USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Holliston > Genealogical register of the inhabitants and history of the towns of Sherborn and Holliston, 1856 > Part 38
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sherborn > Genealogical register of the inhabitants and history of the towns of Sherborn and Holliston, 1856 > Part 38
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HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
compromised. But in reference to Sherborn lands, the rightful claim- ants first appeared and were satisfied. Deeds were taken of the Nip- mucks to all parts of the original and present town.
The exploration of their lands by the English probably commenced with the discovery of their tribe in 1621; for, in 1631, when Winthrop & Co. ascended Prospect Hill in Waltham, he " saw the whole Nipmuck country." In 1643 this part was so well known, that the G. Court did not hesitate to encourage its settlement by grants to individuals. These grants, which were multiplied until the entire district was incorporated into towns, conveyed to the grantees only the rights secured to the colony by charter from King James I, who, by right of discovery. claimed the entire country, to the exclusion not of the aborigines, whatever other sovereigns had done, but of other nations, and of the independent jurisdiction of colonists. Such grants never interfered with the perfect right of the Indians to such lands as they had improved, nor denied their imperfect rights to such as remained in a state of nature, and over which they had chanced to be the first to roam. On the contrary, the grantees were required to extinguish by purchase the Indian claims, which were doubtless rights with reference to other Indians who subsisted by hunting, but mere claims of doubtful right in reference to such as would denude and till the soil. The grantees, or their repre- sentatives, as will be seen, respected the condition of their grants. All Indian deeds were not recorded. Enough, however, have been found to justify the belief that they paid the Indian to his full satisfaction for every acre they took, and such a price, too, that had he invested a frac- tion of it in an axe, a spade, and a hoe, and obeyed an obvious law of nature, illustrated and enforced by the example of his new neighbors, he would have quickly attained to comforts unknown to him in his savage state, while in the occupancy of all his lands.
The following grants occur on the records of the General Court viz. :- In
1643, to Mr. [Rev.] John Allen, of Dedham, was granted 200 acres in the woods W. of Chs. R., now in the N. E. part of Med., owned and occupied by Cpt. Eleazer and Dea. Paul Daniels.
Oct. 23, 1649, to Cpt. Robert Kayne [of Bos.] 1,074 do. of meadow and upland upon Pawsett alias Pocassett hill, beyond Dedham Vil- lage [Medfd. ], bounded S. by Mr. John Allen's farm ; S. by E. and E. and N. E. by Charles R .; N. and N. W. and W. by waste lands. Sce p. 23.
At the same date, to Richard Brown [of Watertown] 200 acres; bounded on the S. and S. W. by Kayne's land ; on the E. by Charles R. ? ; on the N. W. [pr. N. E.] by Richard Parker ; and on the N. W. by waste lands. See p. 161.
At the same time to Richard Parker [of Bos. ] 435 acres, bounded S. by Brown's ; S. E. by Chs. R. ; E. by the upland running into the River ; and on the N. W. the W. and S. W. by waste land ; and confirmed to him 100 acres more, bought of the Surveyor General. His lot " was to continue so far on the River, taking in the
268
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
meadow on both sides as lyeth on the E. side of the path going from Pocassett Hill to Natick." See p. 261.
About the same time, and before Natick was incorporated, was granted to some one 500 acres, including Sewell's meadow and the upland N. and E. and S. E. of the same, which was owned and improved by Cpt. John Hull of Bos. prior to 1674.
1656, to Simon Bradstreet was laid out 800 do. [granted before Natick was laid out], bounded E. by Chs. R. and situated E. and N. and N. W. of Farm Lake. See p. 178.
May 26, 1659, to Capt. Eleazer Lusher 250 do., the S. angle thereof lying near Medfield new grant, and the N. angle near the S. W. angle of Natick bounds [the land on which the central village of Holliston is built] ; also to him 12 acres of meadow in two parcels beyond the N. W. angle, lying on the brook Wennakeening, [Chicken Br., ] which' Lusher sold to Henry Adams of Medf'd 15 (15) 1660; and which was afterward owned by Col. Samuel Brown, of Salem, and Judge Sewell. See p. 69 and 243.
