History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 144

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 144

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The word signifies, " place of the rushing torrent," or " wild, dashing brook," referring to the outlet in time of high water.

Of the original native owners of the land at this point and the immediate vicinity we have no positive knowledge. This tract was included in the grant made by the General Court, under the right of emi- nent domain, to the Indians at Natick, after that plantation was established; and the deeds to the English purchasers, all of which bear date subsequent to this grant, are signed by Waban, Piambow, Tom Tray and others. These names and some other reasons favor the inference that these lands were in- cluded in the inheritance of the tribe which dwelt at the Falls below, to be noticed hereafter.

But fortunately for history, the village-site on the blutľ was left untouched by the plow till a period within the memory of men now living ; and the re- mains clearly indicate the permanent residence of a considerable clan. Mr. Joseph Brown, who was born near by, and was often on the spot, says, "I have been in the old Indian fort which stood on the highest point of the hill south of the outlet of Long Pond, a great many times. It used to include about an aere and a half of land. A eircular bank of earth with diteh outside, the whole about four feet high, enclosed it; and there was a raised mound in the eentre, made, I suppose, for a lookout. There were several eellar- 39-iii

holes-' granaries '-inside the bank. It was woods all around ; but this place was always bare. It was first plowed up by Col. James Brown, who leveled the bank, filled up the holes, sowed rye, and made it into a pasture. There was an Indian weir in the brook, at the foot of the binff, a little way down from the outlet." To this elear statement nothing need be added.

Quite recently, two large mortars were found here ; also abundance of pestles, gouges, spear-heads and fragments of steatite kettles, etc. Six or seven large granaries are still visible.

The size of the evidently strong fort indicates that the Indians regarded it as a place of importance, as well as a place of security. The land on the west slope of the hill was favorable for a planting-field. The height of the hill made it a good lookout-point. But the earefully constructed weir shows that the fisheries bere were a prime factor in native estima- tion. The number of large granaries (which were lined with elay) shows that immense quantities of shad and salmon were caught, dried and stored here in the spring, for use in time of need.

INDIAN VILLAGE AT THE FALLS .- The following deed, executed before the General Court had made formal grant of the land in question, is pretty con- elusive evidence of aboriginal ownership on the part of the grantors, and it goes far to establish a very early occupancy by the same parties :

"This witnesseth that William Boman, Captain Josiah, Roger, & James, and Keaquisan, Indians, now liveing at Naticke the Indian Plantation neare Sudbury in the Massachusetts Bay in New England, ffor and in consideration of a vallunble sume of Peage and other goodes to us in hand paid by John Stone of Sudbury aforenamed to our full content & satisfaction, before the siguing and delivery hereof have given, granted, bargained & sould, assigned, enfeoffed & confirmed, and by theis presents do give, grant, bargain & sell, assigne, enfeofte and confirme unto tho said Jno. Stone, his Heyres & assignes, a parcell of Broaken up and ffenced in land, lying on the South side of Sudbury line, upon the Fulle of Sudbury River, and bounded with the Common land surrounding. The said land conteyning by estimation about ten Acres more or lesso. To bave & to hould the said land with the ffences and all other the privileges and appurtenances thereof be the same more or lesse, to him the said Jno. Stone, hie Heyres and Assignes forever, to his and their only propper use & behooffe. In witness whereof wee the above named Indians have hereuuto put our bande & soules this 15th day of May 1656."

A part of these names are known to be those of Indians belonging to the northward, at Stow and beyond. This fact, and other circumstances, lead to the belief that the place was under the jurisdiction of the Wamesitts, whose headquarters was at Paw- tucket Falls (Lowell) ; and there is a probability that the Indian village at Cochituate belonged to the same tribe, before it was given to the Natiek planta- tion.

The wigwams included within this lot stood where Mr. Simpson's eottage and garden now are.

The fort of this clan was on the east side of the river, on the point of the bluff opposite the Saxon- ville Mills. It had a bold front and sides, and was easily defended, and withal was handy to their fish-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ing-places and corn-fields. A spring of water came out near the southeast foot. The large granaries were where is now J. R. Entwistle's house-lot, and were plainly to be seen when he graded up the place.

Some Indian graves have been discovered near the spot, and remains indicating that the bodies before burial were doubled up by bringing the knees against the chin, and laid upon the side.

Many choice ornaments, as well as the common domestic utensils and implements of war, have been found along the top of the bluff.

