USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > History of the town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1650-1886 : with genealogies of the families that held real estate or made any considerable stay in the town during the first two centuries > Part 11
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Gershom Dunton and Amos Mason made oath that they saw Boyden fall into the river, and that he unavoidably lost his gun.
The bill among the State papers from the selectmen of this town for support of the French neutrals contains some items of interest : -
1073 lbs Beef Pork. £1 16s. od. 1544
4 2 8 27 bush Ind. Corn
4 IO O 73 " Rye 1 II O 13 qts milk 0
Molasses, Sugar, bisket, and flower when they ·
O II
were sick, .
3
8
1
145
ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
We find that beef was 4d. and pork about 6d. a pound ; corn, 3s. 4d. ; and rye, 4s. a bushel ; milk less than a penny a quart.
There was also a bill of £13 3s. Iod. for house-rent.
A remonstrance was sent to the Legislature : -
We have been loaded with a very unequal proportion of the Province tax, one third more than other towns in the vicinity. Our town is smaller than may generally be thought of, making a square of three miles by four. After the Polls are deducted we are obliged to raise 19}d. upon the Pound on the estate of the town to complete the levy. We apprehend that the mistake was made in the valuation eleven years since. But further our circumstances have changed since that time, as we have been subjected to much hardship as our meadows have suffered by annual floods in part occasioned by a dam below us, which cost us much to be rid of. The nuisance has been repeated a little below, and still exists to our disadvantage. The quality of a great part of our meadows has been so altered that we cannot keep so large a stock by one third as we did when the valuation was taken. All who are acquainted with our dependence upon our meadows must be sensible greatly affects our whole interests.
Boston suffered by a great fire, and charitable contribu- tions were made : -
BOSTON, 10th April, 1760.
Received from Medfield, whereof the Revd Mr Jonathan Townsend is pastor, Eighteen pounds, fourteen shillings, lawful money, by the hands of Mr Seth Dwight, for the use of the sufferers by the late great fire.
JOHN PHILLIPS.
The cross-road from Bridge Street to the Dingle Dell road was laid out. In 1856, the town voted to discon- tinue it.
1761. Selectmen, William Peters, Seth Dwight, John Fisher, Silvanus Plimpton, and John Baxter.
Peter Cooledge, Representative.
Voted "to Chuse a Committy to buld a School house at the South End of the town." A committee was chosen "to take a Deed of the North new School house for the Town."
l'oted, To give the Ruins of the old School house to the midle District.
Voted, The Selectmen take Care the uper Galery be fastened up So as young People Cannot Get in to play.
146
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
A highway was laid out "from George Smith's house to the road near Mt. Nebo." This is the road from Elm Street to Philip Street, now called Cross Street.
A province or State tax of £1,000 was levied. Medfield's proportion was £3 18s. 7d., or zgy of the whole.
The following petitions are found among the State papers :
Joseph Boyden petitioned the General Court for relief, as, in the previous summer, he had been with Captain Ham- mond's company, and was taken sick at Ashuelot. His brother went after him at petitioner's charge. Court allowed him 16s. 8d.
William Hooker of Medfield had a son Philip in the same company. He was taken sick at Sheffield; and the peti- tioner went after him, brought him as far as Leicester, when he could hold out no longer. He went afterward to that place for him, and paid his charges there. Court allowed him £5.
Eliakim Morse petitioned for expenses in caring for Joseph Brooks, who served in Colonel Saltonstall's regiment at Crown Point. Nov. 20, 1760, he was ordered to take care of a soldier with the small-pox, returned to Medfield sick with that disease December 4, and died soon after. The charges for doctoring, nursing, loss of bedding, etc., amounted to £9 15s. 6d. Court allowed £7. Joseph Brooks was an Indian boy brought up in Medfield by Morse. He was buried near where he was taken care of in Rocky Woods, at a place called "the graves."
The names of those who served in the French and Indian war were, as far as can be ascertained, the following : -
Joshua Armsby. Enoch Adams.
Isaac Chenery.
Lemuel Boyden. Asa Boyden.
Benjamin Clark.
Daniel Clark.
Joseph Boyden.
James Clark.
Joshua Boyden.
Nathan Clark. Dyer Clark. Nathan Cutler.
Benjamin Boyden.
Hezekiah Bullard.
Micah Baker.
John Cutler.
Joseph Brooks.
Simeon Cutler.
Samuel Cheney.
Gershom Dunton.
Joseph Cheney. Simon Cheney.
Jesse Ellis.
Timothy Hamant.
Wyatt Clark.
.
147
ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
Francis Hamant.
