USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 24
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THE LANDS OF JAMES ATHERTON.
House Lott His upland Lott for a house Lott Lyeth on the east side the neck buting easterdly on penicook Riuer and westerly it buts upon -
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another Rang of Lotts that Lycth on the west side the neck and it is bounded Southerly by the Lott of Ralph Houghton and northardly by the Lott of John White Lying for twenty acres be it more or Less.
Enteruail Loft More he hath an enteruaile Lott Lying on the east side of penicook Riuer buting easterdly upon sum part of the Hosokie meadow and westardly upon penicook River and Southardly it is bounded by the Lott of Ralph Houghton and at the west end of it by the high way that Runs sloping threw the Lott that goes to the meadows and northardly it is bounded by the Lott of John White and it Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less.
James Atherton came here from Dorchester with wife Hannah. He is thought to have been a brother of Major General Humphrey Atherton. In Lancaster children were born to him as follows : James, 1654 ; Joshua, 1656; Han- nah, 1657 ; Mary, 1660; Elizabeth, 1666; Deborah, 1669 ; Joseph, 1672. In 1697, being then of Milton, he conveyed his land in Lancaster to his eldest son James, Jr. In 1703 the eastern part of the home lot is found in possession of Joseph Wheelock, he having purchased it from Isaac Tem- ple of Marlborough. The western portion had been bought by William Divoll. James and James. Jr., were then resident near Bare Hill, and Joshua near Still River in Harvard. James, the father, died at Sherborn in 1707. aged 84 years. The highway from the brick store east to the neck road probably lies on the south side of the Ather- ton lot.
JOHN WHITE'S LANDS.
No record of John White's first allotment is found in the Book of Lands, though this is probably an omission of the copyist. We know, however, that the house lot joined Atherton's, and that his house stood upon the east end of it. Direct descendants have resided upon the land until modern days, and perhaps the first settler's home was on or quite near the site of Edward Houghton's residence. Goodman White, however, owned the land across the high- way, bounding upon the river. He came here from Salem, where he was admitted an inhabitant in 1639, and had an
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estate in what is now Wenham, upon which his eldest son, Thomas, remained. He brought with him to Lancaster his wife Joanna, a son Josiah, Elizabeth, who married Henry Kerley November 2, 1654, Mary, wife of the Rev- erend Joseph Rowlandson, and Hannah, who married John Divoll in 1663. He had also married daughters Joanna and Sarah. His wife died in 1654. Hannah, the young- est daughter, we learn from his will, was " a nurse to him in his old age," and the Lancaster estate was bequeathed to her and her brother Josiah. John White died in the spring of 1673, his will being signed March Io, and offered for probate May 28th of that year. His son Josiah died November II, 1714. The famous Indian fighter, Captain John White, was son of Josiah.
THE LANDS OF WILLIAM LEWIS
house Lott. his upland Lott for a house Lott Lying in that Rang of Lotts on the west side penicook Riuer on the neck and it is bounded southwardly by the Lott of John White and northardly it is boundled by the Lott of John Leweis his son and Easterdly it buts upon the said poni- cook River and westardly it buts upon an other Range of Lotts that was Laid on the west side the neck a high way Running Cross the Lott near the east end of it to quasaponikin hill and it Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less
his enternail Lott. More he hath his enteruail Lott Lying on the east side penecook Riuer and it Lyeth bounded southardly by the Lott of John White northardly by the Lott of John Leweis and it buts easterdly upon part of the hasokie meadow and westardly it buts upon penicook Riuer a high way Runing through it to the meadows and other Lands below it which is allowed for in meashuring the Lott Laid out for twenty acres be it more or Less.
William Lewis was of Roxbury, where he was made freeman in 1642. His children were John, born in Eng- land, 1635 ; Christopher, 1636; Lydia, born in Roxbury, 1639; Josiah, 1641 ; Isaac, 1644; Mary, 1646; and Han- nah, 1649. He deeded to his son Christopher the eastern half of his home lot, April 19, 1662. He died 1671, 10th
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
month, 3d day, leaving by will his house and land to his wife Anne and son Isaac. Mary became the wife of Josiah White. Lydia married Mordecai MacLoud.
