USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > History of Dedham, Massachusetts > Part 3
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Dedham has had a steady growth in population from its first settlement to the present time. The following data shows its growth for the period preceding the Revolution. 1637 number of families about 30; 1641 number of persons taxed 42; 1647 number of persons admitted to date 50; number of non-freemen who have become inhabitants of the town about the same number; 1657 number of families 166; 1664 number of houses in Dedham 95; 1666 number of legal voters 83; 1686 number of per-
1
William Bullard
Edward Allyn.
John
"ctcall.
ROC
Han
Adams.
Tut
Mi Frarye.
Eleazer Lusheril
. -
ar
Robert Hinidett
-.
Samuel Morse !!! 12 A. P 8-9
-----
DE
Richard Evered
ALIRE
OVNIRIX
P.
-Pritemon -Dalton - 12 A P. 8-11 1.
----
John Reper
12 A. T. 9-1
-----
Henry Smithi!
-
-
17
the Page, and Ite
The ret ... .. ... . Record, Val. L. TA the number of Aers
AS FIRST
---
-
rin Reedville
..
1
William Bullard
Edward Allyıl.
II.A Pí-J
Gaye.
...
John
WAS
Edward
xalph
Robert Feeke .
Ally
12.A
Carl Ani
Fisher
homas
John
Luson.
Carter
1 11 -9.
Wight.
John Lusen
Themes
Fisher
Ralph Shop
PI -1
J& X.
JJA PI
P.1
AND
John
Ezekiel
HIA P.1-9
Joseph Skaf
roku
CANKER ...
...
as Fisher
IL.A P ..
PRlemin"
VILA
Edward
JA PI-X
Philemon,naltist
Richard Svered.
Samuel Morse
LA PL-9
FAST
Austin
---
Jonathan
Kairbanks ..
Timothy
M Daltın*
Metcalf.'
C
---
Ferdinands
Adams.
John Frarye.
---------
Eleazer Lusher!
ממיטאוגמר.
Robert Finidell
Samuel Morse.
12 A. P 8->
Richard Evered
== Priteman - Dattel:
John Rope!
12 A.
x s-1
- ---
Henry Smithi
John Hugging . A.A.
Thomas
Daniel
KITS.
Tim tky Dwith
I.A. P123
Thomd's Hastings
114.7 10-1
COURTESY OF DEDHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
the number of Acres granted - Those after the letter P.
Records Vol. 1. The figures before the letterA. donote
AS FIRST GRANTED BY THE PROPRIETORS
The references on the lots are to the Proprietors
the Page, and Items, in the Record.
TO INDIVIDUALS.
VICINITY,
OF LIYG OF LAND IN DEDHAM VILLAGE
PLAN
ambert : Genor
Vichelas PrALI
Holliman
Graham Shal
..... .......
BY M. S. TALROT.
........
STATION
13 %
Thomas & Cohebreade
KriZA
Mario
Those of later date by dotted lines.
The original Roads are shown by black lives.
SCALE OF MODS
WIGWAM POND
Dalton
SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE LOCATION
A.
Anthony
Allin
Wheclock.
21
THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANTATION
sons taxed 124; 1705 ministerial tax assessed on 156 persons; 1736 number of persons taxed 259; 1744 number of persons taxed 336. First Parish 129; Second Parish 62; Third Parish 62; Fourth or Springfield Parish 64; 1765 number of houses in the town 239, number of families 309.
The total number of inhabitants in 1765 was 1919 classified as follows: white people under 16 years, 858; white people over 16 years, 1015; negroes and mulattoes 36; Indians 6; French Neu- trals 4. The population was divided among the Parishes as fol- lows: First Parish 813; Second Parish 441; Third Parish 313; Fourth Parish 352.
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CHAPTER II
TOWN OFFICERS
IT was the intention of the founders of Dedham to organize a peaceful settlement in which they covenanted with one another to keep off all persons not found fitting for membership in the society. In conducting their affairs the common good of all was kept constantly in mind. Moreover, it was intended that every man admitted to the plantation should be a free man or worthy of becoming a free man. Admission was denied to all in covenant bound to another person for service and refused the right to a house lot until their term of service was fully expired. Like town officers in the fatherland* the early selectmen, who were chosen "for the regulating of the planting and prudential affairs of the town" served without compensation; the town, however, in 1651, ordered "that the selectmen's dyet upon the Town meeting dayes shall be payed for by the Town from time to time hereafter" and this practise was continued for many years.
