USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > Quarter millinnial celebration of the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 4 and 5, 1889 > Part 22
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This tract was apparently beyond the limits of the original purchase of Taunton ; and on April 11th, 1647, it was conveyed by the town to Mr. Andrews, in payment for the erection of the meeting-house, by a deed in these words, viz:
BRADFORD GOV'R.
" This indenture following was recorded by order from the Court:
This Indenture made the eleventh day of the second month in the year of our Lord 1647 between the inhabitants of Taunton in the colony of New Plymouth in New England of the one party, and Henry Andrews inhabitant of the said plantation of Taunton within the colony of New Plymouth in New England of the other party witnesseth, that whereas there was a certain parcel of land or neck of land appertaining unto the inhabitants of Taunton aforesaid called by the said inhabitants their calves pasture, That this parcel or neck of land, it lying and being
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bounded by the Great River from the land of Richard Williams inhabi- tant of Taunton heading it the said neck at the upper corner thereof, and the land of George Hall, inhabitant of Taunton heading it at the lower corner thereof or near unto it, &c, This parcel or neck of land with its appurtenances is granted and sold by the inhabitants of Taun- ton aforesaid unto him the aforesaid Henry Andrews and his heirs and executors or assigns, To have and to hold forever in lieu of a meeting house built by him the aforesaid Henry Andrews for the inhabitants of Taunton aforesaid for their full satisfaction for the said neck of land, and for his peaceable and secure enjoyment thereof by him the said Henry Andrews or his assigns, &c, any or every of them, it is further promised by the inhabitants aforesaid that all such manner of persons as have been heretofore inhabitants resident within this plantation of Taunton them or their heirs or assigns that shall challenge or demand any part or portion in the aforesaid neck of land, shall be either satisfied for their part of the charge bestowed thereon by the town in fencing, thereof to make it a calves pasture or else be satisfied in land in some other place. As also it is by these presents witnessed and promised by the inhabitants aforesaid, that this said parcel or necke of land shall not be rated by the town aforesaid: and for the better confirmation of this deed have the seven men chosen by the inhabitants of Taunton aforesaid to order the affairs of the town for that present year, have set to their hands for the day and year first above written.
John Strong. Oliver Purchis. Walter Deane. Richard Williams. Edward Case.
(Ply. Rec. of Deeds Vol. II. p. 57.)
APPENDIX N.
[Page 42.]
Mr. Baylies, who wrote before the loss of the Town records in 1838, thus states the action of the Town as to these iron works.
"It was at a town meeting conferred and agreed upon between the inhabitants of Taunton and Henry Leonard of Braintree:
Imprimis. It was agreed and granted by the town to Henry and James Leonard, his brother, and Ralph Russell, free consent to come hither and join with certain of our inhabitants to set up a Bloomery work on the Two Mile River.
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"It was also agreed and granted by a free vote of the Town, that such particular inhabitants as shall concur together with the said per- sons in this design, shall have free liberty from the town so to do, to build and set up this work, and that they shall have the woods on either side of the Two Mile River, wherever it is common on that side of the river, to cut for their cord wood to make coals, and also to dig and take moine or ore at Two Mile Meadow, or in any of tlie commons apper- taining to the town, where it is not now in propriety. " (Baylies, Part II. p. 268.)
Documentary evidence in the hand-writing of Oliver Purchis, the first town clerk, gives these persons as proprietors "in the Bloomerie, " viz:
The names of those who hath put in themselves to be proprietors in the Bloomerie, viz: Hezekiah Hoare, Thomas Gilbert, Richard Williams, Walter Dean, George Hall, Oliver Purchis, James Walker, John Tisdale, Wm. Parker, Mr. Gilbert Senr., Peter Pitts, Richard Stacey, John Cobb, Wm. Hodges, Nathaniel Woodward, Timothy Holloway, James Burt, Edward Bobitt, Jonah Austin Senr., John Parker, Samuel Wilbore, Miss E. Pole, Jane Pole.
