USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 4
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MENS ESTATS TO DRAW MEDDOW & 2º DEUISION
1654. These seurall Estats of the planters who by Couenant and ac- cording to the rules theirof haue engaged that theirby it may be knowne what shall be ther pporcion of Land which by Couenant eurie planter may make Claime vnto in a second third or other deuisions of Land and alsoe of medow within this towne of Lancaster.
1b
8 d
1b
-- John Prescott
366 = 15 = 00
270 = 00 = 00
Edward Brecke
202 = 1I = 00
John Leweis
Ralph Houghton
264 = 04 : 00
Thomas Josllin
Edmund Parker
098 = 00 = 00
Steeuen Gats Sen.
314 = 00 = 00
Thomas James 036 = 00 = 00 030 = 00 = 00 John Johnson John Smith 058 = 19 = 00
John Whetcomb
241 = 00 = 05
Jo : Whetcomb Jr.
029 = 00 = 00
James Atherton
069 = 05 = 00
Lawrenc Waters 277 = 00 = 00
107 = 10 = 00
Robert Breck
010 = 00 = 00
Jacob ffarer John Whit Henry Kerley
380 = 06 = 02 078 = 04 = 00
John Rugg 083 = 10 = 00
Richard Linton
090 = 00 = 00
John More
110 = 00 = 00
Phillip Knight
William Leweis
285 = 09 = 00
John Roper
100 = 00 = 00
The Estats of seurall entred sinc the 9 day 1655
Roger Sumner his Estat giuen in is
232 = 00 = 00
Jonas ffairbanke his Estat is 172 = 00 = 00
Jacob farer aded when his wif came
168 = 07 = 00
DEUISION OF MEDOWES ALLREDIE DEUIDED.
Medowes allowed to eurie hundred pound estat is fower accors to which proporcion it followeth
-
s d John ffarer 107 = 00 = 00 William Kerley Sen.
Richard Smith 313 = 13 = 10 018 = 10 = 00
Nathaniell Josllin
155 = 00 = 00
Thomas Sawyer 110 = 00 = 00
William Kerley Jun. 186 = 00 = 00
40
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Numbr of lots.
.John Prescott hath of medowes in all 24 accors
27 William Kerley sen hath
Io accors & ¿ ptes
Edward Brecke 8 accors & 2, pte
9 Ralph Houghton
10 accors & 1 & 28
2 Edmund Parker 4 accors
17 Thomas James
13 accor
26 John Johnson
I accor & } pte
24 John Smith
2 accors & % ptes
25 James Atherton
2 accors & 2 ptes 4 accors & g ptes O
Robert Brecke not sufred to haue a lot.
14 William Kerley Ju.
2 accors & 3
18 John More 4 accors & & ptes
15 John Rug 3 accors & § pte
7 William Leweis II accors & g ptes
16 Richard Smith should be 12 . 1 . 2's is but 9.1 ( 12} accors & 25
3 John Leweis
of ptes
28 Thomas Josllin
8 accors & g ptes
13 Steeuen Gates sen.
12 accors 1 & 1 pte
21 John Whetcomb sen. 9 accors 3 & { pte
22 John Whetcomb Ju.
I accor & } pte
Nathaniell Josllin
6 accors & j pte
4 Lawrenc Waters
II accors & ih pte
29 Jacob ffarer
4 accors & 7, ptes
20 John Whit
15 accors and } pte
23 Henry Kerley
3 accors & 1 pte
12 Richard Linton
3 accors & 3 - 1, ptes
19 John Tinker for 100 good" Knight
4 accors
I John Roper
4 accors
6 Master Rowlandson
6 accors
8 John Tinker hath 6 acc. } was good- man Rowlandsons & and 2 to draw
8 accors for his owne estat 9 accors } pte
Roger Sumner
Jonas fairbanke hath 6 accors, is to draw ¿ ptes, which makes Jacob ffarer by his estat & by his wife
6 accors & 5 ptes
Jacob flarer for John farers estat
6 accors & # ptes 4 accors & # pte
SUM GRANTS OF LAND AND ORDERS BY THE FIRST SIX MEN APOYNTED.
