History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

526
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
TIER Governor Wiiitlirop and
\ nnjority of liis colony left
C liarle'^town for the new ven-
ule ni Boston, the remaining
put of the company, although
much weakened for the time,
grew to very considerable num-
bers m the course of a few years,
and new territory was called
for. On the application of sev-
i^diiN thi { (luit gianted an extension of four
iniles ni a noith and westerly direction, the main
purpose of which was, undoubtedly, to secure in-
creased land for cultivation. This grant was
called Charlestown Village. The settlers who
pushed out in the quarter indicated soon found
themselves in need of, or their ambitious craved,
a precinct or government of their own. Accordingly,
on the 5th of November, 1640, seven men
were chosen from the church at Charlestown
namely, Edward Converse, Edward Johnson, Eze-
kiel Richardson, John Mousall, Thomas Graves,
Samuel Richardson, and Thomas Richardson, to
proceed witii the formation of a church and town-
ship. The numbers, however, who seemed desir-
ous of following the new lead were so great, that
tiie parent church began to consider whether it
would not be seriously weakened by this spirit of
emigration, ki the end of a long discussion it was
decided to be a prudent measure to let the enterprise
go on. As in like attempts to colonize or open new
settlements in a country that had known no civili-
zation, whose forests M'ere unbroken, meadows un-
drained, and rivers unbridged, these commissioners
found many serious obstacles to overcome, and
many hardships to eneounter. But the s])irit that
led them across (lie Atlantic to lind that rrligioiis
freedom denied them at home, siijiported them in
these trials, and nerved them to the accomplisli-
inoiit of their work. Althougli so late in the
si'Msnii, the survey of tlic new Irrriliiry was begun
at once. On the fourth il:iy aflri' their appoint-
:
WOBURN.
BY GEORGE M. CHAMPNEY.
ment, November 9, while exploring near the Shaw-
shine River, a heavy snow-storm overtook tliem,
in which they lost their way, and were obliged to
pass the night under the shelter of some friendly
rocks. During the winter the explorations were
from time to time carried on. The 2 2d of December
was observed as a day of special fasting and
prayer for the blessing of God upon their arduous
work. About this time a series of meetings was
held at the dwellings of the several commissioners
at Charlestown, to adopt such measures with re-
gard to the new settlement as their united judgments
might approve. Arrangements were made
during the winter (1640-41) for the immediate
occupation of the new territory. In February,
1641, a bridge was built over the Aberjona^ River,
within the present limits of Winchester, and the
first dwelling-house was erected " over against it
by Edward Converse, and occupied by himself and
family successors for many years. The location of
the township by the commissioners took place at
the same time. The site selected was on the bank
of the Aberjona, on the " east side " of the present
town. The Boston and Lowell Railroad runs
through nearly the centre of the proposed village.
Considerable opposition was at once developed to
the site chosen, and upon consultation with promi-
nent men of Charlestown who were not of the
emigrating party, the location was abandoned, and
one fixed upon something over a mile to the west-
ward. This became the centre of the town, and
embraced, then as now, tJie site of the present
Common and its immediate surroundings. In (he
course of the following spring house-lots were
laid out, and several dwellings were built during
the season. Heaving carried out their jilaiis thus
far, tlie colonists, in conformity h ith their religious
convictions, began immediately (o cast about for
a suitable minister. Two jiersons were applied
to, — Rev. Jonathan Burr and Rev. J. Miller,
— "
both of whom, after much negotiation, declined to
' TliU word has no si'ltkd orthogra|)liy.