USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Clinton > History of the origin of the town of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1653-1865 > Part 5
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PRESCOTT'S ESTATE.
while, the women folks may have worked on the homespun clothing, and gossiped about the last wedding or funeral they had attended, or the last visit they had made. Perhaps, they sometimes expressed their fear of Indian treachery. A rough and lonely life it must have been. Sunday was the great day with them. Then they managed to go to meeting, trudging over the hard road, then known as the Mill Path, now North Main Street, or riding horseback, with the women folks mounted on pillions behind the men. They would re- main all day at the meeting, and during the intermission be- tween the long sermon in the morning, and that of the after- noon, how much they must have found to talk about. In 1669, Prescott became a freeman, although he may not have changed his religious views as the laws were changed so that any man owning an estate and known to be upright and honest, could be admitted to all the rights of citizenship, even though he was not a member of the church. Prescott's differences with the church were, probably, on matters of government rather than on theological questions. He served on many committees of the parish, and was the intimate friend and trusted adviser of Mr. Rowlandson, the pastor.
In 1672, Prescott must have owned in all twelve hundred acres of land. In the main settlement, he still held possess- sion of his original allotments and later grants and purchases. This amounted to one hundred acres and stretched from George Hill to the meeting of the rivers, covering much of the district now known as South Lancaster. He had three hundred acres in what is now Clinton, including most of the tract north and northeast of Burditt Hill, between the pres- ent location of the Boston & Maine Railroad and the river .*
* upland to his Corne Mill. And his vpland belonging to his mill ten acres of which takes its beginning at a little round hill, fourty rod aboue the mill and so runes on both sides the brooke to the riuer, bounded south by some land giuen him for the building a saw mill, and north-
48
JOHN PRESCOTT, THE PIONEER.
For services done in surveying, he received land near Washacum.j He afterwards added to this by purchase from the Indian, James Wiser, alias Quannapohit.} He thus had
erly by a peice of pine Land that is comon, butting east by the river, and west by the little round hill by the mill where his stake stands, and forty acres part whereof lying on the south side of that ten acres, and lying in a corner, and compassed about south and east by the riuer, and bounded west by a pine plain giuen him for the building of a saw mill, and a peice of intervale compassed about by a ledge of Iron Stone Rockes on the north and north west sides and bounded south by Nashaway riuer, all which parcells of Land ly for fifty acres be they more or less wch was giuen him for encouragement to build a corne mill as appeared by a covenant copied out & truly recorded 3ª Iomo. 1659 by me
RALPH HOUGHTON.
grant to goodman Prescott. The towne gaue Libertie to goodman Prescott to take up a slipe of medow ground Runing through the most part of a great pine plaine that Lyeth sutherly of his Corne mille, which he is to haue in Leiw of two acres of medow, formerly granted him in a corner of the great pond medow which was granted vpon the account of John Cowdall and he is to take two acres Lesse their.
t 1660. In obedience to the grant of the honoured generall Court held at boston the 18th of October 1659, layed out to John Prescott of Lancas- ter neare adjoyning to the west line of Lancaster bounds his farm con- tayninge one hundred acres joyning to a great pond [Washacum] on the northeast and allso joyning to a brooke (running out of the sayd pond) on the south east with four acres of medow joyning to the sayd pond and six acres of medow being vpon the sayd brooke-this being exactly measured by me vnderwritten the 15 of January 1660
THOMAS NOYES.
[Massachusetts Archives, XLV. SI.]
Į JAMES WISER'S DEED OF WASHACUM LANDS
Know all men by these prsents that I James Wiser of Washakim in the countie of midlesex, Indian, in New England, for good considera- tione and mouinge therevnto, but especially for & in consideratione of fouer pounds teen shillings allredy recd by me haue giuen grantted bar- gined sold alinated & confirmed & do by these psents giue grant bargine sell alinate & confirme vnto John Prescott of Lancaster some nintie accers of vnimproued land be it more or lesse lyinge vpon a plaine & twentie accers be it more or lesse beinge a corne feilld lyinge vpon a hill
49
PRESCOTT'S ESTATE.
in all near the lakes about three hundred acres, including the present camp ground. In addition to these lots there were the five hundred and twenty acres in Groton which he gave a little later to his son Jonas.
