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Browsing named entities in a specific section of HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855. (ed. Charles Brooks). Search the whole document.

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Charlestown, Mass. (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 14
e-tide, when the pagan Romans made little cakes as a sacrifice to their gods, and the heathen Greeks made pancakes to their idols. Drinking healths, and making New-Year's gifts, were discouraged, as paganish customs. The drama was thus forbidden: Baptized persons are under obligation to renounce all the pomps of Satan, and therefore to abhor and abandon stage-plays, which have a principal part in the pomps of the Devil. For equally valid reasons, May-day was anathematized; and when, in Charlestown, they thought of erecting a May-pole, Mr. Mather, in 1686, said, It is an abominable shame, that any persons, in a land of such light and purity as New England has been, should have the face to speak or think of practising so vile a piece of heathenism. Dancing was dangerous because the daughter of Herodias danced John the Baptist's head off. But Mr. Mather says, in 1685, that, within the last year, promiscuous dancing was openly practised, and too much countenanced, in this town. He f
England (United Kingdom) (search for this): chapter 14
, writes thus: Having yet no table, nor other room to write in than by the fireside, upon my knee, in this sharp winter, &c. If the deputy-governor had no more accommodations than these, what must have been the deprivations of the rest of the people? For many of our modern superfluities they had no names in their vocabulary. So late as our day, we have seen aged persons who have assured us that they never tasted tea or coffee until they were over twenty-one years of age. In 1666, tea, in England, was sixty shillings sterling a pound, and was not used much in America till 1750. It was nearly the same with coffee. Any cooking which required sugar was too expensive for our early ancestors; and the Sunday suit of clothes went through a whole life. For vocal music, they had the volunteer solo from the cradle; for instrumental, they had the sputter of the churn, the scraping of the wool-cards, the whiz of the spinning-wheel, and the jerk-rattle of the weaving-loom. Their sofa was the
Malaga (Spain) (search for this): chapter 14
friends of the deceased; and the funeral train was often stopped to allow fresh bearers to take their turn. When a female was buried, females walked first; when a male, the men. At the grave, the coffin was opened, to allow the last look. On the return to the house, a repast was served; and there were eating and drinking on the largest scale. In a town near Medford, the funeral of a clergyman took place in 1774; and the record of charges runs thus: For twelve gold rings, £ 8; Lisbon wine, Malaga wine, West India rum, £ 5. 16s. 8d.; lemons, sugar, pipes, and tobacco, £ 3. 8s. 6d.; gloves, £ 40. 1s. 6d.; death's-head and cross-bones, 15s. The funeral of Captain Sprague (1703) cost £ 147. 16s. The Grand American Continental Congress, assembled at Philadelphia, 1774, agreed with regard to funerals thus: On the death of any relation or friend, none of us, or any of our families, will go into any further mourning-dress than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat, for gentlemen; an
Roxbury, Mass. (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 14
t was deemed expedient and Christian, by the Puritans, not to imitate such examples; and, accordingly, they buried their dead without funeral prayers. Neither did they read the Scriptures! What they could have substituted for these simple, rational, and impressive rites, we do not know, but presume it must have been a sermon and a hymn. The first prayer made by a clergyman at a funeral, which we have heard of, was made by Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Medfield, at the funeral of Rev. Mr. Adams, of Roxbury, Aug. 19, 1685. The first one made at a funeral in Boston was at the interment of Dr. Mayhew, 1766. The pomp and circumstance of grief were certainly not forgotten on this side of the Atlantic. At the burial of a rich man, a magistrate, or a minister, there was great parade and much expense. Mourning-scarfs, black crapes, pendulous hatbands, common gloves, and gold rings, were gratuities to the chief mourners. The officers accompanying the funeral procession bore staffs or halberts, ro
Cologne (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) (search for this): chapter 14
the jerk-rattle of the weaving-loom. Their sofa was the settle, and their spring-seat was the soft side of an oaken plank; their carpets were clean white sand; their ceilings, rough boards and rafters; and their parlor was at once kitchen, bedroom, and hall. We have seen what their clothing was; and it was the product of their own looms and knitting-needles. The men were not encumbered with suspenders, or dickies, or umbrellas; nor were the women sighing after diamonds, operaglasses, or Cologne water. How expensive, vexatious, and useless would have been long female dresses bedraggled every moment in the grass! Fashion, which is the labor of little minds, and not the repose of great ones, had not become the fickle tyrant we now see it. They aimed at health; and the children who were born weak and feeble could not be kept alive, as they are by modern skill: hence the robustness of those who survived. We come, then, to the conclusion, that moderate labor, simple diet, sufficient
