USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > The early records of Groton, Massachusetts. 1662-1707 > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01879 2041
THE
GC 974.402 G916GV
EARLY RECORDS OF GROTON,
MASSACHUSETTS.
1662-1707.
EDITED BY 4
SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D.
GROTON: 1880.
The paper on which this edition of the "Early Records of Groton," - known as "The Indian Roll," -is printed was made in that town at the "Hollingsworth Paper-Mills," situated in a part of the Nashua Valley which is full of Indian associations and traditions.
UNIVERSITY PRESS : JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE,
TO
Che Memory
OF
RICHARD SAWTELL,
JONATHAN MORSE,
JAMES FISKE,
JOSIAII PARKER,
WILLIAM LONGLEY,
JONAS PRESCOTT,
JOHN PAGE,
WILLIAM LONGLEY, JR.,
RICHARD BLOOD,
JAMES BLANCHARD,
JOHN MORSE, THOMAS TARBELL, AND
JAMES PARKER,
JOSEPII LAKIN,
The First fourteen Colon Clerks of Groton,
OF WHOM THREE DIED WHILE IN OFFICE,
THIS COPY OF THEIR RECORDS IS INSCRIBED
BY THE EDITOR.
INTRODUCTION.
T `HE town meeting is an outgrowth of New-England life. It had its origin with the first settlers, and has been kept up by their successors. Each town was incorporated, and the freemen came together in public meeting to discuss and settle questions of general interest. They also chose town officers, to whom was delegated the power to manage their civil affairs. The proceedings at these meetings furnish the basis of our political history, and they give us the best insight of the forces that developed local self-government.
The following records of the town of Groton are the earliest extant, and were probably the first made of any meeting held within its limits. They are copied from the only book of records kept during the Indian wars, and are now printed in accordance with a vote of the town. From the fact that the book was for a while preserved rolled up, it acquired the name of "The Indian Roll." It appears to have been lost at one time, but was subsequently found ; and, when first seen by Mr. Butler, according to his History, page 33, the wrapper containing it bore this inscription : -
" The Indian Roll, Found at Dea. Lawrence's, Feb. 21, 1807."
Major Samuel Lawrence was the town clerk from the year 1796 to 1798, and this book had probably been overlooked when the other records were turned over to his successor. The cover has long since been lost ; the leaves are loose and much worn, and a few of them are missing. The records extend from the year 1662 to 1707, and contain many inter-
6
INTRODUCTION.
esting facts in regard to the town. They include the names of families that have been in the neighborhood through many generations, even to the present day.
The pages of the record-book are not numbered, though there are traces of numbering in the part containing the Land-grants. The entries of the proceedings are made fre- quently out of place, and sometimes the record of one meeting is found scattered about, written on the blank spaces of several leaves. These detached fragments may be recognized from the date as belonging to the same meeting, and in this printed copy such fragments have been brought together. The paging of the carly part of the record-book is indicated by the large figures enclosed within brackets. This, however, has not been deemed practicable later than June, 1681, on account of the want of chronological arrangement.
The Land-grants are given at the end of this volume, and for the most part are arranged chronologically ; but in some instances they are not dated. In these cases, the name of the town clerk who recorded them is given, with his term of service; and the date can be approximated near enough for practical purposes. In printing them, the capitalization and punctuation have been made to conform to modern usage, as it is thought that in this way the different localities might be more casily identified ; but the spelling remains unchanged.
The first town clerk was Richard Sawtell, an original pro- prietor of Groton and the possessor of a twenty-acre right. He came from Watertown, where he was living as early as the year 1636. He wrote a good hand for his day, and held the office during three years. His house-lot was situated on the west side of James's Brook, just below the monument marking the birth-place of Colonel Prescott. He died Au- gust 21, 1694, at Watertown, where he went, doubtless in the spring of 1676, when Groton was burned by the Indians. In his will, dated May 16, 1692, he mentions his wife, Eliza- beth, - who died October 18, 1694, - and a large number of children and grandchildren.
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Fac-simile of a part of the first page, slightly reduced, of the Early Records of Groton.
EARLY RECORDS
OF
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
A TT a generall towne meet[ing, ] June. 23. 1662.
It was agreed vppon that the house for the Minister should be set vppon the place where it is now framinge.
