USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 23
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Tuesday 28 We marched about 12 mile up ye River & in about 3 mile found a large Wigwam where ye Indians had lately been, as we judged about 20 in number, and our Indians said there was Squaws as well as San- nups we tracked some of them as we Suppose through Ossippy, and some up ye River, towards Night we crossed a stream of some considerable big- ness & sent ont scouts & campt.
Wednes. 29 We marched up y River, about 14 mile, & come this day to ya foot of a great mountain on y& West side of ye River, where ye stream was small, we tracked Indians all this day which we suppose ware gone directly to Canada. the mountains being steep & rocky we could not
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24I.
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
frack them further. This morning we see where they had been about at week before (we supposed), built a Conoe, & judged them to be them which we tracked from Pimichiwasset to Cusumpy Pond, & then campt.
Thurs4. 30 In y' morning sent a scout of 20 men about 4 or 5 mile up ye River who made noe further discovery. after that we left ye River S: steared East about 3 mile up a very steep mountain, & campt by reason of Rain ; having this morning examined Jos : (ye Mohauck) and he said he did not know them woods, and did not think that the hed of meri- mack had been so fur up, & coud tell nothing without he found Sawco River.
Friday octo: I : We marched up ye same hill about 6 mile, and being on ye top of ye hill cou Discover no where nigh us anything but steep mountains, & marched down ye hill about five mile, & we generally judged said 5 mile to be 2 mile on a perpendicular, then campt by a small brook teh ran out of yo mountain.
Saturday 2 We lay still by reason of rain, but sent out some scouts who discovered Meremack ran from ye So Et round said mountain.
Sabbath 3 We marched S. E. up said River about 6 mile & came to y® head of it, & then steared N. E. about three mile over a steep hill & then came to ye head of Sawco River, and then marched down said River. about It miles East & we judged that River all yt way had fall 5 foot in 30 & mountains on each side thereof, Sent Scouts down ye River & campt.
Mund : 4 This Morning Examin' sd. Mohack, & said he coud tell nothing till he came lower down ye River. We marched down said River abour 5 mile & sent out Scouts, & campt by reason of rain.
Tuesday 5 This morning we came on some Entervalls & plain land, & found where Indians have been in ye Spring, having found ye hoops whereupon they Dried their Bear Skins, & we judged might be about 8 or To in number. this Day we judged we marched about 24 mile & sent out Scouts, & camped.
Wednes1 6. we marched down ye River about 20 mile to ye place where Capt. Lovel first came upon Sawco River 2 days before his fight at y6 mouth of a stream which he followed from Pigwacket hill, Sent out Scouts, & Campt. We discovered a River yt come from ye N. W. into Sawco River.
Thursd. 7: We Ext said Jo. ye Mohauck. whether that was not y" stream, whereupon the fort was, who said he coud not tell whether it was that, or one lower. Capt? Willard & Blancher, took said Jo. with 30 of ye ablest men & scouted up said N. W. branch about to mile, & found it to be a still stream fit for canoes with plenty of Entervals & old planting land of ye Indians, & could not learn anything encouraging from said Jo. & at night returned to y" army. Perceiving Provisions to be short, thought it advisable to stear bomewards.
242
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Friday & of Octob. we marched about 6 mile down ye River, & Having Campt by reason of Rain, sent scouts down ye River.
Saturday g. we marched down y River to Pigwacket old fort about 16 miles, & Capt. Willard sont Leirt. Warner out with Leut. Wilder & 40 men from both Companies Into ye Neck of ye River & Ordered them to meet ye Army where Capt. Lovil was killed. after meeting we marched io ye lower end of Sawco pond, & sent out scouts, & Campt by ye Rivers side, in all about 24 miles.
Sabba To. We marched about 26 mile & sent out scouts & campt, & discovered Ossippy River about a mile below us.
Mun. II, We waded this morning sd River marched about 20 mile down ye River, & sent out Scouts & campt.
