USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies > Part 3
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William Witherell, 1, 1745.
Albert White, 14, 1842 to 1848; 1850 to 1852; 1854, 1855, 1857 and 1858.
Thomas Whiting, Jr., 3, 1780; 1782, and 1789.
William Whiting, 5, 1845, 1847 to 1849; and 1859.
William Whitten, 2, 1803 and 1804.
(Eben C. Waterman filled vacancy caused by death of I. G. Stetson in 1897).
TOWN CLERKS.
As early as 1646, it was enacted by the Court at Plymouth that, in every town in the Colony, a clerk should be appointed, -- his duty, among others, being to keep a register of births, marriages, and deaths. After 1671, he was required to publish all contracts of marriage; and, for nearly two centuries, notices of intentions of marriage were required to be published for two weeks in some public place, usually in the vestibule of the church. George S. Boutwell began his official life as Town Clerk of Groton.
William Whiting was Selectman in 1871 and 1872, seven years in all.
Eben C. Waterman was Representative in 1898, three years in all.
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29
TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
The office of Town Treasurer was not created until 1693, after the union of the colonies.
From the incorporation of this town, in 1727, up to and includ- ing the year 1757 - a period of thirty-one years --- the office of Town Clerk was filled by two persons, -- William Witherell, the first Town Clerk, serving seventeen years (1727 to 1743) and. David Stockbridge, his successor, fourteen years (1744-175?).
During this period, the office of Town Treasurer was filled by ten different persons, whose years of service and dates of the same are as follows :
Number of Years of Service; Date of Service.
John Bailey, 1, 1747. Caleb Barker, 1, 1734.
Joseph Barstow, 2, 1727 and 1728.
Joshua Barstow, 10, 1748 to 1757.
Joseph Curtis, 2, 1735 and 1736.
Elijah Cushing, 7, 1739 to 1743; and 1745 and 1746.
Thomas Josselyn, 2, 1732 and 1733.
Thomas Rose, 1, 1744.
Joseph Stockbridge, 2, 1729 and 1730.
Recompense Tiffany, 2, 1737 and 1738.
From 1757 to the present time, the duties of both offices have devolved upon the same person.
The following is a list of those who have, since 1757, held the offices of Town Clerk and Town Treasurer, with the years of ser- vice and dates of the same :
Number of Years of Service; Date of Service.
Benjamin Bass, 9, 1798 to 1806.
Joseph Brooks, Jr., 11, 1846 to 1856. Levi Curtis, 3, 1815 to 1817.
Melzar Curtis, 6, 1787 to 1792. Melzar Curtis, Jr., 6, 1818 to 1823.
Reuben Curtis, 8, 1807 to 1814. Joseph Cushing, 3, 1775 to 1777.
Bernard Damon, 38, 1870 to 1907.
George R. Dwelley, 1, 1857. David Jacobs, 1, 1786. Oren Josselyn, 5, 1839, 1841; and 1843 to 1845. Ozias Perkins, 1, 1858.
Timothy Robbins, 8, 1778 to 1785.
Albert Stetson, 11, 1859 to 1869.
30
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
David Stockbridge, 17, 1758 to 1774. David Stockbridge, Jr., 5, 1793 to 1797. Joshua Studley, 8, 1824 to 1831.
Albert White, 9, 1832 to 1838; and 1840 and 1842.
MODERATORS.
Presiding officers have large powers and are usually selected be- cause of some special gift for the position. A moderator is elected but for a day, yet it is necessary that he be intelligent, fair, and of quick judgment. So much depends, at important moments, on his rulings that towns have ever been careful in their selection.
Senator Lodge has, for many years, served as moderator at the annual meetings in Nahant. Samuel Adams was for years previous to the Revolution, the moderator of the Boston Town Meeting. This was his mighty weapon.
George W. Curtis says of him :- "His indomitable will and com- mand of the popular confidence played Boston against London, the provincial town-meeting against the royal parliament, Faneuil Hall against St. Stephen's. And as long as the American town- meeting is known, his great genius wil be revered, who, with the town-meeting, overthrew an empire."
Hanover has had nearly seven hundred town meetings, over which one hundred and thirty-four different persons have, as moderators, presided. Want of space forbids the printing of the entire list. The following persons acted as moderators six times or more. The year of the beginning and the termination of their service is given, with the number of meetings over which each presided.
Number of Meetings; Years.