The gth of the first mon. 1654 It is ordred and agreed by the select- men of the plantacion the Land which Lyeth betweene the lott of Edward
-
----
3 Thomas Sawyer
41
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Brecke and that of Richard Smith shall Ly in Comon for the plantacion
Itt is ordred by the greater voat of the selectmen that noe second devisions of Land shall be Laid out to any planter within the Compass of two miles of the house of Richard Linton
It is ordred and granted by the greater voat of the select men that a Certain pte of Entervaile Land which Lyeth betweene the lottes of Robert Brecke and Ralph Houghton shall be and remaine vnto the said Robert and Ralph, their heirs and asignes for euer and that vpon resonable and good Considracion
Upon resonable and good Considracion it is ordred and granted by the greater voat of the select men that Thomas Sawyer shall haue fiue accors of Land Lying on the south sid of the dich of John Prescott and on the north sid of the High way buting vpon the Entervaile East and the Comons on the west to him his heirs and asignes for euer to plant a hous vpon - vpon Condicion that he returne to the towne fiue accors of his home lott in Lew theirof at the east end of his lott.
At a towne meeting it was voted and agreed by the plantacion upon a legall warning asembled that the acts of the selectmen who were Chosen by the Court to dispose of lotts and to act the prudenciall afairs of this plan- tacion contained in this book by them or the greater voat of them acted, shall hencforth be accounted Legall and is herby established and con- firmed
Att a towne meeting asembled vpon Legall warning it is agreed by the towne that their should not be taken into the towne aboue the number of thirtie fiue familyes and the subscribed names ar to be vnderstood that hencforth they ar to be accounted townsmen
Edward Brecke John Johnson
William Kerley Jun
Master Joseph Rowlandson
John More John Smith
John Prescott
William Leweis
Lawrence Waters
William Kerley sen.
John Leweis John White
Ralph Houghton Thomas Sawyer
Thomas James
John farer
Jacob ffarer
John Whetcomb Sen
Edmund Parker James Atherton Henry Kerley
John Rugg
John Whetcomb Jur
Richard Linton
Richard Smith 1
ORDERS ABOUT THE FIRST DEVISION OF MEDOW.
25 : 4th : mon 1655 The towne meet about a first deuision of medow and ordred and agreed as followeth.
. Itt is this day ordred that a deuision of medow shall bee Laid out, with all Convenient Speed, of fower accors to a hundred pound estate : As it is entered into the towne booke, to be deuided by Lott. And it is agreed to begin at the south medow, and soe to the medow by Gibsons hill, and
1
42
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
to quasaponikin medow, and all medowes knowne on the neck, and soe com to the vpmostt medow on Nashaway riner, and the Still riuer, and soe follow them downwards to the plum trees, And soe Round to the ponds, and we taqnadock and such medowes as are knowne, or shall be found, vntill tenn accors to a hundred pound bee made vpp: And it is ordred and agreed, and men chose to surueie euric mans Lott of medow: And to Judge theirof, that eurie man may haue, as neare to equalitie as may in truth and faithfullnes be Judged of, by the men herafter mentioned, That is to say William Kerley Sen. Steeuen Gats, William Kerley Jur, and Ralph Houghton.
After fower accors to a hundred pound was Laid out and pfected, with the allowances, the Layers out called the towne togather the 10th : of the 5th : mon 1655 who acted as followeth. It is this day ordred and agreed by a voat of the towne no man desenting, that the act of Laying out meddowes. In the first deuision. of fower accors to a hundred pound state, as it is alredie Laid out, the towne will maintain and defend, against all suits and encumbrances whatever. And at the same time the same day, the towne drew Lotts. for a second deuision of medow of six accors to a hundred pound state. And the Layers out went afterward to Laying it out. but it would not hold out to giue to eurie one soe much, And theirfore the Layers out of medow called the towne togather againe, And the towne wholy disanuled what was done in that Later deuision of medow, because it would not reach to giue to eurie man, but many would have beene without.
