USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Second report of the record commissioners of the city of Boston, containing the Boston records 1634-1660, and the book of possessions > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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Naponset, 67. North, 2. Saugust, 28.
Robtts, 118. Robertsonne, 53. Robins, 149, 150, 152. Robinson, 116, 142. § Rock, 115, 116, 118, 122, 129, 130. / Rocke, 114. Rockett, 50.
169
INDEX OF NAMES.
[ Rocksberry, 9.
Rocksburie, 4. 10, 25, 53, 60.
Rocksbury, 27, 67, 69, 74, 80, $1, 84, 119. Roxbery, 99. Roxbury, 16, 19, 26, 34, 39, 43, 47, 52, 57, 123, 124, 146. gate. 4, 43, 53, 74, 81, 84, 99. marsh near, 69. creek near, 43. neek towards, 4.
Rodes, 14S. Roe, 166. Rogers, 51, 69, 118, 120. ( Roote, 123, 146. Root:, 90, 10 .. ( Route, 23.
Rose, 49.
Ruck, 116.
[ Ruggels, 58. J Ruggle, 19, 37, 59, 65, 69, 71, 79, 82, 84. Ruggles, $2, 84, 92.
( Rugle, 2.
Rust, 104.
Salt, measures of, 152.
Salter, 24, 33, 52, 69, 74, 102, 140, 143, 160. Saltpetre-bouse, 70.
Salutes, 155.
, Samford, 3, 13, 15, 19, 20, 129, 150. / Sampford, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Sampson, 10. Sand, digging of, 67.
1 Sanders, 71, 54, 92, 116. i Saunders, 19, 31, 43, 47, 58. 59, 96, 97. Sanderson, 123, 13S. [ Sandford, 59, 78, 120,
| Sanford, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 30, 31. | Sanford, 137. Sannford, 2 Sands, 107. Sandy beach, 25. Saugust, 25. [ Savag, 5S.
| Savage, 9, 13, 16, 37, 43, 51, 53, 58, 70, 75. T7, 7S, 103, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 118, 123, 132, 134, 137, 141, 149, 154, 157, 159. Savidge, 44, 45, 92, 160.
Saw-pits, 12, 53. Scarlett, 53.
Scholars at Harvard, 113. school free, 65, 82, 92, 94, 95, 97, 99, 124, 125, 125, 130, 133, 140. house, 109, 129, 132, 142. master, 5, $6, 99, 160. Scott, 32, 37, 55, 100, 114, 141, 149, 149, 150. ( Skot, 66.
( Scotto, 45, 83, 86, 97, 107, 114, 115, 117, 127, 134, 135, 138, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 153. / Scottoe, 16, 31, 45, 79. 1 Scottow, 38, 137, 139, 149, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158. ¿ Scottua, 23, 62. Sea-bank, 12, 70. Seaberry, 13. Scaborne, 42.
Sealers of weights and measures, 100, 103, 108, 119, 123, 129, 134, 144, 150, 155. ( Search, 63, 65, 83. + Serch, 61,
Selectmen (called Ten men, p. 2; called Nine men, p. 65; and generally the Town's men), 2, 9, 11, 16, 20, 34, 35, 30, 41, 44, 55, 61, 65, 70, 72, 79, 64, 90, 92, 94, 99, 103, 108, 113, 118, 122, 128, 134, 143, 150, 154. Selectmen, powers of, and instructions to, 103, 114, 150, 154. expenses paid, 20. refreshments for, 63, 68.
1
Sellecke, 75. Sellen, 33.
( Sendall, 122. Syndall, 12S. ( Senett, 117. Senot, 95. ( Sinnott, 32, 49.
Servants' time, 142. Seward, 141. Sewell, 111.
Sharpe, 49. Shattoke, 111.
Shaw, 97, 153, Shawes, 122.
( Sheafe, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 157. ( Sheaffe, 108, 144. Sheep, 89, 123, 137, 144. Sheffield, 127.
Shelley, 20, 46. .
Shelton, 15. Shepherd, 131, 144, 152.
Sheppard, 50. Sherman, 17, 19, 34, 42, 44, 53, 62, 69. Sherman's cow-house, 42, 53.
Ship building, 58, 59.
¡ Shoors, S6. Shore, 63, 78, 127.
Shops, 19, 88, 73, 76, 78, 80, 82, S3, 98, 113, 135, 140.
