USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 8
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Groten way alfred. The towne was willing If groten Consent with vs that the Cuntrie way as it is Laid out about the swampe at the maiors In- tervaile be Laid downe, And the Cuntrie way to Run through the maiors Intervaile where the towne high way Runs to the plumtrees this is Con- sented to by the towne and Confirmed by a voate.
To: Houghton's grant. It was ordered by a voate of the towne that John Houghton should haue Libertie to fall Timber in the Comons for his trade vse, And If he take the barke of it, And sett his marke vpon it, Then it is not Lawfull for any to take or make vse of any such Timber.
goodman Whellers grant. Good man wheller desired the towne to giue him a litle peice of Land Lying by the side of Nashaway Riner a litle aboue Johns Jumpe which was granted by the towne 2: 12: m : 1668
1668, 27 May. On the motion of Major Symon Willard, on the be- halfe of the towne of Lancaster, that the leter Lc be the allowed brand marke for the sajd towne of Lancaster, the Court orders the same so to be. [Massachusetts Records.]
SEUERALL TOWNE ACTS MADE 2: FEB: 1669 AS FOL- LOWETH :
order inioyning psons to atend ye publique meting. And at the same meeting it is ordered by the towne that euris setled inhabitant atend the publique meeting of the towne eurie yeare the first munday in februarie by to: of the cloke then and theire at the meeting house or other place of
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
publique meeting to atend the publique ocasions of the towne vpon pen- ultie of Loosing their voate in such transactions of the towne, that may be acted by the towne in their absence and alsoe pay 2 shillings to the vse of the towne to be leuied by the Cunstable in Case it be not paid without, vnlesse sum thing more then ordinarie doe apeare to preuent theire being theire. And such as have any thing to suiest to the towns Consideracion, whether it concerne the towne in generall or any pticuler persons case or Condicion, such persons to bring it in to the Clarke or selectmen of the towne to take a Record of them that soe theire may be order atended for the more speedie Isuing of busines by the towne, And that the towne Chuse moderators to that end, to Consider what is nesesarie to be done And to se that order be atended, And that nothing be acted after sun sett, this was voated and Confered by the towne.
The latter portions of this act are interesting as foreshad- owing the formalities that govern the calling and manage- ment of our modern town-mecting ; while the first provision, read in the light of recent experience, seems fully worthy of being rehabilitated.
ORDERS ABOUT MAKING AND MAINTAINING HIGHWAIES
7 : &8 : 12 : mon : 1669. It was ordered that the making and Repairing of highwaies the Charge and Cost theirof shall be Raised from the Rate- able estate of the towne, nandy Catell and Land and other estate as it is to the Cuntrie Rate, And medow as it is to the ministers Rate this was Confirmed by a voate It is alsoe agreed by a voat that the Last yeares worke to the high waies shall be Regulated by this Rule aboue writen. And that all highwaies for towne and Cuntrie or any perticuler pson that is alreadie Laid out or to be Laid out shall be made and maintained vpon a publique charge, acording to the order aboue expresed this was Con- firmed by a voate.
order about the 2 bridges. And it is alsoe agreed and ordered by the towne that the two bridges alreadie built namly nashaway bridge and that by goodman Waterses are to be maintained and vpheld by the publique towns Charge, acording as the towne order prouides for in making and maintaining other highwaies. And the time to begin is this 2 of februa- rie, 1669 about the maintaining and vpholding the bridges, (only) If the towne thinke it may be for the saftie of the north bridge that the Cages be put downe, that then they shall be sett downe vpon the nekes Charge the first convenient optunitie, this was alsoe Confirmed by a voate.
burning woods & veiwing feuc to be paid by ye towne. It was ordered that the burning of the woods and veiwing of fences, the Charge theirof be paid by the towne in the same way as the Charge of the highwaies is defraid this was alsoe Confirmed by a voate.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
grant to goodman Leweis of medow. In Reference to goodman Leweis Complaint about his second deuision of medow, the towne being willing to helpe him with sum alowance, And after seuerall waies ppounded to that end & yet the end Could not with saftie and Conveniencie be atained. seuerall of the Inhabitance ofered to Contribut freely out of their owne proprieties, And to take soe much Lesse in theire deuision where it falls in the medow that is Comon. namly the maior giues an acre adioyning to bis owne at the brooke medow And three quarters of an acre at the froge hole. Goodman Prescott halfe an acre Coperall More halfe an acre John Hough- ton halfe an acre George Benit halfe an acre goodman Sumner halfe an acre goodman Rogers a quarter of an acre goodman Beman a quarter of an acre Ralph Houghton halfe an acre vpon Condicion the maiors three quarters at frog hole be giuen to John Leweis, And by the Consent of the towne this is to be mesured out of the comon medow as sone as their may be a convenient optunitie : this was confirmed by a voat of the towne.
