USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, including the Plantation, from 1640 to the present time, with an appendix, containing a notice of Sudbury and its first proprietors > Part 4
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t Mattahump was probably the
Mautamp, Sachem of Quabaog, who, in 1665, witnessed the sale of Brook- field, and was hanged with others, Sept. 26, 1676. Hubbard, pp. 35, 75. # It is quite probable that one or more of the children remained in Canada ; a not uncommon event, and in some cases the result of prefer- ence on the part of the captives, who became so accustomed to their change of life, as to lose all attachment to their English society and friends. Hutchinson states in his history (ii. 140), that the captives who have been carried to Canada, have often re- ceived very kind usage from the French inhabitants. A tradition ex- ists, that a sister of Capt. Isaac Clark of Framingham, who with her mother (then of Maine), had been taken by the Indians to Canada, was there sold to the French ; among whom she lived so contented and happy, that when money was sent for her redemption, she refused to leave ; sending word that the money was not sufficient to supply her table.
27
INDIAN HISTORY OF THE PLANTATION.
The following inventory exhibits the particulars of the loss sus- tained by Mr. Eames.
" An inventory of the loss of Thomas Eames, when his house was fired by Indians at Framingham near unto Sudbury, in the County of Middlesex, the first of February, 1675-6.
Imprimis - A wife and nine children.
Item - A house 34 feet long, double floores, and garret, and cellar, and a barn 52 foot long, leantir'd one side and two ends, -£100.00 00
It. 4 oxen,
024.00 00
It. 7 cows, fair with calf,
· 028.00 00
It. 2 yearlings,
003.00 00
It. 1 bull,
- 002.00 00
It. 2 heifers, fair with calf,
006.00 00
It. 1 heifer, .
· 002.00 00 003.12 00
It. 30 loads of hay in ye barn at 8s. per load, -
- 012.00 00
It. 10 bush. wheate, at 6s. p. bush. 003.00 00
It. 40 bush. rye, at 4s. Sd. p. bush.
· 008.00 00
It. 210 bush. of indian, at 3s. p. bush.
031.00 00
lt. Hemp and flax, in ye barne,
- 001.00 00 006.00 00
It. Fire arms, with other arms and ammunition,
It. Butter 20s., cheese 40s., 2 barrels and a half of Pork, and 4 flitches of bacon 10 1b.
013.00 00
It. Carpenter's and joyner's tooles, - -
005.00 00
It. 2 great spinning wheeles and 2 small wheeles, 4s., 4 for cards,
001.00 00
It. 6 beds, 3 of them feather beds, and 3 flock, 6 Ruggs, 12 blankets,
· 005.00 00
It. 1 chest of lynen with ye sheets and shifts,
010.00 00
It. A livery cupboard with what was in it,
002.00 00
It. My wife's lynen and wearing apparel, and children's cloathing, and my own cloathing, with clothing that was my former wife's, - - 025.00 00
It. Pewter, brasse, and Iron ware, 014.00 00
It. Churns and other dairy vessells, with other wooden lumber, - - 005.00 00
Total, 330.12 00
The actors in the affair we have related, did not long escape the hands of justice. Netus, the leader of the party, was killed March 27th, at Marlborough, by a party of English under the command of Lt. Jacobs, and his wife was sold. Annecoeken, another, was dead before the close of summer. Aug. 11th, a warrant was issued by Thomas Danforth, Magistrate, for the ar-
It. 8 sheep, fair with lamb, -
28
FRAMLINGHAM PLANTATION.