NOBSCOT .- This hill was the residence of the noted Indians, old Jethro and his son Peter. The great stone-heap, evidently intended as a look-out, stands on the highest point of the hill. It is named in the records as early as 1654.

MURDER OF THE EAMES FAMILY .- The princi- pal tragie event which happened in our plantation during King Philip's War was the murderous assault on the family of Thomas Eames, February 1, 1675-76.

The Eames house stood on the southern declivity of Mount Wayte, the nearest neighbor being distant one and a half miles. The family consisted of Mr. Eames, his wife and ten children, varying iu age from twenty-four years to seven months. The father was absent, having gone to Boston for a guard, and a supply of ammunition. A party of eleven Indians, headed by Netus, came suddenly upon the defence- less family, burned the barn, cattle and house, killed the mother and five children, and carried off five or six children and such plunder as they needed.

The family tradition is, that the mother had ex- pressed the resolution never to be taken alive by the savages; and that, true to her word, she bravely defeuded her home, using hot soap and such weapons as were at hand in the kitchen. According to the confession of one of the murderers, the party, com- prising six of the former residents at Magunkook, had returned to that place for some corn which was left the previous autumn in their granaries, and find- ing that it had been destroyed, started at once, partly for food and partly for revenge, towards the nearest English farmstead. And it is probable that the stout resistance of the courageous woman so provoked them that they left nothing alive.

The children were carried to the neighborhood of Wachusett, and two of them to Menameset. Three of them found means to escape from their captors, and returned in the course of a few months. The two girls, one probably a daughter of Mr. Eames by a former marriage, were seen by Thomas Reed, at Turner's Falls, about the middle of May. They were heard of later, near Albany. The younger was redeemed, the elder never returned.

Of the Indian murderers, three were tried, con- vieted and hanged, two were sold into slavery, two died violent deaths, and two were pardoned.

NAME .- On the Colonial records, the place is ofli-

cially designated as Mr. Danforth's Farms, and Fram- ingham. In a single instance, on the Middlesex County records, where entry is made of the births of two children of Thomas Eames, and one child of Joseph Bradish, the name is written Framlingham. And in a petition drawn up by Peter Clayes in 1698, and presented to the Legislature, this spelling is used. Neither has anything more than a clerical authority ; and both may have been clerical inadvertencies. In the records of the Middlesex County Court, under date Dec. 23, 1673, and elsewhere, the name is writ- ten Framingham, and uniformly so in the General Court records; and in Mr. Danforth's numerous leases, of different dates, and in his will, the name is written without the l. Mr. Danforth's own usage is, of course, final authority in the matter. Oct. 27, 1675, a tax was laid, "to meet the charges of the present war with the Indians," and Framingham was assessed £1. Dec. 28, 1675, Framingham is ordered to raise one soldier, as its proportion of a levy of 300.

But whether the word be spelled with or without an l, there is no doubt that the Plantation received its name from the birthplace of Thomas Danforth in England.

THE OLD CONNECTICUT PATH .- This traveled way was alluded to in connection with the early journeys of Mr. Oldham's party and the migration of Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone and their com- pany from Cambridge to Hartford. At a later date this path-which is named on the Sudbury town records in 1643, and was formally laid out from Watertown to Mr. Dunster's farm (in the present town of Wayland) in 1649-became an important factor in the settlement of Framingham, and deserves special notice. It influenced the course of explora- tion hither, and most of the early land grant to patrons and settlers were located on this path.

Coming from Watertown to the northerly end of Cochituate Pond, thence it followed the present road to the house of Joseph Brown, where it turned more to the west, crossing Cochituate Brook at the fordway, where was afterwards the fulling-mill dam; thence by a southerly and southwesterly course to a point about thirty rods east of Hollis Hastings'; thence on nearly a straight line to the Para rubber-works, and across the railroad, when it turned slightly to the west, going past the South School-house site, and trom thence bearing to the left, over the Beaver Dam, nearly as the road now runs into Sherborn, and round the southerly side of the Quiunek meadow, just shun- ning the marshy lands,1 and turning more west, crossed Cold Spring Brook, about thirty rods above its june- tion with Hopkinton River; thence westerly to the cold spring on the Frankland place, in the west part of Ashland, and so through Grafton,2 in this State, and Thompson, Conn.

! See Russell's Grant, Mass. Col. Rec., iv. pt. 1, p. 370.

: " Hassanamesit is near unto the old road-way to Connecticnt." Mass. Hist. Soc Coll., 1, 185.

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FRAMINGILAM.