SEUERALL OTHER ACT[S] OF THE TOWNE IN THE YEARE 1670: 7: & 8: 12: MO.
Fo. Houghtons grant. ' It was granted John Houghton to Lay downe twentie acres of second deuision Land for a high way on the south side of deans brooke, And to take it vp againe in a plaine neare his medow this alsoe was Confirmed by a voate of the towne.
Deans Brook seems to have derived its name from that Samuel Dean who signed the town covenant in 1653, but has no after connection with Lancaster history. The brook retained the name for a hundred years, but before 1760 became known as "Gutteridge," or Goodridge Brook. from a family that lived on the hill half a dozen rods north of the railroad bridge over the highway between Clinton and Lancaster.
Order about Land Lying in comon to Seuerall towards Washacombe. The towne ordered that goodman farer goodman Wheeler goodman fair- bankes goodman Rugge Thomas Willder and Henerie Kerley haue theire Libertie to Lay downe their Land ppounded for, lying by georges hill, pro- uided they all agree, otherwise they are inioyned by this order to lay out their Lotts by the Last of March or otherwise to pay all such damages as any pticuler man in the Companie shall sustaine, And they haue theire Libertie to take theire Land in sum other place or places, this was Con- firmed by a voate.
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Order about Com. medoro. The towne ordered that the towns men as a comitie should modle out a way for the deuiding of the Comon medow, And in Convenient time to present theire thoughts to the towne and to be inquisitive of psons to find out what medow their may be Comon within the towne, And If any know of any comon medow, they are to make Re- port to the towns men. this was Confirmed by a voate.
alowance to abra. Joslin for a highway. Munday 30: 11 : mon 1670. The towns men meet at maior Willards house and ordered to alow Abram Josllin for a highway taken out of his land at long hill, Lying by his house to the medowes at Long hill, and alsoe the Cuntrie way, And he is to haue two acres for one and Ralph Houghton is to Lay it out as speedily as may be.
"george adams grant. Munday 6: 12: mon: 1670. In Reference to george Adames proposision to the towne about sum Right to a lott of twentie acres which was formerly laid out by master day After serious Consideracion and debate about it, the towne thoughit he might haue sum Right theirvnto, And haue granted him sixtie acres of vpland in Consid- eracion theirof And he to pay for land improued and Catell and other Ratable estate, to all publique Charges, And he is to haue Comon priuil- edge, for feeding Catell only: togather with timber and fire wood for theire owne vse in the place, but noe other Right to any other Lands either in Comon or to draw by deuision, the said george togather with his sonn John, both of them ingageing for them selues their heires and asignes neuer to disturbe or trouble the towne or any man in the towne about any former Rights titles, or Charges expended in or about the plantacion or any Lands theirin Contained the said Land to be Laid out where it is Comon Land southward of washacombe great feild neare to the Line of the plantacion And he to be subject to towne orders.
GEORGE ADAMES his ( marke JOHN ADAMES his 2 marke
The twenty acres claimed was on George Hill, being the lot next and south of the trucking-house site, and assigned as a home lot to Jonas Fairbanks.
This closes the entries in the town book by Ralph Houghton, although in the Book of Lands his signature is attached to records until the year of the massacre, 1675; and again upon the resettlement in 1680 and 1681 his pen was resumed in behalf of the town, as appears by a peti- tion to the General Court. The next year another was chosen clerk. Ralph Houghton's term of service, includ-
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
ing the four years while the town was deserted of its people. was twenty-six years, 1656-1682. He was a good penman and an able man of affairs. If any of his townsmen wanted a will written, or to deed land to another, or to send a petition to Court, Ralph Houghton's pen was certain to be summoned for the work. He was among the first to attach his name to the covenant, and, though a young man, took at once a prominent place in the councils of the plantation. He seems to have had entire charge of the business of the proprietary for over thirty years, surveying and recording each man's share in the several divisions. He lived upon the east side of the neck, not far probably from Nicholas Frost's residence, but upon which side of the highway the records do not tell us.
Cyprian Steevens succeeded Ralph Houghton as clerk, the following return of his election being from the files of the Middlesex County Court.
