USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1636-1705 (vol. 1) > Part 10
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The names of those who were found to be Townsmen of Plymouth according to the abovesaid order which Relates unto the time of the establishment of the Towne of Plymouth and the bounds therof sett by the court which was in the yeare 1640 :
Thomas Prence
Capt : Thomas Southworth
Capt : Willam Bradford
The Elder Thomas Cushman
Mr John howland
Jacob Cooke
Samuell ffuller
Samuell Sturtivant
Edward Gray
Steven Bryant
Samuell Kinge
Serj Ephraim Tinkham
John Cobb
Tho : Lettice
James Cole seni :
Gorge Bonum
John Wood
Gabriell ffallowell
Rich : Wright
Willam Crow
Tho : Pope
John Barnes
Gorge Watson
Benajah Pratt
John Jourdaine
Gyles Rickard Juni ;
Grles Rickard Seni: Samuell Dunham
Samuell Eedey Tho ; Whitney
PLYMOUTH RECORDS. 109
Nath : Morton
Leift : Ephraim Morton
Tho : Morton
Robert ffinney
Willam Clarke
Robert Bartlett
Nathaniell Warren
Joseph Dunham John holmes
Mr Joseph Bradford
Edward Dotey seni :
Edward Dotey Juni :
Gorge Morton
John Barrow
Richard ffoster
John ffaunce
James Cole Juni :
Joseph Churchill
These following were admitted att the same time
Willam hoskins
Willam Nelson seni :
John Dunham Joseph Warren
Serg Willam harlow
Andrew Ringe
hugh Cole James Clarke
Joseph Howland
Jonathan Pratt
Jonathan Barnes
Joseph Bartlett
Daniel Dunham
Abraham Jackson John Cole
Samuell Kinge Juni :
Richard Willis
Jabez howland John Doty
Att the same meeting a Comittee was chosen further to Consider of such pticulars as may be proposed and thought meet to be observed in Reference to Towne privilidges whoe are to
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PLYMOUTHI RECORDS.
meet for that purpose on Munday the 21 of this Instant ffebruary ; Mr Thomas Prence Capt : Thomas Southworth Nathaniell Morton Leift : Ephraim Morton The Elder Thomas Cushman Edward Gray Samuell Sturtivant Willam Clarke Joseph Warren serg William harlow Robert flinney Willam Crow
these with any others of the Townsmen that shall please to give them meeting to propose and agitate matters Relating to Towne privilidges and to acquaint the Rest of the Townsmen with what they thinke meet in Reference to the primises att the next Towne meeting and then to be Rejected or established as the whole or Major pte shall thinke meet
Nathaniell Morton
Att this meeting the Towne graunted unto Nathaniell Morton seni: what lands are or may be supposed to be comon between his lands lying by the lands of John Churchill ; and the Creeke comonly Called hobshole in the Township of Plymouth ; alwaies provided That hee leave a competency of Land without the ffence to sett up on the said land next unto the Creeke syde for the landing of hay or other goods and alsoe provided that hee and his heires and assignes give libertie unto the naighbors to cart up hay or other goods from the said Creeke through his land there unto the Comon Road way att any time soe as not to goe through or spoyle any Corne theron
Att this meeting likewise the Towne graunted unto Richard Willis a smale pcell of comon land lying att the end above the smale psell of land which hee bought of Nathaniel Morton bounded with two heapes of stones att the uper end provided ; alsoe that hee give libertie unto the Naighbors to Cart hay or other goods up through the land hee hath there ; both that which hee hath now graunted him and that which hee bought as aforsaid ; from the Comon highway to the litle Towne and not to be Interupted by him nor his heires or assignes att any time when they may Cart; and not spoyle or damage any Corne thereon ;
The bounds of the land of Mr Joseph Bradford att Winnatucksett is as followeth It abuteth on the Northsyde of
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
the River haveing Richard Wrights land lying on the southsyde of it and it Runs fourscore pole from the River haveing a swamp on the northwest syde the whole length of it and soe Rangeth to smale pyne tree standing in low swampy ground ; and soe Rangeth to a white oake marked standing on a hillsyde ;
a
The bounds of the Land of Samuell Kinge Seni : being fifty acrees it begins att the bound marked tree that standeth between the meddow of Steven Bryant and the meddow of the said Samuell Kinge ; the said tree being a white oake tree marked ; and soe it Rangeth along by the meddowsyde of the said Samuel Kinge eight score pole to a white oake standing by a swamp syde which is his southermost bounds and soe Runeth fifty pole into the woods from the said swamp to a blacke oake which is his westermost bounds and soe to a smale white oake which is his Northermost bound
Att the Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth Monday 21 of february 1668 fifty acrees of land was graunted unto John Lukas lying neare the land of Samuell Kinge above mensioned to be viewed and layed out by Gorg Bonum for him the said John Lukas and if it can not there be had ; then it is to be had elswhereif it can be found ;
[97.] Att a Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 12th of May 1669 Leift Morton and Robert flinney were Chosen to be deputies to serve in the Towns behalfe att June Court next and the severall adjournments therof ;
Mr Willam Clarke was Chosen Constable for the Towne ; Samuell Dunham and Andrew Ringe Chosen Grandjury- men
Leiftenant Morton Serj harlow and Willam Crow were Chosen to be Celect men.