Additional records show the names of Wm. Pole, Timothy Lindall of Salem, his son-in-law, Nicholas White Senr., Henry Withington, John Turner, Thomas Linkon Senr., Anthony Slocum, James Leonard, Thomas Amsbery, Jos. Wilbore, Henry Andrews, John Hall. James Phillips, Francis Smith, Geo. Watson, Gov. Leverett and Major Edward Tyng of Boston, Nath'l. Paine Senr. and Stephen Paine of Rehoboth, John Cary and Nathaniel Paine Jr., of Bristol, Benedict Arnold of New- port, Richard Thayer of Braintree-contributing from 20 pounds to 5 pounds each, for whole, half and quarter shares.
(See a valuable article by Capt. J. W. D. Hall, read before the Old Colony Histori- cal Society, No. 3. p. 134.)
APPENDIX O.
(Page 45.)
The report of the Committee defining the boundaries of Taun- ton in 1640, is thus recorded :
" The dimmits and bounds of the plantacon of the towne of Taunton als Cohannet, wthin the goument of Plymouth, bounded and ranged for length and breadth, by order of Court, by Miles Standish & John Browne,
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gentlem, Assistants in the goument, the Xixth day of June, ano Dm 1640, in the xvjth yeare of our souaine lord, Charles, &c, as followeth, vizs :-
Impris from two marked trees nere vnto Asonet, a neck of land being betweene Asonet and them, lying southerly, and from the said marked trees ranging east and by south foure miles; rangeing also from the ex- tent of the said foure miles north and by west; also from two markt trees neere the Three Mile Riuer, lying southerly of Taunton, the rang to runn foure miles west & by north; and from the extent of this last menconed foure miles, the rang to runn north and by west eight miles; moreou, from the extent of this eight miles range, then the range to runn on the east and by south line, to meete wth the former expressed north and by west lyne vpon a long square; alwayes puided, that if these ranges do not take in a place called Schadingmore Meddowes, the said Schadingmore Meddows to be included as belonging to the aforesaid towne of Taunton, wth one thousand acrees of vpland neere and adjacent vnto the said meddowes; prouided likewise, that these lines do not intitle the said towne of Taunton to intermeddle wthin two miles of Teightaquid.
MILES STANDISH, JOHN BROWN."
(2 Ply. Col. Rec. p. 99-100. )
APPENDIX P.
[Page 45.]
The first addition seems to have been of meadow lands at Assonet, in March, 1640, when the General Court passed this order :- D
"WHEREAS the inhabitants of Cohannett, now called Taunton, haue complayned of thire greate want of meddow grounds, the wch. hath beene seriously weighed and considered vpon by speciall order of the whole body of the Court, and fynding their wants to be such that vnlesse they be supplyed of meddow lands they cannot comfortably there sub- sist, the Court doth therefore now order and graunt the meadow lands at Assonett, and betwixt, Taunton and Assonett on both sides of the riuer, vnto the said inhabitants of Taunton, prouided always that the ministers and people now there which are fitt & do pceede & contin- ue in a church estate there the space of seauen yeares next ensuing, (ex-
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cept some speciall hand of God doe hinder the same,) that then the meddow lands aforesaid shalbe to them and theire heires, to haue & to hold to them & theire heires foreuer." (1 Ply. Col. Rec. p. 142.)
In 1643, the inhabitants of Taunton having applied to the General Court for permission to purchase more wood and pasture land, the Court passed this order : (2 Ply. Col. Rec. p. 58.)
