History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 182

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 182

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After this disunion of the great Nipmuck nation it lost its former power and prestige, and the divisions became subject to more powerful tribes. The band which settled in this locality came under the influ- ence of Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoags, and were induced by his son and successor, King Philip, to unite with him in his disastrous war against the English. They ultimately gained nothing by this step, their numbers being reduced in the warfare, and after the death of Philip hut few were left.

While the Nipmucks dwelt in the southerly por- tion of this territory, another tribe of Indians had settled about five miles to the northeast of them, at. the present site of South Natick. They were called the Natick Indians, and were brought thither from Nonantum by the Apostle John Eliot, who desired a more secluded place. Although the date of their re- moval is not accurately known, it was probably not far from the year 1650. By the time the town of Sherhorn was formed, they had already a town or- ganization and many of them were converted to

1 96. General Washington with 3000 in the Jerseys routed a body of 1400 of the enemy, who were stationed at Trenton, Took prisoners 919, besides what were killed und wounded, mostly Hessian troops ; 6 brass pieces of ordnance, 1200 small arms, 4 stands of colors, a band of music, etc.

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Christianity. It was a colony of Indians, founded and encouraged by Eliot; and Waban was the most prominent and influential man among them, and his name often appears in the business transactions of that day.

It cannot be supposed that land so well situated and so well watered could long remain unattractive to the English settlers. Medfield had been previously colonized, and individuals from that town had doubt- less explored the neighboring Bogistow and per- haps had visited the then friendly Indians in that locality and had noticed its capabilities for improve- ment. Grants of land by the General Court were commenced as early as the year 1643, and were con- tinued at intervals for thirty years, but always subject to the rights of the Indians, who received payment and gave deeds for all the land afterwards included in the township. Grants are found recorded to Rev. John Allen, Captain Robert Kayne, Richard Brown, Richard Parker, Simon Bradstreet, Captain Eleazer Lusher, Dean Winthrop, Tho. Holbrook, William Colburne, Colonel William Brown, Lientenant Joshua Fisher, Edward Tynge, John Parker. These persons were non-residents, and at later dates conveyed their grants to actual settlers.

We are now approaching the period when an entire change is to commence in the territory which we have beeu considering, and in the condition of its Indian inhabitants, The white man is to appear upon the scene-the Anglo-Saxon, with his cool head, his cal- culating brain, and an intellect cultivated through generations of ancestors. Although entering upon the land with the fairest and kindest feelings towards the aboriginal inhabitants, still it is impossible that the latter, with their free and untrammeled life, their uncultured instincts and habits, which brooked no control and which answered a slight or an insult with the spear or the tomahawk, could long live in peace and harmony with a race diametrically opposite in character and modes of life. It has always proved true that the race that dominates intellectually, holds the land and the situation, while the inferior race, after ineffectual attempts at resistance, gradually suc- cumbs and melts away. It was so in this instance. Had the Nipmucks held together and retained their former peaceable habits, the evil day might have been long delayed. When they lost union they lost strength. Dissensions and division into bands weak- ened their force and led to further dissension, by which they became a prey to the seductive voice of the able and wily Philip and were drawn into his scheme to exterminate the new race of colonists, who had come to these shores to take away the fair hunt- ing-grounds of the red men, as they believed, and to despoil them of their birthright. An eloquent writer has described their feelings and caused them to say "Stranger, there is eternal war between me and thee." Some of the shrewd sachems, and notably Philip, of Mount Hope, had the foresight to perceive that these

two races could not exist together; and, with charac- teristic cunuing and violence which had never failed him before and which he believed would not fail him now, determined on a war which should continue until the hated pale-face should be destroyed or driven from the face of the land.

Nor can we wonder at this feeling among a people who had for centuries occupied the country and had the belief that it was their own, and that no foreign race had a right to claim what had been bequeathed by their ancestors. They knew nothing about con- ciliation. It had always been their habit to conquer by force and violence whatever was opposed to their wishes, and they could act in no other manner now. Although received peaceably at first, the arguments of the chiefs excited the Indians gradually against the English settlers, until the horror and desolation of a savage war was upon them.

