USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sherborn > History of Sherburne, Mass. : from its incorporation, MDCLXXIV, to the end of the year MDCCCXXX : including that of Framingham and Holliston, so far as they were constituent parts of that town > Part 3
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Boston, Nov. Sd, 1681.
Having perused and considered the first vote above written concerning a division of common Land in Sher- brone. We the Committee for that Town do approve and confirm the same, And for the way therof We advise that it be first divided into 4 parts, to lye to each quarter of the Town according as they shall find it most convenient as to vicinity, respect being had to the quality of the land, that there may be an equality in each quarter as much as may be; Then each quarter or squadron of the Town to divide their part amongst themselves by lot. We further order, that before any division be made of upland, such new Inhabitants as have not had proportionable meadow
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
already allowed them, shall have due shares alloted and laid out to them. And according to a former vote of the Town, we adjudge the new Inhabitants to pay two shil- lings per Acre upon their home lots towards public charges, and then for future to be equally rated with the rest.
(Signed) Thomas Savage, John Richards, William Stoughton.
1632 .- Granted to John Awasamug 20 acres of Land. to clear all Indian Titles that concern the Land ex- changed between Natick & Sherburne.
A list of persons admitted to be Inhabitants of Sher- born since its incorporation with the dates of admission.
Ensign Samuel Bullen
Zacry Paddleford 2 mo. 1679
Edward West
John Eames
1679
Jos. Morse
Isaac Learned 1679
John Perry
Thomas Pratt Jr. " " 1679
William Allen
Thomas Sawin 9 mo. 29 1679
Thomas Eames Jan. 4 167.1.
Jonathan Whitney " 1679
John Death 11 mo. 1 1677
Will. Goddard
1679
Thomas Gleason, S mo. 5 1678
Bononi Learned
1679
Hopestill Lealand-11-1 1678
Will. Rider
1679
Ebenezer Lealand “ " 1678
Joseph Twitchell « «
1678
Thomas Pratt sen. 2 mo. 1679
William Sheffield May 1679
1684 .- Decem. 8-Voted by the Inhabitants of Sher- burn being assembled that the difference that is now be- tween John Hill, J. Eames &. John Death for catching Wolves it shall be referred to the Hond. Deputy Gover- nor and Major Gookin to issue the Cause between them. 1694 .- June 4-Edward West wast chose School- master for Sherburn.
1695 .- Feb. 3d --- At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Sherburne for to consider and conclude of a inlardgment of our Town bounds by our of some of Natick
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
land that joins to the farm of Henry Rice to make one Township.
It was concluded by the Inhabitants met this day that we shall go on to lay that tract of land that is taken in platt with a inlargement to the farm of Henry Rice, and those Farmers that are willing to join in our Township according as offers have been made to themselves as also to procure a surveyor to run a straight line from the south Corner of Ilenry Rice's Farm to the Cartway crossing Cochituate Brook near where Course Brook meets with Cochituate Brook the charges of the whole to be borne by the Town of Sherburne. The Selectmen are chosen a Committee to see this work carried on for the benefit of the Town.
1700-June 25-The town of Framingham was incor- porated and seventeen Families belonging to Sherborn were annexed to that town. A copy of the Grant of Fra- mingham is preserved in a queer pamphlet, recently pub : lished, purporting to be a history of that town. This Pam- phlet mentions " a controversy between Sherborn and the new town, respecting certain rights and privileges, which, without legal proscess, was at last settled to the mutual satisfaction of the parties."
1705-6-Jan. 8th .- Then was granted by the In- habitants 20£, money for the repairing and better fin- ishing our Meetinghouse. The Committee chosen are Sergt. Sawin, Lt: Morse, Deacon Benoni Learned, Corpl. Isaac Learned and Richard Sanger.