Voting today in state elections is quite in contrast with the practise of earlier times when a variety of ballots of different sizes and colors were in vogue. The adoption of the present form of ballot with the names of all candidates on the same sheet was introduced in 1888 and called the "Australian ballot." For many years the polls were open for only a few hours, while at present a voter may deposit his ballot any time from 6 o'clock in the morn- ing to 8 o'clock in the evening on election days in the precinct in which he lives.
The first town officer to be chosen was a Constable who was appointed to handle the money of the town. The election of a collector in 1636 is recorded as follows:
Samuell Morse chosen Collector for money to be [ 1 & payd out according to such seurall occasions as shall [arise] of & concrneing our sayd Towne; And to give account therof at what tyme or tymes soeur the same shall be requiered of him accordingly.
This officer was soon aided by the town Constable, a necessary
* In England today mayors of important municipalities still serve without compen- sation.
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23
TOWN OFFICERS
officer (at first appointed by the General Court,) who acted as col- lector for many years.
The board of Selectmen was created on May 17, 1639, by the following resolution :
Wheras it hath ben found [by long experience] yt ye genrall meeting of soe many men in one [ ] of ye comon affayres therof haue waested much tyme to noe smale damage & busines [is] therby nothing furthered. It is therfore nowe agreed by genrall consent, yt these 7 men heervndr named we doe make choice of & give them full power to contrive execute & pforme all ye business & affayres of this our wholl towne: to Continewe vnto ye First of ye tenth month next.
1Edw: Alleyn Elea: Lusher John Dwite Robte Hinsdall
John Kingsbery John Luson
John Bacheler
The power of these men was definitely defined at the time as follows :
Wheras ye question was ppownded in ye Full assembly (to avoyd all scruples heerafter) howe fare ye power of these men thus Chosen shold extend in ordering towne Affayers. It was answered & thervpon genrally concluded that what soeur power all ye business & affayres of this our wholl towne: to Continewe had before any such Choyce was nowe made:
The very same power is now put into the hands of the selectmen "to remayne in full Force for one wholl yeare from this prsent daye."
For a time, at their monthly meetings, the Selectmen "granted lands, made rules concerning the holding of lots and acted in every way exactly as the whole society had done before their election." But in 1650, the question concerning the power of the Selectmen was considered in a full assembly at the general town meeting. At which time they were given all the power of the town except (a) the admission of men as townsmen, (b) the granting of div- idends of land, (c) the granting of farms, these matters the voters kept in their own hands. Regular meetings of the Selectmen were ordered in 1640 "upon every 2d and 4th day of every month" to order town affairs either at the meeting house or some place near where they might be met by all persons having business with them. It was early ordered that all votes for the acceptance of persons as townsmen should be taken by kernels of wheat and Indian corn, the wheat to be understood to be for the affirmative and the Inddian corn for the negative. As some of the inhabitants evidently failed to appreciate the self government of the Society the following action was taken in April, 1637:
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24
A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
Wheras meetings haue ben agreed vpon & tymes apoynted accordingly, it hath often happened yt by ye slacknes of many their comeing, others haue by long attendance waested much tyme to their greate damage. It is nowe for prvention therof agreed & ordered that whoesoever shall haue Received notice of such a meeteing, & shall absent himselfe one halfe houer after ye beateing of the drume shall forfet twelve pence. And yf any shall wholly absent himselfe shall forfet the sum of Three shill- ings & Fower pence. except ther be some greate occasions to the contrary & ye same to be allowed of accordingly in eyther of ye sayd cases.
At a later time the constable called the roll a half hour after the time set for the meeting. January 20, 1650, Eleazer Lusher (with the exception of the Reverend John Allin, the most prom- inent citizen of Dedham) was fined four pence for being late at a meeting and February 16, 1651, Francis Chickering was "fined one quart of sack for late coming this day." In 1663, the Select- men, for the first time proposed that the town meeting be held on January 1. Six articles similar to those found in a town meet- ing warrant of today appeared and for nearly three centuries the town government has continued essentially the same. At the an- nual election, January 1, 1668-9, the first case of the doubtful election of a member of the Selectmen appeared. On January 4, the Selectmen assembled made the following record:
4:11:68. This daye being apointed for settling psons in the meeting house (which worke was so ordered to the Select men by the Towne in Generall meeteing) brother Woodward not being come vpon sending for he came; and it being then vnder- stood that seuerall of the Inhabitants had declared their dissat- isfaction in the late elections of the Select men especially to the nonelection of Lieft Fisher it apeereing by information that many more men did voate for him then the nuniber published wherevpon it apeereing doubtfull that some men were wronged in thier libertie in election and brother Woodward refuseing to engage in the worke of a Select man before elections were better cleered, it was agreed to enquire more fully into this case and in case it apeere as is reprsented: that the Towne be called againe together and be made acquainted heerewith, and be desired to declare thier resolution heerin that so the men they shall chuse may act with the more sattisfaction in the Townes seruice.