weastward of this plaine bounded by a pond a littill remote easterly frome the plaine: Washakim fort beinge about fiefteene rods frome the neerest pt of this plaine & the hill whear on the Indian fielld is, weast- erly of this plaine, only Adagunapeke & his Aunt & his sister reserue one accer a yere, the hill beinge called by the name of moantuhcake, this land joynes to the farme that the Country gaue John Prescott which allso is bounded by a hill to the south runinge downe to his meadow be- longinge to his farme & the countryes land ellsewhear aboutt it, the sayde bargined Pmisses withall and singular ther puiledges & aperta- nanses to be to the sayde John Prescott & his heyers for euer to haue & to hold for his or their pposes & Uesies without any lawfull lett molesta- tione or disturbance from by or vnder me or any my heyers executors or asignes or any other pson or psons what soeuer fermely bindinge my sellfe my heyers executors & asignes heervnto, & we whose names arre vnder written, Pummannommon & Pompoweagon do afirme and testifie that the aforesayde James Wiser hath full power & right to alinate thes lands & in witnesse heerto I ye aforesayde James Wiser do putt to my hand and sealle.
The 3 accrs of brok vpland expressed heerin that is reserved lyes at the northerly end of the feilld. datted this 22ª of the first mo. 1669/70 the marke Ò JAMES WISER
Read signed & sealled & delivered in the presence of ye marke of (M) MARY WILLARD SIMON WILLARD Jr.
the marke of C PUMMANNOMMON the marke of C; POMPOWEAGON
[From Shattuck Manuscripts in possession of the New England Historic Genealogi- cal Society.]
To the honourable the Gour the Deputy Gour magts & Deputyes assembled in the genrall Court.
The petition of Jno Prescott of Lanchaster In most humble wise shew- eth, Whereas ye Petitior hath purchased an Indian right to a small par- cell of Land, occasioned & circumstanced for quantity & quality accord- ing to the deed of sale herevnto annexed and a pt thereof not being legally setled vpon me vnlesse I may obteyne the favor of this Court for
5
50
JOHN PRESCOTT, THE PIONEER.
His property and his family relations may best be under- stood by an examination of a will made by him in 1673, be- fore the removal of his son, Jonathan, to Concord, and while his wife was yet living. The mark with which it is signed is an evidence of his weakness, as he usually signed his name. His sickness at the time is elsewhere mentioned in the records to account for his failure to appear as a witness.
This will throws many side lights upon the character of him by whom it was made. Here is breadth of business ability, mingled with utmost carefulness in details ; a stern-
the Confirmation thereof, These are humbly to request the Courts favor for that end, the Lord haueing dealt graciously with mee in giueing mee many children I account it my duty to endeauor their prouission & set- ling and do hope that this may be of some vse in yt kind, I know not any claime made to the said land by any towne, or any legall right yt any other person haue therein, and therefore are free for me to occupy & subdue as any other, may I obteyne the Courts approbation. I shall not vse farther motiues, my condition in other respecks & wt my trouble & expenses haue been according to my poor ability in my place being not altogether vnknown to some of ye Court.
That ye Lords prsence may be with & his blessing accompany all yor psons, counsells, & endeavors for his honor & ye weale of his poor peo- ple is ye pray" of
Yor suppliant. JOHN PRESCOTT Sen"
17 : 3 : 1672 read and referred to ye Committee,
In Refference to this Petition the Comittee being well Informed that the Petr is an ancient Planter & hath bin a vsefull helpfull and pub- lique spirited man doinge many good offices ffor the Country Relatinge to the Road to Conecticott, marking trees, directinge of Passengers &c and that the Land Petitioned for beinge but about 107 Acres & Lyinge not very Convenient for any other Plantation, and only accomodable for the Petr we Judge it reasonable to confirme the Indian Grant to him & his heyres if ye honord Court see meete.
The Deputyes approue of the returne of the Comittee in answer to this pet : or Hon- ord magists consenting hereto.
WM TORREY Cleric
29 May : 72. Consented to by ye magists
EDWARD TYNG GEORGE CORWIN HUMPHREY DAVIE
EDW RAWSON Secret.
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PRESCOTT'S ESTATE.
ness, that can chide an erring grandchild even in the moment of forgiveness, and gleams of tenderness playing about an unyielding personality which ruled as with a rod of iron .*
*JOHN PRESCOTT'S WILL.
