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974.402 
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1139008 


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GENEALOGY  C 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01114  8761 


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AN  N ALS 


Town  of  Mendon, 

Ma 


1  659   to   1880. 


COMPILED    BY 


JOHN    G.    METCALF,   M.    D., 

MEMBER  OF   THE   HIS.   GEN.    AND  AMERICAN   ANTIQUARIAN   SOCIETIES,    ETC. 


PROVIDENCE,    R.    I.: 

E.    L.    FREEMAN   &   CO.,    PRINTERS   TO   THE   STATE. 

1880. 


NOTE. 


The  Annals  are  published  by  the  Town  under  the  supervision  of  the 
following  committee,  viz.  : 

JULIUS  A.  GEORGE, 
MICA1AH  C.  GASKILL, 
PUTMAN  W.  TAFT, 
•GUSTAVUS  B.  WILLIAMS. 


INDEX 


1189008 


A. 

Abercromby's  expedition 281 

Account  of  Saml.  Read 142 

do.      of  J.  Chapin 133 

do.      of  Shirts 368 

Accounts  audited..  169,  224,  263,  266 

Act  of  Parliament 327 

Agreement,  Job  Hide 9,  35 

do.  Benj.  Allbe 9 

do.  Samuel  Hay  ward. .     81 

Alexander  Caleb,  Rev 427 

Aldrich  Peter 193 

Allen  Lewis 498 

Aldrich  Moses,  preacher 213 

Allen  Alexander  H 720 

Ammidown's  bill 283 

Ammunition  at  Mendon 335 

Amendments  to   Constitution,   510, 

542,  560,  616,  618,  620,  624,  629, 

631,  636,  638,  649. 

Anabaptists 245,  305,  306 

Animals  cared  for ' 51 

Andros'  usurpation 105,  106 

Annual  meeting  changed. . .     ..  547 

Assessments 125,  131 

Assignment  of  Deed 3 

Attack  on  Mendon 61 

Auditors 542,  630 


B. 

Balch  Rev.  311 

Ballon  Adin,  Rev 545 

Battle  of  Lexington 332 

Barber  Stillman,  Rev 628 

Beef 393 

Bellingham  183,  203,  254 

Bills  of  Credit •. .     189,  192 

Bick  James 104,  105,  121,  124 

Bi-Centennial. . . .  657,  671,  675,  676, 

677,  678. 

Black  staff  for  Constable 143 

Blackstone 604.  608,  613 

do.       Bridge 568 

Bounty  on  Wolves,  34,  123,  124,  126, 

137,  140. 

Bounds  of  training  field 251 

Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike.  456 

Board  of  Health  493 

Browne  Elizabeth 90 

Bundy  Ruth 90 

Burying  place 122,  281,  304 

Butter  for  minister 128 

Bye-Laws. . .  .543,  544,  612,  615,  657, 

718,  720. 

C. 

Census 296,  367 

Charming  Geo.  G.,  Rev 608 


IV. 


INDEX. 


Church  North  Cong 532 

Clark  George  F.,  Rev 697 

Coleman  Richard,  Rev 674 

Committee  to  make  a  '  'valid  act"  3 

Committee  to  visit  Mendon....  58 

do.         Cons'l  Convention .  .  355 

Coalition  Legislature 611 

Comstock  Samuel 195 

Contract  for  Corn  Mill 91 

Contempt  of  Court 218 

Constitution,  506,  510,  542,  560,  618, 

620,  624,  629,  631,  636,  638. 

Convention  at  Worcester. . .  .38,  408 

Cow  paid  for , 512 

County  of  Worcester 220 

do.      tax 120,  145 

do.      map 519 

do.      new 530 

Currency  inflated 382,  402 

D. 

Dam  may  be  raised 626 

Deaths 138,  150,  177 

Debts,  town 190 

Decision  of  Committee 506 

Declaration  of  Independence . . .  343 

Deed  Indian 5 

do.    Assigned 7 

do.    of  a  Pew 458 

Defalcation 538 

Depreciation  of  paper  money . . .  398 

Delegates  to  Cons.  Convention.  384 

Division  of  Plains 49 

do.      of  Swamps 55 

Division  Vth 153 

do.      Vlth 164 

do.      Vllth 180 

do.      of  Town,  496,  516,  517,  521, 
524,  576,  580,  582,  586,  593. 


District  Cong.  No.  IX.,  549,  551,  552 

Dorr  Joseph,  Rev 173,  237,  307 

Dorr  Joseph,  Jr.,  262,  316,  322,  331, 
343,  395. 

Doggett  Simeon,  Rev 496 

Dogs 543,  544,  605,  636 

E. 

Emerson  Joseph,  Rev I9 

Eighth  minister  .  .' 496 

Eleventh  minister 601 

Eighteenth  minister 682 

F. 

Families,  only  six  more.  .......     45 

Farm  for  Poor 602,  624,  029,  630 

Farm,  Edward  Rawson's    . .    . .  185 

Fire  Engines 701,  708 

First  Minister 19 

do.  Town  meeting 16 

do.  Town  Clerk 24 

do.  Miller  9 

do.  Blacksmith 33 

do.  Innkeeper 57 

do.   Cong.  Society 415,  416 

Fifth  minister 307 

Fifteenth  minister 628 

Fish  to  come  up 1 78 

Fire  Engine 606,  607 

Fourth  minister  173 

do.     Highway  District 503 

Fourteenth  minister 618 

Frontier  Towns 63 

Frost  Amariah,  Rev 249 

French  War 272 

do.      Neutrals 275 

G. 

Governor,  one  majority 569,  577 

Gerrymandering 471 


INDEX. 


V. 


H. 

Harrison  Hall 581',  604.  606,  608 

1  [assail  Robert,  Rev 618 

Hay  ward  Samuel,  Lieut 287 

Highways  to  be  mended 31,  641 

do.       to  be  ten  rods  wide. .     93 

Highway  Districts 280,  547 

Hogg  Constables  176 

Hutchinson,  Lt.  Gov 301 

I. 

Illicit  trade 409 

Illegal  meeting 570 

Incorporation  of  Mendon.    ....     12 
do.  of  Milford,  388,  400, 

403,  407. 

Indian  War 62 

Indians  to  come  to  Mendon.  ...     65 

Inland  Fishery 688 

Instructions  to  Selectmen. .  .118,  140 
do.      to  Representative,  119,  435 

Internal  enemies 364 

Island  in  the  Pond 23 

do.    at  Millville 559,  564 

J- 

Jones  John 145 

Joy  David,  Hon 710 

K. 

Kinsley  Wm.  H.  Rev 611 

Kansas  Resolutions 622 

Know  Nothings 623 

L. 

Lancaster  petition '.  463 

Land  Bank 238 

Latin  School 158 

Legislature  petitioned 513 


Leicester  Convention 

Letter,  Lt.  Upham 

do.     Lt.  G-drum 

Capt.  Henchman 

Circular 325, 

Joseph  Dorr 

Alexander  Scammell. .. . 

Colin  McKenzie 

Confederate 


do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Library 

Lindsley  David  P. ,  Rev 
Liquor  Agent 


428 

67 

68 

71 

336 

337 

339 

359 

366 

638 

682 

631 


M. 


Map  of  County 

Masts  for  the  King 

Mattoonas 

Meeting  House 

do.  do.  seated 

Mendon  Association 

do.       in  the  Rebellion 

do.       and  Uxbridge 

Methodist  Society 

Milford... 388,  400,  403, 

Mill,  saw 

Militia  to  have  Snow  Shoes. . . . 
Mill  River  Precinct 


519 
167 
79 
111 
161 
263 
660 
269 
660 
453 
112 
149 
240 


N. 

Name  of  the  Town 17 

New  County  530 

do.       do 621 

do.  Tenor 245 

do.  Meeting  House 506 

Ninth  Minister 545 

North  Purchase 115 

Nineteenth  minister 697 

do.    Cong.  Church 532 


VI. 


INDEX. 


O. 

Old  Tenor 24 

Order  about  fences 56 

do.  Cedar  trees 50 

P. 

Paper  vs.  Specie 411 

Peck  Ephraim 147,  151 

Penniman  Peter 356 

Pest  House 363 

Pew  room  to  be  sold 231 

Pewter  buttons  336 

Perambulation  with  Dedham ...     38 

Petition,  Braintree 1 

do.      Belcher 2 

do.      Indians 35,  105 

do.      Inhabitants,  39,  47,  52,  96, 
100-,  417. 

do.      Soldiers 69 

do.      Matthias  Puffer 75 

do.      John  More 77,78 

do.      Samuel  Read 83 

do.      Sarah  Stephens 94 

do.      Selectmen 129,374 

do.      David  How 205 

do.      Thomas  Sanford 210 

do.      Samuel  Wheelock  ...  229 

do.      Thomas  Tenney 238 

do.      Friends 244 

do.      John  Holbrook 245 

do.      East  Precinct 248 

do.      Proprietors 259 

do.      A  Committee,  267,  371,  422 

do.      Jacob  Aldrich 292 

do.      Ezekiel  Wood  et  al. . .  350 

do.      John  Albee  et  al 351 

do.      Edward  Rawson 394 

Place  for  Town  Meetings,  497,  499, 
501. 


Poor  House,  500,  504,  517,  527,  528, 

539,  542,  598. 

Pout  Rock  Road 537 

Preserved  Pickering 504 

Protest,  Caleb  Hayward  527 

do.       Dan  Hill 552 

Proprietor's  Records 554 


Quakers 224,  243,  277,  282 


Rate,  Minister's,  98,  110, 113, 126,  136 

do     Town,  distributed 148 

Rawson  Grindal,  Rev. 82, 157, 170,249 

do.       Edward,  325,  328,  329,  331. 
335,  336. 

Ray  nor  John,  Rev 19 

Records  to  be  transcribed 576 

Redwood  Abraham 421 

Remonstrance,  division  of  town,  589 
Report  of  a   Committee,   380,  445, 

453,  502,  597. 
Resolutions,  318,  320,  585.  622,  644, 

658. 

Resolutions,  Stoughton 348 

Revision  of  Constitution.. .  .454,  506 

Rice  George  M.,  Rev 601 

Roads  reduced 254,  392,  442 

Road  to  Uxbridge 545,  546 

do     to  Bellingham 552,  565 

Rules 3,  544,  545,  569 


Sawmill,  Woonsocket 132 

School  Dames 222 

School  Districts  abolished 684 

School  House,  new 255,  258 

School  kept  by  spells 258 


INDEX. 


Vll. 


do.     Districts 280 

do.     Money  divided,  504,  543,  563, 

567. 

Scull  Hock  road  520.  543 

Second  minister 45 

Seventh      do 476 

Seventeenth  minister 674 

Shay's  Rebellion 430,  437 

Soldiers,  340,  376,  377,  385,  404,  410 

Sixth  minister 427 

Sixteenth  minister 651 

Smith  Preserved,  Rev 476 

Streets  named 69 1 

Sumner  Charles 611 

Surplus  Revenue,  561,  562,  563,  564, 

610,  630,  632. 

Surveyand  Plat  of  Town 10 

Sword-in-Hand  Money 412,  413 


Taft  Daniel 194 

do.  Moses 262 

Tax,  King  Philip's  War 69 

do.  Town 123 

do.  for  debts 155,  166,  205,  208 

do.  highway 159 

do.  paid  Henry  Gardner 331 

do.  allowed  a  discount,  529,  536,  540 

do.  payer  in  jail 601 

Temperance 101,  515,  540,  553 

Tenth  minister 545 

Thompson  Edward 435 

Thirteenth  minister 611 


Three  month's  men 340 

Third  minister 92 

Topography 13 

Town  Records 689,  699 

Town,   valuation 314 

do.      indicted 558 

do.      House,  580,  581,  582,  583,  585 

do.     division  of 576 

do.     Hall.  .604,  609,  612,  614,  717 

Training  Field 251,  463 

Tramps 680 

Treasurer  to  give  bond 561 

Turnpike 541 

Twelfth  minister  608 

U. 

Upton  incorporated 228 

Uxbridge 203 

V. 

Valuations. ..  .314,  405,  430,  432,  592 

Villains  to  be  looked  after 597 

Voting  in  the  road  566 

W. 

Wardens 361 

Warfleld  John 141 

Walker  Hugh 361 

War  of  1812 494 

Warning  Out 291,  295 

Willard  Joseph,  Rev 307 

Wheelock  Benjamin 233 

Wolves. .  .34,  123,  124,  126,  137,  140 


TO^LS  OE  IT]EI]DOIi. 

1659.  The  first  notice  relating  to  the  settlement  of  Mendon 
may  be  found  in  Vol.  4,  Part  1,  p.  376  of  the  Massachusetts 
(printed)  Records,  and  is  as  follows: — 

At  the  Second  Session  of  the  General  Court,  held  at  Boston  May  28, 
1659— 

"In  ansr  to  the  pet  icon  of  the  towne  of  Braintrje,  humbly  desiring 
some  releife  relating  to  sev11  persons  brought  by  the  owners  of  the  iron 
works,  yt  are  likely  to  be  chargeable  to  them,  especially  in  relation  to  Jno. 
Francis,  his  poore  condition  calling  for  present  releife,  &c,  this  Court 
referrs  this  part  of  their  peticon  to  the  next  County  Court  in  Suffolke, 
where  all  partjes  concerned  may  have  liberty  to  present  theire  respective 
pleas  and  evidence;  and  in  reference  to  theire  desire  of  a  new  plantation,  the 
Court  judge  th  it  meete  to  graunt  them  liberty  to  seeke  out  a  place  and 
presente  theire  desires  wtt  the  names  of  such  persons  as  will  engage  to 
carry  on  such  a  worke,-vnto  the  next  sessions  of  this  Court." 

"In  answer  to  the  peticon  of  Samuel  Basse,  (the  Towne  of  Braintrje 
having  peticoned  for  a  new  plantation),  it  is  ordered,  that  the  peticoner, 
wth  his  sonnes,  may  have  liberty  to  joyne  wth  those  of  his  neighbo's  woh 
will  carry  on  such  a  worke,  wth  allowance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
wt6in  the  bounds  of  the  sjad  plantation,  more  than  his  just  proportion  wth 
the  rest  of  his  neighbours." 

The  next  session  of  the  General  Court  was  held  Nov.  12;  hut 
no  mention  is  made,  in  its  records,  of  any  action  upon  the 
"  petition  of  the  towne  of  Braintrje,"  except  the  following, 
which  may  he  found  on  p.  ■¥.)$: — 

"  In  answer  to  ye  peticon  of  Gregory  Belcher,  it  is  ordered  that,  whereas, 
at  the  last  session  of  this  Court  there  was  a  plantation  granted  to  severall  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Braintry  where  they  could  find  it  vngraunted  in  this 
jurisdiction,  that  the  peticoner  shall  be  accomodated,  together  with  his 
neighbors  wth  such  a  proportion  of  land  as  shall  be  thought  meete -by  those 
y*  have  the  dispose  thereof." 


2  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1659. 

Why  Samuel  Basse  should  have  "one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
more  than  his  just  proportion  with  the  rest  of  his  neighbours," 
cannot,  at  this  late  day,  be  very  certainly  determined.  He  was 
a  Deputy  from  Braintree  in  1654,  and  served  on  a  Committee 
in  1665,  with  Capt.  Thos.  Savage,  Eleazer  Lusher,  Mr.  Colicott, 
Mr.  Wm.  Parks  and  Thomas  Dyer,  to  see  about  building  a  cart 
bridge  over  Neponset  river  in  some  place  near  Capt.  Stoughten's 
mill,  and  was  a  Deputy  again  in  1657  and  1659.  We  find,  not 
unfrequently,  in  the  early  history  of  the  Colony,  that  the  Gen- 
eral Court  made  grants  of  land  to  those  persons  who  had  been 
serviceable  to  the  public,  and  when  we  reflect  that  the  members 
of  the  General  Court  did  not,  in  those  times,  vote  themselves 
five  dollars  a  day,  the  grant  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
wild  land,  with  the  Nipmuck  Indians  for  neighbors  and  fifteen 
miles  from  the  nearest  settlement,  will  not  be  thought  a  very 
exorbitant  remuneration  for  services  performed  at  the  bidding 
of  the  General  Court. 

1660.  From  this  time  nothing  more  is  heard  of  "the  petition 
of  the  toivne  of  Braintrje;"  but,  at  an  adjourned  session  of  the 
General  Court  held  in  Boston,  October  16,  1660,  we  find  a  peti- 
tion from  "such  persons  as  will  engage  to  carry  on  such  a 
work,"  and  to  which  the  General  Court  made  the  following 
response : — 

"In  answer  to  the  Peticon  of  the  inhabitants  of  Braintry,  i.  e.,  Gregory 
Belchar,  James  Penneman,  Th°  Mekins,  Moses  Pagne,  Edm°  Quinsey, 
Robert  Twelves  &  Peter  Brackett,  the  Court  judgeth  it  meete  to  encourage 
the  petitioners  to  proceede  in  thiere  setling  themselves,  &  an  able  minister 
with  them,  in  the  place  desired  for  a  new  plantation,  wthin  thiere  time 
ljmitted;  and  that  those  that  beginne  the  sjad  plantation  may  not  want 
due  encouragement  in  theire  accomodation,  &  yett  the  place  preserved 
from  vnnecessary  wast,  it  is  ordered,  that  Capt  Dani  Gookin,  Mr  Wm 
Parkes,  Left  Roger  Clap,  Ephraim  Child,  &  Wm  Stiltson,  or  any  three  of 
them,  shall  be  &  hereby  are  appointed  a  comittee  &  hereby  impowercd  to 
appoint  vnto  each  inhabitantt  here,  any  time  wthin  this  three  yeeres,  as  they 
shall  see  meete,  &  that  when  a  full  number  of  persons  appeare,  this  Court 
will,  on  the  comittees  imformation,  order  them  due  bounds.  In  further 
ansr  to  sayd  Braintry  peticon  the  Court  declares,  that  they  judge  meete  to 
graunt  a  plantacon  of  eight  miles  square,  and  that  the  persons  named  have 
liberty  to  enter  there  vpon  &  make  a  beginning  thereof,  and  to  take  such 
persons  into  theire  society  as  they  shall  judge  meete  &  that  Major  Hum- 
phray  Atherton,  Left  Roger  Clap,  Capt  Eliazer  Lusher  &  Deacon  Parkes, 


1660.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


or  any  three  of  them,  shall  &  hereby  are  appointed  Comissio1"3,  &  impow- 
red  to  make  a  valid  act  there." 

Of  the  eommittee  above  mentioned,  Grookin  was  of  Cambridge, 
Parkes  of  Roxbury,  Clap  of  Dorchester,  Child  of  Watertown  and 
Stiltson  of  Charlestown.  Of  the  Commissioners,  Atherton  and 
Clap  of  Dorchester,  Lusher  of  Dedham  and  Parkes  of  Roxbury. 

Peter  Brackett,  one  of  the  petitioners,  was  a  Deputy  in  the 
General  Court,  this  year,  from  Braintree. 

So  far  as  is  known  the  Commissioners  above  mentioned  held 
no  meeting  until  May  22,  1002;  when  a  meeting  was  held,  and 
the  following  rules  and  regulations,  "  in  regard  to  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Plantation  granted  at  Netmoeke  "  were  ordained,  as 
follows,  viz: — 

"  Dorchester,  22:  5: 1662. 

Wee  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  the  Committee  Impow- 
ered  by  the  General  Courte  to  assist  the  ordering  and  setling  the  Plantation 
granted  at  Netmocke,  doe  agree  and  declare  as  followeth,  viz: — 

1.  That  the  Divisions  of  land  there  shall  be  by  these  ensuing  Rules, 
that  one  hundred  pounds  estate  be  granted  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
Land,  viz :  Thirty  acres  to  the  house  Lott  &  tenn  acors  of  meadow  and  five 
acors  of  Swampy  or  low  land,  being  capable  of  being  made  meadow,  and 
more,  one  hundred  and  five  acors  for  the  greate  lott ;  and  according  to  this 
proportion  for  all  estates  be  they  more  or  lesse,  and  tins  to  be  the  Rule  for 
the  division  of  all  the  lands  of  the  Plantation  that  shall  be  devided  before 
the  place  or  the  people  there  shall  be  allowed  to  be  a  Townshipe  and  enjoy 
the  priviledges  thereof. 

2.  That  the  public  charges  allready  disbursed,  or  that  shall  lie  disbursed 
before  the  time  of  Town  priviledges  aforesaid  shall  be  borne  and  defrayed 
according  to  the  proportion  of  Alotmt5  provided  as  before  said. 

3.  The  persons  whose  names  are  presented  being  (as  wee  understand)  of 
honest  and  good  report  are  accepted  and  allowed  to  take  up  alotmts  in  said 
Plantation. 

4.  That  it  shall  not  be  in  the  power  of  an  Inhabitant  now  accepted  or 
hereafter  to  be  accepted  before  the  time  of  priviledges  aforesaid,  to  sell, 
lease  or  alienate  his  said  Alotmt.  or  any  part  or  parcell  thereof  to  any 
person  whatsoever  wthout  the  consent  or  aprobation  of  the  major  part  of 
the  Inhabitants,  or  of  those  then  chosen  to  regulate  the  affairs  of  the  Plan- 
tation upon  penaltie  of  forefeiting  to  the  said  Plantation  all  and  every  pte. 
and  pcell  so  sold  or  alienated. 

5.  There  shall  be  an  able  and  aproved  Minuter  settled  wth  them  there 
according  to  the  order  of  Courte  in  that  case  made  and  provided. 

6.  That  whereas  experience  shows  it  not  to  be  the  best  Expedient  for 
Transaction  of  Publick  worke  to  be  left  to  the  whole  Number  of  Inhabi- 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1660. 


tants,  wee  therefore  advise  that  the  said  Inhabitants  now  accepted  should 
in  their  first  opportunity  make  choice  of  5  or  7  meete  persons  for  the  man- 
agement of  ther  said  occasions  for  the  space  of  one  year  and  that  Mr. 
Peter  Brackett  and  Ensigne  Moses  Paine  be  2  of  them,  and  the  men  so 
chosen  should  have  the  whole  power  of  accepting  Inhabitants  and  dis- 
posing Lands  according  to  the  Rules  above  written. 

7.  And  whereas  it  appears  that  the  sd  Mr.  Brackett  &  Mr.  Paine  hath 
already  taken  much  paynes  and  ben  at  charges  to  premote  this  Plantation, 
and  wee  suppose  must  yett  continue  theire  assistance  therein,  wee  judge  but 
iust  and  equall  that  each  of  them  be  gratified  wth  convenient  ffarmes  of 
uplands  and  meadow  proportionable  to  the  quantities  of  each  in  the  plan- 
tation to  be  layed  out  to  them  at  convenient  distance  from  the  seat  of  the 
Towne,  that  is,  not  less  than  two  miles,  and  in  such  places  as  they  shall 
accept  and  that  the  quantitieof  these  be  not  above  300  acors  to  each  of  them. 

8.  It  is  also  further  agreed  and  ordered  that  each  of  the  persons  now 
accepted  to  alottmts  there  and  all  others  that  shall  be  so  accepted  before 
the  time  of  obtayning  Town  priviledges  shall  be  settled  at  the  said  Planta- 
tion before  the  end  of  the  7  month  1663  wth  these  persons  and  estates. 

The  names  of  the  persons  now  accepted  are  as  followeth,  viz : — 


John  Moore 
George  Aldridge 
Nathaniel  Hareman 
Alexander  Plumbly 
Mathias  Puffer 
John  Woodland 
Fardinandce  Teare 
Dannell  Lovett 
John  Harber 
Josiah  Chapin 
Joseph  Penieman 
John  Savill 
John  Gurney 
These  are  of  Brantree. 


William  Sables. 


Goodman  King,  senior, 
Walter  Cook 
William  Holbrook 
Joseph  White 
Goodman  Thompson 
Goodman  Rayner  (The  Minister) 
Goodman  Bolter,  senior. 
Abraham  Staples 
Samll.  Pratt 
Thomas  Bolter 
These  of  Weymouth. 


Subscribed  by  us, 

Elir.   Lusher 
Roger  Clap 
William  Parke. 

William  Holbrook  "] 
Josiah  Chapin  ^  these  are  chosen 

John  Rayner  [for  this  year." 

John  Harber 


Inasmuch  as  the  "Plantation  at  Netmocke"  had  no  corporate 
existence  at  this  time,  the  Indian  deed  of  the  "eight  miles 
square,"  which,  it  seems,  had  been  already  granted  by  the  Gen- 


1660.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  5 

eral  Court,  was  made  to  Moses  Payne  and  Peter  Brackett,  who 
afterwards,  in  1670,  assigned  their  rights  to  the  Town. 

The  Indian  deed  was  partially  executed  on  the  22d  of  April, 
1602,  a  few  days  hefore  the  meeting  of  the  Committee  ahove 
mentioned;  but  was  not  fully  completed  until  Sept.  8,  1662, 
when  "  Great  John  set  to  his  hand  and  seal  and  delivered  the 
deed  to  Moses  Payne  and  Peter  Brackett." 

THE  INDIAN  DEED. 

To  all  Xpiart  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Anawassanauke, 
alis  John,  and  Quashaamiit,  allis  William,  of  Blewe  Hills,  and  Great  John, 
Namsconont  and  Upanbohqueen,  allis  Jacob  of  Natick,  sendeth  Greeting: 
Know  Yee  that  the  said  Anawassanauke,  Quashaamiit,  Great  John,  Nam- 
sconont and  Upanbohqueen  for  divers  good  and  vallewable  considerations 
them  theere  unto  Moovinge  and  especiall  for  and  in  consideration  of  the 
summe  of  twenty  fower  pound  Ster.  to  them  in  hand  payd  by  Moses  Payne 
and  Peter  Brackett  both  of  Brantre  the  receipt  whereof  they  doe  acknowl- 
edg  by  these  presents,  and  thereof  and  every  part  and  parcell  thereof,  dotb 
exonerate,  acquitt  and  discharge  them  the  said  Moses  Payne  and  Peter 
Brackett,  there  heyres  and  assignes  forever  by  these  presents,  Hath  given, 
granted,  bargained,  sould,  enfeoffed  &  confirmed  unto  Moses  Payne  & 
Peter  Brackett  of  Braintre  afore  said  there  heyres  and  assignes  for  ever,  A 
Tract  of  Lands  of  Eight  Miles  square  lying  about  fifteen  miles  from  Med- 
field ;  and  is  bounded  one  Mille  to  the  east  of  a  small  river  wch  lyeth  about 
three  Millea  to  the  Eastward  of  Nipmng  Great  Pond  and  so-from  the  line 
of  one  Mille  on  the  East  of  that  small  River  is  to  runn  eight  Milles  West  or 
Westerly  and  is  to  lye  three  milles  to  the  south  or  southward  of  the 
Parth  that  leads  to  Nipmugg  Great  Pond  and  five  Milles  on  the  other  side  of 
that  Parth  north  or  Northwards  together  with  all  the  trees  and  timber, 
woods,  underwoods  standing,  lyeing  and  growinge  thereon,  wth  all  the 
meadows,  swamps,  Rivers  and  Brooks  lyeing  within  the  *d  eight  milles 
square  wth  with  all  other  privileges  and  appurtenances  belonginge  or  any 
ways  apertayninge  there  unto.  To  Have  and  to  Hould  the  said  Eight 
Milles  square  as  it  is  bounded,  Together  with  all  the  trees  and  timber  with 
the  underwoods  standing,  lyeing  andgroweinge  thereon  wm  all  ye  Meadows, 
Swamps,  Rivers,  and  Ponds  and  Brooks  lyeinge  wth  in  this  eight  milles 
square  as  it  is  bounded  w»h  all  other  privileges  and  apertenances  belonging 
or  any  wayes  apertayning  there  unto  unto  the  said  Moses  Payne  and  Peter 
Brackett  theire  heires  and  assigns  for  ever,  and  to  theire  only  proper 
use  and  behoofe  of  them  the  sd  Moses  Payne  and  Peter  Brackett, 
theire  heyers  and  assignes  forever,  to  be  holden  in  fee  Sockage  and 
in  Capetye  nor  by  Knights  service.  And  the  said  Anawassanauke, 
allis  John,  and  Quashaamiit  allis  William,  Great  John,  Namsconont  allis 
Peoter  and  Upanbohqueen  allis  Jacob  doth  covenant,  promise  and  grant  by 
these  presents  that  they  the  sd  Anawassanauke,  Quashaamiit,  Great  John, 


6  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1660. 

Namsconont  &  Upanbohqueen  are  the  true  and  proper  owners  &  proprie- 
tors of  the  sd  bargayned  premises  at  the  time  of  the  bargayne  &  sale  thereof 
and  that  the  said  premises  are  free  and  clere  &  clerely  acquitted,  exonerated 
&  discharged  of  for  &  from  all  and  all  manner  of  former  bargaynes,  sales, 
gifts,  titles,  mortgages,  actions,  suits,  arrests,  attachments,  judgments,  ex- 
ecutions, extent  or  incombrance  what  soever  from  the  beginning  of  the 
World  until  the  time  of  the  Sale  and  bargayne  thereof.  And  the  said 
Anawassanauke,  Quashaamiit,  Great  John,  Namsconont  &  Upanbohqueen 
Doth  covenant,  promise  and  grant  by  these  presents  all  and  singular  the 
said  bargained  premises  wth  the  appurtenances  to  warrant,  acquit  &  defend 
unto  the  sd  Moses  Payne  and  Peter  Brackett  there  heyres  &  assignes  forever 
against  all  Indians  or  English  people  by  from  or  under  them  clayming  any 
right,  title  or  interest  of  or  into  the  same  or  any  part  thereof  forever  by 
these  presents,  and  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  sd 
Moses  Payne  &  Peter  Brackett  to  Record  &  enroll  or  cause  to  be  recorded 
and  enrolled  the  title  or  Tenor  of  these  presents  according  to  the  true  intent 
&  meaning  thereof  and  according  to  the  usual  manner  and  order  of  record- 
ing Deeds  &  evidences  in  such  case  made  and  provided. 

In  Wittnes  whereof  the  said  Anawassanauke,  Quashaamiit,  Great  John, 
Namsconont  and  Upanbohqueen  have  sett  to  theere  hands  &  seales  this 
twenty  two  of  Aprill  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty  two. 

The  words  "  by  from  or  under  them  "  in  the  sixt  line,  as  also  that  the 
Indians  specified  in  this  deed,  together  with  there  heyres  forever  have 
liberty  to  fish,  fowle  &  hunt  so  far  as  any  law  of  this  jurisdiction  alloweth 
in  other  places  not  wth  standing  anything  in  this  Deed,  this  was  before  the 
sealinge  hereof. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  the  day  and  year  above  written  in  the  pres- 
ence of  John  Eliot,  senior,  John  Eliot,  junior,  Daniel  Weld,  senior. 

Great  John  set  to  his  hand  &  seal  and  delivered  the  deed  to  Moses  Payne 
&  Peter  Brackett  this  8th  day  of  September  1662. 
as  witnesses 

William  Allis,  Nathaniel  Brackett. 
Anawassanauke, 

his  f%  Marke  and  A  seale. 
Quashaamiit, 

his  XL,  Marke  and  A  seale. 
Namsconont, 


his  "}   Marke  and  A  seale. 

Great  John  ^ 

his  marke  and  A  seale. 
A  Seale  0  and  nee  hand. 


1662-3.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  7 

1662.  Moses  Paine  and  Peter  Brackett,  for  some  reason, 
witheld  the  assignment  of  the  foregoing  Deed  to  the  Town 
until  directed,  by  the  General  Court,  so  to  do;  when  we  find 
endorsed  upon  the  deed  the  following  instrument: — 

Wee  Moses  Payne  and  Peter  Brackett  doe  assigne  over  all  our  right, 
title  and  Interest  in  this  Deed  unto  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon 
for  the  use  of  the  said  Towne,  as  wittnes  our  hands 

Peoter  Brackett 
Moses  Payne 
May  ye  12,  1670. 

The  above  is  believed  to  be  a  true  copy  of  the  original  Deed; 
as  it  was  entered  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Town  records  as 
early  as  1667,  by  the  person  who  was  especially  deputed  by  the 
Committee  to  enter  "the  public  acts  from  the  beginning  of  the 
Plantation."  The  original  was  very  probably  lost  at  the  deser- 
tion of  the  Town,  during  King  Philip's  war  in  1675. 

1663.  "Dedham  30.  10.  63. 

Henery  Adams,  John  Frary,  Edward  Adams,  Poet.  Adams,  John  War- 
fell,  these  desire  further  to  consider  of  it. 

Samuel  Parker,  Ralfe  Freeman,  Ad****  Lovell,  John  Blakeman,  Bar- 
nabus  Derifeld  presents  his  desires,  Acceptance  for  Samuell  Spencer  at 
present  and  himself  to  settle  there  according  as  they  shall  be  ordered. 

James  Risinge  desires  acceptance.  Walter  Cook  desires  his  grant  may 
be  renewed  although  he  hath  not  been  there  as  formerly  ordered. 

Willi  Skant  desires  acceptance.  John  Thompson  and  Joseph  White 
desire  the  renewing  of  their  Graints. 

William  Sheffield  desires  acceptance. 

Grisell  Gurney,  Wid.  desires  acceptance  and  also  for  Thomas  juell, 
her  sonn *  *  * — *  (torn  off)  — * —  desires  acceptance.  Nicholas  Rock- 
wood  desres    acceptance  * * *  illegible  * *  desires  the 

renewinge  of  his  grainte * *  illegible * *  acceptance  Henry 

Neale  desires  a  grainte.  Zachary  Thayer  desires  a  grant.  John  BowTers 
and  John  Metcalf  desire  acceptance. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Committee  it  was  agreed  that  all  the  persons 
whatever  that  shall  be  accepted  to  grants  of  lands  shall  be  enjoined  to  be 
settled  there  with  their  families  by  the  middle  of  November  next  1664, 
upon  penaltie  of  forfeiture  of  all  their  graints  there  and  all  Publicke 
charges  disbursed  there. 

David  Hime  desires  acceptance.  John  Read  desires  acceptance.  John 
Thompson  and  Joseph  White  had  theire  grants  renewed.  Walter  Cook, 
Nathaniel  Hareman  and  Abraham  Staples  hath  their  grants  renewed. 


8  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1664. 

Jonathan  Basse  and  the  young  Man  of  Seaconcke  that  came  with  him 
are  accepted ;  and  Joseph  Aldridge  and  John  Rockett  are  accepted.  Good- 
man Derifeld  and  his  kinsman  are  accepted.  David  Hime  is  accepted. 
John  Gurney  desires  to  have  his  graint  renewed. 

David  Walsby  desires  acceptance  &  Goodman  White  desires  acceptance 
for  his  Sonn  and  Thomas  Kingman. 

1664.  Boston  the  24th.  of  March  166| 

The  Committee  for  Nipmug  being  met  the  day  above  written  the  former 
grant  of  John  Gurney  is  renewed.  Goodman  Jipson  is  received  an  Inhabi- 
tant. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  "  Committee  for  Nipmug  " 
met  at  Dorchester  May  5,  1662,  and,  among  other  rules  then 
made,  directed  that  those  persons  who  had  been  accepted  to 
allotments  of  land,  as  Avell  as  those  who  might  thereafter  be  ac- 
cepted, should  be  settled  at  "the  said  Plantation"  before  the 
end  of  the  seventh  month,  1663. 

In  accordance  with  this  order  of  the  Committee,  as  near  as 
can  be  ascertained,  John  Moore,  George  Aldrich,  Mathias  Puffer, 
John  Woodland,  Ferdinando  Thayer,  Daniel  Lovett  and  John 
Harber,  were  the  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  Mendon,  they 
having  removed  to  the  plantation  "before  the  end  of  the  7th. 
month  1663."  After  this  date  and  before  the  24th  of  March, 
1664,  so  far  as  can  be  gathered  from  the  records  of  the  town, 
John  Gurney,  Walter  Cook,  Joseph  White,  John  Thompson, 
Abraham  Staples,  Joseph  Aldridge,  John  Jepson  and  John 
Rockett  had  removed  to  the  settlement  and  joined  their  fortunes 
with  the  first  comers,  making,  in  the  whole,  fifteen  families. 

Nathaniel  Hareman,  Alexander  Plumly,  Josiah  Chapin,  John 
Saville,  William  Ilolbrook,  Goodman  Bolton  or  Boltor,  Jr., 
Samuel  Pratt,  Thomas  Bolton  or  Bolter,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Basse, 
the  young  man  from  Seeconcke,  Goodman  Derifeld  and  his 
kinsman  and  David  Hime,  who  had  severally  been  accepted,  did 
not  remove  by  the  time  specified,  nor  had  allotments  of  land 
been  made  to  any  of  them  at  the  breaking  out  of  King  Philip's 
war,  except  to  William  Holbrook,  who  did  not  remove  to  the 
town  until  1669. 

Of  Henry  Adams,  John  Frary,  Edward  Adams,  Poet.  Adams 
and  John  Warfell,  who  "desired  further  time  to  consider  of  it," 
none  came  to  the  settlement  but  John  Warfell,  who  came  from 


1664.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  9 

Dedham,  and  was  the  first  schoolmaster  and  a  Deacon  in  the 
church. 

Of  Samuel  Parker,  Ralfe  Freeman,  Ad —  Lovell  or  Lovett, 
John  Blakeman,  James  Risinge,  Willi  Skant,  Nicholas  Rock- 
wood,  Henry  Neale,  Zachary  Thayer,  John  Bowers,  David 
Walsby,  Thomas  Kingman  and  John  Metcalf,  who  desired  ac- 
ceptance, nothing  is  heard  further. 

Samuel  Spencer,  Grizel  Gurney,  ancestress  of  Gov.  Jewell,  of 
Connecticut,  Thomas  and  Joseph  Juell,  her  sons,  were  here 
before  1675. 

The  last  act  of  the  "Committee  for  Nipmug"  was  as  follows: 
viz: 

"Roxiuky,  5th,  2:  .64 

Agreed  by  the  Committee  (appointed  by  the  General  Court)  to  grainte 
for  the  encouraging  of  erecting  a  Corne  Mill  at  Netmocke  as  followeth 

To  Benjamin  Alby,  one  twenty  acor  house  l»tt  in  the  Town  situation 
conveniently  layd  out  according  to  the  quantity  of  that  place  and  the  ac- 
commodations pperly  belonging  to  such  a  lott  according  to  the  Rule  of 
Division  here  Settled,  only  whatever  the  quantity  of  Meadow  to  such  a 
lott  Accordinge  to  Common  Rule  but  yett  this  lott  shall  have  twelve  acors 
layd  out  in  a  convenient  place. 

Neere  the  place  where  the  said  Mill  shall  be  erected  on  that  side  of  the 
River  that  is  farthest  from  the  Towne  is  granted  fifty  acors  of  upland  of 
such  land  as  may  be  near  &  convenient  for  improvement. 

Subscribed  by  the  Committee, 

Elea:  Lusher 
Roger  Clap 
William  Parke. 

Although  this  instrument  was  undoubtedly  executed  at  the 
time  it  purports  to  be  dated,  and  probably  delivered  to  Benja- 
min Alby,  it  was  not  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  town  until 
Sept.  10,  1672,  as  stated  in  the  record  of  that  date.  The  Mill 
was  probably  built  in  1672,  and  was  erected  on  Mill  River  a  short 
distance  above  the  bridge  that  crosses  that  stream,  at  a  little  to 
the  east  from  the  house  of  Lewis  B.  Gaskill. 

Of  what  transpired  from  1664  to  1667,  when  the  town  was 
incorporated,  neither  tradition,  legend  or  official  record  furnish 
us  with  any  information.  No  record  was  left  by  those  who  were 
set  apart  "to  order  the  prudential  affairs  of  the  plantation,"  or 
if  left,  has  long  since  been  lost.     As  the  power  of  accepting  to 


10  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1667. 

allotments  of  land  such  persons  as  might  apply  had  been  surren- 
dered by  the  Committee  to  the  inhabitants,  it  is  presumed  that 
they  to  whom  they  had  delegated  the  power  admitted  such  per- 
sons into  their  company,  as,  in  their  discretion,  they  saw  fit. 

We,  of  the  present  generation,  must  remember  that  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  place  held,  in  this  direction,  the  farthest 
outpost  of  civilization;  that  they  were  surrounded  by  Indians 
■who  were  daily  growing  jealous  of  a  race  which,  since  the  land- 
ing at  Plymouth,  had  taken  no  step  backward,  and  that  they 
were  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness  and  fifteen  miles  from  Med- 
field,  the  nearest  place  of  succor  in  case  of  distress  or  disaster. 

Considering  the  circumstances  of  their  situation,  we  may 
properly  suppose  that  most  of  their  time  must  have  been  occu- 
pied in  providing  shelter  for  themselves  and  their  animals,  and 
in  raising  the  crops  upon  which  they  must  mainly  depend  for 
sustenance  and  support.  Something  had  been  done,  however, 
by  way  of  improvement.  A  noble  street,  two  miles  long  and  ten 
rods  wide,  had  been  located,  and  upon  which  the  settlers  had 
fixed  their  homesteads.  This  street  extended  from  near  the 
present  line  between  Mendon  and  Upton  to  Mill  Biver. 

Another  road  was  also  laid  out,  for  the  most  of  the  way, 
nearly  parallel  with  the  main  street;  beginning  near  the  house 
of  Austin  A.  Taft  and  passing  through  to  near  the  house  of 
Gilbert  Gaskill,  thence  over  what  .are  now  Emerson  and  Wash- 
ington streets,  and  connecting  with  the  Main  street  near  the 
house  (since  burned)  of  the  late  Watee  Davenport. 

1667.  SUBVEY  OF  THE  PLANTATION. 

The  desire  of  the  inhabitants  to  this  Honered  Courte  is  that  they  would 
accept  of  this  Retourne  of  their  Plott  of  theire  Plantation  wich  is  layd  ac- 
cording to  their  Grainte  of  eight  Miles  square  by  Joshua  ffisher. 


1667.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 

Country  land,  South  line  8  miles. 


11 


D- 


A 
The   AAA   Towne. 

A       A 


o 


line  between  Dedham  and  Quinshepauge  Running 
North  and  South,  4  miles  and  40  Rods. 


C. 

Country  land,  North'line,  4  miles  want.  40  Rods, 
r        j  Parcel  of  Meadow. 


An  explanation  of  this  Plott,  being  the  Township  of  Squinshapauke  as  it 
was  layd  out  according  to  the  Grant  of  the  Generall  Courte  by  me,  Joshua 
ffisher,  Aprill  1667. 

From  A  to  B  is  bounded  by  Charles  River,  a  white  oake  beinge  marked 
on  the  south  side  of  Charles  River  at  A,  a  Black  oake  on  the  north  side  of 


12  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

Charles  River  at  B,  and  a  line  of  marked  trees  and  heapes  of  stones  to  C, 
from  C  to  D  a  line  of  marked  trees  and  heapes  of  stones  to  C,  from  C  to 
D  a  line  of  marked  trees  and  heapes  of  stones,  and  soe  from  D  to  E 
and  from  E  to  F,  a  line  from  F  to  A  of  Marked  Trees ;  And  from  A 
to  B  is  one  mile  Runninge  according  to  the  River  East  and  "West,  from  B 
to  C  is  fower  Miles  wantinge  forty  Rodd,  Runninge  from  B  North,  from  C 
to  D  eight  miles  and  halfe  west,  from  D  to  E  eight  miles  South,  from  E  to 
F  seven  miles  and  half  East,  from  F  to  A  ffower  Milles  and  40  Rods. 

At  O  is  a  parcell  of  Meadow  that  the  Towne  Petitioned  for  of  about 
thirty  Acors  by  estimation  upon  the  North  line  from  Charles  River. 

This  Courte  Approves  of  this  Plott  as  it  is  Returned, 

as  attest,  Edw.  Rawson,  Secrty. 

INCORPORATION  OF  MENDON. 

Att  a  Generall  Courte  held  in  Boston  15th  of  May  1667, 
In  answer  to  the  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  a  new  Plantation  called 
Squinshepauke,  the  Court  doth  graint  them  the  Meadow  lyinge  out  of 
theire  lyne  it  Runninge  through  that  Parcell  and  that  the  name  of  their 
Towne  be  Mendon,  and  that  it  belonge  to  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that 
they  and  theire  Successors  be  invested  wth  Towne  Privilidges  as  other 
Townes  of  this  jurisdiction  do  enioy  and  that  they  be  freed  from  Country 
charges  for  the  space  of  three  yeares  from  the  time  of  this  Grant — the  Rest 
of  what  they  Petition  for  concernes  the  County  Courte.* 
That  this  a  true  Copie  taken  out  of  the  Courte's  Records, 

as  Attest,  Edw.  Rawson,  Secry. 

The  last  act,  of  the  "Committee  for  Nipmug"  is  recorded 
in  the  following  words: — 

"Wee  the  Subscribers  doe  nominate  and  Depute  Colonell  William  Crowne 
to  enter  the  Public  Acts  respecting  Mendon  from  the  beginning  of  the  Plan- 
tation to  this  tyme  and  to  finish  this  worke  with  speed  and  make^  Retourne 
vis  under  named. 

the  Committee  Respectinge  the  prudeutiall  affayres 
of  Mendon, 

Elia:  Lusher 
William  Stoughton 
William  Parke 
Dedham2:2:  67." 

William  Stoughton  whose  name  appears  above  was  not  orig- 
inally appointed,  but  took  the  place  of  Major  Humphrey  Ather- 
ton,  (see  p.  3,)  who  died  Sept.  16,  1661,  in  consequence  of  a  fall 
from  a  horse. 

♦Relating  to  the  owners  of  the  Iron  Works;  see  p.  3. 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  13 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  persons  signing  above  style  themselves 
the  Committee,  &c.  By  reference  to  the  page  just  quoted  it  will 
be  seen  that  they  were  appointed  as  Commissioners  "to  make  a 
valid  act  there." 

The  settlement  at  Netmocke  and  the  Plantation  of  Squinshe- 
pauke  having  come  to  an  end,  the  Town  Clerk  began  his  record 
with  the  following  preamble: — 

"The  Honoured  General!  Courte  was  Pleased  to  make  this  Plantation  a 
Towne  the  15th  day  of  May  1667  and  named  it  Mendon  and  adorned  it  wth 
severall  large  Priviledges  and  confirmed  theire  Lyne  and  ye  land  wth  in  the 
hounds  thereof  to  the  present  Inhabitants  and  their  successors,  as  by  the 
said  Courte's  Act  doth  appeare  wch  land  before  was  purchased  of  the 
Indians  then  in  possession  as  by  theire  Deed  will  appeare. 

TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE  "EIGHT  MILES  SQUARE." 

At  the  date  of  its  incorporation  the  town  was  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  oak,  pine,  chestnut  and  cedar,  save  a  few  acres, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  rivers  and  brooks,  used  by  the  Indians  for 
planting  grounds. 

Rivers  and  Brooks. — The  principal  streams  are  the  Black- 
stone,  Mumford,  Mill  and  Charles  Rivers,  flowing  generally  in  a 
southerly  direction  following  the  similar  trend  of  the  hills. 

The  Blackstone  river  came  in  upon  the  northwestern  portion 
of  the  town  and  flowing  southeasterly  left  the  town  near  its 
southeastern  corner.  Its  first  tributary  was  the  Mumford  river, 
coming  from  the  west,  a  little  below  the  present  centre  of  Ux- 
bridge.  Its  name,  as  related  to  me  by  the  late  Judge  Joseph 
Rawson,  of  Barrington,  R.  I.,  was  derived  from  the  following 
incident:  A  man  by  the  name  of  Mumford,  belonging  to 
Brookfield,  coming  to  Mendon,  was  drowned  while  attempting 
to  ford  the  river.  A  coroner  from  Mendon  was  called  to  view 
the  body,  and  he  directed  it  to  be  buried.  A  coffin  was  readily 
improvised  by  cutting  down  a  chestnut  tree,  removing  the  bark 
whole  and  binding  it  strongly  about  the  body  with  withes.  It 
was  buried  on  the  site  of  the  present  public  house  in  Uxbridge, 
the  remains  being  discovered  when  digging  the  cellar. 

The  Rivulet,  a  small  affluent,  falls  into  the  Mumford  just  be- 
low the  Mills  at  North  Uxbridge.  Another  small  stream  comes 
in  from  the  west  at  Ironstone. 


14  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

The  Branch  (formerly  known  as  the  Monhegin  river)  empties 
into  the  Blackstone  from  the  southwest,  just  above  the  Black- 
stone  factory,  while  Fox  brook,  from  the  north,  comes  in  just 
below. 

West  river  comes  in  from  the  north  and,  flowing  southerly, 
empties  into  the  Blackstone  in  Uxbridge. 

Misco  hill,  Fairbanks  and  Wigwam  brooks  empty  into  West 
River  from  the  east;  Fairbanks  brook  being  the  outlet  of  Men- 
don  Pond.  Andrews'  brook,  coming  from  the  centre  of  Upton, 
empties  into  West  river  some  mile  or  two  below. 

Mill  river  rises  in  Hopkinton  and,  flowing  southerly,  empties 
into  the  Blackstone  below  Woonsocket,  R.  I.  Its  affluents  are 
Muddy,  Grave  Meadow  and  Hop  brooks,  and  Quick  stream. 

School  Meadow  brook  rises  near  the  east  declivity  of  Misco 
hill,  and,  after  passing  the  Saw  mill  of  Putnam  W.  Taft,  takes 
the  name  of  Rock  Meadow  brook  and  flows  westerly  into  West 
river. 

Charles  river  rises  in  Hopkinton  and  runs  southerly  through 
the  centre  of  Milford  to  the  southern  boundary  of  that  town, 
soon  after  which  it  makes  a  sharp  turn  to  the  left  and  flows 
northeasterly  to  the  sea  between  Boston  and  Charlestown. 

Second  brook,  sometimes  called  Daly's  brook,  emptying  into 
Muddy  Brook  from  the  west,  is  the  outlet  of  Little  Pond. 
Deer  Brook,  in  the  northeast  part  of  Milford,  flows  into  Charles 
river  from  the  east. 

THE    BLACKSTONE    CANAL. 

As  early  as  1796  there  was  a  project  for  connecting  Providence 
and  Worcester  by  means  of  a  canal.  Under  the  direction  of 
John  Brown,  of  Providence,  the  route  was  surveyed,  and  a 
charter  for  the  organization  of  a  company  was  granted  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island.  The  General  Court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts refusing  its  co-operation,  the  project  was,  for  the 
time,  abandoned. 

In  1822  the  subject  of  a  canal  was  again  taken  up  by  the  lead- 
ing; men  of  Providence  and  Worcester.  A  charter  for  its  con- 
str notion  was  granted  by  Massachusetts  in  March,  1823,  and  by 
Rhode  Island  in  the  following  June.  The  work  was  begun  in 
1824,  and  July  1,  1828,  the   "  Lady  Carrington  "  started  on  her 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  15 

initial  trip  from  tide  water.  The  first  through  bout  arrived  at 
Worcester  Oct.  6,  1828. 

The  five  Commissioners  who  had  the  oversight  of  its  construc- 
tion were  Edward  Carrington,  Moses  B.  Ives  and  Stephen  Smith 
of  R.  I.,  and  John  W.  Lincoln  and  Sylvanus  Holbrook  of  Mas^ 
sachusetts. 

Its  cost  was  $700,000,  $500,000  being  raised  in  Rhode  Island 
and  the  balance  in  Massachusets.  In  Providence,  so  sanguine 
was  the  expectation  that  its  stock  would  prove  a  profitable  in- 
vestment, that,  when  they  had  subscribed  for  their  portion  of 
the  capital,  a  messenger  was  dispatched  in  hot  haste  to  Worcester 
to  take  up  any  portion  of  the  stock  not  subscribed  for  there. 

