Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 39: Attleborough.i, 1883

Chapter 39: Attleborough.i

Rehoboth North Purchase - How and by whom Purchased - Boundaries - Wamsutta's Deed - Thomas Willett, Character and Services - List of Proprietors - Proceedings of Proprietors - First Regular Division.

In 1643 a company was formed at Weymouth, Mass., consisting of Rev. Samuel Newman and a large part of his congregation, for the purpose of establishing a new settlement in this vicinity. They purchased a large tract of land of the sachem of Pokanoket, including what is now Rehoboth, Seekonk, Pawtucket, East Providence, and a part of Swansea, then known by the name of Wannamoisett; and in the spring of 1644 removed to a place then called by the Indians Seacuuke, and commenced their settlement around the Great Plain. This was the Rehoboth purchase. Here the inhabitants continued, with many additions to their number, as an independent settlement until June 4, 1645, when they were adopted into the jurisdiction of Plymouth Colony, to whose territory it belonged, and were incorporated as a township by the scriptural name of Rehoboth. - This was then a wilderness, and there was no other settlement in the vicinity. The nearest was the new settlement at Cohan net, Taunton, which was about twelve miles distant, The Rehoboth plantation prospered and continued to receive accessions from new emigrants, and also from the settlements near Plymouth, from Duxbnry, Marshfield, and S6ituate, and some from Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, 1 ringham, Dedham, and Bome more emigrants from Weymouth, the former residence of the original settlers. It was deemed a favorable location, as it was situated on the borders of the Narragansett Bay.

During the first seventeen years after the settlement of the town there was remaining a large tract of land belonging to the Indians lying directly on the north of that town, and between its north line and south of the Massachusetts Bay line, containing an area sufficient for two large townships. The people of Rehoboth employed Capt, Thomas Willett, who was a skillful negotiator and on intimate friendly terms with the Indians, to purchase this tract of land for them. Accordingly, with the consent of the government, he purchased it of Wamsutta, the oldest son of Massasoit, the steadfast friend of the English. He lived only about a year after this. The title to Indian lands was held to be in the sachem of the tribe. There appeared to be no individual ownership in the soil. He was originally, as already stated, called Mooanam. After the death of his father he changed his name, according to Indian custom, to Wamsutta, and he was the reigning sachem, and the purchase was made from him. His wife's name was Namumpum. He was succeeded by the celebrated King Philip, his younger brother. The title was held by Capt. Willett in his own name from April 8, 1661, till April 10, 1666, when he assigned his title to the Plymouth government; and on the same day the agents of the colony confirmed the conveyance to the purchasers. This was in the form of a deed, and was intended as a confirmation and consent of the government, the law of the colony prohibiting any purchase of lands from the Indians without the consent of government. The proprietors did not make any permanent division of their lands till the 18th March, 1668 -69, when a regular division of fifty acres to a share was made, and lots drawn for the same by each purchaser or owner of shares. The number of the shareholders had been increased by the addition of several from Swansea and other places to ninety individuals. The original purchase was limited to such inhabitants as held then a fifty-pound estate and upwards; but soon became a distinct body from the general settlers of the town, including new purchasers and the heirs of those who bad deceased. They held separate meetings and kept separate books of records and titles relating to these lands. The original purchasers, ami those to whom they sold shares from time to time, and the heirs of those purchasers who had died, then constituted the shareholders of the Rehoboth North Purchase. Any new coiners who wished to own land within this purchase might buy of those who had lands laid out to them, or rights to lay out under divisions already granted, or undivided shares from any proprietors willing to sell. Private titles were acquired in this way: lands laid out by a surveyor and a commitee appointed for the purpose at a meeting of the company, and the " lay out" returned to the block of the proprietors and recorded by him in the books of the company, constituted a valid title to such lands.

