USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates > Part 95
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OLIVER, son of Sylvania, b. 9 July, 1822, m. Maria Carder of Warwick, R. I., resided 1885 at Apponaug, R. I. . . . Children : ADA S., IDA D., twins. THADDEUS, resided at Ox. March, 1783.
WILLIAM, and Sarah Church of Holden, m. intentions 15 Aug., 1797. JOHN, aged 40, d. 11 Oct., 1825.
748
WILLIAMS .- WILLSON.
EBENEZER S., and Ruth F. Mowry, m. 14 Oct., 1850.
RUTH A., w. of John R., d. 18 Sept., 1863.
MARY E., m. n. Moore, aged 31, d. 21 Nov., 1869.
JOHN R., b. in Charlton, aged 54, d. 24 March, 1879.
WILLIS, ROGER, son of Abiel, b. at Lebanon, N. H., whither his parents had removed from Conn., went 1821 from Hanover, N. H., among the first settlers to Albany, Vt., m. Jerusha Cleveland, both d. at Albany. Of their 9 ch., the second, SAMUEL C., was b. 1806, m. at Albany, Mary Cook of Thetford, Vt., removed 1846 with family to Grafton, and thence in 1853 to North Ox., most of the ch. remained in Mass., the father and mother returned 1858 to Albany, where she d. 1874, he d. 30 Aug., 1891. . . . Children : HELEN M., m. Charles O. Wallace of Ox .; CLARK C., m. (1) Melissa Cromb of Grafton, had ch., m. (2) Sarah Cook of Grafton, had ch., residence 1891 Worcester, marketman and grocer; ADRIANA C., m. N. King Morse of Grafton, residence 1891 Ox .; they had Mary M., b. 14 July, 1859, m. Waterman A. Warren of Auburn, had ch .; Alice E., b. 15 Aug., 1861, m. Richard H. Warren, brother of Waterman A., had ch .; Carrie A., b. 29 April, 1870; SIMEON H., unm., resided at Albany with his father; SAMUEL C., b. 12 March, 1838, m. 13 Dec., 1859, Lucinda W., dau. of Capt. Otis Taft, soldier in the late war in First R. I. Cavalry, insurance agent of the firm of J. D. Washburn, Willis & Greene of Worcester, justice of the peace; they had Lillian May, b. 24 Jan., 1862, m. Homer S. Joslin; Irving C., b. 1 Nov., 1864; EDWARD I., m. Ellen, dau. of Ira Sibley of Ox., residence North Ox., 1 son; WILLIAM E., m. Flora Greene of Spencer, residence Chicopee Falls, 1 son; CHARLES M., m. Winnie Hockenbury of Barre, Vt., residence Chicopee Falls.
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WILLIAM F., and Adaline F. Chase, m. intentions 28 April, 1833.
WILLISON, SAMUEL, of Stark, Me., and Elizabeth Works, m. 25 Sept., 1802.
WILLSON, WILSON, JACOB, of Malden, son of Capt. Joseph and Dorcas (Randall) of Lynn, b. 3 Sept., 1671, a leading man at Malden, m. 20 May, 1696, Susanna Roas, and had JOHN, b. 25 Jan., 1697; JACOB, b. 7 Jan., 1699, and others.
2. JOHN, son of Jacob, m. Mary - -, came to Ox. from Malden, per- haps in the spring of 1732, at which time his father bought the Learned Davis place on the Sutton road, H. 26. In 1736 John bought the farm of his father and there spent a long and useful life, and was succeeded by his son John. Dea. Willson was one of the best of men, town clerk from 1747 to 1775, ten years selectman, most of the time chairman, and from 1743 until his death deacon.1 He d. aged 80, 13 Jan., 1778. His w. Mary and 3 ch. mentioned in his will, son John executor. . . . Children : JOHN, b. 28 Oct., 1720; MARY, b. 12 Feb., 1723, both at Malden; MARY, m. William Nichols; LYDIA, b. 30 March, 1735, at Ox., m. Joseph Phillips.
3. JOHN, son of John (2), m. (1) 7 Sept., 1749, Lois Town, settled on the homestead, m. (2) 17 Aug., 1758, Martha, dau. of Jeremiah Shumway, proba- bly left town after selling in 1780. . . . Child by first m. : DORCAS, b. 10 Aug., 1754, d. 26 April, 1779.
