USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 19
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1707. This year the town voted "that the land belonging to Dorchester beyond the blue hills should be called by the name of Dorchester New Grant." It was set off as a Precinct as far as Mashapoag pond and Moose hill, and " ye Meeting-house ordered to be sett " upon Packeen Plain.
The Church Records say, " Apr. 21, the Rev. Mr. Torrey, of Weymouth, deceased, who had been 50
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
years in the ministry ; an able, painful, faithful min- ister of Christ, Ætatis anno 76 or 77. He was born some weeks before his time, and was kept warm in lamb skins till the full proper time came."
There were several deaths of aged people in the town this year. Among them, widow Mary Max- field, aged about 86 or 87 years ; "Mr. Nathaniel Clap, sen'r, a choice man ;" and " Brother John Ca- pen." Oct. 21st, aged Father Wales was buried. " Nov. 12th, Deacon Preston, sen'r, of like age, viz., 86 (or, as some aver, 88), was buried."
1708. Mr. Hubbard and others petitioned the town for liberty to dig iron ore in the undivided lands, and the town chose a committee to look into the business and see what trespass had been com- mitted in digging for that purpose.
This year the town passed a vote, " that any per- son within the town killing any grown blackbirds, from the 1st of April unto the last of May, should have twelve pence pr dozen for them, and six pence pr dozen for all young ones fledged." A vote simi- lar to the above was passed for many years, and much money paid to those who brought the heads as a proof. These birds were usually denominated crow or stare, red-winged, and hen or grey black- birds.
Wm. Noahaton, Samuel Mamantaug and Amos Noahaton, Indians of Punkapaug, in behalf of their tribe, thanked the town for its care of them and their interests, in settling the boundaries between them and their white neighbors ; and understanding that the town was offended because they had leased
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
their land to the English, promised to lease no more, and gave up all their right in that parcel of land about the Punkapaug Meeting-house, containing about three acres, for a burying place and training field.
Elder Samuel Clap died Oct. 16th of this year. He was the eldest son of Capt. Roger Clap, and much respected. He was "long time a Captain, and often a representative ; a very worthy man ; was Ruling Elder of ye Church," " aged abt. 74 years."
1709. David Colson, of Boston, fellmonger, pe- titioned the town for liberty to erect a mill on Nepon- set river, he having bought land for that purpose of Mr. Babcock, on the Milton side. The selectmen made an agreement with him, giving him leave on certain conditions. Mr. Colson, early in 1710, also purchased land of Col. Hutchinson, on the Dorches- ter side of the river, for the purpose of erecting his mill.
" Item, news is come of her Majesty's intentions to make an attack upon Canada; which the Lord succeed to his glory and N. E.'s safety and peace, for Christ's sake, if it be his blessed will. Amen."
The above extract from the Church Records shows the probable reason why six companies of soldiers were raised. Two of these companies were com- posed of Indians.
1710. Nothing out of the common course seems to have transpired this year.
1711. Zabdiel Boylston, of Boston, " chirurgeon," sued the town to recover £31 14s 6d for the care of
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Mary Lyon, who was wounded on the road to Bos- ton. A committee was chosen to defend the case, with power to employ an attorney. The town was, however, obliged to pay the Doctor, and a rate of £40 was made for the purpose, a petition to the General Court upon the subject being also presented.
1712. The town, in 1710, having voted that if any persons would build a wharf at a place called Wales's Creek, they and their heirs should enjoy it forever, this year Standfast Foster, Ebenezer Daven- port, Joseph Hall, Preserved Capen, Nathan Brad- ley, Francis Price, Remember Preston, Jonathan Clap, Ebenezer Moseley, Ebenezer Williams, John Moseley and Humphrey Atherton, agreed to build it on those conditions, and the town, through a com- mittee chosen for the purpose, laid out a " way for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of the town 'of Dorchester." This "way" is now called Creek Street, and runs east from Pleasant Street, opposite the house of the late Samuel Downer.
Rev. Mr. Danforth, this year, gave up his right to the "ministry house " and land, the town agree- ing to pay him on that account three pounds a year. It is probable that he built, at this time, the house which he afterwards occupied, and which is now standing in Bowdoin Street, opposite the en- trance to the mansion of the late Rev. Dr. Harris.