Also that the meetinge house shall be sett vpon the right hand of the path by a small whit Oak, marked at the souwest side with two notches & a blaze
At a genenerall Towne meeting December. the twenty fourth it is agreed that Richard Sawtell being Chosen to be the Towne Clark shall have six penc for Recording & giving a Transcript of every twenty Acars of land to the severall propriators
Decem : 24. At a generall Towne meeting its agreed that all the lands that are or here after shall be granted shall be recorded with these expressions following. viz : To such a one or such a one &c : Ten or: Twenty Acars so & so bounded be it estemed more or lesse
Decem. 24 Its agreed by the Towne at a generall meeting That the wood & Timber that is in the hie-way against any mans house shall be his provided that he shall not [upon] the penalty of paying halfe a Crown a tree falle any trees vpon the Com[mon] except it apeareth they have not amon[gst] these trees such trec or trees as will suit their necessitie provided also that when they falle they shall not let lie to the prejuduice of the Towne or any or any one
8
EARLY RECORDS OF
of the inhabitants by hindering the pass[age] of Carts or Horses &c vpon the penalty of halfe a Crowne if vpon six dayes warning they shall neglect (within the said tim of warning.) to cleare the way for full & free passage
Liberty is granted to Timothy Allen to set his House vpon a knole with out side of his fenc & land is granted him there unto not exceeding an Acar
Decem. 24 It is agreed that Deacon James Parker James Knop & John Page shall lay out acording to their discretion the Towne hie way & the land which any inhabitant wan[ts] of his grant
[Dece]m 24 Deacon James Parker John Lawr[ence, Wm.] Martin Ric: Blood & James ffi[ske are] chosen Selectmen for this [year &] are to draw vp som direction[s for the ] Towne a . . . [1]
I'm Lakin Ralph Reed. Joh. Page & Joh Nuttin are chosen Sur- veyors of the hie wayes. this year. decem. 24. (6[2.]
At a generall Towne meeting. March 18. 1663. It was general[ly] agreed. as folloeth
first. That M: Millar is by the Consent of the Towne ma[ni]- fested by vote to be desired if God moue his hart there unto to continve still with vs for our further edificat[ion.] Richard Blood desents from this in regard of the time of o' desiring him. we he would have to be after the gen : Court.
2ły That M' Miller shall haue a Twenty Acar lot layd out to him acording to the Townes grant to him
Thomas. Tarbole. Senio! vpon his request was granted by the Towne to haue a knole of vpland containing about an Acar towards the vper end of Broad Medow we is thought advantagious to him for the fencing of his medow
[Ju]ne 21 [16]63 Its agreed by the Towne & manifested by vote that M' Willard if he accept of it shall be their minester as long as he liues w' M' Willard accepts Except a manifest providenc of God apears to take him off
These persons folloing doe desent from this former vot. Rich- ard. Sawtell. Samuell Woods, James Parker: John Nutting James ffiske
Its agreed by the major part of the Towne that M! Willard shall have their interest in the house &. lands that was devoted by the Towne for the minestry suckcessively, provided they may meete in
9
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
the house on the lords day & vpon other ocasions of the Towne on metings. And these persons ffollowing desent from their act
James Parker Ric. Sawtell William Longley John nutting Tho. Tarbole. Jun.
Richard Blood and John Clary att present
James ffiske. John longly. Joh laran[ce,] Joseph laranc [2]
[Date torn off.]
. to excercise am . all Edification in the ways . . . glory & o' owne everlasting goo . . . vs And further desiring ye Lord to . . . what hath been herein any way off[ensive] vnto him and to help euery one of vs to forg[et] & forgiue what hath been any way offensiue [to] each other as we desire the Lord to forgive vs
[Sep.] ro 1: It is agreed by ye Consent of the Towne & mani- fested by vote that M! Willard shall haue for this year forty pounds and if God be pleased so to despose of his & our hearts to continue together after the expiration of the yeare (w[e] hope) by of aproving of him & he of vs we shall we shall be willing to ad vnto his main- tenanc as [God] shall blesse vs. expecting allso that he shall render vnto our pouerty if God shall please to deny vs a blessing vpon our labours
2. It is agreed & voted his yeare shall begin the first day of July last past
Sep. 21 63 It is agreed by ye Towne wth John Nuttin & voted that he the said John shall keepe cleane the meeting house this ye[ar] or cause it to be kept cleene & for his labour he is to h[ave] fourteen shillings
Novem I. (63) with the consent of Anthony Pierce its granted by the Tow[n] that his son Daniell Pierce shall haue the one halfe of his said ffathers deuission of land viz. ten Acars of his H[ouse] lot on that side lying next Ralph Reeds & ten of . . . seurall percells whereof lieth in Broade medow. Halfe-moone medow. & the South medow and the rem[ainder] of his said fathers Hous lot to be reserued and added to the said Daniell in his next deuision if so much falle to hi[m] & if it proue lesse then his share he is to haue it made vp [some ]where else at the Towns descresion And hereby it is [de]clared that the said Anthony is no propri- ator in Groton yet if God in prouidenc shall make way for him &
IO
EARLY RECORDS OF
mov h[is] heart to com & reside with vs the towne doth promise to acomadate him as conveniently as they can
[Novem.] 30 (63) John Mosse of Ipswitch is accepted by the Towne to pay the alotment of John Lawranc Juni!
