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27. CHAPTER I. The Early Grants. Seven Grants Of Land. – The Policy of the General Court. – An Era of Grants. – The Starr Grant. – Owned by Green, Wilder and Joslin. – The Cambridge Grant. – The First Survey. – The Lexington Grant. – Sale of Same to the Germans. – The Bluefield Grant. – The Early Road to Northfield. – The Grant Sold to William Jones and Ephraim Wetherbee. – The Converse Grant. – Sale to Joseph Wilder. – The Rolfe Grant. – Sale to John Greenwood. – The Dorchester Canada or Township Grant. – The Canada Soldiers. – Four Towns Chartered in One Enactment. – The Township Surveyed. – Area. – Personal Notices. Rome was founded on seven hills. Ashburnham was founded on seven grants of land. To give some account of these several grants will be the province of this chapter. One hundred and fifty years ago, Massachusetts was rich in lands, but poor in treasure. The public treasury was continually overdrawn, and in place of money, the unappropriated lands became the currency of the province. Upon the wilderness, the Government made frequent and generous drafts in the payment of a great variety of claims and demands against the colony. At the time these seven grants of land were made, the prolonged controversy concerning the location of the province line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was being vigorously prosecuted. It was clearly the accepted policy of Massachusetts to fortify her claim to a 28. large tract of the controverted territory by possession and occupancy, in the hope thereby of maintaining a claim to the domain after all diplomacy had failed. Thus stimulated, both by necessity and policy, the General Court made numerous grants of land in this immediate vicinity, with unmistakable alacrity. It was an era of benevolence. Perceiving the disposition of the Government, many, who could only make the smallest pretext of service rendered the colony by themselves or their ancestors, were found among the petitioners for land. Seldom were their requests denied, and even old claims, which had remained unanswered many years, were suddenly revived and rewarded with generous parcels of the public domain. While this spirit of liberality was rife and condescending, the territory within the ancient boundaries of this township was severed from the wilderness and bestowed in recognition of service rendered the colony. Included within the limits of Dorchester Canada, were six earlier grants, which were located and surveyed before the bounds of the township had been established. They fell within, yet were independent of, the main grant, as will appear in the progress of our narrative. In regard to the relative dates of these grants, the traditions of the town are not in harmony with the facts, and Whitney’s History of Worcester County, 1793, incorrectly asserts: “To the original grant were afterwards added Lexington farm of one thousand acres, Cambridge farm of one thousand acres more, and Rolfe’s farm of six hundred acres, and another of about a thousand acres.” Rev. Dr. Cushing, in his Half Century Sermon, 1818, repeats the error in nearly the same words: “To the original grant, four farms were annexed: Lexington Farm, Cambridge Farm each of 1000 acres, Rolf’s Farm of 7 or 800 acres, and another of 1000.” But he nearly corrects the statement when he adds, that “these 29. farms were located west of Lunenburg and Townsend, and north of Westminster, before this town was granted.” It will appear that there were six farms, or grants of land, and that all of them were conveyed and located previous to the grant of Dorchester Canada. In the survey and location of the township, these farms were included within its boundaries, but were not computed as part of the thirty-six square miles that were conveyed in the grant of the township. About 1650, Dr. Thomas Starr accompanied, as surgeon, one of the expeditions against the Pequots. This service is the earliest event of which we have any knowledge, that is immediately associated with the history of Ashburnham, and leads directly to the narrative of the first grant of land within this town. I. The Starr Grant. – On account of this service of Dr. Thomas Starr, who died in Charlestown, 1654, his widow, four years later, petitioned for a grant of land, as appears in Court Records, 1658: Whereas Mr. Thomas Starre deceased having left a desolat widdow and eightsmale children was ye chirurgeon of one of ye companys yt went against ye Pequotts in Ansr to the Request of Severall Gentln on yt behalfe. The Court judgeth it meete to graunt fower hundred acres of Land to ye sayd widow & children & doe impower ye Tresurer and Capt. Norton to make sale or otherwise to dispose of the sayd as may best conduce to ye benefit of the widdow & children as they shall see meete. It is certain that this grant was never located and that the desolate widow and eight small children did not receive any benefit from the kind intentions of the General Court. Seventy-five years later, the descendants of Dr. Starr revived the claim as set forth in Council Records. October 19, 1733: 30. A Petition of Benjamin Starr for himself and the rest of the heirs & Descendants of the widow of Thomas Starr late of Charlestown decd showing that the General Court of the late Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in the year 1658 for Service done by the said Thomas Starr made a Grant of four hundred Acres of Land to his said widow & Children which has not yet been laid out and therefore praying that they may now be allowed to lay out four hundred Acres of the unappropriated Land of the province