In 1661, Capt. Thomas Willet was employed by people of that^town to make a purchase of a new tract of land in their behalf, having been first authorized and empowered by the court for that purpose. He accordingly purchased of Wamsutta1 a certain tract of land situated north of the town of Rehoboth, which was called the Rehoboth North Purchase. It was bounded west by Pawtucket River, now the Blackstone, north by the Massachusetts Colony or the bay line (so called), east by territory which was afterwards the Taunton North Purchase, now Mansfield, Norton, and Easton, and south by the ancient Rehoboth, now Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Pawtucket, and East Providence. This purchase included Attleborough, Cumberland, R. I., and a tract of a mile and a half2 in width, extending east and west (which was annexed to Rehoboth as an enlargement), and a part of Wrentham and Foxborough, as the line then ran. This purchase was afterwards, viz., April 10, 1666, granted and confirmed by the Plymouth government to the Rehoboth purchasers.

Pocanoket or Pawkunnawket is a name applied to the tribal dominion of Massasoit, whose personal tribe was the Wampanoags, his general authority extending over various other tribes in Plymouth Colony, whose dominion descended through Wamsutta to King Philip. It was said that previous to 1612, before the arrival of the Pilgrims, and before the great pestilence which swept away so many of the natives, Massasoit could number four thousand warriors.

This region was then the domain of the good Massasoit, the fast friend of the English. It was inherited by his son, Wamsutta, and from him by his brother, Metacomet, or King Philip. How long in the ages of the past this fair domain had been in the possession of the natives the records of time have never revealed. But their hour had now come, and it was destined to pass from their hands to another ami higher race. They were doomed to extinction. According to the inevitable law of Providence, when brought into coni Sachem of Pokanoket, originally called Mooanam, afterwards Alexander, the chirr brother of Kin;,' Philip, and .son of Massasoit He died in the summer of 1662. His wife's name was Namumpum - See Drake's " Indian Biography"

- It wa- given and assigned to Rehoboth by the agents of the court of Plymouth, who were appointed to convey tin' North Purchase to the proprietors, ami afterwards, in 1710, restored to Attlel.orough \>y the Legislature of Massachusetts.

flict, the inferior must yield to the superior race. After Philip's war a feeble and spiritless remnant lingered around their former abodes for a short time in a degraded condition, and then vanished forever.

"Of all their tribes, the heirs of want, A feeble few our land may haunt ; The gloomy ghosts of dead renown Awhile from sire to son go clown ; And in their spectral visits say, That here the red man once had sway."

The following copy of the Indian deed, which is the foundation and original title to our whole territory, is taken from the Old Colony Records:

Know all men, that I, Wamsetta, alias Alexander, chief Sachem of Pokanokett,1 for divers good causes and valuable considerations me thereunto moving, have bargained and sold unto Captain Thomas Willett, of Wannamoisett, all those tracts of land situate and being from the bounds of Rehoboth ranging upon Patuckett River unto a place called WTaweypounshag, the place where one Blackston now sojourneth, and so ranging along to the said river unto a place called Messanegtacaneh, and from this upon a straight line crossing through the woods unto the uttermost bounds of a place called Mamantapett or Wading River, and from the said River one mile and a half upon an east line, and from thence upon a south line unto the bounds of the town of Rehoboth: To have and to hold unto him, the said Captain Willett and his associates, their heirs and assigns forever; reserving only a competent portion of land for some of the natives at Mishanegitaconett for to plant and sojourn upon, as the said Wamsetta, alias Alexander, and the said Thomas Willett jointly together shall see meet ; and the rest of all the land aforementioned, with all the woods, waters, meadows, and all emoluments whatsoever to remain unto the said Thomas Willett and his associates, their heirs and assigns forever. Witness my hand and seal the eighth day of April in the year 1661.

April 10th, 1666. Witnesseth These Presents, that Captain Thomas Willett above said hath and doth hereby resign, deliver -and make over all and singular the lands above mentioned, purchased of Wamsitta alias Alexander chief Sachem of Pocanokett, according unto the bonnds above expressed, with all and singular the benefits, privileges, and immunities thereunto appertaining, unto Mr. Thomas Prence, Major Josias Winslow, Capt. Thomas Southworth, and Mr. Constant Southworth, in the behalf of the Colony of New Plymouth. In witness whereof he doth hereunto set his hand and seal. Signed, sealed and delivered Thomas Willett. [Seal.]

