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52. CHAPTER II. Proprietary History. The Township Awarded To Sixty Persons. Their Influence Over The Settlement. Proceedings Of The First Meeting. Changes In Membership Of The Proprietors. House Lots Surveyed. Site For Meeting-House Selected. Saw-Mill Proposed. Second Distribution Of Land. A Fulling-Mill Suggested. The First Meeting-House. War With Hezekiah Gates. The Province Line. Mossmans Inn. Fear Of Indians. Block-House Built. The Settlement Temporarily Abandoned. The Situation. Changes In Membership Of The Proprietors. Personal Notices. Mossmans Petition. Dorchester Canada now falls into the possession of its new proprietors. Three shares or rights are reserved for public uses, and sixty are bestowed upon the persons contemplated by the charter. Thus each person to whom is alloted a right becomes the owner of one sixty-third part of the township. The committee promptly completed the service enjoined in the charter by naming the persons who were entitled to a share in the grant. Fifty-four rights were bestowed on account of service under Captain John Withington of Dorchester, and six to the soldiers, ot their legal representatives, in other companies. Fortunately the report of this committee has been preserved. It presents a sad record of mortality. Only one soldier, Phillip Godding, comes forward and receives in person this late reward for service to the colony. It is certain, however, that a few others, repre- 53. sented on this occasion by their relatives, were still living. The sixty rights in the township were assigned as follows: 1 Thomas Wilder of Lancaster in Right of His wife Susannah eldest daughter to John Pope. 2 John Swift Junr of Framingham in the Right of His Father Mr John Swift eldest Brother to William Swift. 3 Joseph Warren of Roxbury in the Right of Elias Monk of Stoughton. 4 Benjaman Cheney of Dorchester in the Right of his Brother William Cheney. 5 Joseph Triscott of Dorchester in the Right of His Father Joseph Triscott. 6 Humphret Atherton of Stoughton in the Right of His Father Consider Atherton. 7 Jonathan Chandler of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother Samuel Chandler. 8 Matathias Evens of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother Richard Evans at the Desire of his Eldest Brother Thomas Evans. 9 John Toalman Junr in the Right of His Father John Toalman of Dorchester and at His Desire. 10 Seth Sumner of Milton in the Right of His Uncle Josianiah Sumner at the Desire of His uncle William Sumner. 11 John Robinson Junr of Dorchester in Behalf of his Father John Robinson eldest Brother to James Robinson. 12. Ebenezer Crane of Braintree in the Right of Evenezer Crane. 13. William Blake of Milton in the Right of James Morey in Behalf of his Mother Martha Blake eldest Daughter to said James Morey. 14. John Andrews of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother Thomas Andrews. 15 Joseph Leads of Dorchester in Behalf of his Wife Mary eldest Sister to Joseph Weeks. 16 Thomas Lyon Junr of Dorchester in Behalf of His Father Thomas Lyon Eldest Brother to Henry Lyon. 54. 17 Richard Withington of Dorchester in the Right of His Father Capt John Withington. 18 Joseph Weeks of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother Thomas Weeks. 19 Mr William Cooper of Boston in the Right of Benjamin Hewins, at the Desire of Joseph Hewins eldest Brother of of said Benjamin Hewins. 20 Obadiah Swift of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother James Swift. 21 Hezekiah Barber of Dorchester in the Right of Yonnite Modsley at the Desire of His Brother Thomas Modsley. 22 Ralph Pope of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother Ebenezer Pope. 23 Samuel Butt of Dorchester in the Right of His Uncle Richard But. 24 David Joans of Wrentham in the Right of His Uncle John Joans. 25 Samuel Sumner of Taunton in the Right of His Father Samuel Sumner. 26 Josiah Baker of Boston in the Right of His Uncle William Baker. 27 Mr. William Cooper of Boston in the Right of His Uncle George Menott. 28 Edward Kelton of Dorchester in the Right of His Father Thomas Kelton. 29 Robert Redman of Stoughton in the Right of His Father Charles Redman. 30 Samuel Kneeland of Boston in the Right of Ammiel Weeks at the Desire of His son George Weeks. 31 Neamiah Clap of Milton in the Right of His Brother Edward Clap. 32 Timothy Tilestone of Dorchester in the Right of His Brother Cornelius Tilestone. 33 Samuel Hinshua of Milten in the Right of Daniel Hinshua His Uncles son. 55. 34 Edward Sumner of Roxbury in the Right of His Uncle Samuel Sumner. 