USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 62
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357
· SUDBURY.
SUDBURY.
BY REV. GEO. A. OVIATT.
LL anthorities agree that the first settlers of Sudbury were drawn to this locality chiefly by the rich meadow-lands on either side of the river bearing the same name as the- town through which it flowed, as also by the abundance of wood- land and the strength of the soil when once subdued. John- son, in his History of New England, 1654, page 141, says : ---
" The early settlers found broad meadows where- in grew neither shrub nor tree, but as much grass as may be thrown out with a scythe, thick and strong, and as high as a man's middle; some as high as a mau's shoulders, so that a man may cut three loads in a day. . ... The forests, free from underbrush, resembled a grove of huge trees im- proved by art. . ... On the west side of the river were heavy pine forests, from which tar was manufactured." Johnson speaks of this town "as well watered and having store of plow land," but " little broke up" on account of "the oaken roots"; and of its great distance "from the mart towns " as making "it burdensome to the inhabitants to bring their corn so far by land "; and adds, " some gentlemen here have laid out part of their estates in procuring farms, by reason of the store of meadow."
The first movement towards the formation of a plantation here, of which a record has been found, was made in 1637. . Under date of November 20, of this year, the colony records say : " Whereas a great part of the inhabitants of Watertown have petitioned this court, that in regard to their strait- ness of accommodation, and want of meadow, they might have leave to remove, and settle a plantation upon the river which runs to Concord, this Court, having respect to their necessity, doth grant their petition."
A committee was appointed to "take a view of
the place, upon the said river, and shall set out a place for them by marks and bounds sufficient for fifty or sixty families," who were required to re- move thither within one year ; and "if there be not thirty families at least settled before said time limited, then this court shall dispose of the said plantation to any other."
September 6, 1638, the petitioners, Mr. Brian Pendleton, Mr. Peter Noyes, Mr. Edmund Browne, and company, are allowed to go on in their planta- tion, and such as arc associated to them . . . . "and the petitioners are to take care that in their allot- ments of lands they have respect as well to men's estates and abilities to improve their land, as to their number of persons."
The plantation was laid out five miles square. And under the court's order last quoted the house- lots and planting fields were assigned to the inhabi- tants.
The order of the court for the division of the meadows was passed September 4, 1639, under which order a first division was made and recorded ; a second division is recorded April 20, 1640; the third division is recorded November 18, 1640.
" September 4, 1639, it is ordered that the new plantation by Concord shall be called Sudbury."
May 13, 1640, the court granted to the town " the addition of a mile in length upon the sonth- east and southwest sides of this plantation "; and May 2, 1649, " Sudbury is granted two miles west- ward, next adjoining to them for their further en- largement."
As several of the settlers here were from the old town of Sudbury in England, the town was chris- tened in honor of the place so dear to them in the mother country.
Sudbury, five miles square, originally was bounded by Watertown on the east, -- which then included what is now Weston, -Concord on the nortlı, and by the wilderness on the south and west. The boundary on the south is the same to- day as it was in the beginning, only instead of the
358
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
wilderness, we now write Framingham. So on the west, - on which side the town is two miles square larger than it was at first, - instead of the wilder- ness we write Marlborough, which is an offshoot of Sudbury, and was at the outset largely settled by Sudbury men.
Our fathers purchased this extent of land, five miles square, of an Indian called Cato, for the sum of £5. The original name of this Indian is not known. In addition to his name, Cato, he was called Goodman, and the hill a little south of the Congregational Meeting-house at Sudbury Centre, as it is in 1879, on the left side of the road as you go south, is designated Goodman's Hill. It is where Cato (Goodman) had his wigwam.
The following, taken from the Suffolk Registry of Deeds, is a true copy of the original deed given by Cato : -
" Bee it known vnto all men by these presents that I Cato otherwise Goodman for & in considera- tion of fyve pounds weh I have received in com- modities & wompumpeage of Walter Hayne & Hugh Griffin of Sudbury in behalf of themselves & the rest of the planters of Sudbury ; doe this my write in give & grant bargain & sell vnto the said Walter Hayne- (Haine) - & Hugh Griffin & the said planters of the town of Sudbury so much land southward & so much land westward next adjoin- ing to a tract of land weh I said Cato formerly souled unto George Munnings & the rest of the planters of Sudbury as may make the bounds of the said town to be full fyve miles square wth all meadows, brooks, liberties priviledges & apperte- nances thereto belonging wth all the said tract of land granted. And I grant vnto them for me & mine heirs & brethren that I & they shall & will at any tyme make any further assurance in writing for the more p'fct assuring of the s'd land & all the premises wth the appertenances vnto the s'd Walter Haine & Hugh Griffin & the sd planters & their successors forever as they shall require.
