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Gc 974.402 D36sm 1786181
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
G C
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01115 0692
E
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019
https://archive.org/details/historyofdedhamm00smit
A History
of
Dedham, Massachusetts
By Frank Smith
Vice-President Dedham Historical Society Former President Bay State Historical League
DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS THE TRANSCRIPT PRESS, INC. 1936
1
193
1
xeroxed 1974
7.86181
THE FAIRBANKS HOUSE
rataa:
A History of Dedham, Massachusetts
1442 82
Smith, Frank, 1854-
-
A history of Dedham, Massachusetts, by Frank Smith
.. Dedham, Mass., The Transcript press, inc., 1936.
6 p. 1., [3]-513, (7) p. front., plates, maps (1 fold.) facsims. 231cm.
"Names of officers and men who represented Dedham in the revolu. tionary war 1775-1783": p. 463-466.
"Roster of officers and men who represented Dedham in the civil war": p. 488-492.
"Roster of officers and men and women who represented Dedham in the world war 1917-191S": p. 510-514.
1. Dedham, Mass, -- Hist. 2. U. S. - Ilist. - Revolution - Registers, lists, etc. 3. U. S .- Hist .- Civil war-Registers, lists, etc. 4. European war. 1914-191S -- Registers, lists, etc. I. Title.
36-23569
Library of Congress
F74.D3S6
- Copy 2.
H 6838
Copyright A 100031
974.47
CHELF CARD [3]
H6838
FOREWORD
This history is the author's contribution to the Ter- centenary of Dedham. When the manuscript was placed in the hands of the publishers it was found to far exceed the limits of a single volume; so the process of elimina- tion was applied which cut out many pages including anecdotes and tradition which had been given to enliven the work. It is a pleasure to record the hearty co-opera- tion of the many who have assisted in various ways in the publication of this volume. The manuscript was read by Julius H. Tuttle, whose accurate historical knowledge has added to the value of its pages. Acknowledgment is also made to Earl W. Pilling, who reviewed the part relating to town affairs. To Miss Elizabeth Humphreys the author is indebted for many courtesies and much re- search work. For many pictures, from which illustra- tions have been made, acknowledgment is made to Ross W. Baker. The illustrations of the First Meeting-house and the First School-house are after paintings by Charles E. Mills and are a direct contribution to this volume.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I
The Beginning of the Plantation .
3
II Town Officers . 22
III Development of the Town 30
IV
Town Ordinances
36
V Meeting House 48
VI Ecclesiastical History 60
VII Parishes
104
VIII
Education
117
IX Cemeteries 144
X Domestic Life in the Colonial Home 152
XI Taverns 165
XII Roads and Bridges 179
XIII John Eliot, The Regicides, the Acadians . 206
XIV
Funds held in Trust by the Town of Dedham
for various purposes
216
XV Dedham Enterprises 226
XVI
Manufacturing
XVII
Dedham Institutions
272
XVIII
Indian Life in Dedham and her Parishes
294
XIX Town Celebrations
307
XX Music 324
XXI Dedham Clubs and Associations 333
XXII The Professions 361
XXIII Town Affairs 382
XXIV Early Wars 423
XXV Revolution and Later Wars 434
XXVI Civil and Spanish Wars 474
XXVII World War 496
XXVIII Miscellaneous 515
XXIX Norfolk County 533
--
1
249
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
The Fairbanks House
Frontispiece
Original Dedham Territory 6
Facsimiles of Signatures of Early Settlers
7, 14, 15.
