USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > The early records of Groton, Massachusetts. 1662-1707 > Part 3
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we order that if any mans swine in the towne tak any mans cornfeild beeing legally proued the owners of thes swine shall forth- with sufficiently yo[ke] them or shut them vp ypon the penalty of paying double damag at the first time of damag beeing done
The owners of those swine that goe unri[nged] shall pay the sixpence to thos men that a[re] to look after the swin after legall demand
At the same meeting The select men of haue ordered for the dividing of the heard in to three heards one to begin at Withi Martins and to Nathaniell Lorances taking in peleg Lorance and Will greenes The second from samvell woods to Mathias ffarn- worths taking in Richd holden and Joshua Whitney and his neigbours the Third from Wilt Elluees to Jam[es] Robersons and Timothy cooper
for the preseruing of wood and . . . it is ordered that for euery tr[ee] .. . that are feeld excepting p . . . within half a mile of [23] . body and top within one . . is not set up or caried away . . . feit four shilling for euery such . . . for the towns vse and half to the inf[or]mer and euery such tree or trees shalbe . . . for any man to take and for any pine tr[ee] that is fallen crosse the
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EARLY RECORDS OF
high way and is not taken away with a week he shalbe lyeable to the same penalty and these foure men chosen to look after these defects Joseph Parker Nathaniell Lorance Daniell pearse and Thomas Tarball Junior
At a generall towne meeting 12 of the 11th month 1669 agreed vpon voted and agreed vpon that all publik charges excepting the ministers shold be raised vpon the accomedations till the towne see good to repeall it
At ye same meting The Town haue voted and agreed vpon that Mathias ffarnworth shall mak a sufficient cartbridg ouer James brook beneath his owne house in that place wheir the surveyers shall Judg it most convenient and to mak the way sufficient as far as Benjamins Crisp['s] house with a whele against his barn in con- sideration for which he is to hau a parsell of land of Simon Stones from the run to rock medow path till it come to his owne line leaning a highway thorow it of six polle wid till it com to the mill way and that way that did formerly run thorow Simon Stones is now deserted and become his owne propriety
[T]he 11th o[f] Aprill [1]670 At a meeting of the select men agreed with Sargent James Parker for himself and his Son John and with James Knop to run the line betwene chelmsford and our towne with chelmsford men and they are to hau for the perfecting of the same sixteene shilling 0 16 0
At a generall towne meeting Novem 1 [1]670 It is this day agreed vpon and voted that Mr Willards maintenance and all other Towne charges shalbe raised for this present yeare the one halfe vpon accomodations and the other halfe vpon visible estate
At the same meeting agreed vpon that Mr. Willard should haue sixty fiue pound for this present yeare and a sixth pt shalbe payd in flesh provision that is to say in merchentable pork beef butter and cheese betwixt this and chrismas merchentable wheat five shill per bush barley 4s per bush rye 4s pease 4s and Indian cor[n] flesh meat to be payd . . . per pound and butter at 6 . . . [24]
Town meeting held the 12th 10 m[1670] chussen for constable James Knopp for the yeare ensuing
for select men Serg James Parker William Martin William Longley John Nutting John Pag James Knopp John Morsse
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GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
for Town clark was chussen John Morsse for the same year en- sueing
Thomas Tarball ? Seni
for surueyers John Lakin
for veiwers of fences Ellis Barron : Thomas Tarball Juni James Roberson and to see that swine be according to town and court order are chussen Natha lawranc Samuell kemp
At the same meeting agreed with Timothy Allen to keep the meeting housse cleane for this following year for twenty shill - 1 0 0.
