and the jokes that passed, would make an interesting chapter of town history. Clergymen as well as laymen contributed to make them interesting.

Charles Forster was a warm-hearted, benevolent man who sympathized with the poor and unfortunate and was always ready to befriend and assist them. He was quite generally known to be such a man; and the calls upon him for help were incessant. But he met them with

patience and a ready hand, and was troubled only by his inability to do more. It has been said that he was sometimes imposed upon, and no doubt this is true, but the prompting of his nature was to look charitably upon his fellow-men, and he could not shut up his heart, if he would. It is easy to understand why the calls at the old counting-room, from a class of needy people who had found out the character of its occupants, were so numerous, and it is a fair supposition, perhaps, that the callers of the other class, the scholars and friends before referred to, were helped in the study of human nature by what they must have observed of its darker side in these applicants for encouragement and assistance.

Mr. Forster served the town on the board of overseers of the poor, and on the school committee, for many years, and represented it in the Legislature in 1835. He resided for some time on Winter Hill, in Somerville, and took great interest in the schools of that place. The Forster Schoolhouse, in Somerville, was named in honor of him. He returned to Charlestown, to his old home in Cordis Street, some years before his death, which took place September 1, 1866, when he was a few months over sixty-eight years old.

On the opposite corner of Main and Union streets was

the estate of Catherine Bradish. The Bradish family was an old one in the town, and this property was inherited by Miss Bradish from her mother. The house was of wood, painted yellow. It stood back from Main Street, and was surrounded by a garden, in which were trees, Lombardy poplar and balm-of-Gilead among others.

Just beyond this house, back from the street, on an unfenced lot, was the little shop of Abijah Monroe, gunsmith. His assistant was Moses Babcock, who for many years after it was given up by Monroe continued the business in a shop in Charlestown Square, until he went into the employ of the Davidson Rubber Co., with which company he continued until his death, at his home on Cordis Street, August 27, 1886. The rubber bulb syringe, the invention of Charles H. Davidson, was perfected in Mr. Babcock's shop, and its success was the starting-point of the large manufacturing establishment which bears his name. Monroe's shop was a place where excellent work was done in the regular line of business, and it was also one of the places where political questions were freely discussed by many of the town's people who were accustomed to assemble there. Mr. Monroe held the office of selectman for some years, and he was in the Legislature in 1837.

In this year, 1837, the Bradish estate, including the gunsmith's shop, was sold to Henry and Jacob Forster and Edward Lawrence, who cleared away the old buildings and erected the brick block which still stands on the corner of Main and Union streets. It was called for some years the "Union Block." The owners of the houses moved into them in 1838, and Jacob Forster

remained there until he purchased the Dexter Row house; Mr. Lawrence until he built and moved into the house on High Street in 1851, and Henry Forster until his death, January 12, 1855. Jacob Forster's house was soon sold to Dr. Henry Lyon, the Lawrence house to Edward Riddle, and Henry Forster's to Dr. William Mason. The last two persons died there. Doctor Lyon, after the death of Dr. Luther V. Bell, purchased the house that had been built and occupied by Doctor Bell on Monument Square, where Doctor Lyon now resides.

1841 and a member of

His three sons were grad-
George H. went to New

Henry Forster was a merchant doing business with Pernambuco, South America, at which place he resided many years, and where he founded the well-known house of Henry Forster & Co. After his return he was interested in town affairs and was a representative in the Legislature in the City Council in 1848. uates of Harvard College. York and became distinguished as a lawyer. He was a member of the law-firm of Weeks & Forster. He took an interest in politics and was State senator and chairman of the Board of Aldermen in the city of New York. He had just been re-elected to the latter office when he died, November 8, 1888. His brother, Frederick P., is a lawyer in the same office in New York. Horace resides in Pernambuco, a partner in the old business house there. JANUARY 23, 1889.

XXVII

The Tufts Family

Tufts College - An Interesting Statement in regard to Other Colleges also founded by and named for Former Residents How did the Town of Malden get its

N

of Charlestown
Name ?

ATHAN A. TUFTS was an occupant for several

years of one of the houses in the Dexter Row

block. He afterwards removed to a house on Union Street, where he died November 20, 1873, aged seventy-four years. This was one of a block of swellfront brick houses built by his brother Samuel, his brother-in-law, Deacon Eliab P. Mackintire, and Samuel Raymond, on the site of the first Winthrop Church, which was taken down after the removal of the society to its new church in Green Street and its dedication in March, 1849. The block is still standing on the left hand side of Union Street, near Washington Street.

Mr. Tufts stood high with the community in which he lived. He was an upright man, honest in thought and deed. Fair in his judgment of his fellow-men, he was judged by them in the same spirit, and was looked upon with great confidence and respect. He took much interest in the affairs of the town, and was ready to comply with the often expressed wish of his fellow-citizens that he should serve them in public offices. Frequently a member of the school committee, he was efficient and

prompt in attention to its duties. As a member for some years of the Board of Aldermen, he reflected honor upon the city by his dignity of manner, liberal views, and excellent judgment.

He was a leading member of the Winthrop Society and Church from the time of its organization until his death. Much of his business life was spent in the employ of the owners and managers of some of the Lowell manufacturing corporations as their confidential clerk. He accumulated a handsome competency and retired early from active business. He was president of the Warren Institution for Savings from 1850 to 1855, when he resigned on account of his poor health and spent some time with his family in the South; but he continued as one of its vice-presidents, and on his return was elected a member of the investment committee and held this office as long as he lived. The present officers of the institution remember him with high regard, and do not forget his influence in shaping a policy which secured to the bank the confidence of its depositors and made it a successful institution.

The Tufts family trace their ancestry back to Peter Tufts, who was born in England in 1617 and came to Charlestown about 1638. He settled in that part of the

town which was set off in 1648 as the town of Malden. He emigrated to this country from Malden in the county of Essex, England. Between this Malden and Little Baddow there was a place, or villa, called Tuftes. It has been conjectured that the new town set off from Charlestown received its name Malden through the influence of Peter Tufts, who was one of the largest landholders within its limits. He died May 13, 1700,