USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 3
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When the town of Sutton was granted to the English, May 15, 1704, this town was reserved for the Indians. [The tract of land called Sutton was originally purchased by a number of gentlemen of Sachen John Wampus, and his company, Indians, who claimed it. Wampus first reserved four miles square for liis countrymen, the Indians, which they called Hassanamisco ; this is now Grafton. It was to begin at a certain bound, which lie fixed upon ; and there the purchasers above referred to were to have as much land as eight miles square would amount to, situated in the Nip- mug country, between the towns of Mendon, Marlborough,
*Gookin's Praying Indians.
5
34
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Worcester, Oxford, and New Sherburne (now Donglas), and this was confirmed to the purchasers, May 15th, 1704, and formed into a township. That part of the original pur- chase which fell to the eastward of Grafton, was, part of it, many years ago, annexed to the town of Westborough, and the other part, with some from Mendon and Hopkinton, taken to form the town of Upton.]
In the year 1675, a century before the American Revolu- tion, King Philip's war broke out, and during this war this promising settlement was entirely broken up,* and, though a number of the families returned after the war,t yet the church was probably never re-established. The Indians themselves were divided in their allegiance, some adhering to the English throughout, and others taking side with Philip, and still others, at first deserting the English, but afterwards returning to them. May 24, 1677, an order was issued by the General Conrt settling the praying Indians in Hassanamesit, Natick, Wamesit and Punkapang. They were also ordered not to receive any foreign Indians in their societies under a penalty to be fixed by the court .; A num- ber of years elapsed after this war, before the few remain- ing proprietors of Hassanamesit returned to make it a permanent residence. Most of them lived with the Natick Indians, and came here occasionally only, for the purpose of planting corn and making cider. In 1698, five families had returned, and among these was James Printer, who was dis- tingnished for his ageney in printing the Indian Bible, as well as for his great intelligence.
In 1681, the General Court appointed commissioners to examine the claims of the several Indians to the Nipmuck country. They reported that they found them litigious among themselves, and willing to claim the whole. They thought, however, that for a reasonable sum their several
*Mass. His. Col. II., Vol. I., p. 185.
+Wilson's Sermon, p. 9.
#Colonial Records.
35
PURCHASE OF THE TOWN.
elaims could be extinguished .* And subsequently, the same commissioners, having been authorized to treat with them for that purpose, purchased a large tract of land south of the Blackstone River, about fifty miles long and twenty wide, for the sum of fifty pounds and a coat. The deeds were signed by forty-nine persons.
The Indians remained the sole proprietors of this town until 1718, when Elisha Johnson, of Sutton, was permitted to purchase a tract of land on condition that he would build and support a bridge over each branch of the Blackstone River. These bridges were built and supported by him until 1737, when they were assumed by the proprietors, and subsequently by the town, and he was discharged from his obligation. Other persons, from time to time, were per- mitted to purchase land ; so that in 1728, nine English fami- lies had already settled here. A road was laid across the town to Sutton in 1723. A purchase of the entire town was not attempted until May, 1724, when a number of per- sons, principally inhabitants of Marlborough, Sudbury, Con- cord and Stow, presented a petition to the General Court for that purpose.
A petition of Samuel Chandler and John Sherman, in behalf of sundry inhabitants of the towns of Concord, Sudbury, Marlborough and Stow, for leave to purchase of the Hassanamisco Indians land at that place, was referred to Mr. Remington, Colonel Bond and Major Chandler, who were to visit the land and report the proper price. This
*In the report of William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley, the commis- sioners, dated October 17, 1681, is the following : "The middle part above Sherborne aud Marlborough, claimed by the Hassanamesit men, now resident at Natick, but interrupted by the claim of several executors to John Wampus, whom we summoned before the governor and magis- trates in Boston, soon after our return, and find their claim very uncer- tain, but, if allowed, will be to the ruin of the middle part of the coun- try, of which the Indians make complaint to this court .- Colonial Records.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
order was non-concurred in by the Council, December 13, 1726 .*
December 16th, three days afterwards, the House of Rep- resentatives and the Council held a conference, and the lat- ter body concurred in the above order, and the following gentlemen composed the committee: Nathaniel Byfield and Samuel Thaxter of the Council, and John Chandler, Esq., Major Tileston and Captain Goddard. They made the following report September 21st, 1727: " Pursuant to the within order, a major part of the committee repaired to Hassanamisco, and having carefully viewed the lands pro- posed to be sold by the natives there, containing about seven thousand five hundred acres ; about one-half whereof being a good soil, but very stony, the other half pitch pine and shrub plain, are of opinion, and have accordingly valned and estimated the land at the sum of 2,500 pounds, nnder the conditions dated June 9th, 1726."t
February 16th, 1727, the trustees of the Indians at Has- sanamisco, Spencer Phipps, Esq., Capt. Edward Goddard and Capt. Ephraim Curtis, reported to the Council the diffi- culties they were under in their business. It was ordered that the committee be impowered to advance or pay any part of the purchase money for the relief and support of the Indians they deemed necessary.#
The following is an exact copy of the original deed for the purchase of the town :-
PRINTER AND CO. TO THE 40 PETITIONERS.
