
 cinct, so as to make two parishes in the town of equal territory, if the 
 North Precinct consent. 
 
 Chose Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., Dea. Brown Emerson, Capt. John 
 Goodwin, Lt. Jona. Eaton, and Benj. Brown, a committee to oppose 
 the setting off of Woodend.
 
 164 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The General Court, however, notwithstanding all opposition, judged 
 it best that the First Parish should be divided, and accordingly ordered 
 that substantially the same territory (except certain Eaton farms) that 
 now constitutes the town of Reading, be incorporated as a distinct 
 parish, called the Third or West Parish. 
 
 The first meeting of the Third Parish aforesaid was held on August 
 9, 1769, by warrant from the Worshipful Josiah Johnson, Esq., of Wo- 
 burn, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, who was present at 
 the meeting. 
 
 Mr. John Temple was chosen Moderator. 
 
 Chose parish officers as follows : For Clerk, Samuel Bancroft, Esq. ; 
 for Treasurer, Mr. John Temple ; for Assessors, Mr. John Temple, 
 Dea. Samuel Bancroft, and Capt. Nathan Parker. 
 
 The Moderator took the money oath. 
 
 A committee was chosen and money raised, or ordered to be raised, 
 to provide materials and workmen to complete the newly erected meet- 
 ing-house ; by which it appears that their first meeting-house was in 
 process of building. It was located a short distance southerly of 
 where the Old South Meeting-house now stands, and is the same build- 
 ing now occupied by the Centre schools, and which contains Union 
 Hall. 
 
 The following is the Act of Incorporation of the Third Parish : 
 
 " July 14, 1769. General Court ordered that the South Precinct in Reading be 
 and hereby is divided into two precincts in the following manner, that is to say : Be- 
 ginning at Stoneham line, at a heap of stones at the South East corner of Jona. Wes- 
 ton's homestead ; from thence to a white oak tree, at the Southerly corner of Isaac 
 Burnap's and Jabez Damon's pasture, called Bare-hill pasture (recently called ' Fair- 
 mount ') ; from thence Easterly as the fence now stands, on the Southerly side of said 
 pasture, till it comes to the road near the Stone Bridge at Bare-hill Brook, so called ; 
 rom thence Northwardly on the road till it comes to the North Eastwardly end of 
 the Causeway at the ' Three Bridges,' so called ; from thence to the South Westerly 
 corner of Lieut. Jona. Poole's farm ; from thence on the fence, on the Southerly 
 side of said Poole's land, till it comes to the road leading from said Poole's to 
 the M. house ; from thence North Easterly till it comes to Lynn line ; excepting 
 Thomas Eaton, Thomas Eaton, 3d, Joshua Eaton, Jonathan Eaton and Edmund 
 Eaton, with their lands, they are now respectively iri possession of, and their other 
 estates, who, although included in said bounds, shall remain in the South Precinct, to 
 all intents and purposes whatsoever, as fully as if they and their lands aforesaid lay 
 South of said line. 
 
 "And whereas the said Precinct (South) have obtained a vote to build a Meeting- 
 house, and have made two taxes, the one for raising four hundred pounds, lawful money, 
 and the other for two hundred pounds -of like money, which assessments have been 
 committed and are now in the hands of the Constables to collect ; but the first tax for 
 ,400 only has been paid, and that but in part. It is therefore further ordered that
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 I6 5 
 
 the north part of said precinct shall be and hereby is exempted from paying any other 
 tax towards the Meeting-house in the South Precinct, save the first ^400. It is fur- 
 ther ordered that the cost arising by the Committee's going last year to view the 
 South Precinct, amounting to <) js., be paid by the whole Parish." 
 
 By the said act of incorporation it will be seen that the Third 
 Parish were relieved from a part of the assessments that had been laid 
 upon them by the First Parish towards the new meeting-house of the 
 First Parish, but there remained a claim upon the First Parish for what 
 the Third Parish had already paid towards said new meeting-house. 
 This claim was the occasion of some canvassing and controversy be- 
 tween the parishes for several years, but was finally settled amicably. 
 (See under 1773.) 
 
 This year Rev. Caleb Prentiss, from Cambridge, a graduate of Har. 
 Coll. in 1765, was settled as pastor of the First Parish, with ^"200 set- 
 tlement, ;8o salary, and twenty cords of wood yearly, brought to his 
 door, together with the use of the parsonage. 
 
 Mr. Prentiss was ordained October 25, 1769. 
 
 Services at the ordination : First prayer by Rev. Mr. Morrill, of Wil- 
 mington ; Sermon (text i Thess. ii, 8) by Rev. Mr. Adams, of Roxbury ; 
 Charge, by Rev. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge ; Fellowship, by Rev. 
 Mr. Storer, of Watertown; Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Roby, of Lynn; Psalm 
 and blessing, by candidate. 
 
 List of inhabitants of the First Parish, at or near the time of its di- 
 vision and the incorporation of the Third Parish ; said parish then 
 included what is now Wakefield and Reading ; with a notice of all th.2 
 houses then standing, with the distance of each house from the First 
 Parish meeting-house, that stood near the. site of the present Congrega- 
 tional meeting-house in Wakefield. 
 
 These details regarding the locations of the inhabitants and their 
 dwellings are gathered from an old map of said First Parish, drawn by 
 Col. Nichols about the year 1765, and from a table of relative distances 
 of the houses from the meeting-house, found among the papers of Dea. 
 Temple, prepared, probably, to show the necessity of a new parish, 
 which was incorporated in 1769 : 
 
 M. Qrs. Rods. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hobby, was the Prentiss house, 32 
 
 Samuel Poole, old tavern, now removed, o o 49 
 
 Samuel Nichols, ) C o o 75 
 
 T > on the place of the late Dea. Aaron Bryant, 
 
 James Barrett, J C o o 75 
 
 Col. Ebenezer Nichols, old Rayner House, now removed, o i 02 
 
 John Vinton, late Samuel Wiley place, and Dr. Richardson's, o I 14 
 
 Capt. Cornelius Wotton, site of Quannapowitt House, o I 32
 
 1 66 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 M. Qrs. Rods. 
 
 John Nichols, late Noah Smith house, o i 32 
 
 Samuel Felch, where Adam Hawkes now is, o 2 30 
 
 Michael Sweetser, where Asa N. Sweetser now is, o 2 56 
 
 Benjamin Smith, late Dr. Hart's old house, now removed, o 3 06 
 
 Isaac Smith, where Dr. Hart resided, now removed, o 3 14 
 
 Jonathan Evans, near R. R. bridge, in Greenwood, now removed, i i 05 
 
 Daniel Gould, where E. Pitman now is, ! i -j 2 
 
 Richard Upham, where P. H. Sweetser resided, I 3 50 
 
 William Green, where Charles \V. Green now is, 2 o 04 
 
 William Green, Jr., now owned by Wid. Waitt, 2 o 32 
 
 Thomas Green, now owned by C. W. Green, 2 o 69 
 
 Capt. David Green (old house), late Nathan Green place, 2 2 02 
 
 " " " house formerly Judge Nash's, 2 2 40 
 
 Lt. John Walton, late Benjamin Walton place, i 2 63 
 
 James Smith, late Ezekiel Oliver place, I 3 03 
 
 Ensign John Smith, Almshouse place, I 2 62 
 
 Amos Boardman, late Lowell Emerson's, i 3 22 
 
 Jonathan Poole, Jr., where Leonard Wiley resided, o i 75 
 
 Capt. Samuel Bancroft, Wakefield's Rattan Factory, o 2 52 
 
 Thomas Wiley, late David Wiley place, I 2 35 
 
 Nathaniel Wiley, late Eli Wiley place, I 2 75 
 
 " " old house, near above, now removed, i 3 33 
 
 Ephraim Weston, where Mrs. Dr. Spaulding now is, o o 58 
 
 Noah and Lilley Eaton, late Dea Jacob Eaton's, o o 72 
 
 William Gould, late John Gould's, now removed, o o 52 
 Dr. William Stimpson, where the late Lilley Eaton lived (father of Hon. 
 
 Lilley), . o o 46 
 
 Thomas Burnap, where William Brown now is, o 3 22 
 
 Thomas Emerson, the Dr. Cushman place, o 3 68 
 
 Joseph Underwood, where Rev. Mr. Clayes now is, I o oo 
 
 Dr. Oliver Swain, now David Batchelder's old house, I o 41 
 
 Thomas Parker, late owned by Suel Winn, Jr., i I 03 
 
 Nathaniel Swain, near where East school-house is, I 2 39 
 
 John Swain, Jr., near where Abraham Gould now is, i 2 72 
 
 Capt. John Swain, near late Issachar Stowell's old house, I 3 16 
 
 Jeremiah Brown, where E. A. Upton now is, 1361 
 
 Nathaniel Brown, lately owned by Rev. Horace Eaton, 2 o 36 
 
 Josiah Walton, now the Austin place, 2 o 71 
 
 Jotham Walton, where Oliver Walton now is, 2 I 17 
 
 Jonathan Brown, now Daniel P. Emerson's, 2 I 43 
 
 Jonathan Cowdrey, now Mrs. Col. J. Hartshorn's, o o 76 
 
 James Emerson, now Mrs. James Emerson, o i 45 
 
 Ebenezer Gould, late Charles Gould place, o 2 43 
 
 Capt. John Goodwin, now James Eustis, o i 60 
 
 Thomas Hay, now the heirs of late Benjamin Emerson, o i 60 
 
 Dr. William Hay, o 2 38 
 
 Thomas Damon, now Mrs. Varnum Holt, o 2 52 
 
 Benjamin Hartshorn, now Joseph Hartshorn, o 2 56
 
 OF 7 HE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 167 
 
 M. Qrs. Rods. 
 
 Ebenezer Damon, now Mrs. Lydia \Vinn, o 2 63 
 
 WicL Lambert, late Dea. David Smith place, o 3 01 
 
 Jeremiah r yant, ) these houses stood a short distance westerly of o 3 06 
 
 James Bryant, ) Joseph Hartshorn's, now gone, o 3 48 
 
 Nathaniel Cowdrey, late Aaron Cowdrey place, o 3 09 
 
 CapL John Goodwin (upper place), since Matt F. Leslie, I o 26 
 
 Joseph Gould, where E. E. Emerson is, house removed, o o 76 
 
 Joseph Emerson, where Thomas Emerson lived, o i 15 
 
 Nutting or Bacheller house, heirs of late John White, Jr., o I 47 
 
 Munroe, formerly Nichols, now Mrs. F. B. Eaton, o I 71 
 
 John Batcheller, Cordis House, now removed, o 2 52 
 
 Capt. Benjamin Brown, now Lucius Beebe, o 3 03 
 
 Joseph Brown, house near the above, now removed, . o 3 17 
 
 John Pratt, the late John White, Sen., place, now removed, 3 49 
 
 Dea. Brown Emerson, now Dr. F. P. Hurd, i o 05 
 
 James Woodward, the late Stimpson place, i i 01 
 
 William Eaton, where Rev. Mr. Barry is, I o 64 
 
 Ensign Hopkinson, where E. Sumner Hopkins is, I I 16 
 
 1770. Town voted to build a powder-house of hard brick and lime, 
 eight feet square. 
 
 It was located on the high ground, near and northerly of the present 
 residence of the late Capt. George Batchelder. A committee recom- 
 mended a wooden one, on account of the dampness of the brick house. 
 
 The Third Parish meeting-house was this year completed. Said 
 parish voted " to petition the General Court for the money to be paid 
 back to us, which we have paid towards the M. house in the First 
 Parish." 
 
 Voted, also, to purchase, for a parsonage, the dwelling-house, barn, 
 and out-houses of Mr. Phineas Parker, and twenty-five and one half 
 acres of land adjoining, for the sum of ^210. 
 
 This is the same house and land since owned by Rev. Peter San- 
 born, and long known as the Sanborn Place. 
 
 Voted, also, "to invite Rev. Thomas Haven, a graduate of Har. 
 Coll. in 1765, to become the minister of said parish, with an en- 
 couragement or settlement of ;i6o, and an annual salary of ^73 
 6s. &/." 
 
 Mr. Haven's answer to the invitation was as follows : 
 
 " To the inhabitants of the Third Parish in Reading : 
 
 " My Christian Brethren and Friends, 
 
 " As you have seen fit to give me an invitation to settle with you in the work of the 
 Gospel ministry, I would thankfully acknowledge the honor done me hereby, not only by 
 you, but also by the great head of the church ; as this is a matter of the greatest
 
 Ir jg GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 importance in respect of the greatness and difficulty of the work, I hope I have 
 viewed it in this light, and considered thereof, as one in some measure sensible of the 
 weight of the charge ; and asked counsel of those whom I thought able and willing to 
 give that, which was good, and who, I trust, had the cause of Religion and the interest 
 of the churches near their hearts ; and I hope I have not been unmindful of seeking 
 direction from the Father of lights, from him who giveth wisdom to them who ask ; 
 encouraged by the unanimity, with which you gave the call, and the peaceable temper 
 with which you have conducted this affair, and which I trust is still with you ; hoping 
 for the blessing of God and the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, I now signify to 
 you my acceptance; reserving to myself the liberty of being absent from you one or 
 two Sabbaths in a year to visit my distant friends as occasion may require. I am sen- 
 sible of my unworthiness and inability for the honorable, the great and arduous work, 
 which I am about to engage in ; and I ask your prayers to God for me, that I may be 
 directed, and obtain grace to be faithful ; and I persuade myself that you will endeavor 
 to render the burthen as light as may be, as well as be ready to provide "for my sup- 
 port and comfort. That your church may be built up in faith and holiness, and have 
 daily additions made unto it of such as shall be saved, and always be found walking 
 in the order of the gospel ; that you as a people may bepros pered, and that God 
 would rain down righteousness upon you, that you may be preserved in peace and 
 quietness, and that we all, in matters before us, may be directed from Heaven, is the 
 desire and prayer of your Christian brother and friend, 
 
 THOMAS HAVEN." 
 
 Mr. Haven was the son of Rev. Elias Haven, the minister of Frank- 
 lin, and a descendant of Richard Haven, who settled in Lynn in 1645. 
 His mother was Mary (Messenger). He was born about 1743. He 
 married Anna Bigelow, of Weston, a sister of the late Abraham Bige- 
 lovv, Esq., of Cambridge. 
 
 This year the First Parish sold to the Rev. Caleb Prentiss, for ^333 
 6s. 8^/., the parsonage land and buildings ; said land consisting of three 
 pieces, viz. That which the parsonage-house stood on, that behind 
 the meeting-house, and that near Dr. Wm. Stimpson's. 
 
 NOTE. Dr. Stimpson then lived at the corner of Main and Salem Streets, where 
 the Eaton mansion now is. 
 
 1771. The Third Parish voted to accept their land apportioned to 
 them by the town as their share of the ministerial lands. 
 
 Voted, also, " to sell the ' Housen and land,' bought of Mr. Phineas 
 Parker for a parsonage, to Rev. Thomas Haven for ^"201 12 shil." 
 
 The following is a List of Voters in Reading for 1771 : 
 
 FIRST PARISH. 
 
 Capt. Samuel Bancroft Mr. Ebenezer Hopkinson. 
 
 Benjamin Brown. Benjamin Hartshorn. 
 
 Joseph Brown. Jonathan Hartshorn. 
 
 James Bennet Dr. William Hay.
 
 OP THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 169 
 
 James Barret. 
 Nathaniel Brown. 
 John Brown. 
 Jonathan Brown. 
 Jeremiah Brown. 
 John Batchelder. 
 John Batchelder, Jr. 
 Amos Boardman. 
 Jonathan Cowdrey. 
 Nathaniel Cowdrey. 
 James Cutler. 
 Ebenezer Damon. 
 Ebenezer Damon, Jr. 
 Thomas Damon. 
 Brown Emerson. 
 Peter Emerson. 
 James Emerson. 
 Joseph Emerson. 
 Thomas Emerson. 
 Capt. Thos. Eaton. 
 Lt. Jona. Eaton. 
 Edmund Eaton. 
 Thomas Eaton, 3d. 
 Joshua Eaton. 
 Noah Eaton. 
 Lilley Eaton. 
 Jonathan Evans. 
 Samuel Goodwin. 
 Capt. John Goodwin. 
 Mr. William Green. 
 William Green, Jr. 
 Capt. David Green. 
 Thomas Green. 
 William Gould. 
 Joseph Gould. 
 Daniel Gould. 
 
 Thomas Hay. 
 
 Timothy Lewis. 
 
 David Mansfield. 
 
 Ebenezer Nichols, Esq. 
 
 John Nichols. 
 
 Thomas Parker. 
 
 Samuel Poole. 
 
 Jona. Poole, Jr. 
 
 John Pratt. 
 
 Capt. John Swain. 
 
 Dr. Oliver Swain. 
 
 Dr. William Stimpson. 
 
 Michael Sweetser. 
 
 Paul Sweetser. 
 
 Mr. Isaac Smith. 
 
 Isaac Smith, Jr. 
 
 Isaac Smith, 3d. 
 
 Benjamin Smith. 
 
 Ebenezer Smith. 
 
 John Smith. 
 
 James Smith. 
 
 James Smith, Jr. 
 
 Jacob Upham. 
 
 John Vinton. 
 
 Thomas Wiley. 
 
 Ebenezer Wiley. 
 
 Nathaniel Wiley. 
 
 James Woodward. 
 
 Capt Wootton. 
 
 Lt John Walton. 
 
 Josiah Walton. 
 
 Jotham Walton. 
 
 John Green. 
 
 John Nichols, 4th. 
 
 Benjamin Hartshorn, Jr. 
 
 Michael Sweetser, (Jr. ?). 80. 
 
 SECOND PARISH. 
 
 Joseph Burnap. 
 Joseph Burnap, Jr. 
 John Burnap. 
 Jona. Batcheller. 
 Steven Buxton. 
 Lt. David Damon. 
 Samuel Damon. 
 Ebenezer Damon. 
 Ezra Damon. 
 John Dix. 
 
 Samuel Evans. 
 22 
 
 Archelaus Mclntire. 
 Joseph Phelps. 
 David Parker. 
 James Flint 
 John Mclntire. 
 Ephraim Pratt 
 Dea. Daniel Putnam. 
 Timothy Russell. 
 William Sawyer. 
 William Sawyer, Jr. 
 Nathaniel Sawyer.
 
 170 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Thomas Eaton. 
 Mr. Ebenezer Flint. 
 Capt. Thomas Flint. 
 Nathan Flint. 
 John Flint 
 Lt. Ben. Flint. 
 George Flint. 
 Lt. Eleazer Flint 
 Jonathan Flint 
 William Flint. 
 Ebenezer Flint, Jr. 
 James Foster. 
 Daniel Graves. 
 Capt. Ed. Hurcom. 
 Thomas Hart. 
 Josiah Hayward. 
 Robert Hayward. 
 Samuel Herrick. 
 Joseph Holt. 
 Joseph Holt, Jr. 
 Joseph Lewes. 
 David Mclntire. 
 
 THIRD PARISH. 
 
 Dea. Samuel Bancroft 
 James Bancroft. 
 Joseph Bancroft 
 John Boutwell. 
 John Boutwell, Jr. 
 James Boutwell. 
 Isaac Burnap. 
 Nathaniel Batcheller. 
 David Batcheller. 
 Andrew Beard. 
 Mr. Joseph Damon. 
 Jabez Damon. 
 Samuel Damon. 
 Timothy Hartshorn. 
 Ebenezer Emerson. 
 Ebenezer Emerson, Jr. 
 John Emerson. 
 Samuel Emerson. 
 John Hartshorn. 
 Lt. Benjamin Foster. 
 Abraham Foster. 
 Mr. Jona. Foster. * 
 John Farmer. 
 John Goodwin. 
 John Goodwin, Jr. 
 
 Jacob Sawyer. 
 Abraham Sheldon. 
 Nathaniel Sheldon. 
 Samuel Sheldon. 
 Thomas Taylor. 
 Samuel Taylor. 
 Capt. Hezekiah Upton. 
 Olympius Upton. 
 Ebenezer Upton. 
 Dea. Amos Upton. 
 Amos Upton, Jr. 
 William Upton, Jr. 
 Jabez Upton. 
 Francis Upton. 
 Amos Upton, 3d. 
 Benjamin Upton. 
 Nathaniel Upton. 
 Isaac Upton. 
 Joseph Upton. 
 Jacob Upton. 
 William Whltteridge. 
 Nathaniel Phelps. 66. 
 
 Timothy Pratt, Jr. 
 Samuel Pratt 
 Daniel Pratt 
 Isaac Pratt. 
 Lt. Jona. Poole. 
 Mr. John Parker. 
 Jonathan Parker. 
 Capt. Nathan Parker. 
 Nathan Parker, Jr. 
 Caleb Parker. 
 Daniel Parker. 
 Joseph Parker. 
 Jona. Parker, (Jr. ?). 
 Benjamin Parker. 
 William Parker. 
 Asa Parker. 
 Ephraim Parker. 
 Amos Person. 
 Edward Richardson. 
 Mr. Jeremiah Swain. 
 Thomas Symonds. 
 Thomas Symonds, Jr. 
 Dea. Jona. Temple. 
 Lt. John Temple. 
 John Temple, Jr.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 171 
 
 Mr. Jona. Nichols. William Temple. 
 
 John Nichols. Jacob Townsend. 
 
 John Nichols, Jr. Isaac Weston. 
 
 Richard Nichols, Abijah Weston. 
 
 Richard Nichols, Jr. John Weston, Jr. 
 
 Benjamin Nichols. Jona. Weston. 63. 
 Timothy Pratt 
 
 This year the selectmen received a letter from Dr. Jabez Brown, 
 then a young man, who had just commenced the practice of medicine 
 in Wilmington, of which the following is a verbatim et literatim 
 copy : 
 
 "Wilmington, Augusthe 3ist, 1771. 
 
 " Gentlemen Selectmen of Readin, 
 
 " Worthy Sirs, I would adress myself with all meekness and loliness to your 
 Honours, Earnestly beging that you woulu grant me some favor for what I have 
 Dun for Daniel Rolf in the time of his Distres and Long Confinement Sirs, I Did 
 not aply myself to you or any other gentlemen, in the first place to know whether I 
 should Git my pay or not ; and I should think it absurd to Let any one Lay in Distres 
 til I am beter satisfyed about the Reward ; I have been kept from such a practis, 
 and pray that I Ever may. Sirs, I commit myself intirely to your Generosity to Do 
 by me as you pleas ; and it seemeth hard that I must Do so much for the poor of other 
 towns, when we have so many to Do for in our one ; besids my one family. 
 
 " I should think it eaezer for three parishes to pay the sum, than for one person to 
 Loos it, who is but a yong beginer the accompt for visets and medicine usd is 2 
 
 2J. &/. 
 
 "the visits are 12 (in) no. 5 mile each, gentlemen, pies to think of me ; for this I 
 worked hard for, both Day and night, with the best of medicin, for such his case calld 
 for, and I was oblige to pay cash out of my pocket for the sdme ; and I troust your 
 Honours will Grant me some favor ; if Not, should which (wish ?) myself abler to bear 
 t, and a Heart to Loos twice so much for the Good of the poor, az knowing it to be 
 my Duty to be kind to the poor. 
 
 " Your Humble Servant, 
 
 "JABEZ BROWN." 
 
 This year, and again in 1786, the North Parish authorized a com- 
 mittee to procure live alewives at a proper time, and put them into 
 Martin's Pond. 
 
 Noah Eaton and nine others were chosen Quiristers, by First 
 Parish, or persons to tune the psalm, and to sit, part of them in the 
 Elders' seat, so called, and part of them in the short seats in the men's 
 side gallery. The Third Parish sued-Lt. Jona. Eaton for trespass, in 
 cutting wood on ministerial lands for First Parish. First Parish chose 
 a committee to defend him.
 
 172 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1772. Rev. Jacob Burnap, son of Isaac Burnap, of Reading, a grad- 
 uate of Har. Coll. in 1770, was this year ordained at Merrimac, N. H. 
 He received the degree of D. D. in 1814, and died in 1821. Rev. Mr. 
 Haven, of Reading, preached his ordination sermon. 
 
 This year Jabez Carter and Lydia his wife, with their children, Ben- 
 jamin, Enoch, Lydia, Mary (who afterwards married Jeremiah Bryant), 
 Martha, Amos, and Kezia, were warned out of town to Woburn. 
 
 *773' The trouble that had existed between the First and Third 
 Parishes in regard to certain claims made by the Third Parish, on ac- 
 count of their having paid assessments towards the new meeting-house 
 in the First Parish, was this year finally settled to the satisfaction of 
 all parties, as is shown by the following " Report " : 
 
 " We, the subscribers, being chosen Committees by the First Parish in Reading 
 and the West Parish in Reading, to confer upon and endeavor to settle all matters of 
 dispute between said Parishes, and lay the same before said Parishes for their accept- 
 ance, have attended said service, and all of us being desirous that peace, love and 
 harmony may subsist and long continue between said Parishes, as knowing that where 
 there is contention, there is confusion and every evil work, have agreed upon the fol- 
 lowing Report to be made by each Committee unto each of said Parishes : that the 
 First Parish in said Reading shall renounce and relinquish all right or claim to all 
 those lands the Town voted to the West or Third Parish in said Reading March 4, 
 1771, to be enjoyed by said Parish, in quiet, agreeably to the Town record. 
 
 "Also agreed that the one half of the Burying Cloth, and the one half of the money 
 it hath been let for, with the interest, shall belong to the Third Parish ; 
 
 " Also agreed that the cause now depending in the Superior Court between said 
 Parishes or between said West Parish and Mr. Jonathan Eaton, shall cease and be 
 no further prosecuted ; each party to pay their own costs, according to the rules of 
 law, and put an end to said suit. Also agreed, that said West or Third Parish shall 
 renounce and relinquish all claim to the old meeting-house, and also to those lands the 
 town voted to the First Parish March 4, 1771 ; also agreed that said West Parish shall 
 make no further demands of the money which they paid toward the new meeting- 
 house in the First Parish. 
 
 " These are the articles agreed upon by us ; and which we do heartily recommend 
 to each Parish for their acceptance, hoping we may then reap the happy fruits of 
 peace. 
 
 " It is understood by both Committees that, unless both Parishes accept this Report^ 
 it is to be all void and of none effect, and that Parish that may or doth accept shall 
 not be held thereby. 
 
 BROWN EMERSON, 
 
 SAMUEL BANCROFT, } 
 "May 3, 1773, Read and Accepted."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. ^3 
 
 This year the people of Boston, a party of them, threw overboard 
 into the sea 342 chests of tea, on which an obnoxious tax had been 
 levied by England. Andrew Oliver, who died in this town in 1817, at 
 the age of 70, was of the party aforesaid. 
 
 A reward of .500 each was offered for the names of the party, but 
 no one opened his lips to inform. 
 
 Other obnoxious acts were at this time passed by the British Parlia- 
 ment, which aroused the suspicions of the people. 
 
 In January the town of Reading were assembled to consider their 
 public grievances, as set forth in a letter received from the town of Bos- 
 ton. The town voted that Messrs. Benjamin Brown, Samuel Bancroft, 
 Esq., Lt. John Walton, Capt. Thomas Flint, Dea. Amos Upton, Capt. 
 David Green, Mr. John Temple, Mr. William Sawyer, and Mr. Andrew 
 Beard, be a Committee to consider the subject and report. Said com- 
 mittee submitted a report in the shape of instructions to their rep- 
 resentative, \ihich was read and debated on two separate days, and 
 accepted. Said report is as follows : 
 
 " To Deacon Daniel Putnam, who represents this town at the Great and General 
 Court of this Province, Sir, being chosen by the freeholders and other inhabitants of 
 the town of Reading to the important trust of a Representative, we expect you will pay 
 all proper attention to the advice and instruction of us, your constituents, whenever 
 we shall think fit to offer such as we judge conducive to the public good, which we 
 now do, not from any distrust of your integrity, but that your hands may be strength- 
 ened by knowing the minds of your constituents. It being reported, and we fear not 
 without foundation, that salaries are annexed, by order of the Crown, to the offices of 
 the Honorable Justices of the Superior Court in this Province, whereby they are made 
 independent of any grant from our Great and General Court ; this step, if really 
 taken, requires the attention of every person in the Province and within the jurisdic- 
 tion of said Court, who have either life or property depending. As nothing can be of 
 more importance to the happiness of any people than absolute independence of those 
 who are to pass finally upon their lives and properties ; and what can make our Hon- 
 orable Justices of the Superior Court more dependent than their receiving their 
 salaries at the will of that power with whose substitute their commissions originate ; 
 and without whose consent they cannot be dismissed, be their administration ever so 
 grievous to the people. In order to prevent the many dangers that may follow from 
 the dependence of the Judges upon the Crown for their support, we do advise and 
 instruct you to exert yourself that the salaries of the Honorable Justices of the Su- 
 perior Court be raised so as to be adequate to their station and service, and as inde- 
 pendent both on Prince and people as possible. 
 
 " There are more grievances, that might be pointed out, such as the ' Revenue 
 Act,' as it is called, so, also, the extension of the jurisdiction of the Courts of Vice 
 Admiralty, which we judge to be a grievance, dangerous and oppressive to the people. 
 
 " We need not enumerate our public grievances ; they are publicly known. And 
 since this is our present situation, it is our special advice and instruction to you at 
 this time of danger, to use your utmost endeavor, in every constitutional way in the
 
 174 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 General Court, to procure a redress of our grievances and a restoration of that happy 
 harmony, which lately subsisted between Great Britain and her colonies ; and also in 
 every constitutional way, seek to promote harmony in the several branches of the 
 Great and General Court, of which you are a member ; but caution you against giv- 
 ing your consent to measures which may in the least preclude us or our posterity from 
 asserting our just rights as Men and British subjects. 
 
 " We wish you success in your just endeavors, and we wish success to all the just 
 and constitutional endeavors of every branch of that Great and General Court, of 
 which you are a member, for the removal of our grievances, and the promotion of good 
 government, peace and order in this Province." 
 
 1774. The war clouds are rising, their lightnings are beginning to 
 flash, and the rumblings of their thunder are heard in the distance. 
 In June the town voted "to maintain their Charter Rights in every 
 constitutional way." At the same time also voted " that Messrs. Ben- 
 jamin Brown, John Walton, John Batchelder, Jr., George Flint, David 
 Damon, Benjamin Flint, Samuel Bancroft,^Esq., John Temple, and Ja- 
 bez Damon, be a Committee to enquire into our present exigencies and 
 draft something relative thereto, and lay it before the town for their- 
 consideration at the adjournment of this meeting July nth." 
 
 July n, the Committee aforesaid submitted the following Report : 
 
 " The situation of things between Great Britain] and the Colonies hath been for 
 some years past very unhappy ; Parliament on the one hand hath been taxing the 
 Colonies, and they, on the other, have been petitioning and remonstrating against it, 
 apprehending they have a constitutional and executive right of taxing themselves, 
 without which our condition would be but little better than slavery. 
 
 " Possessed of these sentiments, every new measure of Parliament, tending to es- 
 tablish and confirm a tax, renews and increases our distress, which we think cannot 
 be given up without degrading ourselves. 
 
 " This town hath already voted to maintain their rights in every constitutional way, 
 which sentiments we trust will be perpetual ; and though there are many ways, means 
 and things proposed by one and another, that have hopeful appearances, and yet all 
 attended with uncertainty ; and, as we understand a Congress of Commissioners from 
 all the Colonies is proposed, that so we may have as near as possible the wisdom of 
 the whole collected in consulting and determining the most likely ways and means for 
 eur deliverance from our present perplexed and distressed state, which Congress, it is 
 expected, will meet by the first of September next, we therefore judge it is not expe- 
 dient for this town to adopt any particular measures for their future conduct, till we 
 hear what measures shall be adopted by them, least we should counteract the meas- 
 ures they may fix upon as most probable for our deliverance, and to extricate us from 
 our present distress. We also think it the duty of every one to refrain from the lux- 
 uries and superfluities of life, and to the utmost of our power, to encourage our own 
 manufactures, humbling ourselves before Almighty God, and earnestly supplicating 
 him for deliverance ; for how much soever we judge these things unrighteous, as com- 
 ing from the hands of men, we must allow they are just as sent from God. 
 " By order of the Committee, 
 
 " BENJ. BROW^T, Chairman."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 175 
 
 Then chose John Temple and Benjamin Brown as deputies to a Pro- 
 vincial Congress, and appropriated 2 13*. &d. for support of the 
 Commissioners of Congress. 
 
 In December, the town voted "to adopt the sentiments of the Conti- 
 nental Congress as their own, and strictly to adhere to them." Then 
 chose a Committee of Inspection " to see that the foregoing sentiments 
 are strictly adhered to." 
 
 Roads, etc., in the North Precinct: 
 
 "Reading, May 18, 1774 or 1742. We, whose names are underwritten, being 
 chosen a Committee to view and see what ways are necessary in the North Precinct, 
 and to set out a Burying place and a training field, have been and taken a view thereof, 
 and report as followeth : 
 
 " 1st A way from Flint's mill to Lynn line as it was formerly laid out by the Se- 
 lectmen. 
 
 " 2d. A way from Geo. Flint's out to the ten-pole way before Samuel Dix's house, 
 near the corner of Jona. Flint's land. 
 
 " 3d. A way from the Saw Mill between Samuel Dix's land and Samuel Lues, Jr.'s, 
 land to the above said road. 
 
 " 4th. A Bridle way from the road near Richardson bridge up to Samuel Harts- 
 horn's, and so on the east side of said Hartshorn's land up to the other Road, that 
 leads from Jona. Batcheller's to the Meeting-house. 
 
 " 5th. A way from said Jona. Batcheller's land to the ten-pole way by or near ' Nod 
 Mill.' 
 
 " All the above said ways we look upon as needful and necessary ; and there are 
 some other ways asked for, that we are not able at present to give our opinion upon, 
 not being fully acquainted with the circumstances thereof, not having time. 
 
 "EBENEZER PARKER, 
 "EBENEZER FLINT, 
 "THOMAS EATON, 
 "EDWARD HIRCOM, 
 " EBENEZER NICHOLS, 
 
 Committee." 
 
 (N. B. The date to the above reads thus : " May 18, 17742," and was intended 
 probably, for 1742.) 
 
 The Third Parish ordered that their part of the schooling for the 
 present year shall be one half in the northwest part, and the other half 
 in the northeast part, of the parish. 
 
 1775. This year the war of the Revolution burst upon the American 
 Colonies. 
 
 Into the spirit of that war, in defence of American liberty against the 
 growing encroachments of British tyranny, the people of Reading en- 
 tered with great unanimity and with all their heart ; to its support they 
 not only pledged, but they freely paid, " their lives, their fortunes, and
 
 !-g GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 their sacred honor." The records of the town and of each parish, 
 during the continuance of the war, breathe the most earnest patriotism, 
 the most determined resolution, and are full of votes for raising and 
 providing money, provisions, clothing, fuel, and men, in cheerful re- 
 sponse to all the calls of the Government. 
 
 It appears that the town of Reading sent to the army, for longer or 
 shorter terms, from first to last, more than 400 men ; and there was 
 constantly in the field from Reading an average of one hundred men 
 during the war. 
 
 This does not include minute-men, men drafted from time to time to 
 guard prisoners, and privateersmen, of which there were many. 
 
 Col. Benjamin Brown, Capt. James Bancroft, Capt. (afterwards Col. 
 and Gov.) John Brooks, and others from Reading were brave and emi- 
 nent officers. 
 
 (See List of Soldiers in the Army in the Appendix "D.") 
 
 Some of the votes of the town during this memorable contest will be 
 given to show the heroic sentiments of the people, and the greatness of 
 their contributions of men and means, in proportion to their popula- 
 tion and resources, as well as to exhibit the alarming commotions of 
 those "times that tried men's souls." 
 
 January, Town voted to raise .75 us. nd., and appropriate the 
 same to the use of the Province. 
 
 March, the Provincial Congress having recommended that one fourth 
 part of all the militia companies in the Province be enlisted, equipped, 
 and hold themselves in readiness to march on the shortest notice, the 
 town voted to allow a bounty of one shilling for every three hours' at- 
 tendance of any minute-man, twice a week, at the place of parade, to 
 learn the art military. Many persons came forward and enlisted as 
 minute-men. 
 
 Town voted to contribute to the relief of Boston and Charlestown 
 (See Appendix "K."; 
 
 Mr. John Temple was chosen a delegate to a Provincial Congress to 
 be held at Cambridge in February next. He was also elected Repre- 
 sentative. 
 
 In April the Provincial Congress resolved that the people of Massa- 
 chusetts should prepare for war with the mother country, as they fear 
 she means to destroy this country. They appoint a Fast on account 
 thereof. 
 
 April 19, the battle of Lexington and Concord fight took place. 
 Many of the citizens of this town were in these skirmishes. 
 
 Reuben Eaton, son of Noah, whom many now living will remember,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 1/7 
 
 a young man who loved his gun, was fond of hunting, and was skilful 
 in taking game, especially ducks and other wild fowl, when the alarm- 
 ing news first reached the town that the British were moving out of the 
 city towards Concord, it is said that he, unlike his fellow-citizens 
 generally, who, full of excitement, seizing what arms and ammunition 
 came first to hand, ran with all haste to find the foe, this man, with all 
 the deliberation and care with which he would prepare to hunt ducks, 
 proceeded to cleanse his gun, supply his lock with a new flint, his horn 
 with powder, and his pouch with bullets, and every other equipment, 
 and, when thus prepared, followed in pursuit. 
 
 He reached Concord in season to join the skirmish there, and to 
 assist in driving the enemy towards Boston. 
 
 In their retreat from Concord, it will be remembered, the British 
 were pursued and harassed by the Americans, who, from behind walls, 
 buildings, and trees, discharged their muskets at the retiring foe. In 
 this pursuit our hero was active and conspicuous. 
 
 Getting in advance of the retreating detachment, and secreting him- 
 self behind some building, wall, or other defence, he would wait their 
 approach, and taking the same deliberate and careful aim as if he were 
 hunting fowls, would be pretty sure not to fire without effect. He said 
 afterwards, in referring to this mode of popping off the enemy, " O, it 
 was glorious picking ! " 
 
 At one time, however, he came near getting picked off himself. 
 Continuing once in his hiding-place r ither too long, until the British 
 had approached quite near, hating to leave until he had fired a ball or 
 two more, he at length started and ran. The British saw him, and sev- 
 eral guns were instantly discharged at him ; he immediately dropped, 
 although not hit, and laid flat upon his face ; supposing him to be 
 killed, the foe marched on. Eaton then sprang up and ran again ; 
 again the balls came whistling after him ; again he dropped as if killed, 
 although still uninjured, and, after lying a minute, jumped up and took 
 to his heels again. The troops saw him and again fired after him, but 
 he escaped unhurt. He heard them say, however, " See that Yankee ; 
 we have killed him twice, and look, he can run yet ! " 
 
 He remarked, after his return home, that this was the happiest day 
 of his life. 
 
 Thomas Emerson (father of the late Hon. Thomas Emerson), then a 
 young man of eighteen years, was promptly in pursuit on that occasion. 
 He overtook the enemy near Concord, at or near the place where the 
 road from Bedford comes into the Concord road, a mile or two east of 
 Concord village. It was here he got his first shot at the redcoats. It 
 23
 
 178 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 was here, too, or near here, that he saw too foemen meet, one coming 
 out of, or round the corner of, a house, and the other approaching the 
 house ; they fired at each other at the same moment, and both fell 
 dead together. 
 
 The following pressing call upon the town for wood shows the dis- 
 tress of the army at this time : 
 
 " To the Selectmen of Reading : 
 
 " Gents : The Committee appointed by the General Court to aid the Quarter- 
 master-General in supplying the army with wood, have directed me to write to you, 
 in the most pressing manner, praying that you immediately exert yourselves in per- 
 suading and prevailing upon the people in your town to supply our brethren in the 
 army with wood. 
 
 " In compliance with their direction, I inform you that the Committee have for a 
 fortnight past been incessant in their application to this business ; and they are now 
 so engaged that they cannot wait upon you, but you are earnestly entreated, by all you 
 hold dear, not to delay this matter ; the Committee are much obliged to you for what 
 you have done already ; but the supply is not adequate to the demand ; therefore it 
 is hoped you will engage all the teams you can. Hereby you will serve your country, 
 you will serve yourselves, you will relieve your brethren, and much oblige your Hum- 
 ble Servant, 
 
 "RICHARD DENVER. 
 
 " WATERTOWN, Nov. 18, 1775. " Per order. 
 
 " N. B. You will see the propriety of mentioning it on Lords-day in the meeting- 
 house." 
 
 To this earnest call the people of Reading returned the following 
 answer : 
 
 " Nov. 20, 1775. To the Quartermaster General of the army : Being acquainted 
 by Mr. Denver, your assistant, that the army is in great necessity of wood, we have 
 exerted our utmost efforts that they may be supplied ; but the case is such, there 
 being about a hundred men from this town in the army, that we are under great diffi- 
 culty for hewers of wood; if you will therefore send up the Captain of the Company 
 from this town with a party of men to cut wood, we make no doubt our teams will be 
 immediately employed, and continue until they carry a hundred cords or more." 
 
 Dec. 4, 1775, the town voted "that the First Parish carry 14 cords, 
 the Second Parish izj- cords, and the Third Parish 12 cords, of wood, 
 per week, to the army on ' Winter Hill.' " 
 
 Dec. 26, 1775, House of Representatives ordered "that Mr. Ingols 
 repair immediately to Reading, and represent to the Committee of Cor- 
 respondence, Selectmen and inhabitants of said town the distress of the 
 army for wood, and the great danger the Country is exposed to from 
 the dispersion of the army, which may take place if it is not supplied 
 with wood ; and to use his utmost endeavors to prevail with them to 
 exert themselves in this critical situation of the army ; to supply not
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 1/9 
 
 only such quantity as has been set to them, but as much more as they 
 possibly can, at least half as much more as has been set on them as 
 aforesaid. 
 
 "Attest: SAMUEL FREEMAN, CAvX-." 
 
 "Jacob Emerson (son of Dea. Brown Emerson) was chosen Select- 
 man in place of Lt James Bancroft, who was gone to the army." 
 
 Lt. James Bancroft aforesaid was commissioned May 6th, by the 
 Council of Massachusetts, as Captain of the Fourth Company of Second 
 Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex, and, in July, 1776, by 
 the same authority, as Captain of the Continental Army in Canada, 
 under Col. Jonathan Reed, Esq. 
 
 In June, 1777, he received, direct from Congress, a captain's com- 
 mission in the regiment of foot, under Col. Michael Jackson, Esq. 
 This commission was signed by John Hancock, President of Congress. 
 
 Capt. Bancroft aforesaid (afterwards known as " Esquire " Bancroft) 
 enlisted in the army in 1775, and continued to serve therein until 1780. 
 He was at Concord fight in 1775, anc ^ at l ^ e taking of Burgoyne in 
 1777. Afterwards Gen. Washington gave him charge of a hospital in 
 Pennsylvania. He married, ist, 1758, Sarah Pierson, and 2d, in 1785, 
 Sarah Parker. He died May 17, 1831, aged 92. 
 
 It seems to be a wise ordination of an overruling Providence, that, in 
 all great emergencies in society, there shall step forth^upon the stage of 
 action individuals suited to the exigence, who are qualified to lead and 
 to guide. At the commencement of the war of the Revolution our 
 country was highly blessed in this regard. Wise and good men started 
 up in different parts of the land, illustrious among whom was the im- 
 mortal Washington. Our own State at that time had its great and 
 good men, conspicuous among whom were Quincy, Warren, the Adamses, 
 and others. The town of Reading, too, had then its able and wise 
 men, each parish being thus more or less distinguished. . In the First 
 Parish were : Col. David Green, who had long been a man of influence 
 in civil and military life, now between sixty and seventy years old, 
 but all ready to go forth to defend the liberties of his country, and 
 Col. Benjamin Brown (See Appendix "I"), then in the full strength 
 of middle life, able, zealous, and patriotic, and highly popular, with 
 others ; in the Second Parish were Benjamin Upton and Benjamin 
 Flint, Esquires, and Col. Daniel Flint, all men of ability and influence, 
 and others ; and in the Third Parish, eminent among the several 
 parishes for the number and power of its strong men, were John 
 Temple, great, but only great as he was good ; Samuel Bancroft, Esq., the 
 wise counsellor and able speaker, then in the vale of years ; Capt. Na-
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 than Parker, active and smart ; Capt John Brooks, the young physician, 
 who was then boarding at the Damon homestead, and who was a cap- 
 tain and colonel in the army, and subsequently Governor of the State ; 
 and last, but not least, Capt. James Bancroft, who, not only among the 
 permanent citizens of the parish, but of the town also, held a high, 
 perhaps the highest place. (See Appendix " J.") 
 
 In this comparison the several clergymen of the town are not 
 included ; but of them it can be said, that they were all zealous 
 patriots, and able and good men. 
 
 " April 25. To James Adams : You are directed to go to Reading, and find out the 
 effects that came from Salem for public use, and if these effects are not there, find 
 where they are, and if teams are not already carrying them, do you procure sufficient 
 teams, to carry all the public stores, and all such provisions and ammunition, as be- 
 long to private persons who are willing, in this critical juncture, to let the public have 
 them, and order the teamsters to deliver them at Watertown to Commissary Brown, 
 and take his receipt 
 
 " JOHN PIGEON, Commissary General." 
 
 " Reading, April 26, An invoice of the Province stores, which I received and stored 
 in Reading Meeting-house and School-house, as follows : 
 
 "151 Barrels of Pork, 63 Barrels of Flour, 6 Barrels of Beef, 16 Bu. of Rye. 
 (The trust of the above I committed to Mr. Benjamin Brown.) 
 
 "NATH'L BANCROFT." 
 
 " June 17, In Committee of Safety, at Cambridge, 
 
 " To the Selectmen of Reading, 
 
 " You are hereby ordered to send forthwith all the Powder in the town stock to 
 Watertown, except one pound per man." 
 
 And June 1 8, "You are desired to provide provision sufficient for the Militia of 
 your town, now at Cambridge, and send it forward to Cambridge as soon as may be. 
 
 "Per order, ON A. HASTINGS, C/erJk." 
 
 In December, town chose nine persons to carry wood to the army. 
 
 Also, chose a commissary to furnish necessaries for all the Donation 
 people from Boston and Charlestown. 
 
 Four tons of English hay were assessed by the Court upon this town, 
 for the use of the army, and paid. 
 
 June i yth occurred the battle of Bunker Hill. 
 
 Many of the citizens of Charlestown removed to this town after the 
 conflagration at Charlestown, among whom was one Capt. Ebenezer 
 Kent, who had been master of a vessel nearly fifty years, and who lost 
 his property by the fire aforesaid. He died here in 1776, aged 72. 
 
 There were some citizens of Reading in the battle of Bunker Hill. 
 It is said that one Amos Upton, of the North Precinct, who was in the 
 battle, in the retreat of the Americans across the Neck, where they
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. i$i 
 
 were exposed to a cross-fire from the British ships of war, ran so fast 
 that his cue (a fashi9nable appendage for young men in those days) 
 "stuck out straight behind." 
 
 " Reading, June 22, 1775. To the Committee of Supplies now sitting at Water 
 town : 
 
 " Having received a line from you, dated June I3th instant, relative to a number of 
 articles now wanted in the army, we trust we are as ready to assist in defence of our 
 Country as any town in the Province, but the great flow of the inhabitants of Boston, 
 Charlestown, Medford, Maiden, Salem and Marblehead, daily flocking into this town, 
 must, we think, be a sufficient excuse for not sending provisions, and as for blankets, 
 we have been obliged to find near a hundred for men that have been enlisted out of 
 this town, and they were collected from house to house in this town, there not being 
 new ones to be bought 
 
 " Your humble servants, BENJ. BROWN, Chairman of Selectmen. 
 
 JOHN WALTON, Chairman of Com. of Carres." 
 
 Town-meetings were always warned in the name of the Majesty of 
 England, until May, 1775, when a town meeting was called in the name 
 of the Provincial Congress. 
 
 In Nov. 1775, in the name of the Continental Congress. 
 
 " Jan. 1776, " " Congress. 
 
 " Feb. " " " Majesty. 
 
 " May, " " " General Court. 
 
 " July, " " " The Independent States of the 
 
 United Colonies of North 
 
 America. 
 " Feb. 1777, " " Government and People of the 
 
 State of Massachusetts Bay in 
 
 New England. 
 " Dec. 1780, " " Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
 
 and so until now. 
 
 1776. In July, eight Highland officers, prisoners, were sent to 
 Reading (one of whom was Lt.-Col. Archibald Campbell), with women 
 and children ; they petitioned the Council for support of their servants. 
 Court ordered them to support their own servants, or dismiss them, and 
 the Council would take charge of them, or give them soldiers' rations, 
 or allow them to support themselves. 
 
 Several of said servants were accordingly dismissed, and one of 
 them, Robert Hill, worked in Reading as a cordwainer. 
 
 Town voted "to carry four tons (more) of English hay to the army, 
 and what it costs more than five pounds per ton to be taken from the 
 town treasury." ^5 per ton was what was allowed by the Quartermaster.
 
 l$ 2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In January, the General Court assessed the several towns for 4,000 
 blankets for Washington's army, of which the town of Reading was re- 
 quired to procure twenty-seven. 
 
 In May, the town took into consideration a resolve of the General 
 Court, relative to Independence, and voted, unanimously, "to adhere 
 to the determination of Congress in the above important article, and 
 stand by it to the last with their lives and fortunes." 
 
 July 18. The Declaration of Independence by the American Con- 
 gress on the 4th is published from the balcony of the State House in 
 Boston. 
 
 This year a census of the inhabitants of Massachusetts was taken. 
 
 By this census it appears that the town of Reading, with the single 
 exception of Sudbury, was then the largest town, in respect to popula- 
 tion, in the County of Middlesex. 
 
 The population of the three parishes was at that date nearly equal, 
 the First Parish having a trifle the largest. 
 
 April 19. " Whereas I, the subscriber, have a negro man, named Cato, who hath 
 requested that he may, in some future time, be made free, I hereby declare it to be 
 my purpose and design, that if said Cato continue an obedient and faithful servant for 
 the space of three years next after the date hereof, that, at the end of said term of 
 three years, said Cato shall be set free. 
 
 "SAMUEL BANCROFT." 
 
 This year, June 10, died Mrs. Anna Haven, "the amiable consort of 
 Rev. Thomas Haven, minister of the Third Parish, in the 226. year of 
 her age." Upon her monumental stone it is written : 
 
 " No more shall I her friendly converse share, 
 Nor hear the dictates of her pious care ; 
 Yet though the bright example is removed, 
 Be its idea still revered and loved ; 
 To imitate her virtues may I try, 
 And on the path she mark'd, still fix my eye." 
 
 Selectmen of Reading petition the Court for relief in supporting 
 people on donation, some from Charlestown, and some from Boston ; 
 they give a list of some thirty persons. (See Appendix " K.") 
 
 1777. Town chose Jonathan Flint for Tory Prosecutor, with author- 
 ity to examine all persons suspected to be inimical to the success of 
 the present war, and report the disloyal. 
 
 May 19, Col. Benj. Brown issues the following order: 
 
 " To Lieut Abraham Foster : Sir, agreeably to orders I have just received, you are 
 ordered immediately to see that your company be ready to march on the shortest
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 183 
 
 notice, and see that every man is equipped according to law, and furnished with three 
 or four days' provision. On an alarm you are to repair with your company at the 
 South Meeting-house in Reading. From your humble servant, 
 
 "BENJ. BROWN, Lt.-CoI." 
 
 Aug. 18, the Selectmen of Reading address the following certificate 
 and request to the Board of War : 
 
 " This is to certify that the number of men borne on the Training Band and Alarm 
 List, in the several companies in this town, is 348. And agreeably to a late Resolve 
 of the Honorable General Court of this State, we request the Hon. Board of War to 
 order to be delivered to us our proportion of firearms, gun-locks, lead and flints. 
 
 "JACOB EMERSON,^ 
 "TIMO. PRATT, JR. > " Selectmen." 
 "BENJ. FOSTER, ) 
 
 Sept. 26, Col. Fox issues the following order: 
 
 " To Lieut Joseph Bancroft : Sir, you are hereby ordered without any delay to 
 draft or enlist one half of all the able-bodied men in your company to march to the 
 northward with six days' provision, with arms and all accoutrements complete, ac- 
 cording to act of Court. Hereof you must not fail, and make return to me of the men 
 so enlisted ; you must make your return by Monday next. 
 
 "JONATHAN FOX (of Woburn), Col." 
 
 Whereupon Lt. Bancroft forthwith issues the following order: 
 
 " To Mr. Thomas Eaton : Sir, in obedience to orders I have received, you are re- 
 quired to warn all the Training soldiers in your ward to meet at the meeting-house in 
 the Third Parish, with arms complete, the 27th of Sept. inst. at one o'clock in the 
 afternoon. Also, to warn the Alarm List, that they attend at said time and place." 
 
 Lieut. Bancroft commanded the company in the Third Parish. 
 
 The military companies of the First and Second Parishes received 
 similar orders. 
 
 The commissioned officers of the town of Reading were directed, No- 
 vember 5th, to order their men to be ready to march on the shortest 
 notice that may be, in case of an alarm, with three days' provisions. 
 
 For rolls of the several militia companies of Reading at the begin- 
 ning of the war, and of a company of minute-men, see Appendix " H." 
 
 Town instructed their treasurer to receive none but Continental bills. 
 
 Voted to raise 12 for purchasing lead and flints. 
 
 October, occurred the surrender of'Burgoyne's army to Gen. Gates. 
 
 In the battles which resulted in this glorious victory, large numbers 
 of Reading men were engaged. 
 
 Joshua Eaton, of Reading, was killed in the battle of the day pre- 
 ceding the surrender, October 7th. He was the son, probably, of
 
 1 84 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Joshua Eaton, who died in 1772, and grandson of Capt. Tho. and Mrs. 
 Lydia Eaton, who lived in the West Parish. 
 
 1778. The Committee on "Confederation" reported that the 
 " Articles of Confederation " be approved of, which the town voted 
 (Feb. 1 6) their acceptance of. 
 
 Town voted, May i8th, to raise ^246 12*. to defray the charges of 
 purchasing and carrying to Concord the clothing apportioned to this 
 town, for the Continental army, by the General Court. 
 
 June 8, the town voted, seventy-five to one, " not to accept the new 
 Constitution." 
 
 The Constitution mentioned above was formed and proposed to the 
 people by the General Court of 1777-8, acting as a convention. 
 
 It was rejected by the people of the State by a large majority. 
 
 Measures were soon after taken for assembling another Convention, 
 distinct from the Legislative body, the result of which was the adoption 
 of the present Constitution. In these measures, as will hereafter ap- 
 pear, the town of Reading joined and sympathized. 
 
 Sept. 19, an order came from the General Court, directing one third 
 of the militia to be in readiness for marching to defend Boston, in case 
 the French fleet there shall be attacked by the British. 
 
 1779. Town voted that Messrs. Joseph Underwood, Daniel Put- 
 nam, and Jonathan Weston be a Committee against monopoly. 
 
 Also voted that Capt. Abraham Foster, George Flint, and Thomas 
 Damon be a Committee to pizv&i\\. forestalling. 
 
 Also voted to impower our Representative to vote in favor of a State 
 Convention to form a new Constitution. 
 
 In July, Lieut. Benjamin Flint was chosen a member of the Consti 
 tutional Convention to be holden at Cambridge. 
 
 In addition to the trials and troubles of a protracted war, the people 
 of Reading were called upon to contend with the pestilence that walketh 
 in darkness. 
 
 The small-pox broke out among them this year. Whereupon the 
 town voted that measures be taken to prevent the small-pox from going 
 through the town ; that houses be provided for persons taken with the 
 small-pox the natural way. 
 
 Voted, also, that inoculation cease with the dissolution of the 
 meeting. 
 
 Voted, also, to exclude Mrs. Prentiss, Mrs. Vinton, and the wife of 
 Joseph Emerson, Jr., from the limitation of time.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. ^5 
 
 Voted, also, to prosecute, as the law directs, all those who presume 
 to inoculate, or be inoculated, after the time above limited. 
 
 1780. In complying with the numerous calls made upon the town 
 for men for the army, the town sometimes chose a committee, with 
 power to obtain them on the best terms possible, and sometimes they 
 apportioned, as nearly as possible, the number required among the 
 three parishes, in the following proportion, viz. where the First and 
 Second Parishes provided four, the Third Parish furnished three. 
 
 But it appears that the town always filled its quota. 
 
 This year the town was required to furnish twenty-three militia sol- 
 diers for three months, twenty-three Continental soldiers for six months, 
 and twenty-three more for three years or during the war. 
 
 May 4th, at a town-meeting voted that Benjamin Brown, Esq., Lieut. 
 Benjamin Flint, Capt. Abraham Foster, Dea. Jacob Emerson, Dea. 
 Amos Upton, Capt. James Bancroft, Capt John Goodwin, and Mr. 
 Amos Upton, Jr., be a Committee to consider the new State Constitu- 
 tion, and report. 
 
 Said Committee subsequently reported, "that they had maturely con- 
 sidered the same by paragraphs, and are unanimously of opinion that 
 the same in every part is well calculated for the comfort, peace, liberty, 
 and happiness of a community, excepting the qualifications of members 
 of Congress, which it seems is left wholly out of the question. We are 
 humbly of the opinion, that it is as necessary that each member of Con- 
 gress should be qualified, with as much estate and as long residence in 
 the State as the Governor, for these reasons : 
 
 " ist. They have the right of apportioning the Continental taxes on 
 each State, and if they have no estate, they will be void of the stimulus 
 that chiefly governs mankind, they not being affected in their own in- 
 terest. 
 
 " 2d. They have the right of making peace or war with any Power, 
 and also of entering into alliances with what power they may think 
 proper. 
 
 " But, on the whole, it is our opinion not to be over strenuous in this 
 matter, lest by our dissenting votes we frustrate the whole Constitution, 
 which in Whole we had rather would take place, than have it suspended 
 a length of time, which probably will be attended with pernicious con- 
 sequences. 
 
 " By order of the Committee. 
 
 "BENJAMIN BROWN, Chairman." 
 24
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The town then voted to accept the Report, 121 in favor, no one 
 against it. 
 
 NOTE. The above Report was probably written by Dea. Jacob Emerson, one of 
 the Committee, and a graduate of Har. Coll. in 1756. 
 
 May igth of this year, in addition to the constant demands and fear- 
 ful uncertainties of war, and the prevalence of that terrible scourge, the 
 small-pox (without the knowledge of the mitigating power of vaccina- 
 tion), in addition to all .this, on the day aforesaid, occurred the cele- 
 brated " Dark Day," " when candlfts were lighted in many houses, the 
 birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost." A 
 very general opinion prevailed that the Day of Judgment was at hand. 
 
 It was, certainly, one of the dark days of the Revolution. 
 
 October, the town of Reading was called upon to supply 12,450 Ibs. 
 of beef for the Continental army. 
 
 Town voted to supply the beef, and to raise ,20,000 for that purpose 
 (old emission of currency). In December, another requisition was 
 made upon the town for 23,905 Ibs. of beef, and the town voted to raise 
 .36,000 for the purchase of the same. 
 
 Town voted to raise .56,000 for paying the hire of twenty-three 
 Continental soldiers for six months. 
 
 The following six months' men were hired at the following rates, 
 namely 
 
 John Weston, Jr., for 6 mo. service, ^2340, or 130 bu. Ind. Corn. 
 
 Thomas Brown, " " 900, " 50 " " 
 
 Jesse Nichols, " " 1500, " 83 \ " " 
 
 Wm. Holt, " " 900, " 50 " " 
 
 Nathaniel Eaton, " " 1800, " 100 " " 
 
 Richard Mason, " " 1800, " 100 " " 
 
 Reuben Kemp, " " 900, " 50 " " 
 
 Jacob Burnap, " " 1800, " 100 " " 
 
 Nicholas Holt, " " 2400, " 133 " " 
 
 Jere'h Hartshorn, " " 1200, " 66 " " 
 
 W. Stimpson, Jr., " " 1800, " 100 " " 
 
 The Third Parish this year contributed .184 IQJ. to Rev. Mr. Whit- 
 ney, of Northboro', who had lost his house by fire. 
 
 1781. January, town voted to raise ^"50,000 for hiring twenty- 
 three men for the army for three years or during the war. 
 
 July, town voted to raise ^250 in silver to purchase 9,866 pounds of 
 beef for the army. (Which was about 6d. per Ib.)
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 October, town voted that their treasurer receive 1 of new emission 
 for 40 of old emission ; or 1 in Specie for ^75 of old emission. 
 
 Under the old custom of our fathers of warning new settlers out of 
 town, to prevent their gaining a " settlement," it often happened that 
 very valuable and desirable families were warned to depart 
 
 This year, Ebenezer Pope and wife Sarah, and children : Lucy, who 
 married Timothy Poole ; Oliver ; Polly, who married Hananiah Parker ; 
 Betsey, who married (Master) Tho. Swain ; Jesse, who married Nancy 
 Hay, and was long sexton ; Gould, were warned to leave this town and 
 depart to Danvers. 
 
 First Parish debt this year was ^"6,066 i is. id., equal to about 80 
 in silver. 
 
 1782. Rev. Thomas Haven, first pastor of the third church in 
 Reading, died May 7, 1782, in the thirty-ninth year of his age, and 
 twelfth year of his ministry. 
 
 He was son of Rev. Elias (Har. Coll. 1733, and minister of Wren- 
 tham, now Franklin); his mother was Mary Messenger. Thomas was 
 the grandson of Joseph Haven, of Framingham and Hopkinton, who 
 was the son of Moses, and grandson of Richard, of Lynn. Thomas 
 was of Har. Coll. in 1665. The following is the inscription upon his 
 tombstone in Reading (said to have been composed by Rev. Dr. Cum- 
 mings, of Billerica): 
 
 " Stript of its earthly dress, a genius, unfettered by bigotry, improved by study, 
 sanctified by religion, ennobled by an evangelic temper, enhanced by the most dif- 
 fusive benevolence, has taken its flight to its native country. Beloved and esteemed 
 as a most worthy character, whose excellent natural and acquired abilities and emi- 
 nent moral endowments afforded the most flattering hopes of great and growing 
 usefulness, his exit, at such an early period, is sincerely lamented by all his acquaint- 
 ance, and is especially a most sorrowful event to the people of his charge. 
 
 " According to common reckoning by days, months and years, his death was pre- 
 mature ; but computing human life by the advances made in knowledge, wisdom, piety 
 and virtue, he lived to a good old age" 
 
 The Third Parish re-purchased the estate they sold to Rev. Thomas 
 Haven, of Mr. William Haven. 
 
 Persons dissatisfied with the preaching of Rev. Mr. Prentiss pe- 
 titioned the First Parish : 
 
 ist To refuse to vote Mr. Prentiss his salary ; or, 
 
 ad. To release the dissatisfied ones from being taxed for his support ; 
 or, 
 
 3d. To choose a Committee to see on what terms Mr. Prentiss will 
 quit the desk.
 
 1 88 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 After considerable debate the parish voted to " dismiss the whole." 
 It is understood that the objections against Mr. Prentiss were not 
 against his moral character as a man and a citizen, not against his 
 talents as a writer and public speaker, for in all these respects he main- 
 tained a fair and respectable standing, but against his peculiar senti- 
 ments as a divine. 
 
 Mr. Prentiss was of that class of divines then termed Arminian, and 
 at the present day would be called Unitarian. 
 
 1783. Francis Smith, who was soon after chosen deacon, was, this 
 year, with his* wife Sarah (Boardman), warned out of town to Lynn. 
 He owned the place where Mrs. Benjamin Emerson now lives, on Elm 
 Street. 
 
 1784. First Parish voted to fence the Burial-Grounds. 
 April nth, Contents of the First Parish treasury: 
 
 Note against Edmund Eaton, 
 
 " " James Smith, 
 
 " " Do. and Benjamin Brown, 
 
 " " Benjamin Brown, 
 
 " " William Berd, 
 Cash : New Emission, 
 
 " Old " 
 Town order for school money, 
 
 $3. 
 
 $3048. 
 
 500 
 o 17 o 
 18 20 
 2 18 o 
 2 16 o 
 
 53 2 6 
 
 JOHN PRATT, Treas. 
 
 1785. First Parish voted to petition the General Court to be set 
 off as a distinct town, and chose Ebenezer Hopkins, Nathaniel Wiley, 
 and John Hart a Committee to petition. 
 
 Third Parish voted not to find any wood for the schools. 
 
 1786. Town chose a Committee, to be joined by Maiden, respect- 
 ing a bridge over " Penny Ferry." 
 
 This year the " Reading Social Library " was formed, and Hay 
 Nichols, Esq., was appointed Librarian. 
 
 1787. Men were called for this year "to march to the westward 
 in support of Government." This expedition was for the purpose of 
 subduing an insurrection headed by Daniel Shays. 
 
 Twelve men were called for at one time, and more at another, from 
 the First Parish.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 189 
 
 Parish voted " that each man should have 3 shillings per day and $2 
 bounty, they allowing the parish all State pay or wages which they may 
 draw." 
 
 Among those who went on this expedition were : Thomas Emerson, 
 Jr., Nathaniel Emerson, Joseph Gould, John Vinton, Jr., Ezra Cow- 
 drey, Wm. Stimpson, Jr., Aaron Damon, Cornelius Sweetser, John 
 Sweetser, Wm. Emerson, Benjamin Eaton, Jonathan P. Hay, Charles 
 Eaton, and William Gould. 
 
 REV. PETER SANBORN. 
 
 1789. The Third Parish voted to concur with the church in the 
 choice of Rev. Peter Sanborn to be their pastor ; also voted to give 
 him ;8o salary and twenty cords of wood per year, and 200 as an 
 encouragement to settle. 
 
 Mr. Sanborn, having been made acquainted with the doings of the 
 church and parish, gave the following answer : 
 
 " To the West Church and Parish in Reading : Seriously impressed with a sense 
 of the events of Divine Providence, particularly one in which I am so deeply inter- 
 ested, I cannot but listen to its language. You, my brethren and friends of this 
 Church and Congregation, have not forgotten the day when the Providence of God 
 extinguished the lamp, which, for a short period, burnt in this golden candlestick ; 
 it is also fresh in your memories, that, in this dark and bereaved state, your eyes have 
 been fixed on me ; you have presented me with a rote, which manifests your election 
 of me to be your pastor, and to take the charge of your church and congregation. To 
 suppress emotions of gratitude for such attention and respect would be ingratitude 
 tself. Since you presented me with the above invitation, I have not been an inatten-
 
 190 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 tive observer of the aspects of Providence, nor a stranger to the throne of grace, and 
 that God, who giveth wisdom to those who ask him ; my fathers and brethren in the 
 ministry have been consulted for light and direction in this important affair, an affair 
 which is not circumscribed by the narrow limits of time, but extends its consequences 
 forward interminable ages beyond the judgment day. I think I have not conferred 
 with flesh and blood, but have endeavored to act by the grace of God, with a wise 
 reference to that solemn day, when my great Master shall come again in the East, the 
 piercing brightness of whose eyes will reveal the secrets of men's hearts, and reward 
 or punish as their deeds shall be. 
 
 " Impressed with a sense of these things, at present, it appears to be my duty to 
 expend the talent God has given me in the work of the Gospel Ministry. And while 
 I view your circumstances, Providence appears to speak the same language; I do 
 therefore, with all humility and diffidence of my own strength, cordially accept of your 
 election and approbation, and consent to take the charge of your Church and Con- 
 gregation. I shall expect punctuality in all your engagements, and must beseech you 
 by the bowels of mercy, to pray for me without ceasing, that utterance may be given 
 me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel ; 
 that the great Head of the Church would furnish me with every ministerial grace and 
 qualification ; give the wisdom of the serpent, and the harmlessness of the dove ; that 
 the Father of Mercies would fill me with divine wisdom and knowledge, so that I may 
 be a bold and successful minister of the New Testament. 
 
 " And now, my brethren and friends, God Almighty bless you, and grant that we 
 may be rich in mutual blessings in our several stations to each other, while on earth, 
 and finally make us partakers of his Eternal Glory, when time shall be no longer, for 
 the sake of Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Church and Shepherd of Souls. 
 " Reading, 
 
 " Jan'y 29, 1790. ' PETER SANBORN." 
 
 Joseph Atwell, and Pearn his wife, from Lynn, with their children, 
 Elizabeth, Joseph, Rebecca, Hannah, and John B., were warned out of 
 town. 
 
 1790. This year, Thomas Sweetser, son of Michael Sweetser, Jr., 
 of Fitzwilliam, N. H., and grandson of Michael Sweetser, Sen.', of 
 Reading, a young man of about twenty-five years of age, suddenly and 
 mysteriously disappeared. He was living on his grandparents' place, 
 the same now owned and occupied by Asa N. Sweetser. The last 
 known of his whereabouts was, that he was at the place in Stoneham, 
 long known as the " Office," on the night preceding his disappearance. 
 This " Office " was an old building that stood near the site of Hay's 
 tavern, in Stoneham, and was a rum-drinking and gambling establish- 
 ment. It is supposed that Sweetser was engaged in gambling at this 
 place, until a late hour, and was probably a winner of considerable 
 sums of money, and that he was murdered on his way home. No evi- 
 dence was ever obtained to convict anybody of foul play, but the men 
 who were his companions on the night in question were ever after
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 IQI 
 
 marked men. Sweetser, in taking the nearest course from said " Office " 
 to his home in Reading, would be most likely to take a bridle-way that 
 passed along by the north end of Smith's Pond, in what is now Wake- 
 field. In 1845, while the Boston and Maine Railroad was being built 
 through South Reading, the workmen, while removing the hill at the 
 north end of said pond, and near said bridle-way, exhumed a human 
 skeleton. The skull, the bones of the arms and legs, and some other 
 large bones, were not much decayed ; remnants of smaller bones, locks 
 of hair, and even what appeared to be bits of woollen cloth, were also 
 found. The skeleton was found in a sitting or doubled-up posture, as 
 if crowded into a round hole, feet foremost, the skull about a foot be- 
 low the surface of the ground. 
 
 It was supposed that these were the remains of Thomas Sweetser 
 aforesaid. 
 
 The following persons were this year " warned out of town," viz . : 
 William Deadman and wife Mary, and children, Mary, Nancy, Wil- 
 liam and Lydia, from Salem ; Dea. Daniel Green and wife Ruth, and 
 children, Ruth, Abigail, Rhoda, Polly, and Charles, from Stoneham ; 
 Daniel Green, Jr., and wife Sally, and children, Daniel and Ezra, also 
 from Stoneham ; John Sweetser and wife Elizabeth, and children, John 
 and Elizabeth, from Lynn ; Jonathan Pratt, Joseph Cheever, Ezra and 
 Moses Sweetser, all of Lynn ; and John Hart, physician, of Ipswich, 
 with wife Mary, and children, Polly, Abraham, John, William, Sally, 
 and a child. 
 
 1791. Town voted "not to raise any money to hire School Dames." 
 Rev. Peter Sanborn was ordained pastor of the Third or West Parish. 
 West Parish voted to sing Watts' hymns, instead of Gates and 
 
 Brady's. 
 
 1792. The cause of education seemed to take a start onward this 
 year. 
 
 The appropriation for schools was raised from 80 in 1791 to .150 
 in 1792 ; and a regular school committee of nine members was chosen 
 for the first time ; but lest the committee should have too much power, 
 it was voted that the Selectmen should hire and pay the schoolmasters. 
 And, notwithstanding the vote in 1791, female teachers began to be 
 employed. 
 
 Town voted that no person coming from any place infected with the 
 small-pox shall pass the smoke-house without being smoked ; that no 
 person, not an inhabitant of this town, shall have the small-pox in this
 
 192 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 town; and that those persons who wish to have the -small-pox (by in- 
 oculation) be indulged the privilege of two remote houses in the First 
 Parish for that purpose, for thirty days from this date ; they being at all 
 the expense thereof. These houses were in Greenwood, one on Oak 
 Street, and the other near the former residence of Judge Nash, where 
 many went and had the disease by inoculation, vaccination not being 
 then practised. 
 
 This year, John Walton, from Cambridge, kept the village school in 
 the First Parish. He was a relative of the Reading Waltons, was born 
 in Cambridge in 1770, graduated at Har. Coll. in 1791, studied medi- 
 cine, and settled as a physician in Pepperell, where he practised his 
 profession above sixty years. He died 1862, aged 92 years. 
 
 He was much respected by the people of the town of which he was 
 so long a resident. Was a deacon in the Unitarian Church, but, it is 
 said, never held a political office. 
 
 1794. West 'Parish voted that a stove might be put up in their 
 meeting-house, if private individuals will be at the expense thereof. 
 
 J 795- This year, there was a civic feast in the South Parish in 
 honor of French victories. An elm-tree was planted at the same time 
 upon the Common, amid much ceremony, called the Liberty Tree ; it 
 stood on the westerly side of Cann's Pond. It was soon after cut down 
 by an opposing partisan. This tree was soon succeeded by a " Liberty 
 Pole," a tall, handsome spire, that stood on the easterly side of said 
 pond, near the present dwelling of Andrew Young, from whose main- 
 top, on training days and other holidays, the starry flag was unfurled. 
 This pole was blown down on the cold Friday of 1810. 
 
 1796. The West Parish voted to build a school-house, to be lo- 
 cated near the meeting-house. The new High School-house, just built, 
 occupies nearly the same site. 
 
 1798. The Baptist Society in the First Parish was organized. 
 The Mount Moriah Lodge of Freemasons was constituted. 
 
 1799. The Baptist Society petitioned the First Parish for liberty to 
 hold religious meetings in the Centre School-house, when the same is 
 not in use, and obligating themselves to pay all damages. This request 
 was not granted. Whereupon said society chose a committee to pro- 
 cure a quarter acre of land of Mr. Joseph Gould, on which to locate a
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 193 
 
 meeting-house, and ordered that its members should keep this vote a 
 secret, upon their honor, until a deed thereof is obtained. 
 
 1800. The first meeting-house of the Baptist Society in the South 
 Parish was erected this year. It stood upon the lot of land on Salem 
 Street, on which the dwelling-house now occupied by Sylvanus Clark at 
 present stands ; was 38 feet by 34, with a porch outside, and a gallery 
 inside. 
 
 On the occasion of erecting the frame, the society appointed a com- 
 mittee to provide for the workmen "good Beef, well baked, Potatoes, 
 Bread and Cheese, Cider and Grog, and enough of each." 
 
 The house was dedicated October 22, and Thomas Baldwin, D. D., 
 of Boston, preached on the occasion. 
 
 1801. Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, ot Middleborough, commenced 
 preaching for said Baptist Society. 
 
 REV. CALEB PRENTISS. 
 
 1803. Rev. Caleb Prentiss, seventh minister of the First Church 
 and Parish, died February yth, in the thirty-fourth year of his ministry, 
 and fifty-seventh of his age. He was a native of Cambridge, son of 
 Caleb and Lydia (Whittemore), grandson of Dea. Henry and Eliza- 
 beth (Rand), great-grandson of Solomon and Hepzi. (Dunn or Dun- 
 ton), and great-great-grandson of Henry and Joane, from England, all 
 of Cambridge, the first Henry having settled there before 1640. 
 25
 
 194 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Rev. Caleb graduated at Har. Coll. in 1765; ordained minister of 
 
 the First Church and Parish in Reading in 1769; married January i, 
 
 1771, to Pamela, dau. of Rev. John Mellen, of Sterling, by his wife 
 
 Rebecca (Prentiss) Mellen. Children: 
 
 Caleb, b. 1771; settled in Paris, Me.; trader and farmer; deacon; 
 d. 1838, aged 67, leaving numerous descendants. 
 
 THOMAS MELLEN, b. 1773 ; resided in Livermore, Me., as a farmer; re- 
 moved to Portland, became a teacher and postmaster ; removed 
 to Lexington, Ky., and there practised law, but died a teacher; 
 married there, had four or five children ; died in 1823. 
 
 CHARLES, b. 1774 ; grad. at Har. Coll. in 1795 with high honor ; settled 
 in Leominster ; established a newspaper ; wrote poetry ; mar- 
 ried a dau. of Rev. Francis Gardner ; failed in business ; 
 removed to Washington ; was editor of the Washington " Federal- 
 ist and Anti-Republican " ; afterwards editor at Richmond, Va., 
 and stenographer in Congress. He wrote the life of Gen. 
 Eaton, the hero of Tripoli, and published a volume of his own 
 Essays and Poems. He died at Brimfield, Mass., in 1820. He 
 had three children, who are all deceased. 
 
 PAMELA, b. 1776; m. 1799, Capt. John Orne, of Lynnfield. She died 
 of consumption in 1810. Of her six children, the oldest, Mrs. 
 Starr, only is living. 
 
 HON. JOHN PRENTISS. 
 
 JOHN, b. 1778; settled in Keene, N. H., in 1799; m. a dau. of Gen. 
 Geo. Aldrich, of Westmoreland ; established the New Hamp- 
 shire " Sentinel," now in its seventieth volume ; left business in 
 1848; visited Europe in 1850; has been Representative and 
 . Senator in the Legislature, and died at Keene, N. H., June 6,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 19$ 
 
 1873, aged 95 years 2 months 16 days. Had eight children 
 
 of whom three are living. 
 HENRY, b. 1779 ; settled in Paris, Me., a farmer; m. Mary, dau. of Dr. 
 
 John Hart, of Reading; had nine children; died 1843, leaving 
 
 numerous descendants. 
 SOPHIA, b. 1782 ; d. 1807, of consumption ; was a young lady of great 
 
 intelligence, amiability, and worth. She was a writer of much 
 
 promise. The following poem is from her pen : 
 
 ADIEU TO READING. 
 
 " By the last beams of parting day, 
 Let me this charming scene survey ; 
 Trace every spot I love so well, 
 The lofty tree, the lowly dell, 
 Dear lovely landscape, now adieu, 
 When distant, I will think on you. 
 
 The enraptur'd eye beholds around, 
 Here verdant plains, there rising ground ; 
 The flowery field, the fleecy fold, 
 The mountain tipp'd with blue and gold ; 
 Oft fancy shall these haunts pursue, 
 And oft, though distant, dwell on you. 
 
 The village church first meets my eyes, 
 And seems aspiring to the skies ; 
 There the beloved Pastor taught 
 Each truth sublime, each nobler thought ; 
 Taught us a brighter world to view, 
 When distant far I '11 think on you. 
 
 The humble school-house next appears, 
 Where sweetly pass'd my early years ; 
 , There knowledge first, with pleasing art, 
 
 Convey'd her treasures to my heart ; 
 Then, while that heart 's to virtue true, 
 With pleasure, I will think on you. 
 
 Behold the venerable roof, 
 
 Where I have felt each tender proof 
 
 Of love paternal and sincere, 
 
 Its pleasing smile or anxious tear; 
 
 Ah ! happy days! how fast ye flew, 
 
 Yet will I often think on you. 
 
 The ancient Elm, that arches o'er 
 The cherries shading it before ; 
 The garden, with its vine-wrought bower, 
 Where pass'd the gay or serious hour, 
 When little of the world I knew, 
 I '11 quit that world to think on you.
 
 196 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The fields of cultivated land, 
 The orchard planted by that hand 
 Which, in the dust, is mould'ring laid, 
 Now yields its blossoms, fruit and shade ; 
 'T was from his fostering care ye grew, 
 And I shall love to think on you. 
 
 Fair Lake ! how oft I 've wandered o'er 
 Thy grassy banks and pebbled shore, 
 While on thy surface sunbeams played, 
 And distant trees, in lengthen'd shade, 
 Met the mild sky's ethereal blue. 
 When can I cease to think on you ! 
 
 See the calm mansions of the dead, 
 Where some lov'd friends are peaceful laid ; 
 Long may'st thou be with rev'rence view'd, 
 And thy green turf with tears bedew'd, 
 Till I shall sleep in silence, too, 
 And can no longer think of you." 
 
 CLARISSA, b. 1784; m. 1805, Benjamin Johnson, of Boston; had three 
 children (one of whom, Benjamin, is now living), and d. 1813. 
 
 WILLIAM, b. 1786; died of consumption 1806. 
 
 GEORGE, b. 1787, and d. 1789. 
 
 LYDIA, b. 1790; m. 1821, Rev. Wm. Frothingham, of Belfast, Me. ; had 
 four children (of whom two daughters are still living), and d. 
 
 1855- 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, b. 1792; settled in Wiscasset, Me. ; afterwards 
 in New York, editor (with Prof. Carter) of the " New York States- 
 man." Died at Keene, N. H., 1830. 
 
 REBECCA, b. 1794; resided in Belfast, Me., and was unmarried. In 
 the destruction of a hotel in Belfast, by fire, in 1873, Miss Pren- 
 tiss was burned to death. 
 The character of Rev. Mr. Prentiss is thus delineated by one who 
 
 knew him well, the Rev. Mr. Stone, of North Reading : 
 
 " Meekness of wisdom, humbleness of mind, stability in friendship, calmness in 
 conduct, candor in judging of others, sincerity in his professions, fidelity in discharg- 
 ing the various duties of life, and hospitality to his numerous acquaintances, were 
 prominent features in his character. His sermons were rational, evangelical and 
 practical. He addressed his Maker in prayer with great reverence, solemnity and 
 devotion. On particular occasions, his thoughts and expressions were peculiarly 
 appropriate and engaging. In discharging the duties of the pastoral office, he was 
 diligent and faithful. To preserve and promote peace and harmony in his society, and 
 to build it up in the most holy faith, were constantly objects of his endeavors. And 
 he enforced the Christian duties, which he inculcated upon others, by living himself
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 197 
 
 soberly, righteously, and piously. He was a kind husband, an affectionate parent, 
 a steady friend, an agreeable companion, a good man, and a faithful minister of 
 Christ." 
 
 As a divine, Mr. Prentiss was of the school called in his day " Ar- 
 minian." Several of his sermons, on different occasions, were printed, 
 and have come down to us. Some extracts therefrom will show, to 
 some extent, his talent as a composer, his sentiments as a divine, and 
 his style as a writer. 
 
 The following extract is from a sermon delivered in his own desk in 
 1790, in opposition to the doctrine of "Election and Reprobation": 
 
 " We may certainly infer from the truth and faithfulness of God that, when sinners 
 are called of God unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ, and have offers made to 
 them of pardon and salvation, and promises of life and favor, if they comply with the 
 requisitions of the gospel, and are threatened with enhanced punishment if they do 
 not comply ; I say, we may infer that there is a sufficiency of grace and help pro- 
 vided for, and given to them, to enable them to conform to and obey the Gospel ; and 
 therefore, if sinners perish, under the light of the Gospel, it is not because it is the 
 sovereign will and fatal decree of God that they should perish ; but it 's wholly their 
 own fault, because they neglect to improve their faculties, talents and privileges, and 
 abuse the grace and mercy of the Lord, their God. The infinitely wise and holy, just 
 and good God does not require impossibilities of his creatures, nor command them to 
 do what they are not capable of doing, with the help which he offers and gives. We 
 cannot suppose that the God of truth and sincerity would call upon, invite and com- 
 mand sinners to repent, and offer them mercy, and threaten their disobedience with 
 punishment, if, at the same time, they were under an absolute, fatal necessity of per- 
 ishing by his own eternal, unchangeable decree, or if they could not repent without 
 the help of his special grace, which he eternally determined never to give them. Such 
 offers would be false and deceitful, and only an insult to the wretched. I therefore 
 think it is certain, from the truth and other perfections of God, and from his holy 
 word, that the future, everlasting state of men was not eternally and immutably fixed 
 and determined by God, by an absolute, unconditional, efficient decree of necessity 
 and fatality ; and that the secret will of God is not contrary to his revealed word and 
 will, and that those who perish under the grace and calls of the Gospel are the blame- 
 able cause of their own destruction, there being a sufficiency of grace provided in 
 Christ for their salvation." 
 
 The following extract is taken from his address before the " Mount 
 Moriah Lodge," on St. John's day, June 24, 1799, at Reading : 
 
 " May the members of Mount Moriah Lodge, in imitation of Solomon, who, on this 
 mount, built a temple for God, prove themselves to be good workmen in the service 
 of God, who need not to be ashamed. May your works be planned with wisdom and 
 skill, and in due proportions. May your foundations be laid firm and strong, on the 
 basis of truth and righteousness. May your buildings display wisdom, strength and 
 beauty, and be cemented with love. May they be ornamental, useful and durable. May 
 you ever act upon the square of equity ; keep within the compass of reason ; plumb 
 your actions with the weight of conscience ; walk perpendicularly upright in the line of
 
 1 98 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 duty, and level your passions and affections to the rules of sobriety and virtue. May 
 your social interviews be attended with harmony and improvement. May your social 
 joys be temperate, pure and refined. May your charities make you rich towards God, 
 and secure your treasures in heaven. May you be built up holy temples to the living 
 God, and show forth his praise. May you finally be introduced to the temple of God 
 above, and be members of that holy society of brethren and friends, where light, love, 
 peace and joy shall reign in perfection ; where your labors shall be your pleasures, 
 and your existence one eternal festival of joy and praise. And to the audience at 
 large let me say, that if we cannot all be Masons, yet we may all be Christians. This 
 society (the Christian) embraces all ranks and degrees, and does not exclude either 
 sex. We are all invited by God to become members of it It is both ancient and 
 honorable. The son of God is its head and Grand Master ; its duties are pleasant ; 
 its privileges are great ; its festivals are joyous ; and its rewards will be eternal bliss." 
 
 The following extracts from letters received from Hon. John Pren- 
 tiss, son of Rev. Caleb, furnish a very pleasant view of the domestic 
 character and home-life of their former pastor ; with other interesting 
 reminiscences : 
 
 " It is natural and so pardonable that I should first speak of my father, my beloved 
 parent, who was for nearly thirty years the sole minister of the First Parish (now 
 Wakefield), the Rev. Caleb Prentiss, who died in February, 1803. To my fond recol- 
 lection, but few have approached nearer to the perfect Christian. I need but look 
 upon his portrait (with that of my mother, the eldest daughter of Rev. John Mellen, 
 of Lancaster, honored in her memory), ever before me in my sitting-room, to recall to 
 mind his Christian and parental instruction, and to endorse in full the character given 
 him by his ever devoted friend and senior, the Rev. Eliab Stone, in his funeral dis- 
 course, from the text, ' An Israelite indeed ' ; (see extracts from said discourse 
 already given). My father's disposition was eminently social ; he was the friend of all 
 innocent enjoyments ; he delighted in an occasional fishing excursion ; and I once 
 skated with him nearly the whole length of the Pond, as he wished to land at a Swamp 
 estate on the northwest coast Many a game of draughts (checkers) did he enjoy 
 with his friend and family physician, Dr. Hay. 
 
 " The annual gathering of a few more intimate families is well remembered, as well 
 as the Thanksgiving, made more happy by the bounties, which never failed ; I never 
 knew him to show anger ; though on one or two occasions he was sadly tried by an 
 inimical person, clothed with the power of a Hog-reeve, who seemed to take delight in 
 impounding his cows, when lingering a few moments outside the gate. 
 
 " He was a revolutionary whig and patriot, as were most of the clergy in that day. 
 He showed his faith by his works. On the memorable ipth of April, 1775, the train- 
 band of the First Parish were, by express, ordered to Lexington, and they departed very 
 early. About eight o'clock, A. M., alarm guns were fired, and the ' alarm list ' as- 
 sembled. These my father accompanied to the scene of action with his musket, and 
 proceeded until they met the enemy returning from Concord. Here he became the 
 soldier, and, as opportunity offered, for many miles, assisted in harassing the retreat- 
 ing enemy. I find, also, the following memorandum, under date of February 27th, of 
 the same year : 'At about three o'clock A. M. an alarm was made, the drums beat to 
 arms, the bell was rung, and alarm guns were fired in the Parish. The report was 
 that a regiment of the king's troops had landed at Marblehead, and marched to Sa- 
 lem to take some cannon there, and that the people were defending the cannon, and
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 wanted assistance. The people were mustered, and before daylight were upon the 
 march toward Salem. Having marched about five miles, we were informed by the 
 Lynn End company, who were returning, that the Regulars were retreated without 
 the cannon, embarked and set sail. Upon which we returned. On our return we 
 met the West Parish Company and the Stoneham Company, all which, joining to- 
 gether, returned in order to this parish, and went through the military exercise. The 
 whole were more than two hundred.' 
 
 " I have a sermon, preached by my father, on the occasion of several recruits being 
 about to depart for the army, full of excellent advice and encouragement, and imbib- 
 ing the most patriotic sentiments. 
 
 " From the date of his settlement in 1769 he kept almost a daily memorandum of 
 public events, as well as occurrences in his parish, and in his own family. I have 
 most of these in my possession, in his family almanac for more than thirty years, the 
 calendar pages being interleaved for the purpose. I find much to amuse that is per- 
 sonal, occasionally something illustrative of the age, though but little deserving a place 
 in history. Some of the memoranda are serious reflections, as gratitude at the birth 
 of a child, and many, like some of the records of the Old Testament, true to the letter, 
 but not exactly conformable to the taste of the present day. His reflections at my 
 own birth and baptism, on stumbling upon them many years after his death, made an 
 impression on my own mind which was never effaced ; it proved, I verily believe, to 
 be that ' word in season,' so often efficacious in leading the thoughts, too much en- 
 grossed by the world, to the ' one thing needful.' 
 
 "Theje is an amusing memorandum in his almanac of 1771 of the parade of his 
 parishioners, on the occasion of his marriage ; they met him at Lexington, twenty- 
 four of the parish, and were joined by many more at Woburn, ' five chaises and thirty- 
 two horses ' ; an elegant entertainment was provided ; neighboring ministers were 
 present ; a merry evening, etc. 
 
 " The habit of keeping a strict account of receipts and expenditures was absolutely 
 necessary with the .80 salary. Hence the daily memoranda, with the advantage of 
 dates in recalling events. I find a portion, for instance, of his entries of ' Presents 
 received since my ordination,' up to 1787, filling thirty or forty pages of close manu- 
 script ; from Capt Walton's, a ' fine shirt for wedding ' ; and in the next month no less 
 than eleven entries of a ' leg of pork,' and ' a live Pig by the Parish, 75 Ibs.' The value 
 of the presents in s. d. was annexed. 
 
 In 1780 and "81, during the depreciation of the currency, Dea. Smith was credited 
 a bushel of Indian meal, 1$ ; and Capt. Walton, a leg of veal, 13 los. 
 
 " In 1775, the parish voted to sing ' Watts' Psalms and Hymns for the future.' I 
 shall never forget hearing, when a child, the solemn tone of the Rev. (then a deacon 
 of my father's church) Jacob Emerson, with his large white wig, who read the hymn, 
 line by line ; for, although the parish voted to use Watts' psalms and hymns, it would 
 appear that the singers, with Mr. Jeremiah Brown, who officiated as chorister some 
 forty years, I believe, had no copies. Most of the clergy, at the close of the Revolu- 
 tion, wore wigs (some of enormous size) and cocked hats, on all special occasions, 
 mingling in the youthful mind awe with respect 
 
 " Aug. 13, 1775, the congregation voted to have the scriptures read publicly for 
 the future on the Sabbath ; and August zoth, I ' began to read the scriptures in 
 public.' 
 
 " About this period, Capt. Tho. Green (who was the only miller in the parish, and 
 where by law we were permitted to catch alewives every other day), was not so well 
 satisfied as the parish generally with the doctrines preached ; he particularly objected
 
 200 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 o preaching from a black pasteboard case; sa'd a minister should preach from the 
 bible, and he accordingly made a present of a handsome I2mo. bible, with notes, bound 
 in black. This bible was ever after taken to church, the sermon confined in the 
 centre. 
 
 ." It was expected that the minister's family should set a good example of going to 
 church. And so, in good weather, the family were rigged in their best. I well 
 remember the formidable array of the Parson's family : The vicar on the right, then 
 the mother and children, often half a dozen and more, according to their ages, a 
 single platoon, receding, in size and height, from right to left. 
 
 '1778, April 15. This evening I agreed with ' Betty' (the 'help') to tarry with 
 us another year. I am to givelier .13 6s. &/. and the small-pox. 
 
 " 1778, June 15. Went a fishing on the Pond with Rev. Mr. Haven." 
 
 " 1782, May 7. I prayed with my friend, Rev. Mr. Haven (of the West Parish), 
 this morning, and was with him when he died, at 10 A. M., of consumption. He died 
 in peace ; may I be prepared to follow," etc. 
 
 " A very particular account was kept of everything received and everything ex- 
 pended, so as to (keep within his scanty income ; yet ' he was passing rich, with 
 eighty pounds a year ? It would be deemed a mystery in our day how he could get 
 through life, bringing up twelve of thirteen children, eight boys and five girls, with an 
 ever hospitable mansion, on a salary of ^80 a year, lawful money, and sometimes in a 
 depreciated currency. But, with strict economy, and the untiring managing and plan- 
 ning of my excellent and devoted mother, minister farming, and taking young men to 
 prepare for college, he left an estate which, twenty years after, netted some $8,000 or 
 $9,000. But much must be attributed to the rise of real estate. Though I left the 
 parish in 1792 (visiting it almost every year since), my recollections go back to 1783, 
 when the train-band met, and called at our house to congratulate the minister on the 
 news of Peace. The house was full of soldiers and guns, for my father was a most 
 decided whig, having taken part with the Alarm List, in pursuing the Regulars, after 
 the scenes at Lexington and Concord, to Charlestown ; and as also appears by one of 
 his manuscript sermons preached to the new recruits, who were to march the next day 
 to join the army. 
 
 " I well remember the state of theological opinions in the vicinity in 1790 to 1795, 
 and so on. The ' Association of Ministers ' were called ' moderate Calvinists,' but 
 inclining strongly to the views of Arminius, and consisted, with perhaps others, of 
 Rev. Messrs. Smith, of Middleton (a native of Reading) ; Wadsworth, of Danvers ; 
 Roby, of Lynn ; Stone, of the North Parish ; French, of Andover ; Morrill, of Wil- 
 mington ; Marrett, of Burlington ; Symms, of North Andover ; Stearns, of Bedford ; 
 and Cummings, of Billerica. 
 
 " About the year 1790 or '91, then twelve years of age, I posted on foot to the ordi- 
 nation, at the West Parish, of Rev. Mr. Sanborn. Mr. S. was fresh from the late Dr. 
 Emmons' school, and entertained views materially differing from those of most of the 
 members of the ' Association.' The Council were in debate until very late in the ' 
 afternoon ; and then most, or all, of the public services were performed by the gentle- 
 men especially invited by the Pastor. We may well conclude that Arminius and 
 Whitby were arrayed against Calvin, Hopkins, and Emmons. Many theological con- 
 tests were had; and yet the Westminster Catechism was used by all, the only one 
 in existence. That generation of excellent men has passed away, with the formidable 
 wigs and cocked hats, and other controversies have arisen. 
 
 " Every pond, rock, hill, valley and stream is still familiar to my recollection. But 
 the great pond ' the remarkable Lake, as it was described in a very ' antient history,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 2OI 
 
 and shown on one of the rudest maps imaginable was the glory of the parish, for 
 bathing, fishing, boating and skating, as it must be at this day. 
 
 " Then the one old church, w th the Stocks behind it (and I remember, perhaps, the 
 last victim), the old red school-house (that stood just north of the ancient parsonage), 
 with Master Downs, my first teacher, succeeded by Masters Walton, Swain, and otherfc ; 
 the blacksmith's shop on the Common, Ken's Pond in the centre, and the venerable 
 oaks and elms." 
 
 This year, the town directed the Selectmen to oppose all turnpike 
 roads going through the town. 
 
 1804. The Baptist Church, of the South Parish, was constituted, and 
 Rev. Ebenezer Nelson accepted an invitation to become its pastor. 
 
 The dwelling-house of Samuel Wiley, that stood at the corner of Main 
 and Albion Streets, was burned. 
 
 1805. This year, the town chose a committee, who were directed to 
 use their influence that the Turnpike Road shall be made from Essex 
 Turnpike to Maiden Bridge. 
 
 1807. This year, an action at law, which had been brought by the 
 Baptist Society of the South Parish against the town of Lynnfield, for 
 the recovery of certain ministerial taxes which had been collected by 
 Lynnfield of people living in Lynnfield, but who had joined said Baptist 
 Society, was decided against Lynnfield. 
 
 July 4. Rev. John Mellen died in this town. Mr. Mellen was born 
 1722, graduated at Har. Coll. in 1741, ordained at Sterling, Ms., 1744, 
 and after a long service in the ministry he retired, in his old age, to 
 spend the evening of his life with his daughter, who was the wife and 
 widow of Rev. Caleb Prentiss, of this town. 
 
 Three sons of Mr. Mellen graduated at Har. Coll. : John, who became 
 minister of Barnstable ; Henry, a lawyer, at Dover, N. H. ; and Pre*- 
 tiss, who was Senator in Congress, and Chief-Justice of the Supreme 
 Court of Maine. 
 
 This year, the town confirmed to each parish the common land lying 
 within the limits of each, as was given them in the division made in 
 1771. 
 
 1808. Adam Flint and Nehemiah Hart were drowned in Martin's 
 Pond. 
 
 1809. A hearse-house was built, and a hearse purchased for the 
 First Parish. 
 
 26
 
 202 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1810. This year, January igth, the liberty pole on the Common 
 was blown down. The 1 day was long after remembered as the " Cold 
 Friday." 
 
 .March 5. Dr. John Hart, Jr., son of the Hon. John Hart, who had 
 recently settled in the West Parish, with favorable prospects, died of 
 consumption, aged 25. 
 
 ' 1"' i ' ?( "/'!'' 
 
 1811. The people of the South Parish, this year, agitated in earnest 
 the subject of being incorporated as a distinct town.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF KEADfNG. 
 
 203 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 
 
 THE Town of Reading, as has been said, was incorporated in 1644, 
 and a church was organized in the same or next succeeding year. It 
 is probable, also, that their first meeting-house was built at about the 
 same time ; but no record of its erection has been found. The town 
 records for the first two or three years after the incorporation, and 
 which probably contained an account of its building, are missing. 
 
 ON OF THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSES ERECTED IN READING. 
 
 Tradition says it stood upon the Common, near where is now the east- 
 erly end of Albion Street, and that the first parsonage house occupied
 
 204 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 very nearly the present site of " Perkins' Building," that stands on the 
 southerly side of said street, and that the yards of the meeting-house 
 and parsonage adjoined. 
 
 The first minister of Reading was Henry Green, from Watertown, 
 who was ordained Nov. 5, 1645, an ^ died Oct. n, 1648. (See further 
 particulars in List of Early Settlers.) The second minister of this church 
 was Samuel Haugh, who was ordained in 1650, and died March 30, 1662. 
 (See his biography in List of Early Settlers.) 
 
 The third minister was John Brock, from England, who was ordained 
 in Reading, November, 1666, and died June 10, 1668, aged 8 years. 
 (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Fourth minister was Jonathan Pierpont, who was ordained June 26, 
 1689, and died June 2, 1709. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Fifth minister was Richard Browne, who was ordained 1712, and died 
 Oct. 29, 1732. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Sixth minister was William Hobby, who was ordained Sept. i, 1733, 
 and died June 18, 1765. (See notice of his death under 1765.) 
 
 Seventh minister was Caleb Prentiss, who was ordained Oct. 25, 
 1769, and died Feb. 7, 1803. (See notice of his death and character 
 under 1803.) 
 
 Eighth minister was Reuben Emerson, who was installed 1804, and 
 died 1860. (See sketch of his character under 1812.) 
 
 Rev. Alfred Emerson was born at Beverly, April 5, 1812. He 
 graduated at Yale College in 1834, and was a student at Andover, but 
 did not graduate, being called to be a tutor at Yale. He was ordained 
 and installed as associate pastor with Rev. Reuben Emerson, Oct. 
 15, 1845. He was dismissed April 3, 1853, and accepted a professor- 
 ship in Western Reserve College, which he held three years. He was 
 subsequently settled at South Berwick, Me., whence he was called to 
 Fitchburg, where he was highly successful as pastor for several years. 
 He now resides in Lancaster. He was married to Miss Martha E. W. 
 Vose, of Lancaster, Oct. 18, 1847. 
 
 Rev. Joseph D. Hull was born at New Haven, Conn., Feb. 21, 
 1818. He graduated at Yale College in 1837, and at the seminary 
 connected therewith in 1842. He was ordained and settled in Say- 
 brook in 1844, and was settled in Plymouth, Conn., in 1850, and in 
 this place, as associate with Mr. Emerson, Dec. 27, 1853. He 
 was dismissed April 14, 1856, and became a teacher in Connecticut, 
 and subsequently in New York city. He was married to Miss Char- 
 lotte L. Cowles, of Farmington, Conn., Dec. 14, 1843. 
 
 Rev. Joseph |B. Johnson was born in Boston, Oct. 9, 1825. He
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 2O5 
 
 was never a member of college, but graduated at Andover in 1853. 
 He was ordained and installed over the church at Plymouth, and was 
 installed over this church Aug. 12, 1857. At the end of three years 
 he resigned and engaged in business. Returning to the ministry he 
 became a pastor at Uxbridge, but, after a few years, went into business 
 again. He was twice married, the second time to Miss Harriet B. 
 Richmond, who died in 1871. 
 
 Rev. Charles R. Bliss was born in Longmeadow, Mass., Nov. 5, 
 1828. He graduated at Williams College in 1854, and at Andover in 
 1858. He was ordained and installed over a Presbyterian church in 
 Beverly, N. J., Marches, 1859, and became pastor of this church May 
 22, 1862, which office he still retains. He was married to Miss Mary 
 F. Smith, of North Andover, Oct. 15, 1862. 
 
 For an account of the meeting-houses of the First Parish of Reading, 
 now Wakefield, see Chronological Sketch. The church that was 
 erected in 1768 was remodelled inside in 1837, and in 1859 was re- 
 moved to its present site, enlarged and entirely remodelled outside and 
 inside, and made to present the appearance which it now exhibits. 
 
 List of Deacons of the First Church of Reading* 
 
 Names. When Appointed. When Died. 
 
 Zachariah Fitch, 1645 1662 
 
 John Person, 1645 1679 
 
 Thomas Kendall, 1645 1681 
 
 Thomas Parker, 1645 1683 
 
 William Cowdrey, 1645 I 7 l & 
 
 Benjamin Fitch, Feb. 15, 1690 1713 
 
 Thomas Bancroft, 1718 
 John Damon. 
 
 Nathaniel Lawrence. 
 
 Thdmas Boutwell, Dec. 31, 1707 1737 
 
 Thomas Nichols, Nov. 13, 1712 1737 
 
 John Pearson, Nov. 13, 1712 
 
 John Goodwin, May 28, 1722 1757 
 
 Francis Smith, May 28, 1722 1744 
 
 Raham Bancroft, Oct4,i737 1758 
 
 Nathaniel Stow, Oct 4, 1737 1737 
 
 Kendall Parker, May i, 1738 1755 
 
 Thomas Nichols, 2d, May r, 1738 1745 
 
 Brown Emerson, Aug. 26, 1746 1774 
 
 Jonathan Temple, Aug. 26, 1746 
 
 Benjamin Brown, April 12, 1753 
 
 Samuel Bancroft, Nov. 2, 1758 1782 
 
 John Smith, March 17, 1770 1782 
 
 Jacob Emerson, May 23, 1774 1811 
 
 John Batcheller, May 23, 1774
 
 206 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY' 
 
 Names. - When Appointed. When Died. 
 
 . Benjamin Brown, 2d, Sept 7, 1779 1801 
 
 Ebenezer Hopkins, Aug. 2, 1790 1796 
 
 Francis Smith, 2d 
 
 Thomas Parker, 2d, April 25, 1796 1822 
 
 Oliver Swain, April 25, 1796 
 
 James Hartshorn, Sept. u, 1803 1824 
 
 Aaron Bryant, June 15, 1815 1870 
 
 Ezekiel Oliver, Oct 17, 1823 1865 
 
 Benjamin H. Eaton, July 30, 1841 
 
 Benj. L. Boardman, July 30, 1841 
 
 George R. Morrison, July 25, 1860 
 
 Josiah Norcross, Jan. 25, 1861 1866 
 
 Cyrus N. White, Feb. 21, 1866 
 
 A. W. Chapman, Feb. 21, 1866 
 
 BAPTIST SOCIETY AND CHURCH m SOUTH READING, NOW WAKEFIELD. 
 
 This society was formed in June, 1797. Their first meeting-house 
 was erected in 1800. The building was 38 feet by 34 feet, with gal- 
 leries, and stood on Salem Street, near where Sylvanus Clark now lives. 
 Their first minister was Ebenezer Nelson, from Middleborough, who 
 commenced preaching here in December, 1801, and was formally 
 installed as pastor, Jan. 31, 1804. On the same day, the First Baptist 
 church was organized with sixty-five members. Mr. Nelson was 
 dismissed, at his own request, in 1815, and removed to Maiden, where 
 he died in 1825, aged 72. (See Church Street for further account.) 
 
 Second minister was Gustavus Fellows Davis, who was settled here 
 in the spring of 1818; was dismissed, at his own request, in 1829; 
 removed to Hartford, Conn., and became pastor of First Baptist Church 
 there ; and died in Boston, while on a visit, in September, 1836. 
 
 Mr. Davis was born in Boston in 1797 ; was an orphan boy, appren- 
 ticed to a trade in Worcester, where he was hopefully converted to God 
 at the age of sixteen. He became a preacher at seventeen, was or- 
 dained at nineteen, married at twenty, and settled first at Preston, 
 Conn., and next at South Reading, 1818, at the age of twenty. While 
 here, he studied the Latin and Greek languages with zeal and success, 
 and received the college degree of Master of Arts, and subsequently 
 the title of Doctor of Divinity. He had naturally strong powers of 
 mind, a very tenacious memory, a 'rapid conception, large self-posses- 
 sion, and a ready utterance. His style of address was simple, earn- 
 est, pointed, and laconic, well suited to interest a popular audience. 
 He had an uncommon aptness in employing and applying Scripture, 
 in his discourses, to passing events. He left several children, one of
 
 OF\Tf/ TQWX QF KEADWG. 
 
 whom, Gustavus F., is president of a bank in Hartford, Conn. In 
 1820, their meeting-house was removed from Salem Street to a more 
 eligible site on Main Street, and enlarged and furnished with new 
 porch and cupola. ,i>m 
 
 In 1822, died Lilley Eaton,, aged fifty-four, nearly, one of the 
 founders and steadfast friends of the church, and who had contributed 
 most towards its pecuniary aid. In 1829, Mr. Davis resigned the pas- 
 toral office here, having been here eleven years, preached here 813 
 sermons, received to the church 106 persons, solemnized 58 marriages, 
 and officiated at 51 funerals. , ;j ;., 
 
 Third minister was Joseph A. Warne, who was installed October, 
 1829, and was dismissed at his request in October, 1830. Mr. Warne 
 was a native of England, where he studied for the ministry. He was 
 esteemed an "able. minister of the New Testament." He afterwards 
 became pastor of the Baptist Church in Brookline, and successively of 
 churches in Providence and Philadelphia. He had been pastor of a 
 church and instructor of theological students in North Carolina. He 
 was selected to edit the Baptist edition of the " Comprehensive Com- 
 mentary on the Bible." 
 
 In 1831, died Naomi Badger, wife of Benjamin Badger, and daughter 
 of Joseph Emerson. She was an original member of the church, and 
 was distinguished through life for her pious, circumspect, and consistent 
 Christian deportment. 
 
 Fourth minister was James Huckins, who was ordained September 
 21, 1832, and left in 1833 ; he became pastor of a church in Andover, 
 and subsequently removed to Charleston, S. C., where he died a 
 few years since. Mr. Huckins was a'graduate of Brown University in 
 1832. He possessed rather an easy and pleasant address ; and, as a 
 preacher, was more showy than solid, and was not particularly notable 
 for strength of intellect or acquired knowledge. 
 
 Fifth minister was Isaac Sawyer, Jr., from Jay, N. Y., who was in- 
 stalled March 26, 1835, and left in 1838. In 1835 their meeting-house 
 was destroyed by fire. In 1836 their second meeting-house was erected, 
 48 feet by 68 feet, with a conference hall in the basement. In 1838 
 Mr. Sawyer resigned his pastoral charge and became pastor of a church 
 in Deerfield, N. H. Mr. Sawyer was a young man who had been 
 preaching about four years when he came to this place ' He embraced 
 the views of Mr. Win. Miller, of New York, respecting the speedy 
 second coming of Christ, the close of this dispensation, and the disso- 
 lution of our globe. He was a speaker very little confined to scholastic 
 rules, either in the composition or delivery of his discourses. His
 
 208 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 style of address, often of bold and original conceptions and expres- 
 sions, was frequently no less startling and terrific than earnest and 
 pathetic. 
 
 Sixth minister was Charles Miller, from Scotland. He was installed 
 April, 1838, and left the same year on account of ill-health. 
 
 Seventh minister was Larkin B. Cole, who was installed in 1840, and 
 dismissed at his own request in 1842. 
 
 Mr. Cole, before becoming a preacher, was a medical practitioner, 
 and had not enjoyed those opportunities for biblical studies, which are 
 adapted to afford one the most clear and defined theological views, and 
 render him a permanently successful religious teacher. He afterwards 
 took charge of a drug-store in the city, and has since deceased. 
 
 Eighth minister was Charles Evans, who was settled here in 1842, 
 and left in 1844. He was a native of England ; had been a missionary 
 in the Asiatic isle, Sumatra ; came to this country well recommended 
 by the English Baptists ; was a man of general intelligence, a good 
 scholar, and worthy minister of the New Testament. After leaving us, 
 he became minister of a church in Michigan. He had a family of ten 
 children ; and from his missionary and other travels, it happened that 
 some of his children were born in Europe, some in Asia, some in 
 Africa, and the youngest in America, at South Reading. In 1843, 
 during Mr. Evans's ministry, occurred the Miller excitement ; twenty 
 persons withdrew from the church and joined the Adventists, about 
 one third of whom subsequently returned. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Evans died in Connecticut, June, 1869, aged 78 years. 
 
 Ninth minister was Paul S. Adams, who was settled in 1844, and 
 resigned in 1848. He was afterwards pastor, first at Newburyport, and 
 then at Newport, N. H. Mr. Adams was of a somewhat nervous and 
 impulsive temperament ; rather active and zealous as a preacher, than 
 critical or profound as a student. 
 
 Tenth minister was Daniel W. Phillips, who was settled in 1850. 
 Installation sermon by Rev. Pharcellus Church, of Boston. 
 
 In 1851, Elizabeth C., wife of Rev. Mr. Phillips, died at the age of 
 42. She was a lady of intelligence and worth. In 1855, Mary Dead- 
 man, a venerable sister in the church, died at the age of 97 years* and 
 ten months. Also, died Deacon David Smith, aged 84, nearly. 
 
 In 1859, died Noah Smith, Esq., aged 84, an original member, and 
 father of Rev. Francis Smith, of Rhode Island, and grandfather of James 
 W. Smith, D. D., of Philadelphia. The same year died Deacon Jacob 
 Eaton, in his 88th year. In 1860, died Deacon Zenas Eaton, aged 63, 
 eon of Deacon Jacob. This same year the church received the noble
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 209 
 
 donation of $2,000 from Mrs. E. E. Wiley, widow of Edmund E. 
 Wiley, daughter of the late Adam Hawkes, Esq., and now the wife ot 
 Rev. Horace Eaton. 
 
 In 1863, Rev. Mr. Phillips resigned his pastorate. Mr. Phillips, 
 with a shade of melancholy in his temperament, was a devoted student; 
 had an uncommon share of metaphysical taste and acumen ; was fond 
 of minute and extended investigations, that were less calculated to in- 
 terest the masses than more condensed and animated addresses. He 
 was noted for his discreet and exemplary deportment. His daily Chris- 
 tian life won the respect of all who knew him ; and his affectionate 
 sympathy with the suffering and bereaved has left tender memories in 
 many hearts. He is now (1873) settled in Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 Eleventh minister was George Bullen, who was settled in 1864, and 
 resigned his pastorate in 1866, on account of a disorder in his throat, 
 which had prevented him from preaching for some time. Mr. Bullen 
 was a native of Maine, and a nephew of the missionary Boardman. He 
 had enlarged his acquaintance with men and manners, by a visit to 
 Europe ; had been chaplain in the United States Army in the war of the 
 Rebellion ; was an ardent patriot, an earnest preacher, and a kind coun- 
 sellor. He was distinguished for his prudence and equanimity ; of cheer- 
 ful and happy temperament, equally remote from austerity and frivolity. 
 His pastorate was marked by cordiality and harmony in his church. 
 Mr. Bullen is now (1873) settled in Pawtucket, R. I. 
 
 Twelfth minister was James W. Wilmarth, who was settled in 1867, 
 resigned on account of ill-health in 1869, and afterwards settled in 
 New Jersey, where he remained in 1873. Mr. Wilmarth's pastorate 
 was interrupted by want of health ; but as a religious teacher he ap- 
 peared to possess a more than ordinarily distinct and comprehensive 
 view of the great principles of the Gospel, and the true building of the 
 Christian church, and his discourses, delivered without reading, were 
 remarkable for their natural ease, directness, and the attention and 
 interest which they secured. 
 
 May 10, 1868, the church celebrated the Semi-centennial Anniversary 
 of its Sunday School, which school is now, as it has been in the past, 
 large and flourishing. 
 
 April 9, 1871, Edward Mansfield resigned his office of Superintendent 
 of the Sabbath School, having officiated in that capacity for twenty- 
 three consecutive years, to a day. 
 
 June 21, 1871. The second meeting-house, erected by this church 
 and society, was destroyed by an incendiary fire. The corner-stone of 
 the new church building was laid Aug. 22, 1871. The new building 
 27
 
 2io GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 was dedicated Dec. n, 1872. (For accurate description of this build- 
 ing, see Chapter XII of this History.) 
 
 While the new church building was being erected, the congregation 
 worshipped in the Town Hall for the period of one year, and held ser- 
 vices in the vestry of their new church for the first time, on June 23, 
 1872. 
 
 Rev. Richard M. Nott, from Illinois, commenced his labors as pas- 
 tor, on the first Sabbath in August, 1872, and still continues. 
 
 From the pastorate of Mr. Wilmarth to that of Mr. Nott, a space 
 of nearly three years, the church enjoyed a variety of preaching, by 
 supplies, and a continued and even increased interest in weekly relig- 
 ious meetings, two, instead of one, being regularly attended since their 
 inauguration. A special blessing accompanied the labors of the 
 church in its destitution of a pastor ; during that time forty-eight were 
 added to its membership. At this time (Oct. 1873) it has 280 mem- 
 bers. 
 
 The church has approbated for the work of the ministry seven of its 
 members, namely : George Evans, Jonas Evans, Francis Smith, Still- 
 man Jewett, William L. Brown, Frederick Wiley, and Alfred S. Stowell, 
 three of whom have deceased. 
 
 It has been served by six deacons, namely : Jacob Eaton, David 
 Smith, Martin Stowell, Manning Winchell Sullivan, Albert G. Sweetser, 
 and Edward Mansfield ; the first four of whom have deceased. 
 
 UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF SOUTH READING, NOW WAKEFIELD. 
 
 This society was organized April 29, 1813. It had preaching much 
 of the time, although it had no settled minister for several years. 
 
 The first pastor was John C. Newell, who was settled in 1833, and 
 labored two years. The society was quite fortunate in securing as 
 their first permanent pastor, such a man as Mr. Newell ; he possessed 
 good natural abilities, was of easy address, was well cultivated in liter- 
 ature, familiar with the Scriptures, and having studied theology a con- 
 siderable time with Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Boston, was one of the few 
 men who have the gift to preach extemporaneously, and are aflle to 
 make their pulpit efforts result in a permanent success. His excellent 
 qualities of mind and heart greatly endeared him to his numerous 
 friends and acquaintances, whose friendship he appreciated, and whose 
 hearts were made sad by his early departure. He died Nov. 17, 1836, 
 aged 41 years. 
 
 Second pas-tor was H. W. Morse, who preached on each alternate
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 211 
 
 Sabbath, during the year 1836. The place of worship at this time was 
 the Town Hall, which was usually well filled. 
 
 Third pastor was Henry Jewell, who was installed here in 1837. He 
 left in 1840 to take charge of the Second Universalist Society in Lynn. 
 Mr. Jewell was a ready, fluent, and earnest speaker, and possessed 
 great social and colloquial gifts. In 1839 the society erected a neat 
 and convenient church, on land bordering on the Common, at an ex- 
 pense of five thousand dollars, which was dedicated in November of 
 the same year ; the sermon was preached by the Rev. T. Whittemore, 
 of Boston. 
 
 Fourth pastor was Henry Lyon, who preached during the year 1840. 
 He removed to Williamsburg, N. Y., where he preached for many 
 years, and was afterwards long and favorably known as the publishing 
 agent of the " Ambassador," and the publisher of Universalist books 
 in New York city. By his constant industry and devotion, by his 
 gentlemanly bearing, his Christian temper and accommodating spirit, 
 his pleasant smile and truly religious character, he endeared himself to 
 all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He died in Williams- 
 burg, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1866, aged 52. 
 
 Fifth pastor was Stillman Barden, who was settled in 1841 ; left in 
 1842. Mr. Barden, as a man and a citizen, enjoyed, in large measure, 
 the respect and esteem of his friends and acquaintances, for his kind- 
 ness of heart, his urbanity of manners, and the interest he manifested 
 in all the instrumentalities and reforms of the age, and his desire to 
 improve and elevate the condition of mankind. He was ardently en- 
 gaged in the cause of temperance, upon which he lectured and labored 
 to the close of life. He died at Rockport, Mass., Aug. 7, 1865. 
 
 Sixth pastor was John H. Willis, who was called in April, 1842. His 
 pastorate continued until December, 1845. 
 
 Seventh pastor was Alexander Hichborn, who was installed in June, 
 1846, and resigned in November, 1848. Mr. Hichborn was a man of 
 superior native talents, a fertile imagination, of good intellectual cul- 
 ture, and, as a writer and preacher, for rhetoric, logic, and eloquence 
 had few equals. He entered the Union army in 1862, as an assistant 
 surgeon, and died in 1863 ; thus giving his life for the safety of his 
 country 
 
 Eighth pastor was John H. Moore, who was settled in 1849, at a 
 salary of $600. In 1853 he received a call from the society in Stam- 
 ford, Conn. He left in July, 1853. He is now (1868) settled in Warren, 
 Mass., over the same society which he left to accept the invitation 
 from South Reading, in 1849.
 
 212 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Ninth pastor was Benton Smith, who was settled in 1854. He re- 
 signed in 1858. 
 
 Tenth pastor was E. A. Eaton, who was settled in 1858, at a salary 
 of $1,250. 
 
 In 1859 the society enlarged and remodelled their church edifice at 
 an expense of $6,000. It was re-dedicated in July of the same year. 
 
 Mr. Eaton resigned in October, 1865, and removed to Boston. 
 
 Eleventh pastor was William W. Hayward, who was installed in 
 1865, and resigned in 1870. 
 
 Twelfth pastor was William F. Potter, who was settled in 1870, and 
 still continues (1873). 
 
 NORTH PARISH. 
 
 The Second, or North Parish, now North Reading, was incorporated 
 in 1713, and a church in connection therewith was organized soon 
 after, which was the second church of old Reading. Their first minis- 
 ter was Daniel Putnam, who commenced preaching to this church as 
 early as 1718, but was ordained June 29, 1720. The church, at the 
 time of his ordination, consisted of thirty-nine members. Mr. Putnam 
 was a native of Danvers, son of Benjamin, of the same place, died at 
 Reading, June 20, 1759, in his sixty-third year. Was a graduate of 
 Harvard College in 1717. 
 
 The second minister was Eliab Stone, who was ordained May^ 20, 
 1761 ; died Aug. 31, 1822, in the eighty-sixth year of his age and sixty- 
 second of his ministry. Mr. Stone was graduated at Harvard College 
 in 1758. 
 
 Third minister, Cyrus Peirce, ordained as colleague with Rev. Mr. 
 Stone, May 19, 1819. Dismissed, May 19, 1827. Mr. Peirce was 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1810. He was a fine scholar, a pleas- 
 ant speaker, and learned writer. After leaving Reading, he engaged in 
 teaching, in which profession he was very successful and popular. 
 
 Fourth minister, Jacob Weed Eastman. Installed Nov. 19, 1828. 
 Left 1832 or '33. Mr. Eastman received the honorary degree of A. M. 
 from Dartmouth College in 1822. 
 
 Fifth minister, James D. Lewis. Ordainad June 4, 1834. Left 
 May 10, 1836. Was a graduate of Yale College in 1828. He died in 
 
 1854. 
 
 Sixth minister, John Orcutt. Ordained July 12, 1837. Left April 
 19, 1842. 
 
 Seventh minister, Ephraim W. Allen. Ordained May 17, 1843. 
 Was a graduate of Amherst College in 1838. 
 
 Eighth minister, T. N. Jones. Installed Oct. 19, 1853. Died in 1869.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 213 
 
 List of Deacons of the First Church in North Reading. 
 
 Thomas Taylor, elected 1720. Jeremiah Eaton, elected 1774. 
 
 John Harnden, " 1722. Henry Putnam, " 1778. 
 
 Wm. Flint, " 1727. John Swain, " 1791. 
 
 Thos. Hutchinson, " 1732. Daniel Flint, " 1807. 
 
 Ebenezer Walcott, " 1736. Thomas Rayner, " 1815. 
 
 John Burnap, " 1748. Addison Flint, " 1833. 
 
 Daniel Putnam, " 1754. Joseph II. Eaton, " 1845. 
 
 Amos Upton, " 1762. Daniel Flint, " 1861. 
 
 The first meeting-house in the North Parish was built or commenced 
 in 1717 ; it stood on the Common, near the present site of the Town 
 Hall, and was used for a church until 1752. It was afterwards removed, 
 and used as a schpol-house by Dr. Herrick, and as a grocery by Mary 
 Herrick, and, at length, became the property of Dea. Jeremiah Eaton, 
 who used it as a shop, and was in use as a cabinet-shop as late as 1844 
 by Wm. Eaton, its timbers still sound, although some of them were 
 poplar. 
 
 The second meeting-house was built in 1752 ; was 48 feet long by 36 
 feet wide, and 22 feet stud, and stood near the site of the first meeting- 
 house, and was occupied as a church until the erection of the third 
 house, when it was sold to Joseph Jeffrey, who removed it and made a 
 barn of it. 
 
 The third meeting-house was erected in 1829, on or near the spot 
 occupied by its predecessor^, where it still stands. This house was 
 occupied by the united parish society until about 1836, when it was 
 found that a majority of the society were Universalists, who were dis- 
 posed to settle a minister of their own faith. Whereupon the Orthodox 
 portion of the church and society retired from the parish church, that 
 some of them had contributed to build, and erected in 1836 the new 
 meeting-house which they still use. 
 
 The Universalists, who were left the undisputed proprietors of the 
 old parish meeting-house, in connection with the town, that became, by 
 purchase, part owner thereof, remodelled the house, and fitted up the 
 lower story for a town hall and the upper story for public worship, for 
 which purposes it is still used. 
 
 The clergymen who have ministered for longer or. shorter terms to 
 the Universalist society, have been : Rev. Mr. Marston, Rev. Mr. Gris- 
 wold, Rev. Samuel Bennett, Rev. Horace Morse, Rev. G. B. Emerson, 
 Rev. Earl Guilford, and perhaps others.
 
 214 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF NORTH READING.. 
 
 This society was formed March, 1817, and the church was constituted 
 April 16, 1817, with 24 members. This society encountered consider- 
 able qpposition during a few of the early years of its history. Its 
 members worshipped at first in a district school-house, which stood 
 upon land owned by one of the members of the society. Soon, how- 
 ever, the district caused the house to be removed from " Baptist to 
 Congregational soil," and prohibited the further use of it by the society, 
 for religious meetings. Thereafter, until the erection of their first 
 meeting-house, they held their meetings at private houses, chiefly at 
 those of Eliab Parker, Sr., and of Eliab Parker, Jr., the latter of whom 
 fitted up a hall for the purpose. Their meetings were sometimes dis- 
 turbed by- the opposers. One of their members, having "signed off" 
 from the older society, and having refused to pay a parish tax, was 
 prosecuted, and his property seized and sold at public auction. But 
 time, patience, and forbearance soon disarmed the opposition, and con- 
 verted foes into friends and supporters. 
 
 In 1828 their first meeting-house was built, at a cost of $3,000. 
 
 First pastor, J. M. Driver, who was ordained Oct. 8, 1828, the new 
 meeting-house being dedicated at the same time. Mr. Driver labored 
 successfully nine months, and then left. 
 
 Second pastor, George Matthews. Ordained January, 1830. Left 
 in May, 1834. 
 
 Third pastor, William Heath. Settled June, 1836. Left, 1841. 
 Mr. Heath was a graduate of Dart. Coll. in 1826 ; married Sarah A., 
 daughter of Burrage Yale, Esq., of Wakefield ; had been one of the 
 earliest teachers in South Reading Academy ; was a gentleman of high 
 respectability ; not an eloquent speaker, but possessed of fair talents as 
 a scholar and writer. He was a good pastor ; looked well after the 
 secular as well as spiritual interests of his flock ; " and under his wise 
 counsels the society thrived, increased in numbers, and became a thing 
 of power." He subsequently settled in South Reading (now Wake- 
 field), and engaged in business pursuits. He died in 1869, in his 7oth 
 year. 
 
 Fourth pastor, J. Holbrook. Settled July, 1841. Left April, 1842. 
 
 Fifth pastor, J-. N. Sykes. Ordained August, 1842. Left Octo- 
 ber, 1843. 
 
 Sixth pastor, Benjamin Knight. Settled April, 1845. Left Novem- 
 ber, 1846.
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 215 
 
 Seventh pastor, F. E. Cleaves. Settled May, 1847. Left January, 
 1851. 
 
 Eighth pastor, A. C. Bronson. Settled June, 1851. Left Novem- 
 ber, 1854. 
 
 Ninth pastor, E. W. Pray. Settled February, 1855. Left July, 
 
 1857- 
 
 Tenth pastor, VV. K. Davy. Settled . Left, 1868. 
 
 Eleventh pastor, A. W. Ashley. 
 
 In April, 1860, their first meeting-house was destroyed by fire. Their 
 second church edifice was erected in . 
 
 The deacons of this church have been as follows : Oliver Emerson, 
 ordained 1830; Eliab Parker, Jr., ordained 1830; Joseph Cook, or- 
 dained 1850 ; Geo. K. Parker. 
 
 The licentiates of this church have been: Wm. Bowen, licensed 
 1820 ; Oliver Emerson, Jr., licensed 1835 > ^- W. Hewes, licensed 
 1840; H. M. Emerson, licensed 1858; G. S. Abbott, licensed 1860; 
 Forrest F. Emerson, licensed 1867. 
 
 Eliab Parker, Jr., Esq., referred to above as one of the earliest dea- 
 cons of this church, was long an eminent and most useful citizen of 
 North Reading. He died suddenly, in the midst of life and useful- 
 ness, Jan. 26, 1850. His death was a heavy stroke to this young 
 church. " To the church and Sabbath school, over which he had been 
 for more than twenty years a model deacon and superintendent, his loss 
 seemed at first irreparable. Assiduous in the discharge of Christian 
 duty, punctual and exact in business, he served the Lord in the abund- 
 ance of his means, with strict fidelity and zeal. His duties were only 
 to be known to be done. His short sickness of twelve hours was peace. 
 His end was that of the righteous. Resting from his labors, his works 
 'do follow him.' 
 
 " ' Earth seems more sweet to live upon, 
 More full of love, because of him." " 
 
 OLD SOUTH CHURCH. 
 
 The church now called the " Old South Church, of Reading," for- 
 merly called the "West Parish Church," was organized in 1770. 
 
 First minister was Thomas Haven, who was ordained Nov. 7, 1770, 
 and died May 7* 1782, aged 38 years. 
 
 Mr. Haven was graduated at Harvard College in 1765. Little is 
 known of his life and labors. Tradition ascribes to him the character 
 of a mild, amiable, and cultivated man. He passed away early from his
 
 2i6 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 professional work, and, so far as is known, left no printed productions 
 of his pen, excepting one sermon, preached at the ordination of Mr. 
 Jacob Burnap (a native of Reading), at Merrimack, N. H., in 1772. 
 His ordination sermon by the Rev. Mr. Turner, of Duxbury, was pub- 
 lished and is extant. The Rev. Mr. Prentiss, of the First Parish, 
 Wakefield, left this brief notice of his death: "1782, May 7, I 
 prayed with my friend, Mr. Haven, of the West Parish, this morning, 
 and was with him when he died at 10 A. M., of -consumption." His 
 grave, and that of his wife, who died at the age of 22, are in the burial- 
 ground of his own Parish. The last living link, connecting him with 
 the present generation, was Mrs. Hannah (Bancroft) Brown, whom he 
 baptized Jan. 20, 1771. She was the second infant baptized by him, 
 and her funeral was attended by Dr. Barrows, Feb. 27, 1861. 
 
 Second pastor, Rev. Peter Sanborn. Ordained June 9, 1790. 
 Dismissed June 7, 1820. He was the tenth child of William and Mary 
 (Sleeper) Sanborn, and was born at Kingston, N. H., Aug. 13, 1766, 
 and was graduated at Dartmouth College, 1786, in a class of twenty- 
 five. Of these, ten became ministers of the Gospel. He studied 
 theology with the Rev. Ephraim Judson, of Taunton, Mass., and 
 preached his first sermon in Dighton, May 24, 1778, and his first in 
 Reading in 1789. A strong Arminian influence in the Society, and the 
 refusal of three men, previously called, to settle in it, because a difficult 
 field, and the fact as stated by him to the Rev. Dr. Barrows, that he 
 was, as he believed, the thirty-second candidate, led Mr. Sanborn to 
 consider his call nine months before acceptance. The ordaining coun- 
 cil was lengthy and stormy, as between the Calvinistic and Arminian 
 theologies, and crowded the ordination of the young Hopkinsian into 
 the candle-light of that long June day. His ministry, and specially 
 till past 1810, was one of marked power. For special seasons of in- 
 terest, three revivals signalized it, the most noted of which was n 
 1810, when for a term there was not a house in the town in which at 
 least one praying person could not be found, and but few families that 
 did not have family worship. As a preacher Mr. Sanborn was ardent, 
 and in his earlier years, very impressive. Three of his revival sermons 
 are in print ; also one preached before the Mass. Missionary Society, 
 in 1815; The Right Hand of Fellowship, at the Installation of the 
 Rev. Reuben Emerson, over the First Parish, Wakefield, 1804 ; and an 
 Anti-Masonic Address delivered in Reading, 1829. Mr. Sanborn was 
 twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Stimpson, adopted 
 daughter of Daniel Chute, Esq., of Reading, married May 26, 1798,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 217 
 
 and had, by this union, nine children. After her decease, Oct. 15, 
 1818, he married, in 1819, Miss Martha Wakefield, by which new 
 alliance five children were added to his house. She died May 2, 1847. 
 He died Aug. 8, 1857, in the same house where he began his home in 
 Reading, sixty-seven years before. Two sons in the ministry still live, 
 the Rev. Pliny F., of Bloomfield, New York, and the Rev. George 
 Edward, of Northborough, Mass. His funeral sermon, which was 
 published, was preached by the Rev. Lyman Whiting, D. D. 
 
 Third pastor, the Rev. Samuel Green. Ordained Sept. 20, 1820. 
 Dismissed March 26, 1823. Mr. Green was graduated at Harvard 
 College, 1816 ; studied theology for a term at the Andover Theological 
 Seminary, and finished his preparatory divinity course in 1819, while 
 tutor at Bowdoin College. His ministry in Reading was short, but 
 powerful for good, and many still remember his tender spirit and faith- 
 ful labors in Christ. In November, 1822, the Union Church, Essex 
 Street, Boston, invited him to become their pastor. His people strongly 
 and affectionately declined to give him up. But a renewal of the 
 call prevailed, and he was installed in his new field, March 26, 1823. 
 For ten years he labored at that conspicuous post, and with great 
 energy and success and acceptance. As a result his health failed, and 
 he went abroad to regain it ; but in vain. He died in Boston, Nov. 20, 
 1834. 
 
 His principal publications were, a sermon before the Mass. Society 
 for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1827 ; a Memorial Sermon, at 
 Plymouth, Dec. 22, 1828; and "More than one hundred Arguments in 
 proof of the Supreme Divinity of Jesus Christ." 
 
 As a preacher he handled the great doctrines of the Gospel ; he was 
 direct, simple, earnest, holy, and impressive in the pulpit ; he labored 
 from house to house ; with the afflicted he was tender, yet faithful, 
 being governed by a mild and sweet affection. When fifteen years of 
 age he became an apprentice as a mason and bricklayer, choosing this 
 trade as it would give him the long winters for study ; and till within 
 a few years, an old brick house has been standing in the southern part 
 of the town, where he handled the trowel and brick and mortar in its 
 erection. God promoted him- to be a skilful master-builder on His 
 spiritual temple. The Rev. Dr. R. S, Storrs prepared his Memoirs, 
 published in 1836. 
 
 Fourth pastor, the Rev. Jared Reid. Ordained Oct. 8, 1823, Dis- 
 missed June 12, 1833. 
 
 Fifth pastor, the Rev. Aaron Pickett. Installed Sept. 25, 1833. 
 Dismissed April 3, 1850. Mr. Pickett was born in Sandisfield, Mass., 
 28
 
 2i8 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 July 15, 1792. He entered Union College as a sophomore, and was 
 graduated with the class of 1818. He studied theology with the Rev. 
 Drs. Lansing, of Auburn, N. Y., and Fay, of Charlestown, Mass. On 
 account of feeble health he spent some years in teaching, preaching 
 occasionally. During this time he supplied the pulpit at West Stock- 
 bridge for some months, and at Boxboro' for two years. He was 
 ordained June 23, 1826, and installed at Cohasset, Mass., in 1827, 
 where he remained for six years. He was settled in Reading in 1833, 
 and bad a pastorate here of seventeen years. He was then dismissed 
 and installed in his native town, Jan. 22, 1851, and remained a pastor 
 there till his death, Jan. 10, 1866. Mr. Pickett was a familiar, earnest, 
 and devout preacher and pastor, with the leading purpose to honor 
 Christ in the Gospel ministry, and he was much blessed in his labors. 
 His publications were two Funeral Sermons : one of Mrs. Lathrop, of 
 Cohasset ; and the other of Mrs. Bennett, the wife of the Rev. Joseph 
 Bennett, of Woburn, Mass. 
 
 Sixth pastor, the Rev. Lyman Whiting, D. t>. Installed Jan. i, 
 1851. Dismissed Nov. i, 1855. Mr. Whiting was born in North 
 Brookfield, Mass., April 28, 1817; entered Amherst College in Octo- 
 ber, 1835, and left, on failure of health, in the second year. He then 
 studied in private and at Harvard College ; entered the Theological 
 Seminary, 1839, and was graduated at Andover in 1842. He was 
 married to Sophia E. Chamberlain, of Westboro', Jan. 5, 1843, and 
 ordained colleague pastor with the Rev. Micah Stone, son of the Rev. 
 Eliab Stone, of North Reading, over the Evangelical Congregational 
 Church, in Brookfield, South Parish, Jan. n, 1843. January, 1847, he 
 was called to preach in Lawrence, Mass. ; aided in organizing the 
 First Congregational church there, and in erecting the Lawrence Street 
 meeting-house, and was installed pastor June 6, 1847. He was dis- 
 missed Jan. 16, 1849, and by a "unanimous vote" called to the pastor- 
 ate of the Second, or Central Church, Lawrence, Oct. 5, 1850. This 
 was declined, and a call to the Old South Church, in Reading, was 
 preferred, over which he was installed Jan. i, 1851. He was dismissed 
 by a council that installed him pastor of the North Church, Portsmouth, 
 N. H., Nov. i, 1855. From thence he was called to the Park Presby- 
 terian Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.,in November, 1858. He removed there, 
 but did not consummate the call, and in December, 1859, he became 
 the pastor of the High Street Church, Providence. In 1864 he was 
 called to the Congregational Church, Dubuque, Iowa. The honorary 
 degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Mr. Whiting by Iowa 
 College in 1868.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 219 
 
 As a preacher. Dr. Whiting is clear, compact, doctrinal, and practical, 
 in happy combination with a warm, animated style. His publications 
 have been : Dedication, Ordination, Funeral and Commemorative Ser- 
 mons ; Addresses, religious and secular; Articles in the North Ameri- 
 can and other Reviews, and joint editorial work in the " Iowa News 
 Letter." 
 
 Seventh pastor, the Rev. William Barrows, D. D. Installed Feb. 
 20, 1856. Dismissed May 6, 1869. William Barrows, son of 
 William and Asenath [Osborn] Barrows, the eighth of ten chil- 
 dren, and the youngest of five sons, was born in New Braintree, 
 Mass., Sept. 19, 1815. After preparation at Phillips Academy, 
 Andover, and entering Amherst College in 1836, he was graduated 
 there in 1840. Teaching in Virginia and Missouri for three years, he 
 studied theology in the Union Theological Seminary for two years, 
 preached his first sermon in Templeton, Aug. 4, 1844, and was ordained 
 and installed in Norton, Sept. 4, 1845. He was dismissed from the 
 pastorate in Norton, June 4, 1850, to settle over the Church of Christ 
 in Grantville, Needham, where he was installed Aug. 22, 1850. Thence 
 he was called by the Old South Church and Society, Reading. Having 
 been dismissed from the pastoral charge in Grantville, Jan. 22, 1856, 
 he became the pastor of this church by acts of council, Feb. 20, 1856, 
 and was dismissed May 6, 1869, to enter on the duties of Secretary of 
 the Congregational Sabbath School and Publishing Society. The 
 honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Mr. Barrows 
 by his own alma mater in 1867. The preaching of Dr. Barrows is 
 simple, doctrinal, direct, dense and brief in style, scholarly and popu- 
 lar, with the manner of a quiet earnestness. He has won a large place 
 in the hearts of his people as a familiar and genial pastor, and has 
 gained the reputation for eminent aptness in the sick-room and on 
 funeral occasions. In his leisure hours from professional calls, he has 
 used an industrious pen for the public. In addition to extensive cor- 
 respondence with the leading religious newspapers, he has published 
 five sermons : Ministerial Freedom, the closing sermon at Norton, 
 1850; Future Punishment Constitutional, 1852; Our War and Our 
 Religion, their Harmony, 1862 ; The War and Slavery, and their 
 Relations to each other, 1862 ; Honor to the Brave, 1863. Also, Alcohol 
 and the Commonwealth in Permanent Temperance Documents, 1851 ; 
 India, Ancient and Modern ; The High School Policy of Mass. ; and 
 Immigration, in the New Englander, 1857-8; Romanism and a Free 
 Bible, Bibliotheca Sacra, 1860 ; Moses and the Geologists, Am. Theol. 
 Review, 1860 ; Cyprian's ^Letter to Fidus ; Future Punishment and
 
 220 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Natural Laws, the Latin Vulgate ; The American Board and its Review- 
 ers ; Regeneration not by Resolution ; Life and Times of Herod the 
 Great ; The Rabbis, the Mischna, and the Talmuds ; Dr. Bushnell's 
 Vicarious Sacrifice ; Jewish Baptisms, and fifteen other Articles in 
 The Boston and Congregational Review, of which Dr. Barrows was 
 one of the founders and editors for seven years. Also, Raffling and 
 Charity Fairs ; Am. Tract Society, Boston ; and Twelve Nights in The 
 Hunters' Camp, an outline Memoir of his Brother, Willard Barrows, 
 1869 
 
 Dr. Barrows has been twice married: in June, 1845, to Miss Lucia 
 Amanda Case, who died Dec. 6, 1847 ; and to Miss Elizabeth Adams 
 Gate, in October, 1849. 
 
 List of Deacons in the Old South Church, Reading. 
 
 Jonathan Temple, chosen March i, 17705 Samuel Bancroft, chosen 
 March i, 1770; Timothy Pratt, Jr., chosen July 8, 1778 ; James Ban- 
 croft, chosen May 6, 1784; John Temple, chosen March 12, 1795 ; 
 Benjamin Pratt, chosen March 19, 1795 ; Daniel Temple, chosen Dec. 
 18, 1811 ; Jonathan Baldwin, chosen Aug. 23, 1821 ; Caleb Wakefield, 
 chosen Aug. 23, 1821; Jabez D. Parker, chosen Sept. 21, 1826; 
 Charles Temple, chosen Oct. 29, 1829 ; Geo. Baldwin, chosen May 5, 
 1836; Thomas H. Sweetser, chosen Feb. 27, 1851 ; Edgar Damon, 
 chosen Feb. 27, 1851 ; James J. Shute, chosen Feb. 27, 1851 ; Edward 
 E. Pratt, chosen Jan. 6, 1853 ; Henry A. Emerson, chosen Jan. 13, 
 1859 ; Oliver Wallace, chosen Sept. 4, 1862 ; James Kimball, chosen 
 Jan. 7, 1869 ; T. Tolman Briggs, chosen Jan. 7, 1869. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE LIBERAL CHURCH IN READING, MASS. 
 
 Passing by the many influences that reach every community in our 
 land, through liberal publications, occasional lectures and sermons, we 
 notice the first organized effort towards a practical, outward, tangible 
 demonstration of advanced religious ideas in this town, in the forma- 
 tion of the Third Congregational Society, April 2, 1827 ; for the pur- 
 pose, as expressed in the agreement or compact, " Of promoting 
 pure and evangelical principles of practical religion and morality." 
 The original members forming this Society numbered forty-six, as fol- 
 lows : Edmund Parker, Joshua Prescott, Nehemiah Bancroft, Thomas 
 Hartshorn, Silas Smith, Chas. Parker, Miah Bancroft, Samuel Parker, 
 James Davis, John Nichols, David Nichols, Joseph D. Baker, Leon- 
 ard Eames, Daniel Gould, Jr., Sam'l Holden, Timothy N. Brown, 
 Gould Parker, Warren Aborn, Sumner Pratt, Jepthah Brown, Eben E.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 221 
 
 Eames, John Aborn, Thompson Coggin, John Abbott, John Emerson, 
 Jr., Seth Sweetser, Jacob Hartshorn, John Mclntire, Cleaveland B. 
 Holt, Bowman Viles, Geo. Batchelder, B. C. Sanborn, John Steel, 
 Joshua Damon, Joseph Boutwell, John Emerson, John Temple, Thos. 
 Richardson, Nehemiah Clay, Eben Aborn, Elijah Hewes, Charles Spin- 
 ney, Elliot Spinney, Joseph B. Fairbanks, Joseph Bancroft. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Sanborn offered to said society land near the spot 
 now occupied by the house of Dr. Brown, for the purpose of erect- 
 ing a building which would meet the needs of the society for their 
 public worship, provided a portion of said building should be set 
 apart and used for an Academy or High School. The offer was 
 accepted, and the church edifice or building was erected in 1827, the 
 upper portion being used by the society, and the lower floor devoted to 
 a school. 
 
 Edmund Parker, Esq., who was one of the leading men in this liberal 
 movement, being a member of the State Legislature from Reading for 
 the winter of 1827 and '28, succeeded in obtaining a special act of 
 incorporation, under which the society was duly organized May 7, 1828. 
 Many noted preachers were frequently heard by the earnest, large- 
 hearted people that composed the congregations gathered from Sabbath 
 to Sabbath in the humble edifice, and among those who were more 
 than occasional preachers, we find Rev. Mr. Barbery holding for a 
 while the pastorship, till, n 1830, death dissolved the connection. 
 Then there seem to have been a number of preachers laboring fora few 
 months each, among them Rev. Dr. Peabody and Rev. Mr. Robertson, 
 till 1833, when Rev. Mr. Damon became their pastor, and continued 
 till 1835. From that date the society had no settled pastor, and we 
 find by the records a vote was passed at a meeting held May 28, 1838, 
 to unite with the Second Universalist Society, organized at that time, 
 the First Universalist Society, holding their meetings in the North 
 Parish, since set off into a township and known as North Reading. As 
 a result of the union above stated, a vote was passed to settle Rev. Chas. 
 Gallagher, and from that date the two societies merged into one, and 
 took the name of the "Second I niversalist Society" of Reading. Rev. 
 G. G. Strickland became their pastor in 1840, and continued till 1843, 
 when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Waitt ; and his preaching, with 
 occasional sermons, is all the record gives for a few years then the 
 building was vacated by both society and school, sold and transformed 
 into a dwelling-house, now owned and occupied by Gould Richardson, 
 Esq., standing near the original location, the land reverting to the San- 
 born estate.
 
 222 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 But the movement was not dead, only intrusted to the care of those 
 who never let a good cause die. The " Liberal Ladies' Benevolent 
 Association," dating their existence from May 14, 1840, has labored 
 with untiring diligence to maintain and advance those truths, and to 
 perform that work which spring naturally from a firm belief in the love 
 of Our Father, so beautifully illustrated in the life and teachings of 
 Jesus Christ. Composed of persons holding different shades of opin- 
 ion on many points, yet allowing to each perfect freedom of thought, 
 with concert in action, their history is a remarkable testimony to the 
 efficacy of those ideas that enlarge and develop us into the full stature 
 of manhood. Always first in any forward movement to sustain and 
 encourage the promulgation of truth, they assisted in keeping the 
 Second Universalist Society in being, and after that expired they pro- 
 cured the services of preachers and lecturers occasionally, until their 
 efforts, with others, culminated in the formation of a new organization 
 in the year 1856, which took the name of the " First Universalist 
 Society," of Reading, holding their meetings in Lyceum Hall, and call- 
 ing for their pastor Rev. N. R. Wright, who labored with them success- 
 fully for two years ; during that time he held the confidence and affec- 
 tion of the society with great unanimity, and with deep regret the part- 
 ing came. Rev. L. M. Burrington was his successor, who was called 
 to a larger society after two and one half years' labor. 
 
 Then came the war ; many members from the society were absent on 
 the battle-fields, weakening the ranks at home, and with South Reading 
 the society shared the services of Rtv. E. A. Eaton, till 1865, holding 
 meetings in Ellsworth Hall ; after which the two societies secured the 
 services of Rev. W. W. Hayward, who labored with them till the fall of 
 1867. The society again removed to Lyceum Hall, and after hearing 
 many good sermons from as many good men, the executive committee 
 fortunately secured the services of Rev. E. B. Fairchild in the spring 
 of 1868 for the afternoon service, the morning being devoted to the 
 liberal people of Stoneham. That connection still exists, and to it the 
 society owes its present prosperity and position. Mr. Fairchild, being 
 an independent preacher, drew from other churches many that kept 
 away from the Universalists proper ; and as the Universalist State 
 Organization had engrafted a by-law into their platform of government, 
 which practically disfellowshipped the Reading Society, there seemed 
 no other course to pursue than to form an independent organization, 
 which was formally done April 26, 1869, with a basic platform broad 
 enough for all to stand upon, contained in the following words, namely : 
 "A belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Humanity
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 223 
 
 as taught by Jesus Christ, and acknowledging him as Our Teacher and 
 Guide. Considering this belief a sufficient bond of union, we hereby 
 associate ourselves together under the name of " The Christian Union." 
 To this creed or belief many members of the old organization sub- 
 scribed, and many from other sources who had been patiently working 
 and waiting, till at present a goodly number, male and female, are at 
 work, earnestly resolved to establish a church which shall be an expo- 
 nent of truth as revealed in all ages, applicable to the amelioration and 
 elevation of mankind. 
 
 Generous donations have been made to the building fund from 
 members of the Society, and numerous others resident in Reading and 
 elsewhere, testifying in tangible form to their real sympathy for, and 
 interest in the work. 
 
 The Building Committee Edward Safford, Wm. Proctor, L. E. 
 Gleason, S. M. Hall, James Reid, F. H. Knight, and C. D. Wright 
 were instructed to purchase a suitable location and erect thereon a 
 church edifice adapted to the present and prospective needs of the 
 Society. 
 
 They have purchased the land located near the Bank Building, and 
 have contracted with Mr. Edward Safford to erect the building, same 
 to be finished early in the summer of 1871, the corner-stone of which 
 was laid, with appropriate ceremonies, Oct. 6, 1870. 
 
 SALEM STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, READING. 
 
 Twenty-five years ago, a little company, who had hoped in the mercy 
 of God, residing in what was then known as West Reading, not having 
 full fellowship for the standing order, and believing that there was a 
 more excellent way for church building, felt impressed to commence 
 religious services after the manner that some in those days called 
 heresy. 
 
 Having held services for a short season in private dwellings, and 
 believing it beneficial to have a more public place for their meetings, it 
 was decided to make application for the hall which had formerly been 
 known as the Orthodox meeting-house, but which had been vacated by 
 them for a more convenient place of worship. For this purpose a com- 
 mittee was appointed, but on application to the owner of the land, to 
 know if there was anything in the way to prevent the Baptists having 
 the use of the hall, they were given to understand, if the Baptists 
 wished to hold meetings, they had better build them a meeting- 
 house. 
 
 In the course of a few weeks the school-house in the west part of the
 
 224 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 town was opened for meetings ; but soon a district meeting was called, 
 when it was voted to close the house against the sect which was every- 
 where spoken against. At the close of this meeting, a gentleman not 
 particularly interested for the Baptists, but who took a little broader 
 view than many in that day, said to the Moderator, " I think you have 
 made a mistake. I never thought they would have a society here, 
 but now I think they will have one." That gentleman is now one of 
 the most able men in the society, and has long been a member of 
 the church. 
 
 A private house was opened in the vicinity of the school-house, 
 belonging to a member of the parish of the standing order, who was 
 soon counselled not to open his doors for these people, lest mis- 
 chief should grow out of it. He, however, replied, " The house is 
 mine, and paid for ; and if they want to have meetings there, they are 
 welcome." 
 
 Finding there was a probability that the Baptists would get a footing 
 in the place, the next step was to buy out the leading man among them, 
 hoping he would thereby be induced to leave the place. For the ac- 
 complishment of this object, a very liberal offer was made, but the 
 stubborn Baptist would not sell. Another course was subsequently 
 taken, but the Baptists would not budge an inch. The Baptist children 
 attended the Sabbath school of the order, that being the only Sunday 
 school, and recited, as was the custom in those days, to the minister, 
 from the Assembly's Catechism. A revival of religion occurred about 
 this time. Among the rest, one of the Baptist's children indulged a 
 hope. Soon a tract on Sprinkling was put into her hands. ,As an off- 
 set for this act of kindness, she, without the knowledge of her father, 
 found " Pengilly on Baptism," and gave it to the friend who had mani- 
 fested so much interest for her. This little act produced a wonderful 
 effect upon the minds of many, so much so that the validity of infant 
 baptism was questioned among those who had received it themselves, 
 or had had it administered to their children ; while some, at least, who 
 retained their standing in the church, became fully satisfied that there 
 was no warrant in the Scriptures for infant baptism. So wide-spread 
 was this heresy, that several brethren in the ministry were requested to 
 visit the place and preach in defence of the practices of the church, 
 particularly infant baptism. 
 
 The result of spreading Pengilly 's silent pages before the people, 
 was an examination of the Scriptures on the subject of Believers' bap- 
 tism, the renunciation of former baptism by affusion, and the baptism 
 of some who were then members of the standing order, causing them
 
 OF THE TOWN OF RE ADI 'NG. 
 
 22$ 
 
 to sever their connection with them and unite with the Baotis's. Others, 
 who indulged hopes at the time, because of their family relations, did 
 not feel free to unite with the Baptists, and had refrained from making 
 a public profession of religion. 
 
 In July, 1832, a meeting was held at the house of Br. Amos Evans, 
 for the purpose of consulting upon the expediency of forming a Bap- 
 tist church. Br. Evans was called to preside. After spending a 
 season in prayer, the subject was discussed in a fraternal manner. At 
 an adjourned meeting, Bros. Evans and Hunnewell were appointed a 
 committee to obtain a room for the purpose of holding Baptist meet- 
 ings. The proprietors of the Unitarian house having learned of the 
 difficulty under which the Baptists labored, offered to them the use of 
 their hall for lectures on Sabbath and other evenings. This offer was 
 gratefully accepted ; for the use of which they paid $20. At a meeting 
 held August i4th, it was agreed to unite in forming a Baptist Church in 
 Reading, and a council for the purpose of recognizing them as a regular 
 Baptist Church, was called from the following churches, to convene on 
 the second Wednesday in September, at ten o'clock, A. M. : First Bap- 
 tist Church, in Salem ; Third Church, in Boston ; Churches in Maiden, 
 South Reading, Woburn, and North Reading. 
 
 The council convened at the house of Br. Amos Evans, where, after 
 prayer and mature deliberation, it was unanimously agreed to recognize 
 the following named persons as a regular Baptist Church, to wit : Amos 
 Evans, Eben Eaton, Timothy Temple, Seth Hunnewell, Abner Ban- 
 croft, Warren Richardson, Mary Weston, Cynthia Weston, Sarah P. 
 Brown, Hannah Berry, Elmira Symonds, Beulah Richardson, Mary 
 Pratt, Sally Pratt, Olivia Evans, Jonathan Pratt. Total, 16. 
 
 The public service of recognition was held in the Unitarian meeting- 
 house. Sermon by the Rev. Daniel Sharp, of Boston. The church 
 united with the Boston Association the same month. 
 
 Sept. 23, Mary Colburn and Caroline Wiley were unanimously re- 
 ceived for baptism, and were baptized by the Rev. Joshua Bradley, of 
 Ohio, in South Reading Pond, because there was much water there. 
 
 In May, 1833, an effort was made to raise funds for the purpose of 
 building a house of worship, but receiving no encouragement from 
 abroad, the subject was deferred to another year. 
 
 In 1834, the prejudice of the people so fav subsided that the Church 
 obtained permission to hold meetings in the West School-house, and 
 succeeded in securing the services of Br. Bohan P. Byram to preach 
 on the Lord's day. His labors were greatly blessed, to the encourage- 
 ment of God's people and the awakening of sinners. The subject 
 29
 
 226 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 of building was again agitated, but in consequence of a prostration of 
 business, it was again postponed. A year of peculiar trial to this little 
 band followed, but through faith they still persevered. 
 
 In July, 1835, Miss M. D. Symonds was baptized by Rev. I. Sawyer, 
 greatly to the encouragement of the church. Another young lady had 
 offered herself for baptism, and was accepted, when, having prepared 
 herself for the ordinance, and while on the way to the water, she was 
 overtaken by her father, who charged the good deacon, as he was 
 carrying her in his carriage, with stealing away his child, a charge the 
 deacon did by no means relish, as he abhors man-stealing even among 
 Afric's sons. The daughter returned home without being baptized, as 
 the brethren advised, but a few years afterwards united with the Baptist 
 church, in Boston. 
 
 The names of brethren in the ministry Train, Nelson, Ropes, and 
 others are held in grateful remembrance for sermons preached and 
 words of encouragement spoken to the little company, who were strug- 
 gling and trying to surmount the waves of opposition that rolled against 
 them. Many, it is true, had an itching desire to hear what these strange 
 men would say, but fear kept a portion of them away, while a few 
 would venture in and listen to the strange Baptist preachers. 
 
 In 1836 it was voted to build a house of worship, at an expense not 
 exceeding $2,500. Brothers E. Eaton, A. Bancroft, S. Hunnewell, A. 
 Evans, and T. Temple were appointed a building committee, and very 
 obedient were they to their instructions, the contract amounting to 
 twenty-four hundred ninety-nine dollars and twenty-one cents. 
 
 The meeting-house was dedicated in October of the same year. The 
 following was the order of services : Introductory prayer, by Rev. 
 William Heath; sermon, by Rev. Baron Stow, of Boston; prayer of 
 dedication, by Rev. Isaac Sawyer, of South Reading. In the same 
 month a Sabbath school was organized, numbering fifty children, be- 
 sides teachers, and a library of one hundred volumes was provided for 
 the use of the school. 
 
 March 17, 1837, Br. Jonathan Pratt died, aged 67 years, having pre- 
 viously buried his wife and daughter, who were members of this church. 
 On the day of his death he sent for the officers of the church and gave 
 them a note of ninety-eight dollars, for money he had advanced for the 
 meeting-house, over and above the shares he had previously taken in 
 said house, to be appropriated for the use of the church ; thus evincing 
 to the last the interest he had felt for their welfare. He lived a life cf 
 piety, and had hope in his death. 
 
 In April, 1837, this infant church had the pleasure of sending one
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 227 
 
 of its number Mrs. J. C. Pratt, formerly Miss Evans as a 
 missionary among the aborigines of our country, where she and her 
 husband still reside. 
 
 In the following June, Rev. Henry Smith was ordained as the first 
 pastor of the church. An interesting work of grace was enjoyed 
 during the ministry of Mr. Smith. Fourteen were added by baptism. 
 Mr. Smith resigned his office as pastor May 4, 1838. In September, 
 1841, Br. Thomas M. Symonds was licensed to preach the Gospel. 
 
 During 1841, Rev. O. Cunningham supplied the pulpit. 
 
 In 1842, Rev. I. Woodbury entered upon the pastoral duties of 
 the church. Eleven were added by baptism, and a number by letter, 
 during his ministry. 
 
 In 1843, R GV ' John Upton supplied the pulpit. Four were baptized 
 this year. 
 
 In 1845, Rev. J. G. Townsend became pastor. Five were added by 
 baptism during his pastorate. 
 
 In 1848, Rev. John Cookson was publicly recognized as pastor. 
 During the pastorate of Mr. Cookson, the meeting-house was enlarged 
 by the addition of sixteen pews. Eighteen were baptized, and several 
 received by letter during his pastorate, which he closed in 1852. 
 
 In 1851, Br. Thomas M. Symonds was publicly set apart, by the 
 laying on of hands, for the solemn work of preaching Christ, as a mis- 
 sionary at the West. This was the second missionary this church has 
 been privileged to send to the West. 
 
 For two years the church was destitute of a pastor. Two were 
 added by baptism. 
 
 In 1854, the church called the Rev. E. K. Fuller to the pastoral 
 office. He entered upon his duties the first of April, since which 
 time twelve have been added by baptism, and a number by letter. 
 There have been connected with this church, since its organization, 
 one hundred and sixty-three persons. Some, we believe, are now in 
 heaven, adoring the grace that constrained them to come to the 
 Saviour; others are connected with churches in other parts of the 
 world, and some, we fear, have made shipwreck of the faith. The 
 present number is seventy-seven. 
 
 The Sabbath school numbers 1 18, with a library of near 600 volumes. 
 
 During the last year we have raised the meeting-house, and completed 
 two very convenient vestries, at an expense of rising $1,200, for which 
 we are happy to say no debt lingers, to make us regret that we under- 
 took the work. Hitherto the Lord hath helped us, and our hope is 
 still in the God of Israel.
 
 228 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In closing this hasty sketch, we are happy to say that much of that 
 prejudice which formerly existed against the Baptists in this town has 
 passed away; so much so, that "material aid" has been voluntarily 
 contributed to the Baptist cause by individuals connected with all the 
 other societies in the town, for which we feel grateful, and would thank 
 God and take courage, saying, " In the time of trouble Thou heardst 
 us from Heaven, and according to Thy manifold mercies hath pros- 
 pered and brought us on our way. Therefore we will still trust in 
 Thee." 
 
 The officers of the church in 1857 were Rev. Edward K. Fuller, 
 pastor ; Amos Evans and Eben Eaton, deacons ; E. Eaton, treasurer, 
 and Newton Symonds, clerk. 
 
 The pastorate of Rev..E. K. Fuller closed in April, 1858. Rev. 
 A. M. Higgins commenced his labors in May, 1858, and resigned 
 the pastorate in March, 1859. Three were added by baptism during 
 his ministry. In May, 1859, Rev. William R. Davy accepted the pas- 
 torate of the church, and labored with success until compelled by ill- 
 health to resign in February, 1863. The church had preaching by 
 supplies until July, 1865, when Rev. H. P. Guilford became pastor; the 
 church received large accessions during his ministry, which closed in 
 April, 1867. 
 
 In June, 1867, Rev. T. W. Crawley was publicly recognized pastor 
 of the church, which relation continued until April, 1869. 
 
 In January, 1870, Rev. Luther D. Hill, the present incumbent, was 
 publicly recognized pastor. 
 
 Our present number, 116. 
 
 The officers of the church are : Rev. Luther D. Hill, pastor ; Amos 
 Evans, J. R. Morton, Robert C. Totten, deacons ; Charles C. Man- 
 ning, treasurer, and Newton Symonds, clerk.] 
 
 THE SECOND ADVENT SOCIETY, OF WAKEFIELD, 
 
 Was organized in 1844. Place of worship, the hall in the Bank 
 Building, and are without a settled pastor. 
 
 THE ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC), OF WAKEFIELD, 
 Was organized in 1856. Their meeting-house is on or near Albion 
 Street. Rev. W. H. Fitzpatrick, pastor. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF WAKEFIELD. 
 
 In the month of January, 1865, arrangements were made for holding 
 
 Methodist Episcopal services on each Sabbath evening in the Town
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 22 Q 
 
 Hall, in South Reading. These services were commenced and contin- 
 ued until the following spring by the gratuitous labors of several 
 Methodist preachers residing in Boston and vicinity. 
 
 In April, 1865, in accordance with the wishes of a number of the 
 citizens of the town, a petition was sent to the New England Confer- 
 ence, then holding its session in Cambridge, for a preacher, and the 
 call was responded to by sending Rev. Thomas C. Potter. 
 
 About this time the vestry of the Universalist church was secured as 
 a place of worship, and services were held on each Sabbath afternoon 
 and evening. 
 
 At a Quarterly Conference, held June 4, 1865, called by Rev. Aaron 
 D. Sargent, Presiding Elder, of Lynn District, a church was organized, 
 embracing a membership of twenty-six persons. 
 
 Mr. Potter labored with great acceptability as pastor of this church 
 for a year and three or four months, when he was compelled to resign 
 the pastorate on account of failing health. 
 
 He was succeeded by Rev. Andrew Gray, who labored as a supply 
 until April, 1867, when Rev. Daniel Atkins succeeded to the pastorate, 
 by appointment of the New England Annual Conference. 
 
 In June, 1869, the members of this church, in reviewing the first four 
 years of their history, were enabled to say, with devout thanks to the 
 Great Head of the Church, that their labors had not been in vain in 
 the Lord, as the number of members reported in full was forty-seven, 
 and the number on probation nineteen, and their prospects for the 
 future highly encouraging. 
 
 The society purchased the Albion Hall Building, a large structure, 
 centrally situated, of capacity sufficient to afford a commodious hall in 
 the second story, for worship, a store in the front part of the lower 
 story, with other convenient rooms for a tenement 
 
 Mrs. Lucy P. Jennings, recently deceased, bequeathed to the Society 
 some $2,100, which will give it very timely aid. 
 
 Rev. M. B. Chapman, a young man of fine abilities, was appointed 
 to the charge in 1870. Under his labors the congregation was largely 
 increased, and an interesting revival was enjoyed. 
 
 At the close of the second year, Mr. Chapman was removed, at his 
 own request, to another field of labo r , very much to the regret of his 
 numerous friends. 
 
 In 1872, the present pastor, Rev. C. L. McCurdy, was appointed as 
 the successor of Mr. Chapman. It soon became apparent to Mr. 
 McCurdy that the hall owned by the society was altogether too small to 
 accommodate the people who enjoy that form of worship practised by
 
 230 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 the Methodists. It was therefore determined, after much deliberation 
 and earnest prayer to God for his blessing, to erect a suitable house of 
 worship for the better accommodation of those who may wish to wait 
 upon our ministry. After a sermon by the pastor upon the subject, a 
 subscription was raised sufficient, with the property held by the trustees, 
 to authorize them to proceed in its erection. At a regular meeting of 
 the trustees it was voted unanimously that the following persons con- 
 stitute the building committee, viz. : Jacob T. Cooper, Thomas Green, 
 Joseph S. Johnson, James Westgate, and C. L. McCurdy. 
 
 The following persons constitute the Board of Trustees : Rev. L. D. 
 Bragg, of Lynn ; Hon. Liverus Hull, of Charlestown ; Cyrus Wakefield, 
 Esq., John A. Tyler, John Howlett, Dimon Emmons, Matthew Boothby, 
 Jacob T. Cooper, and Joseph S. Johnson. The church is now 
 being built, and is in quite a state of forwardness. The main building 
 is about 50 feet by 75, and will contain seating capacity for nearly 
 600 adults. The design is by J. B. Samuels, of Boston, an architect 
 favorably known in connection with many churches in the State. The 
 architectural treatment is a rendering of the Swiss timber construction 
 adapted to the fourteenth century, Gothic outline. The roof is in two 
 pitches, giving the external effect, of nave and side aisles, while the 
 outline of the side is picturesquely broken up by the extension of the 
 side windows above the wall plate. On one corner of the front is 
 a graceful spire, 130 feet in height, and surmounted by a vane and 
 gilt ball. The roof and spire are covered with alternate bands of 
 eastern and green slates. The interior finish is of ash and black 
 walnut. The organ and choir are located in the chancel, in front of 
 which are the pulpit and altar enclosure, and at the opposite end, over 
 the ample and commodious front vestibule, a small gallery communicat- 
 ing with both the audience-room and basement floor. The basement 
 is divided into a large vestry, small vestry, and smaller rooms for other 
 purposes, not the least important being a kitchen. The building is 
 under contract to the firm of Mead, Mason & Co., and will probably 
 be ready for occupancy during the season of 1874. 
 
 CONSTITUTION, OR ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE PARISH OF 
 EMMANUEL CHURCH, WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 Whereas : The undersigned have associated themselves together for 
 the purpose of worshipping Almighty God, according to the faith and 
 discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of 
 America, and have for that purpose formed a parish at Wakefield, in
 
 OF THE TOWN OF HEADING. 
 
 the County of Middlesex ; they therefore declare the following to be the 
 objects, conditions, and articles of their said association, namely : 
 
 First, The name of this association shall be "THE PARISH OF 
 EMMANUEL CHURCH, WAKEFIELD." 
 
 Second. This parish acknowledges itself to be a member of, and to 
 belong to, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America, and in the Diocese of Massachusetts. As such, it accedes 
 to, recognizes, and adopts the constitution, canons, doctrine, discipline, 
 and worship of said Church, and acknowledges the authority of the 
 same accordingly. 
 
 Third. Any person of the age of eighteen years who has subscribed 
 or acceded to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Parish, and who 
 has aided in maintaining public worship therein, for a period of twelve 
 months, immediately preceding any meeting, either by regular attend- 
 ance thereon, or by pecuniary aid in hiring a sitting or otherwise, shall 
 be considered a member of the Parish, and entitled to vote in all its 
 affairs, while he continues such member. 
 
 Fourth. The Rector of this Parish shall be elected by the members 
 thereof, unless the By-Laws otherwise provide ; but no person shall be 
 eligible to that office, unless he shall have had Episcopal ordination, 
 and unless he be in full standing with the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 aforesaid, and recognized as such by the Bishop of this Diocese, or in 
 case of a vacancy, by the Standing Committee of the Diocese. 
 
 Fifth. All the property of this Parish shall be taken and held, sub- 
 ject to the control and disposition of the Vestry of the same, but shall 
 not be sold or conveyed without the vote of the Parish. 
 
 Sixth. This constitution may be amended as follows : Any proposed 
 amendment shall be submitted to a meeting of the Vestry, and upon 
 its recommendation, shall be submitted to a meeting of the Parish, and, 
 if approved by the same, shall be deemed and taken to be a part of 
 this constitution. 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 SECTION i. The annual meeting shall be held on Monday, in Easter 
 week, in the church, chapel, place of worship, or such place as the 
 Wardens may appoint ; at which meeting, or at any adjournment there- 
 of, any business may be transacted without any previous notice thereof. 
 Notice of this meeting shall be posted seven days prior thereto on the 
 church door, and given from the chancel on the Sunday previous, by 
 the clergyman officiating. All meetings shall be opened with prayer. 
 
 SECT. 2. Special meetings shall be called by the Rector, Wardens, 
 or by three members of the Vestry, whenever they deem it advisable,
 
 232 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 or whenever so requested in writing, either by the Rector or any five 
 members of the Parish ; but at special meetings no business shall be 
 transacted unless specified in the notice calling the same. Such meet- 
 ings shall be notified by the Clerk, and by publication from the chancel, 
 eight days at least before the same is held. 
 
 SECT. 3. At all meetings of the Parish, the Rector, if present, or in 
 his absence, one of the Wardens shall preside; in their absence, a 
 temporary presiding officer shall be chosen by the members present. 
 
 SECT. 4. At a meeting of the Parish, five members shall constitute 
 a quorum for the transaction of business, but any less number may 
 adjourn such meeting. 
 
 SECT. 5. At the annual meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, 
 there shall be chosen two Wardens, who shall also act as Assessors, a 
 Treasurer and Collector, a Clerk, and such number of Vestrymen, not 
 exceeding twelve, as may be determined by the members present ; all 
 of whom shall constitute the Vestry. Such election to be in all cases 
 by ballot, and the person having the highest number of ballots shall be 
 elected. T*he officers so elected to serve until the next annual meet- 
 ing, and until others are elected in their stead. Any vacancies may be 
 filled by the Vestry. Delegates to the Diocesan Convention shall be 
 chosen at the annual meeting, by ballot, or as the members present may 
 determine. 
 
 SECT. 6. The Wardens and Vestrymen shall have the management 
 and oversight of all the temporal affairs of the Parish, and shall, in 
 connection with the Rector, make necessary preparations for public 
 worship, and for the music at the same. They shall meet as often as 
 once in every three months, and whenever requested by the Rector or 
 Wardens or by three Vestrymen. At each meeting the record of the 
 previous meeting shall be read and approved, or amended. The Rector 
 shall be notified of the meetings of the Vestry, and if present shall 
 preside, and be entitled, in common with each member of the Vestry, 
 to one vote. 
 
 SECT. 7. The Clerk shall keep a true record of all the proceedings 
 of the Parish, and also of doings of the Wardens and Vestry, in suit- 
 able books for that purpose. At any Parish meeting any member may 
 call for the reading of the records of the Vestry meeting for the preced- 
 ing year. 
 
 SECT. 8. The Treasurer shall keep a true account of all moneys 
 received and paid out by him, and present a full account thereof and of 
 the financial condition of the Parish, at each annual meeting, and such 
 account shall be audited and approved by the Wardens and Vestry- 
 men, or a committee-thereof.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 233 
 
 SECT. 9. These By-Laws may be altered, amended, or repealed, at 
 any regular meeting of the Parish, by a majority of the legal members 
 present ; provided, notice thereof is set forth in the notice calling the 
 meeting. 
 
 MOSES P. PARKER, Parish Clerk. 
 
 Rev. SAMUEL R. SLACK, Rector. E. J. WALTON, Treas. 
 
 To the Convention of the Diocese of Massachusetts assembled in Christ 
 Church, Springfield, Wednesday, May 10, A. D. 1871. 
 
 The undersigned, Wardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Em- 
 manuel Church, in the Town of Wakefield, and County of Middlesex, 
 in accordance with Article IV of the Constitution of the Church in this 
 Diocese, hereby certify that the foregoing Articles of Association or 
 Constitution, and the accompanying By-Laws, were adopted by the said 
 Parish of Emmanuel Church, on Easter Monday, April 10, A. D. 1871, 
 having been reported to the Parish by a committee appointed at the 
 previous Easter meeting, A. D. 1870. 
 
 The undersigned further certify that the said Parish has "been duly 
 organized for the space of one year," and " during that time have held 
 regular public services," and that they accede to the Constitution and 
 Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America, and in the Diocese of Massachusetts. 
 
 And the undersigned respectfully ask to be admitted into union with 
 the Diocese of Massachusetts. 
 
 SAMUEL T. PARKER, Sent* Mr. u den. 
 JOHN A. SYMONDS, Junior Warden. 
 
 JOHN McKAY, 
 
 JOHN C. AVERY, 
 
 JOHN R. MANSFIELD, M. D., 
 
 GEORGE E. HOWARD, 
 
 CYRUS WAKEFIELD, 
 
 G. M. TOMPSON, 
 WM. J. BRIDGER, 
 G. E. TIBBETTS, 
 J. HENNIGAR, 
 ROBERT WORRALL, 
 DANIEL G. WALTON, 
 
 Vestrymen.
 
 234 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 IN CONVENTION OF THE DIOCESE, May n, A. D. 1871. 
 " The Committee on New Parishes presented an additional report, 
 recommending the admission of Emmanuel Church, Wakefield, into 
 union with the Convention. 
 
 Resolved, That Emmanuel Church, Wakefield, be admitted into union 
 with this Convention. 
 
 The Secretary called over the names of the Delegates from the 
 above-mentioned Parish, as follows : 
 
 f SAMUEL T. PARKER, 
 
 EMMANUEL CHURCH, WAKEFIELD. \ JOHN R. MANSFIELD, M.D. 
 
 VjoHN A. SYMONDS." 
 
 Services, according to the usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 have been occasionally held in South Reading (now Wakefield) during 
 a period of about twenty-five years. The Rev. William T. Smithett, 
 then rector of Christ Church, Boston, resided here some twenty years 
 since, and occasionally officiated: The late Rev. Frederick S. Wiley, 
 rector of Christ Church, New York, a native of the town, son of our 
 honored and venerable fellow-citizen, B. B. Wiley, Esq., and himself, at 
 the time of his early and lamented death, already distinguished for his 
 intellectual endowments, as well as for the beauty of his Christian char- 
 acter, was accustomed to officiate when he returned to his early home. 
 Other clergymen, from time to time, held services according to the 
 usages of this venerable church, the successor of the Church of England 
 in these States. They were generally observed in the building which 
 has given place to the new and elegant Town Hall. In 1869, several 
 of the clergy of the Eastern Convocation of the Episcopal Church of 
 Massachusetts commenced regular services here, occupying the lecture- 
 room of the Universalist Church, and the enterprise became a mission 
 of that association. At Easter, 1870, the Rev. Samuel R. Slack, for- 
 merly rector of St. Thomas Church, Newark, Del., and of Fredericks- 
 ville Parish, Virginia, accepted an appointment to the mission, and the 
 congregation, at the same time, organized itself into a parish, and in 
 1871 was admitted into union with the Diocese of Massachusetts. 
 Services were held in the old Town Hall until the winter of 1870, when 
 the new hall belonging to Mr. D. G. Walton was permanently engaged 
 for divine worship. This place has sometimes been found too small 
 for the accommodation of the congregation, and it is believed, if the 
 congregation, with their friends elsewhere, should undertake the erec- 
 tion of a more commodious edifice, for ecclesiastical purposes solely, 
 the numbers and strength of this parish would be greatly augmented.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 235 
 
 Mr. Slack resigned the parish on Trinity Sunday, June i, 1873, 
 having removed to Salem. 
 
 THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF READING, 
 
 Was organized Thursday evening, Feb. 27, 1873. Application for 
 this object had been made the year before to the Presbytery of Bos- 
 ton, sitting at East Boston. Accordingly, a committee consisting of 
 Rev. Abraham S. Gardiner, of Jamaica Plain, and Rev. Wm. A. Mc- 
 Corkle and Elder Reuben Crooke, of Boston, was appointed to visit 
 the field and to report at the next regular meeting of Presbytery. 
 During the summer of 1872, Rev. A. S. Gardiner preached several 
 times at Reading, and in the fall following accepted an invitation to 
 take charge of the new enterprise with a view to its development into 
 a Presbyterian church. At the fall meeting of Presbytery held at New 
 Boston, N. H., Rev. Mr. Gardiner resigned his place on the Presbyte- 
 rial Committee, and was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Dunn, of Boston. 
 The committee made a report, and were then directed to revisit the 
 field, and, the way being clear, to organize a Presbyterian church. 
 During the succeeding winter the services continued to be conducted 
 by Rev. Mr. Gardiner. 
 
 The church at its organization consisted of twenty members. Messrs. 
 Sherman Case and Chas. C. Frost were elected and ordained Ruling 
 Elders. Rev. Abraham S. Gardiner was unanimously chosen pastor. 
 
 At the meeting of Presbytery held at the Third Pres. Ch., Boston, 
 in April following, the church was enrolled, and arrangements were 
 made for the installation of the pastor elect. By invitation the instal- 
 lation took place at the Bethesda Congregational Church, Wednesday 
 evening, May 7, 1873. 
 
 The congregation was incorporated as a society during the follow- 
 ing June. In July and August, steps were taken towards the erection 
 of a suitable edifice for public worship. A committee consisting of 
 Messrs. C. C. Frost, J. T. Norris, and* Milton Kingman, was appointed, 
 Aug. 25th, to procure plans, etc., and to publish proposals for building. 
 On the report of the committee, the building of the church was awarded 
 to The Sturtevant Manufacturing, Building and Contracting Co., Bos- 
 ton. The use of an eligible lot on Woburn Street was granted for a 
 term of years to the society by Benjamin Boyce, Esq., of Reading. 
 The structure was commenced October, 1873, and was dedicated to 
 the service of God, Tnursday evening, Feb. 26, 1874.
 
 236 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 HISTORY OF THE BETHESDA CHURCH AND SOCIETY, OF THE TOWN 
 
 OF READING. 
 THE BETHESDA SOCIETY. 
 
 On account of existing circumstances in the First Congregational 
 Society in the South Parish, in Reading, it was thought best that 
 another Orthodox society should be formed. A paper dated Jan. 25, 
 1849, was drawn up, inviting all who wished to unite in forming such a 
 society, to subscribe their names. Timothy Wakefield and sixty-five 
 others subscribed, and on the gih of April, 1849, met at the house of 
 Henry F. Parker for taking measures to carry their plans into effect. 
 William Wakefield was chosen moderator, and Oliver Peabody, clerk ; 
 and a committee of ten, Aaron Parker, chairman, was appointed to 
 make application to a Justice of the Peace for a warrant to call a 
 meeting for organizing a society. The warrant was issued by A. A. 
 Prescott, Esq., calling a meeting April 23, 1849, which met at Academy 
 Hall. 
 
 Capt. Timothy Wakefield was chosen moderator ; Oliver Peabody, 
 clerk ; Timothy Wakefield, Aaron Parker, John H. Bancroft, assessors ; 
 Milo Parker, treasurer and collector. It was voted to call the new 
 organization " The Bethesda Society." 
 
 Oliver Peabody continued to serve as clerk till his decease in 1855. 
 His successor was Stillman E. Parker, who has served till the present 
 time. Aaron Parker served as treasurer, 1850-1 ; Loea Parker, 1851-7 ; 
 Milo Parker, i857~'63, '65, '66 ; M. M. Temple, 1863-5 ; D. Myron 
 Damon, 1867-8; Hiram Barrus, i869-*74. 
 
 J. H. Bancroft served as collector, 1865-8; Stillman M. Pratt, 1868- 
 70 ; Geo. A. Richardson, 1870-2 ; Milo Parker, 1872-4. A large num- 
 ber of persons have served as assessors, but only two or three have 
 held the office for more than three years" each. Joel M. Howard was 
 elected 1860 to 1864, five years in succession, a longer term than has 
 been served by any other person. . The present assessors are Joshua 
 Clark, S. E. Parker, and Joseph S. Temple. 
 
 THE MEETING-HOUSE. 
 
 At the meeting for organizing the society, a committee was appointed 
 to consider and report upon the matter of building a house of worship. 
 This committee reported at a parish meeting held May n, that they 
 had viewed several lots of land that could be obtained for a church 
 site, giving description and terms. The parish decided to accept that
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 237 
 
 whereon the church now stands, which was donated for that purpose 
 by Rev. Peter Sanborn, for which a vote of thanks was passed. 
 Timothy Temple, Wm. J. Wightman, Mark M. Temple, Samuel W. 
 Carter, and Wm. Wakefield, were appointed building committee. The 
 style of house approved was " similar to the Baptist meeting-house in 
 Maiden, with a steeple like one in Haverhill," at an estimated cost of 
 $7,500. The original lot of land was enlarged by subsequent purchases 
 from Mr. Sanborn, for which $300 were paid. 
 
 Nov. 5, 1849, the parish voted to reserve a pew for the pastor and 
 one for the Rev. Mr. Sanborn, during his life, and to sell the rest at 
 auction ; the choice money to be reserved for the purchase of a bell, 
 provided there be no means of otherwise obtaining one. 
 
 The whole cost of building amounted to $13,138.93. The pews 
 were appraised at $13,550. There were received from sales $11,919.54, 
 leaving a sufficient number of pews unsold to pay, if sold at their 
 appraised value, more than twice the amount of remaining indebted- 
 ness. 
 
 The committee close their final report, March 20, 1851, saying, "As 
 we look back upon our past labors and contemplate the great and 
 numberless blessings that God, in his divine goodness, has conferred 
 on this society during the past two years, we would, with feelings of 
 deep humility and gratitude, acknowledge that from God alone have 
 we received all these mercies and blessings, and would say, *O that 
 men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful 
 works to the children of men.' " 
 
 The house was dedicated Jan. i, 1850, with the usual services in 
 connection with the settlement of the first pastor. 
 
 At a meeting held Jan. 14, 1850, it was voted to purchase a bell. 
 The bell was procured at a cost of $637.84. It weighed 1,934 pounds. 
 
 At the annual meeting in March, 1866, plans were adopted for 
 enlarging the church by an addition in the rear, which were carried 
 into effect during the year. The extension gave room for the pastor's 
 study, the choir and organ back of the pulpit, and a small room for 
 meetings. The expense was a little over $6,000. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF BETHESDA CHURCH. 
 
 An ecclesiastical council was called to act on the application of 
 those who desired to form a new church, April 17, 1849. 
 
 The council met at Academy Hall, in heading, and organized by 
 choosing Rev. Reuben Emerson, of South Reading, moderator, and 
 Rev. A. W. McClure, of Maiden, scribe.
 
 238 
 
 The request of the applicants to be organized into a new church and 
 their reasons for desiring a new organization, were presented by 
 Timothy Wakefield, Jr., Mark M. Temple, and John Cheney, a com- 
 mittee chosen for that purpose. The reasons being approved by the 
 council, it proceeded to the organization of the church, after the follow- 
 ing order : 
 
 1. Reading of the minutes by the Scribe. 
 
 2. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Paine, of Holden. 
 
 3. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Kirk, of Boston. 
 
 4. Constituting prayer by the Moderator. 
 
 5. Consecrating prayer by Rev. Dr. Emerson, of Salem. 
 
 6. Righfr hand of fellowship by Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher, of 
 Boston. 
 
 7. Concluding prayer by Rev. Dr. Smalley, of Worcester. 
 
 The services were held in the Baptist church. Four others joined 
 the applicants, making the whole number constituting the church, 
 ninety members. 
 
 The first meeting of the church for business was held April 26, 1849. 
 M. M. Temple was moderator ; S. E. Parker, clerk, which office he still 
 retains ; Dea. Jabez D. Parker, treasurer, who served till 1858 ; S. E. 
 Parker then held it till 1862 ; J. M. Howard till 1865 ; Dea. Milo 
 Parker from that date to the present January, 1874. 
 
 The church voted June 5, 1849, to call Rev. Edward W. Clark to 
 the pastorate. Dea. J. D. Parker, Dea. David Emerson, and Oliver 
 Peabody were appointed to unite with the parish committee in extend- 
 ing the invitation to Mr. Clark. The call was accepted and a council 
 met Jan. i, 1850, for his ordination and for the purpose of dedicating 
 the church edifice. 
 
 Rev. R. Emerson, of South Reading, was moderator of the council, 
 and Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of Woburn, scribe. 
 
 The invocation and reading of the Scriptures were by Rev. W. S. 
 Coggin, of Boxford ; dedicatory prayer by Rev. A. B. Warner, of Med- 
 ford ; dedicatory hymn by Rev. E. W. Allen, of N. Reading ; sermon 
 by Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher, of Boston ; ordaining prayer by Rev. R. 
 Emerson ; charge by Rev. A. W. McClure, of Maiden ; right hand of 
 fellowship by Rev. J. M. Steele, of South Woburn ; address to the 
 people by Rev. I. P. Langworthy, of Chelsea ; concluding prayer by 
 Rev. J. Edwards. 
 
 The whole number of communicants at this time was 101. During 
 the year following, a revival added 38 members to the church, by pro- 
 fession; and several were received by letter. The relations between
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 239 
 
 pastor and people appear to have been unusually tender and sympa- 
 thetic, but in consequence of failing health he asked for a dismission, 
 April 23, 1853. The people acceded to his request, passing at the 
 same time resolutions of regret, esteem, and sympathy. The pastoral 
 relation was dissolved by mutual council, May 9, 1853. The whole 
 number of additions to the church during his pastorate was 67. 
 
 On the 6th of July following, Rev. W. H. Beecher was invited to fill 
 the vacant office. He accepted, and was installed Sept. 14, 1853. 
 Rev. T. K. Beecher preached the sermon ; Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher 
 made the installing prayer ; Rev. Dr. C. E. Stowe gave the charge to 
 the pastor ; Rev. Edward Beecher, the charge to the people ; and the 
 right hand of fellowship was by Rev. W. I. Budington. Rev. James C. 
 Beecher was present as a delegate. 
 
 The pastorate of Mr. Beecher was not long continued, but thirty per- 
 sons were added to the church during his connection with it. There 
 was not that harmony of sentiment between himself and people that was 
 enjoyed during the ministry of his predecessor, and in March, 1856, 
 steps were taken to sever the connection. He was dismissed before 
 the middle of May following, but the exact date does not appear. 
 
 On the yth of October, 1856, a call was extended to Rev. William 
 H. Willcox, of Kennebunk, Me , which was declined. This was re- 
 newed in the following April, and accepted. Dea. M. M. Temple, 
 William Balch, and S. E. Parker were appointed to represent the 
 church before the council, which convened July 2, 1857. 
 
 Rev. Dr. J. P. Cleveland presided, and Rev. Edward W. Clark served 
 as scribe. Rev. J. P. Gulliver preached the sermon. The installing 
 prayer was by Rev. S. Harding ; charge by Rev. Dr. Cleveland ; right 
 hand of fellowship by Rev. G. B. Willcox ; address to the people by 
 Rev. Mr. Clark ; concluding prayer by Rev. R. Tolman ; benediction 
 by the pastor. 
 
 The connection thus consummated has been a long, successful, and 
 happy one. A remarkable degree of harmony has prevailed, and suc- 
 cessive revivals have largely increased the membership of the church. 
 The whole number added since the settlement of Mr. Willcox is 246. 
 The present number of members belonging to the church is 259. 
 Thirty of the original members still remain. The entire number who 
 have belonged to the church is 453. 
 
 Mr. Willcox has been settled over this church nearly seventeen years 
 a period longer than that of any other present pastorate in the 
 Woburn Conference ; longer than any in Middlesex County, save two ; 
 or in the State of Massachusetts, excepting less than fifty.
 
 240 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Rev. Mr. Willcox was born in New York city, Jan. 28, 1821, and 
 fitted for college in the city schools. He graduated from New York 
 University in 1843 ; from Union Theological Seminary in 1846 ; 
 preached two years in Norwich, Conn. ; was settled in Kennebunk in 
 1852, where he remained till his removal to Reading. 
 
 Deacons. When Chosen. 
 
 Jabez D. Parker, April 26, 1849 ; David Emerson, April 26, 1849 ; 
 Mark M. Temple, Feb. 9, 1854 ; Stillman E. Parker, Feb. 9, 1854 ; 
 Milo Parker, Feb. 14, 1861 ; Joel M. Howard, Feb. 14, 1861 ; D. My- 
 ron Damon, Jan. 22, 1867 ; Hiram Barrus, Jan. 21, 1869. 
 
 Dea. David Emerson died July 7, 1866 ; Dea. J. M. Howard died 
 Feb. 20, 1865 ; Dea. D. M. Damon resigned Feb. 27, 1873. 
 
 The Choir. 
 
 Messrs. Roswell N. Temple, as leader, and David G. Richardson, as 
 organist, have been connected with the choir from its first organization 
 in 1849. The society purchased its present organ in 1854 of Mr. 
 Thomas Appleton. The choir has been remarkably harmonious in 
 feeling and performance, and few choirs in the State, probably, have 
 fulfilled their duties more to the -satisfaction of all concerned than the 
 
 Bethesda choir. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 The troubles which caused the separation of the Bethesda from the 
 Old South Church have been amicably adjusted, and the most cordial 
 harmony prevails between them. One in sentiment, one in principle, 
 one in purpose, may their union be perpetual. 
 
 The Bethesda Sabbath school has neariy 300 members, and its his- 
 tory is coeval with that of the church. Dea. S. E. Parker was its first 
 superintendent, and, excepting the years 1859, '60 and '61, when Sam- 
 uel W. Parker was chosen, he has continued to fill the position to the 
 present time. David G. Richardson has had charge of the singing 
 during the whole time. The other officers for 1873-4 are Joshua Clark, 
 assistant superintendent ; Hiram Barrus, secretary and treasurer. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY, READING. 
 
 The first effort of the friends of Methodism for planting a church here 
 was made in the autumn of 1866. Father Merrill (Rev. A. D.) spent a 
 few weeks here, preaching three times in Lyceum Hall, and once in the 
 Old South Church. Rev. Andrew Gray, then stationed at Wakefield, 
 was then employed, and preached regularly in Lyceum Hall once each
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 241 
 
 Sabbath during the winter. He formed a class, and organized a Sab- 
 bath school. The annual conference, in the spring of 1867, appointed 
 Rev. Daniel Atkins as the successor of Mr. Gray. Mr. Atkins con- 
 tinued the work here, and on the ninth of June the church was organ- 
 ized with nineteen members and eleven probationers. Rev. Stephen 
 Gushing was appointed by the Conference in April, 1868, to preach for 
 the year, which he did, but resided in Boston. Rev. H. D. Weston 
 succeeded in April, 1869. Measures had been already initiated for 
 building a house of worship. In February of that year the estate lying 
 southerly of Lyceum Hall building had been purchased for $3,800, 
 whereon to locate the church. It was duly erected, and the house was 
 dedicated July i, 1870. Rev. J. N. Short entered upon the pastorate of 
 the church April, 1871. His labors were so efficient and satisfactory 
 that his term of service was extended to three years, the longest 
 term allowed a minister by the Conference in one locality. The church 
 has now no members and 24 probationers. The Sabbath school reg- 
 isters 204 names, with an average attendance of about 125. 
 
 The original board of stewards was Luther Hutchins, Robert Bowser, 
 Myron Billingham. The present board : Charles H. Moulton, William 
 Johnson, H. Copeland, R. Bowser, H. F. Parker, H. E. Dunbar, 
 Edward Parker, Edwin Bassett. 
 
