[p. 3] Woodward a license.
Where his house was located we have no means of determining (possibly it was the
Willis Tavern). He kept a tavern in
Medford one year only; the next year (1691) we find him located in
Woburn.
The want of a tavern in the town induced the selectmen to again address the court.
‘Meadford June 17, 1691, Whereas we are destitute of a Public House of Entertainment for strangers &c. and
Mr. Thomas Willis proffering to supply said defect, the
Selectmen of Meadford do allow of his proffer accounting him a fitting man for that purpose.
Nath. Wade.
Stephen Willis.
Selectmen of Meadford.’
The court granted
Mr. Willis a license.
Again in the year 1692 the selectmen addressed the court.
‘To
the Hon. Justices of the Peace at the Sessions holden 19th. July instant in
Charlestown, by the virtue of a warrant from
Mr. Samuel Phipps,
Clerk, dated July 7. 1692 the
Selectmen doe approve of
Mr. Thomas Willis and judge him a meet person to be licensed to retail beer, Ale, Rum, Syder &c. and to keep a House of Public Entertainment for the use of the town and strangers dated 18 day of July 1692.
from your Worships humble servants,
Nath. Wade,
Stephen Willis,
John Whitmore,
Selectmen of Meadford.’
Mr. Willis was again granted a license.
The next year (1693) we find Mr. Willis again licensed.
Where the Willis Tavern was located we can only conjecture by the following: Mr. Willis owned land a short distance west of Marble brook, on the north side of the way from Medford to Woburn, and at the foot of ‘Marm Simonds' Hill’ (this hill was called in the early days of the plantation, Marabels Hill), and as will hereinafter appear, this location is the same as that upon which stood a tavern named at times Pierce's, Usher's and Putnam's Tavern.
The evidence to be submitted shows conclusively that upon this lot of land stood a house or houses that were used a good part of the time for over one hundred years as a place of public entertainment.
When this house was built we have no means of knowing.