Plan of House Lots as Originally Assigned First Meeting House
48
Meeting House of the First Church
49
Group of Churches 62,
63
Parish Meeting Houses 106
West Dedham Pound, Built About 1700 107
First School House and Watch Tower 118
School Tablet Erected by the Commonwealth 119
Ames School 126
Dedham High School
127
Group of School Buildings
140,
141
Oakdale School
143
Brookdale Cemetery
144
. Dedham Village Cemetery
145
Norfolk House
166
Phoenix Hotel
166
Bride's Tavern 167
South Dedham Tavern 176
Springfield Parish Tavern
176
Ellis Tavern, West Dedham
177
East Street
180
Court Street
181
The Great Causeway 190
High Street 191
Roger's Group, The Apostle Eliot 208
A Dedham Road That the Apostle Eliot Travelled 209
The Grist Mill 250
The Saw Mill 251
Old Stone Mill
254
Neponset River
255
Public Library
274
Community House
275
The First Post Office 280
Dedham Federal Post Office 281
Dedham Historical Society 290
Memorial Seat at the Landing Place
291
20
Illustrations Continued
296
Noanet Brook
Charles River
297
Dedham in 1795
384
Dedham in 1817
385
The Avery Oak
424
Powder House
424
Training Field
425
Pillar of Liberty
436
Inscription on Pillar of Liberty 437
Memorial Hall 484
Company I, at Readville, 1862
485
Monument to Soldiers Who Died at Readville
492
One Arch Bridge 493
496
American Legion Post House
497
U. S. S. Jacob Jones Post House
497
Military Parade, World War, 1916
508
World War Memorial 509
Norfolk County Court House
536
Registry of Deeds
537
Entrance to Dugout in France
A History of Dedham, Massachusetts
i
-
-
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
CHAPTER I
THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANTATION
THE General Court of Massachusetts, September 3, 1635, 1
ordered that a plantation be set up about two miles above the falls of Charles River. The following year a little company at Watertown eager to make the settlement sent the following peti- tion to the General Court for the ratification and enlargement of their former grant:
THE PETICION
1 May it please this Honourd Court to Ratifie vnto your humble petitioners your grante formerly made of a Plantacion aboue the Falls that we may posesse all that Land which is left out of all former grants vpon that side of Charles Riuer. And vpon the other side five miles square. To haue and enjoye all those Lands Meadowes. Woodes and other grounds. together with all the Waters and other benifits what so euer now being or that may be within the Compasse of the afore said Limits to vs with our ascociats and our assignes for euer.
2 To be freed from all Countrey Charges for foure yeares. And millitarye excercises to be onely in our owne Towne except som extraordinary occasion Require it
3 That such distribution or Alottmts of Lands Meadowes woods &c within our said limits as ar done and pformed by the Grantees their successors or such as shall be deputed there vnto: Shall and may stand for good assureance vnto the seuerall posessors ther of and thier assignes for euer
4 That we may haue Countenance from this Honoured Courte for the well ordering of the Nonage of our scocietie according to the best rule. And to that purpose to assigne vnto vs a Constable that may regard peace and trueth.
5 To distinguish our Towne by the name of Contentment or otherwise what you shall please.
6 And lastly we intreate such other helps as your Wisdoms shall knowe best in favour to grante vnto vs for our well empveing of what we ar thus entrusted withall vnto our
1
4
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
pticular but especially vnto the genrall good of this whole weale publike in succeeding times.
Subscribed by all that haue vnder written in Covent at [prst]
1636 The 10th of ye 7 Moneth this Peticion was published in a full Genrall Court and granted as followeth: vizt:
1 That this Plantacion shall haue 3 yeares Immunitie from publike charges
2 That our Towne shall beare the name of Dedham
3 All the rest of ye Peticion fully granted by genrall voate. freely and cheerefully with out any exception at all where vpon this short Order was drawen vp and Recorded by ye Secretary Mr Bradstreete
Ordered yt the Plantacion to be setled aboue Charles Riuer shall haue. 3 yeares. Immunitie from publike Charges. as Concord had. to be accounted from the first of Maye next. and the name of the said Plantacion is to be Dedham.
To inioye all that Land on the Easterly and southerly side of Charles Riuer. not formerly Granted. vnto any Towne or pticular pson. And allso to haue 5 miles square on ye other side of the River
This Draught: or Tract of our Plantation. being prsented vnto the Court Genrall. after publishing of our Peticion. It pleased the said Court. by a full consent. to grante our said Towne of Dedham to extend euery waye according to the same forme there in Delineated. without any contradiction at all made of. or concerning the same. being viewed by the whole Courte.
