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 5
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" By a providence of God, the mill not affording a com- fortal supply to the town," voted, to "see what can be done with Henry Adams about the mill." Drought, probably,
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
suggested the necessity of a mill-pond where a larger quan- tity of water could be stored.
1660. Selectmen, John Ellis, Thomas Wight, Joseph Clark, Edward Adams, George Barber, and Benjamin Alby.
Henry Adams was Representative.
A number of copies of the "law-book" were distributed among the families, one being placed in each neighborhood. This distribution is interesting, as it helps to decide the location of the houses : -
One book at the Farms for the use of Nicolas Wood, Daniel Morse, Henry Leland, Thomas Holbrook, and Thomas Bass.
One book for George Fairbanks and those who live on that side of the river.
One book for Mr. Wheelock, John Ellis, John Bullard, and John Plimpton.
One book for John Frary, jr., Alexander Lovell, Nicolas Rockwood, and John Bowers.
One book for John Fussell, Jonathan Adams, Peter Adams, and Edward Adams.
One book for John Metcalf, Gershom Wheelock, Benjamin Alby, and Margaret Sheppard.
One book for John Frairy, Timothy Dwight, Thomas Wight, and Seargt. Barber.
One book for Joshua Fisher, John Thurston, John Thurston, jr., and John Fisher.
One book for Bro. Boyden, Henry Smith, Samuel Bullen, and Thomas Thurston.
One book for John Turner, Joseph Clark, James Allen, and Isaac Chenery.
One book for Sampson Frairy, John Partridge, Thomas Mason, and Thomas Ellis.
One book for William Partridge, John Pratt, Robert Mason, and Thomas Wight (jr.).
Benjamin Alby was at this date evidently living on the place formerly owned by Thomas Grubb, who had left town. John Fisher was the son of Joshua, and lived with him. Sampson Frairy is supposed to have lived at the foot of the hill on Railroad Street; John Partridge, on the corner of North and Railroad Streets, having doubtless bought the place of Joseph Ellis, who removed to Dedham.
67
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
The population in 1660 was two hundred and thirty-four, in forty-three families. Valuation, £6, 119. The nine wealth- iest men were : John Thurston, £281 ; Thomas Wight, £266; John Frairy, Jr., £264; John Frairy, Sen., £252; Henry Smith, £251 ; Timothy Dwight, £242; Robert Hinsdell, £201 ; Henry Adams, £197; Mr. Wheelock, £190.
The treasurer reported this year as a part of the re- sources of the town "fower shillings reseved in wampum."
The road to Dwight's Bridge was built by Dwight, for convenience of access to his meadows.
1661. Selectmen, Timothy Dwight, Thomas Wight, John Frairy, and Thomas Thurston.
George Barber was chosen town clerk, an office which he held twenty-two years.
It was agreed that "the town should low mr wilson three score pounds p annum, the farmes being not included."
The first proposition in regard to building a school-house was made.
The way over Stop River, at the lower bridge (now Noon Hill Street), was made a town way.
Mr. Wheelock, Joshua Fisher, John Thurston, and the selectmen were appointed to seat people in the meeting- house.
Every man was required to "have a ladder, whereby the top of his chimney may be conveniently reached," under penalty of 5s.
Many people through the country had been drowned by means of canoes ; and, as a precaution, no person in this town was to make, or to have, any canoe, in any pond, brook, or river, except allowed by the selectmen, under penalty of Ios. fine.
Robert Hinsdale had brought up a bell for the use of the town ; and, "it being proposed to the town whether they would buy the bell or not, which is in Goodman Hinsdale's hands," he offered to sell it for what it had cost him, or ex- change it for land on Boggestow Brook. The town voted to
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
grant him forty-six acres of land in that locality. "The negative being put, but one ded aper."
Dwight's causey was made a town way.
1662. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Timothy Dwight, John Thurston, Robert Hinsdale, and Henry Smith.
The town voted to have Charles River cleared ; and " that all the medows that ar lay out upon Charles river within the first & second divion and Stop river so fare as our line goe shall lowe 3d. par acer towards the Clering and so to lower- ing of the said river."