Not  unlike  many  enterprises  of  a  later  day,  the  Blackstone 
Canal  was  no  bonanza  for  its  stockholders.  As  the  river  was 
improved  in  many  places  as  a  portion  of  the  canal,  not  unfre- 
quently  the  boats  would,  from  low  water,  be  unable  to  enter  the 
locks,  thus  causing  vexatious  delays.  Some  years  the  canal 
would  be  closed  by  ice,  four  or  five  months  in  the  year. 

It  is  understood  no  dividend  of  profits  was  ever  made;  and  the 
last  toll  for  the  passage  of  boats  was  paid  Nov.  9,  1848. 

Much  good,  however,  resulted  to  the  public  at  large  by  the 
construction  of  its  feeders  and  reservoirs,  as,  by  their  economy, 
the  volume  of  water  in  the  Blackstone  river  was,  for  manufac- 
turing purposes,  largely  increased  and  utilized. 

PROVIDENCE    AND    WORCESTER   RAIL   ROAD. 

The  Charter  for  the  Providence  and  Worcester  Rail  Road  was 
granted  by  the  Legislatures  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island 
in  1844,  and  the  commencement  of  regular  trips  began  Oct.  25, 
1847. 

Not  long  after  the  completion  of  the  road  the  Canal  Corpora- 
tion obtained  permission  to  surrender  its  charter. 

Ponds.  Shokolog  Pond  is  situated  in  the  south  part  of  Ux- 
bridge.  It  was  about  this  pond  that  "in  ye  olden  time,"  certain 
squatters  from  Providence  undertook  to  establish  themselves, 
claiming  to  be  within  the  limits  of  the  Rhode  Island  colony. 
Captain  Chapin  was  sent,  with  a  force  of  eleven  men,  to  dislodge 
them,   but  we  hear  no  report  of  the  killed  or  wounded,  and 


16  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

only  two  were  made  prisoners.  They  were  carried  to  Providence, 
but  after  a  short  captivity,  were  allowed  to  return  to  Mendon. 
The  controversy  with  the  intruders  was  afterwards  amicably  ad- 
justed. 

Mendon  Great  Pond  lies  a  short  distance  westerly  from  the 
centre  of  the  present  town,  and  contains  107  acres.  It  was 
originally  called  Nipmug  Great  Pond. 

In  1870  the  Commissioners  of  Inland  Fisheries  leased  this  pond 
for  twenty  years,  "for  the  cultivation  of  useful  fishes,"  at  a  rent 
of  $650,  payable  in  instalments. 

Little  Pond  is  situated  south  from  the  road  leading  to  Mill- 
ville,  and  west  from  the  farm  owned  by  Rev.  Carlton  A.  Staples, 
of  Providence.     Its  outlet  is  Second  Brook. 

Hills.  The  hills  of  note  are  Magormiscok  (its  northern 
and  highest  part  now  known  as  Silver  Hill,)  and  Bear  hills,  now 
in  Milford;  Condlewood,  Waterbug  and  Chestnut  hills  in  Black- 
stone;  Goat  and  Wolf  Hills  in  Uxbridge,  while  Misco,  West, 
Wigwam,  Caleb's,  Pond  and  Neck  hills  are  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  town.  Wigwam  and  Misco  hills  were  occupied  as 
•stations  for  observation  in  the  Trigonometrical  Survey  of  the 
State,  made,  for  the  construction  of  a  State  map,  by  Simeon 
Borden,  Esq.  Caleb's  hill  was  so  called  because  Caleb,  the  Indian, 
to  whom  the  town  paid  bounties  for  killing  wolves,  had  his  wig- 
wam there.  Hungry  Hill  is  mentioned  once  or  twice  in  the 
early  records,  but  its  location  is  not  definitely  known. 

Soil.  For  the  purposes  of  agriculture  the  origininal  grant 
contained  a  large  area  of  excellent  land,  a  large  portion  of  which 
lies  in  the  valley  of  the  Blackstone. 

THE  FIRST  TOWN  MEETING. 

"  The  firemen  and  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants  Mett,  June  7th.  1667  and 
then  did  choose  for  theire  Selectmen  to  order  their  Prudentiall  affairs, 

Coll.  Willi  Crowne,  Goodman  Benjamin  Alby,  ffardinando  Thayre, 
Dan :  Lovett  and  John  Thompson,  seniour 

&  Coll.  Crowne,  Register. 

Pursuant  to  the  advice  of  the  "•Committee,"  contained  in  the 
6th  Rule,  upon  p.  3rd,  except  in  the  matter  of  granting  land  to 
new  comers  or  to  those  already  here,  the  Selectmen  were  in- 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  17 

trusted  with  the  management  of  all  other  matters  relating  to  the 
affairs  of  the  Town. 

Hence,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen  held  June  8,  KJfIT,  they 
appointed  Goodman'  John  Woodland  and  Joseph  Alclridge  as 
Fence  Viewers,  and  Abraham  Staples,  Hog  Reive. 

The}'  also  made  orders  that  all  swine  should  be  "eyther 
yoaked,  kept  up  or  otherwise  secured  and  looked  toe,"  and,  pro- 
vided the  fences  were  good  against  "  great  cattle,"  that  double 
damages  should  be  paid  for  all  damage  which  the  swine  should 
do  to  "corne  fields,  orchards,  gardens  or  meadows." 

Abraham  Staples  was  ordered  "to  take  care  that  this  order 
about  swine  be  duly  observed,  and  for  his  paynes  and  care  herein 
he  shall  have  fower  pence  for  each  animal  he  may  find  doing- 
damage." 

They  also  provided  that  any  person  who  should  bring  any  one 
to  reside  in  the  town  without  the  consent  of  the  present  towns- 
men, (selectmen)  should  be  liable  for  their  support,  in  case  they 
could  not  provide  for  themselves,  and  their  estates  were  to  be 
held  responsible  for  such  support.  The  selectmen  also  agreed 
that  this  last  order  "is  to  be  set  up  that  all  persons  may  take 
notice  at  their  perills." 

THE  NAME  OF  THE  TOWN. 

If  not  to  general  readers  it  may,  to  those' fond  of  antiquarian 
research,  be  thought  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  an  in- 
quiry into  the  origin  of  the  name  of  the  town. 

Did  the  General  Court,  in  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  change 
tlie  orthography  of  Mendham  to  Mendonf  For  the  affirmative 
side  of  this  question  the  following  reasons  may  be  offered. 

Because,  up  to  this  period,  every  town  in  the  colony  bore  the 
name  of  some  city  or  town  in  England. 

Because,  in  the  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  in  England, 
which  are  only  separated  by  the  small  river  Waveny,  we  find  the 
familiar  names  of  Medfield,  Framingham,  Ipswich,  Needhain, 
Sudbury,  Attleboro',  Wrentham  and  Mendham. 

Because  no  town  by  the  name  of  Mendon  can  be  found  upon 
any  map  of  England,  or  in  any  description  of  its  territory. 

Because  we  find  that,  for  some  years  after  its  incorporation,  it 

3 


18  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

was  a  common  practice  for  letters  to  be  dated  at  Mendham. 
Letters  written  at  this  town,  during  King  Philip's  war,  were  so 
dated  by  Capt.  Henchman,  Capt.  Sill  and  by  Lieuts.  Grorum  and 
Upham. 

The  Parish  of  Mendham,  as  it  is  called,  is  situated  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river  Waveny,  and  is  a  place  of  great  antiquity. 
Its  earliest  record  dates  back  to  the  reign  of  Edward,  one  of  the 
Saxon  Princes  of  England,  about  the  year  950.  In  or  about 
that  year  Bishop  Theodred,  by  his  will,  gave  to  the  church  in 
Mendham  "several  lands  in  that  and  the  adjacent  towns." 
This  will  of  the  Bishop,  it  will  be  seen,  carries  back  the  history 
of  Mendham  to  one  hundred  and  sixteen  years  before  the  con- 
quest of  England  by  the  Normans  under  William  I.  In  1135, 
in  the  reign  of  Stephen,  the  grandson  of  the  Conqueror,  a  Priory 
for  Cluniac  Monks*  was  founded  in  Mendham,  by  William  De 
Huntingfield.  He  bestowed  the  whole  of  Mendham,  including  a 
small  woody  Island  in  the  river  Waveny,  on  the  monks  of  Castle 
Acre  Priory,  on  condition  that  they  should  erect  a  church  of 
stone,  build  near  it  a  monastery  and  place  in  it,  at  least,  eight 
of  their  brethren.  The  church  and  monastery  were  undoubtedly 
built,  because  we  find,  at  the  suppression  of  the  monas- 
teries, that  the  site  and  revenues  were  granted  to  Charles  Bran- 
don, Duke  of  Suffolk.  Some  remains  of  the  Priory  were  stand- 
ing a  few  years  since  and  a  part  of  it  has  been  converted  into  a 
farm  house. 

In  1281,  being  the  ninth  year  of  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  we 
find  Mendham  belonginge  to  the  demesne  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford 
and  Roger  Fitzwilliam,  and,  not  long  afterward,  to  the  demesne 
of  Roger  De  Huntingfield,  who  died  in  1297,  in  the  twenty-fifth 
year  of  Edward  I.  From  Roger  the  estate  descended  to  his  son 
William,  whose  son  Roger,  leaving  his  kinswoman  Alice,  his 
heir,  it  passed  by  her  into  other  families. 

About  1422  we  find  it  in  the  possession  of  John,  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford, in  the  reign  of  Henry  6th.  In  the  war  of  the  roses, 
between  the  Houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  the  Earl  of  Oxford 
was  a  firm  partizan  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  and  so,  when  the 
battle  of  Barnetfield  had  decided  the  contest  in  favor  of  York, 
the  Earl  of  Oxford  was  attainted  and,  being  forced  to  fly,  his 

*So  named  from  the  town  of  Cluny  in  France,  where  resided  an  order  of  Benedictine 
monks;  known  in  history  as  the  Monks  of  Cluny. 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  19 

estates  were  confiscated  and  granted  to  Richard  Dnke  of  Glou- 
cester, (afterward  King  Richard  3rd,)  brother  to  the  then 
reigning  monarch,  Edward  4th.  This  was  in  1461.  In  1463, 
in  the  second  year  of  the  reign  of  Edward  4th,  the  estate  of  Mend- 
ham  wass  ettled  upon  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  by  a  special  entail; 
but  in  1485,  upon  the  accession  of  Henry  the  7th  to  the  throne, 
thus  uniting  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  the  estate  in  ques- 
tion was  restored  to  the  Earl  of  Oxford. 

Mendham  is  situated  upon  the  south  bank  of  the  river  Wave- 
ny,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  and,  seventy-six  years  ago,  con- 
tained five  hundred  and  forty-one  inhabitants. 

July  14.  A  division  of  "  all  the  meadows  wthin  theire  lyne" 
was  voted,  and  Goodman  White,  Goodman  Cook,  Goodman 
Harber  and  Goodman  Puffer  were  "to  joynew"1  the  Selectmen" 
to  make  the  division. 

At  this  meeting  granted  to  Col.  William  Crowne  and  to  his 
assigns,  and  the  present  minister,  their  shares  of  Meadows. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  had  shares  of 
Meadow  allotted  them: — 

Col.  William  Crowne  John  Jepson 

John  Rayner  Abraham  Staples 

Benjamin  Albee  Peter  Braekett 

Ferdinando  Thayer,  George  Aldrich 

John  Rockwood  Danell  Lovett 

Thomas  Barnes  John  Moore 

John  Gurney  Sam11  Read 

Mathias  Puffer  Joseph  Juell 

John  Harber  Thomas  Juell 

John  Thompson,  ye  elder,  Sam"  Spencer 

Joseph  White  The  School.     The  Glebe. 

REV.  JOHN  RAYNER,  THE  FIRST  MINISTER. 

Up  to  a  recent  period  it  has  been  supposed  that  Joseph  Emer- 
son was  the  first  minister  of  Mendon.  While  he  was  the  first 
settled  minister,  a  fact  recently  discovered  shows  that  he  was  not 
the  first  minister. 

When  we  remember  that  one  of  the  rules  made  by  the  "  Com- 
mittee for  Nipmug"  was  that  the  first  settlers  should  have  "an 
approved  minister  settled  with  them  at  the  Plantation  by  Nov., 
1664,"  we  can  hardly  suppose  they  would  neglect  to  comply  with 
this  condition. 


20  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

The  only  evidence  that  there  was  any  minister  here  in  1767, 
to  be  found  in  the  town  records,  is  the  single  expression  that 
the  present  minister  had  his  share  of  Meadow  allotted  him.  The 
following  extract  from  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  praying 
for  some  parcels  of  meadow  "found  outlyinge  The  Town 
Bounds  of  Mendon,"  we  think,  conclusively  establishes  the  fact 
that  John  Rayner  was  the  first  and,  in  May,  1069,  the  present 
minister  of  Mendon.  The  extract  is  as  follows,  viz: — "And 
now  God  having  given  us  good  hope  to  enjoy  the  gospel  &  gather 
a  church  by  the  help  of  Mr.  John  Bay  tier,  whose  labors  we  have 
had  comfort  of  this  winter  &  trust  bee  will  settle,  with  us,  besides 
severall  good  people,  members  of  churches,  tender  themselves  to 
come  to  us  had  wee  meado  to  supply  them."  The  petition  from 
which  this  quotation  is  taken  is  dated  May  10,  1009. 

Mr.  Rayner  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1003,  and  hence 
it  may  be  objected  that  a  year  was  too  short  a  time  to  qualify 
him  for  the  ministerial  office.  But  we  must  remember  that,  in 
those  early  days,  there  was  no  long  training  to  be  gone  through 
with  in  theological  schools,  no  lengthened  curriculum  of  meta- 
physical study  to  qualify  one  for  the  acceptable  discharge  of 
parochial  duties.  True  and  practical  piety,  a  knowledge  of  the 
bible,  the  command  of  language  arid  a  resolute  will  (as  they 
should  be  at  the  present  day,)  were  the  essential  elements  of 
success. 

John  Rayner,  senior,  came  from  England,  (having  entered  the 
ministry  previous  to  his  emigration,)  and  was  settled  at  Ply- 
mouth about  1030.  How  long  he  remained  there  is  not  known. 
In  November,  1054,  he  was  recommended  by  the  General  Court 
to  a  church  in  Boston,  as  will  appear  by  the  Colonial  Records, 
Vol.  4,  (1050  to  1000,)  p.  210:— 

"  The  Court,  reminding  the  case  of  the  new  Church  in  Boston,  and  being 
sensible  of  the  uncomfortableness  of  theire  present  condition,  for  want  of  a 
teaching  officer  amongst  them,  and  being  very  willing  to  affoord  the  best 
help  they  cann  in  this  case,  do  therefore  propound  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Rayner  unto  the  sajd  church,  to  be  by  them  treated  wthall,  as  also  made 
choice  of  and  called  to  office  in  case  of- agreement  between  them." 

This  recommendation,  it  seems,  did  not  succeed  in  inducing 
the  church  to  call  Mr.  Rayner  to  Boston,  and  in  1057  he  is  found 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  21 

settled  at  Dover,  N.  H.j  where  lie  continued  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  minister  until  his  death  in  1669,  21  2nd  mo. 

Benjamin  Eliot,  son  of  the  apostle  to  the  Indians,  was  invited 
to  settle  at  Mendon  in  1668;  and,  it  may  he  asked,  why  was  not 
Mr.  Rayner,  then  living  at  this  town,  called  to  the  ministerial 
offices?  It  may  be  that  his  father  might  have  been  in  failing 
health,  as  he  died  in  1669,  and  the  son,  hoping  to  succeed  him, 
might  not  choose  to  enter  into  an  engagement  that  would  stand 
in  the  way  of  his  being  called  to  Dover  should  .the  death  of  his 
father  create  a  vacancy  there. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  we  find  that  Mr.  Rayner  was  settled  at 
Dover  in  1671,  and  that  he  died  in  1676. 

From  the  manuscript  memoranda  in  the  interleaved  almanacks 
of  Judge  Sewall,  we  find  the  following  entries: — • 

"Dec.  29,  1675.  Mr.  Rayner  came  in  the  evening  to  our  house,  (and) 
delivered  me  a  letter.  Lodged  here;  in  bed  we  had  much  and  varied 
discourse." 

"Dec.  30.  Mr.  R.  goes  on  his  journey.  Gave  him  letters  of  Dec.  28  for 
Boston." 

In  the  Almanack  for  1670  the  following  memorandum  is 
found: — 

"Dec.  21.     Rayneres  occumlict — 28.  Sepelitur." 

This  record  establishes  the  time  of  the  death  of  Rev.  John 
Rayner,  the  first  minister  of  Mendon,  to  be  Dec.  21  1676,  and 
that  the  burial  of  his  body  occurred  on  the  28th. 

The  elder  John  Rayner  married  in  England  for  his  first  wife 
a  lady  by  the  name  of  Robinson,  and  for  his  second  Frances 
Clarke,  of  Hull. 

There  was  some  difficulty  in  settling  the  effects  of  both  the 
father  and  son,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  petition: — 

Mass.  Records  "Estates  Vol.  16,  p.  147,"  under  date  of  June 
10,  1079  may  be  found 

THE  PETITION  OF  FRANCES  RAYNER. 

To  the  Honrd  Gen"  Court  now  held  in  Boston,  Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  whereas  by  the  over  Ruleing  Providence  of  Almighty  God  yr  Peti- 
tioner is  become  Executrix  to  her  .late  well  beloved  husband  Mr.  John 
Rayner  senr  of  Dover,  (now  Dover  of  N.    H.,)and  Administratrix  to  the 


22  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1667. 

Estate  of  her  late  son  Mr.  John  Rayner  junr  Deceased  and  findeing  her- 
selfe  Incapable  to  manage  the  affairs  and  Concerns  thereof  and  knoweing 
this  Court  to  be  the  ffathers  of  ye  land  and  yourselves  to  be  the  helpers, 
suckerers  and  Defenders  of  the  ffatherless  and  widdows  therein,  am  humbly 
bold  to  make  my  Adress  unto  You,  that  as  you  are  a  means  in  the  Lord's 
hand  you  would  be  pleased  to  help  me  a  widdow  and  my  ffatherless  chil- 
dren. 

First:  That  you  would  be  pleased  to  Appoint  &  Impower  Mr.  Richard 
Martin,  Capt.  Tho.  Daniel  and  Mr.  Anthony  Rutter  to  be  helpfull  unto  yr 
Petitioner  wherein  she  is  concerned  as  abovesaid  and  that  they  or  any  of 
these  three  Gen1  may  accompt  with,  demand  of  and  receive  from  and  sue 
and  recover  in  her  name,  as  she  is  Executrix  and  Administratrix  aforesaid 
of  or  from  any  or  all  the  Debtors  to  the  Estates  of  the  aforesaid.  And  that 
yr  Petitioner  by  herself e  or  the  aforesaid  three  Gen1,  or  any  of  them  with 
yr  Petitioner's  consent  may  sel  any  or  all  of  the  Lands  or  Estates  of  the 
Deceased  aforesaid,  to  pay  just  debts  and  maintayne  your  Petitioner  and 
that  the  same  may  stand  firme  and  valid  in  the  Law. 

Seaceondly :  That  this  Hond  Court  issue  out  an  order  to  the  Selectmen  of 
ye  Towne  of  Dover  that  they  make  up  their  accompts  with  yr  Petitioner 
within  some  prefixt  time  (as  your  wisdomes  shall  see  fit)  and  that  shall 
appear  due  to  her  from  the  said  Towne  be  speedily  payd  to  her. 

Thirdly:  That  this  Hond  Court  would  be  pleased  to  desire  Maj.  Richard 
Waldron  and  Lt.  Peter  Coffin  to  secure  and  gather  in  the  Mill  rents  due  to 
yr  Petitioner  as  she  is  the  Administratrix  to  her  son  John  Rayner,  thejr 
being  the  only  persons  that  are  capable  of  doeing  the  same,  and  that  the 
time  may  be  prefixed  for  doing  it,  with  which  she  intends  to  pay  part  of 
the  debts  due  unto  themselves  from  the  Estate  of  said  son  John  Rayner. 

And  yr  Petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  shall  Ever  pray. 

Frances  Raynor. 

The  Magistrates  do  grant  this  petition  in  the  several  particulars  hereof, 
provided  that  the  sale  of  Lands  do  not  infringe  upon  the  just  rights  of  any 
heir  or  others  to  whom  they  may  be  entayled, 

their  brethren  the  deputyes  hereto  consenting 

Edwd.  Rawson,  Secy. 
10  June  1679. 

Consented  by  the  deputyes 

William  Torrey,  Clericus. 

Tins  Court  doth  order  that  ye  Selectmen  of  Dover  doe  take  effectual  care 
to  settle  ye  accompts  betweene  ye  Inhabitants  of  said  Towne  and  Mrs.  Ray- 
nor  Administratrix  to  ye  Estate  of  ye  deceased  Mr.  John  Raynor  Relating 
to  his  Salliiry  and  ye  payment  of  such  arrears  as  are  yet  unpaid  &  that 
this  be  done  at  or  before  the  last  day  of  September  next. 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  23 

The  deputyes  have  passed  this  our  Hond Magistrates  hereunto  consenting. 

John  Richards  Per  order. 

June  11,  1679.     Consented  to  by  the  Magistrates. 

Edwd.   Rawson,  Secy. 

Sept.  10.  At  a  meeting  held  this  day  the  Town  granted  Col. 
Crowne's  forty  acre  house  lot  in  the  Pond  field,  and,  if  the 
measure  fell  short  of  the  forty  acres,  then  to  take  up  the  balance 
in  the  adjoining  field,  called  the  Fort  field.  They  also  granted 
him  the  island  in  the  pond. 

Joseph  White  and  John  Thompson,  senr,  were  ordered  to  lay 
"A  Carte  way  to  goe  to  the  South  Meadows  for  hay  and  drift  of 
cattle,  through  this  Pond  field  and  this  Fort  field."  This  was 
the  beginning  of  the  road  now  leading  to  Chestnut  Hill  and 
Millville,  in  Blackstone. 

They  were  also  directed  to  lay  out  a  road  through  John  Jep- 
son's  land  "  for  the  Oollonell,  or  his  assignes,  to  goe  to  his  Meadow 
as  is  needfull,  of  4  Rodd  wide  in  the  Most  convenient  place." 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  road  through  Pond  Hills,  by 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Doctor's  Dam,  coming  out  to  the 
meadow  a  little  north  from  the  house  of  Davis  Bills.  At  the 
laying  out  of  the  Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike  (now  a  County 
Road.)  a  portion  of  this  road  fell  into  disuse  from  the  Town 
pound  to  the  Brook  by  Mr.  Bills. 

"  Then  ordered  to  build  A  Minister's  house  for  the  first  that  shall  be 
settled  heere  And  a  40  acor  house  Lott  layd  to  it  of  Land  wth  all  other 
proffitts  and  Privilidges  and  Meadow  proportionable  as  any  other  40  acor 
lots  shall  have  to  him  and  his  heyres  confirmed  to  him,  and  to  sett  it  in  the 
most  convenient  place  in  Towne." 

A  Glebe  Lot  of  20  acres  was  also  granted  "with  proffitts  and 
privilidges  as  other  20  acre  House  lots  have."  This  was  for  the 
ministry. 

Sept.  17.  At  a  Town  meeting,  held  this  day,  Goodman 
Thompson  was  chosen  a  Surveyor  "for  this  end  of  the  towne," 
and  John  Barnes  "for  the  other  end  of  the  towne."  John  Har- 
ber  was  chosen  Constable  and  Daniel  Lovett  "  Clarke  of  the 
Writts." 

The  office,  "  Clarke  of  the  Writts,"  was  created  by  the  General 
Court  Dec.  10,  1641.  The  statute  is  in  the  following  words, 
viz : — 


24  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

"It  is  ordered  that  in  every  towne  one  shall  bee  appointed  to  grant 
sumons  &  attachments  in  all  civil  actions;  &  attachments  are  to  bee  granted 
when  the  pty  is  a  stranger,  not  dwelling  amongst  us,  or  for  some  that  is 
going  out  of  or  jurisdiction,  or  that  is  going  about  to  make  away  his  estate 
to  defraude  his  creditors,  or  when  psns  are  doubtful  in  their  estates  to  the 
plaintiffe ;  and  the  psns  to  grant  replevy,  they  are  to  take  bond  wth  suffi- 
cient security  (of  the  pty  that  desireth  replevy)  to  psecute  the  suite ;  &  they 
are  to  have  for  warrants  2d.  a  peece,  for  replevy  or  attachments  3d.  a  peece 
&  for  bonds  4d.  a  peece.  These  are  to  be  directed  to  the  constables  in 
towns  where  there  is  no  marshalls;  the  same  pty  to  grant  summons  for 
witnesses.  These  have  power  to  send  out  pees  to  any  towne,  &  to  bee 
called  Clarks  of  the  Writtes. " 

This  last  record  closes  the  municipal  history  of  the  town  for 
the  first  year  of  its  corporate  existence. 

Col.  William  Crowne  was  appointed  the  first  Town  Clerk 
of  Mendon  by  the  "  Committee  Respecting  the  prudentiall  af- 
fayres  of  Mendon,"  as  by  their  certificate,  heretofore  recorded, 
dated  Dedham  2,  2,  1667. 

The  first  mention  I  have  found  of  Col.  Crowne  may  be  seen  in 
a  French  publication,  as  quoted  by  Hazard  in  his  Historical  Col- 
lection, page  616,  entitled  Memoires  de  L'Amerique,  Tom.  2,  p. 
511.  In  this  document,  which  is  a  grant  from  Cromwell,  we 
find  that  "Olivier,  Seigneur,  Protecteur  de  la  Republique  d'An- 
gleterre,  de  E'cosse  et  d'  Irelande,"  conveyed  to  Charles  de  Saint 
Etienne,  (la  Tour)  Sir  Thomas  Temple  and  Col.  William 
Crowne  the  territory  of  Acadie  in  Nova  Scotia.  The  concession 
was  dated  August  9,  1656.  From  this  fact  it  is  presumed  that 
Crowne  had  held  the  commission  of  Colonel  in  the  army  of 
Cromwell. 

That  Col.  Crowne  came  to  New  England  in  1657  is  quite 
probable;  as  we  find,  from  a  note  at  the  bottom  of  page  206  of 
Hutchinson's  History  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  that 
Sir  Thomas  Temple  came  over  in  that  year,  "having,  with  oth- 
ers, obtained  from  Oliver  a  grant  of  lands  in  Acadia  or  Nova 
Scotia,  of  which  he  was  made  governor. " 

By  the  treaty  of  Breda,  Acadia  was  restored  to  France,  and 
thus  Col.  Crowne  lost  his  interest  in  the  grant  made  by  Crom- 
well. In  1660  Col.  Crowne  was  in  Boston.  Whaley  and  Goffe, 
two  of  the  regicides,  who  had  arrived  July  27,  were,  soon  after, 
visited  by  him  at  Cambridge,  as  we  learn  by  the  diary  of  (loffe. 
At  this  time  he  is  set  down  as  a  noted  royalist. 


1667.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  25 

Upon  the  restoration  of  Charles  2d,  complaints  were  directly 
made  against  the  Colony  hy  its  enemies,  and  in  1660  orders  were 
received  from  him  "  that  persons  should  be  sent  over  to  make 
answer."  Upon  this,  Simon  Bradstreet,  a  magistrate,  and  John 
Norton,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Boston,  were  chosen  by  the 
General  Court  as  Agents  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  Colony  before 
the  King. 

In  the  meantime  Gov.  Endecott  had  written  the  following 
letter  to  Col.  Crowne,  who  was  then  in  England.  This  letter 
may  be  found  in  the  Mass.  Archives,  Political,  vol.  106  p.  50,- 
and  is  as  follows,  viz: — 

"  To  Colonell  Crowne, 

Your  readiness  to  speak  in  behalf  of  the  churches  &  people  of  God  in 
this  wilderness  (for  which  the  good  Lord  requiete  you)  doth  Imbolden  us 
to  desire  your  farther  favor  that  way  as  opportunity  may  be  ministered 
who  may  truly  say  the  Lord  in  his  Saints'  and  Servants  here  have  need  yr 
of.  Our  adversaries,  you  know,  are  many  &  wee  by  means  of  our  great 
distance  not  in  capacitie  to  make  our  defence  and  so  hath  the  only  wise 
disposer  of  all  things  been  pleased  to  frustrate  our  hopes  &  the  expectations 
of  the  General  Court  &  countrie  by  his  hand  of  visitation  on  our  &  yr  mch 
esteemed  Mr.  Norton,  who  wth  Mr.  Bradstreet  was  appointed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  appear  before  his  Majestie  &  to  pfr  their  petition  &  take  off 
the  charge  made  agst  us:  although  the  shipp  was  stayed  for 'some  space  of 
time  in  hope  of  his  recovery,  to  some  considerable  charge  of  the  countrie 
and  hazard  of  the  shipp  and  voyage,  so  that  we  are  necessitated  to  send 
without  them  that  woh  was  prepared  to  send  by  them,  the  commission  being 
made  to  both  &  the  extremitie  of  the  season  is  such  that  the  General  Court 
can  not  be  convened  to  Appoint  others  in  their  stead.  These  are  therefore 
to  request  you  to  excuse  us  what  you  may  for  this  seeming  neglect  of  ours 
who  could  neither  foresee  nor  prevent  the  same.  And  whatever  you  or 
our  other  friends  shall  doe  for  the  promoting  the  cause  of  Christ  in  our 
concernments  will  be  pleasing  to  God  &  profitable  to  his  church  and  people 
both  here  and  elsewhere  &  both  for  present  and  future  generations.  Thus 
committing  you  to  God  &  the  word  of  his  grace  who  is  able  to  present  & 
preserve  you  blameless  at  the  coming  of  ^his  dear  son  &  our  alone  Saviour 
we  rest  in  him. 

7th  Feb.  1661." 

At  the  same  time  Sir  Thomas  Temple,  who  was  in  Boston  and 
a  true  friend  to  the  Colony,  had  written  to  Lord  Manchester, 
Lord  Say  and  Seale  and  other  persons  of  note,  for  them  to  in- 
tercede in  behalf  of  the  Colony. 


26  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1667. 

The  following  letter,  to  be  found  in  a  foot  note  in  Hutchin- 
son's History  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  p.  220,  will 
testify  to  the  value  of  Col.  Crowne's  services  to  the  Colony: — 

"  London  11th.  July  1661. 
Gentlemen  and  honored  friends, 

Having  so  safe  a  hand  and  so  true  a  friend  to  convey  a  line  to  you  as  the 
hearer  Mr.  Crowne,  I  was  loth  to  omit  writing,  because  it  may  be  my  last, 
my  glass  being  almost  run  out,  and  I  retiring  home. — You  have  had  several 
appeared  against  you,  and  have  been  examined  against  you,  as  Captain 
Breedan  and  others,  of  whom  and  about  what,  this  bearer  can  more  par- 
ticularly inform  you  than  I  will  at  this  time;  and  I  must  say  for  Mr. 
Crowne,  he  hath  appeared,  both  here  in  the  council  and  to  the  Lord  Cham- 
berlain and  others  as  really  and  cordially  for  you  as  any  could  do,  and  had 
allaied  the  ill  opinion  of  your  cruelty  against  the  quakers,  willingly  neg- 
lected his  passage  to  stay  here  to  serve  you,  and  by  his  means  and  informa- 
tion of  the  state  of  your  government,  as  it  now  is,  I  hope  you  will  have  no 
governor  put  upon  you  but  of  your  own  liking;  wherefore  I  must  request 
you  will  really  own  and  accordingly  requite  Mr.  Crowne  his  love,  care  and 
pains  for  you,  of  which  I  have  been  an  eye  witness.  I  have  brought  him 
to  the  Lord  Chamberlain  and  others,  and  requested  their  Lordships  to  assist 
him  in  your  behalf.  I  have  not  been  wanting,  both  to  the  King  and  coun- 
cil, to  advance  your  interest ;  more  I  cannot  do,  but  earnestly  to  pray  the 
Lord  to  stand  with  you  and  for  you. 

I  remain  your  assured  loving  friend  to  serve  you. 

W.  Say  &  Seale. 

For  his  ever  honored  friends,  the  Governor  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony 
in  New  England,  for  the  time  being,  to  be  communicated  to  the  rest  of  the 
magistrates  and  deputies  there. 

Col.  Crowne  continued  to  reside  at  Mendon  up  to  or  about  the 
time  of  the  Indian  War  in  1675.  In  1674  it  seems  that  some 
"  unpleasantness"  had  arisen  between  the  Col.  and  some  of  the 
people  here,  as  we  find  that,  at  a  town  meeting  held  Sept.  4, 
1674,  "their  was  a  Loving  Agreement  between  the  Colonell  & 
our  selves;  all  differences  about  ColonelPs  acounts  &  that  those 
lotts  which  are  conserned  shall  pay  to  the  Colonell  as  followeth, 
25  shillings  for  a  35  acer  Lott  and  so  others  proportionabell, 
only  what  every  one  has  paid  shall  be  deducted  provided  they 
can  Clerely  proove  it. " 

I  have  learned  nothing  of  the  residence  of  Col.  Crowne  from 
this  time  until  1682,  when  he  is  found,  in  feeble  health,  in  Bos- 


1667.] 


ANNALS    OF    MEN  DON.  27 


ton,  in  reduced  circumstances.  Previous  to  reciting  his  petition 
to  the  General  Court  for  aid;  in  order  to  its  clearer  understand- 
ing, the  following  is  inserted: — 

"  To  tlie  Honoured  the  General  Court  sitting  at  Boston, 

The  Humble  Petition  of  William  Crowne 

Sheweth 

That  about  six 
years  since  yr  petitioner  resolved  to  lease  out  his  Township  in  ye  East  wch 
Coll.  Temple,  since  Knight  &  Baronet,  by  his  Articles  of  Agreement  made 
upon  or  division  of  or  several  parts,  confirmed  and  settled  ye  same  upon 
him  and  his  Heires  for  ever  wth  all  ye  priviledges  thereunto  belonging,  as  by 
those  Articles  may  appear.  Yor  Petitioner  made  his  tender  of  ye  lease  first 
to  Sir  Thomas  out  of  his  love  to  him  &  ye  peace  of  or  future  tranquillity, 
but  he  refusing  it,  Capt.  Corwin  &  Ensign  Scottoe  tooke  ye  lease  for  several 
years  at  an  hundred  &  tenn  pounds  per  annum,  clear  rent,  to  be  paid  in 
Boston.  But  within  one  yeare  after  it  so  came  to  pass  that  Sir  Thomas 
and  they  fell  out  &  troubles  increased  and  nothing  would  compose  it  but 
that  I  must  turn  them  out  and  put  him  into  ye  lease;  and  the  chief  ground 
was  yr  Petitioner  verily  believeth  y'  Mr.  Scottoe  gave  out  they  cleared  300£ 
y*  year  &  so  by  over  persuasion  of  all  hands  &  to  compose  y*  difference; 
Capt.  Breedan  &  Mr.  Usher  pressing  also  &  offering  their  bond  to  pay  me 
the  rent  constantly  in  Boston,  during  the  tearme,  Capt.  Corwin  and  Ensign 
Scottoe  surrendering  up  to  me  ye  lease,  I  made  it  to  Sir  Thomas  for  ye  re- 
maining parte  of  theire  tyme,  wch  was  4  year  &  took  Capt.  Breedan  &  Mr. 
Usher's  bond  for  ye  rent  and  they  paid  me  ye  first  year,  upon  Sir  Thomas 
his  order  upon  ye  bond,  but  they  refused  to  pay  me  any  more.  Upon  wch 
yor  Petitioner  complained  to  Sir  Thomas,  who  very  ingeniously  confessed 
to  me  before  Lieut.  Cook,  it  was  my  due,  but  his  hands  were  tied  up  by 
Capt.  Breedan  &  company  yt  he  could  not  dispose  of  a  skin  and  wished  to 
sue  them  and  gave  me  full  leave ;  \ipon  which  I  commenced  a  suite  against 
them  in  ye  County  court  upon  ye  bond  for  what  rent  then  due  &  had  a 
verdict  but  ye  honoured  Magistrates  not  accepting  it,  it  fell  in  course  to  ye 
Court  of  Assistants  and  then  neither  jury  nor  Magistrates  found  for  him  & 
so  by  yr  law  yr  are  pleased  in  such  cases,  when  they  have  run  ye  progress 
in  other  Courts,  to  seek  reliefe  of  you,  therefor  I  humbly  crave  the  benefitt 
of  y'  law  and  for  that  also  there  is  no  other  Court  to  be  appealed  to  but 
this  Honoured  Court.  There  is  now  due  to  yr  Petitioner  £330  certain  rent 
besides  four  years  forbearance  wch  maketh  near  £400. 

Premises  considered  yr  Petitioner  doth  humbly  beseech  this  Honoured 
Court  to  appoint  him  a  day  for  hearing  the  whole  case  &  to  do  therein  as 
ye  justness  thereof  in  yr  grave  wisdom  you  shall  see  fitt.  For  justice  is 
God's  work  &  you  are  his  Agents  in  that  worke,  so  a  just  sentence  is  God's 
sentence,  soe  yr  Petitioner  commits  his  cause  to  God  &  you. 
And  shall  pray, 

Wm.    CltOWNE. 


28  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

The  Magistrate  judge  rneete  to  grant  the  petitioner  a  hearing  of  the  case 
mentioned  in  his  petition  at  the  next  session  of  this  Court,  the  petitionr 
giving  the  parties  concerned  timely  notice  thereof,  their  brethren  the  depu- 
tyes  consenting  thereto. 

Edward  Rawson,  Secy. 

28  May  1066.     Consented  to  by  the  deputyes. 

Wm.  Torrey,  Clericus." 

Mass.  Archives,  Political,  Vol.  1638  to  1670,  p.  2(55. 

"  Honoured  Magistrates, 

I  hould  it  necessary  to  lay  before  you  ye  particular  service  I  did  the 
Country  in  England,  wch  my  Lord  Say's  letter  to  you  doe  but  hint  it  leav- 
ing it  to  me  to  informe  yu  ye  more  than  he  would  write  at  y*  time.  When 
I  came  to  London  to  his  Majtie,  which  was  two  weeks  after  Breedan  (for 
he  took  post  at  Dover)  I  was  informed  at  Court  by  severall  of  my  old 
acquaintances,  of  a  great  Charge  given  unto  the  King  and  ye  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, against  this  country  and  Government  &  Mr.  Bellingham.  That 
Goff  and  Whalye,  two  trators  declared  by  Parlam4  were  very  kindly  enter- 
tained here  and  that  Mr.  Bellingham  would  not  deliver  ym  up  to.  Breedan, 
although  by  a  letter  required  in  his  Maj4-TS  name  to  doe  it.  And  the  busi- 
ness was  referred  to  a  Committy  of  ye  Lords  to  examine;  upon  which  I 
presently  sent  to  my  Lord  Say  into  ye  Country,  my  old  worthy  friend,  be- 
seeching him,  if  he  ever  had  love  to  New  England  or  to  Mr.  Bellingham, 
yt  he  would  come  up  to  London,  he  being  one  of  ye  Councill,  and  if  I  were 
examined  I  did  not  doubt  but  to  cleere  this  charge  both  concerning  ye 
Country  &  Mr.  Bellingham  and  take  off  ye  charge  they  lay  under.  His 
Lordship  returned  this  answer,  y4  he  could  not  come  up  until  ye  parlement 
set,  he  being  old  and  crasye,  which  was  about  3  weekes  after,  but  wrote  a 
letter  to  my  Lord  Chamberlayne,  requesting  to  moove  the  Committy  to 
stay  their  proceedings  of  examination  of  y4  case  untill  he  came  up,  leaving 
ye  letter  open  for  me  to  seale  and  deliver  which  I  did.  Ye  Councill  stayed 
these  proceedings  &  now  a  demur  of  this  business  &  how  it  was  presented 
by  Capt.  Breedan  to  ye  Lord  Chancellor,  I  prevailed  wth  a  noble  person,  a 
favourite  with  his  Ma'y,  to  goe  to  ye  King  and  see  how  his  Majtie  felt  about 
New  England.  He  brought  me  this  answer;  he' had  been  with  ye  King 
about  it  and  he  sayed  he  wondered  y4  that  they  would  take  Traitors  parts 
against  him  y4  never  did  ym  wrong;  he  looked  upon  New  England  to  be  a 
nice  people  and  numerous  and  a  jewell  in  his  Crowne  and  would  be  better 
informed  of  ye  reporte  before  he  gave  indg4  all  which  I  sent  my  Lord  Say 
word  of,  so  incouraged  him  to  Come  up  which  he  did  at  his  time  appointed, 
and  came  to  me  before  he  went  to  ye  King.  He  entreated  me  to  remoove 
my  Lodgings  neare  him  to  Whitehall  ye  better  to  joyne  to  gether  to  carry 
on  this  business  with  ye  Councill,  which  I  did  and  Cost  me  for  2  months 
seventeen  shillings  and  six  pence  ye  weeke,  before  I  was  dismist  by  ye 


1G67.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  29 

Coimcill;  and  then  I  had  an  order  sent  me  by  ye  Conncill  to  be  examined 
and  to  attend  de  die  in  diem. 

I  was  examined  of  all  things  of  weight  y*  Consemed  both  Church,  Gov- 
ernment and  Country,  and  having  given  satisfaction  to  ye  Council]  of  what 
they  examined  me  about  and  about  Goff  &  Whalye,  my  Lord  Chancellor 
came  to  ye  Conncill  and  brought  in  a  copy  of  your  Patent,  ye  King  being 
present,  which  Coppye  he  sent  out  by  my  Lord  Say,  requiring  me  in  y 
Kings  name  to  appeare  that  Day  sennit  to  answer  in  behalfe  of  ye  Country 
ye  particular  forpitures  of  ye  Patent  which  he  had  marked  in  ye  Coppy  of 
ye  Patent,  I  appeared  ye  day  appointed  &  sent  ye  Coppy  of  ye  patent  by 
my  Lord  Say  (ye  King  p'scnf)  with  this  answer.  That  I  lookt  upon  his 
Lordship's  person  of  Honour  and  wisdome  and  would  not  put  upon  me 
-vvch  yC  Common  Law  would  not  doe,  for  I  was  noe  Agent  for  New  Eng- 
land, but  as  a  stranger  saving  that  I  had  wintered  there  two  winters  about 
my  business  of  Nova  Scotia  which  was  before  ye  Council].  He  sent  me  out 
word  againe  y'  should  not  serve  my  turn.  Hee  would  make  mee  speeke,  I 
could  speake  enough  for  New  England  and  now  I  should,  which  my  Lord 
Say  brought  me  out  word.  Then  I  requested  my  Lord  to  goe  in  with  this 
answer  from  me,  I  humbly  desired  Common  justice  for  New  England  y' 
neither  Law  or  Equity  could  deny  them,  for  all  the  Magistrates  when  I 
came  from  thence  were  born  in  this  Land,  soe  had  a  proper  birthright  to 
yc  Common  LawT  here  and  ought  to  have  their  Charge  given  them  in 
writeing  under  his  Lordship's  hand  of  what  lie  would  charge  ym  in  ye  for- 
fiture  of  their  Patent  and  coppy s  of  all  depositions  y'  had  been  taken 
against  them,  I  conseaved  there  were  many,  and  one  year  given  me  to 
return  it  to  ym  and  another  for  ym  to  return  an  answer  to  his  Majte  &  his 
Lordship,  and  I  did  not  doubt  but  that  they  would  approve  ymselves 
faithful  subjects  to  his  Mate  and  that  they  had  not  infringed  their  Patent  in 
ye  least,  upon  which  his  Lordship  expressed  himself,  he  did  not  intend  to 
waite  two  years  for  an  answer,  for  under  y'  time  he  thought  they  could  not 
send  it,  therefore  as  his  Matie  had  pardoned  his  subjects  in  ye  laud  of  farr 
greater  ofences  than  lie  had  to  charge  New  England  with,  therefore  he  de- 
sired his  Matie  to  pardon  ym  all  in  a  lump,  for  lie  had  done ;  with  y '  my 
Lord  Say  came  off  ye  Councill  and  told  me  all  which  is  certainly  true. 

So  when  I  had  satisfied  ye  Councill  of  all  things  they  examined  me  of,  I 
tooke  my  leave  of  ym  and  came  for  this  Country,  and  having  a  Bond  of 
two  men  in  Boston  to  pay  me  440  pound  by  110  pound  pr  anm  until  yl  sum 
was  paid,  and  part  of  it  due  I  was  inforced  to  sue  them  for  what  was  due 
to  me  and  entered  my  action  in  ye  County  Court.  Ye  persons  bound  ap- 
peared &  owned  ye  debt,  ye  verdict  passed  for  me,  Deacon  Parkes  ye 
foreman,  lint  ye  Court  would  not  warrant  it,  soe  it  fell  to  ye  Court  of  As- 
sistants where  I  met  with  ye  same  hard  measure,  and  with  much  difficulty 
I  got  my  petition  to  ye  General  Court  in  May  and  referred  me  for  a  hearing 
to  the  October  Court,  where  I  was  thrown  out,  not  tryable — this  kindness  I 
met  with.  Soe  I  lost  110  pounds  a  yeare  for  above  seven  yeares  which  yc 
persons  bound  received  my  profits  and  could  never  get  anything  of  it  be- 


30  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1667. 

cause  of  ye  General  Court's  order.  Then  in  ye  time  of  ye  Indian  warrs,  I 
being  at  Prudence  Island  by  Newport,  having  lent  Mr.  John  Paine  90 
pound  upon  a  tract  of  land  in  Mendon  for  two  years,  the  warrs  being 
ended,  Mr.  Payne  drowned  and  ye  Mortgage  out  and  ye  land  forfited  to  me 
I  came  to  show  Gov1"  Leverett  about  it  who  told  me  Mr.  Payne  had 
forfited  it  to  ye  Country  for  not  coming  to  Mendon  to  assist  ye  Towne 
against  ye  Indians,  and  y°  order  of  ye  Council!  required  him  upon 
ye  forfiture  of  it,  but  when  I  showed  him  my  Mortgage,  acknowledged 
before  Mr.  Bradstreet,  he  sayd  I  should  have  it  when  ye  County  Court  did 
sit  to  have  an  order  to  enter  upon  it.  So  I  went  then  to  my  son  Henery's 
to  ye  Eastward;  but  before  my  return  ye  Gov'r  Leverett  was  dead,  and  I 
having  a  chapman  here  in  towne  to  buy  refused  to  proceed  with  me  till  I 
had  recovered  it  by  law,  upon  which  I  sent  and  attached  ye  land  forlitted 
to  a  tryal  to  ye  next  County  Court  and  Summoned  in  Mr.  Kuight,  Mr. 
Payne's  administrator  made  by  y°  Court  to  appear  and  answer  my  action, 
but  when  ye  day  of  tryal  came,  and  had  entered  my  action,  I  desired  to  be 
heard  when  ye  Gov  stood  up  and  sayd  he  did  not  think  it  meete  to  be 
tryed.  Then  I  prest  my  mortgage,  acknowledged  before  him,  might  be 
read.  It  would  not  be  granted.  So  I  lost  all  my  charges  ye  10  shillings 
for  entrance  and  before  I  got  possession  of  ye  land  mortgaged  I  was  dam- 
nified above  4  pound.  Soe  these  seeming  unkindnesses  lye  very  heavye  on 
my  Spirit,  when  I  think  of  the  service  I  have  done  for  ye  country.  And 
God  having  laid  his  hand  heavy  on  me  these  7  or  8  months  hath  brought 
me  so  low  y4 1  am  scarce  able  to  stir  out  of  my  bed,  do  therefore  humbly 
pray  y'  you  would  take  my  condition  into  your  Serious  consideration  and 
doe  yl  justice  that  ye  law  of  God  and  man  requires.  And  for  yl  500  acres 
of  Land  yl  ye  General  Court  granted  me,  considering  ye  charges  in  looking 
it  out  and  laying  it  out  and  ye  Indians  demanding  pay  for  it  of  me,  all 
things  considered,  it  will  be  little  worth  to  me.* 

Soe  humbly  desiring  your  answer  I  remaine 

Your  Humble  Servant 

Will.  Crowne. 
June  10,  1682. 

In  answer  to  this  request  of  Coll.  Crowne's  the  Councill  have  agreed  that 
five  pounds  be  given  him  at  the  prsent  and  that  it  be  sent  out  of  the  contri- 
bution in  the  Gov"  hands;  withall  they  have  agreed  that  his  case  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Gen11  Court  for  a  more  full  consideration  of  his  case. 

Signed  by  Sam11  Nowell,  per  order. 

July  13,  1682." 

*The  500  acres  here  referred  to  was  granted  to  Col  Crowne  at  a  General  Court  held  Oct.  8, 
1602,  in  the  following  words:  "This  Court  as  an  acknowledgment  of  the  great  paynes  of 
Col.  Wm.  Crowne  in  behalfe  of  this  country  when  he  was  in  England,  judge  meete  to  graunt 
liim  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  any  place  not  legally  disposed  of."  This  grant  was  laid 
out  25.  3.  1665  by  Thomas  Noyes,  Surveyor  on  a  branch  of  Sudbury  river,  at  a  place  called 
by  the  Indians  Magnagaucok  Hill.  The  present  village  of  Ashland  is  said  to  be  located  on 
this  grant. 


1668.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  31 

Of  those  mentioned  as  "accepted"  in  1662,  it  is  not  found 
that  Nathaniel  Hareman,  Alexander  Plumley,  Josiah  Chapin, 
Joseph  Penieman,  John  Small,  of  Brantree,  or  Goodman  King, 
sen1'.,  Walter  Cook,  William  Holbrook,  Goodman  Bolter,  sen*., 
Samuel  Pratt  and  Thomas  Bolter,  of  Weymouth,  had  lands 
granted  them  up  to  the  close  of  1667.  Lands  were  granted  this 
year  to  Benjamin  Alhee,  with  whom  the  "  Committee  "  had  bar- 
gained (for  fifty  acres  of  land,)  to  build  a  grist  mill,  Ferdinando 
Thayer,  John  Gurney,  Mathias  Puffer,  John  Harber,  George 
Aldrich,  Daniel  Lovett,  and  John  More  of  Braintree,  and  to 
John  Thompson,  Joseph  White,  John  Rayner,  the  Minister,  and 
Abraham  Staples  of  Weymouth.  Lands  were  also  granted  to 
Col.  Crowne,  John  Rockwood,  Thomas  Barnes,  John  Jepson, 
Samuel  Read,  Joseph  Juell,  Thomas  Juell,  and  Samuel  Spencer, 
whose  places  of  former  residence  were  not  mentioned,  and  to 
Moses  Paine  and  Peter  Braekett  of  Braintree,  who  held  the 
Indian  deed  of  the  township. 


1668.  January  27.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen  it  was 
ordered  "  that  noe  Inhabitant  shall  cutt  downe  any  Chestnutt 
Trees,  standing  upon  the  Common  Land,  but  shall  forfeit  to  the 
use  of  the  Towne  five  shilling  for  every  tree,  there  having  been 
soe  great  A  Spoyle  allready  Made  thereby,  meerely  for  the  Nutts 
sake,  and  will  yet  be  more  (if  not  hereby  prevented)  wch  will  in 
tyme  prove  A  great  wronge  to  ye  Towne." 

Jan  28.  At  a  general  town  meeting  held  this  day,  were  chosen 
for  Townsmen  (Selectmen)  Col.  Wm.  Crowne,  Deacon  Hide, 
Gregory  Cook,  Ferdinando  Thayer  and  Daniel  Lovett.  For 
Register  (Town  Clerk)  Col.  Crowne. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  towns  the  Selectmen  were  clothed 
with  powers,  that,  at  the  present  day,  would  be  thought  extra- 
ordinary. In  fact  they  transacted  most  of  the  business  of  the 
town. 

