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THE HISTORY OF MILTON, Mass 164º1º1887
SETTLED
D 1662
DEU
FECY
NOBIS HAEC
OTIA
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NO
1
THE HISTORY OF MILTON, Mass.
1640 to 1887.
These
SITEOFREV PETER THATCHER HOUSE
Boston
8 Miles
J.M Lean 1823
God sifted a whole nation that He might send choice grain over into this wilderness" ( GOV.StOUGHTON'S ELECTION SERMON. 1668. )
EDITED BY A.K TEELE
GIRLACROIX
F 74 TMGE 12
ROCKWEL
ELL &(
PRES
& CHURCHILL
BOSTON
188
AUG 1 6 1982
BOSTON COLLEGE LIBRARY CHESTNUT HILL, MA 02167
TO
All Citizens of Milton
WHO REPRESENT THE EARLY FAMILIES OF THE TOWN, AND TO THEIR DESCENDANTS EVERYWHERE, THESE PAGES
ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.
ACTION OF THE TOWN.
VOTED, That Albert K. Teele, James M. Robbins, Charles Breck, and Edmund J. Baker be a committee for procuring the writing and publishing a History of the Town.
March 3, 1884.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
March 9, 1884.
The Committee on the Town History met at the house of James M. Robbins, at 3 o'clock, P. M. Hon. James M. Robbins was made Chairman, and Charles Breck, Secretary.
On motion of E. J. Baker it was VOTED, That the writing of the history be placed in charge of Rev. A. K. Teelc.
CHARLES BRECK, Secretary.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE J. LA CROIX, Assisted by FRANK MYRICK.
ENGRAVINGS BY J. A. J. WIL COX, GEO. J. LA CROIX.
PREFACE.
TF the lapse of years makes history, the municipal life of Milton running back two and a quarter centuries, and the settlement of the precinct reaching twenty-five years farther into the past, would seem to furnish rich material for the historic pen. Had there been an early annalist to record the events of passing years, the labor of the historian would have been comparatively light. As it is, most of the occurrences and transactions of other days, with the actors therein, have passed out of the knowledge of the present; the sourecs from which they can be reproduced are scanty and obscure, and the imperfect information that exists must be collected from widely dispersed records.
To bring together the material thus scattered, and to collate from contemporaneous history the matter that ought to pass on to those who follow us, has been the work of the committee selected by the town.
While engaged in this work, their associate, the Hon. James M. Robbins, who was versed above others in the early history of the town, was removed by death. Before the prostration of his powers, the first nine chapters of our history, then written, were in his pos- session for three months, and received his careful examination and approval. He also furnished the committee with valuable notes, memoranda, and statistical information not found in his bi-centennial address ; and his executors have kindly placed in our hands all Milton documents falling into their custody at his decease. But, for all this, it is fully believed that the unwritten history lost by his death far exceeds in value what he has written.
This volume covers the entire period of local history from 1634, when the first house was built south of the river, and even from the land-grants ot an earlier date, to the present time. The sources from which early facts and essential information have been derived can hardly be enumerated ; chief among them are the following: Town Records ; State Archives ; Massachusetts Historical Society ; New England Historic Genealogical Society ; Early files of Boston news- papers at the Boston Athenæum. We are greatly indebted to many citizens of Milton for useful suggestions and practical help. Even
vii
viii
PREFACE.
non-residents and strangers have courteously responded to applications for information. Our warmest thanks are due to J. Hammond Trum- bull, of Hartford, Conn .; E. G. Chamberlain, of Auburndale ; S. D. Hunt, the first teacher of Milton High School ; A. Churchill and J. R. Churchill, of Dorehester ; N. F. Safford, E. L. Pierce, E. D. Wads- worth, G. K. Gannett, J. Wesley Martin, and many others not par- tienlarly named. Our honored eitizen, Henry A. Whitney, has furnished, for the embellishment of the volume, wood engravings of six of the oldest houses.
The blank forms for genealogieal records, left with every family four years ago, have been returned in many cases, and make up a rieh collection of genealogical matter, too voluminous for our annals, but furnishing data and faets used all through these pages. The tablets are now in the hands of the binder, and will be deposited with the town archives.