Leaving now the native inhabitants, we come to the commencement of actual settlement by the English colonists.

The first transfer to actual settlers, of the land of either of the grantees, was made May 8, 1652, O. S., by Richard Parker to Nicholas Wood, Thomas Hol- brook and Andrew Pitcher, all of Dorchester. The deed described 535 acres of meadow and upland "lying in the woods on the West side of Charles river, 3 ms. from Natick, lying between the land of Capt. Robert Kayne on the S. side, and Mr. Richard Browne, of Watertown, in some part on the S. side also ; by Charles river on the E. (and a rocky point now called the Neck, running into the river) ; and by common woods on the W."

Nicholas Wood and Thomas Holbrook immediate- ly took possession and commenced labors upon the land. But it is probable that Wood had resided here before this date, as he had a child recorded at Medfietd as early as Jannary, 1651. He may have settled upon the grant with the consent of the grantee, before any negotiations were completed for the purchase of the land. It is generally conceded that he was the first settler. He was a hardy, enter- prising man and became one of the foremost in the new colony. He signed the first petition for the in- corporation of the town, was a member of the church, and was possessed of a large property for those times, his inventory after death amounting, after the payment of debts and expenses, to £978 18s., or about $5000. He erected his house very near the present site of the cider manufactory of Jona. Hol- brook & Sons,'and founded it on a rock, as though he intended to commence strongly and surely. Although he had no male issue which perpetuated his name, yet some prominent and highly distinguished men were descended from him, among whom were Henry Ware, Sr., D.D., and Asher Ware, LL.D.

Thomas Holbrook built his first house on his share of the grant near Dearth's bridge and near the present residence of Charles Howe. He planted an

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

extensive orchard there, and was so liberal in the distribution of its fruit that his buildings were secured from the torch of the Indian enemy while others near him were laid in ashes. In 1657 he petitioned for the high, rocky point east of Parker's grant, comprising the Neck before mentioned, and the General Court granted him 50 acres. He then purchased 43 acres more of the government and thus became possessor of the entire tract between the first purchase and the river. In 1666 he erected a new dwelling on the spot where the late Dexter Amsden lived, and in that year deeded 80 acres of his first purchase of Parker to his brother-in-law, Henry Lay- land or Leland, who had already occupied it for twelve years, having removed from Dorchester in 1654. He was a son of Hopestill Leland, the com- mon ancestor of all the New England Lelands, who came from Yorkshire, England, about 1624, settled at Weymouth, and afterwards removed to Dorchester. He passed his last days with his children at Bogistow and died there in 1655, at the age of seventy five. He was one of the oldest men that had then settled in New England, having been born in 1580.

Henry Leland became a man of mark in the new colony, aud tradition gives him a high character for piety and kindness to the Indians. He signed both petitions for the incorporation of the town. He was chosen on a committee to provide a minister for Sherborne, and was associated with the selectmen " to grant town lots to those that were known among the inhabitants."

In 1847 a large meeting of his descendants was held in a mammoth tent on "The Plain," and the occasion was one of great interest. Mrs. Millard Filmore, whose husband was President of the United States two years later, was present at the celebration as one of Henry Layland's posterity. A granite monu- ment to their common ancestor, suitably inscribed. was dedicated to his memory on the same day by his grateful descendants, as a part of the exercises which had been arranged. It stands at the north side of the Common.

Andrew Pitcher, the third purchaser of the grant of Richard Parker, does not appear to have settled here, but sold his land in lots or parcels to other persons.

In 1657 or 1658, Benjamin Bullard, George Fair- bank, John Hill and Thomas Breck, having purchased of the executors of Capt. Robert Kayne, of Boston, a part of bis grant at Pawsett Hill, removed here and settled near Bogistow Pond, south of the land pur- chased by Thomas Holbrook and divided their land into suitable lots, built houses and also erected a sub- stantial fort, of which we shall hear more at a later date.

