Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Chapter 20: The Town of Medfield, 1918

Chapter 20: The Town of Medfield

IN THE BEGINNING - AS A PART OF DEDHAM - NEW TOWN FIRST PROPOSED PETITION TO GENERAL COURT - THE RESULT - OTHER TERRITORY SET ASIDE - THE NAME - AGREEMENT AND COMMITTEE - FIRST HOUSE LOTS - FURTHER SETTLEMENTS - SURRENDER OF JURISDICTION - INCORPORATION - A DISCREPANCY IN

The town of Medfield is located in the western portion of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The town is of irregular form and is bounded as follows : on the north by the town of Dover; on the east by a portion of Dover and Walpole; on the south by Walpole and Norfolk ; and on the west by the Charles River which separates Medfield from Millis and Middlesex County. The Charles River on the west is, of course, the most important stream of this town, with Stop River as a tributary flowing through the central and southern parts of the county.

In The Beginning

Although much detail concerning the Indian history of this territory is given in the chapter devoted to that subject, something of it must necessarily be given as an introduction to the settlement and organization of the town of Medfield. All the region to the southwest of Boston was occupied by several Indian tribes, among them the Natick, the Neponset and the Nipmuck ; the whole organization of Indian tribes in this section of the country bore the general name of Massachusett. They were at first friendly with the white men, but after the English had accorded them harsh treatment at different times, their friendship changed to open hostility.

The territory south and east of the Charles River was included in the domain of the Neponset. The sachem of this tribe, Chickatabot, was friendly with the English from the beginning, frequently making treaties with both the Plymouth and Bay colonies. About the year 1632 William Pynchon of Boston, afterwards of Springfield, purchased from Chickatabot all of the territory lying between the Charles River and the Neponset River. This land embraced what is now the town of Medfield, as well as several other Norfolk County towns as far south as the Rhode Island line. The boundaries of this purchase were very poorly defined at the time of the purchase, consequently in after years trouble arose between the Indians and whites over the exact boundary lines, particularly that of the south. In 1635 the colonial government asked for persons who were present at the time of the purchase and could place the boundary lines as they were laid down. However, no one came forward with the information. Many of the Indians, including Chickatabot himself, had been stricken with death by the smallpox scourge of 1633 and there were few left to respond.

As A Part Of Dedham

The Town of Dedham was incorporated in 1636 and included "all the lands on the easterly and southerly side of Charles River not formerly granted to any town or particular person." Roxbury had been set off from the Pynchon purchase prior to this time, so Dedham, when formed, comprised all the remainder of the territory included in that purchase, including that now in Medfield. Medfield remained a part of Dedham for a period of fourteen or fifteen years.

The land now within the Town of Medfield was little used for many years, except as pasture and hay land. All of the territory of the Charles River valley between Medfield on the east and Medway and Sherborn on the west, with adjacent lands, was called Boggestow by the Indians. The present Town of Dedham embraced but a small portion of this. The plain a mile east of the village was known as the "herd-house plain," proving beyond a doubt that citizens from Dedham, and possibly from other settlements utilized this vicinity as a pasture ground. As early as 1642 Dedham granted to one of her citizens a farm of 350 acres "to lie in or about that place called Boggestow, or not far from thence." This tract of land was on the east side of the river and was afterward bought in by the selectmen of Medfield, no settlement having been made on the site.

New Town First Proposed

The first move for the formation of a new settlement and town was made by citizens of Dedham, principally because several of the men of Dedham found the town too small for them and, in addition, wished to gain good landed property for themselves. There is a well founded supposition that certain of these reactionaries desired a little more freedom in religious matters and in political discussions. Ralph Wheelock was the principal man in the "new territory" group. He had been educated in England and at first had been a preacher in the established church, later becoming a dissenter. It is thought that Dedham was not entirely agreeable to Wheelock at this time. Consequently, a number of citizens, led by Wheelock, proposed a scheme to make a new town out of a portion of Dedham, also a corresponding portion of land lying on the west side of the river, so including the river bed and the adjacent rich meadows.

