USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 25
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To the honord County Court at Charlstone.
Right Wor'll be pleased to understand that the Lord hath visited me of late with 3 fitts of sikness one after another uppon my jornies to and fro. sinc which I have bin very tender & have not atained my perfect helth to travell this sharpe winter season, wherefore intreat though I am one of the Grand jury that I may be excused for this preasent and I shalbe redy at the pleasure of this honn Court to doe the best service I can for ye County and shall thankfully abide with my duty presented
Yo'r devoted humble servant JNO. TINKER
Before the year 1659 he had removed to Pequid, now New London, and was there winning respect and distinc- tion. The next year he was deputy to the general court, and became assistant. The court licensed him to distill and retail liquors, and gave him complete monopoly of the trade in the township. Being on the road to wealth and fame, he died in October, 1662. The public esteem for him is shown by the fact that the expenses of his illness and funeral were paid from the State treasury. Major Simon Willard obtained possession of his Lancaster prop- erty, above described.
THE LANDS OF JOHN WHITCOMB SENER
home Lott. his house Lott Giuen and Granted by the town Lyeth on the west side [of the] neck being twenty acors bounded [south] by the Lott of Robert Brick and north by the Lott of his son John Whitcomb buting east upon the Lotts that Ly upon the east side the neck and but- ting west upon his enternail a high way Runing Cross it to quasaponikin enteruail.
Enteruail Lott. Aand his enteruail Lott part of it Lying on the east side the North Riuer thare being by Estimation about fifteen acors and
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
a half bounded west by the North Riuer and east by his upland Lott but- ing South upon the Lott of Robert Brick that was Granted him by the town and butting north upon the entervail Lott of his son John Whitcomb : nine acors of erteruail at quasaponikin betwen his son John Whitcomb and him either of them having an Equall pportion that is either four acors and half but it was not divided between them when it was Laid out the whole being bounded southardly by a high way that Goes between the meadow Lott of Ralph Houghton and it and it is bounded north by a Lott of Stephen Gates and westardly by the North River and south west by a Lott of Richard Linton this four acres and half makes up the other fifteen and half his full Lott of twenty acors acording to the town Grant but acording to Liberty Granted by a town order the fifteen acres and half exactly meashuered it was found to be but fourteen acres and half and so it is an acre wanting which is Laid out together with his second devision of enteruail.
John "Whetcomb" --- as the name is always spelled in our earliest records -- was of Dorchester in the year 1635, but removed to Scituate in 1644, and to Lancaster in 1652. He died September 24, 1662, leaving a wife Frances, who survived until 1671. His children were John, Jonathan, Job, Josiah, Robert, Catherine, Abigail and Mary. all born before the coming of the family to Lancaster. John Whit- comb died intestate, and the widow and children mutually agreed upon a division of the property, which was approved by the Court. By the inventory it is shown that the chief products of the farm in 1662 were corn, tobacco and flax. The present post-office and bank building are probably upon the Whitcomb lands. Both the father's and son's house lots extended across the street eastward, meeting the other range of lots upon the neck.
