USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
28th August, 1637. " Also it is agreed that Mr. William Hutchinson have leave for the present summer to mow the little meadow at the head of Monatiquot river, and to be considered of for further enjoyment of it."
The final settlement with Mr. Hough was made as follows :-
28th October, 1639. " It was fully agreed on and concluded between said overseers on the town's behalf on the one part, and the said Mr. Atherton Haulgh on the other part, that Mr. Haulgh shall relinquish all claim unto all the land commonly called the Captain's plain, lying over against the southern end of the second Company of lots at Mount Wollaston, and lying on the west side of the fresh brook, bounded towards the north and east by the said fresh brook running out of a swamp in the midst of the plain near adjoining unto the said fresh brook towards the west of the marked trees. In consideration of which the men chosen in the town's behalf aforesaid, do grant and agree that the said Mr. Haulgh shall have with all conve- nient speed measured out unto him as much land in quantity as the plain bounded as aforesaid containeth in it, and eighty acres overplus to adjoin unto the southmost side of land already laid out to him, to lie all along a line already set out, extending about five hundred rods in length, and to be of equal breadth
5
26
LAND GRANTS.
from the said line in all places, as much as the quantity granted to him (whatever it be) shall require."
The next large and important grant of land was made to the celebrated John Wheelwright, a minister, who was expelled from the Colony for his religious views.
20th February, 1637. " It is agreed that our brother John Wheelwright shall have an allotment of two hundred and fifty acres set off for him at Mount Wollaston where may be most convenient, without prejudice to the setting up a town there, to be laid out by Mr. Coddington for our brother Wheelwright."
It appears that they located his grant near the marsh called the three hill marsh, immediately south of Mount Wollaston.
3d April, 1637. " Whereas at a former meeting it was agreed that Mr. W. Coddington and our brother Richard Wright should lay out our brother, Mr. J. Wheelwright, his allotment of two hundred and fifty acres at Mount Wollaston."
"Now they have brought in the. laying out thereof, thus, viz .: Forty acres thereof in the sunk marsh, lying south and by east of the lands of the said William Coddington ; five acres for his house lot, and two hundred and five at the end of it running with one side of the first lot and the line of twenty acres of the planting ground allotted, to be extended into the country ground till his full proportion of two hundred and five acres between those lines be runned out."
" The disposition of this land seems to. have been in conflict with the rights of the other grantees, so that when Wheelwright's lands came to be sold after his banishment, it became necessary to settle the question how far they extended."
27th January, 1641. " It is ordered that whereas there was formerly granted to Mr. John Wheelwright a great lot of 250 acres, 205 acres whereof have been laid out where parts of the first allotments should have lain, and the purchaser of Mr. Wheel- wright's grant hath consented to the parting with the said two hundred and five acres for the having in lien thereof all the Captain's plain, and eighty acres more.
" Also for ending the differences between the purchasers of Mr. Wheelwright's lands and the owners of the second division or lot at Mount Wollaston, for as much as the said purchasers
27
LAND GRANTS.
cannot have their lands supplied in course, as those of the first lot had, without prejudice to many men, who had improved their lots; it is therefore ordered, by consent of divers. of the parties, that the purchasers of Mr. Wheelwright's lands shall have (in lieu of the two hundred and five acres which was taken away towards the making up of what was wanting to the first division or lot there) the one hundred and thirteen acres at the end of his land, and the Captain's plain, being about one hun- dred and fourteen acres, and that the widow Shelley's son and those who challenge interest in the said plain shall have their parts first supplied and laid out where no grant is already made in particular, and together therewith the thirty acres remaining of Mr. Wheelwright's proportion beside, and the purchasers are to have in lieu of the residue, more than thirty acres, which they allowed to the said widow Shelly's son and the rest, such proportion of the rocky ground lying next the said plain, and the said forty-three aeres, as the surveyor, upon view shall find answerable to the eighteen acres remaining to them."
It would appear by the Boston town records that those per- sons who had land granted them here were held on certain re- strietions, as in 1638, Richard Wright, a prominent actor in these land grants, for disposing of his lands at Mount Wollas- ton without permission being given him by the town of Boston, was fined for this neglect.
