USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1636-1705 (vol. 1) > Part 12
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John Dotey desireth ten acrees of Land att Monponsett
Graunted unto Benajah Pratt six acrees of upland lying att a place Called Pontuses Meddow there being a swamp Included in it ;
[115.] Thirty acrees of land is Graunted unto John Water- man lying between Alexander Kenadaies land and John Cobbs land by Lathams Cartway to Winnatucksett ; and the way goeing to Bridgewater
Twenty acrees of land is graunted to Peter Risse att Winatuxet Brooke on the Northwest syde of the said brooke ;
Richard
Wright
fifteen acrees of land is graunted unto Richard Wright lying next his land att Monponsett; in leiu of a psell of land by him surrendered lying att the Towne of Plymouth neare John Woods land
Jacob
Cook Sen
Six acrees of land is graunted to Jacob Cooke seni : lying neare his meddow att Winnatucksett on the Westerly syde therof ;
Wheras Great Complaint is made of much abuse by the ffeeding of neate Cattle and horses in the ffresh meddowes belong- ing to severall of the Towne of Plymouth ; It is ordered by the Towne that if any neate Cattle or horses shalbe found in any of the fresh meddowes viz : Winnatucksett meddowes Jonses River meddowes Dotyes meddowes or either of the South meddowes either upper or lower or Mouponsett meddowes or in swan holt meddowes whether the said Neat Cattle or horses be belonging to either the Inhabitants of the 'Towne or fforraignors from the 15th of Mareli untill the fifteenth day of July Annually It shalbe lawfull for any that shall find such Cattle or horses soe treaspass- ing to bringe them to the Towne's pound, and that the owners of such cattle or horses shall pay for every neat beast two shillings, and for every horse kind five shillings for every default to be payed to them that bringe the said Cattle to the pound, provided they pay the Charge of Impounding them
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Capt : Bradford serjeant harlow Willam Crow Joseph Warren and Joseph howland of the Towne
are appointed by the Towne to view lay out and bound certaine psells of Wood land for the use of the Towne lying on the Northsyde of the Towne, and when that is done, That John Bryant seni : be accommodated with some land if it be there to be had ; if not else- where if it may be fond ;
Capt : Bradford Willam Crow and Willam Nelson
are appointed by the Towne to Run the Townes bounds on the North end and west syde of the Township ;
Att this meeting the Towne Graunted unto John Attwood seni : a smale slipp of Meddowish Ground and upland together lying between the highway and the brook att the end of his orchyard ; which was somtimes the orchyard of Mr Cushman which said smale slipp is to Run up the brook as high between the highway and the brooke as 1
[116.] New Plymouth January the 31 1672
Wheras the Towne aforsaid Graunted unto several men fifty acrees of land apeece that had meddow att Winna- tucksett off whom Captaine Thomas Southworth was one of those men and Now Joseph howland being in posession of the said Captaines Meddow ; have therfore measured and bounded unto the said Joseph howland ten acrees of land lying on the eastward syde of and butteth home to the said Captaines Meddow ; att Winnatuxett Att the North end and Westerly syde of the said ten Acrees it is bounded with a white oake Marked; att the North end and East- ward syde it is bounded with a smale white oake Sapling ; That hath now two graines from the Roote ; and on the westward syde and south end it is bounded with a Great spruce tree And on the eastsyde and south end It is bounded with a Red oake sapling that standeth on or by the syde of a hill ; Alsoe in or by the said Right ; measured and bounded unto the said Joseph howland forty acrees of land
1 The brook here referred to has in modern times been called Shaw's brook. It is a little south of Samoset Street, and is what was called in the earliest days " First Brook,"
Capt Southworth
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PLYMOUTHI RECORDS.