rest of " Joshua Assatt, John Dublet, son-in-law to Jacob, William Jackstraw and two of his sons, the name of the one Joseph, also Jackstraw's wife, all of them late of Moguncog Indians."# Three of them, viz. William Wanuckhow, alias Jackstraw, and his two sons, Joseph and John, were taken and examined by Mr. Dan- forth the 14th of the same month, before whom they made con- fession of the act, assigning as its cause, " their missing of corn, which they expected to have found at Mogoncocke." They also accused two others, Joshua Assatt, then absent in the English service at Marlborough, under Capt. Hunting, and Awassaquah, who was sick " at the Ponds." ; The three were committed to prison, and Joseph was indicted, with probably the others, who
* The constable was also ordered to warn Peter Ephraim's wife to ap- pear before the magistrate. Peter lived at Brush hill, on Natick lands exchanged with Sherburne in 1679, not far distant from Framingham, where he had broken up land. He was a Nipmuck Indian, whose re- ligious confession is given by Eliot. He rendered valuable services to the English in Philip's war, and as com- mander of a company of friendly In- dians, accompanied the English to Rehoboth. Ancient accounts state that while the English became dis- couraged, " Ephraim continued and captived forty-two, besides killing eight." He was of Natick, in 1695. His wife's name was Wuttawtin- nusk. Peter's hill, a part of Natick, probably derived its name from him. t We subjoin a copy of the orig- inal minutes of this examination, which are on file in the handwriting of Mr. Danforth, in the archives of the State. Vol. xxx. p. 211. The names in Italics undoubtedly indicate the individuals accused :
" Camb. 14, 6, 76.
" Netus - dead and his wife sold.
" Annecocken - dead.
" Aponapawquin als. Jacob.
" Acompunatt als. James Philip.
" Pukunanunquis - Joshua Assatt, with C(apt. ) Hunting.
" Apumatquin als. John.
" William.
" Joseph.
" Pumupene of Quabaug, and his sonne, abt. 40 years old.
" Awassaquah - at (the) ponds, sick,
-[?]-of Nashaway (absent).
ye wife of Aquetokush, and is sold already.
" Joseph Indian, son of William of Mogoncocke, being examined, do say and confess, that himself with those others named by the Marshal, were the persons that destroyed Thomas Eames' family, in the beginning of February last ; that the same was oc- casioned by their missing of corn which they expected to have found at Mogoncocke, and by that means were provoked to come and do the spoil, killing of some and carrying captive the rest, and burning house, barn and cattle ; and do confess that he himself carried away on his back one of Eames' sons. Also he saith that about 2 mo. since, he enquired concerning Goodman Eames' two daughters, and understood they were at a great hill about middleway be- tween Watchuset and Penecooke, and were in good health and not in a starving plight.
" Apumatquin, alias John, being examined, do confess the same thing as above to be the truth; only he saith he knows nothing how it is with Goodman Eames' daughters at pre- sent, not having heard lately any thing concerning them.
" Wm. Jackstraw being examined, do confess the same thing as above ; owns that his sons Joseph and John above examined, were present at the desolation of Gn. Eames' family, and
29
SETTLEMENT OF SHERBORN.
were tried September 18th. How many of their accomplices, if any, were afterwards brought to justice, does not appear. Gookin states that " three were executed about Thos. Eames his burning." The execution took place the 21st of September. "Two of the murderers," according to the petition of the Eames' sons, " Old Jacob, a chief man sometime at Natick, and Joshua Assunt, returned and were pardoned, and lived at Natick many years after." The close of this war of so disastrous issues to the Indians, undoubtedly dictated a course of forbearance and clem- ency to the accused ; since justice had already been satisfied by the blood of three of their accomplices.
For the severe loss sustained in this affair, computed, as we have seen, at £330, (a large sum for those days), Thomas Eames received a small indemnity. The General Court granted him, " various considerations thereunto moving," 200 acres of land. He also sued the Indians at law, and obtained from them a tract of 300 acres. But no recompense in land or treasure could restore to him his desolated home. He survived the calamity a few years, and died about a week before the 4th anniversary of the event, Jan. 25, 1680, aged about 62 .*
The return of peace, after the destructive hostilities of this Indian war, was soon followed by the arrival of new settlers in this territory, particularly towards the S. part. In 1674 the inhabitants of Bogestow, now Sherburne, receiving from the Court a grant of six miles square, and becoming soon organized as a civil
that himself was one of the company, but kept at a distance, a little off in the corn fields.
