USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 3
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Meeting house. And ffurther wee doe Covenant and Agree to build a Convenient meeting house for the Publique Assembling of the Church and People of God, to worshipp God according to his holy ordinances in the most eaquall and Convenient place that may be Advized and Concluded by the Plantation.
Ministers house. And to Build a house for the Minester vppon the said Church Land.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
house lotts to pay 10' p ann to the minester. And ffurther we doe Engage and Covenant every one for himselfe his heires Exec- utors & Assignes to pay to and for the vse of the minestree aboue- said the sume of ten shillings a yeare as for and in Consideracon of of home Lotts yearly for ever, our home Lotts to stand Engaged for the payment thereof, and what all this shall fall short of a Competent main- tinance we Covenant to make vpp by an equall Rate vppon of Goods, and other improved Lands (not home lots) in such way and order as the Country rate is Raised. And in case of vacansy of a minester the main- tainanc Ariseing from the Church Land and home Lotts abouementioned. shalbe paid to such as shalbe Appoynted. for the use of a scoole to be as a stock : or as stock towards the maintainanc of the minester, as the Plan- tation or Sellect men shall think meetest. 1
To build Inhabit &'c in a year or loose all and pay 5: " And for the better Promoteing and seting forward of the Plantation wee Covenant and Agree, That such person or persons of vs who have not inhabited this Plantation heretofore and are yett to come to build Improue and Inhabitt That we will (by the will of God) come vpp to build to Plant land and Inhabit at or before one whole yeare be passed next after o" acceptance of or Allottments, or elc to Loose all our Charges about it, and our Lotts to Return to the Plantation, and to pay fiue pounds for the vse of the Plantation,
What Inhabitants not to be Admited. And for the Better preserveing of the puritie of Religion and ourselues from infection of Error we Cove- nant not to distribute Allottments and to Receive into the Plantation as Inhabitants any excominicat or otherwise prophane and scandalus (known so to bee) nor any notoriously erring against the Docktrin and Discipline of the Churches and the state and Governmt of this Comonweale.
to end all difrenc by Arbitracon. And for the better preserveing of peace and love, and yet to keepe the Rules of Justice and Equitie amonge ourselues, we Covenant not to goe to Lawe one with an other in Actions of Debt or Damages one towards an other either in name or state but to end all such Controversies among ourselues by arbitration or otherwise except in cases Cappitall or Criminall that sinn may not goe vnpunished or that the mater be aboue our abillities to Judge of, and that it bee with the Consent of the Plantation or Sellect men thereof.
To pay 10s p Lntt. And for the Laying out measureing and bound- ing of our Allottments of this first Division and for and towards the Satis- fieing of our Engagemt to the Generall Court, to make payment for purchase of the Indians we Covenant to pay ten shillings every one of vs for our severall Allottmy, to the Sellect men or whome they may Appoynt to Receive it.
29
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Equall Lotts first Dinition, in 2nd Diuitions acord to Estates : And. whereas Lotts are Now Laid out for the most part Equally to Rich and poore, Partly to keepe the Towne from Scatering to farr. and partly out of Charitie and Respect to men of meaner estate, yet that Equallitie (which is the Rule of God) may be observed, we Covenant and Agree, That in a second Devision and so through all other Devitions of Land the mater shall be drawne as neere to equallitie according to mens estates as wee are able to doe, That he which hath now more then his estate Deserv- eth in home Lotts and entervale Lotts shall haue so much Less : and he that hath now Less then his estate Deserveth shall haue so much more. And that wee may the better keepe due proportion we Covenant and agree thus to account of mens estates (viz) ten pounds a head for every person and all other goods by due vallue, and to proportion to every ten pounds three acors of Land two of vpland and one of Entervale and we giue a years Libertie to Euery man to bringe in his estate.
Gifts free. Yet Nevertheless it is to be vnderstood That we doe not heereby preiudice or Barr the Plantation from Accomodateing any man by Gifft of Land (which proply are not Allottm's:) but wee doe reserve that in the free Power of the Plantation as occation may hereafter be offered : And in Case The Planters estate be Lowe that he can claime Nothing in other diuitions yet it is to be understood that he shall enioy all the Land of the first Devision.
int 2nd Deuition. And further we Covenant That if any Planters do desire to haue his proportion in the second devition it shalbe Granted.
