USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medway > The history of Medway, Mass., 1713-1885 > Part 6
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In the year 1726, " ten pounds was granted for a moving school to be divided into three parts thus prescribed, that is five pounds for ye body or East part of ye town and fifty shillings for ye inhabitants where ye bent of ye River so called and fifty shillings to ye inhabitants of ye New Grant so called or otherwise Mucksquit."
"March the 4, 172%, ye selectemen being present Paid all the Known
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town dues and discharged the constables and there was found £1 Is. 9d in the treasury."
March 9, 1730, " Voted that there should be sufficient sum of mony Drawn out of the interst of the first bank to bye a buring cloath yt is deacent for the Town. Voted William Burgess should bye and make sd cloth and Commit to Deacon Thompson to Keep."
The next year at a town-meeting " the moderator by the Request of sev- eral of the inhabitants of the town proposed whether they would come to an agrement about the way of singing . and it appeared that the ma- jor part were for singing yt which is usually called the 'old way,' then the town proposed to chuse a man to lead the psalm for the Congregation and the vote fell upon Ensign Whiting, sd Whiting Refused in open meet- ing ; and upon a second tryall of the vote it fell upon Jonathan Partridge." To JONATHAN HILL, CONSTABLE
The sd we in his majestie's Name to will and Require you forth with to Notify the Inhabitants of this Town these and Every of them, such of them as are qualified by Law to vote in Town affairs so many of them as belong to your part to warn that they meet at the meeting house of this Town on Monday the fifth day of March next at nine o'clock in the morning, then and there to chuse Your officers to mannige the prudential affairs of the Town and to consider the circumstance of time and things and Grant Mr bucknam sum thing more for his Encurgement in the work of ye min- istry Among us, if the Town think fitt.
fail not and make Return of your so doing at or before the time above namd Medway,
Feb. 9, 1732-3.
Edward Clark Jeremiah Daniell Select- John Adams men
Jonathan Adams
I have warned the Inhabitants according to the Directions of the within written warrant.
(Signed) Jonathan hill,
Consble.
TOWN EXPENDITURES. For Year 1734-5.
£ s. d
" Book of Records,
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12
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for the Selectmn's charges,
II
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To Edward Clark for Keeping Scool,
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To John Richardson for sweeping meeting house,
16
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Simon Plimpton for Runing line on Stony Plain betwen the land of Medfield and Medway, 2
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Paid Mr. Salter of Borston for half barral of powder, for one hundred weight of bulits and one hund flints,
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to Edward Clark for bying the amunition,
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To Timothy Clark for bringing powder and bulits,
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Paid to Michael Medcalf for building the pound,
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To John Childs for mending and making glas for ye meeting house, And Mr. Bucknam the minister acknowledges the receipt of one hun-
I 13
dred pounds for his Salary for the year 1734. Total amount of
.£129-18 - 0" expenditures,
In 1744 the town chose two persons "to take care that the law be kept re- lating to Deer," and for many years thereafter at the annual meeting "deer reves" were chosen with other town officers. The law referred to forbids the killing of any deer between the tenth day of December and the first
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50
of August. The inhabitants seem to have suffered from the depredations of birds and animals, as it is recorded in February, 1742, that the selectmen com- pleted a list of those interested in the premiums for killing squirrels and blackbirds, from which it appeared that eight hundred and seventeen squir- rels and six hundred and eighty-four blackbirds had been destroyed, and nineteen pounds eleven shillings and sixpence ordered to be paid as bounties for the same. And in 1737 Seth Harding was paid one pound for " Killing a wild Catt." Professor Abner Morse says the last deer killed in Sherborn was about 1747. Bears were troublesome about Winthrop Pond as late as 1730, and the last panther made his appearance in Medway about 1790. Foxes at the present time are occasionally shot, and at long intervals an otter is cap- tured in this vicinity, and raccoons were not, until within a few years since, entirely exterminated. The crow is still as troublesome to the farmer as he was one hundred and forty years ago, but insists upon his right to life and liberty in defiance of all efforts to the contrary.