" Isaac Beech being present at this examination do say, that Joseph above-named, confessed the same thing to him and John Prentice.
" For encouragement to Joseph, who was first examined, to tell the truth, (they at first denying all), I told him I would speak to the Gov- ernor to spare his life, in case he would tell me plainly how all the said matter was acted.
" Taken the day and year above- said, before THO. DANFORTH.
" Jno. Speene, Interpreter.
" Confessions were owned by the prisoners at the bar 18. 7. '76.
" E. R. S."
"Wm. Jackstraw saith, that Matta- hump hath one of Gn. Eames' daugh- ters, and Pumapen (the other), and they were alive at planting time ; and he thinks they may be yet (towards Fort) Auranea (Albany), but (uncer- tain where.)
* On the State Files (xxx. p. 122) is a paper (without date, probably about 1680), recounting the abusive treatment received by Mary Parkes of Sherburne (æ. 39), from an Indian who encountered her returning from a visit to "Corporal Rice's." The particulars are not worthy of notice. She reached her home in safety, after a severe fright.
3*
30
FRAMLINGHAM PLANTATION.
community, several of the inhabitants of this Plantation were admitted there as townsmen .* Most of these were received con- formably to an act of the General Court in 1679, requiring that " all other farmes that are nighest Sherborn meeting house, shall likewise be in the bounds of Sherborn, and do duty and receive priviledge therein ; " to which the following proviso was annexed : " Provided always, that the tract of waste lands scituate and lying indifferently accomodable for Sudbury and Marlborough as well as Sherborn, and are now belonging to Thomas Danforth, Esq. Deputy Governor, be excepted." ¡ This action by the Court pos- sesses some interest, as the origin of the " difficulties with Sher- burne," which caused no small contention, after the incorporation of Framingham as a township. The arrangement was doubtless made in aid of that young township, which, according to an early Rate, contained only 16 taxable polls .¿
1680. The largest body of the settlers of this territory being at this period in the neighborhood of Sudbury bounds, some in- terest is connected with the following extract from the Records of that town, illustrating the care of the early planters in the in- struction and moral training of the rising commonwealth. The statement was prepared in conformity to an act of the General Court, requiring returns to be made relative to the support of the ministry, the maintenance of schools, and the general order of families, in respect to habits of regular industry and good morals. Early in the year, the selectmen had reported their " having gone over the houses throughout the town, from house to house, and inspected and made enquiry ;" and " do find that all children and young persons are in a forward and growing way as to reading
* The records of Sherburne bear the names of the following who were admitted as inhabitants : - Thomas Eames, Jan. 4, 1674-5; John Death, Jan. 1677-8; Thomas Gleason, July 8 1678 ; Tho. Pratt, Sen., Zacry Padel- ford, John Eames, Isaac Learned and Tho. Pratt, Jr., April, 1679. Thomas Eames was early one of the Select. men, and was on the committee for building the meeting house, and re- ceived a grant " for building " the same. John Eames was Selectman in 1682. The Rev. Daniel Gookin, (H. C. 1669 and Librarian of the col-
lege), son of Major Gookin of Cam- bridge, was settled in Sherburne as the first minister, in 1681, with a sal- ary of £40, and d. Jan. 8, 1717-8, æ. 67.
+ State Files - Towns.
# By virtue of the act referred to, Sherburne claimed, in 1701, a tract of land, within the limits of this town, included between the W. bounds of Washakum and Farın (or Great) Ponds, the Indian bridge or Beaver Dam, and Sudbury river, in- cluding Larned's and Gleason Pond, and the land to the N. of thein.