 The present board of trustees is Henry Towle, Asa R. Mclntire, 
 Simeon Perry, Robert Bowser, C. H. Moulton, Wesley Nason, Luther 
 Hutchins, William Johnson, Jacob Graves. All these persons, except 
 the two last named, constituted the original board. 
 3*
 
 242 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 THE first settlers of Reading appear to have been people of moderate 
 means and narrow incomes. Their first business in thus locating in 
 this wilderness, was of course and of necessity to erect humble domi- 
 ciles, and adopt measures to secure subsistence for themselves and 
 families. But like the early settlers of most other towns in New Eng- 
 land, at that date, having left their native land to find a place where 
 they might worship God in peace, their next thought was to establish 
 a church and build a sanctuary, where the holy ordinances should be 
 publicly administered. 
 
 Their first meeting-house was therefore built probably about 1644 
 (certainly before 1647), an d its cost no doubt nearly exhausted their 
 surplus resources. Their numbers for the first fifty years were few and 
 scattered. To gain the necessities of life, to defend themselves against 
 wild beasts and Indian foes, to reduce the rough and stubborn glebe, 
 to maintain the public ministrations of the gospel, and to contend 
 against poverty, sickness, and all those diseases that " flesh is heir to," 
 in a new country and climate, required all the resolution, faith, indus- 
 try, and economy, that our ancestors could command. But all these 
 things they did perform, and performed them well. Consequently they 
 had little opportunity or ability, for many of those early years, to do 
 much for schools. Yet it is no doubt true, although we find 
 no record thereof, that, during the first half century of our town's exist- 
 ence, from the first settlement in 1639, although there was no public 
 school, " they trained up their little ones in the ' nurture and admoni- 
 tion of the Lord,' and, so far as possible, around their own firesides, 
 and in each neighborhood, taught them the rudiments of the simple 
 knowledge they had learned from their fathers." 
 
 The first reference to a school which we find upon the record, is in 
 1680, when it is said that the town was presented or complained of at 
 the County Court for deficiency of a grammar school. This complaint 
 no doubt induced our fathers to make new efforts in behalf of school- 
 ing. They probably established some sort of a school at this time ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 243 
 
 perhaps not a grammar or classical school, but a substitute therefor, 
 taught by some of the best informed of their own citizens ; for we find 
 that in 1692 the town ordered that the money received from the sale of 
 the old meeting-house should be paid over to Master Brown, in part 
 compensation for the school. This Master Brown was John Brown, 
 Esq., who was one of the best educated of the early settlers (the min- 
 isters excepted), and was long one of the most influential citizens. He 
 was 'probably the first schoolmaster. In 1693, Dec. 8th, about fifty 
 years after its incorporation, the town, for the first time, ordered " that 
 there should be a Free school kept in the town," and appropriated 
 seven pounds for its support ; " four pounds to be spent in the town 
 (now Wakefield), two pounds for the West end (now Reading), and 
 one pound for those north of Ipswich river (now North Reading ") ; 
 and the selectmen were authorized to expend more money, in the same 
 proportion, if they saw fit. 
 
 The first teacher of the free school was Nicholas Lynde, from Charles- 
 town, who graduated at Harvard College in 1690. Several of the 
 early masters were men of classical and liberal education. 
 
 There is no record of the erection of the first school-house. It was 
 probably built by private contributions. It was no doubt erected soon 
 after the establishment of the free school, and between 1694 and 1707 ; 
 for in 1694 it appears that the town voted to pay 2S. <)d. to repair the 
 house, in which Master Lynde keeps school ; if this house had been a 
 school-house, it would, it is most likely, have been so called. We may 
 conclude, therefore, that it was some private building improved for the 
 school temporarily. In 1707, the selectmen were asked to consider 
 whether the school-house should be removed. So that a school-house 
 had been erected between 1694 and 1707. This house stood on the 
 parsonage lot of the present first parish of Wakefield, north of and 
 near the former site of the parsonage house. It was a low, small-sized 
 building, with a large fireplace in one corner. In 1759, the said 
 parish (then including what is now Wakefield and Reading) raised 
 .13 ioj. 4//. to repair it, but the repairs were not effected until 1765, 
 when the house " was clapboarded, furnished with window shutters, a 
 lock on the door and weather boards." In 1793 it was provided 
 with a stove. This house was used for the school until 1799, when it 
 was sold and became a part of the " Badger house," on Salem Street, 
 now owned by Wid. Sarah (Newhall) Brown. 
 
 From the establishment of the free school in 1693 unt ^ 1720, the 
 town appears to have hired the teachers and paid them. But there 
 was but one teacher for the whole town, who taught in different parts
 
 244 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 of the town, at such times of the year and for such terms as the 
 selectmen should determine. 
 
 Once, however, in 1708, there was added to the selectmen, to assist 
 in superintending the schools, a committee, consisting of Capt. John 
 Browne, Lieut. Hananiah Parker, and Ens. Nathaniel Parker. From 
 1721 to 1778, the care and support of schools seems to have devolved 
 upon the separate parishes. 
 
 It does not appear from the town or parish records what was the 
 amount of the annual appropriations for schools during this time ; but 
 money was obtained from some source, and schools kept, for we find, 
 scattered along through the parish records of this period, sundry votes 
 for repairing and removing school-houses, and directing when schools 
 shall be bept. It is probable that the parish assessors, who appear to 
 have been the acting school committee, ex officio, during the time, ap- 
 propriated a part of the parish' funds for this purpose. From 1693 to 
 1721, while the town superintended the^schools, the price or salary paid 
 to the master ranged from 30 to ^43 per annum. 
 
 The total amount annually appropriated by the several parishes, from 
 1721 to 1778, while they had charge of the schools, does not appear, 
 but may be inferred from what the town raised in 1720 (45), and what 
 the town raised after resuming the appropriations, say in 1782, (;8o), 
 averaging, probably, some 50 or 60 per annum. In 1778, the town 
 resumed its care of the schools, and voted that the schoolmaster's salary 
 be left to the selectmen ; but there is no record that they made any 
 specific [appropriation therefor until 1780. In 1780, the town voted 
 " to raise 1,000 for hiring schooling," to be assessed with the ordi- 
 nary charges, and that each parish draw their proportion out of the 
 town treasury. It will be remembered that at this time the currency 
 
 as greatly depreciated. The annual appropriations of the town for 
 schools, from 1780 to 1811, inclusive, were as follows: 
 
 In 1780, ,1,000, depreciated currency, 
 
 " 1781, 6,000, equal to about 80 per annum. 
 
 From 1782 to 1791, inclusive, .80 " " 
 
 " 1792 and 1793, ;i$o " " 
 
 " 1794 to 1802, inclusive, ^200 " " 
 
 " 1803 to 1806, " ,250 " " 
 
 " 1807, $833 " " 
 
 " 1808 to 1 8 1 1, inclusive, $1,000 " " 
 
 From 1693, while the town employed and paid the teachers, the 
 school was kept at first three months in the town (now Wakefield) ; 
 two months in the northwest part of the town (now Reading) ; and one
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 245 
 
 month on the north side of Ipswich River; and afterwards, until 1708, 
 for such terms at each place as the selectmen should determine. 
 
 In 1708, the town voted " that the northwest corner of the town (now 
 Reading) shall have the school in their end one quarter part of the 
 time." About this time, 1708, it is supposed that the second school- 
 house of old Reading, and the first of the present Reading, was built. 
 It was located at the corner of what is now Woburn and Washington 
 Streets. By whom this structure was erected and paid for is not known, 
 probably by voluntary contributions. In 1749, it was removed to the 
 common land, near Phineas Parker's. In 1781, upon a division of the 
 school in the West Parish, it was removed to Capt. Tho. Eaton's land, 
 nearly opposite to Jonathan Parker's corner, and there used as a school 
 until 1798, when it was sold, moved across the road, and occupied as a 
 dwelling-house by Amos Pratt, for about twenty years, and then removed 
 to the north part of said parish, where it is now (1868) a part of the 
 dwelling-house of Freeborn B. Smith. In 1781, the second school- 
 house of said parish (now Reading) was erected by the parish, and was 
 located on "land of Benjamin Nichols, near the corner of his land, 
 where the road turns to go through the Sledge woods." 
 
 This house was sold in 1799, converted into a dwelling, and removed 
 to Main Street. 
 
 In 1799, the First Parish (now Wakefield) built three new school- 
 houses, one for the Centre District, one for the West, one for the 
 South, and purchased a fourth one, that had already been erected by 
 proprietors in the East District. The house built for the Centre Dis- 
 trict was 28 by 24 feet, 12 feet stud, and cost about $500. It had a 
 porch on the south side, a gallery inside for the use of the committee at 
 exhibitions, and would seat, uncomfortably, about one hundred pupils. 
 Although it lacked many of the comforts and conveniences that are 
 thought necessary at the present day, yet, for the time when it was built 
 it was a very respectable edifice. It was located at the northerly end 
 of the Common, with windows looking out upon the highways on all 
 sides of it, that the pupils might be well informed of passing events; 
 there were no shade trees near, or blinds thereon, to prevent the ingress 
 of light or heat ; but there was a set of old-fashioned hay-scales, set up 
 against one side of the house, with ponderous, gallows-like frame, and 
 long iron chains, hanging and swinging therefrom, for the performance 
 by the pupils at recess of gymnastic exercises ; and a great, creaking 
 windlass within, to exemplify philosophic science ; with a blacksmith's 
 shop nearby, where the sparks and scintillations weve ofttimes seen to
 
 246 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 fly more rapidly and brightly from the beaten rod of iron (and we speak 
 without irony), than came from the birchen rod in the school-house. 
 
 This house was used for schools, and also, for many years, for town 
 and other meetings, until 1834, when it was sold, removed to Mechanic 
 Street, converted into a dwelling-house, and is now (1868) occupied by 
 Dea. Robert C. Wiley. The houses built, this year (1799), for the West 
 and South Districts, were 18 by 15 feet, 7j feet stud; that in the West 
 District was located on common land, a short distance westerly of 
 Joseph Hartshorn's ; it was subsequently removed to the common land 
 near the house of Messrs. John and William H. Atwell, where it stood 
 until 1822, when it was removed to the side of the pond, nearly opposite 
 the house of the late Capt. Henry Knight, and used for a summer school. 
 It was afterwards sold, and is now a wood-shed in Lafayette Street. 
 
 The house in the South District was located on land of Mr. Samuel 
 Evans, near where Mr. Isaac Green now lives, used until 1822, then 
 sold, and is now a part of the Oilman house, in Greenwood. 
 
 The house purchased this year for the East District was not quite as 
 large as those built this year, and stood on land of Joseph Burditt, on 
 Lowell Street, near the house of Mr. Bellows. 
 
 Mr. Burditt, being present in parish meeting when it was voted to 
 purchase the house, "generously made a donation of said land to the 
 parish," and received a vote of thanks. This house was used for the 
 East school until 1822, when it was removed to Woodville, was located 
 near the Almshouse, a"hd used for a primary school until 1844, when it 
 was sold, and is now a part of James O. Boswell's dwelling-house on 
 Pleasant Street. 
 
 In 1791, the town (in compliance with a law of the Legislature, then 
 recently enacted) voted to establish a grammar school, in distinction 
 from the English schools, meaning a school in which the ancient lan- 
 guages and higher branches should be taught ; and in pursuance thereof 
 adopted a report of a committee, which recommended that the "gram- 
 mar school " be kept at the school-house, near the meeting-house in the 
 First Parish (Wakefield) ; at the North Parish (North Reading), three 
 places, viz. : at the school-house at the north part of the parish, at the 
 school-house near Mr. John Swain's, and at or near Ens. Sawyer's old 
 house ; to be kept two months at each house in rotation, as the select- 
 men shall determine ; and at the West Parish (Reading) at two places, 
 viz. at the school-houses now erected, to each part equally; the Eng- 
 lish schools to be kept at the vacant houses, while the grammar school 
 is keeping as above "
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 2 4 7 
 
 Voted, also, at the same time, not to raise any money to hire school- 
 dames. 
 
 It appears, however, that this vote in relation to female teachers was 
 soon after disregarded ; for we find that in 1793, and ever after, school- 
 dames were employed. 
 
 In 1792, the town, for theyfrj/ time, chose regular school committees, 
 and continued so to do ever after. 
 
 The following is a list of committee men until 1811, inclusive: 
 
 Doct. John Hart, 1792, '93, '94, '96, 1801. 
 Capt. David Smith, 1792, '94, '95, '96, 98. 
 William Gould, 1792. 
 Dea. Henry Putnam, 1792, '93, '99. 
 DocL Martin Herrick, 1792. 
 Esq. James Bancroft, 1792, '93, '96, 1801. 
 Jonathan Poole, Jr., 1792. 
 L't. Joseph Bancroft, 1792, '94, 1807. 
 John Brown, 1793. 
 Capt and Col. Daniel Flint, 1793, 
 '94. 95> 97> '99> I 8oo, '01, '02, 'n. 
 Thomas Symonds, 1793. 
 Capt. Thomas Eaton, 1794, '99. 
 L't John Sweetser, 1795. 
 Daniel Graves, 1795, '96, '97, 1811. 
 John Nichols, 1795. 
 George Flint, Jr., 1796, 1803, '10. 
 Col. Amos Boardman, 1797, 1800, 'or, 
 '02, '04, '06, '07, '08, '10, 'n. 
 Capt James Gould, 1797. '98. 
 Esq. Timothy Wakefield, 1797, '98, 1801. 
 Capt. Thomas Emerson, 1799, 1805, '06. 
 Paul Sweetser, 1799. 
 John Temple, Jr., 1799. 
 Dea. Thomas Parker, 1800. 
 Joshua Damon, 1800, '01, '05, '06, '07. 
 Daniel Parker, 1800. 
 Timothy Bancroft, 1800. 
 Esq. Joseph Cordis, 1802. 
 Abijah \Veston, 1802. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, 1802. 
 Doct John Hay, 1803, '04. 
 John Gould, 1803, '04. 
 Edmund Damon, 1803. 
 David Pratt, 1803. 
 James Weston, Jr., 1803. 
 Dea. Oliver Swain, 1804. 
 Ephraim Pratt, 1804, 
 Ephraim Weston, 1804, 
 Asa Parker, Jr., 1804. 
 Daniel Sweetser, 1805. 
 Capt. Thomas Sawyer, 1805, '06. 
 Jonathan Temple, 1805. 
 David Emerson, 1805. 
 Daniel Chute, 1806. 
 Richard Parker, 1806, '07. 
 Benjamin Emerson, 1807. 
 John Batchelder, 1807, '08. 
 Lilley Eaton, Jr., 1808, 'n. 
 Benjamin Upton, Jr., 1808, '09. 
 Edmund Parker, 1808. 
 Timothy Hartshorn, 1808. 
 Capt. Noah Smith, 1809, 'icx 
 Dea. James Hartshorn, 1809. 
 Joseph Batchelder, 1809, '10. 
 Edmund Wiley, 1809. 
 Thaddeus B. Pratt, 1809. 
 Ebenezer Emerson, 1810. 
 Thomas Hartshorn, 1811. 
 Benjamin Parker, iSn. 
 
 The reports of school committees, which at the present day are sue 
 important, interesting, and comprehensive documents, were formerly 
 very brief. 
 
 The first school report that appears on record was made in 1798, and 
 was as follows : 
 
 " That the Committee have visited the several schools, and have the
 
 248 
 
 GENEALOGICAL 
 
 satisfaction to observe that our youth have made proficiency equal to 
 our expectations." 
 
 The same report was continued yearly until 1803, when it was some 
 what changed and enlarged, as follows : " That the Committee have, at 
 several times, visited the schools, and in their opinion the several persons 
 employed as instructors have discharged their duty, much to their 
 honor and to the improvement of the youth under their care. They 
 further wish to report that the behavior of the youth, while in their visi- 
 tations, was decent, and their improvements are such as does them 
 great credit, and much to the honor of the town. 
 
 "JOSEPH CORDIS, Chairman." 
 
 The following is a list (nearly complete) of the early teachers of the 
 public schools of Reading, prior to the year 1800 : 
 
 MASTERS. 
 
 John Browne, Esq. 
 
 Nicholas Lynde (of H. ColL 1690), 1694. 
 
 Joseph Upton, 1695. 
 
 Capt Jonathan Poole, 1697. 
 
 Capt John Herbert, 1701. 
 
 John Rogers (of H. Coll. 1684), 1706. 
 
 (Daniel?) Lewis (of H. Coll. 1707), 1707. 
 
 John Webb (H. Coll. 1708), 1708. 
 
 (John ?) Quincy (H. Coll. 1708), 1708. 
 
 (Samuel?) Thompson (H. Coll. 1710), 1710. 
 
 Daniel Dodge (H. Coll. 1700), 1712-15. 
 
 Jonathan Pierpont (H. Coll. 1714), 1716. 
 
 (Nath'l?) Henchman (H. Coll. 1717), ijiS. 
 
 Thomas Oliver (H. Coll. 1719), 1719-21. 
 
 Thomas Pierpont (H. Coll. 1721), 1722. 
 
 Doct. William Hay (educated in Scot), 1723-28. 
 
 Isaac Richardson (H. Coll. 1728), 1729-31. 
 
 Samuel Batchelder (H. Coll. 1731), 1732-34. 
 
 Joseph Underwood (H. Coll. 1735), 1735-39. 
 
 Ebenezer Putnam (H. Coll.) 1739), 1740-42. 
 
 Joseph Emerson (H. Coll. 1743), 1743. 
 
 Joseph Swain (H. Coll. 1744), 1744-6. 
 
 Barachias Mason (H. Coll. 1742), 1747. 
 
 Timothy Minot (H. Coll. 1747), 1747-9. 
 
 Samuel Brooks (H. Coll. 1749), 1750. 
 
 William Symmes (H. Coll. 1750), 1751. 
 
 Jonathan Kidder (H. Coll. 1751), 1752 and '91, '2 '3. 
 
 Samuel Wigglesworth (H. Coll. 1752), 1753 and '4.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Jonathan Webb, 1754 and '5. 
 (Samuel?) Dane (or Dana, H. Coll. 1755), 1756. 
 Jacob Emerson (H. ColL 1756), 1757, '60, '81. 
 Samuel Dix (H. Coll. 1758), 1759. 
 Henry Cummings (H. Coll. 1760), 1761. 
 William Emerson (H. Coll. 1761), 1762 to '65, 
 Timothy Milliard (H.Coll. 1764), 1766. 
 Amos Sawyer (H. Coll. 1765), 1767. 
 (Burrill?) Devereaux (H. Coll. 1767), 1768, '9. 
 James Dimon (H. Coll. 1768), 1770. 
 Jacob Burnap (H. Coll. 1770), 1771, '2. 
 Samuel S. Poole (H. ColL 1770), 1772, '3. 
 Martin Herrick (H. Coll. 1772), 1774, '5. 
 Jedediah Parker (H. Coll. 1757), 1776-9. 
 Brown Emerson (H. Coll. 1778), 1780. 
 John Boutwell, 1791, '2, '3. 
 Thomas W. Weare, 1792. 
 Lieut. David Swett, 1792, '3. 
 John Walton (H. Coll. 1779), 1792, '3. 
 Charles Hay, 1792. 
 Jacob Flint (H. Coll. 1794), 1792. 
 David Everett, 1793, '4, '5. 
 Abijah Spofford, 1793, '4, '5, '8, '9. 
 Charles Prentiss (H. Coll. 1795), 1793, '4. 
 James Tappin, 1794. 
 Thomas Mellen Prentiss, 1794. 
 
 Mead, 1795. 
 
 Ephraim Parker, Jr., 1796, '7. 
 
 Joel Rogers, 1796. 
 
 Lincoln Ripley, 1796. 
 
 Ebenezer Lawrence (H. ColL 1795), 1796. 
 
 Andrew Peabody, 1797. 
 
 Jonathan Whitaker (H. Coll. 1797), 1797, '8. 
 
 Thomas Pratt, 1797. 
 
 Benjamin Badger, 1797, '99. 
 
 Daniel P. Upton (H. Coll. 1797), 1797. 
 
 Josiah Webster, 1797, '99. 
 
 James Flint, Jr. (H. ColL 1802), 1798, '99. 
 
 Abel Blood, 1798. 
 
 Moses Dow (H. Coll. 1769), 1798. 
 
 Joshua Lane (H. Coll. 1799), 1798. 
 
 Asa Hill, 1798, '9. 
 
 Spaulding, 1799. 
 
 Joseph Frye, 1799. 
 Peter Cochrane, 1799. 
 Peter Fogg, 1799. 
 Thomas Swain, 1799. 
 
 32 
 
 249
 
 250 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 FEMALE TEACHERS. 
 
 Hannah Bragg taught in the North Parish in 1792, and could brag of being the first 
 
 school-dame employed by the town, 
 
 Mehitabel Poole, 1793. 
 Dorcas Wakefield, 1793, '4. 
 Rebecca Stimpson, 1793, '4. 
 Martha Underwood, 1793, '4. 
 Winneford Davis, 1793. 
 Mehitabel Pearson, 1793, '4, '5, '6. 
 Olive Everett, 1794. 
 , Hannah Foster, 1794. 
 Polly Stone, 1794, '6, '7. 
 Hannah Brown, 1795, '6, '7. 
 Polly Killam, 1795. 
 Ruth Fuller, 1795, '7. 
 Abigail Wilson, 1795. 
 
 Pamela Prentiss, 1796, '99. 
 
 Susanna Stimpson, 1796, '97, '98, '99. 
 
 Anna Laighton, 1796. 
 
 Polly Weston, 1796. 
 
 Sally Flint, 1796, '98. 
 
 Polly Wilson, 1797, '99. 
 
 Polly Hart, 1 797, '99. 
 
 Pamelia Hay, 1798. 
 
 Nabby Stone, 1798. 
 
 Sukey Laighton, 1799. 
 
 Fanny Richardson, 1799. 
 
 Louisa A. Waldo, 1799. 
 
 Betsey Pratt, 1799. 
 
 In 1812, the First or South Parish of Reading was incorporated as a 
 distinct town, by the name of South Reading ; and from this date, the 
 school history of each town will be given separately. 
 
 The town of South Reading, upon its incorporation, as aforesaid 
 assumed, without objection, the ownership of the school-houses, which 
 had been built by the parish, when the parish included the entire 
 population ; and thereafter the school-houses were built by the town. 
 The town was divided into districts or wards, for the convenience of 
 distributing the pupils and the choice of prudential committees. But 
 the town ever owned the school-houses, and raised the money for the 
 payment of teachers and incidental expenses, dividing it among the 
 districts as recommended from time to time by committees appointed 
 for the purpose. 
 
 The prudential committees, under instructions from the several dis- 
 tricts, selected and contracted with teachers, and were the only school 
 committees until about 1826, when committees of superintendence and 
 examination were provided for, who had power to negative the selec- 
 tion of the district committees. 
 
 In 1822, a new school-house was built in the West, and another in 
 the East District, costing about $600 each. 
 
 That in the West District stood by the side of the road, a short dis- 
 tance easterly of where their present house stands; and that in the 
 East, on the site of the old one, on Lowell Street, and was subsequently 
 removed to the site of the present house. They both occupied their 
 respective positions until 1847, when that in the West District was 
 removed to the westerly part of the district and became the dwelling-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 251 
 
 house of Mr. Joseph W. Bancroft ; and that in the East District, was 
 removed and became the dwelling-house now owned by Mr. William 
 Burditt. In 1824, an additional apartment was added to the Centre 
 School-house, that cost about $350, and the Centre School was graded 
 into two schools, called Senior and Junior. This additional room was 
 occupied by the Senior school until 1834, when the said addition was 
 sold to the Parish for a chapel and located near the Parsonage. After- 
 wards removed, and is now a part of the bake-house near the Univer- 
 salist church edifice. 
 
 In 1828, a new school-house was built in the South District, on or 
 near the site of its predecessor, which cost $220, which stood there 
 until 1847, when it was sold, removed to Water Street, and converted 
 into a dwelling-house. 
 
 In 1829, the South Reading Academy was incorporated, and the 
 building now known as the old high school : house, was erected. It 
 was established under the auspices of the Baptist denomination, and 
 was intended as an Introductory School to the Theological Seminary 
 at Newton, although open to all others. 
 
 The land and buildings were obtained by the private subscriptions 
 of the people of South Reading. 
 
 It was first taught by John Stevens and Wm. Heath as Associate 
 Principals. 
 
 They were succeeded by Harvey Ball, John Pratt, Samuel Randall, 
 Paschal Carter, and Wm. W. Wakefield. 
 
 The school for several years was quite flourishing, and maintained a 
 high stand for instruction in English and Classical learning. 
 
 But at length the theological students were withheld, and the cor- 
 poration being without funds, it was judged best to discontinue the 
 school. 
 
 The land and building reverted to the original proprietors, and by 
 them was sold to Messrs. Yale & Heath, who subsequently sold to the 
 town in 1847. 
 
 The academy, during its continuance, exerted a very valuable influ- 
 ence upon the people of South Reading. It created in the minds of 
 many of our youth a desire for higher attainments in knowledge, and 
 furnished them with the means of obtaining them, thus fitting them for 
 high stations of usefulness and honor in society, to which many of 
 them succeeded ; it awakened a new interest among the inhabitants in 
 the cause of education and in the importance of furnishing the rising 
 youth with the best means of securing it; and thus promoted great 
 improvements in our primary schools and hastened the establishment 
 of a Town Hi:h School.
 
 252 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The names of the early Board of Trustees of the Academy were : 
 
 Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D., President Rev. Enoch W. Freeman. 
 
 " Rufus Babcock. " Wm. Leverett. 
 
 " George Leonard. " Avery Briggs. 
 
 " Cyrus P. Grosvenor. " Bcnj. C. Wade. 
 
 " James D. Knowles. " Joseph A. Warne. 
 
 " Howard Malcom. Burrage Yale, Esq. 
 
 " Henry Jackson. Lemuel Sweetser, Esq. 
 
 " Bela Jacobs. Dr. Nathan Richardson. 
 
 " John E. Weston. Benj. B. Wiley, Esq., Treasurer. 
 
 " Chas. O. Kimball. Lilley Eaton, Esq., Secretary. 
 
 " Arthur Drinkwater. Dea. Samuel Beal. 
 
 " Gustavus F. Davis. Michael Webb, Esq. 
 
 In 1834, the (old) Town House was erected and two school-rooms 
 set apart therein for the use of the two centre schools, and were occu- 
 pied by them until 1853. In 1840, the North school district was 
 established, and a new school-house, similar to those built in 1822 for 
 the East and West Districts, was erected on Cordis Street ; was occu- 
 pied by this school until 1847, when it was sold, removed to Eaton 
 Street, and is now a part of Mr. David Wiley's late dwelling-house. 
 
 In 1844, a new school house was erected in Woodville, which has 
 since been enlarged ; and Woodville, from this date, has been regarded 
 as a distinct district. Until this date, one portion of its inhabitants 
 belonged to the Centre and the other portion to the South districts. 
 
 In 1845, the high school was established. 
 
 It is a source of high credit to the town of South Reading that it 
 was disposed to establish this school so early in its municipal course, 
 while the number of its families was but about 300, and these gener- 
 ally of moderate means and incomes. This credit is enhanced by the 
 fact that this result was accomplished with so great unanimity. A few 
 persons, living on the borders of the town, made some feeble opposi- 
 tion, but the great bulk of the people, including the best informed, the 
 most intelligent, and those who paid the largest taxes, were in favor of 
 the movement. 
 
 The town was fortunate in the first teacher of this school. He was 
 not only well learned, but was also wise, prudent, and conciliatory ; and 
 a most skilful and popular teacher. Under his successful administra- 
 tion, opponents were changed to friends, and the school became fixed 
 upon a firm foundation. 
 
 James F. Blackinton, the first principal of this school, son of Dea. 
 Fisher Blackinton and Fanny (Richards) Blackinton, was born in
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 253 
 
 Attleborough, Mass., Sept. 5, 1819. He was prepared for college at 
 Attleborough Academy, and entered Brown University in 1843, receiv- 
 ing the degree of A. M. from that institution in 1867. 
 
 He was appointed principal of the South Reading High School in 
 1845, where he remained till 1848. He was married to Miss Mary D. 
 Warren, of Ashby, Mass., in 1846. In 1848, he received the appoint 
 ment of usher in the Lyman School, Boston, and was soon after pro- 
 moted to the sub-mastership of that school ; and, in 1865, was elected 
 master of the Prescott Grammar School, Boston. 
 
 Henry Bartlett Maglathlin, Harvard College, 1843, and Asa G. 
 Wolcotr, were successive teachers of this school, in 1848. 
 
 Franklin Crosby, Esq., of Lowell, was its principal, in 1849, and 
 again in 1851 and 2. 
 
 Messrs. Sylvanus C. Kendall, of Andover, Amherst College, 1849, 
 James P. Kimball, of Oakham, Amherst College, 1849, and James 
 A. Hervey, of Medford, Harvard College, 1849, were teachers succes- 
 sively, in 1850. 
 
 Frederick Adolphus Sawyer, of Bolton, Harvard College, 1844, 
 was appointed principal in 1852. 
 
 Mr. Sawyer was born at Bolton, Worcester County, Mass., Dec. 12, 
 1822. He was the son of Joseph Sawyer, who was the son of Joseph 
 Sawyer. Joseph Sawyer, the father of F. A. Sawyer, was a merchant 
 and farmer, in Bolton, respected by all who knew him. He represented 
 his town in the Legislature for two or three years, and held other 
 responsible local positions. 
 
 His mother was Abigail Bender, the daughter of Peter Bender, a 
 German, who moved, somewhat over a century since, to Maryborough, 
 Mass., where he settled and married Abigail Brigham. 
 
 Another of Peter Bender's daughters was the mother of Horatio and 
 Richard Greenough, the sculptors. The subject of this sketch attended 
 the public schools in his native town, when they were in session, and at 
 intervals was a pupil in an excellent private school kept in Bolton by a 
 Quaker named Thomas Fry, a most worthy man and skilful teacher. 
 He also attended school at Westminster and Marlborough, Mass. His 
 preceptor in the latter place was the late Hon. O. W. Albee, a man 
 who served his State in the Legislature with great credit. In 1840, he 
 entered Harvard College, and was graduated in 1844, among the high 
 scholars of his class. During the winters of 1839, '40, '41, '42, and 
 '43, he taught public schools in Marlborough, Lancaster, Harvard, and 
 Westminster, Mass., and in August, 1844, went to Gardiner, Me., 
 where he was engaged as a teacher till March, 1847. He then removed
 
 254 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 to Wiscasset, Me., and continued his profession in that town till June, 
 1851. He removed thence to Lowell, Mass., where he was temporarily 
 employed, in the absence of the principal in the Franklin School. 
 Upon the return of the principal, Mr. Sawyer took the position of 
 principal of "The Nashua Academy," at Nashua, N. H., but having 
 an offer of the place of principal of the South Reading High School, 
 he assumed the duties of that position about the close of 1852, and 
 remained there till his appointment as sub-master of the Brimmer 
 School, in Boston, in September, 1855. He held the latter position 
 till April, 1859, when he accepted an appointment as principal of a 
 State Normal School, at Charleston, S. C. This position he held until 
 September, 1864, though he made an effort to be released from his 
 engagement there in January, 1861. Being pressed to postpone his 
 resignation, he did so, and the result was a compulsory residence in a 
 rebellious State till he obtained for himself and family a passport per- 
 mitting them to pass through the rebel lines to Port Royal, S. C., then 
 in possession of the Union forces. 
 
 He was one of the few men who, in the State of South Carolina, 
 preserved their character for loyalty without taint in the trying times 
 of the late rebellion, and he suffered much annoyance on account of 
 his political sympathies. His profession, however, exempted him from 
 military duty, till some time in 1863, when he was arrested by a military 
 guard and enrolled in a regiment for home defence. In this he was 
 made to serve for some weeks, though the regiment saw no active 
 service. 
 
 After his escape from the South, in 1864, he engaged as actively in 
 the canvass then going on for the re-election of Mr. Lincoln, as was 
 consistent with an oath he had been compelled to take as a condition 
 of obtaining his passport. On the 226. of February, 1865, he again 
 entered the city of Charleston,' just four days after its occupation by 
 Federal troops. On the 3oth May, 1865, he was appointed Collector 
 of Internal Revenue for the Second District of South Carolina, and 
 held that office till his assumption of the position of United States 
 Senator from South Carolina, for the term ending March 3, 1873. 
 He was elected Senator on the i6th, and took his seat on the 220! 
 July, 1868. 
 
 He was elected a delegate from the city of Charleston to the .conven- 
 tion called to frame a new Constitution under what are called the 
 " Reconstruction Acts of Congress," but subsequent events prevented 
 his participation in the work of that body, except in the way of advice. 
 In 1854, he married Delia E. Gay, the daughter of the late Ira Gay,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 255 
 
 Esq., of Nashua, N. H., for a considerable time the agent of the 
 Nashua Manufacturing Co. . He has two daughters and one son. 
 
 In 1855, Henry F. Munroe, A. B., from Somerville, was appointed 
 principal, and continued until 1858. Mr Munroe was a fine classical 
 scholar, and a faithful and successful teacher. 
 
 In 1859, Thatcher N. Snow, of Orleans, was the teacher. 
 
 In 1860, Elam Porter, of Hartford, Vt., Tufts Coll. 1860, who had 
 then recently been appointed teacher of the Grammar School, was pro- 
 moted from that school to the office of principal of the High School. 
 
 In 1863, Mr. Porter resigned the office, for the purpose of entering 
 upon the study of law. 
 
 J. W. Hammond, also a graduate of Tufts College, was appointed to 
 the vacancy, who continued during the balance of the school year. 
 
 In 1864, Mr. Porter accepted an invitation to return to the vacant 
 position, and remained until 1865, when he resigned for the purpose of 
 entering upon the practice of his profession. Mr. Porter was an excel- 
 lent scholar, an eloquent public speaker, and a most successful teacher, 
 possessing the happy talent of so interesting his pupils as to make them 
 love their school, their studies, and their teacher. 
 
 After leaving this school he took up his residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 and commenced practice as a counsellor at law, with a successful and 
 brilliant prospect opening before him. But, alas, a sad catastrophe was 
 in store for him. Returning to Massachusetts in the autumn of 1867, for 
 the purpose of entering into the marriage relation with a young lady of 
 Stoughton, Mass., to whom he had been some time engaged, he was 
 one of the victims of that terribly fatal railroad disaster at Angola, O., 
 by which not only was his life taken, but his body was totally consumed 
 by the fiery element, and not a fragment of him or his personal appur- 
 tenances remained to tell the sad tale, except a small article of jewelry ^ 
 which was found in the ashes with his initials thereon. 
 
 In 1860, a course of study, arranged for a three years' course, was 
 adopted, and the school divided into three classes. 
 
 In 1863, the following persons, constituting the First Class, had the 
 honor of being the first to complete the prescribed course of study, and 
 received each a significant and beautiful diploma, the engraving for 
 which was provided by the generous liberality of Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., 
 namely : 
 
 Loriette Avery. Mary Elizabeth Mansfield. 
 
 Harriet Elizabeth Brown. Susan Adelaide Stowell. 
 
 Kosina Baldwin Crane. Eunice Adelia Wiley. 
 
 Susan Maria Deane. Edwin Chapin Sweetser. 
 
 Laura Louisa Eaton. Edwin Augustine Townsend. 
 Mary Jeanette George. Morris Plumer Wheeler.
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 These diplomas were presented to the graduating class, in the Town 
 Hall, in the presence of a numerous assembly, and the occasion was a 
 very interesting one. 
 
 Hon. P. H. Sweetser, chairman of the school committee, made an 
 able and impressive address, and, in a very felicitous manner, presented 
 the diplomas. 
 
 Mr. Porter followed in an eloquent and pathetic speech. 
 
 Prof. B. F. Tweed and others made remarks. 
 
 Mr. Eaton, the senior member of the committee, spoke as follows : 
 
 This consummation I have most devoutly wish'd ; 
 This joyous sight I Ve long desired to see ; 
 To-day it greets my eyes, and I am glad. 
 I am no prophet's son no blood of ancient 
 Or of modern seers along my arteries runs ; 
 No eye clairvoyant have I, the darkness 
 Of the future to explore no mind, 
 With prescience keen, to pierce 
 The thick veil'd mysteries of coming years, 
 And thus unfold to present gaze 
 Their unreveal'd and unken'd wonders. 
 But I have hope, and faith, and expectation ; 
 To me this truth is ever patent, clear and fix'd : 
 " The march of knowledge, ideas, wisdom, 
 Is ever onward, wide-ward, upward ; 
 And 'neath their flowing banners, as I trust, 
 Our race, progressive, will ever tend 
 To excellence, perfection, and immortal victory." 
 This grand result, therefore, this day 
 And here beheld, so pleasant and auspicious, 
 Has not come unlook'd for or unhop'd. 
 I have, moreover, as I think, 
 A retrospective gift and inclination 
 For the old paths, by ancient worthies trod. 
 I love to ask, and seek, and find, and walk therein. 
 Especially, I love to trace the course 
 Of philosophic truth, from year to year, 
 And age to age, in halls and seats, 
 Ancestral, local, native. 
 And while, on this occasion glad, 
 On steed Pegasian mounted, o'er the old track 
 Of years by-gone, my course equestrian 
 I 've pursued, much have I seen, 
 I Along the mossy way, my interest 
 
 To excite, and admiration. 
 
 And 't is the fathers' glory and the children's pride, 
 That mid the toils severe, the deprivations
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Of our old pilgrim sires, mid sickness, 
 Poverty and war, they ne'er forgot 
 Their country and their God the school-house 
 And the church ; and to the utmost 
 Of their means, these glorious institutions, 
 By them were ever foster'd and maintained. 
 And children's children, in successive years, 
 As strength and wealth increas'd, 
 On that old pattern wise, have practis'd and improv'd. 
 The last half century the living memory can recall. 
 And standing, as I do, upon an epoch eminent, 
 Whence, as darkly through a glass, indeed, 
 My eye, reversive, includes within its range 
 Some threescore years of local history ; 
 And as old memory, with her magic lens, 
 Discloses to my view the small and humble lodges, 
 Where science once her votaries received ; 
 The lowly shrines, where incense 
 To the sacred nine was offer'd ; 
 The narrow seats for worshippers ; 
 The scanty rills, that from the fount Castalian, 
 Slowly percolated ; the bare and naked walls, 
 Sans maps, sans diagrams, sans everything ; 
 The priests and priestesses, rude, 
 Ofttimes illiterate, that once essay'd 
 To ope the sacred recesses, and unfold 
 The golden treasures of knowledges divine ; 
 And when the shadow of this poor 
 And paltry view, in contrast visible, 
 Is plac'd with to-day's bright facts 
 And grand realities 
 When we behold the temples lofty, 
 To science consecrated, that lift 
 Their turret towers and portals free, 
 On every side, temples, if not 
 Of Parian marble built, and Porsine stone, 
 Like that which grac'd old Delphi's plain, 
 Yet still are handsome, spacious, and commodious ; 
 Where muses love to congregate, 
 And, from their shrines and altars, 
 Infuse their inspirations ; 
 
 Where maps and diagrams, pictures and portraits, 
 And apparatus philosophical, 
 At once attract, illustrate and adorn ; 
 Where priestesses, accomplished, fair. 
 And porters, strong and learn'd, now turn 
 The Eleusinian doors, and unseal 
 The mystic oracles sublime ; 
 33 
 
 257
 
 258 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 And better still when here a class of youth 
 
 Appears, who wisely have avail'd 
 
 Of these high privileges, have largely quaft'd 
 
 The inspiring streams of science, 
 
 Have sought, with toil and hope, and have secur'd 
 
 The prizes rich that wisdom gives 
 
 And have enjoyed an academic course, 
 
 At home pursued, how profitably and well, 
 
 These theses, just pronounced, so full 
 
 Of thought, research, and noble sentiment, 
 
 Most elo'quently tell ; 
 
 And as they stand before us, the advanced rank 
 
 Of a long line successive of graduates 
 
 Yet to come, and to this our common 
 
 Theatre and fcrum are come up, 
 
 T' assume the laurels they have earn'd, 
 
 Receive the public commendations, 
 
 Take title deeds to honor and to praise ; 
 
 With chaplet rolls, with autographs 
 
 Official stamp'd ; certificates, 
 
 Engrav'd in highest art and beauty, 
 
 And thus enrich 'd by aid of gift munificent, 
 
 Received from patron, generous and wise, 
 
 Who thus a glory gains, nobler and more to be desir'd 
 
 Than his illustrious namesake e'er achiev'd 
 
 As conqueror of mighty Babylon ; 
 
 As on this vision bright I look and gaze, 
 
 And realize its value, truth, and certainty, 
 
 I'm fill'd with joy, and thanks, and gratulation, 
 
 And in conclusion must exclaim, as I began, 
 
 I 've long'd to see this happy day, 
 
 I see it, and am glad. 
 
 In 1865, Mr. Robert F. Leighton, of Tufts College, was appointed 
 principal, and in 1866 accepted the office of principal of Melrose high 
 school, with an increased salary. 
 
 Mr. Leighton was an excellent and popular teacher, and should not 
 have been allowed to leave for lack of compensation, for he was " cheap 
 at any price." 
 
 Mr. Leighton was succeeded by Henry B. Brown, who resigned in 
 1867. 
 
 Mr. Brown was succeeded by Benj. P. Snow, who resigned in 1869. 
 
 In 1869, Mr. Melvin J. Hill, from Biddeford, Me., a graduate of Bow- 
 doin College, was appointed principal, and still retains that position. 
 
 Miss Abbie F. Nye has been assistant teacher during the same 
 time.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 259 
 
 The following list includes the high school graduates up to and 
 including the year 1873 : 
 
 Emma Augusta Coffin. 
 Sarah Dorsett Hamblin. 
 Annie Evelyn Kingman. 
 Sarah Josephine Lane. 
 
 Ellen Anna Turnbull. 
 Ida A. Emerson. 
 Joseph Oliver Burditt. 
 
 Sarah H. Norcross. 
 Sophia F. Hamblin. 
 Carrie E. Stevens. 
 
 Hannah Maria Cartwright 
 Lucy Ella Evans. 
 Mary Louisa Mansfield. 
 Mary Ellen Nichols. 
 Lizzie Rebecca Preston. 
 
 1864. 
 
 1865. 
 
 1866. 
 None. 
 
 1867. 
 
 1868. 
 
 Ella Eliza Morrison. 
 Jane Smith Turnbull. 
 Emma M. Warren. 
 Mary Ella Winship. 
 
 J. P. Sheafe, Jr. 
 Alfred S. Stowell. 
 
 Clara A. Willis. 
 Peter Wiley. 
 
 Viola Sophronia Slocomb. 
 Alice Robina Turnbull. 
 Lizzie Roxanna Upham. 
 Frank Dillingham Freeman. 
 
 1869. 
 
 Addie E. Doe. 
 
 Cora Brown Bancroft 
 Ella Josephine Davis. 
 Clara Eliza Emerson. 
 
 Ella Ida Burditt 
 Laura Josephine Mansfield. 
 Edith Estelle Pattee. 
 Emma Frances Perkins. 
 
 Mary Anne Burditt 
 Lorette Pratt Emerson. 
 Frances Louise Hartshorne. 
 Julia Louise Hopkins. 
 Frances Isabella Hubbard. 
 Annie Rebecca Killorin. 
 
 1870. 
 
 1871. 
 
 1872. 
 None. 
 
 1873- 
 
 Hattie Eliza Emerson, 
 Emily Alice Lane. 
 Etta May Stearns. 
 
 Marry Ellen Tuttle. 
 Mary Annie Warren. 
 Alvin Francis Daland. 
 Arthur Gould Walton. 
 
 Hattie Grey Mansfield. 
 Alice Rosamond Phillips. 
 Emma Lucy Uphara. 
 George Covington Cooper. 
 Frank Louis Sullivan. 
 Selim Sheffield White.
 
 26o 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In 1847, the land and building, farmerly occupied by the South 
 Reading Academy, were purchased by the town for $2,200, and the 
 high school installed in the building. Two centre primary schools 
 also have rooms in this building. 
 
 In the same year, four new school-houses, costing about $2,000 each, 
 were erected in the North, South, East and West Districts, the same 
 that are now occupied by the schools in those districts. In 1853, the 
 present grammar school-house was erected in the high school-house yard, 
 at a cost of $4,000. It is a large and convenient building, containing 
 four spacious school-rooms and other accommodations. It is occupied 
 by the grammar school, centre senior and two centre junior schools. 
 
 The annual appropriations for schools by the town of South Read- 
 ing, since its incorporation, have been as follows : 
 
 1812 to 
 1815, 
 1816 to 
 1819, 
 1820 to 
 1823, 
 1824 to 
 1826 to 
 1831 to 
 1833 to 
 
 1835. 
 
 1836, 
 1837, 
 
 1838 to 
 1840 to 
 
 1844, 
 
 1845 to 
 
 1847, 
 1848, 
 
 1814, inclusive, 
 1818, inclusive, 
 1822, inclusive, 
 
 1825, inclusive, 
 1830, 
 
 1832, " 
 1834, " 
 
 1839, inclusive, 
 1843, " 
 
 1846, inclusive, 
 
 350 
 
 oo 
 
 184.9 to 1850, inclusive, 
 
 1,800 oo 
 
 500 
 
 00 
 
 1851, 
 
 2,100 oo 
 
 '560 
 
 00 
 
 1852 to 1853, inclusive, 
 
 2,400 oo 
 
 580 
 
 oo 
 
 1854, 
 
 2,800 oo 
 
 520 
 
 00 
 
 1855, 
 
 2,900 oo 
 
 300 
 
 oo 
 
 1856, 
 
 3,55 oo 
 
 500 
 
 oo 
 
 1857 to 1859, inclusive, 
 
 3,800 oo 
 
 510 
 
 oo 
 
 1860, 
 
 4,200 oo 
 
 57 
 
 00 
 
 1861 and 1862, 
 
 4,300 oo 
 
 580 
 
 oo 
 
 1863. These four years include 
 
 3,559 79 
 
 800 
 
 00 
 
 1864, income from State 
 
 4,125 87 
 
 850 
 
 00 
 
 1865, School Fund. 
 
 4,142 37 
 
 1,045 
 
 oo 
 
 1866, 
 
 .5.151 05 
 
 1,000 
 
 oo 
 
 1867, 
 
 5,500 oo 
 
 I,2CO 
 
 00 
 
 1868, 
 
 6,000 oo 
 
 1,400 
 
 00 
 
 1869, 
 
 6,500 oo 
 
 1, 6OO 
 
 oo 
 
 1870 and 1871, 
 
 7,500 oo 
 
 1, 800 
 
 oo 
 
 1872, 
 
 9,200 oo 
 
 IJ80 
 
 CO 
 
 1873, 
 
 12,500 oo 
 
 The school committee of South 
 
 Amos Boardman, 1812, '13. 
 
 Lilley Eaton, Jr., 1812. 
 
 Paul Sweetser, 1812. 
 
 Caleb Green, 1812. 
 
 John Sweetser, 1813. 
 
 Thomas Swain, 1813, '21, '29. 
 
 Benj'n Badger, 1814. 
 
 David Smith 1814. 
 
 Wm. Nichols, 1815 k> iXio^inclu- 
 
 sive. 
 James HaiLshom, i v i , '25, '28. 
 
 Reading have been : 
 
 Joseph Hartshorn, 1827. 
 
 Thaddeus P. Allen, 1827. 
 
 Benj. Emerson, 1828. 
 
 Hiram Sweetser, 1828. 
 
 Lemuel Sweetser, 1829, '30, '31. 
 
 Nathan Richardson, 1829. 
 
 Issacher Stowell, 1830. 
 
 Isaac Green, 1830. 
 
 P. H. Sweetser, 1831 to '33, inclu. 
 
 '54, '59 to '64, inclu., '66 to '68,, 
 
 inclu., '/o and '71.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF PEADING. 
 
 26l 
 
 John Waitt, 1815, '22. 
 
 James Walton, 1815. 
 
 Ebenezer Wiley, 1816. 
 
 Wm. Gould, 1816, '22, '31, '32. 
 
 Reuben Green, 1816. 
 
 John B. Atwell, 1817, '22. 
 
 Joseph Eaton, 1817. 
 
 Adam Hawkes, 1817. 
 
 Aaron Cowdrey, 1818. 
 
 Joshua Tweed, 1818, '23. 
 
 Barzillai Reed, 1819. 
 
 Joseph Atwell, 1818, '30, '31. 
 
 Ezekiel Oliver, 1819, '20. 
 
 Thomas Evans, 1819, '26. 
 
 Benja. Badger, Jr., 1820. 
 
 John Lambert, 1820. 
 
 Wm. Emerson, 1821. 
 
 Thaddeus Spaulding, 1821, '28, 
 
 '42, '43- 
 
 Zela Bartlett, 1821. 
 Wm. Patch, 1822. 
 Suel Winn, 1823, '29. 
 Daniel Green, 1823. 
 Benj. B. Wiley, 1823. 
 Thomas Emerson, Jr., 1824, '30, 
 
 '36, '37- 
 
 Moses Sweetser, Jr., 1824, '27. 
 Joseph Eaton, Jr., 1824, '29. 
 Asa L. Boardman, 1824. 
 Nathan Green, 1825. 
 Lilley Eaton, 1825 and '28, '31 to 
 
 '38 inclu., '41 to '49 inclu., '56 
 
 to '63, inclu. 
 Michael Burditt, 1826. 
 Ebenezer Hartshorn, 1826. 
 Leonard Walton, 1826. 
 E. M. Cunningham, 1*26. 
 Elam Potter, 1864. 
 Chester W. Eaton, 1864 to '69, inclu. 
 Charles R. Bliss, to 1865, '67, inclu., 
 
 '70, '71, '72, '73. 
 George Bullen, 1865 and '66. 
 James O. Boswell, 1867 to '69, inclu. 
 T. Albert Emerson, 1867 to 1870, 
 
 inclu. 
 
 Reuben Gerry, 1832. 
 
 Aaron Cowdrey, Jr., 1832. 
 
 Franklin Poole, 1833, '48. 
 
 Harrison Tweed, 1834. 
 
 Aaron Foster, 1835 to '48, inclu., 
 and '50. 
 
 Charles H. Hill, 1838. 
 
 Lemuel Sweetser, 1838. 
 
 Samuel A. Toothaker, 1839. 
 
 Reuben Emerson, 1839. 
 
 Loel Sweetser, 1840. 
 
 James M. Evans, 1840, '41, '58. 
 
 Edward Mansfield, 1843, '44 '58 
 to '68, inclu. 
 
 Jonas Evans, 184 to, '47, inclusive. 
 
 Wm. Heath, 1849. 
 
 Wm. W. Cutler, 1849. 
 
 Wm. H. Willis, 1850, '57. 
 
 Abel F. Hutchinson, 1850. 
 
 Alfred Emerson, 1851 to '53, inclu. 
 
 Benj. F. Tweed, 1851, '54, '56. 
 
 John H. Moore, 1851 to '53, inclu. 
 
 Daniel W. Phillips, 1852 to '55, inclu. 
 
 John S. March, 1854. 
 
 Joshua Walton, 1854. 
 
 Jonas Cowdrey, 1854. 
 
 Ellis Wiley, 1854, '57. 
 
 Benton Smith, 1855. 
 
 Everett Hart, 1856, '63 to '65, inclu. 
 
 Edmund E. Wiley, 1856. 
 
 James M. Sweetser, 1856, '64. 
 
 Elisha S. Oliver, 1856. 
 
 John \Vinship, 1857 to '62, inclu. 
 
 E. A. Upton, 1857, '6 1 to '66, in- 
 clu., '70, '71, '72. 
 
 Aaron A. Foster, 1859 to '64, inclu., 
 
 1870, '71. 
 
 James W. Willmarth, 1868 to 1870, 
 inclu. 
 
 Lucius Bcebe, 1870, '71, '72, '73. 
 
 Charles Jordan, 1870, '71. 
 Cyrus Wakefield, 1872, '73. 
 Thomas Winship, 1872, '73. 
 
 Samuel W. Abbott, 18/2, '73. 
 
 W. F. Potter, 1873. 
 
 The whole number of schools in Wakefield at present (1873), is 17. 
 Number of teachers, 23.
 
 2 62 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Whole number of children between five and fifteen years of 
 age, as reported May i, 1873 ....... 
 
 " " May i, 1872 
 
 Gain ....... 
 
 Being more than enough for three new schools of sixty each. 
 
 The following statistics are copied from the 36th annual State 
 Report of the Board of Education, just issued : 
 
 From Table ist During the financial year ending April i, 1872, 
 Wakefield expended $10 63.8 (ten dollars sixty-three cents and eight 
 mills) for the education of each child in the town between five and 
 fifteen years of age. 
 
 Her rank according to this table was the eighty-fourth town in the 
 State in a list of 342 towns, and the twenty-ninth in Middlesex County 
 in a list of fifty-six towns. 
 
 From Table 2d The percentage of taxable property appropriated 
 to the support of public schools for the same year was expressed by 
 the decimal .002^^. 
 
 According to this table her rank was 212 in the same list of 342 
 towns in the State, and thirty-three in the county list of fifty-six towns. 
 
 From Table 3d The average attendance of the children of Wakefield 
 at the public schools for the same year was .75 ^u per cent. 
 
 According to this table her rank in the State list of towns was 172. 
 In the county list, 41. 
 
 During the past two years, music has been taugh systematically in 
 our schools by a competent teacher, who gives instruction to every 
 school in town once a week. 
 
 By a recent act of Legislature, drawing is now made one of the 
 regular, or compulsory studies of all schools in the State. In compli- 
 ance with this law, the school committee have introduced drawing 
 into all the schools of Wakefield, instruction being given in this branch 
 also by a thorough teacher, specially employed for the purpose. 
 
 At the recent exhibitions of our public schools, at the close of the 
 summer term, good evidence was given of progress in both these 
 branches of instruction. 
 
 The establishment of a training school at the centre of the town is 
 also contemplated for the purpose of giving instruction to the young 
 ladies, graduates of the high school, in the art of teaching. 
 
 By a vote of the town in April, 1873, the school committee were 
 authorized to appoint a superintendent of schools.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 263 
 
 This action was made necessary in consequence of the rapid growth 
 of the town, and increase in the number of schools, and the fact that 
 their supervision could b*e better performed by one person, who could 
 devote his entire attention to them, than by several men of varied 
 pursuits, who could give but a small share of their time to the work. 
 
 At this last meeting, held July 16, 1873, the school committee 
 appointed Mr. Jonathan Kimball, of Chelsea, superintendent of ptblic 
 schools of Wakefield. 
 
 Mr. Kimball is well qualified for the work, having had many years 
 of experience as an educator, and having been for several years super- 
 intendent of schools in Salem, Mass. 
 
 The school history of the present town of Reading, since 1811, we 
 have condensed from the Reading School Report of 1868. 
 
 In 1818, the South Parish of Reading became legally organized as 
 a separate school district, leaving the North Parish to conduct its own 
 school affairs independently. 
 
 This new district, it seems, had at this time but two schools and two 
 school-houses one school-house in the central part, and one in the 
 westerly part of the district. But this year the district made an arrange- 
 ment with the parish, which had just erected a new meeting-house, for 
 the removal of the old meeting-house from the Common to the corner 
 of Union and Middle Streets, and paid a portion of the expense of 
 repairing and fitting up the same for public meetings and school-rooms, 
 in consideration that the district should have school room therein, and 
 that the parish should relinquish all claim upon the school-houses in 
 the district 
 
 In 1827, the town divided this district into three distinct districts, 
 viz. Centre, West, and North; and in 1834 the South District was 
 established. These districts became legally organized, and conducted 
 their own school affairs until the districts were abolished by vote of the 
 town of Reading in 1864. 
 
 In 1835, the Centre District hired additional room in the old church 
 building, which was now named " Union Hall " ; and in 1840 secured 
 and fitted up the whole of the lower story of said building for school 
 purposes. 
 
 In 1848, more school accommodations being wanted in this district, 
 a very lively contest arose in reference to a location of a new school- 
 house. After a prolonged struggle, the matter was finally settled by the 
 erection of the house at the corner of Union and John Streets, where it 
 still remains.
 
 264 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In 1856, the Centre District purchased of the parish the Union Hall 
 building, since which the whole building has been used for educational 
 purposes ; and, although it is a hundred years old, it is said to be the 
 stanchest wooden building in the town at the present time. 
 
 The South District, established in 1834, erected the same year a 
 school-house on the corner of Summer and Walnut Streets, which was 
 occtlpied by this district until 1853, when it was moved to Washington 
 Street, and converted into a dwelling ; and now (1868) occupied by 
 Lorenzo D. White. During the same year (1853) their present house 
 was erected upon the same locality, and accommodates two schools. 
 
 In 1836, there was quite an animated movement in the westerly part 
 of the parish, in favor of a new school district in that part of the town. 
 
 The people of " Slab City," so called in the school report, presented 
 petition after petition to the town for this object, but the town peremp- 
 torily refused to grant the request. Whereupon the people appealed to 
 the General Court. This appeal produced the desired effect. The 
 town yielded. A new district was organized in this locality, and a 
 school-house erected on Grove Street, a little west of Forest Street, 
 which was used until 1866, when it was sold, and a new house erected 
 for this school by the town (the districts having in the mean time been 
 abolished) on Lowell Street, near the intersection of Washington Street, 
 at a cost, with the lot, of $3,000. 
 
 The North District, in 1844, was divided, and a new school-house 
 was built on Main Street, near the residence of George Batchelder, Esq. 
 
 The year 1856 is notable for the establishment of the Reading high 
 school. The North Parish of Reading was incorporated as a distinct 
 town in 1853. 
 
 For several years prior to this, efforts had been made to establish a 
 high school, but the people of the north part of the town being a scat- 
 tered population, were, as a matter of course, opposed to a project 
 which would be of but little benefit to them, and so every effort failed. 
 But, after the setting off of North Reading, the establishment of such a 
 school began to be agitated in earnest. 
 
 It continued to be an exciting question in town-meetings until 1856, 
 when the town voted to establish a high school. This school was kept 
 for several years in the " Union Hall Building," which was hired for 
 the purpose, and for a while in " Cottage Hall," in " Mudyille," so 
 called ; but, in 1867, there was erected for the use of the high and 
 grammar schools, on the very spot occupied by a school-house a hun- 
 dred years before, a new structure, spacious, substantial, and elegant, 
 an ornament to the village, and a credit to the town.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 This fine building is sixty feet long by fifty-five feet wide, and con- 
 tains, on the first floor, two school-rooms, forty feet by twenty-eight feet 
 each, and a room for the town library, forty feet by fifteen feet ; the 
 second floor contains the high school room, fifty-eight feet long and 
 forty feet wide, and two recitation rooms. The house is heated by two 
 furnaces in the cellar, and all the rooms are ventilated in the most 
 approved manner. Its cost was about $12,000. It is located on'the 
 Common, sixty feet west of the " Old South Meeting-house," on a beau- 
 tiful and elevated spot, and makes a very imposing appearance. 
 
 The building committee of the town, to whom much credit is due 
 for the wisdom and skill with which they planned and executed this 
 enterprise, were Henry G. Richardson, F. H. Knight, J. Henry Adden, 
 Nathan P. Pratt, Edward Appleton, Gardner French, and Ephraim Hunt. 
 
 The house was dedicated Dec. 9, 1867, with appropriate public exer- 
 cises. A dedicatory prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Willcox, of 
 Reading. The keys were passed with appropriate remarks from the 
 hands of Nathan P. Pratt, Esq., the president of the occasion, through 
 those of the chairman of the selectmen of the town, Wm. J. Wightman, 
 Esq., and of Hiram Barrus, chairman of the school committee, to E. 
 H. Peabody, Esq., principal of the high school. 
 
 The occasion was honored with the presence of Hon. Joseph White, 
 Secretary of the Board of Education, and pf Hon. J. D. Philbrick, 
 superintendent of the public schools of Boston, who made interesting 
 remarks ; addresses were also made by Hon. H. P. Wakefield, Rev. 
 Dr. Barrows, and F. H. Knight and Andrew Howes, Esquires. 
 
 In 1864, the town took possession of all the property of the several 
 districts, allowing them therefor the sum of $12,476.64; and having 
 assumed all the liabilities of the districts, made a tax to cover the 
 balance, and remitted to each tax-payer in his annual town tax his pro- 
 portion of the amount due his district for the property surrendered ; 
 thus abolishing the district system. The result of this action has 
 proved quite satisfactory and beneficial. 
 
 HISTORICAL.* 
 
 The High School was first established in this town in 1856. There 
 was no prescribed course of study for several years, and no class 
 graduated till 1863. '^he first principal of the school was Henry 
 A. Littell, who remained till near the close of 1858. He was succeeded 
 
 * This historical record of the Reading schools has been furnished since the former 
 was written, and may prove, in part, a repetition. 
 34
 
 2 66 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 by Mr. Philip C. Porter. Mr. R. B. Clarke, now of Fitchburg, taught 
 during the summer and fall terms in 1860, when Mr. L. B. Pillsbury 
 was employed for the winter term. He remained in charge of the 
 school till the close of the spring term in 1864. Mr. George L. Bax- 
 ter taught for two terms, and Mr. Charles R. Brown was employed to 
 succeed him. Mr. Brown remained here only a year. Mr. George 
 W. Adams was employed in December, 1865, but resigned in three 
 weeks. Mr. Edward H. Peabody next succeeded, and remained till the 
 close of the spring term in 1868. Mr. Cyrus Cole, the present teacher, 
 was then selected for the position which he still so acceptably fills. 
 
 The first assistant teacher in the high school, Miss Emeline P. 
 Wakefield, was employed in 1865-66 ; Miss Ruth L. Pratt, 1866-67 ; 
 Miss Mary H. Howes, 1867-68 ; Miss Josie Nelson and Mrs. C. A. 
 Soule, 1868-69 > Miss Rissie L. Hoyt, 1869-70 ; Miss Mary H. 
 Howes, 1870-71. Miss Susie E. Wade held the position for two terms, 
 when she was succeeded by Miss Martha Keith. 
 
 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. 
 
 I86 3 . 
 
 Frederic Bancroft. S. Maria Parker. 
 
 Esther Emerson. Lena A. Wakefield. 
 
 1864. 
 Sarah E. Pratt Emma Prescott 
 
 1865. 
 
 Mary S. Brown. Lizzie M. Wakefield. 
 
 Ella M. Pinkham. Hattie L. Weston. 
 
 Ruth L. Pratt. Gilman L. Parker. 
 
 Emeline P. Wakefield. 
 
 1866. 
 
 Bella M. Badger. Fred. O. Carter. 
 
 Melvina Bancroft. Priscilla Leathe. 
 
 Edna S. Barrus. Clara Richardson. 
 
 Flora A. Buxton. 
 
 1867. 
 
 Sarah E. Austin. Josie Nelson. 
 
 Mary H. Howes. Eliza J. Norris. 
 
 Evelyn S. Foster. Ella R. Parker. 
 
 Ella L. Kingman. Sidney P. Pratt 
 
 1868. 
 
 Ella J. Bassett Nathan D. Pratt 
 
 Clara E. Bancroft. Austin P. Cristy. 
 
 Sarah W. Richardson.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 267 
 
 1869. 
 
 A. Newell Howes. 
 Maria J. Bancroft, 
 Alice S. Drown. 
 Phebe G. Ilarnden. 
 
 Herbert Barrows. 
 George II. Barrus. 
 Frank E. Hutchins. 
 
 Frank E. Appleton. 
 Wilder C. Moulton. 
 Willie I. Ruggles. 
 Arthur W. Temple. 
 Lizzie A. Burrill. 
 Lizzie F. B. Clark. 
 Margaret F. Clark. 
 
 Walter B. Barrows. 
 Jennie R. Barrus. 
 Ida I. Bassett 
 Mary E. Bucke. 
 Nellie Burrill. 
 H. Irving Converse. 
 Belle P. Dinsmoore. 
 Emma Eames. 
 George Louis Flint 
 E. II. Gowing. 
 Mina W. Hall. 
 
 Morton Barrows. 
 Emma F. Eames. 
 Nellie Minot. 
 Mary E. Nichols. 
 Annie B. Parker. 
 
 L. Maria Lovejoy. 
 Abbie M. Parker. 
 Abbie S. Perkins. 
 Celia Temple. 
 
 1870. 
 
 Ella F. Clark. 
 Ida George. 
 Anna M. Hutchins. 
 
 1871. 
 
 1872. 
 
 M. Lizzie Day. 
 Hannie L. Hill. 
 Sarah L. Stoodley. 
 Z. Abbie Wakefield. 
 Sarah A. Weston. 
 Nellie G. Willcox. 
 
 Horace B. Holdeo. 
 Cynthia E. Hollis. 
 Addie B. Howes. 
 Charles II. Hutchinson. 
 Lillie F. Loring. 
 L. Gertrude Mclntire. 
 Hattie A. Parker. 
 Lizzie M. Penney. 
 Hattie B. Pratt 
 Minnie A. Willcor. 
 Eristina Whittier. 
 
 '873- 
 
 Florence Parker. 
 Ada L. Safford. 
 Ella F. Wakefield. 
 Ida R. Whittier. 
 
 GRADUATES OF TEACHERS' NORMAL SCHOOLS, AND STUDENTS. 
 
 Bridgewater Normal School. 
 Lena A. Wakefield. Ella J. Bassett 
 
 Esther Emerson. 
 Sarah E. Pratt 
 Ella R. Parker. 
 Abbie M. Parker. 
 
 Emma Prescott 
 Cassie Barrows. 
 Maria J. Bancroft
 
 258 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Salem Normal School. 
 
 Evelyn S. Foster. Gertie L. Mclntire. 
 
 Mary Jane Spear. Minnie A. Willcox. 
 
 Boston Normal School. 
 
 Alice S. Brown. Jessie McDonald. 
 
 Abbie S. Perkins. 
 
 The annual appropriations for schools by the town of Reading, since 
 1811 (which included North Reading until 1853), have been: 
 
 1812 to 
 
 1820, inclusive, 
 
 $650 oo 
 
 1858, 
 
 $2,500 oo 
 
 1821, 
 
 
 600 oo 
 
 
 
 1822 to 
 
 1832, inclusive, 
 
 700 oo 
 
 1859 to 1860, inclusive, 
 
 3,000 oo 
 
 1833 " 
 
 1834, " 
 
 900 oo 
 
 1861 " 1863, 
 
 2,500 oo 
 
 1835, 
 
 
 ,000 00 
 
 1864, 
 
 3,500 oo 
 
 1836 to 
 
 1839, inclusive, 
 
 ,200 00 
 
 1865, 
 
 4,000 oo 
 
 1840 " 
 
 1845, 
 
 ,300 oo 
 
 1866, 
 
 4,500 oo 
 
 1846, 
 
 
 ,500 oo 
 
 1867, 
 
 4,750 oo 
 
 1847, 
 
 
 ,800 oo 
 
 1868, 
 
 5,000 oo 
 
 184810 
 
 1851, inclusive, : 
 
 2,000 00 
 
 1869, 
 
 5,500 oo 
 
 1852, 
 
 
 5,500 oo 
 
 1870, 
 
 7,000 oo 
 
 1853, 
 
 
 5,000 00 
 
 1871, 
 
 7,000 oo 
 
 1854 to 
 
 1856, inclusive, j 
 
 1,500 oo 
 
 1872, 
 
 S,ooo oo 
 
 1857, 
 
 
 j,6oo oo 
 
 1873, 
 
 8,500 oo 
 
 The school committee of the present town of Reading, since 1811, 
 have been : 
 
 John Weston, 1812. Theron Parker, 1836. 
 
 Thaddeus B. Pratt, 1812. Isaac Woodbury, 1842. 
 
 James Weston, Jr., 1813. Horace P. Wakefield, 1846, '65 to 
 
 Jonathan Baldwin, 1813, '22. '67. 
 
 Wm. Parker, 1814, '15. Alfred A. Prescott, 1847. 
 
 Timothy Hartshorn, 1814, George Minot, 1848. 
 
 Amos Parker, 1815. John Cookson, 1849, '50. 
 
 Abijah Weston, 1816. Richard F. Fuller, 1852. 
 
 John Damon, 1816, '21. Wm. J. Wightman, 1852, '53, '55, 
 
 David Pratt, 1817. '56, '68, '69-74. 
 
 Daniel Damon, Jr., 1817. Stillman E. Parker, 1854 to '57, 
 
 Jethro Richardson, 1818. '61 to '65, '68, '69-74. 
 
 Eben D. Symonds, 1818. Henry F. Parker, 1854. 
 
 Jeremiah Nichols, 1819. Nathan P. Pratt, 1855. 
 
 Jonas Parker, Jr., 1819. Robert Kemp, 1855, '56. 
 
 Daniel Temple, 1819. Edward K. Fuller, 1855, '56. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, 1820. Isaac Pitman, 1857, '58. 
 
 Aaron Parker, Jr., 1820. Edward Appleton, 1858. 
 
 Obed Symonds, 1821. Ignatius Sargent, 1858. 
 
 Joshua Prescott, 1821. John H. Bancroft, 1859 to '64.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 269 
 
 Thomas Parker, 1822. 
 
 George Batchelder, 1823. 
 
 Charles Temple, 1823. 
 
 John Nichols, 1824. 
 
 Thomas Sweetser, 1824. 
 
 John Adden, 1824. 
 
 David Ball, 1825. 
 
 Joseph Spokesfield, 1825. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, Jr., 1825. 
 
 John Emerson, 1826. 
 
 Jabez D. Parker, 1826. 
 
 Ambrose Kingman, 1826. 
 
 Jarcd Reid, 182710 1832, inclusive, 
 
 John Batchelder, 4th, 1828, '31 to 
 
 '41, '43 to '54, '57 to 62. 
 Joseph M. Driver, 1829, '30. 
 Kendall Davis, 1833, '34, '36, '51. 
 Aaron Pickett, 1835, '37 to '45, '47. 
 
 Horatio N. Gate, 1859, '60. 
 
 Nathan R. Morse, 1863 to '65. 
 
 Hiram Barrus, 1865 to 1874. 
 
 Benjamin M. Hartshorn, 1865 10*67. 
 
 Ephraim Hunt, 1867, '68, '69, '70. 
 
 Miss Anna E. Appleton, 1868, '69. 
 " Emily Ruggles, 1868, '69. 
 
 F. H. Knight, 1868, '69. 
 
 Chas. B. Mclntire, 1863, '69, '70, 
 71, '72. 
 
 Mrs. Edna S. Parker, 1868, '69. 
 
 Miss Ellen M. Temple, 1868 (re- 
 signed). 
 
 J. R. Morton. i36g, '70. '71. 
 
 C. D. Wright, 1872, '73, '74. 
 
 A. E. Winship, l3'2, '73. 
 
 Sidney B. Pratt, 1873, '74. 
 
 NORTH READING. 
 
 That part of old Reading which now constitutes the town of North 
 Reading began to be settled about the year 1680. In 1685 it contained 
 only eight adult males. The earliest reference to schooling in this part 
 of the town is contained in the vote of the town of Reading passed in 
 1693, which authorized the establishment of a free school in the town, 
 and appropriated for its support seven pounds, one pound of which was 
 to be for those who live on the north side of Ipswich River, if they shall 
 set up a school for reading and writing, with discretionary power to the 
 selectmen to increase the expenditure in the same proportion. 
 
 No school-house, it is believed, was erected here for many years after 
 this. In 1731, we find that a committee was chosen "to provide a 
 place to keep school in." 
 
 In 1745, the North Parish voted to build a school-house during the 
 present season. It is doubtful ^whether this vote was carried out at 
 that time, for, in 1754, the parish voted "that some particular persons 
 have liberty to set a school-house on the land near the meeting-house, 
 provided they do it on their own cost and charges." A house erected 
 on the Common, in accordance with this vote, is supposed to be the 
 first school-house of North Reading. 
 
 School-houses were erected soon after in the north, east, west, and 
 south parts of the town, probably by voluntary contributions. After 
 the erection of their second meeting-house in 1752, their first meeting- 
 house was removed a short distance to land since owned by the Grosve-
 
 270 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 nor family, and there used for a school-house a few years, probably 
 until the erection of their first school-house. 
 
 The first school-house in the west part of the parish stood on the 
 north side of the road, east of the residence of Geo. Flint, Esq., and 
 was burned about 1840. It was probably erected about 1786. 
 
 The first school-house in the north part of the parish is thus described 
 by Dea. Addison Flint, who attended school in it in 1785 or '6, and his 
 description of this house will answer, perhaps, to furnish an idea of the 
 other ancient houses. He says: "It was somewhat longer than wide, 
 without clapboards, ceiled inside, with benches against the ceiling on 
 three sides ; the writing-table in front of these seats, on cross legs, 
 made of thick plank; movable benches for small children; small oak 
 table in the centre, with a round top ; arm-chair for the teacher ; two 
 windows in front, one in the east and one in the west side ; fireplace to 
 take in four feet wood, with a dark hole against the chimney to put bad 
 boys in." 
 
 The school-house in the east part of the parish, that stood in the 
 southeast corner of the grave-yard, and that was burned in 1868, is sup- 
 posed to be the first school-house in that district. 
 
 The first school-house on the south side of the river, in what is now 
 Franklin District, stood between the residence of Maj. Daniel Flint and 
 the Whittredge place. 
 
 The parish was divided many years ago into four regularly organized 
 school districts, and in 1834 these contained polls and children as 
 follows: 
 
 No. i (Centre), 64 polls and 154 children under 20 years of age. 
 " 2 (West), 48 " " 83 " " 
 
 " 3 (North), 42 " " 74 " " " " 
 
 " 4 (East), 46 " " 46 
 
 N. B. Franklin District was set off from No. i in 1851. 
 
 The High School was established in 1868 ; the Methodist meeting- 
 house was purchased for the use of this school, and Miss M. D. Chap- 
 man appointed principal. 
 
 The people of North Reading are worthy of much commendation for 
 their public spirit and regard for education in thus early establishing 
 this advanced school, while their population and valuation were com- 
 paratively moderate. The school was especially fortunate in securing 
 for its first principal a faithful and accomplished teacher, and the estab- 
 lisment is already " regarded as an era that marked a true ' revival of 
 learning ' in the town."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 2 7 I 
 
 The town of North ^Reading was set off from the town of Reading in 
 1853, and its annual appropriations for schools have since been as 
 follows : 
 
 700 each year. 
 850 " " 
 1,000 " 
 
 1,100 " " 
 
 1,200 " " 
 
 * 
 
 The school committee, for what is now North Reading, from 1812 
 to the time of its incorporation in 1853, have been as follows: 
 
 1 853, '4 and '5. 
 1856, 
 
 1857, 
 1858, '59 and '60, 
 1861, 
 
 900 each year. 
 1,000 " " 
 1,200 " " 
 
 I.OCO " " 
 
 1,049 " 
 
 1862 and '3, 
 1864, '5 and '6, 
 1867, 
 1868, 
 1869, 
 
 Daniel Graves, 1812, '13, '14, '15 
 
 and 1 6. 
 
 William Eaton, 1812, '18, and '26. 
 Thomas Sawyer, 1813 and '14. 
 Joseph Batchelder, 1815. 
 OKver Swain, 1816. 
 Thomas Kayner, 1817. 
 George Flint, 1818. 
 Adam Flint, 1818. 
 Jacob Goodwin, 1819 and '20. 
 Aaron Upton, 1819 and '20. 
 Addison Flint, 1819 and '28. 
 Oliver Swain, Jr., 1820. 
 Daniel Flint, 1821, '22, '24 and '36. 
 Benj. Holt, 1821, '22 and '25. 
 Joshua Putnam, 1821. 
 James Taylor, 1822. 
 John Hayward, Jr., 1822 and '25. 
 D. A. Grosvenor, 1823, '24, '26 
 
 and '33. 
 
 David Damon, 1823. 
 Samuel Eaton, 1823. 
 
 Amos Batchelder, 1824, 
 
 Levi Nichols, 1825. 
 
 Asa G. Sheldon, 1825. 
 
 John Emerson, Jr., 1826. 
 
 David Batchelder, 1826. 
 
 Cyrus Teirce, 1827. 
 
 Jacob W. Eastman, 1829 and '30. 
 
 Joseph M. Driver, 1829. 
 
 Moses Webster, 1831. 
 
 George Matthews, 1832. 
 
 Grosvenor, Jr.. 1834 and '41. 
 
 James D. Lewis, 1835. 
 
 John U. Stone, 1836. 
 
 Wm. Heath, i 37, '38, '39 and '40. 
 
 Samuel Bennett, 1842. 
 
 J. N. Sykes, 1843. 
 
 Eph'm W. Allen, 1844, '45 and '46. 
 
 Thomas B. Eaton, 1847. 
 
 F. E. Cleaves, 1848 and '50. 
 
 Samuel Lamson, 1849. 
 
 F. F. Root, Esq., 185! and '2. 
 
 George Guilford, 1852. 
 
 The school committee of North Reading, since its incorporation in 
 1853, have been as follows: 
 
 Earl Guilford, 1853, '57 and '58. 
 Asa C. Bronson, 1853, '54. 
 F. F. Root, 1853, '55, '63, '64. 
 T. N. Jones, 1854, '55, '60, 6i, 
 
 '67, '68, '69. 
 
 Frederic Abbott, 1854, '60, '61, '62. 
 H. R. Parmenter, 1855. 
 Geo. K. Parker, 1856, '57, '58, 
 
 '66, '67, '68, '69. 
 S. P. Breed, 1856, '59. 
 Eliab Stone, 1856. 
 
 James L. Eaton, 1856, '59, '61, 
 
 '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, 
 George Allen, 1856. 
 Joel A. Abbott, 1857. 
 Geo. H. Flint, 1858. 
 John B. Campbell, 1860. 
 Geo. F. Flint, 1862, '63. 
 Wm. K. Davy, 1865, '66, '67. 
 Elias Chapman, 1868, '69. 
 David G. Eaton, 1864, '65.
 
 2/2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 A private academy was opened in North Reading about 1825, 
 through the influence and liberality of Col. Daniel Flint, in a building 
 erected for the purpose, which flourished for several years. Mr. Gregg 
 was the first teacher, succeeded by Mr. Webster, Mr. Coffin, and John 
 Batchelder, Esq. 
 
 Statistics of the schools in the three towns, in 1867-8 : 
 
 WAKEFIELD. 
 
 Thirteen schools and fourteen teachers. Number of children be- 
 tween 5 and 15 in 1868, 702 ; rank, as compared with other towns, 
 in 1867-8, according to appropriations, in State, 54; according to ap- 
 propriations, in County, 21; according to valuation, in State, 85; 
 according to valuation, in County, 18 ; according to attendance, in 
 State, 208 ; according to attendance in County, 42. 
 
 READING. 
 
 Fourteen schools and fourteen teachers. Number of children be- 
 tween 5 and 15, in 1867, 561 ; rank as compared with other towns, in 
 1867-8, according to appropriations, in State, 68 ; according to appro- 
 priations, in County, 26 ; according to valuation, in State, 59 ; accord- 
 ing to valuation, in County, 15 ; according to attendance, in State, 66 ; 
 according to attendance, in County, 15. 
 
 NORTH READING. 
 
 Six schools, six teachers. Number of children between 5 and 15, in 
 1868, 212 ; rank as compared with other towns, in 1867-8, according 
 to appropriations, in State, 256 ; according to appropriations, in County, 
 50; according to valuation, in State, 291 ; according to valuation, in 
 County, 45 ; according to attendance, in State, 136 ; according to 
 attendance, in County, 26.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 273 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MILITARY AFFAIRS. 
 
 THE world has ever loved heroes and heroines those intrepid and 
 chivalrous spirits, who, thoughtless of personal consequences, have been 
 earnest and zealous to face labor, suffering, dangers, and even death, to 
 assist the afflicted, resist oppression, defend innocence, rescue the cap- 
 tive, and support the right. 
 
 To praise and honor such persons, eloquence has employed its richest 
 and loftiest expression ; poetry and music have composed and chanted 
 their sweetest songs. Prominent on the page of history of all nations, 
 in all ages, is the record of the triumphal honors, the princely gifts, the 
 smiles of beauty, and homage and worship even, that have been paid to 
 the brave and magnanimous. 
 
 Especially have these honors been bestowed on those military heroes 
 and victors, who, for the safety and defence of their homes, their loved 
 ones, their religion, and their country's liberties, have been ready to 
 buckle on the martial armor, to train themselves in warlike arts, and to 
 go forth to deeds of noble daring and splendid achievement. 
 
 In the early settlement of New England, a military organization was 
 indispensable for protecting the first inhabitants from Indian and other 
 hostile foes. 
 
 In successive years, resort to this strong national arm has been often 
 had, to suppress insurrections, to contend against foreign aggression, 
 and to conquer rebellion. 
 
 Let us not neglect to pay due honor to our own ancestral brave and 
 
 martial heroes. 
 
 Let's find the fields, where our ld sires 
 
 Were train'd for martial glory, 
 And learn'd to face the hostile fires, 
 
 And write their names in story ; 
 Inspect the firelock, pouch and horn, 
 
 The priming-wire and duster, 
 The two spare flints, and old canteen, 
 
 At trainings and at muster. 
 
 The first military corps of Reading was formed, probably, at the time 
 of the town's incorporation, in 1644, and was called the "Reading 
 35
 
 274 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Infantry Company." Its first captain was Richard Walker. Capt. 
 Walker lived on the farm recently owned by Maj. Suel Winn, in the 
 westerly part of what is now Wakefield ; had the reputation of being a 
 brave and talented officer ; was in many conflicts with the Indians, and 
 had some narrow escapes ; for Johnson, the Woburn historian, says of 
 him, that, while skirmishing at Saugus, 
 
 " He fought the Eastern Indians there, 
 Whose poisoned arrows fill'd the air, 
 And two of which these savage foes 
 Lodg'd safe in Captain Walker's clothes.' 1 '' 
 
 Capt. Walker afterwards removed to Lynn. The second captain was 
 Jonathan Poole, who lived on the place now occupied by Wakefield's 
 Rattan Works. He, too, is represented as a brave and skilful warrior, 
 and eminent, also, in civil life. He died suddenly in middle life. 
 
 The third and fourth captains were John Brown and Jeremiah Swain. 
 Capt. Brown, more conspicuous on the ancient record as Esquire Brown, 
 seems to have been more adapted to civil than military life. He long 
 occupied a high and honorable position among his fellow-townsmen. 
 Capt. Swain, afterwards Major Swain, had a high military reputation 
 throughout the colony ; he was a physician, and was a useful citizen, 
 both in civil and professional life. 
 
 The following is a list of the successive commanders of this ancient 
 corps ; it may not be a complete list, or in exact chronological order : 
 
 Richard Walker. Thomas Green. 
 
 Jonathan Poole. David Smith. 
 
 John Browne. Amos Boardman (and Colonel). 
 
 Jeremiah Swain (and Major). Nathaniel Cowdrey. 
 
 Ephraim Savage. Thomas Emerson. 
 
 Hananiah Parker (Lieut Commanding). William Johnson. 
 
 Thomas Bancroft. James Gould. 
 
 Kendall Parker. . Lowell Fowler. 
 
 Joseph Fitch. Archibald Smith. 
 
 Ebenezer Bancroft. John Waitt. 
 
 Joseph Burnap. Peter B. Wiley. 
 
 Thomas Nichols. Joshua Burnham. 
 
 Thomas Eaton. William Emerson. 
 
 Samuel Bancroft. Jesse Carter. 
 
 David Green (and Colonel). Henry Knight. 
 
 Ebenezer Nichols (and Colonel). Ira Wiley. 
 
 John Goodwin. William Patch. 
 
 William Bryant (and Colonel). Henry A. Foote. 
 
 Benj. Brown (Colonel and General). Lowell Sweetser. 
 
 Nathan Parker. Asaph Evans. 
 
 John Walton.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 275 
 
 The aforesaid company belonged in that part of the town that is now 
 Wakefield, and our earliest recollections of this old organization refer to 
 the times when it was commanded by Lowell Fowler, some sixty years 
 ago, and by his immediate successors. Capt. Fowler, as we remember 
 him, was a tall, good-looking, and energetic officer; and his successors, 
 Archibald' Smith, John Waitt, Peter B. Wiley, and Joshua Burnham (a 
 remarkably handsome and accomplished officer), were all noticeab'e 
 as being full of military spirit, zealous in the discharge of their 
 duties, and greatly beloved by the company. 
 
 The old training-days of the company were grand occasions, espe^ 
 cially during the war of 1812-15, when tne ^ fire of the Revolution 
 seemed to be rekindled. To be sure they did not have a big tent, in 
 which to invite their select friends to take a genteel repast, but they 
 had " Hale's Tavern " (a noted inn in those days, but now no more) ; 
 and who, among the boys of those times, does not remember the ten- 
 quart pails of grog and punch, with the gingerbread, crackers, and 
 cheese, that the non-commissioned officers, each with a pail in one 
 hand and a basket in the other, used to bring out from Hale's commis- 
 sary stores to the company at rest, and waiting on the Common, and 
 when all were invited, soldiers and spectators, men and boys, to help 
 themselves ? 
 
 And did they not all imbibe the martial spirit of those occasions, and 
 become filled with courage and patriotism? 
 
 Neither had they, in those times, a German band and French horns 
 to animate the troops, or excite the admiration of the multitude ; but 
 thev did have Majors Caleb Green and William Gould on the fife, and 
 Majors Jeremiah Green and Samuel Poole and Aaron (late Dea.) Bry- 
 ant, on the small drum, and Hartshorn (Joseph) on the bass-drum, all 
 eminent in their respective departments, to give them Yankee Doodle, 
 in strains " that made the welkin ring." Well, this veteran company 
 lived on, protecting our homes and our institutions, contributing lib- 
 erally of its numbers to the public service, in the war aforesaid, and 
 furnishing honors and titles to many heroic men, until about the year 
 1840, when this hitherto active old corps became, at last, a lifeless 
 corpse, Capt. Evans, its last (but not least) commander, having enjoyed 
 the honor of " being in at the death," and burying it with the honors of 
 war. 
 
 Military companies were also organized in the North and West 
 Parishes, probably at about the times of their respective parochial incor- 
 porations, viz. at the North Parish in 1713, and in the West in 1770. 
 These companies long flourished, and were commanded, in successive
 
 276 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 years, by the most eminent and efficient men of the respective parishes. 
 They existed until the old militia system, which enrolled and trained 
 every able-bodied white male inhabitant, between the ages of eighteen 
 and forty-five, by common consent languished and died, about 1840. 
 
 The following are lists of the successive captains of these companies, 
 so far as we have learned them : . 
 
 WEST PARISH. 
 
 James Bancroft. Daniel Pratt. 
 
 Jona. Weston. Caleb Wakefield. 
 
 Nathan Parker, and Col. Charles Parker. 
 
 Joseph Bancroft. George Bancroft. 
 
 Abijah Weston. Daniel Damon, Jr. 
 
 Benjamin Pratt. Parker Bancroft. 
 
 Edmund Parker. Geo. Batchelder. 
 
 Jona. Temple. Parker. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, Jr. 
 
 At about the time of the commencement of the present century, a 
 company of cavalry or light horse was formed, whose members belonged 
 to Woburn, Reading, and vicinity. 
 
 In 1658, the Court gave liberty to Lynn, Reading, and Rumney 
 Marsh (now Chelsea), "to raise a troop of horse, and choose their 
 officers." We know nothing further of this troop. The cavalry com- 
 pany, formed about 1800, was a handsomely uniformed and well-disci- 
 plined squadron. Of its captains or commanders, who were residents 
 of Reading and Wakefield, we are able to name the following : 
 
 Aaron Damon. Thomas Emerson, Jr. 
 
 Noah Smith. Jonas Parker. 
 
 James Hartshorn (and Col.). Elijah Upton (and Maj ). 
 
 Lemuel Sweetser (and Col.). Suel Winn (and Maj.). 
 
 About the year 1812, a company of riflemen was organized in Stone- 
 ham, Reading, and vicinity, called the "Washington Rifle Greens"; 
 the larger part of the members of which belonged at first in Stoneham, 
 but included a considerable number from South Reading. Its first 
 three commissioned officers all belonged to Stoneham. Capt. Jonathan 
 Hay, its first captain, was a very efficient commander. 
 
 This company was called into the United States service, during the 
 war of 1812, and was stationed on Dorchester Heights. It was long 
 the " crack " company of the vicinity. By degrees, in the admission of 
 new members, it appeared that a majority of its members were living
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 277 
 
 out of Stoneham, principally in South Reading and Woburn. After 
 the formation of a light infantry company, in Woburn, the rifle company 
 became substantially a South Reading company. It changed its uni- 
 form about this time from green to gray, and was thereafter known as 
 the " Washington Rifle Grays." It was long a popular organization, 
 and went down with the military system of the State. 
 Its captains, belonging to South Reading, have been: 
 
 1. Wm. Deadman. 5. Adam Wiley. 
 
 2. Samuel Wiley, Jr. 6. Samuel Kingman. 
 
 3. James Brown. 7. John Wiley 2d (and Major). 
 
 4. Tho. Parker (and Col.). 8. Daniel S. Oliver. 
 
 The following is a Roll of the Company while in camp at South 
 Boston : 
 
 Inspection and Muster Poll of Capt. Jonathan Hay's Company of Rifle- 
 men, of Maj. Wm. Ward's Battalion in Gen. Maltby's Brigade of the 
 detached Corps, under Maj. -Gen' I Whiton. {Oct. 25, 1814.) 
 
 JONATHAN HAY, Captain. 
 JOHN H. WRIGHT, Lieut 
 WM. RICHARDSON, Ensign. 
 
 Sergeants : Wm. Deadman. Privates : James Emerson. 
 
 ' Benja. Gerry, Jr. Joseph Eaton. 
 
 " Samuel Richardson. Benja. Flint 
 
 " Wm. Bryant. Samuel Gerry. 
 
 Corporals : Abraham Marshall. Amos Howard. 
 
 Ephraim Peirce. Pierpont Hay. 
 
 Samuel Wiley. Simon Jones. 
 
 Jesse Converse. Henry Knight 
 
 Musicians : Jedde Brown. Charles Lewis. 
 
 Wm. Holden. James Leathe. 
 
 Joseph Mathews. Asahel Porter. 
 
 Tho. Parker. Timothy Pierce. 
 
 Nath'l Richardson. Alpha Richardson. 
 
 Privates : James Brown. Jonas M. Rowe. 
 
 Jeremiah Converse. Frederic Slocomb. 
 
 Samuel Evans. Samuel Sweetser. 
 
 NOTE. This Roll was copied from the original on file in office of 3d Auditor of 
 U. S. Treasury, by J. H. Eaton, Brevet Col. and Paymaster, U. S. A. 
 
 RICHARDSON LIGHT GUARD. 
 
 This company was chartered in 1851, and was composed, mainly, of 
 persons residing in South Reading, now Wakefield.
 
 2/8 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 It elected its first board of commissioned officers, Oct. n, 1851, as 
 follows : 
 
 Chose John Wiley, zd, for Captain. 
 
 " Nathaniel S. Dearborn, for ist Lieut. 
 " John S. Eaton, for 2d Lieut. 
 " Benja. F. Barnard, for 3d Lieut. 
 " Samuel Kingman, for 4th Lieut. 
 
 The company adopted the name of " Richardson Light Guard," in 
 honor of Doct. Solon O. Richardson, an eminent citizen of South 
 Reading (now Wakefield), who, in consenting to this use of his name, 
 presented the company with the sum of five hundred dollars, and was 
 ever its constant, earnest, and liberal foster-father and friend. 
 
 The successive captains of this company have been as follows: 
 
 John Wiley, 2d, elected 1851. 
 James F. Emerson, elected 1855. 
 Geo. O- Carpenter, elected 1856. 
 John Wiley, zd, elected 1857 (2d time). 
 James F. Emerson, elected 1858 (2d time). 
 John W. Locke, elected 1859. 
 Geo. O. Carpenter, elected 1860 (2d time). 
 John W. Locke, elected 1861 (26. time). 
 H. D. Degen, elected 1862 (March). 
 S. F. Littlefield, elected 1862 (Sept.). 
 James F. Emerson, elected 1868 (3d time). 
 John M. Gate, present commander. 
 
 This corps has ever sustained a high reputation for thorough disci- 
 pline, for military science, for able officers, for beauty of appearance, 
 and for martial pride and ardor ; and when the liberties of their country 
 were endangered, and treason was seeking the overthrow of the govern- 
 ment and of the Union, the patriotism and bravery of its members 
 were equal to the emergency. Thrice, as a company, has it rushed to 
 the post of danger, while many of its members have entered the 
 regular service, and there fought, suffered, and (some of them) died' 
 for their country. 
 
 At a meeting of the company, Jan. 18, 1861, it was announced that 
 the Governor desired to know how many of the company would be 
 ready to respond, if suddenly called into the service of their country ; 
 whereupon every member present manifested his readiness to march to 
 the field of battle.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 279 
 
 Feb. 12, 1861, another order from the commander-in-chief announced 
 that the condition of national affairs rendered it possible that the 
 company might be required, at no distant day and at short notice, for 
 the defence of the national capital ; and urging upon the members to 
 be in perfect readiness for such requirement. 
 
 April 19, 1861, at about 12 o'clock, noon, orders arrived for the 
 company to leave forthwith for the seat of war. And immediately, 
 amid the ringing of bells and firing of guns, the members of the com- 
 pany began to rally ; and at three o'clock, p. M., marched forth from 
 their armory, under Capt. John W. Locke, numbering eighty-seven 
 men, rank and file. They repaired to the Common, where a collation 
 had been provided for them by the citizens of the town. They thence 
 proceeded to the railroad station, where a large crowd had assembled 
 to witness their departure. 
 
 Speeches were here made by Messrs. E. Mansfield, L. Eaton, P. C. 
 Wheeler, Rev. E. A. Eaton, and others. Fathers and mothers, brothers 
 and sisters, lovers and friends, here bid adieu to the company. 
 
 At half-past five o'clock, p. M., the company left town. Arriving in 
 Boston they were quartered in Faneuil Hall, with two other companies 
 of the regiment, about 900 men in all. On the 2oth, they received 
 their blankets, overcoats, and other necessary articles ; and at five 
 o'clock, A. M., on the 2ist, took the cars for New York ; thence went 
 to Annapolis by water, and inarched on the railroad thirty miles to 
 Washington, where they arrived on the 25th, the second regiment 
 there. 
 
 The following is the Roll of the Company, in this expedition : 
 
 Captain, JOHN W. LOCKE, South Reading, 
 ist Lieut. HENRY D. DEGEN, " 
 2d " CHAS. H. SHEPARD, " 
 3d " JAMES D. DRAPER, " 
 4th " GEORGE ABBOTT, " 
 
 Sergeants : 
 Geo. W. Townsend, 
 Jason H. Knights, 
 
 Corporals : 
 Wm. E. Ransom, 
 James M. Sweetser, 
 Musicians : 
 Alvin Drake, 
 
 Privates : 
 Abbot, G. G., 
 Adams, Oliver S., 
 
 South Reading. Benj. F. Barnard, South Reading. 
 
 " Geo. W. Aborn, " 
 
 South Reading. Geo. H. Green, South Reading. 
 
 " James A. Burditt, " 
 
 South Reading. Wm. Vaux, South Reading. 
 
 Reading. Morrill, James M., South Reading. 
 
 " Moses, George, "
 
 280 
 
 GEAEAI OGK.AL HISTORY 
 
 Anderson, Chas. E., 
 Anderson, J. H., 
 Batchelder, Geo. W., 
 Barker, S. S., 
 Beckwith, Rob't S., 
 Bixby, Hiram, 
 Burditt, Geo. A., 
 Coney, John S., 
 Cook, Jona. J., 
 Dix, Joseph O., 
 Eaton, A., 
 Eustis, Henry W., 
 Eustis, Joseph S. 
 Fairbanks, James M., 
 Fletcher, Chas. N., 
 Foster, Davis, 
 Greggs, James H., 
 Harrington, Chas., 
 Hart. John F., 
 Hartwell, Albert A., 
 Hayden, Frank W., 
 Hayden, Wm. H., Jr., 
 Hayward, Alex'r N., 
 Hosmer, O. S., 
 1 loyt, Henry D., 
 Kidder, Geo. H., Jr., 
 Lord, Byron, 
 Lord, Geo. H., 
 M'Gee, Edward, 
 McKay, Gurden, 
 McKay, Thomas M., 
 McKenzie, John, 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Nichols, Geo. W., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 
 
 Parker, J. Q. A., 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Melrose. 
 
 Parker, N. D., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Andover. 
 
 Parker, Wm. D , 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Parsons, Benj. W., 
 
 
 
 
 
 Peterson, Leonard, 
 
 Reading. 
 
 M 
 
 Pratt, Edwin, 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 North Reading. 
 
 Rahn, Christian E., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 M 
 
 Rayner, Ozias, 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Rayner, John, 
 
 " 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Robinson, Charles H., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Roundy, John D., 
 
 a 
 
 " 
 
 Sherman, Wm. H., 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 Smith, Thos., 
 
 Melrose. 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Stephens, John R., 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Sweetser, Oliver S., 
 
 North Reading. 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Sweetser, Thos. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Thompson, Chas., 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 Thompson, John F., 
 
 " 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Tibbetts, Chas. H., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Tibbetts, Frank L., 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 Twiss, Adoniram J., 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 
 
 Tyler, Wm. N., 
 
 " 
 
 Woburn. 
 
 Walker, Wm. H., 
 
 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Ward well, Henry F., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 
 
 Warren, Horace M., 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 ii 
 
 Weston, Robert H., 
 
 Reading. 
 
 (i 
 
 Wiley, Joseph E., 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 
 
 Wiley, Wm., 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 Wilkins, Edw'd L., 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 Wyman, Wm., 
 
 
 
 Boston. 
 
 The company performed valuable service in protecting the Federal 
 capital, was engaged in the first Bull Run battle, in which some of its 
 members were wounded and three were taken prisoners, and at the 
 expiration of its term of enlistment (3 months) returned home. 
 
 On the arrival of the company at South Reading, July 30, 1861, a 
 public reception was given them. (For a further account of such 
 reception, see Chapter XIV, on Rebellion.)
 
 Ol- THE TOWN OF READING. 2 8l 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TOWN OFFICERS, REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS, JUS- 
 TICES OF THE PEACE, AND CIVIL OFFICERS OF 
 READING, SOUTH READING, AND NORTH READING. 
 
 SELECTMEN OF READING. 
 
 Robert Dunton, 1647, 1649. 
 
 Francis Smith, 1647, 1649. 
 
 William Cowdrey, 1647 to J 68o (except 1659 and '61). 
 
 Thomas Marshall, 1647-'$ 2 and '54. 
 
 Henry Felch, 1647, '48 and '51. 
 
 William Martin, 1647, '48 and '51. 
 
 Richard Walker, 1647-50 and '53. 
 
 Zachariah Fitch, 1649, '51 and '61. 
 
 Thomas Kendall, 1649, '55. '57, '59, '60, '62, '66, '68-'72, '74, '75, '77 
 
 '78. 
 
 Jonas Eaton, 1650, '62, '70 and '73. 
 John Smith, 1650-52, '54-56, '57, '58-60 and '64. 
 John Batchelder, 1651, '54, '56, '58, '61 and '64. 
 Peter Palfrey, 1652, '53 and '57. 
 John Person, 1652. 
 
 Robert Burnap, 1654-56, '58-60, '62-69, '70, '71 and '72. 
 Nicholas Brown, 1655, '56 and '61. 
 George Davis, 1655, '56, '58-'6o. 
 William Laukin, 1656, '56. 
 Thomas Clark, 1659. 
 Thomas Parker, 1661, '65-^7 and 69. 
 Thomas Hartshorn, 1661 and '67. 
 Jonathan Poole, i662-'64, '68-'74, '76 and '77. 
 Nathaniel Cowdrey, 1663, '65, '66, '7!, '73, '82 and '85. 
 Shubael Walker, 1667 and '68. 
 
 Robert Burnap, Jr., 1670-^2, '74. '75, '77, '78, '81, '93 and '94. 
 John Damon, 1672, '75, '81 and '86. 
 36
 
 2 g2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Jeremiah Swaine, 1673, '77-80, '83, '84, '97 and 1701. 
 
 John Browne, Jr., 1674-76, '80, '84~'87, '90, '93, '95, '96, '98, '99, 1700, 
 
 i7O2-'o6. 
 John Batchelder, 1676, '78, 'Si-'Sa, '85-^7, '90, '92-^6, '98, 1700, 
 
 and '02. 
 
 Matthew Edwards, 1676 and '79. 
 Hananlah Parker, 1679, '80, '84, '88, '89 and '97. 
 Nathaniel Goodwin, 1679, '8i-'84, '86,-'92; 
 Benjamin Fitch, 1686, '82, '84, '87~'9i, '94, '95, '99 and 1701. 
 Sergeant Felch, 1681. 
 John Parker, 1682 and '90. 
 William Hescey, 1683, '86 and '87. 
 John Herbert, 1683, '98, '99, 1700, '01, '02, 'o4-'i2. 
 William Hooper, 1685. 
 Thomas Bancroft, 1685, '88, '89, '91, '92, '94, '97, 1700, '04, '06, '08, 
 
 '16, '19, '21, '23 and '29. 
 Jonathan Batchelder, 1689. 
 Thomas Nichols, 1691, '92, '96-^9, 1700, '02, 'o5~'o7, 'o9-'i2, '17, 
 
 '20, and '22. 
 
 Timothy Wiley, 1693, '96, '98, 1702, '05 and '07. 
 John Dunton, 1693. 
 Joseph Fitch, Jr., 1694. 
 Joseph Brown, 1694 and 1703. 
 Joshua Eaton, 1694 and 1708. 
 John Nichols, 1695 an d i73- 
 Nathaniel Parker, 1695, '97, 1705, '14 and '27. 
 Abraham Bryant, 1696 and 1701. 
 Joseph Burnap, 1699, 1707, '09-12, '15, '20 and '25. 
 Jonathan Poole, 1701, '08, '14 and '15. 
 Benjamin Swain, 1704, '12, '15, '16 and '18. 
 Thomas Boutwell, 1704 and '13. 
 George Flint, 1706, '08, '28, '33, '43 and '44. 
 John Weston, 1707, '09-'! i. 
 John Harnden, J7og and '10. 
 Thomas Taylor, 1711. 
 Nathaniel Cutler, 1712. 
 Francis Smith, i7i3~'2O and '22. 
 
 John Goodwin, 1713, '14, '16, '19, '2i-'24, '26, '33 and '40. 
 John Browne, 1713, '17 and '18. 
 Benjamin Harnden, 1713 and '19. 
 Thomas Burnap, 1714.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 283 
 
 John Pratt, 1715. 
 
 Peter Emerson, 1716, '24-4$. 
 
 Thomas Poole, 1717, '20, '22 and '24. 
 
 Kendall Parker, 1717, '20, '23, '31, '37, '42 and '45. 
 
 Ebenezer Parker, 1718, '24, '25 and '32. 
 
 Samuel Browne, 1718. 
 
 William Bryant, 1719, '2i-*23 and '37. 
 
 Ezekiel Upton, 1720 and '30. 
 
 Joseph Upton, 1721. 
 
 Thomas Bryant, 1722. 
 
 John Eaton, 1723. 
 
 Stephen Weston, 1724, '27 and '36. 
 
 Thomas Eaton, 1725, '32, '41 and '44. 
 
 Ebenezer Flint, 1725. 
 
 Raham Bancroft, 1726, '33, '43 and '49. 
 
 Jonathan Parker, 1726 and '36. 
 
 Benjamin Poole, 1727 and '28. 
 
 William Flint, 1727 and '52. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker, Jr., 1728. 
 
 Thomas Nichols, 2d, 1728, '31, '38 and '43. 
 
 John Batchelder, 1729, '30 and '49. 
 
 Joseph Eaton, 1729. 
 
 Francis Nurse, 1729. 
 
 Samuel Bancroft, 1730, '38, 40, '47 and '53. 
 
 Timothy Goodwin, 1730, '32 and '36. 
 
 Samuel Lamson, 1731. 
 
 Ebenezer Damon, 1731. 
 
 Thomas Hutchinson, 1732. 
 
 James Nichols, Jr., 1733. 
 
 Richard Temple, 1734 and '35. 
 
 David Green, 1734. 
 
 Nathaniel Batchelder, 1734. 
 
 Ebenezer Walcott, 1734. 
 
 Isaac Smith, 1735. 
 
 Ebenezer Emerson, 1735. 
 
 Ebenezer Flint, 1735, '3^ and '42. 
 
 John Swain, 1736, '43, '51 and '54. 
 
 Samuel Foster, 1737. 
 
 Jonathan Flint, 1737. 
 
 Joseph Damon, 1738 and '48. * 
 
 Samuel Poole, 1740.
 
 284 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Edward Hurcum, 1740, '42, '59 and '63. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, 1741, '44 and '46. 
 
 James Nichols, 1741. 
 
 Samuel Eves, 1741. 
 
 Edward Bancroft, 1742. 
 
 Ebenezer Nichols, 1742, '46, '61, '62, '64 and '66. 
 
 William Hay, 1744. 
 
 Thomas Hartshorn, 1745. 
 
 John Parker, 1745. 
 
 Brown Emerson, 1746, '65~'68 and '69. 
 
 Edward Pratt, 1 746. 
 
 Thomas Flint, 1746 and '54. 
 
 Benjamin Smith, 1747. 
 
 Jonathan Nichols, 1747. 
 
 William Sawyer, 1747, '55, '56, '61, '65, '69, '70 and '78. 
 
 Thomas Lambert, 1748. 
 
 John Boutwell, 1748. 
 
 Samuel Hartshorn, 1748.' 
 
 Benjamin Weston, 1749. 
 
 Ebenezer Upton, 1749, '72 and '74, 
 
 Benjamin Swain, 1750. 
 
 Phineas Parker, 1750 and '56. 
 
 Timothy Pratt, 1750. 
 
 Samuel Dix, 1750. 
 
 Jonathan Temple, 1751. 
 
 Daniel Nichols, 1751, '55, '57~'59- 
 
 David Damon, 1751 and '61. 
 
 John Temple, 1752, '54, '65, '66, '68, '72 and '78. 
 
 John Goodwin, Jr., 1752, '55, '56, '59, '60, '62-'64. 
 
 John Goodwin, 3d, 1752. 
 
 Jonathan Eaton, 1753, '55, '56, '60, '62. 
 
 John Walton, 1753. 
 
 Jacob Sawyer, 1753 and '66. 
 
 David Green, Jr., 1754, '60 and '65. 
 
 Samuel Bancroft, Jr., i757~'6o, '62, '63 and '66. 
 
 John Smith, 1757 and '58. 
 
 Joseph Frye, 1757 and '58. 
 
 Daniel Putnam, 1763, '68 and '71. 
 
 Amos Upton, 1764, '66 and '68. 
 
 Benjamin Flint, 1764, '72, '76, '87 and*88. 
 
 Nathan Parker, 1765, '66, '68-'7o.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 285 
 
 Amos Flint, 1765. 
 
 John Walton, Jr., 1766. 
 
 Thomas Symonds, 1769 and '75. 
 
 John Flint, 1770. 
 
 George Flint, 1770. 
 
 Nathaniel Batchelder, 1770. 
 
 David Green, 1771. 
 
 William Green, 1771. 
 
 Samuel Herrick, 1771. 
 
 Jabez Damon, 1771 and '75. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, 1772-76, '78, '79,' Si-'Sj, '88, '91 and '92. 
 
 Thomas Damon, 1772. 
 
 Jonathan Poole, 1773. 
 
 Hezekiah Upton, 1773. 
 
 Jacob Townsend, 1773 an ^ *4- 
 
 Joseph Parker, 1773 and '78. 
 
 Jonathan Flint, 1774 and '85. 
 
 Jonas Parker, 1774 and '76. 
 
 James Bancroft, 1776, '88, '93 and '94. 
 
 Ebenezer Hopkins, 1776. 
 
 Timothy Pratt, Jr., 1776 and '77. 
 
 Jacob Emerson, 1777. 
 
 John Dix, 1777 a d '79. 
 
 Timothy Russell, 1777. 
 
 Benjamin Foster, 1777. 
 
 Benjamin Upton, 1778, '79, '81, '86, '9O-'92. 
 
 John Emerson, 1779, ' 8o an d '86. 
 
 Peter Emerson, 1779 an d '80. 
 
 Isaac Upton, 1779. 
 
 Joseph Bancroft, 1779, '84, '85, '88, '92 and '95. 
 
 Elijah Upton, 1780. 
 
 Samuel Pratt, 1780. 
 
 William Flint, 1780. 
 
 Abraham Foster, i78i-'83, 'S^-'gi. 
 
 Thomas Eaton, Jr., 1782, '83 and '89. 
 
 Nathaniel Wiley, i784-'8S. 
 
 John Weston, Jr., 1784. 
 
 Paul Sweetser, 1784. 
 
 Henry Putnam, 1784 and '85. 
 
 Nathan Parker, 1785, '97~'99, 1800, '03. 
 
 Wm. Temple, 1786.
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 1786. 
 
 Ebenezer Upton, 1787 and '88. 
 
 Daniel Green, 1787. 
 
 John Hart, 1788. 
 
 David Smith, 1789, '90, '93-96. 
 
 Daniel Flint, I793~'95, i8o5-'o9, '12, 'i5~'i8 and '24. 
 
 George Flint, 1796. 
 
 Thos. Symonds, 1796. 
 
 James Gould, 1797-1804, 'o6-'io. 
 
 Daniel Graves, 1797-1803. 
 
 Edmund Damon, 1804, 'io-'i6. 
 
 John Weston, i8o4-'o8. 
 
 Hay Nichols, 1806. 
 
 Edmund Parker, i8o9-'i3, 'i6-'2o. 
 
 Noah Smith, 1811. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, 1813 and \i4. 
 
 Benja. Pratt, 1814 and '15. 
 
 Ebenezer Emerson, 1817, '19, '21, '23 and '24. 
 
 Joshua Putnam, i8i8-'2o, '22, '23, '25 and '29. 
 
 George Flint, 1820, '21 and '26. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, Jr., i8zi-'23, '34 and '35. 
 
 Aaron Upton, 1822. 
 
 Thaddeus B. Pratt, 1824-^6, '30, '36 and '38. 
 
 Addison Flint, 1825. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, i826-'28. 
 
 Ebenezer D. Batchelder, 1827, '29, '30, '33, '35-'3S, '41 and '45, 
 
 Eliab Parker, Jr., 1827, '33 and '34. 
 
 Asa G. Sheldon, 1828. 
 
 Charles Parker, 1828 and '29. 
 
 Thomas Sweetser, i83o-'32. 
 
 John Batchelder, 3d, 1831 and '32. 
 
 Amos Batchelder, 1831. 
 
 Jonas Parker, 1832 and '33. 
 
 Aaron Parker, Jr., 1834. 
 
 Daniel Flint, 1835, '41 and '42. 
 
 Caleb Wakefield, i836-'4o. 
 
 David Upton, 1837. 
 
 Charles F. Flint, 1839 and '40. 
 
 Benj. Holt, Jr., 1839. 
 
 Charles Newman, 1840. 
 
 John Batchelder, i84i-' 43 , '46^48, '57 and '59.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 287 
 
 Joseph Pierce, 1842. 
 
 Samuel J. Batchelder, 1843. 
 
 John Nichols, 1843, '44. 
 
 Abraham Temple, 1844 and '45. 
 
 Ebenezer T. Abbott, 1844. 
 
 Daniel Flint, Jr., 1845, '46, '47, '48* and '49. 
 
 Joseph Bancroft, 1846. 
 
 Francis Upton, 1847. 
 
 J. B. Leathe, 1848, '49, '59~'62 and '66. 
 
 James S. Campbell, 1849, '50, '52, '59-^5 . 
 
 Nathan P. Pratt, iSso-'sa, '57 and '58, '72, '73. 
 
 Joseph H. Gleason, 1850. 
 
 Joseph Eames, 1851. 
 
 Isaac Flint, 1851. 
 
 Gardner French, i852-'54. 
 
 John Burrill, 1853 and '54. 
 
 Porter Pinkham, 1854 and '55. 
 
 Stillman E. Parker, 1855. 
 
 Mark M. Temple, 1855. 
 
 Thomas E. Prescott, 1856 and '58. 
 
 Wm. J. Wightman, 1856, '67 to 1874. 
 
 Wm. Badger, 1856. 
 
 Charles Tweed, 1857 and '58, '70, '71, '72. 
 
 Milo Parker, 1860 and '61. 
 
 Solon A. Parker, 1862, '67 and '68. 
 
 Joseph L. Pratt, i863-'65. 
 
 James T. Norris, 1866. 
 
 David G. Richardson, 1867 and ' 68 
 
 Benj. M. Hartshorn, 1867, and died the same year. 
 
 Samuel Pierce, 1869, '70. 
 
 Jerome Parker, 1869, '70. 
 
 James A. Bancroft, 1870, '71. 
 
 SELECTMEN OF SOUTH READING (NOW WAKEFIELD). 
 
 James Gould, 1812. 
 Benja. Badger, 1812, '14. 
 John Gould, i8i2-'2o. 
 Noah Smith, 1813, '35 ,-'37. 
 David Smith, i8i4~'i8. 
 Wm. Nichols,
 
 2 88 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Benja. Badger, Jr., 1819. 
 
 Thomas Evans, 1820 and '21. 
 
 Thomas Emerson, Jr., i820-'24. 
 
 Jacob Eaton, i82i-'24, 
 
 Thomas Swain, i822- ? 29. 
 
 John Rayner, Jr., i825~'27. 
 
 James Walton, 1825 and '26. 
 
 Lilley Eaton, 1827 to 1849 and '51 to '54. 
 
 Joseph Atwell, 1828-31. 
 
 Suel Winn, 1830-31 and '38. 
 
 Wm. Gould, 1832. 
 
 John White, Jr., 1832, '33, '43 to '46. 
 
 Benja. B. Wiley, i8 3 3-'35. 
 
 John Abbott, 1834. 
 
 Benja. Emerson, i836-'38. 
 
 Aaron Foster, Jr., 1839, '42, J 47-'5- 
 
 James Eustis, 1839 and '40. 
 
 James Hartshorn, 1840 and '41. 
 
 James Emerson, 1841. 
 
 Abraham Emerson, 1842. 
 
 Joseph W. Atwell, 1843-46. 
 
 Jonas Cowdry, i847~'49. 
 
 P. H. Sweetser, 1850. 
 
 Sam'l Kingman, 1850. 
 
 Peter Wiley, 1851 and '52. 
 
 Samuel Gould, 1851. 
 
 Wm. L. Brown, 1852. 
 
 Edward H. Walton, 1853 and '54. 
 
 Nathan P. Colburn, 1853 to '55. 
 
 James Oliver, 1855-57, '67, '68, '69 and '73. 
 
 D. B. Wheelock, iSss-'sy, '62-'65. 
 
 John Purington, 1856, '57, '60 and '61. 
 
 P. C. Wheeler, 1858, '59 and '66. 
 
 John S. Eaton, 1858, '59, '63, '66, '67 and '72. 
 
 John Winship, 1858 and '59. 
 
 Thomas Green, 1860 and '61. 
 
 Edward Mansfield, 1860, '61 and '65. 
 
 Henry Oliver, 1862. 
 
 Thomas B. Walker, 1862, '64-'66. 
 
 Horatio Dolliver, 1863 and '64. 
 
 James F. Mansfield, 1867, '68 and '69.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 289 
 
 Richard Britton, 1868, '69, '72 and '73. 
 D. G. Walton, 1873. 
 
 TOWN CLERKS OF READING. 
 
 Wm. Cowdrey, 1644 to '87. 
 
 Nathaniel Cowdrey, 1687 and '88. 
 
 Hananiah Parker, 1689, '90 and '98. 
 
 Nathaniel Goodwin, 1691 to '93. 
 
 John Batchelder, 1694 to '97. 
 
 John Herbert, 1699 to 1713. 
 
 Francis Smith, 1714 to 1721. 
 
 John Goodwin, 1722 to 1725. 
 
 Peter Emerson, 1726 to 1746. 
 
 Brown Emerson, 1747 to 1770. 
 
 John Temple, 1771 to 1774. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, 1775 to 1777. 
 
 Jacob Emerson, 1778 to '90. 
 
 Jonathan Poole, 1791 to '99. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, 1800 to 1816. 
 
 Edmund Parker, 1817 to 1830. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, Jr., 1831 to 1852. 
 
 Wm. J. Wightman, 1853 to 1856, 1862 to 1874. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 1857 and '58. 
 
 Jonathan Baldwin, 1859 to 1862, and died Oct. 15, 1862. 
 
 TOWN CLERKS OF SOUTH READING (now Wakefield). 
 John Gould, 1812-23. 
 John Rayner, Jr., 1824-28. 
 Lilley Eaton, 1829-49. 
 Edward Mansfield, 1850-54. 
 Henry L. Eaton, 1855-58. 
 James O. Boswell, 1859 and '60. 
 Charles H. Shepard, 1861. 
 
 Jacob C. Hartshorn, 1862-64. (Resigned in 1864.) 
 Chester W. Eaton, 1864-67. 
 Benj. F. Packard, 1868 and '69. 
 C. F. Hartshorne, 1872, '73. 
 
 READING REPRESENTATIVES. 
 Richard Walker, 1650. 
 William Cowdrey, 1651, '53, '58 and '61. 
 Jonathan Poole, 1677. 
 37
 
 2go GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 John Brown, 1679, '80, '82, '83, '93, '96, 1700, ' OI > >J 9> ' 20 - 
 
 Hananiah Parker, 1683, '84, '95, '97-99* I 73- 
 
 Jeremiah Swain, 1686, '87, '94, I7 2 > '04-06. 
 
 Benjamin Fitch, 1687, '91-93- 
 
 Nathaniel Goodwin, 1690, 92. 
 
 Timothy Wiley, 1707-09, '12-15 and 18. 
 
 Thomas Nichols, 1710 and 'n. 
 
 Joshua Eaton, 1716 and '17. 
 
 William Bryant, 1721-24. 
 
 Thomas Bancroft, 1725-27, '30 and '31. 
 
 Kendall Parker, 1728, '29, '32, '33 and '37. 
 
 Ebenezer Parker, 1734-36, '38 and '39. 
 
 Samuel Bancroft, 1740-44, '69 and '74. 
 
 Thomas Eaton, 1745 to '51. 
 
 Ebenezer Nichols, i75 2 -54, 'S7> '5 8 > '62-67. 
 
 John Temple, 1755, '56, '59, '61-66, '68 and '75. 
 
 Daniel Putnam, 1773. 
 
 John Batchelder, 1776. 
 
 Joseph Parker, 1776. 
 
 Benjamin Flint, 1776 and '77. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, 1778 and '09. 
 
 James Bancroft, 1780-85, '88, '93, '94, '99, 1800-03. 
 
 Benjamin Upton, 1786, '90-92. 
 
 William Flint, 1787, '89. 
 
 Henry Putnam, 179508. 
 
 Daniel Graves, 1804-06. 
 
 Hay Nichols, 1805. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, 1807-15. 
 
 Daniel Flint, 1808-19 and '21. 
 
 Adam Hawkes, 1811. 
 
 Edmund Parker, 1816, '18-20, '23, '25 and '28. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, Jr., 1822, 35. 
 
 George Flint, 1823, '39 and '40. 
 
 Joshua Putnam, 1826 and "27. 
 
 Joshua Prescott, 1826 and '27. 
 
 Addison Flint, 1828 and '44. 
 
 Eliab Parker, Jr., 1829-31, '34 and '35. 
 
 Warren Perkins, 1829-32, '38 and '39. 
 
 John Batchelder,. 3d, 1832 and '33. 
 
 Caleb Wakefield, 1833-36. 
 
 Daniel Flint, Jr., 1836 and '37. 
 
 Thomas Sweetser, 1836.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 John Weston, 1837. 
 Ebenezer D. Batchelder, 1837. 
 Samuel W. Carter, 1840 and '41. 
 John Batchelder, 3d, 1842. 
 Daniel Pratt, 1845 and '47. 
 James S. Campbell, 1851. 
 George Batchelder, 1853. 
 Nathan P. Pratt, 1855 and '68. 
 Thomas N. Jones, 1856. 
 Amos Cummings, Jr., 1857. 
 Samuel P. Breed, 1858. 
 Stillman E. Parker, 1859. 
 Edward M. Horton, 1860. 
 Frederic Abbott, 1861. 
 Charles Manning, 1862. 
 J. B. Leathe, 1863. 
 Charles A. Foster, 1864. 
 William W. Davis, 1865. 
 William Proctor, 1866. 
 Samuel Pierce, 1870. 
 
 SOUTH READING REPRESENTATIVES. 
 John Hart, 1812-14, '20, '21, '23, '24. 
 John Gould, 1816. 
 
 Thomas Emerson, Jr., 1825-30, '38, '39 and '41. 
 Lilley Eaton, 1831-35, '45 and '48. 
 Lemuel Sweetser, 1832 and '33. 
 James Butler, 1835 and '36. 
 Noah Smith, 1836 and '37. 
 Benjamin Emerson, 1837. 
 Jonas Evans, 1839. 
 Aaron Foster, Jr., 1840. 
 Joseph W. Vinton, 1840. 
 Jacob Tufts, 1843. 
 Jonas Cowdrey, 1844. 
 Robert H. Raddin, 1846. 
 Franklin Poole, 1847. 
 Samuel Kingman, 1850. 
 Edward Mansfield, 1851. 
 John B. Atwell, 1852. 
 James M. Sweetser, 1855. 
 James Oliver, 1856. 
 
 291
 
 292 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Madison Sweetser, 1857. 
 
 John Sullivan Eaton, 1858. 
 
 John Wiley, 2d, 1860. 
 
 William H. Atwell, 1862. 
 
 Daniel Allen, 1864 and '65. 
 
 James F. Mansfield, 1867 and '68. 
 
 Benjamin F. Packard, 1870. 
 
 E. H. Walton, 1871. 
 
 Richard Britton, 1872 and '73. 
 
 NORTH READING REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 Joseph Eames, 1854. 
 Thomas N. Jones, 1855. 
 Samuel P. Breed, 1857 and '69. 
 Frederic Abbott, 1860. 
 Charles A. Foster, 1863. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 John Hart, of South Reading, 1815-19. 
 
 Lilley Eaton, of South Reading, 1838, '39. 
 
 Edmund Parker, of Reading, 1841. 
 
 Thomas Emerson, of South Reading, 1846 and '47. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, of Reading. 
 
 James Oliver, of South Reading, 1868. 
 
 Carroll D. Wright, of Reading, 1872, '73. 
 
 \, 
 
 COUNCILLORS. 
 
 Edmund Parker, of Reading, 1840. 
 
 Thaddeus Spaulding, of South Reading, 1842 and '44. 
 
 DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. 
 
 1780, Benjamin Flint. 
 
 1820, William Nichols, of South Reading. 
 
 Daniel Flint, of Reading, N. P. 
 
 Timothy Wakefield, of Reading, W. Pi 
 1853, Lilley Eaton, of South Reading. 
 
 Tristram Littlefield, of Reading. 
 
 DELEGATES TO FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 
 
 1774, John Temple, 
 Benjamin Brown. 
 
 1775, John Temple.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 293 
 
 LIST OF CIVIL OFFICERS IN THE TOWNS OF READING, SOUTH READING, 
 AND NORTH HEADING. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 OFFICE. 
 
 TOWN. 
 
 Date of Commis- 
 sion when sworn. 
 
 Eliab Parker, Jr., 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Feb. 17, 1844. 
 
 John Weston, 
 
 P. &Q. 
 
 i< 
 
 May 9, 1844, 
 
 Noah Smith, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 June 20, 1844. 
 
 Jonathan Prescott, 
 
 .P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Sept 9, 1844. 
 
 Caleb Wakefield, 
 
 .P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 March 22, 1845. 
 
 Edwin Foster, 
 
 . P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Jan. 21, '47. 
 
 Alfred A. Prescott, 
 
 . P. 
 
 ' 
 
 Jan. 22, '47. 
 
 Chauncy P Judd, 
 
 . P. 
 
 <i 
 
 April 6, '47. 
 
 Abial Holden. 
 
 ' . P. 
 
 a 
 
 March 22, '48. 
 
 Charles F. Flint, 
 
 ''. P. 
 
 a 
 
 March 3, '48. 
 
 Lilley Katon, 
 
 ' . P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 April 14, '48. 
 
 Thaddeus B. Pratt, 
 
 '. P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 29, '49. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 
 :. p - 
 
 July 3, '49- 
 
 William H. Willis, 
 
 J.P- 
 
 South Reading, Jan. IO, '50. 
 
 Daniel Flint, 
 
 f. P. Reading, Feb. 12, '51. 
 
 Orlando B. Potter, 
 
 J. 1*. South Reading, 
 
 Oct 10, '50. 
 
 Alfred A. Prescott, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Nov. 19, '50. 
 
 Lilley Eaton, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Nov. 12, '52. 
 
 Edward Mansfield, 
 
 J.P- 
 
 M 
 
 Feb. 12, '51. 
 
 Abel F. Hutchinson, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 ii 
 
 Feb. 1 8, '51. 
 
 Daniel Norcross, 
 
 Coroner. 
 
 II 
 
 May 26, '52. 
 
 Thomas Sweetser, 
 
 . P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 15, '51. 
 
 William L. Brown, 
 
 . P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 March 27, '51. 
 
 Caleb Wakefield, 
 
 \P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 May 19, '51. 
 
 Joshua Prescott, 
 
 . P. 
 
 ii 
 
 Sept. 2, '51. 
 
 Paul H. Sweetser, 
 
 . P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Jan. 21, '52. 
 
 John Batchelder, 
 
 ''. P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 16, '52. 
 
 James S. Campbell, 
 
 . P. 
 
 ii 
 
 May ii, '52. 
 
 John B. Atwell, 
 
 P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Dec. , '52. 
 
 Alfred A. Prescott, 
 
 Reg. Probate. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 14, '53. 
 
 Benjamin F. Tweed, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 April 23, '53. 
 
 Nathan P. Pratt, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 May 21, '53. 
 
 Frederick F. Root, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 June 30, '53. 
 
 John F. Hammond, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 H 
 
 Oct 5. '53- 
 
 Hiram P. Wright, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 April I, '54. 
 
 William L. Brown, 
 
 Notary. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 June I, '54- 
 
 Benjamin B. Wiley, 
 
 i. P. 
 
 " 
 
 Feb. 3. '55- 
 
 Nathan P. Colburn, 
 
 , P. 
 
 n 
 
 Feb. 25, '55. 
 
 Still man E. Parker, 
 
 , P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 April 25, '55. 
 
 William Emory, 
 
 .P. 
 
 ii 
 
 June 25, '55. 
 
 William J. Wightman, 
 
 , P. 
 
 
 
 July 16, '55. 
 
 Henry L. Eaton, 
 
 P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Feb. 7, '56. 
 
 William H. Willis, 
 
 P. &Q. 
 
 ii 
 
 May 19, '58. 
 
 Joel A. Abbott, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 March 18, \7. 
 
 Thomas Richardson, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 27, '57. 
 
 Stephen Foster, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 " 
 
 July 29, '57. 
 
 James Oliver, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 July 3. '57- 
 
 Edward A. Upton, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 ii 
 
 Jan. 18, '57. 
 
 Abel F. Hutchinson, Commis- ) 
 
 
 
 
 sioner to admit to Industrial ? 
 
 J.P. 
 
 ii 
 
 Nov. 24, '57- 
 
 school for girls, ) 
 
 
 
 
 Edward A. Upton, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Sept. 14, '58. 
 
 James O. Boswell, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 ii 
 
 June 22, '58.
 
 294 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 LIST OF CIVIL OFFICERS, continued. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 OFFICE. 
 
 TOWN. 
 
 Date of Commis- 
 sion when sworn. 
 
 Joshua Prescott, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 July 20, '58- 
 
 Jonathan Baldwin, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 
 
 Dec. 16, '58- 
 
 Lucius Beebe, 
 
 J- P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 April 6, '59* 
 
 James O. Boswell, 
 
 Notary. 
 
 
 
 Aug. r, '59* 
 
 Horatio N. Gate, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 June 27, '59- 
 
 James O. Boswell, 
 
 Coroner. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 June 2, 1860' 
 
 Adam Wiley, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 " 
 
 Feb. 3, '60- 
 
 David Dana, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Sept. 5, '60' 
 
 William S. Peabody, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 " 
 
 Aug. 22, '60- 
 
 James O. Boswell, 
 
 P. &Q. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Nov. 19, '60- 
 
 James M. Sweetser. 
 
 J.P. 
 
 " 
 
 April 5, '6r 
 
 Charles P. Howard, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 Feb. 24, '64' 
 
 Thomas Richardson, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 25, '64* 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 
 P. &Q. 
 
 M 
 
 March 29, '64* 
 
 Samuel G. B. Coombs, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 May 10, '64' 
 
 Chester W. Eaton, 
 
 Notary. 
 
 " 
 
 May 28, '64' 
 
 Daniel Pratt, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Aug. II, '64- 
 
 E. A. Upton, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Nov. 1 8, '64- 
 
 Thomas Sweetser, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Feb. 17, '65- 
 
 Caleb Wakefield, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 " 
 
 March 21, '65* 
 
 Samuel P. Breed, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 April 21, '65- 
 
 Benj. M. Hartshorn, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Dec. 18, '65- 
 
 Philip C. Wheeler, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 April 3, '66- 
 
 James S. Campbell, 
 
 J.P- 
 
 Reading, 
 
 May 8, '66. 
 
 Geo. W. Cutler, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 May 10, '66. 
 
 Solon Bancroft, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 May 23, '66. 
 
 Adam Wiley, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Jan. 31, '67. 
 
 Henry D. Austin, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 
 
 March 30, '67. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 
 Coroner. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 April 10, '67. 
 
 Hiram Barrus, 
 
 J- P. 
 
 " 
 
 Jan. 12, '67. 
 
 Daniel P. Emerson, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 May 28, '67. 
 
 William J. Mansfield, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 " 
 
 May 28, "67. 
 
 J. O. Boswell, 
 
 P. &Q. 
 
 
 
 Nov. 20, '67. 
 
 James M. Sweetser, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 
 
 June 8, '68. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 
 A.H.Mons'n, 
 Supt. State. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 23, '68. 
 
 W. L. Brown, 
 
 Notary. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 July 14, '68. 
 
 Sam'l P. Breed, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 July 14, '68. 
 
 Cyrus Wakefield, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 Wakefield, 
 
 Sept 17, '68. 
 
 Byron A. Osgood, 
 
 Notary. 
 
 
 
 Dec. 12, '68. 
 
 Daniel G. Walton, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 M 
 
 March 5, '69. 
 
 Lilley Eaton, 
 
 P. &Q. 
 
 
 
 April 12, '69. 
 
 Samuel Flint, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 April 29, '69. 
 
 Stephen G. Nash, \ 
 
 The counties' 
 J. P. A. W. 
 
 Wakefield, 
 
 April 29, '69. 
 
 Benjamin Eames, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 North Reading, 
 
 June 16, '69. 
 
 Edward Appleton, 
 
 R. R. Com'r. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 July 24, '69. 
 
 Samuel Kingman, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Wakefield, 
 
 Oct. 21, '69. 
 
 John Brooks Leathe, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Oct. 20, '69. 
 
 Elam Porter, 
 
 J- P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 Feb. 3, 1864. 
 
 Thomas Richardson, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 19, '64. 
 
 Sam'l G. B. Coombs 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 April II, '64. 
 
 Chester W. Eaton, j 
 
 J.P. 
 
 Notary. 
 
 
 
 May 23, '64. 
 May 23, '64.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 LIST OF CIVIL OFFICERS, continued. 
 
 295 
 
 NAME. 
 
 OFFICE. 
 
 TOWN. 
 
 Date of Commis- 
 sion as qualified. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 South Reading. 
 
 Aug. n, '64. 
 
 Benj. M. Hartshorn, 
 
 Trial Justice. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 Dec. 13, '65. 
 
 Solon Bancroft, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 " 
 
 May 17, '66. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 
 Coroner. 
 
 
 
 April 19, '67. 
 
 Hiram Barrus, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 
 
 May 22, '67. 
 
 Daniel P. Emerson, 
 
 J. P. 
 
 
 
 May 28, '67. 
 
 William J. Mansfield, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 May 28, '67. 
 
 Charles A. Harnden, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 
 
 Sept. 16, '67. 
 
 James M. Sweetser, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 March 17, '68. 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 
 Supt. State 
 Almshouse, 
 
 Reading, 
 
 March 23, '68. 
 
 H. P. Guilford, 
 
 Notary. 
 
 Reading, 
 
 April 14, '68. 
 
 Carroll D. Wright, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 < 
 
 May 2, '68. 
 
 Ensign Tasker, 
 
 J.P. 
 
 South Reading, 
 
 July ii, '68. 
 
 Cyrus Wakefield, 
 Byron A. Osgood, 
 
 J.P. 
 J.P. 
 
 Notary. 
 
 Wakefield, 
 
 I 
 
 Aug. 14, '68. 
 Dec. 12, '68.
 
 296 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE INHABITANTS AND DWELL- 
 ING-HOUSES IN THE THIRD PARISH, NOW READING, 
 AT ABOUT THE TIME OF ITS INCORPORATION AS A 
 PARISH, 1769. 
 
 CAPT. SAMUEL BANCROFT lived on what is now Fremont Street, on 
 the Abraham Temple and Capt. Jona. Temple place, now occupied by 
 D. K. Batchelder. He was son of Dea. Thomas and Sarah (Poole) 
 Bancroft, b. 1693. (See First Settlers.) 
 
 DEA. SAMUEL BANCROFT lived in the house now occupied by Clifford 
 P. Weston, on what is now West Street, near Woburn line, formerly 
 known as " Ephraim Weston's old house." Dea. Samuel was the son 
 of Capt. Samuel. (See Early Settlers.) This house stands on what 
 was a part of Capt. Ebenezer Merrow's farm in 1742. Merrow's house 
 stood in the field, about seventy rods west of the corner of Woburn and 
 West Streets ; he was a blacksmith, and his shop was near his house ; 
 his wife's name was Sarah. He sold his farm in 1742, and removed to 
 Medford, where he died in 1768. He purchased his farm of his father, 
 Daniel, who received it of his father, Henry Merrow. (See Early 
 Settlers.) The old house was taken down soon after 1642, and the 
 present one built. 
 
 Dea. Bancroft owned this place in 1765, and settled his son Caleb 
 on it. Caleb removed out of town, and the place was sold to Timothy 
 Bryant, and by him sold to Ephraim Weston. Ephraim Weston was 
 son of Jonathan and Ruth (Flint) Weston. (See hereafter.) Weston 
 lived in the house until about 1800, when he built the house on 
 the opposite side of the street, now owned by his son Aaron, where 
 he lived until he died in 1851, aged 83. He married in 1789, 
 Molly, dau. of John and Mary Weston ; she died in 1843, aged 76. 
 Their children were: Ephraim, b. 1790; m. 1813, Dolly Nichols, and 
 d. 1862 j Mary, ^1792 ; m. 1812, James Leathe, of Woburn, and d. 
 1871 ; Charles, b. 1798 ; m. 1824, Sarah Damon, of North Reading; 
 Aaron, b. 1800; m. 1826, Mary Parker, of North Reading; Eliza, b.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 297 
 
 1803 ; m. Oliver Emerson; Cynthia, b. 1808; m. 1832, Henry Pendex 
 ter, andd. 1834; Luther, b. 1805 ; m. 1830, Roxanna Goodwin; Justus, 
 b. 1812; lost, 1840, on Steamer "Lexington"; Asahel, b. 1794; m. 
 Ann Alden, was a merchant in Baltimore, and d. at Reading 1835. 
 
 Clifford P. Weston, son of Aaron aforesaid, now owns the old place. 
 
 Ephraim, aforesaid, who d. in 1851, was one of the first shoe manu- 
 facturers in what is now Reading ; kept a store at the corner of West 
 and Woburn Streets, for many years. He was succeeded in the store 
 by J. B. Leathe, his grandson, in 1833, who continued it until 1864. 
 The store is now converted into a dwelling-house, and is owned and 
 occupied by George A. Richardson, a great-grandson of Ephraim afore- 
 said. 
 
 JAMES BANCROFT, Esquire, lived on the place where now resides 
 Francis J. Bancroft, his great-grandson. James Bancroft was the son 
 of Dea. Raham Bancroft. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 The old house that he occupied in 1765 he took down in 1789 or 
 '90, and then erected the present one. He succeeded his father, Dea. 
 Raham Bancroft, on this place. His children were : Sally, b. 1759; 
 m. 1780, Asa Hill, who built the old house since owned by D. P. Brown, 
 and removed to Gardner. Ruth, b. 1761 ; m. 1782, Tho. Emerson, 
 father of Hon. Tho. Emerson; Abigail, b. 1765 ; m. Dea. John Bout- 
 well, of Townsend ; Judith, b. 1768 ; m. 1790, Lt. Edmund Eaton, who 
 d. in 1796, and m. 1807, second husband, Joseph Boutwell; Hannah, 
 b. 1771 ; m. 1794, Farewell Brown, and d. 1851 ; Nancy, b. 1778 ; m. 
 1799, Jepthah Brown, and d. 1806; James, b. 1763 ; followed the sea 
 and d. single. 
 
 LIEUT. JOSEPH BANCROFT lived on the place on West Street, now 
 owned and occupied by his grandson, Capt. George Bancroft. Lieut 
 Joseph was the son of Ensign Thomas and Lydia (Dean) Bancroft, was 
 born 1735, married Elizabeth, dau. of Lieut. John and Rebecca (Par- 
 ker) Temple, and died 1825. His wife died in 1815. It is supposed 
 that the first owner of this place was Thomas Bancroft, son of Thomas 
 and Sarah (Poole) Bancroft, b. 1673, and d. 1731. He was father of 
 Ensign Thomas aforesaid. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 The children of Lieut. Joseph were : Elizabeth, b. 1756 ; Rebecca, b. 
 1758; Susanna, b. 1760; m. 1778, Timothy Wakefield ; Joseph, b. 
 1762; settled on the Emory Bancroft place; Timothy, b. 1764; m. 
 1789, Lydia, dau. of Daniel and Sarah Parker; Thomas, b. 1766, and 
 settled in Lynnfield ; Nehemiah, b. 1768, and settled on Capt. Abraham 
 Foster's place; Jonathan, b. 1774, and settled in Wilmington ; Hannah, 
 
 b. 1771 ; m. James Weston ; Anna, b. ; m. 1807, Loea Parker. 
 
 38
 
 298 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The children of Timothy andLydia, who succeeded Lieut. Joseph on 
 this place were: George (Capt), who m. 1819, Mary, dau. of Asahel 
 .and Betsey Porter, and now owns the place; Parker, who m., ist, 
 Zerviah Carey, and 2d, Sarah P. Brown ; John H., who m. 1840, Cla- 
 rinda, dau. of Capt. Jona. Temple ; Bradley, who m. Lydia P., dau. of 
 Capt. Jona. Temple; Sophia, who m. 1812, Jedde Brown; Hannah^ 
 who m. 1814, Charles Lewis; Abner, who m. Buttrick. 
 
 WILLIAM BANCROFT lived in the old house on West Street, now 
 owned by Thomas Sweetser. 
 
 William was the son of Capt. Samuel, and was b. 1717 (see Early 
 Settlers) ; m. 1742, Elizabeth Damon; had a son William in the Revo- 
 lutionary War ; removed to Conway. 
 
 Bancroft was succeeded on this place by Ephraim Parker, called 
 " Master Ephraim," who was son of Ephraim and Ruth (Bancroft) Par- 
 ker, b. 1751; m. Sophia Richardson, of Woburn ; had no children. 
 Parker was succeeded by John Damon, son of John and Hepzibeth 
 (Smith) Damon, who now lives on Pleasant Street. Damon sold the 
 place to Isaac Roby, from North Reading, who lived on the place sev- 
 eral years, and sold it to Thomas Sweetser, Esq., the present owner. 
 
 CAPT. ABRAHAM FOSTER lived on the late Nehemiah Bancroft place 
 on Grove Street, now occupied by N. E. Hill. The first house on this 
 place was built on the Plain, and removed up to the road. 
 
 Capt. Abraham was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Roberts) Foster, 
 b. about 1702. (See First Settlers.) 
 
 After Capt. Foster's death, the place was purchased by Nehemiah 
 Bancroft. Nehemiah was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Temple) 
 Bancroft (see ante) ; was born 1768 ; m. 1791, Susanna Beard, and d. 
 1863, aged 95. Present owner, Nathaniel E. Hill. 
 
 WID. ABIGAIL MERROW lived on the late Emory Bancroft place, on 
 Lowell Street, near the village. Abigail Merrow was the daughter of 
 Thomas and Deborah Parker, b. 1683; m. 1710,10 Henry Merrow, 
 son of John and Deliverance, and grandson of Henry and Jane, early 
 settlers, whose house stood seventy or eighty rods west of the corner of 
 West and Woburn Streets. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Thomas Richardson succeeded the Merrows ; his wife's name was 
 Abigail ; his children were: Molly, b. 1743 ; Hepsy, b. 1745 ; Abigail, 
 b. 1746; Bulah, b. 1751 ; Ebenezer, b. 1754; m. 1777, Sarah, dau. of 
 Jona. and Ruth Parker. Abigail and Molly aforesaid died of small- 
 pox. The Richardsons were succeeded by Joshua Bancroft, of Wil- 
 mington, who m. 1760 or '62, Hannah Pierson, and had no children. 
 
 Joshua Bancroft was succeeded by Capt. Joseph Bancroft, son of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 299 
 
 Joseph and Elizabeth (Temple) Bancroft. (See ante.) He m. 1784, 
 Abigail Upton, of North Reading. He died in 1832, aged 70. His 
 children were: Abigail, who m. Miles Johnson ; Rebecca, who m. 1810, 
 Aaron Parker; Susanna, b. 1788; m. Jonathan Parker; Betsey, b. 
 1793; m. 1815, Rufus Damon; Lucetta, b. 1798; m. 1839, Rufus 
 Damon; Emory, b. 1804; m. 1832, Harriet, dau. of John and Sally 
 (Herrick), and d. in 1864 ; Emily, b. 1804; m. 1827, George Porter; 
 Joseph, b. 1801 ; m. 1833, Betsey Wakefield, and m. 1846, Mahala 
 Foss, and d. 1868. 
 
 Emory succeeded to the house and a part of the farm of his father, 
 and his brother Joseph succeeded to the other part of the farm, and his 
 house stood near the old house. 
 
 The children of Emory : Emory, Solon (counsellor at law), who m. El- 
 len M. Temple, dau. of Abraham ; Frederic and Alvin. The children of 
 Joseph, who was an excellent land surveyor, were John M., also a land 
 surveyor and engineer, who m. Mary, dau. of Samuel L. Hay ; Sarah 
 J., Lewis H., and Mary E. 
 
 JOHN BOUTWELL lived on the place on Salem Street now owned 
 and occupied by Dana Parker, son of Amos and Betsey (Taylor) Par- 
 ker. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 John Boutwell was the son of John Boutwell (see Early Settlers), and 
 m. 1722, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Elizabeth Parker. 
 
 ISAAC BURNAP lived on the place on Ash Street now owned by S. 
 S. Crouch, and formerly known as the Capt. Jonathan Weston place. 
 
 Isaac Burnap, son of Joseph and Tabitha (see Early Settlers), was 
 born 1713; m. 1736, Susanna Emerson. Their children were :. Su- 
 sanna, b. 1736; Martha, b. 1737, and m. Richard Melenda; Bethiah, 
 
 b. , and m. 1860, John Nichols ; Tabitha, b. 1741 ; Sarah, b. 1750 ; 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1745 ; m. 1765, Andrew Beard, and removed to Gardner; 
 Rebecca, b. 1745 ; m. 1763, David Nichols, and removed to Gardner; 
 Joseph, b. 1747 ; m. 1768, Abigail Bickford ; was captain ; left his wife 
 and went to New York; Jacob, b. 1748 ; m., ist, Ruth Hopkins (was 
 Rev. Dr. Burnap, of Merrimack, N. H.) ; Abigail, b. 1752; m. 1771, 
 Tho. Taylor, of North Parish. 
 
 Wid. Mary Merrow lived on High Street, on the place now owned 
 by Mrs. Benjamin Hartshorn. She was the dau. of William and Tabi- 
 tha Cowdrey. She m. 1737, Edward Merrow. (See Early Settlers,) 
 Jonathan Foster, whose wife was a dau. of John Merrow, bought the 
 place of the Merrows, and at his death it was sold to Simon Nichols. 
 
 Simon Nichols was the son of John and Joanna (Nichols) Nichols, b. 
 1745, and d. 1828. His wife was Mary Parker; she d. 1846, aged 98.
 
 300 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Their children were : Mary, who ra. James Boutwell ; Hannah, b. 1773 ; 
 m. 1795, Richard Temple, and d. 1826; Simon, b. 1774; m. 1797, 
 Rebecca Nick, and d. in North Reading; Nancy, b. 1776 ; m. 1799, 
 Jacob Cheney; Amos, b. 1778 ; m. 1801, Molly Pratt; Lucy, b. 1780 ; 
 m. 1802, David Flint; Betsey, b. 1781 ; m. 1801, Daniel Pratt ; Oliver, 
 b. 1787, and. d. young, greatly lamented; Lucinda, b. 1783; Timothy, 
 b. 1791 ; Abigail, b. 1785. 
 
 This Burnap place was sold to Capt. Jonathan Weston, son of Jona. 
 and Ruth (Flint) Weston (see after); was b. 1757; m. 1779, Lucy, 
 dau. of Jona. and Mary Parker ; was a soldier in the war of the Revo- 
 lution, and d. 1839. Children : William, b. 1780, was father of Sumner 
 Weston, of Reading ; Jonathan (Esquire) went to Eastport, Me. ; Re- 
 becca, m. 1810, Edmund Parker, Esq., of Reading. George Winn 
 succeeded Capt. Weston on the place, and died there. 
 
 ANDREW BEARD lived in 1865 in a house that stood on the hill, a few 
 rods southwest of where Silas G. Emerson now lives, and which fell 
 down soon after. The first occupants of this house were two Harts- 
 horns, who kept tavern therein. 1 
 
 Andrew Beard married, in 1740, Elizabeth Nichols, and in 1765, m. 
 Elizabeth Burnap. His children were : William, b. 1745 ; Cleaveland, 
 b. 1748, and lived on John Burrill place. Joseph, b. 1748, and m. 
 Susanna Hartshorn, of Lunenburg, in 1773 ; Phebe, b. 1752 ; Dorcas, 
 b. 1753 ; Hepzibeth, b. 1755 ; Abigail, b. 1757 ; Molly, b. 1763 ; Eliz- 
 abeth, b. 1768 ; Andrew, b. 1772. William aforesaid, who was b. 1745, 
 succeeded to the place ; was a farrier ; m. 1767, Sarah Nichols, and 2d; 
 Dorcas, before 1788. The children of William were: Sally, Fanny, 
 William, Edmund, by first wife ; and by second wife, Langdon, b. 1788 ; 
 Polly, b. 1790; Betsey. 
 
 NATHANIEL BATCHELDER lived on the place now occupied by Mrs. 
 Herrick Batchelder, on Franklin Street, near Pearl Street, formerly 
 owned by the late John Batchelder, Sen. 
 
 Seargt. John Batchelder, who died in 1676, among other children 
 had Nathaniel, b. 1675. (See Early Settlers.) He built a house on 
 the Herrick Batchelder place for his son Nathaniel, who was born in 
 1714, and who m. 1751, Abigail (Nichols) Flint, of North Reading. 
 The children of Nathaniel and Abigail were: Abigail, b. 1756; Na- 
 thaniel, b. 1759 ; m. Patty Gerry, and settled on the place now owned 
 by his son Nathaniel. 
 
 John, b. 1762 (see below) ; Simeon, b. 1762, and went to North 
 Reading. John succeeded to the homestead ; m. 1790, Sally Herrick, 
 and d. 1832.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 3 OI 
 
 JOHN BATCH ELDER. 
 
 DAVID BATCHELDER lived on the place recently owned by his grand- 
 son, Nathaniel Batchelder, on corner of Pearl and Franklia Streets. 
 
 David was the son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Ellsley) Batchelder, 
 b. 1716. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 This place is supposed to be the more ancient homestead of the 
 Batchelders in this part of the town, and was first occupied by the 
 father or grandfather of said David, who removed hither from what is 
 now the corner of Main and Cordis Streets, in Wakefield. David suc- 
 ceeded to this homestead of his father ; lived here with his sister, both 
 of whom died single. 
 
 Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Abigail, succeeded his uncle David 
 on this place ; m. Patty Gerry, of Stoneham ; tore down the old house 
 and built the present one soon after his marriage. Chil. of Nathaniel 
 and Patty were : Abigail, b. ; m. 1801, Obed Symonds; Nathan- 
 iel, b. 1786 ; m. 1811, Polly, dau. of Thomas and Hannah (Damon) 
 Symonds, and still lives, with his wife, on this place ; David, a son of 
 Nathaniel, last named, now lives in Wakefield. 
 
 SAMUEL DAMON lived on the late John Damon place, on John Street, 
 in the house now owned by John Norwood. 
 
 Samuel Damon, b. 1726, was son of John, who built the house afore- 
 said, and Rebecca, and grandson of Samuel, b. 1656, who was killed 
 by falling from his horse in returning from church. (See Early Set- 
 tlers.) Samuel, first above named, m. 1754, Abigail Smith. Children 
 of Samuel and Abigail were: Samuel, b. 1756, and m. 1779, Abigail
 
 302 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HiSTOR\ 
 
 Sweetser, and removed to Lancaster ; Benjamin, b. 1760; Daniel, b. 
 1757, and m. 1782, Anna Emerson (see after); Abigail, b. 1763, and 
 m. Eben Wakefield, and removed to Amherst, N H. ; Rebecca, b, 
 1768, and m. Maverick Smith and removed to Amherst, N. H. ; John, 
 b. 1766, and m. 1790, Hepzibeth Smith, and succeeded to the home- 
 stead. The house on this place is famous for having been the resi- 
 dence, in 1774, of his late Excellency, Dr. John Brooks, formerly Gov- 
 ernor of Massachusetts. 
 
 JOSEPH DAMON lived on the place now owned by Rufus W. Damon, 
 on South Street, near Woburn line. 
 
 Joseph Damon, b. 1686, was son of Thomas and Lucy Ann (Emer- 
 son) Damon; m. 1707, Mary Batchelder. (See Early Settlers.) Joseph 
 and Mary had a son Jabez, b. 1722, who m. Lucy Wyman, of Woburn. 
 The children of Jabez and Lucy were: Joseph, b. 1759 (see below); 
 Jabez, Aaron, Jerusha. Joseph, last above named, succeeded his father 
 on this place, and m. 1782, Patience Richardson ; was a soldier of the 
 Revolution and died in 1843. His son Rufus succeeded to this place, 
 and m., ist, Betsey Bancroft, and 2d, Lucetta Bancroft, sisters, who 
 were daus. of Joseph and Abigail (Upton) Bancroft, and d. in 1870, 
 aged 82. His son Rufus is the presentjowner of the place. 
 
 LT. JONATHAN EATON lived on the place now occupied by Widow 
 B. F. Newhall, on Ash Street, near Wakefield line ; recently owned by 
 Chas. Tweed, and before that, by Jonas Parker. 
 
 Jonathan Eaton, b. 1714, son of Thomas and Lydia Eaton (see 
 Early Settlers) ; m. Mary, dau. of Joseph and Mary Damon. She died 
 in 1786, at the age of 76, and he m. Anna Hayes, of Stoneham. The 
 children of Jonathan and Mary were : Jonathan, Lydia, and Edmund. 
 Edmund, b. 1742, succeeded his father on the place and m. 1766, 
 Sarah Brown. Edmund, 2d, son of Edmund and Sarah, b. 1767, m. 
 1790, Judith, dau. of James Bancroft, Esq., and was killed by the fall- 
 ing of a bridge in Charlestown. 
 
 Edmund, son of Edmund and Judith, is now living in Reading. 
 Edmund, the first, sold the place to Jonas Parker, and removed to 
 Wakefield. 
 
 THOMAS EATON, Sen., Capt, lived on the Esq. Fresco tt place, on 
 Summer Street; was son of Joshua and Rebecca (Kendall) Eaton, 
 b. 1685, m. 1708, Lydia Peirce, of Watertown, d. 1774. (See- Early 
 Settlers.) His father, Joshua, is supposed to be the first Eaton who 
 settled in what is now the town of Reading. Thomas, aforesaid, suc- 
 ceeded his father on this place. His children were : Thomas (Jr.), 
 Capt, b. 1729, succeeded his father on the place, m. Elizabeth Gerry,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 303 
 
 and d. 1787; Joshua, b. 1734, settled in the house now owned by 
 Ivory Murray. 
 
 The children of Capt. Thomas and Elizabeth were : James b. 1757, 
 
 and m. Lydia Nichols, and removed to Auburn. Betsey, b. , 
 
 and d. single. 
 
 Thomas (3d), Lieut, b. 1754, succeeded to the place, and m. 1781, 
 Abigail Bryant, of Stoneham, and d. in 1787 ; being the same year 
 that his father died. His children were: Joseph, b. 1781, and Abigail, 
 b. 1785, who succeeded to the place and m. 1813, Joshua Prescott, 
 Esq., a native of Westford, who graduated at Har. Coll. in 1807, and 
 died 1859, aged 78. Abigail, d. 1867. Their children : Thomas E., 
 Alfred A. (Esq.), Elizabeth, and Abigail still live on the place. 
 
 JOSHUA EATON lived where Ivory Murray now lives, on Oak 
 Street, near Summer Street. He was son of Capt. Thomas and Lydia 
 Eaton (see before, and also Early Settlers) ; was b. 1734, and died 
 1772; his wife's name was Molly. His children were: Joshua, 
 b. 1757, was killed in the Revolutionary war, at the battle of Sara- 
 toga, Oct. 7, 1777 ; Betsey, who m. a Boutwell and removed from 
 town ; Charles, b. 1759, a soldier in the war; m. 1780, Rebecca Poole, 
 
 and settled in what is now Wakefield ; Polly, b. , m. 1789, John 
 
 Rayner, of Wakefield. The place has since been owned by Edmund 
 Wiley, and is now owned by Ivory Murray, aforesaid. 
 
 THOMAS EATON, 3d, lived in the Benj. Young house, that recently 
 stood on a privatejway west of Main Street, and was burned down in 
 1868 or '9. 
 
 Thomas Eaton, 3d, was probably the son of John and Abigail 
 (Roberts) Eaton, and b. 1725. (See Early Settlers.) He m. Betsey, 
 dau. of John and Elizabeth Boutwell. He built the house aforesaid. 
 His children were: Thomas, b. 1748; Betsey, b. 1749; Dorcas, b. 
 1754; Eda ; Asa, b. 1757 ; Amos, b. 1760. Thomas, b. 1748, suc- 
 ceeded his father; m. 1770, Abigail Bancroft, of Worcester. The 
 children of Thomas and Abigail were : Thomas, b. 1775; Joshua, b. 
 1778 ; Loammi, b. 1780. 
 
 The place was sold to Benj. Young, who m. 1783, Mary Gould. He 
 had a son Benja., b. 1785, who m. 1807, Rebecca Foster, and d. 1857, 
 aged 71 ; was father of Edward Young, now of Reading. 
 
 JAMES EATON lived on the place on Franklin Street, now occu- 
 pied by J. Adams Emerson, and recently occupied by the late John 
 Emerson, Dep. Sheriff. 
 
 James Eaton was the son of John and Abigail (Roberts) Eaton, b. 
 J 733 ( see Early Settlers) ; m. 1758, Lois Damon. Their children
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 were: Lois, b. 1758; Lucy; Sally; Abigail; Jerusha ; Joseph, b. 
 1771, and m. Sarah Sweetser, and settled in Wakefield. 
 
 James Eaton was succeeded on the place by Jonathan Nichols, who 
 m. Hannah Damon. Jonathan and Hannah both died in early life, at 
 nearly the same time, and their remains were carried together, on 
 men's shoulders, to the West Parish. They left a dau. Hannah, b. 
 1742, who m. 1761, Dea. John Temple. 
 
 The place was sold to John Emerson, son of John and Hannah 
 (Nichols; Emerson, b. 1755 a "d m. J 777 Phebe Beard, and d. 1833. 
 A son of John and Phebe, b. 1783, succeeded, and was formerly Dep. 
 Sheriff. He m. Nancy Wiley, in 1815, and d. 1870. John A. Emer- 
 son, son of John and Nancy, now owns and occupies the place. 
 
 EBENEZER EMERSON lived on the "Franklin Weston place," cor- 
 ner of Franklin and Haverhill Streets, now owned by Marcus Gould. 
 Ebenezer, aforesaid, was the son of Rev. Joseph Emerson, first minis- 
 ter of Mendon. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Of the children of Ebenezer, ist, his son Ebenezer, b. 1717, suc- 
 ceeded, and was living on the place in 1765. He m. 1746, Anna 
 Nichols; she died 1749. He m., 2d, Rebecca (perhaps the sister of 
 Anna). Chil. by Anna : Ebenezer, b. 1747 ; and by Rebecca, Daniel, 
 b. 1760. 
 
 Ebenezer, who was born in 1747, appears to have settled on Grove 
 Street, m. 1769, Judith Nichols, and had chil. : Judith, b. 1770 ; 
 Joshua, b. 1776 ; and Ebenezer, b. 1772, who succeeded his father, on 
 Grove Street, m. 1794, Rhoda Symonds, and died in 1867, aged 94. 
 
 Daniel, half-brother of Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Rebecca, b. 
 1760, succeeded his father on the old homestead ; m. 1781, Lucy, dau. 
 of Isaac Pratt ; was father of Dea. Oliver, late of Lynnfield, of Loring 
 of Winchester, Putnam of Woburn, and other children. He sold the 
 old place to Col. Nathan Parker, and removed to Lynnfield. Col. 
 Parker sold the place to Franklin Weston, son of James and Hannah 
 (Bancroft) Weston. Franklin Weston, m. 1819, Mary, dau. of Edmund 
 Wiley (ist wife). 
 
 NATHANIEL EMERSON lived in a house that stood on Pearl Street 
 north of Franklin Street, and that was torn down some thirty or forty 
 years ago. 
 
 Was probably a relative, perhaps a younger brother, of the preced- 
 ing; m. 1725, Hepzibeth Burnap. Children: Nathaniel, b. 1726; 
 Hepzi., b. 1729 ; John, b. 1732 ; Susanna, b. 1734; Tabitha, b. 1737 ; 
 Martha and Mary, b. 1739; Samuel, b. 1740; Joseph, who d. in 
 Chelmsford, and others.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 35 
 
 JOHN EMERSON lived on the place now occupied by Silas G. 
 Emerson, on Pearl Street, near Main Street ; was called Ensign. 
 
 John WAS the son of Nathaniel and Hepzi., b. 1732 ; m. 1755, Han- 
 nah Nichols. Children: John, b. 1755; Nathaniel, b. 1757; David, 
 b. 1762; Hannah, b. 1765 ; Abigail. He was succeeded on the place 
 by his son David, who was born 1762, and who m. 1787, Sarah Gowing ; 
 she d. 1809 ; and m. for zd wife, Selina Gassett, of Townsend. 
 
 Chil. : David, b. 1787, and settled on Haverhill Street, where his 
 son Clinton now lives. Sally, Henry, Thomas ; and by 2d wife, Silas 
 G. and Albert B. ; Silas G. has succeeded to the place. This place 
 has never been sold since it was first ^settled. 
 
 SAMUEL FARLEY lived on the place on Salem Street, formerly the 
 " Daniel Damon place," now owned by Francis Kingman. Capt. 
 Samuel Lamson was an early settler on this place, and died here in 
 1692. It was afterwards owned by Wm. Melendy and Joseph Hill, 
 who sold it to the town, in 1760-1, for ^50 and 6s., house and land. 
 Samuel Farley, who was supported by the town, was living here in 
 1765. In 1767 the place was sold to Samuel Damon. (See Early 
 Settlers.) 
 
 Win. FELCH lived on the place now owned and occupied by 
 Phineas Green, on Main Street, on S. W. side of Bare Hill. 
 
 This was Margaret Feleh, maiden name Marg't Toothaker, from 
 Wilmington, was m. to Ebenezer Felch, in 1733 (2d wife), (his istwife, 
 who was Lydia Chandler, from Andover, d. in 1731). Chil.: Lydia, b. 
 1729 ; Phebe, b. 1734; Joseph, b. 1736, and Mary, b. 1739, and m. to 
 John Farmer, in 1763. 
 
 Ebenezer Felch was the son of John and Elizabeth, b. 1701. (See 
 Early Settlers.) 
 
 John Farmer succeeded his father-in-law on the place ; had a son 
 John, b. 1767, who d. in the Revolutionary war. 
 
 Farmer sold the place to Samuel Weston, and went to Lunenburg. 
 
 Weston sold to Nathan Mason, and went to Rowley. 
 
 Mason sold to Asahel Porter, from Stoneham. 
 
 Porter m. in 1796, Betsey Atwell, who d. in 1869. 
 
 The chil. of Asahel Porter were : Asahel ; Mary, who m. Capt. Geo. 
 Bancroft ; George, who m. Emily Bancroft ; Stillman ; William ; 
 Darius ; Eliza, who m. James Pierce, of Stoneham. 
 
 CAPT. ABRAHAM FOSTER lived on Grove Street, on the place 
 
 lately owned by Nehemiah Bancroft, and now owned and occupied by 
 
 Nathaniel E. Hill. The first house was built on the Plain and moved 
 
 up to the road. Capt. Foster was the son of Samuel and Sarah (see 
 
 39
 
 306 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Early Settlers) ; b. about 1702; m. 1733, Susanna Hartshorn, and d. 
 Z 753> a g e d 49- After his death, the place was sold to Nehemiah Ban- 
 croft. Nehemiah was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Temple) Ban- 
 croft (see ante); b. 1768; m. 1791, Susanna Beard, and d. 1863, aged 
 95. Chil. : Susanna, who m. 1819, Samuel Parker; Eliza, m. 1820, 
 Charles Parker; Miah, and James H., who m. 1828, Emily J. Eames. 
 JONATHAN FOSTER, brother of the foregoing, b. 1712 ; lived on the 
 place formerly of Ebenezer Emerson, and now of Joseph Fultz, on 
 Grove Street. The house was built by one Stimpson, a fiddler, who 
 came near being captured one night by the Indians, while sitting on a 
 log fiddling. 
 
 Samuel Foster, the father of Jonathan, succeeded Stimpson ; Jona- 
 than succeeded his father; m. 1733, Dorothy, or Deborah, Merrow, and 
 d. in 1775, an d was buried on the day of Concord fight. Their children 
 were: Jonathan, b. 1737; Samuel, b. 1743, and lived in Gardner; 
 Anna, b. 1735; Dolly, b. 1738; Sarah,b. 1744; Jonathan, last named, 
 m. 1761, Sarah Townsend, and had chil. : Sarah, b. 1762 ; Daniel, b. 
 1767; Aaron, b. 1769; Davis, b. 1771, and m. 1805, Wid. Nancy 
 Russell, and lived in Wakefield; Jonathan, b. 1774; John, b. 1773 ; 
 Dolly, b. 1776 ; Alice, b. 1781, and Anna, b. 1784. 
 
 Ebenezer Emerson bought this place of the first Jonathan Foster. 
 He, Ebenezer, was the son of Ebenezer and Anna (Nichols) Emer- 
 son (see ante); was b. 1772 ; m. Rhoda Symonds in 1794, and d. 1867. 
 His chil. were : Rhoda, b. 1795 ; Ebenezer, b. 1804 ; Melina and Fidelia. 
 His son Ebenezer, b. 1804; m., ist, in 1828, Sally Peabody, and 2d, in 
 1849, Esther Taylor, and d. in 1861. 
 
 Dea. Henry A. Emerson, son of Ebenezer and Sally, aforesaid, b. 
 1831 ; m. 1853, Emily P. Stimpson, and d. in 1869. 
 
 BENJAMIN FOSTER, brother of the foregoing, lived on the place on 
 Grove Street, near Wilmington line, lately owned by Enos Tibbetts, 
 and now owned by A. J. Francis. Benjamin Foster was b. 1715. (See 
 Early Settlers.) The first house on this place was burned about 1760. 
 Mr. Foster built the present house soon after. His son Samuel suc- 
 ceeded to the homestead, and upon his death the place was sold to 
 Henry Eames. It was afterwards owned and occupied by Enos Tib- 
 betts, until his death in 1865. Tibbetts m. in 1822, Cynthia, dau of 
 Asa and Anna (Eames) Parker. 
 
 TIMOTHY HARTSHORN lived on Haverhill Street, on the place recently 
 occupied by his son Timothy, and now by his children. This Timothy, 
 Sen., was b. 1737, and was the son of Samuel and Abigail (Taylor) 
 Hartshorn ; (see Early Settlers) ; m. Abigail Nichols, the dau. of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 307 
 
 Daniel and Elizabeth (Batchelder) Nichols. Their chil. were : Abi- 
 gail, b. 1761, and m. 1779 to Uea. Benjamin Pratt; Esther, b. 1763, 
 and m. 1780 to Ebenezer Stimpson ; Timothy, b. 1775 (see below), and 
 Molly, who d. single. 
 
 Timothy, b. 1775, succeeded to the place; m. 1800, Sally Nelson, 
 and d. 1844. Their children were : Sally, Mary, Timothy Ward, Eliz- 
 abeth, and Mehitabel. Timothy, Sen., aforesaid, purchased the place 
 of one Eaton. 
 
 JONATHAN NICHOLS lived in an old house that stood on the west 
 side of Pearl Street, north of Forest Street. He was the son of James 
 and Mary (Poole) Nichols, b. 1691. (See Early Settlers.) He m. 
 1716, Phebe Eaton. Children: Jonathan, b. 1717, and Benjamin, b. 
 1723. Benjamin succeeded to the homestead, and m. Mary Trow. 
 The children of Benjamin and Mary were: Joseph, b. 1752 ; m. Molly 
 Dudley, and removed to Hillsboro' ; Benjamin, b. 1754 ; m. 1779, Re- 
 becca Bancroft, and removed to Gardner ; Jonathan, b. 1758 ; m. 1778, 
 Elizabeth Calnon, and removed to Wilmington; Jesse, b. 1760; m., 
 ist, 1784, Rebecca Walton, and 2d, 1789, Betty Howard; Mary, b. 
 1756; m. 1776, William Beers; Ebenezer, b. 1762; m., ist, 1789, 
 Rebecca Howard, of Andover, and 2d, 17^0, Betsey Dix. Ebenezer 
 sold the place to Nathaniel Batchelder, who took down the old house 
 about the year 1800. The old cellar is still to be seen. 
 
 RICHARD NICHOLS lived on the corner of Franklin Street, near Pearl 
 Street, on the place lately of Asa Parker, and now of George Parker. 
 He was the son of John and Abigail Nichols (see Early Settlers) ; was 
 b. 1679 ; was the first man known to have lived on the place. He m. 
 1706, Abigail Damon. His children were : Abigail, b. 1708 ; John, b. 
 1711 ; Mary, b. 1713 ; Hepzibeth, b. 1721 ; Mehitabel, b. 1723 ; Jacob, 
 b. 1726; Richard, b. 1715, and who built the house now owned by Rich- 
 ard B.Nichols; Joshua, b. 11718, and who succeeded his father on 
 the homestead. Joshua, m. Hepzibeth Hartshorn, and their children 
 were: Joshua, b. 1746; Judith, b. 1749 ; and Hepzibeth, who m. 1762, 
 Asa Parker (son of Benjamin and Sarah Parker), b. 1740, and d. 1809. 
 ,Asa Parker and wife succeeded to her father's place. The children of 
 Asa and Hepzibeth were: Joshua, b. 1774, and removed to New 
 Hampshire ; Lucy, b. 1779, and d. single ; Loea, b. 1782 ; was a lieu- 
 tenant, and d. in 1814 at Fort Independence ; Levi, b. 1784 (a deacon) ; 
 m. 1805, Polly Nichols, and went to Wilmington ; Lucinda, b. 1786; 
 and Asa. 
 
 Asa, Jr., succeeded his father on the place, and m. 1796, Anna 
 Eames, of Wilmington. The children of Asa and Anna were : James ;
 
 308 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 George, who now owns the place ; Nancy, who m. James Batchelder ; 
 Cynthia, who m. 1822, Enos Tibbetts ; and Betsey, who d. single. 
 
 JOHN NICHOLS lived on Pearl Street, near Main Street, on the place 
 lately of Luther Nichols, his grandson, and now of Wm. Gates Nichols, 
 his great-grandson. 
 
 John, aforesaid, was the son of John and Joanna (Nichols) Nichols, 
 and the grandson of John and Abigail. (See First Settlers.) He was 
 born 1736, and m. 1760, Bethiah Burnap, dau. of Capt. Joseph and Abi- 
 gail (Bickford) Burnap. He succeeded his father, John, and his 
 grandfather, John, on this place, and died in 1819. His children were : 
 Mary, b. 1763, and d. single; John, b. 1761 (see after) ; Kendall, b. 
 1766, and m. Hannah Symonds, and went to Sharon ; James, b. 1768 ; 
 Hosea ; Samuel, b. 1772, and went to Stoddard, N. H. John aforesaid, 
 b. 1761, succeeded to the place, and m. 1785, Jerusha Parker, dau. of 
 Daniel and Sarah (Parker) Parker, and d. 1823. Their children were : 
 John, b. 1788, and m. Aner Damon in 1814; Luther, b. 1800 (see 
 after) ; Jerusha, b. 1786, and m. Michael Cross; Bethiah, b. 1791, and 
 m. 1813, Edmund Nichols; Clarissa, b. 1793, and m. 1816, Richard 
 Nichols ; Nancy, b. 1805, and m. 1824, Jonathan Frost. Luther, afore- 
 said, b. 1800, succeeded to the place, and m. 1823, Rebecca Saunders, 
 of Tewksbury. He left sons, now living : William G., his successor 
 on the place, Parker C., and John B. 
 
 RICHARD NICHOLS lived on the place, on Franklin Street, now occu- 
 pied by Richard B. Nichols, his great-grandson. 
 
 He was the son of Richard and Abigail (Damon) Nichols (see Early 
 Settlers) ; was born 1715 ; m. 1738, Mary Williams, dau. of William 
 Williams. Her father and brother James were drowned in Lake Quan- 
 napowitt, in 1829, by the upsetting of a boat. The children of Richard 
 and Mary were : Richard, b. 1740 ; Mary, b. 1742 ; Mehitabel, b. 1744 
 and m. 1763, Isaac Pratt; Sarah, b. 1747 ; William, b. 1750 ; Tabitha, 
 b- J 75 2 ; Jeremiah, b. 1755; Edmund, b. 1758 (see after); Susanna, 
 b. 1759; Lydia, b. 1760. Edmund, aforesaid, b. 1758, succeeded to 
 the place, and m. 1786, Dolly Eames, of Wilmington. Children of Ed- 
 mund and Dolly were : Richard and Edmund, twins ; Richard, b. 1787 * 
 (see after) ; m. 1816, Clarissa, dau. of John and Jerusha Nichols ; Ed- 
 mund, b. 1787 ; m. 1813, Bethiah, dau. of John and Jerusha Nichols; 
 Seth, b, 1790, went to Pennsylvania ; Dolly, b. 1793 ; m. 1813, Kphraim 
 Weston, Jr. ; Daniel, b. 1796 ; m. 1820, Lavinia, dau. of William and 
 Sarah Parker, and d. 1869 ; Sally, b. 1798 ; m. Robert Campbell. 
 
 Richard, aforesaid, who was b. 1787, succeeded to the place. His 
 children were : Richard B., who now lives on the place ; John N., Ed- 
 win, and Daniel.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 309 
 
 CAPT. NATHAN PARKER owned, and perhaps occupied at this time, 
 the old Jaquith house, that stood on the corner of Woburn and Wash- 
 ington Streets, on the place now owned by Wendall Bancroft. 
 
 Capt. Nathan was the son of Lieut. Nathaniel, and the grandson of 
 Ens. Nathaniel, who was son of Thomas and Amy. Ens. Nathaniel 
 was the first person buried in the West Parish cemetery ; he d. in 1737, 
 aged 87. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Capt. Nathan was born 1719 ; m. 1741, Tabitha Gould, of Stoneham ; 
 d. 1778. He probably succeeded his father, Lieut. Nathaniel, on this 
 place. His children were : Caleb (see after), Nathan, Nathaniel, Ed 
 mund (who died in the Revolutionary War) ; Tabitha, who m. 1766, 
 William Bickford, and lived in Gardner; Hannah, who m. 1769, Rev. 
 Joseph Willard ; Sarah, who m. 1786, James Bancroft, Esq. ; Susa, who 
 m. 1783, Barnard Green, Esq., of Maiden; Nathan (Col.), b. about 
 1748 (see after) ; Nathaniel, a physician, who lived and d. in Salem. 
 
 Caleb, aforesaid, b. about 1743, succeeded to the place ; m., ist, Zer- 
 viah Reed, of Woburn; m., 2d, in 1777, Hannah Gaffield, of Lincoln, 
 and died in 1820. His children were : Caleb, b. 1768 ; Hannah, b. 
 1777 ; Lucinda, b. 1779 ; Abraham, Sophia, and Susan. 
 
 It is not known when this old house was built, but it is traditional 
 that the Rev. Richard Brown, who died in 1732, used to come up from 
 the South Parish and hold meetings in it.- The first school-house in the 
 West Parish, now Reading, stood on the opposite corner ; and, on the 
 corner where G. W. Simes' house now stands, there was a blacksmith's 
 shop, and many of the old ox-shoes and nails are found in the soil. A 
 marvellous legend is related of the old house. It was supposed to be 
 haunted by evil spirits some forty or fifty years ago. Such apparitions 
 were seen and noises heard that children were afraid to pass directly 
 by it, and would go around through the fields. It is said that old Mr. 
 Daniel Bailey, on a certain occasion, came running at full speed into 
 E. Weston's store, about half a mile distant from the old house, badly 
 frightened and much exhausted. When he had wiped the perspiration 
 from his face, and his nerves had become somewhat quieted, and he 
 had recovered sufficient breath to speak, he related his adventures, as 
 follows : He said " he did not intend to be frightened at anything till 
 he saw it, and, as he was passing the Jaquith house, he thought, if the 
 old devil was at home, he would like to see him. He accordingly went 
 up to an open window to get a view of him. Whereupon the old spin 
 ning-wheel began to go and to buzz. In an instant his hair stood on 
 end and raised his hat, so that he had to hold it on as he ran." He 
 did not see the old fellow spin; he was too busily engaged himself in 
 " spinning street-yarn"
 
 3io 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The old house was afterwards owned by Daniel Chute, Esq., and 
 upon his death, in 1843, it came into the possession of the late Samuel 
 W. Carter, whose wife was a dau. of Rev. Peter Sanborn, and an 
 adopted dau. of said Chute. 
 
 Capt. Parker erected, about this time, a new house on Ash Street, 
 formerly owned and occupied by his son, Col. Nathan, and called on 
 the old map " Capt. Parker's Red House," the same that is now owned 
 by James Davis. 
 
 Col. Nathan, aforesaid, who succeeded to his father's "Red House," 
 m., ist, 1777, Phebe Pratt ; she d. 1785, aged 33 ; m., 2d, 1788, Wid. 
 Abigail Eaton, whose maiden name was Bryant; she d. in 1797, aged 
 43; m., 3d, 17*98, Lydia Stearns; she d. in 1832, aged 63. He d. in 
 1815, aged 67. His children were : by Phebe, Hon Edmund, b. 1779 ; 
 m., ist, 1810, Rebecca Weston, dau. of Capt. Jonathan and Lucy (Par- 
 ker) Weston ; m., 2d, Wid. Rachael Williams ; Rev. Nathan, D. D ., 
 b. 1782, minister of Portsmouth, N. H., 30 years ; Phebe, b. 1784. By 
 Abigail, Susanna, b. 1788 ; m. 1807, Thaddeus B. Pratt, and d. 1845 ; 
 Thomas, b. 1790; trader ; died 1832. By Lydia, Nathaniel, b. 1800; 
 m. 1824, Mary Woodbridge, of Andover, and d 1859 ; Phebe, b. 1802 ; 
 m. Tho. Pratt, and d. 1841 ; Gould, b. 1804 ; Sarah, b. 1806, and mar- 
 ried and went to Maine ; Eunice, b. 1807, and m Lowell Skilton. 
 
 Capt. Parker was a large landholder, and could walk a mile in a 
 direct line on his own territory. He also owned the house on Pearl 
 Street, near Lowell Street (since remodelled), now owned by George 
 Thayef, called on the old map " Capt Parker's Boutwell House." This 
 house was occupied in early times by Samuel Lilley, b. 1665, son of 
 George and Hannah Lilley. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Lilley was succeeded by Jonathan Boutwell, son of John and Hannah 
 (Davis) Boutwell, b. 1709, who m. 1733. Elizabeth Foster, and removed 
 to Wilmington, and was ancestor of Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, U. S. Sen- 
 ator, ex-Governor, etc. 
 
 Capt. Parker bought the place, and sold it to Cleaveland Beard, son 
 of Andrew and Elizabeth (Nichols) Beard ; he was b. 1748; m 1769, 
 Elizabeth Foster, and d. 1826. 
 
 JOHN PARKER lived on the place now occupied by Aaron Parker, 
 on Walnut Street. 
 
 This John Parker was the grandson of Serg't John Parker, of Cow- 
 drey's Hill, and grandson of Thomas. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 He was the son of John and Hannah (Kendall) Parker ; his father, 
 who was born 1668, and succeeded to the Cowdrey's hill, fell from a 
 horse and broke his neck.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 31 1 
 
 This third John was born 1701, m. 1723, Sarah Lilley, dau. of 
 Samuel Lille), and d. 1790. His wife d. 1771, aged 73. 
 
 He first settled on the place on Franklin Street, recently owned by 
 Richard Parker, where he built, about 1725, the house on that place. 
 He afterwards exchanged places with his brother Benjamin, who had 
 succeeded to their father's homestead ; and John thus became his 
 father's successor. 
 
 His children were : John, b. 1724, and went to Royalston ; Jonas, b. 
 1728 (see after). Jacob, b. 1726 ; Sarah, b. 1738, and m. Nathaniel 
 Cowdrey; Elizabeth; Bridget, b. 1744, and m. John Orne, of Lynn- 
 field ; Hannah, b. 1732 ; Amos, b. 1741. 
 
 Jonas, aforesaid (Lieut), succeeded to the place; b. 1728, m. Mary 
 Gould ; d. 1800; Children : Jonas, b. 1753 ; m. 1780, Susanna Leathe, 
 and d. 1827. He settled on the place recently of Chas. Tweed, and 
 now of Mrs. B. F. Newhall. Mary; Aaron, b. 1757 (see after); 
 William, b. 1760, and settled near the old place where his grandson, 
 Wm. S. Parker, now lives. 
 
 BENJAMIN PARKER, brother of the aforementioned John, with his 
 son William, occupied the house on Franklin Street, recently of Rich- 
 ard Parker, and now of Henry Cook. Benjamin Parker, aforesaid, was 
 a grandson of Serg't John Parker' (See Early Settlers.) Settled first 
 on the homestead of his father, but afterwards exchanged the home- 
 stead with his brother John, for this place. He was born 1703 ; m., ist, 
 1726, Sarah Foster, who d. 1741 ; m., 2d, Sarah Parker, dau. of Jona. 
 and Barbara Parker. Children: by ist wife, Benja., b. 1727; Sarah, 
 b. 1728; Phebe, b. 1730; Elizabeth, b. 1731; Reuben, b. 1732; 
 William, b. 1735 (see after) ; Lydia, b. 1736. By 2d wife, Elisha, b. 
 1749 ; Simeon, b. 1752. 
 
 William, aforesaid, b. 1735, settled on the homestead of his father; 
 m. 1763, Mary Nichols, and d. 1807. 
 
 His children were William and Molly, who d. young, and 
 Richard, b. 1771. He succeeded his father on the place; and m. 
 
 1794, Hannah Pool, of East Sudbury. His children were: Wm., b. 
 
 1795, and m. 1820, Lucy Beard; Cephas, b. 1798, and m. 1832, Eliza- 
 beth Smiley, and in 1850, Ann Parker. Theron, b. 1803, and m. 1834, 
 Abigail Wakefield ; Loton, b. 1806. These children all reside in 
 Reading. 
 
 Their father, Richard, died in 1868, at the age of 97. He became 
 venerable and venerated for his age, intelligence, integrity, and 
 moral worth. He possessed a most tenacious memory, and appears to 
 have taken a strong interest in the passing events of his youthful years,
 
 312 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 RICHARD PARKER. 
 
 and in all matters pertaining to the early social, parochial, and munici- 
 pal history of his parish and town ; he was long an accurate dictionary 
 and a lively oracle. To him we are indebted for many of the facts in 
 this Genealogical Record. 
 
 PHINEAS PARKER lived in a house *on the place recently owned by 
 Rev. Peter San born, and now owned by Geo. W. Grouard. The old 
 house stood near the residence of Ira W. Ruggles, where the old well 
 still remains. 
 
 Phineas was the son of Nathaniel and Bethiah, and grandson of 
 Thos. and Amy (see Early Settlers) ; he was born in 1704. His wife's 
 name was Martha ; his children were : Edmund, b. 1731 ; Martha, b. 
 1735; Elizabeth, b. 1737; Phineas, b. 1739 ; (Capt.), who m. 1768, 
 Lydia Monroe, of Lexington, and in 1782, Wid. Lydia Damon, and 
 removed to Wakefield. Lydia, b. 1742 ; John, b. 1748 ; and Mary, b. 
 
 1757- 
 
 Phineas, the ist, sold the place to the Rev. Mr. Haven, the first 
 minister of the present town of Reading, who built the house that is 
 now the residence of Geo. W. Grouard. 
 
 DANIEL PARKER lived at the corner of Pearl and Charles Streets, 
 on the place late of Capt. Charles Parker, and now of John Walker. 
 
 Daniel, aforesaid, was the son of Jonathan and Barbara (Elseley) 
 Parker, who were probably the first residents on this place. He was 
 the grandson of Serg't John Parker (see Early Settlers), and was b. 
 1 68 1 ; he succeeded his father on the place. The children of Jonathan 
 and Barbara were : Jonathan ; Amy, b. 1720, and m. 1744, James Dix ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF KEADJ\G. 
 
 313 
 
 Sarah, b. 1708, and m. Benjamin Parker; Hannah, b. 1716, and m. 1739, 
 Thomas Symonds ; Daniel, b. 1725, and succeeded to the homestead, 
 and m. Sarah Parker; shed, in 1773. Their children were: Daniel, 
 b. 1752 (see after) ; Jonathan, b. 1756, and d. 1773, much respected ; 
 Sarah, b. 1754, and in. 1780, Levi Flint, of North Reading; Mary, b. 
 1761, and m. 1788, Ebenezer Flint, of Tevvksbury ; Hannah, b. 1763, 
 and m. Solomon Sargent, of Maiden; Jerusha, b. 1765, and m. 1785, 
 John Nichols; Lydia, b. 1771, and m. 1789, Timothy Bancroft. 
 
 Daniel, aforesaid, b. 1752, succeeded to the place, and m. 1780, 
 Sarah Richardson. Their children were: Sarah, b. 1781, and died 
 young; Jonathan, b. 1783, and m. Susy Bancroft, and were the parents 
 of Dea. Milo Parker; Sally, b. 1785, and m. Joseph Spokesfield, and 
 died Dec. i, 1872 ; Charles (Capt), b. 1794 (see after) ; Daniel and 
 Samuel, twins; Daniel, b. 1790, and d. young; Samuel, b. 1790; m., 
 ist, 1819, Susan, dau. of Nehemiah Bancroft ; she d. in 1827, and he 
 m. in 1828, Harriet B. Allen. He lived on the place now owned by 
 the town of Reading, and used as an almshouse. 
 
 Capt. Charles, aforesaid, b. 1794, succeeded to the homestead, and 
 m. Eliza, dau. of Nehemiah Bancroft, aforesaid. The children of Capt. 
 Charles were : Elizabeth A., who m. Parker Kimball, and d. 1850; 
 Lucelia J., who m. 1843, John E. Walker, and now resides on the old 
 place. 
 
 JONATHAN PARKER lived on the place now owned by Edward Apple- 
 ton, Esq., on Woburn Street. The old house stood on the south side 
 of the street, on land lately owned by Daniel Pratt, Esq., near the old 
 well which is still to be seen. 
 
 This Jonathan Parker may have been the son of Thomas and 
 Deborah (see Early Settlers), but no record of his birth has been 
 found. He was called Widower Parker; his wife Sarah died in 1747, 
 at the age of 33, and he lived single till old age. He adopted his 
 nephew Jonathan Parker, who m. Ruth. They had a dau. Ruth, who 
 died single, and a dau. Sarah, b. 175 2, who m. 1777, Ebenezer Richardson. 
 Richardson came to Reading in 1773 ; his children were : Sally, b. 1780 ; 
 Susy, b. 1782 ; Jonathan, b. 1784 ; Ebenezer, b. 1788. He bought tl.ree 
 acres of land, now owned by Edward Appleton, Esq., for which he 
 pa-id ,18, and commenced building the house, in 1795, which is now 
 occupied by Mr. Appleton ; but owing to pecuniary embarrassment he 
 sold the place to David Pratt. 
 
 David Pratt came to Reading from Saugus ; m., ist, Betsey Pratt, of 
 Maiden; m., 2d, in 1813, Anna Pratt, of Boston; was an extensive 
 and successful shoe manufacturer ; built the house now owned by his 
 40
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 son Thomas, and d. 1818, aged 52. His children were: By ist wife, 
 Daniel, Esq., b. 1797 ; m 1818, Delia Burt, and d. 1871 ; Thomas, b. 
 1798 ; m. 1818, Phebe, dau. of Col. Nathan Parker; she d. in 1841 ; 
 and he m., 2d, 1843, Harriet Whiting; by ist wife, Betsey, b. 1792 ; m. 
 1818, Capt Isaac Upton ; by 2d wife, Henry M., b. 1814, and David W., 
 b. 1817. 
 
 EPHRAIM PARKER lived in the old house, on Washington Street, now 
 owned by Tho. Sweetser. Ephraim was the son of Joseph and Eliza- 
 beth (Eaton) Parker, and grandson (probably) of Thos. and Deborah ; 
 b. 1728 ; m. 1749, Ruth Bancroft, who d. 1751 ; and he m.,2d, in 1752, 
 Rebecca Temple, and she d. 1784. His only child was Ephraim, b. 
 1751 ; was called " Master Ephraim" ; he succeeded his father on the 
 place until it was sold, after which he lived in the house on West Street 
 now owned by Thos. Sweetser, Esq. " Master Ephraim" m. Zerviah 
 Richardson, of Woburn, and had no issue. 
 
 Thomas Sweetser (father of Thomas, Esq.) bought the place. He 
 was son of Phineas Sweetser, of Charlestown (now Stoneham), and m. 
 1795, Sarah Pratt, of Maiden. Children: Thomas (Esq.), b. 1795; 
 m. 1818, Olivia Richardson, and m., 2d, 1863, Sophia Abbott ; 'Sam- 
 uel, b. 1797, and m. Mary, dau. of Jonas and Susan (Leathe) Parker ; 
 Phineas, b. 1799 ; Seth, b. 1802 ; Amos, b. 1807 ; and Sarah. Esq., 
 Thomas, aforesaid, succeeded to the ownership of the old house, and 
 lives near it. 
 
 JOSEPH PARKER lived in an old house that stood on Franklin Street 
 north of the Richard Parker house, and formerly of Ebenezer Nichols, 
 and now of J. G. Hutchinson. 
 
 Joseph, aforesaid, was the son and successor of Joseph and Elizabeth 
 (Eaton) Parker, and was born 1717. He was brother of Ephraim 
 (aforementioned), Jona., and Mary. He m. 1743, Mary Walton. His 
 children were : Joseph, b. 1744; Mary, b. 1745; Elizabeth, b. 1753; 
 Catharine, b. 1757 ; and Isaac, b, 1746, who succeeded to the place, 
 and sold it to Jesse Bailey. Bailey sold to John Emerson ; Emerson 
 to Ebenezer Nichols. 
 
 AMOS PIERSON lived in the house on Haverhill Street, lately of Sam- 
 uel Pratt, and now of Asa P. Pratt. Pierson m. 1758, Elizabeth, dau. 
 of Daniel and Elizabeth (Batchelder) Nichols, who were m. 1729. 
 Pierson succeeded his father-in-iaw, Nichols, on this place. Mrs. Pier- 
 son was b. 1732, and she had a sister Abigail, b. 1741, who m. Timothy 
 Hartshorn. 
 
 Samuel Pratt succeeded Pierson ; he was son of Dea. Benjamin and 
 Abigail (Hartshorn) Pratt, and was b. 1782. He m. 1805, Lucinda
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 315 
 
 Parker, who d. in 1827. Chil. : Samuel, Asa P. (his successor), Lu- 
 cinda, and George W. 
 
 TIMOTHY PRATT (Senior) lived in an old house that stood on the 
 south side of Wakefield Street, between Charles and Haverhill Streets. 
 This old house has been taken down, and a barn stands in its place. 
 
 Timothy was the son of John and Sarah Pratt, of Wakefield (see 
 Early Settlers), and his family was the first family of Pratts in what is 
 now Reading. He was b. in 1702, and d. in 1789. He m., ist, 1724, 
 Tabitha, dau of John and Grace Boutwell ; she d. 1737 ; he m., 2d, 
 1738, Abigail; she d. 1776, aged 72. His children were: Dorcas, b. 
 1725 ; Timothy, b. 1730 (see after) ; Tabitha, b. 1734 ; Abigail ; Abi- 
 gail, b. 1738; Isaac, b. 1740 (see after) ; and Sarah, b. 1744. 
 
 Timothy, Jr., settled on the Charles (late Timothy) Wakefield place 
 (see after). Isaac, aforesaid, b. 1740, settled in an old house that 
 stood near the house now or lately of Nathan P. Pratt, and formerly the 
 James Hartshorn place. 
 
 Isaac, m. 1763, Mehitabel, dau. of Richard and Mary (Williams) 
 Nichols, and d. 1829. His children were: Lucy, b. 1764; Timothy, 
 b. 1768 ; William, b. 1770; Thomas, b. 1771 ; Sally and Abigail, b. 
 1774; Thaddeus B., b. 1777 ; Polly, b. 1780; Loea, b. 1785; and 
 Sukey, b. 1788. 
 
 Thaddeus B., aforesaid, m., ist, 1807, Susan, dau. of Col. Nathan 
 Parker, and m., 2d, 1850, Abby S. Watson, and d. 1858. His children 
 were : Abigail, who m. Hon. H. P. Wakefield ; Louisa, who m. 
 Stephen Foster, Esq. ; Nathan Parker, who m. Louisa Wakefield, and 
 succeeded to the place. 
 
