Townsend Town (part 1 of 7)

Introduction

I have written a History of the Town of Townsend, embracing most of the incidents worthy of record, covering a period of two hundred years". My task is done. I have presented on these pages no elegant word painting. I have described no battle scenes or heroes ; no intrigues or crimes of monarchs or their prime ministers : but I have labored faithfully to portray some of the characteristics of our Puritan ancestors, in the dry details of this local history. They came to found an asylum for religious liberty, without any clearly defined ideas of civil government. Their great aim was a pure religion combined with an independent church. Their hopes all centered on this one object, which engrossed their entire efforts, their muscular forces, their dreams by night, their morning and evening orisons. I have endeavored to exhibit the patriotism of our pilgrim fathers, during the revolutionary struggle, in a manner that will suggest the cost of liberty, the price of which is eternal vigilance. If some of the names of those brave men have been wrested from oblivion, and justice done to those now almost forgotten, then I am well paid for the toil through the many wear}^ yet pleasant hours, spent among the records and papers made one hundred years ago.

It should be the object of every writer of a town history, to preserve the memory of local events and enterprises ; to record the manners and customs, the sacrifices and toils of the fathers ; to gather from old records and family tradidons all important facts which the county or state historians have omitted. It is only within a few years that any attention has been paid to the preparation of town histories. In 185 1, while the history of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, was in preparation, Mr. Kidder was considered almost a lunatic, while he and his artist were making sketches of the meeting-houses, academy, and old mansions of that town. Now, four of the towns adjoining New Ipswich, have ample local histories nearly as fully illustrated as is the history of that town.

"History is a velvet study, and recreation work. What a pitie it is to see a proper gentleman to have such a crick in his neck that he cannot look backward ! Yet no better is he who cannot see behind him the actions which long since were performed. History maketh a young man to be old ; privileging him with the experience of age, without either the infirmities or inconveniences thereof. Yea, it not only maketh things past, present ; but enableth one to make a rationall conjecture of things to come."

In the study of records, I have been brought in contact with some excellent minds. I almost feel acquainted with Samuel Manning, Daniel Adams, James Hosley, and others, who placed on record the acts of the town, through the eventful days of the colonial and revolutionary times. I have almost heard their voices and peered into their pleasant but determined faces. Some of the most interesting facts, however, concerning the transactions which occurred during the first hundred years of our history, and even after that time, were gleaned from outside of the town records. The puritans were men of action not words. They had little time to commit their thoughts to writing. What the}' wrote was done more from necessity, than the love of perpetuating the remembrance of their acts.

The history of Townsend should have been written long ago, before the third generation from the fathers passed away. Many things, of great interest, can never be known which might have been learned if a timely effort had been made. Even tradition seems to have died out. The farms, on our hill-sides, once occupied by large families, the sons and daughters of which filled the school houses, and wended their way to one common place of worship, on the sabbath, are now in the hands of strangers. The history of the earliest settlers of this town can never be written satisfactorily. It is impossible to point out the exact location where many of them "broke the wilderness" and built their cabins. In this work, with reference to the ecclesiastical affairs of the town, I have aimed to exhibit a complete and impartial history of the church and its ministers, during the period that the church was a town institution. I have studied the characters of these ministers who brought glad tidings to the fathers during the first hundred years of the towns existence, and I hope I have done justice both to them and the subject. The ministers, who followed Mr. Palmer with the Congregationalists, I have described impartially as they appeared to me. Concerning the other clergymen sketched in this work, I have given their characters as I have learned them from other sources, rather than from observation.

Dr. Johnson said that "he who describes what he never saw draws from fancy." If this proposition be literally true, then we have a greater amount of fiction from the pens of Gibbon, Hume or Irving, than was ever placed to their credit. I have given sketches of men more fullv than most writers of local histories, on the principle laid down by a great writer, that "man is perennially interesting to man." Many persons herein described are now alive. The rule is that men must die before they can be embalmed. If I am not deceived their characters have been accurately drawn.

The records of births, from the settlement of the town to 1800, are incomplete ; so that any account that might be gleaned concerning these interesting statistics would not be very satisfactory. In regard to genealogy, I have not pursued that subject to any extent, because some of our most prominent families are already placed on record. The Spaulding, Giles, Stickney, Richardson, and Ball Memorials, have been for some time in possession of these families.

It is impossible that a work of this description, containing such a mass of facts and abounding in dates, should be free from errors. That errors are herein contained -is beyond question. I beg my readers to point them out to the next man who will write the supplementary chronicles of the town.

I have received valuable assistance in my labor, while compiling this work, from many -sources: tVorn John Langdon Sibley, ex-librarian of Harvard University ; trom the Librarians of the Historical Societies ; from Dr. Strong, who has charge of the Massachusetts Archives ; from the courteous and gentlemanly clerks in the office of the Secretary of State ; and what has been very agreeable, I have made the acquaintance of a class of historians, genealogists, and antiquarians, who have extended to me their friendly aid and sympathy.

Chapter Ii

Frequent Grants by the Assemblj^ - Hathorn's Farm - Jonathan Danforth - Grant of two Towns on the westerly side of Groton west line - Pj'oceedings of the Committee assembled at Concord to grant out said Townships - Names of the Persons to whom Lots were granted - Some Account of the Disagreement between the Proprietors of Dunstable and the North Town - Report of Samuel Danforth concerning the Condition of the North Town in 1730 - Charter of the Town of Townshend - Other Land Grants - Cambridge Grammar School Farm - Groton Gore - Location of the Province Line - Earliest Settlers known - Allotment by the Committee of the Proprietors - Account of some Early Settlers - Warrant for calling the First Legal Meeting - Isaac Spanlding - Customs and Fashions of the Early Settlers - Proceedings at the First Meetings of the Proprietors - Proprietors' Clerks - Moderators of the Meetings of the Proprietors - Influence of Concord Men in the Settlement of the Town. 31 - 76.

Chapter Iii Ecclesiastical History

Settlement of Rev. Phiiiehas Heinenway, the First Minister of Townsend - Memoir of him bj' Rev. Mr. Temple - Church Covenant \vritten by Mr. Hemenway - Account of Servants (negroes) belonging to the Church - Church Discipline - Owning the Covenant - New Lights - Character of Mr. Hemenway - His Death - Settlement of Rev. Samuel Dix - Account of liis Pastorate - Sample of his Eloquence - Action of the Church at the Decease of Rev. Mr. Dix - Ordination of Rev. David Palmer - Character of Mr. Palmer as an Educator - The Unitarian Excitement and Withdrawal of Mr. Palmer from the Town Meeting-house - Account of the Latter Part of his Life - Pastorate of William M. Rogers - Pastorate of Columbus Shumway - Pastorate of David Stowell - Pastorate of Luther H. Sheldon - Pastorate of E.W.Cooke - Pastorate of Moses Patten - Pastorate of George H. Morss - Pastorate of Henrj' C. Fay - Ordination of Albert F. Newton - Names of the Deacons - The Unitarians and Their Minisfei's- The Methodists. 77 - 122.

The Baptists And Univebsalists

Furniution of the Baptist Society in 1818 - Inauguration of the Church in 1827 - Levi Ball Chosen Deacon - Action of the Town in Favor of the Baptists - Pastoi-ate of Rev. James Barnaby - Concise Memoir of Mr. Barnaby - Some Account of the Successors of Mr. Barnaby - Pastorate of Rev. Willard P. Upham - The Universalist Restoration Society - Rev. John Pierce - Committee to Build a Meeting-house - Mention of the Several Pastors of this Society. 123 - 132.

Chapter

Tlu' First Meeting-house and its Location - " Pew Ground " - '- Seating the Meeting-house" - Controversy about the Location of the Second Meeting-house - Memoirs of John Hale, Oliver Prescott and .John Dunsmoor, the Committee Chosen to Locate this House

- Names of the Pew Holders in the Second Meeting-house - Action of the Town in Eegard to Moving the Second Meetinghouse to its Present Location at the Central Village - The First Bell in Town - The Congregational Meeting-house - The Baptist Meeting-house. 133 - 153.

Chapter Vi Militaby, Gemetebies, And Bequests

*-- The Training Band" - "The Alarm List" - Division of the Town into Two Military Companies - The North Company - The South Company - List of the Captains of these Companies - Townsend Light Infantry - Its Captains - Cemeteries- Laud Given by William Clark - Burying Ground Near the Common at the Centre of the Town - Its Enlargement in 1854 - Gift of Land for a Cemetery at West Townsend by Levi Warren - The Stocks, an Instrument of Torture to the Flesh - Amos Whitney's Will - His Epitaph. 154-168.

Wab Of The Be Volution

Excitement Previous to the War - A Pamphlet Received from the Selectmen of Boston - Committee of Correspondence and Safety - Action of the Town in 1773 - Action of the Town in 1774 - Delegates to the Provincial Congress - Assistance Rendered by Townsend to the Citizens of Boston During its Seige - Efforts to Obtain Salt - Tlie Alarm on the 19th of April, 1775 - Roll of Capt. James Hosley's Company of Minute-Men that Marched to Defend the Colony - Roll of Capt. Samuel Donglas' Company - Roll of Capt. Henry Farwell's Company - Capt. Thomas Warren's Company - Attempt to Regulate the Prices of Goods and Labor - The Tories of Townsend - Letter from Boston Concerning the Return of the Absentees - Privations and Struggles for Independence - Story of Eunice Locke - Some Account of Her and Her Brother - Roll of Capt. James Hosley's Company of Volunteers from Townsend, Pepperell, and Ashby, which Went to the Assistance of Gen. Gates in 1777 - Adoption of the State Constitution, 1778 - Depreciation of the Continental Money - Names of the Townsend Soldiers in 1780 - List of Prices - Retrospective. 109 - 212.