Quasaponikin and Wataquadock are named here for the first time. The contraction Ponikin appears first in 1718. This is uniformly the spelling used by the earlier clerks, who were familiar with the Indian speech, and by the best authorities since. Ponakin is a modern innovation, having no claim to be perpetuated. A similar name. Quosopana- gon, was applied to a Groton meadow. Here the name attached to the broad area of intervale, the hill, and the brook, which retain it today. The published vocabularies of Indian words give no clue to its meaning, unless there is an echo of it in Quascacanaquen, which a writer in the New Hampshire Historical Society's Collections tells us means " entirely full of water."
The meaning, descriptive of the Bolton range of hills, hidden in the Indian word Wataquadock, has not been found, though long sought. Of local names about Lancas-
43
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
ter none has experienced more varied spelling at the hands of clerks and historians. The later methods seem in no way improvements upon Ralph Houghton's first attempt to render into English syllables the word as he heard it from native lips, in 1653. In, the town records we find Wala- quadoke 1656 and 1659, Wataquadocke 1658. . Wadaqua- dock 1718, all nearly the same in sound with the first above. Joseph Willard, Esquire, in 1826, preferred Wataquodoc. Reverend Peter Whitney gave us in 1792, Wattoquottock! It was not until the Indian tongue was forgotten in Lancas- ter, and the recorders were unusually illiterate, that such outre orthography as Waterquaduc and Wattoquoddoc crept in.
A leaf is here missing from the records. No contempo- rary notice is elsewhere found respecting this meeting of a board of arbitration, ten of whose " determinacions" are lost to our history. The provision in the covenant for the ending of disputes by arbitration was presumably the authority for assembling the board.
ARBITRATORS AWARD OR DETERMINACIONS.
IIth Complaint of Tho : Sawyer. ffor Thomas Sawyers Complaint about his want of fiue accors of Entervaile Land, wee say it was Laid out by those apoynted by the towne according to order, And if he or any other may mesure their Land soe Laid out And accept vpon that ground, then all may as well haue Libertie to doe the same And then noe end will be Herin and theirfore we cannott alter it.
12th Complaint about records for want of ye same. ffor the Com- plaint of the want of recording Land in the towne booke, for help Herin, wee apoynt Ralph Houghton for that worke for the present vntill further order be taken.
13 Complaint for want of Land Laid out. Wheras diuers Com- plaints for the want of Land being Laid out according to their grant, wee Herby declare, that the towne is with car & what speed they may, to sat- isfie all those Complaints, in their Lawfull demands herein.
14 Complaint of Fo: farer ffor John ffarers Complaint for want of his accomodacions Laid out to him Considring his pson being soe Long hear, And also his expenc being as it was, wee cannot butt grant him his
.
44
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
hous Lott and Entervaile, and in Case he sell it or sett it to one the towne shall aproue of then he shall haue other deuisions acording to estat pre- sent eles [where].
15 Complaint about prudencialls afairs. ffor the prudenciall afairs of the towne wee Conclud this. first the towne are to Consider what their oc- casions ar that shall be atended to their in, and writ it in their towne bocke, And this being done then to Choose their select men to act their vpon according to the order of the Court.
16. Complaint of John Rigbie. for the Complaint of John Rigbie for the want of his Land Laid out, the answer is he shall haue his hous Lott when he shall axcept of the place and tor bis tenn accors of entervaile it is said to be Laid out, and for his medow that it shall be Laid out when he shall present his estate.
17. Complaint of Fo: Johnson. ffor the Complaint of Johnson for the want of Land acording to his estat wee Conclud he shall haue Land for fowertie pound estate.
18. Complaint of Will Kerley. ffor William Kerleys sen. Complaint which was about second deuision, wee refer him to the orders in the towne booke, with this proviso, that the deuisions therof shall bee by lott as in other deuisions.
19. for Edward Breckes Lott. ffor Edward Breckes Lott and his soons, wee determine that Edward Breck shall enjoy his Lott but for his son vnless he com and posess it within fower monthes, after intelligenc to him or his father of this determinacion or com and agree with the towne soe as they sufer not theirby, otherwis it shall be forfited to the towne.
