USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1636-1705 (vol. 1) > Part 4
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And that no Rate bee made by the abovesaid 7 men to exceed the sume of 3 pounds for the poore aforsaid. And if there shalbee Reason to make a larger Rate for the end aforsaid that the said 7 men * to the towne that further order may bee taken in that *
[42.] Att a Townsmeeting of the Townsmen of New Plymouth
* the house of Mr William Bradford Govenr the 4th of Novem- ber 1650
It was ordered yt whosoever shall after the day of the date * kill a wolfe or wolves and bring Testimony thereof by the skin or head &c shall have for every wolfe yt shall apeer to be killed within the Townes liberties ; fifteen shillings and this to be levied by Rate. And wheras Nathanniell Warren hath lately killed a wolfe before the date heerof yt hee allso bee considered in the next Rate as shalbee thought meet.
The Raters for the Publick charges of this Prsent yeare were
Mr John howland John Cooke Juni
Mannasses Kemton Tho : Clarke
John Dunham Seni
Gyles Rickard Seni chosen constable for the Towne to serve untell the next June court bee expired.
Att a Townsmeeting of the Townsmen of New Plym : holden at the meetinghouse the first of March 1650 Mr howland Mr Paddy Captaine Willet Mr John Winslow John Cook Juni and Tho : Clarke have engaged to pay two coats a peece to bee in reddynes in the hands and custetie of John Morton to pay any Indian that shall kill a woolfe and make it known to the Govenr upon undoubted Testimony and for such as kill lesser woolves to have an axe or hatchet for every such woolfe ; and that the charge of the said coats bee considered and abated unto the abovesaid pties in the publik charges at the yeares end.
It was ffurther agreed by the Townesmen aforsaid that the Court order about woolfe trapps (as it Respects them) bee forthwith put in practise viz : that five trapps or more bee forth- with made by severall companies in severall Naighborhoods in
32
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
the Townshipp ; and that Nathanniell Morton doe give notice by papers of the names of such as are to Joyne together for the end aforsaid that soe they may bee made and tended
June 1651 ordered that all graves especially
for grown persons bee diged five
foot deep and that all such as have any ocation graves
[43.] At a Towne Meeting held at the house of Mr William Bradford the 25' of November 1651
The Raters for publick charges that were chosen were Mr John howland Mannasses Kemton John Dunham Seni John Cook and Tho : Clark.
The seaven men chosen to order the afaires of the Towne febreuary 18th 1649 are to continew in theire places by the order of the towne for this following yeare.
An acre of land is graunted unto John Rickard at Welingsley for him to build an house or soe as it hinder no hieway 1 January 1651 Willam harlow and Benjamin Bartlet have killed two wolves for which the towne is indebted to them.
febreuary 1651 Robert Bartlet also killed a woolfe the same month 1651.
Robert Bartlet hath sence killed another woolf month 1651.
At a Townsmeeting held at the meeting house the 28tlı of febreuary 1651 it was agreed by the consent of the Towne that the land graunted unto the Towne by the court at Sepecan should bee Purchased of the Indians at the publicke charge of the said Towne ; when the true ppriators thereof shalbee manifested
It was ordered that wheras there is a Neglect of appeerance at Townemeetings when orderly Sumoned therunto : That in case any shall for ye future neglect to com to Townsmeetings when orderly warned shalbee lyable to pay the fine ordered the 10 December 1646 videlect twelve pence a pson for every such default and the said fine to be Required by the Cunstable or som other thought meet by the Towne unless any pson can sufficient reason for his absence.
1 The three clauses relating to Wm. Harlow, Benjamin Bartlett and Robert Bartlett have lines drawn through them in the Records.
33
PLYMOUTHI RECORDS.