 SAMUEL PRATT lived on Haverhill Street, on the place lately of Dea. 
 Benjamin Pratt, and now of Herrick Batchelder. Samuel, aforesaid, was 
 son of John and Sarah Pratt, and brother of Timothy (Senior), afore- 
 said ; he was b. 1696, and m. Joanna, and d. 1734; was a blacksmith. 
 His children were: Joanna, b. 1721; Samuel, b. 1719 (see after); 
 John, b. 1723 ; Mary, b. 1727 ; Sarah, b. 1733 ; Ephraim, b. 1729, and 
 m. Phebe, went to North Reading, had two sons and nine daughters, 
 and died of small-pox in the Revolutionary War ; Daniel, b. 1725 (see 
 after). 
 
 Samuel, aforesaid, b. 1719, succeeded his father ; m. Anna Ireson, of 
 Marblehead, but had no children ; was a blacksmith, and occupied the 
 shop of his father. 
 
 Dea. Benjamin, a son of Ephraim and Phebe, aforesaid, succeeded 
 his uncle Samuel. He was b. 1758, and m., ist, in 1779, Abigail, dau. 
 of Timothy and Abigail Hartshorn; she d. 1793; m., 2d, 1794, Polly
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Smith, and he d. in 1843. His children were : Abigail, b. 1779 ; Sam- 
 uel, b. 1782, and settled on the Asa P. Pratt place; Benjamin, b. 
 1786, and m. 1809, Hannah Weston, and d. 1833 ; Phebe, b. 1791 ; 
 Amos, b. 1789. The children of Benja. and Hannah were: Joseph L 
 and Amelia A. 
 
 TIMOTHY PRATT, Jr. (Deacon), lived on Wakefield Street, on the 
 place lately of Capt. Timothy Wakefield, and now of Charles Wakefield. 
 
 The old house is said to have been a Weston place. 
 
 Timothy, Jr., son of Timothy, Sen., aforesaid, was born 1730 ; m., 
 ist, in 1755, Tabitha Emerson, and m., 2d, 1786, Tabitha Merrow, and 
 d. 1796, without issue. 
 
 DANIEL PRATT lived on Haverhill Street, on the place lately of Dea. 
 David Emerson, and now of Clinton Emerson. Daniel, aforesaid, 
 bought the place of John Hartshorn, who removed to Lunenburg. 
 
 Daniel was son of Samuel and Joanna Pratt, aforesaid, and grandson 
 of John and Sarah. (See Early Settlers.) He was b. 1725 ; m., ist, 
 Abigail ; she d. in 1771; he m., 2d, in 1773, Ruth Jones, and he d. 
 1796. His children were : Abigail, b. 1748; Molly, b. 1750; Daniel, 
 b. 1756 (see after); John, b. 1757; Sarah, b. 1760; Mehitabel, b. 
 1761 ; Rebecca, b. 1763 ; Edward, b. 1765, and m. 1792, Asenath Flint, 
 and went to Temple, N. H. ; Edmund, b. 1768 ; Eunice, b. 1770. 
 
 Daniel, aforesaid, b. 1756, succeeded to the place. He m. 1779, 
 Elizabeth Bancroft. The children of Daniel and Elizabeth were : 
 Daniel, b. 1780, and m. 1801, Betsey, dau. of Simon and Mary (Par- 
 ker) Nichols; Lizzie, b. 1782 ; Molly, b. 1784 ; and Thomas, b. 1798. 
 He sold the place to James Weston, son of Jonathan and Ruth (Flint) 
 Weston. 
 
 Weston was b. 1763; m. 1790, Hannah Bancroft, dau. of Joseph and 
 Elizabeth (Temple) Bancroft, and d. 1830. Chil. : Franklin, who in. 
 1819, Mary Wiley, and d. 1869; George, b. 1799; Hannah, who m. 
 1809, Benjamin Pratt; Susan, b. 1-804; and perhaps Clarissa. 
 
 Dea. David Emerson subsequently bought the place. Emerson was 
 the son of David and Sarah (Gowing) Emerson ; was b. 1787 ; m., ist, 
 1812, Esther Buxton, and 2d, 1849, Abigail Young. 
 
 Clinton Emerson, his son, succeeded, and the place is now owned 
 by his heirs. 
 
 EDWARD RICHARDSON lived on South Street, near West Street, on 
 the place now owned by Hiel J. Nelson. His wife's name was Jerusha. 
 His sons were: Edward, b. 1743; Zadoc, b. 1739 ; Jethro, b. 1747, 
 who succeeded to the place, and m. 1772, Hannah Richardson, of Wo- 
 burn. The children of Jethro were: Jethro, b. 1776, andm. 1797, Sally
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 317 
 
 E. Perkins, and d. 1821 ; Eunice, b. 1775, and m. 1795, Jona. Bancroft ; 
 Esther, b. 1778, and m. 1798, Samuel T. Richardson ; Hannah, b. 
 1780 ; Lucy, b. 1783 ; Sally, b. 1784, and m. 1810, Amariah Harnden, 
 and were the parents of William F. Harnden, the originator of '- Harn- 
 den's Express "; Catharine, b. 1786, and m. 1811, Dea. Amos Evans ; 
 Olive, b. 1790, and m. 1818, Thomas Sweetser, Esq. ; Jepthah, b. 1781, 
 and m. 1804, Rebecca Sweetser, and were the parents of Henry G. 
 Richardson, Esq., now of Reading. 
 
 The old house has been taken down, and a new one erected by the 
 present occupant. 
 
 THOMAS SYMONDS lived on Haverhill Street, on the place now owned 
 by his grandson, Eben D. Symonds. Thomas Symonds bought the 
 place of Hebard or Herbert. It was early owned by a family of South- 
 wicks. 
 
 Thomas, aforesaid, m. 1739, Hannah, dau. of Jonathan and Barbara 
 (Elseley) Parker; she d. 1768, aged 52. He d. 1775, aged 62. 
 His children were: Thomas, b. 1745 (see after) ; James, b. 1755, and 
 m. 1776, Susan Mclntire; Sarah ; and Hannah, who d. single. 
 
 Thomas, aforesaid, b. 1745, succeeded to the place ; m. 1765, Han- 
 nah Damon. His children were : Hannah, b. 1767, and m. Kendall 
 
 Nichols, and went to Sharon; Thomas, b. 1775, and m. Pratt, 
 
 and went to New Ipswich ; Sarah, b. 1770, and d. single ; Polly, b. 
 1783, and m. 1811, Nathaniel Batchelder; Obed, b. 1778, and m. 
 1801, Abigail Batchelder; Ebenezer D., b. 1786, who succeeded to the 
 place, m. 1817. Rebecca Batchelder, who d. 1830. Eben D. has been 
 twice married since the death of his first wife. 
 
 JEREMIAH SWAIN lived on High Street, on the lateTho. Hartshorn's 
 place, now owned by Wid. Benjamin M. Hartshorn. 
 
 Jeremiah, aforesaid, was the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Swain, 
 and grandson of Maj. Jeremiah, of Wakefield. (See Early Settlers.) 
 He was b. 1693 ; m. 1715, Sarah Burnap, and d. 1799. His children 
 were: Jacob, b. 1717 (see after); Lydia, m. 1753, Thomas Green, of 
 Wakefield; Elizabeth, b. 1728, and m. 1748, Jonathan Hartshorn, of 
 Wakefield ; Tabitha, and other children. 
 
 Jacob, aforesaid, b. 1717, succeeded to the place. He m. 1756, 
 Hannah Green ; Hannah, Jacob, and Sally. 
 
 Sally, aforesaid, b. 1777, m. 1800, Thomas Hartshorn, a son of Ben- 
 jamin and Abigail Hartshorn.- (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 Sally and her husband succeeded to the place. The children of 
 Thomas and Sally Hartshorn were : Thomas, b. 1802 ; Jacob, b. 1803 ; 
 Sally, b. 1804 ; Nabby, b. 1806 ; Benjamin, b. 1808, and m. Sarah E.
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Russell (see after); Hannah, b. 1813, and m. J. L. Hunt; Gilman, b. 
 1816 ; Harriet, b. 1820. 
 
 Benjamin and Sarah E., aforesaid, had a son, Benjamin M., who 
 m. Hattie Gould, and was a lawyer of much promise, and d. 1867, at 
 the age of 28. His widow now owns the place. 
 
 JACOB TOWNSEND lived on West Street, near Wilmington line, on the 
 place lately of Timothy, and now of James Bancroft. 
 
 Jacob Townsend was the son, probably, of John and Tabitha 
 (Damon) Townsend, and b. 1729. It is said that he succeeded his 
 grandfather on this place. He m. 1763, Elizabeth Bancroft, and had 
 no issue. 
 
 JONATHAN TEMPLE lived on Summer Street, on the place lately of 
 Mark M. Temple, and now of Oscar Foote. He was a deacon ; son 
 of Richard and Deborah Temple, b. 1699. (See Early Settlers.) He 
 bought land of John Boutwell, on the west side of the street, and 
 settled where Mr. Foote's house now stands. He d. 1789, aged 90. 
 
 JONATHAN TEMPLE (Lieut.) lived on Summer Street, on the place 
 now owned by Wm. Hawes. 
 
 John, aforesaid, was the son of Richard and Deborah, b. 1704. (See 
 Early Settlers.) He succeeded his father on the old place, which his 
 father bought of James Pike, in 1696. His son William, b. 1745, 
 succeeded to the place, and m. 1778, Rebecca Weston. The children 
 of Wm. and Rebecca were : Rebecca, b. 1769, who m. John, son of 
 Dea. John Temple ; William, b. 1773, who m. in 1800, Zervia Richard- 
 son. Rebecca and William died before their father, and the place 
 descended to Wm., son of Wm., and to the children of Rebecca. 
 
 JOHN TEMPLE (Deacon) lived on West Street, on the place late of 
 Richard Temple and subsequently of Aaron Temple, now of Abram G. 
 R. Hale, Esq. Deacon John Temple was the son of Lt. John and 
 Rebecca, b. 1738, and d. 1821. (See Early Settlers.) He succeeded 
 his father and grandfather on the old homestead, and was succeeded by 
 his son Richard, who was b. 1770, m. 1795, Hannah, dau. of Simeon 
 and Mary Nichols ; she d. 1826, and he m., 2d, Fanny Beard. Children 
 (by Hannah) : Richard, Amos, Aaron, and Hannah, who m. James 
 Nichols. His son, Aaron, now owns the place. 
 
 ISAAC WESTON lived on West Street, on the place lately of Capt. 
 Abijah Weston and now of Chas. A. Weston. Isaac, aforesaid, was 
 the son of Stephen and Sarah (Townsend) Weston, and grandson of 
 John and Sarah (see Early Settlers); was b. 1699, and succeeded his 
 father on this place. He m. 1727, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Sarah 
 Pratt. His sons were: John, b. 1731, and m. Mary Atwood and
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 319 
 
 settled on a part of the place, in an old house that stood where R. F. 
 Gray's house now stands ; Jabez, b. 1741, m. 1767, Anna Weston. He 
 settled on a part of the farm and built the house, afterward owned by 
 his son Jabez, and now by his grandson, L. E. Weston. Jabez (Sen.), 
 d. 1795, and his vvid. d. 1808; Abijah, b. 1737, m. 1764, Eunice 
 Weston, and settled on the old homestead; he d. 1776. His son, 
 Capt. Abijah, b. 1768, succeeded his father on the homestead, m. 
 1790, Anna Buck. He d. 1854, and his wid. d. 1858, aged 93. 
 Charles A. Weston, a grandson of Capt. Abijah, now owns the place. 
 
 JOHN WESTON lived on West Street, on the place now owned by R. 
 F. Gray. He was the son of Isaac, aforesaid, grandson of Stephen, 
 and great-grandson of John and Sarah. (See First Settlers.) He 
 was b. 1731, and m. Mary Atwood, of Woburn. His children were: 
 James; Molly, b. 1767, and m. 1789, Ephraim Weston; John, b. 1770, 
 and m. 1794, Polly Pratt, of Maiden, and succeeded to the place, and 
 d. 1849. He was father of Isaac Weston, now of Reading. 
 
 JOHN WESTON, Jr., lived on Main Street, on the place lately of David 
 Weston and now of Isaac G. Wellington. John, Jr., aforesaid, and his 
 brother James, lived here in 1865. They were sons of Benja. and 
 Eunice (Upham) Weston, grandsons of John and Mary (Bryant) 
 Weston, and great-grandsons of John and Sarah. (See Early Settlers ) 
 
 James, aforesaid, b. 1733, m. 775, Lucy Damon, and had children, 
 viz.: Lucy, b. 1778; Wyman, b. 1776; Nancy, b. 1780; John, Jr., 
 aforesaid, b. 1736, m. 1765, Joanna Weston ; she d. 1775 ; and he m., 
 2d, in 1776, Martha Farmer, and she d. 1827, aged 79. Children by 
 istwife: John (Esq.), b. 1768 (see after); Joanna, b. 1772 ; James, 
 b. 1776. Children by 2d wife: Lettis, b. 1782, and m. 1800, Wm. 
 Lewis; David, b. 1778, and m. 1813, Lucinda Boutwell, of Amherst, 
 N. H., and succeeded his father on the place. A son of David and 
 Lucinda, David F., succeeded, occupied the place a few years, and sold 
 to I. G. Wellington, the present occupant. 
 
 JONATHAN WESTON lived on Main Street, near Stoneham line, on the 
 place now of Jonathan Moulton. He was the son (probably) of 
 Ephraim and Mary (Pool) Weston, grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth, 
 and great-grandson of John and Sarah. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 He was born 1731, m. 1753, Ruth Flint, and d. 1794; his widow 
 died the same year ; he at the age of 63, and she at the age of 64 . 
 Their children were: Jonathan, b. 1757, and settled on the place now 
 of S. S. Crouch; Samuel, b. 1761, and settled in Rowley; James, b. 
 1763, and settled on the place now of Clinton Emerson; Ephraim, 
 settled on the place now of Clifford Weston, his grandson ; Lois, m.
 
 320 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1794, David Flint; Amos, settled on the old place for a time, then 
 sold to Wm. Lewis, and removed, in 1804, to Manchester, N. H. His 
 son, Amos, Jr., has been long a prominent man in the city of Manches- 
 ter, and his grandson, James A., has been for several years mayor of 
 the city, and is now (1871) Governor of the State. 
 
 The old house has since been owned and occupied by Wm. Lewis 
 and James Leathe, and is the residence, at present, of Jonathan 
 Moulton, aforesaid.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 321 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 . SOUTH READING. 
 
 THE First Parish was separated from the town of Reading and incor- 
 porated as a distinct town in the year 1812. 
 
 The causes that induced the First Parish, the oldest and largest 
 settlement, thus to separate from her younger sisters, to forego in part 
 the prestige and charm of its time-honored name, and to surrender all 
 its ancient and valued archives and records and other municipal prop- 
 erty, were principally political ones. The town of Reading at that 
 time consisted of three distinct parishes, namely : 
 
 The First, or South, then called the " Old Parish"; the North, then 
 usually called the " Precinct," and the West, often called the " Wood 
 End," and now constituting the three towns of Reading, Wakefield, 
 and North Reading. The South Parish were then almost unanimously 
 of the Democratic Republican party; while the other two parishes, 
 with similar unanimity, were of the Federal party ; and although the 
 South Parish was the largest of the three in population, yet it was not 
 equal to the other two. Party spirit ran high in those days ; war with 
 England had just been declared ; the Republican party were in favor 
 of Madison and the war ; the Federalists were opposed to both ; polit- 
 ical party lines were drawn closely; prejudices were strong stronger 
 than we have ever known them since. 
 
 Mr. John Damon, a man of wealth and position, of the West Parish, 
 long since dead, was heard to say, at that time, " that if he were drafted 
 and obliged to fight, he would commence his bloody work at the ' Old 
 Parish,' for he deemed its inhabitants far worse than the British." 
 
 On the other hand, Cornelius Sweetser, then a venerable citizen of 
 the South Parish, and a soldier of the Revolution, in speaking of the 
 Federalists, said, " Federalists, they all ought to be damned, except 
 some few of his acquaintance, who did not know enough." 
 
 The consequence of this state of feeling was, that the leading men of 
 the South Parish, being mainly of the Republican party, were excluded 
 from public office altogether. For if, as was sometimes the case, a 
 resident of the South Parish was elected to important office, it was a 
 Federal resident, who was chosen by the votes of the other parishes,
 
 322 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and was not the choice of the people of the South Parish. Under this 
 exclusive system it was that Capt. James Gould and Hay Nichols, Esq., 
 gentlemen of respectability and capacity, for that matter, but of the 
 Federal clique, were, with one single exception for one single year, the 
 constant members of the board of selectmen for many years. And only 
 twice in a period of thirty-three years, next before the separation, was 
 the South Parish permitted to have a Representative to the General 
 Court, and then in both instances it was a Federalist, viz. : Hay 
 Nichols, Esq., in 1805, and Adam Hawkes, Esq., in 1811. 
 
 This state of things, of course, did not suit the feelings of the ambi- 
 tious and aspiring spirits of the South Parish ; and taking advantage of 
 the opportunity, when the Republicans were in power and Gerry was 
 chief magistrate, they succeeded in obtaining a charter for a distinct 
 town. 
 
 We shall now give a description of the South Parish at the time and 
 about the time that it was incorporated as the town of " South Read- 
 ing" (1812); shall show how it looked to us, when we first stepped 
 forth and rambled upon its pleasant hills and vales and dewy meads, 
 traversed its narrow ways, caught alewives and tortoises in its rivers 
 and streams, bathed and fished in its lovely lakes, and sailed or 
 skated upon its wavy or glassy surfaces ; describe some of the principal 
 public buildings and dwelling-houses then standing, and give brief 
 sketches of some of the leading families and influential citizens, who 
 then controlled the social, civil, ecclesiastical, political, and industrial 
 interests of the town ; and so present a sort of polyoramic view of the 
 place as it looked at that time. 
 
 In the first place, in endeavoring to show how the place then looked, 
 and what it then was, let us say how it did not look, and how it was not. 
 It had no post-office, its letters being received and mailed at the Boston 
 post-office. It received no daily papers, weekly and semi-weekly only. 
 It had no daily or weekly stage to and from Boston ; some attempts 
 had several times been previously made to sustain such an institution, 
 weekly at least, but they were weakly supported, and were soon discon- 
 tinued. We have a traditional line or two, respecting one of these 
 stage lines, that it ran once or twice a week to and from Boston, for a 
 short time, and the coach was said to be of a somewhat unique pattern, 
 being circular in shape 1 , something like a modern cab ; and partly on 
 account of its form, and partly on account of its hailing from " Bean- 
 Town," as Reading had long been nicknamed, from the fact, it is said, 
 that at the ordination of their early pastors, the main article of food
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 323 
 
 was baked beans, soaked in Reading Great Pond, the coach, for these 
 reasons, was called the " Reading Bean-Pot." This coach was stopping 
 one day in the street, at Charlestown, waiting for a passenger (it will 
 be recollected that Charlestown, from time immemorial, has been called 
 "Pig-Town"), and while thus Waiting, a Charlestown drayman came 
 along and hallooed to our driver, saying, " Get out of the way with 
 your old " Bean-pot I" " Hold on," said the driver, " I 'm only waiting 
 to take in my pork ." 
 
 The Boston weekly and semi-weekly newspapers were left by the 
 publishers at the toll-house on Charlestown Bridge, and it was consid- 
 ered the duty of the person first returning from Boston, to take the 
 papers for South Reading and leave them at one of the stores for 
 distribution. This was the custom for several years ; there were no 
 railroad giants in those days. 
 
 There were then but about sixteen public roads in South Reading, 
 against a hundred or more at the present time. There was then but 
 one single street, opening or leading from Main Street westerly, from 
 the north end of Reading Pond to Maiden line ; and opening or lead- 
 ing easterly there were but three within the same limits. These streets 
 were generally narrow, crooked, poorly graded, and without sidewalks, 
 except for a short distance on one side of Salem Street, from the corner 
 of Main Street to the Baptist meeting-house, that stood where Sylvanus 
 Clark has recently bought of T. R. P. Hood. There was no town hall, 
 town-meetings being held in the Centre school-house ; and in contested 
 questions, they polled the house out-of-doors. There was no public library. 
 But let us speak affirmatively. The number of inhabitants of South 
 Reading was then about 800. The valuation of all the real and 
 personal estate of the town, as estimated by the first board of assessors, 
 viz. John Gould, James Gould, and Benjamin Badger, Senior, was 
 then $100,000, not so much as some single individuals among us are 
 now valued. The whole amount of money raised in 1812, for all 
 State, county, and town expenses, was $1,500, and the rate of taxation 
 was one and one sixth per cent. 
 
 The solid men of the town at that time were : 
 
 John Hart, Esq., the heaviest, whose tax was . . $50 oo 
 John Sweetser, next " " " . . 37 oo 
 
 Jeremiah Green, " " " " . 24 oo 
 
 Lilley Eaton, " " . 20 oo 
 
 Adam Hawkes, 1 
 
 John Rayner, > each 19 oo 
 
 Noah Smith, 
 And so down. Sum raised the same year for schools, $300.
 
 324 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The Common was then unfenced and ungraded ; an open ditch ex- 
 tended through one portion of it, and in the central part of it was a 
 hollow, or basin, partially filled with stones, tin chips, and other debris, 
 in which the water stood at some seasons of the year, and where in 
 the winter was quite a skating-park ; this basin was called " Ken's 
 Pond," so named from Robert Ken, an early settler, who came here 
 from Salem, about the year 1680, and built a blacksmith's shop on the 
 westerly side of it. There were then but three trees, that we remember, 
 on the Common : two ancient oaks, with huge trunks, whose tops had 
 been broken and dismantled by the blasts of centuries, and one majes- 
 tic elm. One of the oaks stood by the side of the road, near the corner 
 of Main and Crescent Streets, and the other stood near where now 
 stands the Union flag-staff; and both of them, in our youth, were the 
 goals of the play-ground, the trysting-place of young men and maidens, 
 and from both of them have we seen, hanging in effigy, public charac- 
 ters, whose acts had rendered them obnoxious to the populace. These 
 oaks were subsequently cut down by order of the town. The great elm 
 stood near the new high school-house, near where a smaller one now 
 flourishes, and was prostrated by the memorable gale of 1815. 
 
 A tall " Liberty Pole " had long stood a few rods westerly of the 
 Bryant house ; it was not planted in the ground, as is the present custom, 
 but was supported by long braces and transverse sleepers ; and from 
 its top, on training-days and other holidays, proudly floated that glorious 
 ensign that we then learned to admire and love. This pole was blown 
 down on the memorable cold Friday of 1810. 
 
 A few rods south of where the old town-house long stood, there 
 stood the Centre school-house. It was erected in 1799, was 28 feet 
 long by 24 feet wide, with a porch ; against its north side stood Bryant's 
 hay-scales, built with a heavy and high frame, from which the loads of 
 hay were suspended, in weighing, by iron chains. This old school- 
 house is associated in our memory with pictures bright and glowing. 
 As we recall our school-day connection with it, visions of the olden time 
 arise before us in images vivid, brilliant, charming but dissolving 
 soon away in shadows and sadness ; the old masters : Swain, with his 
 perforated ferule, nervous, trembling, but faithful and assiduous ; Scott, 
 majestic and morose ; Reed, the cruel and severe ; Willey, the witty, 
 vivacious, and well-beloved ; Merrill, the sedate and good, afterwards 
 minister of Dracut ; Fiske, the grammarian ; Haines, the eloquent and 
 humorous, who delivered a patriotic oration in the Congregational 
 church in 1815, on the occasion of celebrating the return of peace, and 
 who was afterwards Attorney-General of New York ; and our early
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 325 
 
 female teachers, Sarah Boardrnan (afterwards Mrs. Yale), gentle nnd 
 attractive, but faithful and thorough in her instruction and discipline ; 
 Rebecca Boardman, her sister (afterwards Mrs. Long), not less faithful 
 and thorough, but more stringent and severe ; that company of my co- 
 temporary schoolmates, the oWer and the younger, the male and the 
 female, the manly, the brave, the beautiful and the lovely, some still ' 
 living, but more gone into darkness ; all these, with a thousand stirring 
 recollections, come thronging around us, as we look back into that old 
 seat of the Muses ; but with them comes the Eolian refrain : 
 
 " Days of our youth, ye have passed away." 
 
 Near the site of their present church stood the old Congregational 
 meeting-house. This house was erected in 1768, was a large, unpainted 
 edifice, with a porch at one end, and a tower and tall, slim spire, with 
 a weather-cock, at the other. Its front door was on one side, and 
 opened to the south. At the time referred to, it was very much out of 
 repair ; its clapboards were loose and falling, and afforded to the Yan- 
 kee schoolboys a fine source for whittling material for darts, arrows 
 etc. (For a more particular account of this old house, see the year 
 1768.) 
 
 The Baptist meeting-house then stood on Salem Street, as we have 
 said, near where Sylvanus Clark now lives ; was not a large building ; 
 was erected in 1800, removed to the Common in 1820, and enlarged, 
 and in 1835 was consumed by fire. (For further account of this edifice, 
 see Chapter IV.) '*' 
 
 As we remember these two religious societies, when we first came 
 upon the stage of observation, there existed on the one side a strong 
 spirit of intolerance, and on both sides a vast deal of sectarian preju- 
 dice, which were not productive of that Christian union where hatred is 
 conquered by love, and of that charity that hopeth and believeth all 
 things. Perhaps this state of things was not strange ; for it was not 
 easy for a society, which had held unrestrained and unopposed influence 
 over the parochial affairs of the village for more than a century and a 
 half, to look with complacency upon the efforts of a young and rising 
 organization, whose sentiments they considered heterodox, and whose 
 increase would be their decrease ; and this at a time when the princi- 
 ples of perfect toleration and entire religious liberty had not become 
 so universal as at the present day ; hence there was much denomina- 
 tional war and sectarian exclusiveness in those days ; our good fathers 
 not realizing that, in matters of faith and belief, any new sect is like 
 the camomile plant, the more you press it down, the faster and wider
 
 326 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 it will spread. We rejoice that, at the present time,-these two societies, 
 and all our religious societies, canst and unmolested upon the same 
 plane of equal rights and equal brotherhood. 
 
 Near the site of the old town-house stood a small, low shop, 
 occupied by Jeremiah Bryant, then and long afterwards the village 
 blacksmith. Near it, a little farther west, was the gate of the old burial- 
 ground. This was the first burial-place in which the early settlers of 
 the town were interred ; at that time (1812) the grave-stones, such as had 
 not been broken down, were still standing at the graves to which they 
 respectively belonged ; they have since been entirely removed, and the 
 space they occupied has become a portion of the public park. The 
 oldest date upon these monuments was that of Capt. Jonathan Poole, 
 who died in 1678 ; and the latest date was that of Joshua Gould, who 
 died in 1772, with this inscription: 
 
 " Not four years old before he found 
 A wat'ry grave, where he was drowned." 
 
 Tradition says this was the last burial made in this old yard. 
 
 A 1 ttle west of this burial-ground gate stood the small engine house, 
 owned by the " Republican Extinguisher " Engine Company, who once 
 a month came out, in a uniform of short white frocks and white overalls, 
 made of Russia sheeting, and worked their tub at the pump on the 
 Common, by hand power ; and, after returning to their house, they put 
 on steam power, and often poured out a fiery stream that kindled such 
 a flame of social enthusiasm as the little "Republican Extinguisher" 
 could not easily subdue. 
 
 On the easterly side of the Common, on the spot now occupied by 
 the brick house of Ebenezer Wiley, was the town pound, in rear of 
 which was Eaton's frog pond, where the boys in winter learned to skate. 
 A few rods southerly of the pound stood Rayner's bake-house, after- 
 wards made into a store, where " Burnham & Rayner," " Gardner & 
 Hartshorn," and others, successively traded, and which was burnt a few 
 years since. The next building south was the house of Capt. Archibald 
 Smith, then nearly new ; and then farther south was the house of Capt. 
 Noah Smith, which is still standing on land farther east. At the mouth 
 of what is now Crescent Street was then a gate, opening into a narrow 
 private lane leading to the house of Dea. Jacob Eaton ; the antique 
 building, long standing at the corner of Crescent and Eaton Streets, 
 and recently taken down to give place to the residence of Daniel 
 Allen, Esq. 
 
 North of the said gate, the next building was Jeremiah Bryant's house,
 
 THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 327 
 
 then not half as large as now ; and then, next north, near where is now 
 the house of Joseph G. Savage, stood the old Gould mansion, which 
 was built and once used for a malt-house, and now taken down. On 
 the opposite side of the Common were the Prentiss house, now removed ; 
 a small tin-ware shop ; the old Tavern house, that stood just north of 
 where is now Emerson's shoe factory, and now removed ; the house of 
 Daniel Sweetser, afterwards the residence of Burrage Yale, Esq., and 
 now of C. H. Stearns ; the house of Tho. Bryant, now owned by Edw'd 
 Mansfield, Esq. ; the house of Aaron Bryant, then a small, low build- 
 ing ; the old Rayner house, now removed, that stood where is now Mrs. 
 Dr. Brown's garden ; Samuel Wiley's house, that stood in place of one 
 not long before burnt, on what is now the southerly corner of Main and 
 Albion Streets ; and an old house belonging to Cornelius Sweetser and 
 others, where are now the house of S. O. Richardson and the Quanna- 
 powitt House, formerly so called. 
 
 There were then on the Common, on all sides, between Salem Street 
 and Water Street, thirteen dwelling-houses, only four of which now look 
 as they did at that time, the residue having been either demolished, or 
 so altered as to be entirely different buildings ; the four that still look 
 as they then looked are the following: Late Wid. Eunice Eaton's, late 
 Archibald Smith's, late Noah Smith's, and late Tho. Bryant's. 
 
 There were then about one hundred and twenty-five dwelling-houses 
 in South Reading ; and of the owners and occupants thereof we pro- 
 pose to give some sketches, genealogical and biographical, touching 
 lightly and briefly, as delicacy requires, upon those who are still living ; 
 with some historical description of many of these places of residence. 
 
 MAIN STREET. 
 
 LEMUEL TILESTON lived on the place recently occupied by the late 
 Wm. Stimpson, Senior. His immediate predecessor was Silas Penni- 
 man, a Boston trader, who occupied it a few years. It was the ancient 
 homestead of the Woodward family. (See Early Settlers.) It subse- 
 quently became the property of Thomas Stimpson, who occupied it in 
 1795. Mr. Tileston removed to this place from Boston about 1810 or 
 '12 ; was a retired trader ; was fond of horses ; kept a sort of public 
 house ; had children, of whom Lemuel became a wealthy and honored 
 merchant in New York city, and William, who was also a merchant in 
 New York. Mr. Tileston lived on the place but a few years, when it 
 passed into the hands of the late Wm. Stimpson, whose heirs, we 
 believe, owned it in 1868.
 
 328 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 JOSHUA BURNHAM and THOMAS MELBURN owned and occupied the 
 house now occupied by Geo. W. Stimpson. It was occupied in 1795 
 by Thos. Stimpson, Jr. Joseph Burnham was son of Col. Joshua and 
 Lois Burnham, and was b. 1785, in Lynnfield ; married Ruth, dau. of 
 Tho. and Ruth Emerson ; chil. : Joseph, James H., and several daugh- 
 ters. Thomas Melburn married Abigail, sister of Joseph Burnham, 
 aforesaid, and d. in Danvers. Mr. Melburn had some peculiar traits 
 of character ; he was very intelligent, fond of reading, was well posted 
 in history and general knowledge, was a true patriot, honest, capable, 
 social, generous ; but he possessed unbounded vanity, disliked labor, 
 could talk large, but lacked the disposition to execute, and loved, " not 
 wisely but too well," the stimulating glass. He was a soldier and 
 officer in the war of 1812, but was not particularly eminent for brave 
 deeds ; his children have his virtues without his faults. 
 
 JAMES GOULD lived on the place now owned and occupied by Dr. 
 Francis P. Hurd. It was occupied in 1795, by Sarah, wid. of Samuel 
 Edes, of Charlestown, who sold to James Gould, aforesaid. It was the 
 former homestead of John Brown, Esq., an early settler. (See Early 
 Settlers.) It was sold by said Gould's heirs to Capt. Aaron Foster, 
 who occupied it several years, planted the fine orchards thereon, and 
 sold it to the present owner. James Gould was son of William and 
 Hepzibeth (Smith) Gould, and grandson of Major Gould, of Ipswich. 
 He was b. 1760; m. 1786, Rebecca, dau. of Dr. John Aborn, of Lynn- 
 field, and d. 1830, aged 70. He was captain in the militia, selectman 
 of Reading many years, and one of the first board of selectmen of 
 South Reading. 
 
 Capt. Gould was of tall and majestic personal appearance, of intelli- 
 gence, judgment, and integrity ; moderate and considerate in thinking 
 and in acting ; but what he lacked in energy he made up in persever- 
 ance and tenacity. He was slow to begin, and just as slow to leave off; 
 late to commence a day's work, but disposed to work on into the even- 
 ing ; a frequent speaker in municipal meetings, and as such was earnest 
 and argumentative ; and when he had a special object to accomplish he 
 was pertinacious and unyielding ; so that the town, in such cases, like 
 the girl with a resolute lover, was often " obliged to take him to get rid 
 of him." In one sense, at least, he was wicked, for " when he borrowed 
 he returned not" ; and his apology was "that it was trouble enough to 
 go after a borrowed article without that of carrying it back." His chil- 
 dren were: James, b. 1790, and m. Miss Healy, and settled in Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., where he recently died ; Frederick, b. 1792, resided in 
 Cambridge, was president of the Blackstone National Bank of Boston,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 329 
 
 was also one of the aldermen of Boston, etc. ; Samuel, b. 1796 ; was 
 a trader in Boston, and a selectman in South Reading, and d. 1866 ; 
 Caroline, who m. John Stow, and is now dead ; Emily, who was the 
 wife of Jonas Cowdrey, Esq., of Wakefield, and d. in 1868; Harriet, 
 who m. the late Eben Avery, Esq., was mother of Loriette Avery, and 
 is now dead ; and other children who d. young. 
 
 ELEAZER BAKER lived in the house recently occupied by John White, 
 Senior, and more recently removed to Prospect Hill. Mr. Baker was 
 a carpenter, lived there but a short time, and then removed from town. 
 John White, Senior, soon after bought it, and occupied it until his 
 death. In 1795, it was owned by the heirs of John Nichols, who re- 
 moved to Salem. It was formerly the homestead of Dr. Thomas 
 Stimpson, and subsequently of John Pratt. John Brown, a noted 
 dealer in horses, called "Jockey John," preceded Mr. Baker. This 
 John Brown was grandfather of Caleb D. Brown, of Reading, who was 
 drowned while bathing in the lake a few years since. 
 
 CHARLES NICHOLS then occupied the small house since owned by 
 Mrs. Henry Gray. His chil. were : Charles, Alpheus, Charity, and 
 perhaps others. Thomas, perhaps a brother of Charles, lived here, 
 and was insane. They long since removed to Salem, and elsewhere. 
 The house was formerly a part of the estate of John Nichols afore- 
 said. 
 
 THOMAS CLEMENT lived in the mansion and on the farm now owned 
 and occupied by Lucius Beebe, Esq. He had long been a sea-faring 
 man and naval commander. Capt. Clement was at this time "home- 
 ward bound " on the voyage of life, and was nearing port. He was, 
 however, a hale, cheerful, social, and active old gentleman. His sons 
 were sailors. He greatly improved the establishment, erecting new 
 buildings and raising the culture of the land. He sold out the place 
 and removed to Boston. After the removal of Capt. Clement, and 
 before its purchase by its present owner, it passed through several 
 hands. For several years it was the country-seat of John Derby, Esq., 
 a wealthy merchant of Salem. Thomas Haley Forrester, from Salem, 
 an intelligent, well-educated, rich, but most dissipated man (a bache- 
 lor), lived on it several years, and died in 1840, " as the fool dieth." 
 John Clapp, Esq., from Leicester, a retired merchant, a man of unusual 
 energy and ability, occupied it a number of years. Mrs. Deborah 
 Roundy, from Marblehead, a "poor widow" with considerable property, 
 and her son Benjamin and family, succeeded Mr. Clapp. Dr. Wm. W. 
 Cutler, late of Brookfield, followed, and was succeeded by John Brew- 
 ster, Esq., now an exchange broker in Boston. The present owner 
 42
 
 330 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Lucius Beebe, Esq., has been in possession since 1852. This place is 
 noted as having long been the home of Gen. Benjamin Brown, one of 
 the most eminent and influential citizens of the town . for many years. 
 He was born in 1728 ; was son of Dea. Benja. Brown, who was his pred- 
 ecessor on this farm, and a descendant of Nicholas Brown, a first 
 settler, and the common ancestor of the Reading Browns. (See Early 
 Settlers.) Gen. Brown was by trade a tanner; was a soldier in the 
 Revolution ; rose to the rank of colonel in the Continental army, and 
 was afterwards a general in the militia ; was town clerk, selectman, 
 representative, delegate to the First Provincial Congress, justice of the 
 peace, and at last deacon, the highest office of all, as it was esteemed 
 in former days. His first wife was Hannah Swain, a descendant of 
 Maj. Jeremiah Swain, a famous fighter in the old Indian wars ; she 
 died in 1771. Children, by his first wife: Nathaniel (" Uncle Nattie "), 
 who lived and died on the spot where Wid. Lucy P. Jennings recently 
 lived ; William, who settled in Royalston, where his posterity remain ; 
 and children who d. young. His second wife was Elizabeth, widow of 
 Ebenezer Wiley, and dau. of Elias Bryant, of Stoneham, and grand- 
 mother of Benjamin Brown Wiley, Esq., of Wakefield, and of Capt. Peter 
 Brown Wiley, formerly of Charlestown. A son by his second wife, 
 Farewell, married a dau. of James Bancroft, Esq., and soon after his 
 marriage separated from his wife, went South, and there died a few 
 years since at an advanced age. 
 
 Gen. Brown sold out his farm, not long before his death, and removed 
 to the house now owned by Mrs. Fred. B. Eaton, where he d. in 1801, 
 aged 73 years. His grave-stone says of him : 
 
 "Justice and benevolence sat governing upon his brow; while his generous soul 
 was an alleviating source to the distressed. Judgment and information completed 
 every sentence in his conversation ; conjugal affection and parental care added a laurel 
 to his magnanimity. And in every station of life he was a rich blessing to society, a 
 friend to the community, a prudent and pious counsellor, and a humble member of 
 that religion which now completes his eternal peace." 
 
 A small house, standing near the mansion above referred to, a short 
 distance north of it, and belonging to the farm, was occupied in 1812 
 by a family by the name of Godsheck. In 1795, James Smith occupied 
 it, and in 1765, Joseph Brown, a younger son of the General, lived in 
 it. It has since been taken down. 
 
 JOSEPH CORDIS lived in a large house, since removed, that stood on 
 the corner of Main and Cordis Streets, on the north side of what is now 
 Cordis Street, with which house were connected the lands now lying 
 on both sides of Cordis Street, and the street itself. The place was
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 331 
 
 early owned by Capt. John Batchelder, who lived there in 1765, and 
 afterwards removed to Royalston, Mass. In 1795 it was occupied by 
 Jona. Nutting, who came from Salem, and married in 1763, Susanna, 
 dau. of John Batchelder above named. 
 
 Mr. Cordis, or Esquire Cordis, as he was always called, had been a 
 sea-captain in his younger days. 
 
 " His march was on the mountain wave, 
 His home upon the deep." 
 
 Retiring from the sea, he became a merchant, and resided in Charles- 
 town. He was unfortunate in trade, and lost a considerable part of 
 his property. He then removed to Reading, and purchased the place 
 in question. His first wife (Mary, or Rebecca) who came with him to 
 Reading, is said to have been a very amiable and agreeable woman- 
 She died soon after their removal hither, Feb. 19, 1800. He m., 2d. 
 1803, Wid. Elizabeth Spear, formerly of Charlestown, but then residing 
 in Reading. She had several adult children : Henry, a sea-captain ; and 
 Joseph, a somewhat pompous, but not very profound young man, who 
 became a trader in New York. Mrs. Spear had several daughters : 
 Betsey, Mary, etc/ Esquire Cordis had children by his first wife, who 
 settled elsewhere, and were of the highest respectability. 
 
 The Squire, as we remember him, was a smart, portly-looking 
 man, some sixty years old at that time ; he wore a three-cornered 
 hat, breeches, and large knee and shoe buckles, and was a very 
 dignified appearing individual. He possessed intelligence and judg- 
 ment, was well educated and informed, of generous impulses, of 
 honorable feelings, and very high-spirited. He forgot not his 
 friends ; being sued on a certain occasion, and Capt. David Smith 
 and Capt. Tho. Emerson, Sen., becoming his sureties, after relieving 
 them from all liability, he gave to each a valuable silver memento, in 
 token of his gratitude, gifts that still remain in the families of these 
 friends. He was frequently called to the Moderator's chair at town- 
 meetings, although an earnest Republican, while a majority of his fellow- 
 townsmen were Federalists, as he had excellent talent as a- presiding 
 officer ; and it is related of him, that he once decided a question of 
 order, on a very exciting matter, in favor of his opponents, where he 
 had the power to favor his own party materially, choosing to do what 
 he thought was right at the risk of offending his party friends, who 
 strenuously besought him to do otherwise. He was justice of the peace, 
 conveyancer, a splendid penman, justice of the Court of Sessions, etc. 
 
 The farm was greatly improved, its buildings enlarged, and its culti-
 
 332 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 vation increased, under his administration, until it could show the most 
 spacious and convenient farm buildings, the greatest amount of stone 
 fence, and .the best general arrangement, of any farm in the town. He 
 did not live very happily with his second wife ; it is understood that she 
 became the owner, in her own right, of the farm, and that she held the 
 purse-strings, the Squire having lost and expended his own means. 
 They removed to Charlestown, and he, old and poor, became broken- 
 spirited and tired of life. He soon after committed suicide by jumping 
 from Charlestown Bridge into Charles River, with his feet tied, and 
 thus drowning himself at about seventy years of age. The farm was 
 then let out for several years, and subsequently purchased and occupied 
 by Benjamin Eaton, from Charlestown, a native of Reading, a son of 
 Edmund and Sarah (Brown) Eaton, and born 1769. Mr. Eaton, after 
 a residence of a few years, returned to Charlestown, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Moses Sweetser, Jr., son of Moses, grandson of Samuel, and 
 great-grandson of Michael, the first settler in town by the name of 
 Sweetser. Mr. Sweetser purchased the farm about 1825 with funds 
 drawn in a lottery. 
 
 The circumstances connected with Mr. Sweetser's lottery prize were 
 somewhat peculiar. A brother-in-law of his, Warren Burditt, a man of 
 feeble intellect, was charged with setting on fire a barn belonging to 
 Capt. James Gould, on what is now Dr. Francis P. Kurd's place, and 
 had been arrested. Mr. Sweetser desired to defend his brother, but 
 was poor and short of the necessary funds. He had a small time-draft 
 on a house in a neighboring city, received in payment of a small lot of 
 shoes that he had manufactured, and he applied to several brokers in 
 Boston to get it cashed, but without success for a time ; at length, he 
 was told by one broker, who was also a lottery-ticket vender, that if 
 he would take a considerable portion of the draft in tickets, he would 
 discount it. Mr. Sweetser was no gambler, and except for his sharp 
 necessity would not have invested any part of his hard earnings in a 
 game of chance. He felt obliged, however, to comply with the pro- 
 posal, and took his money and tickets. One of these tickets drew 
 a prize of $10,000, and Mr. Sweetser became at once a rich man. He 
 soon after bought this Cordis farm, and occupied it several years ; but 
 finding it unprofitable, in 1835, he laid it out in house lots, opened to 
 the public what are now Cordis, School, Sweetser, and several other 
 streets thereon, sold the lots, disposed of the dwelling-house and out- 
 buildings, which were removed from the old spot and made into some 
 half dozen dwellings, shops, and stables elsewhere, and he himself re- 
 tired to a reserved part of the farm, where he still resides
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 333 
 
 WILLIAM STIMPSON lived in the house now owned and occupied by 
 Mrs. Eliza, wid. of Fred'k Ballard Eaton. He was son of Dr. William 
 and Elizabeth (Nichols) Stimpson, b. 1768; m., ist, Miss Danforth, of 
 Lynnfield ; m., 2d, Miss Boynton, from Dunstable ; m., 3d, Wid. Tep- 
 rell, from Boston. He was married young ; has been heard to say 
 " that he was a father at twenty, a grandfather at forty, a great-grand- 
 father at sixty, and that he hoped to be a great-great-grandfather at 
 eighty " ; and we believe he was such, for he lived to be eighty-six and 
 a half years old. He d. 1855. 
 
 Of his children, George W. still lives in Wakefield, and so also does 
 Jane, his youngest daughter, who is the wife of Joseph Warren Vinton. 
 Boynton, named for his mother, born about 1802, was accidentally 
 killed a few years since, at a theatre in Boston, by a heavy weight fall- 
 ing upon his head while he was adjusting the scenery. 
 
 Of the Teprell children, who came with their mother to South Read- 
 ing upon her marriage to Mr. Stimpson, Matthew became a printer, and 
 lives mostly at Boston ; and Mary, who was the widow of the late Wm. 
 Rutter, lived in South Reading. Mr. Stimpson was a bricklayer by 
 trade, a peaceable, industrious, and honest man. He afterwards pur- 
 chased and occupied the farm at the " head of the pond," now or lately 
 known as the " Stimpson Farm." 
 
 DR. WILLIAM STIMPSON, the father of the foregoing, born in 1732, 
 and died 1812, aged 80. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
 (Bryant) Stimpson, and grandson of Dr. Thomas and Mary (Taylor) 
 Stimpson, and great-grandson of Dr. James and Mary (Leffingwell) 
 Stimpson, an early physician of the town. Dr. William was living, at 
 the time of his death, with his son William aforesaid, where he had 
 retired in his old age ; but, until his old age, he had lived some time at 
 the old Stimpson homestead (which was the place recently owned by 
 John White, Sen.), and some time at the corner of Main and Salem 
 Streets, where the Eaton mansion now is. His wife was Catharine, 
 dau. of Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., and granddaughter of James and Mary 
 (Poole) Nichols, who were probably the first occupants of this old 
 homestead. She, Catharine, died in 1831, aged 97. 
 
 Dr. William is said to have been of respectable but not brilliant 
 talents as a physician ; he was of a somewhat lymphatic temperament, 
 although his portrait, now in the possession of the family, indicates in- 
 telligence, firmness, and decision. It is said of him that, when charged 
 with laziness by some one, he replied, " I am not lazy, in the sense of 
 being slothful and dronish ; true, I like to be calm and quiet, but that 
 is constitutional; a man is not to be blamed for what is constitutional."
 
 334 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 He certainly was a bold man, for he would ride his horse down the 
 pond, where the ice, newly formed, was so thin that the calks of the 
 horse's shoes would cut through at every step, making the water spout 
 up around him. He had several children besides William aforesaid, 
 who settled in Boston and elsewhere. 
 
 THOMAS EVANS, Sen., lived in the mansion now known as "John 
 White, Jr.'s, old house," and owned and improved the farm connected 
 therewith. This farm was formerly the homestead of John Batchelder, 
 who also owned the Cordis farm, and was the -proprietor of them in 
 1765. Before that it was owned by Timothy Nichols. In the time of 
 the Revolution it was owned by Nathan Appleton and Oliver Wendall, 
 of Boston, men of wealth, who purchased it, it is said, as a place of 
 refuge and resort in case Boston should be destroyed by the British. 
 These gentlemen bought the farm, in 1777, of Rev. Samuel Batchelder, 
 of Haverhill, and sold it, in 1784, to Thomas Evans for ^"400. 
 
 There was formerly a " drift-way " through this farm from Main Street, 
 near the present house of the late Capt. Benj. Freeman, or perhaps a 
 little farther northeasterly, to Vernon Street, which was the principally 
 travelled way from the South Parish to Salem, Fitch's Lane being very 
 narrow, and Fitch's Hill very steep. 
 
 Thomas Evans, b. 1749, was son of Jonathan and Eunice (Green) 
 Evans (see Early Settlers) ; married Rebecca, dau. of Ebenezer and 
 Hepzibeth (Damon) Smith. He was a farmer, prosperous and fore- 
 handed ; used also to manufacture vinegar and peddle it in Salem, 
 in connection with sweet apples ; the apples he distributed gratis, the 
 vinegar he sold ; possessed great energy, shrewdness, and resolution. 
 " Up in the morning when riseth the lark," he took time by the fore- 
 lock, and held on successfully. He died in 1814, aged 65. 
 
 His wife, who survived him many years, was a pattern woman, pru- 
 dent, notable, and pious. A memoir of her life has been published, 
 and therefore we need not enlarge upon it. We will refer, however, to 
 one trait in her character that was quite largely developed this was 
 a strong credulity in relation to ghosts, forerunners, and supernatural 
 manifestations, dreams, and visions. She used often to relate to her 
 trembling grandchildren ghost stories that she believed to be true ; ac- 
 counts of haunted houses, wonderful dreams, and spirit communica- 
 tions, the parties and circumstances connected with which she was well 
 acquainted with, that made life-long impressions upon her youthful 
 auditors. She said there came to her house, one day, old Thankful 
 Walton, a fortune-teller. This Thankful Walton came from the then 
 far-off Aroostook Country ; married Abiel Brown, of Reading ; was the
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 335 
 
 mother of Rhoda, wife of Nathaniel Brown (" Uncle Nattie ") ; buried 
 her first husband, and then married Jacob Walton, son of Capt. John 
 and Mary, and was now again a widow, and quite aged. During her 
 visit, she foretold the fortunes of the several members of the family ; 
 this she did by examining the lines in the palms of their hands, and by 
 noticing the omens of the tea-dregs. Among various other prophecies, 
 she told Mrs. Evans that she would soon receive a present from distant 
 friends. Her predictions were not very much heeded, although there 
 was great superstition among the people in those days. But, sure 
 enough, in the course of a few weeks, Mrs. Evans did receive from a 
 distant town a present of a beautiful napkin, of fine linen, woven in 
 colored plaids, and a very nice article. This cloth was long preserved 
 in the family as a keepsake, and subsequently presented to the Baptist 
 Church in South Reading, with which to enwrap the sacred vessels, in 
 which consecrated service, it is presumed, it may still be found. Mrs. 
 Evans d. 1835, aged 77. The children of Thomas and Rebecca Evans 
 were: Rebecca, b. 1776, and m. 1799, Isaac Kimball, of Easton, and 
 died there in 1813, where her posterity remain; Thomas, b. 1778; 
 Eunice, b. 1780, and m. 1797; Lilley Eaton; Ebenezer, b. 1782, 
 and d. unm., at the age of 37 ; George, b. 1784 ; became a Baptist cler- 
 gyman ; was noted as a revival preacher ; travelled extensively in the 
 Northern and Western States ; was pastor of several different churches 
 in New Hampshire; m. Chloe Pettee, of Foxboro'; and d. 1848, in 
 Manchester, N. H., leaving one daughter, Mary Chloe. He was of 
 limited education, but of good general information, of much energy, 
 promptness, and faithfulness. His widow and daughter reside in Wake- 
 field. Amos, b. 1787 ; Jonas, b. 1790, and d. young; Jonas, b. 1793 > 
 m. Mary W. Jefferds, of Charlestown, and has one dau. Mary Ellen ; 
 was several years clerk and salesman for Lilley Eaton ; became a pub- 
 lic lecturer on geographical and astronomical science ; is a licentiate 
 preacher ; has received the honorary degree of M. A. from Brown Uni- 
 versity ; has been school committee and representative ; he lives in 
 Wakefield. Elias, b. 1798 ; m. 1837, Mary Pierce, of Concord, N. H. ; 
 has several children ; lives in Concord, N H.* 
 
 REV. EBENEZER NELSON lived on the place long owned and occu- 
 pied by Hon Thomas Emerson. 
 
 Mr. Nelson came to this town from Middleboro', where he was born 
 in 1753, and was settled as the first pastor of the Baptist Church in 
 South Reading in 1804. He was then about fifty years old, and, as we 
 
 * This old place is now owned by the heirs of the late John White, Jr.
 
 336 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 remember him, was rather below the middle stature, wore a wig and 
 cue ; dressed in small-clothes, with knee buckles and shoe buckles. 
 He was not classically educated, but was well informed and well read, 
 and a fair, off-hand, plain, extemporaneous speaker ; was a warm Re- 
 publican and patriot, and a zealous advocate of religious freedom ; he 
 was of a very social and genial disposition ; fond of humor, and could 
 himself tell a pleasant story. . We remember one that we heard him 
 relate after he had removed to Maiden : 
 
 " His reverend brother, the late Aaron Green, was then the Unitarian 
 clergyman at Maiden. Mr. Green was an earnest Federalist, and was 
 always careful to vote a clean party ticket for State officers. 
 
 " On the occasion of a certain warmly-contested gubernatorial election, 
 when every vote was important, Mr. Green, on the Saturday preceding 
 the election, prepared, with great care, a Federal vote to use on the 
 ensuing Monday, not choosing to trust to the printed votes, and placed 
 the same in his vest-pocket. The next day being the Sabbath, he wore 
 his better vest to church, and there received a note, asking prayers for 
 somj poor sick person, which he read publicly, offered the desired 
 petitions, and put the note in his vest-pocket. The next day Parson 
 Green again wore his better vest (and forgetting to exchange the con- 
 tents of his vest), went to town-meeting and deposited, as he supposed, 
 his Simon pure vote. At the counting up of the votes at the close of 
 the polls, among the ballots was found a note asking prayers for the 
 sick ; it was Parson Green's Federal vote ! " " I told Bro. Green, the 
 next day," said Parson Nelson, with a chuckle, " that I thought his 
 party needed prayers bad enough, but was afraid his petitions would not 
 save it" 
 
 Mr. Nelson brought with him to South Reading his second wife, who 
 was Mrs. Betsey Shaw, of Middleboro', and who was one of the most 
 amiable and agreeable of ladies, and as good as she was agreeable. 
 He brought also two sons and several daughters ; one or more of his 
 children had settled elsewhere before. His son, Ebenezer, became an 
 apprentice and clerk in the store of Lilley Eaton ; afterwards went 
 into trade in Providence, R. L, in company with Tho. Emerson, Jr. 
 (late Hon. Tho. Emerson), married in Providence ; buried his wife 
 soon, and not long after this became a Baptist clergyman, settled at 
 Lynn, married a Miss Childs, of Lynn, and died there. Ebenezer was 
 an active, accomplished, and honest man. As a clerk and salesman he 
 had few equals for grace, expertness, and accuracy. As a preacher, he 
 was intelligent, earnest, fluent, and acceptable. 
 
 The other son, James Manning, was a bright, generous -hearted
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 337 
 
 youth, a quick scholar, was fitted for college, entered Brown University, 
 became irregular and fast in his habits, and was expelled from the col- 
 lege. He returned to his father, received his patrimony, and started 
 for the South ; his father telling him, at his 'departure, " not to stop 
 until he had reached a respectable distance, and every time he changed 
 his residence, to go farther from home." James became a successful 
 teacher in the South, became regular and temperate in his habits, and 
 after many years of absence returned to visit his family and was warmly 
 welcomed. He again went South, and there died unmarried. 
 
 One of the daughters married Capt. John Holman, of Salem, a naval 
 commander. Another married and removed to Vermont. The young- 
 est daughter, Abigail, who was the only child of her mother (Mr. Nel- 
 son's second wife), was, in 1812, a young lady of beauty and grace, in- 
 telligent, social, and sprightly, b. about 1798. She married Rev. Geo. 
 Leonard, a Baptist clergyman, who was settled first at Salem, and after- 
 wards at Portland, where he d., a young man ; his wid. is now dead. 
 
 Mr. Nelson, Senior, resigned his pastoral charge in South Reading in 
 1815, and soon after settled in Maiden; was a member of the Mass. 
 Constitutional Convention of 1820, and died at Maiden in 1825, aged 
 about 72. 
 
 The house in South Reading that was occupied by Mr. Nelson has 
 been greatly enlarged and improved since its purchase by its late 
 owner (T. Emerson, Esq.). This place was the early homestead of the 
 Dix family, and afterwards of Joseph Emerson, a son of Ebenezer and 
 Mary (Boutwell) Emerson, and a grandson of Rev. Joseph Emerson, 
 of Menclon. 
 
 This Joseph Emerson, the predecessor of Mr. Nelson, m. Phebe 
 Upton, and was a brother of Thomas, who was the grandfather of the 
 late owner ; he was the father of Joseph, of Royalston. 
 
 Elias, b. 1759, of Lancaster, whose wife was a Howard, of Melrose, 
 and whose sons, Elias, Abraham, Joseph, and Charles, formerly lived 
 in South Reading, and who now, except Abraham, who is d., live in 
 Charlestownj Charles, b. 1769; the original inventor and manufac- 
 turer of " Emerson's Patent Elastic Razor Straps," of which " there are 
 still a few more left" ; a man of great moderation, a trait of character 
 for which the Emerson family have been somewhat renowned ; Ephraim, 
 b. 1767 ; was a deacon, and settled in Ohio ; Naomi, b. 1755, wife of 
 Benj. Badger, Senior ; and several other daughters. 
 
 JONATHAN EMERSON lived in a small cottage, that still stands, nearly 
 opposite the place above described. 
 
 He was son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bruce) Emerson, b. 1768 ; 
 43
 
 338 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 m. "1796, Martha Williams, of Saugus, died 1841, aged 73. Chil. : 
 John, for many years the bell-ringer, and now d. Martha, who m. 
 Samuel Parker, and now lives in Wakefield. This place is now the 
 property of heirs of Hon. Thomas Emerson. 
 
 WID. OLIVE NEWELL lived in a house that stood near the spot where 
 now stands the mansion owned and occupied by E. Eugene Emerson. 
 
 This house and the farm connected with it became the property of 
 Rev. Jonas Evans, who occupied it several years, and subsequently the 
 house was removed to the easterly part of Lawrence Street, a highway 
 laid out through said farm. It was occupied by James Gould in 1795 
 and was probably built by Joseph Gould, who lived there in 1765. 
 
 Mrs. Newell removed hither from Boston, with her two daughters, 
 Olive and Charlotte. She was the widow of Andrew Newell, of Bos- 
 ton, and dau. of Samuel and Sarah Edes, of Charlestown. She was 
 then a pleasant and social old lady, of genteel manners, intelligent and 
 highly respectable. She presented to the Congregational and Baptist 
 societies of South Reading, each, a large, handsomely bound copy of 
 the Bible, for pulpit use. Her daughter, Olive, became the second wife 
 of Capt. John Holman, of Salem, whose first wife was a dau. of Rev. 
 Mr. Nelson ; they removed to the State of New York, and are both 
 dead. 
 
 Charlotte, the other dau., married Dr. Samuel, son of Dr. John 
 Hart, who now lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Newell had other chil- 
 dren, who were older, and who settled in Boston ; among whom were 
 Joseph, a merchant ; and a dau., wife of Hon. Henry Farnum, also a 
 merchant and sometime an alderman. 
 
 JOHN WHITE, SEN., lived in a small house standing near the above, 
 and belonging to the Newell place,- called the farm-house, for the use of 
 the family that carried on the farm. Mr. White was a native of Lexing- 
 ton. He subsequently purchased the old house, lately removed from 
 its site, near L. Beebe's ; m. in 1791, Judith, dau. of Thos. and Lydia 
 Green, and had chil. : Judith, b. 1791, and who is now the wife of 
 Joseph Pierce, of Wakefield ; John, b. 1795, married Nancy Eaton; 
 was an extensive and successful shoe manufacturer ; lived some years 
 in the "Abbott House" (opposite late Hon. Thos. Emerson's); sub- 
 sequently purchased the Thos. Evans farm ; removed thereto, and 
 built the mansion thereon, now occupied by his widow, and died in 
 1860, aged 65, leaving two daughters, one of whom is the wife of John 
 G. Aborn. Nathan, b. 1798, m. Fanny Eaton, and removed to Ohio; 
 Nancy, b. 1800, married Henry Gray, and died 1869 ; Adaline, b. 1807, 
 m. Wm. Emerson, and settled in Ct. ; Lydia, b. 1812, m. 1832, B. F.

 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 339 
 
 Abbott, was mother of George Abbott, and is now dead ; William, b. 
 1813, who m. 1836, Sarah Cowdrey, and lives in Wakefield. The father 
 died Oct. 14, 1842, aged 73^ years. 
 
 JESSE CARTER lived in the " Abbott house " aforesaid, now belong- 
 ing to the heirs of late John White, Jr. He came from Woburn ; was 
 a bootmaker; m. 1811, Susanna, dau. of Benj. and Elizabeth Emer- 
 son ; was captain ; removed to Hanover, N. H. ; had one son, Lyman, 
 who was drowned at sea ; buried his wife and removed to Plainfield, 
 Vt., where, in 1868, he was still living. This house was erected about 
 1808, by John Hay, a son of Dr. John Hay, who soon after removed 
 from the town. 
 
 LILLEY EATON lived at the corner of Main and Salem Streets ; was 
 the son of Lilley and Sarah (Emerson) Eaton (see Early Settlers) ; 
 was b. 1768 ; m. 1797, Eunice, dau. of Thos. and Rebecca Evans. He 
 d. 1822, aged 54. His widow d. 1866, aged 85. 
 
 EATON MANSION, corner of Main and Salem Streets. 
 
 He occupied the house that still stands upon this corner, and which 
 was erected by him in 1804. At the time of its erection it was by 
 far the most imposing dwelling in the village, and occupied a position
 
 340 
 
 GEAE A LOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 that was then accounted the centre of population and business for the 
 South Parish. 
 
 Mr. Eaton was in early life a shoe manufacturer ; after the erection 
 of this house, he opened therein a country store, which he continued 
 (except from 1809 to 1812, when it was occupied for the same purpose 
 by T. & A. Evans) up to the time of his death. For many years it 
 was the most considerable store in the town, or indeed in the vicinity, 
 and was long patronized by the people of this and all the adjacent 
 towns. In 1813 he had the honor of establishing thejzrst temperance 
 grocery ever kept in the town. He was one of the founders and long 
 a pillar of the Baptist church and society in this place. He furnished 
 for many years, free of charge, a room in his house for his society to 
 use for their religious, social, and conference meetings. In the third 
 story of his house was an unfinished hall that was furnished and used 
 for this purpose, especially on Sabbath evenings ; and long known in 
 the family as the " Meeting Chamber." And some are still living who 
 can remember the fervent prayers, the pious exhortations, and the 
 earnest zeal, that used to fill that " upper chamber." 
 
 This house was also long known as the " Pilgrims' Hotel," as it was 
 the general resort of travelling clergymen, and other brethren and 
 sisters of the faith, where they always found a cheerful welcome. 
 
 Mr. Eaton had the reputation of being a liberal, upright, and honor- 
 able man, and his widow, who survived him many years, and during 
 her last decade was totally blind, ever sustained the character of an 
 earnest, hospitable, and Christian woman. Their children were : Eu- 
 nice, b. 1798, and m. 1833, Charles H. Hill, Esq.; Sally, b. 1800, 
 and d. 1801 ; Lilley, 1 b. 1802, and m. 1824, Eliza, dau. of Samuel and 
 Elizabeth Nichols, and died in Wakefield, Jan. 16, 1872 (was the 
 writer of these sketches). Mary Bentley, b. 1805 ; m., ist, 1823, 
 Abraham Emerson, and m., 2d, 1853, Capt. Ira Wiley, of Wakefield; 
 Stillman, b. 1807, and d. 1828; Emily, b. 1811, and m. 1838, Rev. 
 Peter Folsom, formerly of Maine., lately of Wakefield ; he died 1872 ; 
 John Sullivan, b. 1822; m., ist, 1846, Harriet W. Oliver, of Maiden; 
 she d. 1852 ; m., 2d, 1854, Ann E. Knowles, of Corinna, Me., and 
 lives in Wakefield. 
 
 When the house aforesaid was built, an old mansion was taken down, 
 which was then standing upon this spot, and which had been removed 
 hither from Greenwood by Dr. Wm. Stimpson, who occupied it a while, 
 and was living in it in 1765 ; afterwards it was occupied by Dea. Jacob 
 
 1 See sketch of his life and character in Chap. XV.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 341 
 
 Emerson, John Gould (who was here in 1795), arj d by Samuel Batts, 
 each of whom kept a small grocery therein. 
 
 LATE RESIDENCE OF HON.- LILLEY EATON. 
 
 JOHN GOULD lived in a house recently taken Mown, that stood on a 
 narrow lane or court leading out of Main Street, and now a part of 
 Pearl Street. It was a Very ancient-looking mansion, with gambrel- 
 shaped roof, whitewashed and homely; it was originally built (in 1730, 
 it is said), and used for a malt and brew-house, probably by the Fitch 
 family, who formerly owned it. Mr. Gould's father, William Gould (or 
 " Gold," as it is written in the old records), was a native of Ipswich, 
 and a son of Major and Elizabeth Gould, and was baptized in 1726. 
 He was a descendant, no doubt, of Zacheus Gould, an original settler 
 of that part of Ipswich which is now Topsfield. He came to Reading 
 when a young man, and m. and settled on this place. (See Early 
 Settlers.) 
 
 Mr. John Gould was born in 1758 ; m. 1785, Mary, dau. of Phineas 
 Sweetser, who lived on the Pierce farm, now so called, in Stoneham,
 
 342 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and was brother of Michael Sweetser, who lived where Asa N. Sweetser 
 now lives. 
 
 He (John Gould) was a boot and shoe maker ; was the first town 
 clerk of South Reading, which office he held twelve successive years ; 
 was of the first and succeeding boards of selectmen, and representative 
 in 1816. 
 
 In person he was tall, straight, and florid ; wore a long cue ; was 
 of stern and dignified demeanor ; possessed good native talents, was of 
 great firmness, and opposed to all new-fangled notions in business, 
 politics, or religion ; disliked any innovation upon the ways and man- 
 ners of the fathers ; he sincerely " asked for the old paths," and liter- 
 ally walked therein. He was well read, for whatever he judged worth 
 reading at all, he read thoroughly. Dr. Young was one of his favorite 
 authors, from whom he was ever ready to quote. He was a social 
 companion, and under an outside crust of dignity were veins of humor 
 and fun. He was a strong republican patriot, and an honest man. He 
 died in 1835, aged 77. His chil. were: John, b. 1786 ; settled in Bal- 
 timore ; was there during the last war with England ; was engaged in 
 the battle of North Point, where he 
 
 " Fought, bled, died," he used to say, 
 And from those cursed Britons ran away, 
 And lived to fight and run another day. 
 
 Not being successful in business in Baltimore, he returned to South 
 Reading, became a shoe manufacturer, and was again unsuccessful ; in 
 cdnsequence of these repeated discouragements, he made the matter 
 worse by. an occasional resort to the intoxicating cup ; but the Wash- 
 ingtonian reform of 1840 caught him and restored him, and to his 
 honor be it recorded he never relapsed. He was intelligent, fond of 
 reading, wrote verses on various subjects, particularly on temperance, 
 and acquired the soubriquet of " Temperance Poet Laureate." 
 
 He m. Jan. 29, 1855, Lucy Washburn. He d. 1864, aged 78. 
 
 Charles, another son of John, b. 1790, was a soldier in the service of 
 the United States, during the last war with England, in the Black Hawk 
 Indian war, and afterwards. He died in 1869, at South Reading. 
 Mary, b. 1792, is still living, unm. ; Elizabeth, b. 17^4 ; was a success- 
 ful school-teacher in her younger days ; m. John Aborn, son of Dea. 
 Samuel Aborn, of Lynnfield ; has a worthy family of children, and 
 still lives in Wakefield ; Nancy, b. 1799 ; died June 8, 1865, unmarried ; 
 Sophia, b. 1801 ; was a sprightly, social woman ; was for many years a 
 popular school-teacher ; she died 1842, aged 41.
 
 OP THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 343 
 
 JEREMIAH BRYANT lived in the house now occupied by Andrew 
 Young; was b. 1768 ; son of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Boutwell) Bryant, 
 and a descendant of Abraham Bryant (see Early Settlers). He m. 
 1790, Mary, dau. of Jabez and Lydia Caiter. He d. 1852, aged 84. 
 Was a blacksmith, "as all his fathers were," and long occupied 
 an old, low shop, at the head of the Common, on the spot 
 where he afterwards built a larger shop, now torn down. His 
 dwelling-house was then very much smaller than at present. Mr. 
 Bryant was a very industrious, kind-hearted, and honest man ; of com- 
 mon intelligence, modest, unassuming and retiring ; having been once 
 elected a selectman, he declined the office ; he was contented by hard 
 work, economy, and close calculation, to quietly lay up a competence. 
 He was hay-weigher, and foreman of the fire-engine for many years. 
 He began life quite poor, but by the steady accumulations of a long 
 life of industry and economy, he counted at last his tens of thousands. 
 His wife, who used to be called " Lady Bryant," was genteel in her 
 manners, and more fond of show and appearance than her husband, 
 but always prudent* and close, rather severely so to her domestics 
 sometimes, as they thought. They had two chil. : Jeremiah, b. 1 790 ; 
 who m. 1820, Abigail Winn, sister of Maj. Suel Winn; was for many 
 years constable and auctioneer, and for a season deputy sheriff, and a ^ 
 very efficient police officer ; was naturally intelligent, was well-educated 
 in the common school, and generally well-informed ; was an ingenious 
 mechanic. He was early subject -to disease that gradually broke down 
 his constitution, impaired his mind, and weakened his powers of self- 
 denial. He d. Jan. 18, 1856 ; Mary, b. 1800 (was called Maria, when 
 young), was a fine, intelligent girl, sprightly, vivacious, graceful, and 
 amiable; m. 1820, Harfield Hart, and was a virtuous and valuable 
 woman ; was mother of the late Mary B., Ellen, late wife of Andrew 
 Young, Henry C., Everett, and other children. She d. Jan. 14, 
 
 1833- 
 
 THOMAS EMERSON, JR.* (late Hon. Thomas), lived in the Prentiss 
 house, on Common Street, so called from Rev. Caleb Prentiss, who for- 
 merly owned it, and who d. in it in 1803. (See Prentiss Geneal.) The 
 place was the parsonage of the First Parish, and was sold to Mr. Pren- 
 tiss in 1770. 
 
 Thomas Emerson, Jr., was the son of Thomas and Ruth Emerson 
 (see Early Settlers) ; b. 1785 ; m. 1813, Betsey, dau. of Dea. James 
 and Sarah (Hopkinson) Hartshorn ; she died in 1873 ; was school 
 
 * See sketch of his life and character in Chapter XV.
 
 344 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 committeeman, selectman, representative, senator, justice of the peace, 
 captain of cavalry, etc. 
 
 For many years he was the most extensive and successful shoe manu- 
 facturer in the place, giving lucrative employment to large numbers of 
 the inhabitants, and thus essentially promoting the prosperity of the 
 town. He retired from active business previous to his death, and was 
 president of the National Bank of South Reading and Wakefield, from 
 its organization until his decease in 1871. His children are: Thomas, 
 b. 1816 ; senior member of the firm of "Thomas Emerson's Sons," 
 shoe manufacturers; m. 1840, Emily, dau. of late Tho. Swain; James 
 F., b. 1830, junior partner of said firm ; m. 1856, Harriet O., dau. of 
 Hubbard Emerson, Esq. ; she d. 1861 ; has been captain, and is now 
 town treasurer ; Augusta Buchan, b. 1821; m. 1848, Francis Odiorne, 
 of Maiden ; Sarah Hartshorn, b. 1824; m. 1850, B. F. Barnard, who 
 was a lieutenant in the War of the Rebellion ; Maria J., b. 1828 ; m. 
 1850, Maj. Geo. O. Carpenter, of Boston. 
 
 MRS. RUTH EMERSON (Mother of Hon. Thomas). 
 
 WILLIAM WILLIAMS occupied a part of the Prentiss house aforesaid. 
 His father died in the Revolutionary war, when William was an infant. 
 His mother, Sarah, m. 1785, Timothy Stearns, of Lynnfield. William 
 was an apprentice to Col. Amos Boardman. He m. 1798, Bathsheba 
 Smith, of Maiden; she d. 1816, aged 42. He m., 2d, 1817, Sarah 
 Trull, and he d. 1853, aged 77. His children by his first wife were : 
 Henry, b. 1800, and William, b. 1803 ; these were pleasant, sensible,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 345 
 
 and promising young men, but early faded and passed away, each dying 
 of consumption at the age of 20. By second wife he had : Sarah, who 
 m. Andrew Mason ; he was killed in the War of the Rebellion ; Ann 
 Maria, the wife of Solon Walton. 
 
 STEPHEN HALE lived in the old tavern house, recently demolished, 
 that stood near Emerson's shoe factory. He was a shoe manufacturer, 
 and at the time referred to kept a public house. This old mansion 
 and farm were formerly the homestead of Samuel Poole, b. 1700, son of 
 Jonathan (Esq ) (see Early Settlers), whod. 1752, and of whom the Rev. 
 Mr. Hobby, who then lived in the Prentiss house, in recording his 
 death, says: "He was my kind and good neighbor." The late Thomas 
 Poole, of Woburn, father of Mrs. Col. Hartshorn, and the late Samuel 
 Poole, of Boston, father of Mrs. Capt. D. S. Oliver, and of Mrs. William 
 Burditt, were his grandsons. 
 
 Mr. Hale was not a native of Reading ; came, it is understood, from 
 the vicinity of Newbury ; was a man of good character and respectable 
 abilities. Hem., ist, 1799, Sarah, dau. of Edmund and Sarah (Brown) 
 Eaton, a sister of Dr. Joseph Eaton, who was for many years a surgeon 
 in the United States service, and now dead. She died in 1809, and 
 he m., 2d, 1811, Sally, dau. of Dea. James Hartshorn; she d. 1813, 
 childless. He m., 3d, 1816, Amelia Wheeler, of Gloucester. By his 
 first wife he had two children: Stephen, b. 1801, was a trader in New 
 York, and d. unm. ; Sarah, who m. and settled in Gloucester. By his 
 third wife he had several children, and removed to Gloucester, and 
 there died. He was succeeded on the place by Leonard Wiley, whose 
 wife was a niece of Mr. Hale's first wife. Mr. Wiley kept tavern here 
 many years. 
 
 This old inn was a famous resort in former days. It contained the 
 most spacious hall in the village, and was the place for dancing and 
 singing schools, for masonic lodge meetings, for public dinners, cau- 
 cuses, puppet-shows, etc. On training days it was head -quarters, and 
 on holidays it was the centre of attraction for bowling, prop-shaking, 
 drinking, etc. The old house was taken down in 1865. 
 
 CALEB EATON lived in the house (since enlarged) now occupied by 
 Wid. Lucinda Spaulding. He was son of Lilley and Sarah (Emerson) 
 Eaton, b. 1773 ; m. 1800, Hannah Blair, of Boston, and d. 1846, aged 
 72. Had chil. : Caleb, who settled in Connecticut ; Victor, d. a young 
 man ; Lucy, who m. Ralph Pratt, and is now dead ; Noah, who m., 
 ist, Hannah Witherspoon, and m., 2d, Wid. Lund ; Hannah, who m. 
 E. S. Upham, of Wakefield. This place was the early homestead of 
 the Weston family. (See Early Settlers.) Ephraim Weston, a grand- 
 44
 
 34.6 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 son of John, the first settler, was living on the place in 1760, and kept 
 a grocery store. After Mr. Weston's death the house was said to be 
 "haunted." (See Centen. Poem, Chap. X.) 
 
 LILLEY EATON, Sen., and his son, JACOB EATON, lived in the ancient 
 mansion that recently stood at the corner of Eaton and Crescent 
 Streets. 
 
 Lilley Eaton, Sen., was son of Noah and Phebe Eaton (see Early 
 Settlers), b. 1738 ; m. 1762, Sarah, dau. of Dea. Brown Emerson, and d. 
 1812, aged 73. Hiswid. d. 1821, aged 80. They had chil. : Sarah, b. 
 1763, and m. Joseph Boutwell, of Amherst, N. H. ; Lucy, b. 1765, and* 
 d. of consumption in 1807 ; Susanna, b. 1766, and d. 1828, of dropsy; 
 Lilley, b. 1768; Jacob, b. 1771 ; Caleb, b. 1773; Phebe, b. 1777, and m. 
 Cornelius Sweetser; Hannah, b. 1779, and m. 1801, Lemuel Sweetser, 
 Esq., Catharine, b. 1781, and m. Benj. Badger, Esq. Jacob Eaton, afore- 
 said, who occupied at this time a part of the same mansion with his 
 father, m. 1796, Rebecca Holmes, of Bridgewater, who d. 1838; and 
 m. 2d, 1838, the wid. of his brother Lilley; he d. 1858, aged 87. 
 
 He was one of the founders, and, for more than half a century, a dea- 
 con of the Baptist church. A memoir of his life has been published, 
 which truly says of him, " that he was of noble person and noble intel- 
 lect, and long stood in the front rank of our citizens, esteemed for his 
 integrity, venerated for his wisdom, and beloved for his goodness." He 
 had children: Zenas, b. 1797; m. 1825, Lois Smith; was a Baptist 
 deacon, and is now dead; Rebecca Ames, b. 1799, and m. 1827, Jona. 
 P. Lund, and now lives in New Bedford ; Sarah, b. 1802, and m. 1823, 
 Abel F. Knight, and is now dead ; Olive, b. 1805, and m. 1839, Wm. 
 G. Skinner, of Wakefield ; Jacob, b. 1808, and m. 1833, Louisa At- 
 well, and settled in Cambridge ; is a deacon, etc. ; David, b. April 29, 
 1811 ; m. Dec. 25, 1833, Lucinda Barnard, and d. Oct. 4, 1837 ; Abbie 
 Davis, b. 1818, and m. 1840, B. F. Bancroft, of Wakefield. 
 
 This old mansion was formerly the homestead of a branch of the 
 Poole family ; was sold by Zachariah Poole to Benjamin Gibson, of 
 Boston, who sold to Noah Eaton. 
 
 BURRAGE YALE lived in the mansion occupied-by him at the time of 
 his decease, and which is now owned by Chas. H. Stearns, on the 
 corner of Main Street and Yale Avenue. 
 
 This house was built by Daniel Sweetser, a brother of the late John 
 Sweetser, Esq., about the year 1800. Mr. Daniel Sweetser was the 
 father of Samuel Sweetser, of Cambridge, and other children now 
 deceased. 
 
 Mr. Yale was a native of Meriden, Ct. ; born March 27, 1781. He
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 347 
 
 was son of Amerton and Sarah (Meriman) Yale, and was descended 
 through said Amerton Yale, b. 1756 ; Nash Yale, b. 1715 ; John Yale, 
 b. 1687 ; and Capt Thomas Yale, b. about 1647, an early settler of New 
 Haven, Ct. 
 
 Mr. Yale came to this town about 1810 ; he commenced business as 
 a tin pedler, and used after to boast that his first entry into South 
 Reading was on barefoot, by the side of his tin cart. He commenced 
 the manufacture of tin-ware in this town in a small shop that, until very 
 lately, stood near what is now the corner of Common and Lafayette 
 Streets. He gradually enlarged his business until he became one of 
 the heaviest tin-ware dealers in the State, employing a hundred pedlers. 
 In 1812 or '13, he opened an extensive country store in his dwelling, 
 house, which he continued for some years ; his brother, Eli A. Yale, 
 lately of Charlestown, and his brother-in-law, Asa L. Boardman, were 
 his clerks. He was also a wholesale dealer in tin-plate and other arti- 
 cles. During the last war with England he invested largely in a com- 
 modity, which he still held at the declaration of peace, by which purchase 
 he got pretty well gummed; he declared, however, that he would keep 
 the article until the price should come up to cost; if he did thus hold 
 on, it is presumed he left gum arabic among his effects at his decease. 
 
 Mr. Yale was a shrewd and accomplished business man, rigidly 
 prompt and exact in all his payments, and equally so in the collection 
 of his debts ; was a careful and skilful accountant ; nice in his calcula- 
 tions, systematic in the arrangement of his business, wise and sagacious 
 in the selection of agents, scrutinizing, attentive, and watchful of all de- 
 partments of his work, and liberal in providing for, and compensating, 
 his employees ; he therefore amassed a great estate. 
 
 Mr. Yale had some peculiarities and some faults ; and who has not ? 
 He was accused of being proud, haughty, and ambitious; despotic 
 among his clerks, journeymen, and apprentices"; dictatorial in his family, 
 ungentle to his wives and children, and unmerciful to his debtors. 
 
 He may have been so to some extent, for such were the tenacity and 
 thoroughness with which he put through his plans and calculations, 
 that whatever project he started, like the car of Juggernaut, must roll 
 on to completion in spite of all opposition. These traits of character 
 would be likely to make enemies. It is remembered that he once ren- 
 dered himself so odious to a portion of the people, partly by his lofty 
 demeanor, but mainly by his unrelenting endeavors to collect his dues, 
 that on a certain night he was hung in effigy upon one of the old oaks 
 on the common, and then consumed in a great funeral pyre, amid -the 
 shouts of the crowd ; and on the succeeding morning might be read, in
 
 348 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 bold relief upon a board nailed high upon the oak, these words in 
 
 epitaph : 
 
 " This great and mighty lord, he is no more ! " 
 
 But in contrast with these traits of character, there was a pleasing 
 side. He was dignified, polite, and hospitable ; oftimes a social, agree- 
 able, and instructive companion. We have listened with much pleasure 
 and profit to the narrative of his struggles with poverty in his early life ; 
 his pursuit of knowledge under difficulties ; his perseverance under 
 many discouragements in establishing himself in "business ; and his 
 constant and unswerving efforts, at almost any sacrifice, to acquire and 
 maintain a credit for perfect punctuality and exact honesty in all his 
 dealings. Such a credit he did gain and ever held. He was, moreover, 
 a man of neatness, system, and order ; possessed a good stock of 
 native intelligence, and was well read in political economy and general 
 knowledge. 
 
 He was a friend and patron of education, spirited and liberal towards 
 public improvements. Although he was ambitious, he was not very for- 
 tunate in obtaining public office ; he was occasionally a candidate for 
 the State Legislature, for which he was highly qualified in some 
 respects, but his severe exactness in little trivial matters, even with 
 friends and relatives, ever kept him unpopular and unsuccessful. He 
 was town treasurer for a year or two, and a justice of the peace for 
 several years. 
 
 He m., ist, in 1808, Sarah Smith, dau. of Col. Amos Boardman ; 
 she d. in 1844, aged 60. We shall ever bear this lady in affec- 
 tionate remembrance as our earliest and kindest instructress at the 
 Centre school. She was a faithful teacher, and our memory of her in 
 that capacity is most pleasant. In after-life she was ever a most 
 worthy and valuable woman. His second wife was Wid. Wyman 
 Richardson, of Woburn, a most estimable lady, who chose soon to sepa- 
 rate from him, and went to live with her relations in Connecticut. His 
 children, all by his first wife, were : Sarah A., who m. Rev. William 
 Heath, of South Reading ; Lucillia T., who m. Rev. Nathan Munroe, of 
 Bradford ; Octavia A., who m. Rev. Geo. P. Smith, of Woburn. These 
 daughters were amiable, intelligent, and accomplished women, and vir- 
 tuous members of society. They are now all dead. Burrage Buchanan, 
 the only son, married a dau. of Maj. Daniel Flint, of North Reading, 
 who died soon. He is now a merchant in the city of New York, and 
 again married. Mr. Yale, senior, died 1860, aged 79. 
 
 THOMAS BRYANT lived in the house now owned and occupied 
 by Edward Mansfield, Esq. It was erected by Mr. Bryant about
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 349 
 
 1800. He was the son of Timothy Bryant, grandson of Timothy 
 and Susanna (Goodwin) Bryant, and great-grandson of Wm. Bryant, 
 Esq. (see Early Settlers). He was born about 1769 ; m. 1798, Nancy, 
 dau. of Thos. Rayner, and d. 1857, aged 88. His wife d. 1842, aged 
 73. His chil. were : Mary Ann, who d. 1843, aged 44, unm., and 
 Thomas, who m. Laura, dau. of Abraham Sweetser, and d. a young 
 man. 
 
 Mr. Bryant was a bricklayer by trade, and a quiet, intelligent, and 
 honest man. 
 
 AARON BRYANT lived on the spot where he lived until his death in 
 1870, in a small house that he afterwards enlarged and improved. He 
 was the son of Edmund and Hannah (Hay) Bryant, and was born in 
 New Ipswich, N. H., in 1783; was grandson of Kendall and Mary 
 (Parker) Bryant of Reading, and great-grandson of Kendall , and Eliz- 
 abeth (Swain) Bryant (see Early Settlers). He m. 1806, Rebecca 
 Poole, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Emerson; she d. 1866, 
 aged 82. They had no children. He was deacon of the Congrega- 
 tional church for more than half a century. 
 
 Dea. Bryant was a man of intelligence, industry, honesty, and worth. 
 Modest and unassuming in his disposition and manners, he sought no 
 lofty stations, but in the humble sphere in which he preferred to move, 
 he was ever the wise counsellor, the faithful friend, the upright man. 
 
 The predecessors of Dea. Bryant on this place were Nathan Eaton, 
 who was there in 1795, and James Barrett, who was there in 1765. 
 
 Mr. Nathan Eaton, above named, b. 1748, probably the son of 
 Nathan, was a lieutenant in the Revolution ; was a man of great 
 physical proportions, so that it became a proverbial comparison to 
 say, " as big as Mr. Nathan Eaton." He was father of Capt. Nathan, 
 Ezra, and John Eaton, late of Boston, who built the Eaton tomb 
 and monument in our town burying-ground, in which Lieut. Eaton 
 was laid. 
 
 JOHN RAYNER lived in a large two and a half storied, and rather 
 peculiarly shaped dwelling, that stood at the corner of what is now 
 Main and Chestnut Streets, where is now Mrs. Dr. J. G. Brown's gar- 
 den. He was son of Thomas and Abigail Rayner, who removed to 
 Reading from Charlestown in the time of the Revolution, and pur- 
 chased the place in question. 
 
 He, Thomas, was the son of John and Anne (Rand) Rayner, of 
 Charlestown, and was born there in 1740. He kept a public house for 
 many years, and from the habit of keeping a bar, acquired a fondness 
 for its dispensations that influenced his latter days. When Rev. Mr.
 
 350 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Emerson was about being settled as minister of the first parish, he was 
 violently opposed to it, and boldly expressed " the hope that he should 
 never live to see that day." His hope was realized ; he died Oct. 
 17, 1804, aged 64, a few days before Mr. Emerson's installation. His 
 wife d. 1792, aged 45. 
 
 John Rayner was a baker, as was his father before him. Their 
 bakery stood near the spot now occupied by Day's bake-house. Mr. 
 John was intelligent and industrious, of strong prejudices, but peace- 
 able and honorable. He m. 1789, Mary, dau. of Joshua and Mary 
 Eaton. He d. 1833, aged 67. 
 
 His wife survived him many years ; was a woman of uncommon 
 energy and spirit. Their children were : John, b. 1791 ; in early life 
 a sailor; m. in 1819 or '20, Sophia Gerry, of Stoneham ; opened a 
 grocery store in connection with his brother-in-law, Joshua Burnham, 
 on the site of his father's bakery ; was the first postmaster of South 
 Reading ; was town clerk and selectman for several years ; failed in 
 business ; became discouraged, and died poor in 1834, aged 42 ; Mary, b. 
 1795 ; was lovely, intelligent, and accomplished ; married Capt. Joshua 
 Burnham, son of Col. Joshua ; was mother of the late Rev.Joshua, and of 
 Mary R., both of whom, with their parents, died young ; Jacob, b. 1799 ; 
 was a quiet, genteel young man. He formed a connection in business 
 with Jacob Evans ; traded at the South ; did a dashing rather than a 
 profitable business ; became involved in debt, and with his partner, 
 suddenly and mysteriously disappeared many years ago. They went, 
 it is supposed, to South America, and have not since been heard from. 
 Thomas, b. 1804; m. 1831, Rachel Williams; was clerk for his brother 
 John, and died several years since. 
 
 John Rayner, Sen., erected the house which was enlarged by Wm. 
 L. Brown, Esq., and which was occupied by Mr. Rayner and by his 
 widow up to the times, respectively, of their deaths. The old two and 
 a half storied house, was formerly the residence of Col. Ebenezer 
 Nichols and of Wm. Bryant, Esq. Col. Nichols was a surveyor, and 
 made a map of the First Parish/ of Reading, as it was before the incor- 
 poration of the West Parish, on which the location of each house then 
 standing, with the name of the owner or occupant, was noted, copies 
 of which are still preserved. The Bryant family, above named, re- 
 moved more than a hundred years ago to Sudbury. The old house, 
 after the removal of Rayner to his new house, was occupied, succes- 
 sively, by Col. Joshua Burnham, Timothy Sweetser, Wm. Hutchinson, 
 and others, and finally gave place to a new house, that was built by 
 Reuben Gerry, who was succeeded by Daniel Norcross, and while
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 351 
 
 occupied by Norcross was burned down. A grocery store was kept 
 therein. 
 
 ARCHIBALD SMITH lived in the house built by himself in 1807, the 
 same in which he lived until his death ; was son of Capt. David Smith ; 
 b. 1779; m. 1804, Elizabeth, dau. of Benj. and Elizabeth Emerson ; 
 died 1866, aged 87. He was captain, town treasurer, and a very indus- 
 trious, peaceable, and honest citizen. Chil. : Arch, b. 1806, and m. 
 1854, Sarah Weston, of Reading, and d. Aug. 29, 1872 ; Peter, b. 
 1809, and m. 1834, Nancy Weston, of Reading, and d. March 30, 1873 ; 
 Warren, b. 1812 ; is unm. ; and others, who d. young. 
 
 SAMUEL WILEY lived at the corner of what is now Main and Albion 
 Streets. 
 
 He was son of Nathaniel and Mary (Eaton) Wiley, b. 1772; m. 
 1794, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Lydia (Nichols) Vinton ; was a car- 
 penter, d. 1832. Chil.: Samuel, b. 1796; m. 1817, Mary, dau. of 
 Hananiah and Molly (Pope) Parker; was captain of the "Rifle 
 Grays"; possessed a native gift for singing; removed to Hartford, 
 Ct., and d. 1837, aged 41 ; John, b. 1799 ; m. 1818, Harriet, dau. of 
 Timothy and Pamela Sweetser, and lives in Wakefield ; Ira, b. 1802 ; 
 m., ist, 1825, Lucetta, dau. of Benj. Gerry, of Stoneham ; m., 2d, 
 I 853, Wid. Mary B. Emerson, and lives in Wakefield ; Betsey, b. 1804, 
 and m. 1826, Solomon Alden, of Cambridge, and d. 1832 ; Adam, b. 
 1806, and m. 1831, Eunice, dau. of Samuel and Elizabeth Nichols ; 
 lives in Wakefield ; Louisa was a milliner, and d. unm. ; Rebecca, m. 
 A. N. Sweetser, and d. early ; Mary died young. 
 
 The house then (1812) standing upon this site was built by Mr. 
 Wiley, in or about 1806 ; was partially burned down, but was soon re- 
 built. Mr. Wiley was a very industrious, kind-hearted, and honest 
 man. 
 
 In subsequent years, after Mr. Wiley's death, the house was greatly 
 enlarged, a spacious hall was added, and it was kept by Wiley's sons, 
 and others, as a public house, for several years. Afterwards it was 
 removed to the main house to the corner of Railroad and Avon Streets, 
 and is now owned by Dr. W. H. Willis ; the hall part, a short distance 
 westerly on Albion Street, and has been occupied for billiard and re- 
 freshment saloons, etc. It has -recently become the property of the 
 Methodist society. The hall has been fitted up for a place of worship 
 for said society, and the lower story is used, the front for an uphol- 
 stery store, and the rear for a dwelling. This old site is memorable 
 as having been the place of the first parsonage, and the residence of 
 Rev. Messrs. Haugh, Brock, and Pierpont. An old iron " fire back,"
 
 352 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 used in place of a "back-log," was found by Samuel Wiley in the old 
 tenement that stood on this site, with the letters "J. B." and " S. B.," 
 the initials of the names of Parson Brock and his wife, cast thereon, 
 made at the foundery that was once operated at Woodville (Little 
 World). 
 
 The old tenement, after the decease of Parson Pierpont, became the 
 property of John Vinton, from Stoneham (see Early Settlers), who m. 
 Lydia (dau. of John Nichols, of the Noah Smith place, opposite), and 
 settled on this place. Mr. Vinton kept tavern, and was noted for 
 eccentricities. 
 
 JOSEPH BRYANT lived in the northerly part of an old dwelling that 
 stood on the spot now occupied by the late Dr. S. O. Richardson's 
 bowling saloon he was son of Timothy, grandson of Timothy, and 
 great-grandson of William, Esq. He m. 1803, Mary G. McLeod, of 
 Shirley, and removed from town many years ago. Timothy Bryant, the 
 father of Joseph, had occupied the same tenement and died there, and 
 at his funeral one of the bearers (Benjamin Walton) became intoxi- 
 cated, and while carrying the body to the grave stumbled and fell, and 
 the coffin came to the ground and burst open. 
 
 CORNELIUS SWEETSER lived on the spot now occupied by the build- 
 ing recentlyr known as the " Quannapowitt House." He was son of 
 Michael and Mary Sweetser, born 1749; m., ist, 1771, Sarah Smith, 
 dau. of Thomas, of Lynn, and a descendant of Dea. Francis and Ruth 
 (see Early Settlers) ; m., 2d, 1803, Sarah Hill, of Stoneham. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser was intelligent, but very eccentric and peculiar. 
 He thought it no harm to take from rich Peter to give to poor 
 Paul. He was an enthusiastic religionist, fluent and unrestrained 
 in prayer, and ready to " become all things to all men " ; with the 
 orthodox, so called, he was orthodox ; with the liberal he was liberal. 
 For many years he was a valuable aid to the highway surveyors, for he 
 employed himself often and extensively in clearing the roads of 
 stones. He had a considerable farm connected with the building 
 which he inherited from Capt. Cornelius Wotton, who made him his 
 heir, and for whom he seems to have been named. This Cornelius 
 Wotton had been a sea-captain, and had retired to this farm to spend 
 his declining years, and died here in 1771, aged 61. 
 
 This place was originally the residence of Wm. Cowdrey, one of the 
 earliest inhabitants. Mr. Sweetser, many years before his death, con- 
 veyed the place to his grandson, Stephen Sweetser, the late occupant, 
 in consideration of a maintenance during life. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser died 1845, aged 96. His children were : Sarah, b.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 353 
 
 1773, and m. Joseph Eaton ; Abigail, b. 1775 ; Cornelius, b. 1778, and 
 m. Phebe Eaton; Wm., b. 1780; a dau., b. 1784; Seth, b. 1787 ; 
 George, b. 1792, and m. Mary Edmands. 
 
 CAPT. NOAH SMITH. 
 
 NOAH SMITH lived near the corner of Main and Water Streets, where 
 he continued to live until his death. He was the son of Capt. David 
 and Mary (Smith) Smith, and was born 1775 ; he d. 1859, aged 84. 
 His father, Capt. David, was the son of Cooler Smith, of Amherst, N. 
 H., and died 1809, aged 62. His mother was dau. of Ebenezer and 
 Mary (Green) Smith, and d. 1840, aged 90. 
 
 Noah Smith had been captain (of cavalry), selectman, justice of the 
 peace, and representative. He succeeded his father on this place. 
 He m., ist, 1799, Mary, dau. of Paul and Mary Sweetser. She died 
 1816, aged 42. He m., 2d, 1821, Mrs. Mary (Damon) Willard, of Lan- 
 caster. She d. 1859, aged 74. Chil. : Noah, b. 1800, who lived in 
 Calais, Me.,* in 1868 ; was a deacon, speaker of the Maine House of 
 Representatives, secretary of the United States Senate, etc. etc. ; Mary, 
 b. 1802, m. 1822, Dea. Robert C. Wiley, of Wakefield ; Louisa, b. 1805, 
 m. 1837, Rev. James F. Wilcox, of New York; Laura, b. 1807, m. 1833, 
 Rev. Levi Walker, Jr., of Connecticut ; Charlotte, b. 1810, m. 1831, Har- 
 
 * Recently deceased. 
 45
 
 354 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 HON. NOAH SMITH, JR. 
 
 rison Tweed, Esq., now of Taunton ; Francis, b. 1812, of Brown Uni., 
 1837, became a clergyman and settled in Providence, R. I. ; Albina, 
 b. 1816, m. 1836, James Boyce, Esq., of Providence, R. I. ; Henry 
 Damon, b. 1822, now lives in Wakefield ; m., ist, Mary A. Flint ; m., 
 2d, 1855, Annie S. Sanborn, of Worcester. 
 
 Capt. Noah was a man of great vivacity, intelligence, and public 
 spirit ; was remarkable for the inexhaustable fund of witty anecdote 
 and lively story with which his memory was stored, and having a large 
 development of the organs of language and mirthfulness, he would 
 relate them with great relish to himself and much delight to his hearers. 
 He was noted for his strong attachments, whether of country, state, 
 town, society, or family. He appreciated the value of early education 
 for all, and took especial care that his own children should enjoy all 
 the opportunities for acquiring knowledge within his ability. 
 
 This old seat is famous for having been the property, and probably 
 the residence, of Samuel Haugh, the second minister of Reading (see 
 Early Settlers). It remained in possession of his descendants until it 
 was sold about one hundred years ago by Thomas Nichols, a great- 
 grandson of Rev. Mr. Haugh, to Capt. David Smith. This old house 
 was removed to a spot farther east, to give room for the new Wakefield 
 Hall, in 1869. 
 
 ABRAHAM SWEETSER lived in a house built by himself, still known as 
 the " Abraham Sweetser house," and now owned by heirs of Cyrus 
 Wakefield. He was born in 1781 ; was son of Paul and Mary (Hart) 
 Sweetser ; m. 1806, Lydia, dau. of Jeremiah and Martha (Smith) Brown ?
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 355 
 
 who d. 1865, aged 83. He had several intelligent and worthy chil- 
 dren, who, with their mother, all died before the father. Several 
 grandchildren survive. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser was a bright, high-spirited man, active and enterpris- 
 ing in his early life ; an extensive shoe manufacturer, but failing in 
 business, and losing his wife soon after, he became discouraged, relin- 
 quished business, and thereafter lived a quiet, unobtrusive life. 
 
 PAUL SWEETSER, Sen., lived on the spot where now stands the pala- 
 tial residence of the late Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., in a house that has' 
 been recently removed to Water Street, and is now used as a tenement 
 house. He was son of Michael and Mary (Smith) Sweetser; born 
 1743; m., ist, Mary, dau. of John Hart, Esq., of Ipswich; m., 2d, 
 1791, Elizabeth, dau. of Ebenezer and Hepzibeth Smith, and wid. of 
 Israel Walton ; he d. 1824, aged 80. Children by first wife : Lemuel, 
 Paul, Abraham, Mary, and one or more, who d. young ; and by second 
 wife : Clarissa, who m. Josiah Green, of Salisbury, N. H. ; Eunice, b. 
 April 16, 1796, who m. Timothy Bailey, of Maiden ; Cyrus, b. Feb. 18, 
 
 1803, who settled in Portland, Me. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser was a man of intelligence and respectability ; was 
 school committeeman and selectman. For the day in which he lived, 
 he was a considerable orchardist ; he raised abundantly the best apples 
 that were raised in the town. He owned a part of " Walk Hill," so 
 called, a ridge of land then extending from-the river, by the late Leonard 
 Wiley's, southerly on Main Street, and easterly on b Nahant Street, and 
 all along its base, where, owned by Mr. Sweetser, was a continuous 
 row of apple-trees, which bore choice fruit, among which was a plenti- 
 ful supply of the old "Ben " apple, one of the best varieties ; and on 
 his early fruits we well remember that the children used to regale them- 
 selves when they went to gather whortleberries, which formerly grew 
 where are now the residences and gardens of Samuel Gardner, William 
 Batcheller, Albert G. Sweetser, and others. 
 
 ADAM HAWKES, Jr., lived in a small house that stood on the spot 
 where now stands the mansion of the present Adam Hawkes, who was 
 a son of said Adam Hawkes, Jr. Adam Hawkes, Jr., was son of Adam 
 Hawkes, of Saugus ; m. 1802, Martha, dau. of Jeremiah and Martha 
 Green ; was an honest, sensible, and quiet citizen. Chil. : Martha, b. 
 
 1804, and m. Andrew Stone, and is now dead ; Adam, b. 1806, and m., 
 ist, 1828, Mary Alden, and 2d, Susan Dean; Davis W., b. 1808, and 
 m. 1833, Lucretia Tweed, now dead; Hannah, m., tst, Win. J. Patch; 
 2d, Wyman ; 3d, Andrew Stone, her sister's widower ; John. 
 
 This small house was at this timj owned by Pomp Putamia, a colored
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 man, son of " Titus," of Stoneham, and was formerly a slave to Noah 
 Eaton, became free at the age of twenty-three years, accumulated con- 
 siderable property, which he bequeathed to charitable objects, and died 
 1817, aged 59. Pomp was intelligent, modest, and unassuming, and 
 highly respectable. His predecessor on the place was Reuben Eaton, 
 son of Noah, who m. a sister of Dr. Hart, and who d. 1810, aged 64. 
 
 A family of Felches formerly occupied this place. Samuel Felch was 
 living here in 1760. Hannah Felch, wid. of Henry, one of the first set- 
 tlers, died on this place in 1717, aged 100 years, nearly, who had lived 
 in the town more than seventy years. Mrs. Mary Sweetser, wid. of 
 Michael Sweetser, dau. of Isaac Smith, and who was born 1710, and 
 consequently was seven years old at Mother Felch's decease, living at 
 the next door south (where A. N. Sweetser now lives), could well re- 
 member old Mother Felch. Mrs. Sweetser lived to be ninety-six years 
 old, dying in 1806 ; and there are those now living who can well 
 remember Mrs. Sweetser ; so that the memory of three single persons 
 stretches from the incorporation of the town to the present time more 
 than two hundred and twenty years. 
 
 CALEB FOSTER lived on the place now belonging to his heirs, near 
 the Salem Branch Railroad crossing, in a house built by himself. He 
 was a descendant of Samuel Foster, an early settler (see Early Set- 
 tlers) ; m. 1807, Nancy, daii. of Benj. and Elizabeth Emerson ; was a 
 carpenter ; an industrious, prompt, decided, straightforward man ; he 
 d. 1850, aged 62; his wife d. the same year, aged 61. Children: 
 Nancy, b. 1809 ; m. Joshua Eaton ; Elizabeth, b. 1811; Rebecca, b. 
 1813, and d. 1817 ; Caleb Emery, m. Caroline Swain ; Rebecca. 
 
 PAUL SWEETSER, Jr., lived on the place now owned and occupied by 
 his son, Asa Newhall Sweetser ; he was son of Paul Sweetser, Sen., b. 
 1780; m. 1806, Sarah Newhall, of Lynnfield, sister of the late Hon. 
 Asa T. Newhall ; he d. 1853, aged 72. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser was a man of high reputation for sincerity, integrity, and 
 good sense ; had many of the peculiar traits of his family, such as a 
 careful and exact observation of passing events, and a warm apprecia- 
 tion of his own belongings, but withal very modest, retiring, and unas- 
 suming. His wife was a very intelligent and worthy woman, but of 
 manners more bold and fearless than her husband. 
 
 This place was the homestead of his grandfather, Michael Sweetser, 
 who came from Charlestown or Maiden, was son of Samuel, of Maiden, 
 and was the first settler in town by the name of Sweetser. Michael 
 m. Mary, dau. of Isaac Smith, from whom, through his wife, he became 
 possessed of this place. He had thirteen children, eleven of whom
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 357 
 
 lived to have families of their own ; their names are preserved in an- 
 cient verse : 
 
 " Sammy and Billy, Mike and Moll, 
 Sally and Lydia, Patt and Paul, 
 'Nelius and Abbie, and our little Betty." 
 
 Children of Paul, Jr., were : Paul Hart,* b. 1807, and m. Louisa Fos- 
 ter, of Danvers ; has been school-teacher, county commissioner, school 
 committee, justice of the peace, etc.; d. in June, 1871; Asa Newhall, 
 b. 1809; m., ist, 1832, Rebecca V. Wiley, and m., 2d, 1837, Eunice 
 Smith ; Albert G., b. March 3, 1815, and m. 1838, Elizabeth Waitt ; is a 
 deacon ; Emory F., b. July 28, 1822, and m. 1867, Josephine Resterrick. 
 
 JOSHUA TWEED lived in a large ancient-looking mansion called " Dr. 
 Hart's old house," that stood near the present site of the Junction 
 Railroad station; m. 1801, Elizabeth Pratt. 
 
 Mr. Tweed was highly intelligent, fond of reading, humorous, kind- 
 hearted, and honest ; was school committeeman ; d. 1846. Chil. : 
 Joshua S., b. 1802; became insane, and died 1859; Rebecca A., b. 
 1804; d. young; Harrison, b. 1806, resides in Taunton ; has been a 
 member of both branches of the Massachusetts Legislature ; first wife 
 was Charlotte, dau. of Noah Smith, Esq. ; Fred G., b. 1808, d. 
 young; Benjamin Franklin, b. 1811 ; was recently a professor in 
 
 B. F. TWEED. 
 
 Washington University, St. Louis ; has been professor in Tufts College, 
 and is now the superintendent of public schools in Charlestown; 
 
 * See sketch of his life in Chapter XV.
 
 358 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 m., ist, Clara, dau. of Aaron and Hannah (Brown) Foster, of 
 Danvers ; she d. 1860, greatly lamented ; he m., 2d, Mary Jane Her- 
 rick, a niece of his first wife ; she d. in 1866. His only dau. m. J. W. 
 Hammond, Esq., of Cambridge. Charles Austin is U. S. Judge in 
 Arizona. 
 
 Three intelligent and amiable daughters of Mr. Tweed, Elizabeth C., 
 Olive P., and Caroline M., died in early womanhood ; Elizabeth was 
 the wife of Orrin Jones, and left a dau., who is the wife of Joseph M. 
 McKay. Elizabeth and Olive were successful school-teachers. 
 
 BENJAMIN B. WILEY. 
 
 BENJAMIN BROWN WILEY then lived in this same old house ; he now 
 lives at the corner of Main and Crescent Streets ; was son of James 
 and Mary (Bryant) Wiley, and grandson of Ebenezer (see Early 
 Settlers); was born 1786; m., ist, 1809, Keturah, dau. of Jeremiah 
 and Martha Green ; she died 1846 ; m., 2d, 1848, Sarah S. Morris. 
 He has been school committee, selectman, and justice of the peace. 
 Chil. : Olive, b. 1809, and m. 1838, Rev. Samuel Randall, and is now 
 a wid. ; Emory, b. 1811, and m. 1839, Abby S. Williams, and d. 1862 ; 
 Benjamin, b. 1813, and m. 1843, Hannah P. Tufts, and lives in Mai- 
 den ; Ebenezer, b. 1817, and m. 1842, Jane Barnard, and lives in 
 Wakefield ; Frederic Slocpmb, b. 1819 ; m. Tuma Pierpont, became an 
 Episcopal clergyman, settled in New York city, and died in 1864, while 
 travelling in Europe for his health; Martha Green, b. 1822, and m.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 359 
 
 1850, Orlando B. Potter, Esq., counsellor at law, then of South Read 
 ing, now of New York city. 
 
 RtY. F. S. WILEY. 
 
 This old house, the erection of which was probably coeval with the 
 first generation of settlers, was the original homestead of the Reading 
 branch of the numerous Smith family. It occupied the spot where 
 Francis Smith, who first settled in Watertown, but came to Reading 
 before 1648, with his sons John and Benjamin, first established himself 
 in Reading. He purchased of the Indians, it is said, for a jackknife 
 and some other articles of cutlery, a considerable tract of land, extend- 
 ing from the northerly side of the pond, from him named " Smith's 
 Pond," southeasterly to where the late Dea. Ezekiel Oliver lived, and 
 easterly so as to include nearly all that portion of " Little World," so 
 called, now called " Woodville," which lies southerly of Saugus River. 
 This old Francis Smith was an innholder, and in 1648 had leave of 
 the Court to "draw wine for travellers." He died in 1650. 
 
 His son John succeeded to the place ; was called Lieut. John ; his 
 wife was Catharine, dau. of Isaac Morrill, of Roxbury. Lieut. John 
 was succeeded by his son Francis, who was born 1658 ; m. Ruth 
 Maverick, of Charlestown ; was deacon, selectman, town clerk, etc., 
 and d. 1744, aged 85. 
 
 On this place first grew the South Reading fruit, called the " Ben " 
 apple, so named from Benja. Smith, a son of the first settler, and also 
 the " Jehoaden apple," so called from said Benjamin's wife, who was
 
 360 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Jehoaden Palfrey, a dau. of Peter Palfrey, who removed from Salem to 
 Reading. 
 
 Dea. Francis Smith above named, had six sons and three daughters. 
 These sons all settled on the " Smith Tract " of land, as follows : 
 Elias, on the late Dr. Hart place, from which the house has recently 
 been removed to Crescent Street ; John, where the almshouse now is ; 
 James, where Wid. Dea. Oliver now lives ; Abraham, on the late Low- 
 ell Emerson place ; Isaac, where Asa N. Sweetser now lives, including 
 the farm of the late Paul Sweetser, Sen. He appears to have pur- 
 chased of his brother Elias, the Dr. Hart place, and was living there 
 in 1765 ; Benjamin, the youngest son, succeeded to the old homestead 
 of his father. The posterity of these brothers is very numerous, and 
 scattered the country over. Ebenezer, son of Benjamin, last named, 
 succeeded his father on the old homestead ; he was born 1730. (See 
 Early Settlers.) 
 
 JOHN HART. On Main Street, nearly opposite the old house just 
 described, where a tall, ancestral elm still lingers, weeping and over- 
 shadowing the deserted spot, and near which a new house is now 
 erected, there stood a venerable mansion, then the residence of Dr. 
 John Hart. On either side of it were capacious barns, convenient out- 
 houses, and all the fixtures and appendages of a thrifty farm. Now all 
 are gone ! The house a few years since was purchased by John Day, 
 and removed to Crescent Street, where it now stands ; one of the barns 
 was burned and the other taken down. Dr. Hart was a native of 
 Ipswich, born 1751, son of John Hart, Esq., a lawyer of Ipswich. He 
 married Mary, dau. of Capt. Abraham and Mary (Flowers) Gould, of 
 Stoneham. She was a granddau. of Abraham Gould, who was son of 
 John, and grandson of John, an original settler. The Gould home- 
 stead was on what has recently been known as the Jenkins* farm, now 
 lying partly in Stoneham and partly in Wakefield, but formerly being 
 entirely in Stoneham. 
 
 Dr. Hart died in 1836, aged 85. His wid. Mary died in 1838, 
 aged 86. 
 
 Dr. Hart was a physician by profession ; settled first in Maine, but 
 on the breaking out of the war of the Revolution, he joined the army 
 as a surgeon and served during the war. He afterwards, at the close 
 of the war, settled in Reading, now Wakefield, became the proprietor 
 and occupant of the venerable mansion aforesaid, and the extensive 
 farm connected therewith, where he spent the residue of his life. He 
 was school committee and selectman of Reading ; representative and 
 senator ; justice of the peace and the quorum, justice of the Court of 
 Sessions, vice-president of the Cincinnati Society, etc. etc.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 361 
 
 As a physician he was highly esteemed as a skilful and faithful prac- 
 titioner, and long enjoyed a very extensive practice in this and the 
 adjoining and surrounding towns. His charges were moderate, and 
 his lenity to the poor in most cases marked and praiseworthy. His 
 personal appearance, as we remember him, was striking and impos- 
 ing : of middle stature, but of stout and portly frame and stately 
 mien ; of fair complexion, Roman nose, high forehead, and large cra- 
 nium, with hair abundant and white, and worn in a formidable cue, 
 agreeably to the fashion of his younger days, he presented a venerable 
 and majestic appearance. His coat (and he never wore but one at a 
 time, for he eschewed all overcoats) was always of the same cut, with 
 broad, deep, and ample skirts, and such capacious pockets as to serve 
 in place of saddle-bags and haversacks for the portage of his whole 
 materia medica ; he wore breeches with huge knee-buckles, picked or 
 pointed toe boots, and broad-brimmed hat, and presented altogether a 
 personal " tout ensemble," once seen, not easily forgotten. Despising 
 a sulky, he always rode on horseback, and was an accomplished rider. 
 He was of an easy and dignified address ; of great energy and firm- 
 ness ; prompt, courageous, and decisive in word and action, punctual 
 and honest in all his dealings, and was able, with only a somewhat 
 limited common-school education, to exercise a controlling influence 
 among his fellow-citizens. As a citizen he was public-spirited and 
 patriotic ; and, for the times in which he lived, was liberal. Always 
 ready to loan money to his fellow-citizens, in small or large sums, 
 never exacting exorbitant interest, and never calling for the principal 
 while the interest was promptly paid, he long stood in place of a bank 
 for his fellow-citizens. He had the honor of breaking up the old cus- 
 tom of "treating" at the election of representative, by paying into the 
 town treasury the money that such treating would cost. As a politi- 
 cian he was of the Jeffersonian school, and ever earnest and devoted. 
 His most peculiar and prominent trait of character was firmness, this 
 always appearing in high relief in all his acts and intercourse ; indeed, 
 it is told of him, that he used to say, that " a lie, well adhered to, was 
 better than the truth, wavering" He was a liberal contributor to, and 
 a punctual attendant upon, public worship ; but his " particular relig- 
 ious opinions and experience," as he once said to a clerical inquirer, 
 " were best known to himself." He acquired a large estate. His 
 children were : Mary, b. 1779, and m. Henry, son of Rev. Caleb Fren^- 
 tiss, and settled in Paris, Me. ; she was a very intelligent and worthy 
 woman; Abraham, b. 1782; named for his grandfather, Abraham 
 Gould ; was a farmer ; became the heir and successor of his namesake, 
 46
 
 362 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and d. unmarried ; John (Jr.), b. 1785 ; became a physician; settled 
 in the West Parish (now Reading), and died of consumption at the age 
 of 24; Sarah, b. 1788; m. 1817, Dr. Thaddeus Spaulding, who came 
 from Townsend and settled as a physician in South Reading, in 1815. 
 Her children were : Sarah H., who m. Dr. Nathan Allen, of Lowell, 
 was an amiable and intellectual lady, now deceased, and Olive C., who 
 m. Dr. Josiah Norcross, and is now a widow. Mrs. Spaulding was an 
 affectionate and virtuous woman ; she d. in 1829, aged 40. 
 
 Dr. Spaulding was a man of note in his day, and requires a pass- 
 ing notice. In personal appearance he was stout, corpulent, and im- 
 posing ; in manner, affable and complaisant ; was intelligent and well- 
 informed, but not highly educated ; was a warm friend of education 
 and good morals ; venerated the ordinances of the sanctuary \ was a 
 respectable and faithful physician, a public-spirited citizen, and an 
 honest man. 
 
 He had some traits of character that were largely developed. He 
 was eminently prompt and punctual in all his business matters, 
 especially in the collection of his dues. He pursued, with unusual 
 eagerness and devotion, whatever schemes and projects he took an 
 interest in. He had a very strong fondness for influence, power, place, 
 and the acquisition of wealth ; yet he was generous and kind-hearted. 
 He possessed also an ample share of vanity and approbativeness ; he 
 was not haughty or disdainful, however ; but he thought well of him- 
 self, and desired that others should have the same opinion and should 
 honor him accordingly ; and he was thus honored to a considerable 
 extent. He was frequently a member of the school committee, was 
 justice of the peace, a State councillor, and died while holding the 
 latter office. His death occurred in 1844. 
 
 Lucinda (dau. of Dr. Hart), b. 1790; became the second wife of 
 Dr. Spaulding, and still lives in Wakefield ; Samuel, the youngest 
 son, b. 1796, graduated at Har. Coll. in 1817 ; m. 1823, Charlotte 
 Newell ; became a physician ; settled first in Western New York ; now 
 lives in Brooklyn, N. Y., and is highly esteemed in his life and profes- 
 sion. (Other children died young.) 
 
 This old house and farm, so long occupied by Dr. Hart, were orig- 
 inally the homestead, as has been already stated, of Elias Smith 
 and Isaac Smith, sons of Dea. Francis and Ruth. Isaac Smith, 
 b. 1682, and lived to his ninety-eighth year, and had a large family of 
 children, who settled in Amherst, N. H., and elsewhere. His sister 
 Mary, m. 1722, Abraham Knowlton, of Ipswich, and was the grand- 
 mother of Dr. Hart.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 363 
 
 DR. SAMUEL HART. 
 
 These two old mansions, so long the property of Dr. Hart, and the 
 early homes of the Smith family, were once the most spacious and im- 
 posing buildings in the town ; stood highest on the assessors' books ; 
 were distinguished as the residence of the gentility and aristocracy of 
 the village, the nursing-places of beauty and literature, and the homes 
 of wealth, wisdom, refinement, and politeness ; were long landmarks 
 in geography and topography, as the old county maps will testify, and 
 were esteemed almost as fixed as the old Cedar Mountain, at whose 
 base they stood. But they have wholly disappeared. 
 
 JONATHAN EVANS owned the house now occupied by Isaac Green ; 
 he was son of Samuel and Ruth Evans, b. 1784, and d. 1822, aged 38, 
 unm. He also built the small house standing on the opposite side of 
 the street ; was lame, having no use of one leg ; was industrious and 
 honest. 
 
 SAMUEL EVANS lived in a house that stood near the railroad bridge 
 in Greenwood, the cellar wall of which is still visible. He was son of 
 Jonathan and Eunice (Green) Evans ; b. 1756 (see Early Settlers) ; m., 
 ist, 1778, Ruth Eames, of Woburn ; m., 2d, 1802, Timna Breed. Chil. , 
 Ruth, b. 1779, and died unm. Samuel, b. 1781, traded at the South,
 
 364 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 and died at Savannah, Geo., in 1821 ; was a bachelor, and a man of 
 much intelligence, and great energy and resolution ; Jonathan, b. 1784, 
 already spoken of ; Rachel, who m. 1811, Zela Bartlett, lived where 
 Henry Knowles now lives, and died without issue ; Eunice, who m. 
 Capt. Holt, of Andover (2d wife), had several children, and is now 
 dead; Timothy removed to Lynchburg, Va. ; Abigail, b. 1793; m. 
 Peter Temple, and d. 1866, without issue ; Jacob, b. 1797, traded at the 
 South ; was connected in business with Jacob Rayner, already spoken 
 of ; was a bachelor, and mysteriously disappeared many years ago ; 
 Tirana, m. Thaddeus P. Allen, and lives in Andover ; Mary died 
 young. 
 
 Mr. Evans was a farmer, and a citizen of respectability ; possessed 
 great native energy; he died 1816, aged 60. He succeeded his father 
 on this place ; the original seat of the Evans settlers was a short dis- 
 tance easterly of where Charles W. Green now lives, in the woods, where 
 the old cellar foundations may still be found. 
 
 NATHAN BRYANT lived where Joseph Eaton now lives, in a house 
 much smaller than the present one. He was son of Jeremiah and Re- 
 becca (Boutwell) Bryant ; b. 1772 ; m. 1795, Betsey, dau. of Jabez and 
 Lydia Carter ; was a boot-maker and cobbler ; had a large family of 
 children, who settled in Danvers and elsewhere. 
 
 JOHN WAITT lived where Hon. P. H. Sweetser lately resided. He 
 was a native of Maiden ; son of Micah and Hannah (Vinton) Waitt ; b. 
 1777; m. 1804, Elizabeth, dau. of Aaron and Sarah Green; was a 
 farmer, captain, school committee, and a worthy citizen. He died 
 1851, aged 7-4. Chil. : Aaron G., who m. 1841, Lucy E. Brown, and 
 d. 1843, aged 39 ; John, who m. 1841, Elizabeth Lufkin, and d. 1866 ; 
 Sarah G., who m. 1842, Stephen Lufkin ; Elizabeth, who m. 1838, 
 Albert G. Sweetser. 
 
 The immediate predecessor of Capt. Waitt on this place was Wid. 
 Elizabeth Spear, who married Joseph Cordis, Esq., and removed to the 
 side of the pond ; and, before Mrs. Spear, the place was occupied by 
 David Pratt, son of Amos Pratt, of Saugus, who manufactured shoes, 
 and kept a grocery on the premises. Mr. Pratt subsequently settled 
 in the West Parish, and was father of Daniel and Thomas Pratt, Esqs., 
 of Reading. In 1765, Richard Upham lived here. Upham sold the 
 place to Dea. Thomas Boardman, of Boston, whose dau. married 
 Benjamin Walton, of Reading. It is said that the place was early a 
 part of the farm of David Green. 
 
 AARON GREEN lived where Charles Warren Green, his grandson, 
 now lives. He was the son of William and Susanna Green, and b.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 365 
 
 1754 (see Early Settlers). He m., ist, 1775, Sarah Hay, of Stone- 
 ham ; he m., 2d, 1818, Sarah Green, of Stoneham. He succeeded 
 to his father's homestead, which included two houses, the one now 
 occupied by C. W. Green and the one lately occupied by James 
 Lord. Chil. : Sarah, who m. Capt. Lowell Fowler ; Susanna, who m. 
 Benj. Emerson ; Elizabeth, who m. Capt. John Waitt ; Mary, who m. 
 Charles Green, and whose son, Charles W., m. a granddau. of Capt. 
 Fowler, aforesaid ; and Rebecca, who m. Charles Waitt, of Maiden. 
 
 Mr. Green was a very unassuming and respectable man. He died 
 1830, aged 76. 
 
 BENJAMIN EMERSON, Jr., lived in the house lately occupied by 
 James Lord; was son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Emerson, and 
 born 1778; m., ist, 1804, Susanna, dau. of Aaron Green, she d. 1817, 
 a g e d 35 ; m., 2d, 1819, Hannah Bancroft, of Reading. He became 
 the owner of the Col. Boardman place, where he died without issue. 
 He was a man of intelligence and good reputation ; had been select- 
 man and representative. 
 
 CHARLES GREEN lived in a house that stood, and still stands, on the 
 westerly side of Main Street, nearly opposite that now occupied by 
 C. W. Green. He was son of Dea. Daniel Green, aforesaid, and 
 b. 1785 ; m. Mary, dau. of Aaron Green; died 1868. Child, Charles 
 Warren, b. 1815 ; m. 1862. This place was one of the old Green 
 homesteads, having been the residence of said Charles's father and 
 grandfather. Mr. Charles Green was farmer and shoe manufacturer. 
 
 GREENWOOD STREET. 
 
 REUBEN GREEN lived on the place lately owned by Hon. Judge 
 Nash. He was son of Dea. Daniel and Ruth (Oakes) Green ; b. 
 1767; m. 1788, Huldah Newhall, of Lynnfield ; was a respectable 
 farmer, and died 1837, aged 70. His wid., Huldah, d. 1842, aged 75. 
 Chil.: Abner, b. 1790, and m. Hannah Clark; Lot, b. 1792, and 
 d. soon; Huldah, b. 1795, and m. Elias Boardman; Sally, b. 1798, 
 and m. Reuben Gerry, of Stoneham ; Harriet, b. 1800, and became the 
 second wife of John Brown, 2d, and is now dead ; Sophia, b. 1802, and 
 m. Amos Howard, of Melrose ; Reuben, b. 1805, and m., ist, Lydia 
 Winn, and settled in Maiden ; Lot, b. 1809, and d. unm.; Elbridge, b. 
 1810, and m. Fanny Brown, and settled in Melrose. This farm for- 
 merly belonged to the homestead of Col. David Green, and to his 
 father before him. The sons of Col. Green, John and Isaac, sold it 
 to the father of Reuben Green, aforesaid. 
 
 NATHAN GREEN lived in a house now taken down, that stood near
 
 366 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 the house now occupied by Alvin Drake ; he was brother of Reuben, 
 aforesaid ; b. 1765 ; m. Betsey Orr, of Charlestown ; was a farmer, and 
 d. 1835, a g e d 7- Chil. : Betsey, who died unm. ; Nathan, who m. 
 1815, Susan Rowe, of Stoneham ; Jane, who m. Mr. Adams, of 
 Worcester; Rebecca, who m. 1818, William Rowe, of Stoneham, 
 brother of Susan, above ; he d. 1826, from drinking poison through 
 mistake ; Belinda, who m. Alvin Drake, and lives in Wakefield. This 
 place was also a part of the Col. David Green homestead that was 
 sold to the father of said Nathan. 
 
 OAK STREET. 
 
 BENJAMIN WALTON. He was son -of Capt. John and Mary (Wil- 
 liams) Walton (see Early Settlers); m. 1780, Sarah, dau. of Dea. 
 Thomas Boardman, of Boston. Had one son, William, who was b. 
 1781, and d. 1823, unmarried. He, Benjamin, d. 1824, aged 73. He 
 made Jotham Walton, son of Oliver, his heir, who succeeded him on 
 the farm, but afterwards sold out ; is now sexton of Wakefield. This 
 farm was formerly the residence of Capt. John Walton, the father of 
 said Benjamin, probably the same Capt. John Walton who, in 1765, 
 lived on the Stowell place. 
 
 WILLIAM WILLIAMS, from Maiden, lived where the late Dea. Ezekiel 
 Oliver lived ; m., ist, Susanna Emerson ; she died 1803, aged 39 ; m., 
 2d, 1805, 'Hannah Waitt, of Maiden, who died 1813, aged 47. He died 
 1831, aged 56. Chil. : (by ist wife) William, b. Jan. i, 1796, d. 1837, 
 aged 42 ; Susanna, b. Feb. 3, 1798 ; Thomas, b. Jan. 6, 1801, d. 1844, 
 aged 43 ; (by 2d wife) Hannah, b. Dec. 10, 1805, d. 1815 ; Micah, b. Aug. 
 25, 1807 ; Martha, b. Mar. 17, 1809 ; Phebe, b. Nov. 23, 1811 ; Chester, 
 son of Wm. and Maria (Pardee) Williams, b. 1829, and died 1836, 
 aged 7. Maria died at the age of 54. 
 
 NAHANT STREET. 
 
 JOSEPH EATON lived on the Whitehead place ; son of James and 
 Lois (Damon) Eaton (see Early Settlers) ; m. 1794, Sarah, dau. of 
 Cornelius Sweetser. Chil. : Joseph, b. 1795, and m. 1816, Sally Eaton ; 
 Sally and Lois, twins, b. 1801 ; Sally d. soon ; Lois m., ist, Levi 
 Brown, and 2d, Luther Reed ; James, b. 1797, m., ist, Esther Stimpson, 
 and 2d, wid. Sarah (Sweetser) Raddin ; was a soldier in the war of the 
 Rebellion ; Sally, b. 1804, and m. 1824, Jotham Walton ; John, b. 1813, 
 and m. 1837, Mary W. Hartshorn ; was a lieutenant in the war of the 
 Rebellion, and is now dead. Mr. Joseph Eaton was a man of quiet 
 respectability, and was probably the first resident on this spot.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 367 
 
 GEORGE SWEETSER lived on the place still occupied by his widow ; 
 was son of Cornelius and Sarah Sweetser; b. 1792, and d. 1866, aged 
 74. He m. 1812, Mary Edmands, of Maiden. Chil. : Sarah, who m., 
 ist, John Raddin, and 2d, James Eaton ; Mary, who m. Elisha Oliver ; 
 Geo. W., who d. a young man ; a daughter, who m. Mr. Southwick, of 
 Danvers. Mr. Sweetser built the house in which he lived, and was an 
 industrious, honest, and sensible man. 
 
 THOMAS EMERSON (Capt. Thos., Sen.) lived on what is now the 
 town farm, in an ancient mansion, since taken down, that stood a few 
 rods southeasterly of the present almshouse. He was son of Tho. and 
 Elizabeth (Bruce) Emerson, b. 1757 ; m. 1782, Ruth, dau. of James 
 Bancroft, Esq., and d. 1837, aged 79. 
 
 He was a militia captain, a soldier in the Revolution, and a man of 
 great resolution, bravery, and patriotism. t He was a prisoner in Dart- 
 moor Prison. 
 
 He removed to Lynnfield some years before his death. His widow, 
 who survived him several years, and who d. 1852, aged 91, was a pat- 
 tern woman, possessing and manifesting an unusual degree of intelli- 
 gence, cheerfulness, amiability, and wisdom, to the end of a long and 
 useful life. She was greatly beloved by all. Chil. : Ruth, b. 1783, 
 and m. 1806, Joseph Burnham ; Thomas, b. 1785 (see former account) ; 
 Clarissa, b. 1787, and m. 1805, Benj. Cox, and now lives in Lynnfield ; 
 Charlotte, b. 1790, and m. 1814, Col. Matthew Cox, of Lynnfield ; Han- 
 nah, b. 1792, and m. 1819, Col. Tho. Parker; James Bancroft, b. 1794, 
 and d. 1795 ; James Bancroft, b. 1797, and m. 1821, Lydia P. Parker, 
 and d. in Natchez, Miss., in 1822, of yellow fever, his wife dying at 
 about the same time and place of the same disease ; Hubbard, b. 1799, 
 and m. 1825, Harriet, dau. of Col. John Orne, of Lynnfield, and grand- 
 dau.of Rev. Caleb Prentiss ; Sarah, b. 1801, and m. 1822, Warren 
 Aborn, of Lynnfield ; Elizabeth, b. 1806, and m. 1827, Jacob Tufts, Esq. 
 
 This old farm was the early homestead of John Smith (son of Dea. 
 Francis and Ruth), and of his son, Dea. John Smith, who was living 
 here, certainly, in 1765, and probably before and after, and who d. here 
 in 1782. 
 
 BENJAMIN EMERSON lived in an ancient mansion, since taken down, 
 that then stood opposite the late Lowell Emerson house. He was son 
 of Peter and Rebecca (Poqle) Emerson, and grandson of Dea. Brown 
 Emerson; b. 1755 ; m. 1777, Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas and Elizabeth 
 (Bruce) Emerson, and d. 1818; Benjamin, b. 1778 (see former ac- 
 count); Elizabeth, b. 1780; m. 1804, Capt. Archibald Smith; Peter, 
 b. 1782, and m. 1819, Hannah Dix; Rebecca Poole, b. 1784, and m.
 
 368 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Dea. Aaron Bryant; Nancy, b. 1786, and m. Caleb Foster; Susanna, 
 b. 1789, and m. Capt. Jesse Carter; Lowell, b. 1792, and m. 1828, Su- 
 sanna S. Oliver; Lucy, b. 1795, an< ^ d. unm. 
 
 This farm belonged, originally, to the Smith family, and was occupied 
 by Abraham Smith, son of Francis and Ruth, as early as 1720. About 
 1765, it was occupied by Amos Boardman, who came here from Chel- 
 sea (now Saugus) ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of Benj. Smith, and purchased 
 this place. 
 
 JOHN SMITH lived in the house that was lately owned by Joanna 
 Oliver. He was grandson of Thomas Smith, of Lynn, and great-grand- 
 son of Dea. John Smith, who lived on the almshouse farm. He m. 
 1792, Lois, dau. of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bruce) Emerson. Chil. : 
 John, b. 1792; William, b. 1796; Lois, b. 1799, and m. 1825, Dea. 
 Zenas Eaton; Samuel, b. 1801 ; Aaron, b. 1809, and perhaps other 
 children. 
 
 WATER STREET. 
 
 NATHANIEL WILEY, LEONARD WILEY, father and son, lived on the 
 place now occupied by heirs of Leonard Wiley. 
 
 Nathaniel Wiley was son of Nathaniel and Mary (Eaton) Wiley ; b. 
 1759 ; m. 1782, Sally, dau. of Jona. and Sarah (Eaton) Poole, and d. 
 1811, aged 62. Children : Sally, b. 1783 ; lived to middle age, and d. 
 unm. ; Betsey, b. 1787, and m. John Upton, Esq., of Lynnfield ; Leon- 
 ard, b. 1791 (see below) ; Lot, b. 1794, and d. 1813, of typhoid fever; 
 Nathaniel, b. 1797, and m. 1820, Lydia Trull, of Burlington ; is father 
 of John Wiley, Esq., of Andover ; Laura, b. 1799, and d. 1813 ; Poole, 
 b. 1802, now dead ; Aaron, b. 1805 ; went to sea, and has not been 
 heard from for many years. 
 
 Leonard Wiley, above named, m. 1813, Sally, dau. of Edmund* and 
 Judith (Bancroft) Eaton. He d. in 1872. Chil. : Sally, who resides 
 in Wakefield, unm. ; Mary Ann, who m. Paschal Carter, and settled at 
 the West ; Francis, who^m. Betsey Hartshorn, and lives in Wakefield ; 
 Edmund Eaton, who m. Ann Hawkes, and d. 1860 ; Laura, who m. 
 Francis Williams, and lives in Wakefield ; Joseph Leonard, who m. 
 Maria L. Pope, and lives in Wakefield. 
 
 Mr. Nathaniel Wiley succeeded his father-in-law, Jonathan Poole, on 
 this place, the said Jonathan having succeeded his uncle, Benj. Poole, 
 Esq. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 JEREMIAH GREEN lived in the old dwelling-house, that, removed 
 from its former site, still stands not very distant from Cyrus Wake- 
 field's extensive rattan factory, and is now used as a boarding-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 369 
 
 house. He was b. 1762 ; was son of Capt. Thomas and Lydia (Swain) 
 Green; m. 1782, Martha, dau. of Capt. Josiah Green, of Stoneham, a 
 man whose first wife bore him eight children, and who then, at the age 
 of sixty-four, married Sarah Skinner, a girl forty-two years younger 
 than himself, to whom at marriage he said he expected she would bear 
 him as many children as his first wife did. She fully answered his 
 expectations in this particular, and after his death married again, and 
 had three or four children more. It is said also of this Josiah Green, 
 that at the birth of one of his children, he had also born on the same 
 day, a grandchild and great-grandchild ; and that Dr. Hart and the 
 same woman attended in all three of the cases ! 
 
 Mr. Jeremiah Green was a man of good common-sense, although 
 illiterate ; was a carpenter and millwright, and a natural mechanic ; a 
 drum-major ; an industrious, energetic, and honest man. He had, how- 
 ever, some peculiarities ; his organs of reverence were not largely de- 
 veloped ; age, antiquity, official dignities, and sacerdotal ermine, had no 
 charms or terrors for him. In his religion he was sincere and enthusi- 
 astic, but opposed to all formality and ceremony, fc and was of opinion 
 that reading sermons was not preaching ; he seemed to esteem zeal in 
 a public speaker of more importance than knowledge ; he was not in 
 favor of spending money very freely for school-books ; and was once 
 heard to say " that he could make a wooden dictionary for his children 
 that would answer all the purposes of Walker or Johnson." " He had 
 borrowed one," he said, " and began to read it in course, and found no 
 sense in it" 
 
 Mr. Green succeeded on this place, his father, Capt. Thomas Green, 
 the old miller, who is remembered for his curt replies and occasional 
 ill-humored manners to the grist-bearers. 
 
 This place, with its corn-mill, was owned and occupied by John 
 Poole, one of the earliest and richest of the original settlers. It long 
 remained in the Poole family. 
 
 In 1765, Capt. (Samuel ?) Bancroft was living here ; in 1770, Lilley 
 Eaton occupied it. Capt Thomas Green purchased it soon after. 
 Mr. Jeremiah Green had two grist-mills, one saw-mill, a blacksmith's 
 shop with dwelling-house attached, a carpenter's shop, and he built 
 about this time the dwelling-house afterwards owned by his son Jere- 
 miah, that stands near the house formerly occupied by Thomas Green, 
 and now owned by Cyrus Wakefield's heirs. Chil. : Patty, b. 1783 ; m. 
 1802, Adam Hawkes ; Nelly, b. 1785 ; m. 1807, John Woodward ; Phebe, 
 b. 1788 ; m. 1806, Abel Bayrd ; Keturah, b. 1790 ; m. 1809, Benj. B. 
 Wiley ; Eliza, b. 1794 ; m. 1813, Joseph Stone, of Maiden, and became 
 47
 
 370 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 the second wife of B. Badger, Jr., Esq. ; Polly, b. 1796 ; m. 1816, Eben 
 Gushing ; Ursula, b. 1798 ; m. 1819, John Warner, and in 1823, m. John 
 Harnden, of Maiden ; Ploomea, b. 1801 ; m. 1821, Levi Robinson, of 
 Lynn ; Jeremiah, b. 1804 ; m. 1826, Sarah P. Swain ; Thomas, who m. 
 1829, Mary F. Swain ; Aaron, b. 1814 ; married, lived in Lynn, and 
 there died. 
 
 JOHN VINTON lived in the small house, standing near Water Street, 
 long occupied by Peter B. Emerson. He was son of John and Lydia 
 (Nichols) Vinton ; b. 1763; m. 1785, Mary 'Green, of Maiden. He 
 d. 1821, and she d. 1834, aged 69. Chil. : Mary, b. 1787, d. 1803; 
 John, b. 1789 ; never married ; of feeble health ; was an itinerant shoe 
 trader, an intelligent and honest man ; d. 1851 ; Sarah, born 1792 ; m. 
 1810, Peter B. Emerson, who was son of Peter and Mary (Dix) Emer- 
 son, of Harvard, and grandson of Dea. Brown Emerson, of Reading. 
 No children. Eliza, b. 1796; m. 1815, Frederick B. Eaton, of North 
 Reading, who settled in South Reading, and is now a wid. ; Joseph 
 Warren, b. 1799 ; m., ist, Charlotte Emerson ; 2d, Wid. Jane K. (Stimp- 
 son) Danforth; Nathaniel, b. 1802 ; m. Mary Barnard ; no chil. ; both 
 d. ; James Green, b. 1804; unm. ; lives in Stoneham. 
 
 JAMES WILEY, PETER B. WILEY, father and son, lived on the place 
 now or lately owned by the heirs of David Wiley. 
 
 James Wiley was son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Sprague) Wiley 
 (see Early Settlers) ; b. 1755 ; m. 1779, Mary (Bryant) Brown, wid. 
 of Peter Brown, and dau. of Elias Bryant, of Stoneham. He was a 
 quiet, respectable, unambitious man ; he and his wife both d. 1823, 
 aged 69. Chil. : James, b. 1780, and d. 1815 ; Ebenezer, b. 1781 (see 
 after) ; Peter Brown, b. 1784 (see below) ; Benja. Brown, b. 1786 (see 
 before); John, b. 1790; Elizabeth, b. 1792 ; m. 1812, Fred c Slocomb, 
 and d. 1860; Mary, b. 1797, and d. 1815. 
 
 PETER BROWN WILEY, son of James, aforesaid; b. 1784; was cap- 
 tain, and for many years an expressman ; before the establishment of 
 railroads he has repeatedly driven a horse team, freighted with shoes, 
 all the way from South Reading to Philadelphia ; m., ist, 1805, Ruth 
 Ingalls ; she d. 1823 ; m., 2d, 1824, Wid. Abigail Woodward, of Bos- 
 ton ; she d. 1830; m., 3d, 1832 (his cousin), Miss Hannah Wiley, of 
 Charlestown. He long resided in Charlestown. Chil. : Mary Ann ; 
 was a milliner, and d. unm. ; Peter, b. 1808; m., ist, Nancy, dau. of 
 Joseph Emerson ; m., 2d, Lydia, dau. of Joseph Emerson ; m., 3d, 
 Mary Sprague Brown, and he d. in 1873 '> James, b. 1810, and d. unm. ; 
 John, 2d, b. 1812 ; m. Elizabeth Gregg; has been captain and major; 
 commanded a company in the recent War of the Rebellion, and now
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 371 
 
 lives in Wakefield ; Elizabeth, b. 1818; m. Mr. Kimball ; and other 
 children, who d. young. 
 
 This place was one of the early homesteads of the Wiley settlers, and 
 was probably the residence of Timothy Wiley, Esq. (the representative). 
 Thomas Wiley, son of Timothy, was living here about 1765. It sub- 
 sequently became the property of David Wiley, the son of Eli. The 
 old house was burnt some forty years ago. 
 
 ELI WILEY lived on the place now or recently owned by Jeremiah 
 Shannahan. 
 
 He was son of Nathaniel and Mary (Eaton) Wiley; b. 1774; m., 
 ist, 1795, Love Mansfield, of Lynnfield ; m., 2d, 1832, Wid. Lucy 
 (Tapley) Wiley; he d. 1848, aged 75. Chil. : Ruth, b. Feb. 22, 1796 ; 
 m. 1814, Wm. Edmands, of Saugus ; Harriet, b. March i, 1803; m. 
 
 1820, James W. Leatherbee, of Boston ; David, b. March 18, 1799 ; m. 
 
 1821, Sally L. Pease, of Lynnfield ; Warren, b. Jan. 26, 1801 ; m. 1820, 
 Abigail Pease, of Lynnfield; Sophia, b. May 5, 1807 ; m. 1827, Russel 
 Foster; Sarah, b. June 28, 1809 ; m. 1831, George Sweetser ; Lucinda, 
 m. 1833, Luther Locke, of Stoneham ; Mary, b. June 9, 1820 ; m. 1846, 
 M. W. Sullivan ; Ellis, b. July 17, 1815 ; m. 1834, Elizabeth Wade, of 
 Lynnfield, and d. in 1868 ; Enos, b. 1818 ; m. 1838, Susan C. Upham, 
 of Saugus ; m., ad, Hannah S. (Tuttle) Fletcher. By second wife, he, 
 Eli, had several other children. 
 
 Mr. Eli Wiley succeeded his father, Nathaniel, on this place, which 
 was one of the homesteads of the Wiley family. 
 
 SALEM STREET. 
 
 
 
 THOMAS EVANS, Jr., lived in a one-storied house that then stood 
 where now stands the larger house that is owned and occupied by LUT 
 cius B. Evans. He was son of Thomas and Rebecca (Smith) Evans ; 
 b. 1778; m. 1802, Phebe Cummings, of Woburn ; d. 1832, aged 54. 
 His wid. died in 1871, aged 90. 
 
 Mr. Evans was an active, industrious, and intelligent man, an earnest 
 and effective speaker in the municipal assembly, an honest and public- 
 spirited citizen ; was often intrusted with public office ; was a shoe 
 manufacturer, trader, and to some extent an orchardist. Children : 
 Phebe, b. 1804 ; m. 1826, Capt. Loel Syveetser ; is now dead ; Rebecca, 
 b. 1805 ; m. 1825, Capt. George Batchelder, of Reading; he died in 
 1868 ; Thomas Jefferson, b. 1806 ; m. 1836, Mary D., dau. of Eben D. 
 Symonds, of Reading ; he lives in Woburn ; James Madison, b. 1809 ; 
 m. 1833, Sabrina Wilson, of Saugus; Otis Morton, b. 1813, and d. 
 young; Harriet Newell, b. 1815; m. 1840, Chas. F. Flint, Esq., of
 
 372 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 North Reading; he d. in 1868; Lucius Bolles, b. 1819 ; m., ist, 1846, 
 Lucy Jane Moulton ; m., zd, 1853, Emily, dau. of Reu. Newhall ; Geo. 
 Washington, b. 1821 ; m., ist, 1843, Harriet Eaton ; m., zd, 1854, Wid. 
 Martha (Upton) Doton ; Charlotte, b. 1822, is unm. 
 
 Mr. Evans was preceded on this place by Lilley Eaton, who subse- 
 quently built the house on the corner of Main and Salem Streets. The 
 one-storied house was purchased some years ago by Sumner Pratt, re- 
 moved to Pleasant Street, and there enlarged. 
 
 THOMAS SWAIN, MOLLY PARKER, brother and sister (in law), lived 
 in a house lately owned by Charles F. Flint, Esq., and recently taken 
 down. 
 
 Thomas Swain was son of Dr. Oliver and Margaret (Walton) Swain ; 
 b. 1771; m. 1795, Betsey, dau. of Ebenezer and Sarah (Whittredge) 
 Pope, of Danvers, and d. 1813, aged 42. He was by profession a 
 schoolmaster; taught the town school in South Reading in 1809, and 
 was teaching at Saugus at the time of his death. 
 
 Master Swain was an intelligent and worthy man, a good English 
 scholar, and, as a teacher, was nervous, somewhat severe, but faithful 
 and successful. He had no children. His widow long survived him, 
 and died in the almshouse a few years since. 
 
 Molly Parker was dau. of Ebenezer Pope, and sister of Master 
 Swain's wife, and widow of Hananiah Parker. (See Early Settlers.) 
 She was m., ist, to Mr. Parker in 1787. He d. 1798, aged 32. She 
 m., 2d, Joseph Boutwell, of Reading, in 1834, and is now dead. Her 
 mother, Wid. Sarah Pope, d. 1832, aged 94. Chil. : Oliver, who d. 
 young; William, b. 1790, and m. 1818, Abigail Haynes ; Thomas, b. 
 1792; m. 1819, Hannah Emerson, and d. 1868; Polly, b. 1794; m. 
 1817, Capt. Samuel Wiley, and lived and died in Hartford, Conn.; 
 Oliver, b. 1797, m. Sophia Pope, of Salem; Lydia, b. 1798; m. 1821, 
 James B. Emerson, and d. at Natchez, Miss., of yellow fever, in 
 1822. 
 
 The house was built by Joseph Gould, and the boards were fast- 
 ened with wooden pins instead of nails. It was taken down in 
 1866. 
 
 LEMUEL SWEET SILR lived in the house now owned and occupied by 
 Capt. Asaph Evans. He was son of Paul and Mary (Hart) Sweetser ; 
 b. 1779 ; m. 1801, Hannah, dau. of Lilley and Sarah Eaton, and d. of 
 pulmonary consumption in 1835, aged 56. He was colonel of cavalry, 
 school committee, justice of the peace, and representative. His busi- 
 ness was shoe manufacturing. 
 
 Col. Sweetser possessed strong native gifts ; was an original thinker
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 373 
 
 well-posted ; an effective public speaker ; a man of firmness, courage, 
 and probity. In some particulars he was remarkable and peculiar. 
 He had a mind of his own ; never took opinions second-hand ; never 
 admitted any proposition to be true, until he had thoroughly analyzed 
 it ; often seeming to favor the side of a question which he believed to 
 be the wrong side, for the purpose of drawing out the arguments of 
 that side ; he had a good opinion of his own judgment ; for instance : 
 when about locating his new house, which he built on Main 
 Street (the same recently owned by P. C. Wheeler, Esq.), he 
 called his brethren and kinsfolk together, and asked their advice 
 how it was best to locate and face the new building ; and having 
 got the assembled wisdom of his friends in the matter, one of 
 whom (B. Badger, Jr., Esq.) was a practical surveyor,, he then pro- 
 ceeded to place his stakes in an entirely different position-, and then 
 said to his friends : "Gentlemen, I am much obliged for your advice, 
 but the house will stand there." It was a marked trait in the colonel's 
 character, a trait common and notable, to a considerable extent, in the 
 whole Sweetser family, to have a very excellent opinion of his own 
 belongings, whether of houses, lands, wife, children, or any other pos- 
 session, not excepting himself. He had a large organ of order, neat- 
 ness, and exactness ; was ever prompt, practical, and conscientious 
 withal, as was evinced by his scruples about the propriety of answering 
 an order for supplying the trade with a variety of shoes called "dan- 
 cing pumps." He was very fond of the military organization, particu- 
 larly the cavalry corps, in which he was an accomplished officer and 
 colonel ; and when his regimental chaplain was absent, he would him- 
 self perform the sacerdotal service to great acceptance. His especial 
 fondness for the cavalry branch of the militia was perhaps owing to 
 his love of, and pride in, a noble steed ; and he never used any other 
 than a good one. He possessed and exercised an extended influence 
 in the town, and particularly in the Baptist society, of which he was a 
 prominent founder, and a life-long, earnest supporter ; he was public- 
 spirited and liberal ; a friend of the common school and of education gen- 
 erally ; and was one of the founders of the " South Reading Academy." 
 The colonel had not been much taught in the schools, but the follow- 
 ing lines, the composition of which has been ascribed to him, the same 
 having been found among his papers, in his own chirography, and with 
 his own sign-manual attached, show (whether he was the author or 
 not) the bent of his mind and sentiment at the time, and that he had 
 some relish for rhythmical composition :
 
 374 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 A NEW CATECHISM, 
 
 MORE STUDIED THAN AN OLDER AND A BETTER ONE. 
 
 What is the chief end of man ? 
 
 To gather up riches, to cheat all he can ; 
 
 To flatter the rich, the poor to despise, 
 
 To pamper the fool, to humble the wise ; 
 
 The rich to assist, to do all in his power, 
 
 To kick the unfortunate still a peg lower ; 
 
 To cry up fair freedom, defend it with vigor, 
 
 Have slaves without number and use them with rigor ; 
 
 To deal fair with all men when riches attend them, 
 
 To grind down the poor when there 's none to defend them ; 
 
 To seduce the fair virgin to accept his embrace, 
 
 To cast on her then all the shame and disgrace ; 
 
 To be angel without, and devil within, 
 
 To pretend to all virtue and practise all sin ; 
 
 This is most men's chief end or their actions belie them, 
 
 And if you don't believe it, you may e'en go and try them. 
 
 Signed, LEMUEL SWEETSER, 
 
 Reading, 1798. 
 
 Chil. : Loel, b. 1802 ; m., ist, 1826, Phebe Evans ; m., 2d, 1862, 
 Evelina S. Sibley, and d. in 1873 ; Olive, b. 1805, and m. 1840, Dea. 
 Martin Stowell (2d wife) ; Lemuel, b. 1807, and m. 1831, Clarissa 
 Wiley; Nelson, b. 1809 ; is unm. ; insane; Elbridge, b. 1815, m. 1838, 
 Mary Richardson.' 
 
 The easterly part of this house was owned by Joseph Gould in 1795 ; 
 and the westerly part was then the property of Elizabeth, wid. of Israel 
 Walton, who m. in 1791, Paul Sweetser, Sen. 
 
 TIMOTHY POOLE lived on the place now occupied by his son, Frank- 
 lin Poole, Esq. 
 
 He was son of Jonathan and Mary Poole (see Early Settlers) ; born 
 1762 ; m., ist, 1787, Lucy, dau. of Ebenezer Pope ; m., 2d, 1798 or '9, 
 Jerusha Richardson, of Woburn. He was a house painter and an in- 
 genious mechanic ; an industrious and faithful workman ; of a disposi- 
 tion fretful, oftentimes, " because of evil doers," but fond of practical 
 jokes, such as slyly painting a cabbage upon a corner of a tailor's sign, 
 and other innocent jests. He was one of the founders of the Univer- 
 salist society in this place, an honest citizen and kind neighbor. 
 
 He died Feb. 10, 1828 ; his death was occasioned by a fall from the 
 upper scaffold of his barn. Chil. : Lucy, b. 1789 ; m. Mr. Jennings ; is 
 now dead ; Caroline, b. 1802 ; lived in Cambridge, and d. unm. ; Al- 
 exander, b. 1804; m., ist, 1847, Cynthia Rugg, and 2d, 1873, Lucy A. 
 Upton ; he is a physician ; formerly of Chelsea, now of Wakefield ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 375 
 
 Franklin, b. 1808 ; m. Rebecca P. Rollins, of Deerfield, N. H. ; is an 
 artist ; has been representative, and lives on the homestead in Wake- 
 field. 
 
 The predecessor of Mr. Poole on this place was Elias Emerson, who 
 removed to Lancaster. 
 
 BENJ. BADGER, Sen., AND BENJ. BADGER, Jr., father and son, lived 
 on the place now owned by Wid. Sarah Brown, and long known as the 
 " Badger Place." 
 
 Benj. Badger, Sen., aforesaid, came from Boston ; was a soldier of 
 the Revolution ; m. Naomi, dau. of Joseph and Phebe Emerson ; was 
 selectman and schoolmaster. 
 
 He was a man of intelligence and probity ; was peculiar for his reti- 
 cence and sententiousness. He removed to Charlestown, where he 
 died at an advanced age. His wife was a most excellent woman ; a 
 pattern of amiability and piety. Chil. : Benjamin (see below) ; Thomas, 
 a portrait painter, who lived in Boston, and has recently deceased ; 
 Betsey, who m. 1809, Bill Richardson, and is d. ; John, who m. Betsey 
 Howard, and settled and died in Charlestown. 
 
 BENJ. BADGER, Jr., was b. about 1779; m., ist, 1808, Katharine, 
 dau. of Lilley and Sarah Eaton ; removed to Charlestown, where he 
 d. 1855, aged 76. He m., 2d, Wid. Eliza (Green) Stone. Was select- 
 man and justice of the peace, land surveyor, a noted mathematician, 
 and a philosopher generally. 
 
 Although self-taught, he became learned in many branches of sci- 
 ence. Like his father, he was a man of few words, and could think 
 and write better than he could talk. He was a great lover of physical 
 science, and very ingenious and successful in developing and exhibiting 
 its curious wonders ; his house was full of philosophical apparatus. 
 Chil. : Katharine, b. 1811, is a popular teacher, and lives in Charles- 
 town, unm. ; Benjamin Franklin, b. 1820 ; m. 1845, Frances Ellen 
 Hammond. 
 
 This house was built, in part, from the old parish school-house, that 
 once stood near where formerly stood the First Parish parsonage ; in 
 which old school-house, the said Benjamin, Sen., was sometime school- 
 master. 
 
 AMOS EVANS lived about this time on the place not long since oc- 
 cupied by the late Silas Richardson, in a house recently burnt down. 
 
 He was son of Tho. and Rebecca Evans; b. 1787 ; m. 1811, Kath- 
 arine, dau. of Jethro Richardson ; was a jeweller ; removed to Reading, 
 where he long lived ; was a Baptist deacon, and now resides in Wake- 
 field.
 
 376 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 This old place was the residence formerly of Joseph Gould, who 
 came from Stoneham ; m. Mary Badger ; built several houses on this 
 street ; was a sort of self-made carpenter and wheelwright ; he died 
 in 1810. 
 
 ELIZABETH BRYANT built about this time the house recently occupied ' 
 by the late James Walton. She was the dau. of Josiah and Lydia 
 (Green) Bryant; m. 1818, James Walton. Before marriage, she was a 
 popular tailoress ; very industrious and successful. 
 
 James Walton was the son of Timothy Walton (see Early Settlers) ; 
 and was born in Lynnfield, about 1785. Before his marriage, he lived 
 in the easterly part of the town, on the place now known as the Austin 
 place. 
 
 He was a man of intelligence and integrity ; slow and cautious in 
 embracing opinions, but firm and pertinacious in maintaining them. 
 Was selectman ; he d. 1860, aged 75. His wid. removed to Lawrence, 
 and there d. in 1868. Chil. : James Coleman Wheelock, b. 1819, and 
 m. 1843, Mary Cowdrey, and lives in Wakefield ; George Augustus, 
 b. 1822 ; m. and removed to Lawrence ; was principal of the high 
 school there ; was an alderman ; is author of popular text-books in 
 arithmetic, and is now teacher in Westfield Normal School ; Daniel 
 Gould, b. 1824; m. E. Jeanette Aborn, and lives in Wakefield; Josiah, 
 b. 1828, and d. 1838. 
 
 THOMAS WOODWARD occupied the larger portion of the house now 
 owned by his son, Ralph E. Woodward ; he was son of James and 
 Rebecca Woodward (see Early Settlers) ; was born in Lynnfield, in 
 1773; was a very ingenious mechanic and nice workman; was the 
 original manufacturer of the celebrated " Woodward's Awls," and other 
 improved shoe-tools. The original invention or suggestion of " Emer- 
 son's Elastic Razor Straps," has been credited to Mr. Woodward. He 
 was an honest, industrious, and kind-hearted man, but possessed some 
 peculiarities of character ; he had an inquiring and rather credulous 
 mind ; any new idea, either in physic, physics, or ethics, he was ever 
 ready to adopt, and if he thought it valuable, he was disposed to pursue 
 it with great sincerity and pertinacity of purpose ; hence we find him 
 ever trying some new experiment in manufacturing, using some newly 
 invented pills or cordial, making a " Tincture," that becomes and still 
 continues a popular medicine, becoming an anti-Mason and abolition- 
 ist of the most approved patterns, and an honest and sincere believer 
 in Millerism. He was, however, a very useful citizen. He lived to be 
 aged, and his body outlived his mind. He d. 1860, aged 87^. 
 
 He m., ist, 1794, Nancy Batt, by whom he had : Thomas, b. 1798,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 377 
 
 who m. 1818, Esther Slocomb, and was father of James F. and other 
 children ; Nancy, b. 1800, who m. Mr. Mclntire, of Saugus. 
 
 Mr. Woodward m., 2d, Rebecca Johnson, of Lynnfield, and by her 
 had many children, among whom were: Edwin, b. 1811 ; m. Selina 
 Sweetser, and occupied the northerly part of the house now owned by 
 Ralph E. Woodward. He d. 1866 ; Ralph Erskine, b. 1814 ; m., ist, 
 Elizabeth Rayner, and m., 2d, Miss Pervear. There were daugh- 
 ters, Eliza P., Rebecca J., Angelina C., Sabrina, Ellemandia, Sarah, 
 Eliza, Mary, Ann, Orrella, perhaps others. Ralph E. now owns the 
 place. 
 
 EBENEZER BRYANT lived in that part of the house above noticed, 
 that was recently occupied by Edwin Woodward, and in which Eliza- 
 beth Bryant, the tailoress, sister of said Ebenezer, formerly lived prior 
 to her marriage. Ebenezer, son of Josiah and Lydia (Green) Bryant, 
 m. 1804, Hannah Centre. He removed many years since to Charles- 
 town, where he recently deceased. Wm. C. Bryant, now of Wake- 
 field, and the late Rev. Charles Bryant, were his sons ; he had other 
 children. 
 
 The predecessor of Messrs. Woodward and Bryant on this place was 
 a Mr. Smith. 
 
 THOMAS SKINNER about this time purchased the wheelwright's shop 
 that stood near where the town pound now is ; (a shop that was erected 
 some years before by David Gardner, from Hingham, a dau. of whom 
 is now the wife of Calvin Nichols, of Wakefield) ; Mr. Skinner removed 
 this shop to the foot of Fitch's hill, and fitted it up for a dwelling- 
 house ; the same that is now owned by Joseph Connell. Here Mr. 
 Skinner spent the residue of his life. He had previously lived for 
 some years in the small farm-house that once stood on the Olive New- 
 ell place. He was son of Benja. Skinner, of Woburn ; was born in 
 Woburn ; m. Mary Parrott, of Salem ; died 1864, aged 80. 
 
 Mr. Skinner possessed good natural abilities, but was uneducated ; 
 in business he was diligent and shrewd, but impetuous and hasty; as a 
 religionist he was sincere, but impulsive and sometimes enthusiastic. 
 He was a kind neighbor, a faithful friend, and a good citizen. Chil. : 
 Mary, who m. Joseph Wheeler, and is now a wid. ; Lucinda, who m. 
 Capt. Asaph Evans, of Wakefield ; Thomas B., who m. Phebe Smith, 
 and lives in Wakefield ; Wm. Green, who m. Olive E ton, and lives in 
 Wakefield ; Oliver Parker, who d. at sea, unm. ; Elizabeth, who m. 
 Rev. John Upton, and is now dead ; Abigail, who d. at the age of 17, 
 unm. ; Gustavus F. Davis, who m. Ann Maria Walton, and lives in 
 Wakefield. 
 
 48
 
 378 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 WILLIAM PATCH came from Francestown, N. H., and built, about 
 this time, the house now owned by Daniel Nichols. 
 
 He was a captain of infantry and a wealthy and intelligent man. He 
 died in middle life. The place was afterwards owned a while by Phin- 
 eas Bailey, who added the second story. 
 
 JEREMIAH BROWN and WILLIAM BROWN, father and son, lived on the 
 place occupied by said son. 
 
 Jeremiah Brown was the son of Jeremiah and Ruth (Welman) 
 Brown, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (see Early Settlers) ; was 
 b. 1755 > m - I 777> Lydia, dau. of Dea. John and Ruth (Burnap) 
 Smith. They both d. 1822 ; he at 67, and she at 69. He was a noted 
 singer, and was chorister at the old parish church for many years. 
 Children: John, b. 1779, and d. soon; John, b. 1780(566 after); 
 Thomas Burnap, b. 1783; d. 1822, unm. ; Lydia, b. 1786, and m. 
 Abraham Sweetser ; William, b. 1791 (see below) ; Jeremiah, b. 1798, 
 and m. 1826, Betsey French, of Tewksbury ; had no children ; a man 
 of great diffidence and bashfulness ; honest, but weak-minded, and in 
 his later years, insane. 
 
 William Brown, b. 1791 ; m. 1819, Hannah J. Eames, of Wilming- 
 ton, and had chil. : Wm. Locke, b. 1821 ; m. Frances Matilda Oliver, 
 of Maiden ; grad. at the University of New York ; was a counsellor- 
 at-law, justice of the peace, selectman, etc. He was a well-read 
 lawyer, but possessed rather a large share of self-esteem and vanity. 
 He died of croup, in 1863. Lydia Smith, b. 1822, and m. Mr. Rich- 
 ardson, of Stoneham ; Thomas B. is a counsellor-at-law in Chicago, 
 111.; Abigail and Hannah Elizabeth, both died in early life; Mary, 
 lives in Wakefield. 
 
 This old place was the early homestead of the Burnap family, who 
 were among the very early settlers. 
 
 Thomas Burnap, who was born in 1689, was living on the place in 
 about 1765. 
 
 Lydia Smith, whom Jeremiah Brown m. in 1777, was niece of said 
 Thomas Burnap, became his heir, and succeeded to the farm. 
 
 John Brown, son of Jeremiah, as aforesaid, and born 1779, lived on 
 the place now owned and occupied by Jonathan Nichols, having built 
 thereon the house in which he lived. The house has since been 
 enlarged. He m. 1805, Abigail Trull, of Tewksbury. Was a quiet, 
 honest, frugal, unaspiring man ; had no children ; he succeeded his 
 father at the homestead. He d. 1864, aged 84^. 
 
 SAMUEL PETERS lived where Nathan Slocomb now lives ; was a 
 native of Andover; son of Benj. Peters; m. 1791, Elizabeth, dau. of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 379 
 
 Timothy and Lydia (Walton) Stearns, of Reading and Lynnfield. Chil. : 
 Samuel, Benjamin, and Timothy, who early left home, and their fate is 
 unknown; Eliza, b. 1801, who m. Jacob Parker; Lydia, who m. Na- 
 than Slocomb ; Naamah, who m. Peter Tucker. The daughters Eliza 
 and Lydia are dead. 
 
 Mr. Peters was the first resident on this spot, and paid for his house 
 lot by watering, for a course of years, Mr. John Gould's cattle, whose 
 pasture adjoined. 
 
 MICHAEL BURDITT lived where Joseph Burditt, his son, now lives ; 
 he was son of Joseph Burditt, a native of Maiden, who m. 1766, Sarah, 
 dau. of Michael Sweetser, of Reading. Mr. Michael Burditt m. 1801, 
 Polly Dix, of Townsend. He was a respectable citizen, not particularly 
 conspicuous. He d. 1854, aged 76. Chil. : Michael, b. 1803, who 
 became a Congregational clergyman ; was chaplain in the war of the 
 Rebellion, and now resides in Philadelphia ; Mary Dix, b. 1806 ; m., 
 ist, 1826, Rev. Samuel Nichols ; he d. in 1844, and she m., 2d, John 
 Stow, and now lives in Dedham ; Sarah, who lives in Wakefield, unm. ; 
 Oliver, who m., ist, 1829, Mary Henfieldjm., 2d, Miss Mansfield; 
 Samuel, became a physician, settled in Philadelphia, and has recently 
 died ; Joseph, m. 1832, Sarah J. Mansfield, of Lynnfield, and has 
 succeeded to the homestead ; George was a soldier in the war of the 
 Rebellion. 
 
 Mr. Burditt was the builder and first occupant of this house. 
 
 WILLIAM GOULD lived in a small, low house, that stood near that 
 long occupied by his widow, recently deceased, and lately purchased 
 by Geo. H. Wiley. 
 
 He was son of Daniel and Martha (Nichols) Gould ; b. 1 784 ; m. 
 1802, Sally, dau. of Col. Joshua Burnham ; died 1833, aged 49, Chil. : 
 Sally, b. 1802; d. 1821, of pul. consumption; William, b. 1804; m. 
 1827, Louisa Hawkes, of Lynnfield, and is d. ; Abigail, b, 1807 ; m. 
 1833, Noah Derby, and is d. ; Daniel and Joshua, twins, b. 1809 ; died 
 in early manhood, unm. ; Mary, b. 1811 ; m. 1833, Alfred Stimpson, 
 and is a wid. ; Martha, b. 1813 ; m. 1834, Lewis Fairbanks, of Wake- 
 field ; Abraham, b. 1816 ; Lucy, b. 1818 ; m. 1839, Thomas E, Cox, of 
 Lynnfield ; Joseph, b. 1821 ; is unm. ; Sarah, b. 1823 ; m. John Sweet- 
 ser, 3d ; Hannah, married Abner N. Blanchard, 
 
 Mr. Gould was a man of good natural abilities ; a frequent speaker 
 in town-meetings ; possessed a good share of self-esteem ; was a lively 
 and industrious man of business ; a good player on the fife ; an honest 
 citizen. He accumulated property, and built the house now standing 
 on this spot.
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 DANIEL GOULD, brother of the foregoing, lived on the place now 
 occupied by Abraham Gould; was b. 1769; m. 1800, Rebecca, dau. of 
 Timothy Walton ; died 1839, aged 70 ; he had no children. 
 
 He succeeded his father on this place. The place formerly belonged 
 to the Swain family. 
 
 His father was Daniel, son of Daniel, and m. 1765, Martha Nichols, 
 and had chil. : Martha, b. 1767, andm. 1787, Jacob Parker ; Daniel, b. 
 1769 (noticed above); Lucy, b. 1770; d. unm.; Hannah, b. 1776; d. 
 unm. ; William, b. 1784 (noticed above). 
 
 The above-named Daniel Gould, the father of Daniel and William, 
 kept a journal, in which he noticed from time to time, passing events, 
 chiefly, however, those of a private and local character. Occasionally, 
 he mentioned a more public matter ; for instance : under date of March 
 3, 1780, he writes : " The last winter has been an uncommon hard one ; 
 it began on the first of December, and continued till the middle of Feb- 
 ruary, without scarcely any thaw, and the snow very deep." This was 
 the year when the snow was so abundant and the cold so severe, that 
 the highways of the town were impassable for teams, for many weeks 
 together ; and when the farmers, this Mr. Gould being one of them, 
 went on rackets or snow-shoes to Danvers Tide Mills, taking thither 
 their grists on hand sleds, and going in a straight course to Danvers, 
 without regard to roads or fences. 
 
 Under date of May 19, 1780, he writes : "This was an uncommon 
 dark day ; it came on in the forenoon, about 10 or n o'clock, and con- 
 tinued till some time in the afternoon, and was followed by an un- 
 common dark night ; the day was so dark that we were obliged to light 
 a candle to see to eat dinner." This is the day, an account of which 
 is so beautifully and poetically paraphrased by Whittier : 
 
 " 'T was on a May day of the far old year ' 
 Seventeen hundred eighty, that there fell 
 Over the bloom and sweet life of the Spring, 
 Over the fresh earth and the heaven of noon, 
 A horror of great darkness, like the night 
 In day, of which the Norland Sagas tell, 
 The twilight of the gods. The low-hung sky 
 Was fringed with a dull glow, like that which climbs 
 The crater's sides from the red hell below. 
 Birds ceased to sing ; and all the barnyard fowls 
 Roosted ; the cattle at the pasture bars 
 Lowed and looked homeward ; bats on leathern wings 
 Flitted abroad ; the sounds of labor died ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 381 
 
 Men prayed and women wept ; all ears grew sharp 
 To hear the doom blast of the trumpet shatter 
 The black sky, that the dreadful face of Christ 
 Might look from the rent clouds, not as he looked 
 A loving guest at Bethany, but stern 
 As justice and inexorable law." 
 
 ISSACHAR STOWELL lived in the small house that stands opposite 
 (across the street) to the house recently occupied by him, and where 
 he d. in 1868. He was son of Capt. Issacher and Lydia Stowell, of 
 Hingham ; was b. about 1786 ; m., ist, 1806, Betsey Green ; she d. 1817, 
 aged 28 or 33 ; m., zd, 1818, Lydia Williams. Chil. : Eliza, b. 1807 ; 
 Issachar, b. 1809, m. 1832, Louisa Slocomb, and died 1866 ; Haswell 
 G., b. 1812, settled in Reading, has been twice married, and is now 
 dead; Elbridge, b. 1816, m. 1841, Susan M. Stimson ; Lydia A., 
 b. 1819, m. 1841, Chas. W. Pond ; Henry W., b. 1821 ; Mary Q., b. 
 1824; Caroline, b. 1826. This farm was occupied in 1795 by Jacob 
 Parker, who died in 1797. It formerly belonged to the Swain family. 
 Capt. John Swain appears to have been living thereon in 1765. 
 
 BENJAMIN PETERS lived on the farm lately owned and occupied by 
 Edward Upton, in a very ancient building, a part of which was sup- 
 posed to be (1844) as old as the settlement of the town, but which was 
 removed at the erection of Mr. Upton's present residence. This old 
 place was the homestead of Nicholas Brown, an original settler, and 
 the common ancestor of the Reading Browns. The farm continued 
 in the Brown family and name until 1783, when Benjamin Peters, 
 from Andover, m. in 1783, Martha, dau. of Jeremiah and Ruth 
 Brown, and succeeded to the homestead. He was son of Benjamin 
 Peters, who came, with his sons, from Andover, and d. 1812, aged 84. 
 Benj., Jr., who m. Martha Brown, had one dau., Patty, who was imbe- 
 cile in body and mind, and d. unm. He d. 1815, aged 60. His widow 
 subsequently sold out and removed to Andover, and William Brown, 
 her neghew, became the owner and occupant. 
 
 JOHN BROWN, 2d, lived oa the place recently owned by the late 
 Edmund E. Wiley, and in 1869 occupied by Rev. Horace Eaton, 
 who married the said Edmunds' widow. Mr. Brown was son of 
 Pearson Brown (see Early Settlers), and grand-nephew of John 
 Brown, a bachelor, who was son of Nathaniel and Eleanor (Stearns) 
 Brown, and who died 1811, aged 78. John Brown, 2d, became the 
 heir and successor of his uncle, and m. 1813, Fanny, dau. of Jacob 
 and Martha (Gould) Parker. She d. 1824, aged 31, and he m., 2d, in 
 1825, Harriet, dau. of Reuben Green, and removed to Greenwood and
 
 382 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 subsequently to Chestnut Street, where he d. March 6, 1864. Chil. : 
 Fanny, b. 1814, who m. 1833, Elbridge Green, Esq., of Melrose ; Lydia, 
 b. 1816, who m. 1835, John Derby, of Wakefield ; Eunice, b. 1819, who 
 m. 1837, James Barrett, of Melrose ; Harriet Elizabeth, b. 1826, d. 
 young; John Pearson, b. 1829, d. young; Hervey Wilbur, b. 1832, m. 
 and d. young man ; Charles Baker, b. 1834, m. 1865, Elvira J. Stevens, 
 of Orford, N. H. ; Harriet, b. 1844, m. 1866, T. Judson Skinner. Mr. 
 Brown was a man of intelligence and respectability, industrious and 
 smart, possessed of a highly social and vivacious disposition, and 
 fond of relating anecdotes, of which he had an inexhaustible fund, 
 and could always tell a story to match any one that he heard, no mat- 
 ter how large. His wife, Harriet, died March 28, 1871. 
 
 TIMOTHY WALTON and EBENEZER WALTON, father and son, lived 
 on the place recently occupied by Oliver Walton, Jr., in an old house 
 that was taken down when the said Oliver, Jr., built the house now 
 occupied by H. D. Austin. 
 
 Timothy Walton, was son of Josiah and Ruth Walton (see Early 
 Settlers), b. 1743, m. Rebecca Mansfield, of Danvers ; d. 1818. Chil. : 
 Josiah, who settled in Salem ; Ebenezer, Andrew, James, Ruth, Rebecca, 
 who settled in South Reading, and Joseph, who was drowned in Lynn, 
 in 1792, aged 23, and perhaps others. 
 
 Ebenezer Walton, m. 1806, Azabah Stiles, of Greenfield, N. H. 
 Chil. : Mary, b. 1807, became a missionary to the Indians ; m. 1835, 
 Ira D. Blanchard, of Missouri Territory ; Amos L., born 1809, m., 
 ist, 1832, Sarah Melendy, of Reading; m., zd, Miss Tasker ; Joshua, 
 b. 1811, m. 1832, Harriet Melendy, of Reading; Elmira, b. 1815; 
 Ruth Ann, b. 1817 ; Abigail, b. 1819 ; Joseph Andrew, b. 1822 ; Tim- 
 othy M., Ebenezer Nelson, and perhaps other children. 
 
 Mr. Walton subsequently built and occupied the small house lately 
 owned by the late Amos L. Walton. He buried his wife in 1842 ; 
 removed to Salem ; m. again ; is now dead. He was an earnest, hon- 
 est, industrious man. 
 
 ANDREW WALTON, brother of Ebenejer, b. 1780; m. 1807* Sally, 
 dau. of Nathan Walton ; they lived in the same house in which he 
 recently died, and which he himself erected ; was blind for several 
 years, and d. 1868. Children : Rachel, b. 1809, who d. unm. ; Re- 
 becca, b. 1813 ; m. 1839, Jotham Aborn, of Wakefield; Eliza, b. 1818, 
 and lives in Wakefield. 
 
 OLIVER WALTON, Sen., lived where his son Oliver, Jr., now lives. He 
 was son of Jotham and Elizabeth (Green) Walton (see Early Settlers) ; 
 b. 1758; m., ist, Rebecca Tarbell, of Lynnfield ; m., 2d, 1833, Mrs.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 383 
 
 Mary Smith. Children: Rebecca, b. 1781; Betsey, b. 1783; Polly 
 Felton, b. 1786, and m. 1807, Aaron Putnam ; Nancy, b. 1788; Oliver, 
 b. 1791, and m. 1827, Sarah Smith, of Lynn; he lives in Wakefield, 
 and is widely known as an extensive and honorable trader in horses ; 
 Marsena, b. 1793, and m. 1814, Elias Larrabee ; Leonard, b. 1795, and 
 m. 1820, Nancy Rugg; Jonathan Tarbell, b. 1797, and m. Sarah H. 
 Rugg ; John and Sarah (twins) ; John, b. 1800 ; m. 1820, Ann Burrill ; 
 Sarah, b. 1800, m. 1824, Sewall Fletcher; Jotham, b. 1802 ; m. 1824, 
 Sarah Eaton. . 
 
 Oliver Walton, Sen., succeeded on this place his father, Jotham Wal- 
 ton, who was living here in 1765. Mr. Walton (Oliver) was a soldier 
 in the Revolution, a quiet and industrious citizen. 
 
 ADAM HAWKES lived where Daniel P. Emerson now lives ; was son 
 of Adam Hawkes, of Lynnfield, who lived where the late Joshua 
 Hawkes lived, and where Geo. L. Hawkes now lives. Mr. Hawkes was 
 a clothier and miller; m., ist, 1790, Sarah Perkins, of Lynnfield ; she 
 d. 1810; m., 2d, 1811, Anna Payson ; she d. 1815, aged 33; m., 3d, 
 1816, Elizabeth Hall. Chfl. : Adam, b. 1813 ; m. 1836, Cynthia Hall ; 
 removed to New Hampshire ; John Payson, b. 1815 ; resides in Lynn- 
 field, unm. ; Harrison Gray Otis, b. 1817 ; m. 1840, Mary Ann Walton, 
 and removed to New Hampshire ; Sarah P., b. 1820 ; Gilman, b. 1823, 
 and d. 1826 ; Ann, E., b. 1826, who m., ist, 1844, E. E.Wiley; and m., 
 2d, Rev. Horace Eaton, who was son of David and Betsey, and was 
 born in Goffstown, N. H. ; he m., ist, 1843, Sarah Chandler, dau. of 
 Dea. Win. Chandler, of Belfast, N. H. 
 
 Lydia Eve, b. 1829, and m., ist, 1855, W. T. Larkin; m., 2d, 1868, 
 S. A. Blackstock. 
 
 Mr. Hawkes was a man of respectability ; a representative in 1811 ; 
 d. 1831, aged 66. Retiring in his disposition and habits, still ready to 
 communicate on all proper occasions, ever modest and unassuming, his 
 death was lamented as extensively as he was known. 
 
 VERNON STREET. 
 
 PETER GOULD lived near the southerly end of Vernon Street, then 
 called the "Lot-end-road," on land of Jeremiah Green, in quite a small 
 house, now removed. He was a native of Africa ; had been a slave of 
 Ebenezer Gould, of Stoneham ; his wife's name was Chloe ; he had a 
 large number of children, all but one of whom died in infancy; one 
 daughter, Peggy, survived, and was a shy, timid, feeble-minded girl. 
 
 Peter was an honest, hard-working man, and supported his family 
 comfortably until old age incapacitated him for labor. He had a special
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 talent for building stone wall for fences, at which business he was very 
 expert. He perished, some thirty or more years ago, one cold day, in 
 a snow-drift in Stoneham. His family were supported at last by the 
 town of Stoneham. Peggy committed suicide by drowning herself in a 
 well. 
 
 JOHN SWEETSER lived on the place now owned by Rev. R. W. Cush- 
 man's heirs. He also owned at this time, and subsequently occupied, 
 the house and place now occupied by Rev. Dana Clayes. He was 
 son of Samuel Sweetser, who d. in 1818, at the age of 86 ; and John, 
 d. in 1847 ; m., ist, 1782, Elizabeth, dau. of William and Susanna 
 Green ; m., 2d, 1817, Rebecca Hawkes, of Lancaster, and dau. of Adam 
 Hawkes, of Saugus, it being her first marriage. She d. 1866, aged 
 100 years, lacking two months. Chil. : John, b. 1785; m. 1807, Bet- 
 sey Bryant, of Stoneham, and settled in Lynnfield ; is now dead ; 
 Betsey, b. 1789 ; m. 1811, Daniel Green of Stoneham, and is now dead ; 
 Rebecca, b. 1796 ; m. 1822, Rev. Dana Clayes, then of Plainfield, 
 N. H., now of Wakefield; Hiram, b. 1802 ; m. 1824, Elizabeth Healy. 
 
 Mr. John Sweetser was in early life a shoe manufacturer, and sub- 
 sequently a farmer, and in both departments was enterprising and suc- 
 cessful ; was a man of intelligence, punctuality, and probity ; was a 
 sold er of the Revolution. 
 
 The house and farm, now owned by Rev. Dr. Cushman's heirs, as 
 aforesaid, with some variation in the lands, was occupied in 1765 by 
 Thomas Emerson, son of Ebenezer, and born in 1724 (see Early Set- 
 tlers) ; he had a larg? family of children, who became the heads of 
 several important and influential families, viz. : Elizabeth, b. 1753, 
 and m. 1777, Benjamin Emerson (see before); Hannah, b. 1755; m. 
 1793, Capt. Timo. Wakefield (2d wife); Thomas, b. 1757; m. 1782, 
 Ruth Bancroft (see before); William, b. 1760; m., ist, 1782, Sarah 
 Cowdrey, of South Reading; m., 2d, 1785, Mary Vinton, of Stoneham ; 
 settled in Maiden (now Melrose), and his descendants in Melrose are 
 numerous and enterprising; Jerusha, b. 1762 ; m. 1782, Capt. Nathan- 
 iel Cowdrey; Susanna, b. 1764; m. 1793, Wm. Williams, of Maiden, 
 who afterwards settled in South Reading; Jonathan, b. 1768; m. 
 1796, Martha Williams, of Chelsea; Lucy, b. 1770; m. 1788, Capt. 
 Aaron Damon, and settled in Vermont; Lois, b. 1772; m. 1792, 
 John Smith. 
 
 The house and farm, now occupied by the Rev. Dana Clayes, with 
 perhaps some variation in lands, was occupied in 1765 by Joseph 
 Underwood, who m. 1739, Ruth Bancroft. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 THOMAS SWAIN lived in the house now owned by David Batchelder,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING, 
 
 385 
 
 and known as David Batchelder's old house. He was son of Dr. 
 Thomas and Abigail Swain, and was born 1780; m. 1803, Sally, dau. 
 of David and Mary Parker. Chil. : Otis, b. 1804; m. 1826, Mary 
 Johnson, of Andover; Sally, b. 1806 ; m. 1826, Jeremiah Green ; is not 
 living; David Parker, b. 1807; Albert, b. 1809; Thomas, b. 1813, and 
 lives in Lynnfield ; Mary (b. about 1811); m. 1829, Thomas Green; 
 is not living; Caleb Strong, b. 1815 ; m. 1839, Mary W. Fulton, of 
 Boston ; Harriet, b. 1818, and m. 1846, Joseph Hall, of Medford ; 
 Emily, b. 1820; m. 1840, Tho. Emerson, Jr., of Wakefield; Caroline, 
 b. 1823 ; m. 1849, C. Emory Foster, formerly of Wakefield. 
 
 Mr. Swain was a man of intelligence, had a good common-school 
 education, was of a very amiable disposition, modest and unassuming 
 in his manners, industrious, kind-hearted, faithful, and altogether a most 
 worthy citizen. He d. 1832, aged 52. 
 
 The predecessors of Mr. Swain on this place were : His father, Dr. 
 Thomas, who d. 1780; his uncle, Dr. Oliver, who d. 1773 ; and his 
 grandfather, Dr. Thomas, who d. 1759. 
 
 A few rods northerly of Mr. Swain's residence, on the westerly side 
 of the street, there stood, about this time, a dwelling, since removed, 
 occupied by a family by the name of Lewis. Timothy Lewis, who m. 
 1767, Martha, dau. of Michael Sweetser, is said to have lived here. 
 He had chil. : Martha, b. 1769 ; Lydia, William, Charles, Timothy, and 
 perhaps others. The house was subsequently purchased by Issachar 
 Stowell, who removed it to the place it now occupies, on Salem Street, 
 opposite the residence lately occupied by said Stowell. 
 
 CALEB GREEN lived on the place now owned and occupied by his 
 son, Joshua Green. 
 
 He was the son of Ca"pt. William and Susanna Green ; was born 
 about 1771 ; his mother was a Townsend, f rom Lynnfield ; he m. 1793, 
 Polly Munroe, of Lynnfield, and d. 1859, aged 88. Chil. : Eliza, b, 
 1800, and d. unm. ; Caleb, b. 1803, and m., ist, Clarissa Newhall \ m.^ 
 
 2d, 1847, Abigail Willey ; Joshua, b. 1805 ; m. 1864, -Hurd; Mary, 
 
 b. 1808 ; m. 1852, Daniel Nichols (2d wife). 
 
 Mr. Green was a man of intelligence, integrity, and great private 
 worth ; was fond of reading, and was well posted in ancient and mod- 
 ern history ; he was withal a man of unusual diffidence and modesty, 
 and eminent for his amiable and peaceful disposition.. 
 
 This house and farm was formerly occupied, by a. portion of the 
 Underwood family. 
 
 JONATHAN PRATT lived where Jonathan Nichols, Sen., has late 
 in the house now or lately occupied by Mrs. Welch. 
 49
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Mr. Pratt was son of \Amos Pratt, of Saugus, and brother of the late 
 David Pratt, of Reading. He m. Mercy, dau. of Joseph and Sarah 
 Burditt. Chil. : David, who m. 1821, Hannah Patch, of Greenfield, 
 N. H. ; Sally, a highly intelligent young lady, who d. young ; Jonathan, 
 who lives in Reading, unmarried. 
 
 Mr. Pratt was a sensible, modest, precise man, of strict integrity ; he 
 removed to the place in Reading where his son David now lives. 
 ( btolbsM lo JJr.H rlqoeol ( df.8i - fn kn ,8181 .d .JyincH ; noteo& 
 
 LOWELL STREET: o$.8: 
 
 ELIJAH MERRILL lived in a small house opposite to that now occu- 
 pied by Charles Carter ; was a laboring man ; had a large family of 
 children ; was poor, and soon removed from town. 
 
 The place was subsequently owned by Stephen Floyd, and has since 
 been taken down. It was occupied in 1 795 by Ephraim Willey, who 
 was the first occupant known. 
 
 REUBEN NEWHALL owned and occupied the place now owned by 
 Charles Carter ; he was the son of Nehemiah Newhall, of Lynnfield, 
 where he was born in 1769 ; his mother was the dau. of Dea. Benj. and 
 the sister of Gen. Benj. Brown, of Reading ; he m. 1 794 or '5, Mary 
 Thompson, of Woburn, and had chil. : Reuben, b. 1795, and m. 1823, 
 Emily Rugg, of Lancaster; Mary, b. 1797, and d. a young woman; 
 Thompson, b. 1798; m. 1822, Hannah Crocker, and d. 1866; Sally, 
 b. 1800; m. 1824, Jona. Brown, of Westbrook; she is now a widow; 
 Clarissa, b. 1803; m. 1826 or '7, Caleb Green, and is now dead; 
 Elizabeth, b. 1809 ; m. 1829, Stephen Floyd; Susan, b. 1814; m. 1844, 
 Gilman A. Coggin, and now dead. 
 
 Mr. Newhall was a shoemaker and farmer ; industrious and honest, 
 with pretty strong prejudices and quick feelings ; his son Reuben suc- 
 ceeded him on the place, and sold to the present owner. In 1795 it 
 was occupied by Elias Emerson, who afterwards removed to Lancaster. 
 Mr. N. d. 1846. 
 
 SAMUEL SWEETSER and LYDIA SWEETSER, father and daughter, lived 
 in the house now owned and occupied by James J. Mansfield. 
 
 Samuel Sweetser was the son of Michael and Mary Sweetser ; b. about 
 1732 ; settled in Saugus ; had many children ; removed in his latter life 
 to South Reading, where he died in 1818, aged 86. 
 
 Among his children were John, Daniel, Moses, Ezra, Aaron, Elias 
 (who was insane), Lydia, etc. 
 
 Lydia Sweetser, who never married, lived with her father, and after 
 his death continued to occupy the house aforesaid.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 387 
 
 Daniel Sweetser occupied this house before his father and sister, 
 and was here in 1795. 
 
 AARON BURDITT lived in the house recently occupied by his widow, 
 and still owned by his heirs. He was son of Joseph and Sarah (Sweet- 
 ser) Burditt, and born in Maiden, probably. He m., ist, 1797, Han- 
 nah, dau. of Edmund Eaton ; m., zd, 1820, Sally B. Upton ; he d. i&^rJ 
 Chil. : Hannah, b. 1799 ; betrothed to Harfield Hart, and d. unm. in 1 ' 
 1822 ; Aaron, b. 1802 ; m. 1825, Mary, dau. of James Emerson; Mary 
 Eaton, b. 1804; m. 1825, James Butler; William, b. 1821 ; m. Emily 
 Poole ; Henry, b. 1823, and m. Mary, dau. of F. B. Eaton ; James H., 
 b. 1825 ; Benj., b. 1827 ; Frances, Aaron, and two or three others. 
 
 Mr. Burditt was intelligent, respectable, and possessed great activity 
 and energy in business ; was a dealer in horses to some extent, and a 
 good judge of their character. He erected the house in which he lived 
 and died. 
 
 THOMAS PARKER lived in the house lately owned by Suel Winn, and 
 now owned by Mrs. Rogers, and improved a considerable farm, for- 
 merly connected therewith. He was son of Thomas and Sarah Parker 
 (see Early Settlers); b. 1751 ; m. 1773, Sarah, dau. of Thomas and 
 Mary Richardson ; they had no children, and both died 1822. 
 
 He was a deacon, and a very intelligent, modest, and worthy citizen. 
 
 Mrs. Parker was a Christian woman, with some literary taste ; she 
 kept a journal, and under date of June, 1775, she writes: "The Regu- 
 lars came over Charles River, and attacked the American army, who 
 were fortifying a hill called Bunker's Hill, where a bloody battle ensued ; 
 and the Regulars got the hill, with the loss of 1,450 men ; they also 
 burnt the town of Charlestown. Our army retreated, with the loss of 
 150 men killed and wounded, and 30 taken prisoners." In 1776, she 
 records in her journal the following poem, probably her own compo- 
 
 "ON GOD'S LAW. 
 
 dlt-w 9viJonb?jii ! ot bsnivj;? 3- :u3d bm: xJibrqtn 
 
 " The sacred law of God 
 
 Is like to Moses' rod; 
 If we but teep it in our hand, 
 It .will do wonders in the land ; 
 If we slight and throw it to the ground, 
 'T will turn a serpent and inflict a wound; 
 Around that, flesh and blood cannot endure, 
 Nor save, until the brazen serpent cure ; 
 I wish not, Lord, thou shouldst withhold it, 
 Nor would I have it and not hold it ; 
 3JlUp-bfi. O teach me then, my God, 
 To handle Moses' rod."
 
 388 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 This place was the original homestead of the Parker family, and 
 remained in the Parker name until the decease of Dea. Thomas, in 
 1822. It was formerly, for many years, noted as a public house and 
 grocery'. 
 
 JAMES BURDITT bought and occupied, about this time, a small house 
 (the present occupant is unknown). Benj. Badger, Jr., built the house, 
 and after occupying it a short time, sold it to Mr. Burditt. 
 
 He (Burditt) was the son of Joseph and Sarah (Sweetser) Burditt ; 
 b. about 1775 ; m. 1798, Fanny, dau. of Dea. Jacob and Margaret 
 Emerson. Children : James, b. 1801 ; m. 1830, Betsey Matthews, and 
 lives in Stoneham ; Warren, b. 1803 ; unm. ; mind injured by sickness ; 
 Fanny, b. 1805 ; m. 1825, Moses Sweetser, Jr., and is d. Mr. James 
 Burditt d. 1822, aged 47. 
 
 EDWARD BURDITT, brother of James, aforesaid, was b. about 1766; 
 
 m., ist, Pratt, of Maiden ; m., 2d, 1814, Lois Gill, of Maiden, 
 
 and d. 1835, aged 69. Chil. : Betsey, m. 1815, Dea. Martin Stowell ; 
 Joseph, m. 1818, Dolly Slocomb; both d. ; Edward, m. 1816, Elizabeth 
 Nichols; is now d. ; Nathan, m. 1828, Sophronia Woodward; is now 
 d. ; Sally and Lucinda d. unm. ; and perhaps other children. 
 
