USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 5
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
suceed vs, And such a Comitie soe apoynted and soe impowred, may stand till they bee able to make returne to the genrall Court that the towne is sufisiantly able to order our prudenciall afaires according as the Law re- quires, which if it shall please this Honoured Court to grant vnto vs. wee shall remaine further obliged, And as we ar in dutie bound Continue to pray for you.
COURTS GRANT OF A COMITIE.
Att a genrall Court held at Boston May 6th 1657. In answer to the peticion of the Inhabitance of Lancaster This Court Judgeth it meet to grant their request, And doe theirfore order and apoynt Maior Simon Willard, Captaine Edward Johnson and Thomas dainforth Comisioners, impowering them to order the afaires of the said Lancaster, And to heare and determine their seurall diffrences and greeuances which obstruct the present and future good of the towne, standing in power till they bee able to make returne to the genrall Court that the towne is sufisiantly able to order its owne affaires according to Law.
Vera Copia THOMAS DANFORTH
ORDERS OF THE COMITIE.
The Comisioners apoynted by the genrall Court to order and setle the afaires of Lancaster, being asembled at John Prescots house September ye eight 1657 hauing heard the seurall informacions and Complaints of both pties, and reueued the records of the said towne, doe Judg meet to order and Conclud as followeth (i e)
I. Selectmen. That master John Tinker William Kerley Sen John Prescott Ralph Houghton and Thomas Sawyer, shall bee and are herby impowered to order and manag the prudenciall afaires of the said towne. ffor this year next ensuing and vntill sum others be allowed and Confirmed by the Comisioners in their steed and place.
2. Encuragt master Rowlandson. That the said Selecttmen take Care, for the due encuragment of master Rowlandson who now Laboureth amongst them in the ministrie of gods holy word, And alsoe that they take care for erecting a meeting house, pound. and stokes, And that they see to the Laying out of towne and Countrie high waies and the towne bounds, and the making and executing of all such orders and by Lawes as may be for the Comon good of the plac (i e) respecting Corne feilds, medowes, Comon pasturag Land, fences, herding of Catell and re- straint of damage by swine and for the recouring of thos fines and fortitures that are due to the towne from such psones as haue taken vp land and not fullfilled the Condicions of theire respectiue grants wherby the Comon good of the Plantacion hath beene and yett is much obstructed.
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
3. Payant. of towne debts. That they take Care for the payment of all towne debts and for that end they are herby impowred to make such Levies or rats from time to time, as they shall see needfull for the dis- charge of the Comon Charges of the towne, And in Case any of the inhabitance shall refuse or neglect to mak due payment both for quality and quantitie upon resonable demand, they may then Levie the same by distresse, And are impowered alsoe to take 2' mor and aboue such fine or Rate as is due to bee paid for the satisfacion vnto your oficer that taketh the distress for his paines theirin.
4. manor of asesments. That in all their asesments, all Lands apro- priated, (Land giuen for addittions excepted) shall bee valued in manor following (i e) home Lotts the vnbroken att 205 p accor and the broken vp at thirtie shillings by the accor the entervaile the broken at fowertie shillings the accor and the vnbroken at thirtie shillings the accor, and medow Land att thirtie shillings, and in all rates to the ministrie The home Lotts to pay tenn shillings p ann. according to the towne order. And this order to Continue for fiue yeares next ensuing, Alsoe that the selectmen tak spesiall Care for the preseruing and safe keeping the townes Records. And if they see it need full, that they pcure the same to bee writen our fairly into a new booke, to be keept for the good of posterity, the charge wherof to bee borne by the pprietors of the said Lands respectively.
5. none freed from Rats unless they relinquish under hand. That noe man be freed from the Rates of any Land granted him in pprietie eccept he mak a release and full resignation theirof vnder his hand, And doe alsoe relinquish and surender vp to the vse of the towne, his home Lott Intervaile and medow, all or none.
6. accomodacons for 5 or 6: be Left before 2 deuision. That their be accomodacions of Land reserved for the meet encuragment of fiue or six able men to com and inhabit in the said place (i e) as may bee helpfull to the encuragment of the worke of god their, and the Comon good of the place, And that no second deuision be Laid out vnto any man vntill those Lotts bee sett apte for that vse; by the selectmen, that is to say home Lotts entervaile and medow.
