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 4
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 4
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" First, therefore, the inhabitants of Nashoba, living 7 or 8 miles west of Concord, desire to have liberty to make a towne in yt place, with due accommodations thereunto. And though Con -- cord have some conditional grant of lands yt way, yet I under- stand, that we shall have a loving and Christian agreement betwixt them and the Indians.
" Secondly, the inhabitants of Ogkauhquoukanus [Marlborough], living about 7 or 8 miles west of Sudbury, where no English have yet desired any land, desire to have liberty to make a towne in yt place, with due accommodations thereunto.
27
GENERAL HISTORY.
1654.]
" Thirdly, the inhabitants of Hasnemesuhkoh [Grafton], living about 16 miles west of Sudbury, desire the like liberty.
" And, they comiting this honord Court, and all the weighty affaires thereof unto the mercy and goodnesse of the Ld., I rest your unworthy petitioner
Boston this 4th of the 3d : 54.
JOHN ELIOT."
This petition was granted, " provided it doe not prejudice any former grant ; nor that they shall dispose of it without leave first had and obtayned from this Court." Nashobah, lying near Nagog Pond, partly in Littleton and partly in Acton, as now bounded, accordingly became an Indian town ; and here a part of the Praying Indians in Concord, with others in the vicinity, gath- ered, and adopted civil and religious order, and had a Ruler and other municipal officers, though no church was formed. Such as were entitled to Christian ordinances probably went to Natick to celebrate the communion, after a church was organized there in 1660.
Nashobah, however, was not a very prosperous community. Certain rights of its inhabitants to lands granted to Concord in 1655, were sold to Concord in 1660; but in 1665, the Court granted them 2,000 acres more. In consequence of the war, which was carried on between the Maquas or "Inland Indians," and the neighbouring tribes, from 1665 to 1670, this town suffered severely, and was entirely deserted. Some of the principal men were killed. After the peace in 1670 it was repeopled, and was thus described by Gookin in 1674. "The inhabitants are about ten families, and consequently about fifty souls. The dimensions of this village is four miles square. The land is fertile, and well stored with meadows and woods. It hath good ponds for fish ad- joining it. The people live here, as in other Indian villages, upon planting corn, fishing, hunting, and sometimes labouring with the English. Their ruler of late years was John Ahattawance [Ta- hattawan], a pious man. Since his disease, Pennakennit is the chief. Their teacher is named John Thomas, a sober and pious man. His father was murthered by the Maquas in a secret man- ner, as he was fishing for eels at his wear, some years since during the war. He was a pious and useful person ; and that place sus- tained a great loss in him. In this village as well as in other old
-
28
HISTORY OF CONCORD. [1674.
Indian plantations, they have orchards of apples, whereof they make cider; which some of them have not the wisdom and grace to use for their comfort, but are prone to abuse unto drunkenness. And although the laws be strict to suppress this sin, and some of their own rulers are very careful and zealous in the execution of them ; yet such is the madness and folly of man naturally, that he doth eagerly pursue after that which tendeth to his own de- struction." 1
This gives but a sorry picture of a civilized community ; but it is far from being applicable generally to this, or the other Indian towns. There were in them some examples of the Christian character, which would have been honorable in any community. Some of the most distinguished were of the Muske- taquid Indians.
TAHATTAWAN (sometimes written Tahattawants, Attawan, At- tawance, and Ahatawance) was a sagamore, or "sachem of the blood, or chief of the royal line," of Musketaquid ; and appears to have possessed rights in the soil equal if not superior to Squaw Sachem ; and like her to have consented to its sale. What the connexion between him and Squaw Sachem was, does not fully appear. He had a powerful influence over his subjects ; and was one of those who early attended the preaching of Eliot at Newton, and spoke, as already mentioned, in favor of forming a civil community in this town. He was a worthy, upright In- dian. The following members of his family embraced Christi- anity ; and they and their descendants were always among the most persevering, influential, and exemplary persons at Natick and Nashobah, -the places to which the different individuals removed after they left Concord.
1. Waban married Tasunsquaw, eldest daughter of Tahatta- wan, sachem of Concord. From documents given in this history, and others in my possession, it appears that he originally lived in Concord, where he was probably born. He is called " mer- chant " in the records, probably on account of his occupation. He was not a sachem by birth, as some liave asserted, but acquir- ed rights in the soil and assented to its sale, by virtue of his marriage into the "royal family." After the English settled
1 | Ilist. Coll. vol. i. p. 188.
29
GENERAL HISTORY.
1674.]
