The William Bowditch House

Thomas Aspinwall Davis* built this house as part of his development of Linden Place in 1844-45. William Ingersoll Bowditch purchased it in 1845. It was his residence until he moved to Tappan Street in 1867. Bowditch was active in Brookline politics and was a Selectman and Town Meeting Moderator for a number of years. He was an outspoken believer in the abolition of slavery. He belonged to the Boston Vigilance Committee, a group formed to prevent the capture of free slaves by slave catchers and Federal agents after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act. William and Ellen Craft, escaped slaves on their way to freedom, stayed at 9 Toxteth St. and spoke at Brookline Town Hall. Another time, Bowditch drove a slave from the brig Cameo in Boston Harbor to a house in Concord was home in time for breakfast. John Brown's son was hidden at 9 Toxteth after the execution of his father as a result of his participation in the famous raid on Harper's Ferry.  As an elected official in the Town, he proposed a motion in Town Meeting that would "memorialize" the State legislature to give women the vote; the motion was soundly defeated  Bowditch refused to participate in national elections because of slavery.

* Davis was Mayor of Boston

9 Toxteth St. on a map.