Rules for Proporcon of Meddows. And ffurther wee Covenant to lay out Meddow Lands according to the preasent estates of the Planters, with respect to be had to Remoteness or Neereness, of that which is remote to giue the more and of that wch is neere to giue the Less.
And Concerning the 30 acors of vppland and 40 acors of Entervale aboue Granted as Church Land It is agreed and concluded to Lye bounded by John Prescotts Ditch vppon the South and the North Riuer over an ends [anenst] Lawrenc Waters vppon the North and so Rangeing allong westward.
And for the Preventing of Inconveniences and the more peaceable Isu- ing of the business about building of a meeting house it is Considered and Concluded as the most equall place that the meeting house be builded as neere to the Church Land and to the Neck of Land as It can bee with- out any notable inconveniencie.
And it is allso agreed That in all partes and Quarters of the Towne where Sundry Lotts do Lie together they shalbe ffenced by a Common ffenc according to proportion of acors by every planter, And yett not to barr any man from perticuler and priuat Inclosure at bis pleasure.
30
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
This is a true Coppie of the Lawes and orders ffirst Enacted and made by those Appoynted and Impowered by the Genrall Court as it is found in the old book.
THOSE NAMES YT HAUE SUBSCRIBED TO THESE ORDERS :
EDWARD BREK I subscribe to this for my selfe and for my sonn Robert saue that it is
ROBRT BREK : $ our owne persons: This is a true Coppie:
JNº PRESCOTT.
WILLIAM KERLY
These subscribed together the first
THOMAS SAYER
RALPH HAUGHTON
JNº WHITCOMB Senir :
JNº WHITCOMB Juni' :
Subscribed 20 : day : 9 mº : 1652
RICHARD LINTON.
JNº JOHNSON. Subscribed : 4th : 9 mº : 1654
JEREMIAH ROGERS
JNº MOORE: Subscribed : 11th: first mº: 1653
WILLIAM LEWES :
JNº LEWES. Subscribed : 13th : I mº : 1653
THº : JAMES: mark 21th : 3 mº: 1653
EDMUND PARKER.
BENIAMINE TWITCHELL & Subscribed : Ith : 8 mº: 1652 ANTHONY NEWTON,
STEEPHEN DAY } Subscribed : 15th : I mº: 1653 JAMES ADERTON Sboth of ym.
HENRY KERLY :
RICHARD SMITH.
WILLIAM KERLY Junr. Subscribed 15 : I mº: 1653 JNº. SMITH. LAWRENC WATERS
JNº. WHITE : Subscribed : 1th May 1653
JNº FFARRER : Subscribed : 24: Septembr 1653
JACOB FFARRER : Same date
JOHN HAUGHTON
SAMUEL DEANE Subd : same 24 : 7 mº: 1653
JAMES DRAPER.
STEEPHEN GATES : Sen" : S Subscribed : Aprill 3: 1654
JAMES WHITING or WITTON: Subscri : April 7th : 1654
. JNº. MOORE and [3: 2 m": 1654 Subscribed
EDWARD KIBBIE
This name has always been erroneously printed " Righe." Kibbie was of Roxbury, a sawyer by trade, and did not long remain here. Lydia Kibbie, perhaps his daughter, became wife of George Bennett of Lancaster.
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agreed that we are not bound to come vpp to inhabit wthin a years time in
31
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
JNº MANSFIELD : 13: 2 mº: 1654
JNº TOWERS :
RICHARD DWELLY HENRY WARD.
Subscribed IS: 2 mº: 1654
JNº PEIRCE."
WILLIAM BILLING Subscribed 4th : 7 mº: 1654.
RICHARD SUTTON : aprl 1653
THOMAS JOSLIN. Subscribed the 12th : 9 mo : 1654. and there is granted
to them both 50 acres of vpland & Swamp together for theire home NATHANIELL JOSLIN > lotts and allso forty acors of Entervale.
