proprietors of the Harvard Unitarian Church, and made the largest subscription toward its building.

In the fall of 1831 the Dexter estate was sold at auction, and was purchased by Hamilton Davidson, a resident of Charlestown, who was in the grain business, having a grist-mill at the Neck, and a store on Long Wharf, Boston. Mr. Davidson bought an estate with a beautiful garden as a part of it, and although he made no pretension to the taste and love for it which had been shown by the former owner, yet he cared for it and kept it in good condition while he lived. From time to time, parts of it were sold for the Dexter Row block, the Winthrop Church, to E. Lawrence and T. T. Sawyer on High Street, and afterwards the balance, including the mansion, to Rhodes G. Lockwood, the son-in-law of Mr. Davidson. At the death of Mr. Lockwood his son Rhodes purchased it, and while in the possession of each of these it was carefully dealt with, and was always a delightful home and a charming resort for friends and visitors.

When General (President) Jackson visited Boston, Mr. Davidson gave a party in his honor. This was before the estate had been cut up. The President was prevented by illness from attending, but Vice-President Van Buren and many distinguished men were there. The company was very large; the whole garden was illuminated; the best music of the time was given by the Brigade Band; the entertainment could not be surpassed. The writer was privileged to be present, and, although young in years, was quite old enough to bear witness to the success and magnificence of the occasion.

I have thus too hastily, perhaps - put together

-

some facts in relation to the estate, a part of which is now the home of Abraham Lincoln Post. I have not failed to show, I think, that its history is an interesting one, and I hope and believe that the present occupancy of the old mansion is but the beginning of a story to be told by somebody in the future as an important part of the record of a famous place in Charlestown.

Let me add, this is not the only famous place in the history of the town, and perhaps sometime in the future I may try to aid in filling out the record of other places. MAY 12, 1888.

James Noble
Pratt

A

MONG the old houses mentioned in "A Century

of Town Life" is that formerly occupied by Cap

tain Benjamin Swift, which stood on High Street, nearly opposite the head of Cordis Street. This house was not built by Captain Swift, but came into his possession in 1809 by purchase from Captain James Noble.

In 1784 David S. Stearns, of Lunenburg, came to Charlestown. He was a merchant. In October, 1796, he was married to Catherine Cochran. In 1798 he bought a lot of land on Breed's Hill, of Nathaniel Austin, and mortgaged it to Daniel Scott, merchant, of Boston. The same year this mortgage was assigned to Mary Cochran of Watertown, and by her, in 1799, to Captain James Noble of Boston; and in 1801 the lot, with the house that had been built upon it, was conveyed to James Noble by Mary Cochran and David S. Stearns. In 1809 Captain Noble conveyed the house and lot to Benjamin Swift.

In 1800 Artemas Ward, son of General Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, came to Charlestown and lived for some time in this house. His wife was Katharine

Maria, daughter of Samuel Dexter. In Drake's "American Biography "is this notice of him: "Artemas Ward, LL.D., Member of Congress 1813-'17, Chief Justice of Court of Common Pleas 1820-'39, and an eminent lawyer. He practised law in Boston after 1809 and was frequently a member of the Legislature and of the Council." How long he occupied Captain Noble's house I cannot tell, but probably until 1809, when it was sold to Captain Benjamin Swift. Judge Ward afterwards lived on Main Street, in the house near to Doctor Thompson's, which has since been known as the Ward house. He came to Charlestown when his father-in-law was very much engaged in national affairs; perhaps to look after his business during his absence from home, or to succeed to it.

The house about which we are writing had a flat roof, and was not unlike the Dexter house and other square houses of the time, except that it had two small wings, one of which Mr. Ward is said to have used for an office. Captain Swift lived in it until 1834, when he sold it to Nathan Pratt and James Bird, both business men of long standing in the town. They divided the estate, altered the house into two tenements, put on the pitched roof and gable end, and the low piazza towards High Street. Mr. Bird lived there until 1840, when he sold to David Snow; and Mr. Pratt until 1843, when he sold to Simon G. Shipley. James Damon afterwards lived in Mr. Shipley's half; and, for a little while, Mrs. Henry Forster, when she was building her new home Monument Square.

on

Nathan Pratt was of the firm of Putnam & Pratt, who formerly had a large distillery in town, and at the same time a store and office on Central Wharf, Boston,

where they were engaged in the Smyrna trade. The late Thomas A. Goddard, who married the sister of Richard Frothingham, was a clerk with them in Boston, and took their foreign business when the firm of Iasigi & Goddard was formed. Mr. Pratt was also proprietor and manager of the extensive powder mills in Acton, where he removed; but he removed again to West Cambridge (Arlington), and died there March 11, 1873. We must not fail to remember him in our town histories, for he generously remembered us.

The following is copied from the tenth annual report of the Board of Managers of the Winchester Home:

The undersigned, officers of the Winchester Home, desire in behalf of the institution to express their grateful thanks to Nathan Robbins, James R. Bayley, and Benjamin S. Pray, executors of the will of the late Nathan Pratt, for their kind remembrance in presenting the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Pratt to the Winchester Home. This act, following as it does the generous gift of $4,000 to the Home during the life-time of Mr. Pratt, and the receipt of $4,000 additional, by bequest, since his death, will endear their memory to this institution and cause their portraits to be carefully kept and esteemed among its most valued possessions.

LIVERUS HULL, President,

ABRAM E. CUTTER, Secretary.

James Bird was for many years engaged in the drygoods business on Main Street, first in the partnership known as Sawyer & Bird, then J. & W. Bird, and then James Bird & Co. When he sold the Swift house, he removed for a while to New York, following his former business there. After his return he was for several