USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 12
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Burr took the blame of their failings upon themselves, and freely submitted to the judgement and advice given, to which the rest of the Church yielded a silent assent. And God was much glorified in the close thereof, and Mr. Burr did fully renounce these errours of which he was suspected, confessing that he had been in the dark about those points, till God, by occasion of this agitation, had cleared them to him ; which he did with much meekness and tears. But that holy man continued not long after, being observed to express so much of heaven in his publick ministry, as his hearers judged he would not continue long upon the earth, as it came to pass."
Mr. Burr died Aug. 9, 1641, and was buried in our burial ground, but no stone marks the spot.
Sept. 11, of this year, there was " a great training at Boston two days," says Winthrop ; and adds fur- ther, " About 1200 men were exercised in most sorts of land service ; yet it was observed that there was no man drunk, though there was plenty of wine and strong beer in the town, not an oath sworn, no quarrel, nor any hurt done." In this " great training " our Dorchester soldiers were of course included and took the right; for Prince says that the town, "in all military musters or civil assem- blies where Dignity is regarded, us'd to have the precedency." This muster might with great pro- priety be regarded as a model, which probably no one since has attained to.
The fishing business was actively carried on this season, and according to Winthrop 300,000 dry fish were sent to the market.
1642. Selectmen-John Glover, Edward Breck, 15
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John Holman, James Bates, Christopher Gibson, Nicholas Upsall, Thomas Clark. "This year it was ordered that every person that had any matter to offer to ye Town must first acquaint ye Selectmen with it, or else it was not to be debated on, under a penalty ; agreeable to ye present Law, requiring all ye matter of ye meeting to be expressed in ye war- rant."
This summer there was a ship built at Dorchester.
The 19th of September of this year, Winthrop says-" A man travelling late from Dorchester to Watertown lost his way, and being benighted and in a swamp, about 10 of the clock, hearing some wolves howl, and fearing to be devoured by them, he cried out, 'help, help.' One that dwelt within hearing, over against Cambridge, hallooed to him. The other still cried out, which caused the man to fear that the indians had gotten some Englishman and were torturing him, but not daring to go to him, he discharged a piece two or three times. This gave the alarm to Watertown, and so it went as far as Salem and Dorchester ; but about one or two of the clock no enemy appearing, etc., all retired but the watch."
The winter of 1641-2 was very cold, and the harbor was frozen " to sea so far as one could well discern."
There was so little immigration this year, that there was not much demand for land or cattle. As early as 1635, it is supposed that there were about 120 cows owned in the town, and raising cattle for
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the new comers must have been a very lucrative business in the plantation.
As there had been some trouble and controversy about wages, the following order was passed, viz .:- " It is ordered that from the 15th day of the first month (March) to the 25th day of the eighth month, it shall not be lawful for common labourers, as hoers, reapers, tailors, &c. who were used to take after two shillings the day, to take above 28ª a day; and from the 25th day of the 8th month to the first day of the 10th month, 15ª a day; and from the said first day of the 10th month unto the first day of the 12th month, 12ª the day; and from the said first day of the 12th month unto the 15th day of the first month, 15ª a day."
1643. This year Miantonimo, one of the most high minded and honorable of Indian chiefs, fell into the hands of Uncas, the chief of the Mohegans, and through the influence of the Government of the Massachusetts Colony was coldly butchered. Judg- ing of the act at this distance of time, it may well be considered one of a most flagrant character, al- though committed by our forefathers.
The imprisonment of Samuel Gorton, of Rhode Island, was an important event of the year, and was the cause of no little excitement through the Colo- ny. It is now difficult to ascertain what great sins he was guilty of, unless they were those of inde- pendence and liberality ; but being the weaker party, he was obliged to capitulate and suffer. The offi- cers of the company who went to arrest him were
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Capt. George Cook, Humphrey Atherton and Ed. Johnson. On their way to Boston, they passed through Dorchester, where were assembled a large number of persons to witness the prisoners. Gorton was confined in Charlestown, and his seven confede- rates in seven different towns, with irons on their legs. Francis Weston (one of the number), was confined in Dorchester.