As the population increased the meeting-house seems to have become too small to accommodate the worshipers, and as the two parts of the town were separated by long miles of swamp and unsettled territory, rendering the communication in winter inconvenient and sometimes difficult, the peo- ple of the New Grant began to agitate the question of a separation and the formation of a new society. This discussion was kept up for many years, until the establishment of a second religious society was secured.
"May 20 1731 It was proposed whether ye town would fix and have the meeting house in the senter of the town or the most convenient place near the senter." This proposal, the clerk records, was " Knegatived."
In 1737 eight persons requested to be set off from the New Grant and annexed to Holliston. This was refused. The question was asked if the town would free the said eight inhabitants from paying any part of the min- ister's tax. This also was refused.
In 1738 the town met to act on the following articles: "To try the minds of ye town whether they would take down ye meeting house in sd town and make it larger, or build a new meeting house and set it on ye west side of Black Swamp by ye Gravel Pit or on ye Candle wood Island" and if not granted "to set off ye inhabitants of ye New Grant by ye line that parts between ye Old Grant and the New." The town refused, and the next Jan- uary voted to enlarge the house where it then stood. In 1743 seventeen petitioners from the New Grant ask the town to allow them twelve weeks' preaching in the winter, which was negatived ; but having, during the year, petitioned the General Court, the town came together in December, in a dif- ferent state of mind, and voted to build a meeting-house in the centre of the town, or on the nearest upland should that point prove to be in the swamp ; and a committee was chosen to superintend the matter, and Edward Turner, of Medfield, a surveyor, was appointed to designate this centre spot, which was probably not far from the present junction of Oakland and Main streets.
In May, 1744, a meeting was called to meet at this place, and to decide whether " the town judge it suitable to set a meeting house for ye Public worship of God," and it was voted by a " great majority not suitable." A proposition was then made that it be set on land of Timothy Clark, about sixty rods west of Edward Clark's house, but this was decided not to be
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suitable. In December of this year the General Court ordered the payment of thirty pounds yearly from the town treasury to the people of the New Grant, but this does not seem to have proved a satisfactory settlement of the difference. In 1747 the town voted " whether the town will maintain two ministers in a general way that ye west part of ye town might enjoy equal privileges with the other parts of the town - Passed in the negative - There- fore put to vote whether ye town would set off ye west part of the town at ye center line, to be a separate Precinct-Passed in the negative - Then put to vote whether the town would free the inhabitants of the New Grant from ye present ministerial charges in Medway that they might maintain preaching amongst themselves in ye New Grant-Passed in the negative."
The matter was finally settled by the incorporation of the West Precinct by the General Court, December 29, 1748, and the next year a meeting-house was built, the Second Church of Christ formed, and in March, 1753, the town-meeting was first held there. The establishment of this church seems, so far as the records are concerned, to have severed the union of church and state before existing. From this time the records contain only the usual town matters, and the meeting-house and minister disappear. The follow- ing receipt from the Rev. Nathan Bucknam is the last recorded :
" March ye 22 Anno Dom. 1748-49 Received of Dea John Barber town treasurer the sum of four Hundred Pounds old Tenor Bills in full satisfaction for my salary the past year, and I do hereby acquitt and discharge the said Town of Medway from all Debts, Dues, or demands whatsoever on the account of my yearly salary from the time of my first settling with them in the work of the ministry to the first day of this instant March as witness my hand -NATHAN BUCKNAM."
In the warrant for a meeting September 4, 1780, is the following article : " 5th To hear the proceedings of the Westerly Precinct of Medway relat- ing to being formed into a distinct town. And to hear and act upon a peti- tion of Lieut. Nathan Whiting and others to see if the town will set off the inhabitants of the New Grant to be a distinct town." " Passed in the neg- ative."
February 2, 1764, an order was passed by the General Court directing the selectmen of each town and district to "take an exact account of the number of dwelling-houses, families and people in their respective towns and districts including as well Indians civilized, negroes and mulattos, as white people and females, as well as males," and the following is the result in Medway :
CENSUS OF 1765.
