USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Scituate > The early planters of Scituate; a history of the town of Scituate, Massachusetts, from its establishment to the end of the revolutionary war > Part 17
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Colonels : William Turner, John Clapp, John Jacobson, and John Cushing. Major, Nathaniel Winslow. Captains, Elijah Crocker,Samuel Stockbridge, Hayward Peirce, Ed- ward Sparrow, Joseph Stetson. Lieutenants, Edward Mott,
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THE EARLY PLANTERS OF SCITUATE
Joseph Barstow, Calvin Peirce, Jacob Turner and Elisha Curtis. Ensigns, Jonathan Turner, Caleb Nichols, Nathan- iel Chittenden and Francis Cushing.
Sergeants-Enoch Collamore, Lazarus Bowker, Stephen Palmer, Joseph Benson, James Nash, Lawrence Litchfield, Benjamin Vassall, Benjamin Hatch, Thomas Webb, Ben- jamin Peakes, Isaac Stetson, Ira Bryant, Jacobs Turner, Ephraim Palmer, Colburn Burrill, Benjamin Vinal, John Sutton, Benjamin Bailey, Micah Mott, Benjamin Holmes and Elisha Foster.
Corporals-Thomas Totman, James Lincoln, James Stockbridge, Benjamin Holmes, Noah Litchfield, Samuel Curtis, Consider Merritt, Gethelus Cowing, Samuel Peirce, Joseph Brown, Samuel Young, Samuel Gray, Eleazer Peakes, Zadoc Damon, William Brooks.
Fifers-Bela Clapp, Reuben Damon, Abner Sutton, Syl- vanus Peirce and Nathaniel Barstow.
Drummers-Nathaniel Cushing, Christopher Stetson, William Studley and John Doherty.
Joshua Clapp was Clerk to Captain William Turner's company during its four days' service on the march to Lex- ington and return on April 19, 1775 and James Jenkins acted in a like capacity for Captain Hayward Peirce's com- pany when it joined the regiment of which John Cushing was colonel, and participated in the Rhode Island campaign.
The privates were : Samuel Clapp, Barnabas Barker, Ed- ward Bowker, Daniel Damon, Ebenezer Eddy, Samuel Damon, Gershom Bowker, Bartlett Bowker, Stephen Damon, Isaac Sylvester, David Jordan, Elisha Jacobs, Ebenezer Copeland, Ephraim Stetson, Noah Barrell, Joseph Brown, James Gray, James Barrell, Benjamin Collamore, John Damon, Eells Damon, Daniel Edwards, William Hyland, Charles Otis, Simeon Prouty, Joshua Prouty, James Prouty, John Wright, George Torrey, Micah Hinds, Matthew Stet- son, Stephen Totman, Nehemiah House, Consider Turner, Samuel Curtis, Gideon Jenkins, James Jenkins, David Bow- ker, Thomas Holmes, Calvin Jenkins, Nathaniel Eells, Luke
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TOWN ACTS AGAINST TORIES
Bowker, Nehemiah Merritt, Sylvanus Damon, Jabez Stand- ley, John King, John Ellms, Joseph Briggs, David Merritt, Charles Curtis, Simeon Pincin, Anthony Collamore, Isaac Stetson, Daniel Merritt, Stephen Wade, John Merritt, Ca- Ieb Nichols, Joseph Nash, Gamaliel Curtis, Abdenego Wade, Geva Jenkins, Zaccheus Lambert, Noah Nichols, Lothrop Litchfield, David Dunbar, William Pincin, James Litchfield, Joseph Ellms, Zaccheus Merritt, Benjamin Curtis, Dearing Jones, Calogus Vinal, Anthony Collamore, Henry Sutton, Guy Bates, David Bowker, George Cole, William Damon, James Cushing, Benjamin Collamore, Stephen Fish, Michael Frazier, John Henley, William Henley, Ezekiel Jones.
