USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norfolk > History and directory of Wrentham and Norfolk, Mass. for 1890 : containing a complete resident, street and business directory, town officers, schools, societies, churches, post offices, etc., etc. > Part 3
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wrentham > History and directory of Wrentham and Norfolk, Mass. for 1890 : containing a complete resident, street and business directory, town officers, schools, societies, churches, post offices, etc., etc. > Part 3
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INCORPORATION OF WRENTHAM.
In October, 1673, the inhabitants addressed the following petition to the General Court :
" The petition of the inhabitants of Wollomonuppoag humbly showeth that whereas it hath pleased God by his especial providence to set the place of the habitation of divers of us in a place within the bounds of Ded- ham where some of us have lived several years conflicting with the difficulties of a wilderness state, and being a long time without any to dis- pense the word of God to us, although it hath pleased God to send the gospel among us dispensed by that faithful servant of his Mr. Samuel Man, but not having power to assess or gather what have been engaged by reason divers live not within the limits of the town, and the constables
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
of Dedham are not willing to gather what has been engaged, neyther is that engaged by town power, so the pay is not attained but that work is like to fail and we perish for lack of knowledge unless it please God to move your hearts who are the fathers of the country to take care for us, and not for us only, but for the interest of God here, now being hepless and hopeless doe yet venture to spread our complaint before your honors desiring you would put forth your power to promote the ordinances of God here. That which we desire and humbly present to your pious consider- ation is that there may be a committee empowered by this honorable court to settle some way for the maintenance of the ministrie, which we doubt not but most of the proprietors in Dedham and elsewhere will readily grant, yet some there are that have rights here seem only to be willing that we should labor under the straights of a new plantation so as to bring their land to a great price, which no other can regulate [that we understand] but yourselves. Therefore we fly to your wisdom and justice for help which no other under God can do. The proprietors also having engaged but for so long as we remain under the town power of Dedham, and Dedham now advising us to indevour to be of ourselves, declaring that they cannot act for us as is necessary in divers cases they living so remote. And if it shall pleased God so far to move you to help us in this distressed state, we humbly further crave to be excused from paying any county rates for 7 or 8 years we being few and poor and far into the country, and not considerable to the county which will oblige us to serve your honors. We have herewith sent the copies of what the proprietors did engage [which have caused us, your petitioners, to venture upon these defficulties expecting more would have come to us] which we desire may *be ratified till they send inhabitants suitable or what other way God may direct your wisdom to determine which shall ever oblige your poor supplyants to pray, etc."
The selectmen of Dedham assented, and upon the 17th day of October, 1673, O. S., the inhabitants were made a town by the name of Wrentham. The selectmen desire, " if the Court see need to grant them town power that it may be called Wrentham." Mr. Bean alludes to the tradition ex- tant in 1773 that some of the first settlers here came from old Wrentham in England. It is supposed that the Rev. Mr. Philip or Phillips, who left his pulpit in old Wrentham by reason of the persecutions of 1636-8, came to Dedham, and that he received an invitation to the ministry in Dedham in 1638, but did not accept it. After being in Dedham and perhaps other places about a year, he returned to his native land and resumed his pastor- al duties in his former parish. It is said that upon his voyage hither he was attended by " a goodly company," others also from old Wrentham, England, having preceded him. The names of Thurston and Paine are particularly mentioned. These brought " an account of the state of affairs in Wrentham on which the Christian people of Dedham in that country invited him by letter to that plantation beforehand so that when he arrived his friends there did expect and much endeavor to obtain his guidance in the first beginning of their ecclesiastical relationship."
In the petition of the inhabitants their leading thought seems to have
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
been the maintenance of the minister. They asked for town power that rates might be made and collected for this purpose. "Spiritual affairs were ever first in the minds of the Puritans." " It being as unnatural for a right New England man to live without an able ministry as for a smith to work his iron without a fire." And the General Court "judgeth it meet to give the petitioners all due encouragement conduceable to their settlement with the present munister according to their desires."
The minister was the principal person in town - the real head of the people. His advice was sought in matters temporal as well as spiritual. Usually he was the only learned man in these primitive settlements. As the freemen must be church members, it may be conceded that his in- fluence must have been without limit.