31
ROADS, GREAT FLOOD, ETC.
and catechising, and as to work and employment, they find them generally diligent and in a hopeful thriving way in all respects."*
The account after some details, adds, " that though there be no stated school, the inhabitants being scattered, they have two school dames each side of the river that teacheth small children to spell and read, which is so managed by their parents and goodmen at home, - after such sort, as that the Selectmen re.urned from all parts a com- fortable and good account of all these matters, and render them growing in several families beyond expectation, hardly reprovable .anywhere, encouraging in most places and in others very commendable, so as that the end is accomplisht hitherto ; and for teaching to write and cypher, there is Mr. Tho. Walker, and two or three others about town that do teach ; and the selectmen having also been made acquainted that ye Court expects their inspection, touching persons who live from under family government or after a dissolute and disorderly manner, to ye dis- honor of God and corrupting of youth ; the selectmen, after personal enquiry into all families and quarters, in and about this town, do return this answer, that they find none such amongst them."
Who can estimate, how far we are indebted to the noble spirit speaking in these tones of homeliness and simplicity, for the intelligence, the enterprise, the moral and religious spirit which have since characterized this Commonwealth !
New roads, soon after this period, were probably opened in the Plantation, as appears from the following extract from the County Records.t
" Oct. 7, 1684, Lt. Edward West, Obadiah Morse, Thomas Read, Jonathan Whitney, Jon. Fay, and John Collar, are appointed a com- mittee to lay out highways leading from Sudbury, Sherborn, Marlbo- rough and Framingham, and the Falls upon Charles River, so as may be most convenient for the accommodation of travellers from Town to Town, both for man and beast."
As no return is found upon the Record, what particular action was had by the commission does not appear. The same Records inform us, that Dec. 16 of the same year, John Eames recovered of the town of Sherborn £5 in country pay, for killing 10 wolves.
1691. A great flood is noticed as having occurred in this re- gion on the 1st of March of this year, and the " greatest flood
* The number of rateable males in Sudbury at this time was 62; the number of families " in and about the t iv. 131.
town," 59 ; and the pay of the minis- ter £80, a quarter part in money.
32
FRAMLINGHAM PLANTATION.
by several feet perpendicular, that ever was remembered by English or Indians then surviving." *
1692. This year is memorable, as the date of the outbreak of the celebrated Witchcraft delusion ; in the course of which, the lives of many innocent persons were sacrificed to a " blind zeal and superstitious credulity." It is so far connected with our present history, as having caused the emigration, soon after, to this Plantation, from Salem village, now Danvers, of the families of Clayes and Nurse, who, with their descendants, still remaining in the town, have been useful and respected members of the community. They settled about a mile W. from the centre of the Plantation, and the neighborhood has since been known by the name of SALEM END.
The melancholy delusion referred to, commenced in Essex County - the chief seat of its violence - Feb. 1691 -2, in the family of Mr. Parris, a minister of Salem Village, and soon spread into other parts of the Colony. It was communicated to this country from England, where several years before had been published Glanvil's Witch Stories, and the trials of the Suffolk Witches, books which circulated in New England, and with the added authority of so great a man as Sir Matthew Hale, who countenanced the superstition, made a deep impression upon the minds of the grave people who dwelt amidst the gloom of the wilderness, and were harassed by continual privation and danger. Among the numerous families who suffered from this infatuation, were the two above named. March 1, 1692, Rebecca, wife of Francis Nurse, and Sarah, wife of Peter Clayes, of Salem Village, were committed with others to the prison in Boston, on the charge of witchcraft. The fate of the former was singularly unhappy. At her trial the jury could not agree in a verdict, and on the second return to the Court had not found her guilty. Persisting, however, in her refusal to answer certain questions, about an ex- pression she had used, her silence was made constructive proof of guilt, and she was accordingly condemned to death. She was excommunicated July 3, from the old church of Salem, and on the 19th of the same month was hung. Many testimonials were given of her good character and domestic worth, without effect. The 31st of
* I M. H. Coll. x.