Know all men by these presents, that we Thomas Prence, Josias Winslow, Thomas Southworth and Constant Southworth by order of the General Court of New Plymouth, and in the name and behalf of the said Colony of Plymouth, have and by these presents do bargain, sell, alien, grant and confer and make over unto the proprietors of the town of Rehoboth (viz.) unto all that hold there, from a fifty pound estate and upwards, according to their first agreement, all and singular the lands lying and being on the north side of that town of Rehoboth bounded as followeth, (viz.) by a River commonly called Patucket river on the west, and up the said River unto the Massachusetts Line, and on the northerly side by the said Line until it cross the old road towards the Bay, where the marked tree stands and heap of stones, and thence a mile and a half east, and from thence by a direct line to the north east corner of the present bounds of the town of Rehoboth, and so back again home unto the said Line between the governments; with all the meadows, woods, waters, and all benefits, emoluments, privileges, and immunities, thereunto appertaining and belonging, to have and to hold to them and to their heirs for ever Excepting that we reserve within this tract a farm formerly grante unto Major Josias Winslow, and a farm granted unto Capt. Thomas Willett, and two hundred acres of land unto Mr. James Brown about Snake Hill, and ten acres of meadow thereabouts; and the meadow called Blackstone's Meadow, the west plain and the South neck the quantity of two hundred acres, and the fifty acres granted to Roger Amadown, with four acres of meadow adjoining, three acres of meadow to Nicholas Ide, and half an acre of meadow unto George Robinson : All the residue of the lands above mentioned we do hereby firmly make over unto the above said purchasers and their heirs for ever, and do hereby acknowledge ourselves to be fully paid and satisfied for the same, and do exonerate, acquit and discharge them and every of them for and concerning the premises.

It was also agreed before the signing and sealing of this Deed that according unto a clause in the Indian Deed when these lands were purchased by Capt. Willett, that some meet proportion of lands about Sinnichiconet, such as the said Capt. Willett and the Indian Sachem shall agree upon, should be set out for the use of the Indians.

Note On The Back Of The Same Deed

Whereas the Court, having formerly impowered Capt. Thomas Willet to purchase of the Indians certain Tracts of lands on the North of Rehoboth towards the Bay Line, the which he hath done, and is out of purse some considerable sum of money for the same, this Court have appointed the Honored Governor, the Major Winslow, Capt. Southworth, and Mr. Constant Southworth, to treat with Capt.Willet concerning the said purchase, and have impowered the above named Committee to take notice of what hath been purchased by him, and what deeds he hath, and what his disbursments have been for the same ; and have also impowered them to settle upon him such a proportion of the said lands as may appear to be equal, upon any grant to him ; and to accommodate the town of Rehoboth respecting an enlargement of their town, as the Court have promised; and to take such course concerning the remainder as he may be reimbursed of his just due and those lands may be settled by the Court.

Capt. Thomas Willett. - Some notice of Capt. Thomas Willett, who stands at the head of our list of proprietors, and whose life deserves to be better known, will not be deemed inappropriate. His history does not exclusively belong to this town, but as he took so active and important a part in the original purchase and settlement of this and the neighboring towns, a brief sketch of his life seems to be demanded by the interest which our citizens must feel in his character.

Capt. Willett was one of the last of the Leyden company, and came here about 1630. He was a very young man when he arrived in this country. He was a merchant by profession, and in his travels had become acquainted with the Pilgrims in Leyden, and had probably spent much of his time with them in Holland previous to their emigration to this country. He at first resided in Plymouth, and soon became a useful and distinguished man in the colony.

