USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > The early records of Groton, Massachusetts. 1662-1707 > Part 8
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of
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to Samell Kemp for sweping ye meeting house
OI
OI 0
To James Knop for Reneweng the line be- twen m' Tyngs new Pantaton & our towne
00
IO
00
To capt James Parkr for Reneweng the line betwen chelmesford and our towne I day 00
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0
95
EARLY RECORDS OF
and betwen m' tyngs & our towne 2 days 00
07
0
to Peleg lawranc for reneweng the line betwen chelmsford & our towne
00
03
0
to Joseph Gilson for atending Sarg"t Knop in Reneweng ye line betwen m' Tynge & our towne
00
07
0
to Purchis a Constabls Stafe in pay
to James Parker for saruing an atachment on corprall Page 00 01
OI OI
0
6
03 93
6
Decembr. 9. 1687 this aboue writon accoumpt was Read to the towne and aproued p ye sd towne :
Attest JOSIAH PARKER Towne clarke
3 93 6
Groton. Decmbr. 9th 1687 At a ginrall town meeting to chous towne ofesers Capt James Parker chose modrater for that meet- ing : Constabel for ye year. Elias Darron : Select men
I Jonas Prescot [ This name erased.] William green senor
2 Jonathan Sawtall Samwell Woods senor
3 Joshua Whitny
Wiliam Longly Clarke for ye year,
Surwayers. Zachriah Sawtall Wiliam Longly Cornelos church
Samull Scriptur Justinen holden
William Longley was chosen town clerk for the year 1688, though it does not appear that he served for any length of time. At the first town meeting after his election, Josiah Parker was re-chosen to the office, as will be seen by the rec- ords of the next meeting.
A town Rate mad by the selectmen febuery, 28. 1687. contain- eng 05 18 4 wherof ther is payed to those which ye town was indebted to 05 02 6
of which 5" 25 6ª was mony 00 07 6
97
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
Groton maye the 21. 16SS at a genarall Town metten acording to law the town did Chuse for selectmen
Captain Parker Jonah Prescott
Liftenant laken John Page se
Peleg lawranc Josaah Parker
and for a Commishoner Sargant Jeams Knap
and for Constable elias baran Josiah Paker Town Clarck
The record of the meeting as far as this point is in the handwriting of Longley, but the other entries are in that of Parker.
for suruayers Zackriah Sawtall
Wiliam Longly
Samull Scriptur
Cornelos church Justin holdeng
May : 21. 1688 The inhabtants of Groton Granted to Samull Adams ye pond that lyes neare buck medow which hath its outlet into the medow known by ye name of Tyngs Couee and the swampy land adioyeng ther to prouided ye sd land do not exceed fifteen accers ;
atest ; JOSIAH PARKER Clarke and sd adams hath liberty to drean the s pond at ye small brook that unes in to Tyng's Coue prouided sd Adames macks good all dameges that shall be don ther by
Groton ; May ; 2 1th 168S at ye anueal meeting 23 of the inhab- tans of Groton then uoated that ther should be land sould to the uarlow of forty shilings mony at six penc p accer prouided this land to be Layed out be taken up be four mills from the meeting hous at lest ;
atest JOSIAH PARKR Clark
at the same time seurell of the inhabtants decented from the aboue named uoat and entred ther names
JOSIAH PARKER JOHN PAGE JAMES NUTING
Groton : May ye 21th day : 1688 at y anueal towne meeting the Inhabatan of this towne deed then by the maior uoat grant for the incoregment of such men as will set up Ioran works at masabog pond ; that thay shall haue ye ues & improument of the woods and timbr y' is now common one the est sid of uncuttanaset brook and
1
98
EARLY RECORDS OF
so. to nashua river and groton line est ward & south ward to good man greens masobog medow for ther incorigment in ye s4 worke allways prouided ye inhabatnts of ye afere s4 towne resarue to y" selus the liberty to cut the wood for ye ues of s' works and also for carting of ye s" wood or coall prouided y^ s1 workes be up or seteng up betwen this day and the 21th day of may next ; no man inhabiting with in ye st town to be hindred from wood or timbr for his one ues
Atest JOSIAH PARKER Clarke
A sworn declaration of John Lowwell and Thomas Blan- chard, both of Dunstable, is recorded in the Middlesex Regis- try of Deeds at East Cambridge (XVIII. 488, 489), setting forth the fact that they were at Massapoag in Groton, on the twen- tieth day of May, 168g, and did " help both to dige for & to sett up some part of an Iron Worke." From this record it would appear that the vote of the town had its desired effect.
