USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 20
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Wednsday the 21 of August the propriety meet and opened the meet- ing and ajorned the same to y" 3 wednsday in October and defered the Last half of ye 4 devision till then and from thence it was ajorned to 3 wednsday in November and that the Last half of the forth Devision was Continued till ye first of february following
The following financial statement of the selectmen for 1723 is from Judge Joseph Wilder's memorandum book.
Thomas Carter Town Treasurer for ye year 1723.
Town Rates
minester's Rates
31-12-7 Edward Hartwill Constable of ye Town £40- 9- 0 23-13-3 Benjamin Bailey Constable 28-19-1I 27- 11-9 Samuell Warner 34- 6-10
103- 15- 9
Where of he is ordered to pay to Jabez fairbank for Serving as Representative in 1723 20 - 12 -0
to ye Selectmen for makeing Rates in 1722 2-0 -0 10
to Mr Edward Broughton for Keeping Scool 10 20
to ye Selectmen for Glace 2 - 5
to Edmund Harris for Sweeping ye meeting hous 1- 15
20S
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
to ye Selectmen for making Rates in 1723 towit to Joseph Wilder 1 - 4-6
Josiah White 10-2
John White 9-0
Samuell Carter Ebenezer Wilder 12 -4
to Nathan Howood for two wind frames for ye meeting hous 3-0
to Edward Hartwill for to make up what his province List was
Les than his warrant 15-0
to the Committy for y" bridge
30%-0-0
to John Prescot for plank 14-6
101- 10-6
22 - 5 - 3
LANCASTER february 18'h 1723/4 then Rekoned with Deacon Joseph Wilder Mr Samuell Carter: Mr Josiah White & Mr Ebenezer Wilder; Selectmen for the Town of Lancaster: & the Subscriber bath Received the whofl of bis Sallery till July Ist 1723. JOHN PRENTICE
Sd Receipt entered as above being a true Copy May the rath 1724. p JOHN HOUGHTON Town Clerk
LANCASTER March 2 1723/4 The Inhabitants of sd Lancaster met at ye Meeting House in sd Towne according to appointment & notice Given to be the Publick Anniversary Meeting for Choyce of Town officers &c:
I & first Chose Jonathan Moore Moderator for sd Meeting : & then the Selectmen Gave Some account of what they had. Done as to making of Rates : & particularly Had Reconed with Mr Prentice who is Cleered till ye first of July 1723 as by his Receipt as above entered
2 & next voted that the Late Select men do Give in a faire account of theire Proceedings in the Towns affaires the Last yeare unto ye Next Selectman that may be Chosen to Succeed as Selectmen in sd Town
next voted to Choose 5 Selectinen & accordingly Chose Joseph Wil- 3 der; Josiah White; Jonathan Houghton ; ebenezer Wilder & Samuell Carter Selecimen to serve for the year ensuing
The above record, left incomplete, is in the hand of John Houghton, as also is the next.
1724. Munday ye rith of May 1724 The free Holders &c: of ye Town of Lancaster met at ye Meetinghouse in sd Town In order to Choose a Representative according to Due warning Given, & after the Reading of the Precept & ye Laws Relating to sd affaire, votes were called for & Given in & then john Houghton Sent was Chosen Representative for sd Town of Lancaster: to serve at ye Generall Court according as specified in sd Precept.
209
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
August 1734. The Selectmen of Lancaster are allowed to enter their caution against Robert Darby, Moses Chandler & his wife with three child- ren, Barnard Twoells, Sarah Hubbard and Mary West being Inhabitants, they having been warned to depart the said Town as pr their caution on file.
[Middlesex Court Records.]
