History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

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1828, when the first church was built. It was re-
built ill lS-i5, mainly by the exertions of Rev. Mr.
Pickering. The custom in this denomination of
making annual changes in the preachers prevents
us from offering a list of those who have held this
place. The present minister is Rev. T. C. Watkins.
The Baptists of iledford were without a church
until July 7, 1841, when a regular organization
was effected. The record of ministers is as fol-
lows : Rev. G. W. Bosworth, settled September 8,
signed April 1, 1854; Rev. T. E. Keely, settled
October 1, 1854.
Owing to financial and other questions the so-
ciety dissolved in 1856, but a portion immediately
reorganized as the Central Baptist Church, with the
same minister, officers, and edifice. The list con-
tinues : Rev. T. E. Keely, settled September 9,
1856, dismissed July 31, 1857 ; Rev. G. M. Pres-
ton, settled 1858, dismissed June, 1868.
During his term the church resumed the name of
the First Baptist, and received back the old members.
Rev. J. C. Hurd was settled November, 1S6S;
dismissed May, 1870. Rev. J. G. Richardson was
settled May, 1871; dismissed May, 1877. Rev. J.
P. Abbott was settled December 19, 1877.
Grace Churcli, Episcopal. — The rectors of this
church have been : Rev. David G. Haskins, chosen
March, 1848, resigned February 18, 1852; Rev.
Justin Field, chosen September 14, 1852, resigned
December 31, 1859; Rev. George A. Strong,
chosen January, 1861, resigned June 1, 1863
R«v. Charles H. Learoyd, chosen September 1,
1863, resigned 1872; Rev. Charles L. Hutchins,
chosen September 15, 1872, present pastor.
The first building, of wood, was consecrated
May 11, 1850; the present stone edifice, built at
the expense of Mrs. Gorham Brooks, and costing
about $40,000, was given to the parish, and consecrated
May 6, 1873. At the same date Dudley
C. Hall, Esq., gave a rectory, costing, with the
land, about SI 1,000; and an endowment fund of
$15,000 was raised by the parishioners. The
church is steadily growing in strength and numbers.
The West Medford Congrecjational Clmrcli
{Triniiarran) — As already mentioned,, this church
is a branch from the older churches, organized in
June, 1872, with twenty-six members, of whom
sixteen came from the Second (Trinitarian) Cimrch.
;
MEDFORD. 171
There have been but two pastors, the first being
Rev. Edwin L. Jaggar (who resigned in 1874,
owing to ill-health), and the present minister. Rev.
Marshall M. Cutter. The church building is on
Harvard Avenue, West ^ledford, with a present
capacity of three hundred and fifty seats. The
membership has risen to over seventy.
T/ie Triuifj/ Melfwrlist Episcopal Church was
organized April 1, 1872, and Rev. Jarvis Amos
Ames is the present minister.
1841, resigned, 184-5; Rev. B. C. Grafton, settled Popnlaiioa. — lw 1707, as Brooks records, Med-
July, 184.5, resigned April, 1846; Rev. G. C. Danford had 46 ratable polls, a small increase over the
forth, settled August, 1847, resigned October, 36 polls rated in 1688. This would give a popu-
1848 ; Rev. E. K.'^Fuller, settled April, 1849, relation of about 230. In 1736 there were 133 polls,
or 665 inhabitants; in 1763, 741 inhabitants; in
1776, 967; in 1784, 981; in 1790, 1,029; in
1800, 1,114; in 1810, 1,443; in 1820,1,474;
in 1830, 1,755; in 1840, 2,478; in 1850, 3,749;
in 1860, 4,831; in 1865, 4,839, with 1,031
voters; in 1870, 5,717 inhabitants. Ratable polls
in 1871, 1,480; in 1875, 6,627, with 1,512
voters ; in 1878, 1,785 assessed polls, and a vote
cast for governor of 1,206. As the vote for presi-
dent in 1876 was only 1,273, it is safe to assume
that Medford has in 1879 over 7,000 inhabitants.
In 1879 we find its polls 1,790.
In the first tax to pay £50 in 1630, Boston
paid £11 and Medford £3; Charlestown £7 and
Salem £ 3. In 1634, in a levy of £ 600, Medford
paid £26; in 1637, on £1,500, Boston paid
£233^ and Medford £52^ the smallest sum out
of nine towns.
The following tax-list is copied from the Jeff'ries
Papers, published in tlie New Eiif/laml Historical
and Genealogical Register, Vol. XXXII. pp. 316,
317.
" A List of the number of Male Persons and ratable Es-
tate in Meadford, taken by the Selectmen and Commissioner.
Major Jonathan Wade, heads .5, estate £1 9 s. Or/.
John Hall, Sen' " 3 " 15 SJ
Caleb Brooks " 2 " 10 H
Thomas Willis " h " 13 O'
Stephen Willis
Peter Tuffls
Stephen Francis
John Whitmore
John Bradshoe
Jonathan Tuffis
John Tuffts
Daniel Woodward
Mr. Joseph Squire
Isaac Fox
John Hall ju'
Edward Walker
Mr. Ebenezer Prout
Nathaniel Wade
Total
3