USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register > Part 22
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02 05 2
Tewksbury :
Wilson, Jacob. IV.
07 07 1
Foster. Jonathan 00 01
Wilson, John, IV.
02 03
Kittredge, Thos.
00 01 1
Wilson, John, Jun., E.
02 03
Levestone. John
00 04
Wilson, Seth, E.
05 04 2
Merrell. Stephen 00 01
Winning, Alexander, W.
03 07 1
Patten. Kendal
00 05 1
Obed. Abbot, as guardian for Seth Crosby, W.
05 05 1
Bennet. James 00 06 2
Wyman, Joshua
00 01
Wyman, Nath1.
00 06 2
Wyman, Sam".
00 05 1
Wyman, Timothy
01 01 1
Bedford : Grimes, Jonathan 01 00
Wyman, Wm .. heirs
01 09 1
Whiting, Oliver, W.
08 03
Spalding. Thos.
01 00 1
Woburn :
Wm. Kidder. do. for Jonas Sanders, E.
00 08
1
CHAPTER XI.
LAND DISTRIBUTION. - CONTINUED.
A PREVIOUS chapter gives account of the early distribution of lands. Small grants were of course often made, but there was no general division again until 1685, November 19, and this was only of some remaining meadows, amounting to 2874 acres, in various places. The allotments were to be laid out by Jonathan Danforth ; and Ensign Hill and Sergeant Manning were to aid him. as a com- mittee, "fully empowered to determine all matters of difficulty." They were "to begin at flag meadow beyond Nuttin's pond : Then over Concord river upon ye spangs beginning at brook meadow cove : Then in ye great swamp * by Gilson's hill. Then that peece over Shawshin river below Strongwater brook. Then sace meadow, beginning next ye great swamp * to the dam place appointed above the pond. Then, by ye sides of ye great pond, beginning at yt upper end. Then in ye mill swamp that was drowned. * Then on the north side fox brook. * Then below Sergt Manning's meadow, upon the great brook." A list follows, giving all the original rights, with the changes which had been made. Another list gives the names in the order of drawing, the amount of each man's "privi- ledge," and the number of acres drawn. This second list follows, omitting the last item, and arranging the names alphabetically : -
No.
Acre privilege. N ... 55 Dutton, John
Acre privilege.
36 Baldwin, John
8
Dutton. Thomas. JJun. 5
8 Bracket, Peter 5
46 Farley, Caleb 5
27 Chamberline. William
63
Farley, George
10
61 Champney, Daniel 5
16 Farley. Samuel
38 Crosbee. Simon 8
39 Farmer. Edward 51
11 Danforth, Jonathan, Sen.
15
28 Fassitt, Patrick
S
60 Danforth, Jonathan, Jun.
5
56 Foster, Joseph
42 Dunkin. John
29 French. Jacob 15
54 Durrant, John 24
5 French, John 10
37 Bracket. John. & his father 13
209
LAND DISTRIBUTION. - CONTINUED.
Acre privi'ege. No.
Acre privilege.
59 French. Widow
10
10
Rogers, JJohn, Sen.
8
26 Frost, James
5
40
Rogers. John, Jun.
5
9 Frost, Samuel
58 Rogers, Nathaniel
23 Grymes, George
5
17 Rogers, Thomas
5
48
Hill, Jonathan
124
53
Ross, Thomas
5
57
Hill. Nathaniel
123
Sanders, John
5
22
Hill. Ensign Ralph
23}
30 Shed, Daniel, Sen.
8
51
Jeff's, Henry, Sen.
10
20 Shed, Daniel, Jun.
5
47
Jeff's, Henry, Jun.
