USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 6
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All these considerations tended to.give the English favor with the natives, and worked together for the interests of our infant plantation. And a further potent reason to account for the ten years of peaceful co-occupation, was the fact that the old men of the tribe were still in authority. The memories of the Pequot war, and its lessons of white superiority, had not faded out ; and their experiences and observation had shown that the English always got the upperhand in conflicts, and they had become cautious, even if not reverential. And when the war- cloud of 1675 appeared, these old men, with almost unanimity, counselled forbearance and submission. The peace-commission that visited the Quabaug clans in June, found the old chiefs inclined to resist the machi- nations of Philip. Ephraim Curtis, who came hither in July, was kindly received by the old counsellors. They knew the risk, and deprecated war. The old spirit within them was not dead; but the new contact had engendered caution ; the new experiences had forecast the inevita- ble result. It was the young, hot blood that precipitated the conflict. The attack on Swanzey, June 24, was made by the young braves. It
I " Mowhawks or Maquas. In 1646-7, the French asked assistance of Mass. Government to sub- due them, but Mass. refused as Maquas had never injured them although they were the terror of all other Indians, being in hostility with the Massachusetts, Pawtuckets, Pokomtakukes, Quabangs, all the Nipmuck Indians & Nashaway or Weshakim Indians." GOOKIN'S HIST. COLLECTIONS.
.
50
QUABAUG: INDIAN OCCUPATION, 1647-1665.
was they who killed the old sachem of the Naunotuks, because he par- leyed with the English captains.
Sergt. Ayres and the Brookfield men had plausible grounds for their confidence in the fidelity of these old chiefs : their error was, in under- estimating the influence of those who now first put on the war-paint.
CHAPTER III.
FIRST SETTLEMENT, 1660-1676.
GRANT OF 1660. - FIRST COMERS. - INDIAN DEED OF 1665. - RE-GRANT OF 1667. - PETITION OF 1670. - THE TOWN PLOT. - ALLOTMENT OF LANDS. - MEETING- HOUSE. - MINISTRY LAND. - BURIAL-PLACE. - CORN-MILL. - PETITION OF 1673. - THE TOWN INCORPORATED. - NOTICES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS. - SIGNS OF A STORM. - CAUSES OF KING PHILIP'S WAR. - DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWN. - PLACE OF CAPT. WHEELER'S SURPRISE. - THE INDIANS' SIDE OF THE CASE. - QUANNAPOHIT'S RELATION. - GARRISON MAINTAINED. - MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS AND INDIANS. - FATE OF THE INDIAN CHIEFS. - THE PLACE ABANDONED.
T r HE history of the English plantation of Brookfield begins with the following grant of land by the General Court. Although exhaustive search has been made among the State Archives, and wherever else there was a probability of success, the original petition of the inhabit- ants of Ipswich has not been found.
" AT A GREAT AND GENERAL COURT OF ELECTION HELD AT BOSTON THE 20TH OF MAY, 1660.
In Ansr to the peticon of severall the Inhabitants of Ipswich, this Court Judgeth it meete to Graunt the petitioners sixe miles square or so much land as shall be Contejned in such a Compasse in a place nere Quo- boag ponds, provided they have twenty familyes there resident within 3 years, & that they have an able minister settled there within the sajd terme, such as this Court shall approve, and that they make due provision in some way or other for the future, either by setting apart of land, or what else shall be thought meete for the Continuance of the ministry amongst them : And that If they shall faile in any of these particulars above men- tioned, this Graunt of the Court to be voyd & of none effect."
This grant is dated May 31, 1660.
From the scanty records extant, it is believed that John Warner, John Ayres, Wm. Prichard, and perhaps one other (who doubtless were of the petitioners) came to Quabaug in the summer of 1660, for the pur- pose of selecting the place for the new settlement. The first care of explorers, at that time, in locating a town site, was to find " conveniency of home-lots, meadow lots, and planting fields." But the prime con-
52
FIRST SETTLEMENT, 1660-1676.
sideration was "conveniency of meadows." These were essential for his first year's support and income, as they were his reliance for feeding his horses and horned cattle through the long winter season, and the only outlay required, was the labor of cutting and curing and stacking the hay-crop. The annual burning of the dry grass and sprouts by the Indians, in the late autumn, kept these river and brook meadows clean ; and thus they were found ready for the mower's scythe. The natural grasses grew thick and rank - as an early writer expresses it, “up to a man's face ;" but when cut early they were very nutritious, and were depended on for hay and fall feed. The virgin soil of the uplands required no rotation of cultivated crops, and corn and rye were grown many years in succession, and the tame grasses were consequently neglected. For summer pasturage, the cattle were allowed to range the woods and " commons." They were sometimes put in charge of a herdsman, but oftener permitted to roam at will. As late as 1728, the Hadley farmers allowed their cattle to range many miles to the east- ward ; and what they called the "Brookfield pastures " were bounded easterly by Ware river.