" The Court is willing to condescend thus far, viz: that those lands which belong to Hesbone may be procured by all due means, and with what convenient speed may be; also that the best and speediest means be used to procure them further enlargement on that side of the Main River to answer to Mr Hooke and Mr. Street's farms on the other side; and whereas they desire the Neck of Assonet for pasturing young beasts, it is also granted by the court, provided leave can be procured from Ousamequin, and all payments to be made by themselves without any charge to the country; but whereas the timber is requested below the said bounds, that we cannot grant without great detriment to another plantation intended below that. " -
This land was probably bought of Ossamequin (or Massasoit,) for in 1663 his son Philip made a confirmatory deed of the same, as well as of the original first purchase ; a copy of which is as fol- lows :
"March 23, 1663. These Presents witnesseth, That whereas there was a plantation graunted by the Court of Plymouth in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-eight (named Taunton) to sundry per- sons whoe there satt downe viz: Capt. William Poole, Mr. John Gilbert, Henery Drew, John Dean, Walter Deane and sundry others, the bounds of which plantation are expressed in the graunt of the Court of Ply- mouth according to the several points of the compass, therein expressed, which plantation so bounded as above mentioned, together with the meadows upon the Great River downward so far as the Store House Point so called, with all the meadow of Assonett and Broad Cove, with a small tract of land bought of Ishbon lying betwixt the marked tree at the pond and the mouth of the Nistoyoahamock or the Three Mile River, which lands and meadows with their appurtenances, immunities and privileges whatsoever were bought of Ousamequin by the parties above mentioned; I Philip Sachem do therefore by these presents, ratify and confirm for myself my heirs and successors the granted premises made by the Court of Plymouth and also assented unto by Ousamequin my father, to the aforesaid inhabitants of Taunton and their heirs and suc- cessors forever, peaceably to enjoy without molestation or disturbance
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APPENDIX.
from, by or under me. Witness my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Witness
John Sasamon, Interpreter.
Philip the Sachem " his P mark and [seal]
The mark X of Pemichason alias Nimrod.
This confirmation was signed and sealed before me the day and year above expressed. Witness my hand,
THOMAS WILLETT. (Ply. Rec. of Deeds, Vol. III. page 13, part 1.)
In October of the same year (1663) the southern boundary of these purchases was thus defined by the General Court :
" The inhabitants of the towne of Taunton having seuerall times, for diuers yeares, complained of the straightness of the bounds of their towne and haueing petitioned the Court for some enlargment, the Court haueing desired some to take a view of what they haue desired, and finding that it is not likely to bee prejudiciall to any, they graunt as fol- loweth, vizs: that the path which goeth from Namassakett to Assonet Riuer bee theire bounds on the southeast, and soe by a line from thence to Baiting Brooke, and from Baiting Brooke a north line till it meet with theire opposite line called the Longe Square, prouided that it come not within two miles of Tetacut; alsoe, it is graunted that the inhabi- tants of Taunton that haue interest in the iron workes there shall haue frce libertie to cutt wood on those lands for the vse of theire iron workes, but not any foraigner excepting Richard Church, of Hingham."
(4 Ply. Col. Rec. p. 45.)
The original Taunton was apparently separated from Titacut by an intervening strip of land, about two miles wide; and this territory soon became an object of desire by the settlers ; and in 1660, the General Court made this preliminary order in regard to it. viz:
"A pcell of land, lying betwixt Tetacutt and Taunton, is to bee viewed by Constant Southworth and William Peabody, and if it shalnot bee found within the bounds of Taunton, nor to neare Tetacutt, that then William Brett, John Willis, Thomas Haward, Senior. and Arthur Harris haue a competency graunted and confeirmed vnto them, if it bee there to bee found; if not, they have libertie to looke out for further supply with what conveniency they can." (Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. III. page 193.)
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QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
This soon led to a grant by the Court, in 1665 unto William Brett, Thomas Haward, Sen., Arthur Harris, Richard Williams, John Willis and John Carey, to each of them three-score acres of land lying betwixt the lands of Taunton and Titicut; but in case these lands shall any of them fall within the last grant of Taunton, these lands being before granted to these men, notwithstanding, it shall not make the former grant void, but that the said lands shall be and remain, with all and singular the appurtenances belonging unto them, to the said William Brett, Thomas Haward, Sen., Arthur Harris, Richard Williams, John Carey, to them and their heirs and assigns forever." (Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. IV. p. 45.)
APPENDIX Q.
[Page 45.]
In the Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. IV. p. 18, (1662) we read as fol- lows :
"Captaine Willett is appointed by the Court to purchase the lands of the Indians which is graunted vnto such that were servants, and others that are ancient freemen, which the -- thinkes meet to add to them to haue interest in the said graunt, the tenure whereof is extant in the -- of the Court.
