V Wt)t Milton Catec|ri0m AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS ILLUSTRATED PUBLISHED BY MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ii 1910 Copyrighted, 1910, BT Milton Historical Society THE ROCKWELL & CHURCHILL PRESS, BOSTON PREFACE ONE of the objects which the committee of the Milton Historical Society who are responsible for this out- line have had in mind is to supply our school teachers with a convenient basis for the study of the history of our town and of its political, social and industrial conditions, so that when the children become men and women they may more earnestly and wisely strive for the welfare of their town and hence of their country. But it is hoped that the usefulness of the outline will reach further than the schools and that it will be for the community not only such a stimulus to patriotism as the study of history should always be, but also a helpful guide to fertile and interesting fields of knowledge. The committee wish to acknowledge with gratitude their debt to the Brookline Education Society, whose Guide to the Local History of Brookline has been to them both an incitement and a model, and to the Milton Public Library for valuable assistance in preparing the work for the printer. Andrew Henshaw Ward, Florence G. Houghton, Eleanor P. Martin, Mary Rivers, Asher J. Jacoby, Committee. (5) M2932304 CONTENTS A. Geography of Milton Andrew H. Ward B. Geology of Milton William L. W. Field C. Settlement of Milton "] D. Separation of Milton from Dorchester \ Miss Eleanor P. Martin E. Old Buildings of Milton J F. Transportation and Routes of Travel . Miss Mary H. Hinckley G. Slavery in Milton Miss Harriet E. Tuell H. Milton in the Wars : Milton in the Revolution Miss Mary Rivers Milton in the War of 1812 ] Miss Harriet E. Tuell Milton in the Mexican War I Milton in the Civil War Milton in the Spanish War J {Asher J. Jacoby Miss Florence G. Houghton J. Milton Churches Roderick Stebbins K. Milton Industries Mrs. Frederick M. Hamlin L. Miscellaneous ! Andrew H. Ward M. Topics for Special Study _, ^ f Andrew H. Ward N. General References ■{ J Miss Lucy D. Luard (7) ILLUSTRATIONS Blue Hill from Houghton's Pond Frontispiece PAGE Paul's Bridge 10 Old Indian Trail 15 The Rising Sun Tavern 19 The Suffolk Resolves House 23 The Pound and the Gulliver Elm 21) Memorial Stone and Rails of the First Railway in America . 35 Gov. Hutchinson's House, 1743 41 The Town Hall 45 The Vosb School, 1910 51 The High School 57 The Old Milton Academy, 1804. Later used for the High School 63 Milton Academy, 1910 67 Chocolate Mills 73 The Public Library . 79 Meteorological Station on Blue Hill 83 (*> - ♦ *itt» * 3 »t«- : — *^w." jpi i S^O' V • 15L tt 18 M V le| * - b.^^H - ■ *■*» ■Mr 5 Jfc*i -,> Jfe ' i Wh^jSl'J tfSf* : - ^&* -*%af~^k jBr "^ ■*'&M P jSf^y ( I j»^Y'' ■ ^^H^ iS^T] fmrm 5 "tl^m^k^'^^ r %%. —i "\^Vi ^fi^Hr T* j§| ***g^' THE MILTON CATECHISM A* Geography I. A detailed study of present and past physical condi- tions. — Give lessons from hill-tops ; point out particular hills, valleys, streams, ponds, swamps, meadow lands, woods, bays; e.g., locate Blue Hill, Brush Hill, Milton Hill, The Centre, Houghton's Pond, Ponkapog Pond, Tur- ner's Pond, Pope's Pond, Cunningham Park, Gov. Hutch- inson Field, Neponset River, Pine Tree Brook, Unquity Brook, the quarries, Neponset salt marshes, Gulliver's Creek, Granite Bridge, Neponset Meadows above Paul's Bridge, the limits of the Reservation, swamp in the Reser- vation, the old channel of the Neponset River, Vose's Lane, etc. Reproduce the same on the sand table. Call attention to changes of physical features due to grading for new streets, drainage of swamps, erosion of hills, cuts for rail- roads (e.g., near Central Avenue Station). II. Direction lessons. — Direction of Boston, Boston Harbor, light houses, Nantasket, State House, Dorchester Heights, Quincy, Randolph, Brookline, Mt. Wachusett, Miles Standish Monument, Dedham, Charles River, Salem, Cape Ann, Cape Cod, Nahant, Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, Moon Island, Hough's Neck. (See chart of directions from Blue Hill.) III. Study of political map. — Explanation of map, symbols for rivers, hills, streets, etc. Draw outline maps and locate hills, ponds, principal streets, public buildings. Bound the town. (11) 12 B* Geology of Milton (The pupil should refer to the Boston and Dedham quad- rangles of the Topographic Map of the United States, pub- lished by the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., and sold at six cents per quadrangle. Most libraries and schools are supplied with these maps.) Q. What is the highest point in Milton, and how high is it above mean sea level? Q. What is the lowest point, and what is its elevation? Q. What is the principal river of the region? What relation does this bear to the " lowest point " just sought? Why? Q. What are the principal tributaries of the river? Q. Where is the "head of navigation " on this river? Q. What are the names of the principal hills of the Blue Hills range? Q. Why is this range so high and rugged as compared with the surrounding country ? A. Because it is composed of very resistant rocks, which crumble and waste away very slowly. Q. What are some of these resistant rocks ? A. Granite, quartz, porphyry, and felsite. Q. Which of these is most useful to man? A. Granite and felsite. The latter is an ancient lava, of a purplish color, marked with light wavy bands. It is used in building roads. Q. How has the Blue Hills range influenced travel and settlement ? (Note that Canton avenue curves around the end of the range, while Hillside street and Randolph avenue occupy the lowest passes to be found in it. Find the heights of these passes.) Find Arlington Heights, a group of abrupt hills north- 13 west of Boston. Between the Blue Hills and Arlington Heights lies the small area of lowland known as the Boston Basin. Q. How much of Milton lies within the Boston Basin? Q. What kinds of rock compose the floor of the Boston Basin ? A. Conglomerate (puddingstone), sandstone, and slate, with some remnants of old lava flows by which they were invaded and disturbed. Q. How were the conglomerate, sandstone, and slate formed ? A. As sedimentary deposits of materials derived from the neighboring highlands at a time when the sea covered the lowland. The conglomerate was formed as a coarse deposit near shore ; the sandstone as a finer deposit farther out ; the slate as an accumulation of very fine mud still farther from the land. Long-continued sinking of the region allowed these sediments to accumulate to great depths. Q. Of what kinds of rock are the pebbles in the con- glomerate ? A. Mainly granite and felsite. Q. Why are these sedimentary rocks not now found in continuous, even layers, except where disturbed by the lava flows? A. Because by slow movements in the earth's crust these layers were in the course of ages so folded and broken that the pattern of the rocks is now very complex. Q. In what parts of Milton are these sedimentary rocks now found outcropping as ledges? Q. In what other parts of Milton are scattered fragments, or boulders, of these rocks found? Q. By what agency were these boulders broken from the ledges and carried to distant points ? 14 A. By the great Ice sheet, which overspread northern North America many thousands of years ago, yet very recently as geological time is reckoned. Q. What other effects of the Ice Age are to be seen in Milton? A. Widespread deposits of gravel and sand ; bare ledges of granite, polished and scratched by the movement of ice and the dragging of rock fragments over them ; smooth oval hills or "drumlins," shaped out of boulder- clay (hard-pan) in a way not yet clearly understood ; and the prevailing disarrangement of the courses of the streams, which find themselves in many cases superposed upon rock ridges, so that rapids and gorges are formed. Q. In what way has this disarrangement of the streams been favorable to the development of manufacturing indus- tries? Q. What determined the location of villages at Milton Lower Mills and Mattapan ? Q. If the rock ridges were completely cut through, and all mill-dams were removed, what would happen to the meadows along the upper course of the Neponset and along its tributaries? Q. What geological changes are now going on in the region ? A. Slow folding and compression of the rocks, still in progress deep beneath the surface of the earth ; weathering, and erosion by streams, of the general surface, especially rapid on steep slopes ; the gradual subsidence of the coast (at a rate, just now, of about two feet per century), making estuaries at the mouths of rivers ; and the growth of marshes in protected parts of the estuaries, where deposits of mud accumulate and vegetation thrives. ?