Col. John Bailey, 6, 1781-1782.
John Bailey, Jr., 15, 1747-1786.
Elisha Barrell, Jr., 11, 1818-1844.
John B. Barstow, 11, 1803-1829.
Joseph Barstow, 7, 1727-1728.
William Church, 7, 1853-1862.
John H. Crocker, 27, 1883-1901.
Henry J. Curtis, 6, 1878-1890. Melza Curtis, 6, 1807-1833. Elijah Cushing, 27, 1727-1753.
Joseph Cushing, 12, 1759-1779.
Jedediah Dwelley, 14, 1862-1879.
Robert Lenthal Eells, 6, 1775-1794.
31
TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
John H. Flavell, 7, 1903-1906.
James Hatch, 21, 1727-1739.
Aaron Hobart, 6, 1815-1820. Joseph Josselyn, 14, 1733-1774. Thomas Josselyn, 17, 1732-1756.
Benjamin Mann, 2nd, 16, 1820-1837.
William Morse, 44, 1829-1847. Israel Perry, 6, 1780-1810. Timothy Robbins, 10, 1787-1804.
Timothy Rose, 6, 1789-1806.
Ebenezer Simmons, 7, 1810-1837. Perez Simmons, 38, 1843-1863 John F. Simmons, 5.
Capt Albert Smith, 13, 1806-1822.
Benjamin Stetson, 6, 1741-1755.
Isaac Gilman Stetson, 11, 1875-1894.
Turner Stetson, 14, 1806-1826.
Joseph Stockbridge, 7, 1727-1735.
Benjamin Studley, 8, 1777-1791.
Robert H. Studley, 21, 1859-1874.
Ezekiel Turner, 44, 1731-1769.
Thomas Wilkes, 6, 1741-1760.
We have entered the name of John F. Simmons, although he served but 5 times, his last service being at the annual meeting preceding his death. His fairness, firmness, intelligence, quick judgment, and never failing courtesy marked him as a model moderator.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Following is a list of the names of persons who have served as School Committee since 1827, at which time their duties were speci- ally defined. Persons were elected to this office before that date; but as a rule, the Selectmen seem to have had the care of the schools.
This office is one of the greatest importance and it has been filled by intelligent men and women, who have given valuable ser- vice with slight compensation.
Number of Years; Date of Service.
J. Aiken, 6, 1860-1865 inclusive.
Cyrus W. Allen, 4, 1872 and 1874 to 1876 inclusive.
John S. Barry, 4, 1849, 1851, 1852 and 1855.
Morton V. Bonney, 8, 1874 to 1881 inclusive.
32
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
John S. Brooks, 1, 1848.
Joseph Brooks, Jr., 1, 1847.
William H. Brooks, 1, 1873.
Thomas Conant, 3, 1841 to 1843 inclusive.
John S. Crosby, 2, 1864 and 1865.
Albert J. Curtis, 2, 1901 and 1902.
Henry J. Curtis, 1, 1873.
Robert Curtis, 1, 1832.
Dr. Ezekiel Cushing, 1, 1827.
Samuel Cutler, 5, 1849, 1850, and 1854 to 1856 inclusive.
Rev. A. G. Duncan, 14, 1834, 1839, 1842 to 1845 inclusive; and 1847 to 1854 inclusive.
Rev. Edward D. Disbrow, 3, 1899 to 1901 inclusive.
George R. Dwelley, 2, 1857 and 1859.
Jedediah Dwelley, 9, 1865 to 1873 inclusive.
Joseph Freeman, 2, 1856 and 1858.
Thomas J. Gardner, 2, 1835 and 1837.
Cyrus Holmes, 2,1843 and 1844.
Dr. Clarence L. Howes, 25, 1881 to 1898 inclusive; 1902-1908 inclusive.
Dr. Woodbridge R. Howes, 3, 1867 to 1869 inclusive.
Oren Josselyn, 2, 1832 and 1833.
Rev. Robert L. Killam, 10, 1831, 1834, 1841, 1842, 1848, 1850, 1853, 1854, 1856, 1857.
John G. Knight, 10, 1878 to 1880 inclusive; and 1891 to 1897 inclusive.
William Morse, 4, 1832, 1833, 1839, 1843.
Rev. Melvin S. Nash, 13, 1890, and 1897 to 1908 inclusive.
Edward A. Perry, 2, 1869 and 1870.
