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By Inna Babitskaya
From the very beginning, Edward Convers, as a very experienced and energetic member of the community, was actively involved in colonial life. Thus, in 1635–40, he was a selectman of Charlestown. His civic duties included surveying colonial lands.
In 1635/36, Mystic Side residents sent Edward Convers, William Brackenbury and Abraham Palmer “to go up into the country” to explore the possibilities of the settlement’s extension. After their return, they reported that there was “a mountainous and rocky country.” (Deloraine Pendre Corey, “The History of Malden, Massachusetts, 1633-1785”) They saw the future Middlesex Fells and Waitt’s Mount, as well as the Scadan Woods (territory near Faulkner). They also found the fertile lands between Powder Horn Hill and the beginning of the North River, which later became parts of Malden and Everett.
Records from the period show how vigorously and effectively Converse served the needs of the community.
On October 7, 1640, Convers was appointed, with “Mr. Tynge and Mr. Samuel Shepherd, to set out the bounds between Charlestown and Mr. Cradock’s farm on the other side of the Mystic River.” (William Gilbert Hill, “Family Record of Deacons James W. Converse and Elisha S. Converse”)
On May 15, 1640, “Mr. Increase Nowell, magistrate, Rev. Zechariah Symmes, Edward Johnson, Edward Convers, Ezekiel Richardson, Mr. Hubbard, an artist, and some others, went from Charlestown to search the land lying within the two miles square.” (Samuel Sewall, “The History of Woburn”)
In May, September and November 1640, commissioners explored the territory for a new settlement. These expeditions were sometimes accompanied by real dangers to the health and lives of their participants. Twice they barely escaped death: during the night storm, when a large tree under which they had rested fell, and when they were lost during a snowstorm.
Deacon Convers possessed great influence and authority. “Six of these seven commissioners were on the town committee of thirteen, and to these six men, with Edward Converse at the head, was due the success of the enterprise they had in view. At their first meeting, held December 18, 1640, thirty-two men were found ready to affix their names to the Town Orders for Woburn, upon which they had agreed, the name of Edward Converse being second in the list.” (Rev. Leander Thompson, The Winchester Record)
Like other colonists, Convers participated in public works. In December 1641, Lieut. Sprague and Edward Convers were ordered to repair the bridge at Medford over the Mystic River, and the same was to be paid for out of the treasury. The new page in Convers’ life in the Mass. Bay Colony began when the Charlestown Church appointed him to set the bounds between Charlestown and the village and to appoint the place for the village.
On September 27, 1642, the new town was incorporated as Woburn. On April 13, 1644, the town freemen chose the first board of selectmen, including Edward Johnson, Edward Convers, John Mousall, William Learned, Ezekiel Richardson, Samuel Richardson and James Thompson. Edward Converse served as a selectman of Woburn until his death. On March 3, 1649, he, with three other selectmen, was appointed to negotiate with Charlestown the disputed boundary between the two towns. Edward Convers proved to be one of the most courageous, energetic and resilient people in Woburn. He became one of the first deacons of the Woburn church that he established.
On January 14, 1661/62, Deacon Convers’ second wife, Sarah, died. As was usual for that epoch, widowers and widows tried to find a new spouse. So, on September 19, 1662, Edward Convers married Joanna (Warren) Sprague (1603–1679/80), widow of his friend and colleague Ralph Sprague (1594/96–1650), one of the cofounders of Charlestown and Malden (Mystic Side), “a prominent and valuable citizen, active in promoting the welfare of the town and of the Colony.” (The Winchester Record) There were no children in that marriage, which lasted one year.
In May 1663, Edward Convers unexpectedly had to withstand a serious life challenge. According to The Winchester Record, “‘…Isaac Cole, constable, and Edward Converse, one of Capt. Johnson’s associates in the board of selectmen at Woburn, were arraigned; the former for refusing to take and publish the King’s letter, and the latter for having spoken of it as Popery. The Court, having a hearing, discharged Converse, on the ground that his language did not reflect on his Majesty’s letter.’ This account assumes that Converse did speak of the king’s letter as popery, but in language so carefully guarded that even papal servants of the king could not easily make out a case against him.” It was underlined that Deacon Convers successfully defended himself: “…the good old father of the town came forth from his arrest by the officers of the king unscathed and apparently untroubled…” (The Winchester Record)
Edward Convers died three months after that incident, on August 10, 1663. Deacon Convers’ input into the development of the Mass. Bay Colony was acknowledged not only by his contemporaries but also by the next generation. As Rev. Leander Thompson wrote in October 1885: “…he appeared… to have been a foremost man in all public business…. As a member of [the] church, he was ever prominent…. Prompt, clear-headed, devout, conscientious, outspoken, and unflinching, and yet prudent, self-contained, and uniform, are the adjectives that best describe his whole career.”
Among Deacon Edward Convers’ descendants were prominent businessmen, politicians, scientists, soldiers, philanthropists, artists and musicians, including Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753–1814), noted politician, physicist and inventor; Julius Converse (1798–1885), Governor and Lt. Governor of Vermont; Alfred C. Converse (1827–1915) – 18th mayor of Chelsea, Mass.; famous American sculptor Larkin Goldsmith Mead, Jr. (1835–1910), author of a sculptured mausoleum to President Lincoln in Springfield, Ill.; composer Frederick Converse (1871–1940); Morton E. Converse (1897–1937) – one of the largest in USA manufacturers of toys and light woodenware; Marquis M. Converse (1861–1931) – founder of Converse Rubber Shoe Company. A special, very significant role in the history of Malden, state and the country was played by two outstanding businessmen and public figures: the first mayor of Malden, Elisha S. Converse (1820–1904) and his elder brother, James W. Converse (1808–1894), cofounders of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company.
To be continued…
(Inna Babitskaya is a Malden historian, a member of the Malden Historical Commission and the author of historical books “From Maldon to Malden,” “Time of Converse” and “Fellsmere Park – Emerald of Malden.” Malden’s 375th anniversary – on May 2, 1649, Malden was incorporated as a town.)