to satisfy the said Grant. In the House of Representatives Read & Ordered that the prayer of the petition be granted and the petitioners are allowed and impowered by a Surveyor & Chainman on Oath to Survey and lay out four hundred Acres of the unappropriated Lands of the province so as not to prejudice the Settlement of a Township & that they return a Plat thereof to this Court within twelve Months for confirmation. In Council Read & Concurred, Consented to J. BELCHER. Again the petitioners suffered their grant to lapse, and, in November, 1734, the General Court with expansive consideration “ordered that twelve months more be allowed to Benjamin Star of New London and other heirs to take and return a plat of land.” Under the provisions of this vote the grant was consummated and the service of Dr. Starr, after the lapse of nearly a century, was rewarded. The survey was made by Joseph Wilder and returned under date of May 30, 1735. The chainmen is this survey were John Bennett and Joseph Wheelock. In the meantime the Cambridge farm and the Lexington farm, which were granted in 1734, had been surveyed and confirmed, and the Starr farm, although first granted, became the third in the order of survey. The confirmation or approval by the General Court is under date of June 10, 1735: 31. A Plat of four hundred Acres of Land Granted to the heirs of the widow Starr laid out by Joseph Wilder Esqr, Surveyor and Chainmen on oath, lying on the north side of Narragansett Town number two and bounded every other way by Province Lands beginning at a stake & stones on the aforesaid Narragansett Line, Eighty rods west of where the said line crosses a branch of Lancaster North River that comes out of Wenecheag pond; thence running north 18 degrs west three hundred & thirty rods to a stake and stones; thence Running west 18 degrs South two hundred & Eight rods to a stake & stones; thence Running south 18 degrs East three hundred & thirty rods to the aforesaid Narragansett Line to a stake & stones; thense with said line East 18 degrs north two hundred & eight Rods to where it first began. In the House of Representatives: Read & Ordered that the Plat be accepted and the Lands therin delineated & described be and hereby are confirmed to the said Benjamin Star and the other heirs and descendants of the widow of Dr. Thomas Star deceased their heirs and assigns Respectively provided the plat exceed not the quantity of four hundred Acres of Land and does not Interfere with any former Grant. Consented to J. BELCHER. This tract of land can be easily traced at the present time. It lies on the line between Ashburnham and Westminster, its southeast corner being on the town line four hundred and fourteen rods westerly from the common corner of Ashburnham, Fitchburg and Westminster. It is a rectangle extending three hundred and thirty rods northerly and two hundred and eight rods westerly from the point named. Ten rods were added to the length and eight rods to the width on account of “uneven ground and swag of chain.” The homestead of John G. Woodward # Willard Road approx. ˝ mile past Sallie Thoma’s lies within the grant. Before the close of the year the heirs sold the grant to Thomas Green, a merchant of Boston, for two hundred 32. pounds, which then was about two hundred dollars in silver. Six years later Mr. Green sold the whole four hundred acres to Joseph Wilder, Jr., who continued the owner alone and in company with John Joslin until the time it was sold in small lots a number of years later. While Mr. Wilder had possession of this land he also owned the Converse grant which lies next west, and togeather they were known as the Wilder farm. II. The Cambridge Grant. – For many years the General Court of the colony made it obligatory upon Cambridge, Newton and Lexington to maintain the bridge spanning Charles river between Brighton and Cambridge. This structure, called the “Great Bridge,” was built in 1662 and was justly considered an achievement of considerable magnitude. These towns made frequent requests to be relieved, wholly or in part, from the burden of its support, and finally the three towns joined in a petition to the General Court praying that “they may be in some measure eased of it or that the Court would make them a Grant of Land the better to enable them to support said charge.” The Court apparently, was more inclined to give them land, than to offer or suggest any other relief, and with commendable promptness voted to each of the three towns one thousand acres of land. These grants were made June 22, 1734. Newton located five hundred and sixty-six acres adjoining Athol and Petersham and the remaining four hundred and thirty-four acres at Berwick, Maine. Cambridge and Lexington located their grants within the limits of this town, which for many years were familiarly known as Cambridge and Lexington farms. The Cambridge grant was surveyed previous to September 6, of the same year, for at that date Nathan Heywood made oath that in surveying this grant he had employed his best skill and understanding. The location and survey of the 33. grant were confirmed September 13, 1734. This grant was the first tract of land severed from the wilderness within the township of Ashburnham and was described in the records: A Plat Containing one thousand acres of the unappropriated Land of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay Laid out to satisfy a Grant made by the great and general court in their last sessions to the Town of Cambridge to enable them the better to keep in Repair their great Bridge over Charles River. Beginning at a certain Pillar of Stones erected for the