Shop-wiudow boards, 79.
Shrimpton, 40, 45, 122, 123, 134.
Simons, 49, 71, 74, 117.
Sinderland, 103.
Slaughter-house, 70. ( Smith, 50, 55, 69, 71, 80, 83, 104, 120, 127, 137, 139, 142. ( Smyth, 11, 41, 94, 96. Snelling, 156.
( Snow, 26. Snowe, 14.
Sods not to be dug, 90.
Soldiers pressed, 121, 122. Somertshire, 34.
Somes, 152.
South end (south of the Mill Creek), 105.
Sowell, 139.
Sowers, 113
Sowther, 97.
Spalle, 95.
Spanish captives, 157.
Spoor, 45. Spoore, 34. Spring, the, 130, 159.
Staincs, 143.
§ Stanberrye, 95.
Stanburie, 58.
Stande brook, 7.
Stanford, 1x.
( Stanley, 9, 54, 58, 92, 95, 100. Stanly, 71, 72, 74, 79.
Stannyon, 32. / Stanyarne, 62.
States' Arm Tavern, 115.
Steadman, 149. (Stebbins, 91, 112, 126, 131. Stebin, 147, 153. ( Stebins, 106, 107.
Steedsonne, 57.
Stephens, 49. Stevens, 62, 71, 106, 129.
§ Stevenson, 90. / Stivinson, 129.
Stidson, 28, 29, 30. Stocker, 108, 118, 123.
( Stodard, 134, 154, 157.
| Stoddard, 42, 46, 78, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 112, 149. i
Stodder, 62, 65, 75, 83, 89, 90, 91.
Stone, 139. Stony brooke, 21. Storer, 43. Stoughton, 90. Strange, 95. Strangers forbidden, 10, 90, 109, 152.
170
INDEX OF NAMES.
Strangers not to hire houses, 103.
bonds and fines for entertaining, 104, 106, 113, 115, 116, 120, 121, 127, 130, 131, 135, 139, 140, 141, 149, 151, 152, 160.
Streets. (See Ways.) to be kept clear, 98. Strong waters, sale of, 116.
Styles and gates, 4.
Sudbury, 10. Sudbury, end, 10. Suits prohibited, 5
Sumner, 122.
Surveyors of Highways, 7, 16, 35, 55, 63, 73, 90, 92, 94, 99, 103, 108, 114, 118, 122, 129, 134, 143, 150, 154. Swamp. (Sce Marsh.) Cedar, 22, 23, 24, 146, 147, 159. Pyne, 48.
( Sweet, 78. Sweete, 59. ( Swett, 121.
Swine, orders about, 3, 4, 10, 32, 35, 39, 40, 54, 60, 68, 69, 73, 74, 75, 85, 91, 92, 100, 103, 109, 115, 119, 123, 124, 128, 131, 145, 147, 148, 151.
Talbott, 105. Talmage, 14, 26, 60, 128, 160.
Tan-house, 126, 155.
Tan-vats, 148. Tappin, 24.
Tarne, 57, 60, 72, 111.
Taunton, 79. Patb, 79.
Tayer, 50. Taylor, 96, 113, 122, 123, 126, 129, 141. Taylour, 66. Tax, 2. (Sec Rate.) abated, 71. lists prepared, 111.
Teffe, 36, 37, 51, 79.
Terry, 149. -
Tetherly, 131. § Thayer, 139.
Thayre, 111.
Thomas E- , 7.
Thomas, 56, 58, 83, 90, 121, 152, 157.
§ Thompson, 47. ¿ Tomson, 80. Thurstone, 102.
Thwing, 68.
Timber, 12, 54, 77, 80, 103.
(Ting, 21, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 92, 99, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107. Tinge, 12, 35, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 52, 55, 56, 58, 90, 92, 93, 95, 99, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107. Tyng, 112. Tynge, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 84, 85, 86, 154, 159. Tobacco, 111, 151. Tourner, 87, 88, 89, 94.
Turner, 16, 26, 38, 62, 63, 68, 73, 81, 112, 119, 123, 145, 150, 153, 156.
Town-house, 126, 155.
Townsend, 24. Townsmen. (Scc Selectmen.) Toy, 68, 128, 129. Trask, 1. Treasurer, 4, 53. of town, 53, 55, 61, 62, 66, 69, 86, 92, 100, 101, 103, 108, 119, 123, 129, 134, 144, 150, 155. of county, 159. Trees, injury to, 124. Truesdale, 7. Trucsdayle, 9. ( Trusdale, 112. ( Turell, 139. Turrell, 98, 139. Turf, 54.