" March 9th, Joseph Bird died by a wound in his forehead, occasioned by his gun flying out of ye stock when he fired at Fowl, being upon ye water in his Cannoo." There were many accidents recorded from the use of guns ; a great deal of gunning being
29
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
done by the inhabitants of the town, especially for sea fowl. John Pierce, of Dorchester, was one of the most noted sportsmen in the vicinity. He was great grandfather of the late Rev. John Pierce, D.D., who died in Brookline, Aug. 23d, 1849. John, the sportsman, was born in Dorchester in 1668. He spent much time in killing wild fowl. It is said, upon good authority, that he kept an account of the brants shot by him-they being then, as now, considered a superior quality of game-and they amounted to thirty thousand. He did not, like many less skilful gunners, lose his life from so constant a use of fire- arms, but died in consequence of a fall, January 27, 1744.
1713. " Voted that forty pounds a year of the town's proper gift, should be a settled standing salary for the schoolmaster, according to Mr. Stoughton's will."
The proprietors, this year, were incorporated into a distinct body from the town, and were henceforth called " The Proprietors of the Undivided Lands." This body held its meetings until after 1750.
For a long time there had been a difficulty about the boundary line of Dorchester. The fact of its running so far into the wilderness accounts for this. The General Court had previously appointed Samuel Thaxter and Jacob Thompson to notify the towns concerned, and May 4th, of this year, the agents ap- pointed by the different towns met in Attleboro', at the house of Mr. Doggett, and proceeded to seek for " Angle tree," which they succeeded in finding by the aid of some of the old inhabitants, who said
V
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it was the same that was marked for the boundary line in 1664. From thence they run the line to Ac- cord Pond, and found the distance to be twenty-five and a half miles and twenty rods. Their report was accepted by the Representatives, and consented to by the Governor, although the gentlemen appointed by the towns of Attleboro' and Norton would not acknowledge the tree, nor be concerned in running the line. Perambulating the lines of the town, in those days, through swamps, forests and under-brush, and sleeping at night upon the ground, was a labor which few among us would now be found hardy enough to endure.
1714. This year it was voted " that the town's books should be new bound " as soon as possible.
June 11th, Dr. Smith died.
The town voted to have stairs made in the meet- ing-house, from the beams up to the turret, and that the meeting-house " be repaired with all speed."
1715. The town voted, this year, to sell " Little Woods," so called, "leaving sufficient highway for them that have occasion for the same." This is the spot which has now been known for many years as Swan's woods, near Roxbury line. It was not sold, however, until 1730.
The first light-house in Boston Harbor was erected this year, on Light-House or Beacon Island, the location of the present " Boston Light House." It is the southerly part of the Great Brewster, and connected therewith, at low water, by a bar.
1716. February 19th, "fell ye remarkable great snow, after a moderate winter."
.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
" January 8th, Daniel Ellen's confession was read and accepted, and he was released from the excom- munication inflicted on him about 37 years."
1717. The town granted liberty to Elijah and Samuel Danforth to build a corn mill on a stream in the new grant, on twelfth division. The spot granted was called Pacomit. Afterwards the twelfth division was incorporated as the town of Stoughton, a large part of the voters of Dorchester signing an article in the warrant for the town meeting to con- sider the subject.
The Church Records say, "Feb. 6th, snow in drifts 25 feet deep ; in the woods, a yard and more on the level."
" Aug. 15th. In our village, seventy sick."
This year the line was run between Dorchester, and Attleboro' and Norton, the two latter towns probably agreeing to the boundary line established by the General Court in 1713.
1718. It is stated in the Church Records :- " In about three months have deceased in full communi- cants in Dorchester, besides Deacon Blake, these :--- Capt. Ebenezer Billings, Esq., Capt. Roger Billings, Mr. Desire Clap, Mr. Ebenezer Williams, sen'r, and his wife, Mr. Benjamin Leeds, Mr. Samuel Hall, the widow Robinson, and the wife of John Glover."
Ebenezer Holmes, this year, entered a dissent against the Indian tenants having liberty to vote.
1719. Elder Hopestill Clap, brother of Elder Samuel, died Sept. 2d. Upon his grave-stone is the following, written by Rev. John Danforth.
.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
" Here lies Interred ye Body of Mr. Hopestill Clap, who Deceased Sepr. 2d, 1719, aged 72 years. His Dust waits till ye Iubile, Shall then Shine brighter than ye Skie ;
Shall meet & joine to part no more, His Soul that Glorify'd before.
Pastors and Churches happy be
With Ruling Elders such as he :
Present Useful, Absent Wanted, Liv'd Desired, Died Lamented."
Nathaniel Hubbard, Esq., was about this time chosen moderator of the town meetings. He appears to have been a new man in the town, and lived in the south part.
