USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 2
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REDUCED COPY OF A MAP MADE TO ACCOMPANY A WORK ON "THE PRESENT STATE OF NEW ENGLAND" BY WILLIAM HUBBARD. 1677. "CHENSFORD" IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE MAP.
No. I
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LET THE CHILDREN GUARD
WHAT THE SIRES HAVE WON
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1655
ISE
SEAL OF THE TOWN OF CHELMSFORD
The first chapter of this History was written by Mr. Henry S. Perham; for the remainder of the volume the Rev. Wilson Waters is to be held responsible.
The expression, "the writer," frequently used, will be referred, accordingly, to the proper person.
The attention of the reader is directed to "Notes and Corrections," at the end of the volume.
CHAPTER I.
THE BEGINNING.
TN the settlement of New England the first towns which were planted along the coast had by 1640, when immigration ceased upon the accession of Cromwell in England, begun to extend inland, first to Watertown in 1630, to Concord in 1635, from Charlestown and Cambridge to Woburn in 1642 and from Lynn to Reading in 1644. Up to 1640, when the population of New England had reached 26,000, it was made up almost wholly by emigration from England, but from that time forward the growth of the colonies was almost entirely by the natural increase in population.
After a town had been planted and the land taken up, the hardy and adventurous young men who lacked the means to buy land were ready to band themselves with others in like circum- stances and resolutely push on and make new homes in the wilderness. The General Court was ready to grant lands for such purpose to men of good character when their numbers promised to be sufficient for mutual protection and for the maintenance of religious worship.
Soon after 1650 a few venturesome families took up their abode in Chelmsford, Groton and Billerica where, in a short time, they were joined by a sufficient number to become organized as towns.
But the extension of the colony into new towns received a severe check in King Philip's War, and the ravages by the French and Indians which soon after followed, so that fifty years after its incorporation Chelmsford was still mentioned as a frontier town.
The first recorded movement looking to the settlement of Chelmsford was made in 1652 by some citizens of Woburn and Concord who petitioned the Court for the privilege of examining a tract of land on the "other side of Concord River."
Woburn and Concord were the towns then nearest this tract. There was at this time no English settlement north of this tract, and none as far north on the west.
2
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The examination of this land was followed by a petition for a grant of six miles square. The original manuscript of this petition, which is here given in full, was found several years ago among the papers left by Lemuel Shattuck, the historian of Concord, to the Mass. Historic Geneological Society.
"To the honourd John Endicot Esqr. Gouvnr: with the reste : of the honord Magistrats and deputies at the Generall Courte now at Boston Assembled: humbly Sheweth: That whereas we your humble petitioners: who made bould the last Court Assembled to present a petition: to the Vew of this honoured Courte which was eccepted and Granted to Vs: for which we giue the Courte hmbl thankes and beinge jncoraged by this Courte to Vew the Land that Lyeth yet Vndisposed of and Vnimprooued : on the other side Concord Riuer acordingly we haue by a Comity taken care and paynes to doe, with seuerall others: that by the prouidenc of god: are now joyned petitioners: with us: who Vpon our Vewinge the lands as abousaid doe find a tracke of land: which bordereth Vpon the Riuer Merimake: nere to paatooket, which we doe find: a Very Comfortable place to acomidate A company of gods people Vpon: that may with gods blessinge and Asistance Liue Comfortably Vpon: and doe good in or places for church and Comon wealth, which many of Vs your petitioners are throw our nesisitys for wante of acomidationes some neuer haueing any and some others: but Very Litle a Comidation soe yt we canot subsiste excepte we doo take some care to Looke out in away or god for our Comfortable Subsistance, and now we yr humble petitioners doe intreate this honoured Courte for our Comfortable Suply: would please to grante to Vs soe much land: as may be Comfortable for a plantatione:
which we conceiue may there be Layed out to the quantity of six myles Square of Vpland and medow: which parcell of land: we doe intreate may be gin at merimacke Riuer at a necke of land nere to Concord riuer: and soe run Vp by Concord: riuer. South and west into the Contrie, to make Vp that sircomferenc or quantity of land as is aboue expresed: and for as much as many of yr petitioners are in greate nesesity haueinge no setled place to abide in and we all in Generall beinge desirous to proseed as one man together to cary on that worke the lord shall call Vs to and this honered Courte shall in ther cristian wisdom Directe Vs in Tharefore we humbly entreate this honord Courte to Gratifie yr humble petitioners with a speedy and expresed anser so shall you euer bind Vs to Serue you wherein you shall comand
Your humble Seruantes,
Benjamin Butterfeilde John Parker Isac Lerned : James Parker George ffarley
Richard Griffin
James Blood
John Smedley
Roger Draper
William ffletcher
3
THE BEGINNING
Thomas Chamberlin
Thomas Adams
Joseph Parker
William Hartwell
John Sternes Jacob Parker
Robert Proctor
William Butricke
Henery Foster
Babtis Smedley
William Chamberlin
Richard Hildreth
John Nutinge:
Thomas Briggam
Edmonde Chamberlin
Daniell Bloggett
John Baldinge
John Hall
William Hall
The magists Desier theire bretheren the Deputs to Consider of this peticon @ retourne theire thoughts first about it 19 may (53).