Joseph Howland
on the westward syde of Winnatuxett River ; where the River bounds Richard Wrights land ; At the Eastward end and Northeren syde it is bounded with a smale white oake tree next or neare the River and on the said Eastward end and Southward syde it is bounded with a longe Rocke which lyetli on the westward syde of a swamp and att the west- ward end Northward syde, it is bounded with an oake; and att the sd Westward end and southward syde it is bounded with an oake ; The Northward syde of this land is layed home and abutethi to the River; The lines att the end of this land are not alike, there being an Angle att the eastward end therof
pme Willam Crow Surveyor
[117.] The bounds of thirty acrees of upland or therabouts which was Graunted by the Towne unto Jacob Cooke seni: in Leiw of the land taken away from him att the head of his land att the smelt brooke in the Townshipp of Plymouth by the Runing of the line of Edward Grayes and Samuell ffullers Lands which thirty acrees of land is bounded as followeth ; viz : att the southeast end with an ash tree marked and with three stones att the foot of it; and att the southwest end nearest, it is bounded with a blacke oake tree marked haveing alsoe three stones att the foot of it; and the soatherly syde is bounded with the smelt brooke ; and on the westerly syde betwixt Samuell ffuller and him ; It is bounded with a white oake tree and three stones att the foot of it
The bounds of the Lands of Jacob Cooke Graunted by the Towne and layed out By Gorge Bonum, lying against Joneses River meddow upon the southsyde of the way Goeing to winna- tucksett ; it is bounded by a white oake tree Marked standing on the south syde of the way against Brewsters hill and soe Rangeth up into the woods to a blacke oake tree with three stones att the Root therof, and soe Ranging for the breadth of it to a white oake tree with three stones pitched att the Root of it upon a little Iland in a pond ;
The bounds of the meddow of Edward Gray lying att Moonponsett brooke being two acrees, be it more or lesse is as followeth
viz : next unto Captaine Bradford it is bounded with a white oake marked ; att the eastern end of an Iland which is the
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
said Edward Grayes Northeren bounds ; and his easteren bounds is a smale Cedar standing att the edge of a swamp marked, his westeren bounds or his westeren corner is bounded with a white oake standing on the edge of a swamp and soe Runs downe the brooke to the meddow of Samuell Sturtivant and is bounded ther on the westward syde and on the Eastward syde with a spruce tree between Samuell Sturtivant and him ; and also ten acrees of upland abuting on the said meddow ; the easteren bonnds therof, is the westeren bounds of the meddow aforsaid, his westermost bonnds of it is a Red oake ; and soe it Rangeth downe by the side of Goodwife Sturtivants Land; to the aforsaid white oake which stands betwixt them in theire meddow,
Att the meeting house held att Plymouth
the 23 of July 1673 Leift Morton were appointed by the Towne to goe
Willam Crow with those that shall Goe by the order
Joseph Warren of the Court to Measure theire land att Sepecan
Att this meeting the Towne voated that theire house in which Mr Cotton lives shalbe Repaired att theire charge ; and that it be declared to him that they expect that hee should keep it in Repaire all such time as hee lives in it ;
Joseph Bartlett engageth to pay forty shillings due to him from the Towne unto the psons appointed to Receive it, as soon as Corne is payable ;
Edward Gray Willam Crow and Samuell Dunham ; are appointed by the Towne to Receive what debts are due to the Towne from any pson or psons and alsoe in the Townes behalf to take accoumpt of the Constable ;
The Rators Chosen att this meeting were
Leift Morton Serjeant harlow Will : Crow
[118.] The bounds of the land layed out by Gorge Bonum unto Edward Gray on the 14 th day of ffebruary 1673 belonging to the said Edward Gray by vertue of a Graunt unto the propria- tors of Meddow att Winnatucksett which land lyeth att the Northwest corner of Monponsett pond, is as followeth viz ; by the said pond syde with a pyne tree marked and att the uper end with a spruce tree marked by a swamp syde ; and soe bounded Round with the said swamp which said swamp Runeth downe
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
to the said pond on the Northwest ; the said proportion of land is fifty five acrees bounded as aforsaid ;
Twenty acrees of land which was Graunted to James Barnaby lying on the southwest syde of the double brookes att the Eelriver ; is bounded as followeth viz : the Easteren bounds therof is a burch tree marked by the brooke syde, att the Corner of a swamp; on the sontherly syde it is bounded with a beach tree marked ; on the westerly corner itt is bounded with a white oake Marked on the Northerly syde or Corner therof it is bounded with an ash tree marked standing by the brook syde; on the Northeast end ; it is bounded by the brooke and on the southerly syde by a swamp ;