Chapter Viii The Shays Bebellion

Causes which Led to the Revolt - Mob at Springfield - Excitement in Worcester County - The People of Concord in Fear of the Insurgents - Letter from Concord to the Neighboring Towns - Town Meetings and Committees at this Time - Job Shattuck and his Subalterns - Stopping the Courts - Capture of Shattuck - List of the Shaj^s Men Belonging to Townsend - Peter Butterfleld - Luke Day the Leading Spirit of the Insurrection - Daniel Shays. 213 - 222.

Chapter Ix Educational His Toby

Early Action of the Town to Preserve the " Candlewood " - Home Instruction in the Log-Cabins - First Eecord of Any Effort to Establish a Public School - First School-House - Account of Several of the School-Houses - Division of the Town into "Nine Squadrons" in 1783 - First School Committee in 1796 - West Townsend Female Seminary - Townsend Academy - General Interest in Education - Names of Some Prominent Teachers - Sketch of Hon. Seth Davis. 223 - 240.

Mills And Manufactubes

First Mill in Town at the Harbor, 1733 - '^Hubbard's Mill" at West Townsend - Hezekiah Richardson's Mill and the Variety of Business at that Place - James Giles' Mill - Eben Butler's Mill - Daniel Giles' Mill, afterwards Owned by Adams & Powers - Steam Mill of Giles & Larkin - Steam Mill of Walter Fessenden & Son - Sketch of Walter Fessenden - The Work done by these Mills - Morocco Factory of Abram S. French - Sketch of Abram S. French - Clotliiers and Wool Carders - Hezekiah Richardson and his Sons - Samuel Whitney, the Inventor of the Planer - Peter Manning, the Saddler - Townsend Harbor in 1790 - The Tanning Business Carried on by Several Parties - Hats Made of Fur, and Palm Leaf Hats - Foundry at tlie Harbor- Statistics of the Manufactures of Townsend. for 1875, taken fx'om the Decennial Census. 241 - 258.

Contents Chapter Xi

Rabidiiess of the Politicians Previous to tlie Eebellion - Stupendous Effort of Massachusetts in Suppressing It - War a Terrible Agent in Civilization - Call for a Town Meeting, April 20th, 1861 - Patriotic Resolves of the Town - Names of the Men who Enlisted in June, 1861, and were Mustered into the Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers - Men of the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Regiment - Account of the Thirty-Third Regiment, and the Townsend men in the same - Re-enlistment of the Xine Months Men in the Old Sixth Regiment, in August, 1862 - The Fifty-Third Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers for -Nine Months - Sketch of Capt. Anson D. Fessenden - Names and Terms of Service of Townsend Men in Various Regiments - Roll of Townsend Men Belonging to the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts Heavy Artillerj^ - Roll of the One Hundred Days Men who Enlisted July 7, 1864 - Patriotism of our Young Men, and the Number of them Killed and who Lost their Lives - Aid Aftorded by the Ladies of Townsend to the Sanitary Commission. 259 - 284,

Miscellaneo Us Subjects

Town Library and its Origin - Fire Department - Odd Fellows - Sketch of Albert L. Fessenden - Townsend National Bank - The Ladies' Benevolent Society of the Orthodox Congregational Church - Townsend Cornet Band - Stage Coaches - Post-Offlces and Postmasters. 340 - 355.

Chapter Xv Town Officers

Some Eemarkable Votes of the Town - Good Sense of the Town About Taxes - Names of the Town Clerks. Moderators, Selectmen, and Representatives, from the Time the Town was Chartered to 1879 - Justices of the Peace - County Road Through Groton - Deer Reeves - Hog Reeves - Titliing-Men. 356 - 384.

Chapter Xvii

Record of the Descendants of Daniel Adams, wJio settled in Townsend, in 1742 - The Whitney Family as Benefactors and Business Men - Genealogy of some of the Townsend Whitneys. 429 - 455.

The town of Townsend is situated in the northwest angle of Middlesex County. Massachusetts, in latitude 42° 38' north, and longitude 71° 43' west. It is on the northern margin of the State, adjoining New Hampshire, is forty miles northwesterly from Boston, and hftv-six miles southerly from Concord, New Hampshire.

In 1792, the selectmen of Townsend. in company with the selectmen of the seven adjoining to\\ns, each in their turn, caused an accurate survey of the town and a plan thereof to be made. The several boundaries of the town, since that date, have remained unaltered in the least particular. By that survey it is bounded, as follows : - "Beginning at the northeast corner and running south 4° west on Pepperell line 300 rods to Groton old corner ; thence south 14° west on Pepperell line 880 rods to the northwest corner of Groton ; thence south 14° west, on Groton line 270 rods to the northwest corner of Shirley : thence south 14° west on Shirley line 500 rods to the northeast corner of Lunenburg; thence north 62 j^'^ west

1880 rods to the northwest corner of Lunenburg, in the east line of Ashby ; thence north 9° east by Ashby line 1360 rods to the northeast corner of Ashb}' ; thence south 82i<^° east bv the State line and Mason south line 1106 rods to the soutiieast corner of Mason ; thence by the State line and the south line of Brookline 760 rods to the point of beginning; and contains by estimation 19,271 acres."

The surface, except that portion near the river, is highly diversified with hills and valley's. On the banks of the Squanicook, through the entire length of the town, there are areas of level, sandy plains. Some of these, that are only slightly elevated above the natural surface of the river, are fertile and afford good remuneration to the husbandman for his toil.

The rocks are ferruginous gneiss, Merrimack schist and St. Johns group. There are ledges of gneiss, that afford large quantities of stone for building purposes. Some of them can be split and worked to good advantage ; and only the small portion of iron, which is one of their constituent parts, prevents a much more extensive use of them. On the east side of the Nissequassick Hill, a vein of plumbago crops out, which has never been investigated and nothing is known in regard to its quality or value. On the hills are a few large boulders, some of which at a certain period were travellers b\- iceberg, the most conspicuous of which is situated on the west side of the Lunenburg road, on the summit of Bayberry Hill.

The borders of the town, except at the southeastern part are hilly. The prmcipal hills are Nissequassick Hill, West Hill, Barker Hill, Battery Hill and Bavberrv Hill.

Physical Geography

"NissEQUASSicK Hill" embraces the northeastern part of the town from the Harbor to the State line, the northern slope extending into New Hampshire. Since the settlement of the town, this hill has been more densely populated than any other portion thereof except the villages. It contains some rough ledges and broken crags on its eastern brow, except which, it has few ravines or abrupt elevations; and its soil, although some rocky, is generallv Ht for the plow.

It is a graceful elevation and has manv stand points commanding views of scenic beautv. Manv charming prospects, worthy of an ascent to behold, may be seen from its summit. The Monadnock, the Watatic, the Wachusett and the bold elevations at the north, including Jo English Hill, together with the mountains of New Ipswich, Peterborough and Lyndeborough in New Hampshire, are distinctly visible and stand out in bold relief, resembling turrets in the sk\- belonging to the walls of some etherial world. The farm-buildings situated on the summit of this hill are in plain sight of several towns at the west and northwest.

West Hill,_ situated west and nearly opposite the hill just described, of about the same elevation, lies also in the northern part of the town, extending further into New Hampshire. It, however, does not take up so much of the territory of the town ; neither is it so well adapted to cultivation as Nissequassick Hill. It contains ledgy, waste lands, in which are wild ravines and swamps caused by rocky barriers, which impede the natural course of the rivulets. Two or three farms on its summit constitute all the soil on this hill suitable for cultivation : and most of the land is covered with a growth of forest trees of different sizes and ages, for which purpose it is best adapted. Closing up to this hill on the west comes : - it being at one time the place of residence of Deacon Samuel Walker. The eastern brow of this hill contains some good soil, on which are two or three well cultivated farms. The balance of its territory is ver}- rough and ledgv, being the largest tract of uninhabited land in Townsend.

It is ditiicult to reach its summit, with a team, from the west. Just before the present lull in business, the high price of lumber caused the removal of the original growth from one hundred acres near its highest point, at the price of ten thousand dollars. Many proud and stately conifers, which withstood the wintry winds of more than a centur\-, yielded to the woodman's axe, falling to the rock bound surface with a crash like a clap of "live thunder." Thus disappeared about the last remnant of the "old growth" in Townsend. It is' covered mostly like West Hill with a voung growth of timber.

Battery Hill is a name applied to a part of an unbroken spur of the Turkey Hills, which extends from Pearl Hill in Fitchburg, north to New Ipswich. New Hampshire, bordering the whole western line of the town. The name was applied to that part of this range over which passes the old road from West Townsend to Ashb}-. extending perhaps a mile both north and south of this thoroughfare. It was so called from a garrison-house, w hich stood near its Inise, on or in which a cannon was

A few farms on this hill, at the west and northwest of Ash Swamp, are of excellent quality, the soil containing just enough argillaceous matter to prevent the cultivated fields from being washed by the heavy rains, and to hold moisture during the drouths of summer.