France (France) (search for this): chapter 14
posite of the dress à la sausage), there was neither studied humility nor conspicuous poverty, but the recommendation of clothes typical of true Puritan ideas,--clothes that would not patronize coughs, consumptions, pride, or taxes. As the royal family and the nobility led the English nation in habits of dress, they would not be so implicitly followed on this side of the water. As faithful disciples turn their faces to Jerusalem or Mecca, so modern fashionists turn their eyes to Paris; for France is subjugating the world to millinery. Thus it was not with our Pilgrim ancestors. They dared to think for themselves; and they dared to make laws against the customs and costumes of their native land. The single fact that our Colonial Legislature took up the subject of dress,--female dress, too,--is a proof of their clear ideas and consistent characters. What body of men had ever before dared thus to legislate on such a subject? It is very evident to us, therefore, what kind of dress t
United States (United States) (search for this): chapter 14
s for pardon through a divine Redeemer, supplicates for the new heart and new life of the gospel, and prays for the heavenly guidance. In these general expressions, he does not forget to thank God especially for the religious freedom enjoyed in America, and to implore that Popery, Episcopacy, and all other heresies, may be for ever kept out of his true church here. There is now an hour before it will be necessary to start for meeting; and this hour is occupied by the children in committing toulary. So late as our day, we have seen aged persons who have assured us that they never tasted tea or coffee until they were over twenty-one years of age. In 1666, tea, in England, was sixty shillings sterling a pound, and was not used much in America till 1750. It was nearly the same with coffee. Any cooking which required sugar was too expensive for our early ancestors; and the Sunday suit of clothes went through a whole life. For vocal music, they had the volunteer solo from the cradle;
Medford (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 14
hapter 13: population. It is supposed that Medford, during the first ten years of its settlementools and churches. Surely, in some respects, Medford had a small beginning; but Governor Dudley, sn 1850, 3,749. In 1854, 1,299 residents in Medford were taxed. Manners and customs. The la a part of their freedom. So was it with our Medford ancestors. The children of our first settlerplish what they did. It was the custom in Medford for the selectmen to appoint a thanksgiving ds Court, composed in part of the selectmen of Medford, had jurisdiction within the town, and could much was thought of these red-letter days in Medford, there were instances where provisions for thrinking on the largest scale. In a town near Medford, the funeral of a clergyman took place in 177erested in it. Small detachments of boys from Medford went under the care of trusty slaves. Neal sif men would only let them. Our ancestors in Medford were in a district which naturally collected [5 more...]
Augustus Neal (search for this): chapter 14
to hold their place. Festival Days.--These were too fashionable in the mother country to be popular here. There were some holidays, of American origin, which were celebrated with enthusiasm. Election-day was hailed with drums, guns, and drinking. Commencement-day at Cambridge College was a great festival, uniting the church and the state; and each one of the whole community seemed personally interested in it. Small detachments of boys from Medford went under the care of trusty slaves. Neal says, The people were as cheerful among their friends as the English are at Christmas. Ordination-days came not very often; but, when they did, the occasion demanded great outlays in food and drinks; and, in the evening, there were what the ministers called unbecoming actions, --probably blindman's-buff, and such other tolerable frolic as took place at huskings. Pope-day, though of English origin, was noticed by our ancestors; and the 5th of November brought the gunpowder-plot, sermons, and
Thomas Dudley (search for this): chapter 14
er districts, where land could be had almost for the asking. In this, Medford was peculiar; and these facts explain why the town went so long without public schools and churches. Surely, in some respects, Medford had a small beginning; but Governor Dudley, speaking on the subject, says, Small things, in the beginning of natural and political bodies, are as remarkable as greater in bodies full grown. The following records give the town's population at several epochs :-- 1707: Medford hadcomfortable subsistence, and have the opportunity of worshipping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Their condition, their dwellings, their dress, their facilities, their relationships,--how different from ours! Deputy-Governor Dudley, March 12, 1631, writes thus: Having yet no table, nor other room to write in than by the fireside, upon my knee, in this sharp winter, &c. If the deputy-governor had no more accommodations than these, what must have been the deprivations o
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