35 Benjamin Sumner of Milten in the Right of His Brother William Sumner. 36 Robert Cook of Needham in the Right of His Brother William Cook. 37 Bartholame Gold of Boston in the Right of His Uncle Ebenezer Sumner. 38 John Carhore of Milten in the Right of His Uncle John Charhore. 39 Benjamin Bird Junr of Dorchester in the Right of His Uncle Thomas Bird. 40 Samuel Blake of Taunton in the Right of His uncle William Blake. 41 Thomas Tilestone Esqr of Dorchester in the Right of Capt. John Galliver at the desire of Jonathan Galliver who was admitted a Settler. 42 Timothy Mossman of Sudbury in the Right of His wives Brother Samuel Hix. 43 Joshua George of Attleborough in the Right of His Brother William George. 44 James Atherton of Harvard in the Right of His Uncle Joseph Atherton. 45 William Sumner of Milton in the Right of William Sumner His Uncle Increase Sumners Son. 46 Elizabeth Trescott of Milton in the Right of Her Brother Samuel Trescott. 47 Joseph Chaplin of Roxbury in the Right of His Brother Moses Chaplin. 48 Hezekiah Barber of Dorchester in the Right of Eliab Lyon at the Deseir of Zachariah Lyon Son of Nathaniel Lyon Eldest Brother to said Eliab Lyon. 49 Waitestill Lyon of Dorchester in the Right of Her Uncle Edward Wiat. 50 Benjamin Mansfield of Dorchester in the Right of His Neffue Peter Kelley. 56. 51 Samuel Burch of Dorchester in the Right of His Uncle Eliazer Wales. 52 Isaac How of Dorchester in the Right of His Cussen Joseph Curtice. 53 Thomas Tilestone Esqr of Dorchester in the Right of Hopestill Sanders in Behalf of John Sanders. 54 William Royal of Stoughton in the Right of Samuel Sanders in Behalf of John Sanders. 55 John Sheperd of Stoughton in the Right of His Uncle John Sheperd Majr Wade. 56 Philip Gooding of Stoughton who sarved under Majr Wade. 57 Joseph Wilder Wsqr of Lancaster in the Right of His Uncle Samuel Wheeler who sarved in the Expedition To Canada under Majr Nathanel Wase. 58 Nathan Heywood of Lunenburg in the Right of John Willis His Wives Father who sarved under Capt Savage. 59 Oliver Wilder of Lancaster in the Right of Jonathan Fairbank who sarved under Capt Champney. 60 Joseph Wheelock of Lancaster in the Right of His Uncle Timothy Wheelock who sarved under Capt Anderson. Except Timothy Mossman, none of these original proprietors ever resided in the township, yet several of them, or their sons, retained their interest and attended the meetings of the propriety for many years. The Wilders, The Sumners, Joseph Wheelock, Nathan Heywood and Hezekiah Barber became intimately associated with the fortunes of the settlement. The descendents of several of these proprietors were subsequently among the most useful and valued citizens of Ashburnham. Here is found the most probable cause which led to a residence here of the Wilder, Kelton and Crehore families. And in the succeding records, as the change of ownership introduces new names, will appear the first mention of other families which have been honorably associated with the annals of the town. A miniature town was con- 57. cealed in this report of 1736. To sixty men and their successors was committed the destiny of a future Ashburnham. Had the decision of the committee passed by these names and bestowed the grant on sixty other persons, the drama would have proceeded with the scene unchanged, but the actors and all the incidents of the play would have been changed. A town with a parallel history would have succeeded, but the name, the men, the order and color of the events would not be those which fill the pages of our annals. While these proceedings were in progress, the General Court had passed an order empowering Timothy Tilestone to call the first meeting of the proprietors. This warrant is dated September 8, 1736, and the meeting was assembled in Dorchester fourteen days later. The proceedings of the first meeting outline plans and projects for the benefit of the proposed settlement which are not consummated for many years. The record of the meeting is as follows: Att a Meeting of the Proprietors of a Township Granted to the Officers and Soldiers in the Expedition to Canada anno 1690 in the Company under the Command of Capt John Withington late Deceased on the 22 Day of Sept 1736 att the Turkshead in Dorchester, Legally warned. Voted That Thomas Tilestone Esqr be moderator. Voted To Lay out the Land as Soon as may be. Voted the first Division Lots to be fifty acres and the Committee to ad thereto for badness of the Land. Voted That the Committee shall Consist of Six men and four of them to be a quorum. Voted That Edward Hartwell Esq. Benjamin Bird Mr Samuel Sumner Mr Benjamin