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 4
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 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
A part of the former inhabitants had returned in March, 1689, as ap- pears from the following entry of the book-keeper: "The inhabitants such as were then come to Wrentham being meat (met) to agree of raising an addition for the finishing Mr. Man's house and chimnies according as they had formerly engaged, they agreed that a rate should be made for that end and that it should be leavied upon the commons, for that several of them that had ingaged whose names are upon record were not yett come to dwell here and thereby theire rateabell estate is not in towne."
THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.
In March, 1681, the committee having met at Dedham, and being in- formed that the inhabitants of Wrentham were suffering "great incon- venience for want of a suitable place to attend the worship of God, it is ordered that a convenient house be forthwith erected." The cost was to be borne in part by the proprietors and in part by the inhabitants. In March, 1682, they concluded that " the bigness of the house shall be as followeth, viz. : 36 foote in lenghth and 26 foot wide, with 16 foot stude suffichantly brasted (braced) and all other suffichant timber suitabel for such an house ; to stand the north side of Mr. Man's house." And they granted to John Woodcock a parcel of land " as nere the place where the meeting-house shall stand as may be conveniently had that he might sett
·
32
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
a small house up for theire refreshment on the Sabbath day when they come to attend upon the worship of God.".
This was the first vote regarding the building of the meeting-house, which they thought might be inclosed by the 15th of Sept. next following and finished by March 1, 1684. But a dozen years had passed before its completion."
In 1684, " to prevent unnecssary discourse," a committee was appointed to ascertain what debts were due to and from the town before the war and to do as God shall direct them." They also ordered three dividends of land, viz .: timber and woodland, plowland and meadow or swamp land ; and having chosen their Book-keeper, Prudential Committee, Con- stable and agent for the minister's business, they chose also a committee to assess a tax for the payment of his salary, the only object for which a tax was at this time assessed, there being no school at this early period, and the highways being made and repaired by the personal labor of the inhabitants. A committee was appointed to looke to the boys upon the Sabbath in time of exercise to keep ym from playing and also to sweep the meeting-house." Liberty was given to certain persons to build a gallery in the meeting-house. It thus appears that this first meeting-house was erected and occupied in 1684, although far from being finished. In 1685 there was a general meeting of the proprietors and inhabitants "att Wrentham Meeting hous," when it was determined that the common land between the two great ponds "shall lie common for the Proprietors." Secondly, " that they would sett out four or six acres of their now common land near the metting hous, with twenty or twenty-five acres of other up- land and swamp or swampy land, for the encouragement of a school, which was not to be diverted to any other use or purpose whatsoever." These lands and the proceeds of their sale, let it be said to the honor of the good people of this town, never have been diverted by them from the use to which they were thus applied, but now make a part of the fund whose in - come is appropriated to the support of schools. It was ordered that the meeting-house should be used for a watch-house. They provided also for a stock of ammunition ; voted to establish the Stocks for the punishment of offenders ; to pay for " billiting " soldiers at time of the Indian war, and to pay bounties for " wolves that have been killed." Eleven wolves were killed. John Ware was allowed £1. 4s. 9d. for his disbursements or services in building Mr. Man's first house, from which it would seem that Mr. Man had been a householder here before Philips' war, his first house having being burnt by the Indians.
In the same year the inhabitants presented a petition to the General Court praying that they might be authorized to choose Selectmen as in other places, representing that the committee appointed to have the care over them, although very useful in "yt capacity, yet they are crazy and infirme in body and cannot be got together so often as we stand in need of, etc."
The General Court in answer granted " that they may have liberty to chous men as in other places."
In 1686 Selectmen were chosen for the first time. They were : Sam'l.
33
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
Fisher, John Blake, John Fairbanks, John Guild, and John Ware. And now the town began its real independent existence, being deemed at last capable of acting without guardians. They appointed a committee " to goe the bounds between Dorchester and Wrentham and renewe the markes as the law directs." They voted bounties for killing blackbirds ; adopted orders concerning cedar timber, and fined certain persons for neglecting work upon the highways and for cutting grass upon common land and for other trespasses. The town had at this time forty-two pounds of powder and one hundred of lead. A committee was appointed to go to Rehoboth (since Attleborough) and examine the title to lands in the west part of the town. There was but little money in the plantation, and the salary of the good minister was so much in arrear that the town " doe nominate · their friend and neighbor Sarg't Samu'l Fisher and do desire and impour him to demand and upon refusal to address himself to ye Governor and Council for advice and make his report to the Town."
