USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 7
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" 5. Because Mr. Vane will be upon our skirts."
Mr. Vane was elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1636, and was an active associate of Mrs. Hutchinson in the Antinomian party. Chiefly, it would seem, on account of his religious opin- ions, he was superseded in 1637, and soon returned to England. It was probably feared that he would use his great interest at - court in opposition to the Colony which had thus denounced him as a heretic and disappointed his political hopes. Mr. Shepard and his congregation may have considered themselves in peculiar danger on account of their very energetic opposition to him, and have thought that Connecticut would afford a more secure shelter from his wrath. Subsequent events, however, showed that all such fears were groundless. Mr. Vane manifested his friendship to the colonists, through life, by many kind offices in their be- half.
This temptation to remove was not kept secret, though no di- rect reference to it appears on record.2 It was discussed in a
1 This book contains " The confessions former had been Assistant, 1634; Gov- of diverse propounded to be received and were entertayned as members " of the Church, together with sketches of ser- mons.
2 In addition to the before named dis- couragements, which tempted Mr. Shep- ard and his company to abandon Cam- bridge, may be mentioned the loss of two most valuable associates, namely John Haynes, who removed to Hartford in 1637, and Roger Harlakenden, who died November 17, 1638, aged 27 ycars. The
ernor, 1635 ; and Assistant again, 1636, and remained in office up to the time of his removal in the spring of 1637 ; - the latter was elected Assistant in 1636, at the first election after his arrival, and re- elected in 1637 and 1638. One was col- onel, and the other lieutenant-colonel, of the military forcc. Both were conspicu- ous for moral excellence and mental abil- ity, and each bore a large share of the pecuniary burdens of the public. The death of Mr. Harlakenden was pecul-
53
CIVIL HISTORY.
Church meeting at Cambridge, Feb. 14, 1640-1, as appears by Mr. Shepard's Diary, at which time the project passes out of sight, probably in consequence of a grant then recently made by the General Court, to wit: Oct. 7, 1640. " The town of Cambridge is granted a month to consider of Shawshin for a village for them, and if they like it not, the town of Roxberry hath liberty to consider of it for a village for them till the next General Court." The examination was satisfactory; for the grant was conditionally made June 2, 1641: "Shawslin is granted to Cambridge, provided they make it a village, to liave ten families there settled within three years ; otherwise the Court to dispose of it." About a year later this grant was renewed, with slight change of condition ; and a final disposition was made of the affair, March 7, 1643-4: "Shawshin is granted to Cam- bridge, without any condition of making a village there ; and the land between them and Concord is granted them, all save what is formerly granted to the military company or others, provided the church and present elders continue at Cambridge."1 The church and elders did remain ; lands at Shawshine were soon afterwards assigned to individuals, thus relieving the supposed deficiency of accommodations ; a competent number became resident proprie- tors and cultivators ; and in 1655, Shawshine was incorporated as a separate town, called Billerica, which has since been shorn of its original dimensions by the incorporation of other towns.
