USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832; and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle; containing various notices of county and state history not before published. > Part 2
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832 : and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle > Part 2
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Governor Winthrop2 says this grant was made " to Mr. Buck- ly and - merchant, and about twelve more families, to begin a town." This was undoubtedly the Rev. Peter Bulkeley ; and the merchant intended, Maj. Simon Willard, two distinguish- ed individuals, who will be more particularly noticed in the sequel. The loss of early records renders it impossible to ascer- tain who the twelve other families were. Their names may, however, be inferred from an account of early families, to be given in this history. Others were soon after added ; and on the 6th of October, the Rev. John Jones, and a large number of settlers, destined for the plantation, arrived in Boston.
The time-from which the town should be free from immunities or public charges, mentioned in the act of incorporation, was calculated from the October following. In 1636 the order to press carts was renewed for three years more. These peculiar privileges were probably granted to the first settlers, as an en- couragement in their hazardous enterprise. That legal authority should be given to compel any person, at any time, to carry goods through a wilderness untrodden by civilized man, appears singular to us, but was probably necessary then, as it would have
1 The late Samuel Davis, Esq., of Plymouth, supposed (MS. letter), that the original name was "formed of two Indian words, moskeht, signifying ' grass,' and ohkeit, signifying 'ground'; and unitedly 'grass-ground.' Musketaquid, as nearly resembling this word as the Indian dialect would permit, was probably applied to the land near the river, as indicating its character, or to the river itself, in which case it would mean ' grassy brook' or ' meadow brook.'" Concord, the present name, is said by tradition to have been given on account of the peaceable manner in which it was obtained from the Indians. This opinion, however, is not supported. Johnson, (2. Hist. Coll. vol. iii. p. 155.) says, it was named Concord " from the occasion of the present time, as you shall after hear," but does not tell us any thing further about it. It probably received its name from the Christian union and concord, subsisting among the first company, at the commencement of the settlement.
2 Journal, vol. i. 2. .
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1636.
been difficult, if not impossible, to hire them " at reasonable rates." Though some privileges were granted to Concord, from its peculiarly remote situation, which were withheld from other towns, it did not entirely escape censure. Being required to per- form military duty, it was, in 1638, fined 5s. for want of a pair of stocks, and a watch-house. In June, 1639, it had a similar fine imposed, and another for " not giving in a transcrip of their lands." In 1641 it was again fined " 10s. for neglecting a watch and for non-appearance."1 Such fines were imposed on several towns by the General Court, pursuant to an act, passed June 7, 1636, providing that every town should keep a military watch and be well supplied with ammunition, as a guard against the in- cursions of unfriendly Indians.
It does not appear from any sources of information extant, that all the land, included in the incorporated limits, was purchased of the Indians till some time after the settlement had begun, though a part of it might have been. Till May, 1637, no order on the subject appears. The court at that time gave " Concord liberty to purchase lande within their Limits of the Indians ; to wit : Attawan and Squaw Sachem." The land was accordingly fairly purchased, and satisfactory compensation made ; and Aug. 5, 1637, the Indian deed was deposited in the Secretary's office in Boston. The Colony Records give the following account of this transaction. "5th. 6mo. 1637. Wibbacowett ; Squaw Sa- chem ; Tahattawants ; Natanquatick, alias Old man ; Carte, alias Goodmand; did express their consent to the sale of the Weire at Concord over against the town : and all the planting-ground which hath been formerly planted by the Indians, to the inhabi- tants of Concord ; of which there was a writing, with their marks subscribed given into court, expressing the price." 2 Whether this transaction related to the whole town is uncertain.
A tradition has been handed down that the purchase took place under a large oak, which was standing in front of the Mid- dlesex Hotel within the memory of our oldest inhabitants, and called, after one of the original settlers, " Jethro's tree "; and which is said to have been used in early times as a belfry on which the town bell was hung.
1 Colony Records.
2 Ibid.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1636.]
I have sought in vain for the Indian deed. It was probably lost . very early, since measures were taken in 1684, when the colony charter was declared to be void, and the claims of Rob- ert Mason to large portions of the country were asserted, to estab- lish the lawful title, which the inhabitants of Concord had in their soil. The original petition was also lost. The following depositions, relating to the subject, were taken, and are inserted in the Middlesex Records, and in the Town Records, to answer the purpose of the original deed.