1 Several of Oxford's later town clerks might Willson and his successor, Dea. Samuel Harris, whose united services in this office embraced a term of over 50 years.
with much profit to the public have studied and copied the style and thorough manner of Dea.
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WILLSON. - WILMARTH.
4. JACOB, son of Jacob (1), m. Sarah , removed from Malden to Pomfret, Conn., where he bought land 1727, came to Ox., having bought 1730 the farm near the north end of the Plain, H. 188. He was a tanner and shoemaker, and was named 1735 as of Ox., tanner. He sold in 1743 and we lose trace of him. . . . Children : JACOB, b. 8 Feb., 1722, at Malden; SAMUEL, b. 15 May, 1724; SARAH, b. 19 March, 1727, d. 1740; and at Ox. : SUSANNA, b. 25 Nov., 1729; ANNE, b. 17 June, 1732, d. 23 Jan., 1756; JOSEPH, b. 13 Sept., 1735, blacksmith, lived 1759 near Edwards' mill, North Ox., H. 121; ELIZABETH, d. 1739.
5. JACOB, son of Jacob (4), m. 17 Dec., 1742, Esther Town, she d. 17 Jan., 1745. [A Jacob Willson m. at Pomfret, 12 Nov., 1748, Anna Skelton, and on 22 April, 1777, Molly Dodge.]
6. SAMUEL, probably son of Jacob (4), m. at Pomfret, Betse Adams. They had SAMUEL, b. 1 Jan., 1743; HANNAH, b. 13 Sept., 1744; ESTHER, b. 23 April, 1746; ROBERT, b. 18 Dec., 1748; MARY, b. 12 Oct., 1750; JOSEPH, b. 12 Jan., 1753; BETSE, b. 9 Aug., 1755; IGNATIUS, b. 29 Oct., 1757; SARAH, b. 10 June, 1762; MABEL, b. 15 Aug., 1764; RUFUS, b. 24 Dec., 1767.
PHEBE, and Joseph Laffin, m. 12 July, 1753.
JONATHAN, taxed here 1771.
. DR. JOHN, and Cynthia Gerould of Sturbridge, m. 21 Feb., 1781.
CHRISTOPHER, of Canton, N. Y., and Lucy Rich, m. int. 2 Jan., 1808. WILLIAM G., of Shoreham, Vt., and Eliza Dwinnell, m. 28 Jan., 1834. JAMES C., of Thompson, Conn., aged 32, d. 2 Nov., 1882.
WILMARTH, THEOPHILUS W., son of Joseph and Ruth B. (Williams), b. 20 Nov., 1818, at Smithfield, R. I., learned cotton manufacturing at Paw- tucket, R. I., came to North Ox. 1846, began business in partnership with Thomas Moies, later continuing with Joseph Rogers and afterward with John Rhodes of Millbury, agent and manager of the business until Sept., 1870, when he sold to Rhodes, and soon removed from town, returned 1879 to the Plain where he resided until 1882, removed to Farnumsville, where he d. 13 March of that year. Of good business capacity and esteemed as a citizen. He m. 23 May, 1839, Delia A. Mowry of Smithfield, who d. aged 36, 3 May, 1858, at Ox. His mother, Ruth A., aged 71, d. 4 Aug., 1856, at Ox. . . . Children, first two b. at Smithfield : FRANK, b. 28 March, 1841, received the title of A.M. from Rutgers College, N. J., was graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, June, 1869, settled in practice at East Orange, N. J., the same year and d. there, highly esteemed, 7 June, 1881. He was enthusiastic in his profession, deeply interested in hospital work and consequently much beloved by the poor. The medical staff of the Orange Memorial Hospital in the minutes passed on the occasion of his death said : " his early decease has arrested a career of rare promise." He m. May, 1874, Esther Sampson of New York; they had Delia M., b. 30 April, 1877; NANCY W., b. 4 Feb., 1845, m. 17 Jan., 1870, Howard A. Carson of Ox. [See Pope], resided at Malden; RUTH B., b. 23 Feb., 1848, m. June, 1869, Frank L. Smith, son of Rev. Joseph, of North Ox., present principal of the Bowditch School at Salem, she d. 16 Oct., 1885; they had Frederick W., b. 30 May, 1870; SARAH J., b. 23 Jan., 1851; MARCUS, b. 22 Feb., 1854, was graduated at the Worces- ter Polytechnic Institute as civil engineer, m. 17 June, 1890, Esther S., wid. of his deceased brother Frank, resides at Boston; THEOPHILUS W., b. 4 July, 1857, was cotton expert at Amoskeag Mills, Manchester, N. H., later super- intendent of Lane Mills at New Orleans, La., and in Oct., 1886, took charge
750
WILMARTH .- WOLCOTT.
of the Rockdale Cotton Mill at Northbridge, he m. Jan., 1881, Mary E. Simmons of Sutton.