iarly grievous to Mr. Shepard, who had hid us all the winter long, and when it been protected by him in England, when was fit to travel in the spring, we went up to London, Mr. Harlakenden not for- saking me all this while, for he was a father and mother to me," etc. (Boston Ed., 1832, pp. 54, 55). Mr. Shepard was accompanied to New England by this " most precious servant of Jesus Christ," and bitterly lamented his early death ; This loss was partially repaired by the accession of Herbert Pelham, Esq., in 1638 or 1639. He married the widow of Mr. Harlakenden, and was successively Treasurer of Harvard College, 1643, As- sistant, 1645-49, and Commissioner of the United Colonics, 1645-46. He brought with him his daughter Penclope, wlio afterwards became the wife of Governor Josialı Winslow, and died at Marshfield, 7 Dec., 1703, aged 72. Mr. Pelham was an active citizen and officer, but returned to England about 1649, was a member of Parliament, and a steadfast friend of this Colony. He died in 1673. pursued by the emissaries of the estab- lished Church. Describing his sufferings during the last few months of liis resi- dence in his native land, Mr. Shepard says, in his autobiography: "Being in great sadness and not knowing where to go, nor what to do, the Lord sent Mr. Roger Harlakenden and my brother Sam- uel Shepard to visit me after they had heard of our cscape at sea, who much re- freshed us and clave to me in my sor- rows." Again, in a house at Bastwick, frecly offered by Mrs. Corbett, “ an aged eminent godly gentlewoman," he says : " I lived for half a year all the winter long among and with my friends (Mr. Harla- kenden dwelling with inc, bearing all the charge of housekeeping), and far from the notice of my cncmics, where we enjoyed sweet fellowship one with another and also with God, in a house which was fit to entertain any prince for fairness, great- ness, and pleasantness. Here the Lord 1 Mass. Coll. Rec., i. 306, 330 ; ii. 62.
54
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
The grant of the Shawshine lands removed all reasonable doubt of sufficient "accommodation," and the Mattabeseck project seems to have been utterly abandoned. These lands were not immediately divided, but were held in reservation for future use. Meanwhile, measures were adopted for the improvement of the present abode, as the records indicate.
Dec. 13, 1641. " Agreed that Robert Holmes and John Sted- man shall take care for the making of the town-spring, against Mr. Dunster's barn, a sufficient well, with timber and stone, fit for the use of man and watering of cattle. Also Richard Jack- son is to be an assistant to tliem by way of advice, if they shall require it." 1
Nov. 5, 1646. " Ordered by the Townsmen, that there shall be fifty shillings paid unto Tho. Longhorne, for his service to the town in beating the drum this two years last past."
Jan. 11, 1646-7. " Ordered, That whatever person or per- sons shall cut down, or cause to be cut down, any tree or trees whatsoever, whether living or dead, in swamp or upland, on this side Menottime River (the great swamp only exempted), shall forfeit for every tree so felled ten shillings. This order to con- tinue until further order be taken by the Townsmen.
" It is also further ordered, That whatsoever person or persons who hath any land at Menottime laid out unto himself or his house wherein he dwelleth shall, after the 12th day of this pres- ent month, cut out or take away directly or indirectly any wood or timber on this side the path which goeth from the mill 2 to Watertowne, every such person shall forfeit for every such load, if it be timber, five shillings per load, and if wood, two shillings per load. Provided, that there is liberty granted, until the 20th day of this present month, for the fetching home of what is al- ready cut out ; and after that whatever is found to be forfeit."
Field-drivers were first elected in 1647: Gilbert Crackbone for the West field, Thomas Hall for the Pine-swamp field, Thomas Beale for the Town within the pales, and - Russell for the Neck of land. Commissioners " to end small causes," Sealer of Leather, and Clerk of the Market, first elected in 1648.
June 12, 1648. " Upon the complaint of Edward Goffe against Richard Cutter for wrongful detaining of calves impounded by
1 This spring may still be seen a few Church Street, where he owned a lot con- feet westerly from the University Press taining six acrcs. between Brattle and Mount Auburn Streets. Mr. Dunster's barn stood on the northerly side of Brattle Street, near
2 Cooke's Mill, afterwards known as Rolfe's Mill, or Cutter's Mill, near the Town House in Arlington.
55
CIVIL HISTORY.
him of the said Edward Goffe's, wherein Samuell Eldred wit- nesseth : - Edward Goffe desired his calves of Richard Cutter, promising to pay all damages and cost as two men should appre- hend to be right; but the said Richard Cutter denied to let him have them except he would take a course with his boy and promise they should never come there again ; and a second time, being desired to let Edward Goffe have the calves, he answered, No. The Townsmen, having considered the business, they thus order, - that Edward Goffe shall pay fourteen pence damage to Richard Cutter, and Richard Cutter shall pay for the costs of the same witnesses, four shillings and seven pence."