To All People TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Moses Printer, and Ami Printer, Jr., Indians of Hassanamisco, in the County of Suffolk, within his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being owners and proprietors of one-seventh part each of and in the Indian native right of land in Hassanamisco aforesaid.
*Honse of Representatives Records.
+Colonial Records. #Ibid.
37
DEED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TOWN.
Peter Muckamaug, and Sarah his wife, of Hassanamisco aforesaid (owners and proprietors in the right of the said Sarah), of one-seventh part of the said native right.
And Christian Misco, relict widow of George Misco, late of Hassa- namisco aforesaid, deceased, and Joshua Misco, of Hassanamisco afore- said, son of the said deceased, being owners and proprietors of two- sevenths parts of the said native right-
SENDETH GREETING.
Whereas, The Great and General Court or Assembly of the afore- said Province, having been thereunto petitioned as well by the Indian natives and proprietors before named, as by a number of English petitioners, did in their late session, viz. : in the month of December last past, in answer to the petition of Samuel Chandler, John Sherman, and others, give liberty to the petitioners therein referred to, to pur- chase the lands at llassanamisco by them petitioned for, containing about seven thousand five hundred acres, more or less, of the Indian natives and proprietors thereof, for the settlements of forty English families of the petitioners, or their posterity, and no others exclusive of the English and Indians upon the spots already, reserving for and onto the said Indian proprietors, each of them, an equal dividend in said land with each of the purchasers, to be laid out so as to compre- hend and take in their present improvements. And also one hundred acres more of land there, to be the present Indian proprietors, their heirs and assigns, forever. And also the sum of 2,500 pounds, to be deposited in the hands of trustees appointed, authorized and impow- ered by the said Great and General Court or Assembly, to receive and set out the same at interest, on good and sufficient security, and said interest to be paid to the said Indian proprietors, and the said court shall, from time to time, order and direct together with sundry immuni- ties, privileges and enfranchisements, respecting the settlements and support of the ministry and school, as in and by the records of said court (relation thereunto being had) doth and may appear.
Low Know We, That the said Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Moses Printer, Ami Printer, Jr., Peter and Sarah Muckamang, Christian Misco, and Joshua Misco, being the only surviving proprietors of the Indian right of land in Hassanamisco aforesaid, for the consideration before mentioned, have given, granted, bargained, sold, alienated, enfeoffed, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents do fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, bargaiu, sell, convey and confirm unto each of the persons hereinafter named, being of the proprietors, to whom such liberty of purchasing was granted as aforcsaid, or other- wise admitted by and with the approbation or allowance of the said Great and General Court, one fortieth part in common and undivided right of, and in, all that tract or parcel of land called, or known, by the name of Hassanamisco, situated and bounded by and with the town-
38
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
ship of Sutton, in the aforesaid County of Suffolk, and surrounded by said Sutton, excepting always and reserving out of this present grant and sale such parts and dividends thereof and therein unto them, the said Indian proprietors, and to their heirs and assigns forever, as is expressed and mentioned in a vote of the House of Representatives, on the ninth of June, 1725, and accordingly reserved by the Great and General Court as is above expressed, excepting also and reserving out of this present grant and sale, all such other parts and pareels of said tracts of land as hath been formerly (with the allowance of said court) granted unto sundry English people, to be holden of them, the said pur- chasers, their respective heirs and assigns forever, conformable to the votes, aets and orders of the said Great and General Court, passed thereon in their aforesaid session,-that is to say, to James Watson, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, in the Province aforesaid, mariner, Benjamin Willard, gent., and Joseph Willard, husbandmen, being both of or in the County of Suffolk, in the Province aforesaid, each one- fortieth part thereof, to them, their respective heirs and assigns, for. ever.