Concord, he removed to Newton, where, in 1646, as already mentioned, he became the first convert to Christianity under the instruction of Eliot. It is said by Shepard that Indians gave " names to their children, usually according to appearances of providences ; and the most active Indian for stirring up other Indians to seek after the knowledge of God in these parts is Waban, which signifies wind; although they never dremt of this, that this their Waban should breath such spirit of life and incour- agement into the rest of the Indians, as he hath endeavoured in all parts of the country both at Concord, Merrimack, and else- where." He assisted in gathering the society and church at Natick, of which he was chosen chief ruler during his life. He is represented as a man of great prudence, piety, and usefulness. His confession, or account of his religious exercises of mind, was published in 1653, and also an exhortation, made in 1658.1 He died in the full exercise of the Christian faith in 1674, aged 70. " His last words immediately before he expired were, I give my soul to" thee, O my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Pardon all my sins, and deliver me from hell. Help me against death, and then I am willing to die ; and when I die, O help me and relieve me." 2
His widow was living at Natick in 1684. His son Weegram- momenet, alias Thomas Waban, received a tolerable education, and was many years town clerk of Natick.3 His name frequently appears in Indian deeds, granting rights to the English, which he acquired rather indefinitely from his father, and like many others as an associate of the Praying Indians.
2. John Tahattawan, son of Tahattawan, removed to Nasho- bah. He was chief ruler of the Praying Indians gathered there, and is said to have been a pious, good man. He died about 1670. He married Sarah, daughter of John, Sagamore of Patucket, who after her husband's death married again Onamog, one of the rulers of the Praying Indians at Marlborough, with whom she lived a short time only. She was living at Patucket, as a widow, in Nov. 1675, when she was wounded by some unfriendly whites, and her only son by Tahattawan was slain.4
1 Tears of Repentance, p. 8.
3 Biglow's Hist. Natick.
2 ] Hist. Coll. vol. v. p. 264.
4 Gookin's MS.
30
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1674.
Tahattawan's sole heir was Kehonowsqua, alias Sarah; and is first mentioned in the deed of Nashobah given to the Hon. Peter Bulkeley in 1686, hereafter to be noticed.
3. Naanishcow, alias John Thomas, married Naanashquaw, alias Rebeckah, another daughter of Tahattawan. His father had been a leading man at Nashobah, but was murdered by the Maquas Indians, as has been mentioned. He was teacher at that place till it was abandoned, when he removed to Natick, where he died, Jan. 17, 1727, at the great age of 110 years. He was exemplary through life, and had his reason and speech till within a few hours of his death. His eldest son was Solomon Thomas, alias Naashiomenett, who became influential at Natick.
Pennahannit, alias Captain Josiah, who was marshal-general or high-sheriff to all the Praying-Indian towns, and attended the chief courts held at Natick and elsewhere, dwelt at Nashobah, and was chief ruler of that place after the death of John Tahatta- wan.
Jethro, alias Tantamous, was present at the first purchase of Concord. He embraced Christianity and removed to Natick. In 2674, he was appointed missionary to the Indians at Wesha- kim [Sterling], but continued there only a short time.
Notices of other Indians, whose names occasionally occur in connexion with the affairs of Concord, might be given ; but these are the most prominent.
The missionary labors of Eliot and his associates were attended with considerable success. At Natick was a kind of theological seminary, where the natives were educated and sent forth to be rulers and teachers in other places. The Bible and several other books were translated and printed in their language, which re- quires the word, Kummogkodonattoottummoootiteaongannunnon- ash, to express in English " our question." This was indeed a Herculean task. In 1674, Eliot had organized two churches and fourteen towns, containing 1100 inhabitants 1 who had ostensibly embraced Christianity. A part of them only, however, appear to have been influenced by Christian principles. During Philip's war, this number was very much reduced. Many of them be- came treacherous, and were among the worst enemies of the En-
1 1 Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 195.
31
GENERAL HISTORY.
1674.]