At a Generall meeteing of the Inhabitants 8:11:68: it being called for the cleereing of the Election of the Select men last past. the question concerned the Election of Lieft. Fisher: The Inhabitants now assembled did by paper voates declare Lieft Fisher to be elect for the worke of a Selectman for the ensueing yeare:
The General Court in December, 1641, established the office of a clerk of the writs for each town, whose principal duty was the issuing of writs of summons and attachment in civil actions and
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25
TOWN OFFICERS
appointed Edward Alleyn to hold the office in Dedham. Six months later the duties were extended to include keeping a record of births, marriages and deaths and until 1692 all vital records were kept by this officer. In 1672-3, the town voted not to choose a Recorder for the year ensuing but elected Daniel Fisher clerk of the writs. A general law was passed February 17, 1692-3, re- quiring all Town Clerks to register births, marriages and deaths. At the general town meeting in December, 1640, Eleazer Lusher was chosen to keep the books although the first mention of a Town Clerk by the title was not made until January 2, 1687-8. March 23, 1639, the Selectmen appointed Michael Metcalf, Francis Chick- ering and William Bullard woodreeves and defined their duties. August 7, 1639, Edward Alleyn, John Luson and Eleazer Lusher were appointed surveyors and in 1640, the office was deputed to view fences, highways and ladders.
For the first three years all business was transacted by the male inhabitants of the plantation with meetings frequently held in the homes of those who had built houses. August 29, 1636, it was ordered "That ye next meeting shall be upon ye second day of ye next week at ye 6t hour in ye morning at John Gaye's house." At these meetings each had equal authority and every question was referred to the whole company. But these frequent meetings took so much of the time of men engaged in developing a settle- ment that it was decided in 1639, to delegate their powers to seven men to be annually elected. Here is found the evolution of the New England town government by selected men who were first called "Selectmen" in the town records, February 8, 1647-8. The records of Dedham enable one to trace the development of the town through the years. Committees were early chosen for spe- cific services, but their power did not extend beyond the one duty for which they were appointed. For instance, in February 1636-7, a committee was chosen to confer with Abraham Shawe in re- gard to a corn mill which he desired to build. At the Town Meet- ing held January 2, 1642-3, three highway surveyors were elected.
The office of auditor with the appointment of Michael Metcalf, Ensign Henry Phillips and Sergeant Daniel Fisher was estab- lished January 1. 1649-50, "to take in ye accounts of ye select men in such things as concerne the Towne for ye yeare last past." The duties of Town Treasurer, like those of collector, were for
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A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
many years assigned to the Constables. This office was not filled every year until 1694, when the General Court ordered the town to choose a Town Treasurer.
At the Generall meeting aforesaid, Asahel Smith was chosen The Towne Treasurer, for the year ensueing, to make demand, sue, & recouer the Townes debts acording to law, as he shall be aduised by the select men ordinaryly, & he to receive monyes from the inhabitants to cary on such sutes at law, or maters of trouble, in this Kind etc.
From the earliest time in the history of Dedham men had been occasionally appointed to lay rates, but for the most part this duty devolved upon the Selectmen. Assessors were so called for the first time on July 18, 1694, when Lieutenant Daniel Pond, Lieuten- ant Richard Ellis, Sergeant Thomas Metcalf, John Baker and Nathaniel Kingsbury were chosen assessors in accordance with an act of the General Court "granting to their Majesties a tax of twelve pence a poll and one penny on the pound."
Another case of doubtful election occurred on March 6, 1703-4, when Asahel Smith, Nathaniel Gay, Thomas Fuller, Amos Fisher and William Avery were declared elected selectmen. On the same date "The Selectmen did this day appoynt the Town and proprie- tors to meet upon Monday the 13th of March next."
