USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 43
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In June the court sitting at Plymouth ordered Mr. Constant Southworth and William Peabody "to run the line between Bridgewater and Middleboro. In case the treasurer, Southworth, neglected that, then Nathaniel Thomas, Lieutenant Morton, and John Thomas to supply."
After the attack on Swansea and a burning of a portion of the houses in Middleboro in July, the court at Plymouth evi- dently thought that there would be a cessation of hostilities and that the Indians would desist from their plan, which gave rise to the passage by the General Court, on the 4th of October, of the following order relating to the resettlement of the towns of Middleboro and Dartmouth, which had suffered so severely by those attacks of the Indians : -
"This Court, takeing into theire serious consideration the tremendus dispensations of God towards the people of Dart- mouth, in suffering the barborus heathen to spoile and destroy most of theire habitations, the enimie being greatly advantaged thervnto by theire scattered way of liueing, doe therfore order, that in the rebuilding or resettleing therof, that they soe order it as to liue compact together, att least in each village, as they may be in capassitie both to defend themselves from the assault of an enimie, and the better to attend the publicke worship of God, and minnestry of the word of God, whose carelesnes to obtaine and attend vnto, wee fear, may haue bine a prouocation of God thus to chastise theire contempt of his gospell, which wee earnestly desire the people of that place may seriously consider off, lay to hart, and be humbled for, with a sollisitus indeauor after a reformation therof by a vigorous puting forth
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550
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1677
to obtaine an able, faithfule dispenser of the word of God amongst them, and to incurrage him therin, the neglect wherof this Court as they must not, and, God willing, they will not pmitt for the future.
" Alsoe this Court doth order, that the people of Middleberry doe attend the like course in theire rebuilding and resettleing, as is ordered for Dartmouth.
" And that none shall for the future erect any house or cot- tage without speciall lycence giuen him, in any place soe farr remote from the publicke worship of God as that they can not comfortable attend the same." 1
December 10, 1675, when the forces of Massachusetts Colony which were to serve in King Philip's War were mustered on what was called Dedham Plain to march against the Narragan- sett fort, a proclamation was made to the soldiers in the name of the governor that if they "made the part of men, took the fort, and drove the enemy out of the Narragansett country that was their great seat, they should have a guarantee of land beside their wages." This promise was not fulfilled until 1734, when, under that guarantee, various lands were awarded, and among others "the soldiers from Middleboro, Daniell Rams- dell, his son being a claimant, Isaac Peirce alive, Ellexander Reynolds (Rynge), and William Hoskins, with others, received lands in the Narragansett township number 4, now in the town of Greenwich, R. I." 2
Many of the men who served in this war preferred to take their pay in land instead of wages, and a tract of land located at Assawampsett valued at one thousand pounds was so assigned.
1677
Some time in June, 1677, those who had formerly lived in town, together with those who owned land within its borders, to the number of sixty-eight persons met and agreed to resettle the town. They were styled the "proprietors of the town of Middleberry."
" Whereas 3 by the late rebellion of the natives the inhabit- ants of Middlebery not only lost their habitations with most of their estates and forced to withdraw from them, but also lost their records, whereby great trouble is like to ensue if not finally prevented. Whereas divers of the said inhabitants of the said place are negotiated to return again to endeavor
1 Plymouth Colony Records, vol. v, p. 177.
2 Soldiers of King Philip's War, pp. 429 and 463.
3 Modern spelling has been used in many of the words in these votes.
55I
their resettlement of the Town again, which cannot well be unless some good laws be first made for the resecuring of their records and orderly settleing againe.
" By virtue therefore of a warrant directed unto us the in- habitants and proprietors of the said town from our honored Govr. bearing date the 9th of June 1677 we the said inhab- itants and proprietors in obedience thereunto being mett together at Plimouth on Weddenesday the twenty seventh of June aforesaid do unanimously agree by the permission of God and by his gracious assistance to make a beginning again in order unto the repossession of our lands and reeddification of our demolished buildings and habitations which some of us were before the late sad warr in actuall improvement and pos- session of, and to make such orders and conclusions as may hopefully have a tendency unto the laying a foundation of a towne and pious society in that place.
" therefore we have here drawn up and Inserted an exact list of the names of the proprietors of the township of Mid- dlebery as followeth.
"A List of the names of the Proprietors of the liberties of the township of Middleberry taken att Plimouth att a meet- ing of the maine or major part of the proprietors the 28th. of June Anno Doma. 1677.