July : 13 : 1688 at a meeting of the select men thay then deed alow to James fiske Jun' out of the Rate made to Releue the pouer in pay : 12 *: money : 15: 61 foo = 13 = 6 : butt after refused to Receue it at the towns hands.
A town Rate made by the select men
containeng £9 = 148 = 91: 34 money
500 = 14 09
Elias Barron gaue in his acompts to ye towne and y Remains due to y" towne money : 96 : 10", and pay : £o 9 = 10
£0 = 08 = 0 and from cap' Parker money
£2 : 12 = 9
Cap' Parker payed his aboue sª 85 in nayels for ye £o = 8 = 0 meeting houes
a a Ginrall towne meeting June. 24. 1689 towne ofeseres chose for the yeare ensueng
John farnworth Constabelle
Cap® Parker
select men Jonas Prescott John Parish Mathias farnworth
[ These last four names are crossed out in the original.]
99
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
June : 24: 1689 at a towne meeting towne ofesers chose Capt Parker modrator John farnworth cunstabell
Select men Cap® Parker John Paresh
Jonas Prescott Josiah Parker Clarck
John Page
Suruay' of highways Cornelos Church Enosh Lawranc
Stephen holden Mathias farnworth John Longley
fenc ueiwrs Daneil Cadye James Parker Ephram Philbrok Im Sandors
august 12"! 1689 : at a towne meeting it was then detarmened by uoat that thay would geeue to m' Gurshom hobart the anucall alow- anc of aighty pounds p yeare in specea acordeng to the former agreemen bareng date august. the. 2: 1686: and: 40: coard of wood prouided thos men that here after enter ther names do pay such mens proporshan of money as do bring in corne to them at ye prises folowing wheat at 2$ 6ª Ry at 25 Inden corne at 184 p bushell good and marchentabell : the persons that are to pay the money are
Prouided thos men that will Capt James Parker bring in ther corne do enter ther names within one weeke after Lef Jonas Prescot John farnworth the date hereof Josiah Parker
Groton : August the : 12th: 1689 at a towne meeting it was then detarmened by uoate that the select men should forthwith mack a teen pound Rate leued on on euery Inhabetant proposhonably to maintain soulders at m' hobarts garason : to the number of fouer untell thay be orderly Remoued from us
Atest JOSIAH PARKER Clarke
August. 12. 1689 Capt James Parker : Sarg Jonathan Sawtall Decon Lawranc John farnworth Cornelos church & Josiah Parker Left Jonas Prescot
do Respond for the non Resedents Rats to M' hobart for this yeares solory
Septmbr : 30th: 1689 one singel Rate to the Coun-
trey is
£14 = 09 05 $
100
EARLY RECORDS OF
At a meeting Decmbr. 104 1689 then town ofesers chose for the year ensueng
Constabelle Josiah Parker
for select men Capt James Parker Corprall John Page :
Lef Jonas Prescott Lef Wiliam Lacken
Sarg' Jonathan Sawtall
Surwayers of highways William Green John Page lefet Jonas Prescott Simon Stone
[In the margin of the above record.] decmbr. 9. 1690 The fiue suruayers chose in ye yer 89 uoted to same for the year 90
fenc uewers Enosh Lawranc Cornelos church
John Paresh John Cady
att ye select mens meeting Decmbr 10: 1689 Joseph Lawranc agreed with to swep ye meeting house hang out ye flag & carry water for Baptiseng children for one yere: & is to haue for yt saruis ye sum of 26$ 601 06 00
towne deter to Elias Baron
$ £1 02 6 ‹1
for shingell & shingling ye meeting house. in
decembr. roth 1689 :
more for a lader & ye meting hous
60 02 0
to Josep lawranc . Joseph lawrance pay
0 09 0
17
Decmbr. 20", 1689 : fine Pay Rates made by the selectmen con- taineng £72 = 07 = 01
and tow Rates and an halfe money £36 = 03 = 06
