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Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 13., Ancient legal contentions in upper Medford. (search)
descendants of today. The court records show that legal disputes were fully as popular, according to population, and as necessary, perhaps, for the good of society, as they are at present. Some of these contentions are interesting as showing the characteristics of the people who engaged in them, and the manner of dispensing justice in the early days of the colony. The first contest to which attention is called, relates to an acute misunderstanding between Edward Collins of Medford (Governor Cradock's successor in ownership of the Cradock plantation) and Josiah Converse of Woburn, who owned the ancient corne mill and farm, which descended to him from Edward Converse, the father of Woburn, who built the first house and mill in what was then called Waterfield, later Woburn, and at present Winchester. Edward Converse, in his will, devised the mill, now known as the Whitney Mill, Winchester, to the longest liver of his two sons. The successful liver proved to be Josiah Converse, his
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 14., The old Rock tree near Whitmore Brook. (search)
on, not only of the casual observer, but of scientific men, geologists and naturalists. They estimate the age of the tree to be over four hundred years. Under favorable conditions the native red cedar, thriving best on rocky soil, is of very slow growth, but here is one growing in no soil, but all rock. What wonder, then, that it was old when Edward Johnson passed by it on his way to locate in Charlestown Village, soon called Wooburne. But it was older when the early Medford settlers on Cradock's grant (after Collins, the land speculator, came in possession) built the mill just below it on Whitmore Brook. Traces of the dam that made a pond at the bowlder's base, and of the race-way and mill-site, may still be seen by the observant ones who pass along Whitmore road. Six generations have come and gone, and where once was heard the hum of the mill wheel there now is silence like to that of the silent city of Medford's dead, broken only by the echoes of passing travel on the highw
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 14., The ancient name Menotomy and the river of that name. (search)
don March 4, 1633-4, and Att a Genrall Court holden att Newe Towne, Sept. 3, 1634. There is leave granted to the inhabitants of Newe Towne to builde a weire vpon any place of Winotimies Ryver, within their owne bounds. The business was further controlled, when in the General Court, June 6, 1639, It was ordered that all weers shall be set open from the last day of the weeke at noon till the second day in the morning (Saturday noon till Monday morning). The weir granted to Winthrop and Cradock in 1634, was at the outlet of Mystic lake, where High street, Medford, crosses Mystic river at what is known as Weir bridge. Cutter says, The Mystic River, of which the ancient Menotomy River is a branch, has its source in Mystic Pond, which was shown on Wood's map of Mass., 1633. The names of Mystic and Menotomy rivers are apparently aboriginal designations, and like all Indian names probably describe the locality to which they were affixed. Trumbull gives the origin of the name My
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 14., A chapter of Corrections. (search)
marked was the entire Ten Hills Farm. Again, the sketch is not drawn to any scale, but is an observer's illustration of what must have been in those days a busy corner of Medford, including the river traffic, the boating in the canal, the turnpike travel and the tide mill work, all converged in that narrow space. A few words concerning the Blessing of the Bay. Mr. Brooks styles it the first keel laid in this western world. In a former number of the Register Mr. Hooper has shown that Mr. Cradock had the Rebecca built here in 1629, but was there not one built still earlier at Popham, on the coast of Maine? And now a foreword. In this issue is a poem relating to the Royall House. We think it worthy of preservation, but present it with some trepidation, warning our readers that poetic license must account for bricks brought over sea, as well as the location of the wigwam of Sagamore John. That same license provided Medford with a village clock when Revere rode over Cradock bri
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 14., The legend of cheese Rock. (search)
The legend of cheese Rock. For the Forest Festival, June 7, 1882. In sixteen hundred thirty-one, It was a winter day, When Winthrop, Nowell, Eliot, To northward strolled away. The frozen Mistick flood they crossed, Ere Cradock's mansion stood; O'er swamps and rocky hills they pressed, Through miles of lofty wood. They crossed a lovely ice-bound lake, With islands here and there; ‘spot pond’ they called it, from the rocks That showed their noddles bare. Then up northwestwardly they climbed, A hill well crowned with trees, And hungry there, as well might be, They dined on simple cheese. For, why? the guv'nor's man in haste, And careless how they fed, His basket loaded with the cheese And quite forgot the bread. This fact so simple and so grand, To us they handed down; ‘cheese Rock’ they named that lovely hill, Those men of high renown. Some smaller men cut off the trees And then they named it ‘Bare’; And when the bushes wildly grew The spelled it ‘B-e-a-r.’ But nat