Tho. Prence Esqr.
Francis Combe
2 propriations
Josiah Winslow now Mr. John Brooke Gabriel Hallowell
I propriation
Major Bradford now Gydo Baley
Gyles Richard
I propriation
Edward Gray
John Jordaine
I propriation
Capt. Perregrine White
Elder Cushman
I propriation
William Bassett
Anthonio Snow
I propriation
Nathaniel Warren
John Morton
I propriation
Plimouth Ministry
I propriation
Mr. John Alden Sprague now Benja- min Bartlett
Nathaniel Morton
I propriation
George Partrich
Experience Michell
I propriation
William Pontus now Thomas Borman
Thomas Little
I propriation
Samuell Fuller of Plym- outh
Thomas Paine
I propriation
Francis Cooke now Adam Wright and
Sergant William Harlow I propriation
John Tomson junr.
Jonathan Dunham I propriation
Francis Billington
Sachariah Edey
I propriation
CIVIL HISTORY
1677]
Henery Sampson
I propriation
552
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1678
Edward Bumpas
Mr. William Brewster
Lottis Morton now Lotis Ring Mr. John Winslow John Rogers
I propriation I propriation
now John Turner Senr. John Shaw now Samuell Wood
Elder Chipman
I propriation
Jonathan Sparrow I propriation
John Howland
I propriation
Moses Simons now John Soule
David Thomas
I propriation
Andrew Ring
John Miller
I propriation
William Nelson senr.
John Irish
I propriation
John Howland now George Danson
John Tomson senr.
I propriation
George Soule now Francis Walker now John Haskall
For the ministry of Middleberry
I propriation
William Mullens now John Nelson
David Wood, Joseph Wood, Benjamin Wood
I propriation
Peter Browne Sergeant Epharim Tinkom
Jonathan Wood Left. Morton
I propriation
Capt. Mathew Fuller Steven Deane now Thomas Doged
Gershom Cobb
I propriation
Samuell Edey
William Codman I propriation
Nathaniel Southworth
I propriation "
The condition of the town may be inferred from the fact that no taxes were assessed during these years to support the expenses of the colony.
1678
In October we find the following record of court orders in Plymouth, namely, -
" 1678, October. In answare to the petition prefered to the Court by Francis Combe, and likewise the Court being in- formed that Samuell Fuller is in a likelyhood to be procured to teach the word of God att Middleberry, they doe approue therof ; and incase hee be obtained, and be likely to settle amongst them, doe heerby signify, that they will indeauor that the propriators of the "lands within that townshipp may be healpfull towards his maintainance." 1
The General Court at Plymouth estimated the expenses 1 Plymouth Colony Records, vol. v, p. 273.
I propriation
William Hoskins now George Vaughan senr. Resolved White now Isack Howland
553
CIVIL HISTORY
1679-1681]
incurred by the colony in King Philip's War, and Middleboro's proportion was one hundred pounds.1
1679
November 21, 1679, the records of the town show that the proprietors of the town appointed John Tomson, Sr., Joseph Warren, and William Crow to "set out and divide the 71 lots of land which were on the East side of the purchase line run by John Tomson and the Indian, Thomas Hunter, and other persons near Titicut, and that these 3 lots Titicut path is through them, 4 poles of land being allowed to them for the path or way that passes through them."
There seems to have been more or less difficulty between the inhabitants of Middleboro and Bridgewater in reference to the location of the boundary line between them, and at the June court, this year, these towns were ordered to send their agents to meet at the next July court, that a settle- ment might be made. The matter, however, was further ad- journed until the September term, when the agents of Bridge- water abruptly went away before the matter was settled. They were then summoned "to the court to be holden at Plymouth the last Tuesday in April, next, to fix a reason for their so acting."
The boundary not then having been settled, the following order was taken at the court of March 1, 1681 :-
"The sum of 15 shillings is allowed to the three agents of Middleboro, to be paid them from the town of Bridgewater for their conduct in not attending court."
1680
"November the 6th. At a town meeting at the house of Isack Howland at Middlebery the town voted Mr. John Tom- son to join with the Clark of the said town to see that all such writings as are not yet recorded respecting the Towns consarns that they be speedily broat to record."
This year Mr. Isaac Howland was propounded as a free- man.
The court abated forty shillings from the tax which was due to the county from this town the last year.
