first meeting of the proprietors of the Medford Turnpike Corporation was held on the eleventh day of April, 1803, at the house of Hezekiah Blanchard, Jr. Benjamin Hall was chosen moderator and Luther Stearns clerk.
May 5, 1803.
Voted that General Brooks, Luther Stearns and Capt. Andrew Hall be a committee to draw up a subscription, and that the number of shares shall be 100.
The following is a list of the proprietors of the Medford turnpike road, with the number of shares which they hold0, 31, 32.
Oliver Hartshorn5 shares, Nos. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.
Fitch Hall5 shares, Nos. 39, 40, 41, 42, 43.
Joseph P. Hall3 shares, Nos. 59, 60, 61.
Timothy Dexter1 shares, Nos. 64.
Benjamin Hall Jr & son5 shares, Nos. 65, 66, 67,68,69.
Peter C. Brooks7 shares, Nos. 19, 20, 77, 78, 79, 80,81.
Josiah Bradlee2 shares, Nos. 82, 83.
William V. Hutchins5 shares, Nos. 33, 74, 84, 85, 86.
Samuel Gray4 shares, Nos. 87, 88, 89, 90.
Dudley Hall1 shares, Nos. 75.
Richard Hall1 shares, Nos. 76
ine, the marsh and upland joined.
Just now a glance at Walling's map of Medford (1855) is interesting.
It shows the names of some twenty owners of marsh land below Labor-in-vain, among which are a few of those corporators of fifty years before.
A look from the windows of the Fellsway car as it rapidly passes the spot today is equally so, revealing the remains of the dyke—the fence is long since gone—and the stump marsh or pine swamp, unique in character and unlike any other.
Historian Brooks records that Medford's tax upon this corporation in 1822 was $156.27. We have been curious to know why in 1855 he made selection of 1822 to note, also why he listed this business concern among fraternal societies.
At this juncture, we turn to papers in the Historical Society's possession:
First A request signed by six corporators in 1821, requesting Abner Bartlett, Justice of the Peace, to issue his warrant to one of their number, directing him to call a meeting of the corporation at the