Benjamin Bullard became one of the foremost men in the colony. He signed both petitions for the in- corporation of the town, was one of six brethren to constitute the church at its formation, served as

tithingman and as selectman, and was chosen to the very delicate office of seating the meeting-house when the edifice was completed. At this day we have but little idea of the responsibility attached to the duty of assigning seats to the different members, in due order of precedence and dignity, so as to give to each one their just claims, as they were then con- sidered. He was also one of the chief contributors to the extinguishment of the Indian claims, a work which had not been completed by the grantees, but was left for the settlers.

George Fairbank also took a considerable part in the business of the new town and seems to have been an orderly and esteemed citizen. One of his sons, Jonathan, was the first physician of Sherborn, and an important man in his day. He was selectman seven years and town clerk three years. He is sup- posed to have lived in the old stone house north of Bogistow Pond, and was drowned by falling through the ice, in crossing from Medfield in the night.

John Hill signed the petitions for incorporation, drew many lots of public lands, and was assessed the highest among the proprietors of Sherborn to extin- guish Indian claims in 1686. He was therefore a man of good property.

Thomas Breck married a sister of John Hill, with whom he bought a portion of Robert Kayne's grant, which they then divided as was the custom, so that each should have suitable portions of meadow and upland, arable land aud cedar swamp. In such divi- sions it was a matter of prime importance that each colonist should have a portion of cedar woods from which to cut posts and rails, for they had not then learned that such could be made from other kinds of wood. Breck signed both of the petitions for incor- poration, and his descendants remained living in the same locality until a few years since.

¿ Daniel Morse purchased of Simon Bradstreet, the grantee, 800 acres in the eastern part of Sherborn, and immediately settled upon it in 1658, building his house at or near the present site of the residence of the late Leonard T. Morse. The whole tract was called Morse's Farm, and afterwards "The Farm," a designation which it retains to this day. Morse was evidently a man of rank, and acted as a leader in the new colony. In all public meetings and elections, precedence was uniformly yielded to him as long as he lived. His son Obadiah was the first town clerk and representative, and also acted as a schoolmaster in the town.

These were the principal and permanent early set- tlers of the colony. Some others came, but removed prior to 1674. . They were men in the prime of life, of strong, determined character and not easily dis- couraged, and most of them were men of substance. Many of their names still live in the persons of their descendants, who are found among the prominent citizens of Sherborn at this day. And they required all the energy and endurance of which man is capa-

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ble, to subdue the wild lauds "in the wilderness be- yond Meadfield," and to protect themselves against the lurking Indian. Their farms, as has been seen, were mostly in the present southern part of Sher- born, and included a portion of the eastern portion of Medway, and the colony was known by the Indian name of Bogistow. It is perpetuated in the name of a meadow, pond and brook, which are so called to this day. In various petitions to the Governor of the Colony and to the General Court, the settlers term themselves "inhabitants of Bogistow," and "inhabit- ants & proprietors of lands at or near Boggestow."

As the colonists received, from time to time, acces- sions to their numbers, with the prospect of further additions, they began to entertain hopes of being formed into a town. Although living at a consider- able distance from Medfield, and not included within its bounds, they took up privileges there and became enrolled and taxed as her citizens, and the births and deaths in their families were there recorded for twenty-five years.

But in ten years after the first settlement an effort was made by the colonists to gain recognition as a town, and there was prepared " The humble petition of several of the inhabitants of Bogistow, to be pre- sented to the much honored General Court, 7 of 3 mo. (May), 1662," signed by fourteen heads of families. The General Court appointed "Ephraim Littlefield and Edward Jackson a Committee to view the place and return their apprehensions." The result seems to have been unfavorable, as nothing more is seen in the records concerning the petition. Of its fourteen subscribers, six removed and died before 1674. The settlement continued, however, and others were added to its numbers, both by new arrivals and by the mar- riage and establishment of sons of the first planters. These were men not easily daunted nor turned from their purpose when they had once determined to settle themselves in the wilderness and form new homes, and, eventually, a new town.

