History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

seems probable that Ealph Sprague early removed
from Charlestown to his ninety acres in Pond Field,
near Eel Pond, where he died in 1650.
In 1636 a commission laid down the line of
Boston and Charlestown, " from the iiiked tree
vpon the rocky hill above Rumney Marshe, ueere
the written tree nore-nore west vpon a straight
lyiie by a meridean compass vpp into the countrie."
This line, running from near Black Ann's
corner in Linden, has never been changed, and is
still the eastern limit of Maiden and Melrose. The
rocky hill, called in 1635 " a point of rock, on the
side of the high way to Mistick," may still be
recognized, and is a prominent feature in the land-
scape; but the "marked tree," an ancient pine,
after having been a landmark more than a century,
disappeared many years ago.
In 1638 another division of Mystic-Side lands
was made, and a large tract was set apart for " de-
sirable persons," and " for such as may come with
another minister." The southern border of this
tract was " at the head of the five-acre lots," and
" ran in a straight line from Powder-Horn Hill to
the head of North River " ; and to this reservation
" three hundred acres above Cradock's farm " were
added.
Settlers now increased; and the building of a
dam by Thomas Coytemore, in 1640, at Black
Rock, on Three ^lyle Brook, and the establishment
of a mill soon after, prove a growing community.
The first comers appear to have located upon tiie
hills in the easterly vicinity of the landing-place
at Sandy Bank, near the burying-ground. Traces
of early habitation could be found here within a
few years, but improvement has obliterated them.
Among these early settlers we may recognize John
Greenland, who was granted, in 1640, his petition
" to plant upon a five-acre lot in Charlestown
bounds on Mistick side." About the same time
came Joseph Hills, who was a landholder here in
1638, and his son-in-law, John Wayte. With the
names of these men, who were ever foremost in its
affairs, the early history of Maiden is indissolubly
connected ; and the story of their lives is the story
of the founding of a town. William Sargeant, a
"haberdasher" and a preacher, who is described
by Edward Johnson as a " Godly Christian," was
here as early as 1643. His lands, which were pos-
sessed by his descendants nearly two centuries,
were in the southern part of the town. With these
men came others across the Mystic from the parent
town. Settlers began to push northward up the
MALDEN. 115
valley between Mount Prospect and the western
hills, whither the Spragues had led ; and the sparse
population, in their advance, met others comhig
from Lynn and settling around the ponds in Read-
ing. The " Salem path to Mistick ford" now began
to be intersected by other ways; and in 1640 the
Penny Ferry was established, which existed until
it was superseded by Maiden Bridge in 1787. In
1643 Thomas Caule represented that he " Dwell-
eth by the water at the Ferry-place on mistick
side, many people having occasion to come that
way "; and he did " humbly request leave to sell
bread, beare, and other victualling for the refresh-
ing of such." The road to the ferry lay along the
edge of the marshes between the burying-ground
and Mystic River.
In 1647 the public convenience demanded a
new way from Reading to the ferry at Winnisim-
met, whicli was not finally laid out until 1653.
This winding way may still be traced from the
Chelsea line to the Reading ponds, although large
portions of it have been abandoned many years.
Chelsea and Bucknam streets, in Everett, and sec-
tions of Madison, Main, and Forest streets, in
Maiden, are the relics of the " new way." Above
Forest Street, in the still wild hills, although long
disused, its marks are seemingly of yesterday ; and
the curious pedestrian may cross a little brook on
a rude stone bridge which served the men of two
centuries ago.
AO the elements of an independent community
migiit now be found at Mystic Side ; and that the
element of religion made all others subordinate,
and was the power which gathered together the
peojjle in the formation of a town, was character-
istic of our Puritan fathers. Separated "by the
broad spreading river of Mistick," as Johnson re-
cords, from the Christian privileges of the parent
town, the outlying settlers "gathered into a
church some distance of time before they could
attain to any church-officer to administer the Seals
unto them," and were edified by the ministrations
of " a godly Christian," William Sargeant, " who
did preach the Word unto them, and afterwards
they were supplied at times \ritli some young Stu-
dents from the CoUedg."
Having the foundation of a church, measures to
separate from Charlestown naturally followed; and,
" loving terms of agreement " having been happily
made, the Court of Assistants passed. May 2,
1649, 0. S., the following vote of incorporation:
"Upon the petition of Mistick-side men, tiiey are