At this meeting Nathaniell Morton Requested of the Towne a smale moyetie of land lying betwixt the hieway by his house and the water side or Creeke commonly called and known by the name of hobshole allis Wellingsley the said small moyetie being compased on the one side with the aforsaid hole or creeke and on the other side with the brooke Runing into the said creeke which makes it a necke the said
[44.]1
for the Govers Teame
Tho : Lettice
William Nelson John Morton
for goodman Winters Teame
Willam Hoskins
ffrancis Billington
Nicolas hodgis Will Spon for Mr Howlands Teame
Willam Spooner Benjamin Eaton Tho : Gray
for ffrancis Cooks Teame John Cooke John harmon Samuell Ringe for goodman Shawes and Samuell Sturtivants Teame They to cut wood for theire owne Teame.
for goodman hursts and Ephraim Tinkham's Teame Themselves to cut the wood and John Dunham to bee added to them
for Samuel hickes Teame Gorg Watson John Smith Juni hugh Cole for Andrew Rings Teame
Richard Wright
henery Atkins Benjamin Prat
Wheras Nathaniell Warrens Team did nothing in this * the last yeare ; hee and his brethren are to provid wood for themselves and draw proportionable to others for Tho : Clarkes Teame Willam Shirtley 2 Richard Smith John Smith Seni for Robert Bartlets Teame Willam harlow Richard ffoster
Joseph Green Gyles Rickard for Mannasses Kemtons Teame Samuell Dunham
Ephraim Morton Tho : Morton
1 A portion of a leaf in the Records containing the preface to this list is torn out. The names of Nicholas Hodgis, Benjamin Eaton, Tho: Gray, Samuell Ringe, Joseph Green henery Wood and John Wood have lines drawn through them in the Records.
2 William Shirtley means William Shurtleff.
3
34
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
for Mr Winslows Teame John howard
Samuell Cutbert John holmes for goodman Doties Teame James Cole
Tho : Sherive
Willam Browne
for Robert ffeneys Teame
Tho : Whitney
Edward Tilson
John Churchill
for goodman Rickards Teame
henery Wood
John Wood
John Rickard
Leiftenant Southworth
Samuell * for goodman Barnes his Teame James Glase Jonathan Dunham
1636
[45.] Att a Generall meeting of the Townsmen of Plymouth holden att the house of Mr Edw Winslow The * of ffebruary Anno dom 1636.
1636 Impr wheras great destruction of firewood is by reason of The topps of many trees are only taken away and the * are left behind It is ordered by the towne That whosoever * a tree for firewood upon the Comon grounds shall not only * away the toppes but shall alsoe cutt up the bodys of such and cause them to bee carryed away as well as the toppes * within one month next after they were fallen upon that each that shall doe the contrary shall forfeit five shillings for each tree to be levied to the use of the towne of Plymouth
1641 It is ordered by the Towne that all Swine above * months old shalbee Ringed ;
1636
May 16 It was ordered by the towne that if any shall absent himselfe from the towne meeting being orderly warned (which is to say * ) before by the con- stable or his deputie ; unlesse urgent occation · Require a shorter warning ; shalbee fined twelve pence for every pson that shall make such defect of non appeerance to the use of the towne unlesse he can make a Just excuse
this was es- tablished to bee in force January 9th
1660
Richard Wrights grant of
Att a Townsmeeting held att Plymouth the 3rd * The Towne graunted unto Richard Wright twenty five acres to bee layed forth for him at Winnatucksett to him and his assignes for ever in Regard that
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
EVERETT property
25 acres of
hee was to have had * *
land at
Plymouth which hee bought of *
* as appears by
Winatuxet
a Record of Court bearing date * 1638 which Bee,
never was possessed of * * in any place; In .
consideration * * of the Towne * *
LIB
m the Township of OBLIO Of C
[46.] It was ordered by the towne that all graves especially for elder psons shalbee diged five foot deep and that all such as have any occation to Imploy any in diging of graves shall see that they be diged soe deep ;
It was ordered by the towne that all lands or pcells of lands that shalbee graunted to any within this towneship for the future shalbee graunted openly in towne meetings and that like- wise all Rates that shalbee for the poor shalbee made anually by those that are chosen anually to make the Rates for the publicke charges of the countrey.
