USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1636-1705 (vol. 1) > Part 8
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The pticulares the Celect men are to take into theire Cog- nizance and charge besides what the Court orders to them : is as followeth
Item to looke into the Towne bounds that none encroach on them
Item to the settleing of the bounds betwixt Plymouth and Sandwich
1 This was probably the first fire in Plymouth after the destruction of the Common House, January 14, 1620-1, old style. Billington's house was at Seaside.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Item to take some Course with Idle psons and to see them follow some lawfull Implyment
Item to finish the settlement of the bounds of Agawam
Item to mind the Townes Consernes in Reference to the Comons and unnessesary spoyle of wood theron :
It is ordered That wheras there is due from the Towne unto Gorge Watson the sume of 47 shillinges in money That in case the said sume bee payed unto him by the 16th day of October next : that the six acrees of meddow bound over unto him for the payment of the said sume sbalbee then Released to the Townes use or then to bee his proper Right: and in case it bee then Released as aforsaid that then the said six acrees of meddow shalbee at the Townes dispose for a publicke use and not to bee appropriated to any pticulare and that the Towne shalbee att the Charge of the laying of it out :
October 17 1666
1 The waies layed out by Leift Ephraim Morton Nathaniel Warren Robert ffinney hugh Cole Willam harlow and Nathaniel Morton Apointed by the Towne of Plymouth for to lay them out : are as followeth : viz : from the Towne bridge up the hill as the way now is onely a little on the turning on the Right hand on the banke to be taken downe and soe up to three stones piched into the ground together on the tope of the hill ; and soe upon a line to another greate stone pitched up on the westerside of the way and soe bounded by another neare the southeast Corner of Giles Rickards garden and soe up the hill to a great Rocke which is the bigest on the tope of the hill neare the Corner of John Barnes his garden place : and from thence on a line to a heape of stones : and from thence on a line to a heap of stones in a valley : and from thence to a Rocke by the swamp side with a great stone on it lying neare Willam harlowes : and from thence to a heap of stones on the southerly side of the gutter that Runs downe to the watering place : and from thence onward to another heap of stones in Alkarmus feild : and from thence to a heape of stones on the Northerly side of Wellingsley brooke and soe over the said
1 This is the laying out of Sandwich Street. The town bridge was just above the level of the brook and consequently there was a hill on its southerly side. Giles Rickard's land was on the right, the land of John Barnes was on the left opposite to the Green, and Alkarmus' field extended from Sandwichi Street to Gallows Lane at Mount Pleasant Street. From John Churchill's land at Jabez Corner the laying out includes two roads, one along shore to the Cliff and the Warren farm. and thence to the old Manomet Road, and the other by George Bramhall's, and to the left across Eel River and intersects the other on the south side.
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
brooke to an heape of stones on the topp of the hill by Wellingsly ; and from thence to a heape of stones on the southermost end of the said hill ; and from thence to an heape of stones along southerly to a Corner of a field which was formerly Ralph Wallens and from thence to another heape of stones onwards to the topp of a hill southerly and from the stones a long Rocke with a dent in the topp of the southwest end of it : lying on the southerly side of John Churchills feild which was somtimes the land of Anthony Snow and from the said Rocke towards the waterside northeast or thereabouts to an heape of stones and soe alonger tlie hyeway as it is now in use and soe along the waterside as it is now in use to an heape of stones att the lower end of Gorge Mortons land and soe bonnded with heapes of stones on the westernside of the said way that is now in use unto Robert ffinneys Clift and soe to the ffishing point: lett it be understood that all the heapes of stones named are to be named as markes of this way doe lye on the western side of the said Way ; but to proceed, The way from the ffishing point is to goe to the end of Nathaniel Warrens Land to an heap of stores and soe by lieapes of stones up threw his feild to his barne and soe on the southiwest side of his house downe to the way that Comes over the Eelriver bridge and soe to a peece of Comon land which lyeth between the lands which formerly were Mr Winslows and Mr Warrens ; But to returne to the aforsaid Rocke by the side of John Churchills feild and from that said Rocke the way is to goe up the valley and soe towards the Eelriver as it is now in use to an heap of stones on the westerly side of the said way att the head of Willam Clarkes feild ; and soe bounded by severall heapes of stones on the westerly side of the said way to a Certaine great Rocke lying neare the foot of . Eelriver bridge leaveing James Clarkes house on the westerly side of the anl soe from the said Rocke over the said bridge and soe directly to meet with the way on the southerly side of the said Bridge fornamed ;