-^Jw^fe%a^ .'11 »•' -■ V, '• 1, • „ . . _ _ 17 C The Settlement of Milton Q. What was the old name of Milton? g olon y ^ Records, v. 4, A. Unquatiquisset or Unquity. Dorchester Q. Why was it so called ? Record8 ' p ' 102 - A. The word is of Indian origin, signifying the head of J f e 5i e iitonfpJT tide-water. 34 » 35 ' Q. Who were the earliest known inhabitants of Unquity ? A. The Indians. Q. What was the general appearance of the place before the white settlers came? A. A dense primeval forest threaded only by Indian winthrop, His- r ( t . tor y of New trails, cleared plains waving with maize, meadows andS 11 * 1 *?*- * C Hutchinson, marshes with rank, uncut, native grass four or five feet S^alhuLtts high, more numerous and larger watercourses, chief of y,1,p " 425 ; which was the Neponset river, with matchless and varied beauty untouched save for the light canoe of the Indian in his journey to the falls in search of shad, alewives, etc. Q. When and how did the white settlers first come into possession of the land? A. In 1636, by this means: Unquity was part of theg^™^ undivided land, granted by Charles I. to the Massachusetts p - 162 - ° J Dorchester Bay Colony. The General Court, which had jurisdiction Records, P . 142. in colonial affairs, upon request of the Dorchester pioneers granted the territory to the town of Dorchester in 1636. To make the title doubly clear, at the same time the land was bought of the Indians for twenty-eight fathoms of wampum. Q. What use did the Dorchester settlers at first make of the Unquity lands ? A. They cut timber from the woods for their houses and ft£™rds 8 . ter ships, and used the meadows as common pasture land for their cattle. 18 Q. When and by whom was the first house built in Unquity ? Reco?d 8 8ter 7 A - Probably in 1634, by Richard Collicot. (This, how- ever, cannot be easily proved, as the records of deeds do not reach back as far as the original grants.) Q. Where did Collicot's house stand? Records of Pro- a. On the west side of Adams street near the junction pnetors of Dor- ° cheater, v. 2, of Centre street. Q. Was the name of " Collicot " ever spelled differently ? Miiton Town A. The name was spelled in no less than twenty-one Records. colony different forms. ivccorus, D. The Separation of Milton from Dorchester Q. W^here did the pioneers of Unquity settle ? A. Principally on the " Country Highway" over Milton hill. Q. What were the chief occupations ? Probate A. Farming, fur-trading, ship-building, and tanning. Records of ° ' ° ' L ° ° Suffolk. q How large had the settlement become when they petitioned the General Court to be made a separate town ? ?. u f olk 208 ed8 ' A* About twenty families. Q. Why did they wish to form a town by themselves ? of e MUton 8tor 33 ^' Because of the inconvenience of attending religious and civil meetings at the distant Dorchester village. Q. When was Unquity incorporated as a separate town ? Records, v. 4, A - In 1662 > — some time between May 7 and October 8. p ' 50, Q. What new name was given the town, and why? A. Milton — probably from Milton, England, in har- mony with the general custom of naming New England towns for those of old England. 21 E* The Old Buildings of Milton Q. When was the first meeting-house in Milton built and where ? A. The first meeting-house in Milton (then Unquity), g£™J|J ter 102 was built as early as September, 1660, and stood on Adams street at the head of Churchill's lane. Q. Where did the early inhabitants attend church? A. In Dorchester. Dorchester Records. Q. Where was the first school-house probably located? A. The first school-house was probably on Milton Hill Teeie .History r j f Milton, p. near Churchill's lane. The first school-houses of which ^? ltonTown there is actual record are the two built in the east and west p 1 e ^£ d8 ' v< *' ends of the town in 1718. Q. What were the dimensions of these buildings ? MutonTown ^ ° Records, v. 1, A. Sixteen feet by twenty feet. p- 273 - Q. What was taught in the first schools? A. The subjects taught were reading and writing. Record^ ™ Q. What was the Rising Sun Tavern? A. The Rising Sun Tavern was the building still stand- ing on the corner of Adams street and Canton avenue. Q. What other old Milton taverns are famous ? A. Some of the other old Milton taverns were Atherton Tee 1 /. History of Mdton. Tavern, which, remodeled as a dwelling, still stands on the same spot on the corner of Canton avenue and Atherton street ; Bent Tavern and Bradlee Tavern, which previously occupied the same site ; Billings Tavern, called in the nineteenth century Blue Hill Tavern (a famed resort for sumptuous dinners) , which stood on Canton avenue directly in front of Mr. Wainwright's house ; Clark's Tavern on Randolph avenue, now occupied by Mr. Richards ; Glover's Tavern on Milton Hill, now occupied by Mrs. Faucon ; Babcock Tavern in Milton village, since called the Stanley 22 Teele, Hiatory of Milton. house ; and White's or Wild's Tavern, which stood near Mr. Copeland's, later was moved, and finally demolished. Q. What are some of the oldest houses now standing in Milton? A. Some of the oldest houses in Milton are the Tucker house on Brush Hill built by Robert Tucker before 1681, now owned by Mr. Joseph Whitney ; the Babcock house on Brook road built by Jonathan Babcock before 1094, now owned by Mr. J. Harvey Dudley ; the house on Ruggles lane, probably built by Robert Babcock, before 1694, now owned by Mr. T. E. Ruggles ; and the Stanley house, Milton village, built by William Babcock before 1732, lately occupied by Mrs. Safford. Q. What are some of the historic houses no longer standing ? A. Governor Hutchinson's house on Milton Hill and Governor Belcher's house at East Milton. Q. What is the most interesting buildi historically speaking ? A. The house in Milton village owned by Mr. N Safford. Q. What important event occurred here? A. The assembling of the Suffolk County congress — the county congresses being the first step in organized opposition to Great Britain at the beginning of the Revolu- tion. in Milton, M. Teele, History of Milton, p. 197. Milton Leader, Jan. 24, 1902. F. Transportation and Routes of Travel Q. What was the route of the old Indian trail through Milton? A. It ran from the Blue Hills to tide-water, along the general course of Brush Hill road to Thacher's Plain, across Brook road through Columbine district, Ruggle's lane and Canton avenue, to Milton Lower Mills. ■m - :■ .v , . >m$ ;: •v> **€• v •••'Y i ' ! $ 25 Q. What especial interest attaches itself to Thachers Plain? A. It was a corn-field of the Indians and later the home T ?*}?> Hist0 !;y of Milton, p. 153. of Rev. Peter Thacher. Q. By what other name was it known in earlier days? A. Providence Plain. Suffolk Deeds, v. 1, p. 60. Q. What was the first recorded road in Milton ? A. "Country Highway" or old Plvmouth road, now Dorchester . & . . . Records, p. 70. Adams street, laid out in 1654 by the inhabitants of Dor- chester from Braintree bounds (now Quincy) over Milton hill through Dorchester to Roxbury line. Q. Was there any pathway before this road? A. " Country Highway " was laid out over the old trail or pathway that had existed from earliest times between Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colony. Q. What was the great obstacle that confronted travel between Dorchester and Braintree? A. The crossing of the Neponset river. Q. Where were the early fords of the river ? A. One at Milton Lower Mills, a short distance above the present bridge, and another at Mattapan west of the bridge that now spans the river. Q. What ancient roads are in the eastern part of the town? A. The old road to Squantum and the old way now Mass. Bay almost effaced that led off from Squantum road to the first Records, v. i, landing on Gulliver's creek. Q. What ancient ways now extinct formed a highway of the town for more than ninety years ? A. The old road around Wigwam Hill on the west, laid To , wnR ecords, C v. 1, p. 123. out in 1764, which, united with a road of still earlier date, SKfpp 1 !»