North east Corner in the line of Lunenburg [now Fitchburg] about three or four score rods South from Northfield Road and running South 12 deg West on said line of Lunenburg one mile and a half and twenty pole with 17 pole allowance for swag of chain and uneven Land to a red oak tree marked. Then running West 12 deg North on unappropriated Land one mile with eleven pole allowance to a pillar of stones and a Little beech tree; the other two lines being paralel with the same allowance and bounding on Common land. Let it be remembered that in the survey of this grant, in the summer of 1734, Nathan Heywood of Lunenburg performed the first act within the township that is a part of the continuous history of this town. Previous events, more important in their results, occurred remote from the theatre of action. There are records of exploring parties through this town, and Great Watatic, Little Watatic, the Naukeag lakes, Stoger meadow and Souhegan river were associated names at an earlier date. This grant was the first tract of land severed from the unbounded wilderness. There is no record of any previous act performed on the soil that influenced succeeding events. The town of Cambridge owned this tract of one thousand acres about thirty years and during this time the records of that town contain frequent reference to “the Bridge farm in Dorchester Canada.” In 1751 the bounds were 34. renewed by direction of the town, and in the succeeding years several committees were chosen with instructions to sell the land, provided reasonable terms could be secured. These measures for several years were void of any result. In November, 1764, “the town chose Deacon Samuel Whittemore, Thomas Sparhawk, Esq., Joseph Lee, Esq., Captain Ebenezer Stedman and Captain Thomas Adams to effect a sale” and give them more peremptory instructions in regard to the business. No record of a sale has been found. There is however, ample evidence that the town of Cambridge sold the land in several lots previous to 1770. In 1768, Captain Thomas Adams owned a portion of the farm and sold to his son John Adams one hundred acres of land “being a part of Cambridge Grant,” and later he sold to Joshua Billings eighty acres adjoining. In 1772, the town of Cambridge enter on record an inventory of notes and money “being the proceeds of the sale of Cambridge farm.” This record includes a note given by Isaac Stearns of Billerica for two hundred pounds, dated June 3, 1765; a note given by Samuel Russell of Cambridge for ninety-four pounds, six shillings and eight pence, dated August 4, 1769; and a note given by Antil Gallop of Cambridge for one hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence, dated August 5, 1771. No conveyance from the town of Cambridge or its committee is found on record, nor is it easy to discover in what manner Gallop and Russell disposed of their land. In regard to the land owned by Isaac Stearns the record in a more accommodating spirit announce that he sold seventy-five acres to Samuel Adams in 1769, and one hundred and forty acres in 1772 to Simeon Proctor and the same year two hundred and fifty acres to Ebenezer Fletcher. In all of these deeds the premises are described “as a part of the Bridge farm of Cambridge grant.” It has been frequently 35. asserted and quite generally believed that this land was once the cherished property of Harvard University. An exhaustive search of the records of that institution not only fails to discover any proof of the allegation but finds ample evidence that the favorite tradition is unsupported and erroneous. In the succeeding chapters the families bearing the name of Adams, Russell, Billings and Fletcher, which have been introduced in these proceedings, will be found in the continued occupancy of the premises. III. The Lexington Grant. – It already appears that this grant was simultaneous with the Cambridge grant, and for the same consideration. The survey was returned under date of September 18, and the grant was confirmed November 21, 1734. Ebenezer Prescott was the surveyor and Ephraim Wetherbee and Isaac Townsend were chainmen. The report of the survey is here given: At the Request of Capt. Boman and other Gentleman of Lexington I have laid out pursuant unto a grant of 1000 acres for the support of Cambridge Bridge, at Stogers west of Little Wetatuck (this is an error, intending Blood Hill) beginning 46 perches S 12 d. west from Lunenburg [now Fitchburg] Corner (not current corner, see map, City And River page 99) on South west side of Little Wetatuck to a heap of stones then running N. W. 29 d. N 320 perches as the shanmen [chainmen] say to a Hemlock with stones marked with L about 16 p ** off. then turning S. W. 29 W 500 perches to a Hemlock then turning S E 29d S 320 perches to a rock with stones laid on it. Then Turning N. E. 291/2 d. E 175 perches to the line of Cambridge’s 1000 acres. Then turning North 10 perches by the line of said Cambridge corner and then turning by Cambridge Line 40 perches and then to the bounds first mentioned N E 29d E. One perch allowance in 50 for swag of chain. It will be seen that the northwest corner of Cambridge farm enters one side of this grant, cutting from it one and one-fourth acres. Accompanying the survey is a map defining the location of the brooks and of two meadows. Within 36. the outlines of the larger of these is written “Stogers meadow,” which clothes this name with considerable antiquity. On this map, Ward pond is represented a short distance north of the grant, but no name is applied to it. The brook flowing from it is styled Souhegen in one place and Sougan in another. The town of Lexington