Soon after his arrival in 1630, though, as already observed, a young man, he was sent by the company of Plymouth, who had established a trading-house at Kennebeck, to -superintend their business as agent. While he was residing there Governor Winthrop relates of him the following curious anecdote:

" At Kennebeck, the Indians wanting food, and there being store in the Plymouth trading-house, they conspired to kill the English there for their provisions; and some Indians coming into the house, Mr. Willett, the master of the house, being reading the Bible, his countenance was more solemn than at other times, so as he did not look cheerfully upon them as he was wont to do ; whereupon they went out and told their fellows that their purpose was discovered. They asked them how it could be. The others told them that they knew it by Mr. Willett's countenance, and that he had discovered it by a book that he was reading. Whereupon they gave over their design." - (Win. Jour., i. 322.)

He was, in 1651, elected an assistant of the Governor, and was annually continued in that office till 1665, when other duties obliged him to decline, and James Brown, of Swansea, was chosen his successor. At this time he was selected by the Plymouth Court, agreeably to the request of His Majesty's commissioners, to attend them at New York (which had just been surrendered by the Dutch), for the purpose of assisting them in organizing the new government.

It is mentioned by Davis, in a note to his edition of Morton's Memorial, that " Col. Nichols (one of the commissioners), in a letter to Governor Prince, written from New York the spring after the reduction of the Dutch settlements, requests that Capt. Willett may have such a dispensation from his official engagements in Plymouth Colony as to be at liberty to assist in modeling and reducing the affairs in this settlement into good English. He remarks that Mr. Willett was more acquainted with the manners and customs of the Dutch than any gentleman in the country, and that his conversation was very acceptable to them."

He executed his duties here to the entire satisfaction of all concerned ; his services were so highly appreciated, and he rendered himself so popular with i "March 7, 1647. The military company of New riymouth, having according to order proposed unto the court two men for every especial office of their hand, the court do allow and approve of Capt. Thomas Willett for captain, Mr. Thomas Southworth for lieutenant, Mr. William Bradford for ensign." - Old Col. Rec.

the people, that after the organization of the government he was chosen the first English mayor of the city of New York. He was elected the second time to the same office. " But" (as Mr. Baylies, the historian of Plymouth Colony, has justly remarked) "even the first of city distinctions conferred by that proud metropolis did not impart more real honor to his character than the address and good feeling manifested by him in effecting the peaceable settlement of the humble town of Swansea."

The Dutch had so much confidence in his integrity that he was chosen by them the umpire to determine the disputed boundary between New York and New Haven.

Soon after the settlement of Rehoboth, Capt. Willett removed to Wannamoisett, now a part of Swansea, where he resided during most of the remainder of his life. A grant of the greater part of that township (Swansea) was made to him and others. With him was associated Mr. Myles, the first Baptist minister in New England, and these two are justly esteemed the founders of Swansea. The manner in which they conducted the settlement of that plantation was just and honorable, and reflects much credit on the character of both.

Capt. Willett always cultivated a friendly intercourse with the Indians, and gained their confidence and good-will. Hence he was generally employed by the colony in the purchase of lands from the native chiefs.2

" March, 1665-66. In reference to an order of Court bearing date the third day of October, 1665, wherein our Honored Governor Maj. Winslow, Capt. Southworth, and Mr. Constant Southworth were appointed to be a committee in reference to a certain tract of land purchased by Capt. Willett on the north side of Rehoboth, which said order empowereth the said committee to dispose and settle a proportion of the said lands on the said Capt. Willett as they shall think meet, and the Court do therefore settle and confirm unto him four or five hundred acres of the said lands, to be laid out for him on the easterly side or end of the said lands, to him and his heirs forever.3

Rehoboth also voted him a gratuity for his services to that town. "21st 12th mo. 1660. In town meeting it was voted that Mr. Willett should have

2 He was the original purchaser of the Rehohoth North Purchase (Attleborough and Cumberland), Taunton North Purchase (Norton, Mansfield, and Easton), and many other tracts of land in the vicinity.

3 This grant was laid out to him ami recorded in tin- Rehoboth North Purchase books. It lies on the Seven-Mile River, and has always borne the name of Willett's Farm. In 1720 it was divided into two parts between Capt. Samuel Tyler and Joyce Newell, widow of Jacob Newell. This farm was originally laid out with great regularity, in parallel lines, and its subsequent divisions have been preserved in good shape.

liberty to take up five hundred or six hundred acres of land northward or eastward beyond the bounds of our town, where he shall think it most convenient to himself."