 Mr. Burditt was a quiet, industrious citizen, an unbeliever in the 
 theory of the earth's diurnal motion, because in that case, he reasoned, 
 *' his well would be nightly emptied of its contents." He loved 
 pigeon-shooting, and took delight in relating marvellous stories of 
 events that had come under his own observation ; for instance : " Sit- 
 ting for pigeons, on a certain occasion," said he, " when those birds 
 were flying in great abundance, and having decoyed to my pole a 
 mighty flock, I was so excited, that I fired a little too low, and did not 
 drop a single pigeon; but," said he, "I picked up a hat-full of pigeons' 
 feet " ''"' r; 
 
 The Burditt family, the whole race of them, had a special gift and 
 skill in the manufacture of shoes, which enabled them to turn them off 
 with great rapidity and beauty. The art seemed to be instinctive with 
 them, for the children, with scarcely any instruction, were at once, 
 almost, good and quick v/orkmen at the craft. 
 
 JAMES GRAIN lived in a house, built by himself, that stood near the 
 last named, and which was burned a few years since. He m. 1804, 
 Lydia Burditt, and d. 1855, aged 71. Chil. : James, m. Rebecca Hutch- 
 inson ; William, m. Sarah A. Hutchinson ; Lydia, m. Samuel P. Avery ; 
 Elizabeth, m. Virnum Sweetser ; a daughter, m. Geo. P. Eaton ; Nancy 
 P., m. Daniel Stevens. 
 
 This place was formerly quite noted as being the head-quarters, on
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 389 
 
 election and Thanksgiving days, for chicken and turkey shooting- 
 matches. 
 
 WID. SARAH BURDITT and JOHN BURDITT, mother and son, lived in 
 an ancient mansion that stood near where now stands the house lately 
 owned by E. W. Wood. 
 
 Wid. Sarah was the wid. of Joseph Burditt, formerly of Maiden, to 
 whom she was married in 1766; she was dau. of Michael and Mary 
 (Smith) Sweetser, and was born 1745. 
 
 Mr. Burditt removed to Reading about 1790, and d. 1804, aged 65 ; 
 his wid. d. 1831, aged 86. His children are noticed under distinct 
 heads. 
 
 This old mansion, now removed, and the farm formerly connected 
 therewith, constituted the early homestead of a family of Cutlers who 
 removed away many years ago. Lilley Eaton, Sen., was living on the 
 place in the time of the Revolution. 
 
 John Burditt m., ist, 1809, Lydia Hawkes ; was twice married, and 
 has recently deceased. Children : Lydia, m. T. J. Sweetser (2d wife) ; 
 Sarah, m. and settled in Saugus ; John has been married several 
 times ; Benja., d. young ; Francis, settled in Lynn ; Polly, and other 
 children. 
 
 CHURCH STREET. 
 
 REUBEN EMERSON lived in the parsonage house, a dwelling now 
 owned by John M. Gate, and removed to Salem Street ; is used at 
 present as a tenement house. The house was erected in 1804 or 1805, 
 and was the third parsonage house built by said parish. It had origi- 
 nally a flat or hipped roof, and was without an L. It was remodelled a 
 few years since. 
 
 Mr. Emerson was at this time the pastor of the First Parish, and the 
 eighth minister of said parish ; he was born in Ashby in 1771; was the 
 son of John and Katharine (Eaton) Emerson, and grandson of Dea. 
 Brown Emerson, of Reading. In early life he was a shoemaker, and 
 worked at that honorable handicraft in this town, and mainly by his 
 own efforts and earnings secured a liberal education, and graduated 
 at Dartmouth College in 1798 ; m. 1800, Persis Hardy, of New Hamp- 
 shire ; was ordained in Westminster, V.t., in 1800 ; was ordained as 
 pastor of the Congregational church in Reading (now Wakefield) in 
 1804, and d. 1860. He occupied the mansion until his death. Chil- 
 dren : Brown Handell Buckley, born about 1801 ; studied medicine with 
 Dr. Spaulding, of South Reading ; settled first in Boston, where he 
 married ; removed to the interior of New York, where he died in
 
 390 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 middle life. The lustre of the eminent names which he wore was cer- 
 tainly not increased by any excellencies of this namesake, for he was 
 not illustrious for natural or acquired gifts. He had a good musical 
 ear, as was true of the whole family, and could play well on instru- 
 ments. He had an impediment in his speech, stammering very badly. 
 He was somewhat intemperate in his habits. He left no children. 
 
 Charles Milton, born 1802, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1826 
 with honor; studied law; settled first at Hartford, Conn. ; m., ist, a 
 Miss Chapman, of Greenfield ; was several years clerk in the Connec- 
 ticut Senate ; became embarrassed by losses in land speculations, 
 which induced him to remove to New Orleans, leaving his family 
 behind. At New Orleans he secured the reputation of being an able 
 and honorable counsellor. 
 
 Charles M. was our own cotemporary playmate, schoolmate, and 
 intimate youthful associate, and it was with much sorrow that we 
 learned that in the late War of the Rebellion he espoused the cause 
 of secession, refused to take the oath of allegiance to his country, 
 and was obliged in consequence to leave New Orleans for other 
 parts of rebeldom. Upon the fall of the confederacy, or before, he 
 returned to New Orleans, where he now resides. He m. a second 
 wife at New Orleans, and has several young children. A son by his 
 first wife was educated at Cambridge, and died recently. 
 
 John Calvin (third son of Reuben), b. about 1803 ; was a tall, portly, 
 good-looking youth, of overflowing good nature, easy, moderate, social, 
 and fond of sport and fun. He possessed a nice ear and a warm love 
 for sweet sounds, became a teacher of music, settled in Savannah, Ga., 
 where he died a young man, and unm. 
 
 Catharine Anna Fiske, b. 1805, the only daughter, is still living, and 
 resides at Somerville or Salem, unm. Propriety will not permit that we 
 should say more of her than that she is an intelligent, amiable, cheer- 
 ful, and worthy lady, who will be long remembered by the people of 
 South Reading as the sweet singer and accomplished leader in the 
 choir of the old church, long made vocal with her melodies. 
 
 Reuben Washington (the youngest son), b. 1806, was an eccentric 
 genius ; naturally indolent, and without a spark of ambition, he had 
 rather starve than work. He was a great trial to his family. He 
 learned the trade of a printer ; had a good common-school education, 
 and was peculiar in his knowledge of geography, particularly that of- 
 his own neighborhood, being able to give the boundary towns of every 
 town in New England. Like Old Mortality, he was fond of decipher- 
 ing the inscriptions upon the ancient gravestones in the old cemeteries.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 391 
 
 He was a musician, in common with the rest of the family, but was 
 too slothful to make the gift available for any benefit to himself or 
 anybody else. He was once convicted and imprisoned for stealing, 
 but he stole nothing but food, preferring to steal victuals rather than 
 work for them. He went to Ohio, and there died. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Emerson was a sound scholar, a good citizen, a social and 
 Agreeable companion, and an honest man. As a theologian, he was a 
 rigid Calvinist ; as a preacher, he was fluent, but not eloquent ; seldom 
 poetical or pathetic, sometimes prosy, frequently long-winded and 
 tedious, except when his discourses were historical, and then interest- 
 ing and instructive. He was a man of great firmness and pertinacity, 
 loved influence, and for many years possessed it in his own parish to 
 an unbounded degree ; was a friend of education and good morals. 
 In 1812 he was classed as a federalist and an opposer of the war and of 
 the National Administration, but in his latter years he was an earnest 
 republican, opposed to the whole system of slavery, and was a true 
 patriot He died in 1860, aged 88 years. 
 
 DAVID GARDNER. Passing from the old parish church westerly, we 
 then found standing on the common land, near where is now the town 
 pound, a wheelwright's shop owned by David Gardner, who pursued 
 his vocation there a few years, and then sold out and went, it is pre- 
 sumed, to Hirtgham, from whence he came. A daughter of his is now 
 the wife of Calvin Nichols, of this town. His wife was a Crocker, 
 sister to Wid. Benj. H. Eaton, and to the late Wid. Benj. Swain. This 
 shop was bought by Thomas Skinner, removed to the foot of Fitch's 
 Hill, converted into a dwelling, and is now owned by James Connell. 
 
 WILLIAM DJEADMAN purchased, about this time, a part of the house, 
 a small cottage, that stood where now stands the house occupied by his 
 widow and his son William, the other part of the cottage being owned 
 for several years by Wid. Molly Parker. He subsequently bought the 
 other part, and erected the present dwelling. He was son of Wil- 
 liam Deadman, of Stoneham, a soldier in the Revolution ; his mother 
 was Mary, dau. of Capt. Thomas Green ; she lived to a great age ; was 
 a pleasant and worthy woman ; d., aged 98. 
 
 William (Jr.), m. 1813, Sally, dau. of James Boutwell ; was the first 
 captain of the Washington Rifle Company, who belonged to South 
 Reading ; was a man of high respectability, of great mechanical inge- 
 nuity, and of excellent taste and skill in contriving and arranging the 
 useful and ornamental surroundings of house, garden, and field. He 
 was town sexton for many years, and d. 1865, aged 77. 
 
 His predecessors on this place were a family of Tottinghams, from
 
 39 2 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Woburn ; Elisha, the elder, who m. 1764, Mary Pike, of Woburn ; was 
 a blacksmith, and had a son Aaron ; the father and son were both 
 intemperate. The widow of Elisha, Mary, died 1818, aged 82. 
 
 NATHANIEL BROWN lived on the place recently occupied by Wid. 
 Lucy (Poole) Jennings ; he was son of Gen. Benjamin Brown ; b. 
 1756 ; m. 1800, Rhoda, dau. of Abiel and Thankful Brown, and d. 
 1832, aged 76. Had several daughters, of whom Rhoda, late wife o/ 
 Charles Lee, of South Reading, was one. Mr. Brown was a laborer 
 and gardener; poor, but honest and industrious. His wife was de- 
 ranged for many years. The house was^then a one-story cottage, built 
 by adding his father's old currier shop (that was removed hither from 
 the side of the pond), to old Tottingham's blacksmith shop, which 
 stood on this spot, the same being common land ; and a lot of land, 
 forty feet square, was voted to Mr. Brown during life. He was per- 
 mitted, however, to improve additional land as a garden. This land 
 (the forty feet square) was sold by the town after Mr. Brown's death, 
 and was owned a while by Col. Elbridge Gerry, of Stoneham, who re- 
 built and enlarged the house. 
 
 JAMES HARTSHORN (Jr.) lived on the same spot, where he died in 1870 ; 
 was one of the few who owned and occupied the same domicil for more 
 than half a century. He was the son of Dea. James and Sarah (Hop- 
 kinson) Hartshorn ; b. 1776 ; m., ist, 1803, Abigail Coggin, of Woburn ; 
 m., 2d, 1819, Mary, dau. of Thomas Poole, of Woburn. Chil. : James, 
 b. 1807 ; m. Maria Williams ; is a trader in Boston, and lives in 
 Belmont; Abigail, b. 1809; m. Samuel Gardner, and lives in Wake- 
 field ; Jacob Coggin, b. 1810 ; m. Mary Blanchard ; was father of the 
 present Jacob C. Hartshorn, and is now dead ; John Francis, b. 1812 ; 
 in. Henrietta Burt, and lives in Wakefield ; George A., b. 1813, who 
 m. and settled in Woburn ; William Hubbard, b. 1826 ; Charles Fred- 
 eric, b. 1835 ; Mary Parker, b. 1830, now the wife of John Rayner, and 
 other children, who d. young. 
 
 He was colonel in the cavalry corps, and town treasurer for many 
 years. 
 
 This place was occupied in 1765 by Jonathan Cowdrey, who was of 
 a different family from that on Cowdrey's hill ; lived in town a few years, 
 and removed ; he was a clock and buckle maker ; made the old 
 weather-cock that for nearly a century was perched upon the spire of 
 , the old church. The place was afterwards sold to Dr. John Hart, who 
 enlarged the house, and built a hall in it particularly for the use of the 
 Mount Moriah Lodge of Freemasons ; it was occupied, subsequently, 
 for a public house by Mr. Harvey, Oliver Pope, and perhaps others.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 393 
 
 Caleb Eaton and Dea. David Smith were the immediate predecessors 
 of the late owner. 
 
 COL. JAMES HARTSHORN. 
 
 FRANCIS HAY lived where Ebenezer Hartshorn now lives ; was son 
 of Dr. John Hay; b. 1783 ; m., ist, Polly Mansfield, and 2d, Sarah 
 Myrick, and removed to Charlestown. Chil. : Mary, who m. Mr. 
 Munroe; Sybil, who m. Mr. Burbank, of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Antoinette, 
 who m. Mr. Griffin, of New York city, and now lives in New Jersey. 
 
 Mr. Hay was a cabinet-maker, a very ingenious mechanic and cun- 
 ning workman, and a very honest man, though somewhat peculiar. 
 5
 
 394 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 He built, perhaps in connection with his brother John, this house, sold 
 one half of it to his sister, Wid. Elizabeth Nichols, and the other half to 
 Ebenezer Hartshorn, who subsequently purchased the whole. Mr. Hay 
 removed to Charlestown, as previously stated. Mr. Hartshorn has 
 lived on the place nearly, if not quite, fifty years; is a brother of 
 James Hartshorn, above named ; was born 1788 ; m. 1813, Mary Winn, 
 sister of Maj. Suel Winn. Chil. : Mary W., b. 1816 ; m. 1837, John 
 Eaton, and is now a widow; Sarah, b. 1817; m. 1840, Micah Heath, 
 and lives in Wakefield ; Eliza Nichols, b. 1820; m. Leonard Clifford, 
 and is now a widow; Ebenezer Francis, b. 1822, and settled in Cali- 
 fornia; Lucyette, b. 1827; has lived in California, and now in Wake- 
 field, unm. ; Jane, lives in Wakefield, unm. 
 
 EBENEZER WILEY lived in the house recently occupied by Samuel 
 Winship; was son of James and Mary (Bryant) Wiley; b. 1781 ; m. 
 1804, Jerusha, dau. of Capt. Nathaniel Cowdrey ; was a prosperous shoe 
 manufacturer, and an excellent man. He died of fevtr in 1817, aged 
 36. Chil. : Charlotte, b. 1805 ; m. 1824, Robert Stimpson, and lives 
 in Charlestown ; Sylvester, b. 1808 ; m. and settled in Hartford, Ct., 
 and d. in 1869 ; Francis, b. 1810; m. Lydia, dau. of Abraham Sweet- 
 ser; went to Ohio and there died; Clarissa, b. 1811 ; m. 1831, Lemuel 
 Sweetser, and lives in Wakefield. 
 
 This house was built from a " tin shop " that was removed hither 
 from the Common, and that once stood near where the house and 
 store recently owned by P. C. Wheeler now stand. 
 
 JOSEPH ATWELL lived in the house recently occupied by the late Joel 
 Winship ; he was son of Joseph and Pearn or Pamela (Cowell) Atwell ; 
 his father was a native of Lynn, and his mother was a native of Eng- 
 land, being the dau. of Wid. Cowell, who married Elias Bryant, of 
 Stoneham. 
 
 Joseph Qr.) m. 1803, Sarah, dau. of Capt. Nath'l Cowdrey ; was select- 
 man, town collector, and a respectable citizen; he d. 1835, aged 54. 
 His wid. became the 2d wife of Capt. Henry Knight. Chil. : Joseph 
 Warren, m. Abigail Melburn, and is now d. ; Benj. F., went South, and 
 there died ; Sumner died unmarried. 
 
 Mr. Atwell sold this house many years ago to Doss Freeman, a col- 
 ored man, and removed subsequently to Cowdrey's Hill, to the place 
 recently owned by Henry List. The house was built by Samuel Stacey, 
 who came from Townsend ; m. 1800, Hannah, dau. of John and Lydia 
 Vinton, and d. 1815. 
 
 Freeman was succeeded by Capt. Wm. Emerson, son of Wm.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 395 
 
 Emerson, of Melrose, and grandson of Thomas Emerson, Sen., of 
 South Reading. 
 
 HENRY KNIGHT lived in the house lately owned by Thomas Win- 
 ship, and formerly owned by Capt. Nath'l Cowdrey. Mr. Knight was 
 born in Harvard, in 1792 ; was son of Elisha Knight, of Stoneham ; m., 
 ist, 1813, Ruhamah, dau. of Joseph Eaton, of Woburn, and grand- 
 daughter of Jonathan Eaton, of Woburn, who was a native of Reading ; 
 m., 2d, Sarah, wid. of Joseph Atwell ; m., 3d, Dorothy, wid. of Charles 
 Richardson. 
 
 Was captain, selectman, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, and is 
 now dead. Chil. : Lydia F., b. 1814; m. 1832, Capt. Thomas Rich- 
 ardson ; is now a wid. ; Laurillia, b. 1818 ; m. 1838, Hiram Eaton, of 
 Wakefield ; Sophronia O., b. 1821 ; m. Jona. Eames, of Wilmington ; 
 Henry Clay, b. 1829 ; m. Phebe Hurd, and lives in Wakefield. 
 
 WILLIAM EMERSON occupied a part of the same house with Capt. 
 Knight. 
 
 He was son of William and Sarah (Cowdrey) Emerson ; b. about 
 
 1783; m. Newhall; had many children; was captain; removed 
 
 to Bangor, Me., owned and occupied a while the house now owned by 
 Samuel Winship. 
 
 ELM STREET. 
 
 AMOS BOARDMAN lived on the place lately owned and occupied by 
 Hannah (Bancroft) Emerson, wid. of Benj. Emerson. 
 
 He was the son of Amos Boardman, formerly of Chelsea (living on 
 lands that have since been annexed to Saugus) ; he afterwards removed 
 to Reading, and occupied the place in Woodville recently owned by 
 the late Lowell Emerson, dwelling in an old house, how demolished, 
 that stood near the said Lowell's house, on the opposite side of the 
 road. 
 
 His mother was Elizabeth, dau. of Benj. and Elizabeth (Burnap) 
 Smith, and a descendant of John and Dea. Francis Smith, early set- 
 tlers. He was a descendant, in the fourth degree, from William Board- 
 man, of Cambridge, who settled there in 1638, and died there in 1685, 
 aged 71. He married in 1779, Mary Lewis, of Billerica ; was a soldier 
 in the Revolution, and afterwards a colonel in the militia ; and a 
 school committee-man several years. He died 1823, aged 68. His 
 widow died 1843, aged 88. 
 
 Col. Boardman was a notable man, of portly and commanding per- 
 sonal appearance ; active, energetic, public-spirited, and patriotic ; he 
 exercised much influence in his day and generation. He was full of
 
 396 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 martial ardor, and never felt better than when on parade at the head 
 of his regiment. An old swivel or cannon which the colonel pro- 
 cured to usher in training and muster days with its sounding boom, and 
 which was also used on Independence days, being left in the mean 
 time upon the common, is not forgotten by those who were the boys of 
 those days. He was also a warm and zealous friend of education and 
 of the common schools, over which he long had official superintend- 
 ence. His earnest and stirring addresses to his scholars, when he made 
 his official visits, will be long remembered ; he was profuse in his com- 
 mendations, and inspiring in his portrayal of what the pupils might 
 become by good behavior and faithful study. " In fact," he would say 
 to them, " by so doing you may be sure to rise in the world ; true, you 
 may not all become colonel, as I am, though some of you may, and gen- 
 erals, governors, and presidents too, but you may all get to be some- 
 bodies, captains, sergeants, corporals, at least." 
 
 He gave his own children a good education, for the days in which 
 he lived ; and those children have consequently risen in the commu- 
 nity, and become somebodies. 
 
 He changed his religious sentiments in his latter life, and from an 
 Orthodox Congregationalist became an active Universalist, and was 
 one of the founders of the Universalist society in South Reading. 
 Children: Amos, b. 1780; followed the sea; became a sea-captain; 
 died in 1811, in London, unm. ; Mary, b. 1782 ; m. 1804, John Lam- 
 bert (see Fam. Ac't) ; Sarah Smith, b. 1784; m. 1808, Burrage Yale, 
 Esq. (see Fam. Ac't); Rebecca, b. 1786; m. 1818, Dr. Moses Long, 
 of Concord, N. H., had several daughters, and d. 1823, aged 37. She 
 was for several seasons the teacher of the Centre School, succeeding 
 her sister Sarah S. in this office ; was a thorough and faithful instruc- 
 tor, but a most strict and rigid disciplinarian; Nancy, b. 1788; was 
 a teacher of the west district school, and of a private academy. She 
 was tall, and somewhat masculine in her personal appearance, with 
 majestic step and genteel bearing, gifts that were common to this 
 branch of the Boardman family. She married Samuel Fletcher, Esq., of 
 Concord, N. H., and died there in 1842, aged 35, without issue ; Lydia, 
 became the 2d wife of Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, D. D., of Middlebury, 
 Vt. ; is now a widow ; has had no children ; Asa Lewis, b. about 1792 ; 
 m. 1827, Mary, dau. of Silas Smith; succeeded to the homestead, and 
 was a shoe manufacturer, justice of the peace, etc. ; was well informed, 
 social, and jocose. He d. at sea, 1830, aged 38; Benjamin, became 
 a counsellor-at-law ; was married, had several children, and is now 
 dead.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 397 
 
 The colonel had other children, who died young, one of whom was 
 drowned in the great pond. 
 
 The immediate predecessor of Col. Boardman upon this place was 
 Dea. Francis Smith, son of John and Elizabeth (Lynde) Smith ; was 
 b. 1716 ; m., ist, 1746, Sarah Boardman, of Chelsea, and m., 2d, 1785, 
 Wid. Sarah Bryant The deacon, having no children, and being a 
 cousin to the colonel's mother, and his wife being aunt to the colonel, 
 he made the colonel his heir, and in consideration of a promised main- 
 tenance during life, gave him full possession of his property. And, as 
 often happens in such cases, he lived, it is said, to regret the arrangement. 
 At any rate, he left the homestead, and went to live at the house of his 
 second wife, which stood on the westerly part of Church Street, and 
 was last known as the Boutwell house, now taken down. The prede- 
 cessor of Dea. Smith on the Col. Boardman place, and probably the 
 first occupant, was Thomas Hay, a brother of Dr. John Hay, who re- 
 moved to Dublin, N. H. 
 
 TIMOTHY KINSMAN kept a grocery store on the spot where now 
 stands the dwelling-house of James Eustis. There was then, on this 
 site, a large, unpainted, gambrel-roofed mansion, with a large L. The 
 store was kept in the L part, and the main house was occupied as a 
 tenement house by various tenants for many years, until the present 
 proprietor, some forty years since, took possession, renewed the build- 
 ings, planted gardens and orchards, and restored the place to more 
 than its pristine glory. 
 
 This was an early seat of the Goodwin family, who were among the 
 early settlers of the town, and for many years some of the most influ- 
 ential and eminent inhabitants. (See Early Settlers.) 
 
 JAMES NICHOLS, son of Samuel, and a descendant of Richard (se 
 Early Settlers), was b. 1735 ; m., ist, 1764, Mary, the only dau. of 
 Capt John and Mary (Parker) Goodwin; Capt John was the last 
 Goodwin owner ; and Mr. Nichols, at the death of his wife's parents, 
 succeeded to this property and also to the Kendall Parker place, now 
 occupied by M. F. Leslie, Hero W. Nichols, and others. 
 
 His first wife d. 1767. He m., 2d, about 1768, Wid. Anna (Hay) 
 Wright, of Stoneham ; she d. 1769; m., 3d, 1770, Wid. Patience 
 (Pritchard) Hero, and she d. 1793 ; m., 4th, 1794, Wid. Eunice Walton, 
 of Cambridge, who was mother to the wife of his son, Hay Nichols. 
 He d. 1810, aged 75. 
 
 He was a baker by trade ; had lived in Maiden and Salem ; was 
 called lieutenant; was a very industrious man. Children by ist
 
 398 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 wife : James, b. 1765 ; a man of tall and stalwart frame, but of weak 
 and wayward intellect. He died unm. in 1837, a g ec * 7 1 - 
 
 By 2d wife : Hay, b. 1769 ; m. 1799, Eunice Walton, of Cambridge ; 
 kept a grocery store in the above-named mansion ; was selectman, jus- 
 tice of the peace, and representative; a man of intelligence and ability. 
 He died 1806, leaving one son, Leonard Hay, now living in Stoneham. 
 
 By 3d wife: Samuel, b. 1772; m. 1797, Elizabeth Hay, settled in 
 Boston ; was a bricklayer ; was father of the late Rev. Samuel, who d. 
 1844; of Eliza, wid. of Lilley Eaton, and of Eunice, wife of Adam 
 Wiley. He d. 1810. Hero, who settled in Salem, and whose son, 
 Hero W., and other children, live on the Kendall Parker place. Polly, 
 who m. Joseph Eustis, of Salem, and d. in early life, leaving one son, 
 James Eustis, who now owns the Dea. Goodwin place, aforesaid. A 
 dau., Betsey, was insane, and d. young, unm. 
 
 JOHN HAY lived on the place formerly owned by Geo. W. Hartshorn, 
 and recently sold by Newhall to T. J. West, the present occupant. He 
 was son of Dr. Win. and Abigail (Boutwell) Hay; b. 1737; was a 
 physician ; m. Sarah Ring, of Salisbury, a granddau. of Rev. Jona. 
 Pierpont ; settled first in Woburn, but when his father became old he 
 returned to Reading and succeeded to his father's practice and eventu- 
 ally to the homestead. He was a very respectable physician ; enjoyed 
 a good practice ; was a careful and gentle practitioner, and used in his 
 practice more botanic medicines than most other physicians, so that he 
 was sometimes called " the root and herb doctor." He was a peace- 
 able, retiring, and upright citizen. He d. 1815, aged 77 ; and his wid. 
 d. 1816, aged 76. Chil. : Sarah, b. 1762: m. Dudley Porter, and re- 
 moved to Nova Scotia ; Jonathan Pierpont, b. 1765 ; m. 1794, Hepzi- 
 beth Appleton ; Charlotte, b. 1766 ; m., ist, 1786, Dr. Isaac S.Thomp- 
 son, of Woburn, a cousin of Benja. Thompson, of Count Rumford 
 notoriety ; settled in Maine and m., 2d, John Flint, of Baldwin, Me. ; 
 Charles, b. 1769, became a physician, and settled in Maine, and died 
 there ; Abigail, b. 1771 ; m. 1793, John Chandler, and is dead ; Eliza- 
 beth, b. 1773; m. 1797, Samuel Nichols, and d. 1861, aged 88; Pa- 
 mela, b. 1774; m. 1798, Timothy Sweetser, and is dead; Anna, b. 
 1776; m. 1799, Jesse Pope, and is dead; John, b. 1777; m. 1805, 
 Sarah Lucas, and is dead; George, b. 1779; m. and settled in Lexing- 
 ton, Ky. ; Mary, b. 1781; m. 1806, Robert Raddin, and is dead; 
 Francis, b. 1783 ; m , ist, Polly Mansfield ; she d. 1816 ; m., 2d, 1817, 
 Sarah Myrick, and removed to Charlestown and died there. 
 
 The house that long stood upon this spot, and which was built by 
 Dr. Win. Hay, was taken down a few years since.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 399 
 
 JAMES HARTSHORN (Sen.) lived where Joseph Hartshorn, his son, 
 now lives ; was son of Benja. and Mary (Swain) Hartshorn (see Early 
 Settlers); b. 1750; m. 1771, Sarah, dau. of Dea. Ebenezer and Ruth 
 (Bancroft) Hopkinson ; was a deacon ; kept a grocery store in his 
 early life ; a modest, upright man; d. 1824, aged 74. Chil. : James, b. 
 1773, d. soon; Jonathan, b. 1775, an< ^ d. soon; James, b. 1776 
 (see Special Account) ; Jonathan, b. 1779, and d. 1803 ; Sally, 
 b. 1781, and m. 1811, Stephen Hale, and d. 1813 ; Lucy, b. 1783, m. 
 Amos Boutwell, and lived in Wakefield ; John Francis, b. 1785, and d. 
 1810; Ebenezer, b. 1788 (see Special Account) ; Betsey, b. 1790; m. 
 Hon. Thos. Emerson (see Special Account) ; Joseph ; m. 1816, Abigail 
 R., dau. of James Emerson, and succeeded his father on the homestead, 
 which included as his father's share a part only of the ancient place ; 
 the other part descending to Jeremiah, an uncle of Joseph. The chil- 
 dren of Joseph were : Joseph, who went to California ; Abigail, who m. 
 W. H. Atwell, Esq. ; Jona. Francis, who m. Louisa Wiley ; Nancy, who 
 m. Luther Reed, Jr. ; and one or more who d. young. 
 
 JEREMIAH HARTSHORN lived in the northerly part of the old Harts- 
 horn mansion ; was brother of Dea. James, b. 1760 ; m. 1786, 
 Margaret, dau. of Dr. Oliver Swain ; d. 1838. Was a soldier 
 of the Revolution, a respectable citizen, somewhat pompous and 
 grandiloquent in manners and language. Children: Oliver Swain, b. 
 1787 ; m. a dau. of Dr. Martin Herrick, and settled in Portland, Me. ; 
 Washington, b. 1791 ; m., ist, Lucy Haines ; m., 2d, Vesta L., dau. of 
 Dr. Charles Hay ; settled first in South Reading ; removed to Port- 
 land ; was deacon ; d. 1854, aged 63 ; Jeremiah, b. 1802 ; was twice 
 m. ; is now dead ; Thomas Swain, b. 1806 ; m. Betsey Gerry, of Stone- 
 ham, and now lives in Reading. 
 
 These sons belonged, through their mother, to the race of " bleeders," 
 or to a family that, for many generations, were subject to a liability to 
 commence bleeding from some slight wound, and to continue bleeding, 
 in spite of all efforts to stop the effusion, until life was nearly extinct, 
 when, generally, the subject would slowly rally, and recover his usual 
 health. It was a curious peculiarity of this malady, that it only visited 
 daughters' sons, and that " sons' sons " and none of the daughters were 
 thus afflicted. The first three sons, above named, were occasionally 
 thus visited, but the youngest son has not been, and it is hoped that 
 the malady has run out. 
 
 BENJ. SWAIN lived where Wid. Jacob Varnum Holt now lives ; was 
 the son of Dr. Oliver Swain ; b. 1767 ; m., ist, Ruth Buck, and m., ad, 
 Wid. Experience ' (Crocker) Holt ; was a carpenter, a quiet, honest
 
 400 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 man, and is now dead. Chil. : Benjamin, who m., ist, Miss Wheeler, 
 of Stoneham ; had a second wife and removed from town ; Oliver, who 
 m. and lives in New Bedford, and other children, who d. young. 
 
 The predecessor of Mr. Swain on this place was Thomas Damon, 
 son of Ebenezer and Dorcas Damon; b. 1725; m. 1748, Elizabeth 
 Stimpson ; his widow, it is said, married David Gerry, of Stoneham, 
 and was mother of the late Dea. Gerry, of Stoneham. Her son, Tho. 
 Damon, sold out, and went to Lunenburg. The old house that long 
 stood on this spot was burnt a few years since, and the present one was 
 erected by the late Jacob V. Holt. 
 
 SUEL WINN lived on the place now in part occupied by his widow, 
 Lydia Winn. He then lived in an old house that stood a few rods 
 easterly of Mrs. Winn's present mansion, and which was taken down a 
 few years since. 
 
 Mr. Winn was a native of Burlington, son of Jeremiah Winn ; b. 
 about 1784; m. 1808, Lydia Whittemore, of Charlestown, dau. of Philip 
 Whittemore, of West Cambridge ; was a butcher and farmer ; a major 
 in the cavalry, selectman, etc. He was a man of great activity, industry, 
 and perseverance, honest and just in his transactions, somewhat rough 
 and blunt in his manners and language, but tender-hearted and gen- 
 erous. He acquired a handsome estate. He was killed in 1851, at 
 the Church Street railroad crossing, by a passing locomotive, at the 
 age of 67. He built the house now standing on the place. The barns 
 on the place, one of which was very large, were burned not long ago. 
 Children : Lydia, who m. Reuben Green, of Maiden ; John, who m., 
 ist, a dau. of Edmund Parker, Esq. ; m. again, and r noved to Nan- 
 tucket; Henry, who d. a young man, unm. ; Harriet, who d. a young 
 woman, unm. ; Eliza, who m. James Edward Emerson, and lives in 
 Wakefield ; Suel, who lives in Wakefield; Geo. Augustus, who is m. 
 and lives in Boston ; William, who d. young. 
 
 WILLIAM SIMPSON lived in a part of the old house above described ; 
 he came from the State of Maine; m. 1815, Wid Betsey Damon, wid. 
 of Ebenezer Damon, whose maiden name was Betsey Centre ; he was 
 ignorant and unpolished, but kind-hearted. They sold their interest in 
 the place to Maj. Winn, and removed to Andover ; became poor, and 
 returned in their old age to South Reading, and d. in 1853 in the alms- 
 house, he at the age of 73, and she much older. 
 
 This old house and farm, which thus became the sole property of 
 Maj. Winn, was formerly owned by Ebenezer Damon, father of the 
 Ebenezer Damon above named, b. 1718, and brother of Thomas Damon, 
 Sen., of the Benj. Swain place; he, or possibly his son, d. and left a
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 4OI 
 
 wid., Lydia, who m. 1782, Capt. Phineas Parker, of Pepperell, who 
 removed hither, and was the immediate predecessor of Maj. Winn, and 
 d. 1814, aged 74. Tradition says that this farm was first settled by a 
 family of Walkers, who removed to Lynn. 
 
 REBECCA BRYANT lived in a small, ancient-looking cottage that 
 stood a short distance northwesterly of where Joseph Hartshorn now 
 lives; she was dau. of John Boutwell ; b. 1742 ; wid. of Jeremiah Bry- 
 ant, to whom she was m. 1768 ; was mother of the late Jeremiah 
 Bryant, blacksmith, and other children. She went soon after this to 
 live with her children, and the old cottage was taken down. This old 
 place had been occupied by this branch of the Bryant family for sev- 
 eral generations; Jeremiah Bryant, the son of Kendall, b. 1714, was 
 living here in 1765. An Adden family at one time owned a part of it, 
 from whom descended the present John Adden, Esq., of Reading. 
 
 JAMES BOUTWELL lived in a very ancient-looking mansion, now re- 
 moved, that stood a short distance westerly of the last named ; he was 
 son of John and Elizabeth Boutwell; b. 1745 ; m., ist, 1770, Tabitha, 
 dau. of Jeremiah Bryant ; m., 2d, Lydia. Children: James, b. 1783 ; 
 Amos, b. 1785; m. 1811, Lucy Hartshorn; Tabitha, b. 1790; m. James 
 Mitchell ; Lydia, who d. unm.; Sally, m. 1813, William Deadman, and 
 lives in Wakeneld ; and several other children. 
 
 This place was the most ancient Bryant homestead. James Bryant, 
 b. 1719, and who m. Sarah Swain, was living here in 1765 ; and, after 
 his death, his wid. m. in 1785, Dea. Francis Smith, the relative of Col. 
 Amos Boardman. Dea. Smith lived on the place until his death in 
 1799. 
 
 DAVID SMITH lived on the Lambert place, so called, now owned by 
 the Qu'annapowitt Ice Company. He was son of Capt. David and Mary 
 Smith ; b. 1771 ; was a Baptist deacon, selectman, etc. ; m., ist, 1795, 
 Catharine Emerson, sister of the late Rev. Reuben Emerson ; she d. 
 1796, aged 27^ ; m., zd, 1801, Phebe, dau. of James Howard, of Mel- 
 rose ; she d. 1848, aged 69 ; he d. April 6, 1855. Children : Catharine, 
 b. 1795; m. Aaron M. Chambers, and removed to Lancaster; David 
 and George, twins, b. 1802 ; m. and removed to the West ; Phebe, b. 
 1809 ; m. 1831, Tho. B. Skinner, and lives in Wakefield ; Lydia P., b. 
 1812; m. 1836, A. F. Hutchinson, Esq., of Wakefield; Porter, b 
 1814; rn., ist., 1837, Sarah D. Clay; m., 2d, 1850, Emeline Brown; 
 m.. 3d, 1857, Lucy A. Frink ; Eunice, b. 1817 , m. 1837, Asa N. Sweet- 
 ser (2d wife) ; Lot, b. 1819 ; m. 1851, Catharine Kain, and was killed 
 on Danvers Railroad ; and other children, who d. young. 
 
 Daa. David Smith was a man of high respectability ; of good natural 
 Si
 
 4O2 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 abilities, a devout worshipper, slow and sparing of speech, and of great 
 firmness ; he was a valuable citizen. 
 
 WILLIAM LAMBERT occupied a part of the Lambert place ; was 
 brother of Capt. John, who d. 1794, and son of Tho. Lambert, who 
 m. Elizabeth Nichols, probably a daughter of Jonathan Nichols. 
 
 William was a bachelor, of some singularities ; was many years a 
 sailor; an excellent penman ; honest, but not very forcible. During his 
 latter years, he had for a housekeeper one Hannah Turner, a maiden 
 lady, who had been brought up in the family of Col. Ebenezer Nichols, 
 whose relative married Thomas Lambert, the father of William 
 Hannah d. 1817, aged 76. 
 
 The old house and farm, occupied at this time by David Smith and 
 William Lambert, was the ancient homestead of the Nichols family. 
 
 Thomas Lambert married into this family (it is supposed that he m. 
 Elizabeth, dau. of Jonathan, and granddaughter of James and Mary); 
 he succeeded to the property. This Thomas Lambert is said to have 
 come from England ; was a gentleman of wealth and leisure, and was 
 fond of books and literature. He d. 1753, aged 57. He was called 
 Esq., and his widow Mrs., showing that they were of the gentility. 
 
 John Lambert, son of Capt. John Lambert, and grandson of Thomas, 
 lived on the late Davis Foster place, occupying a part of it ; m. Mary, 
 dau. of Col. Amos Boardman, and is dead. Chil. : Mary, m. Rev. Wm. 
 Gage, Amherst Coll., 1828, who settled in Concord, Ohio, where she still 
 lives a widow ; Amos Boardman, who settled in Salem, N. Y., is a 
 clergyman ; Rebecca, a successful school-teacher, m., and d. in early 
 life ; Thomas Scott, became a physician, a lecturer on physiology and 
 anatomy, and the donor to his native town of a copy of a large and 
 valuable work on physiology, of which he was the author. He lives 
 in New York city. 
 
 DAVIS FOSTER owned and occupied a part of the same house that 
 Mr. Lambert occupied. He was son of Jonathan and Sarah Foster ; 
 b. 1771, and d. 1855, aged 84. He m., ist, a Miss Holt, of Andover, 
 who had one dau., Emma, who m. Benj. Young, of Reading, and died 
 without issue. He m., 2d, Nancy (Johnson), dau. of Capt. Wm. John- 
 son, who d. 1805, and wid. of Stephen Russell, who d. 1803. Children 
 by ad wife : Russell, who m. Sophia Wiley; Betsey, who m. Joel Rog- 
 ers, of Tewksbury ; Stephen (Esquire), who m., ist, 1835, Louisa, dau. 
 of Thaddeus B. Pratt, Esq. ; m., zd, 1857, Harriet N. Fullington, of 
 Johnson, Vt. ; has had two daughters by i st wife, and a son and daughter 
 by ad wife ; lives in Reading ; trades in Boston.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 403 
 
 The house was formerly owned and occupied by Captain William 
 Johnson, whose wife was Esther, dau. of James and Esther Weston. 
 Davis, who died young. 
 
 PROSPECT STREET. 
 
 JOHN B. ATWELL lived in the smaller of the two houses still owned 
 by him and his sons ; was son of Joseph and Pamela (or Pearn) (Cow- 
 ell) Atwell ; b. about 1787 ; m., ist, 1809, Philomela, dau. of Wm. and 
 
 Esther (Cowdrey) Stimpson; m., 2d, 1867, Kingston, and lives in 
 
 Wakefield. Children: Louisa, b. 1810; m. 1833, Jacob Eaton, of 
 Cambridgeport, and d. 1867 ; John, b. 1812 ; m. 1836, Susan H. Burn- 
 ham ; William Henry, b. 1824 ; m. Abigail Hartshorn. 
 
 The house above referred to was probably erected by Wm. Stimpson, 
 who was living here in 1795. 
 
 AARON COWDREY lived on Cowdrey's hill, on the " Cowdrey farm," 
 long so called, in the mansion lately owned and occupied by Henry 
 L. Eaton, and now owned by Mrs. George O. Carpenter, of Boston ; 
 was son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Parker) Cowdrey ; b. 1777 ; m. 1798, 
 Betsey Harris, of Lunenb'urg ; he died 1856, aged 80 ; he was an intel- 
 ligent and respectable farmer. Children: Jonas, b. 1799 ; m., 151,1832, 
 Emily, dau. of Capt. James Gould ; owns and occupies a portion of the 
 ancient farm ; m., 2d, 1870, Mrs. Lawrence ; Harris, b. 1802 ; be- 
 came a physician ; settled in Acton ; is father of Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, 
 of Stoneham ; Eliza, b. 1809, became the 2d wife of Philander Braley, 
 of Illinois ; Sarah P., was ist wife (m. 1838) of Philander Braley, of 
 Illinois; Almine, b. 1814; m. 1836, Dana Holden, of Maiden; Henri- 
 etta, m. Charles H. Stearns, of Wakefield. 
 
 This old farm has been in possession of the Cowdrey family ever 
 since the early settlement of the town, and continued in their posses- 
 sion until the year 1866, and a portion of it is still owned by Jonas 
 Cowdrey, Esq. 
 
 JESSE DIKE, JESSE POPE, WILLIAM BEARD, were each tenants, for 
 longer or shorter terms, at about this time, of the place lately occupied 
 by Matthew F. Leslie. 
 
 Mr. Dike was from Stoneham ; lived in South Reading but a short 
 time, and returned to Stoneham, where he has been representative 
 he is now dead. He was father of Hon. Geo. W., of Col. Lyman, and 
 other children ; was a man of intelligence, and fond of books. 
 
 Mr. Pope was a jiative of Danvers ; son of Ebenezer and Sarah
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 (Whittredge) Pope ; m., ist, 1799, Nancy, dau. of Dr. John Hay ; m., 
 2d, 1837, Ede Odell, of Merrimack, N. H. Children : Nancy, who d. 
 in early life ; Sarah Ring, b. 1808 ; m. 1827, Samuel Kingman, Esq. ; 
 Lucy has been twice m., and lives in Westboro' ; Jesse W., m., and lives 
 in Boston. 
 
 Mr. Pope, at the time of his death, owned the place on Cedar Street 
 recently owned by Charles Davis. 
 
 Mr. Beard m. Nancy, dau. of Thomas Poole ; had several children, 
 among whom was William, a teacher of the Terpsichorean art. He d. 
 1831, aged 57. 
 
 This old farm was one that was settled very early ; the house now 
 standing thereon is among the oldest, perhaps the very oldest, now 
 remaining. It was the homestead of Sergt. John Parker (see Early 
 Settlers), and of his son, Kendall Parker, Esq., whose dau. m. Capt. 
 John Goodwin ; her dau. m. James Nichols, and thus the place passed 
 into the Nichols family, the larger part of which is now owned and 
 occupied by the children of the late Hero Nichols, a son of James 
 Nichols. 
 
 CORNELIUS SWEETSER, Jr., lived on the place recently owned by Tho. 
 Davis (formerly Jameson's) ; was son of Cornelius and Sarah (Smith) 
 Sweetser ; b. 1778 ; m. Phebe, dau. of Lilley and Sarah Eaton. Chil. : 
 Stephen, b. 1802 ; m., ist, Lydia, dau. of Eliakim Stowell ; m., 2d, 
 1831, Nancy Witherspoon ; m., 3d, Charlotte Kenney ; Phebe, b. 1805 ; 
 m. William Mansfield ; Cornelius, b. 1808 ; settled in Saco, Me. ; 
 Sarah, b. 1811 ; m. Joseph Poland, and d young; Madison, m. Phebe 
 G. Bayrd, and recently deceased. 
 
 A family of Hills were the immediate predecessors of Mr. Sweetser 
 on this place, and were living here in 1795 : several of the family were 
 soldiers in the Revolution; Hon. John Hill, Luther Hill, Esq., and 
 others, of Stoneham, are understood to be descended from this family. 
 
 The place was the early homestead of Nathaniel Eaton, son of Jona. 
 and Mary (see Early Settlers) ; this Nathaniel, it is said, during the 
 old French war, tempted by the reward offered, surrendered up a de- 
 serter who had taken refuge with him ; and so great was his remorse 
 on account thereof that he committed suicide. 
 
 His son William Eaton succeeded to the homestead; m. 1762, Re- 
 becca Flint; was living here about 1765, and soon after removed, 
 probably to North Reading or Lynnfield. 
 
 JOSEPH HOPKINS lived on the farm now occupied by E. Sumner 
 Hopkins. 
 
 He was son and successor of Ebenezer and Ruth Hopkins ; b. 1761 ;
 
 /
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 405 
 
 in., ist, 1797, Patience Hale, of Newbury ; m , zd, 1812 (or '13), Pattv 
 Crocker, of Stoneham ; he was a soldier in the Revolution ; a farmer, 
 intelligent, active, honest ; he d. 1853, aged 92. Children: Elizabeth 
 Francis, b. 1813 ; m. 1839, John Adden, Jr., of Reading ; Joseph Ban- 
 croft, b. 1815 ; m. and lives in Reading ; E. Sumner, b. 1816 ; m. Miss 
 Parker, of Reading ; Martha C., b. 1819; m. 1842, Henry W. King- 
 man, of New York ; Mary W., b. 1821; m. Joseph L. Pratt; Sarah 
 H ,b. 1823; m. Elias Boardman, Jr., of Saco, Me.; Lucretia A., b. 1824 ; 
 Lucy Ann, b. 1826. 
 
 EBENEZER HOPKINSON (or HOPKINS), as said Ebenezer wrote it in 
 his latter years, an orthography continued by the family; came from 
 Bradford ; m. Ruth, dau. of Joseph Bancroft, and succeeded to his 
 father-in-law's homestead ; he was a deacon, a strict religionist, and 
 somewhat of a poet, as the following lines from his pen will show : 
 
 " Ladies, can you in conscience say 
 Your useless, costly, fine array, 
 As tassels, top-knots, flowery stuff, 
 Jewels and rings, and heaps of rust, 
 With pains, expense, and spending time, 
 Can be slipp'd o'er, and thought no crime ? 
 Can you procure those things of cost, 
 And say no time nor money 's lost ? 
 Can you spend months to curl your hair, 
 And years to fix the clothes you wear ? 
 Can you spend all the Sabbath morn 
 Your dust and ashes to adorn ? 
 Nor all the morning read or pray, 
 Or once think 't is a holy day ? 
 And think it is no thing of weight, 
 That you come into church so late? 
 At length, into the church you gather, 
 With here a tassel, there a feather, 
 And many other knacks and knicks, 
 Which, I judge, took you hours to fix ; 
 One practice more, among the rest, 
 With which you ladies are possest, 
 Pray, let me mention just this one, 
 Then I '11 dismiss you, and will done, 
 When you together hap to meet, 
 Tea for to drink and food to eat, 
 Without a thought that God has given, 
 Or thinking all you have 's from heaven, 
 Heedless, you set yourselves to eat, 
 And thus contemptuously do treat 
 Him who has given the present food,
 
 405 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Who is the author of all good ; 
 
 And what 's more heaven-daring still, 
 
 Is, when you 've eaten to the fill, 
 
 You bless not God, return no thanks, 
 
 But fall to playing of your pranks, 
 
 By telling fortunes by an art 
 
 Which none but Satan could impart ; 
 
 Pretending, by the dregs of tea, 
 
 To read nnother's destiny ; 
 
 You fortunes tell in this and that, 
 
 That only youthful lusts incite, 
 
 Setting your passions all on fire, 
 
 And rousing up impure desire ; 
 
 Which serves to draw the mind from good, 
 
 In disobedience to your God. 
 
 Ladies ! I now to you appeal, 
 
 What spirit does this thing reveal ? 
 
 Can you think God, who is most high, 
 
 Is pleased with such vanity? 
 
 To you thus freely intimates 
 
 The thing which in his heart he hates ? 
 
 You can't, I 'm sure ; then you must own 
 
 Yeur art is from the wicked one. 
 
 What, be familiar with the devil ! 
 
 That is both wicked and uncivil ! 
 
 Remember, when you eat or drink, 
 
 Whatever do, whatever think, 
 
 You are obliged, by laws of nature, 
 
 To glorify your great Creator." 
 
 Dea. Hopkins was grandfather to the late Col. James Hartshorn. 
 This farm was originally set off from theKendall Parker estate, and 
 was first separately occupied by Joseph Bancroft, who m. a dau. of 
 Kendall Parker. 
 
 CEDAR STREET. 
 
 JAMES EMERSON, Sen., and JAMES EMERSON, Jr., father and son, 
 lived on the place now occupied by Lois, wid, of James, Jr. 
 
 James Emerson, Sen., was son ' of James and Elizabeth Emer- 
 son, b. 1759; m. 1788, Abigail, dau. of Thomas Rayner; d. 1839, 
 aged 80. Children : James, b. 1789 ; m. Lois, dau. of Col. Joshua 
 Burnham ; was a farmer and razor-strap maker, and is dead (see 
 Special Account) ; Thomas, b. 1790. and d. unm. ; Abigail ; married 
 Joseph Hartshorn; Nancy; was betrothed to Timothy Burnham, and 
 d. 1815, young; Richard, m. 1819, Sarah Chandler, of Andover, and 
 d. a young man ; Betsey, m. 1825, Jona. Nichols, of Wakefield ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 407 
 
 M:iry, m., ist, 1825, Aaron Burditt, Jr. ; had a 2d husband ; Lucy, m. 
 Robert H. Raddin. 
 
 James, Sen., was a quiet, unambitious, but reputable man ; was a 
 soldier of the Revolution ; succeeded on this place, his father, James 
 Emerson, who was called "Judge Emerson," probably on account of 
 his wisdom and judiciousness, and who was the son of Ebenezer and 
 Mary (Boutwell) Emerson, and a great-grandson of Dea. Thomas Ken- 
 dall, a first settler and the first occupant of this farm. 
 
 ENOCH STOCKER lived on the place where Charles Davis recently 
 lived, in a very small house. 
 
 Mr. Stocker came from Lynn; m. 1787, Hannah Berry, of Lynn; 
 he was a soldier of the Revolution ; was at the battle of Stony Point, 
 under Gen. Wayne ; was of a volunteer corps, that made an assault 
 upon the enemy's works, and as he climbed to the top of the parapet, 
 the enemy ran a bayonet through his thigh ; Stocker forthwith drew 
 trigger, shot his foe, and fell inside the fort upon the dead body of his 
 assailant. He lost a part of a hand in battle and was ever lame from the 
 wound in his thigh. His wife was a very religious woman, though some- 
 what credulous and excitable, as the following circumstance will show. 
 
 During the last war with England, a detachment of U. S. flying 
 artillery came galloping into the village one day, en route from Salem 
 to Boston. It was the same corps to which Thos. Melburn, of this 
 place, belonged, and they paraded on the common in front of the Con- 
 gregational church. It was Fast day, and during the time of service in 
 the church. The tramp and neighing of war steeds, the rumbling of 
 artillery carriages, the clangor of trumpets, the roar of cannon, and the 
 shouts of the populace created quite a sensation in the congregation, 
 and all with one accord left their devotions and rushed to the doors 
 and windows to see what was coming. Mother Stocker went with the 
 rest ; and just then the bugle gave a loud and piercing blast, that 
 " made the welkin ring," and Mother Stocker was so filled with con- 
 sternation, that she exclaimed, " The day of doom has come ! The 
 last trump is sounding"; and observing the ammunition carts, "See," 
 said she, " there are the hearses." 
 
 They had a dau. Sally, b. 1788, and perhaps other children. 
 
 It is understood that the wife of Mr. Newhall, who recently owned 
 and occupied the Dr. Hay place, was a descendant of Mr. Stocker. 
 
 This place was subsequently occupied by Prince Keemer, a colored 
 man, who was once a slave, and whose wife, Dinah, was formerly a 
 slave of Jonathan Poole ; very industrious, intelligent, and respectable 
 people. Prince died in 1835, supposed to be 100 years old.
 
 408 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Jesse Pope succeeded Mr. Keemer as owner of the place, by whom 
 it was enlarged. 
 
 CHARLES GOULD lived on the place lately occupied by his daughters, 
 Rachel and Clarissa ; he was son of Daniel, and nephew of Ebenezer 
 Gould, who was living on the place about 1765. He m. 1809, Rachel 
 Hitchins, of Saugus. Children : Rachel, who m. Mr. McDougall, and 
 is now dead ; Clarissa, who lives in Wakefield, unm. 
 
 Mr. Gould was a man of quiet manners, and pleasant and kind dis- 
 position ; honest, but slow and indolent in his habits. 
 
 DANIEL GOULD, brother of the foregoing, lived on the " Dr. Gould 
 place," recently so called, and now owned by Wm. M. Arrington. 
 
 This place, although within a half mile of Wakefiald common, was 
 formerly within the bounds of Stoneham, but has been recently annexed 
 to Wakefield. 
 
 Mr. Gould was a justice of the peace, and long known as "Squire 
 Gould" ; b. 1767. He has been selectman and representative of Stone- 
 ham. Fie married Eunice Coates, and was an intelligent, kind-hearted, 
 industrious, and worthy man ; succeeded his father Diniel on this 
 place. Children : Daniel ; became a physician, settled first at Read- 
 ing, and afterwards at Maiden ; had an excellent reputation as a skil- 
 ful practitioner, and an extensive practice ; was a cheerful, social, and 
 honest man. Mary, m. Capt. Wm. Richardson, of Stoneham ; Eunice, 
 m. Eli A. Yale, Esq., lately of Charlestown ; Lucinda, m. David Tilton, 
 Esq., of Stoneham ; Abraham became a physician, settled in Lynn, 
 and was highly esteemed. Sophronia, m. Sam'l Sweetser, of Boston, 
 and is now dead.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 409 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SOUTH READING. 
 
 HISTORY, FROM ITS INCORPORATION TO 1844, WITH CENTENNIAL CERE- 
 MONIES IN 1844. 
 
 1812, Feb. 25, the town of South Reading was incorporated. The 
 following is the act of incorporation : 
 
 " SECT. i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, 
 in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same. That all 
 that tract or parcel of land, with the inhabitants thereon, which is 
 within the bounds of, and known by the name of, the First,or South 
 Parish in Reading, in the County of Middlesex, as the same has been 
 heretofore bounded and described be, and the same is hereby incorpo- 
 rated and established as a town by the name of South Reading, and the 
 said town is hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, and 
 subject to all the duties and requisitions of other towns, according to 
 the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. 
 
 " SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of said town 
 of South Reading shall be holden to pay all State, town and county 
 taxes, which have been assessed upon them prior to the passing of this 
 act, and they shall also be holden to contribute and pay to the town of 
 Reading their just proportion of all debts now due and owing by that 
 town, and the said town of South Reading shall also be holden to sup- 
 port, as nearly as may be, its due proportion of all paupers who are 
 now supported by said town of Reading, whether the same be in whole 
 or in part so supported, and after the organization of South Reading, 
 such proportion of paupers shall be delivered to the overseers of that 
 town, to be supported and maintained by them accordingly. And. in 
 case any person, not resident in Reading, but having a legal settlement 
 therein, shall hereafter be returned to that town for support ; in case 
 such person derives his settlement from any person who has heretofore 
 resided in that territory now established as South Reading, then, and 
 in such case, such poor person shall be returned to, and be liable to be 
 maintained by South Reading ; provided, that such town shall in no 
 52
 
 4io 
 
 GEA/EAl.OGH.AL HISTORY 
 
 case be chargeable with the support of any paupers who would not 
 have been chargeable to said town of Reading. 
 
 " SECT. 3. Beit further enacted^ That any justice of the peace for the 
 County of Middlesex, is hereby authorized, upon application therefor, to 
 issue a warrant, directed to a freeholder and inhabitant of said town of 
 South Reading, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof 
 to meet at such convenient time and place as shall be appointed in the 
 warrant, to choose such officers as towns are by law empowered and 
 required to choose at their annual town meeting ; provided, that the said 
 town of South Reading shall be holden, until the further order of the 
 Legislature, to pay to the town of Reading such proportion, if any, of 
 the expenses of maintaining the bridges and causeways over Ipswich 
 river, within said town, as a committee of the Court of Sessions for 
 said county shall determine ; and said Court of Sessions are hereby 
 authorized, on the application of either of the inhabitants of Reading 
 or South Reading, from time to time, to appoint a committee for the 
 above purpose, whose report, made to and accepted by said court, 
 shall be binding upon said towns. 
 
 The first meeting of the said town was held March 5th, under a war- 
 rant from John Hart, Esq., and the following list of officers elected, 
 namely : 
 
 Moderator. John Hart, Esq. 
 
 For Town Clerk. John Gould. 
 
 For Town Treasurer. Lilley Eaton. ' 
 
 For Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of Poor. James Gould, Ben- 
 jamin Badger, John Gould. 
 
 For Surveyors of Highways. Wm. Williams, Suel Winn, Lt. John 
 Sweetser, John Gould. 
 
 For Constable. Benjamin Swain. 
 
 For Fence Viewers. Lilley Eaton, Benjamin Swain, Burrage Yale. 
 
 For Field Drivers. James Emerson, John Adden, Aaron Burditt. 
 
 Fire Wardens. Capt. Noah Smith, John Rayner, Col. Amos 
 Boardman, Jeremiah Green. 
 
 For Surveyors of Timber. Lt. Benjamin Walton, Benj. Swain. 
 
 For Fish Committee. Benjamin B. Wiley, Joseph Bryant, James 
 Walton, Caleb Green. 
 
 For Tythingmen. Benjamin Emerson, Joseph Hopkins., 
 
 For Leather Sealer. John Gould. 
 
 For Pound Keeper. John Rayner. 
 
 For Hog Reeves. Amos Evans, John Brown, Jr., Jesse Carter, 
 James Mitchell, Win. Sweetser.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 4 U 
 
 At a second meeting of the new town held March i4th, Messrs. James 
 Gould, Benjamin Badger, John Gould, Dr. John Hart, Capt. Noah 
 Smith, Lt. John Sweetser, and Burrage Yale, were chosen a committee 
 to settle with the town of Reading respecting the poor, and other 
 affairs. 
 
 At a meeting, held April 6th, of such inhabitants of South Read- 
 ing, as " are twenty years of age and upwards, having a freehold estate 
 within the Commonwealth of the annual income of three pounds, or any 
 estate to the value of sixty pounds" 
 
 Voted, To raise eight hundred pounds for common and ordinary 
 charges. 
 
 Voted to raise three hundred and fifty dollars for schooling. Then 
 chose Col. Amos Boardman, Lilley Eaton, * Paul Sweetser, and Caleb 
 Green, a committee to spend the money. 
 
 Voted to raise four hundred and fifty dollars for repairs of high- 
 ways. 
 
 This year war with England was declared by the United States. 
 The town of South Reading being largely Republican in its politics, 
 was decided in favor of the war, believing that it would be dishonor- 
 able in the nation tamely to submit to the insults inflicted by England 
 upon our seamen, and upon our national flag. 
 
 They chose Capt Noah Smith and Capt. Thomas Emerson as dele- 
 gates to a convention at Concord, " to take into view the situation of 
 our public affairs." 
 
 A new powder-house was erected on " Hot-house Shore," and sup- 
 plied with powder and ball. An extra allowance of money was voted 
 to those who should be detached or drafted for the public service ; and 
 that riflemen that shall be detached, shall be received the same as 
 drafted men. Selectmen were authorized to procure men for the pub- 
 lic service, whenever called for. 
 
 South Reading subsequently authorized the purchase of guns and 
 accoutrements to supply those of the militia who have none ; to fur- 
 nish ball cartridges to the militia, and lead and powder to the rifle and 
 cavalrymen ; chose Lt. Aaron Cowdrey, Lt. John Sweetser, Joseph 
 Eaton, and Lilley Eaton, a committee to provide for the support of the 
 families of such soldiers as may be called into the field ; adopted, as a 
 signal for an alarm, the firing of three guns, ringing the bell, and beat- 
 ing the base drum, and adopted the following resolutions (reported by 
 
 * Lilley Eaton declined serving as school committee, and Lemuel Svveeiser was 
 chosen in his place.
 
 412 
 
 GENEALOGICAL hISTCRY 
 
 a committee consisting of John Hart, William Nichols, and Samuel 
 Evans) : 
 
 " i st. That in times like the present, big with danger, and threat- 
 ening momentary change, we should lose no time, in our corporate as 
 well as individual capacities, in making the utmost exertions to meet 
 the enemy and repel his attacks. 
 
 " 2d. That our Government has a right to the services, as well as 
 money, of all its citizens, when necessary for the common good ; and 
 that we ought freely to bestow either or both, when duly required by the 
 proper authorities. 
 
 " 3d. That in a government like ours, emanating from ourselves, 
 however we may censure the heads of the Federal or State Govern- 
 ment, for past or present errors ; during the period of their election, we 
 ought to submit to their will, constitutionally expressed, for the public 
 good ; and that we will support them, with our feeble means, in all 
 lawful measures for the public defence. 
 
 " 4th. As the enemy have generally evinced a disposition to save 
 private property ; so this is not a war to preserve property, but our 
 rights, liberties, and independence; and as those are as dear to the poor 
 man as to the rich one, to whom alike is the desire of transmitting them 
 to their posterity, so the poor man has as much at stake in this war as 
 the rich one, and is equally interested in" its success. 
 
 "5th. That the militia has been, and is considered, the bulwark of 
 our defence ; that it ought to receive every assistance from us ; and in 
 return, we presume it will be willing to perform its all important duties. 
 On the present emergency, it is our chief reliance ; for, though indi- 
 vidual ardor may occasionally perform prodigies of valor, it is in the 
 united valor of numbers, disposed in order and method, and directed 
 by one mind, that we may hope to withstand the well disciplined legions 
 of the enemy. 
 
 " 6th. That it be recommended to have a town committee to visit 
 the families of those who may be called into the service of their coun- 
 try, to see that they have the comforts of life, and administer relief 
 to those who may be destitute of them, without an application for that 
 purpose. 
 
 " yth. That it be recommended to the officers and soldiers of the 
 militia to meet often, for the purpose of exercise, and acquiring those 
 habits of discipline, without which they cannot hope to conquer. 
 
 " 8th. That it be recommended to have signals agreed upon, to give 
 speedy notice in this town of an attack upon the navy-yard, or its 
 vicinity, that every man may have an opportunity to display his
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 413 
 
 valor, and aim at least one blow to avenge the many wrongs of our 
 much injured country. 
 
 " Lastly, As it is a maxim too often verified in this country, ' to 
 promise and not perform] so let us resolve, but only this, to perform 
 more than we promise, and may the God of armies so enable us ! " 
 
 The town of Reading, then including the present town of North 
 Reading, being mainly Federal in its politics, was opposed to the war, 
 not but what they felt the insult to the American flag, and the im- 
 pressment of sailors from our merchant ships, as sensibly as others, but 
 they were in favor of obtaining relief and redress by some other mode 
 than by war. At a meeting pf the town of Reading, held July 
 13, 1812, " the question was put whether the town was in favor of a 
 war with Great Britain, and no man voted in favor of said war." A 
 committee of seven were appointed to prepare resolutions in relation 
 to the war. This committee reported ; their report was accepted, 
 and recommitted to be corrected and published. There is no record 
 of any further action by the town in the matter. The resolutions, 
 which were doubless condemnatory of the war, appear not to have 
 been published, and no copy thereof is preserved. 
 
 Although it appears by the above action that the people of Reading 
 did not favor the declaration of war, yet we find them active and ready 
 to respond to all the requirements of government ; their love of coun- 
 try inducing them to support the war when once declared, whether 
 " right or wrong." This is shown in the following vote, passed SepL 
 9, 1814:- 
 
 " Voted, That the soldiers that were detached last shall have their 
 wages made up to fifteen dollars per month ; and that if the whole 
 of the militia should be called out, they should have their wages made 
 up to fifteen dollars per month, also." 
 
 Prior to the incorporation of the town of South Reading, it had 
 been the practice from time immemorial, for the schools in the First 
 Parish to be supplied with wood from the parish wood-lot. After said 
 incorporation, the town claimed the right to continue to supply the 
 schools with wood from the same source. To this the parish objected. 
 The town persisted, however, and employed Jonas Parker to cut and 
 bring from the parish, or ministerial wood-lot, wood as usual for the 
 schools. Whereupon the parish prosecuted the town through the 
 town's agent. The case was carried to the Supreme Court, and the 
 following report of the town's agents will show with what result : 
 
 " The agents of the town to defend an action brought against Jonas 
 Parker, for trespass, report : That after a hearing before the Supreme
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Court, the case was decided in favor of the plaintiffs, and as the parish 
 had a legal claim to the wood-lot by right of possession, your agents 
 thought it most prudent not to make any further attempt to defend said 
 action. And while they regret that the expense was considerably en- 
 hanced by chicane and huggermugger, it is with pleasure they exon- 
 erate the agent of the parish from that duplicity and indecorum which 
 are too common among contending parties. 
 
 BENJAMIN BADGER, 
 NOAH SMITH, 
 LEMUEL SWEETSER, 
 
 A proviso added to the last section of the act incorporating the 
 town of South Reading, inserted, it is said, in the latter stage of its pas- 
 sage, at the suggestion of the sagacious representative from the north 
 part of Reading (the south part not being represented), made the new 
 town liable for a share of the expenses of supporting the bridges 
 over Ipswich River. The people of South Reading felt that this pro- 
 vision was unjust, and ought not to have passed, and were about to 
 petition the Legislature for its repeal, but fortunately were able to effect 
 a settlement by compromise, as the following document will show : 
 
 " To the inhabitants of South Reading, in legal town meeting assem- 
 bled : Their agents, chosen to defend the action brought by the inhabi- 
 tants of Reading against them (to obtain the sum of $1,943.53, debt 
 and damage), and to make any agreement relative to the same, etc., 
 make report : That on the i ith of November, instant, they were enabled 
 to make a settlement with Reading upon the following terms, to wit : 
 The inhabitants of Reading, by their committee or agents, made a 
 release to the inhabitants of South Reading of all duties imposed 
 upon them, and all actions and demands arising by or from the act to 
 establish the town of South Reading ; and in consideration thereof, 
 your agents made a note, promising in their behalf to pay to the 
 treasurer of Reading, or his successor in office, the sum of five 
 hundred dollars, in one year from the date thereof, with interest till 
 paid, and subscribed by a major part of us, and all of us who were 
 present. Each party is to pay its own expense about the suit. That 
 said sum is more than in equity should have been paid may be true, 
 but the laws wisely execute contracts as they are, leaving it. to the. 
 caution of individuals to make them at first what they ought to be. 
 Your agents are fully satisfied that said sum is as little as the inhabi- 
 tants of Reading would have taken ; and from the best advice we 
 could obtain (and the first counsellor in the Commonwealth has been 
 consulted for that purpose), it is considerably less than by law would
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 415 
 
 have been recovered. The expense of further litigation has thus been 
 saved to our constituents, who have thus far become exempt from pay- 
 ing their further devoirs to the " genius of law," the terrors of whose 
 frowns they seem rather to have contemplated, than the scales of jus- 
 tice that balance in her hand. If we have been instrumental in 
 plucking one feather from the bird of discord, we sincerely hope it may 
 prove the harbinger to our society of future peace. 
 All which is respectfully submitted by your agents. 
 
 WILLIAM NICHOLS. 
 NOAH SMITH. 
 JAMES GOULD. 
 SAMUEL EVANS, JR. 
 Nov. 15, 1813. 
 
 Thus was the last root of bitterness which grew out of the separa- 
 tion of the old town plucked up, and that peace so sincerely hoped for 
 by the agents above mentioned, has ever since reigned between these 
 sister towns. 
 
 South Reading commenced printing its town expenses. 
 
 South Reading voted that the Universalist society may occupy the 
 Centre school-house " one Sabbath in a "month, next preceding the 
 full of the moon." 
 
 Thomas Swain, a noted schoolmaster, died. 
 
 1814. In districting the State for representatives in Congress this 
 year, the town of South Reading was included in the Essex North 
 District. Whereupon, the town of South Reading petitioned the Legis- 
 lature as follows : " The undersigned, being a committee, duly chosen 
 for that purpose by the town of South Reading, in the County of 
 Middlesex, in their behalf beg leave to represent : That by an act of the 
 General Court, passed June 14, 1814, the said town of South Reading 
 was set off from Middlesex District for the choice of a representative 
 in the Congress of the United States and annexed to Essex North Dis- 
 trict for that purpose ; that although the territorial limits of said town 
 adjoin those of three other representative districts, still they are totally 
 disconnected with, nor do they in any one point adjoin the territorial 
 limits of the residue of Essex North District ; that a territorial space 
 nearly four miles in breadth, composing parts of two representative 
 districts, intervenes and severs said town from the main body of the 
 district, with which it must unite in giving its votes ; that the inhabi- 
 tants of said town, in their common transactions of life, are equally
 
 416 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 disconnected with the other inhabitants of said district, as their terri- 
 torial limits ; that, from their local situation, they have never had any 
 concern in common, whether of a political, comitial, municipal, mili- 
 tary, commercial, or private nature, nor any other community of inter- 
 est whatever, with the rest of said district, or any part thereof; that 
 they are entire strangers to the interests of said district, strangers to 
 its inhabitants, and strangers to the persons, characters, and qualifica- 
 tions of its candidates for election ; that said district, as at present 
 constituted, does not indeed resemble the far-famed " Gerri-mander" of 
 former days, nor does it resemble the curvilineal turnings and twistings 
 of the extreme end of the present Suffolk District, but, unlike any- 
 thing that has ever existed, it departs from nature's principle of organ- 
 izing beings, and possesses the rare attribute of existing in two places 
 at one and the same time. 
 
 Wherefore, said inhabitants of South Reading, unwilling to believe 
 that those, who have so liberally censured others, should themselves so 
 soon be guided by the narrow views of party ; unwilling to believe that 
 any unforgotten grudge to the little town of South Reading should 
 contribute to produce the singular distinction, it has so injuriously 
 received ; and fully confident in the justice and propriety of their 
 petition, beseech your honorable Court to re-annex them to the Middle- 
 sex District, with whom they have ever been in the habit of transacting 
 their business, and with whose interests and inhabftants they are per- 
 sonally acquainted. And as in duty bound will ever pray." 
 
 This petition was signed by Wm. Nichols, Lemuel Sweetser, and 
 James Gould, Committee. 
 
 The said petition was granted, and the town was re-annexed to 
 Middlesex District. 
 
 1815. This year the people of South Reading celebrated the return 
 of peace with England, by an oration, public festival, and other demon- 
 strations. 
 
 The oration was delivered by Charles G. Haines, Esq., the teacher 
 of the town school, a young man of t ilent and oratorial gifts, who was 
 afterwards Attorney-General of the State of New York. His address 
 was eloquent and patriotic, and "received the reiterated plaudits of a 
 numerous audience." 
 
 A sumptuous feast was spread in Hale's hall, to which a procession 
 of citizens, escorted by the " Washington Rifle Greens," Capt. Hay, 
 repaired ; after partaking of the feast, they enjoyed, amid the roar of 
 cannon and the flow of wine, the following flow of soul
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 "Our country. The clouds that darkened her sky are bursting 
 asunder." 
 
 "The Administration. Thorns and briars have beset their path, 
 but they have overcome them." 
 
 " The President of the United States. Posterity will do him jus- 
 tice." 
 
 "The victory at New Orleans. Though gained since the signing * 
 the Treaty, yet for our country's glory, the blood there shed was not 
 spilled in vain." 
 
 " Our Naval Victories. John Bull, by his wincing, shows how they 
 hurt him." 
 
 " Jackson, Brown, Macomb, and others. Well done, good and faith- 
 ful servants." 
 
 " The Navy. It has fought itself into favor." 
 
 " The Legislature of Massachusetts, the Hartford Convention, and 
 the Commissioners at Washington. All of a Piece" 
 
 "Europe. A great Checker-board; to get crowned is the object of 
 all." 
 
 "The Algerines. We owe them a tribute? No! Chastisement? 
 Yes ! and we have now leisure to give it them." 
 
 " The Fair Sex. Peace, without fighting for it." 
 
 " The company of ' Rifle Greens,' who have honored us with their 
 presence. On Dorchester Heights ready to measure strength with their . 
 enemies; here, ready to measure bumpers with their friends." 
 
 (By Joseph Spear, Esq.) " The Orator of the Day. He has done 
 honor to his honors." 
 
 (By C. G. Haines, Esq.) "The British Lion. We have hunted 
 him, to his den." 
 
 (By B. Badger, Sen.) Strong's Bull-work* May the work of John 
 Bull, the Pope, and the Devil never more disturb this happy land." 
 
 The following ode, composed for the occasion, was sung : 
 
 " Long did the world, to fruitless war, 
 Drive furious on Bellona's car ; 
 And countless numbers of our race 
 Sunk joyless in death's cold embrace ; 
 When, from the crystalline abode, 
 Encircling 'round the throne of God, 
 A gentle spirit downward bends 
 Her cheering course, and man befriends. 
 
 * Gov. Strong had called England the "bulwark of our religion". 
 53
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 No more the jarring trumpet's voice, 
 
 No more the murderous cannon's noise, 
 
 The orphan's cry, the widow's tear, 
 
 No more with pain shall strike the ear. 
 
 Enough, for injur'd country's name, 
 
 Is done to honor and to fame ; 
 
 She comes, the hostile contests cease, 
 
 All hail, sweet cherub, Heaven-born Peace ! " 
 
 In September of this year occurred the " Great Gale." Many build- 
 ings were blown down, the lofty spire of the Congregational church, in 
 South Reading, was blown off, many shade and fruit trees were uprooted, 
 and an immense amount of wood and timber prostrated. 
 
 1816. A young woman by the name of Perry hung herself, this 
 year, in a garret in the south part of the town. 
 
 1817. Pomp Putamia, a very respectable negro, died, aged 59 
 years. His property, after the decease of a sister, he devised to chari- 
 table purposes. 
 
 Andrew Oliver, said to be one of those engaged in throwing the tea 
 into Boston Harbor at the beginning of the Revolution, died in this town, 
 aged 70 years. 
 
 There were earthquakes in September and October of this year. 
 
 This year, the first stage that ever passed through this town, regu- 
 larly, commenced running once a week. 
 
 1818. Rev. G. F. Davis was this year settled over the Baptist 
 church and society. 
 
 This year, the town voted " that no theological catechisms shall be 
 taught in any schools supported by the town." 
 
 1819. In May of this year, town voted to build a town house ; and 
 jn June they reconsidered the vote. 
 
 Rev. Cyrus Pierce was ordained at North Precinct. 
 
 1820. July 4th, Independence was celebrated on Rabbit Island, 
 and an oration was there delivered by William Nichols, Esq. 
 
 In December, the Baptist meeting-house was removed from the place 
 of its erection (on Salem Street) to the spot it afterwards occupied on 
 the Common, the land having been generously given in exchange for 
 the land on which it formerly stood, by Col. Lemuel Sweetser.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 419 
 
 1822. An addition was this year made to the Baptist meeting- 
 house, and a cupola erected. 
 
 School houses in the east and west districts were erected this year. 
 
 Joseph Wells, aged 14 years (son of the Hon. Charles Wells, late 
 mayor of the city of Boston), was drowned in the pond while bathing. 
 A great mortality prevailed, and forty-two persons died during the year. 
 
 1823. Jan. zoth, the dwelling-house of Zaba Bartlett (which stood 
 where Mr. Henry Knowles' house now is) was'burned. 
 
 The newer half of the Centre school-house was erected this year. 
 
 Three hundred dollars, which was the usual sum, was raised for 
 schooling. 
 
 Col. Amos Boardman died, aged 68. He was a man who will be 
 remembered for his public spirit, his military ardor, and particularly 
 for the interest he took in our schools. He was for many years one ot 
 the school committee, and possessed a happy talent of waking up in the 
 youthful mind a new and increased ardor for the ways of knowledge 
 and literature. 
 
 Nov. 2ist, died William Nichols, Esq., counsellor, aged 36 years. 
 Esquire Nichols settled in this town in 1812 or 1813. was selectman 
 for several years, and was a delegate to the Convention of 1820, for 
 revising the State constitution. As a lawyer, he was of the first class. 
 He was no pettifogger, for in all petty causes between neighbors, it was 
 his usual practice to advise a settlement, choosing rather to forego the 
 fees arising therefrom than to see his fellow-citizens engaged in these 
 quarrels. He was a useful citizen, possessing the confidence and 
 esteem of the people ; and, although his day was a short one, and his 
 sun, which had shone brightly, set at last in a cloud, still he will be 
 long held in respectful remembrance. 
 
 1824. The bell, which formerly hung upon the Baptist meeting- 
 house, was this year purchased. 
 
 The town voted " that the bell should be hung on the Baptist meet- 
 ing-house, to remain there during the pleasure of the town, the town 
 using it for all town purposes, as they see fit, and that the Baptist so- 
 ciety have the privilege of using it for their religious meetings, the 
 same as the Congregationalists use the other bell which is hung on 
 their meeting-house." 
 
 The succession of discordant peals which were rung upon this bell for 
 several years we will not now sound over again.
 
 42O 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1825. May i6th, the house of David Wiley (on the site of his later 
 house) was burnt. 
 
 The town's farm and almshouse were purchased. 
 
 1826. June 28th, Capt. James Gould's barn was burnt. 
 
 1827. School-house in South District built. 
 
 This year there was great commotion in the town., occasioned by the 
 disagreement of the school committee in relation to the teacher of the 
 Centre school. A master, who had been hired by one of the school 
 committee and placed in the Centre school, was, after having kept a few 
 weeks, ordered by a majority of the committee to leave the school-room, 
 as they had provided another person to teach the school Upon this, 
 the district were called together, and they almost unanimously requested 
 the master to continue his school. He did so without further molesta- 
 tion, the majority of the school committee concluding to wait until this 
 school was closed before they introduced their master. 
 
 In the mean time, the district again met, and determined that the 
 school should be continued after the term of the present teacher shall 
 have expired. 
 
 Accordingly, two masters were placed in the same school at the same 
 time, the one by a majority of the town's committee, and supported by 
 them and others in person ; the other placed there by a committee of 
 the district, and supported by them in person. A part of the scholars 
 obeyed one master, and a part the other, and in this confusion, " worse 
 confounded," each teacher endeavored to carry on the business of in- 
 struction. The excitement arose to a tremendous and fearful pitch ; 
 at length, the chairman of the town's committee, who was a lawyer* 
 issued writs, in the name but without the authority of the town, against 
 the committee of the district and the teacher they had placed in the 
 school room, for trespass, attached their persons, and carried three 
 of them, viz. Dea. Jacob Eaton, Lemuel Sweetser, and Thomas Evans, 
 to Cambridge, and imprisoned them in the county jail. 
 
 The teacher of the district, with a majority of the scholars, soon after 
 retired from the school, and left the teacher employed by the town com- 
 mittee to continue the school. 
 
 The suit, thus commenced, was afterwards decided in favor of the 
 defendants, and the cost of the suit was thrown upon the town. The 
 town then sued the chairman of the school committee for the expense 
 he had brought upon them, in issuing in their name, and without their
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 421 
 
 authority, and recovered the amount and costs of prosecution, which 
 ended this unhappy affair. 
 
 1828. The South Reading Academy was incorporated, and opened 
 for students in September. 
 
 Corporators. Gustavus F. Davis, Burrage Yale, Lemuel Sweetser, 
 Nathan Richardson, Lilley Eaton, Cyrus P. Grosvenor, James D. 
 Knowles, Howard Malcolm, Nathaniel R. Cobb, Henry Jackson, James 
 Loring, Lucius Bolles, Rufus Babcock, Jr., George Leonard, Michael 
 Webb, Jr., Arthur Drinkwater, Charles O. Kimball, Bela Jacobs, John 
 E. Weston, and Samuel S. Mallory. 
 
 Greenwood Street laid out this year. 
 
 1829. Rev. G F. Davis, who had been pastor of the Baptist church 
 for eleven years, was dismissed, and Rev. Joseph A. Warne was settled 
 over that church. 
 
 South Reading Temperance Society organized. 
 
 1830. This year, Rev. J. A. Warne was dismissed from the pas- 
 toral care of the Baptist church. 
 
 1831. April 3d, Henry B. Gardner of this town died at Charles- 
 town, from injuries received by falling from, and being run over by, a 
 loaded wagon. He was an amiable and promising young man, and 
 died lamented by all his acquaintances. 
 
 South Reading Lyceum organized. 
 
 In July of this year, two law cases, entitled " Emerson versus Wiley," 
 which had been in court nearly six years, which had divided the town 
 into two great parties, created a mighty excitement, and enlisted on 
 both sides of the question a huge amount of anxiety, prejudice, rancor, 
 and party feeling, were decided. 
 
 July zyth. Widow of the late Dr. Stimpson died, aged 97^ years. 
 
 1832. Rev. James Huckins ordained as pastor of the Baptist 
 church and society. 
 
 July 4th. Celebration in memory of American Independence, with 
 an oration by Robert Rantoul, Jr., Esq., and other appropriate exer- 
 cises. 
 
 Here follow a portion of the sentiments offered on the joyful occa- 
 sion : 
 
 " Adams, Jefferson and Munroe. Whose mortality upon this event-
 
 422 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 ful jubilee has contributed to render the day and their names immortal. 
 As, in autumn, it sometimes occurs that the gale or whirlwind detaches 
 from the trees its withered leaves and bear them onward and upward 
 from our view, so these patriots ofjhe Revolution, in the ripeness of age, 
 exposing their pure spirits to the mighty gale and tempest of joy and 
 triumph which fails not to sweep over our land on this glorious occa- 
 sion, were caught up by the powerful breath, and in this chariot of Inde- 
 pendence, borne on the rising columns of a nation's gratitude and a 
 nation's rejoicings, were carried upward and onward, home to their 
 native heaven." 
 
 " Education. Let the rising generation receive at our hands a good 
 education, and then rest assured that our free institutions will be safe 
 in their hands, for a nation of scholars cannot be conquered ; they are 
 invincible." 
 
 "Internal Improvements. While we are constructing railroads and 
 canals, and inventing steam-carriages to convey our bodies and our 
 goods with convenience and despatch to every section and every clime 
 may we not be forgetful to construct also those moral and intellectual 
 railroads and engines, whereby our minds may be transported, with 
 swiftness and ease, along the pathway of liberty, of science, and of 
 virtue, towards the perfection of freedom, of knowledge, and of happi- 
 ness." 
 
 "The American Confederacy. A plant on which we would invoke 
 heaven to continue to shed down the combined and united influences 
 of light from the East, to awaken and enliven it ; the heat of the South, 
 to fructify and stimulate it ; the breezes of the North, to give it strength 
 and stability, and the horticulture of the West, to nourish and improve 
 it, that it may continue in perennial greenness and beauty till time's 
 latest hour." 
 
 " Domestic Manufactures. May all our artists and mechanics be 
 protected and prospered, especially such as shall convert our hickory 
 wood into ramrods and gun-stocks, to be used against the savages, now 
 coming down upon us from the Northwest, and such also as shall con- 
 struct our houses and our cabinets of bricks, made from pure Clay." 
 
 "Charles Carroll, of Carrolton. The last remaining star of that 
 bright constellation of patriots, which, fifty-six years ago, this day, arose 
 and shed forth, over this land, the glorious light of Liberty and Inde- 
 pendence ; may his exit from our view be like the fair setting of the 
 summer's sun, late, lingering, brilliant, and peaceful." 
 
 From an address delivered this year by the late Hon. Lilley Eaton, 
 before the South Reading Lyceum, we make the following extracts :
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 423 
 
 " Present number of dwelling-houses . . .163 
 
 " " barns no 
 
 " " horses ' 106 
 
 " polls 412 
 
 And the town stands now in the State valuation, at $247,084, and is 
 iable to pay of a State tax, should one be assessed, $1.48 in very 
 $1.000 assessed." 
 
 " The different parts of the town, when spoken of with reference to 
 the residence of the people, are known by the following terms : ' The 
 Common,' 'Fitch's Hill,' 'Leather Street,' 'Side the Pond,' 'Cowdrey's 
 Hill,' 'La Fayette Street,' 'Eaton Street,' 'Water Street,' 'Little 
 World,' 'West Ward,' ' East Ward,' and ' South Ward.' " 
 
 "The village, called the 'Common,' contains about twenty two-story 
 dwelling-houses, all painted, most of them large and convenient." 
 
 1833. Rev. James Huckins was dismissed from the pastoral charge 
 of the Baptist church, and Rev. Mr. Newhall was settled. 
 
 In November of this year there occurred a most remarkable, as well 
 as magnificent, display of "shooting stars." 
 
 South Reading M. and A. Institution was organized. 
 
 1835. December 2oth. The Baptist meeting-house was burnt. 
 
 1836. New Baptist meeting-house erected : dimensions, 68 by 48 
 feet, 26 feet posts, granite basement. Building committee : Burrage 
 Yale, Hiram Sweetser, Lilley Eaton, Adam Wiley, N. C. Wright. 
 
 Town tomb constructed this year. 
 
 1837. Congregational meeting-house remodelled. 
 South Reading paid its debt. Surplus revenue. 
 
 1838. Crescent Street laid out. 
 
 l8 39- First Universalist meeting-house was dedicated, November 
 
 2 I St. 
 
 ORDER OF EXERCISES. 
 
 Voluntary. 
 
 Introductory prayer. 
 
 Reading of Scriptures. 
 
 DEDICATORY HYMN BY P. H. SWEETSER. 
 " God of eternal, boundless love, 
 
 To thee we raise this house of prayer, 
 Here may thy truth salvation prove, 
 Here long may Christian friends repair.
 
 424 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " This temple now we consecrate 
 To thee, the universal King I 
 Accept the tribute Lord ! we wait 
 Our offering at thy feet to bring. 
 
 " May no strange sacrifice profane 
 
 This sacred altar of our God, 
 No heathen rite, nor homage vain, 
 Lead from the way the Saviour trod. 
 
 " In solemn prayer and sacred praise, 
 
 Our feeble voices here we blend, 
 Celestial choirs loud anthems raise, 
 To worship thee, the sinner's friend. 
 
 " Glory to God ! the angelic song 
 
 Inspires our souls with heavenly love ! 
 Glory to God ! the strain prolong 
 In lofty notes, like those above ! 
 
 " Joy to the world ! light from on high 
 
 Reveals to earth salvation's plan ! 
 O ! catch the anthem from the sky, 
 Peace to the earth, good-will to man ! " 
 
 Dedicatory prayer. 
 Original hymn, by Rev. Henry Bacon. 
 
 Sermon. 
 
 Concluding prayer. 
 
 Original hymn, by Miss E. T. Barker. 
 
 Voluntary. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Pleasant Street laid out this year. 
 
 Report from the committee in favor of a high school. 
 
 North School District was formed, and new school-house erected. 
 
 Town ordered the purchase of a new hearse. 
 
 1840. New hearse-house erected this year. 
 
 1841. Eaton Street was laid out as a town way, two and a half 
 rods wide. 
 
 1842. South Reading Ornamental Tree Society was organized, by- 
 laws adopted, and ornamental trees planted. 
 
 1843. Celebrated especially for the wide-spread excitement, con- 
 nected with a belief in the speedy second appearing of the Son ot
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 425 
 
 God, and the end of the world, which prevailed extensively in this as 
 well as many New England towns ; a belief which seemed to be firmly 
 and honestly embraced, but which failed of realization. 
 
 1844. Work commenced upon the so-called Boston and Maine 
 Railroad Extension, between Wilmington and Boston. 
 
 This year completed two hundred years of the town's history, and of 
 the church history of the First Parish. 
 
 At the Bi-Centennial Celebration by the said parish, the following 
 hymn was sung, the composition of the late Rev. Reuben Emerson : 
 
 " Two hundred years have passed away. 
 And brought the Bi-Centennial day, 
 
 Which now we celebrate. 
 In mystic numbers will we sing 
 The honors of our heavenly King, 
 
 With joys divinely great 
 
 " Our fathers occupied the ground, 
 When savage natives prowled around, 
 
 Tho' harmless they remained ; 
 God did their honesty reward, 
 While, in his house, with one accord, 
 His worship they sustained. 
 
 " He gave them pastors as he chose, 
 When one expired, another rose, 
 
 And were with union blest. 
 From age to age they stood secure 
 From inward broils and foreign lure, 
 By God's divine behest 
 
 " While in his covenant they dwell, 
 Not all the powers of earth and hell 
 
 Can move them from their place. 
 The Lord, who planted long ago 
 This vine, his praises here to show, 
 
 Will not their name efface. 
 
 " Then let the Church his Truth maintain, 
 His Institutions well sustain, 
 
 Their hearts with Lowe adorn ; 
 As many hundreds here, of men, 
 Have, by the word, been born again, 
 
 Will hundreds more be born. 
 
 " May Church and Parish still live on, 
 Till adverse novelties are gone, 
 And time shall be no more ; 
 
 54
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Then rising to the Church above, 
 Triumphant in the Savior's love, 
 Still live, and still adore ; 
 
 " Where nothing shall excite their fears, 
 Nor joys, by measured months and years, 
 
 Shall interrupted be ; 
 Their praises, in harmonic song, 
 With well-tuned voices shall prolong, 
 To all eternity. 
 
 " Then let our grateful hearts repeat, 
 When coming to the mercy-seat, 
 
 His mystery of love ; 
 That when our days on earth shall end, 
 On seraph's wings we may ascend, 
 And live and reign above ! " 
 
 In the first part of the month of December, 1843, the primary step 
 towards celebrating the anniversary of the incorporation of Old Read- 
 ing was taken by issuing a call for a public meeting at Reading. 
 
 The subsequent result of a conference with the citizens of South 
 Reading, was the appointment of a joint committee of the two towns, 
 for the purpose of making the necessary preliminary arrangements for 
 the proposed celebration. 
 
 January 8th. At a meeting of the citizens of Reading and South 
 Reading, convened at Union Hall, in the South Parish of said Read- 
 ing, it was 
 
 Voted^ "That the towns of Reading and South Reading unite in 
 celebrating said anniversary, in or near the village of the South Parish, 
 in Reading, on Wednesday, the twenty-ninth day of May, A. D. 1844." 
 
 The following persons constituted the committee of arrangements : 
 
 Capt. Ebenezer D. Batchelder, Thaddeus B. Pratt, Esq., Thomas 
 Pratt, Dea. Eben Eaton, George Flint, Esq., Dea. Eliab Parker, Jr., 
 Thomas Sweetser, John Adden, Jr., Charles Newman, Col. Jacob S. 
 Rayner, Charles F. Flint, Amos Batcheider, J. B. Leathe, Maj. Oliver 
 Swain, Dr. Solon O. Richardson, Benjamin B. Wiley, Esq., Capt. Aaron 
 Foster, James Eustis, James Emerson, John White, Franklin Poole, 
 Dea. Caleb Wakefield, Dr. Thaddeus Spaulding, Daniel Pratt, Jr., 
 Samuel Gardner, Jr., Lilley Eaton, Esq., Dea. Addison Flint. 
 
 NOTE. Capt. Thomas Emerson was afterwards elected a member to fill the 
 vacancy occasioned by the decease of Dr.'T. Spaulding, who died while the prepara- 
 tions for the festival were in progress.
 
 OF THE TOWN Of READING. 
 
 A POEM, 
 
 427 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE 
 
 READING BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 
 
 MAY 29, 1844, 
 
 BY LILLBY EATON, OF SOUTH READING. 
 
 " Of all the nations, far or near, 
 I count my native land most dear; 
 Of all the cities, east or west, 
 " I love my native town the best." 
 
 AND when I heard of your command, 
 That I should sing this glorious land, 
 And celebrate, on this great day, 
 With poetry's inspiring lay, 
 The deeds antique, each worthy name 
 Of ancient and centennial fame ; 
 Should brush the cobwebs and the dust 
 From the fair records of the past, 
 Hunt up the ancient settler's staffi 
 And sing the old, quaint epitaph ; 
 Should cull the flowers that still unroll 
 About the ancient cellar hole, 
 Wasting upon the desert air 
 Their beauty and their fragrance there ; 
 Rehearse the progress of that race, 
 Who first made this their dwelling-place, 
 Drove out the savage, wolf, and bear, 
 And made the forest to retire ; 
 Who scattered fruits and flowers abroad, 
 Who raised the temple to their God, 
 And made this western wilderness 
 A pleasant, quiet resting-place ; 
 My heart beat high with honest pride, 
 That you should thus in me confide ; 
 That I should have the noble trust, 
 To celebrate the sacred dust 
 Of those who liv'd, and toil'd, and died, 
 Where we, their children, now reside.
 
 428 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Rapt with the thoughts of my great charge, 
 Fancy within began t' enlarge 
 Imagination's kindling fire, 
 My willing soul with zeal to inspire ; 
 With haste I hied me to the place 
 The Muses with their presence grace ; 
 Inhal'd Parnassian breezes there, 
 And sought to catch poetic fire. 
 Before Apollo's shrine I knelt, 
 Pour'd forth the longings that I felt, 
 My ofTrings on his altar laid, 
 And to the oracle thus pray'd : 
 " Give me old Hercules, his zeal 
 And strength, to roll old Time's great whee 
 Back on the ages of the past, 
 And turn up centuries, at least ; 
 Give me the winged horse, whereon, 
 O'er the long track of times by-gone, 
 High-mounted, I may ride and see 
 The wonders of antiquity ; 
 Give me Briarean hands, and skill 
 T' employ them all, with ready will ; 
 To dig, mid dust of years gone o'er, 
 For ancient, curious, valued lore ; 
 To chisel new upon the stones, 
 Which tell where rest our fathers' bones, 
 The odd inscriptions wrote thereon, 
 The old death's head, the angel's horn, 
 And O, that I possess'd, beside, 
 Old 'Zekiel's power, who prophesied ; 
 That' I might call the slumbering dead 
 To rise from their long, darksome bed ; 
 And live again, a mighty host, 
 To grace this our centennial feast. 
 Give me, at least, to ascend thy seat, 
 And, standing humbly at thy feet, 
 Show me old Time's perspective glass, 
 Make pristine years before it pass, 
 That I may see, and learn and tell 
 What wonders our old sires befell," 
 
 Apollo smil'd, and struck his lyre, 
 Bright sparkled forth poetic fire ; 
 Sweet " music of the spheres " I heard, 
 And soon I caught this gracious word : 
 " Enter my courts ; to you the old 
 Historic page I will unfold : 
 Your native land, your ancient sires, 
 To gratify your warm desires,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 I '11 bring before your wond'ring view, 
 As they appear'd long time ago. 
 Four different views, each different stage, 
 As Reading look'd from age to age, 
 I '11 draw from th' old ancestral halls, 
 Where now they grace the dusty walls. 
 Select the years that best will please you, 
 I '11 spread them on a map before you." 
 I thank'd the oracle divine 
 For words so gracious and benign ; 
 " Give me. for picture number one, 
 The year our township first begun ; 
 Then number two, and three zndfour, 
 As each half century circled o'er." 
 
 \Vithin a temple, large and high, 
 Where stores of antique science lie, 
 Within a dark recess, I found 
 Th' historic priestess of the ground, 
 With magic lantern in her hand, 
 Of compound lens and flaming brand; 
 And on th' illumined plane she threw 
 A diagram of brilliant hue, 
 Whereon, the face old Reading wore 
 In sixteen hundred forty-four. 
 
 I scann'd the picture thus unroll'd, 
 To learn the story that it told, 
 Fair, lovely lakes, with sparkling wave, 
 Where fowls, unscar'd, their plumage lave ; 
 The flowing, rolling, pleasant river, 
 All look'd as now, and will forever ; 
 But all the balance of the map 
 Show'd nature in its wildest shape. 
 A forest deep, scarce yet explor'd, 
 Where savage beasts both roam'd and roar'd, 
 Where bears ferocious boldly prowl'd, 
 And wolves and wild-cats nightly howl'd. 
 But in the Southern part I see 
 The rising smoke curl light and free, 
 Floating above the lofty trees, 
 Borne upward by the rising breeze ; 
 A closer look shows here and there, 
 Half hid by branches stretching o'er, 
 The settler's cottage, rude and small, 
 Its roof of thatch, of logs its wall ; 
 On either side attach'd thereto, 
 The barn appears, and hog-sty too ; 
 
 429
 
 430 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In front, the children and the pig 
 Together play, and run, and dig ; 
 Within, the sober matrons sit, 
 And spin, and weave, and sew, and knit ; 
 Without, the lowing, bleating herd 
 Browse up such food as woods afford ; 
 And, clearing up the fertile tracts, 
 The sturdy settler swings his axe ; 
 With homespun breeches, buckled tight, 
 With hempen frock, and cock'd up hat, 
 With leather apron, tied before, 
 And shoes with bearskin cover'd o'er ; 
 His loaded gun stands resting near, 
 To shoot, if need be, wolf or bear. 
 
 I ask'd the dame, who thus unroll'd 
 This ancient map of Reading old, 
 To write, above each cottage door, 
 The name its ancient owner wore ; 
 And, lo ! forthwith, each worthy name 
 Shone clearly on this roll of fame. 
 
 And first I saw upon the spot, 
 Where now, in place of lowly cot, 
 A spacious house stands high and proudly, 
 The old log hut of Deacon Cowdrey ; 
 Where now resides the oldest man 
 At present living in the town ; 
 An odd, eccentric sort of creature, 
 Who 's always call'd old Grandsir Sweetser ; 
 A man who 's had the fortune rare 
 To vote at an " Election Fair," 
 To the surprise of every one, 
 With son, grandson, and great-grandson ! 
 This ancient deacon, that I nam'd, 
 Was long in this old township fam'd ; 
 Was selectman and public clerk, 
 The man to do the penman's work ; 
 And all these trusts, as it appears, 
 Discharg'd for more than forty years. 
 
 I farther look'd ; and on the hill, 
 Where now the heirs of John Gould dwell, 
 Upon the western slope or pitch, 
 There liv'd old Zachariah Fitch ; 
 His name he gave to hill and lane, 
 A name they both as yet retain ; 
 'T was said, " so narrow was that street, 
 That loaded teams could not there meet!' 1 '' 
 This Goodman Fitch was deacon too, 
 And I have heard the story true,
 
 OJ- THE TOWN Of READING. 
 
 That when his neighbors were attack'd, 
 
 As with first settlers is the fact, 
 
 With chills and heat, with cold and shiver, 
 
 Sure consequence of aguean fever, 
 
 And so desisted from their labors, 
 
 And crawled about among their neighbors, 
 
 Old Father Fitch would laugh to scorn 
 
 Their shiv'ring pains and looks forlorn, 
 
 Would call them lazy, 'fraid of work, 
 
 And thus crack on the cruel joke ; 
 
 But soon it happen'd, we are told, 
 
 The aguean fever, and the cold, 
 
 Seiz'd Mister Fitch, to his great grief, 
 
 And set him shiv'ring like a leaf. 
 
 His neighbors then, with roguish haste, 
 
 Came to console their friend's distress : 
 
 " O, Deacon Fitch ! you lazy, too ! 
 
 Come, go to work, we '11 venture you ! " 
 
 " Ah," cried old Zachery, with a sigh, 
 
 "You were not half so sick as I." 
 
 I farther search'd ; and on the plains, 
 Where now James Emerson remains, 
 There liv'd, untouch'd by breath of scandal, 
 Good Deacon Sergeant Thomas Kendall, 
 And on his tombstone you may see, 
 Inscrib'd in ancient poetry : 
 ' Here in the earth we lay, 
 One of the seven of this church's foundation ; 
 So to remain till the powerful voice say, 
 Rise in health, a glorious habitation ; 
 A pattern of piety and of peace, 
 But now, alas, how short his race ! 
 Here we mourn, and mourn we must, 
 To see Zion's stones like gold laid in the dust.' 
 His wife outliv'd for many years 
 The partner of her youthful days, 
 Was fam'd through all the region round, 
 As the best nurse that could be found ; 
 She had ten daughters, and each one, 
 When married, christen'd her first son 
 Kendall, and thus we may infer 
 Why 't is these names so oft occur. 
 This ancient mother lived to see 
 Nine scores of her posterity, 
 Enjoy'd the power, before she died, 
 Of saying what 's to most denied : 
 " Rise, daughter, to thy daughter run, 
 Thy daughter's daughter has a son." 
 
 43>
 
 432 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 A relic of this famous nurse 
 
 Has been preserv'd and shown to us ; 
 
 Excuse me, ladies, when I tell ic, 
 
 I 've got old mother Kendall's skillet ! 
 
 And here it is, the identic pot 
 
 She used for puddings, and what not ! * 
 
 Again th; diagram I scann'd ; 
 And near the place, where now there stand 
 The buildings own'd by Major Winn, 
 Old Richard Walker's house was seen ; 
 Of Reading train-band he was first 
 Who held the Captain's lofty trust ; 
 A man of faith and courage great, 
 To fight the battles of the State ; 
 And thus we find, that with his men, 
 He went to Saugus, now called Lynn, 
 And fought the eastern Indians there, 
 " Whose poison'd arrows fill'd the air ; 
 And two of which, these savage foes 
 Lodg'd safely in old Walker's clothes " 
 But when the order went about 
 To let the great guns thunder out, 
 Old Johnson t says, " their mighty shocks, 
 Their rattling echoes 'mong the rocks, 
 So scar'd these Indians with the sound, 
 That, with all haste, they quit the ground ; 
 And, like the ancient Syrian host, 
 In great dismay they fled the coast." 
 
 And on the same identic land, 
 Where Smith, the Deacon, lately own'd, 
 Old Richard Nichols did reside, 
 There liv'd and labor'd, pray'd and died. 
 
 Giving the map another look, 
 On Cowdrey's hill, near Bare- Hill Brook, 
 I find the now forsaken spot 
 Where Jonas Eaton rear'd his cot ; 
 The unfill'd cellar, swarded o'er, 
 The fruit-trees shading it before, 
 Some scattering roses, ling'ring round, 
 On this deserted, ancient ground, 
 Alone remain, the fact to tell, 
 Where this old settler once did dwell. 
 
 * An iron kettle, actually owned by Dea. Thomas Kendall, two centuries ago, used for making hasty 
 puddings, frequently loaned to the Indians, and known as Mother Kendall's skillet, was here shown to 
 the audience. 
 
 t See Johnson's Wonder-working Providence of Zion's Saviour in New England.
 
 OP THE TOWN OF READING. 433 
 
 Old Eaton, as the record says, 
 
 Was selectman in former days, 
 
 Was farmer too and if he fail'd 
 
 To make the land a product yield, 
 
 No want of crops was found inside, 
 
 The children grew and multiplied. 
 
 And like their ancient namesake, who 
 
 The old sirname of Eaton drew 
 
 Upon himself, because, by day or night, 
 
 He would indulge his appetite, 
 
 So they great eaters too became, 
 
 And ate them out of house and home, 
 
 And scattering from the homestead round, 
 
 You '11 find them now all o'er the town ; 
 
 And as those plants will thrive the best, 
 
 That, after all, are worth the least, 
 
 So this old race have long been spreading 
 
 O'er ev'ry part of ancient Reading. 
 
 Concerning one of this old race, 
 A wondrous tale I must rehearse : 
 Some seventy years ago, or more, 
 He died, his Christian name was Noah ; 
 He liv'd in that old honor'd mansion, 
 That Deacon Jacob owns, his grandson ; 
 Another house was standing near, 
 Where now the Spaulding buildings are. 
 'T was owned by Ephraim Weston's heirs, 
 The Weston homestead, it appears ; 
 This house was haunted, it was said, 
 And fearful noises there were heard : 
 The startling raps, by hands unknown, 
 The child-like cries, the horrid groan, 
 The doors self-open'd, and the chairs, 
 Unaided, rocking on the floors, 
 Till soon the house deserted stands, 
 Fear'd and avoided on all hands. 
 About this time old Noah died, 
 Was gather'd to his fathers' side ; 
 And on one dark and dismal night, 
 When moon and stars were hid from sight, 
 The old town-clock had toll'd the hour 
 Of midnight, some two hours before, 
 One Thomas Richardson was found 
 Within the old town burial-ground, 
 Walking along among the graves, 
 Near where the lakelet spends its waves ; 
 With gun and game-bag, pouch and horn, 
 And other traps to hunters known, 
 
 55
 
 434 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Was trudging on to try his luck, 
 In sitting for the untam'd duck, 
 When, suddenly, a mighty sound 
 Came rushing fearful all around ; 
 It seem'd as if the earth and heaven 
 Were to one great concussion driven ; 
 A light unearthly glimmers round ! 
 A form starts rising from the ground ! 
 With face all ghastly, pale and white, 
 And body wrapp'd in winding-sheet ! 
 The spirit shakes his palsied hand, 
 And bids the fright'ned hunter stand ! 
 Who quakes through ev'ry joint and pore, 
 As he beholds old father Noah ! 
 His hair erect stands stiff and straight, 
 His heart with rapid thumpings beat ; 
 He, trembling, calls on Heaven to save, 
 And hears a message from the grave ; 
 Agrees t' obey the dead man's prayer 
 Who straightway vanish'd into air. 
 The nature of this ghostly prayer 
 Old Thomas would not e'er declare, 
 Except that noises, heard before, 
 Would 'larm the haunted house no more. 
 
 About one other of this race, 
 A legend here must have a place : 
 Of one, whose house stood on those stones, 
 Where now John Pope, the deacon, owns ; 
 One 'Thaniel Eaton, I've been told, 
 Deep-blinded by the love of gold, 
 That cursed love which works all evil, 
 And makes men act just like the devil, 
 'T was when our fathers sought applause 
 In the old French and Indian wars, 
 Once saw, within his quiet home, 
 A stranger, pale and trembling, come ; 
 A man, impress'd perhaps to go, 
 Against his will, to fight the foe, 
 Had now deserted from his post, 
 And sought to gain his freedom lost ; 
 He to this ancestor appeal'd, 
 Implor'd to be awhile conceal'd, 
 Until the ardor of pursuit 
 Should rise, pass over, and abate ; 
 Nathaniel promis'd he would give 
 Asylum to the fugitive ; 
 And, hunting up a sly retreat, 
 This poor deserter did secrete.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 435 
 
 But when soon after it was told, 
 
 That a reward in shining gold 
 
 Would be paid over to the man. 
 
 Who this deserter should return, 
 
 Old Eaton's charity gave way, 
 
 And sordid mammon took the sway ; 
 
 He seiz'd his lodger, bound him tight, 
 
 And back to camp he bore him straight, 
 
 Receiv'd the bribe his baseness earn'd, 
 
 And on his journey home return'd ; 
 
 But ere he quite had left the ground, 
 
 He thought he would just look around, 
 
 O ! dreadful sight ! the man he bare 
 
 Already hanging in the air ! 
 
 'T is said, that while upon their way 
 
 Back to the camp the man did pray, 
 
 "That Heaven its direst curse would send 
 
 On him, who thus betray'd his friend ; " 
 
 Fear seiz'd the traitor, inward dread, 
 
 The dead man's curse was on his head ; 
 
 He found no peace where'er he went, 
 
 His days in misery were spent, 
 
 Till, Judas-like, he quit his pelf, 
 
 And straightway went and hung himself. 
 
 And some there are, think they can trace, 
 
 Through four successions of his race, 
 
 The consequences of that curse, 
 
 Pronounced upon old Eaton's house. 
 
 One story more, and I '11 let be 
 The ashes of this family : 
 Of Reuben Eaton, I must quote 
 One entertaining anecdote : 
 He liv'd within those cottage walls, 
 Where Adam Hawkes the senior dwells; 
 A place that once was occupied 
 By Felches, who remov'd or died, 
 And since by Pomp, a man of color. 
 Than whom, ne'er liv'd a better fellow. 
 'T was when the tocsin, loud and shrill, 
 Thundering along, o'er dale and hill, 
 Among our valiant sires arrive, 
 In se'enteen hundred se'enty-five ; 
 And while his neighbors, bustling round, 
 Caught up such arms as first they found, 
 And hurried off upon the run, 
 Our hero coolly took his gun 
 And wash'd it out, new flint put on, 
 Replenish'd his old powder-horn,
 
 436 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 His bullet-pouch he well supplied, 
 
 And ev'ry preparation made ; 
 
 With rapid steps he then mov'd on 
 
 Along the road to Lexington. 
 
 He met the foe on their return 
 
 From Concord, routed, tir'd, and worn ; 
 
 Forthwith he joined th' exciting chase, 
 
 And choosing some sly hiding-place, 
 
 Along the road, somewhat ahead, 
 
 On which the flying British sped, 
 
 Behind a house, a tree or wall, 
 
 He there let fly th' unerring ball ; 
 
 And as he said, when thereof speaking, 
 
 ;" He did enjoy most glorious picking ;" 
 
 But staying longer than he ought, 
 
 To give another, one more shot, 
 
 The flanking guard, with rapid march, 
 
 For secret shooters making search, 
 
 Surpris'd our hero at his post, 
 
 And, hasting, captur'd him almost 
 
 But our brave friend had no desire, 
 
 The foeman's galling chain to wear, 
 
 So, starting from the scene of strife, 
 
 He "put her through" as for dear life ; 
 
 The British shot came whizzing on, 
 
 To bring this saucy rebel down, 
 
 But he the flash perceives and falls, 
 
 And o'er him pass the harmless balls ; 
 
 Then springing up, he onward runs, 
 
 Again crack off the British guns 
 
 Again he drops upon his face, 
 
 Unhurt amid the dang'rous chase ! 
 
 The foe, supposing they had slain 
 
 The man, march'd on, and he again 
 
 Sprang to his feet and thus got clear, 
 
 But not until he heard them swear, 
 
 "That twice they 'd pierc'd that Yankee's liver, 
 
 But still he 'd run as fast as ever." 
 
 And near old Jonas Eaton's ground, 
 I trace the spot, where once was found 
 John Damon's ancient domicil, 
 A man of note and pious will ; 
 Was Selectman for many years, 
 Honest and faithful, it appears ; 
 Samuel, his son, as I 've heard say, 
 When he was feeble, old and gray, 
 While riding 'long, 'side Reading pond, 
 Near where A. Foster's house is found,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 43,7 
 
 His aged wife behind him sat, 
 
 When by a sudden, hasty fright, 
 
 They both were thrown from off their horse, 
 
 And aged Samuel found a corse. 
 
 A son of Samuel, John by name, 
 
 Who, to this western parish came,* 
 
 Built yonder ancient Damon mansion, 
 
 Now occupied by his great-grandson ; 
 
 A relic of the first nam'd John 
 
 Has been preserv'd and handed down. 
 
 It shows us how, in pristine days, 
 
 Our early settlers ground their maize, 
 
 While yet the corn-mill, with its wheel, 
 
 Did not exist to give them meal ; 
 
 Their mills were work'd, unhelp'd by water, 
 
 Here 's Father John's, a horn-bean mortar. 
 
 In which he bruised his corn and rye, 
 
 To make his samp and hominy, t 
 
 Again I scann'd the diagram, 
 And soon espied the ancient home 
 Of old Frank Smith, of whom 't is said, 
 For jack-knife new, with double blade, 
 He did induce an Indian chief 
 To make conveyance of the fief 
 Of large and valued tracts of land 
 Into his own soil-grasping hand. 
 They lay around that little lake, 
 That now the name, " Smith's Pond," doth take ; 
 His house, which now remaineth not, 
 Was situated near the spot 
 Where liv'd and died old Doctor Hart, 
 A man well skill'd in Galen's art ; 
 Who, in that dark and trying hour, 
 When we defied old Britain's power, 
 Among the first was found to go 
 And risk his life to meet the foe. 
 A son of Francis, Ben by name, 
 First rais'd that apple, known to fame, 
 So juicy, rich, of flavor fine, 
 That still for him is called " the Ben." 
 Ben married for his youthful wife, 
 To be the partner of his life, 
 Old Peter Palfrey's daughter bland, J 
 Who planted, on her husband's land, 
 
 * The celebration was held at the (Vest Parish of " Reading." 
 
 t A veritable horn-bean mortar, two hundred years old, the property and workmanship of John 
 Damon, a first settler, was here shown to the audience. 
 
 t Peter Palfrey was one of the first settlers of Salem, and removed to Reading, where he died, in 
 1663 his descendants remain at Salem.
 
 438 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 A little tree, its fruit the same 
 They call'd Jeho'den, her Christian name, 
 And e'en till now you still may see 
 The old Jeho'den apple-tree. 
 
 A little south of Smith's was seen 
 The ancient seat of Major Green. 
 Down in that portion of the town, 
 Where Charles and Nathan live, and Brown ; 
 Two special traits appear'd'to be 
 Peculiar to this family ; 
 Theyfrj/, a strong desire to gain 
 Broad acres of the hill and plain, 
 A heart-case purse, well fill'd and lin'd 
 With gold and silver well refin'd ; 
 And some are present here, who 've seen 
 That curious miser, Nathan Green, 
 Who liv'd a bach'lor's lonely life, 
 To shun th' expenses of a wife ; 
 Who " would not give one whole hen's egg 
 To cure the dropsy in his leg " ; 
 Who hoarded thousands in the funds, 
 And said, for so tradition runs, 
 " If those, to whom my funds descend, 
 Take half the bliss my cash to spend, 
 That I 've enjoy'd in its pursuit, 
 Why then forsooth they 're welcome to "t." 
 
 Another feature of this race, 
 That time does scarcely yet efface, 
 Was this : to give their whole estate 
 Unto their sons, however great ; 
 While daughters had no cash or house 
 To buy a living, or a spouse. 
 These ancient people us'd to wear 
 A wig of artificial hair, 
 Here 's one old Thomas Greene once wore,* 
 Who own'd the mill in days of yore, 
 And who to customers would say : 
 " I' 1 II promise you, no grist to-day." 
 
 Another view the map unroll'd, 
 And show'd what 's now call'd " Little World " ; 
 Where once an iron furnace stood, 
 That made the castings strong and good ; 
 And where John Wiley's house appears, 
 Its humble, clay-built wall uprears ; 
 
 * Old Thomas Greene's wig was here exhibited.
 
 OF THE TOWN- OF READING. 
 
 'T was situated near the ground, 
 Where Ellis Wiley now is found, 
 And occupied those ancient lands, 
 That in his children's children's hands, 
 Have now two hundred years been seen, 
 The instance sole, 'cept Major Green, 
 Excepting also one more case, 
 Namely, old Thomas Hartshorn's place, 
 Where his descendants still abide, 
 And Joseph Hartshorn does reside. 
 From father John a num'rous race 
 Have spread about from place to place. 
 And for one trait that must be nam'd, 
 This family has long been fam'd : 
 Music, the fair and heavenly maid, 
 Inspiring song and serenade, 
 Breathing, within her vot'ries' ear, 
 Sounds sweet, harmonious, and clear, 
 Has long made members of this race 
 The chosen objects of her grace ; 
 And even now you still may see 
 Sweet singers in this family. 
 
 Recurring to another part 
 Of this old entertaining chart, 
 I see, upon the self-same ground 
 Where Abra'm Emerson is found, 
 Josiah Dustin's cottage door, 
 In which there liv'd. in days of yore, 
 Two daughters of this same Josiah, 
 Who caught fierce witchcraft's raging fire, 
 That horrid madness they were curs'd in, 
 Their names were " Sal " and " Lydia Dustin " ; 
 The people thought that they possess'd 
 The devil's power within their breast, 
 And could infernal shapes assume, 
 Could ride on rails or on a broom, 
 And send all sorts of woe and pain, 
 To seize the maiden and the swain ; 
 * At length, howe'er, the magistrate 
 These girls arrested for the State, 
 Imprison'd them in Boston jail, 
 Where they their misery bewail ; 
 New light at last the jury reaches, 
 And they acquit these harmless witches. 
 
 A little farther north, appear'd 
 The house John" Batchelder first rear'd ; 
 It stood upon that pleasant site 
 Since own'd by Evans, now by White. 
 
 439
 
 440 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 At my old map I look'd again, 
 And found the house of Major Swayne ; 
 'T was situated near the ground 
 Where Stowell, Issachar, is found. 
 This Major Swayne, the records say, 
 Was a great warrior in his day, 
 And in our ancient Indian wars, 
 A victor chief, beloved of Mars ; 
 And when King Philip with his troop, 
 With tomahawk and dread war-whoop, 
 With poison'd arrows and fire-brand, 
 Bore down upon the pilgrim land, 
 Old Major Swayne, with courage true, 
 Forth to the post of danger flew, 
 Was made commander of the free, 
 And led them on to victory. 
 And once, 't is said, it so fell out, 
 While Major Swayne was on a scout, 
 Exploring swamps and other by -land, 
 Within the State of old Rhode Island, 
 He found the Indians, whom he sought, 
 Gathered in force, within a fort. 
 Our hero's numbers being few, 
 He wish'd to hide them from their view, 
 So lurking near their palisade, 
 Conceal'd them there in ambuscade ; 
 Then, bold as e'er a lion was, 
 His glitt'ring steel the Major draws, 
 And, mounting on a rising stone, 
 He cries, in loud, undaunted tone : 
 " We 've found the foe, let 's storm the fort, 
 To drive them thence will be but sport : 
 Come, Captain Poole, and Sargent Brown, 
 Wheel up your squadrons into line." 
 The Indians heard this fearless boast, 
 And thought there came a mighty host : 
 With terror struck, and wild dismay, 
 They quit the fort and ran away ; 
 Our little band with triumph then 
 Into the empty fortress ran, 
 Unfurl'd the flag of liberty, 
 And gain'd a bloodless victory. 
 
 A little farther east, I found 
 The mansion of old Nich'las Brown. 
 The same old house, for aught I know, 
 That still is standing down there .now.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 A son of Nich'las, John by name, 
 In ancient days, was known to fame, 
 Was Captain, Squire, and Selectman, 
 And liv'd on Aaron Foster's land ; 
 He married for his second wife, 
 To comfort his declining life, 
 The widow Joseph Emerson, 
 Whose husband preach'd in Mendon town ; 
 A son of hers, whose name was Peter, 
 Married the Captain's only daughter, 
 Another son was Ebenezer, 
 Who married one Bethiah Parker ; 
 And thus was settled in the place 
 The Emerson's most num'rous race. 
 
 Another of old Brown's descent, 
 To fight the French and Indians went ; 
 Thomas,* his name ; while on a drive, 
 In sev'nteen hundred fifty-five, 
 To hunt the Indians at New York, 
 And stop their big and boasting talk, 
 Was, with his party, there surprised, 
 And by that ruthless foe was seiz'd, 
 Stript of his hat, and coat, and vest, 
 And sent to grace the victors' feast ; 
 But Thomas had a nimble foot, 
 As ever stepped in shoe or boot ; 
 Desiring, too, to live and balk 
 The scalping-knife and tomahawk, 
 While through the forest he was led, 
 Escap'd their hands, and homeward fled ; 
 And, leaping like a flying deer, 
 Outrun the foe, and thus got clear ; 
 And when he reach'd old Reading town, 
 Hatless and coatless, tir'd and worn, 
 His friends laugh'd out to see the plight, 
 In which he 'd 'scap'd the Indian fight ; 
 But Tom assures them, though they titter, 
 " To run for life 's no laughing matter." 
 
 Tom's younger brother, Sam by name, 
 Enjoy'd the high and glorious fame, 
 His blood for liberty to spill 
 At that great battle, Bunker Hill ; 
 Of wounds he there received he died, 
 His country's honor and her pride. 
 
 441 
 
 * This Thomas Brown, who was born in 1738, was the son of Jeremiah, who was the son of Samuel, 
 who was the son of Nicholas, who was the son of Cornelius, who was the son of Nicholas, the first 
 settler. 
 
 56
 
 442 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Another of old Nich'las' race 
 Was once illustrious in the place ; 
 He liv'd where Cutler's buildings are. 
 His name was General Brown, Esquire ; 
 And, in our old colonial war, 
 He shone a bright and martial star ; 
 He fought the foe at Saratog*, 
 Crown Point, and at Ticonderog'. 
 
 At my old map again a seeker, 
 I find the house of Thomas Parker ; 
 He liv'd where Obed Symonds dwells, 
 Was deacon, too, the record tells. 
 
 Another view the map doth turn up, 
 And shows the house of Isaac Burnap 
 'Twas situated close by where 
 Now live John Brown and Jeremiah. 
 
 And to the North, on Saugus River, 
 Where Mister Newcomb's now the liver, 
 I find the ancient Sawing Mill, 
 First built and work'd by one John Poole ; 
 And where soon after one for corn 
 Was plac'd, that now it seems is gone ; 
 This Mister Poole first owned the land 
 Where Deacon Wakefield's buildings stand ; 
 His son, whose name was Jonathan, 
 Was second captain, selectman. 
 
 And last, not least, I found the site, 
 By our old fathers consecrate ; 
 And where that humble temple stood, 
 By them first dedicate to God ; 
 'T was built upon the common lands, 
 Near where the Wiley Hotel stands, 
 In which were certain seats and aisles, 
 Forbid to women, boys, and girls ; 
 Where, if a dog dar'd venture in, 
 Was tax'd a sixpence for the sin ; 
 And then the sexton, with a switch, 
 Drove him, loud-yelping, from the church ; 
 Where Henry Green, their earliest pastor, 
 First preach'd the truths of Christ his Master 
 Where Parson Haugh, and learned Brock, 
 Succeeded in the heavenly work. 
 
 But I 'm detaining you too long 
 With such old subjects^of my song ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 To later years I '11 hasten on, 
 
 For fear you '11 think I 'd best postpone 
 
 The balance of my vers'fication 
 
 To next centennial celebration. 
 
 The magic scene, on which I 'd gaz'd 
 With wonder, gratified and pleas'd, 
 Dissolv'd away, and in its place 
 Old Reading shone, with alter'd face ; 
 Just fifty years had now pass'd o'er, 
 'T was sixteen hundred ninety-four. 
 
 And as with wonder I behold 
 Our Reading, half a cent'ry old, 
 The first great objects that attract 
 My gaze, that mournful sighs exact, 
 Are sad mausoleums of the dead, 
 Where death has made the pilgrims' bed ; 
 Where humble gravestones mark the place 
 Of our old fathers' burying-place ; 
 And, as I scann'd the graves around, 
 The solemn truth I quickly learn'd, 
 That out of all that hardy band, 
 Who first were settlers of the land, 
 But four remain'd : old Major Swayne, 
 Old Mother Kendall, of the plain, 
 And Captain Brown, were living still, 
 And old John Damon, of the hill. 
 A town and school-house now is found 
 Within this ancient burial-ground ; 
 A house, whose granite bases rest 
 Among the bones of pilgrims blest, 
 And children play without recoil 
 Upon this old sepulchral soil. 
 
 Another object meets ray view, 
 On this old picture, number two ; 
 The ancient church is taken down, 
 And, in what 's now a burial-ground, 
 Another temple rears its walls, 
 Where " Pierpont " gives the heavenly calls ; 
 Where his successor, Richard Brown, 
 The next old pastor of the town, 
 And William Hobby, learn'd and good, 
 Within its sacred pulpit stood 
 Hobby whose son of promise fair, 
 Ere yet he 'd fill'd his twentieth year, 
 A senior in old Harvard's walls, 
 By death is seiz'd and early falls ; 
 
 443
 
 444 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 And on his gravestone thus you '11 find 
 His fame engrav'd in classic line : 
 " Hie jacet filius Gulielmus, 
 Reverendi, Domini Gulielmus, 
 Et filius Luciae Hohbi, 
 Nam maximus Collegii, 
 Clarus alumnus Harvardini, 
 Juvenis optima spei, 
 Obiit in mense Marcii, 
 Magnae, deliciae omni, 
 Anno mille septengenti, 
 Atque sex et quinquaginta, 
 
 Et etate in viginti." 
 The windows small of this old house 
 Were made, 't is said, of diamond glass ; 
 Instead of pews, it had long seats, 
 Where men of age and large estates 
 Possess'd the front and best locations, 
 While younger men in lower stations, 
 Sat next behind, with humble mien, 
 And then the women next were seen, 
 And rear of all, close by the doors, 
 The girls appear, as well as boys. 
 
 Close by the church a school-house too. 
 With humble roof, comes to my view, 
 Wherein the children used to pore 
 The spelling-book and psalter o'er. 
 
 Over the map I spread my eye, 
 To see what changes I could spy 
 New fields of cultivated land, 
 Where smiling crops abundant stand; 
 New houses, scatter'd here and there, 
 Where nought but forest was before ; 
 Apples and pears, and other fruit, 
 Where once the oak and pine had root ; 
 New settlers too, of various name, 
 Have made this settlement their home. 
 
 And down where Noah Smith, Esquire, 
 Now builds his altar and his fire, 
 And from his boundless store-house quotes 
 The entertaining anecdotes, 
 " The worthy Captain Herbert " is, 
 A man, who 'd sail'd o'er distant seas, 
 Had " brav'd the battle and the breeze," 
 Had sought this town to spend his days;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Was chosen Clerk, as it appears, 
 Of our old town for many years, 
 And, as the records themselves tell, 
 Possess'd 'great chirographic skill. 
 
 New buildings now begin to show, 
 Along the road, through old " North Row" ; 
 A family of Pratts is found 
 Where now the Wakefields own the ground ; 
 One Isaac Southwick owns the place, 
 Where now reside the Symonds race ; 
 Eatons and Emersons are spread, 
 From place to place along the road, 
 And Batchelders upon the soil, 
 Where still their children's children toil. 
 And passing on beyond the river, 
 Where Indians wild, with bow and quiver, 
 Where savage beasts, with hideous sound, 
 Rove fearless through the forest round, 
 A few brave spirits now appear, 
 In spite of perils, settling here. 
 
 And near the spot, where now you see 
 One Jacob Gowing's family, 
 One Flint, whose Christian name was George, 
 First rais'd that building, strong and large, 
 In which the early settlers flock'd, 
 When they by Indians were attack'd, 
 And which, for many years, was known, 
 As the old "fort" and "Garrison." 
 Eben and Daniel, George's sons, 
 Were warriors, as tradition runs, 
 Enlisted in their country's cause, 
 And perish'd in the Indian wars. 
 And in those times of fierce alarms, 
 The women us'd to carry arms ; 
 And once, 't is said, old settler Flint, 
 To church, with wife and children went, 
 And left two daughters, brave and fair, 
 To guard the house and take the care ; 
 And as these girls with courage true, 
 Their trusty pistols charged anew, 
 One, pointing to the other's head, 
 Remark'd in careless, sportive mood : 
 " Now Sis, were you an Indian foe, 
 How I would let this pistol go ! " 
 No sooner said than, loud and quick, 
 The ball whizz'd deep in sister's neck ; 
 
 445
 
 446 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 And though this charge no death-wound gave, 
 The slug she carried to her grave. 
 
 This race of Flints, in our old town, 
 Have added much to her renown ; 
 Colonels and squires and politicians, 
 Men, great and learn'd in the professions, 
 Historians and poets too, 
 Whose names are known the country through 
 And now to-day the laurels grace 
 Another of this favor'd race, 
 Another stone from th' same old quarry, 
 Which has, through all our ancient story, 
 Built up so high our township's glory ; 
 Another chip of th' same old block, 
 A smooth, high-polish'd, sculptur'd rock, 
 Comes up a lofty place to claim, 
 Within the temple fair of fame, 
 Ascends and takes the highest niche, 
 Among the diamonds bright and rich, 
 And like the Flint stone, sparkles thence 
 The flash of wit and eloquence. 
 
 A little west of Flint's old place, 
 A branch of th' old Eaton race, 
 And scatter'd here and there I found 
 The Uptons, Parkers, Taylors, round, 
 And other names, to speak of now, 
 The time, of course, will not allow. 
 
 Passing from hence, our steps we '11 bend 
 To what of old was call'd " Woodend," 
 And some of those we '11 try to quote, 
 Who, at this stage, were men of note. 
 
 And first, I find upon the land, 
 Where Dana Parker's buildings stand, 
 The homestead of the Boutwell race, 
 A stanch old fam'ly of the place. 
 
 And 'gainst the Common, the west side, 
 The Parker family reside, 
 An honor'd race, from which arose 
 The noblest names our record shows. 
 
 And on the spot, where now I see 
 One Etn'ry Bancroft's family, 
 Old Henry Merrow and his race 
 Long had their home and dwelling-place.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 And farther west, upon the lands, 
 Where now Squire Prescott's mansion stands, 
 Another of that Eaton race, 
 Who seem to be in ev'ry mess, 
 One Joshua Eaton own'd the place ; 
 He was old Jonas Eaton's son, 
 Whom we have seen in the old town, 
 Went delegate to General Court, 
 Was otherwise a man of note ; 
 He had a grandson, Joshua, 
 Who went to fight the enemy, 
 And lost his life in Gates's line, 
 At the surrender of Burgoyne. 
 
 Still further west, I find the ground, 
 Where Deacon Thomas Bancroft own'd ; 
 Illustrious men of this old name 
 Throng ev'ry page of Reading's fame, 
 I '11 name but one enough to glory in 
 " Esquire George Bancroft, the Historian." 
 
 And near at hand there come to view 
 The Westons' place and Temples' too. 
 
 But I must let this picture be, 
 And hasten on to number three. 
 The priestess turn'd the canvas o'er, 
 'T was seventeen hundred forty four. 
 
 But I '11 not stop to specify 
 The objects here that meet the eye, 
 But simply state, in gen'ral phrase, 
 How fifty years have chang'd the place. 
 The fathers, where are they ? they 're gone, 
 Their children's children have come on ; 
 Houses improv'd in form and size, 
 New cultur'd lands before me rise. 
 The little scatter'd company 
 Are now a thousand, happy, free ; 
 Old Parson Hobby, at the South, 
 With wig august, walks stately forth, 
 With buckles bright of monstrous size, 
 Upon his shoes and at his knees ; 
 With solemn gait, his desk ascends, 
 The gospel call of love extends. 
 And at the North, the portals fair 
 Of a new temple now appear, 
 Where Daniel Putnam, their first priest, 
 Spreads out therein the gospel feast. 
 
 447
 
 448 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The priestess chang'd the scene once more, 
 'T was sev'nteen hundred ninety-four ; 
 Bright shines our Reading at this stage, 
 Although thrice fifty years of age. 
 
 Columbia's eagle, strong and fair, 
 Sails proudly on, midway the air, 
 Majestic emblem to the free, 
 That o'er the land there 's liberty ; 
 On ev'ry hill-top, ev'ry plain, 
 The pole of liberty is seen, 
 And from its gilded summit wave 
 The starry banners of the brave ; 
 A race of patriots now appear, 
 The victor's laurell'd wreaths that wear, 
 Who, when oppression's thunder roll'd 
 Its war-cloud o'er this western world, 
 And when their country's voice was heard, 
 Calling her sons to seize the sword : 
 "Strike, till the last arm'd foe expires, 
 Strike, for your altars and your fires, 
 Strike, for the green graves of your sires, 
 
 God, and your native land,' 
 Rush'd fearless at this battle cry, 
 To meet the foemen that were nigh, 
 Resolv'd to conquer them or die, 
 Amid their country's band ; 
 " They fought, like brave men, long and well," 
 Thousands of foes before them fell ; 
 They conquer'd, and their country s free. 
 Hurra ! for them and liberty ! 
 
 Among those great illustrious names, 
 Whose valor thus our homage claims, 
 Heroes, who rais'd their country's name 
 Above all Greek or Roman fame, 
 The Reading men distinguish'd stand, 
 A brave, unconquerable ban d; 
 A host, whose numbers, in amount, 
 Exceed what now I've time to count ; 
 These men had now return'd to plough 
 The land they 'd rescued from the foe ; 
 They 'd come triumphant from the war, 
 The sons of liberty and law, 
 To walk as freemen on the soil, 
 Enrich'd by blood, secur'd by toil ; 
 To nourish the fair Olive there, 
 And mingle with the fairer fair,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 With mothers and with sisters too, 
 
 Who 'd help'd with pray'rs the fee subdue 
 
 A remnant of these braves still live, 
 
 Our gratitude and love t' receive : 
 
 There 's Sweetser, John, and old Cornelius 
 
 Who dar'd to tyrants act rebellious ; 
 
 There 's Joseph Hopkins, of Bare Hill, 
 
 And Ol'vr Walton, living still ; 
 
 That vet'ran "Shoe Jour? of " 11 Pond," 
 
 Old William Emerson, lives on ; 
 
 David and William Parker too 
 
 Are yet among the precious few ; 
 
 Old Daniel Damon lingers here ; 
 
 And Wakefield, 'squire, brings up the rear.* 
 
 Of all that brave and hardy band, 
 
 That Reading sent to guard the land, 
 
 That number'd scores, and fifties even, 
 
 1 hey 're all, we trust, gone home to heaven, 
 
 Save nine alone, whose ark of life 
 
 Still floats amid tke tempests' strife. 
 
 Long may these vet'rans live, to see 
 
 Their country happy, prosp'rous, free ; 
 
 And when at last the time shall come, 
 
 That they must go to their long home, 
 
 In heaven's strength, may they then prove 
 
 Victorious o'er the monster's grave, 
 
 By angel bands escorted, rise 
 
 To meet their Captain in the skies, 
 
 And there sit down, the vict'ry won, 
 
 With all the saints with Washington ! 
 
 A new-built church now.meets my eyes, 
 Whose top aspires to reach the skies, 
 Where Prentiss mild, with kindly word, 
 Entreats his friends to love the Lord. 
 
 And at the north, old Parson Stone, 
 In plain and blunt, but honest tone : 
 " This 5s the road, that God has given, 
 Walk ye therein, and go to Heaven." 
 
 And at the West, upon the lands, 
 Near where their present church now stands, 
 The third old Parish have uprear'd 
 Their earliest temple to the Lord ; 
 
 449 
 
 * Since writing the above, the author has learned that Samuel Damon, formerly of Reading, and now 
 Uving in Lancaster, was a soldier of the Revolution. 
 
 57
 
 450 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Where Haven preach'd, who was the first 
 
 Who there discharg'd the watchman's trust ; 
 
 Where Parson Sanborn, his successor, 
 
 Rouses the sinner and professor, 
 
 And by his heavenly eloquence 
 
 Calls forth the tears of penitence ; 
 
 This venerable priest and sage, 
 
 The pastor of a former age, 
 
 Still lives ! O, may new days be given, 
 
 Late may our friend return to Heaven ! 
 
 But leaving this old map and view, 
 Let 's now take up what 's fresh and new ; 
 Pass all these types and shadows o'er, 
 'T is eighteen hundred forty -four ; 
 And we are met to celebrate 
 Our fathers' home, our own dear seat. 
 Then let us hail with joy the land, 
 Where we, its favor'd children, Stand ; 
 " Trace ev'ry spot we love so well," 
 In this fair city where we dwell ; 
 Shout in the breezes from its hills, 
 And join the music of its rills ; 
 Inhale the fragrance from its fields, 
 And taste the fruit its garden yields ; 
 Unfurl our canvas on its lakelets, 
 And stroll its meads, along its streamlets ; 
 Count up the num'rous muses' seats, 
 Where science holds her lov'd retreats ; 
 Go worship where those shrines appear, 
 That number now some half a score, 
 Whose beauteous portals, op'ning wide, 
 Are now beheld on ev'ry side ; 
 Count o'er the handsome cottages, 
 Tell all the shining palaces, 
 Enumerate the happy throng, 
 To whom these dwellings fair belong ; 
 And then rejoice that we command 
 The fairest village of the land. 
 Now let us pray that while old Time 
 Rolls on the ages, yet to come, 
 And while our town, with railroad motion, 
 Improves its wealth and population, 
 Let us entreat our fathers' God, 
 Who long has blest this fair abode, 
 To scatter light and truth abroad ; 
 That future generations' here 
 Shall so increase, from year to year,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 451 
 
 In those rich treasures, stor'd in Heaven, 
 T* wisdom, knowledge, virtue given, 
 That when the sun's revolving way 
 Shall light our next centennial day, 
 Spectators may with joy behold 
 Those treasures grown an hundredfold. 
 
 THE CELEBRATION. 
 
 The morning of the 29th, of May, 1844, was beautifully clear, and 
 the day proved to be one of the finest which could have been chosen 
 for such an occasion. The rising sun was greeted by a joyous peal 
 from the bells in the several parishes in Old Reading, the whole place 
 was soon alive with excitement and expectation, flags were displayed 
 from the various flag-staffs, and the roads leading to the place of cele- 
 bration were thronged with people wending their way, joyously, to join 
 the great gathering at Union Hall. 
 
 At ten o'clock the procession was formed at Union Hall, in the 
 South Parish, in Reading, under the direction of Daniel Pratt, Jr., Esq., 
 chief marshal. 
 
 First came the escort, composed of three handsomely uniformed 
 volunteer companies, the " South Reading Rifle Greens," commanded 
 by Capt. Wiley, the " Brooks Phalanx," of Medford, commanded by 
 Capt. Blanchard, and the " Woburn Mechanic Phalanx," commanded 
 by Capt. Winn. The martial bearing of these several companies did 
 credit to their discipline. They marched to the music of the " Maiden 
 Band " and the " Marion Band," of Woburn, whose performances sus- 
 tained their reputation as excellent musicians. 
 
 Then came the orator and the poet of the day, the president and first 
 vice-president, followed by the second vice-president and the chaplains. 
 Immediately succeeding these came the committee of arrangements, 
 with their families, four deep. Then came the coach with the soldiers 
 of the Revolution, and just after it two gentlemen and four ladies, clad 
 in the garb of the olden time. These " last of the cocked hats," who, 
 while the soldiers of the Revolution seemed young again, appeared to 
 have grown as suddenly old, attracted much attention. After the "old 
 folks " came the choir, then the invited guests, with their ladies ; these 
 were followed by the clergymen, physicians, and lawyers, resident and 
 non-resident, with their ladies, and the procession closed with the citi- 
 zens and strangers generally, with their'families. 
 
 The procession passed through the main street of the village, thence
 
 452 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 up the Common between the elms, from which was suspended the 
 inscription, decked with evergreens, *' 1844, BI-CENTENNIAL." At the 
 entrance to the field selected for the exercises of the day an arch was 
 erected, bearing the motto, executed in old style, " MDCXLIV incor- 
 porated." A platform for the officers of the day, speakers, invited 
 guests, etc., was raised, and seats for the audience erected on rising 
 ground in the form of an amphitheatre, where about four thousand per- 
 sons listened to the exercises with great interest. 
 
 The services on the field commenced with music from the Maiden 
 Brass Band, which, with the " Marion Band," discoursed sweet music in 
 the field, on the march, and at the pavilion. An appropriate prayer 
 was then offered by Rev. Aaron Pickett, of Reading, South Parish, and 
 passages of Scripture, selected from the Psalms, and adapted to the 
 occasion, were read in a distinct, forcible, and devout manner, by the 
 Rev. E. W. Allen, of Reading, North Parish, the chaplains of the day. 
 The choir then sung, to the tune of St. Martin's, the following selected 
 hymn, with fine effect : 
 
 " Let children hear the mighty deeds 
 
 Which God performed of old ; 
 Which in our younger years we saw, 
 And which our fathers told. 
 
 " He bids us make his glories known, 
 
 His works of power and grace : 
 And we '11 convey his wonders down, 
 Through every rising race. 
 
 " Our lips shall tell them to our sons, 
 
 And they again to theirs, 
 That generations yet unborn 
 May teach them to their heirs. 
 
 " Thus shall they learn, in God alone, 
 
 Their hope securely stands ; 
 That they may ne'er forget his works, 
 But practise his commands." 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Flint, a native of Reading, then delivered an address, 
 which enchained the audience for two hours. He gave a minute his- 
 tory of the place, from its settlement to the present time, so far as the 
 time would permit. The address was followed by a poem, which occu- 
 pied one hour in the delivery, by Hon. Lilley Eaton, of South Reading. 
 He retained the attention and sustained the interest of the audience to 
 its close.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 453 
 
 The following stanzas, selected from an ode written by Rev. Dr. 
 Flint for a celebration at Plymouth, were then sung by the choir in 
 excellent style. 
 
 " Come, listen to my story, 
 
 Though often told before, 
 Of men who passed to glory, 
 
 Through toil and travail sore ; 
 Of men who did, for conscience' sake, 
 
 Their native land forego, 
 And sought a home and freedom here, 
 
 Two hundred years ago. 
 
 " Dark was the scene and dreary, 
 
 When here they sat them down 
 Of storms and billows weary, 
 
 And chilled with winter's frown. 
 Deep moaned the forest to the wind, 
 
 And howled the savage foe, 
 While here their evening prayer arose, 
 
 Two hundred years ago. 
 
 " Of fair New England's glory, 
 
 They laid the corner-stone ; 
 This deed, in deathless story, 
 
 Their grateful sons shall own. 
 Prophetic, they foresaw, in time, 
 
 A mighty State should grow 
 From them, a few faint pilgrims here, 
 
 Two hundred years ago. 
 
 " From seeds they sowed, with weeping, 
 
 Our richest harvests rise ; 
 We still the fruits are reaping, 
 
 Of pilgrim enterprise. 
 Then grateful, we to them will pay 
 
 The debt of fame we owe, 
 Who planted, here, the tree of life, 
 
 Two hundred years ago. 
 
 " As comes this period, yearly, 
 
 Around our cheerful fires, 
 We '11 think, and tell, how dearly 
 
 Our comforts cost our sires. 
 For them, we '11 wake the festive song, 
 
 And bid the c.tnvas glow, 
 Who fixed the home of freedom here, 
 
 Two hundred years ago."
 
 454 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Peter Sanborn, of Read- 
 ing. 
 
 The procession then proceeded to a spacious pavilion, erected near 
 the meeting-house, where sixteen hundred persons, " men, women, and 
 children," were seated, and, after the invocation of the blessing of 
 God, by Rev. Micah Stone, of Brookfield, a native of Reading, re- 
 freshed themselves with the good things provided for the occasion by 
 John Wright, Esq., of Boston, one of the best caterers for such festi- 
 vals. When ample justice had been done to the viands, the President 
 of the day, Caleb Wakefield, Esq., in a few remarks, bade all a hearty 
 welcome to this fraternal meeting, and concluded with the following 
 sentiment : 
 
 The day we celebrate. Sacred to the memory of our fathers while 
 we call to mind their trials and virtues, let us not forget their good 
 example. 
 
 The " regular " and other sentiments, which follow, were interspersed 
 with music from the bands, some excellent glees, by the " Croton Glee 
 Club," from Boston, and a song in fine style by Mr. Reed, the leader 
 of the choir, in the chorus to which the multitude joined. 
 
 REGULAR TOASTS. 
 
 i. The day we celebrate. An unfrequent visitant may its centen- 
 nial return, till time's remotest century, mark, among our population, 
 an increase of knowledge, morality, and virtue, of at least an hundred 
 per centum. 
 
 The Old Men and Women present on this occasion. " The glory of 
 children are their fathers " and mothers and now, that they are old 
 and gray-headed, let us pray that " God will never forsake them." 
 
 3. The " May Flower" that arrived at Plymouth in 1620. Its peta- 
 lous leaves shed a fragrance all over the land, richer than the gales of 
 Arabia ; its seeds, sown in the soil, produced the glorious tree of civil 
 and religious liberty, and the more glorious fruits of wisdom and virtue. 
 Reading planted in May, was a May flower, of the same old stock ; its 
 blossoms are fair and its fruits rich it has proved centennial, may it 
 likewise prove perennial. 
 
 4. The Farmers of Reading in the days of the Revolution. They 
 were great in the pasture, but greater in the field and when they put 
 their hands to the plough, whether agricultural or military, they turned 
 the sward handsomely, and never looked back, but " put her straight 
 through."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 455 
 
 5. Old 'lection day. What glorious, happy times we used to have 
 on this old, joyous anniversary ! And, although our rulers have buried 
 this old State holiday beneath the snows of January, yet, as it is our 
 own municipal anniversary, we will still celebrate it once a century, hit 
 or miss. 
 
 6. Our Shoemakers, male and female. May the men be of prime 
 stuff and bottom of first 'rate souls of good understanding may 
 the rubbers of life make them pliable, strong, and water proof. May 
 the ladies not be too high in the instep, but may they always be trimmed 
 with the ornaments of modesty, quietness, and meekness, which in 
 Heaven's market are all of great price, and surmounted always with 
 handsome beaux ; and may both male and female be cemented together 
 with the wax of lasting friendship well bound by the golden cords of 
 love, and tied t together by the silver clasps of wedlock never giving 
 or receiving kicks, but always abounding in a plenty of kacks. 
 
 7. Old Methuselah. When this old antediluvian had lived nine 
 hundred years, and found some thirty generations of his posterity still 
 living around him, what a glorious centennial celebration he might 
 have got up. 
 
 8. Our Cabinet Makers. May the tablets of their hearts be inlaid 
 and veneered with virtue, humility, and wisdom their tongues always 
 speak the unvarnished tale of truth their reputation be unstained 
 may they be firmly united by the glue of friendship recline upon the 
 sofa of competence sleep upon the couch of contentment and happiness ; 
 
 and whether they shall sit in the great chair of state, or be engaged 
 in making and rocking the cradles of innocence, may everything be 
 done like clock work. 
 
 9. The town of Reading. Instead of again dividing her territory 
 into two districts, she has decided that, for a while longer, Wood End 
 must endeavor to " make both ends meet." 
 
 10. Our farmers. May they see a luxuriant crop of Olive plants 
 springing up in their own good soil may these plants be well cultivated 
 
 always enriched with education, watered by the dews of temperance, 
 warmed and enlightened by the sun of science ; and preserved by the 
 pure moral atmosphere which their parents and friends shall exhale 
 around them, from the worm of the still, from the slug of indolence, 
 from millers, and all other noxious insects ; and, in due time, may these 
 plants be interchangeably ingrafted, and then may they "bud and blos- 
 som like the rose, and bring forth fruit even to old age." 
 
 11. Old Bachelors. They are like some of the old apple and pear 
 trees, planted by our ancestors, some of which are still standing among
 
 456 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 us, all covered with moss and thorns, whose fruit, if they bear any, is 
 scattered, sour, and worthless ; and, just like these same old crab-trees, 
 they ought to be grafted with scions of the lady apple, the belle flower, 
 the sweeting, the Catherine, t\\e julienne, etc., or, if they refuse to sub- 
 mit to this, they should be forthwith transplanted into the deserts of 
 Africa. 
 
 12. Time. Swifter than a steam locomotive swifter even than 
 the passing of a lightning's flash, it flies along its track to eternity 
 may all of us obtain seats in that train, that runs up the shining way 
 whose conductor is God, whose depot is Heaven. 
 
 13. The Ladies of Reading, from its earliest settlement to the 
 present time. We have heard that some of our earliest settlers were 
 accused of witchcraft ; whether they were guilty or not, we know not ; 
 but one thing we do know, viz. that, in these modern timas, conclusive 
 evidence has been given by many a Swain and Batchelder, by some 
 Parsons and many other Persons in town, that in melting Harts of Flint 
 and Stone, the ladies of the present day have a most Wiley and bewitch- 
 ing power. 
 
 The following were among the volunteer sentiments offered on the 
 occasion. 
 
 The oldest Minister of this town. As was the outward man in 1790, 
 so is the inward man in 1844, active and vigorous. "The fathers, 
 where are they ? " Oh ! gone. " The prophets, do they live forever ? " 
 Why, how changed ! 
 
 The Rev. Peter Sanborn, who was settled in Reading in 1790, and 
 who is now nearly fourscore years old, in responding to this sentiment, 
 drew an interesting contrast between the town as he first knew it, and 
 its present condition, and closed with the following : 
 
 Our Children and their Descendants. May they shun all the vices, 
 and cherish all the virtues, of their fathers. 
 
 By the Orator of the day. The fairer and better half of the towns of 
 Reading and South Reading. The worthy daughters of worthy mothers 
 may they be the mothers of daughters as worthy. 
 
 By Rev. Micah Stone. Dear Old Reading. Although long absent, 
 I love thee still, my native place. 
 
 " There is Bunker Hill, and there it will remain forever " The fire of 
 patriotism lighted in 1775 does not cease to burn in the bosoms of her 
 sons at this day. 
 
 This called up Richard Frothingham, Jr., Esq., of Charlestown,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 457 
 
 i 
 
 who responded in an interesting historical speech, and offered the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 New England Towns, Nurseries of public spirit and political inde- 
 pendence their records contain full details of the art as practised by 
 conscience-governed and liberty-loving men, of making a small people 
 a great nation. 
 
 Hon. David P. King, our Representative in Congress ever watch- 
 ful of the interests of his constituents. 
 
 A letter from Mr. King was read, concluding with 
 
 The Descendants of the Worthies of Reading. May it ever be remem- 
 bered by them, that an honorable ancestry is best commemorated, and 
 most honored, by the patriotism and virtues of their posterity. 
 
 Salem, the oldest town of Massachusetts Colony. Her sons inherit the 
 energy of their sires. 
 
 A letter was here read from Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, of Salem, whose 
 mother was a native of Reading, and daughter of the Rev. Richard 
 Brown, the fifth minister of the first church in Reading concluding 
 with the following sentiment : 
 
 Our Ancestors, " who left their pleasant homes in England," and 
 came to " this outside of the world " for " freedom to worship God." 
 The sequel has shown, that Johnson, in his " Wonder-working Provi- 
 dence," spoke in the spirit of prophecy, when he said, " Time shall dis- 
 cover the wisdom with which they were endued ; and the sequel shall 
 show, that their policy overtopped all human policy of this world." 
 
 The Clergy. Trusty sentinels, now on our spiritual walls " Watch- 
 man, what of the night ! " 
 
 To this sentiment, the Rev. Aaron Pickett, of Reading, responded in 
 a short but eloquent speech. 
 
 By Capt. A. Foster, of South Reading. The surviving Soldiers of the 
 American Revolution. Though not members of any Peace 'Society, yet 
 they were strong advocates of pacific principles ; and as they were in 
 olden time, so they are now, still determined to maintain peace under 
 all circumstances and at all hazards, even though they should shoulder 
 their guns and fight for it. 
 
 The Physicians of Old Reading, at the head of whom stood His 
 Excellency John Brooks, and the Hon. John Hart may their pre- 
 scriptions prove as efficacious as that of the doctors of the Revolution, 
 when, after a consultation, they told John Bull, " that a limb must be 
 amputated." 
 
 Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, recently of Oakham, and a native of Read- 
 ing, responded to this sentiment, and offered the following : 
 58
 
 458 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The sovereign remedy of Uncle Sam for John Bull Lead pills, 
 followed with sulphur and nitre if found to operate well, double the 
 dose. 
 
 School Masters. In olden time, we used to hire our teachers from 
 Cambridge, Boston, Charlestown, and other large towns, and pay them 
 ninepence a day, and some of them were dear at that ; at the present 
 time, we send out to those old seats of learning, teachers of our own 
 raising, who command their thousand a year, and are cheap at that. 
 
 Paul H. Sweetser, Esq., a teacher of a public school in Charlestown, 
 and a native of Reading, was called up by this sentiment, and made 
 an animated speech, closing with, 
 
 The old town of Reading. For two centuries her -course has been 
 onward and upward may her motto ever be excelsior. 
 
 The Boston and Maine Railroad Extension Company. May their suc- 
 cess be equal to their enterprise. " Look out for the engine while the 
 bell rings." 
 
 The late Members of the Executive Council, Hon. Edmund Parker and 
 Hon. Thaddeus Spaulding. Their memories are engraven on the 
 hearts of their fellow-citizens. 
 
 By Rev. William Wakefield, Jr., of Reading. The third Centennial 
 Celebration, May 2<)th, 1944. May those who shall, one hundred years 
 hence, gather around our wasting dust, have cause to remember us 
 with such affection as we bear to our good old fathers ; and bless 
 God that they were descended from men who were not degenerate, who 
 lived for their children, and their children's children. 
 
 Francis A. Fabens, Esq., formerly of Reading, transmitted the fol- 
 lowing sentiment : 
 
 The town of Reading. May we so administer the inheritance which 
 our fathers have left us, that our children, on some future occasion, may 
 take as much pride in recalling the events of our local history, as we 
 to-day are able to do. 
 
 By Rev. Reuben Emerson, of South Reading. The risen and 
 rising generations . May they imbibe the principles and adopt the prac- 
 tices of their venerable fathers and mothers, which, under God, have 
 raised us up to what we are, with full assurance that the causes which, 
 in their unrestrained operation, have given us the elevation we glory in, 
 can only perpetuate, by their continued operation, the inestimable priv- 
 ileges, civil, social, literary, moral, and religious, the inestimable bequest 
 of their fathers. 
 
 By James Eustis, ist Vice President of the day. The Press. May 
 its mighty power ever be used in the dissemination of truth.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 459 
 
 John Prentiss, Esq., editor of the Keene, N. H., " Sentinel," a 
 native of Reading, and only surviving son of the late Rev. Caleb Pren- 
 tiss, of Reading, rose, and after some remarks, offered the following : 
 
 Old Massachusetts and her glorious institutions. 
 
 This called forth a letter from His Excellency Governor Briggs, and 
 the following sentiment : 
 
 The ancient town of Readin . After two hundred years of progress 
 in the cause of education, and of civil and religious freedom, the sen- 
 tinel from her watch-tower proclaims " All 's well " : may the same 
 cheerful cry be heard on the morning of her third centennial birthday. 
 
 By the poet of the day. The Readings 
 
 South, and West, and North 
 Three sisters born at the same birth 
 Have met to-day, 'mid joy and cheer, 
 To celebrate their natal year ; 
 And tho' their age is now ten score, 
 They 're fairer now than e'er before ; 
 And tho' they ne'er had spouse or brother, 
 Yet thousands joy to call them mother ; 
 Long may these sisters fair, survive, 
 Together live, and love, and thrive, 
 Rear up the children for all uses, 
 To make the bureaux and the shoes'es. 
 
 TJie escort of the day. Like the volunteers of this town, under the 
 command of Governor, then Captain Brooks ever ready at a min- 
 ute's warning. With such soldiers for her defence, our country fears no 
 enemy; 
 
 Captain S. Blanchard, of the " Brooks Phalanx " of Medford, gave, 
 in reply : 
 
 The minute men. The first to 'peril their lives for their country's 
 safety, the last to prove recreant to her glory. 
 
 The following letter, with the sentiments, was received from Rev. 
 James N. Sykes, formerly of Reading: 
 
 BRISTOL, R. I., May 24, 1844. 
 CALEB WAKEFIELD, Esq. : ,,f. 
 
 Dear Sir, Accept my thanks for the invitation presented me by your committee, 
 to unite with you in your celebration. To be absent is a sacrifice which a stern neces- 
 sity imposes on me. A compliance with the invitation would be every way grateful 
 to my feelings. Such a service is honorable. It is filial to observe it It is wise to 
 note those days on the dial-plate of time which have been peculiarity set apart 
 by the Providence of God. Our republican simplicity has prevented such from 
 becoming too numerous ; and, while other countries have devoted each day in the 
 year to some pious saint or impious hero, until, for want of room, they have given one
 
 460 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 to " All Saints," ours has been peculiarly sparing of such favors. This is not for lack 
 of stirring incident or noble names. We are rather parsimonious of our honors, and 
 I therefore rejoice in each attempt to rescue us from a dishonorable exception. 
 There is something amiable in such a gathering. It is a pilgrimage to the tombs of 
 our sires, which the voice of nature so loudly inculcates that she compels the half- 
 civilized Chinese annually to present his offerings on the grave of his fathers. Our 
 industry may apologize for a more rigid economy of time than he employs, but it 
 cannot let us do less than once in a century to fulfil the orifice. It is well that we 
 remember the past In reality, it draws for a moment aside the curtain that hangs 
 before the future. From the deep recesses of the past there comes up a voice sol- 
 emnly reminding us that " that which hath been, is that which shall be " ; that our 
 swift career is towards the grave, whither our fathers have gone ; it tells " what shad- 
 ows we are, and what shadows we pursue." 
 
 I have walked among the graves on your green hills ; have paused to spell out the 
 names of your honored dead ; and, in the solitude of the city of the dead, have con- 
 templated the history of those who were actors on the stage before us. On such an 
 occasion as this, their memories must come up fresh in the mind, as when one stands 
 by the gray and time-worn monument. Let us not turn away until we have learned 
 some useful lesson. 
 
 I had almost forgotten that I was writing to an individual, and have unconsciously 
 fallen almost into a speech, when you asked only for a sentiment I hasten to make 
 amends by offering one. 
 
 To the dead of Reading. Their memory is their most enduring monument their 
 deeds their noblest epitaph. 
 
 I can hardly consent to leave the living so cavalierly. Presuming not less on the 
 richness of what your orator shall give you in his oration, than relying on the memory 
 of one of her most distinguished writers and sons, Rev. Timothy Flint, I venture the 
 following : 
 
 Old Reading. She has more than renewed the prodigy of the wonder-working rod. 
 This drew wily water from the rock she, honey from the Flint 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 JAMES N. SYKES. 
 
 By Joshua Prescott, Esq. Two hundred years ago this day the 
 town of Reading was incorporated, being settled by the descendants of 
 Puritans, whose love of liberty, pure patriotism, and equal rights, has 
 been handed down and maintained from generation to generation, to 
 the present time ; and when the genius of liberty shall be forced to take 
 her flight (which we pray God may never happen) from these United 
 States, may she love to linger in this town, being cherished and loved 
 so long as there shall remain a single inhabitant in it. 
 
 By John Wes'ton, Esq. The pilgrims, our ancestors. May we imi- 
 tate their virtues and shun their vices. 
 
 By Hubbard Emerson, Esq., of Lynnfield The Genealogical Tree 
 of the Ancestors of Reading. May it continue to bud and blossom ; and 
 the fruit thereof never fall until it is ripe for the harvest.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 461 
 
 The Memory of Col. Daniel Flint, a Revolutionary Soldier. One 
 whose numerous virtues, as a Christian and peace-maker, are still held 
 in estimation by all who knew him. May the earth rest lightly on his 
 ashes. 
 
 By Dr. Joseph Poland. Our Social, Civil, and Religious Institutions. 
 They cost great efforts, great suffering much treasure, much blood ; 
 but not one half what they are worth. 
 
 George Bancroft, the accomplished historian of the United States. 
 Although sprung from us, he belongs to the nation. 
 
 William F. Harnden, the originator of the Express system. Would 
 we acquire the distinction of our former townsman, let us emulate his 
 energy and enterprise. 
 
 By Calvin Temple. The Inhabitants of old Reading. One hundred 
 years hence, when our posterity shall "celebrate the third centennial 
 anniversary of the incorporation of this town, may we, -' by faith and 
 patience,'' have obtained seats in that pavilion of God " not made with 
 hands, eternal in the heavens." 
 
 A little before the sun had hid his face beyond the western hills, 
 this happy company, having enjoyed one of the most pleasant meetings 
 that has ever fallen to their lot ; with no accident to mar their enjoy- 
 ment, and naught to cast a gloom, save the thought that, before another 
 anniversary of a similar character shall dawn on the mother, all her 
 children that have participated in the joyous scenes of this shall be 
 sleeping beneath the clods of the valley adjourned for one hundred 
 years I
 
 462 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD, 
 
 FROM 1844 TO 1874, WITH IMPORTANT TOWN ACTION, ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 OF NEW STREETS ; AND LIST OF PROFESSIONAL SONS AND 
 
 GRADUATES OF READING AND WAKEFIELD. 
 
 1845. The Extension of the Boston and Maine Railroad from 
 Wilmington, through Reading, Wakefield, and Maiden, to Boston, was 
 this year completed, and passenger cars were first regularly run on 
 July 4th. 
 
 The prediction of some of our leading citizens, made before the 
 Legislative Committee, previously, " that South Reading would prob- 
 ably furnish as many as thirty daily passengers" has been abundantly 
 realized. (See Railroad Statistics, Chap. XII.) 
 
 Chestnut and Railroad Streets were this year laid out. 
 
 While workmen were employed in the removal of a portion of the 
 hill, at the northerly end of " Smith's Pond," a human skeleton was 
 discovered, a fuller description of which will be found elsewhere in 
 this history. 
 
 March 3. Town voted, "That the Superintending School Commit- 
 tee be hereby authorized to establish an English High School, for the 
 ensuing year, to commence as soon as may be feasible, to be taught 
 by a competent master ; the scholars for which to be selected by said 
 committee from the several Primary Schools, in accordance with such 
 rules as shall be adopted for that purpose ; provided, that the whole 
 of instruction, rent, and incidental expenses for said school, shall not 
 exceed the sum of $600." 
 
 Also, voted, " That in the event such a High School is established, 
 as above provided, the several Primary Schools may be taught wholly 
 by female instructors." 
 
 August 18. Town voted, "That the Selectmen, for the time being, 
 be a committee, from henceforth, to oppose by all legal measures, the 
 drawing of either of the pbnds belonging to this town, below their 
 natural level."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 463 
 
 1846, December 26. Town voted, " To proceed to ballot for a new 
 Town name," with the following result : 
 
 For Winthrop, seventy-one ; So. Reading, thirty-five ; Florence, six ; 
 Shawmut, five ; Calais, five ; Lakeville, four ; Vernon and Greenville, 
 one each. 
 
 Accordingly, a committee appointed for that purpose, petitioned the 
 Legislature that the name of Winthrop might be assumed, instead of 
 So. Reading, which petition was not granted. 
 
 This year, the Lakeside Cemetery Association was organized. 
 
 1847. The academy building was purchased by the town for the 
 use of the high school. 
 
 The town petitioned for a portion of Stoneham to be annexed 
 thereto. 
 
 First steam mill in Reading erected. 
 
 Grove, Linden, and Bow Streets were laid out, and the several lines 
 of road in the town were this year named, as follows : 
 
 ist. From Reading to Maiden, through the centre of the town, 
 " Main Street " ; 
 
 2d. From Reading Line, near Jona. Brown's to the late Daniel 
 Gould's est#e, " Lowell Street " ; 
 
 3d. From Eaton's corner, easterly, to Lynnfield Line, "Salem 
 Street " ; 
 
 4th. From the pond through the Sweetser farm, " Cordis Street " ; 
 
 5th. From Elias Boardman's to E. S. Upham's, " Pleasant Street " ; 
 
 6th. From Thomas Skinner's to Thomas Green's, " Back Street " ; 
 
 yth. From the Common to Adam Wiley's, " Mechanic Street" ; 
 
 8th. From rear of Jacob Eaton's old house to Sumner Pratt's, 
 " Eaton Street " ; 
 
 gth. From Baptist Church to Leonard Wiley's, " Crescent Street " ; 
 
 xoth. From Fred. Slocomb's to Saugus Line, "Water Street" ; 
 
 nth. From Paul Sweetser's corner to Saugus Line, "Nahant 
 Street " ; 
 
 1 2th. From Jotham Walton's corner, easterly, " Oak Street " ; 
 
 i3th. From John Brown, Jr.'s, to Stoneham Line, " Brown Street " ; 
 
 1 4th. From the Common, along by the Depot, to Stoneham Line, 
 " Albion Street " ; 
 
 1 5th. From the Depot, northerly, to highway near J. W. Atwell's 
 shop, " Railroad Street " ; 
 
 i6th. From Daniel Norcross' to the Railroad, " Chestnut Street " ;
 
 464 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 i7th. From B. B. Wiley's store to Old Meeting House, "Common 
 Street " ; 
 
 1 8th. From Eaton's corner, westerly, to Cowdrey's Hill, " Church 
 Street " ; 
 
 igth. From Old Prentiss House to William Deadman's, "Lafayette 
 Street " ; 
 
 2oth. From foot of Cowdrey's Hill, westerly, to Woburn Line, 
 " Prospect Street " ; 
 
 2ist. From James Emerson's to Stoneham Line, " Cedar Street " ; 
 
 22d. From Davis Foster's, around the hill, to Prospect Street, 
 " Brook Street " ; 
 
 23d. From foot of Cowdrey's Hill, northerly, to Reading Line, 
 " Elm Street " ; 
 
 24th. From Daniel Nichols', northerly, to Lynnfield Line, " Vernon 
 Street " ; 
 
 25th. From near David Pratt's house, easterly, to Lynnfield Line, 
 " Pine Street " ; 
 
 26th. From Leonard Walton's, westerly, to Stoneham Line, " Green- 
 wood Street " ; 
 
 27th. From house of J. H. Sweet, northwesterly, to Reading Line, 
 " Hopkins Street " ; 
 
 28th. From the Town House to the Pond, " Pond Street " ; and 
 the upper lake was designated as " Quannapowitt," while the lower one 
 received the title of " Wappahtuck." 
 
 1849. The several school districts had their boundaries particu- 
 larly defined and established. 
 
 " Wiley " Street was laid out, and " Greenwood " Street (which was 
 laid out in 1828, and no record thereof made) was re-laid out and 
 established. 
 
 1850 "Avon " Street and "Eaton Court" were this year laid out. 
 
 Dr. T. Scott Lambert presented sixty-two copies of his work, enti- 
 tled, " Popular Anatomy and Physiology," and the thanks of the town 
 were duly returned therefor. 
 
 / 
 
 1851. Town voted, "That the members of the Engine Company, 
 not exceeding forty-five in number, and containing none under 18 years 
 of age, be paid for their services the sum of $5 each, per annum, and, 
 in addition thereto, have the amount of their Poll taxes refunded."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 465 
 
 . This year the town adopted the principle of the " Maine 
 Law." 
 
 "Park," "North Mechanic," "Broad," "Sweetser," and "School" 
 Streets were laid out. 
 
 The " Yale " engine was purchased, and a new engine house ordered 
 to be erected. 
 
 1853. "Richardson," "Melvin," "Farm," and "Forest" Streets 
 were laid out, and " Pearl " Street was accepted, conditionally. 
 
 Town of North Reading was this year incorporated. 
 
 New engine house in South Reading was erected, and a system of 
 rules and orders for the government of town-meetings, including, also, 
 the plurality rule, were this year adopted. 
 
 1854. The Eastern Railroad asked of the Legislature leave to dis- 
 continue a portion of the South Reading Branch, between South Read- 
 ing and South Danvers, and a committee was appointed by the town, 
 and instructed to oppose such a discontinuance. 
 
 Fire department this year established. 
 
 1856. A new town almshouse was this year erected, and a public 
 town library was authorized. 
 
 " Gould " Street was laid out, and Chestnut Street was extended. 
 
 1857. Town voted to receive a sum of money from Ezra Eaton, of 
 Boston, and to appropriate the interest of the same in keeping his 
 burial lot and tomb in good condition. 
 
 The Constitutional Amendment, requiring voters to be able to read 
 and write, was this year adopted, eighty-eight to nine. 
 
 Town voted, " That hereafter the Annual Town-Meetings shall be 
 held in April, instead of in March." 
 
 " Washington " and " Lake " Streets were this year established. 
 
 1858. Greenwood school-house was removed from its former site, 
 on Main Street, to its present location on Oak Street. 
 
 1859. The "old church" (Congregational) was removed from its 
 former to its present position, and was thoroughly remodelled. 
 
 The town -changed the name of that portion of its territory long 
 known as the " East Ward," to that of " Montrose." 
 59
 
 4 66 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The common was drained and graded, and a change of grade was 
 made in high school yard. 
 
 The old bell was removed to the town house. 
 
 The Yale engine house, of wood, was burned, and a new one, of 
 brick, was erected. 
 
 The Jewish Cemetery, on the western border of Lake Quannapowitt, 
 was laid out. 
 
 1860. Town accepted and adopted report of a committee, previ- 
 ously appointed to estimate the expense of fencing the public com- 
 mon ; said committee estimating the expense of said work at seven 
 hundred dollars. The same committee being authorized to secure the 
 completion of said work, it was accordingly erected at a cost of 
 $636.75. 
 
 i86i,May. Town voted, "That the treasurer be hereby authorized 
 and directed to hire the sum of five thousand dollars, for military pur- 
 poses." 
 
 1862, August 25. Town voted, "That one hundred dollars be paid 
 to all who enlist in the ' Richardson Light Guard,' for service under the 
 nine months' call, provided that they receive no bounty from any 
 other town, and that they are at this time residents of the town of 
 South Reading." 
 
 Sept. 8. Town voted, "That such citizens of South Reading as 
 are serving in the ranks of the Federal Army, whose settlement at the 
 tune of enlistment was in this town, and who have not received a 
 bounty from the town, shall each receive from the town treasury, at 
 the expiration of such service, or honorable discharge therefrom, the 
 sum of one hundred dollars ; and to such as may fall in battle, or die 
 in such service, it shall be paid to the widow of such deceased soldier 
 (if he leaves one) ; otherwise, to his legal representative : provided, 
 however, that the bounties shall not be paid until the right of the town 
 to do so shall have been secured by law ; provided, also, that in case 
 any one of said volunteers has received of the town aid for his family, 
 or those dependent upon him for support, to a larger amount than 
 is refunded by the State, such excess of aid thus furnished, shall be 
 deducted from the bounty now voted." 
 
 1864, April. Town voted, "That the selectmen be instructed to 
 take measures for the placing of a gate, or flag-man, at the R. R. cross- 
 ing on Salem Street, near the residence of William Brown."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 467 
 
 Also voted, " That the town appropriate one hundred and twenty- 
 five dollars to be paid to each volunteer enlisted and completely mus- 
 tered into the military service of the United States, as a part of the 
 quota of South Reading, under the last call of the President for 
 200,000 men." 
 
 1865. May. Town voted, "That Lilley Eaton, in preparing a his- 
 tory of South Reading, be authorized to expend such sums as may be 
 necessary to secure facts and other material for the work, and present 
 the bills to the town for payment." 
 
 1866. Town chose a committee to co-operate with a similar com- 
 mittee from the town of Lynnfield, to make application to the Supreme 
 Judicial Court, for the enforcement of the contract between the East- 
 ern Railroad and the South Reading Branch R. R. corporations. 
 
 " Yale Avenue " was laid out and accepted. 
 
 1867. "Franklin" Street, and a new street from Albion Street, 
 southerly, to Broadway, were laid out. 
 
 1868. January 20. Town chose a building committee to superintend 
 the erection of a new town hall building, the gift of Cyrus Wakefield, 
 Esq., of which committee Mr. Wakefield was chairman. 
 
 Town also voted, "That the selectmen be directed to prepare a 
 petition in the name and behalf of the town, to be presented to the 
 Legislature of Massachusetts, praying that the name of the town of 
 South Reading may be changed to that of Wakefield." 
 
 (N. B. For a fuller account of these matters, see Appendix M 
 and P.) 
 
 April. Hon. Lilley Eaton, chairman of library trustees, presented 
 their annual report, and thereupon it was voted, " That in considera- 
 tion of the fact that Lucius Beebe, Esq., had presented for the use of 
 the library, the sum of five hundred dollars, the thanks of the town be 
 presented for his generous gift, and that the public library be hereafter 
 known as the " Beebe Public Library of Wakefield." 
 
 New Street laid out and accepted, from Gould to Albion Streets. 
 
 1869. The improvement and drainage of Main Street, in accord- 
 ance with recommendation of a committee, was authorized and 
 effected. 
 
 " Bryant " Street laid out ; also, a new street from Water to Vernon 
 Streets.
 
 468 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 And a new street was laid out from Greenwood to Brown Streets, 
 the expense of which was to be assessed upon the owners of adjoining 
 lands, according to law. This street was subsequently named " Myrtle 
 Avenue." 
 
 1870. " Centre " and " Traverse " Streets were laid out. 
 
 1871. The name of "Washington Street" was changed to that of 
 " Foundry Street" 
 
 May i. Town voted, " That the committee, appointed for the pur- 
 pose of ascertaining the cost of land", which was desired for the exten- 
 sion of the common, be instructed and authorized to purchase said 
 land for such purpose, in accordance with a plan "submitted by said 
 committee, provided that, in their judgment, the jfrices are reasonable, 
 and, for the payment of. the same, the treasurer, is hereby authorized 
 to hire a sum, not exceeding nineteen thousand six hundred dollars, 
 for a term of ten years." 
 
 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE TOWN. 
 
 " Whereas, Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., in accordance with an offer pre- 
 viously made, and with a liberality scarcely paralleled, at his own 
 expense has erected a town house, massive and graceful in its propor- 
 tions, elegant in its architecture and appointments, ample and conven- 
 ient for the purposes which were contemplated in its construction, and 
 has presented the same for the unrestricted use of the citizens of 
 Wakefield, therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That we, the said citizens, in town-meeting assembled, in 
 approval and endorsement of the acts of our municipal officers which 
 marked their reception of this building, hereby tender to Cyrus Wake- 
 field, Esq., this sincere and unanimous expression of our gratitude for 
 his munificent donation. 
 
 "Resolved, That, fully recognizing and appreciating the magnitude of 
 the gift, as well as the benefits it confers, we will use our best endeav- 
 ors to preserve this building in its original beauty and attractiveness, 
 and so transmit it, unimpaired, to our children, that they also may 
 hold the generous donor in grateful remembrance." 
 
 May i. Town voted, "That the sum of thirty-two thousand five 
 hundred dollars be appropriated for the purchase of land on the corner 
 of Common and Lafayette Streets, and for the erection of a school 
 building thereon."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 469 
 
 Town voted, " That the sum of seven thousand dollars be appro- 
 priated for the purchase of land near the junction of Franklin and 
 Nahant Streets, and for the erection of a school-house thereon." 
 
 Town voted, " That the town treasurer be authorized to hire the sum 
 of twenty thousand dollars, for the term of five years, and the further 
 sum of nineteen thousand five hundred dollars, for the term of ten 
 years." 
 
 " Emerald " Street and " Fitch Court " were this year laid out and 
 accepted. 
 
 August 14. .Town voted, "To purchase one chemical, self-acting 
 fire engine, manufactured by the N. E. Fire Extinguisher Co., of 
 Northampton," and a committee was authorized to make the purchase. 
 
 Oct. 2. Town voted, "That the engineers be authorized to erect a 
 suitable engine house, in Montrose, for the accommodation of the 
 engine to be purchased by the citizens of that district." ' 
 
 " Lawrence " Street waj accepted. 
 
 1872, Jan. 8. Town voted, " That the treasurer be authorized to hfre 
 the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars by the issue of notes or bonds, 
 for a term not exceeding ten years, for the purpose of funding a portion 
 of the town debt, due on demand, and for re-funding that portion of the 
 funded debt maturing the present year." 
 
 April i. Town voted, "To change the names of 'Bow' and 
 ' Grove ' Streets, to ' Railroad ' Street." 
 
 Town voted, " To purchase a hook and ladder carriage, at a cost not 
 exceeding one thousand dollars." 
 
 Town voted, " That the sum of twenty thousand dollars be appro- 
 priated] for the finishing and furnishing of the new high school-house, 
 and that the treasurer be authorized to hire that sum for a term of 
 ten years, by the issue of bonds." 
 
 Town voted, " That the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars be 
 raised and appropriated for the erection of a new school-house in the 
 Woodville district." 
 
 " Highland " and " Cedar " Streets were laid out and accepted. 
 
 New streets were also laid out and accepted, as follows : from Water 
 Street, near the Centre depot, easterly, to Water Street, near Mr. J. 
 Colman's house ; and from Vernon Street, easterly and southerly, to 
 Melvin Street. 
 
 Novembers. The following communication was presented to the 
 town, by the chairman of the selectmen :
 
 47 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 To the Selectmen of Wakefield, Mass. 
 
 I, Harriet N. P'lint, as an expression of my regard for the town 
 of my nativity, propose to give to the town of Wakefield the sum of 
 one thousand dollars ; the same to be held in trust by the treasurer 
 of said town, and the interest thereof, and that only, to be annually 
 expended in the purchase of books for the Beebe Town Library. 
 
 It is my desire that the interest, as above, should be annually paid by 
 the town treasurer to the treasurer of said library, that the books 
 should be selected by the library trustees, and that, upon the accept- 
 ance of this fund by the town, it should be designated and known as 
 " The Flint Memorial Fund.' 
 
 Witness, (Signed) HARRIET N. FLINT. 
 
 L. B. EVANS, 
 
 Edward Mansfield, Esq., then offered the following resolutions, 
 which were unanimously adopted : 
 
 " Resolved, That the generous proposal of Mrs. Harriet N. Flint to 
 present to the town the sum of one thousand dollars, for the purpose 
 set forth in her communication to the selectmen, is hereby gratefully 
 accepted by the citizens of Wakefield, in town meeting assembled. 
 
 " Resolved, That the town treasurer be hereby authorized to receive 
 the said sum of one thousand dollars in trust, and that he be instructed 
 faithfully to comply with the wishes expressed by the liberal donor, as 
 to the disposition of the same. 
 
 " Resolved, That the cordial thanks of the citizens of Wakefield are 
 hereby tendered to Mrs. Flint, for her eminent generosity ; and that 
 the town clerk be instructed to forward to her a copy of these resolu- 
 tions." 
 
 1873, Feb. 10. Town voted, "That the selectmen be authorized 
 and instructed to draft and present to the Legislature a bill for the 
 purpose of authorizing the town of Wakefield to pay such bounties to 
 any soldiers (who served in the recent war and were credited to the 
 quota of said town) as they shall deem expedient." 
 
 April 7. Town voted, "That the rule adopted by the town at a 
 previous meeting, requiring the votes for town officers to be cast on 
 one ballot, be suspended and abolished." 
 
 Town voted, " That the selectmen be instructed to appear before the 
 County Commissioners of this county, at their meeting in Cambridge, 
 and in behalf of the town, protest against any further assessments 
 being laid upon the town for the support of Maiden Bridge."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 471 
 
 Town voted, " That J. S. Eaton, Lucius Beebe, Richard Britton, and 
 Chester W. Eaton, be a committee for the purpose of securing the 
 completion and publication of the ' Town History ' (left incomplete at 
 the decease of the late Hon. Lilley Eaton), in accordance with a report 
 from the selectmen ; the town assuming an expense therefor not exceed- 
 ing the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars." 
 
 PROFESSIONAL. 
 LIST OF GRADUATES. 
 
 Samuel Bacheller, 
 Daniel Emerson, 
 Joseph Swain, 
 Aaron Putnam, 
 Elias Smith, 
 Jacob Emerson, 
 Samuel Dix, 
 Amos Sawyer, 
 Samuel S. Poole, 
 Jacob Burnap, 
 Martin Herrick, 
 Jacob Herrick, 
 Brown Emerson, 
 William Hobby, Jr., 
 Aaron Bancroft, 
 Edmund Foster, 
 Nathaniel Parker, 
 Micah Stone, 
 Jacob Flint, 
 Charles Prentiss, 
 Reuben Emerson, 
 Timothy Flint, 
 James Flint, 
 Elias Upton, 
 Nathan Parker, 
 Thomas Pratt, 
 Samuel Green, 
 Samuel Hart, 
 Jona. Weston, 
 
 GRAD. COLLEGE. 
 
 DIED. 
 
 1731, Harvard. 
 
 1796 
 
 1739, 
 
 1801 
 
 1744, 
 
 1792 
 
 1752, 
 
 1813 
 
 1753, 
 
 1792 
 
 1756, 
 
 1811 
 
 1758, 
 
 1797 
 
 1765, 
 
 1769 
 
 1770, 
 
 1836 
 
 1770, 
 
 1821 
 
 1772, " 
 
 1820 
 
 1777, 
 
 1832 
 
 1778, 
 
 
 Died Sen. y'r. " 
 
 
 1778, 
 
 l8 39 
 
 1778, Yale. 
 
 1826 
 
 1779, Harvard. 
 
 1792 
 
 1790, 
 
 1852 
 
 1794, 
 
 1835 
 
 1795, 
 
 1820 
 
 1798, Dartmouth. 
 
 
 1800, Harvard. 
 
 1840 
 
 1802, 
 
 1855 
 
 1802, " 
 
 1857 
 
 1803, 
 
 1833 
 
 1815, 
 
 1820 
 
 1816, " 
 
 
 1817,
 
 4/2 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Daniel Temple, 
 John Batchelder, 
 Amos B. Lambert, 
 J. M. Nelson, 
 Thomas Sawyer, 
 Cyrus Nichols, 
 Warren Nichols, 
 Charles M. Emerson, 
 William Gage, 
 George Nichols, 
 Benj. W. Parker, 
 Stillman Pratt, 
 Horace P. Wakefield, 
 John S. Wallace, 
 Francis Smith, 
 William F. Wallace, 
 Wm. Wakefield, Jr., 
 Pliny F. Sanborn, 
 Thos. M. Symonds, 
 Fred. Wiley, 
 Fred. S. Wiley, 
 Wm. L. Brown, 
 T. Albert Emerson, 
 Henry Putnam, 
 Charles Hewes, 
 Aaron H. Sawyer, 
 E. A. Upton, 
 C. W. Eaton, 
 Edwin Sweetser, 
 Alfred Sweetser, 
 Joseph Burditt, 
 M. Hutchinson, 
 
 Joshua Prescott. 
 A. A. Prescott. 
 Solon Bancroft. 
 Carroll D. Wright. 
 
 GRAB. 
 I8l 7 , 
 1823, 
 
 (Expelled), 
 
 1839, 
 1840, 
 
 1847, 
 
 1855, 
 1859. 
 
 COLLEGE. 
 
 Dartmouth. 
 Harvard. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 DIED. 
 
 1851 
 
 1826, 
 1828, 
 1828, 
 1829, 
 1831, 
 
 l8 3 2, 
 
 1832, 
 
 i*37 
 
 Dartmouth. 
 Amherst. 
 Harvard. 
 Amherst. 
 
 Yale. 
 Brown. 
 
 Amherst. 
 K 
 
 Waterville. 
 Brown. 
 
 Waterville. 
 
 
 Yale. 
 
 Dartmouth. 
 
 
 Tufts. 
 
 Waterville. 
 
 Harvard. 
 
 LAWYERS. 
 
 IN READING. 
 
 Francis A. Fabens. 
 
 Chauncy P. Judd. 
 
 B. M. Hartshorn. 
 
 Fuller. 
 
 George Minot.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 473 
 
 William Nichols. 
 Martin L. Stow. 
 H. F. Barstow. 
 O. B. Potter. 
 E. A. Upton. ' 
 C. W. Eaton. 
 
 Thomas Sawyer. 
 
 IN WAKEFIELD. 
 
 E. M. Cunningham. 
 R. Rantoul, Jr. 
 William St. A. Stearns. 
 William L. Brown. 
 J. O. Boswell. 
 S. K. Hamilton. 
 C. F. Blandin. 
 
 In NORTH READING. 
 
 Henry Putnam. 
 
 John Brooks. 
 Nathan Perry. 
 John Hart, Jr. 
 Abner Phelps. 
 Daniel Gould. 
 S. H. Spaulding. 
 F. F. Dole. 
 F. F. Brown. 
 J. H. Hannaford. 
 
 James Stimpson. 
 Eben Stimpson. 
 Benjamin Swain. 
 Thomas Swain, 2d. 
 William Hay. 
 John Hart. 
 S. O. Richardson. 
 S. A. Toothaker. 
 Jos. D. Mansfield. 
 Josiah Poland. 
 Josiah Norcross. 
 M. S. Brown. 
 W. W. Eaton. 
 J. R. Mansfield. 
 
 60 
 
 PHYSICIANS. 
 IN READING. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker. 
 
 Skilton. 
 
 Nathan Richardson. 
 Samuel Hart. 
 Kendall Davis. 
 H. P. Wakefield. 
 John N. Sanborn. 
 Leonard Block. 
 M. Berry. 
 
 IN WAKEFIELD. 
 
 William Stimpson. 
 Jeremiah Swain. 
 Thomas Swain, ist. 
 Oliver Swain. 
 John Hay. 
 Nathan Richardson. 
 Thaddeus Spaulding. 
 Jo^iah Abbott. 
 Wm. H. Willis. 
 W. W. Cutler. 
 J. G. Brown. 
 Charles Jordan. 
 S. W. Abbott, 
 E. P. Colby. 
 Azel Ames, Jr.
 
 474 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Daniel Putnam. 
 Jacob Goodwin. 
 
 IN NORTH READING. 
 
 Martin Herrick. 
 D. A. Grosvenor. 
 
 PROFESSIONAL SONS OF READING, WHO SETTLED IN OTHER 
 
 PLACES. 
 
 Rev, 
 
 , S. Bacheller. 
 
 David Emerson. 
 
 Jacob Emerson. 
 
 Joseph Swain. 
 
 Amos B. Lambert. 
 
 Samuel Green. 
 
 Frederic Wiley. 
 
 Edwin Sweetser. 
 
 Samuel Nichols. 
 
 Winfield S. Hawkes. 
 
 Joshua Burnham. 
 
 Charles Bryant. 
 Charles Hay. 
 Samuel Hart. 
 Harris Cowdrey. 
 L. M. Yale. 
 R. E. Smiley. 
 Abram Gould. 
 
 Prof. B. F. Tweed. 
 " J. C. Emerson. 
 " C. M. Emerson, Esq. 
 " Harrison Tweed, Esq. 
 
 Dr. 
 u 
 
 Rev. Elias Smith. 
 
 " George Evans. 
 
 " Brown Emerson. 
 
 William Gage. 
 
 " Francis Smith. 
 
 " 'Fred. S.Wiley. 
 
 " T. A. Emerson. 
 
 " A. H. Sweetser. 
 
 " Michael Burditt. 
 
 " Ebenezer Nelson, Jr. 
 
 " B. W. Atwell. 
 
 " Granville S. Abbott. 
 Dr. John Hart. 
 " B. B. Emerson. 
 " Alex. Poole. 
 " J. M. Eaton. 
 " Daniel Gould. 
 " L. E. Emerson. 
 Dr. T. S. Lambert. 
 
 Prof. B. Badger, Jr. 
 
 " George A. Walton. 
 
 " Charles A. Tweed, Esq. 
 
 " T. B. Brown, Esq. 
 
 COLLEGE GRADUATES OF READING. 
 
 The following is a list of persons who have graduated from college 
 while belonging to this town : 
 
 Rev. Samuel Batcheller, graduated at Harvard College in 1731, 
 was settled as pastor in the West parish in Haverhill in 1735. * n ^ ^^9 
 and 1770, he was representative from that town. He died in March, 
 1796, in Royalston, Mass. Chase, in the History of Haverhill, calls 
 him a man of superior talents and attainments.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 475 
 
 Samuel S. Poole, graduated at Harvard College, class of 1770. He 
 took sides with the Tories in the war of the Revolution, and like many 
 others of that class when they " wanted more room," he removed to 
 Nova Scotia, where he became a judge. He lived oh the place for- 
 merly owned by Dea. Wakefield, in the easterly part of the town. 
 
 Rev. Jacob Burnap, D. D., son of Isaac, Harvard College, class of 
 1770. Was ordained first pastor of the first church in Merrimac, N. H., 
 Oct. 14, 1772, "in which honorable position," says his historian, " he 
 remained until his death, Dec. 6, 1821, a period of more than forty- 
 nine years." 
 
 Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D., son of Samuel, Esq., Harvard, class of 
 1778, settled in Worcester in 1785, where he died in 1839, aged 84. 
 He was father of George Bancroft the historian, and published several 
 works. He shouldered his musket as a volunteer at Lexington and 
 Bunker Hill. 
 
 Rev. Edmund Foster, a graduate of Yale, 1778, was ordained third 
 pastor of the church in Littleton, in 1781. He died in 1826. Early in 
 the war of the Revolution he was very active in the cause of the people, 
 and was one of the minute men that enlisted under the command of 
 Dr. (afterward Gov.) John Brooks, who then resided here. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker,* Harvard, class of 1779, studied medicine, and 
 settled at Salem. 
 
 Thomas Pratt, son of Isaac, lived where N. P. Pratt, Esq., now lives, 
 graduated at Dartmouth, 1798. Spent some time as teacher, and 
 finally became a merchant at Mechanicsburg, Pa. 
 
 Rev. Nathan Parker, Harvard, 1803. Became D. D., and settled in 
 Portsmouth, N. H., where he remained as pastor nearly thirty years. 
 He is said to have been " successful almost without a parallel in the 
 ministries of the growing denomination to which he belonged." Those 
 who remember him say he was a man of talent, genial, and very unas- 
 suming. He was born and lived where Mr. James Davis resides, 
 and was brother of Hon. Edmund Parker. 
 
 Jonathan D. Weston, son of Capt. Jonathan, Cambridge, 1802. 
 Became a prominent lawyer, removed to Eastport, Me. Said to have 
 been " one of the smartest men ever raised in Reading." He served 
 also as collector of the port. There was a Judge Weston, at Eastport, 
 erroneously supposed by some to have been Jonathan, the lawyer. 
 
 Elias Upton, Harvard, 1802, lived for a time with his brother where 
 Dr. Kimball lives. Was a successful teacher. Went to Blue Hill, 
 Me. 
 
 Daniel Temple, Dartmouth, class of 1817; Andover Theological
 
 476 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Seminary in 1820; ordained in 1821 ; went as a missionary to Malta 
 in 1822 ; removed to Smyrna in 1833 ; returned to the United States 
 in 1844; died August 9, 1851, at the house of his brother, Dea. M. M. 
 Temple, at the age of 61, and was buried in this town. His funeral 
 sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Goodell, the Missionary with whom 
 he had long been associated, both as a classmate and in missionary 
 interests. Mr. Goodell said " among the various nations and tribes 
 and sects of the East, his name is held in high estimation. . . . He 
 evidently endeavored to be as upright, sincere, cordial, gentle, kind, 
 benevolent, economical, true, and good, as he expected everybody would 
 be in the millennium." His life and letters, forming an interesting 
 volume of nearly 500 pages, were published in 1855. 
 
 John Batchelder, Harvard, 1823. He taught school in Nan tucket 
 for some time, and in 1827 opened an Academy here in a building 
 erected for that purpose and designed in part for a church, by the Uni- 
 tarian society that then existed in town. The building stood on the 
 present site of the residence of Dr. F. F. Brown. The school pros- 
 pered for many years, and numbers of young men from this and the 
 surrounding towns were fitted here for college. Mr. Batchelder was 
 succeeded in 1843 by a Mr. Waitt, who soon gave up the school here 
 and opened one in Greenwood, where the inebria'te asylum of Dr. Day 
 has recently been established. The academy was converted into a 
 dwelling-house, and is now the residence of H. G. Richardson, Esq. 
 Mr. Batchelder served the town for thirty years with distinguished 
 ability as one of their school committee, commencing in 1828, and con- 
 tinuing nearly every year until 1863. He was also once chosen Rep- 
 resentative to the General Court, and served some years as selectman. 
 He died July 7, 1871, aged 80 years 2 months 12 days. 
 
 Rev. Benj. Wyman Parker, Amherst, 1829; Andover, 1832. Went 
 as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands the same year. He still re- 
 sides there. He has also a son settled there as pastor. It is no small 
 honor to have been one of the band that have lifted a nation from 
 paganism to Christianity. 
 
 Rev. George Nichols, son of James, graduated at Yale, and studied 
 theology at New Haven, but never preached much. Was a successful 
 teacher for a term of years at New Haven and Hadley, and for a long 
 term at Springfield, Mass., where he died at the age of 46. 
 