In animadverting upon the acts of our ancestors, it is not to censure them as sinners above all others ; on the contrary, they were far beyond their genera- tion in all that exalts the human character. They were educated under the influence of many of the absurd superstitions of their age, and should not be condemned by the standard of our own. Those who so flippantly censure them as bigots, fanatics and persecutors, exhibit but little knowledge of the customs and prejudices of the generation by which they should be judged. This was probably the only land ever colonized, where conquest, plunder, gold or roguery, was not the moving cause. Although they whipped and banished, it was in a great mea- sure to escape the contamination of the vicious and idle who invariably hover about all new settlements, and whose foothold here, they were early determined to prevent. The great Christian doctrine of tole- ration, it must be remembered, had not been even dreamed of then, and they were the most tolerant of their generation. They were an inestimable race of men and women; they helped the morning to dawn apace, and this western wilderness to " blos-
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som as the rose;" they had seen oppression and despised it, "and scorned the disgrace of slavish knees."
One of our Dorchester men returning to England this year, was glad to retrace his journey. Win- throp gives the following account of him.
" One Richard -, servant to one
Williams, of Dorchester, being come out of service, fell to work at his own hand and took great wages above others, and would not work but for ready money. By this means, in a year or little more, he had scraped together about 25 pounds, and then re- turned with his prey into England, speaking evil of the country by the way. He was not gone far, after his arrival, but the cavaliers met him and eased him of his money; so he knew no better way but to return to New England again, to repair his loss in that place which he had so much disparaged."
Hubbard relates a curious affair under date of 1643. He says, "On the 18th of January there were strange sights seen about Castle Island, and the Governour's Island over against it, in form like a man, that would sometimes cast flames and sparkles of fire. This was seen about eight of the clock in the evening by many. About the same time a voice was heard between Boston and Dorchester upon the water in a dreadful manner, crying out, 'boy, boy, come away, come away;' and then it shifted sud- denly from one place to another, a great distance, about twenty times. About fourteen days after, the same voice was heard in the like dreadful manner ;
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divers sober persons were ear witnesses hereof, at both times, on the other side of the town, towards Noddle's Island."
There is no record of officers for the town this year.
1644. Selectmen-John Glover, Nathaniel Pat- ten, Mr. Howard, Thomas Wiswell, Nathaniel Dun- can, Humphrey Atherton and Mr. Jones.
Blake says, "This year there were wardens ap- pointed to take care of and manage ye affairs of ye school : they were to see that both ye master and schollar performed their Duty, and to Judge of and End any difference that might arise between master and scholar, or their Parents, according to sundry Rules and Directions there set down. The first wardens were Mr. Howard, Dea. Wiswell and Mr. Atherton." They were chosen for life, unless they removed from the town or for some other weighty reason. This might be called the first school com- mittee, an office which has probably been filled in the town from that day to the present.
By the following order it appears that this town furnished a large part of the appropriation for forti- fying Castle Island.
" 20 of the 3 mo. 1664. It is ordered by a major vote of the town, that the raters shall make a rate of one hundred pounds towards the fortification of Castle Island and providing powder and shot and other for the great guns ; to be delivered into the hands of Nathaniel Duncan and Humphrey Ather- ton, overseers of the work, who are to be accounta- ble to the town for the disposing of it."
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The General Court had voted to desert this island in 1643, " being weary of the charge of maintain- ing" it. Boston, Roxbury, Cambridge and Water- town joined with Dorchester in undertaking the fortification, the General Court furnishing £100, but it is believed that this town furnished a larger sum than either of the other towns. It was in fact nearer to Dorchester than to either of them, South Boston then being within its limits. This Island, it is supposed, was first fortified in 1633, with mud walls. Capt. Roger Clap says these " stood divers years. First Capt. Simpkins was Commander there- of, and after him, Lieut. Monish, for a little space. When the mud walls failed, it was built again with Pine Trees and Earth ; and Capt. Davenport was Commander. When that decayed, which was within a little time, there was a small Castle built with brick walls, and had three rooms in it ; a dwelling Room below, a lodging Room over it, the Gun room over that, wherein stood six very good Saker Guns, and over it upon the Top Three lesser Guns."
On the General Court Records is the following, under date of 1641, viz., " Capt. Sedgewick is or- dered to take care of the Castle this year ensuing, to begin on the first of the 5 month. And he is to agree with the Gunner and his man, allowing them 250 bushels of indian corne, & if the Gunner will accept of it, 50 bushels more of indian corne the Capt. hath granted for other necessaries."
