USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 16
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Among the most valuable men of the place was Capt. Samuel Wright, who came from the West Parish in Sud- bury, and was proprietor of lot No. 1 in the first apportion- ment of Rutland territory. Captain Wright was the first deacon of the church there, justice of the peace, captain of the militia, and for years held various other town offices. He was clerk and one of the proprietors of the twelve-miles- square land tract. It was at a meeting at his house that land divisions of the town were confirmed, June 25, 1721. He was the first moderator, town elerk, and selectman chosen after Rutland became incorporated. Captain Wright kept a tavern for some time opposite the first meeting-house, at which place much of the business of the town was trans- acted. He was prominent in defending the town against the incursions of the Indians, who assailed it savagely in its early history ; and in this defense he was reinforced by soldiers from Sudbury. Captain Wright was the sixth son of
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Edward Wright, who is supposed to have been a son of one of Sudbury's early inhabitants or grantees. He was born April 9, 1670. He married Mary Stevens, a daughter of Cyprian Stevens, whose wife was Mary Willard, daughter of Major Simon Willard of Lancaster, and of his third wife, Mary Dunster, who was a relative of Mr. Dunster, president of Harvard College. Captain Wright was by this marriage one of the heirs to the large land tract originally assigned as the Rutland territory, which, as we have mentioned, was, in 1713, confirmed as to ownership, on petition of the sons and grandsons of Major Simon Willard; and his daughter Mary's name was among the other heirs in the associate deed. He was also by this marriage with Mary made brother-in-law of Deacon Joseph Stevens, another early and prominent citizen of Rutland, who was the father of Capt. Phineas Stevens. the settler of whom we shall next speak in this sketch. Mr. Wright had several children, one of whom married Rev. Thomas Frink, the first settled minister of the place, and of whom mention will be made further on. The Wright family years ago almost or wholly ceased to be inhabitants of Rut- land.
One of the next in prominence as an historic character in the early history of Rutland, and who lived in Sudbury and had children while there, was Deacon Joseph Stevens. He was a son of Cyprian Stevens, who, as we have seen, married Mary Willard of Lancaster. He went from Sudbury to Fra- mingham, and from there removed to Rutland about 1719. He married Prudence Rice, a daughter of John Rice of Sud- bury, and while at Sudbury his son Phineas, the Indian fighter and famous captain in the French and Indian war, was born. Mr. Stevens was thus by relationship grandson of Major Simon Willard, and by heirship had an interest in the land tract. In the homestead allotment he received lots Nos. 15 and 56. He also had two hundred acres of other land. He filled various offices, military, ecclesiastical, and civil, among which were those of captain of militia and dea- con.of the church. He put up a small hut on some meadow land five miles from his dwelling-place, and, there being no road to the place, he went to it daily on rackets or snow-
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
shoes to feed his stock. On the 14th of August, 1723, after the daily devotional service with his family, Mr. Stevens started with four young men to gather hay, and while en- gaged in the work he was assailed by the Indians, two of his sons were killed, the eldest and youngest were taken prison- ers, and he alone escaped. The captives were taken to Can- ada ; and, being kept there a year, were redeemed at great expense, after the father had taken two trips to Canada. It is said, that, after the capture of these boys, the Indians, thinking that Isaae, the younger, who was but four years old, would be troublesome to them on their way to Canada, were about putting him to death, when their design was dis- covered by Phineas, who made signs, that, if his brother were spared, he would carry him along on his back. The request being granted, little Isaac was carried by his brother Phineas, then about seventeen, to the Indians' far-off wilder- ness home. Isaac was so young when taken captive that he soon acquired the customs and habits of the Indians. It is stated that the Indian woman who had this young child in charge was so kind in her treatment of him, that he would have remained among the savages. By the redemption of Phineas Stevens from his captivity in Canada, the country received a man whose services were invaluable in after years. This son of Sudbury afterward became an historic character, from his masterly military prowess in and about Fort No. 4, a place on the Connecticut River at Charleston, N.H. Deacon Stevens had three daughters, Mindwell, Mary, and Kather- ine. He died Nov. 15, 1769, and his wife about 1776.
Capt. Edward Rice and Rachel, his wife, were from Sud- bury, and were some of the most prominent people of Rut- land. He was proprietor of two lots- Nos. 34 and 60-and their after divisions. One of these lots he sold to Mr. Benja- min Dudley, and settled on the other, which was located at Muschapauge Hill, and contained one hundred and forty- five acres; but, after building upon it, he sold it, and bought a lot south of Pomagussett Meadow, at which place he lived, and where he died, at the age of sixty-seven, during a remarkable sickness which, in 1756, swept over Rutland,
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
destroying during the fall months nearly sixty children. Mrs. Rice, his wife, died of small pox, Jan. 7, 1760. Cap- tain Rice was a useful citizen for his country, town, and church. He entered into the service of his country in 1724, and after his return home held both militia and town offices.
