USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735, Millbury until 1813 and parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn > Part 3
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" Voted that Samuel Rich and William King and Nathaniel Dike be a committe to manage the peticion above mensioned for said farms."
June 3. "Voted that Mr. Richard Waters farm and Mr. Samuel Richs farm be peticioned for to the present Sescion to be anaxed to the Town of Sutton to do duty and recieve Privelege with said Town. The peticion is to be at the charge of the town, Mr. Waters and Mr. Rich bearing thair part of the charge."
" Voted that the farms formerly caled Collinses farm, and Col. Hutchingsons farm, and Mr. Davenports farm be peti- cioned for to the Present and general Sescions in Boston to be lade to the Town of Sutton to do duty and Recieve priv- elege in said Town the peticion to be at the charge of the Town.
" Voted that Col. John Chandler be empowered as an Agent to act in full for the Town of Sutton in the peticion above menshoned.
" Voted that Samuel Rich should cary down the votes to Col. Chandler that was voted on the day above mentioned. William Wate, Samuel Barton, Timothy Carter, Samuel Sible, John Ward William Sible, John Sible, Samuel Dagit James Leland, Ebenezer Dagit and Thomas Lovell all of them personally apearing at said meeting and entered thar
* Town Records.
32
ANNALS OF THE
disent against the proseedings of the meeting. The reasons that they give is this, that the meeting was not as the law directs and also the vote of bearing the charge of the peti- cion we think it unreasonable." *
May 28. At a meeting of the Proprietors it was " Voted that all that have not paid their dues to the minister which the Court ordered upon the unimproved land be brought in to Mr. Makinstree by the 28th day of June 1724."+
1725.
March 29. " Voted that all the Inhabitants of Sutton living North east of Blackstone River should be freed from the Ministereal Rate for the years 24-25.
. Voted that twenty shillings be allowed for sweeping the meeting house."
.. Voted that Mr. John Whipple should go down to the proprietors meeting to se and now what they will du concer- ning the arrears of the ministry munny."
" Voted that Freegrace Marble and Ebenezer Dagit be a committee to take care of the school lot and ministerel lot that there be no waste of the wood and timber."
Aug. 16. "Voted that the school land in Sutton be all. sold Reserving the thirty acre lot and the mony to be put out for the benefit of a school in Sutton forever."
" Voted that Laftenant William King and Freegrace Mar- ble and Jonathan Kinney, John Stockwell, Samuel Dagit should be a committe for to sall the school land above recorded or above mentioned." #
" Col. Johnathan Harwood Entered his desent against the school land being sold."
Feb. 18, 1725-6 :
" Voted that the Farms that was formerlly Mr. Hutchi- son's and Mr. Davenports, with all the Inhabitance on said farnis be anaxed to the Town of Sutton. so that the said Inhabitance thare upon shall be anaxed as Town Inhabitance.
* Town Records.
Proprietors' Records.
# Town Records.
.
៛
33
TOWN OF SUTTON.
and shall share with This Town in all Town privileges what soever on these conditions. That ye fore said Inhabitance on said farms doe pay thare propotion To all Town charges that shall Be made in the Town of Sutton forward - not to have any of Town debts or charges that wce do this day stand obliged To pay ever levited upon them."
" The Inhabitance on the farms above mentioned being at the meeting concured with the Town and came into the Town upon the proposals above mentioned and manifestted it by a vote amongst them selfs and desired that the vote mite be put upon Record in Sutton Town Books."
This agreement above mentioned to stand during the plessuer of the General Corte." *
1726.
March 7. " Voted that Obidiah Walker be added to the former Committe to seat the meeting house.
May 12. "A Town Meeting was held at the Meeting House in Sutton for the choice of Representtitive, and the vote passed in the Negative."