Voted, That the meeting this day shall hould two howers after the time agreed on, which is by order of the town, till daylight shut.
Henirry Smith, John Bowers, and Samervell wight ar Chosen to burn the woods in there sevrall parts of the town as they live.
Ordered, " Inprimis : the herd on that part of the town commonly called Bridge Street to be kept only on the southwest side of Charles river on those lands granted by the country.
" 2ly, The herd on the north part of the town to be kept onely on that tract of land which lieth on the north side of the town between Charles river and the cartway leading to Dedham.
"3ly, The herd on the southeast side of the town to have their walke on the south and southeast part of the town to the cartway leading to Dedham.
" And, in case any of the above said herds shal be found in any other walk than their own acording as is above specified, the owners of all and every such herd or the heardsman shall paye as a fine to the use of the towne Gs. 8d. for every time they shall be found so trancegrassing; and in cause of none payment upon reasonable Demand on eyther shall be lawful for the Constuble by warrant under the selectmen's hands to strain the cattell or any other goodes of the sd herd or heards or the heards- mans Cattell or other goods."
Some persons had cut down trees, and left them across the highways : every such offence was to be punished by a fine of 5s.
1663. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Timothy Dwight, Henry Smith, Thomas Thurston, and George Barber.
Ralph Wheelock, Representative.
Voted, That the "generall metting should hould one Candell burning longer than the days light shuting."
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69
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
John Elice is agree with to kep the metting Clere for the yere, and to have twenty shillings for his payns.
Ordered, that the Cartway leading to the meadows up streame Charles river on Stop river side, from the end of the Cauncie to the line between Dedham and us, shall be made and maintained by the town and for the town's use.
This was probably the original "Jadewalk " road, some distance westward of the present location.
A town highway to Harbor Island was laid out.
Granted to Henry Adams a persell of land at the uper end of his mill pond, as may be convenient for the seting of a mill for the towns use, provided he doe it within one yere.
Adams had concluded to remove his mill to a spot back. of his house, where, by building a dam of five feet, he could flow territory enough to insure a supply of water. That dam is still plainly visible ; and a piece of the original mud- sill was taken out a few years since in good preservation .--
Lists of persons and estates were carefully made out as a basis for the division of the swamp lands, in which it is shown that the population was 261, with 49 voters. Valua- tion of estates in the town, £8,010.
George Barber beat the drum this year, for which he had four bushels and three pecks of " Enden corne."
Lieut. Fisher, of Dedham, had been employed as sur- veyor in laying out the swamps. An Indian, named Absa- lom, assisted in the work.
Delivered aboard John Medcalfs Cart for Leut. Fisher of Dedham in part of payment for his work in laying out of the swamps, 22 bushells and one peck of Enden corn at 3s. per bushell and one Bushell of Rie at 4s. p bushell. The sme is £3 Ios. 9d. payed to Enden Absalon : 2 bushells of Enden Corn, 6s .; munny pay to absolom, 4s. 6d.
A petition was sent to the General Court, desiring that the crown may continue the present form of government, signed by forty-five residents of Medfield and the farms. Charles II. had recently been restored ; and the tendency of his policy was feared.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
1664. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, John Thurston, Timothy Dwight, and Henry Adams.
Ralph Wheelock, Representative.
Action was taken in regard to building "some adishon to the meetinghouse." We have none of the details of this project, except a bill afterwards for materials and labor, and the information that a rate or tax was made for this "adishon."
The wasteful use of wood and timber called forth the following : -
Whoever falls any younge Okes, ayther whight, rid, or black oke, above fower enches over at the stube for fincing, except such as are fit for nothing but fincing, shall forfeit one shill. for every tree soe felled.
And no person was to be allowed to take timber out of town to sell without permit from the selectmen, or to fence meadow lands with wood where a ditch would answer the same purpose.
Blackbirds having become very numerous and destructive, the town offered sixpence a dozen for their heads. It is said that the common kinds of birds were comparatively scarce at first, but they greatly multiplied about the settle- ments in a few years. The same was true of squirrels, woodchucks, etc.