" At this day it hath appeared that the said Richard Wright hath sold one hundred and thirty acres of land at Mount Wol- laston to one Mr. Pane of Concord, without the consent of the town alloters, contrary to the former order, and he is therefore to pay for a fine to the town stock, to be paid at the next town meeting, the fine of six pounds."
These second smaller allotments are very difficult to locate, as there was a constant stream of them made to individuals without regularity or discrimination, as will be seen by the fol- lowing grants made in Braintree by Boston, to various persons, as taken from the Boston records of land grants. It will be seen by the allotments that each member of a family received four acres. For the convenience of those who are in pursuit of genealogical information, we have designated with a star the
28
LAND GRANTS.
names of those who came here to reside, and are to be found on the Braintree town and parish records :
Heads. Acres.
1640. Feb. 24th. * Adams, Henry, 3s. an acre,
10 40
66
* Allye, Benjamin
3 12
* Aldrich, George 5 20
66 66 *Allen, Samuel
7
28
66 66 * Arnold, John
2
8
1638. Feb. 19th. *Award (Hayward) Richard, a house plot on condition of inoffensive carriage.
1640. Feb. 24th.
Burrill, George
9
36
Belfield, Samuel
5 20
1639. Feb. 19th.
*Belcher, Gregory, 3s. an acre, 13 52
3
12
1640. Mar. 30th.
Bird, Thomas
3
12
66 Feb. 24th.
Blysse, Thomas
9
36
66
Brisco, William
8
32
1638. Feb. 19th.
Brown, William
3
12
66
Burdon, George
5
20
1639. Nov. 25th.
Bushnell, Martha
5
20
1640. Feb. 24th.
Carter, Richard
3
12
1638. Feb. 19th.
*Clark, John
10
40
1639. Nov. 25th.
6
24
1640. Jan. 27th.
8 32
1639. Sept. 30th.
1640. Feb. 24th.
Collyns, Christopher,
·)
S
Collyns, John of Monaticot,
B
12
Corey, James ·1 16
8
1639. Dec. 30th.
Critchley, Richard
5
20
1638. Jan. 29th.
Cullymore, Isaac
4
16
1640. Feb. 24th.
*Dassett, John
7
28
Mar. 30th.
*Davis, William
5
20
1638. Feb. 19th.
Dennys, Edward 3
12
Jan. 29th. East, Francis
8
יר *Elliot, Francis
16
1639. Sept. 30th. Foster Thomas, Governor of the Castle Island, 6
1640. Feb. 21st.
*French, John, of Monaticot, 5
7
28
Jan. 11th. Grame, Samuel
4 16
1637. Jan. 9th. Gunnison, Hugh
3
12
1640. Feb. 24th. Harlar, John
3 12
1637. Oct. 30th. Hassett, John
3 12
1638. Feb. 19th.
Crabtree, John
3
12
1640. Jan. 27th.
*Brackett, Peter
12
48
3
1638. Feb. 19th.
*Clark, James
8
*Clark, Thomas
7 28
Cole, Clement
24
20
Gilbert, Thomas,
1638. 66 Bell, Thomas
29
LAND GRANTS.
Heads. Acres.
1640. Mar. 30th. Hathaway, Nicholas
9 36
Haven Robert
4 16
1638. Feb. 19th. Hawkins, James
4 16
Hawkins, Thomas
1
16
1640. Mar. 31st.
5
20
Jan. 27th.
Hewstead, Robert
S
32
1638. Jan. 29th.
Hunne, George,
5 20
1639. July 8th.
Hurd, John
3
12
1638. Feb. 19th.
Hutchinson, Edward the younger,
6
24
Jackson, John
3
12
1640. Feb. 24th. *Jewell, Thomas
3
12
1639. July 2nd. Jepson, John, 3 shillings an acre,
8
12
1640. Feb. 24th. Kidby, Lewis
2
8
1638. Feb. 18th.
*Keayne, Benjamin, a great lot of
200
1638. Feb. 19th. *Kinsley, Stephen
9
36
1639. Nov. 25th.
Lisle, Francis
5
20
1640. Jan. 24th.
Lovel, Daniel
3
12
27th.