At a meeting of the sellect men janev 2 1670 concerning swine to that end that our medowes and cornfeilds may be preseued from damag as much as may be we doe order that all swine that goe vpon the commons shalbe sufficiently yoked and ringed from three months old [and] vpward from the first of aprill to the last of sep- tember and that the owners of the swine shall keep them soe during the wholle time and those men that are chusen to se that they be according to the order shall haue six pence p head for eu[ery] tim that they find them vnyoked and six pence euery time they find them vnringed half for them selues and the other half [for] the vse of the towne prouided they giu the owners of thos swine season- able warning excepting such swine that are turned ou[er] the riuer if the towne see good
At the same meeting and agreed vpon by the towne. That all and euery inhabitant of the towne shall pay their due and full pro- portion to our Reuerd pastor in the seuerall kinds of it according to the agrement of the town the first half year payment to be payd at or befor the 25 of march and the other halfe to be payd at or before the 29 of septem : and they are to bring in their accounts to the Decon or to the men chusen for yt end within the ti[me] prefixed or else they shalbe accounted delinquents
Ja 11 1670 At a towne meeting chussen for [that] end Ser : Wilti Lakin and Nath Lawranc [25]
[F]eb 8 1670 At a meeting of the Sel[ect]men agreed withall an ... meet with Boston Gentlemen for the renewing of the line betwene our town and their farmes in Massabog woods and between mashobo and our town (viz) Sergent James Parker and James knop and they are to hau 38 p day and with Joseph Parker senior and
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EARLY RECORDS OF
John Parker, and they to haue 25-6d p day and they are to hau two qvarts of Liqvors to be giuen them for their refreshment vpon the towns account
At a generall towne meeting held febr 13 1670 It is this day agreed upon and voted that these severall psells of land here specifid shall for euer hence forward to lye common -(viz a peice of comon land about the meeting house that ly from John nuttings Samuell kemps James Robersons Timothy cooper unto Walter Skinners and the hye way
A swamp that lye bounded vpon the land of Will Longleys Richard Blood and John page and the hye way that ly bye John Longleys
A peice of land from Samvell Dauis Willa Ellue Wiff longley Jonathan Sawtells Richd holden and John Mors
A peice of land that lye between Samvell Woods broad medow Jonathan Sawtell and the bay hye way
A peice of land that lye from that was Ralph Rieds lot of both sides ye brook called James brook till we com to the high way that Run from Will Ellues to the pine medow
All the swamp land lye common between Timothy Allen Josep gilson Will laken and the bridg y' run to half moon medow
All the common land that lye from Richard blood to the generall feild that is their layd down from the river to nashaway Road
feb 17 [1]670 At a meeting of the select men for the stating and recording the hye wayes
I Lanchester hye way from our meeting house to James his brook sixe poll wide as the Rood now lye ouer James his brook Bridge and soe to continue 6 po[II] wide to nashaway meeting house according to the committees order
[2] A high way from this country Road . . . [26] . .. James his Brook till we com to the cor[ner] of Jonathan Sawtells medow m[ee]ting with the other high way
3by from the countrey high way by William Ellues and soe by Richard holdens purchis of Richard holden of two pooll wid for which he is satisfied for till it meet with the high way which was purchased of Samuell Dauis
4 A high way goeing out of Lanchester Rood near John pages of four poll wid so goeing into the way that goe to mill near
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GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
Benjamin crisps which high way was ptly purchased of Samuell dauis Richard holden Daniell peirce and James Knop butting vpon Wil- liam Longley John Morse vpon the west and Thomas Tarball James Knop on the east and the rest of the way goeing through thos mens lots for mentioned and satisfaction giuen them to their content by the towne commitee
Perhaps the highway starting from Farmers' Row, near the "Community," passing by the District School-house, No. 2, and the late Levi Stone's, - as laid down on the map in Mr. Butler's " History of Groton," - into the Harvard road.
A high way goeing out of Lanchester roode of four polle wide going to the south end of the generall field lots next to James his Brook bounded south with Richard holdens swamp and medow and John Morsse north with the land of John Sawtell and Richard holden from which their goe a high way along the generall field till we com to the common land by Samuell Dauis the said way beeing four poll wid running between Richard holden and the [general] feild
The road going toward Page's Bridge.
and near about the midle of that way their goeth a high way of four [pole] wide downe the generall feild to the neck vpon the riuer
The "neck" was near the farm of the late Major Amos Farnsworth.
A high way going out of Lanchester Roode by thomas Tarball Junio= of four poll wid Thomas tarball of the north and Joseph Blood on the South
The road leading to the Red Bridge and Squannacook, - on the south side of James Lawrence's farm.
A high way that goe out of Lanchester Rood near the meeting house all the land that lye common vpon the head of Jonathan Crisps lot between Samuell Kemp and James Robersons lyeing for common and hy way soe runing from the end of Samuell Kemps lot between Jonathan Crisps and James Robersons and so down to the riuer
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EARLY RECORDS OF
A high way that goe out of Lanchester Rood near the meeting house and soe between Timothy cooper and James Robersons and through Timothy coopers land and to James Bloods hous lot till we com to the common land and common land left for a high way between Will Longley senio = and Christopher hall and Timothy Cooper which leadeth into the high way by Jonathan Crisps lot down to the riuer
A high way that goe out of Lanchester Rood near Samvell Kemp lyeing between John Nutting and . . . runing to Broad medow . . . with the end . . . [27] so along the medow till you com to the high way coming from John Pag towards Benjamin Crisp
A high way of two poll wid goeing from Lanchester Road near to Thomas Tarba[Il's] between Richard Blood on the south and Joseph Parker on the north and so runing down to Broad medow
This goes out of some part of Farmers' Row ; perhaps it is the westerly end of the Broad Meadow road.
