USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1705-1743 (vol. 2) > Part 2
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11
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
marked on 4 sides & from thence to Extend south 88 pole to a pine tree marked on 4 sids & from thence to Extend East Northerly 92 pole to a small Red oake marked with A heape of stones about it & from thence to Extend North 60 pole to ye bounds first Mentioned
James Warren Nathaniel Morton surveyors
At a Town Meeting held at plimouth on ye 12th of May 1707 Capt James Warren was Chosen Representative The Jurors Chosen were benoney Lucas ffrancis Adams Benjamin Bartlett & John Faunce Senior
1 At this Meeting the Town Granted to Ephraim Kemton ye use of forty foot of land one Way & fifty foot the other to him & his heirs & assignes provided ye sd Kemton or his heirs Doe build or Cause to be built A Dweling house on sd land within three years after this Date sd land lyeth betwen Capt Dyers fence & William Clark's Ware house & they are granted ye use of sd land above mentioned for Eighty yeeres :
At sd Meeting it was moved to the Town to Declare what they Intend by a former Grant of ye town of a persell of land unto Mr William Clarke where his warehouse Now standeth below ye hill by ye Water side voted yt ye said Clarke shall have 30 foot square of land or in breadth & to Extend in length Down to ye Creack parrall with Mr John Rickards Whorf provided yt sd Clark & his heires Doe leave a sufficon Cart way betwen his ware house & his whorf if he se Cause to build one that there may be free passage for teames along shore as there may be ocasion
at sd Meeting Mer Thomas & Ephraim Cole are Desired to vew a parcel of land Desired by Richard Cooper by way of Exchang & to make Report therof at ye next Town meting
At this Meeting Ephraim Cole had liberty Granted to him to make ye North Dore in ye Meeting house in two leaves upon his own Charg
At sd Meeting Isaac Lathrop was Granted liberty to Enlarge John Carver's pew & to be Directed by Mer Thomas therin yt it Dont hender peopls Coming in to ye Meting house
1 The land granted to Mr. Kemton (Kempton) lay between Leyden street and the pond where the barn of Mr. John Barnes now stands opposite the Univer- salist Church.
12
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
but yt ye Corner next ye Dore be Wrought Rounding & he hathr also liberty to hang the south Dore of sd Meeting house in two leaves upon his own Charge
Voted yt Mer Thomas & Mer Mordow Doe here henery Churchills clame for a lot of land in town Comons & give their sence of h's Clame at ye next town Meeting, Capt Warren & Thomas faunce are Desired to place some of ye Elderly men forward in ye seates at ye Meeting house to make Roome for younger men behind
At sd Meeting ye Town voted yt ye select men of ye Town shall make all ye assesments for this present yeare both province County & Town assesments
At a town meting held at plimouth on ye 12 Day of May 1707 ye Inhabit voted yt ye towns order Relating to black birds formerly mad shall stand in force for this present yeare & yt 2 Crows heads shall be in valloo of 6 birds & yt ye hous keepers shall bring in ye Taile of birds to ye men apointed to Receev the taile of heads by ye last of october above mentioned 1707
At A Town Meeting held at plimouth on ye first Day of September 1707 for ye Choyce of Jurors & other Town buisnes The Jurors Chosen Were George bonim Josiah finney Benjamin Bartlett & George Samson At this Meeting Mr John Mordo was Chosen to tack Care of ye meeting hous yt was is nescsary to ye Reparing of it for this year may be Dou
At this meting sundery of the Inhabitants of the North End of the Town Desired yt ye select men Mite lay out A privat Road from the North End of the Town to ye grat swomp for the Convenence of the Neighboures Inhabiting yt End of sd town upon which the town voted yt ye select men should if they see it be needfull as it was alledged ther to lay out A privat way as it was Desired at the Charg of those yt Desired it but upon their vewing sd way they thought it Not Needfull then to for beare
Henry Churchell