Edward Rawson Sec
[Endorsed]
Concord peticon entred wth ye magistrts & wth pmisd ye majists conceave it may be admitted & recd
wth out pajment
1653
It will be seen by the description here given of the tract petitioned for that it included the fishing grounds of the Pawtucket Indians where the City of Lowell now stands and where Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury, the Apostle to the Indians, was laboring to convert them to Christianity. He therefore, at the same time, in their behalf entered a petition for a grant of land for the Indians that they might not be disturbed in their ancient possessions.
The Court granted both petitions. Their answer, which follows, is as it is given in the published Records of Massachusetts.
"May 18, 1653.
"In ans' to the peticon of seuerall of the inhabitants of Concord and Woobourne for the erecting of a new plantacon on Merremacke River, neere to Pawtuckett, the court doth graunt the peticoners of Concord and Woobourne the track of land menconed in theire peticon, excepting some part of it joyning to Merremacke Riuer: Provided, that the sajd peticoners shall sufficiently breake vp full so much land for the Indjans in such place as they shall appointe wth in such plantacon as shall there be appointed them, as they haue of planting ground about a hill called Robbins Hill, and that the Indjans shall have vse of theere planting ground, aforesajd, free of all damages, vntill the peticoners shall have broken vp the land for the Indians as aforesajd.
4
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
"2ly: For the plantacon peticoned for by Mr. Eljott, the court judgeth it meete to be graunted them, with the exceptions and provissions aforementioned, and for the stating of both, that Capt Willard and Capt Johnson be appointed to lay out the sajd plantacons or touneshipps, the English at the charge of the peticoners, the Indjans at the charge of the countrje, wthin one month after the end of this sessions, that neither of the plantacons be retarded.
"3ly. That if the peticoners of Concord and Woobourne shall not, wthin two yeares, setle a competent noumber of familjes there, by building and planting vppon the sajd tract of land twenty familjes or vpwards, so as they may be in capacitje of injoying all the ordinances of God there, then the graunt to be vojd."
[Records of the Mass. Bay Colony, Vol. IV, pt. I. p. 136.]
Of this Committee, who were instructed by the Court to lay out these grants, Capt. Edward Johnson was one of the founders and leading men of Woburn, and the author of a valuable and quaint volume entitled "The Wonderworking Providence of Zion's Savior in New England," now extremely rare. (Reprinted in 1910.)
Simon Willard was one of the leading men of Concord and the ancestor of two of the Presidents of Harvard College. The surveyor was Capt. John Sherman of Watertown, the ancestor of those distinguished brothers, General Wm. T. and United States Senator John Sherman of Ohio. So it would appear that the work of laying out the township was intrusted to able hands. The following plan of Chelmsford was engraved from a tracing from the original in the Massachusetts Archives (Ancient Plans, Vol. 112, p. 81).
The description of the bounds of the town made by this committee is unfortunately lost. A description and "plott" is referred to by the committee of the General Court which laid out the enlargement in 1656. Allen* gives the following description of the original bounds of the town. "It was bounded on the north by a straight line, beginning at the glass manufactory and running to the house of Benj. Osgood, Esq., of Westford. On the southwest by Tadmuck Swamp, and on the southeast by a straight line, beginning at Pawtuckett Stake, so calld, by the side of Concord river at a point where Billerica, Chelmsford and Pawtuckett, or Wamesit meet, and running southwest 43 deg. to the aforesaid Tadmuck swamp. On the northeast by Paw- tuckett or Wamesit for which see No. 5 Index."
*History of Chelmsford, page 10.
5
THE BEGINNING
The glass factory, erected in 1802, stood on what is now Baldwin street in Lowell nearly opposite West Pine street, and Benj. Osgood lived in Westford at what is now the residence of E. E. Haywood near Chamberlin's corner. A line drawn between those two points which Allen gives as the north line of the town would bring it on the south of Drum hill. It is unfortunate that he did not state the evidence upon which he concluded that the north line of the town was only about two miles north of the center of the town. On other points his description is evidently faulty.