And still later at the same Court, p. 28, another vote was passed as follows :
" Att this Court, Captaine Willett and some other whom hee shall thinke meet, are requested by the Court to view the bounds of Taunton, wherein they desire to bee enlarged; and if hee sees it convenient, and that it bee not prejudiciall to others, to confeirm it to them; and incase that Captaine Willett shall neglect soe to doe, the Court haue declared that they will take some course to answare theire desires att the next March Court. "
These votes prepared the way for the purchase of much land of the Indians, including the North Purchase.
June 3, 1662. In reference vnto a former graunt to sundry ancient freemen of the towne of Taunton, to looke out lands for their accomoda- tion, and in answare to the request of some others that are joyned with them in desiring accomodations of land, the Court haue granted vnto
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APPENDIX.
them that they shalbee accomodated on the lands on the northerly bounds of Taunton, and that the major, Captaine Southworth, and Captaine Bradford are appointed by the Court to purchase the same of the Indians in the behalfe of those heerafter named, prouided that which shalbee purchased shall not bee prejudiciall to the Indians.
The names were as follows :
Captaine Thomas Southworth. Josepth Warren.
Mr. Willam Parker.
Leift James Wyate.
Mr. Henery Andrews.
John Morton.
John Parker.
Ephraim Morton.
Gabriell Fallowell.
Robert Finney.
Gyles Rickard, Senior.
Ensigne Marke Eames.
Richard Wright.
William Paybody.
Anthony Snow.
George Hall.
Nathaniell Morton.
John Deane.
Mr. John Gilbert.
Walter Deane.
Captaine Poole.
John Dunham, Jr.
James Walker.
John Rogers.
Richard Williams.
George Bonum.
John Wood.
Jonathan Briggs.
Henery Wood.
Willam Harlow.
Dauid Briggs. John Bundey.
It is ordered by the Court that the abousaid land shalbee purchased by the next June Court, and not to exceed such a proportion as is suit- able in quantity to soe much as such a number as those haue that had a graunt with the major in those two graunts or tracts before mentioned in this booke. (Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. IV. page 20. ) 1662.
Subsequently three others were added to the above list, viz .: Mr. John Done, John Smalley, & Jonathan Sparrow. Id. p. 27.
The Rev. Dr. Blake in a very valuable paper read before the Old Colony Historical Society, in 1855, thus describes the acqui- sition of the North Purchase :
"In 1661 [or 1662] Capt. Thomas Willett of Rehoboth, either at the suggestion of the Court or by his own sagacity, bought this whole irreg- ular tract of Wamsutta or Alexander, the son and successor of Massasoit as chief of the Pokenokets. This territory so purchased was by the Col- ony put into the hands of a Committee-Mr. Thomas Prence, Major Jos- ias Winslow, Capt. Thomas Southworth, and Mr. Constant Southworth,- "to settle and dispose of said lands for the Colonies use." A portion of this territory was granted by the Plymouth Court to the town of Reho- both and called the "Rehoboth North Purchase. " This tract included Attleboro, Cumberland, R. I., and parts of Norton and Mansfield. But
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QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
all the region between Attleboro and Bridgewater-some fifty square miles-and the balance of Willett's purchase was still in possession of the Colony. It was bounded by the Massachusetts Patent on the north, by Bridgewater on the east, by Taunton on the south, and by Rehobothı North Purchase on the west. Taunton projected its northern corner half way through this trapezium. The idea that Taunton ought to possesss the region into which it had so far projected its northern horn, took shape in a company of its chief citizens to buy it of the colony. A bargain was soon made and a deed granted to fifty-two purchasers. It is dated 6th June, 1668, and this is a copy from the Ply. Col. Deeds, Book, 3, p. 118.
PRENCE GOVR.