The early comers to Massachusetts established a church after their own choice, and the civil polity was in subordination to the ecclesiastical.
In the resolve of Oct. 17, 1673, the General Court granted " all the liberties and privileges of a township" with the boundaries heretofore agreed upon between the inhabitants and Dedham.
Wrentham thus became independent of Dedham. But yet the inhabit- ants were not considered competent to manage their town affairs, and the Court placed them under the guardianship of a committee " for the better carrying in end of their prudential affairs, etc., and appointed Captain Hopestill Foster, Mr. Wm. Park and Ensign Daniel Fisher to be the committee. They were to be joined with any two of the inhabitants that might be chosen, and the acts of said committee or the major part of them were " to be valid the power to continue till the Court take further order" and Wrentham was exempted from country rates for four years. John and Thomas Thurston were chosen by the inhabitants " to joyne with the committee appointed by the Court."
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.
We now leave our Indian cognomen of Wollomonopoag. Hereafter the name given by the General Court is to be our designation. On the 4th day of Dec. 1673, the committee [" for ordering the affairs of the the town called Wrentham, near unto Dedham,] met and ordered as fol- loweth :"
I. Thomas Thurston to have the town book and make record of such orders as have passed respecting said plantation, etc.
2. Property holders there shall pay Is. 6d. for every cow common for support of the minister according to a previous vote.
3. £50 to be assessed upon the proprietors towards building him a house, according to an act past by them ye 31 June, 1672.
4. All former committees to continue the work committed to them here- tofore as to laying out highways, etc.
5. That the order in Dedham Town Book, referring to the admitting of inhabitants, made June 1, 1666, be transcribed in this town book to be an order for the town of Wrentham as to all intents and purposes therein
-
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
contained. Subscribed. Per order of General Court,
Hopestill Foster, William Park, Daniel Fisher, John Thurston.
ORDER CONCERNING THE ADMISSION OF INHABITANTS.
The important order referred to by the committee was in substance as follows : " Whereas towns have suffered from the entertainment of per- sons privately, and as this town is liable to like inconvenience, therefore for the prevention thereof it is ordered that no inhabitant of this town or tenant of any house, land, etc., ' shall after due publication hereof, grant, sell, alienate,lease, assign, sett, or to farme, lett any house, houses, lands or parcels of land whatsoever within said town, etc., to any persons not formerly dwelling within our town,' nor shall hire any out-of-town person for a servant by the yeare or any apprentice for more than two months without the leave of the committee or the selectmen, without such ' se- curitie ' for the town's ' indemnitie' as said committee or selectmen shall accept. Notice shall be given of all such contracts made or intended to some one of the committee or selectmen, and if not forbidden within one month, then the party may proceed therein. But if being forbidden he shall notwithstanding proceed to contract or entertain contrary to this order or shall fail to give notice as above provided, he shall for every month so continuing forfeit to the use of towne twenty shillings to be levied upon his goods by the constable by warrant from the committee or selectmen, or be recoverable by action at law." '
Such an order sounds very strangely in these days. But two hundred years ago such regulations conformed to the sentiment prevalent in the colony of Massachusetts Bay. And in 1692 a law of the province gave settlement to persons who sojourned in any town three months without having been warned by the constable to depart. And in 1736 it was en- acted that the inhabitants who took in strangers should in twenty days notify the selectmen thereof. Prior to these enactment it seems that the towns adopted orders upon the whole subject of the admission of inhabit- ants, servants and apprentices. At this time notifications and warnings were not very frequent; Wrentham being " far into the country" few strangers probably found their way hither. Later in its history arrivals were more numerous and more frequent. One is here copied.
Wrentham, January the 20, 1758.
We the subscribers would In Form the Selecttmen In Behalf our Honer- ed Father Pelatiah man that He Has brought into This Townn from Ded- ham gillyard Morse and Taffey Morse, children of the late widow morse.