THE LANDS OF JOHN WHITCOMB JUNER
his house Lott his house Lott being twenty acors Lying on the west side the neck Lying Bounded South by his father his Lott and north by the Lott of Stephen Gates butting west upon his own enteruail Lott and east upon the end of the Lotts of the Inhabitance that Liue on the east side the neck It being by Estimation twenty acres be it more or Less
enteruail Lott His enteruail Lott lying on the east side the north Riuer part of it their being about fifteen acors and a half bounded south by his fathers enteruall and north by the Lott of Stephen Gates butting
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
easterly upon his own upland Lott and westerly upon the north River and four acors and half Lying at quasaponikin enternail Lying in Common with 4 acres and half of his fathers
In the division of the estate of John Whitcomb, senior. his home lot was assigned to John and Jonathan jointly. and the house lot which had been John's was allotted to the youngest sons, Job and Josiah. Job did not return at the re-settlement of the town, but followed the Reverend Joseph Rowlandson to Wethersfield. Robert settled in Scituate. John and Jonathan, April 7, 1683, were conveying hay across the Penccook upon two canoes, when by the boats sinking the former was drowned. He left a widow Mary and two daughters. Ruth and Sarah. Ruth married Wil- liam Divoll. Jonathan Whitcomb died in 1690, and his . widow, Hannah. was killed by the Indians two years later. Their children were Hannah, 1668; Jonathan, 1669; Han- nah, 2d, 1671 ; Abigail. 1674; Elizabeth ; Mary ; Kather- ine; Ruth ; John, 1684. Jonathan inherited the home estate, and in 1696, with his cousins William Divoll and Sarah Whitcomb, entered into a mutual agreement whereby the whole Whitcomb estate was divided by east and west lines, upon both sides of the highway, into three equal divisions, each about twenty-two rods in width. Josiah Whitcomb married Rebecca Waters and set up his home in the southeast part of what is now Bolton. His children were Josiah, 1665 ; David, 1668 ; Rebecca, 1671 ; Johanna, 1673 ; Mary ; Damaris : Abigail; Hezekiah, 16SI ; Debo- rah, 1683. He died April 12, 1718.
The original lot of John Whitcomb, junior, assigned in the agreement mentioned above to Job and Josiah, was by them sold to John Moore, senior. He dying in 1703. Ben- - jamin Bellows, his administrator, sold it to Josiah White, who, July, 1708, transferred it to John Bowers. describing it as "bounded Northerly by Peter Joslin, southerly by William Divoll, west by the River, easterly by another range of Lotts, a highway crossing said Land near the
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Dwelling house, also all other housing, fencing, fortifica- tions, orchard garden &c." A very old headstone in the Grst burial ground is inscribed "JOHN BoWARS," and upon its footstone is "D : 1718." John was the grandson of Benan- uel Bowers, born 1686, and married Elizabeth Stevens of Lancaster, November 17, 1707. His children were Eliza- beth, John, Mary and Nathaniel. The inventory of his estate amounts to 436 pounds f1 shillings, and from one item in it we derive the estimated value in 1718 of a chat- tel somewhat rare in Lancaster : "one bought servant 192".
THE LANDS OF STEPHEN GATES.
his house Lott. The house Lott of Stephen Gates : is on the neck Ly- ing north to the house Lott of John Whitcomb Juner bounded by the saaid Lott of John Whitcomb south by the house Lott of Nathaniel Joslin north by a Rang of Lotts Easterly which Lyeth on the west side of Peni- cook Riuer and westward by a peice of enteruall of his own nigh adioyning to the North Riuer the said house Lott being Laid out for twenty acors more or Less :
enteruail Lott. His enteruail Lott Containing more or Less twenty acors partly Lyeth in one peice at quasaponikin thirteen acors more or Less bounded southardly [by a piece] of enteruail of John Whitcombs northardly [by the lot] of Mordica Maclode west by the North River [and east] by sum meadow of Edward Brick and [seven acres] more or Less lyeth betwen his house loott and the North River bounded in Like maner by Nathaniel Joslins Lott north and John Whitcombs south his house Lott [east and] said Riuer west.
He hath his Second deuision of upland Lying to the --- of hing swamp meadow a considerable part of a pond Lying within the sd Land & bounded on all the sides of it by Common undiuided Land a Rock called the Sleep- ing Rock is on the outside of it near the norwest corner the place whare it Lyes by the Indians was called Kequassagansit and is Laid out to the estate of the sd Stephen Gates for three hundred & fourteen acres.