Nov. 20, 1648. " Ordered, That there shall be an eight-penny ordinary provided for the Townsmen every second Monday of the month, upon their meeting day ; and that whoever of the Towns- men fail to be present within half an hour of the ringing of the Bell (which shall be half an hour after eleven of the clock), he shall both lose his dinner and pay a pint of sack, or the value, to the present Townsmen ; and the like penalty shall be paid by any that shall depart from the rest, without leave. The charges of the dinner shall be paid by the Constable out of the town stock." The practice, thus inaugurated, of dining or partaking of other refreshments at the public expense, seems to have been generally observed by the selectmen for nearly two hundred years, until the municipal form of goverment was changed ; not indeed at every meeting, nor was the expense always limited to eight pence each.
Feb. 16, 1648-9. Voted, by the Town, " That the Towns- men should prosecute suit in law against such of the inhabitants of Watertowne as have trespassed in our Great Swamp." 1
1 At this time Sparks Street and Vas- sal Lane formed part of the boundary line between Cambridge and Watertown ; and the Great Swamp extended northerly from Vassal Lane on both sides of Me- notomy River. It would seem that the Townsmen immediately eommeneed suit against one of the trespassers. In the Court Files of Middlesex County, 1649- 50, is still preserved "The Reply of Richard Jackson and Thomas Dan- forth, plaint., in the behalf of the town of Cambridge, against Samuel Thateher, of Watertown, def., unto his several answers in the action of the cause for taking away wood out of their bounds." In answer to the allegation
that the swamp was common property, it is declared that, "The present inhabi- tants of Cambridge purchased the whole dimensions of the town (this legally set- tled their bounds by order of Court) of the Harford Company about fourteen years sinee, at which time the chiefest and best parts of this swamp for wood was allotted into partieular propriety and feneed in with their planting land by a general fenee." If the trespass eon- tinue, " It would then be a groundwork of endless contention, if not the desolat- ing of our poor straitened town, and that for these reasons. (1.) The branches of the swamp so runeth over all our bounds, which is for five miles together not mueh
56
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
Fence-viewers were first elected March 12, 1648-9, for the Neck, Pine-swamp fields, Menotomy fields, and West field ; a Sealer of Weights and Measures, Jan. 14, 1649-50; and a Ganger, " to size cask," Nov. 10, 1651.
Feb. 11, 1649-50. " The request of Richard ffrances for re- mitting the present town rate, in regard of God's visitation by sickness on himself and family, is granted."
Dec. 9, 1650. " Whereas dreadful experience shows the inevi- table danger and great loss, not only to particular persons, but also to the whole town, by the careless neglect of keeping chim- neys clean from soot, and want of ladders in time of need, the select Townsmen, taking the same into their serious considera- tion, do therefore order that every person inhabiting within the bounds of this town, before the 10th of the next month provide one or more sufficient ladders at all times in a readiness to reach up to the top of his or their house ; and forthwith and at all times hereafter see that their chimneys be kept clean swept at least once every month, upon the penalty of 2s. 6d. for every month's neglect herein."
March 10, 1650-1. " Mr. Joseph Cooke hath liberty granted to fell timber on the common for to fence in his orchard."
Jan. 7, 1651-2. " William Manning is granted liberty by the inhabitants of the town, at a general meeting, to make a wharf out of the head of the creek,1 towards Mr. Pelham's barn, and build a honse on it, to come as high as the great pine stump, and range with Mr. Pelham's fence next the high street into tow11."
