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 14
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1784. Selectmen, James Gerauld, Nathan Adams, Jonathan Metcalf, Eleazar Ellis, and Ebenezer Clark.
Daniel Perry, Representative.
Voted, To Rebuild the Great Bridge over Charles River with stone pillers provided that the town of Medway will join.
Whether the stone " pillers " were built does not appear ; but liberty was granted to cut timber for the bridge on the town's land, and £20 was granted for the work.
A committee was appointed to "build four pews where the hinder part of the Body of seats now stands, and cut an alley to the pulpit through the Body of seats."
The " District of Dover " was incorporated on our north- ern border : it had previously been called the "Springfield district," or fourth parish of Dedham.
The following items are from the valuation of 1784: Cows, £4 per head; two-year-old cattle, £2 8s .; year- lings, £1 10s .; oxen, £13 10s. a yoke; sheep, 9s. ; lambs, 7s. ; calves, £1 4s .; swine one year old, £1 16s .; rye, per bush., 4s .; Indian corn and barley, 3s. 6d .; oats, Is. 6d. ; hemp and flax, 9d. per pound ; cider, 8s. per barrel ; English hay, £2 per ton ; meadow hay, £1.
There were in the town, at this period, one hundred and twenty-one horses, one hundred and thirty-three oxen, one
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hundred and sixty-eight steers, four hundred and thirty-four cows, seven hundred and sixty-one sheep, and one hundred and forty swine. Number of polls, one hundred and eighty- four.
1785. Selectmen, James Gerauld, Jonathan Metcalf, Nathan Adams, Eleazar Ellis, and Ebenezer Clark.
Daniel Perry, Representative.
A FISH-WAY DESIRED.
A committee was chosen "to view Charles River at the Falls in Newton in Regard to the Passing of the Several Kinds of fish." Delegates were appointed to a convention, " to consult on what measures to come into in Regard to Digging a Chanel opposite the Uper falls in Charles River between Needham and Newton for the Various kinds of Salt water fish that annually Run up Charles River." There is no further record of the matter, except that Mr. Bigsby, who owned the land there, demanded £18 for the privilege of digging the channel.
Voted that "the Buring Ground be fenced with a Good Rail fence all Round sd Ground," and that the committee " make and Hang a Good Gate to pass into sd ground."
Dedham desired this town to assist in building " Vine Rock Bridge." Medfield refused, and arranged to defend itself from any suits brought against it.
1786. Selectmen, Eleazar Wheelock, Amos Plimpton, Asa Boyden, David Clark, and Nahum Wight.
VAGRANTS AND THIEVES.
A committee was chosen to consider whether a new law in regard to vagrants and thieves was desirable. They sub- mitted the following report, which was accepted : -
We have carefully examined the several laws that are now in force so far as we are capable and are of the opinion that the laws relating to vagrant persons are sufficient if put in execution, and that the laws Con- cerning thieves are well adapted for their punishment when duly con- victed : but find no provision in said law for the incouragement of
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persons to take up and secure them. We conceive it would be of public utility that a law should be made granting a bounty or reward to any per- son or persons that shall take up and secure any thief or thieves so as he or she may be convicted and upon their conviction to be entitled to the bounty or reward, and that the money be paid out of the public treasury of this commonwealth. Also we report it as our opinion that this town petition the General Assembly of this commonwealth to enact a law granting a bounty as aforesaid.
A committee was chosen to prepare a petition, which was as follows : -
Whereas, since the disbanding of the American army the number of thieves are greatly multiplied and frequent insults of theft are committed in one part and another of which this town has suffered much in many instances of late,- We conceive it would have a good tendency to pre- vent thieves from escaping with impunity, and would be of public utility if there was proper encouragement made by law for people to exert themselves when there is any theft committed in any parts of this Com- monwealth to take up and secure any thief or thieves so as they may be convicted and receive the punishment due for their crimes. Your peti- tioners pray that this Hon. Court would enact a law granting a premium to any person or persons that shall take up and secure any thief or thieves and upon their conviction to be entitled to the premium and the money to be paid by the criminal if able, and, if not, out of the public treasury of this Commonwealth. Also that the complainant be entitled by law to adequate pay for his expenses, time, and trouble in his attend- ing any court or courts in the prosecution against the offender, provided the same be convicted: or act anything as you in your wisdom shall think proper.