[82.] Att a meeting of the Celectmen of the Towne of Ply- mouth the second of October 1666
It was ordered by them that hensforth noe wood or timber be spoyled by barkeing within a mile and an halfe of any naigh- borhood but they that fell trees shall carry away both top and body on the penalty of eighteen pence a tree ;
86
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
It is further ordered by them that whosoever shall carry or sell any barke out of the towne shall forfeite thee prise therof to the townes use :
It is further ordered by them if any of our Township shall find any Incroachment upon our Towne by any of any other towne ; It shalbee lawfull for any of our Towne forthwith to take out an attachment upon any timber or knots or Tarr etc soe felled or taken and shalbee payed for his paines and the benifitt to Re- dound to the Towne
October 22 1666
It was ordered by the Towne that the Celect men of the Towne of Plymouth or any two or three of them agreeing together shall have power to give order to the Constable to warne Towne- meetings as often as occation shall Require Respecting the townes occations and that the Constable shall give seasonable warning therof by order from them ; according to the time appointed by the towne formerly in that Respect
Nathaniel Warren Joseph Warren Willam Clarke and hugh Cole Nathaniel Morton John Morton and Leift : Morton
are deputed by the Towne to Pur- chase all such lands as are to be Pur- chased of the Indians att or about Agawaam
Willam Clarke Willam harlow and ffrancis Comb
- were appointed by the Towne to lett and to farme, sett and lease out the Townes lands att Agawaam for the 1 Townes use for any tearme of time under seven yeares
Att a meeting held by the townsmen of Plymouth tlie 2cond of January 1666 ten acrees of land was graunted unto Benjamine Eaton lying above ffrancis Billingtons house neare Rockey nooke ;
hugh Cole to be accomodated with meddow att the lower south meddow downe that River below those that have meddow there alreddy graunted
October 1666
the land above expressed graunted to Benjamine Eaton was above the land that was somtimes Gorge Clarkes and is to be layed out as to the best conven- iency to him soe to as little prejudice to the naighbors as may bee ; the land lyeth between ffrancis Billing- tons and that which was John Cookes graunt above Gorge Clarkes ;
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
New Plymouth
This ordered to be Recorded pr Thomas Southworth
haveing order att a Townemeeting held the second day of January 1666 for the bounding of ten acrees of land graunted to Benjamine Eaton lying above the lands that was formerly Gorge Clarkes and betwixt ffrancis Billingtons lott and the lotts that were John Cookes : have layed it out on the westward side of the swamp called Bradfords Marsh and on the south side and east end of the said land have bounded it with a swamp wood tree standing att or in the swamp ; from thence the line extends nearest southwest and by west to a Red oake tree marked and standing on the westward side of the Topp of a hill ; and on the north side and east end next to the swamp with a young walnutt sapling and from the said walnut the line extends nearest southwest and by west unto a forked Red oake sapling ; bounded Aprill 11th 1667 pr Will : Crow :
[83.] Att a Townemeeting held att the meeting house att Ply- mouth the * day of July 1667; It was agreed and concluded as followeth
viz :
That the sume of fifty pounds shalbee alowed to Mr. Cot- ton for this psent yeare and his wood To be raised by way of Rate to be payed in such as god gives ever onely to be minded that a considerable pte of it shalbee payed in the best pay ; and Willam Clarke and William Crow are appointed by the Towne to take notice of what is payed and brought in unto him and to keep an account therof ; Joseph howland and ffrancis Combe are agreed with by the Towne to find the wood for this yeare for the sume of eight pounds
Robert ffinney are appointed by the towne to take Willam Clarke some speedy course for the finish-
and Joseph Warren
ing of the 1 minnesters house ;
Willam Clarke are apointed by the Towne to take
and William Crow the account of Edward Gray in the
1 It is probable that the minister's house here referred to stood on the lot given to the church in 1664 by Bridget Fuller for a parsonage and on its south- easterly corner about where the house of Isaac Brewster now stands. The old house and lot seem by the records to have been sold in 1667 by Rev. John Reyner's son John, to George Bonum.