Its agreed that when all men hay their full allowan of medow The residue shall be devided to the p'sent inhabitants by lot acord- ing to every mans proportion
By the Towne its joyntly agreed & manifested by vote That every man of this Town shall bring a note of all his lands or their lands Bounded & abutted vnto ye Town-Clark being subscribed by two that helpt to lay them out and then the said clark shall record them in the Town Book and giue to each a Transcript of his lands ac- ording to the Towns record which shall be vieued by the Select m[en] both originall & coppy and if ye originall Town Record & J" Transcript be found to agree then each mans Transcript shall be subscribed by the Town Clark
For as much as yt it apeareth that Richard Sawtell his [la]nd was not equivalent for goodness to other mens . . . who had the same quantitie. The Towne . . . have consented & by vote manifested that . . . he shall haue that scragy shrubbs . . . vnto Indian hill .. som times a . . . Indian hill . . . [3]
[Date torn off.]
[I] .. . Towne from . . . penc provided he th. . . person that shall here after . . . make any just demand with respect to . . . ve mentioned p'mises what ever shall be by him . . . them so de- manded
[2] Due to Ric Blud & Joh. Lakin for laying out the hie-way to Lankester twenty shillings when they have perfeted the work we they Engage to doe soone
3 Due to James ffisk &. Joh. Nuttin twenty shillings for laying out the hie-way to Chelmsford when they have perfeted the work wc they promise to doe as soone as they can
4 Due to Ric. Sawtell five shillings for service done for the Towne at Cambridg twice
5 Due to Jams Parker. Jam Knop &. Joh. Page. six shillings for laying out the Townes hic-wayes & & satisfing men for their land when it fell so that the hie-way went over any man's propriety
1
II
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
[Dec]em . . . 63 1 William Martin Sergeant James Parker Ric. Blud Wm lakin & John Nuttin are for this yeare Chosen Select men
2 Sam. Davis Sam. Woods Ellis Barns & John lakin are chosen surveyors of the hie-ways for this yeare
3 To view fences this year are chosen Jams Knop W" Greene And Joseph Gilson
4 Ric. Sawtell is chosen Towne Clark for this year
November. 23. 1664. John Page is Chosen to be Constable this yeare : at a generall meeting
2 James Parker William Lakin James ffisk William Martin & Richard Blood are chosen Select men this yeare
3 Sergeant James Parker Joseph Parker Richard. Blud. Tho. Tarbole. & Sam. Woods are chosen & impowred by the Towne to lay out all the hie wayes In the Towne & if there be an absolute necessiti apearing for them to Run the hie way thro any mans pro- priety they haue full pow' to satisfie them out of the Towns land to their best convenienc
4 ffor the surveyors of the hiewayes this yeare are Chosen Joh. Lawranc Joseph Parker & Jam Knop & Joseph Gilson
5 To view ffences this year are chosen Walter Skiner & Na- thaniell Lawranc & Jonathan Sawtell
6 The Towne has granted vnto John. Shadock an alotment con- teining a single mans proportion vpon condityon th[at] he shall pay the Towne Charges both Ciuill & Eclia[sti]call that heretofore hath risen or here after [shall] arise as the due proportion of such an alotme[nt.] And. secondly the vse of two [acres] of medow lyng vpon Cow-pond Brooke i . . . for seauen yeares. provided he abide . .. constantly & consionably . . . of the wants of each . . . they making . .. [4]
[ Three lines much torn, and illegible.] -
. . other wise it is . . . disposed of at their plesur
November 27 1664 Joseua Whetney and Christofer halle were this day chosen to Joyn with Johnathan Sattell formerle chosen to vieue fences
In the Rome of Walter Skener and Nathanell larance whom ar herby Released
2ly it was this daye voated and granted y Mathias ffarnworth
12
EARLY RECORDS OF
shall haue fortey polle of land to be layd out agaynst his house next to James his Broke for a building place puided [it] do not pred- gedese the hye way
Richerd Blude William laken Mathias ffarnworth and James Kno[p] William longley being chosen emparsall by the towne and John Lawrence sener to arbtrate a desp[ute] betwen the above sayd John lawrence and the town they haue and do her[eby] declare yt they do thus detarmen yt is to Saye his pro.son of land being furst mad good acord to his gra[n]te we find ye remainder to be the towns land acord[in]g as it now bounded
27 of January James fisk is now by the townes apaintment Re- corded the townes Clarke for this yeare
James Fisk, the second town clerk, was an original proprietor of Groton, and the owner of a twenty-acre right. He was also one of the first board of selectmen chosen by the inhab- itants. He wrote a fair hand, and held the office during the year 1665. His house-lot was situated on the present "Great Road," perhaps a quarter of a mile south of the First Parish Meeting-house. He died July 4, 1689 ; and in his will, which was dated June 14 of the same year, he mentions four sons and one daughter.