THE LANDS OF JOHN LEWEIS
House Lott. his upland Lott for a house Lott Lyeth in that Rang of Lotts on the east side the neck buting Easterdly upon penicook River and westardly it buts upon a Rang of Lotts that Lyeth on the west side the neck and it is bounded southardly by the Lott of William Leweis his father and northardly it is bounded by the Lott of Thomas James a high way of 5 Rods Runing Crosse it near the east end of it to quasaponikin hill and It Lyeth for twenty acors be it more or Less.
Interuail Lott. more he hath his enteruail Lott Lying on the east side of penicook Riuer bounding Southardly by the Lott of William Leweis his father and northardly it is bounded by the Lott of Thomas James and it buts easterdly upon sum part of the hosokie meadow taking in sum swamppy land their for his Conueniencie in the 2 deuision and also for allowance for the highway that Runs Sloping through his Lott. and westardly it buts upon penecook Riuer and it is Laid out to him for twenty acres be it more or Less.
John Lewis, son of William, had by wife Hannah chil- dren born in Lancaster, as follows : Barrachia, 1663 ; Re- beccah, 1665 ; Patience, 1668 ; John, 1671 ; William, 1673. At the massacre he removed to Dorchester, where were born Hannah, 1678; Thankful, 1680; and Judith. He built a house in Dorchester in 1679, and was living there in 1687, whence it may be inferred that he did not return to Lancas- ter. Josiah White obtained the Lewis lands.
THE LANDS OF THOMAS JAMES
his House Lott. the house Lott of Thomas James Containing twenty acors is the ninth Lott Lying on the neck of Land on the west side of peni- cook River buting east upon the Riuer and west upon another Rang of Lotts that Lyeth on the west side of the neck bounding south by the Lott of John Leweis and north by the Lott of Edmon parker being eight Score Rods in Length and twenty Rods wide and Lyes for twenty acres be it more or Less a high way of fiue Rods wide Runing ouer Crosse it to quosaponikin hill near about the midel of the Lott.
his enteruail His enteruail is also the ninth Lott Lying on the cast side of penicook Riuer being Eight Score Rods in Length and twenty
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Rods wide and Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less buting east upon a highway that goes to the plumtrees and to the meadows and entermails and buting west on penicook River bounded South by the Lott of Joli Leweis and north by the Lott of Edmund Parker.
Thomas James had a wife Elizabeth, and a son John born in Charlestown, 18 .. 11 .. 1632. He left his property in Lancaster to his cousins, the Lewises, and Christopher Lewis sold the east end of the house lot, between the river and the highway, to Josiah White, in 1705. Thomas James died March 15, 1650.
EDMUND PARKER'S LANDS.
The copyist of the Book of Lands has omitted Edmund Parker's estate from the records. His house lot was be- tween that of Thomas James and John Farrar's, and of the same extent as theirs. Edmund Parker came here from Roxbury with wife Elizabeth [Howe], and children Eliza- beth, born 1649, and Abraham, born 1652. There were born to him here Mary and Esther, 1654, and Deborah, 1655. The wife died June 9. 1657. Ralph Houghton has left us a very unflattering account of the family, which can be found in previous pages. They disappear from Lan- caster at the massacre, returning to Roxbury. In Parker's will, dated Roxbury, April 13, 1692, he mentions all the children above named, and makes his "trusty & well be- loved Friends John Moore and Thomas Wilder Liuet, both of Nashaway whole and sole executors." He probably died early in 1694, as his inventory is dated May 28th of that year. By the will Josiah White was to have the east- ern part of the home lot at appraisal. The executors were to sell the rest.
