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By Inna Babitskaya
Thomas Graves (1585–after 1633), an expert in engineering, mining and mineralogy, played the main role in the laying out of Charlestown, including the Mystic Side. The Massachusetts Bay Company hired Graves on March 10, 1628. As was written in his contract: “This 10th March 1628-9, I, Thomas Graves of Gravesend, in the County of Kent, gent, and by my profession skillful and experienced in the discovery and finding out of iron mines, as also of lead, copper, mineral salt, and alum, in fortifications of all sorts, in surveying of buildings and of lands and in measuring of lands, in describing a country by map; in leading of water to proper uses for millers or other uses; in finding out sorts of Lyme stone and materials for building; in manufacturing, have this present day agreed to serve the New England and, during my stay there, to do my true and uttermost endeavor for the most good and benefit of said company.”
The compensation of Mr. Graves was to be his passage to and from New England, five pounds a month while in New England. In case he remained for three years, the company was to pay transportation for his wife and five children, plus a boy and maid servant, who would join him. Additionally, after three years, the Massachusetts Bay Company was to grant him a house, 100 acres of land and the first crop planted that his family “may subsist.” His salary after three years was to be reset from five pounds per month to a yearly allowance of fifty pounds for the year, beginning on the first day of his arrival in New England.
In the company’s letter from April 17, 1629, sent by George Bonaventure to Governor John Endecott (1688-1665), Graves was described as “a traveller in divers forraigne parts to gaine his experience” and was highly recommended “as much for his honesty as for his skill.” So, the Company instructed Endecott to consult with Graves regarding the future settlement: “We pray you take his advice touching the premises and where you intend to sit down in, to fortify and build a town that may be qualified for good air and water,…and may have as much natural help as may be.”
Soon after his arrival in New England, Graves sent to England a flattering description of the colony: “I never came in a more goodly country in all my life… If it hath not at any time been manured and husbanded, yet it is very beautifull in open lands, mixed with goodly woods, and again open plaines, in some places five hundred acres…not much troublesome for to cleere…no place barren, but on the tops of the hills; the grasse and weeds grow up to a man’s face, in the lowlands and by fresh rivers abundance of grasse and large meddowes without any tree or shrubbe…”
Graves, who traveled a lot, could compare the new land with the countries that he had visited before. He underlined that “I never saw, except in Hungaria, unto which I always parallel this countrie…for every thing that is heare eyther sowne or planted prospereth far better then in Old-England: The increase of corne is here farre beyond expectation, as I have seene here by experience in barly… And cattle doe prosper very well, and those that are bredd here farr greater than those with you in England. Vines doe grow here plentifully laden with the biggest grapes that ever I saw, some I have seene foure inches about, so that I am bold to say of this countrie, as it is commonly said in Germany of Hungaria, that for cattel, corne, and wine it excelleth.”
He enthusiastically spoke about the perspectives of life in this wonderful country: “We have many more hopefull commodities here in this country, the which time will teach to make good use of: In the mean time wee abound with such things which next under God doe make us subsist: as fish, fowle, deere, and sundrie sorts of fruits, as musk-millions, water-millions, Indian pompions, Indian pease, beanes…the healthfulnesse of the countrie, which far exceeded all parts that ever I have been in: It is observed that few or none doe here fall sicke, unless of the scurvy, that they bring from aboard the ship with them, whereof I have cured some of my companie onely by labour.”
Graves had to prepare the settlement project that now the large companies could make. Only due to his talents, extensive knowledge and diligence could he fulfill his task.
Also, Graves had to assist Governor Endecott with military matters. He was admitted as a freeman on May 18, 1631.
Governor Endecott sent Thomas Graves, Rev. Francis Bright, Abraham Palmer and others to take possession of Massachusetts Bay, according to the company’s instructions. The Company Order of September 7, 1630, prohibited “to plant at any place within the limits” of their patent without permission from the governor and assistants. It was written “that this place on the north side of the Charles River, by the natives called Mishawum, shall henceforth from the name of the river, be called Charlestown, which was also confirmed by Mr. John Endicott, governor.
“It is jointly agreed and concluded by the inhabitants of this town, that Mr. Graves do model and lay out the form of the town, with streets about the Hill…each inhabitant have a two acre lot to plant upon, and all to fence in common; which was accordingly by Mr. Graves measured out unto them.”
“…Ralph Sprague and others began to build their houses, and to prepare fencing for their lots, which [were] afterwards set up almost in a semi-circular form on the south and south-east side of that field laid out to them, which lies situated on the north-west side of the Town Hill.”
In 1629, Graves designed the “Great House,” which would serve as the residence of Governor Winthrop and as the colony’s meetinghouse. Around 100 men from Salem participated in its construction. According to the Graves instructions, they also laid out streets and divided land into two-acre lots for the settlers.
Another creation of Thomas Graves was the town fort on the top of Town Hill. It had palisades and flankers and was built under his direction by all the settlers, including women and children, because many people died during the harsh winter in 1630.
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.”)