EARLY LAND GRANTS-Mrs. Glover's Farm .- The earliest grant of land within our town limits, by the General Court, was made 1639-40, to Mrs. Elizabeth Glover, widow of Rev. Josse Glover.

This farm, laid out as 600 acres, was found ou measurement to contain 960 acres; embracing all that land lying between Sudbury town-line (now Wayland) on the north, Sudbury River on the west, Cochituate Brook on the south, Cochituate Pond on the east, and from the northeast point of this pond to the nearest point of Dudley Pond, and so by this pond to its northeast corner, and from there north, direct to the old Sudbury line.

Thomas Mayhew's Farm .- "October 17, 1643, Mr. Mayhew is granted 300 acres of land in regard to his charge about the bridge by Watertown mill, and the bridge to belong to the country " [Mass. Col. Rec., ii. 51]. In 1666, Mayhew assigued his grant to John Stone and Nathaniel Treadway.

" In obedience to this grant and assignment. Now laid ont this 18th day of June, 1708, said 300 acres to the heirs of Jolin Stone and Nathaniel Treadway: This land, lying between Marlborough, Magunkook and Framingham, and so bounded : This land is some good, some bad, some pine and some oak land, and some meadow in it, as may appear from the plat of the same surveyed by David Haynes."

Grants to Edmund Ricc .- "October 23, 1652, Ed- mund Rice, of Sudbury, preferring a petition for the grant of three little pieces of meadow, containing about 20 acres, and 30 acres of upland, lying a mile from Cochituate Brook, hath his request granted."

In 1655 Edmund Rice petitioned the General Court for another parcel of land "near the path leading to Connecticut ; " and June 3, 1659, is the record : "Laid out, the farm of Mr. Edmund Rice, of Sudbury, in the place appointed by the Court, that is, beginning at a hill, leaving Conecticott path on the north or northwest- erly of it, and a brook on the south of it, and two hills and a little piece of meadow on the east of it, with five acres of meadow lying on the east side, being part of the same grant; also the said tract of land being bounded with the wilderness on the west, all of which said tract of land containeth eighty acres."

This eighty acres lay between Beaver Dam Brook, Gleason's Pond and Gleason's Hill; the southwest corner bound being a tree at the Beaver Dam.

Grants to John Stone .- In 1656 Mr. Stone bought of the Indians eleven acres of land at the Falls in Sud- bnry River, which, with fifty acres additional, was confirmed to him by the General Court in May the same year. Later he secured, by purchase, other considerable tracts of land upon the river below the Falls, and elsewhere.

Russell's Farm .- " May 15, 1657, Mr. Richard Rus- sell having binn very serviceable to the countrie in his publicque imployment of Treasurer for many years, for which he hath had no annuall stipend, this Court doth graunt him five hundred acres of land, in

any place not formerly graunted, upon Nipnop River, at his choice." This grant was laid out May 6, 1659, and is thus described : "Laid out unto Mr. Richard Russell, Treasurer, five hundred acres of land, lying in the wilderness, upon both sides of the path that leadeth from Sudbury toward Nipnop, & is bounded on the northeast with Washakam Pond, and a swampe adjoyning thereto, and on the west by a marked tree and the west side of an ashen swampe, and on the south with the upland adjoyning to the southerly or southwest point of that meadow which lyeth on the westerly side of the aforesaid meadow, and on the north extending on the north side of the aforesaid path, and is surrounded with the wilderness, EDMUND RICE, THO. NOYES."

Wayte's Farm .- " May 25, 1658, In answer to the petition of Richard Wayte, one of those that were first sent out against the Pequotts, & for severall ser- vices, the Court judgeth it meete to graunt him three hundred acres of land."

The record of the laying out of this grant is as fol- lows : "Laid out uuto Richard Wayte, marshall, three hundred acres of land in the wilderness, between Chochittuate and Nipnop, in manner following, viz. there being a necke of land about two hundred & twenty acres, more or less, & is surrounded with Sud- bury River, a great pond, & a smale brooke that run- neth from the said pond into the river, and from the southerly end of the said pond running to the river againe by a westerly line; and on the westerly side of Sudbury River to extend his bonnds from the said river twenty pole in breadth so farre in length as his land lyeth against the said river ; also, on the north- erly & northeast of the said brooke & pond, he hath five patches of meadow, containing about twenty acres more or less, being all surrounded with wilder- ness land; also, on the northeast side of Washaknm Ponds he hath sixty acres, being bounded with the said pond on the southwest, and an Indian bridge ou the east, and elsewhere by marked trees, the wilder- ness surrounding.