10
1 Shed, John
5
45
Kidder. James
5
Shed, Zachary
5
21
Kittredge, JJohn
5
18
Stearns, Isaac
5
41
Kittredge [no name]
24
7
Stearns, John
10
34
Levistone. John
5
33
Stearns. Samuel
5
44
Manning, Sergt. Samuel
6
13
Tay, Nathaniel
10
35 Marshall, Sergt. John
6
3
Tompson, Lieut. Joseph
5
43 Moore, Golden
10
14
Toothaker, Roger
5
15
Parker, Benjamin
5
19
Trull, John
6
25
Parker, John
5
31 Trull, Samuel
23
52 4
Paterson, James
6
12 Whiting, Mr. Samuel
10
Pattin, Thomas
13
24 Walker, Joseph
5
49 Poulter. John
8
50 Wilson. John
5
32 Richardson, Sergt. Tho : 5
This list includes sixty-five lots ; but for some reason the last three are not numbered. The total amounts to forty-seven ten-acre lots. Bacon, Lane, and some others did not share in this allotment. They represented rights acquired by original purchase of early grants, and not town grants, and no claim on their part to share in the common lands was recognized. But the lapse of years gave force to such a claim. After they had shared for a generation in the common burdens and sacrifices which the settlement had involved, the distinction as to the origin of their titles lost much of its force, and it was natural that they should claim a share in the lands which remained to be divided. The early proprietors, however, and their successors of course questioned this claim.
The adjustment of the lines west of Concord River was made by the committee of the General Court, in 1701, [see p. 81 above]. A meeting was held, 1702. April 6, " to consider of the most righteous way for the diuideing of our undeuided lands." The ownership of the various " rights" was canvassed and recorded with changes which had taken place. 1 The question was carefully debated, whether the division should be by "priveledges" only, or one-half on this basis and the other half by "stock and state." The majority, both of proprietors and of "rights," favored the latter basis. But the.
1 Records. Vol. II, pp. 118-19.
5
6
Shildon, John
10
62 Kidder family
No.
210
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
question whether Lane, Bacon, and other citizens should share with the proprietors, was undecided, and action was delayed no doubt for this reason. It resulted after three years in an appeal to the General Court. The petition, 2 1705, May 30, is signed by John Lane, John Wilson, Thomas Frost, Jonathan Bacon, and Thomas Richardson, Jun., in behalf of themselves and others. They repre- sent that they have been many years inhabitants and paid their full proportion of rates, taxes, and charges, with their neighbors, who were the first proprietors, and that now they are to be excluded from sharing in a division of the common lands. This course seems to the petitioners "against all Justice and Equity," and they "pray for an order which shall stop the proceeding until the matter can be freely heard and determined." This petition was not limited to those who had no share ; but some, like Mr. Richardson, who had similar claim to more than the small "right" they had acquired, joined in it. It was ordered that a "stay be put to the Division, till a hearing be had before this Court"; and, after a postponement, decision was reached, November 16, 1705, "that Capt. John Lane and others, the Petitioners that are Freeholders and Inhabitants of the said town of Bilrica, be Intituled to and have a proportionable share with others, the Common Proprietors and Inhabitants of the sd Town, in all future Divisions of all undivided and Waste lands belonging to the sd Town, according to the proportion to the Town Charges, for the space of seven years past." And the town, 1707-8, January 29, granted to the purchasers of Cambridge Church Farm a ten-acre right, "to promote and maintain peas and quietness among us," this grant to be a final issue of differences between them.
This important point being settled, the town was ready to proceed to the allotment of the extensive tracts of land which still remained common. The "commons," as they were familiarly known, still included sections in various parts of the town. The largest was west of Concord River, embracing about five thousand acres, or most of that part of the town. Nearly as much was towards Andover, in the Great Swamp and vicinity, by Strongwater Brook, and between and around the ponds. Six hundred acres were between Captain Lane's farm and the Shawshin Farms, taking in most of the present village of Bedford. Another section was near Nutting's Pond; and lastly, Fox Hill, between the Andover and Long Pond roads, still
2 Lane Papers. See p. 90 above.
211
LAND DISTRIBUTION. - CONTINUED.
was held in common. In all, not less than twelve thousand acres remained for distribution, or not much less than two hundred and fifty acres for each ten-acre privilege. Captain Lane and others who had gained the right to share from the General Court seem to have received their entire portion west of Concord River.
The first step was taken, 1705, June 11, a few days later than the petition of Captain Lane and others, and before a decision was reached upon it. The agreement then made was to divide some of the smaller parcels of " commons" among groups of proprietors who would be best accommodated by them. The process was, however, suspended for two years, and the division was not made until 1707.
The "North part of the Center Squadron"3 included John Bald- win, Samuel Danforth, John Durant, Thomas Dutton, Edward Farmer, John Jefts, Samuel Manning, William Patten, David Rogers, and John Wilson, who seems to have acquired the right of the Widow Paterson. The section granted them was east of Long Street, beyond the lots already granted, and extending from John Trull's land to Samuel Danforth's, beyond the old Corner Burying-Ground, which was reserved and appropriated to this use, 1707, April 4.
