USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 7
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Ralph Houghton chos Surveior. And Ralph Houghton is Chosen to Carie an end the worke and he is to haue 3! an acre paid within a month after the worke is done in marchantable wheat or indian Corne and this worke to bee finished by the 24 of June :
grant to the maior to exchang medo. Nextly Libertie was granted to the maior to have to acres of medow or soe much as hee may giue to Simon Gats and Thomas in way of exchange for their medow at the Still River and plum trees, And hee is to allow acre for acre at the brooke medow in that medow next to the pond to bee deuided in this 2' deuision.
directions where to begin and how to preed. Itt is ordered that the 2 deuision of medow shall begin at the northermost medow at the plumtrees and soe to Lay out all the plumtree medowes, And soe to go to the great pond medow at the northermost end of it in sum small peices betweene
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
the brooke medow and the pond medow, And when the pond medow is Laid out, then to begin at the northermost slipe of medow at the bar hill And soe to Lay out all the nearest medowes at the bare hill and 2 small peices that lyes south from goodman Whits second deuision. And then to follow the brooke eastward vntill all the bare hill medowes be Laid out. And then to begin at the furthermost medow at the north end of Long hill, And soe follow the medow westward vutill it com to the meadow neare to bar hill where John Whetcombe mowed. And then to begin at the north end of goodman Whellers medow and Lay out what is medow fit to mow towards master Josllins house and the medow by the bay path on the west sid the Long Hill and soe to a medow east sid the Long Hill. And soe to the medow that shuts vp to the bay path from Wata- quadoke to begin at that end next to the bay path and to Lay out soe much of it as is fit for medow acording to the discresion of the Layer out And soe to follow that medow to goodman Sumners medow and the med- ows their that are Laid out, And then to goe to the medow that which is Comon by John Mors house, And then to follow the brooke what is Com- on below where Malbrow path Croseth the brooke, And then to begin at the south end of goodman Ropers medow and to Lay out such as is fitt for medow their and then to two Litle medowes neare to Malbrow path And then to begin at the east end of the medow vnder the side of the pin swampe, And then to sum medowes to the southward of that neare to the 2 deuision of vpland of goodman Gats vntill 4 acres to 100" state bee made vp, And If any other medowes shall be discoured they are to be Laid out in the Ranges wher they fall acording to the discresion of the Layer out.
Which being finished and all the orders and instructions aforsaid agreed on, and the Lord being sought vnto for his blesing vpon his owne ordinance Lotts were taken as followeth without any disturbance or dis- traction :
William Kerley sen
I
John Whetcombe Ju 15
Ralph Houghton
2
Steeuen Gats Sen 16
Mstr Joseph Rowlandson
3
John More 17
William Leweis
4
John Houghton 18
Edward Breeke 5
John Smith 19
John Prescott
6
Jacob ffarer 20
John ffarer 7
John Roper
21
Edmund Parker
8
Gamaliell Beman
22
John Johnson
9
Mordicai Muke Load
23
Thomas James
IO
Thomas Josllin
24
Phillip Knight
II
Nathaniell Josllin
25
Jonas ffairbanke
12
John Whetcombe Sen
26
Thomas Sawyer
13
James Atherton 27
John Leweis
14
Richard Wheeler
28
72
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
William Kerley Ju
29
Henrie Kerly 35
Jerimiah Rogers
30
Thomas Willder
36
Lawrence Waters
31
John Rugge
37
Daniell Gains
32
Roger Sumner
38
John White
33
James Butler
39
John Rigbic
34
PRESCOTT'S SAW-MILL CONTRACT.