Feb.  2.  The  Selectmen  met  this  day  and  made  the  following 
orders : — 

"Wee  takinge  into  consideration  the  great  Necessity  of  Mendinge  all 


32  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1G68. 

highwayes  About  this  Towne  wch  hath  been  so  long  neglected  doe  order 
and  Appoint  the  Surveyors  speedily  to  gitt  all  the  highways  well  mended 
both  for  cartes  and  cattle  and  passengers,  and  the  way  by  Walter  Cook's 
house  to  Joseph  White's  first  repaired,  and  the  way  to  the  Mill  w0h  was  to 
be  layd  out  by  those  men  chosen  before;  and  the  Surveyors  call  to  their 
Assistance  the  Several  Inhabitants  of  this  Towne  to  worke,  and  (they)  that 
have  4  oxen  to  work  A  day  at  A  tyme,  and  soe  all  the  rest  doe  work  pro- 
portional) to  their  tyme,  And  soe  to  continue  their  labor  soe  long  as  the 
Surveyors  shall  see  cause.  And  upon  4  days  notice  to  each  Inhabitant  to 
worke,  and  he  shall  refuse  or  neglect  it  shall  pay  for  his  contempt  3s.  4d. 
per  day  for  A  man  and  6s.  per  day  for  4  oxen,  a  man  and  a  carte,  and  5s.  a 
day  for  2  oxen  a  man  and  carte.  And  where  any  trees  are  lying  in  the 
highways  to  Remove  them  out  that  noe  Damage  or  hurt  may  come  to  any 
person  thereby.  And  that  A  bridge  be  set  up  wheere  the  first  bridge  was 
formerly,  goeing  to  Medfield  in  the  most  fittest  place  to  be  found  for  the 
public  good  and  care  of  traivelers. " 

At  the  same  time  Goodman  (George)  Alclrich  had  a  grant  of 
land  "in  lew"  of  land  taken  to  widen  the  road,  and  Goodman 
(John)  Harber  had  a  grant  for  the  same  purpose. 

This  road  to  be  widened  was  not  the  main  road,  now  (1880) 
the  Main  street;  but  a  road  leading  from  near  the  house 
of  Austin  A.  Taft  to  near  the  house  of  Gilbert  Gaskill,  (long 
since  discontinued,)  and  so  continuing  through  Emerson  and 
Washington  street  to  the  northerly  terminus  of  the  latter  street, 
and  from  thence  to  the  road  over  Misco  Hill,  not  far  from  the 
homestead  of  the  late  \Vatee  Davenport.  This  section  last  men- 
tioned was  also  soon  discontinued. 

From  the  foregoing  order  of  the  Selectmen  we  should,  at  first 
sight,  see  no  good  reason  why  there  should  have  been  any  poor 
roads  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement,  so  long  as  everybody 
was  required  to  work  as  long  as  the  Surveyors  should  deem  it 
proper;  but,  as  the  Surveyors  were  directed  to  remove  rocks  and 
trees  from  the  road  and  the  roads  were  ten  rods  wide,  we  can 
readily  see  that  it  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  such  roads  as 
would  command  the  acceptance  of  the  County  Commissioners  of 
the  present  day.  At  any  rate,  had  this  rule  been  continued,  we 
should  have  been  spared  the  recent  outlay  of  seven  thousand 
dollars  upon  a  single  mile  of  our  roads,  with  five  or  six  hundred 
dollars  for  damages  sustained  by  a  "traiveler"  during  its  con- 
struction.    This  was  for  special  repairs  on  the  line  of  road  lead- 


1668.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  33 

ing  from  the  house  of  Silas  Dudley  to  Milford  line,  ordered  by 
the  County  Commissioners  in  1871. 

At  a  General  town  meeting,  held  April  24,  house  lots  were 
granted  to  "Deacon  Hide  and  his  son  Job,  with  the  privilege 
that  other  house  lotts  of  that  bigness  have  only  the  former  in- 
habitants must  be  first  supplied  their  several  shares  of  Mea- 
dowes."  From  this  we  learn  that  Deacon  Hide  and  his  son  Job 
were  new  comers,  and  that  they  were  the  first  who  came  to  settle 
in  the  Town  after  its  incorporation. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  also  "  Ordered  to  give  Mr.  Benjamin 
Aliot  a  Call,  with  his  ffather's  leave,  and  A  letter  sent  to  that 
effect," 

This  Mi-.  Benjamin  Aliot  was  undoubtedly  a  son  of  the  Apostle 
to  the  Indians,  as  he  was  most  appropriately  called,  but  whether 
the  father  withheld  his  "leave,"  or  whether  the  son  did  not  see 
lil  to  accept  the  call  we  have,  at  this  late  day,  no  means  for  de- 
termining. Perhaps  the  fact  that  "  A  Minister's  house  for  the 
first  that  shall  be  settled  here,"  which  had  not  yet  been  erected, 
and  the  further  fact  that  no  movement  had  been  made  for  a 
meeting  house,  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  the  decision 
of  Mr.  Eliot. 

At  the  same  meeting,  after  the  call  had  been  voted,  it  was 
"  Agreed  on  then  alsoe  by  y°  Maior  pte  of  ye  Inhabitants  at  this 
Towne  Meeting  that  the  Meeting  house  shall  be  sett  on  the 
highest  side  or  pte  of  the  land  wch  is  a  High  way  neere  to  Joseph 
White's  saw  pit,  in  his  howse  lott,  and  to  erect  it  with  all  speed." 

Joseph  White's  house  lot  was  bounded  westerly  by  the  present 
road  leading  from  Milford  to  Uxbridge,  and  extended  from 
Muddy  Brook  to  the  little  run  west  of  the  house  of  Gkistavus  B. 
Williams,  and  was  of  sufficient  width  to  contain  forty  acres.  As 
the  meeting  house  was  to  be  built  upon  the  highest  side  of  the 
way,  (the  Main  street  now,)  it  must  have  been  located  some- 
where near  the  brick  building  formerly  used  by  the  Mendon 
Bank,  now  the  Hall  of  Records. 

April  20.  "Steven  Cooke  was  granted  a  20  acre  house  lot  to 
ioyn  to  John  Harbor  his  house  lott  with  the  proviso  that,  when 
(bid  shall  make  way  for  his  goinge  for  England,  not  to  putt  it 

5 


34  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1668. 

off  to  any  but  to  such  as  the  present  Townesmen  or  Towne  shall 
approve  of."  Whether  Mr.  Cook  ever  went  for  England  is,  we 
think,  a  matter  of  doubt,  as  we  find  his  name  attached  to  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Emerson  in  Dec.  1669,  and  afterwards  in  the 
division  of  lands  in  1672. 

Under  date  of  Sept.  6,  the  selectmen  offered  a  bounty  of  20s. 
to  any  inhabitant  who  should  kill  a  wolf  within  the  limits  of  the 
town,  and  they  further  ordered  that  the  Constable  "shall  gather 
it  and  pay e  it  them,  having  a  warrant  under  oar  hands  to  doe 
it." 

Gregory  Cook  also  had  a  grant  of  a  forty  acre  house  lot  upon 
the  same  terms  as  "  Deacon  Hide  and  his  sonn  Jobe  had  theirs, 
for  all  things,"  only  there  is  to  be  a  highway,  if  need  be,  through 
his  lot. 

Deacon  Hide  had  the  meadow  called  the  School  Meadow  (the 
meadow  near  the  present  residence  of  Putman  W.  Taft,)  for  two 
years  at  one  pound  yearly,  "in  such  pay  as  will  answer  the 
Towne's  ends." 


' '  Ordered  againe  by  us  that  all  ff  ences  about  come  fields  and  orchards  be 
Made  good  aud  Sufficient  according  to  law,  and,  if,  upon  vew  by  those 
that  are  to  vew  ym,  they  are  not,  the  damages  are  to  lay  upon  the  owners 
of  ye  fences,  or,  if  good,  upon  the  owners  of  the  Cattle  or  Swine  yl  doe  ye 
Damage." 

At  this  time  we  find  the  Selectmen  taking  care  that  the  town 
should  not  trespass  upon  the  lands  of  their  Indian  neighbors,  as 
we  learn  by  the  following  order: — 

"  Ordered  to  send  to  the  Indian  Plantation  called  Assonomsit  to  ther 
Magistrate  to  send  some  of  those  Indians  that  know  ther  Bounds  to  us  to 
consider  if  we  have  Runn  into  their  lyne,  and  to  Alter  it  wthout  any  wrong 
to  them  or  us,  aud,  if  need  be,  to  Rectifie  it  before  the  next  General  Court." 

Joseph  White  was  appointed  Surveyor,  and  "  Goodman  Albe, 
if  he  will,  May  Measure  any  Man's  bowse  lott  y'  desires  him,  2 
townsmen  with  him." 

Sept.  25.  ' '  Att  a  Generall  Towne  Meetinge  It  is  ordered  that  the  Select- 
men doe  take  care  to  gett  the  Meetinge  house  Erected  in  the  Place  formerly 


1668.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  35 


agreed  on  upon  the  best  And  cheapest  Tearmes  they  can  for  the  good  of 
the  Town;  the  breadth  22  foote  square,  12  foote  studd,  the  Ruffe  gathered 
to  A  7  foote  square  wth  A  Turret  t, 

October  following  we  gave  Job  Hide  an  order  to  goe  on  wth  the  work 
W*  is  here  incerted,  the  Towne  then  gave  Deacon  Hide  leave  until!  May 
the  first  69  to  settle  with  his  family  and  Job  also." 

1139008 

"AGREEMENT  WITH  JOB  HIDE. 

It  is  agreed  on  by  the  Selectmen  for  the  more  ease  of  the  People  heere  and 
the  speedie  carringe  on  of  the  buildinge  that  Job  Hide  doe  undertake  the 
whole  worke  for  the  well  Mauagine  of  the  frame  of  the  Meetinge  bowse, 
and  for  his  Paynes  and  several!  dayes  work  that  bee  shall  doe  at  it  shall  be 
allowed  2s.  6d.  pr  day,  but  not  to  deduct  it  out  of  his  or  his  ffather8  pay 
for  theire  lotts,  but  to  receive  it  as  wee  can  Make  it,  And  every  person  in 
Towne  that  can  work,  doe  assist  him  as  much  as  shall  come  to  their  rates  as 
shall  hereafter  be  Agreed  on  for  each  lott  to  beare;  whose  affection  to  soe 
good  A  work  will  be  known,  thereby  Carringe  for  God's  glory  and  the 
Publique  good,  faithfully  and  speedily  to  perfect  it  as  the  season  will  per- 
mytt." 

During  this  year  the  Nipmuck  Indians  submitted  themselves 
to  the  government  of  the  English,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing document,  to  be  found  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives,  "  In- 
dians, Vol  30,  p.  146." 

"  To  the  Honerd  Govern1-,  Dept J  Governor,  Magistrates  and  Deputies  now 
sittinge  in  the  General  Court  at  Boston,  April  29,  1668: 

The  humble  submission  and  subjection  of  the  Native  Indian  Sagamore  & 
people  of  Nipmuck,  Inhabiting  within  the  bounds  of  the  Patent  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  neare  adjoining  unto  the  English  Towues  settled  of  Mend- 
ham  and  Marlborough. 

We  the  Inhabitants  of  Quanutussett,  Monuchogok,  Chaubunakongkomok, 
Asuhodna'og,  Ressessnogus,  Wabuquoship,  and  the  adjacent  parts  of  Nip- 
muck, being  convinced  of  our  great  sins  &  how  good  it  is  to  turn  unto  the 
Lord  and  bee  his  servants  by  praying  and  calling  upon  his  name:  We  doe 
solemnly  before  God  and  this  Courte  give  up  ourselves  soe  to  doe. 

Also  wee,  finding,  by  experience,  how  good  it  is  to  live  under  laws  & 
good  government  &  finding  how  much  we  need  the  protection  of  the 
English,  doe  freely  out  of  our  own  notion  <k  voluntary  choice  submit  our- 
selve  to  the  Government  of  the  Massachusetts. 

To  the  Honord  General  Court:  to  the  Honord  Governor,  Deputy  Govern' 


36  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1669. 

&  Assistants,  to  be  ruled  and  protected  by  them.     And  we  doe  humbly  in- 
treat  that  we  may  be  favorably  accepted. 
May  ninth  1668. 

The  marke  of      1  Wutusakompanim. 

Job  Katteimet. 

The  mark  of    J\  Retukhanit, 

The  mark  of  yr  /  TJppehenohtuk. 

The  mark  of   ^j  Wabumahchein. 

The  mark  of    fl    Wagesuk. 

The  mark  of    O   Wussaumaudus. 

The  mark  of  ^7   Tuhkomis. 

The  mark  of  ^^  Papaumwoit. 

The  mark  of     M  Wullompeh. 

These  have  subscribed  in  the  name  and  with  the  consent  of  all  the  rest. 

Whether  the  Nipmuck  Indians  submitted  to  the  English  be- 
cause they  were  "convinced  of  their  great  sins,"  and  intended 
" to'  turn  unto  the  Lord  and  be  his  servants,"  or  because  they 
had  come  to  feel  the  need  of  protection  against  enemies  of  their 
own  race  we  cannot,  at  this  late  day,  fully  determine.  When 
however  we  find  that  the  eloquence  of  Philip  soon  after  per- 
suaded them  to  confederate  with  him  in  his  contemplated  extir- 
pation of  the  English,  we  can  hardly  believe  that  Matoonas, 
whom  the  Apostle  Eliot  had  converted  from  heathenism,  and 
Major  Gookin  had  made  a  Constable  at  Quinsigamoud,  would 
have  led  the  attack  upon  Mendon  in  1675  had  lie  entirely  shaken 
off  the  old  Adam. 


1669.     Jan.  1.      "It  was  agreed,  at  a  town  meeting,  that  the 
same  townsmen  that  were  the  last  yeare  shall  be  for  this  yea-re, 


1G69.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  37 

unless  Deacon  Hide  doe  not  come  to  Inhabitt  by  the  first  of  May 
next  then  it  is  resolved  to  choose  another  in  his  Roome." 

The  Selectmen  for  1668  were  Col.  Crowne,  Deacon  Hide, 
Gregory  Cook,  Ferdinando  Thayer  and  Daniel  Lovett.  As  no 
mention  was  made  of  a  choice  for  a  Register  it  is  presumed  that 
Col.  Crowne  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office. 
Samuel  Read  was  chosen  Constable,  John  Woodland,  sen.,  and 
Samuel  Hay  ward.  Surveyors  of  Highways,  and  Col.  Crowne, 
Benjamin  Alby  and  Gregory  Cook,  Commissioners. 

Col.  Crowne  was  also  chosen  "to  be  Returned  to  the  General 
Courte  to  gaine  power  to  take  the  verdict  of  the  jury  upon  ye 
death  of  John  Lovett,  (killed  by  an  unruly  horse),  to  marry  ami 
to  give  the  present  Constable  his  oath." 

Most  of  the  transactions  of  the  town,  in  the  early  settlement 
of  the  place,  like  all  the  new  towns  of  the  olden  time,  related  to 
the  division  of  land  among  those  already  removed  hither,  the 
granting  of  homesteads  to  new  comers  and  the  establishment  of 
roads. 

In  regard  to  the  land  it  will  be  understood  that  it  was  held  in 
fee  by  those  who  were  settled  upon  its  soil,  and  that  no  title 
could  be  acquired  without  the  consent  of  the  inhabitants. 
When,  in  the  allotment  of  land  to  new  comers,  the  expression 
" with  privileges  such  as  lots  of  that  bigness  have"  was  used, 
the  grantee  acquired  a  right  in  the  unappropriated  lands — he 
became  a  proprietor.  Without  this  expression  he  had  no  inter- 
est beyond  the  number  of  acres  specified  in  his  grant.  The 
Proprietors  kept  records  apart  from  the  town  records,  and  had 
occasional  meetings  until  a  late  period.  Pearly  Hunt,  of  Mil- 
ford,  was  the  last  Proprietors'  Clerk.  By  a  decision  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  the  town  of  Mendon  was  made  the  custodian  <>!' 
these  records. 

"  The  fifty  acres  of  upland  wch  the  Honored  Committee  before  did  de- 
signe  to  Benjamin  Alby  about  his  labor  concerning  the  Mill,  together  \v,h 
y*  20  Acor  House  lott,  and  the  '-20  Acor  house  lott  that  his  Sonn  in  law 
Thomas  Barnes  Dwells  on  is  to  have  all  privilidges  in  the  Towne  as  other 
20  Acor  house  lotts  shall  have  is  confirmed." 

This  fifty  acres  to  Benjamin  Alby  was  laid  out  on  either  side 
of  Mill  River  "against  the  Dwelling  House  by  the  Mill."  The 
grist    mill    has    long   since    disappeared  and  a  shoddy  mill   has 


38  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [16G9. 

taken  its  place.     Lewis  B.  Gaskill  is  the  present  owner  of  the 
Alby  place. 

The  fifty  acres  and  the  twenty  acre  house  lot  above  mentioned 
were  granted  to  Benjamin  Alby  by  the  Committee  "for  ordering 
and  settleing  the  Plantation  at  Netmocke,"  as  will  appear  by 
their  grant  dated  "at  Boxbury  5m.  2.  G4,"  and  heretofore  re- 
corded on  p.  9. 

Feb.  2.  "  Agreed  on  that  the  Townesmen  together  wth  Goodman  Alby, 
Goodman  Harber  &  Walter  Cook  doe  see  that  the  Minister's  house  be 
speedily  sett  forward  in  gettinge  all  things  in  A  readiness  To  build  it  and 
erect  it  where  the  Place  is  Agreed  on  wth  the  length,  breadth,  height  wth 
all  dementions  formerly  agreed  to  to  compleat  it  wth  speed.  And  to  finuish 
it  to  be  carryed  in  A  way  of  A  Rate  wch  is  thought  the  best  way  to  ease 
charges  and  speed  ye  worke." 

At  this  meeting  Joseph  Stevens,  the  Smith,  had  a  thirty  acre 
lot  granted,  and  which  land  was  formerly  reserved  for  a  Smith's 
lot. 

Matthias  Puffer  had  his  thirty  acre  lot  surveyed  by  Benjamin 
Alby,  the  northeast  corner  being  a  "A  great  Rocke  wth  A 
Springe  Bunninge  from  under  it  into  Muddy  Brooke."  Puffer's 
house  stood  a  little  south  from  the  house  of  the  late  Daniel 
Thurber.  At  the  same  time  Benjamin  Alby  surveyed  the  house 
lots  of  John  Rockit,  (Bockwood)  John  Gurney,  Samuel  Hay- 
ward,  Gregory  Cook  and  John  Jepson. 

March  18.  A  notice  was  received  from  the  Selectmen  of  Ded- 
ham  that  they  intend  "  to  Bunn  the  lyne  between  them  and  our 
towne  "  the  23d  day  of  this  month,  and  they  had  appointed  the 
two  Fishers  and  old  Goodman  Thurston  of  Medfield.  The  Se- 
lectmen of  Mendon  appointed  Goodman  Thayer,  a  Townsman. 
Matthias  Puffer  and  John  Bockett  to  meet  the  committee  of 
Dedbam,  and  "to  settle  the  bounds  between  them  and  us." 

Wee  whose  names  are  subscribed  beinge  Deputed  by  the  Towns  of  Ded- 
ham  and  Mendon  to  Run  the  lyne  between  them.  Wee  Mett  accord- 
ingly upon  the  lyne  at  the  bent  of  the  River  where  Lieutt.  Fisher  begun 
the  lyne  To  Nipmug  River  and  New  Marked  it  and  Raised  up  heapes  of 
Stones  according  to  law. 

ffardinando  Thayre  John  Thurston 

Mathyas  Puffer  Anthony  fhsher 

John  Rockett  Nathaniel  fhsher 

for  Mendon.  Nathaniel  Graves 

for  Dedham. 

1.  22.  69.  (old  style) 


1669.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  39 


May  10.  The  Minister's  house,  voted  to  be  built  last  year,  is 
not  yet  completed,  as  we  find  by  the  following  orders  of  the  Se- 
lectmen : — 

"Ordered  the  speedy  carringe  on  the  fframe  of  the  Minister's  howse  and  that 
Thomas  Jnell  doe  provide  400  of  good  Clapboards  upon  Ins  owne  account 
and  bring  them  to  the  frame  as  Goodman  Barnes  and  Goodman  Head  shall 
approve  of,  and  he  is  alsoe  to  bring  312  more  clapboards  upon  Gregory 
Cook's  accompte  good  and  Merchantable  as  ye  said  former  persons  shall 
judge,  wthin  one  Month  after  this  day. 

Ordered  that  Gregory  Cook  doe  pay  in  Nayles  in  pte  of  his  lot  seventeen 
shillings  and  eight  pence  in  eight  penny  and  the  rest  as  the  workmen  shall 
see  best,  being  in  full  of  his  purchase. 

Ordered  that  the  Constable  doe  take  care  to  see  that  the  orders  about  the 
Minister's  house  be  complyed  wth." 

The  Selectmen  having  completed  their  orders  about  the  Min- 
ister's house,  concluded  their  session  by  repealing  the  bounty  of 
20s.  for  killing  a  wolf. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  April,  1668,  the  town  sent  a 
request  to  the  Magistrate  of  the  Indian  Plantation  of  Assonomsit 
"  to  send  some  of  the  Indians  that  know  their  bounds  to  consider 
if  we  have  run  into  their  line." 

In   consequence  of  this  doubt   about  the  correctness  of  the 
boundaries  of  the  town,  it  seems  the  inhabitants  of  Mendon  pe- 
titioned the  General   Court  for  redress,  as  will  appear  by  the 
following  copy  from  the 
Mass.  Archives,  "Towns,  Vol.  112,  p.  190." 

"To  the  ever  honerd  Generall  Courte  Sittinge  at  Boston,  May  19,  1669. 
The  humble  Petition  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  Mendon 
Shewetb.  that  yr  Pettitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  owne  wth  all  thankful- 
ness the  several!  flavors  this  Court  bestowed  on  this  place  in  their  settle- 
ment weU  they  shall  labor  to  improve  (by  God's  assistance)  for  his  glory  yr 
holier8  and  yc  publique  good.  In  that  petition  uppon  our  Settlement  wee 
Informed  that  Court  of  ye  very  small  quantity  of  meadow  wthin  our  Line. 
That  although  a  thirty  acre  Lott  were  to  have  but  Tenn  acres  of  meadow 
to  it  and  so  proportionable,  yett  was  ther  then  three  families  without  any 
&  since  fowre  that  have  none.  And  to  ye  best  of  our  iudgm'  the  whole  but 
about  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres;  therefore  we  humbly  craved  all  the 
meado  wee  should  find  within  two  or  three  miles,  yett  not  disposed  of,  to 
supply  our  necessities,  wch  the  Court  neither  denyed  or  granted  absolutely 
because,  as  wee  humbly  Conceive  wee  had  not  stated  the  quantity  with 
bounds  wch  since  is  done  through  so  much  difficulty  &  changed  to  about 
ninety  acors  lying  nigh  unto  our  Line  in  small  parcells  as  p>  ye  paper 
annexed  wee  show 


40  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1669. 

And  now  through  God  having  good  hope  to  enjoy  the  Gospel  &  gather  a 
church  by  the  help  of  Mr.  John,  Rttyuer,  whose  labors  we  had  comfort  of 
this  winter  &  that  hee  will  nettle  with  us  besides  severall  good  people  mem- 
bers of  churches  tender  themselves  to  come  to  us  had  wee  meado  to  supply 
them,  and  all  hough  wee  have  purchased  this  Tract  of  Land  twice  of  the 
Indians  to  above  thirty  pound  price,  wee  are  so  beleagred  wlli  them  as  wee 
Interfere  upon  youre  (other)  plantations  Aponomisco,  Manchaug,  Shocko- 
logue,  Nashwag',  and  King  Philip  pretends  a  great  share  in  our  best  land 
&  meddo,  so  wee  must  mend  our  line,  for  peace  sake,  by  what  is  within 
your  good  leave,  wch  we  pray. 

These  premises  considered  wee  are  constrained  to  Renew  our  Sute  and 
doe  earnestly  pray  a  grant  of  ye  severall  parcells  of  medo  in  the  paper  an- 
nexed woh  not  only  will  Incorridge  good  poeple  to  Settle  wth  us  butt  inable 
us  to  carry  on  the  publique  service  more  fully  as  wee  desire. 

Further  wee  pray  that  in  regard  as  we  are  25  miles  off  from  any  Magis- 
trate &  beset  wth  many  incumbrances  as  is  the  lott  of  new  plantations,  to 
afford  us  that  succor  and  ease,  that  our  honered  ffrieud,  Col.  Crowne  may 
be  inipowered  to  take  a  Verdict  off  us  wch  is  about  ye  death  of  a  boy,  sonne 
to  Daniell  Lovett,  yf'  came  by  a  fall  from  his  father's  horse  &  y°  honered 
Magistrate  Lusher  can  inform  is  only  to  ease  some  very  aged  man  of  ye  jury 
ffroni  travelling  so  farre,  having  left  their  labour  already  the  honerd  Major* 
being  (in)  Boston:  and  allso  y*  ye  Collon11  may  give  the  Constable  his  oath 
marrie  and  what  else  may  be  for  good  order,  wch  are  acts  of  grace  flowing 
from  you  to  other  Towns  Remote,  and  none  need  it  more.  Lastly  we  pray 
that  Mr.  Brackett  of  Boston  and  Ensign  Moses  Paine  of  Brantry  may  be 
authorized  to  surrender  up  to  us  or  to  yni  wee  shall  depute,  our  Indian 
Grant  of  this  Land  w"'  all  other  papers  belonging  to  this  place,  Acts  of 
ye  honered  Committee,  being  paid  the  disbursements  relating  thereto  and 
ye  Acts  heere  will  better  strengthen  our  Indian  Grant  for  us  &  our  Succes- 
sors for  the  future  and  wee  shall  pray. 


Aid  rich  Steven  Cook,  junior  Gregory  Cook 

ett  Joseph  Stevens  fardinando  Thayre 

torn  off  John  Woodland,  senior  Dan:  Lovett 

Staples  George  Aldrich 

John  More,  senior  John  Ilarber. 
John  Thompson,  junior 

A  Particular  (description)  of  the  Severall  Parcells  of  Meadow  woh  is  lately 
found,  outlyinge  The  Town  Bounds  of  Mendon, 

Three  Acors  lyinge  by  y'  River  upon  which  our  Mill  stands  on  the  North 
side  of  our  Lyne. 

Six  Acors  upon  the  same  side  of  our  Lyne  About  A  Mile  off  it. 

Three  Acors  lyinge  upon  the  same  side  of  our  lyne. 

Eighteen  Acors  or  thereabouts  bounded  on  the  East  wth  A  great  Pyne 

♦Probably  Major  Gookin. 


1669.  | 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  41 


Bwampe  wth  Run  of  water  on  ye  same  side  of  our  Lyne,  three  acors  more  on 
the  east  side  of  our  Lyne  About  A  mile  off  it. 

Power  Acors  lyinge  by  a  run  of  water  wch  runs  into  the  North  branch  of 
Charles  River  next  our  lyne. 

Six  Acors  on  the  North  side  of  our  Lyne  wth  A  great  Hill  of  Rocks  on 
y1'  BOUth  side  thereof  About  a  mile  off. 

Three  Acors  upon  the  same  branch  of  y*  River  on  the  west. 

About  Thirty  Acors  upon  A  branch  of  yc  same  River  adioyninge  our 
towne  Lyne  on  ye  north  side. 

Six  Acors  on  the  northeast  corner  of  ouiOyne  Adioyninge  Toil  by  a  Pyne 
Swamp  on  ye  west. 

About  fifteen  Acors  lyinge  on  the  west  side  of  Charles  River,  being  the 
Third  Branch  we  pass  over  to  Metrield. 

Six  Acors  on  the  Second  Branch  of  Charles  River  Towards  Metfield  and 
below  that  Meadow  wch  our  Lyne  runs  through. 

About  twelve  Acors  upon  the  same  River  A  bout  2  miles  off  our  bounds 
southwest  as  we  goe  to  Metfield. 

Of  the  several  parcells  we  understand  that  about  30  Acors  of  the  whole  is 
taken  up,  if  noe  more,  soe  then  there  will  not  be  A  bove  Ninety  Acors,  and 
we  want  neere  soe  much  to  complete  the  families  we  have  already,  soe  as  if 
we  get  it  not  some  of  our  families  must  departe  &  the  Town  decayed. 

Iii  answer  to  this  Petition, 

The  Committee  findinge  that  ye  place  is  But  meanly  provided  of  meddow 
&  y'  ye  Distribution  already  made  is  but  small  to  ym  y'  have  ye  most  Doe 
Conceive  this  Court  may  well  Grant  that  Town  ye  Meddo  Petitioned  for 
for  accommodating  such  persons  among  ym  as  have  none  or  any  New 
Comers  to  ym. 

As  to  thare  other  desire  We  Conceive  Collonell  Crowne  may  be  impow- 
ered  to  give  the  present  Constable  his  oath  and  to  give  oath  and  take  ye 
verdict  according  to  law,  of  ye  jury  for  the  untimely  death  in  yc  case 
mentioned;  as  alsoe  that  he  may  be  Impowered  to  solemnize  Marriage  in 
ye  Town  of  Mendon,  provided  the  ptys  be  residing  in  yl  towne  or  at  least 
one  of  yc  ptys  &  this  until!  this  Court  take  further  order. 

As  to  their  last  request  That  Mr.  Brackett  &  Moses  Payne  may  surrender 
up  theire  Indian  Purchase  &  other  papers  in  their  hands  belonging  to  Men- 
don wee  conceive  it  meete  that  they  should  accordingly  resigne  and  dlr  all 
up  to  ym  they  pforning  &  satisfying  to  Mr.  Brackett  and  Moses  Paine 
according  to  Ingagement  to  ym 

John  Pynciion 
Edw.  Johnson 
William  Pakke. 
May  27,  1669. 

Referring  to  theire  lyne  Intrenching  upon  a  former  grant  to  ye  Indians 


42  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1669. 

we  conceive  they  may  be  allowed  to  extend  there  lyne  on  ye  other  side  of 

yin  according  to  what  ye  Indian  grant  take  off. 

J.  Pynchon 
Edw.  Johnson 
William  Parke. 

The  Deputyes  approve  of  the  returne  of  the  Committee  in  answer  to 
their  ptn  ou1  Houerd  Magistrates  Consenting 

William  Torrey,  Clericus. 

Consented  by  ye  Magistrates 

Edw.  Rawson,  Secy. 

Pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the  General  Court,  a  town 
meeting  was  held  Dee.  !>,  1000,  at  which  "a  full  and  final  ending 
of  all  differences w  between  Mr.  Moses  Paine  and  Mr.  Peter 
Brackett,  of  Braintree  and  Boston,  and  the  Town  was  happily 
accomplished.  The  Town  confirmed  all  former  grants  of  land 
made  to  Mr.  Paine  and  Mr.  Brackett,  and  agreed  that  the  land 
should  lie  free  from  all  charges  until  improved  by  them.  Mr. 
Brackett  and  Mr.  Paine  agreed  "for  ye  encourage  of  the  Minis- 
try," to  give  thirty  shillings  a  year,  each,  to  the  Minister  of  the 
Town,  at  Boston,  in  goods,  and  to  surrender  the  Indian  deeds' 
and  all  other  writings  belonging  to  the  town  when  Mr.  Emer- 
son, the  Minister,  shall  call  for  them. 

This  agreement  was  signed  by  Moses  Paine  for  himself  and 
Peter  Brackett,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Town,  by  John  Thompson, 
Grigory  Cook  and  William  Crowne. 

Neither  Mr.  Paine  or  Mr.  Brackett  removed  to  Mendon,  and 
finally  disposed  of  their  interest  here  to  other  parties. 

July  5.  Notwithstanding  the  previous  orders  which  had  been 
given,  the  Minister's  house  was  not  yet  completed,  as  we  find, 

"  The  Selectmen  met  and  ordered  that  the  Sellor  under  the  Minister's 
house  be  forth  wth  digged  and  that  Goodman  Steven  Cook,  John  Gurney 
and  John  More  wlh  Joseph  Juell  doe  it,  and  two  work  at  a  time  until  it  bee 
finished  and  that  Gregory  Cook  and  Peter  Alderidge  doe  carry  Stones  to  the 
Seller  wcU  are  digged." 

The  Selectmen,  it  seems,  were  as  careful  to  look  after  the 
spiritual  as  well  as  the  temporal  welfare  of  their  constituents  in 
the  olden  time,  and  it  is  believed  it  would  be  of  some  service, 
in  the  present  day  and  generation,  if  "the  enforcement  of  the 


1669.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  43 

laws"  were  more  punctually  executed  now.      To  this  end   the 
Selectmen  issued  the  following  order: —  e 

"  Ordered  by  us  to  Readc  the  law  to  ye  youth  to  exhorte  them  to  the  due 
&  careful]  observation  of  the  Lord's  Day,  and  thattheire  parents  be  desired 
to  doe  theire  duty  herein  for  the  promotinge  God's  glory  theres  and  theire 
children's  good." 

One  Job  Tyler,  it  seems,  had  "carried  himself  so  unworfnily  " 
that  the  Selectmen  felt  bound  to  notice  the  matter,  and  in  order 
that  the  authority  of  the  magistrate  should  be  sustained  and 
the  laws  enforced, 

"July  14.  The  Selectmen  Mett  and  ordered  to  send  to  the  Consta- 
ble to  Summon  before  us  Job  Tyler  the  next  fryday  at  one  of  the  clock  at 
Gregory  Cook's  house  to  answer  his  contempt  of  our  orders  and  alsoe  why 
he  refuses  to  worke  aboute  the  Selor  at  the  Minister's  house,  at  y'  tyme  ye 
Constable  Ketourne  his  answer  to  us. 

July  16.  The  Selectmen  met  accordingly  and  the  said  Constable  made 
his  Retourne  that  he  had  warned  in  Job  Tyler  before  us;  his  answer  was 
he  could  not  nor  would  come,  but  if  the  Selectmen  had  more  to  say  to  him 
than  he  to  them  they  might  come  to  him.  Upon  this  answer  of  Job  Ty- 
ler's the  Townesmen  (Selectmen),  Resolved  to  make  their  complaint  to  the 
Magistrates  of  his  contempt  of  several  of  the  Selectmen's  orders  and  of  his 
Miscarriages  of  the  Lord's  day  &  at  Publique  assemblies  if  he  doe  not  Sub- 
mytt,  wch  he  did  not." 

Whether  the  Job  Tyler  here  spoken  of  was  the  same  Job  Tyler 
who  was  arraigned  before  Major  Gookiu  in  1665,  cannot  now  be 
determined. 

In  the  Mass.  Archives  may  be  found  the  following: — ■ 

Sept.  11,  1665.  Owannamaug,  Indian  Chiefe,  neere  Marlborough  com- 
plained of  Job  Tyler,  of  Roxbury,  for  cutting  and  carrying  off  hay  from 
his  meadows. 

Fined  two  shillings  and  six  pence  &  cost  ten  shillings. 

Attested  by  me  Danl.   Gooktn. 

John  Elliott  certified  Sept.  22.  1665,  that  Job  Tyler  had  paid  tine  and 
costs. 

I  should  be  sorry  to  lav  anything  at  Job's  door  that  lie  did 
not  deserve,  but  his  obstinacy  about  digging  the  Minister's  cellar 
and  bis  small  reverence  for  municipal  authority  make  it  not  very 
improbable  that  he  who  feared  not  to  say  to  the  Constable  that 
"if  the  Selectmen  had  more  to  say  to  him  than  he  to  them  they 


44  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1669. 

might  come  to  him,"  would  also,  feci  not  any  great  compunction 
in  raiding*  a  load  of  hay  from  the  Indians.  What  makes  the 
supposition  the  more  probable,  that  Job  Tyler  of  Mendon  and 
Job  Tyler  of  Roxbury  were  identical  is,  that  Hubbard,  in  his 
History  of  the  Indian  Wars,  says  that  some  of  the  people  of 
Roxbury  removed  to  Mendon  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement. 
But  it  seems  Job  Tyler's  short  comings  were  readily  condoned, 
as  we  find  his  name  among  those  who,  in  December  following, 
confirmed  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Emerson  as  the  Minister  of  the 
Town. 

"Ordered  then  that  the  Assessment  lie  made  for  10s.  to  pay  Caleb,  the 
Indian,  for  killing-  the  woulfe  neare  the  town,  and  alsoean  other  Assessment 
of  seaven  pounds  for  seaven  wolves  by  the  Inhabitants  according  to 
former  order,  which  were  killed  and  another  Assessment  for  200£  to  dis- 
charge all  Publique  charges  belonging  to  the  town  to  ye  25th  day  of  March 
next  ensuing  to  be  layd  equally  upon  all  lotts  and  not  upon  personal  estate, 
to  discharge  expenses  aboute  runniuge  the  lyne  of  ye  Towne  bounds,  and 
Passinge  all  our  Grain  ts  in  the  Generall  Courte,  building  of  the  Minister's 
house,  his  dyett,  and  masuringe  of  all  the  lands  and  meadows,  and  what 
else  hath  been  disbursed  for  the  Towne  or  shall  be  to  the  sd  25th  day  of 
March,  and  Mr.  Brackett's  lot  and  Ensign  Paynes  land  is  to  be  assessed  to 
all  these  Publique  charges  as  other  40  Acor  lotts." 

The  Minister's  house  is  not  yet  completed,  as  others,  if  not  so 
obstinate  as  Job  Tyler,  are  still  slow  in  discharging  their  obliga- 
tions for  its  completion,  as  the  following  order  sets  forth: — 

"  Ordered  alsoe  to  allow  all  that  find  clap  board  to  ye  Minister's  house  five 
shillings  for  each  hundred  shaven  and  brought  to  the  house,  good  and 
Marchantable,  and  that  Thomas  Juell  provide  200  and  bringe  them  to  the 
house  within  three  days  after  notice  upon  ye  penalty  of  20s,  because  he 
hath  so  long  delayed  it;  and  that  he  bring  200  more  well  shaven  good  and 
Marchantable  wth  all  convenient  speed,  being  his  due  towards  the  house  as 
is  charged  upon  his  lot  to  allow." 

We  learn  from  the  following  record  that  Malthiis  was  not  the 
only  philosopher  who  feared  the  earth,  at  an  early  day,  would  be 
overstocked  with  inhabitants: — 

"  Ordered  then  to  take  into  this  Towne  but  six  more  families,  such  as  are 
godly  and  lift  to  carry  on  the  Publique  worke  in  yc  Towne  for  the  Glory  of 
God  and  the  Publique  good  of  this  place." 

What  becomes  of  Malthus  when  we  find  upon  the  same  terri- 


1669.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  45 

tory  which  in  1GG9,  it  was  solemnly  adjudicated  would  hold  but 
six  more  families,  the  homes  of  twenty-five  thousand  people, 
with  ample  room  for  more. 

REV.  JOSEPH  EMERSON,  THE  SECOND  MINISTER. 

Although  the  Minister's  house  was  not  yet  completed,  it  was 
concluded  not  to  defer  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Emerson  any  longer, 
and  accordingly  the  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  of  Concord,  became 
the  first  settled  minister  of  the  town.  Mr.  Rayner,  who  had 
been  with  the  people  from  the  beginning,  it  is  supposed,  on  ac- 
count  of  the  failing  health  of  his  father,  declined  a  settlement. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  settled  in  true  Congregational  order,  as  the 
following  extract  from  the  Town  Records  will  show: — 

"Proposalls  by  Mr.  Bulkly  (of  Concord)  to  the  Towne  of  Mendon  in  the 
behalfe  of  Mr.  Emerson,  his  Sonn  in  law  to  be  setled  to  him. 

ffirst.  To  give  him  forty  live  pounds  y  and  for  the  two  first  years  pay- 
ment As  followeth, 

Tenu  pounds  at  Boston  y  and  at  some  shope  there,  or  in  Money  at  this 
Towne — the  Remayninge  of  the  halfe  yeere  To  be  made  up  Two  pounds  of 
butter  for  every  Cow,  the  rest  in  Porke,  wheat,  barley  and  so  to  Make  up 
the  yeares  pay  In  warke,  Indian  Corne,  Rey,  Pease  &  Beefe. 

2.  ft'or  the  third  yeare  after  he  is  settled,  to  be  paid  fifty  five  pounds  y 
and  so  on  as  God  shall  Inable  them. 

3.  The  bowse  to  be  Made  fittinge  to  come  into  wth  all  convenient  speede 
wth  two  tire  places  and  a  little  leanto  of  fifteen  foot  in  length  wth  A  chim- 
ney as  a  Kitchen  Towards  Goodman  Cook's  bowse,  for  Mr.  Emerson  to 
contribute  something  to  it  the  Towne  being  not  willing  to  do  it  alone. 

4.  To  gett  for  him  Twenty  Corde  of  wood  yeerely. 

5.  Then  if  Mr.  Emerson  come  and  Inhabit!,,  dyingeiu  the  Towne  or  enter 
into  office  then  to  have  the  said  bowse  and  the  forty  acor  lott  and  Meadow 
to  it  wUl  all  other  privileges  and  Divisions  Made  or  to  be  Made  to  that  lott 
as  all  other  lotts  of  that  bignes  shall  have  settled  to  him  and  his  hcyrcs  for 
ever  and  soe  Recorded  in  the  Towne  Booke.  This  being  assented  to  by  the 
Inhabitants  of  Mendon  Mr.  Emerson  will  settle  with  them. 

Lastly,  it  is  Agreed  that  if  the  Maior  pte  of  the  People  Inhabit  inge  heere 
shall  carry  it  soe  unworthilie  Towards  Mr.  Emerson  as  that  there  cannot  be 
A  Reconciliation  Made  amonge  themselves  Then  it  is  hereby  unanimously 
Agreed  to  Refer  the  difference  to  the  Churches  of  Metfield,  Dedham  & 
Roxbury  to  heere  and  Determine  it.  And  if  it  shall  be  by  the  said  Chinches 
Judged  for  Mr.   Emerson  to  leave  and  Depart  the  Towne,  yett  he  shall 


46 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1670. 


enioy  the  house  and  land  Above  expressed  to  him  and  his  heyres  forever 
otherwise  he  is  not  to  leave  the  Towne  and  his  labors  heere  Duringe  life. 
Dated  December  1  Anno  Dom.  '69. 


John  Alderidge 
John  Parris 
John  Thompson  sen. 
Walter  Cook 
Samuel  Read 
John  Rockett 
Sam.  Spencer 


Joseph  White 
Peter  Alderidge 
John  Thompson  jr. 
ffardinando  Thayer 
John  More 
Steven  Cook 
Abraham  Staples 
Thomas  Juell 


I  assent  to  this,  Wittnes  my  hand 


Jobe  Tyler 
Willi:  Crowne 
Gregory  Cooke 
John  Harber 
John  Woodland 
Mathyas  Puffer 
Joseph  Alderidge. 


Joseph  Emerson. 


Mr.  Emerson  had  been  settled  in  Wells,  now  Maine,  in  1064, 
and  came  from  thence  to  Mendon.  In  1075,  soon  after  the 
Indian  attack  upon  Mendon,  he  removed  to  Concord,  where  he 
died  June  3,  1080. 

,  Dec.  6.  The  town  voted  that  the  parochial  year  should  begin 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  and  that  Mr.  Emerson's  salary  was 
to  be  reckoned  from  that  date. 

From  the  settlement  of  the  town  until  a  recent  date  the  Pro- 
prietors, being  those  who  were  owners  of  the  soil,  by  the  grant 
of  the  General  Court  and  the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title 
by  purchase,  acted  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  disposition  of 
the  land  independently  of  the  town,  keeping  a  book  of  records 
and  having  their  own  Clerk. 

After  the  grant  of  the  ninety  acres  of  Meadow  "  without  our 
line  "  by  the  General  Court,  May  19th,  the  town  chose  Dea. 
Simon  Peck,  Josiah  Chapin,  Joseph  White,  Ferdinando  Thayer, 
Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Read,  James  Lovett  and  Samuel  Hay- 
ward  to  purchase  the  Meadow  of  the  Indians  with  lands  adjacent 
for  convenience  to  said  Meadow.  No  copy  of  this  deed  is  found 
upon  the  town  records.  This  meadow  was  afterward  called  the 
Great  Meadow. 


1670.  Jan.  1.  "Att  a  Generall  Towne  Meetinge  all  these  severall  Acts 
and  orders  made  weare  Read  by  the  Colonell  to  the  Towne  And  then 
Aproved  of. 


1670.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  47 

Then  chose  for  Tpwnesmen  lliis  yeare,  Colonel]  Crowne,  William  Hol- 
brook,  Joseph  White,  ffarthn.  Thayer  &  John  Harber. 
The  Coll.  for  Regester, 

Gregory  Cook,  Constable." 

The  only  recorded  transaction  of  the  Town,  during  this  year, 
is  the  following: — 

April  18.  At t  a  General  Towne  Meeting  was  granted  a  20  Acor  house 
lott  unto  Mrs.  Tappinge,  of  Boston,  Sister  in  law  to  Mr.  Emerson,  Minister 
heere,  w,h  all  rights  of  the  Divisions  of  land  and  Meadow  to  he  taken  up  in 
course  as  other  lotts  of  that  bignes  shall  have,  and  to  pay  for  it  rive  pounds 
in  money  or  shope  goods,  and  to  beare  yearly  all  Publique  charges  eaquall 
w"1  other  lotts  of  that  bignes  in  the  same  pay  in  her  shopp  until  she  or  her 
husband  shall  build  on  it  or  Improve  it,  and  not  to  sell  it  to  any  person,  or 
put  any  person  on  it  to  Dwell  but  such  as  shall  lie  of  good  Report  and 
quality,  wch  lott  is  to  be  laid  by  the  Glebe  land  lott,  if  it  fall  out  to  be  pte 
of  that  land  wch  was  once  Deacon  Hide's  howse  lott  laved  out  for  him  but 
Resigned  up  by  him  to  ye  Towne  againe." 

Although  the  town  records  make  no  mention  of  the  fact,  we 
shall  see  by  the  following  petition  that  the  grumbling  about 
taxes  is  not  a  modern  invention.  The  following,  like  all  peti- 
tions to  the  General  Court,  at  this  early  day,  has  the  universal 
preamble,  that  the  petitioners  are  exceedingly  grateful  for  past 
favors  and  do  not  see  ho.w  they  can  get  along  if  their  present 
application  for  succor  should  be  unsuccessful : — 

Towns,   Vol  112^.  208. 

"To  our  Honoured  the  Generall  Court  at  Boston,  May  7,  1670. 
The  Humble  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon, 

Humbly  sheweth,  That  as  in  all  duty  bound  we  desire  to  owne  with  all 
thankfulness  the  severall  favors  and  privilidges  that  the  Generall  Court 
hath  formerly  conferred  upon  this  poore  place:  Yet  not  wth  standing,  such 
is  their  condition,  that  unless  this  honered  Court  out  of  their  wisdom, 
affection  &  zeal  to  show  mercy  in  advancing  the  Publique  heereof  by 
sparing  us  3  years  yett  longer  from  Country  Rates,  as  it  is  wth  us  we  shall 
very  hardly  be  able  comfortably  to  subsist  oure  owne  Necessary  charges 
Relating  to  the  Publique  and  will  be  exceeding  heavy  and  the  means  to 
carry  on  so  small,  for  our  Assessment  is  for  200  £  allready,  and  the  great 
losses  of  cattle  together  with  ye  vast  quantity  of  corne  they  have  eaten  to 
preserve  life,  that  there  is  scarce  a  family  that  hath  corn  to  subsist  wth  out 
buying  in  other  pts  farr  remote,  to  their  great  charge. 

The  premises  considered  And  our  Mite,  if  it  were  cast  into  the  Treasury, 
will  ad  little  to  ye  Publique,  yett  but  will  to  us  if  spared.     And  our  press- 


48  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1670. 

ing  Necessities  urginge  us  thereunto  Earnestly  begge  the  respite  of  our 
Country  Rates  three  years  longer.  And  also  we  pray,  if  Dedham  or  any 
others  should  make  their  application  to  you  to  have  their  purchase  of  King- 
Philip's  land,  wch  we  heare  they  have  bought  that  wch  we  have  of  his  (as  he 
pretends)  wth  in  our  bounds,  that  it  be  not  taken  from  us  and  layed  to  them, 
being  confirmed  to  us  in  our  first  settell',  and  we  wth  our  Posterity  shall 
ever  hold  ourselves  deeply  bound  to  pray  for  your  eternal  good  and  wel- 
fare. 

Joseph  Aldrich  Matthias  Puffer  John  ***** 

Job  tiler  Abraham  Staples  Will.  Holbrook 

John  Thompson  Samuel  Read  Wm.  Crowne 

Gregory  Cook  Joseph  Stevens  Joseph  White.' 

John  Alby  Perdinando  Thayer 

John  Sprague  Walter  Cooke 

John  Rockit  John  Gurney. 

The  Deputyes  judge  meete  to  graunt  the  Town  of  Mendham  freedome 
from  Rates  for  three  yeares  next  ensuing,  according  to  their  petition  desir- 
ing the  consent  of  o1'  Hond  Magistrates  thereto. 

William  Torrey,  Cleric. 

13:  3:  1070     The  Magistrates  consent  not  thereto 

Edward  Rawson,  Secy." 

This  year  seems  to  have  been  a  very  quiet  one,  as  we  find  the 
only  business  transacted  was  the  choice  of  officers  and  the  grant 
to  Mrs.  Tappinge. 

Perhaps  the  "Acts  and  Orders"  heretofore  made  by  the  Select- 
men and  read  to  the  town,  by  the  Colonel,  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing, furnished  sufficient  subjects  for  consideration  to  satisfy 
them  for  the  year.  It  was  during  this  year,  probably,  that  the 
"  onplcasantness"  between  the  Colonel  and  the  Town's  people 
began,  as  we  find  that  it  found  an  open  expression  at  the  ensuing 
annual  meeting. 


1671.  Jan  1.  .  The  Selectmen  chosen  for  this  year  were  Col. 
Willi.  Crowne,  John  Thompson  "  ye  elder;''  Walter  Cook, 
Matthyas  Puffer  and  Daniel  Lovett. 

The  said  Lovett,  Recorder. 

Abraham  Staples-and  John  Sprague,  Constables;  John  Harber 
and  Sam '1.  Read,  Surveyors  of  the  Highways  for  "yeyeare." 

The  trouble  with  Col.  Crowne,  which  undoubtedly  had  been 


1*671.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  49 

for  some  time  brewing,  manifested  itself  at  this  meeting-,  as  will 
appear  by  the  following  extract  from  the  records: — 

"  This  day  Col.  Crowne  had  a  vote  passed  for  every  35  Aeor  lott  t<>  give 
25  shillings  and  all  other  lotts  proportionable  and  soe  quitt  all  Damages  be- 
tween the  Towne  and  hee.  Some  for  it  Many  against  it.  John  Thompson, 
John  Woodland,  and  Samnel  llayward  did  then  oppose  it  as  a  very  uniust 
thing  and  that  (they)  would  never  Yield  to  it;  and  many  did  decline  to  vote 
and  many  absent ;  for  it  was  a  day  sett  to  choose  men  for  to  do  service  for 
the  town,  and  only  such  came  as  were  capable  According  to  Law  to  act.* — 
there  was  noe  warning  nor  doe  not  use  to  bee  the  Tyme  being  sett  from 
yeare  to  yeare." 

Jan.  3.  The  Selectmen  sent  to  William  Holbrook,  of  Wey- 
mouth, for  the  pay  for  his  lot,  "for  the  town  had  need  of  it." 

-Jan.  20.  A  vote  was  passed  "  by  all  the  Inhabitants"*  that 
Sergent  Whitmarsh,  of  Weymouth,  should  be  employed  to 
measure  the  meadows  and  some  other  lands,  and  that  Fardinando 
Thayer  and  Mathias  Puffer  "should  judge  of  the  Meadows  and 
carry  the  line  or  chain.*'  They  were  to  have  2s.  &  6d.  per  day 
"for  their  faithful  care  and  pains  about  the  warke." 