Stephen Gates came to Hingham from England in the Diligent, A. D. 1638, with wife Ann and two children. From Hingham he removed to Cambridge, and thence to Lancaster in 1654. Hle was made freeman and chosen constable in 1656. He had sons Stephen, Simon and Thomas, and daughters Elizabeth and Mary. The Gates blood seems to have been of decidedly tropical nature.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
The daughter Mary very boldly contradicted the minister in the public assembly. Stephen Gates quarreled with his neighbors, the Whitcombs, was deprived of his constable's staff, and moved away from Lancaster after less than three years' residence. He died at Cambridge, 1662, and his sons attempted, without success, to break his will, alleging that their father "was not of disposing mind." By this will Stephen, the eldest son, received the house and lot in Lan- caster. Direct descendants in the male line continued to hold land here, ending with Captain Thomas Gates, who led the Lancaster troop to Cambridge at the Lexington alarm. In 1718 Peter Joslin was in possession of the Gates homestead. Mary Gates married John Maynard of Sudbury.
THE LANDS OF THOMAS JOSLIN
House Lott zo acors. The house Lott of Thomas Joslin is Scituate Lying and being upon the neck of Land on the east side of the North Riuer bounded by the North Riuer west and Runing easterly in Length untill it come within twenty Rods of the Length of the Lott of Stephen Gates and is bounded by Commons or ways east the Lott of his son Nathaniel Joslin South and the Lands in common [towards] quassaponi- kin meadows on the north by estamation more or les fourty acres Giuen him by Consent of the town
A Swamp Lying betwen or west [of the lots] of him and his son Nathaniel Joslin the one half thareof to him and [the other half to] his said son by Consent of the town.
his enteruail Lott The enternail Lott of Thomas Joslin one part thare of Lyeth on the west side of the North Riuer bounded by the said Riuer easterly [and running] northward untill the River and the upland do cut off that percell of enteruail [bounded] south by the enternail of his son [and] west by the Commons Containing more or Less thirteen acres but scince being more exactly meashured [by those] appointed is found to be but ten acres and twenty Rods : more he hath seuen acors Lying on the North Riuer in one Slip along by the River bounded at the head up the Riuer north [by the] meeting of the River and upland east by the upland south by the Land [of Nathaniel Joslin. ]
The Joslin family came from London in the Increase, A. D. 1635, landing in Hingham. Thomas was then forty-
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
three years old, and his wife Rebecca the same age. They brought with them Nathaniel, aged eight years ; Rebecca, eighteen ; Dorothy, eleven : Elizabeth, six ; and Mary, one year. Another son, Abraham, a sailor, came to Lancaster some years later than the father, who was here in 1654. Mary became the wife of Roger Sumner, and Rebecca married - - Nichols. Thomas Joslin died Jan. 3, 1660, and his widow married William Kerley, senior, 16 .. 3 .. 1664, being his third wife. The lands above described extended from the river eastward along the south side of the North Village strect.
THE LANDS OF NATHANIEL JOSLIN
his house Lott The house Lott of Nathaniel Joslin is Scituate Lying and being upon the neck of Land on the East Side of the North Riuer being bounded upon said Riuer west and so Runing east in Length untill it Reach within twenty Rods of the Length of the Lott of Stephen Gates and is bounded east by the Commons: South by the Lott of Stephen Gates and north by the Lott of his father Thomas Joslin by Estemation more or Less [fourty] acors
his Swamp Also a certain Swamp Runing betwixt the Lands of him and his father is the one half thareof belonging to Nathaniel Joslin by the towns Gift and the other to his father
his enteruail The enteruail Lott of Nathaniel Joslin [one part] there- of Lyeth on the west side of [the North] Riuer bounded by the said Riuer easterly [by the Commons] west the enteruail of his father thomas Joslin north & of John Smiths South by Estamation Thirteen acors more or Less :
Nathaniel Joslin was born in England about 1627, com- ing to Hingham with his father in the Increase from Lon- don in 1635. He married Sarah, daughter of Thomas King of Marlborough, and had sons Nathaniel, born 1658, and Peter, born 1665 ; and daughters Sarah, 1660; Dorothy, 1662; Elizabeth, 1667 ; Rebecca, 1672; and Martha. He was made freeman in 1673. After the massacre he re- mained in Marlborough, and there died April S. 1694. His son Peter received the Lancaster home lots, and seems to have added the Gates house lot to his inheritance.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
THE LANDS OF MORDICAI MUKLOAD
His home Lott being tenn acors as it was Laid out be it more or lesse, Lyeth in a pine plain near to quasaponikin gate, butting westward vpon the path that goes to quasaponikin interuaile and easterly vpon a little foot path that goes to the medowes at quasaponikin, bounded northward by the skirts of the hill adioyning to the medow. Leauing a Convenient highway acording to the order of the towne fiue Rode wide on that side his Lott, And it is bounded sutherly by the Comons near vnto a swampe sum pte of it Laid out for a half home Lott be it more or lesse tenn acors.