This year, Silas Mason, Nathan Harding, and John Fisher, Jr., built a saw-mill near Castle Hill, they having liberty to flow lands there from October to April yearly. This mill continued to be used till about 1820.
A NEW PARISH MEETING-HOUSE.
Voted, That the town commence preparing materials for building a new meeting-house.
LIBRARY.
In 1786, the first public library in town was started. It was called at first "The Circulating Library "; afterward, "The Medfield Social Library." Any person could become
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a proprietor by the payment of $1 annually, until the pay- ments amounted to $4. There were proprietors in all the surrounding towns. Dr. Prentiss was librarian ; and the library, it is said, contained upward of seven hundred vol- umes, including the Encyclopedia Americana, in sixteen volumes. A remnant of that library is now, or has lately been, stored at the town farm.
1787. Selectmen, Eleazar Wheelock, Enoch Adams, Jonathan Wight, Asa Mason, and Francis Hamant.
John Baxter, Jr., Representative. He was to have 4s. 6d. a day of actual service, and travelling fees.
A committee was chosen to consider the matter of a new meeting-house. They reported, recommending that it be built sixty feet in length, forty-five in width, and that it be erected in the year 1789. The pews to be sold to the high- est bidder, one-half the payment to be in labor or mate- rials, and the other half, cash. Twenty-five wall pews were to be built in the gallery.
A building committee was then chosen, consisting of Sabin Mann, Oliver Ellis, and Daniel Perry; and they were instructed to procure of Captain Joseph Bacon a plan and estimate of the cost, also to engage him as master workman. Town granted £25 for schools, £20 for the poor. A road was laid out from Noon Hill Street on the southerly side of the hill ; now discontinued as a town way. The location of roads was changed in various places, on the west side of Noon Hill.
Voted to make an NOON HILL ACROSS THE MEADOWS. addition to the North School-house, not to ex- ceed six feet, and to repair the old part ; £22 appropriated.
A road was laid out on the north-west side of " Baxter's pasture " to Walpole line. This is the lane leading south- westerly from Granite Street.
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Rev. Thomas Gair was dismissed from the pastorate of the Baptist church, which continued from this time, twenty- three years, without a pastor.
FORM OF OATH FOR TOWN OFFICERS, 1787-1790.
" I do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify, and declare that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is, and of right ought to be, a free, sovereign, and independent state ; and I do swear that I will bear true faith and alle- giance to the said Commonwealth, and that I will defend the same against traitorous conspiracies and all hostile attempts whatsoever : and that I do renounce and abjure all allegiance, subjection, and obedience to the King, Queen, or Government of Great Britain (as the case may be) and every other foreign power whatsoever ; and that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, superiority, pre-eminence, authority, dis- pensing or other power, in any matter, civil, ecclesiastical, or spiritual, within this Commonwealth, except the authority and power which is or may be vested by their constituents in the Congress of the United States ; and I do further tes- tify and declare that no man or body of men hath or have any right to absolve or discharge me from the obligation of this oath, declaration, or affirmation, and that I do make this acknowledgment, profession, testimony, declaration, denial, renunciation, and abjuration, heartily and truly according to the common meaning and acceptation of the foregoing words, without any equivocation, mental evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever. So help me God."
17SS. Selectmen, Oliver Ellis, Nathan Adams, Asa Boyden, Joseph Breck, and Elihu Chenery.
John Baxter, Jr., Representative.
The estimates and specifications for the meeting-house were brought in. The old building was to be pulled down, and such materials as were fit reserved for the use of the new. The committee was ordered to build a "decent cover over the bell, but not a steeple." The committee chosen for
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
the purpose sold fifty-eight pews on the lower floor, at prices ranging from £9 to £20; also, seventeen pews in the gal- lery, at £4 and upward.
EXEMPTION FROM MINISTERIAL TAXES.
The following persons were exempted from paying min- isterial taxes, they holding religious views differing from the Congregationalists : Oliver Ellis, Simeon Cutler, Silas Mason, William Connolly, Asa Mason, Eliakim Morse, Seth Clark, Ebenezer Clark, Sabin Mann, Richard Mann, Edward Clark, Silas Plimpton, William Hooker, Benjamin Plimpton, Warrick Green, Sarah Plimpton, Francis Hamant, Moses Lovell, Simeon Pratt, Widow Abigail Plimpton, Elihu Law- rence, Francis Cole, Solomon Clark, Eleazar Perry, Jacob Marshall.