Sumner Mr Isaac Howe & Joseph Wilder Esqr be a Committee to Lay out the first Division Lots. Voted That the Committee do agree with the Surveyors and Chain men. 58. Voted That the Surveyors each Shall have fifteen shillings per Day, they to support them Selves. Voted That the Chainmen each Shall have ten Shillings per Day they to support them Selves. Voted That the Committee Shall have Twelve Shillings per Day they to support them Selves. Voted That when an so often as any five or more of the Proprietors shall judge a Proprietors Meeting to be necessary they may make Application to the Proprietors Clerk for the Calling of a meeting Expressing the time and the place and the Occasion thereof and the said Clerk is hereby Impowered to Grant the same for such Meeting accordingly and to Notify the Proprietors of the Said Meeting and the time and place for the same, which Notification Shall be given in Writing Posted up in Some Public Place or Places in Dorchester, Milton & Stoughton Fourteen Days before the Day appointed for the Meeting and the Notification to be put to the Public Prints. Voted to have a Clerks Book. Voted that evry Proprietor to have a Plan of his first Division Lot he Paying for the same. Voted That evry Proprietor Come att the Next Meeting to Draw his first Division Lot, he to pay for the Laying of said Lot out before he Draws said Lot. Voted That the Committee Vew a Convenant Spot for the Meeting House and that the said Committee leve Convenant High ways. Voted to leve Convenant Places for a Mill or Mills Common for the use of the Proprietors. Voted that the Committee leve out thouse peices of Medow they think Proper to be left out for the use of the Proprietors. Voted that Benjamin Bird be the Proprietors Clerk and the said Bird tuck the following oath: Wheras you Benjamin Bird are Chosen by a Majority of the Voters to be Clerk to the Proprietors of the Township Granted by 59. the General Court to the Company under Capt. Withington on the Expedition to Canada You do Swear by the true and everliving God that you will Duly and faithfully Discharge that Trust according to your best Skill and Knowledge. So Help you God. PROVENCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY S S. Sept. the 22th 1736. Then the above Named Benjamin Bird Parsonally appearing made Oath as above. Before me JOSEPH WILDER Justice of the Peace through the Province. Thus ends the record of the first meeting of the Proprietors. An organization had been effected and the clerk had been sworn in solemn form. It is worthy of note that after taking the oath Mr. Bird seldom again spelled at with two ts while he held the office. Probably because Joseph Wilder most likely took the minutes. His best skill and judgment had been invoked. At this meeting appears for the first time Edward Hartwell of Lunenburg. He was not an original proprietor but had purchased a right of Joseph Leads and became an active and leading member of the organization. Thomas Tilestone, to whom in the admission of proprietors was assigned two rights, now owns the former rights of John Chandler and Samuel Burch; the four rights were probably acquired by purchase. Although the figure head of the petition to the General Court it does not appear that Mr. Tilestone was entitled by inheritance to any interest in the grant which had been secured mainly through his influence. William White now owns the right of David Jones and the right of Waitstill Lyon is held by Thomas Stearns. Jonathan Dwight of Boston takes the place of Joseph Chaplin, and Andrew Wilder, Jr., of Lancaster, is the owner of one of the rights of Hezekiah Barber, while James Mears and Timothy Green represent the rights formerly of Benjamin Cheney and Elizabeth Triscott. 60. A spirit of activity pervades the record of the first meeting. Hardley had a moderator been chosen before a vote was passed to lay out a house lot for each proprietor as soon as may be. Five days after the meeting, the six members of the committee, in full sympathy with the zealous enthusiasm of their associates, attended by two surveyors and nine chainmen and assistants, are upon the ground. For fifteen days the stillness of the woods is broken by the sound of the axe and the strong voices of sturdy men. In their dying echoes is heard the doom of the primeval forest. The sleep of centuries is ended. The entire expanse of foliage warmed in an autumn sun will never again present its varied hues in an unbroken picture of grandeur and beauty. The despoiling agency of man has been invoked and soon the flame and smoke from the clearing of the settler will announce the preparation