WINN, ABRAHAM (Colored), once a slave, carpenter, a devout christian man and respected, aged 68, d. 29 Nov., 1877.
WINSLOW, JACOB, Revolutionary soldier.
WINTER, JOHN C. (German), aged 54, d. 16 Oct., 1863.
WISWELL, ALICE A., m. n. Davis, aged 21, d. 23 Dec., 1863. OLIVER C., son of David, of Holliston, aged 65, d. 11 June, 1867. CHARLES M., son of Oliver C., aged 33, d. 18 July, 1867.
WITT, OLIVER, of Chester, m. Isabella, dau. of Josiah Shumway, resided at Brookfield, Ware and Fitchburg, d. 1850 at Ware, she d. aged 89, 3 April, 1883, at Ox. . . . Children : MERRICK, b. 4 July, 1820; MARY, b. 22 April, 1822, m. William Sawtelle, who d. 1850; LAFAYETTE, b. 22 Oct., 1824, m. Mary Parker of Longmeadow, removed to Springfield, where he d. 1870; ELIZA, b. 31 March, 1826, m. Samuel Hinds of Fitchburg, resided 1886 at Indian Orchard ; HANNAH, b. 19 April, 1828, at Millbury, m. Gustavus Hunt, settled at Stone- ham, where he d. 1870.
WOLCOTT, HENRY, of Somersetshire, Eng., came with son HENRY, who was of Boston 1634, removed 1636 to Windsor, m. Sarah Newberry, had JOSIAH, b. 21 July, 1658, removed to Salem, and m. (1) Penelope, dau. of George Cor- win, m. (2) 1 May, 1694, Mary, dau. of John Freek (or Freke), merchant at Boston. They had JOHN, b. 12 Sept., 1702, was graduated 1721 at Harvard College, high sheriff of Essex Co., m. Elizabeth, dau. of Peter Papillon, and d. 1747, she m. (2) John Higginson. JOSIAH, son of John and Elizabeth, b. 16 April, 1733, came in young manhood to Ox., perhaps as pupil of Rev. John Campbell. In education he stood above the mass, and socially among the first in the town, prominent in public affairs and occupied the highest official positions, 10 years selectman, 13 years from 1759 to 1771 treasurer, 13 years between 1781 and 1795 moderator, 1764, '5, '6, representative, and many years justice of the peace. He owned a large landed estate received by inheritance, and 1754 bought at 21 years of age the most sightly homestead in town, then with an unfinished house, at the head of the common, where he resided till his decease. He m. (1) 13 Feb., 1752, Isabella, dau. of Rev. John Campbell, she d. 27 June, 1786, m. (2) 12 Dec., 1793, Naomi, widow of Samuel Jennison, she d. 18 July, 1848, aged 108(?) [headstone]. He d. aged 63, 9 Dec., 1796. . . . Children : JOHN, b. 12 July, 1752, d. aged 73, 28 Sept., 1825, unm., trader 1783-86, at least; EDWARD K., b. 30 April, 1754, m. 17 Jan., 1776, Hannah Sewall of Brookline, where they settled, and where he d. 11 Sept., 1815, " of decay," styled "trader." In 1797-8 he was of East Sudbury, inn- holder, in 1800-1 of Waltham, trader, in 1802-3 of Newton, trader, and in 1805 of Brookline again; ch .: Ann, b. 4 Dec., 1777; Elizabeth, baptized 26 March, 1780; Henry S., baptized 16 June, 1782; Hannah S., baptized 17 April, 1785, m. 20 April, 1814, John Fulsom of Boston; Rebecca W., baptized 20 Dec., 1789; Samuel, baptized 6 Oct., 1793 [“ Seco, Mr. Wolcott's negro, d. 21 July, 1780, aged 55"]; THOMAS F., b. 31 March, 1757, Revolutionary soldier(?) ; FREEK, b. 21 Oct., 1759, m. Josiah Shumway; ELIZABETH, b. 19 July, 1761, m. Andrew Sigourney ; PETER P., b. 1 Sept., 1763, unm., resided at Ox. until about 1801, set out for Woolwich, Me., on business and was never
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WOLCOTT .- WOODWARD.
heard from; MARY E., b. 29 Sept., 1765, m. John Dana, resided at Orford, N. H .; WILLIAM, b. 1767, d. 1769; JOSHUA, b. 11 May, 1769 ; MEHETABLE, b. 12 July, 1771, m. Phinehas Dana; HENRY, b. 4 Feb., 1774, unm., resided near Boston, was of Ox. 1803 and d. here.