Capt. Willett married Mary Brown (who was the daughter of Mr. John Brown the 1st) at Plymouth, 6th July, 1636, by whom he had several children : Thomas ; Hester, born 6th July, 1647 ; Rebecca, died 2d April, 1652 ; James, born Nov. 24, 1649 ; Andrew ; Samuel ; Hezekiah, who died 26th July, 1651 ; Hezekiah (2d), born 16th Nov. 1652, etc.

His son, James, married Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. Peter Hunt, of Rehoboth, 17th April, 1673 ; Hezekiah (2d) married Anna, daughter of Mr. John Brown (2d), of Rehoboth, 7th Jan. 1675, and was killed soon after by the Indians in Philip's war. John Saffin, who had resided in Scituate and Swansea, married a daughter of Capt. Willett, and settled in Bristol, R. I., and Samuel Hooker,1 of Farmington, Conn., married another daughter.

Several of his descendants have become distinguished in the history of the country. His grandson, Francis, was a prominent man in Rhode Island colony. Another descendant,2 his great-grandson, Col. Marinus Willett (lately deceased), served with distinguished honor in the Revolutionary war, and had also been mayor of New York City. Memoirs of his life have been published by his son, William M. Willett.

After a residence of a few years in New York he returned to his seat in Swansea, where, after a life of distinguished usefulness, he died 4th of August, 1674, at the age of sixty-three. He was buried at the head of Bullock's Cove (in what is now Seekonk), where a rough stone is erected to his memory, containing a brief and rudely-carved inscription (which is now

Thus the first English mayor of the first commercial metropolis in America lies buried on a lonely and barren heath in the humble town of Seekonk, at a place seldom visited by the footsteps of man, with naught but the rudest monument to mark the spot.

The farm which he laid out in this town, at High Squissit, and agreeable to the reservation in the deed, consisted of about five hundred acres (besides his meadow and several other lots), and was situated on both sides of the Seven-Mile River, begin uing near Newel l's tavern.

Whereas, in the year one thousand six hundred sixty and six, a purchase of lands was made by the Inhabitants of Rehoboth and the neighborhood of Annimosett - the said lands situate on the North side of the Towne of Rehoboth - of Mr. Thomas Prince, Esquire, Major Josiah Winslow, Captain Thomas Southworth Agents of the Government of New Plymouth, the bounds of the said lands fully appearing by a Deed of sale made by the aforesaid gentlemen, to the purchasers thereof, bearing date the tenth of April 1666, which deed hath been inrolled at the Court of New Plymouth according to order of Court. The bounds of the said lands are as followeth (viz.), by a river called Patucket river, on the West, and up the said river unto the Massachusetts line; and on the Northerly side, by the same line, until it cross the ould Roade towards the Ray, where the marked tree stands, and a lieape of stones; and thence a mile and a halfe East, and from thence by a direct line to the North East comer of the present bounds of the towne of Rehoboth, and soe back againehome to the said line between the Governments - Excepting there was reserved out of the said tract of land, a farm granted before to Major Josiah Winslow, a farm granted to Captain Thomas Willett, and two hundred acres of land to Mr. James Browne about Snake-hill, and ten acres of Meadow thereabouts; and the Meadow called Blackstone's Meadow the West plaine; and the South neck the quantity of two hundred acres; and fifty acres granted to Roger Animidown with four acres of meadow ; and three acres of Meadow to Nicholas Ide; and half an acre to George Robinson; also some Meete proportion of lands for the Indians at Sinnichitecouett,3 for the use of the said Indians. All the rest of the said lands within the said tract as before bouuded, to be equally divided to the purchasers thereof according to their said proportions (there being Seventy Nine whole shares and a half), being joint purchasers; and the said purchasers have fully discharged and paid the purchase thereof according to their several proportions.