At sd meeting it was voted by sd town that Henery Churchill should have 30 acrees of land laid out to him of the towns Comons according to A former act of the town
13
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
[105.] At ye Town Meeting last Mentioned A bill of Charg was Drawn & voted to be Raised by Rate upon ve Inhabitants of the lower sosiety for ye Defraying of Town Charg for the follow- ing year
Imprimis ffor scool Master 18-00-00 10-00-00
Item for the Representative
Item To Jonathan Shaw for kiling one wolf 01-00-00
Item for Ringing ye bell 01-10-00
Item for the uper sosiety
00-13-00
Item for Major Bradford for four Days service for ye Town 00-14 -- 00
00-10-00
Item for Capt Warren Item for Mer Mordo
00-03-00
32-10-00
The land Granted to William Clark Junior by ye Water side Where h's war house now standeth was laid out & bounded on ye 29th of May 1707 by ye sub- scribs (viz) it Extendeth from two stones sett in ye ground to ye Westward of ye Warhouse thirty fot Distance Nere North and by West & South & by East one from an other & from sd bounds or stones to Extend East about A quorter of a point Northerly Down to ye bay or Water sid for a priviledg to Whorff. William Shurtliff Nathaniel Morton Surveyors
Clark
Mer Isaac Cushman's Tract of land here Recorded
Plimoutlì october 17th 1707 Bounded A Tract of land Granted to M' Isaac Cushman March 6th 1693 lying on ye Northward of Colchester & Extends from a white oak tree with a heape of stons about it standing Neere ye Rainge of ye land of Mer Thomas Cushman Deceased & from sd bounds to Extend Easterly by the Coder swompe way till it Coms to Wana- tuxet path to two trees Marked a white oake & a Red oake & from thence southerly or southeasterly by ye aforesd path where severall trees are marked on ye west side of ye path with stones About them till it Coms to a Rock
14
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
& a white oak tree Marked by it & from thence Nere southwest by ye Raing of Elkanath Cushmans land to a stake with stones about it & from thence Westerly to a white oak tree marked standing in a swomp which is ye Northerly Corner bounds of Thomas Lazels land which is now in ye posesion of Nathaniel Harlow & from thence to Run Southerly to a maple tree standing by Colchester brook & then Westerly by sd brook to ye land formerly granted to Mer Thomas Cushman aforesd & there bounded by his land till it Comes to ye bounds first mentioned
John Bradford
William Shurtlif Surveyors
Epm Kemptons Grant for 80 years
The bounds of ye land Granted by ye Town of plimouth unto Ephram Kempton & his heires for his and theire use & Improvement for the space of Eighty yeares from ye 12th of May 1707 & thence forward as it was laid out & bounded on ye first Day of September 1707 by us the sub- scribers The bounds are as followeth (viz) begin- ing at a stake Drove into ye ground above William Clarks warehouse and so to Extend aCross ye boggy land 50 foot toward Capt Dyers fence & there bounded with a stake and stones about it & from thence up ye hill side 40 foot & there bounded with a stake & stons about it & from thence to Extend Down towards ye warhouse fifty foot & there bounded with a stake & stons about it & from thence to Extend 40 foot to the bound first mentioned
John Warren Survy
Nathaniel Morton
15
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
1[106.] Wheras Those yt were Concerned in keeping Jons River bredg in Repare being Presented at ye last quorter sesions held at plimouth on ye 3ª Tusday of Desember 1707 for their Neglect in not keeping sd bredg in sutable Repaire The Inhabitants of sd Town of plimouth being partly Conserned theirin The Inhabitants being legally Warned to meete on ye 31 of Desember 1707 & was Generally attended Did at sd meeting upon serious Consideration of ye Grate burden of Charge that lay on sd Town to maintaine two bredges over sd River soe neere together whearas one Might serve in Case they Could obteign leave of ye County Court of plimouth & ye Consent & Concurrance of barnstable County who are alike Conserned in keeping sd bredg in Repaire Did at sd meeting voate to take Due steps for ye Reneual of sd bredg & to build it higher up ye River & Did by their voate signify their Desire yt it might be