To Joseph Riee, Jonathan Morse, David Harrington, Samuel Biglo, Samuel Stow, Zerubbabel Eager, Samuel Brigham, Jobn Sherman, - John Warren, Nathan Brigham, Sen., Charles Brigham, husbandmen, Jeremiah Barstow, trader, and Elizabeth Harrington, widow, all of Marlborough, in the County of Middlesex, in the Province aforesaid, each one-fortieth part thereof, to them, and their respective heirs and assigns, forever.
To Samuel Chandler, John Hunt, Joseph Merriam, Eleazer Flagg, Jacob Taylor, Ebenezer Wheeler, Joseph Barrett and Benjamin Barrett, husbandmen, all of Concord, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex, each one-fortieth part thereof, to them, their respective heirs and assigns, forever.
To Samuel Hall, Simon Gates, Jr., John Collar, husbandmen, all of Stow, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex, cach one-fortieth part thereof, to them, their respective heirs and assigns, forever.
To William Rogers, gent., and William Rogers, Jr., bricklayer, both of Wenham, in the County of Essex, in the Province aforesaid, each one-fortieth part thereof, to them, their respective heirs and assigns, forever.
To Jonathan Rice and Richard Taylor, both of Sudhury, in the County of Middlesex aforesaid, husbandmen, each one-fortieth part thereof, to them and their respective heirs and assigns, forever.
To John Joues, of Hopkinton, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex, husbaudman, one-fortieth part thereof, to him, his heirs and assigns, forever.
To Jonas Houghton, of Lancaster, in the aforesaid County of Middle- sex, husbandman, John Davis, of Ipswich, in the County of Essex, in the Province aforesaid, husbandman, and Thomas Weeks, of Shrews-
39
DEED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TOWN.
bury, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex, husbandman, each one- fortieth part, to them and their heirs and assigns, forever.
To Thomas Pratt, of Hassanamisco, in the aforesaid County of Suffolk, husbandman, and Nathaniel Wilder, of Lancaster, in the afore- said County of Middlesex, husbandman, each one fortieth part, to them and their heirs and assigns, forever. Together with all the rights, members, profits, privileges, emoluments, hereditaments and appurte- nances to the said granted premises belonging, or in any wise appertaiu- ing, excepting only as before excepted. To have and to hold the said granted bargained premises, with the appurtenances and every part thereof, except as before excepted, to them, the said James Watson, Benjamin Willard, Joseph Willard, Joseph Rice, Jonathan Morse, David Harrington, Samuel Biglo, Samuel Stow, Zerubbabel Eager, Samuel Brigham, John Sherinan, John Warren, Nathan Brigham, Charles Brig- ham, Jeremiah Barstow, Eliza Harrington, Samuel Chandler, John Hunt, Joseph Merriam, Eleazer Flagg, Jacob Taylor, Ebenezer Wheeler, Joseph Barrett, Samuel Hall, Simon Gates, Nathaniel Hapgood, Phineas Rice, Simon Gates, Jr., John Collar, William Rogers, William Rogers, Jr., Jonathan Rice, Richard Taylor, John Jones, Jonas Houghton, John Davis, Thomas Weeks, Benjamin Barrett, Thomas Pratt and Nathaniel Rider, and to their respective heirs and assigns, forever, to their and each of their own proper use and benefit and behoof, in manner as aforesaid.
And they, the said Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Moses Printer, Ami Printer, Jr., Peter and Sarah (Printer) Muckamang, Christian Misco and Joshua Misco, for themselves, heirs, etc., respectively, do, by these presents, covenant, promise and grant to, and with the said grantees or purchasers before named, and each and every one of them, their respec- tive heirs and assigus, in manner following, that is to say,-that they, the said Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Moses Printer, Peter and Sarah Muckamaug, Christian Misco, Joshua Misco and Ami Printer, Jr., are the true, sole and lawful owners of all aud singular, the lands at Hassa- namisco aforesaid, not otherwise heretofore disposed of in manner aforesaid, and they, the sald Indian proprietors, and their heirs respec- tively, shall and will, from time to time, and at all times forever here- after, WARRANT AND DEFEND in said granted and bargained prem- ises, with the appurtenances and every part thereof, excepting only as before excepted, unto the grantees or purchasers before named, severally and respectively, and their respective heirs and assigns, against them- selves and their heirs, and against the lawful claims or demands of any other person whomsoever, claiming or to claim the Indian or native right, or property thereof, or of any part thereof.