Turin, 128. Touthill, 119. Tuthill, 70, 71, 72, 166, 108.
Tuttell, 9, 10, 11, 28, 29, 33, 36, 37, 43, 136, 160. Tuttill, 123, 155. ( Tuttle, 35. Tytus, 25, 26.
Unclaimed goods, 46. Underbill, 1, 8, 14, 25, 26, 39. ( Upsall, 154. Upshall, 80, 121. Usher, 103, 107, 114, 120, 134, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158.
Vane, 5, 8, 18, 27, 160.
Vener, 101.
¿ Venner, 95.
5 Viall, 95. / Vyall, 47, 108, 135, 155.
Victualling bouses, 10, 112. (See Ordinary.) Virginia, 2.
( Waight, 95. Waite, 111. ( Wayte, 1, 9, 31.
Wakefield, 152.
Waker, 93, 95, 97.
Walden, 146.
Wales, 121, 132.
Walker, 9, 25, 27, 31, 39, 52, 53, 63, 106, 127, 133, 150.
Walker, Robert, his house, 52, 63.
( Ward, 22, 23, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 108, 120, 133, 142, 154.
( Warde, 95. Wardall, 5, 15, 25, 32.
Ware, 113, 140. Warren, 58. Waste land, 80, 83. (See Common.)
Watch, 8, 115.
Water bailiff's, 11, 74, 98, 129, 150, 153, 154. ebannel, 80. mill, 105, 113.
Waters, 155.
Watertown, 24, 69, 136.
§ Way, 130, 136, 137, 154. Waye, 119. Waymoutb, 96. Wamoth, 7.
Ways, (including streets, lanes, and alleys), 7, 12. to Roxbury, 10, 16, 99. to J. Pemberton, 12, 13, 120.
betweeu 11. Lynn and S. Cole, 13.
by J. Gallop's, 13.
to the Mill Cove, 13. from Cove to Cove, 13. by Mr. Hutchinson's, 3S. by II. Pease, 39. to ibe Creek, 40.
to Centry Ilill, 52, 60, 155, 156.
by J. Lowe's, 66.
towards Roxbury, 67, 80, 99.
to Charlestown, 69, 71, 74, 95. from town to town adjoining, 67. on tbe sca bank, 70.
by T. Joy, 77. to the Fort, 71. near the windmill and gardens, 72. through the mill field, 73. towards Gallop's point, 76. to the South windmill, 78, 85.
by Rawlins', 81. at head of the cove, 82, 99. to Perry's wharf, 86, 87. from Perry's house, 87. at Halsoll's wharf, 88. by Stoughton's land, 90. by Anderson's, 91. over the water-course, 94. to the bridge, 94, 96.
171
INDEX OF NAMES.
Ways, by Butman's, 98. by the new meeting house, 99. at North end, 100. from Battery to Charlestown ferry, 100. to Ferry point, 100. from Gallop's point to Battery, 100. at Rumney Marsb, 101. by R. Fairbanks', 103, 104. to the Windmill, 107. old way by T. Hawkins. 113. to Ward's wharf, 120.
to the mill-cove, 120. to John Barrell's, 126.
by Pbillips' house, 130, 156.
by Shrimpton's, 134. from Phillips' to Duncan's, 139. from Pen's to Centry Hill, 145, 150. to Centry Hill, 150. through Johnson's marsb, 156.
Web, 101, 106, 107, 137, 13S. Webb, 31, 55, 55, 61, 122, 131, 146, 158. Wehbe, 20, 62, 65, 66, 73. Weeb, 90, 94.
Webb's legacy, 158. Weeden, 66, 122.
Weights and measures. (See Sealers of.) Well, 76, 101, 124, 141. Welles. 49.
-BEEFEL
Wenborne, 114. Wenbourne, 119.
Winbourne, 93. Winburne, 140.
Wenesemett, 119.
Winnesemet, 79. Winnesemett, 62, 81. Winnesimet, 55. Winnisimett, 7, 57. Wynesemitt, 29.
Westmoreland, 112. Weyborne. 95. Wibourne, 118. Wihurne, 114.