Andrew Peters. Benjamin Peters.
Benjamin Hewes.
Henry Harding.
Seth Partridge.
Philip Hooker.
Isaac Read.
Jonathan Lawrence.
Samuel Smith.
Nathan Lovel.
Seth Smith.
Ebenezer Mason, Jr. Amos Mason.
Samuel Turner.
Joseph Morse.
Ephraim Wheelock. Joseph Wheelock.
Aaron Wight.
1762. Selectmen, David Lovell, Seth Clark, Daniel Perry, Jeremy Allen.
Eliakim Morse, Representative.
The town refused to settle with the committees chosen to build the South and Centre School-houses. They brought a suit against the town : the case was left to three arbitra- tors. The next we hear of it, the town granted £29 15s. 6d. to pay the two school-house committees.
Voted, To Clapboard the East End of the meeting House and Take the old Claboards to mend the Backside; and to make four new win- dows in the Room of the four Large ones on the back side of the meeting house and such casements as are wanting, and Glaze the Same with Dimon Glass.
1763. Selectmen, Eliakim Morse, Samuel Morse, Jona- than Smith, Joseph Plimpton, and Moses Hartshorn.
Seth Clark, Representative.
John Baxter was chosen town clerk. He served eleven years.
£225 18s. 9d. was set apart as a school fund forever, and £87 6s. 8d. added to the ministerial fund. A board of trustees for each fund was appointed, and the income was to be paid into the town treasury. The money came from the sale of town land at Bridge Island and elsewhere.
POTASH WORKS.
An article was put into the warrant, "to see if the Town will vote to Sett up the potash works for the Use and Benefit of the town." Negatived.
A company was formed, and potash works were set up on Frairy Street at the place now owned by J. W. Paige. The manufacture was carried on there for thirty years.
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148
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
A YOUNG WOMAN'S WEDDING OUTFIT IN 1763.
John Baxter gave to his daughter Mary, at her marriage : -
A cow valued at
Curtains and valences, 13 55. Bed, bedstead, underbed, two blankets, and coverlid, poorest bed, 14
Bed, new coverlid, two new blankets, old bedstead, old feathers, new bed-tick, and old underbed, 36 15
Three brass kettles, 27 18
Warming-pan, 5
Two brass skillets, iron pot, and tea-kettle,
6
8
Flat-irons, iron skillet, frying-pan,
5 5
Looking-glass, great wheel, little wheel, 8
5
New chest, twelve chairs, 12 15
Two keelers, churn, wash-dish,
Earthen, tin, and wooden ware,
6 17 5 I
Twelve pillow-beers, five tablecloths, and towels, .
12
Four new tow sheets,
23 15
A pair of old cotton sheets,
2 10
A pair of new woolen sheets, one old one, 8
A new bed-tick, new bedstead, and a bed-quilt, 24
Two old blankets, old bed-cord, and underbed, 24 5
Head curtains and valence, and pair of fine sheets, 13 15
A chest with two drawers, old one, . 5
Two old tables, I IO
Old " puter,"
3 5
Three meal-sacks, 3
Two milk-pails, 18
1764. Selectmen, John Baxter, Ezekiel Adams, Simon Harding, Oliver Ellis, and John Smith.
Seth Clark, Representative.
A proposition was made to build a house to put the town's ammunition in ; also, to procure a house for the poor of the town. Both were refused.
Voted, To Build four Pews in the Back Seats in the meeting House and three Pews in the East End of the House and cut an alley through the Body of the Seats.
A road was laid out "from the corner of Eleazar Smith's orchard, by the Widow Cheney's, to the way that leads to the
OLD TENOR £30
5
A pair of old tow sheets,
149
ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
great road by Dr. Gerauld's." This road was on the east side of Mill Brook from Elm Street to Nelson's mills, and so on northward. It was afterward discontinued.
The population of the town in 1764 is stated at 628. .
Among the Baxter papers is one dated 1764, which tells us that a saw-mill was to be built near the house of Joseph Baxter (Noon Hill), "near where one once stood." This is the only intimation of that old mill to be found.
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CHAPTER X.
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MEDFIELD IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. 1765-1783.
T HE disposition of England to oppress the colonies was becoming manifest, and several controversies with the crown occurred with regard to what were considered colonial rights. Oppressive restrictions were placed upon commerce and manufactures. Unjust taxation, and the "Writs of Assist- ance," followed. The enterprise, rapidly in- creasing population (now nearly two hundred and fifty thousand), and independent spirit of Massachusetts excited particular jealousy ; and occasion was sought to humiliate her. Large bodies of troop's were kept upon her soil to suppress any attempt at resistance. The first decided acts of opposition followed the passage of the Stamp Act, and the eighteen years which succeeded may be called revolutionary times.