The number of signers to this petition, all of whom had pre- viously signed the Covenant, has been stated, in one case as nineteen and in another as twenty-two, but in fact the petition bore the signature of twenty-five, all of whom took part in the deliberations of one or more of the first three meetings of the Society. The names of the signers are as follows:
Edward Alleyn Nicholas Philips
John Ellis
Abraham Shawe John Kingsbury
Lambert Generye
Samuel Morse John Gaye
Ezekiell Holleman
Philemon Dalton John Rogers
Joseph Shaw
John Dwite Francis Austen
William Bearstowe
Richard Euered Daniell Morse
John Haward
Rafe Shepheard Joseph Morse
Thomas Bartlett
John Coolidge
John Huggen
Thomas Hastings
Robert Feke
The prayer of the petitioners was granted except in regard to the name of the town which was changed to Dedham and the years of immunity from taxes, to three instead of four. Of the twenty-
-
5
THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANTATION
five founders of the town only a few of them were long identified with the plantation, a majority of whom either remained in Water- town, or settled in other places. The permanent Dedham settlers are believed to be:
Edward Alleyn Lambert Generye
John Haward
Richard Evered
John Gaye
John Dwite
John Kingsbury
Joseph Morse
In 1637 the company received important accession in its princi- pal men who came here directly from England. Among them were John Allin John Luson Anthony Fisher Michael Metcalf
Joshua Fisher Eleazer Lusher*
Ralph Wheelock
The belief has been held that the name Dedham, ** was given at the suggestion of John Rogers and John Dwight, signers of the petition to the Court, who are believed to have come to America from Dedham, England. No reason appears for including in this honor John Page of Watertown, who had no connection with the Dedham settlement. Oscar Fay Adams, who has made a careful study of the history of Dedham, England, says, "No positively con- clusive evidence exists for the choice of Dedham, as a name for the Massachusetts locality, but it is taken for granted that among the first settlers John Dwight, John Page, and John Rogers came from the English town." The name may have been suggested by some member of the General Court, who had come to America from Dedham, England, and wished to perpetuate the name of his native town.
The grants of the General Court constituting the original terri- tory of Dedham, broadly speaking extended from Watertown, Roxbury and Dorchester on the north to what is now Rhode Island on the south and to ungranted lands on the west. The easterly bounds of Dedham originally extended to the bounds of the Ply- mouth Colony, but after a century the Towns of Stoughton (for- merly a part of new Dorchester) and Dedham, by mutual consent, carried the line to the Neponset River which has since remained the dividing line. The original territory before the new
* For biographical sketches of Major Lusher, Captain Daniel Fisher, and Captain Timothy Dwight, see Worthington's History, pages 49-52.
** As to the origin and meaning of the name Dedham we have it from the Canon Gerald H. Rendall who at this date is writing a history of Dedham, England, that the name appears first and in various early documents as Diddsham. It appears to have been named for a family called Did, or Didd. The only reference to the name Deiham (hamlet in the dell) is in the Dooms-day book, and since it does not appear else- where is considered to be an error.
1
6
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
Dorchester grant of 1637 constitutes the following towns* of today: Bellingham, Dedham, Dover, Franklin, Medfield, Natick, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Wren- tham, and parts of West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Medway, Canton, Foxborough, Stoughton (later in 1637 in the new Dorchester grant) were within the original territory .** As far as records show the first white child born on Dedham soil was Ruth, daughter of John and Annis Morse born June 3, 1637.
The General Court having previously granted to Samuel Dudley three hundred acres of meadow and upland within the Dedham grant this land was purchased by the town in 1636-7. The grant included the extensive tract of meadow early called "Purchase Meadow" between Charles River and Washington Street, also a portion of the upland near Dwight's Brook which was early used as a cow pasture. The fact that Samuel Dudley sought and ob- tained this land before the Dedham grant shows the importance at that time, of meadow land in prospective settlements. On the vast territory of the Dedham grant, the plantation was set up here because of the meadows and uplands near the river for the susten- ance of herds and for planting. Readville, part of Green Lodge, and Purgatory Plain were a part of the estate of Israel Stoughton and of his son, Lieut. Gov. William Stoughton, and with the incor- poration of ancient Stoughton in 1726 became a part of that town. The inconvenience of being citizens of Stoughton was so great that on November 29, 1732 James Draper, Henry Crane, Robert Swan, Jeremiah Whiting, John Eaton, Ebenezer Draper, and Thomas Witherly petitioned the General Court "that they with their families and estates may be set off from Stoughton and an- nexed to Dedham." This request was granted and on May 14, 1733 the above territory became a part of Dedham.