7. master Rowlandsons deed of gift. The Comisioners doe Judg meet to Confirme the deed of gift made by the towne vnto master Rowlandson (i e) of a house and Land which was sett a part for the vse of the minis- trie bering date Ith 6th mon 1657 vpon Condicion that master Rowlandson remoue not his habitacion from the said place for the space of three yeare next ensuing, vnlesse the said inhabitance shall consent theirto, And the Comisioners aproue theirof.
8. Jo. Prescots highway. That the highway Laid out through John Prescotts Land, be remoued vnto the place wher formerly it was Laid out.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
9. Steeuen gats hath noe right to a Lott. That Steeuen gats hath noe right to those Lands claimed by him from this said plantacion.
10. John Rigbe hath right to 10 acors of Intervale. That John Rigbie hath right to tenn accors of Entervaile to be Laid out to him by the select men.
II. Thomas Sawyer, 5 acors entervaile. That Thomas Sawyer bath right to five accors of Entervaile to be Laid out to him by the select men.
12. Jo : Mor 3 accors medo. That John More shall have three accors of medow Laid out to him by the selectmen to enjoy the same to him and his heires for euer, on Condicion that he remaineth an Inhabitant in the said plac for three yeare next ensuing the Lords hand by death excepted.
13. Lands bought by Master Tinker. That those Lands bought by master John Tinker of goodman Knight bee Confirmed to him and his heires for euer. And that master Tinker be accomodated in deuisions of Land after two hundred pound estate.
14. goodman Waters acomodacions. That the selectmen Lay out vnto Lawrence Waters what he yett wanteth of his Just acomodacions in any place that is Comon, att the Choice of the said Waters. And that what Land the said Waters shall be without for more then six monthes after the date Herof he shall bee freed from the rates theirof pvided He shall neuer after make any claime theirto.
. finally agst inmates. That none be entertained into the towne as in- mates, tenants, or otherwise to inhabit within the bounds of the said towne, without the Consent of the selectmen or the maior pte of them, first had and obtained, and entered in the record of the towne as their act, vpon penalty of twenty shillings p month both to the pson that shall soe offend by intruding himselfe, And alsoe to the pson that shall ofend in receiving or entertaining such pson into the towne.
Privaledges & vrats. And that noe other pson or psones whatso- euer shalbe admited to the Inioyment of the priualedges of the place and towneshipp, Either in accomodaccions vots elections or disposalles of any of the Comon priualedges and interests theirof, saue only such as haue beene first orderly admited and accepted (as aforsaid) to the enjoyment theirof.
By vs SIMON WILLARD EDWARD JOHNSON THOMAS DANFORTH
SEURALL ORDERS OF THE SELECTMEN.
1. about recording Land. First of the rith : mon. 1657 : The Select- men meet at John Tinkers house. They order that eurie inhabitant of the towne that hath Lands Laid out to them for tim past, They do bring a pfect List of quantitie qualitie plac and manor of Lying of their said
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Lands with their seurall buts and bounds betweene this and July next to the Clarke of the Towne, who is apoynted by this order fairly to record the same, in a booke to be keept as the townes Records for after posterity, And to prevent any diffrence which may after arise through mistakes for- getfullnes or otherwise, in that pticuler, and the Clarke is alowed fower pence for recording eurie vpland Lott, and fower pence for eurie entervaile Lott, And for eurie accor of medow one penny, And for the Coping out of what hee recordeth, to those that desire it he is to haue halfe soe much as for recording, The like to be done by those to whom Lands be granted afterwards in one month after their Lands are Laid out.
2. for want of Land according to grant. That because some haue Complained they have not all the Land Laid out that is granted to them, and som of their Lands are short of what they were Laid out for, And for which they Constantly pay rats, It is ordred that If any the inhabitance shall Complaine and make it out vpon Just proofe they are short of their due, in poynt of Lands, it shall bee made good to them in such place as is vndisposed of prided all such Complaints be made beefore the Last day of September next, vnto the selectmen.
highwaies amply recorded. Eight of the 12th: mon 1657. The Selectmen meet at goodman Kerleys. They ordred that all highwaies Laid out and allowed for the towne and Countrie vse, be amply recorded, for posteritie, and the way markes bee yearly repaired by stakes or other- wise.
highway in Tho: Sawyers entervaile. That the ground Left fiue Rods widnes through goodman Prescots Entervaile for a way be staked out two Rods and halfe wid for a highway and soe much as is Left to bee dealt out toward the satisfiing of Thomas Sawyer his fiue accors wanting of his due of twentie accors entervaile, And granted by the Comittie.