A COPY OF YE NOTIFICATION FOR YE MEETING FEBRUARY Y" 34 1723/4
the warning being Taken away there Remains only a breef account of the things propounded for to wit Thomas Wilder propounded for a hiway from the Road by his hous to je Hous that was Robert Houghtons ju decesed John Warner for a hiway from Caleb Sawyers to his Hous Jon- athan Whitney and Jonathan Crouch for a hiway from where they Live to ye Hous of Danil Preest Decesed John Darbey for Som alowance for a hiway Taken Through y Land he purchassed of John Willard. Josiah Willard also mosoned that Sum alowance be made him and Joseph Ather- ton for damage by a hiway into ye phuntrees
Lancaster February the 3º 1723/4 the propriety meet and first made Choyce of John Houghton Esq Moderator for Said meeting and then Granted a Committy for to vew two hiwayes propounded for, to wit one by John Warner and the other by Jonathan Whitney &c. and to mark out the same if they think them needfull and to Report to y propriety the place of there Lying and also ye Quantity of Land they Take from any Land they may Run through and Likewise y" Quallity thereof
2 They made Choyce of Jacob Houghton Caleb Sawyer & Jonas Houghton to be ye Committy
3 they voted that ye Same Committy vew what Damage John Darbey Sustaned by a hiway that is Laid through ye Land he purchassed of John Willard & what he ought to be alowed therefor and also what Josiah Willard and Joseph Atherton ought to be alowed for the hiway Crossin their Entervaill in to ye plumtrees
4 they made Choyce of James Wilder Jonathan Houghton & Eben- ezer Wilder to be a Committy to vew the hiway propounded for by Thomas Wilder and to marke out y" same & to Report to the propriety there Doings there in : and then the meeting was ajorned to ye third wednsday of may next to eight of ye Clock
Lancaster May ye 20 1724 upon ye ajorument from February the 3d and first Receved a return of a Committy which was as followeth: We the Subscribers being appointed a Committey to mark out a hiway to where Robert Houghton Jr did formerly live we began to mark out the way at the turn of the old way beyend Thomas Wilders hous and marked along till we Came to Sum Land of Thomas Tookers where we Took a slip of the
14
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210
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
said Land into ye hiway and from thence we marked the hiway through Common Land till we Came to Land of Robert Houghton Decesed : and we are of opineon that there is a Little Corner of Land on the same side of the hiway south of the piece tiken from said Tooker may be a Recom- pence to him for the damage dun him by ye hiway JAMES WILDER EBENEZER WILDER JONATHAN HOUGHTON this Return was Exsepted and the hiway Conformed and a small slip of Land Lying on the West Side of said way by the said Tookers Land Granted to said Tooker for alowance
2 They made Choyce of Benjamin Bellows Jonas Houghton and Thomas Tooker to be a Committy to vew the Hiway formerly propound [ed] for by Benjamin Houghton to See where it may be with most Conven- iancy and make Report to the propriety at there next meeting
3 they made Choyce of Joseph Wheelock William Divoll and John Benit to be a Committy to vew the hiway propounded for by Edward Hartwill to se where it may be most Conveniant and make Report to the propriety at there next meeting
4 they Receved a Report of a Commitly sent out on the proposition of John Warner John Darbey and Jonathan Whitney which was as fol- Joweth viz May the Eighteenth 1724 we the Subscribers marked Several! Waies viz one Hiway Begining at the Hiway neer to Caleb Sawyers bain and Ran as the markes directs to a white oak a Corner of John Warners Land: and do alow it to Run Twenty Rods along side of John Warners Land: but Samuell Warner appeered in said Meeting and made an offer that if the Town would Lay out the said Hiway along by his Hous and Gabriell Preists Hous through there Land that they to wit Gabriell Preist and Samuell Warner would Give the Land free and would be at half the Charge of Makeing and Keeping in Repare the way through there Land the Committey also Gave there voice that it might be as servesable to the publick