1720. The General Court confirmed to the town their old boundary line on the Plymouth Colony, as granted in 1637 and 1638, as ascertained in 1664, and purchased of the Indians in 1684. It appears that Daniel Howard, Robert Howard, Joseph Snell and Ephraim Fobes, had become squatters on some land in the south part of the town, and it became necessary to take out a writ of trespass, before they could be brought to terms.
1721. This year the small pox went through Boston ; and many in this town also had it (82 in number), 13 of whom died-Edward and Samuel Payson and Nathaniel Butt among the number. The mortality from the disease seems to have been very nearly the same in the whole neighborhood, that it was in Dorchester, as here stated from the Church Records. It was calculated that in Boston and the neighboring towns, 5759 persons had the small pox in the natural way during the year 1721 and the beginning of 1722, and that 844 died. Inoculation
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
of small pox was this year introduced into the vici- nity of Boston by Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, before it had been tried in any other of the colonies, or even in England except on a few convicts. It produced great excitement, like all reforms ; and, strange as it may appear, Cotton Mather favored its trial and had faith in its efficacy. Nearly all the physicians, as well as most of the clergy, were opposed to the practice, and in July of this year the Selectmen of Boston forbade it. Notwithstanding this strong opposition, Dr. B. in less than a year had inoculated 247 persons, and other medical men 39; and of these 286 cases only 6 died. The utility of the practice was soon established beyond dispute, and was continued until Dr. Jenner's discovery of the milder preventive, vaccination.
1722. Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Rev. John Dan- forth, died July 6th of this year, in the 59th year of her age. Mr. Henry Leadbetter, sen., died April 20th ; and Elder Samuel Topliff, Oct. 12th.
Philip Withington and Joseph Leeds were chosen tythingmen this year, which is supposed to be the first year that such officers were chosen. The an- nual choice of them was continued until it became a mere farce, and one of the last chosen in the town was an old man nearly or quite blind, who lived out of the way, near Pine Garden. The duty of these officers was to prevent an improper use of the Sab- bath, and very discreet conduct only would satisfy the demands of the law.
1723. Dea. Jonathan Clap, a very pious and useful man, and much respected, died January 2d,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1723-24, aged about 41 years. He was a large real estate owner, and was proprietor of the mill known as " Clap's Mill," which stood on the Creek near the foot of Willow Court. He was a brother of Rev. Nathaniel Clap, the famous minister of Newport, R. I., whose advice to children makes the concluding paragraph in the old New England Primer. He was father of Noah Clap, A.M., so many years in the town's service. Lieut. Samuel Clap died January 30th, succeeding. Blake says, " both of them very pious and useful men, and much lamented."
February 24th, of this year, there was an exceed- ingly high tide, probably the highest known here, until April, 1852.
1724. This year a portion of the south precinct of the town was set off to Wrentham, on petition of Jonathan Blake, Solomon Hews, and others. This petition, like most similar ones since, was opposed by the town ; but it would seem that sufficient cause was shown by the petitioners for their request ; viz., " that they lye thirty miles from the old meeting- house, and fifteen from the southern meeting-house at Puncapaug, so that they are under great disad- vantages for attending the public worship there."
The size of the town of Dorchester can be ima- gined when we find that it extended from Dor- chester Point (now South Boston Point), over against the Castle (now Fort Independence), to within 160 rods of the line of Rhode Island ; about 35 miles as " ye road goeth." The part this year set off to Wrentham, was larger than one half of the present town of Canton. An excellent and authen-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
tic account of the matter has been published by Ellis Ames, Esq., of Canton. The town has been subdi- vided, and portions set off as follows :- Milton, in 1662; part of Wrentham, in 1724; Stoughton, in 1726 ; Sharon, 1765 ; Foxborough, 1778 ; Canton, 1779. A strip was also set off to Dedham, proba- bly in 1739; and the north part of the town has lost a portion of its territory, which has been added to Boston, at two separate times-the first in 1804, and the last in 1855. The town was formerly bounded by Boston, Roxbury, Dedham, Wrentham, Taunton, Bridgewater and Braintree.
Mr. William Royal, one of the aged citizens of the town, died Nov. 7th of this year. He was a son of William Royal, of North Yarmouth, Me., who was undoubtedly the person named by Hazard as being sent over as a cooper and cleaver in 1629. He was a prominent man in Maine, and a member of the Assembly in 1648. A river in North Yar- mouth bears his name. His children were-Wil- liam, born in 1640, who died as above; John, and a daughter who married Amos Stevens. John was taken prisoner by the Indians, but was after- wards ransomed. William, of Dorchester, had a son, Hon. Isaac Royal, born in 1672, who was a man of wealth and distinction. He erected in our old burying ground a very large, substantial and expensive tomb for his father. He spent about 40 years of his life in Antigua, but returned to Charles- town, Mass., in July, 1737, where he died June 7th, 1739, and at his own desire was interred with his father. His character, as recorded on his monu-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
ment, stood high as a christian, patriot and states- man.