Daniel Man, Melatiah Man,
Having progressed thus far, the inhabitants had a general meeting in Feb. 1773-4 and passed votes as to the mode of assessing estates for the support of the minister, requesting of the church in Dedham the use of their lands here for Mr. Man; for preventing the waste of timber, for re-
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
pair of highways, and for fencing the lots of settlers. John Thurston was chosen surveyor of highways ; Samuel Sheers and Joseph Kingsbury fence viewers. Measures also were taken for herding cattle ; for keeping out-of-town cattle off the common lands, for the ringing of swine, and for building a pound.
In 1674 an Indian, named Matchinamook, asked that he might have some place to live in and " full liberty was granted him to go to a place called Harry's Plantation or at the head of ten-mile river, near to the Patten line, there to improve three or four acres of land during his life time." All the votes were subject to the approval of the court's commit- tee. In this year some further negotiations were had with Crossman re- garding the corn-mill as previously related; and in 1674 and 1675 the votes for the encouragement of a blacksmith were passed.
This latter year was undoubtedly one of anxiety to the little town of Wrentham. " Early in the spring of 1675," says Drake, Sassamon's body was found in Assawoomset pond in Middleborough." He was an Indian preacher, a professed convert of Christianity, who had learned something of the English tongue. Having learned from his countrymen that they intended to make war upon the English he communicated that knowledge to the Governor of Plimouth, and by Indian laws thus forfeited his life. Three Indians were executed for the murder on the 8th day of June, 1675, according to the same authority the act having been committed January 29th, 1675, N. S. Until this execution the natives had not engaged in any acts of open hostility, but soon afterwards Swanzey was attacked and nine of her inhabitants killed, and on the 24th of June the abandoned houses were burnt. Soon afterwards a part of Taunton, Middleborough and Dartmouth were destroyed. Mendon was also attacked and it is said four or five persons killed.
In 1675-6 the General Court in consideration that many Indians were " skulking about our plantation doing much mischiefe and damage " offer- ed a bounty of three pounds per head for the Indian so taken to every per- son who should surprise, slay or bring in prisoner any such Indian."
It was probably about this time and not long before its withdrawal that the valorous little colony covered itself with glory in the famous at- tack at Indian Rock. The story is as follows :
" A man by the name of Rocket being in search of a strayed horse in the woods about three miles northeast from Wrentham village discovered a trail of Indians, forty-two in number, towards the close of the day directing their course westward. Rocket undiscovered followed the trail until about the setting of the sun when they halted, evidently with a de- sign to lodge for the night. The spot chosen was well situated to secure them from a discovery. Rocket watched their movements until they laid themselves down to rest, when with speed he returned to the settlement and notified the inhabitants. They being collected, a consultation was held, whereupon [the women, the infirm and the children being secured in the fortified houses] it was agreed to attack the Indians early the next morning. The little army consisted of thirteen; at its head was a Captain Ware. Rocket was its guide. They arrived upon the ground
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
before daylight and were posted within a short musket shot of the encamped Indians with orders to reserve their fire until the Indians should arise. Between day and sunrise the Indians rose, nearly all at the same time ; when upon the signal given a full discharge was made which with the sudden and unexpected attack and slaughter put the Indians into the greatest consternation so that in the confusion, attempting to effect their escape in a direction opposite to that from which the attack was made, several were so maimed by leaping down a precipice from ten to twenty feet among the rocks that they became an easy sacrifice. Some of the fugitives were overtaken and slain. And it is related that two of them be- ing closely pursued, in order to elude their followers, buried their bodies all except their heads in the waters of Millbrook, about one mile from the first scene of action, where they were killed. It is probable that these were likewise injured by their precipitation from the rock, One Wood- cock discharged his long musket called a buccaneer at a single fugitive Indian at the distance of eighty rods and broke his thigh bone and after- wards dispatched him. After the battle there were numbered of the Indians killed upon the field of battle or by the fall from the rock, twenty ; some say twenty-four. Not one of the inhabitants was killed.
