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 3
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I. That all psons wt so ever that shall receave Land by Grante from the said Towne now called Meadfield shall becom subiect to all such orders in any pt or point of Town governmt as ar at p'sent or heere after by the Authoritie of the said towne shall be made and appointed for the ordering, regulateing or govermt therr of, pvided they bee not repugnant to the orders, or any order, of the Gennall Court from time to time, and that every such grante shall for the firme engagemt of himself & his successors ther unto subscribe his name to our Towne Booke, or otherwise his grant made to him shall therby be made void & of none effect.
2. That if differences, questions or Contentions shall fall out, or arise, any manner of ways in our societie, or betwixt any parties therin, that they shall really endeavour to resolve & issue the same in the
38
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
most peaceable ways & manner, by refference Arbritration, or som other the like meanes before it shall com to any place of publike Judicature, except it be in our owne Towne.
3. That we shall all of us in the said Towne Faithfully endeavour tht onely such be receaved to our societie & Township as we may have sufficient satisfaction in, that they ar honest, peacable, & free from scandall and eronious opinnions.
LOTE
llevo
ut hing soyan try ptonog
codent of the Elite
orhan for the
that chinae vett, affignug get over
planti aggy pan or podle of pond former
The domme Look,
allergic condet that leit ch
50
any foyer of Ormai und
kofelt
Banks
mat alcorn
39
THE SETTLEMENT OF MEDFIELD.
How many of these signatures were made at first, we cannot discover. Among them are, at least, the names of five persons who never came to Medfield: they may have intended to join the number, but were prevented from doing so. Several of the later signatures are of sons of the original settlers, who were formally accepted as townsmen when they came of age. Others came from various places subsequent to the time of settlement, and signed the agree- ment when they were accepted. Others came here, received lands, and even held office, who did not sign the agreement at all. After a few years, the custom of signing fell into disuse. One of the last signatures was that of Joseph Daniel, who was accepted as a townsman in 1662. This town was organized with a much smaller number of house- holders than has been generally supposed.
It will be noticed that sixteen "made their mark," con- cerning which Mann in Annals of Dedham says, " It is fair to infer they were not all writing-masters; but their par- ticular occupation is not stated."
REGULATIONS IN REGARD TO DIVISION OF LANDS.
At a meeting of the committee about the beginning of 1650, they formally appointed Eleazar Lusher to keep the books for the town of - until another be chosen. The space for the name of the town was left blank, as at that date it had not been definitely fixed upon. The record proceeds : -
It is ordered that the ground or rule for the division of land shall be persons and estates.
It is ordered that, in laying out house-lots, teaching and church offi- cers shall be first provided for.
It is ordered, for the further explaining the rules of division of lands, that by persons is intended the persons to whom the grant is expressly made, and all others that are at present in real dependence upon them, servants excepted.'
It is also further ordered that no house-lot shall exceed twelve acres of upland and twelve acres of meadow, neither shall any house- lot be less than six acres of upland and six acres of meadow; and any
40
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
man's estate shall receive land according to its apportion between these sums, according to what their persons and estates are capable of; and. if any man's estate and persons be at present straightened thereby, he shall in the next division of lands receive so much more than his shall then come unto; but such as in a six-acre lot shall now receive more than by right of his persons or estate can be granted to him, that over- plus shall not be discounted, but he shall receive in the next division whatsoever according to the common rule of division come to his part.
It is ordered that the estate we account and allow of as capable of division of lands is such estate as is ratable, and usually rated in the country rate.
This is as far as the business proceeded at that meeting. About the first of February, another meeting was held, the record of which is :-
It is ordered that all grantees whatsoever shall be enjoined thereby to be present at Medfield with all that estate that they received land for, settled before the end of the third month, called May, which shall be in the year 1651, except the selectmen for the time being shall grant a longer time to any particular grantee. Whosoever shall fail herein shall forfeit to the town all the lands to them formerly granted them.
It is ordered that what persons soever shall present themselves to the selectmen for the time being, to be accepted and to receive land for their persons and estate, shall give satisfaction to the said selectmen that the estate of which they make report is truly real, so that in the judgment of reason it may appear very probable that that person shall be able to settle that estate at Medfield according to the order in that case provided.
