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 4
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For, and in consideration of these aforesaid premises, the above said George doth bind himself, his heirs, and successors, to maintain and keep in good preservation at his own charge the said mill and dam after they be made and set down sufficient for the town's use, provided it be not for want of water. All which promises being truly and faith- fully performed, the town above said doth bind themselves unto the said George and his successors to build no other mill to the prejudice of the said George his mill.
This meeting of the selectmen "for the ordering of the prudential affairs of the town" was one of their regular meetings for town business. Records of the selectmen's meetings were kept for many years. South Plain is de- scribed as lying beyond the house of Samuel Bullen, which indicates that his was the southernmost house in the settle- ment at the date mentioned (Nov. 26, 1651), and that John Turner and Francis Hamant did not probably build till the following year.
The land granted to George Barber "for his encourage- ment " is included at present in the farm belonging to heirs of Henry Adams, and the mill was "set down" on the brook a few rods below the road. A later mill was built above the road.
Some half-dozen births are recorded here for 1651; but this record was evidently made up afterward, as they are not in chronological order. They probably occurred in other towns, and were put on record after the parents' removal to this place. There is no record of deaths or marriages for that year.
CHAPTER VI.
YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
1652. Selectmen, Ralph Wheelock, Robert Hinsdale, Timothy Dwight, George Barber, Abra- ham Harding, and Henry Adams. The latter was again chosen town clerk, an office which he held for ten years.
At the May town-meeting, the agreement with George Barber about the mill was read, and "allowed without objec- tion."
A portion of the town valuation for 1652 is preserved, and is in form and substance as follows : -
JOHN BOWER HIS ESTATE.
psons 4,
40 IO
0 O O
Housing,
Cowes 3,
18
O O
Two 2 yrs. old,
7
O
0
3 acres bro:
12
3 unbr :
3
fence abo: Med,
I
o
Sume,
91 100
ROBT. HINSDALE'S ESTATE.
psons 10, .
Housing,
60
O
Ground bro: II ac,
44
O
fencd part 3 ac,
6
O
unfencd 5 ac,
5 12
O
Cowes 2,
Heifers 3 yrs.,
IO
IO
yearl : 2,
4
swine 2,
2
In other es,
7
0
250
IO
0
0
1
c
0 O
ou
52
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
JOHN THURSTANE'S ESTATE.
pson 8,
80
O
0
Howsing, .
60
0
O
6 ac bro : up,
15
O
0
2 ac: unb,
2
O
fenced lands 7 ac,
14
oxen 4, .
28
Cowes 2, .
12
2 two yr oulds,
7
yearling,
2
swine,
I
0
owing in debts,
25
O
o
Sume,
246
O
O
FRANCIS HAMOND ESTATE.
psons 4,
40
O
0
Howse,
25
O
o
bro : up land 5 ac,
20
0
0
unbr: fen 3 ac, .
6
0
0
Cowe, .
6
O
0
swine 4,
4
O
0
sume, .
IOI
0
10 O
ABR : HARDING HIS ESTATE.
psons, 4,
40
O
O
Howses,
40
O
Bro : upp 9 ac,
32
O
unbro: 3.ac, .
6
Oxen 4,
28
O
Cowes 6,
36
O
two 3 yrs, .
IO
0
4 of 2 yrs,
14
0
yearling,
2
0
O
swine 3,
3
o
0
sume, .
211
O
RALPH WHEELOCK HIS ESTATE.
psons 10, .
100
O
O
acrs 9 bro,
33
0
unbro 3,
5
O
Orch :
IO
O
House,.
30
0
oxen 2, .
14
O
Cows 2,
12
0
3 yearl :
5
O
2 yearl :
3
IO
one yearl :
2
O
Debts to rece,
40
O
overplus of first estate given in, .
20
O
O
sume,
274
IO
O
- O
53
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
JAMES ALLIN HIS ESTATE.
80
O
O
Howse,
20
O
Acres br: 53,
22
0
unbro: acs,
3
O
Cowes 2,
12
yearl I,
2
sume,
139
O
ISAAC CHINERIE HIS ESTATE.
pson, .
broake up 3 acres & 3 roods,
15
O
unbro: 2 ac & a rood,
4
IO
o
2 two yea :
7
O
o
2 of I yea :
4
0
0
swine, .