Bayberry Hill in the southwest part of the town has nearl}' half its territorv in Lunenburg. On the north and west sides of this hill its ascent is c[uite steep and the approaches to its summit are somewhat difficult. Several hundred acres on its top are comparativeh' level. The farms here are rocky, and the land is cold and backward in the spring. Some of our best peach orchards, which are a source of much pecuniar\' profit to their owners, are on this hill. Their northern exposure keeps the buds from too early a start in the spring, thereby preventing injur}- from late trosts. There is a point on the summit of this hill from which a prospect of panoranfic beauty may be seen in the distance, having the three villages of Townsend in the tbreground, situated about equidistant in an elongated basin, widening from the northwest to the southeast and shut in by these hills, dotted with white dwellings, pastures, fields and tbrests.

Ash Swamp is a large tract of land, situated at the eastern base of Battery Hill, containing about three hundred acres. Nearly half of this territory has produced grass naturally, from time immemorial. The land in this swamp, Irom the settlement of the town to the present time, has been coveted and owned by many persons, in quantities varying from two to four acres. The fodder for a stock of cattle during the winter was considered by the farmers as incomplete without a ton or more of Ash Swamp hay.

Mr. Hill in his history of Mason (page 60), in order to show how carelessly records were made bv the New England town clerks in the days of yore, very properhquotes from the Townsend records of 1737, the la\ing out of a road as a case in point. Ash Swamp was the objective point "where Horsley and Wallis and Brown and Wyman and Woodbviry goeth along for their

"Little Goose Pond" is situated on the old turnpike, just east of where the Potunk school-house stood. At present, the pond is much smaller than it was at the time this record was made, it having been partially drained. There is a drive-way through the edge of this pond from the turnpike, tor the purpose of watering animals. The pond around its edges is at present grown up with tlags. reeds and brush. "The Hither Goose Pond" is tlie small pond located nearly a quarter of a mile east of Little Goose Pond, sometimes called Davis Pond.

"Rackkoon Brook" drains in part the southern slope of West Hill, crossing the road a few rods at the of the house of the widow of the late Adams Reed. This road, the hn-ing out of which is quoted by Mr. Hill, started from the southeast corner of Ash Swamp, near the mouth of Pearl Hill Brook (where there was a bridge across the Squanicook), running easterly to a jioint on the turnpike near where the Potunk school-house stood, thence as tlie turnpike is now traxelled. till it crosses the road leading eastward from West Townsend ; thence by that road, passing near No. 12 school-house, and onward southeasterly over Hathorn's Brook, on the line of the

There are many instances in the town records concerning roads and lands, the laying out of which are much more obscure and difficult to locate than the one cited in the history of Mason.

It must be easily inferred that the town surrounded by these hills must be well watered by the rivulets, brooks and streams, which flow down their sides and at their bases, into the principal stream, which occupies the lowest level of its central basin.

The Koran says : "God is one; He has no partner. God is good ; He sendeth rain and water from the hills to cheer the waste places and to quench the parching thirst of all that drink."

The Sqiianicook, running through the town from the northwest to the southeast, drains large areas of land outside of Townsend. It is not very crooked ; its general direction, in nautical terms, being nearly southeast by south until it approaches within, perhaps, a mile of the border of the town, where it makes a detour to the right and passes out between the corners of Groton and Shirley, and tbrms, in its onward course, the boundarv between these towns, till it empties its waters into the Nashua. This river and its tributaries have furnished motive power both in and out of town, which has been utilized since 1734, at more than twentv-tive different places. There are highways and bridges crossing it at six different phices, commencing at West Townsend and ending at the Harbor.

WiNSHiP Brook has its source in the rough meadows at the westward of Mason Centre, where it receives the water trom Merriam Hill and the southerly slopes of the hills situated north of that point. It runs to the south, taking the waters of several brooks in its course, till it flows into the northeast corner of Ash Swamp. The Winships, at different times, lived on both sides of this brook : one of the name owning a mill on it ; hence the name. During a drouth this brook is dry, but when the snow leaves in the spring, or after a hea^-y fall of rain, its current seems hurrving along as though fearful of being late in putting in an appearance at the swamp.

The Walker Brook comes down by the side of the Greenville road and runs into the northwest corner of Ash Swamp, discliarging its water into the Winship Brook, both of which united, constitute the Squanicook at its start, having its source in the southern part of Greenville, New Hampshire, and taking in through its course, waters from the corners of Ashby and New Ipswich.

Locke Brook has its origin among the rough ledges and swamp holes in the south part of New Ipswich, at the north of the Ashby alms-house. It took its name Irom Hon. John Locke, once a member of Congress from this district, who lived on one of tlie Ashbv farms, through which it passes. It runs across the northeast angle of Ashby, and down a wild ravine, through which it enters the westerly side of Ash Swamp, penetrating nearly through the same till within a few rods of the Squanicook, where it joins Willards Stream. This brook is fed by rivulets and springs, no brook of any size emptving into it during its whole course.

Willards Stream, probably called for Samuel Willard, who commanded a company of scouts in 1725, which marched northwesterly from Lancaster, Massachusetts, in pursuit of Indians, is the largest tributary of the Squanicook. Its source is a reservoir situated in the southwest part of Ashby. It drains the easterly slope of Blood Hill, a part of which is in Ashburnham. About two-thirds of the area of the town of Ashb}' is drained bv this stream. After it leaves Ashby, south village, where its waters are utilized considerably, its course is easterly. For the distance of half a mile before it reaches the margin of Townsend, its channel is deeply sunken between the hills, where it rushes onward, down the ravine and over its rocky bed, Ibaming and howling in its mad career, till impeded in its course by a massive stone dam thrown across the stream, where it partially "waits further orders." Its largest tributary is Trapp Falls Brook, which leaps into it just before it leaves the town of Ashby. It discharges its waters into the river, in the southeasterly part of Ash Swamp.

Pearl Hill Brook has its source from the springs of Pearl Hill, in Fitchburg. Its course is northerly through a valley between a spur of the Turkey Hills and the w^estern slope of Bayberry Hill, in connection with other highlands adjoining in Lunenburg. This is a favorite brook. It is never dry ; and it seldom remains frozen over in the winter for any length of time. There is a drive-way through it from the Ashby road, which is much used for watering horses. This is the fifth and last brook that flows into the river in Ash Swamp, closing in there just below the mouth of Willards Stream.

A brook flowing to the southwest, along the east base of Nissaquassick Hill, near Pepperell line, afterwards receiving the brook from the south side of the same hill, discharges considerable water into the river at the Harbor.

A nameless stream which takes its rise near the Old Citv, and runs northeasterly into the river between the centre of the town and the Harbor, and Witch Brook, whicli runs across the southeast angle of the town, and empties into the river easterlv of Samuel F. Warren's house, together with those already described, are all the tributaries of the Squanicook from this town, the waters of which have been or are at present used for mill purposes.

WoRDEN Pond, a small sheet of clear water, is situated in the west part of the town, near Ashby line. It has no visible outlet ; and it has been thought that it has some subterranean connection with Pearl Hill Brook, through which that stream becomes replenished. About 1790, a pond now known as - some hunters, who were basking in the Indian summer sun on its shores. The pond was full to its brim, swollen by the autumnal rains. A few scratches were made through the leaves and dirt from the water to the outer edge, at first causing a little current, which soon widened and widened, till the whole pond ran off with a tremendous roar, carrying fish, sand, and small trees uprooted in its track, a long distance. Since that time, thousands of loads of its mud deposits have been taken from its bed and used in composts for agricultural purposes.

Walker Pond is situated about half-way from West Townsend to the centre of the town, a short distance to the north of the highwa}'. It was purposely drained to its present dimensions, more than one hundred vears ago, bv the proprietors of the lands around its shores, in order to obtain the soil \\hich laid beneath its waters. Large quantities of mud have been removed from the bed of this pond.

The Harbor Pond is a beautiful sheet of water, which came into existence in 1734, by the dam necessary lor the first mill privilege ever improved in this town.

The river, brooks and ponds, of this town, abound with the fish common to this vicinitv. In order that the students of natural history of the next centurv mav know \\'hat varieties of the finn}' tribe tVequent these waters, at the present time, their names are here given : The brook trout (sal/no fontinalis) ; pickerel (csox rcticiilatis) \ perch favcsceus) ; shiner (stilhc chrisoleucas) : bream ( poiiiot/s Tiilgaris) ; chub or dace (Icucisciis ccp/ialus) ; horned pout (^imclodiis catus) ; the eel (anguilla tenuirostris), and the black sucker (catostomus). Worden Pond has many visitors in the winter for pickerel tishing through the ice. When the river is first covered in winter, while the ice presents a clear, vitreous appearance, holes are cut through it, at which two persons are generally stationed with poles having hooks firmly attached. Some of the sportsmen then go up the river on its banks, a considerable distance, and getting upon the ice, commence pounding and stamping to make a noise, which frightens the black sucker. This shy fish will commence running from its enemies, and pass the hole in t^-^e ice, where the hooks are let down into the clear water, when they become an easy prey, being snatched up with a dexterous jerk.

Spearing b}' torchlight was forbidden by an act of the town more than a century ago, but now in spring-time, Jack-o-lanterns may be seen, during the dark evenings, hovering along the banks of the Squanicook. The whole routine of fishing is carried so much to the extreme, that the angler seldom meets with his anticipated "luck."

The wild animals of any New England locality change so much at different periods, that it appears necessary to particularize. When the town was settled, a heavy growth of wood covered its whole area. Pitch pine, elm and maple, constituted the principal growth along the light land bordering on the river, while the hills were thickly covered with white pine, oak. hemlock, black birch, cherry tree, chestnut, and walnut.