Ephraim Litchfield, Nathaniel Lapham, Lemuel Lapham, John Mitchell, Eliphalet Northey, Theopilus Southworth, Laban Sprague, Samuel Brown, Abner Briggs, Zenas Bry- ant, Elijah Bryant, Luther Chittenden, Charles Curtis, Isaac Collier, Abner Dwelley, Amos Dunbar, Ezekiel Dun- bar, David Dunbar, William Dwelley, Charles Fish, Elisha Grose, Joshua Grose, Benjamin Gannett, Bela Hayden, William Hayden, Josiah Holbrook, David Hammond, Nathaniel Hollowell, Thomas Holmes, Joseph Hayden, Benjamin Hyland, Benjamin Hammond, Edward Jenkins, Nathaniel Jenkins, Charles Litchfield, Nathan Litchfield, Elisha Litchfield, Samuel Litchfield, Josiah Mann, Lemuel Mayhew, John Manson, Job Neal, Samuel Nichols, Noah Nash, Augustus Peirce, Edward Ramsdell, Lemuel Sylves- ter, Asa Turner, Benjamin Wade, John Wade, Benjamin Woodworth, William Barrell, John Bowker, Joshua Bowker, Benjamin Collamore, David Clapp, Nathaniel Cushing, D. Costo, Stephen Damon, Edward Dunbar, Hosea Dunbar.
Daniel Edwards, Nathaniel House, Elisha Joy, William Jones, James Jeffreys, John King, John Lincoln, William Mayhew, Joshua Merritt, Daniel Merritt, Noah Nicholson, Charles Otis, Simeon Prouty, James Prouty, Stephen Vinal, John Prouty, John Wright, Laban Rose, Samuel Stetson, Peter Sears, Samuel Simmons, Barnabas Simmons, Amos Stetson, Thomas Totman, Benjamin Tower, Ebenezer Tot-
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THE EARLY PLANTERS OF SCITUATE
man, Abner House, Nathan Thomas, Nathan Tower, Eb- enezer Wing, Elijah Delano, Abijah Clapp, E. Dingley, Abner Curtis, Joel Sylvester, Israel Turner, Elisha Stetson, Barnabas Webb, Joshua Merritt, Adam Cushing, Stephen Tower, Lemuel Lapham, James Lapham, Peleg House, Charles Litchfield, Joshua Sprague, Josiah Litchfield, Ezra Hayden, Ezekiel Jones, Daniel Dunbar, Noah Stoddard, Laban Sprague, Calvin Bowker, Ebenezer Bates, Seth Bates, Warren Torrey, Nathaniel Tower, Josiah Hatch, David Ford, Nathan Stetson, Bejamin Studley, Elijah Sylvester, Samuel Ramsdell, Issacher Wade, Elisha Hayden, Abner Litchfield.
Reuben Curtis, Thomas Curtis, Paul Bailey, Abner Bailey, Elisha Litchfield, Thomas Litchfield, Daniel Litchfield, Barnabas Litchfield, John Litchfield, Eleazer Litchfield, Amos Litchfield, Lot Litchfield, Jonathan Collier, Joseph Vinal, Jr., Joseph Damon, Levi Newell, Seth Merritt, Mat- thew Peirce, Elisha Hyland, Melzar Merritt,, Robert Vinal, John Studley, Daniel Briggs, John Cushing, Oliver Delano, Isaac Lapham, Asa Lapham, Daniel Hayden, Jesse Sutton, Prince Witherell, Richard Witherell, Thomas Church, William Lincoln, Asher Freeman, Samuel Stoddard, Nathaniel Jones Nehemiah Manson, George Merritt, Nehe- miah Sampson, Ezra Hayden, Noah Nichols, Isaac Torrey, Samuel Simmons, John Whitcomb, David Barnes, Thomas Ruggles, James Stockbridge, Elijah Stoddard, Benjamin Delano, James Clapp, Peleg Curtis, Sylvanus Clapp, Rich- ard Ford, Charles Totman, George Torrey, Simon Damon, Nathaniel Turner, Nathaniel Brooks, Levi Wade, Elijah Clapp, Stephen Wade, Jonathan Brown, Ensign Brown, Josias Wade, Thomas Grose, Levi Nash, Theophilus Cor- thell, Thomas Farrar, Eleazer Peakes, Jonathan Mann, Dan- iel Hayden, Israel Cowen, Knight Brown, Luther Brooks, Abial Studley, Israel Nash, Thomas Lapham, Charles Tur- ner, Thomas Church, Caleb Litchfield, John Gibbs, Gamaliel Curtis, Michael Clapp, Benjamin Briggs, H. Stoddard, Abijah Turner, Frederick Hammond, Isaiah Stoddard, John
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TOWN ACTS AGAINST TORIES
Brown, Isaac Brown, Robert Erskine, Thomas Grose, Abi- jah Clapp, Ezra Hayden, Samuel Stoddard, Nathaniel Jordan, Nehemiah Sampson, Nehemiah Manson, Gideon Stetson, William Mayhew, John Wright, William Mann, Abiel Turner, Joshua Gannett, Daniel Corlew, William Nicholson, Winsor Baker, 'Asaph Jacobs, Peleg Hayden. John Gibbs, Seth Orcutt, Frederick Hammond, Elisha Grose, Amasa Hyland, Josiah Leonard, Elisha Dunbar, Josiah Compsett, (an Indian) William McNevin, William Perry, John Russell, James Barrell, Jr., Nathaniel Cook, Simeon Stoddard, Asher Freeman, James Barrell, Isaac Woodworth, Warren Little, Samuel Sprague, Levi Bowker, Roger Clapp, Nathaniel Jordan, James Cushing, Jonathan Brown, Bela Brown, Charles Church, Israel Mayhew, Elisha Hayden, James Stetson, Bejamin Jones, Ezra Hayden, Matthew Peirce, Amos Perry, Zeba Sutton, Calla Brown, John M. Gill, Eli Litchfield, George Mann, Ezekiel Mer- ritt, Nehemiah Manson, Thomas Nichols, William Lincoln, and Signor Layonne, said to be a Frenchman who came to America with Lafayette. The thirty-four last named were the quota furnished by the town under the resolve of the General Assembly December 2, 1780, for three years' service. They saw the end of the war.