1665. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Sen., Henry Adams, Timothy Dwight, and Henry Smith.
Henry Adams, Representative.
An agreement was made with John Pratt and Robert Mason to shingle "the new end of the metting house, and the sid of the old house next to the new end at 16s. a thousant, to be done before the 15 of June, 1665." From all that we can gather, we infer that the addition was in the form of a projection or L on one side of the original building.
Glass was furnished at an expense of £1 15s.
John Bullard thatched the two gutters at the meeting- house, " between the old house and the new end."
71
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
The selectmen made very thorough work in settling with John Turner, clearing all accounts "from the beginning of the wourld unto this day, as well for killing of woolfes as for other things."
1666. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Thomas Wight, Sen., John Turner, and William Partridge.
Ralph Wheelock, Representative.
Certain lands were set aside for the use of the ministry, including the field at the north of Dale Street, which remained as a church lot for many years.
The selectmen were authorized to let out the burying- place "for the subduing of it and making it more fit for the use that it is appointed for."
Ordered, that thear shall be a schoole house Bulled as spedely as may - be, and Thomas Wight, sen., and George Barbur ar desired and Deputed to take som care about it, the lenth shall be : 18: foot & fourteen foot wide.
1667. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Sen., Timothy Dwight, Henry Smith, and Thomas Thurston.
Ralph Wheelock, Representative.
The valuation this year rated improved land £2 Ios. per acre ; meadow, £3; oxen, £5 Ios. cach ; cows, £4; three- year-olds, £3; two-year-olds, £2; yearlings, £1 ; horses, £5.
The selectmen settled with Henry Smith, whose account included laying the meeting-house floor, and "kiling 15 Duzen black burds."
It would seem by the records for this year that a tax had been levied upon the town for the support of "the College."
About this time, the glowing accounts of the fertility of the Connecticut Valley induced many of the settlers in this region to remove thither. Among those who left this town for that purpose were Robert Hinsdale and his sons, John Plimpton, Samuel and Eleazar Frairy, and some others. There is no reference to the fact in Medfield records, except in a single instance, when " the lot that was Robert Hins- dale's " is mentioned.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
1668. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Sen., John Thurs- ton, Sen., John Turner, and John Frairy, Jr.
George Barber, Representative.
Voted, That hereafter the selectmen shall report at town-meeting all the receipts and expenditures of the town from year to year.
The voters were desirous of placing some restrictions upon the powers of the selectmen. This was non-concurred in by Mr. Wheelock, Mr. Wilson, "old John Frairy," and some others.
Twelve hundred acres of woodlands were laid out in three localities,-one toward Natick, on Charles River; another west of Charles River ; another west of Stop River. All proprietors were to have land in each place. The lands were to be free for the herds, however, until they were fenced by the owners.
Mr. Wheelock was employed to keep a school, for such of the youth as should come to him to learn to read and write, for the salary of ten shillings a week.
Isaac Chenery brought in a bill "for a day's work with his team in carting stones to the brook at the foot of the hill towards the southplain." This is the first mention of a bridge over the brook on South Street.
The town paid a bill to "Edward Drinker for Mr. Wheelock's diet." This was the Representative's board bill in Boston.
The colonial records for 1668 state that "Timothy Dwight, on account of defective eyesight, and at his own request, is discharged from further duty as leftenant at Medfield."
The town paid 4s. 3d. for "digging a sawing-Peet."
1669. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Sen., John Thurs- ton, Sen., John Turner, John Frairy, Jr., and George Barber. George Barber, Representative.
A committee was chosen "to joyne with such of our Bretheren of mendon as should be sent from mendon for the settleing of the common rode way from Town to Town, acording as the Law provid in that case."
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73
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
The tax for the " Collidge " amounted to £2 4s. 2d.
The Select men, being forced to take nottis of the uncomfortable Jeres and Deffrances between the inhabytance of Bridg stret and John Frairy, juner, about the hearding of their cattell, Doe, for the preventing of the like differances for the time to com, hereby aquit and discharge the said John Frairy from the former order, concerning the puting of his cattell to Bredg street heard, untill such time as the above said inhabytance of Bredg street shall fully and duly attend the Towne order concerning thear herds walk.