The second care of the first planters was, conveniency of corn-land and rye-fields, what they termed "plain land." The custom then pre- vailed, to set apart the Great Field, i.e., a tract where all the proprietors could have each his proper proportion of tillage land, to be worked in common and enclosed by a common fence. Hence the broad plains and swells which were free from rocks were in demand. These condi- tions were exactly met by the tract which lay to the west and north-west of Coy's brook. And as the eminence now known as Foster's hill, was then free from woods, except possibly here and there a huge timber tree, and was sufficiently near and commanded a full view of the meadows and plain, and was every way an eligible spot for dwellings, it would seem that there could be no hesitancy where to locate the Town Plot.
If any preparation was made this year for marking off the home-lots, and erecting houses, the plan was most effectually frustrated by the Indian raid of the next spring, [see ante, p. 42.] and the tedious and unsatisfactory negotiations which were carried on by our English authorities with Uncas, and which lasted through the year. And the threatening state of Indian affairs, which continued for a considerable period, seem to have discouraged these intended planters, so that no further attempt at a settlement was made till the spring of 1665.
The grant, the previous year, to Mr. Eliot, of 4,000 acres adjoining the Ipswich grant, near Quabaug, for a new Indian plantation ; and the movement of the Dedham men, early this year (1665) to secure the rich Deerfield meadows, stimulated John Warner and his associates to
53
PURCHASE OF THE LANDS AT QUABAUG.
take possession of their granted Quabaug lands before it was too late. It is probable that Warner and his son Samuel, John Ayres, Thomas Parsons and Thomas Wilson came upon the ground, and put up at least two frames, and planted some corn - though Mr. Warner's family did not remove hither till fall.
Now that an actual settlement had been made, and possession taken, it became necessary to procure a title to the land from the native owners. [And the fact that a deed was not taken earlier is presumptive evidence that possession was not taken earlier.] As was customary in these parts, the pioneers employed one of the magistrates or traders living at Springfield, who had the acquaintance and confidence of the Indians, to bargain for and take a deed of the premises.
Here followeth the coppy of the Deed for the Purchase of the lands at Quawbauge (now called Brookfeild) from the Indian called Shattoockquis, together wth Leiut. Thomas Cooper his Resignation of the said Deed to ye Inhabitants of Quawbauge now called Brookefeild for the said Deed was framed in Name to the said Leiut. Cooper but indeed for ye only use and behoofe of ye Inhabitants of the said Plantation called Brookefeild: Also ye Coppy of ye said Leiut. Coopers acknowledgmt of his said Resignation before ye Worppll Majr John Pynchon.
THESE PRESENTS TESTIFY, That Shattoockquis alias Shadookis the sole & propper Owner of certayne lands at Quabauge hereafter named Hath for good & valluable Considerations him the said Shattooquis thereunto moveinge given graunted bargayned & Sold, And by these prsents Doth fully clearely & absolutely give grant bargayne & sell Vnto Ensigne Thomas Cooper of Springfeild for the vse & behoofe of the prsent English Planters at Quabaug & their Associates, & their successors & to them & their heires for Ever, certayne pcells of land at towards or about the North end of Quabauge pond that is to say beginning at a little Meddow at the north end of the pond Quabauge w ch meddow is called Podunk wth the land about it, & soe to a little hill Wullamanick & from thence Northward or North & by East about Three miles & soe Westward off to ye North end of Wecobaug Pond taking in all the playnes meddowes & upland from Podunk by Quabaug pond to Wecobaug pond all the land betwixt, as that called Nacommuck (vizt a brook where meddow is) and soe to Massequockummis vizt another brook where meddow is, and soe through the playne to Weco- baug pond & then down to Lashaway vizt the River wch comes from Quabaug pond all ye land as aforesaid on the East or Northeast side of that River and about three miles North or North & by East from the River together wth the said River, & the lands on the west side or south or south- west side of the said River, & particularly from Lashaway down the River to a brook or streame called Naltaug & soe up that brook to the head of it Southward, & then from the head of that brook to verge of a hill called Asquoach, & soe down Southward or Southeast to ye pond Quabauge, taking in all the wett meddow & meddowes called Masquabamisk & Nanan- tomqua it being about foure Miles from the river to the verge or foote of the
54
FIRST SETTLEMENT, 1660-1676.