20. Allowanc of medo to divers psons. Concerning allowance of medow to diuers psons Complaining theirin, wee allow Lawrence Waters 4. fower accors, to Nathaniell Jossllin two accors, to Thomas Sawyer one accor and halfe, To James Atherton one accor. To John White fiue accors, all to com in the same order They drew at the first. And this to bee Laid out in the most Convenient medow yett vndisposed, And all the rest that have received medow to stand as they are, only master Rowlandson is to haue fower accors and half for allowance as others haue.
21. for the paying ye Laiers out of medo. ffor the satisfacion of the psons that Laid out the medow, wee Conclude, They are to bring in their daies Labour to the towne as others doe about other occasions.
:
22. Ministrs mantainanc. Our answer to the pposition or querie about the ministrs mantainance our Conclusion is the towne shall presently begin and giue fiftie pounds by the yeare, And for the manor of the pay . they ar to alow him their wheat at six penc p bushell vnder the price, it is at the bay, And soe for other graine by this pportion, And as god shall
4.5
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
bee pleased to enlarge their estat soe they shall enlarge theirin answrably. And this to be raised according to the order incerted in the towne Booke.
23. difrenc about orders in the town book. Wheras their was a diff- rence amongst them Concerning sum orders in the towne book in deuiding of Land, our detirminacons are herin as followeth, Imprienis that for the first deuision of Entervaile Land eurie man shall pay one penny by the accor yearly to curie thirtie pounds to all rats for Church and towne and what shall be wanting theirin shall bee made vp pporcioning eurie mans estat vpon goods and other improued Lands, And our Conclusion is that in other deuisions all men shall com theirto according to their estats.
24. Ministry Land. Wheras their was by an order of the towne fortie accors of entervaile Land giuen for the ministrie for ppetuity, buted and bounded though not Laid out, And wheras their was twenty accors of this giuen to Henrie Kerley without that due Consideracion as might haue beene, our determinacion is theirfore that the said Henrie Kerley shall re- linquish this twentie accors vp for the end for which it was intended. And he shall haue Libertie to take vp twentie fiue accors of entervaile Land in Lew of that befor expresed in any place yett vndisposed. And for his ex- pence and charge herin, he shall improue the said Land soe Long as vntill he shall bee satisfied for his charge soe expended, according to the towne order in that cas pviding. SIMON WILLARD
dated and Confirmed this 25th EDWARD JOHNSON EDMUND RICE
of Aprill 1656 I 1656 Witnes our hands
CONCORD WAY IN LANCASTER.
27 : 3 : mon : 1656. Wee whose hands are herevnto put being Chose by Concord and Lancaster, to lay out the Cuntrie highway betwixt the said townes within the bounds of Lancaster, haue acted and Concluded that the Cuntrie highway shall goe as foloweth : the place from whence we took our begining is at the highway Runing betwixt the Lot of John Prescott and John Mores Lott. And soe Runing on the east side the ministers house. and ouer the north Riuer by Lawrence Waters house, and soe ouer Penicooke Riuer neare to the house of Edward Breke, and soe ouer the Entervaile and through Swane Swamp where the towne hath alreadie marked out a highway for themselues and soe along to a litle pine tree on the north side of Wataquadoke hill, And soe along the old path, or wher may be most Convenient within the bounds of Lancaster.
GEORGE WHELLER JOHN SMADLEY
JOHN ROPER RALPH HOUGHTON
This, our earliest county road, started from the present highway somewhere near the cross roads in South Lancas- ter, and ran northerly to the first church, which crowned
46
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
the highest ground in the middle cemetery, passing between that and the Rowlandson house to the shallows in the north branch of the Nashaway a few rods above Sprague bridge. Thence it followed very nearly the present line of road to the wading place about one hundred rods below the meet- ing of the rivers. and proceeded due east over Wataqua- dock, along the now nearly disused way, formerly known as the "Bay path," or "Sudbury road."
Swan Swamp. Though not proof positive that swans frequented the waters of Lancaster in the olden time, this name is quite good evidence that they were seen here at least occasionally. Nathaniel Morton, in the " New Eng- land Canaan," says : "And first of the Swanne, because shee is the biggest of all the fowles of that country. There are of them in Merrimack River and in other parts of the country, great store at the seasons of the yeare." If in the Merrimack, why not in the Nashaway, its chief tribu- tary?