It was agreed and graunted by the towne of Plymouth unanimously That all such pcells of land both upland and meddow which hath bin formerly graunted by the seaven men apointed to order the affaires of the town ; shalbee the proper Right of such to whom such lands or meddowes have bine Graunted to belong unto them and theire heires and assignes for ever with- out any exception whatsoever and in speciall a meddow comonly Called Dotyes was graunted to the pties to whom it is disposed to them and their heires for ever without exception ; alwaies pro- vided that notwitstanding this order and graunt ; That whosoever hath any lands graunted unto them upon any either Ilands or beaches belonging to the towne the propryety therof shalbee and Remaine unto the Towne of Plymouth in comon ; and that such said psons as to whom such lands are graunted to have the use therof for a season.
1657
*
ember 26
7
The Towne agreed that theire land att 1 Punckateesett over against Road Iland shall bee lett unto Captaine Cooke and they have appointed Captaine Willett to lett it in theire behalfe which accordingly was done and the tearmes are elswhere extant in the Records of the Court ;
1 Punckateesett on Seconnett River in Rhode Island.
36
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
[47.] March 1651
The Names of those that have Interest and proprieties in the Townes land att Punckateesett over against Road Iland
Captaine Willett
Leiftenant Southworth
Mr Willam Bradford 1
Mistris Allice Bradford
Mr John howland
The Elder Thomas Cushman
John Barnes Thomas Clarke
Gyles Rickard Seni
Nathaneel Warren
Joseph Warren
Mannasses Kemton
Mistris Elizabeth Warren
John Rickard
Samuell Dunham
Ephraim Tinkham
Arthur hatheway
Willam Nelson
Mr Paddy
Mr Rayner
Thomas Pope
Richard Wright
Willm Spooner
John Morton
Ephraim Morton
John Smith Juni
Gyles Rickard Juni
ffrancis Cooke
John Cooke
Willam harlow
George Bonum
Mr John Winslow James hurst
Samuell Eedy
John Dunham Seni
1 The name of Mr. Bradford has a line drawn through it in the Records.
37
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Robert flinney Robert Bartlett Edward Gray Patience Faunce
John ffaunce Georg Watson
Edward Doty
John Shaw Seni
James Shaw Gabriell ffallowell
Nathaneell Morton
Samuell hickes
John Churchill
James Cole Seni Andrew Ringe
henery Atkins
Thomas Lettice
John Dunham Juni
Willam Browne
Edward Tilson
Mr Lee
Thomas Whitney John Jourdaine Jacob Cooke
Thomas Morton
Thomas Savory
ffrancis Billington
John Smith Seni
Jonathan Dunham
John haward
James Cole Juni
Richard ffoster James Glasse
Mtris Ann Atwood Samuell Kinge John Wood Mistris Margarett hickes Mistris Jeney Will ; Shirtliffe
74
38
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
[48.] Such as were appointed by the Township of Plymouth to dispose of lands did graunt unto Thomas Little five acrees of upland meddow beyond Thomas Clarkes ffarme att a brooke comonly Called the Indian brooke the meddow being much of it nought the lower end of the said meddow is to bee understood That said five acrees of upland meddow to appertaine unto the said Thomas Little soe long as either himselfe or any of his posteritie shall Remaine within the lymetts of the said township of Plymouth but if both himselfe and all his Posteritie shall depart the township that then the said meddow shalbee att the disposing of the towne.