The valuation of cattle set at such prices as they shall be accounted at in estates in the grants of land as followeth : -
One ox, £7.
One horse, £15.
One cow, £6. One I year old swine, £1.
One 3 yearling, £5.
One I year old goat, {1.
One 2 yearling, £3 IOS.
3 year old colt, £10.
One I yearling, {2. 2 year old colt, £8.
One weaning, {1. I year old colt, £5.
It is ordered that to every fifteen pounds estate shall be granted one acre of land in house-lots and one acre of land in meadow, to be apportioned according to the former order concerning the extent of house-lots.
It is further ordered that all such charges as are necessarily occa- sioned by the public ordinances of the town,-viz., the purchase of the land from Dedham or the Indians, as also the charges of the petition,
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THE SETTLEMENT OF MEDFIELD.
laying out of the lines about the general grants made to the town, or other the like occasions,-shall be borne and defrayed by those lands granted for house-lots.
Forasmuch as it is supposed to be very probable that there may be clay found in that place when lots are suddenly to be laid out, it is therefore ordered that the five men formally deputed and authorized to lay out house-lots, or any three of them, shall have hereby power to appoint and provide that sufficient search be made at the public charges, and that the most fit place and quantities be reserved for the public and common use of the town for clay, as to their judgment shall appear most meet.
Whereas such as are appointed to assist and direct in the laying out of house-lots are occasioned to expend much time and pains about the same, more than in equality they can be required to do, it is there- fore ordered that such of them as shall have pains therein as aforesaid, or other the like public occasions, shall, upon their bill presented, have such satisfaction allowed them as shall be thought reasonable upon consideration. This order to be of force from the fifth of the first month, 1650.
Another meeting of the committee was held on the 10th of the third month (May), 1650, at which provision was made for laying out house-lots in Medfield. The record goes on : -
The men whose names are hereunder written are hereby chosen, deputed, and authorized to assist and direct the measurer in laying out house-lots as by their discretion they shall judge most meet according to the rule of division formerly resolved upon, being persons and estates whose authority shall settle the situation and lines of all such house-lots as shall be by them performed within the space of six months next ensuing: the greater number of these men consenting together shall be a sufficient act for the settling of such house-lots in meadow or upland, in whole or in part.
THOMAS WIGHT. ROBERT HINSDELL. TIMOTHY DWIGHT.
SAMUEL BULLEYN. JOHN FRAIRY.
Forasmuch as some charges that concern the public are suddenly to be defrayed and satisfied, it is therefore ordered that every grantee to whomsoever land shall be laid out in house-lots shall, for every acre, within ten days after the laying out thereof, pay to the collector for the town one shilling, in payment of the charges that concern the town.
Thomas Wight is chosen collector for and in behalf of the town, to continue till another be chosen.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
Thomas Wight is chosen to be present to assist and advise in laying out the farm to the heirs of Mr. Edward Alleyne, together with them that the town of Dedham have deputed to the work.
Thomas Wight, Robert Hinsdell, and Samuel Bullen, or any two of them, are chosen and deputed to be present at the laying of the line betwixt Dedham and Medfield; to take notice of that line, and to assist therein as they see cause.
Deputed for the laying out of highways, and other the like neces- sary occasions that may prepare and make the place capable of laying out into house-lots, the men whose names are under-written, or any four of them : -
THOMAS WIGHT. TIMOTHY DWIGHT.
PETER WOODWARD. SAMUEL BULLEN.
JOHN DWIGHT. ELEAZAR LUSHER.
It is agreed upon to give a call to Sergeant George Barber to build a mill at Medfield and to keep it for the supply of the town; and they resolve to give him such encouragement thereunto as to a work of that nature is convenient.
THE FIRST HIGHWAYS.
The main road from Dedham to Boggestow ran through the north-east corner of what is now Walpole, and entered Medfield near Foundry Street. From that point, it passed probably north of Mount Nebo, and came out upon the pres- ent Main Street, a short distance east of Pound Street. Thence, it followed substantially the direction of Main and Bridge Streets to the river, where the bridge connecting the two portions of the town was soon built. The precise location of that bridge is uncertain ; but it must have been near that of the present bridge by the almshouse.