gates in Comon feilds. Monday the 15th: 12: mon 1657 The Select men meet at the house of Ralph Houghton. They agree that it is neses- carie that their bee fiue gates made and mantained at fiue seurall places in the entervailes on the east side of Nashaway Riuer, for the more Conven- ient pasing along the highwaies, which lyeth through the Corne feilds, where the fences are made against the Comons, And Comon pasturage Lands. To say, at the entrance of that Comon feild against good man Whits : two gates att the places where that highway paseth through the two outside fences. Three gates at the outside of the fences att the three places where the high waies enter into those feilds on both sides Nasha- way Riuer on the South side of the North Riuer, and doe order, That those that are the pprietors of those Lands aforsaid doe Joyntly agree, And they or either of them are to make a gate att each place aforesaid, verie sufisiant, and vsfull hung and fitted by midsumer day next, And to
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
mantainc the same from time to time, And the account of the charge theirof to be giuen into the towne, to bee paid and discharged by the towne.
Veiw way marks eurie march. That in march next and soe eurie yeare in the said month sum one man bee deputed, who hath beene for- merly imployed in Laying out of ye highwaies, with one mor Joyned with him, to reveiw all highwaies apoynted or ordred for Comon vse, in and about the towne: And to see the way markes be sufisiant to be noted and knowne.
Second devision. The Selectmen thinke meet and doe order, that soe soone as all Entervaile Lands belonging to the first deuision be Laid out, which is to bee done with all Convenient speed, That the towne doe Come all togather and draw Lotts for their second deuision of Entervaile which shall begine wher the first deuision ends and extend downe the riuer to the Still Riuer and soe beyond towards the plumtrees, And other places, wher entervaile is found vndisposed of as aforesaid, (not entrench- ing vpon any former order) vntill the whole deuision be Compleated
goodman whits gift of entervale. Monday ye first of the first mon 1657 & 58 the whole towne meet, and the orders made by the selectmen, was , read to them They agree to all the orders except that of the gift to good- man White, And it is theirfore Crossed becaus he apeared not to speak in his owne Cause.
This plain record has been twice printed heretofore so as to wear an air of mystery which does not belong to it; the word " apeared " being transcribed as " feared."
John Righie. relese of half his Lott & his gift of medo. John Rigbie Laies downe half his hous Lott and entervaile. And reserueth tenn accor's of each to him, And is allowed. And their is granted him a Spong of medow south of and buting on, the plumtree brooke and west of the high- way Containing more or lesse two accors, soe far as it Rangeth north and south.
Spong or spung is a provincial term used in England to denote an irregular pro- jecting portion of a field.
Mordicai Mukload his grant. Mordicai Mukload is admited an Inhab- itant and granted tenn accors of vpland for a house Lott and tenn accors of entervaile
27 first mon 1658. The selectmen mett at goodman Prescots and Chose Ralph Houghton and Jacob farer to renew the markes of and for the highwaies : according to the order made the 15 : 12 mon last past no : 7th : order.
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
A TREATIE WTH MASTER ROWLANDSON ABOUT HIS SETLING.
Monday 3th : of the 3d: mon 1658. On the Certaine intelligence of master howlandsons intent of remouing from vs, the selectmen, treated with him to know what his minde was: And his answer was his apre- hentions were Clearer for his going, then for staying. They replied they feared his aprehentions were not well grounded, but desired to know his resolucion. He said his resolucions weare according to his aprehencions, for ott hee knew: Then the selectmen, Considering it was a case of nesesitie for the towne, to look out for other suply, they told master Rowlandson that now they did Looke vpon themselues as destitut of a minister, and should be forced to endeuor after sum other, soe discharging him.
debat with Master Rowlandson. friday the 14th : of the 3th : mon 1658. A mesenger Came from Belerica to fetch master Rowlandson away, vpon which the towne (hauing notice giuen them) Came togather, with intent to desire him to stay and setle amongst vs : And after some debate it was voated as followes,
I. Voat for invitacon. Whether it weare the mind of the towne, to invite master Rowlandson to abide and setle amongst them, in the worke of the ministrie -- The voat was affirmitiue by the hands of all held vpp.