Lugg, John
9
36
1638. Feb. 19th.
Lowe, John
4
16
1640. Feb. 24th.
*Maudsley, Henry
3
12
66
66
*Merchant, John
7
28
*Miles, John
11
44
1638, Feb. 19th.
Mower, William
9
36
1640. Feb. 24th.
*Neale, Henry
3
12
Jan. 27th.
*Needham, William
3
12
Feb. 24th.
Newton, Anthony
3
12
1639. Sept. 30th.
Offley, D.
15
60
1640. Feb. 24th.
Onyon, John
2
8
Mar. 30th. . Parker, Richard, on Monaticot
river,
500
1639. Dec. 30th.
Perry, Arthur
7
28
1640. Feb. 24th.
Place, Thomas
5
20
Aug. 26th.
*Plumley, Alexander
3
12
1640. Feb. 24th.
*Puffer, George
5
20
1638, Feb. 19th.
*Porter, Abel
2
8
1639. Dec. 30th.
*Potter, William
11
44
1640. Feb. 24th.
Reade, John
11
44
Mar. 30th.
Rickett, Richard
10
40
Feb. 24th.
Rodgers, David
2
S
*Rose, George
5
20
1638. April 19th.
*Scott, Robert
12
48
66
24th.
Millard, Thomas
5
20
66
Moore, John
3
12
8
1640 Feb.
66 Kirkly, William
3
12
meadow and upland at Monaticot
5 20
Hogg, Richard, houseplot, garden,
·
66
*Pafflyn, John
8
*Mekyne, Thomas Jr.,
30
LAND GRANTS.
Heads. Acres.
1638. April 16th. Sellen, Thomas, house plot
1640. Feb. 24th.
Sharpe, Robert
4 16
66 66 *Sheppard, George 18
Jan. 27th. Shrimpton, Henry 3
12
Feb. 24th. Simons, Thomas 10
66
Sinnott, Waters 3
5
20
66 Jan. 27th.
Feb. 24th.
Stephens, Robert
3 12
1638. Feb. 19th.
Stannyan, Anthony 11
100
1639. Nov. 25th.
Storer, Richard 3
12
1639. Dec. 10th. *Tinge, Edward, on the upper side of the pond, 250
1640. Feb. 24th. *Tayer (Thayer) Thomas
76
Jan. 27th. Thompson, William, free from the rate of 3 shillings,
120
1638. Feb. 19th.
WVardall, William 3
12
Jan. 29th.
Wayte, Gammell 10
40
1640. Feb. 24th.
Wells, Daniel
20
80
1639. Ang. 26th.
Williams, Nathaniel
4
16
1640. Feb. 24th. 66 66
Wiseman, James
3 12
1639. Dec. 30th.
Wooddas, Richard
3 12
1640. Jan. 27th.
3 12
1639. Feb. 18th.
*Wright, George *Wright, Richard, a narrow piece of land lying at Mount Wollaston, between the mill and the fresh brook, to begin at the end of the first lot, and to extend four score rods in length to the furtherance of his water mill building there, and in regard of his ready serviceableness to the town's oc -. casions.
After the incorporation of the town, the following larger grants were made to the several persons here enumerated, viz .:
Heads. Acres.
1641. July 31st. Bendall, Edward
400
1641. Jan. 31st. Briscoe, William 1 4
1644. July 29th. *Elliot, Francis and others, land within the common fence of Braintree, near the Knight's Neck, (see Matson, *Penniman, 1644. and Payne.) July 29th. * Flint, Henry (see *Thompson, William.)
Wayte, Richard
4 16
66
*Webb, Henry
10 40
Smyth, Matthew
*Spoor, John 5
20
44
1640. Jan. 27th.
Stoddard, Anthony
40
12
16
Wilson, Jacob
31
L'AND GRANTS.
Heads. Acres.
1644. July 29th. Matson, Sargent (see Elliot,
Francis.)
1641. Nov. 29th. Palmer, John 2 S
1644. July 29th. *Payne, Moses (see Elliot, Fran-
cis.) July 29th. * Penniman, Joseph, (see Elliot Francis,) and *Robert Scott, adjoined to Webb's, with allowance for rock land, or swamp, 200 5 20
1641. July 26th. Sterns, Henry
1644. July 29th. Thompson, William and Flynt, Henry, marsh in the three hills marsh not formerly granted to J. Wheelwright, to- gether with two hillocks of upland.