Wharf, 37, 54, 62, 63, 76, 78, 79, 80, 84, 86, 87, 90, 91, 93, 97, 98, 102, 103, 106, 107, 110, 112, 113, 119, 139, 156.
( Wheelar, 14, 7S. Ì Wheeler, 32, 43. Wheelwright, 15, 17, 45, 46. Wheelewright, 75, 80. Whipping-post, 40. White, $0, 119, 122, 123, 149, 151, 159. Whitmore, 1.
Whitwell, 107, 112, 126, 132, 139. ( Wilhore, 2, 7, 19, 21, 34. Wilehore, 4, 31. ( Wylebore, 10. Wilhore's field end, 10. Wilkes, 3, 12, 34, 160. Williams, 68, 76, 108, 114, 122, 134, 146, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158.
Willyams, 42. Willms, 120. Willis, 2, 53, ST, SS, S9. Willys, 5, 28, 36, 160.
Wills, 93, 95, 130. Willson, 2, 36, 37, 115, 137, 145. Wilson, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 24, 33, 49, 77,96, 160.
Wilsonne, 60. Winchester, 16, 17, 26, 47, 150.
Windmill, 70, 71, 72, 73, 78, 79, 98, 105, 107, 108, 109, 126. Wing, 48, 62, 66, €S. Winthorp, 92, 120.
Winthrop, 1, 3, 8, 27, 29, 30, 44, 45, 48, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83. 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 92, 100, 103, 108, 109, 110, 120, 133, 160. [ Winthropp, 21, 27, 29, 52, 55, 58, 59. Wiscman, 50, 123.
Wolf, 140. Wood, cutting of, 2, 4, 7, 13, 82, 92, 125. corders of, 123, 129. storing, 60.
Woodard, 128. Woodwarde, 18, 22, 24, 43, 55, 78, 80, 88, 139.
Woodwarde, 9. Woodbridge, 82. Wooddy, 107. / Woody, 133, 141, 144.
Woodhowse, 21. Woodmancye, 116. Woodmansey, 99, 139. ( Woodmausy, 109, 148.
Woolcott, 11.
Wormall, 141.
Wormwall, 97. Wright, 6, 7, 9, 15, 17, 37, 45, 47, 59. Wrighte, 9. Wyatt, 127.
Youth, idle, 133, 156, 160.
-
PART II.
THE BOOK OF POSSESSIONS.
INTRODUCTION.
When the first edition of this book was prepared, the writer furnished a sketch of such facts as were obtainable in regard to its history and probable authorship. The sugges- tion was then made that this list of land-owners was made in 1652, after the discharge of William Aspinwall from the post of Reeorder of Suffolk County. Various indications favored this surmise, but it becomes entirely untenable in view of the fact that some of the entries are evidently in the handwriting of Aspinwall. This faet was proved by Uriel H. Crocker, Esq .. who published three fae-similes of Aspin- wall's signature, two from other sources, and one from this book, page 33. The true date and author are matters to be considered later.
In regard to the "Book " the following testimony is inter- esting. It is on a slip of paper, in the library of the Massa- chusetts Historical Society, in a volume entitled "Letters and Papers, Boston, 1631-1783," in cabinet 61, H.
" These may Certify whome it may Concern, That when I eame first into the office of Clerk of the County Court of Suffolk in the year 1672 I there found a Booke Entituled on the Cover Possessions of the Inhabitants of Boston, which I many times lookt into and extracted several things out of it at the desire of particular persons, but alwaies was in doubt of the validity of it as a Record. And it remained in the office at the time when I was dismissed.
ISA. ADDINGTON."
Succeeding generations, however, have placed a higher value on this book, and it is now recognized as the founda- tion of the title of most of the real estate of the old portion of the city. The volume itself, now in the custody of the City Clerk, was evidently prepared on a plan of giving a half-page to each person, and of entering under his name a list of his lands. The first 111 pages appear to have been written at one time, or at least the first entries under each name are all in one handwriting. After that the pages fol-
IV
CITY DOCUMENT No. 46. - PART 2.