Capt. Samuel Stone was of Lexington, but previously was a citizen of Sudbury. He was proprietor of lot No. 25; but, with his sons, he eventually became owner of about nine hundred acres of land. Samuel Stone, Jr., on Oct. 20, 1732, married a daughter of Deacon Stevens, by whom he had sev- eral children. He was an ardent patriot, and died in the service of his country at the time of the Revolutionary War. His son Isaac died in the French War, Nov. 20, 1756.
Capt. Phineas Walker and his wife, Beulah Clapp, were from Sudbury, where their first two children were born. Mr. Clapp owned land at the junction of Ware and Long- meadow Brooks, to which place he moved in 1750. He was a valuable inhabitant of Rutland, and filled various important town offices, and was also a captain in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Walker and wife, soon after arriving at Rutland, united with the church, and it is stated of them, that, though living four miles from the meeting-house, "their seats were seldom empty." In the great sickness of 1756, their two sons, Abel and John, were buried in one grave. Two of their other sons were physicians ; one, named Asa, practised in Barre; the other died Nov. 30, 1797. Jonas was a minute- man and officer in the Revolution.
Col. Daniel Clapp was a Sudbury man, and in 1768 bought land in Rutland, to which place he moved from the town of Princeton. He filled many important offices while at Rut- land, was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and for many years registrar of deeds for Worcester County.
Lieut. Luke Moore and Lucy, his wife, were other citizens from Sudbury. Mr. Moore was an officer of militia, and a worthy citizen. He subsequently removed from Rutland to New Hampshire. It is stated that Mr. Luke Moore was a brother of all the women of the name of Moore who went from Sudbury to Rutland.
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Lieut. Paul Moore, another titled citizen, was from Sud- bury. He was by trade a carpenter. He filled various town offices, as town clerk, selectman, and treasurer. Mr. Moore married, May 3, 1733, Hannah Hubbard, a daughter of Capt. John Hubbard, who moved from Worcester to Rutland about 1728; and for his second wife he married Azubah Moore of Sudbury. The wife of Lieutenant Moore was a well-known maker of deer-skin clothes. A grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Moore was Rev. John Hubbard Church, formerly of Pelham, N. H.
Cornet Daniel Estabrook and Hannah, his wife, were both from Sudbury. It is stated that Mr. Estabrook, in 1723, bought land laid out to Samuel Goodnow to his right of lot No. 46, situated on Worcester Hill ; and that when he began to fell trees it was perilous going to his work without his gun, not only from exposure to Indians, but also to bears and wolves.
Another Sudbury citizen who owned land in Rutland, and whose family was represented among its early settlers, was Thomas Read, proprietor of Lot 22, with its divisions. Thomas Read, the son of Thomas, moved from Sudbury to Rutland with Sarah, his wife, and located their homestead on the lot just mentioned. They were some of the first pio- neers, and shared the perils incident to a settler's life. Mr. Read had five children, Jason, Thomas, Mary, Jonathan, and Micah. All Mr. Read's sons married wives from Framing- ham. Mr. Read was of the old Read family in Sudbury, the first of which family in the town was Thomas, who settled at Lanham as early as 1654. It is said, in the " History of Rut- land," that "this family of Reads have been useful and indus- trious inhabitants of Rutland for one hundred and twenty years."
Jonathan Stearns, who married Abigail Moore, bought lands adjacent to what is called the East Wing.
Moses Maynard and his wife, Tabitha Moore, bought land in Rutland adjacent to the East Wing, which was once granted to Jonathan Waldo, and first division of upland to the right of lots Nos. 26 and 27. The descendants of Mr.
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
and Mrs. Maynard were numerous, and settled to quite an extent in New Hampshire and Georgia. In 1836 it was said that Mr. Maynard was the largest man that ever lived in Rutland, and that about a year and a half before his death, which occurred in his sixty-eighth year, he weighed four hundred and fifty-one pounds.
Mr. Moses Baxter, a carpenter, who married Mary Moore of Sudbury, bought a farm joining the East Wing.
Mr. Eliphalet Howe was of the old Howe family in Sud- bury, and bought land on Walnut Hill, Rutland.