1789. Selectmen, Nathan Adams, Eleazar Ellis, Jona- than Smith, Silas Mason, and Gershom Adams.
Oliver Ellis, Representative.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
The town was divided into school districts, with the pro- vision that any person should have the right to send to which school he pleased, by notifying the assessors.
The Congregational Society made arrangements with the Baptists for the use of their house of worship while the new meeting-house was building, the Baptist Society reserving the house for their own services one Sabbath in every four.
The meeting-house built in 1789, with various alterations and improvements since made, is still standing, and is used by the Unitarian Society. The specifications for the frame are given in detail in the town records, and are remarkable for the amount of heavy timber mentioned. The house, as originally built, stood facing the north-east ; and on the front end, next to North Street, there was a projecting tower, fourteen feet square, the base of which formed the main entrance, with doors on three sides. The tower was fifty- two feet in height, and was surmounted by a belfry and
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cupola. There was a projection also on the opposite end of the house, having three doors ; and there was a door in the middle of the south side of the building. From this last the broad aisle ran directly across to the pulpit, which was in the middle of the north side. The pul- pit was high, and was
reached by a long flight of stairs. Over the pul- pit hung the "sound- ing-board"; and, high on the same side, a gilded pineapple sur- mounted all. At the foot of the pulpit stairs, and directly in front of the preacher, stood the
table, with the deacons' seats by it. There were galleries on the other three sides, that oppo- site the pulpit being occupied by the singers. In the galleries, pews were built 178 against the wall; and under the MEETING-HOUSES OF THE FIRST PARISH. gallery there were two rows of pews, with an aisle between them. The sides of the pews were some four feet in height, and the town voted "to have the pews built with banis- ters "; that is, in the sides of the pews, near the top, an open space some six or eight inches in height was left, which was filled in with small uprights of turned wood. The pews were rectangular enclosures, six or eight feet in length and breadth, having seats on every side. The occu-
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
pants, during service, formed little family groups, sitting, some with their faces, and some with their backs, toward the minister. The seats were hung by hinges to the sides of the pews, and were raised for the greater convenience of standing in prayer time. At the conclusion, they were dropped back to their places with a great clatter. This part of the service gave rise to the following motto, with which one of the pews is said to have been embellished : -
"Soon as the minister says Amen,
Be sure and let the seat-lid slam."
The town hired an acre of land of Captain Cooledge, where J. R. Cushman's house now stands, to frame the meeting- house on. The carpenters commenced work about the 20th of April. Oliver Chenery worked on the house one hundred and thirty-two days, at 3s. a day. Probably, this was about the wages the best carpenters received in those days.
RAISING THE MEETING-HOUSE.
Bustling days in the village were those when the "rais- ing" took place. People came from all the surrounding towns; the streets were lined with teams; booths and bakers' carts supplied the hungry and thirsty crowd which came to witness the great sight. The frame was immensely heavy, and a strong force of men was required to place it in position. Owing to the want of suitable appliances, or of sufficient daring on the part of the men, the higher parts of the building baffled their efforts. In this emergency, Captain Downs, of Walpole, was called to their aid. By the help of his experience and courage, accompanied, it is said, with considerable rough language on his part, the work was completed on the third day.
The supplies for the raising consisted of four barrels of beer, twenty-five gallons of West India rum, thirty gallons of New England rum, thirty-four pounds of loaf sugar, twenty- five pounds of brown sugar, and four hundred and sixty- five lemons. Joseph Clark and Amos Plimpton furnished seven hundred and fifteen meals for the men that assisted
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at the raising, at 6d. a meal. These bills were all paid by the town.
This year, Medfield and Dover were united in representa- tion. The Dover people came to Medfield to vote for the next forty-seven years.
1790. Selectmen, Oliver Ellis, Daniel Perry, James Morse, Elijah Adams, and Simeon Cutler.
Oliver Ellis was Representative.
A petition was presented asking that a small portion of the town of Wrentham, including the families of James Boyden, Richard Boyden, Asa Fisher, and Matthias Armsby, be annexed to Medfield. It was not granted.