His interuaile Lott being tenn acors be it more or Lesse Lyeth at quas- aponikin, buting westward vpon the North River and easterly vpon sum ground Lett for a highway, betweene the medowes and the interuailes, bounded sutherly by the Lott of Steeven gats and northerly by the Lott of Nathaniell Josllin.
His medow Lott in the first deuision being two acors or their abouts be it more or Less, Lyeth at Wataquadocke, at the plac wher trauilers pas ouer to malbrow, A cuntrie highway of six Rode wide Lying Cross it, bounded sutherly by the broke and northerly by the vpland, buting west- ward vpon sum medow Laid out to Jerimiah Rogers. And easterly it is cut of by the vpland coming to the brooke, which medow was first giuen him by the towne, being he had noe estat on the towne booke to draw medow by in deuision. Recorded this 6: 10 : mon : 1664 By me Ralph Houghton.
This record is a transcript of the original in Ralph Houghton's hand, which is found bound in with the earliest town records. Mordecai MacLoud signed his mark to the covenant March, 1658. He brought a brother John with him, who was killed in the Rowlandson garrison Feb. 10. 1676. Mordecai MacLoud married Lydia, daughter of William Lewis, 31 .. II .. 1670, and had two children : Han- nah, born 16. 9 .. 1671, and another. The whole family were slaughtered by the Indians Aug. 22, 1675. Their home was at the North Village, near the cemetery.
THE LANDS OF MAJOR SIMON WILLARD
the Rights of John Tinker which is 2001b and Richard Smith is 31313 138 102
This is a discription of the Second deuision Lands of Mr John Tinker & Richard Smith which by purchas Major Simon Willard Came to be possessor of both before aney second deuision Lands were Laid out there- fore thay ware both Laid out together to him as followeth upon the acount of thair estates :
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
196 acers 2 deuision first he hath a peice of upland Laid out to him Sumtimes Called by the name of Still Riuer farm bounded Southwest by the enteruall & South or Southeast by sum second deuision Land of Ralph Houghton & easterly it buts partly upon sam meadow of Goodman Wilder and the most part upon Common upland and westerly it buts upon the highway to the pluimtrees entermail and northerly it is bourded by sum second deuision Land Laid out to William Lewis and part by sum other Land Laid out to the estate aforementioned and this peice of Land is Laid out for one hundred ninty six acres be it more or Less highways to Groten to pond meadows & brook meadow allowed for in meashur :
100 acres 2 derision More thare is another peice of upland Laid out to the estate aforesaid known by the name of winter plain which buts northerly upon Common Land Sum part pine Land & partly oak Land & Southerly it buts upo Sum other Land Laid out upon the same acount and easterly it is bounded by hills of Rockey Land which is Common and westerly it is bounded by Common pine Land sum part of it and sum part oake Land Lying betwen the sa Land & plumtree meadows and is Laid out for one hundred acres be it more or Less :-
32 aures 2 devision More there is another peice Laid out on the same acount at the South end of the sd winter plain and is bounded northerly by the sd winter plain for the most part and westerly it is bounded [by] sum Land of William Lewis and easterly it buts upon Common Land & southerly it is bounded by that called the Still Riuer farm and is Laid out for 32 acres be it more or Less a highway to Groten allowed for in meashur :
So arres 2 decision More thare is another peice of upland Laid out upon the Same acount Lying between the aforementioned Lands and Ma- hamachekamaks hill bounded easterly by Land Laid out to the estate of Edward Brick and westerly by sum hilly stoney Land and it buts norther- ly and Southerly upon Common Land and is Laid out for eighty acres be it more or Less : a highway Runing throw it at the South end of it allowed for in meashure :----