Thomas Littles 5 acre medow
4 acres land to John Haward
foure acrees of upland ground was graunted by the towne unto John haward lying neere unto James hursts brooke adjoyneing unto the garden plott of the said John hayward : and soe to extend itselfe in length into the woods westerly provided hee alow a sufficient passage for cattle betwixt the swamp att the neather end of the said land and the land itself ;
Nath11 Mortons grant of land t hobshole
The Towne Graunted unto Nathaneell Morton a small Moyety of land lying betwixt the highway by his house and the waterside or creeke comonly called and knowne by the name of hobshole allis Wellings- ley The said smale moyety being compased on the one side with the aforsaid hole or creeke and on the other side with the brooke Runing into the said creeke which makes it a necke the said moyety soe bounded as aforsaid with all the appurtenances belonging therunto to belong and appertaine to him the said Nathaneell Morton hee his heires and assignes for ever ;
6
* * 1659
The Towne Graunted unto Richard Wright five and twenty acrees of land to bee aded to that which formerly was alowed to bee his due which was twenty ffve acrees in lieu of a pcell of land which hee should have had att Mannomett ponds all which fifty acrees of land are to bee layed forth for him att Winnatuxett 1
1 The Winnatuxett River rises in Plympton, and running through Halifax, empties into Taunton River at Bridgewater. The land referred to is in Plympton, then a part of Plymouth.
39
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
by Mr Bradford and the Elder Cushman ; and hee the said Richard Wright hath alsoe libertie to looke out some meddow there to accommodate him withall that soe a competency may bee confirmed *
The 24th of May 1660
[49.] A pcell or Tract of land was graunted unto Mr JJohn howland lying att a brooke within two miles or therabouts of Winnatuxett meddow lying att or about the said brooke ; the said prmises with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging ther- unto was graunted by the towne unto the said John howland hee his heires and assignes for ever.
John Howland.
The 24th of May 1660.
fifty Acrees of land is graunted unto the Elder Thomas Cushman neare adjacent unto the place where the land abovesaid graunted unto Mr JJohn howland lyeth ; the said fifty acrees of land with all and singular the appurtenances belonging ther- unto was graunted to the said Thomas Cushman To him and his heires for ever ;
The 24th of May 1660. The said land called Rehoboth was and is relinquished into the towne by the said Stephen Bryant.
The 24th of May 1660.
ffour score Acrees of land was graunted unto Stephen Bryant lying on the south branch of Joanses River neare his meddow there provided hee Renounce and Relinquish all his title and Claime to a place formerly grauuted unto Jolin Shaw Seni ; Called Rehoboth * condition wherof the said four score acrees of land with all and singulare the appurtenances be- longing therunto is graunted unto the said Stephen Bryant to him and his heires forever bounded on the North- west corner at the brooke next his meddow with a white oak att the uper end of his meddow : on the Southeast side bounded with four pyne and one oake tree all marked ; on the lower end with two pyne trees marked on the foure sides ;
fifty Acrees of land is graunted unto ffrancis Combe lying next to
40
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Stephen Bryants land Neare unto the meddow of the said ffrancis Combe The said fifty acrees of land with all and singulare the appurtenances be- longing therunto is graunted unto the said ffrancis Combe to him and his heires for ever : bounded with a great Rid oak tree att the wadeing place and soe Rangeing through a little swamp and * with a white oake by the swamp and soe Ranging to another white oak marked on four sides and soe Rangeing againe to the westeren corner to a Rid oake soe threw the aforsaid swamp to another white oake marked on foure sides ; *
and thence to a Rid oake on the westeren side and soe to his meddow to a Rid oake marked.
The 24th of May 1660.
ffifty Acrees of land was graunted unto ffrancis Billington viz : a Round Knowle of land lying and adjoyning to the hole of meddow belonging to the said ffrancis Bil- lington on the south side of the Cartway goeing to Stephen Bryants meddows ; the said ffifty acrees of land with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging there- unto is graunted unto the said ffrancis Bil- lington to him and his heires for ever.