Theis presents witneseth that John Prescott of Lancaster in the Countie of Midlesex in New England Blaksmith being vnder the sencible decayes of nature and infirmities of old age and at present vnder a great deale of anguish and paine but of a good and sound memorie at the writing hereof being moved vpon considerations afore- said togather with advis of Christian friends to set his house in order in Reference to the dispose of those outward good things the lord in mercie hath betrusted him with, theirfore the said John Prescott doth hereby declare his last will and testament to be as followeth, first and cheifly Comiting and Comending his soul to almightie god that gaue it him and his bodie to the comon burying place here in Lancaster, and after his bodie being orderly and decently buryed and the charge theirof defrayed togather with all due debts discharged, the Rest of his Lands and estate to be disposed of as followeth : first in Reference to the Comfortable being of his louing wife during the time of her naturall Life, it is his will that his said wife haue that end of the house where he and shee now dwelleth togather with halfe the pasture and halfe the fruit of the aple trees and all the goods in the house, togather with two cowes which shee shall Chuse and medow sufisiant for wintering of them, out of the medowes where she shall Chuse, the said winter pvision for the two cowes to be equaly and seasonably pvided by his two sons John and Jonathan. And what this may fall short in Reference to convenient food and cloathing and other nesesaries for her comfort in sickness and in health, to be equaly pvided by the aforesaid John and Jonathan out of the estate. And at the death of his aforesaid louing wife it is his will that the said cowes and household goods be equaly deuided betwene his two sons aforesaid, and the other part of the dwelling house, out housing, pasture and orchard togather with the tenn acres of house lott lying on Georges hill which was purchased of daniell gains to be equaly diuided betwene the said John and Jonathan and alsoe that part of the house and outhousing what is Convenient for the two Cowes and their winter pvision pasture and orchard willed to his louing wife during her life, at her death to be equaly deuided alsoe be- twene the said John and Jonathan. And furthermore it is his will that John Prescott his eldest son haue the Intervaile land at John's Jumpe, the lower Mille and the land belonging to it and halfe the saw mille and halfe the land belonging to it and all the house and barne theire erected,
52
JOHN PRESCOTT, THE PIONEER.
Prescott recovered from the illness, which led to the mak- ing of his will, and was again able to take control of his af- fairs. Perhaps, it would have been well for him if he could have passed away at this time for darker days were to come. We shall have an entirely inadequate idea of his charac-
and alsoe the house and farme at Washacomb pond, and all the land their purchased from the indians and halfe the medows in all deuisions in the towne acept sum litle part at bar hill wh. is after willed to James Sawyer and one halfe of the Comon Right in the towne, and in Refer- ence to second deuision land, that part of it which lyeth at danforths farme both vpland and interuaile is willed to Jonathan and sixtie acres of that part at Washacom litle pond to James Sawyer and halfe of some brushie land Capable of being made medow at the side of the great pine plain to be within the said James Sawyers sixtie acres and all the Rest of the second deuision land both vpland and Interuaile to be equaly deuided betwene John Prescott and Jonathan aformentioned. And Jonathan Prescott his second son to haue the Ryefeild and all the interuaile lott at Nashaway Riuer that part which he hath in posesion and the other part joyneing to the highway and alsoe his part of second deuision land aformentioned and alsoe one halfe of all the medowes in all deuisions in the towne not willed to John Prescott and James Sawyer aforementioned, and alsoe the other halfe of the saw mille and land be- longing to it, and it is to be vnderstood that all timber on the land be- longing to both Corne Mille and Saw Mille be Comon to the vse of the Saw Mille. And in Reference to his third son Jonas Prescott it is herby declared that he hath Received a full childs portion at none- coicus in a Corne mille and Land and other goods. And James Sawyer his grandchild and Servant it is his will that he haue the sixtie acres of vpland aformentioned and the two peices of medow at bare hill one being part of his second deuision the upermost peic on the brook and the other being part of his third deuision lying vpon Nashaway Riuer purchased of goodman Allin. Prouided the said James Sawyer carie it beter than he did to his said granfather in his time and carie so as be- coms an aprentic & vntil he be one and twentie years of age vnto the executors of this will namly John Prescott and Jonathan Prescott who are alsoe herby engaged to pforme vnto the said James what was pmised by his said granfather, which was to endeauor to learne him the art and trade of a blaksmith. And in Case the said James doe not pforme on his part as is afor expresed to the satisfaction of the overseers of this will, or otherwise, If he doe not acept of the land afor- mentioned, then the said land and medow to be equaly diuided betwene
53
PRESCOTT'S ESTATE.