Present Dedham has an area of 10.5 square miles, and is bounded on the north by Boston, (West Roxbury), on the south by Westwood, on the east by Boston, (Hyde Park), and Canton; and on the west by Needham. Dedham square is 112 feet above the level of the sea while the highest elevation in the town is 300 feet above sea level. Of the 6,906 acres which comprise the town, ap-
* The incorporated towns set off from Dedham are, Medfield 1651; Wrentham 1673; Needham 1711; Bellingham 1719; Walpole 1724; Dover 1784; Norwood 1872 ; Westwood 1897. 1
** Both Worthington and Mann refer to several thousand acres of the Dedhanı grant located in Sherborn. Extensive search, however, has failed to find any record of this land.
RIVER
WEL LESLEY ING 1881
-E
NEEDHAM
-
NATICK
INCI711
ING1659
1784
INC 1836
DEDHAM INVILÃO
DOVER
INC 1897
WESTLogo
....
NORWOOD
INC 1651
ING 18/72
INC 1724
MILLIS
WAL POLE
IN61915
MEDWAY
NORFOLK
INCI 870
FRANKON
ING 1778
BELLINGHAM
WRENTHAM INC 1673
INC n/a
PLAINVILLE
RHODE ISLAND
INC 1005
ORIGINAL DEDHAM TERRITORY
-
Thomas alcocf about 1655
- 1676 Edwardffern 1638 To: Allin about 1640 Grillam ,658
Avery
John Bacon: 1678
Glorija Barbur 1670
Tho: Battito 1673
1676 .
165$
Gickery 1612
Mathanes colbarn 1676 EJamog girayos 1662- ;
Timothy Brought 1670
Solu Eason 1649
BEand Olive 16.72
James fases: 1662
FACSIMILES OF SIGNATURES OF EARLY SETTLERS
7
THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANTATION
proximately 1,470 acres, or 20% of its total area, is swamp land of which 184 acres are under water. At the point of the flag staff on the Court House, Dedham has a latitude of 42° 14' 55.499" and a longitude of 71° 10' 35.896". The population of Dedham is 15,371 by the census of 1935. The present assessed valuation of the town is $25,202,000.
Prof. Irving B. Crosby writing of the geological foundation of Dedham in his geological study of Greater Boston says: Granite, diorite and felsite predominate here and many out-crops of these rocks may be found. Most of the area east of Washington Street is covered by an undulating sand plain with many kettle holes and eskers. Attention may be called to the very circuitous course of Charles River caused by its displacement from its original channel by the ice sheet. On East Street a little west of Canton Street, and just over the line in Westwood is the northern end of a large esker which extends southward across Everett Street in Norwood. Dedham Pink Granite is a handsome building stone from which many beautiful buildings have been built including Trinity Church in Boston, and St. Mary's Church in Dedham.
THE COVENANT*
1 We whose names ar here vnto subscribed doe in the feare and Reuerence of our Allmightie God, Mutually: and gen- erally pmise amongst our selves and each to other to pffesse and practice one trueth according to that most pfect rule, founda- cion where of is Euerlasting Loue:
2 That we shall by all meanes Laboure to keepe of from vs all such as ar contrarye minded. And receaue onely such vnto vs as be such as may be pbably of one harte, with vs, as that we either knowe or may well and truely be informed to walke in a peaceable conuersation with all meckenes of spirit for the edification of each other in the knowledg and faith of the Lord Jesus: And the Mutuall encouragmt vnto all Tempor- all comforts in all things, seekeing the good of each other, out of all which may be deriued true Peace.
3 That if at any time difference shallarise betwene pties of our said Towne, that then such ptie and pties shall prsonlly Reserve all such difference vnto som one 2 or 3 others of our said Societie to be fully accorded and determined without any further delaye. if it possibly may bee:
4 That every man that now or at any time heareafter shall haue Lotts in our said Towne shall paye his share in all
* The Covenant is in the handwriting of Edward Alleyn who is believed to have heen its author.
n
8
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
such Rates of money and charges as shall be imposed vpon him Rateably in pportion with other men. As allso become freely sub- iect vnto all such orders and constitutions as shall be necessar- iely had or made now or at any time heere after from this daye fore warde as well for loveing and confortable Societie in our said Towne as allso for the psperous and thriveing condition of our said fellowshipe, especially respecting the feare of God in which we desire to begine and continue. whatso euer we shall by his Loveing fauoure take in hand.