Petition To General Court

A petition was written, signed by the citizens interested, and presented to the General Court, asking for a grant of land on the west side of the river. This petition, unfortunately, has not been preserved, but the following order is inscribed on the records of the court :

"In answer to a petition of the inhabitants of Dedham for a parcel of upland and meadow adjoining to their line, to make a village in quantity four miles south and north and three miles east and west, because they are 'streightned' at their doors by other towns and rocky lands, etc. Their request is granted so as they erect a distinct village thereupon within one year from this day, October 23, 1649, and Captain Keaine, Mr. Edward Jackson and the surveyor general are appointed to lay it out at any time, Dedham giving them a week's warning."

Thus, the date of this grant is fixed on October 23, 1649. The land described in the above has been called the "old grant," and embraced what was later East Medway and now the Town of Millis.

The Result

The men appointed by the General Court to lay out the lands west of the river performed their specified duty. In the colonial record for May 22, 1650, appears the following :

"Whereas there was a grant made by the General Court at a session the 22d of the 8th month, 1649, unto the inhabitants of Dedham in answer to a petition of theirs for the enlargement of the village there, as by the said grant may more fully appear, this grant, so made, was laid out by Capt. Robert Keaine and Mr. Edward Jackson, who have subscribed it with their hands in manner and form following: beginning at a small hill, or island, in the meadow on the west side of the Charles River, and running from thence about full west three miles, and then, turning a south line, ended at the Charles River at three miles and a quarter, this line being there shorter than by the grant it was allowed to be, but accepted by grantee, the said river is appointed to be the bounds from that place to the place where the first line began. The court doth approve of this return of the persons above mentioned concerning the bounds of the said village and in answer to the inhabitants of Dedham 'doe order that it shalbe called (Meadfield).' "

In the above the small hill, or island, mentioned is about one quarter mile north of the Boggestow pond; the line "about full west" nearly the present line between Medway and Sherborn and Holliston ; the "south line" marks the indentation in the north boundary of Medway and came to the river a little west of Medway village.

Other Territory Set Aside

On November 14th, shortly after the grant had been obtained from the General Court, a town meeting was held in Dedham and a portion of the original Dedham territory set apart for the new town. The town voted that there should be "granted for the accommodation of the village so much land within the west end of the bounds of Dedham next Boggestow as is or may be contained within the extent of three miles east and west and four miles north and south - the form and line to be varied and altered as in the judgment of such men as shall be deputed thereunto shall seem for the most convenient accomadation both of Dedham and the said village."

In the following January three men, Ensign Phillips, John Dwight and Daniel Fisher, were appointed to lay out this grant before the middle of April, 1650. The records show that they accomplished their mission satisfactorily. This made two separate actions taken by the citizens of Dedham for the formation of the new town of Medfield. The first was the petition to the General Court, the grant by that body and the appointment of Keaine and Jackson to lay out the said grant ; the second action was the independent move of Dedham, severing a portion of its territory from the western side of the town and adding it to the land obtained by the General Court's grant, also the appointment of Phillips, Dwight and Fisher to lay it out.

The Name

The why and wherefore of the name Medfield has been described in several ways. In the report made by Captain Robert Keaine and Edward Jackson is the following: "doe order that it shalbe called (Meadfield)." The fact that the name is contained in brackets seems to be sufficient proof that it had not been decided upon, but was incorporated in the report later. In other of the earlier records the name is also spelled Meadfield and Medfield. Of the reasons advanced for the name the principal ones are : first, the open field where the village was afterward erected was called the "meadow field," hence the contraction into Medfield ; second, that there were open fields north and south of the town, which led to the name of "mid field ;" and third, that many of the settlers near here came from the towns of Dedham and Medfield in Old England, which lay very close together. Tradition says that the town of Medfield in New England received as a present a bell from Medfield, England; however, no confirmation of this incident is available. The latter theory of the origin of the name is the most plausible. It is true that Dedham received her name in this manner, which lends strength to the conjecture that Medfield also received a name similarly.

Agreement And Committee

At the town meeting held in Dedham, November 14, 1649, a committee was appointed to look after the affairs of the proposed town of Medfield. This committee was composed of the following men: Ralph Wheelock, Thomas Wight, Robert Hinsdale, Henry dickering, John Dwight, Peter Woodward and Eleazer Lusher. These men were chosen principally to superintend the various activities incident to the new territory prior to the time of incorporation.