I
0
0
-
1
sume,
41
IO
0
" .. . .
EWD ADAMS HIS ESTAT.
psons 2,
Hous lot,
36
O
0
2 acc,
12
O
2 acchrs,
6 2
IO
O
I ac,
2 oxen,
14
0
O
- cows,
12
0
- arl, .
2
0
-
IO 0
ALIXANDER LOVELL HIS ESTATE.
I persons,
I mare,
2 oxen, .
14
2 cowes,
12
2 yerling,
4
6 accer brok land,
18
7 accer ub,
IO
O
1
88
O
O
my
incesto
sume,
PETTER ADAMES.
persons 3,
oxen 3,
Cows 2,
12
0
3 yer old Ster I,
5
I swine,
I
0
brok land 3 ac,
7
2
IO
other estat,
20
o
1
for othe estate,
5
100
10
IO
O
O
20
18
0
O
30
O
0
20
104
O
psons 8,
10
O
0
unbrok 2 ac,
0
54
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
JOHN PLIMPTON.
6 persons, .
60
0
0
2 cowes,
12
O
O
I Calf, .
I
0
I swine,
I
C
Land 6,
6
in other estate,
26
106
0
0
DANIELS MORSE.
8 persons,
80
O
4 cowes,
24
4 oxen, .
28
I yerling,
2
0
o
I swine,
1
O
o
Housing,
60
14 accer lan,
56
0
251
00
JOHN TURNER HIS ESTATE.
5 persons,
50
O
2 cows,
12
O
2 1 yearling, .
4
O
0
I swine,
I
:0
2 accer improved,
8
O
3 acce of brok, .
IO
10
- acce unbrok,
O
IO
I House,
20
O
o
o
116
0
JOHN BULLERD.
6 persons,
60
o
O
2 oxen,
14
0
3 Cowes, .
18
O
2 2 yearling,
7
2 I yearling, .
4
House,
20
brok land 6 ac,
22
unbrok,
3
in other estate, .
18
166
O
0
5 persons,
50
0
0
4 oxen,
28
0
O
2 cowes,
12
1 3 yearling,
5
'2 2 yer old,
7
I yerling,
2
I swine,
I
House,
IO
0
Brok land,
33
10
o
148
10
O
o
JOHN ALICE.
IO
55
TIIE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
SERGENT GEORGE BARBER.
6 persons,
60
0
O
House,
IO
O
0
5 oxen,
35
O
0
2 cowes,
12
O
O
2 3 yearling,
IO
O
O
I Colte,
2 swine,
2
O
6 accers,
9
O
O
6 accers,
7
0
other estat,
75
O
O
240
O
O
JOSEPH CLARK.
8 persons,
80
0
O
2 oxen,
14
O
O
3 Cowes,
18
0
I 3 yearling,
5
0
4 2 yearling,
14
0
I yerl, ,
2
0
I swine,
I
0
O
3 land, .
24
IO
0
unbrok,
5
0
0
House and other estate,
30
0
o
-
SAMUEL BULLIN.
7 persons,
70
0
O
House,
20
O
Brok land,
36
O
5 ac unbrok,
7
IO
2 oxen, .
14
o
2 Cowes,
12
o
I 3 yearling,
5
0
2 2 yearling,
7
O
2 yerling, .
2
0
2 swine,
2
0
O
175
IO
0
HENRY SMITH.
6 persons,
60
o
O
6 oxen,
42
0
4 cows,
24
0
I 3 yearling,
5
yerl, .
2
O
3 swine,
3
5 brok, .
20
o
o
land,
9
O
O
House,
18
O .
183
o
0
1
2 2 yearling,
7 12
183
IO
56
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
We discover that each person was put against £10 of estate, and land was drawn accordingly. The remainder of the list in detail is missing. But from a column of aggre. gates we add the following : -
Mr. Wilson, .
£231
Joshua Fisher, . £180
John Frairy, .
316
Joseph Morse, . 260
Benjamin Albee,
182 Samuel Morse, . 90
Timothy Dwight,
278 Thomas Grubb,
200 .