received no benefit from the grant for more than twenty years, when the town voted “to sell the Bridge farm, so called, that lies in Dorchester Canada, and chose William Reed, Ebenezer Fiske and John Stone to conduct the sale.” In a deed dated December 31, 1757, the whole tract was sold to seven German emigrants for two hundred and eighty pounds, who, with others of the same nationality, immediately settled upon their new possessions. The origin of the name Dutch farms is here easily discovered. IV. The Bluefield Grant. – This grant of four hundred and fifty acres was made to secure the maintenance of a house of entertainment upon the line of the Northfield road, which was laid out through this town previous to the charter of Dorchester Canada. This grant was located in the northwest part of the town, and upon both sides of that ancient road. In what manner the name of Bluefield became associated with this grant, is uncertain. The earliest records refer to the Bluefield farm and to the Bluefield road, but attentive research finds no explanation of this use of the word. Tradition, every ready with suggestions, asserts, but without proof, that Mr. Bluefield lived here once upon a time, but the only undisputable thing that we can assert about Bluefield, is our complete ignorance concerning its origin. Happily, the history of the grant is less obscure than its name. To several prominent citizens of Lunenburg had been granted large tracts of land in the southwest part of New Hampshire, above Northfield. These gentlemen mani- 37. fested a lively interest in the construction and maintenance of the “great road from Lunenburg to Northfield and the new towns at Ashuelot.” In the autumn of 1734, Benjamin Bellows, Hilkiah Boynton and Moses Willard joined in a petition for a grant of land to be located at some convenient point on the line of the road. The petition sets forth that the entire length of the road is forty-two miles, and that about twenty-four miles from Lunenburg there is a “house of entertainment set up to the great ease and comfort of persons traveling that road,” and continues: “and your Petitioners apprehending it would greatly accommodate Travelers more especially in Winter seasons to have another House of Entertainment between Lunenburg and that already set up Humbly petition your Excellency and his Honble Court to make them a grant of Land, in some suitable place if it be found on said Road, of four hundred and fifty acres of land.” In answer to this petition, the General Court, November 28, 1734, granted four hundred and fifty acres on the line of the road and “near to Lexington Farm.” It was stipulated in the grant that the survey should be made and returned within six months. The survey was not made until July 2, 1735, for the reasons set forth in another petition from the same gentleman.: The Petition of Benjamin Bellows for himself Hilkiah Boynton and Noses Willard: - Humbly Sheweth, That on the 28th Day of November 1734 your Exelency and Honours were pleased to Grant your Petitioners four Hundred and fifty Acres of Land To be Layed out in a reguler form on the new Road from Lunenburg to Northfield within six months from ye grant aforesd On the Conditions mentioned and Espressed in the Grant and order of Court. That your Petitioners Soon agter making of said Grant were about to Lay out the Land granted Accordingly; And upon the 38. said Road as then marked out viewed a Tract for that purpose but were told by Coll. Willard and others Concerned in Said Road That it would be necessary to alter the Same and if we Should Lay out the Land before the Road was Altered it might not answer the end proposed viz. The entertainment of Travaillers &c. which occassioned Your Petitioners to Delay Laying out and Building on said Land Till the Time Given your Petitioners was Elapsed. Since Which Your Petitioners by the Advice and the Desire of Coll Willard and Others Chiefly concerned in said Road have Layed Out the Said Tract as Discribed in the plat herewith presented and built theron a Good Dwelling House And furnished the Same for ye Entertainment of Travailers, Cleared a considerable Quantity of Land and Got Hay Sufficient for the Accomodation of all Travailers using Said Road and have Inhabited for more Than six months Last past. And Inasmuch as the only Reason of your Petitioners neglecting to Lay out and comply with the Conditions of said Grant was That the Good Ends proposed thereby might not be frustrated and Travaillers ye better accomodated. Therefore Your Petitioners Most Humbly pray your Exelency & Honours would be pleased to accept the said plat and Confirm the Land therein described To your petitioners their heirs & assigns forever. On Condition they perform upon the Same within Twelve monthe next coming All Things enjoyned them in the Conditions of ye Grant aforesd they have omitted; The Time being Elapsed as aforesd notwithstanding. And Your Petitioners as bound in Duty shall ever pray. BENJAMIN BELLOWS. Tis hereby certifyed that what is Above Suggested Respecting the Turning the Road and the Petitioners building and Improving upon the Land is true. JOSIAH WILLARD The date of this petition does not appear but it was written between July 2, 1735, the date of the survey, and January 17, 1736-7, when the General Court confirmed the grant. 