[50.] 1660
ffifty Acrees of land was graunted unto Samuell Sturtivant lying on the North side of Joanes river on the Southeast side of his meddow there the said ffifty acrees of land with all and singulare the appurten- ances belonging therunto is graunted unto the said Samuell Sturtivant to him and his heires for ever ;
41
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
* 24th May 1660
Three acrees of land was graunted unto Jonathan Dunham and three acrees of land unto Benajah Pratt lying att the heads of theire lands to bee viewed and layed forth for them by George Watson and George Bonum ; the said prmises with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto is graunted unto the said Jonathan Dunham and Benajah Pratt ; to them and each of them theire and each of theire heires and assignes for ever ;
The 24th of May 1660
fforty Acrees of land is graunted unto three Indians namnly to Acconootus Wanna and Wampocke lying att Shifting Cove 1 to bee layed forth and bounded with all other conditions and cercomstances to bee ordered about it by George Watson Robert Bartlett Nathaneell Warren and Willam Cooke : and if there shalbee occation to put in another Indian with them that then they shall each ten acrees ;
The 24th of May 1660.
It was agreed by the towne that Willam harlowes ffence of Post and Rayles where it now stands next the highway shalbee the bounds of the upper end of his land :
The 16th of May 1652
The Towne graunted unto Mr John Reyner a smale Moyety of land 2 viz : what- soever was then Comon lying att the uper end of the acrees formerly layed out to Mr John howland and others on the other side of the brooke against the mill: a little brook pteing Gabriele ffallowell and it att the uper end; To belonge to the onely proper use and behoofe of him the said John Reyner hee and his heires for ever :
1 Shifting Cove was a Cove on the Manomet Shore, South of Manomet Point. 2 This land included the Poor House lot. Fallowell's land included a part of the whole of the land of the late Stephen Maybury, and the little brook was the outlet of the swamp, which by the raising of the Mill pond has become what is now Slaughter House Pond. This brook was a little later called Dunham's Brook.
42
PLYMOUTHI RECORDS.
[51.] The 30th of May 1659
Ellen Cushman The 30 th of May 1659
Lieut Southworth Patience Faunce
The 30 th of May 1659
An Inlargment of land is graunted unto the Elder Cushman att the uper end of his land att Joanses river ; to goe up in equal proportion for breadth into the woods soe high as the pyny 1 * ;
An adition of land is graunted unto Leiftenant Southworth and Patience ffaunce Widdow att the heads of their lotts of the said Leiftenant Southworth and John ffaunce att the Eel river : this adition to extend a quarter of a mile into the woods from the heads of the said lotts :
In like manor an adition of land is graunted unto Robert ffinney and Thomas Morton att the heads of theire lotts they are now possessed of ; to extend a quarter of a mile into the woods from the heads of the said lotts
Memorand : That the last graunts above mentioned viz: to Leiftenant Southworth Patience ffaunce Elder Cushman Robert ffinney and Thomas Morton ; is to bee understood onely of the wood of the said lands to belong to them; but the land to Remaine comon ; and that on the graunts to Robert flinney and Thomas Morton any may Notwithstanding take any dry wood within the said bounds ;
The 21 of November 1660 :
The confeirmation was on the 20th of January 1660 : Richard Wright
A smale peell of land lying neare unto Jobn Cooks att Rockey Nooke was graunted unto Richard Wright to bee a place to sett an house on ; and it was layed forth and confeirmed unto him the said Richard Wright as it was bounded by Ephraim Morton one of the measurers of lands appointed by the towne
The 20th
of ffebruary 1660 :
It was ordered by the towne that all the land lying att the Eelriver swamp betwixt
1 " Pyny" probably means Pine Woods,
43
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
the Eelriver and the shingle brooke 2 shalbee Reserved for comon to the use of the towne ; Att the same time it was ordered by the towne likewise that all the land that lyeth betwixt John Cooke and ffrancis Billington not disposed of alreddy to Richard Wright shalbee and Remaine for comon to the use of the towne ;
Richard Wright
At the same time It was graunted unto Willam Clarke that in case when his land is layed out and bounded there is any that will not be prejuditiall to others that hee shall have enlargement ;
[52.] *
*
ffifty Acrees of land is graunted unto Robert Bartlett lying between the sea and the fferne swamp between the Eelriver and Mannomett ponds with all and singulare ^the appurtenances to him and his heires for ever ;
The 3d of September 1660 :
It was ordered by the towne that wheras Complaint is made of great abuse by Reason of the peeling of the Rind of from cedar trees in the swampes belonging to the town- ship whereby much timber is like to bee spoyled and thereby the town much damni- fyed ; That whosoever shall hentsforth either themselves or any they shall Imploy or sett on worke either English or Indians peele the Rinds of any cedare trees within this towneship or belonging thereunto ; and not Imrove the bodyes of such trees soe peeled within halfe a yeare after they are peeled shall forfeite for every such default fifty shillings to the townes use
ffebruary 1660 :
It was ordered by the towne hencforth none shalbee pmitted to take into ptenorship any of any other towne to gather knots and make Tarr on the townes lands to the preju-