JOHN RUGG: Subscribed, 12th: 12 mº: 1654
) Subscribed 12th : 12 mº : 1654: and it is agreed by
JOSEPH ROWLANDSON : ¿ the Town that he shall haue 20 accors of vpland & 40 acors of > Entervale in the Night Pasture:
JNº RIGGBY : Subscribed 12th : 12th mº : 1654 and he is to haue 20 acors of vpland & ten acors of Entervale
JNº ROPER : Subscribed 22: Ith mº: 1656
All these before mentioned are subscribed & theire names Entered ac- cording to theire Severall Dates in the old Book & Coppied per JNº TINKER Clerk
JNº TINKER Subscribed ye first of ffebbr: 1657 MORDICA MACLODE his X mark set I march 1657
Jonas ffairbanks : Subscribed the 7th: 2 mº : 1658 JONAS FFAIRBANKS
Roger Sumner subscribed the : 11th of Aprill: 1659 ROGER SUMNER
Gamaliell Bemand Subscribed : the 31th : of may 1659 GAMALIELL & BEMAND
his marke
Thomas W'yelder : Subscribed the ith of July 1659 THOMAS WYELLDER
Daniell Gaines Subscribed the tenth day of march DANIELL GAIENS
1659
1660
1653. The arrival of Prescott's millstone in Lancaster must have been an event of matchless interest to every man, woman and child in the settlement. Until that began its tireless turning, the grain for their every loaf of bread had to be carried to Watertown mill, or ground laboriously in a hand quern, or parched and brayed in a mortar Indian fashion, or hulled and softened with lye and crushed, as is the practice to this day in some regions of North America. The Nashaway planters might well wish to honor their beneficent neighbor by naming the township for him. To
-
32
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
his capacity and business energy they owed nearly all they had thus far attained, and no sooner had township organi- zation been secured. than we see John Prescott turning his attention to this new enterprise, which found shape November 20th, in the following agreement :
.
Know all men by these presents that I John Prescott blackesmith, hath Covenanted and bargained with Jno. founell of Charlestowne for the building of a Corne mill, within the said Towne of Lanchaster. This witnesseth that wee the Inhabitants of Lanchaster for his encouragement in so good a worke for the behoofe of our Towne, vpon condition that the said intended worke by him or his assignes be finished, do freely and fully giue grant, enfeoffe, & confirme vnto the said John Prescott, thirty acres of intervale Land lying on the north riuer, lying north west of Henry Kerly and ten acres of Land adjoyneing to the mill : and forty acres of Land on the South east of the mill brooke, lying between the mill brooke and Nashaway Riuer in such place as the said John Prescott shall choose with all the priuiledges and appurtenances thereto apperteyneing. To haue and to hold the said land and eurie parcell thereof to the said John Prescott his heyeres and assignes for euer, to his and their only propper vse and behoofe. Also wee do couenant & promise to lend the said John Prescott fiue pound, in current money one yeare for the buying of Irons for the mill. And also wee do couenant and grant to and with the said John Prescott his heyres and assignes that the said mill, with all the aboue named Land thereto apperteyneing shall be freed from all comon charges for seauen yeares next ensueing. after the first finishing and setting the said mill to worke. In witnes whereof wee haue herevnto put our hands this 20th day of the 9" In the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and three.
Subscribed names
WILLM, KERLY SEN".
LAWRENCE WATERS, THOMAS JAMES,
INO PRESCOTT, EDMUND PARKER, JNO LEWIS,
JNO WHITE, RICHARD LINTON. JAMES ATHERTON,
RALPH HOUGHTON,
RICHARD SMITH, JACOB FFARRER.
WILLM. KERLY JUNR.
Memorandum, that Ino Prescott finished his mill, & began to grind corne the 23th day of the 3"10, 1654.
At a meeting of the Comissioners for the genrall Court, the 9th of Sep- tember 1657 at Jno. Prescott's house, the Towne consented that the imunityes of Jno. Prescott prouided for in the covenant should continue and remayne to him the said Jno Prescott his heyres and assignes vntill
33
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643- 1725.
the 23 of May in the yeare of our Lord sixteen hundred sixty & two. 1662.
SIMON WILLARD EDW. JOHNSON THOMAS DANFORTH
The above contract is not found in any records of the town, but was duly recorded in the Middlesex County Registry.