" The Testimony of William Buttrick, aged sixty-eight years, or thereabouts, sheweth ; - That about the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-six, there was an agreement made by some undertakers for the town since called Concord, with some Indians, that had right unto the land then purchased of them for the township. The Indians' names were Squaw Sachem, Ta- hattawan, sagamore, Nuttunkurta, and some other Indians that lived and were then present at that place, and at that time ; the tract of land being six miles square, the centre being about the place where the meeting-house now standeth. The bargain was made and confirmed between the English undertakers and the Indians then present and concerned, to their good satisfaction on all hands." -" 7: 8: 84 [7th. Oct. 1684]. Sworn in court, Thomas Danforth. Entered in Register at Cambridge, Liber 9. page 105, by Thomas Danforth."
" The testimony of Richard Rice, aged 74 years," like William Buttrick's, is recorded in full immediately after it, and attested in the same manner.
" The Deposition of Jehojakin, alias Mantatukwet, a Chris- tian Indian of Natick, aged 70 years or thereabouts.
" This Deponent testifieth and saith, that about 50 years since he lived within the bounds of that place which is now called Concord, at the foot of an hill, named Nahshawtuck [Lee's], now in the possession of Mr. Henry Woodis, and that he was present at a bargain made at the house of Mr. Peter Bulkeley (now Capt. Timothy Wheeler's) 1 between Mr. Simon Willard, Mr. John Jones, Mr. Spencer, and several others, in behalfe of the Englishmen who were settling upon the said town of
1 This was between the houses of Daniel Shattuck, Esq. and Capt. John Stacy.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1636.
Concord, and Squaw Sachem, Tahattawan, and Nimrod, Indi- ans, which said Indians (according to their particular rights and interest) then sold a tract of land containing six miles square (the said house being accounted about the centre) to the said English for a place to settle a town in ; and he the said depo- nent saw said Willard and Spencer pay a parcell of Wampum- peage,1 hatchets, hoes, knives, cotton cloth, and shirts, to the said Indians for the said tract of land. And in particular per- fectly remembers that Wibbacowet, husband to Squaw Sachem, received a suit of cotton cloth, an hat, a white linen band, shoes, stockings, and a great coat, upon account of said bargain. And in the conclusion, the said Indians declared themselves satisfied, and told the Englishmen, they were welcome. There were pres- ent also at the said bargain Waban, Merchant; Thomas, his brother-in-law; Notawquatuchquaw ; Tantumous, now called Je- thro. - Taken upon oath the 20th of October 1684, before Daniel Gookin, sen. Assistant, Thomas Danforth, Dep. Gov. En- tered in the Register at Cambridge, Lib. 9. page 100, 101; 20 : 8 : 84 [20th Oct. 1684] by Thomas Danforth, Rec'r. "
" The Deposition of Jethro, a Christian Indian of Natick, aged 70 years or thereabouts :
" This Deponent testifieth and saith, that about 50 years since, he dwelt at Nashobah, near unto the place now called by the English Concord ; and that coming to said Concord was present at the making a bargain (which was done at the house of Mr. Peter Bulkeley, which now Capt. Timothy Wheeler liveth in) between several Englishmen (in behalfe of such as were settling said place) viz. Mr. Simon Willard, Mr. John Jones, Mr. Spen- cer, and others, on the one party ; and Squaw Sachem, Tahatta- wan, and Nimrod, Indians, on the other party ; and that the said Indians (according to their several rights) did then sell to the said English a certain tract of land containing six miles square (the said house being accounted about the centre) to plant a town in ; and that the said deponent did see the said Willard and Spencer pay to the said Indians for the said tract of land a parcell of Wampumpeage, [like Jehojakin's testimony as far as " said bar-
1 Indian money curiously made of shells strung on strings and valued by the fathom at 5s.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1636.]
gain "]; and that after the bargain was concluded, Mr. Simon Willard, pointing to the four quarters of the world, declared that they had bought three miles from that place, east, west, north, and south ; and the said Indians manifested their free consen thereunto. There were present at the making of the said bargain, amongst other Indians, Waban, merchant ; Thomas, hi: brother-in-law ; Natawquatuckquaw; Jehojakin, who is yet living and deposeth in like manner as above." 1
This was sworn to, attested, and recorded, like the preceding.