On the first day of March, 1687, there was a meeting of the inhabitants " to consider the matter of clearing the ' Enden (Indian) title to their lands.'" Sam'l Fisher and John Ware were chosen a committee "to take care in the town's behalf and manage the clearing and confirmation of the Town's title to ye lands in ye town bounds according to ye agree- ment with Dedham at the first settling of Wrentham."
Report of Committee.
Forasmuch as Thomas Awasamogue a Natick Indian in the last year being 1687 made claim to some of our lands which was bought of Philip Sagamor and payd for according as the law then provided for ye Endians, the town being called together to consult yr own interest, ther was a com- mittee chosen to inquir into that matter, which Comittie (after some inquiring and also treating with said Thomas Awasamogue) presented to the town divers Evydances (evidences) and wrightings both of English and Endains for ye making the thing mor clear which Evydences are insarted as followeth.
I. Philip Sachem to Major Lusher and Lieutenant Fisher. This is the letter previously inserted on page 16, in which Philip wished his white friends to send him a holland shirt to wear to Plimouth Court and offering to sell his land at Wollomonuppoag. There is also an entry under date of 8th of 9th mo., 1669, that Philip's notice was received, and a committee appointed to treat with him at Wollomonuppoag, and the report of the committee and the ordering of a rate to pay Philip.
2. The following order. Wollomonuppoag, 10. 9. 69.
To the Selectmen of Dedham-these are to request you to pay to this barer for ye use of King Philip five pounds, five shillings mony and five in Trucking cloath att mony price with a third Pt advanced.
John Thurston, Sr., and others.
3. Receaved of this bill ye 16 of November 1669 in referance to the pay of King Philip of mount hope ye full and just sum of five ponds and five shillings in mony and twelve yards in trucking cloath, three pounds
34
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
of powder and as much lead as to make it up to-which is in full satisfac- tion with ten pounds that he is to receive of Nathaniel Pan (Paine) of Seconck for all the rights of land claimed by Indian title from the town or within yr limits belonging to the town of Dedham which is due by any claim to King Philip or heirs or assigns in witness hereof I have here sett to my hand this 16: Novemb 69.
In presents of us
Joshua Fisher and others
Peter Indian his C mark
Then follow sundry Depositions.
I. "Nathaniel Colburn aged 70 yeare and upward (Dedham March 1687) testifie that I being at Wollomonuppoag when King Philip did make sale of thos lands which ware in the bounds of Dedham to thos men which Dedham Selectmen had sent up to trade with King Philip re- specting ye same and I did see King Philip seal the deed in ye presents of divars Endens (Indians) who he said ware of his council."
2. " The Indian called Joseph aged 46 years or more (Wrentham March 1687) who testifie that when I was a young man I did live at Wol- lomonuppoag and was one of Philip's men. And I know that Philip our Sachem his hunting land was from Mashapogue pond and so along to a hill called by ye English Noon hill and so to ye great River called by ye English Charles River and so up yt River to a River att Sichsopogue and up to Sanetcheconet and ye land belonging to Wollomonuppoag all ys lands I know was Philip's and that he sold it to Dedham men I was yr at Wollomonuppoag when Dedham men bargained for it and farther when I was a boy my grandfather lived at Pabeluttock and payed tribute to Philip."
3. Sampson an Indian aged 55 years and Deask aged 40 years (Bristol March 1687) testifie and saith that we having had som knowledge of the bounds of the lands which sometime did belong to Philip Sagamor and it was always accounted that in the north or northwest part his bounds went from Mashapogue pond and so to Wawwatabstcutt and yn (then) Pabanut- tuck and to Bappatocket and yn (then) to Nihoquiag and from thens straight away to Pontucket River and that these places was Philips pro- priate being his outmost bounds that way and further saith that ye Indians yt dwelt ther did pay tribut to Philip. When they killed a bare they brought it to Philip.
Robin a Taunton Endian and his Squay testifie the same. John Daggett testifie that Nihaquiag was in Philips' bounds.
