History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

1
OR the first century after
grants were made by tlic
Massachusetts Bay Colony in
that part of "Watertown now
known as "VValtliani, the hxtter
town was a portion of tlie
former, territorially and mw-
WALTHAM. 407
WALTHAM.
BY ALEXANDER, STAKBUCK.
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nicipally. Numerous Indian
wars forced the colonists to
assume a semi-military state,
and in the different towns the male inhabitants
capable of bearing arms were supposed to be in a
constant state of readiness to'aid in repelling the
predatory incursions of the savages on tlie frontier
settlements. For mutual protection new settlers
gatliered somewhat in groups, eacli group forming
perhaps the nucleus of some prospective town. As
these groujis increased in size they were each ex-
pected to furnish their military contingent, subject
to the order of the authorities of the town. In
this manner Watertown became divided, in 1691,
into tliree military districts or precincts, the East
embracing substantially what is now Watertown,
the Middle, or Captain Garfield's, embracing sub-
stantially what is now Waltliam, and the "West, or
Farmers' Precinct, known since 1713-13 as Weston.
This was the entering wedge in the dismemberment
of Watertown.
Another element entering into tlic cause of the
division of many early New England towns was
ecclesiastical differences, — differences not as re-
gards faith, for that was practically settled by stat-
ute, but as regards accommodation as to the
location of the meeting-house, the older portions
of the various towns evidently regarding these
buildings as fixtures, while the younger portion
judged that the site should be changed to correspond
with the changing centres of population.
Attendance at divine service was as much a por-
tion of the training of our forefathers as plough-
ing their fields, sowing their seed, and gathering
their harvests. The General Court never favored
tlie erection of a second meeting-house where one
would answer the needs of the people, and it
sought to accommodate its location to the needs of
the worshippers, rather than to increase the bur-
dens of taxation by multiplying the number of
churches to be supported. In due time, when the
West and Middle precincts had advanced consid-
erably in point of numbers, the complaint of re-
moteness from their place of worship, particularly
in the late fall, the winter, and the early spring,
became quite a serious one. In 1692 an attempt
was made to change the location of the meeting-
house (then situated opposite the old graveyard
just southwest of Mount Auburn) to some place
" most convenient for the bulk of the inhabitants."
The people not being able to agree upon a site, the
selectmen applied to Governor Phips and his coun-
cil to appoint a committee to consider the subject
and make report; and December 27, the same
year, the town voted to submit their questions re-
garding the removal of the meeting-house and the
settlement of a minister to such a committee. The
gentlemen appointed (William Stoughton, John
Phillips, James Russell, Samuel Sewall, and Joseph
Lynde) made tiieir report May 18, 169.'3, recommending
Rev. Henry Gibbs for the pastor, and
the site afterwards called Commodore's Corner
for the site for a new meeting-house, and also that
the change in location be made within the next
four years. This attempt at settlement was not
entirely satisfactory, and a protest against the pro-
posed location, signed by one hundred and eigh-
teen persons, was presented on behalf of- the
Farmers' Precinct. Francis, in his sketch of
Watertown, says (p. 60) that this protest asserts
that the town had never "requested the inter-
• In the preparation of the following sketch, the writer
acknowledges himself under many obligations to Jonathan B.
ference of the magistrates in this matter, notwithstanding
that a vote to that effect is on record."
Bright, Esq.
Nevertheless, the building was erected, and on