[
77]
(Read before
Somerville Historical Society December 20, 1905.)
The presence of so many friends, acquaintances, and fellowcitizens is encouraging, as well as complimentary.
I must regret that so many will be disappointed,—not finding in the theme of my paper this evening, or in its treatment, the interesting relation hoped for.
I come not before you this evening to give instruction to you, whose object and aim is the acquisition and dispensing of local history; but I beg to call to your minds that, at the dates covered by the theme of my paper,
Charlestown and
Cambridge were contiguous in territory, with a common boundary reaching from
Miller's river to
Burlington,
Charlestown bounded with
Lynn on the northeast, and with
Boston on the
Mystic river, as
Chelsea was early a part of
Boston.
This most ancient town of
Middlesex County was the third settlement in the limits of
Massachusetts, outside of Plymouth plantation.
The first Court of Assistants was held at
Charlestown.
In every line of business and commerce
Charlestown held prominence.
Phipps is a contraction in speech of Philip, unknown in
England before the
Conquest, and one of many forms indicative of the popularity of the fifth apostle.
The
Phipps were seated in the shires of
Gloucester,
Worcester,
Warwick, and
Northampton.
They bore arms and were esteemed among the gentry.
The immediate family, whence the Phipps of
Charlestown derived issue, were of
Wiltshire, where various members of the race are on record as sheriffs.