1681
June 24, 1681. " A full agrement between the Agents of the Towne of Bridgewater and the Agents of the Towne of
1 Plymouth Colony Records, vol. v, P. 392.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1681
Middleborough in refference unto ye settlement of the bounde betweene the to foresayd Townes
"Samuell Edson sen : Ensign John . Hayward and John Willis sen : being chosen by the Towne of Bridgewater and John Tomson and John Soule chosen by the Towne of Mid- dleborough for the setlment of the bounds betweene the to Towns have agreed as followeth : namely from the center of the Towne of Bridgwater foure miels Est to heap of stones to the North of Satucket ponds neare a foot path as we conceive goes to Mamatakesset wch heap of stones is bounded about wth small marked trees : and from that heap of stones south- erly unto Alaxander Standishes land on the same range or line that was formerly run in year 1669 by William Nelson and John Soule for Namaskett and Elder Brett Samuel Edson sen : Ensign Hayward John Willis sen : and John Carver sen : for Bridgwater Leaving Mr. Standishes land only unto the towne of Middleborough and then the great river to be the bounds betwixt Bridgwater and Middleborough untill it come below Titicut and meat with the line betwixt Tanton and Bridgwater and from the fore mentioned heap of stones the line to be runn halfe a point more esterly from the North, then formerly was run into the extent of Bridgwater grant
In witness unto the foresayd premises wee above mentioned have set to our hands
SAMUELL EDSON JOHN HAWARD JOHN WILLIS SEN : JOHN TOMSON JOHN SOULE"
At the July court the following order was passed : -
" This court doth order that Mannamoyett and Middleberry, each of them doe make choise of a fitt man to exercise theire men in armes, and to see theire men well prouided with fixed armes and amunition for their respectiue places and to psent to the next Court for aprobation."
At a town meeting on the 27th of August of this year, among other things Mr. John Tomson was appointed agent of the town to "represent their cause at the next court in the distribution of money arising from Mount Hope which was due to the country that they might have their portion of the same."
At a town meeting on the 6th of December, 1681, at the house of Isaac Howland, the town decided that at all town meetings being legally warned to come together at the house
555
CIVIL HISTORY
1682-83]
appointed and the time being past that the major part of those that are together have full power to act and yt to stand in full force about matters yt concern ye good and well being of ye town and this to stand as a town order and that all matters debated be carried on in peace and good order, the town hath made choice of three men to be moderators, namely :
Mr. John Tomson, Isaac Howland and William Hoskins for this present year and the town meeting to continue for yt day until these three men dismiss them or some two of them.
"It is agreed upon by the town yt all former neglects in town meetings be passed by to this day as an act of oblivion and not to be called upon but for the time to come whoever he be yt doth not appear being legally warned at the house appointed ye fine to be exacted according to the town order being 2 shillings 6 pence ye ¿ to be for ye constable and town clerk and the other half for ye town's use."
1682
No surveyor was elected. John Miller was perhaps chosen deputy for one of the later courts of the year.
The tax was £3 out of £244, the tax of the colony.
1683
April 21, 1683. " At a Town meeting held at Isaack How- land's house The Town hath agreed that their Clarke, Wil- liam Hoskins shall have a load of fish brought to his field at Lakenham at their own charge, for his services the year past & so yearly as long as he remains their Clarke & to be brought in season."
At a town meeting at the house of Isaac Howland July 20, 1683, "the town hereafter jointly agreed in reference to Goodman Billington being in present want and for his releif they have left it to ye wisdom and discretion of ye selectmen to order ye matter and to take care about it and also to ye disposing of his daughter Dorcas, her land as they shall see cause and what charges shall arise to be defrayed by the town."
July 20, 1683. Town Meeting held at house of Isaack How- land. Town hath also agreed "to build a substantial Ware for the taking of their fish & the men that are to undertake this work is Isaack Howland, John Allyn, David Wood & the Town is to allow them each man 2$ 6d a day & they are to sett it up at the Bridge or Wading Place & what charges they are
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1684-85
out in building this Ware, they are faithfully to give an exact account thereof & they shall be faithfully repaid in silver money or in that which is equivalent thereunto."
August 11, 1683. At this meeting the town made choice of Mr. John Tomson, John Nelson, and Isaac Howland "to agitate and draw up matters concerning the good of the town in order for a proprietors meeting and to act in their behalf as leading men." 1
1684
At the June session of the court at Plymouth the following order was passed : -
"This Court granted liberty unto Isaac Howland to keep an ordinary at Middleberry and to provide with such necessa- ries for that purpose as are requisite, as lodgings and victuals for men and fodder for horses; and that he keep good order in his house, that he incur no just blame by his neglect."