In coming to the end of the work assigned them the committee eannot hope that they have always taken the wisest course in the arrangement and in the general treatment of the events and doings of more than two and a half centuries spread out before them ; but they have done the best in their power. In dilating on our own times it may seem that they sometimes speak minutely of matters that are of little consequenee ; but these soon pass into history, and their record posterity will thank us for.
The beautiful hills of Milton, which the lapse of years does not ehange, and its eharming natural seenery form no small part of its history, identifying our times with the days of our fathers. In the enjoyment of all this freshness of nature, so earefully preserved, and in cordial fellowship with the families and citizens around us, we have passed the brightest, happiest years of a life now verging to its close. If, in this sojourn, it has happened that by us the humblest life has been made brighter, or the burden has been lifted from the weary, or the feet of the wanderer has been restored to right paths, or the heart of the despondent has been inspired with heavenly hope, the assurance would clothe the past years with almost celestial brightness. And if, by these imperfect annals, it shall be deemed that our municipal history has been partially gathered up and preserved, and thereby a better knowledge of the past and of the present may be conveyed to coming generations, it will be the reward for years of labor.
A. K. TEELE.
MILTON, Dec. 18, 1887.
CONTENTS.
[For Alphabetical Index of Names and Topics, see end of the volume.]
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Aboriginal Inhabitants. - Numerical Strength. - Final Head-quarters of the Tribe. - Pestilence among the Indians. - Visit of the Pil- grims to Milton. - The Unexplored Wilderness. - Massachusetts. - Home of the Tribe - Deed of Kitchamakin. - Labors for the Indians. - Rev. John Eliot. - Removal of the Indians 1-10
CHAPTER II.
Precinct Inhabitants. - Ancient Plan. - Location of Grants. - Minis- terial Lands. - Allotment of the Sixth Division. - Parallel Lines. - Biographie Notices . 11-30
CHAPTER III.
Incorporation, Name, Boundaries. - Early Settlers. - Petition for In- corporation. - Signification of Unquity-Quisset. - Name of Milton. - Birthplace of Robert Tucker. - Milton Boundaries. - Blue Hill Lands. - Milton's Petition. - Braintree's Remonstrance. - Division of Blue Hill Lands. - First Accession, 1812. - Petition of Partics to be set off. - Second Accession, 1754. - Change of Boundary on the East. - Act of the Legislature. - Present Area of Milton . 31-48
CHAPTER IV.
Topographic. - Surface. - Soil. - Crops. - Climate. - Weather Table. - Blue Hill River. - Pine-Tree Brook. - Balster's Brook. - Gulliver's Brook, or Uncaty Brook. - Gooch's Pond. - Asa's Pond. - Pierce's Pond. - Hemmenway Pond. - Houghton's Pond, or Hoosic-Whisick. - Geological and Mineralogical. - State Col- lection of Minerals - Diluvian Furrows .- Boulders. - Bed of Red Porphyry. - The Blue Hills. - Great Blue Hill. - Observatory. - Tower. - Massachusetts Trigonometrical Survey. - U.S. Coast Survey. - Meteorological Observatory. - The Indian. - Forestry Lands. - The Outlook. - Table of Altitudes. - Latitude and Longi- tude. - Maps. -- Owners and Occupants of Houses 49-101
CHAPTER V.
Milton Hill: - New Inhabitants .- Governor Jonathan Belcher .- Rowe Family. - William Foye. - Samuel Littlefield. - Notable Events. -- Badcock Family. - Benjamin Pratt. - Glover Farm. - Swift Estate. - John Gill. - Joseph Belcher. - Miller Family. - Col. Joseph Gooch. - Redman Estate. - Daniel Briggs. - Holbrook House. - Governor Thomas Hutchinson. - Hutchinson Housc. - Milton Hill Poem. - Other Milton Estates. - Estates on Adams Strect. - Daniel Vose. - Comparison 102-151
ix
X
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER VI.
Old Houses, Cellars, and Landmarks. - First House. - East Milton. - Canton Avenue and Vicinity. - Pound. - Powder-house. - Poor- house Lot. - Provision for the Poor. - Pine-Tree Brook. - Bal- ster's Brook. - Ancient Houses. - Mingo Hill. - Harland Street. - Atherton Tavern. - Billings' Tavern. - Brush Hill. - Scott's Woods. - White's and Wild's Tavern. - Clark's Tavern. - New State. - Gun Hill Street. - Algerine Corner . . 152-187
CHAPTER VII.