Certain woodlands in the south part of the town were sold, and the proceeds added to the school fund.
The elms on the south side of Main Street, in the centre of the village, were set out this year by Gershom and Samuel Wheelock: that by the town pump is older, having been set out in 1762.
William Clark was commissioned as captain.
In these days, a tavern was kept in the south part of the town by Sabin . Mann, at the place now owned by W. R. Smith.
The population of the town, according to the first national census in 1790, was 731.
The town returned a vote of thanks to the proprietors of the Baptist meeting-house " for their benevolence and kind- ness in accommodating the Congregational Society with their meeting-house free of cost and charge to meet for pub- lic worship while said Society were destitute of a house for that purpose."
1791. Selectmen, Eleazar Wheelock, William Clark, Oliver Adams, George Ellis, and Charles Hamant.
Oliver Ellis, Representative.
£50 appropriated for schools.
Voted, That Long Causeway be raised above the high-water mark for the convenience of those who desired to go to the wood lots on the south side of Stop River.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
1792. Selectmen, Oliver Ellis, James Gerauld, Timo- thy Shepard, James Morse, and Elijah Adams.
Oliver Ellis, Representative.
The old "planting field" road was discontinued, leading into the woods westward from Granite Street, just above its junction with High Street.
The division of the county was again urged, and Oliver Ellis was appointed agent of the town to act in this matter.
A committee was chosen to make regulations for a small- pox hospital. There is no further record concerning it ; but tradition has it that a hospital once stood where a cellar is still visible in the " Baxter pasture," on Granite Street.
Ephraim Smith was commissioned as captain of the mili- tary company here, an office which he held till 1800, when he received a major's commission.
Voted, That stone steps be made to each and every outside door of the new meeting-house.
£60 granted for highways.
Timothy Battle & Co. kept a store on North Street, oppo- site Dale, for the next ten years. A house of public enter- tainment also was still kept there.
1793. Selectmen, Oliver Ellis, James Gerauld, Timo- thy Shepard, James Morse, and Elijah Adams.
A new road was laid out to the upper bridge over Charles River, and the old road on the north side of " Smith's brook " was discontinued.
MEDFIELD RECORDS.
A proposition was made that " the antient records of the town" be transcribed. Voted that they be new covered, paper added, and an index made. This refers probably to the early land grants, as a copy of a portion of them, to- gether with an index of the same, was made about this time, and is still preserved among the town papers.
NINE O'CLOCK BELL.
Ordered that the meeting-house bell be rung at nine o'clock P.M., for one year.
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NORFOLK COUNTY.
June 20, 1793, Norfolk County was incorporated. Efforts had been made for a new county during half a century. Among the reasons urged, an old writing contains the fol- lowing: "Should Courts of Justice be erected in some country town within the county, we expect that the wheels of law and justice would move on without the clogs and embarrassment of a numerous train of lawyers. The scenes of gayety and amusements which are now prevalent at Bos- ton we expect would so allure them, as that we should be rid of their perplexing officiousness."
It was thought at one time that Medfield should be the shire town ; but this was opposed by some of our prudent citizens, on the ground that the young men would fall into habits of idleness, and spend too much time in gratifying curiosity by attending trials in court.
1794. Selectmen, Jonathan Wight, Edward Cleave- land, Obed Fisher, Charles Hamant, and Nathan Allen. John Baxter, Representative.
A committee was appointed to view the South School- house, and report how the same may be made convenient for the district scholars. Reported that it is best to sell the old house, and build new. £55, in addition to what the old house would bring, was granted for the purpose. The new building was to be twenty-two by eighteen feet, to stand in the northerly corner of the town's land, where the old one stood, and to be clapboarded and painted.
Voted, That a wall be laid in front of the burying-ground, and that all the trees upon said ground be cut down and sold for the benefit of the town.
TOWN MAP.
In accordance with the legislative act, a map of the town was made, a copy of which is in the office of the Secretary of State. The details of this map are so meagre as to make it of comparatively little worth.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
MINISTERIAL TAXES.