low with dates appended, but in regular succession, as the following examples show : -
P. 112-20, 11 mo., 1645
P. 131-19, 8 mo., 1647
113-25, 1 1646
132 - 9, 9 1647
115-26, 4 1646 133-14, 1 1647
116-22, 6 1646
134-14, 66 1 1647
117-29, 6 1646
135-10, 2 1648
118-28, 7 1646
136-12, 3 1648
119-22, 8 1646
137 - 7, 4 1648
120-22, 8 1646
138-14, 4 1648
121- 2, 12
1646
139- 14, 4 1648
122-12, 1 1646 [? 1647]
140- 16, 4 1648
123-30, 1 1647
141-20, 4 1648
124-30, 2 1647
142-15, 4
66 1648
125-20, 3 1647
143- 1, 4 1648
126-22, 3
1647
144- 2, 6 1648
145-26, 6
66 1648
127 - 5, 5 1647
146-25,
7 1648
128-31, 5 1647
147-10,
8 1648
129 - no date
130-13, 8 mo., 1647
148-16, 8 1648
149-17, 9 1648
The regular record ends with this date.
On many of the pages there are additional entries, copies of deeds, and memoranda of sales; a portion of these is elearly in the handwriting of Aspinwall. At first sight it would appear as if the first entries were not in Aspinwall's handwriting ; and, certainly, not only is the ink of the later entries different, but the angle of the writing and the size of the letters are different. Still, the more study is given to the matter, the greater is the conviction that all these variations are but changes of one pen, and that Aspinwall wrote all of the manuseript except a few eross-references, and such few lines as are Rawson's.
At all events, whether the first 111 pages were written by Aspinwall or another, it is desirable to try to fix a date for their compilation. We have already seen that the dated pages 112-149 eover the period from 20th, 11 mo., 1645 (i.e., January 11, 1646, of our style), to 17th, 9 mo., 1648. An examination of the various deeds entered on the first 111 pages under the original entries brings out the eurious faet that the earliest dates are as follows : -
P. 50, James Averill, 19, 11 mo. 1645 55, David Sellick, 20, 11 mo. 1645 83, Ralph Mason, 21, 12 mo. 1645
V
INTRODUCTION.
14, Thomas Leverett, 30, 1 mo. 1646 95, William Blantaine, 27, 4 mo. 1646
19, John Davies, 23, 8 mo. 1646
84. Richard Carter, 2, 9 mo. 1646
73. John Stevenson, 5, 11 mo. 1646
14. Edmund Jackson, 1, 12 mo. 1646
79, Edward Jacklin, 22, 3 ino. 1647
The inference is almost irresistible, that in the 11th month, 1645, Mr. Aspinwall began to continue the previous record of 111 pages, adding new pages for new names, and record- ing new transactions under the old ones.
It is well known that our General Court, on April 1st, 1634, ordered that a survey of the houses and lands of every inhabitant in every town should be made, and a transcript sent to the Court within six months. This law was, evi- dently, only partially obeyed, as late as September, 1639, when Stephen Winthrop was made Recorder. In Septem- ber, 1642, Mr. Winthrop was allowed to go to England, and November 13, 1644, William Aspinwall was chosen Recorder till the next Court of Election. If the Book of Possessions be in Aspinwall's writing, it would seem most probable that he compiled the 111 pages during the year 1645, following his appointment.
On p. 4 of the original Richard Bellingham has recorded a piece of marsh, "with John Hills and the highway on the west : the Common Marsh on the north : John Lowe on the east : Henry Symons, John Hills and the Cove on the south." This seems to be the lot granted by the town to Bellingham, 27, 11 mo., 1644, after another strip was granted to Joshua Scottow. .
Again : Thomas Scottow (p. 64) is entered as owning the lot on School street, which he sold to the town, 31st, 1 mo., 1645. Certainly this transaction must have been known very soon to all the inhabitants, as the house and lot were bought for the town's use.
So, again. Suff. Deeds, i. 59, has a deed dated 4th, 2 mo., 1645, recorded 21st same month, of Edmund Jackson to Thomas Leverett, three acres on the new field. In the Book of Possessions it still stands as number two of Jackson's lot.
It seems that Valentine Hill was an early owner of land on the east side of State street. Our town records, p. 28 of original, show that 25th, 1 mo., 1639, he had leave to build a house and shop on the lot which he had bought from William Aspinwall. By Suff. Deeds, i. 100, it seems he sold this lot, house, and shop, to David Sellick, 24, 12, 1641,
VI
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 46. - PART 2.
and also 1st, 6 mo., 1641, to Mary Friend, a quarter of an acre bounded by the street south, Sellick west, Edward Tyng east, and said Hill north. These deeds were recorded 27, (12,)1648.