1725. " Sept. 26. About a fortnight ago, Jo- seph Maudsly, Mr. John Preston, Mr. Soper, and Mrs. Butt's son, on a fishing voyage, turned into a cove at the Eastward, in their vessel, with Joseph Maudsly's servant boy, also Mr. Hunnewell, of Bos- ton, went in with them, also Mr. Cox strove to go . in, but the fog hindered him ; and the Indians bar- barously murdered all that went in, but the boy." (The boy was redeemed in 1728.)
Drake, in his History of Boston, says that in 1725 bears were very plenty, twenty being killed in one week within two miles of Boston.
1726. August 25th, of this year, Capt. Samuel Paul died. . He had been Town Clerk eleven years.
This year the south part of the town was set off and incorporated into a town called Stoughton, which has since been subdivided. When the ques- tion came before the town of Dorchester, to see - whether they would agree to its being set off, the vote was 34 in favor and 29 against it.
1727. A Province Tax was this year assessed on the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the town - of Dorchester, to the amount of 821. 10s. 11d. ; and the aggregate of the property stands thus :-
REAL ESTATE.
PERSONAL ESTATE.
Rateable Polls, 252
Decked Vessels, tons 64
Not rateable "
24
Open
66
68
Total, 276
Total, 132
30
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Houses,
117 .
Male Slaves, 10
Mills,
6
Female “
7
Orchards, acres
250g
Oxen,
157
Mowing,
1834量
Cows, 661
Pasture,
28733
Horses, 207
Tillage,
60
518}
Sheep and Goats,
661
Swine,
251
Total Acres, 54762
Trading Stock, &c.
Value, £ 431
The tax assessed on the real estate is 721. 16s. 0d. On the personal, 91. 14s. 11d. Total, 821. 10s. 11d.
The list of polls and estates was made and sworn to by the assessors-Elijah Danforth, Thomas Tiles -.. ton, Ebenezer Clap, Preserved Capen, James Blake, Jr. ; and examined by John Chandler, John Quincy, and John Brown, Commissioners.
About 10 o'clock on the night of October 29th, of this year, there was a violent shock of an earth- quake in the vicinity, and much damage done to buildings. It continued by spells for several months. At Newbury and in that neighborhood, it is said the " ground broke." This earthquake caused a very great fright. It happened on Monday night, and people collected together in great numbers, especially in large towns. In Boston, on the next morning (Tuesday), a great concourse of people came together at the North Church ; and at five in the evening they crowded together at the Old Church, and having filled that, flocked to the South Church and filled that also. On recommendation of Lieut. Gov. Dummer, Thursday, of the same week, was kept as a day of extraordinary fasting and prayer by all the churches. In this town, Rev. Mr.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Danforth preached a sermon on the occasion, which was printed. It commences as follows : " For an introduction to our following discourse, it may not be improper to say, Rejoice not for joy, O New Eng- land ! as other people; for thou hast gone a whor- ing from thy God. The Lord has known and own- ed thee, above all the families of the earth ; and therefore He will punish thee for thine iniquities." This was plain talk for one so mild and conciliatory as Mr. Danforth, and serves to show the state of feeling which prevailed. .
This year the burying ground was enlarged, by purchasing of Henry Flint, Edmund Quincy, and Esther Flint, one quarter of an acre of land on the east side.
The committee chosen to examine the quality of the school farm of 1000 acres, " beyond Lancaster," reported this year that they had attended to that duty, and " upon a careful view thereof (found) the north side to be good land, but ye south side to be uneven and mean land."
There was a violent storm, this year, which blew down many trees. The town voted to cut twenty cords of woods from the fallen trees in the ministe- rial land, for the use of Rev. John Danforth.