May 11, 1659, was laid out to Dean Winthrop, s. of Gov. John W., and to Francis Vernon, 700 acres as it abutteth upon Medfd. line, in part towards the S., and a stony ridge in part, and Bogistow brook in part towards the E. and S. E., and upon a pond (Winthrop's) in part toward the W., and upon waste lands on all other parts. This was purchased and extensively improved by Capt. John Goulding. See p. 91 and 174.
1658, to Tho. Holbrook was granted 50 acres, and he purchased 43 more, making up the " upland running into the River" at the Narrows E. of Parker's grant. See p. 140.
1658, to Mr. Wm. Colburne of Bos., and laid out in 1660, 300 acres in the wilderness beyond Medfd. adjoining unto the E. side of Nicholas wood," now situated between Maj. Goulding's and the Farm Bridge.
1662, to Col. Wm. Brown, 500 acres on the S. side of Sudbury R. at Cold Spring, on which stands Ashland village, which was mean- dered out in running the N. line of Sherborn, and afterwards an- nexed to Hopk., and afterwards owned and improved by Col. Jones. 1664. 27, (3) to Lt. Joshua Fisher of Dedham, 300 acres upon Mdfd. line towards the S., and' Tyng's farm toward the N., Sheffield's farm towards the W., and an acute angle towards the E. This land he seems to have sold to Nicholas Wood. He appears to have previously received a grant of 900 or 500 do. W. of this grant, which he had before sold to Edmond and Wm. Sheffield.
About the same time, to Edward Tynge, a committee of the G. C. recommended that 250 acres be granted, which he doubtless re- ceived, N. E. of Bogistow Br., and now situated S. of the late Wm. Leland's, or Horatio Gardner's.
1664. 28 (8) to John Parker, 150 acres now in H.
Other grants, and one of Hopper's farm of 280 do. in the W. of H., were also granted prior to 1674. These grants were early
269
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
sold to actual settlers, who extinguished the Indian claims as they found claimants or chiefs empowered to make conveyances. Shef- field purchased in 1675, 500 acres of John Awasamog, now includ- ing Doct. Fisk's farm and the Stedman place. Others united in procuring a common quit-claim, as the following transcript from Suff. Reg. of Deeds will show.
To all Christian People to whom this present Deed of sale shall come, greeting. Know ye that we, Waban, John Awasamog, Peter Ephraim, Piamboho, John Magus, Andrew Pittimee, & Great John, natives & natural descendants of the ancient inhabitants & proprietors of the lands lying in about the town of Sherborne within the Massa- chusits colony of New England, for ourselves as principalls, & in be- half of the other Indian claimers of said lands, being thereto impowered by them, for & in consideration of the summe of Two and Twenty Pounds current money of New England, to us in hand at and before the Enseal- ing hereof, well & truly paid by the several persons hereafter named, viz., John Hull, Esq., of Boston, Capt. Wm. Gerrish, [successor to Mr. Richard Parker, late of the same place, dece'd,] Daniel Morse sen., Hopestill Lealand & Margaret Lealand, [joint Executors of the last will of Henry Lealand dec'd,] John Hill, Tho. Breek, Tho. Holbrooke, Benj. Bullard, Joseph Twitchell & Joseph Morse, all of Sherborn aforesaid, in proportion according to the several tracts, or parcels ofland, herein to them granted, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge to our full con- tent and satisfaction, have granted, bargaincd, sold, released, enfeoffed & confirmed, & by these presents do fully, freely, & absolutely grant, bargain, sell, enfeoffe, release & confirm unto the persons above named, all these tracts or parcells of land lying in or about the Towne of Sher- born aforesaid, now possessed by or heretofore taken up or granted to them & every of them, viz .: unto John Hull, Esq., lands in severall par- cells, estimated at six hundred acres, be they more or lesse ; unto Capt. Wm. Gerish, six hundred acres, more or lesse ; unto Hopestill & Marga- ret Lealand, two hundred acres, more or lesse ; unto Daniel