USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, early known as Danforth's Farms, 1640-1880; with a genealogical register > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
This tract took in Rice's End, the whole of what is now South Framingham, and the lands lying westerly and southwesterly of Farm Pond, including Wayte's and Russell's grants. The northwesterly corner was a point on Sudbury River at or near the falls where Cutler's mill stood.
The Indians were dissatisfied with this tract, as they found, on examination, that the best of the lands, both upland and meadow, had been previously granted by the Court to the English. And to pacify the natives, in 1660, another enlargement of their plantation was made, by extending the northerly bounds on Sudbury river "one mile to the westward of Cowasuck brook, which will be an enlargement of near half a mile in the angle of their bounds."5 This carried their northwesterly corner bound up to near the falls at Ashland Centre ; but it added very little to the value of the grant.
The Indians soon began to dispose of these lands. In 1676, they
1 Mass. Col. Rec. Iv. pt 2. p. 49. 2 1bid. p. 84. 3 1bid. Iv. pt. I. p. 76. 4 Ibid. p. 408.
5 1bid. p. 428.
-
8
History of Framingham.
sold 300 acres to Thomas Eames. In 1682, they sold 1,700 acres of the northeasterly part, including Rice's End, to Messrs. Samuel Gookin and Samuel How ; and in 1697, 1,000 acres were sold to the town of Sherborn. In the meantime, i. e. in 1679, they had exchanged with Sherborn 4,000 acres which adjoined Sherborn on the north, for a like quantity of " Magunkook lands," lying in what is now Ashland and Hopkinton.
The Natick Indians are sometimes spoken of as a distinct tribe ; but such was not the fact. Properly described, they were a collection of scattered families, of different tribal affinities, brought together at Natick by Eliot, not earlier than 1649 or 1650. The Speen family, who were the original owners of the lands around the Falls, were Nipnets ; so were the Awassamog families ; Waban was from Musquitequid ; Netus was from Sudbury. Indeed Eliot states the matter exactly when he says, writing in 1649, "Some Sudbury Indians, some of Concord Indians, some of Maestick Indians, and some of Dedham Indians, are ingenious and pray unto God, and sometimes come to the place where I teach and hear the word."
MARLBOROUGH. - This place, situated "about 8 miles west of Sudbury," was erected into a plantation May, 1656. In answer to the petition of Edmund and Henry Rice, Richard Newton, John Bent, Wm. Ward, et als., inhabitants of Sudbury, the General Court granted a tract six miles square, for a plantation by the name of Whipsufferage, which was changed to Marlborow in 1660. It ex- tended from the Sudbury river on the south to the Assabet river on the north (excepting certain Indian lands, and grants to particular persons), and included the present towns of Marlborough, South- borough, and considerable parts of Westborough and Northborough. The church was organized in 1666.
The easterly bounds, where it adjoined Framingham, have remained substantially unaltered. By the established rule of estimation, the families of Mixer, Hemenway, Lamb, Wood, Bruce, and others, who settled near the west bounds of Framingham, had religious and civil privileges for a time in Marlborough. In the act for levying a Prov- ince tax, passed Oct. 19, 1697, it is provided "that the sum of £12 (as well as the sum of £8 previously levied), herein set and propor- tioned to the Farmes or Precinct called Framingham, shall be assessed upon the polls and estates in said Precinct, by the assessors of the adjacent town of Marlborough : and that the inhabitants of said Precinct or Farmes shall have liberty and are hereby impowered to choose one assessor from among themselves to join with the assessors of the said Town of Marlborough in assessing and apportioning the
9
Sherborn.
aforesaid sums set upon said Precinct, and also to appoint a collector for the gathering in of the same."
The south part of Marlborough, previously known as "Stoney Brook," was erected into a new town by the name of Southborough in 1727.
SHERBORN. - In a petition dated May 7, 1662, the following persons, styling themselves "inhabitants of Bogestow," state that they have purchased lands at a place called Bogestow ; that they attend upon the means of grace at Medfield, tho' with great difficulty, first, in respect to the distance, and second, by reason of the danger in going over the River ; and ask the Hond Court to grant us liberty to be a town of ourselves of the dimensions of 5 miles square - that we may set up the worship and ordinances of God among ourselves. Signed, Samuel Bass, Daniel Morse, Nicholas Wood, Henry Layland, Thomas Holbrook, Thomas Bass, John Hill, Thomas Brick, Benj. Bullward, William Briggs, George Fairbank, George Speare, Benjamin Albey, Robert Hensdell. 1
This petition was referred to a committee who were "impowered to vejw the place & returne their apprhentions to the next sessions of this Court, for setling a touneship there, as is desired." 2
The report of this committee has not been found.