Mem. That the clause in the former page "to be equally divided to the purchasers thereof" hath reference to the before expressed date (viz.) one thousand Six hundred and Sixty and Six.

The Names of the Purchasers with their Rights to the said Lands before mentioned are those (no man contradicting) that are here expressed in the following List.

sold to Mr. Philip, Squire). Nicholas Tanner, 1 share. John Allen, Jim., 1 share. Preserved Abell, 1 share. Francis Stephens, 1 share. Nicholas Ide, 1 share. Richard Whittaker, \ share. Nathaniel 1'ecke, 1 share. Israel Pecke, 1 share.

The aforesaid list and the preface to it was universally agreed upon at a meeting of the purchasers, May 28, 1G72, to be entered into the Booke of Records for the North Purchased Lands.

The first division of lands in the North Purchase was made June 22, 1058. This division was confined exclusively to meadow land. It appears by the following extracts from the town records of Rehoboth that the court had made a grant of the meadows in the North Purchase before the rest of the land was granted.1

Feb. 23, 1057. - At a town-meeting lawfully warned, it was voted that all the meadows lying on the north side of the town, which were given and granted to the town by the court, shall be laid out according to person and estate.

At the same time those men whose names are here subscribed have promised to go to see what meadows they can find on the north side of our town, that they may notify our town, to their best judgment, what quantity there may be of it, and this they promise to do freely on their own charge. William Carpenter, Sr., will go 3 days on his own charge, and if he go any more he is to be paid for it. William Sabin, 1 day ; Lieut. Hunt, 2 days ; Joseph Peck, 1 day ; John Peck, 1 day ; Henry Smith, 1 day ; William Bucklin, 2 days; Robert Fuller, 1 day; John Read, 1 day ; Thomas Cooper, Jr., 1 day ; Francis Stephens, 1 day.

At the same time those men whose names are here subscribed are accepted of the freemen of the town to take up their freedom, viz. : Joseph Peck, John Peck, Henry Smith, Robert Fuller, John Fitch, Steven Paine, Jonathan Bliss, William Bucklin, Rice Leonard. Several of these persons afterwards removed to Attleborough.

that lies upon the north side of the town that hath been visited by certain men according to the town's order shall be lotted out according to person and estate.

14th of the 9th month, 1001. Lieut, Hunt and William Sabin were chosen to confer with Mr. Willet to know what he hath done about the north side of the town in the behalf of the town.

The 28th of the 5th mo., 1002. It was voted that John Woodcock2 should have two rods of land to build a small house on for himself and his family to be in on the Lord's day in some convenient place near the meeting-house, and Goodman Paine and Lieut. Hunt were chosen to see where the most convenient place might be for it,

1085, June 22d. " At a town-meeting lawfully warned lots were drawn for the meadows that lie on the north side of the town, according to person and estate."

April 18, 1000. It was voted by the town that the late purchasers of land upon the north side of our town shall bear forty shillings in a rate of five pounds, and so proportionable in all other public charges.

It was also voted that there should be a three-railed fence set up and maintained between the late purchased land on the north side of the town, to be set up on all the end of the plain from Goodman Buckland's lands to the Mill River, and every man that is interested in the said purchased lands to bear an equal proportion in the aforesaid fence according to their proportion of lands.

It was also voted to make choice of a committee for the settling and stating of the late purchased lands on the north side of our town, viz., whether such, as at present seem questionable, are true proprietors of the aforesaid lands ; and the committee chosen were Capt. Willet, with the townsmen and those that stand engaged for the payment of the aforesaid purchased lands. The committee reported April 23, 1000.

It was also voted by the town that Mr. Goodman Martin shall enjoy a spot of fresh meadow that lies on the north side of the town, lying at the end of the great plain, during his life and his wife's, and at their decease to return to the town.

