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 4

Author: Pierce, Frederick Clifton, 1855-1904
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Worcester : Press of C. Hamilton
Number of Pages: 728


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 4


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Voted, That the meeting-honse shall be placed and set up at, or upon, the center of the said plantation, in ease the land at the center be accommodable; otherwise, at the nearest accommodable to the center, to be determined by vote of the major part of the proprietors.


Voted, Four acres of land at or near the meeting-house place, be seqnestered and laid down for the accommodation of the meeting-house, and for a burying place and training field.


Voted, The considerations of the dimensions of the meeting-house and school-house, as also the time when to proceed to build the same, be referred to consideration at the next meeting or assembling of the proprietors.


45


COLONIAL RECORDS.


Voted, The school-house shall be set or placed upon some part of the four aeres of land which shall be laid out for the meeting-house, etc.


Voted, A committee be appointed to consider of some regular method which may be agreeable to the opinion of the trustees for Hassanamiseo Indians, for the setting out of the lands reserved for them, and lay out the same accord- ingly ; also to lay out a lot for the minister, and another for the schoolmaster, and to report what private highways are of present necessity, and where and how to be stated ; which committee shall be likewise empowered to lay out and equal- ize the lots of land and meadow in Hassanamisco, for the first division, in manner following, viz .: In eighty lots of upland, each lot containing forty aeres (with necessary allowanee for quality), and also to equalize the lots of meadow after the same manner, so preparing the several allotments in two parcels of upland and two pieces of meadow to each proprietor for a lot or draught.


Voted, That three persons, and no more, be employed as a committee for the ends aforesaid. Capt. Nathan Brigham, Mr. John Hunt and Mr. Richard Taylor, were chosen a committee for the ends aforesaid. Also, further voted that the committee be desired and empowered to provide a sur- veyor and ehain men, and likewise to put a man in the place of any one of themselves, in case of sickness, lameness, or the like.


Voted, That the sum of twenty shillings be paid by each proprietor, to be collected and paid into the hands of the treasurer of the said proprietors, within the space of one month next coming, for and towards the defraying of the future necessary charges of the proprietors, and to be paid out of the treasury as the society shall, from time to time, vote and agree.


Voted, That the elerk of the proprietors, upon applica- tion to him made by any five or more of the proprietors,


46


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


may direct and order a meeting and meetings, from time to time, of the proprietors, by posting up in writing as well in the towns of Concord, Marlborough and Stow, as in the plantation of Hassanamisco, the occasion for such meeting, and the time when, and the place where, said meeting shall be attended, fourteen days beforehand.


The meeting adjourned to the house of Nehemiah How, in Hassanamisco, April 19, 1728 .*


During this year a number of settlements were made, consisting principally of the children of the proprietors ; the common was laid out ; the meeting-house contracted for, and a site for a mill agreed upon. Another division of land was made a few years after ; but it was not all appropriated till about seventy-five years ago.


August 28, 1729, the trustees, Phipps, Goddard and Curtis, rendered their account, which was accepted, and they were discharged of the sum of £217, 14s. accordingly.


September 25, 1730, John Sherman, Phineas Rice and Jonas Houghton petitioned, in behalf of the English purchasers and settlers at Hassanamisco, praying the court to explain whether it was intended to oblige them to defray the expenses of laying out the land, and it was ordered that the English purchasers ought to pay the whole charge of surveying and laying out the lands.t


The meeting-honse was erected in 1730, and the school- house in the following year. The settlement continued to increase in population and prosperity. The petition pre- sented to the General Court to incorporate the township, was signed by all but two or three of the inhabitants of the place, and was presented on the 15th of April, 1735. It does not appear that the petitioners selected the name of the town. They asked merely for town privileges, and were


*Proprietors' Records.


tColonial Records.


47


ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF GRAFTON.


willing to leave so nnimportant a matter as a name to the General Court. On the same day that the petition was pre- sented, permission was granted to bring in a bill, which passed its several readings in the House of Representatives, and was sent to the Council. It soon passed that body, and on the 18th of April, O. S., was signed by Governor Belcher, in presence of both branches of the General Court.