Willam Nelson haveing Relinquished his Graunt of thirty acrees of land grannted unto him, neare Joneses River meddow ; To have soe much land on the North end and east syde of Jolin Cobbs land which lyeth somwhat distant from Moon- ponsett brook have measured and bounded as followeth ; beginning att a Great white oake tree which Standeth on the south syde of the way that Goe to Bridgwater which is one of John Cobbs bound markes the line extends to a Great fllatt Rocke that stands about twenty Rodd distant from John Cobbs North corner marke and from the said Rocke the line extends Eastward to a white oake tree marked standing in or close to a swamp, and from the said white oake tree the line extends to a white oake tree, that is the said John Cobbs east corner marke of his land ffebruary the 24 th 1673,
By William Crow Surveyor
Measured and bounded unto John Waterman thirty acrees of upland lying on the westward of monponsett pond; and is between the lands of John Cobb and Alexander Kenedey as followeth att the west corner therof It is bounded with a white oake tree marked standing in a swamp att the North corner with a white oake Marked standing by the New way that Goes to bridgwater; att the east Corner is marked a pyne tree, standing on the westward syde of a hill; and att the south corner is marked a white oake tree standing close to or by a swamp near Allexander Kennedys land ; the length lyeth Northeast a quarter of a point easterly eighty pole, the breadth lyeth southeast one quarter of a point southerly ; that is from the west end and North syde, allowance of land being made or Given, that if
138
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
occation be there shalbe a way through this land and that by Consent of the said John Waterman,
p Willam Crow Surveyor
Plymouth the 12 of ffebruary 1673,
[119.] Att a Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 16th day of ffebruary Anno Dom 1673
Wheras Notwithstanding for what upon serch is or Can be found in the Records of the court for the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth The land which Samuell Ryder bought of Samuell Eedey lying att Mannomett ponds in the Towneshipp of Plymouth ; is found to be Comon and att the Towns dispose ; The Towne liave Graunted unto the said Samuell Ryder all theire Right and Interest in the said land, which is twenty five acrees of land lying att Mannomett ponds aforsaid ; as it is now bounded and in the possession of him the said Samuell Ryder, To him and his heires and assignes for ever ;
Att this meeting the Towne Graunted unto Jabez howland, That wheras Gorge Bonum is Interrupted by him in his way to the ffulling mill; that in case he doe Relinquish an acree of his land below by the brooke wherby the said Gorge Bonum may have a way threw it, to his said mill ; that then the said Jabez howland shall have an acree in leiw therof out of the townes land on the top of the hill,
It is ordered by the Towne
That every Inhabitant that is a Townsman and expect town privilidges shall pticularly engage for him or themselves to pay theire proportions to all towne charges that the towne in Generall shall conclude of to disburse and Rate for; and that all such psons as shall Refuse to pay such Rates shalbe denyed of all and every the Towne privilidges they make use of according to order of the Towne upon herbage, wood Timber Tarr flish or what else may be in the Towne ; And that none be pmited to be Inhabitants in the Town before they Ingage to beare theire proportions of all Town Charges
And that all lands meddows and other Ratables within our Township shalbe Rated to all Towne Charge
ordered by the Towne that the Celect men of the Towne be Impowered to call such younge men or others as live Idelely and disorderly to an accompt for theire mispending theire time in
139
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
ordinaryes, or otherwise and to take Course for their Reformation as shalbe by them thought meet ;
The Towne expressed themselves Content that the Naiglibours about the Middle of the Towne shall have the benifitt of the ffish called Alewives which goe up att the season att the mill brooke, soe as they take a course that they may Goe up without Interuption ;
The bounds of Gorge Watsons Meddow lying in the meddow Comonly Called Doties meddows, and is bounded on the easteren end with a stake, standing the west syde of a spring brooke and soe Runeth westerly to another stake standing about the middle of the meddow ; and from thence still westerly upon a straight line to a Grove of bushes standing by the brooksyde ; and it is bounded on the south syde with the brooke, and on the North yde ; It lyeth adjoyning to James Coles meddow ;
[120.] Att a Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 18th of May 1674;
The Towne have voated and do Graunt unto Leiftenant Ephraim Morton heerby a Confeirmation of four lotts breadth viz : four score pole of land in breadth lying on the southerly syde of the Eelriver in the Township of Plymouth, bounded on the Easterly syde with a highway Runing up by the land which was somtimes Richard Churches land ; and extending in length to the ffoot of the pyne hills ; The like liberty of Confeirmation is Graunted to any of the Inhabitants of the Towne Respecting theire antient proprietyes, if they shall see cause to desire it ;
Capt Bradford Leift Morton Elder Cushman Nathaniell Morton Serjeant harlow Willam Crow Willam Clarke Joseph howland and Joseph Warren Edward Gray
were appointed by the Towne to meete together on the next training day which wilbe on the third monday in June next ; To Consider of pticulars in Refer- ence unto equall makeing of Rates ;
