USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 28
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Thomas Wilder, or, as he signed himself, "Wyellder," never resided upon the above house lot, but bought of John Tinker a house and land half a mile south, next to John Prescott's Cowdall purchase, then known as the Knight lot. This remained the home of the Wilders for more than one hundred and fifty years. Wilder was about forty years of age when he came here from Charlestown, in 1659. He had been admitted to the church there in 1640, and was made freeman in 1641. Upon his arrival in Lancaster he was at once installed in the position of selectman, vacated by John Tinker's removal. He died October 23, 1667. The inventory of his estate sums 405 pounds 18 shillings. There are named in his will, his wife Ann, and children Mary, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Nathaniel, and Ebenezer. None of these were born in Lancaster. Thomas and John, at the re-settlement of the town established their homes on Bridecake Plain, now known as the Old Common, living on the north side of the highway. Nathaniel retained the old homestead, and was there an inn-keeper for nearly twenty-five years. During the war of the Revolution, twenty-two soldiers bearing the family name Wilder served for Lancaster, then including Sterling. In the year 1798 there were seventeen landholders in town named Wilder, exceeding the number of Willards, the next most frequent . patronymic, by four. Thomas Wilder's daughter Mary married Daniel Allen, a cooper in Charlestown, and upon a gift of forty acres of land from her father, they came to Lancaster, bringing children born in Charlestown and Watertown, but after some years' residence here, returned to Watertown. Their son Ebenezer returned to Lancas- ter, and his son Ebenezer was a man of note here in revo- lutionary times. The Allen homestead is in the borders of Clinton, and now occupied by E. A. Currier. Benjamin Allen, who had children born in Lancaster before the mas- sacre, was probably a brother of Daniel. In 1716. Thomas Tucker had lands under Thomas Wilder's rights, near Clamshell Pond.
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
THE LANDS OF MASTER JOSEPH ROWLANDSON
his enteruail Lott and Land in Lew of a house Lott He hath twenty Six acres of enteruail and also Thirteen acres of upland the enteruail Giuen him in Lew of an enteruall Lott and the upland in Lew of a house Lott by the town and it Lyeth togather all in one peice as it was Laid out by Jacob farrah and Ralph Houghton in the night pasture within that fence that was formerly sett up by the Copartners bounded northardly by the sd night pasture fence part of the fence being standing when the Land was Laid out, Southardly by the North River easterly by penicook Riuer and westerly by the Lott of Richard Smith then in Possession of Master John Tinker and northeast by the town highway in the night pasture the whole Lyeth for thirty nine acors be it more or Less. Recorded this : 15 : 1 : mon : 1669 By me RALPH HOUGHTON
Sufficient has been said of the origin of the name " night pasture," in former pages. This land is now divided among many owners, and cut in twain by a highway. The larger portion is in the farm of Charles L. Wilder. In 1687, Joseph Rowlandson, the son of the minister, sold it to Philip Goss, merchant, of Boston, who died in 1698. John, the son of Philip Goss, sold it to Simon Stevens, and he, May 5, 1727, transferred it to Captain Samuel Willard, together with the Major Simon Willard home- stead adjoining it on the west. The minister's residence was never upon this land, but for his convenience was located quite near the meeting-house, which stood on the highest ground in the middle cemetery. The Rowlandson property in that place is not described in the Book of Lands, but its bounds have been discovered elsewhere. Joseph Rowlandson, junior, probably came back to Lancaster and rebuilt, for January 20, 1687, calling himself of Lancaster, he deeds to Philip Goss :--
his Dwelling bouse in Lancaster and orchard and all yr Land about the house as it lyeth bounded Easterly by a street or highway and westerly partly by a brook and partly by some ministeriall meadowish Land and it, and butts southerly upon a little Hill by the Meeting House, & northerly upon some Comon Land according as it is already fenced . . And also other peice of Land known by ye name of burying place ffield, bounded North- erly by the North River, and southerly by Jonathan Prescotts Land, and
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
it buts Westerly upon the said street or highway and Easterly it buts upon the Land of Jonathan Prescott taking in both upland and Intervale a high way lying through it to the burying place, and also a peice of Intervale known by the name of Kerley Intervale . . . . and also a house Lott of Twenty acres . . . . upon which George Newby liues [near Walnut Swamp]. and his meadow Lott in the first Division lying neer Gibsons Hill .