At the same meeting in Dedham the question was proposed and discussed as to the conditions upon which the lands were to be granted. Some of those present desired that they be freely given, while others, in consideration of their town rights in the meadows, thought the grantees should pay the sum of £ 100 "to be divided among such of the inhabitants of Dedham as do not remove to the village." This latter view prevailed, but the amount the settler should pay was afterward reduced to £50.

Wheelock, Hinsdale and Thomas Wight were the first to go to the new settlement ; Chickering, John Dwight and Woodward were named to remain in Dedham and act for that town; while Eleazer Lusher was appointed clerk of the town until Medfield was officially recognized.

About this time the "agreement" was drawn up by the committee, in all probability written by Ralph Wheelock himself, who was the foremost figure. Among the things provided for in this agreement were : that all persons receiving grants of land from the new town should become subject to the town government; that all differences of opinion or discussions were to be settled by reference or arbitration, without resorting to the courts ; that no one should be permitted to become a townsman, but such as were honest, peaceable and free from the burden of a bad .reputation ;- that grants >of land were to be given to the settlers according to the extent of their wealth and the number of people in the family; that no one was to receive in the first grant more than twelve acres of upland and twelve of meadow, nor less than six of each; and that none should receive lands except those who intended to become actual settlers, also that all settlements should be made before the end of May, 1651. Teachers and church officers were specially provided for and the probable town hall site set off for the minister, which in this case went to Rev. John Wilson. A tablet is now fixed to the town hall marking this home of the first minister ; it was set in place by the Medfield Historical Society.

The first roads were also designated about this time, but no record exists of their exact location. The main road from Dedham to Boggestow entered Medfield near Foundry Street. A bridge was constructed across the Charles River near the later town farm and a road run eastward through the town to Dedham. From this road, at the center of the town, a road ran northward, now North Street, and another south, near Pleasant Street. The meeting house lot and the cemetery were laid out about the same time.

First House Lots

The committee in charge of affairs held a meeting on May 10, 1650, when provisions were made for the laying out of house lots in Medfield. Thomas Wight, Robert Hinsdale, Timothy Dwight, Samuel Bullen and John Frairy were appointed to assist the surveyor, or "measurer," in this work. Also, every grantee was ordered to pay the sum of one shilling to the collector, Thomas Wight. On June 19, 1650, the committee named proceeded to lay out the first thirteen house lots in the new town.

Number One went to Ralph Wheelock ; this consisted of twelve acres at the west corner of Main and North Streets. Number Two was taken by John Ellis ; his lot later was known as the Upham Place These two, with that of Rev. John Wilson, were the only lots then taken on Main Street. Each of three had what was known as a "home field" on the opposite side of the street, extending through as far as Oak Street. Lot Number Three was apportioned to Samuel Bullen. This site was on the lane leading out of Philip Street, near South Street. Number Four was given to Daniel Morse, consisting of twelve acres next to that of Samuel Bullen "to the southeast and brook southwest." Numbers Five, Six, Seven and Eight were assigned to James Allen, Joseph Clark, Francis Hamant and John Turner respectively, all on South Street from the Rhodes House to the corner of Curve Street. To John Frairy went Number Nine, comprising twelve acres on what is now Frairy Street. Timothy Dwight received twelve acres on the same street, his lot being Number Ten. Number Eleven consisted of three and a half acres on the later site of the Edmund Chenery home, from the brook to Green Street, and was granted to Robert Hinsdale. Number Twelve was granted to Thomas Wight and Number Thirteen to John Wight, his son. These latter two

Further Settlements

During the following year there was little or no building in the new town. Isaac Chenery and Henry Smith located on South Street beyond Oak Street. Joshua Fisher, George Barber and John Thurston obtained lots on East Main Street from Reverend Wilson's home to the Hewins Place. John Bullard, John Plimpton and John Metcalf located their homes on West Main Street from the railroad to the cemetery. Joseph Morse, with his aged father, Samuel, obtained grants on Pound Street. John Pratt, William Partridge, Thomas Ellis, Thomas Mason and John Partridge selected sites on North Street. Ten families came to the new town from Weymouth and Braintree. These consisted of Benjamin Alby, John Bowers, Nicholas Rockwood, Alexander Lovell, Abraham Harding, Henry Adams, John Fussell, Edward Adams, Peter Adams and Margaret Sheppard. All took lots on Bridge Street, in the order named, from the almshouse to the corner of Bridge and Main Streets. The above named persons, with the original thirteen grantees, constituted the first settlers of the town of Medfield. The first family to remove to their Medfield home was that of Samuel Bullen, whose house stood near Philip Street.

