USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Wenham town records 1642-1683 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
January 5th 1764
Wee whose names are underwrittn being Ajaicant to Wenham & by our neere habitation have a Conveyanc of Coming to theire meetting doe upon a treatie with them about priviledg in theire meetting house agree that soe long as wee shall make use of our priviledg by them granted wee will paye to the ministry there yeerly ac- cording to our abilityes & in Cass wee see Cause to leave our seates wee shall have liberty soe to doe & to be freed from our Contribution the towne repayeing us for our Cost about our seates. In Witnesse whereunto we have Interchangably set to our hands
Richard Walker his Daniel X Davison mark mark John Knowlton his his William + Rorlton marke
(*page 36)
Grant to Richª Kemball Jr.
Grant to Thos. Fiske
Town Common
(*page 38) Privilege in the meett house for persons living near Wenham
44
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
(*page 39) Rate
* 15th of January 1674 deliverd to Constable Hobbs a towne Rate for the minister of 50€
An Entrye of the Treasur" Receipt :-
(*page 40) Receipt
Received ye 9 : 9: 75 of Thomas Patch of Wenham the some of foure pounds & nine shillings in money which I have Axepted for the some of five pownds & three shil- lings in Country paye which is in full of Wenham Rate for the yere 71/72
Willim Fiske Constable By mee Richard Russell Treasur"
* 1 of January 1676
Charles Gott Walter Fairefield Richard Huttn Wm Fiske & Tho:" Fiske are Chosen for Select men for the following yere.
John Fiske Chosen for Constable for the following yere :- when the other Constable is out.
Sam11 Abey & Samuell Kemball are Chosen for Sirvey" for the high wayes for the following yere.
Minister's Rate
Whereas there is a Greate defect in Contributing to the Ministers maintainanc according to our Ingeagement its ordered that whoesever shall be Generally Defective in the matter for the time to come shall be liable to be Rated [will] & Doom[e] any order to the Contrary not- withstanding
Grant to John Carpenter
Granted to John Carpenter a parcill of upland of about two akrs be it more or lese lying betwixt Ordwayes lot & the River together with the| swamp that Joyns to it for the terme of his life Reserveing a Conveynant high waye at the Discretion of the Select men.
Meeting house
Old Goodman Moulton & John Fiske are Appointed to Joyne with the Celect men to order & Regulate the seate- ing of persons in the meetting howse from time to time.
(*page 40) Good- Rowland
* Granted to Goodman Rowland liberty to set his fenc Cross a point of Upland to take in six or seaven poals of land to set his hay stack on.
(*page 39) An. Town Meets Selectmen
Constable Surveyors of Highways
45
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
16 : 4th mo: 76
Delivered to Constable Fairefield 10 Single Rates for the Warr with an addition the wholl Sum being 51€-10s
17th December 1676:
Delivered to Constable Fairefield 6 Single Rates for the warr with an addition amounting to $31-5-4-
* 7th: 11": 1677:
At a Towne meetting John Fiske Charles Gott William Fiske John Batchelder, & Thos: Fiske Chosen for Select men for the vere Insueing.
Samuell Kimball Chosen Constable for the vere In- sueing.
The question was put to the Towne whither Thomas Wilson shall be accepted as an Inhabitant amongst us without Two able setled persons to be his sureties to the Towne to Secure them from damage it was voated on the Negitive.
Thomas Patch & Robert Hibbirt Chosen for Sirveyrs for the high waves for the vere Insueing.