5 And for the better manefestation of our true resolution heere in euery man so receaued to subscribe heere vnto his name. thereby obligeing both him self and his successors after him for euer as we have done.
Names subscribed to the Convenant as shown in the printed volume of Dedham records.
Robert: Feke
Robert: Hinsdell
Thomas: Jordan
Edward: Alleyn
John Luson
Joshua: Fisher
Samuell: Morse
John: Fisher
Christopher Smith
Philemon Dalton
Thomas: Fisher
John Thurston
John: Dwight
Joseph Kingsberye
Joseph Clarke
Lambert: Generye
John Batchelor
Richard: Euered
Nathaniell Coaleburne
Thomas: Eames Peter Woodward Thwaits Strickland
John: Huggin
Martin Philips
John: Guild
Ralph: Wheelock
Henry Smyth
Samuell Bulleyne
Thomas Cakebread
John: Fraerye
Robert Gowen
Henry: Philips
Thomas Hastings
Hugh Stacey
Timothie Dalton
Francis Chickering
George: Barber
Thomas Carter
Thomas: Alcock
James Jordan
Abraham Shawe
William: Bullard
Nathaniell Whiteing
John Coolidge
Jonas Humphrey Edward Kempe
Richard: Ellice
John: Gaye
John Hunting
Austen: Kalen
John Kingsbery
Tymothie Dwight
Robert: Ware
John Rogers
Henry: Deengaine
Thomas: Fuller
Francis Austen
Henry Brocke
Thomas: Payne
Exekiell Holleman
James: Hering
John: Fayerbanke
Joseph Shawe
Nathan Aldus
Henry Glover
William: Bearstowe
Edward Richards
Thomas Hering John Plimpton George Fayerbanke
Ferdinandoe Adams
Michaell: Bacon
Tymoth Dwight Andr: Duein
Daniell: Morse
Robert Onion
Samuell Milles
Joseph Ellice
John Ellice
Edward Colver
Ralph Freeman
Jonathan Fayerbanke
Thomas Bayes
Joh: Rice
John: Eaton
George Bearstowe
John: Bullard Thomas: Leader
Danll Ponde John Hovghton Jonathan Fayerbanke Jur: James Vales
Anthony: Fisher
Jeffery Mingeye
Thomas Metcalfe
Thomas: Wight
James: Allin
Robert Crossman
Eleazer: Lusher
Richard Barber
William Avery
Thomas: Bartlet
John Elderskine
John: Howard
Michaell Powell
Joseph: Morse
Michaell Metcalfe John Morse John Allin
Joseph Moyes
Benjanine Smith
Nicholas Philips
John: Roper
Ralph: Shepheard
9
THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANTATION
John Aldus John: Mason
John Partridge James Draper
Isaac Bullard
James Thrope
Cornelus Fisher
Samuell Fisher
B Benjamin Bullard Ellice W Woode Thomas Fisher
At a Court of Assistants held in Boston, April 1, 1634, it was ordered that every man of or above the age of twenty years, who had been or might hereafter be a resident in the jurisdiction the space of six months, and not infranchised, should take the follow- ing oath, and upon refusal a second time to be banished.
THE RESIDENT'S OATH. I DOE heare sweare, and call God to witnes, that, being nowe an inhabitant within the lymitts of this jurisdiccon of the Massachusetts, I doe acknowledge myselfe lawfully subiect to the aucthoritie and gouermt there estab- lished, and doe accordingly submitt my pson, family, and estate, to be ptected, ordered, & gouerned by the lawes & constitucons thereof, and doe faithfully pmise to be from time to time obedient and conformeable therevnto, and to the aucthoritie of the Gounr, & all other magistrates there, and their successrs, and to all such lawes, orders, sentences, & decrees, as nowe are or hereafter shalbe lawfully made, decreed, & published by them or their success™s. And I will alwayes indeavr (as in duty I am bound) to advance the peace & wellfaire of this body pollitique, and I will (to my best power & meanes) seek to devert & prevent whatsoeuer may tende to the ruine or damage thereof, or of ye Gounr, Deputy Gounr, or Assistants, or any of them or their successrs, and will giue speedy notice to them, or some of them, of any sedicon, violence, treacherie, or othr hurte or euill wch I shall knowe, heare, or vehemently suspect to be plotted or intended against them or any of them, or against the said Comon-wealth or goumt established. Soe helpe mee God.
