The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts;, Part 2

Author: Peck, Chauncey Edwin
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: [Wilbraham? Mass.]
Number of Pages: 494


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 2


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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6


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


behoofe & benefit of the Inhabitants of Springfield for Ever quit al claim to & al his right, Title & Interest in any of the Lands above mentioned to be sold & wch are Contained within the bounds above expressed: Except liberty of Fishing & Hunting wch he reserveth: And it is the intent of these presents that ye sd Elizur Holyoke, George Coulton, Benjamin Cooley, Samuel Marshfield & Anthony Dorchester themselves and their heires for ever by virtue of these Presents are not to have any benefit or Priviledge in the Lands, otherwise than as they are or shal be Inhabitants of the Town of Springfield or otherwise, then in General in & wth the Town, or otherwise then they have legal Right therein, or may be granted by the Town, for that the Lands sold by the Indians above named, are so sold for & to ye onley use & behoofe of the Inhabitants of Springfield & to be wholy at their disposure.


"Febr. 4th, 1678. Being desired at a Town meeting in Spring- field to declare what I know concerning the Purchase of the Lands abovesaid; I doe declare and attest as followeth viz: That


"The Indians above named, viz. Wequaugan & Wawapaw & Wecombo the true & proper owners of al the Lands above mentioned Did sel and by sale forever passe away al the Land above mentioned to M' Elizur Holyoke, Geo. Colton, Benja. Cooley, Saml Marshfield & Anthony Dorchester for the use & behoofe of the Town of Springfield: The bargain being made in my presence, and as I remember It was in the year 1674 or thereabouts; I was often wth ym in Treaty about it, wch at last came to a conclusion, to be as above-mentioned, the pay- ment also for the Lands as above exp'ssed, passing through my hands to the Indians, which they Gladly accepted & did will- ingly own the sale to me after this Deed was Drawne, they comeing particularly one at a tyme to me to subscribe it, when I told them they must come altogether, the want of which was the onley obstruction, for they often severaly acknowledged the sale, & this writing to be according to their mind, and mean- ing. Also testifying their Readines to come altogether & suscribe, wch as they promised, so doubtless they would have done but that the Indian Warre happening in the year 1675, They wth other Indians were drove away, before which time they made the above expressd Sale, And I do declare they did come personally & owne & acknowledg the conveighance & sale of the Land above mentioned, as above exp'ssed.


7


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


"This then done & by ye Indians Wequaugan & Wawapaw & Wecombo owned & acknowledged Before me


JOHN PYNCHON, Assistant."


"This entred these Records for the County of Hampshire July 12th 1679 as Attest John Holyoke, Recordr."


I have not been able to find the original deed conveying the land east of the line indicated by this deed.


There are many traditions respecting the claim of a blind Indian to the (mountain part) of the territory of this town, and of some compensation made to him to liquidate it. What was the town of Wilbraham from 1763 to 1878, was originally a part of the territory of Springfield, which territory was about twenty-five miles square, extending from Connecticut River east to the present line of Monson, west to Russell or there- abouts and from Warehouse Point, or about the south line of Enfield, to the mountains or thereabouts on the north. I do not undertake to trace the boundary line accurately. On the east side of this territory extending from Connecticut line to the north line of the then town of Springfield there was a strip four miles wide, called the "Mountains," or "Outward Com- mons" of Springfield. There was also a strip on the west side of about two-thirds the same length, and whose breadth is determined by specified bounds called "Outward Commons of Springfield, on the west side of the Great River."


These outward commons on each side of the river had not been specially appropriated to any of the inhabitants of Spring- field, and there was reason to fear that Sir Edmund Andros, Governor of Massachusetts, would take away the charter of the colony as he threatened to do, thus causing all the unappro- priated lands to revert to the crown-become the property of the king. To avoid such an undesirable transfer of ownership of their common lands, the inhabitants of Springfield voted in town meeting February 3rd, 1685, that after reserving three hundred acres to the ministry, and one hundred and fifty acres for schools, on the "east side of the river" and a due proportion


8


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


to the ministry and schools on the "west side of the Great River," the remainder be divided among the one hundred and twenty-three heads of families or legal citizens; among these is included, by special vote, "our reverend teacher, Mr. Pelatiah Glover."