The "Middle part of the scenter squadron" received grants as follows : John Dutton and Ebenezer Farley had " all the land on the Northwest of the highway leading to Joseph Davis'"; Nathaniel Rogers and Enoch Kidder received the angle on the south of the Rocky Hill Road ; and north of that road ran the lots of Captain Danforth and his son Jonathan, Nathan Shed, Mr. Whiting, and Dr. Frost. Captain Danforth's lot was twenty-three and one-half acres, "on the north side of the Road downe Stoney Hill: it is bounded on the South by said Road about 206 pole. * east by fox hill about 30 pole, * west, by the Road leading to Joseph Davis', about 54 pole & a half."
One reason why Fox Hill was so long " common" may be found in this record, 4 which is probably of date 1659: "The Mineral company are granted all such mines as shall be by them or their Asignes found in the sircomfirance of one hundred acors of land on fox hill, the south eande thereof, the Hill beinge devided; as also they have free Liberty for wood and Timber for theare use as there need shall require, to improove about the said mine untill it doe
3 Book of Grants. Vol. II, p. 29.
4 Book of Grants. Vol. I (Reverse), p. 29.
212
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
apear they doe find metell and no Longer." Traditions or suspicions of mineral wealth to be found in this locality have always existed ; but it has never been developed and is probably a myth.
The "Pond Squadron" received "all the land upon Bare hill to Bacon's farme and between Nutten's pond and Oakes' farme," and included John Blanchard, Peter Bracket, John Chamberlain, Joseph, Nathan. Simon, and Thomas Crosby, Timothy Farley. Joseph Foster. James Frost, John Needham, Benjamin Parker, John and Zachariah Shed, Isaac Stearns, heirs of Thomas Stearns, and Joseph Tompson.
The "Squadron on the South of Oaks' farme" received the tract of six hundred acres between the "Winthrop farm," Concord, the Shawshin Farms and Winthrop's "great meadow," and the Oakes Farm (see p. 41 above). The first lot was granted to Lieut. Samuel Hill, including seventy-six acres bounded two hundred and forty rods on Concord and sixty-four rods on Winthrop Farm. The main street in Bedford was afterwards laid on the north line of this lot, and the "old line" of Concord is now to be traced sixty-four rods south of that street and parallel with it. The second lot of twenty-three acres was Fassett's, and became the property of Israel Putnam, as did the third, granted to Joseph Hill. The fourth lot was ninety-one acres, laid out to Jonathan Hill, next to Oakes Farm; and others following southerly were Nathaniel Hill, Joseph Farley, Daniel Hill, John Stearns, Henry Jefts, John Parker, and Job Lane, the last reaching Mr. Page's farm.
Near East Street a range of lots was granted "from Sergt. Richardson's to the north end of Sergt. Frenchi's paster." Mr. French, living near the foot of "rocky hill," had that "pies of land between the three paths." Others who shared here were Jacob and John French, Ephraim Kidder, John Marshall, Nathaniel Patten, Thomas Richardson, Thomas Ross, and John Sheldon. John Wilson had a lot near his mill pond; John Farmer and Thomas Pollard had lots near Mr. Pollard's; Dr. John Kittredge had his two divisions beyond Strongwater Brook near the Shawshin ; and John Sanders, John Dunkin, Timothy Farley, John Levistone, Samuel and Thomas Rogers, and Roger Toothaker had "their diuision between John Sanders his lott & Mr. Winthrop's farme."
The second division was made in the spring of 1708, and embraced lands in the Tewksbury part of the town.5 The largest section was along Andover line, and a rangeway was run parallel
5 Grants. Vol. II, pp. 33-37.
213
LAND DISTRIBUTION. - CONTINUED.
with that line and about eighty rods distant, dividing two rows of lots which were laid laid between Andover and the Great Swamp. East of this double row of lots apparently was another, extending from Andover line southerly to the Shawshin meadows; a third was between the latter and Strongwater Brook, and a fourth in the same vicinity. A fifth range was beyond the Shawshin, and a sixth between the ponds; and lots near Content Brook completed the circuit. Eighty-one proprietors shared, as did Colonel Foxcroft and Daniel Stone, of Cambridge.