Through these forests roamed the bear, wolf and deer, each of which turned its course from the smoke of the loghouse of the Puritan. The deer remained longest, from the fact that all the towns on the frontier, at the return of each annual town meeting, chose officers, whose duties were to protect the deer during their breeding season. These officers were called "deer reeves." The beaver has left marks of his presence, in several places, on some of the small brooks. A tradition has come down that a certain rough swamp in the north part of the town, crossed in part by the Brookline road, was the last place which this cvmning animal inhabited while here. To this day, the brook running through this swamp is called "Beaver Hole Brook." The otter (sutra), although well adapted to self-preservation, is occasionally taken here in a trap. This animal leaves a peculiar track in the snow, so that when the streams and swamps are covered with ice so that it cannot travel in them in its journeys from pond to pond, it is occasionally overtaken and shot. The mink not having the bump of caution like its ''great uncle," the otter, frequently leaves the water courses and makes a raid on the farmers' poultry-yard, once in a while at the expense of its life. Foxes and woodchucks are. perhaps, as numerous here as at any former period, while the raccoon is met less frequently, probably owing to the destruction of most of the heavy forests. The red and striped squirrels are numerous. The grey squirrel is less frequently seen than formerly, while the flying squirrel (volncclla ) is often seen, which is certainly one of the most curious, soft, gentle and beaudful of all living things.

"The Fowls of the Air" found here are not different from those in other places in this latitude. Formerly the wild pigeon was so abundant, that the catching and marketing of these birds took up the time of three or four ot our cidzens for the season. During the past five or six years scarcely a flock has been seen. Partridges ( houesa

The crow is very familiar with the farms and fields throughout the town ; amid the improvements of the times, including the whistle of the locomotives, the ringing of bells, and the sharp crack of the breach-loading rifle, he flaps his wings in the face of commerce, and steals from the corn-fields as adroitly as an office-holding politician. The owl still assumes his wonted gravity, and jealous of "Old Probabilities," he heralds the storm with his three "hoo, hoo, hooas," in notes that reverberate among the hills. The migratory birds, the sweet forest singers of June, and the confiding creatures, which build their nests around the garden walls and near the habitations of man. and wake him to his morning duties, all appear in their season to cheer and gladden the human heart.

At present the arborial productions of the town are principally white pine, pitch pine, three or four kinds of oak, hemlock, maple, two or three kinds of birch, chestnut, walnut, elm, ash and cherry.' The probabilityis that eventually chestnut will become the most valuable timber of any to be found here.

As a farming town, Townsend is inferior to Lunenburg and other towns in Worcester county, but compared with the other joining towns, it is naturally as good, and better than some of them. The farms have been neglected so that agriculture is not a branch of industry of which the people are particularly proud. Too much attention has been given to the coopering business, to the detriment of good cows, cleanly cultivated fields, and well filled Ixirns, yet its inhabitants regard their lines as having "fallen in pleasant places, and' that they have a goodly heritage."

The situation of the town is comparatively favorable for genial climatic influences. The first precursor of winter, in earnest, is seen on the powdered crests of the hills at the west and northwest, on the mornings which follow the cold. Thanksgiving rain storms. Snow appears in that direction, occasionally, two or three weeks before its appearance on Townsend soil. Certain changes in the air are noticeable in travelling to the northwest from Boston. In the spring, vegetation at Concord, a little outside of the ocean air, is different from that at the tidewater. Commencing at the hills bordering Townsend on the west, another atmospheric change is noticeable ; while at the distance of twenty-five miles further at the northwest, there is considerable difference in the climate. At the same time the extremes of heat and cold are greater on the plains here, than either on our own hills or those at the northwest. The cold waves of air following up the Nashua and Squanicook to the Harbor Pond, cause that village and its surroundings to be the most freezing locality in town. The peach tree flourishes on the hills because the mercury does not otten fall to fourteen degrees below zero ; while below that point, the cold spoils the bud which contains the embryon of this delicious fruit. The mercur\' at the Harbor has been known to indicate a temperature of thirty-five degrees below zero.

The provincial governor assumed the responsibilitv of giving names to towns and counties, which were generallv called for one of his intimate friends or some person of rank, or of the nobility. Whenever a charter for a town or "plantation" was granted, by the Assembly, if the Governor did not fill the blank left for its name, when he signed it, the Secretary of State would name it, frequently deferring to the wishes of the grantees. It appears that Townsend and Harvard were both chartered the same day, and that the Governor selected a name for the former ; and that the Secretary named the latter. It will scarcely be questioned that both of these officials showed good taste in their choice of names. The Governor named Townshend in honor of Viscount Charles Townshend, His Majesty's Secretary of War, and his contemporary. The Secretary (a graduate of Harvard University,) chose the name of Harvard, in honor of John Harvard, the man who laid the corner stone of letters in the new world, who had been dead at that time nearly a century, no one knowing the exact spot where his ashes were deposited. After the lapse of nearly another century ( 1828 ) the graduates of the university named for him, with filial regard and love for generous deeds, set up an appropriate granite shaft at or near his grave in Charlestown.

"Charles Townshend, second viscount, an English statesman, born 1676, died 1738. He succeeded to lijs title at ten years of age, and, soon after taking his seat in the House of Peers, attached to the whigs, to whose principles he remained faithful during his whole career. In 1705. he was appointed one of the commissioners to treat for the union with Scotland, and in 1707, captain of the yeomen of the Qiieen's guard : and in 1709, in the capacity of ambassador extraordinary to the United Proxinces, he concluded the Barrier Treaty, for which he was denounced in the House of Commons in 171 2. as an enemy to the

Queen and kingdom. The accession of George I. having brought the whigs into power, he was appointed one of the principal secretaries of state, and took the lead of the administration until the summer of 1716, when, owing to the intrigues of his colleagues in the ministry, Lord Sunderland and Gen. Stanhope, he was dismissed from office. Upon the reconstruction of the Ministry in 17 21, he resumed his old position of state, Walpole becoming hrst Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Walpole and Townshend quarrelled, and Townshend resigned his office in 1730 and retired to his seat in Rainham, where he devoted the remainder of his life to rural pursuits. He was a man of ability, though an indifferent speaker, and left office, says Lord Mahon, 'with a most unblemished character, and what is still less common - a most patriotic moderation.' He was somewhat overbearing in manners, and of an impetuous and irascible temper."*

About 1780, the town clerks and others began to spell Townshend by omitdng the // and giving it its present orthography. Thence till about 1800, the custom was to spell the w^ord both ways ; since which time the correct method of spelling has been abandoned, perhaps, contrary to the principles of good taste or justice.

The first official census of Massachusetts was taken in 1765, when the population of the State was only 238,423, a number not quite equal to two-thirds of the present inhabitants of the citv of Boston. The population of the Commonwealth in 1875. according to the decennial census, was

This table shows a regular gain of inhabitants between each decennial return, the greatest being between 1830 and 1840. Between i860 and 1865 the population was affected by the rebellion. The objective points of many people belonging to the rural towns of Massachusetts, are the large cities and the west. Of this number of fortune seekers and emigrants, Townsend has furnished its full share from time immemorial.

Chapter 11 Laxd Geaxts Axd Original Proprietors

Frequent Grants by the Assemblj' - Ilathonr.s Farm - Jonathan Danfoith - Grant of two Towns on the westerly side of Groton west line - Pioceedino^s of the Conunittee assembled at Concord to grant out said Townships - Names of the Persons to whom Lots . AN-ere granted - Some Account of the Disagreement between the Proprietors of Dunstable and the North Town - Report of Samuel Danforth concerning the Condition of the North Town in 1730 - Charter of the Town of Townshend - Other Land Grants - Cambridge Grammar School Farm - Groton Gore - Location of the Province Line - Earliest Settlers known - Allotment by the Committee of the Proprietors - Account of some Early Settlers - Warrant for calling the I'irst Legal Meeting - Isaac Spaulding - Customs and Fashions of the Earlj"- Settlers - Proceedings at the First Meetings of the Proprietors - Proprietoi-s* Clerks - Moderators of the Meetings of the Proprietors - Influence of Concord Men in the Settlement of the Town.

The incidents attending the settlement and progress of any New England town must be interesting to many people. Those persons who pass their lives at or near the place of their nativity are by nature patriots in the strictest sense. The history of their town, is nothing less than an account of the acts of their ancestors, their struggles with poverty, privation and oppression, under the greatest disadvantages. An eminent English jurist has said, that, "whoever does not look back to his ancestors will never look Ibrward to his posterity." The emigrants from our towns who have made themselves homes on the western prairies, men who are upholding" our flag wherever either commerce or diplomacy has ordered its presence, the tenants of some rude cabin on the Pacitic slope, all who have gone out tVom us and are now actors in the great theatre of merchandise, the sailor on his night watch and the missionary at the consecrated work, all ponder on the old birthplace with all-absorbing pleasure as time rolls along. It may be a question whether the lives of the "rude forefathers" who "hewed down the wilderness;" endured all tlie hardships of a frontier life; planted these colonies and gave to man "Freedom to worship God," are not more entitled to our regard than are the men whose valor in the revolution freed us from tyrants. We must not forget the heroic acts of our people at all times, whether we consider their bravery during the long years of their undivided support of the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence, or tlie great eflbrt which placed that stupendous army in the Held which fought the decisive battles of the' rebellion.

For more than half a century after Groton and Dunstable were chartered, all this region at the western borders of these plantations, of which Town send was a part, remained an unbroken wilderness. The most accessible lands on the coast of the province and along the fertile banks of the rivers were eagerly sought for by the puritans, while the rough and unpromising hills were unchosen and unoccupied by human beings. Even the Indians had no permanent abode in this vicinity nearer than Lancaster. The barbarities of the savages in murdering the inhabitants and burning some of the earliest settled towns during the Indian wars caused these pioneers to keep within easy distance of their garrison houses and prevented the spreading of the population. The territory of some of the oldest towns was purchased of the Indians for a few pounds of tobacco, some woolen blankets and a handful of worthless trinkets. The red man laid no claim to lands in Townsend.

