Charles A. Nelson , A. M., Waltham, past, present and its industries, with an historical sketch of Watertown from its settlement in 1630 to the incorporation of Waltham, January 15, 1739.

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In 1641, after the Revolution in England, when it was no longer necessary to seek here an asylum from oppression, immigration ceased, and the affairs of this settlement wore a most gloomy aspect. Many who had come over became discouraged and returned, perhaps influenced by the fact that their leader, Sir Richard Saltonstall, who had left them ten years before, had not come back to join his fortunes with theirs as he expected to when he returned to the mother country.

In the spring of 1642, ‘Cowes and Cattel of that kind (having continued at an excessive price so long as any came over with estates to purchase them) fell of a suddain in one week from £ 22 the Cow to £ 6, £ 7 or £ 8 the Cow at most.’ Notwithstanding this great depreciation of their property, the same writer goes on to say:

There are not many Towns in the Country, but the poorest person in them hath a house and land of his own, and bread of his own growing, if not some cattel: beside, flesh is now no rare food, beef, pork, and mutton being frequent in many houses, so that this poor Wilderness hath not onely equalized England in food, but goes beyond it in some places for the great plenty of wine and sugar, which is ordinarily spent, apples, pears, and quince tarts instead of their former Pumpkin Pies;¹ Poultry they have plenty and great rarity, and in their feasts have not forgotten the English fashion of stirring up their appetites with variety of cooking their food.....

Secondly, For ray-ment, our cloth hath not been cut short....

Further, the Lord hath been pleased to turn all the wigwams, huts, and hovels the English dwelt in at their first coming into orderly, fair, and well-built houses, well furnished many of them, together with Orchards filled with goodly fruit trees, and gardens with variety of flowers.

Johnson's Wonder working Providence, Chap. XXI.

In 1643 was formed the Consederation of the four Colonies of Plymouth, Connecticut, New Haven, and Massachusetts, the commissioners of the last three named signing the twelve articles May

2 The ‘pumpkin pies,’ as well as the ‘meal and water and salt boiled together’ (see p. 18), which necessity compelled the fathers to use, have become the favorite and time-honored dishes of their sons.