& formed a highway from Pine Tree brook to the meeting- 248, house, Vose's lane. 26 Q. When was the first bridge across Neponset river built? A. In 1634 by Israel Stoughton. This was probably only a foot-bridge. In 1655 a sufficient cart bridge was built. Q. What other means of communication was established between the bay and the Plymouth Colonies in early days ? oS t0 26 R m? d ' A. A ferry across Neponset river between Dorchester and Braintree. Q. What effect did the building of Plymouth road have on the ferry between Dorchester and Braintree ? Re 8 8 oiV^ ct i79T d A. The ferry was abandoned for the more convenient chap. ae. route over Milton Hill and across the bridge at Milton Lower Mills. Q. What other roads are recorded as laid out before Milton was incorporated as a town? Dorchester a. In 1660 a road following the general lines of Canton Records, pp. ° ° TVeli^Historv avenue > an d probably as far as its junction with Brook ?lofiiT n ' pp ' road ; and in 1660-1661 a road along the lines of Churchill's lane. Q. What was the first recorded road built after Milton was incorporated as a town? A. Pleasant street, in 1669. Q. When was Brush Hill road laid out as a highway? ofMnto^p?^. A - In 1676-1677, from the ford at the Neponset river, Mattapan, along the cattle beat to the ox-pen, which stood near where Brook road crosses the parkway, and thence up the " beaten rode," originally the course of the Indian trail, to the way leading to the Blue Hill meadows. Brush Hill road was widened and made more convenient in 1706. Q. What was the ox-pen? Re^ r ord8, te p r . 62. A. An enclosure where oxen and steers, pastured in the vicinity by the Dorchester proprietors of the common lands, were driven and held at night. 27 Q. When was the road to Neponset river at Mattapan laid out? A. In 1712 a road was laid out that led from the ox-pen T /Sfe t ™ 8tory to the river " where there is to be a cart-bridge erected." p * 202 * Q. When was the bridge at Mattapan built? A. "There had been a bridge of some kind at this point Teeie, History & r of Milton, p. 360. for many years, probably a foot-bridge near the ford to ^VV^S?-' accommodate farmers in reaching the ox-pen," and mill 379, owners must have had a private bridge ; but the county bridge was not built until 1736. Q. When was Canton avenue laid out? A. In 1680 it was voted to build a cart bridge over Pine Teeie ;, History *=> of Milton, p. 197. Tree brook and lay out a public way from thence to the x|f r e a » t ^ orical head of Vose's lane. "March 20, 1723-1724, Canton p- 63 - avenue was laid out a second time, and built from the old Atherton tavern, to near Nathaniel Pitcher's house (corner Thacher street), one and a half rods on each side of the parallel line." Q. Why was this called Pine Tree bridge? A. Because foot travel at an earlier date crossed the Teeie ;, History of Milton, brook on a large pine tree felled across it. " From this cir- p- 166 - cumstance the stream at this point from the earliest times has borne the name of ' Pine Tree Brook.' " Q. When was the road extended to Canton? A. In 1681, "a year after the road was open from the Teeie, History . . -. of Milton, pine trees to the meeting-house, it was extended to the p. w- Dorchester line (now Canton)." Q. By what names had Canton avenue been known? A. Middle street, Old Taunton road, Washington street, and the road to Stoughton. Q. By what name has Highland street been known ? A. The road to Bridgewater. f^V^'' Q. When were Hillside and Highland streets laid out? 28 Teeie, Hi B tory A. They are a part of the road laid out in 1713. of Milton, * r p- 203 - Q. What turnpike roads were built in the early part of the nineteenth century? A. Blue Hill or Randolph turnpike, now Randolph avenue, was located in 1804-5 ; and Brush Hill turnpike, now Blue Hill avenue, in 1805-9. Q. Where did the toll house stand on Blue Hill turn- pike, now Randolph avenue? A. On the west side between the Baptist Chapel and Clark's tavern. Q. Where did the toll house stand on Brush Hill turn- pike? A. On the northeast corner of Blue Hill avenue and Robbins street. Later it was moved to the Sumner land opposite and is now the residence of Mr. Gilbert Sumner. Q. When and where was the first railroad in Milton built? 3S n mIto?yTf " A. The first railroad in America was that built by the p. ii8. n,v ' 4 ' Granite Railway Company from the quarries in Quincy to the Neponset river, a distance of about three and one-half miles. " Work was commenced the first day of April, 1826, and on the seventh day of October following, the first train of cars passed over the whole road." Q. How was the road operated? A. It was a gravity road, the cars being hauled from the landing to the quarries by horses. Q. What was the reason for building the road at that time? A. The more economical transportation of granite for the construction of Bunker Hill Monument. Q. When was East Milton given railroad facilities ? Si'meto^™?" A- The franchise of the Granite Railway was purchased Boston, v. 4, by tlie Q] d Colony Railroad Company in 1870, and a modern 31 railroad was built on the right of way. This was formally opened for traffic on Oct. 9, 1871, forty-five years and two days after the original opening in 1826. Q. When was the Granite Bridge turnpike built? A. In 1837 a charter was granted to the Granite Bridge Jfiiton T°^ n & » Report, 1895, Company to build a turnpike from Adams street to the 15 - 44 - Neponset river, and to build a bridge over said river. The road or turnpike, not proving a paying investment, was abandoned by the corporation in 1865. The same year the County took possession of said turnpike and relocated it. Q. What early stage routes passed through Milton? A. The Plymouth and Taunton stages. Q. What roads did they follow? A. The Plymouth stage at first followed Plymouth road, came through Milton village and over Milton Hill to Quincy and beyond. The Taunton stage at first followed the same route to Canton avenue and then proceeded by way of Old Taunton road (Canton avenue) to Canton and beyond. Q. When was a stage coach between Milton and Boston established ? A. The following notice is from Isaiah Thomas's Alman- Thomas, Mass., C> Conn., R.I., ack of 1799: "Dorchester and Milton stage starts every go?iAtaJS. day from Mayor Forbe's tavern at four o'clock afternoon, and arrives in Boston every day at nine o'clock morning." In the Almanac of 1801 under " Stage Waggons " is the following notice : " Dorchester and Milton Waggon for conveyance of goods starts from and arrives at King's tavern every day, Sundays excepted." Q. When was the Dorchester and Milton branch of the Old Colony Railroad constructed ? A. In 1847, with stations at Milton Lower Mills and Mattapan. 32 Q. When was the first location for an electric car line granted ? A. To the Quincy and Boston Street Railway in 1895 in Willard street, East Milton. To the Milton and Brockton Street Railway a franchise was granted and accepted in 1898. The latter was opened for travel July 11, 1899. Both roads are now a part of the Old Colony Street Rail- way System. Q. What other electric street railway was built later ? A. The charter of the Milton Street Railway Company was filed and recorded March 26, 1903. The deed of the property and the franchise of the company to the Blue Hill Street Railway Company w T as dated and executed Aug. 17, 1903. The road was open to the public on Sunday, Aug. 16, 1903. Q. What park or driveways have been made in Milton in recent years ? A. April 24, 1896, the selectmen voted to consent to the taking, by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, of Mattapan street, parts of Blue Hill avenue and Canton avenue, and Harland street, for the Blue Hill parkway. July 2, 1897, the selectmen concurred in taking by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners of some seven acres of land along the Neponset river near Paul's bridge, through which was constructed Neponset River parkway. G* Slavery in Milton Q. When were slaves first introduced into Massachu- setts ? Moor^History ^ # xhe earliest records of slavery in Massachusetts are at the time of the Pequod war in 1637. Q. When was slavery first recognized in Massachusetts law? Mass., p. 1. 