Dr. James Mann to whom we are indebted for this account of the fight at Indian Rock says, " There is an intelligent man, eighty-seven years of age [Dea. Thomas Man,] who in his youth was acquainted with Rocket, and perfectly well remembers that on account of the above adventurous deed, he received during his life an annual pension from the General Court. A grand-daughter of Captain Ware, of the name of Clapp, was also living, aged ninety-four years, who well recollected to have heard the story related when quite young, as a transaction in which her grandfather bore a conspicuous part. He adds there are men now living, at the date of his communication, who well recollected to have seen bones in abun- dance of the unburied Indians left upon the spot where the action happened.
In March, 1676 the inhabitants left their homes so lately established here and with so much difficulty,on account of the alarming attitude of the natives. Up to this date eighteen births had been recorded, and the small number of families who were without any means of defence against the savages prudently withdrew. The war against the English was now fairly initiated by Philip. Having stirred up the native Indians from Mt. Hope to Hadley he led them against the settlements of the whites and pro- longed the contest for nearly a year. The settlements were brought to the verge of destruction. Twelve or thirteen towns were entirely ruined ; six hundred houses burned and six hundred men fell in battle. The neigh- boring town of Medfield was attacked, and some twenty whites killed, and more than half the houses were burned or otherwise destroyed.
Wrentham lay in the track from Mt. Hope to Medfield and was in dan- ger. The withdrawal of the inhabitants was in season " no lives were cut off by the heathen." But the Indians came after the inhabitants were gone and burnt all their dwellings but two which were saved because ac- cording to tradition the party attacking believed they had been infected with the small pox.
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
We get some knowledge of the condition of our town and of the manner of administering its affairs more than two hundred years ago from the re- cord of a town meeting held before the inhabitants abandoned the place, viz. : in 1745. At this meeting " Samuel Fisher was " appointed to take down in writing what shall be agreed on this day." It was ordered that a list of voters should be made, and absentees from town meetings were to be fined ; grants of land were to be recorded ; fences three feet high and sufficient to turn lawful cattle should be built; cattle should be herded and a herdsman appointed; the minister's salary provided for and addi- tions made to it as inhabitants and improvements " should increase ; that the meadows should be layed out; that births, marriages ' and deaths should be registered ; appointed surveyors of highways and fence viewers, and men to burn the woods. They also voted that Mr. Man should have his ten cow commons heretofore promised, and that four days work should be done upon the highway. These votes were approved by the committee of which it will be remembered two of the inhabitants were members, whose importance in the little community was thus recognized and acknowledged. One of these was Samuel Fisher, who was appointed also to keep a register of births, marriages and deaths. Even thus early a list of voters was to be made; and under the laws of the colony, but little difficulty could arise in determining who were voters. The General Court ordered " to the end that the body of commons may be preserved of hon- est and good men, that noe man shall be admitted to the fredome of this body polliticke, but such as are members of some of the churches within the lymitts of the same."
And in 1635 " that none but freemen shall have any vote in any towne in any action of authority or necessity, etc.," and " for the yearly choosing of assistants the freemen shall use Indian corn and beans, the corn to manifest election, the beans contrary." Quakers and others who refused to attend public worship were made " uncapable of voting in all civil as- semblise during their obstinate persisting in such wicked ways and courses and until certificate be given of their reformation."
It was voted upon Mr. Man's request in 1675, that the common rights and lands heretofore granted to him for improvement would become his absolutely if he remained in Wrentham seven years.
Cornelius and Samuel Fisher bargained for his 10 cow commons, agree- ing to pay therefore five pounds and five shillings,- £1. Ios. in wheat, 5s. in money and £3. Ios. in merchantable Indian corn. The last meeting of the inhabitants prior to abandonment of the place was holden on the 19th January, 1675, and on March 30th, they left on account of the Indian war .* And on the second of February, 1675-6, the prudential committee met, and appointed the first Tuesday in March following, to be a meeting of the proprietors at Dedham in reference to their replanting there again. On the 6th of March, 1677, at the proprietor's meeting in Dedham the question being put whether " they would go on with Wrentham plantation again if there were peaceable times?" The answer was by all present that
*The book-keeper made this entry " March ye 30, 1876, ye inhabitants ware drawn of by rason of ye. Endian worre."