1707 .- May 28th-It was Ordered, That whosoever shall take bring or convey any Cattle from other towns to feed on the Commons in Sherburn, and such Cattle be- ing taken up; the Person or persons who conveyed the 5
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
said Cattle into Town, or the owner of the Cattle, shall pay a fine of 5 shillings per head, the one moiety to the person who took up said Cattle and the other moiety to the use of the Town.
These orders were allowed of by the Court of quarter Sessions at Concord, June 17th 1707, till further order.
1708 .- At a meeting of the Selectmen. Then was chosen and appointed widdow Mary West to take the care of and keep the Pound in said Town.
1708-9. - March 7th-At a Town meeting &.c. It was then manifested to the town what had been offered to the Hon. General Court by our Representative Saml. Bullard concerning the seventeen Families on the north part of the Town : with the acceptance and Concurance of the Court therewith ; and was consented to by a general vote.
N. B. In consequence of the loss of the Seventeen Families which were incorporated with the Town of Framingham, the General Court granted 4000 Acres of Land lying westward of Mendon as an equivalent. These Lands were called " Sherburn New Grant."
1709 .- Dec. 5th-Voted that the Selectmen should agree with a Man or Men to keep School in three parts of the Town viz. Plain, Southend & Dirtymeadow, three months ; and granted Eight pounds for its support.
1715 .- June 17th-At a meeting &c. To state a Rule whereby the 4000 acres of Land late granted and confirmed to the said Town by the General Court in lieu of the 17 Families sett off to Framingham, may be or- derly and regularly divided to and among the said free- eholders & Inhabitants, and choose a Committee §.c.
Voted, That the Invoice of Polls and ratable Estate
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1779030
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE. 35
taken in August 1714, shall be the Rule whereby the said 4000 Acres of Land shall be proportioned to and among the present Inhabitants of the said Town being Freehold- ers and such other Inhabitants that have lived upon hire' in the Town for some years past.
The abovementioned New Grant was divided amongst 105 Persons " being Freeholders and such other Inhabi- tants that have lived upon hire" &c. 17 of whom were of the name of Morse. December 29th 1721, the pro- prietors granted to Epliraim Hill and his heirs forever, 20 acres of Land in the said 4000 acres, in consideration of his being the first settled Inhabitant there.
1
Two further grants of Land 6700 acres were obtained of the General Court by purchase. In 1730, these Lands were divided among the Inhabitants of said Town in the same manner as the other Grant had been. They are described as being situated " at a place called New- Sherburne lying westward of Uxbridge." These lands retained this name, till they were incorporated, as a town- ship, A. D. 1746.
.
1718 .- Sept. 26-A Committee was chosen to inspect. the timber at Badluck Swamp, within the Inte grant of 3000 acres of land, made by the general court to the town, and to impower them to prosecute any person, or persons, that shall presume to cut, make strip or pillage of any wood or timber upon said premises.
1720 -- 1-Feb. 20-A commitee viz. 3 from the west and 3 from the east part of the town, were chosen to con- sult together and report at the next meeting, respecting the building of a new meetinghouse near dirty meadow bridge, and to diliberate and make report of what they may think may be for the best for the town to act upon.
6
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
in the premises ; and to propose any method, that may be likely to conduce to the peace and well being of the town refering to the concern of the meetinghouse, &c.
March 20. The report of the above committee was : not accepted. It was then voted to run a direct line from Framingham corner to Dopping brook, and then the brook to be the bound till it come into Bogestow brook, and then that to be the bound till it come to Medway line.
1721 -- 2 .- Feb. 5. Voted by a majority that morcy be raised by way of rate, (sufficient with the old meet- inghouse) to build a new meetinghouse within and upon that spot of land that the town formerly set apart for that purpose, near or upon the place the old meetinghouse is now standing.
1722 .- Nov. 12. It being moved to reconsider and nullifie the above vote, the motion was negatived. by a considerable majority.