" Oct. 20, 1658. THOMAS DANFORTHI, ANDREW BELCHER."

Corlett's Farm .- " In answer to the petition of Daniel Weld and Elijah Corlett, schoolmasters, the Court, considering the usefulness of the petitioners in an employment of so common concernment for the good of the whole country, and the little encourage- ment that they have had from their respective towns, for their service and unwearied pains in that employ- ment, do judge meet to grant to each of them two hundred acres of land, to be taken up adjoining to such lands as have been already granted and laid ont, by order of this court."

Mr. Corlett was schoolmaster of Cambridge, and his farm of 200 acres was laid out within our bounds, May 28, 1661. It took in the Elisha Frost farm, and the land to the west.

Mr. Danforth's Farms .- "Oct. 16, 1660. Whereas,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

at the request of this Conrt, Mr. Thomas Danforth hath attended the service of this Court in surveying the laws at the press, and making an index thereto, this Court judgeth meet, as a gratnity for his pains, to grant him two hundred and fifty acres of land, to be laid out in any place not legally disposed of by this Court." This lot was laid out adjoining Sudbury town-line, on the west side of Sudbury River,

" May 7, 1662. The Court judgeth it meet to grant to Mr. Thomas Danforth, two hundred acres of land, adjoining to same lands he hath between Conecticot path and Marlborough, and appoint Ensign Noyes of Sudbury, with old Goodman Rice and John How, to lay it out, with other lands granted to him by this Court ; and the act of any two of them to be account- ed valid, both for quantity and quality." This 200 acres was laid out adjoining to and west of the for- mer grant of 250 acres.

On the same day, i.e., May 7, 1662,

" It is ordered, that for and in consideration of Mr. Thomas Danforth his furuishiog the Commissioners to York, i.e., Major General Denison and Maj. Wmn. Hawthorn, with ten pounds money, shall have grauted him as an tullition to the two hundred acres of land granted him by this Court in 6th page of this Session, 60 much land lying between Whip- sufferage and Conecticntt path, adjoining to his farm, as old Goodman Rice and Goodman llow of Marlborow shall judge the said ten pounds to be worth, and they are impowered to bound the smine to him."

"Oct. 8, 1662. Laid out unto Thomas Danforth Esq. a parcell of land lying betweene Marlborough and Kenectient l'atb, and is bounded easterly by Sudbury lands adjoined to that part of their bouods neere Lannum, the land of John Stone, and a part of Natick Plantation ; southerly by the lands of the said Thomas Danforth and Natick lands ; northerly with the other part of Sudbury bounds towards Marlbury; and westerly with the country lands, the said west line being limited by a pine tree marked with D and standing on the north side of that branch of Sunbury river that cometh from Marlbory [Stoney brook] and on the west side of Angellico brook, and from the said pine continuing a southwest line unto the other branch of Sudbury river that is the bounds of Natick plantations [ Hopkinton river] ; and from the eald pine tree northerly continuing unto Sudbury bounds, running by a tree marked in the highway that leadeth from John Stone's house to Marl- bury ; in which tract of land bounded as abovesaid is contained two hundred acres of land belonging nuto Jobo Stone [the Corlett Farm] aml is excepted out of that laid out unto the said Thomas Danforth ; also four hundred and fifty acres of land granted by the General Court in two several grants to the said Thomas Danforth ; and the remainder thereof ie for the satisfaction of moneys disbursed by the suid Thomas Danforth for the use of the country, by the appointment of the General Court. Given noder our hands the 27th of May, 1662.

" EDMOND RICE, "JOHN HOW.

" At a County Court held at Cambridge, Oct. 7, 1662, Edmond Rice and John How, appearing in Court, acknowledged this ubove written to be their act, according to the appointment of the General Court.

" DANIEL GOOKIN, "SYMON WILLARD, " RICHARD RUSSELL.

" The Court allows & approves this return." 1

This grant covered most of the Framingham terri- tory on the westerly side of Sudbury River, and be- tween the river and Sonthborough linc.

Thus it appears that for the ten pounds money paid out, Mr. Danforth received a tract of about 14,000 acres. Adding the 450 acres previously set off to him, and the Wayte and Russell farins, he held in all,

by gift and purchase, not less than 15,500 acres of land within the limits of the old Framingham planta- tion.

William Crowne's Grunt .- A farm of 500 acres was granted, October 8, 1602, to William Crowne, “ as an acknowledgment of the great paines he was at in behalf of this country when he was in England."

