Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 27, 2024 ~ 375th Anniversary of Malden’s Incorporation as a Town ~ Joseph Hills, lawmaker of the Mass. Bay Colony and “godfather” of Malden By Inna Babitskaya B esides writing the laws, Joseph Hills represented Charlestown in the General Court in 1646–47. He was chosen Speaker of the House of Deputies. Also, he was elected as a captain of the town militia. In 1647, Hills moved to the large farm in the north part of the town, Mystic Side, near the Mystic River. He purchased the 20 acres of Thomas Ruck and a portion of Thomas Coytmore’s lot on each side of the Salem Path, which was a woodland. He built there a house and another one on the Salem Path near the present Sprague Street. This part of Charlestown began to be quickly populated, and two years later, in 1649, the question arose about forming a new town. It was incorporated after the separation from Charlestown. For his services as an outstanding member of the community, Hills was given the honor of naming it. He chose the name Malden for the Mystic Side, after the English Maldon, where he lived before the immigration. Thus, he became the Malden’s “godfather,” and his name forever remained in the memory of descendants. Joseph Hills was active in many aspects of colonial life. Thus, in 1648, he was the first of a committee of four members that changed the location of the highway between Winnesemet (Chelsea) and Redding. In 1650, he became a member of a committee that had to draw up instructions for the Mass. Bay delegates for the meeting of the commissioners of all the colonies. In 1653, he was one of six members of a committee that should consider whether the United Colonies have power by the articles of agreement to engage the colonies in war. Also, he was one of the colonial asJoseph Hills’ signature Waitt’s Mount Magistrate, 17th century sistants and an auditor of Treasury accounts in 1650, 1653 and 1661. Joseph Hills was a known philanthropist and contributed to the Harvard Library. In 1650–56 and 1660–64, Hills represented Malden in the General Court. Hills’ traditions were also actively supported by the members of his family. From 1666 till 1684, his son-in-law, Capt. John Wayte/Waite (1618– when seven of his children and grandchildren died. For a long period of time, JoMap of Malden 1693), who was married to Hills’ daughter Mary, succeeded him in the General Court. Wayte was a nephew of the Rev. Nathaniel Ward, whose “Body of Liberties” Joseph Hills used in his compilation of the first colonial laws. Wayte served as a Malden clerk and selectman for many years, captain of the trainband and commissioner to end small causes. One of Malden’s most famous landmarks, Waitt’s Mount, was named after him. Joseph Hills was married four times and had 18 children from his marriages, 13 of whom lived to adulthood. His first wife, Rose, died on March 24, 1650. On June 24, 1651, he married Hannah (Smith) Mellows, who died four years later. It was his third marriage that led to his violation of the colonial laws that he wrote years earlier and to his appearance before a grand jury. The early colonial regulations required that all marriages had to be solemnized by the magistrates. Being a magistrate “for the trial of small causes,” in 1656 Hills married himself to Helen Atkinson. While officiating his own marriage, Hills was following Governor Bellingham, who, in 1641, as a magistrate, married himself to Penelope Pelham and refused to plead to a complaint against himself. But, unlike Governor Bellingham, Hills freely acknowledged his offense and his misunderstanding and was admonished by the Court. After Helen’s death, in March 1665, Hills married Ann Lunt and moved to her home in Newbury, where he lived until his death. Over the years, Hills had to cope with many family tragedies, losing three of his wives and eight children. But 1674 was an especially hard year for him, seph Hills experienced serious health issues. Unfortunately, as was written in his petition to the General Court from May 24, 1682, “in the latter part of his pilgrimage” he was “totally” bereaved of “the sight of his eyes for more than 4 years now past.” In his petition, Joseph Hills summarized the results of his community service: “Your petitioner had not been backward to his ability to be serviceable with his person and estate to the commonwealth; for besides other ordinary services, it pleased the court to make him one of the county committees to draw up some orders necessary for the country.” Hills petitioned to be freed “from all public assessments to the country, county, (and secular things for the town if it may be) for my infirm person and little estate now left, during the remaining part of my pilgrimage in this vale of tears.” Joseph Hills died at Newbury on February 5, 1688. Joseph Hills left a significant trace in the history of Malden and Massachusetts and can be rightfully considered one of the main heroes of Malden’s 375th anniversary. Among his descendants there were noted poets Ralph Waldo Emerson and Emily Dickinson, playwright Tennessee Williams, First Lady Lucretia Garfield, suffragist Lucy Stone, animator and film producer Walt Disney, chef Julia Child, choreographer Martha Graham, Hollywood stars Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Clint Eastwood, Anthony Perkins and Oliver Platt, and many others. To be continued… (Inna Babitskaya is a Malden historian, member of Malden Historical Commission and author of historical books “From Maldon to Malden,” “Time of Converse” and “Fellsmere Park – Emerald of Malden.”)
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