The following list gives names, the "acre-rights" belonging to each, and the number of acres received, omitting fractions :-
Acre rights.
Acres.
Acre rights.
Acres.
5 Bracket, Peter
47
5
Kidder, Ephraim
47
4 Baldwin, John
37
5
Kidder. James
47
21 Baldwin, Jonathan
23
24
Kittridg, James
23
4
Baldwin. Thomas
25
Kittridg. Dr John
46
4
Brown. George
25
10
Lane, Job
93
5
Chamberlain, JJohn
47
5 Levistone. John
47
18
Crosbey. Mr Simon
167
5
Manning, Ens Samuel
47
25
Crosbey, Nathan
23
24
Manning, William
25
Crosbey, Thomas
23
6
Marshal, John
55
10
Danforth, Capt Jonathn
93
63
Needham, John
55
5
Danforth. Jonathn
46
5
Parker. Benjamin
47
5
Danforth. Samuel
46
5
Parker, John
47
5
Dunkin, John
46
3
Patten, Nathaniel
28
S
Dutton, John
74
5
Patten, Thomas
47
5
Dutton, Thomas, Jun"
46
Patten, William
47
10
Farley, Caleb
93
4
Pollard. Thomas
37
5
Farley, Ebenezer
46
Richardson, Thomas
46
5 Farley, Joseph
46
5
Richardson, Thomas, Jr
46
10 Farmer, Edward
93
Rogers, Nathaniel
46
5
Fasset, Patrick
46
5
Rogers, Samuel
46
S
Foster, Joseph
74
5
Rogers, Thomas, heirs
46
Foxcroft. Thomas
80
5
Ross, Thomas
47
5
French. Jacob
46
5
Sanders, John
46
10
French, John
93
5
Shed, Daniel. Jun
47
5
French, William
46
5
Shed, John
47
10
French. Lt William, heirs
93
4
Shed, Nathan
37
5 Frost, Dea James
47
4
Shed, Zechariah
37
5
Frost, James, Jun
55
10
Sheldon, John
93
5
Frost, Dr Samuel
47
5 Spaldin, Dea Andrew
46
5
Frost, Thomas
47
5 Stearns, Isaac
47
5
Grimes. George
47
10
Stearns, Lt John
93
25
Haile, William, heirs
23
5
Stearns, Thomas, heirs Stone, Daniel
50
173
Hill, Jonathan
162
5 Tompson, Joseph
74
5
Hill. Joseph
46
5 Toothacher, Dr Roger
74
64
Hill, Nathaniel
58
10 Walker, Joseph
78
61
Hill, Ralph
58
5 Whiting, Oliver
31
15↓
Hill, Samuel
144
5
Whiting, Mr Su
43
10
Jefts, Henry
93
5
Wilson, Lt John
46
5
Jefts, John
46
6
Wilson, John, Jr
56
Kidder, Enoch
96
47
73
Hill, Daniel
72
.
Farley, Timothy
46
Rogers, Daniel
37
214
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
The same proprietors received grant of the "great swamp" two years later ; 6 it was not divided, but sold in bulk not many years after.
The lands west of Concord River were divided in 1708. Here a rangeway ran parallel with the Chelmsford line, about half-a-mile distant, following also its westerly deflection. The familiar "range- way road" follows nearly this old line, along which, right and left, ranges of lots were laid out. The first range, beginning at Broad meadow, was between Chelmsford line and the rangeway; the second range, southeast of the rangeway ; the third, running from " treble cove" to the river and Winning's Pond, southeast of the first and second; the fourth, along the south line of Chelmsford, and designated as "west of the 1st and 2nd ranges"; the fifth, over against this, is called "the south range of the last two ranges."
The following list gives in order the grantee and the number of acres in each lot :-
First Range :
Crosby, Thomas
17
Fasset, Patrick
40
Frost, Thomas, Jun.
19
Dutton, Thomas
35
Grimes, George 38
Grimes, William
19₺
Frost, Samuel
19
Kidder, James
20
Pollard, Thomas 29
Hill, Lieut. Samuel
62
Jefts, John 24
27
Fitch, Samuel
Richardson, Andrew
29
Stearns, Lt. John
97
Ditson, Hugh
47
Stearns. Thomas, heirs
20
Chamberlain, Clement
21
Spalding, Dea. Andrew
20
Hill, Corp11. Jonathan
31
French, Jacob 49
Davis, Joseph
27
Second Range :
Frost, Dea. James
54
Farmer, Edward
72
Kittredge, Dr. John
41
Dunkin. John
20
Pollard, Thos., by right of Hale
10
Richardson, Thomas, Jun.