hill aforesaid called Asquoach and about six miles or neere thereabouts from the River at the mouth of ye brook called Naltaug to Quabaug pond : All the aforesaid Tract of land from Wecobauge to Podunk at the North end of Quabauge, & from Naltaug to Quabauge, called Naltaug Lashaway, Massequockcumis Nacommuck Wullammannuck Podunck Nanantomqua Masquabamisk & soe to the hill called Asquoach : All wch land afore- described together wth the trees waters stones profits comodityes & advan- tages thereof, & thereunto belonging, the said Ensign Thomas Cooper for himself and for the present Planters at Quabaug and their Associates & successors is to have hold and enjoy & that for Ever.
And the said Shattookquis as well for other considerations as also for & in consideration of the summe of Three Hundred fadom of Wampampeage in hand Received doth grant bargayne & sell All & Singular the aforenamed Tract of land to Ensigne Thomas Cooper his successors & assignes as aforesaid & to their heires for Ever: And the said Shattoockquis doth hereby covennate & promise to & wth the said Ensigne Thomas Cooper that he will save ye said Thomas Cooper harmless from all manner of claymes of any person or psons lawfully clayming any right or interest in the said lands hereby sold or in any part thereof, & will defend the same from all or any molestation & incumbrance by any Indians lawfully laying clayme or title thereunto : In witnes whereof the said Shattoockquis hath hereunto sett his hand this tenth day of November, 1665 : .
Subscribed & delivered in ye prsence of ELIZUR HOLYOKE SAMUELL CHAPIN: JAPHETT CHAPIN :
The mark of
Shattoockquis
The mark of Mettawomppe an Indian witness who challenging some inter- est in the land above sold received part of ye pay, & consented to the sale of it all :
Shattoockquis an Indian above mentioned did own & acknowledge this to be his act & deed resigning up all his right title & intrest in the lands above mentioned unto Thomas Cooper his Associates & Assignes as above said, this Tenth day of November, 1665 : .
Before mee JOHN PYNCHON Assistant : .
In relation to this deed, the first thing that strikes the reader is the indefiniteness of the bound lines. It is evident that the compass was not used in the survey. Indeed, the compass was first brought into use in laying out land grants in this region, by Lieut. Fisher of Dedham when he surveyed the Deerfield lands in 1665. They had a chain to measure distances, and some prominent object was selected as starting and turning point. The chief concern was to get the full quantity named in the grant.
The second noticeable point is, that the deed covered only lands which, from their position, would naturally belong to the Wekabaug
Five Mile River.
Willammanick
River.
Seven Mil
River.
Z
Brook.
(Mason's Brooh.)
Qvabavg pond.
PLAN : OF :. Shattoorkovisland. -1665-
y's Brook.)
Lashway.
-.
(Moore's Brook.)
Town.
Plot
Naltavo"
Quabars
Nacvmmvck
Masquabamisk
Weka baug pond
Masseqvockummis
55
RE-GRANT OF 1667.
chieftain. The Indian village site, before described, at the southerly end of Quabaug pond, with its fishing-places and planting-ground, was, by the terms carefully excluded, as was also the territory on the west belong- ing to the Indian hill settlement.
The third noticeable point is, the care taken to enumerate all the valuable meadow-lands within the six miles square. The meadows on both sides of the Quabaug river are specified ; and the other smaller meadows and brooks "where meadow is," are named in their proper order, going westerly from the starting-point on the right hand side of the river, and easterly on the left bank. And this helps us to place the several localities indicated. Nacommuck was what was formerly known as Great brook, now called Moore's brook; Massequockummis was Coy's brook; Lashaway retains the same name ; Naltaug was Dean's brook in Warren ; Masquabamisk was the valley of Mason's brook ; and Nanantomqua was the meadow and low land lying south of the river and south-west of Quabaug pond. The "little hill Wullammanick " must have been the rounded hill northerly of East Brookfield village. This places Podunk meadow some distance to the west of the mouth of Five-mile brook.