8.8
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
behalfe of the Towne ; and also all other accounts that doe belong unto the Towne in pticular to demand that which is due to the Towne for the Rent of Agawam :
The Raters chosen to make the Countrey Rates and other for the Towne were John Morton serjeant Willam harlow and Willam Clarke :
fifty acrees of land formerly graunted unto Jonathan Morey layed out unto him by Gorge Bonum was att this meeting Confeirmed to him and his heires and assignes for ever; the bounds wherof are as followeth viz : begining at a
swamp lying att the northeast end of the said land the northermost bounds of the said land is a whit oake standing on a little brow of a hill and Rangeth from the said oake for the length therof on a west southwest line nearest unto a pyne tree by the herring pond soe called : and soe Ranging for the southermost bounds to a pyne tree leaning over the said pond : and soe backe for the eastermost bounds to a little Rid oake standing by the swamp
The bounds of hugh Coles Land lying neare the hither maunomett pointe soe called is as followeth viz : bounded att the easterly end with a great Rocke by a place comonly called the salt marsh and soe Ranging up into the woods upon a southwest line halfe a point westerly : which is from the great Rocke spoken of 72 pole to a heap of stones : and Runing along by the sea one hundred and two pole : and there att the northerly end bounded with a heap of stones : and there Runing into the woods south - west half a point westerly 72 pole and there bounded with a heap of stones :
Layed out to Gyles Rickard Juni : a peell of lind lying betwixt the meddow of his father which is neare Dotyes meddow in the woods and a spott of meddow lying on the northwest side which pcell of Land is ninteen acrees and is bounded att the north end with three white oakes marked : and another pcell of eleven acrees on the south side of his fathers said meddow and on the west syde with a Rid oake marked and a white oake and a Rid oake on the south corner and is bounded in with a swamp :
Six acrees of meddow was graunted unto ffrancis Combe ying att the south meddow brooke
this land is neare the bounds of Sandwich
89
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
An addition of land was graunted unto each of the naighbors on the north syde of the towne att and about plaine dealling viz ; to Run a quarter of a mile into the woods from the ends of theire lotts this is to be understood of all the great lotts towards Jones River
[84.] Ten aerees of meddow was graunted unto hugh Cole lying att the south meddow brooke
Eight acrees of meddow was graunted unto Joseph Bart- lett lying at the south meddow brooke
Six acrees of meddow was giaunted unto JJohn Cole lying att the south meddow brooke ;
four acrees of meddow was graunted unto Daniell Dunham lying att the south meddow brooke
five acrees of meddow is graunted unto John ffallowell lying att the south meddow brooke ;
six acrees of meddow is graunted unto Samuell Eedey lying att the south meddow brooke ;
a peece of swamp is graunted unto Robert Bartlett to make meddow of lying adjoyning to his meddow att the Eelriver
ffour acrees of meddow is graunted unto Benajah Pratt lying att the brooke Comonly Called Crane brooke ;
Samuell Sturtivant is graunted to exchange his fifty V acrees of land graunted unto him by the Towne for fifty acrees lying att Monponsett pond to the south end of the pond ;
The swamp lying att the path by John hawards house (that was) is graunted to William Nelson
A peece of meddow lying on the southeast side of Cap- taine Bradfords meddow being a peece between some meddow al- reddy layed out is graunted unto Thomas Cushman Juni ;
Att this meeting it was ordered by the Towne that noe Cattle either horses hoggs or other Cattle shall not be put turned or Carryed to the 1 salthouse beach from the first of May untill the first of November Annually ;
The bounds of a garden place or homsteed layed out to Jacob Michell according to a former graunt expressed in this booke is as followeth
It adjeyneth to Gyles Rickards garden plott on the south- east syde of the garden plott of the said Gyles Rickard; and is
1 Salthouse Beach is Duxbury Beach,
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
bounded on the other syde att the lower end and att the uper end therof with two stones sett into the ground :
The Towne have ordered and engaged to Refrayne from sending any hoggs to the gurnett beach att any time ; and horses or neat cattle to the said beach from the begining of Aprill unto the last of October Annually : and that this order be Comunicated to the Towne of Duxburrow desireing and expecting that they should doe the like :
[85.] Att the towne meeting held att Plymouth the 13th day of October 1667 Leiftenant Morton Gorge Bonum Joseph Warren Willam Clarke and hugh Cole
That wheras the sume of twenty- two pounds is alowed by the Court with that which is alreddy expended towards the building of a bridge over the Eelriver; which is accepted by the towne These are appointed by the Towne to Receive the said sume ; and to serch the old bridge and to take Course and agree with the workmen for the Rebuilding or Repaireing therof in the place it now is in the most prudensiall and frugalest way that may be ;