Morse sen., six hundred acres, more or lesse ; unto John Hill, two hundred & fifty acres, more or lesse ; unto Tho. Breek, one hundred acres, more or lesse ; unto Thomas Holbrooke, three hundred acres, more or lesse ; unto Benjamin Bullard, one hundred & fifty acres, more or lesse ; unto Joseph Twitchell, one hundred acres, more or lesse ; unto Joseph Morse, one hun- dred acres, more or lesse, both upland and meadow grounds within the said severall tracts or parcells ; together with all and singular, the wayes, rights, libertys, pasturages, herbage, comonage, feedings, rivers, waters, ponds, springs, pools, fowling, fishing & hunting thereunto be- longing, & all woods, underwoods, trees, and timber whatsoever there- upon standing, lying or growing ; and all the estate, right, titles, inter- est, use, propriety, possession, claime & demand whatsoever of the In- dians or either of them, of, in, or to the said lands & premises, & every of them.
To have & to hold the above granted tracts or parcels of land above mentioned, with the rights, libertys, privilidges & appurtenances thereof,
270
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
unto the said John Hull, William Gerrish, Daniel Morse, sen., Hopestill & Margaret Lealand, John Hill, Thomas Breek, Thomas Holbrooke, Ben- jamin Bullard, Joseph Twitchell & Joseph Morse, respectively, & their re- spective heirs & assigns forever ; and we, Waban, John Awasamog, Peter Ephraim, Piamboho, John Magus, Andrew Pittimee & Great John, for ourselves, our heirs, execu's, admin's, & successors, & for & in behalf of the other Indian claimers of said land, being by them impowered thereunto, do hereby covenant, promise & grant to & with the said John Hull, William Gerrish, Daniel Morse, sen., Hopestill & Margaret Lea- land, John Hill, Thomas Breek, Thomas Holbrooke, Benjamin Bullard, Joseph Twitchell, & Joseph Morse, their heirs & assignes, that they & every of them, shall & may, from time to time, & at all times, forever hereafter, lawfully, peaceably & quietly have, hold, occupie, possess, & enjoy their said respective parcells of land, improved or unimproved, with all rights, libertys, priviliges & appurtenances thereunto belonging, with- out the least let, denial, reclaime, hinderance, suite, trouble, eviction or expulsion, of us or either of us, our or either of our heires, execu's, admin's, successors or assignes, & of all other Indian or Indians whomsoever, claiming the same or any part or parcell thereof ; we having full power, good right & lawful authority to release & confirm the said lands unto the above named persons, their heires, & assignes forever. In witness whereof we have hereunto put our hands & seales, this Twelfth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand six hundred eighty & two, Anno qr. R. R. Caroli Secundi.
Memorandum : It is agreed, before the signing & sealing hereof, that grant & deed of sale is not to be understood to abridge the Indians from fishing and fowling in or upon the pond or rivers within this tract of land above mentioned, according as the law of the country gives lib- erty as well to the English as Indians.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us,
John Grout, Sen'r. Daniel Gookin.
Waban, his marke & Seale, John Awasamog,
Peter Ephraim, Piambowhow,
John Magus,
Andrew Pittimec,
Great John.
This deed legally acknowledged by the parties that signed and sealed the same this 12th day of July, 1682, before Daniel Gookin, Senr., Assistant.
Entered Aug., 1682, Js. Addington, Clre.
This deed of 3000 acres to the grantees and their representatives cov- ered none of the other lands included in the township. But these were afterwards purchased, and no doubt of the same representatives of the Nipmucks, for I find upon the Proprietor's Records of a later date, a transcript of the following rates assessed in 1686 upon the " Inhabitants
271
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
of Sherborn for the Indian title," not including those who had in the mean time been set off to Framingham.
