The Proceedings of the Cambridge Historical Society, Volume 22, 1932-1933 TABLE OF CONTENTS PROCEEDINGS NINETY-SEVENTH MEETING...................................................................5 ​ NINETY-EIGHTH MEETING..................................................................... 7 NINETY-NINTH MEETING........................................................................8 ONE HUNDREDTH MEETING...................................................................10 ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST MEETING.......................................................11 ​ ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND MEETING....................................................14 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD MEETING.......................................................15 ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH MEETING.....................................................16 ​ PAPERS THE HISTORY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN CAMBRIDGE...............................17 BY JOSEPH HENRY BEALE JOHN BURGOYNE: POLITICIAN, DANDY, AND MAN OF LETTERS.....................29 BY DAVID THOMAS POTTINGER SPARKS STREET.......................................................................................46 BY MARIA BOWN, MARY DEANE DEXTER, AND ROSALBA SMITH PROELL CAMBRIDGE LAND HOLDINGS TRACED FROM THE PROPRIETORS' RECORDS OF 1635.............................................................................58 BY ALBERT P. NORRIS THE DISTAFF SIDE OF THE MINISTERIAL SUCCESSION IN THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGE.....................................................80 BY JULIA BAYNARD PICKARD BAILEY OLD CAMBRIDGE..................................................................................97 BY DAVID T. POTTINGER THE BROWN AND NICHOLS SCHOOL.......................................................105 BY W. RODMAN PEABODY REPORTS ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY AND COUNCIL, 1931............................113 ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY AND COUNCIL, 1932............................116 ANNUAL REPORT OF TREASURER, 1931.................................................120 ANNUAL REPORT OF TREASURER, 1932..................................................121 MEMBERS ...............................................................................................122 PROCEEDINGS OF The Cambridge Historical Society NINETY-SEVENTH MEETING TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING THE TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY was held on Tuesday, January 26, 1932, in the Court Room of Langdell Hall, Harvard Law School, with President Walcott presiding and sixty-eight members present. The minutes of the last meeting and the Annual Report of the Secretary, including that of the Council, were read and accepted. The Annual Report of the Treasurer was read, approved by Mr. Cook as Auditor for the Society, and accepted. The Curator presented his Annual Report, recording accessions of various interesting items connected with Cambridge, some of which were on display after the meeting. The report was accepted. President Walcott gave out the notice of the Bay State Historical League's winter meeting in Arlington, inviting members of the Cambridge Historical Society to attend. Professor BEALE then read his informative paper on "The History of Local Government in 1 Cambridge." ​ At its close, Professor Hall asked several questions on the changes in the character of ​ public servants, etc. Mr. Cook asked the opinion of Professor Beale on the most important step toward the improvement of city government; the answer was, "Restore the Common Council." Professor White, as Chairman, then reported for the Committee on Nominations. It was proposed by Mr. Bailey, and seconded 1 ​ See pp. 17-28, post. 5 by Mr. McNair, that the President instruct the Secretary to cast one ballot for the following nominations as presented for OFFICERS FOR 1932 President --- ROBERT WALCOTT ​ Vice-Presidents --- MARY ISABELLA GOZZALDI, STOUGHTON BELL, JOSEPH HENRY BEALE ​ Secretary --- ELDON REVARE JAMES ​ Treasurer --- WILLARD HATCH SPRAGUE ​ Curator --- WALTER BENJAMIN BRIGGS ​ Editor --- DAVID THOMAS POTTINGER ​ Council: the above and ​ PHILIP GREENLEAF CARLETON, FRANK GAYLORD COOK, JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN NICHOLS, JAMES LEONARD PAINE, CAROLYN HUNTINGTON SAUNDERS The Secretary cast the ballot, and these officers were declared elected. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Afterwards the members were shown the outstanding collection of portraits and through the new building of the Law School, under the direction of Professor James, Librarian of the Law School. Refreshments were served in the Faculty Lobby. 