4. The testimony of an Indian called Labcock Aged 86 years (Decem 24 1686) who saith he knew all the lands here described to be aforetime Wassomeakins (Massasoit) and after, Philip his sons'. The bounds Eastward was at Mashapogue pond and so from the middle of that pond Northward over a high hill into Medfieldward a hill called by the English Noon hill and from that hill straight along to ye great River called by ye English Charles River and up yt River to a pond and a little hill which was by the Indians called Pabaluttock wher was of old a hill field? and further his land was to Scanchapogue River and so bake again southward to Senecheconet and all yt land called Wallammanapogue I say I know all
35
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
this land was after Wassamakins' death, Philip's land and that all Indians that lived there when Philip was alive called him Sachem and payd tribut to him, and further I hard Philip say that he had sold thos lands to Massachusetts men and had no more to doe ther and I did see Philip's men when they brought the pay to Philip.
5. John Daggett of Rehoboth aged 64 years (Wrentham March 1687) - testifie that in former times as I had frequent convers with the Indians upon Ocation I was att a great meeting of ye Indians or an Indian dance where yr (there) was present Ausemakin Sagamore of mount hope and Philip his son who was afterwards Sagamore and a great number of Indians and I did then understand that there was a bussell or controversie amongst ym and many large words about ye Right of land and after long debate the conclusion was that from Pontucquet River and so northward by a small river near Sanchapogue at least eight or ten miles and yn (then) about Eastward and so to Mashapogue pond was and should be Ausemakin's land. Ys (this) meeting was as nere as I can remember upwards of 30 or nere 40 years since and was on the land in controversie.
LAND TITLES.
In 1688 all grants of land were to be in fee simple. 1330336
This year the salary of Mr. Man was to be £40, one-fourth in money, one-fourth in English grain, and the other half in country payment. Ten persons agreed to pay certain sums towards this salary ; twenty-six re- quested to be taxed their proportional parts. It would seem, therefore, that there were thirty-six tax-payers living here at this time. Of these Ensign Blake was the wealthiest.
Public officers made moderate charges for their services in 1688. Lieut. Fisher, for going to Mendon two days and to Dedham and Boston five days, charged twelve shillings. John Ware, for going to Swanze, Brestol and Tanton five days, to Dedham and Boston four days, eighteen shillings.
In the assessment in December, 1688, for paying the expense of clearing the Indian title, which was to be borne by proprietors as well as inhabi- tants, but few names except those of inhabitants appear. Mr. Man's policy that nou-resident proprietors should sell out their interest in the lands here had prevailed. The tax also was for a black staff, for wine and ale measures, scales and beam, and for some finishing of the meeting- house and other things for which the town is indebted. The black staff was for the constable, whose duty it was " to carry his black staff in the execution of his office so that none may plead ignorance."
BURIAL GROUNDS.
When the proprietors in 1689 laid out to Sam'l Dearing, the blacksmith, the ten acres promised him, " sufficient land for to bury in one acre and a half at least and a leading way to it," was reserved. This was pursuant to the reservation made at the original planting at Wollomonuppoag. No more specific statement of the quantity of land reserved for this use has been found. The southeast corner of Dearing's house lot " touched on the burying-ground." It was no doubt near the site now occupied by Mr.
-
36
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
Harlow. Although the proprietors appointed a committee to lay out the burying-ground, yet in 1795 no report of such committee could be found ; but the yard was found to be included in the lands of Cyrns Guild, and an agreement was then made with Guild as to boundaries, leaving three acres and four rods for burial purposes. The old cemetery has recently been enlarged by the annexation of more of the land originally owned by Cyrus Guild. The ancient yard is filled with the dust of generations that have lived and died since Samuel Sheers came to Wollomonuppoag. But
" The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep "
not altogether in quiet ; modern improvement is reported to have driven its ploughshare over their ashes.
In the westerly part of the town (now Franklin) one acre was laid out for a burying place "bounded on the way leading from Capt. Robert Pond's, along by Eleaser Metcalf's; north on the land of Baruck Pond ; eastward by common land on all parts." Laid out March 28, 1735.
In 1689 the town made provision for the first person requiring help as a pauper. The constable was ordered to " convey out of town a woman of late come from Boston to Mr. Blakes, unless she forthwith gave bond with sufficient sureties for the securitee of the town."
