52 



at the warm reception and kind attention extended by the citizens. 

 These meetings were fraught with valualale information, and he hoped 

 they would long continue to exert their salutary influence. 



The venerable Dr. J. Spoffokd of Groveland, gave some interest- 

 ing reminiscences from his own recollections of the earlier history 

 of Topsfield and vicinity, and alluded to the Capen house which had 

 attracted so much attention during the former part of the day. He 

 then gave a genealogical history of the Capen family, and a descrip- 

 tion of the house occupied by them, now some two hundred years old, 

 and named some of its occupants Avho had become somewhat famous 

 in local history. He said that he was somewhat puzzled to know why 

 they built the second story Avith a projection, and also Avith a higher 

 stud than the lower. 



Mr. Charles H. Holmes explained the projection as being the 

 style of architecture prevailing in Holland, Avhence the builders of this 

 house emigrated, and said that it was out of respect to their Dutch 

 proclivities that they introduced the practice here. 



Dr. Spofkord thought that explanation might do pretty well, but he 

 Avanted to know Avhy the Dutch built in that style. 



Mr. WiLLLVM B. Trask of Dorchester, editor of the "Genealogical 

 Register," read the inscription on the tombstone of Rev. Mr. Capen 

 for Avhom the Capen house is named, and gave an historical sketch of 

 the Capen family, and traced its connection Avith an ancient Dorches- 

 ter fjimily of that name. 



Mr. Samuel Todd of Tospfield, differed from Mr. Hyatt in his 

 opinion (expressed during the early part of the meeting) that the dis- 

 integrated rock Avas an original bed. He had had much experience 

 among the rocks in this viciuitj^, and said one could not dig anyAvhere 

 in the village deeper than from nine to tAvelve feet Avilhout getting 

 water. This, AAith the fact that he had taken sand from under parts 

 of this bed, led him to believe that this rock was deposited here, and 

 that the drift period Avas the agency that formed the town of Tops- 

 field. 



Mr. Hyatt complimented Mr. Todd, by saying he'wished the Insti- 

 tute could meet with more of such men at their meetings, and also 

 remarked that it Avas rare to find so many men as they had met Avith 

 here, Avell versed in geology. Nevertheless, he Avas confident that Mr. 

 Todd Avas in error in his supposition that this mass drifted hither, 

 and adhered to his proposition that this rock, in its general formation, 

 conformed to every rule Avhich marked the fixed rocks of adjacent 

 localities. 



The subject was continued briefly, by Mr. Nehemiah Cleaa'eland, 

 Avho coincided with the views advanced by Mr. Hyatt regarding the 

 character of the rock. 