another Hiway is marked cut begining neer to the westerly end of Caleb Sawyers Fecld at the Hiway and Runeth as the mark trees direct upon to barchill and along by Land that was Laid out to [Josiah] White and it Runs along by the Southerly end of the Land that [leaf torn] Danil Priest by the northerly side of a Corner Mark at the westerly end of a piece of Land of Nathanil HapGood and then it Runs by said Land the whol Lenth of it then it Runs eigty four Rods through Land of Samuell War- ners to Jonathan Whitneys and Jonathan Crouches Land and ten Rods by said Crouches Land and we think said Warner ought to be alowed three acres in Lew of one or according to that proportion
We also mesored the Hiway in John Darbes Land and find it to Run in his Land on hundred and fifty Rods and we think he ought to be alowed thre acres for one JACOB HOUGHTON JONAS HOUGHTON Commilley this return was exsopted the hiwayes alowed and yt alowances Granted by the propriety
2IT
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
5 they Granted a Committey to wit Joseph Sawyer James Keyes & Hezakiah [Town]send to vew the Hiwaics propounded for by Samuell Rugs . . . . . [leaf torw]
Lastly they Granted y' Request of Jonas Houghton in Remoual of a Hiway which Goeth to barchill Medows where it Runeth through the Land that was Danil Hutsons that it might Run along upon the South Edge of it by the Land of Joseph Fairbank
At a meeting of the [proprietors] February the ist 1724/5 first made Choyce of John Houghton Esquier for a Moderator then Receved sum Reports of Committyes formerly Chosen Refering to Sum Hiwaies they are as followeth January ye 29th 1724/5 Wec the Subscribers being Choosen a Committey by the propriety of Lancaster to vew a hiway petis- tioned for by Benjamin Houghton upon the Day aboue said we went and vewed the Same and have marked it out viz through the Land of Ebenezer Wilder thirty Rods then through the Land of Jabaz Fairbank twenty nine Rods then a Long in the Land of Jabaz Fairbank & Thomas Sawyer to Run along half upon Each thirty four Rods and then wholly in the Land of Said Sawyer Twenty Eight Rods and then in said Fairbanks Land twelve Rods. BENJAMIN BELLOWS THOMAS TOOKER JONAS HOUGHTON Committy This Report was exsepted and the hiway Confermed accord- ingly by the propriety by a vote in said meeting
January ye 18mh 1724/5 Marked out a hiway for the Conveniance of Samuell Rugg to Com to the Contery Road and it began at a white oak about ten Rods from the norwest angle of his Land which was Laid out for his Father on the northerly side and Runs northerly a Cross the Land of Jonathan Moors Seventy one Rods then it Run a Cross sum of the Land of John Moor twenty six Rods and Coms in to the bay Road at the edge of the plain neer a little Brook where the way has bin diged East- erly from the pond brook Called west pond brook JAMES KEYES JOSEPH SAWYER Committy this hiway was Confermed by a vote, and then the meet- ing was ajorned to the first Monday in March next
March ye I the propriety being meet ajorned ye meeting to ye 3 monday in May nex to ten of ye Clock
It has been usual to state that Josiah Flagg, whose excel- lent penmanship adorns the town books for thirty-four years, between 1800 and 1836, was without a rival in the length of his service as clerk for Lancaster. But the signature of John Houghton, later known as Justice Houghton, who succeeded Cyprian Steevens as clerk of the writs, is found attached to records of lands, petitions to the court, and
212
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
other public documents, as town clerk, for nearly every year from 1685 to 1724, a period of forty years. Less than half a dozen town-meeting records in his distinct chirography have been preserved to our day, and in only three of these are elections of a clerk noted. In 1719, 1721 and 1722 not only was John Houghton, Esquire, chosen clerk, but moderator, selectman or assessor as well. He is the first named as schoolmaster in any records of the town. Joseph Willard, Esquire, states that he represented the town for fourteen years in the legislature, but omits the years 1690 and 1692 when John Houghton was undoubt- edly one of the two deputies sent, and includes the year I718 when Lancaster elected not John Houghton, Sen., but Lieutenant John, his son. We find the title Justice given him as early as 1718, though the date of his com- mission is put down in the civil list 1729. Perhaps Justice Houghton might have been appointed the first judge of the Worcester County Court of Common Pleas in 1731, instead of his younger neighbor, Joseph Wilder, but for his growing blindness. Although then eighty years of age, his mental and physical vigor were little impaired.
