Editing Medford, Massachusetts (section)

===17th century===
Medford was settled in 1630 by English colonists as part of [[Charlestown, Boston|Charlestown]], of the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]]. The settlement was originally called "Mistick" by [[Thomas Dudley]], based on the [[Massachusett language|Massachusett]] name for [[Mystic River|the area's river]]. Thomas Dudley's party renamed the settlement "Meadford".<ref>History of the Town of Medford, p. 30</ref> The name may have come from a description of the "[[meadow]] by the [[ford (river)|ford]]" in the Mystic River, or from two locations in England that Cradock may have known: the hamlet of Mayford or Metford in [[Staffordshire]] near [[Caverswall]], or from the parish of Maidford or Medford (now [[Towcester]], Northamptonshire).<ref name="History of Middlesex County, p. 158">History of Middlesex County, p. 158</ref> In 1634, the land north of the Mystic River was developed as the private plantation of [[Matthew Cradock]], a former governor. Across the river was [[Ten Hills Farm]], which belonged to [[John Winthrop]], Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony.<ref>History of the Town of Medford, p. 39</ref>
[[File:Cradock Bridge stone.jpg|thumb|A stone with the dates of the early Cradock Bridge in Medford]]
In 1637, the first bridge (a [[toll bridge]]) across the Mystic River was built at the site of the present-day Cradock Bridge, which carries Main Street into Medford Square.<ref name="patch">{{cite web|last=Bencks |first=Jarret |url=http://medford.patch.com/articles/cradock-bridge-to-be-replaced-in-2012-or-2013 |title=Cradock Bridge to Be Replaced in 2012 or 2013 – Medford, MA Patch |work=Medford.patch.com |publisher=AOL Inc. |date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> It would be the only bridge across the Mystic until 1787, and as such became a major route for traffic coming into Boston from the north (though ferries and fords were also used).<ref name="mhs" /> The bridge would be rebuilt in 1880, 1909, and 2018.<ref name="patch" />

Until 1656, all of northern Medford was owned by Cradock, his heirs, or Edward Collins. Medford was governed as a "peculiar" or private plantation. As the land began to be divided among several people from different families, the new owners began to meet and make decisions locally and increasingly independently from the Charlestown town meeting. In 1674, a Board of Selectmen was elected; in 1684, the colonial legislature granted the ability to raise money independently; and in 1689, a representative to the legislature was chosen. The town got its religious meeting room in 1690 and a secular meeting house in 1696.<ref name="mhs">{{cite web|url=http://www.medfordhistorical.org/medford-history/about-medford/a-peculiar-plantation-17th-century-medford/|title=A Peculiar Plantation: 17th Century Medford – Medford Historical Society & Museum|website=medfordhistorical.org|date=February 22, 2013 }}</ref>

In 1692, the town engaged its first ordained preacher, Rev. [[John Hancock Sr.]]. During his time of service, Rev. Hancock lived in Medford, serving until November 1693. One of his grandsons was [[John Hancock]], who was a later notable figure of the American Revolutionary War and later elected as first and third governor of Massachusetts.<ref name="mhs" /><ref name=hooper62>{{cite book|author=John H. Hooper|title=Proceedings of the Celebration of the Two Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the Settlement of Medford, Massachusetts, June, Nineteen Hundred and Five: Prefaced by a Brief History of the Town and City from the Day of Settlement|url=https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofcel02hoop|access-date=September 21, 2017|year=1906|publisher=Executive Committee|page=[https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofcel02hoop/page/62 62]}}</ref>