33
FAMILIES ANNEXED TO SUDBURY, ETC ..
the following month, the wife of Mr. Clayes was removed to the Ipswich prison ; but the fury of the delusion abating, she escaped with her life, having, as tradition says, been conveyed by night to Framingham. Mary Easty, a sister of Rebecca Nurse, (as was Sarah Clayes), also Abigail Williams, probably the sister or niece of Mr. Clayes, appear to have been implicated, in the course of events. It is painful to reflect, that this delusion was encouraged by men of high distinction in the Colony, both in the church and state. One of them (Judge Sewall) afterwards bewailed his participation in it, and asked " pardon of God and man."
The gradual increase of settlers at Lanham and the E. part of Framingham, on the borders of Sudbury, some of whom probably attended public worship in that town, without bearing their due portion of town charges, led the selectmen of that place, in 1691, to apply to the General Court for relief. The following order was accordingly passed.
" At an adjournment of the Gen. Court of their Maj. Colony of the Mass. Bay, in Boston, March 8, 1691-2 :
" In answer to the petition of the selectmen of Sudbury, ordered : that the outdwellers adjoining unto the said Town, comprehended within the line beginning at Matth. Rice's, from thence to Cornet Wm. Brown's, Corporal Henry Rice's, Thomas Drury's, Tho. Walker, Jun., John How, and Samuel Winch's (not belonging to any other towne), be annexed unto the Town of Sudbury, and continue to bear their part of all duties, and partake of all priviledges there, as formerly, until further order."
In pursuance of this order, which applied (except perhaps 'in the case of the first two), to inhabitants of the present town of Framingham, we soon find traces of town action within the bor- ders of this town.
" In 1693, Daniel Stone and John Adams, were chosen fence view- ers from Lanham, Daniel Stone's Mill to Sherborn bounds.
" Jan. 10, 1693-4. Voted and agreed &c., that Daniel Stone, Jr., Nath. Stone, Samuel Winch, John Adams, Corporal Bent, David Stone, Mr. Henry Rice, David Rice, Thomas Drury, Thom. Walker, John How, shall be rated to the highway according to former custom and usage ; and shall work out their rates about the making and main- taining of the bridge and Casway, at Dan. Stone's river, and at Co- checheuat brook the bridge and casway there, in good repair, &c.
" Also voted and agreed, &c., That Corporal Samuel How, Mr. Thomas Read, (John) How, John Gibbs, Math. Gibbs, Edmond Bow.
34
FRAMLINGHAM PLANTATION.
ker, Tho. Read, Jun., Tho. Frost, Benj. Wight, John Sheers, shall be rated to the highway rate as formerly, and shall work out their rates at Lanham bridge and Casway, &c."
In Feb. 1693-4, among the schoolmistresses appointed by the selectmen " for the younger sort of children," (Samuel Wright having been appointed to teach and instruct children and youth to read and write and cast accompts), we find "at the S. end of the town, the wife of our brother Daniel Stone, and at Lanham, the wife of brother Reade, Sen." and the selectmen " entreat the persons above named to accept thereof."
The neighborhood above referred to, contiguous to the present bounds of Wayland, was known soon after this period as the " Sudbury Farms." The success of Sudbury in sharing the dispersed inhabitants of this unappropriated region, inspired hopes in another quarter.
Feb. 3, 1695. At a town meeting in Sherburne, relative to an enlargement of their town bounds, by the addition of " land joining to the farm of Henry Rice, to make one township," em- bracing such " farmers as are willing to join our township," it was proposed " to run a straight line from the S. corner of Henry Rice's to the cartway, crossing Cochituate brook, near where Course brook meets with Cochituate brook." The projected union, however, met with no successful issue.