Sophia R. S. Phillips, 3, 1898 to 1900 inclusive.
Calvin B. Pratt, 1, 1838.
John W. Pratt, 1, 1858.
Andrew Reed, 10, 1866 to 1868 inclusive; and 1870 to 1872 in- clusive; and 1874 to 1877 inclusive.
Harriet E. Russell, 7, 1902 to 1908 inclusive.
Ebenezer Simmons, 3, 1827, 1832, 1833.
John F. Simmons, 13, 1878 to 1890 inclusive. Perez Simmons, 1, 1836.
William Slason, 2, 1851 and 1852.
Rev. Ethan Smith, 1, 1830. Joseph C. Stockbridge, 3, 1828 to 1830 inclusive.
S. G. Stone, 3, 1861 to 1863 inclusive.
33
TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
Ezekiel R. Studley, 1, 1857.
Joseph H. Studley, 10, 1840, and 1844 to 1846 inclusive; and 1859 to 1864 inclusive.
Joshua Studley, 8, 1827 to 1831 inclusive; and 1835, 1839, 1840. Jacob Tuck, 3, 1858 to 1860 inclusive.
Eben C. Waterman, 1, 1877.
Rev. Calvin Wolcott, 2, 1827 and 1834.
Alexander Wood, 4, 1837, 1838, 1846, 1847.
Albert White, 14, 1827, 1829 to 1831 inclusive; 1832, 1835 to 1838 inclusive; 1844, 1846, 1853 to 1855 inclusive.
Thomas White, 2, 1836 and 1838.
Horatio Whiting, 1, 1827.
Tryphena Whiting, 15, 1882 to 1896 inclusive.
Rev. Benjamin Whittemore, 1, 1827.
COUNTY OFFICERS. Residents of Hanover.
Joseph Cushing was for several years Judge of Probate for Plymouth County and Jedediah Dwelley was for twenty-seven years a county commissioner.
REPRESENTATIVES.
A list of the names of residents of Hanover who have served as representatives to the General Court is here given. Possibly one or two names have been omitted.
Hanover constituted a district by herself until 1857 when South Scituate was joined with her. These towns alternated in the choice of a representative. This continued for ten years, when the district was increased by the addition of Hanson. This ar- rangement remained unchanged until 1877, when a new district was formed consisting of the towns of Rockland and Hanover. This formation continued for twenty years, when Hanson was added; since which time, the district has been composed of Han- over, Hanson and Rockland.
Names, Years, Years of Service.
Capt. Elija Cushing, 1, 1737.
Thomas Josselyn, 3, 1738, 1741, 1742.
David Stockbridge, 11, 1749 to 1754 inclusive; 1756, 1759, 1760, 1762 and 1772.
Ezekiel Turner, 2, 1761 and 1767.
Joseph Cushing, 5, 1773 to 1775 inclusive; and 1778 and 1779. Robert Lenthal Eells, 2, 1776 and 1777.
34
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
David Jacobs, 2, 1780, 1781.
Benjamin Bass, 7, 1783, 1795 to 1798 inclusive; 1805 and 1806. Melzar Curtis, 5, 1784, 1790 to 1792 inclusive.
David Stockbridge, 1, 1794.
Albert Smith, 3, 1802, 1803 and 1804.
John B. Barstow, 3, 1808 to 1810, inclusive.
Rev. Calvin Chaddock, 1, 1811.
Turner Stetson, 2, 1812, 1813.
Aaron Hobart, Jr., 1, 1814.
Reuben Curtis, 7, 1815 to 1818 inclusive; and 1823 to 1825 in- clusive.
Robert Eells, 5, 1819, 1820, 1827, 1828 and 1830.
Melzar Curtis, 2, 1822, 1826.
William Morse, 3, 1829, 1831 and 1833.
Horatio Cushing, 1, 1834.
Thomas J. Gardner, 4, 1835, 1852, 1853 and 1854.
Ebenezer Simmons, 1, 1836.
Abel G. Duncan, 6, 1837 to 1842 inclusive.
Oren Josselyn, 3, 1843 to 1845 inclusive.
Cyrus Holmes, 1, 1849.
John S. Barry, 2, 1850 and 1851.
Perez Simmons, 1, 1852.
Charles Dyer, 1, 1855.
Benjamin F. Burgess, 1, 1859.
Joseph H. Steedley, 1, 1861.