July 29. A Town Meeting was held in the Meeting house " to consider of making choice of a Committy to treat with ye Mr. Mckinstry and to give them instructtions -and furst Mr. John Whipple was chosen Moderator and then they proseded to chous a Committy and the Committy ware Dacon Passeful Hall, Elisha Putnam, Thomas Nickols Elisha Johnson, Timothy Carter, Joseph Sible, Ebenezer Starns, Ebenezer Dagit, William Stockwell, Jun'r. The Town gave the Committy thar Instructtions." t
There is no record showing what these instructions were.
Aug. 29. At a Town Meeting it was " Voted that thar should be a Counsel to juge wether or no that Mr. Mekins- tre should be continued in Sutton as thar minester.
" then the Committy brought in thar Return to the Town, that was chosen by the Town to treat with the Reverend minester.
* Town Records.
t Town Records.
5
34
ANNALS OF THE
" Voted by the Town to Call in Seven Churches for a Counsel."
"Voted that mr John Williams of Dearfield with his Dilligates and mr Prentis of Lankester and his dilligates and mr Praseot of Salem with his dilligates, and mr Williams of Weston with his dilligates and mr Whiting of Concord with his dilligates and mr Brown of Reding with thar dilli- gates and mr Backer of Sharbon with thar dilligates should be called in this counsel to juge of matters of difference Between the minester and the people."
Voted " that Elisha Johnson, Elisha Putnam, Joseph White, James Leland, Timothy Carter, Simon Dacon, Isiah White, William Stockwell and John whippel should be a committe to take care and cary letters to the minesters and also to prepare and get things in order for the Counsel."
Voted " that Decon Passefell Hall, Joseph Sible, Samuel Daget, obadiah Walker, Thomas nichols, Ebenezer Daget and Samuel Sible Should be a committe to take care and prepare for the Counsel also it was voted that the 12th day of October the Counsel Should Come."
"We the Subcrybers Entered our desent against Counsels Coming into Town to juge between the Town and mr mckins- tree because thar was nothin charged against him in the meeting, nor in the warrant, to vote. Sollomon Holman, William King, John Stockwill, Johnathan Stockwill, Joseph Savery, Samuel Bigelo, Jonathan Kinny, John Singeltary, John ward, Babal Bixbe, william Stockwill, Nathaniel Dike Sen'r. Nathaniel Dike." *
The name of Putnam first appears upon the records of the town this year.
Some, if not all the brothers whose names are subse- quently found upon the records, probably came into the town during the preceding year.
1727.
The records of the town for this year are missing.
* Records of the Town.
35
TOWN OF SUTTON.
1728.
Sept. 2d. " Pursuant to an agreement with Mr. John Mckinstry to be Dismist from preaching in Sutton, att a town meeting leagely warn'd and held att ye meeting house in Sutton, first Mr. John Whipple was chosen moderater, secondly, put to vote to see wheather the town would Dismis mr. John Mckinstry from preaching hear in Sutton-and it passed in ye affirmetive and there was not any voats in ye Negetive."
September 26. The following receipt from Mr. McKin- stry is recorded.
" Then received of the selectmen of ye town of Sutton full Satisfaction and payment as to Sallery for preaching in the said Town from the first Day I Came among them to the Day above said. as witness my hand.
JOHN MCKINSTRY .*
Oct. 14. " Voted that the 3d Wensday be a day set apart for fasting and prayer in Sutton."
" Voted that the Reverend mr Parkman and the Rever- end mr Troop Should Carry on the work of the day above mentioned, to wit - the day set apart for fasting and prayer if prevailed with by the committee."
" Voted that there should be preaching three months from this day forward in the Town of Sutton."
" Voted that there should be a commttee to provide a minester or minesters for three months to prech in Sutton."
" Voted that there should be four men Chosen a commit- tee to go and get ministers to prech three months in Sut- ton."t
" Voted that Decon Passeful Hall, mr John Stockwill, mr Timothy Carter and mr Jonathan Kinny was Chosen for the above said sarviss, and then the meeting was agurned to the 18 day of this October corrant at-12-of-the- clock-and then they proseded : - and furst voted that thar should be a committee chosen to take care to provide for
* Town Records.
t Town Records.