William Green was warned out of town by John Tomson and William Nelson, probably in the belief that he might become chargeable to the town.
July 19, 1684. "Town Meeting held at the house of John Nelson. The Town with the Courts approbation have agreed that John Stonewall shall carry a gun so long as he behave himself well & orderly, but if he shall misdemean himself & carry disorderly, the Town shall have liberty from the Court to call his gun in & dispossess him of it."
September 19, 1684. "Town Meeting held at John Nelson's house. The Town do engage John Nelson if he can get either a man or men to sett down a good sufficient herring ware, near about where the Bridge now stands ; to pay to him or any man or men that he shall imploy to effect this work 3d a thou- sand for the fish, to be satisfied for, as they shall fetch them, in money or halfe a pecke of Indian Corne a thousand & whereas the aforesaid 3d a thousand is conceived to little to effect this matter, the Town hath agreed to allow 4d a thou- sand in silver or in Indian Corne at silver price."
1685
John Howard was warned out of town by the selectmen that he might not be chargeable to the town.
May 22, 1685. "Town Meeting held at house of John Nel- son. At this Meeting the Town have agreed with Samuel Wood to satisfy Joel the Indian for killing a wolfe & have
1 Bennett Note-Book, p. 33.
557
CIVIL HISTORY
1685]
ingaged to repay him again in his money, part of the next rate.'
" At a Court of Assistants held at Plymouth the 7th day of July Anno 1685.
" Whereas at his Majesties Generall Court held at New Plymouth, the fourth day of June Anº 1685, the said Generall Court did order & impower, the Court of Magistrates, to take notice of & examine such grants of Court, as from time to time, should by any Town-Society or perticular person, be brought before them & to confirm all such grants as they find just, by causing the publick Seal of the Colony to be affixed to such grants or Confirmations.
" And Whereas the Generall Court of this Colony in the year one Thousand six Hundred & sixty nine did grant that the Inhabitants of Namaskitt (then so called by the Natives) with such others as they should associate to themselves, should have the Priviledges of a Township, & be called & known by the name of Middlebury, & granted that the said Township should extend unto the borders and limits hereafter expressed : that is to say bounded easterly by the bounds of Plimouth Township & westerly with the bounds of Taunton Township: & northerly with the bounds of Bridgwater Township: and southerly to extend six miles from the wading place, & at the end of the said six miles to run east to Plimouth Line & from the said line to run west to Taunton Line. And in case the said West Line runs to the southward of Taunton Line, then to run untill it comes up with the southermost part of Taunton bounds, & then square off north to it, as the Records of the Court may appear. This Court doth therefore declare by these presents that all the Lands within the bounds & lines above expressed are of & belonging to the Township of Middlebury aforesaid, that is to say to be within the bounds and limits of the said Town. And do further Ratifie & Confirm unto all & every person or persons that are the owners & true Proprie- tors of any of said Lands, whether inhabiting in said Town or elsewhere, all and singular the Lands within the said Township of Middlebury according as each of the sd Proprietors is re- spectively interested in the same To have and to Hold the said Lands both Uplands & Meadows & Swamps, Woods & Waters, Trees & Underwoods, Rivers, Brooks & Ponds that are within the said Limits & Bounds, with all other the Rights Priviledges & Appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise appertaining to them the said Proprietors & to every of them according to his & their respective Rights
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558
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1686
therein according to the true intent and meaning of the said Courts Grants, & his & their respective Heirs & Assignes forever. To be Holden of our Sovereign Lord the King his Heirs & Successors, as of his mannour of East Greenwich in the County of Kent and Realm of England in free and common soccage, - Alwayes yielding & paying to our said Lord the King, his Heirs & successors and to the President of the Honourable Council for New England, all such part of the Gold & Silver Oar, as in & by our Charter or Patent is ex- pressed and reserved.
"In Testimony whereof, this Court by vertue of the power committed to them by the said Generall Court have ordered the publick Seal of this Colony to be affixed to these pre- sents.
" Attest NATHL CLARKE Secretary."
" This instrument is recorded in the Book of Evidences & Lands inrolled Date 1681 & in pag 333.