2. Whether it was their mind to allow him for his mantainance fiftie pounds a yeare, one halfe in wheat, sixpence in the bushell vnder the Curant prises at Boston and Charlstowne and the rest in other good Cur- rant pay in like pporcion, or otherwise fiftie and fiue pounds a yeare, tak- ing his pay att such rats, as the prises of Corne are sett eurie yeare by the Court. The voat was afirmitiue by the hands of all held vpp :
3. gift of house and Land to master Rowlandson. Whether they were willing that master Rowlandson should haue the dwelling house, which he Liued in as his owne pp right according to the decd made by the towne and Confirmed by the Comittie, with the poynt of Land estward and sum Land west and sum north of his house, for an orchard garden yards pas- ture and the like. This was put to the voate, and granted by the maior pte (and opposed by none but old goodman Kerley only their was a neuter or two) with this pviso. that it hindred not the buring place the high- waies, Convenient spac to passe to the Riuer, And the Land intended to Ly for the next minister, to bee reserued Convenient to the entervaile Lott now improued by Henry Kerley, all which was Left to the sellect men to Lay out according to their best discresion.
master Rowlandsons acceptance. And vpon this master Rowlandson accepted of the townes invitacion, And gaue them thankes for their grant, And agreed to the mocion Concerning his maintinance, And pmised to
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abide with vs in the best manor, the lord should enable him to improue bis giftes in the work of the ministrie.
grant of sum entervaile to John White. Tusday 22th: of June the sellectmen meet at the meeting house all but goodman Kerley, and agreed That vpon serious Consideracion vpon the request of goodman White for the Land he hath plowed & fenced in the entervaile towards the still riuer (hauing entred damage for want of his right in after deuisions being demanded &c) it is granted he shall haue it as his pprietie in pte of his after deuisions according as it is now fenced being mesured to bee about seauen accors :
A MOCION ABOUT A SAW MILL MADE BY GOODMAN PRESCOTT.
Munday ye 15 : of the oth : mon : 1658 att a training A mocion was made by goodman Prescott about seting vp a saw mill : That on Condi- cion goodman Prescott would sett vp a saw mill, for the good of the towne he should haue according to his desire viz : one pcell of Land Lying neare to his water mille Containing more or lesse one hundred and twentie accors ; bounded by the river and his owne Land. the end of a ledge of Rokes, and a stake. Joyning to his owne Land on the south west side of the mill pond : To bee to him and his posterity for euer in Consideracion abouesaid; And is to be more exactly recorded when exactly knowne, alsoe that hee shall not be rated in any Rates for towne or Countrie for his sawes or saw mill, to be imposed by the towne, also for his said Land. he is not to pay any rats utill it Com to bee improued, And then to pay as improued Lands vse to doe And vpon this grant goodman Prescott did pmise and engag to sett vp a saw mill, in the towne bounds, with all Con- venient speed, And that the inhabitants of the towne, should bee suply with boards and other sawing on such termes as is vsually aforded att other saw milles in the cuntrie.
On Monday 17th : of ffeb : 1659 the Company granted him to fall pines on the Comons to suply his sawmill.
It was not unusual to transact town business on training days. Similar examples are found in the records of other towns. There were by law eight training days in the year, and every able-bodied male between the ages of sixteen and sixty was enjoined to be present for drill. These train- ings were usually on Saturdays. The warning for a town meeting was a notice given by the constable in person to each voter, or from house to house. "Att a training " would
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
therefore be a very convenient season for a special town meeting.
Before Prescott started his saw-mill, all houses of the town must have been rude structures of logs, hewn timber, stone and clay, for it was an impossibility to bring from the lower towns over the existing roads, and on the rude cart of the period, any large amount of sawn lumber. As lime was made only of oyster shells until about A. D. 1700, it was necessarily very costly. The first limestone discovered in the colony was at Newbury in 1697, and that in Bolton not much before 1736 probably, when Priest and Hough- ton's "Lime Kyln" is mentioned in records. Roofs were often thatched, following the English custom. Thus, in the inventory of Steven Gates' estate, A. D. 1662, we find the item "thatching tools, 3' 61." Chimneys were at first of logs well coated with clay, or of stone. The very old dwelling torn down in South Lancaster about IS12, behind the Moses Sawyer house, had stone chimneys, as did that of Manasseh Divoll on George Hill. When frame houses were built, the timbering was very heavy, commonly of oak, boarded and covered with "clove boards." One of the first roadways westward into the woods was known about 1700 as the "clabord path," and in the inventories of the period that essential instrument in the riving of staves, shingles, and clapboards, the froe, is often mentioned. It would be natural at first for builders to rest content with a single story, for few pioneers could afford more ; but after 1658, with Prescott's saw-mill in successful operation. doubtless a few more pretentious structures arose. Daniel Hudson, a brickmaker and mason, was here resident in 1651. Nails, large and small, and all other articles of constructive hardware were made laboriously by hand upon the smith's anvil. Paint was unknown.