 Rev. Cyrus Nichols, brother of Rev. George, graduated at Williams, 
 and studied theology at Auburn. Has long been in the service of the 
 Home Missionary Society, first in Missouri, now in Wisconsin. 
 
 Rev. Warren Nichols, another brother, graduated at Williams and
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 477 
 
 Andover, and labored also in Missouri for the Home Mission, till" his 
 death. 
 
 Adams Nichols, M. D., practised at Rockport, Mass., but removed to 
 Quincy, Illinois, where he has an extensive field of labor, and is a pop- 
 ular physician. He is brother of the three last named. Their sister, 
 Mrs. Oliver Peabody, still resides here. 
 
 Rev. Stillman Pratt, son of Benjamin, graduate of Amherst, 1831, 
 studied theology, and graduated at Andover. First settled at Orleans, 
 where he remained four and a half years, and preached at Eastham six 
 months. He then removed to South Adams, Mass., and after doing 
 missionary work several years, succeeded in establishing a church, of 
 which he became pastor. After nine years of labor at Adams, he re- 
 moved to Melrose, laboring among the people, holding meetings in 
 the depot, and formed a church there, over which he was settled about 
 three years, and which, like that at Adams, still continues to flourish. 
 He removed to Carver, and was pastor three years. He published the 
 " Mother's Assistant " two years, and the " Middleborough Gazette " 
 from that time to his death, Sept i, 1862, at the age of 53 years. He 
 was the author of four volumes published by the Massachusetts Sabbath 
 School Society, a life of Gen. Fremont, two editions of Sabbath School 
 Questions, and a biographical catalogue of the class of 1831, Amherst 
 College, and a genealogy of the Pratt family. Under his ministrations 
 seventy-one were added to the church in Orleans, fifty at South Adams, 
 twenty-five at Melrose, fifteen at Carver. His son, Stillman B. Pratt, 
 is the present editor and proprietor of the Randolph, Mass., " Register," 
 and of the " American Workman," 37 Cornhill, Boston, and was the 
 candidate of the Labor Reform Party for Secretary of State in 1869. 
 Another son, Ransom D., is connected with the Mass. Bureau of Sta- 
 tistics. A third son, Thomas S., was former editor of the " Abington 
 Standard." 
 
 Horace P. Wakefield, son of Dea. Caleb, Amherst, 1832, practising 
 physician at Oakham, Mass., for several years, where he held the office 
 of selectman and town clerk, and was twice elected as Representative 
 to the Legislature. Returning to Reading, he was elected Senator for 
 this district, in 1862, and served one year, and also as school commit- 
 tee and town clerk for several years, and justice of the peace. He 
 then was appointed as inspector of the almshouse at Tewksbury, and 
 afterward physician there. Subsequently he was transferred to the 
 superintendency of the State almshouse at Monson, which he still 
 retains. 
 
 Rev. William Wakefield, son of William, graduated at Amherst, 1839,
 
 478 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 taught the South Reading Academy one year ; Codman School, Dor- 
 chester, about two years ; graduated at Andover, 1845 ; went as Home 
 Missionary to McConnelsville, Ohio, remaining there six years ; 
 preached at Madison, Ohio, three years. In April, 1855, he removed 
 to Harmar, a village of Marietta, where he was settled as pastor for 
 many years. 
 
 Edward Hartshorn, M. D., formerly of this town, studied medicine, 
 settled at Berlin, has an office in Boston, and is proprietor of the well- 
 known bitters, " Key to Health." 
 
 S. O. Richardson, M. D., son of Dr. Nathan, of this town, resided 
 in Wakefield, and was widely known for his " Sherry Wine Bitters." 
 
 It may not be inappropriate to quote here a remark of Dr. H. P. 
 Wakefield, while physician at the State almshouse, in his address at 
 the celebration in honor of the change of the name of South Reading 
 to Wakefield. Referring playfully to Dr. Richardson, he said, " he, 
 Dr. Richardson, engaged in the sale of bitters and became wealthy." 
 " I," said Dr. W., " peddled pills and have got into the almshouse." 
 
 Jared Reed, son of Rev. Jared, formerly pastor of the Old South 
 Church, in this town, graduated at Yale, 1846 ; resides at Stockbridge, 
 Mass., where he is engaged in teaching. 
 
 John S. Wallis, Yale, 1832 ; studied law ; is now a farmer at Bolton, 
 Mass. ; . 
 
 William F. Wallis, brother of John S., studied at Yale, but died 
 probably before graduating. 
 
 Rev. Pliny F. Sanborn, son of Rev. Peter Sanborn, Amherst, class 
 of 1840. Settled for some years at West Bloomfield, N. Y., now at 
 Springfield, same State. 
 
 Rev. George E. Sanborn, brother of Pliny F., Amherst, 1843. 
 Preached at Georgia, Vt., Mt. Vernon, N. H., Northboro', Mass. ; and 
 is now superintendent of the orphan asylum, at Hartford, Conn. 
 
 Joseph C. Sanborn, M. D., of the same family, though not a college 
 graduate, is a physician in Boston. 
 
 George W. Symonds, son of Obed, not a college graduate ; studied 
 medicine ; formerly was in practice at Lancaster, now at Clinton. 
 
 Daniel Temple, son of Charles ; not a graduate ; is a dentist. Has 
 resided in the Southern States ; he first went there as an agent of Dr. 
 Morton, and engaged in introducing ether as an anaesthetic in surgical 
 operations. 
 
 Stillman E. Parker, Esq., entered Amherst College, 1841. After 
 studying about two years, was obliged to leave on account of ill health ; 
 is now engaged in the manufacture and sale of shoes ; has served on
 
 Of- THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 479 
 
 the school committee in this town longer than any other man, except- 
 ing Mr. John Batchelder. He was a member of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives in 1859, and holds a commission as justice of the peace. 
 His son, Edward H., spent one year in the State Agricultural College 
 at Amherst 
 
 Alfred A. Prescott was a member of the class of 1843, Harvard 
 College ; began the practice of law in 1845 ; was register of probate 
 about six years, 1852-8. Has always been a resident of Reading, 
 having an office here. 
 
 Rev. Thomas M. Symonds, son of Eben D., graduate of Waterville 
 College, Me., 1847 ; Newton Theological Seminary, 1850 ; was never 
 settled as a pastor ; labored under the directions of the Home Mis- 
 sionary Society with a good degree of success, at Green Bay, Wis., 
 where he died July 5, 1852, at the age of 31. 
 
 William L. Peabody, son of Enoch; Dartmouth, 1856 ; studied law, 
 practised several years at Lynn, and is now established in his profes- 
 sion at Omaha, Neb. In 1873 he was elected judge of probate. 
 
 Benjamin M. Hartshorn, son of Benjamin, graduated at the Har- 
 vard Law School, and opened an office in this town. He was chosen 
 for three years as one of the general school committee, and in 1867 
 was elected chairman of the board of selectmen. He died the same 
 year, aged 2 7. 
 
 John M. Bancroft, son of Joseph ; Dartmouth, class of 1859 ; went west 
 as civil engineer till the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a 
 private in the Second Michigan Infantry ; was in sixteen battles ; served 
 three years, and attained the rank of captain ; he was then offered 
 the colonelcy of a regiment of cavalry, which he declined on account 
 of health ; removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and was engaged for a year or 
 two in laying out the public park there ; he is now employed by ten 
 New York insurance companies, as surveyor, which gives him employ- 
 ment in different parts of the country, with his principal office in New 
 York. 
 
 E. Bentley Young, son of Edward ; graduated at Dartmouth, 1862 ; 
 sub-master in Brimmer School, Boston. 
 
 Wm. Wallace Davis, nearly two years a student at Dartmouth ; left 
 the college and enlisted as a soldier in August, 1862 ; he received a 
 bullet wound in his right wrist at the battle of Gettysburg, on account 
 of which he was discharged from the service ; enlisting again in 
 December, 1863, in the 59th regiment, he was promoted to first lieuten- 
 ant the next year ; he lost his left arm in the battle of Petersburg, 
 July 30, 1864, and again received an honorable discharge Nov. 29,
 
 48o 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1864. He was a bookkeeper in Boston several years, but has now 
 resumed his profession as land surveyor and civil engineer. 
 
 Solon Bancroft, son of Emery, graduated at Dartmouth, 1864, 
 studied law, and is now in practice ; has an office here, and also in 
 Boston. He was for some time employed in teaching in one of the 
 city schools. 
 
 Oilman L. Parker ; Dartmouth, 1868 ; is now in business with T. T. 
 Briggs, in Boston. 
 
 Walter S. Parker, son of Henry F. ; Dartmouth, 1868 ; taught 
 school in Bradford, Sherborne, and at the Farm School, Thompson's 
 Island. Is now sub-master of the Dwight School, in Boston. 
 
 Thomas Appleton went through the regular course of study in the 
 high school, and entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, 
 N. Y., where he graduated in the class of 1868, with the degree of 
 civil engineer. He has been employed on various railroads, and was 
 engaged for two years on the Boston and Maine extension. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Wakefield now preaches at La Harpe, 111.^ 
 
 Sydney P. Pratt, Harvard College, class of 1873 ; is now a member 
 of Boston Law School. 
 
 Howard A. Hanaford, Tufts College, class of 1873. 
 
 Those now pursuing courses of study : 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. 
 
 Herbert Barrows, class of 1874. 
 George H. Barrus, " " 
 Walter B. Barrows, " 1876. 
 E. Harley Cowing, " 1877. 
 Arthur W. Temple, " " 
 
 WORCESTER FREE INSTITUTE. 
 Frank E. Appleton, class of 1874.
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 481 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY, MANUFACTURES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, LIBRARIES, POPULA- 
 TION, VALUATION, ETC. 
 
 IT was said by the ancient Woburn historian, Johnson, in writing of 
 Reading in 1651, that " Reading hath her habitation in the very centre 
 of the country," meaning, we presume, that its location was in the 
 centre of that portion of New England which was then settled. And 
 now after the lapse of more than two centuries, the territory of old 
 Reading, including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North 
 Reading, is still the centre of a periphery not less considerable and 
 important ; for within a radius of fifteen miles of its central point, are 
 no less than eight flourishing cities, viz. Boston, Salem Lynn, Chelsea, 
 Charlestown, Cambridge, Lowell, and Lawrence, containing a popula- 
 tion of more than 350,000 ; with many large towns within the same 
 circle. 
 
 This territory of the Readings contains about thirty square miles, or 
 about 18,000 acres ; of which Wakefield contains 4,568 acres, and its 
 central village is in latitude 42 30' 26" N., and hvlongitude^i 4' 42 
 W., and is ten miles from Boston. 
 
 Reading contains 5,941 acres, and ,its central village is in latitude 
 42 32' N., and in longitude 71 6' W., and is twelve miles from 
 Boston. 
 
 North Reading contains 7,649 acres, and its central village is in 
 latitude 42 34' 31" N., and in longitude 71 5' W., and is fifteen 
 miles from Boston. The whole territory is bounded northerly by An 
 dover, easterly by Middleton, Lynnfield, and Saugus, southerly by Sau- 
 gus, Melrose, and Stoneham, and westerly by Stoneham, Woburn, and 
 Wilmington. The central village of Wakefield is two and one half miles 
 southeast from that of Reading ; the central village of North Reading 
 is three miles northeast from that of Reading, and five miles north 
 of that of Wakefield. The entire territory is agreeably diversified with 
 hill and plain, woodland and meadow, lake and river. There are no 
 lofty eminences. Its soil is generally fertile and productive. There 
 Ci
 
 482 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 is a fair share of water scenery. Ipswich River, taking its rise in the 
 meadows of Wilmington and in Raggett's Pond, in the northwesterly 
 part of North Reading, forms the boundary line between the westerly 
 portions of Reading and North Reading, and then runs through the 
 central part of North Reading, and passing through the town of Mid- 
 dleton empties into Ipswich Bay. Quannapowitt Lake, in Wakefield, 
 contains four hundred acres, and Crystal Lake, also in Wakefield, con- 
 tains one hundred acres. Saugus River, composed of two streams 
 that flow from the two lakes in Wakefield, and which unite near the 
 eastern boundary of Wakefield, runs through the town of Saugus and 
 empties its waters into Lynn Harbor. These rivers, lakes, and ponds 
 afford considerable water for mills and factories, furnish much romantic 
 scenery and many fine building sites. 
 
 WAKEFIELD. 
 
 The town of Wakefield is mainly a place of manufactures and trade, 
 but includes many pleasant fields, gardens, and orchards. Its principal 
 manufactures are those of boots and shoes, rattan goods, iron castings, 
 medicines, razor straps, shoe tools, etc. The boot and shoe business, 
 mainly ladies' shoes, has long been an important branch of industry in 
 the place. As long ago as 1677, the town assigned to Jonas Eaton 
 " the privilege of wood and herbage on a tract of land, on condition 
 that he remained in town, and followed the trade of a shoemaker." He 
 remained, and many of his descendants and successors, from that year 
 to this, have exercised that honorable handicraft. The manner of 
 carrying on this branch of industry has greatly changed within the last 
 few years. Formerly nearly every shoemaker was his own " Boss " ; 
 that is, " he worked his own stock " ; he cut, his wife and daughters 
 bound, and his sons and apprentices, with sometimes a few journey- 
 men, finished up the work. His principal market was Boston, to 
 which place, sometimes in saddle-bags and on horseback, and some- 
 times in a shoe cart, he transported and peddled from store to store 
 his goods. 
 
 The introduction into this manufacture of labor-saving machinery, a 
 full supply of which is too expensive for small operations, together with 
 the greatly increased demand from a widely extended market, for boots 
 and shoes, has thrown their manufacture into large establishments, so 
 that while the amount of goods manufactured has increased, the num- 
 ber of those who carry on the business, has diminished. 
 
 The value of boots and shoes now (1868) annually manufactured 
 town exceeds $400,000. The number of shoe factories averages abou
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 483 
 
 twelve. Until within some forty or fifty years the journeymen shot- 
 makers received their pay for their labor largely by way of barter, in 
 groceries and other articles at their employers' own prices. Much 
 credit is due to Hon. Thomas Emerson, Col. James Hartshorn, Col. 
 Lemuel Sweetser, and others, who, some fifty years ago, introduced a 
 system of entire cash payments for labor, much to the advantage of the 
 employees, a system which still continues. 
 
 About the year 1822, Dr. Nathan Richardson removed from Read- 
 ing, where he had long been a successful practitioner, and settled in 
 Wakefield. Dr. R. had been accustomed to prepare sundry articles of 
 medicine, especially sherry wine bitters, which had become justly cele- 
 brated for their excellent medical and health-giving properties. After 
 his removal to Wakefield, in connection with his son, Dr. Solon O. 
 Richardson, and subsequently by the son alone, the preparation of 
 these medicines was improved, systematized, and their sale widely 
 extended, and the fame thereof spread the country over ; the business 
 in 1868 amounting, it is said, to $100,000 annually. 
 
 RAZOR STRAPS. The manufacture of the celebrated " Emerson 
 Razor Straps" was commenced in Wakefield more than fifty years ago. 
 Charles Emerson, the original inventor and manufacturer, was a 
 native of Wakefield, and a resident here, when the first strap was 
 made. He subsequently removed to Charlestown, where he and his 
 successors continued the business ; but razor straps, similar to Emerson's 
 and not inferior to them in excellence and beauty, are still made in 
 Wakefield by the Messrs. Atwell, to the amount of $25,000 annually. 
 
 SHOE TOOLS, especially awls, of an improved kind, were manufac- 
 tured in Wakefield, by Thomas Woodward, Senior, as early as 1810, 
 perhaps earlier. It is believed that he was the first American manufac- 
 turer of such articles, and his tools, particularly his awls, being far 
 better and more finely finished than those imported from England, 
 soon came into general use. His grandson, James F. Woodward, still 
 continues the business in Wakefield, and on a much larger scale than 
 his ancestor, and now manufactures some $25,000 worth annually. 
 
 RATTAN WORKS. 
 
 The rattan works of the late lamented Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., in 
 their present magnitude and completeness, are a marvel of patient 
 energy and perseverance. From the smallest beginning, under the 
 greatest difficulties, they have grown to the most entire and perfect 
 success. They are located on Water Street, and occupy the mill priv-
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 ilege and -homestead known in the early history of the town as 
 " Green's Mill." 
 
 At the time of the purchasejby Mr. Wakefield of this property, in 1855,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 485 
 
 it consisted of two mill ponds, one on each side of the road, and a few 
 small buildings, which had been used for various manufacturing pur- 
 poses, together with the old " Green " dwelling-house. The premises
 
 486 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 were first occupied by Mr. Wakefield for the manufacture of rattan 
 into skirt-reeds and baskets. When its use for skirts was superseded 
 by steel, his attention was given to the production of cane for chair- 
 seating by hand labor. The experiment of this process was not bril- 
 liant, and Mr. Wakefield soon saw that the whole enterprise would end 
 in failure, unless some arrangement could be made to use machinery. 
 This, with his accustomed energy, he set himself about, and finally 
 succeeded. From this time his course was onward, and soon the cane 
 manufactured at these works was in demand all over the United 
 States. 
 
 The different processes of manufacture may be briefly described as 
 follows : The raw material, as it is imported, is of all sizes, and must 
 be first assorted ; it is then straightened, washed in huge revolving 
 boxes, and scraped, by which it is brought nearly to a uniform size in 
 its whole length. The next step is peculiar : each separate stick of 
 rattan being passed through a machine which divides the outside sur- 
 face into five, six, seven, or eight strands, as the case may be, and leav- 
 ing a smooth, round centre, the length of the original stick. This is 
 called the pith, and is used for baskets, etc. etc. The strands are then 
 shaved smoothly and tied in bunches containing one thousand run- 
 ning feet, bleached, put up in bundles of one hundred bunches, and the 
 finished chair cane is ready for the market. The shavings, which have 
 been referred to, are utilized by being spun into a coarse yarn, then 
 woven into carpeting and mats, braided for open mats, etc. etc. In 1863, 
 the number of hands employed was about two hundred. This number 
 gradually increased, until in 1873 ** exceeded one thousand. The pres- 
 ent works consist of one brick machine shop, 158x60, of four stories, 
 eight large workshops and store-houses, and a number of smaller 
 buildings, and occupy ground to the extent of about four acres. The 
 power required to run the immense machinery contained in the buildings 
 is furnished chiefly by two magnificent steam-engines of two hundred 
 and fifty horse-power each. This sketch would not be complete with- 
 out mention of the names of Mr. Amos W. Chapman, the present 
 superintendent Mr. Chas. W. Trow, master mechanic, and inventor 
 of much improved machinery ; and Mr. William Houston, foreman of 
 the mat and carpet department, whose ingenuity and untiring perse- 
 verance has brought this branch of the business to its present state of 
 perfectness. Many others are also worthy of honorable mention, but 
 the length which this sketch has already reached, forbids further 
 extension. 
 
 SCHEDULE OF GOODS MANUFACTURED. Seating cane for chairs ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 487 
 
 matting, many varieties ; mats of all kinds ; baskets of all kinds ; 
 chairs for ladies, gentlemen, and children ; cradles, cribs, tete-a-tetes, 
 sofas, baby carriages, window shades, brooms, brushes, table mats, 
 wall screens, fire screens, wall pockets, slipper holders, clothes beaters, 
 etc. etc. ; rattan used in the manufacture of whips, umbrellas, corsets, 
 saddles, etc. etc. 
 
 THE BOSTON AND MAINE FOUNDRY. 
 
 Near the centre of our town, and close beside the track of the Boston 
 and Maine Railroad, stand several brown and dingy buildings, of vari- 
 ous shapes and sizes, surrounded by dust and smoke, and to which, in 
 the morning, numbers of stalwart men may be seen wending their way. 
 The stranger passing in the cars is told that this is the Boston and 
 Maine Foundry, but of the extent of the business carried on here, the 
 classes of goods manufactured, and the various new and improved 
 processes employed, even most of our own residents are ignorant. 
 
 Like many other important enterprises, this foundry had its com- 
 mencement in a comparatively small business, but its growth has been 
 rapid and continuous. Previous to the year 1854, stoves and other 
 articles of iron for household use were made of imperfect and ancient 
 patterns, and needlessly large and heavy. During the early part of 
 that year, Mr. A. J. Blanchard, residing at South Reading, having dis- 
 solved his connection with Messrs. Hartshorn & Ames, iron founders 
 at Nashua, N. H., conceived the plan of erecting an iron foundry on 
 the line of the Boston and Maine Railroad, in what was then a part of 
 Stoneham, and producing iron goods of improved patterns and con- 
 struction. He selected a piece of land belonging to Mr. Cyrus Wake, 
 field, and which, although thickly covered with oak, he considered well 
 suited to his purpose. Consulting with Messrs. Charles Tarbell, Wil- 
 liam Stewart, and J. F. Dane, with whom Mr. Blanchard soon after 
 became associated in partnership, it was determined to purchase this 
 site, if possible, and proceed to the erection of buildings suitable for 
 the business. On conferring with Mr. Wakefield, who was then, as 
 well as since, well known and respected for his liberality and public 
 spirit, the project immediately met his hearty co-operation. 
 
 Work was commenced in clearing the land, building material was 
 collected, and early in the fall of 1854, the corner-stone of the original 
 buildings was laid by Mr. Blanchard, and the work vigorously pushed 
 forward by Messrs. Blanchard, Tarbell, Stewart, and Dane, under the 
 firm name of Blanchard, Tarbell & Co., with a capital of $20,000.
 
 488 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The buildings originally erected were, ist, a moulding room 150 
 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and one story high, with arched roof, large 
 windows, and well ventilated, and which is still standing ; 2d, a build-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 489 
 
 ing 65 feet long, 56 feet wide, and two stories high, connected with the 
 former, and which was used for a store-house and mounting room. 
 This has since been rebuilt and greatly enlarged. 
 
 Within the space of four months, the first productions of the new 
 firm were placed on the market, and they gave employment to about 
 fifty men. The amount of the first year's business was such that 
 larger capital was required to make those additions and improvements 
 that would enable them to supply the demand for their goods. Over- 
 tures having been received from parties to invest in the enterprise, it 
 was finally determined to form a stock company, which was organized 
 Feb. 4, 1856, under the present style of the "Boston & Maine Foundry 
 Co." This company consisted of the members of the old firm of 
 Blanchard, Tarbell & Co., with the addition of Messrs. Sewall G. Mack, 
 Cyrus Wakefield, and others. Sewall G. Mack was elected president ; 
 T. C. Whittemore, secretary ; and A. J. Blanchard, agent and busi- 
 ness manager. The capital stock was increased to $30,000, and the 
 real estate, stock, and good-will of the firm of Blanchard, Tarbell & 
 Co. were purchased by the company. 
 
 The tract of land which was deeded to the company by Mr. Wake* 
 field March 15, 1855, comprised about 65,000 square feet. 
 
 The business of the company steadily increased each year under the 
 skilful management of Mr. Blanchard, aided in " hard times " by the 
 calm and far-seeing advice of Mr. Wakefield, and the clear and able 
 judgment of Mr. Mack, until June 29, 1866, when a serious fire checked 
 the business, and involved the company in heavy loss. The most un- 
 tiring and vigorous efforts of the employees, firemen, and citizens only 
 sufficed to save the moulding room, the rest of the buildings being 
 totally destroyed. This loss was the more disastrous because occurring 
 at a time when the company had on hand a large stock of manufac- 
 tured goods and raw material. Five hundred tons of castings were 
 melted or broken by the fall of the building, and a large quantity of 
 wood patterns was destroyed. The loss by the fire was $80,000, 
 with $50,000 insurance. 
 
 The company immediately commenced clearing away the ruins, and 
 in a short time the present building, 125 feet long, 56 feet wide, and 
 41-2 stories high, occupied the site of the one destroyed. Many al- 
 terations and improvements were adopted in the new building, and new 
 and improved machinery introduced, as suggested by the long experi- 
 ence of Mr. Blanchard, so that at the commencement of 1867 the 
 foundry and its connections were the most complete and convenient 
 of any in New England. 
 62
 
 490 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The loss having amounted to the sum total of the original capital, it 
 became necessary either to increase the capital stock or to meet the 
 cost of these improvements from the profits of the business. The for~ 
 mer being considered the safest and most convenient plan, $60,000 
 was added, making the capital stock $90,000, and with these improved 
 facilities the business was correspondingly increased. 
 
 It has ever been the endeavor of the company to secure the best of 
 raw material, and skilful and experienced employees to work it, thereby 
 manufacturing first-class goods, and to sell them at the lowest prices. 
 Through the able management of their foreman, the late lamented Mr. 
 T. B. Walker, a thoroughly practical moulder, experienced in the charge 
 of men, and who was greatly beloved by them, the company has 
 gained the credit of manufacturing some of the finest castings in the 
 market." 
 
 They now manufacture every description of cast-iron goods for do- 
 mestic and plumbers' use, besides much jobbing from outside parties. 
 Here also are manufactured the well-known car-seat fixtures, the inven- 
 tion of Mr. George Buntin, which may be found far and wide over the 
 country in the cars of nearly all our railroads. 
 
 Two furnaces are employed, one constantly, and the other as a re- 
 lief in case of accident, and a powerful blower furnishes the blast. 
 From twelve to fifteen tons of pig and scrap iron are daily melted in 
 these furnaces, for which there are required about three tons of coal. 
 The iron and coal, as well as the moulders' sand and other raw mate- 
 rial, are landed directly from the cars, upon a large platform which is 
 at a suitable level for immediate delivery to the furnaces. A store- 
 house 135 ft. jc 35 ft. has been built beside the track, for the recep- 
 tion of sand, and capable of holding 300 tons of sand and 300 tons 
 of small coal. 
 
 In 1862 and 1864 there were added to the original moulding room 
 two others, called the west and south shops, each of the same dimen- 
 sions as the first. There are employed in these rooms about 75 mould- 
 ers, under the care of Mr. J. G. Savage, who are busily engaged during 
 the early part of the day in the preparation of the moulds for the re- 
 ception of the iron. The furnace is " charged up " about twelve o'clock, 
 and about three o'clock the iron is in a suitable state for " pouring off," 
 as it is called, when each of these moulders, with a long-handled ladle, 
 takes his turn at the spout of the furnace, and soon the dingy room is 
 lighted up by the glare of the molten iron, which is hurriedly carried to 
 all parts of the building and carefully poured into the moulds. In a 
 few minutes the articles are cooled and hardened, and the " flasks," as
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 491 
 
 wooden boxes used for moulding are technically called, are emptied of 
 the sand, and various shapes of iron with which they are filled. 
 
 The sand is scraped into a corner and repeatedly used, while the 
 moulded articles, which are rough and covered with sand, are removed 
 to another room, scarcely equalled for its dust, where the loose parti- 
 cles of sand are brushed off from the larger articles with a wire brush, 
 and the smaller articles are packed into a revolving cylinder which 
 speedily accomplishes the same thing. 
 
 In the morning the slag from the previous day's charge is removed 
 from the furnace, and being placed in a cylinder with iron balls and 
 made to revolve, the slag is broken up and sifted out, while the pieces 
 of iron with which it was mixed remain in the cylinder in suitable form 
 to be again used. 
 
 After the sand has been brushed from the goods, they are taken, 
 should they be parts of a stove, to the mounting room, where thirty 
 men, under the charge of Mr. Edwin E. Gates, are employed in fitting 
 the various parts to each other. Each piece is tried carefully, and 
 ground upon emery wheels until a perfect joint is secured, which is 
 then filled with a cement which makes it practically air tight. These 
 castings are now packed away in the store-room, ready for shipping to 
 the dealers in hardware, or they are set up complete for use, the com- 
 pany being prepared to fill orders for all descriptions of cooking and 
 parlor stoves in either form. 
 
 Many of the articles of hollow ware, such as pots, kettles, saucepans, 
 urns for parlor stoves, etc., are in these days lined with enamel, which 
 makes them smoother and easier to clean, and prevents them from rust- 
 ing. The Boston & Maine Foundry Company were formerly obliged, 
 in order to supply the wants of their customers in this line, to ship 
 the goods to New York, where the enamelling was done, and then they 
 were sent back. The cost of this enamelling was thus found to be a 
 heavy outlay, as well owing to the freight both ways, as to the cost of 
 the enamelling; and about a year since, Mr. Blanchard, with his usual 
 enterprise, determined to erect enamelling works, and thus do his own 
 work on his own premises, as well as to be prepared to do enamelling 
 for other parties in New England who were also then obliged to send 
 to New York. A building 45 x 55 feet, two stories high, was therefore 
 erected, and two furnaces for enamelling constructed, as well as a 
 smaller furnace for the manufacture of the enamel, which is a species 
 of glass. Into this smaller furnace, which is capable of containing 
 several hundred pounds, the mixed materials are placed, and melted 
 together When properly mixed, the mass is allowed to run into a
 
 4Q2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 tank of cold water before the furnace, which makes it brittle, and 
 breaks it into small pieces. It now resembles saltpetre, some pieces 
 being clear and transparent, while others are more opaque. It is after- 
 wards dried and finally ground. The articles to be enamelled are care- 
 fully turned and cleaned of all roughness, and the enamel is then 
 applied. The ware is afterwards placed in the oven and heated to a 
 cherry red, and on removal is found to be coated with the fine white 
 enamel so well known as " porcelain lining." 
 
 This company was the first in this country to produce enamelled 
 bath tubs. When Mr. Blanchard first stated his intention of making 
 them, he was assured by those experienced in such matters, that he 
 would find it an impossibility. He was determined, however, to make 
 the attempt, and in eight weeks from making the pattern, a perfect 
 bath-tub of cast-iron, lined with enamel, was completed. This depart- 
 ment is under the charge of Mr. L. Lefferts, an experienced enameller, 
 who is assisted by ten men. 
 
 Previous to 1871, all the wooden patterns used by the company in 
 the moulding of their various goods, were made by Mr. Edward Min- 
 gay, of 164 Portland Street, Boston ; but the business of the company 
 increased to such an extent that it was necessary to do this part of the 
 work here, and last year a two-story building was erected, 90 x 55 feet, 
 the upper story of which is used for making wood-patterns, and the 
 lower story for brass-founding and polishing. The pattern room, 
 which is thought to be the finest in New England, is under the charge 
 of Mr. L. M. Bates, and there are facilities for the employment of from 
 twelve to fifteen men. As each part must be an exact fac-simile of the 
 finished article, some idea may be gained by examining the parts of a 
 stove, for instance, of the ingenuity and skill necessary to form these 
 out of simple wood. 
 
 The patterns used in the moulding room are subjected to such con- 
 stant use, that wooden patterns 'would soon wear out ; consequently 
 the wood patterns are usually employed only for the production of iron 
 ones, which last for a long time. These iron patterns are cast in the 
 usual manner in the moulding room, from whence they are taken 
 to the pattern finishing room, where they are carefully finished and 
 fitted. This department employs four men, under the charge of Mr. 
 Joseph Chadwick. A large room is filled with these iron pattenis, 
 containing a copy of every design ever produced by the company. 
 
 In the brass foundry there are facilities for the melting of a ton of 
 brass daily, and for the employment of ten men, and it is under the
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 493 
 
 charge of Mr. Geo. Savage. Here the company manufacture .ill their 
 brass rivets, and a great amount of car supplies. 
 
 In the polishing room portions of some of the goods are ground 
 bright on emery wheels, and especially the arms of the Buntin car 
 seats, and other articles, which are to be nickel-plated. 
 
 A carpenter's shop is attached to the works, which employs four 
 men, under Mr. Curtis Clifford, in making the flasks and other needed 
 carpenter's work. 
 
 The company employ two tin and sheet iron workers in manufactur- 
 ing parlor stoves, and tin-ware for the cook stoves ready for the market, 
 although most of their goods go into the hands of dealers who prefer 
 to furnish these. This department is under the charge of Mr. Josiah 
 R. Goddard. 
 
 A fine steam-engine of forty-five horse power, under the charge of 
 Mr. John Rayner, furnishes power for the machinery of the various 
 departments of the works. 
 
 The whole number of men employed by the company is about one 
 hundred and seventy-five, and a finer class of men can be found in no 
 manufacturing establishment in the country. In 1854, Mr. Blanchard, 
 having in mind the comfort of his men, built a bath-house, the first of 
 its kind in New England, with a tank in the centre, supplied with hot 
 and cold water, and containing also a shower bath. The floor is of 
 cement, so graded that perfect drainage is secured. Each man 
 changes all his garments on entering the works in the morning, and 
 resumes them after a bath at night ; and here may be seen, or might 
 if we were privileged to be present, such a display of physical devel- 
 opment as would cheer an admirer of muscular Christianity. An old 
 steam boiler, raised to the top of the south moulding room, and sup- 
 plied by a force pump in the engine room, furnishes a tank from which 
 the bath-room and all parts of the works requiring water are supplied. 
 
 It is necessary that all the moulders' sand should first be dried and 
 finely ground and sifted. Formerly this was accomplished by hand ; 
 but in 1865, Mr. Joseph G. Savage invented a machine for grinding 
 and sifting by power, and now the sand, after being dried in a room 
 heated by steam, is put into the machine in this room, which performs 
 in a few hours daily what formerly required the constant labor of three 
 men. 
 
 Between the moulding rooms and the main store-house a brick wall 
 with iron doors greatly reduces the danger of fire. In the store-house, 
 running from basement to attic, a fine elevator is placed, furnished 
 with Fairbanks platform scales to weigh all goods shipped. This is a
 
 494 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 feature introduced by Mr. Blanchard. The building is four and a half 
 stories high, with capacity for the storage of one thousand tons of cast- 
 ings, which are manufactured largely in advance of orders, so that the 
 company are able to fill any reasonable demand at any time. 
 
 By means of the elevator, the goods are delivered on the floor 
 directly on a level with the cars, which stand on a side track at the 
 door of the works ; and so perfect are the arrangements for shipping 
 goods that in all kinds of weather they may be sent without danger of 
 exposure or injury by wet. Many goods are shipped north and south, 
 and thence east and west without change of cars ; but so extensive is 
 the business of the company that they employ a shipping clerk in Bos- 
 ton to attend to the transfer of goods, which must be re-shipped there. 
 The shipping of goods is under the care of Mr. Joseph Scully, the 
 efficient clerk, who, by his courteous and gentlemanly bearing, has 
 made himself a favorite of the employees, as well as all who have deal- 
 ings with him. 
 
 Nearly all the buildings are so connected by covered passage-ways 
 that all the business can proceed without the slightest interruption 
 from the weather, and t it may be safely said that in its facilities for the 
 reception of raw material, the delivery of goods, and the general con- 
 duct of business, this establishment is not surpassed, if equalled, by any 
 o f its kind in the country. 
 
 The monthly pay-roll of the company is $10,000 or $12,000, the dis- 
 bursement of which, and its consequent distribution in the community, 
 adds not a little to the material prosperity of the town. Its employees 
 are thinking men, and form an important portion of the producing 
 class, on which the prosperity of a community depends ; and on the 
 whole, it is difficult to compute the value and influence of this estab- 
 lishment in our midst, an influence yet in its infancy, and destined 
 to be greatly enlarged by the inevitable increase and extension of the 
 business. 
 
 The company have a fine office and sales-room in Boston, at 46 Canal 
 Street, fronting also on Market and Friend Streets. This store is 
 145 x 22, and seven stories high, and here they have on exhibition sam- 
 ples of all the goods manufactured by them. 
 
 The Citizens' Gas Light Company, of Reading, Wakefield, and 
 Stoneham, was organized in 1860, with a capital of about $93,000. Its 
 gas house and works are located in Wakefield, but its pipes extend to 
 Reading and Stoneham. It manufactures annually, at present (1868), 
 about 4,000,000 cubic feet of illuminating gas, which sells for about 
 $20,000.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 495 
 
 Edward Mansfield, Esq., is its president ; Thomas Winship, secretary 
 and treasurer; B. B. Burbank, Esq., superintendent; directors, Stephen 
 Foster, of Reading ; Luther Hill, of Stoneham ; William Hurd, o^ 
 Stoneham ; E. Mansfield, of Wakefield ; J. F. Emerson, of Wakefield ; 
 Thomas Emerson, of Wakefield ; C. Wakefield, of Wakefield (de- 
 ceased). 
 
 Various other branches of manufacturing industry might be enumer- 
 ated and described, if space permitted. Suffice it to say, that the total 
 value of goods annually [manufactured in Wakefield (including the 
 value of ice, of which $100,000 worth are annually gathered) exceeds, 
 it is estimated, $1,500,000. 
 
 The number of employees necessary to carry on this amount of 
 manufactures, gives occasion for a lively and extensive mercantile 
 business, and so we find that there were in Wakefield (in 1868) stores 
 as follows : 
 
 For groceries, gtain, etc., 8; dry and fancy goods, 4; clothing, 3 ', 
 shoes and boots, 3 ; apothecaries, 3 ; provisions, 3 ; fruit and confec" 
 tionery, 2 ; furniture, 2 ; wood, coal, and lumber, 2 ; wood and ice, i ; 
 jewelry, 2 ; bread, i ; shoe findings, i ; hard and tin ware, i ; periodi- 
 cals, i. 
 
 The annual sales, by these stores, was supposed to amount to 
 $500,000, in I868. 1 
 
 NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 In 1854, the publisher of "The Middlesex Journal," a weekly, 
 printed at Woburn, offered to establish a South Reading Department 
 in his paper, if the people of South Reading would furnish the matter. 
 Whereupon several persons, " a combination of gentlemen " they were 
 called, undertook the duty. The introductory article was written by 
 Professor Tweed, in behalf of the South Reading editors, and was 
 published April 15, 1854. 
 
 They say in that article that they " propose to help make it the 
 medium of communication among our townsmen ; hoping also to culti- 
 vate a better acquaintance with our friends in the circle of towns in 
 which our homes are set. As a free circulation of pure air is necessary 
 to the full development and play of our bodily organs, so is a free cir- 
 culation of thought and feeling requisite to a healthy social system ; 
 and we hope by means of this register to admit and let off streams 
 
 1 Since the preparation of these statistics, the business of Wakefield has very 
 largely increased ; but we are unable to furnish the exact figures for 1873.
 
 496 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 from the current of daily life around us, which may tend in some meas- 
 ure to the promotion of virtue, intelligence, and good neighborhood." 
 
 This " combination of gentlemen " included B. F. Tweed, Edward 
 Mansfield, P. H Sweetser, L. Eaton, J. S. Eaton, Jonas Evans, and 
 others. Soon, however, it was found that Edward Mansfield, Esq., 
 possessed the peculiar talent and the willing disposition to indite and 
 collect the necessary items to make the weekly contributions, and by 
 degrees the whole labor of so doing was devolved upon him, and for a 
 whole decade he performed this service with great ability and punctu- 
 ality, and without remuneration, making the South Reading Depart- 
 ment of the " Middlesex Journal " a most useful and desirable visitor. 
 Mr. Mansfield's valedictory was published Dec. 24, 1864, and thus 
 ended our connection with the Woburn journal. 
 
 In 1858, W. H. Hutchinson, Esq., from Boston, established the 
 " South Reading Gazette," which was published by him and his succes- 
 sor for about three years, and was a very useful and entertaining 
 weekly. 
 
 In 1868, A. A. Foster, Esq., of Wakefield, commenced the publica- 
 tion of the " Wakefield Banner," a weekly sheet of respectable size, 
 which was merged in the " Citizen," a paper which continues to be 
 issued by the " Citizen Association," and which receives liberal support. 
 
 The " Wakefield Banner," a weekly, edited by W. H. Twombly, Esq., 
 is also now published. 1 
 
 LIBRARIES OF WAKEFIELD. 
 
 At the beginning of this century there was a library in this place, 
 called the " Social Library." The writer has not been able to trace it 
 to its origin, but it is supposed to date back some fifty years in the last 
 century. And one evidence for this belief is the very antique appear- 
 ance of some of the books, and especially of the book-case, as remem- 
 bered in their earliest years by some of our oldest present citizens. It 
 consisted chiefly of books on theological subjects, by Baxter, Aliene, 
 Doddridge, and such standard authors, and on ecclesiastical history. It 
 was usually kept at the residence of the pastor of the Congregational 
 church. About the year 1812, Mr. Lilley Eaton (father of the late 
 Hon. Lilley Eaton) was elected librarian. The library was increased 
 by the addition of some volumes of history and other works, and re- 
 moved from the residence of Rev. Reuben Emerson to the store of Mr. 
 
 1 The two papers have recently been united, and one weekly paper is now issued 
 under the title of "The Wakefield Citizen and Banner."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 497 
 
 Eaton in the large building still standing at the corner of Main and 
 Salem Streets. 
 
 At one time prior to this date, conflicting opinions in regard to the 
 character of the books to be added by purchase, or some other cause, 
 created unpleasant differences, destroyed harmony, and led to a decided 
 change in the list of subscribers and the government of the library. 
 Some members withdrew their names and their support, having previ- 
 ously, however, drawn out as many books as would be equal in value 
 to their shares in the library, and never took the trouble to return 
 them. 
 
 This library continued in a vigorous state for many years, until sup- 
 planted by one of more modern date. Its last act was in the beginning 
 of the year 1836, when its treasurer passed over the balance of funds 
 in his hands to the treasurer of the Franklin Lyceum, for the benefit of 
 its library, though its active existence closed more than a year before. 
 
 In the early part of the year 1831, the young men of the town, includ- 
 ing those connected with the " South Reading Academy," formed an 
 association called the " South Reading Franklin Lyceum," and later in 
 the same year established a library in connection with it, known as the 
 "Franklin Library." This consisted more of works of art and science, 
 civil history, travels, geography, medicine, etc. 
 
 In 1834, negotiations were entered into between the " Social " and 
 the " Franklin " libraries, with a view to uniting them in one. Com- 
 mittees were appointed by the two bodies to favor the object, and at a 
 meeting of the proprietors of the Social Library, held Dec. 3, 1834, 
 it was agreed to make over all the books belonging to the Social 
 Library to the Franklin Library, on condition that each member of the 
 former should of right be a member of the latter library. This condi- 
 tion was accepted by the proprietors of the Franklin Library at a meet- 
 ing held on the 26th of the same month, and a committee was chosen 
 to receive the books and book-case, in behalf of the Franklin Library. 
 This library was accessible six days in the week, and occupied a very 
 important place in the community for many years. It was liberally pat- 
 ronized by old and young, especially in the earlier days of its history. 
 
 Though established in 1831, a librarian does not appear to have 
 been appointed until the fall of 1832, and the first record found of the 
 delivery of books is under date of October, 1833. The names of those 
 who drew the first books from this library are, Abner Breeden, Asaph 
 Evans, and Samuel Kingman ; and the last books drawn therefrom, on 
 Dec. 5, 1849, were taken by Rev. Reuben Emerson, Moses Board- 
 man, William Chamberlain, Henry W. Brown, and Rev. Mr. Clayes. 
 63
 
 498 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Its first librarian was Hon. Lilley Eaton ; its last was Abel F. Hutch- 
 inson, Esq. 
 
 In the year 1838, great interest was felt by many of the young men 
 in the subject of phrenology, that was attracting general attention about 
 that time. L. N. Fowler, Esq., of New York, an extensive phrenologi- 
 cal lecturer, visited this town, and spoke enthusiastically of the new 
 " science," as it was called. Some of his lectures were delivered before 
 the Franklin Lyceum, followed by lectures from other gentlemen upon 
 the same subject. The members of the Lyceum also discussed the 
 correctness of its principles in set debates, and waxed warm in the 
 presentation of their arguments, pro and con ; and during the month of 
 September, 1840, the secretary of the Lyceum, Franklin Poole, Esq., 
 delivered a course of nine lectures before that body upon that favorite 
 topic. In connection with this phrenological excitement, some twenty- 
 five or thirty of the young men formed themselves into a club, in order 
 more thoroughly to prosecute their investigations, and to become more 
 intimately acquainted with a subject so attractive, and seemingly so 
 important. Among other books, they procured the entire works of 
 Spurzheim, which they read with avidity, and examined craniums, until 
 they thought they could tell a man's character by the bumps on his 
 head. This collection of books was styled the " Phrenological Library," 
 and many of its founders are still with us, men of marked intelligence, 
 prominent and deserving citizens. 
 
 In March, 1842, the Legislature passed a resolve appropriating 
 fifteen dollars for each school district in the State that would raise an 
 equal sum to establish in each district a common school library. Soon 
 after this generous encouragement from the State, such libraries were 
 established in most, if not in all, the districts in town. 
 
 These books were selected and prepared by the Board of Education 
 with great care, free from politics and sectarian bias. They were taken 
 home, like books from other libraries, and read by the scholars and 
 their parents. In some households, probably, these were the principal 
 new books to which they had access, and consequently were very highly 
 prized. These libraries met an important want in the education of the 
 young, especially, who had not then such facilities for securing the use 
 of profitable books as now. Though these libraries performed a valu- 
 able office for a time, they had not the elements of permanency ; for, 
 as the teachers were constantly changing, upon whom depended much 
 of their efficiency, the books were neglected, and allowed to be carried 
 away without proper care for their return, and finally, as libraries, were 
 disused. It is not known that any of the books found their way into
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 499 
 
 a 'subsequent library. Such as have not been appropriated to indi- 
 vidual use, or destroyed, may doubtless be found boxed up, or on the 
 shelves, or in the old closets of the school-houses of the several districts. 
 
 Some years subsequent to the last mentioned date (1842), another 
 library was organized, known as the "Prescott Library," of which very 
 little can be said, inasmuch as the prime movers in it have deceased, 
 and no record of its beginning, continuance, or ending is known to 
 exist. It was named, as is supposed, after Prescott the historian, as 
 it contained his works as its prominent feature. It was kept in a little 
 room at one corner of the hall in the old town house. Its subscribers 
 (probably about fifty in number) were among the most intelligent and 
 energetic of our citizens, many of whom still remember the interest 
 they felt in perusing the books, without any particular impression as to 
 the date of its origin, or to incidents in its life. 
 
 In 1856 was formed the Public Library of South Reading, now 
 known as the Beebe Town Library of Wakefield, its name having been 
 changed, in 1868, in honor of Lucius Beebe, Esq., a generous contrib- 
 utor to its funds. A place was fitted up for it in one of the lower 
 rooms of the old town house, where it remained until 1871, when it was 
 transferred to an apartment in the new town house especially provided 
 for its use. At the commencement there was a public reading-room 
 connected with it, where might be found the most important newspa- 
 pers and other periodicals, gratuitously furnished by the liberality of 
 some of the citizens. 
 
 The act of the Legislature, authorizing towns to raise money to 
 establish and support public lib'raries, was passed during the session of 
 1851, and the town of South Reading, having already shown its liberal- 
 ity in making appropriations for the support of free schools, was among 
 the first of the country towns of this Commonwealth to avail itself of 
 the provisions of the statute, and establish a free town library. 
 
 At the annual town-meeting this year (1856), held March 3d, it was 
 voted that it was expedient to establish a public library for the use of 
 the inhabitants, and the sum of $500 was raised and appropriated for 
 that purpose, with the expectation that the books from the former 
 libraries of the town, owned by individual subscribers, would be donated 
 to this library, as also contributions were anticipated from associations 
 and individuals. At that meeting seven persons were elected as 
 trustees. 
 
 At this stage of the history of libraries, we see- nearly all those pre- 
 viously mentioned now converging to a point.
 
 500 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 As a large river is fed by many little streams, so nearly all the 
 libraries that previously existed in town became tributaries to our pres- 
 ent free library. 
 
 These tributaries were not large, but proportionate to the body that 
 received them. 
 
 As nearly as can be ascertained, the present library in its start re- 
 ceived donations as follows : volumes from the " Social," " Franklin," 
 "Phrenological," and "Prescott" library associations, 259; from 
 Mechanics' Association, 130 ; from pupils of the high school, from exhi- 
 bitions, 121 ; other individuals, 217 ; total, 727 ; being about the same 
 number of volumes that were furnished by the town the first year. 
 During the second year, the scholars of the high school, and citizens 
 in various capacities, contributed upwards of $200 in addition to the 
 town appropriation. 
 
 This library has met with constant favor from the people since its 
 commencement. The town has made some appropriations for it every 
 year, and individuals have borne testimony to their interest in its wel- 
 fare. In 1867, Lucius Beebe, Esq., presented it with five hundred 
 dollars, to be spent in the purchase of books, to which generous gift he 
 has since added several hundred volumes, selected expressly for this 
 library. In 1872, another liberal-minded, public-spirited individual, 
 Mrs. Harriet N. Flint, donated to the town the sum of one thousand 
 dollars, the income of which is to appropriated to the purposes of 
 the Beebe Town Library. 
 
 Trustees in 1873. Edward Mansfield, chairman ; Lucius Beebe; 
 M. J. Hill, secretary; Chester W. Eaton, treasurer; D. H. Darling, 
 J. O. Burdett, Cyrus Wakefield (died in October). 
 
 In 1860, Mr. John Reynolds, from Concord, Mass., establisher of 
 agricultural libraries, procured twenty-one subscribers in this town to 
 an association called the South Reading Agricultural Library. Certifi- 
 cates were issued at five dollars each, and were dated Jan. 31, 1860. 
 Although this organization was designed to advance the interests of 
 agriculture, it must not be supposed that only farmers were members 
 of the club. The various interests of the town were represented, being 
 composed of five merchants, four farmers, three carpenters, two manu- 
 facturers, two physicians, and one each of five other occupations. 
 
 In 1861, the members of this association transferred their several 
 shares in said library to the South Reading Horticultural Society, on 
 condition that said Horticultural Society should raise fifty dollars in aid 
 of the library, and consider the members of the Library Association as 
 members of the Horticultural Society, entitled to all its privileges, 
 which included an equal right to the use of the library.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 501 
 
 This collection consisted of some 150 or more valuable books, 
 which for several years were sought after and read with a great deal of 
 profit by the various classes in the community, as the improved state of 
 our gardens, fields, etc., will bear unmistakable testimony. This 
 library is still in existence, in good condition, and open to its members. 
 Though the books are not so much drawn out for reading as formerly, 
 they are consulted as works of reference. 
 
 POPULATION AND VALUATION. 
 
 
 READING. 
 
 SOUTH READING. 
 
 NORTH READING. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 No. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 No. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 No. 
 
 1765, 
 1776, 
 
 1530 
 1984 
 
 
 
 
 
 1790, 
 
 1802 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 1800, 
 
 2025 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 1 8 10, 
 
 2228 
 
 1812, 
 
 Incorporated. 
 
 
 
 1820, 
 
 2797 
 
 1820 
 
 (Estimate), . 1000 
 
 
 
 1830, 
 
 1806 
 
 1830, 
 
 1311 
 
 
 
 1840, 
 1850, 
 
 2193 
 3108 
 
 1840, 
 1850, 
 
 1517 
 2407 
 
 1853, 
 
 Incorporated. 
 
 1855, 
 
 2522 
 
 1855, 
 
 2758 
 
 1855, 
 
 1050 
 
 1860, 
 
 2662 
 
 1860, 
 
 3207 
 
 1860, 
 
 H93 
 
 1865, 
 
 (Ma. 1158) 
 JFe. 1278 [ 2 6 
 
 ,865, 
 
 | Fe. 1750 ) 3244 
 
 1865, 
 
 ( Ma. 488 ? o 
 1 Fe. 499 J 9 * 7 
 
 A.D. 
 
 POLLS. 
 
 VALU. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 POLLS. 
 
 VALU. 
 
 A. D. POLLS. VALU. 
 
 
 
 s.d. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1791, 
 
 462 
 
 3,225 17 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 1802, 
 
 496 
 
 $ 1 7,468 oo 
 
 
 
 
 
 i-ij, 
 
 596 
 
 19,772 oo 
 
 
 
 
 
 1821, 
 
 425 
 
 14,747 43 
 
 1821, 
 
 293 
 
 $9,263 51 
 
 
 1831, 
 
 5" 
 
 385,501 oo 
 
 1831, 
 
 412 
 
 247,084 oo 
 
 
 1840, 
 
 691 
 
 463,024 61 
 
 1840, 
 
 449 
 
 279,409 oo 
 
 
 1850, 
 
 906 
 
 1,071,042 oo 
 
 1850, 
 
 630 
 
 755,019 oo 
 
 
 1860, 
 
 732 
 
 1,269,570 oo 
 
 1860, 
 
 868 
 
 1,861,319 oo 
 
 1860, 325 $527,890 oo 
 
 1863, 
 
 
 1,299,648 oo 
 
 1863 
 
 
 1,803,903 oo 
 
 1863, 55 2 .565 oo 
 
 WAKEFIELD. 
 
 TOWN VALUATION, 1873. 
 
 Real Estate 
 Personal 
 
 Total 
 
 $3^46,235 
 898,227 
 
 * This number includes the population of South Reading, which was not taken 
 separately.
 
 5O2 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 AMOUNT OF ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS. 
 
 For town charges ....... $71,275 oo 
 
 " State tax . S^S 2 5 
 
 " County tax 2,935 26 
 
 Total $79,362 76 
 
 RATE OF TAXATION, $18.50 ON $1,000. 
 
 Number of polls 1,960 
 
 " " dwelling-houses . . . . . . 941 
 
 Acres of land taxed . . 39 I 3 
 
 ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN, MAY i, 1873. 
 
 School-houses . . . . ' . . . . $91,000 
 
 Other public buildings ....... 113,200 
 
 Public grounds and parks 40,000 
 
 Other real estate 3,ooo 
 
 Cemetery 1,000 
 
 Public library 4,200 
 
 Fire apparatus * 7,000 
 
 Trust fund 1,100 
 
 WU1C1 cUjbClb 
 1 
 
 Town debt . 
 
 Total 
 
 assets 
 
 4oo 
 
 $264,700 
 $139,467 63 
 
 NUMBER OF INHABITANTS, 6,041. 
 
 Males 2,922 
 
 Females . . . 3,119 
 
 Under five years of age ....... 678 
 
 Over five and under fifteen years 1,061 
 
 Fifteen and upwards 4,3 02 
 
 THE OLD BUILDINGS OF WAKEFIELD. 
 
 The march of improvement, very rapid and noticeable recently, is 
 fast removing the ancient landmarks from our midst ; and a few years 
 hence the visitor will search in vain for the traces even of their 
 former existence. 
 
 To give space for the erection of the new High School Building, the
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 503 
 
 "Old Prentiss House" was removed from the site it had so long 
 occupied ; and in view of its removal, the following lines seem emi- 
 nently appropriate, and worthy of preservation : 
 
 " Farewell to the house where my father was born, 
 
 I shall never behold it again ; 
 Its roof and its walls will soon fall to the ground, 
 Thro' the interposition of men. 
 
 " 'T would be foolish to weep o'er this wreck of a home, 
 
 Which was once of South Reading the pride ; 
 The ' parsonage house ' of an earlier day, 
 Where a past generation have died. 
 
 " These walls once resounded with innocent mirth, 
 
 When children ran over the floor ; 
 Wit, culture, and beauty were found by its hearth, 
 And piety guarded its door. 
 
 " Death came to its chambers and took in his prime, 
 
 The pastor, the father, the guide ; 
 And the grave-yard adjacent will tell how his sons 
 And daughters lay down by his side. 
 
 " The children remaining were scattered abroad, 
 
 From Kentucky to picturesque Maine ; 
 And around the warm hearth, once so cheerful and bright, 
 They never collected again. 
 
 " These walls now so desolate, aged, and lone, 
 
 My affection and interest claim ; 
 For thro' every mutation and stage of decay, 
 They have borne the family name. 
 
 " Farewell to the house where my father was born ; 
 
 May its timbers and boards help to make 
 Some beautiful place, which descendants may love, 
 As do I, for the ancestor's sake.l " 
 
 THE "OLD HART HOUSE" 
 
 Was removed from its ancient site in 1857, and at that time, the author 
 of this history wrote, with reference to it, as follows : 
 
 " The history and traditions connected with this venerable old man- 
 sion, long owned and occupied by the late Hon. John Hart, M. D., so 
 far as we have been able to obtain them from a hasty inquiry, are as 
 follows : 
 
 " It was erected about one hundred and fifty years ago, by the Smith 
 family. It appears that among the early settlers of Reading was a
 
 504 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 John Smith, with his sons John and Francis, who purchased of the 
 Indians, for a jack-knife, and some other articles of cutlery, a consider- 
 able tract of land in the southeasterly part of what is now South 
 Reading, extending from the northerly shore of * Smith's Pond,' long 
 so called (now ' Crystal Lake '), into that part of the town called 
 ' Little World.' The first house erected by this family stood very near 
 the spot now occupied by the station of the South Reading Branch 
 Railroad. 
 
 " Francis Smith succeeded his father at the old homestead ; married 
 Ruth, daughter of Elias Maverick, of Charlestown ; had six sons and 
 three daughters ; was selectman, innholder, and authorized "by the 
 General Court ' to draw wine for travellers ' ; was a deacon, and died 
 in 1744, aged 85 years. 
 
 " He gave to each of his six sons a farm out of his own. Their names 
 were John, Isaac, Abraham, James, Benjamin, and Elias. One lived 
 on the place now the town farm ; one on the place now owned by 
 Mr. Lowell Emerson ; one on the place now owned by Dea. Ezekiel 
 Oliver ; one on the ' Walton farm,' near Dea. Oliver's ; one, probably 
 Isaac, occupied the house which is the subject of this article ; and one, 
 Benjamin, succeeded his father on the homestead. We say that Isaac 
 probably lived in the house now being removed, because of the fact we 
 are not certain, and because we find from an old map of South Read- 
 ing, made about one hundred years ago, that this house was then occu- 
 pied by Isaac Hart ; and as we learn that the Smith and Hart families 
 were related, we infer that this Isaac Hart may have been the succes- 
 sor, perhaps the namesake and relative, of said Isaac Smith. Dr. Hart 
 purchased the place about the year 1783, and occupied it until his 
 decease in 1836. After the death of his widow in 1838, the house 
 and a portion of the farm were sold to strangers ; since then it has 
 been rented to various and changing tenants, and now at last it 
 has rolled away. Venerable did edifice ! that has long been a land- 
 mark in geography, as the old maps of the county will testify ; that 
 was esteemed almost as fixed and permanent as old Cedar Mountain, 
 at whose base it stood ; that was once among the most spacious and 
 respectable dwelling-houses of the town ; that stood among the highest 
 in the assessors' valuation ; distinguished as the abode of wealth, gen- 
 tility, and professional power; the home of wisdom, refinement, and 
 hospitality, and the nursing-place of beauty and literature, O ! how 
 lost and fallen from its ancient standing and renown ! Change has now 
 come over it ; the auctioneer has seized it, the shambles have enconr 
 passed it ; and after having been for a while a medium of barter and
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 505 
 
 exchange, it has at last become currency, and has been passed off. It 
 has gone the place that so long knew it will know it no more. ' Thus 
 passetli the glory of the world away.' How suited is this event to 
 
 64
 
 506 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 remind us all that the 'houses we live in ' will soon fall, and to suggest 
 the importance of securing a title to that house ' not made with hands, 
 eternal in the heavens.'" 
 
 If it were within our power and province to reproduce from the dusty 
 archives of the vanished years the traditionary records connected with 
 ALL these ancient dwellings (now so rapidly disappearing from their 
 former sites), such records would furnish, we presume, very many en- 
 tertaining reminiscences ; but the limits assigned us forbid such an 
 attempt, and we proceed to a brief inspection of 
 
 THE NEW BUILDINGS OF WAKEFIELD. 
 
 Descriptions of the Town Hall, and of the High School Building, 
 appear elsewhere in these pages ; and among other new and imposing 
 public and private structures, we select a description of the new Baptist 
 Church edifice, of which a correct illustration has been furnished. 
 
 THE NEW BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Our citizens have watched with general pride and interest the gradual 
 but steady growth of the beautiful house of worship which the Baptist 
 Society have been rearing in a most commanding and eligible location 
 at the corner of Main and Lafayette Streets. 
 
 hi the spring of 1871, the capacity of their former edifice having 
 become inadequate, the society determined upon the erection of a new 
 one, and secured for that purpose the large area now occupied by them 
 as above mentioned. Having secured this territory, building opera- 
 tions were speedily commenced, and work upon the foundation was in 
 progress, when on the night of the 2ist of June, 1871, their old edifice 
 nearly opposite, at the corner of Main and Crescent Streets, was 
 destroyed by fire. Since the fire, the erection of the present completed 
 structure has been pushed with zeal, but not with that haste that would 
 necessitate lack of care or workmanship. The beautiful building, as it 
 stands in its completeness, prominent among the adorning features of 
 our main avenue, is as nearly perfect in all its details as it is well 
 possible for the work of man to be, and compels more than denomina- 
 tional pride and gratification. Ground was broken for the new edifice 
 early in June of 1871, and the building had received the principal 
 external finish before winter closed in. The final internal touches 
 have been completed, and a general survey of this elegant ornament 
 and honor to our town will not be without interest to our readers.
 
 (B mum SIS, WJilKIEIFIIIEILJB.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 SO/ 
 
 The building is of wood, and of the Romanesque order, which has 
 the past few years become quite the favorite with church-builders ; and 
 the style in this structure has been nearly maintained in its purity, com- 
 bining the sharply pitched roof, the bastioned tower, the minaret and 
 pinnacles, and the lofty spire incident to this order of architecture. 
 
 The building is of the stone tint, popularly known as French gray, 
 and the prevailing tone forms a pleasing contrast with the green of its 
 surroundings, and the brighter colors of its illuminated windows. The 
 dimensions of the building are 105 feet on the north side, from the 
 front of the tower, which projects two feet on either angle from the 
 main structure to the rear end ; 103 feet on the south side, 71 feet across 
 the front end to the point of the tower, and 69 feet to the rear end. 
 The distance to the eaves is 41 feet, and to the ridge of the roof 75 feet. 
 The height of the tower and spire to the point of the vane is 180 feet, 
 making it the loftiest spire in this region. The height of the minaret 
 is too feet, and to the tip of the pinnacle is 75 feet. The front of the 
 building and the tower are finished in narrow sheathing, furred out from 
 the building and thoroughly laid, forming a plain but elegant finish, 
 admirably calculated to give the full effect of the capitals, corbels, 
 dentels, etc., with which it is richly relieved. The front fa9ade, which 
 faces east, is additionally relieved by heavy pilasters ; by an exceed- 
 ingly tasteful portico (strongly brought out by the unusually fine char- 
 acter of its ornamentation, the dentel work of its pediment, the 
 carvings of its pinnacles, and the capitals of its columns being both 
 unique and beautiful); by a grouped arrangement of the windows, and 
 by the salient angles of the tower (which is by far the finest we remem- 
 ber to have seen) ; by mosaic belts, which are brought in with fine 
 effect both on it and on the spire and upon the minaret, and by the 
 heavy mullioned windows of the tower, which are unusually fine. The 
 sides and rear end of the building are finished with clapboards having 
 an ogee edge, and both side elevations are relieved by sheathed but- 
 tresses, nine on each side, capped with metal and tastefully headed. 
 The southern fagade is further relieved by a convenient portico in har- 
 mony with the general order of the building, and of similar ornament, 
 opening upon the wide concrete driveway leading to the carriage sheds 
 in the rear of the church. A doorway at the rear angle also relieves 
 this facade, making three entrances to the building. The architraves 
 of the windows, their circular heads, and the coving finish, are all 
 especially fine. 
 
 Ascending the easy slope from the broad sidewalk by a wide path of 
 concrete, we pass through the main entrance. On either hand, as we
 
 508 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 enter, are doors leading to the cellar, the stairways thereto being amply 
 lighted. Directly in front are two pairs of doors, giving entrance to the 
 main vestry, and at the extreme of the main hall at each end a flight of 
 stairs ascends to the hall of the main audience room. The floor of the 
 hall is of hard pine, the large door-mats being let into the same. The 
 wall finish is a delightful combination of ash and black walnut. The 
 stairways have hard pine treads and risers, with ash and black walnut 
 stringers, and highly wrought black-walnut balustrades of unique pat- 
 terns. The wall is of smooth finish, the ceiling being tinted a French 
 gray, with lines of blue, red, and Bismarck brown, the walls being of a 
 light tint shading upon buff. Three gas-burners, of three lights each, 
 light the lower hall, which also receives light from the semicircular 
 ornamental window over the doors and the stairways, and lighted by 
 the windows on either side set with stained glass, the windows of the 
 lower story being filled with flecked glass. Ascending the stair- 
 way, we reach the upper hall, which is similar in most respects to 
 the lower, but having a heavy black-walnut balustrade about the large 
 aperture which opens in the floor, giving light, air, and roomy appear- 
 ance to the lower hall. From this hall four pairs of doors opening out- 
 ward give entrance to the main auditorium. A stairway at either end 
 gives access to the balcony, the finish-trimmings of the walls and wood- 
 work being the same as below stairs, as are also the gas-fixtures. 
 
 The doors throughout the interior of the building are of ash, with 
 black-walnut mouldings, except the inside of the doors of the main 
 audience room, which are solid black walnut. 
 
 Entering the principal chamber of worship, than which few can be 
 more beautiful, one is charmed with the simple elegance of the entire 
 whole. The lofty ceiling divided into two planes by the longitudinal ribs, 
 and by a difference of a few feet of elevation, and subdivided by trans- 
 verse beams, presents a fine harmony of colors, the panels of the upper 
 plane being tinted cerulean-blue, picked with gold and shaded by pan- 
 nellings of delicate brown ; the lower plane furnishing a combination 
 of flesh tint, blue, buff, and bistre, the flesh tint prevailing, and serving 
 as a ground for the blue fret-work openings for ventilation. 
 
 Across the front of the church a wide, low balcony extends, its front 
 finished in the arcade pattern, and supporting two imposts with Roman 
 chaptrels, from which springs an arch having in its reveal the illumined 
 group of windows of the centre of the church front, the centre one 
 bearing the representation of the cross and the crown. Over this arch 
 appears the inscription in illuminated text, "My house shall be called a 
 house of prayer." The pulpit platform, the front of which is finished
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 509 
 
 richly in arcade of black walnut, as is also the desk itself, supports 
 also two imposts, with Roman chaptrels supporting an arch some 26 
 feet in diameter, beneath which is the pulpit alcove, divided by a heavy 
 walnut balustrade into areas for the choir and for the preacher. Beneath 
 that occupied by the preacher, the large baptistery is located, capable 
 of holding some eighteen hundred gallons, and supplied with heating 
 facilities, and the most complete arrangements for use. On the north 
 side of the alcove is located the organ-box, and on the south two doors, 
 one affording entrance and exit to the choir, and the other passage to 
 and from the rear vestry entrance, the lower rear hall, the pastor's 
 study, etc. The wall faces at either hand of the alcove are heavily 
 mullioned, that on the north embracing the richly figured organ pipes, 
 and that on the south containing in its three divisions under the cap- 
 tions, Worship, Salvation, and Service, selections of Scripture in illumi- 
 nation, while over the pulpit arch there appears, in old English, the 
 text, "To you is the word of His Salvation sent." 
 
 The fresco upon the rear wall of the pulpit alcove presents corre- 
 sponding columns of Roman design to those supporting the arch, and 
 in the centre panel an open Bible, the whole being well executed, while 
 the Rose window is the finest in the building. 
 
 There is a notable absence of stucco about the interior ; the mould- 
 ings, dentels, drops, brackets, corbels, consoles, all being of carved 
 wood, and of the most enduring class, and highest style of art. The 
 walls are of a general neutral tint, finely relieved by their pickings of 
 color and the Persian belt that sweeps the heads of the windows, and 
 encircles the house. 
 
 The whole building is provided with extraordinary facilities for light- 
 ing, and the pendants from the ceiling of the main auditorum are spe- 
 cially tasteful in their color (blue) and their design. The lighting 
 arrangements are such that the whole house can be lighted and fed from 
 a small overflow pipe, until such time as it may be desirable to turn on 
 the main. The most ample and sensible arrangements for ventilation 
 both from the floor and ceiling are perfect, there being twelve ceiling 
 and four floor ventilators, with extra opportunities of cold air supply 
 to furnaces from within and without. 
 
 The auditorum is 67 feet by 78 feet long, exclusive of the pulpit and 
 gallery alcoves, and is intended to seat, with the gallery, one thousand 
 persons. The pews are of a new pattern, are of black walnut, highly 
 ornamented and finished, and are more pleasing in their general effect 
 than any we know of. The carpets are a pleasant combination of red 
 and black, in two-ply, and are uniform throughout the house.
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The elegant marble Howard clock upon the face of the balcony was 
 the gift of the children of the late Lilley Eaton, Esq., father of the late 
 Hon. Lilley Eaton. Descending to the lower front hall, we open one of 
 the double doors, descend a few steps, and are in the main vestry, 
 finished like the rest of the building in ash and black walnut, and 
 divided by a sash and wood partition (capable of being raised and so 
 uniting all) from the adjoining subordinate rooms. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the wonderfully substan- 
 tial, skilful, and elegant character of the construction of this edifice. 
 Few buildings in any section of the country can boast of more consci- 
 entious and efficient care in their arrangements for stability, strength, 
 and convenience, and the result is alike creditable, in a high degree, to 
 the architect and builders. 
 
 RAILROADS. 
 
 The railroad facilities now enjoyed by the inhabitants of Wakefield 
 are so ample and important as to merit a brief description. 
 
 The extension of the Boston and Maine Railroad (opened in 1845) 
 from Wilmington to Boston, thus placing this town on its main line, 
 furnished easy and frequent communication with Boston, as also with 
 the northern sections of the State and of New England, and contributed 
 largely to the growth of the town. 
 
 The later construction of the Danvers Railroad (nine miles to Dan- 
 vers) and of the Newburyport Railroad (from Danvers, twenty-one miles 
 to Newburyport), both of which are leased and operated by the Boston 
 and Maine Railroad, opened avenues to another portion of the State ; 
 while the South Reading Branch Railroad (eight miles to Peabody), 
 operated by the Eastern Railroad, placed the means of reaching Salem 
 by rail within reach of our inhabitants. 
 
 Thus, by successive developments, the present town of Wakefield 
 has become an important railroad centre ; being very nearly equi- 
 distant from the cities of Boston,' Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, 
 Lynn, Salem, Lawrence, and Lowell, with the immediate prospect of 
 a closer connection with the latter city by means of the Andover and 
 Lowell Railroad (now being constructed), and enjoying means of easy 
 communication with other flourishing cities and towns, not distant 
 from those above named. 
 
 As might be expected, possessing so desirable a location and offer- 
 ing so many attractive situations, the recent growth of our town in 
 population and resources has been alike noticeable and rapid.
 
 WAKEFIELD HALL.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 511 
 
 In this sketch we have space for but few statistics, and we insert 
 the following figures, that the curious in such matters may clearly note 
 the changes of the recent years. 
 
 On the completion of this portion of the Boston and Maine Railroad, 
 in 1845, it was predicted that the present town of Wakefield would 
 furnish that road with thirty daily passengers. 
 
 We have no record for that year ; but in 1848, the whole number of 
 passengers during the year, for all points, was 45,574, or an average of 
 146 daily passengers. 
 
 In 1873, the number of Boston passengers alone was 320,172, or an 
 average of 1,025 daily passengers. 
 
 In 1848, the whole amount of passenger and freight receipts at South 
 Reading was $12,532.00. 
 
 In 1873, the Boston passengers to and from Wakefield furnished the 
 sum of $53,186.00. 
 
 THE PRESENT TOWN OF READING.* 
 THE POST-OFFICE. 
 
 The Post-office was first established in this town in 1811, in a build- 
 ing that stood where the bank now stands. Col. Nathan Parker was 
 postmaster. He was succeeded in 1815 by John Weston, Esq., who 
 held the office until his death, in 1849. It was kept for a time in the 
 Weston house at " Hill End," and then for a short period in Johnson's 
 store, that stood where Thomas Pratt's garden now is. It is said that 
 Mr. Ambrose Kingman had charge of it for a time, and kept it in his 
 house. It was then removed, and kept in a house nearly opposite 
 Lyceum Hall, just south of W. R. Perkins's house, since removed. 
 John P. Sherman, druggist, was the next postmaster, appointed prob- 
 ably in 1849 or '50, and the office was kept in the north side of the 
 building occupied by Beard's watch store. He resigned on account of 
 ill-health. Capt. Thomas Richardson became his successor, and was 
 followed when the administration changed, or some time subsequently, 
 by Horatio M. Gate, who was appointed by President Pierce. He 
 removed the office to the market building. In the Course of two or 
 three years, C. D. Brown was appointed to the place, and held it till 
 the appointment of Mr. Gleason, the present postmaster, by President 
 Lincoln, in May, 1861. Mr. Gleason removed the post office from 
 
 4 > The following pages in this chapter have been prepared and contributed by Hiram 
 Barrus, Esq., of Reading.
 
 512 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 the market building near Stephen Foster's, to Lyceum Hall building. 
 It is a noteworthy fact that not one of Mr. Gleason's predecessors is 
 living. 
 
 For many years the Concord stage brought one mail a day from 
 Boston, over the " turnpike," now Main Street. When the stage came 
 to the top of the hill, in the south part of the town, in sight of the vil- 
 lage, the driver blew a powerful blast with an immense tin horn, which 
 was the signal for getting another set of horses ready on his arrival, 
 that he might change his team without delay. 
 
 After several years, Mr. Samuel W. Carter, who had been doing a 
 general express and freight business since about 1821-2, put another 
 stage on the route between here and Boston, carrying the Stoneham 
 mail and passengers. He drove four horses, said to have been one of 
 the best teams that went into Boston. 
 
 After politics began to affect the post-offices, another party was 
 appointed to carry the mail to Stoneham, via Maiden. Many were 
 disaffected at the change, and a meeting of the citizens of Reading 
 resulted in sending Mr. H. G. Richardson to Washington to lay the 
 matter before the Postmaster-General. This was in 1843. On Mr. 
 Richardson's arrival at the Capitol, he obtained an introduction to the 
 Postmaster-General through a former postmaster of Washington city, 
 with whom Mr. Richardson had had business transactions for many 
 years. The Postmaster-General, Mr. Wickliffe, received Mr. R. very 
 cordially, and introduced him to Mr. Hobbie, the First Assistant Post- 
 master General, who listened attentively to Mr. Richardson's state- 
 ments, and directed him to call the next morning at 10 o'clock. With 
 characteristic promptness Mr. R. was on hand at the moment, and was 
 assured that his requests would be granted, and the papers promptly 
 forwarded. 
 
 An interesting incident occurred while Mr. Richardson was sitting 
 in the Postmaster-General's office. An old man who had been for 
 some time quietly sitting there, said to Mr. R., " Young man, where 
 do you belong ? " " In Boston, Massachusetts." " Your name ? " 
 " Richardson." " Well, my name is Richard M. Johnson. I am glad 
 to see you. I am always glad to see a citizen of Massachusetts.'.' " I 
 am glad to see you, sir, responded Mr. Richardson, who also referred 
 to the ex- Vice President's fight with Tecumseh. Col. Johnson contin- 
 ued, " Yes, I have reason to remember it. You see I still carry the 
 marks of those days." He then exhibited his arm, which was deeply 
 engraved with frightful scars. Reference was made to his age., 
 " Young man," said he, firing up with what must have been something
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 513 
 
 of his youthful vigor, " young man, if my services were again needed, 
 I would mount my horse soon as ever." Mr. Richardson returned, 
 and the desired arrangements were soon established. Mr. Carter con- 
 tinued to carry the mail till after the opening of the Boston and Maine 
 Railroad, which commenced running its trains through this town July 
 i, 1845. 
 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 The first library in the West Parish, now Reading, was established 
 Sept. 27, 1791, and was known by the name of " The Federal Library." 
 It was owned* and managed by an association which held its first meet- 
 ing at the date above given. Rev. Peter Sanborn, .Dea. Timothy 
 Pratt, John Emerson, John Temple, and John Weston, were a commit- 
 tee "to take care of the affairs of the society." Mr. Sanborn was the 
 first librarian, and seems to have served till 1814. It had a membership 
 of about sixty persons. Rights of membership were sold at first, at 
 a dollar each, which was afterwards increased to two dollars, and an 
 annual tax of twenty-five cents. 
 
 In 1817 the association assumed the form and powers of a corpo- 
 ration. Abijah Weston was chosen clerk ; John Weston, librarian ; 
 David Emerson, treasurer. The number of members increased to 
 seventy-five, and the librarian was paid five dollars per annum for his 
 services. The records close in 1830. The books were sold at public 
 auction Jan. 24, 1831. Jonathan Frost and Charles Parker, the com- 
 mittee making the sale, reported the number of books sold 273. Net 
 proceeds $97.12, to be divided among fifty-seven proprietors. This 
 closed the existence of the " Federal Library " at the age of forty 
 years. 
 
 The next was known as the " Franklin Library." The application 
 of the proprietors for a meeting to organize was dated Dec. 25, 1841. 
 It was signed by Stephen Foster, Dr. Kendall Davis, H. G. Richardson, 
 and others. The organization was completed Jan. i, 1842. John 
 Batchelder, 3d, was elected president; Geo. Bancroft, vice do. ; Oliver 
 Peabody, clerk, treasurer, and librarian ; Kendall Davis, Thomas 
 Sweetser, Stephen Foster, Nathan P. Sherman, Haven P. Cook, Chas. 
 Newman, Loea Parker, curators. The ponstitution and by-laws were 
 signed by one hundred and three persons, who probably included 
 nearly all that ever belonged to the association. The terms of admis- 
 sion were two dollars for each member, with an annual tax of fifty 
 cents. Dr. H. P. Wakefield succeeded Mr. Batchelder as president in 
 1855 ; Milo Parker followed in 1858 ; J. H. Bancroft, 1860 ; Stephen 
 65
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Foster, 1862. In 1869, by vote of the members, the library four 
 hundred and sixty-two volumes was transferred to the trustees of the 
 Reading Public Library. The last meeting of the members was held 
 Jan. 7, 1871, practically dissolving the association after an existence of 
 thirty years. 
 
 The Agricultural Library Association was formed in March, 1860. 
 N. P. Pratt, Esq., was its first president ; Thos. E. Prescott, vice-presi- 
 dent ; J. W. Manning, secretary ; Thos. Richardson, librarian. The 
 members paid each five dollars as admission fee. Mr. Richardson con- 
 tinued to serve as librarian till his decease in April, 1864. Miss Emily 
 Ruggles was his successor. The books, numbering one Hundred and 
 sixty-six volumes, were transferred to the town library in January, 1869. 
 Mr. Manning was the only person who served as secretary of the asso- 
 ciation. 
 
 The present public library was established by votes of the town 
 passed March 2, 1868, and Nov. 3, 1868. The trustees chosen were: 
 Ephraim Hunt, Edward Appleton, Chauncey P. Judd, Francis H. 
 Knight, Hiram Barrus, and William Proctor ; the amount of money 
 appropriated, five hundred dollars. The trustees organized by the 
 choice of E. Hunt, president, and F. H. Knight, secretary and treas- 
 urer. The whole' number of volumes procured during the first year 
 was 823. Of these, 199 volumes were presented by school districts 
 Nos- 5, 8, and 9 ; 186 by the Appleton family; 18 by F. H. Knight; 
 210 by purchase ; and the remainder by donations from various 
 sources. The library, located in the high school building, was opened 
 for circulation of books Feb. 17, 1869, Miss Mattie H. Appleton, 
 librarian. During the following year the library received a donation of 
 five hundred dollars from Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, which amount was 
 offered in 1867, on condition that the town should appropriate an equal 
 sum for the founding of a public library. In 1871, a donation of one 
 hundred dollars was received from the estate of T. Ward Hartshorn ; 
 Loton Parker presented 228 volumes; Edward Appleton and sister, 
 38; Rev. Dr. Barrows, 15 ; John B. Lewis, Jr., 100; and, with other 
 liberal donations from friends of the institution, added to the purchases 
 by the town, the number of volumes in the library, reported March, 
 1871, was 2,475. F. O. Dewey, Esq., the largest donor since that date, 
 presented in 1873, a complete set, numbering 115 nicely bound vol- 
 umes, of "Littell's Living Age." 
 
 Dr. Hunt resigned his position as trustee of the library in April, 
 1871. F. O. Dewey was chosen his successor, and Edward Appleton, 
 president. Stephen Foster, Esq., succeeded C. P. Judd, Esq., in 1872.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 5 [5 
 
 The remaining trustees belonging to the original board are still in ser- 
 vice. Miss Appleton resigned her position as librarian in the summer 
 of 1873, and Miss Alice Temple was appointed. The library was 
 removed the same season to the Perkins building, corner of Woburn 
 and Lowell Streets. The whole number of books then reported as 
 catalogued was 3,237 volumes. The whole number of volumes taken 
 out for circulation during the year was 14,671. 
 
 THE READING CHRONICLE. 
 
 The publication of the "Reading Chronicle" was commenced in 
 1870 by H. C. Gray, Esq. The first number was issued Saturday, 
 May 28th. The first local item relating to Reading announces that a 
 veteran association has been formed, and Col. C. D. Wright has been 
 chosen commander. Another item refers to the death of Mrs. C. Au- 
 gusta Soule, Aug. 2oth, at Newark, N. J. t sister of Dr. E. Hunt, of this 
 town, and formerly a teacher in the Reading High School. Reference 
 is also made to the Reading Brass Band, which flourished for several 
 years ; and to the services of Wm. H. Temple as auctioneer, who still 
 continues to act in that vocation. S. Temple & Co. advertise millinery 
 goods, now succeeded by Miss Charlotte Buck ; R. M. Boyce offers 
 coal for sale ; Charles Schweizer supplies bread, cake, and pastry from 
 his bakery, now carried on by J. & T. Carley ; J. W. Manning, nursery- 
 man, offers fruit trees, in large variety, and fifty kinds of grapes, which 
 business he still pursues with undiminished energy. 
 
 THE READING FEMALE ANTISLAVERY SOCIETY. 
 
 The preamble of this society explains its purposes and objects in the 
 following language : 
 
 " Whereas we believe that slavery is contrary to the precepts of Chris- 
 tianity, dangerous to the liberties of the country, and ought immediately 
 to be abolished ; and whereas we believe that the citizens of New Eng- 
 land not only have the right to protest against it, but are under the 
 highest obligations to seek its removal by moral influence ; and whereas 
 we believe that the free people of color are unrighteously oppressed, 
 and stand in need of our sympathy and benevolent co-operation ; there- 
 fore, recognizing the inspired declaration, that God hath made of one 
 blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and 
 in obedience to our Saviour's golden rule, 'All things whatsoever ye 
 would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them,' we agree
 
 516 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 to form ourselves into a society to be governed by the following consti- 
 tution." 
 
 The object of the society is declared to be, to endeavor, by all means 
 sanctioned by law, humanity, and religion, to effect the abolition of 
 slavery in the United States ; to improve the character and condition 
 of the free people of color ; to inform and correct public opinion in 
 relation to their situation and rights, and obtain for them equal civil 
 and political rights and privileges with the whites. 
 
 The payment of three dollars constituted a membership for life, or 
 the payment of twenty cents, membership for a year, with power to vote 
 in all meetings. The society met in Union Hall, and organized March 
 22, 1833, choosing the following officers : Mrs. Sarah Reid, president; 
 Mrs. Sarah Parker, vice-president ; Mrs. Hepzibah S. Temple, secre- 
 tary ; Mrs. Esther Kingman, treasurer ; Mrs. Julia P. Eaton, Mrs. Su- 
 san S. Perkins, Mrs. Sophronia Kingman, Mrs. Susan W. Peabody, 
 Miss Lucy Parker, counsellors. 
 
 The first name on the list of members was that of Mrs. Polly Chute, 
 wife of Daniel Chute, Esq., a lady then about seventy years of age. 
 
 The first vote of the society, after adopting their constitution, was for 
 appropriating money to Mr. Garrison's mission. The records being 
 defective at this point, a letter of inquiry to Mr. Garrison elicited the 
 following interesting reply : 
 
 ROXBURY, March 4, 1874. 
 
 DfcAR SIR : In answer to your letter of inquiry, I would state that I have care- 
 fully examined the early copies of the " Liberator." and I find that the historical honor 
 belongs to Reading of giving birth to the first Female Antislavery Society ever 
 formed in this country. . . . 
 
 In the month of May of that year, 1833, I went on my first antislavery mission to 
 Great Britain ; and among the credentials I carried to commend me to the respect 
 and confidence of British abolitionists was an approving testimony from the Reading 
 Female Antislavery Society, which, in the dearth of such testimonies at that time, 
 was of real service to me, and elicited so kind a response from the antislavery ladies 
 of England as to cause the following action : 
 
 "At a meeting of the Reading Female Antislavery Society, on the 2gth of October, 
 1833, called for the purpose of hearing the letters sent to us from the ladies in Eng- 
 land, and also to dispose of their presents, the following resolution was adopted : 
 
 " Resolved, That to the ladies of England we extend the hand of affection, recipro- 
 cate their good feelings, and cherish their presents as mementoes of those, our fellow- 
 beings, who are groping in worse than Egyptian darkness, and whom they, in common 
 with us, are striving to put in possession of all those rights which nature and nature's 
 God ever intended they should enjoy." 
 
 This society continued for several years to be an efficient antislavery instrumen- 
 tality, and helped to give a strong impetus to the whole movement. You very justly 
 say, " The time has come when such efforts are remembered with respect," and
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 517 
 
 I am glad to know that you are " desirous that the ladies of Reading should have all 
 the honor they deserve " ; and that I conceive to be very great. 
 
 But Reading has not only the honor of having formed the first female antislavery 
 society, but also the first male society auxiliary to the New England Antislavery 
 Society. The latter was formed on the I3th of March, 1833, a few days prior to the 
 former. Its officers were : president, Rev. Jared Reid ; vice-president. Capt. Jonas 
 Parker ; secretary, Horace P. Wakefield ; treasurer, Ambrose Kingman ; counsel- 
 lors, Enoch Peabody, Jesse Frost, Hiram D. Sweetser, Henry Kingman, Caleb Mc- 
 Intire. 
 
 This society was also very active and efficient. For some time Reading continued 
 to be " the banner town " in the antislavery conflict 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 WM. LLOYD GARRISON. 
 
 HIRAM BARRUS, ESQ. 
 
 It is unfortunate that the letters from the ladies of England cannot 
 be found. They were probably destroyed in the fire that consumed the 
 house of Mr. Ambrose Kingman, in 1865. The presents referred to 
 consisted of a china tea-set, each piece ornamented with a picture repre- 
 senting a kneeling slave, with manacled hands raised in the attitude of 
 prayer. These were distributed among the members, and are still pre- 
 served with religious care. 
 
 The records of the society show that it was actively engaged in car- 
 rying out its professions. Frequent contributions of money were made 
 to the antislavery societies in Boston and New York, and to special 
 objects. Appropriations were made in behalf of Miss Prudence Cran- 
 dall, of Canterbury, Conn., who was "suffering under the wicked law of 
 that State for endeavoring by her personal instructions to elevate the 
 intellectual and moral character, and thus improve the condition, of a 
 portion of the free people of color." Aid was sent to Rev. S. J. May, 
 agent of the American Antislavery Society; to Rev. H. Wilson rnd 
 Father Hanson, for the support of colored schools in Canada ; to the 
 African captives taken in 1840 on board the brig " Amistad"; to Rev. 
 Charles T. Torrey, the antislavery martyr ; to the New York and Bos- 
 ton vigilance committees in charge, probably, of the famous under- 
 ground railroad. Antislavery documents were circulated among the 
 people, and lectures by distinguished advocates were given in behalf of 
 the cause. Names were obtained and petitions sent to Congress against 
 the admission of slave States, and among those presented by John 
 Quincy Adams, for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, 
 was one forwarded from this society. 
 
 The records of the society close in 1850. Mrs. Sarah G. Temple 
 was then chosen president ; Mrs. Rebecca Parker, vice-president ; Mrs. 
 Nancy A. Gleason, secretary ; Miss Elizabeth Gardner, treasurer. The
 
 518 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 counsellors were Mistresses Clarissa E. Weston, Selina Cheney, Sarah 
 Wakefield, Elizabeth Porter, Roxana G. Weston. 
 
 RAILROADS AND EXPRESSES. 
 
 The Boston and Maine Railroad, when first built, did not run through 
 this town. Its trains from Wilmington to Boston passed over the track 
 of the Lowell Road. 
 
 In January, 1843, Mr. W. R. Perkins, learning that an effort was 
 making for extending the railroad from Wilmington through Woburn 
 to Boston, immediately set to work to divert it from that, to its present 
 route. Messrs. Stephen Foster and Sylvester Harnden, with Mr. Per- 
 kins, visited Haverhill to see the president of the road, Mr. West, who 
 met them on the following day, with Mr. Hayward, the engineer, at 
 Wilmington, and went over the proposed route. A hasty survey re- 
 sulted, and in ten days from the start, the petition for the road was 
 brought before the Legislature, with plans and estimates. 
 
 Substantial aid was rendered by Messrs. Thaddeus B. Pratt, Joshua 
 Prescott, Thomas Sweetser, H. G.. Richardson, Daniel Pratt, Abiel 
 Holden, Warren Perkins, and others of Reading; and lion. Lilley 
 Eaton, Dr. Thaddeus Spaulding, Benj. B. Wiley, and others of South 
 Reading, now Wakefield. 
 
 A charter was procured after a short but memorable struggle, and 
 the road was located over the present route. The speech of Dr. Wake- 
 field, then a member of the House from Oakham, during the contest, 
 is still remembered and referred to, as one of his best and most success- 
 ful efforts. It presented the claims of this route in a strong light, and 
 greatly aided in securing the passage of the act of incorporation. 
 
 The first train over the road was from Portland, in the afternoon of 
 July i, 1845. Mr. Calvin Temple was station agent here then, and 
 continued in the service till Jan. i, 1866. The fare to Boston was at 
 first thirty cents, but it was soon reduced to twenty-five, and packages 
 of fifty tickets were sold as family tickets at twelve and one half cents 
 each. 
 
 The old depot, used for more than a quarter of a century by the 
 people of this town, was the largest structure of the kind, and origi- 
 nally designed to be the best and most convenient, on the Boston and 
 Maine Railroad, out of the city. It sheltered both tracks, and was 
 more than one hundred feet in length. It was erected in 1845, and 
 came near destruction at the time of the burning of the wood-sheds 
 and freight house, April 18, 1868. The present depot, on the side of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 519 
 
 the track, has been in use about two years. Another new depot has 
 been erected near Mr. O. Foote's, a half mile north of the present 
 station. 
 
 Of the original conductors, Messrs. Tucker and Smith are still em- 
 ployed. Aborn, conductor, was then station agent at South Reading, 
 and Smart was conductor of a freight train. Mr. Wm. Carter has been 
 conductor since 1855. Mr. Clark, the present station agent, succeeded 
 Mr. Temple. 
 
 Mr. Ebenezer Emerson did a general express and freight business 
 between Reading and Boston for many years previous to 1820. He 
 drove a team of two yoke of oxen and a horse. He usually started for 
 Boston in the afternoon, stopping at Charlestown for the night, went 
 into the city the next morning, gathered up his load and returned to 
 Reading before he slept, unless he slept by the way, for he often did 
 not reach home till midnight. He sometimes spent a day extra on the 
 way doing a job of plowing or other team work for persons who desired 
 his help. Evidently the steam whistle had not worked people up to 
 the appreciation of telegraph lines and lightning trains as mediums for 
 doing business at that time. About the year 1821 or '22, Mr. Carter, 
 as before stated, commenced the express and freight business, using 
 horses, going to the city twice a week and returning the same day. 
 There were three stores here that did considerable business at that 
 time, Thomas Pratt's, Thomas Parker's, and Daniel Pratt's. 
 
 Mr. Carter sold his express and freight business soon after putting 
 on his stage, to Capt. Thomas Richardson. Mr. Stowell succeeded 
 him, and at his death the business fell into the hands of Mr. Cum- 
 mings, the present efficient proprietor of the original line. 
 
 Mr. C. H. Lang has, since his return from service in the late war, 
 been also doing a successful business in that department. 
 
 Our modern facilities for rapid conveyance and intercourse with all 
 parts of the country and the world, do not enable us to appreciate the 
 difficulties that surrounded our forefathers. Long journeys were made 
 chiefly on horseback or on foot. Forty-five years ago, Erie canal 
 packet boats were a popular means of conveyance for travellers from 
 Albany to Buffalo. 
 
 Heavy freights were transported by ox teams. " Going West " for a 
 long period did not imply going beyond the bounds of Massachusetts. 
 Early in the present century, " The West " was understood to be in 
 central, and then in western New York ; or in the " Western Reserve," 
 Ohio, and so onward till it finally had as little of definiteness in its 
 meaning as had " The North " in England, when Pope wrote :
 
 520 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " Ask where 's the North, at York, 't is on the Tweed ; 
 In Scotland, at the Oreades ; and there, 
 At Greenland, Zembla, or the Lord knows where." 
 
 . The early. roads were little more than bridle paths from one neigh- 
 borhood to another, 
 
 " Winding as old roads will, 
 Here to a school-house, and there to a mill." 
 
 Those who had horses used the pannier, a sort of basket, or the 
 wallet, a bag that, like the pannier, hung on each side of the horse, 
 over his back, in which parcels were carried. 
 
 Squire Sweetser, now in his eightieth year, relates that when a small 
 boy, he went in company with two of his brothers to Poole's mill to 
 catch alewives, taking a horse with them to aid in bringing home the 
 fish. One boy rode astride the horse, and one in the wallet on each 
 side. They had unexpectedly good luck, and caught several bushels of 
 fish, which they carried home upon the horse. Instead of the expected 
 commendation for their successful expedition, they were mildly rebuked 
 by their father for the unmerciful burden they had inflicted upon the 
 horse. 
 
 Squire James Bancroft had a chaise as early as 1790. 
 
 Wagons began to be used a little previous to 1807. Rev. Mr. San- 
 born had one of the first. Mr. Ephraim Weston at that time had a 
 chaise, and probably there were others. Col. Nathan Parker had, about 
 the same time, a farm wagon which had an iron axle, the first in use 
 here. 
 
 During the winter months, hand-sleds were mnch used for the trans- 
 portation of the lighter articles of commerce. Shoes, produce, etc., 
 were carried to the cities, and supplies obtained for the family. Salem 
 was more popular as a place for trade, till a comparatively recent date, 
 than was Boston. Parties of several men, each with a loaded hand- 
 sled, frequently went to Salem in company, going and returning the 
 same day. 
 
 Newhall's tavern, near the present Lynnfield hotel, was the usual 
 halting place for rest, refreshment, and the indispensable " mug of flip." 
 One of these parties in a happy mood, before starting off homeward in 
 the evening from this tavern, added a heavy stone to the load of one, 
 who had rather boasted over the others of his superior strength and 
 agility. The stone had a free ride to Reading, and the weariness it 
 brought to the one that drew it was greatly enjoyed by those who per- 
 petrated the practical joke. Mr. Phineas Sweetser, uncle of Thomas,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 521 
 
 Esq., when once drawing his sled load of shoes to Boston, found the 
 rivers so open that he was obliged to go around the city and come in 
 over Roxbury Neck. After doing his business, he took on another 
 load, and retracing his steps came home the same night, nearly ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 MERCANTILE AFFAIRS. 
 
 The first intimation of there being a store in this part of the town' is 
 found among the writings of James Bancroft, Esq., in a paper dated May 
 15, 1761. It commences with the preamble, " Whereas I, James Ban- 
 croft, of Reading, have lately been at considerable expense to furnish 
 myself with sundry sorts of West India goods (and other goods), as mo- 
 lasses, sugar, rice, tea, coffee, etc., and earthenware, in order to accom- 
 modate my neighbors, determining to sell the same as reasonably as they 
 are sold at Medford, Charlestown, and Boston. ... I think it might be 
 an advantage to me by increasing my custom, and to others by accommo- 
 dating them, if I might be approbated and have license to sell spiritu- 
 ous liquors." The paper asks for signatures signifying a willingness 
 that he should be a retailer of spirits ; but as no names are subscribed, 
 and as there is no other evidence to suggest that he engaged in the 
 sale of spirits, it is doubtful whether the paper was ever presented for 
 signatures. How long he continued to sell the other kinds of goods 
 .named is unknown. 
 
 The first store of any importance in the village was that of William 
 Johnson, which was built in the fall of 1801. It stood in the garden, 
 just below the present store of Mr. Thomas Pratt. Johnson built a 
 house in connection with it the next year, which was the second house 
 built on the common, Rev. Mr. Sanborn's being the first. The Johnson 
 house was removed in 1855 or '6, and is the house now owned by the 
 heirs of Thomas Day. The house of Mr. Silas Smith was probably the 
 next. The house of Mr. James Davis, then owned and occupied by 
 Col. Nathan Parker, was built earlier, and was occupied for a long 
 series of years as a tavern. 
 
 The store of Mr. Thomas Parker, on the lot near where the house of 
 the late Sylvester Harnden stands, was probably opened about 1810, or 
 soon after. Mr. Parker built a house adjoining it in 1828, which was 
 removed to make room for Mr. Harnden's house, now owned by Col. 
 Carroll D. Wright. Mr. Parker continued his store till his decease, 
 Oct. 3, 1832. 
 
 Mr. Ephraim Weston had a store in the western part of the town as 
 early as 1807, in connection with the shoe business. The store was 
 66 *
 
 522 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 continued by his sons till Mr. Holden took it for a year or two, and it 
 was then resumed by Mr. Weston, who kept it till 1833. In that year 
 his grandson, J. Brooks Leathe, purchased the goods, and continued 
 the business till 1864, when he relinquished it to enter upon the duties 
 of U. S. assistant assessor in the Internal Revenue Department. This 
 office he held till the office of assessor was abolished in 1873. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, Esq., continued a dry goods and grocery store for many 
 years in connection with his shoe business. Thomas Pratt, his brother, 
 as intimated in another connection, was probably longer in the busi- 
 ness than any other person that has lived here. For many years 
 Reading was the centre of trade for Wilmington, Tewksbury, Middle- 
 ton, and several other neighboring towns, and the stores here had a 
 flourishing business. Medford rum was formerly a very popular article 
 of traffic, and one of the stores is said to have sold it at the rate of a 
 hogshead of one hundred and twenty gallons per week, while another 
 was thought to have sold twice that amount. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Pratt has transferred his business to his son Thomas 
 B., who continues to carry it on at the old stand, where it has been 
 pursued for more than half a century. 
 
 Mr. William Parker commenced in the grocery and West India 
 goods trade in 1830, in a store that stood near where W. R. Perkins's 
 house is located. He afterwards occupied the store of D. Pratt, Esq., 
 for a time, and then the Thomas Parker store. In 1841, he removed 
 to the store he now occupies. This building was first erected for a 
 store, in Wakefield. It was removed to Mr. Etson Damon's, and used 
 for a time as a cabinet shop. 
 
 Mr. F. Fletcher opened a dry goods store here about 1855. He had 
 previously been in the trade about ten years. He was first to occupy 
 the late post-office room in Lyceum Hall building, which he left to be 
 the first to occupy one of the stores in the Bank building, where he 
 remained till he built his present store. He deals in ready-made 
 clothing, and employs tailors for custom work. 
 
 Mr. Amos Temple was several years a dry goods dealer here in the 
 store now occupied by Reed & Buck. 
 
 Mr. James Reid, who was formerly associated with Mr. Fletcher, 
 commenced dealing in dry goods in 1866. He still pursues the busi- 
 ness in company with Mr. George F. Buck. 
 
 Mr. Jonathan Frost began to trade in 1828, in the Spokesfield house, 
 and in 1831 removed to his present residence. He still continues the 
 business. 
 
 Miss Sukey Parker, daughter of Benjamin, had the first dry goods
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 523 
 
 and millinery establishment here. It was kept in the store that stood 
 where Mr. Foster's house is, previous to 1823, and afterwards in Market 
 building till about 1850. The boys of her time remember an ancient 
 looking picture, which she preserved with pious care, and impressed 
 them with the belief that it was a likeness of the Saviour painted from 
 the original. The present milliners are Mrs. Abbie Nichols, Miss 
 Charlotte Buck, and Mrs. H. B. Remick. 
 
 Mr. Silas Smith kept a limited stock of dry goods for several years in 
 the house built by him and still occupied by his widow, 90 years of age, 
 the oldest person in town, save one. She was the daughter of Aaron 
 Parker, and sister of Dea. Jabez D. Parker. Mr. Smith was the prin- 
 cipal dealer in cotton sheetings, being manufacturer's agent for the sale 
 in this vicinity. His son Cyrus was for a time engaged in the business, 
 and kept a store in the same house. 
 
 Copeland and Bowser have been in business, in Gowing's Block, 
 since its erection in 1871, commencing April ist. They keep a general 
 assortment of dry goods and gents' furnishing goods. Mr. Copeland 
 had been for several years in the employ of F. Fletcher. 
 
 The store near the depot at the foot of Haven Street was built and 
 occupied about 1851 by Mr. Franklin Putnam, who continued the 
 grocery business for ten years. He was succeeded by Pierce Bros., 
 Col man, and others, for short periods. Mr. T. T. Greenwood pur- 
 chased the store and had charge of it for several years. He was suc- 
 ceeded by James H. Davis. Lucius Turner was in trade there from 
 1867 to April, 1873. S. N. Stone succeeds him. 
 
 Mr. Salma A. Gould built a store near the Woburn Street School- 
 house two years since, in which he continues to trade. 
 
 John Adden kept a store in connection with his shoe business, at 
 the corner of Main and Summer Streets, about thirty-five years since. 
 
 MEAT AND PROVISION TRADE. 
 
 In addition to the supplies furnished by the several stores, the town 
 is served by three markets, kept by Messrs. Harnden and Tweed, T. 
 C. Trow, and B. F. Adams. Mr. Charles Tweed was the pioneer in 
 the business. Timothy Temple, Wm. H. Temple, L. G. Richardson, 
 J. R. Morton, and others have formerly been employed in it. J. R. 
 Brown has a fruit and provision store in the Appleton building near the 
 depot. 
 
 SHOE STORES. 
 
 Those now doing business here in th e retail shoe trade, are N. D. 
 Stoodley, Ira Atkinson, J. A. Bancroft, D. F. Weston, S. Doucette.
 
 524 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS STORES. 
 
 F. J. Bancroft opened a store in 1873 for the sale of music and 
 musical instruments. 
 
 Lewis E. Gleasdn has papers, periodicals, and a variety of other articles 
 in the store connected with the post-office. 
 
 Mr. Francis Bartley succeeds James T. Norris in the sale of men's 
 clothing and furnishing goods. M. Hanley deals in furniture. J. & T. 
 Carley carry on the bakery which has been in operation several years. 
 Robert J. Bell has a drug store near the depot. 
 
 LYCEUM HALL. 
 
 The association that built Lyceum Hall was organized in the month 
 of May, 1854, under an act of incorporation approved April 24th of 
 the same year. Edward Safford, Samuel T. Ruggles, Ignatius Sargent, 
 their associates and successors, were made a corporation, by the name 
 of the Reading Lyceum Hall Association. The first meeting for the 
 choice of officers was held May 2Qth. Horace P. Wakefield was 
 chosen president ; Sylvester Harnden, vice-president ; Stephen Foster, 
 secretary ; Ignatius Sargent, treasurer ; Alfred A. Prescott, Edward 
 Safford, Reuben Weston, directors ; C. P. Judd, John Damon, Thomas 
 Richardson, standing committee. A building lot was purchased of 
 Lilley Eaton for $927. Edward Safford contracted for the erection 
 of the building at $4,800. 
 
 The frame of the original building was raised in November, 1854. 
 When the work was completed, the cost of the building, furniture, and 
 land amounted to about $8,000. A portion of this had been raised 
 by subscription, ten dollars entitling a person to one share and the 
 privilege of membership. Each member had a right to as many 
 votes as he owned shares, provided no member had more than ten 
 votes. The balance, of the money not secured by the sale of shares 
 was borrowed to pay the expenses. This was repaid from the yearly 
 receipts before making any dividend among the stockholders. The 
 first dividend was in 1859, of fourteen per cent, the second in 1860 of 
 fifteen per cent. During the war the rents were reduced, and the 
 profits also. The store now occupied by G. W. Atkinson was first 
 rented by a union store association, and kept by J. S. Campbell. W. 
 J. Wightman succeeded in 1857, and remained till 1865, when Mr. 
 Atkinson took it. Capt. Thomas Richardson kept the drug store till 
 1862, selling out to John Dole, who sold to Dr. W. H. Willis, the 
 present occupant, in 1865. Miss Emily Ruggles has occupied the
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 525 
 
 same store she now does, from her commencement in business soon 
 after the completion of the building. Miss Ruggles is also real estate 
 broker. Mr. Gleason, the present postmaster, in May, 1861, removed 
 the post-office from the market building near Stephen Foster's to 
 Lyceum Hall building, where it still remains, though it was removed 
 from the room now occupied by Mrs. Remick for millinery purposes to 
 the present, in December, 1873. Ira Gray & Son had their clothing 
 store in the story above till the erection of the bank building in 
 1860-61, to which place he removed. Since that time the rooms have 
 been variously occupied. Clarkson Parker has for nearly five years 
 used the room he now does for a barber shop. 
 
 The first movement for the building of Lyceum Hall was prompted 
 by the felt need of the people for a hall suitable for public gatherings, 
 and the wants of a small organization that has since merged into the 
 Christian Union Society, for a place to hold their meetings. The 
 efforts for obtaining funds by subscription for building the hall were 
 nearly a failure. There was at that time little surplus wealth in town 
 that could well be spared for such an investment. Mr. Stephen Foster 
 and S. Harnden, impressed 'with the need of such a work, and foresee- 
 ing that the public would be ready to sustain it, engaged in the 
 enterprise with others, and helped carry it forward to completion. 
 In November, 1870, an additional piece of land was bought, that 
 formerly belonged to the old estate of Dr. Daniel Gould, to whigh 
 the first purchase from Mr. Eaton had originally belonged, and pro- 
 ceeded after some delay to the building of the extension just now being 
 completed. 
 
 The present officers of the association are : E. Safford, president ; 
 Samuel Pierce, vice-president ; Stephen Foster, secretary and treas- 
 urer ; Reuben Weston, G. W. Atkinson, H. E. Cox, directors ; C. W. 
 Perkins, N. P. Pratt, standing committee. Mr. Foster has been sec- 
 retary from the organization, and Mr. Weston one of the directors. 
 Dr. H. P. Wakefield was continued as president till 1868, when his 
 services for the State required his removal from town. 
 
 THE WATCH AND CLOCK BUSINESS IN READING. 
 
 Mr. Benj. E. Beard was probably the first in town who made the 
 watch and jewelry trade a distinct business. He opened his store in 
 1847 in Harnden's building, and continued there till his death in 1868. 
 His son, W. E. Beard, succeeded him, and in December, 1873, removed 
 the business to Lyceum Hall building. He is assisted by Mr. D. A.
 
 526 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Emery. Dea. Amos Evans had been earlier engaged in watch repair- 
 ing, which he long continued after Mr. Beard commenced the business. 
 A Mr. Wheeler had also had a room in a small building on the east 
 side of the street, below the Common, where he dealt in watches and 
 repaired them. Mr. Daniel Putnam acquired many years ago a good 
 reputation as a repairer of watches, and his friends claim he is still able 
 to do better work than the average watch repairer. We don't know how 
 well founded the claim is, but we are told that he is the possessor of a 
 watch over a hundred years old that he maintains in good running 
 order, though we think he did not make it. 
 
 The manufacture of clock cases was commenced in this town in the 
 spring of 1832 by Mr. Jonathan Frost. He first began to buy clocks 
 of Burr & Chittenden, of Lexington, who bought the movements or 
 running part in Bristol, Conn., and made the cases themselves. Mr. 
 Frost sent them out with other goods by his pedlers for a year or so. 
 When he began the business for himself the movements cost him a 
 trifle over eight dollars apiece, which price was finally reduced to seven 
 and a half. Within the year 1832, Mr. [Frost formed a partnership 
 with Daniel Pratt, Esq., for the manufacture, which continued for three 
 years. After the close of the partnership, Mr. Frost suspended opera- 
 tions in that line for nearly two years, when he resumed and continued 
 it till about 1850. Mr. Pratt had continued the business uninterrupt- 
 edly during all this time. In 1838-39, he employed about twenty 
 hands. Among his employees was Mr. B. E. Beard, to whom we have 
 already referred. Another employee was Mr. Gilbert Green, now of 
 Clinton, Mass., who deals in watches and jewelry, and has become 
 wealthy. Several others in this town and in North Reading were also 
 employed by Mr. Pratt in carrying on his business. Mr. Pratt supplied 
 and sent out pedlers to dispose of his clocks till about 1846, when he 
 opened a store in Boston, at 49 Union Street, in which business has 
 been continued to the present time. For a year or two previous he had 
 sent a considerable number of clocks to Calcutta, where a very good 
 market was found. A clock with a fancy case, known as the " double 
 Gothic," costing about five dollars here, sold there for about fifteen 
 dollars in gold. They were frequently exchanged for the goods of 
 the countries to which they were sent, which were imported and sold 
 here. Since the decease of Mr. Pratt, in March, 1871, as well as for 
 some years previously, the business has been carried on by Messrs. D. 
 F. Pratt and B. M. Boyce, who now constitute the firm, under the name 
 of " Daniel Pratt's Sons." F. W. B. Pratt, son of D. F., is employed 
 with them. They have for about three years imported clocks from
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 527 
 
 abroad. They are doing a rapidly increasing business in this line, 
 which might well be expected, as they sell nice French clocks much 
 cheaper than any other house in the city. The manufacture of clocks 
 was discontinued here by Mr. Pratt about 1858 or 1859. The house 
 on Linden Street, owned by Mr. Pease, and the shoe store on Haven 
 Street, occupied by Major Stoodley, were, before removal to their pres- 
 ent sites, occupied by Mr. Pratt in the prosecution of his business. 
 The pedlers sold the clocks at prices ranging from twelve to sixteen 
 dollars each. The brass movements were introduced about 1835 or 
 1836. The clock dealers, in speaking of clocks and time-pieces, make 
 a distinction that is perhaps peculiar to themselves. If it strikes the 
 hour it is called a clock ; if it does not strike the hour, it is called a 
 time-piece. 
 
 CABINET-MAKERS. 
 
 Ambrose Kingman is said to have been the first to engage in this 
 business here. He sold out to his brother Henry, who greatly enlarged 
 it, and subsequently removed to New York, where it is still success- 
 fully prosecuted by his son William. 
 
 Luther Elliot, Hammond Flint, Amos Sweetser, Charles Carter, 
 Henry F. Parker, J. W. Beers, S. T. Ruggles, John Cheney, Gardner 
 French, D. B. Lovejoy, D. G. Richardson, James Davis, and others, 
 were more or less engaged in this business. 
 
 Alden Batchelder has been in the manufacture of furniture about 
 ten years, employing twenty to thirty hands. He sells his goods 
 throughout the Union and Canada. 
 
 Dinsmore and Grouard have been more than twenty years manufac- 
 turing furniture. They were the first to make parlor desks, which had 
 a large sale. They also make book-cases and chamber furniture, and 
 employ about thirty hands. Their mill was built by William Badger 
 about twenty-five years since. It passed into other hands, and was 
 purchased about ten years since by Dinsmore & Grouard, and fitted 
 up with a new engine and machinery. 
 
 Mr. Charles Manning and Mr. Frederick Miller are both engaged in 
 making parlor desks. 
 
 Mr. Sylvester Harnden came here from Stoddard, N. H., about 1823, 
 and worked at the furniture business with Luther Elliot, and afterwards, 
 in company with Amos Sweetser, in a building that stood just south of 
 W. R. Perkins's present residence. In 1827 or 1828, Mr. Harnden 
 erected and used for a shop the building occupied for many years by 
 B. E. Beard in the watch business. In 1831 he built the house now
 
 528 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 owned by his son, F. Harnden, and another shop a little in the rear. 
 His business rapidly increased, and he employed for many years about 
 seventy-five or eighty workmen. 
 
 In 1856 he engaged in the manufacture of refrigerators, under the 
 patent of John C. Schooley, which, in connection with the furniture 
 business, is still continued by his son, F. Harnden. 
 
 Mr. Harnden was a prominent man in town matters, always ready to 
 aid in public improvements, and to do his share in sustaining the bur- 
 dens and performing the duties required of a true citizen. He was a 
 native of Wilmington ; born 1804 ; died May 19, 1873. 
 
 COOPERS. 
 
 David Emerson, Joseph Young, Edward Young, John Nichols, David 
 Ball, Samuel W. Brooks, Capt. Abijah Weston, Jabez Weston. 
 
 CURRIERS. 
 
 Oliver Colburn and George Flagg were curriers, and carried on busi- 
 ness in the red house near the railroad crossing on Main Street, known 
 as the " Dublin House." 
 
 WHEELWRIGHTS AND CARRIAGE-MAKERS. 
 
 Mr. Ambrose Kingman is remembered as the principal one here in 
 the wheelwright business. Mr. Samuel Brown, on Haven Street, is a 
 carriage-builder. In the same building, P. McCall makes harnesses. 
 
 MILLS. 
 
 Messrs. Dinsmore & Grouard, F. Harnden, Solon Parker, and H. 
 Bachelder have steam mills for sawing lumber. Mr. John Burrill has a 
 saw-mill operated by water power, formerly owned. by Cleaveland 
 Beard. This mill is probably referred to in a deed by Abraham Foster 
 to Raham Bancroft, dated in 1730. There is also a saw and a grist 
 mill at " Lob's Pound," where there was a saw-mill in 1694. \ 
 
 The first mill in this part of the town for sawing boards was prob- 
 ably the one often referred to in the early town records as the " saw- 
 pit mill," which was near where Summer Street crosses Main. The 
 little bridge just east of the corners retained the name " Soppit 
 Bridge," till quite recently. Thomas Sweetser, Esq., recollects seeing 
 the pit in which the under man stood while drawing his end of the 
 saw. It is referred to as "Parker's mill" in the town records, but the 
 oldest inhabitant now living does not know to which of the Parkers it
 
 Ol- THE TOWA Of READING. 529 
 
 belonged. There was once a saw mill at the foot of the hill, abojit 
 thirty rods west of the house of Capt. George Bancroft. It belonged 
 to Thomas Bancroft, and a Merrow. It is believed to have been there 
 in 1764. There was a tannery about twenty rods west of the mill, the 
 relics of which have not entirely disappeared. 
 
 The reference to " Lob's Pound " suggests an inquiry as to the origin 
 of the name. Dea. Wakefield says that some one told him, there was 
 formerly a pound there for keeping colts in over night, and that the 
 name " Lob " was a corruption of " nobby " or "toob," a child's pet 
 name for a colt. 
 
 BLACKSMITHS. 
 
 Zadoc Richardson appears to have been in the business here from 1762 
 to 1772, and may have been for a much longer time. Eli Mead had a 
 shop at the corner of Woburn and Washington Streets, date unknown. 
 Samuel Pratt, who died in 1734, and who lived where Herrick Batch- 
 elder now lives, was a blacksmith. His son Samuel succeeded to his 
 estate, and followed the same occupation. This Samuel left no chil- 
 dren. His nephew, Benjamin, son of Lieut. Ephraim, of North Read- 
 ing, was his successor. He died in 1842 at the age of 84. He was 
 a soldier of the Revolution ; a town officer for more than twenty years ; 
 deacon in the Old South Church more than forty ; and the father of 
 thirteen children. His son Benjamin was the father of Benjamin, 
 Joseph L., and Stillman M. Pratt, of the present time, and several 
 daughters. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Spokesfield, whose shop stood where Edward F. Parker's 
 house now is, was in the business sixty years ago. The early black- 
 smiths supplied the people with "wrought" nails, which were sold by 
 count, not by weight, and made most of the tools used by the farmers 
 and mechanics. 
 
 The more recent blacksmiths have been Cephas Parker, D. M. 
 Damon, E. B. Eames, R. C. Totten, John Blunt, Theo. F. Gould. The 
 last named four are still in business. 
 
 TIN-WARE AND STOVES. 
 
 T. Littlefield came from Wakefield to Reading in 1843, and opened 
 a shop on Ash Street. He removed to the village in 1853, and to his 
 present shop in 1860. He was the first to engage in the business in 
 this town, and for a time had no competitor here, or in Wakefield, or 
 in Stoneham. Several others have set up the business here for brief 
 periods. Mr. Eugene De Jean has been engaged in it for about two 
 years. 
 
 67
 
 530 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 HOUSE BUILDERS. 
 
 Amos Parker, father of Dana Parker, was one of the principal car- 
 penters of eighty years ago. Dea. Caleb Wakefield served his appren- 
 ticeship with him, commencing March 29, 1801. Seventy years after- 
 wards, within an hour of the time of the day at which he went to the 
 house of Mr. Parker to begin his service, Dea. Wakefield called at the 
 same house, now occupied by the son above named, and reminded the 
 family of the fact, jan incident of rare occurrence. The first house 
 built by Dea. Wakefield was the tavern for Col. Nathan Parker, which 
 stood where the bank building now stands. This was in 1806. It 
 was three stories high, the first of that height built here. The old 
 "try- rule " system of framing had been followed up to that time, which 
 required every tenon and mortise to be fitted together and marked so 
 that it could be known where every piece belonged. Dea. Wakefield 
 followed that system called also " scribe " rule, and the critics decided he 
 could not erect the building in that way. An interested party declared 
 that the builder should pay a dollar for every false mortise made. But 
 the frame was completed and raised without a mistake. The modern 
 system called " square rule " was soon after generally introduced. In 
 1801, Dea. Wakefield purchased the first screw auger he had seen. 
 Previous to that, mechanics had used what they called the " pod " 
 auger. Up to 1806 the farmers used wooden shovels, which were 
 sometimes plated, or " shod," upon the cutting edge with iron. 
 
 The following list embraces most of the principal carpenters and 
 builders for half a century, coming down to the present time : 
 
 Eben Eaton, John Nichols, Timothy Temple, Samuel R. Allen, Joseph 
 Spokesfield, Daniel Creesy, Wendell Bancroft, David C. Temple, Wm. 
 M. Phillips, Edward Safford, Nath'l W. Broad, Wm. Bryant, Edward 
 C. Nichols, Ephraim Wight. 
 
 MASONS. 
 
 Bridge Wakefield, William Wakefield, Stewart P. Wakefield, Capt. 
 Joseph Gleason, N. H. Turner, S. M. Hall, Edward Parker. 
 
 PAINTERS. 
 
 Abner Bancroft, Wm. H. Bancroft, Nathan Bancroft, Moses Nichols, 
 J. C. Cook, Amos Mclntire. M. H. Garfield, carriage and sign 
 
 painter. 
 
 MANUFACTURE OF SHOES. 
 
 The first recorded evidence of the manufacture of shoes in this part 
 of ancient Reading appears to be in the account book of Lieut.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING, 53! 
 
 Joseph Bancroft, commencing in the year 1758. He seems to have 
 supplied the home market for about thirty years afterwards. In the 
 summer of 1794 he charges John Temple, Jr., for making about four 
 hundred pairs of shoes. 
 
 The manufacture of shoes as an article of trade seems to have fairly 
 been commenced before this time. During the Revolution tradition 
 connects the names of several persons with the business who were 
 accustomed to carry their work to the city for a market. Among these 
 was Ephraim Parker, who also kept the tavern in Squire Sweetser's old 
 house on Washington Street. He employed several workmen in the 
 business. Phineas Sweetser, uncle of the Squire, did a smaller busi- 
 ness ; and Mr. Daniel Damon, grandfather of Edgar, D. Myron, and 
 Albert P. Damon, carried on the business as early as 1794, employing 
 several hands. He learned the trade in Westford, where he seems to 
 have been when the war of the Revolution commenced. After his return 
 to Reading he lived in a house that stood where Mr. Francis Kingman 
 now resides, and owned the land in that vicinity, including the grove 
 now owned by Solon Parker. His first wife, Anna, died of small-pox 
 in 1793, aged 28 years. She married at the age of 18, and in the short 
 period of her married life, became the mother of seven sons and one 
 daughter. The seventh son, Warren Damon, over eighty years of age, 
 is now living in Amherst, N. H. 
 
 The first to engage extensively in the manufacture of boots and shoes 
 here was probably Daniel Chute, Esq., about 1792. He prosecuted the 
 business with great energy for about twenty years, but we have few 
 details concerning the kind or amount of goods made by him. It 
 appears that he not only employed many workmen here, but also at the 
 same time in Byfield, his native town. 
 
 Mr. Jonathan Temple did business in making shoes, commencing as 
 early as 1794, but to what extent is not known. He was for some 
 time connected with Mr. David Pratt. Mr. John Temple carried on 
 the business in the same neighborhood. 
 
 David Pratt, who came to Reading from Saugus about 1796, and 
 lived where Edward Appleton, Esq., now resides, was early employed 
 in the business. The first shoes he made he carried to Boston and 
 Charlestown for a market. He employed at first three or four workmen, 
 and carried the shoes in saddle-bags, over his own shoulders. He 
 soon procured a horse and a two-wheeled vehicle, known then as a 
 " milk cart," which he used for transporting his goods. People consid- 
 ered this a piece of extravagance, and predicted his failure. But his 
 business increased till he eventually employed about a hundred work-
 
 532 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 men. His goods continued to be delivered in Boston, whence they 
 were sent to the Southern States. They were packed in barrels, his 
 boys Daniel and Thomas treading them down as they were put in, in 
 order to get as many as possible into each barrel. In 1806 or '7, he 
 bought the land where Thomas Pratt's store now is, and also the store 
 that stood in the garden just below, which was formerly owned by 
 William Johnson. In 1817 he built the house and store which his son 
 Thomas has since continued to occupy. He intended it for a shoe 
 factory and store ; but he died in 1818, before completing his designs, 
 and left them to be carried out by his two sons, Daniel and Thomas. 
 They continued the business together for a few years, when they divided, 
 Thomas continuing the store, and Daniel the shoe business. In 1826, 
 Daniel removed to his late residence, which he continued to occupy up 
 to the time of his death. He gave up the shoe trade and engaged in 
 the clock business in 1832, as related elsewhere. 
 
 Silas Smith did considerable business in the shoe manufacture for 
 several years, contemporary with Mr. Pratt. 
 
 Mr. Ephraim Weston was among the first who employed any consid- 
 erable number of hands. As early as 1804, he made from five hun- 
 dred to seven hundred pairs of shoes per month. He seems to have 
 supplied quite a "number of families with work, paying from seventeen 
 to twenty cents a pair for making children's and misses' shoes, and 
 twenty-five to twenty-nine cents for other kinds. Some kinds of chil- 
 dren's shoes sold at that time in market, at forty-six cents a pair ; 
 women's shoes, from seventy-four to ninety-one cents. Red morocco 
 skins cost twenty-five dollars per dozen. His goods for some years 
 were sent to the West Indies, but were afterwards sent to Baltimore, to 
 his son Asahel, who was engaged there in trade. The business was 
 continued by his sons Aaron and Luther, and is now carried on by 
 Clifford P. Weston, his grandson. 
 
 Mr. Warren Perkins, father of Charles W., came here from Middleton, 
 and about 1807 began the manufacture of shoes, which he continued 
 for about forty years. He employed from fifty to seventy-five hands in 
 this and adjoining towns, whom he supplied with work. He built the 
 house that stood where the Union church stands, which he long occu- 
 pied, and which was subsequently the residence of Mr. William Parker. 
 
 Isaac Upton, Lilley Eaton, Lorenzo Parker, and Beers were also 
 
 among the early manufacturers 
 
 H. G. Richardson and W. R. Perkins were in company for seven 
 years manufacturing shoes, commencing in 1835. Mr. Perkins con- 
 tinued it till 1846. In 1857, Mr. Richardson turned his attention to
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 533 
 
 the hide and leather business, which he continued till his store was 
 destroyed in the great fire in Boston in 1872. 
 
 John Adden commenced the manufacture of shoes about 1830. In 
 1845 he opened a general jobbing and wholesale store in New Orleans, 
 which has been continued without .interruption, save for a few years 
 during the late war. In 1861, Mr. Adden formed a partnership with 
 his son, J. H. Adden, and the business has since been conducted under 
 the name of J. H. Adden & Co. They formerly employed nearly two 
 hundred hands in the manufacture of their goods ; but the introduction 
 of labor-saving machinery has diminished the necessity for employing 
 so many. 
 
 Mr. Abiel Holden, who Came to this town from Stoneham, com- 
 menced the manufacture of morocco shoes, probably in the year 1822. 
 He did business as the agent of Mr. Isaac Mead, of Charlestown, who 
 furnished the morocco. Nearly every family in town at that time was 
 employed in binding and stitching shoes for the different persons 
 engaged in their manufacture. Mr. Stephen Foster came here from 
 Wakefield in 1823, and was employed by Mr. Holden for many years 
 in giving out and receiving the work, keeping books, etc. The business 
 was carried on for a year or two, at Weston's corner, in the store of 
 Ephraim Weston, and was then transferred to a house and store in the 
 village that stood where Mr. Foster's house now stands. About 1830, 
 Mr Holden gave up the business into the hands of Mr. Foster, who 
 continued the agency till the fall of 1834, when, upon, the death of Mr. 
 Mead, he bought the stock and continued the business on his own 
 account. The leading business at that time was making what was 
 known through the country as " Reading pumps," or men's dancing 
 shoes. Mr. Foster continued manufacturing here till 1852, when he 
 opened a store in Boston. He resumed manufacturing here in 1859, 
 and in 1864 was joined by Mr. Charles W. Perkins. The company 
 still continue the business. 
 
 Mr. Holden, who had been for several years employed as deputy 
 sheriff, resumed the manufacture of shoes in 1840, which he continued 
 * till July, 1850, when he took in his sons with him. In August, 1862, 
 the business fell into the hands of his sons, Arkaid, Clinton B., and 
 William J., and is now continued under the name of Holden Brothers. 
 Before the introduction of machinery they employed about fifty hands. 
 For about fifteen years they have made, exclusively, children's and 
 misses' shoes for the Southern market. 
 
 Mr. D. F. Weston began in 1835 > has sometimes employed fifty hands ;
 
 534 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 manufactures children's and misses' shoes ; had a store in Boston for 
 several years for their sale. 
 
 Mr. Stillman E. Parker manufactures men's and women's shoes for 
 the Southern market, employing about twenty-five hands in his manu- 
 factory, and furnishing work to about as many others outside. He 
 commenced the business in 1845. 
 
 Mr. J. H. Bancroft has been engaged in the business for about twenty 
 years, making children's and youths' sizes. 
 
 Mr. James A. Bancroft commenced in 1858 the manufacture of chil- 
 dren's shoes, which he still continues. He employs from eight to 
 twelve hands. 
 
 Among those who have, till a comparatively recent period, been en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of shoes, are Joseph L. Pratt, the late Dea. 
 Thomas H. Sweetser, Gilman C. Coggin, Roswell N. Temple. 
 
 Reading is known among the shoe trade as a town where infant shoes 
 are a specialty. 
 
 The business for many years was small in the aggregate, and was 
 conducted by women, who cut and made their goods, and then sold 
 them at the country stores, or exchanged them with the travelling ped- 
 lers for the wares which they carried from door to door. Early in the 
 present century, one or two men commenced the business on a more 
 extensive scale, cutting out the shoes themselves, and employing women 
 to make them up at a fixed price per pair. The soles were of thin 
 sheepskin, tanned a russet color; but calico and velvet, as well as 
 leather, were sometimes used for the uppers. The shoes were cut out 
 and made by hand, and the whole process was a slow and tedious one, 
 yielding to the manufacturers a profit less than the present wages of a 
 good mechanic, while the women who made the shoes earned from two 
 shillings to a dollar a week in addition to performing their household 
 duties. 
 
 The introduction of the sewing-machine and other mechanical inven- 
 tions has greatly developed the business, and there is as much taste dis- 
 played in the style and finish of infants' shoes as in any other branch 
 of shoe manufacture. But little of the work is now done without the 
 aid of machinery. The uppers are almost exclusively cut out with dies, 
 the ornamental figures are put on by the aid of a stamp, while all 
 the stitches, with the exception of sewing on the rosettes, are taken by 
 a sewing-machine. 
 
 A woman, devoting her whole time to the work, now earns from six 
 to twelve dollars per week, and some earn nine dollars besides doing 
 their house- work.
 
 OF 7 HE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 535 
 
 It would hardly be supposed that so small an article as an infant's 
 shoe afforded much room for variety. But there is quite as much change 
 demanded in the style of shoes for the little folks as for the people of 
 larger growth, and a wonderful skill and taste is displayed by our 
 manufacturers in the production of these goods, while fond mothers 
 are so eager for novelties that the manufacturer who produces a new 
 style that pleases the fancy of the public is su re of a large demand 
 and a good profit as long as he can keep it a secret from his brother 
 manufacturers. 
 
 Some of the manufacturers secure themselves against competition by 
 obtaining a patent for their favorite styles. 
 
 Although infants' shoes are made in small quantities in various other 
 places, Reading is the centre of the business, and in styles and gen- 
 eral character of its goods is the leading market of the country. The 
 production is about 400,000 pairs annually, furnishing constant employ- 
 ment to nearly a hundred women. The principal manufacturers are 
 G. A. Richardson, Clifford B. Weston, George E. Leathe, E. Bassett, 
 John Burrill, J. W. Richardson & Co. There are also several ladies 
 who manufacture dolls' shoes in great variety. 
 
 Geo. A. Richardson & Co., two years since, secured a patent for a 
 sewing-machine for bottoming shoes, which makes a saving of nine or 
 ten cents per pair in making children's shoes. They make yearly about 
 200,000 pairs, representing about eighty different styles, of which three 
 are patented. They have eight or ten different patents on machines 
 and shoes. 
 
 For the past fifteen years the business has been steadily increasing, 
 and the products of our Reading manufacturers are found in every store 
 in the Union, as well as in the British Provinces. 
 
 MANUFACTURE OF HATS, ETC. 
 
 Nathan Weston, prompted by the high price of hats during the war 
 of 1812, turned his attention for several years to their manufacture. 
 The bodies were made by him of pasteboard, coated with a preparation 
 of shellac and gum copal, to render them waterproof. For the outer 
 covering, he used cotton plush. The cloth was prepared for this pur- 
 pose by Adam Hawkes who had a fulling mill and clothiers' works in 
 the eastern part of South Reading (Wakeneld), near Lynnfield. Wes- 
 ton employed but little help, and did not prosecute his business with 
 the energy that the merits of his work might well have prompted. He 
 sold principally to customers in this vicinity.
 
 536 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 It seems to be well authenticated that Weston was the first manufac- 
 turer, as well as inventor, of the silk hat. The cotton plush he used 
 soon faded, and he was ultimately led, it is claimed, to the use of silk 
 in order to remedy the defect. After the close of the war the price of 
 hats became much reduced, and in 1819 he discontinued their manu- 
 facture. Having a patent under which he had made them, he allowed 
 others the benefit of it, for which they paid him a royalty of twenty-five 
 cents for each hat made by them. Mr. Thomas Sweetser (now Esq.) 
 took up the business and carried it on here for one season, and then, 
 in 1818, removed it to Charlestown. Mr. Warren Perkins was for a 
 time employed in the business. 
 
 W. J. Wightman, Esq., commenced the manufacture of coach lace 
 here in 1840, employing eighteen hands. He continued the business 
 with encouraging success for seventeen years. 
 
 NECKTIE MANUFACTURE. 
 
 Damon, Temple & Co. (D. Myron Damon, A. P. Damon, and Joseph 
 S. Temple) began the business in January, 1866, in the bank build- 
 ing, with about a dozen employees. The business increased till the 
 number of hands in 1869 was about one hundred and twenty-five. 
 During this latter year their factor}' on Woburn Street was erected. 
 They were pioneers in making this line of goods a specialty. They 
 opened a store in Boston at the time they began to manufacture 
 here, and another at Chicago in 1867, to accommodate their Western 
 customers. The Chicago store, with its contents, was burnt in the 
 great fire of October, 1871, and the Boston store and goods in the 
 great fire of November, 1872. In May, 1873, they were compelled to 
 remove their g&ods to escape impending destruction from another 
 extensive fire in Boston. Notwithstanding these serious drawbacks, 
 their business has continued to flourish, and by adopting improved 
 methods, they are now able, with one hundred hands, to turn out as 
 much work as formerly with many more employees. They now import 
 their silk and other materials direct from the foreign market. Twenty- 
 five persons are employed in the distribution of their goods at their 
 store in the city and elsewhere. The quality of their work is of such 
 established reputation as to be demanded by the trade throughout the 
 Union. They sell considerable quantities to " Zion's Co-operative 
 Association " among the Mormons in Utah.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 537 
 
 ORGAN MANUFACTURE. 
 
 The first to engage in this business was Thomas Appleton. He 
 was a native of Boston, where he began the manufacture in 1809, 
 working in company with his brother-in-law, in Chambers Street, Boston, 
 who built the first organ in this country. In 1810 he became a mem- 
 ber of the firm of Hoyts,. Babcock & Appleton, who put up a building 
 for the manufacture of pianos and organs, on the site of Franklin's 
 birthplace in Milk Street. After a few years he commenced business 
 alone. In September, 185 1, he came to Reading, and has occupied since 
 that time the factory near the depot. He built thirty-five organs for 
 churches in Boston : the first being for the church in Summer Street, 
 recently removed ; the second for the Handel and Haydn Society, 
 which was long used in Music Hall. He also built organs for nearly 
 every principal city of the United States, in all nearly thrice as 
 many as for Boston. He built his last organ in 1868, when more than 
 sixty years of age, for the Baldwin Baptist Church in Canton Street, 
 Boston. This was one of his largest, and he designed it to be his best. 
 Thirty years previously he had built one for the same church, then in 
 Baldwin Place, which during all that time never cost the society a 
 dollar for repairs. His organs, like himself, were honest clear through. 
 He never counted the cost, but made every instrument as thor- 
 oughly as possible. He said he should be ashamed to pass a 
 church that had in it an organ of his that was imperfectly built. He 
 designed his work to last one hundred and fifty years as the best monu- 
 ment he could leave to perpetuate his memory. His instruments were 
 noted for sweetness and purity of tone, as well as for perfection of 
 machinery. His ear was remarkably accurate, and his musical judg- 
 ment unerring. Dr. Shattuck, of Boston, employed him to select a 
 piano for his daughter, and was so well pleased with the selection that 
 he made him a present of two hundred dollars. Yet as a musical 
 performer he set up for himself no claim. Indeed, he was accustomed 
 to say he' neither could "sing, whistle, nor play a jewsharp." He 
 possessed a remarkable memory ; could remember events that he 
 witnessed more than eighty years before. He retained a vivid idea of 
 the burning of the ropewalk on Atkinson Street, Boston, when he was 
 seven years old, and the hanging of three pirates on the same day. A 
 cage, with a post in the middle, was hauled on trucks from the jail-yard, 
 where the Court-house now stands, to the Common. The pirates were 
 hung to arms extending out from this post. This was also used for a 
 whipping-post and pillory, and usually stood near the head of State 
 
 Street 
 
 68
 
 538 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 He was a man of rare generosity, often giving or lending consider- 
 able amounts of money where needed, when he had no reason to expect 
 the return of a dollar. Fie was a stranger to all feelings of malice or 
 ill-will. One who knew him most thoroughly, says, " He was the best- 
 tempered man I ever knew." An organ building firm were accustomed, 
 in their efforts to compete with him, to speak in severe though unjust 
 terms of him. When he heard of it he said, " They would feel better 
 if they only had work enough " ; and ever ready to return good for evil, 
 he soon after procured for them a good contract. It is needless to add 
 that they became his firm friends. He was temperate in his habits. 
 Only a few days before his death he remarked to a friend, " I never 
 smoked nor chewed tobacco, and was never intoxicated." 
 
 Mr. Appleton was a man of quiet and unobtrusive manners, tall and 
 erect, with a genial face that bore a striking resemblance to that of 
 General Washington. He was a cousin to the Messrs. Appleton, the 
 well-known New York publishers, and a descendant of Thomas Apple- 
 ton, one of the first settlers of Ipswich. 
 
 He died July n, 1872, in the 8;th year of his age. 
 
 Samuel Pierce began the manufacture of metallic organ pipes in 
 1847. I* was trie fi rst attempt at making the business a specialty. It 
 rapidly increased, and necessitated the building of his manufactory in 
 1852, which has subsequently been enlarged, to furnish room for the 
 employment of about thirty workmen. Mr. Pierce finds a market for 
 his pipes throughout the United States and Canada, among first-class 
 organ-builders. 
 
 FIRE ENGINES. 
 
 The engine known as " Union No. i," was purchased between the 
 years 1813-15, by private contributions, chiefly from those who desired 
 to become exempt from doing military duty. This exemption was by 
 law allowed to those who belonged to a fire engine company, but the 
 number belonging to a company was limited to about thirty-five. Those 
 holding positions in this company, and becoming exempt for other 
 reasons from doing military duty, were accustomed to sell out their 
 rights, at fancy prices, to others who desired exemption. 
 
 Engine No. 2, the "Water Witch," was procured in 1825, for similar 
 reasons, for a company formed in the neighborhood of Barnard's 
 Hotel, then a part of this town. It was last used when the hotel was 
 burnt, April 18, 1867. Its first captain who served was Nathaniel 
 Batchelder, Jr. ; its last, Hiram Batchelder, chosen in 1853. 
 
 Engine "Washington No. 3," was purchased of Charlestown, in
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 539 
 
 1836. The well near the common, so long used for the comfort of 
 man and beast, was constructed by private contributions of money and 
 labor for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient reservoir of water to 
 supply this engine in case of fire. 
 
 In March, 1852, the shop of C. H. Goodwin on Salem Street, and 
 in the same year, a barn belonging to Henry Kingman, were destroyed 
 by fire. In May, 1853, Harnden's shop, where R. C. Totten's shop 
 now is, was burnt, with lumber and other property valued at nearly 
 $7,000. There was no fire department during these years, but the 
 engines were worked by citizens. The frequent recurrence of fires 
 alarmed the people, and a town-meeting was called which voted to pro- 
 cure another engine, a quantity of hose, and to build an engine house. 
 On the sixth of June, a company was organized to take charge of the 
 new engine, which was christened " Eagle No. 4." Nathaniel Vaughan, 
 formerly member of the Boston fire department, was chosen its first 
 foreman. The engine was built by Howard and Davis, of Boston. It 
 was brought to Reading October 29th, and its arrival was celebrated by 
 a large gathering of people. A large procession marched through the 
 principal streets, a dinner was served in Harnden's shop just rebuilt, 
 and a levee was held in the same place in the evening, in which the 
 ladies participated. The successive commanders of this company 
 have been Charles H. Lang, Ira W. Ruggles, N. Vaughan, Geo. A. 
 Niles, W. L. Crowe, J. W. Coburn, James M. Day, David E. Crowell, 
 and Wm. L. Crowe, who is now in office. 
 
 The Hancock, which formerly belonged to the city of Charlestown, 
 and was there known as "Hancock No. i," was purchased in 1869, 
 for the use of the west part of the town, to take the place of Union 
 No. i, which was put out of commission. It had been stationed in 
 that neighborhood since about 1865. The new house is to be com- 
 pleted for the occupancy of the Hancock on the first of April, 1874. 
 It is located near the school-house on Woburn Street. This engine 
 has a company of forty men, under command of Capt. S. T. Sweetser. 
 
 The town appropriated, in 1873, for building engine house and cis- 
 terns, $7,000 ; for purchase of hose for use of engine companies, 
 $1,800. 
 
 For many years previous to 1854, the different organizations when 
 engaged at fires were under command of fire-wards chosen by the town 
 with other town officers ; but in April of that year, a fire department 
 was established under an act of the Legislature. Its chief engineers 
 have been Benj. M. Boyce, from 1854 to 1861, inclusive; Nathan Car- 
 ter, 1862 and '63 ; John Clifford, 1864 ; Dan'l Creesey, 1865 ; C. D.
 
 540 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Brown, 1866-67 ( died in office); James McKay, 1868 to 1871 ; Wil- 
 liam H. Temple, 1872 ; Chas. H. Lang, 1873-4. 
 
 BANKING INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 An act to incorporate the Reading Agricultural and Mechanical 
 Association was approved Feb. 10, 1831. Edmund Parker, Joshua 
 Prescott, Warren Perkins, Abiel Holden, and Jonas Parker, with their 
 associates, are named as corporators, with power to hold real estate not 
 exceeding five thousand dollars in value ; and the annual income of its 
 personal estate not to exceed two thousand dollars. It had about fifty 
 members. The shares, at first, were ten dollars each. The institution 
 did business as a bank of discount and deposit, and its earnings for 
 many years were applied to increase the amount of its capital. The 
 par value of its shares was raised in 1838 to fifty, and ultimately to one 
 hundred dollars each. In 1846, and subsequently to 1852, the divi- 
 dends were five dollars per share ; in 1853-7, six dollars ; 1858-60, 
 twelve dollars. Its customers were largely engaged in trade with the 
 Southern States, which the war brought to an abrupt termination with 
 disaster to many of their fortunes. The bank suspended operations 
 and eventually closed up its affairs, without loss to its creditors. 
 
 The first board of officers was : Edmund Parker, president ; Warren 
 Perkins, vice-president ; Jonathan Frost, secretary ; Cyrus Smith, 
 treasurer ; Thomas Smith, Abiel Holden, Caleb Wakefield, and Eliab 
 Parker, Jr., directors. 
 
 Hon. Edmund Parker was continued as president till his death in 
 June, 1843, when Daniel Pratt, Esq., was chosen. Stephen Foster 
 succeeded Cyrus Smith as treasurer in 1837. The present officers are 
 Thomas Sweetser, president ; S. Foster, vice-president ; S. E. Parker, 
 secretary ; Jonathan Frost, treasurer. 
 
 The corporation has never forfeited its powers and privileges, and 
 has the right to resume business whenever it sees fit. 
 
 The Reading Savings Bank was incorporated June 12, 1869, upon 
 petition of Ephraim Hunt, William Proctor, and others. 
 
 The corporation organized July 14, 1869, by the choice of Ephraim 
 Hunt, president ; Thomas Sweetser, vice-president ; N. P. Pratt, clerk 
 and treasurer ; H. G. Richardson, Stephen Foster, F. O. Dewey, Al- 
 fred Perkins, N. P. Pratt, Thomas Sweetser, William Proctor, F. H. 
 Knight, Hiram Barrus, C. P. Judd, E. Hunt, all of Reading; Samuel P. 
 Breed, of North Reading ; and Lemuel Eames, of Wilmington, trustees ; 
 E. Hunt, N. P. Pratt, and Stephen Foster, board of investment. This
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 541 
 
 list of officers remains nearly unchanged. Mr. Sweetser resigned as 
 vice-president, and Mr. Dewey was elected his successor ; N. P. Pratt 
 resigned his position on the board of investment, to which H. Barrus 
 was chosen. 
 
 The annual report of the treasurer, dated Nov. i, 1873, gives tne sum 
 of $181,224.76 as the total assets of the institution; and the amount 
 due depositors, $179,454.63; leaving a surplus of $1,770.13. The 
 band pays its depositors a semi-annual dividend of three per cent. It 
 has won the reputation of being a safe institution for investments, which 
 the financial panic of 1873 in no wise disturbed. 
 
 THE CEMETERY. 
 
 The first person buried in the cemetery was Ensign Nathaniel Par- 
 ker, who died in Dec. 1737. There is a tradition that he was the 
 donor of the land to the town, to be used for burial purposes. If the 
 tradition is true, it is singular that nothing appears upon the records of 
 the town or county corroborating it. The records of the town imply 
 that it never alienated its title to the common, or to the old cemetery 
 adjoining. Four years after the death of Ensign Parker, it conveyed 
 five acres lying north of the old burying-ground, and bounded on it, to 
 John Merrow. The few acres which lay between the common and the 
 land granted to Merrow could not have belonged to the Boutwell farm 
 on the east, or to the Bancroft farm on the west, without following most 
 absurd boundary lines. Nor does it seem probable that Ensign Parker 
 would have secured a title to the same, by purchase or otherwise, from 
 the town, merely for the sake of returning it as a donation. If he did 
 so under the promptings of a desire to leave a memorial of himself, it 
 seems he made a mistake in not having his act perpetuated by some 
 record, or at least a reference to it in his will. 
 
 A committee chosen by the old South Parish, in 1846, report at 
 length upon the subject, March 16, 1848, taking the position that the 
 town had always retained its ownership of the burial-ground till it was 
 conveyed to the parish. The report of the committee indicates a most 
 thorough examination of the whole matter, and their conclusions seem 
 to be well founded. 
 
 In 1846, the parish chose Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, Sylvester Harn- 
 den, and Stephen Foster a^committee to purchase land of Dana Parker, 
 lying north of the old burying-ground, to lay out the same in lots and 
 avenues, and make sale of lots for payment of expenses. The commit- 
 tee purchased thirteen acres of land, and employed Amasa Farrier, an
 
 542 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 engineer from Stoneham, to superintend the work of laying out the lots 
 and avenues, and prepare a lithograph plan of the new cemetery. The 
 cemetery was consecrated with appropriate services Nov. 25, 1846. 
 Rev. Daniel Temple, the returned missionary, made the invocatory 
 prayer. Rev. Aaron Pickett delivered the address. The consecrating 
 prayer was by Rev. E. W. Allen. Several original hymns were sung. 
 The pleasure of the occasion was seriously marred by the occurrence 
 of a furious snow-storm. 
 
 In 1853, the parish relinquished its interest in the cemetery to the 
 town, which thereupon resumed control of it 
 
 March 7, 1870, the town chose a board of trustees, to have charge of 
 the cemetery and of all moneys appropriated by the town, or contrib- 
 uted by individuals, for the improvement of the cemetery. The first 
 board of trustees were Solon Bancroft, F. H. Knight, for three years ; 
 F. O. Dewey, Oilman C. Gleason, for two years; William Proctor and 
 Thomas B. Pratt, for one year. The same persons have been contin- 
 ued by re-election to the present time. Three and a half acres of land 
 have been purchased of Mr. Dana Parker, which extends the cemetery 
 at the northwest corner to "Love Lane." The wall on Main Street has 
 been nearly completed, and the trustees have brought the cemetery into 
 a condition that is alike creditable to themselves and the town. There 
 are few cemeteries that possess such diversity of surface in so small 
 compass, or that are capable of being made so attractive. Mr. Oilman 
 C. Gleason, the present .efficient sexton, has had charge of the cemetery 
 for many years. 
 
 SLAVES. 
 
 It is said that previous to the Revolutionary war nearly every large 
 landholder here had also a slave. In 1754 there were twenty colored 
 persons in town ; in 1765, thirty-four ; in 1783, twelve. It is probable 
 that nearly all of these were, or had been, slaves. In 1744, Sandy, 
 servant of Dea. Raham Bancroft, married Pegg, servant of Thomas 
 Nichols. In 1771, Chester, servant of Dea. Samuel Bancroft, died. 
 In 1723, Benjamin Pool advertises a negro man who had run away 
 from him. In 1754, Raham Bancroft in his will orders his negroes 
 sold. In 1774, Samuel Bancroft is charged by Joseph Bancroft for 
 shoes for "Prince" and "Cato" and "Fillis." In 1764, Joseph 
 Damon is charged for shoes for " Sesar." Cesar was probably a native 
 of Africa. His face was scarred with tattoo marks. He is described 
 as " a clever old man, and a favorite with the children," but inclined to 
 get intoxicated. When in this condition, he said he "didn't know
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 543 
 
 what the matter was, but things would go round and round just like a 
 cart-wheel." It was said he could read his own Bible, but no other. 
 
 " Prince Merrow " was the name of another slave who seems to 
 have gone into the army as a substitute. 
 
 " Keemer," formerly a slave in Woburn, removed to this town and 
 married " Dinah," a slave belonging to the Pool family. He served in 
 the army of the Revolution, and received a pension. 
 
 Sharper Freeman was formerly a slave to Mr. Breed, of Lynn. He 
 was brought from Africa when about sixteen years old, and was believed 
 to be the son of a king. He remembered the crying of his mother 
 when he was brought away. He gained his freedom, as did several 
 others in this town, by enlisting in the army, when he received the 
 name of "Freeman." By the aid of Gov. Brooks and Dea. Wake- 
 field, he obtained a pension. He died Jan. 4, 1833, aged about 90, 
 and was buried in our cemetery. 
 
 Amos Potamia, son of Titus and Pegg Potamia, was born a slave in 
 Wilmington, and baptized Nov. 24, 1765. He removed to this town 
 and accumulated some property. He invested two thousand dollars in 
 the Andover and Medford turnpike, which shared the fate of similar 
 investments by his white neighbors, and was lost. He owned the house 
 now belonging to Mr. John Bowditch. He was greatly esteemed as a 
 man and was an active Christian. He never married. 
 
 TORNADOES. 
 
 This section of the State suffered considerable damage in the 
 Great Gale of Sept. 23, 1815. Dea. Caleb Wakefield relates that 
 a storm of rain with wind in the N. E. commenced on the previous 
 evening and continued through the night. In the course of the next 
 day the wind changed to S. E. and increased till about two o'clock, 
 p. M. There was a case on trial before John Weston, Esq , that day, 
 in which Dea. Wakefield was a witness. It became necessary to pro- 
 duce the commission he held as a captain of the military company to 
 which he belonged. He went home for it, and the wind blew so 
 strongly that on the way his horse was thrown down. On his arriving 
 in the village the chimney of Mr. Silas Smith's house was blown down, 
 giving his horse a sudden fright. On his way he noticed several sea 
 gulls that had been driven hither by the wind, trying to make their 
 descent into the Quannapowitt. They were repeatedly driven upward 
 by the force of the tempest and finally disappeared. The wind did 
 not appear to move with a power that the results proved it to possess. 
 The trees were borne down and uprooted by it, as a sapling would be
 
 546 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 during him to come here, for a time boarded with him, and subsequently 
 married the niece of Mrs. Chute. The parsonage farm extended from 
 the common, westward, to the Jaquith farm, the boundary line between 
 the two passing just eastward of Mr. William Wakefield's garden. The 
 .^ Jaquith farm extended westerly and southerly to Washington Street, 
 and northerly to the Bancroft farm. Mr. Chute bought the Jaquith 
 place, and in 1802 built the house now owned and occupied by Mr. 
 William Carter, the conductor, which was then the only house between 
 the parsonage of Mr. Sanborn and the old Jaquith house. That part 
 of Woburn Street which connects these houses, was laid out in 1798. 
 In 1809, Mr. Chute erected, a little eastward of his house, a building 
 which was for some years used for an academy. The school kept 
 here was under the instruction of Misses Elizabeth Eaton and Susan 
 Eaton, sisters of the editress of the " Friend of Virtue." One room in 
 the building was used as the office of Dr. Abner Phelps, who came 
 here about 1812. He was the father of Hon. Charles A. Phelps, for- 
 merly president of the Massachusetts Senate. 
 
 Mr. Chute prosecuted his business with an energy that for many years 
 knew no rest, and was considered for those days quite wealthy. He was 
 a man of strict integrity, excellent judgment, devoted piety, and uni- 
 versally respected. During the last thirty years of his life he was com- 
 pelled, by ill health, to give up active business. He died March 2 1, 1843, 
 in the eighty-third year of his age. He adopted the daughter of Rev. 
 Mr. Sanborn, who married Samuel W. Carter, father of William Carter. 
 Mr. Chute was born in 1760, and married Polly Stimpson, of Read- 
 ing. He was the tenth child of Daniel, born 1722 ; who was a son of 
 James, who commenced a settlement in Byfield in 1681 ; who was son 
 of James Chewte, register in Salem, Mass. ; who was son of Lionel, 
 who came from England to America" in 1634 or '5. He was son 
 of Lionel, son of Anthony, son of Charles, son of Robert, son of 
 Edward, of Sussex, who sold the manor of Taunton to Lord Dunhare 
 in 1502. Edward was son of Charles, born 1438, son of Robert, Esq., 
 of Taunton, son of Henry, son of Edmond, son of Ambrose, son of 
 George, son of Philip, Esq., son of Cuthbard, son of John, son of Alex- 
 ander, born 1268. The Chute' or Chewte family had a coat of arms, 
 described as " Three swords barways argeant, hilt and pummeled," or, 
 which in plain English appears to be three swords placed horizontally 
 across the face of a shield. Henry VIII added to this a lion of Eng- 
 land, and a crest representing a hand, couped at the wrist, holding a 
 broken sword. This was given to Philip Chewte, captain of Cumber 
 Castle, and standard-bearer of the arms at the siege of " Bollonge " 
 (Boulogne).
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 547 
 
 The genealogy from which this account is taken is written on an 
 ancient parchment, now in possession of Rev. Ariel P. Chute, of Bos- 
 ton, a nephew of Daniel, Esq. It shows the coats of arms of the Chute 
 family, and of other families with whom they intermarried. The Chute 
 families still exist in England, soms of the name retaining high official 
 and social positions. Challoner Chute, who was a descendant of the 
 senior branch of the family, was speaker of the House of Commons in 
 Cromwell's Parliament. His estate was at the Vine in Hampshire, 
 which is still in possession of his descendants. 
 
 John Damon, whose name appears upon the town records in 1652, 
 came, it is said, with his son Samuel, from Reading, County of Northum- 
 berland, England. He may have been here some years earlier. In the 
 list of those "who desire to be made freemen," in May, 1645, the name 
 John Darning is given. The spelling of the name is unusual ; but as 
 none of that name appears afterwards, there is a fair presumption that 
 John Damon is meant, especially as in the same list, Humphreys is 
 spelled " Umphryes." 
 
 John Damon at first located near Bear Hill, where he built a house 
 over the cellar which is still visible. The year of his death is uncertain. 
 His son Samuel was born in 1656, which seems conclusive evidence 
 that he was not born in England. On his way to or from church he was 
 thrown from his horse and killed ; and his wife, who was riding on the 
 pillion behind him, was so injured as to be unable to walk for the re- 
 mainder of her life. It is unknown when the family removed to what 
 is since known as the John Damon farm. The present house was built 
 in 1751 by his grandson Samuel, who used in its construction some of 
 the material from the house preceding this. Some of these old boards 
 used in the roof of the present house, are said to have been sawed by 
 hand in what was called a saw-pit mill. 
 
 Samuel, Jr., born in 1756, lived with his father many years, expect- 
 ing to succeed to the ownership of the farm. At length, however, he 
 gave up his expectations to his younger brother John, and removed 
 from town. The father soon after died, and Samuel desired a portion 
 of the property to remunerate him for his long service to the aged 
 parent, though he had no legal claim for it. John magnanimously paid 
 his demand, and thus preserved the brotherly ties, where many, under 
 similar circumstances, have sundered them. His subsequent prosperity 
 soon replaced more than he had sacrificed for peace. His son John, 
 born in 1795, sold the homestead a few years since, and now lives 
 near, his house occupying one of the lots belonging to- the original 
 farm.
 
 546 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 ducing him to come here, for a time boarded with him, and subsequently 
 married the niece of Mrs. Chute. The parsonage farm extended from 
 the common, westward, to the Jaquith farm, the boundary line between 
 the two passing just eastward of Mr. William Wakefield's garden. The 
 s Jaquith farm extended westerly and southerly to Washington Street, 
 and northerly to the Bancroft farm. Mr. Chute bought the Jaquith 
 place, and in 1802 built the house now owned and occupied by Mr. 
 William Carter, the conductor, which was then the only house between 
 the parsonage of Mr. Sanborn and the old Jaquith house. That part 
 of Woburn Street which connects these houses, was laid out in 1798. 
 In 1809, Mr. Chute erected, a little eastward of his house, a building 
 which was for some years used for an academy. The school kept 
 here was under the instruction of Misses Elizabeth Eaton and Susan 
 Eaton, sisters of the editress of the " Friend of Virtue." One room in 
 the building was used as the office of Dr. Abner Phelps, who came 
 here about 1812. He was the father of Hon. Charles A. Phelps, for- 
 merly president of the Massachusetts Senate. 
 
 Mr. Chute prosecuted his business with an energy that for many years 
 knew no rest, and was considered for those days quite wealthy. He was 
 a man of strict integrity, excellent judgment, devoted piety, and uni- 
 versally respected. During the last thirty years of his life he was com- 
 pelled, by ill health, to give up active business. He died March 21, 1843, 
 in the eighty-third year of his age. He adopted the daughter of Rev. 
 Mr. Sanborn, who married Samuel W. Carter, father of William Carter. 
 Mr. Chute was born in 1760, and married Polly Stimpson, of Read- 
 ing. He was the tenth child of Daniel, born 1722 ; who was a son of 
 James, who commenced a settlement in Byfield in 1681 ; who was son 
 of James Chewte, register in Salem, Mass. ; who was son of Lionel, 
 who came from England to America" in 1634 or '5. He was son 
 of Lionel, son of Anthony, son of Charles, son of Robert, son of 
 Edward, of Sussex, who sold the manor of Taunton to Lord Dunhare 
 in 1502. Edward was son of Charles, born 1438, son of Robert, Esq., 
 of Taunton, son of Henry, son of Edmond, son of Ambrose, son of 
 George, son of Philip, Esq., son of Cuthbard, son of John, son of Alex- 
 ander, born 1268. The Chute" or Chewte family had a coat of arms, 
 described as " Three swords barways argeant, hilt and pummeled," or, 
 which in plain English appears to be three swords placed horizontally 
 across the face of a shield. Henry VIII added to this a lion of Eng- 
 land, and a crest representing a hand, couped at the wrist, holding a 
 broken sword. This was given to Philip Chewte, captain of Cumber 
 Castle, and standard-bearer of the arms at the siege of " Bollonge " 
 (Boulogne).
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 547 
 
 The genealogy from which this account is taken is written on an 
 ancient parchment, now in possession of Rev. Ariel P. Chute, of Bos- 
 ton, a nephew of Daniel, Esq. It shows the coats of arms of the Chute 
 family, and of other families with whom they intermarried. The Chute 
 families still exist in England, some of the name retaining high official 
 and social positions. Challoner Chute, who was a descendant of the 
 senior branch of the family, was speaker of the House of Commons in 
 Cromwell's Parliament. His estate was at the Vine in Hampshire, 
 which is still in possession of his descendants. 
 
 John Damon, whose name appears upon the town records in 1652, 
 came, it is said, with his son Samuel, from Reading, County of Northum- 
 berland, England. He may have been here some years earlier. In the 
 list of those "who desire to be made freemen," in May, 1645, the name 
 John Darning is given. The spelling of the name is unusual ; but as 
 none of that name appears afterwards, there is a fair presumption that 
 John Damon is meant, especially as in the same list, Humphreys is 
 spelled " Umphryes." 
 
 John Damon at first located near Bear Hill, where he built a house 
 over the cellar which is still visible. The year of his death is uncertain. 
 His son Samuel was born in 1656, which seems conclusive evidence 
 that he was not born in England. On his way to or from church he was 
 thrown from his horse and killed ; and his wife, who was riding on the 
 pillion behind him, was so injured as to be unable to walk for the re- 
 mainder of her life. It is unknown when the family removed to what 
 is since known as the John Damon farm. The present house was built 
 in 1751 by his grandson Samuel, who used in its construction some of 
 the material from the house preceding this. Some of these old boards 
 used in the roof of the present house, are said to have been sawed by 
 hand in what was called a saw-pit mill. 
 
 Samuel, Jr., born in 1756, lived with his father many years, expect- 
 ing to succeed to the ownership of the farm. At length, however, he 
 gave up his expectations to his younger brother John, and removed 
 from town. The father soon after died, and Samuel desired a portion 
 of the property to remunerate him for his long service to the aged 
 parent, though he had no legal claim for it. John magnanimously paid 
 his demand, and thus preserved the brotherly ties, where many, under 
 similar circumstances, have sundered them. His subsequent prosperity 
 soon replaced more than he had sacrificed for peace. His son John, 
 born in 1795, sold the homestead a few years since, and now lives 
 near, his house occupying one of the lots belonging to- the original 
 farm.
 
 548 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In 1840, Dea. Wakefield, who administered upon the Damon estate* 
 laid out that portion of it near the village, in streets and building lots. 
 The streets were Union, Pleasant, Parker, and John. The last was so 
 named out of respect to its then late owner, and may be considered as 
 a compliment to each of those who bore the name, and owned the land* 
 on which it was located. The ground occupied by Union Hall was 
 donated for its use by Mr. Damon. After the laying out and sale of 
 the lots by Dea. Wakefield, the Hon. Edmund Parker remarked to him, 
 " Well, you have laid out your lots and sold them well, but you will 
 never live to see half of them built upon." Whether the Squire mis- 
 judged as to the length of the good deacon's life, or as to the future 
 prosperity and progress of Reading, need not be decided ; but Dea- 
 Wakefield, now nearly eighty-nine years of age, still in the enjoyment 
 of life, health, and his faculties, lives to recall the prophecy, and re- 
 mark that he has seen every lot built upon One of the lots which then 
 sold for thirty-six dollars was divided, and one of the halves was re- 
 cently sold for four hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 Dea. Wakefield retains a vivid recollection of the memorial services 
 held here after the death of Washington. The people from both, the 
 other parishes met here on that occasion. A procession was formed 
 at the tavern of Col. Nathan Parker, under his superintendence, which 
 marched to the church, the present Union Hall, which then stood on 
 the south part of the common. A sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. 
 Stone, of the North Parish. By vote of the town it was printed, and 
 every family in town supplied with a copy. The title-page reads : " A 
 discourse delivered at Reading, Feb. 22, 1800: the day recommended 
 by Congress to the people of the United States, by their assembling, in 
 such manner as might be convenient, and publicly testifying their grief 
 for the death, and their respect for the memory of General GEORGE 
 WASHINGTON. By Eliab Stone, A. M., minister of the second church in 
 Reading. Boston : Manning and Loring, printers, near the Old South 
 meeting-house." 
 
 Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D., born in Reading, Nov. 10, 1755, died in 
 Worcester, Aug. 19, 1839, was said to have been one of the most 
 accomplished scholars of the country. He was a volunteer in the bat- 
 tles of Lexington and Bunker Hill ; was three years a missionary in 
 Nova Scotia, graduated at Harvard, and was settled in Worcester in 
 1785. He published a life of Washington, and a volume of his own 
 sermons. He was a son of Samuel, Esq., son of Capt. Samuel, son of 
 Dea. Thomas, son of Lieut. Thomas, son of John, who died in Lynn 
 in 1637. George Bancroft, the historian, is a son of Rev. Aaron.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. . 
 
 James Bancroft, Esq., and captain in the army of the Revolution, 
 was son of Dea. Raham, who was a brother of Capt. Samuel, the grand- 
 father of Rev. Aaron. The only son of James, Esq., died unmarried. 
 The ancestors of Lieut. Joseph Bancroft, who was a cousin of Rev. 
 Aaron, for four generations, reaching back to John of Lynn, were 
 each named Thomas. In the sixth generation, to which Lieut. Joseph 
 belonged, there were fifty-three of the Bancroft name, but it is a singu- 
 lar fact that all the Bancrofts now belonging .in Reading are the de- 
 scendants of Lieut. Joseph, b. 1735, who m. Elizabeth Temple, and 
 had five sons: Joseph, b. 1762, Timothy, b. 1764, Thomas, b. 1766, 
 Nehemiah, b. 1768, and Jonathan, b. 1774. Capt. Joseph, Jr., had Joseph, 
 father of John M., and Lewis H. ; and Emery, father of Solon, Esq. 
 Emery, and Frederic. Timothy had Timothy, father of Newton, Charles, 
 James, Nathan, Wendell, and Moses ; Capt. George, father of Thomas 
 E., killed in the war of the Rebellion ; Parker, father of Parker E. and 
 Francis J. ; Abner, father of Wm. Hazen ; Bradley ; John Hart. Nehe- 
 miah had James H., father of James A., the land surveyor and present 
 town treasurer. Jonathan was father of Harrison. 
 
 Col. Nathan Parker was a leading man in this part of Reading. He 
 kept the hotel where Mr. James Davis has resided for many years, near 
 the head of Ash Street. It is not known when he commenced, but he 
 is credited in 1781 with "a pale of toddy," and again with " i quart 
 wetin and 3 pints rum," which implied that he was then keeping tavern 
 there, and it is probable that he continued to keep it until his removal 
 to the new tavern in 1806, where the bank now stands. He was the 
 first postmaster here, and held the office till the appointment of John 
 Weston, Esq. The law passed by Congress imposing what was called 
 " the direct tax," to raise money for paying the expenses of the war of 
 1812, was an unpopular enactment, and a meeting was called here which 
 passed resolutions disapproving it. Col. Parker presided over the 
 meeting, which gave offence to the President, and was the cause of his 
 removal from the office of postmaster. 
 
 When John Weston, Esq., was appointed his successor, with due for- 
 mality he waited upon the Colonel, and commenced a speech, saying, 
 " It becomes my painful duty, sir, to inform you that the post : office is 
 transferred " " No pain to me. Squire," replied the Colonel, inter- 
 rupting the speech, "I am glad to get rid of it." 
 
 The first wife of Col. Parker was Phebe, daughter of Ephraim 
 Pratt. Hon. Edmund, and Rev. Dr. Nathan, afterwards of Ports- 
 mouth, N. H., were her sons. Col. Parker's second wife was widow 
 Abigail Eaton, whose daughter m. Joshua Prescott, Esq., father of
 
 550 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 A. A. Prescott, Esq. The children of the second wife were Thomas 
 Parker, the storekeeper, and Susan, who m Thaddeus B. Pratt, Esq., 
 father of N. P. Pratt, Esq. The third wife of Col. Parker was Lydia 
 Stearns, of Bedford. Her daughter Phebe m. Thomas Pratt. Her son, 
 Nathaniel, kept the hotel for a few years; Gould, Sarah, and Eunice m. 
 and removed from town. 
 
 Hon. Edmund Parker, son of Col. Nathan, is remembered as a man 
 of excellent judgment, sensible and practical, well known and popular 
 throughout the county. He was a " Federal " and afterwards " Whig " 
 in political sentiment, and repeatedly served as the representative of 
 his town in the Legislature. He was councillor in 1840, and senator 
 in 1841. He was a justice of the peace, and was often called upon to 
 act as referee in cases decided by arbitration. Caroline, daughter of 
 Hon. Edmund, m. James Davis, father of William Wallace. 
 
 The Parker families in this town all descend from Thomas, who 
 embarked at London March n, 1635, and came to Lynn. He was 
 
 made freeman in 1637, m. Amy , d. 1683, aged 74 years ; was 
 
 probably a resident of Reading for upwards of twenty years. His son, 
 Sergt^ John, b. 1640, m. Hannah Kendall, 1667, had John, b. 1668, 
 who had John, b. 1701, who had Jonas, 1728, who had Jonas, Aaron, 
 William, and Amos. Jonas had Capt. Jonas, and Ephraim, father of 
 Jerome and Clarkson. Aaron, b. 1756, m. Jerusha Damon, and had 
 Aaron, b. 1788, who m. Rebekah, daughter of Capt. Joseph Bancroft, 
 and had Dea. Stillman E., Henry F., and Rebekah, who m. John Adden, 
 parents of John Henry. The other sons of Aaron, born 1756, were 
 Jabez D., father of Samuel and Wyman ; John ; William, father of 
 Warren, Edward, and William C. ; and Rev. B. Wyman, the mission- 
 ary. Polly, the daughter of Aaron, m. Silas Smith, parents of Sydney, 
 who was as st. engineer on the " Kearsarge." William, son of Jonas, 
 b. 1728, had Luther, father of William Strong ; Sarah, who m. William 
 Wakefield, parents of Frederick and Rev. William ; Sophronia, who m. 
 Henry Kingman, parents of William P. and Oilman D. ; and Lavinia, 
 who m. Daniel Nichols, parents of Howard P., Hartwell, and Wyman. 
 
 Amos, son of Jonas, b. 1728, m. Polly Taylor, and had Amos, who 
 m. Nancy Batchelder, parents of Solon A. ; and Dana, who m. Eliza- 
 beth Steele, parents of Milton D., who m. Melvina Bancroft, and Galen 
 A., who m. Edna S., daughter of Hiram Barrus ; Betsey, first wife of 
 Amos Temple ; Philomela, who m. Walter Damon, parents of Washing- 
 ton P. ; and Harriet, who m., ist, Samuel Dinsmoor ; zd, Jacob Smith 
 
 Benjamin Parker, b. 1703, brother of John, b. 1701 ; had William, b. 
 1735, and Asa, b. 1740, and others. William had Richard, father of
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 551 
 
 William, Cephas, Theron, and Loton. Asa had Loea, b. 1782, m. 
 Anna Bancroft ; parents of Loea, b. 1809, Asa and Harrison Loea, 
 Jr., was father of Oilman L. and Elmore. 
 
 Thomas, the pilgrim, had Ensign Nathaniel, who was the first person 
 buried in the Reading cemetery, b. 1651, d. 1737, who was the father 
 of Lieut. Nathaniel, b. 1679, d. 1761, who had Capt. Nathan, b. 1719, 
 who was father of Col. Nathan, b. 1748, d. 1815, and Dr. Nathaniel, 
 who died in Salem at the age of 36, and Edmund, who died in the 
 Revolutionary war. Ensign Nathaniel, who d. 1737, had Jonathan, b. 
 about 1682, who m. Barbara Ilsley in 1706, and had Daniel, b. 1725, 
 who m. Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Parker. Daniel, Jr., b. 1752, m. 
 Sarah Richardson, 1780, and had Jonathan, b. 1783, who m. Susanna, 
 daughter of Capt. Joseph Bancroft. They were the parents of Dea, 
 Milo Parker. 
 
 / Thaddeus B. Pratt, Esq., b. 1777, was father of Nathan P. Pratt, 
 Esq., b. 1811, who m. Louisa Wakefield ; Abigail, b. 1809, m. Hon. H. 
 P. Wakefield, M. D. ; and Louisa, b. 1814, m. Stephen Foster, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Pratt was an active business man, and a prominent citizen of 
 the town ; had excellent judgment, was thoroughly honest, fearless in 
 the expression of his opinions, and interested and active in everything 
 that promoted the well-being of the town, and was often called to serve 
 his fellow-citizens in official positions. He was son of Isaac, b. 1740, 
 son of Timothy, b. 1702, son of John, who came to Reading about 
 1692, and who was the ancestor of most of the families of that name 
 now in Reading. He was son of John, of Medfield, who died in 1707. 
 His will is recorded in the Suffolk Probate Office, vol. 16, page 328. 
 He was son of John, of Dorchester, who came from England, and was 
 made freeman in 1634. 
 
 George Minot, lawyer, born in Haverhill, Jan. 5, 1817, graduated at 
 Harvard, studied law with Rufus Choate, was admitted to the bar 
 1839, was for ten years editor of the U. S. Statutes at Large, published 
 an edition of nine volumes of English Admiralty Reports, and was the 
 editor of the well-known " Minot's Digest," of the Decisions of the 
 Supreme Court of Massachusetts. He removed to Reading about 
 1847, and was the attorney of the Boston and Maine Railroad corpora- 
 tion, up to the time of his decease, April 16, 1858. 
 
 William F. Harnden, son of Amariah and Sally Harnden, a 
 cousin of the late Sylvester Harnden ; was born in Reading } 
 Au g- 2 3> 1812, and lived here till about fourteen years of age. 
 He originated the express business, March 4, 1839, when, agree- 
 ably to previous announcement through the newspapers, he made a
 
 552 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 trip as a public messenger, from Boston to New York, via Boston and 
 Providence Railroad, and a Long Island Sound steamboat. He had in 
 charge a few booksellers' bundles and orders, and some brokers' parcels 
 of bank-notes to deliver or exchange, for which he charged an adequate 
 compensation. He also made arrangements for the rapid transit of 
 freight, and the delivery of the latest intelligence to the press in advance 
 of the mails. The business was rapidly extended, not only in this 
 country, but to foreign countries. Mr. Harnden employed his brother, 
 Adolphus H., as his agent over the route to New York. The latter 
 lost his life, with young Weston of this town, in the ill-fated steamer 
 ' Lexington," which was burnt on Long Island Sound, Jan. 13, 1840. 
 Mr. Harnden himself died in 1848. The business had increased to 
 such an extent that ten years ago it was estimated that the aggregate 
 capital employed in carrying it on was from ten to fifteen millions of 
 dollars, yielding a return to the stockholders of nearly fifteen per cent. 
 
 Mr. Alfred Perkins, born in Dunbarton, N. H., Nov. 26, 1808, came 
 to Boston about 1826 or '27, and engaged in the wood and coal busi- 
 ness. He furnished fuel to the Boston and Maine Railroad corpora- 
 tion from the commencement of its business till he was appointed fuel 
 agent by them, which position he held for seventeen years. He first 
 came to Reading in 1844, but soon returned to the city. He repur- 
 chased in 1 86 1 the residence here which, during the summer season, 
 he continued to occupy till his decease, which occurred in Boston, Feb. 
 8, 1874. He was a genial man, extensively known, and greatly 
 esteemed for his many virtues. The officers of the Savings Bank in 
 Reading, of which he was a trustee, passed a vote of respect to his 
 memory. 
 
 PERSONS RESIDING IN READING DOING BUSINESS PRINCIPALLY 
 
 IN BOSTON. 
 
 Edward Appleton, Esq., was borri in Boston. He received the 
 Franklin medal in the Latin School in 1830, graduated at Harvard 
 College 1835, an d taught in the Latin School one year, and in Beverly 
 Academy in 1842-3. 'He commenced studying civil engineering with 
 James Hayward in 1838, and assisted him in the construction of the 
 Boston and Maine Railroad. In 1842, he married Miss Frances Anne 
 Atkinson, a relative of Theodore Atkinson, who died in 1769, the first 
 husband of Lady Frances Deering Wentworth, one of the maids of 
 honor to the Queen. The portrait of Lady Wentworth, who was a 
 woman of great beauty, was painted by Copley the artist, and was 

 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 553 
 
 recently sold in New York for two thousand dollars. The towns of 
 Atkinson and Wentworth, N. H., received their names from her fami- 
 lies. Mr. Appleton came to Reading in 1844, and continued his work 
 upon the extension of the railroad through this town to Boston. He 
 was subsequently employed upon the Ogdensburg Railroad, N. Y. 
 State ; and for several years upon railroads in Maine ; then upon the 
 South Reading Branch, and also in building the Saugus Branch rail- 
 roads. In 1855 he spent nearly a year in the oil regions of Pennsyl- 
 vania in railroad business, where he frequently saw the oil flowing off 
 on the surface of the water in the creeks, but the discovery of the mar- 
 vellous supply contained in the earth had not then been made. He 
 was employed in engineering upon the Cambridge Horse Railroad 
 the first of the kind in this vicinity ; then for six years in making sur- 
 veys and constructing railroads in the State of Wisconsin. From 1862 
 to 1867, he was in the employ of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Rail- 
 road corporation. He served as one of the first Board of Railroad 
 Commissioners in this State from 1868 to 1870. His son Thomas, 
 civil engineer, is actively employed in the same profession. 
 
 Charles W. Abbott, born in Lowell, was for fourteen years in the em- 
 ploy of the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Co. as clerk and pay-master ; 
 came to Reading in 1869 ; is engaged in the wool commission business. 
 " Has no political aspirations." 
 
 Milo L. Allen, born in Manchester, Massachusetts, 1838, removed to 
 Lawrence, 1848, thence to Reading in 1873. Is clerk in the U. S. 
 Treasury in Boston, having been appointed in 1870. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Barrows, now about nineteen years a resident in 
 Reading, marks a type of family slowly disappearing from New Eng- 
 land. His early home was a family of twelve, Yankee on both sides 
 of the house from Pilgrim days ; a farm of sixty acres, and obstinate 
 for boys' culture ; parental common-sense ; a spindle ; a loom ; annual 
 barrels of home beef and pork ; indefinite bushels of grain and vege- 
 tables ; a few books well chosen and thumbed ; a district school, well 
 attended without regard to weather ; and the Sabbath uniformly divided 
 between home and the Lord's house, three miles away. The old-fash- 
 ioned virtues, ideas, and knowledge ruled the home, more than a din- 
 ner, new jacket, or two-story house. The Bible and Catechism and 
 New England Primer furnished moral lessons ; Proverbs and Franklin's 
 Aphorisms, the industrial and economical teachings. The Old Testa- 
 ment stories were never threadbare. Elijah's ravens, Elisha's bears, 
 Daniel's lions, and Noah's menagerie always came out with a new 
 feather, claw, or antic. Books were in the highest honor, and all 
 70
 
 554 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 printed matter was sacred. No winter snows were too lively or deep 
 for the ox-sled and a load of neighborhood children on the way to 
 school, where the firewood was four feet long, and many of the boys 
 six. Naturally from such a home three of the sons entered college, yet 
 with great pecuniary struggle. There were dark valleys and rough 
 cliff 1 ? and miserable sloughs all the way. It was sawing and hoeing 
 and mowing to pay bills in classics and mathematics, science and litera- 
 ture. Garden roots were cultivated by day and Greek ones by night, 
 by the subject of this sketch, while in Andover ; and in New York, 
 Hebrew and private teaching by the hour, theological polemics in the 
 Seminary, classes in Brooklyn and five-minute lunches on Fulton ferry, 
 were all sandwiched together. So every bill was paid to its full face, 
 and every borrowed dollar returned. This is wellnigh one of the lost 
 arts in getting a liberal education, and therefore mentioned here. This 
 struggle made labor a habit and fair success a rule with Dr. Barrows. 
 Rare good health has allowed unbroken toil, in a ministry of twenty- 
 five years only two Sabbaths having been lost from the pulpit by 
 sickness. Perhaps his habits of recreation should be named in this 
 connection. His resting hours have been taken in kindling camp-fires 
 all the way from New Brunswick to Colorado, as his Twelve Nights in 
 the Hunter's Camp has sketched. If he has a weakness it is for a 
 good fish-hook and fowling-piece away from home, and a spade at home 
 in leisure hours. 
 
 In the spring of 1873 Dr. Barrows was appointed, by a unanimous 
 and to himself totally unexpected vote, to the secretaryship of the 
 Massachusetts Home Missionary Society, which office he now holds. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Adams (Gate) Barrows, wife of the Rev. W. Barrows, 
 D. D., was born in Pembroke, N. H. Her parents were Meshach Gate 
 and Lucy (Adams) Gate. She was the second daughter, and the 
 youngest of three children. Her early school days were spent in Bos- 
 ton. She afterwards took the full course at Bradford Academy, where 
 she was graduated in 1842. Leaving as a graduate, she soon re- 
 turned as a teacher, and so remained for about four years. Thence 
 she went as an instructor to the Beacon Hill Seminary, Boston, an 
 institution belonging to the Rev. Hubbard Winslow, D. D. From this 
 school of young ladies Mrs. Barrows was called to be the principal of 
 Wheaton Female Seminary, where she had the charge for about three 
 years immediately prior to her marriage, which took place in 1849. 
 
 In addition to the instruction of many private pupils resident in the 
 
 family, Mrs. Barrows has used her pen more or less for the public in 
 
 Christian and literary periodicals, and in the production of several
 
 OF THE TOWtf OF READING. 555 
 
 Sabbath-school books. At the request of the Trustees of her alma 
 mater, she prepared the Memorial of Bradford Academy, an octavo 
 and illustrated volume, a well-merited tribute to that superior school, 
 and an interesting contribution to the history of the Christian educa- 
 tion of woman. The work gives large space to an outline memoir of 
 that noble woman and pioneer in female education, Abigail Carleton 
 Hasseltine. 
 
 Hiram Barrus, born in Goshen, Mass., July 5, 1822 ; brought up on a 
 farm ; fitted for college, but changing his plans, pursued his studies as 
 opportunities presented. 
 
 He was employed in teaching portions of nearly every year from 
 1840 to 1852, and for a few terms subsequently. Was engaged from 
 1853 for several years in closing up the affairs of a manufacturing cor- 
 poration, and managing suits at law connected with its affairs. Several 
 questions growing out of these suits were carried to the Supreme Court, 
 in which new and important principles were for the first time estab- 
 lished. He was frequently engaged in his own and adjoining towns in 
 settlement of estates in Probate Court, making out legal papers, and 
 doing the usual routine business pertaining to the office of justice of 
 the peace, to which he was appointed nearly twenty years since. In 
 
 1 86 1, he received from his personal friend, Collector Goodrich, an 
 appointment in the Boston Custom House, serving in several positions 
 to which he had been promoted, without request on his part ; he was 
 appointed in 1864 to his present position, Assistant Cashier. In the 
 spring of 1869, by order of the Treasury Department, he was detailed 
 with Deputy Collector J. M. Fiske, to assist, in Washington, in revising 
 and making uniform the system of blank forms used in keeping the 
 customs accounts in the various ports through the country. He was 
 subsequently recalled by the department to supervise the proofs of the 
 revised system, as they passed through the governmental printing office. 
 He came to Reading, May 19, 1863. He has occasionally contributed 
 to the newspapers, and in 1865, published a serial history of his native 
 town. Though not claiming to be an author, some of his writings have 
 found their way into books published by others. 
 
 T. T. Briggs was born in Turner, Me., June 15, 1832 ; came to Read- 
 ing Sept. 1867. He was engaged in the grocery trade from 1855 to 
 
 1862. Since March, 1870, he has been connected with Gilman L. 
 Parker in the coffee and spice business,. under the name of Briggs & 
 Parker. 
 
 Mr. William Butler was a native of Oxford, Mass.; came to Boston 
 in 1825, and removed to Reading in 1849 or '50. He was long en-
 
 556 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 gaged in the hardware business near Dock Square in Boston. In 1832 
 he also engaged in the manufacture of combs, which for many years he 
 made an article of export. For several years he owned a number of 
 vessels, and was engaged in commercial pursuits. The depression 
 produced in that department of business, by the war of the rebellion, 
 led him to go to England and France, where he disposed of his vessels, 
 and then relinquished the business. His son, William, Jr., is in the 
 employ of the Saxonville Manufacturing Corporation, of which his uncle, 
 J. W. Blake, is treasurer. 
 
 Joshua Clark, born in Dennis, Mass., 1829, received his educational 
 the academies of Dennis, Brewster, and Andover ; came to Boston in 
 1848, and entered as clerk in the Shoe and Leather Dealers Bank. 
 He has served in his present position as paying teller sixteen years. 
 He removed to Reading in 1866, having previously resided in Medford 
 six years, and in East Boston eleven. 
 
 Maj. A. M. Cook, born in New Durham, N. H., 1823, came to Bos- 
 ton, 1845 ; engaged in trucking and express business from 1854 to 
 1870. 
 
 He was commander of Cook's Battery in Boston, and was ordered to 
 parade on the common, April 19, 1861, when Gov. Andrew informed 
 them they might be ordered into service at any moment. A telegram 
 was received that night. of the assault upon our soldiers in Baltimore, 
 and a request from Gen. Butler that more troops be forwarded imme- 
 diately. Saturday, the 20th, was spent in hurried preparations, and at 
 nine o'clock in the evening, the batteries, with horses and ammunition, 
 were upon the cars, ready to move. They were delayed till sunrise in 
 waiting for the Fifth Regiment, but then started and reached New York 
 in the evening. There they embarked on the steamer " De Soto " for 
 Annapolis. They were in Baltimore, with their field-pieces stationed 
 in Monument Square, and at the Custom House and Post-office, when 
 the Rebel Legislature was arrested. They returned home at the end 
 of their three months' service. In 1862, Major Cook recruited the 
 Eighth Massachusetts Battery, which enlisted for six months, and was 
 in the battles of the second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, and 
 Antietam. Major Cook was appointed superintendent of warehouses 
 in the Boston Custom House, in Aug. 1861, which position he still holds. 
 During his absence in the army the place was supplied by another. 
 He came to Reading, July, 1871, and built his present residence in the 
 following year. 
 
 Charles R. Corkins, born and lived at Whitingham, Vt., till the age 
 of fourteen years. Removed to Charlestown in 1861, and to Reading
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 557 
 
 in 1870. Has been for seven years engaged in the insurance busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Francis O. Dewey, born in Berlin, near Montpelier, Vt., June 20, 
 1823 ; came to South Reading, now Wakefield, 1841, remaining five 
 years in the employ of Mr. Burrage Yale ; then commenced his present 
 business in Boston, removing his residence to Brighton. He came to 
 Reading, May 12, 1863, and still resides on the place formerly occupied 
 by Frank Palmer, superintendent of the Merchants Exchange, in 
 Boston. 
 
 Mr. Dewey is one of the largest dealers in New England in his 
 branch of the glassware trade. His business extends throughout New 
 England, Canada, and the British Provinces. His sons Edgar and 
 Frank H. are engaged with him. 
 
 W. F. Durgin, a native of Peabody, lived in Bradford till he attained 
 his majority ; was educated at Atkinson and Middleboro' academies ; 
 taught school and lived several years at Martha's Vineyard, where he 
 was employed as agent of a manufacturing company. In 1865, came 
 to Boston and was engaged, first, in the office of the " Watchman and 
 Reflector," and subsequently, in his present position, as the commercial 
 editor of the " Advertiser." " Never held a political office." Removed 
 to Reading in 1867, and to his present residence in 1873, which was 
 built by him. 
 
 Wm. W. Elliott ; foundry business ; native of Mason, N. H. ; came 
 to Boston, and opened business in 1854 ; came to Reading, May, 1873. 
 
 Oscar Foote, born in Fairfield, Vt., May 5, 1826; came to Boston in 
 1850, and has since been principally employed in business connected 
 with the market, and has done a large business in the Western pork 
 trade. 
 
 He lived in Charlestown eight years, and came to Reading in Sep- 
 tember, 1864. Since living here he has built several valuable houses 
 upon his homestead, which formerly belonged to the Temple family, 
 and which continued in their name for a hundred and thirty-four years. 
 Mr. Foote has laid much of it out in building lots, with suitable streets. 
 
 Jacob Graves, born in Vienna, Me., Dec. 5, 1829 ; entered on busi- 
 ness in Faneuil Hall Market, 1847; came to Reading 1852, bought here 
 1864; does an extensive business in fancy fowls, and is the patentee 
 pf " Graves' Incubator and Artificial Mother," which entirely dis- 
 penses with the services of the hen (after the egg is laid) in hatching 
 and raising chickens. 
 
 S. E. Gould, bridge contractor and builder, born in Warwick, Mass., 
 1 8 10; soon removed to Newfane, Vt. ; came to Boston, 1836, removed to
 
 558 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Reading, 1872. In 1856 was an alderman in Boston, and also served 
 three years as assessor. He is proprietor of the store near his resi- 
 dence on Woburn Street. 
 
 Ira C. Gray, a native of Mendon, Mass., came to Reading in 1871. 
 He has been in business in Boston, as dealer in gentlemen's furnishing 
 goods, about twenty-five years. 
 
 Luther Hutchins came to Reading from Boston, 1862, where he 
 had been employed for many years as constable in the criminal courts. 
 He still holds a position connected with the Boston courts. He was a 
 native of Kennebunkport, Me. 
 
 A. F. Hollis, of the firm of Hollis and Gunn, job printers, Boston, 
 came from Berkshire County in 1840 or 1841, and to Reading in 1868. 
 Previously resided at Jamaica Plain thirteen years. 
 
 William Hawes and Sons, Newell B., Jabez S., and William G., came 
 from Holliston in 1868, and purchased the residence of "Father 
 Kemp." The " St. Joachim " store, of which the brothers are the pro- 
 prietors, was started by them, and was the first " dollar store " in Bos- 
 ton, and second in the country. 
 
 E. B. Harrrington, b. in Roxbury, was seven years in California, and 
 has been in the leather trade in Boston twelve years. Removed to 
 Reading in 1869. 
 
 A. G. R. Hale, Esq., born in Stowe, Mass., 1834, came to Reading from 
 Cambridge in 1873, and resides on West Street. He was a graduate of 
 Bridgewater State Normal School, spent several years teaching in Del- 
 aware, being called there by Gov. Cannon as tutor, served nine months 
 in the Union army in the war of the rebellion, was subsequently 
 admitted as a member of the Suffolk Bar by the Supreme Court. The 
 degree of LL.B. was conferred upon him by Harvard University. Law 
 office in Boston. 
 
 Andrew Howes, born in Chatham Aug. 26, 1826, went by sailing 
 vessel to London in 1843, resided ten years in Essex in business as 
 ship-joiner, came toReading 1857, was with E H. Ryder & Co., ship- 
 chandlers, for ten years, and has since been in the employ of H. & G. 
 W. Lord, net and twine manufacturers. Mr. Howes represents the 
 Middlesex District, No. 6, in the Legislature for the current year, 1874. 
 
 Ephraim Hunt, LL. D., b. Readfield, Me., Oct. 20, 1829 ; graduate 
 of Waterville College ; received his first honorary degree before attain- 
 ing the age of twenty-one years ; taught in the South 1853-4; became 
 principal of the Boston English High School, 1854, and held the 
 position fourteen years. He was then appointed principal of the 
 Girls' High and Normal Schools, where he remained until the schools
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 559 
 
 were divided in 1872. Dr. Hunt is the author of an "English Litera- 
 ture," a work of decided merit, published in Boston in 1871. He was 
 one of the originators of the Reading Savings Bank, suggested by him, 
 of which he is president. 
 
 C. P. Judd, Esq., born in Westhampton, Mass., Jan. 25, 1815, grad- 
 uated at Yale College, 1840, read law with Judge Huntington ; was a 
 teacher in South Carolina two years and a half, admitted to the bar in 
 Northampton, 1844, came to Reading, 1846, and kept an office here, 
 over Mr. Reed's store, till 1860. He succeeded Geo. Minot, and still acts 
 as attorney of the Boston & Maine Railroad. Mr. Minot an4 Mr. Judd 
 married sisters, Misses Elizabeth and Sarah A. Dawes, of Cambridge. 
 They were daughters of William Dawes, merchant, of Boston, son of 
 Judge Thomas Dawes, son of Major Thomas Dawes, who drew the 
 plan for Brattle Street Church in Boston, which was accepted, instead 
 of one drawn by J. S. Copley, the artist. Major Dawes was one of 
 the leading patriots of the Revolution. His house was occupied by 
 the British when they were in possession of Boston. When they evac- 
 uated the city, they left an army blanket in the house, marked " G. R.," 
 which is now in possession of Mrs. Minot, who, among other interest- 
 ing relics, has a locket containing a braid of Gen. Washington's and 
 John Adams's hair. 
 
 Robert Kemp, better known as " Father Kemp," was born in Well- 
 fleet, Mass., June 6, 1821. 
 
 He came to Reading in 1853, and bought a farm, tried "fancy farm- 
 ing," and in one year sold two hundred and twenty five barrels of apples, 
 at a profit of exactly eight cents a barrel ; then took the " hen fever," 
 which culminated one fine morning when he counted up his hundred 
 chickens, and " turned " as suddenly, when, after the storm of the fol- 
 lowing night, he found his hundred chicks reduced to five. 
 