4 acres 2 deuision More thare is fower acres of upland Laid out near to the Brook meadow in Common with sum Land Laid out to John Bush which was Giuen him by the town :---
100 acres 2 denision More there is another peice of upland Laid out upon the side of Bare hill upon the acount of the aforementioned estate Laid out by order of Goodman Hutson who purchased it of Majer Will- ard tho the bounds of it are not yet known it Lyeth for one hundred acres all the aforementioned percells of upland are in full the perprotion of up- land due to the two estates afore named
Major Simon Willard, son of Richard of Horsemonden, Kent, England, born 1605, came to New England in 1634 with wife Mary Sharpe and daughter Mary, and settled in
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Concord. Having been appointed, May, 1657, one of three commissioners to order the affairs of Lancaster. he was persuaded by offers of land grants to take up his residence here, which he did in 1658. He acquired most of John Tinker's rights, and at first resided upon the Waters lot, probably a few rods south of the house of Caleb Symmes. Esq. About 1672 he removed to his Nonacoicus farm, a five hundred acre grant, now included in the town of Ayer. Cyprian Stevens, who married his daughter Mary, 22 .. 11 .. 1671, occupied the homestead thenceforward. The Major's sons, Simon and Henry, lived upon the Still River farm. He had before coming to Lancaster attained the highest military grade then recognized, that of Sergeant-Major, and was annually elected Assistant from 1654 to his death, which took place suddenly at Charlestown, April 24, 1676. He had for his second wife Eliza Dunster, who lived but a short time, when he married her sister Mary. Seventeen children were born to him -Josiah; Elizabeth ; Mary ; Dorothy; Samuel, 1640; Sarah. 1642 ; Abovehope. 1646 : Simon, 1649: Mary 2d, 1653: Henry, 1655 ; John, 1656; Daniel, 1658: Joseph, 1661 ; Benjamin, 1665; Hannah. 1666; Jonathan, 1669; and a second Elizabeth, In 1727 Simon Stevens, son of Cyprian, sold the Major Willard homestead, together with the night pasture, to Captain Samuel, son of Henry, the fourth son of Major Simon Willard. Until the Revolution it remained in the posses- sion of his children.
THE LANDS OF JOHN PRESCOTT
A grant of persons in the Infancy of the Plantacion wee whose Names are subscribed doe Agree that John Prescott Shall have these perticuler pcells weh are Allotted to him. 50 Acors of Entervale more or less allso a litle Corner of Entervale, lying beyound the mill Lott from 2 oakes wch stands by the River and a pine tree marked vppon the Skirts of the vpp- land, and a Swamp weh hee hath taken in Lew of twelve acors of wett meddow ; and 12 acors of wett meddow. 6 of them Lying towards the Lower end of the Still River on this side the great meddow. and the other
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
6 Lying high vppon the Still Riuer, 4 acors of it on the further side and 2 acors on this side. EDWARD BREK
WILLIAM KERLY
NATHANIEL HADLOCK
JOHN JOHNSON JAMES ATHERTON SAMUEL REANER
I Steephen Day coming vpp to Nashaway & hearing of some disturbance betweene Goodman Prescot & Lawrenc Waters do acknowledg that I laid out in the year 1650: vnto Goodm Prescot 4 acors of wet meddow on the south side & 2 acors on this side on the still riuer where the bridg is, wch 2 acors on this side Lawrenc Waters hath mowed, and at the end of 4 acors of meddow of goodm Prescots Mr Dayes meddows lies in reversion ' towards that which belongs to him. In witness wherof I haue set to my hand
This is a true Coppie STEEPHEN DAY
The house lott of John Prescott vpon which his house stands, being the first lott in that Range of Lotts according to the Record of Grants, in the old Towne book, lying bounded, south by the comon, and north by a lott of Steven Dayes, vpon which Philip Knight built a house butting Easteriy vpon the highway, that runes between the two ranges of lotts, and west vpon the Comon, being twenty acres be it more or less, being eight score rod long and twenty rod wide.
