Historical Descriptions of Dorchester, 1839

The entry for Dorchester, Mass., in Hayward’s Gazetteer (1839) contains the following descriptions:

Norfolk Co. This ancient and respectable town lies on Dorchester bay, in Boston harbor, 5 miles S. From Boston, and 7 N.E. From Dedham. Population, 1837, 4,564. It was first settled by a party of Puritans from England. These pilgrims landed from the ship Mary and John at Nantasket, on the 11th of June, 1630, and on the 17th day of that month they located themselves at the Indian Mattapan, and called it Dorchester, in honor of their pious and learned friend, the Rev. John White, of Dorchester, 120 miles W. From London. The town was incorporated on the 7th of September following, and included most of the territory of the town of Milton, Canton, Stoughton, Sharon, and that part of Boston, on which stand “Dorchester Heights,” memorable for their sudden conversion into a fortress, for the protection of Boston harbor, by order of Washington, on the night of March 4, 1776. These lands were obtained from the Indians by purchase, not by combat. The present limits of the town are about 6 by 3 1-2 miles. Dorchester furnished pioneers for the settlement of many parts of the country. A party from this town crossed the trackless wilderness in 14 days and settled Hartford, on Connecticut river, in 1635. In 1695, another party emigrated from this place, and settled Dorchester, in South Carolina, and afterwards Medway, in Georgia. The soil of Dorchester is rocky, but very fertile and under a high state of cultivation. It is exceedingly productive, particularly of vegetables, fruits and flowers. Its surface is greatly variegated, presenting a continual succession of picturesque and delightful views of the country, city, and sea. Its hill-tops and valleys are decked with farm houses and tasteful villas, and nowhere can be found the union of town and country enjoyments more complete. The beautiful Neponset washes the whole of the southern border of the town, and besides its navigable privileges, affords it a large and valuable water power. The first water mill in America was erected in this town, in 1633; and here, about the same time, the cod fishery, the boast of New England, was first commenced. There are now 4 vessels employed in the whale, and 16 in the cod and other fisheries. Total tonnage, 2,210 tons. Capital invested, $190,000. Product, in one year, $138,349. The manufactures of Dorchester consist of cotton goods, boots, shoes, hats, paper, cabinet ware, block tin, tin ware, leather, wearing apparel, soap, candles, chocolate, and playing cards; the aggregate amount of which, in one year, was $457,400.

The first settlers of Dorchester came [with] a regularly organized church, with its pastor and officers. They soon erected a house of public worship; but it is a singular fact that “none can tell the precise spot where the first meeting-house was located, nor does a single stone remain to designate the site of the original burying ground.” There are, however, some mementos of olden times. The earliest date in the present ancient cemetery that can be distinctly traced is 1644. We copy the following from among many singular effusions, found on the grave-stones in that cemetery, in commemoration of the dead.

“Here lies our Captain and Major of Suffolk was withal,
A Godly Magistrate was he and Major General,
Two troops of horse with him here came, such worth his love did crave,
Ten companies of foot also, mourning marched to his grave.
Let all that read be sure to keep the faith as he has done;
With Christ he lives now crowned, his name was Humphrey Atherton.”

On the grave of three brothers, by the name of Clarke.

“Here lies three Clarks, their accounts are even,
Entered on earth, carried up to heaven.”

Source:

Hayward, John. The New England Gazetteer … Fifth Edition. Concord, N.H.: Israel S. Boyd and William White. Boston: John Hayward. 1839.

Illustrations from John Warner Barber’s Massachusetts Historical Collections, 1839.

2339 Central part of Dorchester and Milton Village

 

 

 

 

 

2356 Northern view of the central part of Dorchester