The General Court from 1660 to 1740 was liberal in its land grants with a view to foster the subduing and settlement of the province, in order to increase the number of churches and make room for "the learned orthodox minister." Lands were also granted for military and civil services rendered the government, and particularlv for educational purposes. As early as 1660, a tract of one thousand acres situated on the Souhegan river in the extreme northwest corner of Milford, New Hampshire, was granted to the town of Charlestown, for a "School Farm." The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, of Boston, had a grant of one thousand acres of land which is now that part of the cit}' of Nashua, New Hampshire, just north of its central bridge and the factories. "Boardman's Farm lying near the centre of Lunenburg," a tract of six hundred and forty acres, was another of these grants.

The lirst paper title to any land in Townsend was made on the sixth day of September, 1676, which conveyed to William Hathorn a mile square.

It begins at a great hemlock tree standing on the west side of the savd hill marked with H. and runns north and by eastf three hundred and twenty pole to a maple tree marked w*^'^ H ; from thence it runns West and by north three hundred and twenty pole to a stake and stones ; from thence it runns south & by west three hundred and twenty pole to a great pine in a little swamp marked w*'^ H ; from thence it runns east & by south to the first hemlock.

All the lynes are rvnne & the trees are well marked. It contaynes a mill square and is lajd exactly square, as may be easily demonstrated by y*^ platform inserted vnderneath & is on tile.

This William Hauthorn (sometimes spelled Hathorn, Hawthorn, etc) lived in the town of Salem and was a prominent man. He was a delegate to the Great and General Court several times and was Speaker in 1661. The town of Salem in 1661 ''voted that £10 shall be paid to Major William Hathorn the ensuing year, for training the foot company." This land was granted him for some ''extra service" done in the interest of the Province.

Land Grants And Proprietors

The great hemlock which was the southeast corner of this grant must have stood at or near the house where the widow Benjamin Wallace now lives, the east line of the grant being at or near the west line of the road leading northerly from that place. The northeast corner of the same was at the distance of a mile from this point, northerly, on the west side of said road, the grant running a mile westerly from these two corners. The great pine at the southwest corner probably was a short distance northerly from the old burying ground. This location was undoubtedl}' selected b}' Hathorn's agent on account of the large amount of meadow or swale land* embraced within its limits. The people of those times had a large portion of their personal estates in horned cattle and sheep, and consequently' the eligibility of these lands that naturally produced grass. Nearlv all the meadow land in that vicinity was within Hathorn's mile square, and many deeds and records describe this tract as Hathorn's meadow, and the brook draining the same as Hathorn's brook.

It appears that Major Hathorn was one of the most noted men of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and that he had more than a military popularity from the fact that he was sent to the mother country to represent the interest of the colon V. That his services were appreciated is apparent from the fact, that, in 1658, by a resolution of the Great and General Court, Block Island was "granted to J. Endicott, R. Bellinghem, D. Dennisson and Major William Hathorn for services to this country. "f It is worthy

* There be likewise in divers places, great broad meadows, wherein grow neither shrub nor tree, but as much grass as may be thi-own out witli a scythe, thick and long. - Wood's History of New England.

of notice that the title and christian names of all these grantees, except Hathorn's, are omitted in this grant, while the ex-governors, one of whom probably made a draft of the resolntion, are simply designated by the initial to their christian names.

We almost see Danforth, who, two hnndred years ago, then in the full vigor of manhood, taking his way from Groton, on horseback, with a servant and chainmen, prepared to fix the bounds of this grant. How keenly he scans the surroundings. The extent of one of the greatest meadows in this town, with its waving grass, all falls under his eye. Notice the firm step, the determined demeanor as he ascends the hill to the "'great hemlock marked" with the first steel ever held in the hands of a white man on that hill. From that stand-point see him peering through the trunks of the great forest trees, on that beautiful September morning to catch the outlines of the Watatic and neighboring summits. How exciting every prospect. All is buoyant. "This goodly land is a part of my country, a jewel in the crown of his most gracious Majesty." Alas, proud Englishman, one hundred years hence your King will loose these provinces, and when tzvo hundred years shall have passed away, the men of your native kingdom in company with youth and beauty, bringing the costly tabrics of a great nation, will cross the ocean to assist in celebrating the centennary of a generation of men. which "acknowledged no man master."

Land Grants And Proprietors

"Capt. Jonathan Danforth was born in Framingham, in the County of Suffolk, in England, 29 February, 1627, and probabl}^ emigrated to this country when young. His family connections were highly respectable. From an original letter of Governor Belcher in my possession, to a son of Mr. Danforth it appears that his family was related to the Governor. When the settlement of Shawshin (Billerica) commenced Mr. Dantorth was among the first settlers. He was chosen one of the first selectmen, and continued in that office twenty-one years. The records were made by him for about twent}' years. He was elected the first deputy to the general court from this town on record. From his eminence in surveying, he was frequently employed in locating new towns and settlements in the Provinces of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The plans of his surveys were very numerous. There still remain a large number of them. While Mr. Danforth was justly celebrated for his eminence and distinction in mathematical knowledge, by a cotemporary, the most important part of his character is not concealed from view. His piety gave him the lustre which was most admired. A poem on his death, supposed to have been \n ritten by his nephew Rev. John Dantorth. of Dorchester, is still extant. The following extract, which I received verbalh' from Samuel Whiting. Esq., is all I have been able to obtain of it : -

He rode the circuit:, chained great towns and farms To good behavior; and by well marked stations. He fixed their bounds for many generations. His art ne'er ftiiFd him, though the load stone fiiil'd When of by mines and streams it was assaiPd; All this is charming-, but ther's something higher Gave him the lustre which we most admire.

H8 History Of Townsend

There is nothing of further interest to the town from 1676 to 1719- Perhaps the "Native Americans" carefully examined the letter H cut in the great trees to mark Hathorn's corners, as they crossed here on the war path, but the deep silence of the wilderness remained unbroken by the sound of the emigranfs axe for more than forty years.

The foundation of our municipal rights, and all the titles to the real estate in Townsend (except Hathorn's farm) rest on the following grant from the General Court in 1 7 19, which was forty-three years after Danforth made the survey and plan for the mile square on Nissequassick hill. On account of the importance of this document, it is here presented to the reader, to show some of the views of the puritans in regard to their worldly wisdom and their judgment concerning education and religion : -

Eegni Regis Georgii Magn;« Britanni;v. &c. Sexto. ^'At a great and General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Ba}' in New England, begun and held in Boston, upon Wednesday, the tw^entyseventh of May, 1719, and continued by Prorogation to Wednesday, the fourth of November, 17 19. and then met: being their second session.

"Voted that two new Towns, each containing a Qiiantity of land not exceeding six miles square, be laid out in as regular Forms, as the Land will allow ; to be settled in a defensible manner, on the Westerly side of Groton West line, and that William Taylor, Samuel Thaxter, Francis Fulham, Esqrs., Capt. John Shipley, and Mr. Benjamin Whittamore, be a Commitee fully impowered to allot and grant out the land contained in each of the said towns, (a lot not to exceed Two hundred and fifty acres) to such persons, and only such as will effectuall}- settle the sarile within the space of three years next ensuing the laying out and granting such lots by the Committee, who are instructed and directed to admit eighty families or persons in each Town at least, who shall pay to the said Committee for the use of the Province, the sum of Five Pounds for each allotment, which shall be granted and allotted as aforesaid : and that each person to whom such lot or lots shall be granted or laid out, shall be obliged to build a good Dwelling House thereon and inhabit it ; and also to break up and fence in three acres of land at the least within the Term of three years ; and that there be laid out and reserved for the first settled Minister, a good convenient Lot ; also, a Lot for the School, and a ministerial lot, and a lot for Harvard College, of two hundred and fifty acres each, and that the Settlers be obliged to build a good, convenient House tor the Worship of God in each of the said Town^, within the term of lour years ; and to pay the charge of necessary surveys, and the Committee for their service in and about the premises ; and that the Committee give public notice of the time and place when and where they will meet to grant allotments.

The portion of "country land" taken to form these two towns was known to the people of the province as Turkey Hills ; referring particularly to the hills situated in the south, southwest and west part of these townships. The committee appointed to allot and grant these two townships, designated them as North Town and South Towm. From 1 7 19 to 1732 all references to the territory which is now known as Townsend designate it as ''the North Town;" Lunenburg of course being the South Town.

The Harvard College library contains the original manuscript record of the proceedings of the committee appointed by the Great and General Court to allot and grant the land in these two townships. Through the courtesy of John Langdon Sible}", w^ho while in office was one of the few men in New England who possessed all the learning and experience necessary for a librarian, the writer has had access to this manuscript, from which, that part relating to the North Town is here inserted in full. This manuscript, nearly a century and a half old, is exceedinoly interesting : -

"The Com^'^'' appointed & fully Impowered by y*' Great & Gen^ Court or Assembly of His Majesties Province of y® Massachusetts' Bay in New England at their Session on yc ,^tii Qf Dec. 17 19 To Allot & Grant out y'' Lands contained in Each of v^' Two Townships Last Granted by y^ Court Each Containing the quantity of Six Miles Squar Lying of. & contiguous to the Town of Groton &c. (x\fter public Notice Given)

Meet at Conct)rd in y'' County of Midd""^ on Wednesday y'' Eleventh of May 1720 at y*" house of Mr. Jon"' Hoberd. In order to Grant out S'' Town- ships, Agreeable to y*' Order and Direction of y^ Gen-'' Court ( The whole of s^^ Com^ee viz W' Tailer & Samuel Tha.xter Esq'"', Capt. John Shipley Mr. Benja. Whittemore And Fra. Fullam Pe fent ) and accordingly Proceeded to Grant out f '^ Land to y^ Pefons whose Names are under written on y*^ other Sides, on v*^ Following Conditions & Provisions &c. Not otherwise.