33 A. In 1641 the first code of laws of Massachusetts, J^^^ known as the Code of Fundamentals or Body of Liberties of 91, the Massachusetts Colony in New England recognized the institution of slavery. Q. Were there any slaves in Milton? A. Peter Thacher, the first minister in Milton, owned church Records ' ' # of Peter one Indian woman, also a negro woman sent to him by his J^oi'juiy 8 ' sister from Jamaica, and at least three others born in the wuYof Peter house. In 1754 there were in Milton nineteen negro slaves leC Population above sixteen years of age. In 1765 there were forty- p n t. 2, a p.'208. ' seven negroes and mulattoes, but possibly some of these census* Making c r J in Mass. Were free. Appendix, Cen- sus of 1765. Q. Is there any evidence as to the money value of a slave in Milton? A. In 1691, Enoch Badcock of Milton bought "a Negro win of Peter ' ° ° Thacher. Mann named Jack of ye age of Twenty-eaight Yeares *° r ^iSon S e twenty- nine pounds. Peter Thacher valued his negro girl h^wII o?' at fifty-five pounds and his two negro boys at one hundred TeSe.Vstory and twenty-one pounds. There is extant also a receipt p^6. ton ' given by Elizabeth Wadsworth of Milton, June 7, 1747, for the sum of one hundred and forty pounds, old tenor, for a "negro fello abought eighteen years of age." In 1761, " servants for life " were taxed in Milton at three pounds each. Q. How were these slaves employed? A. As household servants. Q. Was any effort made to convert them to Christianity ? A. Yes. Part of the upper gallery in the meeting- S^mi house was reserved for their use. During Peter Thacher's ^""Records ministry alone several slaves were baptized and one was Thacher. received into the full communion of the church. Q. When was slavery abolished in Massachusetts ? A. Slavery was never formally prohibited by the 34 legislature of Massachusetts, but the Declaration of Rights in the State Constitution of 1780 contained these words : Deane, slavery "All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural in Mass. * essential and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties." This declaration was not apparently intended at the time as a prohibition of slavery, but it fairly repre- sented the public sentiment of the community and was soon used as the basis of legal decisions by which revolted slaves Moon . slavery were liberated from their masters. In the United States Census of 1790 no slaves were reported in Massachusetts. (Note : Several documents illustrative of slavery in Milton are still in existence. Mrs. Frederick Hamlin has a receipt, a bill of sale, and a bill of lading recording transactions in slaves of Enoch Badcock. The wills of several citizens of Milton include slaves in their inventory of property, e.g., wills of Enoch Badcock, Samuel Miller, Peter Thacher, Thomas Swift, and John Wadsworth. The Milton Records also record several slave marriages.) H, Milton in the Wars Milton in the Revolution Q. What is the first record of dissatisfaction in Milton with the English Government of the Colonies? Teeie.ffiBtory A. A mass meeting on the Church Green, just before of Milton, » v p- 419 - the Stamp Act was to take effect, is recorded Oct. 24, 1765. Q. Who was the most prominent citizen of Milton at the opening of the Revolution? H!tSinsOT feof ^" Thomas Hutchinson, the last civil Governor of the p. 85. Province of Massachusetts Bay, of which he was also the historian. Hosmer, in his life of Hutchinson, p. 85, calls his " His- tory of Massachusetts Bay " a work which still is and will always remain the first authority respecting the beginnings of New England. 37 Tyler, in his " Literary History of the American Revolu- Ty^- History *> %i j f American tion," v. 2, chap. XXXIX., p. 395, says: " It is far from ^ e 3 v 9 ° 5 \ utlon » v - 2 - being a reason for abating anything from the glory due to such achievements in historical literature that they were but the recreation and by-play of a most laborious man of affairs, who, as politician, legislator, and magistrate, was from manhood to old age in the thick of nearly all impor- tant business pertaining to the interests of his country ; who, prior to 1765, was incomparably the most popular and influ- ential statesman in New England, and who, from the year of the Stamp Act until that of his own death in London, fifteen years afterwards, was the most powerful American Statesman in the ranks of the Loyalist Party." See also Mass. Historical Society Proceedings, v. 3, p. 147. For his financial services see Hosmer (Life of Hutchin- son) chap. II., and Tyler (Literary History of the American Revolution), v. 2, p. 396. The latter says: "The burn- ing question in politics at that time (1737) was public finance, a subject on which Thomas Hutchinson was prob- ably the greatest master in America prior to Robert Morris, Pelatiah Webster, and Alexander Hamilton." Q. What were his views on taxation ? A. In his " Diary and Letters," v. 2, p. 58, he wrote : " I ever thought the taxing of America by Parliament not advisable, but as a servant of the Crown, I thought myself bound to discountenance the violent opposition made to the (Stamp) Act, as it led to the denial of its (Parliament's) authority in all cases whatsoever." Q. What connection had Milton with the tea ? A. Two of the Governor's sons were consignees. Fran- Hutchinson, Diary and cis Rotch, owner of the "Dartmouth," visited the Governor Le }^ rs » v - *• at Milton on the evening of December 16 to ask for a per- ^f e > p E ;5^ 3# 38 mit to pass the Castle, which was refused as the vessel was not cleared. Q. Why did Governor Hutchinson leave America ? KyanT' A * 0n Ma y 13 > General Gage arrived to supersede him Letters, P . is:. for t time> and Qn j une ^ 17 -^ Governor Hutchinson left his dearly loved Milton home, and shortly after sailed with his family for England, hoping by personal communication to place the affairs of the Colony clearly before the King. He was destined never to succeed and died in exile on May 15, 1779. In the Diary he says, alluding to those o/aJaSS 17 who did not wish to return to America : " I have more of v. 2,° P U -to?.' the Athenian in me, and though I know not how to reason upon it, I feel a fondness to lay my bones in my native v-tpS 8 ' land." John Fiske says of him: "The grand old Tory Governor we no longer scout as a turn-coat and traitor, but we honor him for the conscientious steadfastness with which he pursued a policy which we nevertheless pronounced mistaken." Q. What memorable event occurred shortly after his departure ? Jf e Mmon 8 , tor> ' A ' 0n ^P 1 9 > 1774 > at the home of Daniel Vose, Gen. v ' 425, Joseph Warren presented a paper, known as the Suffolk Resolves. On October 28, the Governor made the follow- ing entry in his Journal : "By a vessel from Philadelphia, advice of certain resolves of a Committee of Towns in the Tyier, History County of Suffolk, which had been adopted by the Congress of American » * » » ? e r°p U 499' a ^ Philadelphia, are more alarming than anything which has yet been done." Q. What connection had Milton with the Battle of Lexington ? o^Muto?, 81017 A- Capt. Ebenezer Tucker with fifty-one citizens marched Tet??,' History to intercept the enemy. Muster Rolls of Milton during the p!432. ton ' Revolution under the following officers, Capt. John Brad- 39 ley, Capt. Daniel Vose, Capt. Oliver Vose, Capt. Josiah Vose, Capt. Joseph Vose, will be found in the History of Milton. Q. When did the town declare for independence ? A. On May 28, 1776, it was voted that Mr. Ralph Tee ^History Houghton, Capt. James Boies and Dr. Samuel Gardiner p - 437 - should draw up instructions for the representatives of the town to this effect. Q, What part did the town take in connection with the fortification of Dorchester Heights ? A. They turned out en masse, and supplied fascines cut T f e M 6 iit?n 8tory from the farm of Capt. John Homans. For an account of 435 ' 436, 438 - Major Vose's raid see Teele, History of Milton, p. 435. For Milton's connection with the Revolution after the evac- ■ uation of Boston, see History of Milton, p. 438. Milton in the War of 1812 Q. Who was the most prominent Milton man in the War of 1812? A. Josiah H. Yose. He had the rank of captain during Teele, Hiatory 1 ° of Milton, p. 441. the war, and was in active service at Portsmouth, Sackett's Harbor, and in Canada. He was promoted to the rank of major at the close of the war. Q. Did Milton have any other representative in the regular army? A. Edwin Vose Sumner entered the army as a private Boston Evening ^ Journal, March during the war. He was not born in Milton, but as he was ?, i»6i t p. 4, coi. © 7 i. educated in the Milton schools and came of an old Milton family he may fairly be claimed as a representative of the town. Q. Did Milton citizens take part in the war as volun- teers? 