Thomas Cushman Juni : Benajah Pratt and Gorge Morton Chosen Surveyors of the highwayes
In Answare unto a proposition made unto the Towne in the behalfe of Mr Cotton That wheras God by his good Provi- dence hath goe ordered that hee is likely to Continue amongst us and to preach the word of God unto us That in case hee should end his life in that worke amongst us and leave a family behind him that for as much as the house hee liveth in is the Townes for the use of the minnestry successively and that The Towne Cannot
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
accomodate him with any farme or liveing to leave behind him for his family The prmises Considered ; The Towne have unani- mously voted to alow unto his wife or family the sume of fifty pounds and that shee or they be prmited to live in the said house untill the Towne shalbe provided of another minnester incase God doe soe dispose that hee end his life in this Towne before them ;
Att this meeting it was ordered by the Towne that the Constable shall have fifteen shillings alowed him by the Towne for the yeare hee is Constable ; and that hee be Rated according to his estate in all Respects as others to any Comon Charges and that hee give a true account to the Towne yearly of his proceed- ings in his office and that the said account be Recorded ;
Att a Towne meeting held att Plymouth the 29th day of July 1669
The Raters Chosen to make the Country Rates and Rates for the Townes Concerns were Leiftenant Morton Serjeant harlow and Samuell Dunham ;
Att this meeting a quarter of an acree of land was Graunted to Willam harlow being a little 1 Knowle or smale psell of land lying neare his now dwelling house on the westerly syde of the Road way To sett a new house upon
Steven Bryant and John Waterman are appointed by the Town To view and make Report to the Towne of severall psells of land desired by Serjeant Tinkham Willam Crow and John Jourdaine and to make Report thereof to the towne
Leiftenant Morton and Samuell Dunham were appointed by the Towne and Invested with full power in theire behalfe to sue and Implead the case against those that have hiered the Townes land att Agawaam ; and the Towne to beare the Charge of the said action ; and to stand to the award that shalbe given by law upon the said suite ;
The 29th of July 1669 John Everson Came before Captaine Southworth and acknowledged that hee hath disposed of his daughter Martha Everson unto Robert Barrow of. Plymouth to be to and with him as his owne Child from this time forward to be provided for looked unto and desposed of by him the said Robert Barrow as his owne Child ;
1 This is the lot on which a house belonging to Professor Lemuel Stephens stands, on the west side of Sandwich Street beyond Fremont Street. This house is the one which William Harlow built.
PLYMOUTH RECORDS. 113
[99.] Att the Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 15th day of December 1669 The Rators Chosen to make the Rates for Mr Cottons Maintainance were
Nathaniell Morton
Serjeant harlow Willam Crow
The prsons appointed to see his Rate layed on were Willam Crow Samuell Dunham
In Reference unto a Controversy between Captaine Bradford and the Towne about his usuall Rate to Mr Cottons maintainance It is mutually agreed by and between the said pties that for three yeares from this date this yeare being encluded that hee shall and will annually pay unto Mr Cottons Maintain- tance the sume of fifteen shillings; and when the said time is expired that then the towne and him to come to a further agree- ment about the same; and in Reference unto his pay to Mr Cotton for the last yeare not yet payed hee hath engaged to pay the sume of twelve shillings and for what is behind of former years that what is due hee will pay it ;
Att the Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 15th of ffebruary 1669 It was ordered by the Towne That if the Constable doe Receive an order from either the Majestrates Residing in the Towne or from the court or from the Celect men of the Towne att any time to warne a Townmeeting and neglect to give due warning viz: by himselfe or others to every one written in the list of the Townsmen The said Constable soe neglecting shall pay twelve pence for every one that hee neglecteth soe to warne to be levied to the Townes use by the Constable succeeding the yeare following after such defects are made
Samuell Dunham and Willam Crow are deputed by the Towne to Receive that which is behind due to the Towne from the Constables of Plymouth for the two yeares last past before the date heerof and are heerby Impowered to prosecute in law what shalbe nessesary in the Townes behalfe for the Recovery theerof ; and likewise by vertue of this order to Require what is behind due to the towne on sepecan account untill august the fift 1672 this addition being then added ;
8
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
It was ordered by the Towne that all meddowes in our Township or belonging to the Towne shalbe Ratable to all our comon charges of both Towne and Country
Memorand : That the Rators be minded
To Remember Myles Blacke or any other that Keepes Cattle on the Townes Comons to be Rated for ;
Joseph Bartlett hath agreed with the Towne to pay for the Rent of Sepecan forty shillings which is in the Custody of Willam Clarke and engageth to the Towne to pay forty shillings in currant Country pay by the fiftenth of November 1671 and doth freely surrender the said lease of the land att sepecan and the Towne accepts of it on the payment of the said sumes
Att the Towne meeting held att Plymouth
the fffteenth of May 1670
The Towne have voted that such as have made a wast Gate for the letting of the ffish goe up shalbe ffully supplyed with ffish for theire owne pticular use in the first place for this yeare ; and that the hedge they make to stopp the ffish shall stand untill such time as none appeers to take ffish when ther is ffish before the said hedge or weire and that it shall not be pulled downe att that time untill the Miller is Reddy to stopp water ;
[100.] Att a Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the seaventh of July 1670.