39. With the original papers in the State archives on this subject is the report of David Farrar, the surveyor, in which it is stated that the grant is located on the Northfield road, partly on the fifteenth and partly on the sixteenth miles from Lunenburg, that it was laid out in the form of a rectangle two hundred and eighty-four by two hundred and seventy rods, with about one rod in thirty allowance for uneven ground; that the direction of the southern boundary is north 70° east, two hundred and eighty-four rods; and is bounded on all sides by unappropriated land. It is also stated that the southwest corner is forty or fifty rods south of a brook and meadow. On the plan is represented the Northfield road entering the grant ten rods north of the southeast corner and extending north 47° west, until it leaves it near the center of the northern side. In the easterly part of this grant is the farm of the late Deacon Daniel Jones and in the western part is the No. 7 school-house. In 1737, the grantees sold the whole tract to William Jones and Ephraim Wetherbee, both of Lunenburg, for ninety pounds. The same year Mr. Wetherbee sold his interest to Ephraim Wheeler of Lancaster. In these ancient deeds it is called the Bellows farm and the name of Bluefield does not appear. William Jones died in 1761. In his will his interest in this land is devised to two sons, Enos and Isaac. The later son died soon after the death of his honored father and the heirs, in 1773, joined in a deed conveying their interest to Enos who was then residing on the premises. V. The Converse Grant. – Several grants of land were bestowed upon the heirs of Major James Converse of Woburn in recognition of distinguished service rendered the colony, among them was a grant of four hundred acres of land located in this town. In the House of Representatives, December 9, 1734, it was ordered that the petition of Robert 40. and Josiah Converse, sons of Major James Converse, be revived and that they be granted four hundred acres on the condition that “within five years the petitioners settle two families on the granted premises, each of which to have an house of eighteen feet square and seven feet stud at the least and four acres each brought to and plowed or stocked with English grass and fitted for mowing.” The land was surveyed by Joseph Wilder in May and the title confirmed by the General Court June 10, 1735. The descriptive portion of these papers is as follows: Said land lieth on the northerly side of one of the towns called Narragansett viz: No. 2 and bounds southerly thereon. Easterly it bounds on a farm of four hundred acres laid out to the heirs of Thomas Starr, Northerly and Westerly by common or province lands. It began at a stake and stones the South Corner of the aforesaid farm and from thence it ran with it North 18 degrees West three hundred and thirty Rods to a stake and stones; from thence it ran west 18 degrees South Two hundred and Eight rods to a stake and stones; and from thence it ran South Eighteen degrees East three hundred and thirty Rods to the aforesaid Naragansett line to a stake and stones and then with said line East 18 degrees North two hundred and eighty rods to where it began. In other terms this grant was located on the Westminster line extending west from the Starr grant nearly to South Ashburnham village. Robert Converse immediately sold his interest to his brother Josiah, who sold it to Gershom Keyes of Boston, October 10, 1735, for one hundred and fifty pounds. It passes through several hands and is soon sold to Hezekiah Gates, who in 1746 sold it to Joseph Wilder, Jr., and as stated it then became a part of the Wilder farm. VI. The Rolfe Grant. – Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, the second minister of Haverhill, was slain by the Indians in their attack upon that town August 29, 1708. His wife and 41. one child were also killed. “Two daughters were preserved by Hagar, the maid servant, who covered them with tubs in the cellar.” A son also escaped as appears in the records of this grant. The surviving children are petitioners in 1735 for a tract of land on account of the service of their father and were granted six hundred acres which subsequently became and still remains an important part of this town. The records of the General Court recited the petition of these words: A Petition of Benjamin Rolfe and the Rest of the heirs of the Revd Mr Benjamin Rolfe, late of Haverhill deceased, showing that his said father was employed divers times as Chaplin to the Forces in the late wars and once in an actual Engagement with the Indian Enemy and afterwards settled in the work of the Ministry at Haverhill where he with their mother was killed by the Indians and therefore praying that this Court would Grant to the Petr and his sisters some of the waste lands of the Province. In response to their petition the General Court June 17, 1735, granted six hundred acres. The land was surveyed by Joseph Wilder, previous to November 7, when the chainmen, John Bennett and Joseph Wheelock, made oath that they had performed the service “without favor or affection and according to their best judgement.” The grant was confirmed December 23, 1735. This tract of land, known many years as the Rolfe farm, is located in the southeast corner of this town between the Starr and the Cambridge grants. It is bounded east 120 rods by Fitchburg, south 414 rods by Westminster, west 330 rods by the Starr grant, and northerly 320 rods by the Cambridge grant and a line of 210 rods joining the corners of the two last named grants. Phillip’s Brook and the Fitchburg road divide this tract into two unequal portions, the 42. greater part lying east of them. Northerly it extends one mile from the Westminster line or to the farm of the late Dr. Merrick Wallace 52 Fitchburg Road. The Rolfe heirs retained the grant until 1750 when it was sold to John Greenwood of Boston for two hundred and thirty pounds. He sold