This farm lay on the southerly side of Hopkinton River, and covered what is now the village of Ash- land-then reckoned Framingham territory.

Grants to Thomas Eames .- On his petition of Octo- ber 17, 1676, the Court made a grant of 200 acres to Mr. Eames, which was laid out "in the wilderness adjoining to Lancaster."

Jan. 24, 1676-77, Mr. Eames asked the Conrt for a grant of the Indian lands at South Framingham, near his former home. The following deed recites all the particulars of this grant :

"WHEREAS in Court at Nouantum January 24th 1676 Thomas Eams propounded to have a parcel of land belonging to Natick that is encom- passed by ye laud of Mr. Thomas Danforth, John Death and John Stoue on three parts, and the Indians then consented that in exchange of lands between Sherborn aud Natick the above said parcel of land desired by Thomas Eanis should be included in ye lands that Sherburn men have in Exchange from Natick, as attested by a copy of that Court record under ye hand of Major Daniel Gookin deceased : Also whereas in answer to a motion made by Thomas Eams to ye General Court held at Boston yo 28th day of May 1679 the Court did there allow and confirm the grant and Exchange made of ye lands above mentioned, ae appeared by ye record of ye said Court : Also whereas Sherburn in ye Exchange by them made with Natick did omit to include the above said lands therein, 80 that to ye day of ye date hereof ye said Natick Indians have had no cou- sideration in money or lunds for their above said lands that was pro- pounded by Thomas Eames as above : Also whereas Thomas Eamee be- fore bis decease was peaceably eeized of said lands, and did settle ye same by disposeing some part thereof to his children that now are dwelling thereon with four families, and did ulso sell to others sundry parts thereof that are now dwelling thereou, all which to dispossess would be very great injustice; Now know all men by these presents, that we Peter Ephraim, Thomas Waban, Daniel Tonawampa Minister, Jonsa Motta- hant, Joseph Tabamomoso, Indians of Natick with ye consent and by the order of the rest of ye Indians of that plantation, for and in coneid- eration of the premises, as uldo not forgetting the great suffering of yo said Thomas Eames by those Indians that burnt his house, baro and cuttle, and killed hie wife and three children, and captivated live more, whereof only three returned, who are now dwelling on ye suid lands, whome now to ruine a second time by turning them off those lands we are not willing to be any occasion thereof ; Also, we well knowing, that although the above said Thoums Eames by reason of his being impover- ished as above said, did not procure a legall conveyance of ye said lunds, yet for sundry years until his death did give releife to John Wansamng Cheife proprietor of those lands ; WE the above named Peter Ephraim, etc. for and on ye behalfe of ourselves as also the rest of ye Indians, that can claim any right or title in ye above suid tract or purcell of land ; for and in further consideration of Ten pounds, current money, to us ju hand paid before ye sealing and delivery hereof by John Eames son of ye above named Thomas Eames deceased, who dwelleth upon part of ye Bull landa, the receipt whereof wo do acknowledge by these presents ; as also for twelve pounds more current money for ye use of ourselves, and ye rest of ye Indians of ye said plantation to be by us disposed of ae the Governor or Leiut Governor for the time being shall order, for ye true payment of which twelve pounds, the said John Eames hath given a epecially under his hand uml seul bearing date with these presents ; have given, granted, bargained, sold, enfeiffed, etc."

This farm was bounded north by Sudbury River from the point where the Eames Brook enters to a point near the north side of the Agricultural grounds, thence the line ran easterly to the northeast corner of the State Muster grounds ; the east line ran from this

1 Mass. Col. Rec., iv. pt. 2, pp. 67, 68.

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point by a southerly course to Beaver Dam Brook, which brook was its southerly bound'; the west bound was the Wayte meadow and Farm Pond. The eighty acres already granted to Edmund Rice was excepted out of the grant, under the title vested in John Death.

Mr. Eames also received a grant from the town of Sherborn, of a home-lot of thirty acres. This was located on Chestnut Brook, about half a mile up the stream from the Hunt place, and adjoined the home- lot of Thomas Awassamog.

The Belcher and Lynde Farm of 150 acres, lying north of the Corlett grant, was a gift from Thomas Danforth, dated March 6, 1672-73, " to his loving kins- man, Andrew Belcher, Jr."

Gookin and How's Purchase was a tract of 1700 acres covering what is known as "Rice's End," and includ- ing the celebrated Indian Head Farm. These pro- prietors bought the tract of the Indians of Natick, May 19, 1682.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 144

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278