Know all men by these presents that forasmuch as the Inhabitants of Lanchaster, or the most part of them being gathered together on a trayne- ing day, the 15th of the gth mo. 1658, a motion was made by Jno. Prescott blackesmith of the same towne, about the setting vp of a saw mill for the good of the Towne, and yt he the said Jno. Prescott, would by the help of God set vp the saw mill, and to supply the said Inhabitants with boords, and other sawne worke, as is afforded at other saw mills in the countrey, In case the towne would giue, grant, & confirme vnto the said Ino. Prescott, a certeine tract of Land, lying Eastward of his water mill, be it more or less, bounded by the riuer east the mill west the stake of the mill land and the east end of a ledge of Iron Stone Rocks southards, and forty acres of his owne land north, the said land to be to him his heyres and assignes for euer, and all the said Land and eurie part thereof to be rate free vntill it be improved, or any pt of it, and that his saws, & saw mill should be free from any rates by the Towne, therefore know ye that the ptyes abouesaid did mutually agree and consent each with other con- cerning the aforementioned propositions as followeth.
The towne on their part did giue, grant, & confirme. vnto the said John Prescott, his heyres and assignes for euer, all the aforementioned tract of Und butted & bounded as aforesaid, to be to him his heyres and assignes for euer. with all the priviledges and appurtenances thereon, and therevnto belonging to be to his and their owne propper vse and behoofe as aforesaid, and the said land and eurie part of it to be free from all rates vntill it or any pt. of it be improved, and also his saw, sawes, and saw mill to be free from all town rates, or ministers rates, prouided the aforementioned worke be finished & completed as abouesaid for the good of the towne, in some convenient time after this present contract covenant and agreemt.
And the said John Prescott did and doth by these psents bynd himself hey heyres and assignes to set vp a saw mill as aforesaid within the bounds of the aforesaid Towne, and to supply the Towne with boords, and other % wn worke as aforesaid, and truly and faithfully to performe, fullfill, & accomplish, all the afore mentioned pmisses for the good of the Towne &, aforesaid
Therefure the Selectmen conceiuing this saw mill to be of great vse to to the Towne, and the aftergood of the place, Haue and do hereby act to ratobe and confirme all the the aforemencconed acts, covenants, gifts,
73
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
grants, & imunityes, in respect of rates, and what euer is aforemen- tioned, on their owne pt, and in behalfe of the Towne, and to the true performance thereof both partyes haue and do bynd themselues by sub- scribing their hands, this 25th day of february one thousand six hundred and fifty nine JOHN PRESCOTT
The work aboue mencconed was finished according to this couenant as witnesseth. RALPH HOUGHTON .
Signed & Delived In presence of
THOMAS WILDER
THOMAS SAWYER
RALPH HOUGHTON.
The above covenant has disappeared from the Town Records, and is transcribed from the Middlesex Registry, III, 400.
1659. To the Honored Generall Court assembled at Boston. The humble petition of John Prescot of Lancaster humblye Sheweth, That whereas yr petitioner about nine or ten yeares since, was desired by the late hon'red Governour. Mr Winthrop, wth other Magistrates, as also by Mr Wilson of Boston, Mr Shephard of Cambridge with many others, did lay & marke out a way at ye north side of the great pond & soe by Lancas- ter, which then was taken by Mr. Hopkins & many others to bee of great use : This I did meerly upon the request of these honored Gentlemen to my great detrimt, by being upon it part of two Summers not only myselfe but hiring others alsoe to helpe mee, wherby my family suffered much : I doe not question but many of ye Court remember the same, as also that this hath not laine dead all this while, but I haue formerly mentioned it, but yet naue no recompence for the same; the charge whereof came at 25 p day to about 10" it is therefore the desire of yr petitioner y: you would bee pleased to graunt him a farme in some place undisposed of, which will engage him to you, and encourage him and others in publicqe occasions, & y petitioner shall pray &c.
The Comittee consideringe the grounds of this pet. do Judge meet that the Court be pleased to grant him 100 acc" of land, to be layd out adjoyneing to the lands that are layd out by ord of this Court to that Plantation
THOMAS DANFORTH ANTHONY STODDARD ROGER CLAP
The deputies approue of the returne of the Committee in answer to this Pet. desiringe the consent of or honord magist" hereto.
WILLIAM TORREY Cleric.
Consented to by ye magists. Edw Rawson Secret.