At the General Meeting on the 13th, "severall of the Inhabi- tants declaring themselves dissatisfied with the Choyce of Selectmen and that the election of said Select men was elegall In Consideration whereof it was this day put to the Town and they by their vote declear that the election of Selectmen on March the 6th 1703-4 is not legall and so not to their sattisfac- tion it being declared by thirty six vots in the then assembly and fourteen then assembled did not vote.
On March 17, the old board of Selectmen chosen in 1702-3, held a meeting of which the following is the record :
Vpon Consideration that the Town meeting in the sixth day of this Instant March was not legaly warned neither according to the direction of the law nor according to the former useg of this Town of Dedham Therefore said selectmen doe give order to the Town Clark to wright warrants to the Constables to warne a meeting according to law of the freeholders and other Inhabi- tants of this Town of Dedham qvalefied according to law to act in Town affaier to meet upon munday the twenty seventh day of this Instant march to choos selectmen and Town officers and to attend other Town business.
At the town meeting held on March 27, 1703-4 William Avery, Captain Samuel Guild, John Fuller, Thomas Fuller and Nathaniel Gay were chosen Selectmen. This might be expected to end the matter, but the friends of those first chosen felt that an injustice
27
TOWN OFFICERS
had been done and carried the question by petition to the Court of General Session. The Court ordered another election to be held on April 1704. At this time the board of Selectmen chosen on March 6 were elected and thus the matter ended. All town business was transacted in broad daylight. In 1701 the town declared "That no act past half an hour after sunset shall stand good, or be valid." But at a meeting held in 1702-3 it was voted, "It being neer night the Town by their vot doe lengthin out their meeting two or three hours beyond the usill appoynted time."
Tithing-men were recognized town officers, (although not ap- pointed in Dedham) who by a law passed in 1682 were required to return all idlers to the magistrates who were authorized to set them to work.
In the church service the tithing-man stood next to the min- ister, he was a sort of church policeman. It was his special prov- ince to look after the sleepers and the boys, and if necessary, to poke them vigorously with the tithing pole. On December 3, 1639 the town was fined 5 shillings "for want of weights and measures." The fine was paid but the town took no further action until 1650 when £3 4s was paid "For Sealers weight & measures, together wth the seizing sealing and Ironing of y4 measures." The first recorded sealer of weights and measures was Nathaniel Colburn who was chosen in 1665 and continued in the office for many years.
The charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay called for a very strict surveillance of cattle, first to protect them from dam- aging crops, and second against loss as well, as cattle were of great value to the early settlers. The charter called for the in- stitution of the pound in every town and precinct and created the offices of pound keeper, field driver and fence viewer, all old Eng- lish offices. A pound was early set up in Dedham presumably the one on Williams Street which was remembered by the residents of a previous generation. The records say : John Kingsbury & Elaser Lusher vndertakeing to sett vp a pownd before ye next quarter Courte: "we doe order yt they shalbe fully payde for ye same by the Towne wth as much as conveniently may be."
The pound was for the impounding and restraining of all swine, cattle, sheep and horses. It was the duty of the pound keeper to guard the pound against breach, to see that the cattle and other animals were properly fed, until such time as they should be re-
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A HISTORY OF DEDHAM
leased, and after collecting from the owners the fees and damages, to reimburse the field driver for his service.
Of domestic animals, swine for obvious reasons were raised from the start and were the first to give annoyance to the in- habitants. For protection, all swine after the age of two months, were required to be sufficiently "yoked and ringed" to prevent damage to land and crops.
For all swine not sufficiently ringed, the owner was required to forfeit for every such swine, six pence, one half to him who shall give information to some selectman, and the other half for the use of the town. Districts were established and Committees appointed to see that the order was enforced.
Two or more field drivers were elected each year. For impound- ing neat cattle or horses, the field drivers received one shilling a head, for sheep or swine, 3 pence. Every town had its fence view- er whose duty it was to inspect, from time to time, all fences en- closing grazing grounds. Persons found to have defective fences were notified to repair them within 6 days. Failing to do so meant increased expense as the fence viewer then caused the repairs to be made. The removal of rails or stones carried a minimum fine of 20 shillings and a maximum fine of 5 pounds. A person failing to pay was dealt with severely being often pub- licly whipped.
There are several pounds still in existence which stand on orig- inal Dedham territory; the one in Westwood being the most familiar. This pound was built about the year 1700 by Joseph Colburn for which he was paid 40 shillings.
The following early petitions were made to the General Court, both of which were granted by the magistrates.