2 Shingle Brook is the stream on which the zinc factory of N. Wood & Co. stands in Chiltonville.
44
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
dice of the town on the penaltie of forfeit- ing for every load soe gathered in suclı ptenorship five shillings to the townes use
It was likewise ordered att the same time that none shall gathier any knots to make Tarr and lett them lye undrawne together above six months on payne of forfeiting and loosing the said knotes ; It being by this order lawfull for any other in such case to take them and Improve them; as they shall see good ;
1 The guns and swords belonging to the towne were disposed of as followeth :
It to Mr Bradford one gun ;
To Nathanneell Morton for the use of Abraham Jackson one short gun and a sword :
To Nathanneell Warren for the use of his man John Rose one matchcock gun with a fier locke since delivered to him for the said gun and hee is to stock it and fitt it up on the townes account.
To Thomas Morton one long gun
To Ephraim Morton one sword
To John Dotey one gun viz. one muskett ;
To Stephen Bryant one of the longer sort of guns which was since delivered to Sergeant harlow
To Jonathan Dunham one sword; which hee since hath Returned, these to be kept Mr Southworth Mr Crow and Mr Barnes in the behalfe of the towne Reconed with Gyles Rickard Seni; and George Bonum and there Remaines due to the towne from the said Rickard 2f
It from George Bonum 0. 18. 0
These armes were delivered to the Constable by order from the Towne * 13, 1676
three swords belonge to the Towne Nathaniel Morton * sword Sergeant Tinkham one sword Leift Morton one sword
1 The clause here inserted relating to the disposition of arms is erased in the Records by marks drawn over the lines.
Aprill 1661
45
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
[53.] Att the Towne meeting held att Plymouth the 10th day of January 1661
It was ordered that a Rate of ten pounds should bee made and levied upon the Towne to bee layed out in bellowes and tooles for a smith and to bee kept for the uses of the towne; The men deputed to make the said Rate were John Cooke, Nathaniell Warren and hugh Cole ;
It was likewise ordered att the same meeting by a unani- mus voat of all the Townsmen then prsent : That a Rate of sixty pounds should bee made and levied upon all the Inhabitants of the Towne ; to bee Improved for the purchasing and procuring of a place for a minnester by those psons formerly deputed by the Towne to enquire out and prepare a place for the end aforsaid : whoe were Captaine Southworth Robert ffinney Ephraim Morton and Nathaniell Warren ; The said sum soe to bee levied is to bee payed att two severall payments viz: the former being the one halfe therof is to be payed by the last day of June next following the date heerof ; and the other halfe to bee payed by the last of November next following the date heerof in current countrey pay 1 and to bee desposed to the end aforsaid by the psons above named ;
Gorg Watson Nathaniell Warren and Joseph Warren are deputed by the Towne to give meeting with Mr Hinckley and Nathaniell Bacon whoe are appointed by the Court to set out the bounds of the Townes lands att Sepecan this to bee done as sone as conveniently may bee
At this meeting ffifty acres of land is Confeirmed being formerly graunted unto Edward Gray lying on the west northwest side of Joanes River meddow or therabouts to bee layed out on both sides of the brooke which Runs from the pond through his owne meddow soe as it may bee as little prejudiciall to the Generall as may bee ; the said ffifty acrees of land with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto graunted unto the said Edward Gray to him and his heires forever ;
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