Granted to Danell Morse Liberty to bulld a shed or house for to set his horse or the like in on Sabbath days.
Granted to Samuel Rockwood a smal pcell of Land ling on the South east sid of the brook against his tanfats.
Rockwood had set up the tanning business near the crossing on Railroad Street.
1670. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Henry Smith, Timothy Dwight, John Turner, and George Barber.
Four hundred acres more of town land divided this year.
Voted, That "the Littell plaine lying between the houses of Thos. Boyden, Thos. Thurston, Samuel Bulling, Joseph Clark, Senior, James Allen, Isaak Chenry, and Henry Smith, be hereby stated common for ever."
This is the field on South Street, to this day called the "common piece," owned by F. D. Hamant.
Seven of the most prominent townsmen were chosen "to seate the psons in the meeting house."
The selectmen paid Nathaniel Whiting 2s. Id. for a "bell wheel"; Thomas Wight, "for hemp and the bell rope mak- ing," Is. 6d .; Daniel Weld, for ringing the bell and clean- ing the meeting-house, £1 18s. 3d.
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1671. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Timothy Dwight, John Thurston, Sen., and John Metcalf.
Whereas it apereth by experience that som Townes have bene Soe prejudied by the entertainment of psons privitly, & without there alow- eance as charges, offences or scandell have insued, thereby occasioning them to make provision for there futer Indempintis there in, and it being evident that our Towne is as Lyable to as great or greater inconvenien- cies in that mature as other towns are, .
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
Ordered that no one sell or let lands or houses in this town to any one not an inhabitant ; and that no one hire any person from out of town as a servant for a longer time than two months without permission from the selectmen, unless the person so selling, letting, hiring, or contracting, should give security for the town's indemnity. Neglect to comply with this order was to be punished by a fine of 20s.
£2 Ios. was paid for the town's stock of powder.
Some measures were proposed to prevent damage by sheep, which were said to be running on the commons without a keeper.
1672. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Timothy Dwight, Henry Smith, and John Metcalf.
:
John Awashamog, of Natick, made claim to our lands west of Charles River; and a committee of five was appointed to treat with him. The record of their doings is briefly expressed : "The Endians pay was £21 4s., all moste a fift part raised on the new grant."
A cart bridge was ordered over the brook by Samuel Rockwood's house. This was near the place of the present bridge on Railroad Street.
The school kept seventeen weeks, and the school tax was £8 7s. 2d. Three scholars came from out of town to attend school here,-" capt willets son, mr. Hokers sone, and mr. Pages sone."
The Selectmen, taking notis of the great Disorder of severall of the joyuth in & about the Towne in ther excessive & Disorderly riding two and againe in the Towne to the haszard of themselves & there horses, as all soe severall times other psons in ther travells up and Downe the streets and espeachally on the Lords dayes, for the prevention whereof for time to come,-
The Select men Doth heerby order and Declare that, if any p. rson What soever Liveing in or about the Towne shall ride a gallup espeach- ally on the Lords dayes in any of the streets or high wayes in the Towne, every such pson soe ofending shall pay as a fine three shillings & sixpence to the use of the Towne for every time he or they shall be found trancgrasing this order.
In 1672, "a post to goe monthly from . New York to Boston " was established. It went by way of Hartford, one
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75
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
of the routes to which from Boston lay through Medfield. Even in late years, the road from Brastow's bridge west- ward, toward Medway village, has been familiarly known as "the old post road."
1673. Selectmen, Thomas Wight, Timothy Dwight, John Metcalf, Henry Smith, and George Barber. Henry Adams was appointed by the General Court as lieutenant or principal military officer in the town.
A new sawmill was to be built, evidently in the north part of the town; probably the mill that anciently stood near the present railroad junction.
Ordered that a ladder be provided, to be kept at the meet- ing-house ; any person taking it away to be fined 5s.
Mention was made again of the practice of racing horses in the streets, even on the Lord's day, and at the very meet- ing-house door, to the endangering of elderly persons and the great annoyance of others.