To  defray  the  expense  of  this  survey  the  Town  voted  that 
John  Sprague  and  Samuel  Hayward  should  have,  each,  a  20 
acre  house  lot  with  all  privileges  belonging  to  such  lots.  They 
were  "to  pay  Tenn  pounds  apeece  each  of  them,  a  third  pte  in 
Money  and  the  other  two  thirds  to  bee  paid  in  English  Goods  at 
A  current  shope  m  Boston;  and  they  are  here  wth  to  pay  the 
Survayor  and  those  that  assist  him  in  the  work  of  Measuringe 
the  Meadows  and  other  lands,  and  that  they  are  to  retourne  the 
remainder  of  the  pay  to  ye  Towne  in  the  same  kinde  before  ex- 
pressed. " 

June  14.  ■*  Severall  of  the  Towne  drew  lotts  for  the  dubling 
of  their  house  lotts,  as  followeth,  to  be  taken  in  two  plains." 
The  plains  designated  were  the  Mill  plain,  south  of  Benjamin 
Alby's  land,  and  the  Pine  plain. 

DIVISION    OF   THE    PLAINS. 

1.  John  Sprague  4.     Joseph  Juell 

2.  Joseph  Stevens  5.     Thomas  Barnes 

3.  John  Thompson  6.     Ferdinando  Thayer 

♦Proprietors  and  others  not  proprietors,  but  having  the  right  to  vote. 

7 


50  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1671. 


7. 

Gregory  Cook 

15. 

Mrs.  Tappin 

8. 

Joseph  White 

16. 

Walter  Cook 

9. 

Jobe  Tiler 

17. 

Mr.  Emerson 

10. 

William  Holbrook 

18. 

John  Harber 

11. 

John  Parri.s 

19. 

The  Ministry 

12. 

Samuel  Spencer 

20. 

Peter  Brackett 

13. 

Thomas  Juell 

21. 

Samuel  Read 

14. 

George  Alderidge 

22. 

Joseph  Alderidge 

23. 

Stephen  Cook,  the  elder 

The  following  persons  did  not  draw  lots  for  the  Plains,  but 
under  the  same  date  had  lands  allotted  them  in  other  places, 
viz: — John  Woodland,  Samuel  Hay  ward,  Daniel  Lovett,  John 
Kockett,  John  Alderidge,  Hope  Tiler,  William  Crowne,  Matthias 
Puffer,  John  Gumey,  John  More,  Abraham  Staples,  John  Jep- 
son,  Benjamin  Alby  and  Grizzel  Gumey,  (the  mother  of  Joseph 
and  Thomas  Juell). 

Thus  it  will  be  seen,  at  this  period,  there  were  thirty-six  per- 
sons who  had  taken  up  lots,  making,  with  the  Ministry,  which 
were  entitled  to  future  divisions  of  land,  thirty-seven  share 
holders  in  the  undivided  land  of  the  township. 

November  the  last  '71.  The  Selectmen  met  and  made  this 
order: — 

"  Wee  takinge  into  due  consideration  the  great  charges  that  lay  upon  the 
Towne  for  pay  to  the  Minister  and  the  Meetinge  house  compleatly  wth  other 
charges  of  great  consernment,  Doe  order  that  all  the  lotts  of  land  lately 
sould  to  Samuel  Hayward,  John  Sprugue  &  Mathyas  Puffer,  (it  was  for 
him  to  build  a  Meetinge  house),  shall  be  new  Assessed  to  all  the  Rates,  be- 
ginuinge  from  the  day  of  their  Bargaynes  wth  the  Towne  for  them,  As  alsoe 
William  Holbrook's  land  he  bought  of  Moses  Paine. 

William  Crowne 
Dan:  Lovett 
John  Tomson 
Walter  Cook." 

The  last  record  for  the  year  1671  is  the  following  order  of  the 
Selectmen : — 

"  Whearas  severall  of  the  chiefe  of  the  Towne  made  theire  complainte  to 
us  of  the  great  spoyle  made  in  the  Seador  Swampes  in  cuttinge  downe  Trees 
and  then  let  them  lay  and  Rott,  and  others  that  divert  into  clapboards  and 
shingles  and  send  or  carry  them  away  out  of  the  Towne  to  make  a  privett 
advantage  to  themselves,  wch  if  not  timely  prevented  will  be  A  means  to 


1G71.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  51 

have  none  left  for  Publique  in  the  Towne  for  the  present  Inhabitants  or 
such  as  shall  come  heereafter:  Wee,  the  Selectmen  holding  it  our  Duty  to 
prevent  such  Inconveniences  and  wrongs  to  ye  Towne  do  declare  and  order 
that  for  the  future  whosoever  shall  or  have  already  felled  any  Seador  Trees 
in  the  Swampes  and  shall  not  clear  the  same  within  one  month  after  they 
are  cutt  downe  it  shall  be  lawful  for  any  other  Inhabitant  to  take  them 
Away  and  make  use  of  them  about  his  howseings.  And  we  doe  hereby 
prohibit  any  person  in  the  Towne  from  carrying  out,  or  cause  to  be  sould 
and  carryd  out,  eyther  clapboards  or  shingles  or  logs  to  sell,  upon  the  pen- 
alty of  forfeiting  the  same  To  the  use  of  the  Towne  if  taken,  or  Double  the 
worth  if  proved  after,  and  the  Informer  shall  have  the  one  half  for  his 
paynes;  and  if  any  shall  adventure  to  fell  downe  any  Seador  Trees  after 
publishing  here  and  make  use  of  them  contrary  to  this  order  shall  forffeitt 
twenty  shillings  for  every  Tree  to  be  collected  by  the  Constable,  by  warrant 
under  the  Selectmen's  hands  and  disposed  to  ye  use  of  the  Towne.  Wee 
have  formerly  ordered  and  doe  now  A  gaine  that  in  the  Common  high 
ways  there  be  left  standinge  the  chiefe  trees  To  be  for  shelter  of  cattell  in 
the  heat  and  that  noe  person  doe  cutt  any  of  that  kinde  but  shall  forfiett 
2s.  6d.  each  Tree  to  goe  to  ye  use  of  the  Towne. 

Signed  by  us  Willi:  Crowne 

Dan:  Lovett 
John  Thomson,  Senr 
Walter  Cook 
Mathias  Puffer." 

If  the  cedars  of  Lebanon  have  disappeared  it  is  not  much  to 
be  wondered  at  that  the  cedars  of  Mendon  have  failed.  The  few 
that  remain  in  Mr.  P.  W.  Taft's  swamp,  we  suppose,  are  but 
feeble  and  stunted  specimens  of  the  ancient  forest  which  the 
Selectmen  wisely  sought  to  protect. 

In  regard  to  the  wise  and  humane  order  of  the  Selectmen, 
that  the  "Chiefe  Trees,"  in  the  highways,  should  be  left  "for 
the  shelter  of  cattell  in  the  heat,"  we  find  that  Mr.  Bergh  was 
not  the  first  who  cared  for  the  "  dumb  animals  "  if  this  order  had 
been  continued  in  force  to  the  present  day  we  cannot  doubt  that 
the  dumb  animals,  at  least,  would  have  been  thankful  to  the 
conscript  fathers  for  their  beneficent  thoughtfulness  for  their 
comfort  of  a  hot  day. 

Inasmuch  as  the  municipal  regulations  of  the  town,  in  its 
early  history,  were  mostly  intrusted  with  the  Selectmen,  it  is 
supposed  that  many  of  their  acts  do  not  find  a  place  in  the  town 
records.  The  few  acts  recorded  in  the  "town  book,"  it  is  appre- 
hended, do  not  comprise  all  the  doings  of  the   Selectmen.     As 


52  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1671. 

yet,  notwithstanding  the  town  had,  this  year,  for  the  first  time, 
chosen  Highway  Surveyors,  we  do  not  hear  anything  about 
repairs  of  the  highways.  The  caution  about  the  "  chiefe  trees" 
growing  in  the  road,  is  all  the  recorded  evidence  we  have  that 
the  condition  of  the  highways  had  received  any  attention  from 
the  town.  When  we  remember  that  the  principal  street  in  the 
town,  upon  which  almost  all  the  inhabitants  were  located,  was 
ten  rods  wide,  and  that  Mendon  was  a  frontier  town,  it  will  be 
readily  seen  that  the  public  travel  would  not  require  any  great 
outlay  of  labor  to  render  the  roads  passable  from  house  to  house. 
The  day  of  iron  plows,  scrapers  and  stone  crushers  was  to  come 
a  long  way  yet  in  the  distant  future,  and  probably  the  labor 
bestowed  on  the  roads  was  principally  bestowed  for  the  removal 
of  an  occasional  stone,  stump  or  clump  of  bushes,  somewhere 
within  the  ten  rods  so  that  an  ox  cart  could  be  drawn  along 
without  the  danger  of  being  overturned. 

It  was  not  unfrequently  the  case,  in  the  early  history  of  many 
of  the  towns,  that  the  management  of  affairs,  both  temporal  and 
spiritual,  gave  rise  to  heartburnings  and  feuds  which  were  not 
always  allayed  and  settled  by  the  local  peace-makers.  The 
General  Court  was  sometimes  called  upon  to  act  as  mediator  or 
umpire  in  the  adjustment  of  these  family  quarrels. 

Neither  the  "town  book"  or  tradition  furnish  any  clew  to 
the  following  petition,  unless  the  "unpleasantness"  between 
some  of  the  townsmen  and  Col.  Crowne,  as  may  be  found  in  the 
doings  of  the  annual  meeting,  may  be  taken  as  sufficient»war- 
rant. 

Towns,  Vol.  112,  p.  214,  Mass.  Archives: — 

"  Much  Honoured 

Since  it  hath  pleased  God  to  cast  us  in  yr  Country  and  soe  under  yr  in- 
spection wee  accompt  it  A  hlessinge  from  God,  amongst  the  rest  of  his 
blessings  cast  upon  us  heere  in  respect  of  the  benefitt  wee  doubt  not  of  but 
shall  receive  thereby,  in  granting  us  yr  favour  as  need  shall  require  for  the 
advance  of  God's  glory  heere  and  places  good ;  wee  amongst  ye  rest  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Colony  can  comfortably  and  cheerfully  speake  it,  made 
happy  by  such  fathers  as  you  are  over  us,  who  study  and  make  it  yr  worke 
to  advance  God's  glory  and  to  keepe  peace  and  good  order  over  whom  God 
hath  made  you  rulers.  In  which  regard  wee  are  constrayned  to  make  our 
humble  addresses  to  you;  and  to  bring  before  you,  in  some  measure,  the 
state  of  this  poore  place;  for  we  are  much  like  the  men  of  Laish,  heere  is 


1671.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  53 

noe  magistrate  to  putt  the  people  to  open  shame  for  their  sinns,  and  what  the 

effect  of  y'  may  be  to  us  you  may  please  to  judge,  who  hath  had  experience 
of  it  in  former  plantations  in  their  minority,  especially  when  they  come  to 
multiply  wth  your  posterity  as  this  cloth,  wanting  grave  and  experienced 
persons  to  manadge  new  Plantations,  things  will  break  forth  into  disorders 
w°ii  is  our  case:  wee  are  very  unwilling  to  make  complaint  but  rather 
earnestly  desire  and  beseech  that  by  your  means  the  General  Court  might 
be  moved  to  cast  this  Town  under  a  Committee  this  yeare.  And  that  the 
Committee  may  be  Impowered  to  looke  backe  from  our  first  settlement  as 
well  as  forwards  and  to  settle  all  things  in  a  loveing  and  Peasahle  way  con- 
cerning any  Difference  y*  is  or  may  be  A  mong  us  for  ye  benefitt  of  any 
person  heere  or  y'  may  come  to  us,  wch  will  be  a  great  incouragement  to  us 
to  promote  ye  worke  of  God  both  in  Church  and  Commonwealth.  And 
that  yourselves  or  some  of  you  would  please  to  honour  us  soe  farr  as  To  be 
yl  Committee,  if  it  be  not  to  boulde  to  present  it,  or  else  the  last  Comtee  yt 
Settled  this  Towne  first,  may  extend  their  favour  againe,  putting  on  Mr. 
Wheelock,  of  Metfielde  in  Captayne  Clapp's  Rome,  beeinge  nearer  us,  who 
had  before  to  make  A  valid  Act  as  by  theire  herein  you  will  see,  to  con- 
tinue their  proceedings :  and  this  will  be  A  great  means  wth  ye  blessinge  of 
God  to  keepe  and  maintayne  peace  and  Good  order  here,  wch  will  weaken, ' 
if  not  frustrate  Satan's  designe.  in  hindering  church  work,  but  will  also 
give  a  good  sound  A  brarde  y'  may  invite  good  company  when  they  shall 
see  the  care  of  the  Honered  Generall  Courte,  to  gether  wth  yrselves  proceed 
thus  to  make  ye  place  comfortable  and  A  receptacle  of  God's  Church,  as  in 
a  gloomy,  stormy  day  wn>out  w°>>  wee  fear  ye  place  will  fall  into  confusion ; 
Thus  craving  yr  pardon  for  this  boldness  and  ye  Trouble  wee  putt  on  you 
wee  remayne  yr  humble  Servants  and  ever  honored  to  command. 

Walter  Cook  ye  mark  (       )  of  Steven  Cook,  inn. 

The  Mark  of  '^  Joseph  Juell  Ferdinando  Thayer 

Joseph  Emerson  Win.  Crowne  Gregory  Cook 

John  Thompson  Abraham  Staples      Daniell  Lovett  ■ 

John  More  Stephen  Cook,  senior. 

May  27,  71 

The  12  subscribers  are  all  Freemen  and  all  the  Selectmen  but  one. 

The  foregoing  petition  was  evidently  addressed  to  the  Magis- 
trates of  the  County  of  Middlesex,  to  which  county  Mendon  was 
assigned  at  its  incorporation.  Having  failed  in  an  application 
direct  to  the  General  Court  the  year  before,  it  was  perhaps 
thought  if  they  could  enlist  the  support  of  the  County  Magis- 
trates they  would  fare  hetter  in  a  second  attempt.  By  the  fol- 
lowing Act  of  the  General  Court  it  will  he  seen  that  the  prayer 
of  the  inhabitants  of  this  "poore  place  "  was  granted: — 


54  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1672. 

"  The  Courte  beinge  informed,  by  some  of  ye  Magistrates  of  Middlesex, 
that  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendham  do  labour  under  some  disquiet  in  the  man- 
aging of  the  Prudentials  of  the  place  whereby  their  welfare  is  greatly 
impeded  and  many  other  inconveniences  do  occur  inevitably  threatening 
the  mine  of  that  Plantation;  Do  nominate  and  impower  Major  Eleazer 
Lusher,  Mr.  Wm.  Stoughton  and  Mr.  William  Parkes  a  Committee  for  yt 
place  to  take  cognizance  of  the  State  of  said  place  &  do  any  act  or  thing 
for  the  regulating  of  their  prudentiall  affaires  as  to  them  shall  seem  meet, 
and  w'  they  shall  do  herein  to  make  return  thereof  to  ye  County  Court  of 
Suffolk  &  from  tyme  to  tyme  Majr  Lusher  to  appoint  ye  tyme  and  place  of 
meeting  and  all  persons  concerned  are  required,  upon  notice  given  ym  to 
attend  the  said  Committee  accordingly,  &  to  submitt  to  their  conclusions 
orderly  made  and  declared.  And  henceforth  Mendham  to  be  and  belong  to 
ye  County  of  Suffolk,  any  former  order  or  custome  otherwise  Not  wthstand- 
ing. 

The  Magistrates  have  past  this  their  brethren  the  Deputys  hereto  con- 
senting. 

Edward  Rawson,  Secrety. 

Consented  to  by  ye  Deputys 

William  Torrey,  Clericus. 
9th,  June  1671." 


1672.  Jan.  1.  This  day  Jonathan  Sprague  was  chosen  Re- 
corder and  William  Crowne,  Willi:  Holbrook,  ffarthynando 
Tayre,  Dan:  Lovett  and  Mathyas  Puffer,  Townesmen. 

An  order  of  the  Selectmen  was  read  and  allowed  of,  givinge  A 
month's  liberty,  if  the  season  will  parmytt,  to  fetch  Away  Seader 
trees  which  are  felled." 

At  this  meeting  a  copy  of  Mr.  Emerson's  settlement  and  a 
subsequent  agreement  that  the  parochial  year  should  commence 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  heretofore  recorded,  was  twice  read 
over  and  compared  with  the  original;  and  "delivered  to  our 
Pastor  to  Keepe." 

Attested  by  us,  the  Select  Men, 

the  Murk  of  WH  William  Holbrook 
the  Mark  I  of  John  Thomson,  senior. 

Dan:  Lovett 

Simon  Peck. 

"And  for  that  clause  wch  is  in  the  Settlement  aboute  the  buildinge  of  the 
bowse  and  leanto  for  me  I  doe  owne  heere  by  the  'T-awne  hath  performed 


It) 7 2.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  55 

to  mee  theire  Ingagement  there  in  and  doe  discharge  them  concerning  the 
same. 

Witness  my  hand  this  3d.  day  of  March,  72 

Joseph  Emerson." 

"Att  a  Gcnerall  Towne  Mettinge  April  14,  1672,  It  was  ordered,  by 
Reson  of  the  Neglect  of  persons  not  attending  towne  meettings,  that,  If 
any  person  or  persons  shall  neglect  Attending  the  towne  metting,  heing 
Legally  warned,  they  shall  pay,  as  a  line  to  the  town's  use,  two  shillings  a 
pece  for  Every  neglect,  with  out  it  bee  upon  more  than  ordnery  ocation, 
and  if  any  depart  the  metting  before  the  metting  bee  dismissed  they  shall 
pay  as  aforesaid." 

A  good  rule,  we  think;  and,  had  it  continued  in  force  to  the 
present  day  much  saving  of  time  would  have  been  secured,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  bickering  and  ill  blood,  (which  the  votes  of  a 
thin  town  meeting  usually  engender),  that  would  have  been 
avoided. 

With  all  the  voters  present  a  free  and  full  discussion,  in  ordinary 
cases,  would  settle  matters  at  once.  A  public  sentiment  would 
be  manifested  that  the  minority  would  not  care  to  challenge  by 
calling  another  meeting. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  there  should  be  a  division  of  the 
swamps;  "  to  goe  by  Lott  for  the  deviding  of  it,  and  for  quantity 
According  to  the  Rule  of  ya  Cmitee."  The  rule  of  the  Com- 
mittee, (of  July  22,  1G62,)  was  that  every  thirty  acre  house  lot 
should  have  five  acres  of  swamp,  and  so  proportionable  to  other 
lots. 

At  the  same  time  a  twenty  acre  lot,  with  all  the  privileges  that 
other  lots  of  that  size  have,  was  voted  to  be  laid  out  for  the 
School.     It  was  to  be  located  by  the  Ministry  lot, 

DIVISION    OF    SWAMPS. 


1. 

Joseph  Stevens 

12. 

John  Parris 

2. 

Steven  Cook 

13. 

Saml.  Spencer 

3. 

John  Sprague 

14. 

Thomas  Juell 

4. 

John  Rockit 

15. 

Gregory  Cook 

5. 

John  More 

16. 

Mathyas  Puffer 

6. 

John  Woodland 

17. 

James  Albee 

7. 

Samuel  Hayerd 

18. 

Mr.  Emerson 

8. 

Mrs.  Toppin 

19. 

Daniel  Lovett 

9. 

John  Bartlett 

20. 

Joesph  White 

10. 

Walter  Cook 

21. 

William  Holbrook 

11. 

William  Holbrook 

22. 

John  Jepson 

56  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1673. 


23. 

Job  Tiler 

32. 

Joseph  Juell 

24. 

Mr.  Brackett 

33. 

ffardin  Thayer 

25. 

John  Sprague 

34. 

for  ye  Ministry 

26. 

Samll.  Hayward 

35. 

John  Thomson 

27. 

John  Gurney 

36. 

Mathyas  Puffer 

28. 

John  Harber 

37. 

Abraham  Staples 

29. 

Simon  Peck 

38. 

Colouell  Crowue 

30. 

Hope  Tiler 

39. 

Joseph  Aldrich 

31. 

Samuel  Read 

40. 

for  the  Scooll 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  names  of  John  Sprague,  Samuel  Hay- 
ward,  William  Holbrook  and  Matthias  Puffer  occur  twice,  they 
probably  being  the  owners  of  two  proprietary  rights  each.  De- 
duct one  for  each  duplication,  and  with  the  School  and  the 
Ministry  also  deducted,  we  find  the  number  of  persons  as  pro- 
prietors to  be  thirty-four. 

Of  the  above,  Joseph  Stevens  was  the  Blacksmith,  John 
Sprague  was  the  son-in-law  of  William  Holbrook,  Samuel  Hay- 
ward  was  the  Carpenter,  Mrs.  Toppan  kept  store  in  Boston, 
Joseph  and  Thomas  Juell  were  brothers  and  the  children  of 
Grizell  Gurney,  Mr.  Brackett  lived  in  Boston,  Hope  Tiler  was 
the  son  of  Job  Tiler,  James  Albee  was  the  son  of  Benjamin 
Albee. 

A  division  of  Upland  and  the  Great  and  other  meadows  was 
also  made  this  year. 


1673.  Jan.  1.  Dea.  WTilliam  Holbrook,  John  Thompson, 
senr,  Serg.  Joseph  White,  Simon  Peck  and  Samuel  Read,  Select- 
men; Joseph  Stevens,  Constable,  and  Mathyas  Puffer  and  Ho]) 
Tiler  "  Survuayors  of  ye  Hyways." 

The  only  record  of  any  transactions  in  the  town  during  this 
year,  are  the  following  orders  of  the  Selectmen:— 

' '  Upon  the  3  day  of  ye  1  month  73  or  4,  thos  who  ware  Chosen  for  the 
yere  doe  agre  and  order  that  all  fences  a  bout  Corn  feelds  and  gardins  shall 
be  mad  suficient  by  the  10th.  of  Aprill  Next  ethir  live  Raids  or  equivalent 
to  5  Raids  fence  according  to  ye  judgment  of  The  vewers.  It  was  also 
Agred  upon  that  John  Sprage  and  John  Thomson  junior  shall  be  vewers 
of  fence  for  the  uper  end  of  the  Towne  and  that  Abraham  Staples  and 
James  Lovett  shall  be  vewers  of  fence  for  the  lower  end  of  ye  Towne :  and 
upon  the  just  Complaint  of  any  man  after  this  date  the  vewers  shall  vew 
the  fence. 


1674.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  57 

We  doe  further  agree  and  order  that  all  Swine  shall  be  wringed  In  the 
nose  to  prevent  spoiling  of  the  meadows  and  pastures,  and  further  that 
they  shall  be  wringed  by  the  10th.  of  May. Next  upon  the  penalty  of  6 
pence  for  each  swine  that  Is  found  un  wringed  upon  the  Common  (land) 
till  the  Last  of  October,  and  If  any  man  rind  any  Swine  upon  the  Common 
un  wringed  then  to  give  the  owners  notis  and  If  the  said  owners  do  not 
within  3  days  wring  them  they  shall  forfit  6  penc  for  each  swine,  one  half 
to  the  Informer  the  other  to  ye  use  of  the  Towne.  This  order  was  pub- 
lished and  aproved  by  the  Towne." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Col.  Orowne  was  appointed  by  the 
General  Court,  in  16G9,  to  administer  the  oath  to  the  Constable, 
take  the  "virdect"  of  the  jury  in  the  case  of  John  Lovett,  who 
was  killed  by  falling  from  a  horse,  and  to  solemnize  marriages. 
His  authority  was  to  continue  until  the  Court  should  take  fur- 
ther order. 

It  is  supposed  that,  at  this  time,  Col.  Crowne  had  left  or  was 
about  leaving  the  town.  His  frequent  or  continued  absence  was 
the  occasion,  quite  probably,  for  the  passage  of  the  following- 
order  of  the  General  Court: — 

"At  a  General  Court  held  May  7,  1673.  There  being  no  magistrate 
neere  Medrield  or  Mendon,  upon  the  motion  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon 
that  some  course  may  be  taken  for  their  ease  and  relief,  it  is  ordered  that 
Mr.  Ralph  Wheelock,  of  Medfield,  shall  &  hereby  is  appointed  to  administer 
oathes  to  witnesses  in  or  of  either  place,  as  also  to  solemnize  marriage 
between  persons  belonging  to  either  Towne,  legally  published,  till  the 
Court  shall  take  further  order." 


1674.  "  Att  a  Generall  Towne  Meteing  held  att  Mendon  upon 
the  first  day  of  Janerery  sixteen  hundered  seventy  and  fower, 
The  Towne  Chose  for  the  towns  men  for  the  yere  Insuing  Dea. 
Stephen  Cook,  Danill  Lovet,  Farthenando  Thayer,  John  Har- 
ber  and  John  Thompson,  junior,  Richard  Post,  Constable, 
Mathyas  Puffer  and  Job  Tiler,  Survayors  of  hy  ways." 

INN    KEEPER    CHOSEN. 

"John  Thompson,  senior,  Chosen  for  to  kepe  an  ordenery  and  publique 
Hous  of  Inter  tainement. " 

This  was  the  first  public  house  in  Mendon,  and  was  located 
near  the  homestead  of  the  late  Hon.  Charles  C.  P.  Hastings. 


58  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1674. 

At  this  meeting  the  town  sold  to  Ferdinando  Thayer  twelve 
acres  of  land  for  five  pounds  and  fifteen  shillings.  This  money 
he  was  to  pay  to  Samuel  Read,  for  which  sum  said  Read  engaged 
to  record  all  the  lands  granted  to  the  Inhabitants  whether  by  the 
" Hond  Committee "  or  the  town,  including  "the  severall  pro- 
portions granted  to  be  Laid  out  ate  present,"  the  inhabitants 
promising  to  bring  in  the  return  of  the  lands  "In  faire  wright- 
inge  under  the  Survayer's  hand  to  the  said  Read."  This  was 
the  beginning  of  what  are  known  as  the  Proprietors'  Records. 

It  was,  at  this  meeting,  voted  to  have  a  second  Division  of 
Meadow,  four  acres  to  a  forty  acre  lot  and  other  lots  propor- 
tional; and  if,  upon  one  day's  notice,  any  one  should  neglect  to 
attend  the  Surveyor  "he  shall  Luse  his  turn  and  the  next  man 
shall  take  his  place." 

April  6,  '74,  the  Selectmen  had  full  power  "  to  act  in  all  pru- 
dential affairs  for  the  good  of  the  Towne,"  except  in  the  dispo- 
sition of  land. 

15,  5,  1674.  At  a  Generall  Towne  Meeting  Daniel  Lovett  was 
chosen  "  Clark  of  the  Writs." 

Samuel  Read  was  chosen  "Clerk  of  the  Town  of  Mendham." 

On  the  same  day  "ther  was  a  vote  passed  that  all  the  Land 
that  Lies  between  the  Mill  River  and  Muddy  Brook  shall  Lye 
for  perpetuall  comon  for  the  towne  except  it  be  that  Land  all 
Ready  granted. " 

Although  we  gather  nothing  from  the  records  of  the  town  in 
regard  to  any  intestine  troubles,  except  the  difficulty  with  Col. 
Crowne,  the  following  extract  from  the  Colonial  Records,  Vol. 
5,  pp.  5,  25  and  26,  show  that  the  inhabitants  were  not  exempt 
from  occasional  dissentions  in  the  management  of  their  civil 
affairs,  but  had  fallen  into  "doubtful  disputations"  in  regard  to 
ecclesiastical  matters : — 

"The  Court  being  sencible  of  the  great  distractions  of  the  towne  of 
Mendon,  judge  it  most  in  order  to  a  comfortable  composure  thereof  to 
order  that  Edward  Tyng,  Esq1",  Mr.  Wm  Parkes,  Capt.  Daniel  Fisher  & 
Mr.  Joseph  Dudley  shall  be  &  hereby  are  appointed  a  comittee,  and  so  fully 
impowred  to  repaire  to  Mendon  &  to  call  all  parjes  before  them,  and  on  a 
full  hearinge  and  examination  of  their  differences,  to  compose  and  setle  the 
same ;  they-  or  the  majo1"  part  of  them  whereof  Mr  Tyng  to  be  one,  who  is 
to  apoiut  ye  time  of  meeting,  making  their  returne  to  this  Court." 


1674.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  59 


It  will  be  remembered  that  in  1671,  upon  the  petition  of  some 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Mendon,  the  General  Court  ordered  Maj. 
Lusher,  Mr.  Stoughton  and  Mr.  Parkes  "to  take  cognizance  of 
the  state  of  said  place/'  and  make  return  of  their  doings  to  the 
County  Court  of  Suffolk.  It  is  presumed  that  Maj.  Lusher  and 
his  associates  did  not  accomplish  all  that  was  hoped  for  by  their 
mission  of  peace.  Their  diplomacy  may  have  succeeded  in 
establishing  a  truce  for  the  time,  but  the  difficulties  were  not 
wholly  healed.  Hostilities  again  broke  out  and,  for  their  "com- 
fortable composure,"  the  General  Court  chose  a  new  Committee 
as  before  named,  and  said  Committee,  Oct.  7,  1674,  made  the 
following  report: — 

"  In  pursuance  of  an  order  of  the  General  Court,  dated  27th  3  mo,  1674, 
appoynting  us  subscribers  to  take  cognizance  of  certaine  matters  of  differ- 
ence in  the  towne  of  Mendon,  &  make  returne  to  this  Court,  wee  repajed 
to  the  place  13.  5th,  1674,  when,  being  no  considerable  appearance  of  the 
inhabitants  a  warrand,  issued  out,  comanding  their  appearance  at  eight 
of  the  clock  in  ye  next  following  day,  when  they  generally  appeared ;  & 
though  there  seemed  great  dissatisfaction  &  differenc  betweene  severall  of 
them  refferring  to  church  matters  as  well  a  civil,  yet  after  large  hearing  & 
discourses  betweene  themselves  &  from  the  comittee,  the  third  after  our 
appearance,  &  upon  determination  of  severall  differences  by  ourselves  & 
read  vnto  them  there  appeared  real  remorse  in  severall  of  them,  &  vniversal 
thankfullnes  for  our  pajnes  and  labour;  their  church  differences  were  con- 
cluded by  mutual  confessions,  appointing  a  solemn  fast  &  sacrement, 
which  afterward  were  mutually  and  peaceably  attended ;  their  civil  differ- 
ences were  concluded  by  regulating  the  manner  of  voating,  and  appointing 
voaters  &  choice  of  officers.  Other  matters  of  difference  were  publiquly, 
at  the  same  tjme,  set  in  order  of  peace  &  refferred  some  to  ourselves, 
which  since  are  issued  to  mutual  satisfaction ;  &  by  severall  discourses  & 
letters  from  them,  since  our  returne,  wee  understand  not  of  the  remainders 
of  any  old  differences  or  arising  of  any  new  disturbances  vnless  it  be  some 
particular  disturbance  from  some  strangers  of  Providence*  winch  were  ap- 
prehended and  vnder  bond  of  appearance  at  the  next  County  Court,  which 
Court,  wee  doubt  not,  will  take  effectuall  order  wth  them  to  prevent  further 
disturbance  among  them. 

Wm.  Parkes, 
Edward  Tyng, 
Joseph  Dudley, 
Daniel  Fisher." 

July  8.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day  it  was  voted  "that 
thos  that  coold  make  it  apeere  thay  had  wrongs  In  ther  devition 

*  Squatters  near  Shokologne  Pond. 


60  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

of  meadow  all  Redy  Laid  out  should  have  sattisfactiou  In  the 
next  devition  of  meadow."  This  vote  was  also  confirmed  before 
the  "Hon4:  Committee." 

Sept.  4,  1(374.  "A  Loving  agrement  between  the  Colonell 
and  ourselves,  heretofore  recited,"  was,  without  doubt,  brought 
about  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Parkes'  Committee. 

Job  Tiler,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  called  to  an  account  by 
the  Selectmen  in  1672  for  contempt  of  their  orders  and  for  cer- 
tain miscarriages  on  the  Lord's  day.  Proving  contumacious,  he 
was  warned  that  charges  would  be  preferred  against  him  to  the 
Magistrates.  The  probability  is  that  Job  did  not  find  himself 
comfortable  under  the  ban  of  the  Selectmen,  and  so,  remember- 
ing that  sometimes  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor,  surren- 
dered upon  their  own  terms,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
record : — 

"  Whereas  their  has  been  complaint  against  Job  Tiler,  hertofore  recorded, 
he  has  given  satisfaction  for  that  ofence." 

It  seems  that,  up  to  this  time,  there  was.  some  uncertainty 
about  the  bounds  of  the  town,  as  we  find,  under  date  of  Oct.  18, 
that  Matthias  Puffer  was  sent  to  Natick  "to  fech  "  John  Ana- 
wasanauke  to  show  the  boundaries  of  the  land  he  sold  to  Moses 
Paine  and  Peter  Brackett. 

The  laying  out  the  Schoolmasters'  home  lot,  between  John 
Aldrich's  house  lot  and  the  ten  rod  highway  that  leads  to  the 
Mill,  closes  the  transactions  of  the  town  for  the  year. 


1675.  The  record  of  this  year  is  taken  up  with  the  recital  of 
a  single  transaction: — 

"  Att  a  generall  Towne  Meetting  May  the  sixt  day  1675  the  Towne  bar- 
gained and  sold  unto  Mathias  Puffer  a  tract  of  land  Lieing  between  John 
Bartlett's  hous  lot  and  the  Mill  and  also  twenty  akers  of  land  In  som  other 
place  where  he  shall  choose,  and  for  the  said  Tracts  of  land  Matthias  Puffer 
doth  Ingage  to  carry  on  and  to  mannigge  the  work  of  the  Towne  In  settel- 
ling  the  bounds  and  preambellations  of  the  said  Towne  att  the  Generall 
Courte  or  Corts  as  ned  may  Require  untill  it  be  seteled  unto  us  by  the 
houered  Cort  and  allso  to  pay  and  bare  all  the  Charges  that  may  be  de- 
manded or  may  be  needful  or  necessary  upon  the  said  a  Count  and  allso 
to  free  the  said  towne  from  all  dewes  or  demands  upon  the  said  a  count." 


1675.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  61 


No  record  of  any  choice  of  officers  is  found,  and  as  the  above 
record  is  dated  in  May,  it  is  presumed  that  the  old  officers  held 
over.  At  any  rate,  we  shall  see,  by  the  following  record,  that 
Samuel  Read,  who  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  in  1074,  signed  him- 
self as  Town  Clerk  in  1G75. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  was  the  time  of  King  Philip's 
war,  and  that,  of  course,  the  country  would  be  filled  with  the 
rumors  of  Indian  depredations  and  murders.  It  was  not  strange, 
Ave  think  then,  that  so  little  attention  was  paid  to  ordinary 
municipal  affairs;  especially,  when  we  find  that  Mendon  was  to 
be  the  first  town  within  the  Massachusetts  Colony  that  was  to  be 
attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  which  actually  occurred  on  the 
14th  of  July. 

The  only  other  record  for  1675  is  the  following: — 

"  To  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon :  Theas  are  to  Iuforme  you  by  us  Wil- 
liam ffletcher  and  John  Burge,  both  of  us  of  the  towne  of  Chellmsford, 
apoiuted  by  the  Corts  order  to  be  gardians  to  the  child  of  the  widdow  Gur- 
ney  that  was  and  Last  of  all  wife  to  the  a  hove  said  John  Burge,  she  being 
of  a  sound  understanding  did  will  unto  her  son  Joseph  Juell  all  that  A 
Commodation  that  was  there  at  the  Towne  of  Mendon,  Laid  and  given 
unto  her  the  said  widdow  Gurney,  with  all  the  apurtenances  and  priveledges 
In  any  wise  apertaining  or  be  longing  there  unto,  upon  this  condition  that 
the  said  Joseph  Juell  do  pay  to  Nathaniel  Juell  and  Mercy  Juell  fifteen 
pound  and  Sherrabya  Reby  tenn  pounds.  Our  desire  and  request  is  unto 
the  Select  men  of  the  said  towne  of  Mendon  that  ye  would  Record  the  said 
a  Commodation  to  Joseph  Juell  for  his  security. 

Witness  our  hands  Chelmsford  this  5  of  the  4  month  1675. 

William  ffletcher 

John  Burge." 

"This  is  a  true  Coppy  of  the  lettre sente from  William  ffletcher  and  John 
Burge  to  the  Select  men  of  Mendon  and  now  Recorded  by  yr  order  21,  4 
month  1675 

as  Atest  Samuel  Read." 

This  widow  Gurney,  ''last  of  all  the  wife  of  John  Burge/' 
was  first  the  wife  of  Thomas  Jewell,  of  Braintree.  Thomas 
Jewell  was  probably  born  in  England;  as,  on  the  24th  of  the  2d 
month,  1639,  he  had  land  granted  him  at  Mount  Miller,  after- 
wards Braintree.  He  then  had  a  wife  and  one  child.  He  died 
in  1654,  and  administration  was  granted  to  his  widow,  Grisell, 
July  21,    1054.     In   1655   she  married   Humphrey  Griggs,  and 


62  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

Aug.  18,  1657,  was  appointed  administratrix  on  his  estate. 
Here  the  "  Jewell  Register  "  leaves  her.  In  1664  she  was  in 
Mendon,  with  her  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Joseph  Juell,  as  the 
widow  Grurney.  By  her  will  we  learn  that  she  married  John 
Burge  for  her  fourth  husband. 

Of  King  Philip's  war,  which  commenced  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Massachusetts  Colony,  by  an  attack  on  Mendon  July  14, 
1675,  the  records  of  the  town  do  not  furnish  a  single  item  of 
intelligence.  An  hiatus  of  five  years  in  the  town  records,  cover- 
ing the  period  from  1675  to  1680,  is  the  only  evidence  that 
anything  unusual  had  occurred.  Not  a  single  entry  is  found 
indicating  the  fact  of  an  Indian  war.  The  first  volume  of  the 
town  records  were  carefully  preserved  during  the  abandonment 
of  the  town,  but  still  not  a  solitary  entry  was  made  in  explana- 
tion of  the  fact.  Passing  strange  is  it  that  the  Town  Clerk, 
who  must  have  known  very  many  interesting  facts,  should  have 
neglected  to  record  a  single  one. 

Of  the  names  of  the  slain  in  the  attack  upon  the  town  none 
are  now  known,  except  the  wife  and  child  of  Matthias  Puffer. 
These  were  discovered  by  the  compiler  of  these  annals  in  1859, 
while  searching  for  materials  of  this  history  among  the  archives 
of  the  State  at  Boston. 

Among  the  contemporary  historians  of  King  Philip's  war  we 
find  no  special  account  of  the  assault  on  Mendon,  Hutchinson, 
in  his  history  of  Massachusetts,  p.  291,  says  the  Nipnet  or  Nip- 
muck  Indians  killed  four  or  five  people  at  Mendon,  in  Massa- 
chusetts Colony,  the  14th  of  July."  Mather,  in  his  Magnalia, 
p.  488,  says  "the  rest  were  dispatched  unto  the  relief  of  Men- 
ham,  where,  about  July  14,  the  Nipmuck  Indians,  another 
nation  of  those  who  were  well  wishers  to  Philip's  designs,  began 
to  PMllippize  in  barbarous  murders."  In  another  place,  p.  493, 
he  says  "deserted  Mendham  was,  this  winter,  (1675-6)  laid  in 
ashes."  In  a  foot  note,  p.  294  of  Hutchinson,  maybe  found 
the  following  extract  from  a  Letter  to  London:  "Sept.  23, 1675, 
an  alarm  was  made  in  the  town  of  Boston,  about  10  in  the  morn- 
ing, 1200  men  were  in  arms  before  eleven  and  all  dismissed 
before  twelve.  One  that  was  on  guard,  at  Mendon  30  miles  off, 
got  drunk  and  fired  his  gun,  the  noise  of  which  alarmed  his 
neighbors,  and  soon  spread  to  Boston." 


1675,]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  63 

Undoubtedly  there  was  an  alarm  at  Boston,  but  that  the 
report  of  a  musket  could  be  heard  by  the  nearest  neighbor, 
fifteen  miles  off,  at  Medfield  or  Wrentham,  seems  rather 
apocryphal.  But  somehow  the  news  of  the  attack  on  the 
town  got  to  Boston  during  the  day  or  night  following,  as  we 
find,  Vol.  67,  p.  225,  Military  Archives:  "At  a  Meeting  of  the 
Governor  and  Council  15th.  July,  1675,  an  Order  in  nature  of  a 
Avarrant  to  Capt.  Isaack  Johnson  forthwith  to  march  out  wth 
soldiers  listed  according  to  ye  orders  of  ye  Major  Gen!I  as  also 
with  such  others  from  Boston  sent  him  to  relieve  Mendon  and 
Wrentham.  E.   E.   S." 

This  outbreak  of  the  Indians  was  not,  it  seems,  entirely  unex- 
pected, as  we  find,  Vol.  67,  p.  213,  Military  Archives: — 

"At  a  meeting  of  ye  Governor  &  Councill,  July  13,  1675. 
For  securing  or  frontier  towns  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  it  is  Ordered 
that  ye  maior  of  the  Regiment  send  forth  his  order  to  the  respective  com- 
mittees of  the  Militia  in  ye  Shire  to  provide  twelve  men  to  be  furnished 
with  amies  and  ammunition  and  victuall  for  a  weeke  to  join  5  or  6  Indians 
(our  friends)  to  bee  provided  by  Capt.  Gookin.  This  party  are  ordered  to 
scoute  and  range  in  the  woods  from  Mendon  to  Hingham ;  and,  if  they  rind 
any  armed  Indians,  to  sease  and  disarm  them,  and  if  the  number  of  such 
Indians  are  too  many  for  them  to  ingage  withal,  then  they  are  to  hasten  to 
the  next  towne  and  give  information.  It  is  further  ordered  that  the  Com- 
mittee of  militia  of  Roxbury  make  provision  of  victuall  and  ammunition 
what  is  necessary  to  supply  those  Indians  from  time  to  time,  and  to  keepe 
account  thereof  which  the  Treasurer  of  the  country  is  ordered  to  pay: 
these  twelve  Englishmen  are  to  be  divided  into  two  companies,  the  one 
halfe  to  scoute  one  weeke  &  the  other  halfe  another  weeke  successively, 
accompanied  with  the  Indians  aforesaid ;  the  Major  to  appoint  a  time  when 
they  shall  begin  their  motion  &  appoint  the  place  of  Rendezvous  &  this 
order  to  continue  in  force  untill  the  Generall  Court  or  Councill  take  other 
order. 

past  July  13.  1675 

Edw.  Rawson,  Secy." 

Military  Archives,  Vol.  67,  p.  221. 

"Mr.  John  Touton  yours  of  22d  instant  received  before  sunset,  and 
thereupon  you  are  hereby  Impowered  And  Authorized  forthwith  to  require 
Peter  Sympkins  and  Isaac  Pratt  to  attend  you  with  all  diligence  for  the 
relief  of  the  wounded;  that  in  case  of  their  refusal,  you  are  required,  by 
the  Constable,  then  forthwith  to  send  them  to  Capt.  Hudson,  who  is  hereby 
required  to  send  them  to  Boston  to  Appeare  before  the  Gov  and  Councill 


64  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

to  answer  their  neglect,  in  which  case  the  Inhabitants  of or 

the  authority  of  that  town  are  hereby  required  to  affoord  the  Chirurgeon 
assistance  in  such  respect. 
Dated  in  Boston  this  22  July  1675 

Edward  Rawson,  Secy.     By  Order  of  the  Councill." 

This  Dr.  Touton  was  a  refugee  from  France,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  following  extract  from  Vol.  4,  Part  2,  p.  67,  of  the  Colo- 
nial Records: — 

"  In  answer  to  the  peticon  of  John  Touton,  of  Rochell,  in  France,  doctor 
Chirurgeon,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  others,  that  himself  &  other  Protest- 
ants, inhabitants  of  Rochelle,  who,  for  their  religion's  sake,  are  outed  and 
expelled  from  their  habitations  &  dwellings  &c.  might  have  libaty  to  come 
hither  here  to  iuhabitt  &c.  as  in  sd  peticon  on  rile  appeares,  the  Court 
judgeth  it  meete  to  graunt  this  peticon." 

GARRISON    AT    MENDON. 

"  26  July  1675.  the  Councill  met. 
The  Councill,  on  perusing  a  letter  of  Capt.  Prentice  &  Capt.  Johnson, 
Dated  22d.  day  of  July  1675,  judged  it  meet  to  order  Capt.  Prentice  and 
his  Troope  be  presently  called  home  &  yk  Capt.  Johnson  wth  his  souldiers 
be  also  sent  to  returne  leaving  of  his  foot  souldiers  and  the  scoute 

to  remayne  as  a  Guard  to  Mendon,  and  of  his  ffoote  at  Wrentham 

as  their  guard,  Referring  it  to  the  said  Captain  to  consult  wth  the  Sarjent 
or  other  chief  officer  of  each  Towne  how  many  to  leave  at  each  Towne 
with  their  Arms  complete,  and  they  to  remayne  till  further  order." 

Although  the  following  order  has  no  particular  reference  to 
the  affairs  of  Mendon,  still,  as  Mendon  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
Nipmuck  Tribe,  and,  as  we  shall  see,  their  fealty  uncertain,  the 
imminence  of  a  second  attack  is  regarded  as  a  sufficient  reason 
for  its  insertion. 

Military  Archives,  Vol.  67,  p.  228. 

Boston  July  27,  1675. 

The  Councill  being  informed  that  the  Narragansett  Indians  are  come 
down  with  about  one  hundred  men  into  the  Nipmuck  country, 

Do  order  you,  Capt.  Edward  Hutchinson,  to  take  with  you  Captain 
Thomas  Wheeler  and  his  party  of  horse,  with  Ephraim  Curtis  for  a  guide, 
and  a  sufficient  interpreter,  and  forthwith  to  repaire  into  those  parts  and 
there  labor  to  get  a  right  understanding  of  the  motions  of  the  Narragansett 
Indians  &  of  ye  Indians  of  Nipmuck;  and  for  that  end  to  demand  of  ye 
leaders  of  ye  Narragansett  Indians  an  account  of  ye  grounds  of  their  march- 
ing into  ye  country,  and  require  to  understand  the  order  of  their  Sachems. 


1675] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  65 


And  iilso  to  demand  of  the  Nipmuck  Indians  why  they  have  not  sent  down 
their  Sagamore,  according  to  their  promise  unto  our  Messenger,  Ephraim 
Curtis. 

And  further  let  them  know  y'  wee  are  informed  that  there  are  some 
among  them  that  have  actually  joined  with  our  enemies  in  the  murder  and 
spoyle  made  upon  the  English  hy  Philip:  And  that  Mattoonas  and  his 
complices  who  murdered  and  robbed  our  poeple  at  Mendon  are  now  among 
them.  And  that  we  require  them  to  deliver  up  to  you  or  forthwith  bring 
to  us  these  our  enemies,  otherwise  wee  must  look  at  ym  to  be  no  friends  to 
us,  but  ayders  aud  abettors:  And  in  prosecution  of  this  affayre  if  you 
should  meet  with  any  Indians  that  stand  in  opposition  to  you  or  declare 
themselves  to  be  your  enemy,  then  you  are  ordered  to  ingage  with  them  (if 
you  see  reason'  for  it)  and  endeavour  to  reduce  them  by  force  of  arms." 

Before  this  time  the  Apostle  Eliot  had  organized  bands  of 
praying  Indians  at  Waentug,  (now  Uxbridge)  Hassanamisco, 
(Grafton)  and  at  other  places.  In  view,  probably,  of  their 
belief  that  some  of  the  Indians  had  been  truly  converted  to 
Christianity  and  fearing  they  might  be  ill  treated  should  they 
refuse  to  side  with  Philip,  Mr.  Emerson,  the  then  minister  of 
Mendon  and  others,  petitioned  the  Governor  and  Council  to 
allow  some  of  these  praying  Indians  of  Hassanamisco  to  remove 
to  Mendon,  as  well  "  for  the  security  of  the  Indians  as  the  Eng- 
lish," as  will  appear  by  the  following  action  of  the  Governor  and 
Council: — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  held  at  Boston  Sept.  17,  1675. 

Upon  the  motion  and  request  of  Mr.  Emerson,  Minister  and  Ferdinando 
Thaire,  husbandman,  messengers  sent  to  the  Councill  from  the  Towne  of 
Mendon,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  declaring  their  willingness  in  behalf  of 
said  Towne,  that  the  Praying  Indians,  Belonging  to  the  Church  and  Towne 
of  Hassanamisco  and  such  other  civil  Indians  that  shall  joyn  with  that  com- 
pany, being  accepted  and  approved  by  the  English  of  Mendon,  shall  and 
may  be  admitted  to  live  and  sojourn  in  said  Towne  among  the  English  and 
build  a  fort  there  neere  or  about  the  house  of  the  said  Thaire,  and  then  to 
continue  this  winter  or  longer,  if  the  English  &  Indians  agree  to  it  and  the 
Councill  approve  thereof,  which  course  is  conceived  will  conduce  both  for 
the  security  of  the  English  and  Indians  in  these  dangerous  times. 

The  Councill  having  considered  of  this  motion  and  desire  of  Mendon  do 
allow  and  aprove  thereof  and  do  order  the  said  Indians  (who  have  mani- 
fested their  consent)  to  remove  thither  with  their  families  as  soon  as  they 
have  gathered  their  corn  and  provisions  any  order  to  the  contrary  hereof 
respecting  these  Indians  notwithstanding;  and  it  is  further  ordered  that 
Seriant  White  and  Ferdinando  Thaire,  with  the  advice  of  Mr.  Emerson, 
9 


66  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

shall  so  inspect  the  said  Indians  and  look  to  them  that  they  may  not  do 
any  wrong  to  the  English,  or  sustain  any  wrong  or  prejudice  from  the 
English,  and  furthermore  if  it  be  thought  expedient,  by  the  said  Committee 
above  mentioned  to  employ  and  incourage  the  said  Indians,  or  any  of  them, 
to  range  and  scoute  in  the  woods  to  discover  and  surprise  or  destroy  any 
of  our  skulking  enemies,  the  Councill  do  order  and  appoint  the  said  Com- 
mittee always  to  send  some  one  or  more  English  man  or  men  in  their 
company  both  for  the  preservation  of  the  Indians  from  danger,  by  any  of 
our  forces  as  also  to  see  that  the  said  Indians  demean  themselves  truly 
and  faithfully  to  the  English  interest. 

And  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  ends  aforesaid  it  is  ordered  by  the 
Councill  that  Lief  tenant  Rudduck  and  the  rest  of  the  Committee  of  Militia 
of  Marlborough  do  forthwith  deliver  unto  the  above  said  Serjent  White  or 
Ferdinando  Thaire,  or  such  other  Englishmen  as  they  shall  send  in  the 
company  of  some  of  those  Indians,  for  all  the  arms  and  ammunition  seased 
by  them  of  Marlborough,  belonging  to  these  Indians,  which  arms  and  am- 
munition shall  be  kept  and  Improved  for  the  use  and  defence  of  the  sd 
Indians,  the  owners  of  them,  and  of  the  English  among  whom  they 
sojourne  at  Mendon. 

past  by  ye  Councill 

E.  R.  Sec." 

All  this  negotiation  came  to  naught,  as  we  learn  that  the 
Indians  soon  after  this  deserted  Hassanamisco,  and,  most  proba- 
bly, many  of  them  cast  in  their  fortunes  with  Philip. 

The  following  letters  and  orders  of  Council,  with  the  petition 
of  "Mathyas  Puffer,"  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  furnish  all  that 
is  known  of  the  history  of  Mendon  for  the  year  1675. 

Mass.  Archives,  Vol.  67,  p.  276. 

