AN OPEN LETTER.

To the Editor of the Dedham Historical Register.

I have indulged in a few reminiscences suggested by the article. on Penal Institutions, in your first number. The old House of Correction, as I recollect it, from 1825 to 1830 was a square wooden building, two stories high, standing on the north side of Highland street, not far from Court street, and surrounded by a high wooden fence. On the first floor was a wide hall, or entry, and a large store used for the double purpose of heating and boiling tarred rope, which the inmates afterwards picked to pieces to make oakum. This was made up into bales and sent to market. The inmates, with the exception of the insane, were not confined in separate cells, but several occupied one room. During the day those employed were allowed the run of the building. The jailor lived at some little distance, and the meals were prepared at his house and carried to the prisoners. It is my impression that there was no constant supervision of the inmates. The jailor locked up the building at night and went home, leaving no guard. The insane were treated more like wild beasts than human beings. After the establishment of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester, they were removed, some to that place and others to the Town Poor House near the upper common. It would be difficult to convey to the reader a correct idea of the old House of Correction.

Sixty or seventy years ago imprisonment for debt was quite common, and the number confined within the jail limits was at times quite large. I think the creditor became responsible to the sheriff for the debtor's board, otherwise he was set at liberty. The debtor was allowed certain limits outside the jail yard, which at one time included the whole village as far as the present depot. Many debtors managed to carry on some business or work at their trades, and I recall one who kept his pair of horses and took a ride nearly every day. Some from other towns finally settled in Dedham.

H. G.

NEEDHAM EPITAPHS,

WITH NOTES.

BY CHARLES CURTIS GREENWOOD.

IIII [D]ec 1711 Edword Cook decesed Aged 7.2.

The name of Edward Cook appears upon the petition for the incorporation of the town of Needham, May, 1710, and on the records as "deceased December 4, 1711." He may have been the son of Samuel Cook who was in Dedham about 1640, and had land granted to him on the "Great Playne."

[Death's head.] Here Lyes ye Body of Elizabeth Pratt Wife to Daniel Pratt Aged 19 years. Decd March ye 22 1716

R. F. 1716.

Probably Rebecca, dau. of John and Elizabeth Fisher, b. Feb. 28, 1715, d. May 19, 1716. [Town Records.]

E. S. 1716.

Probably Ester, dau. of Jonathan and Martha Smith, b. Feb. 13, 1716, d. April 17, 1716.

Mary Mills Daught of Mr Benj & Mrs Sarah Mills Deed Sept 19th 1718, Aged about 6 month. [b. March 16, 1718, d. Sept. 12, 1718 (T. R.)] SAMEL WILLSON Son to S W E dyEd 21d nm 1718

Samevell, son of Samevell and Elizabeth Willson, b. April

25, 1718, d. Nov. 21, 1718 [T. R.].

Here Lyes y Body of Mary Mills Wife To MR Benjamin Mills SenR Aged 65 Years. Decò May The 7th 1718.

Benjamin Mills married Mary Thorne July 1, 1674 [Dedham Town Records, 13].

Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Mary Fuller Wife to Mr Robert Fuller Aged 29 Years: who Decd March ye 7th 1718-9.

She was b. in Newton, March 3, 1690, dau. of John, Jr., and Mary Parker; m. Robert Fuller, March 31, 1713.

Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Lydia Wheat Wife of DoctTM Samuel Wheat Who Dec April the 6th 1720. Aged 44 Years. Here Lyes ye Body of Elizabeth Danels, Deco Sept. 7th, 1719, in yo [ 1698.]

Danels, Daur of Joseph & Lydia ] year of her Age. [b. March 23,

Obediah Mills, Son of Mr. Benjm & Mrs Sarah Mills, Deed March 19, 1720-1. Aged about 5 Years. [b. March 25, 1716.]

Here Lyes ye Body of Joseph Danels Deco June ye 8th 1720 In ye 44 Year of his age.

He was born in Watertown, Feb. 3, 1677, son of Samuel and Mary Danels.