Oct. 7, 1674, the inhabitants of Bogestow renew their petition for a township; state that they are near twenty families; and ask for a grant of six miles square.3 "The Court grants them the quantity of 6 miles square, not exceeding eight miles in length ; provided that there be a farme of 200 acres of meet land reserved, and laid out for a farme for the country - the name of the place to be called Sherborne."4
May 12, 1675, Henry Adams, in behalf of the Sherborne planters, petitioned for liberty to exchange 4,000 acres of the westerly end of the township, "adjoining to Magungekook Indian Hill," with the Indians at Natick, for a like quantity of Natick lands, “described and bounded on the northeast with Natick, on the southeast, south- west, and west with Sherborne, on the west and northwest with a Farm belonging to Mr. Danforth."5
This petition was referred to Capt. Daniel Fisher, Sergt. Richard Ellis, Sergt. Thomas Thirston of Medfield, and Capt. Gookin, Mr. Eliot on behalf of the Indians.6 In their report, dated May 22, 1677, the committee say : ". . . . We find there is but little or no coun- try land near the place where they intend to set their meeting house ;
1 Mass. Archives, CXII. 137. 2 Mass. Col. Rec. Iv. pt. 2. p. 50.
3 Mass. Archives, CXII. 241.
4 Mass. Col. Rec. v. p. 23. š lbid. pp. 37, 227. 6 Ibid. p. 37.
IO
History of Framingham.
, and we doubt whether they be like to be a town, if some considerable tract of land be not procured from the Indians either by exchange or purchase or both."1
April 16, 1679, articles of agreement, respecting the proposed exchange of lands (Sherborne covenanting to pay the Indians 200 bushels of Indian corn to boot) were signed by Daniel Morse and others on behalf of Sherborne, and Waban, John Awassamog and others on behalf of Natick.2 And at the session of the General Court held May 30, 1679, the said articles of exchange were ratified.3 But it was not till July 8, 1685, that a deed of exchange was executed by the Indians. 4
The boundaries of this 4,000 acres were somewhat indefinite, as de- scribed in the articles and deed. A survey and plot, made by Sherborne, of these Exchange lands, placed them wholly to the southward of Fram- ingham plantation. And that both parties so understood them to lie is shown by the fact that in 1682 the Indians sold to Messrs. Gookin and How 1700 acres of their lands in this neighborhood, the south line of which ran from Henry Rice's most southerly corner to Thomas . Pratt's land on Pratt's plain ; which left -so the General Court's committee say - "a tract of 1,000 acres between said Gookin and How's purchase and Sherborne line." And as late as 1697 the town of Sherborne petitioned the Court for liberty to buy this 1,000 acres of the Indians-which was unnecessary, if it was included in the Exchange lands.5 The General Court, in the act approving the articles of exchange, inserted a proviso, excepting from its operation "all that tract of lands now belonging to Thomas Danforth, Esq. Deputy Governour."6 And in the order, confirming the Sherborne town grant, dated May, 17, 1684, is this clause : "provided always it do not intrench upon former grants to any town or particular per- sons." These provisos restricted Sherborne from all title to (among others) the Danforth lands bordering upon and to the southward of Farm Pond, Stone's meadows, the Gookin and How purchase, the Rice grants, and the tract purchased of the Indians by Thomas Eames.
But notwithstanding the clear evidence of the facts in the case, and the town's own official survey and plot, Sherborne, in 1700, laid claim to what is now South Framingham, and taxed the families living on that territory up to 1709, strenuously opposing the movement for the incorporation of Framingham township.
A full account of this controversy properly belongs to a subsequent chapter.
1 Mass. Col. Rec. v. 229. 2 lbid. 227. Ibid. 229. 4 Mass. Archives, XXX. 305. 5 Ancient
Plans, I. 177. 6 Mass. Col. Rec. v. 230.
II
Streams.
By the established rule of estimation, the families of Pratt, Gleason, Learned, Eames, Death, Haven, et als., had civil and religious privi- leges in Sherborne, and their estates were taxable there, up to 1700.
-
NATURAL FEATURES.
STREAMS. - In looking upon the town map, or in crossing our territory, the natural feature which first arrests attention is the Sudbury River and its tributaries. It is formed by the union of South Branch, commonly known as Hopkinton river, and Stoney brook ; and in the early records, only that portion below where the two branches unite was called Sudbury river.