36
ANNALS OF THE
Intertenment for the minesters three months -and it . appered by a major vote that mr 'Obidiah Walker and mr John Sible was Chosen for that sarvis."
Nov. 26. " A town meeting was held at which it was " Voted that 60 pound be Rased for the support of the gospel in Sutton."
·· Voted that Decon Passeful Hall should be Treasurer for to reseive the contribucion monny given into the Contribu- cion boxes."
" Voted that mr David Hall should continue to prech in Sutton till the furst day of March next insning if he can be prevaled with."
" Voted that Elisha Johnson, Freegrace Marbel, Joseph Sible, Samuel Dudly, John Whipple, Nathaniel Dike, Senr. be aded to the former committee to wit-Decon Hall, Insing John Stoewell, mr Johnathan Kinny and mr Timothy Carter to treete with mr David Hall Conserning his supply- ing the pulpit in Sutton till the furst day of March as above mentioned."
Dec. 2. " By order of a vote that was past in Sutton on the 26th day of November, 1728, to treete with Mr. David Hall to prech with us hear till the furst day of March next insuing the date hereof, and acordingly the committee above mentioned treeted with the above said mr Hall and he acsep- ted."
Feb. 10th, 1728-29. " Voted unanimously that mr David Hall should prech and supply the pulpit in the House of God in Sutton till the midel of May next insuing the date hereof, in order for settelment if he can be effected or pre- valed with."
" Voted thar should be saven men chosen a committee to treet with mr Hall, and it appered by a major vote that Decon Hall, Samuel Dudly, Thomas nichols, Nathaniel Dike, Senr., Samuel Barton, Obediah Walker and Simon Dakin ware chosen for the above said committee - and if mr Hall could not be prevaled with to supply the pulpit in the House of God in Sutton until the midel of May next insuing - then for the above said comm'tee to prosed in
37
TOWN OF SUTTON.
order to have the pulpit supplyed till the time above men- tioned - to wit - midel of May next insuing."
Feb. 26. " Voted that thar should bee a town meeting caled in order to give mr David Hall a call to Settel in the ministeral office in Sutton." *
1729.
March 26th. At a meeting, caled "to Consider and see wither ye town will concur with the church and Give mr David Hall a Call to settel in the work of the Ministry amongst them," and "to see what salery and settelment thay will give To mr David Hall," and " to chuse a Comitty To treet with mr David Hall in Case ye town a Grees To Give him a call,"- it was " put to vote whither the town would chuse mr David Hall for their miniser and Teacher to settel In ye work of ye ministry amongst them, and the vote Past in ye afirmitive."
" Voted to give mr David Hall an Honorable Salery."
" Voted in the afirmitive to Give mr Hall a Salery of one Hundred Per year in Province Bills, or the Equal value of one Hundred Pounds per year of Province Bills as they are now valued, as long as he shall serve them in the work of the ministry."
" Voted in the afirmitive to Leace out to mr David Hall part of the Ministeral Land -to wit -one thirty acre lot number 18, and one Seventy acre for Nine Hundred and Ninety nine Years at Six Pence Per year for Incouragement or towards his Setelment, and also to Give him one hundred Pounds in work, Meterals for Building." "Solomon Hole- man entered his desent against the 1 part of this vote."
" Voted yt Joseph Sibly, Freegrace Marble, Johnathan Kinny and Benjamin Marsh should be a Comitty to treat with mr Hall." t
May 20th. The hundred acres of land, that the " town formerly voated to give mr David hall a lease of, they have now voated to give him a Deed thareof, for his settelment amongst us."
* Town Records.
+ Town Records.
38
ANNALS OF THE
" Voated that thare should be a number of men Chosen as a Comity to give mr David Hall a warrant tea Deed of the s'd hundred acres of land in the towns behalf."
The names of a committee of twenty-one persons are given.
" Voated that Lieut. Elisha Johnson, Insing John Stock- will, mr John Sibly should be a Comitty to Judg upon the Present value of Paper Money in Pursuant to our forth voats last March ye 26 1729.