 The inspiration received from the songs of a few neighbors at his 
 home one winter evening, suggested an " Old Folks' Concert." " Dress 
 rehearsals" followed, and the evening of Dec. 6, 1856, saw the first 
 performance of the kind. It was given in Lyceum Hall, Reading, 
 which was packed with hearers. Other concerts followed, till it was 
 decided to try one in Boston. It took. Tremont Temple was crowded, 
 and ten concerts more were given there without any apparent diminution 
 of the public enthusiasm. A singing tour to New York and Washington 
 was planned, and the troupe was made up of forty-seven singers. 
 
 All the prominent places on the route gave them a cordial welcome 
 and crowded houses. In the New York Academy of Music six thou- 
 sand people listened to their singing. The largest hall in Philadelphia
 
 560 . GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 was crowded to hear them. In Washington they sung patriotic airs to 
 President Buchanan, and appropriate music to his cabinet and the Con- 
 gressmen. 
 
 They visited Mount Vernon and sang, " Why do we mourn," around 
 the tomb of Washington. On their return homeward they continued 
 their concerts in the principal cities with unvarying success. An Albany 
 paper, among other things in their favor, said, " Seldom have our people 
 had an opportunity of hearing church music rendered with such an in- 
 spiring effect and elevating influence." 
 
 The next year, 1858, a seven months' tour was made in the West, 
 with similar results ; and subsequently they continued their work in 
 other States. While in Connecticut they met Abraham Lincoln on a 
 political lecturing tour, who playfully suggested that he would like to 
 swap audiences with them. After the rebel war-cloud began to darken 
 the Southern horizon, they sang the " Star Spangled Banner" in Balti- 
 more to a crowd of unionists and incipient rebels mid applauses and 
 hisses. 
 
 In 1 86 1 they visited England, and had rousing concerts in Liverpool, 
 where they remained eight days, and cleared about five hundred dol- 
 lars. One of the papers, in reference to their singing, said, "The 
 vocalization was magnificent. Never have we heard voices more 
 beautifully or equally blended. The effect produced was truly charm- 
 ing." In London and other places they secured good audiences, but 
 their receipts were only about enough to pay expenses, which hastened 
 their return home the same year. 
 
 Some of the original members of the company were Mrs. Sarah 
 (Mark M.) Temple, R. N. Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Stillman M. Pratt, 
 Mr. and Mrs. David Brown, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Bancroft, Mr. and 
 Mrs. F. J. Bancroft, Messrs. Brown and Needham Nichols, Henry 
 Brown, Train Sweetser, Henry Temple, Daniel Foss (the " Grandfather 
 with the big fiddle " ), Edward Safford, doorkeeper ; Mr. and Mrs. Rufus 
 Pierce, of Stoneham ; John Wiley, of Wakefield ; Miss Abby Owen, 
 of Lowell. Mrs. Emma J. Nichols, the popular solo singer, was long 
 connected with the company. Mr. R. N. Temple played the flute in 
 the orchestra till their return from Europe. He afterwards acted as 
 agent for the troupe in their subsequent tours in this country. Father 
 Kemp occasionally gives an Old Folks' Concert at the present time, 
 and Music Hall is not capacious enough to receive all who rush to 
 hear him and his antique choir. 
 
 F. H. Knight, a native of Lexington, was educated at Hancock 
 Academy, N. H. ; was five years with Jewett & Prescott, Boston ; has
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 5 6l 
 
 been in his present business since 1851, first with Bates & Goldthwait, 
 and since 1861, one of the firm of Goldthwait, Snow & Knight, carpet 
 dealers. He came to Reading in 1862. 
 
 Henry Manley, born in Bridgewater, Aug. 31, 1841, graduated at the 
 Normal School in that town, July, 1860. Taught in South Scituate 
 and Easton. Was corporal in Co. K, 3d Mass. Vols., at Newbern, 
 N. C, and vicinity, nine months in 1862-3. I n 1864 he went, via Rio 
 Janeiro, to the Cape of Good Hope, where he carried on the business 
 of photography for nearly two years. Since February, 1869, he has 
 been employed as assistant engineer of the city of Boston, and now 
 has charge of the construction and repairs of the bridges within the 
 city limits. 
 
 Wm. H. Nash, born in Wakefield, Dec. 17, 1827, soon removed to 
 Salem, and received his education in the city schools. Came to Read- 
 ing, 1843. Has done business in Boston several years. 
 
 Jas. D. Norris was in the gents' furnishing trade here from 1870 to 
 1873, first on Main, and then on Haven Street, Simes's Block. He 
 sold his business here to Francis Bartley in 1873, and is now engaged 
 with Lucius Turner and Milton D. Kingman, in Boston, as jobbers and 
 manufacturers in the same business. 
 
 S. D. Niles, born in Orford, N. H., Oct. 22, 1829, was employed 
 in Atlanta, Ga., seven years in teaching, and subsequently several 
 years in the wholesale produce business. On the breaking out of the 
 rebellion, misjudging as to the extent to which the rebels would carry 
 their extreme measures, he was shut in, like many others of Northern 
 sentiment and sympathies, to take his chances under rebel rule. In 
 order to escape service in their army, he purchased a mill and be- 
 came a miller to take advantage of the exemption that that afforded 
 from military service. When that, by change of law, would no longer 
 protect him, he purchased a newspaper office, and became an editor, 
 which for a time secured him from being drafted. When Gen. Sher- 
 man took Atlanta, he established his head-quarters upon Mr. Niles's 
 premises. Mr. Niles had changed his property as far as he was able 
 into gold, which was secretly buried in his garden. It so happened 
 that the tent of Gen. Sherman was erected directly over it. During 
 the continuance of the firing Mrs. Niles sometimes abandoned their 
 house and sought protection from the flying balls among the large trees 
 near by. Mr. Niles became well acquainted with Gen. Sherman and 
 his staff, among whom was Gen. O. O Howard. The firing of cannon 
 was heard one night in the far distance, and about two o'clock in the 
 morning Gen. Sherman sent a messenger requesting the attendance of
 
 562 GENEALOGICAL HISTOKY 
 
 Mr. Niles He referred to the firing, and inquired of Mr. Niles his 
 opinion as to where it was. The answer was satisfactory, and the Gen- 
 eral replied that it relieved him of a burden of anxiety. 
 
 Before Gen. Sherman left Atlanta on his march to the sea, he gave 
 Mr. Niles and family a pass that enabled them to escape from their 
 captivity ; and after passing through many perils, they reached their 
 friends in this vicinity. Mr. Niles purchased his present residence in 
 March, 1865, and has since been variously employed in Boston. 
 
 Charles H. Nowell, pay-master of the Boston and Maine Railroad 
 corporation, removed to Reading, March, 1872. He was born in 
 Lowell, October, 1843, and graduated at the high school in that city. 
 
 S. G. B. Pearson, native of Wilmington, was a dealer in produce 
 and provisions in Lawrence for eight years. Has been in Boston since 
 1866, dealing in hides. Came to Reading in 1869. 
 
 William S. Pease, born in Shrewsbury, Mass., 1830 ; graduate of 
 Leicester Academy, 1845 ; has been variously employed as agent in 
 New York and Boston. Removed to Reading, 1866. 
 
 William Proctor, born Oct. 5, 1826, in Deptford, Kent County, Eng- 
 land, the place where Peter the Great learned ship-building. Mr. 
 Proctor served his apprenticeship in London at boot and shoe making, 
 was in Nova Scotia three years, came to Boston, 1845, to Reading, 
 1851. Before coming to this country he served as non-commissioned 
 officer in the rifle brigade, belonging to a regiment which went through 
 the Crimean war, and had just returned to England from the Ashantee 
 was. He was naturalized in 1849, and during our war of the rebellion 
 was on every town committee here having in charge the supplying of 
 men for service. He was representative from this district in the Legis- 
 lature of 1866. He has been prominently engaged in promoting public 
 improvements and the building of dwelling-houses in this town. He 
 was one of the originators of the Reading Savings Bank, of which he 
 has always been a trustee ; and also of the public library, of which he 
 is likewise a trustee. 
 
 Dr. A. C. Smith, a native of Unity, N. H., graduate of Baltimore 
 Med. College, attended medical lectures at Dartmouth, 1838-9, and 
 was in practice in Haverhill four years. Losing faith in drugs, he 
 gave up his profession and became a teacher in Salem. Receiving an 
 invitation from Rev. Dr. Stearns and others in 1845, he accepted the 
 appointment of master of the Webster School in Cambridge,' which he 
 retained nearly thirty years. He had under his superintendence from 
 six hundred to seven hundred pupils, and twelve assistant teachers. 
 He removed to Reading in 1873, having formerly resided here a few
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 563 
 
 years. He is still employed as teacher of penmanship in the Cam- 
 bridge schools. 
 
 Charles D. Thomas, born in Williamstown, Mass., Nov. 16, 1831 ; 
 received education at Mills' High School, and at Williston Seminary, 
 Easthampton, Mass. ; was engaged in 1857 in making a preliminary 
 survey of Pacific Railroad, and in 1858, with Mr. Haupt, on the Troy 
 and Boston Railroad ; was assistant storekeeper in the Boston Custom 
 House from 1861 to 1870, when, upon the decease of E. M. Brown, 
 storekeeper, he was promoted to the vacancy, which position he still 
 holds. He came to Reading in 1861 with Mr. Brown, who was a resi- 
 dent here for nearly ten years. Mr. Brown was a graduate of Williams 
 College in 1843, and among other important positions held by him, was 
 assistant sergeant-at-arms in the State House in 1859-60-61, and was 
 clerk of the State Valuation during a portion of the time. He was for 
 several years a member of the Republican State Committee. He was 
 appointed storekeeper in the Custom House 1861. He was a man 
 widely known and much respected. 
 
 G. M. Wethern, dealer in millinery goods, has a store in Boston ; 
 came to Reading 1872, and now occupies the house built by himself 
 on Prospect Street. 
 
 Col. Carroll D. Wright, born in Dunbarton, N. H., July 25, 1840 ; 
 removed to Reading in 1856 ; received his education in Reading High 
 School and in academies at Washington, and Alstead, N. H., and Ches- 
 ter, Vt., and engaged in teaching ; read law with Hon. W. P. Wheeler, 
 of Keene, and afterwards in Boston with T. Willey, Esq. In August, 
 1861, he enlisted in i4th Regiment N. H. Volunteers, and was commis- 
 sioned lieutenant by Gov. Berry ; was commissary of brigade at Pooles- 
 ville, Md. ; officer in charge of central prison, and adjutant to provost- 
 marshal, Washington, D. C. ; aid-de-camp to Gen. Martindale, military 
 governor of department of Washington, and there had charge of all 
 guards at bridges, ferries, etc., in and around Washington. In October, 
 1863, was appointed adjutant of his regiment, and was employed as 
 assistant adjutant general in district of Carrollton, La., and of the ist 
 brigade, 2d division of the igth corps, in Louisiana, and during Sher- 
 man's campaign in the Shenandoah in the autumn of 1864, when he was 
 commissioned colonel. He was admitted to the bar in Keene, N, H., 
 October, 1865 ; and in August, 1867, to practise in the courts of Massa- 
 chusetts, and of the United States. He was elected to the State Senate 
 from the Middlesex Sixth District in 1871, and again in 1872. As 
 chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, he remodelled 
 the militia system of the State, which was adopted by the Legislature.
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 In 1873, Col. Wright was appointed by Gov. Washburn chief of the 
 Bureau of Statistics of Labor. His first official report to the Legisla- 
 ture of 1874 is a work that gives evidence of extensive research, and 
 a full comprehension of the duties involved in the position he holds. 
 
 Col. Wright has attained a deserved reputation as a lecturer. He 
 has thoughts, and has the happy faculty of presenting them in an at- 
 tractive manner. 
 
 George E. Abbott, architect, has an office in Pemberton Square. 
 
 E. S. Batchelder, salesman, with Rogers & Co., came from Exeter, 
 N. H. ; has resided in Reading several years. 
 
 Osgood Eaton, tuner, has been for several years with Mason & 
 Hamlin, organ manufacturers. 
 ^- Luther Elliott, broker, has resided here several years. 
 
 John C. Gleason, bookkeeper with F. Harnden. 
 
 Dudley F. Hunt, of the firm of F. W. Hunt & Co., came to Reading 
 in 1873. 
 
 Edmund A. Hyde, firm of Cutter, Hyde & Co., fancy goods. and 
 toys, was a native of Bangor, Me. ; has been in Boston about eighteen 
 years ; came to Reading 1870. 
 
 Wm. M. Home, iron dealer, came to Reading in 1873. 
 
 Charles H. Lang, Jr., clerk, with the Wakefield Rattan Co. 
 
 J. Mitchell, Jr., bookkeeper, with Rogers & Co., born in Wellfleet ; 
 came to Boston about fifteen years since, and to Reading in 1871. 
 
 Walter H. Perkins, clerk, with H. C. Thacher & Co. 
 
 Harley Prentiss is employed as chief clerk in the freight department 
 of the Fitchburg Railroad Co. 
 
 Geo. A. Parker is bookkeeper, Clark & Co., on India Street. 
 
 Galen A. Parker, bookkeeper with Kelham, Fitz & Co. 
 
 O. A. Ruggles, salesman, with Calder & Otis. 
 
 Henry Robinson, firm of E. Thompson & Co. 
 
 Wm. S. Richardson, clerk, with Geo. P. Banchor. 
 
 Frank M. Smith, clerk, with Frye, Phipps & Co., born in Lowell ; 
 has been eight years in Boston ; came to Reading in 1869. 
 
 Daniel Stockwell, general insurance business, came to Reading in 
 1870. 
 
 Wm. M. Weston, broker, dealer in watches, jewelry, etc., has long 
 resided in Reading. 
 
 PHYSICIANS. 
 
 Dr. F. F. Brown was born in Sudbury in 1834 ; graduate of Amherst 
 College, 1855; teacher three years ; studied medicine at Harvard and
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 565 
 
 at Berkshire Medical Institution ; was assistant surgeon in the 48th 
 Massachusetts Regiment in 1862-3 > came to Reading in April, 1864. 
 
 Dr. E. G. Barton, surgeon dentist, a native of Moriah Centre, N. Y., 
 graduate of the Boston College of Dental Surgery ; came to Reading 
 in 1870. 
 
 Dr. Sarah A. Colby, born in Sanbornton, N. H. ; graduate of Phil- 
 adelphia Medical College, 1861 ; was for several years in general prac- 
 tice in Manchester, N. H. ; removed to Reading Sept. 30, 1869 ; 
 and opened an office in Boston, to which her present practice is con- 
 fined. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Hanafordwas born in New Hampton, N. H., in 1819. He 
 pursued his preparatory studies at the institute in that town, and in Pern 
 broke, N. H. ; graduated in New York city ; practised medicine at Nan- 
 tucket six years ; at Beverly, seven ; at Reading, ten. He has been 
 employed as editor and correspondent of several newspapers and literary 
 publications ; and is the author of " Ocean Melodies," and " Lights and 
 Shadows of Sailor Life," published in Boston. Has taught in schools 
 of all classes. His wife, Rev. Phebe A. Hanaford, a relative of Dr. 
 Franklin, was born at Nantucket in 1829, and was married at the age 
 of 17. She has been editress of "Ladies Repository," and "Myrtle," 
 published in Boston ; and employed also as teacher. She is more ex- 
 tensively known as a preacher. She was settled first, at Hingham; 
 then at Waltham ; afterwards at New Haven ; now at Jersey City. Her 
 published works are, "The Captive Boy," " The Young Captain," "Our 
 Martyred President," "Life of Abraham Lincoln," "Frank Nelson," 
 "Field, Gunboat, Hospital, and Prison," "The Soldier's Daughter," 
 "The Life of George Peabody," "From Shore to Shore," "The Life 
 and Writings of Charles Dickens." 
 
 Howard A. Hanaford, son of Dr. J. H. and Rev. P. A., graduate of 
 Tufts College, preaches at Wellfleet, Mass. 
 
 Dr. Samuel H. Elliott, surgeon dentist, born in Haverhill, Mass. ; 
 resided in Lowell fifteen years; followed his profession in Lawrence 
 eleven years ; in Haverhill, twelve ; removed to Reading in November^ 
 1869. Retired from practice. 
 
 Dr. F. B. Kimball, born in Bridgeton, Me., March 27, 1829 ; graduated 
 at Harvard Medical College 1858 ; practised in Kennebunk three years ; 
 was three years with 3d N. H. Reg. Vols., and as surgeon had charge 
 of hospital six months at Beaufort, S. C., and subsequently of Marine 
 Hospital at Wilmington, N. C. He was at the taking of Morris Island ; 
 at the bombarding of Fort Sumter, and the attacks on Battery Wag- 
 ner, and at the taking of Fort Fisher, where the carnage compelled
 
 566 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 twenty-four hours unremitting labor at the operating table. After the 
 war he practised in Manchester, N. H. 
 
 In September, 1869, he came to Reading, where he still resides; and, 
 in addition to the usual duties of his profession, occupies the chair of 
 Instructor of Histology in the Medical Department of Boston Uni- 
 versity. 
 
 YOUNG AMERICA IN BUSINESS. 
 
 Barrows & Foote (Morton, son of Rev. Dr. Barrows, and Perley, son 
 of O. Foote, Esq., minors) have a printing-press in Reading, and fur- 
 nish bill-heads, business cards, etc., doing their work in a very neat 
 manner. 
 
 [The Barrows and Barrus families in this country are nearly all de- 
 scended from John Barrow, of Plymouth, in 1665-92. He had Robert, 
 who remained in Plymouth, and Benajah, Joshua, and Ebenezer, who 
 went to Attleboro' ; and Deborah, who m. 1687, Archippus Fuller, of 
 Plympton, and Mary, who m. 1698, John Wormall, of Duxbury. 
 
 Robert had John, a portion of whose descendants lived in Roches- 
 ter ; Capt. George, b. 1670, ancestor of the Plympton families; Dea. 
 Samuel, of the Middleboro' branch; Elisha, of Rochester; Robert 
 and Thomas, of the Mansfield, Conn., line. 
 
 Capt. George had Samuel, b. 1700, who had Noah, b. 1727, and 
 Samuel, b. 1733. 
 
 Noah had William, father of Rev. Dr. Barrows, of Reading ; Samuel 
 had Lazarus, who had Levi, father of Hiram Barrus, of Reading.]
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING, 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 BURIAL-GROUNDS. 
 
 FOR many years after the first settlement of the town, the " Com- 
 mon," so called, in the First Parish, extended northerly from its present 
 limits to the " Great Pond," and included all that territory that lies 
 west of Main Street, and between what is now Church Street and said 
 pond, as far west as the homestead of the late Col. James Hartshorn. 
 That portion of this territory which was recently occupied by the town 
 house and engine house, and including the town-house lot, and perhaps 
 a pait of the adjoining blacksmith's shop lot, was the earliest burying- 
 place of old Reading. Here, for about fifty years, was the only place 
 of interment for the fathers and mothers of the first generation of set- 
 tlers, with the children who early died. 
 
 Many of these first graves, it is presumed, were without monuments, 
 and as the ground was for a long time unfenced, many of the grave- 
 stones, earliest erected, were broken down and destroyed. The land 
 around the graves was subsequently sold, the purchaser being bounded 
 by the graves. In process of time, therefore, the portion of land 
 allowed as grave-yard was reduced to very contracted dimensions, and 
 much of the land occupied by the dust of our ancestors was disturbed 
 by the plough of the agriculturist, and yielded a crop that made literal 
 the figurative language of Scripture, that " all flesh is grass." 
 
 Upon the erection of the town-house, in 1834, the town of South 
 Reading purchased what was the town-house lot, or so much thereof as 
 had not been sold, took up the old gravestones, many of which were 
 broken and defaced, and placed them in a continuous row on the east- 
 erly side of the lot ; and, if the particular dust which they memorialized 
 did not lye beneath them, it is certainly true that the stones did lie above 
 them. 
 
 The following are some of the more noticeable inscriptions upon 
 these old gravestones : 
 
 " Memento te esse mortalem." 
 
 " Fugit Hora. Vive memor laethi. Fugit hora. 
 
 "C. yezd.
 
 568 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " Here lyes the body of Capt. Jonathan Poole, who deceased in the 44th year of his 
 age, 1678. 
 
 " Friends sure would prove too far unkind, 
 If, out of sight, they leave him out of mind ; 
 And nowhe lyes, transform'd to native dust, 
 In earth's cold womb, as other mortals must. 
 It 's strange his matchless worth intomb'd should lye, 
 Or that his fame should in oblivion dye." 
 
 NOTE. This stone contains the oldest date and the most artistic and elaborate 
 work of any of the old monuments in this yard, representing, in relief, swords, hour- 
 glass, coffin, spade, pickaxe, cross-bones, etc. 
 
 " Memento te esse mortalem. 
 " Fugit hora. Vive memor laethi. Fugit hora. 
 
 " Here lyes the body of John Person, Senor, aged 64 years. Deceased April 17, 
 1679."' 
 
 " Memento mori. Fugit hora. 
 
 " Here lyeth within this arched place the body of Deacon Thomas Parker, who 
 was won of the foundation of the church, who dyed the I2th of August, 1683, aged 
 about 74." 
 
 In 1688-9, the town erected its second church, and located it a few 
 rods northwest of the present Orthodox church in Wakefield ; and 
 around this church, soon after its erection, in accordance with ancient 
 custom, that has made <r/zz//r/$-yards and ^nzw-yards synonymous terms, 
 our fathers began to inter their dead, and thus and here commenced 
 their second burial-ground. This ground has been enlarged from time 
 to time considerably beyond its early limits. For more than one hun- 
 dred and fifty years, it has been the chief place of sepulture for what is 
 now the town of Wakefield. Here rest the ashes of the greater por- 
 tion of its former inhabitants. Consequently it possesses a most 
 lively interest, as the place where many a noble, many a beautiful, 
 and many a loved form has been enshrined. 
 
 We shall, therefore, be excused for inserting a considerable number 
 of its inscriptions. The earliest date upon any stone in this yard, is 
 in memory of Lieut. Thomas Bancroft, aged 69, who deceased Aug. 
 19, 1691. 
 
 The first three ministers of the first parish were, it is believed, buried 
 away from Reading ; the first at Watertown, the other two at Boston, 
 among their relatives. 
 
 " The Rev. Mr. Jonathan Pierpont, late pastor of the church of Christ, in Redding, 
 for the space of twenty years, Aged 44 years ; who departed this life June 2, 1709. 
 "A fruitful Christian and pastor, who 
 Did good to all, and lov'd all good to do ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 569 
 
 A tender husband and a parent kind, 
 
 A faithful friend, which who, Oh who can find ! 
 
 A preacher that a bright example gave 
 
 Of rules he preach'd, the souls of men to save ; 
 
 A Pierpont, all of this, here leaves his dust, 
 
 And waits the resurrection of the just." 
 
 " Here lyes interr'd ye body of ye Rev. Richard Brown, ordained Pastor of ye I s * 
 church in Reding, June 25, 1712. His character bespeaks him faithful in his preach- 
 ing, impartial in his discipline, and exemplary in his conversation ; a man greatly 
 beloved in his life, and much lamented at his death, which was Oct 20, 1 732, Aged 
 57 years." 
 
 " In this Sepulchre is reposited the mortal part of the Rev. Mr. William Hobby, A.M., 
 late Pastor (the sixth in the order of succession) of the first church in the town of 
 Reading, learned, vigilant, and faithful; he was a preacher of the word of God, 
 deservedly commended for his pure evangelical doctrine, replenished with erudition 
 and piety, together with solid judgment and eloquence, being at length worn out with 
 studies and labors, and most acute pains of long continuance, calmly resigning to the 
 will of his Almighty Father, and earnestly aspiring after the Heavenly Habitation and 
 Rest, he breathed out his soul into the hands of his Savior, June 18, Anno Christi 
 1765, ^EtaL 58 years. He left, to profit his bereaved flock, a written monument of 
 sage advice, in which, though dead, he speaks, in solemn strains." 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of Rev. Caleb Prentiss, late Pastor of the first church in 
 this town, who passed into the world of spirits, Feb. 7, 1803, in the 57* year of his 
 age, and 34 th of his ministry. Faith, piety, and benevolence, with a kindred assem- 
 blage of Christian graces and moral virtues, adorned his public and private character, 
 endeared his memory to a bereaved family, a mourning flock, his brethren in office, 
 and all acquainted with his merits. 
 
 " He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, 
 Allur'd to brighter worlds and led the way ; 
 Though gone, he is not dead, no good man dies, 
 But like the day-star, only sets to rise." 
 
 " Here lyes ye body of Major Jeremiah Sweyen, Esq., who departed this life Aug. 
 13, 1710, in ye 6o.th year of his age. 
 
 " ' The memory of the just is blessed.' " 
 
 " Here lyes interred ye remains of Doct. Thomas Sweyn, who departed this life 
 Apl. 22, 1759, aged 53 years. 
 
 "An useful, beloved physician, an extensive blessing in life, and much lamented 
 in death." 
 
 "In memory of Doct. Thomas Swain, who departed this life Oct 26, 1780, Aged 
 30 years. 
 
 ".Blessed with a penetrating genius, improved by application, he was a skilful and 
 successful Physician, highly esteemed and beloved, 
 72
 
 570 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " Death, fearing the loss of his empire over the children of men, pointed a fatal dart, 
 cut down this rising Genius, secured his own dominions and disappointed the hopes of 
 many." 
 
 "Here rests what was mortal of Lieut John Pool, who deceased Nov. 22, 1721, 
 
 Aged 56. 
 
 "An humble Christian, useful and sincere, 
 
 Much given to hospitality, lies here. 
 
 " Rich in alms to the poor, and in distress the widow's friend, father of the father- 
 less, a loving husband and a parent kind ; a neighbor good and a most useful friend. 
 
 " All this was he, and more, but now at rest, 
 The memory of the righteous man is blest" 
 
 " Here lyes ye body of Mrs. Abigail Bancroft, wife of Mr. Raham Bancroft, who 
 died Mar. 26, 1728, Aged 40. 
 
 " A prudent, pleasant wife was she, 
 An helpmate like the laboring bee, 
 Kind parent ; virtue's graces tell, 
 That she in those did most excel ; 
 Full ripe for heaven, assur'd of bliss, 
 Long'd to depart to happiness. 
 If men forget to speak her worth, 
 This stone to ages sets it forth." 
 
 " Here lyes buried ye body of Mrs. Mary Smith, wife to Mr. Samuel Smith, who 
 died Feb. 3, 1760, in ye 26th year of her age. 
 
 " Nipt in the beauteous bloom of life she lies, 
 A faded flower, bedew'd by numerous eyes ; 
 Oh ! could our tears revive so fair a flower, 
 Sure every eye would spring the quick'ning shower." 
 
 " Here lies buried the body of David Green, Esq., who, as a Christian, was an orna- 
 ment to his profession. He was improved in his day ; faithful to his trust ; and by 
 his prudence and assiduity acquired the approbation and esteem of his acquaintance, 
 and in a composed frame resigned his spirit on the I7th July, 1781, in his 67th year." 
 
 "Mrs. Rebekah Evans, widow of Thomas Evans, born Aug. 27, 1758; married 
 Jan. 4, 1776 ; died of Palsy Apl. 22, 1835 ; Aged 77 years. 
 
 " I know that my Redeemer lives, 
 All that I need his goodness gives ; 
 I 'm calm and happy, blessed Lord ! 
 My faith unshaken in thy word ; 
 In praise I spend my parting breath, 
 And hail this joyful hour of death ; 
 I 've waited long to hear thy call, 
 My Father, Friend, my God of all I 
 I go to rest and bliss above, 
 To sing my great Redeemer's love."
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 571 
 
 " In memory of Joseph Walton, sonjof Lieut Timothy Walton, who was drowned 
 in Lynn, Sept. 17, 1792, in his 2jd year. 
 
 " Death, thou hast conquer'd me, 
 
 I, by thy dart, am slain, 
 But Christ has conquer'd thee, 
 I shall rise again." 
 
 " In memory of Mr. Edmund Eaton, who lost his life by the fall of the Swing 
 Bridge in Charlestown, Jany i, 1800, Aged 33. 
 
 " Death often strikes unseen and unexpected. Frail is man. Scarce were the wishes 
 of the New Year's morn exchanged, when fell the tender husband, brother, son. And 
 great, as sudden, was the mourners' grief." 
 
 " In memory of Deacon Ebenezer jHopkins, who -died Feb. 21, 1796, Aged 75 
 years. 
 
 " He was strong in the doctrine of free unmerited grace, and exhibited to the world 
 that he had been with Jesus ; and died with a firm hope of a glorious immortality. 
 
 " The greatest purity 
 Attain'd on earth, I would deny, 
 Nor good confess in name or thing, 
 But Christ my Lord, my life, my King." 
 
 "In memory of Sophia Prentiss, daughter of the late Rev. Caleb & Mrs. Pamela 
 Prentiss, who died Oct 12, Act 25. 
 
 " Taste, Fancy, Virtue, Piety, combined, 
 Enlarg'd, improv'd her heaven born mind. 
 To pale disease she gave her early breath, 
 But courted more tha.nffar'<f the approach of death." 
 
 In 1846, the town burial-ground having become so fully occupied 
 that the selection of eligible spots for single burials was difficult, and 
 the securing of sufficient room therein for family lots wholly impracti- 
 cable ; and as there were no suitable adjacent lands obtainable with 
 which to enlarge it, sundry individuals, perceiving the necessity for a 
 new place of sepulture, and appreciating the desirableness and value of 
 family burial lots, took measures for the formation of a private ceme- 
 tery company, and became organized and incorporated under the Gen- 
 eral Laws by the name of the " Proprietors of the Lake Side Ceme- 
 tery." This organization was effected in 1846. A tract of fourteen 
 acres of land on the westerly side of the lake and bordering thereon, 
 had been previously secured, at a cost of $ 1,400. The westerly part 
 of this tract, reserving a street over the same, was soon after sold by 
 the company for $1,200, and the balance, about seven acres, was en- 
 closed and laid out into avenues, paths, lots, and bowers, from a design 
 furnished by Chas. H. Hill, Esq , now of Wakefield.
 
 572 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The lots, about four hundred in number, were appraised at an aver- 
 age price of five dollars each, and on Oct. 15, 1846, the choice of 
 these lots was sold at public auction, and about one hundred of them 
 were taken. 
 
 On the same day of the sale the grounds were consecrated as a cem- 
 etery, by public exercises, in a bower of grape-vines, on the premises, 
 consisting of a very able and pertinent address by Rev. Caleb Stetson, 
 then of Medford, the singing of the following original hymns and other 
 appropriate services by the resident clergy. 
 
 " Together we have gathered now, 
 
 Upon the fair Lake Side, 
 Old men and gray, with wrinkled brow, 
 
 And youthful forms of pride, 
 We 've come with pleasing thoughts tho' grave, 
 
 This spot to consecrate, 
 To bid the flowers their perfumes wave 
 
 Above death's iron gate ! 
 
 " And here we '11 build for those we love, 
 
 A tomb beneath the trees ; 
 That nature's song may swell above, 
 
 In sweetest melodies ; 
 For friends and for ourselves a tomb, 
 
 When we are earth's no more, 
 When are exchang'd its joys and gloom, 
 
 For brighter fadeless shore. 
 
 " And here, as oft in coming years, * 
 
 Our children's children tread, 
 Glad thoughts will rise to quell their fears, 
 
 Among the silent dead. 
 Oh ! hallowed spot ! A cherished grave 
 
 Beneath the flowery sod ! 
 The form shall rest by sparkling wave, 
 
 The spirit with its God ! " 
 
 " When all life's cares with us are gone, 
 And we have reach'd our journey's bourne, 
 With woes distress'd, with age oppress'd, 
 And longing for a place of rest ; 
 How sweet 't will be to find a home, 
 Where we can lay the weary frame, 
 Mid fragrant flowers and vine-wrought bowers, 
 On this dear Lake Side seat of ours.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 573 
 
 M And know that we 've secured a bed 
 . In this fair garden of the dead, 
 
 Where friends will love to come and rove, 
 
 And weep and hope and look above ; 
 
 Where roses will embalm the air, 
 
 And warbling birds their requiems bear, 
 
 And shady trees, with sighing breeze, 
 
 And rippling waves our dirges raise. 
 
 " Oh ! sacred spot ! may angels tread 
 These mansions of the coming dead ; 
 Or, hov'ring o'er this field and shore, 
 Illume these pathways evermore ; 
 Be ever ready, on their wings, 
 Rising above all earthly things, 
 To bear aloft to heavenly day 
 The souls, who here have dropp'd their clay." 
 
 Additional territory has been purchased and reclaimed, from time to 
 time, for enlarging the limits of the grounds, on which some one hun- 
 dred additional lots have been laid out, making the present number of 
 lots five hundred, of which nearly four hundred have been sold. 
 
 A plan of the cemetery lands, drawn by C. W. Eaton, Esq., assisted 
 by Mr. B. F. Abbott, the efficient superintendent of the cemetery, who 
 has always taken a lively and intelligent interest in its improvement, 
 has been lithographed. 
 
 A still further addition of adjacent land has been secured for future 
 enlargement of the cemetery. The present price of lots to residents is 
 twenty-five dollars each. Any person, owning a lot, may become a 
 member of the corporation by signing the by-laws. 
 
 This cemetery has been planted with trees, shrubbery, and flowers ; 
 many of its lots have been enclosed with iron fences, and adorned with 
 marble and granite monuments, mausoleums, etc., and with its imposing 
 water scenery, is already a most beautiful, romantic, and interesting 
 spot 
 
 The officers of the corporation at present, are : President, Edward 
 Mansfield ; secretary, B. F. Abbott, and trustees, ex qffirio ; treasurer, 
 Edward Mansfield ; trustees, Samuel Kingman, Hiram Eaton, E. S. 
 Upham, Oliver Walton, 2d ; superintendent, B. F. Abbott ; sextons, 
 Jotham Walton, and Oliver Walton, ad.
 
 574 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 REBELLION HISTORY AND RECORD. 
 
 WHEN the clouds of the War of the Rebellion began to overshadow 
 our beloved land, and the mutterings of their thunder began to be heard 
 in the distance, the inhabitants of the three Readings, true to that 
 spirit of liberty and patriotism which animated their fathers and prede- 
 cessors in the war of the Revolution, were found to be almost unani- 
 mously loyal to the old flag, alive to the wickedness of the treasonable 
 insurrection, and ready to go in for the defence and preservation of the 
 Union at all hazards and at any cost. And when the reverberations 
 of actual conflict filled the air, the people of these towns, in common 
 with those of most other towns in the free States, uprose with alacrity 
 and determined resolution boldly to meet the crisis. 
 
 There was at this time but one military organization, the " Richard- 
 son Light Guard," in the three towns. This company, with its armory 
 and head-quarters at South Reading, was composed, mainly, of citizens 
 of South Reading, but contained members from other portions of old 
 Reading. It was a well-disciplined and flourishing corps. 
 
 By the wise foresight and sagacious action of Gov. Andrew, who 
 seemed endued with prophetic ken, this company had. been notified, 
 some days before the attack upon Fort Sumter, to be in readiness at a 
 minute's warning to rally and march to the defence of the Government. 
 
 To the honor of the company be it recorded, that they not only sig- 
 nified their willingness to be thus called upon, but also expressed a 
 strong desire to do and dare in defence of the Union, and longed for 
 an opportunity ; and especially after the attack upon Fort Sumter, were 
 earnest and even clamorous for orders to go. 
 
 It was then understood that orders to proceed to Washington would 
 probably come soon ; that the town bell would be rung upon their 
 reception, when the Guards would be expected to rally at their place of 
 parade. 
 
 On the ever memorable igth of April, 1861, the desired orders came, 
 and at 12 o'clock, noon, of that day, the old town bell struck its loudest 
 peals, and all understood the stirring signal. The Guards hurried to
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 575 
 
 the armory, and before 5 o'clock of the same day, Capt. Locke, with his 
 company in full ranks, and all its members inspired with patriotic ardor 
 and heroic zeal to fight in defence of their country's flag, was at the 
 railroad station to take the train. And amid a crowd of earnest citi- 
 zens, who had thronged about the railroad station to witness their 
 departure, some of whom addressed to these departing heroes pathetic 
 and glowing words of encouragement and hope, with exhortations to 
 bravery and gallantry, and promises of support, of gratitude, and future 
 fame ; and amid the prayers, the tears, the tender leave-takings and 
 farewells of relatives and friends, all electrified by the exciting news, 
 just received, of the bloody tragedy which had that day occurred in the 
 city of Baltimore, amid all these stirring incidents and circumstances, 
 and after an impressive invocation of Heaven's blessing upon the expe- 
 dition by Rev. Mr. Phillips, these gallant soldiers went forth to glorious 
 war. 
 
 LIEUT. J. H. WOODFIN. 
 
 The company were enlisted for three months ; were stationed in 
 Alexandria, in Virginia, where they performed valuable service in guard- 
 ing and protecting the National Capital ; fought bravely in the first
 
 576 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 battle of Bull Run, in which some of their number were wounded, and 
 three were taken prisoners. 
 
 At the expiration of their term of enlistment, the company (except 
 the three soldiers who had been taken prisoners) returned to South 
 Reading, where a public reception awaited them. 
 
 On their arrival at the railroad station, in South Reading, they were 
 saluted by shouts of welcome from a great multitude of the inhabitants 
 of South Reading, Reading, and other neighboring towns, and were 
 addressed by Edward Mansfield, Esq., chairman of the board of select- 
 men in South Reading, in these appropriate words : 
 
 Mr. Commander and Soldiers : 
 
 I can hardly realize that we are in the midst of a civil war, that a 
 portion of the States of this once united and happy Republic are in 
 open and wicked rebellion against the constitutional government estab- 
 lished and cemented by the blood of our fathers, under which they 
 and we have lived and prospered, and to which, in a great measure, we 
 are indebted for our social and religious blessings. 
 
 I can hardly realize that the cry " to arms " has been echoed and 
 re-echoed over hill and vale and mountain-top, to our New England 
 homes, and that now the tramp of the war-horse and the glitter of 
 arms present a spectacle awfully sublime on our American soil. 
 
 I can hardly realize that at the call, and in behalf of my fellow-citi- 
 zens, I now stand before a portion of an American army, recently 
 organized for the defence of our dearest rights, for the better estab- 
 lishment and perpetuation of all that is sacred in government. Yet 
 truth, which is sometimes stranger than fiction, declares this state of 
 things to exist. 
 
 I recognize before me a part of our own community, from whom, for 
 a time, we have been separated, who, when a dark and portentous 
 cloud hung over the capital and the nation, and the administration 
 inquired who would go to avert the impending danger, promptly 
 responded, " Here are we, send us." 
 
 Yes, I recognize you, though the vertical sun of -summer has bronzed 
 your cheeks and in part disguised your manly brows ; though the 
 effacing fingers of care and toil have traced their lines upon your per- 
 sons and your habiliments, still I recognize you. 
 
 I recognize the forms that left us on the igth of April last, just as the 
 news reached the village that our neighbors had been struck down in 
 Baltimore, and had been marred and slain by traitors. That was a thrill- 
 ing moment, and all our hearts beat quickly with feverish emotions, as we
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 577 
 
 bid you adieu for the present, feeling that we were looking upon some 
 of your faces perhaps for the last time in life. 
 
 But our hearts still lingering with you, and with the cause you had 
 espoused, we followed you in thought to Boston, to Annapolis, thence in 
 part through an enemy's country, by railroad and on foot, until, way- 
 worn and weary, you arrived at Washington to guard one of our most 
 important public buildings from threatened destruction by an invet- 
 erate foe. 
 
 The scenes of hardships, of toils and sacrifices, of physical suffer- 
 ings since endured, I need not, I cannot describe ; they are already a 
 part of your experience by too full a realization. 
 
 Real war is not the image which we have seen painted before us on 
 occasions of parade and review. It has a sterner reality, reaching 
 deep down into the soul, and moving to sighs and tears, and groans 
 and blood. 
 
 With profound gratitude would we acknowledge an overruling hand 
 in the care and protection over you in all your pathway of dangers 
 and sufferings. 
 
 Though the peril to our country is not yet averted, though the vic- 
 tory is not yet achieved, you have thus far fulfilled the mission assigned 
 to you ; you have performed well your part in the great drama which 
 is now being enacted, and when the din of arms shall cease, when 
 the smoke of battle shall be cleared away, and the history of this 
 second war for our independence shall be written, then will Company 
 B, of South Reading, claim an honorable mention on one of its bright- 
 est pages. 
 
 Worn out with marchings and with fatigues in actual service on the 
 field of battle, we welcome you back to our quiet village to recover 
 your exhausted natures. We welcome you to the kind congratulations 
 of neighbors and citizens, who have met in these numbers with warm 
 and sympathetic hearts to receive you. We welcome you to the 
 sacred endearments of home, made doubly dear by a painful absence. 
 We welcome you to the embraces of friendship, by companions, by 
 children and parents, by brothers, sisters, and loved ones. We wel- 
 come you to the pure and invigorating air of freedom, which circulates 
 nowhere so freely as in these more northern climes. 
 
 But our rejoicing to-day is tempered with sorrow. Of the seventy 
 and nine who departed from us, where are the three ? They are not 
 here to receive our greetings ; their friends in silence mourn ; but 
 their names and their valor shall be held in lasting remembrance. And 
 may the glad sound which fell upon the ear of the patriarch of old, 
 73
 
 578 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " Joseph is yet alive," vibrate through our saddened spirits, and we yet 
 be permitted to make merry with our friends, because these our broth- 
 ers are alive again, though lost they now are found. 
 
 Soldiers and friends, in behalf of your fellow townsmen and citizens, 
 I have extended to you this welcome, but they, through the president 
 (Hon. Lilley Eaton) and other gentlemen, at another place, will give 
 you a more hearty greeting in stronger and more eloquent words, to 
 which mine were intended but as a prelude. 
 
 May the rights of the people to govern soon be established beyond 
 the possibility of a contingency ; and may the members of the Rich- 
 ardson Light Guard long live to uphold and enjoy the blessings of 
 union and liberty, for which they have bared their bosoms so nobly. 
 
 At the conclusion of Mr. Mansfield's remarks, the company were 
 escorted, amid the ringing of bells, the roaring of cannon, the display 
 
 MAjOri HORACE M. WARRbN.
 
 OP THE TOWN OF READING. 579 
 
 of banners, and the rejoicings of the people, to the common in South 
 Reading, where, in a spacious tent, with greetings of rejoicing, in 
 strains pathetic, with flowing verse and martial music, these bronzed 
 heroes were welcomed to the festal boards, and to the homes and hearts 
 of the people. 
 
 In the same year, soon after the departure of the Richardson Light 
 Guard for the seat of war, Major John Wiley, 2d, of South Reading, 
 who had been an accomplished officer in the volunteer militia, was 
 anthorized to recruit a company of "three years' men," in South 
 Reading and vicinity, which he succeeded in doing, and of which he 
 was chosen and commissioned captain. The members of this com- 
 pany belonged principally to South Reading, but included some from 
 Reading and other neighboring towns. They were attached to the 
 Sixteenth Massachusetts Regiment, and went into camp at Cambridge 
 in July, 1861, and left for the seat of war Aug. 17, 1861 (see roll of 
 this company in this chapter). 
 
 This company served in Virginia in the grand army of the Potomac, 
 and during its three years' term performed much severe duty, endured 
 many hardships and fatigues, engaged in many hard-fought battles, and 
 many of its members were either killed in battle, or died of wounds 
 and disease, or of starvation in rebel prison pens ; but it ever sus- 
 tained the reputation of a brave, faithful, efficient, and gallant corps, 
 and is entitled to the everlasting gratitude and highest honors of all 
 loyal people. 
 
 LlfcUf. B. F. BARNARD.
 
 5 So 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 During the summer of 1861, the spirit of patriotism of the citizens 
 in the three Readings was lively and overflowing. Contributions of 
 those inestimable sinews of successful war, brave men, were proffered 
 to the Government in profusion. 
 
 Drill clubs were formed in the several towns, composed of numerous 
 members, young and old, who earnestly trained themselves in the tac" 
 tics of war. 
 
 The Star Spangled Banner was unfurled from liberty pole and church 
 tower, and from dwelling, school-house, and hill-top, all around us. 
 
 New flag-staffs were erected, and the heavens were gay with the 
 bright symbols of liberty, union, and determined victory. 
 
 In South Reading and Reading, lofty masts were raised upon the 
 respective commons, still standing, from which were unrolled, with im- 
 posing ceremonies, large and beautiful ensigns. 
 
 An account of the services at a flag-raising in South Reading, on 
 July 4, 1 86 1, may serve as [a specimen of many other similar occa- 
 sions : 
 
 A procession was formed near the town house, under the direction 
 of N. S. Dearborn, Esq., chief marshal, consisting of the Yale engine 
 company, Capt. Dunn, with engine following, drawn by horses ; com- 
 pany of Massachusetts volunteers, Capt. Wiley (just recruited) ; 
 South Reading drill club, Capt. Carpenter ; the thirteen schools and a 
 numerous retinue of citizens. The engine and horses were handsomely 
 decorated, and the pupils made a fine appearance with wreaths, 
 flowers, and appropriate banners. 
 
 The procession, preceded by the Maiden Band, after marching 
 through some of the principal streets, formed in front of the speaker's 
 stand and awning, erected for the purpose, near the flag-staff, on the 
 common, where the following exercises occurred. 
 
 The president of the day, Lilley Eaton, said : 
 
 ''Ladies and Gentlemen, My duty on the present occasion is an 
 honorable, a pleasant, and an easy one ; for while it is not expected of 
 me that I shall pour forth those streams of eloquent sentiment that 
 the occasion demands and is calculated to inspire, still I have the 
 honor to be intrusted with those magic keys, that at a touch will un- 
 lock and uplift the vocal gates, and let come a gushing flood of invo- 
 cation and patriotism and harmonious enthusiasm that shall animate* 
 refresh, and gladden all our hearts." 
 
 Whereupon the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of the Baptist Church, at the 
 president's request, offered a most fervent and appropriate invoca- 
 tion.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING 
 
 5 8I 
 
 The president then continued : 
 
 " We are assembled on the anniversary of that declaration, which 
 has made this day the consecrated birthday of our beloved country's 
 independence ; and we are met together under very unusual, peculiar, 
 and exciting circumstances. Our government, the freest, wisest, and 
 most prosperous that has ever existed ; our grand palladium of liberty, 
 law, union, and safety ; that was secured by the toil, sufferings, and 
 valor, established by the wisdom and sanctified by the blood of our 
 heroic and sainted forefathers ; a government beloved by the immortal 
 Washington, and his illustrious compeers, is assailed by a most gigantic 
 and wicked rebellion. Armed traitors, led by ambitious, unprincipled, 
 and talented men, are seeking its overthrow ; and are now, like the 
 Goths and Vandals of old, hovering around the nation's capital, furi- 
 ous for its possession, and swearing that that starry banner, that sym- 
 bolizes freedom, law, and union, that has waved triumphantly over 
 many a battle-field, and commands respect in every clime and on every 
 sea, shall be struck down and trampled in the dust. 
 
 But we rejoice to know, thanks to those brave Massachusetts soldiers 
 who hastened early to Washington, that the Stars and Stripes still wave 
 from the great dome of the Capitol ; that our Government still lives 
 and moves and has a being ; that our chosen and honored civil and 
 military chiefs still stand, tall and strong, wise and brave, fearless and 
 hopeful amid the storm ; that the genius of freedom from slumber is 
 waking ; that the sons of liberty, in valiant hosts, have rallied and 
 rushed, and are still rallying and rushing, to the rescue. Joyfully and 
 gratefully do we call to mind at this time, that at the first tocsin of 
 alarm our own Guards, our sons, brothers, and husbands, were seen 
 rallying, and at the earliest possible moment were observed hastening 
 to the post of danger; that they are to-day standing in the front ranks 
 of that bright array of loyal heroes, who are staying and forcing back 
 that fearful tide of treason that threatens to overwhelm the land. We 
 rejoice, too, to think and know that another company of our gallant 
 sons is organized, and its members ready and earnest to join their 
 brethren in the field. Their presence with us to-day adds interest to 
 our exercises ; but they are soon to depart to fight for freedom, for 
 union, and for their country's flag ; may they go resolute and cheerful ; 
 our best wishes and most fervent aspirations will go with them ; may 
 they return covered with laurels, or, reposing upon them ! 
 
 We forget not the reserved corps before us, no less patriotic and 
 brave, who are educating themselves in military science, and preparing 
 themselves to follow when necessary.
 
 582 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 The firemen, too, are here, and we greet their presence, believing 
 that, whenever their country calls them, they are ready, like Ellsworth's 
 Fire Zouaves, to go forth to the contest, whether it be to fight fire, or 
 fire and fight ; and either or both will be well done (Dunn). 
 
 The schools are here, the coming hope of the country ; we joyfully 
 hail their smiling presence ; may they catch the inspirations of the 
 occasion, study its symbols, understand its memorials and stirring inci- 
 dents, and make improvement in that knowledge and wisdom that will 
 the better enable them to grow up into the stature of perfect and intelli- 
 gent free-men. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen, Amid all these eventful movements, excit- 
 ing associations, and glorious memories, we meet to-day to unfurl anew 
 the American ensign ; to swing it from our new liberty pole ; to swear 
 fresh allegiance to our Star Spangled Banner, and to all the glorious 
 principles of freedom, equal rights, law and union, which this bright 
 flag symbolizes. 
 
 This is no party or sectarian color ; it is the national flag, procured 
 by the united contributions of all. It is, therefore, the " Union Ameri- 
 can Flag," and represents not only the Federal union of these States, 
 but also that glorious, democratic union of the people, which recent 
 treason and rebellion have served to produce and cement in the free 
 States of this Republic. 
 
 I would fain wish that there still lingered among us one, at least, of 
 those brave old Revolutioners, whose heroic deeds first gave meaning 
 and beauty to this banner, that I might ask his aid in again unfurling 
 it to the breeze ; but, alas ! the besom of time has swept them all away, 
 not one remains. With your permission, therefore, I will call upon 
 our venerable and esteemed friend, Capt. and Hon. Thomas Emerson, 
 who inherits some of the best blood of the Revolution, whose birth was 
 nearly coeval with that of the Republic, and who loves the Government 
 and Union which this flag represents. I will call upon him to unfurl, 
 shake out, and lift up our new our old the starry banner of free- 
 dom, of union, of victory." 
 
 (Here the flag unrolled and rose majestically upward.) 
 
 The president continuing: 
 
 "Let it rise to its mast-top its topmost height! In the glowing 
 words of our eloquent as well as excellent Governor, 
 
 " Let it float on every wind, to every sea and every shore, from 
 every hill-top and house-top let it wave ; down every river let it run. 
 Respected it shall be, not in Massachusetts only, but in South Carolina 
 also, on the Mississippi as on the Penobscot, in New Orleans as
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 583 
 
 in Cincinnati, in the Gulf of Mexico as on Lake Superior, and 
 by France and England, now and forever. Catch it, ye breezes, as -it 
 swings aloft. Fan it every wind that blows ;* clasp it in your arms, and 
 let it float forever as the ensign of the Republic ! " 
 
 The multitude were then addressed in eloquent and patriotic phrase, 
 by Hon. Thomas Emerson, Hon. P. H. Sweetser, Rev. E. A. Eaton, 
 and Prof. Elam Porter. 
 
 Poetic recitations by Mrs. E. C. Poland and Miss Sarah J. W. McKay 
 followed. 
 
 The following original poem was then pronounced by John Sullivan 
 Eaton, Esq. : 
 
 Beneath the flag our fathers wrought, 
 
 We stand, to-day, most proudly ; 
 Beneath that flag the fathers fought, 
 
 Where cannon rattled loudly. 
 
 That flag they bore on many a field, 
 
 Rent with war's wild commotion 
 To victory, bore its star-gemmed shield, 
 
 On bloody plain and ocean. 
 
 Where fiery shells the hottest flew, 
 
 Those gallant heroes bore it, 
 Where Indian arrows pierc'd it through, 
 
 And British lances tore it 
 
 It floated from the bending mast, 
 
 O'er the blue billows dashing ; 
 While from the port-holes, red and fast, 
 
 The fierce broadsides were flashing. 
 
 While crashing ball and bursting shell 
 
 Sent the firm timbers flying, 
 Clear, 'bove the smoke, it floated still. 
 
 And sailors clasp'd it, dying. 
 
 That flag has flutter'd in the air 
 That sweeps the polar seas, 
 
 Its red and blue have glitter'd fair, 
 Amidst the orange trees. 
 
 Where winter stern, with icy bars, 
 River and lake had fetter'd, 
 
 The gallant Kane unfurl'd the Stars, 
 With Union, golden-letter'd :
 
 584 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Upon the ice-hill's topmost crest, 
 Beyond the sunlight lying, 
 
 That noble leader, fearless, prest, 
 And set our flag a-flying. 
 
 From Rocky Mountains' lofty crag, 
 No human footprint bearing, 
 
 Was fair unfurl'd our nation's flag, 
 By John Fremont, the daring. 
 
 On every sea, behold our sails, 
 And ev'ry river flecking ; 
 
 Behold that flag, on balmy gales, 
 Each lofty peak bedecking ! 
 
 On all the free pure airs of heaven, 
 Its colors flash undying 
 
 By heroes, to their children given 
 They '11 keep those colors flying ! 
 
 Shall Treason, 'neath that starry flag, 
 
 Its snaky head upraising, 
 To depth infernal, seek to drag 
 
 The Union, all are praising ? 
 
 It may it has ! E'en now, they march 
 
 Along our Southern border, 
 Led by a traitor, keen and arch 
 
 Those minions of disorder. 
 
 Are words of him who calmly sleeps 
 
 Upon the earth's cold pillow, 
 In Marshfield's sod while round him sweeps 
 
 The broad Atlantic billow ; 
 
 Are all the clear and warning words, 
 By the great Statesman spoken 
 
 In rush of trade, in lapse of years, 
 Unheeded, and forgotten ? 
 
 Not yet ! The heroes' worthy sons 
 
 Hold to the Union, steady ; 
 With purpose firm, they man their guns ; 
 
 Are for the conflict ready.
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 When the war summons, startling, rang 
 
 Along our Northern border 
 How then, our sturdy yeomen sprang, 
 
 In answer to that order. 
 
 From the white sands that belt the Cape, 
 
 Wet with the spray of ocean, 
 To where the trees of Berkshire bend 
 
 With fair and gentle motion ; 
 
 From Essex' smooth and fruitful farms, 
 
 Where flows the Merrimack ; 
 From Concord's glorious, hallow'd plains, 
 
 Bright with the martyr's track ; 
 
 From Bunker's swelling mount of green, 
 Where stands the granite tow'ring. 
 
 Where Prescott fought and Warren fell, 
 'Midst British bullets show'ring ! 
 
 Our " Spindle City " sends its youth 
 
 First sacrifice to Freedom ! 
 It sends, as well, its lawyers forth, 
 
 When dangerous " cases " need 'em ! 
 
 Our own dear town, with ready hand, 
 Its treasures quick un-Z^-ing 
 
 When rang the call, sent forth its " Guard," 
 'Round Freedom's banner flocking ! 
 
 God guard them in their distant camp, 
 
 By the Potomac's waters ; 
 And bring them safe to peaceful homes, 
 
 To mothers, wives, and daughters ! 
 
 From many a wild and rocky gorge, 
 With mountain-spring outgushing 
 
 New Hampshire's earnest, rugged sons, 
 To guard their soil, came rushing. 
 
 From the far bounds of rocky Maine, 
 Where rush Penobscot's waters 
 
 Sprang forth the hardy lumber-men, 
 Cheer'd by her blooming daughters. 
 
 From where the Hudson rolls in pride, 
 
 By cro'nest, and the Highlands, 
 . Bearing, at length, his silver tide, 
 
 Along Manhattan's islands ; 
 74 
 
 585
 
 586 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HIS TOR Y 
 
 On fair Ohio's waving grounds, 
 
 In many a sunny valley, 
 The trumpet for the battle sounds 
 
 The sons of freemen rally ! 
 
 O'er prairies green the columns wind, 
 
 In firm and shining order ; 
 And Western traitors wake, to find 
 
 A " Lyon " on their border ! 
 
 O'er all the acres, free and broad, 
 With food for millions teeming, 
 
 Banners uplift and gay plumes nod, 
 And bayonets are gleaming. 
 
 Our Eagle has his wings outspread, 
 And floats on mighty pinion ; 
 
 Our armies march with fearless tread, 
 And shake the " Old Dominion " ! 
 
 With Leaders true our columns press, 
 To silence batteries, rebel ; 
 
 The war-cry ringing as they charge 
 " Ells-worth Winthrop Greble." 
 
 He who on bloody Mexic plains, 
 Made sure and dread advances, 
 
 Now guides our military trains, 
 And calculates the chances. 
 
 Brave Winfield Scott enjoying fame, 
 More worth than youthful Morphy's, 
 
 Moves new the pieces in this game, 
 Where Empires are the trophies ! 
 
 Calmly he sits, and views the field, 
 
 As on a chess-board gazing ; 
 While his firm squares which will not yield, 
 
 Entrenchments strong are raising. 
 
 " Old Abraham," the faithful one, 
 
 Alone has supervision ; 
 And all the hero's moves are done 
 
 With infinite precision. 
 
 The men he moves, as by a spring, 
 Are, 'round his " Castle," closing, 
 
 And soon will " check " the " Cotton-King " 
 The foe he 's now opposing !
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Ne'er fear the end, nor chide delay ; 
 
 Hath Heaven no finger in it ? 
 Treason, be sure, will lose the day, 
 
 And Truth and Right will win it! 
 
 i 
 
 Be sure, a brighter day shall come, 
 A calm and peaceful morrow ; 
 
 No battle-shout, no roll of drum, 
 No wailing cry of sorrow; 
 
 Peace, with her olive-wreath, shall bind 
 
 Our States, again United, 
 And plant with flowers the sunny fields 
 
 War's cruel breath has blighted ! 
 
 Flag of the free hearts' hope, float on ! 
 
 No single star dissever ! 
 No stripe erased, no glory gone ; 
 
 Thus let it float, forever ! 
 
 587 
 
 The exercises were interspersed with patriotic and inspiring songs 
 by the choir, and stirring music by the band. 
 
 UEUT. R. S. BECKWITH. 
 
 The i4th day of June, 1862, was signalized and made historic by 
 the return to town of members of the Richardson Light Guard, who 
 were taken captive by the rebels in the first battle of Bull Run, in 
 July, 1861; and by the impressive ceremonies of a public reception,
 
 588 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 performed in South Reading in honor of those returned heroes, and in 
 joy at their safe arrival. 
 
 Two of the returning soldiers, Sergeant Geo. W. Aborn and James 
 H. Greggs, had arrived in Boston some days before, and the third, 
 Frank L. Tibbetts, had reached New York, and was expected to reach 
 Boston in season to accompany his comrades to South Reading on the 
 day appointed to receive them. For some cause, to the universal regret, 
 Mr. Tibbetts was not present. 
 
 Yale's mammoth tent was pitched upon the 'common. The tables 
 therein for the festive repast were spread and loaded by the ladies of 
 the town. 
 
 Edward Mansfield, Esq., was appointed president of the day; N. S. 
 Dearborn, Esq., chief marshal ; and L. Eaton, Esq., orator. 
 
 At one o'clock, p. M., the people of the towns of South Reading, 
 of Reading, and of the surrounding towns generally, begun to assem- 
 ble in crowds upon the common, and soon after a procession was 
 formed, under direction of the marshal, consisting of the Richardson 
 Light Guard, under command of Capt. H. D. Degen, who had suc- 
 ceeded to the captaincy, accompanied by the Boston Brigade Band ; 
 military and civic guests ; reception committee in carriages ; president, 
 orator, and poet, in carriages ; clergymen, town officers, public schools, 
 citizens, etc. 
 
 The procession moved through some of the principal streets to the 
 Junction railroad station, there to await the arrival of the three o'clock 
 train from Boston, which was to bring the returning heroes. 
 
 Upon the arrival of the train it was found that Messrs. Aborn and 
 Greggs, two of the rescued prisoners, were 'on board in charge of Capt. 
 John W. Locke (recently the commander of the Guards, and subse- 
 quently appointed Lieut-Colonel of the soth Mass. Reg't), who imme- 
 diately conducted them to the committee appointed to receive them, 
 who were in waiting at the station. 
 
 Dr. S. O. Richardson, the chairman of this committee, and the god- 
 father, namesake, and long tried friend of the Guards, took them by 
 the hand, and thus addressed them : 
 
 "Gentlemen, This is indeed a happy moment to me, and one I 
 shall never forget. I take pleasure in informing you that Messrs. 
 Beebe, Wheeler, and myself have been delegated, in behalf of the 
 citizens of South Reading, to greet you on this . happy occasion, and 
 bid you a thrice joyful welcome. We hope to show you by the ovation 
 this afternoon, that although you have been from us a long time, as 
 prisoners of war, our love for you has not diminished. You have
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 589 
 
 shown us that on the battle-field you were full of pluck and fight, and 
 nobly risked your lives to restore the Stars and Stripes to our glorious 
 Union. Permit me to say you have done honor to yourselves, to this 
 town, and as members of the Richardson Light Guard have conferred 
 great honor on him for whom the corps is named. After leaving here, 
 we hope to introduce you from the " Rebels' Field " of the South, to a 
 " Man's-field" of the North, where you will receive a welcome by the 
 "Lily" of the field, surrounded by a host of friends, with warm hearts 
 and open arms, ready to receive and show you that you are not forgot- 
 ten even at home," 
 
 The returned soldiers were conducted to a carriage and joined the 
 procession, which took up a line of motion in return to the common ; 
 and passing through many of the principal streets, amid the ringing of 
 bells, the booming of cannon, and the congratulations of die people, 
 reached and er.tered the spacious pavilion. 
 
 After a sumptuous repast, prepared by the ladies of the town, and 
 after a voluntary by the band, a hollow square was formed by the 
 Richardson Light Guard in front of the speakers' stand, where the re- 
 turned soldiers appeared and were introduced by the committee, 
 through P. C. Wheeler, Esq,, to the president of the day, Edward 
 Mansfield, Esq., who descended from the platform to receive them and 
 escorted them to seats provided for them. Then followed the singing 
 of the "Star Spangled Banner" by the children, and a fervent invoca- 
 tion by Rev. C. R. Bliss, of the Congregational church. 
 
 The president then said : 
 
 Fellow-citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen, It was one of the most un- 
 welcome duties that I was ever called to perform, to extend the parting 
 hand, and utter farewell words, as more than one year ago the Rich- 
 ardson Light Guard left their friends and pleasant firesides, to protect 
 the nation's capital, and to engage in scenes of strife and blood. 
 
 But life has its changes. Sorrow and joy follow each other some- 
 times in quick succession. The company went forth and wrote their 
 names on the scroll of fame. Most of them in a few months returned 
 from the dreadful conflict with the smell of fire upon them, and some 
 with scars and wounds, and were joyfully welcomed by their numerous 
 friends. But a stricken few remained, and a terrible suspense hung 
 over us. The festive hour that witnessed our rejoicings over the many, 
 was also an hour of lamentation and mourning. It was like " Rachel 
 weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were 
 not." But later events proclaimed the welcome truth, " the missing 
 ones are yet alive." Waning hope revives, the lost are found, the
 
 590 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 scalding tears may yet be wiped away. What has since transpired 
 and been experienced will often be related in the social circle and at 
 the fireside of home. 
 
 After long months of imprisonment by a cruel, a merciless and re- 
 lentless foe, in loathsome warehouses and gloomy Southern jails, 
 cut off from the comforts of home, from the sympathy of friends, and, 
 I had almost said, from all communication with intelligent humanity, 
 these our friends are with us again to receive our congratulations, and 
 to enjoy repose in the quiet of home. 
 
 And it is with a pleasure commensurate with a former sadness, that 
 I now perform the part assigned me, and present them to one who has 
 been appointed to receive them in behalf of the citizens, and who well 
 knows how to speak fitting words of welcome on this joyous occasion 
 
 Friends, I refer to the Hon. Lilley Eaton, to whom 1 introduce and 
 commit you ; not now as prisoners in a Southern clime to a barbarous 
 people, but as free men, breathing the free air ot New England, and 
 under the protection of the Stars and Stripes of our glorious old 
 republic. 
 
 Mr. Eaton then delivered the following address : 
 
 Mr. President, I desire to thank you, sir, and through you the com- 
 mittee of arrangements, for this kind invitation ; above all, I desire to 
 thank heaven that I am permitted, on this rare and stirring occasion, amid 
 this brilliant, crowded, and earnest assembly, with the symbols of loyalty, 
 of union, of liberty, and of beauty, spread gayly around me, hearing and 
 witnessing these exultant demonstrations, with the animating notes of 
 victory coming in on the wings of every wind, that I am permitted, 
 under such glorious circumstances, to rise and declare my hearty con- 
 .currence and sympathy, and the sincere and united sympathy of all 
 this concourse, with all these expressions of congratulation, of warm 
 welcome, of joy and rejoicing,and of thanksgiving and gratitude to 
 the great disposer of events, in view of the return at last of those 
 heroic young men who, more than a year since, at the earliest 
 call of their country, when in sudden and fearful peril, buckled on 
 their armor, and hastened to the post of danger, to defend the sacred 
 ark of their country's capital, to protect the government of the union, 
 and to fight anew the battles of liberty ; and who now, after exposure 
 to bloody perils, having suffered severe hardships, privations, and im- 
 prisonment, and made to bear insults and reproach at the hands of 
 malicious enemies, for ten long and weary months, have at length, thanks
 
 OF THE TOWN OF PEADLVG. egi 
 
 be to the God of battles for the great and glorious victories that have 
 secured their release, been returned to us in life, health, and gladness. 
 
 Mr. President, and ladies and gentlemen, Amid the memories of 
 the exciting and startling events of the last year, as they come throng- 
 ing upon the mind, as suggested by the present occasion, and the emo- 
 tions of joy and pleasure awakened by recent victories, and in view of 
 the presence here in our midst of these heroes, rescued from captivity 
 and death, and of these other gallant youth, not less heroic and true 
 and worthy, who have spilled their blood for their country and for us 
 in the same great cause, and who, with the utmost propriety, are 
 included in the list of those whom we this day delight to honor, we 
 say, amid these recollections of the past, the felicities of the present, 
 and the hopes of the future, we know not what to say or how to speak ; 
 we are overcome and confused by the magnitude of our privilege. 
 
 We read that the ancient saints, " when the Lord turned again their 
 captivity, were like those that dreamed ; that their mouths were filled 
 with laughter and their tongues with singing, and they were led to 
 exclaim : ' The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are 
 glad."' 
 
 Thus do we find ourselves : the past seems like a dream, the present 
 full of joy, congratulation, thanksgiving, and hope. 
 
 But there are certain events and scenes recalled and revived by 
 the facts of the present occasion, that seem to stand out in bolder 
 relief than others. The first are those which occurred on the igth of 
 April of last year. The igth of April 1 most memorable day in the 
 calendar of liberty ! 
 
 Who of us who heard it, will ever forget the rousing clangor of the 
 old town bell, when at midday of that notable 19 th, it pealed forth its 
 startling tones of alarm and summons ? " To arms ! to arms ! The 
 Greek ! The Greek ! " We all understood its fearful import. Espe- 
 cially did our heroic band of volunteers understand it ; for at once, 
 without delay, at " double quick," they came from all quarters, and 
 were seen rushing forward and rallying at their rendezvous, and pre- 
 paring for their departure ; and ere the sun went down in the west, we 
 find them, all armed and furnished, and in full ranks, at the railroad 
 station waiting for the train. Who of us who were present will ever 
 forget that farewell at the station ! It will be recollected that at that 
 time the political heavens were dark and threatening ; the federal city, 
 with all its invaluable archives and treasures and prestiges, was in 
 fearful peril ; its connection with the North was cut off ; we had just heard 
 of the bloody massacre in the city of Baltimore, where our loyal troops
 
 59 2 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 who were hastening to the protection of the city of Washington, had 
 been shot down by the "plug uglies" of secession while peaceably pass- 
 ing along the streets of the Monumental City ; all was solicitude and 
 apprehension. But we forget not the courage, zeal, and cheerfulness 
 of that intrepid band, of whom our returned captives and their wounded 
 companions were not least, with which, with tearful eyes to be sure, 
 but with determined hearts, they bid farewell to their friends and fel- 
 low-citizens who were crowding around them, and that, amid the 
 cheers and prayers and tears of all, then went fearlessly and boldly 
 forth to fight, and if need required*to die in defence of the Union. 
 
 We are also reminded of the eventful battle of Bull Run. And 
 although we are ready to admit that some of the circumstances con- 
 nected with the progress and result of that fight were sad, regretful, 
 and disastrous ; yet it is our consolation to believe and know there 
 were at least two great facts, brought out and wrought out by that 
 battle, in which we can rejoice and glory, namely : 
 
 ist. That the Massachusetts troops generally, and the 5th Massa- 
 chusetts Regiment (to which our own friends belonged } particularly and 
 eminently, did their whole duty bravely and arduously on that fearful 
 occasion ; that the Richardson Light Guards were in the thickest of 
 that engagement ; that they faced the cannon's mouth and flying missiles 
 of the foe valiantly and fearlessly j that they spilled their blood on that 
 field, as more than one of their number can witness ; and that they did 
 not retreat until they were ordered to do so ; and that, even then, they 
 fell back reluctantly, believing at that time, as many of them supposed, 
 that they were just about to conquer the enemy. 
 
 Another glorious result, which, as we believe, that battle secured, was 
 the salvation of the city of Washington ; for although it is true that 
 the enemy were not dislodged from their strongholds, yet it is also true 
 that they were so damaged, crippled, and disabled that they were pre- 
 vented ever afterward from making any offensive operations against us 
 from that quarter, and the capital, until then in imminent danger, was 
 thereby and thereafter rendered secure. And this was done in a great 
 measure by Massachusetts soldiers, our own company included, both 
 before and at that contest. 
 
 We had the privilege of visiting the army of the Potomac, a few days 
 before the battle of Bull Run ; and as we were returning from the 
 encampments, passing through Alexandria, we stopped, with several 
 others with whom we were riding in the same carriage, to visit a noted 
 slave-pen in Alexandria, of which some of you have heard. We found 
 the gateway guarded by a Union sentinel, a Pennsylvanian, of Ger-
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 593 
 
 man descent, who demanded our pass. We told him we were Mas- 
 sachusetts men, who had called to take a look at the slave-pen, but that 
 we had got a pass ; and while we were producing it, he replied : " Mas- 
 sachusetts men ! God bless the Massachusetts boys ; for it was they 
 who, by their promptness and heroism, saved yonder capital from pil- 
 lage and destruction ; they are our truest and best soldiers. Just show 
 me," said he, weeping, " that you hail from Massachusetts, and I want 
 no other pass ; you can go where you please." 
 
 We mention this little incident to show the estimation in which our 
 own soldiers are held at the seat of war. We greet these young men, 
 therefore, as heroes true and honorable, and as so many saviors of 
 their country's capital. 
 
 But we must just refer briefly to the state of feeling that was excited 
 in our midst when the news of the Bull Run battle came home to our 
 people. 
 
 At first we heard that the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment was in the 
 front of the fight, was badly cut up, and that many of its men were 
 killed and wounded, how many and whom we heard not. 
 
 Then came the report that two of the Richardson Light Guard were 
 certainly killed, two more badly wounded, and many were missing, but 
 still no names. 
 
 Next came the story that Sergt. Aborn was killed by a cannon ball, 
 Eustis and Greggs wounded, and Greggs and Tibbetts missing, and 
 probably dead. 
 
 Oh who can depict the eager anxiety, the agonizing suspense, the 
 deep sorrow, that pervaded all our minds at this eventful time ! 
 
 Those were days of sadness and nights of sleeplessness with all 
 of us. 
 
 " Many a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weep- 
 ing ; " many a Rachel weeping for her children or dear friends, and 
 refusing to be comforted, because they were not. 
 
 Not many days after the battle the Richardson Light Guard, their 
 time of service having expired, returned to their homes ; three of their 
 number, Aborn, Greggs, and Tibbetts, still missing, and their fate un- 
 known ; none could then tell whether they were sainted heroes, gone up 
 to their reward, or were languishing in the dungeons of the enemy. 
 And although that returned company was received with joy and glad- 
 ness, was honored with a public reception and festival, and was wel- 
 comed by a greater assembly than had ever before convened upon our 
 common, who manifested the liveliest enthusiasm, as they looked upon 
 the embrowned countenances and labor-marked frames of these gallant 
 75
 
 594 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 men ; still a cloud of sadness and sorrow overshadowed all the proceed- 
 ings on account of the missing ones. 
 
 Soon, however, the voice of heavenly mercy was heard, saying : " Re- 
 frain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy work 
 shall be rewarded, and there is hope that thy children shall come again 
 from the land of the enemy, to their own border " ; and we then heard, 
 that the absent ones still lived, although in imprisonment and affliction. 
 
 But to-day we have the unspeakable joy of knowing that such has 
 been the success which has recently attended the armies of freedom 
 so great is the number of conquered rebels, that the balance of trade 
 in prisoners of war is greatly in our favor ; that indeed these impris- 
 oned traitors are becoming a drug upon our hands, and Yankee prison- 
 ers are commanding a premium ; that instead of one rebel being equal 
 in value to five Union men, as our enemies boastingly proclaimed at 
 the onset, it now appears that the converse of that proposition is true, 
 for our Government can now offer five of these revolting sinners for 
 one true man. 
 
 We rejoice, therefore, that in consequence of this signal success, we 
 are able to-day to greet the return of these young men to their long- 
 lost homes. 
 
 We proffer them our heartiest welcome ; we crown them with the 
 laurels which they have so bravely, so nobly, so dearly won. 
 
 To them, to these other young heroes by their side, who have fought 
 and bled for their country, to all our brave Guardsmen, whether pres- 
 ent here to-day, or again absent at the post of danger and duty, and to 
 all our patriotic and brave sons, who are fighting for the Stars and 
 Stripes, we award the tribute of our gratitude and respect ; we admit 
 their title to a high niche among the benefactors and heroes of their 
 country, and to a bright place upon the roll of fame. 
 
 In view, then, of the patriotism and prowess of all our young men 
 who have so cheerfully enlisted for the defence of the Government ; in 
 view of the sufferings, wounds, and imprisonment of these our honored 
 guests ; in view of the present bright and hopeful prospects of our 
 cause j and especially in view of our present joy and thanksgiving to 
 the Father of mercies, for this return, it is meet and just that we should 
 break forth into singing, with music and dancing, that we should kill 
 the fatted calf and make merry with our friends, " for these our sons 
 were dead and are alive again, were lost, and now are found." 
 
 " These brave men's perils now are o'er, 
 
 Their glad return we sing, 
 And loud and clear, with cheer on cheer, 
 Our joyous welcomes ring.
 
 OF ThE TOWN OF READING. 595 
 
 " Hurra ! Hurra ! it shakes the wave, 
 
 It thunders on the shore, 
 4 One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, 
 One nation evermore.' " 
 
 After " Home Again " was played by the band, Sergeant Aborn 
 being called upon, gave a graphic history of his capture, of his impris- 
 onment at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury, and related many 
 interesting incidents, which occurred during his ten months' incarce- 
 ration. 
 
 Then followed singing by the children ; and by the assembled mul- 
 titude, to the tune of " America," the following hymn, written for the 
 occasion by Hon. P. H. Sweetser : 
 
 RECEPTION HYMN. 
 
 Land that our fathers trod, 
 The favored land of God, 
 
 Light of the age ! 
 Foul treason doth defame, 
 And with its tongue of shame 
 Becloud thy glorious name, 
 
 Thy history's page ! 
 
 Let selfish lips be dumb, 
 Let patriot spirits come, 
 
 The true and brave, 
 And ask the mighty God, 
 Who, by his chastening rod, 
 D splays his power abroad, 
 
 Our land to save ! 
 
 May heaven our efforts bless, 
 And crown them with success, 
 
 Hence, evermore. 
 O let our watchwords be 
 Unio and Liberty, 
 And Death or Victory, 
 
 Till time is o'er I 
 
 Joy for the patriot dead, 
 Who rest in glory's bed 
 
 Their peaceful home ! 
 How bright their virtues shine 
 With lustre all divine ; 
 What sacred memories twine 
 
 Around their tomb !
 
 596 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 How well the heroes sleep ! 
 Ye, wlio in sadness weep, 
 
 Trust in his might 
 Who notes the sparrow's fall, 
 Whose love encircles all, 
 Whose power the dead shall call 
 
 To life and light ! 
 
 Through God's preserving care, 
 His bounties still we share, 
 
 And hither come 
 To greet our sons who gave 
 Bold fight our land to save ! 
 Welcome, ye tried and brave, 
 
 Thrice welcome home ! 
 
 Then followed a poem, composed and delivered by John Sullivan 
 Eaton, Esq., full of glowing patriotism and sweetly flowing rhythm.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 597 
 
 A short and stirring speech from Capt. Brastow, of Somerville, 
 music by the band, and singing by the children, concluded the public 
 exercises of the day. 
 
 In the autumn of 1862, the Richardson Light Guard again came 
 forward and offered to enlist for the nine months' service, were accepted 
 and went into camp at Boxford. Samuel F. Littlefield succeeded 
 to the command, in place of H. D. Degen, who hid been chosen cap- 
 tain in place of Capt. Locke, but who was subsequently appointed 
 quartermaster of the 5oth Mass. Reg't, of which regiment Capt. Locke 
 had been chosen lieutenant-colonel. This company at this time con- 
 sisted mainly of residents of South Reading, but included members 
 from Lynnfield, Melrose, and some other neighboring towns. 
 
 A new company was at this time recruited in Reading for the same 
 nine months' service, the members of which belonged principally in 
 Reading, but included recruits from North Reading, Wilmington, and 
 some other places. This company was commanded by Josiah W. 
 Coburn, of Reading, and also went into camp at Boxford. 
 
 Both companies were attached to the 5oth Mass. Reg't, and left 
 camp for the seat of war in November, 1862. They were sent to 
 Louisiana and were joined to the expedition under Gen. Banks. 
 
 They were stationed for some time at Baton Rouge, were sent to 
 guard exposed positions between Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, and 
 engaged in various expeditions in the vicinity until May, when they 
 were sent to Port Hudson to support the batteries in their assault upon 
 that fortress, and were present at its capture. They returned home in 
 August, 1863. 
 
 (See rolls of these companies in this chapter.) 
 
 In 1864 the Richardson Light Guard came forward for the third 
 time in support of the government, and enlisted for one hundred days, 
 and were stationed at Baltimore to protect that city from the threat- 
 ened raids of the enemy. 
 
 During the continuance of the war the requisitions, made from time 
 to time by government for additional recruits, were promptly complied 
 with by the three towns, the numbers furnished often exceeding the 
 requisition. 
 
 Efficient military or war committees were appointed in the several 
 towns, with authority, at whatever cost to keep the required quotas of 
 men constantly full. Money for the purpose was appropriated freely 
 and in full measure. 
 
 South Reading War Committee: D. B. Wheelock, Horatio DolU- 
 ver, John S. Eaton, Edward Mansfield, P. Folsom.
 
 GENEALOGICAL hISTCRY 
 
 Reading War Committee : H. P. Wakefield, Sylvester Harnden, 
 E. M. Horton, Gardner French, B. M. Boyce, S. E. Parker, and Wm. 
 Proctor. 
 
 The families of the absent soldiers were liberally cared for. Sol- 
 diers' relief and sanitary associations, male and female, were formed 
 in the several towns, which collected large sums of money and many 
 necessaries, which were sent to the hospitals in various parts of the 
 land. It is proper to mention, in this connection, that Mr. O. S. Moul- 
 ton and John Sullivan Eaton, Esqs., of South Reading, who were per- 
 forming service in the War Department at Washington, more or less of 
 the time during the war, were very useful in searching out and aiding 
 our sick and wounded soldiers in the various hospitals at and around 
 Washington, in dispensing the charities which our sanitary society had 
 raised, and in communicating the condition and wishes of the sick and 
 dying heroes to their friends at home. Rev. Michael Burdette, formerly 
 of South Reading, an army and hospital chaplain, performed similar 
 service at New Orleans. 
 
 Mr. Eaton, aforesaid, being at Washington, at the return of our army 
 to the capital, en route for home, after the surrender of the enemy, 
 enjoyed the high privilege of witnessing the triumphal review of the 
 victorious troops, which he describes as follows : 
 
 MARCHING HOME. 
 
 Soft breezes sweep the broad Potomac channel, 
 
 Whose waters seek the bay ; 
 And full, on gilded dome and marble panel, 
 
 Streams the clear sun of May. 
 
 Freshly, along the fair Virginian border, 
 
 Swing forest flower and leaf; 
 Sadly, the ensigns droop in mournful order, 
 
 For loss of nation's chief. 
 
 O'er sunlit crest, and o'er each fortress, guarded, 
 
 The starry banner floats ; 
 O'er cannon, ranged along the ramparts, swarded, 
 
 With silent, brazen throats ; 
 
 No death-notes from those polished portals pealing, 
 
 Their deadly duty done ; 
 The riven clouds, a peaceful light revealing, 
 
 And Freedom's battle won.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Through crowded avenue, and laurelled arches, 
 
 'Neath the imperial dome, 
 With steady step, each sun-browned soldier marches, 
 
 A conquering hero, home. 
 
 With glad, triumphal strains, and pennons streaming. 
 
 Move on the lines of steel ; 
 With glittering lances, and with sabres gleaming, 
 
 The serried columns wheel. 
 
 On far, historic fields, all battle shrouded, 
 
 Where awful carnage rolled, 
 Bore they, unawed, to victory unclouded, 
 
 The flag with stainless fold ! 
 
 On, unshrinking, through plowed and gory trenches 
 
 Swept by the iron hail, 
 With a courage that falters not, nor blenches, 
 
 Where bravest forms might quail, 
 
 Right onward there, the slippery rampart scaling ; 
 
 Across its bloody bars, 
 Their breasts, their shields 'gainst deadly foes assailing, 
 
 They bore the nation's stars ! 
 
 'T is meet, within the city of the nation, 
 
 Their standards they should plant ; 
 To soldiers worn and scarred, a proud ovation, 
 
 And to their leader, Grant 
 
 Proudly they ride the heroes of the valley, 
 
 Where crimson torrents ran, 
 Who 'neath a peerless banner ride and rally 
 
 The braves of Sheridan ! 
 
 Proudly they come, the men who sang hosannas, 
 
 As swept their columns wide, 
 With Sherman, marching over green savannas, 
 
 To meet the ocean-tide J 
 
 Proudly they march, the firm Potomac legions, 
 
 With purpose fixed as fates, 
 Fresh from Virginia's ransomed regions ; 
 
 From Richmond's open gates. 
 
 Grandly they march, to sweet melodious measures, 
 
 Proclaiming war's release ; 
 These guardians of a nation's priceless treasures, 
 
 These conquerors of peace ! 
 
 599
 
 600 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 As on the columns press, with notes victorious, 
 
 A shadow falls on me ; 
 The gallant heroes dead, now crowned and glorious, 
 
 Above these lines I see ! 
 
 Above, in air, where streams the sunlight clearest, 
 Those shadowy ranks appear ; 
 
 And with them, too, our latest-lost and dearest, 
 Bends from the shining sphere 1 
 
 Weave for the men so deathless deeds achieving, 
 Bright-chaplets, ne'er can dim 1 
 
 Such laurels now the nation's love is weaving 
 For these, for them, for him I 
 
 SOUTH READING. 
 
 ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PERSONS WHO WERE IN THE MILITARY OR NAVAL SER- 
 VICE, DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, FROM SOUTH READING. 
 
 Abbott, John, of South Reading, a widower, enlisted Feb. 14, 1865, in 
 ad Cavalry. 
 
 Abbott, Oramel G., of Reading, enlisted April 19, 1861, in Co. E, 
 5th Reg., for three months, as a private ; re-enlisted May i, 
 1861, in Co. D, 5oth Reg., as 2d Lieut. 
 
 Aborn, George W., of South Reading, son of John and Elizabeth, en- 
 listed April 19, 1861, as Sergt., for three months, in Co. E, 5oth 
 Reg. ; was born May 24, 1834 ; married ; taken prisoner at the 
 battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and confined at Richmond, Va., 
 New Orleans, La., and Salisbury, N. C. 
 
 Aborn, Henry, of South Reading, a grocer, brother ol the foregoing, 
 was born in South Reading in 1831 ; enlisted Sept. 1862, in Co. 
 E, of 5oth Reg., for three months, as private ; was discharged 
 from the service by reason of disability. 
 
 Aborn, Sylvester P., of South Reading, son of Jotham and Rebecca ; 
 born April 5, 1840; was a private ; enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, in the 
 2d Cavalry ; was killed at the battle of Resaca, Ga. 
 
 Aborn, Warren, of South Reading, brother of the above ; born Sept. 
 27, 1841 ; was a private and corporal; enlisted July 12, 1861, for 
 three years, in the i6th Reg. ; died in service, at South Reading^ 
 May 25, 1865. 
 
 Adams, Charles W., of South Reading, enlisted Aug. 20, 1864, in Co. 
 , K, of 4th Heavy Artillery.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Adams, Oliver S., of Reading, enlisted April 19, 1861, in the 5th 
 Reg., as private, for three months. 
 
 Adams, Samuel H., a moulder, born 1818, at Cape Elizabeth, Me.; 
 enlisted as a private, July 7, in Co. E, i6th Reg., for three years ; 
 was married ; discharged for inability, Aug. 28, 1861. 
 
 Allen, John F., son of John and Eunice ; born in Wilmington ; was a 
 cordwainer, of South Reading; enlisted July 8, 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; was private and Corporal; was taken 
 prisoner. 
 
 Alpaugh, Wm. E., enlisted in Co. A, of ist Batt. of Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Alexander, John R, of South Reading, son of John and Sarah ; born 
 in Boston, March 3, 1835 ; was a blacksmith ; married ; enlisted 
 Sept. 2, 1861, for three years, in Co. H, 26th Reg. ; a private. 
 
 Anderson, Charles E., of South Reading, son of James and Elizabeth 
 F. ; born in Boston, Nov. 16, 1838; a cordwainer; served with 
 the Richardson Light Guard in the three months' campaign ; 
 taken prisoner May 13, 1863 ; parolled after seven days; wounded 
 Dec. 13, 1863, near Fredericksburg, in arm and side ; discharged 
 Nov. 1865 ; re-enlisted as Sergeant in Vet. Res. Corps, Co. G, 6th 
 Reg. 
 
 Anderson, J. Henry, brother of the preceding ; born in Lynnfield, Sept. 
 24, 1840 ; enlisted for three months in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; a cord- 
 wainer; re-enlisted, July 18, 1862, in Co. K, 24th Reg.; was 
 wounded in left hand on Seabrook Island, May 3, 1863. 
 
 Andrews, Eldridge F., of South Reading ; a mason ; enlisted as private 
 for three years, in 35th Reg. 
 
 Anderson, Geo. W., of South Reading, son of John and Elizabeth, born 
 at Lynnfield ; enlisted for nine months in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; 
 private; died of consumption at South Reading, Sept. 1 6, 1863, of 
 disease contracted in the service. 
 
 Arlington, Geo. B., of South Reading, son of William ; joined Co. E, 
 of 8th Reg., July, 1864, and served 100 days. 
 
 Ash, Robert, of ist Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Atwood, Otis W., of South Reading ; born in Lynn ; private and cord- 
 wainer; enlisted Sept. 2, 1861, for three years, in ist Co. of Sharp- 
 shooters ; deserted Sept 17, 1863. 
 
 Atwood, Parker S. ; joined Co. E, 8th Reg., July, 1864, and served 
 100 days. 
 
 Aborn, Frederic W., of South Reading, son of Frederick and Joanna 
 D. ; born in Augusta, Me., in 1830; enlisted Aug. 1864, for one 
 year, in Co. K, Heavy Artillery ; private ; cordwainer. 
 76
 
 502 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Adams, John W., seaman. 
 
 Batchelder, Jeremiah S., of South Reading, son of Jeremiah and Caro- 
 line ; born in North Hampton, N. H., in 1834 ; private ; carpenter ; 
 enlisted July, 1861, for three years, in Co. E, i6th Reg.; trans- 
 ferred to the Vet. Res. Corps, Sept. 1863. 
 
 Baldwin, Thomas; enlisted in Co. I, 28th Reg., March 21, 1864. 
 
 Barnard, Benj. F., of South Reading, son of Jacob and Grace; born in 
 North Reading, 1829; merchant; enlisted and served with the 
 Richardson Light Guard in the three months' campaign ; joined 
 Co. K, of 23d Reg., as 2d Lieut., for three years ; promoted to ist 
 Lieut, in May, 1862 ; discharged in 1863 ; re-enlisted as Quarter- 
 master in 59th Vet. Reg., and commissioned ist Lieut., 1863. 
 
 Barber, Thomas, of South Reading, son of Abiel and Nancy ; born 
 1832, in Wickford, R. I. ; enlisted Sept., in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for 
 nine months; re-enlisted March, 1864, for three years in Signal 
 Corps, and discharged Aug. 1865, when his services were no longer 
 required. 
 
 Bancroft, Benj. F., of South Reading, son of Nathaniel and Sarah; 
 born in Reading, Jan. 18, 1813 ; enlisted July, 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. E, of i6th Reg., and was discharged Sept. 1861, for 
 disability. 
 
 Batchelder, Geo. W., of Melrose ; served in the three months' campaign ; 
 enlisted May, 1861, in Co. E, of 5th Reg. 
 
 Barker, Samuel S., of Andover, of Co. E, of 5th Reg. ; served in the 
 three months' campaign. 
 
 Baumister, George. * 
 
 Beckwith, Robert S., of South Reading, son of George and Margaret 
 S. ; born in Edinburgh, Scotland, March 8, 1840; carpenter and 
 cordwainer; enlisted April, 1861, in Co. E, of 5th Reg., and 
 served in the three months' campaign ; re-enlisted as Sergeant, for 
 three years, in Co. H, of 2oth Reg. ; promoted July, 1862, to be 
 2d Lieut. ; was wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862 ; died 
 of his wounds, Dec. 31, 1862, and was buried at South Reading; 
 a talented young officer. 
 
 Blakney, Tho. B., of South Reading; born* in 1838; enlisted July 
 1 86 1, for three years, in Co. I, nth Reg. ; mustered out in 1864. 
 
 Bladden, Thomas, of South Reading ; born in Ireland ; enlisted in Co. 
 E, of 69th Reg. 
 
 Bickford, Charles F., of South Reading, son of Charles and Mary ; born 
 in Wakefield, N. H., in 1830 ; enlisted July, 1861, for three years, 
 in Co. E, 1 6th Reg. ; re-enlisted April, 1864 ; transferred to Vet. 
 Res. Corps in Sept. 1863.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 603 
 
 Bixby, Hiram, of South Reading ; served in the three months' campaign 
 in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; a private. 
 
 Bond, James, Jr., of South Reading; born in England in 1832 ; enlisted 
 Dec. 1861, for three years, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; wounded at the 
 battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and died in consequence of the 
 wound, July 26, 1863 ; a private ; farmer ; married. 
 
 Brooks, Albert F., of South Reading, son of Franklin and Rebecca A. ; 
 born in Boston in 1835 > married ; a clerk ; enlisted July, 1861, in 
 Co. D, i3th Reg., for three years ; transferred July, 1864, to 
 39th Reg. 
 
 Bruce, Clarence M., of South Reading, son of Nathaniel F. ; born in 
 South Reading in 1842 ; enlisted for three years, in Co. E, i6th 
 Reg.; transferred to nth Mass. Battalion; re-enlisted, 1864; a 
 private and clerk. 
 
 Bruce, Jasper F., of South Reading, son of Nath'l ; enlisted in 1862 
 for 9 months in Co. E, 5oth Reg. 
 
 Brazell, Patrick, of South Reading; enlisted in 1864 for 3 years in 
 1 2th Battery. 
 
 Bryant, Wm. C., of South Reading, son of Ebenezer and Hannah; 
 was b. at South Reading 1821 ; enlisted as an artificer in 1862 in 
 Co. L, ist Heavy Artillery ; mustered out August, 1865, and re- 
 enlisted. 
 
 Bryant, Wm. Wallace, of South Reading, son of Wm. C. aforesaid, 
 and Ellen; b. in South Reading, March 12, 1845 ; a private; was 
 mortally wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and d. in hos- 
 pital in Washington city ; funeral at South Reading ; single. 
 
 Brown, Wm. B., of South Reading ; m. ; b. in South Reading in 1815 ; 
 enlisted in Co. B, of 24th Reg. 
 
 Bridger, Wm. J., of South Reading, son of Wm. and Mary, b. in Eng- 
 land in 1832 ; private; cordwainer; enlisted 1861, in Co. C, 32d 
 Reg., for 3 years ; discharged 1862, for disability ; re-enlisted in 
 i2th Reg. Vet. Reserve Corps, in 1864; married. 
 
 Britton, Wm. B. ; enlisted in ist Battery of Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Burditt, James A., of South Reading, son of Aaron (Jr.) and Mary; 
 b. in Providence, R*. I., in 1837 ; enlisted in Co. E, of 5th Reg., 
 for 3 months ; re-enlisted for 9 months in the 5oth Reg. ; served 
 with 100 days' men in Co. E, of 8th Reg. ; was Corporal, Sergeant, 
 and 2d Lieut. 
 
 Burditt, Geo. A., of South Reading, son of Geo. and Fidelia W. ; b. 
 in South Reading in 1844 ; private and cordwainer ; enlisted for 
 3 months in Co. E, 5th Reg.
 
 604 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Burditt, John W., of South Reading, son of. Nathan and Sophronia ; 
 b. in South Reading, 1829 ; enlisted for three years in Co. D, i3th 
 Reg. ; single ; private ; cordwainer. 
 
 Burditt, Aaron, of South Reading, son of Aaron and Sally ; born in 
 South Reading, 1841 ; enlisted for three years in Co. E, of i6th 
 Reg. ; died of fever in the hospital at Long Island, New York, 
 July 12, 1862 ; was a private ; single; cordwainer. 
 
 Burditt, Charles F., of South Reading, son of Aaron and Sally ; born 
 in South Reading, January, 1837 ; private ; enlisted July, 1861, 
 for three years in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; died April 26, 1864. 
 
 Burditt, Geo., of South Reading, son of Michael and Polly ; born in 
 South Reading; was a Corporal ; enlisted, September, 1861, for 
 three years in 2d Co. (22d Reg.) of Sharpshooters ; discharged 
 for disability. 
 
 Burnham, James H., of South Reading, son of Joseph and Ruth ; 
 born in South Reading ; farmer, and married ; enlisted Decem- 
 ber, 1 86 1, in Co. D, 24th Reg., for three years, and served his 
 full time. 
 
 Buxton, Elijah ; enlisted in Co. D, ist Batt. of f Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Butler, Wm., of South Reading; son of Aaron and Sally; born in 
 South Reading, April, 1830 ; a private ; enlisted August, 1864, in 
 Co. K, of 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Bryan, Nichols ; a seaman, and substitute for John G. Aborn. 
 
 Butler, Henry; served with the 100 days' men; son of Aaron and 
 Sally, of South Reading. 
 
 Bryant, Eugene C., son of Wm. C. aforesaid, of South Reading ; born 
 in South Reading; served with the 100 days' men. 
 
 Caldwell, Geo. H., of South Reading, son of Geo. M. ; enlisted in 
 
 1861, in nth Reg. 
 
 Carey, Daniel, of South Reading, son of Zenas and Susan ; born in 
 Bethel, Me., 1830; enlisted in 1865 in Co. C, of Cavalry, and 
 served at the northern frontier ; a private. 
 
 Carey, Geo. E., of South Reading, son of Gilman ; served with the 100 
 days' men. 
 
 Carter, Geo., of South Reading, son of Charles ; born in Baltimore, 
 Md. ; enlisted for three years in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; discharged 
 for disability ; re-enlisted in 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for nine 
 months, and served also with the 100 days' men. 
 
 Cartwright, Joseph, of South Reading ; a tinman ; private ; enlisted, 
 
 1862, in Co. E, of 5oth Reg., for nine months. 
 Cassidy, Joseph H. ; a seaman.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 605 
 
 Chandler, Geo. H., of South Reading, son of James and Deborah ; 
 born in Duxbury in 1819; married; enlisted, 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. I, nth Reg., September, 1864; re-enlisted, Sept 
 1864, in Co. A, i3th Regt., in Veteran Reserve Corps ; died Feb. 
 19, 1865, at Galloupe's Island, in Boston Harbor. 
 
 Chandler, Geo. E., of South Reading, son of Geo. H. aforesaid, and 
 Augusta M. ; born in Duxbury in 1846 ; enlisted, 1864, for three 
 years in Signal Corps; discharged, 1865, at New Orleans, La., for 
 disability. 
 
 Chandler, Geo. D., of South Reading ; drummer ; enlisted for three 
 years in 35th Reg. 
 
 Chambers, Wm., enlisted in Co. B, iyth Reg. 
 
 Chapman, Richard W., of So. Reading, son of Stephen and Hannah 
 W. ; born in Marblehead, July, 1834 ; enlisted July, 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; was killed in battle May 3, 1863 ; a 
 private ; single. 
 
 Cheney, Charles H. R., of So. Reading ; boot and shoe dealer ; son of 
 Daniel and Mahala ; born in Bristol, N. H., Jan. 13, 1827; en- 
 listed in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery, for one year ; married. 
 
 Churchill, Henry D., of So. Reading ; single ; enlisted Aug. 1864, for 
 one year, in Co. K, of 4th Heavy Artillery ; discharged May, 1865, 
 for disability. 
 
 Clark, John J., of South Reading; laborer; married; enlisted 1861, 
 for three years, in Co. E, nth Reg. 
 
 Clerk, Geo. W., of So. Reading, son of Samuel B. and Catherine D. ; 
 born in Boston, April 5, 1845 ; private ; single ; enlisted for three 
 years, in Co. I, 2oth Reg., and was discharged for inability ; re- 
 enlisted for three years in Co. B, 4th Cavalry. 
 
 demons, John H., of So. Reading, son of Robert M. and Olive T. ; 
 born in Deerfield, N. H., Jan. 1841 ; private ; cordwainer ; en- 
 listed 1862, for three years, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; discharged Dec. 
 1862, for disability, and died at So. Reading, Aug. 4, 1863. 
 
 Clemons, Charles E., of So. Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 in Andover; a private, and cordwainer; enlisted 1861, for three 
 years, in 2d Co. of Sharpshooters in 22d Reg. ; was discharged 
 for disability. 
 
 Clifford, Leonard, of So. Reading ; married to Eliza N. Hartshorn ; 
 enlisted July, 1861, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; died of disease Aug. 7, 
 1862. 
 
 Clifford, Shurburn, of igth Reg. ; a recruit. 
 
 Colby, Geo., of the 100 days' Volunteers.
 
 606 , GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Coleman, Stephen, of South Reading, of the 64th Col'd Reg. of U. S. 
 Infantry ; a representative recruit for Mrs. Betsey (Tho.) Emerson. 
 
 Collins, James, of South Reading ; born in Ireland in 1833 ; enlisted 
 July, 1861, in Co. F, i6th Reg., for three years ; discharged in 
 1862 for disability; re-enlisted Dec. 1863, in Co. A, 5gth Reg. 
 
 Collins, John, of South Reading ; born in Ireland ; enlisted in Co. K, 
 22d Reg., for three years ; private ; single ; laborer. 
 
 Coney, John S., of North Reading ; private ; enlisted April, 1861, for 
 three months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; mustered out July, 1861 ; re- 
 enlisted as ist Lieut, in Co. D, of 5oth Reg. 
 
 Conway, Daniel, of South Reading ; born in Ireland ; private ; single ; 
 enlisted for three years in 28th Reg. 
 
 Conway, Arthur, of South Reading ; born in Ireland ; married ; en- 
 listed in Co. I, 1 6th Reg., for three years ; was killed in battle. 
 
 Cook, Geo. F., of South Reading ; single ; drummer ; born in 1846 ; 
 enlisted in Co. G, i3th Reg., for three years ; discharged in 1862 
 for disability. 
 
 Cook, Jona. J., of Reading ; a private ; enlisted for three months, in 
 Co. E, of 5th Reg. 
 
 Coombs, Tho. W., of South Reading; enlisted as a Sergeant in 1861, 
 in Co. F, 1 6th Reg. ; born in England ; cordwainer; was wounded 
 in a skirmish at Woodlawn, near Fair Oaks, June 18, 1862 ; was hit 
 three times ; discharged for disability Feb. 1863 ; re-enlisted Dec. 
 1863, in Co. A, 5Qth Reg. 
 
 Coon, Wm. L., of South Reading, son of John and Phillippa ; born in 
 Charlestown, Dec. 25, 1842 ; a mechanic ; single ; enlisted 1862, 
 in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for nine months ; served also with the 100 
 days' Volunteers. 
 
 Cooper, R. L., of South Reading ; a private ; married ; enlisted 1862, 
 in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for nine months. 
 
 Corey, Henry H., of South Reading ; private of 2d Cavalry. 
 
 Cowdrey, John, of South Reading, son of John and Sarah Cowdrey, of 
 Stoneham ; born in 1822 ; a cordwainer; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, 
 i6th Reg., for three years, as Sergeant; was killed in battle, Aug. 
 29, 1862, at Kettle Run, near Bull Run, Va. 
 
 Cowdrey, Nathaniel, of South Reading, brother of last mentioned ; a 
 musician; married; enlisted in 1861, in igth Reg., for three 
 years ; was discharged in 1864 for disability ; re-enlisted in 4th 
 Mass. Battery. 
 
 Cowdrey, Wm. F., of Stoneham ; private ; married ; enlisted in 1864, 
 in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery.
 
 Of THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Craskie, Frank, of South Reading, of 4th Colored U. S. Infantry ; rep- 
 resentative recruit for Daniel Allen, of South Reading. 
 
 Currier, Horace P., of South Reading, son of John and Hannah ; born 
 at Lyman, Me., 1831 ; a grocer; married; enlisted 1861, as wag- 
 oner in Co. D, 1 3th Reg., for three years. 
 
 Danforth, Albert H., of South Reading, son of Stearns and Sophronia 
 G. ; born in Billerica, SepL 17, 1835 > private ; cordwainer ; en- 
 listed Aug. 1864, for one year in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery; 
 discharged June, 1865, for disability. 
 
 Danforth, Alfred W., of South Reading, a clerk ; enlisted Sept. 1862, 
 for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; served also with the one 
 hundred days' volunteers in 1864. 
 
 Danforth, Robt K., of South Reading, son of Stearns and Sophronia; 
 born in Charlestown, 1833 ; enlisted 1864 for one year in Co. C, 
 ist Battery of Heavy Artillery ; served also with the one hundred 
 days' volunteers ; was Corporal ; served previously in ist Massa- 
 chusetts Infantry, from Woburn. 
 
 Davis, Charles Horton, of South Reading, son of Charles ; enlisted 
 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; re-enlisted 1864, for 
 one year, in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery ; a carpenter ; born in 
 South Reading in 1827 ; was a Corporal, and married. 
 
 Davis, John, of South Reading, son of John and Margaret ; born in 
 Gloucester in 1829 ; enlisted 1864 in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery, 
 for one year ; was a Corporal, and married. 
 
 Day, Benj. I., of South Reading ; served with the one hundred days' men. 
 
 Day, Joseph L., o South Reading ; served with the one hundred days' 
 men. 
 
 Day, John, of South Reading ; born at Wilmington ; a stable keeper ; 
 enlisted 1861, in Co. E, i6th Reg.; Sergeant; married; dis- 
 charged 1862, for disability. 
 
 Day, Jerome, of South Reading, son of Benj. B. and Frances ; born in 
 Melrose ; of 24th Reg., for three years. 
 
 Deaclman, Wm. D , of South Reading ; son of William, Jr., and Ruth ; 
 born in South Reading, 1843 ; private and butcher ; enlisted 1862, 
 in Co. E, of 5oth Reg., for nine months ; single ; served also with 
 the one hundred days' men in 1864. 
 
 Dearborn, Stanley B., of South Reading, son of Nathl. S. and Mary ; 
 born in Boston in 1845 ; private ; single ; enlisted 1863, in Co. L, 
 ist Heavy Artillery ; wounded in the arm near Poplar Church, Va. 
 
 Dearing, John, of gth Reg. 
 
 Dean, Martin P., of South Reading, of 4th Heavy Artillery.
 
 608 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Degen, H. D., of South Reading ; son of Rev. Henry V. and Eliza J., 
 born in New York city in 1832 ; a merchant ; enlisted in 1862 ; 
 for nine months in Co. E of 5oth Reg.; was ist Lieut, and Quar- 
 termaster ; had been Capt. of the Richardson Light Guard. 
 
 Dickey, Neal G., of South Reading ; enlisted in 3gth Reg., for three 
 years. 
 
 Dickson, A. L. 
 
 Dix, Joseph O, of South Reading ; son of Benjamin and Susan ; born 
 in Salem 1809 ; enlisted for three months in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re- 
 enlisted 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for nine months, for Melrose ; 
 a private and carpenter ; widower. 
 
 Dolan, Thomas, of South Reading ; enlisted 1864, in 2d Cavalry. 
 
 Dow, Andrew, Jr., of Stoneham ; son of David ; born in Warren, N. 
 H., 1829 ; married ; a private ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. 
 K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Dow, Charles M., of South Reading, son of Milo ; single ; enlisted 
 
 1861, for three years, in Co. B, of 23d Reg. ; died at Newburn, 
 N. C., June 4, 1863. 
 
 Doyle, Cornelius, of South Reading ; a laborer ; born in Ireland ; 
 enlisted for three years in 35th Reg. 
 
 Draper, James D., of South Reading, son of Rufus F. and Polly ; born 
 Oct. 4, 1827 or 1828; cordwainer and married; served as 2d 
 Lieut, in Co. E, of 5th Reg., in three months' campaign ; enlisted 
 
 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, of 5oth Reg., as 2d Lieut. ; was 
 wounded at siege of Port Hudson ; re-enlisted in ist Battalion 
 of Heavy Artillery as Corp. 
 
 Draper, Rufus F., of South Reading ; son of Rufus F. and Mary ; born 
 in South Reading in 1838; enlisted 1862, in Co. E, of 5oth Regt, 
 for nine months ; was a Corporal ; served also with one hundred 
 days' men. 
 
 Drake, Alvin, Jr., of South Reading, son of Alvin ; born in South Bos- 
 ston, in 1832; cordwainer; drummer; enlisted 1861, for three 
 months, in Co.E, of soth Regiment ; re-enlisted Dec. 1861, in igth 
 Regiment, for three years ; discharged in April, 1864, for disability ; 
 re-enlisted 1864, in U. S. Signal Corps. 
 
 Duffin, Thomas, of South Reading; born in Ireland in 1841 ; enlisted 
 1862, for three years, in Co. H, of 2oth Reg. ; was discharged at 
 Stevensburg, Va., March 28, 1864, by reason of re-enlistment ; 
 private ; shoemaker ; single. 
 
 Dunn, Edward D., of South Reading ; son of Henry and Aurelia ; born 
 in South Reading in 1848; private; single; teamster; enlisted in
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 609 
 
 1865, in igth Reg. ; died at Galloupe's Island, Boston Harbor, 
 Feb. 9, 1865. 
 
 Dunn, Horace H., of South Reading, brother of the last named, born 
 at South Reading 1845 ; single ; clerk ; enlisted 1863 in ist Bat- 
 talion Heavy Artillery ; transferred to the Navy in Sept. 1863 ; 
 deserted. 
 
 Dyer, Wm. P., married; enlisted for three years (in 1863) in Co. B, 
 ist Battalion Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Eager, Alexander, of South Reading, son of James and Julia; born in 
 Ireland ; a seaman. 
 
 Eaton, Abijah A., of Reading; a private; enlisted 1861 for three 
 months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. 
 
 Eaton, John Henry, of South Reading ; son of Lt. John and Mary W. ; 
 born in South Reading; single; expressman; enlisted 1861 in 
 Co. E, 1 6th Reg., for three years, and served his three years. 
 
 Eaton, Everett W., of South Reading, son of Lilley and Eliza N. Eaton ; 
 born in South Reading July 9, 1835 ; single ; served as commis- 
 sary clerk under Col. Beckwith, Commissary of the Army of the 
 Potomac, under Capt. T. E. Berrier, Commissary of Subsistence ; 
 went with him to Centreville and Manassas ; was at Fort Runyon 
 three or four months ; was at Alexandria when that place was head- 
 quarters of the Reserve Army Corps under Gen. Sturgis two 
 months ; went with Sturgis to the field, and was in Pope's retreat ; 
 then served with Capt. Knowles, Commissary Subsistence, in 
 Maryland campaign, under Gen. Humphrey ; accompanied the 
 army on the march to the Rappahannock ; was at the battle of 
 Antietam ; was taken sick and came home. 
 
 Eaton, John, of South Reading, son of Joseph and Sarah ; born in 
 South Reading, in 1813 ; married ; expressman ; enlisted 1861, as 
 2d Lieut, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; resigned and discharged 1862. 
 
 Eaton, John Smith, of South Reading, son of Zenas and Lois S. ; born 
 in South Reading, Oct. 30, 1827 ; enlisted for nine months in Co, 
 E, 5oth Reg., as Corporal ; a cordwainer, and married. 
 
 Eaton, Chester Williams, of South Reading, son of Lilley and Eliza N., 
 born in South Reading, Jan. 13, 1839; single; student at law; 
 enlisted in 1862 for nine months in Co. E, 5<Dth Reg. ; served as 
 Quartermaster's clerk ; was at the taking of Port Hudson. 
 
 Eaton, Edward, of South Reading ; son of Noah and Hannah W. ; 
 born in Cambridgeport in 1844 ^single ; enlisted 1862, in Co. L, 
 ist Heavy Artillery ; served as musician. 
 
 Eaton, Noah Martin, of South Reading ; brother of the last named ; 
 77
 
 6lQ GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 born in South Reading in 1832 ; married ; enlisted 1864, for one 
 year, in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Eaton, Victor, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born in 
 Cambridgeport in 1840 ; single ; enlisted 1862 for three years in 
 Co. C, 24th Regiment, as a private; re-enlisted 1864; wounded in 
 the hand near Richmond, Oct. 14, 1864. 
 
 Eaton, David, of South Reading ; brother of the last named ; served 
 with the 100 days' men. 
 
 Eaton, Walter Sullivan, of South Reading, son of John Sullivan and 
 Harriet W. ; born in South Reading, Aug u, 1847; private and 
 clerk ; single ; was detailed as clerk at Gen. Canby's head-quarters 
 at New Orleans, La., Jan. 1865 ; was present at the taking of 
 Mobile, Ala., April n, 1865 ; now in Treasury Department, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. 
 
 Eaton, Jacob H., of South Reading, son of Zenas and Lois S.; born in 
 South Reading, 1834 ; private ; married ; was of the 4th Cavalry. 
 
 Edmands, Consider, of South Reading, son of Rodney and Mary W. ; 
 enlisted 1861, in Co. I, of nth Reg., for three years; was killed 
 Aug. 29, 1862, near Bull Run; was born in Saugus 1843. 
 
 Edmands, Rodney, of South Reading, son of Wm. and Ruth ; born in 
 Chelsea ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. I, of nth Reg., and 
 discharged in 1863, for disability; re-enlisted in 1864, in Co. E, of 
 59th Reg. 
 
 Edwards, John, of South Reading ; single ; enlisted for three years in 
 nth Reg. 
 
 Ellis, Geo. W., of Co. G, 35th Reg. ; was killed Sept. 7, 1863. 
 
 Emerson, Charles Stillman, of South Reading; son of Abraham and 
 Mary B. ; born in South Reading, Aug. 12, 1829; enlisted 1862, 
 for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; married about the time of 
 enlistment, to Hannah Emmons. 
 
 Emerson, John Henry, of South Reading, son of John nd Lucretia ; 
 born in South Reading, July, 1826 ; private and married ; enlisted 
 in 1864, in Co. K, of 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Emerson, Thomas Albert, of South Reading, son of Thomas, Jr., and 
 Emily M. ; born in South Reading, Dec. 27, 1840 ; a graduate of 
 Yale College ; enlisted 1863, as A. A. Paymaster, with rank of 
 Lieut., on board U. S. brig " Perry " ; service at Port Royal, S. 
 C., six months; on blockade off Charleston, S. C., one month ; at 
 Fernandina, Fla., sixteen months. 
 
 Estes, O'Neal J., of South Reading, son of Enoch and Betsey ; born in 
 Bethel, Me., in 1836 ; private and single ; enlisted 1862, for nine
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; died of fever at Baton Rouge, La., 
 May 12, 1863. 
 
 Eustis, Henry W., of South Reading ; son of James and Susan J. ; 
 born in South Reading, Feb. 27, 1835; married; a private; 
 enlisted for three months in 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted 
 in 1864, for three years, in U. S. Signal Corps. 
 
 Eustis, Joseph S., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 in South Reading, Aug. 26, 1833 ; single ; a private ; enlisted for 
 three months in 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg., and was wounded at 
 the battle of Bull Run ; re-enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. 
 E, soth Reg. 
 
 Evans, Tho. Asaph, of South Reading, son of Asaph and Lucinda ; 
 born in South Reading in 1831 ; private; teamster; single ; enlisted 
 for three years in Co. E, i6th Reg. 
 
 Evans, Wm. O., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born in 
 South Reading in 1834 ; private ; married ; enlisted for one year, 
 in 5th Battery. 
 
 Evans, Charles A., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 in South Reading in 1838; private; mason; married; enlisted 
 1862, three years, in Co. K, of 23d Reg. 
 
 Evans, Henry H., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 in South Reading in 1841 ; drafted ; married ; was in Co. E, of 
 i6th Reg. ; transferred in 1864 to the nth Mass. Battalion. 
 
 Fairbanks, Zephaniah F., of South Reading, son of Lewis and Martha ; 
 born in Chelsea in 1838 ; a saloon keeper ; married ; enlisted in 
 1 86 1, for three years, in Co. G, 24th Reg. ; acted as cook. 
 
 Fairbanks,. James M*., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 born in South Reading in 1840; painter; private; enlisted in 
 1861 in Co. E, of 5th Reg., fop three months ; re-enlisted 1862, for 
 three years, in Co. G, 24th Reg.; re-enlisted in 1864, and trans- 
 ferred to Co. D. 
 
 Fay, Patrick, of South Reading, son of Patrick and Margaret ; born in 
 Ireland in 1826 ; private and Sergeant ; enlisted in 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. I, of i6th Reg.; was transferred in 1864 to nth 
 Mass. Battalion ; married. 
 
 Felton, A. P., of South Reading ; married ; enlisted for three years in 
 Co. B, 22d Reg. 
 
 Flanders, Alexander, of South Reading, son of Levi ; born in South 
 Reading; enlisted in 1863 as a private in ist Heavy Artillery ; 
 severely wounded at South Side Railroad, Va., at the battle of 
 Poplar Spring Church, Oct. 2, 1864; was discharged for disa- 
 bility ; re-enlisted in the Regular Army in 1865.
 
 6l2 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Fletcher, Charles N., of Reading; enlisted, 1861, for three months, in 
 
 Co. E, 5th Regt. it/ 
 
 Fogg, Lewis, of South Reading, son of Ransom and Hannah ; born in 
 
 South Braintree in 1839 ; enlisted, 1865, in Frontier Cavalry. 
 Folsom, Edward Channing, of South Reading, son of Peter and Emily ; 
 
 born in Grey, Me., 1845 ; a private and single ; enlisted, 1864, for 
 
 three years, in Signal Corps ; discharged, 1865, for disability ; now 
 
 a physician in Washington, D. C. 
 Forbes, Patrick, of South Reading, son of Michael ; born in Ireland, 
 
 1845 ; a private ; enlisted, 1864, for one year, in 3d He. ivy Ar- 
 tillery. 
 
 Forrest, John, of South Reading ; served with the 100 days' men. 
 Foster, Aaron Augustus, of South Reading, son of Aaron and Abigail ; 
 
 born at South Reading, May 23, 1833 ; a printer; enlisted as a 
 
 private, 1863, for three years, in Co. C, 2d Heavy Artillery ; 
 
 married. 
 Foster, Clarence P., of South Reading, half-brother of the last named; 
 
 served with the 100 days' men. 
 Foster Davis, of South Reading, son of Russell and Sophia ; born in 
 
 South Reading; enlisted, 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg., for three 
 
 months ; re-enlisted, 1861, for three years, in 24th Reg. ; was 2d 
 
 Lieut, in 1863 ; ist Lieut, in 1864; Captain and Major. 
 Fowle, Clifford B., of South Reading ; married ; a private ; enlisted, 
 
 1861, for three years, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; died July 3, 1864. 
 Freeman, Barnard, of South Reading ; married ; enlisted in 24th Reg. ; 
 
 was wounded by the accidental discharge of gun, and transferred 
 
 to Vet. Res. Corps. 
 Fifield, Charles A., of South Reading, son of Abraham and Betsey ; 
 
 born in Lowell, 1834; single; *a moulder; enlisted, 1864, for one 
 
 year, in Co. K, of 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Fisk, Joseph A., of South Reading; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in 
 
 Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; discharged at New Orleans, 1863, for disability. 
 Foster, Franklin H., son of Aaron ; enlisted in gth N. H. Reg. ; died 
 
 in Salisbury prison Dec. 14, 1864. 
 Garland, Wingate, of South Reading ; a private in 4th Cavalry ; was 
 
 taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he died, Feb. 
 
 1865. 
 Gihon, Edward, of South Reading, son of John ; born in Ireland in 
 
 1835; a cordwainer, and married; enlisted in 1861, for three years, 
 
 in Co. D, 28th Reg. ; re-enlisted. 
 Gilman, Geo. K., of South Reading, son of Joseph and Mary ; born in
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Tamworth, N. H., in 1835 ; was Corporal ; enlisted 1862, for nine 
 
 months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; promoted to Sergeant. 
 Greggs, James H., of Reading; enlisted for three months, in 1861, in 
 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. ; was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle 
 
 of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. 
 Green, Geo. Henry, of South Reading, son of Reuben and Lydia ; born 
 
 in Maiden in 1836 ; enlisted as corporal in Co. E, 5th Reg., for 
 
 three months ; re-enlisted for nine months in Co. E, of 5oth Reg. ; 
 
 died at sea, while en route for New Orleans. 
 Green, Edward Isaac, of South Reading, son of Isaac ; born in South 
 
 Reading ; enlisted in 26. Co., 226. Reg., Sharpshooters, fo three 
 
 years. 
 Green, Patrick, of South Reading ; enlisted in 1864, for one year, in 3d 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 Godfrey, Warren H., of South Reading, son of Enos and Leliance ; born 
 
 in Brewster in 1833 ; enlisted 1864, in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery, 
 
 for one year ; private ; married. 
 Goodwin, Andrew, of South Reading; enlisted 1864, for one year, in 
 
 Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery ; married, and a private. 
 Hart, J. Frank, of South Reading, son of Charles and Martha S. ; born 
 
 in South Reading in 1844 ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 
 E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted in ist Reg. of Heavy Artillery. 
 Hart, Howard C-, of South Reading, son of Charles and Martha S. ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1841 ; enlisted in 1861, for three years, 
 
 in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; transferred in 1864 to nth Battalion; re- 
 enlisted 1865, in Co. D, Frontier Cavalry. 
 Hart, David A., of South Reading, son of Charles and Martha S. ; born 
 
 in South Reading in 1846; enlisted in 1861, for three years, in 
 
 the 24th Reg. ; transferred in 1863 to Vet. Res. Corps ; promoted 
 
 to corporal ; re-enlisted in 1864. 
 Hart, Charles, of South Reading, son of Joseph and Betsey ; born in 
 
 Lynnfield in 1807 ; father of the foregoing; enlisted in Co. L, of 
 
 ist Heavy Artillery; teamster. 
 Hartshorn, Oliver S., of South Reading, son of Thomas S. ; was of 8th 
 
 Reg. ; died June 21, 1865, of disease contracted in the service. 
 Hart, John F., of South Reading ; son of Harfield ; born in South 
 
 Reading; enlisted in 1864, and served with the 106 days' volun- 
 teers. 
 Hartwell, Abner A., of Reading; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, of 5th Reg., 
 
 for three months. 
 Hartshorn Charles F., of South Reading, son of James and Mary; born
 
 614 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 in South Reading in 1835 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. 
 E, 5oth Reg. ; was Corporal and Sergeant. 
 
 Hartshorn, Jeremiah W., of South Reading, son of Jeremiah and Caro- 
 line; born in South Reading July 4, 1832 ; enlisted in 1864, for 
 three years, in Signal Corps. 
 
 Harnden, James, of South Reading, son of Samuel and Nancy ; born in 
 1835 ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Harmers, . 
 
 Harrington, Charles T., of South Reading, son of Peter and Caroline ; 
 born in Watertown in 1838; enlisted 1861, for three months, in 
 Co. E, of 5th Reg.; re-enlisted for nine months, in 1862, in Co. 
 E, of soth Reg. 
 
 Hall, Frank, of South Reading, son of Prentice and Clarissa ; born in 
 South Reading ; enlisted for three years in Co. H, 24th Reg., and 
 re-enlisted ; was a drummer. 
 
 Hangle, William, of South Reading ; born in Ireland; enlisted 1861, 
 for three years, in Co. D, gth Reg. 
 
 Haggerty, Timo., of South Reading, son of Daniel ; enlisted in Co. A, 
 35th Reg., for three years. 
 
 Hamilton, Robert, of South Reading, son of Hans and Mary ; born in 
 Brookfield, N. S., in 1840 ; enlisted in 1862, for nine months, in 
 Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; died at South Reading, Sept. 27, 1864, of dis- 
 ease contracted in the service. 
 
 Hamblin, Wm. A., of South Reading ; born in Boston ; enlisted 1864, 
 in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery, for one year. 
 
 Haskell, Henry L., of South Reading, son of George and Lucy E. ; born 
 in Gloucester in 1837 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. K, 
 23d Reg. 
 
 Hawkes, Francis, of South Reading, son of Davis W. and Lucretia ; 
 born in South Reading in 1836 ; enlisted in 1861, in 2d Co. of 22d 
 Reg. of Sharpshooters, for three years. 
 
 Hawkes, John, of South Reading, son of Adam and Patty ; born in 
 South Reading in 1828 ; enlisted in 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for 
 nine months; re-enlisted in 1864, for one year, in Co. K, of Heavy 
 Artillery. 
 
 Hawkes, Winfield S., of South Reading, son of Benj. ; served with the 
 100 days' men in 1864. 
 
 Hayden, Frank W., of South Reading, son of Wm. H. and Elizabeth 
 J. ; born in Hallowell, Me., in 1835 ; enlisted in 1861, for three 
 months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted in Co. E, 5th Reg., for 
 three years ; promoted to 2d Lieut, in 1862 ; taken prisoner at Kel-
 
 OF THE TOWff OF READING. 615 
 
 ley's Ford, Va., in 1863, being injured by a horse falling on him ; 
 was kept a prisoner seven weeks ; was promote ' to ist Lieut, and 
 Quartermaster ; served in Frontier Cavalry. 
 
 Hayden, Wm. H., Jr., of South Reading, son of Wm. H. and Elizabeth 
 J. ; born in Hallowell, Me., in 1827 ; enlisted for three months in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg., in 1861 ; re-enlisted in 1862, as Sergeant, in Co. 
 B, ist Batt. of Heavy Artillery; appointed 2d Lieut, in 1863, in 
 Co. A. 
 
 Hayward, Alex. N., of Reading; enlisted for three months in Co. E, 
 5th Reg. 
 
 Heath, Micah, of South Reading, son of Michael and Mary S. ; born 
 in Meredith, N. H., 1817 ; enlisted for three years, in 1861, in Co. 
 E, i6th Reg. ; transferred in 1864 to nth Mass. Batt. 
 
 Hebbetts, James, of South Reading; born'in Ireland; enlisted 1861, 
 for three years, in Co. D, 28th Reg. ; wounded Sept. i, 1862, in 
 second Bull Run battle, and died on Sept. 16, 1862, in the hos- 
 pital at Washington, D. C. 
 
 Hilborn, Henry E., of South Reading ; born at Minot, Me. ; enlisted 
 1 86 1, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; was a corporal ; discharged for disa- 
 bility in 1863. 
 
 Hodgkins, Samuel P., of South Reading; served with the 100 days' 
 men. 
 
 Holmes, George E., of South Reading, son of Elizabeth ; enlisted in 
 1864, in 4th Cavalry. 
 
 Hosmer, Olive- S., of Woburn; enlisted 1861, for three months, in the 
 5th Reg. 
 
 Howe, Wm. C., of South Reading, son of Joseph W. ; born in South 
 Reading; enlisted for three years, in 1861, in lothReg. ; re-en- 
 listed, in 1863, in 4th Mass. Cavalry; musician. 
 
 Howe, Nathaniel H., of Charlestown ; enlisted 1863, in Co. L, ist 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Howe, Wm. F., of South Rea'ding ; enlisted 1863, in 3 ist Reg. 
 
 Hood, Tho. R. P., of South Reading, son of Asa and Martha ; born 
 in Salem, 1825 ; enlisted 1864, in Co. G, 59th Reg. 
 
 Hoyt, Henry D., of South Reading ; born in Shorington, N. H. ; en- 
 listed in 1 86 1, for three months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted 
 in 1861, for three years, in 22d Reg. 
 
 Hurd, Joseph L., of South Reading ; enlisted in i6th Reg., and served 
 also with 100 days' men. 
 
 Hurley, Timothy, of South Reading, son of Daniel and Ann ; born in
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Ireland in 1829 ; enlisted for three years, in Co. I, ist Reg. ; 
 
 became a Corporal. 
 Hunt, George, of Stoneham ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. K, 4th 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 Hunt, Henry, of Stoneham ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. K, 4th 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Harnden, James W., of South Reading ; served with 100 days' men. 
 Jackson, George H., of Medford ; enlisted in 1864, for one year, in 
 
 Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Jameson, Edward T., of South Reading ; born in Boston ; enlisted for 
 
 three years, in Co. D, 4th Battery. 
 Jennison, Williston, of South Reading; enlisted for three years in 
 
 35th Reg. 
 
 Johnson, Isaac, of South Reading ; colored ; was drafted. 
 Johnson, John, of South Reading, of 2d Cavalry. 
 Jones, Alden N., of South Reading ; enlisted in 1861 in Co. B, i2th 
 
 Reg., for three years ; was born at Chelsea, Vt, 1835. 
 Jones, Geo. S., of South Reading ; enlisted for three years in 35th 
 
 Reg. 
 
 Jones, Nathan G., of South Reading, of 100 days' men. 
 Kaka, John, a recruit. % 
 Kelley, Patrick, of South Reading ; enlisted for one year in Co. K, 
 
 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Kelley, Joseph, of South Reading ; born in England; enlisted in 1861, 
 
 for three years, in Co. A, 28th Reg.; married; died Dec. 17, 
 
 1861, at Camp Cameron, Cambridge, Mass., of typhoid fever. 
 Kenney, Thomas J., of South Reading, of Co. I, nth Reg. ; transferred 
 
 to Veteran Reserve Corps. 
 Kennedy, Patrick, of South Reading ; enlisted for three years in 35th 
 
 Reg. 
 Kidder, George H., of South Reading; enlisted for three months, in 
 
 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; born in South Boston in 1837 > son ^ 
 
 Daniel and Sarah; re-enlisted in 1861, for three years, in Co. E, 
 
 ist Mass. Cavalry. 
 Kingman, Wm. W., of South Reading, son of Samuel and Sarah R., 
 
 born at South Reading in 1832 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, 
 
 in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; afterwards served with 100 days' men. 
 Kinnerson, J. Henry, of South Reading; a seaman. 
 Kirley, Thomas, of South Reading; born in Ireland in 1831 ; son of 
 
 Patrick and Deborah ; enlisted in the naval service in 1864 ; fire- 
 man ; was on board the U. S. Steamer " Tristram Shandy " ; was
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 6l/ 
 
 on the blockading service 'off Wilmington, N. C. ; was in the first 
 
 and second engagements at Fort Fisher, N. C. 
 Knight, Jason H., of South Reading, son of Otis and Sally ; born in 
 
 Charlestown, 1838 ; enlisted for three months in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; 
 
 was a Sergeant ; re-enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth 
 
 Reg. ; afterwards served with 100 days' men as Lieutenant. 
 Knight, Henry C., of South Reading, son of Henry and Ruhamah ; 
 
 born in South Reading, 1829 ; enlisted in 1862, for nine months, 
 
 in Co. E, 5oth Reg. 
 Lane, John, of South Reading ; seaman ; enlisted 1862, on board the 
 
 "Sebago." 
 Lane, Loammi C., of South Reading, son of Stephen and Ann ; born 
 
 in Gloucester in 1832 ; enlisted for one year in Co. K, 4th Heavy 
 
 Artillery. 
 Lane, William, of South Reading, brother of last mentioned ; born in 
 
 Gloucester in 1834; enlisted in 1861, for three years, in Co. I, 
 
 nth Reg. ; transferred in 1863 to Veteran Reserve Corps. 
 Lang, James, of South Reading, son of Wm. and Ellen ; born in Ire- 
 land; enlisted in 1862 for three years, in 33d Reg. 
 Lawrence, Charles A., of South Reading, son of Daniel and Mary B. ; 
 
 born in Concord ; enlisted for three years in Co. G, of 24th Reg. ; 
 
 died at Saxonville, Mass., Oct. 20, 1862, of disease contracted in 
 
 the service. 
 Lawrence, Geo. B., of South Reading, son of Daniel and Mary B. ; 
 
 born in Concord ; enlisted for three years in Co. G, of 24th 
 
 Reg. 
 Lawrence, Edward R., of South Reading, son of Daniel and Mary B. ; 
 
 born in Concord in 1841 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. H, 
 
 25th Reg. 
 Leathers, Albert N., of South Reading ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in 
 
 Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Lee, John, of South Reading, son of John and Sally ; born in Salem in 
 
 1813 ; enlisted in 1861, for three years, in the 24th Reg. 
 Lee, John F., of South Reading, son of Charles E. and Rhoda B. (and 
 
 great-grandson of Gen. Benj. Brown, of Revolutionary memory) ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1843 > enlisted in 1861, in Co. E, i6th 
 
 Reg. ; discharged 1863, for disability, and died at South Reading 
 
 of disease contracted in the service. 
 Lewis, John ; seaman ; enlisted 1864. 
 Littlefield, Samuel F., of South Reading, son of Nath'l and Dorcas ; 
 
 born in Wells, Me., in 1826 ; enlisted for nine months, in Co. E, 
 78
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 5oth Reg. ; was Captain ; re-commissioned as Captain of the 100 
 
 days' men. 
 Locke, John W., of South Reading, son of Josiah and Elizabeth W. ; 
 
 born at Ashburnham, 1831 ; enlisted 1861, for three months, as 
 
 Captain of Co. E, 5th Reg. ; commissioned in 1862, as Lieutenant- 
 Colonel of 5oth Reg., and served nine months. 
 Locke, Geo. L., of South Reading; enlisted 1861, for three years, Co. 
 
 E, 1 6th Reg. ; killed in battle near Bull Run, Va., August 29, 
 
 1862. 
 
 Long, Robert, of South Reading, of the 6th Colored Infantry ; repre- 
 sentative recruit for Thomas Emerson. 
 Lord, Byfon, of South Reading, son of James and Marcia A. ; born in 
 
 South Reading in 1840 ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 
 E, 5 th Reg. 
 Lord, Geo. H., of South Reading, brother of lastnamed ; enlisted 1861, 
 
 for three months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. 
 Lufkin, Stephen, of South Reading, son of Humphrey and Lois ; born 
 
 in Chester, N. H., in 1814; enlisted in 1862, for three years, in 
 
 Co. G, i3th Reg., and discharged for inability in 1863. 
 Lufkin, Stephen W., of South Reading, son of the last named ; born in 
 
 Woburn in 1844; enlisted in 1862, in Co. G, of i3th Reg., for 
 
 three years ; was wounded severely at Gettysburg, July i, 1862, 
 
 and was taken prisoner; was re-taken the next day by Union 
 
 troops, and discharged on account of the wound. 
 Lufkin, Frederick H., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1848 ; mother's name, Sarah G. W. ; 
 
 enlisted 1865, for one year, in Capt. Porter's Co., in 6zd Reg. ; was 
 
 a Corporal ; served also with 100 days' men. 
 Lyons, John W., of South Reading, son of William and Mary P. ; born 
 
 in Ireland in 1845 > enlisted in 3d Heavy Artillery, Co. M, for 
 
 one year. 
 Madden, Jerry, of South Reading, son of Cornelius and Maria ; born 
 
 in Ireland, 1822 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. G, 48th 
 
 Reg. 
 Madden, John W., of South Reading ; enlisted in 1864, for one year, 
 
 in 3d Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Magee, Edward, of South Reading ; a seaman. 
 Mansfield, Wm. J., of South Reading, son of Wm. and Phebe ; born 
 
 in South Reading in 1845 > enlisted in 1863, in Co. L, ist Heavy 
 
 Artillery. 
 Mansfield, James F., of South Reading, son of James J. and Martha
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 619 
 
 B. ; born in South Reading in 1836 ; enlisted in 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. E, i6th Reg., as Sergeant ; promoted to ist Lieut, in 
 1864; transferred the same year to the nth Reg.; promoted to 
 Captain, October, 1864, and afterwards to Major and Lieutenant- 
 Colonel. 
 
 Mansfield, Joseph H., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 born at South Reading, 1841 ; enlisted in 1861, in Co. E, of i6th 
 Reg., for three years ; died of fever in hospital, New York, Sept. 
 14, 1862. 
 
 Mansfield, Edward G., of South Reading, son of Edward, served with 
 the 100 days' men. 
 
 Martin, John, of South Reading, served with the 100 days' men. 
 
 Marshall, Cyrus E., of South Reading, served with the 100 days' 
 men. 
 
 Moulton, Erastus, of South Reading, served with the too days' men. 
 
 Mayo, Nath'l C., of South Reading, son of Josiah and Ruth ; born in 
 Eastham, 1831 ; enlisted in 1864, in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery, 
 for one year. 
 
 McCabe, James M., of South Reading, son of Bridget ; born in Bos- 
 ton ; enlisted in 1861, for three years, in Co. K, 22d Reg. 
 
 McCarty, Timothy, of South Reading, of 6th Battalion. 
 
 McCleary, John E., of South Reading ; born in Prince Edward Isl- 
 and ; enlisted, 1862, for three years, in Co. H, 27th Reg.; re- 
 enlisted in 1864; promoted to Sergeant in 1864; was principal 
 musician of regiment in October, 1864 ; was wounded and taken 
 prisoner at battle of Kingston, N. C., March 8, 1865 ; paroled 
 March 26 ; promoted to ist Lieut., May 15, 1865. 
 
 McDonald, George, of South Reading, of 38th Reg., for three years. 
 
 McGee, Edward, of South Reading, enlisted 1861, for three months, in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted 1864, for three years, in Co. C, 24th 
 Reg. 
 
 McKay, Tho. M., of South Reading, son of John and Elizabeth M. ; 
 born at Boston, Dec. 5, 1836 ; enlisted, i86i,for three months, in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted for three years in Co. G, 2oth Reg. ; 
 was Sergeant; was promoted Sept. 5, 1862 ; to be 2d Lieut., Dec. 
 18, 1862 ; to be Captain, July, 1863 ; was killed by a shot from a 
 conscript, Oct. 5, 1863, at Culpepper, Va. 
 
 McKay, Gordon, from Melrose; served in the three months' cam- 
 paign. 
 
 McKensie, John, from Boston ; served in the three months' campaign. 
 
 McKensie, A., of South Reading, served in the Frontier Cavalry.
 
 6 2 Q GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 McPherson, David, of South Reading, son of Edward ; born in Scot- 
 land in 1840; was cook ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. E, 
 24th Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1864 for some other town. 
 
 McLaughlin, Thos., of igth Reg. 
 
 McQueeny, Wm., from Boston ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. K, 
 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 McQuillan, Joseph, from Charlestown ; of Co. L, ist Heavy Artillery ; 
 killed June 16, 1864, near Petersburg, Va. 
 
 Miller, Charles, of South Reading; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in 
 Co. E, 5oth Reg. 
 
 Moore, John L., Jr., of South Reading, son of John L. and Marie ; 
 enlisted 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for nine months; died at 
 Baton Rouge, La., April 6, 1863. 
 
 Morrill, James M., of South Reading, son of Manning and Merriam ; 
 born in Danville, Me., 1837 ; a carpenter ; enlisted 1861, for 
 three months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1862, for nine 
 months, as Corporal in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; served as Orderly Ser- 
 geant with 100 days' men. 
 
 Morton, Joseph, of South Reading, son of Joseph B. and Patience ; 
 born in South Paris, Me., 1832 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, 
 in 5oth Reg. (in the band) ; enlisted in 1864, for one year, in Co. 
 K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Moses, John F., of South Reading, son of Nath'l and Elizabeth ; born 
 at South Reading, 1834 ; enlisted in 1862, for nine months in Co. 
 E, 5oth Reg. ; died at Baton Rouge, La., July 4, 1863. 
 
 Moses, George, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born at 
 South Reading, 1841 ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. E, 
 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1862 for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth 
 Reg., and in 1864, for three years, in Signal Corps. 
 
 Murkland, Robert L , of South Reading, son of John and Jane ; born 
 at Lowell in 1837 ; enlisted in 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 
 5oth Reg. 
 
 Murray, Jeremiah, of South Reading ; seaman. 
 
 Newhall, Elbridge G., of South Reading, son of Benj. S. and Hannah 
 S. ; enlisted for three years in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; discharged for 
 inability ; born in South Danvers. 
 
 Newhall, David, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 at South Danvers, 1841 ; enlisted in 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., 
 for nine months; served also with 100 days' men as Corporal. 
 
 Newhall, Wm., of South Reading ; son of James I. and Sally N Pease ; 
 born in Lynnfield, 1809 (name had been altered from Pease to
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 621 
 
 Newhall) ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. K, 2$d Reg. ; 
 was wagoner and ambulance driver ; discharged for inability. 
 Newman, J. Frank, of South Reading, son of John H. ; enlisted 1862, 
 
 for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. 
 
 Nichols, Edmund, of South Reading ; enlisted 1864, in 4th Cavalry. 
 Nichols, Geo. R., of South Reading, of 100 days' men. 
 Nichols, Geo. W., of Reading ; enlisted for three months in Co. E, 5th 
 
 Reg. 
 Nichols, G. Hannibal, of South Reading, son of Jona. and Elizabeth ; 
 
 born in South Reading, 1830 ; enlisted, 1861, for three years in 
 
 Co. E, 1 6th Reg., and discharged for inability. 
 Nichols, Warren, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 
 in South Reading, in 1840; enlisted, 1861, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; 
 
 was a Corporal ; was wounded slightly at the battle of Gettysburg, 
 
 taken prisoner, and paroled ; was wounded severely at the battle of 
 
 Coal Harbor, in 1864, and discharged. 
 Oliver, James, of South Reading, son of E/ekiel and Sarah ; born at 
 
 South Reading in 1820; enlisted as 2d Lieut, in Co. E, :6th 
 
 Reg. ; was promoted to ist Lieut, in 1862. 
 Oliver, Alfred, of South Reading, son of the last named ; served with 
 
 the 100 days' men. 
 O'Reardon, Matthew (or Michael), of South Reading ; enlisted for 
 
 three years in 35th Reg. 
 Parker, Thos. A., ef South Reading; born in 1831 ; enlisted in 1861 
 
 in Co. G, i3th Reg. ; was taken prisoner at Kettle Run, Va., 
 
 paroled, and in 1863 discharged for disability. 
 Parker, Thos. E., of South Reading, son of Thomas and Hannah ; 
 
 born in Salem in 1820 ; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, 24th Reg.; served 
 
 as cook and butcher ; discharged Sept. 25, 1862 ; died at South 
 
 Reading, Oct. 29, 1862. 
 Parker, John Q. A., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 
 born at South Reading, 1829 ; enlisted 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., 
 
 for nine months, as Corporal, and served as butcher. 
 Parker, Nathan D., of Reading; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 
 E, 5 th Reg. 
 Parker, Wm. Durant, of South Reading, son of William and Abigail ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1826; enlisted 1861, for three months, 
 
 in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1861, for three years, in Co. H, 
 
 24th Reg.; discharged for inability in 1863. 
 Parsons, Benj. W., of Lynnfield; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg., for 
 
 three months, and discharged for inability.
 
 622 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Pasco, Wm. C., of South Reading; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. 
 
 K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Peterson, Leonard, of South Reading; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, 5th 
 
 Reg., for three months. 
 Phipps, John W., of South Reading ; son of John and Mary ; born in 
 
 South Reading in 1824; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. K, 4th 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 Pierce, James H., of Stoneham ; enlisted in 1864, for one year, in Co. 
 
 K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Pilling, Jonathan, of South Reading, son of Jonathan ; enlisted 1862, 
 
 for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; died at Baton Rouge, April 
 
 i, 1863, of disease. 
 Poland, Joseph Warren, of South Reading ; a seaman ; son of Joseph 
 
 and Emily C.; born at South Reading 1845; was hospital steward ; 
 
 was at the bombardment of Fort Fisher. 
 Pope, J. Holman, of South Reading, son of John and Harriet ; born 
 
 at South Reading 1831; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 
 
 5oth Reg. 
 Pratt, Benj. C., of South Reading ; son of Sumner and Susan ; born 
 
 in South Reading; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, i6th Reg., for three 
 
 years and served his full term. 
 Pratt, Edwin, of South Reading, son of David and Hannah ; born in 
 
 Reading in 1838 ; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg., for 3 months ; 
 
 re-enlisted 1862, in Co. E, ist Battery of Heavy Artillery, and 
 
 discharged for disability. 
 Proven, Charles, of South Reading; enlisted in 1861, for three years, 
 
 in second Reg., as musician. 
 Rahr, Christian E., of Reading ; enlisted for three months in Co. E, 5th 
 
 Reg. ; a native of Denmark ; born 1840. 
 Ransom, Wm. E., of South Reading, son of Barzillia and H. J.; was 
 
 Corporal ; enlisted 1861 in Co. E, 5th Reg., for three months. 
 Ransom, Edward M., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 
 born at Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1840 ; enlisted in i86i,in Co. E, i3th 
 
 Reg., for three years ; employed as clerk in Quartermaster's 
 
 department; discharged Dec. 1861, by order of Gen. McClellan. 
 Ransom, Geo. W., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 
 enlisted in the ist Heavy Artillery, Co. L, for one year ; was a 
 
 Corporal. 
 Rayner, John, of South Reading ; son of Jacob S. and Nabby ; born 
 
 at Townsend 1823 ; enlisted in 1861, for three months, in Co. E, 
 
 of 5th Reg.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 623 
 
 Rayner, Ozias, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born in 
 
 Charlestown ; enlisted in 1861, for three months, in Co. E, of th 
 
 Regiment ; re-enlisted in Co. H, 24th Reg. ; was a Sergeant. 
 Reed, Silas L., of South Reading ; a seaman ; and of 35th Reg., for 
 
 three years. 
 Reed, Washington, of Reading, son of Michael W. and Antisianna, 
 
 born in Quincy in 1834 ; enlisted in 1864 in Signal Corps, for 
 
 three years. 
 Resterick, Walter, of South Reading, son of Jane Resterick ; enlisted 
 
 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1865 in 
 
 Frontier Cavalry. 
 Reynolds, Charles H., of South Reading ; enlisted for three years in 
 
 35th Reg. 
 Richards, Frederick S., of South Reading, son of Joseph and Abigail 
 
 W. ; born in Searsport, Me., 1834 ; enlisted in 1861, in Co. E, i6th 
 
 Reg.; was killed in battle before Richmond, June 18, 1862. 
 Richardson, J. Warren, of South Reading, son of Joseph and Elizabeth 
 
 Richardson ; born in South Reading ; mustered into service 1864 > 
 
 served one year in Co. E, ist Batt Heavy Artillery, Fort Warren. 
 Ripley, Allen M., of South Reading, son of Asa P. and Mary C. ; born 
 
 in Londonderry, N. H., in 1844; enlisted in 1864 in Co. K, 4th 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 Robinson, Charles H., of Reading ; enlisted for three months in 1861, 
 
 in Co. E, 5th Reg. 
 Robinson, John E., of Reading ; enlisted 1863 in Co. L, of ist Heavy 
 
 Artillery; wounded May 19, 1864, and missing. 
 Roundy, John D., of Reading ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 
 E, S th Reg. 
 Rowland, Thomas, of South Reading ; enlisted for one year in 3d 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 Royal, Dudley C., of South Reading, son of Robert and Miriam ; born 
 
 in 1827 in Pownal, Me. ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in the 
 
 24th Reg. ; re-enlisted 1864. 
 Rummery, Tho. J., of Co. I, i ith Reg. 
 Ryder, Andrew J., of South Reading, son of James and Cynthia ; of 
 
 Frontier Cavalry. 
 
 Ryder, Verenus H., of South Reading, son of James and Cynthia ; en- 
 listed 1864, for one year, in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 Scanlan, Anthony, of South Reading ; of 2d Cavalry. 
 Seaver, Geo. A., of South Reading, son of Hammond and Amelia ; 
 
 born in Boston in 1827 ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in Co. K, of 
 
 4th Heavy Artillery.
 
 624 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Seaver, Howard M., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 
 in Boston in 1828 ; enlisted in i86r in Co. A, $d Maryland Reg. 
 Severns, Wm. H., of South Reading, son of Luther and Hannah R. ; 
 
 born in Brookline, 1842; was a Corporal in Co. G, 59th Reg.; 
 
 enlisted for three years in 1864, and discharged for inability. 
 Shea, Michael. 
 Sheafe, John C., of South Reading ; enlisted for three years in Co. A 
 
 ist Batt. of Heavy Artillery. 
 Shepard, Charles H., of South Reading ; enlisted 1861, as ist Lieut 
 
 in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted as 2d Lieut, in Co. L, ist Heavy 
 
 Artillery; promoted to ist Lieut. 
 Sherman, Marcus M., of South Reading; enlisted in 1864 in Co. K, 
 
 4th Heavy Artillery, for one year. 
 Sherman, Wm. H., of Reading; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 
 E, 5 th Reg. 
 Simpson, Charles L., of South Reading; enlisted 1863, in Co. B, ist 
 
 Batt. Heavy Artillery. 
 Skinner, Gustavus F. D., of South Reading, son of Thomas and Mary ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1828; enlisted 1861, for three years, in 
 
 Co. E, 1 6th Reg. ; discharged for inability in 1862 ; re-enlisted in 
 
 1864 in ist Cavalry. 
 
 Skinner, Geo. F., of South Reading, son of Abraham and Martha ; en- 
 listed 1862 in Co. B, 39th Reg. ; was wounded severely. 
 Skinner, Thomas Judson, of Reading, son of Thomas and Phebe ; 
 
 served with the 100 days' men. 
 Skinner, Wm. G., 2d, of South Reading, son of Lilley E. and Rhoda J. ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1845 ; enlisted in 1862 in Co. E, 5oth 
 
 Reg., for nine months. 
 Smalley, Leonard D., of South Reading ; born in Yarmouth, Me., in 
 
 1832 ; married Ellen M., dau. of Jacob Tufts ; was a seaman ; was 
 
 acting master on board the " Westfield " ; was present at the tak- 
 ing of Forts St. Philip and Jackson; also at the taking of New 
 
 Orleans, La., and Galveston, Tex. 
 Smiley, J. Henry, of South Reading, son of John and Priscilla ; enlisted 
 
 for three years in Co. H, 24th Reg. 
 Smith, Daniel, of South Reading, enlisted 1864 in Co. E, rst Batt. 
 
 of Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Smith, John, was a substitute for Wm. H. Atwell, Jr. ; was a seaman. 
 Smith, Solon C., of South Reading, son of Porter and Sarah ; born in 
 
 South Reading, 1840 ; enlisted 1864 ; acting 3d assistant engineer; 
 
 served on board the " Hibiscus " ; died of fever at St. Andrews 
 
 Bay, Fla., July 10, 1865.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 625 
 
 Smith, Thomas, of Melrose ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. E, 
 5th Reg. 
 
 Snell, Lewis A., of South Reading, son of Quartus and Lovice ; born 
 at Charlestown, Mass, 1840; enlisted 1862 in Co. E, soth Reg., 
 for nine months. 
 
 Snell, Franklin L., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; en- 
 listed 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. 
 
 Somers, Joseph, of 7th Battery. 
 
 Spaulding, David, of South Reading ; of Frontier Cavalry. 
 
 Stephens, John R., of Stoneham ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. 
 
 Stetson, Everett, of South Reading, son of Melzar and Lucy; born in 
 Maine ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. K, 23d Reg. 
 
 Stimpson, James W., of South Reading, son of Geo. W. and Susan ; 
 born in South Reading 1843 > enlisted in 1861, for three years,. in 
 Co. E, 1 6th Reg. ; taken prisoner at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; died 
 at Richmond, Va., about Jan. i, 1864. 
 
 Stimpson, Win. W., of South Reading, son of Alfred and Mary ; born 
 in South Reading in 1839 ; enlisted for nine months, in 1862, in 
 Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; died of fever at Baton Rouge, La., May 19, 
 1863. 
 
 Stoddard, Geo. W., of South Reading ; served with 100 days' men. 
 
 Stone, Orin, of South Reading, son of Ambrose and Martha ; enlisted 
 for three years in Co. E, i6th Reg. 
 
 Stowell, John D., of South Reading, son of Martin and Olive ; born in 
 South Reading in 1841 ; enlisted 1862, for three years, in Co. K, 
 23d Reg. ; discharged in 1864 by reason of wounds. 
 
 Sunbury, Horace A., of South Reading, son of Daniel and Mary; born 
 in Canada 1833 > enlisted for three years in ist Mass. Cavalry ; 
 promoted to 2d Lieut. ; transferred to 6ist Reg. in 1864 ; promoted 
 to ist Lieut, in 1865. 
 
 Sullivan, John, seaman. 
 
 Swain, John P., of North Reading ; enlisted 1864 in Co. L, ist Heavy 
 Artillery ; re-enlisted. 
 
 Sweetser, Albert H., of South Reading, son of P. H. and Louisa; born 
 
 in ; enlisted as a soldier in 3 ist Mass. Reg. (Zouaves) ; was 
 
 discharged at Ship Island, by Gen. Butler, for disability ; re-en- 
 listed in the 57th Reg. (Veteran) under Col. Gould, and fought in 
 the battle of the Wilderness. 
 
 Sweetser, James M., of South Reading, son of Moses and Fanny ; born 
 in South Reading 1828 ; enlisted 1861, for three months, and 
 79
 
 626 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 served as Corporal in the 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1862, for nine 
 
 months, in Co. E, 5oth Reg. ; served as Sergeant with the 100 
 
 days' men. 
 Sweetser, Oliver S., of South Reading, son of Tho. J. and Lavinia S. ; 
 
 born at St. Augustine, Fla., in 1832 ; enlisted in 1861 in Co. E, 
 
 5th Reg., for three months. 
 Sweetser, Thomas, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 
 in Florida in 1835 ; enlisted in 1861, for three months, in Co. E, 
 
 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted as Sergeant in 1862, for nine months, in Co. 
 
 E, 5oth Reg., and discharged soon after for disability. 
 Sweetser, Luther, of South Reading, son of John and Sarah ; born at 
 
 South Reading, 1845 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. E, 
 
 i6th Reg. ; was taken prisoner[at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and died 
 
 a prisoner at Anderson ville, S. C., Aug. 8, 1864. 
 Sweetser, Francis, of South Reading, son of Thos. J. and Lydia ; born 
 
 at South Reading, 1839 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. E, 
 
 i6th Reg ; was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, June 25, 1862. 
 Sweetser, Madison C., of South Reading, son of Madison and Phebe ; 
 
 born in South Reading in 1840 ; enlisted in 1861, for three years, 
 
 in 2d Co 22d Reg. (Sharpshooters) ; re-enlisted for one year, in 
 
 1864, in Co. B, ist Vet. Reg. (Hancock's Corps). 
 Sweetser, Jewett B., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 
 in South Reading, 1842 ; enlisted in 1865 in Frontier Cavalry. 
 Sweetser, John E., of South Reading, son of Stephen and Nancy ; born 
 
 in South Reading, 1839 '> enlisted for three years in Co. E, ist 
 
 Mass. Cavalry, and discharged in 1863 for disability. 
 Sweetser, Edmund, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 
 at South Reading, 1843 ; enlisted 1862 in Co. L, Heavy Artillery; 
 
 re-enlisted in 1864 for Weymouth. 
 Sweetser, Stephen, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 
 in South Reading ; served in the 5th Battery ; previously served 
 
 in the 4th Mass, for Taunton. 
 Sweetser, E. Leroy, of South Reading, son of Elbridge and Mary ; born 
 
 in South Reading in 1842 ; enlisted 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for 
 
 nine months. 
 
 Symonds, Artemas, served with 100 days' men. 
 Tackney, Patrick ; enlisted 1864, for three years, in 6th Battery. 
 Talbot, H., of South Reading ; of Frontier Cavalry. 
 Taylor, Augustus, of South Reading, son of Augustus and Elizabeth; 
 
 born in Dedham in 1841 ; enlisted 1862, for three years, in Co. D, 
 
 4th Battery; died of fever at New Orleans, May 31, 1864.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 Taylor, Henry W., of South Reading, son of Wm. H. and Roxanna ; 
 born at Cambridgeport 1843 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. 
 C, of 3d Battery ; afterwards enlisted in the Navy. 
 
 Thompson, Charles, of South Reading, son of Joseph and Susan ; born 
 at South Reading. 1838 ; enlisted, 1861, in Co. E, 5th Reg., for 
 three months. 
 
 Thompson, John A., of South Reading ; born in Boston ; enlisted 1861, 
 as drummer, in Co. E, i6th Reg., for three years ; discharged in 
 1862 for disability. 
 
 Thompson, J. Frank, of South Reading, son of John A. and Mary B. ; 
 born at South Reading in 1832; enlisted April, i86i,'for three 
 months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; in Dec. 1861, re-enlisted, for three 
 years, in Co. B, 3d Reg. (Maryland Reg.) ; re-enlisted in 1864, in 
 4th Heavy Artillery ; was a Corporal. 
 
 Thompson, Geo. A., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; bo.rn 
 at South Reading, 1844 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. 
 E, 5oth Reg. ; served also with too days' men. 
 
 Tibbetts, Charles H., of Reading; enlisted 1861, for three months, in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. ; discharged on account of having shot off by acci- 
 dent the end of his finger. 
 
 Tibbetts, Frank L , of Reading; enlisted 1861, for three months, in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. ; was taken prisoner at Bull Run, July 21, 1861. 
 
 Townsend, Geo. W., of South Reading, son of Jacob and Nancy ; born 
 at South Reading in 1827 ; enlisted in 1861, for three months, in 
 Co. E, 5th Reg. ; was Sergeant ; re-enlisted Dec. 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. E, 24th Reg., as Corporal ; was wounded at the battle 
 of Newbern, N. C., and lost two fingers of right hand ; re-enlisted 
 1864, in sgth Vet. Reg. 
 
 Townsend, Jacob, Jr., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 born at Lynnfield, 1821 ; enlisted 1864, for three years, in Signal 
 Corps. 
 
 Townley, Benjamin, of South Reading, son of Calvin and Jane ; born 
 in Orange, N. J., 1812 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. E, 
 i6th Reg.; discharged 1862, for disability; re-enlisted 1863, in 
 Co. B, ist Heavy Artillery, and again discharged, 1865, for dis- 
 ability. 
 
 Tucker, Chas. E., of South Reading, son of Peter and Nuamah ; born 
 at South Reading, 1842 ; enlisted 1862, in Co. E, i6th Reg ; dis- 
 charged in 1863 for disability; re-enlisted in 1864, in Co. K, Vet- 
 eran Reserve Corps. 
 
 Turnbull, Alexander, of South Reading, son of Robert and Annie ; born
 
 628 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 in Scotland in 1825 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. E, aoth 
 Reg. ; carpenter and wagoner. 
 
 Turnbull, Robert, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 in Scotland in 1835 ; enlisted for three years in Co. E, 2oth Reg. ; 
 died of consumption at South Reading, Aug. 14, 1863 ; disease 
 contracted in the service ; was unmarried. 
 
 Tufts, Albert C., of the 100 days' men. 
 
 Tuttle, H. Ballard, of South Reading, of the 100 days' men. 
 
 Twiss, Adoniram J., of South Reading, son of Nancy; enlisted 1861, 
 for three months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. 
 
 Tyler, Wrri. N., of South Reading, son of John A. and Marion L. ; born 
 at South Reading, 1834; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 E, of 5th Reg. ; was Corporal ; re-enlisted in 1861, in Co. E, 5oth 
 Reg., for nine months ; served also with 100 days' men. 
 
 Tyler, Geo. L., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born in 
 Andover in 1836 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 5oth 
 Reg. ; re-enlisted in 1864, in Co. K, of 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Tyler, Chas. W., of South Reading; enlisted for three years in 35th 
 Reg. 
 
 Upham, Elbridge S., of South Reading ; enlis-ted for three years in 35th 
 Reg. 
 
 Upton, Eben Davis, of South Reading, son of Edward and Betsey ; 
 born in Lynnfield ; enlisted 1861, in Co. B, 22d Reg. ; was killed 
 at the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 
 Vaux, William, of South Reading, son of Thos. H. and Susan ; bofn in 
 New York city in 1837 ; served 1861, three months, in Co. E, 5th 
 Reg. ; a musician ; re-enlisted in 1862, in Co. A, ist Heavy Ar- 
 tillery ; was Drum-Major. 
 
 Wadlin, Daniel H., of Reading^ son of Daniel and Pamela ; born in 
 1820; enlisted in 1864 in Co. K, 4th Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Walker, Charles R., of South Reading, son of Charles and Mary R. ; 
 born at South Reading, 1837 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in 2d 
 Reg. (as musician) ; discharged for disability the same year ; re- 
 enlisted in Maj. Cabot's unattached company of Heavy Artillery, 
 ist Battalion. 
 
 Walker, Wm. H., of South Reading, son of Levi and Laura ; served in 
 1861, three months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted 1862 for three 
 years, in Co. G, 2oth Reg. ; promoted to ist Lieut, in 1863 ; severely 
 wounded in the thigh at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 ; 
 promoted to Capt, Aug. 1863 ; resigned in 1864. 
 
 Walton, Samuel L., of South Reading, son of Amos L. and Susan ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. fag 
 
 born in South Reading in 1842 ; enlisted 1861, for 3 years, in Co. 
 I, nth Reg. 
 
 Walton, Augustus L., of South Reading, son of Leonard and Nancy ; 
 born at South Reading, 1832 ; enlisted for three years in igth Reg. ; 
 discharged ; re-enlisted in nth Battery. 
 
 Walton, Solon, of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born at 
 South Reading, 1830 ; enlisted for three years in Co. E, of ist 
 Massachusetts Cavalry ; was Corporal and Orderly Sergeant 
 
 Walton, Oliver, ad, of South Reading, son of Jotham and Sarah ; born 
 at South Reading 1837 ; enlisted 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 
 5oth Reg. 
 
 Walton, Geo. K., of South Reading, son of Joshua and Harriet M. ; born 
 at South Reading in 1843 ; enlisted in 1862, in i6th Battery. 
 
 Walton, Frank O., of South Reading, son of Oliver and Sarah ; born at 
 South Reading in 1840 ; enlisted 1864, in Co. E, i6th Reg. ; trans- 
 ferred, 1864, to nth Mass. Battalion. 
 
 Waitt, John N., of South Reading, son of John ; born at South Read- 
 ing, 1842 ; enlisted for three years in Co. B, i3th Reg. 
 
 Waitt, Aaron H., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; born 
 at South Reading; enlisted in Co. B, of 22d Reg. ; was bugler. 
 
 Waitt, Henry B., of South Reading, son of David and Nancy L. ; born 
 at South Reading in 1834 ; enlisted 1861, in Company B, 22d Reg., 
 for three years. 
 
 Warren, Horace M., of South Reading, son of Edwin R. and Mary 
 H. ; born in Topshamy Me., July 8, 1841 ; enlisted 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. E, 2oth Reg., and was chosen Sergt, having pre- 
 viously served three months in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; was severely 
 wounded in the arm, body, and leg, at battle of Ball's Bluff; 
 re-enlisted 1862, in Co. E, 5oth Reg., for nine months, and was 
 chosen ist Lieut. ; re-commissioned as ist Lieut., and Adjt. of 5gth 
 Veteran Reg., and promoted to Major 1864 ; mortally wounded in 
 battle at Weldon Railroad, Va., Aug. 19, and died Aug. 27, 1864 ; 
 funeral and burial at South Reading. 
 
 Warren, Alvin S., of South Reading ; brother of the last named ; born 
 in Augusta, Me., Nov. 24, 1843 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in 
 Co. E, i6th Reg. ; was Corporal ; died at Fortress Monroe, June 
 12, 1862, of fever, and was interred at South Reading. 
 
 Warren, Edwin R., Jr., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 born in Topsham, Me., 1838 ; an Acting Ensign and Lieut, in the 
 Naval service ; was on board the " Bermuda " and " Wamsutta " ; 
 was present at the bombardment of Charleston, S. C., 1864 ; on 
 special service in South Atlantic Squadron.
 
 630 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Washington, George, of South Reading, of 48th Colored Reg. ; a repre- 
 sentative recruit for Thos. Emerson. 
 
 Weston, Robt. H., of Reading; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. 
 E, 5th Reg. 
 
 Whitehead, Jeremiah, of South Reading ; son of Geo. and Eliza, bora 
 in Charlestown ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. C, i4th Reg. 
 
 Whitehead, George H., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 born in Charlestown ; enlisted in Co. E, xyth Reg. ; was killed in 
 action, Feb. i, 1864, near Newbern, N. C. 
 
 Whitehead, John E., of South Reading, brother of the last named ; 
 bora in Charlestown ; enlisted in Co. B, iyth Reg., for three years ; 
 discharged for inability in 1863. 
 
 Whitford, John, of South Reading, born in England ; enlisted 1861, in 
 Co. E, 1 6th Reg., for three years ; discharged for inability in 1863. 
 
 Wheeler, Morris P , of South Reading ; son of Philip C. ; served with 
 the 100 days' men. 
 
 Wheeler, T. Edward, of South Reading, born in 1837 ; enlisted 1861, 
 for three years, in Co. G, 1 3th Reg.; discharged in 1862, for ina- 
 bility. 
 
 Winegar, Wm. H., of South Reading ; enlisted for three years in 33d 
 Reg. 
 
 Winship, Samuel, of South Reading, son of Joel and Eliza ; born in 
 South Reading 1822 ; enlisted in 1862, for nine months, in Co. E, 
 5oth Reg. 
 
 Winthrop, Alexander M., of South Reading; enlisted for three years in 
 2oth Reg. 
 
 Wiley, Joseph E., of South Reading, son of Peter and Nancy ; bora at 
 Royalston 1838 ; enlisted 1861, for three months in Co. E, 5th Reg.; 
 re-enlisted 1862, in Co. L, ist Heavy Artillery ; promoted to Ser- 
 geant ; re-enlisted 1864, as a veteran. 
 
 Wiley, John, 2d, of South Reading, son of Peter B j born at South 
 Reading; enlisted in Co. E, i6th Reg., a company he was instru- 
 mental in recruiting and of which he was Captain ; he resigned in 
 1863. 
 
 Wiley, Wm., of South Reading, son of Capt John and Elizabeth ; 
 was born at South Reading, 1836 ; enlisted in 1861, for three months, 
 in Co. E, 5th Reg.; re-enlisted 1862, for three years, in Co. A, 
 iyth Reg.; was ist Sergeant; died at Newbern, N. C., Oct. 12, 
 1862, of fever; funeral at South Reading, Dec. 16, 1862. 
 
 Wiley, Wm. H., of South Reading, son of Ira and Lucetta; served with 
 the 100 days' men.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 631 
 
 Wiley, Ira, Jr., of South Reading, son of Ira and Lucetta ; served with 
 
 the 100 days' men. 
 Wiley, Baxter I., of South Reading, son of Ellis ; served with the 100 
 
 days' men. 
 Wiley, J. Barnard, of South Reading, son of Ebenezer and Jane ; served 
 
 with the 100 days' men. 
 Wiley, Geo. H.,of South Reading, born in Amherst, N. H. ; enlisted in 
 
 1861, in Co. E, i6th Reg., and discharged 1864, for inability. 
 Wiley, Samuel A., of South Reading, son of Samuel S. and Rebecca 
 
 N. ; born in South Reading in 1841 ; enlisted 1861, for three 
 years, in Co. H, 23d Reg. ; died of measles at Hatteras Inlet Hos- 
 pital, Feb. 7, 1862. 
 
 Wiley, Augustus T., of South Reading ; born at Lynn ; enlisted for 
 three years, in 1861, in Co. E, ist Mass. Cavalry; killed near 
 Kelley's Ford, Va., June 9, 1863. 
 
 Wiley, Albert S., of South Reading, son of John and Harriet ; born in 
 South Reading, 1832 ; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, ist Mass. Cavalry, 
 for three years; severely wounded at Poolesville, Sept 5, 1862 ; 
 discharged by reason of wounds ; re-enlisted 1862, for three years, 
 in Co. E, ist Cavalry. 
 
 Wiley, Herbert A., of South Reading, son of Adam and Eunice ; born 
 at South Reading, 1839 ; enlisted 1862, for three years, in Co. K, 
 23d Reg. ; died of typhoid fever, at Newbern, N. C., Nov. 19, 1862. 
 
 Wiley, Alonzo E., of South Reading, son of Enos and Susan C. ; born 
 at South Reading, 1839 ; enlisted 1864, for three years, in Signal 
 Corps. 
 
 Wiley, Caleb S., of Stoneham, son of Caleb and Susanna, born in 
 Stoneham, 1827 ; enlisted 1864, for one year, in 4th Heavy Artil- 
 lery. 
 
 Williams, Leonard T., of South Reading; born in Stoneham, 1839; 
 enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. G, i3th Reg. ; discharged 
 
 1862, for disability. 
 
 Williams, Henry, of South Reading, son of Phebe D. ; enlisted in 4th 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 Williams, James E., of South Reading ; enlisted in 5th Cavalry. 
 Williams, Alexander, of South Reading, representative recruit for Peter 
 
 Folsom ; enlisted in 5th colored Heavy Artillery. 
 Williams, Francis E., of South Reading, son of Francis and Laura ; born 
 
 in South Reading, 1847 > enlisted 1864, for one year, in 4th Heavy 
 
 Artillery. 
 Williams, Chas. B., of Boston; enlisted 1864, for one year, in 4th 
 
 Heavy Artillery.
 
 632 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Wilder, Geo. W., Jr., of South Reading, son of Geo. W. ; born at South 
 Reading 1823 ; enlisted 1864, for three years, in ist Cavalry; dis- 
 charged 1862, for disability. 
 
 Willan, Thomas, of South Reading, son of John and Agnes, born in 
 England, 1836 ; enlisted in 1863, in Co. L, ist Heavy Artillery ; 
 taken prisoner at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864, and kept at 
 Andersonville ; paroled Nov. 20, 1864. 
 
 Wilkins, Edward L., of South Reading; enlisted 1861, for three 
 months, in Co. E, 5th Reg. ; re-enlisted 1864, in 4th Heavy Artil- 
 lery. 
 
 Woodfin, John H., of South Reading, son of Moses and Joanna ; born 
 in Marblehead, 1833 ; enlisted as ist Sergeant, in Co. E, i6th 
 Reg. ; promoted to 2d Lieut, May, 1863, and to ist Lieut., Aug. 
 1863 ; was killed at the battle of Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
 
 Woodis, Hiram, of South Reading, son of Josiah C. and Lois; born at 
 Bartlett, N. H., in 1820; enlisted 1861, in Co. E, i6th Reg., for 
 three years ; was Corporal ; wounded at Bull Run 1862 ; re-enlisted 
 in 1864, and transferred to nth Reg. 
 
 Woodward, Thomas T., of South Reading, son of Thomas and Esther ; 
 b^rn at South Reading, 1827 ; was a seaman. 
 
 Woofindale, Geo. H., of South Reading ; enlisted for one year in Co. D, 
 3d Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Wright, Joseph T., of South Reading, son of Hiram and Lydia ; born 
 at Middleton, 1831 ; enlisted 1861, for three years, in Co. E, i6th 
 Reg.; re-enlisted in 1864 (for Marblehead), and transferred to 
 nth Mass. Battalion ; wounded in arm at battle of Wilderness, and 
 died in consequence in 1865. 
 
 Wright, Dexter C., of South Reading, son of Nathaniel C. and Judith; 
 served with the 100 days' men. 
 
 Wyman, Wm., of South Reading ; enlisted for three years, in 24th Reg. 
 
 Wyman, Wm , of Melrose ; enlisted 1861, for three months, in Co. E, 5th 
 Reg. 
 
 Warey, James, of South Reading; born in 1833 ; enlisted in 1861, for 
 three years, in nth Reg. 
 
 Whole number of men furnished by South Reading during the 
 
 war, including re-enlistments, was 505 
 
 Number killed in battle . . . . . . .' 18 
 
 Number died of disease contracted in the service - : 1 ' <j . 42
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
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 650 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 NORTH READING. 
 
 NAMES OF PERSONS WHO WERE IN THE MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE DURING 
 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION FROM NORTH READING. 
 
 Allen Charles, ist Reg. 
 
 Abbott, Joseph H., ist Batt'y, Ft. Warren. 
 
 Burrell, Elbridge W., ist Batt'y and nth 
 
 Reg. 
 
 Bradlord, D. B., Sharpshooters. 
 Bentley, Noah, I5th Keg. 
 Burditt, Charles J., 33d Reg. 
 Burditt, Charles, 2d Reg. 
 Burditt, John N., 33d Keg. 
 Barker, Henry C., 33d Reg. 
 Bartlett, Joseph H., 32d Reg. 
 Batchelder, Josiah, i6th Keg. 
 Batchelder, Joseph T. (Sergt.), 5oth Reg. 
 Buxton, Edmund, ist Batt'y. 
 Buxton, Elijah, ist Batt'y. 
 Brien O. John, ist Batt'y. 
 Crane, Dennis, 26th Reg. 
 Carleton, Geo. W., 22d Reg. 
 Chapman, Ezra W., 22d Reg. 
 Coney, Chas. W. H., 33d Reg. 
 Cross, Samuel B., 33d Reg. 
 Curmick, James M., 32d Keg. 
 Carr, Arthur W., 33d Reg. 
 Cook, Augustin P., Signal Corps and 5016 
 
 Reg. 
 
 Coney, John S. (Lieut.), 5oth Reg. 
 Coney, Edward S., ist Batt'y. 
 Case, Daniel W., 5oth Reg. 
 Collins, Patrick, 2d Reg. 
 Doe, Geo. W., Batt'y. 
 Dane, James O., 33d Reg. 
 Davis, William, 32d Reg. 
 Deaty Bradley (Lieut.), 33d Reg. 
 Damon, Christopher C., 5oth Reg. 
 Dixon, John H., 2d Reg. 
 Dame, James A., ist Batt'y. 
 Eaton, Daniel W., Sharpshooters. 
 Eaton, Appleton P., 5oth Reg. 
 Eaton, Edwin (Ft Warren), ist Batt'y. 
 Eaton, Thomas, 2d Reg. 
 Eaton, Geo. W., Signal Corps. 
 Flint, Henry E., Sharpshooters. 
 Flint, Henry C., 26th and 59th Reg. 
 Flint, Frank S., nth Keg. 
 Flint, Chas. A., ist Reg. 
 Flint, Asa A., 5Oth Reg. 
 Flint, \Vm. W., 5oth Reg. 
 Flint, C. H., Batt'y. 
 Flint, W. Scott, 2d Reg. 
 Fairbanks, James E., 26th Reg. 
 Fry, William, 33d Reg. 
 Foster, Sumner, 2d Reg. 
 Gerry, William, nth Reg. 
 Green, Geo. W., 5Oth Reg. 
 Gates, Henry A., 5oth Reg. 
 Goodwin, Samuel, 2d Reg. 
 Grant, John, 28th Reg. 
 
 Hinman, Edward P., nth Reg. 
 
 Harris, Thos. W., 5oth Reg. 
 
 Holt, Milton G., 5oth Reg. 
 
 Hunter, Wm. A., 5Oth Reg. 
 
 Haynes, Geo. H., Rifle Corps. 
 
 Jones, John, 22d Reg. 
 
 Jenkins, F., i6th Keg. 
 
 Jones, Wm. H., Frontier Cavalry. 
 
 Kelly, Wm., 33d Reg. 
 
 King, Andrew G., 33d Reg. 
 
 Keawley, Joseph, Batt'y. 
 
 Little, Moses, Batt'y. 
 
 Munroe, Brigham A., 2d Reg. 
 
 Munroe, George, ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Wm. C., 39th Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, John, nth Keg. 
 
 Mclntire, Ezra, I2th Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Chas. H., 26th Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Geo. E., 2d Keg. 
 
 Mclntire, David P., 35th and ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Charles W., 35th and ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Horace M., 35th and ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Eliab P., ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Dexter, ist Keg. 
 
 Mclntire, Daniel D., ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Caleb, ist Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Fred. C., I5th Reg. 
 
 Mclntire, Sylvester H., Frontier Cavalry. 
 
 Munroe, Chas. M., Sig. Corps and 5Oth 
 
 Reg. 
 
 Mason, Osro (Ft. Warren), ist Batt'n. 
 Morton, Chas. H., 5 ist Reg. 
 Munroe, Wm. H., 2d Reg. 
 McMunus, John, Rifle Corps. 
 Nichols, Geo. W., 22d Reg. 
 Nichols, Moses E., 3d Keg. 
 Nichols, Wm. W., nth Keg. 
 Nichols, Elijah, 33d Reg. 
 Nichols, Nathaniel, 59th and 5Oth Regs. 
 Nichols, Amos B., 5<3th Reg. 
 Norwood, George A., 3 ist and 42d Regs. 
 Norwood, James, 39th and 42d Regs. 
 Orcutt, Joseph C., Sharpshooters. 
 Proctor, George W. N., 2d Reg. 
 Poole, John F., 33d Reg. 
 Platts, Chas. B., Sig. Corps and 5Oth Reg. 
 Platts, George H., ist Batt'n. 
 Powers, William, ist Batt'n. 
 Quailan, J. W., Artillery. 
 Kayner, Walter, ist Batt'n, Fort Warren. 
 Kayner, Warren G., Illinois Reg. 
 Rice, Chas. W., 35th Reg. 
 Smith Joseph A , ist Keg. 
 Smith, Chas. H., 2d Reg. 
 Smith John P , I4th Reg. 
 Simpson, George F. nth Reg. 
 Sheldon, George F., R. I. Reg.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 651 
 
 Sheldon, Rufus, ist Batt'y. 
 Sidelinker, G. W., soth Reg. 
 Swan, Daniel, ist Reg. 
 Stearns, C. E., sgth Reg. 
 Sweetser, Oliver S., ist Reg. 
 Stewart, J. A., Battery. 
 Travis, Nathan F., Sharpshooters. 
 Tileston, G. H., 33d Reg 
 Thompson, William, 3<Dth Reg. 
 Watts, Ruggles T., 33d Reg. 
 Weston, Frank C-, 5Oth Reg. 
 
 N. B. Some of the following named persons served in both military and naval 
 warfare : 
 
 Weston, Justin M., 5oth Reg. 
 
 White house, Chas. E M soth Reg. 
 
 Walls, Paschal A., Sig. Corps and Soth 
 
 Keg. 
 
 Walls, George S., 426. Reg. 
 Wright. Thomas, 59th Reg. 
 Walsh, Robert B., 4oth Reg. 
 Whipple, Calvin, ist Keg. 
 West, Thomas P., Frontier Cavalry. 
 Hammond, Harrison B., Signal Corps. 
 
 Donnell, James O., Jr., Navy. 
 Gilchrist, Frank C., Navy. 
 Hunter, Needham, Navy. 
 Holt, William P. Navy. 
 Mclntire, Caleb, Navy. 
 
 Morris, John, Navy. 
 Reynolds, John, Navy. 
 Weston, Francis C., Navy. 
 White, William L., Navy. 
 
 ROLL OF CO. E, SIXTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 
 
 REGULAR SERVICE. THREE YEARS' ENLISTMENT. 
 
 Captain. John Wiley, 2d, South Reading. 
 
 First Lieutenant. James R. Darracott, Boston. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, James Oliver, South Reading. 
 
 Sergeants. John H. Woodfin, John Cowdrey, James F. Mansfield, John Day, 
 Joseph T. Wright, South Reading. 
 
 Corporals. Henry Goodell, Woburn ; Jeremiah S. Batchelder, South Reading ; 
 Clifford B. Fowle, Woburn ; Alvan S. Warren, Hiram Woodis, Warren Nichols, 
 Henry E. Hilborn, South Reading ; Hollis M. Oilman, Lowell. 
 
 Musicians. John A. Thompson, South Reading ; Joseph L. Daniels, Bellingham ; 
 Alonzo S. Norris, Ellenburg, N. Y. 
 
 Wagoner. G. F. D. Skinner, of South Reading. 
 
 Privates. 
 
 Aborn, Warren, Reading. 
 Allen, John F., Reading. 
 Ansorge, Alfred E., Winchester. 
 Adams, Samuel H., South Reading. 
 Babcock, Chas. F., Sherburne. 
 Batchelder, Josiah, Jr., North Reading. 
 Bruce, Clarence M., South Reading. 
 Bancroft, Benj. F., South Reading. 
 Bancroft, Win., Woburn. 
 Bickford, Chas. F., South Reading. 
 Burditt, Chas. F., South Reading. 
 Burclitt, Aaron, South Reading. 
 Bent, Amos R., Bellingham. 
 Bermingham, John, New braintree. 
 Bowen, Geo. E., North Attleboro'. 
 Bond, James, Jr., South Reading. 
 Cutler, Benj. S., Woburn. 
 Campbell, Wm. M., East Abington. 
 Carter, George, South Reading. 
 Chapman, Richard W., South Reading. 
 Clifford, Leonard, South Reading. 
 Caldwell, Samuel P., Cambridge. 
 
 Cutter, Albert, Woburn. 
 Cutter, Samuel B., Woburn. 
 Corcoran, Thomas H., Boston. 
 Davis, Royal A., Winchester. 
 Damon, Albert, Reading. 
 Damon, Henry, Reading. 
 Darling, Edward C., Lynn. 
 Danforth, Edwin S., Woburn. 
 Day, John A., Woburn 
 Eaton, John H., South Reading. 
 Evans, Thomas A., South Reading. 
 Eaton, James, Saugus. 
 Eaton, Joseph, Reading. 
 Farnum, William, Somerville. 
 Flagg, Warren F., Concord. 
 Foster, Henry L., Stone ham. 
 Flint, Herman, Concord. 
 Fairbern, George H., Somerville. 
 Freeman, William T., Boston. 
 Gates, Samuel, Woburn. 
 Heath, Micah, South Reading. 
 Hettler, Adam H., South Reading.
 
 652 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Houseman, John M., South Reading. 
 Howard, Charles, Boston. 
 Holbrook, Amos A., Upton. 
 Hunnewell, William H., Winchester. 
 Hutchinson, John A., Waltham. 
 Hurd, Joseph L., South Reading. 
 Hart, Charles H., South Reading. 
 Jenkins, Forrest, North Reading. 
 Jennison, Luther P., Holliston. 
 Joy, Henry, South Randolph. 
 Kelsey, E., Chatham Four Corners, N. Y. 
 Knowlton, William H., Hopkinton. 
 Kennison, Daniel S., South Reading. 
 Kidder, Daniel W., Saugus. 
 Lee, John F., South Reading. 
 Locke, George L., South Reading. 
 Marshall, Charles H., Holliston. 
 Mellen, Charles A., Reading. 
 Mansfield, Joseph H., South Reading. 
 Martin, William H., Chicopee. 
 Newhall, Elbridge G., Lynnfield. 
 Newhall, Lucius E., Lynn. 
 
 Nichols, Geo. W., Southboro'. 
 Nichols, Hannibal, South Reading. 
 Nichols, Joseph, Jr., CambridgeporL 
 Perry, Charles H., Woburn. 
 Pratt, Benj. C., South Reading. 
 Richards, Fred. S., South Reading. 
 Rogers, Peter M., Stoneham. 
 Safford, Edward P., South Boston. 
 Snow, Robert F., Chelsea. 
 Stimpson, James W., South Reading. 
 Sweetser, Luther, South Reading. 
 Sweetser, Francis, South Reading. 
 Smith, Charles H., Woburn. 
 Simmons, John N., Woburn. 
 Stone, Orrin, South Reading. 
 Symmes, Rufus, Limerick, Me. 
 Taber, Thomas, Sherburne. 
 Townley, Benjamin, South Reading. 
 Wiley, George H., South Reading. 
 Whitford, John, South Reading. 
 Wrin, Edward, Roxbury. 
 
 ROLL OF CO. D, FIFTIETH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 
 NINE MONTHS' SERVICE, 1862-3. 
 
 Captain. Josiah W. Coburn, Reading. 
 
 First Lieutenant. John S. Coney, North Reading. 
 
 Second Lieutenant. Oramel G. Abbott, Reading. 
 
 Sergeants. Stephen P. Rowell, Melrose ; Levi Swain, Jr., Wilmington; Harley 
 Prentiss, Reading; Edmund D. Pearson, Wilmington; Joseph T. Batchelder, North 
 Reading ; George J. Bartlett, Asa C. Buck, Reading. 
 
 Corporals. James P. Morton, Wilmington; Geo. M. Peas! ee, Wm. Buck, Wm. 
 H. Nash, Reading ; Justine M. Weston, North Reading ; Samuel T. Sweetser, Daniel 
 G. Richardson, Reading ; Augustine P. Cook, North Reading ; Tobias Pinkham, Asa 
 P. Tibbetts, Reading. 
 
 Musician. John L. Farwell, Reading. 
 
 Wagoner. George Rogers, Reading. 
 
 Privates. 
 
 Bunker, Noble, Reading. 
 
 Battelle, Chas. P., Reading. 
 
 Boyce, Chas. M., Reading. 
 
 Bruce, Geo. G., Reading. 
 
 Bancroft, Henry L., Wilmington. 
 
 Bancroft, Geo., Wilmington. 
 
 Blanchard, Edwin, Wilmington. 
 
 Bancroft, Haskel K., Reading. 
 
 Barnes, John A., Reading. 
 
 Cook, Geo. W., Salem. 
 
 Coney, Geo. A., Reading. 
 
 Coney, Geo. C., Reading. 
 
 Carr, Daniel W., Wilmington. 
 
 Damon, Christopher C., North Reading. 
 
 Delay, Jeremiah, Reading. 
 
 Evans, Chas. A., Reading. 
 
 Eames, Henry W., Wilmington. 
 
 Eaton, Appleton P., North Reading. 
 
 Eaton, Moses F., Reading. 
 
 Fortiss, Wm., Wilmington. 
 Frost, Charles C., Reading. 
 Fletcher, Nathan B., Reading. 
 Flint, George B., North Reading. 
 Fulton, Joseph W., Andover. 
 Flint, Wm. W., North Reading. 
 Flint, Asa A., North Reading. 
 Gowing, Charles, Lawrence. 
 Green, Gee. W., North Reading. 
 Goodwin, George H., Reading. 
 Grover, Charles A., Reading. 
 Gowing, Gayton, Wilmington. 
 Gale, Henry A., North Reading. 
 Harnden, George W., Andover. 
 Hunter, William A., North Reading. 
 Harris, Thomas W., North Reading. 
 Holt, Squire, Reading. 
 Hopkins, Joseph B., Reading. 
 Hopkins, Geo. W., Reading.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 653 
 
 Howard, John L., Wilmington. 
 Harnden, Otis, Wilmington. 
 Holt, Milton G., North Reading. 
 Holt, Charles, Reading. 
 Jenkins, Charles, North Reading. 
 Jones, Loring, North Reading. 
 Kendall, Waldo T., Charlestown. 
 LaClair, Wm., Reading. 
 Marshall, Wm. H., Reading. 
 Munroe, Chas. M., North Reading. 
 Myers, % Chas., Reading. 
 Mclntire, Amos, Heading. 
 McAleer, Joseph, Reading. 
 Miligan, George, Wilmington. 
 
 Js, Amos B., North Reading. 
 Nichols, Nathaniel, North Reading. 
 Nichols, Wm. R., Reading. 
 Nichols, Edward E., Reading. 
 Pearson, Daniel N., Wilmington. 
 Parker, Edward, Reading. 
 Parker, Clarkson, Reading. 
 
 Pratt, Stillman M., Reading. 
 Pratt, Edward E., Reading. 
 Platts, Chas. B., North Reading. 
 Perkins, Walter G., Reading. 
 Prentiss, Samuel, Reading. 
 Pearson, Geo. O., Wilmington. 
 Richardson, Horace A., Reading. 
 Sidelinker, Geo. W., North Reading. 
 Taylor, Chas., Reading. 
 Trull, John A., Andover. 
 Upton, Russell, Wilmington. 
 Upton, Ambrose, Wilmington. 
 Williams, Joseph F., Reading. 
 Weston, Nelson S., Reading. 
 Weston, Francis C., North Reading. 
 Walls, Paschal A., Reading. 
 Wright, Hiram F., Reading. 
 Weston, John H., Reading. 
 Whitman, Albert H., Reading. 
 Whitehouse, Charles E., North Reading. 
 
 ROLL OF CO. E, FIFTIETH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 
 
 NINE MONTHS' SERVICE, 1862-3. 
 
 Captain. Samuel F. Littlefield, South Reading. 
 
 First Litutenant. Horace M. Warren, South Reading. 
 
 Second Lieutenant. James D. Draper, South Reading. 
 
 Sergeants. Jason H. Knight, James M. Sweetser, James A. Burditt, Charles F. 
 Hartshorn, George K. Gilman, Geo. H. Green, Thos. Sweetser, South Reading. 
 
 Corf orals. Joseph S. Eustis, James M. Morrill, John Q. A. Parker, W. N. Tyler, 
 Rufus F. Draper, Geo. Carter, South Reading ; Myron H. Whittredge, Lynnfield ; 
 Chas. S. Emerson, South Reading. 
 
 Privates. 
 
 Anderson, Geo. W., South Reading. 
 Aborn, Henry, South Reading. 
 Bru.ce, Jasper F., South Reading. 
 Brown, John C., Saugus. 
 Brown, Benjamin V.. Lynnfield. 
 Barber, Thomas, South Reading. 
 Brown, Charles H., Hingham. 
 Butterfield, Francis M., Saugus. 
 Barren, Elliot F., Melrose. 
 Bent, John S., Boston. 
 Brown, Jonas G., Melrose. 
 Cox, Geo., Lynnfield. 
 Cox, James P., Melrose. 
 Crow, Wm. L,, South Reading. 
 Cartwright, Joseph, South Reading. 
 Cooper, Reuben L., South Reading. 
 Dix, Joseph O., Melrose. 
 Danforth, Alfred W., South Reading. 
 Deadman, Wm. D., South Reading. 
 Davis, Chas. H., South Reading. 
 Dodge, Ignatius, Topsfield. 
 Degen, Chas. F., Watertown. 
 Donoghue, John J., Melrose. 
 Eustis, Wm. C., Cambridge. 
 Eaton, John Smith, South Reading. 
 
 Eaton, Chester W., South Reading. 
 Emerson, Justus, Lynnfield. 
 Estes, O'Neal J., South Reading. 
 Farrell, Michael, Melrose. 
 Fisk, Willard L., Saugus. 
 Fisk, Joseph A., South Reading. 
 Fuller, George P., Melrose. 
 Hamilton, Robert, South Reading. 
 Harrington, Chas. T., South Reading. 
 Hawkes, John, South Reading. 
 Knight, Henry C., South Reading. 
 Kingman, Wm. W., South Reading. 
 Lyman, Henry H., South Reading. 
 Moses, Geo., South Reading. 
 Murkland, Robt L., South Reading. 
 Miller, Chas. C., South Reading. 
 McAllister, Geo. H., Melrose. 
 Morton, Joseph, Wilmington. 
 Moses, John F., South Reading. 
 Moore, John L., South Reading. 
 Newman, J. Frank, South Reading. 
 Newhall, David, South Reading. 
 Place, Franklin C., Charlestown. 
 Pope, Jacob H., South Reading. 
 Prentice, Chas., Melrose.
 
 654 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 Pilling, Jonathan, South Reading:. 
 Resterrick, Walter, South Reading. 
 Randall, Howard, Raynham. 
 Richardson, Osborne, Jr., Lynnfield. 
 Richardson, Irving, Lynnfield. 
 Snell, Franklin L., South Reading. 
 Snell, Louis A., South Reading. 
 Skinner, Wm. S., South Reading. 
 Shelton, Thos., Melrose. 
 Stafford, Wm. C., Saugus. 
 Symonds, Chas. H., Maiden. 
 
 Sweetser, Elbridge L., South Reading. 
 Stimpson, Wm. W., South Reading. 
 Trefethen, Benjamin, Saugus. 
 Thompson, Geo. A., South Reading. 
 Tibbetts, Geo. E., South Reading. 
 Tyler, Geo. L., South Reading. 
 Upton, Augustine, Danvers. 
 Unrah, Geo. R., Maiden. 
 Winship, Samuel, South Reading. 
 Walton, Oliver, 2d, South Reading. 
 Wellman, Henry B., Lynnfield. 
 
 LIST OF THE ENROLLED MEN OF SOUTH READING, 
 
 AND THE AMOUNT THAT EACH PAID IN AID OF FILLING THE QUOTA, 
 UNDER THE CALL OF JULY l8, 1864. 
 
 [Those marked with a star * denote they were in the service at the time of the call, 
 or absent from the Town.] 
 
 Aborn, John G. $150 
 
 00 
 
 Burditt, Joseph T. 
 
 
 
 Dager, Thomas 
 
 fo 
 
 rO 
 
 Atwell, William H. 
 
 1 20 
 
 00 
 
 Burditt, William 
 
 
 
 Dager, Alfred A. 
 
 25 
 
 00 
 
 Adams, J. W. 
 
 65 
 
 00 
 
 Burditt, Henry 
 
 
 
 *Deadman, Wm. D. 
 
 25 
 
 00 
 
 Armour, William L. 
 
 30 
 
 CO 
 
 *Burditt, James A. 
 
 
 
 Dean, J. W. 
 
 25 
 
 00 
 
 Adams, Charles W. 
 
 25 
 
 CO 
 
 Cutter, George W. $125 
 
 oo Dunn, H. B. 
 
 25 
 
 CO 
 
 *Aborn, Henry 
 
 
 
 Coombs, S. G. B. no 
 
 oo J Daland, George A. 
 
 20 
 
 C 
 
 Arrington, Geo. B. 
 