He gives Tadmuck swamp as the western line, which is near the present line between Chelmsford and Westford. The town did, however, originally extend five miles further west to the Groton line. He was doubtless deceived by the word Tadmuck written along the westernly line on the plan, supposing it to mean Tadmuck swamp. But the word Tadmuck was formerly applied to a wider extent of territory. We find in old land descriptions: Farther Tadmuck, Little Tadmuck, Great Tadmuck, and Hither Tadmuck, and Westford hill was Tadmuck hill.
The space on the plan marked India Land was the Indian grant where the City of Lowell now stands, and Joe Sagamore's planting field is indicated by the small dotted space at the north- east. The larger dotted space, perhaps added later, was doubtless intended to indicate the extension which was made in 1656. It seems by this plan that the town did not, as first laid out, extend to the Merrimack river at any point.
The loose manner of laying out land in those early days, the lines being indicated by marked trees and the bounds by stake and stones, led to endless controversies both between individuals and towns. Boundary controversies arose between Chelmsford, Billerica and Concord and in order to settle them the Selectmen of Chelmsford and Concord joined in a petition to the General Court, Feb. 7, 1693-4.
The petition asked that a tract of land lying between Chelmsford and Concord and claimed by Billerica be given to the two former named towns. Billerica also petitioned the Court in 1698, setting forth their claims to the tract in question and gained in May, 1700. (Town Records, copy p. 49; first book p. 36.)
Cornet Nathll Hill, and Samll: Fletcher Junr: were appointed by the selectmen to Joyn with Billerica. . .... 1700 to Gen Court . (as to lines bet. Billerica, Bloods, Chelmsford, Concord)
This committee consisted of Major Jonathan Tyng, Major James Converse and Capt. Benjamin Garfield, and they reported,
6
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
May 28, 1701. It is only necessary to give so much of their report as relates to the Chelmsford lines. "That is to say, that as well by their own view of the lines, Court Grants, and Deeds produced to them, as on hearing of what was offerred by the agents of the severall Towns, they find the land of Billerika bounded by the line of Chelmsford northward, beginning at Pautucket stake, so called by Concord River, where Chelmsford & Billerika & the Indians do meet, then Chelmsford line runneth south fourty three degrees west to a pillar of stones; then it runeth south, seventy nine degrees west, three hundred thirty & two poles; which reacheth unto Major Willard's farme to a great heap of stones lying in Chelmsford line" * *
Chelmsford chose a committee, Captain Bowers and Thomas Parker, Dec. 10, 1697, "to act on the towns behalfe in all things nesery as to the finding out the first grant of the town and to do what soauer is nedfull to secuer the town as it is bounded." They obtained the deposition of one of the committee who had acted on behalf of the petitioners for the original grant when it was laid out 45 years before.
"Groton, noumber: 24: 1698 capten Jeams parker being of full age testyfy and say that the honered Jenarall courte grated a sarten track of land for a plantation nowe caled chelmsford and impowered majear symon wilard and capten edward Johnson as a committe, which committe came with full power to lay out sd plantation and did se sd plantation layd out to ther content capten John Shearmon being the artes, did lay out sd planta- tion begining at a riuer comonly caled conkard riuer bounded with a stake upon the land caled wamaset land and so runing on a lyne by marked tres to a heape of stones and to nashoba plantation runing upon nashoba line to a great pine-tre and so runing on a strayt line ouer a pond caled stonny brook pond to a pine-tre marked with C and G and so ouer sd brook to a heape of stones and so runing on the south syd of a great hill on the north syd of sd brook and ouer sd brook to a great pine-tre and so to sd stake by conkard riuer thus sd committe and sd arttes layd out sd plantation and reseued full sattesfacttion for ther sarues therein: and did ingage to make a tru return to the honared court of ther laying out sd plantation: and furder sd parker douthe testyfy and say that himself Thomis adams Wilyam flecher and Isack larnit ware the committe chosen by the petetinors of sd land to se sd plantation layd out: this taken upon outh befoer me this 24 of noumber: 1698
"THOMIS HINCHMAN, Justes.