Its ordered| That noe Inhabitant in the Towne but house houlders shall have liberty to fall or carry awave any timber out of the Towne Swamps & that noe house holder shall have shall have liberty to Fall nor Carry out of the Towne Swamps any more timber in one yere than will make two thousand in inch Boards & yt all logs that is alridy fald in the townes Swamps & are not Carryd out within Six dayes shall be forfit to the towne alwayes pro- vided that the towne pave for the labr : bestowed on them & !ye logs| shall be devided by the Comite & the Comite shall set a marke upon every logg brought out & they or any one of them shall have power to stop any of the towne w" they are Carrying of logs & in Cass they will not give an answer to satisfaction* the Comitie have power to Seiz on the timber & the one halfe of the timber shall be to the Comitie & the other halfe to the towne & in Cass any man Carry any privatly & it be after proved then the Com- ite shall by warrant from the Select men take the Con- stable with them & destravne of the goods of the Tres- paser to the value of ten shillings for every log soe Carved awave one halfe of the fine to the Comite & the other
Rates for the War (King Phillips)
Rates
(*page 42) An. Town Meet“ Selectmen Constable
Thos. Wilson
Surveyors of Highways
Timber on the Common
(*page 43 )
46
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
halfe to the towne & w' timber any person or persons shall Carry awaye out of ye Swamp within Six dayes after the date hereof shall be his owne alwayes provided he desire the Comite to marke his loggs & that noe person shall have liberty to sell any timber in trees or loggs in or at the towns Swamp upon the former peanaltye & Charles Gott Thomas Patch W" Fiske Samuell Kemball & James Friend are Chosen for a Comite any towne order to the Contrary notwithstanding & the Comite are impowered to stand sute with any person that shall transgrese the above said order.
Tho" Fiske entereth his Contrary Desent to the above said order in respect of trees alridy fald & to the Com- ites power to sue & Walter Fairefield entereth his Desent alsoe.
* 24 ** Sept: 1678
At a towne meeting Thomas Fiske was by the freemen Chosen Deputy for the next Sessions of the Gen" Court.
Gen' Court. College, &c.
& Charles Gott & he are appointed to prosecute our business at Generall Court & Also to Answer the Cass about the Coledg: & John Fiske Thomas Patch & John Batchelder & |Wm Fiske| are desired to procure w' mony is nessesary to Carry on our Cass at said Court.
("page 45) Receipt
* Recª this 7th of 11 mo: 78 forty shillings in money of Thomas Patch for land sold him by the Towne we saye recª by Walter Fairefield & Thomas Fiske in the Townes behalfe Tho" Fiske Walter Fayrefield
22tb of 11 Thomas Patch Delivered to Thomas Fiske three pound in money for the towns use which the Select men accept for six pounds in paye.
(*page 46) An. Town Meet" Selectmen
* 6th of Jan: 1678
Walter Fairefield Charles Gott Wm Fiske John Batch- elder Thomas Fiske Chosen for Select men for the fol- lowing yere.
Constable
Richard Huttn Seni' Chosen Constable for the follow- ing yere.
(*page 44) Deputy
47
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Ezcikle Woodward & John Killim are Chosen for Sir- veyrs for the high wayes for the following yere.
Also its voated that whosoever that is an inhabitant in our Towne shall not generally Contribute to our Past"" maintainance according to a former order shall paye five shillings as a fine to be added to his rate to the minister.
Its voated that Thomas Patch shall have all that Comon land lying betwixt his land & Richard Dodges medow lexcepting John Whits grante of six Acres| for forty shil- lings in money in hand & eight pound in porke or graine in fowre yeres viz. forty shillings per yere.
* Its voated that William Knowlton shall have all the remainder of Towne Comon joyning to John Denise his Grant & so to John Abeves lot leaveing a Sufficiant high waye yeilding or Payeing twelve penc per acre by the yere to the Towne.
Its ordered that our Cass depending Betwixt our Towne Beverly & Villag is left with the Select men to Carry on to effect.
Granted to John Denise a Confirmation of a grante of fowre or five| acres of land that was granted to Abner Ordwaye & his wife for their life time he the said Ord- wave haveing sold his right to said John Denise the Towne makes a further grante to him & his heirs & as- signes |he| yeilding or payeing twelve penc per acre by the yere to the towne after the said Ordwayes desceas.
It is ordered that all such as have lands lyeing in our towne shall make their Bounds appear upon demand of those that are or shall be appointed by the towne to take notice of them or elc theire lands shall be measured to them according to theire grantes from the townes :
& to the Select men are impowered to examin bounds! & to see to the prosecution of this order.
* We whose names are underwritten being propriet"" in the Comon field cald the plaine have agreed & stated out every mans parte or portion of theire Lotts: being as followeth viz. to Thomas Fiske one hundred & seaven poale but its to be understood that seaventen poals is for his parte of fenc for his land without the Generall feild.