 
 
 Cardell, E. Lvman 
 
 75 
 
 oo Davis, John 
 
 IO 
 
 00 
 
 Aborn, F. W. 
 
 
 
 Cheney, Chas. H. R. 
 
 Co 
 
 co Davis, C. Horton 
 
 10 
 
 oO 
 
 *Allen, Richard W. 
 
 
 
 Chapman, Amos W. 
 
 55 
 
 oo *Danforth, A. H. 
 
 
 
 Blanchard, Abner J. 
 
 150 
 
 CO 
 
 Currier, Samuel E. 
 
 5o 
 
 oo i *Day, Joseph L. 
 
 
 
 Bicknell, Alfred 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 Currier, A. A. 
 
 50 
 
 ool*Danforth, N. F. 
 
 
 
 Brown, James, Jr. 
 
 IOO 
 
 CO 
 
 Cowdrey, Waldo E. 
 
 5 
 
 oo Drake, Alvan, Jr. 
 
 
 
 Bailey, Isaiah W. 
 
 60 
 
 00 
 
 Coombs, A. B. 
 
 5 
 
 oo;*Dunn, William A. 
 
 
 
 Buck, Aaron D. 
 
 60 
 
 00 
 
 Clark, Asaph 
 
 
 oo i Doe, Albert 
 
 m 
 
 
 Britton, Richard 
 
 55 
 
 00 
 
 Clark, Sylvanus 
 
 2; 
 
 oo Davis, Talbert C. 
 
 
 
 Beach, Horace H. 
 
 55 
 
 00 
 
 Cash, William L. 
 
 25 
 
 oo : Dennett, John F. 
 
 
 
 Blanchard, Abner >i 
 
 
 00 
 
 Cash, J. T. 
 
 
 oo Day, John 
 
 
 
 Bancroft, Joseph W. 
 
 5 
 
 CO 
 
 Carter, Charles S. 
 
 20 
 
 oo *Draper, Ruf us F. 
 
 
 
 Brown, Charles B. 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 Chadwick, Joseph 
 
 15 
 
 oo Emerson, James F. 
 
 150 
 
 00 
 
 Bullen, George 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 Carter, Charles, 2d 
 
 10 
 
 oo Evans, Moritello C. 
 
 55 
 
 J 
 
 Bliss, Charles R. 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 Carey, Gilman 
 
 10 
 
 oo Emerson, John H. 
 
 5o 
 
 00 
 
 Burrill, Alonzo P. 
 
 5 
 
 oo 
 
 Churchill, L. O. 
 
 10 
 
 oo Emerson, Chas. S. 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 Bishop, James H. 
 
 
 oo ' Carey, Daniel 
 
 
 
 Emerson, Putnam 
 
 5 
 
 L J 
 
 Burbank, B. B. 
 
 25 
 
 oo ' Colby, George 
 
 
 
 Eames, Joshua 
 
 5 
 
 0',) 
 
 Boardman, Moses B 
 
 25 
 
 oo ; Cox, Timothy 
 
 
 
 Eaton, Henry L. 
 
 5 
 
 L. J 
 
 Brierly, J., Jr. 
 
 25 
 
 oo Clements, Chas. E. 
 
 
 
 Eaton, Isaac F. 
 
 5o 
 
 oo 
 
 Burditt, M. B. 
 
 20 
 
 oo *Carey, George E. 
 
 
 
 Eaton, John Sullivan 50 
 
 do 
 
 Barker, H. F. 
 
 IO 
 
 oo *Carter, George 
 
 
 
 Emerson, James E. 
 
 35 
 
 6 
 
 Burgess, Edwin B. 
 
 IO 
 
 oo *Coon, William L. 
 
 
 
 Eaton, Levi B. 
 
 25 
 
 ' 
 
 Bayrd, C. 1* 
 
 IO 
 
 oo *Carr, Thornton B. 
 
 
 
 Eaton, Chester W. 
 
 2 5 
 
 00 
 
 Butler. William 
 
 5 
 
 oo : Copp, John H. 
 
 
 
 Eaton, Everett W. 
 
 25 
 
 
 
 Butterfield, E. A. 
 
 5 
 
 oo Dole, William 
 
 5 
 
 oo Evans, George W. 
 
 25 
 
 00 
 
 Burditt, Sylvester 
 
 3 
 
 oo i Dole, John 
 
 
 oo Eager, John 
 
 IO 
 
 o - 
 
 Boardman, John T. 
 
 
 
 Degen, H. D. 
 
 50 
 
 oo Emerson, D. W. 
 
 IO 
 
 00 
 
 Butler, Henry 
 
 
 
 Draper, James D. 
 
 5 
 
 oo *Emerson, Rufus H. 
 
 
 
 Butler, Aaron, Jr. 
 
 
 
 Dearborn, George E. 
 
 50 
 
 oo 
 
 Emerson, Howard 
 

 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 655 
 
 Emerson, L. N. 
 
 Kidder, C. E. $10 oo Oliver, David B. 10 oo 
 
 Evans, William O. 
 
 *Knight, Albert M. 1 Oliver, Charles M. 
 
 Eames, Daniel 
 
 Kirby, Thomas 
 
 Oliver, John 
 
 Eaton, Henry 
 
 Kennedy, Patrick 
 
 Oliver, John G. 
 
 Eaton, S. A. 
 
 *Knight, Jason H. 
 
 Oliver, Ernest E. 
 
 Eaton, John B. 
 
 *Kingman, William W. 
 
 Philpot, Cyrus A. 75 oo 
 
 Eustis, Joseph S. 
 
 Lewis, William W. 100 oo 
 
 Packard, George 65 oo 
 
 Fields, H. G. $25 oo 
 
 Locke, John W. 75 oo Pierce, James M. 60 oo 
 
 Flint, Luther W. 25 oo 
 
 Le Baron, Ziba 50 oo Peacock, Frank R. 60 oo 
 
 Fifield, Charles A. 25 oo 
 
 Leighton, Jacob 25 oo Parker, Samuel, Jr. 50 oo 
 
 Fairbanks, David S. 20 oo 
 
 Lane, Loami C. 25 oo Patch, Charles 50 oo 
 
 Flint, Silas W. 5 oo 
 
 Lord, George 15 oo Phipps, J. W. 40 go 
 
 Fogg, Lewis 
 
 Leathers, Albert N. 10 oo Pratt, George 35 oo 
 
 Farnsworth, C. P. 
 
 *Lucas, Edward 
 
 Parker, James E. 25 oo 
 
 * Foster, Albert A. 
 
 *Lucas, James H. 
 
 Porter, Elam 25 oo 
 
 Goodwin, Andrew 60 oo 
 
 Lawrence, Henry 
 
 Putney, Samuel 20 oo 
 
 Godfrey, Warren H. 50 oo 
 
 Lowe, Joseph K. 
 
 Pope, J. Holman 20 oo 
 
 Gilman, George K. 15 oo 
 
 Leavitt, Freeman 
 
 Phillips, Joseph A. 10 oo 
 
 Gammon, Orlando 15 oo 
 
 Mansfield, A. A. 60 oo 
 
 Perkins, David 10 oo 
 
 Grey, Israel 10 oo 
 
 .Martin, William 50 oo 
 
 Pillings, Joseph 10 oo 
 
 Griffin, Francis J. 500 
 
 Martin, Frederic 50 oo Parker, W. D. 5 oo 
 
 Gould, Thomas 
 
 Mansfield, Benjamin 50 oo Phillips, Micah 5 oo 
 
 Griffin, Woodbury 
 
 Merrill, Greeley 50 oo Pitman, Lawrence J. 
 
 Hartshorne, Jacob C. 75 oo 
 
 Morton, Joseph 50 oo;Plummer, William 
 
 Hart, Everett 75 oo 
 
 Mayo, N. C. 50 oo Plummer, William J. 
 
 Hawkes, Albert 60 oo 
 
 Mason, D. P. 50 oo 
 
 Parker, Henry 
 
 Harrington, C. T. 55 oo 
 
 Murkland, RobL L. 30 oo 
 
 Perkins, Zcnas 
 
 Hutchinson, A. J. . 55 oo 
 
 McCarty, J. B. 25 oo 
 
 Putney, George H. 
 
 Harrington, Wm. H. 50 co 
 
 Morton, J. K. 25 oo 
 
 Parker, John O_. A. 
 
 Haskell, Daniel F. 50 oo 
 
 Mcrrian, A. E. 20 oo Kipley, Thomas W. 50 oo 
 
 Hartshorne, John W. 50 oo 
 
 Moody, L. J. 15 oo 
 
 Rayner, William E. 50 oo 
 
 Hartshorne, H. G. 50 oo 
 
 McMahan, Thomas 15 oo 
 
 Rayner. James 50 oo 
 
 Hartshorne, Jona. F. 50 oo 
 
 McMasters, Samuel 10 oo 
 
 Reed, John J. 50 oo 
 
 Hutchinson, Oscar 50 oo 
 
 Magner, William 10 oo 
 
 Reagan, P. J. 30 oo 
 
 Hawkes, L. B. 50 oo 
 
 Maxim, Charles R. 10 oo 
 
 Richardson, Warren 25 oo 
 
 Hollis, John B. 50 oo 
 
 Mayo, Samuel 5 oo 
 
 Ryder, Verenas H. 25 oo 
 
 Holt, F. J. 50 oo 
 
 Marshall, Cyrus E. 
 
 Kipley, A. N. 10 oo 
 
 Hart, Henry J. 25 oo 
 
 McKay, Joseph C. 
 
 Rayner, John 5 
 
 Hill, Hiram P. 25 oo 
 
 Mansfield, Edward G. 
 
 Ripley, Daniel S. 
 
 Hamblin, Wm. A. 25 oo 
 
 Morse, John S. 
 
 Rand, John 
 
 Hartshorne, C has. F. 15 oo 
 
 McAllister, David 
 
 Russell, George W. 
 
 Hartshorne, W. H. 10 oo 
 
 Martin, Harvey 
 
 Richardson, S. O., Jr. 
 
 Hopkins, E. G. 5 oo 
 
 Mayson, James 
 
 Ransom, E. M. 
 
 Hawkes, Adam A. 
 
 Marshall, Benjamin 
 
 Reed, Luther 
 
 *Heath, William S. 
 
 Mansfield, Eugene E. 
 
 Rimrey, Jonathan C. 
 
 *Hartshorne, Jere. W. 
 
 Morrill, James M. 
 
 Riley, P. 
 
 Hewes, Edwin L. 
 
 Moulton, Erastus 
 
 Stevens, John 100 oo 
 
 Hoyt, Henry D. 
 
 Niles, Charles E. 50 oo 
 
 Swain, S. O. 100 oo 
 
 *Hilbourn, Henry E. 
 
 Newhall, William J. 50 oo 
 
 Savage, J. G. 60 OQ 
 
 Hill, G. S. 
 
 Newhall, John S. 25 oo Stoddard, Wm. O. 60 o o 
 
 *Hanglin, William 
 
 Nickerson, S. H. 20 oo Sweetser, John E. 50 OQ 
 
 Hart, John F. 
 
 Nichols, Everett 20 oo Stowell, Issachar, 3d 50 o o 
 
 Harding, James 
 
 Nichols, James 10 oo Stowell, H. W. 25 OQ 
 
 *Hurd, Joseph L. 
 
 Newhalf, Elbridge Spear, William 25 o o 
 
 Hawkes, John 
 
 Nichols, George R. Stearns, Charles H. 25 OQ 
 
 Jenkins, J. W. 50 oo 
 
 Nichols, George H. Sweetser, E. Felton 25 OQ 
 
 Jameson, James 35 oo 
 
 Nickerson, Franklin 
 
 Seaver, R. 20 o o 
 
 Jones, A. N. 10 oo 
 
 Newhall, David 
 
 Sawin, Lvman 10 o o 
 
 Jordan, Charles 
 
 Newman, J. Frank Strong, W. G. 10 o o 
 
 Jameson, Edward 
 
 Oliver, B. W. 30 oo Sheldon, Isaac F. 10 o o 
 
 Keene, Lorenzo D. 60 oo 
 
 O'Leary, Richard 15 oo Stimpson, Geo.W. Jr. 10 o o 
 
 Knight, H. C. 20 oo 
 
 O'Niel, Michael 15 oo Spaulding, Frank 5 o o
 
 656 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 *Stoddard, Geo. W. 
 
 Thomas, G. W. $1000 
 
 Williams, Leonard T. $5 oo 
 
 Skinner, Benjamin D. 
 
 Twisden, Thomas 10 oo 
 
 White, Cyrus N. 5 oo 
 
 Sweetser, Thomas 
 
 *Tibbetts, Albert H. 
 
 * Wiley, William H. 
 
 *Spaulding, John W. 
 
 Thompson, John F. 
 
 Wiley, Joseph L. 
 
 Sweetser, Jewett B. 
 
 Twiss, A. j. 
 
 *Wiley, J. Barnard 
 
 *Smilie, John H. 
 
 Tucker, John P. 
 
 *Wheeler, Morris P. 
 
 *Simons, Artemas 
 
 Tarbox, Charles W. 
 
 *Wright, Frank M. 
 
 Sharpe, Daniel W. 
 
 *Tuttle, H. B. 
 
 *Wilkins, E. L. 
 
 Smith, Thomas 
 
 Tuttle, Joseph 
 
 Walker. Charles R. 
 
 Seaver, George A. 
 
 Tibbetts, George E. 
 
 Whitney, Edward W. 
 
 Simms, John 
 
 Trask, Charles 
 
 *Wright, Dexter C. 
 
 *Sheafe, Joseph P. 
 
 Upton, E. A. 25 oo 
 
 *Walton, Samuel L. 
 
 *Sawyer, Sylvester 
 
 Upton, E. P. 10 oo 
 
 Walker, James 
 
 Smith, Frederic 
 
 Unknown, 4 oo 
 
 *Wiley, Baxter J. 
 
 Stowell, Elbridge W. 
 
 Varney, Charles 
 
 Wiley, Enos 
 
 Simons, John A. 
 
 Walker, Thomas B. no oo 
 
 *Wiley, Ira, Jr. 
 
 Sweetser, Oliver S. 
 
 Woodward, Jas. F. 75 oo 
 
 Wiley, David 
 
 *Sweetser, James M. 
 
 Winship, John 65 oo 
 
 Walton, James C. W. 
 
 Sweetser, E. Leroy 
 
 Wiggin, Samuel J. 60 oo 
 
 Weldon, William 
 
 Toppan, Charles $200 oo 
 
 Walton, E. H. ' 50 oo 
 
 *Wiley, Elbridge A. 
 
 Tasker, Lyman H. 100 oo 
 
 Walton, J. Dunn 50 oo 
 
 Woodward, Thomas T. 
 
 Tasker, Eben 100 oo 
 
 Welch, Michael 25 oo 
 
 Winship, Samuel 
 
 Trow, Charles 55 oo 
 
 Woods, Albert C. 25 oo 
 
 Walton, Oliver, 2d 
 
 Townsend, Warren 50 oo 
 
 Wiley, James M. 25 oo 
 
 
 
 Travis, Henry H. 25 oo 
 
 Wright, J. W. 15 oo 
 
 Total, $8,472 oo 
 
 Taylor, Marcus C. 20 oo 
 
 Williams, F. 10 oo 
 
 
 Tyler, George L. 15 oo 
 
 Wiley, Warren 10 oo 
 
 
 AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM CITIZENS NOT ENROLLED. 
 
 Allen, Daniel $125 oo 
 
 Greene, Thomas $25 oo 
 
 Oliver, Daniel S. $10 oo 
 
 Atwell, John 35 oo 
 
 Gardner, Samuel 20 oo 
 
 Oliver, William 10 oo 
 
 Beebe, Lucius 50 oo 
 
 Greene, C. W. 10 oo 
 
 Oliver, E. S. 3 oo 
 
 Baker, F. M. 5 oo 
 
 Gammon, Nelson 10 oo 
 
 Parker, Samuel T. 10 oo 
 
 Boswell, James O. 2 oo 
 
 Gammon, H. W. 5 oo 
 
 Richardson, S. O. 200 oo 
 
 Coffin, N. R. 50 oo 
 
 Hurd, F. P. 200 oo 
 
 Raddin, R. H. 10 oo 
 
 Cowdrey, Jonas 25 oo 
 
 Hardy, George A. 50 oo 
 
 Sweetser, P. H. 50 oo 
 
 Coffin, A. H. 10 do 
 
 Hill, C. H. 5 oo 
 
 Sweetser, A. G. 25 oo 
 
 Crocker, L. 10 oo 
 
 Kingman, Samuel 15 oo 
 
 Sweetser, A. N. 15 oo 
 
 Clifford, Curtis 5 oo 
 
 Knight, Manasseh 50 oo 
 
 Swift, S. B. 10 oo 
 
 Dolliver, Horatio 15 oo 
 
 Kimball, J. H. 10 oo 
 
 Upham, E. S. 10 oo 
 
 Dager, Haley F. 15 oo 
 
 Knowles, H. 5 oo 
 
 Walton, Daniel G. 75 oo 
 
 Donnavan, Timothy 5 oo 
 
 Lane, D. P. 20 oo 
 
 Winship, Thomas 75 oo 
 
 Emerson, Thomas 125 oo 
 
 Loring, Thomas D. 10 oo 
 
 Waite, R. P. 25 oo 
 
 Evans, L. B. 50 oo 
 
 Mansfield, Edward 100 oo 
 
 Waite, W. B. 25 oo 
 
 Eaton, Lilley 25 oo 
 
 Mansfield, J. D. 25 oo 
 
 Wheeler, P. C. 25 oo 
 
 Folsom, Peter 125 oo 
 
 Nash, Stephen G. 125 oo 
 
 Wiley, Leonard 20 oo 
 
 Fairbanks, Lewis 10 oo 
 
 Newhall, William 12 oo 
 
 Wheelock, D. B. 20 oo 
 
 Ford, Edward 10 oo 
 
 Newman, J. H. 10 oo 
 
 
 
 Gould, Samuel 25 oo 
 
 Norcross, Daniel 3 oo 
 
 Total, $2,077 o 
 
 Greene, Jeremiah 25 oo 
 
 Nichols, Hero 2 oo 

 
 Ofr THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 657 
 
 TREASURER'S REPORT. 
 
 CONTRIBUTORS TO THE RECRUITING FUND IN ACCOUNT WITH 
 GEORGE W. CUTTER, Treasurer. 
 
 CR. 
 Amount received from Contributors $10,549 
 
 for I year 
 " " 
 
 DR. 
 
 Amount paid 43 Recruits ($175.00) 
 Amount paid 6 Recruits ($200.00) ..... 
 
 S. O. Richardson, Jr., aid in procuring Substitute for 3 years 
 
 James F. Emerson, " " " " " 
 
 J. G. Aborn, " " " " 
 
 S. O. Swain, " " " " " 
 
 T. B. Walker, " " " 
 
 William H. Atwell, " " 
 
 Printing and Stationery ....... 
 
 Uncurrent Money ........ 
 
 Amount deposited at State House for i representative Recruit 
 Balance on hand ........ 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Amount received from Enrolled Men - . - 
 
 " " " Citizens not enrolled - 
 
 $7,525 oo 
 1,200 oo 
 
 200 OO 
 200 00 
 2OO OO 
 2OO OO 
 175 00 
 
 175 oo 
 
 40 oo 
 
 10 OO 
 
 125 oo 
 499 oo 
 
 $10,549 oo 
 
 $8,472 oo 
 2,077 
 
 $10,549 oo 
 
 NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS 
 
 WHO ENLISTED TO FILL THE QUOTA OF SOUTH READING, UNDER 
 THE CALL OF JULY 18, 1864. 
 
 Charles B. Williams. 
 William McQueeney. 
 Nathaniel C. Mayo. 
 John Davis. 
 C. H. k. Cheney. 
 Daniel H. Wadlin. 
 Charles W. Adams. 
 Charles H. Davis. 
 John W. Phipps. 
 William Butler. 
 Georgi L. Tyler. 
 Warren H. Godfrey. 
 Albert N. [Bathers. 
 John Hawkes. 
 F. C. Williams. 
 Andrew J. Dow. 
 A. H. Danforth. 
 
 83 
 
 Charles A. Fifield. 
 Henry Hunt. 
 John H. Emerson. 
 W. C. Pasco. 
 Patrick Kelley. 
 L. C. Lane. 
 W. F. Cowdrey. 
 Caleb S. Wiley. 
 Edward L, Wilkins. 
 William A. Hamblin. 
 James H. Pierce. 
 Allen M. Ripley. 
 James Harnden. 
 John F. Thompson. 
 Andrew Goodwin. 
 Henry D. Churchill. 
 
 Noah M. Eaton. 
 George A. Seaver. 
 George H. Jackson. 
 George Hunt 
 Frederick W. Aborn. 
 Joseph Morton. 
 Marcus M. Sherman. 
 Varenus H. Ryder. 
 James D. Draper. 
 D. C. Smith. 
 Thomas Kirby. 
 John W. Lyons. 
 Patrick Green. 
 Patrick Forbes. 
 John W. Madden. 
 Thomas Rowland.
 
 658 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 " So shalt thou rest. 
 
 Yet not to thine eternal resting-place 
 Shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish 
 Couch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down 
 With patriarchs of the infant world, with kings, 
 The powerful of the earth, the wise, the good, 
 Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, 
 All in one mighty sepulchre. 
 
 41 As the long train 
 
 Of ages glide away, the sons of men 
 The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes 
 In the full strength of years, matron and maid, 
 And the sweet babe, and the gray-headed man 
 Shall, one by one, be gathered to thy side 
 By those who in their turn shall follow them." 
 
 Bryant. 
 
 DR. NATHAN RICHARDSON, 
 
 Son of Nathan and Mary (Belknap) Richardson, was born in Brook- 
 field (Worcester County), Mass., Nov. 16, 1781. 
 
 His early education was limited to the town school, which was usu- 
 ally kept about seven months of the year, and during the remainder he 
 assisted on his father's farm, which comprised many acres in extent. 
 As a boy, he was very fond of books, and read everything that came in 
 his way. His mother used to relate many anecdotes of his love of 
 reading, as, when sent to the post-office, several miles distant, he would 
 buy a book with the money given him to purchase his dinner, and on 
 his way home would let the horse stroll leisurely along at will, while he 
 was absorbed in his newly acquired volume. His father, becoming 
 exasperated at his over-fondness for reading, and the neglect of his 
 labor on the farm, threatened to burn every book he possessed. This 
 compelled him to conceal his books in the barn, and while pitching

 
 OF THE TOWN Of READING. 
 
 659 
 
 down hay from a loft one day, his father was surprised at the sudden 
 appearance of a shower of books. 
 
 This love of reading continued through life. Poetry seemed to pos- 
 sess the most attraction. His memory of what he read enabled him 
 to repeat the whole of Pope's " Essay on Man," Milton's " Paradise 
 Lost," and the " Book of Job." Although never a disputant, yet he 
 would not hesitate to measure weapons with any minister who chose to 
 argue with him. His general information was extensive, and he had a 
 large fund of humorous anecdotes in constant readiness. 
 
 In what year he commenced the study of medicine it is not recol- 
 lected ; but he was a student of the famous Dr. Kittredge, in company 
 with Dr. D. A. Grosvenor, who settled in Reading. 
 
 Nov. 28, 1805, when twenty-four years of age, he married Asenath 
 Rice, of Brookfield, and went to North Reading, where he began the 
 practice of a physician. That he possessed a peculiar aptitude for his 
 calling was immediately apparent. He soon had the custom of that 
 entire community, and also of the neighboring towns. While residing 
 in North Reading, two sons were born, Winslow and Solon Osmond. 
 Winslow died at the age of eighteen, in South Reading ; and Solon 
 Osmond was educated as a physician, became eminent, and died Aug. 
 3 J > 1873. 
 
 After several years' residence in North Reading, Dr. Richardson 
 removed to Reading, and occupied the house now owned by Mr. Apple- 
 ton, on the road leading to Woburn. His wife died here Sept. 8, 1820. 
 He then determined to remove to Cambridge, sold his place and prac- 
 tice to Dr. John Hart, of South Reading, for the occupancy of his son, 
 and pledged himself in the sum of two hundred dollars not to practise 
 within ten miles of Reading ; but on the eve of his departure from 
 Reading, some of the prominent citizens of South Reading, headed by 
 the late Burrage Yale, unwilling to have so excellent a physician leave 
 their neighborhood, prevailed upon him to remove to South Reading, 
 and sacrifice his bonds, offering him, as a special inducement, the large 
 tract of land on a part of which his residence was built ; the estimated 
 value of the land, at that time, being $1,500. He thereupon removed 
 to South Reading, occupying what was known as the " old Prentiss 
 House " while his own residence was building, which was subsequently 
 that of his son, and is now occupied by his grandson. 
 
 Perhaps some of the present inhabitants of Wakefield remember the 
 occasion of the "raising" of the frame-work of the Doctor's house. 
 It was a general holiday for the town ; every man, woman, and child 
 participated, and gave a helping hand. Cider, lemonade, " Medford,"
 
 660 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 crackers, cheese, and salt-fish, all played prominent parts on that occa- 
 sion. The Doctor's hospitality was the theme of conversation for a 
 long time. It was considered the most extravagant " raising " that 
 ever took place. This was in 1822. 
 
 In the mean time (Sept. 4, 1821) he had taken for his second wife, 
 Betsey Alden, of Saugus, with whom he had seven children, three of 
 whom are now living. Nathan went to Europe and studied music, be- 
 came quite celebrated as the author of " Richardson's New Method for 
 the Piano-Forte," and died in Paris in 1858. Of the six children of the 
 first wife, three are living, and reside in Wakefield. 
 
 Dr. Richardson became identified with South Reading, and during 
 the remainder of his life was one of its most active citizens. He was 
 foremost in every project for the improvement and welfare of the town ; 
 would subscribe liberally to everything he was asked to, moral, intel- 
 lectual, and political. Poverty and misfortune won his immediate 
 friendship : he would empty his pockets to any person who touched 
 his sympathies. Although in receipt of a munificent income, he was so 
 indifferent to the value of money that he would never present a bill for 
 his professional services ; if a patient paid him, it was simply from his 
 own choice. His ledger was a curiosity in bookkeeping, showing noth- 
 ing on the debit side. If he wanted money, he never hesitated to bor- 
 row it, and frequently of those who were indebted to him. His profes- 
 sional fee for cases where a popular physician of the present day would 
 obtain an hundred dollars or more, would be a sum so insignificant as 
 to invariably cause a smile. Probably no physician of that time had 
 so large a practice, among all classes, as Dr. Nathan Richardson. 
 Although not connected with the Massachusetts Medical Society, he 
 was frequently invited to consultations with its members. 
 
 As a physician, particularly in pulmonary complaints, he was without 
 a rival. A word of hope or encouragement from him gave life and 
 renewed vigor to the despairing ; and his diagnosis of disease was mar- 
 vellously accurate. He would frequently be affected to tears when he 
 saw there was no relief for his patient. 
 
 The magnitude of the practice of Dr. Richardson, and his eminence 
 as a physician, will be better appreciated when it is stated that it 
 extended throughout the New England States, and obliged him to erect 
 a private hospital for his patients at his own home, which is still stand- 
 ing, though converted to other uses. It is stated by old residents that, 
 during his practice-days at home, the carriages of patients used to line^ 
 both sides of the main street of old South Reading, near his residence. 
 
 Dr. Richardson's second wife died Dec. 5, 1832 ; and Nov. 24, 1834
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 66 1 
 
 he married Mrs. Grace Barnard, of North Reading, who survived him 
 thirty-five years, and died Nov. 26, 1872. 
 
 Dr. Richardson died very suddenly, of apoplexy, Sept. 17, 1837, in 
 the fifty-sixth year of his age. He was buried in the cemetery at Read- 
 ing, by the side of his two wives. A monument erected to his memory 
 by his son, Dr. S. O. Richardson, marks his burial-place. 
 
 HON. JOHN PRENTISS. 
 
 Mr. Prentiss was the son of Rev. Caleb Prentiss, and his youthful 
 days were passed in what is now the town of Wakefield, to which cher- 
 ished locality he frequently returned during the later years of his 
 extended life, with an interest therein which ceased only with his life. 
 
 His entertaining reminiscences of early scenes and impressions will 
 be found elsewhere in this history. He died at Keene, N. H., June 6, 
 
 We copy the following extracts from the " New Hampshire Sentinel," 
 of June 12, 1873 : 
 
 " Hon. John Prentiss, the founder of this paper, and for forty-eight 
 years its editor, died at his residence in Court Street on Friday after- 
 noon, June 6, at the age of ninety-five years and three months. Up to 
 within two or three weeks of his decease he had enjoyed excellent 
 health, and though weak and feeble, was able to walk about the streets 
 daily, and to superintend the management of his fine homestead, in 
 addition to doing considerable work in his garden. The immediate 
 cause of his last sickness it is perhaps difficult to define ; it seemed to 
 be a general wearing out of the system. During the last two weeks of 
 his life he was confined to his room, and suffered considerable pain, 
 more than he had experienced, as he himself declared, during his pre- 
 vious ninety-five years of life. His mind was unclouded to the very 
 last, and he conversed upon general subjects with all the apparent 
 interest and enthusiasm that ever characterized his conversation, giving 
 minute directions in regard to private business matters, and manifest- 
 ing a lively interest in the news of the day At the same time he was 
 conscious of the fact that his time was very short, and talked of his 
 fast approaching dissolution with perfect freedom and astonishing calm- 
 ness, remarking that he had long been ready to go, and was every way 
 prepared. For years, in fact ever since he retired from business in 
 
 * See Prentiss Genealogy, page 193.
 
 662 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 1847, he has contributed almost weekly to the editorial columns of this 
 paper, the last of which contributions appeared in our last issue over 
 his well-known signature (1[), and which was simply a correction of an 
 erroneous idea conveyed in a somewhat lengthy religious article of the 
 preceding week. This correction was written on Tuesday, three days 
 previous to his death, in a clear and steady hand, and was probably the 
 last paragraph ever penned by him. From that time he continued to 
 grow weaker, and on Friday afternoon he sank into an easy slumber, 
 from which he never awoke. 
 
 " In the death of Mr Prentiss, Keene loses one of the citizens who 
 connected her present history to her past, and whose name was a by- 
 word for merit and deserved fame. He came to this town in March, 
 1799, a * the age of twenty-one, and established the 'Sentinel,' under 
 many embarrassments, and with a list of subscribers numbering only 
 seventy. His first printing-office (as we learn from the 'Prentiss 
 Family Genealogy ') was in a low building standing where S. W. Hale's 
 house now stands, and for some time afterwards in the new building 
 south of Dr. Edwards' tavern. Subsequently (in 1825) he erected a 
 fine block on the west side of the square, where he, in connection with 
 his son, John W., carried on the printing, publishing, and book busi- 
 ness up to 1847, when he retired. In 1808 he built his homestead and 
 planted the fine elms in front, and has since enjoyed under their shade 
 a sufficiency of this world's goods, acquired by his own industry and 
 exertions. During his half century of active business life, he held 
 various offices of trust, having been town clerk, town treasurer, repre- 
 sentative in the legislature, and a member of the Senate. He was also 
 for many years president of the New Hampshire Historical Society, 
 and during his whole life was prominently identified with religious and 
 educational matters. After retiring from business in 1847, at which 
 time he was one of the oldest editors in the United States, he presented 
 to each of the fourteen school districts of this town a set of the Massa- 
 chusetts School Library of thirty-eight volumes ; and his love for and 
 interest in the schools never abated. In 1850 he travelled over Great 
 Britain and the European continent, attending the peace convention at 
 Frankfort- on-the-Main, as delegate from New Hampshire. His inter- 
 esting letters from abroad were published in the ' Sentinel,' attracting 
 much attention and interest. For sixty-seven years he was a prominent 
 member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Master Mason 
 in 1806, Royal Arch Mason in 1813, and a Knight Templar in 1867. 
 
 " The influence for good which Mr. Prentiss exercised upon the com- 
 munity in which he so long and prominently figured, cannot be over
 
 _,
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 663 
 
 estimated. Strictly temperate in all things, cheerful, kind, and benevo- 
 lent, with a disposition to encourage and aid every individual, local, 
 and general enterprise, he was ever a leading and popular citizen. He 
 was the fearless champion of every good cause, and unqualifiedly 
 denounced wrong and oppression wherever they existed. He was firm 
 and outspoken on all questions of public policy, and at the same 
 time treated with deference the opinions of those who opposed him. 
 
 " Mr. Prentiss survived all the members of his family except his 
 daughters Corinna (wife of Judge Hopkinson of Lowell, deceased), and 
 Pamela (wife of Judge French of Concord, Mass.). His son's widow, 
 Mrs. John W. Prentiss, has had the superintendence of his home since 
 the death of her husband in 1863, and has ministered to his wants and 
 necessities with untiring devotion. He was surrounded with every 
 comfort which wealth and filial affection could bestow, and his life 
 closed peacefully, and without a groan." 
 
 HON. THOMAS EMERSON. 
 
 Among the worthy sons of Wakefield who have recently died, none 
 received a larger measure of respect than the honored citizen whose 
 name is given above. Descended from a Puritan ancestry, among 
 whom were clergymen, patriots of the Revolution and of former wars, 
 and leading men of this and other towns, he illustrated in his own life 
 and character the principles for which the founders of New England 
 are justly famed. He was born Oct. 2, 1785, and died Nov. 29, 1871, 
 reaching the advanced age of 86 years. 
 
 Obliged from very early years to work at the bench or on the farm, 
 and enjoying but the most limited means for gaining knowledge, he 
 showed the native force of his mind by rising above all the difficulties 
 of his lot, and taking a leading part in the affairs of the town. He 
 was advanced to almost every office in the gift of his fellow-townsmen, 
 and always discharged his duties with exact punctuality, sound wisdom, 
 and inflexible integrity. 
 
 He was chosen to represent the town in the Legislature eight years, 
 and filled the office of Senator two years. He was prominent in the 
 formation of the South Reading M. & A. Institution in 1833, was 
 made its first vice-president, and for many years was its president. In 
 1844, at the organization of the bank, he was elected its president, 
 which position he held until his death. One associated with him for
 
 664 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 many years, once said of him, " In financial matters he was long con- 
 sidered an oracle, a safe counsellor and adviser." 
 
 In the year 1810, he formed a partnership, with Ebenezer Nelson, 
 for the manufacture of shoes, which continued with a fair measure of 
 success, till Mr. N., thinking it his duty to become a preacher, it was 
 amicably dissolved. Mr. Emerson took the business and increased it 
 from year to year till it more than equalled that of all the other manu- 
 facturers in town. To him was given the main credit of inaugurating 
 a system of cash payments to workmen, in place of barter, as was the 
 early system. By the frequent introduction of improved machinery 
 and methods, he was able to furnish profitable occupation to large 
 numbers of people. 
 
 His personal traits of character were such as to gain for him the 
 respect and affection of all who knew him. Affable, sympathetic, and 
 kind to the poor, he had numerous friends in all ranks of society. He 
 was a liberal contributor to many philanthropic and missionary enter- 
 prises. He was youthful in his feelings, even in his old age, and many 
 a young man derived from him not only the help of kind words, but 
 the more effective assistance of generous deeds. He retained his 
 energies to the last year of his life, and with a clear mind and an elas- 
 tic step attended to his daily duties at the bank. He was a trusted and 
 leading member of the Congregational Church, and fulfilled his duties 
 in that relation with great zeal and discretion. An extract from the 
 records of that body, showing the esteem in which he was held by his 
 Christian brethren, may properly be inserted here. It was made soon 
 after his death, and is as follows : 
 
 " Few members of this church have ever filled a larger measure of 
 usefulness. Successful in business, he employed his wealth for pur- 
 poses that reflected the highest honor upon his judgment and his heart. 
 Honored by his fellow-townsmen with official position and duties, he 
 guarded with entire faithfulness every public interest. Intrusted dur- 
 ing many years with the management of important financial matters, he 
 always merited and received the most thorough confidence of all men. 
 As a member of this church he was faithful, earnest, liberal, and devout. 
 Scrupulously exact in the discharge of every duty, strongly attached to 
 the house of God and to its worship, a constant teacher in the Sabbath 
 school, attentive to the truth, and keenly alive to those portions of it 
 which relate to personal piety, he was a Christian whose sincerity was 
 never doubted, and whose example was a source of perpetual instruction." 
 
 Mr. Emerson was married in early life to Miss Betsey Hartshorn, 
 who survived him less than two years, departing this life Sept. 
 26, 1873.
 
 OF THE TOWtf OF READING. 66$ 
 
 HON. LILLEY EATON. 
 
 An honorable and useful life is a precious legacy. Such a life was 
 that of Mr. Eaton. He was born Jan. 13, 1802, and at his death had 
 completed his seventieth year. His ancestors were among the early 
 settlers of this town, and during successive generations were distin- 
 guished for many public and private virtues. In early manhood Mr. 
 Eaton showed a remarkable aptitude for public business, and during a 
 long series of years the confidence of the people in his capacity and 
 integrity was manifested by intrusting to him almost every public 
 office. He was selectman twenty-five years, and a member of the 
 school board nearly as long, and generally chairman in each. He was 
 town clerk twenty years, representative seven years, senator two years, 
 justice of the peace thirty-eight years, and a member of the Constitu- 
 tional Convention in -1853. He is said to have shaped, to a great 
 extent, the policy and action of the town upon almost all subjects, 
 during a long period of time. The practical wisdom which he brought 
 to the solution of public questions gave great weight to his counsels, 
 and often an opinion from him was sufficient to decide any matter. 
 Thoroughly conversant with the laws, in their" application to the various 
 interests of business and to town affairs, and also with the opinions 
 and spirit of the people, he was able to suggest the best measures for 
 their consideration and decision. There was nothing dictatorial in his 
 nature. He always appealed to the judgment of the people, and advo- 
 cated nothing for which he could not give sound reasons. Progressive 
 in his spirit, he was a friend of all improvements. He introduced 
 system in the mode of conducting town business, and officers of other 
 towns adopted some of the features which he devised. He was deeply 
 interested in the schools, and it was mainly to his suggestions, ably 
 seconded and carried out by his associates, that the town is indebted 
 for the admirable system upon which its schools have for many years 
 been conducted. 
 
 His well-known integrity and ability gave him great influence in 
 private affairs. Those who were in trouble, the poor and the destitute, 
 found in him a safe counsellor and fiiend. The settlement of estates, 
 the investment of money, and the temporary control of funds, were 
 often intrusted to him, and never did any one have reason to say that 
 he ever failed to manage the business committed to him in the most 
 upright and honorable manner. He had much to do with financial 
 affairs. In conjunction with Mr. Thomas Emerson, he was mainly 
 84
 
 instrumental in establishing the Mechanic and Agricultural Institution. 
 He was its first, and till his death, only treasurer. At the formation of 
 the South Reading Bank he was elected cashier, and held the position 
 till he died. In these stations he was methodical, careful, and accurate, 
 and in all respects worthy of the confidence which was abundantly 
 reposed in him. 
 
 Mr. Eaton, although enjoying but few advantages not possessed by 
 others, found time to cultivate a literary taste, and various addresses, 
 showing both research and ability, were delivered by him. With those 
 public addresses our citizens are quite familiar, and we here insert an 
 extract from a private letter, addressed to his eldest sister, on the 
 reception of the news of the death of an only and cherished son, for 
 the purpose of rendering this description of his style more complete : 
 
 " Your letter of the 23d instant, with its ominous seal, sad token 
 of its grievous contents, has come to hand; its tidings have cast a 
 gloom over our family circle, for we all loved the little, amiable Row- 
 land. Not ten minutes, perhaps, before the reception of your letter, I 
 was thinking of our friends at Worcester, that it was long since we had 
 heard from them, and that I would write immediately. 
 
 " While musing on my friends away, 
 
 The loved ones of the earth, 
 And fancying how their lot might be, 
 
 In sorrow or in mirth, 
 I seemed to hear a mournful tone 
 
 Come sighing on the breeze, 
 The wind, it had a startling moan, 
 
 While whistling through the trees ; 
 I hark'd and on the air's vibration, 
 
 I caught the sounds of woe, 
 They told of grief and lamentation, 
 
 Of death, that cruel foe. 
 Again I lent my anxious ear, 
 
 To catch distincter tones, 
 A father's sounding sigh I hear, 
 
 A mother's sobbing moans ; 
 The whispering winds' peculiar strain, 
 
 -So fearful in their lay, 
 Remind me, in a language plain, 
 
 Of relatives away. 
 
 " 'T was so ; for on the next sad blast 
 
 That came with solemn roar, 
 Was heard the voice, ' He 's breathed his last, 
 Our Rowland is no more ;
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 667 
 
 The little, lovely, prattling boy, 
 
 So patient and so bright, 
 His father's and his mother's joy, 
 
 No more shall greet our sight* 
 
 " Again I hark'd ; and from the air, 
 
 The heavenly arch midway, 
 A song celestial struck my ear, 
 
 And thus it seem'd to say : 
 ' Rise, spirits, rise ! our upward way 
 
 With swifter wing pursue, 
 We '11 'scort to realms of endless day, 
 
 Where bliss is ever new, 
 This little seraph, snatched from earth, 
 
 From sorrow and from pain, 
 To dwell with those of heavenly birth, 
 
 And with his Saviour reign.' " 
 
 March, 1840. 
 
 Mr. Eaton was much given to antiquarian studies, and this history 
 gives abundant evidence of his patience in tracing the genealogy of 
 families, and in exploring ancient records for important facts and 
 instructive events. He possessed skill in delineating character, was 
 fond of humor, and had a fund of anecdotes drawn chiefly from char- 
 acters of early New England history, which made both his written 
 productions and his conversation interesting. 
 
 The personal traits exhibited by Mr. Eaton were very attractive. A 
 perpetual urbanity disarmed opposition to the plans he might be at any 
 time urging. He had the faculty of imparting his views, not so much 
 by direct iteration as by quiet suggestion. He rarely expressed half- 
 formed opinions, but when a controverted subject was presented, gave 
 himself time for reflection, and then expressed his opinion and the 
 reasons for it so courteously that those who could not agree with him 
 were never offended with him. This urbanity was not a skilfully woven 
 garment to cover, and enable him to prosecute, selfish designs, but it 
 was the natural expression of his character ; his heart was kind and 
 gentle, and his manners were but the language in which it uttered its 
 real feelings. Though Mr. Eaton never connected himself with any 
 church, he was a constant attendant upon public worship, and accepted 
 the truths of the Gospel in their more direct and personal meaning. 
 
 The death of Mr. Eaton occurred but two months after that of Mr. 
 Emerson, with whom he had been joined in many relations of business 
 and friendship for fifty years. On the Saturday upon which he was 
 smitten with the disease which terminated his life, he had prepared, at
 
 668 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 the request of his pastor, a brief account of the life of his lamented 
 friend, Mr. Emerson. The kind and truthful words with which that 
 account closed, the last words which he ever penned, as they described 
 the character of his friend, so also do they describe his own. These 
 are the words : " His was an unblemished reputation for honesty, integ- 
 rity, and uprightness. He was patriotic, wise, liberal, kind, peaceable." 
 
 HON. P. H. SWEETSER. 
 
 Hon. P. H. Sweetser, the eldest son of Paul and Sarah Sweetser, was 
 born Sept. 23, 1807, and died June n, 1872. During his boyhood, like 
 most of the boys of South Reading, he learned the shoemaker's trade, 
 at which he worked during his minority. 
 
 At about the time that he attained his majority, the South Reading 
 Academy was opened, and he was one of the first to enter it. He was 
 a quick scholar, and after a brief term at the academy, he taught school 
 in one of the districts in town, with marked success. From this time 
 he attended the academy, teaching school winters, till he had taught 
 in nearly every district in town. His first permanent school was in 
 Saugus, where he taught one or two years, leaving there to take an 
 ushership in Boston. While teaching in Saugus, he married Louisa 
 Foster, of Danvers, a daughter of Capt. Aaron Foster. 
 
 This union was in all respects fortunate and happy, and gave him a 
 home to which he was most devotedly attached. Of seven children 
 born to them, one died in infancy, and six survive him. That the 
 education of his children was not neglected will appear from the fact 
 that two of his sons are now successful preachers, one preparing for the 
 medical profession, and the daughters had the best opportunities that 
 could be obtained by public or private instruction. Often, in his later 
 years, while not engaged in active business, he spoke of his strong 
 desire to educate his children, and expressed his willingness to incur 
 any expense, even beyond his income if necessary, to promote the end 
 he had so much at heart. 
 
 In 1838 he was appointed master of the Harvard School in Charles- 
 town, where he remained till 1847. As a teacher, he was uniformly 
 successful, and took a deep interest in education generally. A good 
 disciplinarian, always having control of his school, he was on good 
 terms with his pupils, and admitted them to a familiarity which ren- 
 dered school pleasant and school exercises interesting ; this familiar-
 

 
 OF THE TOWN OF kEADING. 669 
 
 ity, and a playful humor in which he indulged, always made him popular 
 with his pupils. He was prominent in the enterprise of forming the 
 Massachusetts Teachers' Association, and establishing the " Massa- 
 chusetts Teacher " as its organ. For several years he acted as one of 
 the editors of this journal, and the numbers prepared by him were uni- 
 formly interesting and able. 
 
 Nor did his interest in popular education cease when he was no 
 longer a teacher. He was for many years a member of the school 
 committee of Wakefield, and many of the annual reports for the last 
 twenty years are from his pen, and attest his interest in the schools 
 and his ability as a writer. 
 
 One of the last articles that he wrote was the school report for 
 1871-2, an exceedingly interesting document; and I remember telling 
 him, after reading it, that I thought it the best of the numerous and 
 excellent reports he had written. From an early period he had been 
 deeply interested in the antislavery cause and the temperance move- 
 ment, and a frequent contributor to the journals in the interest of these 
 and other reforms. Nor with his pen alone. Mr. Sweetser was a very 
 ready and effective speaker. His temperament, always impulsive, im- 
 parted an earnestness to his utterance which was sure to secure the 
 attention, and his habits of thought and feeling prevented him from ever 
 becoming wearisome. During the time of the Washingtonian move- 
 ment, although engaged through the day in teaching, he was yet one of 
 the most acceptable and efficient lecturers, and labored with great ear- 
 nestness to organize and direct the movement. 
 
 Some of his last years were also devoted, to a considerable extent, 
 to the promotion of the same object, and many of the ablest articles 
 in the " Nation," a temperance paper published in Boston, were from 
 his pen. He wrote also many hymns of great excellence, for general 
 or special occasions, not a few of which have taken a permanent place 
 in our sacred poetry. He was for several years a member of the exam- 
 ining committee for Tufts College, the duties of which he performed 
 with fidelity and ability. After leaving the profession of teaching, 
 Mr. Sweetser was twice elected county commissioner for the County 
 of Middlesex, which office he held for six years. He also held almost 
 every office in the gift of the town. As an officer, he was prompt and 
 efficient, and his decisions in all matters in controversy were ready, 
 and in the main judicious. He was a man of remarkably quick per- 
 ception, and moved forward to a judgment so readily as not unfre- 
 quently to give an impression of haste, and to render him impatient of 
 the slower movements of others. He was, perhaps, as is apt to be the
 
 6/0 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 case with persons of a nervous temperament, hasty sometimes in his 
 expressions, but seldom so in his actions ; they were marked by a 
 caution and careful consideration which did not always manifest them- 
 selves in his ordinary conversation. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser was just and prompt in all his business affairs, and, 
 whether personal or official, they would have borne the most thorough 
 examination. It was a favorite maxim with him to " owe no man," and 
 it is safe to say that no one ever lost a cent by him that was justly his 
 due. 
 
 The writer of this brief sketch was of nearly the same age as Mr. 
 Sweetser, was a boy with him, being a near neighbor, labored in the 
 same profession and the same place for many years, and was brought 
 into still nearer relations with him by marriage ; and the friendship 
 that began almost with his life continued to its end. 
 
 It would seem sometimes that what would apparently fit us espe- 
 cially for the performance of a duty is, after all, almost a hinderance. 
 I confess that I have felt this in what I have written. In the intimacy 
 of personal intercourse and friendship, we often fail to estimate and 
 weigh character as we do when the object is at a greater distance. 
 What is seen at too short a range is seen only in its parts, and a longer 
 perspective is necessary to view the object as a whole. Death has now 
 given us such a view of our friend, and I am sure that his memory will 
 be dearer, and his character will appear more marked and estimable, 
 as we look at him from a point more favorable to observe the constant 
 and permanent qualities of his character. For some years previous to 
 his death he had not enjoyed perfect health ; and to one of his intense 
 activity of mind, joined with a temperament not too hopeful, it is not 
 strange that he should have been sometimes inclined to look on the 
 dark side of things. But his sympathies were always with the right, 
 though he might not be so sanguine of its speedy success as some. 
 Few men felt an intenser interest in whatever concerned the welfare of 
 humanity, or were more uniformly on the side of progress and justice. 
 
 He had a strong attachment to his native town, and was always 
 prominent in any enterprise for its improvement ; especially so in what- 
 ever related to education, the public library, and the schools. 
 
 In his death his family has lost one whose life was bound up in its wel- 
 fare, the town has lost a good citizen, and the cause of education one 
 whose experience rendered him invaluable as a member of the school 
 committee, and whose vote and voice were always given for whatever 
 promised to extend and improve the means of education. He will be 
 remembered with gratitude by many now in the morning of life, who
 
 Engraved tram a Photograph taken in 1863
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 671 
 
 have listened to his words of advice and encouragement in his frequent 
 visits to the schools, as he now is in his native town and elsewhere by 
 those who sat under his instructions. Such is a brief and imperfect 
 sketch of the events in the life of an honored citizen ; and an estimate 
 of his character, which, though dictated by the hand of friendship, 
 is, I believe, truthful and just. 
 
 DR. SOLON OSMOND RICHARDSON 
 
 Was the second son of Dr. Nathan and Asenath (Rice) Richardson, 
 and was born at North Reading, July 19, 1809, on what was formerly 
 known as the " old Dix Place," and there spent the earliest years of his 
 childhood. 
 
 Being but a few years of age when his father removed to Reading 
 and established himself in practice there, the greater part of his boy- 
 hood and youth were spent in that town and South Reading, to which 
 his father subsequently removed (1821). The holes to the dove-cote, cut 
 out by him when a lad, are still observable upon the place then occupied 
 by his father on the road from Reading to Woburn, since owned by Mr. 
 Appleton, tx-county-commissioner for Middlesex. 
 
 As a lad at Reading and South Reading, Dr. Richardson received 
 his education at the academy kept by a Mr. Wm. Coffin, of Nantucket, 
 at North Reading, in the public schools of Reading, the academy at 
 Atkinson, N. H., and the Pinkerton Academy at Derry, N. H., where 
 he had as classmates hi^life-long friends and associates, Dr. Aug. Gros- 
 venor, of Danvers, and Hon. Horace P. Wakefield, M. D., now of Mon- 
 son. Always better than average in his general studies, he was espe- 
 cially noted at school for his fair, distinct, and graceful chirography 
 which, coupled with his genial courtesy and manner, secured for him, 
 when a lad in his teens, a clerkship in the Charlestown Post-Office, 
 then under Paul Willard, Esq. ; and while there his clerkly abilities 
 and general popularity prompted a proposal which was made to him to 
 become assistant clerk of the House of Representatives, which was, 
 however, declined. 
 
 The eminence and extent of practice of his father was such that his 
 professional engagements led him from home the major portion of the 
 tinfc, and Solon, being the eldest of his large family of children (his 
 older brother having died at an early age), was intrusted with much of 
 the care of his father's affairs and family. When not at school he was
 
 672 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 often employed in the preparation of medicines for his father, and thus 
 became early familiar with the science and practice of pharmacy. 
 Finding this pursuit congenial to his inclination and taste, he very 
 readily acquiesced in his father's wish that he should adopt the profes- 
 sion of medicine, and shortly before attaining his majority he entered 
 the medical school of Dartmouth College, from which he received his 
 medical degree, graduating with honors Nov. 30, 1831, and immediately 
 taking up practical study with his father. 
 
 He held for a time the position of assistant surgeon at the State 
 Prison, and became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 
 from which he afterwards retired, in conformity with usage, on estab- 
 lishing a proprietary medicine. He soon entered general practice with 
 his father, an arrangement that proved, for the short time it was enjoyed, 
 highly satisfactory and successful with both. Besides that at home, 
 offices were established in Lowell, Salem, and Boston, each of which 
 places Dr. Richardson visited on certain days of the week, driving to 
 and from in a carriage, an amount of professional riding that in these 
 days would be considered a grievous hardship. 
 
 On the 3d day of April, 1837, Dr. Richardson was married at the 
 "Old parsonage" (recently removed to Salem Street), by Rev. Reuben 
 Emerson, to Susan Barnard of North Reading. Their children have 
 been, a daughter who died in infancy, at Nahant, during a summer's 
 residence of the family there, and an only son, S. O. Richardson, Esq., 
 of Wakefield. 
 
 During the studies and novitiate of Dr. Richardson, he had given 
 much attention to diseases of the heart and lungs, and his thesis upon 
 these subjects when he graduated from college was able, and received 
 the commendation of the profession, as displaying much research and 
 original thought. In his treatment of these diseases he was eminently 
 successful, and the number of those who sought his advice in complaints 
 of this character induced him to make them a specialty, and to aban- 
 don general practice. 
 
 In 1808 his father, Dr. Nathan Richardson, had introduced into his 
 practice a remedy which he called " Sherry Wine Bitters," which proved 
 an effective agent, the favorable results of which, as ascertained from a 
 prolonged and extensive use thereof among his patients, gave it hig 
 repute, the demand becoming such that instead of supplying it in pow- 
 dered form, as for many years he had prescribed it, for convenience' 
 sake he prepared it in common quart wine bottles. Soon after engaging 
 in practice with his father, Dr. Richardson observed with satisfaction 
 the beneficial effects of these " Bitters," and naturally made extensive 
 use of them in cases to which they were adapted.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 673 
 
 In the September following his marriage, his father suddenly died, 
 his extensive practice and business thus devolving upon him. To this 
 he gave his best energies, but it soon became evident that his health, 
 which was never very robust, could not long withstand the stress of the 
 duties he had assumed. Reluctant as he was to abandon thus early in 
 life a profession which was endeared to him by many pleasant associa- 
 tions, in which he was gaining note, and which was in every particular 
 congenial to his taste and aspirations, his perceptions indicated clearly 
 to him an early grave or an abandonment of his pursuit. 
 
 Deciding in favor of the chance of prolonged life, he resolutely 
 decided to abandon practice, and from this period he confined himself 
 to the manufacture and sale of the " Sherry Wine Bitters," which had 
 for so long a period been satisfactorily employed in his father's and his 
 own practice. 
 
 At this time proprietary medicine was a branch of trade unknown in 
 the New England States, and there had never been introduced for sale 
 in the country such a compound as medicated bitters, the idea of pre- 
 paring medicine in that form originating therefore with Dr. Richardson. 
 The labor and expense of preparing and introducing this medicine in 
 proper and convenient form, cannot be imagined by any inexperienced 
 in its details : first, the common wine bottles were ill-shaped for pack- 
 ing and were too heavy ; a new form was designed, and moulds pre- 
 pared, but the manufacture of suitable bottles had not been accom- 
 plished in this Commonwealth, and the many experiments and failures 
 of the manufacturers to produce a light bottle that would withstand 
 pressure and secure safe transportation were vexatious, expensive, and 
 discouraging. Nearly every sale in the early period of using new 
 bottles was attended with more or less breakage in every package, but 
 this difficulty was finally overcome by manufacturers in Philadelphia. 
 Numerous obstacles also were presented in originating and preparing 
 various plates for printing and in creating the embellishments requisite 
 for perfect arrangements. The express business had not then been 
 established, railroads were almost unknown, and private means of 
 transportation for orders, throughout the country, had to be created. 
 To accomplish this Dr. Richardson was obliged to provide several ex- 
 pensive teams, which were constantly employed in transporting his 
 medicine to different parts of the New England States. Nor did he 
 fail to make his medicine known by liberal advertising, and very soon 
 after its introduction to the public, its merits were universally appreci- 
 ated and the demand increased beyond even the most sanguine antici- 
 pations. To meet the requirements of this wide and unexpected 
 85
 
 674 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 demand, a large capital was needed, a laboratory had to be erected, a 
 large number of horses and carriages supplied for transportation, and 
 every facility for manufacture established, notwithstanding the employ- 
 ment of which at certain seasons the demand was such as to render 
 prompt supply of orders impossible. 
 
 Dr. Richardson's success being now fully established, he was enabled 
 to indulge liberally in expenditures which it was his ambition to enjoy. 
 He never entertained a desire to acquire wealth except to promote the 
 comfort and welfare of his family and the community in which he 
 lived. He had been a close observer of the evils attending the acqui- 
 sition of extreme wealth, and was convinced that unhappiness was the 
 too frequent associate thereof. It was an early resolve with him that 
 after gaining a competency, any overplus should be devoted to such 
 charitable and benevolent purposes as comported with his judgment 
 and pleasure ; and in after life he adhered to this resolve, in most cases 
 desiring and enjoining that his benefactions should not be made public. 
 He was always needlessly prodigal in all expenditures connected with 
 his business, in which every department evinced the most thorough 
 organization. The horses used for His medicine wagons were selected 
 without regard to expense, and his wagons were elaborately constructed 
 and highly finished by the best makers. He always kept in his stables 
 for his personal use five or six of the best horses that could be pro- 
 cured, possessing great love for and fine taste and judgment in horses, 
 in the ownership of which he for many years aspired to excel. 
 
 His benevolence and liberality extended to every commendable 
 object brought to his notice. Becoming interested in the mainte- 
 nance of the citizen-soldiery of the Commonwealth, he favored the 
 creation of a local military company ; and on the formation of the or- 
 ganization in this town, in 1851, of the Richardson Light Guards, on 
 the intimation of the founders of the company that it was their wish 
 that it should be so designated, Dr. Richardson, in accepting the honor, 
 testified his appreciation thereof by a most generous gift, which he 
 yearly supplemented with others of kindred nature, manifesting at all 
 times the most lively interest in whatever pertained to the welfare of 
 the Guards, and having unceasingly at heart, as one of his dearest 
 objects, their highest prosperity and success. For years the expenses 
 of parades, target practice, etc., was borne by him, furnishing music, 
 and often a bountiful collation on his premises, and aiding them by 
 means and influence in any measures for their advantage. This cher- 
 ished interest never abated anything of its zeal, and to his last hour 
 was continued in all its original strength and vigor ; and he remained
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 6/5 
 
 to the end of life what he became at its birth, its faithful and beneficent 
 foster-father and friend. 
 
 To Dr. Richardson also belongs the honor of having been the origi- 
 nal mover in the publication of the town history. 
 
 In 1852 Dr. Richardson was elected Town Treasurer, though not 
 desiring the office, which he retained but one year, discharging its 
 duties and trusts to universal satisfaction. He became engaged some 
 years since with a half-brother, Mr. Nathan Richardson, in the music 
 business, but abandoned the business after a brief time. In 1869 he 
 suffered, while attending to business in Boston, an attack Of paralysis, 
 the results of which seriously impaired his health and activity, though 
 by the exercise of the most rigid care of himself he was enabled to 
 maintain a degree of comfort and ability. Even when in enfeebled 
 health his concern for the prosperity and progress of our town con- 
 tinued active, and within the last few months of his life he inaugurated 
 and carried to most successful culmination an enterprise of enduring 
 value and benefit to all. Believing alike in the refining and educating 
 influence of art, and the helpfulness of beneficial surroundings, and that 
 his town ought to preserve in secure form for the benefit of our posterity 
 the features of her greatest benefactor, and that the influence of the 
 faces of men who had benefited mankind is advantageous and encour- 
 aging, he set on foot a movement for the purchase and presentation to 
 the town of the valuable portraits of George Washington and Cyrus 
 Wakefield, which now adorn the walls of our town hall, and became 
 himself responsible for the greater part of the attendant expense, there- 
 by leaving with us another monument to his philanthropy and gen- 
 erosity. 
 
 While making a social call at the residence of Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., 
 on Sunday evening, Aug. 31, 1873, Dr. Richardson was seized with 
 apoplexy, and lived but a few hours. His death occasioned universal 
 sorrow. 
 
 Said the "Wakefield Citizen," in its issue following his death : 
 
 " Having lived for more than forty years in this community, his name 
 intimately associated with not a few of its prominent institutions, his 
 home ever renowned for its hospitality and his hand for its generosity, 
 Dr. Richardson had become so much a part of the town and its history, 
 that his loss becomes a public sorrow ; and though illness and age had 
 in late years impaired his vigor, and prevented his active participation 
 in the affairs of the day, his interest in the welfare of the various local 
 organizations whose well-being he had long made his care, and his 
 wide-reaching liberality, continued unabated.
 
 676 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 " The frosts of age had no power to chill, or the infirmities of body 
 disposition to weaken the characteristic kindness and benevolence of 
 the man, and to the latest hours of his life he continued to place both 
 institutions and community under frequently renewed obligations. 
 
 " Quietly and peacefully his life was spent, unostentatiously the wide 
 bestowal of his bounty was accomplished, and his every undertaking 
 was characterized by rare good taste and completeness of execution. 
 Success in his efforts seemed with him a duty, and nothing he attempted 
 was ever done slightingly. 
 
 " His fondness 'for home, friends, children, music, and animals was 
 strongly noticeable, and the open hospitality and abounding good 
 cheer of his home, his wide circle of affectionate friends, the happy 
 relations that plainly existed between himself and the little ones he 
 was wont to meet on our streets, his hearty delight in and liberal pat- 
 ronage of good music, and the keen satisfaction he had in the fine 
 points and qualities of, and the real love he had for his horses, thor- 
 oughly attested the genuineness of his enjoyment therein. 
 
 " A public-spirited citizen, a good neighbor, the kindest and most in- 
 dulgent of husbands and fathers, a true friend, his regard for the inter- 
 ests of the friends and objects he held dear was most deep and sensi- 
 tive, and the last hours of his life were marked by characteristic efforts 
 at lessening the annoyances and increasing the happiness of others. 
 Possessed of ample fortune, his hand stayed not at giving ; prompted 
 by the warmth of his heart, his energies were directed in the gratifica- 
 tion of those about him ; and his name *and memory are deservedly 
 dear in the hearts of the community in which the greater part of his 
 life was spent. His end was like his life, peaceful and composed, and 
 he has entered into rest." 
 
 He was followed to his grave by a large and mourning company, 
 the Richardson Light Guard, whose benefactor he had so long been, 
 returning from camp at Framingham to perform escort duty for the 
 remains of their honored and beloved friend. His remains were laid 
 to rest in Mount Auburn Cemetery. 
 
 Dr. Richardson was through life a member and liberal supporter of 
 the Universalist society of his town, and was always ready to cheer- 
 fully assist in every good word and work. Though the evening of his 
 days was clouded by infirmity, the current of his life was peaceful and 
 serene, and it is unfailing pleasure to remember him as when, in the 
 days of his full health and vigor, he adorned society and upheld his 
 work among men.

 
 OF THE TOWN OF KEAD1NG. 
 CYRUS WAKEFIELD. 
 
 CYRUS WAKEFIELD was born in the town of Roxbury, New Hampshire, 
 on the fourteenth of February, 1811. His parents were James Wake- 
 field and Hannah Heminway Wakefield, of that town. His father was 
 a citizen of marked integrity and of considerable prominence, serving 
 at the same time as town clerk, selectman, and representative. 
 
 His father's occupation was that of a farmer, and thus his early 
 associations were those connected with the rugged discipline of a New 
 England farm-boy. 
 
 The school was a mile and a half away over the hills, and it was no 
 easy task in winter with the snow over the fences to reach it. Yet the 
 New England boy lingers not by the fire, even in the severest storms, 
 but with his books under his arm, and his cap well tied about his ears, 
 he resolutely goes on to his place at school. And well he may, because 
 there are but two terms a year of ten weeks each, one in winter, the 
 other in summer ; and when he is twelve years of age, he will not be 
 allowed the privileges of the summer term, since his help is required 
 on the farm. Young Cyrus seems to have realized the importance 
 even of these slight educational advantages, and by applying himself 
 with great zeal to his studies, mastered the rudiments of the common 
 school. 
 
 The executive and administrative qualities of his mind began to 
 develop very early in life. There were numberless projects in his busy 
 child-brain, to the accomplishment of which he bent not only his own 
 but also the abilities of his brothers. He would induce his father to 
 lay out work in advance for himself and younger brother, sometimes 
 having plans which required a month's time for their execution. At 
 one time, it would be the construction of a fish-pond ; at another, the 
 building of coal-pits, the product of which he sold to the neighboring 
 blacksmiths. 
 
 He was an enthusiastic lover of nature, delighting in nothing so 
 much as in taking long tramps through the forest in search of game, or 
 in following the course of the running brook for fish. The boys of his 
 acquaintance were not fond of joining him in these excursions, as his 
 powers of endurance were unusually great, and he had but little con- 
 ception of distance. He was also an acknowledged leader in all 
 athletic sports. 
 
 At an early age he grew restive. Some of his relatives had gone to 
 other States, and at times would return to tell what they had seen and
 
 6/8 
 
 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 done in the great cities. His father's farm would seem now too small 
 for his growing ambition. The successes of his friends kindled in his 
 own bosom a generous emulation. He too would try his fortune in the 
 great world outside. 
 
 At last, after much urging, his father consented, and Cyrus went to 
 Peterboro', N- H., to enter a cotton mill as a picker-boy. This was a 
 most excellent position to dissipate the rosy hues which had gathered 
 about his ideal world, and to discover to him the cold, stern reality. 
 
 Only a short time elapsed, and he was back at the old homestead, 
 still determined to realize his fondest hopes of one day becoming a 
 merchant. He had heard of the fame of Mr. Appleton, of Dublin, 
 who had emerged from obscurity like his own, but who was then widely 
 known as a successful and an honorable merchant. What others had 
 done he could do, and he incessantly urged his views upon his father, 
 who as constantly presented the other and darker side, showing how 
 many who went to the city lost health, time, and even character, in 
 their pursuit of wealth, and were ultimately obliged to return in dis- 
 grace to their native towns. His father at length sent him to live with 
 a clergyman in a neighboring village, who, in return for his taking care 
 of his horse and cow, should give him suitable books to read, and, if 
 possible, lead his mind into theological studies. This good man, how- 
 ever, was not apt to teach. On the first day he put him down before a 
 large book containing the history of the controversy between Calvin and 
 Arminius. The book was dry and uninteresting. After a trial of 
 several days the boy gave up in despair, convinced that if Calvin and 
 Arminius could not settle the theological matters in dispute, he cer- 
 tainly could not hope to do it. He returned again to his father's house, 
 more resolutely determined than ever to go to Boston and try his luck 
 in the great world of trade. 
 
 After a few more futile attempts to find congenial employment for 
 him near home, at the age of fifteen years, with his parents' consent, 
 he came to Boston, declaring that he would achieve success, and make 
 a name of which his friends would be proud. 
 
 Arriving in Boston, he at first entered the retail grocery store of 
 Messrs. Wheeler & Bassett, on Washington Street, but soon after 
 secured a clerkship with Messrs. Stearns, Cobb & Winslow, on India 
 Street. While in their employ, he conceived the plan of doing busi- 
 ness on his own account, since he had some time at his command not 
 required by his employers. His aim was, to secure, if possible, a suf- 
 ficient sum of money to allow him to pursue his studies in some estab- 
 lished school, for he felt the need of a better education.
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 679 
 
 His employers gave him the liberty to buy and sell empty barrels 
 and casks. They also assisted him in other ways, in small business 
 transactions. 
 
 At length he had saved one thousand dollars in hard cash. But with 
 the thousand dollars came a still stronger desire for money. He saw 
 the path to wealth opening before him, and instead of pursuing a course 
 of study at some college, he bent his energies more strongly than ever 
 to the accumulation of property. This step he regretted in after life, 
 feeling that he had made a serious mistake. Yet he did not wholly 
 lose sight of his original purpose. He attended evening schools both 
 of an academic and mercantile nature ; he visited the various debating 
 societies and churches ; observed carefully the habits of the people ; 
 listened, so far as his time would allow, to the various courses of sci- 
 entific lectures, for which his mind had a keen relish ; and thus laid 
 the foundation of what general knowledge he possessed. During his 
 business engagement with Messrs. Stearns, Cobb & Winslow, he 
 made shipments to Valparaiso and to South America, with indifferent 
 success. 
 
 In 1834 he entered the grocery business under the firm name of 
 Foster & Wakefield, on Commercial Street, opposite Commercial 
 Wharf. In 1836 the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Wakefield sent to 
 New Hampshire for his younger brother, Mr. Enoch H. Wakefield, with 
 whom, two years after, he formed a co-partnership under the name of 
 Wakefield & Co. This firm was continued until 1844. During the 
 latter part of this co-partnership, a small lot of rattan, thrown out of a 
 ship as refuse matter, was accidentally purchased, and sold at a profit 
 to a few chair-makers, who, working the raw material by hand, used 
 the outside of the cane in seating chairs. This favorable purchase led 
 to others, until, at the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Wakefield opened an 
 office at the corner of Commercial and Cross Streets, where he carried 
 on a jobbing trade in rattans. 
 
 The demand for split rattans in seating chairs now increased. The 
 great cost of preparing the rattan in this country without the aid of 
 machinery, caused Mr. Wakefield to look abroad for a supply ; and as 
 he had a brother-in-law in the house of Messrs. Russell & Co., Canton, 
 China, he forwarded to him samples of the cane most in demand. In 
 a few years his importations of Canton Split Rattan were known 
 throughout the United States. But upon the breaking out of the Opi- 
 um War between the Chinese and European powers, this branch of the 
 trade received a sudden check and was for a time suspended. In the 
 mean time the use of rattan in its manufactured form had greatly
 
 680 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 increased, and Mr. Wakefield, in the year 1856, resolved to begin the 
 manufacture of cane in this country, and to utilize, so far as possible, 
 the whole of the material. The American Rattan Company were at 
 this time the only party cutting cane by machinery, and they used the 
 cane only for seating chairs. The remainder of the rattan was wasted. 
 But Mr. Wakefield determined to make the whole of the rattan cane, 
 pith, and shavings valuable. He began with one or two machines 
 worked by hand in Boston. A fortunate speculation gave him both 
 credit and capital, so that he could enlarge his business. Learning 
 that there were several large lots of rattan in the New York market, the 
 article at this time being much depressed, Mr. Wakefield, with all the 
 ready money he could command, went to that city, established his quar- 
 ters quietly at the Astor House, and put his brokers at work to obtain 
 the lowest price at which the entire stock could be purchased, enjoining 
 upon them not to name the purchaser. Having obtained the desired 
 information, he decided to take all the available lots, for which he paid 
 sufficient cash to make the material subject to. his order. This gave 
 him the whole control of the rattan stock of the country. Prices soon 
 advanced, and he was enabled to sell, so that he realized a handsome 
 profit. This single operation not only put money and credit at his 
 disposal, but also gave him a prestige in the business, which he ever 
 after maintained. Soon after this he removed his works from Boston 
 to South Reading. Water power took the place of hand power, and as 
 the business rapidly increased, steam power was soon added. The 
 mill at South Reading in which he first began, soon became too small 
 for him, and building after building was erected, until at the time of 
 his death his manufactories and store-houses covered an area of ten 
 acres of flooring. 
 
 Nor was this wonderful increase in his business the only remarkable 
 feature. There was a corresponding advance in utilizing the whole of 
 the rattan, so that nothing was lost. From a comparatively small job- 
 bing trade in an article at that time of little value, he advanced to the 
 manufacture of reeds for hoop skirts, then to cane for seating chairs, 
 then to the manipulation of the waste, and finally to the use of all the 
 small pieces, and even shavings, in making various beautiful and use- 
 ful articles. His original idea was thus realized, and probably no one 
 ever succeeded, in the face of so many difficulties and with such a stub- 
 born material as rattan, in so nearly accomplishing his object. 
 
 In 1865 Mr. Wakefield sent his nephew and namesake, Mr. Cyrus 
 Wakefield, 2d, to Singapore, since which time they have imported 
 nearly the whole stock of rattan for the country. The Indian trade
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 
 
 also included the importation of tin, gambier, pepper, coffee, spices, 
 and all the products of the Straits Settlement and Java. This depart- 
 ment increased in importance up to the time of his death. 
 
 About the year 1851, Mr. Wakefield made his first purchase of real 
 estate in South Reading. In July of that same year he bought the 
 larger part of the land comprising his homestead, and in place of the 
 mansion house, which then stood upon it, he built in 1861 a magnificent 
 residence. About this time he fully realized that the town was destined 
 to become a very important place. And now he seemed never to have 
 enjoyed a moment, so long as he knew that there was a piece of real 
 estate in the vicinity of his house or factories which could be purchased. 
 He would not rest till he had a deed of it in his own name on record. 
 Many of these purchases were of low swamps and meadows, which he 
 cleared, filled up, and drained, making valuable building lots of what 
 had been waste land. 
 
 While in the spring of 1867 the citizens of South Reading were con- 
 sidering the propriety of erecting some suitable memorial to the brave 
 men who had gone from their number to the War of the Rebellion, and 
 had perished, Mr. Wakefield came forward and voluntarily offered to 
 give to the town a lot of land, and a cash contribution of $30,000 for a 
 new Town House, in which provision should be made for a Soldiers' 
 Memorial Hall. In accepting this munificent offer, the town at once 
 decided to change its name, and on the zoth day of January, 68, 
 by acclamation, voted that it should henceforth be Wakefield. On the 
 4th of July, 1868, the new name was adopted by appropriate and inter- 
 esting exercises. 
 
 Mr. Wakefield more than fulfilled his promise to the town. He more 
 than quadrupled the cost of the edifice, and on Feb. 22, 1871, in the 
 presence of an audience completely filling the new and beautiful hall, 
 he surrendered the keys of the building to the proper officers of the 
 town. But this act alone does not fully reveal his great interest in the 
 town. 
 
 In order that people might be induced to settle in Wakefield, he 
 was active in the organization of the Real Estate and Building Associ- 
 ation ; at first assuming nearly the whole of the capital stock, besides 
 turning into the Association a large tract of valuable land, then unoc- 
 cupied, but which has since been built upon. He also had a strong 
 desire to improve the opportunities for education, and favored every 
 project for better school-houses and enlarged facilities for instruction. 
 His mind dwelt so much upon this subject, that h was not only eager 
 86
 
 682 GENEALOGICAL HISTORY 
 
 to assist worthy students individually, but he inaugurated a course of 
 free lectures on scientific subjects for the masses. 
 
 Although Mr. Wakefield never held a position where elevation was 
 due to political influence, yet he was a leader in all local enterprises 
 and improvements, and sometimes led the way where few were ready to 
 follow. 
 
 He was one of the corporators of the Savings Bank, director in the 
 Citizens' Gas Light Company, president and largest stockholder in the 
 Ice Company, member of the School Board, of the Agricultural Asso- 
 ciation, and National Bank of South Reading. 
 
 The plan of furnishing the town with an abundance of pure water 
 was among his last projects. Indeed, he had so far developed it as to 
 organize the Quannapowitt Water Co. 
 
 His whole thought was thus centred upon the town which had hon- 
 ored him by assuming his name. He expected to live to see it famed for 
 its institutions of education, distinguished by its beauty of landscape and 
 architecture, an honor to its citizens, an enduring monument to his 
 name. But Mr. -Wakefield's plans reached beyond his adopted town. 
 It is interesting to trace the growth of his conceptions as regards the 
 future of Boston, the city in which he had labored so vigorously and 
 successfully. In 1863 he purchased an estate in Hanover Street, after- 
 wards a second in North Street, both of which were situated between 
 Cross and North Centre Streets. Subsequently he bought and consoli- 
 dated seven estates at the corner of Hanover and North Centre Streets, 
 and two in Cross Street. In 1864-5 he became the owner of three 
 estates on Canal Street; then in 1868 of the Hall Distillery estate in 
 Prince Street; in 1868 of the tenement houses in Friend Street Court, 
 which he replaced with a fine brick block in 1870-1871. These large 
 purchases were not made at random. He believed in the future of 
 Boston. He saw that Washington Street must come to Haymarket 
 Square, and to the accomplishment of this object he bent his energies 
 for a year. Although he did not live even to see the work begun, yet 
 to him is largely due the credit of its successful completion. In 1871, 
 when he knew that Washington Street would be extended, he purchased 
 the Brattle Square Church, the Quincy House, and adjoining estate on 
 Hanover Street. In 1872 the Studio Building was purchased, the Cen- 
 tral House, and an estate adjoining in Brattle Square. 
 
 In June, 1873, he made his last purchase of real estate, on the line 
 of the Washington Street extension. His object in becoming so large 
 a real estate owner was to improve and develop the northern part of 
 Boston, according to the ideal which was ever before his mind. In
 
 OF THE TOWN OF READING. 683 
 
 addition to his other duties he was a director in the Boston and Maine, 
 Fitchburg, Nashua, Acton and Boston, and Middlesex Horse Railroads, 
 in the first two of which he was the largest stockholder. The plans 
 which he had conceived, but was prevented by death from fully execut- 
 ing, show the breadth and scope of his mind. He had projected the 
 levelling of Copp's Hill so as to form a great freight depot and docks 
 for the use of a railroad in which he was interested ; the purchase of 
 the Music Hall property ; the erection of a noble edifice at Harvard, 
 in which there should be rooms for the " Wakefield Library," and for 
 other educational purposes ; the founding of a college at Wakefield 
 (the plans of which were known only to a few intimate friends), where 
 the children of the poor might enjoy the benefits of superior training. 
 These unfinished schemes reveal the intention and heart of Mr. Wake- 
 field much better than words could do. 
 
 Mr. Wakefield was married on the thirty-first day of October, 1841, 
 to Miss Eliza A. Bancroft, the only daughter of Captain Henry Ban- 
 croft, who survives him. 
 
 Mr. Wakefield was a man of iron will and resolute purpose, com- 
 bined with great physical endurance. Energy, perseverance, and an 
 indomitable courage in the face of almost insuperable obstacles, were 
 his prominent characteristics. 
 
 He had a keen perception, and results that other men reached by 
 hard thought seemed to intuitively come to him. 
 
 He knew human nature thoroughly, and could read a man at a 
 glance. To those who knew him best he revealed at times a warm, 
 genial, and tender nature, though to a stranger he might seem distant. 
 He was charitable, giving not only in large sums to public enter- 
 prises, but cheering the hearts of the poor with his generous gifts. 
 Many students struggling for an education remember with gratitude 
 his timely aid. As a merchant, he was shrewd, industrious, persistent, 
 and careful in the details of his business. His character and deeds 
 are thus epitomized in the resolutions adopted by his fellow-citizens 
 on trie evening after his death : " The valuable citizen, the prosperous 
 merchant, the progressive leader in ornamental and architectural im- 
 provements, the friend and helper of education, the chief promoter of 
 our local industrial pursuits, our munificent namesake, whose numerous 
 and generous benefactions will remain his enduring memorials." 
 
 Mr. Wakefield died very suddenly on Sabbath morning, Oct. 26, 
 1873. at a quarter before 8 o'clock, at the age of sixty-two .years and 
 eight months. His funeral was attended at his late residence on the 
 following Wednesday. 
 
 " The silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl is broken."
 
 APPENDIX.
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 A. 
 
 INDIAN DEED OF LYNN AND READING. 
 
 " To all Christian People, to whom this present Deed of Confirma- 
 tion and Alienation shall come, David Kunkshamooshaw, who, by 
 credible intelligence, is grandson to old Sagamore George-No-Nose, so 
 called, alias Wenepowweekin, sometime of Rumney Marsh, and some- 
 times at or about Chelmsford of y e colony of y Massachyets, so called, 
 sometimes here and sometimes there, but deceased, y* said David, 
 grandson to y" said old Sagamore George-No-Nose, deceased, and 
 Abigail Kunkshamooshaw, y 8 wife of David, and Cicely, alias Su- 
 George, y e reputed daughter of said old Sagamore George, and James 
 Quonopohit of Natick, alias Rumney Marsh, and Mary his wife, send 
 greeting, &c. : 
 
 " Know ye, that the said David Kunkshamooshaw, and Abigail his 
 wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George aforesaid, and James Quonopohit 
 aforesaid, with Ms wife Mary, who are the nearest of kin and legal suc- 
 cessors of y e aforesaid George-No-Nose, alias Wenepowweekin, whom wee 
 affirme was the true and sole owner of y e land, that the towns of Lynn 
 and Reading (aforesaid) stand upon, and notwithstanding y" possession 
 of y* English dwelling in those townships of Lynn and Reading, afore- 
 said, wee, y* said David Kunkshamooshaw, Cicely, alias Su-George, 
 James Quonopohit, the rest aforesaid Indians, doe lay claim to the 
 lands that these two towns aforesaid, Lynn and Reading, stand upon, 
 and the dwellers thereof possess, that y* right and title thereto is ours, 
 and belong to us and ours ; but, howsoever, the townships of Lyn and 
 Reading, having been long possessed by the English, and although wee 
 make our clayme, and y" Selectmen and Trustees of both towns afore- 
 said, pleading title by graunts of Courts and purchase of old of our 
 predecessor, George Sagamore, and such like matters, &c., wee the 
 Claymers aforesaid, viz. : David Kunkshamooshaw and Abigail, his
 
 688 APPENDIX. 
 
 squaw, Cicely, alias Su-George, the reputed daughter of old Sagamore 
 George, alias Wenepowweekin, and James Quonopohit and Mary his 
 wife, all and every of us, as aforesaid, and jointly together, for and in 
 consideration of y e summe of sixteen pounds of current sterling money ' 
 of silver, in hand paid to y e Indians clayming, viz. : David Kunksha- 
 mooshaw &c. at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, 
 by Mr. Ralph King, William Bassett, Senr., Matthew Farrington, Senr., 
 John Burrill, Senr., Robert Potter, Senr., Samuel Johnson, and Oliver 
 Piirchas, Selectmen in Lynn, in'y e County of Essex in New England, 
 trustees and Prudentials for and in behalf of y e purchasers and now 
 proprietors of y e townships of Lynn and Reading, well and truly payd, 
 the receipt whereof, wee, viz. : David Kunkshamooshaw, Abigail his 
 wife, Cicely, alias Su-George, y e reputed daughter of old Sagamore George, 
 and James, alias Rumney M^irsh, and Mary his wife, doe hereby acknowl- 
 edge themselves to be fully satisfied and contented, and thereof and 
 every part thereof, doe hereby acquit, exhonerate and discharge y" said 
 Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett, Senr., with all and every of y e Select- 
 men aforesaid, trustees and prudentials, together with the purchasers and 
 now proprietors of y e said townships of Lyn and of Reading, their heirs, 
 executors, administrators and assigns, forever, by these presents have 
 granted, bargained a full and a firme confirmation and ratification of 
 all grants of Courts, and any former alienation made by our predeces- 
 sor or predecessors, and our own right, title and interest, clayme and 
 demand whatsoever, and by these presents doe fully, freely, clearly 
 and absolutely give and grant a full and firme confirmation of all grants 
 of Courts, and any sort of alienation made by our predecessor or pred- 
 ecessors, as also all our owne clayme of right, title, interest and 
 demand, unto them y 6 said Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett and the rest, 
 Selectmen aforenamed, trustees and prudentials for y e town of Lyn, 
 y e worshipful Mr. John Browne, Capt. Jeremiah Sweyn and Lt. Wm. 
 Harsey, trustees and prudentials for y 6 towne of Reading, to their heirs 
 and assigns forever, to and for y 6 sole use, benefit and behoof of y e 
 purchasers and now proprietors of y e townships of Lynn and Reading 
 aforesaid, and all y e said townships of Lynn and Reading, joyning one 
 to another, even from the sea, where the line beginneth, between Lynn 
 and Marblehead and so between Lynn and Salem, as it is stated by 
 those towns and marked, and so to Ipswich river, and so from thence, 
 as it is stated betwixt Salem and Reading, and as the line is stated and 
 runne betwixt Will's Hill, and as is stated and runne betwixt Reading 
 and Andover, and as it is stated betwixt Oburne and Reading, and as
 
 APPENDIX. 689 
 
 it is stated and runne betwixt Charlestowne, Maiden, Lynn and Read- 
 ing, and upon the sea, from y e line that beginneth at Lynn and Marble- 
 head and Salem, to divide the townes aforesaid, so as well from thence 
 to y e two Nahants, viz. : y* little Nahant and y* great Nahant, as y e sea 
 compasseth it almost round, and so to the river called Lynn river, or 
 Rumney Marsh river or Creek, unto the line from Bride's Brook to the 
 said Creek, answering y" line, that is stated between Lynn and Boston, 
 from said Bride's Brook up to Reading. This said Tract of land, de- 
 scribed as aforesaid, together with all houses, edifices, buildings, lands, 
 yards, orchards, gardens, meadows, marrishes, feedings, grounds, rocks, 
 stones, beach Flats, pastures, commons, and commons of pasture, woods, 
 underwoods, swamps, waters, watercourses, damms, ponds, fishings, 
 flowings, ways, easements, profits, privileges, rights, commodities, royal- 
 ling, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever, to y e said townships 
 of Lynn and Reading, and other the premises belonging or in anywise 
 appertaining, or by them now used, occupied and enjoyed as part, 
 parcel or member thereof; and also all rentes, arrearages of rentes, 
 quitrents, rights and appurtenances whatsoever, nothing excepted or 
 reserved ; and also all deeds, writings and evidences whatsoever, 
 touching y e premises, or any part or parcel thereof. 
 
 To have and to hold all y e said townships of Lynn and Reading, as 
 well as y'two Nahants aforesaid, y e little and y e great Nahant, as they 
 are encompassed by y e sea, with their beaches, from y' great Nahant to 
 y e little, and from y e little Nahant homeward where Richard Hood now 
 dwelleth, and so to Mr. King's, with all y e above granted premises, with 
 their and every of their rights, members and appurtenances, and every part 
 and parcel thereof, hereby given, granted, confirmed, ratified unto y* said 
 Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett and the rest, Selectmen in behalf of Lynn, 
 and y e worshipful Mr. John Browne, and y e rest aforenamed for Reading, 
 all trustees and prudentials for the townships of Lynn and Reading, to 
 them and their heirs and assigns forever, to and for y" sole use, benefit 
 and behoof of y* purchasers and now proprietors of y" said townships 
 of Lynn and Reading ; and they, y' said David Kunkshamooshaw and 
 Abigail his wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George, y" reputed daughter of 
 George-No-Nose deceased, and James Quonopohit, and Mary his wife, 
 Indians aforesaid, for themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators 
 and assigns, jointly, severally and respectively, doe hereby covenant, 
 promise and grant to and with y'said Mr. King, Wm. Bassett, Sen r , and 
 y e rest of Lynn and y 8 worshipful Mr. John Browne, and y'rest of Read- 
 ing, trustees and prudentials for y" towns of Lynn and Reading, as 
 aforesaid, their heirs and assigns, and to y* purchasers and now pro- 
 87
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 prietors of y e said townships of Lynn and Reading, etc., in manner and 
 forme following (that is to say), that at the time of this graunt, confir- 
 mation and alienation, and until the ensealing and delivery of these 
 presents, their ancestor and ancestors and they, the above-named David 
 and Abigail his now wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George, and the rest afore- 
 named Indians, were y e true, sole and lawful owners of all y^afore- 
 bargained, confirmed and aliened premises, and were lawfully seized off, 
 and in y e same and every part thereof in their own propper right, and 
 have in themselves full power, good right and lawful authority to grant, 
 alien, confirm, and assure y e same as is afore described in this deed 
 unto Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett, Sen r , and y e rest, Selectmen of Lynn, 
 and y e worshipful Mr. John Browne and y e rest aforenamed agents for 
 Reading, all trustees and prudentials for y e two townships of Lynn and 
 Reading, to them, their heirs and assigns forever, for y e use aforesaid, 
 viz : y e benefit and behoof of y 6 purchasers and now proprietors of y e 
 two townships aforesaid, as a good, perfect and absolute estate of inher- 
 itance, in fee simple, without any manner of condition, reversion or lim- 
 itation whatsoever, so as to alter, change, or make void y e same, and 
 that y e trustees aforesaid, and y* purchasers and now proprietors of y e 
 said townships of Lynn and Reading, their heirs and assigns, shall and 
 may, by virtue and force of these presents, from time to time, and at all 
 times forever hereafter, lawfully, peaceably, and quietly, have, hold, use, 
 occupy, possess and injoy, y e above-granted, aliened and confirmed 
 premises, with y 8 appurtenances and benefits thereof, and every part and 
 parcel thereof, free and clear, and clearly acquitted and off and from all 
 and all manner of other gifts, grants, bargains, sales, leases, mortgages, 
 jointures, dowers, judgments, executions, fforfeitures, and off and from 
 all other titles, troubles, charges, incumbrances whatsoever, had, made, 
 committed, done, or suffered to be done by y e said David and Abigail 
 his wife, Cicely, alias Su-George, and the rest, Indians, aforenamed, them 
 or any of them, or any of their heirs or assigns, or any of their ancestors 
 at any time or times. 
 
 And further, that y* said David Kunkshamooshaw and Abigail his 
 wife, Su-George, James Quonopohit and Mary his wife, &c., their heirs, 
 executors and administrators, &c., jointly and severally will and shall by 
 these presents, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, warrant 
 and defend y e aforegranted and confirmed premises, with their appurte- 
 nances, and every part and parcel thereof unto y e said trustees, or pru- 
 dentials aforenamed, for y* townships of Lyn and Reading, against all 
 and every person or persons whatsoever, anywaies lawfully clayming or 
 demanding the same or any part or parcell thereof.
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 691 
 
 And lastly, that they, y e said David and Su-George and James Quon- 
 opohit, their wives, or any of their heirs, executors, or administrators, 
 shall and will, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, when thereto 
 required, at y e cost and charges of said trustees and prudentials, their 
 heirs or assigns, or y e purchasers and proprietors of y* townships of 
 Lynn and Reading, etc., doe make, acknowledge, suffer all and every 
 such further act and acts, thing and things, assurances and conveyances 
 in y e law whatsoever, for y* furthermore better surety and sure making 
 of the abovesaid townships of Lynn and Reading, with y e rights, hered- 
 itaments, benefits, and appurtenances, above, by these presents, men- 
 tioned to be bargained, aliened, confirmed, vnto y e aforesaid trustees and 
 prudentials, their heirs and assigns, for y" use aforesaid, as by y* said 
 trustees aforesaid, their heirs or assigns or y e said proprietors, or by 
 their Council, learned in the law, shall be reasonably devised, advised, 
 or required. 
 
 In witness whereof, y e said David Kunkshamooshaw, and Abigail his 
 wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George, and James Quonopohit and Mary his 
 wife, have hereunto set their hands and seals, y e day of y e date being y" 
 fourth day of September, one thousand six hundred eighty and six, 
 annoque regni regis Jacobus Secundi Anglice. 
 
 DAVID "i^" KUNKSHAMOOSHAW. 
 
 mark. 
 
 ABIGAIL '>" KUJSfKSHAMOOSHAW. 
 
 mark, 
 her 
 
 CICELY "TJ" alias SU-GEORGE. 
 
 mark. 
 
 "JAMES QUONOPOHIT." 
 
 her 
 
 MARY "X" QUONOPOHIT. 
 
 mark. 
 
 All the persons hereunto subscribed, acknowledged the within written 
 to be their act and deed, May 31, 1687. 
 
 (as certifies) BARTHO. GEDNEY, one of y 6 Council. 
 
 The above deed is copied from Lewis and Newhall's " History of 
 Lynn," and was by them, or rather by Mr. Newhall, found among the 
 records at Salem.
 
 692 APPENDIX. 
 
 B. 
 
 At a General Court of Election, held at Boston, 23d of May, 1666, 
 
 Whereas, the Honorable General Court having formerly granted to 
 the town of Reading a Tract of Land of two miles, lying between their 
 Grant of four miles and Mr. Bellingham's farme and the great (Ipswich) 
 river, and also ordered them to have it laid out sometime before this 
 Court sate ; at the request of the Town that this Platt of Land is laid 
 out and returned, butted and bounded as followeth, running from a 
 Pine tree at A, north by the compass, Six hundred rods, joynes to the 
 Town of Reading land unto B, to the top of a Rocky hill ; and from 
 B, East two hundred sixty-eight rods to an Oak tree at C, marked 
 R. B., and joynes the Andover land ; and from C, South South East 
 8 deg. =30 to E five hundred seventy six rods, this joynes upon the 
 Governor's farme to a black oak tree at D, marked R. B., and this line 
 joynes upon Mr. Bellingham's farme ; the fourth line runs from D, 
 E. B. N., two hundred thirty six rods to a walnut tree at E, and joynes 
 also on Mr. Bellingham's farme ; the fifth line from E, South East 
 and be (by ?) South, two hundred and four rods to a black oak in 
 Salem line at F, which joynes upon the farme of Thomas Fuller ; the 
 sixth line runs from F, west South West, 2*- S. four hundred and 
 twenty rods to a black oak at G., the which line is Salem bounds. 
 The 7 th line from G., West by North, 7"- No :, five hundred and sixty 
 eight rods to a Pine tree at A (the place of beginning), alongst the 
 river (Ipswich) side. 
 
 Pr. me, ELISHA HUTCHINSON. 
 
 The Court allows of this returne, Provided it intrench not on any 
 former Grant. 
 
 A true Copy as appears of Record. 
 
 Exam'd Pr. JAS. ADDINGTON, SfSt>y. 
 
 C. 
 
 At the second Session of the General Court held at Boston, 8 th of 
 October, 1662. 
 
 Laid out by order of the General Court, the Deputy Governor, 
 Richard Bellingham Esq., his farme, now in the occupation of Bray 
 Wilkinson, the 23 d of September, 1662.
 
 APPENDIX. 693 
 
 The first line runs from a white Oak marked R. B. northwesterly to 
 a Rocky point, where a white Oak is marked ; and from thence by the 
 Southerly corner of Beachy meadow to a white oak marked, the length 
 about a mile and a quarter. The second line from the last marked 
 white oak upon a west and by South Point, about a mile to an Oak 
 marked R. B. 
 
 The third line from the said Oak upon a South and by East point a 
 mile and quarter to a Tree marked on the South West side of the Pond, 
 taking in a meadow of about twenty-five acres, lying without the said 
 line and adjoining to it, towards the northerly end thereof. 
 
 The fourth line from the last marked Tree, upon an East and by 
 North point to the first white Oak marked R. B., in length one mile and 
 a quarter. 
 
 Also, One hundred acres lying square on the plain before the Dwell- 
 ing house of Bray Wilkinson ; beginning at the brook that runs into 
 Price's meadow, and running in length down to a white oak marked, 
 about 1 60 rod, and in breadth at both ends 100 rods to a Tree marked, 
 at either end ; the lower or South East angle being a Pine Tree 
 marked ; the upper or North West angle being an oak marked, stand- 
 ing near a great Rock, Provided, that part of the Pine Swamp, that 
 lieth within the said Bounds, shall be free and common for any to take 
 
 off the timber growing thereon. 
 
 WM. HAWTHORNE, 
 
 THOMAS HOWLET. 
 The Court allowes and approves of this Return. 
 
 A true Copy, as appears of Record, 
 
 Exam'd Pr. JAS. ADDINGTON, Scty. 
 
 D. 
 
 A LIST OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION FROM 
 
 READING. 
 
 It is not presumed that this is a perfect list, but as nearly so as we 
 had time and ability to make it 
 
 Ephraim Abbott. 
 Josiah Abbott 
 Jonas Adams. 
 Joseph Bancroft, Lt 
 Caleb Bancroft, 
 James Bancroft, Captain. 
 Sam'l Bancroft. 
 Joshua Bancroft. 
 
 Jonas Bancroft. 
 Jonas Bancroft, Jr. 
 Edmund Bancroft. 
 Job Bancroft. 
 John Bancroft. 
 John Batchelder. 
 John Batchelder, Jr. 
 Nat'n Batchelder. 
 
 David Batchelder. 
 
 Wm. Beers. 
 
 Joshua Burnham, Fifer and 
 
 Drummer. 
 
 Sampson Blackman, col'd. 
 Primus Blackman, " 
 Amos Boardman. 
 Elias Boardman.
 
 694 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Benj'n Boardman. 
 
 Elijah Cory. 
 
 Moses Boardman. 
 
 Samuel Clapp. 
 
 Joseph Boutwell. 
 
 Siers Cook, Ens. 
 
 John Boutwell. 
 
 David Damon. 
 
 Kendall Boutwell. 
 
 Benja. Damon. 
 
 James Boutwell. 
 
 Ezra Damon. 
 
 John Brooks. 
 
 Samuel Damon. 
 
 Joseph Brooks. 
 
 Daniel Damon. 
 
 Jona. Brooks. 
 
 Joseph Damon. 
 
 Benj'n Brown. 
 
 Ebenezer Damon. 
 
 Charles Brown. 
 
 Wm. Deadman. 
 
 Jacob Brown. 
 
 John Dix. 
 
 Jona. Brown. 
 
 Robert Douglas. 
 
 Joseph Brown. 
 
 Robert Daland. 
 
 Amos Bryant. 
 
 James Davis. 
 
 Timothy Bryant, Jr. 
 
 Daniel Davis. 
 
 James Bryant. 
 
 Benja. Dutton, Corp. 
 
 John Bryant. 
 
 Samuel Ellenwood. 
 
 Elias Bryant. 
 
 Joseph Eberdon. 
 
 Butters. 
 
 Thomas Edmands. 
 
 John Brooks, Capt. 
 
 James Emerson. 
 
 John Buxton. 
 
 Peter Emerson. 
 
 John Buxton, Jr. 
 
 Wm. Emerson. 
 
 Ebenezer Buxton. 
 
 Thomas Emerson. 
 
 Jeduthun Buxton. 
 
 Ebenezer Emerson. 
 
 Stephen Buxton. 
 
 Elias Emerson. 
 
 Benja. Buxton. 
 
 John Emerson. 
 
 Jona. Buxton. 
 
 John Emerson. Jr. 
 
 Wm. Buxton. 
 
 Benja. Emerson. 
 
 Jacob Burnap. 
 
 Joseph Emerson. 
 
 John Burnap. 
 
 Aaron Emerson. 
 
 Geo. Burnap. 
 
 Daniel Emerson. 
 
 Isaac Burnap. 
 
 Kendall Emerson, Sergt. 
 
 Joseph Burnap. 
 
 Natha'l Emerson. 
 
 John Bailey. 
 
 Joshua Eaton, Sergt. 
 
 Joseph Barrett. 
 
 Joshua Eaton, Drum Maj. 
 
 Stephen Barrett. 
 
 Reuben Eaton. 
 
 Bacchus, col'd. 
 
 Lilley Eaton. 
 
 Abijah Beard. 
 
 Abraham Eaton. 
 
 Cleaveland Beard. 
 
 Timothy Eaton. 
 
 Wm. Beard. 
 
 Charles Eaton, Fifer. 
 
 Zachariah Bragg. 
 
 Samuel Eaton. 
 
 Michael Baldwin. 
 
 Nathaniel Eaton. 
 
 Jeremiah Baldwin. 
 
 Jonathan Eaton. 
 
 Samuel Bodge. 
 
 Thomas Eaton. 
 
 Samuel Badger. 
 
 Thomas Eaton, Jr. 
 
 Joseph Burditt. 
 
 Wm. Eaton. 
 
 John Cutler or Cutter. 
 
 Nathaniel Eaton, Jr. 
 
 Ephraim Carter. 
 
 Eliab Eaton. 
 
 Benja. Carter. 
 
 Jeremiah Eaton. 
 
 Jabez Carter. 
 
 Sampson Eaton. 
 
 Stephen Carter. 
 
 Samuel Evans. 
 
 Enoch Carter. 
 
 Daniel Evans. 
 
 Robert Convers. 
 
 Nathaniel Evans. 
 
 Josiah Convers. 
 
 Andrew Evans. 
 
 Nathan'l Cowdrey. 
 
 Chester Freeman, col d. 
 
 Nathan'l Cowdrey, Jr. 
 
 Doss Freeman, 
 
 Reuben Coombs. 
 
 Primus Freeman, 
 
 Reuben Camp (or Kemp). 
 
 Sharper Freeman, 
 
 Peter Galley. 
 
 Peter Freeman, 
 
 Stephen Curtis. 
 
 Cato Freeman, 
 
 Samuel Cory. 
 
 John Fowle. 
 
 Benja. Flint. 
 Levi Flint. 
 
 Ebenezer Flint, Sergt. 
 Sam'l Flint. 
 Edmund Flint. 
 Daniel Flint. 
 John Flint. 
 George Flint. 
 Wm. Flint. 
 Jona. Flint. 
 Hezekiah Flint. 
 
 Farley. 
 
 Edward Farmer. 
 John Farmer. 
 Nathan Foster. 
 Abraham Foster, Capt. 
 Benja. Foster. 
 Edmund Foster. 
 Wm. Foster, Corporal. 
 Andrew Foster. 
 Sam'l Frothingham. 
 John Farrar. 
 Nathan Felch. 
 John Felch. 
 Parker Felch. 
 Sam'l Felch. 
 Sam'l Felt. 
 Daniel Gould. 
 Reuben Gould. 
 Jona. Gould. 
 Wm. Gould. 
 Benja. Gould. 
 Wm. Green. 
 Thomas Green. 
 Jeremiah Green. 
 Daniel Green. 
 Jonas Green. 
 John Green, Serg. 
 Daniel Graves. 
 Nathaniel Graves. 
 Benj. Gleason. 
 Stephen Greenleaf. 
 Thaddeus Goodwin. 
 John Goodwin. 
 Nathaniel Goodwin. 
 Samuel Goodwin. 
 Thomas Goodwin. 
 John Hart 
 Asa Hart. 
 
 Jeremiah Hartshorn. 
 Thomas Hartshorn. 
 Jona. Hartshorn. 
 Wm. Hartshorn. 
 John Hartshorn. 
 Nathaniel Hartshorn. 
 Timothy Hartshorn. 
 Thomas Hatson or Hud- 
 son, Fifer. 
 Joel Holden. 
 John Holden. 
 Joseph Holden. 
 Thomas Hay.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 695 
 
 William Hay. 
 
 Samuel Hutchins. 
 
 Joseph Hopkins. 
 
 Joseph Hill. 
 
 James Hill. 
 
 John Hill. 
 
 Paul Hill. 
 
 Asa Hill. 
 
 Alpheus Hill. 
 
 John Hatson. 
 
 Benj. Hunt. 
 
 Benja. Herrick. 
 
 Jacob Herrick. 
 
 Nicholas HolL 
 
 Joseph HolL 
 
 Wm. Holt. 
 
 John Hutchinson (Naval). 
 
 Henry Hawkes. 
 
 Joseph Hawkins. 
 
 A. Johnson. 
 
 Joseph Johnson. 
 
 Benja. Johnson. 
 
 Seth Johnson. 
 
 Wm. Johnson. 
 
 Daniel Killom, Corp. 
 
 Archelaus Kenney. 
 
 Enoch Kidder. 
 
 Seth Leviston (Livingston), 
 
 Sergt 
 
 John Lambert (Naval). 
 Davis Lambert 
 Jonas Lewis. 
 Samuel Lewis. 
 Samuel Lamson. 
 Sampson Ixmdon. 
 Phineas Mclntire. 
 Benja. Mclntire. 
 Daniel Mclntire. 
 Wm. Mclntire. 
 Eben'r Mclntire. 
 Elijah Mclntire. 
 Elias Mclntire, 
 Nathan Mason. 
 Rob't Mason. 
 Richard Mason. 
 Wm. Melendy. 
 Wm. McMillian. 
 Peter McAllister. 
 
 Nick. 
 
 Thomas Nichols. 
 Ebenezer Nichols. 
 Jesse Nichols. 
 Jona. Nichols. 
 Benja. Nichols. 
 Jeremiah Nichols. 
 Joseph Nichols. 
 John Nichols, 
 fephthah Nutting. 
 Jona. Nutting. 
 Elisha Newhall. 
 Aaron Nurse. 
 David Parker. 
 
 Wm. Parker. 
 Joseph Parker. 
 Daniel Parker, Jr. 
 Jonas Parker. 
 Aaron Parker. 
 Ebenezer Parker. 
 Nathan Parker. 
 Edmund Parker. 
 Benja. Parker. 
 Elisha Parker. 
 Ichabod Parker. 
 Caleb Parker. 
 Amos Pearson. 
 Seward Poland. 
 Jonathan P. Pollard. 
 John Pike. 
 Ebenezer Pike. 
 John Pratt 
 Ephraim Pratt, Left. 
 Daniel Pratt 
 Benja. Pratt 
 Silas Pratt 
 Wm. Pratt 
 Ezra Pratt. 
 Joseph Perry. 
 Edward Pratt 
 Eleazer Flagg Poole. 
 Samuel Poole. 
 Daniel Poole. 
 James Poole. 
 Titus Potamia, col'd. 
 Isaac Ridgway. 
 Thos. Richardson, 
 Wm. Richardson. 
 Edmund Richardson. 
 Peter Richardson. 
 Herbert Richardson. 
 Luke Richardson. 
 Benja. Roaff 
 Jonas Rice. 
 Wm. Raddin. 
 Wm. Russell. 
 Thos. Sawyer. 
 Wm. Sawyer. 
 Eben'r Smith. 
 Isaac Smith. 
 Ezra Smith. 
 Abraham Smith. 
 Benj. Smith. 
 Wm. Stimpson. 
 Wm. Stimpson, 2d. 
 Ebenezer Stimpson. 
 Phineas Stimpson. 
 Enoch Stock er. 
 Cornelius Sweetser. 
 John Sweetser. 
 Win. Sweetser. 
 Benja. Sweetser. 
 Jona. Stearns. 
 Isaac Stearns. 
 James Symonds. 
 Thomas Symonds. 
 
 Isaac Symonds. 
 Samuel Seagrave (Naval). 
 Ebenezer Stone. 
 Russell Sheldon. 
 Jesse Snow. 
 Elisha Tottingham. 
 Elisha Tottingham, Jr. 
 Thomas Thoyt 
 Wm. Tarbox. 
 Jona. Thompson. 
 Wm. Thompson. 
 Israel Taylor. 
 Samuel Taylor. 
 John Taylor. 
 Samuel Temple. 
 Nath'l Upton. 
 Amos Upton. 
 Ebenezer Upton. 
 Isaac Upton. 
 John Upton. 
 Paul Upton. 
 Abraham Upton. 
 Jeduthan Upton. 
 Jethro Upton. 
 Timothy Vinton, Jr. 
 Oliver Walton. 
 Benja. Walton. 
 Jacob Walton. 
 Ebenezer Walton. 
 Josiah Walton. 
 James Walton. 
 Nathan Walton. 
 Isaac Walton. 
 Jotham Walton. 
 Israel Walton. 
 Timothy Wakefield. 
 Eben'r Wakefield. 
 Wm. Winship. 
 Jacob Wait 
 Thomas Wait 
 David Wright. 
 Nathan Wool ley 
 David Watson. 
 Abel Whiting. 
 James Wilson. 
 Leonard Wilson. 
 Wm. Wilson. 
 Benja. Williams, Corp. 
 Asa Williams. 
 Eben'r Williams. 
 Nathaniel Wiley. 
 Wm. Wiley. 
 Eben'r Wiley. 
 James Wiley. 
 John Wiley. 
 Timothy Wiley. 
 Phineas Wiley. 
 Samuel Wiley. 
 Jona. Weston. 
 Nathaniel Weston, 
 James Weston. 
 Reuben Weston.
 
 696 APPENDIX. 
 
 Daniel Weston. 
 John Walker. 
 Samuel Walker. 
 Joseph Walker. 
 
 Benj. Welch. 
 Sam'l Woodward. 
 Timothy Wiley. 
 Jona. Wiley. 
 
 Nathaniel Wiley, Jr. 
 Benja. Wiley. 
 Benja. Young. 
 Wm. Young. 
 
 E. 
 
 " Reading, May 7, 1719. 
 
 A pettion of y e assessors of y e north presinct in Reeding, in y e behalf 
 of y e foresaid presinct to y* towne of Reeding, that whareas by an act of 
 y e Genneral Cort we ware made a presinct and th^ir by obliged to setil a 
 minister, and to see him comfortably suported ; and thair being sav- 
 rail parsels of madow, which the towne has devoted to a minesteral use, 
 altho' we are two distinct presincts, yet we are but one towne, hoping yt 
 you will one us for a part of the Towne by granting us, y* North presinct, 
 y e emprovement of y e one half of y e minesteral madows, which we 
 hope you Readely Doe, which will be a halp to us and an incorigment 
 to y* Reverand M r Putman to continue amonst us, a man in whome we 
 tak much satisfaction ; which we hop you rejoyc in ; which we have 
 Reson to think you do, by what we have heard yt there is a considrable 
 number that has subscribed fifteen pounds annually for five years to 
 incorig the satilment of the gospel amongst us ; and also the Towne in 
 General afterward by a free and voluntary Contribution, which was a 
 great halp to us, and no doubt but a great incorigment to the Revrand 
 Mr. Putman, for which we thank god for opning your harts thus bounti- 
 fully to us in our beginings to incorig the gospel amongst, for w c we 
 Render you harty thanks. 
 
 So we remain your Frinds and humble pettioners, by the Request of 
 presinct and in behalf of the presinct. 
 
 "THOMAS TAYLOR. 
 JOHN HARNDEN. 
 V^ JOHN EATON." 
 
 F. 
 
 " To y e freehold & inhabitants of Reading (peticularly those belong- 
 ing to this parish) convened May 14, 1719, Grace, mercy and peace 
 unto you be multiplyd, amen. Brethren, I lately received of Constable 
 Ed: Brown g 2S. \d. in full for my Sallary for y e year 1718, \v ih my 
 thanks to you, yt tis so early come in. Twas seasonable to me. But I 
 confess twas much too scant for my necessity. You are not insensible 
 yt allmost everything is strangely raised of late. Brethren, I am sen-
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 697 
 
 sible of the charge this parish has lately been at, both in incourageing 
 y e North precinct, at w c I have rejoyced, and moveing y* pulpit w r in I find 
 help and benefit It is not y r fore w^out sensible trouble, yt I feel a ne- 
 cessity to tell you my sinking circumstances. I have rec d my Sallary, and 
 yet find myselfe more than 20 in debt for necessaries received y* last 
 year, besides what is advanced in ys, w c is more yn half of yt sum. 
 And yet I have pay'd my money, rec'd of you, as far as it would go, 
 reserving but a short pittance to myselfe. In other years yt I have 
 been w* you, when I was in Straits (as w* I have had of you has never 
 maintained me), I helped myselfe out of my own estate, &c., more than 
 20 pounds, and yt most cheerfully ; for I came not here to make a prey 
 of you, nor an estate among you ; but because I thou't God call'd me 
 here : But of late such has been, & yet are the circumstances of my 
 proper estate, yt I cant do as I have done ; could I, I had done it still 
 w th out troubling you now. In short, Brethren, if to have no cheese, 
 butf, malt, nor stock of meal, no more yn one bushel of corn, nor 
 money to buy, be to be in want, I am so. But I will not faint, y* Earthe 
 is y e Lord's and the fullness y'of. Brethren, If you can consid r me and 
 raise my Sallary in time to come, I leave it with you & commit myselfe 
 to y* Lord, & under him to you, while I am among you ; Being willing 
 to my utmost to serve you so long as y e Ld shall enable me, and you 
 willing to suport me. 
 
 " I am yr Soul's frind and Servant, 
 
 "RICH'D BROWN." 
 "MAY ir, 1719." 
 
 G. 
 
 SOLDIERS IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS OF 1745 TO 
 
 i759-'6o. 
 
 Col. Eben'r Nichols. 
 .CapL Wm. Flint (died at 
 
 Lake George in 1756 
 
 or '7). 
 Lieut. Benj. Foster. 
 
 " Samuel Hartshorn. 
 
 " Jacob Bancroft. 
 Corp. Benj. Parker. 
 
 " Joseph Hill. 
 Wm. Stimpson, clerk. 
 Caleb Bancroft 
 Jeremiah Bancroft. 
 Kendall Flint. 
 Cornelius Calnon. 
 Elijah Dennis. 
 Lt Benj. Flint 
 8* 
 
 Samuel Graves. 
 John Batt 
 John Jeffrey. 
 Thos. Gould. 
 Thos. Hart. 
 Eben'r Lewis. 
 Joel Morgan. 
 Timothy Nichols. 
 Phineas Richardson. 
 Thos. Thoyts. 
 Wm. Winchester. 
 Thos. Richardson. 
 Green Parker. 
 Abraham Foster. 
 Isaac Walton. 
 Didymus Nichols. 
 
 Stephen Knight 
 John Brown. 
 Joshua Eaton. 
 Kendall Goodwin. 
 Lemuel Jenkins. 
 Thos. Rayner. 
 Ebenezer Parker. 
 John Weston. 
 Nathaniel Eaton. 
 Jonal Foster. 
 Jpna. Mclntire. 
 Ens. James Poole. 
 \Vm. Sheldon. 
 Richard Melendy. 
 Timo. Hartshorne (died). 
 Timo. Bryant
 
 698 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Capt. David Greene. 
 
 Jacob Townsend. 
 
 Sergt. Joshua Nichols. 
 
 John Atwell. 
 
 James Hartshorne. 
 
 Nath'l Cowdrey. 
 
 John Emerson, Jr. 
 
 Phineas Parker. 
 
 Benj. Batchelder. 
 
 Isaac Noyes. 
 
 John Boutwell. 
 
 Sam'l Smith. 
 
 Michael Sweetser. 
 
 
 James Williams. 
 
 Troop of Horse. 
 
 Capt. Jonathan Poole. 
 
 Capt. Jona. Eaton. 
 
 Daniel Gardner. 
 
 Capt. John Bryant. 
 
 Capt. Thos. Flint. 
 
 Q. M. James Weston. 
 
 Abraham Sheldon. 
 
 Corpl. Jabez Damon. 
 
 James Flint. 
 
 Francis Kendall, Jr. 
 
 Wm. Sawyer. 
 
 Thos. Eaton. 
 
 Timo. Russell. 
 
 Eben'r Smith. 
 
 Ephraim Pratt. 
 
 1 eter Emerson. 
 
 Jona. Dix. 
 
 Timo. Nichols, Jr. 
 
 Eben'r Mclntire. 
 
 John Weston. 
 
 Timothy Mclntire. 
 
 Wm. Bryant, Jr. 
 
 Benj. Mclntire. 
 
 Jacob Upton. 
 
 Jona. Tower. 
 
 Abraham Upton. 
 
 Daniel Graves. 
 
 Jonah Parker. 
 
 Timothy Eaton. 
 
 Elijah Upton. 
 
 Samuel Marbel. 
 
 Wm. Winchester. 
 
 John Buxton. 
 
 Archelaus Mclntire. 
 
 Solomon Mclntire. 
 
 Eph'm Sheldon. 
 
 Ephr'm Holt. 
 
 Collins Hartshorn. 
 
 Timothy Stimpson. 
 
 Jacob Pierce. 
 
 Jacob Upton. 
 
 Daniel Sheldon (died in 
 
 Nathan Phelps. 
 
 service). 
 
 Asa Barker. 
 
 Jona. Batchelder. 
 
 Jeremiah Richardson. 
 
 Thos. Nichols. 
 
 Timo. Bancroft. 
 
 Mingo, servant of Jere'h 
 
 James Woodward. 
 
 Swain. 
 
 Wm. Pelsue. 
 
 Sergt. Nathan Walton. 
 
 James Walton (died in 
 
 Capt. John Dix. 
 
 the service). 
 
 Thos. Brown (son of Jere.). 
 
 Joseph Felch (died in the 
 
 John Kimball. 
 
 service). 
 
 Sam'l Smith. 
 
 Asa Buck. 
 
 Josiah Walton, Jr. 
 
 Capt. Sam'l Bancroft. 
 
 Nathan Flint. 
 
 Phineas Lovejoy. 
 
 Jesse Richardson. 
 
 Ephraim Parker. 
 
 Jere'h Richardson. 
 
 Benja. Nichols. 
 
 John Lilley. 
 
 Joseph Bancroft. 
 
 Nath'l Eaton. 
 
 Jona. Weston. 
 
 
 Lemuel Jenkins. 
 
 Thos. Rainer. 
 
 John Brown. 
 
 Stephen Knight. 
 
 James Stimpson, Surgeon's 
 
 mate, in His Majesty's 
 
 ship " King George." 
 Phineas Parker, Jr. 
 Nath'l Swain (son of John). 
 Wm. Coggin. 
 Eben'r Damon. 
 Daniel Foster. 
 Samuel Foster. 
 John Nichols (escaped by 
 
 flight from the massacre 
 
 at Fort Edward). 
 Jona. Person (2d Lt.). 
 Sergt. John Swain. 
 Nath'l Batchelder. 
 Jonas or Jona. Parker. 
 Thos. Boutwell. 
 Samuel Brown (son of 
 
 Jere.). 
 John Boutwell (son of 
 
 John). 
 
 Samuel Farley. 
 Benj. Batchelder. 
 Tim. Damon. 
 Amos Green. 
 Jere'h Bryant, Jr. 
 Reuben Boutwell. 
 Amos Flint. 
 Wm. Upton. 
 Eben'r Lewis. 
 Sam'l Damon. 
 Samuel Sheldon. 
 Benj. Curtis. 
 Sam'l Reed. 
 Wm. Buxton. 
 Benj. Swain. 
 Kendall Townsend. 
 Nath'l Sawyer.' 
 Asa Parker. 
 Eben'r P'lint. 
 Wm. Bickford. 
 
 H. 
 
 ROLLS OF THE THREE COMPANIES OF MILITIA, 
 
 IN THE TOWN OF READING, BELONGING TO THE REGIMENT COMMANDED BY COL. 
 DAVID GREEN, OF READING, AS THEY STOOD APRIL 19, 1775. 
 
 1st Parish Co. 
 John Walton, Captain. 
 John Pratt, Lieut. 
 Thomas Green, Ens. 
 John Brown, Sergt. 
 John Vinton, " 
 
 Wm. Green, Sergt. 
 Daniel Gould, " 
 James Smith, Corp'l. 
 James Bennett, " 
 Thomas Poole, Drummer. 
 Thos. Hudson, Fifer. 
 
 Aaron Green. 
 John Fowle. 
 Isaac Smith. 
 Michael Sweetser. 
 Nathan'l Wiley. 
 David Smith.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 699 
 
 Benj. Boardman. 
 
 John Hawkes. 
 
 Eph. Mclntier. 
 
 Reuben Eaton. 
 
 Brown Emerson. 
 
 Solomon Mclntier. 
 
 Wm. Gould. 
 
 Jabez Carter. 
 
 Mr. Jacob Mclntier. 
 
 Wm. Gould, Jr. 
 
 James Hartshorn. 
 
 Wm. Nichols. 
 
 James Wiley. 
 
 John Green. 
 
 Henry Putnam. 
 
 Amos Boardman. 
 
 Elias Boatdman. 
 
 Joseph Phelps. 
 
 Nathan Green. 
 
 Tho. Parker, Sen'r. 
 
 David Parker. 
 
 Wm. Tarbox. 
 
 Jacob Emerson. 
 
 Sam'l Parker. 
 
 James Johnson. 
 
 Josiah Green and Tho. 
 
 Isaac Tinkcom. 
 
 John Pratt. 
 
 Hay, from Stoneham. 
 
 Wm. Russell. 
 
 Nath'l Gerry. 
 
 
 Sergt. Abraham Sheldon. 
 
 Isaac Green. 
 
 id Parish Co. 
 
 Ens. Wm. Sawyer. 
 
 Jonas Green. 
 
 John Flint, Captain. 
 
 John Stack or Slack. 
 
 Josiah Bryant. 
 
 John Dix, 1st Lt. 
 
 Nath'l Sheldon, Jr. 
 
 Jeremiah Bryant. 
 
 *Eph'm Pratt, 2d Lt 
 
 Zack'h Sheldon. 
 
 Jonathan Evans. 
 
 Timothy Russell, Sergt. 
 
 Wm. Stone. 
 
 Thomas Evans. 
 
 Geo. Flint, 
 
 Thos. Taylor, Jr. 
 
 Jonas Evans. 
 
 Benja. Upton, 
 
 Samuel Taylor. 
 
 Eben'r Smith. 
 
 Jabez Upton, " 
 
 Joseph Upton. 
 
 Sam'l Felch. 
 
 Jonathan Batchelder. 
 
 Jacob Upton. 
 
 Nathan Felch. 
 
 Job Bancroft 
 
 Amos Upton, Jr. 
 
 John Farrier. 
 
 John Burnap. 
 
 Amos Upton, 3d. 
 
 Nathan Wolley. 
 
 Mr. John Bragg. 
 
 Eben'r Upton. 
 
 Cornelius Sweetser. 
 
 John Clummons. 
 
 W. Upton. 
 
 Daniel Lewis. 
 
 Stephen Curtis. 
 
 Nath'l Upton, Jr. 
 
 Timothy Bryant. 
 
 Mr. Ezra Damon. 
 
 John Upton. 
 
 Samuel Evans. 
 
 Mr. David Damon. 
 
 David Upton. 
 
 Eben'r Parker. 
 
 Dea. Jeremiah Eaton. 
 
 Dr. Amos Upton. 
 
 John Colman. 
 
 Timothy Eaton. 
 
 Capt. Hexekiah Upton. 
 
 John Lambert 
 
 Israel Eaton. 
 
 Wm Whittredge. 
 
 Eben'r Williams. 
 
 Nath'l Eaton, Jr. 
 
 David Wright 
 
 Tho. Damon. 
 
 Nath'l Evans. 
 
 
 Benja. Hartshorn. 
 
 Sam'l Ellenwood. 
 
 yi Parish Co. 
 
 Jonathan Hartshorn. 
 
 Lt Eleazer Flint 
 
 Thomas Eaton, Capt 
 
 Eben'r Stimpson. 
 
 Lt. Benj. Flint. 
 
 Jonas Parker, Lieut 
 
 Eben'r Hopkins. 
 
 Mr. Jona. Flint 
 
 John Emerson, Ens. 
 
 Wm. Bennett. 
 
 Mr. James Flint 
 
 Amos Pearson, Sergt. 
 
 John Goodwin. 
 
 Eben'r Flint, Jr. 
 
 Joseph Bancroft, " 
 
 Benja. Emerson. 
 
 Benj. Flint, Jr. 
 
 Wm. Parker, " 
 
 Jacob Walton. 
 
 Benj. Flint, 3d. 
 
 John Boutwell, " 
 
 Benj. Butters. 
 
 Benj. Flint, 4th. 
 
 John Temple, CorpL 
 
 Sam'l Kitchens. 
 
 Jona. Flint, Jr. 
 
 Asa Parker, " 
 
 Peter Emerson (died in the 
 
 Wm. Flint 
 
 Isaac Pratt, " 
 
 army, Nov. 16, 1783). 
 
 James Foster. 
 
 Wm. Nichols, Drummer. 
 
 Tho. Davis. 
 
 Benja. Foster. 
 
 Edmund Bancroft 
 
 Jona. Eaton. 
 
 Nathan Foster. 
 
 Samuel Emerson. 
 
 Benja. Brown. 
 
 Abraham Foster. 
 
 Samuel Damon. 
 
 Wm. Brown. 
 
 Martin Herrick. 
 
 Abraham Eaton. 
 
 Joseph Emerson. 
 
 Samuel Herrick. 
 
 John Nichols. 
 
 Joseph Gould. 
 
 Jacob Herrick. 
 
 Daniel Parker, Jr. 
 
 Thos. Parker, Jr. 
 
 Benj. Holt 
 
 Benja. Parker. 
 
 Thos. Emerson. 
 
 John Hayward. 
 
 John Pratt. 
 
 Thos. Emerson, Jr. 
 
 Daniel Hart 
 
 Richard Nichols. 
 
 Aaron Nurse. 
 
 Asa Hart 
 
 Thos. Symonds. 
 
 Lille Eaton. 
 
 Ens. Joseph Lewis. 
 
 Jethro Richardson. 
 
 Jonathan Foster. 
 
 Benj. Mclntier. 
 
 Wm. Foster. 
 
 Jere'h Brown. 
 
 Benja. Mclntier, Jr. 
 
 Eben'r Richardson. 
 
 Wm. Walton. 
 
 Nath'l Mclntier. 
 
 Nath'l Weston. 
 
 Eben'r Walton. 
 
 Hezekiah Mclntier. 
 
 Jonathan Poole. 
 
 Oliver Walton. 
 
 Eben'r Mclntier. 
 
 Aaron Emerson. 
 
 * Took the small-po* at Ticonderoga, and died at the Lake George Hospital.
 
 /oo 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Caleb Parker. 
 Wm. Temple. 
 Wm. Beard. 
 Timothy Pratt 
 Jeremiah Nichols. 
 James Boutwell. 
 James Eaton. 
 Jonas Eaton. 
 Edm'd Parker. 
 Sam'l Pratt 
 Ephraim Parker, 2d. 
 Abijah Weston. 
 
 Aaron Parker. 
 Isaac Parker. 
 John Hartshorn. 
 Timothy Wakefield. 
 John Farmer. 
 John Buxton. 
 Joseph Boutwell. 
 Richard Mason. 
 Reuben Weston. 
 Benja. Young. 
 Wm. Tompson. 
 Jeduthun Buxton. 
 
 Jona. Nichols. 
 Jona. Weston, Jr. 
 John Stimpson. 
 Jacob Townsend. 
 Andrew Beard. 
 Daniel Parker, Sen'r. 
 Ephraim Parker, " 
 Jos. Hill. 
 
 Jonathan Weston, Sen'r. 
 Jabez Damon. 
 Eben'r Emerson. 
 John Weston. 
 
 HH. 
 
 REMINISCENCES OF THE REVOLUTION.* 
 
 Among the men of note who formerly belonged in Reading, the 
 name of Dr. John Brooks, afterwards Governor of the State, stands 
 prominent. He lived here for some time before the breaking out of the 
 War of the Revolution, residing in the house formerly belonging to Mr. 
 Samuel Damon, on John Street. He m. Lucy Smith, of Reading, in 
 1774, and was in practice here the same year, though only twenty-two 
 years of age. His sister, Elizabeth, m. Rev. Jacob Burnap. Was 
 Major in Bridge's regiment, and active in intrenching Breed's Hill June 
 16, 1775, but was not in the battle of the i7th. Feb. '76, made Major in 
 Col. Webb's regiment, igth, and went with it to Long Island. In '77, 
 promoted to Lieut-Col, of Eighth Massachusetts Regiment. In '78 made 
 Col. of Seventh Massachusetts Regiment ; appointed by Washington 
 Marshal and Inspector of the Revenue in '95. In War of 1812 was 
 Adj. -Gen. of the State, and Governor from 1816 to '23. A company 
 of minute-men was formed here before the breaking out of hostilities 
 between the colonies and the mother country. Dr. Brooks was 
 chosen its Captain. Not being accustomed to military drill and tactics, 
 he watched the military evolutions of the British at Boston, where he 
 frequently resorted, perhaps for that object, and put the knowledge 
 thus gained into immediate practice in drilling his company here. He 
 was in Boston on the afternoon of April 18, 1775, tne day before the 
 battle of Lexington, and saw the preparatory movements of the British. 
 *In the night following he received a message that they were moving 
 towards Concord. He had a patient at the Hartshorn house on Haver- 
 hill Street, then called u Pratt Row," whom he visited about midnight, 
 and took the opportunity to notify the men of his company in that 
 part of the town of the movement of the British. 
 
 * Furnished by Hiram Barrus, of Reading.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 701 
 
 It appears that some of his company lived in what is now North 
 Reading. Ephraim Pratt lived about a mile north of the meeting- 
 house there, and belonged to the company, with his son Ephraim. It is 
 said that Capt. Brooks galloped into the yard fronting his house, call- 
 ing out in a stentorian voice, '* Stand to your arms ! stand to your 
 arms ! " Father and son arose, picked their flints, saw that their pow- 
 der was dry and their bullets ready, and hastened to the field of strife. 
 
 C. P. Judd, Esq., relates that he had the information from reliable 
 sources that this company was in constant preparation for such an emer- 
 gency. The members had loaves of bread baked, and a supply of cheese 
 ready to take with them at a moment's warning. They had a preconcerted 
 signal by which they might be summoned together in the shortest possi- 
 ble time, but as they had the night before them in which to make prepara- 
 tion, it does not appear that the signal was required. It is understood 
 that the chief part of the company were together in the latter part of 
 the night near Weston's Corner, and under command of Capt., then 
 Lieut. James Bancroft, set out upon their march in season to be at 
 Bedford early in the morning of the day of the battle. 
 
 Edward Everett says, " Every cross road opened a new avenue to the 
 assailants. Through one of these the gallant Brooks led up the minute- 
 men of Reading." From this it appears that Gov. Brooks assumed 
 command of his company when they reached the scene of action, if 
 not before. 
 
 Hudson, in his History of Lexington, says, "The British commenced 
 their retreat from Concord about noon. For the first mile they were 
 unmolested ; but when they arrived at Merriam's Corner they encoun- 
 tered a party of minute-men from Reading under Major Brooks, 
 Col. William Thompson, with a body of militia from Billerica and the 
 vicinity, coming up about the same time. The Provincials on the high 
 grounds near the North Bridge, seeing the British leaving the village, 
 went across the ' great field ' to the Bedford road, and arrived in time 
 to support the troops brought up by Brooks and Thompson. Here may 
 be said to have commenced the battle of the ipth of April. At Lexington 
 Common and at Concord North Bridge but few guns had been fired 
 by the Americans, and though ten Americans had fallen, only one of 
 the king's troops had been killed. But now all restraint seems to have 
 been removed, and every true patriot felt at full liberty to fire without the 
 bidding of any superior. Rev. Edmund Foster, then a young man and 
 a private in the Reading company, gives a graphic account of what 
 occurred at this point : 'A little before we came to Merriam's Hill, we 
 discovered the enemy's flank guard of about eighty or a hundred men,
 
 702 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 who, on the retreat from Concord, kept the height of land, the main 
 body being in the road. The British troops and the Americans at that 
 time were equally distant from Merriam's Corner. About twenty rods 
 short of that place the Americans made a halt. The British marched 
 down the hill with very slow but steady step, without music or a word 
 being spoken that could be heard. Silence reigned on both sides. As 
 soon as the British had gained the main road and passed a small bridge 
 near the corner, they faced about suddenly and fired a volley of musketry 
 upon us. They overshot, and no one to my knowledge was injured by the 
 fire. The fire was immediately returned by the Americans, and two British 
 soldiers fell dead at a little distance from each other in the road near 
 the brook. The battle now began, and was carried on with little or no 
 military discipline or order on the part of the Americans, during the 
 remainder of the day. Each sought his own place and opportunity to 
 attack and annoy the enemy from behind trees, rocks, fences, and build- 
 ings, as seemed most convenient. . . . We saw a wood at a distance, 
 which appeared to lie on or near the road where the enemy must pass. 
 Many leaped over the walls and made for that wood. We arrived just 
 in time to meet the enemy. There was on the opposite side of the road 
 a young growth of wood filled with Americans. The enemy were now 
 completely between two fires renewed and briskly kept up. They 
 ordered out a flank guard on the left to dislodge the Americans from 
 their posts behind the trees ; but they only became better "marks 
 to be shot at. A short but sharp contest ensued, in which the enemy 
 received more deadly injury than at any other place from Concord to 
 Charlestown.' " 
 
 This account shows that the Reading men were in the hottest of the 
 fight, and among the first, if not the first, to begin the battle. It is re- 
 markable that none of them were killed, and this fact probably is the 
 reason why the part performed by the Reading men has not received 
 more notice. 
 
 It appears that some of the minute-men did not go with their com- 
 pany to the scene of action. Among these were Timothy Wakefield, 
 Esq., Capt. Joseph Bancroft, Col. Nathan Parker, Capt. Jonathan 
 Weston, and possibly others, who started later in the day, direct for 
 Lexington, and encountered the British on their retreat. Capt. Wes- 
 ton related to his grandson, Sumner Weston, that he was employed 
 near where the Lynnfield Hotel now is, and that a man rode up on the 
 morning of the ipth, and gave the alarm. He immediately went to 
 his house, which then was the last house in Reading on the way to 
 Stoneham, took his gun, and, accompanied by Mr. Thomas Sweetser,
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 703 
 
 who lived in the first house in Stoneham, they proceeded on their way, 
 till they reached the retreating redcoats. Shielding themselves behind 
 a rock near a stone fence, they commenced firing upon the regulars. 
 They were so intent upon their patriotic work that they did not observe 
 the approach of the enemy's flank guard till they were almost upon 
 them. Mr. Sweetser discovered their approach, and with a word of 
 warning to Weston, who sat with his ammunition in his hat before him, 
 started for a place of safety. Weston was so absorbed in his business 
 that he did not recognize the note of alarm till it was repeated and 
 emphasized by Col. Nathan Parker, who came up at that moment, 
 when the trio, mid the whistling balls of the guard, made their escape 
 unharmed to the woods near by. 
 
 Whether our men who had been engaged in the fight during the day 
 returned to their homes that night, or remained in camp, we have no 
 positive information, but it is said they returned. An account-book 
 that formerly belonged to Lieut. Joseph Bancroft has this item, which 
 implies that some of our men continued in the service from the day of 
 the battle : "April 19, 1775. I was in the Province service ten days." 
 Another item follows, indicating further service for the cause : " May 
 5, 1775. I carted eight barrels of pork from Reading to Watertown 
 Bridge." 
 
 An obituary notice of Capt. James Bancroft, published in the " New 
 England Magazine," Vol. I, July, 1831, mentions that "he became a 
 subaltern officer in a company of minute-men, and was engaged in the 
 skirmishes at Lexington. He then with his regiment took post at 
 Cambridge." The town records of May 18, 1775, within a month after 
 the Battle of Lexington, show that at that date, Dea. Jacob Emerson 
 was chosen " selectman in the room of James Bancroft, who is gone 
 into the army." It is evident from this act of the town and the state- 
 ment referred to, that he soon, if not at once, gave up his time to the 
 common cause. On the day of the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 
 his company was on guard at head-quarters. Gen. Washington took 
 command of the army under the famous Cambridge Elm, July 3, 1775. 
 The Reading minute-men, under Capt. Bancroft and Major Brooks, 
 were assigned one of the most honorable positions on that occasion. 
 The company had provided themselves for use on special occasions at 
 home a cheap paper cap that resembled those worn by the British 
 Grenadiers. Major Brooks desired Capt. Bancroft to procure, if 
 possible, a sufficiency of them to supply the company, in order to give 
 the commander-in-chief as respectful a reception as possible. But the 
 requisite number could not be had, and the august General was received 
 by citizen soldiers in citizens' apparel.
 
 704 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 It would be gratifying to know the name of each person belonging 
 to this Reading company of minute-men, but it is extremely doubtful 
 whether they can ever be obtained. It is possible that the papers of 
 Gov. Brooks, the first captain of the company, or those of Rev. Ed- 
 mund Foster, who was a member of it, and who wrote that portion of 
 the account of the battle at Concord which has been quoted, may yet 
 furnish the desired information, but the probabilities are against it. 
 
 Gen. Lafayette, in his visit to this country in 1825, passed through 
 this town on his way to Concord, N. H. He stopped at the hotel that 
 then stood where the bank building now stands, for half an hour or so. 
 He made a short address to a crowd of the citizens that came to see 
 and welcome him. Rev. Mr. Sanborn responded, and in the course of 
 his remarks he claimed that the company of minute-men under Dr. 
 Brooks was the first company formed. He also stated that the com- 
 pany was accustomed to meet in the kitchen of his house (where Mr. 
 Grouard now resides) for drill in the use of their muskets, and that 
 the abrasion of the plastering in the upper parts of the room, caused 
 probably by shouldering their arms, was then visible. The marks can 
 still be seen where they were pointed out by Mr. Sanborn. 
 
 The General was attended by another French gentleman, and several 
 carriages containing other distinguished parties. Rev. William Wake- 
 field, then quite a lad, was present, and still retains a vivid recollection 
 of the interesting scene. 
 
 The sound of the guns discharged in the Lexington fight was heard, 
 it is said, here in Reading. Mr. William Parker, father of Mrs. Wil- 
 liam Wakefield, early in the morning heard what he believed'to be the 
 first volley fired on that memorable occasion. As he lived on the high 
 land in the south part of this town, it is quite probable that his belief 
 was well founded. Capt. John Parker, who had command of the Lex- 
 ington militia and participated in the first skirmish with the British, 
 was a son of Josiah, who was born in Reading in 1694, who was son of 
 John, born 1664, son of Hananiah, born 1638, son of Thomas Parker, 
 born 1609, who came from London 1635; was made freeman 1637, 
 and became deacon of the first church in Reading. Jonas Parker, 
 one of those first killed by the British on Lexington Common, was a 
 cousin of John, the captain ; his father also was a native of Reading. 
 It will be remembered that the two muskets in the Massachusetts 
 Senate chamber, presented by Rev. Theodore Parker, formerly be- 
 longed to this Capt. John Parker, one of which was used by him in 
 the battle, and the other was the first fire-arm captured in the war for 
 Independence. r;.-, a
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 It is impossible to obtain, at the present time, full accounts of the 
 time and place of service of many of the heroes of the Revolution who 
 belonged here. The date of the death and the ages of several buried 
 in the cemetery here are as follows : 
 
 NAME. WHEN DIED. AGE. 
 
 Aaron Parker, April 28, 1841, 84. 
 
 John Emerson, Feb. 19, 1803, 72. 
 
 Tim. Wakefield, Esq., April 19, 1849, 94. 
 
 Wm. Parker, May 13, 1850, 90. 
 
 Daniel Damon, Sept. 9, 1844, 87. 
 
 Daniel Pratt, Sept 18, 1816, 61. 
 
 Jeremiah Nichols, Feb. 12, 1813, 58. 
 
 Lieut Jonas Parker, Jan. 9, 1800, 72. 
 
 Joseph Boutelle, July 4, 1840, 84. 
 
 Lieut. Thomas Eaton, June 18, 1787, 35. 
 
 Jas. Bancroft, Esq., May 17, 1831, 92. 
 
 Col. Nathan Parker, July 30, 1815, 67. 
 
 Thomas Symonds, June 31, 1836, 91. 
 
 James Westori, Dec. 27, iSn, 61. 
 
 Capt Abraham Foster, Feb. 4, 1792, 57. 
 
 John Bachelder, July 31, 1846, 84. 
 
 Joseph Damon, Feb. 18, 1843, 84- 
 
 Maj. Josiah Barton, April 18, 1827, 79, 
 
 Lieut Jonathan Pool, Sept 1799, 79. 
 
 Timothy Eaton, Oct 27, 1822. 
 
 Nathaniel Eaton, March n, 1823. 
 
 Joseph Boutelle was in the Battle of Bunker Hill. 
 
 Aaron Parker was in service at Ticonderoga and West Point. He 
 received a pension. Daniel Damon, Joseph Damon, Timothy Wake- 
 field, Daniel Parker, Ephraim Pratt, were among those who were at 
 Ticonderoga. Daniel Damon was also at the taking of Burgoyne. 
 Benjamin Damon, brother of Daniel, at the age of sixteen, went into 
 the service at Winter Hill, as one of the guard over Burgoyne's soldiers 
 during the winter after their surrender. He continued to serve in the 
 army till the close of the war. 
 
 Capt. Abraham Foster was in the service probably for several years. 
 A memorandum in the account book of Lieut. Joseph Bancroft, Aug. 
 J 7> *777> reads, "Mr. Haven preached a sermon from Luke 3 : 14, to 
 Capt. Foster and others going to the service." _ 
 
 His daughter Rebekah exhibited her patriotism by running bullets 
 for the use of our troops. 
 
 It appears from the testimony of many who remember the narratives 
 of the old soldiers, that quite a large number of the Reading men were 
 89 .
 
 706 APPENDIX. 
 
 at "Ti," as they called Ticonderoga. The fort there commanded the 
 passage into Lake George. On the receipt of the news of the Battle 
 of Lexington, Col. Ethan Allen made his memorable capture of the 
 fort, May 10, 1775. It was held by our forces till what was considered 
 the ignoble surrender of July 5, 1777. It is said on the authority of 
 Capt. Joseph Bancroft, who was there, that our troops suffered greatly 
 for want of provisions. This indicates that he must have been there 
 as early as 1776. A letter written from there by Capt. Thomas Weeks, 
 of Hampshire County, in this State, dated March 28, 1777, savs > " We 
 live with the major in a good barrack, have good pork and beef, good 
 bread and peas, and sometimes beans that grew in Massachusetts. We 
 have but few troops, but expect more daily. The Indians are about us. 
 They have killed four men and taken twenty more prisoners." From 
 an abstract of the mileage of Capt. James Bancroft's company in Col. 
 Read's Regiment from Fort Edward to Reading, numbering seventy- 
 six men, it appears they had arrived here in Reading, Jan. 30, 1777, 
 or previously. It is suggested, as Fort Edward was near Ticonderoga, 
 that these men may have been those who had been at "Ti," where 
 they had previously suffered on the short allowance of food, which it 
 would seem, from the letter of Capt. Weeks, could not subsequently 
 have occurred. 
 
 Capt. Bancroft continued at Cambridge during 1775 and '76, and 
 twice in the latter year received commissions signed by the Council of 
 the Massachusetts Bay as captain. Under date of Jan. i, 1777, he 
 received another commission as Captain in the 8th Mass. Reg. of the 
 Continental Army, of which Col. Michael Jackson was Colonel, which 
 was at West Point in 1780. This commission was given " By order of 
 Congress," and signed by John Hancock, President, and Charles 
 Thomson, Secretary. All these commissions are still preserved. He 
 was at Ticonderoga and at Saratoga, where He was personally engaged 
 in the conflict with Burgoyne, and at the head of his company stormed 
 the British works in the regiment under the command of Col. Brooks. 
 It was here that Sergeant Joshua Eaton fell mortally wounded, the only 
 Reading soldier that was killed in battle during the war. Col. Brooks 
 saw him fall, and called Capt. Bancroft's attention to it, saying, " Our 
 brave Sergeant Eaton is gone." Eaton lived on the Ivory Murray farm, 
 near Squire Prescott's. 
 
 The following copy of a letter from Capt. Bancroft contains many 
 interesting facts, some of which are not generally known.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 707 
 
 " CAMP VALLEY FORGE, January 5, 1778. 
 
 " Dear Sir, While in my tent these cold long evenings, I often 
 think of Reading, and should think myself very happy could I step in 
 and spend a few hours with you and take a pipe and mug of cider, 
 both which are very scarce here, and perhaps it would not be very dis- 
 agreeable to you to hear something of our fatigues and dangers. Had I 
 had opportunity to write before I came from the northward, I should liked 
 to have written something particular of northward affairs, but it has got 
 too old to write about. I could write nothing new. As we have had 
 some trying times, perhaps you will ask how my courage held out. If 
 you should, I can't say, as some have done, that they have no fear ; but 
 I can say, I had not so much fear but what I could go where I was 
 ordered ; and if it had been much worse I believe I should have tried 
 to go. 
 
 We have a very good corps of officers (one excepted). If the regi- 
 ment was full of officers and soldiers as good as what we now have, 
 and should be ordered to storm Philadelphia, I am apt to think we 
 should make one bold push for it The whole campaign has been very 
 hard and fatiguing, but in general healthy. I have not missed one 
 tour of duty since I joined the army. 
 
 As to affairs here at the southward, I am at loss what to write. I 
 don't find anything as I expected. I believe the enemy's strength is 
 greater, and ours less, than you imagine. So far as I can judge by the 
 movements, both armies are a little afraid to engage under any disad- 
 vantage. There has been, I believe, some misconduct this way among 
 officers, and our army, in most, if not all actions, have retreated, though 
 in that of Germantown it is said they retreated from victory, and that 
 without Gen. Washington's order. I have often heard he has offered a 
 large sum to any that would inform him who gave the orders \ but 
 since we arrived, though we have not fought much, we have not run away 
 any. Though the enemy have threatened to drive us off, they have not 
 ventured to make any attack on us ; but when we have been about to 
 attack them, they incline to march to Philadelphia. The Battle of Ger- 
 mantown was before we came. I find since that time it has been very 
 sickly here among our officers ; more than a hundred have been con- 
 fined, and some of them broke, one of them a Major-General. The 
 most of the inhabitants here are Friends, or Quakers, who, you know, 
 never bear arms. I believe they are Tories, which is no small damage 
 to us ; but being Friends, or Tories, does not save them from being 
 plundered by the King's troops when they have an opportunity. I hope
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 the enemy's having some opportunity to plunder will have the same 
 effect here that it had last year in the Jerseys, and make the Tories 
 become good Whigs. 
 
 I hope, sir, if my family should stand in need of your assistance, you 
 will be ready to afford it. It has been out of my power to do anything 
 for them, even so much as to send home any money. The officers, in 
 general, in the regiment, have been obliged to do without or borrow. 
 The army is at present a poor place to get money. Everything is so 
 dear we are obliged to spend considerable for provision or live very 
 poorly. I have been obliged to give half a dollar for one pint of bread 
 and milk ; three or four shillings for a fowl ; two shillings for one 
 pound of pork. Spirits are three or four dollars a quart, but I seldom 
 use any. Sweetening, butter, or cheese, I have not had for near three 
 months. I expect soon to receive seven or eight months' pay, when I 
 hope to be able to send home some considerable to my wife. I hope 
 the time will come when I shall have the opportunity of seeing you and 
 my friends at Reading ; but when that will be God only knows. We 
 have some hard trials to meet yet. If I should tell you what is believed 
 here, that the enemy are more in numbers than we, perhaps you would 
 disbelieve me. The regiments not being full is very great damage to 
 the cause. Had they all been filled up I don't believe Howe would 
 have had any footing in America at this time. They are more deficient 
 this way than with you. Please to give my compliments to Mrs. Ban- 
 croft. If you could write to me it will be gladly received by 
 Your humble servant, 
 
 JAMES BANCROFT." 
 " To Mr. Joseph Bancroft, Reading." 
 
 From a " Return of the 4th Mass. Brigade, commanded by Col. 
 Michael Jackson, at West Point, May 27, 1780," found among the 
 papers of Capt. Bancroft, it appears that 504 men, rank and file, con- 
 stituted a regiment. This 4th Brigade was made up of three regiments : 
 the 2d Mass., Col. Bailey ; 8th Mass., Col. Jackson, to which Capt. 
 Bancroft belonged ; gth Mass., Col. Wesson. Two of the colonels are 
 reported absent on furlough. Of the 18 captains only 8 are reported 
 as present fit for duty ; 2 are on furlough ; 3 recruiting ; 2 on the 
 staff; 2 vacancies. The brigade, when the regiments were full, 
 should have had, rank and file, 1,512 men, but the return shows a 
 vacancy of 1,140 men, leaving only 378 men actually belonging to it. 
 Oi these only 162 are reported as "Present fit for duty"; 19 present 
 are sick ; i is sick at Boston, 3 at Fishkill, 2 at other places ; 99 are
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 709 
 
 "on command," 32 on furlough, 54 on extra service ; of this last-named 
 class 23 are assigned as artificers, 8 wagoners, i butcher, i baker, 3 
 foraging, 3 colliers, 2 with Gen. Gates and Heath (the latter in command 
 at West Point), 3 in the country tending horses, and one with Col. Kos- 
 ciusko. This officer superintended the construction of the military 
 works at West Point, and at other places. He was the brave and noble 
 Pole who, after his return to Europe, engaged in the Polish revolution 
 of 1794, and became generalissimo. It was of him, after his hopeless 
 defeat, that the poet Campbell wrote the familiar lines, 
 
 " Hope for a season bade the world farewell, 
 And Freedom shrieked as Kosciusko fell." 
 
 Capt. Bancroft seems to have been intimately acquainted with Gen. 
 Washington, who spoke of him as his " faithful Bancroft." He expected 
 promotion to higher official position, but it was so long deferred that 
 he finally resigned, and in 1780 left the army and returned home. He 
 was often employed by his fellow-citizens to manage their public inter- 
 ests, and for many years he was an influential member of the popular 
 branch of the State government. During the Shay Rebellion, his 
 sound judgment and long experience gave him an important influence 
 over public measures. 
 
 He drew a pension of twenty dollars per month during the last years 
 of his life, and it was subsequently increased to full pay, forty dollars 
 per month, and continued to his widow. 
 
 Capt. Bancroft, or as he was more generally known in later years, 
 " Squire " Bancroft, was held in great respect by all who kneV him. 
 When he left the army, the officers of his regiment accompanied him 
 to the line, expressing their regret at his resignation ; and we are told 
 by his grandson, Mr. Edmund Eaton, that he ever afterward spoke of 
 his own action in the matter with regretful feelings. 
 
 He was once met in the night, near Winter Hill, in Somerville, by a 
 man who demanded his money. As he was about to give it up, the 
 man recognized him, and refused to take it, saying he would not take 
 from him a single farthing. Mr. Bancroft related the incident, but kept 
 the name a secret. 
 
 He was an excellent marksman. While in the army, an eagle was 
 discovered upon a tree-top a half mile away. About twenty men fired 
 at it without frightening it from its perch. The captain brought it down 
 at the first shot. He preserved some of the quills for many years, 
 which persons now living remember to have seen. Like many another 
 good soldier he never directly admitted that he knew of killing any of
 
 7io 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 the enemy's men, though he remembered seeing men fall at whom he 
 fired, but he suggested that others might have fired at the same object 
 at the same moment. The gun he used till the time of the battle at 
 the taking of Burgoyne was a poor one. But at that time, finding a 
 good one lying on the battle-field, belonging probably to the British, he 
 took it for his own use, and threw away his old one. 
 
 For some time during the War of the Revolution, Mr. Thomas Sweet- 
 ser was engaged in carrying supplies to the army. When our troops 
 were stationed near Boston, the soldiers suffered for want of fuel. Mr. 
 Sweetser, with others, carried wood from this vicinity for their relief. 
 They went twice, at least, to the " North River " Hudson with sup- 
 plies for the army stationed in its vicinity. On one of these journeys 
 the loading was powder and liquors. Mr. Caleb Parker, a brother of 
 Col. Nathan, had a man to assist him. He found this man one night 
 busily but thoughtlessly employed with his lantern in close proximity 
 to the powder casks. The suddenness with which the two dangerous 
 elements were put at a safe distance apart, was a caution to the assistant 
 that did not need a repetition. Mr. Sweetser's team was two yokes of 
 oxen and a horse. On returning from one of these expeditions, the 
 river was found to be open for a short distance on its opposite shore, 
 and most of the company declined to cross. Mr. Sweetser being anx- 
 ious to return, went forward upon the ice, as far as he could, and then 
 made his team swim the open part, and safely reached the other bank. 
 He arrived home nearly a fortnight in advance of his party. The 
 whiffle-tree used by Mr. Sweetser on these occasions is still preserved 
 by his son, Thomas Sweetser, Esq. 
 
 Joseph Bancroft was commissioned 2d Lieut., May 6, 1776, and ist 
 Lieut. Aug. 20, 1777. He probably spent the winter of 1778 at Winter 
 Hill. A paper dated Feb. 21, 1778, signed by Col. Jacob Gerrish, per- 
 mits him " to be absent from the garrison five days and then return." 
 His papers and accounts show that he was subsequently engaged in 
 hiring and paying men for army service. Among his papers is found a 
 summary of statistics pertaining to Reading, taken in 1784 by the 
 assessors. The whole number of acres of land granted to, or surveyed 
 for, any person, is given by them as 13,290, " not including 150 acres of 
 land owned by the ministers of the town." The number of dwelling- 
 houses, 205 ; other buildings, 184 ; number of white inhabitants, 1,402 ; 
 blacks, 12. Another paper contains an Act of the Legislature passed 
 in 1779, requiring each town to furnish shirts, shoes, and stockings equal 
 to one seventh of the number of males in town above the age of 16 
 years. Reading is required to furnish 58 ; Cambridge, 56 ; Charles-
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 711 
 
 town, 35; Maiden, 33; Boston, 407; Salem, 166 ; Andoyer, 102; 
 Worcester, 62 j Hull, 5. 
 
 J. Brooks Leathe, Esq., whose labors have greatly aided in supplying 
 the historical facts and incidents relating to Reading, has the original 
 notice sent to this town, written the day after the Battle of Bunker Hill, 
 of which the following is a copy : 
 
 IN COM'TEE OF SAFETY, CAMB., June 18, 1775. 
 To the Selectmen of Reading : 
 
 Gent., You are desired to provide provision sufficient for the militia 
 of your town now here, and send it forward to Camb. as soon as may be. 
 
 Per order, 
 
 JONA. HASTINGS, Clerk. 
 
 I. 
 COPY OF A LETTER 
 
 WRITTEN BY COL. (AFTERWARDS GENERAL) BENJAMIN BROWN, OF READING, 
 WHILE HE WAS ABSENT IN THE ARMY, ADDRESSED TO HIS WIFE.* 
 
 "TlCONDEROGA, Aug. 31, 1776. 
 
 "My dear Spous, I received yours, dated Aug. 15, with no small 
 (satisfaction?) which was in ten days after the date, in which you 
 Express your Ernest desire that I may enjoy the light of God's coun- 
 tenance in a distant land. Truly, a distant land it is, but nevertheless, 
 there is such a din and noise and company that I am almost a stranger 
 to retirement. I can enjoy no other religious exercise then ejacula- 
 tory, excepting morning and evening Public Prayers, and on the Sab- 
 bath a sermon or two by Mr. Emerson of Concord and Mr. Hitchcock 
 of Beverly, very agreeable gentlemen. I am glad to hear you are 
 calm and resigned to your lonesome lot, and yet not alone, but enjoy 
 the Comforter ; may his presence attend you in this dark world, until 
 you arrive to eternal day. It gives me unspeakable satisfaction to hear 
 that peace and harmony is householder in my family ; and that the 
 morning and evening sacrifice is constantly ascending to heaven, by the 
 mouth of my well beloved son, in its stated seasons. May the best of 
 heaven's blessing rest on you and all my family and friends, til I return 
 or am gathered to my people in peace with God and my own con- 
 science. 
 
 You tell me you have purchased some Hemlock bark ; I am glad to 
 
 * It is copied verbatim et literatim.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 hear it, and hope that the tanning and currying may be done well and 
 seasonably, which will greatly contribute to the support of the family. 
 You may send word to Mr. Nathan Newhall that his son is well and 
 looks hearty. I told him his mother was concerned for him ; he 
 smiled and passed by me. I understand by you that the little General 
 (referring probably to an infant son, then about ten months old, who 
 was named for Gen. Joseph Warren) is your bedfellow ; I hope you 
 will norish him and make a fine fellow of him, til I return and take 
 part of your soft bed, with him and you ; for the softest bed I have is 
 boards, and sometimes hemlock boughs. Through divine goodness, 1 
 am now in good health, but want many things, which I used to enjoy, 
 viz. : Cider, and sauce and butter, if you please ; I have had but one 
 drink of Cider since I came to this place. I think I am tolerably re- 
 spected, have dined with Gen. Gates several times, and have been 
 swore at by him, as many ; but no bones broken at present. I have 
 often to go on fatigue, commanding three or four hundred men, who are 
 fortyfying the place ; but we have been retarded from the work, from 
 Monday last to Thursday afternoon, on account of rainy weather. We 
 have seen nothing of the enemy, nor hear their sittuation, since I have 
 been in this place, so as to be depended upon. Gen. Gates tells me he 
 expects a -warm attack from Burgoyne ; that soon. I hope we shall 
 be ready to give them a warm reception. I see no fear or intimidation 
 in the camp. I understand we are going to be joined by Col. Phinis 
 and Whitcom's regiments from Boston. A number of our friends are 
 taken with the Small Pox, and a number of others have colds and fever 
 and ague. As to the Geography of this place, where I now am en- 
 campt it is surrounded by water, except the Norwest part ; and there is 
 redoubts and brest works to defend that part, it being the place where 
 
 many of the bones of our lay above ground to this day, that were 
 
 slain in the year 176(9). 
 
 I have left my tent at present and live in the fort with Mr. John 
 (Winzer) Paymaster, who treats me very corteous. My sincere duty to 
 my honored mother, and love to all my children, kind respects to my 
 Brothers and Sisters and all friends ; in particular, Mr. Prentice, Doct. 
 Swain, and that brother Bachellor, brother Emerson, Peter Emerson, 
 John Pratt, Mr. (Bachellor), Wm. Gould, Samuel Poole, Capt. Good- 
 win, Thomas Damon and their Spouses ; and let them know that a line 
 from either of them would be very acceptable. 
 
 James (probably James Wiley, his wife's son by a former husband) 
 has been very poor (ly?) for sum days, but is on the mending hand. 
 By what I can learn from those that have the Small Pox, they are
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 mostly like to recover. Those from Reading that have it is Ephraim 
 Pratt, Kemble (Kendall?) Emerson, and poor old (Clafter?). We are 
 in great danger of it ; but no enoculation is allowed of. When we find 
 any break out, we send them off immediately to fort George, which is 
 30 miles distant. Give my kind respects to Mr. Nutting and his Spous, 
 and tell them that (J. ) is well ; and also tell Mr. Carter that his son 
 Benja. is neighbor to me and is in good health and wants to come 
 home. My dear Spous, I often think on you with pleasure and de- 
 light, and flatter myself I shall once more imbrace you in my affection- 
 ate arms, in some cold night next winter, when I shall be willing to 
 relate to you the hardships I have endured in this campaign, which will 
 sweeten our innocent imbraces and heighten our matrimonial delights, 
 at which happy circumstance, let our brests not only glow with gladness, 
 but with treu thankfulness to our kind and beneficent Preserver, but if 
 otherwise, be content with the will of heaven, rather than I should flee 
 my colors, and fall into the lowest contempt'; especially when I am 
 engaged in so noble and good a cause. I write no more at this time, 
 but take the liberty to subscribe myself your effectionate husband till 
 
 Death, 
 
 "BENJA. BROWN. 
 
 " N. B. This is the fourth letter I have sent to you, and when you 
 
 write to me again, be so obliging as to put your name to it. 
 
 'B. B." 
 
 J. 
 
 Capt. James Bancroft, of the third parish in Reading, had the repu- 
 tation of being a prompt, brave, and able officer while in the army. He 
 commanded a company in the regiment commanded by Col. John Brooks. 
 When Col. Brooks was elected Governor, on the day of Inauguration, 
 in 18 1 6,. Capt. Bancroft, then 77 years old, went down to witness the 
 ceremony ; and on his way through Medford, passing the house of the 
 Governor elect, the Governor, while at breakfast, saw him passing with 
 his cocked hat and long cane, and sent out and invited him in to take 
 a cup of coffee. The Governor then said to him, " There is no man liv- 
 ing I am more glad to see on this occasion than yourself." To whom 
 the Capt. replied : " There is no one, Col. Brooks, who rejoices in it more 
 than I do. I breakfasted in Reading, and came down on purpose to wit- 
 ness the ceremonies of the occasion. The choice of Governor which the 
 people have made delights my heart. If you make as good Governor 
 90
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 as you did Colonel of a Regiment, I shall be satisfied." Tears flowed 
 down the cheeks of both of them as they clasped each other's hands. 
 
 Gov. Brooks explained afterwards why the meeting was so affecting : 
 said he, " On the day of the last battle with Gen. Burgoyne (Oct. 7) I 
 was dining with Generals Gates and Arnold. . Firing commenced. I 
 went in, commanding the 8th or Jackson Regiment. After the dis- 
 charge of the enemy's volley, a company on the left flank went suddenly 
 down. I thought the volley had shot them all down, and I rode to the 
 extreme left in great haste, to ascertain what was the matter. I was 
 greatly agitated, and there met Capt. Bancroft, who commanded the 
 left wing. He also had quit his place to see what disaster had occurred. 
 At this moment the company all rose up and we were relieved from 
 our apprehensions. I was yet however greatly agitated, and speaking 
 sharply to Capt. Bancroft, said, ' What business have you here, Sir ? ' 
 The Captain said, ' I came out to see what had happened to the com- 
 pany on the left.' I then said, 'You are out of your place, Sir.' 
 With the submissive spirit of the good soldier, the Captain replied, ' I 
 am ready to obey your orders, Colonel.' With great perturbation, I 
 responded, ' My orders are that you advance and enter those lines, 
 Sir.' The Captain smarting under the reproof, quickly gave the word, 
 ' Come on, my boys, and enter that fort ! ' (Breyman's Fort.) Then 
 leading the way himself, he made a rapid movement forward, and the 
 whole company ascended the parapet. Surprised at the suddenness 
 of the assault, the enemy retired from the fort, and the whole regiment 
 entered it." 
 
 Capt. Bancroft's wife (who was Sarah Pierson) was a lady of intelli- 
 gence, education, and piety. 
 
 The following extract from a letter written by her to her husband 
 while he was in the army may be interesting, to her descendants at 
 least: 
 
 " My Dear, we received yours, in which you mention the capture of 
 Lt. Gen. Burgoyne. We congratulate you, Sir, upon the large success, 
 in which your Regiment was distinguished for their valor and conduct. 
 
 Dr. Hay desires especially to present his compliments of congratula- 
 tion upon the great success attending the American arms, under Gen. 
 Gates, in which you had an active part. 
 
 The children all present their duty and express their joy to learn 
 that you endure the fatigues of war with so much spirit and so little 
 prejudice to your health. As you take a particular concern for your 
 domestic affairs, we have the satisfaction to acquaint you that the crop 
 of corn turned out remarkably well. We have cider enough for our
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 715 
 
 family, and our work goes on well. Gen. Burgoyne's officers are quar- 
 tered principally in Cambridge, the men on Prospect Hill, the Ger- 
 man troops upon Winter Hill. All your friends desire their respects 
 may be given you, and that you would embrace every opportunity to 
 acquaint us with the situation of the army. 
 
 No more at present to add, but an earnest desire that you may pros- 
 per in arms as long as your country shall require. 
 
 Honor ever be the concomitant of your actions ; and in due time 
 you be returned to your loving family in health and laden with divine 
 mercy. 
 
 I remain your loving wife, 
 
 SARAH BANCROFT." 
 READING, Dec. 18, 1777. 
 
 K. 
 
 NAMES OF SOME OF THE PERSONS BELONGING TO BOSTON AND 
 
 CHARLESTOWN, WHO WERE RELIEVED AND ASSISTED 
 
 AT READING BY THE TOWN, IN 1775. 
 
 These people were called " Donation People." 
 
 Margaret Bodge, aged 35, of Charlestown. 
 
 Samuel Bodge, " 6, " 
 
 Henry Bodge, " 4, " 
 
 David Bodge, " 2, " " 
 
 Vietta Blair, " 
 
 Jonathan Carey, " 76, " " 
 
 Sarah Carey, his wife, aged 76, of Charlestown. 
 
 John Carey, 
 
 Mrs. Coverly, " 
 
 Sarah Capen, aged 63, 
 
 John Doak, of Boston. 
 
 Hannah Doak, his wife, of Boston. 
 
 Two Doak children, " " 
 
 Sarah Edes, aged 45, of Charlestown. 
 
 Grace Edes, " 16, " " 
 
 Jonathan Edes, " 14, " " 
 
 Hulda Edes, " 8, 
 
 Abigail Edes, " 7, " 
 
 David Edmands, " " 
 
 Mary Fosdick, " "
 
 7i6 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Mary Fillebrown, of Boston. 
 
 Elizabeth Hiler, 
 
 Thomas Jarvis, " Charlestown. 
 
 Mary Kella, aged 58, " " 
 
 Ebenezer Leman (a cripple), aged 44, of Charlestown. 
 
 Elizabeth Leman (his wife), " 36, " " 
 
 Four Leman children (8, 6, 4, 2), " 
 
 Abiah Larkin, aged 22, " 
 
 Ann Larkin, " 3, " 
 
 Thomas Larkin, " i, " 
 
 Elizabeth Orr, " 37, " 
 
 Jane Orr, " 16, " 
 
 Elizabeth Orr, " n, " " 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Osborn, " " 
 
 Jane Page, " " 
 
 Mrs. Pool, wife of Benja., " Boston. 
 
 Stephen Pierce, " 71, " Charlestown. 
 
 His daughter, " 45, " " 
 
 Ann Rand, " 53, " 
 
 Thomas Sargent, 
 
 Ann Shepard, " 33, " 
 
 Thos. Shepard, " 9, " 
 
 Anna Shepard, " 5, " 
 
 Asa Shepard, " 3, " 
 
 Elias Stone (Paralytic), " 67, " 
 
 Wm. Stone, " 12, " " 
 
 Bethiah Stone, " 8, " " 
 
 Samuel Stone, " 6, " " 
 
 Anna Symmes (blind and deaf), " 64, " " 
 
 Mrs. Tree, " 
 
 Mrs. Way, " " 
 
 Sarah Widdefield, " 39, " 
 
 Children of do. ; Sarah, aged 10 ; John, 9 ; Hugh, 7. 
 
 COPY OF LETTER FROM DR. SAMUEL HART. 
 
 " My father, Dr. John Hart, was born in Ipswich, Mass. Octr. 23rd, 
 1851. His father, John Hart, was a lawyer; and our paternal ances- 
 try, as nearly as I can trace it, emigrated to this country and settled in
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 717 
 
 Ipswich as early as 1636. His mother I believe was also a native of 
 Ipswich ; her maiden name was Mary Knowlton. 
 
 "Of my father's boyhood, I know but little. Educational advantages, 
 in that period of our Country's history, were far less generally extended 
 than now. But we record it to the honor of the early settlers of New 
 England, that having established themselves upon the soil, and having 
 escaped from the persecutions and narrow bigotries of the Old World, 
 they consecrated their adopted country to Religion, Education, and 
 Human Liberty. Harvard University was established in 1636, sixteen 
 years only after the Landing on Plymouth Rock. Dear New England, 
 how I love and honor you ! even your stony hills I esteem and vener- 
 ate. And my native town, the place of my family sepulchres, and its 
 inhabitants, I love and regard more than any other locality on earth. 
 
 " My father must have Enjoyed a good share of educational opportu- 
 nities, and acquired some knowledge of languages, particularly Latin, 
 which is indispensable to entering upon the study of a scientific pro- 
 fession. At the age of fourteen, he entered the office of Dr. John 
 Califf, an eminent physician, who had enjoyed all the advantages of 
 medical education in England, came to this country, and settled in 
 Ipswich. This gave him rare advantages, for in those days, Medical 
 Colleges and Schools had no existence in the Colonies. At the age of 
 nineteen, Dr. C. pronounced him qualified to enter upon the arduous 
 duties and formidable responsibilities of practical life. His extreme 
 youth led him to conclude that no one who knew him would intrust 
 themselves to his care ; and he went to Maine, then a District of Mass., 
 and settled in Georgetown, now Bath. Possessed of an active mind, 
 indomitable energy, and untiring, persevering zeal, he there received, 
 boy-physician as he was, a respectable share of patronage and success. 
 
 " When it became evident that the misunderstanding between the 
 Colonies and the home government could only be decided by an appeal 
 to the sword, my father returned to Mass., received a commission of 
 Surgeon in the Army, and joined Col. Prescott's regiment in Cam- 
 bridge. This Col. Prescott was a m?n distinguished for bravery, courage, 
 and military skill. I have heard my father speak of his activity and 
 influence in the battle of Bunker Hill over the minds of the Soldiers ; 
 he wore a long frock coat, and seemed, with his sword flying, to be in 
 every part of the line almost at the same instant, imparting to them 
 his own fearless activity and courage. After the enemy obtained pos- 
 session of the Hill, the inquiry was made, who that d d Ban Yan fel- 
 low was, alluding to Prescott, saying that his activity had cost them a
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 great deal of British blood. He was grandfather of the late historian 
 Prescott, who has contributed so largely to elevate the character of 
 the historians of our country abroad. 
 
 " After the evacuation of Boston by the British troops in 1776, he 
 accompanied Col. Prescott's Regiment to New York, and was sta- 
 tioned on Staten Island, until the enemy took possession of Long 
 Island, and was then driven to the Highlands. Many mementos of 
 the fierce struggle for the possession of Long Island now exist in 
 Brooklyn, the city of my adoption. Tradition points out the house 
 which Gen. Washington occupied while our army was stationed in 
 Brooklyn : it is a small building of brick and stone, dilapidated and 
 unoccupied, standing on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Third Street, 
 and was erected in 1696. This is now being removed to give place to 
 a modern block of buildings. * 
 
 " At this time Col. Prescott's Regiment was disbanded ; and my 
 father was appointed Surgeon of the 2d Mass. Regiment, and continued 
 this connection with it to the close of the war in 1783. This regiment 
 was commanded by Col. John Bailey. 
 
 "During the whole war my father was in active service. I heard 
 him say that he accompanied his regirtient in every battle, attended by 
 his Assistant Surgeon, provided with instruments, bandages, and every 
 appliance necessary for smaller operations, and for the dressing of such 
 wounds as could properly be done on the field. I am now happily in 
 possession of two cases of instruments he thus appropriated, and prize 
 them highly as revolutionary relics. 
 
 " I am unable to furnish the date or the locality of some of the inci- 
 dents and events of interest I have heard him relate, and in which he 
 participated ; some of which I have never seen recorded in history. 
 The ruse by which Gen. Arnold (afterwards the Arch Traitor) suc- 
 ceeded in raising the siege of Fort Schuyler, often called Fort Stan- 
 wix, I have heard him relate more particularly than any account I have 
 seen of it, except as related by Col. Stone in his Life of Brant. This 
 Brant was a Mohawk Indian and chief Sachem of the Six Nations ; was 
 educated at Dartmouth College, and was the master-spirit of the Indian 
 expeditions into the Valley of the Mohawk and other points during the 
 revolutionary struggle. Col. Willett, accompanied by Major Stockwell, 
 in the night of the loth of August, 1777, escaped from the fort, success- 
 fully eluded the besieging forces of British and Indians, and gave notice 
 of the straitened condition of the Garrison. Gen. Schuyler ordered 
 Gens. Arnold and Larned with the Massachusetts Brigade, which were 
 joined by some New York troops, to advance to the relief of the fort.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Gen. Herkimer had previously, with the militia under his command, 
 marched to its relief, had fallen into an ambush, his army severely 
 handled, himself wounded, and subsequently died of his wounds. 
 Gen. Arnold commanded the expedition ; fearing his force insufficient 
 to raise the siege, he adopted the following stratagem. At Fort Dayton, 
 Arnold found a strange being, Hon Yost Schuyler, who seemed little 
 above an idiot, yet somewhat shrewd, under* sentence of death for 
 treason. His. mother and brother begged the Gen. to spare his life. 
 This he consented to do, on condition that he would perform a certain 
 act, which he required of him ; and in case of failure his brother 
 should be executed in his stead. This was agreed to, and his brother 
 put in prison. Hon Yost, having had several balls shot through his 
 clothes, was dispatched to the camp of St. Leger, and fulfilled his part 
 of the contract faithfully. He was to state to that officer, that Gen. 
 Arnold was at Fort Dayton, with two thousand troops and several 
 pieces of Cannon, and was to commence his march at daylight the 
 next morning, to attack the besieging army. In proof of this, he stated 
 that he was on his way to the gallows to be hanged as a traitor ; but 
 not being closely guarded, he thought he might as well be shot as 
 hanged ; that he ran, was fired upon, and showed the holes in his 
 clothes as evidence of its truth. At the same time, an Oneida Indian 
 entered the Indian camp, giving mysterious hints of an immense army 
 advancing upon them. This had the intended effect. Arnold, upon 
 the supposition that it would put the besieging army to the rout, com- 
 menced his march ; and when he reached the fort, found the enemy 
 had fled, leaving behind their tents, a great part of their artillery, camp 
 equipage, and baggage. This was achieved by Benedict Arnold, after- 
 wards the prince of traitors. My father always entertained the opin- 
 ion, that this success essentially aided in the capture of Burgoyne's 
 army at Saratoga the following October. He also related that when 
 Washington fully ascertained the treason and escape of Arnold, he 
 said at the table, addressed to all present, that he always felt averse to 
 appointing to an important position any one who was dissipated, un- 
 principled, or reckless ; that he knew Arnold to be such, a spendthrift 
 and a high liver, but that the ability, activity, success, and seeming 
 patriotism he had displayed in the war had been such as to secure him 
 from any such terrible, deliberate conduct ; and that in future no such 
 character would receive any appointment from him. My father men- 
 tioned a stunning rebuke Arnold afterwards received from a soldier, 
 who accompanied a flag to the British Commander in New York. 
 Arnold was present, and, supposing himself unknown to the soldier,
 
 720 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 inquired of him what was said of Gen. Arnold in the American camp. 
 The soldier recognized him, and replied, ' Sir, they say in the American 
 camp that, could they get Gen. Arnold, they would hang him till he 
 was rotten ; but the leg which was wounded in their service, they would 
 bury with all the honors of war. ' The sacrifice of poor Andre was the result 
 of Arnold's treason. Gen. Washington appointed forty-one Officers to 
 attend his execution ; my father was one of them. I have heard him 
 say, it was the most awful scene he ever witnessed. Major Andre" de- 
 sired to be shot. When the procession reached the gallows, and the 
 truth flashed upon him, he said to the officer who had him in charge, 
 ' You ought to have told me of this before.' After the rope was adjusted, 
 he was asked if he wished to say anything ; he raised the cap, looked upon 
 all with a pleasant smile, and said, ' Nothing more than this, gentlemen : 
 in a few moments I shall know more than you all.' All present were 
 affected to tears. He was a noble and accomplished young officer ; but 
 this sacrifice of him was regarded as indispensable to the salvation of 
 the American cause. I believe, my father participated in almost every 
 important battle during the war ; and interesting incidents of many of 
 them I have heard him relate. But they are the record of history with 
 which your readers are familiar, and in this sketch I have designed to 
 state only those which are not so generally known. He frequently 
 remarked, that after the Battle of Monmouth, N. J., June 28, 1778, he 
 suffered discomforts from high temperature that he never experienced 
 before ; that the heat that day was intense ; and that he saw many 
 British soldiers lying dead at brooks and creeks from the severity of the 
 heat and from unwisely satisfying intense thirst. 
 
 " On one occasion, Gen. Washington appointed my father to go to 
 Boston, and bring to him three thousand dollars in Gold, which was 
 deposited there for his special use. The journey was hazardous, and 
 must necessarily be performed on horseback. He packed it in a valise, 
 at every stopping-place took it into the house with him, every night 
 put it under his pillow, piled chairs, &c., against the doors and windows 
 of the room, cocked his pistols, laid them in a chair at the head of his 
 bed, and his drawn sword beside them ; slept soundly till morning ; 
 and returned to the camp with it in safety. At what period of the war, or 
 where the army was at this s time encamped, I do not recollect to have 
 heard him say. He enjoyed some intimacy with the Commander in 
 Chief, and I have seen notes inviting him to Washington's table. In- 
 deed, it was his habit to invite all the officers of the Army in turn to 
 his table. 
 
 " At the close of the war in' 1783, my father was appointed to a regi-
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 721 
 
 ment under the command of Col. Henry Jackson, and was not dis- 
 charged till July, 1784. Our family are in possession of many letters 
 he wrote to my mother, dated at West Point, during this period, from 
 which it seems he was the principal surgeon there, and which we highly 
 prize. 
 
 " My Grandmother, a lady highly intellectual and social, and with 
 whom my earliest recollections are associated, was very proud of her 
 son ; and in my childhood often told me of his personal, manly beauty 
 and gracefulness. She said, that when he first came to Ipswich, after 
 he entered the army, he went to meeting and wore his military dress, 
 (that an officer's uniform was then much more showy than when she re- 
 lated it), and that this and his handsome person, it was said, captivated 
 a great many young ladies' hearts. If this be so, it only proves that 
 young ladies in those days, as truly as since, were attracted by a sword 
 knot, a sash, and a feather. She died suddenly at my father's residence, 
 in July, 1812, in the ninetieth year of her age. 
 
 " My father married Miss Mary Gould, only child and .daughter of 
 Capt. Abraham Gould, of Stoneham. I can find no record of its date, 
 but presume it took place in the year 1777. She was born May i, 
 1753. Her father commanded a company in a body of troops raised 
 for a limited period in the Revolutionary War, and at the close of this 
 period retired from the army. When a boy, I often played with a cannon 
 ball which was fired at him during his service in the army ; he was riding 
 alone at a distance from a British encampment, and being discovered 
 by his uniform to be an American officer, this ball was aimed at him, it 
 passed him, and fell in the road ; onr caching it he dismounted and put 
 in his pocket. This ball, I regret to say, is now lost. 
 
 " This union was a long and happy one, extending to nearly or quite 
 sixty years. They survived six of their nine children. My mother, of 
 precious, blessed memory, was a kind, gentle, affectionate parent ; she 
 faithfully trained us all up in the way we should go, daily led us all to 
 the throne of grace, and we all have risen up and called her blessed. 
 To others, she was kind and benevolent, and truly sought the good of 
 all ; always diffident and retiring, a true follower of Him who went about 
 doing good. She died Novem" 15, 1838. 
 
 "After my father was relieved from the a'rmy in July, 1784, he settled 
 in Reading, now South Reading, purchased his residence near the north 
 end, and in front of Smith's Pond ; but which in these refined days is 
 called, perhaps, by the more classic name, Crystal Lake. Well, be it 
 so ; locomotive momentum is the watchword of our day. Here he 
 resided some fifty years, until his death, May 27, 1836. Those lofty
 
 722 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 elms, one of which now stands, spreading its long branches over the 
 spot where his dwelling once stood, were planted and reared by his 
 own hands. 
 
 " He was the firm friend and liberal supporter of religious, educational, 
 and benevolent institutions, and contributed freely to sustain them. 
 He conscientiously embraced the faith of the Puritans, but was not 
 sectarian in his opinions. 
 
 "He was warmly attached to the principles of the Revolution, and 
 regarded the Society of the Cincinnati -well suited to keep alive and 
 perpetuate those principles. I believe he was never absent from one of 
 its meetings, and filled some office in the Society from my earliest recol- 
 lection, and until his death. As his only surviving son, I became his 
 successor, and can well appreciate the reasons of his great attachment 
 and interest in it. With this attachment and interest I perfectly har- 
 monize. 
 
 "The active part he took in the revolutionary struggle gave him 
 strong political opinions ; these were purely republican, and this interest 
 in public affairs continued through life. He was elected eight times to 
 the House of Representatives, and five times to the Senate of Massa- 
 chusetts. He was a justice of the peace and of the quorum, and also 
 of the Court of Sessions. 
 
 " I feel a delicacy in speaking of my father's professional life, but can- 
 not well avoid such an allusion. He must have been a practising phy- 
 sician some sixty-five years, and few medical men have lived, who have 
 performed so large an amount of business as he has done. He was a 
 close observer of disease, and the effects of remedial agents ; and pred- 
 icated his treatment mainly upon his own observation and experience, 
 though a constant reader of Medical Literature. My own experience 
 corroborates their accuracy, and even at this period of my professional 
 life, I, or rather my patients, derive essential benefit from them. He 
 thought highly of medical associations, as adapted, by an interchange 
 of experiences and observations among the members, to enlarge the 
 sphere of knowledge, and increase their practical usefulness. He was 
 a member of the Middlesex Association, which was organized in 1790, 
 and a Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which lie was 
 many years a Councillor. He regarded the Medical a Scientific pro- 
 fession, as it truly is, and sternly frowned upon every thing dishonor- 
 able or empirical. 
 
 " In this sketch I have said nothing of myself, or of my three broth- 
 ers and five sisters ; you know their history, and for the most part my 
 own. My life has been an active one; it has ver been my aim to
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 723 
 
 make my life practical and useful, and have received an ample share of 
 professional patronage. I have never aspired to professional honors 
 and distinctions, but have received a larger share of them than my 
 humble merits deserved. I am a member of the American Medical 
 Association, the Massachusetts and New York State Medical Socie- 
 ties, of three other Medical Societies, and two other Medical Associa- 
 tions ; have been honored with the Presidency of the Medical Societies 
 of the Counties of Oswego and Kings, and a Curator of the 'Medical 
 Department of the University of Buffalo. 
 
 " The great interests of the nation, the extending and elevating our 
 educational institutions, have largely engaged my attention, with my 
 best efforts for their welfare. My father's political opinions I have 
 fully embraced, but political preferment has formed no part of my 
 desires. Religion, inspiring and animating the pure motives of con- 
 duct and affection, and elevating and sustaining above all earth's sor- 
 rows, I have endeavored should incite and influence every act of rny 
 life, that I may honor Him who died for me, and fulfil the lot He has 
 appointed me," 
 
 M. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE TOWN OF 
 WAKEFIELD, JULY 4, 1868. 
 
 PRELIMINARY ACTION OF THE TOWN. 
 
 At a meeting of the qualified voters of the town of South Reading, 
 in due form convened on the twentieth day of January, 1868, the fol- 
 lowing report was submitted : 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 To the Town of South Reading: 
 
 The Committee who were appointed to consider the matter of erect- 
 ing a Soldiers' Monument or Memorial Hall, herewith submit a final 
 report, as follows : 
 
 It will be remembered that the Committee have already, at a former 
 meeting of the town, submitted a partial report, and obtained leave 
 longer to consider the subject ; that in said partial report the Commit- 
 tee represented that a majority of their number was in favor of a Me- 
 morial Hall, first, as being cheaper, if, in the erection of a new Town
 
 724 APPENDIX. 
 
 House, provision should be made for such a hall therein ; and second, 
 as being more useful, sentimental, and historic than a simple granite 
 or marble monument ; that said Committee also represented that inti- 
 mations had been given that liberal donations towards the expense of 
 erecting a new Town House, sufficiently spacious to furnish, in addi- 
 tion to other conveniences, a room for a Memorial Hall, might be ex- 
 pected ; and further, that your Committee asked of the town more time 
 to consider the matter, in order that such intimations might take shape 
 and become definite realities. 
 
 The Committee have the pleasure to report that the expectations 
 based upon the intimations aforesaid have been abundantly realized. 
 The Committee are now in the possession of the assurance, ample and 
 satisfactory : First, that a lot of land and a cash contribution of $30,000 
 to $35,000 (as may be needed) for a new Town House (and such fur- 
 ther sum of money as may be necessary in order to build a house satis- 
 factory to the town), the same being the gift of CYRUS WAKEFIELD, 
 Esq. ; and, secondly, that $1,000 for furnishing and adorning the rooms 
 in said proposed Town House, the gift of SOLON O. RICHARDSON, 
 Esq., now await the town's acceptance. 
 
 Your Committee would therefore recommend the acceptance by the 
 town of the aforesaid offers, and that in accepting them, the town 
 tender their hearty thanks and lively congratulations to Cyrus Wake- 
 field, Esq., for his princely proposal, and to Solon O. Richardson, Esq., 
 for his munificent offer, and proffer to both these gentlemen the assur- 
 ance that the town most highly appreciates these splendid gifts, and 
 will hold the donors of them in honorable and perpetual remembrance. 
 
 The Committee would also unanimously recommend the passage of 
 the following votes : 
 
 First, That instead of building a granite or marble monument to the 
 memory of those gallant soldiers from South Reading who gave their 
 lives for their country, whenever a new Town House shall be built, 
 provision shall be made for a suitable room therein that shall be set 
 apart for a " Soldiers' Memorial Hall," and which shall be furnished 
 and adorned, and supplied with portraits, relics, and other memorials 
 of the lives and services of the living, and especially of the departed 
 brave. 
 
 Second, That a Building Committee of seven persons be now ap- 
 pointed (to serve gratuitously), who shall have authority to erect in 
 behalf of the town, during the present year, upon such part of the 
 " Noah Smith House Lot," on Main Street, in South Reading, as said 
 Committee shall agree upon, a new Town House of sufficient capacity
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 725 
 
 to furnish a suitable Hall for Town Meetings and Public Lectures, a 
 Soldiers' Memorial Hall, rooms for the Town Library, Town Officers' 
 rooms, and rooms for Military and other Municipal purposes, to cost, 
 in addition to the land for a site, not less than $30,000 ; the size, plan, 
 materials, and all the details and surroundings to be left to the discre- 
 tion of said Committee, provided that a deed conveying to said town a 
 site of suitable size, and located on said " Smith Lot," shall be se- 
 cured ; and provided also, that a sum not less than $30,000 shall be 
 gratuitously furnished. 
 
 Third, That the Building Committee aforesaid shall be also author- 
 ized to appropriate and expend, at their discretion, in furnishing and 
 adorning the rooms in said Town House, such sums of money as are 
 or shall be given for such specific purpose. 
 
 All which is respectfully submitted by order, and in behalf of, the 
 Committee. 
 
 LILLEY EATON, Chairman. 
 SOUTH READING, January 20, 1868. 
 
 At the same meeting, Daniel Allen, from Committee on Change of 
 Town's Name, submitted the following 
 
 REPORT: 
 
 The Committee, chosen by the town to take into consideration the 
 subject of changing the name of the town, and also to designate a new 
 name for adoption, would respectfully report : 
 
 In consequence of the action of the town, at their meeting in No- 
 vember last, upon this subject, then voting, unanimously, to change 
 the name, the Committee do not deem it necessary to go into any 
 argument, or to present facts upon that subject ; still, we are happy to 
 state, that in all our investigations, and in all our consultations with 
 our fellow-citizens, and in all that has come to the knowledge of the 
 Committee, all are in confirmation of the action of the town upon the 
 subject. 
 
 One of the most prominent objections to our present position is, that, 
 outside of our immediate vicinity, we have no personal identity as an 
 independent and separate town, which leads to constant inconvenience. 
 
 The First, or South Parish, of Reading, was incorporated as the 
 Town of South Reading, in 1812, containing then a population of eight 
 hundred, and a valuation of $100,000. 
 
 From 1850 to 1855, the town of Old Reading lost in population
 
 726 APPENDIX. 
 
 I 7i J o 5 T> P er cent, while in the same period, South Reading gained 2 7 ^ 
 per cent. 
 
 In 1860 Old Reading contained 2,662 inhabitants, and South Read- 
 ing, 3,207. 
 
 It is also worthy of remark, that in the settlement of the town of 
 what is now Reading, North Reading, and South Reading, the first 
 settlements were in South Reading, near our present Common. 
 
 The Committee, therefore, are of the opinion that we are old enough 
 and large enough to be independent, and to have an identity as an 
 active and independent town. 
 
 It only remains for the Committee to suggest a name for the consid- 
 eration of the town. 
 
 Under ordinary circumstances the proposition to change the name 
 of the town might be met with a variety of opinions ; but under the 
 circumstances of to-day, and in view of the Report of the Committee 
 just presented, and the general expressions made to the Committee, 
 we take great pleasure in recommending that the name of the Town of 
 South Reading be changed to WAKEFIELD. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 DANIEL ALLEN, 
 S. O. RICHARDSON, 
 J. D. MANSFIELD, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 Both these reports were, with great unanimity and enthusiasm, ac- 
 cepted and adopted ; and Cyrus VVakefield, S. O. Richardson, P. H. 
 Sweetser, Lilley Eaton, Darnel Allen, 'J. D. Mansfield, and Thomas 
 Emerson, Jr., were chosen a Building Committee, with authority to 
 superintend the erection and furnishing of the proposed new Town 
 House. 
 
 In accordance with a vote of the town, the Selectmen prepared and 
 presented to the Legislature, then in session, a petition requesting 
 the passage of an Act in conformity with the above expression of the 
 town. 
 
 Said petition received prompt attention, and no person appearing 
 in opposition thereto, the following act was approved by the Governor, 
 Feb. 25, 1868: 
 
 Be it enacted, etc. 
 
 SECTION i. The Town of South Reading, in the County of Middle- 
 sex, shall take the name of Wakefield.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 727 
 
 SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect from and after the thirtieth 
 day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. 
 
 Subsequently, it was decided to make the occasion of the assump- 
 tion of the new title a day of general festivity and enjoyment, and to 
 mark its advent with appropriate public ceremonies. 
 
 The town having selected the anniversary of American Independ- 
 ence as the day for the proposed celebration, and having voted, also, a 
 generous appropriation to defray its expenses, intrusted the arrangement 
 and superintendence of the exercises of the occasion to the following 
 
 Committee. 
 
 CYRUS WAKEFIELU, S. O. RICHARDSON, 
 
 DANIEL ALLEN, LILLE Y EATON, 
 
 P. H. SWEETSER, J. D. MANSFIELD, 
 
 JAMES F. EMERSON, LUCIUS BEEBE, 
 
 JOHN S. EATON, JAMES OLIVER, 
 
 P. C. WHEELER, J. F. MANSFIELD, 
 
 N. S. DEARBORN, JOHN WINSHIP, 
 
 WM. H. ATVVELL, THOMAS WINSHIP, 
 
 EDWARD MANSFIELD, WALDO E. COWDREY, 
 
 J. C. HARTSHORN, CHESTER W. EATON, 
 
 JOHN F. HARTSHORN, JOHN G. ABORN, 
 
 E. H. WALTON, T. J. SKINNER, 
 
 M. P. WHEELER, J. WHITTEMORE, 
 
 T. A. EMERSON, JOHN WILEY, 20, 
 RICHARD BRITTON. 
 
 This Committee labored with diligence and faithfulness in the 
 arrangement of the various details, and very successfully, also, as the 
 smoothness with which the programme was executed abundantly testi- 
 fied. Especial credit is due to DANIEL ALLEN, Chairman ; EDWARD 
 MANSFIELD, Treasurer ; T. J. SKINNER, Secretary ; and to CYRUS 
 WAKEFIELD and SOLON O. RICHARDSON, for their liberality and labors 
 in aid of the celebration. 
 
 THE DAY 
 
 Opened brilliantly, to the music of pealing bells, and through all its 
 shining hours from a cloudless sky was poured a perfect blaze of sun- 
 light, rendering the shadows of the graceful elms peculiarly grateful 
 and refreshing. 
 
 A national salute, at sunrise and at sunset, awoke the hillside 
 echoes, and helped to swell the mighty anthem of rejoicing which, on 
 that day, rose heavenward from a free and peaceful republic.
 
 728 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The town of Wakefield, always beautiful, on this day presented 
 unusual attractions, the brilliant hues of fluttering flags and decorated 
 arches mingling charmingly with its emerald lawns and leafy avenues, 
 which throughout the day were filled with a happy and perspiring com- 
 pany. 
 
 The Committee secured the services of Col. William Beals, of Bos- 
 ton, who furnished the various arches, mottoes, and flags, for decorating 
 the streets and public buildings ; while many of the citizens placed 
 upon their dwellings beautiful and appropriate embellishments, and 
 extended to their thronging visitors a welcome, warm, cordial, and 
 refreshing. 
 
 At eight o'clock, the regular exercises of the day commenced with a 
 morning concert, on the Common, by the Boston Brigade Band, which 
 performed a selection of popular airs. 
 
 The concert assembled a large collection of people, and the beauti- 
 ful music of the band was heartily applauded. 
 