Nov. 22, 1710, Philip and Judith Goss of Brookfield deeded the homestead to Hooker Osgood, a saddler, from Andover :
being the place where Mr Joseph Rowlandson formerly liued one part thereof lying on the east side of the highway on which peice the Barn standeth, It is by estimation about ten acres of upland and Intervale . . . . bounded west by the highway northerly by the North River and comes to a point neer the meeting of the Riuers, and bounded southerly partly by ye burying place and partly by some Land now in possession of Mr John Prentice . . .. Reseruing liberty of conuienient passage for the Inhabitants of Lancaster to the burying place, also one Barn & fencing standing on ye Land, also about six acres more or less lying on ye west side of sd highway on which land ye Dwelling house formerly stood [it was burned by Indians, 1704] together with all orcharding & fencing on sd land, and is bounded easterly by the highway towards the Bridge and westerly by a Brook and partly by ministers medow and butts southardly on a peice of ministry Land and northerly it comes neer to the River by the Bridge .
Thomas Rowlandson, the father of the minister, must . have come from Ipswich to Lancaster very soon after his son's settlement, with wife Bridget, but his name does not appear among the grants of lands. He died here, Nov. 17, 1657, and his widow married William Kerley, senior, 31 .. 33 1659. A curious item in the inventory of his estate, which summed 113: 98. 9", is : "Old shop tools Damnified by salt water, being Left at Charlstown by the Sea Shores, à Long season, accounted at 3ª."
Joseph Rowlandson, born in England, was sole graduate at Harvard College in 1652, began to preach at Lancaster, 1654, and was ordained in 1660. He married Mary, daugh- ter of John White, and had children : Mary, 15. . 11. . 1657.
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301
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
died 20 .. 11 .. 1660 ; Joseph, 7 .. 1 .. 1661 : Mary, 12 .. 6 .. 1665 ; Sarah, 15 Sept., 1669. He went to Wethersfield, April, 1677, as colleague of Reverend Gershom Bulkeley, and died suddenly, Nov. 3, 1678. The son. Joseph died in Wethersfield, in 1713.
THE LANDS OF JAMES BUTLER
his house Lott and entervai! first he hath a tract of Land being for the most part pine Land Laid out to him to the southward of the Cold Spring which is Laid out to him for 134 acors be it more or less so much being his due acording to order and Grant of the town to him 20 acres whereof is for a house Lott and 40 acres in Lew of an enteruail Lott. 60 acors for his second deuision of upland and 14 acors in Lew of his second deuision of enteruail and it Lyeth all together and it buts easterly upon a Rokey bushey hill of Common upland and westerly it buts upon a pine plain the South west corner marke standing near to a brook taking in the Brook and southeily it is bounded by hillie pine Land for the most part and northardly it is bounded by pine Land and sum Rocky Called Ratel Snake hill the northeast Corner is near to sum Land of Edmon Parker
James Butler, in 1664, received from Rebecca Joslin, widow of Thomas, certain land east of Still River. The above lands. recorded 1666. are upon the east slope of Wataquadock. and there his son James lived after the mas- sacre, the elder James Butler dying March 19, 1681, and his widow, Mary, marrying John Hinds.
THE LANDS OF JOHN HINDS
John hinds hath his thirtie acre lott Granted by the town Lying one the east side of the Nashaway Riuer in seueral places one peice Lying to the Southeast of Ratlesnake hill . . . . More he hath a peice Laid out at the head of the Little Brook that Runs threw James Butlers Land near his house place .
