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 9
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Mr. John Stedman was engaged to keep school half a year for £12 "and pay for his Diet."
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118
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
MOVEMENT FOR THE DIVISION OF THE TOWN.
The people living west of Charles River began to think about maintaining separate interests there, and a petition of some sort was presented to the town. After much debate in town-meeting, it was voted that it be not granted, and it appears that they then sent a petition to the General Court.
Chose Capt Jonathan Boyden, Lieut Samuel Morse, nathaniel par- tridge, Jonathan plimpton, and Sam11 Barber to give in the Reasons to the great and General Court why the petition of Some of the Inhabi- tants of medfield on the west side of Charl River should not be granted : also that the Said persons who are to give the Reasons why said petition should not be granted shall have no liberty nor power to do or act in any way anything for the Dividing of the Town.
Later, this record was made : -
In consideration that the General Court have Recommended to the town of medfield to Raise money towards the building another meetting house on the west Side of Charls River with Some other things : The Selectmen granted a warrant to the Constables to warn a Town meetting.
Voted to defer the matter to the next March meeting.
1713. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, Jonathan Boyden, Samuel Morse, Isaac Wheeler, and Nathaniel Partridge. Samuel Barber, Representative.
Voted, That the Town shall petition the General Court Declaring there inability to build an other meetting house in the Town and to bare the Charge Attending of it.
Appropriated £10 for " bareing the necessary Charges that may A Rise for the promotting Said petition." Here- upon, several persons "entred there Decent."
In answer to the petition of the west-side people, the General Court appointed a committee to come here and look over the ground with reference to a division of the town. They reported in favor of division.
Judge Sewall tells us that, on October 24, he "helped the Secretary prepare the bill for Medway, the new town on the
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ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764. 119
west of Charles River." The act was passed the next day, and reads as follows : -
AN ACT FOR DIVIDING OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFIELD AND ERECTING A NEW TOWN THERE BY THE NAME OF MEDWAY.
Whereas the lands of the Township of Medfield within the County of Suffolk lye situate on Charles River, to wit on both sides of the said River being divided by the same : and the Town plat and principal set- tlement, as also the Meeting-house for the Publick Worship of God, being seated on the East side for the accommodation of the first and Ancient Inhabitants, who are now much increased, many issued forth and settled on the West side of the River to a competent number for a distinct Town of themselves, and labor under many hardships and Diffi- culties by reason of separation by the River to enjoy equal benefit and town privileges with others their fellow Townsmen and neighbors, and have therefore made application to the Town as also addressed this Court to be made a distinct Town. Committees appointed by this Court having been upon the Ground, viewed the same and Reported in their favor for proper bounds to be set them.
Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governour, Council, and Representa- tives in General Court assembled and by the Authority of the same :
That all those Lands lying on the West Side of Charles River, now part of the Township of Medfield, be Erected and made into a Distinct and Separate Town by the name of Medway, the River to be the Bounds betwixt the Two Towns. And that the Inhabitants of Medway have, use and exercise and enjoy all such power and privileges which other Towns have, and so by law use, exercise & enjoy. So that they procure and Settle a Learned, Orthodox Minister of good Conversation among them and make provision for an Hon'able support & maintainance for him. And that in order thereto, they be Discharged from further payment to the Ministry in Medfield from and after the last day of Feb- ruary next.
Provided also, That all Province and Town Taxes that are already Levied or Granted, be collected and paid, and all Town Rights and Common undivided Lands remain to be divided among the Interested as if no Separation had been made.
And Mr. George Fairbanks, a principal Inhabitant of said Town of Medway, is hereby Directed and Impowered to notify and Summon the Inhabitants duly qualified for Voters to Assemble and meet together for the Choosing of Town Officers to stand untill the next Annual Election according to Law.
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1 20
HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
THE FOUNDERS OF MEDWAY.
The proprietors living on the west side in 1713, founders of the town of Medway, were the following : --
Daniel Adams.
John Ellis.
Jasper Adams.
Joseph Ellis, Jr.
John Adams.
George Fairbanks.
Jonathan Adams.
George Fairbanks, Jr.
Jonathan Adams, Jr.
Henry Guernsey.
Sergeant Jonathan Adams.
Abraham Harding.
Joseph Adams.
Abraham Harding, Jr.
Obadiah Adams.
John Harding.
Peter Adams.
Thomas Harding.
James Allen.
Samuel Hill.
William Allen.