 At nine o'clock a procession was formed under the marshalship of 
 Major John Wiley, zd, and moved in the following order : 
 
 Detachment of Police. 
 Aid. Chief Marshal. Aid 
 
 Brown's Brigade Band. 
 
 Richardson Light Guard, Capt J. F. Emerson. 
 
 Yale Engine Co., No. I, Capt. Richard Britton. 
 
 Carriages, containing the President of the Day and 
 
 CYRUS WAKEFIELD, Esq. ; 
 The Historian and Poet ; Chaplain of the Day ; 
 
 Reader and Toast-Master ; 
 Committee of Arrangements ; 
 
 Aid. Invited Guests ; Aid. 
 
 Town Officers and Clergymen of Reading, North Reading, and Wakefield. 
 
 Employees of Wakefield Rattan Works. 
 Employees of Emerson's Sons Shoe Manufactory. 
 
 Citizens. 
 Children of the Public Schools, in Carriages. 
 
 The procession commenced to move at about ten o'clock, passing 
 over the designated route through the principal streets, and reaching 
 the High School Grounds soon after noon. 
 
 The streets along the route, at many points crowded with spectators 
 from this and the surrounding towns, were exceedingly dusty, and 
 the march in the intense heat was relieved by halts, frequent and 
 refreshing. 
 
 The procession presented a fine appearance, and the presence of the
 
 APPENDIX, 729 
 
 school-children, in large numbers and in appropriately decorated car- 
 riages, added much attractiveness to this portion of the ceremonies. 
 
 The exercises on the hill were conducted in a large tent, erected for 
 the purpose, where seats had been prepared for the invited guests, aged 
 citizens, etc., and under the guidance of Daniel Allen, Esq., President 
 of the Day. 
 
 Rev. Charles R. Bliss opened the exercises with prayer; after 
 which, the President said : 
 
 It becomes my pleasant duty, in behalf of the Committee of Arrange- 
 ments and the town of Wakefield, to bid you to our new relations a 
 cheerful welcome. In the order of exercises I shall be followed by 
 those who will give you the interesting facts and details in regard to 
 our town, and the relation which we have this day assumed. 
 
 We heartily bid you welcome to our new town, and to the new rela- 
 tions we assume to-day among the towns of the Commonwealth. Wel- 
 come to our beautiful hills and valleys. Welcome home, those of 
 you who were former residents of this town. To all of you, welcome 
 again, not to South Reading, but to the Town of Wakefield. We bid 
 you welcome, on this national holiday, to the scenes of your early daysj 
 and hope the exercises of this occasion will bring no discredit to the 
 time-honored town of South Reading. 
 
 In conclusion the President introduced Mr. B. P. Snow, Principal of 
 the High School, of Wakefield, who read, in .a very acceptable manner, 
 the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 The band played " Hail Columbia," when Hon. Lilley Eaton was 
 introduced, who read the following 
 
 HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 
 Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 On this most interesting and joyful occasion, this national birthday 
 anniversary, this new and memorable era in our municipal history, 
 the stirring memories of other days, the gallant deeds of our ancestors, 
 in the acquisition and defence of freedom and independence, and more 
 recently, of our brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters, for the 
 preservation of that freedom and independence ; the interesting story 
 of our town's early settlement, its progress in population, resources, 
 knowledge, and refinement, its present bright and auspicious prospects, 
 all the exciting considerations to which this twofold celebration of our 
 national freedom and local prosperity gives rise, come thronging before 
 92
 
 730 APPENDIX. 
 
 the mental vision in such profusion as to be wellnigh overwhelming. 
 As I look around upon this numerous and expectant assembly, com- 
 posed of the strength and beauty and elite of the vicinity, and find my- 
 self standing among the venerable and hoary fathers of the ancient 
 town of Reading, in the presence of the professional talent and official 
 dignity of the town, of the neighboring towns, and of other States, I 
 would fain preserve that golden silence which is far more precious 
 than any language of mine, and I would be silent, not for the want of 
 thoughts, kindling thoughts, for of such I am full, but for the want of 
 burning words and animating sentences with which suitably to express 
 the sentiments and emotions of this eventful opportunity. 
 
 But a duty has been assigned me as the historiographer of the occa- 
 sion, that I must proceed to perform as I may be best able. The half 
 hour allotted for this service will permit me to do scarcely more than 
 simply to glance at a few of the more striking events and incidents of 
 our national or municipal story. 
 
 It is natural, honorable, and appropriate that at this advanced date 
 and prosperous condition of our village life, we should first revert to our 
 day of small things, to the early settlement of our village; seek 
 acquaintance with those men who first located upon these pleasant 
 plains and swelling hills, and around these lovely lakes, in the midst 
 of what was then a lonely, howling wilderness, those men 
 
 " who did, for conscience' sake, 
 
 Their native land forego, 
 And sought a home and freedom here 
 
 Two hundred years ago." 
 
 It is good for us often to visit our ancient cemeteries, and meditate 
 upon life's evanescence among those mossy monuments, where, 
 
 '* Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, 
 
 Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap, 
 Each in his narrow cell forever laid, 
 The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 
 
 The settlement of this village was commenced in 1639, under a grant 
 of land from the General Court to the town of Lynn of " four miles 
 square," and was called "Lynn Village." 
 
 This grant included substantially the present towns of Wakefield and 
 Reading. 
 
 In 1644, seven houses having been erected, and seven families set- 
 tled, and a little church edifice built, the village was made a town cor- 
 porate by the name of " Reading."
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 731 
 
 This little meeting-house stood on the Common, near where is now 
 our post office, and in it the Rev. Messrs. Green, Haugh, and Brock, 
 men eminent for their learning and piety, successively ministered up to 
 the time of their respective deaths. 
 
 In 1651, twelve years after the first grant, a second grant of territory 
 was made to the town of Reading of " two miles square." 
 
 This latter grant constituted substantially what is now "North 
 Reading." 
 
 The early settlers of our township were rude, but heroic, industrious, 
 and pious men, 
 
 " Witty and wise, grave, good, among the best 
 Were they, the mem'ry of the just is blest." 
 
 We desire to pay to their memory this day the tribute of our grati- 
 tude for their wisdom and sagacity in selecting this spot so beautiful for 
 situation, the constant joy of its successive inhabitants; for their justice 
 in purchasing it by peaceable negotiation of its former Indian posses- 
 sors, as appears by a deed thereof, duly signed and executed by their 
 chief men and women, which is still on record ; for their valor and 
 labor and hardships in defending and subduing this then uncultivated 
 wild, and changing it to smiling fields, and a safe and happy abode ; for 
 their decided moral character, their stern integrity, their virtuous habits, 
 and their early support of liberty, learning, and religion, the valuable 
 influences of all which have been ever felt and enjoyed by their succes- 
 sors down to the present day. 
 
 Our early fathers were valiant men as well as good and industrious 
 ones. For although they themselves made peaceable purchase of their 
 lands of the Indians, and were on friendly terms with their immediate 
 Indian neighbors, yet there were many hostile tribes around them, who 
 made frequent forays upon the English settlements ; and the settlers 
 for many years were obliged to labor with the axe or spade in one 
 hand and a musket in the other ; to maintain watch-Tiouses and garri- 
 sons for their protection ; and were often called upon to join in expedi- 
 tions against the savage foe. They thus became a brave and martial 
 people, and during the first century of our history were frequently 
 engaged in wars with the Indians and French. The names of some of 
 these early citizens became renoWned as warriors and leaders. 
 
 Richard Walker, their first captain ; Jonathan Poole, their second 
 captain ; Major Jeremiah Swain, who was commander-in-chief of all 
 the Colonial troops ; Captain Thomas Bancroft, a noted officer in King
 
 732 APPENDIX. 
 
 Philip's Indian War, and others that might be named, shine out on the 
 page of our early record, as eminent for their ability and bravery. 
 
 In 1688 the humble meeting-house, erected in 1644, having become 
 too small for the convenience of the people (for all the people attended 
 public worship in those days), was sold, and the sum which it brought may 
 give some idea of its size and value : it was sold for twenty-five shillings 
 and a " watch-house frame," and the money was appropriated for the 
 school, showing that our ancestors thus early were mindful of the im- 
 portance of schooling, a mindfulness which their successors have 
 ever manifested in a commendable degree, and never more so than at 
 th present time. 
 
 Our fathers then proceeded to erect their second meeting-house. It 
 was located a few rods northwesterly of the present Congregational 
 meeting-house, in the easterly part of the present town burial-ground. 
 It was a quaint, unique, and curiously-formed structure. Our accom- 
 plished architect, John Stevens, Esq., who is projecting a plan thereof, 
 finds it more difficult to sketch than he does the more spacious and 
 splendid edifice whose lofty walls and tower, and elegant halls, are soon 
 to add grace, convenience, and honor to our town. This old church 
 was of moderate size, with a roof not exactly like a modern French one 
 (but may have been the original idea of one), and was a sort of cross 
 between a " regular pitch," a " hipped," and a " gambrel " or " surd" 
 with dormers on at least three sides, and a turret in front, with a bell 
 therein ; its windows contained glass of very small size, diamond- 
 shaped, set in lead. Within was a gallery on one side ; and on the 
 floor, in front of the pulpit, were long body seats, in which the adult 
 male worshippers sat, who were seated by a committee, chosen annually 
 for that purpose, the oldest, richest, and most hoary in front, and so 
 back in regular gradation, according to age and real estate. The adult 
 females also occupied seats by themselves, on either side, as arranged 
 by the committee, on the same principle. The boys and girls were 
 on the back side of the room, the young men and the tything-men with 
 the singers in the" gallery, and the dog-whippers where most convenient 
 to exercise their vocation. There were here and there in the house 
 pews which, by special permission of the town, had been built by some 
 of the more aristocratic and wealthy citizens, at their own expense. 
 This house .served the people eighty years, and in it preached the Rev. 
 Messrs. Pierpont, Brown, and Hobby, all liberally educated and dis- 
 tinguished men. 
 
 In 1706 the house of John Harnden, situated in the northwesterly 
 part of the town, was attacked by a party of Indians. The family of
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 733 
 
 Mr. Harnden consisted of himself, wife, and eight children. Mr. Harn- 
 den was absent at the time. The Indians killed Mrs. Harnden and 
 three children, burned the house, and carried the remaining children 
 into captivity. 
 
 In 1713 the inhabitants of that part of Reading lying north of 
 Ipswich River and Bare Meadow, " having," to use the language of the 
 record, " become of sufficient and competent numbers lo call, settle, 
 and maintain a godly, learned, orthodox minister," were set off and 
 incorporated as a distinct parish by the name of the " North Precinct 
 of Reading," being the same territory, mainly, that now constitutes the 
 town of North Reading. 
 
 Until this date (1713), all parochial matters had been transacted by 
 the town m its municipal capacity. After this, until 1770, the residue 
 of the town, including what is now Wakefield and Reading (then termed 
 respectively the "Oid Parish" and "Woodend"), constituted one 
 parish designated as the " First Parish of Reading." In 1768, exactly 
 one hundred years ago, the third church edifice in this part of Reading 
 was built, having the same frame as that which now upholds the main 
 body of the present Congregational remodelled church. It stood on a 
 site near its present location, and for the time in which it was erected 
 was a large and handsome structure. In 1769 the Rev. Caleb Pren- 
 tiss, of Cambridge, a graduate of Harvard College, became the pastor 
 of the First Parish. He was a liberal divine, of respectable talents, 
 mild and persuasive as a preacher, patriotic and upright as a citizen. 
 
 This same year, 1769, the northwesterly part of the First Parish, the 
 part then termed " Woodend," after several years of earnest effort, and 
 in spite of a most determined opposition from the First Parish, were 
 incorporated as a separate parish, by the name of the " West Parish 
 of Reading." I have given the dates of these parochial incorporations, 
 'because that although they created simply religious bodies corporate, 
 yet these parishes were the nucleus or foundation of those associations 
 and affiliations that subsequently resulted in the municipal corporations 
 of Reading, South Reading, and North Reading. In 1775 commenced 
 the War of the Revolution. Into the spirit of that war in defence of 
 American liberty and rights against the obnoxious acts and growing 
 encroachments of British tyranny, the people of Old Reading entered 
 with great unanimity and with all their hearts ; to its support they not 
 only pledged, but they freely paid their lives, their fortunes, and their 
 sacred honor. 
 
 In 1776, July 4, was adopted that immortal document, that " Ma-n.i 
 Charta" of our rights and glorious Declaration of American Inde
 
 734 APPENDIX. 
 
 pendence which has just been so impressively pronounced in our hear- 
 ing, and the anniversary of the adoption of which, ninety-two years ago, 
 we are now celebrating. In reference to that declaration, the town of 
 Reading voted unanimously " to adhere to its sentiments and stand by 
 it to the last, with their lives and their fortunes." 
 
 The town of Reading at this time occupied relatively among the 
 towns of the State a position of much importance. 
 
 By a census of Massachusetts proper, taken in 1776, the town of 
 Reading was the second town in population in the county of Middlesex, 
 and the thirty-third in the State proper, and contained about 2,000 
 people. Boston at the same time contained only 2,700 inhabitants, 
 and Charlestown only 360. 
 
 It is probable, however, that some 500 of the population of Reading 
 at that time were refugees from Boston, Charlestown, and other places. 
 The North and South Parishes then contained about 700 inhabitants 
 each, and the West Parish about 600. The records of the town and of 
 each parish, during the continuance of the war, breathe the most earn- 
 est and devoted patriotism and the most determined resolution ; and 
 are full of votes for raising and providing men, money, provisions, cloth- 
 ing, and fuel, in cheerful response to all the calls of the Government. 
 It appears that the town of Reading sent to the Continental army, for 
 longer or shorter terms, more than four hundred men ; and that, with- 
 out counting minute-men, or men drafted from time to time to guard 
 prisoners, or privateersmen, of all which there were many, there were 
 constantly in the field from Reading, on an average, one hundred men 
 during the war. 
 
 Among these enlisted men were officers of talent and bravery ; of 
 whom we will mention Colonel David Green, Colonel Benjamin Brown 
 (afterwards General), Captain John Walton, Captain William Flint, 
 Daniel (afterwards Colonel) Flint ; Captain James Bancroft, Surgeon 
 John Hart, Captain John Brooks, afterwards Colonel in the army and 
 Governor of the Commonwealth ; and there were many others. From 
 the close of the War of the Revolution to 1810, the on ward progress of 
 the town was slow, pursuing the even tenor of its way, witnessing 
 few important or extraordinary changes in its condition, and gaining 
 only about two hundred inhabitants over the census of 1776, but seven 
 hundred over the census of 1765. 
 
 In 1812 two memorable events occurred to vary the monotony of its 
 municipal life. In the first place, in February of that year, " The Old 
 Parish," so called, exclusive of " Woodend," was set off from the town 
 of Reading, and incorporated as a distinct town by the name of " South 
 Reading."
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 735 
 
 And in the second place, in the same year, war with England was 
 declared by the United States. 
 
 The same general causes and considerations which resulted directly 
 in the declaration of that war had indirectly led to the separation of the 
 South Parish from her sister parishes. 
 
 The people of the South Parish, ever true to the government of the 
 American Union, were Republicans^ almost unanimously ; were sup- 
 porters of the National Administration then in power, and were in favor 
 of fighting Old England for her insults to our seamen and our flag : 
 while the people of the other parishes, not less honest or patriotic, we 
 would charitably believe, but with different views of political expedi- 
 ency, were, with like unanimity, Federalists, unfavorable to the National 
 Administration, and violently opposed to a war with England. Politi- 
 cal feeling rose to a high pitch, and parties were very bitter towards 
 each other. The Republicans of the South Parish were a minority in 
 the town, and were excluded in a great measure from influence in mu- 
 nicipal affairs or share in town offices. These considerations impelled 
 to a separation. 
 
 The town of South Reading, at the time of its incorporation, con- 
 tained a population of about eight hundred, and the valuation of all its 
 real and personal estate, upon the assessors' books, was only $100,000. 
 
 This newly-made town, although small in territory, in numbers, and 
 in resources, was very spirited and enthusiastic. 
 
 It contained among its citizens at this time an unusual proportion 
 of able and gifted men, men who loved liberty and independence, 
 were qualified to speak for them and to act for them, and were ready, 
 if need required, to fight for them ; who appreciated the value of sound 
 learning, and were liberal in its support ; and who earnestly sustained 
 religious institutions and religious freedom. 
 
 I well remember these men. Nearly all of them have gone to that 
 land " from whose bourne no traveller returns." 
 
 I should be pleased to speak particularly of many of them, but time, 
 at present, forbids. Suffice it to say here, that under their influence 
 the town was earnest and efficient in sustaining the government in the 
 war ; cheerfully responded to all the calls of the War Department ; sent 
 numbers of its young men to the field and on the sea ; mourned sadly 
 over the defeats of its, armies and navy, and rejoiced jubilantly over their 
 victories. 
 
 At the close of the war, the citizens had a grand celebration, in 
 thankfulness for the triumph of the American Arms, and for the return 
 of peace, with an oration, civic feast, and other demonstrations of joy.
 
 736 APPENDIX. 
 
 Some toasts given on the occasion, which were received with loud 
 acclamation and swallowed with ardent satisfaction, will show somewhat 
 the temper of the people at that time. 
 
 The first, by the orator of the clay, Charles G. Haines, Esq., 
 " The British Lion We have hunted him, we have hunted him to 
 his den ! " 
 
 The second, by Benjamin Badger, Sen., a Revolutionary veteran, 
 
 " John Bull, the Pope, and the Devil, May they never control this 
 happy land ! " 
 
 The progress of our town, from the time of its incorporation in 1812 
 to 1844, although not rapid, yet was more marked and considerable 
 than in any previous period of like extent. Its population and valua- 
 tion nearly doubled in the time. The increasing resources of its inhab- 
 itants had enabled them to grant a more liberal support to its public 
 institutions, to its schools, and to various public improvements. The. 
 present Town Hall, soon to be so totally eclipsed, was erected during 
 this period, and was considered a handsome and spacious building in 
 its early days. 
 
 The South Reading Academy, established. in 1829, on this very spot, 1 
 had flourished a while, gave an impetus to the pursuit of literature 
 among us ; educated some of our sons, who have since become emi- 
 nent in professional and industrial life, and induced, by its example, an 
 improved condition of our common schools ; and as the common schools 
 improved, the Academy declined, and was at length discontinued. 
 Thus went on our town affairs until 1844, the year bi-centennial. 
 
 In this year, as in 1812, two memorable events occurred, again to 
 vary the monotony of our village life. One, instead of being a separa- 
 tion, as before, of the various corporations of Old Reading, was a union 
 of them, in a bi-centennial celebration of the old town's incorporation, 
 and was a most agreeable and interesting reunion of the inhabitants of 
 the old parishes, their descendants and friends. 
 
 The other event, instead of being, as before, a declaration and effort 
 for the victories of war, was an effort for the victories of peace, in the 
 chartering and construction of the " Boston and Maine Railroad," 
 which was ]aid through our town in this year, and was to our village a 
 most important event. It opened to the eye of the public these fertile 
 lands, these pleasant plains and hillsides, and our unrivalled water 
 scenery ; it superseded, in a great measure, those toll-bridges that sepa- 
 
 1 The Address was delivered in the High School yard.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 rated us from our metropolis, and were a hinderance to our increase ; it 
 brought the merchants of distant cities, in search of goods, to the doors 
 of our manufactories ; it has induced the traders and mechanics of 
 Boston to seek homes for their families in this central and convenient 
 location ; and it has thus brought among us enterprise, wealth, and 
 liberality. Since its establishment, the town has rapidly improved in 
 population and resources. And while there is not so much that is fair 
 and high in its Wakefield station-house as some of us would desire, 
 there certainly is enough of the fare, and high in the privilege of riding 
 in its cars ; but we would freely acknowledge its great importance to 
 us, notwithstanding, and hope for greater kindness at less cost in the 
 future. 
 
 Among the new-comers were men of wealth, talent, and activity, who, 
 in conjunction with our native-born citizens of like gifts and character, 
 have given new life to our business and to all our institutions. 
 
 In 1861, when the fearful War of the Rebellion burst upon us, it 
 found us not only patriotic and true to the government and the Union, 
 as always heretofore, but also able, from the multiplication of our num- 
 bers and resources, to meet, and to exceed even, all the calls of the 
 nation for men and means, and to raise, during the war, some $50,000, 
 and to send some five hundred men to the army and navy, men brave, 
 patriotic, and devoted, " who helped open the Mississippi, who were 
 present at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, New Orleans, arid Mobile, who saw 
 the starry flag as it ascended Missionary Ridge, and witnessed the 
 flight of Bragg and his host ; who marched from Atlanta to the sea, 
 and who were among those who so long struggled between Washington 
 and Richmond, and who at last saw the rebel flag go down upon the 
 Appomattox." 
 
 Of these brave men, more than jr/y, either in battle or hospital or 
 prison pen, gave their lives for their country. High up in the temple 
 of liberty and of their country's fame will be the niches that they wil 
 occupy; in bold relief, upon the tablets of our Memorial Hall, will their 
 names be engraved, and sweet will their memory forever be in the 
 hearts of freemen. 
 
 I have said that this increase of population and enterprise has given 
 new life and impulse to the various institutions of our town. And here 
 let me say, that we have been and still are singularly fortunate in 
 having among us raten of ample means and generous souls, who have 
 taken pleasure in contributing, from time to time, to those particular 
 moral, social, literary, and municipal enterprises among us which 
 needed encouragement, and they have given liberally. Hence we find 
 93
 
 738 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 that very properly their names are stamped upon our Library books and 
 school diplomas ; are sounded forth, sometimes in merry peals and 
 sometimes in solemn tones, from our balconies ; that we are reminded 
 of them every hour, by day and by night ; that they shine in golden 
 letters from the frontal of the repository and head-quarters of our Fire 
 Department; are heard in the martial strains and measured tread, 
 and are seen upon the armorial escutcheon of our Infantry ; and stand 
 out in living characters upon our local record. There let them stand 
 and shine, for they are worthy. 
 
 These various auspicious influences have caused our population to 
 increase from eight hundred in 1812 to fifteen hundred in 1840, and to 
 nearly four thousand in 1868 ; and our valuation to rise from $100,000 
 in 1812, to $280,000 in 1840, and to nearly $2,000,000 at the present 
 time. 
 
 Since 1840 our meeting-houses have all been enlarged, remodelled, 
 and improved ; the value of our school-houses has been enhanced from 
 $2,000 to $30,000 ; our annual school appropriations have risen from 
 $1,000 to more than $6,000; a Public Library of three thousand vol- 
 umes has been established, and many other valuable improvements 
 have been made ; our town is still prosperous and growing, its star 
 is still in the ascendant. 
 
 Under all these favorable circumstances of advancement and prog- 
 ress, our people came to the conclusion that they were entitled to a 
 distinctive, uncompounded, municipal name of their own ; not because 
 they disliked the name of Reading ; for, on the contrary, they love and 
 venerate it for its antiquity and as the name of their own and their 
 fathers' home ; and if they could have had a clear and separate title to 
 it, they would have been content. But we foresaw that our town was 
 destined to occupy an important position upon the future page of his- 
 tory, and we desired that whether that position was one of honor or 
 dishonor, that this town alone should have the credit or discredit of it. 
 We wished therefore that its name and its portrait should so correspond 
 that it should not be liable to be mistaken for what it was not. 
 
 We remembered the honorable pride of him, who, hailing from the 
 " Eternal City," when absent from his native land, could exclaim, " I 
 am a Roman citizen," and have his character at once recognized and 
 respected ; and we desired that our own townsmen, when absent in 
 another State or nation, and being asked from whence they came, 
 should be able to answer with equal pride and clearness, and command- 
 ing equal recognition and respect, not only " that they are American 
 citizens," but also " that they hail from a town or city whose name and
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 739 
 
 identity are clear and manifest." While our people were revolving this 
 matter in their minds, and looking about for a name on which all might 
 unite, our respected fellow-citizen, Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., came forward, 
 and voluntarily and unconditionally, out of the abundance of his heart 
 and of his regard to the town of his adoption, and the dwelling-place 
 of his ancestors, and from the overflowings of his liberality and his 
 purse, proffered to the town the free gift of a lot of land, and of a 
 building to be erected thereon, for a Town Hall, Soldiers' Memorial 
 Hall, Library and Armory Rooms, Town Officers' Rooms, Withdrawing 
 Rooms, and all other conveniences, of such ample and sufficient capa- 
 city for all these purposes, and of such permanence and beauty of archi- 
 tecture and finish, as should satisfy the utmost reasonable wishes of the 
 inhabitants, regardless of cost. In accepting this magnificent gift, the 
 town at once decided for a change of its name, and what that name 
 should be ; and forthwith, with unprecedented unanimity, and by accla- 
 mation, voted that its name should be changed to Wakefield. 
 
 And now, to-day, having obtained the requisite authority so to do, we 
 lay aside the old corporate name of Reading, which we have worn, in 
 whole or in part, for more than seven generations, and assume from this 
 day forward the new name of Wakefield. 
 
 There is this very pleasing coincidence connected with this change 
 of name. 
 
 The town of Reading was originally so named from the city of 
 Reading, in England, for the reason, it is said, that John Poole, one of 
 our earliest and wealthiest settlers, came from that city. This John 
 Poole, in honor of whose birthplace the name of Reading was adopted, 
 was the first settler upon that identical spot now owned by Cyrus Wake- 
 field, Esq., his successor, in honor of whom we this day assume our new 
 name, and is the place now occupied by the extensive " Rattan Factory." 
 This John Poole was a glover and miller ; built the first grain and saw 
 mills of the town, and, like his latest successor, was its richest citizen. 
 
 There is another coincidence, furnishing an additional appropriate- 
 ness in our new name, viz. Hon. Horace Poole Wakefield, recently of 
 Reading, is a lineal descendant of this same John Poole. 
 
 It is proper also to mention, in this connection, that our patron and 
 namesake is of Reading and South Reading descent. It seems that an 
 emigrant from France by the name of Wakefield was an early settler 
 of Boston, a goldsmith by profession ; that he soon buried his young 
 wife, who left an infant son, Thomas Wakefield by name; that said infant 
 son was put to nurse with the Gould family, on the farm recently known 
 as the " Jenkins Place," then situated partly in Stoneham and partly
 
 740 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 in Reading. The father soon returned to France, and the son Thomas 
 was adopted by the Gould family. He subsequently became an appren- 
 tice to Timothy Pratt, of Reading, to learn the trade of a carpenter. 
 This Timothy Pratt, who was the ancestor of Nathan P. Pratt, Esq., 
 the present Representative in the Legislature from Reading, lived on the 
 easterly side of the " Great Pond," in the old Garrison house, that stood 
 on land now owned by Lucius Beebe, Esq., and was the same house 
 that has been recently purchased and removed by Mr. Zenas Perkins. 
 This young Wakefield married, in 1750, Dorcas Pratt, the daughter of 
 his master, and succeeded to the homestead ; and here, in that old Gar- 
 rison house, was born Thomas Wakefield, Jr., the grandfather of our 
 worthy namesake. 
 
 And now, in conclusion, on this day sacred to liberty, to independ- 
 ence, and to victory, let me congratulate my fellow-citizens that we are 
 now free and independent in name, as well as otherwise ; that we now 
 have a municipal appellation of our own, the reputation and good char- 
 acter of which are committed to our keeping. Let us then resolve, at 
 this auspicious hour, that all our future municipal acts shall be such 
 as shall promote good order, intelligence, humanity, freedom, and right- 
 eousness among this people, and shall make the town and the name of 
 "Wakefield," "a joy, an honor, and a praise in the land." 
 
 I will improve this opportunity, in the name and behalf of this people, 
 to thank Heaven for inspiring the heart of our munificent friend to be 
 thus generous to his fellow-citizens, and to thank our friend sincerely 
 for his most princely gift. We would likewise remember, in this con- 
 nection, that our acknowledgments are also due to that other generous 
 and respected friend, who, in addition to his former liberality, has prof- 
 fered the sum of $1,000 for the purpose of furnishing and decorating 
 the halls and other rooms of the new building. Our gratitude, there- 
 fore, to both of them, we would express and tender, with our invoca- 
 tions for their future welfare and happiness. 
 
 And may he whose name we this day adopt, amid these imposing 
 ceremonies, and may we who have adopted it, may we all remember 
 that a new and mutual obligation has been assumed by us, never to per- 
 form any act that shall demean either party in the eyes of the other, or 
 bring a stain upon the now fair character of the name of Wakefield. 
 
 And as our town and future city shall go onward and upward, increas- 
 ing in population, in resources, in intelligence, in virtue, and an honor- 
 able fame, as we hope and pray that she may, let her never forget the 
 illustrious citizen who has done so much to enrich and adorn the place 
 of our abode. May he long live to enjoy the sweet reward of reflecting
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 74* 
 
 that he has performed a noble and a useful work. May our historians 
 make fair and enduring record of his acts, and our poets, from this day 
 
 forward, 
 
 " To all the world his deeds rehearse, 
 And praise him in harmonious verse." 
 
 May the name he this day secures "be better to him than that of sons 
 and daughters "; may he ever, have " that good name that is better than 
 great rithes" and be found among those whose names are written on 
 
 high ; and at length, 
 
 " Serus in coelum redeat" 
 
 At the close of the address, which was finely delivered and highly 
 enjoyed by the numerous assembly, the band again played an appro- 
 priate air ; after which Mr. John S. Eaton delivered the following 
 
 POEM. 
 
 With joyful voices join, to greet 
 
 This birthday of the free ; 
 Each glad return, more dear and sweet, 
 
 The Nation's Jubilee ! 
 
 On all the winds her banner plays, 
 
 Star-gemmed, with folds of light ; 
 A nation's hopes are in its rays - 
 
 The red, the blue, the white. 
 
 Her brilliant flag, whose matchless hues 
 
 Float 'neath the Southern Cross, 
 And o'er the whaler's daring crews, 
 
 On icy waters toss ; 
 
 Her sacred flag, whose azure field % 
 
 The lightest zephyr sways, 
 And cheers, when flying squadrons yield, 
 
 The hero's dying gaze. 
 
 The polished guns, from plain and peak 
 
 Opening their brazen throats, 
 A people's gladness grandly speak 
 
 In all their echoing notes. 
 
 Let the wild tones, unhindered, fly 
 
 From North to Southern wave ; 
 Our flag, unfolding, gem the sky, 
 
 Bright banner of the brave !
 
 742 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Thrice blest this day, whose breath of balm 
 
 Refreshing blows, and free : 
 No slave-step 'neath the Southern palm, 
 
 No slave-ship on the sea ; 
 
 Whose peaceful breath, o'er fragrant groves 
 
 Where battling columns met, 
 Only the orange blossom moves, 
 
 And lifts the violet. 
 
 That sacred turf, as emerald bright, 
 
 So rudely torn and red, 
 Closing o'er leaders in the fight, 
 
 Enshrines heroic dead. 
 
 Brave souls ! with martyrs' zeal endowed, 
 
 'Neath battle's fiery crest, 
 With triumph flashing from the cloud, 
 
 Secured the victor's rest. 
 
 Bright, starry wings adorn our sky, 
 
 From out the war's eclipse, 
 Blessed, as met the prophet's eye 
 
 In the apocalypse. 
 
 As this fair angel sweeps the spheres, 
 
 Angel with spotless wing, 
 The glories of the coming years 
 
 What prophet-bard will sing ? 
 
 Our brotherhood of mighty States ! 
 
 Firm on a truer plan, 
 For them a clearer day awaits, 
 
 With brotherhood of man. 
 
 Stretching afar their gleaming lines 
 'Neath Freedom's ample shields, 
 
 Triumphal art above them shines, 
 Achieved on bloodless fields. 
 
 Westward the star of empire leads 
 
 With most enticing ray ; 
 And all the Prairie's fruitful meads 
 
 Are blossoming to-day. 
 
 Plains rolling boundless as the seas, 
 
 Whose rich, uncultured sod 
 Withholds broad harvests from the breeze, 
 
 By the fierce Indian trod.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Those flowery wilds it is decreed 
 
 A mightier tread must feel ; 
 The thunder of the fiery steed, 
 
 Steam-winged and shod with steel. 
 
 From East to West, with tireless feet, 
 
 Shall flaming coursers bear 
 To dwellers 'neath the torrid heat, 
 
 Products of Northern air ; 
 
 Through rocky tunnels, cold and grim, 
 
 Marvels of modern skill, 
 Along the steep Sierras' rim, * 
 
 Reach Californian hill ; 
 
 From West to East, 'neath giant pines, 
 
 And mountain summits o'er, 
 Bear golden treasure from her mines 
 
 To the Atlantic shore ; 
 
 Along the firm and shining rails, 
 
 The wealth of Orient seas, 
 Above the Indian's fading trails, 
 
 Immense, shall roll to these. 
 
 So, Progress, with unfettered limb, 
 
 And bold, adorning hand, 
 Shall cities build in forests dim, 
 
 With temples deck the land : 
 
 Her bands of steel surround the zone ; 
 
 Her conscious wires, the seas ; 
 To stainless triumph marching on, 
 
 And grander destinies. 
 
 So, down the ages, as they sweep 
 
 Unmarred by clashing sword, 
 Swells the blest anthem, strong and deep, 
 
 Anthem of Earth's accord I 
 
 Here, on the bright, rejoicing day 
 
 Such hopeful omens crown, 
 We come, a pleasant word to say 
 
 For our dear, native town. 
 
 Fair town, whose legends, strange and old, 
 Wrought from her bending bowers, 
 
 By nobler bard have been enrolled, 
 In fairer lines than ours. 
 
 743
 
 744 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 His graceful pen, with wondrous skill, 
 
 Traced those ancestral scenes, 
 And showed where dwelt, on plain and hill, 
 
 The ancient Browns and Greens. 
 
 Nor these alone : with nicest tact 
 
 Those hardy settlers limned ; 
 Custom and form and word and act, 
 
 In flowing numbers hymned. 
 
 For us, an easier task remains, 
 
 Befitting humbler powers : 
 We sing the beauty of her plains, 
 
 The fragrance of her flowers. ;.; N 
 
 No soft Italian scenes we boast, 
 
 Our summer skies less clear ; 
 But prized, the grandeur of our coast, 
 
 Our rocky hillsides dear. 
 
 No notes of foreign praise we swell, 
 Not, " Naples view, and rest ! " 
 
 Our invitation is, " Come, dwell 
 In Wakefield, and be blest ! " 
 
 The native Indian, dull and rude, 
 
 Threading the forest wild, 
 Beside our lakes enchanted stood, 
 
 Where the Great Spirit smiled. 
 
 His wigwam's shield along these streams 
 
 In rustic beauty sprang : 
 Here, in the twilight's shadowy gleams, 
 
 His dusky daughters sang. 
 
 And later, here, our ancient sires, 
 
 By the same waters cheered, 
 Over the Indian's smouldering fires, 
 
 Their scanty dwellings reared ; 
 
 Fought for their title to the soil 
 
 With hungry wolf and bear ; 
 And where the savage sought his spoil, 
 
 Erected house of prayer. t 
 
 All honor to those rugged men, 
 
 The coming needs foresaw, 
 And laid foundations firmly then, 
 
 Of libeity and law.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Their children here, and children's sons, 
 
 O'erspreading hill and glen, 
 Have crowned with grace the work begun 
 
 By those uncultured men ; 
 
 With stately dwellings decked the slopes, 
 
 With neat, attractive homes ; 
 And crested the fair mountain-tops 
 
 With Learning's ample domes. 
 
 Her classic sons, from thence sent forth, 
 
 Superior place to claim, 
 Attest their rich, unfailing worth, 
 
 With ripe, scholastic fame. 
 
 Sons, absent long, this day returned 
 
 To childhood's rural seat, 
 Where kindling fires of genius burned, 
 
 With welcome true, we greet 
 
 From this smooth, academic ground, 
 Whence streams of knowledge pour, 
 
 On smiling valley look around, 
 The waving heights explore 1 
 
 Broad, fertile fields and greenest shores, 
 
 With sparkling rim of light, 
 To generous feast from Nature's stores, 
 
 Our willing feet invite. 
 
 From rounded Cedar's airy crest, 
 
 View lake, with leafy hem, 
 Two fairy islands on its breast, 
 
 Shining a crystal gem, 
 
 The sparkling waters of Smith's Pond 
 
 (As olden records say), 
 While the green hillside steeps, beyond, 
 
 In verdure stfetch away. 
 
 Or climb to Castle's grander cone, 
 
 Firm as the mountains be ; 
 Around the forest's swaying zone, 
 
 Beyond the restless sea. 
 
 Broad lines of woodland, bending down 
 O'er smooth and yielding turf, 
 
 Touch the bold headland, rough and brown, 
 Swept by the ocean surf ; 
 
 94
 
 746 APPENDIX. 
 
 White sails, far o'er the spires of Lynn, 
 In the blue distance melt ; 
 
 On rocky coast, the waves roll in 
 And clasp with shining belt. 
 
 Elate, our western mount ascend, 
 Haloed with golden beams : 
 
 Like silver shields the lakes extend, 
 Like silver threads the streams. 
 
 Drink beauty there, at day's sweet close, 
 While the bright vision waits, 
 
 And the celestial splendor glows 
 At sunset's purple gates ! 
 
 Northward, the flowery meadows rest 
 Soft in the summer air ; 
 
 Beyond, with sunshine on her crest, 
 Our mother, Reading, fair, 
 
 Calm and sedate, as mother may, 
 Over the lake's clear tide, 
 
 Watches her daughter's prosperous way, 
 Arrayed as blooming bride, 
 
 Bride, on whose flower-encircled brow 
 No mark of years we trace ; 
 
 Clad in her youthful beauty now, 
 With added lines of grace. 
 
 And when, complete, her bridal gift, 
 
 Munificent and fair, 
 Heavenward its massive towers shall lift 
 
 In the caressing air . 
 
 To greet the mornings, still and bright, 
 Through many coming days, 
 
 Shall all the people, with delight, 
 Award its donor praise. 
 
 His gift, for whom, from burning plains, 
 O'er stormy billows rolled, 
 
 Are sent those slender, magic canes, 
 His touch transmutes to gold ; 
 
 His crowning gift, whose lavish hands, 
 And fresh, persistent powers, 
 
 With verdure vests our level lands, 
 Our thorny wastes, with flowers ;
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Who answers well that question old 
 " What is there in a name ? " 
 
 An answer, clearly, grandly rolled, 
 And mounts therewith to fame ! 
 
 With smiles go forth the youthful brides, 
 
 Circled with fairest flowers, 
 Afar from home, to tempt life's tides : 
 
 Not thus we offer ours ! 
 
 Our town beloved, our cherished pet, 
 
 Our darling and our pride, 
 In golden ring her name is set, 
 
 We keep ourselves the bride ! 
 
 Our pine-clad hills and shadowy brakes, 
 And flower-enamelled lawns. 
 
 Our rocky peaks and rippled lakes, 
 Bright in the rosy dawns ; 
 
 Our darkling dells and forest plumes, 
 Our sprays of brilliant leaves, 
 
 Our arching elms and garden-blooms, 
 Fair in the golden eves ; 
 
 Our spotless blossoms, floating fair 
 
 Upon the crystal waves, 
 Our glitt'ring spires in sunlit air, 
 
 Our fathers' hallowed graves, 
 
 And all the wealth our records bear 
 
 Of old historic fame, 
 All these Ve hold with strictest care, 
 
 And yield, alone, our name I 
 
 'Neath the bright Future's glowing arch 
 
 Of soft, unclouded skies, 
 What grand processions gayly march ! 
 
 What startling visions rise ! 
 
 When fifty added years shall bring 
 
 Their gifts of fair renown, 
 A sweeter bard their praise shall sing, 
 
 And nobler works shall crown ! 
 
 747
 
 748 APPENDIX. 
 
 The city, from her triple hills, 
 With ocean-girdle bound, 
 
 Already looks towards mountain rills, 
 Selecting ampler ground j 
 
 Has gathered, now, rich highland farms, 
 And, overcrowded thus, 
 
 Northward may stretch embracing arms, 
 And Boston come to us ! 
 
 Within that shining circle bound. 
 
 Whose polished "Hub" we boast, 
 Our rustic charms no more be found, 
 
 And our new name be lost ! 
 
 From this clear summit, looking on 
 Towards crowning heights of grace, 
 
 Our thoughts revert to pleasures gone, 
 The vanished years retrace. 
 
 From out the shadowy haunts of eld, 
 From ancient roofs, moss-grown. 
 
 Arise the forms those years beheld, 
 And swells aerial tone ; 
 
 Forms, lost to sight, to memory dear, 
 
 Those mystic chambers fill ; 
 Tones, lost to earth, from purer sphere 
 
 Our waiting spirits thrill 1 
 
 As the fond lovers linger long, 
 
 Nor haste to say farewells, 
 As the swan's sad, expiring song 
 
 In sweetest cadence swells, 
 
 So, on memories fond, intent, 
 
 We linger with the past ; 
 And the fair name, with childhood blent, 
 
 Seems sweetest at the last ! 
 
 Dear name, farewell ! Our task is o'er ; 
 
 The coming glories see ! 
 South Reading, henceforth, nevermore, 
 
 And Wakefield let it be !
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 749 
 
 At the termination of the literary and musical exercises, on Academy 
 Hill, a procession, consisting of those persons who were intending to 
 participate in the Celebration Dinner, was formed, and marched to the 
 dining tent which had been erected upon the Common. 
 
 At the same time the children belonging to the several schools of 
 the town were furnished with a collation in the Town Hall. 
 
 The " Mammoth Tent," in which the dinner was served, covered 
 sufficient space to accommodate, at table, two thousand guests ; and 
 the dinner, furnished by Mr. A. . A. Currier as caterer, proved to be 
 an ample, satisfying, and enjoyable entertainment to its thousand par- 
 ticipants. 
 
 Many of the former residents of South Reading, now widely sepa- 
 rated, and holding honorable positions in the various professions, on 
 this day revisiting the scenes of their boyhood as guests, surrounded 
 the table, thereby adding as much to their own enjoyment, let us hope, 
 as did their presence to the interest and success of the celebration. 
 
 N. 
 READING SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. 
 
 The Trustees of the Soldiers' Monument respectfully submit their 
 doings to the town, with the action the town have taken in the matter ; 
 also the clause of the Will of the late Abiel Holden, Esq., making a 
 bequest for the same, and such other matter in relation to the Monu- 
 ment as they thought might be of interest to the public. 
 
 It is well known to the citizens of Reading generally that Mr. Hol- 
 den took a lively interest in our soldiers. 
 
 In the early stages of the Great Rebellion, he was very anxious to 
 have a monument erected, while he lived, to the memory of those who 
 were killed* in battle or died of wounds received, or of disease con- 
 tracted while in the line of their duty. He offered at that time to sub- 
 scribe one hundred dollars for that purpose, but it being suggested to 
 him that it would be better to wait till the close of the war, he reluc- 
 tantly dropped the subject with the remark that he should not live to 
 see a monument erected to the memory of our soldiers'. 
 
 But he was so strongly impressed with the justice of having the 
 monument at some future time, that he made in his will the generous 
 gift of $500 for that purpose, in case of his death before the proper 
 time arrived for erecting it.
 
 750 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Mr. Holden did not live to see the monument erected. He died 
 Nov. 4, 1863, aged .65 years, 7 months, and 25 days. 
 
 At a town-meeting held March 7, 1864, the following communication 
 received by the Selectmen was read : 
 
 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, In executing the Will of the 
 late Abiel Holden, we hand you the following : 
 
 " I appropriate of my funds, not especially bequeathed by my said 
 will, the sum of five hundred dollars, and give the same to said town of 
 Reading, in trust, and for the purpose of procuring and erecting, upon 
 that part of the cemetery in said Reading called Round Hill, a monu- 
 ment to commemorate the deeds and perpetuate the memories of the 
 soldiers of Reading who have been killed in battle or otherwise, or died 
 from disease contracted, or wounds received, while in the service of the 
 United States and in line of duty during this present War of Rebellion, 
 provided that within two years next after my decease the said town of 
 Reading, or the citizens thereof, shall raise the further sum of five hun- 
 dred dollars, and with, the said one thousand dollars shall procure a 
 shaft of Italian marble, of suitable form and dimensions, and lay the 
 foundations, and commence the erection of the same upon a pedestal 
 of granite on said Round Hill, and shall without unnecessary delay 
 finish the erection thereof, and cause the names of all said soldiers to 
 be engraved thereon, with their ages and deaths, and also appropriate 
 memorials of their military service, commencing at the lower part of 
 the shaft and proceeding upwards. And I further appoint the select- 
 men of said town of Reading trustees, to take charge of procuring and 
 erecting the said monument, until said town shall, at a lawful town 
 meeting called by a warrant, having a special article relating to this 
 matter, by ballot, choose a Board of Trustees whose duty it shall be to 
 
 complete said monument." 
 
 ARKAID T. HOLDEN, 
 CLINTON B. HOLDEN, 
 
 WILLIAM j. HOLDEN; 
 
 Executors of the -will of Abiel Holden. 
 
 On motion of William J. Wightman, 
 
 Voted, That a Committee be raised to investigate the subject of the 
 aforesaid proposition, and report to the town at a subsequent meeting, 
 the best manner of fulfilling the requirements in said will, either by 
 subscription or an appropriation by the town. 
 
 Thomas Sweetser, James S. Campbell, Jonathan Frost, Henry G. 
 Richardson, and Joel M. Howard were chosen.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 751 
 
 At a town-meeting held March 6, 1865, the Committee presented the 
 following report : 
 
 The Committee chosen March 7, 1864, to investigate the subject of 
 erecting a monument to commemorate the deeds and perpetuate the 
 memories of soldiers of Reading, respectfully recommend that the town 
 accept the legacy of five hundred dollars, bequeathed by the late Abiel 
 Holden, Esq., for that purpose, and would also recommend that the 
 town appropriate a sum not less than five hyndred dollars, nor exceed 
 ing $I,O<DO, for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the will 
 of the said Abiel Holden, Esq., in relation thereto. 
 
 THOMAS SWEETSER, 
 JAMES S. CAMPBELL, 
 JONATHAN FROST, 
 HENRY G. RICHARDSON, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 On motion of William J. Wightman, 
 
 Voted, That the town accept and adopt the report. 
 
 At a town-meeting held May 25, 1865, the following article was 
 inserted in the warrant : 
 
 ARTICLE 4. To see if the town will choose trustees to take charge 
 of erecting the Monument to Soldiers, in accordance with the will of 
 the late Abiel Holden, Esq., or what they will do in relation thereto. 
 
 On motion of William J. Wightman, 
 Voted, To choose a Board of Trustees. 
 
 James S. Campbell, Solon A. Parker, and Joseph L. Pratt were 
 chosen. 
 
 The Trustees visited several cemeteries for the purpose of seeing the 
 monuments erected in them. And they also had a number of new 
 designs presented to them. 
 
 After they had selected the design, the principal marble-workers in 
 Boston and vicinity brought in proposals for building the monument 
 The contract was given to William Johnson, of Maiden, for the sum of 
 $1,500, which included the lettering and putting the monument on the 
 lot designated. There were forty-six names put on the monument, with 
 appropriate inscriptions. 
 
 In justice to Mr. Johnson, the Trustees will state that he fulfilled his 
 contract to their entire satisfaction.
 
 752 APPENDIX. 
 
 The following notice was printed and circulated : 
 The Soldiers' Monument will be dedicated on Thursday, October 5, 
 1865. 
 
 PROGRAMME FOR THE OCCASION. 
 
 A procession, accompanied by the band from Fort Warren, will be 
 formed on the Common at 1.30 P. M , arranged as follows: President 
 of the Day, Selectmen, Public Speakers, Committee of Arrangements, 
 a Choir of Singers, Families^of deceased Soldiers, Returned Soldiers, 
 Schools and Citizens, which will move at 2 o'clock. 
 
 ROUTE OF PROCESSION. 
 
 From the Common, through Woburn, Chute, High, Main, Pleasant, 
 Manning, Salem, and Main Streets, through the Cemetery to the Mon- 
 ument, where an original ode by Mrs. P. H. Hanaford will be sung, 
 thence to the Old South Church, where the dedicating Services will 
 commence by a voluntary on the organ, followed by singing an original 
 hymn composed by Miss Eliza Evans ; other appropriate singing will 
 be interspersed throughout the services. Reading of Scripture by Rev. 
 W. W. Hayward, prayer by Rev. William Barrows, address by Rev. W. 
 H. Willcox, concluding prayer by Rev. H. P. Guilford. 
 
 President of the Day. Edward Appleton, Esq. 
 
 Chief Marshal. William J. Wightman, Esq. 
 
 Aids. Capt. John H. Jeffrey, Capt. J. Warren Cook, James McKay, 
 Stillman E. Parker, J. Brooks Leathe, William M. Titus, Albert Nich- 
 ols, B. M. Hartshorn, Oliver A. Swain, and Solon Bancroft. 
 
 COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. 
 
 James S. Campbell, Solon A. Parker, Joseph L. Pratt, Capt. John H. 
 Jeffrey, Capt. J. Warren Cook, Andrew Howes, William Proctor, and 
 Daniel B. Lovejoy. 
 
 READING, Sept 30, 1865. 
 
 The services were mainly conducted in accordance with the above 
 programme. 
 
 Chaplain A. H. Quint, of the 2d Regt. Mass. Vols., and C. C. Coffin 
 (Carleton) were present and took part in the services. 
 
 Address by Rev. William H. Willcox, delivered at the dedication of 
 the Soldiers' Monument, in Reading, Oct. 5, 1865 :
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ADDRESS, 
 
 753 
 
 We are gathered here to-day, my friends, to dedicate, not merely a 
 monument to the dead, but also a monitor to the living. That marble 
 shaft is not simply the permanent embodiment of our admiration and 
 gratitude for the forty-six patriots whose names it enshrines. It shall 
 be also, through all coming years, a silent, but most impressive, 
 preacher of patriotism to the successive generations of our town. 
 Erected by the generous forethought of the late Abiel Holden, and 
 the grateful co-operation of the citizens of Reading, the gift of the 
 dead and the living, to commemorate departed worth, it shall ever 
 stand between the living and the dead, not only to perpetuate the mem- 
 ory of the fallen, but also to rouse and stimulate the living to whatever 
 of achievement or endurance our country may demand. 
 
 But to-day it speaks to us emphatically of the past. It reminds us 
 of the four years of strife and blood through which, at last, the God of 
 our fathers has triumphantly brought us. It reminds us of the brave 
 men who so nobly turned their backs, at their country's call, upon the 
 safety and comfort of,home, and exposed themselves so cheerfully to all 
 the toils and privations of the camp and the march, and to all the 
 hazards of the battle-field. It reminds us of the untold sufferings they 
 have endured in our behalf. It tells us of some wounded and dying 
 upon the bloody field, with no sympathizing friend to alleviate their 
 anguish, or bear their parting message ot the loved ones at home. It 
 tells of some cast, by the fortunes of war, as prisoners into the hands of 
 a merciless foe, by whom the simplest necessaries of life were denied 
 them, until starvation freed them from their tormentors. It tells of 
 some lingering long, through weary days and sleepless nights, in the 
 soldiers' hospital ; and of some, returning at length to home and 
 friends, in the fond hope of years of health and prosperity, sinking 
 under the assaults of disease, which they had brought with them from 
 the swamps of the South. Their bodies slumber in far distant fields, 
 some around us amid the graves of their fathers, and some in the soil 
 which they baptized and made sacred with their life-blood. And thus 
 they have in common with the thousands of their comrades who sleep, 
 upon ever}' battle-field, consecrated to a new life the whole land for 
 which they died. Those Southern States, that in their madness would 
 
 1 When this address was written, it was with the expectation that it was to be deliv- 
 ered in the open air. The request was made that it should not exceed twenty minutes 
 in length. This must account for the absence of historical and biographical facts 
 which otherwise the writer would gladly have presented. 
 95
 
 754 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 have broken away from the nation, have not only failed in the suicidal 
 attempt, they are bound to us now more strongly and tenderly than 
 ever before. Millions of Northern hearts feel to-day an interest in 
 those States such as they never felt before the war, such as they 
 probably never would have felt had not the war arisen ; for those 
 States have become a vast cemetery, sacred with hallowed and tearful 
 associations. Myriads of homes, all through the loyal States, have 
 their choicest treasures deposited in the valleys of Virginia and Ten- 
 nessee, and on the bloody plains of Georgia and Mississippi ; and thus 
 North and South are henceforth bound together, not only by mountain 
 chains and navigable rivers, not only by a common Constitution and a 
 common flag, but also by such unseen but indissoluble ties as bind the 
 sorrowing heart to the sacred spot where rest the bones of its honored 
 and beloved. 
 
 But it is not of the dead alone that this monument speaks, but also 
 of the mourning kindred, of the widows and the orphans they have 
 left behind them. Some of these are with us still, some within the 
 sound of my voice to-day. In the name of the citizens of Reading, for 
 whom I speak, I tender them our sincerest condolence and sympathy 
 over their loss and ours. They have been called to suffer more deeply 
 than we ; for the war has entered their homes and their hearts, and 
 inflicted wounds which no business prosperity, and no lapse of time, 
 can ever wholly heal. To the loved care and blessing of Him who 
 hath promised to be the widow's God and the Father of the fatherless, 
 would we prayerfully commend them, with the fervent hope that their 
 grief may be blended and softened with something of patriotic joy that 
 they have been permitted to Coffer such precious sacrifices upon their 
 country's altar. 
 
 But while this voiceful marble speaks to us thus, my friends, of 
 what our fallen soldiers have done and suffered for you and for me, for 
 your children and for mine, may it also speak and speak to willing 
 ears of what we owe to the families they have left behind them. It 
 has been said that " Republics are proverbially ungrateful." Citizens 
 of Reading, let not the taunt find any support whatever in our treat- 
 ment of the families of our fallen soldiers. We ought most cheerfully 
 to regard them as a sacred trust, put under our guardianship by the 
 noble men who have gone forth to battle and to die in defence of our 
 common liberties and our common country. And-it is due to ourselves, 
 not less than to our fallen townsmen, it is due to the patriotism of 
 coming generations, which we ought not to stifle, but to encourage and 
 develop, that we do everything that can consistently _be done to
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 755 
 
 secure the comfort, the education, the prosperity in life of those whose 
 natural guardians have laid down their lives for us. I know not how 
 it may be with others ; but for myself, I can truly say that I scarcely 
 ever see a soldier in his war-worn uniform of blue without a sense of 
 personal indebtedness, and a feeling of personal gratitude, arising in 
 my heart towards him. I feel somewhat as I should if he had rushed 
 through the flames of a burning house, and at the risk of his own life 
 saved my children from a horrible death. And so, in a measure, 
 ought we all to feel towards the widows and the children of our unre- 
 turning soldiers, showing at once our gratitude to the heroic dead, and 
 our own manhood in our treatment of the dependent ones they have left 
 to our sympathy and protection. 
 
 But not of the dead alone, nor of the families of the dead, does this 
 monument speak. Though none but the names of the fallen are chiselled 
 upon its sides, and though it is " dedicated to the sons of Reading who 
 died for their country in the Great Rebellion," yet should it speak to us 
 of the living also ; of those who have borne the same burdens and 
 exposed themselves to the same dangers, and yet have returned to us 
 safe from amidst them all. For it is owing to no lack of courage, to no 
 shrinking from the post of duty or of danger, that these too were not 
 numbered among the dead. They have marched the same long and 
 weary marches ; they have bravely and often faced the same stubborn 
 foe ; they have fought side by side upon the same battle-fields with their 
 fallen comrades. They are as worthy of our gratitude and praise as if 
 their bones were now resting upon the field of Gettysburg or the Wilder- 
 ness. Most heartily do we tender them our thanksgiving to-day. This 
 monument we dedicate is a monument to their heroism and love of 
 country, as well as to the patriotism of those who are no longer with us. 
 It shall speak to us of the living defenders 'of our liberties as well as of 
 the dead. It shall help us, I trust, to remember the debt of gratitude 
 we owe to those who have fearlessly hazarded life and limb in the 
 nation's defence, as well as to those whose lives have been actually paid 
 as the price of our country's redemption. 
 
 A monument is usually the expression of regard and sorrow. And 
 so it is with this. It is the expression in marble of our townsmen's 
 grateful regard for those whose names the monument hands down to 
 posterity, and of our sympathizing sorrow with the families and kin- 
 dred whom their death has caused to mourn. The early loss of so 
 many of our young men, who have shown by the heroism of their death 
 that they were so fit to live, is surely an occasion for sorrow. And yet 
 1 cannot look upon that monument as an expression of grief alone, but
 
 756 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 also of pride and rejoicing. The darkness of our sorrow is but the 
 shadow of a great joy. If it saddens us to remember that forty-six of 
 our young men have been sacrificed in this war, it fills us with patriotic 
 pride and pleasure to remember the nobleness of the cause to which 
 their lives have been given. 
 
 In the history of ancient Rome, we are told that a vast chasm, open- 
 ing in the very heart of the city, filled its inhabitants with anxiety and 
 alarm. All efforts to fill it were vain. But on consulting the sooth- 
 sayers (the historian tells us), they declared that if the Roman com- 
 monwealth was to be everlasting, the most valuable thing that Rome 
 possessed must be sacrificed to this yawning chasm. On hearing this 
 answer, the young hero, Marcus Curtius, deeming that Rome owned 
 nothing more valuable than the lives of her young men, cheerfully 
 offered himself for the sacrifice. Arraying himself in full armor, and 
 mounting his war-horse, he leaped into the chasm and disappeared. 
 Its horrid jaws at once closed over the victim, and Rome was again 
 peaceful and prosperous. But the name of Marcus Curtius was not 
 forgotten. For ages it was treasured and honored by the nation with 
 exultant pride. His family instead of sorrowing over his loss triumphed 
 and gloried in his sublime death. 
 
 The Roman fable has become an American fact. The demon of 
 slavery has opened through the heart of our republic a yawning chasm, 
 which threatened to devour not only our prosperity and peace but our 
 very existence as a nation ; and one of the most sublime spectacles 
 the history of any people ever saw, was the zealous promptness with 
 which, not one alone, but thousands upon thousands of our young men 
 came forward, like Marcus Curtius, to offer themselves in sacrifice, if 
 necessary, for the closing of the chasm and the riveting of our Union. 
 
 The work has been accomplished. The chasm has become the grave 
 of Slavery itself, and our Union is more firmly compacted than ever 
 before. And now, are we to look upon the death of those who have 
 fallen in this sublime service with nothing but sorrow and mourning? 
 Shall we not rather rejoice, as did the family of Curtius, with a 
 patriotic joy, that our sons and brothers have died such a noble death 
 in such a noble cause ? And, if the Roman Senate erected over that 
 closed abyss a triumphal column to give expression, not to their grief, 
 but to their joy and pride that Rome had given birth to such a hero 
 as Curtius, should not we, much more, look upon this monument we 
 dedicate to-day as an embodiment of our pride and rejoicing that so 
 many of the sons of Reading should have been willing to give life or 
 limb for their country ? It is, indeed, something of which to be proud,
 
 APPENDIX. 757 
 
 something over which we may, and should, rejoice with a patriot's 
 joy. And in all the years that are before us, during which (as we may 
 rationally hope) our regenerated nation is to stand before the world as 
 this marble shaft stands on yonder hill, no longer, like Nebuchadnez- 
 zar's image, part of iron and part of clay, but homogeneous throughout, 
 
 pure, erect, symmetrical, and strong, based upon the eternal gran, 
 ite of justice and freedom, and crowned with the proud symbol of our 
 nationality, spreading its guardian wings over the whole ; in all these 
 coming years it will be an occasion of grateful pride for our children, 
 and our children's children, to point to this marble emblem of our na- 
 tion's purity and power, as a monument to the patriotism of Reading 
 in the dark days of our country's peril. 
 
 And while recording the patriotism of the past, may it perpetuate 
 this same spirit for the future. May it inspire our young men with a 
 new readiness for self-sacrifice and a new love for their country. May 
 it aid them to see and to feel that it is a noble thing to suffer or to die 
 in the cause of humanity. May it teach them may it teach us all 
 that, precious as are life and home and friends, there are things far 
 more precious still ; and that no price is too great to pay for personal 
 manhood and nobility, or for the triumph of national righteousness and 
 constitutional freedom. 
 
 ODE BY MRS. P. H. HANAFORD. 
 
 Air " Pleyel's Hymn." 
 
 To this sacred spot we come, 
 Half triumphant, half in gloom, 
 Thinking of the brave and blest 
 Gone to share a patriot's rest 
 
 Now the marble shaft we rear, 
 Hero-names recorded there, 
 Telling to all coming Time 
 Of their patriot deeds sublime. 
 
 And though far from us repose 
 Some that bravely met our foes, 
 Near or far, they all shall be 
 Honored by the pure and free. 
 
 Lord ! may we life's conflict meet, 
 As they went, with willing feet ; 
 Crowned as victors may we rise, 
 Meet our brave ones in the skies '
 
 758 APPENDIX. 
 
 HYMN BY MISS ELIZA EVANS. 
 
 Tune" Shining Shore." 
 
 Our fall'n heroes, glorious dead ! 
 
 In Freedom's cause enduring ; 
 Through toil, privation, prisons, death, 
 
 Our liberties securing. 
 For them we raise the sculptured pile, 
 
 Their names we '11 fondly cherish 
 With deep devotion in our hearts, 
 
 When other names shall perish. 
 
 When in the nation's darkest hour, 
 
 Rank Treason's host assailed, 
 Then Freedom's champions quick arose, 
 
 And mightily prevailed. 
 Oppression from her seat was hurled, 
 
 And Right became victorious ; 
 And lasting days of peace shall crown 
 
 The victory so glorious. 
 
 The loved have fall'n, the true and brave 
 
 The fearful numbers swelling : 
 Our mourning households, stricken, lone, 
 
 The tale of woe are telling. 
 On battle plain, by treason slain, 
 
 Their precious dust is sleeping ; 
 God knows His own, and He, our trust, 
 
 That hallowed dust is keeping. 
 
 Our Honored Dead ! let history's page 
 
 Record their deeds of glory, 
 That generations yet unborn 
 
 May know, and read the story. 
 When with our Heroes we shall meet, 
 
 Beside the peaceful river, 
 To God, our great Deliverer's praise, 
 
 We '11 strike our harps forever. 
 
 JAMES S. CAMPBELL, ^ 
 SOLON A. PARKER, > Trustees. 
 JOSEPH L. PRATT, )
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 759 
 
 O. 
 
 NAMES OF THE OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS 
 
 OF DWELLING-HOUSES IN THE FIRST PARISH (NOW WAKEFIEI.D) IN 1765, WITH 
 
 THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO OCCUPIED THE SAME HOUSES, OR 
 
 SITES, IN 1795, IN I8l2 AND IN '865, OR LATER. 
 
 1765. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Hobby. 
 Samuel Poole. 
 James Barrett. 
 Eben'r Nichols. 
 John Vinton. 
 Cornelius Wotton. 
 
 Sam'l Felch. 
 Michael Sweetser. 
 Isaac Smith. 
 Benja. Smith. 
 Jona. Evans. 
 Daniel Gould. 
 Richard Upham, 
 Wm. Green, Sen'r. 
 Wm. Green, Jr. 
 Thos. Green. 
 Capt. Dan'l Green. 
 Do. old house. 
 Lt. John Walton. 
 James Smith. 
 John Smith. 
 Amos Boardman. 
 
 1795. 
 
 Rev. Caleb Prentiss. 
 Wid. Sam'l Poole. 
 Nathan Eaton. 
 Thos. Rayner. 
 
 Vinton. 
 
 Cornelius Sweetser. 
 
 Paul Sweetser. 
 Reuben Eaton. 
 
 Sweetser. 
 
 Dr. John Hart. 
 Ebenezer Smith. 
 Jona. Evans. 
 
 Gould. 
 
 Wid. Spear. 
 Aaron Green. 
 Aaron Green. 
 Daniel Green. 
 
 Green. 
 
 Daniel Green. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 H. Richardson. 
 T. Emerson. 
 Benj. Emerson. 
 
 Capt. Sam Bancroft. Thos. Green. 
 
 Jona. Poole, Jr. 
 Thos. Wiley. 
 Nath. Wiley. 
 Ephr'm Weston. 
 Noah Eaton. 
 Wm. Gould. 
 
 Wm. Stimpson. 
 Thos. Burnap. 
 
 Thos. Emerson. 
 Joseph Underwood. 
 Dr. Oliver Swain, 
 
 Do. 
 
 Thos. Parker. 
 Nath. Swain. 
 Capt. John Swain 
 
 and son. 
 
 Jeremiah Brown. 
 Nath. Brown. 
 John Walton. 
 Jotham Walton. 
 Jona. Brown. 
 Jona. Cowdry. 
 
 Jona. Poole. 
 James Wiley. 
 Nath. Wiley. 
 
 Lilley Eaton. 
 Wm. Gould. 
 Jere'h Bryant. 
 John Gould. 
 Jere'h Brown. 
 
 John Sweetser. 
 
 Do. 
 Oliver Swain. 
 
 Lewis. 
 
 Dea. T. Parker. 
 Jos. Burditt 
 Jacob Parker. 
 
 Benj. Peters. 
 J. Brown. 
 O. Walton. 
 Oliver Walton. 
 
 Walton. 
 
 Oliver 'Pope. 
 
 1812. 
 
 Burrage Yale. 
 Stephen Hale's Inn. 
 Aaron Bryant 
 John Rayner. 
 Samuel Wiley. 
 Cornelius Sweetser. 
 Joseph Bryant. 
 Paul Sweetser. 
 Pomp Putamia. 
 Paul Sweetser, Jr. 
 Dr. John Hart. 
 Dr. Hart's old house. 
 Samuel Evans. 
 Tenement house. 
 John Waitt 
 Aaron Green. 
 Aaron Green. 
 Chas. Green. 
 Reuben Green. 
 Nathan Green. 
 Beni. Walton. 
 Ezek'l Oliver. 
 T. Emerson. 
 Benj. and Peter 
 
 Emerson 
 Thos. and Jeremiah 
 
 Green. 
 
 Nath'l Wiley. 
 James Wiley. 
 Eli Wiley. 
 Caleb Eaton. 
 Jacob Eaton, 
 'fohn Gould, 
 fere. Bryant 
 Lilley Eaton. 
 Jer'h Brown. 
 
 John Sweetser. 
 
 Do. 
 Thos. Swain. 
 
 T. Parker. 
 Wid. Burditt. 
 Issachar StowelL 
 
 Wid. Peters. 
 John Brown, Jr. 
 Oliver Walton, Jr. 
 ( Hiver Walton. 
 A. Hawkcs. 
 Col. Jas. Hartshorn. 
 
 1865, or later. 
 
 J. F. Hartshorne. 
 Taken down. 
 Aaron Bryant 
 Dr. J. G. Brown. 
 Willis' Building. 
 Quanapowitt House 
 S. O. Richardson. 
 Cyrus Wakefield. 
 Adam Hawkcs. 
 Asa N. Sweetser. 
 Taken down. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Ezekiel Pitman. 
 P. H. Sweetser. 
 Chas. W. Green. 
 James Lord. 
 C. W. Green, 
 Judge Nash. 
 A. Drake, &c. 
 
 Mr. Oliver. 
 Almshouse. 
 
 C. Wakefield 
 Tenement house. 
 Leon'd Wiley. 
 Mrs. David Wiley. 
 Irish family. 
 
 Mrs. Spaulding. 
 Tenement house. 
 Taken down. 
 A. Young. 
 Eunice Eaton. 
 John and William 
 
 Brown. 
 
 Dr. Cushman. 
 Dana Clayes. 
 
 D. Batchelder. 
 A. Foster. 
 Suel Winn. 
 
 Wood. 
 
 Issachar Stowcll's 
 
 old house. 
 Ed. Upton. 
 H. Eaton. 
 
 Austin. 
 
 Oliver Walton, Jr. 
 1). P. Kmc-rson. 
 Col. f. Hartshorn.
 
 766 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 James Emerson. J. Emerson. 
 
 J. Emerson, Jr. 
 
 J. E. Emerson. 
 
 Eben'r Gould, Dan'l Gould. 
 
 Charles Gould. 
 
 Clarissa Gould. 
 
 Capt. John Goodwin. J. Goodwin. 
 
 Wid. J. Nichols. 
 
 J. Eustis. 
 
 Thos. Hay. Amos Boardman. 
 
 Amos Boardman. 
 
 Mrs. Benj. Emerson. 
 
 Dr. Wm. Hay. Dr. John Hay. 
 
 Dr. John Hay. 
 
 
 Thos. Damon. E. Eaton. 
 
 Benj. Swain. 
 
 Mrs. V. Holt 
 
 Benj. Hartshorn. James Hartshorn. 
 
 James and Jer'h 
 
 Jos. Hartshorn. 
 
 
 Hartshorn. 
 
 
 Eben'r Damon. Phineas Parker. 
 
 Suel Winn. 
 
 Mrs. Winn. 
 
 Widow Lambert Will'm Lambert 
 
 David Smith 
 
 Tenement house. 
 
 Jeremiah Bryant. J. Bryant 
 
 Wid. J. Bryant 
 
 Taken down. 
 
 James Bryant Dea. Francis Smith. 
 
 James Bouttell. 
 
 Do. 
 
 Capt Johnson. 
 
 Davis Foster. 
 
 Burnt. 
 
 Nath'l Cowdrey. Nath'l Cowdrey. 
 
 Aaron Cowdrey. 
 
 H. L. Eaton. 
 
 Cap. John Goodwin. James Nichols. 
 
 Wm. Beard & Co. 
 
 M. F. Leslie. 
 
 Joseph Gould. J. Gould. 
 
 Wid. Newhall. 
 
 J. F. Emerson. 
 
 Joseph Emerson. Joseph Emerson. 
 
 Eben'r Nelson. 
 
 Hon. Tho. Emerson. 
 
 John Batchelder. T. Evans. 
 
 Thos. Evans. 
 
 Tenement house. 
 
 Munroe, formerly of NewhalL 
 
 Wm. Stimpson. 
 
 Mrs. F. B. Eaton. 
 
 Nichols. 
 
 i 
 
 
 John Batchelder. J. Nutting. 
 
 Jos. Corditt 
 
 Removed. 
 
 Gen. Benj. Brown. B. Brown, Esq. 
 
 Thos. Clement 
 
 Lucius Beebe. 
 
 Joseph Brown. J. Smith. 
 
 Do. farm-house. 
 
 Taken down. 
 
 John Pratt Wid. Nichols, of 
 
 Tenement house. 
 
 L. Beebe. 
 
 Salem. 
 
 
 
 Dea. B'wn Emerson. Wid. Edes. 
 
 James Gould. 
 
 Dr. F. P. Kurd. 
 
 John Nichols. David Smith. 
 
 Noah Smith. 
 
 Tenement C. W. 
 
 James Woodward. T. Stimpson. 
 
 Penniman&Tileston. 
 
 W. Stimpson's heirs. 
 
 Wm. Eaton. Hill. 
 
 Cornelius Sweetser. 
 
 
 Ensign Hopkinson. Dea. Hopkins. 
 
 Joseph Hopkins. 
 
 E. Sumner Hopkins. 
 
 P. 
 
 DEDICATION OF WAKEFIELD HALL. 
 
 The dedicatory exercises of the new Town House occurred on 
 Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1871. 
 
 The day was pleasant, fulfilling in this respect the fondest anticipa- 
 tions, and the fact that it was the anniversary of Washington's birth 
 made the selection all the more appropriate. 
 
 Though business in town was generally suspended, the stores closing 
 at an early hour, our streets throughout the entire day never presented 
 a more animated appearance. Visitors were present, not only from 
 the towns adjoining, but from Lynn, Chelsea, Cambridge, Salem, Pea- 
 body, and other places even more distant. 
 
 The mansion of Mr. Wakefield was open during the day, and hospi- 
 talities were dispensed to all visitors. 
 
 Though the exercises did not commence until two o'clock, the people 
 began to assemble at the building at half-past twelve ; and when the 
 doors were opened, at half-past one, a vast audience had assembled, 
 who eagerly made their way through the spacious entrance and up the
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 7 6l 
 
 wide stairways, and in less than fifteen minutes every available seat 
 and standing -position in the Hall was occupied, the galleries being 
 filled with the delighted, expectant faces of the children from the public 
 schools. Every aisle, nook, and corner, together with the stairways, 
 corridors, and anterooms, were thronged ; and the number present 
 could not have been less than two thousand. 
 
 In the centre of the rear gallery was stationed the Wakefield Brass 
 Band. 
 
 At the appointed time the President of the day, Hon. P. H. Sweet- 
 ser, Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., the town officers, and distinguished in- 
 vited guests, made their appearance on the .stage. 
 
 The exercises commenced by the playing of " Hail Columbia " by 
 the Band. 
 
 Mr. Sweetser then said : 
 
 FELLOW-CITIZENS : On this national holiday, this anniversary of the 
 birthday of Washington, we have assembled to dedicate this edifice. 
 The service seems to me eminently appropriate to the day ; for I re- 
 gard this splendid structure, with all its grand purposes, one of tl\e 
 legitimate fruits of the free, paternal government of our country, a 
 government under which laudable ambition and worthy enterprise are 
 better stimulated and rewarded* than in any other country on the face 
 of the globe ; a government, for which and all its attendant bless- 
 ings, we are under greater obligation to Washington than to any other 
 human being. It is proper on this occasion that we acknowledge the 
 Infinite Giver of all our benefits. 
 
 Prayer was then offered by Rev. Charles R. Bliss, after which " Hail 
 to Thee, Liberty," was finely sung by a select Choir. 
 
 The following Report of the Building Committee was then submitted 
 by the Secretary, Daniel Allen, Esq. : 
 
 FELLOW-CITIZENS : It will be well remembered that, during the year 
 1867, the erection of a Soldiers' Monument and the building of a new 
 Town House were matters that were freely discussed among our citi- 
 zens, and that during the year a Soldiers' Monument Association was 
 organized, and a small amount of funds raised towards carrying out 
 the purposes of the Association. 
 
 At a town-meeting held April 15, 1867, an article appeared in the 
 
 warrant, to see what action the town would take in regard to erecting 
 
 a Soldiers' Monument ; and the subject was disposed of by choosing a 
 
 Committee, consisting of Hon. Lilley Eaton, B. F. Bancroft, James M. 
 
 96
 
 762 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Sweetser, James F. Mansfield, P. H. Sweetser, James Oliver, Cyrus 
 Wakefield, and Dr. S. O. Richardson, to take the whole matter into con- 
 sideration, and report at the next town meeting. * 
 
 At a town-meeting held Nov. 2, 1867, the above committee reported, 
 that they had not been able to agree upon any definite plan in regard 
 to a monument, and requested further time to consider the subject. 
 
 At a town-meeting held Jan. 20, 1868, the committee reported, in- 
 stead of the erection of a Soldiers' Monument, that they had the pleas- 
 ure to say to the town, that one of our patriotic and generous citi- 
 zens had proposed to the town, through the committee, to donate to 
 it a lot of land on the Noah Smith lot, on Main Street, of suitable 
 size and surroundings for a Town House ; also, in addition to the 
 above donation, a sum not less than Thirty Thousand Dollars, and 
 an additional sum of Five Thousand more, if necessary for the pur- 
 pose of erecting a Town House, of sufficient capacity to furnish a suit- 
 able Hall for town-meetings and public lectures, a Soldiers' Memorial 
 Hall, Room for the Town Library, Town Officers' Rooms, and Rooms 
 for Military and Municipal purposes. 
 
 This committee also reported that another of our wealthy and lib- 
 eral citizens proposed to donate the sum of One Thousand Dollars, 
 provided the house was located on said Noah Smith lot, for the purpose 
 of adorning and furnishing the new Town House. 
 
 The town then unanimously voted to accept both of the munificent 
 donations, and with much enthusiasm passed a vote of thanks to the 
 generous donors. At the suggestion of Mr. Wakefield, a Building 
 Committee was chosen to carry out his proposition to the town, and 
 the following persons were chosen that committee : Cyrus Wakefield, 
 Dr. Solon O. Richardson, Hon. Lilley Eaton, Daniel Allen, P. H. 
 Sweetser, Dr. J. D. Mansfield, and Thomas Emerson, Jr. 
 
 FEBRUARY 22. The committee met at the house of Dr. S. O. Rich- 
 ardson, and organized by the choice of P. H. Sweetser as Chairman 
 and Daniel Allen as Secretary. Mr. Wakefield then gave the commit- 
 tee some general outlines of his plans and ideas of the building he 
 contemplated erecting for the town, and proposed, at the next meeting 
 of the committee, to present to them full and complete plans of the 
 building. At the next meeting of the committee, full and complete 
 plans were presented, of a building much more elaborate and expen- 
 sive than the committee supposed was intended by the donor. After 
 a very full examination and explanation of the plans, the committee 
 unanimously voted to leave the whole subject of the erection of the 
 building to the liberal donor.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The committee would further report : that thus far the expense of 
 the building to the town is : Services of the Building Committee, by 
 a vote of the tcAvn to serve without pay Nothing. Paid by the town 
 for land and building Nothing. It will thus be seen that the posi- 
 tion of the committee has been somewhat novel, but easy and pleas- 
 ant. No funds to spend, no early or late suppers, no junketings ; but, 
 with our fellow-citizens, to quietly look on and witness the erection of 
 this noble edifice, much more expensive than was proposed by the 
 donor, fully satisfactory as well as gratifying to the committee, as we 
 feel it must be to all our fellow-citizens. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted in behalf of the committee. 
 
 DANIEL ALLEX, Secretary. 
 WAKEFIELD, Feb. 22, 1871. 
 
 The reading of the report being concluded, Mr. Allen then read 
 the deed, by which Mr. Wakefield conveyed the building to the town , 
 as follows : 
 
 Whereas, I, Cyrus Wakefield, of the Town of Wakefield, in the County 
 of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in consideration 
 of my attachment to the place in which I have established and con- 
 ducted the business by which I am enabled to make the gift hereinaf- 
 ter set forth, and in recognition of the honor conferred on me by my 
 fellow-citizens, in giving my name to said Town, have recently erected 
 upon the parcel of land herein described, a building designed for a 
 Town House and for municipal uses ; but also with the desire and 
 intent that such portions thereof as are adapted thereto shall be from 
 time to time devoted to use for patriotic, charitable, scientific, military, 
 literary, aesthetic, educational, moral, and religious purposes, and for 
 meetings, lectures, and addresses promotive thereof ; and whereas I 
 desire to present the said land and building as a free and unrestricted 
 gift to said Town for its acceptance : 
 
 Now, in consideration of one dollar to me paid, the receipt whereof 
 is hereby acknowledged, 1, the said Cyrus Wakefield, do hereby give, 
 grant, and convey unto the said town of Wakefield, the parcel of land 
 situated within said town, bounded and described as follows, viz. : 
 
 Westerly by Main Street ; southerly by Water Street ; northerly by 
 a new street fifty feet in width recently laid out by me ; and easterly 
 by a street sixty feet in width recently laid out by me ; together with 
 the Town Hall thereon erected by me, and all the rights, privileges, 
 easements, and appurtenances thereto belonging. To have and to hold 
 the same to the said town of Wakefield, to its use forever, for die 
 and purposes above set forth.
 
 764 APPENDIX. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I, the said Cyrus Wakefield, with Eliza A. 
 Wakefield, my wife, in token of her release of all right of homestead 
 and of dower in the above granted premises, have hereto set our hands 
 and seals, this twenty-second day of February, A. D. eighteen hundred 
 and seventy-one. 
 
 Inpresenceof "< : * CYRUS WAKEFIELD. 
 
 THOMAS RUSSELL, to c. w. ELIZA A. WAKEFIELD. 
 
 CEO. H. WORTHLEY, to E. A. W. 
 
 MIDDLESEX ss., Feb. 22, 1871. 
 
 Then personally appeared the above named Cyrus Wakefield, and 
 acknowledged the foregoing to be his free act and deed. 
 
 Before me, 
 
 LILLEY EATON, Justice of the Peace. 
 
 The reading of the deed was received with shouts of prolonged and 
 enthusiastic applause. 
 
 The President then introduced Cyrus Wakefield, Esq., whose appear- 
 ance was the signal for renewed cheering, waving of handkerchiefs, 
 and demonstrative greetings such as are seldom witnessed. Mr. 
 Wakefield delivered the following address, in a voice clear and distinct, 
 every syllable of which was heard to the remotest corner of the hall : 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : 
 
 The occasion which has called us together to-day is one of peculiar 
 interest to me, as I doubt not it is to all of my fellow-townsmen here 
 assembled, marking, as it does, a fresh event iri the growth and 
 progress of this town, which has always sustained an enviable reputa- 
 tion for its enterprise in all that pertains to the industrial interests of 
 a community, as well as for its maintenance of everything which affects 
 the welfare of society in education, law, and religion. 
 
 Every thoughtful member of society, whatever may be his occupation, 
 his religious creed, or bias in politics, knows that the happiness and 
 welfare of a community are wholly dependent on the virtue and intel- 
 ligence of its members. Eyery well-wisher to society, then, should do 
 all in his power to encourage and sustain the various means adapted 
 to secure to every man, woman, and child, intelligence, refinement, well 
 being, usefulness, and virtue. 
 
 Early instruction at the fireside of home, and at the village school, 
 deeply imbued my mind with the value of education, a blessing 
 which is imperishable. " It is," as has been well said, " a companion 
 which no misfortune can depress, no clime destroy, no enemy alienate,
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 765 
 
 no despotism enslave ; at home a friend, abroad an introduction ; in 
 solitude a solace, in society an ornament." "Whence," said one of the 
 most distinguished promoters of education in Massachusetts, " whence 
 have come all those mechanical and scientific improvements and 
 inventions which have enriched the world with so many comforts, and 
 adorned it with so many beauties ; which to-day give enjoyment and 
 luxuries to a common family in a New England village, which neither 
 Queen Elizabeth of England nor any of her proud court ever dreamed 
 of, but a little more than two centuries ago ? All history and expe- 
 rience affirm that they have come, and must come, from the people 
 among whom education is most generous and unconfined. These are 
 the results which you can no more have without common education, 
 without imbuing the public mind with the elements of knowledge, than 
 you can have corn without planting, or harvests without sunshine." 
 
 This truth is obvious to every qne who has been a student of the 
 history and growth of our civilized community. And for myself I can 
 truly say, that though from early youth to the present time my life has 
 been one of constant, daily activity in business pursuits, yet have I 
 never lost sight of the fact that all the blessings of social life are given 
 us on one condition, that of intelligence, viz. education intellectual, 
 moral, and religious. This truth, indelibly stamped upon my mind in 
 early life, has been more and more deeply engraven there by the obser- 
 vation and reflection of maturer years. And to-day, more than ever 
 before, do I love and respect that time-honored institution estab- 
 lished by our fathers almost at the moment they set foot upon this, our 
 New England soil. I mean the common school. We are all proud of 
 our free public schools, and justly so ; for they make education 
 co-extensive with the community. They place the children of the rich 
 and the poor on a level, as regards the advantages of intellectual 
 culture. It is education, and it ends in general intelligence, which 
 makes labor reputable and the laborer respected ; a result, which in 
 this country gives the workingmen a place in society, not merely as 
 laborers, furnishing for others the comforts and luxuries of life, 
 but as MEN, claiming an equal share in all the domestic, civil, and 
 religious privileges of freemen. 
 
 Out of universal education come talent, skill, and enterprise. All 
 the improvements in mechanical and useful arts, whether in greater or 
 smaller operations, come as directly from intelligence as the light from 
 the sun. The pursuits and attainments which constitute, adorn, and 
 elevate civilized life, wherever a sound education is given, grow up 
 as naturally as an oak grows out of an acorn.
 
 766 APPENDIX. 
 
 The various and almost infinite improvements in machinery, in 
 implements of husbandry, and all those ingenious inventions which have 
 enriched this part of the country, and helped to build up the pros- 
 perity of other communities, as well as our own, have come from minds 
 which have had an early awakening by being put on scientific trains of 
 thought in the common school. 
 
 The late Hon. Edward Everett, when Governor of this State, in a 
 public address on education, exhorted the fathers and mothers of Mas- 
 sachusetts in these words : " Save," said he, " save, spare, scrape, stint, 
 starve, do anything but steal, to educate your children." And I doubt 
 not that every father and mother in this audience heartily responds to 
 this sentiment of Massachusetts' great scholar and statesman. Yes, 
 
 " 'T is education forms the common mind." 
 
 Domestic training and the public schools are the means of moulding 
 the mind. They give the first impulse and direction to the thoughts 
 and cast to the feelings of the young. They are the springs or fountain- 
 heads of education. From them commences the flow of that stream 
 of virtue and intelligence in youth, which, as we grow to maturity, 
 widens and deeps by the influx of its many tributaries, until it becomes 
 the majestic river, in its onward course to swell the great sea of univer- 
 sal knowledge. 
 
 When we leave the public school our education is, as it were, just 
 begun. We have but come into possession of that rudimentary knowl- 
 edge which awakens the mind to a desire for higher attainments, and 
 gives it the power of progress. On leaving the school we enter upon the 
 various occupations of life, its duties and responsibilities. But the 
 mind hungers and thirsts for knowledge, and needs its natural aliment 
 for daily sustenance and growth, as much as the body. The advantages 
 of higher institutions of learning, of colleges and universities, are 
 available to but few. To meet, therefore, this need and demand 
 of the great body of the people, it is necessary that such means 
 and institutions for mental advancement should be established 
 in every community as will not interfere with the daily vocations 
 of life, and such as can be made available at a small cost. Hence 
 have arisen the evening school, the Sunday school, and the town 
 library, accessible to all. We have also the cheap weekly and 
 monthly periodicals, and that great educator, the daily newspaper, 
 all of which are placed within the reach of every class of the commu- 
 nity, and, thanks to our public schools, can be understood and appre-
 
 ATP END IX. 
 
 767 
 
 ciated by all, the mechanic, the firmer, and the day-laborer, as well 
 as the professional scholar. We have, also, for the advancement of 
 education, discourses delivered, sermons preached, conventions held, 
 and associations formed. And one of the most popular and important 
 means for the promotion of general intelligence, for preserving from 
 neglect or perversion the knowledge acquired in the public school, for 
 enlarging its boundaries and strengthening its foundations, is the 
 lyceum. Through its lectures, disquisitions, and discussions, the 
 lyceum becomes a powerful educational force. Here, in a few hours 
 and for a small price, we are presented with the results of years of 
 hard study and research, as conducted by the ablest thinkers, investi- 
 gators, and explorers in the vast realms of science, history, and philos- 
 ophy ; and not less so with the practical fruits of personal application 
 and inventive industry which are gleaned by the diligent hand of the 
 artisan. 
 
 It is here we are instructed in many of the most important points, in 
 all departments of useful and entertaining knowledge, whether within 
 the range of science, strictly so called, or miscellaneous and useful in- 
 formation. The great leading truths of abstract science are here 
 brought down to their direct and useful applications, in all the varied 
 forms which the actual business of life or the interesting associations 
 of thought prescribe for our guidance. 
 
 Discussion and investigation of such themes, it is needless to say, 
 serve equally the purpose of advancing, in degree, the field of human 
 knowledge, and of enlarging" and enriching our sources of true and 
 noble enjoyment. 
 
 To the observer of human progress throughout New England, the 
 fact is familiar that the foundation of a village library is often found to 
 be the first of a long succession of onward steps in the general diffu- 
 sion of knowledge, whether popular or scientific. But for the full ac- 
 complishment of the purposes of the benevolent founders of such in- 
 stitutions, the addition to the village library of a permanent course of 
 instructive lectures has always been found indispensable. And wher- 
 ever, in the local history of our communities, the order just referred to 
 has been inverted, and a course of popular lectures on the applications 
 of science has taken the lead, the establishment of a library has always 
 been sure to follow as a result. A judicious course of lectures natur- 
 ally leads the general mind to an earnest desire for opportunities for 
 acquiring more thorough and extensive knowledge on the subjects 
 whose elements have been successfully presented. 
 
 In many of our New England villages, accordingly, the village
 
 /fc>8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 library and the lyceum course of lectures have gone on, hand in hand, 
 mutually strengthening and enlarging each other. Hence the New 
 England village of to-day so often proves itself the worthy successor of 
 that whose foundations were laid amid the uncertainties and deficien- 
 cies of earlier times. Nor can we advert to such facts without indul- 
 ging in a glance at what the larger future so surely offers to those who 
 shall succeed us in the cultivation and improvement of all social oppor- 
 tunities of general advancement in enlarging knowledge and its conse- 
 quent advantages. 
 
 In these institutions, then, the library and the lyceum, which 
 throw open their doors of invitation to the whole community, we have 
 secured to us the definite and practical means of a wide and ample 
 diffusion of knowledge and of intellectual enjoyment. 
 
 To secure and make permanent such results, therefore, every town 
 or village needs a building of ample and inviting accommodations, for 
 a library and lyceum hall ; and, my friends, it has been with special 
 reference to this need that the building in which we are now assembled 
 has been erected. And with the confident assurance of your efficient 
 co-operation in advancing the common well-being, it is now thrown 
 open to you, fellow-citizens, for the purposes already mentioned, and 
 placed at your disposal, in whatever form you shall deem most appro- 
 priate for the accomplishment of the purposes to which it is devoted. 
 
 As a body of freemen, it is your social home for the enjoyment of 
 every noble privilege which a gracious Providence has made the pecu- 
 liar blessing of our common New England life, as members of the great 
 national community on the grand footing of equal rights and privileges, 
 the most exalted in their character and the most, enduring in their 
 stability with which humanity has yet been favored. 
 
 In compliance with the arrangements assigned for the occasion, I 
 have little further part to perform than to propose your acceptance of 
 this edifice, as proffered for the purposes already mentioned. May it 
 long continue to benefit you and yours in all the relations of life, 
 civil, social, and individual ! To all your families may it ever prove, on 
 a larger scale, an efficient means to the wider diffusion of social and 
 intellectual enjoyment, when the coming years of our great national 
 future shall have rendered their accumulated additions to the general 
 well-being of humanity ! 
 
 My only remaining duty, in further compliance with the arrange- 
 ments of the day, is to surrender to your trust and keeping, Mr. Chair- 
 man, as a representative of your fellow citizens, in this transaction, 
 the KEYS of this edifice, and, virtually, the control of its future arrange- 
 ments.
 
 APPENDIX. 760 
 
 I hereby, accordingly, give and make over to you, sir, personally, 
 these keys, and with them the sole charge and disposal of these halls, 
 in connection with the purposes for which they were erected. 
 
 Mr. Wakefield closed by formally presenting the title-deed and keys 
 of the building to the Chairman of the Selectmen, Richard Britton, 
 Esq., who replied as follows : 
 
 SIR : It falls to my lot, in behalf of the Board of Selectmen, to ac- 
 cept, in the name of the town, your munificent gift. The offer made 
 by you to the people of Wakefield, some months since, has received a 
 fulfilment which has far exceeded their expectations. You now place 
 at their disposal a public edifice, unsurpassed for the beauty of its 
 architectural designs, the thoroughness of its workmanship, the conven- 
 ience of its numerous apartments, and the elegance of this spacious 
 and magnificent hall. The citizens of Wakefield appreciate the liber- 
 ality which has so far exceeded your first generous proposals, and they 
 honor the public spirit which has provided for the wants of the future 
 in meeting those of the present. They reciprocate your well-known 
 sentiments upon popular education, and the best means of perpetuating 
 its advantages, after the school-room shall have been exchanged for the 
 scenes of active life. The library, the lyceum, and the scientific lec- 
 ture are but the common school carried into maturer years ; and it is 
 a matter of common congratulation that we now have a building so 
 well adjusted to these and other uses. They think with you, also, that 
 the affairs of municipal bodies can be conducted with economy and 
 efficiency only when suitable and safe offices for public business are 
 established under one roof, and within reach of various public records ; 
 and upon the attainment of these objects, so long deferred and so long 
 needed, they congratulate each other. Recent events, too, have taught 
 us all that the world has not yet passed beyond the need of military 
 organizations, and that it is the part of true wisdom to keep in training 
 a small force of drilled soldiers, competent to meet the nation's emer- 
 gencies when they shall arise ; and those same events have laid upon 
 those who survived the terrific shock of war the most solemn obliga- 
 tions to keep fresh and green the memory of those who fell. These 
 objects, too, which commend themselves equally to our patriotism and 
 our grateful memories, have received abundant and faithful care within 
 these walls. And believe me, sir, all classes of our people are deeply 
 thankful to you for a gift so costly and noble in itself, and so well 
 adapted to these already pressing and growing needs. Look into the 
 97
 
 770 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 faces of your neighbors and friends before you : do you not see their 
 gratitude ? Look at the faces of these children in the galleries, who 
 for a generation to come will reap the fruits of your beneficence : do 
 you not read their joy and their thanks ? 
 
 Sir, we accept this noble structure as a sacred trust. May it long 
 stand a monument of your forethought and generosity ! For yourself, 
 sir, may your prosperity continue ; may your widening plans be ful- 
 filled ; may your life be spared till old age shall come, and then may 
 you be gathered in peace and hope to that better land ! 
 
 The following dedicatory hymn, by Hon. P. H. Sweetser, was then 
 sung to the tune of America, by the choir and children of the public 
 schools, under the direction of Solon Walton, Esq., the audience rising 
 and joining in the same : 
 
 Thanks to our God belong ! 
 Praise Him with joyful song, 
 
 Extol his name ! 
 Within this temple's walls, 
 Through its resounding halls, 
 Where'er His mercy falls, 
 
 His love proclaim ! 
 
 May this be Learning's home, 
 Where youth and age shall come 
 
 For precious lore ; 
 For light to shine abroad 
 . Along life's darksome road, 
 Brighter than gift bestowed 
 
 Of shining ore. 
 
 May those who congregate 
 For counsel and debate, 
 
 Within these walls, 
 Exclude all party hate: 
 Loyal to home and state, 
 To truth be consecrate, 
 
 As duty calls. 
 
 A nobler gift we own 
 
 Than other climes have known, 
 
 At princes' cost ! 
 God of our fathers' land, 
 Long may this building stand, 
 In purpose wise and grand, 
 
 Our pride and boast !
 
 APPENDIX. 771 
 
 Speed on the happy day 
 When all shall choose the way 
 
 The wise have trod ; 
 And may this temple be, 
 This offering rich and free, 
 Honored and blest of Thee, 
 
 The mighty God ! 
 
 Hon. Lilley Eaton then delivered the following address: 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : 
 
 Rising to speak, for the first time, from this high position, as I 
 look around upon this multitude of earnest eyes and expectant coun- 
 tenances, this throng of the youth and beauty, the fashion and chivalry, 
 the rank and file of our village and its environs, and find myself stand- 
 ing within these spacious and elaborately finished walls, beneath this 
 lofty ceiling, which is bright and radiant with iridescent and artistic 
 taste and lustre, and realize that I am in the presence of the learned, 
 the honorable, the reverend, the venerable, among statesmen, philos- 
 ophers, and poets ; and when I call to mind the interesting and elo- 
 quent speeches, and animating music, to which we have just been 
 listening, and have respect, in anticipation, to the flowing verse and 
 other exercises that are still to come, with hallowed memories of the 
 sainted and majestic character of him whose honored birthday this is, 
 mingling with other stirring suggestions, although my breast swells 
 with the excitement and inspiration of the occasion, and emotions too 
 big for my utterance seem welling up within me ; yet, in view of all the 
 attendant circumstances, I find myself totally unable to command lan- 
 guage with which to express my emotions, or suited to meet the just 
 expectations of this audience. For here let me say, that I occupy this 
 position, not from any supposed peculiar ability to discharge its duty, 
 but by the favor of the Committee of Arrangements, who in this case, 
 having more regard to age than to talent, have thought that, because I 
 have been somewhat closely identified with the history and progress of 
 the town for the last half-century, it was therefore proper that I should 
 have a place in the programme of exercises on this interesting and 
 crowning occasion ; and in an unguarded moment I assented to the 
 arrangement. I am consoled, however, with the reflection, that what- 
 ever I may lack has already been abundantly supplied by those who 
 have preceded me, and will be more than made up by those who are to 
 follow. 
 
 Mr. President, we have heard, in the report of the Building, Commit-
 
 772 APPENDIX. 
 
 tee, as read by their Secretary, a brief history of the enterprise which 
 culminates in this day's celebration. From that report we learn that 
 our illustrious fellow-citizen, who, some three years ago, proposed to 
 erect, at his own expense, a building suitable for municipal, scientific, 
 and other purposes, and would present the same, with a lot of land, to 
 the town of Wakefield, has most honorably and overflowingly redeemed 
 his promise, and more than met the most sanguine expectations of all. 
 
 We have now witnessed, with pleasing and graceful ceremonies, the 
 conveyance of this splendid property to the town of Wakefield. This 
 beautiful civic temple, with its eligible site and all its numerous, ample, 
 and elegant conveniences, is now all our own. The cost and intrinsic 
 value of the property considerably exceed what the whole real and 
 personal estate of all the inhabitants of the town was appraised at by 
 the town assessors within my own recollection ; and it comes to the 
 town the free gift of the munificent donor. 
 
 We have listened, with much interest and delight, to the eloquent 
 words, the kindly wishes, and the valuable suggestions with which the 
 donor has accompanied the delivery of the title-deed and keys of the 
 premises to the possession and custody of the town authorities ; we 
 have highly enjoyed the pleasant and successful manner in which- the 
 ceremony of the reception thereof has been performed by the chairman 
 of the Board of Selectmen. And we, the people, are now here to ratify 
 the official acceptance, and to signify for ourselves our warmest grati- 
 tude for this rich and noble present ; we are here to consecrate this 
 building, with its appurtenances, to the important objects of its erec- 
 tion ; and with invocations and petitions, with music and poetry, with 
 sentiment and song, to express our joyful congratulations and thanks- 
 giving, and to render to Heaven the tribute of our sincere and devout 
 acknowledgments for the bestowal of that influence that induced our 
 friend to make this princely donation. 
 
 We accept, with modest diffidence and pleasure, the very compli- 
 mentary allusions of the donor to the character and enterprise of his 
 adopted fellow-citizens ; we concur most sincerely with him in his high 
 appreciation of the value and importance, to the rising generation, of 
 education, and an early training in the practical principles of science 
 and art, and the higher principles of morality and virtue, in order to 
 secure an intelligent, moral, skilful, successful, and happy community ; 
 and we fully agree with him in his opinion of the adaptedness of com- 
 mon schools, free libraries, and public, scientific, and moral lectures, to 
 the promotion of such education and training. We rejoice, there- 
 fore, that our friend, who has heretofore contributed to the encour-
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 773 
 
 agement of our schools, has now given this further and signal 
 proof of the sincerity of his convictions, by furnishing such ample 
 arrangements for the public library, public lectures, and other muni- 
 cipal and social purposes, as that now we have accommodation for an 
 indefinite increase of books, maps, pictures, and works of art, and lec- 
 ture room sufficient for the tallest orators. 
 
 Mr. President, I shall not attempt to give a particular, technical 
 description of this fine building and all its numerous accommodations j 
 it is not necessary to do so ; for you have seen it and it speaks for it- 
 self. But I will refer briefly to some of its more important subdivisions 
 and conveniences, and the purposes to which we would consecrate 
 them. 
 
 Behold this beautiful and capacious municipal, civic Hall, with its 
 wide area, its extensive galleries, its comfortable and substantial set- 
 tees, its broad and commanding forum, its adjacent corridors and ante- 
 rooms, its lofty canopy, its elaborate and aesthetic finish, and its capa- 
 city for holding its thousands ! 
 
 The purposes to which we trust this fine room will ever be devoted 
 are municipal, scientific, patriotic, industrial, charitable, social, and 
 moral. Here let the citizens assemble, exercise the right of franchise, 
 transact their municipal business, discuss important local and public 
 questions, and proclaim the principles of American liberty, indepen- 
 dence, and union. Here let the people come to listen to the eloquent 
 and gifted, who shall here pour forth, from time to time, the treasures 
 of knowledge, of science, and of wisdom. Here may the muses 
 delight to resort, and chant the melodious strains of music and poetry. 
 Here may the true spirit of patriotism, of equity, and of philanthropy 
 ever reign and excite. Here upon this stage may our rising youth, 
 catching the inspiration of the place, be trained in those practices of 
 public speaking and debate that shall enable them, in subsequent life, 
 at home or elsewhere, to defend the right with eloquent ability, in what- 
 ever exigency may arise. And may this costly and excellent Hall, now 
 clean and nice, never be desecrated by any low, rude, or immoral occu- 
 pation, but be carefully preserved in its present purity and elegance. 
 
 Below and under this main hall, on either side of the Ionic Hall, 
 with its capital-crowned pillars and tessellated pavement, are other 
 rooms, designed for various important public and useful purposes. On 
 the one side, in front, are rooms for town officers, large, light, and con- 
 venient, with fire-proof safety vaults to protect the municipal records 
 and treasures. On the same side, in the rear, is a large room, con- 
 venient for many civic purposes, sometimes called the court-room,
 
 774 APPENDIX. 
 
 where, we trust, whenever it shall be used as such, the scales of justice 
 in the hands of those whose sacred ermine shall be unsullied, will ever 
 give that " just weight which is the delight of the Lord." On the 
 other side of the Ionic Hall, in front, is the Library Room, of ample 
 size, fitted up with much cost, convenience, and elegance, and with 
 especial reference to providing for a large increase of books, the funds 
 for which are already secured ; where the " Beebe Town Library," so 
 named from a munificent patron, is to be installed, and where the foun- 
 tains of knowledge, bursting forth from ten thousand springs, shall 
 ever flow with refreshing and reviving influences. On the same side, 
 in the rear, is the Soldiers' Memorial Hall, to be decorated and made 
 interesting with tablets of marble, inscriptions, busts, medallions, por- 
 traits, trophies, and other mementoes of the heroes, dead and living, 
 who were connected with the Union army in the late War of the Rebel- 
 lion. These decorations, as yet incomplete, are being furnished from 
 the voluntary contributions of the loyal citizens, and are especially 
 designed to render this hall a place where the names and the memory 
 and the laurels of those young warriors of our town who died for 
 their country and for freedom, shall be kept forever fresh and green ; 
 and where our children and children's children and their successors 
 shall early learn to love patriotism and valor, and to hate cowardice 
 and treason. Above this main hall are rooms for our military bul- 
 wark, where our guardsmen shall deposit their arms, and equipments 
 and where our young men shall meet to stir up one another's brave 
 minds in love of country and of liberty, learn the science of war, and 
 be trained in those exercises that shall qualify and enable them to do 
 in the future as they have repeatedly done in the past, viz. rally at a 
 moment's notice, don their armor, and march to the defence of their 
 country. These military rooms are to be fitted up and furnished in 
 tasty and convenient style from funds generously given by the foster- 
 father of the Richardson Light Guard, the " beloved physician " who 
 has long been a sincere friend and liberal patron of that excellent and 
 popular corps. 
 
 Above also, and adjoining the military rooms, is the social Banquet 
 Hall, roomy and commodious, which we hope will ever be open to all 
 the gatherings of friendship and philanthropy, to all innocent festive 
 occasions, and all useful meetings for which it is adapted. 
 
 And so (without further detail) this whole edifice, with all its many 
 suitable and beautiful appurtenances and belongings, including the 
 latest and most approved modes of heating and warming, is now
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 donated, conveyed, and consecrated to 1>e from henceforth for the free 
 use of the inhabitants of Wakefield for all useful purposes. May we 
 who are the fortunate recipients of this rich gift, and our successors, 
 ever show our gratitude therefor, and our appreciation of its value, by 
 a wise improvement of its facilities. 
 
 Mr. President, let us not forget that this building stands on his- 
 toric, classic, and hallowed ground. Here, one of the early and learned 
 Puritan divines, the second minister of this town, erected his family 
 altar more than two centuries ago ; here he courted the muses, here 
 studied, and went hence to preach philosophy and ethics to the early 
 settlers, and here sought that power his youthful muse to inspire, 
 
 " That touched Isaiah's hallowed lips with fire." 
 
 Here, too, were the birthplace and home of some of the most eminent, 
 honorable, and revered sons of our town. The venerable mansion that 
 was recently removed to give place for this structure, which was the 
 home of that eminent divine, and had sheltered many generations of his 
 successors, still stands in near proximity. Long may it remain, a relic 
 of the olden time and a memento of departed worth ! Let us rejoice 
 that this ancient site is still to be historic and classic ; that in the 
 shadow of that retreating old parsonage this lofty temple has arisen, 
 massive, towering, grand, capacious, convenient, beautiful ; sacred to 
 social, scientific, and moral improvement and happiness. 
 
 Towards heaven it lifts its turret fair, 
 
 With golden dials beaming : 
 The nation's flag is waving there, 
 
 With starry banner streaming. 
 
 Mr. President, while we admire this fine house, in its skilful 
 design and artistic execution, let us not omit to award due credit and 
 commendation to the accomplished architect whose wisdom planned 
 it, and to the ingenious mechanics whose cunning hands have fash- 
 ioned this complete and elegant work ; like the laborers who built 
 Bunker Hill Monument, may they, in the sentiment of the immortal 
 Webster, look up and around here, and be proud of the results of their 
 toil. 
 
 And what shall we say of him, the moving, living cause of the grand 
 result that we this day celebrate ; of him whose generous impulses and 
 wise regard for the people's welfare first originated the plan and objects 
 of this important work ; of him whose inexhaustible generosity and
 
 7/6 APPENDIX. 
 
 apparently inexhaustible purse were fully equal to the utmost extent 
 of the architectural pencil, in its demands for magnitude, proportion, 
 convenience, artistic taste, and beauty ; of him who now turns it all 
 over a free gift to the town of his adoption, the ancient home of his 
 ancestors ; of him who is now the cynosure of all eyes, the exponent 
 of munificence, the Leo of the occasion, our godfather, our name- 
 sake, and our friend? Of- him I am led to exclaim, O fortunate 
 man ! Fortunate in possessing that business skill and enterprise that 
 have enabled him, in honest trade, to amass the means of his un- 
 bounded liberality. Unbounded liberality, we say, for we forget not 
 that this rich gift is only one of many emanating from that abundant 
 liberality on which might justly be inscribed the stately motto, E plu- 
 ribus unum. Fortunate man, we repeat, in having been favored of 
 heaven with a disposition to avail himself of the heavenly sentiment 
 that " it is more blessed to give than to receive " ! Fortunate in being 
 moved to expend his means upon objects of high, generous, and per- 
 manent usefulness, thus securing the power to enjoy the sweetest kind 
 of earthly felicity, viz. a consciousness of having made others wise, 
 useful, and happy ! This sweet felicity may he long live to realize ! 
 Long may he have the delightful satisfaction of witnessing, going 
 forth from the recesses of this beautiful temple, the light of knowledge, 
 of science, and of liberty, and the principles of good order, justice, and 
 philanthropy. And after he shall have become fully rich in the mer- 
 chandise of wisdom, and shall have fully served his generation here 
 below, may he find an abundant entrance and welcome and home in 
 the Celestial Temple, the house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens ; and may the memory of his name and good deeds long live 
 after him, and their influence bless posterity. 
 
 John S. Eaton, Esq., then pronounced the following poem, written 
 by himself for the occasion : 
 
 He who performeth noble deeds, 
 
 Rears temples with his gold, 
 For him the future hath its meeds, 
 
 His fame the centuries hold ! 
 
 And he whose own unaided power 
 
 Makes shining treasure his, 
 Then scatters it, a golden shower, 
 
 The grandest victor is !
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Wearing to-day no regal crown, 
 
 Unheralded by drums, 
 Yet laurelled with a high renown, 
 
 Cyrus the conqueror comes. 
 
 For he, a youth, within the fold 
 
 Of hills that shut him in, 
 Beheld, as on a map unroll'd^ 
 
 The trophies he might win. 
 
 Unfettered, from that mountain door 
 His daring thought outwent ; 
 
 In dreams he held as now, in start 
 Wealth of the Orient 
 
 Uprose the height he fain would tread, 
 Bright flashing in the sun ; 
 
 His tireless steps then upward sped, 
 And the rich prize was won 1 
 
 Now at his wish earth's agents yield ; 
 
 Steam and the winds his slaves, 
 Speeding his forces, myriad-wheeled, 
 
 His products o'er the waves. 
 
 An army marches at his word, 
 
 Guiltless of battle stains ; 
 No sabre in their ranks, nor sword, 
 
 Their only weapons, canes. 
 
 Where'er this powerful army moves, 
 Along these plains of ours. 
 
 Wave musical the leafy groves, 
 And in its footsteps, flowers. 
 
 Their leader's keen, sagacious glance 
 Brings distant thousands near, 
 
 And in the van of their advance, 
 Old landmarks disappear. 
 
 The levelled hill, with smoother sod, 
 
 Discloses lovelier views ; 
 The narrow lane and winding road 
 
 Stretch straight, broad avenues. 
 
 The quaint old roofs of earlier days 
 
 Scarce meet our vision more ; 
 While statelier dwellings in their place 
 
 Embellish slope and shore. 
 98
 
 778 APPENDIX. i 
 
 Thus, while the ancient relics fade, 
 And vanish from our view, 
 
 Our town, in fresher robes arrayed, 
 Prepares to greet the new ! 
 
 March on, transforming army, march, 
 With beauty crown each vale ! 
 
 While we inscribe on laurelled arch, - 
 " Cyrus, the prince, all hail I " 
 
 It stands complete, this promised gift, 
 
 Munificent and fair ; 
 Skyward its pointed turrets lift, 
 
 Cleaving the wintry air. 
 
 Complete each graceful arch and niche, 
 Complete from base to tower ; 
 
 While all its ample walls are rich 
 With scroll and leaf and flower. 
 
 A gift so precious and so grand, 
 
 So excellent and rare, 
 The rhythmic praise at our command 
 
 Seems incomplete and bare. 
 
 We note in this exalted gift, 
 
 One name outshines the rest, 
 As one tall pine may grandly lift 
 
 Above a mountain crest, 
 
 High o'er the trees whose branches throw 
 
 Their shadows at its feet, 
 Yet valued all, the high, the low, 
 
 The landscape to complete ; 
 
 So in this glittering coronet 
 
 We have a central gem, 
 While lesser jewels, proudly set, 
 
 Complete our diadem. 
 
 Secure, these lofty walls shall hold 
 
 Their wealth of classic lore ; 
 Bright gems of thought in leaves of gold, 
 
 A rich, increasing store ; 
 
 A fountain ever full and free, 
 
 Alike for age and youth. 
 Perpetual may its blessings be, 
 
 Drawn from the wells of truth !
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Secure, these guarded vaults retain 
 Their records, worn and brown ; 
 
 The olden records which remain, 
 The archives of the town. 
 
 This ample and attractive room, 
 
 With tasteful colors bright, 
 Shall bring to thousands, as they come, 
 
 An ever new delight 
 
 And from this platform, which we tread 
 
 With diffidence and doubt, 
 Scholastic essays shall be read, 
 
 And polished lines go out ; 
 
 And Music, here, its notes shall lend, 
 
 In melodies most sweet ; 
 Science and Art, congenial, blend, 
 
 To make its charms complete. 
 
 While, over all, in ordered line, 
 Keeping sure watch and ward, 
 
 The burnished barrels, silent, shine, 
 The muskets of the " Guard." 
 
 And here the rich " Memorial Hall " 
 Its precious names shall hold ; 
 
 Its roll of honor, 'neath the pall ; 
 Its heroes, framed in gold. 
 
 Their fame shall fadeless marbles tell 
 Through all the coming time, 
 
 Who 'neath the Starry Banner fell, 
 And made their deaths sublime. 
 
 New lustre, then, shall gild their names, 
 As the bright years increase, 
 
 Who died in battle's awful flames 
 To give their children Peace. 
 
 And here, on freedom's holy ground, 
 Her green slopes bright with dew, 
 
 For earnest souls, it shall be found, 
 Peace hath her triumphs, too. 
 
 Marches progressive, now begun, 
 Will test the zeal of youth ; 
 
 For he with tireless steps must run 
 That holds the race with Truth ! 
 
 779
 
 780 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Future on the glorious heights 
 
 Marshals her shining ones, 
 And to the fields of bloodless fights 
 
 Summons her fearless sons. 
 
 Her white tents grace the shadowy hill ; 
 
 I see her camp-fires gleam ; 
 I hear her bugles, echoing shrill 
 
 From mountain-peak and stream ; 
 
 I hear the mustering of the hosts, 
 Her thousands fair and strong, 
 
 To reach the high, commanding posts, 
 For conflict with the Wrong. 
 
 Those legions, girt with strength from Heaven, 
 
 And panoplied^in light, 
 To them, rich conquests shall be given, 
 
 The victories of Right I 
 
 While the procession of the years 
 
 Its steady march shall keep, 
 In time with the revolving spheres, 
 
 In their sublimer sweep, 
 
 Here may this massive temple stand, 
 
 Unmarred its walls and pave, 
 Memorial, undecayed and grand, 
 
 Of princely hands which gave ; 
 
 Bearing its treasures rich and fair 
 
 Unstained as in their prime, 
 With all its cherished emblems, there, 
 
 Down to the latest time ! 
 
 Greet it, earliest light of the dawn ; 
 
 Let it bathe in the golden day ; 
 And radiant tints, from the sunset drawn, 
 
 On its turrets linger and play ! 
 
 " These moments entrancing," was next sung by the choir. The Pres- 
 ident, Hon. P. H. Sweetser, then made the following congratulatory 
 address: \ 
 
 It was said of Hannibal that all he needed to complete his martial 
 virtue was, that when he had gained a victory he should know how to 
 use it. I think, .ladies and gentlemen, we shall not stiy of our distin-
 
 APPENDIX. 78! 
 
 guished fellow-citizen, to whom we are indebted for this splendid and 
 commodious edifice, that, having gained treasures, he does not know 
 how to use them. 
 
 It has been common for those who possess great wealth to hold on 
 to it, as with a miser's grasp, until, in the providence of God> their 
 palsied hands must let it go ; and then, perchance, to leave it to con- 
 tentious heirs, or bequeath it in some direction where the half of it 
 never should be heard of more. 
 
 The pious Baxter put aside a sum of money with which he intended 
 to endow a school. By some fatality the money was all lost. He 
 blamed himself for the misfortune, and resolved never to defer another 
 opportunity for doing good. 
 
 Our late distinguished fellow-countryman, Mr. Peabody, is widely 
 known and honored for his more than princely benefactions. He 
 seemed to appreciate the poet's sentiment, that charity is twice blessed, 
 blessing him that gives and him that takes ; he seemed to believe that 
 money invested for the well-being of mankind returns a higher and 
 surer interest than stocks and bonds ; that while commerce brings gold, 
 generosity makes it permanent fain. 
 
 Other wealthy individuals, prompted, I trust, by the precepts and 
 example of Him who went about doing good, are performing noble 
 deeds by contributing of their ample means to promote the welfare of 
 their fellow-men. 
 
 I congratulate you, fellow-citizens, that we are the recipients of a 
 costly bounty, and that we receive it from one of our own citizens, 
 whose worthy ambition, and splendid enterprise, and public spirit, and 
 liberal hand have won for him the treasures and the honors he enjoys. 
 
 We did not expect, when we heard that a Town Hall would be 
 erected for us, such a temple as this. It is builded costlier and better 
 than we knew. What the giver intended, I cannot say ; but he has given 
 us a surprise. Surprises are sometimes dangerous. Let us endeavor 
 to bear this with becoming fortitude, and turn it to the best account. 
 
 You are aware that this is not the first token of Mr. Wakefield's re- 
 gard for the interests of the town. The beautiful diploma, which, for 
 several years, our High School graduates have received, and which 
 those who hereafter graduate will receive, is an evidence of his desire 
 to stimulate the young in the pursuit of knowledge, and of his appreci- 
 ation of the value of education. His address, to which we have all 
 listened with delight, ciearly evinces that the education of the people 
 is an object very precious in his sight. 
 
 Mr. Peabody, to whom I have alluded, on a public occasion ex-
 
 782 APPENDIX. 
 
 pressed the following sentiment : " Education a debt due from pres- 
 ent to future generations." I know that this sentiment has the hearty 
 approval of Mr. Wakefield ; that it is, indeed, his sentiment. I know 
 it is his desire that this town especially, whose educational reputation 
 first attracted his attention and induced him to locate here, shall pre- 
 serve and increase its educational privileges, and transmit them to its 
 future generations. 
 
 And I rejoice that his liberality is not restricted by the limits of a 
 town ; his public spirit and his generous purse are known abroad ; his 
 generosity is becoming chronic. Who will remonstrate if it become 
 contagious ? If our ever-vigilant Chief Magistrate should learn that it 
 was spreading into other towns in the Commonwealth, especially in the 
 form in which it is presented to our delighted vision here to-day, I do 
 not believe he would hasten to appoint Commissioners to stay its prog- 
 ress ; but that, instead, he would exclaim, " All right ! Let it spread ! " 
 
 In the old Town Hall the first that I remember, and that in which 
 many of us cast our first ballots there was but a single room, and a 
 single key gave entrance to all its accommodations. A large bunch of 
 keys is required to open the various halls and rooms of this commodi- 
 ous structure. It is a noble edifice, grand in purpose, admirable in 
 design, costly and beautiful in build and finish ; an honor to the town 
 of Wakefield, and to the renowned old Commonwealth of Massachu- 
 setts. 
 
 For myself, as a citizen of the town, I thank the noble donor for his 
 munificent benefaction. For the more than four thousand inhabitants 
 of the town of Wakefield, I tender heartfelt, earnest thanks. And I 
 am justified in saying that the people's gratitude to Mr. Wakefield will 
 increase, as the privileges and blessings he has conferred upon them 
 shall be accepted and enjoyed. 
 
 I cannot doubt that the citizens of the town will receive the gift with 
 a desire, and with the purpose to regard the donor's wishes in relation 
 to its use. And I know his aspirations will be satisfied, if the keys 
 which unlock these material doors shall be the medium to unlock 
 human hearts ; to open to the light of truth and knowledge immaterial 
 and imperishable minds. 
 
 The Secretary of the Building Committee, Mr. Allen, here read a 
 letter from His Excellency Gov. Claflin, regretting his inability to share 
 in the delights of the occasion. 
 
 Dr. George B. Loring, of Salem, was introduced to the audience, 
 and spoke as follows :
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 783 
 
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : 
 
 I have listened with great interest to the exercises of the afternoon, 
 in which your own citizens have in graceful and appropriate phrase 
 dedicated the gift which your generous townsman has made, and 
 around which he has woven his own well-expressed views upon the 
 value and importance of education to a free community. 
 
 But it is not alone the liberality of him who has presented this beau- 
 tiful hall to the town which bears his name, that we are called upon to 
 remember ; for there is a significance in the gift itself which should not 
 escape our notice. The earth is strewn with representative and signifi- 
 cant structures, designed to mark the memorable events of history, or 
 to perpetuate the memory of the great and good;' or adapted to the 
 civilization by which they are surrounded. The forms of heroes have 
 been preserved with ideal beauty in marble and bronze ; to the mem- 
 ory of saints has the grandeur of churches and cathedrals arisen ; to 
 gratify a depraved and savage taste, the splendors of the amphitheatre 
 have been dedicated ; to mark the lines of social distinction, gorgeous 
 and resplendent halls have been devoted. To art and architecture do 
 we owe the elaborate and interesting records which man has left be- 
 hind him of his religious faith, his personal distinction, his social rela- 
 tions, and his civil institutions. All around us stand the monuments 
 which he has erected to himself, to society, the church, and the state. 
 Among these significant structures shall stand this building, which you 
 now dedicate to the intellectual and civil service of this town. Here 
 may the inquiring mind find opportunity to traverse the paths of knowl- 
 edge, led by those who, in the form of public address, would instruct 
 their fellow-men. Here may the municipal duties of this thriving and 
 prosperous town be discharged in a manner worthy of intelligent free- 
 men, clothed with the responsibilities of citizenship. Tell me, if you 
 can, what nobler structure can arise than that which has for its founda- 
 tion the cultivated mind and the broadest civil freedom of an American 
 community. Nowhere but in our own land is a place to be found for 
 such a public edifice, r a hall for popular lectures, and a citadel for the 
 defence of the highest popular rights. You may well congratulate 
 yourselves on the possession. You may well congratulate yourselves 
 that prosperity has attended the path of one who knows so well how to 
 use her gifts. 
 
 To the old and the young I would commend the example of your 
 benefactor. Recognizing the privileges which are the inheritance of 
 every American, he has done what he could to perpetuate them. An 
 enterprising citizen, he would develop an enterprising town. I am
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sure he learned in his youth the value of public instruction and the 
 advantages to be derived from courteous demeanor in public places. 
 And we have before us a noble illustration of that mature wisdom and 
 philanthropy which gave Wakefield a name, and opened these ample 
 doors for the instruction and elevation of her people. 
 
 Judge Thomas Russell, collector of the port of Boston, who was intro- 
 duced as " a citizen of no mean city," made the subjoined address : 
 
 MY FRIENDS : I am glad to have the opportunity of joining with you 
 as you dedicate this magnificent building to free government, to loyalty, 
 and to enlarged education. The sunshine without is reflected on your 
 faces ; and how happily you have united the past, present, and future. 
 We are all enjoying the present ; Mr. Eaton has told us of the past ; 
 and when you announce the Governor of the Commonwealth, and then 
 call upon Dr. Loring for a speech, you certainly borrow from the future. 
 
 But what shall I say ? As I looked at your long order of exercises, 
 . all to be exhausted before dinner, I thought not of your poet, but of 
 Gray's famous ode on " A Distant Prospect of Eton." Yet variety and 
 fitness have made the exercises seem short ; and I am still without a 
 subject. I looked to the children in the galleries, and thought how 
 soon this town would be ruled by these boys and girls. (O wise 
 forethought ! which doubled the size of this hall, so that the men in a 
 few years might bring their wives and sisters with them to town-meet- 
 ing.) I was glad, not only to see the boys, but to hear them. Even 
 their shrillest whistles reminded me of the young declaimer, who thus 
 repeated a famous passage of Chatham : " The poor man's house 
 is his castle ; the wind may whistle round it ; but the King of England 
 cannot whistle in it." Long life to these young republicans, and may 
 they never know rattan, except as a material for manufacture ! And 
 the sight of these boys and girls suggested education as a fit theme for 
 the day ; but Mr. Wakefield has already said all that can be said on 
 that subject, and more than he has said he had done long ago. Before 
 coming here I had glanced at a geographical gazette, and learned that 
 the thriving town of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, was most famous for its 
 grammar school, from 'which have gone some of the first scholars of 
 England. It is a happy coincidence that the name has already been 
 associated with devotion to learning. To-day we have one illustration 
 more of the effect of education : the wealth, of which this generous 
 gift is a fragment, sprung from a humble red school-house in New 
 Hampshire.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 785 
 
 I would have spoken of towns, and of the influence of town-meet- 
 ings on American history ; but that subject has already been made 
 familiar to you. Only let me say this, Does any one think this hall 
 more spacious than is needed ? Then let treason raise its head once 
 more, let rebellion again threaten the Union, and every inch of space 
 shall be thronged by your loyal people. Nor would the living come alone. 
 Every name on those marble tablets beneath would be represented. 
 From hospital and prison and battle-field your departed heroes would 
 rally once more for the endangered land and the insulted flag. 
 
 The building is a natural subject of remark, but it speaks for itself. 
 From foundation stone, from Ionic pillar, from frescoed ceiling, come 
 praises of that spirit which gains wealth, not for sullen hoarding, not 
 for selfish pleasure, but for wise and beneficent liberality. I admired 
 the report of your committee. Indeed, I always admire Fanner Allen. 
 Years ago when I went as a boy to hear him lecture, I used to wonder 
 whether he was not connected with the Daniel of whom we read ; and 
 I was inclined to believe it, because that Daniel's countenance, also, 
 was " fairer and fatter " than the faces of his neighbors. No wonder 
 that the lions would not eat him, we used to think, as we pictured 
 them listening all night to his stories, and roaring, not with rage but 
 with laughter. 
 
 You must all have been pleased with the financial part of the report, 
 "Services and expenses of building committee nothing." Your 
 expenses down to zero ; the generosity of your fellow-citizens up to fever 
 heat. It is one benefit of such gifts as this, that they stimulate other 
 givers. Mr. Wakefield was not without generous example at home, but 
 his own example seems to have inspired him most, for beginning with 
 a promise of thirty thousand dollars, he ends with this munificent 
 donation. He wisely enjoys his gifts, instead of postponing his liber- 
 ality till his estate ceases to be his own. The poet says : 
 
 " I}ie, and endow a college or a cat" 
 
 You [to Mr. Wakefield] know a trick worth two of that. Live, and 
 long as you live enjoy the fruit of your beneficence to your neighbors. 
 
 The 22d of February is a good day for this dedication ; and while we 
 are all familiar with the patriotism of Washington in war, let us remem- 
 ber to-day that he showed his public spirit, also, by developing the 
 resources of the country and by furnishing employment to the people. 
 He did not disdain to be, with one exception, the richest man in 
 America ; he knew that wealth is honorable when it is gained by honest 
 
 99
 
 ;86 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 work and consecrated to noble uses ; he knew that before a man of 
 business can gain the means to support a poor family by charity, he 
 has fed a score of families by the industry which is better than charity. 
 Foremost in promoting internal improvements, always the friend of 
 commerce, it is one of the glories of Washington that, after securing 
 the independence of America, he sought so to foster the industrial arts 
 that every citizen might achieve personal independence. 
 
 In this, as in other fields, President Grant follows in the footsteps of 
 our great deliverer. He recommends measures for the revival of com- 
 merce ; he urges them on an unwilling Congress ; he repeats them even 
 to deaf ears ; he begs that legislation may restore to the sea that stainless 
 flag under which he triumphed on the land. Honor to the statesmen 
 who make the employment of people their care ; and honor to-day, and 
 always, to the merchant and the manufacturer who organize labor ; who 
 develop the wealth of nations ; who "maintain the state of the world." 
 The poorest of us should look upon their riches not with envy, but with 
 respect and gratitude. A hundred homes must be supported in com- 
 fort before a great fortune can be accumulated by commerce. 
 
 It is a gratifying thought that one busy brain here in quiet Wakefield 
 is employing and feeding men and women in all parts of the globe ; that 
 richly-freighted ships (eighteen last year) are now, in obedience to 
 a single will, crossing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans ; that these ships 
 are bringing cargoes valued at millions of dollars, and destined to gain 
 by labor millions more of value ; that in the jungles of India, by the 
 water-side of Singapore, in the perfumed forests of the Spice Islands* 
 men are now gladly doing the work of our friend. You are resting 
 to-day, but resting in comfort and in peace, because so many of you are 
 sure of well-paid employment, provided by the industry of your fellow- 
 citizen. 
 
 It was said of Washington, in words now familiar to all ears, 
 " Heaven left him childless that a nation might call him father." Oh 
 [to Mr. Wakefield], how large a family receive their daily bread from 
 your hands ! Long may you live to enjoy the gratitude of your neigh- 
 bor; long may this good town thrive and grow ; long may this build- 
 ing stand ; and as long as it stands, it shall be a monument of business 
 ability, of successful enterprise, and of wise liberality. 
 
 After another performance by the band, the benediction, by Rev. M. 
 B. Chapman, concluded the afternoon exercises. 
 
 At six o'clock there was a grand banquet in the upper hall, to which 
 about four hundred persons sat down, Mr. A. A. Currier, of this town,
 
 APPENDIX. 787 
 
 being the caterer. Daniel Allen, Esq.,, presided ; Rev. Francis Smith, 
 of Providence, invoked the Divine blessing. When all had partaken to 
 their satisfaction, the President announced Thomas Winship, Esq., as 
 toast-master. The applause which followed showed that the company 
 considered the nomination "fit to be made." The toasts were as 
 follows : 
 
 The President of the United States. He seems to be distinguished 
 for great deeds, rather than great speeches. And yet the greatest speech 
 made during the Rebellion the key-note to his character was that 
 in which he said : " I propose to fight it out on this /inf." 
 
 Response " Hail Columbia," by the Band. 
 
 Francis Smith was an early settler of this town, whose residence was 
 near where is now the Junction railroad station. He was authorized 
 by the Colony Court, in 1650, to draw wine for earthly travellers, for 
 which he received money and price. To-day, his lineal descendant and 
 namesake of the eighth generation is authorized by a higher Court to 
 offer to heavenly travellers wine and milk without] money and without 
 price. 
 
 Response by Rev. Francis Smith, of Providence, R. I. 
 
 The State of Massachusetts. While she encourages education, 
 together with the arts and sciences, she also delights to honor with the 
 highest office in her gift one who is a well known representative of an 
 important branch of her manufacturing interests. 
 
 Response by Hon. Harrison Tweed, a native of this town, and now 
 President of the Taunton Locomotive Works. 
 
 The Merchants of Boston. While they are justly proud of their rep- 
 utation for business sagacity and wealth, let them not despise the day 
 of small things, since one of their number, who in early life was known 
 only as the son of a Carpenter, is now an enterprising and successful 
 merchant. 
 
 Response by George O. Carpenter, Esq., of Boston, recently of this 
 town. 
 
 The Clergy. However much we may have enjoyed the " benefit of 
 clergy "in the past, we associate unalloyed Bliss with the "benefit" 
 which has been arranged for us on this occasion. 
 
 Response by Rev. C. R. Bliss. 
 
 Our Manufacturing Industries. Since they profitably employ the 
 wealth of our capitalists, the brains of our mechanics, and the hands of
 
 788 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 the great mass of the people, they should be regarded as the chief source 
 of our material prosperity. 
 
 Response by Cyrus Wakefield, Esq. 
 
 Dr. S. O. Richardson. His interest in the " Richardson Light 
 Guard " and Wakefield band, and the material aid he has given to 
 both, together with his liberal donation towards furnishing the rooms in 
 this building, entitle him to the lasting gratitude of our soldiers, musi- 
 cians, and citizens generally. 
 
 Response by the Band. 
 
 Public Schools. May those who attempt to " teach the young idea 
 how to shoot" always bear in mind that they will miss the mark, unless 
 their aims are right. 
 
 Response by Hon. P. H. Sweetser. 
 
 The Farmers of New England. The general intelligence which 
 they exhibit affords us abundant evidence that their own heads, as well 
 as their cabbage-heads, improve by cultivation ; and we are well assured 
 that one intelligent head will do the head-work of farms better than a 
 hundred head of block-heads. 
 
 Response by Dr. George B. Loring, of Salem. 
 
 '1 he State Printer. An indescribable type of character. 
 Response by Robert K. Potter, Esq., of Boston. 
 
 Though obliged to omit all reports of the responses, we cannot forbear 
 noting the fact that Dr. Loring touched upon the woman's suffrage 
 question ; and as for " woman's rights," said he, " I go for them." Still 
 he thought we did not duly consider the fact that in many respects the 
 women held the men completely in their power. A man could not deed 
 away a rod of land without the consent of his wife. For instance, he 
 noticed that the deed by which the town came into possession of this 
 edifice also contained the name of Eliza A. Wakefield. [Loud applause.] 
 And here the eloquent speaker expatiated on the power as well as the 
 rights of women ; and when he closed, three thundering cheers were 
 given for Mrs. Wakefield. 
 
 Remarks were also made by Prof. B. F. Tweed, of Charlestown,. Rev. 
 Francis Smith, of Providence, Henry D. Smith, Esq., of Worcester, and 
 others. The mirth-producing tilt of words between Messrs. Allen, 
 Potter, Tweed, and Smith, added zest and interest to the occasion, and 
 could not well have been dispensed with. 
 
 Thus ended one of the most memorable days in 'the history of the 
 town of Wakefield, the records of which occasion will be perpetuated to 
 remote generations.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 789 
 
 Q. 
 
 [From report in the " Wakefield Cifiun."] 
 THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE. 
 
 For practical interest in education, our town, whether under its old 
 name of South Reading or its newer one of Wakefield, has always 
 borne an honorable reputation. The old South Reading Academy, 
 which for years was the compeer of many of the best seminaries of the 
 land, and sent forth some of our ablest citizens from its halls, was a 
 potent agent in creating that advanced sentiment which caused the 
 establishment by the town of a High School, when possessed of only a 
 degree of the population and property deemed essential in most towns 
 for the formation of so advanced a grade. 
 
 The advance of the general standards of education, the upbuilding 
 of the town, and the long insufficient accommodations of the old High 
 School edifice, have for some years forced upon the attention of our 
 citizens the daily increased demand for more adequate provision for 
 prospective and even present needs. An article was introduced into 
 the warrant for the town- meeting of April 3, 1871, by the Hon. P. 
 H. Sweetser, a life-long friend to the educational interests of the town, 
 and for many years the chairman of its School Board, under which 
 action might be taken towards the establishment of a more commodious 
 structure, better fitted in all ways for the purposes of a High School. 
 The action upon the article provided for the appointment of a commit- 
 tee of five to consider the whole subject of the educational needs of 
 the town, and report at a future meeting. This committee, consisting 
 of five of our most esteemed citizens, Messrs. Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius 
 Beebe, Oliver Perkins, Richard Britton, and George Packard, reported 
 at the town-meeting, May i, 1871, in favor of the immediate purchase 
 of land and the erection of a suitable edifice for the accommodation of 
 the High School. The report of the committee was adopted, and they, 
 as the building committee, proceeded at once to the fulfilment of their 
 duties, the result of which is the very elegant and ample structure situ- 
 ated at the corner of Common and Lafayette Streets, on the site foi- 
 merly occupied by the old Prentiss house, long familiar to our older 
 citizens, and which was removed after the purchase of the land for 
 school uses. 
 
 The lot purchased has a front upon Common Street, overlooking the 
 old Park, of one hundred and forty-six feet, and upon Lafayette Street 
 of two hundred and four feet, and contains 28,154 square feet, afford-
 
 790 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ing ample room for the building, and leaving space for ornamentation 
 of the surrounding lawns. 
 
 The building consists of a main and an L addition, the former thirty- 
 five feet eight inches, by seventy-four feet six inches, the latter forty- 
 eight feet by fifty-two feet eight inches, and is a blending, in several 
 points, of the various styles of architecture, the porticoes and their 
 ornamentation being beautiful specimens of the Ionic order, while 
 there are delightful croppings out, here and there, of some of the other 
 ancient divisions, with expressions of the modernized lines. The base 
 is of rough granite two and a half feet in height, the steps of ham- 
 mered stone, and the exterior finish is of wood in furrowed sheathing, 
 the front fagade on Common Street being relieved by the projection of 
 a tower and portico, and by heavy based pilasters surmounted by Co- 
 rinthian capitals in relief. The corbels and consoles are all fine speci- 
 mens of carved work, and the pediments show a remarkably pleasing 
 effect in the arrangement of their dentels. The south facade is relieved 
 by a portico rather less pretentious than that on the front, and by similar 
 pilasters. The L addition has along its southern face a piazza, the 
 roof of which is supported by Ionic columns. The rear and northern 
 fagades present the same general features as the others. The front has 
 a fine mullioned window over the portico, its general finish being a 
 close approach to the Gothic, and very elaborate in design. The 
 gutters and conductors are of copper, the belt about the roof is sur- 
 mounted by a heavy balustrade, the roof itself being the Mansard pat- 
 tern, slated with the best Welsh slate, and crowned with two ventilators 
 of the, Robinson pattern. The workmanship throughout is of the best 
 description and reflects credit upon the artisans. The entrances to the 
 building are four : the large main entrance in front, closed with double 
 doors, their upper panels and the large windows over the doors furnish- 
 ing a portion of light for the main hall ; the southern entrance to the 
 main building opening into a wing of the main hall, lighted in the same 
 manner as the main hall ; the entrance from the southern piazza to the 
 L of the building ; and another door upon the northern side of the L, 
 intended rather as a special way of exit in case of fire than an ordi- 
 nary avenue of ingress. Passing in at the main entrance from Com- 
 mon Street we enter the main hall, eighteen feet six inches, by twenty- 
 two feet ten inches, from which doors open on either hand, and from 
 the inner end of which the broad double staircase ascends to the 
 second floor. 
 
 Taking the first door to the right, we find ourselves in the Chemical- 
 Room of the High School, nineteen feet by twenty-six, the only apart
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 791 
 
 ment occupied by them, except the cloak rooms, on the first floor. This 
 room is elegantly finished, as is the whole of the interior of the build- 
 ing, in selected ash, the mouldings of which are very heavy, and the 
 windows are fitted with inside ash shutters entirely excluding external 
 light whenever experiments requiring darkness render it desirable. Too 
 much cannot be said in praise of the wonderful beauty of the workman- 
 ship throughout the building, and as every part displays the same 
 degree of excellence we notice it here as applicable to the whole. 
 From this room a doorway gives exit through the janitor's room and 
 one of the cloak rooms of the Grammar School in case of fire, to the 
 escape door, on the north of the building, and the hall-way opening in 
 the south adjoining the Chemical Room, and opening from the hall is 
 the Janitor's Room, which communicates with the cloak-room of the 
 Grammar School, and thence with the western part of the building, and 
 the cellar, thereby giving the Janitor ready admission to all parts of the 
 edifice. On the left of the main hall is the large and finely appointed 
 cloak-room for the young ladies of the High School, communicating 
 with the water-cabinets in the basement, and furnished with a marble- 
 topped stationary wash-bowl and case, supplied with water from a great 
 tank in the tower. 
 
 Still farther to the left opens the side wing of the main hall, com- 
 municating with the southern entrance to the main building from which 
 opens the cloak-room for the young gentlemen of the High School, 
 communicating with water-cabinets in the basement, and furnished like 
 the ladies' room. * 
 
 Ascending by one of the wings of the fine staircase, we find our- 
 selves on the second floor of the building, the whole of which without 
 reservation is devoted to the use of the teachers and scholars of our 
 High School ; and we certainly believe that nowhere are afforded finer 
 accommodations or greater opportunities for the culture and the refine- 
 ment that tasteful surroundings give. Occupying the whole front of the 
 building on one side of the passage which separates them from the 
 High School room proper, is a range of recitation rooms communicat- 
 ing with each other, and furnished with blackboards and with speaking 
 tubes and bells, communicating with the Principal's room. 
 
 A door opens into the High School room at each end of the hall, 
 and at the southerly end of the wall-way is a library room for the 
 school, and at the opposite end a teachers' retiring room, furnished 
 with water-cabinet, set bowl, etc., while the hall itself is supplied with 
 the unitorm marble bowl and case before described, at either end. 
 The High School room itself, fifty-two feet by fifty-one feet six inches,
 
 792 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 is without doubt one of the finest in New England, well lighted and 
 ventilated, and having all the new and approved conveniences of school 
 furniture. A low, roomy platform for the teachers occupies the space 
 between the two entrance doors, and convenient to the Principal's chair 
 are speaking tubes and bell-pulls communicating with all the rooms 
 under his charge. In brief, no want seems unprovided for, and under 
 so favorable influences we cannot doubt that new aspirations and in- 
 creased vigor for study will be given to the young ladies and gentlemen 
 who are to occupy these advantages. Arrangements are made for 
 lighting the entire building with gas, and the heating apparatus will be 
 referred to in another connection. Returning to the hall, we pass up a 
 wing of a second double staircase leading to the third story, and find 
 ourselves in the space formed by the Mansard roof, the portion of 
 which immediately above the High School room it is intended to 
 devote to the purpose of an Exhibition Hall, though we doubt the 
 utility of this, from its elevation, its inconvenient arrangement of iron 
 rods which support the floor, from the facts that it cannot be heated by 
 the furnace, and that the High School room is so much better for the 
 purpose. The front part of the roof is occupied by large rooms suita- 
 ble for various uses, and the tank room in the tower, where the water 
 of the -roof is collected and thence distributed to the various water- 
 pipes of the building. 
 
 Returning to the outer air, we pass around the southerly fa9ade of 
 the main building and enter from the beautiful Ionic piazza the hall of 
 the advanced Grammar School, for which arrangements of equal com- 
 pleteness and beauty with those of the High School have been provided. 
 On the left of the hall as we enter is the first door opening into the 
 school-room proper, and on the right, immediately opposite, is the 
 teachers' retiring room, furnished like those on the second floor, with 
 water-cabinets, marble bowl, and other conveniences, the hall being 
 also provided with the uniform marble-topped bowl and case for the 
 use of the scholars. The second door on the right enters the girls' 
 cloak-room, communicating with water-cabinets in the basement, and 
 the third door to the right enters the boys' coat-room, also communi- 
 cating with water-cabinets below stairs. The fourth door on the right 
 leads to the large recitation room, fourteen feet ten inches, by twenty- 
 two feet, for the Grammar School, provided with all the facilities of 
 the other recitation rooms in the building ; and the fifth and last door 
 upon the right of the hall opens into the small vestibule of the north 
 door, valuable chiefly as a fire escape. The second door on the left 
 of the hall and at its northerly end, directly opposite the entrance to
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 793 
 
 the recitation room, enters the school-room proper of the Advanced 
 Grammar School, thirty-five feet by forty-one feet six inches, and 
 equal in all its appointments to the High School room immediately 
 above. Descending to the basement by one of the four flights leading 
 thereto, we find a spacious and well-arranged area for coal bunkers, 
 fuel, and heating apparatus, and separated from this area by brick par- 
 titions, the water-cabinet arrangements for the several schools, also 
 subdivided by brick walls. The materials throughout the building are 
 of the best quality, and of the workmanship enough has already been 
 said. The tower of the edifice beautifully surmounts the whole, and 
 its platform affords a fine view of th,e surrounding scenery, and we 
 presume will often attract the young star-gazers of our High School 
 with their new telescope. 
 
 To this completed and elegant temple of learning there gathered a 
 large and appreciative audience on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 10), to 
 participate in the dedication of the structure to the purposes for which 
 it was designed, and there has rarely occurred in our time a more richly 
 enjoyable occasion of happy expression and retainable merit than was 
 afforded in the exercises of the day and the event. John S. Eaton, 
 Esq., by invitation of the School Board, filled most acceptably the 
 position of Chairman of the day, and among those invited who fa- 
 vored the occasion with their presence were Prof. B. F. Tweed, of 
 Charlestown, Gen. H. K. Oliver, of the Bureau of Statistics of Massa- 
 chusetts, Rev. Dr. J. W. Chickering, Henry D. Smith, Esq., Edward 
 Mansfield, Esq., long connected with the School Board, the Board of 
 Selectmen, the School Committee, and representatives of the press. 
 
 The members of the High School occupied seats on the extreme 
 left of the house, and every available foot of space was occupied by 
 the refined and intellectual audience. The Wakefield Orchestra fur- 
 nished acceptable music, their renderings being in fine taste. 
 
 The exercises commenced at two o'clock by invocation by Rev. W. 
 F. Potter, of the Universalist Church, followed by music by the 
 orchestra. 
 
 Richard Britton, Esq., acting for the Building Committee, then 
 transferred the charge of the building to the Chairman of the Board 
 of Selectmen, John S. Eaton, Esq., in the following brief but compre- 
 hensive address : 
 
 MR. CHAIRMAN : On me unexpectedly devolves to-day, as the rep- 
 resentative of the building committee of the town, charged with the 
 
 100
 
 794 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 construction of this edifice, the pleasant duty of consigning to your 
 hands the care and custody thereof. 
 
 The foresight of our citizens which anticipated the demand for in- 
 creased educational facilities, caused by our rapid growth as a town, 
 and which has eventuated in the erection' of this beautiful structure, 
 found its earliest public expression in an article introduced into the 
 warrant for the town-meeting of April 3, 1871, by a gentleman 
 whose name has for years been honorably identified with the educa- 
 tional interests of this municipality, the then chairman of the School 
 Board, now gone to his rest, the Hon. P. H. Sweetser. The action 
 upon this article, which contemplated the possible conversion of the old 
 town house to school purposes, resulted in the appointment of a commit- 
 tee of five, who should take into consideration the whole subject-matter 
 of construction, and report at a future meeting. On this committee were 
 appointed Messrs. Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius Beebe, Oliver Perkins, Rich- 
 ard Britton, and George Packard. The report of this committee, after 
 a careful review of the needs of our entire school system, unanimously 
 recommended the immediate purchase of land and the erection of a 
 commodious edifice for High School purposes, and this report was 
 adopted. The eligible lot on which this building now stands, contain- 
 ing 28,154 square feet, was purchased at a cost of nine thousand eight 
 hundred and fifty-four dollars, and ground was broken for the new enter- 
 prise on the sixteenth day of September, 1871. 
 
 From the various plans submitted, that of John Stevens, Esq., one 
 of our citizens, was selected as most nearly meeting the necessities of 
 the case, and according to its provisions the building has been erected 
 at an expense closely approximating forty-three thousand dollars. In 
 addition to ample accommodation for a High School of large numbers, 
 the building contains provision for an advanced Grammar School, an 
 exhibition hall, and every advantage and convenience that the advanced 
 state of culture in school architecture has suggested and found 
 desirable. 
 
 It has been suggested that the considerable expense which the com- 
 pletion of this structure has occasioned the town, largely in advance of 
 previous investments in this line, and even of the expectations of our 
 citi^ns, is ill-considered and unwise ; but far in advance of the considera- 
 tion of cost is to be placed the expectation of return therefrom. The gold 
 that glitters is not to be placed in the scale against the richer worth of the 
 culture and education of mind and heart given by such surroundings as 
 these. Who shall predict what achievements in all that is good and 
 great shall here have their germs planted in the minds of some of the
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 795 
 
 most humble of birth by the refinements that here alone shall greet the 
 eye whose home is amid poverty and wretchedness !. To the liberality 
 of heart and hand which makes such agencies of education as this 
 possible, and which resides pre-eminently in our midst, is due the posi- 
 tion of America to-day among the nations ; and the people of this com- 
 munity will doubtless long enjoy, not less the commendation of their 
 own hearts, than the congratulations of all who shall visit us, upon the 
 possession of so glorious a monument to one of our cardinal principles, 
 the education of the common people. 
 
 To the citizens for their liberality and their patience, to the faithful 
 endeavors of the artisans, one and all, to those who have aided in mani- 
 fold ways the labors of your committee, we desire to express our pro- 
 found sense of gratitude ; and it is no small degree of satisfaction and 
 relief that we feel in witnessing the completion of what must prove in 
 such an undertaking, at best an arduous and trying task. 
 
 In discharge of the trust committed to the committee, and in their 
 behalf, I have the honor to surrender to you the keeping of this edifice, 
 and the emblems thereof. 
 
 Mr. Eaton, on receiving the keys, responded as follows : 
 MR. CHAIRMAN, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE : 
 
 To my present official position am I indebted for the honor, as well as 
 the pleasure, of receiving from your hands, on behalf of the town of Wake- 
 field, this magnificent temple of science. Our citizens, never backward 
 in furnishing such educational facilities as from time to time have 
 seemed to be required, for the erection of this school edifice have 
 poured wealth from their treasury in unusual measure ; and they have 
 watched its construction with peculiar interest and pride, as under 
 skilful hands it has grown into symmetry, with added cornice and col- 
 umn and capital, until it stood completed and commanding. 
 
 Appropriately reared upon a site alike historic and venerable, around 
 which cluster cherished memories of ancient worthies and teachers, it 
 reveals its ample and admirable proportions in finished beauty, an 
 ornament and an honor to our town. Its eminent location, flanked by 
 churches, in accordance with the true New England custom, would 
 seem to render it secure from all heretical influences ; and we may 
 readily adopt the familiar lines of Whittier : 
 
 " Nor heed the skeptic's puny hands, 
 While near our school the church-spire stands ; 
 Nor fear the bigot's blinded rule, 
 While near our church-spire stands the school."
 
 796 APPENDIX. 
 
 In the years that are yet future, may there go forth from this temple an 
 army of scholars, thorough, earnest, brilliant, for such will ever find full 
 scope for the finest culture in the broadest fields of humanity. May it 
 prove indeed a treasure-house of knowledge, and may the wealth which 
 shall be gathered from within its walls exceed the material wealth which 
 constructed them a thousand fold ! 
 
 In this place, and on this occasion, we cannot forget those familiar 
 forms which are missing from this assembly, or the voices which are 
 silent to-day. One amidst the snows of winter, and one amidst the fresh- 
 ness and fragrance of June, they both passed serenely on before us to a 
 celestial atmosphere within a grander temple, and to the enjoyment of 
 a knowledge perfect and perpetual. 
 
 Them shall no sunshine from the fields of azure, 
 
 No light of home or hall, 
 No summons sent from crowded marts of treasure, 
 
 Again to duty call. 
 
 And all life's problems and equations, 
 
 So intricate before, 
 Now solved, amid the infinite creations, 
 
 Are mysteries no more 1 
 
 In closing, permit me to express to you, Mr. Chairman, and to the 
 members of the committee whom you represent, on behalf of the citi- 
 zens of Wakefield, their full appreciation of the fidelity which has 
 marked the performance of the duties assigned you, and of the satisfac- 
 tory result of your efforts. And now I shall be pleased to transfer the 
 keys of this new school building to the chairman of the school com- 
 mittee, upon whom its immediate care will devolve, confident that under 
 such guardianship it will ever remain uninjured and beautiful. 
 
 On receiving the keys from the chairman of the selectmen, Rev. Mr. 
 Bliss, in the subjoined excellent address, delivered the keys to the prin- 
 cipal of the High School. 
 
 It is with great pleasure that the school committee accept, for the 
 purposes of education in Wakefield, this beautiful edifice. They con- 
 gratulate the people of the town that a need that was beginning to be 
 deeply felt has been supplied. Though they are not as a body to be 
 credited with any active participation in the work of planning or rearing 
 this building, having been wholly relieved of that responsibility by the 
 labors of another committee appointed by the town for the purpose,
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 797 
 
 they yet have watched the progress of the work, and believe that it has 
 been carried forward with great skill and care. They hope that the 
 building, so beautiful both without and within, will be found in its use 
 to be fully adapted to all the purposes for which it has been reared. 
 
 The liberality shown by the town in the erection of this house has 
 been very great, so great, indeed, as to have provoked the remark that 
 it has been excessive ; and there are, perhaps, some who would have 
 preferred a less imposing and expensive structure. Far shall it be 
 from me to defend extravagance, whether it be in school-houses or 
 dwelling-houses or churches ; and yet there seem to me to be good and 
 sound reasons why a building devoted to the uses of education should 
 be one of the most commanding and comely in the town. Taxes are 
 indeed sometimes onerous ; debts are generally curses, whoever have 
 them to pay: nevertheless, good buildings are educators of no mean 
 power ; and when devoted not to purposes of folly, nor yet to purposes 
 of gain, but to the noble end of educating the young, they can hardly 
 be too good. Without discussing the question whether a few thousand 
 dollars less might not have sufficed for this building, I yet count upon 
 the agreement of all present when I say, that it is altogether fit and 
 proper that the finest architecture which any town is able to display 
 should be that devoted to the twin purposes of religion and education. 
 Those things which we prize most, as the sources of our prosperity and 
 our strongest safeguard, should receive the most emphatic expression. 
 There is an incongruity in building for ourselves fine private dwellings 
 and then erecting a cheap and uncomely church, and were this the 
 place, we would congratulate our Baptist brethren upon the elegant 
 structure with which they have graced our street. They have taxed 
 themselves heavily, but the cause is one worthy of being taxed for. It 
 deserves an adequate expression of the regard in which Christian men 
 hold it. The same is true of education ; it is important enough to 
 receive at the hands of any community the acknowledgment contained 
 in handsome and costly structures. A house like this is an emphatic 
 public declaration that good learning is held in very high esteem here, 
 and many persons, children among the rest, will have higher ideas of 
 the importance of education from the fact that old people have given 
 this proof of their judgment concerning its legitimate requirements. 
 Besides, there is an imperceptible, perhaps, but none the less powerful 
 influence, constantly exerted by a tasteful public edifice. A great 
 many valuable lessons are continually being derived from it. It is true 
 it may be a source of self-flattery, as too many of our possessions unfor- 
 tunately are ; for it is seldom that we can look upon any excellent
 
 798 APPENDIX. 
 
 object, if it be our own, without spreading a little more widely the wings 
 of our pride ; but if used as it ought to be, it is a source of much 
 instruction and of many incentives. An evil which is very perceptible 
 in our busy lives is that we cannot stop for details, but content our- 
 selves with general impressions, and I think are more apt to be vain in 
 consequence. Many persons, in looking at a fine building, will be con- 
 tent with a single glance, and be unable to give any account of the 
 architecture of it ; or if they glance at it will speak in general and per- 
 haps contemptuous terms of the gingerbread work about it, being quite 
 unable to see the study a'nd taste that were employed in producing 
 the general effect which they feel and acknowledge. But there is a 
 change in prospect in this respect ; object teaching will do much to 
 remedy this bad habit. When children shall be taught, not less from 
 books, but more by external observation, and learn accurately to notice 
 and describe everything about them, they will derive from nature and 
 from paintings and from architecture many of the most valuable lessons, 
 and lessons which we, who have been taught by the old methods, never 
 learned. For that day this edifice will be an excellent teacher. It is 
 the desire on the part of many of us that our High School should be 
 developed into a school of greater influence and usefulness than it has 
 hitherto been. It should, we think, have a larger number of scholars, 
 a wider range of studies, and should reach a position of so much evi- 
 dent importance that parents will not be content to suffer their children 
 to go into the shops and factories till they have enjoyed its full advan- 
 tages. Hitherto it has labored under great difficulty in the narrowness 
 of the quarters assigned to it, in the want of suitable recitation rooms, 
 and in the lack of various facilities for the prosecution of school duties. 
 That much excellent teaching and much hard study have been per- 
 formed are facts which many before us can affirm by direct testimony ; 
 and all honor to the teachers who in remote and recent years have 
 used to the full extent all possible facilities that the old building 
 afforded. They have their reward in the consciousness of having done 
 their duty, and in the gratitude of their pupils. 
 
 But we have come to a new era. The town has passed beyond its 
 old boundaries. New streets, new stores, and new dwellings say very 
 plainly to us that new responsibilities rest upon us, and a new career is 
 opening before us. The schools already feel the impulse. Though 
 three new ones have already been established within one year, yet some 
 of the old ones are now overcrowded, and admonish us that still more 
 ample accommodations will soon be required. From this greatly in- 
 creased number of scholars in the lower schools, we shall certainly
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 799 
 
 gather a larger number for the High School, and we shall doubt- 
 less find that it was wise to have anticipated our wants in providing 
 beforehand these* greatly enlarged accommodations. One reason for 
 the early withdrawal of scholars from the High School has, perhaps, been 
 the fact that the teaching force of the school has not been sufficiently 
 great to perform the labor required by the course of study the com- 
 mittee thought it wise to lay down. 
 
 Two teachers have had neither the time nor strength to give to the 
 pupils that thorough drill upon the studies of the course which was 
 necessary to fix their interest in the school. Hence the scholars of 
 less studious habits were willing to leave school, and too often, perhaps, 
 their parents were willing to have them, and .hence the school has suf- 
 fered both in its usefulness and reputation. Therefore, no sooner was 
 there a near prospect of transferring the High School to this building, 
 than the committee decided to add another teacher to the force already 
 employed upon this school. In other words, they took the younger and 
 less proficient of the pupils, who, under the old arrangement, would 
 have entered the High School, and made a separate school, and placed 
 them under an experienced teacher for a year's thorough drill. It will 
 be no small advantage to the scholars of the school to have three com- 
 petent and faithful teachers where they had but two before. And 
 with this additional teaching power, coupled with the attractiveness 
 of this building, the committee believe this school can and will enter 
 upon a new career of usefulness. 
 
 The natural sciences have been very faithfully and successfully 
 taught in the school during the past year, but with the new facilities 
 afforded by this building, a still larger degree of success may be ob- 
 tained. The languages and mathematics have also been thoroughly 
 studied, but with the opportunity for longer recitations, and with the 
 more direct personal care of the teachers, these branches can and 
 doubtless will be more fully acquired. 
 
 The new apparatus which the school has in part purchased, and 
 for which the town has made an additional grant of money, will add to 
 the facilities of the teachers for imparting, and the advantages of the 
 scholars for acquiring knowledge, and the committee are confident that 
 the school may become far more proficient and useful than ever it has 
 been, and that an increased conviction of its value will obtain a place 
 in the minds of the people of the town. And that a school in order 
 to be useful must have the hearty sympathy of the people, is a fact of 
 prime significance. A school cannot thrive upon money alone ; it 
 must have something else ; it must rest upon the good will, and to some
 
 80O APPENDIX. 
 
 extent, upon the warm solicitude of the community. It must be per- 
 vaded with the feeling that not a few pairs of eyes are upon it, but hun- 
 dreds of them ; that not a few persons, and they perhaps officials, are 
 anxious for its prosperity, but that all its patrons and all the town are 
 so likewise. 
 
 Teachers need such support ; for however conscientious in the dis- 
 charge of their duties they are, and however deeply they may love their 
 calling, yet if they tax their invention to find methods to interest their 
 pupils, and work, in school and out, for their benefit, and then gain' no 
 recognition of their faithfulness from the parents of the children, who 
 perhaps are too inattentive to their efforts even to know that they have 
 been thus at work, they will be very likely to lose heart, and cease 
 special effort. Indeed, it often seems to me that parents are too little 
 acquainted with the peculiar difficulties of a teacher's profession, and 
 do not estimate at its true worth the labor which a teacher expends 
 upon their children. Greater familiarity with the working of all the 
 schools, on the part of parents, would inevitably greatly increase their 
 efficiency. It would make the judgments of parents more discriminat- 
 ing and more just, and would stimulate both teachers and pupils in the 
 most effective and healthful manner. Pupils need this manifested sym- 
 pathy of their parents. The want of this has been the secret influence 
 that has paralyzed the efforts of many a teacher. It is too much to 
 ask of teachers that they, unaided, shall put the fire of enthusiasm in 
 study into the hearts of pupils. They can do it often, but had they 
 the co-operation of parents, they could do it almost always. Let schol- 
 ars know that every step of their progress is noted by the parents, and 
 that there is an actual understanding between the teachers and their 
 parents, and frequent consultation, and let them often see their parents 
 in the school-room and witness their open pleasure in their advance- 
 ment,' and this advancement would be far more satisfactory than it 
 sometimes is. And perhaps there is no school in town upon which 
 such attentions would have more direct and palpable effect than upon 
 the two that are to occupy this building. The pupils have arrived at a 
 sensitive age ; they are having more and more self-respect ; they would 
 be pained by paining their friends, and they would be pleased in pleas- 
 ing them, as a few years ago they would not ; and the effect which 
 parents by their frequent presence in the school- room, and by their con- 
 stant interest in the progress made might produce, would be very 
 marked and powerful. 
 
 The School Committee, then, would take this occasion, so auspicious 
 for these schools and for the interests of education among us, to urge
 
 APPENDIX. g ol 
 
 upon the acceptance of parents the privilege and the duty of giving 
 the decided help of their sympathy to these schools. They are a posses- 
 sion of which any town might be proud ; and it is for us, with these 
 additional facilities, to make them foundations of increased usefulness 
 and power. 
 
 It but remains for me, in behalf of the School Committee, to pass 
 the custody of this building into the hands of the efficient Principal of 
 the High School. We are glad to do this, for we are confident that 
 you, sir, and your trusted assistant, will spare no pains to preserve its 
 finish and beauty, and use it well for the purposes which you labor to 
 advance. We bid you use, use it carefully, of course, but use it, every 
 part of it ; let this room witness to the hard work and good conduct of 
 this school. Let these other rooms, these halls, the apparatus you will 
 have, also bear evidence to the good quality of your work ; and you 
 will be sustained not only by this Board and the people of the town, 
 but by the higher authority and the more satisfactory approval of your 
 own conscience. 
 
 Mr. M. J. Hill, the Master of the High School, on receiving the 
 keys, ably and happily responded as follows : 
 
 These keys, sir, mean for me a double responsibility. I refer not 
 simply to the duty of caring for this beautiful building, the finest school 
 edifice of wood in the State, if not in New England, but to that higher 
 and more difficult duty of guiding those who shall henceforth study 
 within these walls. Upon the first I enter with some measure of con- 
 fidence. Surely this elaborate and graceful structure will wellnigh 
 protect itself; so cheery, spacious, and elegant, it cannot fail to invite 
 the kindest treatment from all those whose good fortune it shall be to 
 use it. 
 
 I believe, too, in its educating power. We readily enough appreciate 
 the influence of a truly noble man. He need not act ; he need not 
 even speak. His very presence is a power for good. His nobility 
 beams forth from his countenance, it cheers with its warmth, it illu- 
 mines with its splendor. True, the warmth is not always present, and 
 the glory of the illumination may vanish like the tints of evening. But 
 the memory of such a man will live. Should all our memories be as 
 exalted as that, we would be stones did we not lead better, purer, 
 and nobler lives. 
 
 There is a companion truth, whose force some realize more than 
 others. I think those to whom we owe this structure fully comprehend 
 it. It is this: Things may be powers for good as well as persons. 
 101
 
 802 APPENDIX. 
 
 Things that are voiceless and soulless may educate. A beautiful statue, 
 or painting, or model of architecture, works upon the mind, awakes 
 emotions such as beauty only can kindle, makes it more susceptible to 
 other beauties, and hence, with great power or little, but always with 
 some, it promotes that rich culture essential to a well-rounded educa- 
 tion. But more precious than the building and its surroundings, is the 
 school itself, whose highest success will depend in large measure upon 
 the manner in which the parents and the scholars shall perform their 
 respective duties. I am impressed more and more with the magnitude 
 and importance of my calling the longer I labor in it. Say what you 
 will of the great questions of the day, political, social, and others, I 
 know of none greater than the problems that concern the human mind. 
 Surely if the best intellects fail to solve them, I may be pardoned if, in 
 spite of attempted solutions, some of them to my mind continue mys- 
 teries as before. 
 
 It will be my aim, however, to merit the confidence you have reposed 
 in me. In this aim I ask your sympathy, your charity, and your cordial 
 co-operation. In behalf of the Wakefield High School, I thank the 
 town for its munificence. With thanks equally hearty for this token of 
 renewed trust, I accept these keys and the burden of duties they sym- 
 bolize. And, scholars, as these keys are the means whereby I am en- 
 abled to unlock the various apartments of this temple of learning, so 
 may the training and culture you can acquire in your early years (if so 
 disposed) become, as it were, keys to Nature's vast store-houses of un- 
 limited knowledge. 
 
 The principal address of the day, by Prof. B. F. Tweed, of Charles- 
 town, was then delivered, and by his courtesy we are permitted to give 
 it below. 
 
 MR. CHAIRMAN : I confess it was with a feeling akin to pride that I 
 received an invitation from the School Committee of my native town 
 to take part in the exercises of this interesting occasion. And it is not 
 without emotion that I now stand in this presence, surrounded by the 
 scenes and associates of my childhood and youth, and looking into the 
 faces of so many of my life-long friends. My thoughts naturally revert 
 to the little brown school-house in which I took my first lessons in 
 scholastic lore, and the faces of my early teachers rise before me, 
 idealized as seen through the vista of lengthened years, and hallowed 
 by the affection with which I ever regarded them. I don't know that 
 my early teachers were especially handsome, -using that term as young 
 men usually employ it in speaking of young ladies ; from the fact that
 
 APPENDIX. 803 
 
 most of them were never married, I might presume it to be otherwise. 
 But (begging pardon of the ladies oresent for any seeming want of 
 gallantry) I must say that I don't j>ee any such young ladies now- 
 adays as appear to my mind's eye when I think of Miss Symonds, Miss 
 Bancroft, Miss Newhall, and Miss Evans ; and here I may say, inciden- 
 tally, to the young ladies teaching in Wakefield, that they have it in 
 their power so to impress themselves on the plastic minds committed 
 to their care, that in after years, when whatever of beauty they may 
 now possess shaH have faded, it will still exist as " pictures in memory, 
 not changed, but translated." 
 
 Nor can I deny myself the privilege of referring to those who visited 
 our schools at the stated examinations, and watched over their interests. 
 Could I summon them in fact, as in fancy they appear before me, with 
 the venerable form of him at their head who for so many years minis- 
 tered at the altar in yonder church, and whose interest in our schools 
 never flagged, it would afford me unmixed pleasure to express to them 
 personally, and through them to the good old town, which, under what- 
 ever name, has always been liberal in support of schools, my heartfelt 
 gratitude. Nor must I forget the public-spirited men, through whose 
 influence and liberality the South Reading Academy was established, 
 which furnished opportunities for a higher course than our public 
 schools then provided. For the ability to occupy a responsible, and I 
 hope useful position in life, I feel indebted more to these schools, and 
 to the self-denial and wise foresight of parents who appreciated their 
 value, than to any effort of my own ; and I am glad that you have 
 given me an opportunity thus publicly to acknowledge my obligation. 
 But, sir, not to dwell on what is, in some sense, personal to. myself, 
 though equally applicable to hundreds of others, I will pass to what I 
 hope will be regarded as an appropriate theme for this occasion. It is 
 this : The influence of our school system on New England character 
 and on great public interests. 
 
 It has been said, and with some show of truth, that the only natural 
 production of New England is ice, but that its manufactures include 
 every conceivable thing, from wooden nutmegs to brains. Anything 
 combining utility with cheapness, from an apple-parer to a sewing-ma- 
 chine, is known, the world over, as a Yankee notion, and I wonder that 
 no biblical commentator has found a special reference to the universal 
 Yankee in the text, " Man has sought out many inventions." 
 
 It is true that, by dint of industry, the scanty and sterile soil does 
 yield some other products than ice, yet it is only by the most persistent 
 tickling with a hoe that it is made to smile with a harvest. Or perhaps
 
 804 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I should rather say, using Yankee phraseology, it is only by swapping 
 a full equivalent of labor and dressing that the farmer secures a scanty 
 return. The resources of New England, therefore, and those to which 
 she is indebted for her prosperity, are not in the soil, but in the strong 
 arms and fertile brains of her people. Nay, even in the case of the 
 one natural production, it was in the alembic of the Yankee cranium 
 that ice was first converted to gold. What had remained insoluble for 
 the purposes of pecuniary liquidation, from the beginning, yielded only 
 to the alchemy of the Yankee brain. Notwithstandingthe transparency 
 of ice, it was only the keen sight of our Tudors, Gages, and Hittingers 
 that could see money in it. 
 
 That climate, soil, and other physical conditions should ( have pro- 
 duced marked peculiarities of character might have been anticipated, 
 though what they would be could hardly be foreseen. A weaker 
 race than our fathers might have been discouraged, and yielding 
 to what seemed a necessity, might have dragged out a miserable 
 life of poverty. In them, however, it stimulated to industry and 
 perseverance, and developed a fertility of resource in an inverse ratio 
 to that of the, soil. 
 
 . Somebody has said that in certain parts of our country a whiskey- 
 shop and lager-beer saloon only are necessary as the nucleus of a 
 village. With our fathers it was a church and a school-house. Around 
 these two institutions clustered the settlers, and the germ there planted 
 has developed into our present liberal system of public education. From 
 these spring material wealth, our social and political institutions, and the 
 patriotism, public spirit, and intelligence requisite to preserve them, and 
 to advance the interests of a progressive civilization. 
 
 Humboldt has said that "science and manipulative skill must be 
 wedded together, that national wealth must be based on an enlightened 
 employment of national products and forces." Our fathers may not 
 have had this in view as the prime object in founding our school system, 
 but the results of New England thrift have abundantly proved that 
 educated labor pays, regarded even from a pecuniary point of view ; 
 that by utilitizing all our material, the brains of the masses, we 
 increase indefinitely national wealth. And here we have a fine illustra- 
 tion of the fact that the highest and truest interests of society are best 
 promoted by providing for the welfare of its individual members ; that 
 justice to all, even the weakest, is, like honesty, the best policy, not only 
 of the individual, but of the state. 
 
 From time immemorial, and everywhere, the greatest waste had been 
 that of humanity. The great mass of mankind had been little better
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 80 5 
 
 than mechanical implements or tools directed by the intelligence and 
 for the benefit of the few, mere hewers of wood and drawers of water, 
 all the elements of a distinctive humanity, that which constitutes the 
 image of God, undeveloped, lost to themselves and the world. The 
 Reformation, making every man directly responsible to God, and carry- 
 ing with it, as its correlative, the right of private judgment, tended to a 
 system of education qualifying every man to exercise this right. 
 
 But the world is slow to admit the logical consequences of a propo- 
 sition which disturbs time-honored institutions ; and there were not 
 wanting those who supposed that such a consummation would work a 
 social revolution, threatening the very stability of the state. It was 
 only after the lapse of many years, and in a new country, that the 
 experiment was inaugurated and developed. It is, then, a problem first 
 solved in New England and by our school system, that the education of 
 the whole people is the most important element in the material pros- 
 perity of a nation. It has become an axiom in political economy. 
 There is no one question now exciting so much interest among educa- 
 tionists, both in this country and in Europe, as the inquiry how to bring 
 our school systems into more direct relations with the industry of the 
 people ; and though we may justly claim to have taken the lead in a 
 general educational system, we are torced to admit that some of the 
 nations of Europe have outstripped us in the practical character of the 
 instruction imparted. 
 
 At the World's Fair in 1851, the palm of excellence in manufac- 
 tures was, in nearly every department, awarded to England. Sixteen 
 years later, when the nations again displayed the results of their skill 
 and labor, England excelled only in ten of a hundred departments. 
 This excited so much alarm among the manufacturing interests of Eng- 
 land that Parliament appointed a committee of investigation, and the 
 report of the committee is equally instructive to us as to England. It 
 is this, " That the success of the Continent was owing to its admirable 
 technical schools ; that no nation can excel in manufactures unless it 
 provides facilities for scientific education for all that converts the mere 
 workman into the artisan." It was this report, and the fact that so 
 many of the foremen in our manufacturing establishments were foreign- 
 ers, that led immediately to legislation in behalf of industrial drawing, 
 under which technical schools are springing up in all our cities and 
 large towns. 
 
 It was seen that we were in danger of being crushed by the very 
 wheel which we set in motion ; that not only general intelligence, but 
 technical knowledge and skill, add immensely to the material wealth of
 
 806 APPENDIX. 
 
 a nation. Such is the uniform testimony where "brains sit at the loom, 
 and intelligence stands at the spinning-wheel." But mechanical drawing 
 is only the beginning of a course of industrial training which is to 
 extend to every department of skilled labor. The establishment of 
 technical schools, whose advantages shall be accessible to every appren- 
 tice in any branch of human industry, is strongly recommended by our 
 Governor in his message. Such schools, where they are in operation, 
 as in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, have already, says Professor 
 Waterman, one of our ablest statisticians, created a productive capital 
 of many millions. What, then, may we expect of them in this country, 
 where so many great interests are only waiting for development ? But not 
 to dwell too long on this part of my subject, I have said that our social 
 and political institutions, and the public spirit and intelligence requisite 
 to preserve them, rest securely only on a general system of education. 
 
 A distinguished English writer on history, in the early part of this 
 century, attributed the lack of patriotism and of elevated sentiment, 
 which he affirmed to exist among the people of his own country in the 
 eighteenth century, to the fact that they had been engaged chiefly in the 
 value of estates, the balance of trade, and profit and loss. And he 
 goes on to say that the only way in which this elevated sentiment of 
 patriotism can be preserved among men whose minds are occupied with 
 their bargains and their markets, the article they are to produce and 
 the price they are to receive, is by the education of all ; by accustoming 
 every man to interest himself in the concerns of his country, and thus 
 giving him an idea of his social and political importance. 
 
 This was but theory with the philosophical Englishman. Has not 
 the experience of the last few years in this country proved the practica- 
 bility of preserving noble sentiments of patriotism, where peaceful 
 industry and the pursuits of trade are the engrossing subjects of all 
 classes ; and was it not accomplished by the very means suggested by 
 the writer mentioned ? The quiet determination and patriotism sleep- 
 ing in the breasts of the loyal millions, educated in our Northern 
 schools and colleges, were roused by the first roar of the artillery of 
 rebellion. Never was there a more striking proof in the history of the 
 world that peaceful industry, accompanied by intellectual, moral, and 
 religious culture, do not render men parsimonious and effeminate, but 
 rather fit them to become the truest and most liberal supporters, and 
 the best soldiers of freedom and right. For proof of this we have only 
 to consult the army roll and the records of the Sanitary Commission. 
 
 Just as surely as the early discipline and habits of study acquired in 
 our schools give the best assurance of success to a young man, so
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 807 
 
 surely are they the presages of national welfare. There is something 
 in our very nature, after we have once started on the road of progress, 
 that beckons and impels us on. The cry of Oliver Twist for " more," 
 which so horrified the astonished Mr. Bumble, is the cry of humanity ; 
 and the only alternative is more education, more opportunities for use- 
 fulness, or more anarchy, more blood. The atmosphere of the work- 
 shop, as suggested by the author just quoted, is too arid for constant 
 breathing. Daily infusions from cultivated social life, from books and 
 lectures, are necessary to health. Who shall say how much the imme- 
 diate vicinity of Cambridge has done to extend, elevate, and purify 
 public sentiment in Boston ? Neither the annual nor triennial catalogue 
 contains the names of all the students educated by, if not in, our col- 
 leges. And so also with our public schools : when the father returns to 
 his family at evening, surrounded by his children conning their daily 
 lessons, he finds himself in a different world ; and he is a wise man if 
 he can answer all the questions that are puzzling the brains of all the 
 members of his household. The common school, therefore, is not only 
 the educator of the children between five and fifteen, but of the whole 
 community. It is the nature of all good institutions, as well as good 
 men, that " virtue goes out of them." 
 
 The indirect influence of our colleges is yearly recognized by honor- 
 ary degrees conferred on those who have attained excellence in some 
 department of learning, outside the walls, but not without the aid of 
 those institutions. It is no less a claim of influence, on the part of our 
 higher institutions, than a compliment to the recipients of the degrees. 
 To many a man, who never paid a tuition fee, or attended prayers in 
 the college chapel, is old Harvard the alma mater, in a stricter sense 
 than to hundreds whose sonship is chiefly evinced by a scrap of parch- 
 ment. I know it is common to speak of men who have become distin- 
 guished, though they have not had the benefit of a college course, as 
 self-made men ; and this, in a limited sense, is just ; but, I believe, as a 
 class, they will be found to have as lively a sense of obligation to the 
 great institutions that have furnished the best books in science and 
 literature, as those more favored ones who have received instruction 
 from the lips of tutors and professors. If other proof were wanting 
 that our schools and colleges do in fact educate the community at 
 large to higher views and a juster estimate of life, it might be found in 
 the fact, that the same brains that convert ice into gold are not satisfied 
 till the gold itself, purged of its baser dross, is transmuted into wisdom, 
 virtue, and religion. There is scarce a college, an academy, an asylum 
 for the blind, the insane, or the dumb, a hospital of any kind, or any
 
 8o8 APPENDIX. 
 
 beneficent institution, that is not a monument of the generosity of 
 those who, by the discipline and knowledge obtained in our schools, 
 have amassed wealth, without forgetting that the worth of the dollar 
 consists in its exchangeable value for that which is more precious than 
 rubies. Hence those immense sums invested in institutions whose 
 dividends stand accredited to the world, and whose accounts are audited 
 and approved in Heaven. What, then, is the distinguishing character 
 of our boasted system of public institutions ? Not the^uperior scholar- 
 ship of the favored few, however desirable that might be ; but that it 
 has raised the general character of learning and intelligence to a higher 
 plane than has been done elsewhere. Though we can boast, perhaps, 
 of no peaks of the greatest altitude, yet our table-lands are more ex- 
 tensive, fertile, and productive than those of any other country. 
 
 Guizot, in his History of Civilization in Modern Europe, says, " that 
 when we consider separately, any particular development of the' human 
 mind, in literature, in the arts, in any of the ways in which human in- 
 telligence may go forward, we shall generally find it inferior to the cor- 
 responding development in the civilization of antiquity ; but as a set- 
 off to this, when we regard it as a whole, European civilization appears 
 infinitely more rich and diversified." May we not hope that the future 
 historian of American civilization may be able to say that, though 
 Europe may, perhaps, boast of individual instances in which literature, 
 the arts, or sciences have been carried to a higher pitch of excellence 
 than in our comparatively young Republic, that we have given to the 
 world a civilization, which, regarded as a whole, is infinitely richer, 
 deeper, and broader than that of the Old World. If not, it will be 
 because we as individuals have not used the opportunities so richly fur- 
 nished us by the far-sighted wisdom of our ancestors, and watched 
 over and strengthened by the wise and good of later generations. 
 
 And now, sir, shall I trespass on your patience with a word more 
 especially adapted to this occasion ? This beautiful and spacious build- 
 ing, which you have set apart and dedicated to the purposes of educa- 
 tion, is itself a witness of the essential truth of the views I have 
 advanced. The contrast between this and the one-storied, unpainted 
 building of my childhood, is a fitting exponent of the astonishing in- 
 crease of material wealth in New England, and, may I not say, a proof 
 that an appreciation of the value of common-school education has fully 
 kept apace with it. I would not be misunderstood, in any degree, to 
 detract from the inestimable value of our religious institutions. But I 
 cannot help noticing that the little school-house, which formerly nestled 
 humbly, as if for protection, under the shadow of the more pretentious
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 809 
 
 church, with its heaven-pointing spire, now stands boldly by its side, 
 not indeed as its rival, but as its trusted ally. And as that is dedi- 
 cated to the worship of God, which is the first and great commandment, 
 so, also, by these exercises we now dedicate this to the service of 
 humanity, which the Master has said is like unto it. Nor is there any 
 respect of persons. It beckons to its embrace all your sons and daugh- 
 ters, and points your sons at least I hope it soon will your daughters 
 to Harvard and Tufts, or to lucrative and honorable positions in in- 
 dustrial pursuits. In this institution, at least, the poorest have as much 
 stock as the richest, and it is not unlikely that the largest dividends 
 will be found accredited to their children. It is the common school 
 which constitutes the Commonwealth ; nor does its influence stop here. 
 The physical geography of our country is well defined. Its mountain 
 ranges rim a basin capable of feeding the world. Its great water- 
 courses, with their thousand tributaries, are ample to waft its wealth of 
 productions to our ports. I Apolitical geography, thanks to the boys in 
 blue, educated in our Northern schools, and led on by our great cap- 
 tains, has been preserved intact ; and now the little brooklets of learn- 
 ing, springing from every hillside in New England, have converged and 
 united, till they have become a mighty river, which, augmented by its 
 magnificent tributaries of the North and West, has swept across the 
 continent, bearing upon its ample bosom the rich treasures of civiliza- 
 tion and learning to the far Pacific. 
 
 Music by the orchestra, followed by a remarkably amusing and enjoy- 
 able, but altogether unreportahle address, abounding in reminiscences 
 of school-days, and replete with fun, from Gen. H. K. Oliver, he in 
 turn being followed by Rev. Dr. Chickering in a brief but entertaining 
 address, congratulating and encouraging in tone. 
 
 The thanks of the town were at this juncture returned to Henry D. 
 Smith, Esq., by John S. Eaton, Esq., for the very elegant copy of Wor- 
 cester's Dictionary presented by him to the High School before the 
 commencement of the exercises. Mr. Smith briefly, happily, and 
 humoroasly responded, and with a bit of pleasant repartee from Prof. 
 Tweed the addresses closed.
 
 8 10 APPENDIX. 
 
 R. 
 
 COPY OF AGREEMENT 
 
 BETWEEN A COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD AND MILL OWNERS ON 
 SAUGUS RIVER, AS TO THE WATER-LEVEL OF LAKE QUANNAPOWITT. 
 
 Whereas, a Committee chosen by the town of Wakefield, together 
 with the mill owners upon the stream that runs out of Lake Quanna- 
 powitt, met at the outlet of the Lake, August 7, 1871, and, after exami- 
 nation, have failed to find any sign of a log that was placed in the out- 
 let by direction of the town authorities, some twenty-seven years 
 ago, to define low water-mark, and as there is no record of any bearings 
 being taken at that time with permanent objects, its location cannot be 
 ascertained. 
 
 Recognizing the importance of having a fixed water-mark, to regulate 
 the flow of water, to retain it at a proper depth in the Lake, and to 
 direct its flow to the best advantage of the mills on the stream, the fol- 
 lowing mutual arrangement in regard to the water-mark has been de- 
 cided upon, with the assent of all the parties concerned. 
 
 First y That the stream shall continue to flow, during the present sea- 
 son, without further obstruction, until the water is on the increase. 
 
 Second, That the basis for the level of the water-mark shall be a 
 foundation timber on the north side of the stream, forty-nine feet from 
 the west edge of the road bridge. 
 
 Ihird, That the low water-mark shall be at twelve inches above the 
 level of said timber, from the first day of April to the first day of Au- 
 gust ; and from the first day of August to the first day of April, the 
 mill owners shall have the right to draw the water six inches lower than 
 the said low water-mark. 
 
 Signed, 
 
 JAMES F. EMERSON, 
 JOHN G. ABORN, 
 SAM'L PARKER, JR., 
 LUCIUS BEEBE, 
 LILLEY EATON, ' 
 C. W. EATON, 
 
 Town Committee. 
 
 I 
 
 FRANKER & CO., 
 ANDREW A. SCOTT, 
 AMOS BINNEY, 
 (By S. G. LANE), 
 HOYT & WILEY, 
 
 Mill Owners.
 
 APPENDIX. 8 1 1 
 
 s. 
 
 [CHAP. 335.] 
 
 AN ACT 
 
 To SUPPLY THE TOWNS OF WAKEFIKLD AND STONEHAM WITH WATER. 
 Be it enacted , etc., as follows : 
 
 SECTION i. Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius Beebe, James F. Emerson, 
 John Hill, H. H. Mawhinney, Onslow Gilmore, Francis H. Knight, 
 their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation under 
 the name of the Quannapowitt Water Company, for furnishing the in- 
 habitants of Wakefield and Stoneham with water ; with all the powers 
 and privileges, and subject to all the duties, restrictions, and liabilities 
 set forth in all general laws which now are, or hereafter may be in 
 force, so far as the same are applicable to this corporation. 
 
 SECT. 2. Said corporation, for the purpose aforesaid, may take, 
 hold, and convey, into and through said towns, the waters of Lake 
 Quannapowitt or Crystal Lake, or both, in the town of Wakefield, 
 together with the tributary waters which flow to either in said towns ; 
 and may take and hold, by purchase or otherwise, such land, on and 
 around the margin of such lake or lakes, or tributaries, not exceeding 
 five rods in width, as may be necessary for the preservation and purity 
 of said waters ; and may also take and hold in like manner such 
 lands as may be necessary for erecting and maintaining dams and 
 reservoirs, and for laying and maintaining conduits, pipes, drains, and 
 other works, for collecting, conducting, and distributing such waters 
 through said towns of Wakefield and Stoneham. The said corpora- 
 tion shall, within sixty days from the time of taking any land as afore- 
 said, file in the Registry of Deeds for the County of Middlesex, a 
 description of the land so taken, sufficiently accurate for identification, 
 and state the purpose for which it is taken. 
 
 SECT. 3. Said corporation may build aqueducts, and maintain the 
 same by any works suitable therefor ; may erect and maintain dams ; 
 may make reservoirs and hydrants, and may distribute the water 
 throughout said towns of Wakefield and Stoneham, by laying down 
 pipes, and may establish the rent therefor. 
 
 Said corporation may also, for the purposes aforesaid, carry its pipes 
 and drains over or under any water-course, street, railroad, highway or 
 other way, in such manner as not to obstruct the same ; and may enter 
 upon and dig up any road, under the direction of the selectmen of the
 
 812 APPENDIX. 
 
 said towns respectively, in such manner as to cause the least hin- 
 derance to the travel thereon. 
 
 SECT. 4. Said corporation shall be liable to pay all damages that 
 shall be sustained by any persons in their property by the taking of 
 any land, water, or water rights, or by the constructing of any aque- 
 ducts, reservoirs, or other works for the purposes aforesaid. If any 
 person who shall sustain damage as aforesaid cannot agree with said 
 corporation upon the amount of said damages, he may have them 
 assessed in the same manner as is provided by law, with respect to 
 land taken for highways ; and all damages for the taking of lands for 
 the purposes aforesaid shall be paid for by said corporation before 
 entering upon said lands. 
 
 SECT. 5. No application shall be made to the County Commission- 
 ers for the assessment of damages for the taking of any water rights 
 until the water is actually withdrawn or diverted by said corporation. 
 Any person whose water rights are thus taken or affected, may apply 
 as aforesaid, at any time within three years from the time when the 
 water is actually withdrawn or diverted. 
 
 SECT. 6. Said corporation may hold, for the purposes aforesaid, 
 real estate to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, and its 
 whole capital stock shall not exceed three hundred and fifty thousand 
 dollars, which shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars 
 each. And no liability shall be incurred by said corporation until at 
 least thirty thousand dollars of its capital shall have been paid in 
 in cash. 
 
 SECT. 7. Any person who shall maliciously divert the water, or any 
 part thereof, of the sources which shall be taken by the corporation, 
 pursuant to the provisions of this Act, or who shall maliciously corrupt 
 the same or render it impure, or who shall maliciously destroy or injure 
 any dam or reservoir, aqueduct, pipe, or hydrant, or other property 
 held, owned, or used by said corporation for the purposes of this Act, 
 shall pay three times the amount of actual damages to the said corpo- 
 ration, to be recovered in an action of tort ; and every such person, 
 on conviction of either of the malicious acts aforesaid, shall be pun- 
 ished by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars and imprisonment not 
 exceeding six months. 
 
 SECT. 8. The towns of Wakefield and Stoneham, or either of them, 
 in case the other declines to participate in said purchase, may at any 
 time within three years from the time -this Act takes effect, take or 
 purchase the franchise of said corporation and all its corporate prop- 
 erty, by paying therefor the amount expended for the construction,
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 813 
 
 maintenance, and repairs of said water works, and all necessary inci- 
 dental expenses, together with interest thereon at the rate of ten per 
 centum per annum, less the amount derived therefrom, with interest 
 thereon at the rate aforesaid, and may assume all its rights and privi- 
 leges from the corporators aforenamed. And in case said towns can- 
 not agree as to the portion of said amount to be paid by each, the 
 Supreme Judicial Court or any justice thereof, upon application of 
 either town so purchasing, shall appoint three commissioners to award 
 the amount to be paid by each, which award shall be final. 
 
 SECT. 9. For the purpose of defraying the cost of such franchise, 
 corporate property, lands, water, and water rights as are taken, pur- 
 chased, or held for the purposes aforesaid, and for constructing works 
 necessary and proper for the accomplishment of the purposes author- 
 ized by this Act, and paying all expenses incident thereto, each of 
 said towns may issue, from time to time, scrip, notes, or certificates 
 of debt : the town of Wakefield to an amount not exceeding two hun- 
 dred thousand dollars ; the town of Stoneham to an amount not 
 exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Such scrip issued 
 by the town of Wakefield shall be denominated on its face Wake-field 
 Water Fund Bonds ; that issued by the town of Stoneham shall be 
 denominated on its face Stoneham Water Fund Bonds. All such 
 scrip shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding seven per centum per 
 annum, payable semi-annually, and the principal shall be payable at 
 periods of not more than twenty years from the issuing of said scrip, 
 notes, or certificates respectively. And such town may sell the same, 
 or any part thereof, from time to time, or pledge the same for money 
 borrowed for the purposes aforesaid, on such terms and conditions as 
 such towns shall deem proper. And each of said towns is further 
 authorized to make appropriations, and assess from time to time, such 
 amounts, not exceeding in any one year the sum of ten thousand dol- 
 lars, towards paying the principal of the money so borrowed, except 
 in the year when the same may become due, and also a sum sufficient 
 to pay the interest thereon in the same manner as money is assessed 
 and appropriated for other town purposes. 
 
 SECT. 10. When said towns, or either of them, shall assume or pur- 
 chase the franchise, property, rights, and privileges of the corporation 
 established by this Act, said town or towns shall hold and may exercise 
 all the powers and authority conferred upon said corporation by this Act, 
 and shall be subject to all the restrictions, duties, and liabilities heroin 
 imposed on said corporation, and may act by such commissioners, three 
 in number, from each town, as the selectmen of each town shall
 
 8 14 APPENDIX. 
 
 from time to time appoint ; and said town or towns shall be liable 
 to pay all damages to which said corporation shall have become liable 
 and shall not have paid. 
 
 In case both towns shall have united in assuming or purchasing the 
 franchise and property of said corporation, 1;he commissioners appointed 
 by the selectmen as aforesaid shall constitute a joint Board of Water 
 Commissioners, who shall have power to regulate and control the use 
 of the water of said lake, and exercise all the powers and authority 
 conferred by this Act ; and said towns, in case they shall have united 
 as aforesaid, shall be jointly liable to persons having claims under this 
 Act ; but the apportionment between the towns of any expenses incurred 
 under this Act, and the determination of any other question which 
 shall arise between said towns under this Act, shall be made by said 
 joint Board ; and in case said commissioners shall be equally divided 
 upon any question, it shall be determined in the manner heretofore 
 provided in the eighth section of this Act for apportioning the amount 
 to be paid for the franchise and property of said corporation. 
 
 In case one of said towns shall alone assume or purchase said fran- 
 chise and property under the provisions of this Act, its commissioners 
 shall have the powers conferred by this section upon said joint Board. 
 SECT. ii. The rents received for the use of water within the limits 
 of each town shall, when collected, be paid over to the treasurer of the 
 town, and after the payment therefrom of the semi-annual interest 
 upon said scrip, and after deducting all charges of distribution and 
 repairs and other expenses incident to the same, shall be set apart, 
 with all amounts appropriated from time to time by said town, for 
 the payment of the principal sum of said scrip, as a sinking fund, 
 which, with the accumulated interest upon the same, shall be devoted 
 to the payment of said scrip of said town at maturity. Said sinking 
 fund may be invested in the scrip authorized by this Act, at a price not 
 exceeding its par value, or on such loans or in such securities as by 
 law the funds of savings banks may be invested in, except that no por- 
 tion of the same shall be loaned, directly or indirectly, to either of said 
 towns, or upon mere personal security. 
 
 SECT. 12. The accounts of such sinking funds shall be kept apart 
 from the other accounts of the town, and in each town shall at all 
 times be open to the inspection of the water commissioners of said 
 town. The treasurer of each town shall annually make a written 
 report to the town, at its annual meeting, of the condition of the fund 
 of the town, and the changes of investment during the then preced- 
 ing year. The selectmen and water commissioners shall jointly, as
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 often as once in each year, examine the accounts and securities of the 
 fund, and shall report the result of their examination to the town, 
 in connection with the report of the treasurer. 
 
 SECT. 13. It is hereby provided that if in the future the supply 
 of water shall prove insufficient for more than one town, for domestic 
 purposes, the town of Wakefield shall be first supplied. 
 
 SECT. 14. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude the 
 right of the town of Reading to take water from either or both of said 
 lakes, whenever so authorized by the Legislature. 
 
 SECT. 15. This Act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved 
 May 4, 1872.] 
 
 THE END.
 
 OS. HORACE G. WADHN. 
 
 Orator of the I 
 
 REGT.. M. v. .v t 
 
 Chief Marshal of Wakefield