Decmbr. 23. 1689 At a towne metting legaly warned one porpos to Know the towns mind in what way to Raise Publick charges in the towne the towne then unamisly uouted and declared that it should be Raised acording to our former custom as it is Recorded in the towne book. in the year. IGS1 :
at the same meeting agreed & noted that that no Indein shall come into our towne to dwell or trad without lisanc from authority :
At ye sam time Jo" Page James Knop and Sam" woods sen' ware chose by the towne to statte ye bounds betwene the contrey high- way & m' hobarts land & swamp p ye Request of seuerall of the naibours : m' hobart allso hauing notes there of
Bounds statted the same day & markes made by ye aboue sª men :
IOI
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
April 8th 1690 William Green beeing ouer Rated to ye contrey one hoad to seuen rats and halfe is to be considerd by the select men the next Rate
p ordr JOSIAH PARKER Clerk
april the 28 1690 ; tenn Pay Rates £144 = 14 = 02
Septembr. the : 49 1690 tow Rates & halfe money
beeing £36 = 03 = 06
Octobr 27th 1690 At a ginrall towne meeting it was then uoated that thay would pay m' Garshom hobart aighty pound p year ac- cording as it is writen in the towne booke for the yeare insueng ; prouided ; he come & be with us so that we haue a constant soply of precheng the word on lords days by himselfe or som other autherdocks minester of ye gospell :
Decmb' : 9" 1690 towne ofecers chose for ye year ensueng for constabls Zachriah Parker and John Lackan Jr
Selectmen Lef Jonas Presot Wiliam Longly
Josiah Parker Towne Clark
Sarg: James Knop Sarg: John Paresh Wiliam Green Nicklos huchens
Tietheng men
Samuell warner s' Joshua Whetny sen"
Quer seeres of swine Jonathan Lawranc Sam" Woods sehr Sam" Woods Juner Nat Lawranc Nick huchens benimn Farner
Steuen holden Joseph Lawanc
decmbr. 9. 1690. at a ginral towne meetting it was then uoated that master hobart
[The record not completed.]
June. 18th. 1691. At a ginral towne meeting legaly warned the towne being ginerlay together ded then by uoat declar that thay would stand to their counant with m' hobart and honestly performe it to him prouided m' hobart return to us and purforme his duty amonst us as was promised by him when we entred into counant with him ; viz ; aighty pounds pur year and so yearly ; one forth part in money and the other three parts in prouishan as it expresed in the counant in the newe towne book and forty Cord of wood and so aneuely
Read and aproued by the maior part of the towne :
attest JOSIAH PARKER Towne Clarke
102
EARLY RECORDS OF
The names of those that decent from the aboue sd towne act but do promes for to pay their owne proposhans to m' hobart of ye sd aighty pounds and forty cord of wood
John Page John Paresh Sam" Wood senr
James Knap
James Parker Ju' Tho Tarball
Nicolos hutchens
John Lacken Ju'
Zachriah Parker
Josiah Parker
John Lawranc
Dcembr: roth: 1691 Towne offecers chose for the yeare insueng
Constabls Jonathan Lawrance Thomas Tarball :
Select men Cap® James Parker Left Willim Lacken
Lef Jonas Prescott
Sarg: James Knap
Sarg' James Parker Jun'
Towne Clarke Lef Jonas Prescott
Suruayers of high ways Ensign John Laken John Page Sener
Lef Prescot Simon Stone William green
Decmbr. ro: 1691: Chose for
fence uears & hoge constables
Enosh Lawrance
Zach Parker
Danel Cady Elezcar Parker
Zakriah Sawtall agreed with to be saxton for ye yeare Ensuing for which he is to haue twenty fiue shilings $I = 5 = 0
agreed upon that a counell shall be caled Refuring to ye setl- ment of a minester amongest us as that ye Charges shall be borne by the towne ; &c.