The first settlement commenced in the fall of 1635, fifteen years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and five after the settlement of Boston. The first houses were built on the south side of the hill from the public square to Merriam's corner ; and the farm lots laid out, extending back from the road across the Great Fields and Great Meadows, and in front across the mead- ows .on Mill Brook. This spot was probably selected because it contained land of easy tillage, and because it afforded the great- est facilities in constructing such temporary dwellings, as would shelter the inhabitants from the inclemency of storms and winter. These huts were built by digging into the bank, driving posts into the ground, and placing on them a covering of bark, brush-wood, or earth. The second year, houses were erected as far as where the south and north bridges now stand. This. plantation, how- ever, like others in the colony, was limited in its extent. In 1635, the General Court ordered that " no new building should be built more than half a mile from the meeting-house in any new plantation." This order was probably passed for greater safety against the Indians, and appears to have been enforced in Concord about eight years, after which the settlement began to be much more extended.
Many of the first settlers were men of acknowledged wealth, enterprise, talents, and education, in their native country. Seve- ral were of noble families. The Rev. Peter Bulkeley brought more than 6,000 pounds sterling, the Hon. Thomas Flint 4,000, and
1 The town received its name in 1635, and not, as here stated, " since " 1636. li the purchase took place before the act of incorporation, Mr. Jones could not have been present; if in 1636, he was. These errors in the depositions, not materially affecting their importance. probably arose from their being given from memory.
2
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1636.
others had very respectable estates. Many of them were men of literary attainments. Mr. Bulkeley became an author of distin- guished celebrity. William Wood, if, as is probable, he was the au- thor of " New England's Prospect," was a man of considerable intel- ligence and sagacity. But they were eminently a religious people partaking largely of the spirit which governed the companies that first landed at Plymouth, Salem, and Boston. Having been per- secuted in their native country, and deprived of the liberty of wor- shipping God, and enjoying His ordinances, agreeably to their views of Scripture and duty, they accounted no temporary suffering or sacrifices too great to be endured, in order to be restored to their natural rights, and to freedom from religious oppression. Though some were men of fortune and eminence, and from their infancy had been unaccustomed to hardship, they cheerfully gave up all their personal comforts, crossed the ocean, and planted themselves in this lonely wilderness to endure suffering, for which no pecuni- ary compensation would have been adequate. No purpose of worldly gain could have prompted so hazardous and expensive an enterprise. It was emphatically a religious community seeking a quiet resting-place for their religious enjoyments and religious hopes. The remark, in reference to the whole colony, that " God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness,"1 might, with propriety, be applied to the resolute and pious fathers of this town. Though they came from various parts of England, they were united, and had high hopes of happiness and religious prosperity, and emphatically lived in Concord. Nothing but the unexpected hardships, peculiar to their situation, could have produced contrary, but almost necessary results.
The following extract is from Johnson's "Wonder-working Providence." 2 Being an inhabitant of Woburn, and often asso- ciated with the citizens of Concord in public business, the author had good opportunity to become familiarly acquainted with its early history. This account may, therefore, be received with more implicit faith, than some of that author's statements of facts ; and, for its curiosity and information, is worthy of insertion in this connexion.
1 Lt. Governor Stoughton's Election Sermon.
2 2 Mass. Hist. Coll. vol. iii. pp. 156- 159. Written about 1650.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1636.]