: . 1722-3 .--- March 6. The gaalified voters met at the meetinghouse, and immediately adjourned to meet at "the platt seventy or six score Rods Easterly from Dirty mead- ow Bridge, or Thercabouts," when and where it was voted unanimously by all present, " that a meetinghouse be. built for the town to worship God in, on Lord's Days upon a certain hill by the road side, where was laid a heap of stones to know the place by, S.c. and made null and void and of no effect the former vote of the town above, and bearing date Feb. 5th, 1721 -- 2, so that the town remain together for the strengthening thereof."
1723 .--- Nov. 18th. The inabitants " voted to nullifie and make void the above, vote of March 6, in considera- tion that the Form and Situation of the Town is so ill Convenient, that one Meeting house Cannot be so placed
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
as to Suit the Whole town, but that in time there will be need of two to accommodate the Inhabitants." Also voted to build on or near the spot where the old meeting house is standing a new one, "ye Demensions to be about fourty foot in length, about thirty two foot in bredth and about twenty foot post." Also voted " that the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds be Levied on ye Inhabi- tants] by way of Rate upon Polls & Estates to be Em- proved towards the defreying the Charge of the said Building." A committee of five was chosen to carry the above vote into effect.
" At said Meeting after Sundry votes had passed, re- lating to the building, or rebuilding of ye publick Meet- ing house in Sherborn, &c. The following motion was made by Sundry of ye Principle Inhabitants of ye said town, Who are Dwellers on ye West side of Dopping Brook, in behalfe of themselves and others, on ye west side of the town of. Sherborn, now Convened, The re- quest of us the Subscribers in behalf of Our Selves aad the Other Western Inhabitants of ye town on the West Side of Dopping Brook ; Do desire that the following ar- ticles may be put to vote, viz. Whether they will not be free to Grant us ye Liberty of Having that part of ye Sheffield's Farm Lying on ye East Side of Boggestow Brook and Edmond Morses Land and possessions on ye East side of Dopping brook aforesaid over and above ye Dividing line projected 'between the Eastern and West- ern parts of the town from Colonel Buckministers Cor- ner, §.c. Then We will do all publick Duty to the town as heretofore 'till the Genll. Court Shall Set us off Ex- cept in ye Cost of Building or rebuilding the meeting
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
house, as it has been this day voted. And if so We'll ask for a Dividing line no further Eastward."
Jonathan Whitney
Jolın Goulding
Timothy Lealand
Joshua Underwood
Aaron Morse
Thomas Jones
Moses Adams jr.
Isaac Adams
Joseph Johnson
John Twitchell
Ebenezer Pratt
John Larnit.
Gershom Eames
On the above the following vote is recorded. " The town by their vote do save to the said Western Inhabi- tants over Doppin Brook whensocver they are sett off, their proportion in ye £160 this day granted towards ye Building ye publiek Meeting House where it now stands." The remainder of the above motion passed in the affirma- tive, " for the sake of future peace and good Neigh- bourhood."
1724 .- Dec. 3-" The Dwellers on the west side of Dopping brook, &c." were incorporated, as a town, by the name of Holliston. For an account of this town, since its incorporation, see Rev. Charles Fitch's Century Sermon delivered Dec. 4, 1826.
1725 .- Sept. 13. " One hundred and fourty pounds was granted to Defray ye Cost & Charge of Building &- finishing the Meetinghouse in Sherborn."
Dec. 6th. Voted that " the room round the sides of the meetinghouse below (except the alley room) be Em- proved for the building of Pues, and that Such persons unto Whome the Town Should See reason to grant the liberty of the room for pues, Should do it at their own Cost." This grant was on condition that if any one, who had built a pew, should remove with his family to
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
dwell out of town, the room should revert to the town ; and if any to whom this liberty was granted should neg- lect to build a pew, within one year, then the place granted for that purpose should revert to the town.
1726 .--- Sept. 26. Leave was granted to all persons in ye said town that are disposed to build stables or Houses for their conveniencies on Lords Day, to build on ye sides of ye Meetinghouse Common, so as not to Dis- commode the Same.