THE LANDS OF JACOB FARRAH THAT HE BOUGHT. OF JOHN FARRAH
his house Lott. and he hath also a house Lott which he had from his brother John farrah Ciuen by him and Confirmed and Rattified by the town which Lott Lyeth on the Neck on the west side of penicook Riuer buting
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
east upon the said Riuer and west upon another Rang of Lotts that Lyes on the west side of the neck bounded South by the Lott of Edmon parker and north by the Lott of Roger Sumner at the west end and by the Com- mon at the east end and by sid Land of Jeremiah Rogers which Lott being Eight Scoore Rods Long and twenty Rods wide and Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less
The Farrar brothers were from Lancashire. John, after a brief stay here, went to Woburn, where he was admitted an inhabitant in 1656, and there died "very old," in 1690. John Houghton and wife Mary [Farrar] transferred the above house lot to George Glazier in March, 1706.
THE LANDS OF ROGER SUMNER.
his house Lott. The house Lott of Roger Summer Lyeth on the neck bounded South by the Lott of Jacob farrer north by a high way betwen it and the house Lott of Gamaliel Beman eastward by the high way that Goes to quosaponikin hill and west by [a] parcel of upland Giuen to his father in Law Thomas Joslin the said house Lott being laid out for twenty acres be it more or Less.
his enteruail Lott his enteruail Lott Lyeth at quosaponikin contains more or Less twenty acres Southardly bounded by the Lott of Nathaniel Joslin northardly by Gamaliel Beman westerdly by the North River easterly on the high way Runing betwen it and the meadow.
Deacon Roger Sumner, the son of William, born in England, came here from Dorchester, where he had been made freeman in 1657. He was a member of the church, and August 26, 1660, was dismissed in order that he might assist in organizing a church at Lancaster. His wife was Mary, daughter of Thomas Joslin. Their children were Abigail, 1657 ; Samuel, 1659; Waitstill, 1661 ; Mary, 1665; Jaazoniah, 1668; Rebecca, 1671 : William, 1673 ; Ebenezer, 1678. Deacon Sumner left Lancaster at the time of the massacre, returning to Dorchester. He died in Milton, May 26, 1698, aged sixty-six years. The house lot above described extended along the south side of the highway that leads west from Lane's Crossing. The land rights of Roger Sumner were purchased of his sons Wil- liam and Samuel by the brothers Edmund and Ebenezer
17
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Harris, who came to Lancaster from Sudbury about 1708.
THE LANDS OF JEREMIAH ROGERS
House Lott. his house Lott Lying on the neck on the east Side tharc of near to a Brook that we pass ouer to go to quasaponikin hill their being ten acors or thare abouts Lying bounded Southardly by the Lott of Jacob farrah and northardly by sum Common Land which since was Laid out to him for Second deuision and westerdly it is bounded by the highway that goes to quosaponikin hill and casterdly it is bounded by a Swamp that Lyeth betwen the Stated Common and it and he hath ten acres more or their ahouts Lying at the South end of a peice of Land called Pine hill bounded northardly by the said pine hill and Southardly it is bounded partly by the house Lott of Jacob farrar and partly by sum enteruail Land of his own and easterdly it buts partly upon Penecook Riuer and partly upon his own enteruail Land and westerdly it buts upon the stated Com- mon called timber plain both the aforsaid percells of Land is Laid out unto the said Jeremiah Rogers for 20 acres be it more or Less.
entermail. His Lott of enteruail as it was Granted by the town and Laid out in two pieces one peice whereof Lyeth near to a peice of Land called pine hill bounded northward by sum part of his own house Lott that Lyeth betwen it and the said pine hill and southardly it is bounded by sum enteruail Land of Jacob farrars that Lyeth at the end of his home Lott and easterdly it buts upon penicook Riuer ouer against an Inden ware Called Jameses ware and westerdly it buts upon sum part of his own house Lott there being six acors or there abouts and another part thareof Lying in the outermust side of the Sound Land at quosaponikin enteruail and Lyeth bounded Southerly by the Lott of Gamaliel Beman and north- ardly by a high pine hill and it buts westardly upon the North Riuer and Easterly upon a high way that Leads into the enteruail swamp that is Laid out for second deuision this benig fourteen acres or thare abouts both which parcels of enteruail are Laid out to the said Jeremiah Rogers for twenty acres be it more or Less.