[Massachusetts Archives, CXXI, 31.]
74
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
1660. In obedience to the grant of the honoured generall Court held at boston the 18th of October 1659, layed out to John Prescott of Lancas- ter neare adjoyning to the west line of Lancaster bounds his farm contayn- inge one hundred acres joyning to a great pond [Washacum] on the northeast and allso joyning to a brooke (running out of the sayd pond) on the south east with four acres of medow joyning to the sayd pond and six acres of medow being vpon the sayd brooke - this being exactly meas- sured by me vnderwritten the 15 of January 1660
THOMAS NOYES
[Massachusetts Archives, XLV, 81.]
1660 August 26. Roger Sumner was dismissed, that with other Chris- tians at Lancaster, a church might be begun there
[Dorchester Church Records.]
1662 April i. Lanchaster and Marlbury being presented for defect in weights & measures &c, are enjoyned to make returne to ye next Court at Charlestowne that they are provided according to law on penalty of for- feiting forty shillings a peice to ye Tres'ry of this Coun.
[Middlesex Court Records.]
1661 April 2 William Lewis of Lanchaster is released from all ordnery trayneings. paying fiue shill. p Ann. to ye millitary Company of ye Towne where he dwells.
[Middlesex Court Records.]
1662 Oct Lawrence Waters of Lanchaster is released from all ord- nary trayneings paying fiue shillings p Ann. to ye millitary Company of ye towne where he dwells.
[Middlesex Court Records.]
SEURALL ACTS AND ORDERS OF THE TOWNE IN THE YEAR 1663.
The towne being Called together orderly by the townsmen to consider of seurall things that were propounded to theire Consideracion namely to pe- ticion the Comitie to meet and to have a hearing of seurall actions of the townesmen since they did betrust them to act as townsmen in this towne, And If the Honoured Comitie see Cause to Returne Libertie into the towns hands, againe to act in their owne prudencialls as other towns and seurall other proposisions, which were propounded to the towne, the Lecture day before the towne meeting which are here following vpon Record.
The towns mens declaracion to the towne. To our Brethren and neight- bours the inhabitance of this towne of Lancaster, by the pvidence of god, fforasmuch as for the tim being the townsmen of this place are not called by the inhabitance as in other towns, which as we Conceiue, by the mo- cion and allsoe by sum expresions of seurall of our Brethren and neight-
-
75
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
bours that theire is not such a louing Concurance, as wee could desire, That If it bee your desire to haue the Libertie to Chuse officers, and to order the prudencialls of the towne as other towns; If our indeuors herin be of vse to you, And alsoe aceptable to you wee desire to blesse god for it, but If not wee desire not to Creat trouble to ourselues and greife to our Louing Brethren and neightbours, but Rather Chuse this Louing tender to you, which is as you know the betrust Comited to vs was by a Comitie apoynted by the Honoured genrall Court, which If it bee your desire, wee shall Louingly and Cordially Joyne with you to peticion the Honoured Comitie to apoynt a meeting and to haue a hearing, of what hath beene acted by the townsmen heare, since they Comited the care of the pruden- cialls of this place to vs; And If any bee greiued at any thing that hath beene acted, that then and theire they may be eased. And If the Comitie please to Returne Libertie in to the towns hands wee hope it will bee as aceptable to vs as vuto your selues, And If this be your desire as aforsaid. we Conceiue this to bee the only way to ataine it.
dated this 3 : II : mon : 1663 SIMON WILLARD JOHN PRESCOTT THOMAS WILLDER ROGER SUMNER. RALPH HOUGHTON
SEURALL PROPOSISIONS TO THE TOWNE BY THE TOWNS MEN.
Theis seurall proposisions were made to the towne being orderly as- embled to that end.