At the same time it was agreed between the town and Capt. Willet that for the forty acres of meadow that he is to have to his farm on the north side of the town, he is, by agreement made with the town, to have High Squisset and Low Squisset, and the bounds of the said Squisset's meadows to be according to the sight of the surveyors the day that they laid out his farm, that is, Henry Smith and William Carpenter; and he is also to have a piece of meadow at the Seven-Mile River near unto the going out at the highway, and six acres of meadow at the Ten- Mile River, and what there wants of the six acres in

" April 23, 1666. The committee that was chosen by the town April 18, 1666, at a town-meeting, for the stating and settling of the late purchased lands upon the north side of our town, the aforesaid committee being met together this 23d of April, we see cause that there shall be seventy-six whole shares and equal purchasers in the aforesaid lands, and six persons that have half-shares, which we see cause to add to the seventy-six whole shares, so that the whole number of shares amounts to seventy-nine shares."

May 19, 1666. At a town-meetiug lawfully warned the town concluded to have a meeting upon the last Tuesday in June, to consider of the meadows on the north side of the town, how they may be disposed of for this present year ; it is therefore agreed by this town that no man shall mow a load or a part of a load of grass before the town hath disposed of them, upon the penalty of twenty shillings the load or part of a load.

Oct. 16, 1666. At a town-meeting it was concluded that the purchased lands on the north side of the town shall be divided between this and the 1st of May next ensuing.

It was also voted by the town that no person shall fall any trees upon the aforesaid lands on the north side of our town before the said lands be divided, upon the penalty of ten shillings for every tree so fallen.

The same day John Doggett, John Woodcock, and John Titus were chosen by the town to see what timber trees are fallen on the late purchased lands on the north side of our town, and they shall have the forfeiture for their pains, and the trees to those that the land shall fall to.

June 22, 1667. At a town-meeting it was voted by the town that the meadows lying on the north side of the town shall be for this present year as they were the last year.

April 10, 1668. The town chose a committee to go and view the meadows that are in the North Purchase and to acre them out, to divide them into three-score and eighteen parts and a half, and to mark and bound out each part and put in such swamps as in their prudence they think meet, to be laid out in the said division, provided they do it equally as they can. The said committee are Anthony Perry, Philip Walker, Thomas Willmot,1 Nicholas Ide, to be paid by the whole company of purchasers.

May 13, 1668. The town made an agreement with Goodman Allen that he is to have the twenty acres of meadow that is laid out by Ensign Smith at Sinecheticonet, and the meadow called the Parson's Meadow, and all that is within his farm for his thirty acres of meadow that he purchased of Maj. Winslow,

It was also voted that the rates upon the north side of the town be lowered and part taken on", - that is to say, whereas the lands upon the North Purchase paid forty shillings of five pounds in all rates, that now the said lands shall pay twenty shillings in five pounds until the town see cause to alter it.

May 26, 1668. It was voted that John Woodcock shall have the meadow upon the Ten-Mile River between Capt. Willett's meadow and his own meadow, and another piece that the townsmen shall appoint him that were chosen by the town to acre the meadows in the North Purchase for two shares of meadow on the North Purchase.

The first division of general lands was granted by the proprietors at a meeting held Feb. 9, 1668. Lots were drawn for this division March 18, 1668-69. The previous divisions had been confined to meadow land.

" At a town-meeting lawfully warned Feb. 9, 1668, it was voted that there should be fifty acres of upland laid out on the north side of the town to every share, speedily ; and the rest to be laid out with as much conveniency as may be."

It was voted that there should be a committee chosen to view where there is good land for the laying out of a division of lands on the North Purchase, and that the aforesaid fifty acres to a share should be forthwith laid out, and then lots to be drawn by the aforesaid purchasers according to the agreement.

At a town-meeting lawfully warned the 18th of March, 1668-69, " It was voted that there should be fifty acres of land laid out to a share on the north purchased lands."

It was also provided that the purchasers should draw lots for their choice, and that each one should choose his lands successively according to his turn, and give notice to the next in turn ; and that if any neglect or refuse to make choice and lay out his land in his turn for the space of three days after notice given him, he should wait until all others had made choice in regular order.