"  From  Mendon  ye  1st  of  Oct.  1675. 
Honerd  Goviner  &  Counsell 

These  are  to  certify  to  your  worshipps  that  Capt.  Gorum  with  myself 
and  our  soldiers  of  both  companies  are  in  good  heath  at  pt.  through 
mercy. 

And  to  give  your  Honor  an  account  of  our  severall  marches,  first  we  came 
to  Mendum  on  the  sixt  day  of  the  weeke  at  night,  being  the  24th.  of  Sep- 
tember and  on  the  25th.  day  we  marched  from  Mendum  unto  Hassanamesitt 
(Hassanamisco)  hoping  there  to  have  had  a  Indian  for  our  guide  butt  the 
Indians  were  all  gone  from  thence  and  wee  thereby  disappointed  of  our 
expectations,  on  the  next  day  wee  marched  to  Pachachoag  where  we  found 
a  field  of  corne  and  well  fenced,  which  wee  did  not  think  convenient  to 
destroy,  concluding,  for  aught  we  knew,  some  of  the  neerest  Inhabitants 
would  be  willing  to  save  it,  but  we  could  not  find  any  Indians,  neither  the 
signe  of  any  being  there  of  late,  and  wee  marched  from  thence  to  Man- 


1675.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  G7 


choag  and  Chabanamaguncok  where  we  found  some  Corne  fields  and  some 
wiggwams,  corn  and  wiggwams  wee  burnt  and  destroyed,  but  could  not 
find  any  of  our  enemies  which  was  a  great  discouragement  to  us,  having 
taken  so  much  paynes  to  find  them.  Then  we  returned  and  marched  to 
an  Indian  Plantation  called  Shockologue  where  we  could  not  find  any 
Indians,  butt  a  considerable  quantity  of  good  Corn  which  we  did  not  destroy 
butt  preserved  itt  at  the  request  of  some  of  Mendum  who  think  to  fetch  it 
home  for  themselves,  and  from  thence  wee  came  to  Mendum  on  the  30th  of 
September.  Now,  seeing,  in  all  our  marches,  wee  find  no  Indians  wee 
verily  think  that  they  are  drawne  to  gather  into  grate  bodyes  fair  Remote 
from  these  parts. 

If  your  Honers  please  to  send  us  on  any  further  service  I  hope  we  shall 
nott  be  unwilling  butt  forward  to  doe  our  uttermost  endeavour  withall, 
desiring  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  add  unto  our  number  seeing  thatt, 
besides  the  Garrison  men  which  must  be  left  here  in  Garrison,  wee  have 
but  30  men  besides  myselfe,  Capt.  Gorum  being  on  his  march  to  Mount 
Hope ;  and,  if  wee  goe  further  wee  desire  wee  may  have  a  Surgeon  and 
sum  others  that  may  be  acquainted  with  the  woods  where  you  shall  send 
us,  the  want  of  which  hath  been  a  discouragement  to  our  men. 

And  as  for  the  towne  of  Mendum  I  am  desired  to  commend  the  desolate 
condition  of  them  to  your  Honers.  Severall  of  these  Inhabitants  being 
Removed  from  thence  and  those  in  Garrison  being  butt  poor  herpes  in 
divers  Respects,  and  in  number  butt  12  men  with  their  ams  very  defective. 
This  plantation  is  very  Remotte  and  therefore  soe  much  the  more  stands  in 
neede  of  helpes.  It  is  very  likely  to  be  a  prosperous  place  if  it  please  God 
to  putt  an  Issue  to  this  trouble,  and  therefore  it  is  the  more  pitty  to  have  it 
deserted  by  these  people,  who  think  it  must  be  if  they  have  not  some  assist- 
ance; they  hope  that  20  men  well  fitted,  with  their  own  returned,  might  be 
sufficient,  if  your  honers  see  cause ;  and  further  they  desire  to  acquainte 
your  Honers  that  ye  Indians  of  Hassanamissett,  which  your  Honers 
apoynted  to  sift  down  with  them,  have  deserted  their  own  town  and  come 
not  to  Mendum. 

And  soe  nott  having  any  more  to  trouble  your  Honers  with 

I  Rest  your  Honrs  To  Command 

Phinehas  Upham,  Liftenant." 

By  this  letter  it  will  be  seen  that  Lieut.  Upham  (who  was  of 
Maiden  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  city  of  Worcester,  and 
who  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  attack  on  the  Narragansett 
fort,  Dec.  19,  and  died  soon  after  in  Boston,)  visited  what  are 
now  the  towns  of  Grafton,  Auburn,  .Sutton,  Oxford,  Webster 
and  Douglas. 

Mil.  Arch.,  Vol.  G7,  p.  278. 


68  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

Mendum  Oct.  1675. 

Much  Houd  my  servis  with  all  dew  Respeckts  humbly  presented  to  your- 
selfe  and  unto  the  Rest  of  the  Counsell,  hoping  of  your  helths.  I  have 
made  bold  to  trouble  you  with  these  few  lines  to  give  your  honners  an 
account  of  our  progress  in  your  jurisdiction.  I  arrived  at  Mendum  with 
fifty  men  and  the  day  following  Lef tenant  Upham  arrived  with  Thirty 
Eight  men  and  the  next  day  wee  joyned  our  forces  together  and  marched 
in  persute  to  find  our  ennimy,  but  God  hath  been  pleased  to  denigh  us  an 
Opertunity  therein,  though  with  much  labour  and  travail  we  have  endeav- 
oured to  find  them  out,  which  Left.  Upham  hath  given  you  a  more  par- 
ticular account:  our  Soldiers  being  much  worn  out,  having  been  in  the 
ffeeld  this  foreteen  weeks,  and  little  hoops  of  finding  the  Enimy  wee  are 
this  day  Returning  towards  our  Generall,  but  as  for  my  own  part  I  shall  be 
Redy  to  serve  God  and  the  Country  in  this  Tuft  war  soe  long  as  I  have  Life 
and  helth.     Not  else  to  trouble  you  I  Rest  yours  to  serve  what  I  am  able. 

John  Gorum." 


As  the  Indian  war  had  now  been  commenced  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  and,  as  neither  its  continu- 
ance jor  cost  could  be  definitely  settled,  instead  of  casting  its 
burden  upon  posterity,  the  General  Court  proceeded  at  once  to 
levy  a  tax  upon  the  several  towns  to  meet  the  necessary  expense 
of  the  same,  as  follows: — 

Mass.  Archives,  Military,  Vol.  G8,  p.  29. 

"The  Courte  havinge  taken  into  theire  Consideration  the  great  and 
daylie  growinge  charge  of  the  present  warre  against  the  Indians  &  the  ab- 
solute necessity  there  is  of  a  further  supply  &  recruit  of  amies  and  of 
Ammunition  for  the  service  of  the  Country  and  having  also  pticularly  the 
present  state  and  ability  of  the  several  towns  &  plantations  in  this  jurisdic- 
tion, doe  hereby  order  and  Enact  that  for  the  defraying  the  charges  afore- 
said there  shall  be  Levied  seven  single  country  rates,  three  of  the  said  rates 
to  be  paid  at  or  before  the  last  of  November  next,  and  the  other  four  rates 
at  or  before  the  last  of  March  next :  the  prises  of  all  sorts  of  corn  (grain) 
paid  in  said  rates  to  be  as  floth,  i.  e  Wheat  at  6s.  Rye  4s.  6d.,  Peas  4s,  In- 
dian 3s.  6d.  Barley  4s.  and  Oates  2s.  pr.  bushell.  And  the  said  Levie  to  be 
delivered  to  the  Treasurer  without  charge  to  the  Country,  and  such  as 
make  payment  in  money  to  be  abated  one  fourth  part. 

And  the  Treasurer  of  the  Country  (Colony)  is  hereby  required  accord- 
ingly, to  issue  forth  Warrants  to  the  Constables  of  the  several  towns,  who, 
together  with  the  Selectmen  of  the  place,  are  required  to  levy  the  said  rates 
upon  the  Inhabitants  that  they  may  be  duly  paid  as  abovsd. 


1675.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


69 


The  Deputies  have  past  this  in  steed  of  that  sent  downe  by  our  Honered 
Magistrates,  desiring  their  consent  thereto. 
27  October  1675. 

William  Torrey,  Cleric. 
Consented  to  by  the  Magistrates 

Edward  Rawson,  Secretary." 


COLONY   TAX    FOE    KING    PHILIP'S   WAR. 


Boston £300  00  00 

Salem 100  00  00 

Charlestown 80  00  00 

Dorchester 40  00  00 

Roxbury 30  00  00 

Watertown 45  00  00 

Cambridge 42  02  00 

Lynn 34  04  05 

Ipswich 70  00  00 

Newberry 60  00  00 

Waymouth 25  09  04 

Hingham 30  00  00 

Concord 33  19  10 

Dedham 28  02  07 

Hampton 28  00  00 

Springfield 26  05  05 

Westfield 11  16  06 

Hatfield 8  12  08 

Framingham 1  00  00 

Rowley 36  00  00 

Redding 16  09  11 

Brantry 25  00  00 

Manchester 2  00  00 

Salsbury 22  00  00 

Exeter 8  08  05 


Lancaster  £11  16  00 

Sudbury 20  00  00 

Haverill 18  00  00 

Hull 10  00  00 

Wooburn 25  18  01 

Mendham 6  06  02 

Chelmsford 14  18  00 

Maulden 15  10  05 

Billerica 14  07  09 

Meadfield 27  11  03 

Meadf ord, 5  00  00 

Northampton 22  02  10 

Marlborrow 17  13  00 

Hadley 18  10  09 

Groaten 1110  00 

Beverly 16  00  00 

Andover 20  00  00 

Marblehead 18  00  00 

Glocester 9  00  00 

Wenham 5  00  00 

Topsfield 12  00  00 

Bradford 8  13  00 

Amesbury 5  15  03 

Milton 15  00  00 


Mass.  Arch.,  Military,  Vol.  68,  p.  32. 

"  Mendum,  ye  *  *  *  0f  Ocbr.  1675 
To  the  Honered  Councill, 

These  few  lines  are  for  to  acctquaint  your  Honers  of  ye  Towne  of  Men- 
dum in  y'  wee  who  are  here  are  Garrison  Soulders  Lying  to  ye  Mercy  of  the 
Enimay,  are  nowe  building  of  a  garrison  in  defence  of  ourselves  and  the 
Towne,  doe  finde  the  Town  pepell  very  unwilling  for  to  Ade  or  Assist  at 
ye  fortyfication  wich  wee  are  about:  ye  Sargientt  is  willing  butt  only  ye 
fences,  wich  are  aboute  itt  he  will  not  yealde  y'  wee  shoulde  Aney  ways 
pull  downe,  thoe  itt  doth  stan  as  a  saft  garde  to  shelter  y«  Enimy:  as  for 
ye  Towne  pepell  thay  are  very  small  in  number,  not  above  19  men  at  this 


70  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

present  wrightinge  In  Towne  whaireof  ffive  of  them  are  ould  men,  not  able 
for  to  baire  amies,  and  for  Amunition  itt  is  very  scarce :  if  y'  ye  Indians 
sould  Make  butt  Aproach  heire  ye  Sairgentt  sayeth  that  theire  would  nott 
be  a  pounde  of  powder  for  ye  Garrison  souldiers  y»  are  heire  be  fore  ye 
others  came  up:  as  for  the  Towne's  Stock  thaire  is  nowne;  the  helpe  here 
y4  wee  need  is  very  great  for  theire  is  some  In  ye  Towne  had  rather  y'  ye 
Indians  wliaire  to  bee  heire  than  wee :  theire  are  A  pepell  soe  divided  that 
thay  will  not  heire  Reson,  in  soe  much  thay  say  if  y'  theire  ware  1000 
Indians  and  Alarum  should  be  Mayed  thay  would  not  stir  outt  of  dores  for 
to  Aid  or  assist  ye  soulders,  soe  wee  desire  your  Honrs  for  to  take  itt  into 
consideration  for  we  are  heire  only  A  pray  to  ye  Inimy :  Likewise  several] 
other  Complaints  we  have  whenever  time  doth  sarve  to  Come  face  to  face, 
by  them  thaire  subscribed  here 

Edward  Barton  John  J  A  Andross  his  Marke 

Henery    L»  ft  Pellenton  his  Marke  Thomas  Andrews 

William  W  R  Rosway  his  Marke  John  Roulstone 

Johnath"  X  Duninge  his  Marke  Joseph  Griffinge 

Likewise  ye  Garrison  men  yl  Came  up  last  Can  testifie  yt  the  townsmen 
will  nott  any  wayes  lend  or  sett  their  hands  for  to  Make  Any  fortyfication 
but  still  are  in  yr  same  Minde  for  to  haive  all  theire  houses  fortified  as  if 
thay  weire  all  ye  hoole  towne  heire,  when  theire  is  no  Moore  in  towne  butt 
whatt  before  expressed,  and  those  Ganison  men  y'  came  up  no  we  can 
testify  yl  theire  is  noe  Aminition  provided  for  the  Towne's  Stock:  wee  hoose 
names  heire  subscribed. 

Israel  Leavitt  Theophilus  Gushing 

Samuel  Holbrook  John  Low 

Jonathan  Torrey  The  Marke  of  Richa  Godfrey    ^* 

John  Weld  Thomas  Linkhorn    ^\7   his  Marke. 

By  this  time,  about  Oct.  1,  it  seems  that  many  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  had  removed,  and  the  few  (19)  who  remained 
had,  without  doubt,  become  somewhat  disheartened.  Indians 
to  the  south  of  them,  Indians  to  the  west  of  them,  Indians  to 
the  north  of  them,  and  fifteen  miles  to  their  nearest  neighbors, 
could  not  furnish  any  very  flattering  guaranty  for  succor  in  case 
of  another  attack.  But  that  Sergeant  White  would  not  have  the 
fence  pulled  down  if  it  was  necessary,  or  that  the  town's  people, 
generally,  would  not  aid  in  fortifying  the  town,  as  is  affirmed 
above,  seems  hardly  probable. 


1G75.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  71 

Surrounded  as  they  were,  on  all  sides,  by  the  Indians,  they 
must  have  lived  in  daily  fear  of  a  second  assault,  and,  from  the 
tone  of  the  preceding  letter,  one  can  hardly  doubt  that  the  sol- 
diers as  well  as  the  inhabitants  were  quite  ready  to  be  relieved 
from  their  duty  of  holding  the  place  longer. 

Whether  in  consequence  of  this  letter  or  not,  on  the  3d  of 
November  the  General  Court,  after  ordering  "that  Major 
Clarke  forthwith  strengthen  Mendon  Garrison  by  adding  ten 
more  unto  them  and  that  forthwith,''  also  "further  ordered 
that  all  such  persons  as  have  already  quitted  their  habitations  at 
Mendon  and  doe  not  forthwith  returne,  or  shall  hereafter  leave 
their  habitations,  license  being  not  first  obtained  of  the  Generall 
Court  or  Councill,  they  shall  forfeit  theire  interest  in  that  place, 
for  the  defraying  the  charge  of  the  garrison  soldjrs." 

Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  (afterwards  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
the  City  of  Worcester,)  having  been  ordered  to  scout  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Mendon  and  Marlborough,  was  at  Mendon 
in  the  beginning  of  November,  as  the  following  letters  will 
show: — 

Military  Archives,  Vol.  68,  p.  32. 

Mendam,  Novb.  2,  1675. 
Hon*  Sr 

About  four  of  the  clock  this  afternoon  we  came  all  safe  to  Mendam  & 
found  the  town  in  like  condition,  but  cannot  at  all  better  my  Intelligence 
about  Hassanamesit.  flour  horses  are  prest  for  scouts  to  thither  at  moon 
rising  till  when  they  cannot  with  certainty  find  the  place,  and  will  be  back 
again,  I  hope  before  tomorrow  morning  with  somewhat  in  order  to  our 
further  expedition. 

The  Inhabitants  of  this  place  are  drawn  into  two  houses  and  in  a  pes- 
tered condition;  and  in  relation  to  it  as  a  garrison  there  are  several  things 
of  moment  to  be  considered  of,  the  which  I  shall  state  and  dispatch  to  your 
Honer  with  what  shall  be  discovered  as  before  and  would  have  done  all 
together  at  the  return  of  the  scouts,  but  that  Mr.  Pain  tells  me  he  has 
express  order  to  send  away  a  post,  as  soon  as  we  came  hither,  of  the  state 
of  the  Towne.  The  which  having  presented  as  before,  crave  leave  to  sub- 
scribe myself 

Sr  yor  Houers  Humble  Servant 

D.  Henchman. 

Mendam  Nov.  3.  1675. 
Hon<J  Sr 

The  Scouts,  in  my  last  mentioned,  now  returned,  report  that  the  old  Wigg- 


72  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

warns  of  the  Indian  Towne  are  standing  and  their  dores  fast  as  left  by  the 
Indians  when  they  went  to  their  new  place  to  plant,  being  about  a  mile 
from  the  other,  and  that  in  a  field  there  is  about  60  bushels  of  Indian  Corn 
in  barns,  and  at  the  new  place  one  wiggwam  matted  and  others  begun : 
in  the  first  an  Indian  had  but  just  before  them  gone  out,  by  an  apple  they 
found  roasting  and  a  tobacco  pouch.  Having  the  opportunity  of  Mr.  Gard- 
ner's going  now  to  Boston  I  send  what  yet  I  have,  and  am  considering 
whether  presently  to  march  to  the  Indian  field,  or,  in  the  night,  to  goe  with 
some  men  to  see  if  any  of  them  can  be  taken,  so  at  present  conclude,  sub- 
scribing myself  Sr  Yr  Hon"  Humble  Servant, 

D.  Henchman. 


Mendham  Nov.  5,  1675. 
Hond  S'- 

Since  my  last  by  Mr.  Gardner,  I  marched  to  Hassanamesit  where  we 
found  nothing  more  than  what  the  scouts,  as  formerly,  discovered.  The 
Indian  not  returned  by  his  tobacco  still  laying  and  no  signs  of  an  enimy 
that  had  been  there ;  but  a  flight  of  Indians,  I  fear,  real  or  f eined,  by  apples, 
corn,  nuts  and  other  things  lying  up  and  down,  besides  the  corn  and 
apples  lodged  up,  the  first  of  which  I  would  have  endeavoured  to  convey 
to  this  place,  by  help  of  the  Inhabitants  here,  but  was  objected  against  by 
some  of  them.  This  march  for  despatch  (not  hearing  from  Capt.  Sill)  I 
judged  might  be  safely  performed,  and  intended,  this  morning  to  have 
sent  all  the  Troopers,  being  8,  and  three  files  of  my  post  to  Boston,  reserv- 
ing six  files  here  to  dispatch  my  first  instructions  about  this  Garrison,  and 
then  come  also ;  but,  at  my  return  hither  yesterday  about  four  afternoon,  I 
received  the  Hond  Councill's  further  orders  by  Messengers  from  Capt.  Sill, 
who  intends  this  night  to  be  at  Magoncok  (now  Ashland)  within  14  miles  of 
Hassanamesit,  at  which  place  I  sent  him  word  I  would  meet  him  this  day 
at  2  of  the  clock  at  farthest  (the  Lord  assisting)  although  my  men  want'  rest 
and  are  ill  clad  and  shod  for  marching,  so  that  I  was  faine,  by  inability 
and  otherwise  in  my  last  march,  to  change  a  file  with  the  Garrison :  and 
which  is  more  our  provisions  are  even  at  an  end,  severall  bringing  not  any 
forth  with  them,  but  hope  we  shall  shift  with  some  flesh  a  little  bread  & 
boy  led  corn  procured  in  this  distressed  place,  which,  in  their  contracted 
room  of  two  houses,  have  not  fire  and  lodging  places  to  answer  the  poeple's 
necessities  and  which  is  more  their  spirits,  by  all  they  suffer,  work  not 
kindly  in  them. 

I  have  spent  much  of  my  little  time  in  meeting  with  them  about  a  settle- 
ment for  their  safety,  but  in  vane :  Most  say  they  cannot  subsist  if  they' 
stay,  and  a  few  the  like  if  they  goe.  At  length  they  proposed  to  apply 
themselves  to  the  Hond  Councill.  I,  being  now  to  march  away  and  left 
the  command  with  Sergeant  White,  having  prest  the  sad  consequences  of 
Braking  up  a  Town,  Rending  a  Church,  Dismantling  a  Garrison  and  In- 
couraging  the  Enemie. 


1675.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  73 

My  humble  thanks  to  the  Hon'1  Counsell  for  their  Instructions  relating  to 
Dependence  upon  the  Lord,  faith  towards  him  and  prayers  for  us  pre- 
sented. 

from  Sr  Your  Hon8 

Humble  Servant 

I).  Henchman. 

C'apt.  Henchman 

Understanding  that  you  and  your  soldiers  may  want  victuall,  the  Coun- 
cill  have  ordered  five  hundred  Biskett  to  bee  lodged  at  Mendon  &  the  like 
quantity  at  Marlborough,  unto  either  of  which  places  *you  may  have 
recourse  for  recruites  and  we  desire  and  order  that  you  will  be  vigilant  to 
prevent  the  enemies  many  attempts  upon  those  parts.  Wee  had  notis  this 
morning  that  ye  enemy  seased  a  boy  &  man  and  carried  ym  away  that  were 
at  Peter  Bent's  mill  in  Marlborough,  this  was  done  last  evening  being  5th 
of  November.  Four  of  the  English  escaped  but  left  the  horses,  meal  and 
arms,  so  y*  the  enemy  is  in  those  parts :  these  recruits  are  ordered  to  pre- 
vent your  so  speedy  return :  if  there  be  any  thing  of  moment  or  yl  you 
should  discover  the  enemy  to  be  numerous  to  give  us  a  speedy  notice  y* 
more  force  may  be  sent :  these  supplys  and  directions  are  for  Capt.  Sill  as 
well  as  yourself,  to  whom  and  yourself  wee  commend  or  love,  desiring  the 
Lord  to  guide,  direct  and  protect  you  &  all  yr  men  &  so  remane, 

Yr  Loving  freind 

E.  R.,  Sec.  p  Councill. 

Boston,  6th.  of  9  mo.  (Nov.)  1675. 

To  Left.  Tho.  Hinchman,  you  are  ordered  by  ye  Councill,  by  ye  Garrison 
soldiers,  forthwith  to  secure  and  bring  away  the  corne  on  the  other  side 
ye  river  &  secure  it  from  the  enimy. 

Dated  in  Boston  6  November  1675.     By  ye  Council 

Edw.  Rawson,  Secretary. 

Mass.  Arch.,  Military,  Vol.  68,  p.  80. 

Mendham  Nov.  10,  75 
Hond  Gentlemen. 

The  last  night  in  the  close  of  it,  I  marched  to  Hassanamest  with  22  men 
mounted,  believing  that  some  of  the  enemy  were  there,  discovered  theire 
fire,  dismounted  and  marched  to  it  in  two  files,  headed  the  right  myself, 
the  other  led  by  my  Lt.  Zekill  Curtis,  but  as  we  hasted  to  it  their  dogg 
gave  than  an  alarum  when  wee  in  less  than  musket  shot;  wee  stopped  a 
little  and  moved  againe  but  the  dogg  increased  his  barking  &  least  they 
might  draw  in  to  the  thicket  to  lire  on  us,  I  ordered  some  to  lire,  hollered 
and  ran  on  as  fast  as  wee  could:  my  Lt.  first  got  to  the  wiggwam  & 
received  a  mortal  shot  at  the  dore:  I  hasted  to  surround  them  in  getting 
close  beyond  it,  expecting  my  men  had  followed,  but  all  that  both  of  us 
had  was  not  above  five  men;  one  of  them,  my  corporall,  Abiel  Lamb, 
10 


74  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

whose  strength  outstrips  me,  and  hy  reason  of  a  fall  I  had  in  my  running 
on:  one  soldier  more  was  wounded  &  fell,  his  name,  Thomas  Andrews, 
who  cried  out  exceedingly  disheartening:  them  wth  me  at  the  wiggwam 
together  with  no  more  men  coming  up  to  us,  I  called  upon  my  men  to  fall 
on  &  shute  into  the  wiggwam,  which  no  more  doing,  them  up  with  me  fell 
off,  I  cryed  to  them,  for  the  Lord's  sake  to  stay,  for  in  retreating  as  wee 
did  I  gave  up  myself  and  them  with  me  for  lost,  and  it  was  a  peculiar 
Mercie  we  were  not  all  slaine,  for  the  Indians  issued  out  and  fired  on  us: 
the  Marlbrow  man  also  shot  but  not  dangerous :  One  of  my  old  soldiers 
kept  with  me  as  I  think,  Jonathan  Dunninge,  and  a  horse  so  soon  as 
mounted,  I  would  have  had  my  men  ride  up  and  fire  to  get  off  the  wounded 
and  to  secure  the  reare ;  but  all  were  upon  flight  though  I  threatened  to  run 
them  through,  but  availed  not :  some  few  horse  kept  with  me  &  by  my  oft 
running  back  in  hopes  to  save  all  I  could,  discovered  two  on  foot,  who 
said  that  they  also  had  been  lost.  At  our  return  we  find  only  the  two  first 
wanting.  And  although  this  is  a  sad  frown  for  I  had  as  likely  to  fight  as 
ever  here.  They  soon  hollowed  and  we  drew  off  our  horse  &  by  the  shout 
seemed  to  be  about  fifty  &  the  wiggwam  seemed  to  be  thronged  full,  and  a 
second  hollow  soon  followed,  some  judge  from  a  second  party,  for  two 
other  fires  were  seen  at  a  distance :  yet  the  enemy  scaped  not  for  3  of  them 
at  least  were  slain  without,  besides  those  wounded  and  slain,  as  well  might 
be,  in  the  wiggwam. 

If  the  body  of  them  draw  this  way  the  Town  may  be  in  distress,  for 
divers  times  I  have  put  them  to  severall  things  needful  and  will  assist  with 
all  my  men,  I  hope  they  will  now  bestir  themselves.  My  Lt.  Zekill  Curtis 
is  a  great  loss  to  me  and  have  not  to  supply  his  place.  I  cannot  inlarg  but 
begging  a  sanctified  use  of  this  and  former  frowns,  for  we  might  have  had 
an  opportunity  to  kill  all  in  the  wiggwam. 
I  rest  Hond  Gentlemen 

Yr  Humble  Servant 

D.  Henchman. 

It  is  ordered  by  the  Councill  yl  Major  Willard  forthwith  issue  forth  his 
orders  to  Capt.  Prentiss,  to  send  forthwith  twelve  troopers  well  fitted  and 
furnished  with  arms,  Ammunition  and  provisions  for  10  days  &  to  march 
to  Mendon  or  else  where  Capt.  Henchman  is  or  may  be  and  there  to  be 
under  his  commands  and  order  for  the  service  of  the  country. 

This  past  by  ye  Councill, 

Edw.  Rawson,  Secy. 

12th  Novembr  1675. 

Cotton  Mather  and  others  say  that  four  or  five  persons  were 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  their  attack  of  Mendon.  Until  recently 
none  of  the  names  of  the  slain  were  known.  The  following 
petition  is  here  inserted  because  two  of  the  four  or  five  persons 


1675.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  75 

who  lost  their  lives  on  the  14th  of  July  are  clearly  made  out. 
It  will  he  remembered  that  on  the  3thd  day  of  November,  1675. 
the  General  Court  '"ordered  that  the  people  of  Mendon  should 
not  remove  from  the  place  without  leave,  and  that  those  who 
had  done  so  should  immeliately  return." 

It  appears  that  Matthias  Puffer  had  left  the  place  and  returned 
to  Braintree  without  leave  from  proper  authority.  Fearing  that 
he  should  he  compelled  to  return  to  Mendon  is,  undoubtedly, 
the  reason  why  he  addressed  the  following  petition  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council: — 

Towns.  Vol.  112,  p.  208. 

"To  the  Ilonered  Councill  now  Sitting  in  Boston,  the  humble  petition  of 

Matthias  Puffer  humbly  sheweth: 

That  whereas  your  petitioner  hath  been  complained  of  for  being  absent 
from  Mendon  to  ye  diseouragement  of  those  that  remaine,  my  answer  is 
that  I  departed,  at  first,  with  ye  consent  of  the  Town  provided  I  carried 
away  the  Widdow  Gurney  at  my  own  charge,  which  I  accordingly  per- 
formed, and  since  the  Majors  warrant  to  summon  me  to  go  againe,  I  have 
returned  thither  againe  and  have  been  helpful  to  them  by  procuring  them 
ammunition  and  otherwise. 

Indeed  I  have  been  forced  to  return  to  Braintree  to  take  care  of  my  chil- 
dren who  are  left.  My  wife  was  slaine  by  the  Indians  and  my  eldest  son; 
severall  of  the  best  of  my  cattell  killed  to  maintaine  the  Garrison,  many 
more  of  them  I  have  left;  my  estate  is  lost;  my  Condition  is  desolate  and  I 
not  in  ye  capacity  that  others  are  whose  families  are  not  broken.  I  humbly 
beseech  the  Honered  Councill  to  consider  my  case  &  not  expose  my  poor 
children  to  ruin,  for  I  have  not  Estate  to  maintain  my  Children  without 
my  labor  and  care.  To  him  that  is  in  affliction  pitty  should  be  shewed.  I 
think  my  case  is  the  case  of  the  Widdow  if  not  worse.  My  humble  petition 
is  that  I  may  be  suffered  to  Continue  at  Braintree  that  I  may  be  a  succor 
to  my  children  which  else  will  be  exposed  to  ruin  and  your  petitioner  will 
ever  pray. 

Matthtas  Puffer." 

Matthias  Puffer's  house  was  not  far  from  the  residence  of  the 
widow  Hannah  Thurber,  and  some  forty  years  ago  the  site  of  the 
cellar  was  pointed  out  to  me  by  elderly  people.  As  the  attack 
of  the  Indians  must  have  been  sudden  and  unsuspected,  it  seems 
probable  that  Mrs.  Puffer  and  her  son  were  killed  in  or  near  the 
house.  Mr.  Puffer  married  Rachel  Farnsworth.  of  Braintree, 
March  12,  1662,  and  hence  their  oldest  son  could  not  be  more 
than  eleven  or  twelve  years  of  age.     "Whether  the  Council  grave 


76  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1675. 

an  affirmative  answer  to  the  petitioner  or  not  •  is  not  known. 
There  is  no  date  to  it  and  so,  as  the  General  Court  forbade  the 
removal  of  the  people  from  Mendon,  on  the  3thd  day  of  Novem- 
ber, and,  as  Mather  says,  the  town  was  burned  by  the  Indians  in 
the  winter  of  1675,  under  the  circumstances  of  his  case  we  may 
reasonably  conclude  that  Puffer  continued  to  remain  at  Brain- 
tree-. 

Puffer  had  leave,  by  consent  of  the  town,  provided  he  "car- 
ried away  the  widow  Gurney  without  charge  to  the  town," 
to  go  to  Braintree.  Mrs.  Gurney's  maiden  name  was  Rachel, 
and  before  1683  she  had  married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Bundy 
and  was  again  a  widow.  She  was  first  the  wife  of  John  Gurney, 
who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town.  John  Gurney 
must  have  died  while  living  in  Mendon,  but  no  record  of  .his 
death  can  be  found.  Might  he  not  have  been  one  of  the  persons 
who  were  killed  on  the  14th  of  July? 

The  only  tradition  relative  to  King  Philip's  war  that  has 
survived  to  the  present  day  is,  that  the  Indians,  when  they 
burned  the  town,  sjjared  the  house  of  Joseph  Aldrich,  because 
he  was  a  Quaker.  As  no  mention  of  any  Quakers  in  Mendon  is 
made  for  many  years  after  this  event,  this  tradition  may  be  set 
down  as  of  questionable  authority. 


Although  no  municipal  government  was  organized  until  Jan. 
3,  1680,  there  is  evidence,  I  think  that,  not  long  after  the  close 
of  King  Philip's  war,  which  was  essentially  terminated  by  his 
death,  Aug.  12,  1676,  some  of  the  inhabitants  returned  to  Men- 
don. In  the  record  of  births  I  find  that  six  children  are 
recorded  as  being  born  in  Mendon  betwen  Oct.  1,  1677,  and 
Jan.  28,.  1680.  From  this  record  it  is  supposed  that  some  of 
the  inhabitants  had  returned  as  early  as  1677. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  the  following  persons  were 
owners  of  Lots  and  were  presumed  to  be  heads  of  families,  viz: — 
John  Aldridge,  _  John  Parris,  John  Thompson,  sen1".,  Joseph 
White,  Walter  Cook,  Samuel  Read,  John  Rockit,  Peter  Al- 
dridge, Samuel  Spencer,  John  Thompson,  jr.,  Ferdinando 
Thayer,    Stephen    Cook,    Abraham    Staples,    Job    Tiler,    Wm. 


1676.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  77 

Crowne,  John  Harber,  John  Woodland,  Matthias  Puffer,  Joseph 
Aldridge,  Thomas  Juell,  Benjamin  Albee,  John  Jepson,  John 
More,  Thomas  Barnes,  George  Aldrich,  Joseph  Juell,  John  Gur- 
nev,  Daniel  Lovett,  Samuel  Hayward,  Stephen  Cook,  James 
Albee,  Wm.  Holbrook,  John  Sprague,  Simon  Peck,  Joseph 
Stevens,  Hope  Tiler  and  John  Bartlett,  making  with  the  min- 
ister. Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  thirty-eight. 

The  names  of  those  who  returned  after  the  war  are  as  follows, 
viz:  John  Thompson,  sen1-.,  John  Thompson,  jr.,  Joseph  White, 
Walter  Cook,  John  Rockitt,  Peter  Aldrich,  Samuel  Read,  Fer- 
dinando  Thayer,  Abraham  Staples,  Matthias  Puffer,  Joseph 
Aldrich,  George  Aldrich,  Samuel  Hayward,  Job  Tyler,  Hope 
Tyler,  Daniel  Lovett,  James  Albee,  William  Holbrook,  John 
Sprague,  Simon  Peck,  making  twenty  in  all.  Others  returned 
afterward. 


1676.  In  the  Massachusetts  Archives  the  following  petitions 
may  be  found,  and  are  here  inserted  as  a  part  of  the  history  of 
Mendon  relative  to  the  Indian  war. 

Military,  Vol.  68,  p.  124. 

"  To  the  Honered  Councill  sitting  in  Boston  the  humble  desire  and  request 

of  John  More,  formerly  of  Mendon. 

Whereas  yr  petitioner,  when  he  lived  in  Mendon,  for  ye  supply  of  ye 
soulders  under  ye  command  of  Capt.  Daniell  Henchman,  had  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds  of  Beef,  one  bushell  of  Pease  and  a  bag  of  three 
shillings  price  taken  from  him,  as  per  ye  account  under  ye  Constable's  hand 
will  appear;  as  also  myself  and  horse  impressed  to  go  to  Marlborough,  and 
by  reason  of  my  being  belated  in  that  expedition,  so  as  in  ye  night  coming 
home,  being  very  dark,  so  that  I  was  much  bruised  and  also  fell  into  the 
river,  since  which  time  I  have  been  very  sick  and  weak,  being  deprived 
also  of  any  comfortable  subsistence,  by  reason  of  ye  present  insolency  and 
outrage  of  ye  heathen :  having  had  my  horse  pressed  to  Narragansett,  with 
other  reasons,  yr  petitioner's  present  desire  is  that  he  may  be  ordered  to 
have  some  present  pay,  to  supply  him  with  necessaries  in  his  present  con- 
dition, and  yr  petitioner  shall  dayly  pray  for  yr  prosperity. 

John  More 
11th.  9th  month  167o." 

CERTIFICATE    OF   THE    CONSTABLE. 

To  whom  it  may  concern,  that  these  things  menshoned  ware  taken  of 
John  More,  by  order  of  Capt.  Henchman  for  ye  use  of  his  solders,   three 


78  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1676. 

hundred  and  twenty  pounds  of  beef,  one  bushell  of  peas  and  a  bag  of  tbree 

shilling  price,  himself  and  horse  to  Marlborrow,  his  horse  to  Hassanamest. 

As  atest  Samuel  Read,  Constable  of  Mendon,  20th.  11th  mo.  75. 

The  second  petition  is  as  follows,  and  is  to  be  found  in  Mili- 
tary, Vol.  68,  p.  247: 

To  the  Honoble  Governor  and  Councill  now  assembled  at  Boston  May  1, 

1676: 

"  The  Petition  of  John  More  late  of  Mendon, 

Humbly  sheweth,  that  yr  Petitioner  is  now  attained  the  age  of  ninety  five 
or  thereabouts,  and  that,  after  Mendham  was  deserted  he  came  to  Medfield 
where  he  was  severely  wounded  by  the  Indians,  and  by  reason  of  his  age  is 
now  disinabled  to  labor,  whereby  he  may  get  a  livelihood  for  himself  and 
family,  and  having  lost  all  his  estate  at  Mendham,  he  is  reduced  to  a  very 
low  condition  having  not  any  thing  left  to  buy  him  food  and  clothing,  and 
Capt.  Henchman  when  he  was  at  Mendham  with  his  company,  received 
from  your  petitioner  a  Cow  and  some  peas  and  corn,  for  provision  for  his 
souldiers  and  hath  not  given  your  Petitioner  any  satisfaction. 

Your  Petitioner  therefore  humbly  requests  the  favor  of  yr  Hon1"8  to  con- 
sider his  age  and  his  low  and  afflicted  condition  and  to  allow  him  something 
for  his  cow,  corn  and  peas  delivered  to  Capt.  Henchman  as  aforesaid,  as 
also  to  grant  him  a  small  pension  for  his  reliefe  in  that  little  time  he  hath 
to  live  in  this  world,  that  so  he  may  be  freed  from  those  extreme  wants 
that  otherwise  he  must  inevitably  suffer,  so  shall  he  ever  pray,  &c. 

John  More." 

As  will  be  seen,  the  first  petition  was  dated  Feb.  11,  1675-6. 
The  attack  upon  Medfield  by  the  Indians,  was  made  on  the  21st 
of  the  same  month,  and  in  this  attack  More  received  the  wound, 
as  mentioned  is  his  second  petition,  and  for  which  he  petitioned 
the  Governor  and  Council  for  aid.  I  do  not  learn  that  any 
action  was  taken  upon  either  petition;  although,  from  the  facts 
in  his  case,  some  aid  may  hav'e  been  granted,  the  record  of  which 
cannot  now  be  found. 

I  close  the  annals  of  the  present  year  with  an  account  of  Mat? 
toonas,  who  commanded  the  attack  upon  Mendon  in  1675. 

In  September,  1674,  the  apostle  Eliot  and  Major  Gookin,  who 
had  been  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  Indians,  visited  the 
several  bands  of  praying  Indians;  and,  at  Pakachoag,  they  con- 
stituted John,  the  Sagamore,  and  Solomon  to  be  co-ordinate 
rulers,  with  the  authority  of  the  English  government,  and  Mat- 
toonas,  a  grave  and  sober  Indian,  as  Constable.     But  notwith- 


1676.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  79 

standing  this.  Sagamore  John,  with  his  tribe,  gave  way  to  the 
persuasions  of  Philip  and  joined  with  him  in  his  attempted 
extermination  of  the  English.  The  death  of  Philip  soon  con- 
vinced John  that  the  continuance  of  the  war  would  only  end  in 
the  disruption  of  the  confederacy  and  the  ruin  of  his  tribe. 
John  now  voluntarily  buried  the  hatchet,  and  resorted  to  diplo- 
macy to  save  himself  and  friends  from  further  disaster.  To  this 
end  he,  with  Mattamuck,  Sam.  Sachem,  Simon  Pottoquam  and 
Uppanippaquem,  other  Nipmuck  Sagamores,  signed  a  letter  to 
Governor  Leverett,  "Mr.  Waban  and  all  the  chief  men  our 
brethren,  praying  to  God,"  sueing  for  peace.  This  letter  may 
be  found  in  Drake's  Indian  Chronicle,  p.  131,  and  was  dated 
July  6,  1676. 

About  this  time  the  Governor  and  Council  put  forth  a  procla- 
mation of  pardon  for  all  Indians  who  should  voluntarily  come  in 
and  surrender. 

Sagamore  John,  taking  advantage  of  this,  came  to  Boston 
July  13,  and  gave  himself  up  to  the  English.  He  expressed 
much  sorrow  for  joining  with  Philip,  claiming  that  he  only  did 
so  through  fear  of  his  life.  He  guaranteed,  for  himself  and 
tribe,  hereafter  to  be  faithful  and  true  friends  to  the  whites. 

Promising  to  give  further  testimonials  of  his  fidelity,  with 
assurances  of  protection,  he  was  allowed  to  depart.  July  27  he 
returned  with  an  hundred  and  eighty  of  his  followers  and,  as  a 
peace  offering,  brought  in  Mattoonas,  with  his  son  Nehemiah, 
bound  with  withes.  A  military  necessity  was  supposed  to  exist 
for  the  immediate  trial  of  Mattoonas.  After  a  short  examina- 
tion he  was  adjudged  guilty  and  condemned  to  immediate  death. 
To  further  propitiate  the  favor  of  the  English,  John  begged,  for 
himself  and  followers,  the  privilege  of  executioners  of  the  sen- 
tence of  the  Court.  Mattoonas  (who  had  undoubtedly  led  the 
attack  upon  Mendon  at  the  dictation  of  Sagamore  John)  was 
accordingly  led  out,  tied  to  a  tree  on  Boston  Common,  and  shot 
by  the  Indians.  Afterwards  his  head  was  cut  off  and  mounted 
upon  a  pole,  opposite  that  of  his  son,  who  was  executed  for  a 
murder  committed  in  1671. 

Although  Hubbard,  in  his  History  of  the  Indian  War,  speaks 
of  Mattoonas  as  an  old  malicious  villain,  and  Increase  Mather, 
in  a  sermon  on  the  prevalence  of  prayer,  puts  himself  on  record 


80  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1680. 

with  equal  bitterness,  are  we  quite  sure  that  the  Indian  of  two 
hundred  years  ago  acted  under  a  rule  so  very  different  from  the 
martial  code  of  the  present  day?  To  King  Philip  and  his  allies 
it  must  have  been  plainly  seen,  by  this  time,  that  the  white  or 
the  Indian  race  must  be  exterminated  at  no  distant  period  of 
time;  and  is  it  strange  then  that  the  instinct  of  self-preservation 
should  lead  him  and  his  followers  to  an  attempt  to  avert  the 
imminent  danger  they  so  clearly  comprehended. 


1680.  Jan.  3.  The  following  is  the  record  of  the  first  town 
meeting  since  the  abandonment  of  the  town,  when  "  Dea.  Steven 
Cook,  Sergant  Joseph  White,  Ferdinando  Thayer,  Robert  Taft 
and  Samuel  Reed  were  chosen  Selectmen,  John  Cook,  Constable, 
John  Thompson  jr.  and  John  Rocket,  Surveyors  of  Highways, 
and  Samuel  Read,  Clark  of  the  Writs." 

At  this  meeting  no  other  business  was  transacted,  but  as 
another  meeting  was  held  Jan.  12th,  it  is  supposed  that,  either 
there  was  some  informality  about  the  choice  of  Selectmen  and 
Constable,  or  that  those  first  chosen  had  resigned.  Be  that  as 
it  may  be,  we  find  that  Deacon  Steven  Cook,  John  Thompson, 
Sgt.  Joseph  White.  Abraham  Staples  and  Samuel  Read  were 
chosen  for  Selectmen  and  James  Lovet,  Constable. 

During  this  month  we  find  that  the  Town  inaugurated  meas- 
ures for  the  erection  of  a  Minister's  and  a  Meeting  House,  as 
follows,  viz: — 

"Jan.  13.  Att  a  generall  Towne  meeting  It  pased  by  A  Clere  vote  to 
build  A  hous  26  foot  in  Length  18  foot  In  bredth,  14  foot  between  joynts, 
a  girt  hous  and  a  gabell  end  In  the  Roofe  and  a  Leantowe  att  one  end  of 
the  hous  the  bredth  of  it;  twelve  foot  wide  6  foot  between  joynts,  for  the 
Minister  that  shall  first  settle  with  us." 

For  the  erection  of  the  Minister's  house  the  town  voted,  Jan. 
22,  "  that  they  would  give  twenty  pounds,  four  pounds  would 
be  paid  in  money  and  Indian  corn  at  2  shillings  a  bushel  when 
it  should  be  raised,  and  the  remaining  sixteen  pounds  to  be  paid 
in  pork  at  2  pence  per  pound  and  Indian  Corn  at  2  shillings  per 
bushel,  011  or  before  the  25th  day  of  November  following." 

A  Meeting  House  was  contracted  for  as  follows,  viz : — 


1680.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  81 


"Articles  of  Agreement  between  Samuel  Hay  ward  on  the  one  party  and 
the  Townesmen  (Selectmen)  on  the  other. 

The  said  Samuel  Hayward  doth  ingage  to  begine  and  manige  the  frame 
of  a  Meeting  House  26  foot  in  length  and  24  foot  in  breadth,  a  girt  house, 
14  foot  between  Joynts.  From  the  beginning  to  the  raising  of  it  caling  in 
what  helpe  bee  scse  convenient,  and  giving  A  true  A  count  to  them  of  the 
days  work  that  are  done  both  by  himself  and  others,  and  what  time  they 
and  how  they  perform  the  work,  both  by  carting  and  other  labour,  allow- 
ing the  said  Hayward  3  shillings  a  day  for  his  labor  and  care  in  maniging 
of  this  work,  to  be  paid  in  currnte  pay  as  will  pas  betwen  man  and  man, 
and  to  procure -him  a  Cow  with  a  calf  or  a  calf  by  her  side,  as  soon  as  the 
frame  is  raised,  as  part  of  his  pay.  Abraham  Staples  ingaging  to  pay  the 
cow  if  no  other  be  procured,  the  said  Hayward  ingaging  to  have  the  frame 
redy  to  rais  by  the  last  of  May  next  insuing.  If  help  fail  him  then  to  make 
his  order  to  us  and  to  have  pay  produced  to  procure  help,  and  the  remain- 
der of  his  pay  to  be  paid  at  or  before  the  1st.  of  January  next  insuing,  and 
to  take  the  Cow  at  the  price  that  2  indifferent  men  shall  prize  her. 

In  the  performance  hereof  we  set  our  hands  this  17th  Jan.  1680. 

Samuel  Hayward. 
Steven  Cook 
Abraham  Staples 
Samuel  Read." 

As  is  generally  the  case  in  fixing  upon  a  site  for  public  build- 
ings, it  is  supposed  that  there  was  some  disagreement  in  the 
present  case,  as  we  find,  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  the 
Honored  Committee,  (Eleazer  Lusher,  William  Staughton  and 
William  Parke,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  General  Court  a 
committee  for  regulating  the  affairs  at  Mendon,)  a  town  meet- 
ing was  held  on  the  14th  of  July  "to  settle  matters  about 
the  meeting  house,"  and  Ferdinando  Thayer  and  Samuel 
Read  were  chosen  a  committee  to  carry  the  result,  what- 
ever it  might  be,  to  the  Hond  Committee  "the  last  fryday  of 
this  Instant  July."  What  was  done  towards  settling  the  meet- 
ing house  affair  is  not  known,  but,  as  we  hear  no  more  of  this 
matter,  it  is  believed  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  differences 
was  arrived  at. 

Aug.  10.  Joseph  Aldrich  was  chosen  "  sealler  of  waightsand 
mesyours  and  to  keepe  the  town  standerds,"  being  the  first 
person  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

"  Att  a  Generall  Towne  Meetting  4  October  1680  the  towne  Agreed  and 
it  pased  by  a  Clere  vote  that  they  would  give  Mr.  Grindall  Rawson  a  Call 
H 


82  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1680. 

to  the  work  of  the  ministry  for  this  yere  In  order  to  his  further  settlement; 
and  all  so  that  they  would  give  him  twenty  pound  In  corrent  New  Eng- 
land mony  and  his  bord  and  a  hors  to  be  kept  for  his  servis.  Tenn  pound 
of  the  said  money  to  bee  paid  att  or  before  the  25th  of  March  the  other  tenn 
pound  aft  or  before  the  25th,  of  September  next  Insuing. " 

Oct.  21.  Samuel  Read  agreed  to  board  Mr.  Eawson  for  one 
year  for  thirteen  pounds,  in  country  pay,  at  the  prices  following, 
viz:  Wheat  at  5s.,  Eye  4s.,  Indian  Corn  3s.  a  bushel;  butter  6 
pence  a  pound,  pork  3d.,  mutton  3d.,  beef  2d.  half  penny,  and 
12  pound  of  tallow  besides  the  thirteen  pound.  Joseph  White 
agreed  to  keep  his  horse  one  year  for  forty  shillings  in  town 
pay. 

Edward  Eawson,  the  father  of  Grindal  Eawson,  was  born  in 
Gillingham,  Dorsetshire,  England,  April  15,  1615,  and  married, 
in  England,  Eachel  Perne,  grand-daughter  of  John  Hooker,  the 
celebrated  divine,  whose  wife  was  a  Grindal,  sister  to  Edmund 
Grindal,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth. Edward  Eawson  came  to  this  country  and  was  one  of  the 
grantees  of  the  town  of  Newbury  as  early  as  1637.  He  was  the 
first  Town  Clerk  there,  and  held  that  office  by  successive  annual 
elections  until  1649,  when  he  was  elected  Secretary  to  the  Colony. 
This  office  he  continued  to  hold  until  the  usurpation  of  the 
Government  by  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  in  1686,  when  Eandolph 
succeeded  him.  Mr.  Eawson,  on  his  removal  to  Boston,  lived 
in  Eawsoms  lane,  so  called,  it  is  presumed,  out  of  compliment  to 
him.     Eawson's  lane  is  now  known  as  Bromfield  street. 

Grindal  was  the  twelfth  son  of  Edward  Eawson,  and  was  born 
in  Eawson's  lane,  in  Boston,  Jan.  23,  1659,  and  died  at  Mendon 
Feb.  6,  1715,  aged  56.  He  married  Susanna  Wilson,  daughter  of 
Eev.  John  Wilson,  the  first  minister  of  Medfield,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Eev.  John  Wilson,  the  first  minister  of  Boston.  The 
year  of  his  marriage  is  not  established,  but  as  he  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1678,  began  to  preach  in  Mendon  in  1680, 
and  the  town  voted  "to  transport  his  goods  free  of  charge  in 
1682,"  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  he  was  then  married. 

The  names  of  Edmund,  Grindal,  Perne,  Hooker,  Wilson, 
Edward  and  Secretary  are,  to  this  day,  favorite  names  among 
the  widely  scattered  and  numerous  descendants  of  Edward 
Eawson. 


1681.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  83 

1681.  Jan.  2.  The  town  officers  for  this  year  are  as  follows, 
viz:  Deacon  Steven  Cook,  Serg.  Joseph  White,  John  Thompson, 
Sen1-.,  Abraham  Staples  and  Samuel  Read,  Selectmen;  John 
Rockit,  Constable,  and  James  Albee  and  Elizer  Wheelock,  Sur- 
veyors of  the  Highways. 

Feb.  2.  It  was  voted  that,  "if  Mr.  Raivson  settle  with  us,  he 
shall  have  his  great  Lot  laid  out  before  any  others  that  are  not 
already  laid  out  and  his  Doubling  Lot  before  any  others." 

By  a  vote  of  the  town,  passed  A})ril  14,  1G72,  it  was  decreed 
that  every  forty  acre  house  lot  shall  be  made  up,  two  hundred 
acres  of  upland,  besides  swamps  and  meadows,  as  was  settled  by 
the  Committee  22d  of  July,  1662.  The  land  taken  up  beyond 
the  house  lot  to  make  up  the  two  hundred  was  called  the  Great 
Lot  and  the  land  by  future  divisions  the  Doubling  Lot. 