But in the Book of Possessions Valentine Hill's lots then were, first, one on the west side of Washington street, the prison west, the meeting-house and Truesdale north : Sedge- wick south ; and secondly a lot beyond Valley Acre : while
David Sellick is named in the Book of Possessions, p. 55, as owner of the lot which he has bought.
So, again, Suff. Deeds,i. 60, record a deed to William Davies from Valentine Hill, apparently of part of his lot, with the prison garden west, the street cast, Philemont Portmont and the meeting-house north, and the ordinary in the possession of James Pen, south ; dated and recorded 20th, 3d mo., 1645.
These items all seem to confirm the idea that the compilation of these 111 pages was made by Aspinwall very soon after his appointment, taking no note of sales even in the early months of 1645.
It must be remembered, however, that the record is not complete. We find many instances of persons put down as abutters on lots described, and yet no record of those persons as distinct owners. At the same time the first volume of deeds contains but few entries in regard to trans- fers of land in Boston at that date. In fact, in order to understand the entries in the Book of Possessions it is often necessary to refer to deeds two or three generations later, when the land was sold by measurement and description.
At a meeting of the General Court, Oct. 19, 1652, it was voted, that, whereas the passing of houses and land in England was effectually done in various ways, and whereas certain in this jurisdiction are apt to rest upon a verbal bargain or sale for houses or lands, henceforth no such sale should be good in law unless made by deed in writing, under hand and seal and delivered, or possession given, etc., unless the deed be acknowledged according to law and recorded. (Rec., iii. 280.)
They had previously, June 19, 1650 (Rec., iii. 203), provided that a sale recorded by the recorder of the county should be sufficient without any further certifying to the Secretary of the General Court.
May 6, 1657 (Rec., iii. 422), the Court recites, "The great neglect of many persons, in the infancy of these plantations, to observe any due order or legal course for the confirmation of such sales and alienation of houses and lands as have passed," and then orders that every one who did,
VII
INTRODUCTION.
before . the passage of the law of 1652, possess or occupy house or land in fee simple, should ever after this date hold the same, unless a counter-claim was prosecuted to effect within five years from May 20, 1657.
The result was that long afterwards deeds and depositions were recorded. of which the following is an example : -
In Suffolk Deeds, lib. 12, f. 364, is the deposition dated May 5, 1683, of William Dawes, aged 64, and wife Susanna, that they lived in Boston from 1652 and before, and that Mr. Simon Evre, physician, in the said year 1652, lived in and possessed the very same house in Boston where his son John now lives, adjoining upon the ground that was Mr. Richard Parker's and the Prison land.
Again : many estates were settled by order of the Court, and the record is to be sought in the Probate files instead of the Registry of Deeds. The note-book of Thomas Lechford, the first lawyer in the colony, fortunately preserved in manuscript, contains doubtless memoranda in regard to early transfers of land. Aspinwall refers to one volume of his records as notary public (see p. 54), and even to a second Book of Possessions. (See original, pp. 43, 50, 73, 88, 129.) His "Book of Mortgages" (see p. 14) seems to be volume first of Suffolk Deeds. The "great booke of Records of Copies, etc." (p. 77), may be the same.
October 14th or 23d, 1651, Mr. Aspinwall was set aside from his offices, Mr. Rawson was made Recorder of Suffolk, and Jonathan Negoos was made clerk of the writs for Boston. This, of course, fixes the latest date for the compilation of the Book of Possessions.
It may be well to state here that, in 1866, the late Wm. Appleton made a map of the locations of the lots of the owners mentioned in the Book of Possessions, and printed a few copies. The scale is about 16 inches by 12 inches. Mr. George Lamb has prepared a map 9 ft. 4 in. by 5 ft. 4 in., undertaking to mark thereon the outlines of the several estates. This map was purchased by the Trustees of the Public Library. It has been photographed in nine sections, and copies have been distributed for corrections. It is a very creditable beginning, but the boundary lines are purely imaginary, and will require almost entire revision. This must be the work of years, if correctness be attainable at all.
The more modest plans and descriptions prepared by Mr. Justin Winsor, for the second volume of the "Memorial History of Boston," are reproduced in the appendix to this volume, and will be found most serviceable.
VIII
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 46. - PART 2.
It is hoped that the work herein performed will prove accurate and durable. As successive volumes are printed, information will increase, but it does not seem probable that anything can lessen the value of the Book of Possessions.