And for the mill Road between James ffisk and Samuell Woods Run a way to the mill of sixe poll wide excepting by the house of Richard Sawtell from James ffiskes staks to Richard Sawtells house soe runing of six poll wid till we come to Matthias ffarnworths land continuing 6 poll wid to the mill leading to the mill
This is the highway leading from the "Great Road," and passing by the birthplace of Colonel Prescott, thence over James's Brook toward Harvard.
and out of that way Run a way to Rock medow near to Matthias ffarnworth and thes wayes runing thorow pt of his land ne[ar] the place wheir thes wayes are now improued
The Snake Hill road, only lately shut up to public travel.
out of Chelmsford Road goe a high way of four poll wide by Ellis barron thorow his land of four poll wide and then six poll wid into the countrey Road at way pond
Way Pond is the old name of Long Pond. The road started, perhaps, from a locality near the Ridges.
And near Richard Sawtells house on the south sid of James his
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GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
Brook a way of foure poll wid in the most convenient place to broad medow for carting of hay or driuing of cattell which way run through the land of Richard Sawtels
This road starts from the late Eber Woods's house, -as laid down on the map in Mr. Butler's History, -and runs west- erly over Swill Bridge.
Also a high way runing to Broad medow betweene Richard Saw- tells house and Samuel Woods thorow that piece of land that [is] already prohibited
Also a high way of four poll wid going down to Broad Medow lyeing betwene M' Samvell Willard and William Greene
This is the easterly end of the Broad Meadow road, which then led only to the meadow. In the year 1752, two rods in width on the north side of the road was sold by the town to the Reverend Mr. Trowbridge, who owned the adjoining land.
Out of Chelmes Road goe a high way near to wheir Joshua Whit- neys first house stood of four poll wid runing of that sid ferney medow to Brown loaf plain so vnto common
This is the first road below Cady Pond, and runs northerly from the "Great Road."
Another high way goeing out of the countrey high way near to Nicolas Cady going between his medow and Ser James Parkers land winding down towards Jacob Ongs house and so thorow his land and soe betwene ser Parkers land and James ffiskes land and to Brown loaf plaine
Cady lived in the neighborhood of the pond named after him, and Ong, near the late Reuben L. Torrey's house,-as given on the map in Mr. Butler's History. The road starts from Phineas G. Prescott's house, runs northerly perhaps sixty rods, to Mr. Torrey's, and then bears off easterly to Brown Loaf. The first section of it is the southerly end of Love Lane.
Another high way goeing out of the country high way betwixt M' Willard and William Green goeing by Nathaniell Lawrances vnder the south sid of gibbet hill into those medows and woods
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EARLY RECORDS OF
This is the beginning of the present Lowell Road, which formerly passed only on the south side of the mecting-house.
and out of that way goe another way by Thomas Smith goeing hetwixt Thomas Smith and Nathaniell Lawrance and along by ser James Parkers land and into that way that leadeth from Nicolas Cadyes to br[own] loaf plain near Jackob Onges
The northerly end of Love Lane.
And out of that way a way by Natha[niel] Lawrances barne goeing into the neck . . . gat or a sufficiet pair of draw barrs to [be] Kept and maintained at the end [of] Natha[niel] Lawrances feild by Ser Pa[rker] . . . assignes for cuer . . . [28]
. from tim to tim and at all times previous thos that use it shut vp the barres or gat
from the meeting house another highway out of the Countrey Road betwixt William Martins house lot and Joseph Lawrances house lot of four poll wid till it com to the medow and then soe wid as a sufficient causey determin it and from the bridg to by the half moone medow sid of foure poll wid for the vse of Willa Martin and William Lakin
Also from that causey by the pond and medow sid into the woods to Badacook a hie way
another hye way for Timothy Allen goeing out of the prohibeted land thorow Joseph Lawrances land near Timothy Allens of two poll wid
Also another hye way out of the Countrey Road by ser William Lakins befor his Dore thorow his land as it is now stated by the commitee the town chose
Also a high way out of the countrey Road by timothy Allens to Joseph Gilson and soe into the hye way that come from ser Lakins to goe to Richard Bloods
And out of that way goe a way by ser William Lakins betwixt Richard Blood and Alexander Rouse and betwixt William Longley senio= and John Lakins till we com into the common woods
Also a hye way as it is now stated thorow James Parkers medow to Mr Willards medow Robert bloods and John Nuttings
Also another high way from John Lakins [to] the meeting house as it is now stated the way by the new bridges from Nod
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GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
The words "from Nod" are in a different handwriting from Morse's. "Nod" is the old name of the district in the neigh- borhood of the cross-roads, below the soapstone quarry.