Samuel Hill, Jr.
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John Barber.
Ephraim Hill.
Joseph Barber.
Michael Metcalf.
John Bullard.
Samuel Metcalf.
Malachi Bullard.
Benoni Partridge.
William Burgess.
John Partridge.
Theophilus Clark.
Jonathan Partridge.
Timothy Clark.
Samuel Partridge.
Edward Clark.
Daniel Richardson.
Joseph Curtis.
John Richardson.
Ebenezer Daniel.
John Rockwood.
Jeremiah Daniel.
Josiah Rockwood.
Joseph Daniel.
Ebenezer Thompson.
Joseph Daniel, Jr.
Nathaniel Whiting.
Samuel Daniel.
Nathaniel Wight.
SCHOOL.
Paid to Capt John Mills for Journy to medfield to sumon the Select- men to answer for the Towns being presented for being without a school and clerks fee, Ios.
Province tax, £235 10s. County tax, £35 7s. 6d.
1714. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, Samuel Rockwood, Samuel Smith, John Dwight, and Matthias Evans.
Samuel Smith, Representative.
A proposition was made to the town of Medway to change the boundary line by drawing a straight line from Dwight's Bridge to near the point where Boggestow Brook falls into
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ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
Charles River, and, in consideration, to give Medway all the undivided common lands lying west of that line, they to quit-claim to Medfield all such land lying east of it. Medway refused the offer. It would have saved the propri- etors of undivided lands a great deal of trouble afterward, if this plan had been adopted.
The Selectmen of Medfield Assembled with the Selectmen of Med- way to Recon and find out what was due to the Town of Medway for there helping build medfield meetting house, and upon a Reconing found Due to them £22 9s. 4d.
Medfield's proportion of the province tax was £115 Is. 8d. Medway's proportion was £52 14s.
1715. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Mason, Samuel Rockwood, and John Dwight.
Jonathan Boyden, Representative.
Voted, That there is need of a proprietors meetting both of the proprietors of medfield and medway for the ordering and Disposing of the undivided Lands.
A wolf was killed by Samuel Bullen and Joshua Morse, for which they received a bounty of £1.
1716. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, John Fisher, Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Mason, and Joseph Ellis.
John Fisher, Representative.
Voted, That the way from the Country Road to william partredges house shall be shut up at both ends.
This road was near the present Green, Summer, and Pine Streets.
Voted, That the Selectmen shall place persons in the meetting house, and to lay out of the Towns money wt is needed for a new pew.
Edward Adams died, the last of the original settlers.
1717. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Joseph Ellis, Eben- ezer Mason, Samuel Smith, and John Bowers.
Henry Adams, Representative.
Mr. Baxter's salary was advanced to £80.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
A road was laid out " from a little bridge near the house of Samuel Smith to the end of Samuel Clark's field." This was the beginning of Granite Street.
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
The proprietors of the common and undivided lands in Medfield and Medway organized in 1717, under a warrant from Penn Townsend, for the purpose of preventing encroachments upon the common lands and the cutting down of young trees, with a view also to the division of said lands among the proprietors. These "proprietors " were the real-estate owners and tax-payers of both towns. A meeting was called at the meeting-house in Medfield. Jonathan Plympton was chosen moderator and proprietors' clerk. A committee of five - Henry Adams, Joseph Clark, and Jonathan Plimpton of Medfield, John Rockwood and John Bullard of Medway - was chosen to call meetings of the proprietors in future. Neither town alone could hence- forth grant lands. That must be done conjointly at the proprietors' meetings.
1718. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, Henry Adams, Samuel Smith, Eleazar Ellis, and Captain Joseph Clark.
John Adams, Representative.
Voted, That the Select Men shall petition the General Court in the Name of the Town to grant them Some Country Land in consideration of so many familys, and so much Land taken from them and to prose- cute it to efect so far as thay can se any probabillity to obtain it at the Towns charge.
This was the first recorded movement toward the settle- ment at "New Medfield " or Sturbridge.
Voted, That whatsoever person or persons with in this Town bounds in the mounths of April and may in this present year kill any Ratle Snake or Ratle Snakes in this town bounds shall have six pence a snake by bringing for evidence an inch of the snakes tail To the Treas' when he shall have his pay.
Granted £20 for the school, "to be Kept at three parts of the Town some time at one part and some time at
ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764. 123
another as the select men shall order it." This was the first step toward the establishment of the North and South Schools. Previous to this, the school had been kept at the centre for the whole town.