1644. Sept. 28th. Webb, Henry, beyond Monaticot river, adjoining to Edward Tyng's and Edward Hutchingson's farms. 200
1641. July 31st. Wheelwright, John, in the three hills marsh. 40
1644. Jan. 19th. Winthrop, John Jr., and others, for the encouragement of an iron work, 3000
In 1641, the town passed the following vote as a precautionary measure to prevent, as far as they were able, the trouble and annoyance these allotments to so many people in Boston were liable to produce by the grantees claiming exemption from tax- ation, or paying their share of the town's charges ; therefore they preferred to purchase all land for sale, by any one in the place, so that it might be owned by the permanent residents of the town :
" It is ordered that no inhabitants of the town shall sell or dispose of any house or land to any that is not received as an inhabitant into the town, without it be first offered unto the men appointed to dispose of the town affairs, and in case it be not bought up by them within twenty days after the first offer, that they shall have liberty to dispose of it, only to such as the townsmen shall approve on, and therefor it is agreed that every acre of land, or house so disposed on, without the townsmen consent, shall pay the whole sum of nineteen shillings and seven pence ; moreover, it is furder ordered that no man that is not received an inhabitant into the town shall have liberty to build any house or cottage within the limits of the town, without the
32
LAND GRANTS.
consent of those that are chosen to dispose of town affairs .- The method of cultivating the common lands was also a bone of contention.1
Notwithstanding all these precautions, the town in 1647, was obliged to enter into a new negotiation with the people of Boston, which terminated in the following agreement for the conveyance of land in the town :
" This writing witnesseth : That it is agreed betwixt the se- lectmen for the town of Boston, on their part, and Martin Saun- ders, Samnel Bass and Mathew Barns for and in the behalf of the town of Braintree on the other part; that, whereas Boston hath certain lands, lying between the lands of Dorchester and the bounds of Weymouth, as by the grant of the Court will appear. It is now agreed by and betwixt the parties aforesaid,
1. "For some time there had been a contention among the inhabitants of the town in reference to the manner of planting, sowing, and pastnrage of the com- mon land, not being able to settle this vexations question with any degree of satisfaction among themselves, they, in May 6, 1646, Petitioned the General Court to regulate the method of cultivating the common lands by enacting a law for the purpose. The General Court in answer to their petition referred them to the following law passed in 1643: + "Oct. 17, 1643. Whereas it is found by experience that there hath been much trouble and difference in several towns about the manner of planting, sowing, and feeding of common fields, and that upon serions consideration we find no general order can provide for the best improvement of every such com- mon field, by reason that some consists only of plowing ground, some having a great part fit only for planting, some of meadow and feeding ground ; also, so that such an order as may be very wholesome and good for one field may be exceedingly prejudicial and inconvenient for another. It is therefore ordered, that where the commoners cannot agree upon the manner of improvement of their fields, either concerning the kind of grain that shall be sown or set therein, or concerning the time or manner of feeding the herbage thereof, that then snch persons in the several towns that are deputed to order the prudential affairs thereof, shall order the same, or in case where no such are, then the major part of the freemen, who are hereby enjoyned with what convenient speed they may to determine any such difference as may arise upon any infor- mation given them by said commoners; and so much of any former order as concern the improvement of common fields, and that is hereby provided for, is hereby repealed."-Rec. of Mass., p. 49.
"May 6, 1646. The inhabitants of Braintree, for an answer to their petition are referred to an order of Court made the 7 month, 1643, abont common fields." -Rec. of Mass., p. 149.
33
LAND GRANTS.
.