Highways and By-ways. - Road over Milton Hill, 1654. - A Part of Canton Avenue, 1660. - Churchill's Lane, 1661. - First Meeting- house. - Pleasant Street, 1669. - Road from Mattapan to Brook, 1670-3. - Foot-path, County Highway to Meeting-house, 1672. - Vose's Lane, 1673. - Foot-path, Brush Hill to Meeting-house, 1674. - Brush Hill Road, 1676-7. - Road from Pine Trees to Meeting-house, 1680. - Road from Pine Trees to Dorchester Line, 1681. - Change in Location of Brook Road, 1694. - Rev. Peter Thacher's Cellar. - Foot-path from New State to Meeting-house, 1696. - Brush Hill Road widened, 1706. - Road from Ox-pen to Mattapan Bridge, 1712. - Road over Blue Hill Land, 1713 .- White's Lane, 1714. - Robbins Street, 1722. - Road over Blue Hill Land from Stoughton to S. Tucker's, 1734. - Road around Wigwam Hill, 1764. - Brush Hill Turnpike. - Blue Hill Turnpike, or Randolph Turnpike. - Atherton Street. - Railroads. - Repairs of Highways. - Change of Plan. - Superintendent of Highways. - Commission- ers of Highways. - Results . 188-211
CHAPTER VIII.
Tax-Lists and Town Offieers. - First Recorded Tax-List. - A.D. 1700. -A.D. 1750. - A.D. 1800. - More Recent Statements. - Select- men, 1668-1887. - Town Clerks, 1662-1887. - Town Treasurers, 1704-5-1887. - Collectors, 1766-1887. - Moderators, 1706-1887. - School Committee, 1827-1887. - Senators .- Representatives, 1666- 1887. - Census . 212-235
CHAPTER IX.
Ministers of Milton. - Rev. Joseph Emerson. - Rev. Mr. Wiswall. - Rev. Mr. Bouse. - Rev. Thomas Mighill. - Rev. Samuel Man. - Origin of the Thachers. - Rev. Peter Thacher. - Thacher's Day. - End of his Long Ministry. - Funeral. - Works. - Taylor Family. - Rev. John Taylor. - Rev. Nathaniel Robbins. - Rev. Joseph Mckean. - Rev. Samuel Gile. - Controversies. - New Meeting-house. - Death of Dr. Gile. - Rev. Benjamin Huntoon. - Rev. Joseph Angier. - Rev. John H. Morison. - Rev. Francis T. Washburne. - Rev. Frederick Frothingham. - Rev. Roderick Stebbins. - First Evangelical Church. - Rev. Samuel Cozzens. - Rev. Albert K. Teele. - Rev. Calvin G. Hill. - Stone Church. Seeond Evangelical Church. - Lower Mills Baptist Church. - Retrospect . 236-273
CHAPTER X.
Organization of Church, Meeting-houses, and various Town Affairs. - Church Organization. - Covenant. - Minister's House. - Seeond Meeting-house. - Third Meeting-house. - Fourth Meeting-house. -Other Town Buildings. - Old Town-House. - New Town-Hall.
xi
CONTENTS.
PAGE
-- Milton Social Library. - Ladies' Circulating Library. - Agricult- ural Library. - Public Library. - Social and Benevolent Society. - Missionary Society. - Society of Christian Endeavor. - Lit- erary Societies. - Interesting Public Occasions. - Corporate Seal of Milton. - " Milton News." - Post-Offices. - Bank. - Horse- thief Society. - Fire Department. - Town Property. - Various Town Votes 274-316
CHAPTER XI.
Schools. - Glimpses of Earliest Schools. - School-houses. - School Districts. - Some of the Teachers. - Era of Private Schools. - Madame Cranch's School. - Peggy How's School. - Jesse Pierce's School. - Gideon F. Thayer's School. - Annette Miller's School. - Milton Academy. - Reestablishment of the Academy. - Public Schools in 1800. - New Districts. - Prudential Committec abol- islcd. - Pleasant-street School. - Fairmount School. - High School. - New High-School Building. - List of Milton Teachers. - Milton Graduates of Harvard and other Colleges 317-356
CHAPTER XII.