John Hinds, and Mary, widow of James Butler, were married Feb. 9, 1681-2. Hinds came from Woburn. By a former wife he had a son James, and perhaps others. By Mary, in Lancaster, he had John, 1683 : Jacob, Hope- still, Enoch, Hannah, Deborah, and Experience. He re- moved to Brookfield, but his son John remained on the homestead, southeast of Wataquadock.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
THE LANDS OF JOHN WARNER AND JOHN PRIEST
their 2 : 30: acre Lotts Part whereof is Laid out acording to town Grant on the eastward side of Bare hill easterly it is bounded by sum Common undivided upland baring towards Goodman Moors meadow and westerly by the assent of bare hill for the most part and south and north by Common undeuided upland and Lyeth for 24 acres be it more or Less : more thay haue another peice Laid out for 36 acres be it more or Less on which thay haue built bounded northerly by sum Land of Nathaniel Wallis [Wales] and on all other sides by common undivided upland and is Laid out to them for their two thirty acre Lotts
John Warner was from Woburn, where, by wife Sarah, he had children : John, 1684; Sarah, 1686. A headstone in the Old Common Cemetery records the death of Re- bekah Warner, daughter of John and Sarah, March 30, 1718, aged 20. Samuel and Ebenezer Warner, taken into the church 1713-16, were sons of John.
John Priest was also from Woburn, where were born his children : Elizabeth, 1679: John, 16SI; Daniel, 1686, The homes of Warner and Priest were upon the eastern slope of Bare Hill in Harvard, where John Priest com- manded a garrison in 1704.
THE LANDS OF WILLIAM HUDSON
30 acres Granted by the town 6 acres for killing wolues William Hud- son hath his thirty acre Lott Granted by the Town Laid out on the north side a Range of Lotts in the south end of the town next to the Stated . Common twenty acres be it more or Less bounded southerly by a Lott whear George Newbey Liues and northerly by the Stated Common and it buts easterly upon a highway that Leades to the Lotts in the north enter- uail and to Walnutt Swamp and westerly upon the Stated Common And also Sixteen acres be it more or Less ten acres whearof is part of his thirty acre Lott and six acres due to him by a town agreament for killing of wolues the whol sixteen acres Laid out in a plain that Lyeth west or South west from Walnutt Swamp .
[Recorded 1687.]
William, son of Daniel Hudson, was born June 12, 1664, in Lancaster. In 1690 he was prosecuted for bastardy, made a brilliant but unavailing written defence, and fled, so far as the records show, never to return. His neighbor,
.
303
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
George Newby, about the same date was convicted of being a libertine, probably a thief, and certainly - what was per- haps esteemed more unpardonable in those days - a slan- derer of the minister, and a despiser of the catechism. He, too, disappears. They lived on George Hill, perhaps not far from the Divoll place. Newby lived upon land be- longing to Joseph Rowlandson.
LANDS OF JOHN BUSH
30 acre Grant Twenty acres of upland formerly Granted John Bush by the town is Laid out near Makamachekamucks hill . . . . John Bush hath more ten acres of Land Giuen him by the town Laid out in three several places 5 acres whareof Lyeth on the east side the plumtree mead- ows on both sides a little brook Called Bemans Brook . . . . one acre whearof is allowed for a highway through his Land to Joshua Athertons House two acres more or Less Lying on both sides a Little Brook Called Kerleys Brook . fower acres more or Less Lying on the north west side of Bare hill .
[Recorded 1684 and 1694.]
Besides the town grant, Bush had lands given him by Major Willard, which his son John sold to Samuel Willard and Benjamin Bellows, with the above grant, in 1710. John Bush, senior, died Sept. 1, 1688, leaving a widow, Hannah (who married Rutter) and two children, John and Sarah.