CHAPTER XIII
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
T 'HE men who made Scituate prominent, not to say fore- most, in the settlement of Plymouth Colony, came, like Myles Standish, from comfortable homes and surroundings in the old country. Nothing short of an almost fanatic ardor toward, and devotion to, religious principles, impelled them. Theirs was to labor and to fight, to hope and to pray, while- being sustained in their struggle and privations by a firm faith in divine guidance, to lay down and follow such rules of action for their own conduct and for those whom fortune commingled with them, that their dreams of a great state should be realized and come true. Those who followed them in the century succeeding the first planting of "New Plymouth" were not the less actuated by the same high ideals and aspirations.
The succeeding pages deal with the lives and accomplish- ments of those who were particularly conspicuous in bring- ing and keeping Scituate to the forefront. While it may appear that many of the incidents and happenings which have found place in these pages, are of trifling and insignif- icant importance, they collectively afford such a true presentation of the Pilgrim character, his energy and pa- tience in unpropitious surroundings, as to enhance their value far beyond what at first appears.
JAMES CUDWORTH
James Cudworth was born in London and came to Scituate, i probably with Mr. Hatherly in 1632. In 1634 he was admitted a freeman and had his house and five acres
1 Deane-History of Scituate page 245.
€
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OLD CUDWORTH HOUSE, 1723, SCITUATE CENTER. Home of the Scituate Historical Society.
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JAMES CUDWORTH
of land near Coleman Hills, south of Mr. Lathrop's. He was a constable of Scituate in 1637. He sold his farm to Thomas Ensign in 1642 or before. The deed was recorded on the eighth day of June 1642 :-
"Memorand. That James Cudworth of Barnstable gent doth acknowledge that for and consideracon of the sume of Eighteen pounds to him in hand fully payd by Thomas Ensigne of Scittuate plant'r Hath freelly and absolutely bargained and sold unto Thomas En- signe All that his dwelling house wherein said Thomas now dwelleth in Scituate aforesaid and an out-house with five acres of upland thereunto adjoyneing lying to the lands late Mr. Lathrop's to the north and to the lands of Mr. Timothy Hatherly East and South and to the Comon lane West with all and singular thappur- tenances thereunto belonging with all the Right title and interest of and into the same and every part and pcell thereof." i
When the trouble occured in Mr. Lathrop's congregation, Cudworth was one of his supporters. On January twenty- second, 1638, he with Anthony Annable, Thomas Besbeech (Bisby), William Gilson, Henry Cobb, Henry Rowley, Edward Foster and Robert Linnell obtained a grant of land at Sippecan for the "seating of a town and congregation." This was not accepted,-instead they went to Barnstable in 1639-40. Cudworth took with him from Scituate the son of his neighbor Thomas Byrd, as his servant or appren- tice. The manner in which the young men of this period thus bound out, were treated, is strikingly shown in the official account of the trouble which was had with this boy. On "January 4, 1641, Thomas Byrd, servant to Mr. James Cudworth, of Barnstable, for running away from his sd master, and breaking a house or two in Barnstable, and taking some apparell and victualls is censured to be once whipt at Plym and once whipt at Barnstable, before the next Court of Assistants; and when his sd mast'r comes,
Plymouth Colony Records Vol XII (Deeds) page 84.