40
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
In witness whereof, the said Indian proprietors have hereunto set their hands and seals, the nineteenth day of March, Ano Domno, 1727, Anrogue Regni Regis Gregory Secundi Maynus Britannia Primo.
AMI PRINTER, his mark
MOSES PRINTER, 66
ANDREW ABRAHAM,
XX
PETER MUCKAMAUG, " "
SARAH MUCKAMAUG, her mark
CHRISTIAN MISCO,
1
JOSHUA MISCO, his mark
AMI PRINTER, JR., 66
A Signed, sealed and delivered, in presence of NEHEMIAH HOW. JONATHAN ADAMS. ISAAC WHITNEY. Moses Printer signed in presence of us, JOHN CHANDLER, JR.
JOHN MACKINTIRE, his mark
7
Suffolk, ss.
HASSANAMISCO, March 20, 1727-8.
Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Peter Muckamaug, Sarah Mucka- maug, Christian Misco, Joshua Misco, and Ami Printer, then severally acknowledged this instrument to be their respective act and deed, be- fore mne, JOHN CHANDLER, Just. Pacis. Suffolk, 88.
WOODSTOCK, April 9, 1728.
Moses Printer then acknowledged this instrument to be his act and deed, before me, JOHN CHANDLER. July 2, 1728, received, and accordingly entered and examined, pr. JOHN BALLANTINE, Regr .* Anno Primo Regni Regis Georgis Secundi.
*Recorded in Suffolk County Registry of Deeds, Lib. 42, Folio 206.
41
DEED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TOWN.
"AN ACT to oblige and require the forty petitioners for a tract of land at Hassanamisco, together with the English proprietors of the other lands there, to pay the charge of erecting a meeting-house and school-house, and of supporting an Orthodox minister and school- master in the place.
WHEREAS, This court, at their present session, in auswer to the peti- tion of Samuel Chandler and others, to the number of forty, whose names are subscribed to the said petition, did give them liberty to pur- chase the lands at Hassanamisco, by them petitioned for, containing about seven thousand five hundred acres, more or less, of the Indian natives and proprietors of Hassanamisco, upon condition that forty English families shall be settled upon the land, which families are to be of the petitioners or their posterity, and no others, and yet within the space of three years they build and finish a meeting-house for the pub- lick worship of God ; and build a school-house for the instruction, as well of the Indians as English children. And settle a learned Orthodox min- ister to preach the gospel to them, and constantly maintain aud duly support a minister and schoolmaster among them. And yet all the above articles shall be without charge to the Indian natives.
And whereas there are sundry English proprietors of other lands in Hassanamisco, who will be accommodated by the said meeting-house, school-house, minister and schoolmaster, as well as the forty peti- tioners.
Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant Governor, Council and Rep- resentatives, in General Court assembled, and hy the authority of the same, that the said forty petitioners be, and are hereby required and obliged to pay, each of them, an equal part of four fifth parts of the charge of building the said meeting-house and school-house, and that the said English proprietors of the other lands at Hassanamisco, be and are hereby required and obliged to pay the other fifth part of the above said charge, to be apportioned and assessed by the trustees of the Hassanamisco Indians, already appointed by this court, upon the said English proprietors, according to their best judgment and discre- tion, they having regard unto the quantity of land aud other estate in Hassanamisco helonging unto them, and to be collected by such meet person as they, the said trustees, shall appoint for that end. The ahove said proportion of charges, together with the method of assessing and collecting the same, to be observed and pursued until the said petition- ers and the other proprietors be invested with the powers and privi- ledges of a township.
And the said forty petitioners, together with the said English pro- prietors of the other lands, as aforesaid, shall be obliged forever here- after to maintain a minister and schoolmaster for the Indians, and their children, without cost or charge to the said Indians, or their posterity. Signed, ABNER STOW,
Prop's Clerk."