Industries of Milton. - Neponset River. - Tides. - Fish. - Bridges. - Navigation. - Grain Business. - Lumber Business. - Coal Business. - First Grist Mill. - First Powder Mill. - First Paper Mill. - First Chocolate Mill. - First Slitting Mill. - First Violon- cello. - First Pianoforte. - First Artificial Spring-Leg. - First Railroad. - First Railroad Car. - Ship-building. - Tanneries. - Bakeries. - Ice. - Floriculture. - Granite Business. - Prominent Early Manufactures 357-401
CHAPTER XIII.
Military Record. - King Philip's War. - French and Indian Wars. - War of the Revolution. - Suffolk Resolves. - Shays' Rebellion. - War of 1812. - The Great Civil War. - List of Milton's Quota. . 402-465
CHAPTER XIV.
Milton Cemetery. - Enlargements. - Patriot Soldiers' Honored Graves. - Lots under Perpetual Care. - Bencfactors of Milton Cemetery. - Record of Ancient Inscriptions . . 466-498
CHAPTER XV.
Transactions of the Town relating to Small Pox. - John Mark Gourgas. - Inoculation. - Vaccination. - Experiments in 1809 . . 499-508
CHAPTER XVI.
Milton Lawyers and Physicians 509-534
CHAPTER XVII.
Noted Men and Women, and Early Families . 535-591
CHAPTER XVIII.
Flowers of Milton. - List of Trees and Plants growing naturally in Milton. - Trees of Milton. - Birds of Milton . . 592-627
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CONTENTS.
APPENDIX A. PAGE
Massachusetts. - Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's Letter to Dr. E. E. Hale. - Arrow-Head Hill. - Josiah Cotton. - Cotton's Vocabulary. - Dr. Trumbull's Letter of March 6, 1885. - Dr. Trumbull's Letter of May 12, 1887 . 631-640
APPENDIX B.
Rev. Peter Thacher's Journal . 641-657
APPENDIX C.
Rev. Peter Thacher's Watch . 658-659
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
TITLE-PAGE.
PAGE
MAP OF PARALLEL LINES
Facing 16
MAP OF THE BLUE HILLS
72
MAP OF MILTON . 66 100
SEA VIEW FROM MILTON HILL .
102
INLAND VIEW FROM CHURCHILL HOUSE
103
GOVERNOR BELCHER
Facing 110
FOYE AND GLOVER HOUSES
116
CHURCHILL HOUSE
130
HOLBROOK HOUSE
132
HUTCHINSON HOUSE
136
GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON
140
WADSWORTHI HOUSE
152
JOSEPH VOSE RESIDENCE
158
WHITNEY HOUSE
Facing 172
ROBBINS HOUSE .
173
TUCKER HOUSE
. 175
HOUGIITON HOUSE AND POND
Facing
180
SITE OF FIRST CHURCHI
. 193
SITE OF PETER THIACHER HOUSE
199
HISTORICAL MAP
Facing
210
REV. SAMUEL GILE
66 266
MILTON CHURCHES
277
JESSE PIERCE
Facing 325
MILTON ACADEMIES
338
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
. 349
PAUL'S BRIDGE .
362
MILTON CHOCOLATE WORKS
Facing 372
FIRST RAILROAD CAR IN AMERICA
. 382
SHEER-POLE
390
CARTING PILLARS TO BOSTON
. 393
DANIEL VOSE
. 398
xiii
xiv
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
TAIL-PIECE .
401
SUFFOLK RESOLVES HOUSE
Facing 424
VOSE COAT-OF-ARMS .
. 439
COL. JOSIAH H. VOSE
Facing 441
LIEUT. J. H. V. FIELD
446
LIEUT. H. FROTHINGHAM WOLCOTT
454
MAP OF MILTON CEMETERY
Facing 466
POND IN MILTON CEMETERY
·
· 475
LIEUT .- Gov. E. H. ROBBINS
Facing 513
DR. HOLBROOK
66
527
DR. HOLMES
533
JOHN LILLIE
545
JAMES M. ROBBINS
547
JOHN RUGGLES
66 576
TUCKER GENEALOGICAL TREE
581
MILTON FLOWERS
Facing
592
THE OLDEST ELM
618
LARGEST TREE-TRUNK
620
BIRDS
622
QUAIL'S NEST
. 627
.