glish. Some of them suffered death for their defection.1 The remainder were gathered in English towns, behaved like exem- plary Christians, and were of essential service to the English in Philip's war. The whole number, on the 10th Nov. 1676, was 567 only, of which 117 were men and 450 women and children. The Nashobah or Concord Praying Indians, who remained friend- ly to the English, were 10 men and 50 women and children ; and they then lived in Concord under the inspection of the com- mittee of militia, and the selectmen of the town. The other places where the Praying Indians met on the Sabbath for religious wor- ship at this time, were Medfield, Andrew Devens's Garrison (near Natick), Lower Falls, Nonantum, and Dunstable.2
Some other notices of the Nashobah Indians, while resident in Concord, will be given when the events of Philip's war are treated of. After this time, they appear to have nearly abandoned their plantation, and to have removed to Natick. May 19, 1680, twenty-three inhabitants of Concord petitioned the General Court that the lands, belonging to those Indians, might be grant- · ed to them, but it was refused ; because there were " debts due from the country which might be provided for by the sale of the land, if the Indians have no right or have deserted the place." In reply the petitioners say, " There never were any lands pur- chased of the country for townships." The petition was inef- fectually renewed in 1691. It appears, however, that the Hon. Peter - Bulkeley of Concord, and Maj. Thomas Henchman of Chelmsford, on the 15th of June, 1686, bought the easterly half of the Nashobah plantation for £70 sterling. The Indian gran- tors were as follows, " Kehonowsquaw, alias Sarah, the daugh- ter and sole heiress of John Tahattawan, sachem, and late of Nashobah, diseased ; Naanishcow, alias John Thomas ; Naanas- quaw, alias Rebeckah, wife to the said Naanishcow ; Naashkino- menet, alias Solomon, eldest son of said Naanishcow, and Naan- asquaw, sister to the aforesaid Tahattawan ; Weegrammominet, alias Thomas Waban ; Nackcominewock, relict of Crooked Rob-
1 Mattoonus, constable at Pakachoog, was executed.
2 I have communicated to the American Antiquarian Society for pub- lication, among other papers, a document in. the hand writing of Major Gookin, giving a particular account of the disposition of all the Praying Indians at this time, from which the above facts are taken.
32
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1714.
in ; and Wunnuhhew, alias Sarah, wife to Neepanum, alias Tom Doublet." This tract of land was bounded " by Chelmsford plan- tation (about three miles and three quarters) on the easterly side, by Concord Village land southward about two miles and three quarters ; northward it is bounded by land sold by the aforesaid Indians to Robert Robbins and Peleg Lawrence, both of Gro- ton towne, which land is part of the aforesaid Nashobah planta- tion, and this line is exactly two miles in length and runs east three degrees northerly, or west three degrees southerly, and the south end runs parallel with this line ; on the westerly side it is bounded by the remainder of said Nashobah plantation, and that west line runs south seven degrees and thirty minutes east, four miles and one quarter. The northeast corner is about four or five poles southward of a very great rock that lieth in the line between the said Nashobah and Chelmsford plantation." 1 The remaining history of Nashobah properly belongs to Littleton. It may be well, however, to remark, that in 1714, when that town was incorporated, 500 acres of land were reserved for the Indian proprietors. Sarah Doublet, an Indian, was the only heir to it in 1734, being then old and blind, and committed to the care of Samuel Jones of Concord. She then petitioned for liberty to sell it to pay her maintenance ; and it was granted for that pur- pose to Elnathan Jones, and Mr. Tenney. One corner was near the southeast part of Nagog Pond; and the south line ran 279 rods to a point 90 rods south of Fort Pond, then across the pond, north ten degrees west, 133 rods north of said pond to a point, and then making a right angle, it ran 286 rods, and then across Nagog Pond to the first place mentioned.
» 1 Reg. of Deeds, vol. x. p. 117.
33
GENERAL HISTORY.
1654.]
CHAPTER III.
Division of the Town. - Records. - Additional Grants. - Indian Deeds. - Iron Works built. - Town Farm. - Town of Stow granted. - Chronological Items.
WE shall now recur to the civil history of the town from the time to which it was brought up in the first chapter. As the lands became more cleared, the meadows were somewhat dryer, and ceased to be a subject of frequent complaint. The inhabi- tants sought other spots for cultivation, more productive than the sandy ones on which they first settled ; and those that remained became more contented with their situation. Their numbers soon after began to increase. Some additional land was granted to the town ; and parts of the old settlement had become vacant by the removal of the original inhabitants. A second division of lands now took place.
The town met several times to consider in what manner this division should be made. On the 2d of Jan. 1654, it was voted to divide the town into three parts or quarters, and to have the lands first divided in the quarters ; but this was not entirely sat- isfactory to the inhabitants. " Much weariness about these things," say the Records, took place before the system was matured. On the 8th of March, 1654, " at a publique training," nine men were chosen, " three out of each quarter, empowered by the town to hear and end former debat, according to their best light, and dis- cresion, and conscience ; only eight of the nine must agree to what is determined, or else nothing to be of force ; and none voted to the contrarie, but Georg Wheeler, Henry Woodies, Joshua Edmands, William Buttrick, and Thomas Stow." The labors of this committee resulted in the following agreement : -
" We whose names are under written conclude that 20 acres of meadow shall be resarved for a minister in the Hogepen-walke about Annursnake, and 20 acres of plowland out of the south quarter, and 20 acres of woodland in the east quarter. We agree also that 20 acres of woodland shall be resarved for the public good of the towne, lying neer the old hogepen, at each sid of the townes bounds line. - That some particular persons shall have some inlargement, whoe are short in lands, paying 12d. per acre, as others have don, and 6d. per acre, if the towne
5
-
34
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1654.