THE FREEMAN'S OATH. Being the first sheet of printed matter to issue from the press at Cambridge in 1639.
I, A, B., being, by Gods providence, an inhabitant & ffreeman within the jurisdiccon of this comonweale doe freely acknow- ledge my selfe to be subject to the government thereof & there- fore doe heere sweare, by the greate & dreadfull name of the euerlyveing God, that I wilbe true & faithfull to the same, & will accordingly yeilde assistance & support therevnto, with my pson & estate, as in equity I am bound, & will also truely indeavr to mainetaine & preserue all the libertyes & previlidges thereof, submitting my selfe to the wholesome lawes & orders made & established by the same; and furthr, that I will not plott nor practise any evill against it, nor consent to any that shall soe doe, but will timely discover & reveale the same to lawfull
-
1
10
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
aucthority nowe here established, for the speedy preventing thereof. Moreouer, I doe solemly bynde my myselfe, in the sight of God, that when I shalbe called to giue my voice touching any such matter of this state, wherein ffreemen are to deale, I will giue my vote & suffrage, as I shall iudge in myne owne conscience may best conduce & tend to the publique weale of the body, without respect of psoms, or favr of any man. Soe helpe mee God, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The following signers of the Covenant took the Freeman's Oath :
Robert: Feke 1631 Anthony: Fisher 1645
Edward: Alleyn 1638-9 Eleazer: Lusher 1638-9
Samuell: Morse
1640
Robert: Hinsdell
1638-9
Peter Woodward 1642
Philemon Dalton 1635-6
John Luson 1638-9
John: Guild 1643
John: Dwight
1638-9
Thomas: Fisher 1634-5
Samuell Bulleyne 1641 Robert Gowen 1644
Lambert: Generye 1645
Richard: Euered
1646
Ralph Wheelock 1638-9
Joseph Kingsberye 1641 John Batchelor 1635 or '40 Nathaniell Coaleburne 1641
George: Barber 1644 or '47 Nathaniell Whiteing 1642 Beniamine Smith 1641
Thomas Cakebread 1634
Henry: Philips
1638-9
John: Roper 1641
Austen: Kalem 1641
Timothie Dalton 1637
Henry Smyth 1638-9 or '40
Robert: Ware 1647
Thomas: Fuller 1672
John Coolidge 1636
Francis Chickering 1640
Thomas: Payne 1641 John Plimpton 1643
Nicholas Philips 1640
Thomas: Alcock 1635
Tymoth Dwight 1655
John Kingsbery 1635-6
Edward Kempe 1638-9
Joseph Shawe 1639
John Hunting 1638-9
John: Haward 1634
Tymothie Dwight 1641
James Vales 1673
Daniell: Morse 1635
Nathan Aldus 1640
Thomas Metcalfe 1653
Joseph: Morse 1635
Edward Richards 1641
William Avery 1677
John Ellice 1641
Michaell Powell 1641
Cornelus Fisher 1649
John: Eaton 1636
Robert Onion 1646
James Draper 1690 0
Michaell Metcalfe 1640
John Bullard 1640
James Thorpe 1690
John Morse 1640 Jeffrey Mingeye 1640
John Allin
1638-9
James: Allen 1647
Thomas Bartlet 1634-5
Richard Barber 1640
Thomas Hastings 1635
John Rogers 1638-9
Thos. Carter 1636-7 or '38
Henry Chickering 1641
John Mason 1634
Jonas Humphrey 1640
Thomas. Wight 1640 Henry Brock 1638-9 Joseph Clark 1634
Having had their first recorded meeting in Watertown on August 18, 1636, and constructed houses and planted fields the pioneer settlers were ready, in March of 1637, to leave and take up their permanent residence here. The following is a copy of the record of the first meeting held in Dedham.
Dedham The 23th of ye first Month called March 1636-7 The First Assembly in Dedham by whose names are vnderwritten viz Edward Alleyn, Abraham Shawe, Samuell Morse, Phileman Dal-
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