It  seems  the  minister's  house  was  not  yet  finished,  and  Walter 
Cook,  Robert  Taft  and  Samuel  Hayward  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  see  that  it  should  be  completed  by  the  25th  of  Novem- 
ber next. 

John  Bartlett,  it  is  supposed,  was  the  contractor  for  building 
the  minister's  house,  from  the  fact  that,  Nov.  14,  it  was  voted 
that  a  rate  for  the  sixteen  pound  "  dew  to  John  Bartlett "  should 
be  made  to  be  paid  "the  one  half  In  Indian  Corn  att  2  shillings 
a  bushell  and  the  other  half  in  pork  at  2  pence  a  pound,"  this 
being  the  sum  that  was  to  be  paid  when  the  house  was  finished. 

The  foregoing  items  comprise  all  the  matters  of  interest  re- 
corded in  the  town  records. 

The  two  following  petitions,  to  be  found  in  the  Archives  of 
the  State,  will  complete  the  historical  memoranda  for  the  year: 

"  To  the  Honourable  General  Court  now  sitting  in  Boston: 

The  Humble  Petition  of  Samuel  Read,  late  Constable  of  Mendon, 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  in  the  summer  of  1675,  in  July,  there  were  two  rates  committed 
to  your  Petitioner  to  gather,  and  in  the  same  mouth  the  Indians  fell  in 
upon  us  to  our  ruin,  therein  some  were  slaine,  others  fled  to  Rhode-Island 
&  their  rate  cannot  be  had.  Your  Petitioner  with  great  Paines  hath  gath- 
ered all  the  said  rates  except  three  pounds  twelve  shillings,  which  cannot 
possibly  be  obtayned  nor  myself  able  to  pay  it. 

I  humbly  therefore  pray  this  Honoured  Court  will  pleas  to  remitt  the 
same,  there  being  no  fault  on  my  part  why  the  same  cannot  be  had. 
And  yr  Petitioner  shall  pray 

Samuel  Read. 


84  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1681. 

The  Magistrates  Grant  a  remission  of  the  £3.  12s.,  our  brethren  the  Dep- 
utyes  Consenting. 

J.  Dudley,  pr.  order. 

May  17.  81 

Consented  to  by  the  Deputys, 

William  Torrey,  Clericus. 

Ecclesiastical,  Vol.  2,  p.  13. 

To  the  Honble  Court  Now  Sitting  at  Boston. 

The  Humble  Petition  or  Address  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Township  of 
Mendon. 

Much  Honoured, 

As  ye  deplorable  and  desolating  effects  of  ye  late  Indian  Warre 
(wherein  many  Townes  were  wholly  ruined  and  depopulated  by  ye  prevail- 
ing and  overbearing  of  ye  Insulting  Foe,)  have  made,  we  doubt  not, 
impressions  on  yr  minds  soe  deep  and  abiding  that  they  can  not  easily  be 
forgotten,  or  erased,  so  also  have  we  no  cause  to  question  that  you  can  in 
ye  least  wise  be  ignorant  that  your  poor  petitioners  were  great  sharers  in 
those  Public  Calamities.  Our  great  and  speaking  losses  (which  we  groan 
under  to  this  very  day)  enforced  us  to  make  an  Application  to  yr  honod 
selves  formerly,  for  reliefe  and  succor  from  under  ye  heavy  pressures  of 
our  sad  &  lamentable  conditions :  Wee  then  experienced  both  a  readiness  to 
hear  &  a  willingness  to  relieve  us  when  our  case  was  almost  hopeless  and 
helpness  also,  had  not  God  stirred  up  your  hearts  to  pitty  and  commissera- 
tion.  It  was  then  your  pleasure,  much  Honoured,  not  only  to  take 
our  condition  into  yr  prudent  consideration,  but  also  to  make  us 
ye  objects  of  yr  compassion  &  ye  subjects  of  yr  pious  care,  Ordering  and 
Enacting  that  we  should  be  freed  from  Public  Rates  for  three  years,  and 
also,  that  all  Proprietors  whether  resident  or  non-resident  should  bear  their 
equal  proportion  in  Town  Charges  ye  like  space,  for  ye  advancement  &  en- 
couragement of  our  undertaking  ye  settlement  of  ye  place  &  Rebuilding  of 
our  Ruined  habitations;  neither  can  we  ever  be  so  ungrateful  as  to  bury  in 
forgetfulness,  much  less  to  pass  by  in  silence  without  due  and  deserved 
thankfulness  &  acknowledgments,  so  great  and  good  a  favor,  that  you  were 
pleased  to  desire  &  Appoint  yr  much  honored  Joseph  Dudley  Esq.,  Capt. 
Daniel  Fisher  &  Mr.  Thomas  Weld  to  be  a  Committee  over  us  for  ye  more 
comfortable  and  prudent  management  of  or  public  concernments,  that 
peaceable  order  &  orderly  peace,  might  be  continued  &  maintained  amongst 
us,  (ye  want  of  which  doe  most  commonly  proove  ye  overthrow  of  new 
Plantations)  whose  pious  care  and  zealous  pains  for  our  best  good  and  wel- 
fare we  have  largely  experienced,  and  desire,  with  thankfulness  and  grati- 
tude, to  be  reminded  of  our  former  experiences  of  your  forward  Inclinations 
to  pitty  &  commisserate  ye  low  condition  of  such  as  make  their  Address 
unto  y  honerd  selves  for  succor,  embolden  us  to  make  our  further  suite  for 


1681.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  85 


your  wonted  favour  and  invite  us  to  spread  our  lamentable  condition  before 
your  Honours. 

May  it  please  you  to  consider 

That  when  we  made  or  petition  formerly  for  such  favors  as  we  then 
obtained  (although  with  a  restriction  unto  the  tearme  of  three  years)  we 
doubted  not  but  that  after  we  had  broke  through  and  had  underwent  ye 
first  brunt  &  heat  of  ye  day  we  should  have  been  seconded  by  others  in  ye 
undertaking  and  that  mpst  if  not  all  of  ye  Proprieters,  would  have  repaired 
to  their  lands  to  have  built  and  settled  upon  ye  same.  But  many  under- 
standing that  they  were  to  bear  Town  charges  no  longer  than  three  years 
&  hoping  that,  afterwards,  their  lands  should  be  free  of  charge,  have  de- 
ferred their  coming  up,  so  that,  when  this  time  shall  be  expired  (which 
will  be  in  May  next  Ensuing)  we  shall  be  in  as  bad  if  not  worse  condition 
than  ever,  utterly  unable  to  carry  on  anything,  either  for  ye  good  of  Towne, 
Church  or  Commonwealth  to  affect.  Your  were  pleased  to  give  it  to  or 
Honerd  Committee  as  one  of  their  instructions  (and  that  none  of  least 
weighty  &  difficult)  to  endeavour  the  settlement  of  a  Minister  amongst  us, 
who  have  earnestly  and  faithfully  laboured  to  see  your  godly  desires 
effected,  so  far  as  that  we  are  att  present  possessed  of  so  great  a  Mercy,  yet 
not  without  fears  of  a  bereavement  in  y'  we  are  not  of  ourselves,  without 
ye  help  of  other  Proprietors,  able  to  procure  him  a  comfortable  subsistence. 
Wee  are  bold  to  presume  that,  as  you  have  solicitously  desired  our  greatest 
welfare  in  that  respect,  you  will  also  endeavour  the  continuance  of  it  &  not 
suffer  us  to  be  bereaved,  because  our  shoulders' are  too  weak,  alone,  to 
sustain  so  great  a  burden.  Wee  desire  earnestly  not  to  be  (and  hope  we  are 
not)  of  ye  number  of  those  who  dwell  in  their  ceiled  houses  &  yet  say  the 
time  is  not  come  that  ye  Lord's  house  should  be  built.  We  have  gone  to 
the  outside  of  our  strength  &  have  so  far  laid  aside  our  private  concern- 
ments that  our  Meeting  and  Minister's  house  are  raised,  yet,  notwith- 
standing, must  they,  of  necessity,  lie  and  rot  for  want  of  ability  (not  will) 
in  us  to  carry  them  on  to  a  finishing,  unless  others,  who  are  proprietors  as 
well  as  ourselves  (ye  price  of  whose  lands  is  much  raysed  by  our  carrying 
on  public  work  &  will  be  nothing  worth  if  we  are  forced  to  quit  the  place) 
doo  beare  an  equal  share  in  Town  Charges  with  us.  Those  who  are  not  yet 
come  up  to  us  are  a  great  and  far  yet  abler  part  of  our  Proprietors,  without 
whose  aid  and  assistance  the  work  and  worship  of  God  must  lye  wast 
amongst  us  we  ourselves  being  unable  to  carry  them  on.  Many,  as  we 
understand,  would  come  up  and  settle  amongst  us  were  they  but  assured  of 
the  continuance  of  ye  publick  worship  of  God  amongst  us  by  ye  ministry 
of  his  word,  of  which  we  shall  most  assuredly  be  bereaved  unless  your 
seasonable  authority  be  interposed  &  prevent  such  a  fatall  calamity. 

Our  Request  therefore  is,  That  it  will  please  your  Hond  selves  to  take  or 
condition  so  far  into  your  consideration  as  to  establish  and  Enact  ye  con- 
tinuance of  your  gracious  order  for  all  Proprietors  bearing  their  share  in 
Town  charges,  that  so  we  may  not  be  forced  to  quit  our  houses  and  lands 
&  desert  ye  place,  which  otherwise  we  shall  be  necessitated  to  doe  unless 


86  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1682. 

we  will  be  contentd  to  live  like  Heathen,  without  hearing  ye  word  preached 
&  so  entail  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing  upon  ourselves  and  posterity. 
And  how  can  we  endure  to  see  the  evil  that  will  come  upon  our  posterity 
&  see  ye  sad  destruction  of  such  dear  relations?  Our  Honoured  Committee 
who  are  in  no  wise  ignorant  of  our  condition,  can  sufficiently  acquaint  your 
Hond  selves  with  ye  deplorableness  of  our  affairs,  and  that  it  will  be  rather 
more  lamentable  (if  that  can  be)  than  we  have  expressed,  unless  your 
timely  favour  prevent  it.  Dunstable,  Marlborough,  Lancaster  &  Groton 
(as  we  understand)  enjoy  the  privilege  we  petition  for,  and  we  are  not 
willing  to  neglect  any  means  to  obtain  ye  same,  least  we  should  be  accused 
as  ye  blameworthy  cause  of  our  own  miseries. 

Let  it  therefore  please  your  Honour*1  selves  by  your  clemency  to  prevent 
such  great  calamities  as  will  otherwise  befall  us  &  Ensue,  namely  ye  loss  of 
y"  means  of  Grace  or  else  our  deserting  our  habitations  to  ye  utter  undoing 
of  ourselves  &  children. 
And  your  poor  Petitioners  shall  ever  pray, 

Stephen  Cook,  James  Lovett, 

Joseph  White,  Senr,  Abraham  Staples, 

Ferdinando  Thayer,  John  Rockett, 

Saml.  Read,  John  Cooke, 

John  Thompson,  Jr.,  Saml.  Cooke, 

Robert  Taft,  Dennis  Darling, 

Samuel  Hayward,  Jona.  Thayer, 

Eleazer  Wheelock,  Peter  Holbrook, 

John  Thompson  Sen1*,  John  Dayley. 

Walter  Cook, 

In  answer  to  this  Petition  the  Magistrates  judge  Meete  to  continue  their 
late  order  referring  to  y"  proprietors  of  lands  in  Mendon  who  are  not  resi- 
dent nor  do  improve  their  sd  lands,  to  be  rated  in  Town  Charges  as  those 
that  are  present  upon  the  place  for  the  next  three  years  after  ye  former 
time,  and  ye  Committee  of  this  Court  for  ye  managing  of  the  affayrs  of  ye 
Towne  Continue  their  Care  and  Government  as  formerly. 

The  Magistrates  have  past  this  their  brethren  the  deputyes  thereto  con- 
senting. 

Edward  Rawson,  Secy. 

Consented  to  by  y«  Deputyes 

William  Torrey,  Clericus. 


1682.  Jan.  1.  The  first  business  transacted  was  tlie  adop- 
tion of  instructions  to  the  Selectmen.  In  the  first  place  they 
were  to  make  such  orders  as  should  clear  the  town  from  the 
penalty  of  the  law.      Among  other  directions  they  were  to  see 


1682.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  87 

that  the  minister  was  promptly  paid,  that  the  bounds  he  sought 
out  and  established  between  the  common  lands  and  those  of 
proprietors,  between  man  and  man,  and  that  the  boundaries  of 
the  highways  be  settled.  They  were  to  see  that  the  boundaries 
were  recorded  and  that  each  proprietor  had  a  good  right  and  title 
to  the  land  he  claimed. 

Having  completed  their  instructions  the  town  then  chose  for 
Selectmen,  Simon  Peck,  Sergt.  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples, 
James  Lovett  and  Samuel  Read.  John  Rocket  for  Constable, 
and  Ferdinando  Thayer  and  John  Thompson,  Jr.,  Surveyors  of 
Highways. 

THE    FIRST   SAW   MILL. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  grant  Josiah  Chapin  (who  had 
bought  the  lot  and  land  of  Joseph  Juell,)  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
the  east  side  of  Muddy  Brook,  if  he  would  build  a  saw  mill  on  that 
stream.  At  the  present  day  one  would  hardly  think  of  investing 
his  money  in  a  saw  mill  on  Muddy  Brook.  But  we  must  remem- 
ber that  the  face  of  the  country  has  become  very  much  changed 
since  the  days  of  Sergeant  Chapin.  The  water  shed,  which  sup- 
plied the  brook  above  the  contemplated  mill  in  1682,  was 
undoubtedly  covered  with  the  primeval  forest.  This  would  so 
retard  evaporation  that  during  the  late  fall,  winter  and  spring 
months  a  sufficient  supply  of  water  would  be  furnished  for  the 
proposed  water  power.  At  this  time  but  little  remains  to  mark 
the  spot  where  the  first  saw  mill  in  Mendon  was  erected. 

Jan  5.  Ferdinando  Thayer,  Simon  Peck  and  Abraham  Sta- 
ples were  chosen  a  committee  to  "  Rectifie  Mr  Rawson's  Chim- 
neyes."  It  is  supposed  there  was  some  radical  fault  in  them,  as 
they  were  to  be  wholly  taken  down  and  rebuilt. 

Jan.  18.  "  Att  a  general  Towne  meeting  It  pased  by  a  Clere  vote  that 
Mr.  Rawson,  for  the  yere  in  being  shall  have  forty  five  pounds  for  a  Con- 
sideration of  his  Labours  amungst  us;  fifteen  pounds  money  starling  of 
New  England,  ye  Rest  in  such  other  Country  Commoditys  as  wee  Pays 
amungst  us,  and,  if  he  shall  desire  at  a  sixt  part  abatement  of  the  Country 
prise  as  it  goes  between  man  and  man ;  for  the  next  yere  fifty  five  pounds, 
fifteen  In  Corent  mony  of  New  England,  the  Rest  in  the  same  specie  above, 
and  afterwards  as  his  Necessity  shall  apparently  Call  for,  and  In  case  any 
Inhabitant  shall  see  Reson  he  shall  have  liberty  to  pay  all  his  wholl  propor- 
tion in  mony  upon  ye  same  abatement," 


88  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1683. 

July  21.  Joseph  White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Simon  Peck,  Samuel 
Hay  ward  and  James  Lovett  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  Re- 
new  our  hold  of  Mr.  Rawson  for  his  continuance  with  us  for  the 
futer,  and  doe  give  them  full  power  to  acte  in  the  behalf  of  the 
Towne,  as  If  themselves  ware  present,  and  to  Rest  satisfied  In 
what  they  doe." 

Ministerial  candidates  were  not  so  numerous  at  this  time  as 
with  us  of  the  present  day,  nor  were  the  people  then  so  readily 
blown  about  by  every  wind  of  doctrine,  consequently  our  ancestors 
were  saved  from  the  usual  wranglings  and  heart-burnings  which, 
in  modern  times,  too  frequently  grow  out  of  the  settlement  of  a 
new  minister. 

Oct.  25.  Sergeant  Josiah  Chapin  was  chosen  Surveyor,  and 
Dennis  Darling,  John  Rocket  and  Edward  Lineford  had  grants 
of  land. 

The  Selectmen  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  made  rules  that 
all  swine  over  eight  weeks  old  should  be  "yoked  and  wringed  " 
before  the  25th  of  March;  that  "stone  horses,"  going  at  large, 
should  be  "aproned  off  according  to  law;"  that  horses  "that 
Continually  Keep  and  feed  in  the  road,"  shall  be  sufficiently 
shackled  or  clogged;  that  all  fences  should  be  repaired  before  the 
25th  of  March,  and  that  all  trees  felled  within  half  a  mile  of  any 
house  should  be  cut  up  within  three  months,  under  a  penalty  of 
five  shillings  for  every  tree.  The  danger  of  leaving  combustible 
matter  in  proximity  to  the  buildings  is  supposed  to  be  the  reason 
for  this  last  rule. 


1683.  Jan.  1.  Josiah  Chapin,  Simon  Peck,  Ferdinando 
Thayer,  James  Lovett  and  Samuel  Read  were  chosen  Selectmen; 
Samuel  Cook,  Constable,  and  Josiah  Chapin  and  Ferdinando 
Thayer,  Surveyors  of  Highways. 

At  this  meeting  a  committee  of  nine  were  chosen,  of  which 
Joseph  White  was  chairman,  "  to  purize  the  Town  book  and  to 
see  what  there  was  upon  Record  that  might  bee  prejudyshall  to 
the  peace  of  the  town,  and  allso  to  take  a  draught  oute  of  the 
Town  Booke  of  all  those  Records  that  doe  Interfere  one  upon 
another  and  present  them  to  the  towne, " 


1683.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  89 

It  wtis  voted  that  none  but  those  who  have  allotments  of  land 
should  have  the  privilege  to  cut  trees  for  wood  or  timber  or 
other  ways  upon  common  lands,  without  liberty  from  the  town. 

Sent.  17.  The  Selectmen  were  instructed  to  draw  up  an 
instrument  to  convey  to  Mr.  Eawson  "that  land  which  was 
formerly  Common  Land  &  that  Land  which  was  formerly  ye 
Ministryes  Home  lot  together  with  all  Meadows  belonging  to  ye 
Ministreye's  Lott  &  ye  Lott  called  ye  Schoole  lot  with  all  rights 
and  privileges  belonging  to  ye  same." 

The  Selectmen  were  also  instructed  to  appoint  Surveyors  of 
the  Highways  who,  according  to  their  discretion,  shall  mend  the 
same.  They  had  power  to  call  upon  any  man  for  work,  and 
upon  four  days  notice  should  any  refuse  to  work,  they  were  to 
pay  a  fine  of  five  shillings,  and  if  summoned  with  a  team,  ten 
shillings. 

"The  Returne  of  Mr  Rawson's  Home  Lott,  containing  forty  Acres. 

Butting  North  East  upon  a  small  piece  of  Common  Land  Lying  between 
ye  said  Lott  and  the  hyway  Leading  to  Simon  Peck's ;  south  east  upon  the 
north  side  of  Mr.  Emerson's  Home  lott,  Returning  upon  a  southeast  line 
heading  Mr  Emerson's  John  Harber's  and,  partly  George  Aldrich's  Home 
Lott ;  thence  upon  a  south  west  line  of  marked  trees  partly  upon  a  piece 
of  common  Swamp  and  partly  upon  the  north  end  of  Mr.  Emerson's  second 
division;  westerly  and  northerly  upon  a  hyway  Leading  by  Philip 
King's  Lott  to  Common  Land  and  partly  upon  a  hyway  leading  to  the 
South  Meadowes." 

In  consideration  that  the  town  could  not  give  a  good  title  to 
the  ministry  lot,  they  voted  him  thirty  acres  of  land  where  he 
shall  choo'se  it,  and  also  the  improvement  of  the  ministry  lot,  he 
to  lie  paid  for  any  betterment  he  shall  have  made,  "as  Eashonall 
men  shall  judg "  which  shall  be  reimbursed  to  him  or  his 
heirs. 

Oct.  23.  A  survey  of  the  town  was  made,  Serg.  Ellis,  of  Ded- 
ham,  being  employed  as  Surveyor,  and  was  settled  as  follows, 
viz: — Starting  upon  Charles  Eiver  and  running  four  miles,  want- 
ing forty  rods,  to  the  northeast  corner  at  a  stake  and  stones  in 
Hoppins  meadow;  thence  turning  and  running  westerly  to  the 
northwestern  corner  one  hundred  rods  beyond  the  Great  Eiver 
(now  Blackstone,)  eight  and  one-half  miles;  thence  turning  and 
running  due  south  eight  miles  to  the  southwest  corner  to  a 

12 


90  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1683. 

chestnut  tree,  upon  the  northern  side  of  a  great  hill;  thence 
turning  easterly  about  three  miles  to  the  Monhegin  river,  (now 
the  Branch,)  crossing  it  several  times,  and  so  on  to  the  Great 
River,  upon  the  south  side  of  the  Falls,  (Woonsocket)  and  then 
with  said  river  to  Dedham  line;  thence  turning  and  running 
northerly  four  miles  and  forty  rods.  This  last  line,  not  men- 
tioned in  the  description,  is  taken  from  the  original  survey. 
From  this  we  learn  nothing  about  starting  from  the  Dedham 
Tree  and  running  one  mile  east  to  the  point  where  this  survey 
began. 

Nov.  18.  The  Selectmen  ordered  that  all  timber  cut  down  in 
the  pine  and  cedar  swamps  should  be  removed  on  or  before  the 
last  day  of  February  next,  upon  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  the 
timber  and  five  shillings  a  tree  to  the  informer;  and  if  in  the 
future  any  trees  or  buts  for  clapboards  or  shingles  shall  remain 
longer  than  six  days,  they  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  penalty, 
one  half  to  the  informer  and  one  half  to  the  town. 

The  following  items  •  complete  the  town  record  for  the  year 
1683:— 

Nov.  19.  Those  whose  names  are  underwritten  were  found  to 
be  indebted  to  the  town  for  unpaid  taxes  and  grass,  viz : — 

Peter  Aldrich,  for  1680—1681  &  1683 £1.08.02 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Browne,  for  1683 2.00.00 

Wid.  Ruth  Bundy,  for  1680,  1681  &  1683 6.08.01 

John  Aldrich,  for  1682,  for  Grass,  per  Walter  Cook 0.12.10 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Browne  was  the  relict  of  Rev.  Joseph  Emer- 
son,- the  second  minister  of  the  town. 

The  widow  Ruth  Bundy,  as  she  is  recorded  as  the  relict  of 
John  Gurney,  formerly  of  Mendon,  was,  without  much  doubt, 
the  widow  Gurney  that  Matthias  Puffer  took  from  Mendon  when 
the  town  gave  him  liberty  to  go  to  Braintree  to  look  after  his 
children,  in  1675;  and  the  fact  of  her  marrying  and  again  be- 
coming a  widow,  and  no  mention  made  of  John  Gurney  since 
that  time,  seems  to  corroborate  the  truth  of  the  supposition  that 
he  was  among  the  slain  in  the  Indian  attack  upon  Mendon  in 
1675,  as  heretofore  inferred. 


1684.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  91 

1684.  Jan.  9.  Simon  Peck,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Sta- 
ples, James  Lovett  and  Samuel  Eead  were  chosen  Selectmen; 
Jonathan  Thayer,  Constable,  and  John  Kockett  and  Samuel 
Read,  Highway  Surveyors. 

When  the  town  was  burned  in  the  winter  of  1675-6,  Benjamin 
Albee's  grist  mill  was  embraced  in  the  general  calamity.  Dur- 
ing the  four  or  five  years  since  the  return  of  the  inhabitants 
there  was  probably  no  mill  nearer  than  Medfleld  or  Wrentham, 
and  with  no  means  of  transportation  but  the  cart  and  oxen,  or 
a  bag  and  boy  on  a  horse,  the  privilege  of  "going  to  mill" 
could  not  be  regarded  as  a  sinecure,  especially  when  the  journey 
must  have  occupied  two  days  and  a  night. 

To  remedy  this  inconvenience  the  town  entered  into  the  fol- 
lowing 

"  CONTRACT   TO    BUILD    A    CORN    MILL. 

Articles  of  Agreement  made  and  concluded  (Jan.  9,  1684)  between 
Matthias  Puffer  and  the  Town  of  Mendon 

First,  that  ye  sd  pufer  doth  agree  to  and  with  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon, 
to  build  a  sufficient  Corne  Mill  in  some  convenient  place  for  the  town's 
use  upon  the  same  stream  the  former  Mill  stood  upon,  and  in  case  ye  sd 
puffer  build  ye  Mill  below  ye  place  ye  former  Mill  stood  and  thereby  pond 
in  the  Country  Road,  then  the  sd  puffer  by  these  presents  dus  bind  himself 
to  make  and  maintain  a  sufficient  Cart  bridge  for  the  Country's  use. 

2ndly.  In  case  ye  sd  puffer  build  the  said  Mill  above  the  other  mill  pond 
upon  the  Town's  land,  then  ye  said  puffer  shall  have  ye  land  that  he  ponds 
and  also  Ingress  and  Egress  to  the  Mill  during  the  time  of  the  Mill's  stand- 
ing and  Remaining  serviceable  for  the  town's  use ;  afterwards  ye  sd  Land 
Returne  to  ye  Town  again. 

3dly.  The  sd  puffer  dus  Ingage  to  maintaine  the  sd  Mill  twenty  years  for 
ye  town's  use  and  to  provide  a  Miller  from  time  to  time  as  may  be  satisfac- 
tory to  ye  mair  part  of  ye  towne. 

4thly.  The  said  puffer  doth  Ingage  to  erect  ye  sd  Mill  and  furnish  the  same 
att  or  before  the  last  of  October  Next  insuing  the  date  hereof. 

Matthias  Puffer 
Signed  in  presents  of  us  His  M.  Mark  " 

James  Albee 
Joseph  White,  Junr. 

Upon  the  performance  of  every  part  and  particular  specified, 
the  town  contracted  to  pay  said  Puffer  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds, 


92  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1684. 

ten  pounds  in  current  money  of  New  England,  and  five  in  mer- 
chantable country  pay. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Puffer  was  to  build  the  mill,  keep  it  in 
order  and  provide  a  miller  for  twenty  years,  and  for  the  due 
fulfillment  of  these  covenants  he  bound  himself  in  the  penal 
sum  of  thirty  pounds  to  pay  back  the  fifteen  pounds,  "ten 
pounds  in  money  and  five  pounds  in  Country  pay. "  This  bond 
was  dated  April  16,  1685. 

SETTLEMENT   OF    REV.   GRINDAL    RAWSON,  THE  THIRD  MINISTER. 

7  Aprill  1684  att  a  gneral  towne  nietting  of  the  Inhabitants, 

It  pased  by  Clere  vote  that  In  order  to  the  Settelrnent  of  Mr.  Grindal 

Rawson  In  the  work  of  the  Ministry  amonst  us  they  would  doe  for  him  as 

followeth. 

Imp9  that  they  will  give  for  yerely  Sallery  Fifty  five  pounds  to  bee  paid 
as  followeth,  fifteen  pounds  per  annum  in  Starling  money  of  New  England 
and  forty  pounds  more  to  bee  paid  in  good  marchantabell  country  pay  such 
as  the  towne  Rayseth. 

2ndly,  that  they  will  give  him,  for  a  forty  acre  lott,  one  Cord  of  wood 
yerly  and  so  pro  portionably  for  Lotts  of  Lesser  quantity  to  be  delivered 
att  his  dore. 

31y,  that  they  will  upon  the  twenty  lift  October  and  the  twenty  rift  of 
March  pay  him  his  Sallery,  the  one  half  upon  the  one  day  and  the  other 
half  upon  the  other  day. 

41y,  that  they  will  give  their  Selectmen  Anuall  Instructions  to  make  A 
Rate  for  his  Sallery  and  that  they  take  order  for  the  gathering  of  it  and  de- 
livering it  to  him :  this  wee  promis  to  give  att  present  and  afterwards  as 
God  shall  Inable  us  and  the  wants  of  his  family  shall  call  for,  hee  settling 
with  us,  ministering  to  us  and  not  Removing  from  us  with  out  just  grounds 
Arising  from  ourselves  as  shall  be  judged  by  a  Counsell  of  Congregationall 
principals,  mutually  chosen. 

51y,  That  they  will  upon  his  taking  office  Relation  w*h  them  settell  that 
hous  and  forty  acre  House  lott  which  he  is  now  in  possession  of  with  all 
devitions  of  Land  and  Meadow  (a  Cording  to  the  agreement  he  made  with 
the  towne  fifteenth  of  October  sixteen  hundred  eighty  and  three  as  apeers 
upon  the  town  records  p.p.  74  &  75  (and  also  in  this  book,  p.  89,)  belong- 
ing there  unto  as  much  as  to  any  other  lot  of  that  bigness,  with  all  other 
Comon  Rights  and  privileges  there  unto  belonging;  he  taking  office 
amonst  them,  they  there  upon  promise  to  Record  sd  Lott,  the  grant  and 
title  there  of  free  and  clere  and  in  the  same  terms  their  own  Lands  are  Re- 
corded in. 

These  proposals  and  every  particular  of  them  I  doe  freely  accept  of  & 


1684.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  93 


fully  acquiesce  in,  in  order  to  ye  end  therein  specified,   ye  day  and  year 
above  mentioned  as  witness  my  hand 

GUINDAL   RaWSON. 

Signed  as  above  in  presence  of 

Joseph  White 

Josiah  Chapin 

Simon  Peck  , 

James  Lovett 

Samuel  Read. 
Mendon  Nov.  2,  .  84 

Although  Mr.  Rawson  was  not  settled  until  the  present  date, 
we  have  seen  that  he  had  been  preaching  here  since  October  4, 
1680,  when  he  received  a  call  from  the  town  to  be  their  min- 
ister. 

Then  and  there  Reconed  with  ye  Selectmen  for  ye  three  Last  years  past 
and  all  accounts  betwen  myself  and  them  as  they  stand  Engaged  on  the 
towne's  behalf  to  see  the  severall  payments  for  that  terme  discharged  upon 
the  receipt  of  which  payments  allready  made  I  aequitt  them,  and  ye  towne 
by  them,  of  every  part  and  persell  hereof,  as  witness  my  hand  ye  day  and 
year  above  Expressed. 

Grindal  Rawson. 

20: 11 :  84.  Ye  Selectmen  do  order  and  agree  that  the  orders  of  1683  shall 
continue  in  force,  and  that  John  Rockett  and  James  Albee  be  fence 
viewers  for  the  south  end  of  the  town  and  John  Thompson  jr.  and  Joseph 
White  jr.  for  the  north  end  of  the  town,  Jacob  Aldrich  and  John  Cook  to 
look  after  stone  horses  and  swine. 

The  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  examine  the  bounds  of 
of  the  highways  very  probably  reported  about  this  time,  as  we 
find  the  town  voted  "  that  all  thos  that  any  ways  had  Intrenched 
upon  the  hyways  are  to  leve  sd  lands  and  make  the  hyways  strait 
ye  full  breadth  of  ten  Rod" 

It  is  supposed  the  pine  plains  were  not  at  this  time  consid- 
ered so  valuable  as  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  town,  as  we 
find  this  year  that  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  had  liberty  to 
leave  land  "  in  ye  pine  plain  and  take  it  elsewhere." 

Simon  Peck,  Abraham  Staples  and  Samuel  Read  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  have  seats  made  in  the  meeting  house,  which,  as 
no  mention  is  made  of  any  other  location,  is  supposed  to  have 
been  erected  on  the  site  of  the  one  burned  by  the  Indians. 

The  following  petition  is   inserted  to  show   the  method   in 


94  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1684. 

which  Probate  business  was  transacted  in  early  times,  and  the 
minuteness  of  the  inventory: — 

To  the  Honerd  General  Court  now  sitting  in  Boston  This  8th.  of  May 
1684,  The  Humble  Petition  of  Sarah  Stephens  of  Mendon,  Humbly 
Shewe'th, 

That  whereas  Your  Poor  Petitioner,  a  Distressed  Widdow  having  been 
left  with  three  small  Children  (all  of  them  Daughters)  by  her  late  husband, 
Joseph  Stephens,  who  deceased  in  the  Time  of  the  late  Indian  war,  Intes- 
tate. Your  poore  petitioner,  according  to  law,  brought  in  a  true  Inventory 
of  her  said  husband's  estate,  as  by  said  Inventory  sworn  in  Court  Dec.  3. 
1677  doth  appear.  The  substance  of  the  Moveables  (Therein  Mentioned) 
consisting  of  things  Necessary  for  familjr  use  are,  for  the  most  part,  spent 
upon  your  petitioner  and  her  children,  save  only  such  as  could  not  be  any 
ways  by  her  improved.  The  other  part  of  his  estate,  viz,  Lands  amount- 
ing (according  to  apprizement)  to  about  thirty  pounds,  which  is,  at  present, 
the  substance  of  what  is  left  for  your  poor  petitioner  and  her  children  to 
live  upon.  Your  Petitioner  having  Administration  granted  upon  the 
estate  hath  hitherto,  for  the  most  part,  provided  for  herself  and  children, 
viz,  for  her  owne  and  their  wearing  apparel  &  most  of  their  provision ; 
likewise  your  poore  petitioner  humbly  prays  that  this  Honerd  Court  would, 
according  to  their  wonted  favor  to  such  in  her  condition,  please  to  settle 
fhe  land  aforesaid  upon  your  petitioner,  who  Desires  that  said  land  may  be 
bound  over  to  respond  whatever  your  Honers  shall  see  cause  to  settle  upon 
them,  either  upon  the  coming  to  age  or  dayes  of  marriage  (besides  what 
your  Honers  shall  see  cause  to  allow  your  petitioner  for  their  education  until 
the  aforesaid  times)  your  petitioner  desiring  still  to  extend  that  motherly 
care  which,  hitherto,  she  hath  not  been  wanting  in,  being  through  God's 
goodness  in  a  capacity  to  Jet  out  said  land  to  some  advantage,  not  only  for 
discharging  what  rates  and  dues  may  arise  there  upon  but  also  producing 
some  bread  corne  for  herself  and  Children. 

Your  Honours  granting  your  petioner's  request  will  still  oblige  her  to 

pray  as  in  duty  bound  &c 

Sarah  Stephens. 

In  answer  to  this  Petition  The  Magistrates  judge  meet  to  order  the  one 
half  the  land  to  the  Widow  to  enjoy  to  her  and  her  heires  to  dispose  of, 
the  other  half  of  the  land  to  be  to  the  children  as  they  come  of  age,  part  & 
part  alike,  the  bringing  up  the  children  with  the  improvement  of  the  land 

Their  brethren  the  Deputies  thereto  consenting 

Edward  Rawson,  Secy. 


9  May  1684    Consented  by  the  Deputies. 


William  Torrey,  Cleric. 


Brantry,  Dec.  3.  1677. 
An  Inventory  of  the  Estate  of  Joseph  Stephens  taken  by  Caleb  Hubbard 
and  Benjamin  Thompson. 


1684.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  95 


Imp8.  To  wearing  apparel £04  00  00 

To  Bedding  and  bed 04  00  00 

To  2  pair  of  sheets  coarse  1  fine. 01  10  00 

To  5  Pillow  beers,  2  shirts,  1  pr.  drawers  4  coars  nap- 
kins   ■ 00  09  00 

To  small  wearing  linen  bands,  neckcloths  &c 00  10  00 

To  gloves,  stockins,  mittens 00  07  00 

To  1  file,  2  knifes,  Razor,  1  pen  knife,  chalk  line,  tongs, 

a  lock,  starch,  mithridate 00  05  00 

To  pewter  10s.  1  brass  kettle  16s.  skillet  5s 01  12  00 

To  1  iron  pot  12s.  1  skillet  4s.  a  Cutlace  7s 01  03  00 

To  a  musket  15s.  a  back  sword  12 01  07  00 

To  hats  5s.  axe  2s.  6d.  bed  cords  4s.  bellows  2s.  6d 00  14  00 

To  Earthen  ware  &  wooden  utensils 00  10  00 

To  Yarne  and  fflax 01  15  00 

Ditto,  00  05  00 

To  2  Spinning  wheels 00  10  00 

To  Beans  &  salt  ...    00  02  00 

To  bed  stead  5s.  chairs  3s.  tubs  5s.  pails  2s.  6d.,  3  bar- 
rels 7s.  6d 01  03  00 

To  seives  2s.  cards  2s.  Wool  3s.  chest  7s.  box  3s.  fry- 
ing pans  3s 01  00  00 

To  old  iron  1-2  cwt 00  10  00 

To  corne  6s.  remnants  of  cloth  &  yarn 02  05  00 

To  suit  lamp,  baskets,  chaires,  stooles 00  18  00 

To  a  mat  2s.  Indian  4  bush.  Beefe  7 00  15  00 

To  an  heifer  and  calf ' 02  14  00 

To  Land  at  Mendam 

To  1-2  an  acre  of  Land  at  Manaticot 03  00  00 


£30  14  00 


Sarah  Stevens  made  oath  before  John  Leveret  Esq.  Govr  and  Ewd. 
Tyng  Esq.  Assistant  Dec.  11.  1677  that  it  is  a  just  and  true  Inventory  of 
the  estate  of  her  late  Husband  Joseph  Stevens,  deceased,  to  her  best  knowl- 
edge and  that  when  she  knows  more  she  will  discover  the  same. 

As  atest  Isa:  Addington,  Cler. 

This  may  certify  whom  it  may  concern  that  we  apprize  the  lot  £30  00  00 
of  Joseph  Stevens  deceased  at  30£  and  an  anvill  at  10s.  00  10  00 

Brought  by  the  Administratrix  as  addition  to  the  Inventory 

I.  Addington,  Cler. 

This  is  a  true  Coppie  of  the  Original  Inventory  and  addition  thereto. 

I.  Addington,  Cler. 


96  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1684. 

Joseph  Stevens,  having  died  during  the  Indian  war,  may  it 
not  be  reasonably  inferred  he  was  one  of  those  slain  by  the 
Indians? 

The  following  petition,  besides  giving  an  account  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  town  at  the  time,  also  establishes  the  fact  that  a 
large  number  of  the  proprietors  had  not  returned,  although 
nine  years  had  elapsed  since  their  abandonment  of  the  town  in 
1675. 

Towns,  Vol.  112,  p.  367,  Mass.  Archives. 

To  the  much  honered  generall  Cort  now  Sitting  in  Boston  the  10th  Sep- 
tember 1684  the  humble  address  of  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon,  in  behalf  of 
the  Inhabitants  there  at  present  Residing, 
much  honered. 

three  years  are  not  yett  fully  expired  since  the  pressing  neces- 
sity of  our  low  condition  enforced  us  to  crave  Relief  from  this  honorable 
Cort,  from  whose  hands  we  experienced  such  favor  &  acceptance  as  doth 
still  embolden  us,  yet  continuing  in  the  like  condition,  to  spread  our  State 
before  yower  honers,  not  at  all  doubting  but  the  justice  of  our  cause  will 
avayl  with  yower  selves  so  far  that  our  following  request  and  desire  shall 
receive  yower  answer  of  peac  expected  by  us.  May  it  please  your  Honers 
to  consider  that  the  one  half  of  our  proprietors,  two  only  excepted,  are 
dwelling  in  other  places,  we  are  inforced  (the  Birthen  of  the  day  lying  upon 
so  few  of  us)  to  petition  yower  Honers  that  an  order  might  be  issued  out 
wheare  by  they  might  be  oblidged  to  be  helpful  to  us  in  maintaining  the 
ministry  of  the  word  &  other  town  charges  with  us  which  hitherto  they 
have  don,  but  the  time  being  almost  expired  and  our  case  as  bad  as  ever, 
we  have  no  other  way  left  us  save  this,  to  give  the  honerable  (Court)  a  nar- 
rative of  our  present  condition,  a  thorow  consideration  whereof  wee  doubt 
not  will  give  your  Honers  cause  to  continue  your  order  longer  and  oblidge, 
by  such  a  continuance,  to  a  contribution  of  relief  to  us,  by  whose  abiding 
upon  the  place,  thayer  Land  Receive  considerable  advantage.  Wee  desire 
to  bless  God  who,  in  the  riches  of  his  boundless  grace,  hath  seen  cause  to 
advantage  us  with  an  able,  faithful,  prayerful  minister  of  the  word,  by 
whose  labors  wee  doe  heare  the  ioyful  sound,  a  famine  whereof  we  hope  is 
esteemed  by  us  a  more  fatal  punishment  than  a  famine  of  bread;  therefore 
we  doe  and  are  willing  to  doe  to  the  outside  of  our  ability,  to  main  tayn 
our  minister,  and  God  hath  so  far  owned  our  endeavours,  that  we  farther 
hope  that  this  church  will  be  resettled  in  this  place,  not  only  in  the  faith 
but  the  order  of  the  gospell,  the  maintenance  of  which  is  impossible  for  us 
without  help  trom  our  fellow  proprietors,  for  our  inhabitants  pay  to  the 
outside  of  thayer  abilities  to  raising  of  public  charges,  and,  in  particular  to 
the  maintenance  of  the  minister.  Wee  pay  at  least  ten  singall  country  rates, 
besides  other  charges,  notwithstanding  what  Relief  wee  have  had  by  our 


1684.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  97 


fellow  proprietors,  who  have  bourn  with  us  a  bout  twenty  hve  pounds 
annually,  there  being  twenty-two  of  them  to  do  it.  If  they  are  freed  from 
it,  and  it  be  laid  on  the  present  inhabitants,  it  is  plain  how  unable  they  be 
to  bare  it.  They  must  of  necessity  quit  their  stacion  and  leave  the  town, 
as  a  place  that  eateth  up  her  inhabitants:  or  how  soone  wee  and  our  poore 
children  must  be  again  deprived  of  the  means  of  grace  and  live  like  hea- 
then, doth  both  amaze  and  grieve  us  to  consider,  which  wee  hope  will  stor 
up  so  much  pity  from  your  Honers,  that  it  may  be  redressed.  Our  pro- 
prietors abroad  object  that  they  see  no  reason  why  they  should  pay  as  much 
for  thayer  lands  as  we  do  for  our  Land  and  stok,  which  we  answer  that  if 
there  be  not  a  noff  of  reason  for  it,  we  are  sure  there  is  more  than  enough  of 
ne  cessity  to  supply  that  if  wanting  in  reason,  but  because  we  study  peace 
and  a  good  conscience  that  the  objection  may  be  removed. 

We  are  willing  to  the  valew  of  two  single  country  rates  for  our  stock 
trusting  God  will  appear  for  us,  who  desire  the  churche's  settlement,  our 
soul's  good  and  that  things  may  be  carried  on  amongst  us  to  God's  glory, 
our  condition  being  so  sadly  sircumstanced  causes  fears  to  many  least  we 
should  be  deprived  of  the  means  of  grace,  which  we  desire  not  only  to  call 
but  accompt  our  Benjamin,  unless  our  fellow  proprietors  bee  still  inioyned 
to  sett  too  their  blessing  hand  with  us  in  the  way  and  manner  proposed,  as 
we  hope  your  Honers  will  see  sufficient  ground  &  reason.  We  further 
implore  and  crave  a  further  order  for  the  continuance  of  what  we  have  all 
redy,  by  your  favour,  enjoyed,  that  we  may  be  enabled,  by  thayer  help,  to 
the  maintenance  of  our  dispencer  of  the  word  unto  us  and  to  carry  on  other 
town  charges  amongst  us  that  there  may  be  no  complaining  in  our  gates. 
So  shall  your  petitioners  dayly  pray. 

Ferdinando  Thayer 
Simon  Peck 
Samuel  Read 
James  Lovett 
Josiah  Chapin. 

In  answer  to  this  petition  the  Deputys  judge  meete  &  do  allow  and  em- 
power the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon  to  assesse  the  proprietors  of  lands  that 
live  not  in  that  towne  as  thay  do  thare  own  not  improved  lands,  in  all 
manner  of  rates,  as  well  for  their  minister  as  otherwise,  provided  they  rate 
their  own  Inhabitants  in  sd  rates,  both  heads,  stock  &  improved  lands  as 
the  law  directs  for  the  country  (State)  rate,  desiring  the  consent  of  our 
Hond  magistrates  thereto. 

William  Torrey,  Cleric. 

Consented  to  by  the  Magistrates 

Edward  Rawson,  Secy. 
Oct.  21,  1684. 

As  we  hoar  no  more  of  this  matter,  it  is  supposed  the  absen- 
tees, if  they  did  not  come  back,  paid  their  rates  hereafter 
without  grumbling. 


98  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1685. 

1685.  Jan  3.  Chose  Dea.  Simon  Peck,  Serg.  Joseph  White, 
Serg.  Josiah  Chapin,  Ferdinando  Thayer  and  Samuel  Read, 
Selectmen;  Peter  Cook,  Constable,  and  James  Lovett  and  Saml. 
Read,  Surveyors  of  Highways. 

In  1(369,  it  will  be  remembered,  that  the  General  Court 
granted  the  town  some  meadows  "without  their  line,"  and 
hence  the  reason  that  May  25,  1685,  the  town  chose  Joseph 
White,  Ferdinando  Thayer  and  Samuel  Hayward  a  committee 
"  to  purchase  the  Indian  title"  to  the  same.  This  deed  was 
given  by  the  Indians  and  was  afterwards  lost. 

June  6.  For  the  payment  of  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  and  all 
other  public  charges,  it  was  voted  to  rate  the  inhabitants  "head 
and  ratable  estate  as  the  law  directs,"  and  what  falls  short  "to 
raise  it  upon  ye  lands  of  ye  Inhabitence  and  proprietors,  as  for- 
merly. " 

The  only  remaining  entry  for  this  year  is  the  following  assess- 
ment:— 

A  Rate  made  this  11  of  Jauuery  1685,  to  Defray  Mr.  Rawson's  salery  for 
half  the  yere  beginning  att  the  25th.  of  October  1685  to  the  25th.  of  March 
1686. 

Ser.  Joseph  White £01  02  01 

Ser.  Josiah  Chapin 01  13  02 

Ferdinando  Thayer 01  07  03 

Walter  Cook 00  17  09 

Dea,  Simon  Peck 00  16  03 

Capt.  John  Smith 00  10  09 

Josiah  Torrey 00  12  11 

Angell  Torrey  00  10  09 

George  Sumner 00  10  09 

Thomas  Thayer 00  16  01 

Savill  Simpson 00  10  09 

Robert  Taft 00  09  05 

Jacob  Aldrich  00  11  04 

Sarah  Fairbank  00  16  01 

Samuel  Hayward  01  14  09 

Philip  King 00  10  09 

William  Holbrook 01  05  02 

Samuel  Shepherd 00  18.  11 

Widdow  Ruth  Bundy 00  10  09 

Peter  Holbrook 01  05  00 

James  Lovett  01  04  00 

John  Warfield  Senr 00  09  08 


1685.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  99 

Edward  Lineford 00  10  09 

Abraham  Staples  Sen  00  11  06 

Samll.  Tiler 00  16  01 

Epheriam  Wilder 00  10  09 

Samll.  Read 01  00  01 

Eliazer  Wheelock 00  07  05 

Ebenezer  White 00  10  09 

Joshua  Lazell 00  10  09 

Wid.  Elizebeth  Sprague 00  10  09 

James  Albee 00  08  09 

Samll.  Cook 00  08  00 

John  Rocket 01  08  00 

John  Cook 00  08  08 

Peter  Aldrich 00  07  02 

Elizabeth  Parker 00  16  01 

Matthias  Puffer 01  01  06 

John  Dike 00  05  04 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Browne 01  01  06 

John  Warfield  jr 00  05  08 

Abraham  Staples  jr 00  05  00 

John  Darling, 00  07  08 

John  Andrews 00  07  04    . 

Benjamin  Wheaton 00  01  10 

Robert  Hall 00  03  04 

Edward  Pratt 00  05  02 

Nathanill  Fox 00  03  07  • 

Denes  Darling 00  02  08 

Jonathan  Thayer 00  08  10 

Robert  Corbit 00  13  02 

John  Thomson 01  07  04 

Walter  Cook  &  Abraham  Staples  for  ye  Widow  Har- 

ber's  Lot 00  18  09 

Joseph  White  jr 00  05  02 

The  widow  Elizabeth  Browne  was  formerly  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Emerson. 

The  foregoing  assessment  amounts  to  £3G.14s,  and  as  nothing 
is  said  about  "country  pay,"  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  paid  in 
money.  This  sum  was  to  pay  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  for  the  half 
year  and  other  public  charges.  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  for  the  half 
year  was  £27. 10s,  which  taken  from  the  assessment  would  leave 
£9. 4s.  as  the  amount  which  was  required  to  liquidate  the  whole 
indebtedness  of  the  town.  Happy  that  town  when  so  small  a 
sum  would  extinguish  its  municipal  obligations. 


100  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1685. 

We  learn  by  the  following  that  the  burden  of  taxation  is  not 
a  grievance  of  modern  times.  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
Selectmen,  under  some  general  instructions  of  the  town,  trans- 
acted most  of  the  business. 

Towns,  Vol.  112,  p.  420. 

To  the  much  honered  general  Cort  now  Sitting  in  Boston  this  13th  day 
of  March  1685,  the  humble  address  the  of  Selectmen  of  Mendon  in  behalf 
of  ye  town 

humbly  Sheweth, 

much  honored,  the  former  experience  that  we  have  had  of 
yower  lioners  redynes  to  heare  the  address  of  yower  poor  suppliants  doth 
imbolden  and  a  sence  of  our  low  condition  doth  inforce  us  to  renew  our 
supplication.  If  the  servants  of  Benhaded  could  apply  themselves  to  the 
Kings  of  Israel  upon  a  report  that  they  were  mercifull  how  much  more 
may  we  be  incorridged  to  plead  our  cause  before  yower  selves  who  have  so 
many  times  experienced  yower  willing  ness  to  grant  our  Just  Request  still 
hoping  that  our  desires  shall  find  a  favorable  answer.  Much  honered,  not 
withstanding  the  help  granted  to  us  upon  our  last  petition  that  our  fellow 
proprietors  non  resident  should  help  carry  on  public  charges  in  our  town, 
year,  our  number  is  so  small  and  Rates  so  great  that  we  cannot  comfortably 
sub  sist  under  them  without  som  Respite,  who  want  not  will  but  purses  to 
help  beare  all  public  assessments  with  the  rest  of  our  brethren.  Ware  we 
able  we  are  as  willing  as  could  be  expected.  This  yeare  the  country, 
county,  church  and  town  hath  called  upon  us  for  rates  which  have  risen  so 
high  yl  a  man  whos  ratable  estate  amounts  to  but  two  shillings  and  fower 
pence  hath  paid  five  pounds  od  money,  &  so  proportionable  through  the 
town.  In  consideration  of  this  our  low  estate  wee  humbly  crave  some 
further  time  of  Respite  for  paying  of  country  rates  during  yower  pleasure 
therein  that  thereby  wee  may  the  better  able  to  carry  on  the  maintainance 
of  the  gospell  which  wee  desire  to  accompt  our  chief  ioye,  and  other  neces- 
sary charges,  so  as  thare  may  be  no  complaint  in  our  streets. 
So  shall  your  poore  suppliants  pray. 

Simon  Peck 
Abraham  Staples 
Samuel  Read 
James  Lovett 
Josiah  Chapin. 

In  answer  to  this  petn  the  Deputys  judge  meete  to  Graunt  petitioners 
freedome  from  Country  Rates  for  this  year  ensuing  Or  honed  magistrates 
hereto  consenting. 

William  Torrey,  Clericus. 

The  Magist3  consent  hereto  provided  they  pay  the  rates  already  due. 

Ed.  Rawson,  Secy. 


1685.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  101 


The  following  petition  will  explain   itself,  and  is  recorded  as 
the 

FIRST   TEMPERANCE    MOVEMENT    IN    MENDON. 