The inhabitants of the town at this time, as well as their descendants in later years, were troubled by dogs, and the following vote was accordingly passed, viz. : " Whereas of late dogs have frequently come into our meeting-house on Sabbath days, and by their barking, quarrelling, &c., have made disturb- ance in time of Divine service," &c. A penalty was then fixed upon the owners of such animals.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1729. Rev. John Danforth having been the sole minister of the town for forty-seven years, and hav- ing now become aged, the Church called Rev. Jona- than Bowman, of Lexington, to act as colleague pas- tor ; and May 28th, the town confirmed their choice. Several church meetings were held to settle upon candidates. They first chose three candidates, and then selected one of the three, so that it would ap- pear that Mr. Bowman had strong points, to succeed among so many. For the choice of first candidate, the vote was as follows : for Mr. Danforth, 1; Mr. Stimson, 1 ; Mr. Elliot, 2; Mr. Byles, 8; Mr. Pay- son, 12; Mr. Bowman, 41. So Mr. Bowman was the first nomination for probation. Three days sub- sequently, they voted for a second, with the follow- ing result, viz .: Mr. Coolidge, 1; Mr. Bowes, 2; Mr. Elliot, 4 ; Mr. Byles, 15; Mr. Payson, 35. So Mr. Payson was their second nomination. The third ballot was as follows : Mr. Pearse, 1; Mr. Wads- worth, 1; Mr. Champney, 1; Mr. Bowes, 4; Mr. Elliot, 8; Mr. Coolidge, 8; Mr. Byles, 21 or 22 (one name badly spelt). And Mr. Byles was their third nomination. Upon the final choice of the Church, May 11th, which was to be made from these three, the vote was as follows : Mr. Payson, 12 ; Mr. Byles, 15; Mr. Bowman, 51.
.
The Mr. Payson here mentioned, was Phillips Payson, son of Samuel Payson, of this town. He graduated at Harvard College, and was settled in the ministry at Walpole, Mass. Mr. Byles was the famous Mather Byles, a man of learning and genius, and celebrated to this day for his jokes and witti-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
cisms-an opportunity to indulge in which, he sel- dom let pass unimproved.
The ordination of Mr. Bowman took place Nov. 5th, of this year, and was a great affair. It was customary, in those days, for every family to keep open house when a new minister was ordained, and friends from far and near were welcomed to the entertainment. The services at the ordination were as follows : Mr. Walter, of Roxbury, gave the right hand of fellowship; Mr. Hancock, of Braintree, preached ; Mr. Danforth gave the charge; Mr. Walter, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Niles laid on hands.
Mr. Bowman was a son of Joseph Bowman, of Lexington, and was born Feb. 23d, 1703-4, and graduated at Harvard College in 1724.
1730. May 26th, Rev. John Danforth, pastor of the Church in Dorchester, departed this life. He was buried on the 30th, one hundred years from the settlement of the town. Mr. D. was son of Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Roxbury, and was born Nov. 8th, 1660, graduated at Harvard College in 1677, settled here in the ministry June 28, 1682-then a young man of talent and grace-and through a long and successful ministry proved himself a man of fidelity and worth. He took great interest in the affairs of the church and town, and was evidently remarkably well acquainted with both. He admin- istered counsel, reproof, admonition and encourage- ment, as circumstances required, and with sound discretion, and appears to have been remarkably popular in the town and its vicinity. It is deeply
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
to be regretted that no monument was erected to his memory in our burying ground, by the town to which he so long and faithfully ministered. "
Mr. Blake, in his Annals, thus speaks of him: - " He was Sd to be a man of great Learning, he un- derstood ye Mathematicks beyond most men of his Function. He was exceeding Charitable, & of a very peacefull temper. He took much pains to Eter- nize ye Names of many of ye good Christians of his own Flock ; And yet ye World is so ungratefull, that he has not a Line Written to preserue his memory, no not so much as upon his Tomb; he being buried in Lt. Govr. Stoughton's Tomb that was covered with writing before. And there also lyeth his Consort, Mrs. Elizabeth Danforth."
The expenses of Rev. Mr. Danforth's funeral, ex- clusive of mourning clothes, were 591. 4s. 4d., of which sum the Church paid £40.
May 15th, of this year, the town voted (on the petition of Col. Estes Hatch, of Boston, and Jonas Humphrey, of this town) to sell the piece of land called Little Woods (now Swan's Woods). This land is now the property of the heirs of Col. James Swan, and lies about fifty rods from Roxbury Brook, on what is called Stoughton Street. A large part of the tract is in very nearly the same condition at present as it was at that time. It was estimated at 49 acres; the price paid, £440. As early as 1648, it was used as a place for oxen to rest in over night, probably on their way to and from Boston.
Rev. Mr. Bowman, in consideration of £250 from the town, and liberty to take timber out of the minis-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
terial land for a new house, relinquished his right to the ministerial house, barn and orchard. It is supposed that about this time he built the house now occupied by Mr. John Barnard, on Pleasant Street ; he purchased the land for that purpose, this year, of Jonathan Jones. We find the house allud- ed to in 1739.
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