Daniel Morse, senr. 10s. 1d.
Will Goddard
1s. 11d. 4
Obadiah Morse 4
5 Will Rider
6
Daniel Morse, jun. 4
5 Ebenr. Fairbanke
3
2
Jona. Morse
6 10 Edward West
3
8
John Perry
5 10
Elisha Bullen ~
1
9
Joseph Morse
6
3
Moses Adams
5
5
Eleazer Wood
5
0 Abraham Cousens
Q
2
Hopestill Leland
5
4
Walter Shepherd
1
9
Tho. Holbrooke, senr.
7
2
Geo. Brake
1
9
Tho. Brick
4
6
John Brick
2
11
Benj. Bullard
7
0
Tho. Holbrook, jun.
3
0
Jona. Fairbanke
7
5
Zach. Buckmaster
1
8
Will Sheffield
S
9
Ebenr. Lealand
4
0
Eben Hill
0
Eben Badcock
2
10
Joseph Twitchell
3
3
Benj. Twitchell
2
6
Lodowick Dowse
2
1
John Holbrook (of Roxb,) "admitted." Richard Holbrook (of
Tho. Sawin
3
4
Jona. Whitney
4
82
Benoni Learned
3
10
Nathaniel Morse
3
9
The amount assessed upon those who were annexed 15 years after- wards to Framingham is presumed to have made the rate £10.
This, added to £22 paid by the associated proprietors of 3000 acres, makes £32. If we add what was paid by Sheffield and other grantees, who, probably, like him, took separate Indian deeds ; and the 200 bush- els of corn (at 2s. 4d. per bushel), given to the Naticks to render equivalent lands given them in exchange for an equal quantity, the amount paid them for the township could not have been less than £75. This sum was more than equal to that paid by other communities for larger and better tracts, and this in an age when £1 was a representa- tive of four times its present value in the necessaries of life, and in a country where land was so plenty and cheap that half a township is ascer- tained to have been sold by an English proprietor for a wheel- barrow. The natives in the purchase were not defrauded. The strict- est justice marked the conduct of our sires towards them. Long after they had given them 4000 acres, now in Hopk. and Ashland, for an equal quantity taken from Natick, and 200 bushels of corn to boot, the In- dians complained that the difference in value was greater. Our sires entertained their complaint, chose a committee to examine its grounds, who reported in favor of a further appropriation. This appears to have been unanimously accepted, and we hear no further complaint. Our fathers were honest men. They came not as robbers. They found these lands as God gave the whole earth to man ; and they laid at the feet,
3
Ephm. Bullen
6.
Dorch'r) "admitted." Total, £8 9s. 1d.
0
John Hill, senr. 11 0
John Cooledge
272
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
yea, urged the indolent savage to accept a tenfold equivalent in tempo- ral good for all they invited him to surrender. His refusal and conse- quent ruin was not their fault. But the poor Indian is gone-the na- tion is extinct ; and the record of his doom deserves perpetuation as well as the desolations of Nineveh and Egypt, for it echoes the fearful dec- laration, " The nation and kingdom that will not serve me, shall utterly perish." All that he has left of his language and works are a few min- eral implements and the names of a few localities. The latter, let us re- vive upon our maps ; and the former, arrange with our cabinets, in mourn- ful remembrance of his history, and in admonition of the certainty that our end will be as complete, and our relics as few, in proportion to our greatness, if we despise such warnings, and array ourselves against the laws of the Highest.
