The millers' dwelling beside the Mystic.
The gambrel roof house shown was the residence of the millers who operated the tide mill on the opposite side of the road, and was not the toll house as stated. The toll house stood near the Nunnery grounds, full one-half mile or more nearer Boston.
When I was a boy, my people lived on the turnpike near Peck's hat factory; at that time the toll house was occupied by a Mr. Spaulding, who was not only the toll gatherer but attended to the repairs on the road. I knew Mr. Spaulding and also his boys; later a Mr. Perkins lived in the toll house, and was toll gatherer and road repairer. I was also acquainted with the occupants of the old mill house. About the year 1840 it was occupied by a Mr. Woodbridge, and I attended school with his boys on Back (Union) street. I also knew the Cutter family when they lived in the old house, and I can safely assert that the old mill house as shown in connection with Mr. Swan's sketch was not the toll house.
Another error is, in leading one to infer from the legend ‘Ten Hill Farm, first residence of Governor Winthrop, 1630’ that the plot of land near the river was the farm and residence of Governor Winthrop; in fact this plot of land was only a small part of the Ten Hills Farm, and the Governor's house at Mistick was located on easterly slope and near the top of Winter Hill.
The house that stood on the plot of land indicated was [p. 69] the Temple house. In 1692 that portion of the Ten Hills now situated in Medford came into the possession of John Usher through his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Lidgett, and that portion now situated in Somerville came into the possession of David Jeffries, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Usher. In the year 1740 (September 16) John Jeffries, son of David and Elizabeth Jeffries, sold to Robert Temple a portion of the Ten Hills farm, and it was on this portion of the Ten Hills indicated by Mr. Swan in his sketch, that the Temple house stood; and this location was one of the Ten Hills. This hill has been partially dug away by the Metropolitan Park Commission in constructing the parkway. The estate afterwards came into the possession of Colonel Jaques, a noted agriculturist of bygone days; and it was the only portion of the original Ten Hills Farm that retained the distinctive name of the Ten Hills.
On page 97, mention is made of the claim of the Somerville people that the Blessing of the Bay was built within Somerville bounds. As I understand it, the claim is based upon the fact that in the place they indicate are some old ways such as are used for launching vessels. The existence of these ways at that place is no evidence that the Governor's bark was built there. I remember when a small yacht was hauled up out of the water to winter in that identical place, and have no doubt but that those ways were built for that purpose. Indeed it is very doubtful if that method of launching was used for launching the Blessing of the Bay. She was a small vessel of only thirty tons burden, and it was formerly the custom to build small vessels broadside to the water and when ready for launching drop them down upon their bilges upon plank or timbers laid for the purpose, and so slide them down the gravel beach to the water. When this method was used the launching took place at half or low tide. I have myself assisted in the launching of two vessels by this method. I have no doubt but that the Bless-[p. 70] ing of the Bay was launched in the same way. When I was an apprentice in the shipyard an old shipwright told me that he once built a small fishing vessel on a wharf and tumbled her into the water in this same manner.