Including the "ministry lot" and a "school lot," there are therefore one hundred and twenty-five proprietors, among whom the land is to be divided. The division is to be made according to estates and polls-each poll to be valued at £12; It was also voted, that all male children, under age, should be counted as polls; and further, that while these lands are unfenced; any person can use them for grass, herbage, and timber and that they shall be free from taxes till improved. As the lands appropriated would necessarily vary very much in value, and as it was not only just, but desirable, that each proprietor should have at least a chance to secure a good lot or a portion of one, these "outward commons" on the east side of the river were divided into three portions and those on the west side into two portions, making five portions in all. These portions were numbered from one to 125, beginning with the northernmost portion on the east side; and each of the one hundred and twenty-five proprietors was to have one share in each portion or division, making five shares in all. The first division and part of the second were north of Chicopee River. The second division extended from about a mile north of Chicopee River, south about four miles to about 40 rods north of the Tinkham Road, or to the south line of the farm of the heirs of James Merrick, formerly of Deacon Moses Burt, who built the stone house now standing there in 1830, and extending west from Monson line four miles, to the line of the Inner Com- mons, about half a mile west of the four corners, where our present Springfield Street crosses West Street. The third division was bounded north by the second division, east by Monson line, and extended south to near the top of the old Potash Hill, to what was then supposed to be the line of Con- necticut, and west to the line of the "inner commons," the same as the west bounds of the second division. The "inner


9


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


commons" was that territory which extended from the "out- ward commons" west to the settled portions of Springfield, sometimes called the plains. Each of these five divisions was to be appropriated to one hundred and twenty-three persons, and a lot for the ministry, and one for the schools. We may say there were one hundred and twenty-five proprietors, or persons, between whom each division is to be divided. There will be therefore one hundred and twenty-five lots in each "division." These lots are numbered, beginning at the north side of each division; the north lot being one, the next two, and so on up to one hundred and twenty-five. These same numbers are drawn from a box like a lottery; from another box, at the same time we may suppose, is drawn a proprietor's name. The proprietor who drew No. 1 would have the first lot in the "division," he who drew No. 2 would have the second lot, and so on till the whole number, one hundred and twenty-five, was drawn. Then lots would be drawn for the second division, and so on till all the divisions were drawn. After the number of the proprietor's lot was settled, the next step was to determine its width; its length was four miles of necessity, because the lots extended across the "commons" from east to west. The width was determined by adding together the value of all the polls and estates, and then, as the whole amount would represent all the land in one division, or the whole extent north and south of about four miles, so each man's estate and polls would represent his individual portion of each division, or the width of his lot. A problem in simple proportion. John Holyoke was chosen to make out a list of the estates and polls, and very probably to superintend the allotment. The lots varied in width from one hundred and thirty-three rods, fifteen feet, and nine inches, which was the width of Colonel Pynchon's lot, being No. 2 in the second division, lying north of Chicopee River, and lot No. 81 in the third division, lying about one and one-half or two miles south of the north line of the present town of Hamp- den, down to only eight feet and nine inches in width, which was the width of the lot of William Brooks, being No. 111 in the second division, and No. 13 in the third division.


10


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


A lot four miles long and one rod wide would contain eight acres, so it will be seen that each of Colonel Pynchon's lots con- tained more than one thousand acres, and those of William Brooks about four acres each. It is said that no satisfactory survey was made of these lots, though several were attempted, until 1729, when Mr. Roger Newbury ran the west line of the outward commons acceptably. In 1863 a boundary stone in the third division was said to be standing, or rather lying nearly


LAND


MARK


OLD BOUNDARY STONE.


Now standing in southeast part of the town of Hampden.


buried, on the north side of the then Sylvanus Stebbins farm, about ten rods west of the Main Street, and another was said to be standing about 1830 on the north side of the then Dr. Samuel F. Merrick house lot. It was many years before these allotments were definitely marked. Many of the original pro- prietors were dead, and the heirs of some of them were found with great difficulty, and it is said that another allotment was attempted in 1740 to about 400 persons, and another in 1754,


11


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


on a different principle to 544 persons. But serious difficulties were in the way of new allotments. Some of the original lots had been sold, either by the original proprietors or their heirs, and it is said that the Pynchon heirs having obtained excellent portions, under the first allotment, would not agree to any new arrangement.


In the survey of the original lots, for some reason, only six- teen feet were allowed to a rod. This is always mentioned in the early deeds, when the width of the lot in rods is given, so there would be a strip of "over-plus land" on the south side of each division. The "over-plus land" on the south side of the third division was sixty-two rods wide, and by some mistake supposed to be the loss of a tally, there were eighty-two rods in width of "over-plus land" on the south side of the second division. The south side of the second division, on our Main Street, is now the south side of the farm of the heirs of James Merrick, formerly of Moses Burt. The line is about 40 rods north of the center of the Tinkham Road.