Comisnoers to Try small cases Capt James Parker John Page sener
Lef Jonas Prescot
A towne Rate made p ye select men in ye year : 1690 89 : con- taineng £3 - 3 = 0 which was desposed on as foloweth
to Joseph Lawrance for sweping ye meeting house and hangeng out je flag £I = 6 = 0 to sargn' Knop & Zach Parker
103
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
for Repayring ye pound £o = 13 6 to Renewing ye line betwen Chelmsford
and our towne 2 days at 38 £0 = 06 0
to James Nutting for katchen of woulues 3 £o = 9 = 0 to Joseph Parker for catching of a wolfe 39 50 = 3 = 0 left in ye constables hands namly
Zach Parker to purches a lock for ye pound 5- 6 this account was Read and approued by ye towne. Decmbr. 10 : 1691
as attest JOSIAH PARKER Towne Clarke
Jonas Prescott, the tenth town clerk, was the son of John and Mary (Platts) Prescott, of Lancaster, where he was born in June, 1648. He held the office during the years 1692 and 1696; his handwriting is plain, but his spelling is simply abominable. He married December 14, 1672, Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Draper) Loker, and they had four sons and eight daugh- ters. Two of the sons died young, but all the other children lived to grow up and have families. The eight daughters, with one exception, married Groton men, and were blessed with a numerous offspring. He was the grandfather of Colo- nel William Prescott, who commanded the American forces at the battle of Bunker Hill, and who was the grandfather of the distinguished historian. Jonas died December 31, 1723, aged 75 years, having filled many important positions in the town.
groton dasamber 21 1691 at a genaral town meting lagaly warn & the town being genaraly matt togeth[er] did then uoat that thay would inuite som meet parson to prach gods word to them with as much speed as as may be
2 At the same day thay did apoint and by uoat daclare that sa Josiah parkar and sar John parish & Wiliam longly & sar James parkar should go down & fach up som meet parsan to preach to us & the town is to bare the charg
groton dasamber 28, 1691 at a genaral town meting lagalaly warned the inhabitants did then by uoat daclare that thay would giue to the minister m' hancock aight pounds money for the first
10.4
EARLY RECORDS OF
quarter of the yere and pay for his bord besides & this to be payed by way of Raate
the same day y" town did uoat that the charges Rafaring to the ministers & rooms m' hobrt & the other minister should be payd out of the 3 pound of paper bells of cradit in the capt hand that was giuen for scouting
it was uoated allso that thay would pay 5 shilins par week in corn an prouishan for his bord
John Page goodman woods senr & Joseph lawrence John baron Curnals Church & John farnworth was chosen tything men by the salackt men for to sarue in the yere 16912 at a meting of ye salact men genware 26 day 1691
The following entry, from its position in the records and from the context, evidently belongs in this place.
Groton march : 21 : 1692 at a genaral town meting lagaly warned the town did then by uoat datarman that thay would giue to master hancock the full som of sixtey pound one fourth part siluer for a yers salarey for Preaching in order to ordnation in dew time and the other three parts in pay corn or prouishon at comon prys & mr hancocock bord himsalf
daken lawrans
JONAS PRESCOTT Clark John Parish
Jonas Prescott Cornalus church
was chosen to dascors with mr hancock to see if he wil acsapt of the towns profr
in groton may the : 16: 1692 the inhabitants of the town being mat togather this day to consider of som tarmes Rafaring to mr han- cocks wadges for praching the word of god to us & thay did this day by uoat datarman to giue mr hancock fiue pounds in money for his praching 8 sabath days before the comminsment and pay for his bording and then if he pleas to acsapt of the towns proposish- ans in order to satlment in dew time wt the inhabitants of this town shall Radely acsapt of him for our minister &c
JONAS PRESCOTT town clark
James nuting hath cradit for both his pay Rats
105
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
May 16: 1692 the inhabitants did the same day uoat that the town charges for this prasant yere shall be Raised by parsons and astats acording to law &c
at a genaral town meting lagaly warned the : 21 : of ocktober : 1692 : the maiger part of the town then by uoat daclare that thay would Rais the Rates for this prasant yere both for minister and town by Rateabl astats acording to law