Jeremiah Rogers was from Dorchester. At the massa- cre he returned thither, and there died September 26, 1676, leaving a widow. Abiah, who, with two daughters, Abigail and Bathsheba, died of small-pox in March, 1678. His children were Margaret, 1653 : Ichabod. 1659; Hittabel, 1662; Jehosaphat, 1663 : Abiah, 1664; Bathsheba. 1667: Israel, 1671; Susanna, 1673: also Jeremiah, Abigail and Sarah, the dates of whose births are not found. The Rogers house lot is cut in twain by the old turnpike,
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
and included the upper brick yard of Samuel R. Damon, the Anthony Lane homestead, and the lands of Emory Z White, May 12, 1710, Jeremiah Rogers of Salem, wheel- wright, and Jehosaphat Rogers of Topsfield, tailor, sold their father's lands to Edward Phelps, weaver, from An- dover. Rogers had sold, in 1663, one hundred acres of his outlying land to Henry Kimball, a blacksmith of Boston.
THE LANDS OF GAMALIEL BEMAN
House Lott His house Lott being near unto Quosaponikin Brook bounded by Sum Common Land, that sence was Laid out to himself for second deuision on the north side of it and South it is bounded by a high- way that Lyeth betwen the Lott of Roger Sumner and it buts easterdly upon a high way that Goes to quosaponikin hill the southeast corner of it and at the northeast Corner it buts upon Sum Land Laid out to nathaniel Joslin and Roger Sumner for second deuision and it buts west- ardly upon Sum Comon Land Laid out to himself for second deuision Lying for twenty acors be it more or Less.
his enteruail Lott. His enteruaile Lott Lyeth at quosaponikin Inter- uail buting west upon the North Riuer and east upon sum swampy brushey Ground that Lyeth between sum meadow of Stephen Gates and this Lott a highway Runing at the eand of it bounded Southardly by the Lot of Roger Sumner and north by the Lott of Jeremiah Rogers and Lyeth for twenty acres be it more or Less.
Gamaliel Beuman came from England in the Elizabeth and Ann, A. D. 1635, and settled in Dorchester. In 1659, being then thirty-six years old, he came to Lancaster, bringing a large family. At the time of the massacre he returned to Dorchester and there died March 23, 1678. An indication of their poverty at this date is the fact that the tax-rates of Gamaliel, Sen., Gamaliel Jr .. John and Thomas Beaman are set down in the Dorchester Records as "Desperate Debts." The Beamans were among the first to return to Lancaster upon its re-settlement. John and Gam- aliel set up new houses on their father's lands at Wataqua- dock. John, Jr., lived upon the old homestead on the neck. The children of Gamaliel, Sen., and Sarah (Clark) Bea- mian were John, 1649; Joseph, 1651; Gamaliel, 1653 ;
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Thomas, 1654 ; Mary, 1656 ; Sarah, 1658 --- all born before the family came from Dorchester ; and Noah. (661 : Thank- ful, 1663; Mehitabel. 1667, born in Lancaster. John Beaman's headstone in the old burial ground records that he died 1740, aged ninety years. His son Gamaliel, born in 1684, was the first settler in Woonksechocksett, now Sterling. Thankful married Nathaniel Wilson who, in 1694, sold to William Sheafe Gamaliel Beaman's " house and lot in Lancaster."
