USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, early known as Danforth's Farms, 1640-1880; with a genealogical register > Part 16
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History of Framingham.
duty and recorded benefit. But the Comittee doe humbly conceive that this act of the Court did not give this land which was then Natick land to Sherbun, to be accounted in Sherbun Township: Nor can the Comitte judge that Sherbun did account it as their land and in their Township, nor desire that it should : - It apears to the Comitte that when the inhabitants living on said land in contriversie, killed wolves on said land, that Sherbun disowned them (as well they might) being of the town of Sherbun, and so refused to pay.
"One thing more seems to shew that Sherbun did not account the land in contriversie to be theirs but Natick's in as much as after Mr. Eams had bought said land of Indians who were ordered at Nonantum court to make sale, for twenty two pounds, and had a deed signed and sealed, with a general warrantte, said deed was dated in Aprel 1695; yet Sherbun in May following bought the same land of the same Indians for ten pounds; but warrent in said deed was only from said Indians & their heirs. Now the comitte take for granted that if Sherbun had accounted said land in contriversie to be in their Township, and their land; or had ben included in their exchange land with Natick, they would not have payed so much money for that which was their own before.
" The comitte not finding that Sherbun ever had any confirmation of said land, as it hath somtimes been described to be bounded by Mr. Danforth, John Death & John Stone in three parts, or any other grant relating thereto to hinder, did jointly agree without the least jarre or demur in that matter, that the line sett by Mr John Gore in his platt, be the dividing line between Sherbun and Framingham. 1
STEPHEN FRANCIS Signed JOSIAH CONVERSE JOHN WARE"
" June 26, 1701.
On the reception of this report, the House of Representatives passed the following resolve : " Resolved that the bound between the towns of Sherborn and Framingham be settled according to the report above written." But before action was taken by the Council, the selectmen of Sherborn sent in a remonstrance, averring that the land in controversy comprises above a fourth part of their town; and reasserting with emphasis the points set forth in their former petition (ante p. 137). This delayed action; and so the matter was left unsettled. Sherborn continued to tax these seventeen families living on Sherborn Row; and Framingham continued to uphold them in refusing to pay said taxes. Our town records contain votes like the following: "If any of Sherborn come upon any of the controverted
1 State Archives, CXIII. 303-3 14.
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Trouble with Sherborn.
lands to make any distress for any Rates we do engage each to the other to bear an equal proportion as to all charges that shall arise thereby at a suit at law."
The legal voters living on the disputed territory attended town meeting in Framingham, and not in Sherborn; were elected to office in Framingham, and went to meeting on the Sabbath here.
This state of things continued till the spring of 1708, when Framing- ham sent a petition to the General Court, praying that Sherborn Row may be laid to Framingham. At the winter session the next February, Samuel Bullard, representative from Sherborn, on behalf of said town, made the following proposition: "In the matter of controversy relating to the 17 families, your petitioner begs leave to offer, that altho' the town of Sherborn be a loser by what is hereafter proposed, yet for the sake of future peace and quietness, and that we may be a better settled society, I humbly offer, that if this Court will be pleased to grant to the town of Sherborn 4000 acres of wilderness country land where we can find it any ways convenient for said town, in compensation for those 17 families, and for what we have been out and disbursed in satisfying Natick Indians for part of that land in controversy, and wholly exclude those 17 families now in controversy from any right title and interest in Sherborn Town lands now lying common and undivided; and also that they pay their respec- tive proportions, in those rates or assessments now in the hands of our town constables to collect, we will, tho' great losers, set contented, if this Honoured Court shall please to lay them to Framingham." 1
The endorsement on this petition is "granted, on condition that the towns of Sherborn, and Framingham, and the 17 families consent."
The seventeen families consented, provided Framingham would abate all uncollected taxes on their estates, and guarantee to them equal rights and privileges with the other inhabitants in the common lands. And at a town meeting, Mar. 22, 1709, "duly warned, in order to our receiving of those families in controversy between Sherborn and Framingham, in answer to their proposals; Voted, that all former Rates disbursed and not cleared with the minister and other Rates that are not fully cleared as to town assessments, the town will clear. Voted, that these 17 families shall enjoy all rights and privileges and immunities with others of said town in all respects both as to feeding their cattle upon the Common and also for cutting of wood for the support of the minister in the town abovesaid."