"I have had considerable curiosity in reference to the origin of the present name .* I find that various principles governed in the selection of names for the new towns. Early, the towns were named after places in the old country -not always, however, ont of any particular affection for the places thus honored. For example,f the battle of Wor- cester was, what is quaintly termed, Cromwell's . crowning mercy,' and so the name was chosen for our neighboring city in defiance of the king. From 1724 a custom arose of complimenting distinguished Englishmen, who were friendly to the colonies, by naming towns for them .; Up to 1732 it was the custom for the incorporators to select the names, but after that period the acts of incorporation passed both houses of the Legislature in blank, and the name was inserted by the Governor.§ So Grafton is indebted to Gov- ernor Belcher for its name. Charles Fitz Roy, Duke of Grafton, was a member of the Privy Council. He was a grandson of Charles II., and held many high offices." According to Bancroft, October, 1775, "The Duke of Grafton hastened to court and complained of the violent, injudicious and impracticable schemes of the ministers, framed in a misconception of the resources of the colonies ; and he added: 'Deluded themselves, they are delnding your majesty.' The king debated the business at large ; but


-


*Oration by Rev. E. Frank Howe, July 4, 1876, pp. 20, 21.


+Essay on names of towns in Mass., by Wm. Henry Wbitmore, p. 16. #Ibid., p. 7. §Ibid., pp. 19, 20.


48


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


when be announced that a numerous body of German troops was to join the British forces, Grafton answered earnestly : 'Your majesty will find too late that twice the number will only increase the disgrace, and never effect the purpose.'"


DUKE OF GRAFTON.


[From an English Print.]


CHAPTER THIRD.


CONTENTS :


The division of land .- Proprietors' records .- The first white settler .- First white child born in town .- The petition asking to be released from maintaining preaching and schooling for the Indians .- Land added to the town .- Slavery in town .- Grafton road .- Deaths from 1753 to 1779 .- An act to prevent monopoly .- Shays' rebellion .- The instructious to the Representative .- The Indian trustees.


INTHE land purchased of the Indians included seven thou- sand five hundred acres. This land was divided among the proprietors at three different stated times. The follow- ing gives the number of acres each proprietor received, and the date of the receipt :-


May 9, 1728, Samuel Brigham's lots of upland and meadow in the west range, 40 acres.


May 9, 1728, Heirs of Moses Printer, west side of Black Stones River, 4 acres.


March 9, 1729, Samuel Brigham, 19 acres.


March 29, 1729, Samuel Brigham, 2 acres and 126 rods,


- April 28, 1728, John Warrin, 44 acres.


November 22, 1728, John Warrin, 13 acres, 2nd division.


May 3, 1728, Ebenezer Wheeler, 41 acres.


September 29, 1731, Ebenezer Wheeler, 6 acres and 65 rods.


September 30, 1731, Ebenezer Wheeler, 1 acre and 125 rods.


September 28, 1731, Ebenezer Wheeler, 11 acres and 138 rods.


November 21, 1729, Ebenezer Wheeler, 7 acres and 143 rods.


October 17, 1737, Ebenezer Wheeler, 14 acres and 140 rods.


May 8, 1728, Samuel Bigelow, 40 acres and 20 rods.


May 8, 1728, Samuel Bigelow, 4 acres.


May 2, 1728, Samuel Bigelow, 42 acres and 130 rods. November, 1728, Samuel Bigelow, 17 acres and 20 rods. May 24, 1729, Samuel Bigelow, 3 acres and 140 rods. June 13, 1729, Samnel Bigelow, 6 acres.


September 2, 1729, Samuel Bigelow, 2 acres and 50 rods. May 7, 1728, Phineas Rice, 40 acres and 20 rods.


7


50


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


May 7, 1728, Phineas Rice, 4 acres.


May 11, 1728, Phineas Rice, 51 acres. May 15, 1729, Phineas Rice, 5 acres aud 20 rods. June 26, 1728, Phineas Rice.


October 29, 1729, Phineas Rice, 5 acres. May 4, 1728, Joseph Willard, 41 acres and 140 rods. October, 1728, Joseph Willard, 48 acres.


December 31, 1728, Joseph Willard, 21 acres and 100 rods. May 15, 1729, Joseph Willard, 6 acres.


June 16, 1729, Joseph Willard, 1 acre and 16 rods.


April 27, 1728, John Collers, 40 acres.


1728, John Collers, 4 acres. October, 1728, John Collers, 46 acres and 20 rods. October 17, 1728, John Collers.