Judah Daur of Joseph and Lydia Danels. Aged 3 weeks & 3 Ds Deceased Sept. ye [ 172] [b. Aug. 21, 1720, d. Sept. 14, 1720 (T. R.)]

Here Lyes ye Body of Mr. Benjamin Mills Who Decd Septbr 10th 1720 In ye 46th Year of His Age.

He was the son of Benjamin and Mary (Thorne) Mills, b. in Dedham, June 7, 1675. His name appears on the petition for the incorporation of the Town,1710, and as Selectman, 1717.

Here Lyes ye Body of Cristopher Smith. DecD February The 2 Aged 4 Years 1721. [Son of John and Mary?]

Here Lyes ye Body of Jeruse Smith Daufter of John And Mary Smith Deed Septem ye is. 1721. [b. Apr. 15, 1717 (T. R.)]

Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Jane Ware ye Wife of M NathanL Ware. She Died Novr 17, 1723 in ye 24th Year of Her Age.

Nathaniel Ware married Jane Cook Jan. 15, 1722.

Here Lyes ye Body of Ester Smith Deed March ye 28. 1724 Aged about 4 Years.

She was b. Sept. 25, 1719, dau. of Jonathan and Martha Smith.

Here Lys ye Body of Mr William Cook. Son To Mr Robert & Mrs Submit Cook. He Deed May 29th, 1727. Aged 33 Years.

Here Lyes ye Body of Margret Wodcok Desese in The Yer 1728. Margaret was b. Sept. 10, 1701, dau. of Jeremiah and Mary Woodcock; d. August 31, 1728 [T. R.].

Here Lyes ye Body of Mr Samuel Willson Who Died Feb 1729 In ye 43d Year of His Age. [d. Feb. 2, 1729-30 (T. R.).

Ephraim and Rebecca Willson of Dedham had a son Samuel, b. April 5, 1687.

Here Lyes ye Body of Mr Nathael Tolman. He Died Feb. 7, 1729 in ye 38th Year of his Age.

It appears by the Dorchester Records that "Nathanell Tolman the son of Thomas Tolman and Expearence his wife was borne the 22 of December 1691."

Here Lyes Buried The Body of Susannah Kingsbery wife To Josiah Kingsbery.. Decp Feb. ye 28. 1730 In the 46th Year of her Age.

He m. Susanna Mory of Roxbury Jan. 16, 1705.

Here Lyes Ye Body of Mr Samuel Cook Son To Mr Robert Cook & Mrs Submit Cook. DecD Nov 23D 1731. Aged 25 Years. [b. in Dedham, Nov. 26, 1706.]

Here Lyes ye Body of Capt. John Fisher Who Died Jany 21st 1735-6 In ye 80th Year of his Age.

Behold & See as you pass By,
As You are now so once was I.
As I am now so You must Be
Prepair for Death & Follow me

He was born in Dedham July 20, 1656, son of Capt. Daniel and Abigail (Marriot) Fisher [page 26]; was one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the Town, 1710; Town Clerk, 1722, 1725-27; Treasurer, 1727, 1731, 1732; Selectman, 1711-14, 1722-26.

Here Lyes Buried The Body of Mr David Ockenten. DecD July ye 6th 1736 in the 234 Year of his age.

He was b. July 27, 1713, son of Matthias and Lydia Ockinton. Here Lyes Buried ye Body of Mr Josiah Kingsbury who Decd April 20th 1739 In ye 62 Year of his Age.

He was b. in Dedham, Dec. 26, 1677, son of Eleazer and Esther (Judson) Kingsbury; one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the Town; Representative to the General Court, 1728, 1729, 1731; Selectman, 1716, 1717, 1720-23, 1725, 1726, 1728, 1738; Treasurer, 1714, 1719-22, 1728-30, 1736-38.

Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Elizabeth Willson ye Widow of Mr Samuel Willson Died Deer 19th 1739 In ye 50th Year of Her Age.

Elizabeth, dau. of Nathaniel and Sarah Hawes, b. Jan. 29, 1688, m. Samuel Willson Nov. 25, 1714 [D. T. R. 36].

Here Lies Buried The Body of Capt Charles Deming. Aged 59 Years who Died April ye 9th 1740.