THE LANDS OF LAWRENCE WATERS
This house Lott. The house Lott of Lawrence Waters part whareof Lies in that feild he hath enclosed by his house their being six acors and half and nine acors of enteruail in that feild butting south upon the high way that Lyes between the Carting place in the north River and it boands north upon the Lott or orchard of Richard Linton and upon the Lott of Robert Brick and bounded east by a highway that Goes to quasaponikin meadows and west and south west by the North Riuer upon which he hath planted his house garden and orchard both which persels of upland and Enteruail being parte of his house Lott and enteruail Lott more he hath a part of his upland Lott Lying on the east side of the Swans Swamp being about thirteen acres and half or thare abouts : bounded South by a brook and north by a bill at the side of the pine plain and west by the Swans Swamp and buting east upon a Littel Corner of a plaine :
his enteruail Lott More he hath eleuen acres of enteruaile Lying on the east side of Penicook Riuer butting east upon the high way that Goes to the Plumtrees and west upon the Riuer it Lyes bounded South by sum common enteruail Reserued for a lott and north by sum enteruail that was sum time Laid out for a Lott to Goodman Wilder : all which parcels of upland and enteruail Lying for his upland Lott and enteruail Lott and Lying for fourtie acres be thay more or Less.
Lawrence Waters, a carpenter of Watertown, was one of three sent up, in 1645, by the grantees of the Nashaway Plantation, to make suitable preparation for their own com- ing. By his wife Ann Linton he had six children born in Watertown: Lawrence, Feb. 14, 1635; Sarah, Dec. 7. 1636; Mary, Jan. 27, 1638: Rebecca, February, 1640; Daniel. Feb. 6. 1642 ; Stephen, Jan. 24, 1643 ; and the following born in Lancaster: Adam, 1645 (?) ; Joseph,
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
April 29, 1647 : Jacob and Rachel, March 1. 1649: Sam- uel, Feb. 14. 1651 ; Joanna, March 26, 1653 ; Ephraim, Jan. 27, 1655. The proprietors assigned him a lot upon which he built a house, probably the second building erected by white men in Lancaster, (the trucking house ou George Hill being the first). This house was situated in the grounds now owned by Caleb Symmes, Esq. Waters, before 1650, had sold his home to John Hall, and it became the property successively of Richard Smith, John Tinker, Major Simon Willard, Cyprian Stevens, and Simon Stev- ens. Waters removed but a few rods, building on the lot above described, the chief portion of which is now the homestead of S. J. S. Vose, Esq. He became a freeman in 1663. After the massacre of 1676, we find him with his wife, and Samuel with his wife and two children, seeking shelter in Charlestown, where Stephen became responsible to the authorities for them. Lawrence Waters was then blind. He died December 9th, 1687, in Charlestown, aged about eighty-five years, outliving his wife seven years. Joseph Waters came back in 1679, and occupied part of his father's and grandfather's lands. In the distribution of the estate of Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder, in 1709, there was given to Oliver, the youngest son, "upland and Inter- val where Lawrence Waters formerly Dwelt about fifteen acres," and the inventory shows that it had been bought of John Skeath, the husband of Waters' oldest daughter, Sarah. In 1714, Simon Stevens, whose wife was Mary, daughter of Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder, sold to Hooker Osgood "Lawrence Waters' lot on the Neck bounded southerly and casterly by ye Highway, west and south west by the River." Adam Waters, perhaps the first born of English parents in Lancaster, in 1663 bought John Smith's lot upon George Hill. He died 1670, at Charlestown.
THE LANDS OF MASTER JOHN TINKER
Upland Lott bought of Richard Smith. His house Lott which he bought of Richard Smith is a Lott that Lyeth by it Self and Lyes bounded
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
South by the North Riuer and buts east upon a peice of Enteruail Called the night pauster and west upon the high way that Goes from the Bridge by goodman Waterses to quasaponikin meadows and it is bounded north by the Countie highway that goes allong from Goodman Waterses to Peni- cook Riuer it being first a home Lott Giuen by those that first had to do with the place to Goodman Waters and he built a house upon it and sold it to Goodman hall whose wife sold it to Richard Smith the said Goodman hall being in England and sending for his wife which Lott Lay for twenty acres but upon exact mesur acording to Libertie Granted by a town order Recorded in the old town book it was found to be but Seuenteen acres which is made up with and by a peice of Land Lying on the east side of the North Rider bounded east by a hill of upland and west by the North River butting south upon the Lott of Thomas Joslin and north also upon sum enteruail of thomas Joslin.