Tuesday 12 We waded this morning over another River & marched down Sawco River about 28 mile & came to Salmon falls, sent out Scouts & campt below y falls.
Wednes : 13 We marched about 13 miles & came into Sawco falls, having no subsistance, we marched down to Winter harbour 7 miles & took some provisions from Capt. Jordan & lodged there.
Thuisd: 14. It rained in ye forenoon & in ye afternoon marched to Cape Porpus & there lodged, being about 7 miles
Frid : 15 We came to Wels about 9 miles & lodged there, and there parted wth Capt. Blancher, who went by Kingstown & Nutfield.
Saturd 16. We came to Kittiry about IS mile & lodged there.
Sabb : 17 We traville to Hampton falls & lodged there about 20 mile. Mund. 18 Came to Andavor being about 23 mile
Tuesday 19. Capt. Willard Rid & got home that night, and ya rest of the men got home, some Wednesday, some thursday & some Friday being about 40 mile. So that from Lancaster In Capt. Willards March accordin to his best Judgment & agreed with by y" Comp? being in all 503 mile. p BENJA. GOODRIDGE Clerk.
[Massachusetts Archives, XXXVIII, A, 119-21.]
LANCASTER MEN IN JOSEPH BLANCHARDS MUSTER ROLL AUGUST TO OCTOBER 1725.
Oliver Wilder Lieut
John Wheelock
Samuel Sawyer Sergt
Joseph Wilson
Joseph Whitcomb John Divoll
William Stevens
Stephen Houghton Ezra Sawyer Thomas Littel John Jona Osgood
Jonathan Bayley
Henry Sawyer
[Massachusetts Archives, XCI, 173-7.]
243
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
LANCASTER MEN IN THE MUSTER ROLL OF CAPTAIN SAMUEL WILLARD AUGUST TO NOVEMBER 1725.
Sam Willard Capt
Joshua Phelps
Eleazar Warner Lt of Groton
Barnabas Tuel
Eleazar Robins 2d Lt do.
Benj: Atherton
Henry Willard Ens : Simon Atherton
Benja. Goodridge Clerk
Ebent. Polley
Ephraim Wheeler
Richard Wiles
Moses Chandler
[Massachusetts Archives, XCI, 175.]
MUSTER ROLL OF CAPTAIN JOSIAH WILLARD'S COMPANY JUNE 3 TO NOVEMBER 10, 1725.
Josiah Willard Captain
Edward Hartocil Lieut
Jona Pierson
Jonathan Shepley Ens.
Edw. Pratt
Aaron Willard Sergt. Philip Goodridge Sergt.
Saml Hardy
John Dean Sergt.
Rot Gray Thomas Bruce
John Holden Corp
Isaac Farnsworth Corp
Jer. D. Belcher
Benjamin Corey Centinel
Joseph Woods
James Jewall
Robt Gray [bis]
Samuel Davis
Hezekiah Fletcher
John Shepard son to Danl Shepard
Richard Rice
Jona Lilley Jona Temple
Jona Richardson
Walter Malone
Joseph Bennet
Benja Manning
Thomas Ross
William Qurrin servi
Daniel Power
John Goodridge
Joseph Page Jona Willard
Jona Hubbard
Joseph Lakin
Won Ind. servt to Joseph Mainer Beuja Rugy Jonas Fairbanks
Phineas Parker Ebenī Blood
Jona Borden John Lakin
Isaac Woods
Cyprian Stevens
Saml Farnsworth son to Saml Farns- worth Benja Harris
Samuel Stow
Uriah Holt
John Shepley Isaac Parker
John Haywood Daniel Albert
David Osgood
Jeremiah Belcher
244
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Richard Wiles Richard Gore Richard Wiles [bis]
Nath! Nutting Phineas Burt Stephen Boynton
Josiah Witherby
Eben' Jafts
Andrew Watkins
Jno. Grout Daniel Collins
Robt Mears
Henry Houghton John Wilder John Willer Futur son of Thomas Wilder Simon Atherton son of James Ath .. erton
Josiah Corey Jona Fisk
Lawrence Lacey
John Nutting
Thomas Fairbanks son of Jabez Fair- banks
Daniel Kelsey Timothy Barron
Names supposed to be of Lancaster are printed in italics. Residences are not given in the roll. Captain Josiah was brother of Captain Samuel Willard. He removed to Turkey Hills and became colonel in the French and Indian war.