Isaac M. Wilder, 2, 1857 and 1863.
Jedediah Dwelley, 1, 1865.
Morton V. Bonney, 1, 1868.
Henry J. Curtis, 1, 1871.
Charles H. Killam, 1, 1874.
John W. Everson, 1, 1879.
Rodolphus C. Waterman, 1, 1882.
Isaac G. Stetson, 1, 1885.
Wm. Henry Brooks, 1, 1889.
Eben C. Waterman, 2, 1891 and 1897.
Melvin S. Nash, 3, 1894, 1907, 1908.
Ezekiel R. Studley of Rockland, and Calvin T. Phillips and Edward Y. Perry, both of Hanson, served as representative from this district. The former was born in Hanover. The last two died in Hanover, where they resided for many years.
35
TOWN, COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
SENATORS.
The following named persons while residents of Hanover served in the Massachusetts Senate for one or more years. It is possible that a Hanover resident may have served previous to 1805, but if so, we have not the record.
Number of Years of Service, Date of Service.
Albert Smith, 2, 1805, 1806.
David Stockbridge, 1, 1818.
Aaron Hobart, 1, 1819.
Perez Simmons, 1, 1859.
Jedediah Dwelley, 2, 1873 and 1874.
Melvin S. Nash, 2, 1909 and 1910.
Mr. Hobart after his removal from Hanover was a member of Congress and later Judge of Probate for Plymouth County.
1158611
36
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
CHAPTER III.
PHYSICAL CHANGES -- LAND TITLES-INDIANS.
PHYSICAL CHANGES.
By John F. Simmons.
Under this head Deane, in the History of Scituate, makes a prediction which, after nearly seventy years, has had a remarkable fulfillment. He says: "The beach between the third and fourth cliff is composed of sand and pebbles and resists the attrition of the tides more than the cliffs; yet it is slowly wasting and the river will eventually find its outlet between those cliffs."
In November of 1898, the most violent storm for half a century visited our coast and North River broke through this beach at the north end of the fourth cliff. Since then, the mouth has con- stantly grown wider. The vast acreage of the salt marshes has become at high tide a wide-spread, inland sea. Around its edges, where the trees sought the marsh's edge, is a margin of dead vege- tation, where the trees have been killed by the salt water. None of the hay can now be cut.
The tide rises and falls above North River bridge and the small winding stream which at low tide creeps seaward between muddy banks is a bounding river at high tide, stretching across from upland to upland. Sea fish are now caught at Little's Bridge, clams are gathered in large quantities on the flats, and it is re- ported that the cultivation of oysters is contemplated. Were ship- building prosecuted now as in former days on North River, the difficulties originally encountered in getting the larger craft " down river," would now be found no longer to exist. About 1638 there was an earthquake that alarmed the people of Plymouth County.
November 18, 1755, the so-called "great earthquake" occurred. Deane speaks of it as follows: " * our aged people *
* describe the violent agitation of the earth as continuing about fifteen minutes; in which time the walls were all thrown down, the tops of chimneys broken off, and, in many instances, the whole
37
PHYSICAL CHANGES, LAND TITLES, INDIANS.
chimney-stacks shaken down into the rooms and many houses dis- jointed and nearly destroyed. The whole surface of the earth was seen to wave like the swellings of a sea * occasionally breaking into fissures. It happened at day dawn * and brought people from their beds in dreadful consternation. The * trembling of the earth and the crashing of the falling walls *
* was like the loudest thunder, and the commotion and roaring of the sea is described as no less terrible * several water spouts burst out in the town. (One) threw out a considerable quantity of reddish sand of a singular appearance and the spring thus opened continues to run to the present time. Another fissur : of considerable magnitude was made on the south side of 'great swamp ' so-called."
We have no knowledge of specific damage done by the earth- quake. Within the limits of our town, slight seismic disturbances are frequently felt, occasioning no alarm.
The big hurricane which occurred about 1815 is but one of a long series of high winds which, from time to time, have occurred in our history doing each time greater or less damage to the wood- land and buildings. One such was the November gale of 1898 already spoken of; another occurred in September, 1869.
According to the glacial theory, that part of the earth's surface now known as Hanover, was, during the post-tertiary period, covered with a deep cap of ice. As this yielded to the increasing warmth of this latitude, the ice disappeared first from the higher levels. The lower countries and the valleys remained clad with those rivers of flowing ice now called glaciers. As these flowed from the higher to the lower lands, they bore with them frozen sod and detached rocks, boulders, and stones; sometimes pushing these before them, sometimes thrusting them aside, and sometimes carrying large masses of them frozen into their icy body.