HISTORY OF MILTON.
CHAPTER I.
ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
TN the early part of the seventeenth century a distinct race inhabited these shores, and claimed this territory as their home. Though by nature rude and barbarous, and of a low type of humanity, they possessed many noble qualities ; and, when fairly dealt with and kindly treated, they often became the firm friends of the stranger who invaded their domain. Possessing tall and well-developed bodies, and a grave and dignified air, they impressed the early inhabitants as the true "sons of the forest."
Gosnold, in his letter to his father, says: "The natives when first seen were observed to be of tall stature, comely proportioned, strong, active, and, as it would seem, very healthful."
Capt. John Smith describes the country of the Massachusetts as the paradise of those parts: "The sea-coast, as you pass, shows you all along large cornfields and great troops of well- proportioned people."
NUMERICAL STRENGTH.
Various and conflicting estimates have been made of the native population of New England before the pestilence reduced their numbers. A probable computation places the number at not far from fifty thousand.1 These all belonged to that family to which the French gave the name of Algonquin.
The Massachusetts tribe, dwelling along the Massachusetts bay, in the days of its pride, is said to have been a numerous and powerful nation, many rating it as high as thirty thousand ; but this computation is wholly unauthorized.
1 Palfrey.
2
HISTORY OF MILTON.
The probable range of the Neponset tribe, the remnant or successor of the Massachusetts, was between the Blue Hills and Boston Bay. The hills of Milton and Dorchester, and the wide, open plain south of the Neponset in Quincy, now com- monly known as " The Farms," but early called the " Massa- chusetts Fields," were the gathering place, the mustering ground, the "Isthmean Field " of the tribe.
FINAL HEAD QUARTERS OF THE TRIBE.
A savin-covered knoll on the south-east side of the road from Quincy to Squantum, near the marsh, which is named in the earliest deeds of that section " Massachusetts Hummock," and is often called "Sachem's Knoll," is the place where Chickataubut had his wigwam in the latter years of the tribe, after its glory had departed. The head-quarters of his predecessor, Nane- pashemet, was supposed to have been on the south side of the river, near the head of tide-water, most likely on that bold outlook, Milton Hill.1
PESTILENCE AMONG THE INDIANS.
Richard Vines, who passed the winter of 1616-17 in camp on the river Saco, was the first to discover and report the ravages of the plague, which swept from the Penobscot river to Narragansett bay. He says : "The country was in a manner left void of inhabitants."
Dermer, who touched at Plymouth in 1620, noticed the track of the recent pestilence: "I passed along the coast, where I found some ancient plantations, not long since populous, now utterly void."
Gookin, reliable Indian authority, who wrote in 1674, placing the visitation in 1613 and 1614, says (Mass. Hist. Coll., I., 148): "I have discoursed with some old Indians that were then youths, who say that the bodies all over were exceedingly yellow (describing it by a yellow garment they showed me),
1 In 1884 a very ancient map of Boston and its environs was discovered in the British Muscum, a transcript of which may be seen in the Boston Public Library. The references on the margin are in the writing of Governor Winthrop, and the conclusion is that the map is his production. It bears no date, but the date is fixed in the following manner. Reference D. points to the Windmill, which was not erected prior to 1632. The town of Agawam appcars on the map; this was changed to Ipswich in 1634. It follows that the map falls within these dates.
On this ancient map our river is called Naponsctt, while on many of the old maps after the incorporation of Milton, and before the present century, it is called " Milton River," and, in a French map of 1780, " Rivière de Milton."
The section on the south side of the river, including Squantum and the territory west, is dotted with wigwams, over which is written " Indians."
3
ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
both before they died and afterwards." This would indicate " Yellow fever," - an idea, however, disallowed by the medical fraternity. Most likely it was that scourge of the Indian, and also of the white man in later years, the small-pox. Whatever the nature of the disease, the result with the Massachusetts Indians was most disastrous and disheartening. Their sachem, Nanepashemet, had been killed, their families were broken up, and their numbers were greatly reduced.