1726 -- 7 --- Jan. 27 --- Voted that what persons payed in ye last Meetinghouse rate be a rule to seat ye meeting house by allowing but one head to an Estate having respect to old age ; that the third seat below and ye fore front be equal in dignity and ye fourth seat below and ye second front be equal in dignity. Deacon Hopestill Lealand, Deacon Benoni Lerned and William Greenwood chosen a committee to scat the meetinghouse.
1727 .--- Dec. 29. A vote passed to build a schoolhouse 18 feet wide and 20 feet long, and to set it on Meetting- house Common on the South easterly side of the Meeting house.
1728 --- April 16 --- A committee was chosen to sell ye school land in the town towards defraying the Charge of building and finishing the school house.
1728 -- 9 .--- Jan. 6. The school lands were sold to Obediah Morse and Deacon Benoni Learned, the former paying forty and the latter ten pounds.
1731 .--- Dec. 8. Voted and granted that ten shillings be assessed in the next town rate to repair the old, or build new stocks.
1733 .-- Dec. 7th. Granted to Capt. Death the sum of ten shillings which is now in his hands to pay the
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
Caust he was owt for Entering a petition at the Ginni- ral Court on the towns hehalf relateing to their being Doomd for Not sending a representative.
Granted to Mrs. Rebecca Baker the sum of three pounds to make up a Deficiency in the late reverd. Mr. Bakers salary.
1736 .--- May 18. Several other grants were made to individuals, " to be paid out of the fine the Genll. Court sent back to the town."
1737 .--- May 18. Several ether grants made to indi- viduals to be paid out " of the fine the Genll. Court re- turned to the town .??
1751 .--- Sept. 10. Then the town granted 6 shillings to purchase a book for the town's use to record births and deaths in.
1752 .--- May 19. Isaac Coolege, Esq. was Chosen to serve for and represent the town of Sherburne in a Great and General Court or Assembly appointed to be Convened held rud kept for his Majesty's service at Con- cord, upon the twenty Seventh day of may 1752, and so De die in diem during their session and sessions.
1758 .--- March G. Granted thirteen pound six shillings and Eight pence to Recrutet he town stock of Ammu- nition. Granted to Elisha Kendal for ye Locks to Lock up the amunition eight pense. Granted to the Selectmen that Ware at Expence in Geting of a fine for the towns not sending a Representative at the Last year 13s. 4d.
1751 .--- This year is particularly remarkable, for the prevalence of an uncommon disorder, which prevailed in this town and Holliston, denominated in the latter place, the Greut Sickness, and, -in-Sherburne, the Memorable Mortality. The number of deaths recorded in January
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
is 12; February, 6 ; March 2 ; April 5. During the next six months no deaths are recorded. November 3, Dec. 5. For a particular description of the " symptoms, which peculiarly marked the disease," the reader is referred to the " Century Sermon, delivered in Holliston, by Rev. Charles Fitch, December 4, 1826."
The whole number who died of this fatal malady in Holliston, was 53; in Sherburne, between 20 and 30. This visitation upon Holliston has been considered by some, as a special judgment of Providence upon the inhabitants, for the litigious spirit, which was then preva- lent among them, which fled before the pestilence, and which, since that time, has seldom made its appearance. What was the crying sin in Sherburne, that brought a similar visitation on the people of that place, I have nev- er heard conjectured.
1767 .- Oct. 17. Granted to be assessed on Polls and Estates to pay ye fine and Cost of a Presentment for not Having a Gramer School in said Town Nine Pounds.
1768 .- Granted to Esqr. Perry 6s. & to Jos. Twitch- ell 18s. for the cost and charge they ware at in Giting a fine granted by sessions to the town to be spent in a Gramer School.