THE NEW ROAD TO DEDHAM.
The town petitioned for a new way to be laid out between Medfield and Dedham; and the road now generally travelled between the two towns was built.
1719. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, Coroner John Fisher, John Dwight, Samuel Smith, and Joseph Ellis.
Henry Adams, Representative.
It appears that people were in the habit of taking away timber trees from the common lands, as the proprietors voted "to take some care that the timber be not stryed upon broad medow Island."
It was decided to lay out nine hundred acres of the common lands, of which there were tracts lying around the farms in every section of both towns. All the freeholders, and other inhabitants having twenty pounds of ratable estate, as well as "antient men whose heads through age" were left out in making the taxes, were to share proportion- ately.
Other land was laid out at various times afterward ; and the business of the proprietors continued nearly a century, their last recorded meeting having been held in 1817.
In answer to the petition of the selectmen of Medfield, the Court, October 26, ordered,-
That the way leading from the town of Dedham to the town of Medfield be and is alowed and Declared to be a Publick Road or high- way as apears upon Court Records.
1720. Selectmen, Samuel Barber, Jonathan Boyden, Samuel Smith, Eleazar Wheelock, and Joseph Clark.
Coroner John Fisher was Representative.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
NOON IIOUSE.
Jonathan Plimpton, Henry Smith, David Morse, Nathaniel Morse, John Allen, and Samuel Clark, all of whom lived in the outermost portions of the town, asked of the proprie- tors "a small piece of land to sett a house upon, about 12 feet square, for Conveniency on the Sabath days between meetings."
1721. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Samuel Smith, Joseph Ellis, Jonathan Plimpton, and Solomon Clark.
Henry Adams, Representative.
The selectmen employed John Bullen to keep school at his house in the north part of the town. Stephen Sabin was also to keep school at his own house. At a town- meeting, "it was put to vote whether they were of the mind to take up their proportion of the bank-bills out of the prov- ince Treasury. It was voted in the affirmative." Three men were then chosen as trustees, with instructions to keep a fair account, and to let to no one man above £20 nor less than £10, and never without surety.
March 31, 1721, the Legislature had voted to loan £50,000 to the towns with certain restrictions. This was the origin of the paper money afterward known as "bills of public credit."
These bills greatly depreciated, and were redeemed finally in 1751 at the rate of ten for one.
1722. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Samuel Smith, Jona- than Plimpton, Joseph Ellis, and Eleazar Bullard.
Henry Adams, Representative.
Voted that a monthly contribution be taken for Mr. Baxter in addition to his salary.
It was ordered that the school be kept a part of the year near Ebenezer Mason's, or the house that was Eleazar Partridge's (corner of North and Railroad Streets), and a part of the year near Isaac Wheeler's or Captain Clark's (Curve Street).
Troops were raised to go against the French and Indians ;
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ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
and, in the rolls of the State, we find the names of eleven soldiers from Medfield : -
Eleazar Thompson.
Samuel Ellis.
Solomon Bullard.
James Penniman. Peter Cooledge.
Benjamin Archer. Pompey Fisher.
Benjamin Force.
John Wilson.
John Bullen.
Job Partridge.
These were not all natives of this town, but were perhaps hired for the service.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The town was held to answer for not maintaining a grammar school according to law, and the following is the reply of the selectmen : -
DEC. 26, 1722.
Whereas the town of Medfield having been presented for some defi- ciency in a school according to law, we, whose names are underwritten, being selectmen of the said town of Medfield, do certifie your honors that for several years past we have had a constant schoolmaster who is very capable to learn to read and write &c. in English, and is very inclin- able for that work; and we have not at any time been without such a school except it were a small space of time last July, when the school- master was taken ill and incapable of that work : we, the selectmen, did quickly seek out another to supply that place. And we have been con- stantly supplied to this time till the same schoolmaster hath been recov- ered and is now engaged in that work. And, may it please your honors, we are certain that we had such a school when that presentment was made.
And as for the number of householders or families in our town refer- ring to a grammar school. Indeed in former years we had such a num- ber of families and had a grammar school for some years before Med- way was taken from us and is a distinct town : we were ready to conform to our duty in the law, but now, may it please your honors, our town fall- eth short considerably of 100 householders or families, we having suffi- cient knowledge of every family within the town bounds, which bounds contains no more than 3 mile one way and 4 miles the other way. And to the best of our understandings we have carefully reckoned up all the families in the town and can find but 94 families.
