USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > Annals of the town of Dorchester > Part 6
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79
APPENDIX.
to be preserved in safety. On Nov. 3, 1634, an order was passed " to build stairs on the outside, and the loft to be laid, and a window in the loft."-Town Records.
NOTE D. 1633.
" An Agreement made by the whole consent and vote of the Plantation, made Mooneday Sth of October 1633.
"Imprimus. It is ordered, that for the generall good and well ordering of the affayres of the plantation, there shall be every Mooneday before the Court by eight of the clocke in the morning, and presently upon the beating of the drum, a generall meeteing of the inhabitants of the plantation, at the Meeting House, there to settle and sett downe such orders as may tend to the generall good as aforesayd, and every man to be bound thereby without gainsaying or resist- ance."-Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 6.
The form of municipal government or Town organization, which has prevailed throughout New England for more than two centuries, contributing greatly to the well being and good order of society, is believed to have had its origin in Dorchester, in the vote transcribed above .- It may be remarked here, that the first General Court, by delegates, was holden at Boston, May 14, 1634, O. S., on which occasion Dorchester sent three members, viz. Israel Stough- ton, William Phelps and George Hull.
NOTE E. 1633.
" Monday, 3d Nov., 1633. It is generally agreed that Mr. Israel Stoughton shall build a Water Mill if he see cause."-T. R., Vol. 1, p. 7.
" 6th January, Mooneday, 1633-4. Item. It is ordered
80
APPENDIX.
that Mr. Israel Stoughton shall have the priviledge of a weare at Naponset adjoyning to his mill, and shall enjoy it from the sayd weare to the bridge where now it is over the said Naponset without interruption ; as also between the sayde weare and the salt water ; that none shall crosse the river with a net or otherwise to the prejudice of the said weare ; and the sd Mr. Stoughton is to sell the Alewives there taken to the Plantation at 5s. per thousand; and that all fish besides that is taken thence the plantation to have at reason- able rates before any other plantation. And the said Mr. Stoughton is to afford the said alewives at a lower rate than 5s. per thousand if he can. Item, the said Mr. Stoughton doth promise not to sell away the sayd mill without the consent of the plantation first had and received."
T. R., Vol. I. p. 9.
NOTE F. 1639.
Thompson's Island, in Boston Harbor, was first occupied . in 1624, by David Thompson, a Scotchman, sent over with others to Piscataqua (now Portsmouth) by Gorges and Ma- son the year before, to establish a fishery at that place. Thompson had become acquainted with this Island during a trip to Plymouth. He left Piscataqua and took up his abode upon it six years before the Bay was settled ; and after the Colony was fully established he procured a con- firmation of his title to the Island from the General Court.
Saggamore of Aggawam's Deposition concerning Thomp- son's Island.
" I Saggamore of Aggawam testify that in the yeare 1619 or thereabouts as I remember, I went in my owne person with Mr. David Thompson and then he took pos- session of the Iland before Dorchester, he likeing no other
81
APPENDIX.
but that because of the smale Riuer, and then no Indians upon it or any Wigwam or planting, nor hath been by any Endians inhabitted or claymed since, but two years agoe by Harmben an old Endian of Dorchester. Witness my hand, this 13th of July, before Mr. Greenleafe, 1620 / 50.
" Witness, EDMUND GREENLEAFE.
" SAGAMORE OF AGGAWAM."
" This is a true copy, compared with its originall on file, as attests EDWARD RAWSON, Sec'y."
Archives of Salem.]
The subsequent grant of the Island to the Town of Dor- chester is thus recorded.
" Tomson's Iland is granted to the Inhabitants of Dor- chester, to inioy to them and their heirs and successors which shall inhabit there forever, payinge the yearly Rent of twelue pence to the Treasurer for ye time beinge .- At Newtowne by a generall Court held there 2d, 9th, 1637."
T. R., Vol. 2, p. 37.
Petition from Dorchester to the General Court.
" To the honoured Generall Court now assembled at Bos- ton, the humble petition of the Town of Dorchester.