The price paid for this land was three hundred fathom of wampum- peage. This was the Indian money made from white sea-shells, wrought in the shape of beads, and strung like beads. There were 360 pieces in a fathom. The current value of this money in English shillings and pence varied ; at the date under consideration, it was worth five shillings a fathom, which made the price paid for the land, 1,500 shillings, equal, according to the rule of reckoning of that day, to £75.1
As appears in Lieut. Cooper's instrument of assignment, the purchase- money was paid by the petitioners who obtained the grant.
As already intimated, it is believed that John Warner was the father of Brookfield, and probably built the first house here. His son Samuel came with him in 1665. John Ayres was perhaps the "pushing man " of the enterprise, and came with the Warners. Thomas Parsons, then unmarried, and Thomas Wilson were here at about the same date. Richard Coy and Wm. Prichard, who became leading men, did not bring their families here till 1667. John Younglove came on in 1667. And these persons comprised the " 6 or 7 families " named in the Gen- eral Court's order of this latter date.
Re-grant of 1667. As the three years' limit, named in the original grant, had expired, and the political status of the settlement was some- what uncertain, the above-named inhabitants sent a petition to the Gen- eral Court, asking to be organized into a township, or for the appointment
I The Indians also had suckauhock or black money, made from sea-shells of rare varieties, and of double the value of the white.
56
FIRST SETTLEMENT, 1660-1676.
of a Committee with powers to manage the prudential affairs of the place, lay out lands, etc.
May 15, 1667, In ansr to the petition of the inhabitants at Quabaug : This Court, having perused the grant which the Generall Court made anno 1660 to the first undertakers for that place, doe finde that, I. By their non observance of the condition of their grant, the same is altogether voyd, & that now the ordering & disposing thereof is wholly in this Court's power.
2. Considering that there is already at Quabauge about sixe or seven familyes, & that the place may be capable of receiving many more, this Court will readily grant them the liberty of a touneship when they shall be in a ffit capacity.
3. In the meane time this Court appoints Capt. John Pinchon, John Aires, Wm Prichard, Richard Coy, & John Younglow, or any three of them, whereof Capt. Pinchon to be one of the three, who shall have power to admitt inhabitants, grant lands, & to order all the prudentiall affayres of the place in all respects, untill it shall appeare that the place shall be so farr setled with able men as this Court may judge meete to give them the full liberty of a touneship according to lawe.
4. Because the inhabitants of Ipswich made the first motion for that plantation, & some of them have binn at charges about it, although by their remisse prosecution they have now lost all their right, yet, such of them as shall setle there by midsummer come twelve moneth, they shall have an interest in the lands there in proportion with others; but if by that time they shall not be there setled, they shall then loose their lands, & all their charges which they have been at upon ye place.
5. They are to take care for the getting & mayntayning of a godly minister among them, & that no evill persons, enemjes to the lawe of this commonweale in judgment or practise, be receaved as inhabitants.
6. For promoting of the aforesajd plantation, & incouragement there- of, this Court doeth now grant that plantation seven yeares freedom from all publick rates & taxes to the country, provided those inhabitants of Ipswich which intend to inhabit at Quabauge by midsummer come twelve month doe engage to give security to the above-sajd committee, within three moneths after the date hereof, that they will performe accordingly, that so others that would setle there may not be hindred." 1
Under the circumstances, this action of the Court was both just and generous. It evinced the purpose to overlook any past remissness, to give the Ipswich undertakers the chance to secure themselves for any expenditures heretofore made, to foster the infant plantation and give it an established footing, and keep out all " evill persons " and adventurers. The safe-guards were commensurate with the privileges.
Some writers on Brookfield history have taken exception to what they regard as an obnoxious restriction and reproach on the character of these founders of the town, viz., the appointment of a Committee to
I Mass. Colony Records, IV .- II., p. 342.
57
ALLOTMENT OF LANDS.
admit inhabitants and manage affairs. But such was the custom of the time. Lancaster had such a Committee in 1657, Northfield in 1672. And it was a measure dictated by wise forethought. The policy of the Province was, to distribute its eligible lands so as to insure the planting of towns of sufficient capacity in numbers and pecuniary resources, to become self-supporting and productive centres ; and to have from the outset an able and godly ministry of the Word. Numbers, character, and wealth were thus essential factors. And until a plantation should have these, and thus be qualified to be a township, it was wise to put its prudential affairs in the hands of a Committee of trustworthy and discreet men ; otherwise the six or seven settlers might apportion the whole six miles square among themselves, and yet be without capacity for self- support and the support of religious ordinances and schools. The pas- sion for land speculation, and personal aggrandizement was not unknown in 1667 ! It should be added, that in most cases, the ad interim Committee was composed wholly of non-residents ; the Quabaug Com- mittee had the advantage and special honor, that 4 of its 5 members were of its own inhabitants. As will appear, the powers of this Com- . mittee ceased, when the town was incorporated in 1673.