Thomas Wight,
322 John Metcalf, I35
John Wight, .
88
Nicolas Rockwood, 100
Widow Shepard,
105
Henry Adams, . 210
It appears by the above that Isaac Chenery, Edward Adams, Peter Adams, Alexander Lovell, and John Plimpton had not built their houses at the time this valuation was made.
George Barber built the mill, probably in the spring of 1652; and in July of that year he sold his interest in it to Henry Adams, as shown by an old paper of which the following is a copy :-
In the yeare of our Lord 1652, month 5th the 9th day, I, Henry Adams, Late of Braintree, now of Medfield in the county of Suffolk, having bought of George Barber, of Medfield likewise, his mill, which is the mill for the said town, with all its appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, & 25 acres of upland and meadow adjoyning, & lying & being neere unto the sayd mill, doe therefore testifie by this present writing that I doe owe and stand duely indebted, unto the above s'd George for the forenamed premises, the whole entyre sume of £7c which sayd sume I promise to make payment of unto the forenamed George, his heyres or assynes, in manner and forme as followeth : -
I. In the yeare 1653, month the 4th, the 24th day, in corne, chatle and shopp commodities, 30 pounds; the corne is to be payd at price currant, the chatle are to be prised by 2 men indifferently chosen by each of us in case we agree not of price between ourselves, which 2 above named pays are to be made here in town; the commodities are to be payd in Boston at the shopp of Mr. Sheffe in merchantable goods or elsewhere as we shall agree in currant goods.
2. In the yeare 1654, month the 4th, the 24, in corne, chatle and shopp commodities, 40 pounds. The corne aforesaid is to be payd at price currant, the chatle to be prised by 2 men indifferently chosen by each of us in case we 2 shall not agree between ourselves: which 2 pays
57
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
.
are to be made here in Medfield. The commodities are to be payd in Boston at the shopp of Mr. Sheffe in merchantable goods or elsewhere accordingly as we shall agree in currant goods.
These particular payments amounting to the above written sume to be made in that time and according to that manner as is above set downe. I doe bind me, my heyres, executours and assignes to make and perform unto the forenamed George his heyres, executors or assignes, firmly by these presents.
In witness whereunto I have put to my hand and seale the day and year above written.
HENRY ADAMS.
In presence of
RALPH WHEELOCK.
REBECCA R WHEELOCK. (her mark)
HIGHWAY.
" There is a highway laid out from the town, to run by the south plain fields, on the north side of the field as it is drawn, and to turn down the hill at the end of it, and, running before Henry Adams house, it is to turn over the brook between the house of Henry Adams and the mill; it is to be three rods broad ; provided that Henry Adams, if he see cause, or his heirs, either on occasion of removing the mill or otherwise, to remove it from between the mill and his house and turn it over the brook about the end of the great hill. Henry Adams making it passable over the brook at his own charge either by bridge or otherwise."
This "highway from the town " followed the general di- rection of South Street, turning to the left near the present railroad crossing ; thence on the line of Elm Street to Mill Brook.
Thomas Grubb was proposed by the selectmen, and was accepted by vote as a townsman, "to take up land according as others, provided he do not exceed for quantity what other men have taken up." He received twelve acres for a house- lot on the south side of the brook, opposite the residence of Mr. Sewall.
John Bullard received a house-lot of eight acres, south- west of John Ellis. His house stood nearly opposite the head of Spring Street.
7
58
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
John Plimpton had the next lot, and built his house where William Kingsbury now lives.
Next came John Metcalf's, bounded on the south-west by "the burying-place."
These three lots, like all the others on Main Street, lay on both sides of the highway,- the house on the north side, the fields on the south.
The first meadows laid out were those on the south side of Stop River, commencing at the point where it falls into Charles River, and so upstream. Next, North meadows, Bridge Street meadows, and the meadows above Dwight's Bridge were divided ; lastly, Broad and Centre meadows.
John Thurston, George Barber, and Abraham Harding were authorized to lay out the necessary highways. In the highway work, those owning six-acre lots were to come with their hands ; twelve-acre lots, with their teams ; or, if they had no teams, to come three days for two. These highways were doubtless the necessary cart-roads to the meadows and other outlying lands.