" WHEREAS this honoured Court formerly granted unto the Towne of Dorchester the Iland called Thompson's Iland, and the inhabitants of the said Towne long since granted the same towards the maintenance of a free schoole there forever : And whereas this Court at the last Session thereof vppon the petition of Mr. John Thompson for the said Iland (Mr. Mavericke. testifying on his behalfe, that in the yeare 1626 Mr. David Thompson his father took pos- session thereof as a vacuum domicilium, and dyeinge, the
82
APPENDIX.
said John Thompson when he came to age demanded the same) granted unto the said John Thompson the said Iland forever. The which we thinke this Court would not have so granted unto him before the Towne had been called, and libertie given them to have answered and pleaded or otherwise dealt with the said John Thompson about the said Iland; but that the jurisdiction thereof, or some other important reasons for common good, moved the Court there- unto : We therefore, not doubting of the justice and favor of the Courte towards vs and the furtherance of a free schoole amongst vs (which otherwise is like to faile) doe humblie desire this honoured Courte to grant vs some Iland (within the Courte's power to grant) which may help vs towards the maintenance of a free schoole in lieu of that which is now taken away, and not only wee but posteritie while time shall last will have cause to bless you, your justice and piety in advancing learninge.
" And so we rest " Your humble Petitioners,
" THE INHABITANTS OF DORCHESTER."
" Subscribed for them all by the Selectmen,
JOHN WISWELL,
THOS. JONES, WILLIAM BLAKE,
GEO. WEEKES, JOSEPH FARNWORTH,
WILLIAM CLARKE,
WILLIAM SUMNER." 1648.
On the Petition is written what follows, viz. :
"The Dept's are willing to answer this pet. when the
83
APPENDIX.
Towne presents that which is fit to be given and before our honoured Magistrate's consent therevnto."
NOTE G. 1662.
" The 7. 1. 1661-2.
" The day above sayd it was voted whether there should be a Committee chosen for to consider what may be best to be done both for the Towne of Dorchester and our neigh- bours at Unquetie,* in reference to a township amongst themselves, and the vote was affirmative. At the same time there was chosen for the Committee, William Sum- ner, John Capen, John Minott."
T. R., Vol. 2, p. 48.
NOTE H. 1691.
It is believed that the 46 soldiers alluded to under the date 1690, included inhabitants from Dorchester, Milton, and what is now Stoughton, Canton, Sharon and Foxbor- ough ; as Major Walley, who commanded the land forces under Sir William Phipps, states the whole number of sol- diers at 1300. Walley speaks of a Capt. Minott (a Dor- chester name), but the General Court, in granting to the Dorchester people the Township of Ashburnham, state the grant to have been made in consideration of services of soldiers under Capt. John Withington in 1690.
NOTE I. 1701.
The following is nearly a literal translation of the cele- brated epitaph on Governor Stoughton's tomb-stone. There are very few of the inhabitants of Dorchester who have not
* Now Milton.
84
APPENDIX.
perused the Latin inscription on the well-known marble monument; and to them, as well as to others, it is thought this English version of it will be acceptable.
Here lies WILLIAM STOUGHTON, ESQUIRE, Lieutenant, afterwards Governor, Of the Province of Massachusetts in New England, also Chief Judge of the Superior Court in the same Province. A man of wedlock unknown, Devout in Religion,
Renowned for Virtue,
Famous for Erudition, Acute in Judgment, Equally Illustrious by Kindred and Spirit, A Lover of Equity, A Defender of the Laws, Founder of Stoughton Hall,
A most Distinguished Patron of Letters and Literary Men,
A most strenuous Opponent of Impiety and Vice.
Rhetoricians delight in Him as Eloquent,
Writers are acquainted with Him as Elegant,
Philosophers seek Him as Wise,
Doctors honor Him as a Theologian,
The Devout revere Him as Grave,
All admire Him ; unknown by All Yet known to All. What need of more, Traveller ? Whom have we lost- STOUGHTON ! Alas ! I have said sufficient, Tears press, I keep silence. He lived Seventy Years ; On the Seventh of July, in the Year of Safety 1701 He Died. Alas ! Alas ! What Grief !
85
APPENDIX.
NOTE J.
" At a Town Meeting the 9th (12th) 1668. The same day Nicholas Bolton did agree to tend ye meeting-house to keep it in decent order and to ring ye Bell ye yeer insewing ; for which he is to have £3, of which 10s of it in money if it can be gott, or otherwise to have 3d upon ye shilling for that 10s. Jno. Capen and Samuell Clap made the agree- ment with him, being thereunto appointed by ye Selectmen at their meeting ye day before."
T. R., Vol. I. p. 202.
" At a Meeting of the Selectmen the 12 March, 1687-8. Sergt. Leadbetter was ordered to speak to Isaac Riall to make a way up to the Bell."