I John Prescott saith hee neuer drawed medow for his estate on the towne booke, but yett notwithstanding he hath 12 acres of medow; tho 15 acres would have beene his due by his estate only he hath 12 acres of swampe which hee hath paid as much Rats for as tho it had beene medow, which he accounts a double wronge to him, his desire is that the towne would Consider it, he is willing to take the 12 acres of medow for medow, and soe to pay for it, And the swampe for soe much medow as it is worth, according as the intervalle swampe is ordred in the 2 deuision that is fower acres in Lew of an acre of medow in the 2 deuision :
This p'posision was granted by the towne fully soe that the said John Prescott hath with the aforsaid swampe acording to his valueacion of it, his fuli pportion of medow that his estat would haue drawne in the first deuision of medow, this was granted 2 : 12 : m 1663.
2 John Prescot desired 12 acres of medow to bee Laid out to him or his asignes that hee bought of John Caudall, it being soe that eurie man is serued with medow in his first deuision.
The towns grant was that the said John Prescott should haue the 12 acres of medow which hee bought of John Caudall it being soe that a true
76
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
title theirvnto did apeare, Though his ingenuitie Lead him to Lett it Ly vntill all the first deuision was serued with medow, this was voated and none descented, And it is herby ordred to bee Laid out to the said good- man Prescott or bis asignes, in a peice of medow aboue good man Will- ders at the ponds their being 4 acres as it was formerly Laid out for daniell allin And a litle peice of medow at the south end of the bar hill, And the Rest in a Corner of the great medow at the pond medow, this was granted the 2 : 12 : mon 1663.
3. That the towne would thinke of sum way to Rectifie Lands in the 2 deuision in Regard of sum inconveniencies that are fallen out acceden- tally.
The grant of the towne was that maior Willard Roger Sumner and Ralph Houghton are by a voat of the towne, Chose to pvise the transac- tions of the 2 deuision, And to put things in to such [shape] as may be for the Comfort and peace of the towne for the present and future, And to make Returne theirof to the towne that soe way may be made for the Re- cording Land in the 2 deuision, this was granted the 2 : 12 : mon : 1663.
4 Proposision to the towne was that the towne would Consent that John Houghton might haue Libertie to Lay downe a halfe home Lot being that he had a lott and halfe granted by the towne, this was granted by the towne, 1 : 12 : mon : 1663 :
5 proposision to the towne was to Consider what to doe about the minister's Land in the posesion of John White. this was agreed on by a voate of the towne as followeth : Those that are in a minde that Henie Kerley shall haue that intervalle Lott which was intended for the vse of the ministrie, which soe much difrence hath beene about, together with a home Lott, which he is to take vpp in sum place yet undisposed of, for peace sake this wee tender in Case it will be accepted of, otherwise the Case to stand as it doth at present betweene vs; And the towne to pceed as they see Cause or as Counsell may advise for their Recouring their owne interest theirin. this was voated and none descenting but John Prescott and Lawrence Waters who voated neagatiue, but at the same tim Henrie Kerley being present would not acept of it.
Theirfore the towne made Choice of John Prescott and John More and by a voat of the towne they were impowred to act in behalfe of the towne, And to psecut the towns Case Concerning the Recouring the towns Land stated for the vse of the ministrie and kept byake from the towne by Henrie Kerley notwithstanding such Louing tenders as hath beene made by the towne. And the towne pmiiseth to beare the Charge herof, And they are to vse all such means as their discresion may Lead them to, or as Counsell may advise them to, this was Confirmed by a voat of the towne : 2: 12 : mon : 1663
but presently the same day before the towne the pprosision aboue said of the towne, to Henrie Kerley to giue him the intervaile Lott and vpland
77
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Lott aforsaid was accepted of by Henrie Kerley, And granted by the towne for the acceptance theirof witnes my hand Henrie Kerley.
6 act of the towne was that goodman Prescott goodman Willder and goodman Roper are Chosen to veiw a towne way that Lyeth betweene the Lott of John Roper and that which was John Johnsons Lott And to see what defect may be in it And make Report to the towne what is needfull to bee done, that soc Course may be taken theirin. this was voated by the towne.
The town way here designated was the first over the George Hill range, that which turns from the main road by the school-house.