Among the settlers in and about Rutland are other and familiar Sudbury names ; but those which have been given show how much the town contributed towards the settle- ment. In the establishment of the church, also, Sudbury was quite prominent. The first deacon was Samuel Wright, at whose house was held a meeting for the signing of the church covenant, July 18, 1727. July 24, 1721, Rev. Joseph Willard was chosen pastor, but was slain by the Indians August 14 of the same year. At a meeting held May 17, 1727, at which Capt. Samuel Wright presided, Rev. Thomas Frink was chosen by unanimous vote to be the settled pas- . tor. He was a native of Sudbury, and took his degree at Harvard College in 1722. His father came from England, with two brothers. He was settled at Rutland, Nov. 1, 1727, and dismissed Sept. 8, 1740. Previous to the installa- tion of Mr. Frink, letters missive were sent to six churches, among which were those of the East and West Parishes, Sudbury. Samuel Wright and Lieut. Simon Davis were chosen to sign these letters for the church. In accordance with the invitation, Revs. Loring and Cook of Sudbury were present. Mr. Frink and Capt. Samuel Wright joined the church by letters brought from the West Precinct Church. Rev. Israel Loring preached the installation sermon, from 2 Cor. ii. 16: " And who is sufficient for these things." After laying on of hands by Revs. Loring, Prentice, Par- sons, and Chenery, Mr. Frink " was ordained a Presbiter of the Church and Pastor of Rutland." Mr. Loring gave the right hand of fellowship. After singing part of the
1
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Eighty - ninth Psalm, the pastor "pronounced the Bless- ing."
After Mr. Frink was dismissed from Rutland, he was installed pastor of the Third Church, Plymouth, Nov. 7, 1743 ; and October, 1753, he was installed pastor at Barre, where he labored until July 17, 1766. He married Isabella, daughter of Capt. Samuel Wright, Feb. 13, 1729, and had a family of ten children. He was a man of considerable ability, and preached the election sermon at Boston in 1758. His son Samuel was also a minister; and at the time of Mr. Whitefield's visit to the country he was rector of a church in Savannah, Ga. John Frink was a physician, and prac- ticed in Rutland.
Thus the influence of Sudbury in the settlement of Rut- land was strongly marked ; and it may be gratifying to the town's people to-day that such good and prominent results have accrued from the presence of her citizens abroad.
CHAPTER X.
1650-1675.
Activity on the West Side of the River. - Early Homesteads. - Laying Out of the "New Grant." - Land Allotments. - Owners and Occu- pants. - " The Thirty Rod Highway." - Settlement of Marlboro. - The "Hop Brook Mill." - Highway to the New Mill. - " Old Lan- caster Road." - New Meeting-House; Contract. - The " Cow Com- mon " Controversy.
The smoke wreaths curling o'er the dell, The low, the bleat, the tinkling bell, All made a landscape strange, Which was the living chronicle Of deeds that wrought the change.
A. B. STREET.
HAVING noticed the leading events in the establishment of the town, we will now consider its history mainly by periods of a quarter of a century each. In doing this we shall consider events somewhat in chronological order, tak- ing liberty, however, to deviate as much as convenience and a proper treatment of the subject may direct.
Between 1650 and 1675 the west side had rapid develop- ment. Prior to the beginning of this period the pioneer spirit of the settlers had led to a thorough exploration of this part of the town, and they had located by its hills and along its meadows and valleys, as if undaunted by distance from the meeting-house and mill, and indifferent to the perils of the wilderness. But although there was, to an extent, an occupation of the west part of the town from the very begin- ning of the settlement, yet the greater activity was for a time on the east side ; in that part was the centralization of people, and things were more convenient and safe. Indeed, the settlers for a season may have regarded the west side as
177
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a wilderness country, destined long to remain in an unbroken state. The view westward from certain points along the first street was upon woody peaks and rocky hillsides. Beyond the valley of Lanham and Lowance, towered Nobscot; its slope, thickly covered with forest, might look like an inhos- pitable waste; while the nearer eminence of Goodman's Hill, with its rough, rocky projections, may have had a broken and desolate aspect. It is no wonder, then, that in the ear- lier years of the settlement we read of so many corn-fields on the east side of the river, and find parties desirous of obtain- ing new farms seeking them in a southerly rather than a westerly direction. But when absolute wants were once met, and things essential to existence were provided ; when the settlers had acquired a better knowledge of the country and of the character of its native inhabitants, and a substan- tial causeway was made,-then began a greater development of the west part of the town.