" In General Court, June 16, 1710. It appearing by the return of the Representatives of Sherborn and Framingham, and the votes of
1 State Archives, CXIII. 481.
I44
History of Framingham.
the said towns, that the plan proposed by Samuel Bullard Esq. is agreeable to them, Ordered, that the line between the towns be forthwith run, and that the 17 families, late in controversy be included within Framingham line, and be accounted part of Framingham forever: And that Sherborn have their 4000 acres confirmed to them, upon their offering the Plot, as is directed in a former order of this Court."
The 4000 acres of "wilderness country land," which Sherborn received as an equivalent for the seventeen families, was located west of Mendon.
The designation, " 17 families," was first applied by Sherborn ; and was after used as a convenient description well understood by all parties. But in fact only seven individuals or heads of families of the seventeen, were accounted as inhabitants, and received a " dividend " in the common lands in Sherborn. These were Isaac Learned, Isaac Gleason, Zachariah Paddlefoot, Samuel Eames, Thomas Pratt, Jabish Pratt, and John Eames.
To go back to the organization of the town.
FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. - To meet the needs of the many families who could not go to the neighboring towns to attend public Sabbath worship, and to strengthen their appeal to the legislature for an act of incorporation, our settlers proceeded in the summer of 1698, to erect the frame of a meeting house, and cover it in. This house stood on the high land in the east central part of the old cemetery. As originally built, it was in size thirty by forty feet, and two stories high, fronting the south. It was so far finished that Sabbath services were held in it the next year. But votes like the following indicate a very gradual approach towards completeness: " Mar. 31, 1701. Voted to gather ten pounds in money by way of rate, for the finishing of the meeting house, and that Peter Clayes, Sen., John Death, Sen., and Jeremiah Pike, Sen., should employ a carpenter and lay out this money for the best advantage." "Oct. 3, 1705. Voted, to raise by rate ten pounds to be laid out for the better finishing of our meeting house." A similar vote was passed Apr. 5, 1708.
The house was boarded and clapboarded, but not painted. The windows on the front side were of uniform size, and in regular order; on the ends, and north side, they were put in where, and of such size, as individual pew-owners pleased - probably many of them without frames. Originally there was one large double door in front; but individuals were allowed, or took the liberty, to cut doors at the ends and north side, wherever most convenient to reach their respective pews.
First Meeting-House. I45
Inside, the walls were unfinished. The pulpit stood on the north side, opposite the great door. A gallery (unfinished till 1715) extended across the ends and front side. The east end and half the front was called the "women's gallery," and reached by the "women's stairs " at the southeast corner; the west end and half the front was called the "men's gallery," and reached by the "men's stairs " from the south-west corner. A "bar " across the centre of the front gallery indicated the dividing line, which was not to be crossed by either sex. Long seats of the rudest construction ran around the galleries, next the walls, and in front.
On the lower floor were two bodies of seats, or benches, separated by an alley -the east range allotted to the women, the west to the men. The deacons' seat was in front of the pulpit. Under the galleries were long seats, running parallel with the walls. By special vote of the town, individuals were allowed to take away portions of these long seats, and build pews against the walls, six feet by four and one-half or five.
March, 1710. The town voted, that there shall be a decent body of seats set up in the meeting-house, with a hanging table before the deacons' seat.
March 24, 1712, Thomas Pratt, Sen., Peter Clayce, Simon Mellen, John Gleason, Phillip Pratt, Jere. Pike, Samuel Stone, were appointed a committee, " to regulate disorders in the public meeting-house."
" Voted, That the cutting of the long seats or any seat in the meeting house ; also the cutting of holes through the walls of the house, either for doors or windows, or on what pretence soever, without license for the same obtained from the town; also the building or enlarging of pews in said meeting house, without the town's license, are disorders to be regulated by said Committee. Also the said committee are impowered to inspect and view said meeting house, and where they shall find any of the above disorders, that they take away all pews or enlargements of pews, for which there appears no grant upon record ; and also to repair all such breaches on the walls of said meeting house which have been without the town's license either cut or broken."