This was Rattifyed att the meeting of the Towne on the 8th of August 1677 att the said meeting Mr Gray and John Bradford were appointed by the Towne to look to the execution of the said law
Wheras Complaint is made of Great stray and wast of Timber in the swamps or the Comons belonging to the Towne ; It is ordered by the Towne that hence- forth noe bolts boards or shingle shalbe transported out of the Townshipp either by our owne or others ; on paine of forfeiting the said bolts boards and shingle or the worth of them to the Towne use ;
Edward Gray and ) are appointed by the Joseph howland S Towne to see that this order be duly and strictly pformed and observed ;
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Serjeant harlow Willam Clarke and Willam Crow
- were Chosen by the Towne to make the Country Rates and the Rate for the Comon Charges of the Towne for this yeare ;
Att this meeting the Towne graunted unto John Cole one acree and an halfe of salt sedge ground ; lying att Jonses River to be for his use as longe as hee continueth there ; and ordered Joseph howland to lay it out to him which was don as followeth :
The bounds of John Coles sedge ground ; the acree is twenty pole in Length and eight pole in breadth and is bounded on the eastsyde with the River; and on the westsyde with three stakes ; the syde line extends North and south the halfe acree extends twenty pole in Length and four pole in breadth it is bounded on the Northsyde with the River and on the westsyde with two stakes ; this sedge ground lyeth att a place Comonly Called Mr howlands point ;
Att a town meeting held at Plymouth the 13th day of december 1670
The Rators Chosen to make the Rate for Mr Cottons Maintainance was Leift Morton Serjeant harlow and Samuell Dunham ;
Att this meeting ;
The Towne graunted unto Thomas Dunham twenty acrees of Land lying on the Northsyde of the smelt brooke
The Towne likewise graunted unto Edward May twenty acrees of Land lying att Naponsett ponds there two psells to be layed out to the pties above named by Willam Crow and Joseph howland soe as it may not be prejudiciall to any former graunt ;
Att this meeting a psell of Land was granted by the Town unto John Morton lying in Alcarmus feild to sett an house on to the vallue of four acrees if it may there be found if not ; hee is to have it in any other place within the township as is not disposed of alreddy to otliers
Schoolmaster
Att the said meeting the said John Morton proffered to teach the children and youth of the towne to Read and write and Cast accounts on Reasonable considerations
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Att this meeting Nathaniel Morton Leift Morton and Joseph Warren were appointed by the Towne to agree with Tatoson about a psell of Land desired by him att Sepecan.