2. JOSHUA, son of Josiah (1), m. Mary, dau. of Rev. Jonathan Eames, resided at Ox., near North Common on Sutton road, removed 1807 to Orford, N. H. . . . Children, first five b. at Ox. : PERSIS E., m. 4 Dec., 1821, William S. Stevens, resided West; JOSIAH E., b. 1 Dec., 1800; MIRANDA, b. 1802, d. 1803; OLIVER, b. 17 March, 1804, m. (1) 1832, Hannah Eaton, m. (2) Tamar Merrill, resided at Wentworth, N. H., removed to Rochester, Vt., where he, 1885, resided ; JOSHUA, b. 17 Jan., 1806, m., resided at Boston; and b. at Or- ford: BETSEY J., b. 5 Feb., 1808; HENRY, b. 28 Oct., 1809, d. 13 Nov., 1828; ABIGAIL, b. 19 Aug., 1811; EDWARD K., b. 18 July, 1813, m., and resides at Boston; MARY, b. 3 Nov., 1816, m. George Miles, residence, Orford; ANDREW F., b. 8 Aug., 1820; MARIA; AUGUSTUS, resided at or near Orford.
THOMAS, machinist, m. Fanny Andrus, lived at Merino Village, Dudley, removed to Ox. Woolen Co. Village, where he was repairer. He d. aged 44, 23 Oct., 1835. They had at Dudley : EDWIN; CHRISTOPHER ; LUCIAN ; A SON ; and b. at Ox. : CAROLINE, b. 6 July, 1828; SALLY, b. 5 Sept., 1829, d. 1843; DOLLY.
WOOD, CHARLES C., b. 14 Jan., 1810, son of Collester of Grafton, came to Ox., 1829, as clerk for Capt. William Sigourney, assistant postmaster. In April, 1834, removed to New Boston, Conn., where he began trade in part- nership with Sigourney, continuing until 1850, when he removed to a farm which he occupied, 1885, in the northwest part of Dudley. He m. (1) 9 April, 1834, Sally B., dau. of Alexander Campbell, she d. aged 24, 30 Sept., 1837, at New Boston; m. (2) 9 April, 1874, Harriet Cheney. . . . Child by first m. : CHARLES S., b. 1 June, 1835, from 1855 to 1885 conductor on railroad between Cincinnati and Marietta, O .; ch. by second m., ALBERT B .; HARRY C.
SIMEON, of Dudley, m. Huldah, dau. of Joseph Rockwood. . . Children : OTIS; LYMAN; ABIEL, b. 13 Jan., 1814, at Ox.
SIMON, and Susanna Wakefield, both of S. Gore, m. int. 22 Oct., 1803.
DANIEL, aged 20, d. 2 Dec., 1821.
CALISTA, and Alfred Johnson, m. 8 Dec., 1828.
WILLIAM F., and Emily Curtis of Dudley, m. int. 3 Nov., 1832.
JOHN W., of Dudley, and Maria, dau. of James Corbin of Sturbridge, m. intentions 3 April, 1845.
WILLIS, aged 75, d. 16 July, 1859.
REBECCA, m. n. Gager, of Westminster, aged 84, d. 14 Jan., 1866.
JOSEPH, aged 46, d. 4 April, 1872; found dead in the road near post-office. MARY A., widow, dau. of Thomas Benson, aged 84, d. 9 Dec., 1884.
WOODBURY, SALLY, and Aaron Carroll of Sutton, m. 11 May, 1784.
WOODHEAD, MRS. MARY (English), aged 55, d. 12 Oct., 1888.