In 1715 the meeting-house was enlarged ten feet on the back side, making it forty feet square. The contract was as follows : " Voted that Thomas Drury, Jonathan Rice, Benjamin Bridges, John Whitney and Edward Goddard be a committee to agree with John How, to repair the meeting house, that is to say, Mr. How is to remove the back part of the said house, with the pulpit and the posts on each side of the pulpit, ten feet backward, thereby making the house square ; to put on a roof over the same of the same form and work- manship as the Marlbrow meeting house, and complete and cover the
10
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History of Framingham.
same ; to inclose the sides and ends of the ten feet breadth with good boards and clapboards, the old stuff to be improved as far as it will go ; to make and place a good floor, a table, and body of seats below, after the same manner and form as in Sudbury meeting house ; to make galleries and gallery stairs, floors and seats as the committee shall appoint ; to make and place a good floor of joist for the vault overhead and to line the same with a good floor of planed boards under the joist, and to white-wash the same ; to lath plaster and white wash the walls; to provide glass to the value of forty shillings in addition to what glass there is belonging to said house ; and to make windows, frames and casements for the same ; to find and provide at his own cost all timber, boards, shingles, nails and other materials necessary for the complete finishing of the aforesaid width."
The cost of this enlargement was £85.
The next August, it was "voted to have three doors to the meeting house, one at each end, and the great doors in the foreside, and the rest of the doors to be clapboarded up.
" Isaac Gleason was chosen to, and accepted of the care of our publick meeting house, to sweep and keep it decent and clean for the year 1713, and is to have 19 s. for said service."
1733. A presentment was issued by the Superior Court against the town, for not having a decent meeting house in said town.
This house stood and was used for Sabbath worship till 1735. Oct. 13, 1735, the town " voted to give the old meeting house frame to Rev. Mr. Swift."
SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE. - The families of those who built and owned pews, occupied their respective pews. All others were assigned seats by a committee, under direction of the town, females on the "women's side," males on the "men's side."
The town
Voted, "That in dignity, the seats shall rank as follows : - the table (Deacons' seat) and the fore seats are accounted the two highest ; the front gallery equals in dignity the second and third seats in the body of the house ; the side gallery equals in dignity the fourth and fifth seats in the body of the house."
The rule of seating varied. Sometimes a committee was instructed to have regard to " age, and rate of taxation ; " at others "rate " alone was regarded. A new assignment of seats was ordered, once in three, five, or ten years, as circumstances required.
The following votes are a sample of many passed by the town : 1701. Voted, " that Mr. Joseph Buckminster have liberty to set a pew on which side of the great doors he pleases." 1702. Voted, "that a
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First Meeting-House.
pew be made at the north-east corner of the house for those men's wives that sit at the table. John Jaquith was allowed to build a pew behind the men's seats, provided he agree to take care of the meeting- house for seven years." 1705. Voted, "that John Eames may take away the hind seat behind the women's seats, to set up a pew, provided he takes in as many as can conveniently sit in it, and doth give up all his right in other seats, and doth promise that he will sit there himself." 1715. "Whereas Thomas Walker and Peter Clayes are dissatisfied about their seats in the meeting house, the town has taken their griev- ances into consideration, and have voted that the town do think they have their right according to what they paid to the $70 granted to repair the meeting house." 1716. "Voted, that three weeks longer time and no more be allowed to John How to build up his pew, and he may improve it accordingly, provided he withdraws from the table, and sets in said pew himself and family; otherwise that the ground above granted with the rest up to the staires be to the use of Capt. Benjamin Willard and Mr. John Stone and their families for pews, leaving it to them to agree which shall have the middle pew, provided also that they proceed forthwith after the above said three weeks are ended to built said pews."
1721. "Granted the petition of Elizabeth Bridges and six other women, for leave to set up a pew for themselves at the north-east corner of the short gallery, provided they maintain the window against it. Voted, that the Deacons be desired to take special notice of all disorderly persons on the Lord's day, that do not keep to their own seats appointed for them, but keep others out of their seats, whereby the Sabbath is profaned ; and that they admonish them for their misbehavior in that respect."
THE FIRST MINISTER. - From statements contained in petitions, it is probable that the inhabitants in their individual capacity em- ployed a minister for a part of the year 1699. It is certain that one was laboring with them in the early spring of 1700.