John Houghton was the son of John and Beatrix, who in 1653 set up their roof tree somewhere near Dean's, now Goodridge Brook. Not far away on the south side of the Narrow Lane, lived Jacob Farrar whose only daughter, Mary, must have been John's nearest playmate. February 22, 1672, when John was about twenty-one, and Mary twenty-three years of age, she became his wife. Their home, at least after the massacre of 1676, was on the Old Common as it is now called, though then and long after known as Bride Cake Plain. Their house stood on the south side of the highway opposite the grounds of the State Industrial School. After fifty-two years of married life, the wife died April 7, 1724. and January 27, 1725. John Houghton, at the age of seventy-five, married Hannah Wilder, aged seventy-two. The Boston Evening
213
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Post for Monday, February 14, 1737, thus briefly records his death :
LANCASTER, February ST 1736-7.
On the 31 Instant died here (after a few Day's Indisposition) John Houghton, Esq: in the 87ª Year of his Age. He was a sensible, religious, peaccable and useful Man. He was serviceable (in several Capacities) for many Years among us. A constant and devout attender on all the Ordi- nances and Worship of God in his House. Tho' his Eyes were dim some Years before his Death, yet his Bodily Strength and Intellectual Powers remained with him to an uncommon Degree. He hath left behind him a sorrowful Widow in the S4th. Year of her Age, under bodily Blindness, and who bath been confined to her Bed for more than three Years past: Also a numerous Offspring. There are now living of his Children 7, of his Grandchildren 54, and of his Great Grand Children 73, in all 134.
Joseph Wilder, son of the second Thomas Wilder, born in 1683, was proprietors' clerk for forty years, from 1716 to 1757, and perhaps during some years previous. the rec- ords of which are missing. He also became town clerk in 1737, continuing in that office seven years. These offices he held by common consent, in spite of the fact that his penmanship is execrable, and almost illegible in the late years of his life, when he wrote with a palsied hand. He was deacon in the Lancaster church for forty- two years, and representative to general court in 1720, 1725 and 1726. Upon the organization of Worcester County in 1731, he was appointed judge and held the office of chief justice at his death. He was, however, very illiterate, excelling all his clerical predecessors and rivalling the most untaught of his successors, in the per- versity of his spelling. Had his decisions as a judge been as versatile and independent of precedent, as was his orthography, trials before him would have had all the exciting uncertainty of the modern horse race. In punct- uation he displayed greater consistency, ignoring it alto- gether, nor deigning like the eccentric pamphleteer of the next generation, to add to his work any postscript supply of points for eclectic distribution. He also bears, justly
214
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
or unjustly, the ill name of having by his narrow minded opposition, prevented the locating in Lancaster of the county offices, this then being the foremost town in the new county. He is charged with having in his blind con- servatism, presaged woes unnumbered to the rural paradise about him, should it become habituated to the society of lawyers and litigants.
There must have been great native force in him, as well as discretion and tact. Rev. Timothy Harrington in a sermon preserved in manuscript, beaded Post Funera Hon. Viri J. Wilder armigeri, portrays his character in these flattering colors :
God furnished him with a penetrating Judgment, strong Reason, and a tenacious Memory, and all, so far as we can judge, were consecrated to ye Honour of ye most high. God was pleased to advance him to numer- ous seats of trust and Im[portance] in ye Town County and Province, which he filled with Integrity and Honour. In his domestic character, a kind and faithful Husband a tender and Instructive and Exemplary Parent, a pleasant chearful and - Christian, a friend to Truth and Virtue, A lover of God, man and his country, and a Benefactor to ye poor and ye Distressed. This, This is he whom God hath taken from us.
He died March 29, 1757, aged 74. His wife, who out- lived him, was Lucy, sister of Reverend Andrew Gard- ner. One son, Colonel Caleb, followed him as clerk of the proprietors, and another, Colonel Joseph, succeeded him in the offices of town clerk, deacon and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
LOVEWELL'S WAR. 1722-1726.
MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE, JOURNALS AND MUSTER ROLLS.