" In witness whereof I herevuto put my hand & seal the twentieth day of the fourth month one thousand six hundred fourty eight."
Here follows Cato's mark.
[a mark & seale ]
" Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of
" EMMANUEL DOWNING EPHRAIM CHILD CUTCHIAMEKIN [mark ] } brothers of Cato." JOJENNY [mark ] S
" This deed was sealed & acknowledged by the sª Cato (who truly understood the contents of it the day & year above written) Before mee.
" JOHN WINTHROP, Governor."
In Book IX., pages 344 to 352 inclusive, in the Registry of Deeds at East Cambridge, is a record in full of the original deed given by the Indian proprietors to Sudbury, of two miles square on the west. This deed is very lengthy, - too much so to be inserted here in full, interesting as it is, - aud consequently only an abstract of it will be given.
" Forasmuch as the Gen1 Court of the Massa- chusetts Colony in New England hath formerly granted to the Town of Sudbury in the County of Middlesex in the same Colony, an addition of land of two miles westward of their former grant of five miles, which is also layd out & joyneth to it : and whereas the English occupiers, proprietors and possessors thereof, have chosen Capt. Edmond Goodenow, Leift Josiah Haynes, John Goodenow, John Brigham & Joseph Freeman to be a comittee for themselves & for all the rest of the English proprietors thereof, giving them their full power to treat with & to purchase the same of the Indian pro- prietors of the sª tract of land & to satisfy & pay them for their native, ancient & hereditary right title & interest thereunto.
" Know all People by these presents That Wee, Jehojakim, John Magus, John Muskqua & his two daughters Esther & Rachel, Benjamin Bohue, John Speen & Sarah his wife, James Speen, Dorothy Wennetoo & Humphry Bohue her son, Mary Neppamun, Abagail the daughter of Josiah Hard- ing, Peter Jethro, Peter Muskquamogh, John Bo- man, David Munnoan & Betty who are the ancient native & hereditary Indian proprietors of the aforesd two miles of land (for & in consideration of the just & full sum of twelve pounds of current money of New England to them in hand well & truly paid at or before the ensealing & delivery hereof by the said Capt. Edmond Goodenow, Leift Josiah Haines . ... in behalf of themselves & of the rest of the English possessors, occupiers, pro- prietors & fellow-purchasers) the reeipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge & therewith to be fully satisfied, contented & paid & thereof & of every part & parcell thereof they do hereby for themselves & their heyrs Executors Administrators & Assigns clearly fully & absolutely release, acquit, exonerate & discharge them & all the English pos- sessors . . . . & all & every one of their heyrs . . ..
359
SUDBURY.
forever. The same is limited, butted & bounded on the East by the old part of the sd Towne of Sudbury . . . . & is butted & bounded northerly by the line or bounds of the Towne of Concord, westerly by the line or bounds of the Towne of Stow & is bounded southerly & partly westerly by the lands of Mr. Thomas Danforth.
" In Witness whereof the above named Indian grantors have hereunto each for themselves & altogether sett their hands & seals, dated 11th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty & four. Annoge Regni Regis Caroli Secundi. XXXVI. [Then follow the names of the grantors with their marks and seals.]
"Cambridge 15 Octob 1684. All the persons that have signed & sealed this instrument appeared before me this day & year above written & freely acknowledged this writing to be their Act & deed.
"DANIEL GOOKIN SENR Assist."
Indorsement. - " All the Grantors of the instru- ment within written beginning with Jehojakim & ending with Peter Muskquamog did sign seale & deliver sd instrument in presence of us
" JOHN GREENE, JAMES BARNARD."
" Moreover we underwritten did see Benjamin Bohen, Dorothy Wauneto & Mary & Betty Nepa- mun signe seal & deliver this instrument the 15th day of Octb 1684.
" ANDREW PITTAMEE [mark]
JAMES RUMINY [mark]
SAMUEL GOFF, JAMES BARNARD DANIEL SACONAMBATT."
Other indorsements are given, and with the fol- lowing the document closes : -
" ROXBURY, April 16, '85.