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Stephen Gazes
John Whitcomb. Jr.
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THE BOOK OF LANDS.
A LL reports extant of the meetings of the proprietary before A. D. 1725, have been given in full on previous pages. The first allotments, special grants, and successive divisions of commons, were registered in the Book of Lands. These valuable records are continuous from April, 1656, - when Ralph Houghton was instructed by the Arbitrators to begin them, -to the laying out of the last of the common land in 1835. The title to all the real estate of Lancaster, Clinton, Bolton, Berlin, and much of that in Harvard, Boylston and Sterling, is founded upon these records. The original proprietors of the Nashaway plantation, with the single exception of John Prescott, had before the organization of 1653, abandoned, sold, or by inaction lost their rights in the company. Of the fifty- five who signed the covenant before 1660, fifteen failed to fulfill its requirements, and their corporate rights thereby lapsed, while four names were added, making forty-four members of the Proprietary. This number was soon re- duced to forty by purchases. Among these forty men and their successors Lancaster's original territory, less a few special grants, was distributed. The first allotments each comprised twenty acres of upland styled the "house lot," and twenty acres of intervale. The special grants were by way of inducement to persons desired as inhabitants, as rewards for particular services, as a "conveniency," or as allowance for highways, barren land, &c. The divisions of common lands were made from time to time, to the num- ber of seven, each proprietor's share of the acreage dis-
246
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
tributed being proportionate to his original estate. Due regard was always paid to differences in value arising from situation and quality of soil, a well known field being fixed upon as a guide for estimation in the last respect. Very generally the danger of prejudice in the distribution was eliminated by giving the final determination to lot.
After the selection of the site whereon to plant the hearth- stone, the pioneers naturally sought the lands that could most easily be made to yield food for man and cattle. Daniel Neal, writing about A. D. 1700, of "The Present State of New England," tells us " The first Planters found the Grass in the Vallies above an ell in Height; and consequently pretty rank for want of cutting, but their cattle eat it and thrive very well with it." The broad and fertile intervales of the Nashaway doubtless formed a chief inducement to the settlement here at so carly a date. The rank growth of natural grasses upon these comparatively treeless tracts furnished abundant fodder for the winter supply to the cat- tle, a matter of the greatest importance in those days, when starvation often threatened the planter's stock if the deep snows belated the spring-time. The land of the earlier divisions consisted, for this reason, of intervale and meadow only, this latter designation being used in its older meaning, grass land. The swamps and wooded uplands obtained value as population increased.
Transfers of land find no place in these records save as casually mentioned in descriptions, and -- notwithstanding the law of October 19, 1652, defining the only legal convey- ance of real property to be by written deed and registry ---- until several years after the settlement of Lancaster, we find very few instances where the alienation of land was made matter of record. John Cowdall's sale of the Symonds & King trucking house site to John Prescott, in 1647, is found in the Suffolk Registry, but neither Lawrence Waters' transfer to John Hall, Hall's to Richard Smith, Smith's to John Tinker, Philip Knight's to Tinker, nor Tinker's to
1
247
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-3725.
Major Simon Willard and Thomas Wilder, can be found anywhere recorded. Very generally the pioneers made their wills, and from these, and the settlement of estates, we obtain many facts useful in ascertaining the outlines of home lots. The two maps inserted herewith are the out- come of a diligent study of the Book of Lands, the Mid- dlesex Probate Files, and the Registry of Deeds. In them will be found the results of an honest endeavor to correctly locate the homes of the earliest proprietors. While the editor makes no pretence that the property lines are laid down with the accuracy of a survey, he is not conscious of having evolved one of them from any self-satisfying sapi- ence of his own respecting the fitness of things, nor of having placed one merely to suit dubious tradition. Facts of record have fixed every starting point, and these will be as clearly set forth as economy of space will admit, in the proper places.