" Voated that the Contribushon should be kept up."
" Voated that the Lease money should be given to mr Hall." *
July 25th. The committee appointed to confer with Mr. Hall made their report to the Town and the meeting was adjourned to Aug. 14th, " and then it was put to voat, to see whether the Town would accept of mr David Halls answer and the voat past in ye afirmitive Provided he be content with ye land which the Proprietors have voated him and accept of it in ye Room and stead of that which ye town has voted to give him a warranttee Deed of." t
A meeting of the Proprietors of Sutton was held Aug. 12th, 1729, at which it was "Voted, that the committy chosen to lay out the remaining, undivided lands shall forth- with lay out to the Reverend Mr David Hall one hundred and thirty two acres of the undivided lands which we give him for his comfort and encouragement provided he is ordained Minister for this town of Sutton which is in lieu and full of the one hundred acres the Inhabitants promised to give him." #
This is the vote to which reference is made in the action of the Town as above given.
Sept. 8. " Voted to accept the comittys Return which was chosen to judg with mr David Hall on ye Present value of Paper money and also to put it on Record."
" Voated to send for nine Churches to assist in mr David Halls ordination."
* Town Records.
t Town Records.
# Proprietors' Records.
39
TOWN OF SUTTON.
.. Voated to make Provision for these Churches and other gent'men and to chus a Committy for said servise and leave ye whole concern to their decesion."
" Voated y't mr Samuel Dudley, mr John Whiple, mr Timothy Carter, mr Robert Goderd, mr Johnathan Kiney, mr william Stockwell, and mr Nathaniel Dike should be a Committy for ye sarvise above mensioned."
" Voted to leave it with the selectmen to see what will satisfy mr David Hall for his servise in Preaching with us from ye time he first com amongst us to ye time the Town gove him a Call to settel amongst us." *
The return of the Committee to fix upon a standard of valuation for paper money is as follows :
" Wee, the Com'ttee chosen by the Town May the 20th 1729 to judg upon the valley of Paper Money, met together in pursuance of s'd voat in order there to. we the Committy declared as followeth-1. That sixteen shillings of Paper money is adjudged to be equivalent to an ounce of silver. 2. that as to day labour it will in general answer at three and six pence per day. 3. that it will in generall purchess as followeth, beof three pence half penny per pound, porc at five pence per Pound. 4. That it purchase Indian Corn at four shillings ; and Rye at six and wheat at eight shillings per bushil, as witness our hands.
ELISH JONSON JOHN STOCKWILL JOHN SIBLEY."
At the same time consented to
Per me DAVID HALL. +
" This above written composition is a true copy of the comittes accepted (report) by ye toun and ordered to be entered upon Record as a Just standard of ye value of ye money wherein mr David Hall is to Receive his salery men- tioned & acted upon voat 2 in ye preceding page."
" BENJA. MARSH Town Clerk."
* Town Records.
t Town Records.
40
ANNALS OF THE
Oct. 10. " It was put to voat to see whether ye Town would fully close with mr David Halls answer & have it put upon record, and ye voat Past in ye afirmitive, which answer is as followeth * -
Mr. Hall was ordained Oct. 15. 1729. The Town Clerk makes no record of the Churches invited, nor of the proceed- ings of the Council.
Dec. 8. " The following voats wars past first it appears by a major voat that Decon Pasivel Hall should still take care of the contribushons." 2ly it appeared by major voat that the town alowed ye bill of charge which ye Comity broat in for the charge of mr David Halls ordination." t
Taxes were some times in arrears in the early history of the town, as appears from the following entry upon the records, made by order of the selectmen :
". Feb. ye 27, 1729-30.
" Mr. Elisha Putnum Town Treasurer Debtter for Divers Sums of money comited to several constables to colect.