A tax was levied, called the "Castle rate." Medfield's proportion was £19 12s. 4d.
The school rate was £17 6s. 4d.
Among other notices found in the Suffolk Registry of Deeds are the following : -
Joseph Rocklid of Medfield took up a stray horse the 26th of se'nd, 1673: vizt., a whitish gray horse branded upon the neere shoulder with a mark unknown, also the tip of the offe Eare cut ofe, and two white hoofs behinde,- this hath been cryed according to law.
There is in the hands of Benjamin Wheelock of Medfield a Brown bay mare with a coult by her side, the mare markt with a slitt on the tip of the neere Ear, also a little peace cut out of the side of the same ear, also branded on the neere buttock with a mark unknown, taken up on the 12th of January last, apprised by William Cheney and John Part- ridge in twenty-five shillings.
SAMUEL WIGHT, Constable.
1674. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Timothy Dwight, Thomas Wight, Henry Smith, and George Barber.
Henry Adams, Representative.
The town of Wrentham had been organized. Accord- ingly, we find in the records references to "Wrentom
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
line." Joseph Allen received a grant of land on the Natick road, now known as the Allen homestead, near Castle Hill. " A payer of new stocks" was made for the town by John Metcalf.
1675. Selectmen, Henry Adams, John Metcalf, John Harding, John Ellis, and George Barber.
Henry Adams, Representative.
John Thurston, Sen., was to keep school awhile on trial, and to have ros. a week; if any would pay money, he would take 7s.
"The olld meting house" was shingled, probably on the walls. Joseph Warren had a bill for work in covering the north side. There was an account of thatching done at the meeting-house at the same time.
Fears of an Indian war began to be felt, and the town paid for powder and bullets £6 1Is .; for "the great gun," £8 19s. This was, no doubt, the cannon that frightened away the Indians the following year.
Gates were made at the meeting-house. A road was laid out from Bridge Street, known for many years as the "bottom road." Sixty-two persons in Medfield and at the farms subscribed to the "new brick college." The amount was £25 Is. The subscriptions were as follows : -
Mr. John Wilson, {2.
Mr. Ralph Wheelock, 2 bushells of Endian Corne.
Thomas Wight, sr., 4 bush. Corn, of which 3s. in money. John Frairy, sr., 4 bushelles of Endian Corn. Henry Smith, Ss. in mony, and in Corne 2 bushells. Timothy Dwight, ten shillings.
William Partredg, I bushell off Endian Corne. John Prat, I bush. of Endian Corne and a halfe. John Bowers, in mony, one shilling.
Thomas Mason, I bush. Endian Corne and a half. Thomas Elice, I bush. Endian Corne and a half. Nathaniell Whiting, I bush. off Endian Corne. Ephraim Wight, 2 bushells of Endian Corne. Thomas Thurston, 3 bush. corn & I shill. in money. Joseph Cheney, I bush. corn.
Edward West, 2 bushelles of Endian Corne. Benjamin Clark, I bush. Corn.
77
THE YEARS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR.
Benjamin Wheelock, I bush. Corn. Samuel Bulling, I bush. Corn. Thomas Boyden, I bushell of Wheat. Ephraim Clark, I bush. Corn. Jolın Turner, sr., 2 bushelles of Corne. Samuel Smith, 2 bushelles of Corne. Samuel Barber, I bush. Corn.
Samuel Rockwood, I bush. Corn.
John Bulling, in mony, one shilling. John Elice, jr., I bush. Corn. John Bullard, I bushelle of Corne and a half.
Gamaliel Hinsdale, 2 bushels of Corn.
Nathaniel Sutlife, in silver, one shilling.
John Metcalf, 2 bush. corn & Is. in money. Benjamin Rockwood, in money, one shilling. Alexander Lovel, I bush. corn.
John Harding, in mony, two shillings. Nicholas Rockwood, 1} bush. Corn & I bush. Wheat. John Bowers, sr., 2 bush. Corn.
Elizabeth Frairy, in mony, five shillings.