Surrender Of Jurisdiction

January II, 1651, a general meeting of the inhabitants of Dedham was held, at which time the following vote was passed : "It is by the town of Dedham consented unto and ordered that the power, right and privilege of town government that hath hitherto and is remaining in the township of Dedham, or any of their trustees or assigns, whereby they have and did act in and on behalf of the town of Medfield, shall be, or hereby is, wholly or totally transmitted and delivered into the hands, power and disposing of the township of Medfield in general and the selectmen thereof and their successors forever. And do also further agree with those of Medfield that are now present that such care as is necessary that due and seasonable payment be made of that debt due from Medfield to this town upon reasonable demand thereof. And further promise as much forbearance thereof as the public occasion of the town admit of."

Incorporation

"There being a town lately erected beyond Dedham, in the county of Suffolk, upon the Charles River, called by the name of Meadfeild, upon their request made to this General Court, this court hath granted them all the powers and privileges which other towns do enjoy according to law." Medfield was the forty-third town in the colony in the order of incorporation. The first board of selectmen for Medfield consisted of Ralph Wheelock, Timothy Dwight, Robert Hinsdale, John Frairy and Benjamin Alby, with Henry Adams as clerk.

A Discrepancy In Dates

In the above account of the incorporation of the town of Medfield the year 165 1 is given as the time of this occurrence. To this statement there may be a difference of opinion. The date is that used by W. S. Tilden in his various historical descriptions of the town. Mr. Tilden, while living, was known as a careful student and writer of history and his works bear a reputation of accuracy and veracity. However, there are other authorities which place the date of incorporation in the year 1650. The Manual for the General Court, 1917, also the New England Historic Genealogical Society's publication known as the Medfield Vital Records, place the date of incorporation as May 22, 1650.

First Years Of Existence

It has been stated before that the first family to move to Medfield to take up residence was that of Samuel Bullen, whose house stood near Philip Street. The meadows surrounding the village proper were laid out into grants in the year 1652 and given to the owners of house lots. The following year the lands easily accessible to cultivation were divided, according to persons and estates, each member of the household being appraised at ten pounds. The same year the town clerk began the vital records - births, deaths and marriages - which have been continued until the present time.

The custom of burning over all the waste lands in November of each year, which custom was learned from the Indians, was continued in Medfield for many years. The purpose was to clear the land of underbrush and so provide good pasturage for the live stock.

For many years, or prior to 1660, the granting of house lots to new settlers, the division of wood lands, laying out town roads, making provisions for fences and bounds, and adopting other ordinances for the good of the community gave the settlers plenty to do. A pair of stocks for the punishment of the unruly were also placed upon a public spot.

The territory west of the river was enlarged in the year 1659 by what was known as the "new grant." This land covered an area of two miles east and west and four miles north and south. All the owners of house lots in Medfield shared in the division of this territory, the same being laid out in portions of fifty to one hundred and fifty acres. Very soon afterward families began to settle on the west side of the river.

The first emigration from the town occurred about the year 1670, when the Hinsdales, Plimptons and Frairys removed to the Connecticut Valley. Near the same time a post road was established from Boston to Hartford and a road laid out from Medfield to Mendon. In 1672 John Awashamog, an Indian of Natick, laid claim to the territory west of the Charles River. The Natick tribe had been the original holders of this territory and it would seem that the Indian's claim bore some weight, for it was compromised by the payment of twenty-one pounds. The year 1676 was a memorable one in the history of Medfield, for in this year occurred King Philip's war and the burning of Medfield. Details of this disastrous event may be found in Chapter III of this volume.

the town of Medfield. Mr. Pynchon had already purchased the land and paid for it, but as no deed could be discovered the town was forced to compromise with the Indian for ten pounds four shillings.

The Black Swamp lands were laid out in the year 1702 to the proprietors, numbering one hundred and twenty-three. About twenty-seven of these lived west of the Charles River.