(as followeth,) The Seleetmen of Boston for and in behalf of the town, do grant that, all such lands of theirs within the pre- cinct aforesaid, being heretofore commonly called and known by the name of Mount Wollaston, shall be accounted within the township of Brantry, and liable to bear all common charges in the town, when they are layed out and improved ; the town of Bos- ton still retaining the right and power of allotting and disposing of all those lands to particular persons, that are yet unlotted out; the town of Brantry paying the sum of fifty pounds in manner as followeth, unto the use of the town of Boston, viz. : Ten pounds the 10th of Jannary next ensuing the date hereof, and ten pounds each first month ensuing (the next first month excepted) for four years successively until the whole be paid ; all the said payments to be made in merehantable corn, as wheat, rye, peas, and indian, at fifty shillings in each of them, which said sum of fifty pounds being paid, the inhabitants of the town of Brantry are not only to enjoy for a common the 1500 acres formerly laid out for a common, but also the above liberty and power with all their inhabitants, as other towns, to bring in all improved lands to bear common charges with them, provided that Mr. John Wilson, Pastor of the church of Boston, shall not be rated unto Brantry, for his farm at Brantry, only that his tax shall be still liable as heretofore. Finally it is agreed by the said three men of Brantry, to make the aforesaid payments at the meeting house of Boston to the Selectmen thereof, which shall be successively chosen the several years.
"In witness whereof the Selectmen of the town of Boston for the time being on the one part, and Martin Saunders, Sam- nel Bass and Mathew Barns on the other part in the behalf of the town of Brantry, interchangably have set to their hands, this 20th October, 1647.
WILLIAM COLBORN, JAMES EVERETT,
JACOB ELLIOTT, THOMAS MARSHALL,
ANTHONY STODDARD, JAMES PENN."
This covenant or agreement, did not end their troubles, as new pretentions were made by inhabitants of Boston, claiming to be grantees of the unsurveyed land ; by these claimants the
6
34
LAND GRANTS.
people of Braintree were threatened with vexatious litigation. At last the inhabitants of the town became so exasperated that a town meeting was held the tenth of January, 1697-98, and the following agreement was made by the freeholders and the inhabitants of the town in defence of their rights, which was signed by seventy of the citizens of Braintree.
"Then agreed to by the freeholders of Braintree the sub- scribers hereunto, that whereas there are some persons of Bos- ton, that make some claims or pretentions to some land in our township of Braintree aforesaid, and now in our possession by running of bounds : We the subscribers, inhabitants of the said township, do therefore mutually agree to defend our ancient rights, and will oppose in a course of law, those and all those that shall by any means disturb, molest or endeavor to dispose any of said inhabitants, of said land as aforesaid, and do prom- ise and engage, each to the other, that we will defray all such charges as shall arise, by any such suit or suits concerning the same; as witness our hand the day and year above written.
Lieut. John Baxter,
John French, Samuel Paine,
Caleb Hubbard,
Martin Saunders,
Dependance French,
Joseph Arnold,
Solomon Veasey,
Joseph Penniman, Sen.,
Joseph Allen,
Ensign William Veasey,
Lieut. Samuel Neil,
Ensign Samuel Penniman,
John Marshall, Peter Adams,
William Nightingal,
Samuel White, Jr.,
Peter Newcomb, Samuel Spear
Peter Webb, Nathaniel Thayer,
John Thayer,
Samuel Thayer,
Joseph Penniman, Jr., Nehemiah Hayden, Joseph Adams
Jonathan Paddleford,
Jonathan Hayward,
Samuel Savil,
Nathaniel Spear,
John Baxter, Jr.,
Henry Crane, Samuel Belcher
Benjamin Webb,
Clemant Cock,
Joseph Parmenter,
Thomas Holbrook, Thomas Copeland, Nathaniel Owens, Theophilus Curtis Thomas French
John Hollis, William Linfield,
Ebenezer Spear, John Pain,
Samuel Penniman,
Benjamin Savil,
Josiah Hubbard,
Thomas White, Sen.,
Benjamin Thompson,
35
LAND GRANTS.
Edward Derby,
Benjamin Hobart,
Ebenezer Thayer,
John Cleverly,
Samuel Bass (cooper),
Cornelius Thayer,
Samuel Baxter,
Joseph Neal,
·
Thomas White,
Josiah Owens,
Benjamin Neil,
John Bass, Sen.,
John Copeland,
John Bass, Jr.,
William Copeland, Jr.,
Simon Bryant,
Samuel Bass. (carpenter,)
Captain Samuel White,
John Newcomb, Sen.,
Peter Allen.