luis enteruail Lott he bought of Richard Smith. and the enteruail Lott he bought of Richard Smith lyeth on the east side of penicook River at the meeting of the Rivers butting west upon the River and east upon the upland on the east side of the still Riuer and bounded south by John Ruggs Lott and north by John Rigbes Lott, which Lott was Laid out to Richard Smith for twenty acres.
his own house Lott at Gibson hill. His own upland Lott Giuen him by the town is known by the name of Gibson bill which is twenty acors of upland be it more or Less bounded by a streat or highway west that goes betwist two Ranges of Lotts and butting east upon the Commons bound- ed south by the house Lott of John Moors and north by the meadow that is Master Rowlandsons.
his enteruail. His enteruail Lott ten acors of it Lying on the west side of the North Riuer butting east upon the River and west upon Sum Com- mon upland that Lyes by or near to the house of William Kerley Jun bounded southardly by the Lott [of] goodman Prescutt that was Giuen him for bulding a Corn mill and north by the Lott of John Johnson: and ten acors of which Lies on the West Side of the Still Riuer buting east upon the Riuer and west upon the Lotts of John Leweis and thomas James bounded South by a high way that Goes to the meadows and to the ponds and north by a Swamp or Swampy Ground in which thare Lies a peice of meadow of James Athertons and in which Lott of enternail there Lies a Spung of meadow Lotted out to Goodman Smith and James Atherton.
John Tiuker was of Windsor, Connecticut, in 1643, whence he came to Boston, where we find him living in a hired house, 1651. Iu 1652 he appeared before the Mid- dlesex Court as attorney for the defendant, in the case of " Hermon Garret & John Shawe vs. John HIall, for taking
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725. 263
away part of theire night pasture fence," and won for his clients. In 1654, Tinker was made freeman, and the next year joined the petitioners for "Groaten a new plantacon . . formerly knowne by the name of Petapawag," and in the grant was appointed one of the selectmen. For a year or two thereafter he scems to be wavering in his choice of residence between Lancaster and Groton, until perhaps the town's gift of Gibson Hill decided him. He was at this time and afterwards an Indian trader. buying beaver, otter and other furs, then abundant in the region about, from the native hunters. What manner of exchange he paid for them other than peage or wampum and " trucking cloth," we may imagine, for the Court records show that in 1655 he was fined ten shillings " for selling now & then a gill of strong waters to y' Indians." contrary to the law of 1654. which imposed a fine of twenty shillings for each pint so sold by persons not specially licensed. The original duly witnessed notes of hand exist which show that prominent men of the Nashaway tribe became so deeply indebted to him as to mortgage the prospective gains of two hunting sea- sons for payment. In 1658 he was licensed as trader " of Nashaway & Groaten for y" year," paying eight pounds for the privilege. The " Mr." prefixed to his name assures us that he was either a graduate of some university, or had occupied high social rank in England. Only he and Rev- erend Joseph Rowlandson, in Lancaster, were dignified with this title before the coming of Major Simon Willard,
Master Tinker was probably yet a young man when in September, 1657, the commissioners appointed to order the affairs of Lancaster placed his name first in the list of five men chosen to manage the prudentials of the town. Ilis wife Alice was then twenty-seven years old, and of his two children, Mary and John, the oldest was four years of age. The town had given him twenty acres in a central and de- sirable position, known as Gibson's Hill. He purchased of Richard Smith the original house and lot of Lawrence
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Waters, and of Philip Knight the house and lot next to Prescott's home on the slope of George Hill. Two sons were born to him, Amos and Samuel, and he was prosper- ous, and honored of his neighbors; but through failure of health, or because the field proved too limited for his abundant ability and ambition, the town was soon to lose his valuable services. In the Court files of Middlesex is this undated letter, probably of the winter 1658 :
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