€ -s-d
for ye year 1728 Constable Holmans town rate - -
42. 17. 01 and his ministers Rates - 24-00-11
for ye year 1726 Constable Ebenezer Daggets Ministers Rate, his town Rate amounts to 10. 07. 05
52. 08. . 11
for ye year 1727 Constable James Millers town Rate -
04. 17 .01
his ministers Rate is 09. 14. .01
for ye year 1728 Constable Nicols town Rate -
-
26. 00 00.
52. 00. 00 his ministers Rate is
for ye year 1728 Constable hazeltons town Rate
20. 14. . 04 his ministers rate - -
11. 18. . 03
By order of ye selectmen."
1730.
. April 8. A Warrant was issued for a town meeting to be held " at ye meeting House one wensday, the twenty second of April att one of ye Clock in ye after noon undo- standing that the vote concerning the trusttes to (wit) of Suttons part of ye 60 thousand pounds Land money, granted by ye general Court and the town of Suttons dispoels thar
* For the answer see History of "First Congregation Church " in this book.
t Town Records.
# Town Records.
-
41
TOWN OF SUTTON.
of is not Entered in ye town Book as we are in formed and other Things Releating to the town of Sutton's prudencils Hearafter Exprest - As furst to see what the Town will do to secure them selves and the trustes and all so to se if tha will Chuse a committy to asist the town Clerk in searching ye town Book Relating to s'd money and trusttes and all so to see what ye town will do with ye Intrust of s'd Land money. 2ly. for the town to Hear ye Petions of several pearsons of Hasanamiskco. - 3ly for the town to Chuse a Commety to discource with Rev'nd mr David Hall Concerning the valleation of our paper Bills and make a Return Thearof to ye nexte town meating."
" Pursuant to the wearant of which this above writen Is a true Copy then the following votes was past Capt. willam King was Chosen moderator by a majer voat for said met- ing 2ly voated that ye Selectmen ware Chosen to A sist ye town Clerk in searching ye town Book consarning the Land mony and thay made thare Return in ye above said meting and thair Return is that thay Can find nothing thair of any meeting for the Recouvering of said Land mony. 3ly thay proseed to chuse a commete to treete with ye trusttes to sec what securety thay will give to the towns for the above said Land mony. 4ly voted that three men should be a com- mette to treete with the trusttes. 5ly voted that mr Johna- than Kinny and Insin John Stockwell and mr Robart God- dard should be A Commette to see what securety ye trusttes will give to ye town and to make a Return to the next town metten Gly Voted that Lu't Elisha Jonson and Insin John Stockwell and mr John Sible should be a Commett to treette with the Rev'd mr David Hall consearning the vallyation of our paper Bills."
1730.
May 15th. The town voted that the following record, which had been omitted, "shall be entered in our town Book."
"At a Leaguel Town meeting Held at the meting House In Sutton one mondy ye 25 of March 1728 for to consider of taking the Land mony in the Town that was parte of the
6
42
ANNALS OF THE
sixty thousand pound land money being an hundred and Eighty three pounds, fiften shiling faling to the town of Sutton or to chuse three or five meet persons for trustes to take the care of the saim. and furst by A mager vote it apeared that mr Samuel Duddly was Chosen moderater, secondly the town voted to take the Land mony that parte of the sixty thousand pound of the Land mony that was a lowed to them by the honorable Court, thardly voted that the land, money should be let out, non of it to any man above twenty pounds, nor none of it under ten pounds to any man-forth ly voted y't thar should be three men chosen trustes to take ye land mony and dispose of it, fiftly voted that Elisha Jonson, Elisha Putnam and John whippel ware chosen by the town for that sarves-to wit to take the land mony 6ly, voted to have a schoul this present year." *
The Land Money, to which reference is made in the above action of the town, was money raised by the Colonial gov- ernment, and apportioned among the several towns to be loaned to the land holders in small sums secured by lien upon real estate. According to Hutchison and others, the plan was adopted by the government to forestall private parties, who wished to be incorporated as banking associa- tions for the purpose of loaning money upon land security. The design was to prevent monopoly, and furnish money to those of small means at a reasonable rate of interest, and without danger of foreclosure. The towns were to remit a part of the interest to the government, and retain a part. The plan was a good one in theory, but proved a failure.