consent thereto : - the persons are as follow ; Georg Wheeler 20 acres ; Obadiah Wheeler 20 acres ; Michel Wood 12 acres ; Thomas Daken 10 acres ; Thomas Batman 15 acres ; Bapties Smedly 14 acres. These to have second divition as others have had. That all pooremen in the towne that have not commons to the number of four, shall be allowed so many as amounts to foure with what they have already, till they be able to purchase for themselves, or untill the townsmen shall see cause to take it from them, and bestow it on others that want : and we mean those poore men, that at the present are householders. And upon these conditions and those that folow, the Hogepen-walke is resigned up to the north quarter.
" The divitions of the heighwaies are as foloweth ; The north quarter are to keepe and maintaine all there heighwaies, and bridges, over the great river in there quarter ; and in respect of their greatness of charg thareabout, and in regard of the ease of the east quarter above the rest in there highwayes, they are to alow the north quarter three pounds. - The east quarter are to keepe and maintain all there heighwayes, and the bridge over the north river [Darby's bridge] and the heighway there to the heighland, by estimation 3 or 4 rods, where the commissioners of Concord and Lanchaster being chosen by there townes to lay out there heighwayes did appoint it. - The south quarter are to keepe and maintaine all there heighwayes and bridges over the south river, except that at the north river before expressed that is laid on the east quarter; the south river bridge being to be set where the aforesaid comisoners appointed it, as there agreement declares : and all these heighwayes and bridges are to be maintained for ever by the quarters on whom they are now cast. - And it is further concluded that if any damiag shall com to the towne by the neglect of any part of the towne in any part of there wayes, that part of the towne so neglecting either bridges or wayes, shall beare the damage and secure the rest of the towne. .
"The limits of ech quarter as foloweth ; - The north quarter by there familyes are from the north part of the training place to the great river and all on to the north sid thereof. - The east quarter by there familyes, are from Henry Farweles all east- wards with Thomas Brooke, Ensign Wheeler, Robert Meriam, Georg Meriam, John Adames, Richard Rice. - The south quar-
35
GENERAL HISTORY.
1654.]
ter by there familyes are all on the south and southwest side of the mill brooke except those before acsprest, with Luke Potter Georg Heaward, Mihel Wood, and Thomas Dane.
" We doe choose overseeres in ech quarter for the faithful per- formance of there duty in that case in all particulers, so far as may conduce for the profit and good of there quarters, as to make rates to pay workmen and to see that all persons come in seasonable time and keepe them to there bisiness faithfully, and keep accounts and so see the worke suffisiently done; and they are impoured to call fitt men and cattle in there quarter to the worke and pay them there wages; and if any shall refeuse to attend these nesery workes there names shall be returned to the selectmen of the towne, who shall impose findes according to law upon all such ofenders in that case. Also the overseeres as aforesaid shall keep an exact account of there owne time ex- pended, and shall have suffisient satisfaction for the same. The names of the overseeres as follow ; -- for the east quarter, En- sign Wheeler, and William Hartwell ; for the north quarter, John Smedly, and Thomas Batman ; for the south quarter Georg Wheeler, James Hosmer, Georg Heaward, and sargent Buss.
" This company doe for the present joyne to make rats in way as foloweth ; - the east end 2d. parts for all menes estates according as Mr. Bulkeley last rate was mad ; the north quarter 2d. parts ; and the south quarter 4d. parts.
Witness our hands this 7th of the 1st mo. 1654.
'It is further agreed by the nine men aforesaid, that there. shall be a parcell of wood lying on the north of the way that go- eth to Lancaster to the number of 5 acres, the most whereof is pines to be set out to Ensigne Wheeler, John Smedly and Georg Heaward for the use of the north bridge.'
SIMON WILLARD
ROBERT MERIAM
THOMAS BROOKS JOSEPH WHELER JAMES BLOOD GEORG WHELER
GEORG HEAWARD THOMAS BATMAN JOHN SMEDLY."