In 1700 the inhabitants of the town became so indignant that they concluded to make a clean sweep of the whole matter, and agreed to purchase all of the waste land held by Boston claimants, and at a public meeting passed the following vote for the purpose :
26th January, 1700. " Then voted, the inhabitants of Brain- tree aforesaid, would buy all the whole lands, the Blue Hill lands and all, at seven hundred pounds as it is proffered by Boston men ; and to prevent any further annoyance from non- residents and foreign claimants, they voted as follows : Then voted also, that no person now purchasing shall make any con- veyance of the said land now purchased to any person out of this town as a security thereby to let them have a foothold or interest in said purchase or any other way."
On the 5th of February, 1699, the first release of these claims was made by the Boston claimants. The second was made by Boston, Feb. 1st, 1708,1 she having reserved a right over the acts
1. The following votes are taken from the Boston Town Records in regard to the settlement of the Braintree lands, from the sale of which lands the town of Boston, it seems, established a fund for the Public Latin and other Schools, as follows :
" 24th January, 1708. The committee on the Braintree lands make the fol- lowing report : - Whereas the town of Boston at a general meeting (lawfully warned) convened the 8th of March, 1707-8, did nominate and appoint a com- mittee in behalf of the town, to treat with sundry persons about the waste lands in Braintree, according to the memorial given in at said meeting, pursuant to ye said vote, we the subscribers being the said committee do signify to the town that agreeable to the memorial we have treated with the committee of those that esteem themselves Proprietors of the waste lands in Braintree belonging to the town of Boston, about the five hundred pounds, the sum they sold the land for, and come to the unanimous agreement, that the income of the five hundred pounds be forever impropriated and improved for a school or schools
36
LAND GRANTS.
of their grantees. The £700 raised for the purchase of these claims, were procured by an association of one hundred of the citizens of Braintree, and raised by voluntary subscription.
The following is a vote of the association in regard to the division of these lands :- " Voted, That there should be three divisions made of said lands with all convenient speed, one of the six hundred acres,-one, of the land above Moors farm,- and one, of the Chochecha land, or now Randolph."
The first of these three divisions, was the six hundred adjoin- ing the Milton line. The second division lay principally in what is now the westerly part of Braintree. The third division embraces a large tract within the present limits of Randolph, adjoining to Bridgewater. " There was also another division of what was called the Middle Cedar Swamp, adjoining to Wey- mouth.
" Each of the hundred proprietors appear by the record to have drawn one lot in each division, until the whole amount was exhausted. The names of the drawers are given in the Com- pany's books, together with the number of the lots assigned to each. From the third division, in a very short time, sprang up the settlement of the present town of Randolph.
Soon after they had been relieved of their land troubles witlı
for writing and Arithmetic, and that some part of God's word be read by a schol- ar or scholars by turns at the discretion of the Master, and that further according to the said memorial we have had several meetings with the committee of the purchasers of the aforesaid waste lands, and at length did agree with themu to offer it as our advice to the town of Boston, that for the future peace of the town, and the consideration of the sum of five hundred pounds being impropri- ated and improved for ye public good of the town forever, and in consideration of twenty pounds to be paid to the town for the use aforesaid, by the said pur- chasers, that the town do give a quit claim to said purchasers with the reserva- tion of the land at Blue Hill now in the town's possession, as by plan of the same on the town records, taken 1653-4, by Mr. Joshua Fisher, surveyor, and the Selectmen's addition expressed by said plan, to run a straight line from A, B, to the top of Blue Hills, and that the town impower a committee to give an equal claim accordingly; and that agreeable to the direction of the town and said memorial we applied ourselves to the Gentlemen the purchasers of those that claim, &c. About the two hundred pounds, the sum the said land sold for more than the first cost, Mr. Sargent, Mr. Hutchinson and Madam Shrimpton did declare that wherever they did not intend a personal advantage in the purchase so they freely gave their part of the two hundred pounds to ye town
37
LAND GRANTS.
Boston, the town found themselves in the same position in refer- ence to their own common lands. A large tract of land had come into their possession by the Boston agreement, comprising about fifteen hundred acres, called the "South and North Com- mons and the Ministerial lands."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.