It should be borne in mind that the early surveyors made very generous allowance for swag of chain, inequality of ground, et cetera, and that the conventional term "more or less," in old deeds rarely meant less. Swampy, rocky or undesirable " slips" and "angles" of land were sometimes left between two lots in a range as common, or were given to abutters without measurement. As for example : the half home lot of Daniel Gains (who came after the first allotments had been made), "a peice of Land that was left by the Lott of John Rugg and Goodman Kerly :" and the swamp between the lands of Thomas Joslin and his son Nathaniel, "the one half thereof belonging to Nathaniel Joslin by the town's Gift, and the other to his father."
The plan of the present publication includes only the location of "first allotments." The original Book of Lands cannot be found, and the following extracts from the transcript made by Caleb Wilder about 1763, prove that he neither copied closely nor improved upon Ralph Houghton's orthography. He knew of no mark of punctu- ation but the colon.
248
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
THE ESTATES OF THE FIRST INHABITANCE OF LAN- CASTER
as thay are Entered in the old Book of Enteries by which the Lands in Lancaster are all divided Exept the first Lotts of upland and first Lotts of Enteruail which was twenty acres Each Lott and the Rest of the Lands both upland [and] Enteruail was Divided acording to thair Estates to witt four acres of meadow in Each deuision to a 100 pounds of Estate and acordingly for a Grater or Lesser Estate as entered below and ten acres in the second deuision of enteruail to cuery 100 pounds of Estate and acordingly for a Grater or Less Estate and one pound of Estate draws one acre in euery devision of upland Exept the first and fifth devision and it is now the Seuenth deuision.
Z
d
ď
-John Prescutt
366 15 0 Thomas Sawyer
IIO O O
William Carley Sen
270 00 0
Edward Brick 202 II 0
Ralph Houghton
264 04 0
William Carley Juner
186 00 0
Edmond Parker
98 00 0
John Moors
110 00 0
Thomas James
36 00 0
William Lewis
285 09
0
John Johnson
30 00 0
John farrah
107 00
0
John Smith
58 19
0
Roger Sumner
232 00 0
James Atherton
69
5 0
Jonas fairbanks
172 00 0
Robert Brick
IO 0
0
Jacob farrah
275 17 0
John Rugg
83 10 0
Richard Smith
313 13 10
John Lewis
18 10 0
Thomas Joslin
210 00
Henery Carley
78 0 4
Thomas Wilder
340 00 O
Richard Linton
90
0
O
Stephen Gates
314 00
0
John Whitcomb Jun
29
0
John Whitcomb
241 00
0
Mordicai Mackload
50 0
Larrance Waters
277 00
0
John Rigbe 50
0
John Houghton
250 00 0
James Butler
59 0
0
Jeremiah Rogers
310 00 0
Daniel Gains
50 0
Gamaliel Beman
210 00 0
John White
380 06 2 John Tinker
200 00 0
Phillip Knight
100 00 0 Joseph Rowlandson
200 00 O
John Roper
100 00 0
Nathaniel Joslin
155 OC 0
Richard Wheeler
300 00 0
THE NAMES OF THOSE THAT BAD 30 ACRE LOTTS GRANTED THEM BY THE TOWN AFTER THE SET- TELMENT OF THE TOWN.
John Bush Samuel Bennitt James Frost
John Priest Caleb Sawyer Jeremiah Willson
249
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
4
William Hutson John Hinds Jonathan Moore John Moors
Josiah Wheeler John Warner John Willard
The reason of these special grants is not found in records. With a single exception they were laid out in the limits of Harvard and Bolton.
THE LANDS OF EDWARD BRICKE IN THE FIRST DEUISION.