In July, 1665, Capt. Richard Davenport was struck by lightning at the Castle, and killed, and
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Aug. 10th following, Capt. Roger Clap was appoint- ed by the General Court in his place, and continued there about 21 years, until he was 77 years of age. He then resigned, rather than carry into effect some of the infamous requisitions of Sir Edmond Andros. His biographer says of him, " In his time it might be seen that Religious and well disposed men might take upon them the calling of a souldier, without danger of hurting their morals or their good name," for he would have none but pious as well as brave men under his command.
1645. Selectmen-Humphrey Atherton, Roger Clap, John Wiswell, Thomas Jones, Hopestill Fos- ter, George Weeks and William Blake.
This year £250 was raised to build a new meeting house ; the committee for the purpose were John Glover, Nathaniel Duncan, Humphrey Atherton, Thomas Jones, John Wiswell, Deacon Clap and Robert Howard. It was built near or on the spot of the first meeting house, at the northerly end of Pleasant street, and was subsequently moved on to Meeting-house Hill. The first meeting house was a rude building, thatched, with a stair-way on the outside, and was insufficient to answer the growing wants of the plantation. More than a month before the above sum was raised by vote, it was agreed, " at the general meeting of the town, for peace and love's sake, that there shall be a new meeting house built on Mr. Howard's land in the most convenient place betwixt Mr. Stoughton's garden and his barn."
Dec. 17. " There was given to Edward Breck,
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by the hands of most of the inhabitants of the town, Smelt Brook Creek, on the condition that he doth set a mill there." This mill was sold to William Robinson, who was killed by being drawn under its cog-wheel. It was then sold to Timothy Tileston, and has been in the last-named family to the present day.
This year the town was ordered by the General Court to pay for the support of the Castle £20 16s. in wheat, peas, rye, barley, Indian corn or fat cattle.
Nathaniel Duncan of this town, who was undoubt- edly one of the best accountants in the colony, was chosen Auditor General by the General Court, with a salary of £30 per year.
This year Capt. Thomas Hawkins, former resident of this town, but now of Boston, built in the latter place the famous ship Seafort, of 400 tons,. " and had set her out," says Winthrop, "with much strength of ordnance, and ornament of carving and painting, etc." He was cast away on the coast of Spain, as was also a London ship which sailed in company, and many passengers lost. Capt. Kear- man, of the other ship, was lost; but Hawkins got to England, and being employed in a voyage the next year, was cast away at the same place.
1646. Selectmen-John Glover, Mr. Jones, Ed- ward Breck, John Wiswell, John Holland, Edward Clap and Wm. Clark.
This year £40 was raised for finishing the meet- ing house, and "making the walls decent within and without." A way was also laid out to that part
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of Neponset usually known by the name of Pine Neck. It began at the house of John Hill, and run to Robert Pierce's, and was a rod and a half broad.
The winter of 1645-6 was very cold, and extended very far south. Winthrop says that in Virginia, " the ships were frozen up six weeks." This year the enormous quantity of eight hundred butts of Spanish wine was brought over, and there was great difficulty in collecting the duties thereon, and finally they were forced to break open the cellar doors to take it by force. Most of the discreet men regretted the encouragement given to the importation, and the General Court had a short time previous made an order for an impost duty of ten shillings on every butt. ,Hubbard says, " had there been a greater impost laid thereon, it might have turned the stream of traffick into another channel, that might have been beneficial to the place."
The office of Constable was a very important one, and many of those chosen paid a fine rather than to serve. Their badge of office was a black staff, from 5 to 5 1-2 feet long, with five or six inches at the ends tipped with brass.
It was about this time that the traffic in slaves be- gan. Our progenitors have been accused of indif- ference, if nothing worse, in regard to this nefarious traffic; but the following extract from the Colony Records shows that they set their faces like a flint against it.
1646, 4th November. "The Gen'all Corte con- ceiving themselues bound by ye first opertunity to
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bear Witness against ye haynos & crying sinn of man stealing, as also to p scribe such timely redresse for what is past, and such a law for ye future as may sufficiently deter all others belonging to us to have to do in such vile and most odious courses, iustly ab- hored of all good and iust men, do order yt ye negro interpreter wth others unlawfully taken, be ye first opertunity (at ye charge of ye country for p sent), sent to his native country of Ginny, & a letter wth him of ye indignation of ye Corte thereabout, and justice hereof, desireing or honored Gov'n' would please put this order in execution."