The complete destruction of all the dwellings in 1676, and the entire absence of any hint as to the construction or plan of a single building in the records of the day, leave
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
us to pure conjecture as to their appearance. All we know about the Rowlandson house is, that it had one flanker and another in process of building, and Hubbard mentions "a leanter." Neither is there anything definite on record respecting the church, the garrisons, or dwellings of the second generation in Lancaster. Sawyer's garrison had "gates," which implies a palisade. Gardner's garrison had an elevated "watch box," "flanker," and a "parade," all which is meagre description. If, however, we examine the most ancient houses yet standing in various parts of the commonwealth, and the representations of older ones that have disappeared, we can form from their more uniform characteristics some reasonable opinion respecting the com- mon style of early Lancaster architecture. In nine-tenths of the dwellings of that era in Massachusetts, as pictured to us in engravings, or the recollections of the aged. the roof will be found a modification of one of two forms. When the house was two storied in front, it was most com- monly but one at the rear, the roof slope on that side ex- tending down to within nine feet or less of the ground. sometimes with a change of pitch on a level with the front eaves. Another less common form was the gambrel roof used on both one and two storied houses. Plain two pitched roofs were quite rare except for small structures. Some- times the upper story projected a foot or two over the lower. Porches or other irregular features were seldom seen. Generally one huge chimney ascended through the center . of the house. When constructed with reference to defen- sive purposes it was usual to line the walls with brick or flat stone, to make them bullet-proof. Doors were unpan- eled, with heavy wooden latch and a string hanging out- side to lift it by. Windows were square holes in the walls protected by a board shutter, succeeded later by small leaden sash with little diamond-shaped panes of greenish glass. There are those living who remember such sash ; notably one in the Gates Tavern. The last log house in
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Lancaster was probably that of Perley Hammond, the mulatto blacksmith, which stood near the west end of the Rigby, and on the Boylston road.
about bridges. Monday the 3th : of the 11th : mon 1658. The selectmen mett at Thomas Sawyers and ordred ffor the Bridges ouer nashaway and the north riuer. It is agreed, That they that are on the neke of Land, doe make a cart bridge ouer the north riuer by goodman Waters, And they on the south end doe make a cart bridge ouer nashaway about ther wading place att their owne Charges.
SUM ORDERS OF THE COMITIE P'CURED BY MASTER TINKER. PETICION TO THE COMITIE.
To the worshippfull maior Simon Willard Captaine Johnson and master Thomas danforth Comitie for the affaires of Lancaster.
May it please you to understand that since your session with vs, and Comision granted to such as you weare pleased to intrust in the pruden- cialls &c: the Lord hath succeeded our endeuours to the setling (wee hope) of master Rowlandson amongst vs, And the towne in some scilenc at least, and we hope in a good preparatiue to after peace, yett is it hard to repell the boylings, and breaking forth of som psons dificult to please and sum pettie differences, will arise amongst vs, pvide what wee can to the Contrarie ; wherfore bee pleased to Consider.
I querie. whether our power alreadie giuen bee not sufisiant, to add a small penaltie to the breach of our orders made for the good of the towne each neighbor &c eles it is a sword-toole and no edge.
2 querie. Iff wee may not receiue power from you to hear and deter- mine of diffrences amongst vs vnder twentie shillings damage otherwise the opressed in small things beares his burden because tis a greater burden to goe far for ease
3 querie. If our power reach not to giue, grant. Lotis deuisions, addi- cions &c of Lands medowes &c: If for good to the whole and ptes &c which wee see great need theirof.
4 querie. Iff wee may Choose an artist amongst ourselues or other our neighbours to Lay our townes bounds, And make our returne theirof to acceptance : because master Thomas danforth and the worshipfull maior Willard canott be obtained, or either of them.
Honoured gentellmen be pleased to resolue these Cases and vouchsafe vs an addicion to our power where defectiue in any of theis, as without which wee are, or seeme, of litle Curage, and by which through gods asistance wee may bee theirs and yours humbly to serue
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