"Charls Josias, Sachem of the Massachusetts, having read and considered the within written deed with the Consent of his guardians & Councellors underwritten doth for himself & his heyrs allow of, ratify & confirm the within written sale to the inhabitants of Sudbury & their heyrs forever, the lands therein bargained & sold. To have & to hold to the sª Inhabitants of Sudbury their heyrs & assigns forever & hath hereunto set his hand & seal the day above written.
" CHARLS X JOSIAS his mark & seal
" Allowed by us
Guardians ) ROBERT U. MONTAGUE
JOSEPH DUDLEY
Suchem -
" Recorded 19, 3. 1685
by THO. DANFORTH, Recorder."
While among the early settlers of Sudbury were families from Cambridge and Watertown, it is believed that a large proportion of them came directly here from England. It is quite evident that these families were in good circumstances, as well as intelligent and decidedly religious, so that they were prepared to plant the town, build school- houses and churches, and help lay the foundations of the state and the nation.
In the New England Historical and Genealogi- cal Register for January, 1848, there is a valu- able paper headed " Passengers for New England, 1638." The editor of the Register gives this ex- planation : -
" The following list of early emigrants or pas- sengers was obtained for the New England Historic Genealogical Society, by Henry Stevens, Esq., one of its members lately resident in London.
' SOUTHAMPTON, 24 April, 1638.
' The list of the names of the Passengers in- tended for New England, in the good shipp, the Confidence of London, of C C tonnes. Jolın Job- son Mr and thus by vertue of Lord Treas's warrt of the xjth of Aprill 1638.'"
This list gives us the number of " passengers, great and little " as one hundred and ten. Their names, residence, occupation, and ages are specified. Of this number a considerable proportion came to Sudbury, the names of some of whom are quite prominent in the early records of the place.
Names. Residence. Occupation. Ages.
Walter Hayne Sutton, Maudifield, }
Co. of Wilts
Linnen Weaver 55
Eliza, his wife
Thomas Hayne
John Hayne their sonnes under 16 years of age.
Josias Hayne
Suffrance their daughters
Mary
John Blanford 27
John Riddet their servants 26
Rich : Bildeomb
16
Peter Noyce. Penton, Co. of South" Yeoman 47
Thomas Noyce, his sonne 15 .
Elizabeth Noyce, his daughter
Robert Davis . 30
John Rutter his servants 22
Margaret Davis
26
Nicholas Guy
Southampton
Carpenter 50
Jane, his wife
Mary Guy, his daughter
Joseph Tayuter servants
23
John Bent
amptou
Martha, his wife
Robert Bent
William Bent ( his children under Peter Bent 12 years of age.
Ann Bent
Richard Sanger, Servant to Edmund Goodnow
. 18
25
Robert Bayley
§ Penton, Co. of South-}
Husbandman 35
WILLIAM STOUGHTON } to ye WILLIAMW. AHONTON.
§ Upton Gray, Co. of }
360
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Among the first settlers of this ancient town are names very familiar now, - names, some of which are represented in families still resident here, and who delight to trace their descent back through so many generations to those who came to this place not twenty years after the landing of the grand old Puritans on Plymouth Rock. We mention Edmund Browne, Robert Fordham, clergyman, Edmund Rice (Rise), Robert Bent, Thomas and William Browne, Thomas Buckmaster, Thomas and Antient Cakbread, Henry Curties, Robert Darnell, Edmond Goodenow, John Goodenough, Thomas Goodnow, Hugh Griffin (ancestor of the famous President Griffin of Williams College), John Howe, Wyddon Hunt, Theodore Islyn, John Maynard, George Munning, Richard Newton, William Parker, John Parmenter, Sr. and Jr. Many other names might be mentioned as among the early settlers of Sudbury, did our space permit.
The town had great prosperity in its early his- tory, growing in population and in wealth.
The town was chartered in 1639, and in May, 1642, the inhabitants made a contract with Am- brose Leach to build a cart-bridge over the river, to be raised " three feet above high-water mark, to be twelve feet wide," and completed by the last day of August following. This contract, on the part of Leach, was not met, and in November, 1643, another contract was made with Timothy Hawkins of Watertown, to build a bridge at the same place, five rods long, fourteen feet wide, and one foot above high-water mark. " The inhabi- tants agreed to give the said Timothy, for his work, £13, to be paid in corn and cattle at the price as two men shall judge them worth."
November 26, 1643, it was "ordered that the Marshall levy a rate for pay for the bridge," which appears by subsequent records to have been finished according to contract. .
This bridge was probably one of the first regular framed bridges built in the country. The bridge at Watertown was not built till four years after, and only for foot-passengers. This is an indica- tion of thrift, energy, and intelligence of which Sudbury may well be proud.