When the first planters arrived, they found the country densely covered with massive and towering trees. The uplands, by the annual vernal fires of the natives to hasten vegetation for the deer, were deprived of underbrush, and the trees trimmed by flames to a height convenient for extensive views. The low grounds abounded as much then. as now, with wet prairies, called meadows, which were then prolific of blue-joint and other nutritious grasses. These were the lands first sought and most highly valued. Their stock was their wealth and chief depend- ence. No man could subsist without a natural meadow for hay ; and no grant was worth accepting, no farm was bought or assigned after- wards, without this indispensable appendage. Next to wet prairies, cedar swamps were most valued. Unacquainted with the feasibility of con- structing walls of boulders, few of which comparatively had then risen to the surface, or with the durability of rails of other timber, a cedar grove was almost indispensable. Tracts yielding cedar, like the mead- ows, were ever divided into small lots, to accommodate each planter. The botany of the country was then somewhat different from the present. It is probable that all exogenous plants now growing spontaneously here, occurred then. Sycamore, buckeye, horse-chestnut, sugar-maple, butter- nut, persimmon, mulberry, locust, black walnut, white-wood, and other va- rieties, indigenous to our botanical province, were seldom, if ever, then found on our peninsula. But white and yellow oak, of all varieties, hickory, chestnut, and in many localities, pine and hemlock, covered most of the ground, and rendered the task of clearing extremely slow and difficult. Some herbaceous plants, originally abundant, have nearly or quite disap- peared, giving place to less valuable ones. Fowl-meadow, so called from a supposition that birds had brought the seed, made its first appearance about one hundred years after the arrival of our sires ; and as it had never been
* Science shows that God watches over every clod of his earth and drop of his wa- ter, and stocks it with useful organic forms adapted to the altered states which they assume. This was his manner in former epochs : and the record of the six demiurgic days' work implies no intimation that creation was then brought to an eternal stand- still ; and that though the earth should change through the interference of man faster than ever before, God would not follow it, as formerly, and make further displays of his wisdom and power, in calling into being new species of plants and animals.
273
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
seen before, it was probably a new creation .* When the parties entered the country, its contour seemed more various than at present. The hills, covered with the loftiest trees, appeared mountains. The streams, obstructed by fallen wood and the dams of beavers and natives, then over- flowed their banks, and were long in discharging their waters, a circum- stance subjecting them often to the loss of their hay, and greatly embar- rassing intercommunications. They found no roads. The natives had cleared a few fields, and marked out for them the fording places ; f and a saddled ox or horse, and often a canoe, served them for a chaise or wagon. The various wild and destructive animals abounded here,¿ and the treacherous savage was in the land, not yet disarmed by the apostolic labors of Eliot.
Such was the condition of our peninsula in 1652, when our sires began its settlement.
ORIGIN OF THE SETTLEMENT.
The first transfer of either of the above described grants to actual settlers was on May 8, 1652, O. S., (see page 261). Immediately after, Nicholas Wood and Tho. Holbrooke took possession and commenced opera- tions. They were soon followed by Henry Layland, (see pages 140 and 161). They located between Death's Bridge and Holbrook's mills from 1 to 3 mile from each other, and 4 miles from their nearest English neigh- bors. In 1657, or early in 1658, Benj. Bullard and Geo. Fairbank be- gan improvements on the margin of Bogistow Pond, (see pages 23 and 82,) and about the same time John Hill and Tho. Breck settled between them and Death's Bridge, (see pp. 16 and 101). In 1658, Daniel Morse established himself about 2 mile N. W. of Farm Bridge, (see page 178.) These were men in the prime of life, and possessed of considerable property, especially Wood, Hill, Morse and Holbrooke. They were soon afterward joined by Tho. and Samuel Bass, Wm. Briggs, Geo. Spear and Benj. Albey, who located near them, but removed prior to 1674. En- couraged by such accessions, and the prospect of more, they began to entertain hopes of being erected into a town. Though remote from
*See note on preceding page.
+ One of these fields was on the south side of Peter's Hill, where Peter Ephraim is said to have raised corn; another on Edward's Plain, northeast of S. common ; another near Holbrook's Mills; two others one fourth of a mile south of Mucksquit ; and another on Abraham's Plain, one half mile north-west of the latter place.