The fifty acrees of land Graunted unto Mr Thomas Cushman belonging to Winnatucksett meddow ; or neare a place called Colchester in the Township of Plymouth; is bounded as
140
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
followeth viz : with a smale Red oake standing neare Colchester brooke ;
The Southermost bound is a Red oake marked standing neare a Rocke on the southwest syde
The westermost bounds is two smale Red oakes neare a spott of meddow Ground
The Northermost bounds is a white oake standing by the same brooke that is comonly Called Colchester brooke; and Joyning to that ; which was formerly Graunted and layed out to the said Thomas Cushman
The bounds of a psell of land Graunted unto Gorge Bonum being a necke of land Joyning att ffresh Lake in the Township of Plymouth, on the Northesterly syde of The said lake is as followeth
It adjoyneth to the Lott of the said Gorge Bonum which hee bought of John Rickard, which was somtimes the lott of Steven Deane; the said necke of land, Runing alonge on the same Range as the said lott doth betwixt the pond and the swamp, and soe Runeth to lout pond ; and a Certaine swamp that Runeth betwixt the said lout pond and ffresh Lake is the southermost end therof ;
four acrees of land was Graunted unto Thomas Lucas lying between 1 Mr Prences Bottome (soe Called) and deep water if it be there to be had if not to have foure acrees in some other place where it may be found not disposed of to others
[121.] Att a Towne meeting held att Plymouth on the 15th day of June 1674 It was ordered as followeth ;
schools
Wheras att a Towne meeting may the 20th 1672 the proffitts and benifitts of the lands att Sepecan Agawaam and places adjacent were given toward the maintainance and Incouragement of the free Scool att Plymouth the Towne declares that theire graunt was onely of the lands there and therabouts which were purchased by the Towne of the Indians before the said May the 20th 1672 and they doe desire and Authorize Capt : Bradford the Secretary the Celect men Willam Clarke and Joseph Warren to doe theire uttmost to Improve the said Lands for the attaining
+ 1 Mr Prences Bottome was a piece of low or valley land granted to Thomas Prence. It is now owned and occupied by B. M. Watson.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
of the ends propounded Namly that their Children be pfected in Reading when they are entered the bible : and alsoe that they be taught to wright and Sifor; besides that which the Country expects from the said Scool
Att a Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 14 th day of october 1674
Andrew Ringe -
appointed by the Towne to see and Jonathan Barnes ยง unto and procure in Mr Cottons maintainance
The names of the men that engaged to draw the wood ; Samuell Dunham 9 load
Andrew Ringe 8 load
John Wood 6 load in all 30 load
Daniell Dunham
4 load
Joseph Churchill 3 load
Daniell Dunham were appointed and authorized by the Joseph Warren and Jonathan Barnes Towne; and Invested by them with full power for and in theire behalfe legally to demand and Recover what- soever is or shalbe due to the Towne from any pson or psons and are Responsible to give an accoumpt to the Towne from time to time of theire actings in the prmises as occation shall Require
And the Towne have ordered and deputed Nathaniel Morton the Now Town clarke for them and in theire behalfe to give full power to them and to any that shalbe by them and under them deputed, by a legall letter of Attorney signed by his hand to acte in the prmises from time to time as occation may Require untill the Court shall see Reason otherwise to order
Att this meeting Gyles Richard Jun : Requested a smale psell of land up above the Naighborhood, and Andrew Ringe and Benajah Pratt were appointed to view the said land desired and to make Report therof to the Towne in order to a graunt therof ;
This Towne haveing formerly and now seen the great damage that hath and will arise unto the Townes Inhabitants in the Generall by Graunting of Great psells of land to pticular men ; and suffering of pticular men to make use of the Townes
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
comons as they please therby turning the Generall advantage of the Townes comons to theire private benifitt which was and is more to the hurt and damage of the Towne then the benifitt of the said pticulars ; The Towne haveing therfore ordered some prsons to view theire comons and they haveing made Report to the Towne in open Towne meeting It is therfore ordered acceded and con- cluded, and they doe heerby sett apart all the uplands and swampes that are surrounded by the wayes lines and places heerafter mensioned ; and that they shall Remaine for ever for Generall Comons for the Townes Generall use, for wood and Timber for the Inhabitants to make use of in the Towne for building ffencing and fierwood ; and that not any waies the said lands or swampes to be graunted to any pticular men ; hereby alsoe prohibiting all trees not to be felled for barke or to be cutt downe or carried away out of the Township either in whole trees or wrought up ; the said lands bounded as followeth To Remaine for ever to the Generall use of the Towne; provided this acte and order not to hinder or disturbe any pson or psons in theire pticular proprieties