Surveyors of Highways
Pastor's Rate
Grant to Thomas Patch
(*page 47) to Wm Knowlton
(Way.)
Beverly Case
Grant to John Denise
Bounds of Lands
*page 50 "The Plain" Division
48
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
& Mr Gerrish forty & nine poall & Charles & Daniell Gott one hundred and thirteen poall & Richard Huttn forty & six poall & one third ; but its to be understood that the wholl ten acres is accounted to him & to Mr Endicotts Tenants sixty & three poals & to Richard Kemball sixty & three poals & to Daniell Killim ninety & seaven poals & as for Jnº Batchelder its agreed that he shall make sixty & nine poals from his lower corner next the meet- ing house & the north end of his pastur next the plaine: every mans parte or portion being now stated & stak! out as witnese our hands Dated 15th of 1 mo: 1679 Tho' Fiske
Charley Goff John Batchelder
marke Daniell Killim his marke
Richard Kimball
his
(*page 49)
* For an explanation of w' is written on the other syde-
Tho® Fiske his fenc Iveth as followeth viz. one pole 1/2 next the northwest corner of John Batchelders pastur & another parcill standeth betwin Mr Endecots Tenants & Charles Gotts: |being| upon Mr Newmans hill & the rest upon the devisionall lyne betwin the townes next thie high waye-except another parcill wch standeth betwin the abovesd : Charles Gotts fence next Rowlandes hole= Mr Gerish"" fenc standeth next the Country Roade Joyn- ing to his owne land & 19 pole more upon the devisionall lyne next Thomas Fisk" fence Charles & Daniell Gotts |& Richard Kemballs| fenc standeth next the Country Roade from Goodman Huttns Corner to Mr. Newmans land & leaveing the bredth of his lott sª Kemballs fenc is at the end of his |own| lott & the abovesd persons Charles Daniell & Richard have three parcils more viz. oue at the Northweast corner of the field & two parcills more upon the lyne betwin Ipseb & Wenham betwin Thomas Fiskes fenc-Goodman Huttns fenc standeth next his
49
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
owne land upon the Country Roade: Mr Newmans fenc stand at the uper or north syd of the field betwin Charles Gotts fene & Thomas Fiskes fenc & another parcill be- twin there fenc: next John Peirkingses & the remainder being at the head of Mr. Newmans lot next the Country Road. Daniell Killims fenc is from John Batchelders fenc at the Roade to John Batchelders North end of his pasture.
At a meetting of the of the freemen 23ª of 3ª mo: 79, Thomas Fiske is Chosen Deputy for the first Sessions of the Gen" Court next at Boston.
Delivered to Constable Richard Huttn a Rate contein- ing foure single Country Rates of 21€: 3ª -: 3ª Dated 17th of 5tb: 79 :-
* Constable Samuell Kemball hath paid in to Ezeikle Woodward a towne rate for the Comittes expences Dated 9th: 9: 78 & brought a note under his hand : of his recite of it 17th Dec: 79-
* 5th of Jan. 1679.
Walter Fairefield John Batchelder Charles Gott Wm Fiske & Tho" Fiske Seni' Chosen for Select men for the yere following.
Samuell Moulton Chosen Constable for the yere In- sueing.
Samuell Kemball Robert Hibbirt John Killim & John Peirkings are Chosen for tithing men for the yere In- sueing.
Walter Fairefield Chosen for Clarke of the market:
John Beare & John Knowlton are Chosen for Sirvey" for the high waves for the yere Insueing.
Its ordered as an addition to the former order for the preservation of our towne timber that any or every per- son that shall cutt any timber in the towne swamp shall give notice to the Comitte for any two of them| to marke their logs before they carry them out of the swamp upon penalty of forfiting the timber to the towne & the Comitte formerly Chosen or any two of them shall have power to prosecute this order.
(*page 48) Deputy
Rate
(*page 45) Rate
(*page 52) An. Town Meet" Selectmen
Constable
Tithing men
Clerk of the Market Surveyors of Highway's
Timber
50
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Sam' Fiske &a, admitted
Samuell Fiske Tayl' John Peirkings & Thomas Fiske Juni' are accepted townsmen : or Inhabitants of our towne & to have towne priviledg| Joseph Fowler & John Bare & William Knowlton are also accepted as inhabitants of this towne |& to have towne priviledg| Samuell Moulton also accepted an Inhabitant.