To the Honor! County Court. These are to giue you Notice that Cyprian Stecuens is by ye Inhabitance of Lancaster chosen to be Clarke of ye writs for lancst June 14th 1682.
20 .. 4 .. 83 as Attests GAMALIEL BEAMAN
Allowed in Curiam F. B. R. Constable of Lancstr.
Of Steevens' town records none are extant. He was. however, probably clerk but three or four years. He served in the capacity of Constable for several years. and returns and letters of his are not rare in the County and State archives. His penmanship and rhetoric were florid rather than elegant, and his official signature was some- tinies a marvel of elaboration. Cyprian Steevens was the youngest son of Col. Thos. Steevens of Devonshire, Eng- land, and came from London in 1660. January 22, 1672, being then about twenty-two years old. he married in Lan- caster, Mary, the daughter of Major Simon Willard. Their children were Mary, boru Nov. 22, 1672; Dorothy, --; Simon, born in Boston. 1677 or 8: Elizabeth, born about 16Sr ; and Joseph, -. As in 1693 his wife is named Ruth,
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
he must have contracted a second marriage. The time and place of his death are not matters of record, but his name appears as witness in Lancaster as late as 1713. His career, as deduced from the court files, gives evidence of more energy than discretion. At one time we find the Natick Indians complaining that he had far exceeded his constabulary authority in levying upon goods of theirs, and he was compelled by General Daniel Gookin to refund. Within a year thereafter he is convicted of selling powder and shot and three gallons "of strong liquors which they brought in wooden Bottels of about one galon a peece," to a party of Indians hunting " up in the woods near Watchu- set." Some years later he is again in trouble, having permitted the escape of a ruffian. Robert Crosly, who had assaulted Steevens' neighbor, Philip Goss, then living just across the river on the Rowlandson estate. He was even accused of being in collusion with Crosly, but the worst that was proven against him, was a too great unwillingness to face a brace of loaded pistols and a sword in the hands of a desperate privateersman. This fault he condoned speedily by pursuing the rascal to Dorchester, and bring- ing him to justice.
Upon his marriage with Mary Willard, her father, the Major, partly in exchange for lands which Steevens owned at Dunstable and partly in way of dowry, deeded to his son-in-law
all ye Houseings, Barns Stables, orchards Lands, Entervailes, Meadows lyeing and being in Lancaster according to their severall Butts & bounds as followeth, viz: the House Lott formerly called Major Willards whome Lott, bounded by ye North Riner South &: ye Night Pasture east and ye Country highway North, & West by the highway that Leads to ye North Riuer.
Thus the original lot of Lawrence Waters upon which the first dwelling house in Lancaster was probably built, came into the possession of its sixth owner in 1673. The house that could be a home to Major Willard's large family
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
must of necessity have been commodious, but it was more- over a garrisoned house, and in 1676 sheltered for six weeks eight families and a guard of soldiers. It was probably of stone or brick, for when abandoned, it was partially demolished by gunpowder, which would hardly have been used if fire alone could have effected destruction. Within a few rods of Cyprian Steevens' home and garrison was the bridge, and in sight, across the river, little more than a rifle shot off, stood the church and the Rowlandson garrison in 1675.
All town records failing until 1716, the miscellaneous documents which follow, culled from many sources, are transcribed to make these annals continuous.
1669, 2, 6. The grand jury presents "Lankester * * for want of suffi- cient bridge our Still Riuer in ye way to groaten in Major Willards land Witnes Henry Carley WVillm longly." [Middlesex Court Files.]
1670. Whereas Abraham Joslyn dyed not longe since at sea of from ye Coast of Virginia in ye Ship y" Good Fame of New York, but before his decease made a will the weh hath beene approud by ye oath of Two per- sons who are witnesses therevnto, wherein he disposeth of his estate in Nashawaye & elsewhere in his Majties Colony of the Massachusetts, vnto his wife & children. These presents may certifye all whom it doth con- cerne that ye said will hauing beene proued as aforesaid remaines vpon Record with y' rest of y wills and Testaments of such as doe happen to dye wthin this the Province of his Royall Highness .
New York 17 April 1670.
[Middlesex Court Files.]