June 26, 1729, John Collers, 9 acres. June, 1729, John Collers, 26 acres.


June 27, 1729, John Collers, 7 acres.


October 31, 1732, Joseph Willard, 4 acres and 10 rods. June 27, 1729, Joseph Willard, 2 acres and 7 rods. 1729, Joseph Willard, 4 acres.


1729, Joseph Willard, 4 acres.


May 3, 1728, Jonathan Rice, 41 acres and 20 rods.


May 3, 1728, Jonathan Rice, 4 acres.


October, 1728, Jonathan Rice, 55 acres. November, 1728, Jonathan Rice, 20 acres.


May 16, 1736, Phineas Rice, 12 acres.


May 3, 1728, Nathan Brigham, 40 acres. 1728, Nathan Brigham, 4 acres.


May 9, 1728, Nathan Brigham, 55 acres. May, 1728, Nathan Brigham, 4 acres.


November 21, 1728, Nathan Brigham, 17 acres.


December 25, 1733, Jonathan Adams, 14 acres. January 10, 1743, Eleazer Fletcher, 2 rods. April 25, 1728, Thomas Pratt, 40 acres. April 25, 1728, Thomas Pratt, 5 acres meadow.


May 14, 1728, Thomas Pratt, 59 acres. May 14, 1728, Thomas Pratt, 4 acres meadow. November 2, 1728, Thomas Pratt, 15 acres. May 23, 1729, Thomas Pratt, 20 acres. September 27, 1731, Thomas Pratt, 6 acres and 10 rods. May 3, 1728, John Sherman, 41 acres and 20 rods. May 3, 1728, John Sherman, Brook meadow. June 17, 1729, John Sherman, 26 acres and 30 rods interval. November, 1728, John Sherman, 6 acres and 40 rods. November, 1728, John Sherman, 10 acres and 72 rods interval. May 13, 1729, John Sherman, 9 acres and 20 rods.


51


DIVISION OF LAND.


June 17, 1729, John Sherman, 10 acres.


May 2, 1728, John Davis, 40 acres and 20 rods.


April 27, 1728, John Davis, 52 acres and 30 rods.


January 13, 1729, John Davis, 7 acres and 20 rods to Isaac Chace. December 30, 1728, John Davis, 26 acres.


June 11, 1733, John Davis, 25 acres and 30 rods to Isaac Temple. October 26, 1737, John Davis, 3 acres and 20 rods to Isaac Temple.


May 10, 1728, Simon Gates, 41 acres and 10 rods.


May 10, 1728, Simon Gates, 4 acres.


May 11, 1728, Simon Gates, 56 acres.


April 16, 1733, Simon Gates, 5 acres to Mark Batchelder.


May 14, 1731, Simon Gates, 12 acres and 139 rods to Samuel Dudley and Phineas Rice.


June 12, 1731, Simon Gates, Jr., 14 acres and 67 rods to Samuel Dudley.


May 9, 1728, Capt. William Rogers, 51 acres.


May 9, 1728, Capt. William Rogers, 4 acres pine meadow.


April 26, 1728, Capt. William Rogers, 44 acres.


April 26, 1728, Capt. William Rogers, 4 acres brook meadow.


June 27, 1729, Capt. William Rogers, 15 acres.


December 30, 1728, Capt. William Rogers, 6 acres and 30 rods. June 12, 1731, Capt. William Rogers, 12 acres and 75 rods.


May 4, 1728, Capt. James Watson, 42 acres.


May 4, 1728, Capt. James Watson, 4 acres Mercy meadow.


May 7, 1728, Capt. James Watson, 42 acres and 150 rods.


May 7, 1728, Capt. James Watson, broad meadow.


November 21, 1728, Capt. James Watson, 23 acres and 20 rods. March 25, 1729, Capt. James Watson, 20 acres and 30 rods.


May 1, 1728, David Herrington, 45 acres.


May 1, 1728, David Herrington, 2 acres.


June 7, 1728, David Herrington, 56 acres and 20 rods. April 11, 1745, David Herrington, 20 acres and 120 rods.


December 2, 1729, David Herrington, 28 acres and 39 rods.


May 3, 1728, John Hunt, 145 acres and 179 rods.