for his habitation. Under the direction of the committee sixty-three house lots are laid out by Andrew Wilder, Jr., and Joseph Wilder, Jr. The chainmen and assistants were nearly all proprietors who had come hither to view their new possesions. These lots were located on the west, south and east shores of Upper Naukeag lake, then extending south through the Centre Village and east to Cambridge farm, then westerly on the north lines of the Rolfe, Starr and Converse farms and on the west line of the latter farm to the line of Westminster, covering the site of the South Village, but not so far west of the Cheshire and Vermont and Massachusetts railroads. Two lots were detached and located in the present limits of Ashby. The remaining lots were in one continuous tract of irregular form. In these lots were included three thousand one hundred and fifty acres, exclusive of any allowance that might have been made for inequality of land. The remainder of the grant, or above three hundred acres for each right, was still owned 61. in common by the proprietors. These surveys were completed October 11. Meanwhile the committee had selected a site for the meeting-house and had laid out roads leading to it. For this service the committee and those employed by them were paid lb.152-16-6. The sum of lb.2 was Paid Sundry People at Sundry times for Bringing the Horses out of the woods, while lb.2-19 was paid for pasturing horses, which possibly indicates that some of the horses were pastured at expense on improved lands in Lunenburg, being more highly favored than those let loose in the woods. The second meeting of the proprietors was held November 10, of the same year. While it was assembled under a new warrant, or notification, as our worthies styled it, it was practically a continuation of the former meeting. The account of the committee already mentioned was allowed and to pay the same and assessment was ordered. This action called for a new class of officials. Samuel Sumner and Edward Hartwell were chosen assessors, Thomas Lyon, Jr., collector, and Benjamin Bird, treasurer. The following extract from the records outlines the most important of the proceedings: Voted the Confirmation of the place Marked out by the Committee for Building the Meeting House on, and the Highways they have Laid out thereunto in Said Town. The Meeting House Lot Contains 10 acres lying squar and it Lieth on a Hill 180 Rods South of a Greate Pond and has a very faire Prospeck. The North East Corner is a young Pitch Pine and thence it Runs west 40 Rods to a stake and Pillar of Stons and thence South 40 Rods to a stake and Heepe of Stones and thence it Runs East 40 Rods to a stake and Heepe of Stons and thence it Runs North 40 Rods to whare it began. Voted to Clear the Highway, and Edward Hartwell Esqr, Capt. Oliver Wilder and Mr. Joseph Wheelock were Chosen a 62. Committee for that Sarvice and also to Fire the Woods the first Convenant time. Voted that Edward Hartwell Esqr, Capt Oliver Wilder and Mr Joseph Wheelock be a Committee to a Gree with a Sutable Person or Persons to Build a Sawmill in said Townin the most Convenant Place that they Can find therefor. And That in Giving encurragemnet to any Person to undertake therin they do not exceed one Hundred acres of Land and that they oblige the Person so undertaking (by Bond or other ways) to have the Mill Going within the space of five months and to Keep the same in Repair for the space of Ten years and that he saw Boards for the Proprietors for forty shillings a Thousand and Saw timber Brought to said Mill for Twenty shillings a Thousand and other Timber Proportionable. The same month the committee charge the proprietors for four days each, three hired laborers four days each and one man one day in clearing the roads leading to the place set apart for the meeting-house and a common, which we are here informed and fully realize has a very faire Prospeck. At this meeting the house or first division lots are distributed among the proprietors. The eighth lot is reserved for the ministry, the ninth for schools and the fifty-seventh for the first settled minister. Here ends the record of the first year. A New England winter regains control of the wilderness and for a time closed the door against the progress of the settlement. 