At the second town meeting, held Aug. 21, 1700, sixteen days after the organization of the town, overtures were made to Mr. John Swift of Milton, then supplying the pulpit, " to continue to live with them and be their settled minister," and offering to give him "for his own proper use, one hundred acres of land and ten acres of meadow."
"Voted, that the inhabitants are willing to give Mr. Swift sixty pounds in money yearly, or as money to his acceptance, and find him his wood."
" Voted, that the inhabitants would fence in twenty acres of land, and break up ten acres when he shall desire it."
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History of Framingham.
" Voted, to give Mr. Swift one hundred pounds towards the building of an house, and that one fifth part of the hundred pounds should be in money. Voted, that Mr. Swift's salary shall be raised by a Rate, and it shall be paid by way of contribution, every man to paper his money, and that which is not papered to be accounted as stranger's money."
" Voted, that David Rice and John How shall receive the contribution money, and pay it into Mr. Swift every week, and keep an account of every man's money."
" Voted, that Peter Clayes, Sen., David Rice and John How should be the men to set a price upon the timber, boards, shingles and clabboards that shall be brought for the building and finishing of Mr. Swift's house."
May 13, 1701. In town meeting, Voted, " that Peter Clayes, Sen., Benjamin Bridges, John How, John Haven, John Town and Samuel Winch, Sen., should go to three ordained ministers for their opinion whether Mr. John Swift of Milton, be a person qualified for the work of the ministry according as the law directs." The committee applied to Rev. James Sherman of Sudbury, Rev. Grindal Rawson of Mendon, and Rev. William Brattle of Cambridge, who certified as follows :
Whereas the inhabitants of the town of Framingham are desirous to have the ordinances of the Gospel settled amongst them, and have made application to us for our opinion with respect to Mr. John Swift of Milton :
These are to signifie that we do freely as it is our opinion that the said Mr. Swift is a person qualified for the work of the Ministry according to the direction of the law.
This certificate is dated May 20, 1701 ; and at a town meeting held May 22, it was voted by the inhabitants of said Framingham, “ to give a call to Mr. John Swift to abide and settle with us as our legal minister. Voted, that Abial Lamb, David Rice, Benj. Bridges, John Town, John Haven, Peter Clayes Sen. Samuel Winch Sen. and Thomas Drury, should call in behalf of the rest of the inhabitants Mr. Swift to settlement as is above voted."
Mr. Swift was ordained Oct. 8, 1701.
John Smith
"Jan. 13, 1701-2. In town meeting, Voted, to fence in our Reverend pastor twenty acres of land, with a good ditch where it is ditchable, and to set posts and two rails upon the ditch ; and where it cannot be ditched to set up a good five rail fence."
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Rev. John Swift.
" Voted to set up for Mr. Swift, a pew in the meeting-house."
" Mar. 16, 1702. Voted, that Mr. Swift shall have thirty and five cords of wood, to be cut and carried to his door and corded there ; which shall be proportioned to the inhabitants by a rate; and if this is not sufficient for the year, to be further added unto, until sufficient for his fire."
" May 18, 1702. At a town meeting regularly assembled, then and there Voted, that whatever right or title the town of Framingham hath to that tenement or tract of land and meadow now in the possession of our Reverend pastor, Mr. John Swift - Butted and bounded as followeth, viz. Beginning at the western end of a bridge over a river commonly called Sudbury River, near Framingham meeting house, and from thence running to the northerly end of a pond called Duck Pond lying at the east end of the now dwelling house of the above said Mr. John Swift, from thence running northwesterly to a small fast Rock and a heap of Stones being a boundary to the land leased to John Town and from thence running southerly upon a straight line to an Oak tree stooping to the north marked on both sides, and from thence running southerly on a straight line to an Oak bush and a heap of Stones being on the north side of the above said Sudbury River, and from thence running easterly and northeasterly as the River runs to the above said bridge. Also a piece of meadow lying on the north or northerly side of Framingham meeting house, bounded by the upland where it is most convenient fencing, having on the northerly or northeasterly side a small piece of meadow leased to Jeremiah Pike Jr. Also a piece of meadow lying at the north end of a hill commonly called Bare hill, bounded by the upland where it is most convenient fencing, joining on the northerly side to a meadow leased to Jeremiah Pike Jr. Also a piece of meadow lying in the Great Meadow-is given and freely granted unto the above said John Swift, his heirs and assigns, with all buildings edifices, wells, water courses, and all the privileges and appurtenances of one kind or another the same belonging, or in any wise appertaining, unto him the said John Swift his heirs and assigns forever."