Hopkinton River rises in the central part of the town of Westborough, at the easterly foot of the highlands which form a water-shed between the streams flowing easterly, and those which go to form the Assabet on the north and the Blackstone on the south. It receives the water of Whitehall brook, which is the outlet of Whitehall pond, lying in the southwest part of Hopkinton. It is also considerably augmented by the waters of Indian brook and Cold Spring brook, both of which have their rise near Hopkinton Centre.
This stream entered the limits of the old Framingham Plantation at the upper end of Fiddle Neck, just within the present territory of Westborough, and formed our southern boundary for a distance of three miles, till the Neck was made a part of Southborough in 1727. While Simpson's Farm continued to form a part of Framingham. the river was within our territory to the mouth of Cold Spring brook, from which point to the site of Cutler's mills it formed the dividing line between Framingham and Sherborn, till the incorporation of Holliston in 1724, when it became for this distance the boundary between Framingham and Holliston. This part of the stream is now wholly in Ashland. From Ashland line to the point of confluence with Stoney brook is about half a mile. Its length from the source in Westborough to the point of confluence is about eleven miles.
This branch has numerous falls which furnish important mill privileges. Beginning up stream, the first privilege within the town limits was what is known as the Old Forge, near the present line of Southborough. A grist-mill and forge was in existence here as early as 1745, then owned by Andrew Newton, Sen. (who m. Mehitable Bellows). His son Andrew, Jr., took the property and carried on the business till his death in 1792. An article in the Framingham town warrant for April 6, 1795, was, "to look into the matter respecting the forge known by the name of the Andrew Newton Forge, and act anything relative thereto. Voted, to choose a committee of three
I 2
History of Framingham.
to dispose of the town's interest in the said forge and privilege thereof."
William Ward rebuilt the dam, and occupied the privilege. There is now a woolen-mill here, owned by Taft and Aldrich. About one mile down the stream is the site of the old paper-mill, built in 1817 by David and Dexter Bigelow. Still lower down, is a box and planing mill put in by Josiah Cloyes, now owned by Alvah Metcalf. The important privilege at Ashland Centre was first occupied about 1735, when Col. John Jones built a grist-mill. Afterwards he added a saw-mill, and fulling-mill. About 1795, Col. Jones sold the property to Isaac Clark, who exchanged it in 1809 with Samuel Clark for what is now the South Framingham Hotel estate. Samuel Clark sold Jan. 23, 18II, to Samuel Valentine, Jr., who sold to the Middlesex Manu- facturing Company. A cotton-factory was erected, which had a varied history till 1828, soon after which it came into possession of James Jackson, a man of energy and business tact, through whose influence the village of Unionville soon sprang up. Mr. Jackson sold the property in 1852. It is now owned by the Dwight Print Company.
Nov. 14, 1706, Savill Simpson bought of Joseph Buckminster six acres of land lying on the north side of the river opposite his farm, and the next year put in a corn-mill and saw-mill, at a point about eight rods above where the Boston and Albany railroad crosses the stream. A year or two later, he added a fulling-mill. July 20, 1709, John How, then of Framingham (afterwards of Hopkinton), bought of Joseph Buckminster twenty acres of land lying in the bend of the river opposite the mouth of Cold Spring brook, and extending up stream to lands of William Ballard. In the summer of 1711, Mr. How built a dam at the site afterwards known as the Shepard Paper- mill; and April 1, 1712, bought of Savill Simpson the six acres of Buckminster land (before described), " together with one corn-mill, one saw-mill and one fulling-mill, and the buildings thereto belonging. which said mills and buildings, the said How, with said Simpson's consent, hath lately removed to a place on said How's own land." Either Mr. Simpson had not calculated the extent of flowage, or Mr. How raised the height of his dam ; for July 5, 1715, Mr. Simpson sued Mr. How, "for overflowing his meadow, thus spoiling the crop on three pieces of meadow containing 10 or II acres, which produced about 10 loads of hay yearly, and also injuring the bridge and cause- way leading from said Simpson's farm to the county road leading to Sherborn." Simpson gained his suit, and then How petitioned the General Court for redress ; but in the end the mill privilege was given up. Mr. How removed to Hopkinton, selling the property to Jacob
13
Streams.
Gibbs, his son-in-law, who owned it in 1740. Before the Revolution, Col. John Jones bought this property, and leased twenty-five acres lying on both sides the stream to Capt. Gilbert Dench, who with his son Isaac built a dam on the old site in the winter of 1779, and put in a saw and grist-mill. In 1798 the heirs of Col. Jones quitclaimed this estate to Capt. Dench, who in 1807 sold his half to his son Isaac. Isaac Dench sold in 1813. In 1828 this privilege was bought by Maj. Calvin Shepard, who built a paper-mill. In 1856, the property was sold to Charles Alden, who established emery-mills. The privi- lege is now held by the city of Boston.