P NATHL CLARKE Secretary "
I686
In the latter part of this year Sir Edmund Andros arrived at Boston bearing a commission as governor over all the New England colonies. During his administration there was no action taken by the General Court at Plymouth, and the records do not indicate that much was done by the respective towns.
June 18, 1686. "Town Meeting held at the house of John Miller. The Town made choyce of foure men as their agents to treat with Capt. John Williams about his mill & also for the fish that they be preserved, yt both may be ordered as may be both for the good of the Town & beneficial to the owner.
" The men chosen as the Town agents are Mr. John Tom- son, Isaac Howland, John Nelson, Joseph Warren."
August 30, 1686. " Town Meeting held at house of John Miller. At this meeting the town made choyce & approved of Isaac Howland to keep ye ordinary.
" At this meeting the Town voted & made choyce of Mr. John Tomson & Isaac Howland to agree with Jonathan Wash- burn or any other to make a pound, whipping post & stocks & what they do agree on in respect of pay the Town agree to make a rate to defray the charge in Come at money price in three months after the work is done."
559
CIVIL HISTORY
1686]
RUNNING OF THE TOWN BOUNDS
MIDDLEBORO April 6, 1686.
We John Tomson and John Soul and Isack Howland: being chosen by the Town and proprietors of Middleborough : to settle the bounds of said township : as by the record of sd town bearing date Sept. 12 1683 appeareth : have according to the records of the Court dated June 1669: done the same as followeth : vis : having appointed a certain day for the doing thereof we gave notice to the propriators of the lands adjacent to that side of our town to be present at the doing thereof : and captain Nathaniel Thomas agent of the purchasers of the lands of parts adjacent appeared : and we began at the wading place over Namasket river and measured south six miles : at the extent of which we marked divers trees and saplings all on four sides standing near together -and from thence set east and ran about 50 or 60 rod and came to the river called by the Indians Pookpoawkquachoo river : alias Monhonkenock river : and marked divers trees in that east range on two sides : and one pine tree standing on the east side of the said river : and then went to the aforesaid trees marked on the four sides and set west : and ran about 80 rod and came to the easter- most of Quitequsset ponds : and marked divers trees in said west range to the pond: on two sides : And from thence set over the pond west : and the line took over on the southerly part of two islands in the said pond : and came to the brook which runs out of the westermost of said Quitequesset pond into the said eastermost pond : making there the brook the bounds.
And we the said John Tomson John Soul and Isack How- land set west from the said brook and the line took over the westermost of sd Quitequesset ponds : unto a spruce tree marked on four sides : standing about 60 rod from the sd pond : and from thence ranging west on the southerly side of a high cliff of rock whereon stood the two spruce trees : and from thence ranging west to a red oak tree marked on four sides : standing by the eastermost side of a long pond : called by the Indians Ponaquahot pond : And so crossing the said pond to a heap of stones on a rock by the west side of the said pond : with severall small red oaks marked standing by it : And so ranging west to a great pine tree marked standing on a great rock : And still extending west by a rang of marked trees untill we passed over Assonet river: And on the side of the hill on the west side of the river we pitched a stake : and
560
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1687-90
marked several small saplings by it: which is the extent of our west line : And from the said stake we ran north through a swamp by a rang of marked trees unto Rode Island path and by the path we marked a pine tree : and from thence ran- ging north unto Tauntons most southerly bounds at Assonet river.
I JOHN TOMSON SEENR 3 JOHN SOUL
2 ISACK HOWLAND
Memorand. That I the above named Nathaniel Thomas being then one of the agents of the purchasers of Pocasset lands was present with the above named persons when they ran the abovesaid six miles & when they ran from the extent thereof west so furr as the said Pocasset purchasers lands there joyned to the said Middleborough Township as witness my hand
NATHLL THOMAS.
1687
" The town being met together, at the house of John Miller do ioyntly agree by their vote to accept of John Bennett as a townsman and have the privileges of the same."
I688
The following named inhabitants of the town in the year 1688 took the oath of freemen: "Mr. John Tomson, Isaac Howland, Nathaniel Warren, David Tommas, Jr., Obediah Edy, Samuel Wood, Ebenezer Tinkham, Joseph Vaughan, John Tomson, Jr., John Allyn, David Wood, John Haskell;" and the following took the oath of fidelity : " John Bennet, Jonathan Morse, Jeremya Tommas, Benjamin Wood, William Nelson, John Fuller, William Tommas, James Wood, Samuel Eaton, John Cobb, John Howard, Philip Bumpas, Jonathan Baker."
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