This quitclaim deed from the town was supplemented by a war- rantee deed, dated Sept. 24, 1702, from the executors and overseers of Mr. Danforth's will to Rev. Mr. Swift.
"Sept. 16, 1702. Voted, there shall be a Rate of ten pounds proportioned on the inhabitants, for breaking up our Reverend pastor's land, wherein manual labor is to be valued at 2s. per day, and oxen work at 18 pence, and a breaking up plow at 18 pence per day."
"Oct. 3; 1705. Voted that the town will cross-plow the land that has been broken up for our pastor forthwith, and break up, as much the
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History of Framingham.
next June as will make it up ten acres, and cross-plow it in the fall of the leaf next after."
THE FIRST CHURCH. - The Rev. Mr. Swift left the following record : " Framingham, Oct. 8, 1701, Then a church was embodied in this place, consisting of eighteen members, over which the Rev. John Swift was ordained (the same day) a Pastor. The names of those who lay in the foundation of said church were these, viz. Henry Rice, Dea. David Rice, Dea. Joshua Hemenway, Thomas Drury, Thomas Walker, John How, Simon Millen, Peter Cloice, Benj. Bridges, Caleb Bridges, Thomas Millen, Benj. Nurse, Samuel Winch, Thomas Frost, John Haven, Isaac Bowen, Stephen Jennings, Nath1. Haven."
The covenant of said church was as follows :
We do, under a soul-humbling and abasing sense of our utter unworthiness of so great and high a privilege as God is graciously putting into our hands, accept of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for our God in covenant with us; and do give up ourselves and our seed, according to the terms of the everlasting Covenant, to be His under most sacred and inviolable bonds ; promising, by the help of His grace and strength, (without which we can do nothing) that we will walk together in a church state, as becomes saints, according to the rules of His Holy Word ; submitting ourselves and seed unto the government of the Lord Jesus Christ, as King of His church ; (soon after was added) and to the watch and discipline of this church - managing ourselves towards God and man, all in civil and sacred authority, as those ought, who are under the teachings of God's Holy Word and Spirit ; alike declaring it to be our resolution, that we will, in all things wherein we may fall short of duty, wait upon God for pardoning mercy and grace, in and through our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To whom be glory forever. Amen.
To persons upon their admission into the church, it was said : - And we, the church of Christ in this place, do promise to carry it towards you, as a church of Christ ought to its particular members, according to the rule of God's Holy Word. This we also promise, in and through our dear Lord Jesus Christ. To whom be glory forever.
No church records are extant, from the organization of the church to Dec. 30, 1716 ; at which date a record is begun by Mr. Swift, and continued till July 14, 1728. The earlier book of records, if he kept one (and those early church records were usually kept by the pastor, and somewhat in the form of a journal), is lost, except the paper just quoted ; as is the record of the last years of his pastorate. From the certificate of Rev. Mr. Bridge (quoted in the preface), it is nearly certain that no record of those years from 1728 to his death in 1745, was kept. If so, it must have been destroyed before the settlement of Mr. Bridge.
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Schools.
SCHOOLS. - The first mention in the Town Records of a public school, is under date of Sept. 3, 1706, when the town voted " that Dea. Joshua Hemenway should be our school master the year ensuing, and that Benj. Bridges and Peter Clayes Jr. should agree with him what he should have for his pains."
Previous to this, whatever instruction was given to the children was on private account. Probably the wife of Daniel Stone taught such as chose to come to her house, at Stone's End ; Thomas Drury did the same for the children at Rice's End ; Isaac Learned for Sherborn Row, and Joshua Hemenway for Salem End and the north side settlers. And when appointed public school-master, Dea. Hemenway received the scholars at his own house, as no school-house was built till ten years after this date. He continued to teach till 1714. In 1710, in addition to his duties as school master, he was chosen "to learn youth to write." His autograph will show his style of writing.
Joshua Alemennicy
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