[Not dated.]
It was this day granted and by voate decla[red] yt John Leaken shall have a pece of lande as which is sixe acors mor or lesse bound[ed] partly on the south and by tene acors of . . . land and aingeler east by his hethermost . .. and on the north by other tene acors of . . . lande on the west by the townes comon As also .. . on the east by the hye way [5]
Here the record is considerably torn, and is probably of a town meeting held subsequently to the time of the last entry.
It was . . . of M' Willerde our . . . declared by voate your time of . . . yerly so longe as god shall please to . . . gether shall be- gine and ende vpon the 29 [d]ay of september
It is furthermor agreed and decleared by voate yt M: Willerde shall be alowed in consideration of his labours amonste vs this next
13
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
yere Inseui[ng] the full pposion of fifteye pounds to be payd by euery Inhabetant acordinge to his pposion and as nere as may be in yt which his nessety requir[es] and furthermor in consideriation of the tim being betwene the furste of July laste past and ye last of september next we do herby agree and promise vnto him y we will paye him twentey pounds for the first thirde parte of tim at or befor the last of september next and twentey pounds mor at or befor the furste of May next and twentey too pounds and ro shilings more at or before the last of september next after which will be in ye yere 1666.
At a town metting vpon The 21 of the 7 moth 1665 It was this day agred and voated yt they will haue a metting house bult forth- w[ith.]
It was this day agreed and by voate declard y Sargent James Parker and Richerd Blood shall make the couenenant with the carpenders for the caring one the worke puided y' noe other pay shall be Requrd of any man puided he will pay his proposon in his labour giung the carpenders a wekes warng
It was this day granted and by voate declared y John lawranc sen! shall quiatly posese and Inioye a parselle of land now in con- trouersey and allredey within his ffenc and a Joyning to his house lotte contining too acors mor or lesse bounded west and south by the hye way and north and east by his own land & granted to him as a grantiuety
It is also granted that eury Inhabetant shall haue the like priuledg proposonally
It was thise day granted and voated y Richard Bloode haue lib- erty to exchang 20 30 or 40 accors of his land prouided he do not take it vp agayne vpon phibeted land nor to the predges of the hye way or any predgedes to [a]ny mans propriety
.
.
. so y eury Inhabetant shall haue the li[ber]ty : of exchang-
ing any parte of his land [pr]ouided it be not mor to the damedg of the town than priuledg to him y desir an exchang : in the apre- hedsion of the commet[tee] chosen to lay it out [6]
.. . & by votte d ... Consent of the town y noe . . . haue leberty ... to take vp any lande by [way] of exchange or other way vpon Sandey pond brooke and between y and the magors brooke and South brooke till such tim as the milles acomodations be layd out
14
EARLY RECORDS OF
The ro of the 8 moth 1665. It was this day voated and hereby decleared at a leagell town metting yt thes persels of land namly, ye land Comonly called by ye name of the Indian hills as also all the comon lande between John Lauranc sen his hous lotte and Wil- liam Grens and Samuell Woods ther medo as also a pece of Swamp betwen William Longlys and Johnathan Crespes ther lotts shall from this day forth lye in comone for the vse of the towne and noe man shall have leberty to take up any parte ther of as his pperitey
2 It was allso this day agred and 'voated by the towne y' in con- sidration of a grattiaty formerly granted to eury Inhabetante anser- able to John lawranc sen his grante ye 21 of the seaventh moth 65 y' eury man shall haue liberty to take vp 6 accors to a twentey accor house lote, and in case it Joine to his house eury man shall take vp pposonabl tber vnto respectng such as haue eyther the holle or any part therof alredey, but if mor remote eury Inhabetant shall haue libert[y] to take vp too for one
It was this day granted to Eleze baron yt he shall haue liberty to take vp three persels of medow contining too accor mor or lesse lying on the sowth of the Indeian hills bownded one all poynts by the towns comon
The Country hye way being determened betwen this towne and Chel[ms]ford by a commitey chosen Respectiuly by both towns haue agreed and according layd out thes country hye way from ye metting house place in the ould carte way to Chelmsford metting house sixe Rode in width from place to pla[ce] this being testefyed vndr the hands [of] the commitey at a towne mee[ting] the 10 of July 65 and excepted by the towne may be suficente to sattesfy aney home it may heraftr concern
witnesse
JAM FFISKE in the nam o[f] the towne [7]
The ii of the [roth month, 1665?] . . . Joseph Parker chosen Cons[table for] this next Insouin Sargent James Parker William Longley William Mearten William Leaken and Jam Knope ar, chosen Selecte men for this next yer Inseuen.