At length, in the year 1674, twenty-two years after the arrival of the first pioneers, the_number of fami- lies amounted to twenty, and the population to about 108. Capt. Joseph Morse, a young man of great ability, had lately removed into the colony, and had married Mehetabel, a daughter of Nicolas Wood, who was the first Anglo-American child born here, the date of her birth being July 22, 1655. They settled upon a part of her father's farm and built their house where Joseph W. Barber now resides. Capt. Morse was a son of Joseph Morse, of Medfield, and a nephew of Colonel Morse, of Cromwell's army. He inherited in his father's right, with his brothers and sisters, the land on which West Medway Villagestands.

In 1674 a second petition, of which Capt. Morse was the first signer, and probably the framer, was presented to the General Court October 7th, and on October 21st the Court granted the petition; "and the name of the town to be called Sherborne."

As the petitioners were not prepared to propose any name for their town, the General Court probably assigned, as in similar instances, the name of the native place of some settler or proprietor. Sherborne (not Sherborn), after which it is named, is an ancient town in the northern part of Dorsetshire, England, about 118 miles west by south from London.

This name, by usage, was gradually changed to Sherburne, by which the town was known for more than a century, and no more beautiful name could have been adopted. But in the year 1852 a petition was presented to the General Court to alter that name to "Sherborn," from a mistaken idea that such was the name of the original town in England. A most thorough search has convinced the present writer that the name of the Dorsetshire town was "Sher- borne;" and the General Conrt in session in 1674 doubtless contained men who had lately come from the mother-country and were well-informed of the correctness of that name, which they then bestowed upon this township. Moreover, in the " confirma- tion" of this grant by the General Court, in 1684, " it is ordered that the name of the toune be Sher- borne, and that it belongs to the County of Middle- sex."

The first meeting of the inhabitants of the new town was held January 4, 1674-75, O. S., and was at- tended by Daniel Morse, George Fairbank, Robert Badcock, Henry Adams, Thomas Holbrook, Benjamin Bullard, John Hill, Henry Laland, Joseph Morse, Obadiah Morse, Daniel Morse, Jr., Jonathan Morse, John Perry and Jonathan Wood. "Thomas Eames is accepted as an inhabitant of Shearhorn." Com- mittees were appointed to take a view of the land granted by the General Court; to make an agree- ment with Thomas Thurston, surveyor, and to treat with Captain Gookin and others concerning an ex- change of land with Natick.

Another meeting was held March 8, 1675, and it was chiefly devoted to the consideration of the ex- change of land with Natick in order to make their township more compact and more easily accessible. They had fairly compensated the Indians for the land already possessed, and had received from them a deed of the territory. In the language of that day they "had extinguished the Indian title." But this terri- tory was very irregular in form, extending in one di- rection from the Charles to the Sudbury River, and in the other from the Natick line to Hopkinton and Bellingham. And as portions of some previous grants were taken out, the land assigned to Sherborn has been compared in shape to a huge windmill whose north and west arms were joined together. Owing to interruptions which will soon appear it was more than two years before the exchange with Natick of 4000 acres of land for the same number of acres near Hop- kinton was considered, and it was finally four years before that exchange was completed. These negotia- tions and all other business, excepting that which was

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

imperatively required, were soon suspended by an event of which we can form no adequate conception, and which required the undivided energies of the colonists and prevented all action for the benefit of the town for nearly two years. This was nothing less than the horror of an Indian war. The able and wily Philip, chief of the Wampanoags or Pokanokets, (not of the Narragansetts, as has been sometimes thought, although the latter tribe was drawn into the struggle by Philip, as were many other tribes hitherto friendly), had taken the war-path and was determined to effect the complete extinction of the new race. He little knew with whom he had to deal, as the sequel will show. Let us imagine, if possible, the condition of our new inhabitants, who were just becoming well established and had subdued tosome extent the rough forest land. They had accomplished their long-cher- ished desire of receiving incorporation as a town and eagerly looked forward to the privileges which it would confer and the inconveniences which it would abate. They could now have a church of their own within a reasonable distance, and they could direct their own town business and make their own rules and regulations therefor. But now the dreaded In- dian, who, when excited, knew neither fear nor mercy, had declared war against them, and not merely a common war, but a war of extermination. Philip publicly declared on a paper which he posted on the bridge between Medfield and Bogistow that the In- dians " will war this 21 years if you will," indicating his determination to contiune fighting long enough to cut off all the English people and exciting a corre- sponding consternation in their minds. As if further to harrow their feelings, he stated in the same notice that " the Indians loose nothing but their lives. You must loose your fair houses and cattle." There was much truth in these words and the settlers keenly felt the force of them and the misery of their situation was increased thereby.

