The Reverend Dr. Tuckerman was settled over the parish, which included the whole township, in 1801, and for a quarter of a century ministered to the people of an almost stationary community.  During that time, only three new buildings were erected; and they were built to replace as many torn down.

In 1802, the Chelsea Bridge was built, to form a part of the turnpike (Broadway) leading from Charlestown to Salem.  Before that time, the only way to reach Boston from Chelsea, with a loaded team, was through Malden, Medford, Cambridge, and Roxbury, over the Neck, requiring a whole day to make the journey.

As late as 1830, Winnisimmet was of no importance except as a market-garden and thoroughfare.  Of the seven hundred and seventy-one inhabitants of Chelsea, but thirty lived within the present limits of the city.  The original Bellingham subdivisions were known as the Cary, Carter, Shurtleff, and Williams Farms, and were owned and occupied by those families.  Three years previously, in 1827, the general government had secured possession of the hospital reservation, which it still occupies.  About 1831, the value of Winnisimmet as the site for a future city became apparent, and a land company was formed, which secured the Shurtleff and Williams Farms, and laid out a very attractive city—­on paper.

The ferry accommodations at this date consisted of two sailboats of about forty tons each.  During the following summer the steam ferry-boats, Boston and Chelsea, were put on the line, and increased the value of property in Chelsea.  These boats were the first of the kind to navigate the waters of Boston Harbor.

In 1832, John Low built the first store, at the corner of Broadway and Everett Avenue, and was the pioneer merchant of the city.  The newcomers, known to the older inhabitants as “roosters,” settled principally in the neighborhood of the landing.  So many came, that in 1840 there were in the town twenty-three hundred and ninety inhabitants.  In 1832, the omnibus, “North Ender,” commenced running from Chelsea Ferry landing to Boylston Market; the fare was twelve and one-half cents.  The “Governor Brooks,” the first ’bus in Boston, had been running about a week before.  It was twenty years later when an omnibus line was established for the convenience of the village.

[Illustration:  First Baptist Church.  Gerrish’s Block.  First M.E.  Church, Winnisimmet Congregational Church.  Park Street.  JUNCTION OF PARK AND WINNISIMMET STREETS—­1859.]

To town meetings at Rumney Marsh the settlers at the landing had to tramp to vote on questions affecting the town.  Right bravely would they attend to their duties as citizens, to find their efforts of no avail on account of the sharp practices of their neighbors of the Marsh and Point, who would reverse their action at an adjourned meeting.  At length, in overwhelming numbers, they assembled once upon a time, and voted a new Town House, near the site of the present Catholic church.  As a consequence, North Chelsea was set off in 1846, and Chelsea shrank to its present boundaries.  In 1850, notwithstanding the loss of so large an extent of territory, Chelsea numbered sixty-seven hundred and one inhabitants.  Seven years later, in 1857, the town was granted a city charter; it was divided into four wards, and Colonel Francis B. Fay was inaugurated the first mayor.