The time had arrived when the Incorporation of the Plantation began to be seriously meditated. Its territory was becoming set- tled in all directions. It contained a population estimated at near 200 souls. Great inconvenience was experienced from the want of schools, and the remoteness of public worship. The commu- nity possessed among their number men of enterprise and energy. An individual had become a proprietor of lands in the Plantation, who was destined to act an important part in the future establish- ment and administration of the town. As early as 1693, Joseph Buckminster, of Muddy River, now Brookline, then about 27 years of age, a man who to a considerable estate, united great resolution and ardor of character, was in possession, jointly with Joseph White, of a tract of land, the commencement of the large interest he afterwards acquired. Accordingly, in 1696, a peti- tion was formally preferred to the General Court, praying that the inhabitants might be incorporated as a township. This first
35
SEVERE WINTER, DANFORTH'S SALE, ETC.
movement was for the time lost; the petition having been laid over to the session of the following year.
The winter of 1696 - 7 was remarkable for an extreme severi- ty, extending from the middle of November to the middle of March. The Records of Sudbury notice it as "the terriblest winter for continuance of frost and snow, and extremity of cold, that ever was remembered." Much sickness and mortality arose from the prevalence of coughs and colds. Other contemporane- ous accounts state, that at Boston, sleighs and loaded sleds passed on the ice from Boston as far as Nantasket. What added to the sufferings of the colonists, was the great scarcity of food, grain never having been higher.
Before proceeding to give, in orderly detail, the proceedings which issued in the establishment here of a township, it may be proper to notice a transaction of some importance, viz. the transfer of Mr. Danforth's control of the chief of his large estate in the Plantation to Joseph Buckminster, which involves various particulars of interest, as connected with subsequent events. Mr. Danforth had disposed of his lands to the tenants who had settled upon them, by lease, for a long term of years .* He now conveys almost the entire estate, in like manner, to Mr. Buckminster. The original instrument bears date March 25, 1699, and is on record among the Middlesex Deeds. After the usual introduction, we extract the following : -
" That whereas the said Thomas Danforth hath a tract or parcell of land, and a part of those lands commonly called Framingham, lying &c., in the wilderness, and is bounded by Sudbury on the northerly side thereof, by Marlborough on the westerly side, and the easterly side is bounded partly by land now occupied by Simon Mellins, John Collar Sen. and the Whitneys', and southerly, by Sherborn line : also, within said tract or parcell of land, is contained sundry parcells of land and meadows, that are appropriated to sundry other persons and not to the said T. D. : also within said tract of land is comprehended one neck of land, bounded by Sudbury river, southerly, S. westerly, and S. east- erly, and a small branch of said river northerly, running towards Marl- borough line, and said line is the westerly bounds thereof, which said neck of land, (excepting only 600 part thereof to be laid out in - distinct
* The rents were paid for many years ; until, by some means unex- plained, the tenants were able to re- sist the demand. Tradition states that the legal evidences had been
surreptitiously destroyed. The late Mr. Ebenezer Eaton is said to have been the last agent for collecting rents.
36
FRAMLINGHAM PLANTATION.
places and no more), the said T. D. reserveth to lye in common, for the accommodation of those that do or shall occupy other, the said lands of the said T. D., as for the tennants and farmers of him, the said Joseph Buckminster, in manner as he, the said T. D., shall here- after appoint and order, reserving also to Simon Mellins and John Col- lar, and the farms by them occupied, all the meadows lying upon Sudbury river, as far downward as the aforesaid branch of the said river, and so much of the upland as shall be set out to them for the accommodating the fencing of said meadows, and to the other farmers of the said lands of the said T. D. conveniency for passage of their cattle to the said neck of land, and an highway of 20 pole wide or more, in manner and place as shall be requisite and meet, as said T. D. shall appoint - also 600 acres of land to be laid out in one entire place, and to bound southerly upon the path leading from Dea. Stone's to Marlborough ; also for the accommodation of the meeting house and settlement of the minister, said T. D. reserveth 140 acres, and is laid out in two or more places, as they, the above named T. D. and J. B., have ordered and appointed - all the remainder of the said tract of land to him the said 'T. D. appertaining," &c.
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