over against Jacob Cooks hous but however made Choyce of Capt James Warren Mer Nathaniel Thomas Ju & Caleb Loring to Joyne with ye agents of barnstable County If they should Comply with ye Towns Desire Relating to ye Remove- ing sd bredg as abovesd to take a vew of sd River in order to pitch on ye most sutable place for ye Ends aforesd & also to agree with owners of ye lands through which sd New way must goe if a grant of ye Court for yt End Can be obtained, for theire Respective Rights & to make Report to ye town at their next town Meeting of their procedings thering in order to their making application to ye next County Court to obtaine their Desires therin & made Choyce of Captain James Warren ye towns agent to treate with ye Gentlemen of barnstable County Relating to ye premises at their next quorter sessions to endeavor their Concor- rance & and asistance herin & if in Case Capt Warren Cannot attend sd service for sd town ye Town Doth Chose & Request Mer Nathaniel Thomas Jun : to manage the afore with ye Gentle- men of barnstable County at their sd Court abovesd
1 In the early days of the Plymouth Colony there were three ways across Jones River, viz: the "wading place," near the present almshouse; the " stepping stones," not far from the present wharf below the outlet of Stony Brook; and the ferry, near the mouth of the river. In 1639 a bridge was built at the " wading place" in the line of the "Massachusetts Path." At a later date a bridge was built at the "stepping stones." In 1708 a bridge was ordered to be built where the present bridge stands, and the highway was laid out to cross it. At the same time the old bridge at the " wading place" was ordered to be taken down. The old bridge, however, was repaired, and the new bridge was not built to take its place until about 1715. About that time the bridge at the " stepping stones" was burned, and it was never rebuilt.
16
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
February 2ª 1707
At A Town Meeting held at Plimouth on the 2ª of february 1707 Mer Nathaniel Thomas was Chose Comisioner & Major bradford Leve : Nathaniel Morton Benjamin Warren were Chose Trustees to take & give in an account of ye Rateable Estate of ye Town
Grand The Grand Jurors for ye yeare Ensuing are Serjant Jurors John Churchill Josiah flinney and Thomas Holmes petty Jurors The Jurors for tryals are Abiall Shurtlif Ephraim Coole and Nathaniel Jacson
At sd Meeting it was voated by ye Town to alow 20 shilings More for killing A groone Wolf & five shillings More for kiling a wolfs whelpe then ye law allows to be paid by ye Town Treasurer upon his Recept of the head or heads if sd persons kiling or bringing sd heads Doe Make it Rationly appeare that they killed ym within ye bounds of ye Township of plimouth & to stand good for the yeare Ensuing
1 upon som Aggitation in ye Town Meeting about building a Cart bridg over ye Town brook Jolin Stirtevant John foster & benjamin Warren were Appointed to vew sd brook & way & soe make Report of their apprehensions about it at ye next Town Meeting
[107.] At A Town Meeting held at Plimouth on ye 22d of March 1708 for ye Choyce of Town officers for ye yeare insuing The Select men Chosen for sd yeare are Major John Bradford Left Nathaniel Morton & Benjamin Warren Thomas ffaunce Chosen Town Clerk The Cunstables are Ebenazar Cobb & Menases Morton John Watson Chosen Town Treasuror. The Tithing Men are Nathaniel howland Elisha bradford & Joshua Morss, The Surveyors for ye high wayes are Ephraim Morton Senior William Harlow Samuel Harlow Ebenazar burge & John Stirtevant, The fence vewers are Deacon Thomas Clarke John ffoster & John Holmes. The hog Cunstables are Serjant harlow
1 At this date the cartway arross town brook was through the water, and only a foot bridge had been built. Spring Hill was not laid ont until 1716, and Pleasant street until 1801 or 1802. The highway was through Mill Lane across the brook diagonally into Sandwich street. The ground on both sides of the brook was only a little above the level of the brook. The bridge built at the date mentioned in the text was on the old level. In 1740 it was rebuilt ou a higher level, and in 1812 an arch bridge of stone was built.