Allotment of Lands. - In the orderly settling of a new town, an early and important matter was the division of the lands among the planters. The fee was commonly vested in the inhabitants as a body ; which body, either through a Committee, or by corporate action, made dis- tribution to individual engagers and families. The statutes provided no general rule of apportionment ; each town established its own rules of equity. Usually, both persons and property were considered in making divisions. The head of the family and the older sons, and sometimes the wife and all the children were taken into the account, in estimating the needs of a household and its ability to cultivate the lands. Quite often the "home-lots " were equal in size, or put in two or four classes, representing wholes, halves and quarters ; and the " meadow lots," and the proportions in "planting fields " varied according to pecuniary means and ability of labor. In the settlement of Sudbury in 1637, the home-lots were nominally of equal size, viz., four acres, varied however, to conform to the lay of the land. These lots represented the common venture of the planters, and were not taxed for ordinary town charges. Meadow lands, which were the main source of income, constituted a person's " estate," on which the taxes were levied. They were ap- portioned "according to persons (polls) and property, and a man's ability to improve his land." Plain lands were set apart into common fields, on the same rule as meadows, each man cultivating his particular allotment, and maintaining his share of the general fence. Woodlands were held as public property, and the cutting of fire-wood and timber
58
FIRST SETTLEMENT, 1660-1676.
was regulated by the town. In Hadley, settled 1659, every planter had a home-lot of 8 acres. The meadows were distributed somewhat ac- cording to the sum which each planter subscribed to the common stock "to take up lands by." In practice, a list was made out, and a sum set against each settler's name (by his consent) which was taken to repre- sent his estate put into the venture (not necessarily his actual estate), on which he was to be rated both in the allotment of lands, and in taxation. The highest sum was £200, the lowest £50. £200 drew 50% acres of meadow ; £50 drew 125 acres.
But as the Brookfield settlers came from Essex county, it is likely that they would hold the views which prevailed in that vicinity. In Haverhill, where John Ayres lived for a time, the rule of division and apportionment was : "There shall be three hundred acres laid out for house-lots and no more ; and he that was worth two hundred pounds should have twenty acres to his houselot, and none to exceed that num- ber ; and so every one under that sum, to have acres proportionable for his houselott, together with meadow, and Common, and planting-ground, · proportionably."
The first Book of Records of the Committee for Quabaug appears to have been kept by Mr. Pynchon, who signs himself "Recorder." Nat- urally this book was given into the hands of the town clerk of Brookfield, at the incorporation of the town in 1673 ; and undoubtedly it perished in the conflagration of 1675. The means therefore, for determining the place and dimensions of the original Brookfield Town Plot, and the rule by which the lands were allotted to the settlers, consist of a few attested extracts from that first Record Book, copied in 1674 and found among Mr. Pynchon's papers ; the deeds by which the original planters or their heirs transferred their titles ; the site of the first meeting-house, which can be identified ; and a few land-marks that time and cultivation have not obliterated.
A careful study of these several records and landmarks makes it cer- tain that the Town Plot, i.e., the home-lots, was laid out so as to take in what is now known as Foster's hill, extending from Hovey's brook on the south-east to Coy's brook on the north-west, and bounded by the river meadow southerly, and reaching on the northerly side to the foot of the hill. The area of this Plot was nominally 500 acres.
It is believed that the home-lots originally contained 20 acres each, with a right to 20 acres of meadow and 8 or 10 acres of plain land. The minister, and men with grown-up sons, appear to have received double lots, or one and one-half lots.
The road through the Town Plot, then turned northerly at the Prich- ard place, running round instead of over the hill as at present.
It is matter of record that the meeting-house was located in the mid-
59
THE TOWN PLOT.
dle of the Plantation ; and that it stood " about 20 rods " from Sergt. Ayres' tavern, which would place it a little to the west or north-west of D. H. Richardson's barn - " the slough," or wet run, then being " on the west side of the house."
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