WOODWARD, ICHABOD, son of George and Lydia of Watertown, cousin of John and Ebenezer Eddy, joined the Church at Roxbury 27 April, 1713, owned land in Ox. on Brush Hill, east and southeast of the North Ox. railroad station, which he sold in 1720 to John Eddy. In July, 1721, he was styled " of Oxford, innholder," and 1726, "joiner." He m. 1 July, 1725, Abigail Hol- brook of Roxbury and probably settled there; she was of Brookline in 1743;
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WOODWARD .- YEOMANS.
they had a daughter ABIEL, who m. Daniel Seaver and had a large family. In a deed 17 April, 1741, he is referred to as having deceased. No record in Ox. of his family. He owned several lots of land in Ox.
NATHANIEL of Leicester, and Sarah Fessenden, m. int. 29 April, 1790. AMOS, of Leicester, and Mercy Thompson, m. 23 Oct., 1797.
TOPSAIL (Colored), aged 52, d. 1 March, 1820.
JOHN, of Ward, and Sally C. McIntire, m. 13 July, 1825.
WILLARD, aged 57, d. Dec., 1845.
WORK, JACOB, of Medway, cordwainer, Revolutionary soldier, bought 6 April, 1770, 50 acres on Prospect Hill, now Auburn; sold 1777 to Israel Bray- ley of Freetown and bought in Dudley, sold 1778. We next find him in the North Gore [see H. 109]. He had a large family; about 1804 removed to Maine.
WORSLEY, DAVID, b. 7 Aug., 1788, at Roxbury, son of Joseph and Mary, m. at Killingly, Conn., Eunice M. Leffingwell, b. 4 Nov., 1794, at Pomfret, settled at Killingly, removed about 1826 to North Ox., her brother Calvin hav- ing that year bought mill property there; carpenter; d. 16 May, 1862, she d. 8 May, 1862. . . . Children : MARY S., b. 22 May, 1820, at Killingly, m. Joseph, son of Craft Davis; SARAH F., b. 1822, at Dudley, d. 1826; HESTER A. R., b. 1824, at Killingly, d. 1826; HESTER A. R., b. 1 Dec., 1826, at Ox., m. 14 May, 1846, Henry J. Pickett of Boston, b. at Barnet, Vt. ; DAVID H. b. 24 July, 1829, twice m., resided at Bosworthville, near Norwich, Conn., had at Ox., A. Elizabeth, b. 19 March, 1854; Abbie J., b. 15 April, 1857; ALBERT O., b. 7 April, 1831, unm .; ABBY J., b. 27 Nov., 1833, d. 13 April, 1855, unm. ; LUCY E., b. 1 April, 1836, m. George Ladd of Holden, and had Alfred W., b. Feb., 1860, she d. aged 24, 16 March, 1860.
LUCY M., m. n. King(?), aged 26, d. 8 Dec., 1862.
WRIGHT, HARRIET, aged 22, d. 27 June, 1827. SARAH M., m. n. Gardner, aged 42, d. 1 Jan., 1860.
WYMAN, JOHN, resided from 1752 on a farm in the northwest part, previously Jacob Town, H. 87, sold in 1776, and settled on Cox's land in east part of Charlton, sold in 1783; m. (1) 23 April, 1752, Experience, widow of Thomas Reed; m. (2) 9 Dec., 1762, Mrs. Ann Town. In 1799, John Wyman and wife were residents of Ox. . . . Children : by first m. : LEVI, b. 28 April, 1753, d. young; MOLLY, b. 14 Oct., 1756; DOLLY, b. 24 March, 1759, m. 3 March, 1784, Jonathan Shumway of Belchertown; EXPERIENCE, b. 2 June, 1761, m. 31 March, 1784, David Coburn of Woodstock, Conn .; by sec- ond m. : JOHN, b. 27 Nov., 1763; LEVI, b. 14 Sept., 1765 ; DANIEL, b. 12 Oct., 1767, in 1801 presented to the town a demand for £100 for the support of his father and mother, payment refused,
NATHANIEL, Revolutionary soldier.