An acree and an halfe of Land is graunted by the Towne unto Thomas Doten lying in Alcarmus feild to sett a house on in the most Convenienetest place soe as it may not be prejudiciall to others
A smale peece of land lying and being att the Towne of Plymouth by the watersyde att the foot of the hill below Mr Cottons was graunted by the Towne unto Mr Willam Clarke of Plymouth to sett his ware house on; with free egresse and Regresse therunto without Interuption ;
[101.] Ordered made and Concluded by the Towne of Plymouth att theire Towne meeting held att the meetinghouse att Plymouth on the 26th of December Anno dom 1670 as followeth ;
That every one shall bringe in an exact bill of his estate to the Rators that shalbe att any time orderly Chosen ; and incase any doe neglect heerin ; It is left to the descretion of the Rators to Rate them as they shall see cause ; and if any one shall bring in any false bill of his estate ; the Rators suspecting it to be soe upon special grounds ; shall Keep it untill the next Towne meeting and there prsent it to the Towne and it being there proved to be false the prson that sent it in shalbe fined twelve pence on the pound for whatsoever Ratable goods etc he hath omitted to enter into his said bill : to the use of the Towne ;
Ordered that all uplands be vallued in Rateing att 20 s an acree viz : plowed lands and hoed lands and all meddowes at 20 s an acree if within foure miles of the place where the hay is used ; but if more Remote att ten shillings an acree ; and that such Rates as are made upon meddowes be levied on the owners of the meddowes onely this to be understood of such as lett hay by the load ; or from yeare to yeare
horse Kind to be Rated
Ordered that all neat Cattle be Rated for as followeth : viz : a Cow to be vallued att fifty shillings and all heiffers of three yeares old equall to a cow ; a paire of oxen att seaven pound twoo yeare olds both heiffers and steers att thirty shillings apeece ; and all yearlings att twenty shillings apeece ; and that * horses and mares be vallued att three pounds apeece all two year
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
as neate Cattle
olds of horse Kind att forty shillings a peece ; and yearlings att 20 s * and that all such Cattle both neate and horsekind soe to be Rated for and vallued to be payed for that are in each man's Costody though not his owne ;
Ordered that all sheep be vallued att six shillings apeece in Rateing and that Rames be exempted
Ordered that all swine from halfe a yeare old and upward be vallued att five shillings a peece and bores to be exempted ;
It is ordered that all single men that have not prsented above eighteen pound stocke to be Rated ; that they shall Not- witlıstanding be Rated to the same vallue
Ordered in Reference to the weavers of the Towne that they be Rated for every loome that is Improved as for thirty £ stocke viz : Gyles Rickard one loome John Wood one loome John ffalloweys loome not soe Constantly Imployed vallued att 5 £ stocke and Daniell Dunhams loome les Imployed vallued att 5 £ stocke
Ordered that every Tayler in Reference to his facultie be vallued att 20 £ stocke
Ordered that all such as are Improved in any publicke place That what sallery they have it be accoumpted as Ratable stocke
Ordered That whosoever hath and Improveth any facultie besides his Rateable estate be Responsible to be Rated for the same proportionable to what they shall Rationally give in an account of to the towne which if they shall Refuse or neglect to doe ; That it be left to the descretion of the Rators to doe therin as they shall thinke meet ;
That all such as have bin or shalbe Improved about flish or ffishing theire Improvement therin to be vallued att 20 £ : estate a peece
Edward Gray to be Rated for six score pound stocke this yeare Improved in trading
William Clarke fourscore pound ;
Gorge Watson ten pound
Willam Crow ten pound Joseph Warren ten pound
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
[102.] This following order beares date the fift of August 1672
It is ordered by the Towne that whosoever shall Neglect to bring in his bill of his estate to the Rators att the time appointed shalbe fined two shillinges for every such default to the use of the Towne to be levied by the Constable with the Rate that the said delinquent is Rated att that time ;
Serjeant harlow his facultie being a Copper vallued at £40
Joseph Bartlett his facultie being a Cooper vallued att 30
Samuel Ryder being a Cooper his facultie vallued att 30
Joseph Dunham for his facultie being a carpenter vallued att 30
James Cole for his facultie Keeping an ordinary att 80
Thomas Lettice for his facultie Keeping an ordinary att 20
Thomas Lucas his facultie being a Smith att
50
40
Jabez howland his facultie being a smith att Edward Gray and serjeant harlowes and Edward Doties boate att 25
Another boate of Edward Grayes att 25
Jonathan Barnes his boate att 18
Gorge Watsons boate att 12
Leift Mortons boate att 18
Att this meeting it was voated by the Towne that the Elder Cushman be ffreed from paying any Rate to the Minnestry for the future in Regard of his many emergent occations and expence of time ; therin Improved for the publicke good ;
A comittee was Chosen by the Towne to Consider and draw up some propositions to Restraine the eregulare Improve- ment of the Townes Comons viz : Willam Clarke and William Crow to give meeting with the Milletary officers att theire next meeting ; to acte with them in Reference to the prmises