40 o^Mnton^PP* ^- There were companies of Milton men enrolled and ready for service, but none of them were called upon to fight. Milton in the Mexican War Q. How many Milton men took part in the war with Mexico ? fSSofthe* A. Two men from Milton took part in the campaign family. which ended in the capture of the City of Mexico, both of whom later achieved a remarkable record in the regular army. Edward Collins, afterward Colonel Collins, served on the Rio Grande in the company of sappers and miners. His company was transferred to Mexico under General Scott. He was present at the capture of Vera Cruz, at the battles of Cerro Gordo, Jalapa, Perote, Puebla, Contreras, Valenca, Churubusco, Molino del Rev, Chepultepec, and at the capture of the City of Mexico. It was in the latter city, Sept. 14, 1847, that he received his first promotion as a non-commissioned officer in the regulars. Edwin Vose Sumner, afterward General Sumner, went to Mexico as cyclopaedia of Major of the 2d Dragoons. At the battle of Cerro Gordo American Biog- J ~ i83 Dy,v ' 4,p ' he led a regiment of mounted riflemen in a charge that made him famous. At Contreras and Churubusco he was in command of the reserves, and at Molino del Rey his men checked the attack of five thousand Mexican lancers. Executive Doc- After each of these engagements his superior officers made uments, No. 1, o o i co^reee special mention in their official reports of his skill and' jo uraaifM e a n rch g courage. During the war he received promotion and two coi.i. ' p ' ' brevets for his brilliant conduct. 43 Milton in the Civil War Q. What measures were adopted by the town of Milton on the news of the outbreak of the war ? A. Five thousand dollars were at once appropriated to Miiton Town prepare citizens for military service and to aid the support of the families of those who should enter the public service. It was voted that the male inhabitants of the town not enrolled in the volunteer company be expected to form a Home Brigade as a reserve force. Q. How much money was expended for war purposes by the town from 1861-1865? A. About $27,761. MiltonTown Report, 1866. Q. How many men were furnished by Milton for the war? A. Milton furnished about two hundred and eighty- scnouier, Mass. ° J in the Civil seven men, which was a surplus of twenty-five over and War > v - 33 < p« above all demands. Twenty were commissioned officers. Q. What officers from Milton were brevetted for dis- tinguished service as volunteers during the war ? A. Lieut. -Col. A. S. Badger was brevetted Colonel mgginson, U.S. Volunteers "for faithful and meritorious services Army and Navy, v. 2, p. 504. during the campaign against the city of Mobile and its defences." Capt. Walter S. Davis was brevetted Major U.S.V. Higginson, r J Mass. in the "for gallant service at the battle of Jericho Ford, Va.,"£ r ™> p f nd Nav y> and was made Lieut. -Col. U.S.V. by brevet "for gallant services at the battle of Peebles Farm, Va." Capt. Abijah Hollis was made Major U.S.V. by brevet mgginson, " for gallant and meritorious conduct in the assault before Army and Navy, ° v. 2, p. 532. Petersburg, Va." Q. What officer from Milton received the greatest number of promotions during the war? 44 MasflTthe A - Lieut.-Col. William H. Forbes : Second Lieutenant, f.Tp a 2i d 3 Navy ' lst Mass - Cavalry, Dec. 26, 1861; First Lieutenant, July 27, 1862; Captain, 2d Mass. Cavalry, Jan. 14, 1863; Major, May 12,1863; Lieutenant-Colonel, Oct. 21,1864. Q. Xarne some officers brevetted for distinguished ser- vice, who became citizens of Milton after the war. HigginBon a. Col. Henry S. Russell was made Brig. -Gen. U.S.V. Mass. in the * © v. r 2™p a 554 Navy ' °y brevet " for faithful and meritorious services during the war, and particularly for distinguished gallantry and good conduct at Baylor's Farm before Petersburg, Va., June 15, Higginson, 1864." Lieut.-Col. Robert H. Stevenson was brevetted Mass. in the ; 4 : r 2 ^ a ?5 d 8 Navy * Colonel U.S.V. and Brig.-Gen. U.S.V. "for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Roanoke Island and Xew Berne, X.C., and for gallant and meritorious services during the war." Q. What services were rendered in the war by Lieut. Huntington Frothingham Wolcott, in whose honor the Milton post of the G.A.R. is named? Teeie History A. He served as aid to Bricr.-Gen. Gibbs during of Milton, C O pp. 454,455. Sheridan's campaign south of Richmond, and was especially commended for his conduct in the battles of Five Forks, Dinwiddie Court House, and Clover Hill. Later he served in North Carolina under General Sheridan in cooperation with Sherman's army. Q. Who was the first man to go to the war from Milton ? 3 a the°siSh tory A - Algernon S. Badger, afterwards Colonel Badger, Regiment, P .ii9. was in the 6th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry (Militia), which left Boston April 17, 1861. Q. What service was rendered in the regular army by representatives of Milton ? cyclopaedia of A. Brig. -Gen. Edwin Vose Sumner was put in charge American c r o v.^fp^ss.' of the first corps of the Army of the Potomac in 1862, and commanded the left wins: at the siege of Yorktown. He 47 was engaged in all the battles on the Chickahotniny and %$££$™f. won special distinction at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., 1892 '?-' 4 ' 001 ^ when his corps saved General McClellan's left wing from rout. General McClellan in an official despatch referred to his services as " valuable and brilliant." Mr. James Ford Rhodes, the historian, says: "General Sumner saved Ixodes, History the day at Fair Oaks." He was brevetted Major-General v - 4 »p- 25 - ' for his conduct in this battle. He also played a prominent ^ b t h d e e x|I!, 8tory part in the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. After m! vv ' ° ' ' the latter battle he was appointed to the command of the Tee i e , History Department of the West, but he died before he could 456 Ml ton ' p ' assume his duties. Lieut. -Col. Edward Collins and ten Teeie, History -••-•i i • i of Milton, p. privates from Milton also served in the regular army. 464. Q. How many Milton men died in the war? A. The memorial tablet at the town hall records the names of twenty-four men. Q. What was done by private enterprise in Milton to meet the demands of the war ? A. Citizens of all ages and conditions contributed ^epo^iX? freely. A recruiting fund was raised by voluntary sub- scription. Additional bounties were paid to volunteers by private citizens. Money for the sanitary commission was raised by private theatricals, children's fairs, and by numerous contributions. Q. What notable services were rendered by private individuals during the war ? A. Mr. John M. Forbes served as a special commis- Letters' a J nd M '' sioner to England, and throughout the war placed his time RecollectiODB - and his business sagacity unreservedly at the service of the state. Capt. Robert B. Forbes organized a Coast Guard j^J^nces and in other ways labored to increase the naval efficiency f pp - 256 " 279 - the Government. Mr. Edward L. Pierce in his work for Address^" the freedmen at Fortress Monroe and Port Royal and in 48 reports and addresses on the treatment of freedmen materi- ally aided their cause. Q. What was done by the women of Milton ? i£port, T i865 n A. The Milton branch of the Sanitary Commission made generous contributions to the comfort of the soldiers. Miss Amelia Russell was a nurse at Fort Schuyler. Miss LettS^id 1 " Emma "Ware was nurse in charge of a ward in the Armory Recon £ tion 8 ,v. Square Hospital at Washington. Miss Harriet Ware con- AddreUe's. " ducted a school for freedmen at Coffin Point, St. Helena Island. Q. What noted abolitionist is buried in Milton? A. Wendell Phillips, the noted anti-slavery orator, spent several summers in Milton and is buried in Milton cemetery. Milton in the Spanish War Q. What men from Milton enlisted for the Spanish