(*page 53) Grant to Richard Braybrook
* Its voated that whereas Richard Brayebrook is in possession of John Whits right according to a towne grante of Salem & to said White & the question being put whither the said Bravbrook shall have twenty acres the towne alloweing a pointe of land which John Edwards is nowe in possession of to be John Whits right upon the accompt of the said Grante it was resolved on the Afirma- tive that he should have twenty Acres the said pointe being allowed also.
Rate
Delivered to Constable Huttn a towne Rate for our minister & some other towne Cost of
53 :- 6-2ª
(*page 5 Ipswich Neighbors Meets House
* In Answer to the request of our Neighb" of Ipswich to have liberty to make them Seates in our meetting house Wee grante them the west Galliry namely to John Deane Abraham Tilton Mr Quarles Nathaniel Browne John Whipple & Edmond Potter & such others of their Neighb" as they shall accept of & two seates next the staires on the right hand of the coming in of the South dore for theire wives & they have liberty to Raise them & make them according to their Descretion & its intended by both parties that for theire privilidge above mentioned our Neighb" Contribuate to our Ministry they & theirs to In- joye theire Seates forever always provided that if there be not enough of our neighb' *: to fill the Seats above men- tioned the Select men of Wenham Reserve liberty to place such of the towne as may be thought sutable they payeing proportionably to the Cost & our Neighb" are to have a conveynant passage in the South Galliry to theirs: 1 : mo: 1679/80
John Dane Abraham Tilton
51
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
* 11:2:80
At a meetting of the Select men Thomas Patch John Abey John Beaman & Wm Knowlton are impowered to laye out & Setle 15 Acres of land to John Dodg in the right of Thomas Sergent [ ] Killim as they shall Judg maye be best for both the towne & said John Dodg.
(*page 65) Grant to John Dodge
* Boston Maye 25th 1680
Recª of Mr. Walter Fairefield Constable of Wenham by severall payements in full of the first Ten rates for the yere 1676 wch he had a former receipt for & saith he has lost it & by severall payements in rate paye & mony in full of the first Six rates being thirty pounds nine shillings 6ª=I saye recd per order of my master Mr John Hull
Per me John Newman that this is a true entry com- pared with the original receipt H Huttn Tho' Fiske
* Boston Maye 25th 1680
Recd of Mr Walter Fairefield for accompt of Mr Sam- uell Kemball Constable of Wenham by severall payements as mony in full of three rates of November 1678 Ten pounds Six Shillings 4ª
I saye recd per order of my Master Mr John Hull Per me John Newman
This 31 of March 1680 Recd of Samuell Kemball in full of his County rate for the vere 78 I saye Recª in full per me Robert Paine Treasur®
* 18tb: 4tb: 1680
Wee whose names are underwritn being mett together in behalfe of the towne & for ourselves to setle the Bounds betwine Mr. Smiths farme & the towne & other persons who have lands adjoyning to the said farme have Agreed as followeth viz: that the stake with the heape of stones Southwards about fowre Rod from the Meetting house is a Corner Bounds of said farme from wch stake East- ward the Country road is settld fowre Rod wide takeing
(*page 40) Receipt
(*page 41) Receipts
(*page 54) Bounds of Mr. Smith's Farm, &c.
52
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
the fenc on the North & the stakes on the South till it cometh to Richard Huttns howse hereby declareing that the North |side| of said highwaye is late Mr Felming- hams Bounds the South side is the bounds of the afore- said Mr Thomas Smiths farme & from thence the high waye is Staked till it cometh to the North corner of Good- man Maxeys fence & from thence to Ipswich lyne as the fenc formerly stood on the East sid of the roade & on the West syde of the Roade: [as] ye fenc nowe stand: & on the West syd of the Country Roade from Richard Huttns house to Ipswich |lyne| is by this agreement [to be accounted| Mr Felminghams Bounds & from | Ipswich! lynel the bounds of said Mr Smiths farme is setled as the Stakes are sett & trees marked including upland & medow on both sydes of the river excepting Walter Faire- fields & Richard Huttns land wch lyeth within said bounds.