Several persons who had been accepted as townsmen de- layed settling here; and it was voted that after the last day of May, 1653, all such should be fined £1 a month for their delay, the rule to continue in force for a year.
August 20th, Edward Alleyne of Boston, next heir unto Edward Alleyne of Dedham, sold to John Frairy, cord- wainer, for and in behalf of the town, for £34, all that up- land and meadow land, three hundred and fifty acres, that was granted by the town of Dedham to Edward Alleyne. £18 to be paid in "2000 w't of Biskett," and security given for the payment of the remainder.
At a town-meeting in December, the town voted to lay out three hundred acres of " errible land " in the spring, in- cluding the South plain. The rule of division was by per- sons and estates, each person to be counted at " £10 per pole." No man, however, was to have less than four acres, and that "to lie together in that place where this division by God's Providence shall fall." This is in allusion to the practice of drawing lots for the location of lands.
59
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
Joseph Ellis was accepted as a townsman, he having pur- chased Benjamin Crane's six-acre lot.
Joseph Morse received a house-lot bounded on the south- east by Daniel Morse. This lot evidently lay along the southerly side of what is now Pound Street.
The town clerk commenced "a record of those that have died in the town of Medfield." The first entry was Dec. 14, 1652,-Thomas, son of John Wilson; an infant, born in the preceding month.
Timothy Dwight was chosen deputy (representative) from Medfield to the General Court.
George Barber, having been chosen by the inhabitants of Medfield oldest sergeant, was, upon the request of the deputy from that town, authorized to carry on the military exercises there.
£40 of the debt owed to the town of Dedham was raised by taxation, also £40 "towards the building of a new meeting-house." When the meeting-house was commenced, we have no means of knowing, but probably as early as the next spring.
Mr. Wilson's salary was fixed at £50 a year ; to cover the expense of his removal and settlement here, he received for the first year £80.
1653. Selectmen, Ralph Wheclock, Robert Hinsdale, John Frairy, George Barber, Timothy Dwight, and Joshua Fisher. Ralph Wheelock was representative to the General Court. The ratable estates amounted to £4,689. John Plimpton had liberty to fell such trees on the brook as George Barber should appoint him for use about his house.
Even at this early date, our fathers were not forgetful of the interests of Harvard College. "Mr. whelock Chose to tak up Colidg Contribusion."
Thomas Thurston was accepted as a townsman, and was granted "six acces for His House lot of upland liing Ad- joyning vnto His fathers Hous loote on the North este."
We have no knowledge of the size and appearance of the first meeting-house. Possibly, it was modelled after that at Dedham, which was thirty-six feet long, twenty wide, and
60
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
twelve high, with thatched roof. It stood where the Uni- tarian church now stands, on land reserved for town use, and was without doubt built in 1653.
Robert Mason was proposed as a townsman, and he was to have six acres lying east of Thomas Wight's lot, "in Case The town see fite to except of Him as a townsman." He was accepted, and lived in the locality mentioned, which was near the way leading from Green to Pine Street.
Certain men were chosen to "burn the woods." The old Indian practice was kept up for many years. The woods referred to lay in the outermost portions of the town, and were the "herd-walks," or common pastures for cattle. The fires were not allowed to come near buildings, and for this reason they became surrounded with bushes and small trees, which subsequently afforded lurking-places for the savages.
Fences were to be three feet six inches in height, 6d. fine for every defect, and payment of all damages after six days' warning.
Voted, That all who failed to be at the annual town-meeting by nine o'clock be fined 12d.
Owners of land were to erect bounds : "And in Cace That any neglect to set up Dools by stacks or fenches They shall paie 5s."
Ordered, That all swine above 2 mo old shall be Ringed By the 20 day of the first month next; and, in case any shall neglect to ring his swine acording to this order, He shal be liabl to pay 12 pence a week ... and all Damages They Doe besides.
South plain was laid out in long narrow strips, measuring from three to twenty acres each, abutting on the highway at the northerly end. These were drawn by lot. Land at " herd-house" plain, in the east part of the town, was granted. Thomas Wight had a grant "to be laid oute on the North plains, to begine at that end toward natick."