7 John Prescott and Ralph Houghton are made Choice of to veiw sum waies on the neke that are desired by sum and denyed by others, they are indiferenly to see the waies and to heare what is to be said by both parties, And to make Report to the towne: that soe due course may be taken theirin for the best good of all, And John Roper is Chosen a third man this was voated by the towne The 2 : 12 : mon : 1663
8 The towne granted to James Butler a halfe home Lott, And he is to haue 10 acres of vpland for a halfe home Lott and twentie acres of vp- land for a halfe home Lott of intervaile, And to take it where it is not dis- posed of, neither to any pticuler pson or in the Stated Comon, And be is to haue other acomodacion suitable acording to his estate.
9 Itt is ordred by the towne that all gifts grants acts orders Conclu- sions and Records, acted ordred or Recorded, by the towne Townsmen or Comitie, shall bee and is herby Confirmed and Ratified by the towne, from the begining of the plantacion to this day: this was voated and Con- firmed none descenting this 2 : 12 : mon : 1663.
Io Itt is ordred by the towne and voated that the Comitie apoynted to haue the ouersight and Charge of Rectifiing the 2 deuision shall and is herby desired and impowred to see theis acts of the towne, at theis towne meetings theis two daies entred and Recorded into the towne booke
Lastly the towne agreed to Chuse townsmen and did Chuse maior Wil- lard John Prescott Thomas Willder John Roper and Ralph Houghton townsmen for a whole year next insuing after the date herof.
And Ralph Houghton Chosen Clarke by the towne for this yeare And is to haue 2lb : ISs: for his Labor theirin.
The power of the townsmen from the towne, is to order all the pruden- ciall afairs of the towne only they are not to dispose of Lands And they ar to further a 2 deuision of medow to bee Laid out.
Theis seurall acts of the towne in this page, And sum on the other side
78
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
that beare the same date with this, was agreed on by the towne, the day before; the towne being then Legally asembled, to Consider on this day aboue writen.
AN ACT OF CONFIRMACION FROM THE COMITIE
Theirfore it is ernestly desired that the Honoured Comitic would be pleased to put forth their power, to Ratifie and Confirme this act of Con- firmacion of the towne, And alsoe to giue Libertie to the towne to Chuse townsmen within themselues, soe Long as your selues se a louing Concur- ance theirin, among ourselues, And in soe doing your worships will ingage vs yours in all Christian seruice.
dated at Lancaster 6 march 1664-65
gentlemen and louing freinds
Wee haue alltho through straits of tim but breifly pvsed [perused] and considered what you haue aboue presented, And doe with much thank- fullnes to the Lord accknowledge his fauor to your selues, And not only to you but to all that delight in the ppitie [ prosperity] of gods people and children, in your louing Complyance togather, that this mercie may bce continued to you is our ernest desire, And shall be our praiers to god, And wherin wee may in our Capasitie Contribut their to wee doe acount it our dutie to the Lord and you, And for that end doe fuly Concure and Consent to your pposalls for the Ratifying of what is, And for Libertie ยท among yourselues, obseruing the directions and Lawes of the genrall Court . for the election of your selectmen for the future
dated; 8 : 1 : 83
SIMON WILLARD THOMAS DANFORTH EDWARD JOHNSON
aceptance to goodman Hudson. Saturday 26: 9: m : 1664. The towne meet at the meeting house to Consider about seting forward a second deui- sion of medow, And good man Hudson being newly Com vp to inhabit desired acceptance to the priueledges of a townsman, And his mocion was granted and acceptance giuen by the towne.
grant to Ralph Houghton. Libertie was granted to Ralph Houghton to Lay downe an acre of medow at the great pond medow and take it vpp in that medow by John mors house by a voat of the towne.
grant to goodman Rogers. The towne gaue Libertie to goodman Rog- ers to take in a litle Corner of the Stated Comon, Leauing out soe much of his second deuision vpon the pine hill neare toqu asaponikin brooke and to be mesured by the surveiers soe that the Comons may not sufer damage.