There is no account of the making of the cause- way half a mile long now to be found, when works of smaller importance are minntely given. It is supposed that the building of the causeway was commenced in 1643, though it was not finished till some years later. In March, 1758, the Gen- eral Court gave the town permission to have a
lottery for the benefit of the causeway. The town purchased tickets of the third and fourth class, and lost money by the operation.
Four years after the incorporation of the town a ferry was established, which was kept by Thomas Noyes for one year, and he was allowed to take twopence for a single passenger, and a penny a head for a greater number. This ferry was from side to side of the river, not far from the upper causeway of to-day.
In 1643, when the colony was divided into counties, eight towns, one of which was Sudbury, were assigned to Middlesex.
June 15, 1645, the town of Lancaster joined with other towns in petitioning the General Court for a grant to finish the bridge and causeway in Sudbury. £20 were granted.
Says Dr. Stearns : "The copy of the record of Lancaster road is so much worn that it cannot be given entire, yet so much remains that the princi- pal bounds can be ascertained : 'Beginning at the great River Meadow at the gravel pitt - by the causeway, on the West side-and run to the North- west side of Thomas Plympton's house-& thence to timber swamp, & so on to heart pond,1 leav- ing the rock on the North side, and so on to Sud- bury bounds to be the common highway toward Lancaster, through Sudbury, therefore wee have hereunto sett our hands the 22ª day of this pres- ent vear, no other date 1654.
EDM. GOODENOW ? Commission THOMAS NOYES appointed by
WM. KERLEY order of court.
Among the records for 1646.'"
As early as 1636 the inhabitants of Concord applied to the court to aid them in draining the meadows by deepening the channel at the falls. In 1644 Herbert Pelham of Cambridge, Thomas Flint and Lieutenant Simon Willard of Concord, and Mr. Peter Noyes of Sudbury were appointed a com- mission by the court to devise some mneans " for draining and improving the meadows." Johnson says : " Several times they assayed to cut through the rocky falls, but cannot, yet it may be turned another way by a hundred pound charge, by cut- ting a channel to Charles River."
The meadow-lands were the standard of valuation. At that time everything necessary to the welfare of the town was attended to promptly and with marked stringency. This is seen by the following : -
1 Small pond, heart-shaped.
361
SUDBURY.
" 20 day last Mo. 1639. It was ordered that for neglecting to come forth to the mending of the highway, when lawfully summoned thereto, the penalty shall be five shillings."
"On the 19th day of Nov. the following rule was agreed upon for working on the highway : 1. The poorest man shall work one day; 2. For every six acres of meadow land a man hath, he shall work one day ; 3. Every man who shall neg- lect to make all fences appertaining to his fields by the 24 of April shall forfeit 5 shillings."
About this time a great change took place in the price of cattle. The ruling price, which be- fore this year had been enormous, now, in conse- quence of the cessation of importation of settlers, fell to about one third of the former value. Milch cows, which had bronght from £25 to £30, now fell to £5 or £6.
In 1639, to prevent abuses on the part of both employers and employees, as also on the part of borrowers and lenders of money, the prices of labor and the rates of interest were established by law.
Dr. Stearns says : "Very soon after the incor- poration of the town a road was made on either side of the river, from north to south, the length of the town. These roads were on the east side four rods wide, and on the west side six rods wide.
" The meadow lands, altogether, are larger on the west than on the east side of the river.
" In 1648 a highway was laid out between Sud- bury and Concord by men appointed by their re- spective towns : as the year before a committee was appointed to lay out the line with Watertown men, between Watertown and Sudbury."
In 1648 a pound was built under the direction of Mr. William Brown and Edmond Goodnow.
December 7, 1647, ten years after Sudbury began to be settled, as looking towards its incor- poration as a town, a cow common was laid out on the west side of the river. This common included nearly all the upland not laid out in house-lots, between the river meadow on the east, Hop Meadow (or Washbrook Meadow) on the west, and Pantry Brook and Gulf Meadow on the north and northeast. The inhabitants were allowed to pasture in this common cattle, horses, sheep, etc., according to their valuation as proprietors of meadow-lands. There was an equally valuable cow common for the convenience of the inhabitants on the east side of the river, in the southeast part of the town.
Especial pains were taken to prevent idleness, and to promote the highest tone of morality among the rising generation. Schools were early estab- lished, - reading schools and a grammar school ; the latter kept by a man capable of fitting pupils for college, and this school was movable from dis- trict to district.