The eastern line of the Outward Commons was bounded on Monson line, or Brimfield, as it was then called. On March 23, 1684-85 a committee was sent out to survey and establish the line between Monson and Springfield. I copy the first part of their report. "We quickly found the Brooke there (Commonly called Stony Brooke) to Part and become two brookes-fol- lowed up the largest stream and found it to turn away East- ward-our Grant by ye Gen11 Corte was from the Brooke- about 40 or 50 rods east from where the brooke parts-on Rising ground by the side of Stony Brook we pitched our East Bounds, -about 40 or 50 rods further north we came to cross the Bay Path." They then ran the line to the north, and on April 6, 1685 ran the line to the south. In 1735 the line between Brimfield and Springfield was again "Surveyed, Run & Re- newed. Beginning at a dead Pine tree Standing a little North- ward of the Bay Path or (more commonly called) the Old Rhoad."


The following is a copy of the vote of the town of Springfield by which the land of the "Outward Commons" was allotted.


12


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


It is said this copy was recorded a century after the vote was passed :-


"Feb'y 3d, 1684 (1685 as we reckon) Att a General Town Meeting.


"Further forasmuch as the additional bounds or Grant of Lands to this Town by the Honord Genel Cort May last 1684, was & is to the present Inhabitants & proprietors of Springfield their Heirs & assigns forever, Many of whom are desirous of & moving for their Share in sd land, upon wch wth other Con- siderations Inducing, It was at this Meeting Voted & Con- cluded that the Eastern line or bound of the plantation of Springfield being run & Stated from Hadley Town bound on the North to Enfield Town bound on the South, Then all the land from the sd Eastern line for four miles westward toward the sd Springfield from both the Northern & Southern bounds is hereby Granted & agreed to be laid out in Proprietys to Each prsent Inhabitant & proprietor his Heirs & assigns forever his due proportion, & also the lands on the west Side of the Great River from John Riley's Brook Northward to Northampton bounds, & to Westfield bounds westward. Also the land from the head of the Brook beyond Thomas Coopers that runs into three mile Brook unto Southfield Southward & unto Westfield westward be alike distributed to Each Inhabitant & pro- prietor their Heirs & assigns forever; & in special it was Voted that three hundred acres at the least be granted to the Ministry on the East side the River out of the land hereby first Voted to be laid out as aforesd, & that one hundred & fifty acres be to the School out of the same & that the ministry & the School have their proportions in the lands on the west side of the Great River. As also that or Reverend Teacher Mr Pelatiah Glover have his proportion in the lands hereby agreed to be laid out on both Sides of the Great River. It was further Voted & agreed that the lands on the East bounds of the Town Shall be laid out in three Divisions & that the lands on the west side the grt River shall be laid out in two divisions to Each man his propor- tions. It was also Voted that these divisions to each man shall be by Casting of lotts, & that division by Casting lots, be by as many lots or Casting of lots as there be divisions. It was further Voted that the first lot begin on the Northerly part of the land to be divided; Also it was further Voted that these divisions be by Estates and poles, & that the poles be Esteemed in the Rate at twelve pounds. pr pole, & that all Male Children under age be Valued as rateable polls Viz. 12 £ pr pole. It was


13


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


further Voted & Concluded that these lands when divided while Common or Unfenced shall be Common or free to all the Inhabitants for Grass, herbage & Timber & free from Rates till Improved & then Rated only as Improved, & that Jno. Holyoke draw a list of Estates & poles of the Inhabitants for the Measurer."


I copy from the Stebbins History :


The following is a copy of the allotment, made from the records of the town of Springfield. There was one division- the first-lying wholly in the present town of Ludlow, north of this second division, which was mostly in what is now the town of Wilbraham.


"A list of the lotts in the second or middle division of the out-ward commons on the east side of the great river in Spring- field are as follows viz :-


No.


Rods Ft. In.


No.


1 Samuel Marshfield. 18


2


6


40 Thomas Stebbins.


2 Collo. Pynchon.


133


15


9


41 Thomas Gilbert.


5


8


4


3 David Throw


1


5


42 Obadiah Cooley, Senr ...


20


5


8


4 John Warner ..


11 1


7


43 James Warriner, Senr. ..


20


9


5


6 James Stephenson


1


4


1


45 Nathaniel Munn. 3


8


10


7 Benjamin Knowlton.


46 Peter Swink .


3


13


3


8 Joseph Stebbins .


15


12 8


7


10


49 Samuel Miller 5


7


6


11 Eliakim Cooley.


11


1


6


50 Nicholas Rust.


7


.