FIRST GRANT OF LOTTS:
1653 : 30" : 9mº : Memind", That we Edward Brek Jno Prescott Wil- liam Kerly Ralph Haughton and Thomas Sayer. being Chosen by the Generi Court, To lay out Allottments and to order the prudentiall affaires of this Plantation at Nashaway now Named Lancaster do Lay out and Appoynt Lands and severall Lotts with all the priuilledges and Appurti- nances thereof vnto these severall persons whose Names and Allottments are hereafter mentioned and discribed To haue and to hold to them their heires Executors and Assignes for ever
The Lotts of this Plantation are Laid out partly on the west side of the Riuers of Nashaway and the North Riuer, and partly on a parcell of Land Called the Neck Lying betweene the North Riuer and that which hath bin Named and Hereby is named Penecuck River which Taketh his name and begineth at the meeting of Nashaway and the North Riuers
Penacook is said to be an Algonquin word, meaning "a crooked place," from penaqui, "crooked," and auke. "place," and the New Hampshire name is supposed to be thus derived. Here the word in early days was spelled Penecook or Penicook. and may have had a differ- erent origin. Again, pen, plural penak, means " ground nut " or " wild potato," a favorite food of the aborigines ; while used as a prefix penak denoted " a fall in the land." Hence, other meanings are suggested as possible. The name was soon dropped.
The Lotts on the west side of Nashaway and the North Riuers are formed duble, a highway Runing through as a street, on either side a hereof Lotts are Laid to butt uppon the said highway :
LOTTS OF JNO PRESCOT
The ffirst Lott as the Scenter from which other Lotts may take theire . boundings and discriptions North and South, is the Lott of John Prescot who is one of the first Inhabitants, he hath his Lott on the west side of Nashaway and the North Riuers Containing 20 Acors in place where some-
3
34
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
times one Mr Symons and Thomas King built a trukeing house, Butting Easterly vppon the highway and westerly towards the Comons, His Enter- vale Lott containeth 50 accors, Butteth vppon the North and Nashaway Riuers Easterly and tendeth Westerly as it is now ffenced and one part Lying Northerly of the Highway and another part Southerly from the Lott of Thomas Sayer :
OF JNO JOHNSON
The Lott of Jno. Johnson Contayning 20 Acors is the second Lott Northerly from John Prescots Butted and bounded as the former.
HENRY KERLEY
The Lott of Henry Kerley Containing 20 acors is the 5th Lott from John Prescotts Butted and bounded as the fformer.
WM KERLY SENR
The Lott of William Kerly Containing 20 acors is the 6th Lott ffrom Jno. Prescot,
ditto Kerly The Lott of William Kerly which he purchased of Rich- ard Smith is the 7th Lott, both buting & bounding as the former.
JNO SMITH
The Lott of John Smith is 8th Lott Containing 20 acors butted & bounded as the other
W" KERLY JUN2 :
The Lott of William Kerly Junior Containing 20 acors is the 9th Lott buting & bounding as the former
JNO. PRESCOT
That Lott of John Prescott Containing 20 acors which Lyeth on the east side of the High way over against his former Lott Described butteth vppon the high way westerly and the Commons Easterly
JNO. MOORE
The Lott of Jno Moore, Containing 20 acors is the first Lott from the Lott of Jno Prescot, on the North butted & bounded as the other
THOMAS SAYER
The Lott of Thomas Sayer is the first Lott Containing 20 acors on the South side of this Lott of Jn" Prescot butting & bounding as the former. his Entervale. The Entervale Lott of Thomas Sayer Containing 20 acors Lyeth betweene two pcells of Jno Prescots Enteryale Lott butting vppon Nashaway Riuer
35
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
ENTERVALE LOTTS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE NORTH RIVER :
The first Lott begineth at a litle brooke which Cometh from the west & Runeth into the North Riuer :
WILLIAM KERLY SENR
The 2d Lott is the Lott of William Kerly Senior Containing 20 acors butteth Esterly vppon the west side of the North Riuer.
his purchas. The Lot of William Kerly which he purchased of Rich- ard Smith is the 3ª Lott Joyning to his owne pp [proper] Containing 20 acors Lyeth on the south side is Butted & bounded as the former.
