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were refused their petition by
Charlestown.
From the earliest times, there seems to have been a strong desire to break away from
Charlestown.
At first, it was the largest town in the Colony; but town after town has been severed from it, till now it is the smallest territorial town in the
State!
In the graveyard at
Malden, we find the following:--
Here lies buried the body of Capt. Peter Tufts, who died Sept. 20, 1721,
aged 73 years.
Also the body of Mrs. Mercy Tufts, wife of Capt. Peter Tufts, who died
June 18, 1715, aged 48 years.
“Mercy, daughter of Seaborn Cotton, was born Nov. 3, 1666.
She married
Captain Peter Tufts, of
Medford.
Her grandfather was
Rev. John Cotton, of
England, a very distinguished divine.”
Dr. Simon Tufts, of
Medford, was the youngest son of Peter and. Mercy
Tufts.
1727.--
Mr. Thomas Seccomb left valuable records, in manuscript, containing a notice of every clergyman who preached in
Medford, and all the texts preached from, between 1727 and 1774; also a record of all baptisms and all contributions.
| Book No 1 begins Sept. | 3, 1727; | and ends June | 1, 1736. |
| Book No 2 begins June | 20, 1736; | and ends Feb. | 28, 1745. |
| Book No 3 begins March | 3, 1745; | and ends Dec. | 3, 1767. |
| Book No 4 begins Dec. | 20, 1767; | and ends May | 1, 1774. |
In the second meeting-house, 5,134 sermons were preached, and 1,218 persons baptized.
Oct. 29, 1727.--The great earthquake occurred on this day (Sunday); and. the selectmen of
Medford appointed the next Wednesday, Nov. 2, to be observed as a day of fasting and humiliation on that account.
September, 1729.--The Yankee habit of using a jack-knife on all occasions and in all places seems to have given our town some trouble; for at this time they resolve, by a public vote, to prosecute those persons who have cut the seats of the new meetinghouse.
Feb. 17, 1731.--
Mr. Turell says in his record, “Married,
standing together,
William Watson and Abigail Hall.”
Was this the first time he had seen a couple so placed?
Sept. 12, 1731.--
Rev. John Seccomb preached in
Medford.
1735.--
Sampson, a negro slave, was sorely frightened by a wild bear and cub, which he met in the woods, near
Governor Cradock's house.
In a rock on the north-east border of
Medford, near the corner of
Melrose, is a deep excavation, called
Bear's Den.
Oct. 8, 1738.--
Governor Belcher attended meeting in
Medford, Sunday.
Rev. Mr. Turell preached.
Rev. Joshua Tufts preached in
Medford, Aug. 24, 1740.
A species of very destructive worm appeared in July, 1743.
They destroyed both grass and corn.
Mr. Turell preached, July 3, on the event, from
Lam. III. 39, and Ezek.
XVIII. 25.