War? A. Harry Berry, Battery K, 7th U.S. Heavy Artillery, U.S. V., stationed in New York Harbor; Winslow Clark, 1st U.S.V. Cavalry, stationed in Cuba ; James W. Dona- hue, 9th Mass. Infantry, stationed in the United States and Cuba ; Charles S. Ford, 8th Mass. Infantry, stationed in the United States and Cuba ; Frank L. Richards, Battery K, 1st Mass. Heavy Artillery, U.S.V. , stationed at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, and at Fort Stage, Gloucester, Mass. ; Roger Wolcott, Battery A, 1st Mass. Heavy Artil- lery, U.S.V., stationed at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, at the Mining Case-mate, Xahant, at Fort Pickering, Salem, and at the State Camping-ground at South Framingham, Mass. Q. Did any men from Milton take part in the important engagements of the war? c wheeier, San. a_ James Donahue served as a Corporal at the sie^e of tiago Campaign, L ° pp. 30, si. Santiago. Winslow Clark enlisted in the "Rough Riders" 49 as a private in C Troop in San Antonio, just before the departure for Tampa, May 29, 1898. During the first engagement of the troop at Las Guasimas he acted as Adjutant's orderly. In the famous battle of San Juan he occupied a prominent position on the Major's staff. During that battle he was one of the five men who followed Lieut. - Col. Roosevelt in the charge on the second hill. He was seri- ously wounded in that charge and lay in the field hospital until July 13, when he was brought back to New York on the hospital ship "Relief." For his conduct in the battle of San Juan he was officially commended for " great gallantry " by Lieut. -Col. Roosevelt and especially commended by Maj.- Gen. Wheeler in indorsement of the report of Lieut. -Col. Roosevelt. He was given a certificate of merit by the War Department in recognition of his services. He left the service with the rank of Sergeant, but in August, 1899, he was given a commission as Lieutenant in the 11th Cavalry, U.S.A., with orders for the Philippines. This commission he declined for family reasons. Q. Were any women from Milton in the service of the War Department? A. Miss Josephine Shepherd was an army nurse in the 3d Division Hospital, Panama Park, Florida, and in the 2d Division Hospital, Havana, Cuba. L Government Q. In what country do you live ? Q. Why do you love your country? Q. What is a patriot? A. A patriot is a person who loves his country, is loyal to its best interests, and gives to it his best service. Q. What qualities has a patriot? Q. What qualities does a patriot lack? 50 Q. What should a patriot know? A. A patriot should know the history of his country, its form of government, and the best ways of making it better, safer, and stronger. Q. What is a flag? A. A flag is a piece of cloth, usually bunting, either plain or bearing a device, and is commonly used to stand as an emblem of nationality. Q. What is the design of the flag of your country? Q. In what State do you live? In what county? In what town ? Q. What kind of people did the first settlers find in Milton? A. Indians. Q. What was their appearance ? Q. Of what town was Milton once a part? A. Of the town of Dorchester. Q. Why was a division made? A. Owing to the meager religious privileges enjoyed by that portion of Dorchester lying south of the Neponset river, the town for many years prior to the establishment of the town of Milton granted the people of that section liberty to maintain their own ministry, and exempted them from paying a proportionate part of the salary of Mr. Mather. This consideration and the fact that the river was a barrier between the more numerous residents north of the Neponset and the scattered population south of it, which prevented the latter from receiving the full benefits and protection of the central government, influenced them to seek to become a separate town. To this idea Dorchester readily assented, and Milton was set off as a town by itself. Q. When was Milton incorporated as a separate town? 53 A. In 1662. Q. Who is the source of authority at home ? A. The parents. Q. Who is the source of authority in school? A. The teacher. Q. Why are rules needed in school ? Q. What is the meaning of the word government ? A. The word govern comes from a Latin word which means to steer, pilot, or govern. The word government means the act of steering, piloting, or governing. Q. Why is it necessary to have government in town, state, and country? A. Government is necessary to regulate the conduct of people, to protect persons and property against the unscrupulous and the dangerous, to preserve order, and to promote the public welfare. Q. What would happen if people were allowed to do as they please ? A. There would be uncertainty, confusion, and injus- tice, and the people would in time become savages. Q. What is a democracy? A. A democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people. Q. What is a republic? A. A republic is a form of government in which the people rule through their chosen representatives. Q. What form of government has your country and State? Your town? Q. How are representatives to State and national government chosen? A. Representatives and senators to the State legislature and United States representatives are chosen by the direct 54 vote of the people in the districts which they are to repre- sent. United States senators are chosen by the State legislature, two for the State. Q. To what congressional district does Milton belong? To what senatorial district? To what representative district? To what councillor district? A. Tenth congressional district. First Norfolk sena- torial district. Fourth Norfolk representative district. Second councillor district. Q. Who is now President of the United States? Governor of the State? Congressman of your district? Your State senator? Your representative to the general court? The councillor for your district? Q. What is a town ? A. A town is a corporate body occupying a definite portion of territory and exercising local jurisdiction under the control of the State. — Martin. Q. What is a county ? A State ? A city ? Q. Could Milton be a city ? Q. What two-fold function does the town have ? A. To manage its local affairs, and to act as the servant of the State in the enforcement of certain State laws and the carrying on of certain State business. Q. What is the most important and most characteristic political feature of a Massachusetts town? A. The town meeting. Q. What business is done at town meetings? A. Town meetings are held for the following purposes : (a) To elect town officers for the ensuing year. (b) To elect county, State, and national officials. (c) To discuss general town affairs, and to consider and enact administrative meas- ures and by-laws. (d) To appropriate money for public expenses. 55 Q. Where are Milton town meetings held? A. In the town hall. Q. Where were they held in early days ? A. They were held at the church, which was called a meeting-house. Q. When was the first Milton town meeting held, and for what purpose? A. In 1662 (?). Q. How often are town meetings held? A. At least once a year, and oftener if necessary. Q. When is the annual town meeting held? A. It is held upon the first Monday of March in each year. Q. How many town meetings did Milton hold last year? Q. How are town meetings called? A. Through a warrant issued by the selectmen. Q. What is a warrant? A. A warrant is a document issued by the selectmen, directing the constables of the town to notify the legal voters of a meeting to be held in the town hall at the time specified therein, and containing a statement of the business for which the meeting is called. Q. How does the constable notify the voters ? A. By posting attested copies of the warrant in each of the post-offices of the town at least fourteen days, and by leaving printed copies thereof at the dwelling-houses in the town at least four days before the day of such meeting. Q. What is the warrant committee ? A. A committee composed of fifteen legal voters of the town. Q. By whom is it appointed? A. It is appointed by the moderator of the town meeting. 