" Whereas the Generall Court of New Plymouth have Impowered Mr. Thomas Prence, Major Josias Winslow, Capt. Thomas Southworth and Mr. Constant South worth to take notice of some purchases of land lately made by Capt. Thomas Willett, and to settle and dispose the said lands for the Colonies use-Know therefore all whom it may anyway concern, That the above named Mr. Thomas Prence, Captaine Thomas South- worth, Mr. Constant Southworth and Major Josias Winslow by vertue of power by and from the said Court derived unto them, have and by these presents doe bargaine, sell, grant, allien, allott, confer, and make over unto Richard Williams, Walter Deane, George Macye, James Walker. Joseph Wilbore, William Harvey, Thomas Leonard, John Turner. Henry Andrews, John Cobb, Gorg Hall, John Hall, Samuel Hall, James Leon- ard Sen., Nathaniel Williams, Thomas Williams, Nicholas White Senr. Nicholas White jun., Hezekiah Hoare, Allice Deane, Israel Deane, Rob- ert Crossman, Shadrach Wilbore, Thomas Caswell, John Macomber, John Smith, Edward Rue, John Parker, Samuel Paule, Thomas Lin- koln Senr. Thomas Harvey the elder, Nathaniel Thayer, Thomas Linkoln Jun. Peter Pitts, John Austine Senr. John Richmond, Samuell Williams, Christopher Thrasher, Mistriss Jane Gilbert, George Watson, Samuell Smith, James Burt, Richard Burt, John Tisdall Jun., James Phillips, Edward Bobbitt, John Hatheway, Jonathan Briggs, Encrease Robinson, John Bryant, Thomas Harvey Jun., Proprietors of the Town of Taun- ton, and to their heirs forever, a certain tract of land lying and being on the northerly syde of Taunton aforesaid, and is bounded as follows, viz: Beginning on the northwest att the bounds of the lands formerly sold by us unto the Town of Rehoboth, and to be bounded on the northerly syde by the Massachusetts line until it comes to bear with the western bounds of the Town of Bridgewater and soe from the said Massachusetts line by a south line home to the bounds of Taunton, and thence by a westerly line untill it meets with the bounds of Rehoboth abovesaid, and so to follow the said bounds of Rehoboth untill it comes unto the bounds first
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APPENDIX.
mentioned upon the Massachusetts line; all the lands within this com- pass, excepting onley a small parcel granted unto Jolin Bundey, and alsoe a grant made unto Thomas Briggs, the son of Clement Briggs, to- gether with the meddows, woods, waters, and other benefitts, privileges, emoluments, proffits and ennuities thereto appertaining and belonging.
To have and to hold to them and their heires forever; and doe alsoe hereby acknowledge that wee have in hand received the full sume of an hundred pounds in full payment and satisfaction from the above said Richard Williams, Walter Deane and George Mayce, and the rest of their parteners above named, respecting the premises, and doe fully acquit, release, exonerate, free and discharge them and every of them, their heires, executors, and assigns, of and concerning the premises; for true performance whereof the above named Mr. Thomas Prence, Major Jos- ias Winslow, Captaine Thomas Southworth and Mr. Constant South- worth have hereunto set our hands and seals the sixt [or first] day of June Ann. Dom. one thousand six hundred sixty and eight. 1668.
Signed, sealed and )THOMAS PRENCE, and a [seal] delivered in the presence 1
of THOMAS HINCKLEY, )JOSIAS WINSLOW and a [seal] NATHANIEL BACON. 1 )THOMAS SOUTHWORTH and a [seal] 1 )CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH and a [seal]
Mr. George Shove his name is hereunto affix in the margeant as a propriator of the abovesaid lands by order of the Court upon testimony of the said Mr. Shove his title in the Premises, together with the ac- knowledgement of the same by the generality of the propriators con- cerned, and notice given to the propriators if they had anything to object against the said Mr. Shove, his interest, or the inserting of his name in the deed, they should present to the Court, as by several orders sent them may appear, and none did appear to present any such objection. The 8th of March, 1681: (82.)
(Ply. Deeds, Vol. III, page 118.)
The letter of Mr. Shove which led to the addition of his name as a grantee in the above deed was as follows :
"To the Right Worshipful Governor and Deputy-Governor,
with the Worshipful Assistants, assembled at Plymouth, June 1, 1680.