Gloom and depression settled down upon these once bold and fearless spirits. It was an auspicious time for the arrival of the Pilgrims to these shores. Our fathers found them, for the most part, inoffensive, peaceable, and open to the good influence of kindness and fellow-feeling; and all through the fierce and bloody wars with their race, in subsequent years, these Indians remained loyal and true.
VISIT OF THE PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS TO MILTON.
Before the expiration of a year after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth they determined upon a visit to the " Massachusetts." "For these ends the governors chose ten men, fit for the purpose, and sent Tisquantum, and two other salvages, to bring us to speech with the people, and interpret for us."
Captain Standish was in command, and Winslow, who was one of the company, has left a minute and interesting narrative of the visit, which furnishes the facts in this statement.1
They left Plymouth at midnight, the tide then serving, Sept. 18, 1621, expecting to be there betimes the next morning. But it proved to be twenty leagues from New Plymouth, and they were all the next day on the passage, reaching the " bottom of the bay " in the evening, which is supposed to be Point Al- derton.2 They remained in shallop over night. Going on
1 See Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, chap. 14.
2 The statement first made by Belknap (Vol. 2, p. 244) and followed by later writers, that this landing was at Copp's Hill, is not supported by Winslow's Narrative, nor can it be drawn from the narrative.
Early writers and navigators considered what we now call the entrance of the harbor [i.e., Point Alderton] the beginning of the river. John Smith in 1614 may have only swept across the mouth of the harbor in his boats, mistaking this for "the great river which I had no time to discover." Captain Squeb, of the " Mary and John," was destined for Charles river, but came to anchor at Nantasket. The evidence is that the Plymouth Shallop stopped there in 1621. Obbatinewat, whom they met, was a sachem of Massasoit, the Old Colony chief. He told them that he was a wandering chief; " that he durst not then remain in any settled place for fear of the Tarentines; " and that the Massachusetts Queen was an enemy to him. Had they landed at Copp's Hill two rivers would have been in sight, the Charles and Mystic, whereas they saw but one. The morning of the 20th was spent with the Indians whom they first mct; in the afternoon they crossed the Bay to Squantum, and in the passage had a view of the numerous islands in the harbor.
4
HISTORY OF MILTON.
shore in the morning of the 20th, they found lobsters and shell-fish, which had been gathered by the Indians, with whom they had friendly communication, meeting Obbatinewat, one of Massasoit's sachems, who brought them to his Squaw Sachem. From this point they put off sometime in the afternoon of the 20th, and that evening arrived at Squantum, probably so called from Tisquantum, their guide: "Night it was, before we came to that side of the bay where this people were. On shore the salvages went, but found nobody. That night also we rid at anchor aboard the shallop."
On the morning of Friday, the 21st, they went ashore, and, leaving two of their number to guard the shallop, a band of eleven marched in arms into the country. The probable di- rection of their march would seem to be over the promontory of Squantum, and up through the open country towards the falls on the river, as they were in search of the people, and in this direction the Indian trails would naturally lead. "Having gone three miles, we came to a place where corn had been newly gathered, a house pulled down, and the people gone."
A march of three miles from Squantum would bring them to the open section of country south of the Neponset, long called " Massachusetts Fields."
This land was an open plain, fit for tillage, and by tradition was the garden of the Indians. "A mile from thence Nane- pashemet, their king, in his lifetime had lived. His house was not like others, but a scaffold was largely built with poles and planks, some six foot from the ground, and the house upon that, being situated on the top of a hill."
The distance of the march thus far would bring them well within the limits of Milton, and if we have hit upon the line of their route the head-waters of the Neponset may be supposed the place here reached, and our Milton Hill the hill, on the top of which stood the habitation of the Sachem Nanepashemet.
Not far from this, in a bottom, they came upon a palisadoed fort, within which was a house, "wherein being dead, he lay buried."
About a mile from hence, we came to such another, but seated on the top of a hill. Here Nanepashemet was killed, none dwelling in it since the timeof his death. At this place we stayed, and sent two salvages to look for the inhabitants, and to inform them of our ends in coming, that they might not be fearful of us. Within a mile of this place we found the women of the place together, with their corn in heaps, whither we suppose them to be fled for fear of us; and the more, because in divers places they had newly pulled down their houses, and for haste in one place had left some of their corn covered with a mat, and nobody with it. With much fear they entertained us at first ; but seeing our gentle carriage toward them,
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