56 Q. What are its duties ? A. It is the duty of the warrant committee to inform itself concerning those affairs and interests of the town, the subject matter of which is generally included in the warrants for the town meetings, and to report in print before all such town meetings its estimates and recom- mendations for the action of the town. Q. Where and how often does it meet? A. The warrant committee meets within two weeks after its appointment for organization, and as often after that as may be necessary. Q. What part does it take in the town meeting? A. In addition to its printed report the chairman of the committee may give reasons for its recommendations on any matter before the meeting. Q. What steps does a citizen take to have any particular item of business introduced into the warrant? A. He must present his article to the selectmen, signed by at least ten legal voters of the town. Q. Who presides at a town meeting? A. The moderator. Q. Who elects him? A. The voters of the town. Q. Who can vote at town meetings ? A. A voter must be a man twenty-one years old or over, who has resided in the State at least one year, and in the town at least six months, who is registered, and who is not a pauper (unless an honorably discharged United States soldier or sailor), nor a person under guardianship, and who can read the State constitution and sign his name. A woman citizen may vote for members of the school com- mittee. Q. What is a naturalized voter? r J 59 Q. What name is ffiven to the laws which a town makes? A Q A Q A Q A Town by-laws. How are these laws made? They are made by the voters at town meetings. What are laws ? Laws are rules of action. For what are laws made ? Laws are made for the guidance of individuals in their relations to one another and to the government, and to promote the public good. Q. What town officers are elected in Milton and for how long a time is each elected ? A. (a) Three selectmen and surveyors of highways, elected for one year. (b) One town clerk, elected for one year. (c) Three assessors, elected for one year. (d) One town treasurer, elected for one year. (e) Six members of the school committee, elected for three years. (f) One collector of taxes, elected for one year. (g) Two auditors, elected for one year. (h) Three park commissioners, elected for three years. (i) Three sewer commissioners, elected for three years. (j) Three water commissioners, elected for three years, (k) Three members of the board of health, elected for three years. (1) Twelve constables, elected for one year, (m) Nine trustees of the public library, elected for three years, (n) Five trustees of the cemetery, elected for five years. 60 (o) Five overseers of the poor, elected for three years, (p) One tree warden, elected for one year, (q) Two fence viewers, elected for one year, (r) Two surveyors of lumber, elected for one year. (s) One poundkeeper, elected for one year. Q. By what system are they elected? A. All are elected by ballot with the exception of the tree warden, fence viewers, surveyors of lumber, and poundkeeper, who are chosen viva voce (by word of mouth). Q. Who receive salaries? What compensation have the others? Q. Who are the chief executive officers of the town? A. The selectmen. Q. What are their principal duties ? A. Their principal duties are : (a) To issue warrants for town meetings. (b) To preside at meetings for the election of State and national officers. (c) To lay out highways. (d) To grant licenses. (e) To prepare the jury lists, and to draw the jurors. (f) To have the general supervision of the streets and police departments, and appoint officers for the same. (g) To appoint various other officers for the welfare of the town. Q. What are the principal duties of the town clerk? A. His principal duties are : (a) To record the votes in town meetings. (b) To administer the oath of office to the other elected town officers. 61 (c) To record votes for national, State and county officers, -and to make proper returns of the same. (d) To keep a record of births, marriages, and deaths. (e) To issue marriage certificates. (f) To issue dog licenses, and hunters' licenses. (g) To record mortgages of personal property and assignments of wages. Q. What are the principal duties of the assessors ? A. Their principal duties are : (a) To determine the valuation of property, real and personal, and to levy taxes thereon. (b) To determine the rate of taxation sufficient to raise the amount voted by the town meeting. (c) To make a list of the poll tax payers. Q. (a) What are the duties of the tax collector? (b) Of the treasurer? (c) Of the auditors? A. (a) To collect the taxes, (b) To receive the taxes from the collector, take charge of all money belonging to the town, and to pay it out upon the order of the selectmen or other proper officers, (c) To examine the town accounts and the accounts of all officers or committees handling public funds, and to report annually to the town. Q. What are the duties of the overseers of the poor? A. Their chief duties are : (a) To care for the poor and needy of the town. (b) To have charge of the town farm, and employ a superintendent for the same. (c) To represent the town in its dealings with other towns in matters pertaining to the support of paupers. 62 Q. What are the duties of the school committee? A. The school committee have entire charge of the schools. Q. What are the duties of the trustees of the public library? A. The trustees of the public library administer the affairs of the public library. Q. In whom are the sole care, superintendence, manage- ment, and control of the cemetery invested? A. The trustees of the cemetery. Q. What are the duties of the board of health ? A. The board of health prescribe regulations to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, see that they are enforced, and perform such other duties as may be neces- sary to safeguard the public health. Q. What are the duties of the other officers elected at town meetings? Q. What officers are appointed by the selectmen, and for how long? Q. Why are they appointed, and not elected? Q. What are their chief duties? Q. What qualities should every town officer have? A. Necessary knowledge of the requirements of the office for which he is chosen, good judgment, tact, and honesty of purpose and act. Q. Why must he be careful in the expenditure of money ? A. In order that the money may be spent to the best advantage of the town, and that the town may receive full value for every dollar expended. Q. What is graft? Q. Upon what does the welfare of our government depend? Q. What possible dangers may it have to meet? 65 Q. For what object does the town spend money? Q. Who decides how much money shall be raised for town expenses? A. The voters in town meeting assembled. Q. Who helps the voters to decide intelligently how much money is needed for each department? A. The town officials and the warrant committee. Q. What was the total sum raised by the town last year ? Q. How does the town obtain the money thus raised? Q. How are town taxes apportioned and how paid ? Q. What is the present rate of taxation ? Q. Has the rate increased or decreased with recent years ? Q. How do the expenses of Milton compare with those of ten years ago ? Twenty years ago ? Fifty years ago ? Q. What share of the county expenses is borne by Milton ? A. About one-tenth. Q. How does the county collect its taxes ? The State ? The country? Q. What is the amount of the town's debt? Q, How does the town borrow money? A. By giving promissory notes for the money borrowed in behalf of the town, the same to be signed by the treas- urer and countersigned by a majority of the selectmen, or by issuing bonds for the amount borrowed. Q. What does it mean to bond the town? A. To borrow money and issue certificates of indebted- ness which bear interest for the amount. Q. For how long a time may these bonds run ? A. For the length of time for which they are issued. Q. Of what value are good schools ? Q. What can you do to make the schools good? Q. What are the advantages of a good public library? 