" i^^ That Each and Every p e fon to Whome a Lot is or Shall be granted (No Allottment To Exceed y*^ quantity of 250) shall be at y'^' Entering his Name with v'^ Com^^''" To Pay Down y^' Sum of Fifty Shillings* in part, and at the Drawing of His Lott, or when the same is Laid out y*^' Sum of Fifty Shillings more in full of y® Five Pounds for y^' use of y^' Province. And if any Pefon who enters his Name & Pays y'* First Fifty Shillings shall Negle(!:t or refuse to pay y*" Last Fifty to Compleat ^-^ five Pounds as ordered by y^ Gen-'' Court When his Lott is Laid out and Redv for Draft, Every such p efon shall Forfit his first Payment and y*^' Lott be Free to be granted to any other proper p efon as y'' Com'*^^' Shall See Meet.

"2tiiy That Every Pefon to Whom Any Lott is or shall be granted Shall be and is Hereby Obliged to to Build a good Dwelling House On his s'^ Allotment & also break up & Sufficiently fence in thre acres of Land at y^ Least Within y*^ Term of Three Years after y'^ s'' Lotts are Laid out & Drawn. And so also pay & Do Each of their full

* Each man paid one hundred shillings (old tenor) for his one-eightieth part of Townsend, which was about $'2.2'2. reduced to Federal money. The province received according to this $177.60 for the township of Townsend. "As many people of the present dav. wduM prdbablv Ibid it dinb-ult to determine the diflerence between 'Old Tenor' ami -Lawful M.m.-v;- il ina\ 1... -tatr,l 1i,t,. that in tin- year 17(li'. rccourM- was liad in tlie iinivinco t(. a iiaini- ,inicnr\ . t . -upiiint tlu- exiieiiM's of <;ovenuiit'iit, and furnisli a .-uli-titutc t(ir coin as a cin-iilal iiil;- im'.lium. 'I'he bills puriiorted that tliev would 111- rnlcriiicd at a certain time, whirh was done at lir.st, but it soon lu'c.auio cnstoniar\ lo nMhi^n them bv new cniis-i.m-. This being done pretty lilnTally, they began'lo di|ir(_''iate in value. In .Ma--;i'l,n-ctt - where their value was kc|it np better than in the other provinces, the depreciatiuu was at the rate of seve7i and a half for one in specie. This acquired the name of Old 7e«or - seven shillings and sixpence being equal to one shilling in silver, which was called 'Lawful money' or nin'epence sterling of Great Britain."

History Of Townsend

Proportions Towards 3^^ building & Finishing a convenient House for y*^ Public Worship of God in Such Town Wher his Lot shall Fall, s'' House To be Finished in four Years according to y*" Order of Court, and Do also pay the Necessary Charge of y" Surve}'s and y'' Com^^® for Their Service in & about y*^ P mises.

''3<iiy That Every Grantee to Whom to Whom a Lott is or may be Granted Shall be & is Enjoyned Effectually to Settle & Inhabit the Same in his Own prop^' p e fon and Not have Liberty In Any Way whatsoever to Sell or Alienate or any Ways Dispose of his Interest or Allottm* in Either of y^ s'' Towns to any p e fon What So Ever Until y® Whole conditions Enjoyned by y*" General Court be Fully complied with & Pe formed Without the Leave and Approbation of y^ Com^*'^ or the Majer part of Them, Nor to any p e fon or p e fons but Such as they Shall appro\'e & to be Accepted by v*' Com^^'*^."

The account of the meetings of these proprietors lully set forth their acts for the \ears 1720-22 up to June 1723. In May, 1723, the record shows a meeting ot' these men and that the balance of the live pounds was paid and receipted tor. Sanniel Jones, of Concord, w as the principal surveyor in establishina" the line between Groton and North

Town. The cost of surveying this line "including expense of the two committees, surveyor, chainmen and proper assistance," was £22 los. lod., or £11 5s. 5d. lor each of the new towns which now constitute the towns of Townsend and Lunenburg. The committee in describing their labors, in part say, '^We proceeded to the heap of stones on the easterly side of Nissequassick Hill, etc.,*' which clearly indicates that that corner had been previously considered and was fully established.

Among the names in this proprietary list mav be found quite a number of men of considerable importance. Business men, those who were and those who had been members of the General Court, two or three members of the legal profession, three or four land surveyors, and others, of more than ordinary pecuniary means, constituted the first owners of Townsend and its appurtenances. Jacob Farrar and David Melvin were both with Captain Lovewell when he fell in the battle at Pequawkett, about the same time that Chamberlain of the same company, killed the stalwart chief Paugus. Melvin is known in our records as "Lieut. David Melvin," his lands being located in what is now the southerly part of x\shby. He must have been a brave man, coming from the Indian wars, as he did, with a commission. Jacob Farrar's land was on the extreme north end of Nissequassick Hill, near the state line, where his descendants settled ; and his posterity, although not numerous, are still among the inhabitants of this and the neighboring towns.

A remarkable degree of shrewdness was exhibited by the committee appointed "to grant out and allot" these two towns. Every grantee was obliged "to settle and inhabit his lot," and did not have liberty "to sell or alienate his interest therein'' until ever}' condition was complied with, without leave of the committee "(M- the majer part of them." So far as conforming- to these restrictions, there is nothing to be found showing that the}' were carried out either in letter or in spirit, for only about one-ninth of the original grantees were ever botic Jidc settlers. The members of this committee and many grantees undoubtedly found it for their interest to abrogate part of these conditions, and made an advance on their five pounds b}' "putting in substitutes'" or selling out. There is not much recorded in regard to what transpired concerning this town between 1723 and 1732. It appears, however, that there was a controversy, between the owners of Dunstable and the proprietors of Townsend, about the line between these towns, which continued a long time. This was the reason that the town of Townsend did not obtain its full charter in 1728, at the same time that the boundaries of Lunenburg were made.

It has a peculiar aspect when two frontier towns, the larger having "fifty householders''* or about two hundred and fiftv people, and the smaller, perhaps fifteen householders or about seventy-five people, the Ibrmer town containing more than two hundred square miles and the latter working on the promise of having thirty-six square miles, should "indulge" in a wrangle about eighty acres of land. Dunstable at that time extended from its northeast corner, "a great rock," in Londonderry, New Hampshire, southwesterly, diagonally across the town, to the northwest corner of Groton, which is a point in the line between Townsend and Pepperell about a mile (300 rods) south of the northwest corner of Pepperell. Thirteen ditferent towns, joining to and surrounding Nashua, New

Hampshire, which is about the centre of the original "plantation" were either taken wholly or partly from the old township of Dunstable, now extinct, of which Townsend is one.

In order that the reader may form a correct idea of the extent of the town of Townsend, when it was chartered in 1732, the following copy of a conveyance, taken from the proprietors' records, page 134, is here inserted. This hill, now called "Tanapas Hill," is situated just at the west of the village of Brookline, New Hampshire, and in that town. A line drawn west 32^° north from that hill, would not fall at a great distance south of the cemetery at Mason Centre. It will be noticed that the province line cut off a large portion of Townsend. which fell into the province of New Hampshire : -

"Laid out by the subscribers to Capt. William Lawrence for part of his fourth division lot arising upon that grant in Townshend whereof the House Lot bares Number thirty-live, one hundred and titty acres of land lying on the easterly part of Massaquatanapass Great Hill, Begining, at a white oak marked and running north thirtv-two degrees East to a stake and stones in the town line, thence turn a square angle and run on the town line East thirtvtwo south Two Hundred and forty poles to a chestnut tree marked, then turn and run South thirty-two degrees west One hundred and twenty eight poles to a maple in a swamp marked for a corner. Thence turning and run West fortyfive north two hundred and forty-eight poles to the white oak where we first begun as described in the plan - Bounded on the north side by the Town line and on all other parts on common Land.

The extreme southwest angle of old Dunstable terminated in what is now Brookline, New Hampshire, at or near the east base of what is known in our records as "Great Massapetanapass Hill."' A direct line from this point to the northwest corner of Groton, before described (which was also a southwest corner of Dunstable), was, without doubt, the line between Townsend and Dunstable, so that considerable land now in the northeast corner of Townsend was within the limits of Dunstable.