WILLIAM H. WHITMORE, WILLIAM S. APPLETON, Record Commissioners.
,
e
TABLE OF OWNERS.
The following list gives the names of the persons whose possessions are herein recorded. The references are to the pages of the original volume, which pagination is placed in the text in heavy figures, enclosed in brackets.
W. H. W.
Anderson. John. 125. Arnold. John. 22. Aspinwall. William. 77. Baker. John. 143. Barrell. George. 49. Bates, George, 47. Baxter, Nicholas. 106.
Beamont, Thomas. 131.
Coggan, John, 51.
Cole, John, 32. Cole, Samuel, 26. Cole, -, 92.
Coleborn, William, 85.
Compton, John, 67.
Cooke, Richard, 74.
Copp, William, 15.
Corser, William, 60.
Cotton, John, 9. Cranwell, John, 89.
Blantaine. William, 95. Blott, Robert. 80. Bosworth. Zaccheus. 73.
Croychley, Richard, 65. Cullimer, Isaac, 30.
Davies, James, 59.
Davies, John. 19. Davies, William, apothecary, 144.
Davies, William, Sr., 57.
Davies, William, Jr., 56.
Deming, William, 104.
Dennis, Edmund, 78.
Dinsdale, William, 70.
Buttolph, Thomas, 42. Button, John, 48. Carter, Richard, 84.
Chaffie, Matthew, 33.
Chamberlaine, William, 132. Chappell, Nathaniell, 33. Cheevers. Bartholomew, 21. Clarke, Arthur, 127.
Clarke, Christopher, 136.
Clarke, Thomas, 27.
Clarke, Thomas, 82.
Beamsley, William, 20. Beck. Alexander, 40. Belchar, Edward. 85. Bell. Thomas. 111. Bellingham. Richard. 5. Bendall, Edward, 53.
Bennett. Richard. 145. Biggs, John, 40. Bishop. Nathaniel. 72.
Bourne, Nehemiah. 22.
Bourne. Garret, 89. Bowen. Griffith, 92. Brisco, William, 87. Browne, Edward. 106.
Browne, Henry. 141.
Browne. William. 130. Browne. James, 41.
Burden. George. 45. Busbie. Nicholas, 116.
Douglas, William, 142. Dowse, Francis, 47.
Dunster, - - -, 11. East, Francis. 99. Eaton, Nathaniel, 98. Eliot, Jacob, 88.
X
CITY DOCUMENT NO. 46. - PART 2.
Engles, Madid, 104. Everill, James, 50.
Fairbanks, Richard, 60. Fane, Henry, 37. Fawer, Barnabas, 133.
'Fish, Gabriel, 16. Fletcher, Edward, 100.
Fletcher, Roger, 115. Flint, Mr., 81.
Foster, Thomas, 109. Fowlc, Thomas, 6.
Foxcroft, George, 53.
Franklin, William, 52.
Gallop, John, 34. Giboncs, Edward, 8. Gillom, Benjamin, 66. Glover, John, 44.
Goodwin, Edward, 16.
Greames, Samuel, 46.
Gridley, Richard, 105.
Griggs, George, 110.
Grossc, Edmund, 25.
Grosse, Isaac, 56.
Grubb, Thomas, 77.
Gunnison, Hugh, 44.
Hailestone, William, 117.
Hansett, John, 120.
Harker, Anthony, 82.
Harrison, John, 105. Haugh, Atherton, 8.
Hawkins, James, 34.
Hawkins, Capt. Thomas, 23.
Hawkins, Thomas, 41.
Hibbins, William, 7.
Hill, John, 26.
Hill, Valentine, 62.
Hogg, Richard, 98.
Hollich, Richard, 111.
Hontchin, Jeremy, 37.
Howen, Robert, 13. Hudson, Francis, 32.
Hudson, William, Sr., 57.
Hudson, William, Jr., 45. Hull, Robert, 96.
Hunne, Anne, wid. of George,48. Hurd, John, 95.
Hutchinson, Edward, 68.
Hutchinson, Richard, 63.
Iyons (otherwise Irons), Ma- thew, 107. Jacklin, Edward, 79. Jackson, Edmund, 14,
Jackson, John, 23. Jephison, John, 124. Johnson, James, 20. Jones, Ricc, 149. Joy, Thomas, 28. Judkin, Job, 96. Keayne, Robert, 10.
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