The country towns entered heartily into the struggle for maintaining the rights of the people against the claims of royal prerogative, and Medfield was not behindhand in its sympathy with the popular cause. We discover many indi- cations here of a spirit that would scarcely have been ex- pected of men who hitherto had pursued the quiet ways of a small inland town.
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151
MEDFIELD IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
In the annals of these years, we find the record of local affairs frequently varied by the introduction of matters re- lating to national interests.
The Stamp Act received the royal assent March 22, 1765 ; and tidings of its passage reached the colonies about June. It was to go into effect November I, following.
1765. Selectmen, John Baxter, Ezekiel Adams, Simon Harding, Oliver Ellis, and John Smith.
Seth Clark, Representative.
A consideration was proposed to Ephraim Wheelock for the school-house standing on his land, or move it off. Se- lectmen instructed to settle the line between Wheelock and the town's land near the meeting-house.
A highway was laid out from near Joseph Baxter's to the wood lots on the west side of Noon Hill, the town to be at no expense. This road is still in use, entering the woods near the old saw-mill.
Voted, To Divid the upper Galery in the Senter in the front, and not to cut an alley through the body of the seats.
£12 granted for schools, £16 for the poor, and £2 for incidental expenses.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE.
At a town-meeting held October 21, William Plimpton, Henry Adams, Eliakim Morse, Nathan Plimpton, Moses Bullen, John Smith, Oliver Ellis, Seth Dwight, and Eleazar Wheelock were chosen a committee "to draw up some In- structions for the Representative att the next Sitting of the Generale Court."
The following report was adopted as the instructions from the town to its Representative, and voted "that the same be put on file in the town records as a memorial to ages yet unborn of the present generation's high sense of the importance of our natural and charter liberties, right, and privileges."
Sir,- It is the business of this meeting to Communicate to you our Sentiments at this critical Conjunction of affairs. You are Sensible we
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152
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
are loyally affected towards his present Majesty and that the Connection which has Subsisted between Great Brittan and the Provinces has been numbred among none of the Least of our advantages.
We have readily Contributed our Part to support the dignity of his Majesty's arms, and to Enlarge his Territories upon this continent, nor could we have suspected an unkind Return ; but in no more favorable light can we view some late parliamentary acts, particularly those relat- ing to several Stamp dutys and the Courts of Admiralty. We are of opinion it has by many masterly hands been most clearly elucidated that these acts are a direct Infringement upon our Rights as Inglishmen ; such Rights in particular as have been most sacredly secured to us by Charter, and therefore cannot but hope that upon the Remonstrances we suppose are prepared to send Home, that we shall find Redress.
In the mean Time we would recommend It to you, Sir, to join in any further regular and decent methods which may be proposed in order to the obtainment of such Redress, but by no means to Express an acquiescence in, or even a willing submission to the acts.
His Excellency has been pleased to recommend to the Assembly the consideration of the sufferers by the late Riots : we are very ready you should bear the fullest Testimony against such unlawful Proceed- ings. But as 'the Law is open in Favor of those sufferers in common with all other his Majesty's good subjects in like cases, we see no Neces- sity of any other measures, nor would we so far avow the Late Outrages as to answer for the mischiefs of an unknown Rabble; neither are we terrified in prospect of the consequence of Refusing Reparation of the Damages in any other method.
As to other Things we can confide in your wisdom and prudence to observe the strictest Economy in the use of the Purse strings of the people. We are freely willing to render Tribute and custom to whom they are respectively due, but cannot at all approve of the mis-applica- tion of any Part of the public Funds, especially at a Time when the Prospect of emerging from the heavy Debt in which we are now in- volved is put beyond our view.
Honor the King, but save the Country.
The riots referred to occurred in Boston on the 14th of the same month, when Oliver, the stamp officer, was hung in effigy, and his office pulled down.
1766. Selectmen, Simon Plimpton, Noah Allen, Moses Hartshorn, Timothy Cheney, and Moses Bullen.
Samuel Morse, Representative.
Granted £12 to enable the French neutrals to return to Canada.
£12 granted for schools, fio for the poor.
153
MEDFIELD IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE.