John Frairy had a grant of meadow "to Be laid out on stop river from the New Bridg Down streme on the west sid of the River." The bridge referred to is that on Noon
61
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
Hill Street, which till the present century bore the name of "Frairy's Bridge."
Granted to all The inhabitants That Have Ther House loots in The bachelors Roe That swamp that lieth at the North east end of Thir loots, ... provided they shall low the High-way between The swamp & Thir lots 4 rood wid.
The "bachelors' row " was evidently on North Street, where William Partridge, Thomas Ellis, Thomas Mason, and Joseph Ellis, all unmarried men, had settled side by side.
A road was laid out from the south plain, "southward through the woods to Stop river." Traces of this old road may yet be seen on the farm of S. F. Turner; thence it crosses High Street, and appears again near the house of Samuel Woods; from there it crossed "planting field" toward Noon Hill.
There were thirty-nine proprietors among whom lands were divided this year, embracing all whose names have been given, except Benjamin Crane, who had sold out.
The first marriage recorded here was that of Thomas Mason and Margery Partridge, April 23, 1653. The mar- riage service was performed by Major Lusher, of Dedham. This was the first case of apostasy in the Bachelors' Row.
The first death among the original proprietors occurred this year,-that of John Wight, one of the youngest men of them all.
1654. Selectmen, John Frairy, Mr. Wheelock, Thomas Wight, George Barber, Benjamin Alby, and Timothy Dwight.
Voted, That in future the annual meeting be upon the first second day of the twelfth month; further, that the meeting commence at 9 o'clock, and not only those absent then were to pay a fine of 12d. but those absent the whole day were to be fined 3s. 9d.
Peter Adams, John Partridge, and Isaac Chenery were chosen to burn the woods. Three men were generally chosen for this service, one in each part of the town,- north, south, and west.
62
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
Voted, That there be " six days' work on the highways by the whole force of the town ": four of them to be performed before " midsummer, or June 24."
In the erecting of a pownd, it is agreed that it be spedily set aboute, and that it shall be mad with six rails in heigt; the lenght of the rails IO Feat with 4 lenghts on a sid on asquire, and with sufficient posts wroght according to the Descresion of Brother wight and brother Dwite, who are requested and Deputed for the Carring on of the work for the towne.
The pound was built by the brook near the meeting-house.
Brother wight and brother barber are requested and Deputed to pro Cure slepers & planks for the metting House ether by procuring planks sawen or to purchase them for the town.
It is to be inferred that the meeting-house was not finished in a single year.
Granted to sgt barbur 6 trees that lieth by the gret swamp falen & forfeited in to the towns Hand by liing so falen.
During this year, Samuel Morse died ; also his son Joseph, who had not yet removed his family from Dorchester to this town.
1655. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, John Fussell, Benja min Alby, Joshua Fisher, Daniel Morse, and Thomas Grubb.
The town voted £15 to establish "a schoule for the education of the children, to be raised by a rate according as men have taken up lands, and the rest of the mainte- nance to be raised upon the children that goe to schoule." Mr. Wheelock was the first schoolmaster.
John Pratt was accepted as a townsman, "the town being staid after lectur." Henry Glover had died, and Pratt suc- ceeded to the possession of his homestead. A set of "mes- surs, waites, and scales" had been procured, and Benjamin Alby was chosen "clerk of the market for sizing and sealing waites and messurs."
. The town settled with Brother Wight for procuring glass for the meeting-house.
William Partridge, Daniel Morse, and John Warfield were chosen to burn the woods.
63
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
All swine above two months old were to be sufficiently "youked and ringed," under pain of fine and damages.
It seems that bipeds were also to be restrained, as this year the town provided for the construction of a pair of stocks.
John Thurston had liberty to make a bridge over Stop River, to come from his meadow in Dedham bounds. This was the bridge on South Street near Norfolk line, that terri- tory then belonging to Dedham.
1656. Selectmen, Robert Hinsdale, John Thurston, Henry Smith, George Barber, Timothy Dwight, Daniel Morse, and Henry Adams.
The records for this year and for two years succeeding are very meagre: they, having been kept on sheets of paper merely stitched together, are now much defaced.
In 1656, the first marriage was solemnized by Medfield commissioners. Thomas Holbrook and Hannah Sheppard were married before Mr. Wheelock and Thomas Grubb.
