..Under the crown, American history; . nes little farm isbelieved to have been a little below it, nearerthe Charles River, and possibly extending roundto the present Common. William Blackstone had been living therealone at his little place on the side of the hillfor at least four years when Winthrop and hiscompany of Puritans came, long enough to havea garden in a good state of cultivation and fruit-trees near to bearing. It would seem that he must have had assist-ance from the Indians to uproot the large stumpsfrom his clearing. These he placed upright,joined closely together, for a fence rou
..Under the crown, American history; . nes little farm isbelieved to have been a little below it, nearerthe Charles River, and possibly extending roundto the present Common. William Blackstone had been living therealone at his little place on the side of the hillfor at least four years when Winthrop and hiscompany of Puritans came, long enough to havea garden in a good state of cultivation and fruit-trees near to bearing. It would seem that he must have had assist-ance from the Indians to uproot the large stumpsfrom his clearing. These he placed upright,joined closely together, for a fence round hisgarden and house, to keep out bears, deer andwolves, the first stump fence in New England. It was a wild, lonely little home, but quietand peaceful, and far remote from that busyworld which had somehow so deeply woundedthe heart of William Blackstone. He prized itsquiet; he loved its solitude; he designed to liveand die here alone, cultivating his little plantationin the wilderness. Then one day in July, 1630, the young recluse,. WILL POINT OUT A BETTER LOCATION. 46 THE FIRST HOME IN BOSTON. wandering about over his hill, heard the soundsof shouting and the crash of falling trees. Onascending to the top of the hill, he saw a shipat anchor off what is now Charlestown. Boat-loads of people were disembarking, axmen wereat work on shore, fires were kindled, and tempo-rary sheds, too, were in process of erection. It was John Winthrop and his colony ofPuritans, landing at Charlestown, which theyhad chosen as the site of their future city. Very often throughout that summer of 1630Blackstone, from his hilltop, marked the laborsof the new settlers. With his longer experienceof the locality he saw that they had made amistake. There was no good water over there;the situation was low and unhealthy. His elevated, healthier Shawmut, with its finesprings of water, was by far the better sitefor a settlement. Yet why should he give uphis now productive farm and garden to thenewcomers ? Hi
Size: 1354px × 1844px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidundercrownam, bookyear1909