The indications are that these things were accomplished about the year 1650. At this time we begin to notice the mention of homesteads on the west side, and the construc- tion of works for public convenience. The lands first occu- pied, probably, were those near Lanham and Pantry, and along the meadows by the river course; while the more central portion, called " Rocky Plain," was not taken till somewhat later. This is indicated, not only by the known locations of early homesteads, but by the locality of the west. side cow common. (See Chapter VII.) These sections may have been first taken on account of the abundance of meadow land, and the existence of roads which had been made for the transportation of hay.
A prominent person who early located there was Walter Haynes. He had a house by the meadow margin, which, in 1676, was used as a garrison, and which early in town his- tory was called " Mr. Haynes' old house." In 1646 he was granted liberty to run a fence " from his meadow, which lies on the west side of the river, across the highway to his fence of his upland at his new dwelling-house, provided that Walter Hayne do keep a gate at each side of his meadow for the passing of carts and the herds along the highway that
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his fence may not be prejudicial to the town." Both rec- ord and tradition indicate that John and Edmund Goodenow early had lands near the Gravel Pit, and also at or near the present Farr and Coolidge Farms. By 1659, Thomas Noyes and Thomas Plympton had established houses on the west side, - the former on lands at Hop Brook, and the latter at Strawberry Bank. As early at least as 1654, Thomas Read was at Lanham ; and by 1659 Peter Bent was there also.
Some public acts which indicate activity on the west side, as set forth by the records, are as follows : In 1654 it was ordered that Walter Hayne and John Stone "shall see to the fences of all the corn-fields on their side the river ; " and in 1659 a committee was appointed to look after the higli- ways there. The mention of bridges by 1641, the ferry of Mr. Noyes in 1642, and the contract for a cart-bridge in 1643, are all indications of early activity in the west part of the town. But the more important matters of a public nature were in connection with the laying out of new lands, the construction of important roads, and the erection of a mill.
LAYING OUT OF NEW LANDS.
These lands consisted of the two-mile grant, allowed in 1649. (See Chapter IV.) Its eastern boundary line ex- tended nearly as follows: A little west of North Sudbury, Sudbury Centre, and South Sudbury, or, more specifically, by the Moses Mossman place, across the Poor Farm, by the east bank of Willis's Mill Pond, across or just east of Blandford's Pond, over the Walter Rogers place, and a little west of Hunt's Bridge. From this easterly limit, it extended to the town's western boundary. Oct. 27, 1651, John Sher- man and others were appointed to lay out this land. The following record indicates how the money was raised to meet the expense of this work, and also a rule that was agreed upon for the apportionment of the land : -
Nov. 27, 1651. "It is agreed in a public town meeting warned for that purpose, that the rate now to be levied for the payment of John Sherman and others for laying out the two miles westward joining to our former bounds which was last granted by the Court for our enlargement shall be paid
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by the inhabitants every man to pay alike, the same in quan- tity and when that the two miles shall be layed out that every man shall enjoy a like quantity of that land."
About two years later a dispute arose relative to the man- ner in which the two-mile grant was to be divided. " Twvo ways were proposed, neither of which gave satisfaction ; the first was to divide them equally to every man ; the other was to divide by estate or family - to every man four parts -to every wife, child or servant bought or brought up in the family one part."
On Jan. 4, 1655, at a selectmen's meeting it was " voted to take some means to get the new grants laid out ; " and it was also agreed " to keep a herd of cattle upon the land the next summer." Thus the subject of the new grant was a prominent one, and how to apportion it was an important matter. At length the plan was adopted of dividing it into squadrons, the arrangement of which was as follows : " The south east was to be the first, the north east the second, the north west the third, and the south west the fourth." It was voted there should be a highway extending north and south, "30 rods wide in the new grant joining to the five miles first granted ;" also, "Voted that there should be a highway 30 rods wide, from south to north, paralel with the other said highway in the middle of the remaining tract of land."
The records further state, that, as there was a pond in the third and second squadrons, "so that the middle highway from south to north cannot pass strait," it was voted to have it "go round the pond." These squadrons. were subdivided into parcels of equal size, each containing one hundred and thirty acres, and were apportioned to the people by lot. It was voted that "the first lot drawn was to begin at the south side of the first squadron running east and west betwixt our highways; the second lot to be in the north side of the first, and so every lot following successively as they are drawn till we come to Concord line and so the first and second squadron."