April 25, 1728, Benjamin Barrett, 1313 acres .*


December 21, 1733, Joseph Allen, 13 acres.


May 14, 1728, Samuel Chandler, 136 acres and 150 rods. April 21, 1733, Benjamin Goddard, 30 acres.


May 10, 1728, Samnel Stow, 177 acres and 39 rods.


May 9, 1728, Zerubbable Eager, 125 acres and 90 rods. May 3, 1728, Samuel Hall, 133 acres.


May 21, 1733, Nehemiah How, 5 acres.


May 7, 1728, Benjamin Willard, 148} acres.


May 3, 1728, Jonathan Morse, 94 acres and 183 rods.


*Date of receipt of first division.


52


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


April 25, 1728, John Jones, 146 acres.


May 25, 1728, Jonas Houghton, 1504 acres.


May 20, 1747, James Miller, 4. acres. May 30, 1747, Nathaniel Whitmore, 24 acres.


May 8, 1728, Joseph Rice, 1284 acres. May 7, 1728, Joseph Barretts, 121} acres. April 26, 1728, Widow Elizabeth Herrington, 1314 acres. May 3, 1728, Jacob Taylor, 108 acres. October 28, 1729, Joseph Merriam, 42 acres.


May 3, 1728, Capt. Richard Taylor, 168 acres. May 9, 1728, Charles Brigham, 122 acres. April 26, 1729, Simon Gates, Sen., 132 acres.


- September 2, 1729, John Warrings, 11 acres. September 2, 1729, Thomas Brigham, 29 acres. November 12, 1728, Phineas Rice, 33 acres. May 17, 1729, Christian Misco, + 4 acres. May 17, 1729, Joshna George, t 4 acres. September 3, 1729, John Sherman, 32 acres. September 15, 1731, Jonathan Adams, 16 acres.


May 10, 1728, Nathaniel Hapgood, 117 acres. May 15, 1729, Thomas Weeks, 124 acres. March 2, 1738, John Coller, 20 acres. May 10, 1728, William Rogers, Jr., 76 acres. July 16, 1729, James Leland, 20 acres.


May 9, 1728, Eleazer Flagg, 121 acres. May 3, 1728, Nathaniel Wilders, 103 acres.


November 17, 1734, Charles Brigham, 90 acres. April 26, 1728, Jeremiah Bestows, 80 acres. May 14, 1731, Samuel Dudley, 25 acres.


May 14, 1731, Elisha Gates, 28 acres in right of his father.


September 27, 1731, Thomas Pratt, 27 acres.


September 29, 1731, Jonathan Hall, 25 acres. October 28, 1729, Joseph Rice, 9 acres. March 3, 1744, Eleazer Fletcher, 7 acres. February 26, 1740, Ami Printer, Jr., 262 acres.


February 22, 1740, Christian Misco, 348 acres.


February 21, 1740, Andrew Abraham, 87 acres. May 9, 1728, Peter Muckamaug, 183 acres. May 1, 1728, Moses Printer's heirs, 170 acres. April 30, 1728, Abimaleck David, 23 acres in right of A. Abraham. November 6, 1738, Rev. Solomon Prentice, 14 acres.


The following data was copied from the Proprietors' Records, and shows what business, if any, was transacted at each meeting :-


53.


RECORDS.


April 19, 1728 .- The meeting was held at the house of Nehemiah How, in Hassanamisco, and the proprietors adjourned to the center of the land in order to fix and state the particular spot whereon the meeting-house should be erected. Upon viewing the place determined for the center by the surveyor, it was found not commodions. Another place was finally fixed upon, and it was decided to fix the spot for the meeting-house near a white oak tree. Captain Willard, Mr. Samnel Biglo, Jonathan Rice and Eleazer Flagg were added to the meeting-house committee before chosen, to lay out and equalize the lots of land and meadow, the whole committee to be employed therein when it appears to them necessary and beneficial to forward the work, and at other times a part thereof only, as they see cause, and the committee to employ another surveyor to assist and help forward the surveying and apportioning the said land and meadows.


