3rd Privilege at Mother Brook

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The third privilege was developed in 1682 as a fulling mill by Jonathan Fairbanks and James Draper. The dam was located at the place where Sawmill Lane now crosses Mother Brook. The third privilege remained in the Whiting family for almost two centuries until it was sold to the incorporators of Merchant’s Woolen Company in 1863. A saw and grist mill were both operated at the third privilege until the premises were vacated in 1885. Prior to this, a corn mill had operated on Mother Brook for over 240 years.

[1] Worthington, 4.

Images

1795 map of Mother Brook showing the four privileges (dam locations) in Dedham along Mother Brook.

Mill Village, known in later years as Hartnett Square and East Dedham Square. This map also shows Mother Brook identified as Mill Creek.

Sketch of an early saw mill on this site.

1868 photo of the saw mill at this location.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The third privilege was developed in 1682 as a fulling mill by Jonathan Fairbanks and James Draper. The town granted the men permission to move forward but only if Nathanial Whiting was made a partner. This was done to avoid any conflicts with mill owners and the right to water as a source of power. The dam was located near this spot where Sawmill Lane now crosses Mother Brook.

The third privilege remained in the Whiting family for almost two centuries until it was sold to the incorporators of Merchant’s Woolen Company in 1863.

A second mill pond was formed south of the third privilege. The area near Sawmill Lane was the site of two wood-framed mills, a sawmill and a grist mill, until the beginning of the 20^th century under the management of Charles C. Sanderson until 1868 and then by the Goding Brothers who vacated the premises in 1885. Prior to this, a corn mill had operated on Mother Brook for over 240 years.

The third and fourth privileges were merged in the late 19^th century into one fall at the fourth privilege. The land was purchased by J. Eugene Cochrane of the Cochrane Manufacturing Company in 1894 along with the buildings and land at the fourth privilege. According to Erastus Worthington the land around Sawmill Lane was “filled in” prior to 1900 and no traces remain of the former industrial site.

Sources

Smith, Frank. A History of Dedham, Massachusetts, Dedham, MA: The Transcript Press, 1936.

Worthington, Erastus. Historical Sketch of Mother Brook Dedham, MA: Compiled from various records and papers, showing the diversion of a portion of the Charles River into the Neponset River and the Manufactures on the Stream From 1639 to 1900. Dedham, MA: Press of C. G. Wheeler, 1900