[122.] proved that a graunt of land to John Barrow in this tract is ex- cepted and some speech likewise of a psell of land
Graunted by either the court or Towne within the bounds as followeth, viz : begining att the smelt brooke where Samuell ffullers house standeth or where the Kinges Road therby croseth ; and from the said River the line to extend to a brooke that is called colchester brooke ; where Mr howland hath lands ; as the cartway goeth to and from the said brooke and River; and from the said colchester brooke to extend as tlie said Colchester brooke Runeth untill it comes unto Winnatucksett River; and soe downe Winnatucksett River untill it comes to a brooke that comes out of a meddow Called Monponsett meddow and soe from the said Meddow to the Eastside of Monponsett pond and from thence to Joneses River pond where the Towne line cutts the pond ; and soe to the brooke that Goeth out of the said Joneses River pond and the line to extend as the said brooke Runeth untill it comes to Joneses River
-
PLYMOUTHI RECORDS. 143
John Bryant
desireth
bridge ; and soe to the first Station att the smelt brooke or smelt River fore named ;
And whatsoever pson or psons Inhabitants or others that shall Treaspas in any of the afore mentioned pticulars shall pay to the Generall use of the Towne And if the Treaspas be one more then twenty trees a yeare then to pay
At the Towne meeting held at the Meeting house at Plymouth the 13th of ffebruary 1674 It was unanimously agreed and voated by the Towne that our meeting house shalbe speedily Repaired att the Townes Charge
And Mr Gray and ) were appointed and deputed by Mr Clarke the Towne to take speedy Course that the said meeting house be Repaired ; and the Towne heerby engageth to see the Charge therof faithfully defrayed in such 1 specue as they shall agree with men for the doeing of it; and that such pay as is due from ffrancis Combe Jonathan Morrey John ffallowell and Samuel Ryder, and all pay as is alreddy payed by them, to the Townes agents, be improved Towards the effecting of the said worke; alwaies provided that the twenty seven shillings due in money to Leiftenant Morton be first defrayed out of it ;
Extravagant Persons warned out of Town
It is ordered by the Towne that henceforth the Celect men of the Towne are fully Impowered successively to take effectual Course That all extravigant psons that have or shall Come into the Townshipp or any such as the selectmen or any two of them shall or doe not approve off That they shall warne them out of the Towne ; and take a speedy and effectual course that they depart the Townshipp : or take sufficient Cecuritie to save the Towne harmles from such damage as may acrew to them by theire staying therin ; Leiftenant Morton and Joseph Warren were appointed by the Towne to settle the Matter between the Towne and Acanootus the Indian about the exchange of lands
1 The editor does not feel sure of the exact word in the original records. If "specue," as here printed, it means " specie," not as we use that word, but in the sense of "kind " of payment.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
The 16 of ffebruary 1673
Att this meeting the Towne Graunted unto Jabez howland That wheras Gorge Bonum
Aprill 29 th 1674
The Towne of Plymouth haveing graunted unto Jabez howland by way of exchange an acree of land on the topp of the hill next the said Jabez his land. that is on the south syde of the mill brook : for soe much lands to be Relinquished by him of his land there ; next the said brook : and on the west syde of his land ; I therfore have measured of the Relinquished land : from the said Jabez his lands : and bounded his other lands : from it by one stone sett into the Ground neare the fulling mill : and brooke from which stone the line extends up the hill southward to another stone sett into the Ground. next to a Rocke : on the topp of the hill ; from the stone sett into the Ground neare the topp of the hill : the line that Compaseth : the aforsaid one acree Graunted by the Towne extends westward to a stone sett into the Ground ; and from this stone ; the line extends southward to a stone sett into the Ground by Gyles Rickard Seni : his ffence : and lands and from the stone sett into the Ground by the said Rickards land, the line extends eastward till it meet the head line of the said Jabez his land att the southwest Corner therof Aprill 29 1674
pme Willam Crow Surveyor
[123.] Att a Towne meeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the 24th day of May 1675 it was ordered by the Towne That notwithstanding all former orders made by the Towne prohibiting the Cuting or Transporting any barke out of the Township: Great Spoyle and stripp of Timber is made on the Townes Comons by that meanes The towne therfore ordereth that whosoever shall or doth Cut any barke on the townes Comons within this township : that all such Barke shalbe forfeite to the use of the Towne : and Andrew Ring Benajah Pratt and Jabez howland are appointed by the towne or any two of them is appointed to take some Reall and serious Course that the said order be duly executed :
Att this meeting it was ordered and unanimously agreed that the Towne doe freely Give unto Mr John Cotton theire prsent minnester and to his heires and assignes for ever The house and land upon which hee now lives; incase the said
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