"This aboue is a true coppey of the origanall recorded by me, solloman Keyes, toune clerk the 5 day of desember 1698"
1
7
THE BEGINNING
This testimony of James Parker is the only description which we have of the original bounds of the town from anyone who had any part in laying it out, and this description cannot be regarded as particularly lucid. Taking it, however, in connection with the report of the committee of the General Court in May, 1701, as near as the lines can be determined at this late day, they began at Wamesit stake at the Concord river, where Chelmsford, Billerica and Wamesit met. From that point southerly about four miles on Billerica line and continuing a little westerly into what is Carlisle to the Blood Farm which lay between Concord and Chelmsford; and westerly to Nashoba, which was the grant to the Nashoba Indians and embraced practically what is now the town of Littleton, "and runing upon Nashoba line to a great pine-tre and so runing on a strayt line ouer a pond caled stonny brook pond to a pine-tre marked C and G." The letters, of course, stood for Chelmsford and Groton; and Stony Brook pond is now called Forge pond. It will be seen, therefore, that the line would be something like the present line between Littleton and Westford to Groton. Following the description from there "over sd brook to a heap of stones" which would be the northwest corner bound, "and so running on the south side of a great hill" probably Snake Meadow hill, "on the north side of said brook," "and over said brook to a great pine tree," which would be the northeast corner bound, located by Allen, as previously stated at the Glass Works, which stood on what is now Baldwin street, nearly opposite Pine street in Lowell.
SETTLEMENT.
A few families came in and settled upon this tract before the grant was made in 1653. They were here, doubtless, in 1652, as the first birth is recorded early in 1653, viz .: "Joseph Parker, the son of Joseph @ Marget his wife [ ] 30 daye of March: 1653." Allen states it as a tradition that Joseph Parker was the first person born in town, which seems to be verified by the records. There was one other birth apparently earlier, that of a girl, "Sarah Parker the dafter of Jacob Parker @ Sarah his wife [was born] Janeware: 14: 1653," but the reform in the calendar, by Pope Gregory, had not then been adopted in New England. By the old style then in vogue the year began March 25th, therefore January, 1653, old style, would be January, 1654, new style.
8
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The usual form of writing such a date occurring between January 1st and March 25th would be 1653-4. In the margin at the top of the first page of births stand the figures 1645, and of the first entry the date is missing. The record only informs us that "Isake Larned the sun of Isake Larned was born [ It does not necessarily follow, however, that this was an earlier birth than those given, the earliest entries of births not being recorded in the order of dates, but, probably, as they were reported by the families after a town clerk was chosen. One other birth was recorded the same year, "Sarah Larned the dafter of Isake Larned @ Mare his wife was borne octo: 28: 53:"
The first marriage recorded was that of Danl. Blodget. "Daniell Bloged & Marie his wife ware Maried by Mr. Browne [Water]towne September 15: 1653:" The wife was Mary Butter- field who was born in England and the daughter of Benjamin Butterfield.
There used to be a tradition that the wife of Abraham Parker was the first woman to "Bake and Brew" in Chelmsford. The authority for this tradition is a letter written by Jonathan Perham, Town Clerk, August 8, 1821, to Hon. Abel Parker which says: "Bridget who now is the wd. Pierce, * * states that her great grandmother is said to be the first woman that Brewed and Baked in Chelmsford, which I suppose to be the wife of Abraham Parker. Mrs. Pierce states that Moses Parker son of Abraham was grand- father to her" . Jonathan Perham was a prominent citizen of the town, was Town Clerk, Selectman, Moderator and Representative. He was descended from the first settlers of the town. He was born and lived in the house now occupied by the writer [H. S. P.] on Westford road.
Of the twenty-nine petitioners for the grant of the town, fifteen, over one-half, never took up their abode here, none of their names appearing subsequently in connection with the town. They were John Hosmer, Henry Foster, Richard Griffin, John Smedley, Roger Draper, Wm. Hartwell, Wm. Buttrick, Baptis Smedley, Thomas Briggam, John Hall, Wm. Hall and Wm. Chamberlin. Several of the others who came here did not remain to become permanent residents of the town. James Parker went to Groton soon after 1661, where he became the important man of that town. Joseph Parker, brother of James, went to Groton about the same time, and afterwards to Dunstable. Jacob Parker, *"Chelmsford Vital Records" gives the date Sept. 16, 1655; Oct. 5 in the Court Record. [W .. ]
No. 2
NASHAWAYE
GRAUTTEN
TADMUCK
CHELMSFORD
NORTH
CONCORD RIVER
1
JO SAGAMO.
BILIRIKYE
EAST
INDIA LAND
PAWTUCKET T
ANDOVER
DOTTED LINE ON THE NORTH SHOWS EXTENSION OF 1656. PLAN OF CHELMSFORD AS LAID OUT IN 1653.