And also a lott lying on the East side of the highway, a little brooke runeing cross the west end of it, which lott is knowne by the name of Ry feild. lying bounded south by a lott of Thomas Sawyers and north by a Highway, that runes betwixt the lott of Jno. Moore and it, and it butts easterly vpon the Comon that lyeth betwixt his intervale and it, and westerly vpon the high way that lyes betwixt the Ranges of lotts, and lyes as a streete being twenty acres, be it more or less, being fourescore rod long, and forty rod wide.
And his intervale lott lying in a peece of intervale on the west side Nashaway riuer, part whereof lyes between the wading place which is named in the Court grant for the center of the Towne, and the meeting of the rivers lying bounded easterly by the river, and west by a hill of vpland within fence. which the Towne gave to him, and his heyres for ever, for his privilege in fencing in his lott, and bounded south by the highway that runes betwist the lott of Thomas Sawyer and it and north by the burying place hill, and north ritter, and another part of it lying at the vpper end of that peece of intervale, bounded south and east by Nashaway riuer and north by Thomas Sawyers lott, and west by a bill of vpland both of which parcells being by estimation fifty acres be it more or less. which appears to be his due, by the Records of grants in the old Towne booke, but vpon
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
exact measure according to liberty granted by a Towne order, recorded in the old Towne booke, there wanted six acres, which is made vp in and with a peace of intervale which lyes on the south side of Nashaway river over against a peece of intervale of Thomas Sawyers and John Ruges meadow. lying bounded southerly by some vpland granted to him for the building of a sawmill and north by the river and east by some intervale that falls within the sawmill lands, and west the vpland meets the riuer, and cuts it off at the river all weh parcells of intervale make vp fifty acres be they more or less.
And his meadow lying some part at the Birch meadow there being six acres, bounded east by the still riuer, and south by an intervale swamp. and west by some intervale and a peice of meadow of Thomas James, and north by a peice of meadow that was layd out to Thomas Rowlandson, and six acres at the Still river bridge as it is called, bridge meadow, four acres of which lyes on the east side of the still riuer, butting south on the highway that goes to the meadowes, and so to the Ponds, and butting north vpon a peice of meadow of James Atherton, and two acres lying on the west side of the still riuer, bounded east by the still riuer and west by some bushy land, laid out to Mr John Tinker, butting south by the high way that goes to the ponds, and north by a little brooke that runes into the still riuer, all lying for twelve acres be it more or less.
And a swamp Lying on the north side of John Gibsons Hill, betwixt the Hill and the north intervales which he hath taken and accepted for twelue acres of meadows lying bounded easterly by a lott of meadow of Mr Joseph Rowlandsous and southerly by the skirts of Gibsons Hill, and westerly by the Cofoon, and highway, that runes between the house of William Kerley Jun" and it, and north & north west by a peice of inter- vale laid out to Mr John Tinker and north east by the intervale belong- ing to the mill. wch Swamp lyes for twelue acres of meadow be it more or less.
upland to his Corne Mill. And his vpland belonging to his mill ten acres of which takes its beginning at a little round hill, fourty rod aboue the . mill and so runes on both sides the brooke to the riuer, bounded south by some land giuen him for the building a saw mill, and northerly by a peice of pine Land that is common, butting east by the river, and west by the little round hill by the mill where his stake stands, and forty acres part whereof lying on the south side of that ten acres, and lying in a corner. and compassed about south and east by the river, and bounded west by a pine plain giuen him for the building of a saw mill, and a peice of inter- vale compassed about by a ledge of Iron Stone Rockes on the north and north west sides and bounded south by Nashaway riuer. all which parcells of Land ly for fifty acres be they more or less weh was giuen him for en- couragement to build a corne mill as appeared by a covenant copied out & truly recorded 34 10"""). 1659 by me RALPH HOUGHTON.
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