T. R., Vol. I. p. 441.
" At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Dorchester on ye fifth day of March, Anno Domini 1732, Legally Warned ;
" Voted, That there be allowed & Paid out of the Town Treasury the sum of Three Pounds Ten Shillings, towards ye Ringing of ye Bell on the evenings at nine of the clock ye Year Ensuing."
T. R., Vol. II. p. 343.
NOTE K.
As an accompaniment to the list of Town Clerks of Dorchester from 1630 to the death of Mr. Blake, as given in the Index, the following catalogue of his successors is added, with the year of their election.
March 13, 1748, N. Clap.
March 6, 1786, Saml. Coolidge.
March 2, 1789, N. Clap. 8
86
APPENDIX.
March 4, 1799, Ebenezer Tolman. April 7, 1806, Edw. W. Baxter, pro tem. May 26, 1806, Ebenezer Tolman. March 7, 1814, James Everett. March 4, 1816, Ebenezer Tolman.
March 7, 1826, Thomas J. Tolman.
INDEX.
PAGE
ARRIVAL of adventurers at Nantasket 8
Accounts of Rateable Estate to be returned (Dec. 1, 1658) 21
Arms of the Colony of Massachusetts 29
Assessors, first election of in Dorchester 16
Assessors, ex-officio 34
Adventures with the French and Indians 61
Atherton, Maj. Gen. Humphrey, death of 21 his Epitaph 21
Bailiffs, first chosen 13
Bailiff, office abolished . 22
Bell, new,* hung in Dorchester Meeting-House 74
" donation of the, and its weight and cost 74
Bird, Ebenezer, accidental death of 37
Bird, Joseph, accidental death of 39
Births from 1657 to 1735 49
Blake, Increase, nativity of
35
Blake, James, ordained Deacon 46 marriage of 30
26
Blake, James, Jr., marriage of 30
Blake, James, Elder, death of 35
offices of 35
Blake, James, Deacon, his death 48
his Epitaph 48
Blake, James (author of the Annals), nativity of iv. 32
surveys the Cedar Swamps 40
elected Selectman 44
66 “ Town Treasurer 44
Town Clerk 44
severe sickness of . 67
* The same bell now occupies the belfry of the Meeting-House of the First Parish .- See Note J.
88
INDEX.
Blake James, (author of the Annals), lamentation of 68
enumeration of public services of . 68
66
his reflections on action of the Town 63
death of . 71
public services of 71
character of 71
Bowman, Jonathan, Rev. ordination of
46
Bridge built over Neponset river,* 1651 19
Burr, Jonathan, Rev. his death . 17
Canada, expedition against 63
relinquished 63
Canadian troubles renewed 65
Cannon mounted on Rock Hill (Oct. 31, 1639-T. Records) 16
Capen, John, death of 33
public services of 33
Capen, Purchase, accidentally killed
34
Chickatabut, Jeremy, sale of land confirmed 25
Christian, Abby, drowned 35
Church gathered at Plymouth
8
Church troubles at Dorchester 63
Church, disaffected members of, separate 64
Clap, Edward, Deacon, death of 23
Clap, Hopestill, chosen Ruling Elder 39
Clap, Deacon Jonathan, death of .
his character
43
Clap, John, accidental death of
50
Clap, Nicholas, death of 28 10
Clap, Roger, his arrival at Dorchester
66 his character . .
10
66 his Memoirs quoted .
11
66 " authorized to solemnize matrimony 22
appointed Captain of the Castle 23
Clap, Samuel, Elder, death of 38
civil and ecclesiastical offices of 38
Clerk, Town, or Recorder, first chosen 19
Deacon Wiswell 20
* See Note E.
43
89
INDEX.
Clerk, Town, pro tempore, Robert Howard
19
William Blake, Sen.
20
66
to be chosen annually . 23 23
John Capen chosen
chosen annually to page
28
James Blake 66
to page
31
Samuel Clap chosen
31,32
66 election of, omitted in 1688
32
in 1690 . 32
" in 1691 and 1692 33
38
60 Samuel Paul chosen
John Blake chosen
39 39
Samuel Paul chosen
John Blake chosen
Samuel Paul chosen
Ebenezer Moseley chosen
42
Samuel Paul chosen
43
James Blake (author of the Annals) chosen 44
Clerk of the Trainband chosen
of the Writs, see Town Clerk
Collector, Parochial, chosen 30
College, Harvard, collection for
19 40
Commissioners of Justice chosen
22
office abolished
26 34
Constables chosen
20
Covenant of Dorchester Church
14
Cow Walk, three Divisions laid out 16
Danforth, Rev. John, ordination of 30
death of 47
his character 47
his place of sepulture 47
Danforth, Doctor Elijah, death of . 50
his character and offices 51
Davenport, Captain, killed 8* 23
ור Noah Clap chosen . 67 22 19
Colony line established by Court
Commissioner appointed
39 40 41
Robert Searl chosen to page
90
INDEX.