Richard Puffer agreed to take the above-mentioned pauper for one year and was to have " three pounds and ten shillings in country pay, and in case she should larn to spin and card yn (then) yr (there) shall be con- sideration on yt account of ten shillings as may be meet." The meeting- house was still unfinished in 1690. It was then voted that "it should be shingled on or before the 20th of June, 1690, the walls lathed, plastered and white limed, two galeries finished and the windows gleased (glazed.)" Watchmen were to walk two together " of a night " from the meeting- house, eastward and westward " not exceeding half a mile." The law of 1636 required them to examine all nightwalkers after ten o'clock at night, unless they be known peaceable inhabitants, to inquire whither they are going and what their business is, and if their answers are unsatisfactory they were to be held securely until the next morning and carried before a magistrate to answer, etc. ; and to secure any one after ten o'clock at night behaving " debauchedly " or being " in drunk." In short like Dog- berry's posse these worthy officers were " to comprehend all vagrom men." And further they were to see all noises stilled and lights put out, except upon necessary occasions, for the prevention of fire as much as may be."
An event illustrative of the spirit of the time happened in the case of Benjamin Force in 1691. Cornelius Fisher having informed the select- men that he intended to let Force into his house as a tenant was ordered to make no contract with him until the selectmen should be satisfied or that his stay in town should be limited at least. This order was, however, in strict conformity to the rule adopted by the town as set forth upon a previous page.
A tax was assessed of £36 for Mr. Man's salary, he being entitled to £40, " having reseved order from ye Revt. Mr. Man to make it no more respecting the waight of publique charges."
37
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
The next year we find the inhabitants engaged in their ordinary affairs, including the perambulation of town lines between Wrentham and Dor- chester, and Medfield and Wrentham, Dedham and Wrentham. The young settlement had now become able to contribute to public charges, and was assessed £135 16s. 4d. as its part of a county tax. This tax list contained forty-two names. John Blake's having the largest sum set against it, viz. : £9 IIS. T. Fisher's tax was £6 2s. 9d.
In some discussion concerning a way to Mischo meadow it was said it would be of great use to other meadows that way, one of which was the meadow at the mine. We get from this statement an idea as to the loca- tion of the mine, and infer that it was in the westerly part of the town ; but as to its character, whether it was a gold, silver, copper, lead or coal mine we are not informed .*
One Doctor, James Stuerd, (Stewart), with his family having taken up his residence at the house of Eleazer Gay, an admonition went swiftly from the selectmen to Eleazer that he must be responsible for this bold physician and his family according to the town's order. It is probable that the forty-two householders, an obstinately healthy people gave poor encouragement to a medical man. So that the worthy selectmen of that day most prudently prevented Doctor Stuerd from becoming an inhabit- ant unless the required security should be given. In 1692 some new regu- lations were made concerning the admission of inhabitants. New comers were required to present themselves to the selectmen and bring with them certificates of their good behavior and honest vocation, and especially their ability to get a " livelihood." And if strangers failed thus to satisfy the selectmen or to give sureties they were to be warned out of town, and in case of their neglect or delay they were to be " sent out of said town bounds by ye constable."
Thomas Young having desired to be admitted an inhabitant, the select- men answer him that as they do not desire to be rash in any proceeding they will postpone the consideration of his case three weeks and if he shall then satisfie them by certificate or otherwise then to be admitted. . At the annual town meetings the list of voters was to be read by 10 o'clock A. M., and absentees to be fined. A town meeting was called on the 28, of April, 1692, " by sun halfan hour high in the morning to consider the subject of seating the people in the meeting house."
The town compensated Dea. Samuel Fisher and Cornelius Fisher for their services as representatives to the General Court by the payment of seven pounds and fifteen shillings; and allowed Samuel Fisher for his disbursements for " diat, etc., 15 shillings for something more than two weeks, his housekeeping included, and Cornelius Fisher for "diat," drink and other nessarys £1 15s. 4d. for about four weeks including his housekeeping.
In 1693 the towns of Rehoboth (Attleborough) and Wrentham renewed their bound marks, being occupied three days in the matter and beginning
.
* The Dedham Record, vol. 3, page 206, speak of hopes of discovering a copper mine within the bounds of Wollomonuppoag at Harris' ground, on the west side of a brook that runs out of Mischo.
38
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
at Pawtucket River. Afterwards the selectmen were directed " to let out the common meadow on the south side of Dimon Hill, nere Rehobah line till the town otherwais dispose of it," showing that a part of what is now Cumberland, R. I., was within the limits of Wrentham.
