us.

24. Mr. & Mrs. Mycall' visited us-my brother visited

26. Rebecca Parker visited us.

27.

Mr. & Mrs. Mycall & R. Parker returned.

October, 1806.

1. Mrs. Thomas & Eliza went to Boston with Levi, Braatz & Mary.

2. Judge Sedgwick and others of the S. J. C. dined with me.

4. Stevens account for work on Medow, 98 dollars. Briggs do., 24 dols.

6. Finished work on the new Street. The Selectmen came and surveyed it & laid it out in form. The Light Infantry Company, under arms, commanded by Capt. Flagg, marched thro it, halted on the bridge, and dis

In 1773, Mr. Thomas, having made an addition to his printing materials, sent a press and types to Newburyport, and established the first press ever set up in that place; and on December 4th, with his partner, Henry Walter Tinges, he began the publication of The Essex Journal, and Merrimack Packet: Or, The Massachusetts and New Hampshire General Advertiser. The price of the paper was "six shillings and eight pence lawful money," which the printers say is 'as cheap as any newspaper in the four quarters of the globe." The first number contains the following advertisement:

"PRINTING

Those ladies and gentlemen, who are desirous of seeing the curious art of printing, are hereby informed that on Monday next the printing office will be opened for their reception, and the printers ready to wait on all, who will do the honor of their

company.

December 4th, 1773."

The venture not proving successful, Mr. Thomas sold his interest within a year to Ezra Lunt, at a considerable loss. About two years later Lunt in turn sold out to John Mycall, a native of Worcester, England, who at that time was a schoolmaster in Amesbury. Mycall shortly afterwards became the sole owner of the paper, which he published for many years. After his retirement from business, he bought a farm in Harvard, in Worcester County, and subsequently removed to Cambridgeport, where he died about 1826.

charged three vollies. The Gentlemen of the Street prepared a large tub and two pails full of excellent punch, and the Selectmen, at the request of those present and in conformity to their own proposal, named the street Thomas street. The Infantry Company were refreshed with as much punch as they chose to drink and all present. Three Cheers were given, and the Company marched off. 7. Lost shirt pin sent me by my sister.

9. Miss M. Armstrong came up from Boston and Mrs. Braatz and Mary Stratton with Levi.

10. Went to Boston in Chaise with Charles, Miss Mary Seaver and Hannah Frazier in Chariot. Miss M. Armstrong to keep house in Worcester.

12. Read "Secret history of St. Cloud."

16. Went with Mr. A. to see some lots at Cambridgeport. 17. Read "Cumberland's Life."

23. Turner's Ball.

24. Theatre: Loring's first performance.1

1 In the New England Palladium of 24 October, 1806, "The Public are respectfully informed, that at the repeated solicitations of a number of respectable persons, and in consequence of numerous applications, the Managers are induced to give Master LORING, (a youth of Boston, aged 16 years) an opportunity of appearing in the character of RICHARD THE THIRD."

The following communication appears in the same issue:"Shakespear's tragedy of Richard III., is selected for performance this evening for the express purpose of introducing to the boards, a young gentleman of this town, in the arduous character of the crook-back'd tyrant. Master Loring, who has not yet arrived at his 17th year, is the adventurous candidate for the honors of the buskin, in this multiform and laborious personage. His claim to this experiment of his talents, is, we hear, supported by the private attestations of several judicious friends and good criticks. To excel in Richard, is an achievment of no common proof. Genius, directed by science, and ripened by experience, has been considered indispensably requisite to pass a rigid public ordeal; yet we have no hesitation to say, that Master L. if candidly viewed as a débutant, will be thought no mean competitor for the laurels of Bosworth-field."

25. Paid Tucker 25 dollars.

27.

Pd. Aqueduct 6 dols. Theatre with Eliza.

28. Bought new Coachee.

30. Drive with Mrs. Thomas, Eliza & Miss H. Weld. The subscribers of Worcester Turnpike first met this day at Concert hall, Boston, to organize and chuse Directors, etc. I was chosen a Director.1

1 By an act of the General Court, dated 7 March, 1806, Aaron Davis, Luther Richardson, Samuel Welles, Charles Davis and William H. Sumner and their associates were empowered "to make, lay out, and keep in repair a turnpike road" from Roxbury to Worcester, through Brookline, Newton, Needham, Natick, Framingham, Southborough, Westborough and Shrewsbury; and Bezaleel Taft, of Uxbridge, Nicholas Tillinghast of Taunton and Silas Holman of Bolton were appointed a committee to view and lay out the road, make alterations, adjust damages and authorize the erection of toll gates. Luther Richardson was the first clerk of the corporation and William H. Sumner the treasurer. In January, 1807, the directors announced that they would receive proposals for making the road, and that particulars would be furnished by Aaron Davis or George Zeigler, Roxbury, Oliver Fiske, Worcester, or William H. Sumner, Boston.

The committee held their first meeting at Coolidge's Tavern in Worcester, the following April. Work was immediately begun, and on 9 October, 1809, in a notice calling for an assessment the proprietors were notified that the road was finished and the toll-houses erected.