To the Hond County Court of Middlesex now assembled at Cambridge this 4 of 8 mo 1670. The petition of Jeremy Rodgers of Lancaster Humbly Sheweth, That yor petition" being for seuerall years together one that did officiate ( under the Comand of the Honod Major Willard) as an Sergant In the millitary Company at Lancaster and that with good accept- anc & approbation of the said majr and Company yet at last by the Com- pany I was dismissed of the said office for reasons best knowne to them- selues not for any neglect or misdemeanor In my place that I know off. or y' euer I was chardged with, yet sinc then the sucseding officers haue called mee to bear armes as a comon souldier in the said company weh as I haue ben informed Is contrary to the custome and law of armes and for aught
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
I have heard or can learne not the practice of the country to beare armes as a comon souldier whervpon I did not appeare, and when theire officer came to straine vpon my goods, wee came to an agreement to referre the matter to the Hon' Majr genth [Leverety Majr Willard, Majr Lasher, Capt. Mason and Capt. ffoster, who all but Capt. Mason mett at the Majt Genrli house In may Last, who Heard what was said on both sids (though more might be said but I am desirous rather to forbeare than to offend or greiue any). But those Hond frends and Gentle" vpon what they then heard did judge and advise that the fines should bee forborne and not taken, and also that there being noe law here extant to free such a one from training did advise that I should address myself to this Hond Court whom they doubted not but would grant mee a free dismission, or Honrd maj: Willard then willing and Consenting thereto. My humble petition vnto yor worships is that you would bee pleased to take it into yor Consid- eration and grant mee this favor to be freed from training in that Company at Lancaster where I have been an officer, for your petitioner shall not- withstanding bee Ingaged to serue the Country and your worships accord- ing to my power and abillity In what I can, and euer pray for yor peace and prosperity long to continue .
To the Honoured Countie Court at Charlestownc.
This may Certifie the honoured Countie Court that I henerie kerley of Lancaster (though vnworthie) yet hauing the Comand of this militarie Companie laid vpon mec, And accidentaly vnderstanding that Jeremiah Rogers Senior hath Recourse to the honoured Court to procure a fredome from militarie traininge, though he did not aquaint me nor the Companie therewith, the truth is If the honoured Court should see cause to fre him before his making his peace with the Companie, it will tend much to the destrucion of peace and order in the Companie and force me togather with the Rest that are in ofise, in the Companie to lay downe our places, their hath beene soe much provocacion on his part not only to vs, but alsoe to the Companie in generall' in the managing of this his controuersie so vn- warantably taken vp, the truth of the whole mater being by the Companies order drawne vp to informe a Comitie desired to arbitrate the case. a true Copie wherof the honoured Court is desired to peruse and therein you will haue a full declaracion of the case : And herin I shall not trouble the hon- oured Court any further but Rest your humble servant.
LANCASTER this 20: 4 mon : 1670.
To the worshippfull our honoured major generall Leveret, maior Willard and maior Lusher, togather with our two worthie and highly esteemed frends Captaine Mason of Watertown, And Captaine ffoster of Dorchester who are a Comitee humbly desired by Sargant Kerley on behalfe of him- selfe and the military Companie here at Lancaster and our neighbor Jeremiah Rogers, to here and determine a difrence depending betweene the said Jer-
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
emiah Rogers and the Companie ; our Ernest Request is that your worships would be pleased to pardon our boldnes as also to pitie what you see of weaknes in this our present declaration wherin we desire truly and fully to discouer the truth of the case as alsoe the condition of this small Com- panie for severall years, since Sergant William Kerly who now lines at Marlbrow, did leaue vs. Honoured gentlemen, be pleased to take notice that sinc the said Sargant William Kerly did Remoue his dwelling from among vs this Companie hath made choise of seurall to ofisseat in the place and ofice of Sargant, though litle apearance that was pmising for the manageing of that soe great a betrust, it is not our desire or endeuor to slight one or any pson or talant but freely and truly to informe yourselves with the stat of things, the truth of what we here asert is well known to our honoured Major Willard who hath not bene wanting to put forth him- self to helpe the Companie in poynt of exercise, but the want of psons fitly qualified to take the Charge of the Companie was much bewailed by general sober minded and well atested psons; sum years agoe within the time aforementioned, our neighbor Rogers was made choise of and did ofiseat for sum Considerable time, and in the time of Sargant Willders being Comander in Cheife, though seuerall in the Companie were vnsatisfied with the said Sargant Rogers and the grounds they aledged was that it was not a legall choise in. Regard it was not atended acording to Law but that we that bore arms and were in the feild then, did