At this meeting a committee of eight were chosen, any two of whom might act, to see that these rights should not be laid out so as to interfere with highways, previous divisions of meadows, or other lotments. This committee were William Sabin, Nicholas Peck, Samuel Newman, James Reddeway, Thomas Willmott, Samuel Peck, Lieut. Hunt, Joseph Buckland. Nine purchasers entered a protest against the manner of laying out the lands by choosing, viz., Capt. Willett, Mr. Myles, Will. Sabin, Mr. Brown, Dea. Cooper, John Miller, Sr., John Peren, Sr., George Kendricke, Will Carpenter.

Attle Borough

Complaints were often made that the lands in the North Purchase were rated or assessed too high. There is the following record on this subject.

At a meeting of proprietors of the North Purchase the 26th August, 1670, it was voted that the townsmen should choose three men to discuss and also to end any difference with such persons as are chosen by the complainers of the provisions of the rates. The time set to meet was this day s'en'nit at the meeting-house, and if not ended to attend the next court at Plymouth to defend and answer such complaints as are made against the rating of these lands.

June, 1668. This court have ordered that a tract of land, containing a mile and a half, lying on the north side of the town of Rehoboth, is allowed to be the proper right of the said township. And for such lands as are lying betwixt the bay line, and it is to be accounted within the constablerick of Rehoboth until the court shall order it otherwise. And that such farms as lyeth within the said liberties shall be re-

Nov. 8, 1670. At a town-meeting lawfully warned it was voted that the line should be forthwith run between the North Purchase and the mile and a half given to the town for enlargement.

Committees were also chosen to see that no timber on the north side should be fallen or drawn away. Great difficulty was experienced in preventing the loss of timber on the undivided lands.

Dec. 26, 1670. It was voted that there should be a town-meeting this day fortnight, about ten of the clock in the morning, and that there should be a committee chosen to draw up such propositions as they think will be most expedient for the settling of the differences on the north side of the town concerning those lands, considering that all the purchasers of the land have not yet given them, Mr. Brown engaging to give notice to all the proprietors of those lands that dwell in Swansea, and that these propositions be tendered at the said town-meeting, that if it were the will of God, there might be a unanimous agreement. The committee chosen were Lieut. Hunt, Ensign Smith, Nathaniel Paine, Nicholas Peck, and Anthony Perry.

Nov. 23, 1670, a committee was chosen to meet the treasurer of Taunton to settle the bounds between the North Purchase and Taunton North Purchase. The committee were : Ensign Smith, Wim. Sabin, William Carpenter.

At a meeting of the proprietors, May 28, 1672, it was voted, that for the comfortable and peaceable settlement of the lands and meadows of the north side of the town ; whereas there has been great dissatisfaction in respect of the unequal division of meadows ; and, forasmuch as there was a committee chosen in the year 1668 for the bounding of the meadows between the Tens, there shall be a new committee added to them, to make diligent search and take a deliberate view of the meadows and swamps within all the several Tens, with power to add to those Tens which needed amendment, and bound them all ; and also to redress any grievance which any particular person suffers. This order is not to take place till after six months. It was provided that the said committee should bound all the Tens before any more upland lots are laid out, if they do it within two months.

At a meeting of purchasers, Feb. 18, 1684, it was voted that there should be a division of fifty acres to a share in the North Purchase. William Carpenter was chosen surveyor to lay it out. Voted that there should be a meeting of the purchasers to draw lots for said division the last Tuesday of June next ensuing. Accordingly, a meeting held June 29, 1685, lots were drawn for said fifty acres of upland among eighty-three persons.

At a proprietors' meeting, Oct. 31, 1699, it was voted that there should be two divisions of lands in the North Purchase forthwith laid out to the said proprietors according to their rights in said lands, i.e., fifty acres to a whole share in both divisions, viz., twenty-five acres to the first division, and twentyfive acres to the second division ; and he that is first in the first division shall be last in the second division, and so on. -

At their next meeting, Nov. 7, 1699, the proprietors drew lots for the new division. They had increased at this time to one hundred and thirty-three in number.