THE LANDS OF JAMES FROST
30 acres his first Lott A discription of a 30 acre Lott formerly Laid out to Nathaniel Wales by uertue of a town Grant but now in the posses- sion of James frost as appears by a Later Grant of the town to him the sd frost and also with the Consent of Nath" Hutson who had formerly had a Grant of sd Lott by the town but sence Resigned it up to the town again Laid out to sd frost the most part of it on the east side of bare hill bound- ed easterly by the Land of John Warner & Southerly by Common Rockey Land and northerly by Common undivided Land on the sd bare hill and westerly by common Land baring towards the meadow path and is Laid . out for 25 acres : and another peice of Swampy meadowish Land . . . . Laid out for thirty acres be thay more or Less togather with jo pounds Right and estate on the town Book :-
[Recorded 1694.]
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Nathaniel Wales was of Milton. James Frost was, per- haps, of Billerica. As neither of these grantees appear again in land records, they probably abandoned their claims.
THE LANDS OF JOSIAH WHEELER
The Lands of Josiah Wheeler Granted him by the town being his 30 acre Lott and other deuision : there is Laid out to the sd Josiah Wheeler twenty three acres of his first Lott Lying whear he first built not far from the hog swamp his house Standing near the middle of sd Land . . . . and buts on Mailbrough path the east Line part of it Runs ouer a Rockey hill and takes in a Long pine Swamp at that side and a little aboue the house the Line turns with a short Crook and so Runs up to Marlbrough path this peice 23 acres more he hath seuen acres Laid out upon the brook that Runs from hog Swamp meadows to Spectacle meadow near whare sd Brook Coms out of the hog Swamp meadows and Lyeth mostly on the north side of the Brook . . . . both peices is Laid out for his first thirty acres Granted him by the Town Read the 5th : of february 1699/ 10 in order to be Recorded :----
In the church records, 1710, "Josiah Wheeler and his wife from Concord church," were admitted members of the Lancaster church. Nahum Ward purchased ten pounds town right of Josiah Wheeler, on Wataquadock, about 1718.
THE LANDS OF JEREMIAH WILLSON
30 acre Lott Granted by the town Jeremiah Willson hath his 30 acre Lott Granted by the town Laid out in three places on the east side Nash- away Riuer one peice Lying near the Cold Spring by the Countrey Road bounded north by the Countrey high way and South by the Common Land and west by Sum Land of Gamaliel Beman adioyning to it and east by Sum Common Land Left for a Cart way to James Butlers Land whare his house stood and the said peice of Land is Laid out for six acres and half be it more or Less :-- More he hath a peice Laid out on the hill above that bounded east by sum Land of Roger Sumner and west by Common Land and South by Common Rockey Land and north by Sum Common Land that Lveth betwixt it and the Countrie highway and. Lyeth for fourteen acres be it more or Less . . . . More he hath a a peice of Land Laid out on the top of Wataquadoke hill on the north side the Countrie highway to Marlbrough buting South on the sd way and north on sum Land of Nathaniel Joslin Joyning to his southwest Corner marke and east and west it is bounded by plain Common Land and is Laid out
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
for nine acres and half be it more or Less: and was Laid out by John Houghton all the sd three peices of Land are Laid out for his full due for his thirty acre Lott be it more or Less :---
[Recorded 1690.]
Jeremiah Wilson was the son of Benjamin of Charles- town. The stone over his grave in the Old Common burial ground tells us that he died March 22, 1743, aged 77 years. He was an active church member at the coming of Rever- end John Prentice, and had sons Benjamin and Nathaniel.
THE LANDS OF JOHN MOORE
'
A discription of Sum Land Laid out for John Moore being part of the Lott Granted for him by the town and Land belonging to it he hath one peice Laid out near the Cartway that Lyeth Round Wataquatock hill in an ash swamp . . . . . 3 acres be it more or Less : . . . one peice of Land Laid out to John Moore part of his 30 acre Lott in a plain . . . . six acres be it more or Less : and also he hath about three quarters of an acre Laid adioyning to thair former Land by their house at the place whare a yong orchard is planted . . . . More Laid out for sd John Moore about 50 acres of Land being part of the Lott and Lands in deuisions be- longing that was Granted for him by the town and Lyeth on the east side of the way to Marlbrough part of it was formerly Laid out by Insine John Moore and Lyeth in one Intire peice and bounded westerly partly by sd Road and partly by a Spruce Swamp .