July 9, 1728 .- The proprietors held a meeting in Sud- bury, at the house of Jonathan Rice, and chose Mr. Samuel Biglo, Samnel Chandler, Samuel Hall, Capt. Benjamin Wil- lard and Jonas Houghton, a committee to take charge of the building of the meeting-house. Captain Willard, Capt. Nathan Brigham and Mr. John Sherman, were chosen a committee to view suitable places for a mill or mills, and to agree with persons to set up and build the same npon their cost, who shall set up the same for the advantage of Hassa- namisco.


October 3, 1728 .- Whereas, Capt. Benjamin Willard, of Hassanamisco, Capt. Nathan Brigham, Mr. John Sherman, both of Marlborough, being chosen a committee to view places for a saw-mill or mills in Hassanamisco, by the pro- prietors of the same, as may appear by a vote more largely, and to agree with a person or persons to build said mill or mills for the advantage of Hassanamisco. The above said do agree with Mr. Ebenezer Wheeler, of Concord, Mr.


54


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


William Rogers, of Wenham, and John Davis, of Ipswich, and Simon Willard, of said Hassanamisco, equally to them and their respective heirs, the use and benefit of, or at, a cer- tain stream which is running into a river called the Black Stones River, to build or erect a mill or mills, or dam or dams npon, as occasion may be, so long as the said persons shall continue a mill or mills on said stream, and to have all privileges and conveniences for said mill or mills, as ocea- sion shall serve, during said terms. And in case that the said mill or mills cease being continued on said stream for the space of three years at any time, then the privileges to be forfeited and to be at the dispose of said proprietors ; and the said persons above mentioned do promise to build a mill or mills so as to go to the next season, 1729, and the said persons or their heirs shall have free liberty to dig generally for the said mill or mills, as occasion shall serve, in any of the undivided lands, or dam or dams. It is to be understood that the privileges above mentioned shall extend to the mill or mills, or stream, no further than the undivided lands that is, or shall be. The committee above said to stake out lands convenient for the accommodating of said mill or mills.


EBENEZER WHEELER. WILLIAM ROGERS. JOHN DAVIS. SIMEON WILLARD. BENJAMIN WILLARD. JOHN SHERMAN. NATHAN BRIGHAM.


The land laid out for the mill was as follows: Below Moses Printer's land, and beginning at a pine tree on the south side of the river, near Lientenant Brigham's meadow ; thence southeasterly to a marked pine tree and southerly to a stake; thence about westerly to a marked maple tree by the river; thence northerly to a dead pine; thence to the point first named ; about five acres.


55


RECORDS.


November 5, 1728 .- A meeting was held at the same place as the above. The committee on mills reported that they had agreed with Ebenezer Wheeler, William Rogers, John Davis and Simon Willard, to erect a mill or mills. A piece of land was sold to Henry Flint, Esq.


February 18, 1729 .- The meeting was held at the house as above. The money due from Thomas Pratt, for his lands, was appropriated for the building of the meeting-house. Samuel Chandler was appointed to take charge of the bridges, and see they are maintained.


March 18, 1729 .- This meeting was held in Concord, at the house of Jonathan Balls. John Sherman was added to the committee to take charge of the bridges. Voted, to build a school house.


May 20, 1729 .- At Jonathan Rice's house, in Sudbury, Jonas Houghton was chosen to lay ont the minister's second division of land. John Sherman and Zerubbable Eager were chosen to treat with Elisha Johnson abont the land called the Eleven acres, where John Ward's house and barn stands.


January 6, 1730 .- At the house of Jonathan Rice. Voted, to lay out three acres to each proprictor's thirty acres of land, for the third division. Voted, to raise seven pounds of money on each proprietor for the finishing of the meeting-house and school-house, the said mnoncy to be paid in two payments.


March 31, 1730 .- Voted, to continue the preaching of the gospel here, and to support the same until June 1st. John Sherman and Thomas Drury were chosen to provide a minister.


May 21, 1730 .- Joseph Willard was authorized to sell 4,472 feet of boards and make a return. Thomas Pratt was chosen to take charge of the minister's meadow. Voted, to lay ont a road from John Ward's to the county road. Thomas Drury, Samuel Biglo and Phineas Rice were chosen


56


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


a committee to take charge of the raising of the meeting -. honse. Voted, to raise ten shillings on each proprietor to defray the expenses of raising.


March 19, 1731 .- Meeting held in the meeting-house. Voted, to continue preaching till the third Tuesday in May. Phineas Rice, Samuel Cooper and Jonathan Morse were chosen a committee to provide for a minister.