Leading out of this principal road was another, where North Street now lies, which was soon extended, and became the " old road to Natick." Opposite North Street, another road led southward near where Pleasant Street now is, but bearing farther east and terminating near the head of Philip Street.
This was the system of roads: one way leading through the town from east to west, and another crossing it at right angles, thus forming the four corners which have been from that day to this reckoned as the centre of the town. There
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THE SETTLEMENT OF MEDFIELD,
is no record of the laying out of these roads, the first six leaves of our oldest record book being lost.
June 19, 1650, the committee proceeded to lay out thir- teen house-lots. The record of these grants is in the unmis- takable handwriting of Eleazar Lusher.
GRANTS FOR HOUSE-LOTS TO THE THIRTEEN PIONEERS.
I. To Mr. Ralph Wheelock, twelve acres of upland as it lyeth abut- ting upon the highway, being two rods and one-half broad toward the south-east and north-east, and upon the waste land toward the south- west and north-west, the highway, two rods and one-half broad, crossing the same near the north-west end thereof.
This was the west corner of Main and North Streets, with the field opposite skirting the south road as it then ran somne hundred rods or thereabouts.
2. To John Ellis, ten acres and one rood, abutting upon Mr. Whee- lock toward the north-east.
This was the site now owned by Mr. Upham, with a field on the opposite side of Main Street of about the same length as Mr. Wheelock's.
3. To Samuel Bullen, ten acres, abutting on the waste lands toward the south-east, north-east, and north-west, and upon a brook thereby toward the south-west.
This was near Philip Street, opposite F. D. Hamant's house. The brook referred to was larger at that time than now, a portion of its waters having since been turned in another direction. The stream appears to have been called Nantasket Brook in early times.
4. To Daniel Morse, twelve acres abutting upon Samuel Bullen toward the south-east and the brook south-west.
This was what is now known as the "church lot." A lane led from the highway to the houses of Bullen and Morse.
5. To James Allen, seven acres, abutting upon the waste lands upon all the sides thereof round about. .
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
This was near the house now owned by Mr. Rhodes, on South Street, the field running back toward the west, somewhat long and narrow.
6. To Joseph Clark, ten acres, abutting upon James Allen toward the north-west.
An old cellar and well still mark the site of this house.
7. To Francis Hamant, six acres, abutting on Joseph Clark toward the north-west.
He did not build his house there, but afterward obtained another grant near the brook on Philip Street, which has been in the possession of the Hamant family from that day to this.
8. To John Turner, six acres abutting upon Francis Hamant toward the north-west.
Curve Street marks the southern boundary of this lot : his first house stood near the junction of Curve and South Streets.
9. To John Frairy, twelve acres, abutting upon the highway toward the south-east.
The highway here referred to was the common around the meeting-house, which embraced the land now covered by the pond. The house-lot lay along Frairy Street to Dale Street, and the house was on the site of that now owned by the Stedman heirs.
10. To Timothy Dwight, twelve acres, abutting on John Frairy south- west, on the highway south-east, and on the highway in part, and on waste land in part, on the north-east.
This house was built on the site owned by the Derby heirs, and his field lay along North Street. The "waste land in part " on the north-east was a triangular piece of ground now included in D. D. Curtis' lawn.
II. To Robert Hinsdale, three acres and one half, abutting upon the highway south-west, and upon a brook south-east.
1
45
THE SETTLEMENT OF MEDFIELD.
The Hinsdale house stood on the east side of North Street, north of the brook. He took the remainder of his twelve acres in another place.
12. To Thomas Wight, twelve acres, touching upon Robert Hinsdale at one angle, otherwise upon waste land.
This was on what is now Green Street, a little way from North Street.
13. To John Wight, six acres, abutting on Thomas Wight on the south-west, all else on waste land.
" Wight's Lane " led from North Street to these houses.
The committee for the ordering of affairs held another meeting in November, at which the following order was passed : -
Forasmuch as there are divers trees as will fit for timber in woods growing near about the brook that runs out of the meadows, in the mid- dle of the town, which trees may be of much use, as well for shadow as for other public occasions of the town, it is therefore ordered that no man, either inhabitant or other, shall cut or fell any of the aforesaid trees of any scantling whatsoever, of either side of said brook, without special or particular license from the town, upon the penalty of forfeit- ing for every such tree so felled without license the sum of five shil- lings, to be paid to the use of the town upon any reasonable demand made by whomsoever the town shall authorize thereto.