Also another high way from James Bloods house wheir he now dwell in to the way coming from John Lakins near the place wheir John Lakins old hous stood
Also another highway turing out of the Countrey Road neare the meeting house runing thorow Joseph Lawrances land on the south side adjoyning to Captain Parkers land of two poll wid goeing to half moone medow which was formerly Timothy Allens but now Timothy Coopers and this hye way only for his vse
An agrement betwixt Joseph Lawrance and Timothy Cooper in the year 1672
That their shalbe a hye way for the vse of timothy Cooper out of the hye way from the corner of Walter Skiners land on the south side of Joseph Lawrances land to the medow of timothy Cooper that lye in halfe moon medow
A hye way Runing ouer James Bloods medow of two poll wid goeing to the Iland in Reedy Medow [29]
The description of the last three highways appears to have been written subsequently to the rest, but it is in Morse's handwriting.
1670 febr 28 Also a peice of land to lye common hence forward (viz) a hill calld by the name of Sheeplees hill and all the comon land that lye about it between ye two pathes the one that come from John Lakins to the meeting house and that which goe from Jno Lakins to Reedy medow
That highway that come from the bridge to Nathaniell Lawrances lotend shalbe a open highway of four poll wid from sergent Lakins medow to Nathaniell Lawrances lot betweene sergent James Par- kers land and that land that was left out of of the sd sergent James Parkers by Nathaniell Blods house shalbe layd downe for the vse of the town and former record of shuting vp of barres shalbe mad annulle
I think that this highway formerly ran on the west side of Gibbet Hill, from the present Lowell road to the Martin's Pond road.
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EARLY RECORDS OF
Only their 'is a liberty left for opening or shuting of this high by the commitee chussen and the neighbourhood when the towne see case that their is more neadfull for the leaueing of it open then it is aduantag to sergent Parker or any other they are to leau it open againe and the commitee hau received full satisfaction for all the common land that lye vpon the west and northwest sid of gibbet hill except the hye way and the hye way is left four poll wid from sergent Parkers line from the swamp along the medow sid to the bridg swamp from the medow and that skirt of land that was sergent Parkers by the meeting housse is determined by the com- mitee to lye comon for euer
Also a hyeway that lye thorow Joseph lawrances land down to halfe moone medow is satisfied for
and the hyeway by Nathaniell Bloods is satisfied for
Also the hyeway from Nicolas Cadyes leading to brown loaf plain is enlarged of of sergent parkers land - also half an acre taken of sergent parkers land at the north east of end of Gibbet hill for the streitening of Nathaniell Lawrances line [30]
At a meeting of the select men febr 24 1670 Agreed vpon for the division of the heard into three heards one to begin at M' Wil- lards to Mathias ffarnworths taking in Thomas Boydon and Jackob onge and Nathaniell Lawrance and they ar to goe out with their heard 2 dayes in the week by James ffiske 2 dayes by Ellis barron and 2 dayes by Matthias ffarnworth and so to Rock medow
The second heard to begin at sergent parkers to William Lakins taking in John Lakin Richard blood and James blods.
