History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

162
Silgamore John, whose Indian name was Wono-
haqnahani, lived in Medford, and probably occu-
pied at times the house of his father. He was
friendly to our ancestors; he gave them permis-
sion to settle, and afterwards apprised them of the
premeditated assaull of the unfriendly Indians.
He (lied 111 Midlnrd, December 5, 163.3.
'I'he i'Dllowm^- allidavits refer to grants of land at
an early date :
—
" Tiie testimony of Benjamin Crispe, aged about
51 years. Testifieth and saith that about twenty-
six years agoe, Squa Sachem told raee often times,
that shee had given unto Jotham Gibbons 500
acres or more of land, lying neer the brooke, that
now goes by the Name of Capt. Cooke's brooke,
which said Land has a house built upon [it] long
since, and part of the said Land fensed in; and
further this Deponent saith that Major Gibbons
possessed the wliole Land, for his soune Jotham
Gibbons about 26 years agoe, and further this
Deponent saith that Major Gibbons would have
had mee improove this Land that now is in contro-
versie for bis sonne, Jotham Gibbons, and sent by
his men unto mee to fence in the said Land, and
this was about the time above said. Cliarls-towne,
17, 10, 1663.
" Sworne in Court as attests
" Thomas Danfokth, Recorder."
" I, Thomas Convars, do furtlier testify that I
was sent to those Gentlemen for a resignation of
this land now in controversie and no other. Charls-
HISTOBY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY
towne, 17, 10, '63.
" Sworne in Court as attests
"Thomas Danforth, R."
"I, Joseph Hills, aged about 60 yearcs, testify
that about 1638, Mr. Davison lived at Meadford
house, who sliewed me tlic accomodations of the
t'arine, being about to take llie saiil fanue and stock
of himandCaptaineWill. 'I'ini;-; and 1 l.-lifvlhat
Mr. Mayhew did not then dwell at Meadlunl house
to the best of my Kiu)wledge. 17, 10, 1663.
" Acknowledged in Court hy the party as attests
"Thomas Daxfohtii, /?."
An easy transition from these records leads us
to consider the old iiouses which iiave been a part
of the history of the town.
Tlie old two-story brick house in East ^ledford,
on Ship Street, is one of the most precious relics
of antiquity in New England. That it was built by
Mr. Cradock soon after the arrival of his company
of carpenters, fishermen, and farmers, is abundantly
proved. It has been called the Fort and the Gar-
rison House, because its M'alls were so thick, and
because it iiad close outside shutters and port-holes.
It is certainly well placed for a house of defence.
It is on laud slightly elevated, where no higher
land or rocks could be used by enemies to assail
it, and is so near the river as to allow of reinforce-
ments from Boston. Its walls are eighteen inches
thick. There were heavy iron bars across the two
large arched windows, Avhich are near the ground,
in the back of the house; and there are several
fire-proof closets within the building. The house
stood in an open field for a century and a half,
and could be approached only by a private road
through gates. As the outside door was cased
with iron, it is certain that it was intended to be
fire-proof. There was one pane of glass, set in
iron, placed in the back wall of the western chimney,
so as to afford a sight of persons coming from
the town.
"The bricks are notEnglisli bricks either in size,
"The testimony of Eichard Beers, Benjamin
color, or workmanship. They are from cigiit to
Crispe and Garret Church, Testifieth and saith tliat
eight and a half inches long, from four to four and
Mr. Thomas Mayhew lived at Mistick alias Mead-
a quarter inches wide, and from two and a quarter
ford in the yeare, one thousand six hundred thirty
to two and three quarters inches thick. They have
and six. Charls-Towne the 17th of the 10th, 1663.
the color of the bricks made afterwards in East Med-
" Sworne in Court as attests
"Thomas Danforth, Recorder.'"
ford. They are hastily made, but very well burned.
They are not like the English bricks of tlie Old
South Church in Boston. Tiie house has under-
gone few changes. Mr. Francis Siiedd, who bouglit
it about fifty years ago, found the east end so decayed
and leaky that he took a jjiirt of it down
and rebuilt it. There is a tradition that in early
times Indians were discovered linking around it
for several days and nights, and tliat a skirmish
took place between tiiem and tiie white men ; but
we have not been able to verify tiie facts or fix tlie
date.
"The park impaled by Mr. Cradock probably in-
cluded this house. It is undoubtedly one of the
oldest buildings in tJie United Slates ; perhaps the
oldest tliat retains its first form.
"The other old brick house, built |ivobably alxuit
the same time and by the same ijersoiis, was not