1647. Selectmen-John Wiswell, Thomas Jones, Wm. Blake, Wm. Clark, Joseph Farnsworth, Wm. Sumner and Geo. Weeks.
There had been great trouble heretofore in rela- tion to fences, especially in the great lots, so called. It appears that these lots began a little south of the Meeting-house Hill, and extended to Neponset river. This year the town chose Isaac Heath, John Johnson and Wm. Parks, all of Roxbury, to view the fences and apportion to each man his share, "to the end that damage may be prevented, and peace procured and established among them all."
1648. Selectmen-Humphrey Atherton, John Wiswell, John Glover, Roger Clap and Thomas Jones.
Another attempt was made at this time to secure a ferry over Neponset river, between Dorchester and Braintree, so that travellers need not be obliged to head the stream. It is supposed that former projects
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had failed to be a profitable business, and no person was now willing to undertake it unless a boat-house and land were provided. The General Court gave John Glover the power to grant it to any person for seven years, or to keep it himself forever.
1649. This year Rev. John Wilson, Jr., son of Rev. John Wilson, of Boston, was settled as " coad- jutor to Rev. Richard Mather." After preaching here about two years, he removed to Medfield, where he preached about forty years, and died Aug. 23, 1691. " The Lord's day preceding his translation, he preached both forenoon and afternoon, fervently and powerfully. The Lord's day that he expired, the greater part of his Church were present to behold and lament his remove from them."
By a letter of the Rev. John Eliot, dated 13th of 9 mo., 1649, in Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections, it appears that a gentleman in London gave £10 for the schooling of the Indians. He says, "five pounds I gave to a grave woman in Cambridge, who taught the Indian children last yeare; and God so blessed her labours, that they came on very prettily. The other five pounds I gave to the school master of Dorchester, and thither the children of those Indians that lived there about went, with a like good successe, if not better, because the children were bigger and more capable."
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CHAPTER XII.
Orders of the General Court and of the Town-(Continued.)
1650. Selectmen - John Glover, Roger Clap, Hopestill Foster, William Clark and John Smith.
The General Court allowed Capt. Humphrey Atherton £10 for his services to the Narraganset country, and a reasonable compensation to his sar- geant ; his twenty men two shillings a day for fif- teen days, and 1s. 6d. per day for the two men who attended the horses.
1651. Selectmen - Humphrey Atherton, Wil- liam Blake, sen., James Bates, Mr. Jones and Robert Howard. " This year the bridge was built over Ne- ponset river, by Henry Whites."
Previously there had been a ferry, which was kept by Bray Wilkins.
1652. Selectmen -Humphrey Atherton, Wil- liam Sumner, sen., Robert Howard, Thomas Jones and Hopestill Foster.
The minister, Mr. Mather, had £100 granted to him this year, to be raised by a town rate. This sum was a very liberal compensation for those days, and was continued for a long time. There was also a collection, this year, for the maintenance of the President and Fellows of Harvard College.
16
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1653. Selectmen-Humphrey Atherton, Richard Baker, Richard Leeds, Nathaniel Patten and Roger Clap.
This year the town chose Dea. John Wiswall and Ensign Hopestill Foster " to meet with the commit- tee chosen by the General Court, to view a planta- tion at Natick-to know what is meet to be done, and what their desire is."
Early in this year the church sold their house, and about three acres of land, to Robert Howard ; Stephen Hoppin was living in the house at the time. This house was left to the church by Mrs. Tilly.
1654. Selectmen - Lt. Roger Clap, Nathaniel Patten, Dea. John Wiswall, Ensign Hopestill Fos- ter and Thomas Jones.
The first report of disbursements made by the town, is under date of this year ; and as it is a mat- ter of curiosity when compared with the Auditors' reports of these times, it is here inserted. The amount assessed was £40 14s. 11d. for the town and castle.