it out in the years immediately following in several lots, and in this way it came into the possession of the early settlers. VII. The Dorchester Canada or Township Grant. – The immediate consideration leading to the grant of this township and others in the vicinity, is found in connection with the expedition to Canada in 1690. The story of this ill-fated exploit forms an interesting chapter in the early history of New England. The hardships and missfortunes of this the hazardous enterprise were shared by companies of soldiers from Dorchester, Ipswich, Rowley and many other towns in the colony. In fitting out a force of two thousand soldiers and thirty two ships the treasury of the colony was so greatly depleted that nothing was left for the payment of the soldiers on their return. In this emergency the colony resorted to the issue of treasury notes to the amount of one hundred and thirty-three thousand pounds which was the first paper money ever issued in New England. These notes, founded simply on the good intentions of an impoverished colony, so rapidly depreciated in value that the soldiers, to whom they had been paid, sought indemnity from the General Court. For along time their solicitations were persistently pressed and renewed without avail until an era of grants of land came to their relief. About 1735, after many of the petitioners were dead, the General Court, influenced, possibly, as much by a newly formed policy of encouraging settlements along the line of the disputed boundaries between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, as by any other consideration, granted a township to each company of sixty soldiers 43. and the heirs of those deceased. On account of the service for which they were bestowed these grants were styled Canada townships and they generally received the additional name of the town in which a majority of the petitioners resided. To the soldiers from Dorchester were assigned this town which bore the name of Dorchester Canada many years. In the same manner and at the same time was granted Ipswich Canada, now Winchendon, and immediately after Rowley Canada, now Rindge. There were many other Canada townships but not in this immediate vicinity. The adjustment of the province line found several of these townships in New Hampshire and their charters were annulled. In January, 1735, the General Court, premonitory to some action in the premises, ordered the appointment of a committee to take into consideration these petitions of the soldiers and “report what may be proper for the Court to do.” The day following, the committee cleared the deck for action in recommending that a township of six miles square be granted to every collection of sixty soldiers or the heirs of those deceased and that these grants be located between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers. The committee further recommended that these grants be given under certain restrictions, which need not be stated in this connection, ad they are repeated in the charters that were subsequently enacted. Without great delay, four townships were granted under one charter which passed the House June 10, the Council June 18, and was approved by Governor Belcher, December 29, 1735. In the order named in the charter these towns are now known as Warwick, Ashburnham, Guilford, Vermont, and Winchendon, and all of them are of equal age. Should the neighboring towns, Ashburnham and Winchendon, contend for the honors of antiquity, we can enjoy the ample consolation that in the charter, the name of Tilestone precedes that of Tilton. 44. It would be easy to be led into the error of presuming that each of these towns were created under a specific grant, for the Deputy Secretary made copies for the grantees of each town. In some of them, at least, is omitted all reference to the three remaining towns. These copies have been mistaken for independent charters. The quadripartite grant or charter is here given: In The House of Representatives June 10, 1735. In Answer to the four Petitions of Samuel Newel and others, Thomas Tilestone and others, Samuel Gallop and others, and Abraham Tilton and others: Voted, that four Several Tracts of Land for Townships each of the Contents of Six Miles Square be Laid out in Suitable Places in the western Parts of this Province and that the whole of each Town be laid out into Sixty three equal Shares, one of which to be for the first Settled minister, on to be for the use of the Ministry and one for the School; and that on the other Sixty Shares in each Town there be Sixty Settlers admitted and in the admittion thereof Preference to be given to the Petitioners and such are Decendants of the officers and soulders who Served in the Expedition to Canada in the year 1690. Viz one Tract of Land for a Township to the said Samuel Newell & others, one other Tract of Land to the said Thomas Tilestone and others, one other Tract of Land to the said Samuel Gallop and others, and the other Tract of Land to the said Abraham Tilton and others and in Case there be not a sufficient number of Persons named in each of the said four Petitions as ware either officers or Soulders in the said Expedition or the Descendants of Such as were lost or are since Deceased So as to make Sixty Persons in each Town be admitted and inasmuch as the officers and Soulders in that Expedition ware very great Sufferers and underwent uncommon Hardships, Voted that this Province be at the Sole Charge of laying out the said four 45. Townships in a Regular manner and of admitting the Settlers. – That the Settlers of Grantees be and hereby are obliged to bring forward the settlement