The low ground along the brook had not been included in the house-lots, but was reserved by the town as public property. By the foregoing order, it is to be inferred that the settlers were commencing operations here; also, by the mention of the shadow of these trees, that large and beauti- ful shade trees were not abundant. This corroborates what has been said of the appearance of the country in respect of the forests.
An additional order was passed at the same meeting : -
For the preventing of wasting of timber by unnecessary felling, or neglect of due removing thereof seasonably after the same is felled, it is therefore ordered that whosoever hereafter shall fell any timber of any sort whatsoever, upon any part of the common lands of the town, and shall let the same or any part be unimproved or uncarried away for
A
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
more than six months after the same is felled, those trees, or what part soever shall be so remaining, shall be wholly forfeit into the hands of the town, and shall be disposed of by the selectmen as shall appear unto them most meet.
This is the last recorded action taken in Dedham for the management of the affairs at the new town of Medfield.
DEDHAM'S SURRENDER OF JURISDICTION.
At a general meeting of the inhabitants of Dedham on the first of the eleventh month (Jan. 1I, 1651, N.S.) the follow- ing vote was passed :-
It is by the town of Dedham consented unto and ordered that the power, right, or privilege of town government that hath hitherto or is remaining in the township of Dedham, or any their trustees or assigns, whereby they have and did act in and on behalf of the town of Medfield, shall be, and hereby is, wholly and totally transmitted and delivered into the hands, power, and disposing of the township of Medfield in general and the selectmen thereof and their successors forever.
And do also further agree with those of Medfield that are now present that such care as is necessary that due and seasonable payment be made of that debt due from Medfield to this town upon reasonable demand : thereof. And further promise as much forbearance thereof as the public occasion of the town of Dedham admit of.
Medfield now only needed the recognition and sanction of the General Court to be a town with full powers. That sanction was given in May, 1651, by an act entitled "Med- field's power," which reads as follows : -
There beinge a towne lately erected beyond Dedham, in the County of Suffolke, uppon Charles river, called by the name of Meadfield, uppon their request made to this General Court, this Court hath graunted them all the power and privileges which other townes doe injoy according to law.
ORGANIZATION AND ACCESSIONS.
Medfield entered upon its independent existence as the forty-third town in the colony in the order of incorporation. The corporators had matters entirely in their own hands. They could admit or reject as townsmen whomsoever they pleased : they had absolute control of all the lands within
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THE SETTLEMENT OF MEDFIELD.
their bounds. Upon their integrity, judgment, and foresight rested the future of the new town.
The first board of selectmen consisted of Mr. Ralph Wheelock, Timothy Dwight, Robert Hinsdale, John Frairy, and Benjamin Alby.
Henry Adams was chosen "clerk of the writs," or town clerk, soon after Dedham's surrender of jurisdiction, as no canal records subsequent to that time are in Lusher's handwriting. The next grant, No. 14, is in the new clerk's chirography. There were numerous accessions to the number of those who were receiving house-lots during the spring and summer, located as follows : -
Isaac Chenery, six acres, bounded south-east by James Allen. This was on South Street, near the place now owned by heirs of Lowell Wiswell.
Henry Smith, ten acres, bounded south-east by Isaac Chenery. On South Street, but somewhat back toward Pleasant Street.
Henry Glover, six acres. On North Street, opposite Pine Street.
William Partridge, six acres, bounded by Henry Glover south-east. On North Street, where the house owned by the Misses Wight now stands.
Thomas Ellis, six acres, bounded by William Partridge south-east. The spot is now owned by descendants of the the same name.
Thomas Mason, six acres, bounded by Thomas Ellis south- east. Now owned by A. E. Mason, a lineal descendant.
Benjamin Crane, six acres, bounded by Thomas Mason south-east. This lot was sold in 1652 to Joseph Ellis, who soon removed from town. It was, apparently, where Hamlet Wight now lives.
The following were Weymouth and Braintree men, and they all took lots in Bridge Street.
Benjamin Alby, four acres, which lay near the corner by the almshouse.