IMPRIMIS. To the Captain of the Castle, £20 16s. 0d. Item. For carrying of corn to the tide mill, for Captain of the Castle, . 1 0 ·
Item. For driving up and setting down, and for keep- ing of the corn that was with Goodman Mead, . 9 0
Item. For the Secretary, for writing Court orders, 1 8 4
Item. For two quire of paper, 1 0
Item. For a messenger to go to Mr. Collicot's, about Thompson's Island, 1 4
Item. For a board and nails and work to stop the place in the gallery of the meeting-house, 2 11
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Item. For making the fence by Goodman Toplif's, 7 6
Item. Paid Abraham Howard and Thomas Trott, be- ing constables, to make up their rate, being short, 1 6 0
Item. To Thomas Tolman, towards a pair of wheels for the Gun, . 1 0 0
Item. Paid to a man of Dedham for killing two wolves, 19 0
Item. To Goodman Tolman, for killing a wolf, .
1
0 0
Item. Paid John Smith, his one rate, 14s. ; to Rich- ard Hall, 6s. 2d .; and 11s. 8d. by John Minot, which he should have laid out on the meeting-house, &c. 1 11 10
Item. To Goody George,
Item. It is voted that the 19s. 3d. that was due from Nicholas White for his rate unpaid, should be abated, 19 3
3 10 0
Item. For Thompson's Island, the rate to the County being 16s. 8d., and the Town rate being 8s. 4d. It is not thoroughly agreed on, only for the present we crave allowance, but shall do our best to get it, if you can set us in some way to do it, 1 5 0
Item. For Jeremiah Ryland, his rate, no hope to get it, . ·
1 0 Sum total laid out to this 4th day of 10th month, 1654, is
£34 19 2
1655. Selectmen-John Wiswall, Hopestill Fos- ter, Edward Breck, Nathaniel Glover and Nathan- iel Patten.
This year the road from Braintree (now Quincy) to Roxbury was laid out. The committee were Nicholas Clap and William Clarke of Dorchester, and Moses Paine and Gregory Belcher of Braintree. The road was to be four rods wide, and run as fol-
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lows : Beginning " near Phinney Graves' house, the way to lie on the south-east side of, in the old bea- ten way, and so to a low white oak marked on the same side of the way, and so by the marked trees to the brook; and so from the brook, the way being bad in the winter, we agreed to take about a rod into Anthony Gulliver's lot, where the fence inter- rupts the way ; and so to a marked post towards John Gill's house, and from thence to another mark- ed post against John Gill's house ; from thence to a stake in Elder Kingsley's yard, and from thence to the mill in the old beaten road way, and from the mill to two great rocks on the lower side of the way, at Robert Spurr and Henry Merrifield's houses, and from thence to the new field by the marked trees in the old road way, and so through the new field where the way formerly was, and from thence by the marked trees on the left hand to Roxbury bounds."
This must have been the road which runs over Milton Hill from Quincy to the Lower Mills, and from thence over the upper road in Dorchester, now Washington Street, to Roxbury.
This year the General Court having enjoined the selectmen of every town to have a " vigilant eye to see that all children, and such as were within their charge, be catechized in some orthodox cate- chism," the following order was passed-viz. :
" We, the Selectmen of the town of Dorchester, for the time being, in our obedience to authority, and in pursuit of so useful and profitable work, do hereby will and require all parents, masters, and all that have the charge and oversight of any youth within this
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plantation, to catechize their children, servants and others within their several charge, in some sound and orthodox catechism, that they may be able to render account thereof when they shall be thereunto required, either in the Church, or privately, as upon advice shall be judged most conducive to the general good. And fail not herein upon such penalty as the Court shall see reason to inflict, on information given against such as shall be found delinquent therein."
By order of General Court, the bounds between Dorchester and Dedham were fixed. The persons who were appointed for that purpose were William Sumner, William Clarke, Nathaniel Glover, and Mahaleel Munnings, for Dorchester; and Joshua Fisher, Daniel Fisher, and William Avery, for Dedham.
1656. Selectmen - Nathaniel Patten, Edward Breck, Hopestill Foster, Mr. Jones and Nathaniel Glover. William Blake, sen., was chosen Recorder, and was to have 20s. and be rate free. He was the first Recorder chosen.
A strict order was issued by the Selectmen, this year, in relation to cattle being allowed or suffered to destroy the corn, grass, &c., of persons not their owners. It begins as follows: “ Forasmuch as righteousness among men is not only the command- ment of God, but the way to continue love and peace, &c." It then goes on to state the penalty for trespassing.
Many of the early documents of the town are drawn up with great care and ability.
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