voat and sum that had Right to voat had no notice of the Choise : and also did not apprehend him fitly qualified for the place, and this coming to the ears of the aforsaid Sargant Willder did fully manifest himself vnwilling to ofiseat any longer without a new choise and sum of the Companie do afirme that Sargant Rogers did alsoe discouer himselfe to be of the same mind but most of the companie doe afirme that he did not manifest any thing to the contrary. And therevpon the Companie went to choise of two Sargants, and Sargant Willder was againe Chosen to be Cheife oficer & John More for a Sargant to asist him. And why our neighbor Rogers should vpp a conceit that he was turned of, and alsoe a preiudice agst the Companie and not to atend to ofiseat in the place of a Sargant, nor to come in the place of a privat soul- dier we know of no militarie custom for the same. wee desire not to put him to trouble nor charg, but desire that quiet and order may be preserved in the Companie and the said goodman Rogers being present with the Companie this 16 day of Mar beinge a training day, vpon sam discourse about seading downe it was moued that sum thing might be proposed in Reference to the ending the diference at home, it was desired that our neighbor Rogers would mension his greiuances to the Companie that so It might be they might be taken of, that so there might be a comfortabl Composure of the diference, and he desired yt ye Companie on their part would first declare & it was manifested by the Companie that they had nothing against him but only his absenting from publique trainings, but he Refused to aquaint the Companie with what was an obstruction in his
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
way, but would declare it when he cam before yourselves, and it was Re- plyed that his motion would not be Regular to declare that against vs or of vs thai he would not declare to vs : And so leauing the case with your- selues, acording as you may se cause to judge and the Companie haue made chois of Sarjant Kerly and Sarjant divole on the Companies behalfe to atend your meeting and to manage this case and further shall not trouble your worships but pray for the good guidance of ye in this case. [Middlesex Court Files.]
The documents in the case of Lancaster versus William Lincoln, found in Middlesex Court files, disclose the meth- od used to get rid of undesirable immigrants.
1671. ffor William Linkcorne.
Be it knowne to you that the townsmen take ofense at you in Regard you, haue not atended the towns order though you were made aquaint therwith. before your coming into the towne, therefore you may expect the order to be put into execution which will not bee to your profit, for the penaltie of your intruding yourselfe into the towne is twentie shillings p month, which will be a burden it may be too heavie for you though pro- cured by yourselfe.
for William Lincorne.
fforasmuch as you have aproued yourselfe an intruder into this towne of Lancaster without consent, contrarie to order, Therefore in his maiesties name you are Required to withdraw yourselfe and family, and to depart the towne forthwith, in Regard the towns men, vterly disclames you an inhabitant, And herein faile not at your prill - dated this 25 of Aprill 1671. By order of the townsmen
RALPH HOUGHTON
This was Read to William Lincorne at his house and a true copie de- liuered to him in the name of the townsmen, the 28 : 2 mon : 1671.
By vs RALPH HOUGHTON JONATHAN WHETCOMB
Ralph Houghton & Jonathan Whittcom weare sworn the 29th 2 mo 1671 before me SIMON WILLARD, asistant
To the Constable of Lancaster or his deputie.
You are in his maiesties name Required to atach the goods, and for want thereof the bodie of William Lincorne, And take bond of him to the value of twentie pounds for his apearance at the next Countie Court holden at Cambridge the 4th day of Aprill next after the date hereof, then and there to answer the complaint of the townsmen of Lancaster or any one of them as an Aturney for the Rest in behalfe of the towne for his forcing of himselfe into the towne as an Inhabitant Contrarie to an order
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
of the towne, the penaltie of which is twentie shillings a monthe to any such as soe doe, the payment wherof Is by him denyed tho legally demand- ed, and herin faile not but make a Returne vnder your hand. dated the 23 of march 1671. By the Court Ralph Houghton R.
This Atachment was serued and bond taken this 24 of March 1671 By me. GAMALIELL BEMAN
Constable of Lancaster.
The deposision of Ralph Houghton aged about 47 yeares, Witnesseth that the Last Spring of the yeare, I met with William Lincorne in our towne and he being a stranger I inquired of him what his ocasion was their and he told me he was about to hire a farm of master Kimball in the towne, and I told him of our towne orders which did impose a penaltie of twentie shillings p month to any that should com to inhabit without the consent of the townsmen, And advised him to goe to the townsmen & haute their aprobation before he made any contract with master Kimball, . and he told me that he had bene with three of the townsmen who were met vpon sum other ocasion and they had apoynted him a day when he might come and baue a full meeting, and be heard. but he did not atend that meeting : And further this Deponent saith not.
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