The third to begin at Timothy cooper and James Robersons to William Ellues taking Richard holdlens the walk the second heard is to goe out by Nathaniell Lawrancs and by sergent lakins and Richd bloods and into vnquetenorset woods all these seuerall angles of the town are to heard if they can agree to hire a heards man the major p! so agreeing
At a generall towne meeting febr 27 70 Agreed upon and voted that this last order about swine made by the select inen shalbe made voyd and of noe effect
Also agreed vpon at the same meeting that all thos seats that are yet to build in the meeting house shalbe built in a generall way also a commitee chussen to treat with thomas Boydon to build them
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GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
(viz) Sergent James Parker corporall Knop John Pag Ellis Barron and Nathaniell lawrance
At a town meeting held the 23 6" 1671 It was agreed and by vote declared that Samuell Scriptur shalbe an inhabitant amongst vs and for his Incoridgment these men haue giuen him some small grants of vpland as followeth
Will Martin I acre
Serg Parker
2 acres
-Rich Blood
2 acres & half
Will Longley I acre
Ellis Barron
1 acre
John Page
I acre
Christo hall
I acre
John Longley
half an acre
At the same meeting agreed vpon that vpon the warning of any town meeting the senerall perticulers that shalbe agetated vpon and that shalbe the work of that day shalbe brought in in writing and read by the clark at the begining of the meeting [31]
At a Generall towne meeting held October 16 1671 This day agreed vpon by the towne and voted that Mr Willard shall haue sixty five for this year ensueing and that he shall hau his wholl yeares pay by the latter end of december and the maner of his pay followeth one third p' of his pay in prouision and english corne and those that cannot pay in prouision and in english corne they are to pay their Indian corne at two shill and three pence the bushell soe as to answer that third pt of their pay which was to be payd in English corn and prouision and the rest of their pay they are to pay at prise currant (that is) their Indian corne -35 per bush wheat 55 per bushel- pease Rye barley at 48 per bush and pork and beeffe at 3ª per pond and for the maner of their payment to be raised as it was the last year the one half vpon the accommoda- tions and the other vpon the estate
At the same meeting were chusen Sergent william lakin and nathaniell lawrance and that they shall se that Mr Willards pay shalbe brought in and faithfully payd to him according to the agreement of the towne
At a Generall towne meeting held Decem 11 1671 chussen for constable Ellis Barron for that yeare insuing
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EARLY RECORDS OF
And for select men Sergent James Parker William Martin William Lakin John Page James Knop Elis Barron John Morsse and for town clark John Morsse
for surveyers Nicolas cady Thomas Tarball Juni Jonathan Sawtell and Natha Blood
for veiwers of fences Daniell Pearse Thomas Smith Jonathan Morss Joseph Lawrance
At the same meeting the towne reserued in their own hands for the ordering of the heards And for sweeping the meeting house agreed with timothy Allen for Twenty shillings for this following yeare Also agreed vpon at the same time and voted that the en- voyce shalbe taken the first week of the sixth month and so to stand for the making of all town and ministers rates
At a meeting of the sellect men janevary 18, 1671 Concerning the surveyers agreed ypon by the select mnen for the diuiding of their seuerall sqvadrons and for the calling out of their men to work that is within their seuerall squadrons as is exprest in their seuerall papers The dayes they are to work is four dayes for this year excepting they can mak it apear that they . . [32]
At a Towne meeting held Sept 16 1672 It was agreed upon and by vote declared that their shalbe a commitee chusen by the towne which Committee shall haue power to seat euery man according to their best discretion and that cuery man shall pay to the value of the seat they sit in the seates also beeing valued according to their proportion and disproportion by this committee chussen and the committee chussen and the names of the men are these
Sergent Parker
Sergent Lakin
Tho= Tarball
and S James Knop John Morsse
Att a generall Towne meeting held Octo 14 1672 It was this day agreed vpon and by vote declared that Mr Willard shall haue for this present year eighty pound and the maner of his pay as followeth a third part of his pay a followeth In english corne and prouision wheat at fiue shil p bushell Rye barley and pease at four shill pr bushell pork and beefe at 3ª p pound and all such as cannot pay his third part of his pay in english corn and prouision they shall pay In Indian corn at 2 shill p bushell and the
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GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
remainder of his pay In Indian Corn at 3 shill p bushell his fire wood also abouc his eighty pound
and furder these persons here set downe doe promise and Ingage to git Mr Willard hay mowing making and fetching home for eight shilling p load at a seasonable time (viz) in the midle of Jully
Sergent Parker r
Timothy Allen
Rich= Blood
Ellis Barron
James ffiske
and Thomas Smith
Tho= Tarball Se
John Morsse
sergent Lakin
Joseph gilson
Rich= holden
Pelleg Lawrance
At the same meeting and by vote declared that Major Willard shalbe a fre commoner amongst vs for feed for cattell wood and timber
At a generall towne meeting held The 7th of the 9th month 1672 It was this day agreed ypon and by vote declared that all Inhabi- tans in the towne shalbe seated in the meeting house according to a rulle of proportion impartially (by the towne or by a committee chussen by the towne) according to their best discretion and the seates to be valued and each man to pay according to the seat they sit in and they are to place in the seats below in the body of the meeting house sixe persons in a seate and to fill vp the first and second seat first and to sit fiu persons vnder the window and five persons in a seat in the front gallery and eight persons in a seat in the east and west gallery - the persons that are first to be seated are maried persons and also such single persons as may and ought according to a rulle of proportion be seated with them and the other young persons to be seated till they have filled vp all the seates that are [33] already builded and all such persons as want seates after this done they haue liberty granted to them by the towne at the sam meeting to build them themselves or their parents for them at their owne cost and charge in such a place or places as are thought most meete and convenient by the towne and those that are to build them and the towne haue voted to submit to the comitees order herein
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