Division Of The Town

In 1712 the question of dividing the town of Medfield was seriously discussed by the citizens. In 1713 the people on the west side of the river sent a petition to the General Court, a committee was appointed and instructed to visit the land in question and make a report. This they did and advised a division of the town. By an act of the Legislature, October 25, 1713, the town of Medway was set off and the Charles River became the western boundary of Medfield. This division is treated more at length in Chapter XXI on the Town of Medway.

The first moves for the division of the county of Suffolk occurred in the year 1726, but not until over a half century later did they materialize. The town of Medfield took great interest throughout this long stretch of years and frequently the discussion occupied most of the time at the town meetings. The result, as stated before, was the formation of Norfolk County in 1793. At one time the proposition was advanced to make Medfield the shire-town, but the objections of certain citizens prevented this. They said that the temptation of the citizens to visit the court room during the time of trials would be prejudicial to industrial activities.

Population

The following table of figures relative to the population of the Town of Medfield will be found interesting in view of the fact that it has never been published in a historical volume upon Medfield. The census statistics are taken from the state and government census reports as compiled by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. It is stated by one authority that in 1675, twenty-five years after the incorporation of the town, Medfield had seventy-seven landed proprietors.

The first effort for the establishment of a postoffice in the Town of Medfield was made in 1806. Daniel Adams wrote to Seth Hastings of Mendon, Congressman, under date of January 28, 1806, stating many reasons why Medfield should have a regularly established postoffice, also extolling his own qualities for the position of postmaster. Prior to this time the citizens had been compelled to go to Dedham or Medway for their mails. Mr. Adams did not succeed in obtaining the postmastership, although Medfield was given the office April 1, 1807, and Samuel Seaver appointed the first postmaster. He kept the office in his small store on the corner of North and Main streets, where he had succeeded Oliver Wheelock in business. The postoffice is now located in the town hall.

The Town Hall

In the year 1866 the town received a bequest from George W. Chenery for the purpose of constructing a town hall in the village of Medfield. This sum of money, amounting to $23,700 was placed in the hands of the following trustees : Charles Hamant, Isaac Fiske and E. P. Carpenter, the latter of Foxboro. In 1869 the trustees purchased the old tavern lot in the center of the village for $1,760 for the site of the hall. In 1872 the town hall was erected and dedicated on September 10th. The firm of Hartwell & Swasey drew the plans and the contracting was done by C. H. & W. Stewart. The total cost of the building, exclusive of the land, was $26,668.

The citizens of Medfield were permitted to enjoy their excellent new hall but little over a year. On January 8, 1874, the building was destroyed by fire, with the exception of a small portion of the tower. The public library, the fire engine and apparatus and the hearse which was kept in the basement were all burned, also a portion of the public records. By the heroic efforts of a few of the citizens, led by Charles Hamant, the safe which contained valuable town documents, was suspended by a chain and prevented from falling into the flames below ; this alone saved the most important records from destruction. The fire occurred very late at night and by the time the alarm had been turned in had progressed too far to be checked.

The town waited but a short time before taking action toward the erection of a new town hall upon the site of the old one. On January 24th a meeting was held and there a vote was taken to rebuild the hall immediately. T. W. Silloway was named as the architect and Mead, Mason & Company were awarded the contract for building. The total cost of the reconstruction was $21,500, of which sum $15,000 was received from the insurance. The new town hall was rededicated November 2, 1874, with appropriate exercises. The postoffice, public library, and historical society rooms are now housed in the building.

However, the library and historical society will in the near future be moved into the handsome new brick library building in process of erection opposite the town hall on Main Street. This building was given to the town of Medfield by Granville S. Dailey.

Prominent Early Citizens

The one deserving first mention among the early settlers of the town of Medfield is undoubtedly Ralph Wheelock, often spoken of as the "founder of Medfield.'' Wheelock received his education at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, England, where he took his degree in 1626 and 1631. For a time he was a preacher in the Established Church. In 1638 he came to Dedham, was made a freeman March 13, 1638, and died at Medfield January 11, 1684. For several generations afterward descendants of Ralph Wheelock lived in Medfield. Col. Ephraim Wheelock, his great-grandson, served in both the French and Indian and the Revolutionary Wars. Notwithstanding the fact that some writers have criticised Ralph Wheelock for his dissenting views, it cannot be denied that he was a man of energy, large ideas and strong executive ability. To his efforts may be credited the success of the movement to form the new town of Medfield.