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THE EARLY PLANTERS OF SCITUATE
then order to be taken for the payment of his fees; and at the next Court of Assistants following the sd Byrd, remain- ing in the messengers hands upon letters from Mr. Freeman that the sd Thomas Byrds father had agreed with the sd Mr. Cudworth for the tyme he was to serve the sd Cud- worth, the sd Thomas Byrd was released paying the mes- sengers fees and for tother part of his censure which should have been executed upon him in Barnestable, in regard to the coldnesse of the present season it is to be inflicted upon him at Scituate whether he goes to dwell, when it shall be convenyent season." 1
Shortly after his marriage and before going to Barnstable, Cudworth wrote a letter to Rev. John Stoughton # which has most happily been preserved through the fidelity of Sam- uel G. Drake, who found it in the British State Paper Office and became possessed of it. §
Letter from James Cudworth to John Stoughton D. D. "Citewat the of December 1634.
Deare & Worthey Sur :- my Bownded duty & ernest affections in the bowells of love to you Remembered, & also to my most deare Mother. The Lord who is the sercher of the heart & treyer of the Raynes, knowes that I do unfainedly desire the pease prosperity & wellfare both of youre soules & bodyes as of mine owne. These are to let you understand. That I have Received youre godley & peyous letter full of grave & holsume exorta- tions which argues youre unfained desieres & continu- all indevores for the good of my soule, & indeed, I have cause if every eny had to blesse the Lord that ever I saw you, for under God you have bine the gret- est Instrument of good to mee in the world, & since my absence from you the care you had of mee with youre paynes in laboringe with mee is frequent in my mind & dus take a depe impretion in my soule, & has
7 Plymouth Colony Records Vol. II Page 30.
# His step-father.
New England Hist. and Gen. Reg. Vol. XIX pages 101-104.
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JAMES CUDWORTH
bine an instrumentall cause of workinge mee nerer unto & walkinge Closer with the Lord, & more & more to see the vanity of all these outward things & that fullness that is Christ-Jesus. I desire that you will be as frequent in youre letters as you may, for I finde a greate deale of sweetnes in them; for they put a great dele of quickoninge life & edge unto my Affections & you know that the best in this life are subject to grow cold in oure p'fetion; that wee Dayley neade sum ex- ortation & consolation both to provoke to the practice of holy things & to spport us in the time of temptation or Affliction; that wee may wade thorow all the Dif- ficulteyes of this short life with Cherfulness of hearte. Laboringe to make sum benefit to our soules of all the Lords Dealinges with us, whether they be merseyes that they may alare us or chastisements that they may Corect & amend us; or Judgmentes that may terefy or Afflictiones that they may Refine us so that at length we may bee more than Conquerereres over all oure Corruptions so that wee may serve the Lord with the hole man & worshipinge him according as he has Re- veled in his holy word, walkinge the way & order of the gospell standing fore the purity of his ordinances and as Moses wold not part with one of the ordinances but to bee Redye to lay downe oure lives for them for With those wee might serve our God. I am very sorry to hear youre sickness my prayeres shall & have bin continualy to the Lord for yours, I shall intreate you to beare with pasience what the Lord shall lay upon you. Laboringe to make a sanctifiede use of all his dealinges & in all things submitinge youre willes unto his, & there all thinges shall worke together for the best unto those that love him.
Allso I understand that there is like to bee 20 li. lost by Walter Gamblinge, if it bee so. I know it. is the Lords doinge & if I consider what have I, that I have not Received the Lord, nay, what have I deserved-
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shurly nothinge but eternall wrath & condemnation therefor. Let him doe with his owne as seemeth good in his eyes. I thanke the Lord it is no trouble but rather cause of rejoycinge when I way a temporall loss with a sperituall gayne when the Lord is pleased even to befole me theare that I could not manadge my affay- eres with comfort even as if the Lord should say it is but a foly to a tempe any thinge afote heare I will take away they abiliteyes thou shalt not be able to go thorow such with any thinge heare but thou must go far from thine owne Land & fatheres howse & theare I will reveall myselfe to thee; & theare shalt thow honer, worship & serve mee as I shall reveale my selfe to thee out of my sacred word. I doe ingeniously freely confess to you now the Lord has brought mee heither & in a small mesure made me acquainted with his wayes, & how & in what maner he will be wor- shipped in. All though heare bee many difficulteyes to be under gone, yet I account it an excellent mersey that the Lord has brought me to see that which my forefathers desired to see but could not; to see so many Churches walkinge in the way and order of the gospell. Injoyinge that Christian liberty that Christ has pur- chased for us.