To  the  Honored  Generall  Court  now  assembled  at  boston  May  27,  1685, 

The  petition  of  the  In  habitants  of  Mendon  Humbly  Sheweth  that  about 
two  years  since  your  petitioners  applyed  themselves  to  the  much  honered 
General  Court  then  assembled,  for  relief  from  the  Indians,  by  reason  of 
whose  great  Intemperance  wee  considered  ourselves  in  noe  small  danger, 
from  time  to  time.  The  order  that  wee  thereby  received  being,  by  sad  ex- 
perience, found  ineffectual  to  the  end  proposed,  and  our  bliefe  of  your 
Redynes  to  Rectify  such  disorders,  gives  birth  to  a  second  petition.  Much 
Honored,  notwithstanding  those  good  and  wholesome  laws  that  are  In  force 
against  selling  of  drink  to  the  Indians  and  our  care  to  detect  such  men  as 
are  transgressors  of  them,  yet  the  prevailing  of  that  sin  is  such,  being  prac- 
ticed by  some  Amongst  us,  who  drive  a  trade  with  the  Natives  out  of  a 
designe  of  gain  from  that  source,  that  we  are  in  continual  fears  what  the 
dismal  effect  thereof  will  prove.  The  glory  of  God  is  not  a  little  wronged 
by  the  almost  dayly  Drunkenes  of  the  Heathen  and  Religion  much  dis- 
graced, but  also  our  lives  and  the  lives  of  our  wives  and  children  In  dayly 
Hazard.  Tis  not  a  month  since  there  have  been  three  murderous  attempts 
by  Drunken  Indians  amongst  us,  so  that  if  some  effectual  Care  be  not 
taken  there  will  be  no  comfortable  abiding  for  us  unless  we  will  expose 
our  selves  and  ours  to  the  Rage  and  fury  of  such  as  are  not  masters  of  their 
weapons,  but  are  ready  to  murther  all  that  stand  in  their  way.  Our 
Ernest  petition  is  that  all  Indians  whatsoever,  may  be  prohibited  from 
coming  within  our  township  or  pass  threw  our  towne  without  order  from 
Authority  and  that  their  Arms  and  Ammunition  may  be  forfeited  to  any 
person  that  shall  apprehend  them  so  doing,  and  that  any  amongst  ourselves 
who  give  entertainment  to  or  trade  with  them  may  be  laid  under  severe 
penalty  for  the  same,  and  that  all  licenses  may  be  called,  or  such  who  trade 
under  others  prohibeted  the  same;  or  some  other  way  as  God  shall  direct  in 
wisdom,  which  shall  oblige  your  poor  supplience  to  pray. 
Mendon  25th.  of  May  1685. 

Walter  Cook  Ferdinando  Thayer 

Joseph  White  John  Warfield,  senior. 

Josiah  Chapin  William  Holbrook 

Samll.  Read  Samll.  Shepherd 

Peter  Holbrook  John  Rocket 

James  Lovett  Jonathan  Thayer 

James  Albee  John  Warfield  Jr. 

Samll.  Cook  Benjamin  Wheaton 

John  Cook  John  Thompson,  senr 

Eleazer  Wheelock  Abraham  Staples 

John  Thompson  Jr. 


102  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1686. 

Ill  this  petition  reference  is  made  to  a  first  petition,  and  which 
was  lost,  as  it  cannot  be  found  among  the  archives  of  the  State. 

In  regard  to  the  first  petition,  it  seems  the  inhabitants  prayed 
for  an  abatement  of  taxes  and  that  something  should  be  done 
about  the  drunkenness  of  the  Indians  and  about  Eobert  Taffe  for 
"irregular  trading  with  them." 

The  following  is  the  answer  of  the  General  Court  to  the  first 
petition : — 

"  At  a  General  Court  held  May  27.  1682,  In  answer  to  the  petition  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Mendon  craving  the  Court's  favor  for  abatement  of  country 
rates  for  this  year,  1682,  which  the  Court  judgeth  meet  to  grant:  and  as  to 
that  part  concerning  Indians  the  petitioners  may  take  notice  that  the  Court 
hath  provided  in  this  case,  by  a  law  made  in  October  last,  in  which  they 
may  rest  satisfied.  Touching  Robert  Taffe,  the  person  complained  of 
'  for  irregular  trading  with  the  Indians,'  that  matter  is  wholly  left  with  the 
County  Court  of  Suffolke,  to  doe  therein  as  they  shall  judge  meete,  unto 
whom  the  petitioners  may  apply  themselves  for  relief." 

Tbe  law  of  1081,  to  which  the  petitioners  were  referred,  au- 
thorized the  Selectmen  to  apprehend  any  Indian  found  at  large 
and  commit  him  to  the  House  of  Correction  or  to  prison  until 
he  should  engage  to  go  to  and  abide  in  the  Indian  towns  of 
Natick,  Punkapauge  or  Wamesit,  which  had  been  set  apart  by 
the  General  Court  as  homes  for  the  Indians.  Eobert  Taffe  is 
supposed  to  be  Robert  Taft,  but  whether  any  complaint  was 
preferred  against  him,  or  if  preferred,  whether  any  proof  of  his 
''irregular  trading  with  the  Indians"  was  made  out  or  not,  is 
not  known. 


1686.  Jan.  3.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Dea.  Simon  Peck,  Ser. 
Joseph  White,  Ser.  Josiah  Chapin,  Ferdinando  Thayer  and 
Samuel  Read;  Constables,  Angell  Torrey  and  John  Andrus; 
Surveyors  of  Highways,  John  Rocket  and  Sam'l  Tiler. 

It  was  voted  at  this  meeting  that  the  first  Monday  in  January, 
the  first  Friday  in  April  and  the  first  Tuesday  in  July  and  Oc- 
tober should  be  public  town  meetings.  It  was  also  voted  that 
the  injunction  against  transporting  timber  out  of  town  be 
repealed. 

March  12.     The  Selectmen  appointed  John   Thompson,  Sen., 


1686.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  103 

Joseph  White,  Jr.,  John  Rocket  and  James  Albee  fence  viewers. 

April  19.  Perambulated  town  line  with  Sherborne;  Edward 
West,  Jonathan  Morse  and  Jonathan  Fairbank  for  Sherborne, 
and  Ser.  Joseph  White,  Ser.  Josiah  Chapin,  Ferdinando  Thayer, 
Saml.  Hayward  and  Saml.  Read  for  Mendon. 

Notwithstanding  the  votes  which  had  been  passed  from  time 
to  time,  the  width  of  the  highways  was  still  a  troublesome  sub- 
ject, as  we  find  a  report  of  the  Selectmen  certifying  that  abuttors 
had  encroached  upon  the  highways  in  seventeen  different  places; 
that  Abraham  Staples'  house  stood  two  rods  and  Samuel  Read's 
barn  six  feet  over  the  line  of  the  road.  In  consequence  of  this 
report  the  Selectmen  were  directed  to  remove  all  the  fences  that 
stand  upon  the  highways  or  on  the  town's  common  land.  Thus 
it  seems  'the  town  was  determined  to  have  the  roads  everywhere 
ten  rods  wide. 

June  31.  It  is  supposed  the  Selectmen  did  not  succeed  very 
Avell  in  their  effort  to  remove  the  fences  as  we  find  the  town 
voting  "that  any  one  who  does  not  remove  his  fence  from  the 
road  at  or  before  the  last  of  March,  1687,  should  pay  a  fine  of 
five  shillings  a  rod  annually,  and  appointed  Saml.  Hayward, 
William  Holbrook  and  Saml.  Cook  for  that  affaire" 

Joseph  Stephens,  who  died  during  the  Indian  war,  was  the 
first  blacksmith,  and  although  the  town  had  got  along  without 
one  up  to  this  time,  it  was  now  found  necessary  to  make  pro- 
vision for  another. 

Nov.  15.  To  this  end  at  a  town  meeting  it  was  voted  that 
James  Bick  should  have  a  ten  acre  lot,  with  all  the  privileges 
belonging  to  the  same,  "provided  he  doe  the  town's  smithery 
work  for  the  next  ten  years  upon  reasonable  conditions,  unless 
death  or  disablement  hinder."  And  if  for  any  other  reasons  he 
should  remove  from  the  town,  or  fail  to  do  the  smithery  work, 
then  the  land  was  to  revert  to  the  town,  unless  he  chose  to  pay 
£15  lawful  money-  He  was,  as  a  condition  jjrecedent,  to  bring 
letters  of  recommendation  "as  shall  be  accounted,  by  the  Select- 
men, in  being,  sufficient  encouragement  for  his  entertainment 
amongst  us." 

The  committee  chosen  in  1G83  "to  view  the  towne  book  of 
what  they  apprehend  will  be  prejudyshall  to  the  town,"  reported 


104  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1687. 

that  many  mistakes  had  occurred  relative  to  the  highways  and 
laying  out  of  land;  that  the  highway  through  Jepson's  lot  for 
Crowne's  use,  and  the  grants  of  land  to  Mr..  Stoughton  and  Mr. 
Dudley  were  "  pre judyshall "  and  should  be  disallowed. 

Pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the  committee  the  town 
voted  that  all  votes,  grants  and  records  referred  to  by  the  com- 
mittee, "that  hence  forward  they  nor  any  of  them  shall  be  of 
noe  force  nor  valee." 


1687.  Jan.  2.  Tbe  Selectmen  were  Ser.  Joseph  White, 
Dea.  Peck,  Ensign  Josiah  Chapin,  Sainl.  Bead  and  James 
Lovett;  Constable,  Samuel  Tiler,  and  Surveyors  of  Highways 
Ferdinando  Thayer  and  John  Thomson,  Sen. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  was  to  be  paid 
punctually,  "  the  one  half  on  the  one  day  and  the  one  half  on 
the  other  day,"  but  somehow  the  town  found  itself  in  arrears, 
and  chose  Deacon  Peck,  Ens.  Chapin  and  Ferdinando  Thayer  a 
committee  "to  Recon  with  Mr.  Rawson  and  to  do  their  utmost 
to  se  yl  all  ye  Areers  of  ye  Rates  dew  to  him  for  his  salery  be  gath- 
ered and  paid  to  him  with  in  one  month  by  those  persons  from 
whom  it  is  dew  in  the  towne." 

At  the  same  time  a  road  was  laid  out  between  Goodman  Win- 
ter js  lot  and  the  pine  swamp. 

John  Puffer  was  granted  a  ' '  Neck  of  Land  "  near  the  mill  in 
full  satisfaction  for  whatever  was  due  his  father,  Matthias  Puffer, 
from  the  town,  and  that  he  would  build  upon  the  land  and 
maintain  a  miller  in  it  during  the  time  his  father  was  bound  to 
maintain  the  mill.  . 

The  following  petition  is  inserted  because  Mendon  was  situ- 
ated in  the  Nipmuck  country,  and  was  entirely  surrounded  by 
territory  claimed  by  the  Indians: — 

Toe  tbe  Right  Worshipful  the  Gov  Deputy  Gov  and  the  rest  of  ye  Honor* 

Magistrates  and  ye  Deputies  of  the  General  Courte  sitting  in  Boston  May 

11.  1687. 

The  humble  Petition  of  us  whose  Names  are  Under  written  &  other  In- 
habitants of  y«  towns  of  Natiek,  Punkapoge  &  Wamesit, 

Humbly  Sheweth,  that  your  Petitioners  Being  subject  to  his  Majesty  & 
his  Government  In  this  jurisdiction  And  having  approved  our  selves  faith- 


1688.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


105 


ful  to  ye  English  Interest  In  ye  late  Warr  and  served  then  Most  of  us  as 
souldiers,  wherein  some  of  our  Relations  lost  their  lives.  Wee  doe  hereby 
declare  to  the  Hond  Court  y*  wee  and  our  predecessors  had  and  have  a  Nat- 
ural Right  to  much  of  the  Lands  Lying  In  the  Nipmuck  Country  within 
this  jurisdiction,  for  which  wee  humbly  desire  the  Country  and  Generall 
Court  will  give  us  a  compensation  for  or  Natural  Rights  to  those  Lands, 
that  so,  Before  God  and  Man,  things  may  Be  Clear  In  after  time  Between 
us  and  our  Posterity  &  the  English  and  theire  Posterity  Referring  to  ye  said 
Lands.  Wee  desire  in  this  our  Petition  to  Bee  understood  not  to  intend 
some  particular  towns  and  farms  in  the  Nipmuck  Country  that  were  for- 
merly solde  by  the  Indians  that  had  a  right  thereunto,  unto  Englishmen  pr 
leave  of  authority  and  confirmed  by  this  Court,  nor  yett  the  towns  granted 
to  ye  praying  Indians  In  that  Country.  Wee  humbly  desire  and  pray  the 
Honourable  Court  Seriously  to  Consider  our  petition  and  grant  us  our 
request. 

We  have  referred  the  management  of  this  our  petition  unto  the  psons 
Under  Named,  viz :  John  Awassamug  senr,  Andrew  Pittome,  James  Rum- 
ney  Marsh  and  Peter  Ephraim  and  give  us  our  answer  pr  ym.  And  wee 
shall  pray  for  your  happiness  and  prosperity. 


The  marks  of 
Waban  %£ 

Pqam  Bow  fir 

Sam  Awassamug 

Eliazer  Eegan 
Zachry  Abraham 

Tom  Awassamug 

Andrew  Pittome 


Tom  Tray 

John  Awassamug   2T 

Antony  Tray     x 


Peter  Ephraim 
Tom  Dublit 


k 


sa  sa  nit 


V^ 


X 


John  Awassamug  2nd 

Jethro  his  (V)     mark 

Benjamin        his  ^^    mark 
John  Magus  his  *%(i mark 

Nathaniell      his  rfN     mark 


James  Kumney  Marsh  CQ    Wattertown  William  his  ^    mark 


1688.  May  21.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Townesmen  or  Over- 
seers, Ser.  Joseph  White,  Ensign  Josiah  Chapin,  Ferdinando 
Thayer,  Samuel  Read  and  John  Thomson;  for  Commission- 
ers, Peter  Holbrook  and  James  Lovett;  for  Constable,  Jacob 
Aldrich. 

14 


106  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1689. 

James  Bick,  who  had  covenanted  to  do  the  town's  "  smithery 
work,"  having  neglected  to  comply  with  his  agreement  or  to  pay 
the  £15  for  his  short-coming,  and  the  town  growing  impatient 
at  his  delay,  the  Constable  was  directed  "  to  warn  James  Bick 
forthwith  to  take  off  his  frame  and  fence  from  the  town's  land, 
and  no  more  to  In  Comber  the  same."  Nevertheless,  James 
proved  contumacious,  taking,  as  we  shall  see,  no  notice  of  the 
official  warning. 

July  2.  The  Selectmen  gave  orders  to  the  Constable  to  pro- 
vide town  brands,  to  renew  the  half  bushel  and  peck  measures, 
and  see  that  they  agree  with  the  country  standard,  and  one  ale 
quart  and  one  wine  half  pint  for  town  standards. 

The  Country  Rate  (State  tax)  this  year  was  £9.06.10,  as  re- 
ceipted for  to  Jacob  Aldrich,  Constable  at  Boston,  Dec.  12,  1688, 
by  Michael  Perry  for  John  Usher,  Esq.,  Treasurer. 


1689.  Jan.  24.  Selectmen  chosen  were  Capt.  Joseph  White, 
Left.  Josiah  Chapiu,  Samuel  Read,  Sen.,  Ser.  James  Lovett  and 
Ser.  Peter  Holbrook;  for  Constable,  Samuel  Tiler,  and  for  Sur- 
veyors of  Highways,  Timothy  Winter,  Angel  Torrey  and  James 
Albee. 

In  April  of  this  year  the  people,  tired  of  the  usurpation  of 
Andros,  which  had  continued  about  three  years,  rose  in  arms, 
and  in  a  few  hours  the  Governor  and  some  of  his  principal  ad- 
visers were  made  prisoners  without  bloodshed.  The  rumor 
(which  came  at  this  time  by  way  of  Virginia)  was  soon  confirmed 
that  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  had  succeeded  his  father-in- 
law,  James  II.  as  King  of  England,  and  thus  the  arbitrary  and 
despotic  rule  of  Andros  was  terminated  without  further  diffi- 
culty. 

The  Government  of  the  Colony  was  then  assumed  by  William 
Stoughton  and  his  associates.  Dudley  Bradstreet  was  chosen 
President;  Isaac  Addington,  Clerk  of  the  Council;  Wait  Win- 
throp,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Militia,  and  John  Foster  and 
Adam  Winthrop,  Treasurers. 

Feeling,  it  may  be  supposed,  the  need  of  a  more  secure  settle- 
ment of  government,  as  they  were  holding  no  delegated  author- 
ity, and  having,  no  doubt,  as  Hutchinson  says  in  his  History  of 


1689.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  107 

Massachusetts  Bay,  received  advice  of  the  Convention  called  by 
the  Prince  of  Orange  in  England,  to  settle  the  form  of  govern- 
ment there,  they  recommended  to  the  several  towns  in  the  Col- 
ony to  choose  delegates,  to  constitute  an  Assembly  to  meet  for 
consultation  on  the  9th  of  May. 

Pursuant  to  this  call,  sixty-six  persons  met,  and  after  due  de- 
liberation, it  was  agreed  that  the  whole  Council  should  continue 
to  exercise  the  functions  of  government  until  the  22d  of  July, 
when  there  should  be  a  meeting  of  delegates  of  all  the  towns  in 
the  Colony,  who  were  to  be  specially  instructed  by  the  towns. 

Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  invitation  of  the  Council, 

"  Att  a  publike  Meeting  of  ye  Inhabitence  of  Mendon  May  ye  6th  1689, 
Ensign  Josiah  Chapin  was,  by  a  full  vote  chosen  by  sa  town  and  by  them 
fully  Impowered  to  consult,  advise,  joine  and  give  his  assistance  with  the 
the  Houerable  Councill  for  the  Safety  of  the  poepell  and  conservation  of  the 
peace,  In  their  Consultations  tending  to  direct  unto  the  exercise  of  that 
power  and  authority  which  shall  direct  be  judged  necessary  in  ye  present 
exigent  and  to  signify  their  Cordiall  acknowledgments  of  their  worthy 
servis  forye  public  safety." 

This  meeting  (for  consultation)  was  held  in  Boston,  May  9th, 
and  sixty-six  persons  were  present.  It  is  reasonably  presumed 
that  Ensign  Chapin  was  one  of  that  number.  They  recom- 
mended that  those  who  had  assumed  the  government  should 
continue  to  exercise  authority,  and  that  a  meeting  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  all  the  towns  should  be  held  May  22d,  to  hear  the 
instructions  given  by  the  towns  to  their  delegates. 

May  17.  The  town  gave  the  following  instructions  to  their 
representatives : 

"The  town  being  orderly  convened  the  day  and  year  above,  at  their 
usual  place  of  meeting,  it  was  their  unanimous  desire  that  the  Honered 
Governor  Deputy  Governor  and  assistants,  chosen  and  sworne  in  ye  yeare 
1686  (the  year  of  Andros'  usurpation)  together  with  such  other  Worthy 
Gentlemen,  who  by  the  Generall  concurring  votes  of  the  Respective  Towns, 
as  above  sd  (to  make  up  the  number  20)  shall  be  chosen  and  elected,  would 
accept  of  and  enter  upon  ye  Government  of  sd  Colony  so  far  as  shall  be 
Requisite  and  expedient  for  the  Common  Safety,  and  the  Consirvation  of 
the  peace,  and  exercise  such  Acts  of  Authority  as  shall  be  necessary  in 
the  exigence  and  emergency  as  shall  occur,  untill  there  can  be  a  more 
orderly  settlement  of  Government  for  the  which,  with  all  due  submission 
we  shall  Humbly  waite." 


108  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1689. 

Upon  the  24th  of  May,  the  Governor  and  Magistrates  chosen 
in  1686,  consented  to  exercise  authority  until  an  orderly  settle- 
ment arrived  from  England.  This  they  contrived  to  do  until 
the  union  of  the  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  Colonies  by  the 
Charter  of  1692,  and  the  arrival  of  Sir  William  Phipps,  as  Gov- 
ernor, on  the  14th  of  May. 

Eev.  Record,  vol.  107,  p.  153. 

In  accordance  with  a  declaration,  which  had  been  adopted  by 
the  convention,  which  met  for  consultation,  the  Governor  (Simon 
Bradstreet,  now  87  years  of  age)  and  Council  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives assembled  at  Boston,  June  14,  1689,  for  the  reinstat- 
ing and  confirmation  of  all  such  officers  of  the  several  companies 
and  regiments  within  the  Colony,  who  were  standing  in  com- 
mission upon  the  12th  day  of  May,  1686,  and  for  filling  up  of  all 
vacancies  forthwith,  according  to  said  declaration. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Householders  and  Soldiers  of  Mendon  above  21 
years  old  24th.  of  June,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  on  by  them  to  nominate 
Joseph  White  for  their  Captain,  Josiah  Chapin  Sen1'  for  their  Leftenant 
and  Samuel  Read  Sen.  for  their  Ensign,  and  to  present  them  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  and  Representatives  for  their  Allowance  and  Confirma- 
tion. 

By  Order  of  the  Householders  and  Soldiers  of  Mendon. 

Jeams  Lovet 

June  29,  1689.  The  Representatives  do  allow  and  confirm  the  above 
nomination  of  officers  in  their  Respective  offices. 

Attest,  Ebenezer  Prout,  Clerk. 

Consented  unto  by  the  Governor  and  Council  29  June  1689. 

Isaac  Addington,  Secretary." 

By  the  following  record,  it  would  seem  that  great  danger  from 
the  Indians  was  apprehended  at  this  time;  but  whether  the  fear 
of  an  Indian  outbreak  or  the  fears  that  the  recent  deposition  of 
Andros  might  lead  to  serious  trouble,  predominated  in  sending 
out  an  urgent  call  for  300  men,  "to  be  at  their  places  of  rendez- 
vous by  ffryday  next,"  we  cannot,  at  this  late  day,  determine. 

Mass.  Arch.,  Rev.  Vol.  107,  p.  161. 

"  Ordered  that  300  men  be  forthwith  raysed  and  detached  out  of  the  sev- 
eral Counties,  in  proportion  following,  viz: — Boston  Regiment,  sixty;  Suf- 
folke   South  Regiment,    sixty;  Essex  Lower  Regiment,    seventy;    Essex 


1680.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  109 


Upper  Regiment,  sixty  and  Middlesex  Lower  Regiment  fifty  to  be  put 
under  meete  conduct  for  the  Security  and  Safeguard  of  the  out  Frontier 
Towns  (Mendon  had  been  declared  a  frontier  town)  as  well  with  this  Colony 
as  the  Eastern  parts,  and  for  the  distressing  and  destruction  of  the  Indian 
enemy,  as  they  shall  have  orders  and  opportunity.  Warrants  to  be  forth- 
with issued  by  the  Secretary  unto  the  Majors  or  Commander  in  Chiefe  of 
the  said  severall  Regiments  Requiring  them  to  grant  out  their  warrants  to 
the  Captains  of  the  several  Companies  in  their  Respective  Regiments  to  de- 
tach or  impress  a  certain  number  of  soldiers  out  of  each  company  by  an 
ecpial  proportion,  well  appointed  with  arms  and  Ammunition  to  be  at  their 
places  of  rendezvous  by  ffryday  next  or  sooner,  the  fifth  of  July  instant  at 
Newbury  or  where  else  ye -Majors  shall  be  directed. 

The  Governor  and  Councill  to  nominate  and  Commissionate  suitable 
Comanders  for  them  and  to  give  orders  and  Instructions  for  their  disposal 
&  proceeding. 

Voted  by  the  Representatives  in  the  Affirmative  July  2.  1689. 

Atteste  Ebenezer  Prout,  Clerk. 

Consented  to  by  the  Governorand  Councill  July  2.  1689. 

Isaac  Addington  Secretary." 

"  Boston  Nov.  1689. 

Resolved  by  the  Representatives  Nemine  contra  dicente. 

That  sixt  rates,  one  to  be  in  money,  be  Levied  forthwith  on  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Collonie  for  paying  of  ye  soldiers  &  public  charges  that  have 
arisen  since  the  Revolution  by  reason  of  the  War  &  securing  the  Castle  and 
prison  &c.  and  that  the  Treasurer  forthwith  issue  forth  his  Warrants  for 
gathering  the  same. 

The  prices  of  Corne  are  as  followeth. 

Wheat  at  five  shillings  and  six  pence  per  bushel. 

Barley  and  Barley  Malt  at  three  shillings  &  six  pence. 

Rye  at  three  shillings. 

Pease  at  four  shillings. 

Those  that  pay  money  on  the  five  rates  for  pay  to  have  a  third  abated. 
Desiring  the  Hond  Gov  &  Magistrates  Consent 

Ebenezer  Prout,  Clerk. 
Consented  to  by  ye  Magistrates. 

J.  Russell,  by  order." 

The  closing  record  for  the  year  was: 

"  A  Rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  for  ye  yeare  beginning  att  ye  25  of  Oc- 
tober 1688  to  25  October  1689." 


110 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1690. 


10. 

11. 

12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 


Capt.  Joseph  White....  £02  04  01 

ffardin  Thayer 03  13  07 

Lieut.  Josiah  Chapin..  01  18  09 
Mr.  Josiah  Torrey.'....  00  16  08 

Dea.  Warfield 01  07  00 

Samll.  Read 02  02  04 

James  Lovet 01  17  00 

John  Thomson 01  03  06 

Peter  Holbrook, 01  03  07 

Abraham  Staples  senr. .  01  13  0 

Jacob  Aldrich 01  07  09 

Joseph  White 0018  09 

Samll.  Sheperd 01  00  03 

John  Rocket 01  06  07 

James  Albee 01  13  09 

Jonathan  Thayer 01  03  07 

William   Holbrook....  01  02  06 

Eliazer  Wheelock 01  01  00 

John  Cook 00  19  08 

Samll.  Cook 00  19  08 

Denis  Darling 00  16  03 

John  Darling 00  16  07 

John  peck 01  00  00 

Angel  torrey 00  16  03 


25.  Abraham  Staples  Jr. ..  £00  16  01 

26.  thomas  White 00  17  01 

27.  ben  Wheaton 00  11  06 

28.  Benjamin  Wheelock...  00  18  07 

29.  James  bick 01  01  02 

30.  Timothy  Winter 00  18  01 

31.  John  Read 00  19  01 

32.  Walter  Cook,  (Nicolas).  02  00  02 

33.  Job  &  Sam  tiler 01  14  04 

34.  Robert  Taft 01  10  0.1 

35.  Samll.  Hay  ward  ..... .  01  08  03 

36.  John  Warfield  Jr 00  16  01 

37.  Isack  Stapels 00  13  01 

38.  John  Thomson  Jr 00  13  01 

39.  Robert  Hall 00  14  07 

40.  Seth  Chapin 00  19  07 

41 .  Joseph  Rocket 00  13  07 

42.  Willm.  Hay  ward 00  10  06 

43.  Joseph  Plumly 00  15  01 

44.  Thomas  thayer 00  17  01 

45.  John  Andrus 00  17  01 

46.  Nath  fox 00  10  01 

47.  Robert  Corbet 00  17  06 

48.  Cornelius  pete 00  10  06 


1690.  Jan.  6.  The  day  being  short  and  cold,  "the  town  met 
the  sixteenth  of  sd  month,  and  chose  for  Selectmen  Dea.  John 
Warfield,  Sergt.  James  Lovett,  Timothy  Winter  [illegible]; 
Joseph  White,  Jr.,  Constable,  and  Timothy  Winter,  John 
Rocket,  and  Angel  Torrey,  Surveyors  of  Highways." 

James  Bick  still  proves  contumacious,  as  he  paid  no  attention 
to  the  warning  of  last  year.  The  patience  of  the  town  was  get- 
ting exhausted,  so  they  ordered  the  Constable  to  pull  up  a  por- 
tion of  his  fence,  which  stood  upon  the  town's  land,  and  (as  a 
peace  offering,  it  is  supposed)  then  chose  Mr.  Josiah  Torrey  and 
Angel  Torrey  a  committee  to  see  if  they  could  not  come  to  some 
agreement  with  Bick  to  leave  the  land  without  further  trouble. 

Bick  left  some  time  after  this,  and  was  the  owner  of  land  and 
resided  upon  territory  now  comprised  in  the  town  of  Woon- 
socket. 

April  G.   1G90.     It  was  ordered   "that  every  soldier  should 


1690.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  Ill 

forthwith,  at  his  own  charge,  provide  himself  with  one  pound 
of  powder,  twenty  bullets  and  six  flints,  and  produce  them  to 
the  Captain  in  ten  days,  upon  penalty  of  ten  shillings  for  every 
default." 

The  reason  of  this  preparation  was,  undoubtedly  the  fear  of 
the  French  and  Indians  upon  the  easter  frontier  of  the  Colony. 
The  Pennicook  Indians  had  murdered  Maj.Waldron  at  Cocheco, 
June  27,  1687,  taken  the  fort  at  Pemmaquid,  and  murdered  the 
garrison,  after  capitulation,  and  taken  another  fort  at  Casco  with 
an  hundred  prisoners. 

In  1087  the  collections,  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary,  fell  short 
£7. 10s  and  which  sum  he  remitted  to  the  town  provided  a  like 
amount  "be  imjn-oved  in  the  next  public  work  or  building." 

In  1G80  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  second  Meeting  House 
was  built  (the  first  one  having  been  burned  by  the  Indians  in 
the  winter  of  1675-6)  and  that  its  size  was  twenty-six  feet  by 
eighteen  with  fourteen  feet  posts.  It  was  now  determined  to  build 
the  tli  ird  Meeting  House  and  it  was  to  be  thirty  feet  square  with 
sixteen  feet  posts.  It  was  "  let  out  at  a  price  to  John  Andruse 
of  our  town,"  but  at  at  what  price  is  not  known,  as  no  further 
mention  is  made  of  its  cost. 

It  was  built  by  subscription  as  Lieut.  Josiah  Chapin,  Lieut. 
Josiah  Torrey,  Samuel  Read,  Ser.  James  Lovett,  Ser.  Peter  Hol- 
brook,  Robert  Taft,  John  Rocket,  James  Albee  and  Thomas 
Thayer  were  chosen  to  collect  the  subscriptions  and  had  the  en- 
tire control  of  the  work.  It  was  understood  that  portions  of  the 
work  were  to  be  done  by  the  inhabitants  and  the  committee  were 
instructed  to  consider  the  convenience  of  the  people  in  letting  out 
the  work  and  especially  that  "poor  persons  be  not  unnecessarily 
burthened."  If  no  one  would  take  work  at  the  prices  agreed  on 
by  the  committee  then  they  were  to  do  it  themselves  or  hire  it 
done,  at  the  fixed  price.  This  committee  were  to  keep  an  ac- 
curate account  of  their  subscriptions  and  of  their  disbursements. 
The  subscriptions  were  to  be  collected  by  the  15th  of  May,  "  so 
that  ye  work  may  not  be  obstructed  or  letted  for  the  want  of  nails 
and  glass."  The  committee  were  also  instructed  to  consult  and 
advise  with  the  Pastor  in  regard  to  the  seating  of  the  house  and 
in  placing  the  doors,  windows  and  alleys. 

It  is  presumed  that  the  doings  of  this  committee  were  sat- 


112  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1691. 

isfactorily  discharged  as  no    further  mention  is  made  of   the 
Meeting  House. 

The  location  of  the  house  cannot  now  be  determined.  It  was 
not,  as  some  have  supposed,  erected  upon  the  site  of  the  old  one; 
for  we  find  that,  in  1694,  John  Thompson,  sen.,  bought  the  old 
Meeting  House  for  four  pounds. 


1691.  Jan.  5.  Selectmen,  Lieut.  Josiah  Chapin,  Mr.  Josiah 
Torrey,  Serg.  James  Lovet,  Serg.  Peter  Holbrook  and  Samuel 
Bead.  Constables,  Nicolas  Cook  and  Thomas  Thayer.  Survey- 
ors of  Highways,  Angel  Torrey,  Timothy  Winter  and  John 
Rocket. 

When  the  inhabitants  laid  out  their  land,  after  a  division  had 
been  granted,  they  made  very  crooked  lines,  in  order  to  inclose 
only  good  land.  By  and  by,  when  the  number  of  inhabitants  had 
increased,  and  the  lands  had  become  improved,  it  was  found  nec- 
essary to  build  fences  "on  account  of  the  damage  from  neat 
cattle  and  swine  in  the  meadows."  In  building  the  fence  about 
his  lot  a  man,  "  to  straighten  his  fence,"  could  take  in  "  such 
corners  and  necks  of  land,"  as  might  be  necessary,  not  to  exceed 
four  acres. 

THE    SECOND    SAW   MILL. 

It  was  voted  that  Josiah  and  Angel  Torrey  have  liberty 
"  (without  any  molestation)"  to  build  a  clam  upon  the  town's 
land  between  School  and  Rock  meadows  and  so  much  land  as 
shall  be  thought  necessary  for  damning,  laying  timber  or  boards, 
&c.  And  also  to  have  ingress  and  egress  to  and  from  the  same. 
They  were  also  allowed  "  to  drown  so  much  of  the  pine  swamp 
and  other  lands "  as  their  dam  would  cover  and  to  keep  the 
same  constantly  flowed  for  four  years.  After  that  the  water  was 
to  be  drawn  off  on  the  first  day  of  April  and  not  to  be  flowed 
again  before  the  twenty-ninth  of  September  following.  They 
and  their  "heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns"  were 
to  enjoy  the  grant  so  long  as  they  maintained  the  mill  or  mills. 
The  saw  mill  now  standing  upon  or  near  the  original  dam  is  now 
the  property  of  Putnam  W.  Taft. 


1691.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


113 


The  following  assessment  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  was  made  in 
two  half  rates  and  committed  to  the  Constables  Thomas  Thayer 
and  Nicolas  Cook  to  collect  and  pay  to  Mr.  Rawson. 


1.  Capt.   Joseph  White..  £02  02  08 

2.  Leut.  Chapin 02  02  00 

3.  ffardin  Thayer 02  08  10 

4.  Walter  Cook  &  Nicolas  01  14  00 

5.  Josiah  Torrey 01  01  06 

6.  Samll  Read 02  09  10 

7.  James  Lovet 02  00  08 

8.  Benjamin  Wheelock..  01  14  08 

9.  James  Albee 01  04  08 

10.  John  Rockett 1  03  06 

11.  Joseph  Rocket 00  19  08 

12.  William  Holbrook. ...  00  15  00 

13.  Samll.  Cook 1  13  02 

14.  John  Thomson,  Jun. .  .   00  10  06 

15.  Peter  Holbrook 01  17  00 

16.  John  Thompson,  sen. .   01  12  10 

17.  Jacob  Aldrich 01  08  10 

18.  Joseph  White 00  15  10 

19.  Abraham  Staples,  sen.  01  11  08 

20.  Decpn  Warfield 01  02  00 

21.  Angel  Torrey 00  13  04 

22.  John  Andrus 00  14  00 

23.  Joseph  Plumley 00  18  02 

24.  Job  Tiler  &  Samuel. . .  01  18  00 

25.  Eliazer  Wheelock 00  18  04 

26.  Abraham  Staples,  jr..  00  13  00 

27.  Robert  Taft 01  15  02 

28.  Tim  Winter 01  05  08 

29.  John  Cook 00  15  08 

30.  Robert  Hall 00  10  00 

31.  Samll.  Hayward 01  14  02 

32.  William  Hayward 00  07  00 


33.  Widdow  Thayer 00  09  00 

34.  Thomas  Thayer 00  10  04 

35.  Samll.  Thayer 00  10  04 

36.  Denis  Darling 00  11  02 

37.  John  Warfield,  jr 00  15  00 

38.  John  Darling 00  13  04* 

39.  Thomas  White 00  14  10 

40.  Seth  Chapin 00  15  00 

41.  Benjem  Wheaton 00  10  10 

42.  Robert  Corbit 00  09  08 

43.  James  bick 01  13  04 

44.  Nicholas  Mead 01  00  00 

45.  Josiah  Thayer 00  09  04 

46.  Jacob  Staples 00  15  02 

47.  Samll.  pecok 00  06  08 

48.  John  Peck 00  18  00 

49.  Estate  of    late    Samll. 

Shepard 00  14  08 

50.  Capt.  John  Smith 00  04  08 

51.  Georg  Sumner 00  04  08 

52.  Samll.  More 00  07  00 

53.  John  Jones 00  04  08 

54.  Savill   Simpson 00  04  08 

55.  Widow  Harber 00  08  02 

56.  Ruth  bundy 00  04  08 

57.  Steven  Lazell 00  04  08 

58.  Sarah  Fairbanks 00  07  00 

59.  Samll.  Chapin 00  02  04 

60.  Thomas  Lewis 00  02  04 

61.  Lineford's  Lot 00  04  08 

62.  John  Dicks 00  02  04 


For  the  above  rate  it  was  voted  that  one-third  part  should  be 
levied  upon  "ye  Lotts  proportionably,"  one-third  part  upon  "y8 
heads  of  ye  severall  persons  Rate  abell  a.nd  one-third  part  upon 
Chatels  &  Improved  Land  "  as  the  law  directs.  The  Select- 
men were  to  take  a  new  valuation  forthwith. 

Eleazer  Wheelock  was  granted  a  piece  of  land  on  the  backside 

15 


114  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1692. 

of  his  now  dwelling  house  provided  "ye  said  Whelock  shall  not 
debar  any  person  from  fetching  stones  out  of  said  land. " 

Land  was  granted  this  year  to  Eleazer  Wheelock,  Eobert  Hall, 
*Mr.  Rawson  and  Capt.  John  Smith.  Mr.  Rawson  had  the  south 
part  of  a  pond  (north  of  Wheelock's  factory  in  Uxbridge)  "as 
a  full  Allowance  for  what  land  the  other  part  of  said  pond  doth 
take  up  of  his  land,"  his  line  running  through  it. 

April  7.  The  Selectmen  with  Dea.  John  Warfield,  Jacob  Ald- 
•rich  and  Nicolas  Cook,  a  committee  chosen  by  the  town,  laid 
out  the  highways  to  the  North  meadows,  one  by  Hope  Tiler's 
cellar  and  the  other  through  Josiah  Torrey's  great  lot. 


1692.  Jan.  4.  Selectmen  chosen  were  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin, 
Mr.  Josiah  Torrey,  Samuel  Hayward,  James  Albee  and  Samuel 
Read.  Seth  Chapin  and  Samuel  Thayer,  Constables,  and  Tim- 
othy Winter,  John  Rocket  and  Angel  Torrey,  Surveyors  of 
Highways. 

The  instructions  to  the  Selectmen,  passed  Jan.  1,  1682,  were, 
by  a  vote  of  the  town,  still  continued. 

Feb.  12.  The  Selectmen  ordered  that  "  no  person  shall  cutt 
or  peal  any  pine  trees  upon  ye  Towne  Common,  In  order  to  ye 
making  of  Rozen,  upon  ye  penalty  of  one  shilling  a  tree,  one- 
half  to  the  Informer  ye  other  half  to  ye  use  of  ye  town. " 

March  11.  The  Selectmen  laid  out  a  highway  to  Eleazer 
Wheelock's  house  near  the  Great  (Blackstone)  River,  also  a  way 
by  Abraham  Staples1  house  towards  said  river  and  also  a  four  rod 
way  to  go  into  the  neck  of  land  below  Mr.  Rawson's  farm. 
From  this  we  find  that  Abraham  Staples  and  Eleazer  Wheelock 
lived  in  what  is  known  as  Rist's  city  in  the  northeasterly  part  of 
Uxbridge. 

March  28.  In  consideration  of  ten  acres  of  land  and  a  small 
swamp,  Mr.  Rawson  discharged  the  town  of  four  pounds,  due 
from  William  Holbrook  and  Edward  Pratt,  on  the  rate  for  his 
salary.  A  convenient  way  of  settling  parish  taxes  while  the 
common  lands  held  out,  but  as  all  things  come  to  an  end,  the 
common  land  was  finally  used  up.  The  parish  tax  came  to  be 
paid  like  all  other  taxes. 

*  The  Minister. 


1692.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  115 


THE    NORTH    PURCHASE. 

It  would  seem  that  fifty  families,  for  some  time,  at  least, 
would  have  been  content  with  the  eight  miles  square,  the  origi- 
nal grant,  but,  like  larger  communities,  we  find  them,  thus 
early,  eager  to  extend  their  jurisdiction  as  well  as  to  enlarge 
their  borders.  To  their  credit,  be  it  said,  they  acknowledged  the 
Indian  title  to  the  desired  tract,  and  by  their  committee,  amica- 
bly negotiated  with  them  for  its  purchase.  Lying  upon  the 
north  line  of  that  part  of  Mendon,  now  Milford,  to  this  day  it  is 
familiarly  known  as  the  North  Purchase. 

The  following  deed,  supposed  to  be  authentic,  is  copied  from 
a  record  in  the  Proprietors'  book: 

"  To  all  Christian  Poeple  to  whom  these  presents  may  come,  Know 
ye  that  John  Awassamog,  Amos  Awassamog  and  Peter  Ephraim  heirs  to 
John  Awassamog,  late  of  Natick  deceased,  for  good  and  valuable  considera- 
tions them  thereunto  moving,  and  especially  for  &  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  of  three  pounds  Sterling  money  to  them  in  hand  paid  by  Ferdinando 
Thayer,  Joseph  White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Hay- 
ward,  James  Lovet  and  Samuel  Read,  seniour,  Committee  for  the  Town  of 
Mendon  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  in  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  in  New 
England  the  receipt  whereof  they  do  acknowledge  themselves  by  these 
presents  and  thereof  and  of  every  part  and  parcel  thereof,  doth  exhonerate, 
acquit  and  discharge  the  said  Ferdinando  Thayer,  Joseph  White,  Josiah 
Chapin,  Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Hayward,  James  Lovet  and  Samuel 
Read,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever  by  these  presents  have  given,  granted, 
bargained  &  sold,  enfoeffed  &  confirmed,  unto  Ferdinando  Thayer,  Joseph 
White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Hayward,  James  Lovet 
and  Samuel  Read  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever  by  these  presents  have  given, 
granted,  bargained  &  sold  enfoeffed  and  confirmed  and  do  by  these  presents 
give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  enfoeff  and  confirm  unto  Ferdinando  Thayer, 
Joseph  White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Hayward,  James 
Lovet  and  Samuel  Read  of  Mendon  aforesaid  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 
A  Certain  Tract  of  Land  lying  upon  the  north  side  of  the  Township  of  Men- 
don, butted  and  bounded  as  follows:  Southerly  upon  Mendon  line  and 
easterly  upon  Sherborne  line  to  the  height  of  Mispenock  Pond  and  north- 
erly upon  a  line  of  marked  trees  until  it  comes  to  Mispenock  Pond,  west- 
erly partly  upon  the  above  said  Mispenock  pond  and  partly  upon  a  river 
commonly  known  as  Mendon  Mill  River  home  to  the  Mendon  line  afore- 
said, with  all  the  trees,  timber,  woods  and  underwoods  standing,  lying  or 
growing  thereon  with  all  the  meadows,  swamps,  water  courses,  ponds  and 
brooks  lying  within  the  said  tract  of  land  as  it  is  bounded,  with  all  the 


116  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1692. 

privileges  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  or  any  wise  appertaining 
thereunto  togetherer  with  a  full  and  free  confirmation  of  all  lands  formerly 
sold  by  John  Awassamog,  father  of  the  above  said  Awassamogs,  late  of 
Natick,  deceased,  to  the  Town  of  Mendon  aforesaid,  as  it  is  butted  and 
bounded  in  the  deed  and  confirmed  by  the  General  Court.  To  Have  and 
to  hold,  the  said  Tract  of  land  as  it  is  butted  and  bounded,  together  with 
all  the  trees,  timber,  woods  and  underwoods  standing,  lying  and  growing 
thereon,  with  all  the  meadows,  swamps,  brooks  and  waters  courses  within 
the  said  tract  of  land  with  all  other  privileges  and  appurtenances  any  way 
appertaining  or  belonging  thereunto  unto  Ferdinando  Thayer,  Joseph 
White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Hayward,  James  Lovet 
and  Samuel  Read  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  The  said  John  Awassa- 
mog, Amos  Awossamog  and  Peter  Ephraim  do  covenant,  promise  and 
grant  by  these  pi^esents  that  the  said  Awassamogs  and  Peter  Ephraim  are 
the  proper  owners  of  the  said  tract  of  Land,  that  they  are  free  from  all 
manner  of  bargains,  sales,  gifts,  grants,  titles,  mortgages,  actions,  suits, 
arrests,  attachments,  judgments,  executions,  &  incumbrances  whatsoever 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  time  of  the  sale  and  bargain  thereof. 
And  the  said  Awassamogs  and  Peter  Ephraim  do  covenant,  piomise  & 
grant  by  these  presents  all  and  singular  the  bargained  promises  with  all  the 
appurtenances  to  warrant,  acquit  and  defend  unto  the  said  Ferdinando 
Thayer,  Joseph  White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples,  Samuel  Hay- 
ward,  James  Lovet  &  Samuel  Read  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever  against 
all  Indians  or  any  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever  from  by  or  under 
them  claiming  any  right  title  or  interest  in  or  unto  the  same  or  any  part 
thereof  by  these  presents,  and  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  far  the  said 
Ferdinando  Thayer,  Joseph  White,  Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Staples, 
Samuel  Hayward,  James  Lovet  and  Samuel  Read  their  heirs  and  assigns  to 
record  and  enroll  or  cause  to  be  recorded  and  enrolled  the  title  and  tenor  of 
these  presents  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  thereof  and  ac- 
cording to  the  usual  manner,  of  recording  deeds  and  evidences  in  such  case 
made  &  provided  and  to  acknowledge  the  same  before  lawful  authority 
wheu  called  thereunto 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  John  Awassamog,  Amos  Awassamog,  and 
Peter  Ephraim  set  to  their  hands  &  seals  this  nineteenth  day  of  February, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  sixteen  hundred  ninety  one  or  two  and  in  the  third 
year  of  the  reign  of  William  &  Mary,  King  and  Queen  of  England. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  and  John  Awassamog,         [l.  s.] 

possession  given  in  presence  of  us  his      Ik     mark. 

Joseph  White,  Jr.,  «.     Amos  Awassamog,         [l.  s.] 

Saml.  Read,  Jr.  his      Q    mark. 

Peter  Ephraim,         [ii.  s.] 
his    PE.    mark. 


1693.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  117 

The  record  of  this  year  is  closed  by  a' copy  of  the  rate  made 
for  the  payment  of  Mr.  Eawson's  salary  from  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber 1G91  to  the  25th  of  October  1692.  On  it  I  do  not  find  the 
names  of  Robert  Corbit,  Estate  of  Samuel  Sheperd,  Capt.  John 
Smith,  George  Sumner,  Saml.  More,  John  Jones,  Savill  Simp- 
son, Widow  Harber,  Ruth  Bundy,  Steven  Lazell,  Sarah  Fair- 
banks. Saml.  Chapin,  Lineford's  Lott  and  John  Dick's,  which 
appeared  on  the  assessment  of  1691;  and  Saml.  Read,  Jr.,  and 
Nathaniel  Fox  are  found  on  the  assessment  of  1692,  and  not  on 
that  of  1691. 


1693.  This  year  the  Selectmen  and  other  town  officers  were 
not  chosen  until  March. 

At  a  meeting,  Jan,  2,  the  town  voted  that  "every  person  listed 
in  the  train  band  shall  give  one  days  work,  annually,  for  cutting 
and  carting  wood  to  the  Minister."  The  Selectmen  to  give  one 
day's  notice  of  the  time  and  place. 

March  1.  For  Selectmen,  Ensign  James  Lovet,  Serg.  Peter 
Hoi  brook,  Thomas  Lewis,  Robert  Taft  and  James  Albee;  Town 
Clerk,  Samuel  Read;  Commissioner  of  Assessments,  Timothy 
Winter;  Constables,  William  Holbrook  and  Angel  Torrey;  Clerk 
of  ye  Market,  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin;  Tything  Men,  Benjamin 
Wheelock,  Samuel  Hayward  and  Samuel  Tiler. 

This  is  the  first  time  mention  is  made  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Assessments,  Clerk  of  the  Market  and  Tything  Men. 

The  Commissioner  of  Assessments  was  chosen  to  assist  the 
Selectmen  in  taking  a  valuation  of  the  ratable  property  with  the 
number  of  polls. 

The  poll  tax  for  this  year  was  ten  shillings,  and  all  were  to  be 
taxed  except  members  of  the  Council,  settled  ministers  and 
grammar-school  masters  and  others  devoted  to  the  ministry  and 
students  of  the  college.  The  feeble-minded  to  be  free  of  the 
poll  tax,  at  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen.  This  act,  by  which 
towns  were  authorized  to  choose  a  Commissioner  of  Assess- 
ments, was,  by  its  closing  section,  only  to  remain  in  force  for 
the  year  1692.  The  tax  upon  property  was  one-quarter  part  of 
the  income  for  the  year,  and  it  was  granted  "their  most  excel- 


118  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1693. 

lent  majesties  "  (William  and  Mary)  to  carry  on  the  war  with 
the  French  and  Indians. 

Tithing  Men  were  to  present  all  idle  and  disorderly  persons, 
profane  swearers  or  cursers,  Sabbath-breakers  and  disorderly 
persons,  that  they  may  be  duly  punished  and  discouraged.  They 
were  also  to  look  after  the  licensed  houses.  Their  badge  of 
office  was  a  black  staff,  two  feet  long,  tipped  at  one  end  with 
brass  about  three  inches. 

The  Clerk  of  the  Market  was  principally  engaged  in  looking 
after  the  assize  of  bread. 

"  The  undersigned  having  been  chosen  a  Committee  by  the  town  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  the  Selectmen  instructions,  have  agreed  upon  the  fol- 
lowing : 

1.  That  they  make  such  orders  which  may  clear  or  secure  the  town  from 
the  penalty  of  the  law. 

2.  That  they  take  care  to  make  a  Rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  and  see 
the  same  discharged  according  to  the  town's  Agreement. 

3.  That  they  make  effectual  orders  for  the  preservation  of  woods  and 
timber  upon  the  town's  commons. 

4.  That  they  see  that  all  bounds  be  kept  up  and  maintained  between  all 
particular  persons  and  the  town's  commons,  and  where  any  have  taken  and 
broken  up  any  part  of  ye  highways  that  they  see  that  ye  first  stated  bounds 
be  still  continued  and  kept  up  till  ye  towne  take  further  order. 

5.  That  they  take  order,  as  the  law  directs,  for  the  making  and  issuing 
forth  a  Town  Rate  as  whereby  all  such  of  the  town's  debts  as  shall  appear 
to  be  justly  due  from  the  town  to  any  particular  person  or  persons  since 
the  year  one  thousand  six  hundred  eighty  and  five  may  be  discharged. 

6.  For  the  Encouragement  of  keepiu  Sheep,  that  they  make  such  an 
order  as  may  be  effectual  for  the  cleaning  such  highways  as  lie  within  the 
towne,  so  as  that  the  bushes  may  be  thoroughly  subdued;  provided  they  do 
not  impose  or  require  more  than  six  days  in  a  year  upon  a  single  poll  or 
head  about  clearing  of  bushes. 

7.  That  they  Impower  the  Surveyors  of  Highways  to  repair  all  such 
Bridges  that  stand  in  need  of  Reparation,  for  the  Town's  use  and  for  mend- 
ing of  highways. 

Jo  si  ah  Chapin 
Timothy  Winter 
Samuel  Read 
josiah  torrey-" 

March  16.  Deacon  Warneld  had  his  parish  tax  foregone, 
"  provided  that  he  take  care  of  ye  Meeting  House,  to  sweep  and 
take  care  of  the  clores  that  they  be  not  damnified." 