Deputies first chosen . . 22
their election omitted 32, 33, 35, 37
Directory composed and recorded 18
its provisions . 18
to be read at each town meeting 18
Divisions of Land laid out 21
Dorchester, origin of the name . 9
Dorchester Neck called Mattapannock 9
Dorchester, settlement of, next to Salem 10
settlement, its plan 10
settlers of, their names and occupation 10
their character 12
many remove to Boston
10
Dorchester Church, first gathered in England
10
Congregation, its number in 1690 49
Township in 1726 described 45
and Wrentham line extended 40
Drought, severe
69
its effects 70
Earthquakes in 1727 46
in 1744
59
Ecclesiastical Council called .
63
result of . 64
expense of session 65
Elders of Dorchester Church, succession of 44
Elm Trees set about the Meeting House 27
Estates to be accounted for 21
Embarkation of adventurers 8
Expedition against French Settlements 60
its results 60
Canada . . 63
66
relinquished . 63
Famine in New England 11
Famine, disposition of Inhabitants during 11
Fast, at the gathering of the Church . 8
" on account of the drought 70
" kept by Dorchester Church . 72
91
INDEX.
Fever, deaths by
33
Flint, Rev. Josiah, ordination of
25
“ death of 23
epitaph of 28
Fort to be built on Rock Hill, above Mr. Johnson's, Jan. 6, 1633 * 12 Foster, John, death of . 29
66 his epitaph 29
France, War proclaimed with
58
Expedition against 60
French forces, capture of . 65
France, cessation of Arms with 66
Frost, great
55
Grain, great scarcity of .
. 56, 66
66 prices of in 1748 . 67
Grant of Land to Dorchester by General Court
66
to the Indians . 20
66
to Roger Clap 20
66 for a School 16, 20
66 66 66
to the Ministry 21
to the Non-Commoners 21
" New, to Dorchester by General Court . 16
65 66 purchase of confirmed 25
66 twelve Divisions therein, laid out 35
Hall, Richard, chosen Deacon 71
Harvard College, collection for 19
Heat, excessive, in 1749 71
Humphrey, James, Elder, death of 31
his epitaph .
31
Indians, friendly interview with 9
Grant of Land to . 20
adventures with 61
Land Bank scheme projected 56
* On "20th, 3d mo., 1644," a tax of £100 was assessed by Town Order, for Fortifications on Calf Island, and for ammunition for the same .- Town Records, Vol. I. p. 61.
.
.
15
92
INDEX.
Land Bank, suits against proprietors of . 57
Line of the Colony established . 40
Mather, Rev. Richard, his arrival from England 13
his union with this Church 14
death of 24
epitaph on 24
Mather, Timothy, accidental death of
30
Matrimony solemnized by Roger Clap 22
Mattapan, its discovery by the adventurers 9
removal of settlers to 9
its settlement 9
its name changed to Dorchester 9
Mattapannock, or Dorchester Neck
Maverick, Mr. John, pastor of Dorchester Church
Meeting-House, first notice of
12
new, ordered 17
Building Committee of 17
new, built 27
old, sold 23
new, raised
57
66 dimensions of
58 58
66 Artificers
58
66
66 its cost 58
59
at Punkapaog, located
38
Mill, first, on Neponset river .
12
Milton set off from Dorchester
Ministers, election of at Plymouth ordination of, here . 14, 25, 30, 46
22 8
Minot, Elder George, death of 25
Nantasket, arrival of adventurers at 8
Neck Lands laid out
16
Neponset river, Bridge over
19
Mill on . 12
Orders, Municipal . 12, 18
9
10
Building Committee
first meeting in
93
INDEX.
Orders, method of authenticating
13
subject to revision . 13 .
66 for division of lands 16
Patent Line, Petition for alteration of the 73
Peace with France and Spain proclaimed 69
Pepperill, Gen. William, Baroneted 61
Pierce, Samuel, death of 35
Poole, William, his death
26
his character 26
his epitaph .