The masses of rock and stones are termed moraines. The sur- face of our town is covered with these moraines left by the yield- ing glaciers. They form the sand and gravel of our soil. The smooth faces of these stones, as well as the marks cut by them in the outcropping ledges as they passed, are still visible in almost every boulder and mass of rock. They are the hand-writing left on the rocks, to testify to future occupants of the might and the direction of the onward march of the glacier.
The prevailing rock we now find is granite, in which hornblende is almost always present. And, in the cracks and crevices of the cleft ledges, the differing forms of graywacke reveal the degenera-
38
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
tion of the basaltic rock, which tells us of that far gone fiery period of the history of our planet, when the rock which more easily melted filled the crevices of the granite which cracked be- fore it melted.
In the river valley, the richer alluvial soil reveals to us still another and later time when the waters covered the earth and, receding, left along their banks the soil worn from softer lands and borne on its receding current to be dropped here as lakes be- came rivers and rivers brooks and brooks at length ceased to flow. Then man came.
The first man known to have seen or lived upon Hanover's hills was the red man, over whose origin controversy still wages.
No white man's eye is known to have gazed over the primeval forest of the town prior to 1620. The Northmen or some of the earlier discoverers or Captain John Smith, any or all, may have penetrated the woods thus far inland by overland march or by pursuing the tortuous windings of North River. But all traces of such discoverer is lost to history.
LAND TITLES.
By Jedediah Dwelley.
The question of land titles is being very carefully considered, as time advances, and it seems important to give this brief review of our own.
The Plymouth Colony claimed title to our lands under its charter and this title was supplemented by the deed from Josias Wampatuck, the Sachem of the Massachusetts tribe of Indians; to so much of the Hanover lands as was embraced within the limits of the original town of Scituate. Following is a copy of this deed :-
" I, Josias Wampatuck, do acknowledge and confess that I have sold two tracts of land unto Mr. Timothy Hatherly, Mr. James Cudworth, Mr. Joseph Tilden, Mr. Humphrey Turner, William Hatch, John Hoar, and James Torrey, for the proper use and behoof of the Town of Scituate, to be enjoyed by them according to the true intents of the English grants; the one parsel of such land is bounded from the mouth of the North River as that river goeth to the Indian Head River, from thence as that river goeth unto the pond at the head of Indian Head River upon a straight line unto the middle of Accord Pond, by the line set by the com- missioners as the bounds betwixt the two jurisdictions until it
HOUSE OF MRS. ELIZA S. SYLVESTER, WASHINGTON STREET
HOUSE OF MORRILL A. PHILLIPS, BROADWAY
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH S. SYLVESTER, WASHINGTON STREET
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM F. BATES, WASHINGTON STREET
39
PHYSICAL CHANGES, LAND TITLES, INDIANS.
meet with the line of the land sold by me unto the shares of Coni- hasset, and as that line runs between the town and the shares until it cometh unto the sea ; and so along by the sea unto the mouth of the North River aforesaid. The other parcell of land, lying on the easterly side of the North River, begins at a lot which was sometime the land of John Ford, and so to run two miles southerly as the river runs, and a mile in breadth towards the east, for which parcel of land I do acknowledge to have received of the men whose names are before mentioned, fourteen pounds in full satis- faction in behalf of the inhabitants of the town of Scituate as aforesaid, and I do hereby promise and engage to give such further evidence before the Governor as the town of Scituate shall think meet, when I am thereunto required; in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of
" Nathaniel Morton
" Edward Hawes
" Samuel Nash
his
Josiah X Wampatuck mark."
All that tract of land now Hanover, which before the incorpora- tion formed a part of the territory of Abington, was granted by the Colony Court.
The first parcel was granted to Timothy Hatherly (a name prominent in the history of Scituate) in 1654 and the definite bounds thereof are described as follows, viz : - " A tract of land to begin at Accord pond on the southerly side, and to run three miles southerly towards Indian Head River pond, and to be laid out three miles square on the west line of Scituate." Included in these bounds are Whiting street and Pleasant street, the wester- ly part of North street, the westerly part of Webster street, the westerly part of Cedar street, and so much of Hanover street and Circuit street as lie north and west of the West Hanover railroad station.