George Barber, I bush. corn, and 3s. in mony.
Joshua Fisher, sr., 1g bush. Corn, 3s. Gd. in mony.
Joshua Fisher, jr., 2 bush. corn, & Is. in mony.
John Plimpton, sr., 2 bushells corn.
John Thurston, jr., 3 bush. corn.
George Fairbanks, jr., in mony, one shilling. Samuel Wight, I bush. Corn.
Daniel Morse, sr., 3 bush. Corn.
Obady Morse, in mony, Is. od.
Daniel Morse, jr., I bush. Corn.
Jonathan Morse, in mony, two shillings.
John Peery, I bush. Corn.
Samuel Bulling, sr., 2 bush. Corn, & 3s. in mony. Ephraim Bulling, in mony, one shilling.
Elisha Bulling, in mony, one shilling. Benjamin Bullard, 2 bush. Corn. Joseph Danielles, I bush. Corn, Is. Gd. in mony. Mary Fairbanks, in mony, one shilling. Henry Leland, in mony, 3 shillings. Joseph Morse, in mony, one shilling. John Ellice, sr., I bush. Wheat. Thomas Wight, jr., I bush. Corn. Joseph Clark, sr., 2 bush. Corn. Eliezer Adams, I bush. Corn. Seth Smith, I bush. Corn.
George Barber, in name of the selectmen, £5.
78
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
The colonial authorities levied a tax for carrying on the Indian war, and Medfield's proportion was £27 1Is. 3d.
The proprietors voted this year to divide six hundred acres of the common lands among them. The following is the complete list of proprietors at this time, which is im- portant, from the fact that it was made up only a few months before the burning of the town. Some of those here named were young men who owned no house : -
PROPRIETORS OF 1675.
Edward Adams.
Benjamin Fisk.
Eleazar Adams.
Prudence Frairy.
Henry Adams.
Francis Hamant.
Jonathan Adams.
Abraham Harding.
Peter Adams.
John Harding.
James Allen.
Alexander Lovell.
James Allen, Jr.
Robert Mason.
John Allen.
Thomas Mason.
Joseph Allen.
John Metcalf, Sen.
William Allen.
John Metcalf, Jr.
George Barber.
Michael Metcalf.
John Barber.
Jeremiah Morse.
Samuel Barber.
Joseph Morse. Samuel Morse.
Thomas Boyden.
John Partridge.
John Bowers, Sen.
William Partridge.
John Bowers, Jr.
John Plimpton.
John Bullard.
John Pratt.
Joseph Bullard.
Josiah Rockwood.
John Bullen.
Nicolas Rockwood.
Joseph Bullen.
Samuel Rockwood.
Samuel Bullen.
Margaret Sheppard.
Peter Callye.
Henry Smith.
Joseph Cheney.
Seth Smith.
William Cheney.
Daniel Thurston.
Benjamin Clark.
John Thurston.
Ephraim Clark.
Thomas Thurston.
Joseph Clark, Sen.
John Turner.
Joseph Clark, Jr.
John Warfield.
Joseph Daniel.
Joseph Warren.
Timothy Dwight.
Edward West.
Elizabeth Dyer.
Nathaniel Whiting.
John Ellis, Sen.
Benjamin Wheelock.
John Ellis, Jr.
Gershom Wheelock.
Thomas Ellis.
Mr. Ralph Wheelock.
George Fairbanks, Jr.
Ephraim Wight.
John Fisher.
Samuel Wight.
Heirs of Joshua Fisher.
Thomas Wight.
Mr. John Wilson.
Jonathan Boyden.
CHAPTER VII.
KING PHILIP'S WAR AND THE BURNING OF MEDFIELD.
M ETACOM, son of Massasoit, called Philip by the Eng- lish, on his accession professed himself friendly to the white settlers. It was soon evident, however, that he enter- tained hostile designs. Philip doubtless saw that, if the white settlements continued to extend, the days of aborig- inal supremacy were numbered. He resolved to unite all the Indian tribes in this region for a general war against the English. He matured his plans, and in 1675 a great gathering of warriors took place near Wachusett Mountain.
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