While from year to year the town made provis- ion for the poor, at quite an early date they raised the question of providing a workhouse for idle - in the records it reads idol - people, for the pur- pose of preventing the multiplication of tramps ; and such a house was built in Lanum district, but after the trial of a few years it was given up.
June 16, 1647, " Ordered, That the surveyors of the Town land shall lay out 50 acres of upland about Hop Brook meadow, near the cart path that goes over the brook, to be reserved for the use of the town when they shall set a mill upon the brook.”
January 1, 1659, " Granted unto Mr. Thomas Noyes and to Mr. Peter Noyes for and in consid- eration of a mill at Hop Brook, lying and being on the west side of Sudbury great River, below the cart way that leads to Ridge meadow, viz. fifty acres of upland and fifteen acres of meadow, with- out Commonadge to the said meadow, four acres of the said fifteen acres of meadow lying and being within the demised tract of uplands. Also granted to the above named parties, timbers of any of the Sudbury common land, to build and maintain the said mill.
" Also the said Thomas and Peter Noyes do covenant with the town for the foregoing consid- erations to build a sufficient mill to grind the town of Sudbury's corn, the mill to be built below the cart way that now is leading to Ridge meadow, the said grantees their heirs and successors are to have nothing to do with the stream above, four rods above the aforementioned cart way of said mill ; to be ready to grind the corn by the first of December next ensuing, and if the said grantees, their heirs and assigns, shall damage the highway over the brook, by building the said mill, they are to make the way as good as it now is, from time to time, that is to say, the above specified way over the mill brook, and said Thomas Noyes and Peter Noyes are also to leave a highway six rods wide joining to the brook, from the cart way that now is to the widow Loker's meadow."
"In 1659 a new mill for grinding the corn of the town was built on Hop Brook, now Wash
362
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Brook, and a new highway was built out from the ! gravel pit on the west side of the river to the said mill, six rods wide."
March 26, 1677, " Ordered, That Peter King, Thomas Reed Sen, John Goodnow, Jos. Freeman, Jon Smith have liberty granted to build a saw-mill on Upper Hop Brook above Mr. Peter Noyes' corn mill, at a place viewed by a committee of the town, which if they doe they are to have 20 tons of tim- ber and earth for the dam." This mill was built, probably, on the site of Moore's and Perry's saw- mill.
The first settlement in Sudbury was on the east side of the river, where were the first burying- ground and meeting-house, the parsonage, the school-house, and the blacksmith-shop.
The town was divided into East and West Sud- bury, by the river in part, in 1780. The land was more extended on the west than on the east side. The population, before the division, was larger on the west side than on the east, and long before the division of the town took place the church had been divided, -- the church on the west side taking the name of the First Church of Sudbury. For a long time before the division the annual town- meetings were held alternately on the east and west side, and the town officers were selected from eaeli side in about equal proportion.
The division of the town became a necessity for the accommodation of the people. From year to year, for some years before it took place, the divis- ion of the town was discussed both in a private way and in town-meeting ; but the step of dividing the town was not taken till 1780, four years after the Declaration of Independence, and about in the middle of the Revolutionary War.
We do not desire to introduce matter into this sketch of Sudbury that properly belongs to the history of Wayland, as that history will have a place in this volume.
1648 [Winthrop's Journal, Vol. II. p. 332]. " About the midst of this summer there arose a fly ont of the ground, about the bigness of the top of a man's little finger, of brown color. They filled the wood from Connectieut to Sudbury with a great noise, and eat up the young sprouts of the trees but meddled not with the corn. If the Lord had not stopped them they had spoiled all our orchards, for they did some few."
King Philip's War, though short, was exceedingly disastrous both to the English and the Indians, resulting, however, in the almost permanent subju-
gation of the latter, and a better understanding, in all respects, between the two races. The great fight, near the close of the war, one of the most bloody on record, was on Green Hill, Sudbury, the Indians gaining the victory, though at too great a cost to be of any valne to them, as it left them too mueh reduced, every way, to prosecute the struggle with any degree of courage.
Green Hill is about one mile south of Goodman's Hill, already spoken of, and the precise locality of the fight is not mnuch southwest of the monument that marks the exact spot where monlder the bones of Captains Wadsworth and Broeklebank and their noble men. Green Hill and Goodman's Hill are really but one hill, Green Hill being at the south- ern extremity and Goodman's Hill at the northern, with a slight depression between the two summits.
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