Houses .123 Families .138 Males under 18 years. 165
Females under 18 years. 178 Males over 18 years 215
Females over 18 years. 210
Negroes 17
Total population.
785
This was the first census of Massachusetts. This, together with that of 1775, was made by order of the Provincial Government, since which time a census has been ordered by the General Court once in ten years.
52
"To THE CONSTABLE OR CONSTABLES OF THE TOWN OF MEDWAY."
This List Contains Each Person's name Together with the office to which he was chosen on the 5th of March instant, for you to Warn and Summon to appear before Lawful authority in order to be Sworn to the faithful discharge thereof.
SAMUEL HAYWARD, Warden.
OLIVER ADAMS SETH PARTRIDGE
Surveyors of Highways.
SAMUEL HILL Jun.
MOSES RICHARDSON Surv. of Shingles & Clapboards of Boards & Lumber.
TIMOTHY CLARK Fence Viewer.
JOHN CUTLER, JONATHn CUTLER NATHANIEL PARTRIDGE
- Hogreeves.
URIAH MORSE
LIEUT. JOHN HARDING Sealer of Leather.
Given under my hand at Medway, this 6 day of March, 1764. By order of the Selectmen,
(Signed) ELIJAH CLARK, Town Clk
THE TROUBLOUS TIMES ..
1765-1783.
The feeling of anxiety and alarm that existed in the colonies at what was deemed the oppressive acts of the British Government for several years before the Revolution, is indicated by the action of the town in 1765. After elect- ing Elisha Adams for Representative to the General Court, a committee of five was chosen to draw up suitable instructions for his guidance, which were as follows :
"It need not surprise any thinking person that the colonies in North America should be greatly alarmed at the late stamp act from Great Britain as it effects their estates and liberties. It fills us with very great concern to find that measures have been adopted by the British ministry and acts of par- liament made which press hard upon our invaluable rights. It is thought by your constituents that at this critical season you would not be unwilling to know their mind on this important affair. We look upon the said stamp act to be a burden, grievous, distressing and insupportable not only likely to en- slave the present, but future generations. The great and heavy load of debt lying upon us at present arising from the late expensive war and the defence and support of his Magisties government here, has sunk us so low already that the addition of the weight of the stamp act will sink us into final ruin. We think it is our indispensable duty in justice to ourselves and posterity, as it is our undoubted privilege in the most open and unreserved, but decent and respectful terms to declare our greatest dissatisfaction with this law and we think it incumbent upon you by no means to join in any public measure for countenancing and assistance in the execution of the same, but to exer- cise your utmost endeavor in a modest, becoming manner to prevent said act taking place in this government and that you would with a watchful eye and great diligence, guard and protect the properties and liberties of your coun- try, and charter in particular against all incroachments whatsoever made upon them and likewise desire you to oppose every attempt to raise by way of tax any sum or sums of money or dispose of any already in the treasury in any
53
other way than has been the customary practice, or in short for anything except defraying the necessary expense of the government. You may also signifiy our abhorance and detestation at every unruly outrage that has been or may be committed on persons or property anywhere in his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England."
In May, 1766, Jonathan Adams being the Representative, the town gave him instructions " relating to making up the losses to his Honor the Lieut. Governor and other gentlemen sustained by a riotous outrage in Boston last year, which we bear public testimony against, yet notwithstanding the Prov- ince as a Province were no actors in sd riot, or accessory to it, therefore we do not think it just their losses should be made up by a province tax "; and in November of the same year he is directed to act " as he shall think most safe and prudent relating to the proposed act of compensation and of pardon and indemnity to the offenders in the the late times of confusion."
In January, 1768, the town voted " to concur with the vote passed in the town of Boston on the 28 October 1767 relating to taking all prudent and legal measures to encourage the produce and manufactures of the Prov- ince and to lessen the use of superfluities imported from afar."
In September, 1768, Captain Jonathan Adams was chosen " to join with a committee to be convened in Boston on September 22, to act for, and rep- resent this town in advising and consulting such measures as his Majesties service, the peace and safety of his subjects in this Province may require."