YEOMANS, CHARLES, b. 8 Jan., 1790, son of Joshua of Norwich, Conn., came 1820 to South Ox., m. 8 Sept., 1822, Sarah, dau. of William and Martha Frazer, b. 1793, at Pomfret, Conn., resided for a time at Leices- ter, and returned to Webster, and thence came to Ox., where he spent his later years and d. 6 June, 1870; she d. aged 76, 4 Oct., 1872. . . . Children : GEORGE F., b. 22 July, 1823, at Leicester, m. Harriet M. Hill of Norwich, Conn., where they settled; CHARLES, b. 12 Sept., 1825, at Ox., now Webster,
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YEOMANS .- ZANES.
m., and in 1885 resided at San Francisco, Cal .; ANDREW B., b. 11 Oct., 1835, at Webster, m. 10 Oct., 1864, Harriet M., dau. of John C. Hall of Worcester, soldier in late war; they had Althea M., b. and d. 1865; Gertrude, b. 25 Jan., 1871; SARAH A., b. 7 Dec., 1838, at Webster, m. 6 April, 1859, Benjamin F. Barnes of Auburn, she d. 19 Aug., 1862, at Ox .; they had Charles Y., b. 7 Sept., 1860.
YOUNG, DAVID, m. Mary, dau. of Benjamin Fitts of Ox., settled at Jamaica, Vt., had six children four of whom came to Ox. WILLARD, b. about 1795, m. 12 April, 1818(?), Betsey, dau. of Ezekiel Davis, lived with his uncle Silas Fitts, d. 27 Sept., 1825, aged 30; they had Willard A., b. 27 Aug., 1825, killed 20 Aug., 1855, on the railroad, brakeman; DAVID, b. 1803, m. 27 May, 1834, Adaline, dau. of Ebenezer Fitts, settled at Ox., where he d. 17 May, 1848, she d. 16 April, 1880; they had Artemos, b. 20 Feb., 1837, m. 14 April, 1861, Martha, dau. of James and Betsey D. Lawrence of Temple, Me., and had Jesse, d. young; Elsie, b. 21 June, 1864; Charles, b. 13 Sept., 1866; Jerry, b. 20 April, 1868; Ora, d. young; John P., b. 1 Aug., 1872; Betsey L., b. 11 Feb., 1875; Mary Eliza, b. 22 Jan., 1839, m. 29 Dec., 1858, Silas Rice of Thompson, Conn., and had Amy E., b. 11 June, 1861, m. William Newton, residence, Millbury; Addie, b. 12 Feb., 1863; Mary M., h. 9 May, 1869; Flora M., b. 17 June, 1875; MARIA, unm., many years housekeeper for her uncle Silas Fitts, d. aged 62, 31 Dec., 1863; ANDREW F., d. 22 Aug., 1825, at Ox., unm.
JOSEPH, of Sutton, and Euphemia T. Taft, m. 28 May, 1828.
ZANES, HARRIET D., widow, aged 35, d. 2 Aug., 1886.
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NOTES
AND
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
An Indian Deed. PAGE 5. The original deed of Black James and Com- pany to Stoughton and Dudley of one-half the reservation of five miles square made by said Indians in their deed of the Nipmuck Country to said grantees Feb., 1682, was in the collection of the late John Wingate Thornton of Bos- ton, and through the courtesy of his daughter, Elizabeth T. Thornton, has recently come into the possession of our Free Public Library. Its date is April 28, 1682, a little more than two months after that of the sale to the Eng- lish. The grantors named are Black James, alias Walomachin, Benjamin, James, Simon Wolomp, Tascomp, Sasequejasuck, Pomponechum, Wolowon- onak, Papomsham, Pepegous, John Awagwon, Sosequaw, Aquetaquash, James Wiser, James Acojock, Wolumpau, Papeunquanant and Waumshk, who con- vey as follows :- " for and in consideration of the Sume of Ten pounds current money of New England to us paid by the sd William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley . .. Have given, granted . . and by these presents Dor fully, freely and absolutely give, grant .. unto the sd William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley their heires and assignes forever . .. . one Moiety or full half part of the sd tract of Land of ffive miles Square in such place or contents of five mile Square in such two places as wee shall choose Reserved by us as above sd out of the grant abovementioned, made by us unto them-of all that part of the Nipmug Country above described and bounded (that is to say) one half part of all the upland grounds and the whole of all the meadow grounds contained within the sd Reserve . "
[Signed by 20.]
" Signed, Sealed & Delivered in presence of us.
WILLIAM A. RAWSON?
EDWARD THOMAS JOHN GORE.
Acknowledged 28 Apr., 1682, before
SAMUEL RUGGLES Sen.
HUM : DAVIE,
SAMUEL NOWELL,
Assts.