" Upon some inquiry of the Indians, who lived to the North West of the Bay, one Captaine Simon Willard, being acquainted with them, by reason of his trade, became a chiefe instrument in erecting this towne. The land they purchase of the Indians, and with much difficulties travelling through unknowne woods, and through watery swamps, they discover the fitnesse of the place ; sometimes passing through the thickets, where their hands are forced to make way for their bodies passage, and their feete clam- bering over the crossed trees, which when they missed they sunke into an uncertaine bottome in water, and wade up to their knees, tumbling sometimes higher and sometimes lower. Wearied with this toile, they at end of this meete with a scorching plaine, yet not so plaine, but that the ragged bushes scratch their legs fouly, even to wearing their stockings to their bare skin in two or three hours. If they be not otherwise well defended with bootes or buskings, their, flesh will be torne. Some of them being forced to passe on without further provision, have had the bloud trickle downe at every step. And in time of summer, the sun casts such a reflect- ing heate from the sweet ferne, whose scent is very strong, that some herewith have beene very nere fainting, although very able bodies to undergoe much travel. And this not to be indured for one day, but for many ; and verily did not the Lord incourage their natural parts (with hopes of a new and strange discovery, expecting every houre to see some rare sight never seen before), they were never able to hold out and breake through." * " After some dayes spent in search, toyling in the day time as for- merly said, like true Jacob, they rest them on the rocks where the night takes them. Their short repast is some small pittance of bread, if it hold out; but as for drinke they have plenty, the countrey being well watered in all places that are yet found out. Their further hardship is to travell sometimes they know not whither, bewildred indeed without sight of snn, their compasse miscarrying in crouding through the bushes. They sadly search up and down for a known way, the Indian paths being not above one foot broad, so that a man may travell many dayes and never find one." * " This intricate worke no whit daunted these resolved servants of Christ to go on with the worke in hand ; but lying in the open aire, while the watery clouds poure down all the night season, and sometimes the driving snow dissolving on
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HISTORY OF CONCORD. [1636.
their backs, they keep their wet cloathes warme with a continued fire, till the renewed morning give fresh opportunity of further travell. After they have thus found out a place of aboad, they burrow themselves in the earth for their first shelter under some hill-side, casting the earth aloft upon timber, they make a smoaky fire against the earth at the highest side. And thus these poore servants of Christ provide shelter for themselves, their wives and little ones, keeping off the short showers from their lodgings, but the long raines penetrate through to their great disturbance in the night season. Yet in these poor wigwams they sing psalmes, pray and praise their God, till they can provide them houses, which ordinarily was not wont to be with many till the earth, by the Lord's blessing, brought forth bread to feed them, their wives and little ones, which with sore labours they attain ; every one that can lift a hoe to strike it into the earth, standing stoutly to their labours, and tear up the rootes and bushes, which the first yeare bears them a very thin crop, till the soard of the earth be rotten, and therefore they have been forced to cut their bread very thin for a long season. But the Lord is pleased to provide for them great store of fish in the spring time, and especially Ale- wives about the bignesse of a Herring. Many thousands of these they used to put under their Indian corne, which they plant in hills five foote asunder, and assuredly when the Lord created this corn, he had a speciall eye to supply these his people's wants with it, for ordinarily five or six grains doth produce six hundred. A.s for flesh they looked not for any in those times (although now they have plenty) unlesse they could barter with the Indians for venison or rockoons, whose flesh is not much inferiour unto lambe. The toil of a new plantation being like the labours of Hercules never at an end, yet are none so barbarously bent (under the Mattacusets especially) but with a new plantation they ordinarily gather into church fellowship, so that pastors and people suffer the inconveniences together, which is a great means to season the sore labours they undergoe. And verily the edge of their appetite was greater to spirituall duties at their first coming in time of wants, than afterward. Many in new plantations have been forced to go barefoot, and bareleg, till these latter dayes, and some in time of frost and snow ; yet were they then very healthy more than now they are. In this wildernesse worke men of es-
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1638.]
tates speed no better than others, and some much worse for want of being inured to such hard labour, having laid out their estate upon cattell at five and twenty pound a cow, when they came to winter them with in-land hay, and feed upon such wild fother as was never cut before, they could not hold out the winter, but or- dinarily the first or second yeare after their coming up to a new plantation, many of their cattell died, especially if they wanted salt-marshes. And also those, who supposed they should feed upon swines flesh were cut short, the wolves commonly feasting themselves before them, who never leave neither flesh nor bones, if they be not scared away before they have made an end of their meale. As for those who laid out their estate upon sheepe, they speed worst of any at the beginning (although some have sped the best of any now) for untill the land be often fed by other cat- tell, sheepe cannot live, and therefore they never thrived till these latter days. Horse had then no better successe, which made many an honest gentleman travell a foot for a long time, and some have even perished with extreme heate in their travells. As also the want of English graine, wheate, barley, and rie, proved a sore affliction to some stomacks, who could not live upon Indian bread and water, yet were they compelled to it till cattell increased, and the plowes could but goe. Instead of apples and pears, they had pomkins and squashes of divers kinds. Their lonesome condition was very grievous to some, which was much aggravated by con- tinuall feare of the Indians approach, whose cruelties were much spoken of, and more especially during the time of the Pequot wars. Thus this poore people populate this howling desert, marching manfully on (the Lord assisting) through the greatest difficulties, and sorest labours that ever any with such weak means have done."
