History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

the east of the convent, on tlie land of ilr. Kelly.
This brought the fire comj)anies from Boston,
and Engine No. 13 came up the convent avenue.
AVheu it reached the building a volley of stones
was discharged, yells were heard, and an attempt
was made to batter down the doors. Finally,
disregarding the expostulations of the superior
and the feeble remonstrances of the selectmen, an
entrance was effected by the rioters, and for an
hour or more they ransacked the premises. The
building was exavnined in every part, secretaries
and drawers were broken open and rifled, costly
musical instruments, furniture, and books were
thrown from the windows. The sacramental
vessels were taken from the ciborium and scattered
about the fields ; the cross was torn down
and cast into the flames. All the symbols of wor-
ship were removed and desecrated, — even the
tomb which contained the bodies of several nuns,
who had consecrated their lives to deeds of charity,
mercy, and instruction, was ruthlessly entered, and
left open to gratify the prurient curiosity of the
rioters. In the meantime the friglitened inmates,
immbering in the vicinity of about ten nuns and
forty-seven pupils, many of a tender age, had
passed into the courtyard between the wings, and
had sought refuge near the tomb till they were
taken to places of shelter. The rioters subse-
quently set fire to the bishop's lodge and the other
buildings, and did nut retire from the vicinity till
dayligiit, when many of them got into carriages
and drove off.
The deeds of the rioters were accomplished
without causing a general alarm among the inhabi-
tants of Boston. But on the following day great
indignation was manifested among the better
SOMER VILLE.
classes in the community. The Catholics could
hardly be restrained from acts of retaliation. A
meeting was held in Faneuil Hall, and addresses
made by prominent citizens, who condemned the
outrage in the strongest terms. On the 1.5tli of the
month Governor Davis issued a proclamation offer-
ing $500 reward for the discovery of the perpetra-
tors, and calling upon all classes to heal the wound.
Twelve men, of various employments, who were
believed to have been engaged in the riot, were
arrested and indicted. December 2, John R. Buz-
zell, a brick-maker, against whom the evidence was
strongest, was brought up for trial, and although
he was generally believed to have been an active
participant, and is said to have confessed his guilt
years afterwards upon his death-bed, he was mayor, and he was almost unanimously elected.
337
acquitted. Notwithstanding the general desire
among the better class to have the perpetrators
brought to justice, Marvin Marcy, Jr., a boy of
seventeen, who had been drawn into the atfair
purely from a love of mischief, was alone con-
victed, and he was set at liberty at the expiration
of seven months.
Although endeavors have been made, no bill
has ever passed the legislature indemnifying the
Catholics for this wanton destruction of their prop-
erty, and effacing a black stain upon the honor and
good government of Massachusetts.
It remains to name a citizen closely and promi-
nently identified with Somerville from the begin-
ning of its corporate existence almost to the present
time, who has been frequently mentioned in connec-
tion with the various enterprises for the promotion
of public interests or the public welfare.
George Oliver Brastow was born in Wrcntham,
September 8, 1811. He remained in his native
town during his minority. After following the
lumber business in Maine for a few years, in 1S;38
he became a resident of this place, and soon took
an active part in the affairs of the town. In
1845 he was elected one of the board of selectmen,
and from this time till his death he might almost
constantly have been found occupying some public
station or engaged in some public enterprise for the
welfare of the community. He served three terms
of office, aggregating eight years, — from 184-4 to
1862, — upon the school committee. He was sent
as a representative to the General Court from this
district in 18-19, and returned in 1850 and 1851,
and in 1854 was elected to the senate. He was con-
nected with the fire company at its formation in
1850, and in 1859 was one of the organizers of the
Somerville l^ight Infantry, and their first captain.
He was one of the charter members of John Abbot
Lodge of Freemasons, and of Somerville Eoyal
Arch Chapter.
The outbreak of the war foiuid liiin again in
command of the Somerville Light Infantry, and
profl'ering his services to the governor for three
montiis. Later he was appointed paymaster in the
army. In 18G2 he was again elected to the house
of representatives, and again to the senate in 1866
and the three succeeding years, serving in 1868
as president of that body.
When the city government was inaugurated,
popular feeling was directed toward Mr. Brastow
as the most fitting person to become the first