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 15., The Walnut Tree Hill division of the stinted pasture. (search)
site of the ship-yard of Mr. James Ford, and later the yard of Mr. George Fuller. This way is now known as South street. The improvements made by the Metropolitan Park Commission have destroyed this landing place. In the year 1644 Gov. John Winthrop, in his journal, describes the following incident as taking place at a ford in Mystic river. From a careful study of the story it is evident that the ford referred to was at this place, and that the parties lived near the farmhouse of Governor Cradock (called Meadford on the ancient maps) which was located near the present square. One Dalkin and wife dwelling near Meadford, coming from Cambridge where they had spent their Sabbath and being to pass over the River at a Ford, the tide not being fallen enough, the husband adventured over, and finding it too deep, persuaded his wife to stay awhile, but it raining very sore, she would needs adventure over, and was carried away with the stream past her depth, her husband not daring to go
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 17., Camilla, 30. (search)
attered, And some of us lie Awaiting the train—of angels— Heaven's bright call, and lo! The ‘reward’ long promised Of the golden years ago. —Charles E. Preston. New York City. The Camilla was an insider, i.e., the steam cylinders were inside the space between the forward trucks. The power was exerted upon the cranked axle of the forward driving wheels, a type of locomotive now rare. Soon after the Camilla's retirement three new engines were put in service, named Medford, Mystic and Cradock, the latter larger than the others. They were outside connection and double enders, having head-light and cowcatcher at the end of the tank, this low enough to allow the driver view of the track as the backward run was made. These did away with the turn-table at the engine house. The turning around of the engine was always of interest to the boys of Medford, as elsewhere. The names and ornamental brass have gone, but the double-enders are still in commission on the Branch. Another
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 17., An old Medford school boy's reminiscences. (search)
re about two centuries earlier Governor John Winthrop built his cementless stone house. The Mystic region has been a good place for Governors, for we may count Governor Cradock and Governor John Brooks and Governor Everett again. Late in life he lived on the west side of Mystic upper lake. To Mr. Staniels, succeeded on Simonds Woburn settlers came to for free alewives. To be sure there was a bigger fishery at the outlet of Mystic lake, but our ancestors did not like paying royalties to Cradock and Winthrop grantees of the upper privilege. Some said this beach was made to help the Woburn people move their water freight to and from Boston through the ver Two points ran out into the lake and (except for about seven feet) nearly met. This was the parting of the ponds, the extreme westerly point of the grant to Governor Cradock of 1635. The water rushed swiftly through the strait referred to; bushes and trees grew on the two points and very large trees on the high eastern point. G
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 22., Medford not in it. (search)
t, it resolved itself into this, in which some towns instructed their representatives how to vote. Whether the defendt bee found to have been possest of the plaintiffs sowe & converted her to his own use or not; it was voted by 2 matrats & 15 deputies for the plaintiff, & 7 matrats & 8 deputies for the defendt & 7 deputies were neuters Like some modern lawsuits, the case dragged its slow length along, and a year later the record reads, Wee conceive that hee [Story] can blame none but himself ... and that hee must stay till the Co't come again unless Capt Keayne & hee come to an agreemt betwixt themselves, wch wee much desire. The fact that Medford was apeculiar, and not yet a full-fledged town (only Governor Cradock's farm), accounts for the absence of town records, and kept Medford out of the famous controversy of those early days. Incidentally we note, in this occurrence was the beginning of our dual legislature, the Senate and House—and that because of a stray pi
Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 22., Why Mystic? (search)
ttlers intending to go up the Charles to Cambridge came up this river by mistake, and so the river got its name. Another myth—or else a mystic mistake. Where did Winthrop's six-mile journey begin? Naturally, we reply, at the mouth of the river, the fair entrance of the Pilgrim narrative, where is now the Chelsea bridge. There has been a lot said and written about Winthrop being the founder of Medford—well enough in a way, as he was the colonial governor—but the earliest Medford was Cradock's farm, and lay entirely on the opposite side of the river from Winthrop's. It has been written that The first exploration of the river carried probably as far as Medford lines, and that the English eyes in that boat were the first eyes of settlers that looked upon the fields on which we now live. Naturally we ask, What was the scene they beheld? Mr. Brooks answered that in 1855 by saying, We apprehend it is very much today what it was two hundred years ago. In some respects correct. T<
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