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
they would bear charges there as formerly, and divers of them expressed themselves willing to return if Mr. Man would return with them and a con- siderable number would ingage in that worke." Upon further debate it was decided that a committee be chosen to present the case of Wrentham to the Hon. General Court for their advice and concurence in order to the rebuilding the towne againe." They also made a division of their mea- dow lands. In this division only forty-five persons drew lots. In 1660, the number of proprietors was eighty. Sixteen years had made changes in the ownership of lands.
From this time until January, 1677, no important public transactions concerning Wrentham took place. At that time the " proprietors and those that were formerly inhabitants of Wrentham " met, and the in- habitants were asked whether " they would go on to rebuild and inhabit Wrentham." Their answer was as follows :
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, having formerly had our residence in Wrentham, but by those sad and sollame dispensations of God's providence were removed yet desire that a worke for the honour of God and the good and comfort of ourselves and ours might be again ingaged in and promotted att that place. Therefore our purpose is to returne thither God willing. But knowing our own inability for so great and waytie a worke, both in respectt of our insufficiency for the caring on of new planta- tion worke, and the dainger that may yet be renewed upon us by the heathens breaking out on us thinke it not saffe for us to returne alone ex- cept other of the proprietors joyne to go up along with us or send inhabit- ants to ingage in that worke with us." Subscribed by Elizear Metcalf, Daniel Haws, Daniell Wight, Samuel Fisher, Willim Macknah, Elizear Gay, Samuell Man, Cornelius Fisher, Joseph Kingsbury, Robert Ware, John Aldis, John Payne, Benjn Rocket, Nath Ware, John Ware, Michell Wilson, Samuel Sheers."
This faithful record informs us who the first inhabitants were. And al- though driven from their homes by the " heathens " and obliged to take quarters with their Dedham friends, they, nevertheless, preserved their organization, choosing John Ware and Samuel Fisher to join with the Court's Committee, Elizear Gay, constable, and the faithful Samuel Fisher, to keep the town book.
The proprietors responded favorably to the appeal of the inhabitants and a committee was appointed to treat with Mr. Man. He very wisely re- quired that a goodly number of competent persons should go back as a principal condition of his own return; and also that a suitable dwelling- house should be prepared for him ; that there should be no delay as here- tofore in the payment of his salary. This of the proprietors. Another condition of great importance he annexed, to wit: that they should sell their interest to settlers in good faith.
Other conditions were made to the proposed inhabitants such as the im- provement of his land ; providing 50 loads of wood, care of his cattle, and a chosen manager of his out-door business, and if they failed to perform these he was to be at liberty. As to the first proposition it was stated that the former inhabitants have determined to return to Wrentham and
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HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
that others propose to join them, and that this is all the " incouragement that can at present be expected." The other terms were substantially ac- cepted by both proprietors and inhabitants.
A rate was made probably in 1679 for the building of Mr. Man's house at 2s. per common. Forty-five were taxed for this pursose, including the church at Dedham. The amount assessed was £52. 15s. 7d., of which 4d. per common was to be paid in money, the rest to be one-third part in wheat and rye, the other two-thirds in Indian corn. Mr. Man himself was taxed £1. John Thurston, a non-resident, it seems was the largest tax-payer, the amount assessed him being £3. 16s. In 1680 a house lot and ten cow commons, with the privileges thereto belonging, were granted to Mr. Man, to be " absolutely his." Constables were made to account for the rates collected by them. And it was determined that highways should be made through the six hundred acres. Rules also for supplying Mr. Man's wood were adopted. Votes for the preservation of grass upon the common lands; for the encouragement of a saw-mill ; for a clerk of the rietts (writs) ; and a brand-mark for their cattell. The book-keeper was ordered to procure a "copy of the purchase of Wrentham, Indian title, when and of whom it was purched " (purchased). Mr. Man was to have the benefit of the church lot. Constables, Fence Viewers, Book- keeper, etc., were reappointed. A herd of milch cows was to be kept " in the towne." On account of the scarcity of timber no one could cut off the common land, upon penalty of five shillings per tree. Lands were to be fenced in general fields, each man bearing his proportion of the ex- pense according to the number of his acres. Bounds between town and individuals were to be renewed once in three years.
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