Besides the foregoing transactions of a general character, the Records show that, during this period, a new meeting-house was erected, and provisions made for the support of the Grammar school ; both which subjects will be mentioned in another place. Measures were also adopted to convert the Shawshine territory to profitable use. No general division of the land was made before 1652; yet the Records indicate some grants to individuals,
if any above a mile broad, so that hereby pense of wood in our town by the College, no man can peaccably enjoy his own propriety. (2.) It is the chief supply of the town for wood, being near to us, and many having none elsewhere within the compass of four miles and a half of the town, which cost them two shillings a load more than they can have it for in the swamp. Besides the expense of the in- habitants, it is not unknown the great ex- 1 At the foot of Dunster Street.
which we cannot estimate much less than 350 load a year, the chief supply whereof if it be not out of the swamp, it will be costly, as every load must be fetched above five miles." It is added that the wood from the swamp costs four shillings per load in Cambridge; the cost of cutting and hauling being twenty pence.
57
CIVIL HISTORY.
and the appropriation of one thousand acres " for the good of the church." I quote again from the Town Records : -
April 9, 1648. " It was agreed at a general meeting, when the whole town liad special warning to meet for the disposing of Shawshine, that there should be a farm laid out, of a thousand acres, to be for a public stock, and improved for the good of the church and that part of the church that here shall continue ; and every person or persons that shall from time to time remove from the church do hereby resign up their interest therein to the re- maining part of the church of Cambridge. This thousand acres of land, given to the use aforesaid, shall be laid out either all together, or else severally part in one place and part elsewhere, according to the discretion of the men that are appointed to lay out the land."
" Also there was granted to several brethren that had no house-right in the town, if they did desire it," farms at Shaw- shine : -
" Imprimis, Capt. Googine a farm, if he buy a house in the town ; also to Bro. Edward Oakes, Tho. Oakes, and Richard Hildreth, each of them a farm for their encouragement, if they see it may make for their support and desire it.
" Further, it is granted to Mr. Henry Dunster and Mr. Ed- ward Collins liberty to have their small farms at Shawshine, and to be considered in their quantity more than others in regard of their work and place."
April 1649. Agreed, " that Mr. Henry Dunster, President of Harvard College, should have 500 acres, whereof 400 is granted by the town to his own person and heirs, to enjoy freely forever, and the other 100 acres for the use of Harvard College.
" Item, unto Mr. Daniell Googine 500 acres.
" Item, unto Mr. Edward Collins, in lieu of his small farm within the town bounds, with some addition in respect of his place in the Deacon's office, it was agreed that he should have 500 acres."
June 9, 1652. " It was agreed by the Church that Shawshine should be divided as followeth : -
" To Mr. Michell, five hundred acres.
" To Edw. Okes, three hundred acres.
" To Thomas Okes, one hundred and fifty acres.
" It was agreed that these three above named should have their lots laid out by a committee with as little prejudice to any lot as may be, and so not to draw any lot.
58
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
" Also, the Church doth agree that although the land be, by grant of the General Court, peculiar to the Church only, yet the whole town, viz., such as are owners of house and land in the town, shall come into the division thereof.
" Also, it is agreed, that every man shall have a proportion of land, more or less, according to the proportion now allotted him.
" Also, that every man shall have a part of the meadow in proportion with his upland, to be laid out after the same rule that the upland is, both by lot and quantity.
" Also, it is agreed, that, after the farms formerly granted are laid out, the remainder of the land shall be divided into three breadths, viz., two of the said breadths to lie between the rivers, and the third on this side Shawshine River. The first lot to begin upon a line continued over Shawshine River, the same that is between Woburn and us, running towards Concord until it meet with Mr. Wintrop's farm : and so the said first lot to butt south upon that line, and on Shawshine River, and Mr. Win- trop's farm ; and so each lot to proceed one after another, by due parallels, until they come clear of the farms already laid out, and then to extend in two divisions between the Rivers, and a third division on the east side Shawshine River, and so every inan's lot to follow one another, taking all the three breadths at once, the nearest land to the first centre being still always the next lot in order.
" The number of every man's lot and quantity of acres is as followeth on the other side.
Lot. Acres. Lot.
Acres.