By the act of incorporation the company was authorized to erect four toll gates, in places not on any old road, which the committee should determine; but it was found, as the different sections of the road were completed, that it made such intersections with various old roads, that persons could easily travel on the turnpike a great part of the way, and avoid the toll gates; and the company was allowed to erect additional gates and subdivide the toll.

An act passed 16 March, 1805, established the following rates of toll on all turnpike roads within the State:

For each coach, chariot, phaeton, or other four-wheel spring carriage drawn

For every chaise, chair, sulkey or other carriage for pleasure, drawn by one horse,

For every cart, waggon or truck, drawn by one horse,

.12 .061

November, 1806.

1. Mrs. Thomas went to Worcester, with Levi in the Chariot.

3. Voted in Boston. Town of Worcester voted me thanks for the new street.1

For every man and horse,

.04

For every sleigh or sled, drawn by two oxen or horses,

.08

For each additional ox or horse,

.01

For every sleigh or sled, drawn by one horse,

.04

For all horses, mules or neat cattle, led or driven, besides those in teams or carriages, each,

.01

For all sheep or swine, per doz.,

.03

The corporation might commute these rates by taking a certain sum annually, and carts or waggons having wheels, the fellies of which were six inches broad or more, paid only half the regular toll.

Unless these rates were posted in a conspicuous place at each gate, no toll could be collected.

The act exempted from toll "any person that shall be passing on foot, or with his horse or carriage to or from his usual place of public worship, or from any person passing on military duty, or from any person residing in the town where the gate may be placed, unless they are going or returning from beyond the limits of said town, or from any person going to or from any grist-mill, or on the common and ordinary business of family concerns."

In 1826, that part of the road lying in Roxbury was discontinued, and its eastern end was established at the arch near the Punchbowl Tavern in Brookline.

In 1841 the company surrendered its charter and the road was maintained by the different towns through which it passed. After much opposition, the section in Worcester [the present Belmont street], was accepted by the town, 1 May, 1843.

"At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Worcester Qualified to Vote in Town affairs legally warned & assembled at the meeting House of the first Parish in Said Town on Monday the third day of November A. D. 1806 then the following Votes were passed viz-Chose Samuel Flagg Esq. Moderator.

"Voted that the Town do approve and allow of a Town way or Street laid out by the Selectmen through the land of Isaiah Thomas Esqr. & Capt. Daniel Heywood by the Name of Thomas Street and Voted that the Thanks of the Town be given to Isaiah Thomas Esqr. for his Generosity in giving the land for Said Street and building the bridge and making the Street in Complete repair to be travelled on without any Expence to the Town, the report of the Selectmen is as followsThe Selectmen of the Town of Worcester have laid out a Town way or Street through the lands of Isaiah Thomas Esquire & a Small Strip belonging to Capt. Daniel Heywood from the main Street to back (Summer) Street near the centre of the Town on the North Side of the bounds following, Beginning at the North

7. Struck with rheumatism in my back. Mary Thomas, jun' her Daughters, Mary & Frances came from Worcester in the Coachee with Levi.

8. Confined with Rheumatism.

9. Mary & Frances & their mother dined with me.

10. Went out after 3 days' confinement. My son & Rev. Mr Bancroft came from Worcester.

1

west Corner of the House lot lately Sold by Isaiah Thomas to William Rice, on the East Side of the main Street, in a line ranging the front Sides of the Houses of Elnathan Pratt & Said William Rice, at a Stake which is more than thirty Six feet South of the South west corner of Said Pratts House, because the Same does not Stand Square with the Street now laid out, thence running East Nine degrees North to the Canal, the Said Street being thirty Six feet wide to the canal, then turning Southwardly down the Canal, one foot, then crossing the Canal on the Same direction of the Street, that is, East Nine North So as to make the bridge thirty Eight feet wide, thence turning down the Canal on the East Side one more foot Southwardly, thence again Nine degrees North till it comes to back Street, being forty feet wide from the East Side of the Canal to Back Street, the Said Street running four Rods & five links & an half through the land of Capt. Daniel Heywood on the East part where it comes to back Street, the Selectmen gave him Seasonable Notice & he consented to the laying out of Said Street Isaiah Thomas Esquire was also present & consented to the laying out of the Same, and considering that he offered, & has given the land to the Town for a Street & also built a Bridge over Said canal and presented the Same to the Town hand Somely constructed & in good repair and by raising Said Street on the middle & carting gravel thereupon has offered up the whole in complete condition to be travelled on, the Selectmen have agreed to present the Same to the Town for their approbation and allowance by the Name of Thomas Street.

1 Aaron Bancroft, the son of Samuel and Lydia Parker Bancroft of Reading, Mass., entered Harvard in 1774, and when the college was closed in the following year on account of the outbreak of the war, worked upon his father's farm, and later marched to the relief of Cambridge with the Reading minute-men. After his graduation in 1778 he taught the town school in Cambridge for a few months, and then prepared for the ministry with Rev. Mr. Haven of Reading, beginning to preach in the autumn of 1779.

In 1780 he received an invitation to visit Nova Scotia, and having obtained permission from the Executive Council to leave the state, he lived in that province for three years and preached in various places. He returned in 1783, landing at