Regulations were established in each quarter, similar to those in wards of a city. Each chose its own officers, kept its own records, made its taxes, &c. The records of the south quarter (first commencing in 1654, in the hand-writing of Simon Willard, first
36
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1663.
quarter-clerk) are the only ones now extant. The second divis- ion of lands was made in the quarters, and afterwards recorded in the town book, in which the first and second divisions are particularly described. These municipal regulations were con- tinued in force about 50 years ; and the distinction which was then given to the different parts of the town, is still preserved.
To the oldest book of records in the clerk's office in Concord is prefixed an account of the proceedings of the town in relation to recording the individual titles to lands, from which it appears, that " the latter grants of land to particular persons were only written on paper books [?] as granted, and not in a register booke." The selectmen were desired to consider the expediency of obtain- ing " a new booke to record them and all other land that men now doe hold ; " and " the thing tending to pece and preven- ting of strife," they desired " the help herein " of their " Rever- end pastor Mr. Edward Bulkeley, Thomas Brooks, and liff. Jo- seph Wheeler, which company sett about it the 25th of Jan. 1663, and at the end of the day, concluded to call a meeting on the 29th of the aforesaid month, to come to a conclusion about transcribing every man's land in a new booke so that it might be for the comfort and peace of ourselves, and posterity after us." When the town was assembled, it was agreed, that a new book should be procured, - that " what is in the old booke that is useful shall be transcribed into the new, with all lands which men now hold ; "-" that every man that hath not his proportion of lands laid out too him, that is due to him, shall gitt it laid out by an artis " before 1665 ; - and that each one should give to the town clerk a description of their lands, approvd at a meeting of the inhabitants of the quarter in which he lives, and certified by the quarter-clerk.1
From these Records I have compiled the following table, which gives the greater part, though not all of the names of the proprietors of the town, at that time. The places of their resi- dence, when known, are indicated by the names under which they now pass.
1 For all the facts thus far in this chapter I am indebted to the the Town Records. The committee to divide the S. Quarter were William Wood, George Hayward, George Wheeler, William Buss, and John Miles. E, stands for east quarter ; N, for north quarter ; and S, for south quarter in . the table on the opposite page.
37
GENERAL HISTORY.
1666.]
Proprietors. No. lots. Acres. Residence. Tax in 1666.
Grace Bulkeley,
1 750
Thomas Wheeler, sen. 16 373 E. Jotham Wheeler's,
Francis Fletcher,
17 437 E.
Richard Rice, 3 .189 E.
Widow Heald,
6 161 N. Joshua Buttrick's,
John Heald,
4 86 N. north of the above,
William Buttrick,
12 215 N. Jonas Buttrick's, 9 534 N. John Flint's,
James Blood, sen. James Blood, jun. John Smedly,
12 660 N. Rev. Dr. Ripley's,
Thomas Bateman,
17 668 N. south of J. Jones's, 7 246 N. near R. French's,
Baptise Smedley,
Humphrey Barret,
10 186 N. Ephraim Brown's, 11 316 N. Abel B. Heywood's, 5 291 N. Barrett's Mills, 16 259 E. near Alms-house,
George Meriam,
1 61 N. near T. Blood's,
John Blood, Robert Blood, John Jones,
9 351 N. James Jones's,
Joshua Brooks,
11 195 E. Isaac Brooks's,
Caleb Brooks,
12 150 E.
Eliphalet Fox,
14 106 E. Bedford Road,
Thomas Pellet,
1
14
Joseph Dean,
1 22 S. William Heyden's,
Thomas Pellet,
7 244
Joseph Dean,
John Meriam,
8 262 E. Virginia road, 20 241 E. Bedford road,
William Hartwell, John Hartwell,
3 17 E. do.
Nathaniel Ball,
11 137 E. do.
William Taylor,
14 117 E. do.
John Farwell, 18 230 E.
Joseph Wheeler, 29 357
William Baker, 5 43 E.
William Buss,
19 319 S. Elijah Wood's, £ 5 182
Moses Wheat,
22 339 E. Bedford road,
Luke Potter, 22 249 S. 2 10 0
Robert Meriam,
16 595 E. Eb. Hubbard's,
John Flint,
Richard Temple,
4 169 N. do.
38
HISTORY OF CONCORD. [1666.
John Heywood,
13 285 S.
1 15 0
George Hayward,
10 505 S.
3 6 10
Daniel Dean,
1 600 S. Jones's tavern
2 2 0
Henry Woodhouse,
Joshua Wheeler,
11 77 S. John Vose's,
1 19 9
Boaz Brown,
6 86 N. The Dakin house,
Thomas Brown,
14 186 N. Reuben French's 4 51 S. Amos Baker's,
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