Libertie to mordicai. The towne gaue Libertie to mordicai mukeloade to bring in johh estate to enter into the towne booke to draw Land and med- ow by in a second deuision And to haue Comon Right suitable.
79
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
grant to James Butler. The towne gaue Libertie to James Butler to haue a Rode of vpland in breadth, to set a fence on at the side of the seauen acres of Intervaile which he bought of goodman Josllin.
way cros the neke. The towne fully impowered John Prescott John Roper and Ralph Houghton to veiw the high way Crosse the neke to quas- aponikin, And to Lay it out If they se cause.
grant to goodman Prescott. The towne gaue Libertie to goodman Pres- cott to take up a slipe of medow ground Runing through the most part of a great pine plaine that Lyeth sutherly of his Corne mille, which he is to haue in Leiw of two acres of medow, formerly granted him in a corner of . the great pond medow which was granted vpon the account of John Cow- dall and he is to take two acres Lesse their.
grant to Master day. 2 ffeb : 1664, at a genrall towne meeting It was vpon the Receit of a leter from master Stecuen day of Cambridge granted that the said master day should haue a hundred acres of vpland twentie acres of it for a house Lotte and to pay 10' a yeare as other men doth and fowertie acres of it in Leiw of an Intervaile Lott and to pay as other men doth for an intervaile Lott, And fowertie acres in Lew of a 2 deuision and to pay as other men doth for Land in the 2 deuision And this Land to be Laid out neare to Washacombe near to the outside of the bounds and he is to haue noe other acomodacions in the towne but only that hundred acres as a farme.
2 deuision of medow confirmed. It was ordred by a voate of the towne that the second deuision of medow acording as it is alreadie Laid out is herby Ratified and Confirmed : 2: 12: m : 66.
grant to goodman Sawyer. It was granted that goodman Sawyer should haue six acres of Land Laid out to him Joyning to Washacombe litle pond for and in Consideracion of three acres of Intervaile that he wanted in mesure vp nashaway Riuer. 2: 12: m : 66.
1667. To the Honoured Countie Court majestrats and grand Furie.
The humble petition of Sargant Willder for and in behalfe of the Inhab- itants of Lancaster hnbly sheweth. That forasmuch as the towne Lyeth vnder a presentment for want of a stoke of powder and other Amunition acording to Law, And also the Honoured generall Court having made epesiall pvision and giuen strict charge to the chiefe oficer of eurie Com- panie to be pvided acording to Law, it must be confesed to our greife that wee are defectiue, tho means hath been vsed by the townesmen and course taken for the pviding of a town stoke yett notwithstanding by Reson of the scarcite of powder and the Low Condicion of seuerall of the inhabitants part is wanting, but by the helpe of god wee will indeuor a Restoracion thereof and alsoe of such defects as may be found in the Companie for want of armes and amunicion acording to Law . Therefore your humble peticioner
80
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
humbly craueth that the honoured Court would be pleased to consider our Low Condicion and not ad a burden to the weake by imposing a fine, but be pleased to exercise pacience toward us in granting a litle time vntill the fruits of this year be mad, and in the meane time wee will be endeuoring to furnish ourselues in the best manor the Lord shall enable vs. And without ceasing pray for the pritie and saftie of the Honourable Court and Cuntrie. by mee THOMAS WYELDER
Lancaster this 30th of 1 m 1667.
[Middlesex Court Files.]
TOWNE GRANTS 3: 12: MO: 1667
yo. Roper his grant for highway. It was granted that goodman Roper should haue twelue acres in the Comons where it is not stated Com- on, or otherwise granted or Laid out to any other man which he is to baue in Leiw of damage done in his home Lott by Regulating a highway which damage was Judged by a Comitie that was apoynted by the towne to veiwe it, to be fower acres in that place, And theirfore it was Judged three acres for one being he was to have it Remote, And the highway was to Ly as it is now staked out in his Lot to the Comons.
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