SAMUEL RUGGLES Jr. his PETER X GARDNER mark
RALPH BRODHURST "
[The signatures to the above present a somewhat interesting study. Of the twenty, many are not named in the body of the deed, and as many named therein did not sign. Two wrote their names in full; several signed by the first two or three letters of their names, several by a conventional figure as a circle, cross or other rude design, one by the form of a bird, but the majority made only a meaningless scrawl. Of the four who sign the supplementary
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HISTORY OF OXFORD.
writing, which contained originally ten or twelve names, JAMES PRINTER als. WOWAUS is remarkable in his handwriting, and his is by far the best Indian signature on the deed. James Achochick and Meeocoman were two other signers of this latter instrument].
This appended writing follows :-
" Wee Seanjasco, Wabequalan, Madaquamin, Cook Robin [others, names illegible] inhabitants of the Nipmug Country and partners with the grantees in the Land above conveyed and sold, being absent at the time of the above sd treaty and bargain and therefore not inserted in the Deed Do nevertheless fully consent thereto, and having received our several proportions of the price therein Specified do Signify our consent to the same and release all our right title claim and interest in and unto the Lands therein granted and every part and parcel thereof do hereunto Set our hands and Seales in the presence of the witnesses above named. Consented unto also by James Printer als. Wowaus." [Signed by four. ]
On the back is endorsed :-
" Memorand That on the twentieth day of May 1685 full and peaceable possession and Seizin of the Lands within mentioned to be granted with the appurtenances was given by Benjamin the brother of Black James & Simon Wolomp son of the sayd Black James by delivery of a turffe of the Land called Mayanexit upon a small twigg, in the name of the whole unto the within named William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley, which was so done under a tree growing on the said Mayanexit Land and then marked S. D. in the presence of us whose names are underwritten
"JOHN BLACKWELL
"ROBIt JARDONE ?" 1
[Suffolk Rec. XII., 297.]
The introduction of the name of James the Printer as above in a special clause may be considered an indication of his high standing in the tribe. This Indian was one of the most interesting characters mentioned in the accounts of early times. When a child he was taken into the Indian School at Cambridge and later was apprenticed for 16 years to learn printing, but ran away before the expiration of that time. He was Eliot's most valuable assistant in pro- ducing the Indian Bible, and when in 1683 this man contemplated a revised edition of his work he wrote thus: "I desire to see it done before I die . we have but one man, viz., the Indian printer that is able to compose . .
the sheets and correct the press with understanding."
James was a teacher at Hassanamisco, the place of his nativity, and also at Chaubunagungamaug. With all his good qualities he was true to his native instincts, and when Philip's war began joined the foray, leading, it is said, in some of the murderous assaults. A memento of him (it is believed no other Indian of the time could have produced the document) remains in the form of a written notification which was posted on the bridge over Charles river at Medfield on the retreat after the attack on that settlement, 21 Feb., 1676; " Know by this paper that the Indians that thou hast provoked to wrath and anger will war these twenty-one years, if you will. There are many Indians yett. We come three hundred at this time. You must consider that the Indians loose noth- ing but their lives, but you must loose your fair houses and cattle."
A few months later the war was closed. James returned to his allegiance to the colonists, was pardoned and for many years afterward was a competent assistant to Mr. Green, the leading printer of the day, at Boston, printing in 1709 the Indian Psalter.
1 This name is susceptible of several readings.
757
NOTES, ETC.
Bernon's Plan of Oxford. PAGE 7. This plan now among the Bernon papers, is given as a curiosity and also as in a manner illustrating the di- visions of the Oxford lands. It is far from correct in detail, especially in the streams and in the direction of the lines running east and west, which, starting at the east ran more to the southward than here represented. A few numerals have been added to mark points of special interest: 1 represents the site of the Huguenot Fort; 2, a cluster of French houses near the old mill; 3, the south branch of Millbrook coming from Mendon Meadow; 4, the north branch of the same coming from Bug Swamp; 5, the Maanexit; 6, Lit- tle River; 7, the Quinebaug. This plan has no date attached but must have been made after the deed of division, 1688, and before the English settle- ment, as at that date the " common way " here represented had been abol- ished. The second "common way," here shown, we find no allusion to in the records and probably it had existence only on paper. An interesting point which has not been identified (perhaps some abundant spring), is that in the extreme east of Cox's division near the Maanexit on the west, designated as " Coxes Well." The Grand proprietors' lots, it will be observed are num- bered. The significance of this can only be conjectured. They are marked at the extreme west by the first five letters of the alphabet.
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