The next in order of importance in early Medfield was the Rev. John Wilson, the first minister in the town, whose residence stood on the site of the town hall. Reverend Wilson commenced his pastorate here in December, 1651. He continued his work among the people of Medfield a little over forty years, when his death occurred in 1691. He was a much loved man and of sterling quality.

Timothy Dwight, son of John Dwight, one of the original thirteen house lot grantees, was a freeman June 2, 1641. Dwight was a representative for Medfield in 1652. He died in this town in the year 1677.

Daniel Morse, son of Samuel Morse, first came to Dedham and then to Medfield. He became a freeman May 6, 1635. His death occurred in Sherborn in 1688.

Robert Hinsdale, one of the first thirteen lot holders, became a freeman March 13. 1638. He later moved to Medfield, thence to Hadley, where he resided for several years, and then to Deerfield. At the latter place he was killed, with his three sons, by the Indians at the time of Captain Lothrop's defeat at Bloody Rrook.

George Barber first came to Dedham in 1643, and later moved to Medfield. He became a freeman May 16, 1647, was a representative in 1668-9 ar)d a high militia officer.

Public Utilities

The improvement of roads, public conveniences and private property has been a matter of gradual and substantial growth in Medfield. This growth has extended over a period of many years and is an excellent proof of the stability of the town. Another feature of Medfield at the present time is the fact that there is practically no debt to burden the citizens. In the past Medfield has bonded itself heavily, but in recent years these debts have been cleared away, leaving the town in 1917-18 in very prosperous condition.

Water is supplied by the Medfield Water Company, the supply being taken from springs. A city plant was first proposed about 1902, but never materialized. The present company was organized several years later. The Medfield Electric Light and Power Company supplies electricity to the inhabitants. This corpora* tion was established m November, 1900.

The first attempt at sewer construction was made in the '80s, when the straw works and the town divided upon the expense of constructing a sewer to carry the waste from the factory. In 1886 the town voted to build a common sewer from a point on North Street to a point northwest of Dale Street, where a filtering basin was constructed. In 188 1 a sewer had been laid from the corner of Main and Pleasant streets along North Street to the Meeting House Pond. The sewer then started has been extended at different times until now practically every street of importance in the village of Medfield is provided with this convenience. Land was donated by D. D. Curtis for the sewer-bed.

A large amount of road improvement has been accomplished within the last decade. There is hardly a half mile of roadway in the town now not improved and finished with Tarvia, a road bed composition of good wearing quality. The streets of the town were first given names in 1855, principally for the convenience in bounding lands and executing conveyances. The selectmen who performed this task and christened the roads were Charles C. Sewall, George M. Smith and Benjamin F. Shumway. In 1856 some of the old town roads were discontinued.

Adequate fire protection is supplied by the usual hook and ladder and hose companies ; the excellent water supply and pressure assist greatly in the prevention of any more disastrous years of fires such as occurred in the early '70s. The first fire engine in the town was a gift some years before 1832. This antiquated engine was kept in a barn. A Hunneman fire engine was purchased in 1853 at a cost of $600. A short time afterward an engine house was constructed on North Street and a company formed. In 1877 a hook and ladder truck, with apparatus, was purchased by the town and another company formed. The first telephone line built in the town came through in 1883.

The first step taken for the erection of a building for the care of the poor and destitute occurred in 1837 when the town purchased the farm of George Newell for $3,100 and changed it into a poor farm. Until this time paupers were placed on public auction and sold to the lowest bidder for their support.

The visitor to Medfield town is at once impressed by the large number of stately trees lining the roadways, some of them of magnificent proportions and of great age. These trees are not all the products of chance, for in the year 1798 the citizens of the town became interested in the systematic planting of trees along

The E. V. Mitchell Company'S Hat Factory, Medfield First Vital Statistics

The first death was that of the infant child of Rev. John Wilson in December, 1652. The first death among the settlers was that of John Wight in

The marriage of Thomas Mason and Margery Partridge in 1653 was tne first in the town. The ceremony was performed by Eleazer Lusher of Dedham. No minister, unless possibly the Episcopal, was qualified under the English law to marry people until about thirty years later. Ralph Wheelock was appointed magistrate in 1656, then he had the privilege of conducting the marriage ceremonies in this vicinity.