of the said four Townships in as Regular & defensible a manner as the Situation and the Circumstances of the Places will admit of, and that in the following manner, Viz. That they be on the Granted Premises Respectively and have each each of them an House of eighteen Feet square and seven Feet stud at the least. That each Right or Grant have six Acres of Land brought to and Plowed or brought to English Grass and fitted for mowing. That they respectively Settle in each Plantation or Township a Learned and Orthodox minister and Bild a Convenient Meeting House for the Public Worship of God in each Township. The whole of these Conditions to be duly complied with within five years from the Confirmation of the Plats. And that John Bowles and John Metcalf Esqrs with such as the Honourable Board shall appoint be the Committee for laying out the Township hereby Granted to Samuel Newell and others; Thomas Tilestone Esqr and Mr William Royall with such as the Honourable Board shall appoint be the Committee for laying out the Township hereby granted to Samuel Gallop and others; and Capt John Hobson and Capt John Choate with such as the Honourable Board shall appoint to be the Committee for laying out the Township hereby granted to Abraham Tilton & others, for laying out the Townships Respectively & admitting the Settlers as aforesaid to be entitled to and draw future Divisions in equal Proportions in the Townships or Plantations Respectively and that the Committee return the Plats of the said Townships to this Court within twelve months for Confirmation, as also a List of the Names of the Respective Grantees and their Place of Resicence into the Secretarys Office that so the same may be examined and 46. Regulated by a Committee that may be hereafter for that Purpose appointed by the Court and further it is ordered that in case any of the Grantees shall neglect or delay to fullfill the Terms of this Grant such Person of Persons shall forfeit to the Province all his or their Right and Interest in the land hereby granted. Sent up for Concurrence J. QUINCY, Spkr. In Council June 18 1735: - Read & Concurred, and ordered that William Dudley Esqr be joyned to the Committee for laying out the first Township, Joseph Wilder Esqr for the second, Edward Goddard Esqr for the third and Thomas Berry Esqr for the fourth Township. J. WILLARD Secry December 29 Consented to J. BELCHER Immediately following the grant of these townships the General Court instructed the several committees charges with the distribution of the land to give “preference to the eldest male heir if such there be otherwise to the eldest female” and that the heir of any soldier deceased redeiving a right or one-sixtieth part of a township, “ shall pay the other descendants or their heirs of the deceased soldier their proportion-able part of ten pounds.” These committees were further instructed to exercise “the Best Care they Can in Examining and Regulating the Claims of all Persons that shall appear as Heirs, Descendants or Representatives to make and keepe fair Lists of the names and Places of Residence of the Respective Grantees or Settlers of the said Towns in order to prevent Mistakes in setteling and Regulating the Claims and admission of the Grantees.” At the same time it was ordered that if the expense of surveying and admitting settlers exceed fifty pounds the excess should be paid by the grantees. The former vote to pay the whole expense had been in consideration that “the officers and soldiers in that expedition ware very 47. great sufferers and underwent uncommon Hardships.” In the amended vote it is made reasonably certain that their estimate of the great suffering and uncommon hardship of every sixty soldiers and the heirs of those deceased did not exceed, when expressed in financial terms, the sum of fifty pounds. Under the direction of the committee consisting of Joseph Wilder, Thomas Tilestone and William Royal, the township of Dorchester Canada was promptly surveyed by Jonas Houghton. The report of the survey dated January, 1736, the day of the month omitted, is substantially repeated in the act of confirmation which was passed June 1, 1736. A Plat of a Tract of Six miles Square Granted to Thomas Tilestons Esq & others for a Township laid out by Jonas Houghton Surveyr and Chainmen on oath, Bounding Southerly on the Narragansett Township No two; Westerly by a Township laid out for Tilton and others Northerly by a Township laid out for Ipswich and Easterly part on Townshend and part on Lunenburg. It begins at a Hemlock the North Easterly Corner of the said Narragansett Town & Runs West 18 deg. South seven Miles wanting twenty Rods from thence North 12 deg East Eight miles & two hundred Rods. And from East 12 deg South Seven miles and 100 perch from thence Southerly by said Townshend line One thousand One hundred & twenty & by Lunenburg line Six hundred & twenty Rods to where it first began. In the House of Representa : Read and Ordered that the within plat be and hearly is accepted and the Lands therein Delineated & Described are accordingly Confirmed to the Grantees Mentioned in the Petition of Thomas Tilestone Esqr and others in behalf of the officers and Soldiers in the Canada Expedition Anno 1690 which passed this Court in their late Sittings and to their heirs and assigns and Lawfull Representas Respectively forever: they Complying with the Conditions of the Grant. Provided the Plat exceeds no the quantity of Six Miles Square with and addition of Three Thousand Eight hundred and Fifty Acre 48. formerly Granted and contained in the plat and three hundred acres allowed for Ponds and does not Interfere