6
42
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
The committee made the following report to the House of Representatives :-
"The committee, having concorred the several articles and conditions on which the petitioners for Hassanamisco have liberty to purchase a tract of land commonly known by the name, of the Indian proprietors thereof, are humbly of opinion that the petitioners, before the execn- tion of their deeds, shall each one for himself respectively be bound to the trustees appointed for said Indiaus, and their successors, with sureties for paying a -- , with part of the cost of building a meet- ing-house convenient for the publick worship for themselves and nine English families already settled within the said Hassanamisco, and the Indian inhabitants of said Hassanamisco, as also for paying the same proportion towards building a school house, convenient for the teach- ing to read and write the children of the same inhabitants, as well Indians as English. And that they will set apart twenty acres of said land for the use of said school, to remain for said service forever, and also for paying the same proportion for and towards the settling a learned Orthodox minister, and for settling for the said minister a lot of land equal to others' allowances, to be his own as soon as he takes office among them, and likewise the building for himself .- Petitioners' accounts read-a dwelling-house and breaking up four acres of land in the lot or dividend that shall be apportioned and set off to him, all to be within the time and according to the limitation in the act of the Great and General Court relating hereunto, in their present session.
And for as much there are nine English families already settled on lands within Hassanamisco that will be accommodated by the meeting- house, school-house, minister and schoolmaster, in said Hassanamisco, as above, the committee humbly propose that the said nine families be, by special act of this Great and General Court, required to pay each a fortieth part to and for erecting and finishing said meeting-house and school-house, and to and for the support of said minister and school- master. And in as much as the maintaining a minister and schoolmaster are to be from generation to generation, and consequently not so proper for condition in a bond .-
The committee humbly conceive that in the aforesaid act of this Great and General Court the said forty petitioners, with the other nine English families, inhabitants, shall be obliged, from time to time, for- ever hereafter, to maintain a minister and schoolmaster for the Indians and their children, without cost or charge to said Indians or their posterity .*
For the committee, JOHN STODDARD. Read and accepted, December 18, 1727.
Concurred, December 19, 1727."
*From Records in Secretary of State's Office.
43
COLONIAL RECORDS.
March 18, 1728, the trustees met with the residents at Hassanamisco, and the proprietors proceeded to lay out lands for a first division, viz .: Eighty acres of upland and eight aeres of meadow to each English and Indian family, who were proprietors. This was satisfactory to the Indians. After the deed had been signed Moses Printer, one of the Indian proprietors, died, as did his squaw, leaving four small children with nothing but a gun, and an obligation of £120, £60 of which was due in September. One of the older ones held the bond. At this time the trustees asked the court for further instructions respecting the conduct of the Indians, the improvement of their lands, and the re- moval of any and all such persons as may cohabit with the Indians.
April 4, 1728, the trustees presented to the General Court a memorial, setting forth the difficulties that had arisen in the disposition of the money produced by the sale of their land, and other matters. It was ordered that Samuel Thaxter and Timothy Lindall, Esqrs., of the Coun- cil, and Colonel Tilestone, Mr. Hall and Mr. Saltonstall, take the matter into consideration and report.
May 31, 1728, an order was issued by the Council to the trustees of the Indians at Hassanamisco, to lay out seven proprietors' shares there, and no more, for the seven Indian families, instead of the nine Indian families (making thirty- two persons), as previously reported.
At a meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands lying in Hassanamisco, holden at the house of Jonathan How, in Marlborough, on Tuesday the ninth day of April, 1728, pursuant to a warrant from the Hon. John Chandler, Esq., bearing date March 22, 1727-8, the following notes were made and passed by the major part of the proprietors present at said meeting, viz., Edward God- dard was cliosen moderator of the said meeting for the day.
44
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Mr. Jonathan Rice was chosen clerk for the proprietors, to enter and record all notes and orders, from time to time, as shall be made and passed in said proprietors' meetings.
Voted, That there be a committee of three persons chosen by the proprietors to take a survey of the plantation of Hassanamisco, and the tracts of land formerly disposed of within the same, agreeable to the grants of the General Court, and to find out and state the center plot of the plan- tation.
Voted, One of the committee aforesaid be of Marl- borough, one of Concord, one of Sudbury or Stow. Cap- tain Brigham of Marlborough, Mr. John Hunt of Concord, and Mr. Richard Taylor of Sudbury, were chosen the com- mittee.
The English inhabitants already settled upon the lands of Hassanamisco, who were present at the above said meeting, consenting to join with the other proprietors of the undi- vided land there in concluding upon the place where the meeting-house shall be set for the said plantation.
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