This Hatherly grant includes a large part of the town of Rock- land and it was divided into shares which run nearly east and west. On account of this regularity of division, lines in Hanover are easily followed.
The earliest settlers in Hanover on this tract were the Whitings on Whiting street, and the Studleys and Curtises on Pleasant street, Timothy Bailey being also early on this latter street. Prob- ably Nehemiah Cushing's residence was on this grant. The
40
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
southeast corner of this Hatherly grant is about one hundred and forty rods, nearly due east from the residence of Harrison L. House.
In 1668, Cornet Robert Stetson, as agent for the colony, pur- chased of the Indian Sachem, Josias Chickatabutt, lands lying south of and adjoining the Hatherly grant, referred to above.
This parcel was three miles long, bordering on the Scituate line and running two miles west; in all, six square miles. The easterly boundary of this lot was of course a continuation of the easterly boundary of the Hatherly grant.
While the deed from Chickatabutt was to Robert Stetson, it was in effect a deed to the colony, and, if written to-day, presuni- ably would be made to the Colony Court, omitting Mr. Stetson's name.
As the three grants following were made by the Colony Court and embrace all the land described in the aforesaid deed, we have been thus careful, that no confusion may arise.
South of the Hatherly grant and adjoining, was the grant to Cornet Robert Stetson made by the Colony Court in 1669. This grant was two miles in length, extending westerly along the line of the Hatherly grant and one mile in breadth extending along the Scituate line. The price paid was seven pounds and five shillings, less than four pounds per square mile.
Included in these bounds are Summer street, so much of Han- over street as lies west of a point a few rods west of Plain street and running to the West Hanover station, School street, the northerly part of King street,the northerly part of Winter street, and Circuit street, from Winter street to the West Hanover station. The early settlers on this territory were the Barkers, Hatches, Estes, Wings and Ramsdells, perhaps Michael Wanton and others. Before 1694, Cornet Stetson sold the easterly part of this grant to the early proprietors of the Drinkwater mill.
Lying south of this grant to Cornet Stetson and adjoining it, the Colony Court granted to Joseph Barstow and Joseph Sylvester, in 1671, a tract of land running westerly two miles and southerly a little less than one mile, " Excepting out of the aforesaid grant fifty acres contained therein which was granted by the court to William Barstow, deceased, for services done for the County." The southerly part of King street, and, the most of Winter street, lies in this grant and the early settlers thereon were the Stock- bridges, Baileys, Barstows, Torreys and Tildens.
South of and adjoining the above grant, the Court, in 1671,
41
PHYSICAL CHANGES, LAND TITLES, INDIANS.
granted to Joseph Barstow and Moses and Aaron Simmons, a parcel of land extending southerly a little more than a mile and westerly two miles. Only a small part of this territory is now embraced within the limits of Hanover, the extreme southerly bound of King street, and possibly a small part of Winter street and a small part of Broadway being included therein. The earliest settler in Hanover on this tract was Ezekiel Turner.
The following rules apply to all the lands in that part of Hanover which before its incorporation formed a part of the ter- ritory of the town of Scituate.
Before the incorporation of Scituate all the lands within her borders which had been allotted to private owners had been laid out by a committee appointed by the Colony Court.
From 1636 to 1647, the freemen were commissioned to dispose of lands, which was done in open meetings.
From 1647 to 1670, the principles generally followed were to grant lands to the freemen and to such as had built or owned a house previous to 1647 and, in 1670, a petition was addressed to the Colony Court " craving their counsel, and advice, and help, and assistance herein."
This was opposed by other inhabitants, and the matter was heard and reheard before the Court, when they decided (June 16, 1671) that "the resignation of the freemen and purchasers was unwarrantable and invalid; but if they would lay down their power it did return unto the Court." The Court proceeded to appoint a commission of eight persons chosen from both parties, with instructions to agree on some principles of dividing the com- mon lands, and present it to the Court for their approbation. These commissioners were Capt. James Cudworth, Cornet Robert Stetson, Lieut Isaac Buck, and Isaac Chittenden, on one part ; and John Turner, Sr., John Turner, Jr., John Bryant, Sr., and John Damon on the other part. They agreed, and the agreement was approved by the Court; but the town met and refused to ratify the agreement. The assistants then drew up proposals and came in person to present them in town meeting; but these were not accepted. (Deane, Page 11).
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