[103.] Att the Towne meeting held att Plymouth the 2cond of ffebruary these following orders were made and Concluded by the Towne
Impr : That there shalbe noe Tarr made; by any prson but such as are Townsmen or their order ; whose names are
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
entered in the townes list bearing date the fifteenth day of february 1668 or shalbe heerafter entered into the said list; and incase there shalbe any Tarr found to be made by any that are not Townsmen as aforsaid ; and have not order from some one of them for the makeing of the said Tarr; all such Tarr to be forfeite ; the one halfe to the enformer and the other halfe to the use of the Towne
2 That there shalbe noe pyne knot picked or Tarr Run or made within this Township by any person : but by such as are the proprietors as aforsaid or theire order; and incase there shalbe any such knotes picked or Tarr made by any except such proprietors or theire order ; that all such knotes or Tarr to be forfeite the one halfe to the enformer and the other halfe to the Towne
3 That every such proprietor or his order may make ten barrells of Tarr by the yeare and noe more
4 That any prson whatsoever of our owne Township that shall find any knots gathered or Tarr made within this Township by any prson whatsoever ; That is not a proprietor as aforsaid ; or theire order shall seize the said knotes and Run them out alowing one third to the Towne and incase they seize and gett any such Tarr Reddy made; then to alow the Towne two third ptes ; but in case such knotes be onely drawne and sett then they to have the one halfe and the Towne the other halfe ; the Towne allowing theire proportion of the charge of the draught and barrells ;
Willam hoskins Joseph Warren James Clarke Joseph howland Joseph Bartlett Thomas Cushman Juni : John Barrow and John Tilson ; are appointed by the Towne to see the above written orders duely and truely executed in the Townes behalfe ;
John Rosse prmited by the Towne to make as much Tarr as hee can ; himself notwithstanding the former orders ;
whales
[104.] Ordered by the Towne That whatsoever whale or pte of a whale or other great ffish that will make oyle shall by the Providence of God be Cast up or Come on shore within the bounds of this Township That every such whale or pte of a whale or other such ffish as will make oyle; two ptes of three therof to belonge and appertaine to the Towne viz: the propriators aforsaid ; and the other third pte to such of the Towne
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
as shall find and Cutt them up and try the oyle ; provided they be of the said propriators that doe soe find and cut up and try them ; but incase any other that are not propriators as aforsaid whether Inhabi- tants of this Towne or forranguers shall find any such whale or ffish and bring word or give notice therof to the Towne ; they are to be sufficiently satisfyed for the same ;
The Towne have graunted unto Peter Risse a psell of swamp ground or meddow lying att the easterly syde of Nahne- kett brooke neare Lakenham being somthing above three acrees ; Measured and bounded unto Edward Maye twenty acrees of Land adjoyning to and lying on the Northward syde of the Land of Samuell Kinge Seni ; att Moonponsett meddow ; at the Easterly end ; the said twenty acrees is bounded with a spruce tree : which is in the said Kinges Range neare a spring ; and att the said end on the Northward syde is bounded with a Red oake on the said syde ; att the westward end with a swamp white wood tree ; standing in a swamp ; and att the said westward end ou the southward syde ; It is bounded with a Red oake tree; the lengthi therof is eighty pole ; the breadth forty pole ;
ffebruary the 8th 1670
By Willam Crow Surveyer
The bounds of Edward Dotens Land neare Moonponsett is as followeth
viz : bounded with a white oake tree marked standing by a swampsyde on the easterly Corner in the Range between the . land of Samnell Kinge and his land ; this Range Runs away Northwest an hundred pole; to a white oake marked which is the Northermost bounds att the Northermost Corner and soe extends upon a Range southwest to a maple tree fourscore pole which is the westermost bounds ; and soe Runs upon a southeast line an hundred pole ; to a white oake ; which is the southermost bound marked tree ;
The bounds of the Land of Jolin Lucas lying neare Moonponsett viz : bounded with a white oake tree marked stand- ing on the Northsyde of a smale brooke which is the westermost bounds and soe Runs an hundred pole upon a Northward by east line to a maple tree which is his Northermost bounds ; and soe Runs upon an east and by south line four score pole to a white oake tree marked which is the eastermost bounds ; and soe Runs
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
south and by west an hundred pole to a maple tree ; which stands in the bounds between him and Edward Dotens land; this to be understood that there is a smale slipe of meddow in the said land encluded which is a part of his land graunted and bounded as aforsaid ; to the said John Lucas ;
[105.] The bounds of a smale psell of meddow layed out to Jolın Doten near Moonponsett is as followethi : it lyeth between tew swampes ; Runing upon a southerly line unto the end of Captaine Bradfords meddow ; and is bounded on the westward syde with a spruce tree ; and on the easterly syde with a spruce tree ; and a stake standing in the midest between them ;
The bounds of Thomas Dunhams land grannted by the Towne and layed out by Gorge Bonum is as followeth ;
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