Tho" Fiske Walter Fayrfield Charles Gott
Tho Smith marke
Daniell X Killim his
in behalfe of ourselves & the towne.
* 18th: 4th: mo: 1680
Know all men by these presents that whereas Sam1 Smith of Wenham deceised did Give to the towne ten acres of land : to the towne neare the old meeting howse; the Select men in behalfe of the towne wth Mr Thomas Smith have & Doe hereby Agree that the land from the heade of the Gen" feild cald the fifty acres wch the towne have Disposed of & is within fence as the fence nowe stands downe to ye pond by Mr Gerrishes howse is setld for the bounds of sd ten acres alwayes provided if Mr Thomas Smith shall see cause to remove the North east corner two lengths of fence inwards it shall be lawefull for him soe to doe alloweing two lengths outward at the uper end: & further the afore said Mr Thomas Smith doth hereby Grante & Confirme all that land betwin the lower end of the aforesaid ten acres on the south & the lyne betwine Mr Smiths farme & Mr Fiskes on the west
(*page 55) 10 Acres near the old Meets house, given by Sam !! Smith, laid out
53
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
& on the high wave on the north & the Swamp on the East to the towne for a travning place & not to be dis- posed of to any other use but shall lye in Comon.
Notwithstanding wat is before mentioned it is intended yt ve training plase shall [*com] no further y" ye Runn yt [*coms] out of ye great Swampe in my farme. (*comes?) Tho Smith
* 3 Sept: 80:
Thomas Fiske is appointed by the Select men to attend the Comitte at Boston (for the Colledg) according to a warrant to the Select men of our towne.
* An Agreement made betwene us whose names are underwritten in behalf of the Towns to which we doe belong viz. Beverly & Wenham & we doe hearby agree as followeth-That Wenham shall have their six hundred acc™ª of Comon land measured out first between Richard Dodg his land & the west end of Pleasant Pond to Ips- wich line and it is to be bounded on Longham meadow on the South so farr as the said meadow goeth & from the West end of said pond along by the South side of it untill it cometh to the white oake at the East end thereof called Manchester bound & from thence South East or on a streight lyne towards Chubbs Creek and so the six hun- dred Acc"" to be made up att the South East end of sd. Comon as may be most conveniant for both parties and the bounds or Lyne between the Townes aforesaid are to be as followeth viz: from the white oake tree on Alfords Hill formerly a bound between us & so on a streight lyne towards the white oake at the East end of Pleasant Pond cald Manchester bound untill it meeteth with the afore- said Comon & then the bounds of the sd. Comon to be the said Towne bounds untill they come to Manchester bounds & the aforesaid lyne to extend from the white oake on Alfords Hill aforesd on the contrarey pointe un- till it meeteth with the villiage lyne & all Beverleys Right in all Comon lands or proprietyes on the North & North- west syde of said lyne to belong to Wenham Townshipp: but if the lyne which goeth Eastward from the said white
(*page 48) College
(*page 18) Beverly Wenham Agreemt
54
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
oake on Alfords hill doth take into Wenham John Dodg Sen' his hous where hee now doth dwell we have agreed as followeth-That the said Dodg with his familey shall still belong to the towne of Beverly and his Successo's that shall dwell therin on the Condition that the said Dodge and his Successo's shall be liable to pay to all pub- lique charges in & to the towne of Wenham one third part of that which the persons and movable estate that doth belong to the said Dodge his dwelling hous & those that shall ther succeed him according to the Rate & proportion that the Inhabitants of the towne of Wenham shall be Rated and pay from time to time onely the said Dodge shall be freed from the Countrey Rates in Wen- ham for to be rated in Beverly for the abovesd hous per- sons & movable estate & the above made agreement shall bee & is a finall agreement of all Differences that ever hath bine between us about the bounds of our townes Respectively In Confirmation whereof we have hearunto Sett our hands this 22th of October: 1680:
William Dixey Sam" Corning S' William Dodge Paul Thorndick William Rayment John Dodge
Tho' Fiske Charles Gott Walter Fairefield
* We whose Names are underwrittn being mett to gether by the Appointment of Wenham & Beverly to setle the Devisionall Range Bounds betwin our Townes accord- ing to an Agreement made 22th of October 1680 betwine Agents Deputed by our severall Townes have Agreed as followeth, viz: We have Run the Lyne from Alfords Tree mentioned in the Aforesaid agreement Eastward towards the white oake at the East end of Pleasant Pond caled Manchester Bounds & have setled a Bound marke betwine our townes (on the edg of Wenham Comon) being a stake with a heape of stones; which stake & heape of stones shall be the standing bound marke betwin Wenham & Beverly & from Alfords Tree aforesaid we have Run upon the conterary pointe according to the aforesaid
(*page 17) Beverly Wenham bounds
55
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
Agreement to a litle white oake tree at or neare about the Villeag Bound lyne which we have markd & made a heape of stones about to be Altred to the Villeag lyne in cass it standeth not in it other wayes to be the standing bounds betwine our Townes as wittnese our hands
6th November 1680
Paull Thorndick : Tho" Fiske
John Dodg Nehemiah Grover
Walter Fairefield
Charles Gott
Jnº Batchelder Wm Fiske
* Delivered to Constable Sam11 Moulton a towne Rate Dated 9th: 10: 80 of 51-7-8 for our ministers maintainance.
Delivered to Constable Sam" Moulton two single Coun- try Rates with an addition for the defrayeing of towne charges Dated 21 of 10: 80 amounting to the sume of 19£-6°: 11ª |to be paid in money.|
Delivered to Constable Sam" Moulton two single Rates for the Country l& one County Rate| to be paid in paye amounting to 19 : 4 : 9 [have] also some Addittion to with it for towne Cost the Contryes due being 13-14ª-0: which Rate beareth Date 21: 10: 80
Delivered to Constable Sam" Moulton a towne Rate Dated 21: 10: 80 of the sume of 22€ : 15': 4ª: for the defraveing towne Cost about Setleing the towne bounds: -[but wheras it have bin| voted that the Rate Dated 21: 10: 80 of 22: 15: 4ª for the defraying of town Cost made voyd & another made in the stead which was de- livered to Constable Sam11 Moulton a |Rate| of 22:14-07 : to Mr Gerish ordered by the Select men -6-17-11 To Thomas Fiske Sen' 7-8-8 To Charles Gott 2-8-6 Walter Fairefield 3-8-3 W" Fiske 1-1-0 John Batchelder 0-18-0 & John Edwards for killing wolves 0-10-0
(*page 56) Rates
56
WENHAM TOWN RECORDS
The mony Rate Cald in also & another comited to Constable Sam" Moulton in the stead of it which is -21£-07-001-
(*page 35) Highwaya
* At a generall town metting 3 of January 80-
It is Voated that the Serveiers of the high ways in Wenham for the yer Insuing have power to call together. Soe many of the Inhabitants as they shall have ocasion for to mend any of our towne highways according to order from the towne and whosoever shall refuse to atend the wo[rk] one the high way being warned ther unto by the serveiers shall pay twoe shillings a day to be taken by the Constable by warrant from the Select men and the pay soe taken shall be disposed by the Select men for the use of the towne and it is Intended by warning they shall have three day noatic beforehand
John Killim John Edwards John Beare John Porter are Chosen Sirvei" for the yere Insueing.
Ordinary
Wood Rate
Walter Fayerfield was Chosen at a generall town meet- ing the 3 of Jeneuery 80 to keep the ordenary or house of publick entertainment.
Tis votted that our Past" shall have six Coards of wood Added to his former twenty Coard for this present yere.
Thomas Patch Joseph Fowler & Sam" Kemball are Chosen for a Comitte to see that our Past' have his wood paid in viz: by the last of feberary & in Cass any person or persons shall be defective in Carrying in his or their parte of wood timely according to this order shall forfit seaven shillings per Coard to be taken by warrant from the Select men & the abovesaid Comitte to have the for- fitt & see the wood Carryed in according to this towne order & the peanalty to be taken by the Constable.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.