An Indian trail ascended Charles River, crossed Sewell's brook where Holbrook's Mills stand, proceeded through the straits to Poeasset mountain, which afforded them an observatory for watching the flight of ducks over the meanderings of Bogis- tow brook and Charles River. This trail is supposed to have extended to Mucksquit, crossing Bogistow brook at the Stedman place, and the inlet of Winthrop's Lake, near its mouth, and was doubtless the path to Mendon mentioned by Eliot, and trod by his holy feet.
į These animals were not exterminated for a century. The last moose was at- tempted to be captured by Richard Sanger and negro about 1745. The sons of John Phipps killed the last deer in Sherborn about 1747, and one was shot on Abraham's Plain in H. about this time. Bears were troublesome on Wennakeening brook and Winthrop's Lake as late as 1730. The last panther made his appearance in Medway about 1790.
274
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
Meadfield, and not included within her corporate bounds, they took up privileges there, and became enrolled and taxed as her citizens, and on her records for 25 years the births and deaths in their families were en- tered. But after the expiration of 10 years from the commencement of their settlement, they subscribed the following petition :-
" The humble Petition of several of the inhabitants of Bogistow, to be presented to the much honored General Court, 7 of 3mo, 1662."
" Whereas, the Providence of the most wise God who hath appointed the bounds of all mens habitations, having in mercy we hope disposed of us and our families in that place commonly called Bogestow, upon lands which we purchased of several gentlemen in this country, and having for some years although with great difficulty attended upon the means of grace at Meadfield ; first, in respect of the distance ; and secondly, by reason of the great danger that many times we goe in, in going over Charles River, which is caused by great floods and much ice, although as yet no great hurt done, for which we have great cause to bless God ; yet considering that it may be more for the honor of God and the future good and benefit of ourselves and posterity, that we should endeavour the setting up of the worship and ordinances of God among ourselves ; especially, being increased to some number of inhabitants already, and more are daily expected. These and such like considerations doe im- bolden us whose names are here underwritten, humbly to petition this much Honoured Court liberty to be a Towne of ourselves with such others as may be admitted to our Society hereafter. And further, we your humble Petitioners are bold to request this Honoured Court to grant unto us and our associates for those ends formerly exprest such a tract of land as may be in some measure comfortable for our future sub- sistance, as a small village in this Commonweal; namely, so much land as conteines five miles square, where it may be found adjoining to our own lands already purchased, or upon Natic line, or upon Meadfield bounds as this Honoured Court shall see meet. And wee who acknowl- edge ourselves subjects of this Commonwealth shall pray as our duty is that God would bless and prosper you in all your weighty occasions.
" DANIEL MORSE," " NICHOLAS WOOD," " HENRY LAYLAND," " THOMAS HOLBROOKE," " THOAS BASS," " JOHN HILL," " THOMAS BERCK," " BENJAMIN BULLWARD," " WILLIAM BRIGGS,"
" GEORGE FAIRBANK," " SAMUEL BASS," " GEORGE SPEAR," " ROBERT KENTDILL,"
"BENJAMIN ALBEY."
275
HISTORY OF SHERBORN.
In answer to this Petition, the General Court appointed " Ephraim Littlefield and Edward Jackson, a Committee to view the place and re- turn their apprehensions." The result seems to have been unfavorable, as nothing more is heard of their petition. Of its 14 subscribers, 6 re- moved and one died before 1674. The settlement, however, continued, and was strengthened by the arrival of Dea. Samuel Bullen and adult son, of Joseph Morse and John Perry, and by the marriage and establishment of 4 sons of the first planters.
The settlement was now 22 years old, had large and productive or- chards, and the stock and produce of the farms were equal to those of the largest in S. at the present day, yet it had not extended far beyond the second bank of Charles River.
ORIGIN OF THE TOWN.
The first planters of Bogistow had now become advanced in years, and a new generation had arisen to revive and urge on their favorite scheme of a new town and church. In their second application, Joseph Morse, then a young man, evidently took the lead, and appears to have drawn and first subscribed the following petition :----
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