WM. KERLY JUNE
The Lott of William Kerly Jun' Containing 20 acors is the 4th Lott butted and bounded as the fformer
JNO MOORE
The Lott of Jno Moore Containing 20 acors is the 5th Lott Butted & bounded as the other 1625437
The Lott of Henry Kerly Containing 20 acors is the Last Lott Lying to a brook wch is on the south side and Runeth into the North Riuer :
Neck side. The Lotts oppon the Neck Lyeth betweene the North Ritter and Penecuck River a highway Runing between them :
LOTTS OF EDWARD BREK
The Lott of Edward Brek is the first Lott Containing 20 acors which Lyeth butting vppon the highway vppon the west and Penecuck Riuer vppon the east and Runeth to the Riuer (which somtimes was intended for Mr Bowman) [Probably Francis of Watertown.] His Entervale Lott Lyeth on the East side of Penecuck Riuer Containing 20 acors bee it more or Less, it Runs East and west and boundeth westerly vppon Pene- cuck and vppon the South is bounded by a new ditch : & ffrom this Lott Northerly & Southerly are other Lotts Numbered & bounded and is the first Lott.
RI: LENTON
The Lott of Richard Lenton, Containing 20 accors is the 24 Lott and Lyeth on the North side of the Lott of Edward Brek butteth on the High way westerly & Penecuck Riuer on the East, Ralph Haughton vppon an exchange made, is planted vppon the East end thereof
RA: HAUGHTON
The pp [proper] Lott of Ralph Houghton is Next vnto Richard Lenton Containing 20 acors butted and Bounded as the other being the 3d Lott Northerly.
36
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
his purchas. The Lott of Ralph Haughton weh he purchased of John Prescot Adioyning to his owne pp on the North side Containing 20 acors is the 4th Lott. His Entervale Lotts Lye on the other side Penecuck East- ward Containing 70 acors being the 3d and 4th Lotts from the Lott of Edward Brek Northerly
ROB'RT BRECK
The Lott of Robert Breck Containing 20 acors Lyeth on the west side of the Neck begineth at the south side Neere to the house of Richard Lenton, vppon a Line Ruffe 9 of 1 mº 1654 from the highway to the River 95 rods in Lengthi butting on the highway on the East & the North Riuer on the west and tendeth Northerly. His Entervale Lott Containing 20 acors Lyeth next to the Entervale Lott of his father Edward Brek and is the second Lott from his Northerly butted and bounded as is his fathers.
JAMES ATHERTON
The Lott of James Atherton Lyeth next vnto the Lotts of Ralph Haughton on the North and is the fiffth Lott Containing 20 acors butted & bounded as the other. The Entervale Lott of James Atherton Con- taining 20 acors is the 5th Lott Northerly from the Lott of Ralph Haugh- ton butting & bounding as the former
JNO WHITE
The Lott of John White Containing 20 acors is next to the Lott of James Aderton on the North and is the sixt Lott butting & bounding as the other. His Entervale Lott containing 20 acors is next to the Enter- vale Lott of James Atherton on the North & is the sixth Lott. .
WILLIAM LEWES
The Lott of William Lewes Containing 20 acors is the seaventh Lott & is next to the Lott of John White on the North butting & bounding as the other. His Entervale Lott allso Lyeth next to John Whites & is the 7th Lott norward Containing 20 acors butting & bounding as the other.
J.Nº LEWES
The Lott of John Lewes Containing 20 acors is the eight Lott & Lyeth next to the Lott of his father William Lewes on the North, butting & bounding as the other. His entervale Lott is the eight Containing 20 acors is butted & bounded as the other.
THO. JAMES
The Lott of Thomas James Containing 20 acors is the Ninth Lott & Lyeth next to the Lott of john Lewes on the North butting & bounding as the other. His Entervale Lott is the Ninth lott, Northerly of John Lewes butted & bounded as the other.
37
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
The Lott of Edmund Parker Containing 20 acors is the tenth Lott and Lyeth Next to the Lott of Thomas James on the North butted & bounded as the other. His Entervale Lott Containing 20 acors is the tenth Lott Lying on the North side of the Lott of Thomas James butted & bounded as the other.