And to relate to you that which yett I have not, concerning the estate of New England, heare, are these Churches. 1, Plymouth, wheare Mr. Smith is Pastor, No Techer. 2. Boston, Mr. Wilson, Pastor, Mr. Cotton, teacher, 3. Dorchester, Mr. Wareham, P. Mr. Mavoricke. T: 4, at Rockes Burey, Mr. Weeldes, P; Mr. Elyot T; 5, at Charles Towne, Mr. Jeames, P. & my Cosson Simes is now gone thether to bee there Teacher. 6, at Newtowne, Mr. Hoocker P. Mr. Stone Teacher. 7, at Watertowne, Mr. Phillipes P. 8, at Saugus where Mr. Somphereyes (Humphrey) lives, Mr. Bachelor, P; 9 at Salem theare Pastor, old Mr. Skelton is dead. Thear is Mr. Williams who dos ex-
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JAMES CUDWORTH
ersies his giftes but is in no office. 10, at Ipsidge a plantation made upe this yeare Mr. Ward, P. Mr. Parker, T.
Now these plantations that are not yet settled & are newly begun are three; Duckes burey where Mr. Col- yer dwelles. No Pastor nor Teacher Oures Cittewate, to whom the Lord has bine very gracious, & his provi- dence has bine Admorably sene, our beyenge to bringe us oure Pastor whom wee so long expected-Mr. Lath- rop, who the Lord has brought to us in safety, whom wee finde to be a holy Reverat & hevenly minded man. And the other is Beare Cove f wheare is no Pastor nor Teacher.
Now one thinge I will intreate youe, that if you doe know eny of youre frendes & acquaintances that come over hither, that youe would direct them to our Plan- tation. The nature of the place being as in my former letters you shall finde, & is still, though now I have seene more of the plantations than then I had, & yet it findes place in my affections before any. And with all such as you sall advise to sit downe with us wee wold intreate you they may bee such as you judge to bee fite to bee Received unto Church fellowshipe.
Allso, if it should please God to bringe you into this land amongst us, I would intreate you for youre owne good, not to come ingaidged to eney people till you come heare youre selfe, & see the nature of the plase wheare you are to site downe, together with the condi- tion of the People.
One thing I canot but relate, & that not only with grefe, for & with feare of what will bee the event of a strange thinge put in practice by sum in the Churuch of Salem; but by whom I heare not. 'And that is they have cut out the Crosse in the flage, Or Ansient that they carie before them when they trayne. Indeed it is contrary to the mindes & willes of all that I cann heare
/ Hingham.
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THE EARLY PLANTERS OF SCITUATE
of. Captaine Indicat there Captaine is a holy honest man & dus utterly abandone it & who are the Aegeen- tes in it I cannot heare.
Now, as concerning my owne pertickular, I thanke the Lord I have wanted no thinge since I came into the Land. I have, I blese God, as yet, the best howse in the plantation, thowgh but a meane one it contentes us well. I planted corne, contrary to Mr. Hatherly's mind, which I know not how I adune. f I bless the Lord I have, I thinke, at least 50 bushels of corne, which is worth 12 li. So that I think I shall not neade but shall have anaught till next harvest. My howse is the meeting howse because it is the biggest, but we are but few, as yet, in number-not passinge 60 persons.
As concerning my unkills, # blessed be God they are both in good health and my unkill Thomas is to be maried shortly to a widow that has good meanes & has 5 children. Thus much I make bold to trouble yow with all, being all for the present, only desiring to be remembered to all my brothers & sisters and all my friends, & my wife likewise desires her duty to you both her love to the rest & I would pray whereas I wrote for stufe for 2 cotes it was rashly dun, that you would re- frayne till you have of mine to pay youreselves with all. x x x x So for the present, I commende you to the protection of the Allmighty & ever rest yowre dutyfull sunn till death.