12 Jonathan Burt, Junr. 5


13


7


51 Nathaniel Sikes, Senr .. . .


4


.


1


14 Increase Sikes, Junr.


10


8


53 Edward Stebbins


5


4


5


15 John Burt, Senr.


5


4


10


54 Henry Chapin.


19


14


. .


16 James Petty .


4


6


.


7


3


56 Joseph Bedortha .


9


6


.


18 James Munn.


1 12


5


57 Lt. Abel Wright


16


14


4


19 Joseph Ely.


1


5 6


6


59 John Scott.


21 John Stewart.


7 7


10


60 Widow Beamon.


8


12


22 Joseph Cooley


5 14


6


61 John Clarke.


2


13 10


.


.


64 John Dumbleton


11


4


3


26 Henry Rogers


9


8


8


66 Obadiah Miller, Junr.


6


5


. .


29 John Miller.


68 Philip Mattoon


5


11


30 School Lot ..


18


9


.


70 David Lumbard.


8


1


11


32 Thomas Miller .


71 John Withers.


1


5


. .


33 Lazarus Miller


2


6


6


72 Joseph Marks 1


5


. .


35 Henry Gilbert ..


4


2


.


74 John Norton. .


8


3


8


36 Samuel Bliss, Junr.


75 Thomas Day, Senr


16


3


5


37 Thomas Taylor


1


10


3


76 Edward Foster


9


7


4


38 Ministry Lott


37


4


77 Samuel Bedortha 4


14


39 Victory Sikes 1 11


1


78 Samuel Osburn


1


15


3 6


.


47 Samuel Bliss, Senr. 18 3


9


9 Obadiah Miller, Junr.


48 John Bliss. 18 9


.


13 Widow Bedortha . 4


3


4


52 Goodwife Foster's Estate


5


8


13


. .


8 7 ii


23 Jonathan Morgan


5 10


1


62 Thomas Sweatman.


2


63 John Clark's, Estate.


6


11


2


24 Jonathan Taylor's Estate 25 John Holyoke.


26


4


65 Joseph Ashley.


14 2


15


4 3


27 John Colton


1


5


10


2


67 John Keep's Estate


69 Lt. John Hitchcock.


22


2


. . 4


31 Revd. Mr. Glover


21 8


4


6


34 Nathaniel Pritchard . 8


1


11


73 Daniel Beamon 1


10 7


6 9


8


5 Samuel Stebbins


9 11 9


44 Daniel Cooley. . 13


5


11


9


55 Samuel Jones


3


17 Quartermaster Colton.


25


20 Widow Sikes, Senr.


9


5


11


11


28 John Lamb


17 6


5


8


9


5


10 14


6


.


Rods Ft. In. 5 10 6


10 Ebenezer Jones. .


6


9


58 Wido. Parsons


14


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


No. Rods Ft. In.


No.


Rods Ft. In. 4 10


79 Jonathan Ball.


11


13


103 Benjamin Stebbins, Senr. 5


80 Samuel Ferry, Senr.


9


6


104 James Dorchester, Senr .. 12


11


..


81 Isaac Colton. . .


13


3


13 6 106 Thomas Merrick, Senr ...


18


15


7


83 John Barber.


107 Thomas Jones 1


108 Samuel Owen .


9


6


ii


85 Ensn. Coolcy, Estate


6


9


10


109 John Harmon. .


9


13


.


86 Jonathan Ashley


14 11


4


110 Rowland Thomas


12


6


7


87 John Bagg's Children. . . 6


2


5


111 William Brooks.


8


9


89 Joseph Crowfoot's Estate 7


14


113 Josiah Leonard


10


10


7


90 Deacn. Benja. Parsons. . 12 6


7 8


115 Wido. Horton.


19


2


9


92 Samuel Ely, Senr. 11


7


9 116 Miles Morgan


10


1


10


94 Joseph Thomas 5 9


2


118 Richard Wait. .


1


5


95 Samuel Bliss, 3d.


2


14


4


119 Thomas Cooper


18


7


3


96 John Dorchester


22


2


9


120 John Crowfoot.


3


8


97 Joseph Leonard .


14


8


9


121 Nathaniel Bliss, Senr.


9


8


10


98 Luke Hitchcock, Senr


10


7


6 122 Samuel Ball.