These votes, with others following, indicate the state of public feeling, and show that the people of Medway were not idle spectators of the great drama about to open, but that they felt a deep interest in these events that were transpiring, and were prepared to resist the encroachments of the gov- ernment, and bear their share of the burdens that might fall upon them.
At the March meeting in 1770, the town voted that the inhabitants "will forbear the purchasing of Tea and wholly restrain themselves from the use of it, upon which there is a duty laid by the Parliament of Gr. Britian," and also that they will " forbear the purchasing of any goods knowingly, directly or indirectly of any importer or trader until the revenue acts shall be re- pealed," and a committee was chosen who recommended to the town " to frown upon all who may endeavor to frustrate the good design of the above vote, and to deem all who may at any time counteract it, no better than enemies to our Constitution and Banes to the commonwealth," and "that said town should not for the future knowingly choose any such person or persons into any place of office, either of honor or profit, in said town." The report of the committee was "unanimously " adopted, and the moderator was directed to transmit a copy of the proceedings to the committee of merchants in Boston.
In January, 1773, the town came together " to hear and consider the opinion of the inhabitants of the town of Boston manifested at a legal mect- ing of the said inhabitants on the 20 Nov. last relating to the rights of the Colonies." And it was voted that the several acts of Parliament pointed out " are subversive and violent infringements of those rights "; "that if per- adventure our happy and glorious constitution may be rescued from impend- ing ruin-that our representative in General Assembly should use his utmost influence at all times to recover and support the constitutional rights of the
54
Province "; that " nothing perhaps of a secular nature more excites our ad- miration and bespeaks our attention than the vigilence discovered of late by the inhabitants of the town of Boston to do all that in them lies to preserve our constitutional rights inviolate when threatened with destruction."
A committee of five, Elijah Clark, Moses Richardson, Uriah Morse, Daniel Pond, and Captain Jonathan Adams, was chosen to communicate the doings of this meeting to the people of Boston.
In December the town voted " that if any head of a family in this town shall buy any tea or permit any to be used or consumed in his family while subject to duties ought to be viewed as enemies to the Country and will be treated with disrespect by this town - that the selectmen of this town for the time being are directed and desired to withhold and forbear their approba- tion for inn holders and retailers of strong liquors in this town from all such persons that shall buy use and consume any tea in their houses while subject to duties for the purposes and payable as aforesaid."
In 1774 it is recorded "that there be an addition of 100 pounds of powder, 200 pounds of bullets, and 200 flints to the town stock of ammuni- tion."
" Pursuant to the Precept within written the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Medway qualified as is therein directed upon due Warrant given, as- sembled and met together the 27th Day of Septemr 1774 and did then elect and depute Captn Jonathan Adams to serve for and represent them in the Session or Sessions of the Great and General Court or Assembly, appointed to be convened, held, and kept for His Majesty's Service at the Court-House in Salem, upon Wednesday the Fifth Day of October, 1774: The said Person being chosen by the major Part of the Elec- tors present at said Meeting.
Dated in Medway aforesaid, the 27th Day of Septemr Annoque Domini, 1774. The person chosen as above said notified thereof, and summoned to attend accordingly by me ASA PARTRIDGE RICHARDSON, ELEAZR ADAMS Jnr Constable of Medway. JAMES PENNIMAN
ELIJAH CLARK
Select-Men of Medway."
