History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

tied to all the privileges of an incorporated town
previous to 1687, is the fact that 'they never
assumed to send a dejiuty to the General Court
distinct from Cambridge, but did not miss rep-
resentation a single year for half a century after.'
People so tenacious of their rights as the inhabi-
the newly acquired right of representation lie dormant
for seven years at a period of intense political
excitement.
"The records of Cambridge show that consta-
bles were elected by t-hat tmonfor the TiUatje after
1679, as follows: James Prentiss, 1680; Sebeas
Jackson, 1681; Edward Jackson, 1682; Abraham
Jackson, 1683; John Prentice, 1684; Thomas
Parker, Sr., 1685; Ebenezer Wiswall, 1686; Jo-
seph Wilson, 1687. After 1688 none are dis-
tinctly described as for the Village.
"'In 1686 a committee was chosen by the in-
habitants to make the rate for the minister for the
ensuing year and a rate for the town. For the
Village chose Noah Wiswall, to join with the selectmen
to make a rate for the Yilhige.'
"In addition are 'the Articles of Agreement,
made September 17, 1688, between the selectmen
of Cambridge and the selectmen of tlie Village, in
behalf of their respective towns.'
" ' That whereas Cambridge Village, by order of
the General Court in the late Government, was en-
joined to bear their proportion of the charges in
the upholding and maintaining of the Great Bridge
and school, with some other things of a public
nature, in the town of Cambridge, — also, there
having been some diiference between the selectmen
of said towns concerning the laying of rates for
the end abovesaid, — that the Village shall pay to
the town of Cambridge the sum of five pounds in
merchantable corn at the former prices, at or before
the first day of May next ensuing the date above,
in full satisfaction of all dues and demands by the
said town from the said Village, on the account
above said, from the beginning of the world to the
11th January, 1687. Provided always, and it is
to be hereby understood that the town of Cam-
bridge, in consideration of £4, in current county
pay, already in hand, payed to the Village above
said, shall have free use of the highway laid out
from the Village meeting-house to the Falls for-
ever, without any let, molestation, or denial ; also
XEWTOK 217
of their former rates due to the town of Cambridge
above said. In witness whereof the selectmen above
said hereunto set their hands the day and year first
above written.' Signed by six selectmen of Cam-
bridge, and John Spring, Edward Jackson, and
James Prentice, selectmen of New Cambridge.
" The date of the above ' act ' corresponds exactly
tants of the Village manifestly were, both before
and after incorporation, would not be likely to let with the order of the
town."
council incorporating the
Dr. Lucius R. Paige, the historian of Cambridge,
says : " Hence, it appears reasonably certain that
the Village, which obtained ecclesiastical privileges
in 16G1, became a precinct in 1673, and received
the name of Newtown in 1691, was separated from
the town of Cambridge, and incorporated as a
separate and distinct town, on tlie eleventh day of
January, 1687."
The history thus far shows that the territory
now constituting the city, formerly the town, of
N'ewton, had, in connection with other territory,
and separately, been called. New Town, Cambridge,
Nonantum, South Side, Cambridge Village, The
Village, New Cambridge, Newtown, and lastly,
when reduced in extent, Newton.
The river Charles encircles a large part of New-
ton. The centre of its channel forms the northerly,
westerly, and southerly boundaries of the town,
being a continuous curving line of upwards of fif-
teen miles in length. This boundary is interrupted
at only two points, — the first near Watertown
Bridge, where, by the agreements of 1635 and 1705,
Watertown gained possession of eighty-eight acres,
and the second at the extreme northerly part of the
town, where in 1847 six hundred and forty acres
were ceded to Waltham.
The average town tax during the first nine years
was about £20 annually; the next twenty-five
years (1700-1725), £90 ; and the succeeding
forty-five years, £166. The first representative to
the General Court was Ensign John Ward, wiio
served from 1689, eight years, and the second. Cap-
tain Isaac Williams, who served from 1692, six
years. One representative, Captain Abraham Ful-
ler, served the town in this capacity eighteen years,
and another. Major Timothy Jackson, fifteen years,
and two others, thirteen and ten years respectively.
The first meeting-house in Newton (First Parish
Church) was erected near the middle of the old
cemetery on the east side of Centre Street, and the
road on the south side of that cemetery, now called
that the constable of the Village shall pay to the Cotton Street in honor of the third pastor of the
town of Cambridge all that is in their hands unpaid church, was one of the important thoroughfares of