Persons who received parts of this land, and the order of receiving it, are thus given in the records : -
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
John Blanford
Thomas Noyes
2
Walter Hains
William Kerley
Joseph Freeman
Henry Curtis
Mr. Brian Pendleton
Thomas Rice
Edward Rice
Mr. Herbert Pelham
10
L[t] Edmund Goodenow 11
Robert Davis
12
1 These twelve lots written, are the first squadron, the first of them 3 joining to the country land on the 4 south, and the last of them join- ing to Lancaster highway on the 5 6 north, each lot containing one hun- 7 dred and thirty acres, the length 8 being nearest hand east and west, 9 the breadth north and south.
The second squadron are :
William Ward
13
Josiah Hains 14
Henry Loker 15
John How .
16
Edmund Rice
17
Philemon Whale
18
John Loker 19
Mr. Edmund Browne
20
John Parmenter, Dea
21
John Maynard
22
Robert Darnill
23
Thomas White
24
Richard Newton 25
John Reddicke, part of his
26
These thirteen lots and a part afore written are the second squadron, the first whereof being William Ward's who joineth to Lancaster high- way on the south, the last being part of Sargent Reddicke's lot which joineth to Concord line on the north all this squadron of lots, with the other aforegoing, being bounded on the east by a, highway thirty rods wide, and part of the two miles last granted to Sudbury each lot contain- ing one hundred and thirty acres ; third squadron are as followeth : -
John Ward
27
Peter Kinge
28
John Smith
29
Hugh Griffin
30
Henry Rice
31
John [-] 32
Robert Beast
33
William Kerley Sen
34
John Wood 35
John Rutter-
36
Mr Wm Browne his farm of two hundred acres, and his lot of one hundred and thirty acres, be- ing granted to be in the north west angle beyond Asibath river before the lots were laid out. Also the other part of Sargent Red- dicke's lot joining to Mr. William Browne's farm on the north.
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Solomon Johnson Sen 37
John Toll 38
Widow Goodenow
39
The thirteen lots last written with Mr. Wm Browne's farm and lot and the part of Sergent Reddicke's lot, are the third squadron. Mr. Browne's farm joineth to Concord line on the north, and the widow Goodenow's lot joineth the same said Lancaster highway on the south, the said squadron of lots and farm being on the east the middle highway thirty rods wide and the second squadron, and butting on the west upon the wilderness.
The fourth squadron are as followeth : -
John Moores 40
John Woodward
41
John Grout, 42
John Bent Sen, 43
Thomas Goodenow
44
Thomas Plympton,
45
John Haines, 46
Mr. Peter Noyes,
47
Mr William Pelham
48
John Parmenter Junior,
49
Thomas Kinge
50
The Cowpen land being one hundred and thirty acres 51
These above eleven lots going with the cowpen land, are the fourth and last squadron, the first [one] of [which] being [that of] John Moores, who joineth on the north the same said Lancaster highway, the cowpen being the last, which joineth on the south to the wilderness the said eleven lots and cowpen butting on the east the aforesaid + highway and first squadron and butting on the west the wilderness. Also let it be remembered that the long highway from south to north goeth at the west end of the pond through the lands of John Toll and Solomon John- son, and is twelve rods wide at the narrowest, which way the said John Toll and Johnson have sufficient allowance.
This land, laid out so regularly, was good property. Some of the most substantial homesteads of the town have been, and still are, upon it. The names of Howe, Parmenter, Woodward, Moore, Browne, Walker, Noyes, Balcom, and Rice, of the older inhabitants, and, later, of Fairbanks, Stone, Willis, Smith, Hayden, Maynard, Perry, Bowker, Vose, Brigham, and others, - all had residences there. The possession of this new grant territory, and its early appor-
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
tionment, would serve naturally to keep the people in town. It opened new resources to the settlers by its timber lands : and the circuitous course of Wash Brook gave meadows and mill privileges which the people were not slow to improve. Probably the earlier settlers of this tract went from the east side of the river as into a new country or wilderness. There they erected garrisons ; and that there were in this territory at least three of these houses indicates the exposed condition of the plaec at the time of its early occupation by the English. "Willis," the largest pond in town, a part of "Nobscot," the highest hill, and the most extensive timber tracts, are in this new grant. In it have been located no less than five saw or grist mills. From this territory was taken part of the town of Maynard, and in it were located for years two out of five of the old-time district school-houses. The Wayside Inn and the Walker Garrison are still there ; and although the stirring scenes of the old stage period, which gave liveliness to the one, and the dismal war days, which gave importance to the other, have passed away, yet there remains a thrift and prosperity about the substantial farms of the ancient new grant lots that make this locality one of importance and interest.
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