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Historical items.
Feb. 7, 1632: On this day
Governor Winthrop,
Mr. Nowell, and others, crossed our ford in
Medford, and travelled on an exploring expedition towards the north-east, and came ‘to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and beech; and the pond had divers small rocks standing up here and there in it, which they therefore called
Spot Pond.
They went all about it on the ice.’
1647:
Medford was under the following law: ‘Ordered that no lover shall seek the hand of his chosen one till he has asked permission of her parents.
Penalty for the first offence £ 5; for the second £ 10; and for the third imprisonment.’
According to this, an element of danger must have been introduced into the courting of those days.
1670: Some Indian children were brought up in our English families, and afterwards became idle and intemperate.
A gentleman asked the
Indian father why this was so. He answered: ‘Tucks will be tucks, for all old hen be hatch 'em.’
1810:
Medford had a large choir of volunteer singers, under the faithful
Ephraim Bailey.
One Sunday the pitch pipe set the pitch so high that the whole choir broke down.
General Brooks could not endure it any longer, and he rose in his pew, beckoned to
Bailey, and said, ‘Hadn't you better take another pitch?’
Bailey replied, ‘No, sir, I guess we can get through it.’
Rev. Mr. Osgood boarded many years in the family of
Deacon Richard Hall, and a very close intimacy blessed both parties afterwards.
One Sunday
Mrs. Hall was taken ill in church, and her husband went out with her. After some time the deacon returned.
As soon as he had shut the door,
Mr. Osgood stopped in his preaching and said, ‘
Mr. Hall, how is aunt now?’
‘She is better,’ was the reply.
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