12


4


4


100 Benjamin Cooley


7


3


6


124 James Taylor, Senr .. . 6


7


3


101 Wido. Riley .. . 4


13


10


125 Ephraim Colton, Senr .. . 15


10


8


102 Abel Leonard.


6


3


9


A list of the lotts of the outward commons on the east side of the great river in Springfield, are as follows, Viz. third division :-


No.


Rods Ft. In. 1


3


38 Lazarus Miller


2 David Throw


1


5


.


3 Jonathan Morgan


5 10


1


40 John Stewart .


7


7


10


4 Widow Beamen.


41 Widow Bedortha


4


3


4


5 Obadiah Cooley, Senr.


20


5


8


42 Samuel Ball.


12


4


6 Joseph Thomas


9


5


2


43 Samuel Marshfield. 18


2


6


7 Japhet Chapin


23 2


1


44 John Lamb .


17


10


2


8 Benjamin Stebbins, Senr.


5


4 10


45 Samuel Terry 9


6


11


9 John Warner


11


1


7


46 Thomas Merrick, Senr. 18


15


7


10 Nathaniel Munn


3


8


10


47 John Harmon.


9


13


.


12 Victory Sikes


49 Increase Sikes, Senr 10


8


4


14 John Crowfoot . 3


51 Lt. Hitchcock.


22


2


3


15 Rev. Mr. Glover


21 3


8


9


52 Peter Swink. .


3


13


4


16 Samuel Jones.


53 Samuel Bliss 3d .


2


14


4


17 Lt. Abel Wright


16 7


9


7


55 Samuel Miller .


5


7


6


19 Miles Morgan


10 1


10


56 Charles Ferry, Senr. 14


10


11


20 Joseph Cooley


5


14


6


57 David Morgan. 9


13


6


22 John Norton.


8


8


59 Benjamin Knowlton.


5


13 11


.


23 Thomas Gilbert


5


8


4


60 James Dorchester, Senr ..


12


11


24 Deacon Burt ..


12 6


7


61 Philip Mattoon.


5


11


25 Ebenezer Jones


6


7


10


62 John Keep's Estate


6


5


26 Joseph Bedortha.


9


6


8


1


11


64 Ministry Lott. 37


4


28 Edward Stebbins. 5


4


5


65 Joseph Ely 11


66 Nathaniel Sikes, Senr 4


8


1


11


31 Joseph Marks. ..


1


5


:0 6


69 James Stephenson . 1


4


6


.


34 James Osburn.


2


5


2 71 Capt. Thomas Colton 10


13


8


35 John Bliss.


18


72 John Clark's Estate. 6


11


2


36 Joseph Stebbins


15 12


73 Isaac Colton. . 13


14


8


3 9


.


114 Charles Ferry, Senr.


14


10 11


91 Capt. Thomas Colton. .. 10 13


112 Benjamin Leonard


10


13


3


88 James Barker .. 5


4


. .


ii 3 105 Japhet Chapin . 23


1


82 David Morgan


9


4


84 James Osburn.


2


11 5


2


. .


. .


8


9


No.


Rods Ft. In. 2 6 6


39 Samuel Ely, Senr


11 7 9


8 12


. .


7


3


48 Joseph Ashley . 14


11


4


13 Wm. Brooks.


18 1 11 8


1


9


50 John Barber


11


.


.


4


54 Nicholas Rust.


7


18 John Scott.


21 Jonathan Taylor's Estate


5


11 3


63 Widow Horton. 19


2


9


29 Jonathan Ashley . 14


11 4


30 Ensn. Cooley's Estate. .. 6


9


10


67 David Lumbard.


68 Thomas Day, Senr. 16


3


5


32 Benjamin Cooley


7


3


4


1


33 Thomas Swetman .


2 10


.


3


37 Obadiah Miller, Senr. 8


74 John Leonard


.


5


9


58 Isaac Morgan


1


99 Wido. Munn. .


2


10


123 Nathaniel Burt, Senr ..


23


93 Isaac Morgan. 13 1


117 Deacn. Jona. Burt. 12


6


7


1 Thomas Taylor.


10


11 Thomas Cooper


13


14


27 Nathaniel Pritchard .


70 James Patty .


2


10


15


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


Rods Ft. In.


75 John Dorchester


22


2


9


101 Samuel Owen .


9


6 11


76 James Taylor, Senr.


6


7


3


102 Josiah Leonard.


10


10


7


77 John Withers.


1


5


103 Samuel Stebbins.


9


11


9


78 Eliakim Cooley


11


1


6 104 Samuel Bliss Senr.