Probably son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Deming of Wethersfield, Conn., who had a Charles, b. June 10, 1681. It is said that he was a shipmaster.

Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Rebecca Fisher The Widdow of Capt John Fisher Who Died OctTM ye 26th 1740. In ye 80th Year of her Age.

She was b. in Dedham April 30, 1661, dau. of Richard and Elizabeth Ellis; m. John Fisher, June 15, 1681.

Fisher Man Son to Mr Nath & Mrs Hannah Man Died April ye 25 1741. Aged 1 Month. [b. Apr. 25, 1741, d. May 7, 1741 (T. R.)]

Here Lyes ye Body of Mr James Mills Son To M Zachariah & Mrs Margaret Mills. Died Nov ye 10th 1742 In the 224 Year of his Age. [b. Nov. 13, 1720.]

Here Lies The Body of Lieut Thomas Metcalf who Departed This Life August ye 4th 1743. In ye 65th Year of his Age.

He was b. in Dedham, Jan. 3, 1679, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Kingsbury) Metcalf; one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the Town, 1710; Treasurer, 1713; Selectman, 1714, 1715, 1718, 1723, 1727, 1730, and 1731.

Here Lyes ye Body of Mrs Abigail Kingsbery Wife to Mr Eleazer Kingsbery. She Died March 13th 1744 In ye 20th Year of Her Age.

She was b. June 30, 1725, probably dau. of John and Elizabeth Fisher; m. Eleazer Kingsbery, Dec. 4, 1744; d. March 13, 1744-5 [T. R.].

Sarah: Gill Deceas'd The 29. Day oF October ye [ ] 1744 beinG: 6 ye & 4 Months & 1 Day oF Age.

She was b. June 28, 1738; dau. of Israel and Sarah Gill

[T. R.].

Israel Gill Deceas 13 Day of November ye 1744 Being 3 y & 11 Months 2 Days of Age

He was b. Dec. 11, 1740, son of Israel and Sarah Gill.

(To be continued.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DEDHAM.

BY GEORGE WASHINGTON HUMPHREY.

(Continued from page 37.)

1645.

A Defence of the Answer made unto the

questions, &c., against the Reply thereto of John Ball entituled a Tryall, etc.

This title is given in Dr. Henry M. Dexter's "Congregationalism," page 55 of the list of works appended. There is a copy of this pamphlet in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, England, and an imperfect one in the Congregational Library, Boston.

1648.

A Defence of the Answer, made unto the Nine Questions or Positions sent from New-England, Against the reply thereto by That Reverend servant of Christ, Mr. John Ball; entituled, A Tryall of the New Church-way in New-England and in Old. Wherein, beside a more full opening of sundry particulars concerning Leturgies, Power of the Keys, matter of the visible Church, &c. is more largely handled, that controversie concerning the Catholick visible Church; tending to cleare up the Old-Way of Christ in New-England Churches. By John Allin Tho. Shepard Pastor of Dedham Cambridge in New England. [Three lines in Latin and two from Bible.] London, Printed by R. Cotes for Andrew Crooke, and are to be sold at the Green Dragon in Pauls Churchyard, 1648. 12 mo. pp. (1), 211.

Contains "The Preface to the Reader," pp. 1-25, signed "From New England, Novemb. 28, 1645 Tho. Allin, Tho. Shepard;" "Advertisement to the Reader," 26-30; "A Defence of the Nine Positions," 31-211. There is a copy of this pamphlet in the Prince Library, Boston.

1653.

A Treatise of Liturgies, Power of the Keyes, And of matter of the Visible Church. In Answer To the Reverend Servant of Christ, Mr. John Ball. By Thomas Shephard, sometimes fellow of EmanvelColledge in Cambridge, and late Pastour of Cambridge in New-England. [Three lines in Latin, and two from Bible.] London, Printed by E. Cotes for Andrew Crooke, and are to be sold at the Green Dragon in Pauls Church-yard, 1653.

Dr. Henry M. Dexter has kindly furnished this copy of a title in his library, with the statement that "the British Mu