[Recorded 1708-9 and 1714-15.]
THE 30 ACRE LOTT GRANTED TO JOSEPH MOORE
· A discription of the thirty acre Lott Granted for Joseph Moore and since his Death sd Lott is acounted to his brother Jonathan Moore & is Laid out to him as followeth . . . . part of said Lott is Laid out near to hog Swamp . . . . laid out for two acres be it more or less :- more he hath another peice Laid near to it being a long slip of meadowish Ground . two acres be it more or less :- more he hath a peice of upland laid out towards the Great hill by hog swamp meadow adjoyning to his former Land . . . . . twelue acres be it more or Less :- more he hath a Long Slip Lying betwen that and his house in the edge of a swamp bounded west by his former Land . . . . fiue acres be it more or Less : . ten acres formerly marked out by Insine John Moore . nine acres of the sald ten is Laid out to the said Jonathan Moore to make up his first 30 acors and one acre on the acount of the 30 pound Kight Granted with sd Lott:
[Recorded 1708-o.]
20
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
John, Joseph and Jonathan Moore were sons of Ensign John and Ann (Smith) Moore. In the oldest Bolton burial place, east of Wataquadock, the headstones above the graves of John and Jonathan state that the former died in 1740, aged 79 years, and the latter in 1741, aged 74 years. They had a garrison east of Wataquadock in 1704.
THE LANDS OF CALEB SAWYER
A discription of Sum Land Laid out for Caleb Sawyer January 14: 1716/ 17 He hath fifty six acres and a half of Land Laid out in one intire peice on the easterly side of Bare hill whear the sd Caleb Sawyer now Liueth and is bounded southerly for a Considerable part of that Line upon a highway . .
. . . and hath a highway of fiue Rods wide Lying through sd Land allowed for in meashur sd way being near 90 Rods in Length in sd Land . . . twenty six acres and half is part of his 30 acre Lott in the first deuision Granted him by the town and was Laid out to him for- meily by Ralph Houghton and is now encompased and Included within the Lines aboue priscribed the whole Laid out for fifty six acres and half more or Less: the other part of his first deuision of his 30 acre Lott Lyeth on the easterly side of Bare hill towards the northerly end it being a peice of meadow Ground called the horse meadow .
Caleb Sawyer was the fifth son of Thomas Sawyer, and grandson of John Prescott, born 1659.
SAMUEL BENNETS LAND
Samuel Bennits 30 acre Lott Granted him by the town now Sheafs A discription of the thirty acre Lott Granted to Samuel Bennit and since Exchanged by him for the thirty acre Lott formerly Granted by the town to John Willard the said Lott Granted to Samuel Bennit being now in the possession of William Sheaf of Charlstown Laid out one the west side of bare hill a Little distant from Joshua Athertons meadow and is bound- ed on all sides by common undivided Land It being Eighty Rods Long and Sixty Rods wide : the discription whearof was Read before the town the fifth day of february : 1693/4 in order to be recorded .
Samuel Bennett was the son of George, who was the grandson of Richard Linton. George Bennett was slain in Monoco's raid, Aug. 22, 1675, and left widow Lydia and children - John, born 1659; Mary, 1661; Samuel, 1665 ; George, 1669 ; Lydia, 1674. Samuel owned Linton's lands
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
in the centre of Lancaster. Samuel Bennett's saw-mill, "up the north river," is mentioned as early as 1717. He died 1742, aged seventy-seven years. Bennett sold his John Willard lot to Joseph Waters, and it was by him transferred to Isaac Hunt.