Richerd Bloode Thom Tarball ar chosen survayers of the hye ways for next yere Inseuen.
Sergent James Parker Jam Knop and William Leaken wer chosen together with ym to determen the severall Squadrants and hom shall worke at each squadron succesiuly
15
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
William Longly is also chosen Clarke Danell Perse and Chres- epher halle ar chosen to veue fences
Att the same meeting it was, voted that there should be a high way left out of all and euery additionall lot or lotts for the townes use as occassion should haue cause to make use of from time : to time ; thear being lands alowed by the the suruayers [w]hen they laid out the seuerall additions prouided it be not aboue one high way and that the high way do not exceed aboue foure poole wide
A country rate for the year 1665
the totall summe being 114 5$ 6d
A county rate for the same yeare
the totall summe being 16 155 3ª
both, with rates committed into the hands of John Page to gather, by the order of the Select men [8]
William Longley was the third town clerk of Groton. He was among the earliest settlers of the town, and was the owner of a thirty-acre right. He was the son of Richard Longley, of Lynn, where, in the town records, the name is sometimes spelled Langley. His handwriting was creditable, and he held the office during the years 1666 and 1667. He died November 29, 1680, leaving a will, dated six days before his death, in which he mentions four daughters and two sons. A few years later his son, William, was chosen town clerk ; and the two have sometimes been confounded with each other. Still later his grandson, John, was chosen to the same office.
16 of the Io moth 1665 It was this day agreed and by a vnanams voatte declared yt for as much as god by his puidanc haue setteled Mr Willerd our Rauerante Pastor by sole[mn] Ingeagment amunst vs we do therf[ore] frely giue him y' acomadatione formerle stated to the minestry to gether with the house and all other apartanances apertayni[ng] ther vnto to him and his for eur from this day forth puided he do contineue with vs from this day forth till seaue[n] yers be xpired. But in cause he shall se cause to remove from vs be for the seauen yers be xpired it is ag[reed] by our Rauerant paster one one par[t] and the town one the other y' he shall leaue thes holle acomadatione to the town and be aloved what it shall be Judged by Indeferant men mutally ch[osen] on both parteys and so the hous and lan[d] to Remayn the towns to despose of haung
16
EARLY RECORDS OF
aloued as aforsayd for what improument he haue mad vpon it But if it shall pleas god to take him by death then the house and land . . . to his eayers frely for euer
and hervnto we do enterchangebly sett to our hands the day and yer aboue wretten
SAMLL WILLARD JAMES PARKER WILLIAM LAKIN
JAMES KNOP
In the name and with the consent of the towne
A generall towns meeting held. 5 of march 1665-66 Att the same meetting it was agreed and voted y' the there should be trees marked for shade for cattell in all common hy wayes : :
A the same meetting it was agreed & voted that the marke should be a great T
At the same meeting it was agreed and voted [th]at who euer shall fall or lop any shuch trees [mark ]ed by the men apointed shall pay for eue[ry tree] fallen or lopped shall pay for th . . . tenne shillings
[Not dated.]
It was this day granted and by voate declare[d] that Sergent James Parker John Page Jam Knope and Thomas Tarball shall haue libertey to take vp a twentey accor acomadations of vpland and medow the vpland in that place y' may sute them beste prouided they do not take it out of y land which is alredey prohebeted and the medow partly out of y which was apoynted for t[he] melle and the rest wher they can finde it in aney place or places that they shall make choyc of with all other priueledges apertayning the[reto] acording to other grants of lik . . . In considriation of the . . . mill as apere by ac . . . [9]
Entered in the town book It is further ordered y' the . . . shall not be ratable . . . yere sixty and seauen 67 as . . , ye mille shall stande Reatte fre for the full terme of twentey yeres ferthermor it is agreed by the consent of the towne yt noe man nor men shall haue liberty to build anye other mell or mels tell the full time be xpired expresed in the couenant vndr the hands of the undertakers unless anye man se cause to buld it vpon his own pperitey and only for his own vse
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