1737. With the arrival of spring, the committee chosen for that purpose enter into negotiations with Hezekiah Gates of Lancaster to build a saw-mill within the township for the accommodation of the settlement. The committee grant him ninety acres of land, lying on the stream between the Upper and Lower Naukeag lakes and receive from him a bond of five hundred pounds, obliging him to build and conduct the 63. mill on the terms outlined in the vote of the proprietors. The charges of the committee for their services establish the date of these proceedings: 1737 May 17 the Committee four days each with the man that is to Build the saw mill @ 10s lb.6- 0- 0- ½ day each to signe the Righting 0- 0- 0- the writings with Mr Gates 0- 0- 0- In effecting an agreement with Mr. Gates the committee consume ample time in its consideration and apparently conduct the business to the present satisfaction of the proprietors, but in the years immediately following both Mr. Gates and his mill were an endless source of perplexity and litigation. The proprietors continually complain of the construction and management, while he successfully resists their directions to raise the dam and make repairs, until the fact gradually develops that there is a better head on Gates than at his mill, and more revolving power in his mind than in his wheel. Two formal meetings of the proprietors are held this year at the Turks Head Tavern in Dorchester, and Henry Woodman, James Bishop, Joseph Bent and Joseph Herbert make their first appearance as proprietors in place of Matthias Evans, John Andrews, Joseph Weeks and Thomas Lyon, Jr. At the first meeting, August 25, it was voted to lay out in a second Division, Sixty three Lots in the up land, each lot containing eighty Acres at the least and in case so many Lotts cant be laid out in the very best of said land, that it be in the Power of the Committee to add to every eighty Acre lot so much as to make them equal to the very best Lot, not exceeding Forty Acres to any one Lot. Andrew Wilder was chosen to lay out the lots and a committee of ten was chosen to conduct the business. At the 64. second meeting, December 14, the survey of the second division lots was approved, and a lot was assigned to each owner of a right. The tenth lot was reserved for the first settled minister, the eleventh for the ministry and the sixty third for schools. The price of labor on the highways was rated at seven shillings per day, and Henry Woodman was added to the committee on highways who were instructed that but one of said Committee work on that Business at won and the same time. During the year the roads receive the benefit of twenty-three days labor at a cost of lb.9-2-0. The charges for laying out the second division lots were lb.224-9-6, the clerk and treasurer receives lb.5-7-0, for his services to the close of the year and a few small charges are allowed. To meet these demands an assessment of lb.258 or lb.4-6-0 on each right is made. Only one proceeding of interest during this year remains unnoticed: Voted That Mr Joseph Harbort have five acres of Land and the Stream by it for to Set a fulling Mill he mataining said mill ten years for the sarves of the Proprietors, the said Proprietors paying him for what work they have don at said Mill. And the Committee that was appointed to a gree with a man for to Building a Saw Mill he the Committee to give a Deed and take Bond of said Harbort He Paying the Committee for their troble. This solitary mention of a fulling-mill is all that is heard of it for many years. The committee, to whom the project was referred, found ample employment in the management of Mr. Gates and his saw-mill. This addition to their perplexity was an act of great unkindness on the part of the proprietors. It is reasonably certain that the grant of land was never consummated, perhaps, admonished by the perilous adventures of Don Quixote and the fulling-mills, the subject is not revived. 65. 1738. Samuel Hayward has become a proprietor representing the right formerly of Robert Redman, and Hezekiah Gates also appears at the meeting of the board, but whose right he has purchased is not certain. Other changes in the membership of the proprietors occur from time to time, but the general management of affairs continues to be referred to those whose names have become familiar. Only one meeting is held this year, which is convened August 22, at the house of Jonathan Dwight of Boston, Innholder. Timothy Green is elected clerk and treasurer in the place of Benjamin Bird. The saw-mill has been built but the contention concerning its efficiency and management has not as yet sufficiently developed to prevent the proprietors from considering a request from its owner, in a generous and good- natured manner: Voted That Mr. Hezekiah Gates of Lancaster have liberty to lay out Thirty Acres of Land adjoining to the land he has already laid out at the Mill between the Pond and the lower end of his Land already laid out in part of his Ninety Acres. Voted that Mr Hesekiah Gates have liberty to build his House on his Land near the Mill and clear as much Land there as any one Proprietor is obliged to do by his Grant. Also at this meeting Captain Oliver Wilder and Mr. Gates are chosen to clear a good cart way from the saw mill to the place where the meeting house is to stand as strait as the land will allow of. For this purpose an appropriation not exceeding eighty pounds is made. The sentiment of the proprietors was taken in regard to building a meeting-house and it passed in the negative. 