January 11th, 1730-31 :
" Voted that no money shall Be Raisd to Defra town charges."
" Voted that Decon Putnam shall take Care of the Contru- busion money."
" Voted to seete the meeting House and Chuse a Cometty for that sarvice."
" Voted that mr Johnathan Keney and mr obdiah Walker
* Town Records.
43
TOWN OF SUTTON.
and mr Ebenezer Starns and mr Thomas nickiols and mr Cornalous Putnam shall be a Commetty for said sarvice - the In structions thay are to goo by Is age and Rate and offece - Heds not Regarded."
Jan. 29th, 1730-31. "Lut Samuel Dudly was chosen a representtive, by a mager vote, to send to our grate and general Court and asembely Cept and Hild at Boston Feb- euarey-ye-11-1730-31."
May 15th. Lieut. Dudley was chosen to represent the town at a session of the General Court and Assembly to be convened at Cambridge August 27th.
He was the first representative chosen from this town.
August 29th. "Voted to chuse three men to meet with gentenmen of severl towns that have apinted to meet at mr James Lealands one the 28 of this Instant to consider and provide a new skeam in order to Procure a new County."
" Voted that Capt Wm. King and mr John whippel and nathaniel Dike was Chosen for that sarves."
" Voted to keep a school in s'd Town for this present year for four mounths and that the selectmen agree with a school- master to keepe School for s'd town to Lern the chelderen and youth to Rede and wright English and to be kept at the Discresion of selectinen In four Places in s'd Town (viz) one month in the town Plot and three months at 3 other Places in the town one month in a Place." t
1731.
May 17th. The town chose "Ins' John Stockwell, and Lut. Beniamin marsh for trustes for Suttons Parte of ye sixtey Thousand Pounds land money."
" Voted that the meeting House should be Repeared-and that The selectmen should take cear to Repear The meeting House."
" Voted thar shold Be schole Dames Provided to teach . the Cheldern in the town as shall be thought neadfull."
At the same meeting the town " Dide Elect and Deput
* Town Records.
t Town Records.
44
ANNALS OF THE
Lut. Samual Dudley to send a representtive To our grate and general Cort or assembley to Be hild and Kept for his Maigesties sarvice at the Cort House In Boston upon wens- day The 26 of May In ye year 1731."
" Voted that ye selectmen prefer a peticon to ye gen'll Cort in Behalef of ye town for an abatment of ye Charge for Pament of thair Representative ye last year By Reson of ye grate sickness and mortality that god was Plesed to visit ye Town with the Last winter." *
August 2d. " Voted that Deacon Parssiful Hall should sarve at ye Court of General sesions of ye Peace to be Holden at worsester for this present year."
" Voted that Philep Chace shuld sarve at ye Court for a pety jurey."
September 2d. "Voted Doct. Thomas Sanford should sarve grand juriman at our Court at worsester this Present year."
" Voted that Samuel Dagget should sarve at s'd Cort of Trials for this presant year on ye Jury of trials."
September 20th. "Ye Inhabitants of ye Town being asembled in town meeting to Consider what advice to give ye Representative Releating to ye Diffeeulty lying before ye honourable house of Representatives Respecting the supply of ye treasuary and having Considered of ye saime ye folloing vote was put to vote -
"If it be your minds that our Representative should yeald ye Pintt that hath been so long in Debate between his excel- leney ye governer and ye honourable House of Representa- tives Relating to ye suply of ye treasurry signifie it by holding up your hands .- ye vote passed in ye negative."
November 1st. "Voted that mr nathaniel Dike should sarve on ye Jurey at ye Court of triales to be holden at worssester ye 2 day of november 1731." t.
"Sutton December ye 20th 1731
" The Returne of ye Commity Chosen to seat ye meeting house Is as followeth
* Dea. Leland says this sickness was called the Long fever.
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