As soon as they heard that the Indians under Philip were moving in this direction, they repaired to their garrisoned houses, two of which were erected at that time. The larger and better of these was sitnated on the farm of Benjamin Bullard, near the buildings of the late Daniel W. Bullard, at the sonth end of the town. The other was at the homestead of Daniel Morse, Sr. Three other garrisons were afterwards built, which it will be proper to mention in this con- nection. One was near the homestead of the late Captain John Leland, and not far from the ancient house now occupied by Charles Leland; one near Holbrook's mills; and another at the north of Ed- ward's plain (probably so called from Edward West, who then owned that whole tract of land), near the house of the late Nathaniel Dowse.

The garrison-house on the land of Benjamin Bull- ard was carefully and systematically constructed by himself and eight neighbors who knew something of the traits of the Indians and knew that no depend-

ence could be placed upon their continued friendship, notwithstanding that they had been treated fairly and equitably by themselves. They felt that they must he prepared for depredations and assaults. And accordingly these garrisons were built in different parts of the town according as new settlements were made; and in case of any suspicion or alarm of an invasion by the red men, whether by day or night, all the families in the neighborhoods repaired to the nearest garrison and lived there, sometimes for con- siderable spaces of time. These were their places of refuge for as many as two generations, and here many of their children were born. The garrison we are now considering was situated on the north shore of Bogis- tow Pond, on a bank having the extensive " Broad Meadows " to the east and northwest. The intervening strip of land was burned over so as to afford an unin- terrupted view of the country and to cut off all shel- ter for the lurking foe. The house itself was built in a superior manner, and was a spacious and regular fort- ress nearly seventy feet long and two stories high, all of faced stone brought from a quarry about a mile distant, and laid in clay mortar. It had a double row of port-holes on all sides, lined with white oak plank, and flaring inward so as require no one to ex- pose himself before them, while, by taking cross-aims they could direct their fire to any point of the com- pass, or to several points at once if needed. It was lighted and entered at the south end, overlooking the pond, where the bank was so low that enemies in lev- eling at the high windows would only lodge bullets in the plank chamber floor or in the roof of the fortress. The second story was set apart for the women and children, and a separate room was provided for the sick. Here, then, our southern colonists assembled, with suitable preparations for subsistence, when the news had reached them that Philip was on the war- path.

Of the other garrison-house at the residence of the venerable Daniel Morse, we have not as particular information. But it was doubtless solidly constructed and had adequate means of defence, as we do not hear that any persons were killed there by the enemy. It is believed that the only persons who sought refuge there belonged to the family of Mr. Morse, including his sons and daughters and their families; not a small number, however, as he had nine children, and some grandchildren were born before the time of Philip's war. It must not be supposed that these strongholds were not used until the invasion by Phil- ip; for the inhabitants had been accustomed to flee to their protecting walls from the beginning of the settlement on any alarm or report of hostile Indians. This they were obliged to do for many years before and after the war, for we learn that Capt. John Golden, who did not settle in Sherborn (now in the bounds of Holliston) before 1705 was, with his family, repeatedly driven, by alarms of Indians, to the gar- rison that stood near the house of the late John Le-

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land, Esq. In fact, the settlers were obliged to be constantly on their guard against Indian depredations for a great length of time.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 182

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034