9
Patten. Thomas
30
Parker, John. heirs
20
Blanchard, John
31
Farley, Caleb. Sen. 60
16
Page, Nathaniel 62
Hill, Joseph
36
Baldwin, Jonathan
28
Shed, Daniel
21
Hill. Jonathan, Jun.
28
Dutton, John
30
Marshall, John
31
Hill, Samuel. Jun.
20
Kittredge, James
10
Richardson, Nathaniel
7
Bacon, Jonathan
47
Crosby, Simon
90
Stearns, Isaac
33
Walker, Joseph
74
Shed. Nathan
39
Crosby, Nathan
27
Whiting, Mr. Samuel
20
Parker, Benjamin
Baldwin, Thomas
28
Baldwin. John
32
Sheldon, John
44
Lane, Capt. John
127
Kidder, Ephraim
?
Shed, John
48
Bacon, Nathaniel
34
Brown, George
46
Ross. Thomas
48
Farmer, John
Durrant, John
10
Corneal, Peter
" Grants. Vol. II, p. 319.
LAND DISTRIBUTION. - CONTINUED. 215
Simon, negro
17
Tompson, Capt. Joseph
61
Hill. Ralph 32
Rogers, Daniel
16
Richardson, Thomas
23
Frost. Dr. Samuel
55
Crosby, Corp". Josiah 20
Hill, Corp". Jonathan 39
Third Range, beginning at Blood's farms :
Hill, Nathaniel
17
Bacon, Josiah
33
French. John
40
Crosby. Joseph
Danforth, Capt. Jonathan 77
Hosley, James
29
Kittredge. Daniel
25
Foster, Joseph
74
Kidder, Enoch
45
Frost, Thomas
24
Patten, William
32
Rogers, Samuel 41
Chamberlain, John
20
Trull. Samuel, heirs
20
Wilson, Lt. John
74
The last lot is between the road, the river, and the pond.
Fourth Range, west of the First and Second Ranges :
Farley, Ebenezer . 30
Hill, John 10
Rogers, Nathaniel 20
Lane, Job 40
Blanchard, John 21
Patten. Nathaniel 22
Danforth. Jonathan, Jun. 46
Durrant, Thomas
12
Bacon, Jonathan 33
Manning, William
16
Sanders. John
43
French. William 32
Farley. Caleb, Jun.
21
Jefts, Henry
54
French. Lt. William. heirs 45
Paterson, James, heirs 31
Fifth Range, "south of two last
ranges" :
Manning. Ens. Samuel 50
Shed, Zachariah 18
Richardson, Stephen 34
Wilson, John 25
Farley. George 29
Hill, Daniel
31
Whiting, Oliver
27
Toothaker, Dr. Roger 24
Hunt. Dr. Samuel 105
Patten. Kendall 13
A lot "for the Ministry" was laid out, 1708, November 13, consisting of forty-eight acres, "south of the road to longhill meadow"; and, when this division was completed, the town sold five hundred acres remaining in the remote southwest to Captain William Reed, of Cambridge. In February, 1713-14, a part of the " great swamp" was granted to the proprietors ; and, in 1718, a list of proprietors and rights is given (Grants, vol. ii, p. 313) for "a draught of the lots on the land in the scenter of the town"; but no record is made of the lots, which must have been small. The same is true of "a second Diuition of scirts of land," in 1719, and of "an account of the small tract of land laid out in the centre of the town of Billerica, May 6, 1719," though the eighty-one proprietors are all named as above in each case.
In February, 1722-3, "the quadron south of Okes" received a grant of sixty-one acres between mill-meadow and the long pond, "to make up their first Divition," which is described above; and, in 1731, a section remaining of Fox Hill was disposed of. Description of the lots in this distribution may be found in the Records.
.