William Plimpton, Daniel Perry, John Smith, Timothy Hamant, and Thomas Mason were appointed a committee to prepare instructions to the Representative, and their report was accepted December I. It was as follows : -
We, your Constituents, being assembled, take this opportunity to signify to you our approbation of the Conduct of said Court so far as it hath come to our Knowledge, perticularly in the Election of his Majesty's Council and in Keeping an open House ; and as you Desire our Instruc- tions whether a Compensation be made by the province to perticular persons who have suffered Damage by some Riotous persons the Vile- ness of whose actions we utterly abhor and Disavow, Sir, we are of opinion that it would tarnish the Glory and Reputation of this province to Charge the Vileness of a few Riotous persons upon the whole prov- ince: you are therefore to use your Influence that there be no money Drawn from the Province therefor : we Commiserate the Case of the Sufferers, and shall be ready to Cast in our mite to there Relieve when it is asked for by way of a Contribution or Subscription ; and as to erect- ing a statute in Honor to Mr. Pitt, we are very senceable of his merrit and the worthy Deeds He has Don for the nation, and these provinces in perticular. But are of opinion that to Immetate him as a Patriot will be of more Honor to him and to us ; especially since there is none that we know of in the province in Honor to his present Majesty.
1767. Selectmen, Samuel Morse, Noah Allen, Moses Hartshorn, Moses Bullen, and Joseph Wheelock.
Samuel Morse, Representative.
Leave given for the roads north of Castle Hill, from John Fisher's to Noah Allen's house, and also to John Cutter's, to be fenced up ; suitable gates to be made.
£12 added to Mr. Townsend's salary.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE.
At the town-meeting, November 18, there were articles in the warrant, "To consider and agree upon some effectual measures to promote Industry, Oeconomy, and Manufactur- ing, thereby to prevent the unnecessary Importation of Euro- pian Commodities, which thretens the Country with poverty and Ruin ; and to give the representative instructions 'for his conduct att this very Critical Conjuncture of our publick
154
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
affairs.'" A committee was chosen, which reported Decem- ber 28 as follows : -
That under a sense of the expedience of a general retrenchment of foreign superfluities and the encouragement of our own manufactories we will by all reasonable and prudent measures endeavor to contribute our mite thereto, particularly to discountenance the use of the following articles imported from abroad, namely, loaf sugar, coaches, chairs, and carriages of all sorts, and harness for the same, men's and women's saddles and bridles, all sorts of whips, men's hats, and women's apparel ready made except hose, all sorts of gloves, women's hats, men's and women's shoes, sole leather, decknails, gold and silver and thread lace of all sorts, gold and silver buttons, wrought plate of all sorts, diamonds, stone and past ware, snuff, manufactured tobacco, mustard, clocks and watches, silversmith's and jeweller's ware, broadcloths that cost above ten shillings per yard, muffs and tippets, all sorts of head dress, as caps, flowers, feathers, and turbans, velvet, excepting for hoods, gauze, except- ing for mourning, lawns and cambrics that cost above - shillings sterling per yard, malt liquors, cheese, chairs, tables, and all cabinet ware, horn combs, linens that cost above two shillings per yard, silk of all kinds for garments, chintz, patches, and all sorts of chinaware; and it is recommended that the several inhabitants in their various depart- ments and different connections do discountenance in all proper methods the so frequent use of foreign teas and distilled spirits, and to think of and promote some measures for the profitable employment of the poor, and the encouragement of our own manufactories, and particularly the saving of linen and cotton rags for the use of the paper manufactories.
That the representative do give his suffrage to such votes of assem- blies for the encouragement of our own manufactory as may appear to be for the good of the community, and use his influence for obtaining a duty upon spirituous liquors, bohea, green and hyson tea, coffee, and chinaware, and on limes, lemons, and oranges, and most readily contrib- ute his part to the entire abolition of that standing reproach to the nations of Christendom, - the Slave Trade.
A SELF-GRATULATORY RETROSPECT.
Among Seth Dwight's papers is found what appears to be a first draft of the above document, in which occurs the fol- lowing, which was not inserted in the report : -
It is very agreeable to observe the spirit of Industry, Frugality, and good Economy so greatly revived in and warmly recommended by sev. eral of the leading towns in our province, and that some in a neighbor- ing colony have been provoked to emulation. The advantage of acting
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155
MEDFIELD IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
up to such a spirit may not appear great to the people who have viewed the matter only in theory, but they are such as we can recommend to be very great from long and happy experience. We were incorporated as a town in 1650. Our fathers set out with such a spirit, which they transmitted to their posterity as a valuable treasure ; and we, their chil- dren, have religiously observed it. From the time of our incorporation there have been but five or six instances of any person among us sued for debt; not one of any person being committed for any action, civil or criminal ; not one of any estate being rendered insolvent; nor an instance of any individual among us applying to any other town for relief or assistance, being reduced by fire, sickness, or otherwise; but in these instances we have been ready by love to serve one another.