In the Muster Roll of Sergeant Thomas Buckminster of Framingham, are the names of four Lancaster men, engaged during July and August, 1722, in some service not specified :
Henry Houghton, 1 week, 6 days. John Bceman, 4 weeks, 5 days. John Wilder, 4 weeks, 5 days. Richard Wild. [Massachusetts Archives, XCI, 32.]
In the Muster Roll of Sergeant Samuel Wright, serving from October 25th to November 25th, 1822, is found the name of Simon Stevens of Lancaster.
[Massachusetts Archives, XCI, 71.] 1723.
BOSTON NOV 20 1723.
Sir. I rec! your Lettr this morning of the 18th Instant & hauc enquired at the Secrys Office concerning the orders to Coll. Tyng & find by a great Neglect they were misplaced & never sent forward. Now you acquainting me that you can enlist very good Men to compleat the Num- ber for yo: Command, These are to direct you forthwith to do it & return me their Names; I doubt not but you will keep them to their Duty & take all Occasions if possible to perform some Signal Service.
Yors
To Lt. Jabez Fairbank.
W" DUMMER [Massachusetts Archives, LXXII, 133.]
LANCASTER December ye 2th 1723
May it plese your Honor I have in observance of your Hon's order In- listed fifteen able bodyed men fit for service & haue sent the List of them herewith to your Honr with ye List of those that ware in ye service before
216
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
and hane put them on duity : we have made no decovery of ye Inemy as yet: the barer is one that is in the service & is Capable if your Hon Scas Case to demand; to give a full account of our management your Humble
[Superscribed] Servant JABEZ FAIKBANK To ye Honk William Dumer Esq Left Governer & for His Majesties service, by Mr Edward Hartwell.
A List of the Names of ye Soldiers first enlisted in Lancaster Groaten & Dunstable.
Edward Hartwill
Aaron Willard
James Shattuck Samuell Scripter
Benjamin Osgood
John Stephens
William Larrance
Jabaz Davice
Thomas Chamberlin
Ephriam Chandler Benjamin Nicholds John Barrit
The names of those Last in Listed
Joseph Blanchard, Ephriam Wheeler
Jacob Lakin
David Osgood
Thomas Lund
Joseph Wheelock
Isaac Farwell
Esra Sawyer
Ebenezer Cumins
Benjamin Harris
Phineas Parker
John Usher Jonathan Combs
David Satell
LANCASTER December the 2º 1723
JABEZ FAIRBANKS
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXII, J44, 145.] Lancaster names are printed in italics.
LANCASTER, April 28 1724
May i! please your Honour.
Sr. I have attended your order referring to the Placing of the men at each Towo, and have also Sent your Honour the Journalls of all the long Scouts. The Scouts going from three Particular Towns, I am not able to give your Honour so particular an account of Every Days march as Possibly your Honour may expect. 1 endeavour to Improve the men Constantly to the most advantage according to the Best of my Judgment. If your Honour Please, I would now and then Send out A Scout at Con- siderable Distance from the Towns, and I think it would be very agreable to the minds of the People so to do. I stand ready to attend your Hon- ours Orders & am your Honours Most Obedient Servant.
JABEZ FAIRBANK.
[Massachusetts Archives, XXXVIII, A, 65.]
Benjamin Houghton jun John Bennit Samuel Saroyer Jonathan Shipley Joseph Blood
Isaac Woods
217
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
GROTON May 28, 1724. Mlay it please your Honour.
I have Posted the men Committed to my care at the Towns of Lau- caster Groton Dunstable & Turkey Hill according to your Honours Orders ; and Improve them in the best mauner I can for the protection of the People & Discovery of the Enemy and I think to General Satisfaction. I have ordered one man to Mr. Prescotts Garrison During his attendance on the Court. I beg Leave further to acquaint your Honour that ye poco- ple in these Towns apprehend themselves in Great Danger, and cannot (in my humble opinion) be in any measure safe with so small a number of men.
I am your Honours
Humble & most obedient Servt.