It was now 1693 ; voted that the annual town meetings should hereafter be holden on the first Monday of March, and this continued to be the day of those meetings for about one hundred and eighty-five years.
A new corn-mill was established at Jack's pasture, now the site of the City Mills.
A similar grant of stream, land and privileges was made to any one who would erect " a good and suffiitiant corn-mill at Stony Brook."
It was not until the year 1695 that any steps were taken towards the building of a school-house. At this time the voters determined to build a watch-house which should serve the purpose of a school-house also. It was " to be so bigg as yt yr (that there) may be a room of sixteen foot squar besides convenient room for a chimney. Galleries were to be finish- ed in the meeting-house and the people to be placed therein, and Eleaser Fisher was to sweep, to take care of the cushion and provide a lock for the door.
People were occasionally warned to leave town, six having been so warn- ed from 1696 to 1699.
Two dividends of land made in 1698 are instructive. The first was of timber land, consisting of only one and one-half acre to each cow com- mon. Seeming to prove a scarcity of timber land. And we may also add that the proprietors at different times made regulations concerning the use of timber and for preventing trespasses and waste thereof. The second dividend was called the great dividend, being seven acres to each cow common right. A corrected list of the commons was prepared in order to this dividend in Oct. 1697, and it was found that the whole number of cow commons was five hundred and two (502), and of the sheep com- mons thirty-one and one-half (31 1-2) ; and that the number of proprietors was sixty-three (63). In this " dividend " fifty-eight lots were drawn, one being the church lot. All but fifteen of the remainder were drawn by inhabitants and by John Thurston who drew twenty. The non-resident proprietors had at this date become reduced to a small number, and the little community was really becoming independent.
Upon consultation with Mr. Man the selectmen decided that there should be "a contribution on the Lord's day after the evening exercise towards defraying his salary." The people had been very negligent about paying him. The constables were often behind in their collections and. many " reckonings " were had with them on this account. The towns in New England were often delinquent in this respect. An anecdote of the Rev. Jona French is told by Pres. Quincy substantially as follows : " The parish was bound to find him in wood, the winter was coming on, they had neglected to furnish it. Experience had taught him that a direct com- plaint would be useless. He waited therefore until the proclamation for Thanksgiving came, and after reading it to the congregation, he said, with great apparent simplicity, " My brethren, you perceive that his Excellency
39
HISTORY OF WRENTHAM.
has appointed next Thursday as a day of Thanksgiving and according to custom it is my purpose to prepare two discourses for the occasion, pro- vided I can write them without a fire. The hint took effect and before twelve o'clock on the succeeding Monday his whole winter's stock of wood was in his door-yard.
A committee was appointed " to take care of the common meadow about Diamon Hill for the town's use. Jurisdiction was taken by Wren- tham over this part of Rehoboth, now Cumberland, R. I. The names of people born on territory now included within the limits of Cumberland were entered upon the books of the record of births, etc., in Wrentham, especially was this the case with the name of Ballou.
In the same year, 1698, the selectmen acting for the first time in the · name of overseers of the poor, contracted with Ben Rocket to keep Han- nah Kingsbury a "distracted or idiotic person for one year for three pounds, ten shilling in money. In 1701 the number of tax-payers was fifty-four.
SCHOOLS-DIVISIONS AND SCHOOL MONEY.
A town meeting was called December 19th, 1701, to act upon the sub- ject of establishing a school " as the law direct."
The requisite number of householders, fifty, now being settled here the town was compelled to have a school kept within its limits. For about forty years the place had been known and more or less inhabited, but noth- ing had been done in the way of a public school in all that time. But now the obligation could no longer be shunned, and the town voted to procure a schoolmaster. But it seems that the good fathers were not successful for we find the record made that they had approached Mr. Cob- bitt with an invitation, but found him engaged for the winter ; and al- though they had heard of other masters yet " considering the scarceness of money, etc.," it is proposed for this winter time that ye selectmen and such others as will join in ye worke with them, doe by themselves or some others in their behalf take their turns by ye week to keep a school to teach children and youth to read English and wright and cypher (Grate) and in hope that some of our neighbors will joyn with us in yt worke we Intend (God willing) to begin the next Monday."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.