We have, by the blessing of Providence upon our industry, raised the most of our necessaries, and a surplusage of some as an exchange for such as we could not produce among ourselves. We enjoy so much happiness within ourselves in consequence of this economy that we want no other motive to influence us to pursue it; and, from the sweet- ness we have tasted in it ourselves, we can heartily recommend it to others, and presume to do it even to such places as have been leading in the late resolves. Wherein we have failed in the Economy recom- mended by our metropolis, we shall endeavor an amendment, and hope for the pleasure and advantage of being stimulated to a conformity by their example as well as advice. Many of the articles enumerated in the votes of other towns are such as we have little or no use for, and indeed but little knowledge of. Such as we cannot completely subsist without we shall endeavor, as we always have, to provide an equivalent for, and resolve still to make this the maxim of our commerce, not to suffer our Import to exceed our Export.
This part of the report was evidently written by some one who did not exactly perceive the relevancy of the occasion ; and, though interesting now to read, we quite agree with the good taste which omitted it in the final draft.
1768. Selectmen, Seth Dwight, Seth Clark, Moses Hartshorn, Daniel Perry, and Oliver Ellis.
Eliakim Morse, Representative.
Voted that a committee be chosen to see what they can procure a pall or burying-cloth for, " made among ourselves "; that is, of American manufacture.
POWDER-HOUSE.
"Granted Ten Dolars for the Building of the Powder House." The building was erected on a large rock on
156
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
" Powder-house Hill," so called, north of Kingsbury's mill pond.
A letter from the selectmen of Boston to the selectmen of Medfield was received, also a copy of the proceedings of the "Town of Boston" at a town-meeting, September 12. Mr. Seth Clark was chosen to represent the town at a convention to be held at Faneuil Hall September 22. Mr. Clark was instructed not to "advise or act anything unconstitutional or Elegal." This convention was held while Massachusetts was without a Legislature, it having been dissolved by the royal governor, in consequence of refusing to rescind its resolu- tions concerning the importation of English goods.
The town set apart a day for fasting and prayer on the occasion of the convention.
Voted, That in apprehension of an approaching Rupture with France it be Recommended to the several Inhabitance in Town to Equip them selves forth with arms and ammunition according to law.
1769. Selectmen, Eliakim Morse, Samuel Morse, Thomas Adams, Nathan Clark, and Nathan Ellis.
Moses Bullen, Representative.
Frairy Street from the brook on North Street to its junction with Dale Street was laid out. It originally entered North Street some rods further north than at present.
One of the articles in the March meeting warrant was "to see if the Town will Grant Liberty to the Baptise Society in Medfield to have Occasional Lectures to Continue the Town's pleasure in the School House near the middle of the town, att such times as shall be no hindrance to the schools that are Keept their." Passed in the negative.
£12 voted for schools, £18 for the support of the poor.
MR. TOWNSEND'S RESIGNATION.
Rev. Mr. Townsend wrote an acknowledgment, which was read to the congregation by Mr. Lock who preached for him. October 9, Mr. Townsend presented the following : -
To the brethren of the church of Christ in Medfield : Beloved,- Sensible of my unworthiness of being continued in the relation of pas- tor unto you, I hereby request your dismission of me therefrom.
157
MEDFIELD IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
The church granted the request, which was concurred in by the town October 23.
During Mr. Townsend's pastorate, 61 persons were admitted to the church, 22 owned the covenant, and 334 were baptized.
The church requested the selectmen to provide preaching until there be a town-meeting, at which a committee was chosen and £70 granted by the town to supply the pulpit.
1770. Selectmen, Daniel' Perry, Barachias Mason, Moses Hartshorn, Asa Hamant, and Joseph Wheelock.
Moses Bullen, Representative.
Voted, That the Town applaud and agree to and will conform their conduct agreable to the non-importation agreement Entred into by the Truly Patriotic merchants of Boston so far as it may Relate to them- selves.
Voted that horses shall not go at large without fetters. Horse reeves were chosen.
April 19 was appointed as a day of fasting and prayer in order to the calling a minister of the gospel over the church and congregation in Medfield. May 23, the church voted to call Mr. Thomas Prentiss to the pastorate, which was con- curred in by the town at a subsequent meeting "by a great majority." He was ordained October 31. The town granted £8 for the expenses of the entertainment.
Voted, That the Constables with sutable assistance shall Guard the Pulpit and Table and the Seven Pews on the North side of the meeting House and the Body of the seats for the Council, the Church and Mr. Prentiss Relation on Ordination day.
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