26
Pleurisy, epidemic, in Dorchester
72
Preaching in Dorchester in 1632
11
Preston, Elder Daniel, death of
44
Preston, Daniel, Jr., sudden death of
58
Proprietors of Dorchester incorporated 40
Punkapaog 'Township set off 45
called Stoughton . 45
Plantation set off 38
Constable chosen for 37
limits of . 33
66 Meeting-House located 38
Quincy, Edmund, Agent to Great Britain . 51
his departure for England 51
his sudden death 52
his monument and epitaph 52
Raters chosen 16
the election of omitted 32,33
Records of Dorchester, a hiatus therein 17
of Births and Deaths burnt 20
Recorder, first choice of 20
to be chosen annually 23
Reimbursement of Expenses of War . 69
Removal from Nantasket to Watertown 8
of Mr. Warham to Winsor . 14
Representatives or Deputies . ·
24
election of omitted 32,35
94
INDEX.
Restoration of Cape Breton to France 69
Rock Hill, Cannon mounted on . 16
Royal, Isaac, discharged of work on Meeting-House 32
Royal, Widow, death of 48 .
School, Land appropriated for a 16
School Wardens, first choice of .
17
66 their powers and duties 17
School House built
34
its cost 34
Scriptures read in Dorchester Meeting-House 75
Selectmen first chosen 12
66 their powers and duties 13
second election of . 13
power of seven of the board 13
their orders subject to revision 13
their powers further defined 13
one of the board to be Moderator 18
appointed Raters, ex-officio 32
66 time of their election altered 33
appointed Assessors, ex-officio 34 7
Separation in Dorchester Church 63
Shirley, Governor, his departure for London
69
return of 69
33
" its ravages in Boston and Dorchester
43
in Boston and vicinity 74
Snow, remarkable
41
Soldiers, loss of at sea
33
Spain, War proclaimed against 53
" cessation of Arms with 66
Spurr, Capt., appointed Justice of the Peace 67
Squamaug confirms purchase of New Grant 25
Squeb, Capt., his perfidy 8
Stoughton, I., licensed to build a Mill * (Nov. 3, 1633) . . 12
* See Note E.
Provincial, sent to West Indies
55
Settlers, motives of in leaving England
Small Pox, numerous deaths by
95
INDEX.
Stoughton set off from Dorchester . 45
Stoughton, Lt. Gov. Wm., death of 36
66 his epitaph 36
Strangers not to be received without notice 21
Style, New, established by Parliament . 72
Taylor, Lt. Gov. Wm., death of 48
Tax levied in Dorchester 12
Tennant, Gilbert, his arrival at Boston 54
Thanksgiving for revival of vegetation 71
Thomson's Island appropriated for the support of a School 16
its possession withdrawn 16
Topliff, Dea. Nathaniel, death of 72
Treasurers, first, of Dorchester 17
Votes, to have two or three readings before passage 18 .
War with Spain proclaimed 53
War with France proclaimed 58
War, Expenses of reimbursed 69
Wardens of School first chosen . 17
Warham, Mr. John, Teacher of the Church in Dorchester 10
Warham, Rev. Mr., his removal to Winsor 14
Warrants, Town, to express all matters of debate 17
Watertown, removal of adventurers to 8
White, John, accidental death of .
37
Whitefield, Mr. Geo., his arrival at Boston
54
66 his preaching 54
his auditory 54
effects of his preaching 55
" Author's reflections on 55
his second visit 58
Winter, tedious 51,55
moderate 57
Withington, Elder Henry, death of 23
Withington, Mather, death of 50
Wrentham and Dorchester line extended 40
* " 18 10mo. 1642. Every person offending against this order shall forfeit for the same six pence for every such offence, to be levied by distress for the use of the Town."-Town Records, Vol. I. p. 54.
7
No. 1 of the COLLECTIONS OF THE DOR- CHESTER ANTIQUARIAN AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. MEMOIRS OF ROGER CLAP. - This work was published in 1844. The Memoirs, written by Roger Clap himself, together with an Introduction by the Rev. Mr. Prince, and some account of Capt. Clap's family by Mr. Blake, the author of the preceding Annals, were re- printed from the first edition, issued in 1731. Some fur- ther account of his descendants by the Publishing Commit- tee of the Society is also prefixed to the work, and there is added a copy of the inscription on his grave-stone as now seen in the Chapel Burying Ground in Boston.
For sale by the Publisher of the Annals, over 184 Wash- ington street, Boston. Price 25 cents. .
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