About this date, the road from South Street to the mill, now known as Philip Street, is mentioned ; but the record of the laying out of that road is lost.
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
1723. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Samuel Smith, Jonathan Plimpton, Solomon Clark, and Abraham Harding. Henry Adams, Representative.
A highway was laid out from John Allen's house, extend- ing eastward or north-eastward to a little brook near Samuel Clark's house. This was what is now called Rocky Lane, with an unused way, and parts of Granite Street.
THE NATICK DAM.
Voted, To petition the General Court not to grant liberty to Mr. Thomas Sawing to make a Dam Cross Charles River at natick least it prove a damage to our medows.
Sawin built a saw-mill about this time on Charles River at Natick, but, owing to the prevention of drainage to the meadows, was compelled to remove it.
Voted, That the School might be kept in the midle of the Town some time this winter.
Granted £26 for a grammar school. The following papers are found in the State archives : -
March 19, 1723.
These may certifie whom it may concern that we the subscribers, understanding that the selectmen of Medfield have procured Mr. Jabez Wight to teach a grammar school in Medfield, and being desired by the said selectmen to signifie our approbation of him as the law directs, do well approve the said Mr. Wight as a person suitably qualified according to law for that service, and some of us know that he is now engaged in that work in Medfield.
JOSEPH BAXTER. DANIEL BAKER. HENRY MESSINGER.
March 26, 1723.
These may certifie the honored his Majesties Justices in their session of the peace for the county of Suffolk at Boston, March the 27th, 1723. That the subscribers, being selectmen of Medfield. have procured a grammar schoolmaster within our town, being one Mr. Jabez Wight, who is approved by the ministers as the law directs, who is now for some time engaged in that work in Medfield, but not to trouble your honours with anything now at this time as to the number of families in our town. We remain your honours humble servants with submission to your wise determination.
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ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
In 1723, the Representative to the General Court served eighty-nine days, at 4s. a day, which was, according to the custom then, paid by the town.
1724. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Samuel Smith, Eleazar Bullard, Jonathan Plimpton, and Abraham Harding. Henry Adams, Representative.
MEETING-HOUSE POND.
In answer to the petition of William Plimpton, The Town grant him liberty to make a Dam Cross the brook near the meeting house, about five or six feet high, for the use of a fulling mill to be set near the house of Joseph Ellice, with the use of so much land at the brook as such a Dam may flow with water for so long a time as he, his heirs or assigns shall maintain a fulling mill for the benefit of the Town, provided that it be no Damage to the Country Road at the little bridge just above ; provided that he make good what Damage Cometh thereby to the pound or to any perticular near neighbor, and that the water be always let out for two months in the summer time yearly in the months of July and August.
£100 granted to finish the meeting-house "for more con- veniency."
It was put to vote whether the town would have the two side galleries taken up and made narrower for more Conveniency and prospect; and it passed in the negative.
At a subsequent meeting, voted "that the committee shall take away two seats in each end gallery at the Towns Charge."
1725. Selectmen, Henry Adams, Solomon Clark, Samuel Smith, Samuel Clark, and John Ellis.
Solomon Clark, Representative.
The March meeting was moved to the house of Samuel Sadey, " by Reason of the Cold." Sadey kept tavern on North Street, opposite the head of Dale Street.
Mr. Baxter's salary was advanced to £100.
£30 to be raised "for further work about the meeting house ; to make two seats Round in the uper Gallerys ; and finishing the whitewashing and underpining the meeting-
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
house ; Raising the pulpit; and other things that shall be thought necessary, as far as the money will go."
The Evans estate, near the corner of Bridge and Main Streets, was settled in 1725; and in the papers mention is made of a point on the brook "where the mill did stand." There is a tradition that there was once a mill in that locality, but no further reference to it has been found in writing.
1726. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, Henry Adams, Joseph Plimpton, John Dwight, and Ichabod Harding.
George Barber, Representative.
Samuel Smith was elected town clerk. He served nine years.
Joseph Baxter, Jr., kept school for £30.
A "widow Bullard " had been the only pauper for several years.
1727. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, John Dwight, Joseph Plimpton, Samuel Clark, and John Ellis.
Joshua Morse, Representative.