That wheras our band of Trayned Souldiers haue bin yet: defectiue for want of Oficers established: to exercise them: and as we humbly conceiue that we haue some amongst vs that may be fitt. to exercise our Company we haue with one consent made choyce of Eliazer Lusher to be our Captaine: and Joshua Fisher to be our Lieftenant and Henry Phillips to be our Ensigne humbly desyringe this Honor Court: that you would be pleased to Ratifie and confirme them in the said places if you shall thinke good:
There beinge two or three Couples intending to be maryed at Dedham to morrow & no magistrate being neere & the deputies not being willing to dismiss Capt Lusher from the Courts occa- sions, doe therefore thinke meet that Henry Chickering be here- by empowred, in the absence of Capt Lusher to Joyne the fore
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TOWN OFFICERS
sd psons inmaryage provided they be published according to law wth reference to the consent of or Honord magists hereto.
The following appointments recorded in the Massachusetts Col- onial Records are of interest.
June 6, 1639. Edward Alleyn, John Kingsbury and John Luson appointed to end small causes at Dedham.
Dec. 10, 1641. Edward Alleyn, appointed for Dedham to be Clerk of the Writs, and duties defined.
Sept. 27, 1642. Sergeant Phillips appointed for Dedham to see to the "breeding of salt peeter."
Nov. 11, 1654. Capt. Eleazer Lusher appointed to sell wine and strong liquors to the Indians.
May 22, 1661. Capt. Eleazer Lusher appointed to try "vaga- bond Quakers."
May 19, 1669. Ensign Fisher appointed for Dedham Commis- sioner to prevent the exportation of money.
May 13, 1640. Francis Chickering, John Hayward, and Mich- ael Metcalf appointed for Dedham to value certain domestic animals given in payment of a rate levied by the General Court upon the towns in the Colony.
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CHAPTER III
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN
ITHE founders of Dedham remained at Watertown for a time where the first entries were made in the town records. How- ever those having families were perhaps in Dedham in the win- ter of 1636-7 engaged in building their future homes. At a meet- ing held on November 25, 1636 the following order was recorded. "Whereas our Towne of Dedham being far Remote form other Townes soe that it is Requesite we shold enjoye what number of people we may for our better saffety from danger: as also for other compforts depending thereupon." In carrying out this or- der all persons who had, or shall in future receive lots, shall be- fore the first day of November next become inhabitants of the town to improve their lots and dwellings, except, those who are covenanted with other congregations, who are ordered to come and settle within six months after a church with officers shall be gathered, provided that all such persons in the meantime shall make all necessary preparations for building. All previous grants of lots to persons failing to comply with this order become void "as if the same had never been". These lots reverted to the town to be disposed of to such as "shall become inhabitants."
Wood was very scarce in England so most of the buildings they had known at home, were built of stone or plaster. In New Eng- land wood was the cheapest building material available so they naturally built of wood with the added English custom, for a short period, of thatching the roof. In England they had lived in small villages so it was natural in the settlement of Dedham that their house lots should be assigned near together but in the development of farms they were located far apart. Land in Eng- land was laid out in long narrow strips hedged by hawthorn. In Dedham cleared lots were small and enclosed. They farmed to support their families. Sheep were kept as early as possible to clothe the family and goats to furnish milk. To the Indian's maize they added wheat and barley. To the Indian's vegetables they added turnips and cabbage. Those who had come from Norfolk,
31
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN
England perhaps tried on their planting fields, the succession of crops which had been worked out over there, namely clover, wheat, turnips, barley.
Of their food supply fish was plentiful, so was wild game and fowl. Wigwam Pond and Charles River abounded with suckers, white and yellow perch, pickerel, sunfish, hornpouts, eels and dace. In the spring large numbers of salmon, shad, and herring went up the river to spawn and were taken in large numbers at places as far distant as the southerly bounds of Dedham. Turtles were found in great abundance especially snappers. Wild fowl in- habited the woods and ponds, and with the advent of Thanksgiving turkeys were found for the feast on "Turkey Island" where wild turkeys bred their young. Settlers who had come from southern England brought with them the seed of the apple which they early cultivated. The Rev. John Allin and others had flourishing orchards which they greatly prized. There are still standing on original Dedham territory, apple trees which were grown from seed brought from Devon in old England.
In the development of the town the average farm was in the neighborhood of a hundred acres a little over rather than below. The farmer did most of the work on the farm aided more and more by his growing sons.
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