So exciting was this disagreement that it engaged the attention of the General Court, which appointed a committee to survey the line between the two towns and report. The following is from the manuscript records of the General Court for 1730 : -

"Samuel Danforth, Esq., from the committee appointed bv the General Court to survey the North Town, etc., gave in the following report, viz :

"The committee appointed bv the Great and general court on the 26th of Feb. 1730 to take a survey of a line between the North Town in Turkey Hills and Dunstable and to make a report whether the plan of the said North Town encroaches upon the town of Dunstable according to its true and allowed bounds, and what quantity of land it takes off from it, and also to make enquiry how tar the grantees of the said North Town have fultilled the conditions of their grant, and what settlements are there made, Report having (and pursuant to said order) repaired to said North Town (after due notice given to all concerned of the time of our coming) and having carefully surveyed tiie line aforesaid and full}' heard the parties therein, are humbh' of the opinion that the before mentioned plan of North Town encroaches upon the town of Dunstable, so as to take off tVom it four score acres of land, according .

to what we apprehend to be the true and allowed bounds to said town. Having also carefully viewed the settlements in said North Town and made inquiries how far the grantees have fulfilled the conditions of their grant, we find that considerable improvements have been made on the lands there, and the greater number of the grantees (besides a convenient house which they have lately erected lor the public worship of God) have fulfilled the conditions of their grant by breaking up and fencing their lands, by building convenient dwelling houses on their lotts and by residing there.

This report is important not only in showing which party was wrong, but this is the only record which represents the condition and progress of North Town at that date. Dantbrth's statement concerning the residence of the proprietors here must be received with some caution and allowance. Similar statements were frequent in those times. The petitioners of the North Town for a charter, in 1732, represented "that the town was completel}' filled w^ith inhabitants,"' when probably there were less than two hundred people in town. One of the conditions in land grants was, "Provided it doth not interfere w^ith any former grant." Dunstable received its charter in 1673. or about fifty years before anv man except Major Hathorn ou ned any Townsend soil. The North Town men found their east line bounded on Groton, running north 17^° east from Lunenburg corner, less than six miles long, so thev "interfered with a former grant" by pushing their northeast corner up into Dunstable, fearing that they would not get their six miles square as promised bv the act of 17 19. They desired and expected their east line running northerly from Lunenburg northeast corner, to continue "north seventeen and one-half degrees east," after reaching Groton northwest corner, and penetrate the town of Dunstable in that direction. In 1732, the General Court settled the matter fartly in the charter for Townsend by dividing the territory claimed by Townsend. between the two towns; but until 1741. when the province line was run, as will be seen by the charter, Townsend had no northeast corner.

"Whereas the northerly part of Turkey Hills, so called, is completely filled with inhabitants, and who are now about settling a learned and orthodox minister among them, and have addressed this court that they may be set off a distinct and sep(a)rate town and be vested with all the powers and privileges of a town :

"Be it therefore enacted by his excellency the governor, council and representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, -

"That the northerly part of Turkey Hills, as hereafter bounded and described, be and hereby is set otf and constituted a sep(a)rate township by the name of Townshend : the bounds of said township to be as followeth, \ict : beginning at a heap of stones at the north\^'est corner of Lunenburg : so running east thirty-one degrees and an half south, three thousand and fifty rods to a heap of stones in Groton line ; then bounded on Groton line, north seventeen decrees and an lialf east, one thousand four hundred and forty rods to a heap of stones at Groton north west corner ; iVom thence running due north, leaving eighty acres out of the plan, to the town of Dunstable : then running from Dunstable west line on province land, west thirty-one degrees and an half north, two thousand two hundred and forty rods, to a tree marked ; then running south, thirtysix degrees west, to the northwest corner of Lunenburg, where the bounds first began, one thousand nine hundred and twenty rods.

"Provided, That nothing herein contained be construed to affect the rights of the proprietors of the land called Hathorn's farm ; and the inhabitants of the said lands as before described and bounded, be and hereby are vested with the powers, privileges and immunities that the inhabitants of any of the towns of this province are or ought to be vested with.

"Provided, That the said town of Townshend do within the space of two years from the publication of this act, procure and settle a learned orthodox minister of good conversation in said town, and make pro\'ision for his comfortable and honorable support.

"In the House of Representatives June 29 1732 ordered that Mr. Joseph Stevens one of the principal inhabitants of the town of Townshend be and hereby is fully impowered to assemble and convene the inhabitants of said town to chose town officers to stand until the anniversary meeting in March next anv law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

From this grant it appears that Townsend acquired, in 1732, about tifty-two square miles of land instead of thirty-six miles as contemplated by the act of 17 19. Perhaps this liberality is traceable to the fact that some of the members of the General Court were part owners of "the North Town." Its north and south lines were parallel, the north line being some shorter than the south line. "Dunstable west line on the province line" (the southwest corner of that town) was about two and one-half miles further west than a line drawn north from Groton northwest corner, so that the north line of Townsend must have been more than nine miles long, and the south line more than nine miles and one-half. Probably it was the intention of the Assembly that the proprietors of Townsend and Dunstable should agree upon a point for a northeast corner of Townsend, which was to be legalized at a future period. Here is an agreement or obligation of a committee of the Dunstable proprietors in regard to the line between the two towns, copied from the Townsend proprietors' book : -

"We the subscribers a committee for the proprietors of the town of Dunstable do promise and oblige ourselves in the name and behalf of the Town and proprietors aforesaid unto the committee for the North Town, viz : Joseph Stevens, Joshua Fletcher, Andrew Spaulding, Jonathan Melvin, Timothy Heald, Joseph Willard Esq., and William Law^-ence, that if it so happens that the line dividing between North Town and Dunstable, be established by the general court further west than the line already run by North Town, the Town and proprietors shall contirm all such the land bv sucli line to the North Town as an

The men constituting both of these committees were the most prominent proprietors of these old townships. Three of the North Town committee were actual settlers here. Joseph Blanchard was a man of wealth, and extensively interested in land.

Without knowing more about this controversy than can be learned from the Townsend proprietors' records, it is difficult to explain the meaning of the obligation above quoted. The records of the proprietors of old Dunstable during the year 1731 are lost, so that nothing further of interest concerning this matter can be found. Probablv this is the interpretation of the document : -

North Town insisted on a boundary line running in the same direction of the Groton west line, north 175^° east. Dunstable objected to this infringement on her chartered rights, but for the sake of harmony, agreed that if the dividing line should be drawn by the Assemblv "further west" than the line which Townsend persistentlv asked for, then all the land at the west of the line established

* "Joseph Blanchartl (born iu Dunstable 1705, died 1758) was appointed by mandamus, one of tlie counselloi-s of New Hampshire in 1740, and sustained that office till his death. He was (li.-tinsui-hcil ;is a kind surveyor, and in conjunction with Rev. .Samuel Lanari 1(111. ini'iiared ,i inap of New llainiiMiire. which Was published in 17G1, being inscribed to llcm. Charles 'I'ciw n-lieiid. his >[aiestv's secretarv at war. and one of his privy <:omicn:' - J StlJ: nap'. < llUt. X. 11. . p. :',i.).

by the General Court, for the distance of a mile, north of Groton northwest corner^ should be given up to the North Town proprietors. In 1748, writs of ejectment were served on Isaac Farrar and Jasher Wyman by which they were dispossessed of lands situated in Brookline, New Hampshire, at the northwest of Groton northwest corner. These two Townsend proprietors were obliged to give up their lands which rightfully belonged to the township of Dunstable.

Among the ancient plans and maps in the office of the Secretary of State, at Boston, is a plan of a tract of land containing one thousand acres, lying for the most part in old Dunstable, in what is now^ the south part of Brookline and the northwest part of Pepperell, a small angle of which pierced Townsend, granted as "Cambridge grammar school farm." This was in i734- The plan shows "Massapetanapus Lower stream" and one or two of its tributaries, one from Towmsend, its westerly line running five hundred and seventy-five poles on Townsend line. The Dunstable people soon notified the Assembly of this interference with their grant, and the next year the Cambridge school farm, was relocated "on the northerly side of Massapetanapass Great hill," partly in Mason and partly in Brookline. A map of this tract of one thousand acres may be seen in the Secretary's office, at Boston. In 1736, the Assembly ""granted to Benjamin Prescott,* in behalf of the proprietors of Groton for losses of land taken to make adjoining new towns, ten thousand eight hundred acres of land lying on the west side of

Dunstable, beginning at Dram Cup Hill, by the Souhegan river, which was the northwest corner of Dunstable, and running south on Dunstable line two thousand one hundred and fifty-two poles to Townsend line, then making an angle and running west 31}^° north on Townsend line and province land, two thousand and fifty-six poles to a pillar of stones, then turning and running bv province land north, 31 1/^° east, two thousand and fort}' poles to Dunstable corner first mentioned." This was surveyed and plan rendered by Jonas Houghton, and is known as "the gore between Townsend and Dunstable." This gore is now the easterly parts of the towns of Mason and Wilton, New Hampshire. Special reservations are in this grant of which the following is parenthetically inserted. "(Excepting the one thousand acres belonging to the Cambridge School Farm and therein included.)*"

The running of the province line in 1741 settled man\- disputes about land titles and certainly "was a great public benefit." New Hampshire received a fresh impetus in civilization by acquiring from Massachusetts twenty-eight new townships besides large tracts of vacant lands intermixed. When this line was determined the politicians of Massachusetts were exceedingly angr}' and dissatisfied. Dunstable by this new line was severed in two parts about equal, suffering much by having its little village sundered and left in two provinces.

Townsend lost nearly one-third of its territory by this line, but found a northeast corner of the town located considerably south of the point for which it contended. Parts of . Brookline, Mason and New Ipswich, in New Hampshire, were then taken from Townsend.

account of the loss of their lands caused by the running of the province line in 1741, which left more than onefourth of their township in New Hampshire. At two or three different times they petitioned the Assembly ibr redress on account of their loss. From the proprietors' records is extracted the following : -

" At a meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in the township of Townshend, legally assembled at the house of Mrs. Sarah Conant, Inn-holder [the house is still standing at the southerly end of the dam at the Harbor] in said Townshend, upon Tuesday the twenty-sixth day of February 1765 at twelve o'clock on said day.