In August the town came together to consider " a letter from a committee of a convention of delegates of the several towns in the County of Suffolk to attend a meeting to be held in Dedham on the 6 of Sept next to deliberate on such matters as the disastrous circumstances of our public affairs may re- quire, and to consult and advise what was prudent to be done at this present alarming situation of affairs," and a committee of five was chosen to attend the meeting. It was also voted to raise " some relief for the poor industri- ous people of the town of Boston - suffering - being put out of their ordinary business by an act of the British Parliament for blocking up the said harbor." At a meeting in September of this year, there being some doubt as to the legality of electing representatives, a committee of two was chosen to attend a meeting to be held at the house of Captain John Starrs, of Holliston, to con- fer upon the matter ; the town also voted to purchase " two iron field pieces for better security and defence against the attempts or invasion of his Maj- esties enemies and to choose a committee of three men to procure the said field pieces as soon as may be of such bigness as the committee shall think most proper and to mount the same on carriages fit for execution provided the said
55
pieces may be had for a reasonable price." These field-pieces were pur- chased, and cansed the town a great deal of trouble, as the next year they ap- pear to have been lost, and much anxiety was manifested for their recovery. They were probably taken by the troops for the defenses about Boston, and were not recovered for some years.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Medway legally assem- bled by adjournment the 27th day of Septem" 1774 -
" The following Instructions being duly considered the sd Inhabitants, Voted the same to be Delivered to Capt Jona Adams as the rule of his con- duct as Representative of the sd Town in the Gener! Assembly :
" To CAPT JONA ADAMS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TOWN OF MEDWAY
SIR, you being Elected to represent this Town in a great & Genal Court appointed to be convened, held and kept for his majesty's service at Salim on the 5th day of Octor Inst.
Your Constituents, the Inhabitants of the Town of Medway being sensibly affected with Divers violent Infringements on our Charter rights and constitution! Privi- leges, think it our Duty at this Critical, unhappy situation of Publick affairs, to ex- press to you our sentiments and expectations.
And as we are not acquainted of what Particular Business will be laid Before you in the General Assembly, Therefore we Expect that you will on all Proper occasions Exert yourself in opposing all unconstitutional measures and appointments, and in no way to adhere to any unconstitutional method, Councel or Proceeding.
And as we apprehend, Sir, you are not insensible of the unhappy and Distressed circumstances of this Province, We depend on your Firm and Steady atteachment in Promoting all such measures as shall be thought Salutary for the recovery and Preservation of our Charterd and Constitutional rights, and also all such measures as shall be thought conducive to Promote His Majesty's real service and true Interest, the peace, welfare, and Prosperity of the Province.
And Whereas, the Late Convention of several counties having Taken under con- sideration the Precarious State and unhappy situation of Publick Affairs deem that a Provincial Congress is Absolutely Necessary.
Therefore we instruct you that if the house of representatives, when assembled shall deem such a Congress to be Necessary or Expedient and shall form or resolve themselves into such a Congress that you represent this Town therein, and attend at such time and place as shall be appointed for that purpose, in Order to Consult and Determine on such measures as they shall judge will tend to Promote the real and true interest of his majesty, the peace, good order and Prosperity of this Province.
True Copy Attest. ELIJAH CLARK, Town Clr
MEDWAY, August 9 1775
Gentm.
In observance of the Resolve of Congress on the 29 of June last, The Selectmen of this Town are making Provision for the Coats for the Soldiers in the Massachu- setts Service, and are determined to Supply you with the full Number of 43 Coats set for this Town's Proportion by the first of Octr Next, Or as Soon as Possibly may be.
By Order of the Selectmen
ELIJAH CLARK, Ck.
To The Gent Committ of Supplies for the Massachusetts forces.
In January, 1775, the town voted thirty pounds " to encourage the enlist- ing of a number of able bodied men to the number of one quarter of the military soldiers to complete and hold themselves in readiness to march at
56
the shortest notice "; and each man was allowed nine shillings bounty, and the treasurer was instructed to borrow a sufficient sum of money to meet this expense. These were " minute men," so often mentioned in the history of those times, and who were so prompt to rally at the commencement of hos- tilities a few months later, and who, raw and undisciplined, and scantily equipped, rose as one man, and taught the British in the first engagements of the war, that brave and loyal hearts beat under their homespun garb, and it was to be no holiday work to subdue a people ready and willing to fight for their homes and their rights.
Two representatives, Jonathan Adams and Moses Adams, were this year chosen to meet with the Provincial Congress at Watertown, in consequence of the " unhappy situation of affairs." They were instructed "on all proper occasions to promote peace and good order and that you will be ready to make suitable provision for the support of civil government and the just con- stitutional rights of the colony and at the same time oppose all extravagant or oppressive measures and that you promote just measures for a reconcilia- tion between the parent state and the colonies and subserve the real interest, peace and welfare of both."
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