1. Daniell Cheaver 20
17. Wm. Homan 50
2. William Clemmance, sen". 30
18. Nath. Greene and Mother 80
3. Daniell Kempster . 80
19. Richard ffrench 20
4. William Bull 15
20. John Watson 80
5. Roger Bucke 10
21. Richard Woodes 10
6. Thomas ffox 80
22. John Taylor 60
7. Humphery Bradshew 15
23. Wid: Wilkerson 60
8. Mr. Boman . 20
9. William Clemmance 30
25. Joseph Miller 15
26. Jonath. Hide 20
27. David ffiske 60
28. Wid: Hancocke 10
29. And. Stevenson 60
30. Mr. Elijath Corlet 100
31. David Stone 50
16. John Jacson 50
24. Lieft. William ffrench 150
10. Richard Cutter 80
11. Thomas Longhorne 60
12. Daniell Blogget 40
13. Robert Holmes 150
14. Th. Hall 20
15. Widow Banbricke 40
32. Tho. Danforth 220
59
CIVIL HISTORY.
Lot.
Acres. Lot.
Acres.
33. Rich. ffrances
60 78. Richard Parke . . 100
34. John Parker
10
79. ffranc. Whitmore 50
35. Jonath. Padlefoote 15 80. Jonas Clearke 60
36. Edw. Hall 70 81. John Hasteings
80
37. Ri. Oldam 60 82. Henry Prentise
80
38. Gilbert Cracbone
90 83. Elder Champnis
350
39. Robert Stedman 90 84. Nath. Sparhauke 140
40. Tho. Swætman 70 85. John Stedman . 300
41. Wm. Bordman 60 86. Willm. Russell . 60
42. John Betts . 90
87. William Patten
90
43. John Shepard
60
88. Ben. Bower
20
44. Daniell Stone 50
89. Tho. Briggam
180
45. John ffrenches children 30 90. John Russell
80
46. John ffownell 100
91. Will. Bucke
20
47. Sam11. Hides 80
92. Richard Ecles
70
49. Edw. Winship . 200
94. Mr. Jacson
400
50. Goodm. Hammond 15
95. Mr. Andrews
150
51. Steven Day . 50
96. Abra. Errington
70
52. John Gibson
80
97. Widd: Cutter
40
53. Edw. Goffe . 450 98. ffr. Moore, sen". 50
54. William Man 70
99. Mr. Josseph Cooke 300
55. Ri. Jacson 200 100. Wm. Wilcocke . 90
56. Willm. Dixon
80 101. Christopher Cane .
80
57. George Willowes .
60 102. Rich. Dana .
20
58. Tho. Chesholme 100
103. Mr. Angier
300
60. John Hall
20
105. Rogr. Bancroft
100
62. And. Belcher
50 107. Edw. Shepard .
80
63. John Swan .
20 108. Tho. Bridge
50
64. Phil. Cooke
80 109. Ranold Bush 10
65. ffr. Moore, junior 50 110. Tho. Prentise 150
66. Widd: Sill
40
67. Robert Parker .
60
112. Golden Moore .
100
68. Willm. Manning
60
113. Robert Brodish
30
69. Richard Hassull 60
70. Nicho. Withe 90
71. Willm. Hamlet
60
28. Richard Robbins 80
72. Willm. Towne . 70
73. Sam1. Greene . 80
74. Robert Browne 40
75. John Boutell 20
The town do give to Greg-
76. John Bridge 250
77. Tho. Beal . 100
These two lots must come in their due order.
ory Stone, adjoining to his
farm, one hundred acres. . 100"
15
61. Edw. Michelson 150
106. John Cooper
140
59. Mr. Edmund ffrost 200 104. Vincet Druse
93. Mrs. Sarah Simes
50
48. Tho. Marret 200
111. Math. Bridge 80
Memº. There is these two per- sons overslipped, viz.