The next privilege is what is known as Cutler's Mills. As early as 1747, Ebenezer Marshall had a blacksmith's shop on the river bank here. Feb. 20, 1748, he bought of Joseph Haven the land adjoining, with a right to use the water of the river for the purposes of his trade, and soon after put in a forge and trip-hammer, and manufactured axes, scythes, hoes, etc. A saw-mill was erected here by Richard Sears about 1816. Mr. Sears sold to Calvin Bigelow, who built a grist-mill. James Whitmore bought this property in 1824 ; sold to Wm. Greenwood in 1833. In 1838 S. N. Cutler purchased the privilege, greatly enlarged the facilities, and with his sons established an extensive grain business. The mill-seat now lies in about the centre of Reservoir No. 2.
The tributaries of Hopkinton river, within the present bounds of Framingham, are Barton's brook and Cowassock brook, both of which rise in the highlands to the south of Salem End, and enter the river just below Merriam's Hill. The former has three mill privileges. A grist-mill was put in by Ebenezer Singletary, on Dadmun's Lane, about 1750. At the opening of the Revolution he built two saw-mills, one near the outlet of Coller meadow, the other a short distance below, for his two elder sons, so that they should not be liable to be drafted for the army, millers being exempt.
Cowassock brook has one privilege, near the house of J. Van Praag. A dam was built, and a turning-lathe and grindstone put in soon after the Revolution, by Maj. Lawson Nurse.
The name of this brook is of Indian origin. Kowa means, a pine tree, plural koash ; ohke or ock signifies, place ; Koash-ock would then mean, the pine-trees' place. The natives applied the term to a knoll, covered with pines, near the mouth of the brook, where they had a small village. The name, as applied to the brook, is found in the earliest English transfers of property here.
STONEY BROOK. This stream rises in the northwesterly part of Southborough, and flows in a southeasterly course to Fayville, then turns to the northeast, and having received the waters of Angle brook
14
History of Framingham.
in the east part of Southborough, turns again to the southeast, which course it follows into Framingham and to the junction with Hopkin- ton river, half a mile west of Mt. Wayte. This stream has numerous valuable mill privileges in Southborough, and but two in Framingham. A grist-mill was built northeast of the mountain, by Dr. Ebenezer Hemenway, before 1760, which continued in use about thirty years. A machine-shop was erected on the other privilege, where the Salem End road crosses the brook, in 1830, by George Bullard, and was continued in operation by him till his death in 1868.
The tributaries of Stoney brook from the south are Roaring brook, Rugg's brook and Willow brook. Roaring brook rises in the northwest part of Ashland, flows northerly, partly in Southborough and partly in Framingham, and enters the main stream northwest of the mountain. A tan-yard, with water-wheel for grinding bark, was put in at the falls west of Tower's Hill about 1740, by Benj. Mixer, who sold to his son Joseph about 1765, who sold in 1780 to Thomas and Ezekiel Williams of Roxbury, who carried on tanning and currying here for ten years, and sold to Benj. Eaton in 1790. Mr. Eaton continued the business till his death. The spot is now occupied by the brick-yard. Rugg's brook rises southeast of the Jonathan Rugg, now Solomon Gates place, crosses the Worcester turnpike midway between the houses of John R. Rooke and Daniel Newton, flows south of the mountain, and reaches Stoney brook northeast of J. H. Temple's. Willow brook has its rise in some springs near the Ashland line, flows through lands of W. P. Temple, Leander Barber and Dr. Peter Parker, and reaches the main stream north of Bridges' hill.
The affluents of Stoney brook from the north are, Angellico brook, which rises on Pine mountain in Southborough, flows southerly, and reaches the main stream north of the mountain. Otis Bullard had a small machine-shop on this brook, where he made shoe-knives, etc. The mouth of this brook is named as a westerly bound of the Danforth farm as originally laid out, though the bound subsequently recognized is a fourth of a mile to the west from this point. Angier's brook rises on Work hill, and runs to the south, near school-house No. 6.
SUDBURY RIVER. As before stated, this name was applied in early times, to the united waters of Hopkinton river and Stoney brook. From the point of junction, it flows in a northeasterly course to the Sudbury town line, thence through the "Sudbury meadows," and when near the centre of Wayland turns more to the north, which general course it follows to its union with the Assabet in the town of Concord. From this point it is known as the Concord river, and unites with the Merrimack in the city of Lowell.
1 5
Streams.
Several privileges have been occupied on this river within our town limits.
A dam was put in at a point nearly due north from the old John Eames house, now R. L. Day's, and a grist-mill maintained for a time. It was probably owned by Maj. John Farrar. If so, he built it about 1755, and it continued in use till after the Revolution.