James Cudworth
To his very Lovinge & Kinde ffather Dr. Stoughton at his howse In Alldermanbury
(Endorsement) James Cudworth to Doctor Stoughton shewing his privat correspondency with ye irregular,
1 Have done.
Probably Israel & Thomas Stoughton of Dorchester.
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JAMES CUDWORTH
incomformable f fugitive ministers beyond ye Seas in New England."
Cudworth was a deputy to the General Court at Plymouth from Barnstable in 1640 and 1642, but was back in Scituate in 1648 # and obtained a one-thirtieth share in the Conihas- set grant made by his friend Hatherly to Charles Chauncey and the others. With this as a nucleus he bought, about 1659, the home and farm buildings of John Hoar near Mann Hill. The remaining portion of the latter's farm when he removed to Concord in that year, was sold to John Saffin. This is the farm upon which the heirs of Ward Litchfield now live and was the home of Deacon Marshall Litchfield at the time of the trial of the famous "beach cases" (Litch- field vs Scituate). In July 1673, there having arisen some dispute between Cudworth and Hoar the latter sued him :---
"John Hoare of Concord, complained against Cap- tain James Cudworth of Scituate, in an action on the case, for unjustly detaining of the said Hoares lands, which said lands, together with housing, orchard, and fencing hath biene in the occupation of the said Cud- worth now about twelve yeares past, being part of the land the said Cudworth now lives att, as more fully appear by a deed and writings, and all due damages sustained thereby.
This action was withdrawn.§"
He was a modest, sincere man, of good education for the time and was devotedly attached to both church and colony. It is something of a shock to the belief in this devotion and his amiable qualities, that we find him pun- ished in 1638 with Humphrey Turner and three others, for not attending a session of the General Court at Plymouth when the colony was governed by all of the freemen in a
Dr. Stoughton was prosecuted by Laud in the High Commis- sion.
# He was enrolled upon both the Scituate and Barnstable Mili- tary companies in 1643.
Plymouth Colony Records Vol. VII Page 178.
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THE EARLY PLANTERS OF SCITUATE
body ; and in 1640 just before he left Scituate to go to Barn- stable to learn of his being fined for "selling and retayleing wine contrary to order."
He sat upon both the grand and traverse juries and also at inquests. He was frequently chosen by his neighbors to arbitrate between them or appointed by the Court to settle boundary and fence disputes. He was selected to determine the line of the grant to Hatherly and the Mer- chant Adventures, and was one of a committee in 1650 to decide between the English and the Indians as to the title to lands at Showamet and Pautuxet. In 1652 he was cap- tain of the military company at Scituate and in 1653 and 1654 one of the Council of War when an expedition was contemplated against the Dutch.
He was a deputy to the General Court from Scituate during the years from 1649 to 1654. He performed these services while in office conscientiously and well. On Octo- ber 7, 1650, the General Court, perhaps recalling the punishment it had meted out to him and to Humphrey Tur- ner for non-attendance upon one of its sessions ordered :
"Mr. James Cudworth and Humphrey Turner are allowed 25S, for charges of attendance at June Court last past. Item, for five daies, videlecet from Fryday until Tuesday following 25, 6d p day."
No other deputies were so singled out for preferment. Evidently it did not deter Cudworth from absenting him- self again when occasion occurred. During his last year of membership in the Court he was again fined, this time £5 "for departing the Court, being required to stay on Special occation." It took a suit by the Treasurer to collect this fine, which was eventually paid. While a member of this body he acted on committees for letting the trade at Kenne- bec, to take the account of the Treasurer of the Colony, and in the latter year he, with "William Collyare and Lieut. Southworth together with some of the majestrates are appointed to view the writing lately sent out by the Bay, and compare it with the articles of confederacon, and give
1
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JAMES CUDWORTH
in their thoughts about ut unto the Court they are to meet the first Tuesday in July next." Later he twice served on a committee to revise the colony ordinances. He was appointed to solemnize marriages and on occasion was the guardian of the children of his deceased neighbors whose es- tates he likewise frequently administered. Following his retirement from the General Court he was, the next year, surveyor of highways of his town.
In 1656, 1657 and 1658 he was an Assistant to the Col- ony Court. He was returned in 1659 but Governor Prence, who had been his persistent enemy, caused his rejection on account of his pre-Quaker leanings.
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