In 1794, a ministerial tax was levied upon all the property holders, including those who claimed exemption on the ground of a different religious belief. Ebenezer Clark, chairman of the committee of the Baptist Society, was arrested for non-payment, and lodged in jail. It was soon discovered that there was an informality in the proceeding, which might be very damaging to those concerned in it ; and the town authorities went to Boston, and had Mr. Clark released as speedily as possible. At a town-meeting subse- quently, it was voted that a committee of nine be appointed to decide whose ministerial taxes should be abated. They reported the following list : Oliver Ellis, Peter Warren, Joseph Cutler, heirs of Silas Mason, Asa Mason, Oliver Par- tridge, Asa Clark, Simon Plimpton, Seth Clark, Ebenezer Clark, Eliakim Morse, James Morse, Elias Clark, Benjamin Plimpton, Sarah Plimpton, Silas Plimpton, Francis Hamant, heirs of Edward Clark, Eleazar Perry, Elihu Lawrence, Matthias Armsby, Elisha Sayles, Abigail Plimpton, and John Cutler. Armsby and Sayles lived in the border of Wrentham.
In the mean time, Ebenezer Clark had brought a suit against the town ; and a committee was appointed to attend to that matter. They reported that, " whereas, a lawsuit did take place in consequence of a ministerial tax levied upon the whole incorporation, but by the simple omission of a seal on the warrant the assessors were subjected to damage and cost, nevertheless the disposition of the cause answered the question in dispute respecting a ministerial tax levied on the whole incorporation where there are different denominations, we are of opinion the town grant the sum of $60.87 to defray the expense of said lawsuit." The money was granted, and this was the last attempt in this town to force the payment of taxes to support the ministers of the standing order by those of different religious belief.
1795. Selectmen, Jonathan Wight, Moses Hill, Obed Fisher, Nahum Wight, and Artemas Woodward.
John Baxter, Representative.
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THE FIRST GUIDE-BOARDS.
The town " voted to erect five guide-posts" : one at Simon Plimpton's, opposite the cemetery ; one by Eleazar Whee- lock's, corner of Main and North Streets; one near Joseph Johnson's house, corner of North and Pine Streets ; one near David Onion's, corner of Main and South Streets ; and one by the South School-house.
The first proposition was made to place stoves in the several school-houses. It was not done, however, for many years; and the old fireplaces continued in use.
The towns voted this year upon the expediency of revising the State Constitution. Medfield voted thirty-six to seven against revision, and was in accord with the general senti- ment of the State.
Liberty was given to Eliakim Allen to have "half an acre of the town's land in Whecler's Bottom, adjoining the church lot, for a house spot and garden, provided the select- men think best, and it is not disagreeable to Mr. Prentiss." The house was built, and stood on the spot now occupied by that of R. A. Battelle, on Frairy Street.
Granted to Artemas Woodward the privilege of flowing town's land near where the old fulling-mill formerly stood, known as Meeting-house Pond. Soon afterward, he bought of the proprietors of common lands the land flowed by his pond.
THE MEADOWS VIEWED.
A committee was appointed by Governor Adams to view the state of Charles River, from Natick to two miles above Dwight's bridge, and two miles up the several streams flow- ing into said river. They reported that they "have removed some obstructions, and the meadows are mended by what has been done. But among the difficulties complained of to us is a Milldam in Natick, owned by Mr. Wm. Bigelow. Experiments have been made at different times by which it appears that the water is not discharged so quickly from the meadow as it would be if the dam were removed. It ap- pears to us that if the owner of the dam would keep off his
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
flush boards and open his sluices during the months of June, July, and August, when the river is high, the meadows would be essentially benefitted by it; but it would not be necessary to use this remedy every year, as the summer is not every year attended with a freshet."
About this date, Oliver Wheelock built a store on the corner of Main and North Streets. It was a long one-story building, with a horse-shed attached, and stood directly in front of the present store. The houses on South Street, now owned by Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Williams, were made from these buildings.
1796. Selectmen, Moses Hill, Artemas Woodward, Charles Hamant, Augustus Plimpton, and Simeon Chenery. John Baxter, Representative.
CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
A vote was passed by the parish church that, if any con- fession of a fault be hereafter necessary, it shall be received in the presence of the church only. In early days, confes- sion of wrong was made in the presence of the whole con- gregation.
Several pieces of town land were sold, including the "training field " at the corner of South and Philip Streets ; and the land left for a watering place by Asa Hamant's farther house, now near the junction of High and Granite Streets ; also, land left for a watering place near Elihu Lawrence's. This was on the west side of South Street, near where Mr. Quincy now lives.
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