1739. A note of preparation for some weighty undertaking is heard in the early call for a meeting of the proprietors. Earlier by several months than in former years are assembled the controlling spirits of the township. This 66. memorable meeting was held in Boston April 11, at the house of Mr. Dwight. Notices had been published in the Boston papers and posted at Dorchester and probably at Milton and Stoughton, announcing to the proprietors that they will be invited at this meeting to consider what is proper to be done about building a meeting house for the worship of God. Of the time for building a meeting-house stipulated in the charter two full years yet remained, and in consideration of the small progress made in the settlement, and that so far the plantation had been a continual source of expense to the proprietors, an excuse for delay is easily found. The record, however, presents no shadow of hesitation but rather the cheerful voice of a united purpose. Voted That a Meeting House for the Publick Worship of God be Built as soon as conveniently may be, on the Meeting House place in the said Township to be Forty Five Feet Long, Thirty Five Feet wide, the Corner post to be Twenty one Feet high. Voted That Thomas Tilestone & Edward Hartwell Esqrs Major Oliver Wilder, Mr. Andrew Wilder and Mr. Hezekiah Barber be the Committee for Building said Meeting House. Voted That a Tax of Three Hundred Pounds be laid, on the Proprietors, to pay Charges past and towards Building said Meeting House. An omission to give this record in full would be an act of injustice. The will of the meeting expressed in other terms would conceal, in a great measure, the resolute purpose and firm determination of the act. On the strength of this action alone the meeting-house was built. No postponement, no amendment nor qualification of this action was ever tolerated. In marked contrast with the early history of other towns in this vicinity the first meeting-house was located with rare unanimity and built without contention. The picture of the 67. faire Prospeck was not marred with an exhibition of the passions of contending men. Under the direction of the committee, the meeting-house was built by Benjamin Ballard, who received in six payments lb.251-17-0. In his Half Century Sermon, 1818, Rev. Dr. Cushing says: In 1739, the proprietors erected a meeting house 50 by 40. It was the first frame that was set up in the town and it has been considered, and was at the time, as an extraordinary enterprise that it was raised by only sixteen men. This reference to the year in which it was built is of interest, since the records do not make it appear whether it was built in 1739 or the year following. November 19, 1740, it was voted to pay Mr. Ballard one hundred and fifty pounds in part for building the meeting-house, and at the same time the committee was requested to make a report. While the records admit the conjecture that it might have been built in 1740, there is found no clause to qualify the assertation of Mr. Cushing that it was erected in 1739. In regard to the size of the edifice, it is fair to presume, that referring to it twenty seven years after it was removed, it would have been easier for Mr. Cushing to overlook the exact dimensions than for the committee to exceed their instructions so far as to errect a meeting-house longer and wider by five feet than directed by the vote of their associates. On one point all the authorities are in harmony. At this time the roof and sides were covered with boards and open spaces were left for windows and doors. It was several years before the roof was improved and doors and windows procured. Two other meetings were held at Boston this year, at which considerable business was transacted. It was proposed to clear a road leading from Lunenburg to Winchester, New Hampshire, but the ambition of the proprietors was satisfied in the choice of a committee to view and estimate 68. the expense of a road from the common to the west line of the township. |