House Lott. His house Lott upon which he builded his house Lyeth on the east Side the neke in that Range of Lotts it being the first Lott thare as it is Recorded in his Grant and it buts Eastardly upon penecooke Riuer and westward it buts upon a highway that goes to quasaponikin en- teruail and Southardly it is bounded by Sum Land that was Left for a hiway and Sence is Laid out for a Cuntric highway by Concord men and it is bounded northardly by the Lott of Richard Linton now in the possion of Ralph Houghton and it is Laid out for twenty acres be it more or Less.
enteruail Lott. more he hath this enteruail Lott Lying on the east side penicooke Riuer Lying at the north east end of Swans Swamp buting easterdly upon the meadow Lott of John Moore and partly upon the upland and westward it buts upon penecooke River and it is bounded Southardly by a highway that goes through the Swans Swamp to the Commons and northardly it is bounded by the Lott of his son Robert Bricke and it Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less.
Edward Breck came from Ashton, England. He was in Dorchester, 1636, was made freeman, 1639, and in 1645 received a land grant on Smelt Brook conditioned upon his erection of a mill there. He became prominent in Dor- chester, being a selectman for several years both before and after his brief residence in Lancaster, which was per- haps shortened by the death of his wife in 1653. He died in 1662.' His house here was upon the east end of his lot, which extended along the north side of the existing street, twenty rods in width, from the wading place in the main river to the corner now occupied by Dr. J. L. S. Thomp- son. This land and house came by purchase into posses- sion of John Glazier, who came here from Woburn soon after the settlement, and died October, 16S8. It remained in the ownership of the Glazier family until 1727, when
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250
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
George Glazier sold it to Captain Samuel Willard, who is credited with having built the old mansion on this lot, now standing near the railroad crossing.
TIJE LANDS OF ROBERT BRICK.
house Lott. his house Lott Lyeth on the west side the neck and on the East side the nort Riuer buting casterly upon a highway that Goes betwen the two Ranges of Lotts and it buts westerly upon the north Riuer and Southardly it is bounded by Sum Land of Richard Linton whearon he hath builded his house and northardly it is bounded by the house Lott of John Whitcomb Sener and It Lyeth for twenty acors be it more or Less.
Enteruait Lott. more he hath an enteruail Lott Lying on the east side of penicook Riner butting easterly upon the meadow Lott of John Moore and westerly upon Penecook Riuer and It is bounded Southarly by the Lott of his father Edward Brick and northarly it is bounded by the Lott of Ralph Houghton to Gether with a small quantity of Land the Grant whare- of is to be seen in the old town Book Lying betwen his proper Lott and the Lott of Ralph Houghton all Lying to him for his full due acording to his first Grant in the enteruail be it more or Less.
Recorded by me RALPH HOUGHTON Clerk ye 2d of January 1666
Robert Breck, the son of Edward, married Sarah Hawk- ins in 1653, settled in Boston, and became a merchant - never occupying his lot in Lancaster, which was opposite the public buildings.
THE LANDS OF RALPH HOUGHTON.
his pp lott. The pp house Lott of Ralph Houghton is the third Lott in that Rang of upland Lotts Lying on the neck on the west side of peni- cook River being bounded south by Richard Lintons Lott an north by the Lott where he bought of John Prescutt buting easterly upon Penicook Riuer and west upon that Rang of Lotts that Lyeth on the west side of the neck whare Goodman Whitcomb Liueth
a Lott he Bought of John Prescutt. his house Lott which he bought of John Prescutt being the fourth Lott in the same Rang of Lotts bounded south by his own pp Lott and north by the Lott of James Atherton buting Easterly upon Penicook River and west upon another Rang of Lotts that Lyes on the west side of the neck acording to the Record of Grants in the old town Book which Lotts being Eight Score Rods in Length and twenty Rods wide : but now upon Exchange he stands possesied of the East end
251
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643 -1725.