91. Daniell Wines . 10
60
HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
Although, by the generosity of the Church, all the inhabitants received allotments of the Shawshine lands, comparatively few of them established a residence upon that territory. As early, low- ever, as 1655, there were so many householders in Shawshine, gathered from Cambridge and elsewhere, that they were incor- porated as a distinct town, named Billerica, and an amicable arrangement was made by them with the inhabitants of Cam- bridge, in regard to their respective territorial rights and liabil- ities.
The Town Records, Jan. 29, 1654-5, show that " In answer to a letter sent to the town from our neighbors of Shawshine, alias Bilracie, wherein they desire that whole tract of land may be disengaged from this place and be one entire body of itself, - the town consented to choose five persons a Committee to treat and conclude with them concerning their request therein ; at which time there was chosen Mr. Henry Dunster, Elder Champney, John Bridge, Edward Goffe, and Edward Winship." The result appears in the Record of the General Court, under date of May 23, 1655 : -
" In answer to the desire of our brethren and neighbors, the inhabitants of Shawshin, requesting immunities and freedom from all public rates and charges at Cambridge, and that all the land of that place, as well those appertaining to the present in- habitants of Cambridge as those granted them by the Court, might belong entirely to that place, for the better encouragement and carrying on of public charges that will necessarily there fall out, -
" We, whose names are underwritten, being empowered by the inhabitants of Cambridge, at a public meeting of the town, the 29th of January, 1654, to make such propositions and conclusions therein as to us might seem most meet and equal, do make these following propositions with reference to the compliance of the above named our beloved brethren and neighbors, the inhabitants of Shawshin, and the approbration of the General Court for the full conclusion thereof.
1. " That all the lands belonging to that place called by the name of Shawshin, with its appurtenances or latter grants made by the General Court, as well those the propriety and peculiar right whereof belongeth to any particular person, as those granted by the town or church of Cambridge to that place for a township, as also those given by the inhabitants of Cambridge for the fur-
61
CIVIL HISTORY.
therance and encouragement of a plantation there, shall be one entire township or plantation, always freed and acquitted from all manner of common charges or rates, of what nature or kind soever, due or belonging of right to be paid unto Cambridge by virtue of any grant of that place unto them by the General Court.
" 2. That whensoever any of the inhabitants of Cambridge, their heirs or assigns, whether in that place or elsewhere, shall make any improvement of their lands above premised, more or less, by fencing, building or breaking up, or mowing of the mead- ows, every such person shall pay to the common charges of that place, i. e., Shawshin, suitable to his or their improvement of the aforesaid kind, in due proportiou with the rest of the inhab- itants in that place, the whole estate and improvements of the place being laid at an equal and proportionable rate.
"3. That the inhabitants of Shawshin shall, at all time and times liereafter forever, acquit and discharge the inhabitants of Cambridge from all common charges, rates, dues, duties, and in- cumbrances by any manner of ways or means due by them to be paid, executed, or performed, by virtue of their interest in that place, given unto them by the grant of the General Court.
"4. That whensoever any of the inhabitants of Cambridge shall alienate their present interest in any of the above named lands from themselves and heirs, then the said lands shall, in all respects, be liable to common charges of that place, as though those particular persous had their grants thereof made them from the said town or plantation of Shawshin.
"5. That no person or persons which either liave had or here- after shall have any lot or allotment granted them in the above named township of Shawshin, in case they make not improve- ment thereof by building and feneing, especially the houselot, shall have any power to make any sale or gift thereof to any other person, but such land and allotments shall return again to the town, i. e., Shawshin ; and in case, after such like improve- ment, any person shall then remove, to the deserting and leaving their brethren and neighbors that have adventured by their en- couragement to settle there with them, no such person or persons, for seven years next ensuing the confirmation hereof, shall have power to make either sale, or gift, or alienation thereof to any person or persons whatsoever, save only unto such as the greater part of the inhabitants then resident at Shawshin shall consent unto and approve of.
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