the same day the maiger part of the town did by uoat daclare that thay ware wiling for mr carter to com forth with to be our satled minister in order to ordanation in dew time ockt : 21 : 1692
at the same meeting the town did agree to giue mr Carter for this prasant yere the som of sixty pounds in manar as foloweth one fourth money the other part in corn and prouisione at town pryse to be payed the one half by the first of march and before as he needeth it and the other half by the 16. of saptem naxt insewing after the dat hereof ockt 21 : 1602
at a genaral town meting lagely warnid dacember the. 12. 1692 this day the town did chus for constabls this yere
nathanil lawrens and steuen holdin
the salackt men for this prasant. yere are these as foloweth
John farnworth Wilim langly
Jonathan lawrans
Zackrey parker
Siman Ston
the same day the 12. of dacember the town did then chuse capt parkr and John Page laft lakin saner and sarg Knop and Samll Woods and Wiliam green
Jonas Prescott to seat parsons in the meeting hous acording to thare best disscrashan and acording to the Ranks & quality of parsons
Wiliam langly was chosen town clark for this prasant yere For suruares for this prasant yere are these
goodm huchins corpral Warnr & Samll Parkar tho tarball
the same day the town did by uaat giue to corpral Warnar a small quantety of land lying betwen Joseph gilsons lot and his own as atast JONAS PRESCOTT Clark
the town did the same day uoat to giue for a saxton to swep the meting hous & put out the flag and doe all the work of a saxton thay wil alow twenty shilins
IC6
EARLY RECORDS OF
The Rates mad by the salackt men for the payment of the sau- eral sames spasifyed in the aboue manshaned sames & commmited the constabls
a Rat mad by the salackt men & commited to the 2 constables
to Jonathan lawrans constabl money 3- 3- 7
& to tho tarball constabl money 2 - 7 - 3
tarbals comon pay lauranses comm pay the whol som of money
I
4
12 6
5 10 IO
the whol som of comon pay 2
16 7
The whol som of the Rates in comon pay
Raised in the yere 1692 was 7
5
2
of which the captin is payed
6
14 0
thare is still in constabls tarbals hand to pay to the saxton 0
5 I
thes accounts was Rad & aproued by the town the. 12. of da- cember 1692
as atast JONAS PRESCOTT town clark
James nuting hath cradit for both his pay Rats to the minesters bord
to Wil longly corp warner 0
0
I II
0 2 2
2 0
I
William Longley, the eleventh town clerk, was the son of William and Joanna Longley, and held the office during the year 1693 and until his death in the summer of 1694. His father had previously held the same position, and from the similarity of their names the two have sometimes been con- founded with each other. The tragical fate of the son's fam- ily will long be remembered. With the exception of one boy, they were all massacred by the Indians on the morning of July 27, 1694. They lived about a mile north of the vil- lage ; and last autumn the town, in commemoration of the sad event, erected a monument on the site of their dwelling- house. William Longley made an entry in the town records July 19, only eight days before his death, and during the re- mainder of the year the records appear to have been kept by different persons. In making his records, he used the new
IO7
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
style of reckoning so far as to begin the year with the first of January. His son John, who alone of the family escaped from the massacre, subsequently was town clerk during several years.
Jenuary 1, 1693 at a genaraell town meetting orderley warned the town did by the maier uote determine yt they would raise all the charge for this present year on untill ye town see cause to allter ye waye by Ratable estat as foloweth euery maill head at sixteen years and upward at one shilline in the single and so to duble with ratable estate acording to law each horse 40 shillins each ox at 40 shillins each cow 30 shillin sheep and swine 4 pound par scor all impruf land at to shillins par acor exscept pastors and medows that are with in fenc a 5 shillins par acor euery house y hath but one schimney at one peney in ye single and so preportionnall euery barn with one baye at one peney in the single and so proportishan- able and Liften prescot for his mills at 50 pound in ye single
as wittness WILLIAM LONGLEY town Clarck.