Additional grants of land were occasionally made, adjoin- ing Concord, after the first purchase. On the 2nd of May, 1638, Governor Winthrop had 1,200, and Thomas Dudley 1,000 acres granted them below Concord. When they came up to view it, " going down the river about four miles, they made choice of a place for one thousand acres for each of them. They offered each other the first choice, but because the deputy's was first granted, and himself had store of land already, the governor yielded him the choice. So, at the place where the deputy's
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1642.
land was to begin, there were two great stones, which they called the Two Brothers, in remembrance that they were brothers by their children's marriage, and did so brotherly agree, and for that a little creek near those stones was to part their lands. At the court, in the 4th month after, two hundred acres were added to the governor's part."1 The governor's lot lay southerly, and the. deputy governor's northerly of those rocks, and they were divided by a little brook, which may now be seen a short distance below Carlisle bridge. Governor Winthrop selected (judiciously, I think) a lot in Concord, which "he intended to build upon," near where Captain Humphrey Hunt now lives. The changes, which took place in his property and family, probably prevented him from putting his plan into execution.
In Nov. 1639, 500 acres of land were granted to Increase Now- ell Esq. " on the north side of the bounds of Concord beyond the river against the governor's 1200 ; " and 500 acres to the Rev. Thomas Allen of Charlestown, on the north side of Mr. Nowell's ; and, Oct. 7. 1640, to the Rev. Thomas Weld of Roxbury 533 acres, next to Mr. Allen's.2 Another tract of 400 acres was also granted to Mr. Atherton Hough. All these lands were sold about 1650 to John and Robert Blood, and comprised what was after- wards known as the Bloods' Farms, which became a part of Con- cord, and which will be hereafter noticed.
About this time the Rev. Peter Bulkeley had 300 acres granted him towards Cambridge ; and Mr. William Spencer 300 acres, " beyond Concord by the Alwife River."
It appears that the inhabitants were not well satisfied with their situation ; and that other places, either adjoining the town or at a distance from it, were sought, to which they might remove. In a petition on this subject to the General Court, it is said : - " Whereas your humble petitioners came into this country about 4 years agoe, and have since then lived at Concord, where we were forced to buy what now we have, or the most of it, the con- venience of the town being before given out : your petitioners having been brought up in husbandry, of children, finding the lands about the town very barren, and the meadows very wet
1 Winthrop's Journal, vol. i. p. 264. The Colony Records give a more particular description of this and the subsequent grants.
2 Col. Rec.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1644.]
and unuseful, especially those we now have interest in ; and knowing it is your desire the lands might be subdued, have taken pains to search out a place on the north west of our town, where we do desire some reasonable quantitie of land may be granted unto us, which we hope may in time be joined to the farms al- ready laid out there to make a village. And so desiring God to guide you in this and all other your weighty occasions, we rest your humble petitioners." This petition is signed by Thomas Wheeler, Timothy Wheeler, Ephraim Wheeler, Thomas Wheel- er, Jr., Roger Draper, and Richard Lettin; is dated Sept. 7. 1643 ; and endorsed by the court-" We think some quantitie of land may be granted them provided that within two years they make some good improvement of it."
The uplands, which the first planters selected for cultivation, proved to be of a poor quality ; and the meadows were unexpect- edly much overflowed with water. All the fish and other ma- nure which were applied to enrich the sand hills east of the village were useless. These were causes of great disappoint- ment and suffering. Among other projects to make the mead- ows dry, one was formed and then considered practicable, to deepen the channel of Concord river at the falls " to drain the water off." A petition was presented to the court, the first year after the incorporation of the town, which produced the following order, dated Sept. 8, 1636. " Whereas the inhabitants of Con- cord are purposed to abate the Falls in the river upon which their towne standeth, whereby such townes as shall hereafter be planted above them upon the said River shall receive benefit by reason of their charge and labour : It is therefore ordered that such towns or farms as shall be planted above them shall contribute to the inhabitants of Concord proportional both to their charge and ad- vantage."
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