" i^y. Voted to choose a committee of three men to petition the Great and General Court of this province for a recompense for lands taken away from the proprietors of Townshend by the late running of the Line of the province of New Hampshire ; and that Colonel James Prescott, Capt. Jonas Prescott and Lieut. Josiah Sartell be a committee fully impowered for that purpose."

Soon after, when the General Court assembled, these three men appeared before a committee which reported favorably to their wishes, and at that session of the Assembly it "Granted a township, somewhere at the eastward of the Saco River, six miles square to the Townshend proprietors and others, tor military services and other losses and services."* part of this township was to be appropriated to settle a minister - one sixty-fourth part for the ministry - one sixt}- fourth part for the benefit of Harvard College - was to be settled within six years from the date of the grant, and a plan of the town to be returned to the General Court within one year.

There is nothing on record to be found showing that either the Townsend proprietors or any of these grantees ever received a dollar from this grant, or that it was ever plotted and a plan returned agreeably to the terms of the charter. The difficulties attending the settlement of a new town - its great distance from the grantees - the revolutionary struggle, all combined, probablv were in the wav to prevent the proprietors from making this grant available. In May, 1786, the following article was in the town warrant: "To see if the town will choose a committee to take care of the land that is granted them by the General Court in compensation lor land cut off by New Hampshire line, or sell the same." A committee was chosen at that town meeting to sell the same, but nothing is turther recorded concerning the matter.

The town of Ashbv was chartered in 1767. It was taken from the towns of Fitchburg, Ashburnham, and Townsend. About two-thirds of its territory was taken from Townsend. The onlv alterations in the lines of

Townsend, since it was chartered, were caused by the establishing of the province line, in 1741, and the making of the town of Ashby, in 1767.

The east end of Townsend was surveyed and laid out into two divisions, sometime in 1723 or 1724. For the next three 3'ears, four or five of the proprietors from Concord and Woburn were busily engaged in felling the trees and making helds during most of the time, exxept the winter seasons, which they passed with their Iriends in these towns. This temporary residence broke the wilderness and prepared the way for a few families.

It is said that the wife of John Pat* was the tirst person, of her sex, who settled in the North Town. The town records confirm this tradition, from the fact that the first birth found on record reads as follows : "Jonathan Pat, son of John and Mary Pat born Jan 5 1728." Without much doubt, this son of John and Mary was the first child born in this town. John Pat's log-house was about half a mile easterly from the parsonage house on a road leading to the south end of Nissequassick Hill.

The descendants of this family are, at present, to be found in Framingham, and some of the towns of Worcester County. The wife of Henry Sceva, formerly a citizen of Townsend, was one of this family.

The records of the town of Groton contain the following : "Ebenezer Ball, son of Jeremiah Ball, born in North Town, June 22, 1729." Mr. Ball li\'ed about one-third of a mile northeasterh' from the Harbor, at the corner made

There were at first two divisions of land laid out, running northerly from the river, by the line of Groton, across the east end of the town. In 1733, a third division was made which extended nearlv two miles west from Groton line. The east end of the house lots abutted on "a six rod way running nearly north and south," or the road now leading over the hill. The west end of the lots of the second division also abutted on this road, which was the longest highway laid out by the proprietors, now in use. Soon after, lands south of the Squanicook, to about the same distance westerly from Groton line, were surveyed and lotted. The proprietors made ample reservations for roads. Almost every deed closed with this sentence : "There is also an allowance for a way whenever the town shall think it necessary." No matter how rugged and precipitous, marshy or ledgv, whether the land included Rattlesnake Hill or the rough peaks in northern Ashby. that ubiquitous "allowance for a way" was sure to be present. The road entering the northeast corner of the town, running nearly south for a short distance, tiien turning easterly, and running about halt-wa}' from the state line to the Harbor, to the point where one road turns towards Pepperell and another westerlv, was the road between the first and second divisions, then laid out. Ver}' few of these roads contemplated were ever made. K. road, to these settlers, was a path between two rows of marked trees, generally- "two poles" wide but often "four poles" wide.

No original proprietor, according to the terms of the court's committee, could hold more than two hundred acres in one body, although he had a right to one-eightieth of all the land in North Town. A lot in these divisions contained about tiftv acres. These were called ''original house lots." There were more than one hundred lots in these three divisions, and it was determined by lot or chance where each man's lot should be located. Nothing could be more fair than this method. After this drawing, when the fourth and fifth divisions were laid out, the second tiftv acres or more would be exchanged by these men with each other, so their lands were more in one body. Sometimes if any proprietor was not present at a drawing or other method of giving each man his share of the "common and undivided lands," a committee composed of men of their number and choice, and sometimes a committee appointed by the General Court, would designate the lot.

At this distance from that period, not much being a matter of record, it cannot be expected that the precise location of the lands and houses of many of the first settlers can be designated ; and if it were practicable, trom the necessity of the case, any language or description that might be quite intelligible to people now living, would perhaps be obscure and without meaning to those who are to be the future men and women of Townsend. Some of these men are worthy of particular notice.

Jasher Wyman, the clerk of the proprietors for more than twenty years, was a man of more than ordinary ability. His chirography and his phraseologv were both excellent. He lived in what is now Brookline, on the east side of the road from Townsend to that town, on the second lot north of the state line. He owned and operated a saw mill there, the first ever in Brookline. When the province line was established, finding himself out of Massachusetts, and taxed to support a minister in "Dunstable west precinct"

(Hollis), although he was strongly attached to his home and neighborhood, he left there and located in the southerly part of the town, on land which he acquired in his original two hundred and tifty acres. He was a man of good judgment and greatly respected.

Capt. John Stevens lived near the brook running from Hathorn's meadow. He came from Groton and had a residence here for a number of years, being an innholder. Some of the regularl}' called meetings of the proprietors were at his tavern. He was a land surveyor and the owner of the most acres of any person in this vicinitv. His estates were in the towns of Mason, Townsend, and Groton. He owned at one time most of the land on both sides of the river, for about a mile from each bank, from the Harbor to Groton line. He was a justice of the peace and had considerable influence in town affairs.

Ephraim Sawtell came from Groton, and his house and land were on the north side of the Harbor pond, his lot extending northerl}- to Jeremiah Ball's land. He was strictly puritanical in his views and acts. He was moderator at several of the proprietors' meetings.

Timoth}' Heald li\-ed in the south part of the town, on the road leading from the tirst bridge above the Harbor pond, near the top of the hill where a traveller first begins to lose sight of the Harbor, going towards "South Row." Tradition informs us that he was not onlv a noted hunter, but that he was posted on the localities of certain mines, of which everv one, besides himself, was entirelv io-norant. Nothing further is known of him except that he was in charge of a log-house made in a defensible manner against losses by the incursions of the Indians. One of these castles was located north of the Harbor and overlooking the same, and another near the meeting-house on the hill, and the same tradition further saith that the log-houses and mill, where the Harbor now stands, and the direct surroundings were called " the Harbor,'" because by signals from these three points in case of the appearance of any "red skins," the settlers could soon reach these places of safety. One other fort, or garrison, as they were called, of the same kind, was located on the southwest side of Ash Swamp, in the west corner of the road leading northerly across said swamp, which intersects with or starts from the main road from Townsend to Ashby.

Joseph Stevens, who was empowered b}' the act of incorporation to call the first proprietors' meeting was a man of sterling integrity. He lived on the second lot on the road leading from Jeremiah Ball's house (formerly described), northeasterly, at the base of the hill, near Pepperell line. It has been said, that to the extent of about one-eighth, he had Indian blood in him.

John Wallace,* his brothers, and nephews, were Scotch Irish. They settled on the hill which has had an Indian name in this work, better known as Wallace Hill, at the present da\-. They were men of great physical strength and endurance. On the arrival of three of these brothers at Boston, some one told them of Townsend and its white oak timber, and advised them to choose this place to locate in. They were coopers, and introduced that branch of industry into this town. This business has, from that time to the present, brought more money into Townsend than all other industries added together. The de-

* The land nil wliicli -Tolm Wall.Mco settled was ;i iiart of Hatlioni's lanii. ami he took his a.Til IVniii ..lie, TIm. 111:1^ niillips, in 17:U. His lo<r-liou^<' stood on tlie west side of "the -i\ rod w.iv, ruiiniim- iicirlv north and south'" (which passed by the east side of JIathorn'- nide s.|nare). ahoni eiiuidistanl from tlie northeast and southeast corners thereof.

William Lawrence, not only had a considerable part of his father's land (John Lawrence, of Lexington,) in North Town, but he bought and owned extensive tracts in the northern part of the town. No one man, except John Stevens, and Daniel Taylor, possessed so many acres. His name appears first in the list of grantees of the town of Mason, New Hampshire, (granted 1749,) where he owned nine of the two hundred farms into which said town was surveyed and allotted. He served on most every important committee appointed by the North Town proprietors. He was born in Groton and always resided there. He was a prominent and popular militarv man, holding the office of Colonel in the Militia for a number of years. In civil life, he was first a justice of the peace, then justice of the peace and quorum, afterwards promoted to a seat on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas for Middlesex County. He represented Groton, the districts of Pepperell and Shirley, in the General Assembly of the province of Massachusetts, several dmes. He possessed excellent judgment, a benevolent disposition, and unfeigned piety.

For some reason unknown to the writer, Joseph Stevens waived his riw^ht of callinij^ the first meeting of the proprietors after the incorporation of the town, and this duty devolved on Benjamin Prescott, Esq., of Groton, in manner as follows: -