MERIMAK RIVER
CONCORD
9
THE BEGINNING
another of the five Parker brothers, was the first town clerk, but went to Malden after 1667. John Nutting was granted a house lot and lands and was here in 1659, but went to Groton in 1661, where he was killed by Indians in their assault upon that town in 1676. James Blood also went to Groton after a little time. The nine remaining petitioners all made homes here and remained during life. They were Benj. Butterfield, Isaac Learned, Thomas Chamberlain, Edmund Chamberlain, William Fletcher, Thomas Adams, Robert Proctor, Richard Hildreth and Daniel Blodgett. Others whose names are not among the petitioners were here from the first: Abraham Parker, another of the brothers, already mentioned as, perhaps, the first settler. Robt. Fletcher and Simon Thompson were also here and, perhaps, others.
GATHERING OF CHURCH.
As soon as these few families had become established in their new home, the first public matter to engage their attention was to provide for the religious needs of the community. They must have a church and minister.
Early in the fall of 1654 they sent a committee to Wenham, where a small church had been gathered ten years before, and invited their minister, Rev. John Fiske, and his church with him to come and unite their fortunes with Chelmsford. Mr. Fiske, and some of his people came over and viewed the place and were satisfied with the proposals made to them by the people of Chelms- ford. Early the following spring there came a hitch in the pro- ceedings and negotiations seemed likely to terminate but they soon came to a better understanding and it was decided between them that the important question should be submitted to a council to consist of the Governor, John Endicott, Rev. Richard Mather of Dorchester, Rev. Thomas Cobbet of Lynn, Rev. John Sherman of Watertown, Rev. John Allin, the minister of the church of Dedham (the friend of Mr. Fiske, they having been fellow passengers on the ship from England in 1637) and Capt. Edward Johnson of Woburn, who had assisted in laying out the first grant of the town.
The weighty question before this able council apparently was whether Mr. Fiske and his people should remain in Wenham
10
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
or remove to Chelmsford and unite with the people there to form a stronger church. The case was decided for Chelmsford, and upon the 13th of November, 1655, we find Mr. Fiske and his people at Chelmsford where that day was organized the church of Chelms- ford. This organization is still continued. It is now Unitarian and known as the First Congregational Society.
These negotiations just mentioned and the organization of the church are of sufficient interest to warrant giving them in full as recorded by Mr. Fiske, himself.
FISKE'S ACCOUNT.
Vpon 4 of 7th, 1654 was dated a Lr. vnder the hands of Robt. Fletcher, Tho: Adams, Wm. Fletcher, Wm. Buttereck in the na of the rest, engaged in the N. plantation at Chelmsford, whrin the pastor with the rest of this church at Wenham were Invited
This Lr. being eftsoones conveyed to vs by the hands of Isa: Lernet & Tho: Adams, was coicated to the church, & a Liberty by the Major pte graunted so far to attend the pvidence: as to pmit the pastor to Goe ouer & see the place
accordingly a day was set of meeting at Chelmsford, & thrupon the messengers returned
Vpon the sd. day set divrs of the Brethren accompanyed the pastor ouer vnto Chelms. where the comittee & divers others were prsnt a view was taken of the place. The Brethren prsent satisfyed themselves aboute there accommodations. & pposalls were then made to the pastor for his accommodation & yeerly mayntenance, as to be tendred vnto him by consent of the whole numb of Inhabitants & in their na by the Committee
These pposals were pmised, with their furthr request to be taken into consideratio, & in so short seaso after the Returne an Answer & resolution to be sent by Br. Spalding, as at his coming ouer.
After this Returne of the pastor & Brethren upon the 10th of 8 mo. 54 the resolution & engagmt of divrs of the Brethren was in the face of the whole church, at a church meeting concluded upo whras 5. absolutely engaged. 2 conditionally & in word only, refusing at prsent to subscribe their hands. yet after sent their Engagemts psonally by Bro: Spalding, so as the greater number of the Church now stood engagd, in case the pastor engaged also
Vpon 6t. of 9mo. the pastor Sent his Engagmts. by Bro. Spalding & his Resolutio. as Respecting the engagt of so many Brethren as sd.
Thus the matter Lay dormant as 'twere all winter till the 1st mo. 55.
11
THE BEGINNING
at what time Bro: Read coming ouer enformed us in such wise here at Wenha. as thrvpon both the P. & the sd engaged Brethren demurred upo the pceedings & some tht had sold heere at Wenha, redeemed their accomodations agayne into their possession
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