18


3


9


79 Widow Riley


4


13


10 105 Abel Leonard .


6


3


9


80 Henry Rogers.


9


8


8 106 James Barker


5


4


81 Col. Pynchon .


133


15


9


107 Widow Parsons


10


6


8


82 Samuel Bedortha


4


14


3


108 Thomas Stebbins


5


10


6


83 Thomas Miller


8


4


6 109 James Warriner, Senr


20


8


84 Daniel Cooley


13


9


5


110 Ephraim Colton, Senr ..


15


10


8


85 John Baggs Children


6


2


5 111 Benjamin Leonard


10


13


3


86 Samuel Osburn


1


15


5 112 Henry Chapin. ..


19


14


87 George Colton.


25


7


3


113 Goodwife Foster's Estate 114 School Lott.


18


9


89 John Miller.


4


2


115 Widow Munn.


2


10


90 Dea. Benj. Parsons


6


5


. 4


117 Daniel Beamon ..


1


5


92 Nathaniel Burt, Senr


23


4


118 Jonathan Burt, Junr


5


13


93 Sergt. Hitchcock


10


7


6


119 Mr. Holyoke ..


26


4


94 Thomas Jones.


1


12


120 Rowland Thomas


12


6


7


95 Nathaniel Bliss


9


8


10


121 John Colton


1


5


96 John Burt, Senr.


5


4


10


122 John Clark .


2


13


11


98 Widow Sikes.


9


6


6


124 John Dumbleton.


11


4


99 James Munn


1


12


5


125 Obadiah Miller, Junr.


2


5


3


100 Jonathan Ball.


11


13


On "Nov. 7th 1698 Colonel John Pynchon Esqr Mr Pelatiah Glover Ens Joseph Stebbins Sen. David Morgan & Jehojadah Bartlett went to the Eastward End of the Town bounds to measured the four miles Granted by the Town in Proportion according to the Proprietors Estates, as it was Stated in Mar. Ano: Dom: 1685."


(Their report is especially interesting because of the names used to describe certain localities. The report goes on to say) :


"And we Came to the Stated Pine tree over Twelve mil Brooke: on the Easterly Side of sd Brooke wch tree was marked with S. P. for Springfield bounds when first said bounds were laid out as our Most Easterly bounds, & found the line or Rang of Trees yt Run North & South there at Our Easterly End, & finding sd Pine tree which was Marked of old S. P. to be much burnt & decayed, tho S. P. was fairly to be seen & left unburnt when as a grt Part of the Tree both below & above the mark was burnt, & sd tree like to decay, we therefore (haveing a Compas to direct us) Tooke ye former & first line at the Easterly end sd bounds wch was North & South & came to another pine tree about twenty rods more Northerly (in sd Line) which was as formerly marked at the first Laying out of our bounds, & had the Surveiors marke O set on Each side of that Tree, which Tree being a fair & fresh pine Tree, & from the first markt there, we gathered to it some few stones-& fro Whence we Set to worke to measure of four miles towards the Town from this or


. .


.


91 Edward Foster


9


7


116 Samuel Bliss, Junr.


5


8


1


88 Henry Gilbert


4


2


10


14


6


7


97 Richard Wait


1


5


123 Joseph Crowfoot's Estate


7


14


. . 3


No ..


Rods Ft. In.


No.


16


THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM


most Easterly bounds, marking Trees as we went." (I have abbreviated the report from this point, but have kept the names and description of localities.) "Coming on West and measuring One Mile we marked a white oake tree on the hill side which is on ye easterly side of ye Brooke commonly called Eleven Mile Brooke, said tree being towards the Northerly end of sd hil. Thence coming Still on west marked trees till we came to Manchonish pond and marked a white oake tree close to northerly end of it, being two miles west of our most easterly bounds, and about 20 rods south of the north end of Pond, We estimated the width of the pond there at about 60 rods and measured on west to the rising near the gutter to a tree which made three miles. Going on thence west marked trees for the 4th mile which led us to the North end of Stony Hill, where Rosin was first made by Capt Germon by Chickupi River, then westerly over sd hil a little towards the northerly end of it & throw those Pine Trees used for Rosin to the Pondy Low Land westerly, and a little over that Low or Pondy Land our four miles were Compleated. We marked 2 pine trees standing close together about 30 rods southerly of Chickupi River. The said 4 miles being Compleated a little on this Side the place where Capt Germon made Rosin."




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