Wheras by a former Towne order William Clarke and William Crow were appointed by the Towne to take the account of Edward Gray in theire behalfe as alsoe all other accounts apper- taining to the Towne ; but were not Impowered to prosecute by Law for the Recovery of any debt due therunto : These are to certify that the Towne of Plymouth hath Impowered and doe by these prsents Iinpower the said William Clarke and William Crow to demand Receive and in any case of none payment of any debt or debts due to the Towne by due course of law to Recovering any such debt or debts in the behalfe of the Towne aforsaid and will alow and approve of theire Regulare acting Respecting the prmises as nesessitie may Require
In Reference unto the proportion made by the Celectmen that some prudentiall Course might be taken for and about the Receiveing of Townsmen and stating of theire privilidges ; the Towne have appointed and doe Request
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
The Govr Edward Gray Nathaniell Morton Gorg Watson Leift : Morton Serjeant Tinkham Serjeant harlow Joseph Warren Will Clarke and Willam Crow Joseph howland
as a Committee in due and convenient time to meet to- gether and to treat of and con- trive such pticulars as may be thought meet to be proposed unto and voted by the Towne for theire more orderly pro- ceeding in that behalf :
In Reference to the proposition Concerning a more Just and equall way to be thought on for the makeing of Rates ; It is refered to the next meeting of the Celect men and that then such as shall see good to propose any thing Respecting the premises shall Repaire to them and Comunicate the same and Consult with them in Reference therunto
Att this meeting the Towne graunted unto Robert Barrow and Edward Dotey to each of them six acrees of swampy meddow lying att or not far from the uper south meddow betwixt Andrews bridge and the new meddow soe as it doe not Infring any former graunt nor hinder any highway ffifty acrees of land was graunted unto John Jourdaine lying towards the north end of Sandwich herring pond Joyning to Jonathan Moreyes swamp ; soe as in case hec sell it to some of the Towne of Plymouth
A privilidge of grasse or sedge is graunted unto John holmes att the 1 Reed pond in case hee can make meddow of the whole pond or any pte therof it is to be his owne ;
[86.] The 30th of November 1667 The Towne agreed to send for Mr John Cotton and to leave the charge of the Transportation of him and of his family and goods from 2 Martin's Vinyard to Plim- outh ; Morover they haveing formerly agreed to alow him for this yeare the sume of fifty pounds ; to be Raised by Rate
1 Reed pond was flowed ground on Cold Spring Brook between the country road and the railroad.
2 Up to the latter part of the 17th century the Island now called Nomans Land was called Martha's Vineyard and what is now called Martha's Vineyard was called Martin's Vinyard. The name undoubtedly came from Martin Pring who visited it in 1603. Nomans Land probably derived its name from a christian Indian chief named Tickanoman who flourished about 1650 on Martin's Vine- yard. A point of land on Martha's Vineyard nearly opposite Nomans land is laid down on a pen and ink plan of the Island dated 1693 as Tickanoman's Point. In an old deed it is called Noman.
92
PLYMOUTHI RECORDS.
It was agreed by the Towne that the sume of fifty pounds shalbe speedily Raised by Rate wherof twenty-five pounds to be de- livered to Mr. Cotton as pte of the abovesaid fifty ; and the other twenty-five pounds to be Improved by the psons deputed ; for the defraying of the charge of his Transportation and the other nes- sesary charges about the house ete ; The Rators Chosen to make this Rate were Leift : Morton Willam Clarke and Willam Crow
The lands which I layed out for Samuell Sturtivant att Monponsett pond of fifty acrees abutting upon fifty acrees of Mr Willam Bradford's lying on the east end of the said Willam Brad- fords ; and is bounded with a Pine tree by the pond syde and Runes easterly from the corner of the pond to a blacke oake on the north syde of the path ; and Rangeth southerly to a smale blacke oake and soe to a little white oake marked : and so Rangeth by the swamp syde to a blacke oake that standeth on a plaine ; which oake is the corner bound answarable to the forenamed pyne tree by the pond syde ; between the said Willam Bradford and Samuell Sturtivant ;
pme Gorg Bonum :
The bounds of Capt : Willam Bradford's land att Monpon- sett pond is as followeth
* should
been laid * Captaine
lying on
*
(viz) fifty acrees of land bounded on the northwest with a pyne tree marked by the pond syde : and the westermost bound a smale Rid oake tree marked ; the southermost bounds a tree marked standing between him and Samuell Sturtivant : and another pyne tree marked standing by the ponds syde betwixt Samuell Sturtivant and him for the eastermost bounds
att Monpon- sett
of
January 31st
1667