JOHN WILLARDS LAND
John Willards Lott 30 acres all Laid out hear This day being the first of february 1691 /2 the town Confirmed the Same to Benjmin Willard John Willards Lott now in the possession of Benimin Willard is Laid out in seucral peices one part whareof Lyeth betwen the Lands of Henery Willard and Zebadiah Wheelers Land bounded westerly by Henery Will- ards Land & easterly by Henery Willards & Zebadiab Wheelers Land and southerly by sum of his own Land Lying partly in a triangle : and he hath another peice on the south side of Zebadiah Wheelers Land and westerly it buts upon Henery Willards Land & easterly it buts upon or near the Great pond meadow . more he hath ten acres Lying near the Brook meadow . which makes up his compliment of thirty acres Granted him by the town : Recorded this first february : 1691 /2
P JOHN HOUGHTON Recorder
If this land grant were proof of residence, Lancaster could perhaps claim one victim, at least, to the hideous persecutions for witchcraft. What relationship this John Willard bore to Benjamin and Henry, whose lands bor- dered upon this grant, has not been discovered. But the date of the record and the transfer to Benjamin, favor the opin- ion that this was the John Willard who had lived at Groton and suffered death at Salem after his attempted escape and capture at Lancaster. Robert Calef, in " More Wonders of the Invisible World," tells us :
John Willard had been imployed to fetch in several that were accused ; but taking dissatisfaction from his being sent to fetch up some that he had better thoughts of, he declined the Service, and presently after he himself was accused of the same Crime and that with such vehemency, that they sent after him to apprehend him : he had made his Escape as far as Nask- awag, about 40 Miles from Salem: yet tis said those Accusers did then presently tell the exact time, saying now W'illard is taken.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
He was tried for witchcraft, convicted upon the absurd statements of his accusers, and hung Aug. 19, 1692. A full account of his trial is given in "Groton in the Witch- craft Times," by the Honorable Samuel A. Green.
THE LAND OF CAPT BORDMAN
Laid out for Capt Bordman one hundred Acres of Land being Granted by the town to his Grandfather Stephen. Day near Waschacomb one peice of sixty acres thareof Lyeth upon a .hill called waschacomb hill upon the north side thareof . . . . the other fourty acres Lyeth under a Great hill aboue a meadow called prescutts meadow . . Laid out february the 4th : 1718
William Boardman, the grandson of Steven Day, and administrator of his estate, received the above grant as some recognition by the town of the services of one, who, more than any other of the first proprietors, save John Prescott, aided in establishing the settlement and forward- ing its interests. Steven Day of Cambridge, England, reached America in 1638, being, though a locksmith by trade, brought over as a printer by the Reverend Jesse Glover. Glover died during the passage, but Day, early in 1639. set up for the widow the first printing press in America north of Mexico, and during that year printed "the Free- mans Oath" and an almanac, and the next year, " the Book of Psalms." In 1641 the General Court took notice of his enterprise, as follows :
Stephen Day, being the first that set upon printing, is granted 300 acres where it may bee convenient wthout preiudice to any town --- [Massachusetts Records.]
But Day is soon found in financial difficulties. In 1643 the court released him from jail upon his giving "100 bond for his appearance when he is called for," and in 1644 he is again under duress, sending from prison a petition for relief, complaining of the harsh dealing of creditors. In 1647 he had been deposed from the management of the Cambridge press, his son Matthew, first steward of Har-
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
vard College, receiving his place. Matthew died in 1649. and Day became a journeyman printer at the press he had set up, under Samuel Green, where he remained until his death, in 1667. He never lived in Lancaster, though often here. He owned two house lots. that next Prescott's Cow- dall purchase on the north, which he sold to Phillip Knight, and the lot afterwards assigned to John Roper, which Day obtained of Solomon Johnson, exchanging for it his three hundred acre grant, above mentioned. His land rights here were all vacated finally by his inability to improve them.
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