Historic leaves, volume 3, April, 1904 - January, 1905

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Early in the new century the question of the bounds between Cambridge and Watertown seems not to have been settled, or, at least, the marks and monuments needing to be renewed, a committee was appointed in each town to attend to the matter. Samuel Stone was one of the committee from Cambridge.

At a town meeting held in April, 1711, the people voted to buy a piece of land near the meeting-house for a public common, the same to be paid for by subscription. The names of several Stones appear on this list.

Samuel Stone was twice married; his first wife died in 1700, and his second survived him thirteen years. He died at the age of eighty-five, September 27, 1715. ‘In ye old burying ground’ in Lexington, on the circular drive at the southern end, is a row of twelve slate stones, bearing the name of Stone. The first is that of Samuel Stone, Sr., the second that of his first wife.

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Samuel Stone, West

Samuel Stone, the oldest son of Deacon Samuel Stone, was born at Cambridge Farms October 1, 1656. On account of duplicate names in the family, to avoid confusion, he was designated Samuel Stone, West, to distinguish him from his cousin, David Stone's son, who was called Samuel Stone, East.

He married Dorcas Jones, of Concord, June 12, 1679. He probably resided in what is now Lincoln, somewhat nearer the church at Concord than the one at Cambridge, for the births of all his children are recorded there. He was taxed, however, in Cambridge, as his name is on the tax list of 1688. He was freeman in 1682. He took a prominent part in the establishment of the church at ‘The Farms’ in 1691 and later, being one of the signers of the first covenant, as has been related. In 1698 his wife was admitted to the church from Concord, and from that time their interests seem to have been wholly in the town of Lexington, as it was called by order of the Court, in 1713.

According to an (unofficial) estimate of the population, it had increased from forty-five to over 500 in the sixty years between 1655 and 1715, so that it is not remarkable that he should be interested in and take a prominent part in the affairs of the town which had grown with his growth.