The Lott of Richard Smith Containing 20 acors Lyeth alone and is a tryangle, bounded by a fenc on one side towards the entervale and on an other bounded by the North Riuer and by a parcell of Comon on the 3ª side through which a highway is to pass :
Thus far the records, copied from the old book. are in the quaintly neat hand-writing of Master John Tinker, who at his coming hither was at once largely entrusted with the management of public affairs.
COPPIE OF PETITION FOR TOWNSHIP: & ANSWER :
To the honoed Go"no" the Dept Go"no" and the Rest of this honored Court both magistrates & deputies.
The humble petition of the Inhabitants of Lancaster humbly sheweth that whereas it pleased this honoured Court to giue power to six men formerly to dispose of Lands, and to giue out Lotts vnto such men as did desire to sitt downe att Lancaster, they hauing Hitherto acted accord- ingly, and wee being now about twentie familyes, and one of the six men being dead, and an other liuing remote from vs, and sum others of them being desirous to Leaue of that power giuen to them by the Court; Con- ceiuing it to be agreeable to Law and profitable to the towne, in the further Carieing on and ordring of the planting and prudenciall affaires of the towne, and alsoe in the further disposing and raising maintainance for the minestrie amongst vs, wee with the Comisioners who haue sett their hands Herento with ourselues, doe humbly intreat this Honoured Court that the power which was formerly granted to those six men. may be granted to the towne, and inhabitanc in genrall that therein they may act togather as in other townes. and as wee Conceiue vnder fauor the Law doth allow. And alsoe that this Court would be plesed to apoynt sum man or men who in wisdome you think meet, to Lay out our towne bounds according to this Courts grant, which if it shall pleas this Honoured Court to grant vnto vs, we shall remaine further obliged and as wee ar in dutie bound Continue to pray for you.
WILLIAM KERLEY Sen EDMUND PARKER
WILLIAM LEWEIS THOMAS JAMES
WILLIAM KERLY Jun JOHN WHITCOMBE 2
RICHARD SMITH LAWRENC WATERS
HENRY KERLEY RICHARD LINTON
JOHN LEWEIS
38
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
The desir of your peticioners is that they desired the full power and priuilledges of the plantacion and for the present they desire and shall be well satisfied if the Court doe grant seauen men out of tenn herynder writen to order the prudenciall afaires for this year ensuing And that afterwards it shalbe Lawfull for the plantacion to make their Elecions, and to order their prudenciall busineses in full state of a plantacion according to Law.
Edward Brecke
John Whetcomb
John Prescott
John White
William Kerley William Leweis
Ralph Houghton
Richard Smith
Thomas Sawyer
Edward Kibie
Of theis ar freemen
Edward Breck
William Leweis
William Kerley
John Whetcombe
Thomas Sawyer
Answer to the petition :
The Comitie thinke meet that the inhabitance of Lancaster haue those Liberties of a towne shipp that the Lawes alow, vntill the genrall Court take further order theirin, And that Leiftenant goodenough and Thomas dainforth Lay out the bounds of the said towne according to the Courts grant at the townes Charg and mak returne theirot vnto the next Court of Election.
The deputies aproue of the returne of this Comitie And desire our Honoured magestrats Consent Hervnto.
Ioth : May, 1654. WILLIAM TORIE Clarke. The Comitie : HUMPHREY ATHERTON THOMAS CLARKE
Consented to by the magistrats
ELEAZER LUSHER JOSEPH HILL
The above, from town records, differs in slight particulars from the original in Massachusetts Records.
November 1, 1654. Whereas Shawanon, Saggamore of Nashaway, is lately dead, and another is now suddainly to be chosen in his roome, they being a great people, that haue submitted to this jurisdiccon, theire eyes being vppon two or three of the blood, one whereof is very deboist & a drunken fellow, and no freind of ye English another is very hopfull to learne the things of Christ, this court doth therefore order, that Mr In- crease Nowell and Mr John Elliott shall and heereby are desired to repaire to the Indians, and labor by theire best counsell and perswasion to prayle
39
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
wth them for the choosing of such a one as may be most fitt to be theire sagamore, which would be a good service to ye countrje. [Massachusetts Records.]
Their counsel prevailed, and Matthew, nephew of Sho- lan, was chosen ; but "deboist" Sam bided his time. The tribal government was an elective monarchy, sons of a deceased sachem being ineligible if nephews and brothers were available.
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