1656. The following documents, from the Middlesex Court Records and Files. afford brief glimpses of men and manners in Lancaster during the third year of its experi- ence in managing its own affairs.
To Mary Gates of Lancaster.
By virtue heerof you are to apeere at the next Countie Court at Cam- bridge, to answer the complaint of John Prescott & James Atherton, for your sinfull cariage in the assembly one the lord's daye -heerof you are not to faille at your prill.
Datted this 27th : of the Irth : mo 1656. SIMON WILLARD. . The deposition of John Prescott & James Atherton both of Lancaster.
Vpon a lords day att after exercise in the afternoone goodwife gats being called forth to giue satisfaccion for sum ofence done against Master Row- landson, and she justifying herself. saying that she had formerly giuen him satisfacion, and in after Master Rowlandson replyed by sum arguments proving that she had not formerly giuen him satisfacion, her daughter Marie gats stood vp vncalled uerie boldly in the publique asembly contra- dicting our minister, when he denyed that goodwife gats had giuen him satisfacion, the said marie gats said yes and shee would take her oath of it.
This was taken vpon oath the 27th of the 11th mo. 1656. before me.
SIMON WILLARD.
47
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Lancaster the 6th of the rith mon 1656.
The deposition of Lidia Cibie Aged about 19 years. Vpon the Last Lord's daye goodwife gats being called forth in the publique Congrega- cion to acknowledge an ofence donagainst Master Rowlandson, I heard mary gats speake to Sergant Kerly that he would goe and speake, he said noe for it will giue ofence. Ofence --- said shee, Lett those take ofence and be hanged all, If they will.
Sara Waters Aged 20 years witneseth, , That shee heard mary gats at the same time speaking to Sargant Kerly. She said Lett them take ofence and be hanged all, If they will.
these weare both taken ypon oath the 27th of the 11th mon 1656 before SIMON WILLARD.
me.
I Mary gates doe acknoleg that whearas I have spoke sumthing not long sence at this place that was mater of joste offence and uery sinfull, I am hertely sory for it and doe desire the Congregtion to pas it by, and I shall endever by the helpe of god not to alowe myself in any such practes.
this was acknoledged in publick in our hearing.
WILLIAM KERLY Juner WILLIAM KERLY Sener HENRY KERLY.
April 7 1657. This Court grants an Attachment agst Mary Gates of Lanchaster. and to Jno. Prescott a bill of costs for himselfe & witnesses being 24* to be pd by the said Gates and shee is to appeare at yf next Court to Answr ye Compl of the said Prescott & James Atherton for her sinfull Cariage in the assembly on ye Lords day.
To the honoured Governour, Deputy Governour with the rest of the honoured magistrats assembled at the County Court holden at Charlestown the 16 of this instant Iune 1657. In most humble wise sheweth and com ;- plaineth, and . . [a line worn off in fold] . . petitioner Mary Gats of Sudbury lat of Lancaster was summoned to appeare at the County Court held at Cambridge the seaventh of Aprill last past and did not, your peti- tioner thought that full satisfaction had been giuen befor the honoured Maior Willard for the offence, also acknoledgement and satisfaction was farther rendered by your petitioner to all or any persons at lancaster, whom it might concern. further your petitioner was informed that if shee did ap- peare by an agent it might be exepted, hence what your petitioner did was out of ignorance and not of any contempt of athoryty or aversnes farther to acknoledge the euill of my rash spech and shall be at your mercy, sub- mitting to your fauorable sensur, allways praying for you.
MARY GATS.
23 ,, 4 .. 1657. Mary the daughter of Steuen Gates of Lanchaster being complained of to this Court for bold and vnbeseeming speeches vsed
48
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
in the Publique Assembly on the Lords day and especially agst Mr Row- lason minister of Gods word there the evidence whereof appeareth by the testimony of Jno. Prescott, & James Atherton, Lidea Kibbie & Sarah Waters wch are on file with ye records of this Court, the sd Mary Gates appearing in Court freely, acknowledged her great euill therein, the Court. admonished her, & ordered that shee should pay the Witnesses their charges & costs of Court.