of Richard Lintons Lott which is the second Lott in that Rang of Lotts and Lyes on the north side of Edward Bricks Lott which is the first Lott upon which he hath planted his house: in Lew whereof Richard Linton both his twenty acres at the west end of his own and the two Lotts of Ralph Houghton as appears by a deed of Exchange betwext them Both the Lotts of the said Ralph Houghton being and Lying for twenty acres be thay more or Less thay being two home Lotts.
huis Enteruail Giuen him by the town. His enteruaile Lott which was Giuen him by the town lying on the East side of penicook Riuer being the third Lott in that Rang of Lotis wherein Edward Bricks Lott is the first Lying bounded by the Lott ot Robert Brick (so called in the old town Book) on the south side and north by the Lott of Ralph Houghton which he bought of John Prescutt buting east on the Still River and west upon Penicook Riuer and Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or less.
his enteruail he bought of John Prescutt. and his enteruail which he bought of John Prescutt Lyes bounded south by his own pp Lott which was Giuen him by the town and bounded north by James Athertons Lott buting Easterly upon the Still Riuer and west upon Penecook Riuer which is by Estemation and also by his deed of sale from John Prescutt fifty acres :
Ralph Houghton was one of the four who first signed the Lancaster covenant, in 1652, coming here, it is said, from Watertown. He was then about twenty-nine years of age. Being the best penman of the pioneers, he was made clerk of records, and held that position until the massacre. He was admitted a freeman in 1668, and elected deputy in 1673 and 1689. The date of his death is not found, but must have been after 1692, as in that year be, with wife Jane, transferred the northern half of his house lot to his son Joseph. His children were Ralph ; James; Mary, II, 4, 1653 ; John, 28, 2. 1655 ; Joseph, 1, 5, 1657 ; Experience, I, 8, 1659 : Sarah, 17, 12, 1661 ; Abigail, 15. 5, 1661 ; Han- nah, October 16, 1667. All but Ralph and James were born in Lancaster. John and Hannah died October, 1679, in Charlestown. Joseph Houghton sold his half of the homestead to John Glazier, and he sold it to Simon Stevens.
252
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
THE LANDS OF RICHARD LINTON
his house Lott. The house Lott of Richard Linton Containing more or Less twenty acres is scittuate Lying and being on the neck of Land : and by exchange and barter betwen him and Ralph Houghton, is Layed out betwen themselues at the west end of the Loft or Lotts of the said Ralph Houghton being the bredth of his two Lotts and is bounded East by the said Lotts South by the Lott of Edward Brick north by James Atharton his Lott and west by the Lott of John Whitcomb Sener. Also more or Less Six acres on which his Dwelling house now Standeth Given him by the town and arbitrators Consent bounded south and west by the Ground of Lawarance Waters north by Robert Bricks Lott so named In the town Book and the highway easterly scittuate Lying and being near to his house Lott aforesaid being part upland and part swamp neere to the form of a triangle.
enteruail Lott The enteruaile Lott of Richard Linton containing ----- acres more or Less Lyeth at the South end of quosapanakin in the man- er and form of a triangle bounded by the north Riuer towards the north the enteruail of John Whitcomb towards the North and Southward by his own meadow Ground
In September, 1645, Richard Linton deeded his house and lot in Watertown to Robert Sanderson. About that date, or perhaps carlier, he and his son-in-law, Lawrence Waters, began life with their families upon the Nashaway, having been induced by the first proprietors to undertake the task of preparing the way for further settlement. He died March 30, 1665, and by his will it would seem that his wife Elizabeth outlived him. His house stood upon the west side of the present street, somewhere between the residences of Miss Levantia Bradley and Henry M. Lath- am, but he owned the land along the opposite side of the way for sixty rods, including the ground upon which the public buildings stand. His daughter, Anne Waters, re- ceived ten acres of this in trust for his grandson, Joseph Waters. The other lands he left to another grandson, George Bennett, who being slain in the massacre August 22, 1675, Samuel Bennet, his son, succeeded to possession.
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