66 Q. What did the Indians have instead of roads ? Q. Why can we not get along with paths to-day ? Q. Of what advantage are good roads to a town ? Q. How can you help to make the streets clean and attractive ? Q. Why are parks and playgrounds important? Gym- nasiums ? Q. What can you find out about the parks, playgrounds, and gymnasiums of Milton? Q. What is the work of the fire department? Q. How can you help to make your town safe from fire ? Q. What are the duties of the police department ? Q. What is being done in this town to prevent the spread of contagious diseases? Q. Why is spitting prohibited on the floor of cars and public buildings, and sidewalks ? Q. In what things should a town try to excel? Q. In what things does your town excel ? Q. Can boys and girls prove themselves good citizens ? How? Q. What are the dangers that menace town government ? Q. What is civil service reform? Q. What are " machine politics " ? Q. What are the advantages of non-partisan government in a town? J. Milton Churches Q. How many meeting-houses built by the town has Milton had? A. Four. Q. Where did the first meeting-house stand? A. On Adams street opposite or near the entrance to Churchill's lane. 69 Q. When was this meeting-house built? A. As early as 1660 and perhaps earlier. Q. How large was it? A. Probably seventeen feet long by twenty wide and built of logs. It had a thatched roof. Q. When was the second meeting-house built? A. In 1672. Q. Where did it stand? A. On the corner of Centre street and Yose's lane. Q. What was its general appearance? A. It was a small building, nearly square, with a gallery on one side, pulpit on the other, and entrance on the town- way, now Centre street. Q. When was the third meeting-house built? A. In 1728. Q. Where did it stand? A. A little to the east and to the south of the present meeting-house of the First Congregational parish. Q. When was the fourth meeting-house built? A. Begun May 1, 1787, dedicated Jan. 1, 1788. Q. Is it still standing? A. It is. It is the meeting-house now occupied by the First Congregational parish at the Centre. Q. What changes have been made in the external appear- ance of this meeting-house ? A. Originally the steeple end faced the west, the front entrance being on the south side. There was no clock in the steeple. Q. Who was the first settled minister of Milton ? A. The Rev. Peter Thacher. Q. How long was his pastorate? A. Forty-seven years. Q. Were^ there preachers in Milton before Peter Thacher ? 70 A. Yes, four or five, but none of them was settled and none of them remained for any length of time. Q. When was Peter Thacher ordained and settled in Milton? A. May 18, 1681. Q. How was the church in Milton originally supported? A. As elsewhere throughout New England. The town and the parish were one organization. Taxes were col- lected for the support of the town and for the support of the parish. Every citizen was obliged to pay for the support of the one church to which all the citizens were expected to belong. Q. When were the town and the parish separated ? Q. How was this separation brought about? Q. How were religious services supported after this separation ? A. By voluntary contributions. Citizens were no longer taxed by the town for the support of public worship. Q. What did this separation of town and parish natural^ result in ? A. The formation of other church organizations. K. Milton Industries Q. Was the location of Milton favorable for manu- facturing ? Teele, History A V a a of Milton, p. 357. JXm ies ' Q. Why? A. The natural advantages of the Xeponset river led the early adventurers to settle in its near vicinity. Q. What were some of these advantages? A. The water power at the head of navigation, and the rapids above. Q. When was the first grist mill erected and where ? 71 A. In 1633 by Israel Stoughton on the place above the bridge on the Dorchester side where the stone mill of Walter Baker & Co., Ltd., lately stood. Q. Why do you call this a Milton industry? A. When Milton was set off from Dorchester in 1662%}?' History of Milton, p. 368. the grist mill was assigned to Milton as its taxable property. Q. Should Milton value this property ? A. Yes, for in the autumn of 1634 the waters of the Neponset turned the first wheel ever set up on its shores, and ground the first corn ever ground by water power in New England. Q. Mention another industry of great importance to the colony. A. Manufacturing powder. Q. When was the first powder mill erected? A. In 1675 a partnership was formed and the first powder mill in the country erected. Q. Where was it located? A. The site of the mill is just above the bridge in Milton, on land now the property of Walter Baker & Co., Ltd. Q. How long was this business carried on ? A. Until 1744, when the original mill blew up. of e Sffiton!p. 868 Q. Was paper manufactured here ? SMS* 6 ' A. Yes, a company was formed in 1728 for that pur- ponset ' pose. Q. Where was this mill located? A. On the Neponset river below the bridge at Milton. Believed to be the first paper mill in the country. Q. Mention an interesting fact connected with the making of paper in this mill. A. In 1803 Mr. Sanderson manufactured for the Boston T /?Jf/ 4 Hi8to jL of Milton, p. 372. Custom House the first folio-post and quarto letter paper ever made in New England. 72 Q. How long was paper made in this mill ? A. Until 1817, when a new mill was built just below the old one. Q. Were these the only paper mills in Milton? A. No, in 1765 the same business was started in a new mill at Mattapan by James Boies and Richard Clark. Q. Was the business a success? A. Yes, although the early mills were forced to stop work occasionally for want of skilled workmen, being largely dependent on English artisans. Q. Is paper made in Milton at the present time ? Q. AVhen was chocolate first manufactured in Milton? A. In 1765 John Hannan manufactured the first choco- late made in the British provinces of North America. Q. Where was the mill located? A. On the site of the old powder mill. Q. Who built the mill? A. It was built in 1765 by Edward Wentworth and Henry Stone as a saw and chocolate mill. Q. Was this mill ever used for other purposes? A. Yes, for grinding and pulverizing drugs, medicines, and dye stuffs, also for sawing veneers, the first manu- factured in America except by hand-power. Q. Was chocolate made in other mills in Milton? A. Yes, in 1772 Dr. James Baker hired part of the paper-mill below the Milton bridge and commenced the manufacture of chocolate. Q. How long was the business located here? A. It was carried on by Dr. Baker and his son Edmund Baker until 1804, when it was removed to the mill built in 1765, on the site of the powder mill. Q. What became of the old paper mill? mi i i wm ¥ r - > ~V=A-=A 75 A. It was torn down about 1840 and on its site a new one built, finished for a grist and chocolate mill. Q. Who manufactured chocolate here? A. In 1843 Josiah Webb and Josiah F. Twombly took possession of it, but in 1850 removed to the new mill on the opposite side of Adams street. Q. When was this mill built? A. In 1850, when the old mill built on the site of the powder mill was removed. Q. Who occupied the mill later? A. It was sold to Henry L. Pierce in 1881, who improved a part of it and in 1884 removed the remainder and erected a new building. It is now the property of the Walter Baker & Co., Ltd^ Q. Was there any mill for the working of iron? A. Yes, in 1710 Mr. Jonathan Jackson erected a slitting mill, which was the first of the kind in the province. Q. Where was it located? A. On the Neponset at Mattapan. Q. Was the business long continued? A. The mill was burned after a few years, but in 1769 it was repaired or a new mill erected and business resumed. Q. Mention other manufactures not requiring water power. A. The first bass-viols and the first piano-forte made in this country were made in Milton. Q. By whom were they made and when? A. By Benjamin Crehore about 1800. Q. Is there any piano made at the present time as the direct result of this early industry? A. Yes, the Chickering piano. Q. Give a brief account of it. SC&. Q. Mention still another industry. 76 A. Cracker making. Q. What noted crackers are made here? A. Bent's water crackers. Q. When were they first made and where? A. In 1801 with a single oven in the dwelling-house of Josiah Bent on Highland street. Q. Where are they now made ? Q. What other industries were carried on in connection with the Neponset river? A. Ship-building and fisheries. Q. Where were the ship-yards located? A. At or near the first landing place, now called Gulli- ver's Creek, as early as 1640 and at the second landing place about 1690. Q. Where was the second landing place? A. About midway between the first landing place and Milton bridge. Q. How large were the vessels that were built? A. Shallops of thirty or forty tons burden and also much larger vessels. ?f e Mnt