The bounds of JJames Clarke's farme is as followeth viz : bound on the easterly end with the pond and soe Runs one hun- dred ninety two pole northerly to a Rocke upon a Rockey hill with stones upon it ; and soe Runs in westerly an hundred pole to a great Rocke and a white oake tree by it marked and on the south- erly corner marked with a smale Red oake tree ; but sd tree being Roted down a heap of stones is set in ye place By Thomas faunce surveyor to the Towne of Plimouth Aprill 5 1675
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
The twenty acrees of Land the Towne graunted unto James Clarke lyeth against pte of his farme land abovesaid; and is bounded on the easterly corner with a Rid oake and on the southerly corner with a Rid oake tree, and on the westerly corner with a Rid oake and on the northerly corner with za Rocke and stones upon it ;
(Aprill 5th 1695 A Raing run and settled between Samuell Riders land below mentioned and James Clarkes farm land sd James Riders northerly corner bound is a heap of stones by the swamp sid and soe to Run a strait corse to James Clarkes southerly corner bounds of his farm land and from thence upon a straite course to the sd Riders head bound in his record mentioned, Raniged and settled on the day and yeare above written by Thomas faunce surveyor to the Towne of Plimouth) The bounds of Samuell Ryders Land att Mannomett ponds is as followeth viz; on the easterly corner bounded with the pond and brooke and soe Runing Northerly to a heap of stones ; and so Runing westerly one hundred pole and there boun- ded with a Rid oake tree and thence for his southerly corner to a smale Run of water that Runs into the brooke and there marked with a swampy oake ; ffor the twenty acrees graunted unto him by the Towne it is bounded as followeth ; ffor his easterly bounds therof it is a stone sett into the ground by a Cartway syde and bounded on the south corner with a Red oake ; and the westerly corner with a Rid oake ; and on the northerly corner with a Red oake by a Rocksyde
the bounds of Thomas Popes land is as followeth the north end bounded with a great white oake by a little brooke and soe Runing southerly six score Rod and bounded on the east syde of a pond with a Rid oake tree ; and from thence Runing easterly three score and six pole marked with a bush ;
Awanno the Indian and Awampocke theire land is bound- ed on the easterly corner with a Rid oake tree and soe Runing Southerly one hundred Rod to a great pond; and from thence westerly to a little pond which is fifty rod distance and soe bounded on the north corner with a bush ;
[87.] Att the Townemeeting held att the meeting house att Plymouth the one and thirtieth day of January annº dom 1667 Joseph howland agreed with the Towne to be the standing Joseph Bartlett troopers for the Towne for the tearme of and ffrancis Combe five yeares from the date heerof full to be
94
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Joseph Warren and Jonathan Morey
expired and to be alowed the sume of four pounds and ten shillinges which is in the hands of the former troopers viz ; Capt : Bradford Willam Clarke and James Clarke belonging to the towne ; and to be assisted by the Towne for the procuring therof ; are appointed by the Towne to forwarne the Indians not to make use of our lands lying neare sandwich bounds ; and to oppose them in makeing use therof : and to signify unto them that they shall not soe doe unles they can make Just title therunto ;
Att this meeting libertie was graunted unto all such as have land graunted to them att Winnatucksett to Remove theire said graunts a mile and an halfe from theire meddows towards Monponsett pond ; v Saml Kinge
ffifty acrees of land is graunted unto Sam- uell Kinge lying neare to his meddow at Mon- ponsett pond ;
Edwd Dotey
ffifty acrees of Land is graunted unto Edward Dotey lying neare his meddow att Monponsett ; next unto the fifty acrees graunt- ed unto Samuell Kinge ;
John Andrew & Saml
Graunted unto John Andrew and Samuell Mylam to each of them thirty acrees of upland somwhere about Mannomett ponds if they can find it in any such lands as not graunted unto any others
Abraham Jackson
Thirty acrees of land is graunted unto Abra- ham Jackson where John Andrew and Samuell Mylam shall have theires if it may be there had if not any wherelse wher hee can find it; not prejudiciall to others ; within this townshipp
Joseph howland
Thirty acrees of land is graunted unto Joseph howland lying betwixt the Indian pond and Bil- lington's tree ; on the northsyde of the said pond
John Dotey
Thirty acrees of land is graunted unto John Dotey lying next unto Joseph howlands att the same place ;
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PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Thos : Cushman
Thirty acrees of land is graunted unto Thomas Cushman Juni : lying next to John Doteys att the same place ;
Jona : Shaw This is otherwise
Ten acrees of land is graunted unto Jonathan Shaw lying next unto his land at Lakenham ;
from
1 Graunted unto James Clarke a certaine pcell of sedge or a pte of the pond att Mannomett ponds viz : all that pte of the pond or sedge ground which lyeth between a place there called the Gurnett and the bounds of Samuell Ryders land and soe upon a straight line unto the beach
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