May 18, 1731 .- Thomas Pratt and James Lealand were chosen to provide a minister here until further orders.


June 23, 1731 .- Voted, to go on and complete the meet- ing-house as speedily as may be, according to the best of. our judgment and discretion, agreeable to the former vote, notwithstanding the difficulties arising by the decrees of Benjamin Rand. Voted, to hold a fast on the first Tuesday of September, in order to call and settle a minister among us. James Whipple and Thomas Drury were chosen a committee to go to some reverend elders to desire their assistance in carrying on the work of this day. Benjamin Willard, Zerubbable Eager, Ebenezer Wheeler, James Whipple, Phineas Rice, were chosen a committee to confer with some reverend ministers. Voted, to raise twenty shil- lings upon each proprietor for the support of the gospel and other necessary charges.


September, 1731 .- Voted, to call Rev. Solomon Prentice for minister in the work of the gospel. Voted, to give ninety pounds passable money, or bills of publick eredit, annually, for the support of Rev. Solomon Prentice, as money now passes from man to man, or as the valuation of money shall be from time to time, or as money rises and falls. Richard Taylor and Jonathan Rice were chosen a committee to wait upon Mr. Prentice and notify him of the call.


October 12, 1731 .- Voted, to add ten pounds to the sum already named to the salary of Mr. Prentice, if he aecepts.


57


RECORDS.


November, 1731 .- Isaac Barnard, Phineas Rice, Nathaniel Sherman, Thomas Drury, Jonathan Hall, were chosen to appoint a day for the ordination of Rev. Solomon Prentice. Voted, to raise twenty shillings on each proprietor to defray the expenses of ordination.


December 29, 1731 .- " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, having been acquainted with Mr. Solomon Pren- tice, of Cambridge, in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and know his qualifications for the gospel ministry, do approve and recommend him thereunto when it shall please God in his Providence to call him to engage in it, and heartily pray he may prove a blessing to the churches.


CALEB TROWBRIDGE. NATHANIEL APPLETON. EBENEZER PARKMAN."


Accordingly, the Rev. Solomon Prentice was ordained pastor of a church of Christ in Hassanamisco.


March 20, 1732 .- John Sherman, Samuel Chandler, Phineas Rice, were chosen a committee in behalf of the proprietors, to see if the Indians have their shares of lands equal with the others, and to make them equal if wanting, and they were to confer with the trustees for the Indians. Charles Brigham, Simon Gates and Samnel Stow were chosen collectors.


May 16, 1732 .- Nehemiah How, Samuel Chandler and Jonas Honghton were chosen a committee to adjust the treasurer's accounts.


July 11, 1732 .- It was voted not to grant any money to defray the charges of completing the meeting and school- houses. The following committee were chosen to seat the meeting-honse : Thomas Drury for the nine English fami- lies, Zerubbable Eager, Ebenezer Wheeler, Phineas Rice, Richard Taylor, in behalf of the proprietors, and also to dispose of the pew rooms to their best judgment.


8


58


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


August 22, 1732 .- Voted, to raise twenty shillings upon each proprietor towards the salary for Rev. Solomon Pren- tice, from December 29, 1731, to December 29, 1732.


March 27, 1733 .- John Sherman and Joseph Willard were chosen a committee to act in behalf of the proprietors. at the next Inferior Conrt, to be held at Worcester, to see that the bridges over Black Stones River be built and put in good repair from time to time, at the cost and charge of Elisha Johnson, or his successors, according to the act of the General Court. Nathaniel Sherman and Phineas Rice were chosen to examine the mason work of the meeting- house, and ascertain if the work was done in a workman- like manner and well.


June 12, 1733 .- Charles Brigham, Nehemiah How, Dea. James Whipple, were chosen a committee to ascertain the difference between Isaac Temple and John Cotter, relative to their third division of land.


August 7, 1733 .- Phineas Rice, Zerubbable Eager and Nehemiah How, were chosen a committee to make answer to the General Court in person, why the prayer of Capt. Elisha Johnson should not be granted. They were also chosen to confer with him according to their discretion. Note, that John Ward "decented " against the article of agreement with the said Johnson. Voted, to raise forty shillings on each proprietor to pay the salary of Rev. Solo- mon Prentice.




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