216
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
In all the early years no distinction is made between "town" and "proprietors" in the Records, but, as the non-proprietors multiplied, meetings of the proprietors are held and record is made separately, but still in the town books. In 1740, April 4, such a meeting voted "to make sale of all the slips of land that may be found in Billerica (or that was formerly Billerica), that belonged to the propriety." A year later the treasurer was granted fourteen shillings which were in the treasury, for his services in "dividing and paying out to each proprietor his proportion that came by the late sale of slips of pro- priety land." The sum was £48, or "two shillings to each acre right." A few other records not important are found ; and the last one occurs, 1755, February 3, when report was made that there were £60 in bank, and the treasurer, Josiah Bowers, was instructed "to pay out to each proprietor two shillings and two pence, Old Tenor, upon an acre Right."
So ended almost exactly a century from its beginning the town's care for, and distribution of, its common lands. The questions involved in this charge had been many and delicate, and the wisdom of the fathers in dealing with them should be recognized. They were not lavish or parsimonious in the use of their land fund, but employed it in a proper and generous "encouragement" of such as bore the burden of laying the foundations, while they guarded it from any unjust appropriation by individuals. The record proves them true and honest men.
The two "Land-Grant" volumes of Records give minute details of the location and bounds of all these grants, grouped under the names of persons receiving them; and the alphabetical indexes make it easy to trace what every man had. Many highways and byways are also described, a large part of which have been long disused and forgotten ; and the account given in chap. vi contains most which can be gathered of present interest on this subject. Those who have occasion can trace many details, and the material is here for an early map of the town, locating ranges, roads, and a large proportion of individual lots with substantial exactness. It is to be hoped that some son of the old town, with tact as surveyor and antiquarian, will yet find congenial employment in retracing the work of Jonathan Danforth and his son Samuel and constructing such a historic map of Ancient Billerica.
CHAPTER XII.
DISMEMBERMENT.
As the population increased in the more remote parts of the town, questions of division arose. Convenience of public worship was the controlling principle in shaping the early towns, and the same principle demanded new adjustments. But the demand was one which would naturally be unwelcome, and met with debate and opposition. After seventy-five years the process began, and did not cease until the old town was shorn of more than half of her ancient territory. The earliest movement towards this end was made, 1725, December 4, in " a petition of Jonathan Bowers, Samuel Hunt, and divers others, Dwellers on the Land called Wamesick Purchase and Winthrop's farm. wet lands ly adjacent to Billerica, between Pau- tucket and Chelmsford Line, praying, for reasons therein assigned, to be erected into a separate and distinct Town."1 This petition was referred to the next session of the General Court, but there is no record of action upon it. It was probably abandoned, in conse- quence of the successful opposition of Chelmsford, which sought and secured the annexation of that larger part of the Wamesit Purchase, which was on the west side of Concord River, the whole Purchase being nearly coextensive with the present bounds of Lowell south of the Merrimack. The petition of Chelmsford for this annexation was granted, 1726, June 13.2
The friends of the earlier project did not, however, abandon their efforts, and were so far successful that the General Court, 1729, April 9,3 considered favorably a bill to establish Wameset Parish, with these bounds: "the line to begin at Concord River, between
1 Massachusetts Records. Vol. XIII, p. 55.
2 Massachusetts Records. Vol. XIII, p. 155.
3 Massachusetts Records. Vol. XIV, p. 242.
218
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
the lands of John Rogers, jr., and Enoch Kidder, and so on that line to the Way leading to Winthrop farm, so called"; thence on a "strait line to the S. E. end of Prospect Hill, six score rods north of the House of James Kittredge, continuing the same line to Andover Line"; then following that line and Merrimack River to "Chelms- ford Old Line, (which was the Bound between the said Town & Wamasset or Indian Purchase, ) keeping said Line to Concord river, to a stake called Patucket or Wamasset; thence crossing Concord River to the bound first mentioned, which includes Wamasset or the Whole Indian Purchase." Final action was not taken at this session, and, in December, a proposal to revive the measure and incorporate Wamesit Precinct was favorably considered and acted upon by both Houses, "the former order of this Court referring to Wamasset Purchase Lands notwithstanding." This proviso seems intended to repeal the above act of annexation to Chelmsford; but, if so intended, the failure of the Wamesit Precinct was probably held to revive its force. The Precinct was required, within three years, to erect and finish a good and suitable house for public worship, " where the committee that have already viewed the said lands shall appoint," and " settle a learned orthodox minister of good conversation, and make Provision for his comfortable and honorable support." This was not done, and Wamesit failed to secure a place among the municipalities of the State.
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