ter, unless we realize that he was not only for many years . the leading man in Lancaster, but also, that he was well known throughout the colony as a man of great enterprise and energy. We have seen how he was a pioneer in laying
the aforsaid John and Jonathan. And in Reference to his three daughters, namly Marie, Sara and Lydia they to haue and Receive eurie of them fiue pounds to be paid to them by the executors to eurie of them fiftie shillings by the yeare two years after the death of theire father to be paid out of the mouables and Martha Ruge his granchild to haue a cow at the choic of her granmother. And it is the express will and charge of the testator to his wife and all his Children that they labor and endeauor to preserue loue and unitie among themselves and the vpholding of Church and Comonwealth. And to the end that this his last will and testament may be truly pformed in all the parts of it, the said testator hath and herby doth constitut and apoynt his two sons namly John Prescott and Jonathan Prescott Joynt executors of this his last will. And for the preuention of after trouble among those that suruiue about the dispose of the estate acording to this his will he hath hereby Chosen desired and apoynted the Reuerend Mr. Joseph Row- landson, deacon Sumner and Ralph Houghton overseers of this his will ; vnto whom all the parties concerned in this his will in all dificult Cases are to Repaire, and that nothing be done without their Consent and aprobation. And furthermore in Reference to the mouables it is his will that his son John have his anvill and after the debts and legacies afor- mentioned be truly paid and truly discharged by the executors and the speciall trust pformed vnto my wife during her life and at her death, in Respect of, sicknes funerall expences, the Remainder of the mouables to be equaly deuided betwene my two sons John and Jonathan afor- mentioned. And for a further and fuller declaration and confirmation of this will to be the last will and testament of the afornamed John Prescott he hath herevnto put his hand and seale this 8 of 2 month one thousand six hundred seaventie three.
JOHN PRESCOTT. his John mark
Sealed signed owned to be the Last will and testament of the testator afornamed In the presence of
JOSEPH ROWLANDSON ROGER SUMNER RALPH HOUGHTON
April 4 : 82. ROGER SUMNER
RALPH HOUGHTON § Appearing in Court made oath to the above sª will.
JONATHAN REMINGTON, Cleric.
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JOHN PRESCOTT, THE PIONEER.
out a new road "to Connecticut by Nashaway, which avoided much of the hilly way." In 1657, he was appointed one of a committee to build bridges at "Billirriky & Misticke." In 1658, he helped to lay out the great Davenport purchase, where West Boylston Centre now stands. The contract for building the first corn-mill in Groton, which we have already noted, was made in 1667. This mill was within the present limits of Harvard. His family had grown up about him, and had become worthy members of society. He might well expect an old age crowned with honor and filled with happiness.
According to tradition, Prescott had from the first been on friendly terms with the Indians, and his purchase of lands at Washacum gives assurance that he was especially trusted by them. His fearless bearing and his stalwart frame won for him their respect. Whenever any trouble arose with them, he would sally out alone, armed with his long gun and clad in the coat of mail and helmet which he is said to have brought with him from England, and the Indians would flee in fear. At one time, a horse having been stolen from him, he started out alone, and, meeting the marauders was struck on the head by the chief with a tomahawk. The blow had no effect on account of his helmet. The Indian in his astonish- ment stopped his attack and asked to try on this magic hat, and was granted the privilege on condition that he would give Prescott a chance of striking him. He consented, and as the helmet was a tight fit and was not properly put on, the blow brought it down, leaving little skin on his head and hardly sparing his ears. Prescott was permitted to go home in safety, with his horse, which was returned to him. At another time, according to legend, being attacked suddenly when unprepared and alone with his wife, he set her to load- ing his[]muskets, while he discharged them, all the time givinglorders in a loud tonc, as if he had a large force at hand. The Indians soon fled, carrying with them their dead and wounded.
55
PRESCOTT AND THE INDIANS.
We have seen how Sholan or Showanon, chief of the Nashaways, had sold land to the Lancaster pioneers. John Eliot said of him in 1648: "Showanon, the great sachym of Nashaway doth embrace the Gospel and pray unto God." He died in 1654. Matthew, his Christian successor, was no less friendly to the English. 'But 'ere his death, a new spirit had taken possession of the Indians. They began to realize that in seeking the protection of a stronger race they had lost their savage freedom. Neither had they gained the pro- tection they had sought, for the colonists stood coolly aloof, while they fell victims to the continued raids of the Mohawks. The forces of nature, working according to the law of the survival of the fittest, had proved stronger than Christian charity. The vices of the white men were more attractive to the children of the forest than their virtues. Through the greed of the trader, the rum demon made the Indians mad and then the courts of the Puritans severely punished those who had been debased. The young braves were stirred by the eloquence of Philip, chief of the Wampanoags. He made them recognize the wrongs they had suffered ; he showed them that their doom was inevitable, if they con- tinued to submit ; he called them to revenge and awakened their greed for the spoils which seemed to be within their grasp.