6 ​NINETY-EIGHTH MEETING UPON THE INVITATION of Mrs. J. G. Thorpe and Mr. H. W. L. Dana, a meeting of the Cambridge Historical Society was held in the Craigie House, 105 Brattle Street, in honor of the two hundredth anniversary of General Washington's birth. President Walcott presided and introduced Mr. DANA, who read an account of General Washington's occupancy of the Craigie House and also some letters written by the General during his stay there.1 ​ At the conclusion of Mr. Dana's paper President Walcott spoke briefly with regard to the location of a permanent memorial of General Washington's residence in Cambridge. Mr. Hollis R. Bailey moved that, "We heartily endorse the proposal of the Cambridge Committee on the Bicentennial of the birth of George Washington that the United States erect a statue to Washington to commemorate his taking command of the Armies of the United Colonies at Cambridge on July 2, 1775, at the site of the Washington Elm or near-by on Cambridge Common, the said statue to be preferably equestrian." The motion was seconded, and unanimously adopted. The thanks of the Society were extended to Mrs. Thorpe and to Mr. Dana for their hospitality. Afterwards the company were entertained at tea by Mrs. Thorpe and Mr. Dana. 1 ​ ​ This paper is to be included in a volume that Mr. Dana is preparing on the history of Craigie House. 7 NINETY-NINTH MEETING THE SPRING MEETING OF THE SOCIETY was held on Tuesday, April 26, 1932, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Eldon R. James, 114 Brattle Street. There was an attendance of sixtyseven. ​ In the absence of President Walcott, Vice-President Stoughton Bell presided. The meeting was called to order at 8:15 o'clock. The minutes of the Annual Meeting and of the Special Meeting at Craigie House, held on Washington's Birthday, were read and approved. The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Stephen H. Mahoney, Secretary of the Cambridge Committee for the Observance of the George Washington Bicentennial, the pertinent portions of which are as follows: "It is the plan of the Massachusetts Commission to dedicate in each of the cities and towns through which Washington traveled on his route to Cambridge, a bronze tablet appropriately marked to designate the Highway. Because of the lack of any municipal appropriation for the purpose, the Cambridge Committee feels that the amount of money necessary for the securing of the tablet (estimated at $150) can be raised by subscription from several organizations within the city. With this purpose in mind, the Cambridge Committee presents the matter to the Cambridge Historical Society for consideration, with the idea in mind that your Society may see fit to contribute toward this fund." Mr. Frank G. Cook moved that a donation of $25.00 be made out of the funds of the Society for the purpose explained in Mr. Mahoney's letter. The motion was seconded, and unanimously carried. 8 Mrs. Vosburgh, a member of the Cambridge Committee for the Observance of the George Washington Bicentennial, explained the plans of the Committee for the dedication of the George Washington Highway. On Mrs. Vosburgh's motion, it was voted that a committee of the Cambridge ​ ​ Historical Society be appointed to cooperate with the Cambridge Bicentennial Committee. The Curator, Mr. Briggs, displayed a number of gifts to the Society. Professor Hart spoke of a collection of references to Washington's stay in Cambridge which he had gathered, sufficient in amount to make a volume of about one hundred and fifty printed pages, which he hoped might be printed by the Society. He offered to present a bust of General Washington to the Society. Upon Professor Beale's motion, Professor Hart's suggestion as to printing was referred to the Council with power to act. Professor Hart's offer of the Washington bust was accepted with thanks. Mr. DAVID T. POTTINGER then read a paper, "John Burgoyne: Politician, Dandy, and Man of Letters."1 ​ After a vote of thanks to Mr. Pottinger for his interesting paper, the meeting adjourned. 1 See​ pp. 29-45, post ​ ​ 9 ONE HUNDREDTH MEETING ON JUNE 10th, 1932 the Society were guests of Mrs. Robert de W. Sampson at a Lawn Party at her residence, 108 Brattle Street. There were between eighty and ninety members present. At 4:30 P.M. the meeting was called to order in the studio of Mrs. Sampson's residence. President Walcott presided. Miss MARY DEANE DEXTER read two papers on Sparks Street and its former residents. One of the papers was by Miss Maria Bowen, and the other by the late Mrs. Rosalba Smith Proell.1 ​ After the reading of these delightful papers the Society was entertained at tea by Mrs. Sampson. With an expression of thanks to Mrs. Sampson for her hospitality, the meeting adjourned. 1 ​ See pp. 46-57, post ​ 10 ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST MEETING TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY was held on Tuesday evening, January 17, 1933, at the residence of Mrs. Mary I. Gozzaldi, 96 Brattle Street. There were about