JABEZ FAIRBANK [Massachusetts Archives, LXXII, 176.]
LANCASTER, July 1: 1724. May it please your Honour.
I recieved your Letter the Last night in the evening, and not before tho I suppose I might have had it sooner had the bearer pleased, Your Honour is pleased in your Letter to give me my choice of A Lieutenants Post in Groton or Turkey Hills or A Serjeants at Lancaster. I am sensi- ble that Serjeants Pay in Town would be as Profitable as to keep con- stantly abroad, but yet upon Some Considerations I choose to Abide in the Post I am, and to go to Groton. I return my thanks to your Honour for the choice you have given me. I would Inform your Honour that on Monday Last I sent A Scout to Rutland who Returned yesterday and gave me an Account that In the way they discovered the tracks of four or five Indians' bearing towards Wochoosett whom they Judged had been gone 2 or 3 days. Yesterday Part of Grotou men & Part of this Town went out for the week to range above the Towns to see what Discovery they could make, and I am myself this Day going out with what men I can Raise to see what I can discover. I desire the favour of your Honour, That the souldiers now under my Command in Lancaster and Groton might have the Liberty of abiding with me or of being Dismist. If it be your Hon- ours Pleasure to let Edward Hartwell who hath been a Serjeant under me Abide still in that Post in this town I should take it as a favour. I stand ready to attend your Honours Orders & Commands and am S.
Your Humble Servant
JABEZ FAIRBANK
[Massachusetts Archives, LII, 9.]
GROTON July 20th 1724.
May it please your Honour
I have attended your orders in posting the men at the Towns of Groton Lancaster & Turkey hill - precisely except at Turkey Hill there is but eleven men Capt. Stevens having not as yet sent so many as ordered
* الجدران
218
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
& I have Taken my post at Groton where I Improve the souldiers in the best manner I can agreeable to your orders, & I have ordered them to Lodge in Some of ye most Exposed Garrisons as often as may be, but I find it impossible to Improve So Small a number of men So as to answer ye Necessities of the people here ; whose circumstances are so verry Diffi- cult & Distressing that I am not able fully to Represent to your Honour ; the poor people are many of them obliged to keep their own Garrisons and part of them Imployed as Guards while others are at their Labour whose whole Time would be full Little enough to be expended in Getting Bread for their families. My own Garrison at Lancaster is very much exposed & with Humble Submission I think Requires Protection as much as any in that Town, therefore I Humbly pray your Honour would be pleased to give me Leave to post a Souldici there Dureing my absence in the Service of the province. I beg your Honours Pardon for giving you this Trouble, and ask Leave to Subscribe mySelfe
Your most Obedient Humble Serv!
JABEZ FAIRBANKS.
[Massachusetts Archives, Ln, 16.]
Lieutenant Jabez Fairbank was a grandson of John Prescott. His father, Jonas, and two brothers, Joshua and Jonathan, were slain in the early Indian wars. The stone over his grave in the old burying ground records that he died in 1758, aged about 84 years ; the recorded date of his birth however is " Sth IIno. 1670." The following jour- nals are not in the handwriting of Fairbank, nor are they all by one hand. A sergeant or clerk made up the report of each scout for the Lieutenant to sign, and hence the diversity in expression and spelling. The names of local- ities mentioned are of interest. Journals of the scouts by Lancaster soldiers only are here transcribed. Those from Dunstable and Groton were similar and equally numerous.
LANCASTER December the 6th 1723.
A Journal of ye Scoutes sent out By Liuet Jabez farbank first to quaso- ponican and to assoatetick hill and round the turkey Hills and another Scout up Wecapickit and to Wickapimsce and to Bechill and to the parke another scout sente to washacom pond and to stillwater and to Rutland and then to Lancaster again
January the C# 17231 &cc
219
MASSACHUSETTS. : 643-1725.
Another Scout sente up Nashawa riuer to ye role stone Hill and to the Wachusets Hills and to rutland and to Sbrubury and on the carts [skirts] of Wossester.
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