with any former Grant. In Council Read & Concurred Consented to J. BELCHER Our new township now assumes the name of Dorchester Canada, which it retains until the incorporation of Ashburnham in 1765. As yet it is merely a defined portion of the wilderness. The rudest habitation of man has nowhere a place in the unbroken forest. The echoes from the bustle and activity of civilization have never answered back from the surrounding hills nor floated over the lakes. But now the compass and the chain, the heralds of the approach of man, hem the forest within the pale of the axe and the torch and the greed of gain fastens its despoiling hands upon the hills and the valleys which for centuries have been sleeping in the beauty and quietude of nature. The influences which guided the committee to this locality can never be fully known. The assignment of any reason, at this late day, is speculative. If they came by the was of Lunenburg this was the first unappropriated land they had found. It is a fact, also, that one of the committee was not a stranger to the place. The summer proceeding Joseph Wilder had been here as the surveyor of the Starr, the Converse and the Rolfe grants. The attentive reader has observed that in the act of confirmation, Dorchester Canada is bounded on all sides by township lines. A literal construction of the terms employed would lead to the conclusion that the committee here found a tract of unappropriated land entirely surrounded by established towns, with an area so accommodating that an exact equivalent to six miles square was conveniently left for their 49. acceptance. The terms defining the western and northern boundaries need explanation. At this time Tilton’s town or Ipswich Canada had not been surveyed, but it is within reason to infer there was an understanding between the two committees that Ipswich Canada was to be located next west of Dorchester Canada. In fact, Ipswich Canada was not laid out until the summer following. New Ipswich bounding on the north had not been surveyed at this time, but it was located before Dorchester Canada was confirmed. The south and east boundaries were already established and now the surveyor runs the west line parallel to the old Lunenburg line and the north line at right angle and locates them so as to include the required area. The allowance of 3850 acres for former grants and 300 acres for ponds required the surveyor to lay out 27,190 acres instead of 23,040 stipulated in the charter. The survey contained about 27,700 acres which was not an unusual allowance for uneven ground. In this account of the several grants an attempt has been made to discover where each was located and for what consideration it was bestowed. An outline sketch, at the close of this chapter, presents a summary view of the form and relative position of the township and the six smaller and earlier grants which were included within its boundaries. The lapse of time will add interest to these initial features of our local history. In these early grants, extending wider and wider from the centres of population, new fields were dedicated to the occupancy of man. To this portion of the wilderness which has now been located and outlined the succeeding chapters will welcome the arrival of the settlers, and attend them while they fell the forest, build houses for their families, establish churches and schools and wisely direct the civil affairs of the new settlement. 50. Many of the persons named in this chapter will appear again. Unless incidentally mentioned the names of others associated with these events will not be repeated in the following chapters. Ebenezer Prescott, Jonas Houghton and David Farrar, the surveyors, were residents of Lancaster. Jonas Houghton was also employed in the original survey of New Ipswich. Ephram Wetherbee and Hilkiah Boynton were of Lunenburg. Ephraim Wetherbee was chainman for Nathan Heywood in the first survey of Rindge. Colonel Josiah and Moses Willard were leading men in Lunenburg at the date of their mention in this chapter. They were among the grantees of Winchester, New Hampshire, and became prominent in the annals of Cheshire county. Their only interest in this town was in connection with the Northfield road which extended through the township and opened a way to their lands in New Hampshire. Colonel Benjamin Bellows was also of Lunenburg at this date. Subsequently he removed to Walpole, New Hampshire, which for a time was called Bellowstown. Combined with a remarkable business capacity were energy and decision of character. It was his son Benjamin who was a general in the Revolution and through a long and useful life distinguished in civil affairs. Major James Converse was of Woburn where he closed an active and eventful life July 8, 1706. He was a member of the General Court and three times elected speaker of the House. In military affairs he was equally distinguished and his gallant defence of Storer’s garrison in 1688 is mentioned in complimentary terms in the histories of the time. His sons, Robert and Josiah, to whom the land in this town was granted on account of the service of their father, were influential citizens of Woburn, although for a short time Josiah is found residing in Leicester. 51.
(Draft of grants)
A B – Ipswich Canada Line – South part now in Gardner. B C – New Ipswich Line – now New Ipswich and Rindge. C D – Old Townsend Line – now in Ashby. D E – Old Lunenburg Line – now Fitchburg. A E – Westminster Line – West part now in Gardner. I – Starr Grant. II – Cambridge Grant. III – Lexington Grant. IV – Bluefield Grant. V – Converse Grant. VI – Rolfe Grant. VII – Dorchester Canada. |