ienuary the 1 - 1693 the town did agree for to alow Samuell Scriptor Se and John gree zo shillins a peess in town paye and no more
the same daye the town did agree to alowe goodwife Church 2 shillins in town paye and no more
Fabruary the 6 1693 the inhabitanc being met togather for to Consider of sum waye for to prevent futar unnessesary charges did by uott declare that they would petishone unto the genaraill Court that ther representetiue might be relesed from atending the Sesh- one any more
the same daye the town did by uott desclare that they would haue dacon Lawranc for to manidge the portistione for them which the Comithy hath draw up
March 6 1693 at a genarall town meeting Legally warned Town ofiser were choosen for this year whose names are under writen
for constables nathanal lawranc and Steuen holden
for selectmen William Longley Samuell Woods sen
Joh fannworth elias baran
Zacarih Parker William Longley town Clarck Jeams parker Junor
for Commishonnor
108
EARLY RECORDS OF
the Commity for to gine the select men in stractione for this year is Jeams Knap John Page sen and william green
for tiethen men Joseph Lawranc Jeams nuttin
mathias farnworth
danaiell Cadey
Samuell parker
for siruars of the hy waye Liftenant Lacken Joshua Whitting se
John farnworth William green
for fenc fuer ephram Phillbrick nathannaill blood
John green William Lacken Ju
march 6 1693 The orders which the towns Committy gaue to the selectt men are as followeth
t that the Select men tack care that all the town deats that apear for to be due be paied both to minister and town
2 that the selectmen giue orders to the siruars of hy waye that the Kings hy waye be sophishantly mended and if any comeplaint be thorow the neglect of the select men they shall bare the blam and the town be aquited
3 the shall tack speshall care that no parson or parsons whatso- euer shall abide in this town apone any pretenc whatsoeuer unless it be such as have paranct frinds or relatione that will Respond for the towns sequrity
4 that they tack care that all swine be sophishantly yocked and Ringed for the preventione of doomidg and that all horses that goe about the Habitable part of the town be fetered and all other Cretor that be unrully be tacken car of as the Law directs and that all fensess be Repored acording to Law
5 that the present charges shall be Leuied by the inuoise that the selectimen mack the Rate by for the Representetiues shall be the inuoises for to raise this present charge by which doth apeare for to be due
6 that the select men tack a inuoise sum time the mouneth agust for the use of the town or any parson or parson for to seithe on they shall be aquited at any asessment Layed on them
7 and that the selectmen shall raise all the charg for this year by Ratable astate as followeth namely euery head at one peney in a single Rate exsept it be such parsons thatt are nott ender couer barn and such parsons to be rated at the discrestion of the selectt- men and all other estats to be rated as followeth one hors at forty shillins and one ox at forty shillins and a cow at thirty shillins
109
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
sheep and swin at fore pounds pur score and all impruffed Land at ten shillins pur acor exsept pastors at fiue shillins pur acor
8 and whatsoeuer els doth apear for to be of a prudenshall nator the select men are Required for to tack care of
JAMS KNAP his / marck
WILLIAM GREEN his ++ marck JOHN PAGE Seyer
March the 23 1693 at a meetin of the select men Samuell Woods sener was chosen sealler of waits and mesurs
Groton Aprill 12 1693 Know all peple by thes presenc that Nathanaeill Lawranc senor hath Reseiued full satisfactione by the select men and Constables for sarueing the town as a Representiue at the two first sestione
I saye reseiued by me NATHANNIL LAURANCE
Groton April 12 1693 Know all peple by thes presenc that John Page senor doth fully and and Clearely acquite the town select men and constables for sarfing the town as a representetiue at the first held at boston in ye year 1692
as witness my hand
JOH PAGE seneyer
Payed to Nathanail Lawranc se aight pounds in mony
Payed to John Page se two pounds sixteen shillins and nine penc in mony
Groton May 15 1693 At a genaraell Town meetin order warned the town did agree that they would for the present time hire mister hobart house for the minister if they can haue it apone Rashanall tarms and that they will parchis a piess of Land for the ministree and build a house apone in conuenant time waiting apone the prouenc of god as it maye direct and it for to Remaine for the ministree for euer
as attest WILLIAM LONGLEY Town Clarck
maye 15 1693 the Town being met together ther unto orderlie warned then the town did by uote declare that they would not send nor Choose any parson nor parsons for to Represent them at the great and genaraill Corte or asembley
John page senor Jeams Kemp John Stone and William Longley se desent from this uote John farnworth and Steuen holden
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