PLYMOUTH RECORDS. 17
John Gray John Cooke Samuel Nelson George barrows Thomas howland & Jacob Willard, Capt John Dyer Chosen pound Keeper, Isaac Lathrop Chosen sealler of leather
Jurors for ye Superior Court
The grand Jurors Chosen to serve at ye Superi Cort are Major bradford Left Morton Capt Dyer & Mer Mordo, The Jurors for Trials of civiel actions are Ephraim Morton Senior William Harlow Eliazar Cushman John ffoster & James Barnebe
At sd Meeting Capt Warren Major bradford & Mer Nathaniel Thomas Junior were Chosen to Run ye line betwen Duxberey & plimouth, The Town voted to Repare Jons River bredg at ye present with as little Charge as May Make it passabel for ye peesent
Nath 11 Thomas
1 At sd Meeting The Town Granted to Mer Nathaniel Thomas Junior That stripp of land lying betwen his fulling Mill & ffrances Adams house yt is ye banck sid betwen his ye sd Thomas fence & sd highway on Condition yt ye sd Thomas his heires and assignes Doe Keep the high way Down ye hill allong as ye highway now goeth in good and sufficient Repare soe far as from ye Corner of his fence at sd fulling Mill up ye hill towards frances adams house & not to Come within 22 foot of sd adams house sd Thomas his heires & assignes is to Maintaine sd way in good & suffician Repair perpetually soe long as they hold sd land upon their own Cost & Charge
And Whereas it hath ben found very prejudisiall To Most of ye Inhabitants that keepe sheep that Rams be lett to Run at large before a sutable time for Ews to take buck The Town therfore voted yt wt soever Ram or Rams that shall be found out of their owners Enclosurs Runing at large from the first of August to ye fifth of November yearly shall & may be taken up by any person & Cutt smooth or take sd Rams for their own use, Mr Thomas & Mer Mordow are appointed to vew a pece of land Desired by Deacon Morton, Mer Mordow & Ephraim Cole hath liberty granted ym to Enlarge their pews at ye Meeting hous by
1 The Fulling Mill of Nathaniel Thomas stood on the town brook a little above the factory of the Bradford Joint Company and nearly in the rear of the Dunham house, and the Francis Adams house stood on the lot owned and occupied now or recently by Lewis Brown.
2
18
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
ye Directions of Mer Lothrop & Mer Thomas, The town voted to make a Cart bredg over ye Town brook and Mer Thomas & Mer Lathrop to have Inspection of sd works
The Parsonage Addition
Pursuant to a voate of ye Inhabitants of the town of plimouth at a Town Meeting held on ye 9th of May 1709 was laid out by the Subscribers July 4, 1709 An addition to ye parsonage at ye head of ye grat Gutter a spott of land bounded as ffolloweth (viz) beginning at a stake Drove into ye ground nigh ye head of ye parsonag lott in the Raing of the westerly side of sd lot thence Extend- ing southwesterly 12 pole & a half to an other stake Tlience Extending southeasterly 16 pole & a half to an other stake in the ground & thence Extending Northerly over the brow of the hill by a grate Rock About 16 pole to a stake Nigh ye Ditch which fences sd old lot About a Rod below a Rock by ye side of sd Ditch & soe along by sd Ditch upward to ye bounds first mentioned
James Warren Nathiel Thomas Survey
[108.] Mer Joseph Bartlet of Plimouth and ffrancis Adams of plimouth agred yt ye Westerly Corner bounds of sd Adams land shall be a stake and a heape of stones about it standing by ye brookside that bounds sd adams land ; the same bounds to be ye sd Mer bartletts Northerly Corner bounds as Witness our hands Enter Chaingably sett this 24 of March 1707
In presence of Thomas Clarke
Humphrey Turner
Joseph Bartlet ffrancis Adams
At a Town Meeting held at plimouth on ye 10th of May 1708 At sd meeting Major John Bradford was Chosen Representative to serve for & Represt the Town in ye grat & General assembly att boston on the 26 of this Instant May & soe on through sd yeare, the Jurors Chosen at sd meeting were Jacob Michel John Rider & John Morton, voted by ye Town that the present select- men shall mak assesments for province County & Town for ye following yeare
19
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
Francis Adams
At this Meeting the town voted that francis Adams should have the Remainder of the land yt is to say 22 foot along ye banck from his Dweling house Down to ye land the town granted to Mer Nath : Thomas Jr : for a convenience of laying his fire wood on & not to Erect aney building theron to sd Thomas his prejudice & to be obledged to keep the higway in good & sufficient Repare soe far as his grant of land Extends upon his own Cost yearly soe long as he & his heires shall enjoy sd land
1 At sd Meeting The Town then voated on Exchaing & Did Exchainge with Mer Ephraim Little Minister of sd Town an Eight acree lott of land more or less lying in Middlebery which was formerly granted & laid to sd Town Adjoyneing to ye lands of John Morton on