1768 .- Feb. 15. Gave order to the Treasurer to pay Mr. Thomas Prentice, ye School Master and the several Persons that Borded him at the Several Parts of the Town their Proportion of Eighteen Pounds-the School- master to Have after the Rate of twenty six Pound thirteen shillings and four pence a year, and those that Borded him four shillings per week.
1769 .- May 22. Voted to put in twenty feet in the length of the Meeting house, and that the Peace be put 6
·
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
in the middle. Granted one hundred pounds for this pur- pose : Chose a committee of five to See How they would Git it Done.
1770 .- Jan. Joseph Bacon was engaged to enlarge the meeting house, and £150 lawful money granted to him, as a full compensation. This was done by sawing the house in two in the middle, moving the western half to the distance desired, and connecting the two parts to- gether by a new piece.
1774 .- May 19. The following men were chosen a committee of correspondence, Rev. Samuel Locke, Capt. Richard Sanger, Capt. Joseph Twitchell, Mr. Samuel Bullard, Mr. Daniel Whitney, Mr. Benjamin Fas- set and Mr. Jedediah Phipps. This Mr. Phipps was employed by the provincial government, at the commence- ment of the Revolutionary war, to manufacture
" Villainous salt petre~
Which many a good tall Briton hath laid low."
July 8th .-- The Selectmen and commissioned officers examined and tried the Town's stock of Ammunition and there is 200 lbs. of Powder, 150 lbs. of Bullets and 295 flints. One cask of powder bought A. D. 1702, one do. 1722, one do. without date, two do. 1774. Lead 200 Ibs. bought, Sept. 177-1.
August 24 .- Chose Capt. Richard Sanger, Mr. Samu- el Bullard and Mr. Benjamin Fasset to meet committees of the several towns in this county, on the 30th instant. Septr. 20 .- Mr. Samuel Bullard and Mr. Jonathan Lealand were chosen a committee to send to Concord - Voted to git a six pound field piece, or cannon, and chose Joshua Lealand, Daniel Whitney and Benjamin Bullard to procure it. Granted £18 to procure said piece and ne- cessaries.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE ..
Oct. 18 .- Voted to accept the three pieces of cannon, which the committee procured instead of a six pounder, that the committee prove them at the town's expence, and fire the biggest, as soon as may be, with all the ne- cessaries that may be needed.
1775 .- Jan. 9. Chose Mr. Benjamin Fasset and Capt. Richard Sanger to represent the town in Congress at Cambridge, on the 1st day of Feb. next. Voted to. consent to the Resolves of the Continental and Provin- cial Congresses --- to give a bounty to encourage the raising of sheep and flax --- that the Constables pay the Province money to Henry Gardner, Esq. of Stow --- to choose a committee of Inspection, to see that the Re- solves of the Congress be complied with.
Feb. 6-Chose a Committee of five to receive dona -: tions and subscriptions for the poor people of Boston ..
March 6 .- Voted that those that have and shall inlist as minute men, to the number of fifty three be a company intire by themselves-to grant eight pound to provide ammunition for the cannon-that the cannon be under the care and direction of the militia officers of this town; that the cannon be shot three times with powder and ball at the cost of the town.
May 24 .- Chose Daniel Whitney Esq. to represent the town in Congress at Watertown, to be held on 31st instant.
Oct 2d .- Granted £30 for the support of the poor of Boston.
1776 .--- March 5. Voted to choose a committee of five to procure places for the poor of Boston to live in.
May 21 .--- Voted, that if the Hon. Continental Con- gress should in their wisdom declare the Colonies in-
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
dependent of great Britain, we, the inhabitants of the town of Sherburne will, with our lives and fortunes, en- deavour to support them in that measure; and we do here- by instruct Mr. Daniel Whitney, now Chosen our rep- resentative for the year ensuing to act in conformity to the above said vote.
July 5 .--- Voted to give £7 per man, in addition to the bounty that is given by the colony, to twenty one men that shall inlist to go to Canada.