There was a dam, the remains of which are still visible, to the north of Addison G. Kendall's, where there is a fall of about three feet. A trip-hammer and forge was in operation here for a time.
In 1824, Lawson Buckminster, Jr., and Joseph Brown, constructed a dam, and built a grist and saw-mill, near the Dea. Bent place, now F. A. Billings'. This privilege was well supplied with water, and had power sufficient to carry two runs of stones. These mills had a large share of local custom for many years, till the estate was sold to the proprietors of the Saxonville Mills.
We next come to the largest power on the river, and the most important accessory to the early industries of the town, and known in the earliest records as "The Falls," around which has since gathered the flourishing village of Saxonville.
The first corn-mill within the limits of the Framingham Plantation was built here by Elder John Stone, before 1659. A little later a saw-mill was set up on the same dam, probably by Daniel Stone, Sen. May 22, 1711, Daniel Stone, Sen., sold " one-fourth part of the stream, together with the corn and saw-mill standing thereon," to Samuel How, Sen., of Sudbury. After the death of Mr. How, his share was bought, Feb. 15, 1714, by Dea. Stone and his son John Stone. A fulling-mill standing on "an island which was part of the dam," was in operation here as early as 1735, probably built by Micah Stone, who also had a clothier's shop. The privilege was held by the Stone family till 1824, when it was sold to the Mill corporation. After the war of 1812, Isaac Dench bought the right to use the waste- water of the pond, and built a small shop on the rocks forming the north wing of the dam, where he put in a turning-lathe, for the manufacture of wheel-hubs, bedsteads, etc. His son Gilbert owned it at the time of his death in 1828, when the "water privilege " was appraised at $300.
The history of the Saxon Factory Co., and its successors, properly belongs to a subsequent chapter.
The southern affluents of Sudbury river are, Eames brook, which is the outlet of Farm pond, and which having a fall of less than two feet affords an insignificant power. Sucker brook is the outlet of Sucker pond, and enters the river opposite the house of George Warren. A dam was put in on this stream, as early as 1708, by John Stone
.
16
History of Framingham.
(son of Dea. Daniel), at the ridge east of the swamp, with the view of utilizing the whole surplus waters of the pond. It is not known that the power was ever used. A small pond was raised, in connection with the tan-yard, on the Isaac Warren premises, where power suffi- cient to drive a bark-mill was obtained. This was in use till Mr. Warren discontinued his tan works.
Jacob's brook, below F. A. Billings', drains Jacob's meadow.
Cochituate brook. This is the outlet of Cochituate pond, and pur- sues a tortuous, and in the main northwesterly course, entering Sudbury river northeasterly from the Falls. The first attempt to utilize the power of this stream is thus noticed in the town records : "May 5, 1748. To see if the town will give Mr. William Brown leave to erect a dam over the brook in the place where the bridge now is by his barn ; he being obliged to keep the highway there in good repair for passing for teams and other travelers, at his own cost, and that he does not obstruct the passage of the fish." At the town meeting, May 16, "put to vote whether the town would give leave to Mr. William Brown to erect a dam in the room of the bridge near his barn, etc., and it passed in the negative." This vote only denied the privilege of building a dam in the line of the highway, which should take the place of the bridge. Soon after this date Mr. Brown built a dam east of the highway, and put in a grist-mill. This continued in use till 1813. His son Ebenezer built a saw-mill on the same dam about 1795. In 1811 the privilege was sold by Ebenezer Brown to Hopestill Leland and Col. Calvin Sanger of Sherborn, who organized the Framingham Manufacturing Co., and erected a cotton-mill, which did a large business for many years. The property passed into the hands of I. McLellan of Boston. In July, 1844, this privilege was sold to William H. Knight, who put in machinery for spinning woolen yarns. Mr. K. sold to the City of Boston.
Before the Revolution, Dea. Brown built a fulling-mill at the old fording place, southwest of his dwelling-house. This came into the possession of his son Andrew - Maj. Andrew, he was called,- who carried on business here till his death in 1803. The property then fell to Roger Brown, brother of Andrew, and through him to his son, Col. James. Luther Rice occupied the fulling-mill for a time, and put in machinery for spinning cotton thread. In 1829, Col. James Brown sold the privilege to William H. Knight. Mr. K. changed the machinery, and immediately commenced here the manufacture of carpets. His means were limited, and not at all commensurate with his skill. He would purchase wool sufficient for a single piece of carpeting, work it up and take it to Boston, and from the proceeds buy more wool. He furnished a room in the upper story of the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.