lands Exchangd
1 The pound stood in the Great Gutter or what is now a part of Court Square. As it may become important at some future time to have an accurate record of the various pieces of land now occupied by the county the editor believes it desirable to deseribe them in full. The land on the south side of Russell Street, bounded on the south by Burial Hill, and extending from the easterly line of the vacant lot west of the school-house to a point ninety feet east of the westerly line of the yard of the House of Correction, was laid out as a parsonage lot by the town on the 9th of May, 1709. In 1819 a strip forty feet wide on its easterly border was sold by the First Precinct to the town, and in 1822 by the town to the county In 1837 the remainder of the parsonage lot. was placed by the Precinct in the hands of the trustees of the Fuller Minis- terial Fund, and in 1839 the Trustees sold it in lots to various parties, a strip of fifty feet being sold to the county adjoining the strip of forty feet already sold to the county by the Precinct. The land lying easterly of the above mentioned original parsonage lot extending on Russell Street to a point about thirty-three feet east of the Court House, was a part of the great gutter belonging to the town, and was granted by the town in 1698 to Rev. Ephraim Little. In 1709, as stated in the text, Mr. Little, in exchange for eight acres of land in Middle- boro, conveyed it to the town for the benefit of the ministry. In 1773 the town sold it to the county, and a jail and keeper's house were built on it. In 1785 the town sold to the county a strip fifteen feet wide east of the above and adjoining it, thus making the county land extend on Russell Street to a point about forty-eight feet east of the Court House. Up to the year 1857 the remainder of the great gutter on Court Square remained in the possession of the town. The square was bounded on the south by a narrow street, on the south of which were two estatets, one on the corner of Court Street, owned by the heirs of Joseph Bartlett, and one on the corner of School Street, owned by Nathaniel C. Lanman. In the above year the town bought these estates, lay- ing out the present street through them and the old street was taken into the square. On the first of August, 1857, the town voted "To grant to the County of Plymouth the use, occupation and control of the land purchased by the town on the south side of Court Square, and all other lands in said square belonging to the town, except so much thereof as may be required for streets on either side of said square, for the purpose of enabling the county to enclose and ornament the same, to be held by the county for the purpose aforesaid as long as the county shall use the same in connection with the county buildings, and that the Selectmen be authorized to execute all papers necessary to grant the use thereof to the county." A plan of the county land as it was in 1823 is recorded in the Plymouth Registry Book 150, page 109.
20
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
with Mr Ephraim Little
Parsonage lot Exchanged with Mr. Little
Richard Coopers Exchainge of land with ye Town
Reserve of an acre Land diging Earth & ponding
Nemasket River together with all the Rights either in the Comon or lands alredy divided belonging or yt of Righit ought to belong to sd 8 acree lot in aney of ye tracts or purchas of land in ye sd Township of Middlebery for & in consideration of a lott in the valley above the pound in sd plimouth formerly Granted him sd Ephraim Little & there laid out to him & voated that ye lot in ye valley should ly & be to ye use of ye ministrey of the Town for Ever and Accordingly Appointed James Warren Esquire & Mer Nathaniel Thomas of sd Town to take A deed of the valley lott in ye behalf of ye Town & for the use of ye Ministrey for Ever as abovesd
Witn Reffarance to ye Request of Richard Cooper Desiring to Exchange shars of Doons feild with ye Town for ye Comon land lying between his land & ye Town brok and the fence standing between his land and George barrows which leadeth Down to ye brok being Jedged to be 5 acres The Town voted an Exchange & Doe Exchainge sd land with sd Cooper only Reserveing About a quarter of an acre at the westerly Corner of the sd land between sd brook & ye sd fence for a way for ye owners of ye land lying to the southward of ye sd Cooper's land & also ye priviledg of Diging Earth and ponding ye brook in aney place or places ye sd Town shall Judg Needfull and appointed Mer Nath Thomas to Receive A ded of sd Cooper in sd Towns behalf of sd Coopers Righ of three shares in sd Doons feild & upon lus giveing a ded of Exchang as abovesd sd land above Desired is granted to sd Cooper & to his heires forever.