A petition was presented to the selectmen that they would lay out a road "over the mill brook neare the Land of Samuel Bullens Caled the Divident, and so along by Nathaniel Clark's Lott and over a small brook near the meadow of Isaac Chinerys, and from thence along to the Contry Road upon the hill a little beyond the sawmill." This is the road through the woods in the easterly part of the town, turning from Main Street near the stone mill.
A petition was presented to the General Court for a grant of land lying between Oxford, Brimfield, Brookfield, and the province line. This was signed by Joshua Morse, Abraham Harding, Joseph Plimpton, Jonathan Boyden, and several others, residents of other towns.
1728. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, John Ellis, Ebenezer Mason, Samuel Wight, and Henry Adams.
Henry Adams, Representative.
A road was laid out "from the highway that goes over mill brook by Bullens Devident, to Stephen Sabins house,
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ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
to go on the southwest side of the house till it comes to Two Great Rocks, then Turn Northward till it Comes into the Country Road by Joshua Morses fence"; provided the road be made without expense to the town.
This was the old way in the woods from the Dedham road, turning in at "Hatter Hill," southward through what is known as " Goudy " to mill brook.
A piece of land bounded east and south by North and Dale Streets was set apart for the town's use. It continued public property a long time.
1729 .. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, Jonathan Plimpton, Stephen Sabin, Samuel Sadey, and John Adams.
Mr. Baxter's salary was made £120.
A proposition was made to grant money for the purpose of building school-houses in the different parts of the town.
It was voted down.
1730. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, Jonathan Plimpton, Samuel Clark, Stephen Sabin, and Ebenezer Mason.
Ebenezer Mason, Representative.
Voted, To Build two School houses and to place them on some Con- venient Place not exceeding three-quarters of a mile Both Southward and Northward from the meeting house neare the Roads that lead towards Sherborn and Wrentham.
Granted £50 for the purpose.
1731. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, Abraham Harding, Joseph Plimpton, John Ellis, and George Barber.
Joseph Plimpton, Representative.
Voted, That the boys shall set in the short seats such as are under sixteen years of age on the Saboth day; that the present tything men Take Care of the boys that they do not Profane the Saboth.
Voted, That the Town's Stock of pouder & Bullets Be kept in the meeting house.
The attic of the meeting-house was frequently in those days used for a magazine.
Mr. Baxter had a grant from the town of half an acre near the meeting-house to build a house upon. He did not pro-
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HISTORY OF MEDFIELD.
ceed with the building. The lot was that now occupied by the straw works.
Granted £6 " to purchase a funeral Cloath and one pound for a bier." £1 12s. 8d. raised " to encorrag the killing of wild cats."
MOVEMENT FOR A NEW COUNTY.
Voted, To petition the General Court with Other of the Neighboring Towns that shall Joyne with them that there may be a new County Errected and set up in the County of Suffolk.
1732. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, Jonathan Plimpton, Ebenezer Mason, Samuel Clark, and Ephraim Wight.
Joshua Morse, Representative.
A committee was chosen to build two new school-houses, each eighteen by sixteen feet. They were instructed to "Improve the old School House to help Build the new ones." One of these was built near the site of the present South School-house, the other just north of Dale Street.
Joseph Metcalf is appointed to take care of and keep the Town's funeral Cloath so long as he shall take care to digg the Graves.
Voted, That the Committee shall Place persons in the meeting house by age and Estates, that is to say : To Ballance one year of age with one pound of Raal and personal estate by the last year's Bill given in for assessments, excepting such persons as are of fifty years of age and upwards it is left in the Judgment of the Committee to advance such as they Please.
Mr. Baxter's salary was to be £130.
1733. Selectmen, Samuel Smith, Jonathan Plimpton, Joseph Plimpton, Samuel Clark, and Abraham Harding. Joseph Morse, Representative.
Voted, To divide the Time when the School shall be keept as to two third Parts of the time in a School house in the middle of the town and one third Part of the time in the School houses that are Built by pertic- ular persons att the north and south ends of the Town free from Charge for house Room at sd houses for 20 years next ensuing. And apply to the quater sessions for approbation that it may be a by Law for the Town : and to move the school house that is Raised neare John Pratts neare to the Contry Road South east from the meeting house at a place where the horse Block stands on the East side of the highway.
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ANNALS OF THE TOWN, 1700-1764.
Voted, That the Selectmen shall be a Committee for the moving the schoolhouse and take Care to finish it and Dispose of what shall be left of Brick or Boards or timber both of the new and old school house.
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