John Bowers, two acres and three roods, bounded by Benjamin Alby north-west. The house owned by heirs of J. F. Newell stands on the Bowers lot.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD,
- Nicolas Rockwood, three acres and three roods, bounded by John Bowers north-west.
Alexander Lovell, four acres, bounded by Nicolas Rock- wood north-west. This spot is now owned by Charles H. Russell.
Abraham Harding, five acres, bounded by Alexander Lovell north-west. Now owned by Mr. Chase.
Henry Adams, four acres and a half, bounded by Abraham Harding north-west. The place is now included in that owned by heirs of Gershom Adams. He did not, however, build there, but bought the place on Elm Street, near Mill Brook, ever since owned by his descendants.
John Fussell, three acres, bounded by Henry Adams north-west. Some traces of a house, supposed to have been his, have been found on a little knoll near the meadow, on the Gershom Adams place. Next to this lot, on the south- east, land was left for a common clay pit.
resin Edward Adams, two acres, bounded by the common clay pit on the north-west.
Peter Adams, two acres and a half, bounded by Edward Adams on the north-west. This and the preceding were near the foot of Dale Street.
Margaret Sheppard, two acres, bounded by Peter Adams on the north-west. This lot seems to have been not very far from the corner of Main and Bridge Streets, on the west side.
These Bridge Street house-lots, being less than the mini- mum size, were made up by subsequent grants of land above the brow of the hill, on " Bridge Street Plain."
Rev. John Wilson commenced his pastorate in December, 1651, as he himself tells us ; but we have no record of the action of the town in calling him. In fact, not much remains to us of the action of the town concerning any matter in 1651. His house-lot was on Main Street, the site of the present town hall, with a field opposite, which included the land now lying between South and Pleasant Streets. Joshua Fisher had his house-lot next to Mr. Wilson's on the east, and built his house where that of the heirs of James Hewins
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THE SETTLEMENT OF MEDFIELD.
now stands. His field opposite stretched down as far as Pound Street.
This year, the direction of South Street was changed : it was removed from between the lots of Mr. Wheelock and Mr. Wilson where it was at first, and laid between Mr. Wil- son's and Joshua Fisher's ; very nearly its present location.
George Barber had twelve acres, bounded west by Joshua Fisher. His house was near where that of Bradford Curtis now stands.
John Thurston had twelve acres, bounded west by George Barber, and built his house near the spot now occupied by the residence of James Hewins.
It will be observed that all these Main Street lots were so laid out that they were on both sides of the way; and the houses were all built on the north side, thus making them front to the south, according to the universal custom in those days. Not a house was built on the south side of Main Street for more than a century. Opposite to each house lay the " home field."
We learn that the burying-place was set out in 1651, as the grants of the next year refer to it as a thing already established. It embraced the central portion of the present cemetery, next the street.
BUILDING OF THE FIRST MILL.
An agreement made on the sixteenth day of the ninth month, Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and fifty-one, between Benjamin Alby, John Frairy, Robert Hinsdale, Timothy Dwight, and Mr. Ralph Wheelock, selectmen for the town of Meadfield, one party, and George Barber, carpenter, of said Meadfield, the other party: the said Ben- jamin Alby, John Frairy, Timothy Dwight, Robert Hinsdale, and Ralph Wheelock being moved to gather together, and assembled the day and year above written for the ordering of the prudential affairs of the town, do, on behalf of the town, covenant and agree with George Barber as followeth for the building of a mill upon the brook that runneth on the east side of the South Plains which lieth beyond the house of Samuel Bulleyn, all former agreements with him about the sitting of it down upon any other brook being repealed and made void. Now, and in consideration that is of building the said mill upon the aforesaid brook for the supply of the town, the selectmen aforesaid do
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
give and grant unto the said George and his heirs forever twenty-five acres of upland and meadow, to be laid out as followeth : --
Upon this side of the brook next unto the town, twenty-four acres of land, to be laid out according as those deputed thereunto shall run the lines. Upon the east side of the said brook, close adjoining unto the mill, one acre of upland. And, lastly, that parcel of meadow and up- land formerly granted to the said George, abutting on the highway leading to the great bridge over Charles River.
Also the selectmen do agree and promise to the said George Barber to do all necessary digging and damming which shall be needful for the setting down of the said mill at the town's charges, provided the said George serve his own part equal and proportionately with the others of the said town.
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