August 26 .- The last vote was reconsidered. Voted that the Selectmen procure a hospital for inoculating for Small-pox, if they can get liberty from the court.
1776 .- Nov. 28. Voted that the present General Court of this State should form such a Constitution and form of Government, as they jndge will most conduce to the happiness, peace and safety of the Inhabitants there- of, and that the same be made publick for the inspection and approbation of the Inhabitants of this State, before the ratification thereof.
The votes of the Inhabitants of this town, during the whole of the revolutionary struggle, prove that they were animated, to a high degree with that spirit, which achiev- ed our independence. These votes are too numerous to be published in a pamphlet of this kind, and there is in them so much sameness, as to render them to most read- ers uninteresting and tiresome. They relate to hiring men for the army; granting money to pay them, and maintain their families in their absence ; procuring arms, ammunition, clothing and provisions for those in service, and for promoting all the great and good objects, which presented themselves in those times of perilous magna- nimity.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
As soon as the news reached them of the massacre at Lexington, on the 19th of April 1775, the minute men proved themselves worthy of their title, by marching im- . mediately to meet the assailants, and the rest of the able bodied men, of all ages, followed with all possible alacri- ty. But the distance was so great and the route of the enemy so uncertain, that they had not the satisfaction of meeting and helping to chastise them. They, however, furnished their quota to assist in the besieging of Boston ; and a number of them displayed their heroism, in the bat- tle. of Bunker hill. Four of these are living, viz. Capt Benjamin Bullard, now of Hopkinton, John Ware, now of Deerfield, Deacon William Clarke and Mr. Barak Leland, still residing in Sherburne.
How many were engaged in actual service, in the va- rious campaigns, during this arduous and successful con- test, and who they all were, I am not able to ascertain. Two of them are worthy to be particularly mentioned with honour and commiseration. Jonathan Holbrook and Joseph Ware were wounded at the battle of White Plains. The same cannon ball deprived the former of his right arm, and the latter of his left. Holbrook sur- vived but a short time, and was buried near the scene of action. Ware returned home ; has been a very useful citizen, as a teacher of youth, surveyor, town officer and magistrate ; and is now living, at the age of 80 years.
1786 .--- This year was remarkable on account of an in- surrection, in the western counties of Massachusetts, in oppositon to the government of the Commonwealth; com- monly called " Shays's rebellion." On this occasion the inhabitants of Sherburne proved themselves to be firm friends of liberty and order, by readily furnishing their pro-
.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.'
portion of officers and privates, to join the troops under the command of General Lincoln, who marched.on a winter campaign, and speedily gained an almost bloodless victory.
. Mr. John Ware acted as adjutant in this expedition. Being sent with orders to a distance from Lincoln's- army, he stopped for refreshment, at a tavern in, or near Brookfield, where there happened to be a small party of insurgents, who took him prisoner and confined him in an upper room of the house, while they kept guard below. In the course of the day, Ware saw from his prison a company of cavalry approaching, which he soon recognized as being on the side of government. Ile hailed them fiom a window of his apartment and made them acquainted with his situation. The house was immediately surround- cd, the Shaysites surrendered at discrestion, and W. was enabled to accomplish the object of his mission.
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1787 .-- Dec. 10. Daniel Whitney, Esq. was chosen a delegate to represent the town in the convention, to be holden in Boston, on the 2d Wednesday of January next, for the purpose of approving, or disapproving the Consti- tution, or Frame of Government for the United States of America. Voted, to give the delegate instructions, which conclude thus.
" But, sir, we mean not to give you positive instruc- tions, relative to your voting for or against the reported Constitution. When assembled, you will have the collect- ed wisdom of the State before you ; will hear all that can be said on the subject, and consequently be able to form a judicious opinion. And, having the fullest confidence in your political wisdom, integrity and patrotism, we cheer- fully, on onr part, submit the all important question to
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