21
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
1 At this Meeting Deacon Morton Desired that A voat Mite be Cald to know the towns mind Whether they wold grant liis son Timothy yt spot of land below Capt Dyers yt he liad formerly Desired of sd Town being forty foot one way & fifty the other upon the same Conditions yt Ephraim Kemtons land was granted him the people being almost withdrawn a voat was urged for 4 or five Wer for it of his Relations & as many save one or two wer against it
[109.] At A Town Meeting held at plimouth on the 6 of September 1708 for the Choyce of Jurors which were Giles Rickard humfrey Turner and Ephraim Bradford here followetli A account of ye moneys to be Raised upon the Inhabitants by Rate voted for at sd meting for Defraying sd Town Charges
£ S
Imprimis To Capt James Warren 09-09-07
Item To Mer John Mordo
19-01-00
Item to Mer Nath : Thomas 08-02-05
Item for the school master 20 -- 00-00
Item for the Representative
14-00-00
Item for Ringing the bell and sweping ye Meeting house 01-10 -- 00
Item to Defray other Charges in sd Town 05-07-00
The Inhabitants at this meeting voted to Repare the meeting hous this yeare That is to say to shingle ye flatt Roof and to make a new Terret and hang ye bell mend ye glass Remove the seats and make new ons as may be thought needfull and Repare where the Clabords are defective and Did for that End vote to Rais by Rate 30-00-00 And Request. Capt Warren and Mer Jolin Mordo to Take the oversight of sd worke in ye Town's behalf
voted that Capt Warren and Mer Thomas Doe prefer a petition to the next Quorter sesions Relating to the Removeing Jons River bredg and to agree as the towns agents with ye owners
1 The coal shed of the Electric Light Company, on Leyden Street, stands on the lot granted to Timothy Morton. Capt. Dyer's land is the land sold by William Bradford, son of the Governor, in 1698, to John Dyer, and is the lot nearly opposite the Universalsst Church, on which a house with a brick end stands. The deed from Mr. Bradford to Mr. Dyer describes the lot as running on the street northeasterly " as far as the northeasterly corner of the old store house which formerly stood on the lot."
22
PLYMOUTH RECORDS.
of the land throu which the way must goe if a grant for the Remov be obtained voted to allow The Town treasuror six pence pr pound for his service in Receiveing and pay out the Towns Debts voted also that the Town Treasuror shall Gather ye money and upon ye account of the scool gote in Ephraim Cole and John ffosters hand of arears in Mer Cottons time or of aney arears Relating to the scoole and Doe hereby invest him with full power for that End
At A Town Meeting held at Plimouth on the 13th of Desember 1708 for the Choyce of Jurors and other Town buisnes as followeth (viz) Job Cushman Eliasar Jacson and William barns At this Meting Capt James Warren and Mer Jones River Nathaniel Thomas Agents for the Town Relating to ye Turning ye way at Jons River presented an Agrement by them made with the agents of Barnstable County Relating to sd way which was publickly Read in open Town Meting and by the Inhabitants of sd Town Then present voted their Consent to and approbation of sd Covenant at sd Meet the Town voted yt the bounds of the lot belonging to the Ministrey in the valley above the pound should be as the same now standeth At sd meting sundrey persons petitioning for land the answer thereunto is Refered to next Town Meeting
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