1657. Selectmen, Timothy Dwight, Robert Hinsdale, John Thurston, George Barber, Daniel Morse, Henry Smith, and Henry Adams.
We read in contemporaneous history that "there is a vil- lage on the banks of Charles River containing forty fami- lies." We find this year in Medfield forty-one proprietors, including Abiel Wight, posthumous daughter of John.
The meeting-house was put in complete order. The "desk" was bought of John Hatton for £7 1Is. Brother Bullen had 2s. 6d. for bringing it up, also 5s. 8d. for draw- ing timber and seats. The expense of making the seats was £13 5s. Id. The town paid twenty-eight bushels of wheat at 4s. a bushel toward this work. The State tax was also paid in eighteen and one-half bushels of wheat.
John Pratt and Robert Mason paid 20s. in fines ; but what offence against law and order they had committed is not stated.
1
1658. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, John Ellis, John Turner, Alexander Lovell, and Henry Adams.
1
1
64
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
The selectmen had leave "to dine at the ordinary, at the town's expense." This is the first mention of any place of public entertainment. Who kept the "ordinary" is un- known; though Joshua Fisher is called "innholder" in some old papers. A dinner annually at the town's expense was all the pay the selectmen of this town had for nearly two centuries. Thomas Wight, Jr., was accepted as a townsman.
In the town valuation, "Errible land" was reckoned at . £2 per acre ; meadows, £1 ; an ox, £5; a cow, £3.
Granted to Alexander Lovell a spot to set his house on and "sedar timber" to shingle his house.
20s. paid for sweeping the meeting-house and beating the drum. The drum was used to call the people together on the Sabbath and other public occasions.
Agreed with brother thurston to make the seats about the tabell in the meeting house and to seat the galiry, for which he is to have 30 shil- lings in wheat and the rest in other graine.
John Metcalf received a grant of a piece of land next to the burying-ground, he to make the division fence "at the time the town fence in the burying-ground." Robert Mason had liberty given him to "take sedar to mak singell for his house."
Each town had its peculiar brand for the cattle of the herds, so that stray animals might be identified. The fol- lowing order was passed by the General Court,-
MF Itt is ordered that the marke, or letter, in the margent be the brand or marke for Meadfeild.
Daniel Morse this year removed to the "farms " west of Charles River, and became one of the founders of Sherborn. His homestead here was sold to Thomas Thurston. Thomas Boyden became a townsman, he having married the widow of Joseph Morse.
1659. Selectmen, Ralph Wheelock, Thomas Wight, Timothy Dwight, George Barber, Henry Smith, and Benja- min Alby.
65
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
In the colonial records for May 28, 1659, we read : -
In answer to petition of inhabitants of Medfield, the Court Judgeth it meete to graunt unto them as an addition to their former bounds, and at the west end thereof, two miles east and west, and fower miles north and south, provided it intrench not upon any former graunts, and that Capt. Lusher and Left. Fisher are hereby appointed to lay it out.
This territory is now embraced in the westerly part of Medway and Holliston, the line running across Winthrop's pond. It was voted that the "new grant" be divided ac- cording to persons and estates. The land was laid out for the most part in large parcels of from fifty to a hundred and fifty acres each.
The men at "the farms " had taken timber on our lands to use about their bridge, some of which was wasted. They were forbidden to take any more without leave. Voted, to build "a gallerry with two seats on the side of the meeting- house from one end gallery to the other"; and the town desired to know what the inhabitants at "the farms " would pay toward it. They attended church here until the Sher- born meeting-house was built, some years later.
"It would seem that the meeting-house was oblong in shape, that the minister's desk was in the middle of one side, and that galleries had been built across each end. Now, a gallery wide enough for two seats or benches the entire length was to be built opposite the minister. It is possible that these " galleries " were simply platforms by which the seats were raised above the level of the floor. At least, it is said that other meeting-houses at that period were so built. Perhaps this new gallery was to accommo- date the additional families that were now settling on the Sherborn side.
Henry Adams had a grant of land, described as near the "Iron ore," in the south-east part of the town. Some ore from this locality was carried to the furnace in later years.
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