RIGHT HONORABLE AND WORSHIPFUL,-It were great ingrat- itude to God, who continueth our peace and maketh us so happy in our rulers in this wilderness, unnecessarily to augment their burden and trouble. This consideration, with many more upon the heart of your
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QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
petitioner, hath made him slow to complain, as willing rather to suffer than contend for his right; being assured that God knows how to requite good for the wrong we suffer from men. But now (at least to his own apprehension) he is concluded under a necessity to make your authority his refuge. Be pleased, therefore, to take cognizance of his grievance, presented to your view as followeth :-
Some of the proprietors of the township of Taunton, in this Colony, purchasing a certain parcel of land, lying between Taunton's north line and the south line of Massachusetts Colony for themselves and their associates, your petitioner (who is also a proprietor in the said Taun- ton) essayed to join with them in their purchase of the said lands; upon which at the motion of some of themselves, it was agreed in a conven- tion of the said proprietors that his proportion of charge in the said purchase should be defrayed amongst them: which he, being informed of (though more than he ever sought) accepted as their kindness, and upon that account, disbursed not at the times of payment as others did ; and a considerable time passing between the time of the purchase and the making of the deed they now hold the said lands by,-(viz) two years or thereabouts,-he never had the least intimation that his interest in the said lands was questioned. Nevertheless, when this deed was obtained, in which the names of all the proprietors concerned ought to to have been expressed, his name, and his only, was omitted; whereby that which he interpreted as a kindness he perceived to be managed to the contrary, and was in danger to prove a considerable damage. And after long patience exercised, and divers overtures made by him (some whereof being in writing are extant) to the said proprietors, in which he claimed his interest in the said lands (which yet lie in community not divided) the most of the said proprietors, being sensible how injurious it would be to exclude him in such a manner, were so ingenuous as to offer him a small script, with their several names subscribed thereto, wherein they acknowledge your petitioner's right, and that his name ought to have been put into the deed, &c., as may appear upon view of the said script. But some persons concerned appear against it and deny his interest; making non-payment (though not by his default) their advantage to deprive him of his just right.
In this your petitioner briefly (yet he trusts you will find faithfully) has presented his case before you; to whose sentence and judgment he freely subjects it, requesting your favorable construction of this his ad- dress, who most unwillingly and of constraint occasions you such trouble, is bound incessantly to pray for you, and subscribeth him- self, worthy patriots,
Your servant in everything in the Lord,
GEORGE SHOVE.
(Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 4tlı Series, Vol. V. p. 36.)
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APPENDIX.
The petition of Mr. Shove led to the following action by the Court ; for at a General Court held at Plymouth, Oct. 28, 1618, it was ordered as follows :
"WHEREAS it did appeer to the Court holden att Plymouth in July, 1861, that Mr. George Shoue, of Taunton, had an interest in a tract of land att Taunton, the North Purchase; and al tho, by what ouer sight so euer, his name was left out of the deed of the said land, the generallty of the said propriators doe owne the said Mr. Shoue to haue an interest with themselues, and did petition to the Court that his name might be inserted in the said deed, and diuers testimonies did ap- peer wherby it was euident to the Court that Mr. Shoue ought to haue his name entered in the said deed, and therefore directed an order to the clarke of the said propriators to call them tegether, and giue them notice, that if they had any thinge to object against Mr. Shoue why his name should not be entered in the said deed, that they appeer att this psent Court to render theire reasons if they hade any, otherwise the Court would see cause to enter or affix his name to the same deed, which the said clarke attests hee hath don; and wheras notwithstanding none doe appeer to oppose or object why Mr. Shoue should not haue his name entered, and the deed not being att Court, the Court doth heerby order the clarke of the said propriators to giue notice to the said propriators that hee is ordered by the Court to produce the deed of the said tract of land the next Court, which wilbe in March, 1682, that then the Secretary may enter Mr. Shoues name, or affix it to the said deed, vnlesse any of the said propriators then shew reason to the contrary. (Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. VI. Page 73.) 1681.
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