Lancaster 24h 8" 56. This may certifie the Honoured Court that wee have choose Ralph Houghton Clarke of the Writs. Witnes our hands
THOMAS ROWLANDSON JOHN RUGG
JOHN PRESCOTT THOMAS SAWYER
1656 28th May. " Lancaster alias Nashaway, Billeriky, & Chelmsford" were presented to the grand jury for not sending record of " theire meeting for nomination of magistrats ye year past," & the jury found a bill 7th of ad mo 1657.
1657. Whereas wee whose names are vnderwritten (being the freemen of Lancaster) were summoned by warrant to send some one to answer a presentment for our neglecting to send in or votes for Nomination of Mag- istrates, we have intreated John Prescott at psent Constable, to return our Defence vnto the Honoured Court, whereby we intreate the Honoured Court to consider that the Reason why wee sent them not was onely because wee were not called vpon according to order.
WILLIAM KERLY THOMAS ROWLANDSON WILLIAM (O) LEWIS THOMAS (F) SAWYER
23: 4: 1657. Steeuen Gates late const. of Lanchaster, being openly convicted in Court of his Breach of the law in not sumoning the freemen of that Towne to giue in their votes for nomination of magistrates, is fined according to law, ten pounds.
[Middlesex Court Records.]
1657. In answer to the peticon of Steeuen Gates, humbly desiring yt no fine may be inflicted on him for his neglect in not warning the freemen to giue in their votes for magist', he being at yt tjme sicke, & hauing pd tenn shillings for entering his peticon, the court graunts his request. [ Massachusetts Records.]
Vpon occasion & in answer to the peticon of Concord Lancaster &c. the .. Court . . . . . doe graunt to the inhabitants of Concord & Lancaster, and such as they shall associate vnto them, according to the tenor of theire peticon, liberty to erect one or more iron workes wthin the ljmitts of theire oune towne bounds, or in any comon place neere therevnto ..
[ Massachusetts Records.]
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----- - -
49
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Works were soon in operation at Concord, and it seems certain that some attempt was made to establish in Lancas- ter the manufacture of iron from ores dug out of the bogs or fished from the ponds. Iron for smiths' use then cost over twenty pounds sterling per ton. The first forge in America had been successfully at work in Raynham for four or five years, and John Prescott, perhaps, ever watchful as he was of public needs, and stimulated by the high price, planned a bloomery in connection with his saw-mill, which probably stood on the site now occupied by the Bigelow Carpet Com- pany's dam. This at least is certain : slag and cinders, such as accumulate at a forge, were once to be seen strewn about the embankment of a long disused dam in that lo- cality. But bog ore, though found in various places near. was nowhere in deposits rich enough to make iron manufacture profitable.
COPPIE OF A PETTICION TO THE GENRALL COURT FOR A COMITIE.
To the Honoured Court our Honoured gouerner deputie gouerner with the rest of the magestrats the asistants and deputies
The humble petticion of the inhabitance of the Towne of Lancaster agreed on by a genrall voate of the towne whose hands are vnderwriten Sheweth, That wheras sundrie psones in this towne the Last year att the genrall Court by peticion, did obtaine the full Libertie of a plantacion to Choose selectmen and to order our prudencialls as other townes doe, sup- osing the towne to bee furnished for that purpose, But now vpon this short time of experienc this plantacion finding ourselues vnable to act and order our prudencialls by publique towne meetings, as a towne body by reson of many inconveniences and encumbrances which wee find that way, nor by sellectmen by reson of the scarcitie of freemen (being but 3 three in number) we want Libertie of Choic, And the Law requires (as your peticioners doe Conceiue) the greter voat of them that act to be freemen.
The premises being Considred your peticioners doe humbly Craue that the Honoured Court would be pleased to take our Condicion into their Considracion, and apoynt a comitie invested with power from the geurall Court to put vs into such a way of order as wee ar Capable of, or any other way which the Honoured Court may Judge safest, and best both for the present and future good, of vs and our towne and those that are to
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