Shoshanim, alias Sagamore Sam, the representative of this new party, was chosen sachem of the Nashaways as a successor to Matthew. Quannapohit or Quanapaug and his fellow Christians lost their influence in the councils of the tribe. The shrewd Philip ordered the death of Quannapohit, whom he considered a traitor to his race, but the fierce Monoco, or One-Eyed John, a chief of the Nashaways, faith- ful to his friend, protected him. "Next morning I went to One-Eyed John's wigwam. He said he was glad to see me ; I had been his friend for many years and had helped him kill the Mohaugs. He said if anybody hurt me they should die. I lay in the sagamore's wigwam." Thus wrote Quin-
56
JOHN PRESCOTT, THE PIONEER.
napohit in the very " Information " in which he betrayed his race.
Shoshanim and Monoco with their followers made an alliance with Muttaump, the ruler of Quabaugs. The set- tlers did not heed the warnings of Quinnapohit, who had de- serted his race for his religion, and were totally unprepared for defence when, on the 9th of February, 1676, a horde of savage warriors were reported to be nearing the outskirts of the village. The main attack was directed against the cen- tral garrison. The story of the fierce onslaught and the heroic defence ; of the final victory of the Indians and the terrible massacre which followed ; of the burning of the homes and the later captivity of the women and children, have been handed down to us in the tragic narrative of Mrs. Rowlandson. This story belongs to the history of Lancas- ter rather than to that of Clinton. Suffice it to say, that out of the fifty families then living in Lancaster fifty-five persons were either killed or carried into captivity.
On the day of the great massacre, the Prescott garrison, with which we have especially to do, was subject to a minor attack, and here Ephraim Sawyer, Prescott's grandson, was killed. We can well imagine the anxiety with which the few defenders and the women and children who looked to them for safety must have listened to the sound of the dis- tant musketry, or watched the smoke rising from the homes of their kindred and friends. How long would it be before the main body of Indians would be upon them ? Fortunately, the Indians entertained a great fear of Captain Wadsworth of Marlborough, and retreated with their captives without waiting to complete their work.
A few days later George Harrington, a soldier from Watertown, was killed at the Prescott garrison. Richard Wheeler and Jonas Fairbanks, sons-in-law, and Joshua Fair- bank, another grandson of Prescott, were killed at Wheeler's garrison. There is good authority that two graves were to be seen near the old mill site during the eighteenth century.
57
PRESCOTT AND THE INDIANS.
They were called the Indians' graves. It is possible that Sawyer and Harrington were buried in these.
The survivors gathered under the protection of the soldiers, who had come to their assistance, in two strong garrison houses, and from thence sent a petition to the General Court, which reveals the pitiableness of their condi- tion .*
* To the Honerd Gournor and Counsell
The humble petition of the poor destressed people of Lancaster, humbley sheweth, that sence the enemy mad such sad & dismall hauocke amongst our deare ffreinds & Bretheren, & we that are left who haue our Liues for a prey sadly sencable of God's Judgmts upon us, this with the destresse we are now in dus embolden us to present our humble Re- quests, to yor Honors, hoping our Condisions may be considered by you & our Requests find exeptance with you, our stat is very deplorable, in our Incapasity to subsist, as to Remoue away we can not, the enemy has so Incompased us, otherwise for want of help our catle being the most of them caried away by the barberouss heathen, & to stay disinabled for want of food, the Towns people are Genrally gon who felt the Judgmt but light, & had theyr catle left them with theyr estats, but we many of us heare in this prison, haue not bread to last us on mongth & our other provision spent & gon, for the genrallyty, our Town is drawn into two Garisons wherin are by the Good favours of yor Hon's eighteen soulders, which we gladly mayntayn soe long as any thing lasts, and if yor Honors should call them of, we are seartaynly a bayt for the enemy if God do not wonderfully prevent, therefore we hop as God has mad you fathers ouer us so you will haue a fathers pitty to us & extend your care ouer us who are yor poor destressed subjects. We are sorowful to Leaue the place, but hoplesse to keep it unlesse mayntayned by the Cuntrey, it troubles our sperits to giue any Incuridgmt to the enemy, or leaue any thing for them to promot their wicked designe, yet better saue our Liues than lose Life & Estat both, we are in danger emenent, the enemy leying Aboue us, nay on both sids of us, as dus playingly Apear. our womens cris dus dayly Increase beand expresion which dus not only fill our ears but our hearts full of Greefe, which makes us humbly Request yo' Hon's to send a Gard of men & that if you please so comand we may haue Carts About fourteen will Remoue the whool eight of which has been presed long at Sudburry but nevr came for want of a small gard of men, the whooll that is, all that are in the on Garison, Kept in
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