The first murder in Medfield occurred in the year 1802, when William P. Allen was killed by his brother-in-law, Ebenezer Mason. Mason was tried, convicted and hanged on the 7th of October. His body was stolen from the grave shortly afterward and, although a half-hearted atttempt was made to recover it, the effort was unsuccessful.

In 1656 occurred the marriage of Thomas Holbrook and Hannah Sheppard, before Ralph Wheelock and Thomas Grubb, the first before the town commissioners of Medfield.

First Valuations

those of 1652, and not all of them are itemized. As an example of the method of valuations the following account under the heading of "Ralph Wheelock His Estate" is given:

There were thirty-four property holders listed in this first valuation of town wealth. Their names and the total valuation of their holdings are given in the following: table :

Miscellaneous Items

In early Medfield slavery prevailed to some extent. Rev. Joseph Baxter, in his will which was probated in 1745, bequeathed to his wife the slave woman Nanny. He also named certain conditions of good behavior by which Nanny could eventually gain her freedom. Warwick Green, Colonel Wheelock's body servant during his service in the army, was brought here directly from Africa. Newport Green was another slave in this town.

A cemetery along Main Street was laid out immediately after the settlement of the town. This plot of ground was cleared of bushes and undergrowth every year and in 1843 was nrst enlarged by an addition of land on the north and east. A wall next to the street was built, paths and driveways laid out, and trees planted. The resting places of only four of the original settlers could be found in recent years, the graves being those of Rev. John Wilson, Samuel Bullen, Samuel Morse and John Metcalf.

About the year 1856 a law was passed that every town should have an "ordinary" or public house. The pioneer tavern keeper in Medfield was Joshua Fisher, who opened up for business where the home of Mrs. Margaret Hewins was afterward located. Samuel Sadey began to operate a public house on North Street, opposite the head of Dale Street; another was in the south part of town and first kept by Sabin Mann; another was started by Seth Clark; Moses Richardson also kept one in the east part of town. In 1810 David Fairbanks, a prominent business man of Medfield at this time, built a tavern on the site of the town hall and this was for fifty years the only public house in Medfield. The Wheelock estate was purchased by Fairbanks in order to begin this business.

The bi-centennial anniversary of the burning of Medfield by the Indians was celebrated February 26, 1876, with appropriate exercises. The day started by the ringing of bells and the firing of the national salute by a detachment from Battery B of the Massachusetts Artillery under Captain Baxter. The Medfield Band supplied music during the day. Addresses were delivered by Rev. C. C. Sewall, R. R. Bishop and a poem was read by James Hewins. The exercises were held at 10:30 A. M. in the town hall. In the afternoon the people reassembled and various activities consumed the remainder of the day.

On June 6, 1901 occurred the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Medfield. An appropriation of $1,500 had been secured some months prior to the day for the proper conduct of the celebration. The day started in the usual patriotic manner and at 9 o'clock the grand procession was held, composed of the following: officers, committees, American Waltham Watch Company Band of twenty-two pieces, Moses Ellis Post, Xo. 117, G. A. R., Medfield Lodge No. 216, I. O. O. F., Medfield Lodge No. 40, A. O. U. W., Medfield Grange No. ii4; P. of H., fire department. Women's Relief Corps, Hannah Adams Club, schools, trades, etc. Literary exercises were held at the First Congregational Church at 11 A. M., with the principal address by W. S. Tilden. At 1 o'clock a banquet was held in Chenery Hall, presided over by James Hewins. Sports and games were held at 2 .30 P. M and at 8 P. M. a concert was given by the band.

The Boston and Hartford turnpike was constructed in 1806. It was owned by numerous stockholders who eventually found it an unprofitable investment. A line of coaches was run through the town for the next thirty years and toll gates were erected at various points along the route.

The first guide boards in Medfield were erected in 1795. There were five of them and they were placed at the corners of the principal townways.

In a paper read by James Hewins before the Worcester Society of Antiquity and others at the annual field day at Medfield June 20, 1891, the writer brought forth the suggestion of naming the more prominent homes of the town after Indian characters who had historical connection with the town, either through the great Massasoit, in whose dominion the territory now in Medfield was situated at the time of the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620, or through his son, Metacomet, otherwise known as King Philip. Many names were suggested by Mr. Hewins, the more prominent of which follow, also the name of the residence to bear