1693.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  119 

May  1.  Oapt.  Josiali  Cliapin  had  a  grant  of  "four  score  and 
ten  acres  of  land ?'  for  services  as  Eepresentative,  and  Samuel 
Read  had  forty-five  acres  for  a  like  purpose. 

Capt.  Cliapin  was  chosen  in  1689  "to  advise  with  the  Counsel 
for  the  Safety  of  the  Poeple,"  at  the  time  of  the  deposition  of 
Andros;  but  no  mention,  in  the  town  record,  is  made  of  the 
election  of  Samuel  Read  as  Representative. 

This  year  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  was  raised  by  an  assessment  of 
half  a  crown  upon  the  poll  and  the  rest  upon  land  and  stock 
• '  from  a  year  old  and  upwards. " 

May  23.  Timothy  Winter  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court,  and  Josiali  Cliapin,  Sanil.  Read,  Saml.  Hayward 
and  Josiali  Torry  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  give  him  instruc- 
tions. 

The  Committee  met  and  agreed  upon  the  following  instruc- 
tions. 

"  Imp1"  You  shall  take  effectual  care  to  represent  to  the  General  Court 
the  great  wrong  we  doe  Conceive  is  done  to  us  by  the  County  Commission- 
ers In  Returning  that  for  our  Town's  proportion  to  the  thirty  thousand 
pounds  granted  Their  Majes^8-  which  is  far  greater  than  Law  or  Reason 
Recpiers;  and  to  evince  this  You  are  to  lay  before  them  these  severall 
things,  Inserted  in  the  Law  entitled  an  Act  for  regulating  ye  former  Assess- 
ment, which  law,  as  all  others,  looke  we  upon  to  bee  a  parte  of  our  Inheri- 
tance and  Eaqually  binding  to  all. 

1.  In  the  law  passed  Dec.  15,  1G92,  it  is  Enacted  that  the  Country  Com- 
missioners shall  pass  into  ye  several  Towns  of  such  County  for  which  they 
shall  be  chosen,  at  or  before  the  twenty-second  of  February,  1692,  and 
there  joyn  themselves  to  the  Selectmen  and  town  Commissioner  of  each 
town  who  made  the  former  list  and  doe  all  further  things  with  them,  as  in 
said  section  are  Required,  which  thing  was  never  don  although  we  Ex- 
pected their  coming  and  ware  prepared  to  Intertain  them. 

2.  That  in  order  to  theire  being  insolved  into  a  grand  Committee  to  take 
an  account  of  ye  sum  to  tall*  off  of  each  list,  they  must  first  have  ye  second 
List  of  each  Towne  In  ye  severall  Counties  examined,  regulated  &  perfected 
as  ye  former  law  directs  and  therefore  wee,  who  thought  ourselves  well 
defended  by  that  which  each  English  subject  accounts  his  right  and  privi- 
lege, are  surprised  to  see  ourselves  Doomed  Contrary  to  Law  and  Reason, 
especially  considering  that  ye  Law  as  their  Rule  Is  all  along  referred  unto, 
and  therefore  wee  cannot  look  upon  ourselves  as  any  ways  Concerned  In 
what  Acts  the  sd  Commissioners  of  Suffolk  have  made  as  a  Comittee,  hav- 
ing been  noe  ways  transacted  According  to  Law,  and  further  then  soe  wee 
take  not  ourselves  obliged. 


*  Contraction  of  tallar  (Spanish)  to  cut  off. 


120  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1693. 

3.  In  case  that  the  Bridg  over  Nipmuck  River  (the  Blackstone)  should  be 
brought  into  Discourse  In  the  Generall  Assembly  then  you  are  to  goe  to 
the  Secretary  and  take  out  of  ye  Records  a  Copy,  If  not  gotten  before,  of 
what  was  done  by  the  Court  In  ye  year  82  or  three,  Conserning  a  bridg 
over  sd  River  and  Labor  what  possibly  you  can  that  it  may  be  continued  a 
County  bridg,  and  If  need  further  direction  or  Assistance  from  the  Town 
In  this  or  any  of  your  Instructions  then  you  are  by  the  first  opportunity  to 
signify  it  to  the  Committee. 

josiah  chapin 

Samll.  Read 

Saml.  Hay  ward,  his  ^  mark. 

JOSIAH  TORREY. 

The  reasons  for  these  instructions  were  based,  undoubtedly, 
upon  the  following  considerations:  'June  24,  1692,  the  General 
Assemby,  as  we  have  before  seen,  passed  an  act  for  raising  money 
to  prosecute  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and  set  forth  the  mode 
and  manner  in  which  it  should  be  assessed  and  collected.  The 
act  mentioned  no  definite  sum  to  be  raised,  but  fixed  the  poll 
tax  at  ten  shillings  and  the  property  tax  at  one  cptarter  part  of 
the  tax  payer's  annual  income.  Certain  defects  were  found  to 
interfere  with  the  assessment  and  collection  of  the  tax,  and  Dec. 
15  of  the  same  year  another  act  was  passed  intended  to  be  ex- 
planatory of  the  first,  and  fixing  the  sum  to  be  raised  at  £30,- 
000.  Under  this  act  two  Commissioners  of  Assessments  for  each 
County  were  chosen  by  the  General  Court;  who  were  to  visit  each 
town  in  their  respective  counties  and,  with  the  Selectmen  and 
Town  Commissioner  of  Assessments,  review  the  assessments 
made  under  the  first  act  and  revise  and  correct  the  same.  It  is 
understood,  from  the  instructions,  that  the  County  Commission- 
ers did  not  come  to  Mendon  before  the  new  assessment  was 
made  and  the  town  was  doomed  for  its  proportion  of  the  £30,- 
000.  Hence  it  was  held  that  the  assessment  was  invalid  and 
the  Kepresentative  to  the  General  Court  was  instructed  to  pro- 
cure a  redress  of  the  grievance. 

The  County  tax  made  July  15,  was  for  forty  shillings,  as  will 
appear  by  the  following  receipt : 

"  Rec  this  27  October  1693  of  Mr.  William  Holbrook  forty  shillings  in 
Current  money  for  Mendon  County  Rate 

£2:00:00 pt.  Jer.  Dummer,  County  Tresyer." 


1694.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  121 

Iii  the  rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  we  miss  the  names  of  Dea. 
Warfield,  (tax  commuted  by  taking  care  of  the  meeting  house) 
John  Andrus,  Job  Tiler,  Seth  Chapin,  Nicolas  Mead,  Nathaniel 
Fox  and  Samuel  Pecok,  and  find  the  names  of  Isaac  Thayer,  John 
Lovet,  Thomas  Taft,  Elicksander  Bogle  and  Isaac  Linerson  not 
hefore  assessed. 


1694.  Jan.  1.  It  was  voted  at  a  town  meeting  held  this 
day,  that  John  Thompson  should  have  the  ''old  Meeting 
House,"  he  paying  for  the  same  the  sum  of  four  pounds  in 
current  money  of  New  England  on  or  hefore  Jan.  1,  1695, 
and  Capt.  Chapin  was  chosen  to  receive  the  same  and  "  im- 
prove it  towards  the  finishing  of  the  new  meeting  house." 

At  this  meeting  the  inevitable  James  Bick  is  still  "  master  of 
the  situation"  in  his  controversy  with  the  town  about  the 
"  smithery  work,"  as  we  find  Mr.  Josiah  Torrey,  Timothy  Win- 
ter and  Samuel  Hay  ward  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  agree 
with  him,  if  it  may  be,  or  other  waves  to  prosecut  In  Cors  of 
Law  untill  the  Controversy  be  Issued  and  that  they  doe  it  with- 
in six  months." 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of 
officers  should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  March. 

It  seems,  this  year,  the  town  was  determined  to  have  a  correct 
valuation,  as  they  directed  the  Selectmen  and  the  Commission- 
ers of  Assessments  "  to  go  from  house  to  house  so  as  to  arrive 
at  a  true  and  correct  valuation,"  and  in  case  any  one  did  not  an- 
swer truly  "  he  to  pay  duble  for  ye  same,  one  half  to  the  In- 
former and  one-half  to  the  town." 

March  5,  being  the  first  annual  meeting  held  in  March,  Capt. 
Josiah  Chapin,  Samuel  Read,  Sergt.  Staples,  Sergt.  Holbrook  and 
Thomas  Thayer  were  chosen  Selectmen;  Eliazer  Wheelock  and 
John  Darling,  Constables;  Ensigne  Lovet,  Commissioner,  and 
Samuel  Read,  Clerk.  Surveyors,  Fence  Viewers  and  Tithing 
men  were  also  chosen. 

Notwithstanding  the  labours  of  the  committee,  chosen  Jan.  1, 
James  Bick  is  still  refractorv.  He  won't  do  the  blacksmith  work 
nor  quit  the  town's  land;  and  so  Mr.  Josiah  Torrey  was  to  have 

16 


122  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  (1694. 

a  letter  of  attorney,  in  the  name  and  hehalf  of  the  town,  to 
bring  the  controversy  to  an  end  by  due  course  of  law. 

It  seems  the  training  field  was  not  in  a  proper  condition  for 
any  very  extensive  military  evolutions,  as  it  was,  at  this  time, 
leased  to  Peter  Holbrook  for  seven  years,  in  consideration  that 
he  should  clear  it  of  hushes  and  have  it  "  fitt  for  Pastur." 

It  was  voted  that  any  of  the  proprietors  of  the  town  might  im- 
prove a  portion  of  the  highway  against  their  own  land  for  six 
years,  in  consideration  that  they  should  clear  the  other  part,  at 
the  beginning  of  the  six  years,  and  at  the  end,  lay  down  the  part 
they  had  improved,  and  leave  the  road  at  its  full  breadth  as  it 
was  originally,  that  is,  ten  rods  wide. 

Up  to  this  time  we  do  not  learn  that  any  labor  had  been  be- 
stowed on  the  highways,  except  to  keep  the  bushes  down,  so  that 
a  way  for  a  cart  and  oxen  could  be  found  somewhere,  within  the 
ten  rods  wide,  by  shunning  the  trees  and  rocks. 

This  year  the  office  of  assessors  is  mentioned  for  the  first 
time.  In  pursuance  of  a  warrant  from  the  Province  Treasurer, 
the  town  assembled  July  17,  1694,  and  chose  Capt.  Joseph 
White,  Jacob  Aldrich  and  William  Holbrook  as  Assessors  for 
the  year  ensuing.  Capt.  White  declining  to  serve,  James  Lovet 
was  chosen  in  his  stead,  and  the  first  Board  of  Assessors  was  then 
sworn  into  office,  as  the  law  directs: 

It  was  voted  that  Jacob  Aldrich  might  improve  the  whole 
tract  laid  out  for  "  a  burying6  place,'"  for  a  pasture  (only  ex- 
cluding all  swine)  so  long  as  he  shall  keep  it  inclosed  with  a  five- 
rail  fence,  and  allow  Deacon  Warfield  the  privilege  of  a  passage 
to  the  brook  for  water,  he,  the  said  Aldrich,  "  to  subjoine  his 
Ingagement  under  his  hand  In  the  publick  Records." 

No  engagement  of  Jacob  Aldrich  being  found  upon  record  it 
presumed  that  he  found  pasturage  elsewhere,  and  that  Dea.  War- 
field  continued  to  cross  the  graveyard  for  water  without  let  or 
hindrance. 

In  a  settlement  between  Elizabeth  Parker,  relict  of  John 
More,  formerly  of  Mendon,  and  the  town,  it  was  found  that  the 
balance  of  the  accounts  due  her  was  £1.02.04.  Among  the 
items  with  which  the  town  was  charged  was  one  of  £1.15.00, 
"  for  making  ye  pound  and  stocks."     By  this  it  will  be  seen  that 


1694.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  123 

the  town  early  provided  the  means  of  restraining  damage  fea- 
sant whether  committed  by  man  or  beast. 

BOUNTY    OX    WOLVES. 

Although  the  order  of  the  Selectmen  offering  a  bounty  of  20 
shillings  for  killing  a  wolf  was  repealed  May  10,   1669,    "upon 

Goodman  Thayer's  motion  and  reason  he  gave,"  we  still  find,  by 
the  following  memorandum,  that  a  price  had  been  again  set  upon 
his  head. 

' '  Wolves  killed. 

Eliazer  Wheeloek :  one  woulf  killed  Jan.  25,  1964 £1.00.00 

William  Holbrook,  two  wolves;  one  Apr.  13  &  one  May  1,  1694. . .    2.00.00 

Thomas  White,  one  wolf  Mar.  3,  1694 1  00.00 

John  Thomson,  one  wolf  May  4,  1694 1.00.00 


£5.00.00" 


A  rate  was  made  this  year  to  defray  the  indebtedness  of  the 
town  from  ye  year  1685  until  1693,  and  delivered  to  William 
Holbrook  then  Constable,  "  with  an  order  upon  the  back  side" 
to  pay  the  several  sums  to  the  persons  whose  names  where  there- 
upon written  and  which  are  as  follows,  viz: 

To  Timothy  Winter  for  service  as  Representative  &  other  ser- 
vices  £10  08     0 

To  Capt.  Chapin 01  18  02 

To  Ferdinando  Thayer 01  13  06 

To  Capt  White 00  11  03 

To  Decon  Warfield 01  03  04 

To  Angell  Torrey 00  01  02 

To  Joseph  White 00  02  00 

To  Jonathan  Fairbanks 00  17  06 

To  Samuel  Hayward 00  15  06 

To  John  Thompson,  Sen 00  08  08 

To  Peter  Holbrook 00  07  08 

To  Samuel  Read 01  16  00 

To  Nicolas  Cook 00  02  03 

To  John  Lovet 00  04  06 

To  Sergt,  Staple 00  08  00 

To  Ensigne  Lovet 00  08  00 

To  John  Thomson  &  Thomas  White 00  13  04 

To  Seth  Chapin  &  John  Thomson 00  06  08 

To  Eleazer  Wheeloek  &  Abraham  Staple 01  00  00 


124  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1694. 

To  William  Holbrook 02  06  08 

To  Jacob  Aldrich 00  06  08 

To  Robert  Taft 00  00  10 

To  John  Rockit 00  02  03 

To  John  Darling 00  02  03 

More  (balance)  to  Samll.  Read  for  ye  town's  use  00  06  08 

£26  10  10 

The  above  accounts  were  for  services  rendered  to  or  money 
paid  for  the  town.  They  were  audited  by  the  Selectmen  and 
and  directed  to  be  paid,  as  above,  without  being  reported  to  the 
town.  Happy  the  town  whose  aggregate  indebtedness  for  nine 
years  could  be  liquidated  for  the  sum  of  twenty-six  pounds  ten 
shillings  and  ten  pence. 

Two  rates  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  and  one  for  £8.10.03  "to 
procure  a  town  stock  of  ammunition  as  the  law  directs  "  com- 
plete the  record  for  the  year. 


1695.  This  year  opens  with  the  closing  of  the  controversy 
with  James  Bick  (the  Toavii  Clerk  always  spelled  bis  name  with 
a  small  b),  who,  for  some  reason,  had  failed  to  fulfil  his  contract 
with  the  town  to  do  "the  smithery  work." 

His  ten-acre  lot,  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  belonging 
to  it,  was  sold  by  the  town  to  Samuel  Cook  for  twenty-five 
pounds,  "Current  money  of  New  England;"  and  Mr.  Josiah 
Torrey  was  empowered  by  the  town  to  give  a  deed  in  behalf  of 
the  town,  and  take  security  of  Cook  for  the  purchase  money. 

By  the  law  of  Nov.  16,  1692,  any  person  coming  into  town 
and  residing  there  for  the  space  of  three  months  without  being 
properly  warned  out,  gained  a  settlement  therein.  In  accord- 
ance with  this  law,  Jan.  24,  Thomas  Fuller,  his  wife  and  child, 
were  "duly  warned  to  Departe  the  town."  They  came  into  the 
town  Dec  11,  1694. 

Josiah  Chapin,  Robert  Taft  and  Samuel  Read  were  chosen  a 
committee,  in  1693,  to  ascertain  whether  Timothy  Winter  had 
enclosed  any  of  the  town's  land  within  his  fence.  January  24th 
they  reported  that  he  had  taken  in  one  acre  and  thirty-two  rods, 
and  to  which  they  set  up  definite  metes  and  bounds.  The  mat- 
ter was  amicably  adjusted  by  Mr.  Winter  for  the  trespass,  he 


1695.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  125 

paying  the  sum  of  fifteen  shillings;  "and  which  fifteen  shillings 
is  to  be  allowed  to  sd  Winter  for  part  of  his  wages  for  attending 
the  General  Assembly." 

This  one  acre  and  thirty-two  rods,  being  situated  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Pond  Hills,  may  have  been  the  identical  tract  of  land,  for 
the  ownership  of  which,  some  thirty  years  ago,  there  was  carried 
on  a  protracted  and  expensive  course  of  litigation. 

March  4.  At  a  "Generall  Towne  meetting,"  Capt.  Josiah 
Chapin,  Samuel  Read,  sen.,  Sergt.  Staples,  Sergt,  Holbrook  and 
William  Holbrook  were  chosen  Selectmen;  Robert  Taft  and 
Josiah  Thayer,  Constables;  Samuel  Read,  Clerk;  and  Ensign 
Lovet,  Commissioner  of  Assessments.  Tithing  Men,  Surveyors 
of  Highways  and  Fence  Viewers  were  also  chosen. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  "  that  all  persons  that  have  taken 
in  any  of  the  highways  or  town's  common  and  do  not,  at  or  be- 
fore the  fifteenth  of  March  Instant,  Lay  downe  the  same  for 
Common  and  move  there  fences  off  the  same,  (or  Come  and 
Agree  with  the  Selectmen  for  the  same  at  a  price,  and  have  the 
same  entered  upon  the  towne  Record,  att  or  before  the  fifteenth 
of  April  Next  Insuing  the  date  hereof. )  shall  pay  to  the  towne, 
as  a  fine,  the  sum  of  twelve  pence  per  rod,  for  every  Rod  so  Im- 
proved or  In  combered  for  the  space  of  one  month  after  the  fif- 
teenth of  April  Afore  said  and  so  from  month  to  month  untill 
laid  downe  againe."  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  early  roads 
were  laid  out  "  to  the  full  breadth  of  ten  rods  wide,"  and  up  to 
this  time,  the  record  shows  that  the  towns  were  disposed  to  keep 
their  ancient  limits, 

In  the  olden  time,  as  well  as  at  later  date,  the  good  people  of 
Mendon,  it  seems,  sometimes  complained  of  the  doings  of  the 
County  Commissioners.  In  1693,  Timothy  Winter  was  chosen 
Representative  to  the  General  Court,  and  was  instructed  to  rep- 
resent to  the  General  Court  the  wrong  done  the  town  by  the 
County  Commissioners  of  Assessments,  in  rating  them  too  high 
(dooming  them)  for  their  proportion  of  the  £30,000  granted  to 
William  and  Mary  to  carry  on  the  French  and  Indian  war. 

It  seems  the  Representative  did  not  meet  with  success  in  bis 
endeavors  to  abate  the  grievance  complained  of,  for  at  this  time, 
1695,  we  find  the  town  voting  as  follows,  viz: 

•  •  Att  a  publicke  towne  meeting,  the  towne  beinge  Legaly  Convened  to 


126  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  |  1695. 

take  notice  of  and  act  upon  A  Warent  Received  by  the  Select  men  from  the 
Treasurer  Comanding  the  payment  of  sixty  five  pounds,  said  to  bee 
y  town's  proportion  to  ye  two  last  payments  of  the  thirty  thousand 
pounds." 

"  That  they  saw  noe  Reson  to  proceed  to  a  New  Valuation,  It  being  in 
their  apprehension.  Contrary  to  y<=  Act  Intitled  an  Act  for  Regulating  the 
former  Assessment  and  for  granting  an  Addishanall  supply,  which  Act  they 
fully  acquisce  in  &  doe  hereby  declare  their  Resolution  to  stand  by,  and 
that  If  the  Tresurer  shall  pleas  Transmitt  a  list  qualified  According  to  sd 
Act  they  will  Redely  yeeld  them  selves  obliged  to  pay  their  Respective  As- 
sessment determinable  thereby." 

For  the  security  of  the  Selectmen  "for  not  acting  according 
to  any  other  method  "  in  the  premises,  and  in  case  they  should 
be  put  to  cost,  they  were  authorized  "to  reimburse  themselves, 
ther  heyrs,  Executors  or  Administrators  by  making  a  town  rate 
to  be  paid  to  them  or  their  order  forthwith." 

Thomas  Thayer,  Abraham  Staples,  Joseph  White,  Jr..  Josiah 
Thayer  and  Samuel  Read  agreed  with  the  Selectmen  "  to  take 
in  portions  of  the  highway  adjoining  their  several  estates,  not 
exceeding  five  rods  in  width,  provided  they  cleared  up  Ye  other 
part  of  ye  highway  for  ye  space  of  six  years  and  then  laying  it 
down  for  ye  town's  use." 

At  the  same  time  a  piece  of  land  was  granted  Robert  Taft  be- 
tween the  four-rod  highway  leading  to  the  South  meadow  and 
the  Pond,  being  one  half  an  acre,  more  or  less,  not  to  intrench 
upon  the  road,  nor  come  within  four  rods  of  the  bank  of  the 
pond,  and  so  leaving  a  way,  straight,  from  the  four-rod  highway 
by  his  house  to  the  pond,  of  six  or  eight  rods  wide. 

The  Selectmen  "  filed  a  bill  No.  40  "to  pay  the  bounty  on 
wolves  this  year. 

"Two  killed  by  Eleazer  Wheelock,  1  March  12  and  1  April  10. 
One  killed  by  John  Thomson  May  6." 

The  two  semi-annual  rates  for  the  payment  of  Mr.  Rawson's 
salary  were  made  as  usual,  in  one  of  which  were  two  columns. 
The  first  column  was  country  pay,  such  as  the  town  raised  (see 
Mr.  Rawson's  Settlement),  and  the  second  was  money,  as  fol- 
lows: 

Names.  Country  pay.  Money. 

Capt.  Joseph  White £00  16  08         £00  04  05 

Capt.  Chapin 01  02  04  00  06  01 


1695.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.     '  127 


ffardin  Thayer £01  00  10  £00  06  00 

Josiah  Torrey 00  11  08  00  03  02 

Samll.  Read* 01  02  10  00  06  04 

Ensigne  Lovet 00  12  05  00  03  04 

Abraham  Staples  sen 00  17  10  00  04  09 

Peter  Holbrook 00  12  03  00  03  04 

John  Thomson,  senr 00  15  10  00  04  02 

Jacob  Aldrich 01  02  02  00  06  00 

Angel  Torrey 00  06  04  00  01  06 

Joseph  Plumley 00  06  11  00  01  07 

Job  Tiler 00  05  01  00  01  03 

Eleazer  Wheelock 00  09  00  00  02  06 

Abraham  Staples,  Jr 00  07  08  00  02  00 

Samll.  Tiler 00  13  03  00  03  08 

Robert  Taft 00  14  06  00  03  09 

Widow  Winter 00  05  09  00  01  06 

John  Cook 00  09  02  00  02  06 

Samll.  Hayward 00  12  06  00  03  04 

Wm.  Hayward 00  09  03  00  02  06 

Thomas  Thayer 00  12  02  00  03  04 

Samll.  Thayer 00  12  02  00  03  04 

Denes  Darling 00  07  04  00  02  00 

John  Darling 00  09  06  00  02  07 

Benje  Wheelock 00  15  10  00  04  04 

James  Albee 00  13  09  00  03  10 

John  Rocket 00  11  08  00  03  03 

Joseph  Rocket 00  11  00  00  02  10 

Willi  Holbrook 00  13  03  00  03  09 

Samll.  Cook 00  06  02  00  01  08 

John  Thomson  Jr 00  05  05  00  01  03 

Joseph  White 00  09  08  00  02  07 

Thomas  White 00  06  05  00  01  09 

Seth  Chapin 00  11  02  00  03  01 

James  Bick 00  14  11  00  04  00 

Benjtt  Wheton 00  05  07  00  01  03 

John  Peck 00  07  11  00  02  02 

Josiah  Thayer 00  10  06  00  02  11 

Jacob  Stapls 00  07  05  00  02  01 

Samll.  Read,  Jr 00  11  03  00  03  00 

Isaac  Thayer 00  06  01  00  01  00 

Decon  Warfield  00  05  11  00  01  06 

John  Lovet 00  04  03  00  01  03 

Thomas  Taft  00  06  09  00  01  09 

Benje  Albee 00  04  01  00  01  02 

Isaac  Linerson 00  08  02  00  02  03 

Elieksauder  Bogle 00  05  07  00  01  06 


128  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1696. 

John  Tiler £00  10  07  £00  02  10 

Nicolas  Cook 00  10  02  00  02  08 

Samll.  Coy 00  04  05  00  01  03 

Samll.  Warfield 00  03  04  00  01  00 

James   Ford 00  03  00  00  01  00 

Cornelius  Darling 00  04  01  00  01  02 

£23  03  09  £  8  00  00 

From  this  assessment  we  find  that  the  "  Country  pay" 
amounted  to  £23.03.09,  while  the  "  Money"  amounted  to  but 
£8.00.00.  The  country  pay  was  comprised  in  the  items  of  pork, 
wheat,  barley,  Indian  corn,  rye,  peas,  beef  and  work,  and  two 
pounds  of  butter  from  every  cow.  The  different  articles  were  to 
be  taken  at  the  mean  price  of  the  market.  The  minister's  salary 
for  1695  would  hardly  supply  the  means  for  a  flying  visit  to 
Europe,  or  even  a  lengthy  travel  at  home.  The  minister  of 
1880.  it  is  supposed,  would  have  no  objection  to  the  two  pounds 
of  butter  for  every  cow. 

A  Country  tax  was  also  levied  of  £4.05.11,  four  pounds  of 
which  was  to  be  paid  to  Jeremiah  Dummer,  Esq.,  Treasurer, 
and  the  balance  to  the  Town  Clerk. 


1696.  March  2.  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin,  Lieut.  Josiah  Torrey, 
Samuel  Read,  Samuel  Hayward  and  Samuel  Cook  were  chosen 
Selectmen,  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  William  Hayward  Consta- 
bles, and  Samuel  Read  Town  Clerk. 

The  selectmen  were  to  be  governed  by  the  instructions  given 
for  the  Selectmen  of  1693  (to  which,  reference  may  be  had), 
thus  leaving  to  the  people  but  few  subjects  for  municipal  action. 
The  occasional  orders  of  the  Selectmen,  recorded  in  the  town 
book,  it  is  presumed,  furnish  but  few  of  the  doings  of  the  Se- 
lectmen; and  hence  we  are  left  in  ignorance  of  many  transactions 
which  would  be  matters  of  interest  in  the  present  day  and  gen- 
eration. 

There  are  but  few  recorded  transactions  of  the  town  during 
this  year.  "  Deacon  Warfield  was  to  have  fifteen  shillings  for 
sweeping  the  Meeting  House  (thirty  feet  square  &  no  pews)  the 
past  year  and  the  same  for  the  year  to  come,  to  be  assessed  with 
Mr.  Rawson's  salary." 


1696.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  129 

The  controversy  with  James  Bick,  the  blacksmith,  was  finally 
closed  this  year,  by  choosing  Capt.  Chapin,  Ensign  Lovet  and 
Samuel  Read,  sen.,  a  committee  to  adjust  the  account  of  Mr. 
Josiah  Torrey,  "for  his  pains  and  truble  about  ye  land  James 
bick  was  possessed  of,"  and  to  receive  the  balance  of  the  money 
which  may  remain  in  his  hand  "after  his  charg  is  responded;" 
and  also  to  receive  the  bond  which  Samuel  Cook  gave  for  the 
payment  of  the  purchase  money  for  Bick's  land.  As  Mr.  James 
Bick  would  not  do  "the  town's  smithery  work,"  nor  pay  for  the 
land  according  to  his  agreement,  it  is  probable  that  there  was  no 
amicable  adjustment  made  with  him,  but  that  the  matter  was 
settled  by  "process  of  law." 

The  following  Power-of- Attorney  is  copied  from  the  Town 
Book,  to  show  a  more  excellent  way  for  settling  controversies 
about  the  division  of  land,  or  reconciling  the  disagreements 
about  boundaries: 

"  Know  all  Men  by  these  presents  that  I,  Thomas  Lewis  of  Bristoll,  Doe 
Constitute  And  Appoint  ray  wTell  beloved  friend  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin,  of 
Mendon,  In  my  Roome  and  stead  for  to  Joyne  with  sergent  Abraham  Sta~ 
pies,  of  Mendon  aforesaid  to  Devid  A  percell  of  medow  that  belonged  to 
John  Parris's  Lot  in  Mendon  Now  Eaqually  belonging  to  me  the  said  Lewis 
and  ye  Above  sd  Staples,  and  doe  by  these  presents  bind  myself  my  heyers, 
Executors,  administrators  and  Assignes  to  stand  to  their  Agreement  about 
ye  devision  of  sd  medow,  and  after  the  decision  is  made  to  cause  the  same 
to  be  recorded,  as  witnes  my  hand  this  9th  of  January  1695-6. 

Thomas  Lewis." 

How  many  costly  and  vexatious  law-suits  that,  not  very  infre- 
quently, drag  their  slow  length  along,  engendering  strifes  and 
bitterness  through  two  or  three  successive  generations,  might  be 
avoided  by  referring  the  issue  to  the  kindly  arbitration  of  neigh- 
bors and  friends. 

Happy  the  town  that  can  conclude  its  transactions  for  the 
year  by  a  record  of  equal  love  and  good  will  writh  the  above. 

I  find  that  Thomas  Lewis  was  taxed  in  1691,  1692  and  1693. 
He  was  chosen  one  of  the  Selectmen  in  1693,  but  declined  serv- 
ing, and  Samuel  Bead  was  chosen  in  his  stead.  From  whence 
he  came  is  not  known. 

The  following  petition,  although  dated  in  1695.  was  not  in- 
serted in  the  transactions  of  that  year,  from  the  fact  that  it  was 
not  acted  on  by  the  General  Court  until  1696: 

Town's,  Vol.  113,  p.  130. 

17 


130  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1696. 

' '  To  the  Much  Honoured  General  Court  Now  sitting  In  Boston  this  fourth 
of  December  1695.  The  address  of  Josiah  Chapin  Peter  Holbrook  & 
Josiah  Torrey,  Selectmen  for  the  Town  of  Mendon,  for  this  yeare,  beinge 
in  behalfe  of  said  Town. 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  by  virtue  of  an  order  of  the  Honorable 
Council  your  petitioners  were  ordered  to  attend  upon  this  Honered  Assem- 
bly to  answer  for  Contempt  or  Neglect  of  attending  a  warrant  Sent  by  the 
Treasurer,  by  order  of  the  General  Assembly,  for  the  assessing  of  Sixty- 
five  pounds  upon  our  towne.  In  obedience  to  which  Your  Petitioners 
made  their  appearance  and  made  answer  that  no  such  warrant  ever  came  to 
their  hands;  nor  did  wee  (considering  what  steps  the  regulating  that  tax 
required)  ever  judge  that  sum  due  from  us,  but  being  assured  that  the  order 
of  the  General  Court,  since  that  Law  enacted,  must  be  complied  with,  we 
are  bold  to  represent  the  low  and  extraordinary  afflicted  Estate  of  our  town 
to  your  honered  selves,  hoping  that  we  shall  find  that  relief  in  your  mercy, 
which  we  are  out  of  hopes  of  obtaining  In  any  other  way.  May  it  therefore 
please  your  Honers  to  be  informed  that  our  town,  being  a  Frontier  Town, 
hath,  for  diverse  years  past,  for  two  months  together,  and  that  the  chiefest 
time  in  ye  year,  been  enforced  to  spend  our  time  In  watching  and  warding 
for  the  security  of  our  lives  and  estates,  which  beside  all  the  losses  we  sus- 
tain by  being  driven  into  heapes,  amounts  to  a  great  deal  more  than  the 
sum  demanded  of  us ;  unto  which  we  take  ye  liberty  of  subjoining  that,  by 
reason  of  ye  blast  on  ye  English  grain  &  the  frost  taking  the  Indian  Corn 
there  is  not  enough  left  to  us  as  will  (we  are  fully  assured)  serve  the  Town 
till  ye  end  of  May  and  how  we  shall  be  able  to  subsist  we  know  not.  There 
is  nothing  but  a  small  stock  of  cattle  left  to  us,  the  most  being  already  en- 
forced to  sell  a  considerable  part  of  ye  stock  to  answer  their  assessments. 
For  our  own  part,  we  dread  to  think  what  will  become  of  us  and  how  we 
shall  be  able  to  uphold  ye  Ministry  of  ye  word  amongst  beings  so  extraor- 
dinarily reduced  &  most  every  way  unable  to  assist  themselves, 

Our  humble  request  is  that  the  sum  above  expressed  may  be  remitted  to 
us  &  that,  for  the  future,  we  may  be  considered  with  respect  unto  those 
yearly  troubles  that  have  been  upon  us  &  which  we  cannot  but  be  in  ex- 
pectation of,  that  we  not  be  inforced  to  spend  our  time  in  securing  other 
towns  who  are,  having  such  an  outwork,  following  their  business  without 
any  such  diversions  and  troubles  &  yett  have  small  charge  to  grapple  with, 
which  will  force  us  to  pluck  up  stakes  &  seek  relief  and  shelter  where  God 
shall  open  a  door  for  us. 

Not  further  .to  trouble  your  Honers  we  subscribe  our  selves, 
Your  Honours  bounded  Servants. 

Josiah  Chapin 
Peter  Holbrook 
Josiah  Torrey, 

June  16.  1696.     Read  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 

In  answer  to  said  petition,  voted  that  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  be  abated 


1697. J  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  131 

to  the  sd  Town  out  of  the  tax  of  sixty  five  pounds  assessed  upon  said  town 
as  their  two  last  parts  of  the  tax  of  £30,000  and  sent  up  to  the  Lt.  Governor 
&  Council  for  Concurrence. 

Penn  Townsend,  Speaker. 
Read  in  Council  &  Voted  a  Concurrence, 

Isaac  Addington,  Sec." 


1697.  March  1.  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin,  Samuel  Read,  Sen., 
Peter  Holbrook,  William  Holbrook  and  Thomas  Thayer  were 
chosen  Selectmen:  Samuel  Read,  Sen.,  Town  Clerk,  and  Samuel 
Read,  Jr.  and  Joseph  Rocket,  Constables. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that  "  Mr.  Rawson's  salary  should 
be  raised  according  to  our  former  law  and  9  pence  upon  the  head, 
and  then  double  the  whole  until  it  makes  up  the  sum."  How 
this  doubling  was  effected,  no  explanation  is  found  in  the  record. 
The  modern  tax-payer  sometimes  thinks  the  modern  assessor  has 
discovered  this  process  of  doubling  the  whole  until  it  makes  up 
the  sum. 

It  was  also  voted  "  that  the  £18  demanded  of  us  by  the  Colo- 
nial Treasurer  should  be  raised  the  same  way  as  Mr.  Rawson's 
salary  is  raised. " 

Dec.  3.  1697.  Amy  Staples,  with  her  child,  was  warned  "to 
Leve  and  Depart  the  Towne,"  by  John  Rocket,  one  of  the  Con- 
stables. 

"  Meudon  22d.  December.  Then  Receaved  of  Lieutenant  Samll.  Read 
the  Ten  pound  Ordered  to  me  by  the  town  vote  as  above  to  the  end  therein 
specified,  I  say  Red. 

£10.00.00.  pr.  me,  Grindal  Rawson." 

These  ten  pounds  were  probably  the  last  payment  of  Samuel 
Cook  for  the  James  Bick  lot,  as  we  have  seen  that  Samuel  Read, 
as  Town  Clerk,  held  the  bond  of  Cook,  and  that  the  last  pay- 
ment was  to  be  made  on  or  before  the   25th  of  December,  1697. 

The  record  of  the  two  semi-annual  rates  for  the  payment  of 
Mr.  Rawson's  salary  completes  the  doings  of  the  year.  In  both 
rates  fifty  persons  were  taxed.  In  the  first  one  the  amount  of 
the  assessment  was  £25.12.04,  of  which  £20.10.04  was  to  be  in 
"country  pay,  such  as  the  town  raiseth,"  and  £5.02.00  in 
money. 

The  renewing  the  line  between  the  Ministry  and  School 
meadows  and  Mr.  Emerson's  meadow,  completes  the  transac- 
tions for  the  year. 


132  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1698. 

1698.  March  7.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin, 
Samuel  Read,  Sen.,  Ensign  James  Lovet,  William  Holbrook  and 
Samuel  Thayer;  Town  Clerk,  Samuel  Eead,  Sen. ;  Constables, 
James  Albee  and  Thomas  Taft. 

It  was  voted  at  this  meeting  that  Mr.  Rawsoir  s  salary  should 
be  made  in  one  rate,  and  in  the  month  of  September,  and  also 
that  he  should  have  forty  cords  of  wood  yearly,  to  be  assessed  as 
a  tax  and  paid  in  at  or  before  the  25th  of  October  annually,  and 
"if  any  person  fail  to  pay  his  proportion,  then  to  pay  after  the 
rate  of  four  shillings  a  cord  In  marchantable  pay." 

Some  difference,  we  see,  between  the  price  of  wood  (4s.)  in 
1698  and  the  price  of  wood  (9.00)  in  1875.  Few  parishes,  we 
think,  would  be  willing  to  employ  a  minister,  nowadays  and  add 
forty  cords  of  wood  to  his  yearly  salary. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  "to  grant  a  Streame  for  the  In- 
coradgment  of  a  Corn  Mill  within  the  bounds  of  the  town;"  and 
Capt.  Chapin,  John  Rocket,  Robert  Taft,  Sen.,  John  Tiler  and 
William  Holbrook  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  view  the  streams 
and  pich  upon  a  place  for  that  purpose  and  make  Return  of 
ye  same."  The  records  do  not  show  that  this  committee  made 
any  report. 

The  town  now  reconsidered  the  vote  about  Mr.  Rawson's  salary, 
and  then  voted  there  should  be  two  half  rates,  and  said  nothing 
about  the  wood. 

' '  SAW  MILL  AT  WOONSOCKET  FALLS. 

Mendon,  21.  November  1698. 
The  Selectmen  met  and  by  virtue  of  a  Towne  vote  upon  a  Training  day, 
ye  seventh  of  November  instant  (no  record  of  any  meeting  on  this  day), 
whereby  ye  Towne  Impowered  ye  Selectmen  to  give  proprietors,  now  In- 
gaging  to  Erect  a  Saw  Mill  att  the  Falls  upon  the  Great  River,  free  liberty 
to  Cutt  timber  upon  the  Town's  Common  to  Erect  a  Saw  Mill  att  the  sd 
place,  We  ye  subscribers  Doe  give  Samuel  Comstock,  in  behalf  of  the  Pro- 
prietors, free  Liberty  to  Cutt  so  much  timber  as  will  be  necessary  for  their 
use,  viz.  to  build  the  saw  mill  and  dam. 

Samuel  Read,         1 
James  Lovet,  Select 

Willi.  Holbrook,  f       ™      „ 
Samll-  Thayer,       j 

The  following  account  of  Josiah  Chapin  is  inserted  here,  as 
showing  the  manner  in  which  accounts  with  the  town  were  dis- 


1698.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


133 


posed  of.  Finding  it  among  the  recorded  transactions  of  the 
town,  it  is  presumed  that  it  was  presented  and  read  in  open  town 
meeting,  and  there  became  the  subject  of  inquiry  and  criticism, 
by  any  one  who  might  be  disposed  to  doubt  the  truthfulness  or 
accuracy  of  its  items: 

JOSIAH  chapin  1683. 
24  June  .82  for  carting  stone   and  sand   for  Mr.   Rawson's 

cellar £00  04  00 

7  May,  .83            for  one  day  Josiah  to  fall  timber  for  Mr.  Raw- 
son's  house 00  02  00 

ye  year  .83  for  making  forty  rod  of  hedg  for  Mr.  Rawson.   01  06  08 

for  renewing  bounds  of  church  land 00  03  00 

10  Sept.  .83  for  killing  a  wolf.  10  0.     one  day  work  2  oxen 

Is.  6 00  11  06 

28  April,  83  for  one  day  to  run  line  between  us  and  Sherborn  00  02  03 

Josiah  3  days  work  about  Mr.  Rawson's  frame..  00  06  09 

for  carting  timber 00  01  06 

for  13  hundred  80  foot  of  slit  work 04  11  08 

for  2  days  bounding  highways 00  04  06 

Sept.,  84  for  preferring  a  petition  to  ye  General  Court. . .  00  02  06 

March,  85  for  timber  and  boards,  seating  of  ye  meeting 

house 02  10  09 

for  balister  for  the  Galery  In  money  00  10  00 

for  five  days  searching  Town  Record 00  10  00 

19.  Aprill  1686.    for  one  day  running  ye  line  with  Sherborn 00  02  03 

28  Ap  ,90  for  running  line  with  Sherborn  00  02  03 

for  67  days  Attending  ye  Court 10  01  00 

paid  to  ye  Indian  purches* 00  07  07 

for  Laying  ye  Ministry's  dubling  Great  Lott 00  04  00 

for  2  days  time  purchasing  ye  Indian  Lands*. . .  00  04  00 
feb.  1693  for  3  days  work  by  ye  Selectmen's  order  In  as- 

sisting the  Clerk  to  enter  ye  Town  Deeds  and 
Comites  Acts  &  Orders  in  the  Second  Book . .  j 
for  2  Jurnis  to  Court  December  ,95  and  June  ,96  01  00  00 
28  October  .97     for  running  lines  about  ye  scoll  medow,  Min-1 
istry's  medow  and  Mr.    Emerson's  medow  y 

and  between  the  pine  swamp j    00  02  00 

26  May  ,98.  to  boston  to  prefer  a  petition  to  ye  court 00  10  CO 

May,  98  to  bounding  hy way  one  day 00  02  00 

1697  for  one  quarter  of  a  year's  sweeping  ye  meeting 

house  by  his  00  06  00 


£24  12  05 


1  The  North  Purchase. 


134  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1698. 

josiah  chapin  debtor  JNov.    83 

to  his  proportion    of    a  towne    Rate    bearing 

date  24 £02  10  00 

by  Josiah  Torrey 00  18  00 

by  Peter  Holbrook 01  00  00 

by  Constable  Rockit,  In  come 00  12  06 

by  John  Warfield,  seniour 00  13  04 

by  Constable  Rocket  with  ye  money  part  of  ) 

his  rate f   00  04  10 

by  Constable  Rocket  7  yards  of  Camblet 01  03  06 

26  Jan.,  84  by  Constable  Rocket  by  2  bushels  of  corn 00  06  00 

Sept.,  85  to  his  proportion  of  a  town  rate  bearing  date 

Sept.,  85 02  02  07 

Jan  18,  93-4         Paid  by  Samll.  More 01  00  00 

by  William  Holbrook  Constable,  93 01  02  02 

by  Ninety  Acres  of  Land  granted  to  the  said 
Chapin  by  the  Town  att  a  General  Towne 
Meeting  May  first  1693 J    10  01  00 


£22  09  05 


If  all  public  accounts  had  always  been  stated  as  clearly  and 
fully  as  the  above,  and  brought  as  plainly  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  tax-payers,  we  should  have  heard  but  little  of  the  venality  of 
the  modern  office-holder,  and  the  millions  which  have  been 
stolen  and  squandered  by  corrupt  "rings"  would  have  remained 
in  the  pockets  of  the  tax-payers  or  been  profitably  and  economi- 
cally expended  for  the  public  good. 

The  transactions  of  this  year  were  brought  to  a  close  by  the 
record  of  the  location  of  three  roads. 

The  first  was  named  the  Wrentham  road,  and  is,  substantially, 
the  present  road  leading  from  the  Third  District  School-house 
over  Mill  River  to  Bellingham,  in  the  direction  of  Wrentham. 
This  road  was  two  rods  wide. 

The  second  road  was  laid  out  from  Dedham  line,  between 
Peter's  River  and  our  Mill  River,  it  being  the  road  to  Rehoboth, 
and  was  four  rods  wide.  It  is  a  portion  of  the  present  road  to 
Providence,  R.  I.,  through  the  easterly  part  of  Blackstone. 

The  third  road  began  at  the  "  Iron  works  at  the  Falls,"  and 
was  laid  out  northerly  until  it  came  to  the  Rehoboth  road  at 
Grave  Meadow  Brook.     This  road,  with  little  alteration,  is  the 


1699.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  135 

present  road  from   Mention   to  Woonsocket,  by  the  way  of  the 
Five  Corners  (so  called)  in  Blackstone. 

Grave  Meadow  Brook  was  so  named  from  its  proximity  to  an 
Indian  burying  place;  and  is  the  brook  whereon  Solomon 
Pratt's  trip-hammer  shop  once  stood.  Possibly  the  site  of  this 
burying  yard  may  have  been  the  same  with  the  location  of  the 
present  burying  place  near  Blackstone  line. 


1699.  Jan.  16.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  our  pas- 
tor. Mr.  Grindal  Rawson,  Deacon  John  Warfield  and  Samuel 
Read  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  seat  the  Meeting  House.'' 
From  this  vote  it  is  presumed  that  the  pew  had  not  yet  found 
its  way  into  the  meeting  house,  and  that  there  had  been  no  per- 
manent appropriation  of  seats.  The  duty  of  this  committee,  it 
is  supposed,  was  to  assign  the  seats,  for  the  time  being,  so  that 
each  family  should  readily  find  its  allotted  place. 

March  6.  It  being  the  annual  meeting,  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin. 
Samuel  Read,  Sen.,  Peter  Holbrook,  Thomas  Thayer  and  John 
Bridges  wTere  chosen  Selectmen;  Samuel  Read,  Town  Clerk  and 
John  Rocket  and  Samuel  Cook,  Constables. 

At  this  meeting  various  tracts  of  land,  varying  in  extent  from 
one  acre  to  thirty,  were  granted  to  Nicholas  Cook,  Samuel 
Cook,  John  Cook,  John  Tyler,  Joseph  White,  Benjamin  Albee, 
Samuel  Read,  Benjamin  Wheelock,  Ferdinando  Thayer  and 
Jonathan  Hayward. 

The  grant  to  Nicholas  Cook  was  "two  acres  of  land  or  swamp  In 
the  corner  of  the  pine  swamp  next  to  brak  neck  hill."  This  tract 
must  have  been  located  upon  the  north  side  of  the  county  road 
(formerly  the  Boston  and  Hartford  turnpike),  and  adjoining  the 
woodland  of  John  G.  Metcalf  on  the  west,  and  the  woodland  of 
H.  P.  Butler  on  the  south,  across  the  road. 

A  ten-acre  lot,  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges,  was  sold  to 
Jonathan  Richardson  for  twenty  pounds.  The  "  rights  and 
privileges  "  constituted  Richardson  a  co-partner  in  all  the  land 
yet  unappropriated.  It  was  laid  out  by  Josiah  Chapin,  on  a  hill 
the  east  side  of  the  Great  River,  adjoining  lands  of  James  Wal- 
ling and  John  Bollcom. 


136  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1699. 

April.  The  line  was  run  and  the  bounds  (trees)  new  marked 
between  Mendon  and  Sherborn  by  Peter  Holbrook,  Joseph 
Rocket  and  Jacob  Aldrich  for  Mendon,  and  Lieut.  Jonathan 
Morse  and  William  Rider  for  Sherborn. 

June  26.  "  Att  a  generall  Town  meeting  Legally  warned,"  it 
was  voted  that  the  next  division  of  land  (formerly  agreed  on) 
shall  be  forty  acres  to  a  twenty-acre  house  lot  and  in  like  pro- 
portion for  all  other  lots. 

Sept.  5.  "It  was  voted  that,  for  this  present  year,  from  the  25th.  of 
March  1699  until  the  25th.  of  March  1700,  that  the  Towne  will  give  Mr. 
Rawson  fifty-five  pounds,  the  one  half  in  current  money  of  New  England, 
the  other  half  in  current  pay,  such  as  the  Towne  Raiseth,  vict :  wheat  4 
shillings  per  bushel,  Rye  3  shillings,  Indian  Corn  2  shillings,  Pork  att  2 
penc  half  penny  per  pound,  beef  at  2  pence  per  pound  good  and  marchant- 
able,  the  whole  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Rawson  Att  his  house  In  Mendon  att  or 
before  the  25th  of  October  next  Insuing  the  date  hereof." 

Oct.  10.  A  rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary,  as  above,  was  made, 
including  the  forty  cords  of  wood,  a  copy  of  which  is  here  sub- 
joined: 

Wood. 

Capt.  White £01  02  00  7    ft. 

Deacon  Warfield 00  11  09  3 

Capt.  Chapin 01  16  02  10 

Samuel  Read    02  06  04  12 

Ensigne  Lovet 01  14  02  10 

Peter  Holbrook  02  05  10  12 

Benje  Wheelock 01  15  02  11 

John  Bridges  01  19  03  11 

John  Thomson  01  11  03  10 

Widow  Winter 00  16  00  5 

Joseph  Plumley 00  13  08  4 

Eliazer  Wheelock 00  05  00  0 

Abram  Staples 00  10  09  3 

Robert  Taft,  Sen 01  04  08  7 

John  Cook . .  00  18  06  5 

Samll.  Hayward 01  06  06  7 

Denice  Darling 00  13  00  4 

John  Darling 01  02  00  7 

Thomas  Thayer 01  10  03  9 

Samll.  Thayer 01  10  00  9 

John  Rocket 01  03  00  6 

Joseph  Rocket 01  07  05  8 

Willi  Holbrook 02  07  09  15 


1699.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  137 

Samll.  Cook 00  10  07  5 

Joseph  White 00  15  08  5 

Thomas  White 00  13  09  4 

Seth  Chapin 01  01  00  6 

Bcnje  Wheton 00  10  09  3 

John  Peck 00  12  00  3 

Samll.  Keed  Jr 01  06  03  7 

Josiah  Thayer ". 00  18  01  5 

Eben:  Thayer 00  12  02  4 

Isaac  Thayer 00  14  02  5 

Thomas  Taft 00  17  07  5 

James  Albee 01  13  02  10 

John  Tyler 01  00  06  6 

Nicolas  Cook 01  02  06  6 

Jonathan  Hayward 00  18  00  5 

George  Pike 00  12  08  4 

Robert  Taft  Jr. 00  11  03  4 

John  White 00  08  00  2 

Eben  White 00  06  06  2 

Samll.  Warfeeld 00  07  06  3 

Roger  Corery 00  08  09  3 

Ebenezer  Staples 00  17  06  5 

Jacob  Aldrich 00  14  08  4 

Abell  Aldrich 00  05  00  2 

Willi  Cheney 00  09  03  3 

Joseph  Chapin 00  10  00  3 

Ebenezer  Staples  for  his  wife's  estate 01  09  09  8 

William  Hayward 00  15  08  5 

Benje  Albee 00  09  00  2 

Benje  Thayer 00  13  02  4 

Danill  Taft 00  07  06  2 

John  Post 00  07  00  2 

John  Lovet 00  08  03  2 

Samll.  More 00  04  00  0 

Ferdinando  Thayer 00  13  08  4 

Memorandum.  "Wouls  killed  In  the  yeare  1699  betwen  the  Last  of 
March  and  ye  last  of  September  and  ye  heads  brought  to  ye  Constables  and 
the  Ears  cut  off  by  them  as  the  Law  diricts. 

by  Jonathan  Richorson  five  grown  wouls 5 

by  Robert  Hall,  five  whelps 5 

by  Samll  Read  three  grown  wouls 3 

by  Eleazer  Wheelock,  one  grown  wolf 1 

by  William  Holbrook,  oue  grown  wolf 1 

by  Joseph  White,  one  grown  wolf 1" 

William  Danser  came  into  town  in  July  and  was  warned  out 

18 


138  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1700. 

Sept.  6,  1699,  unci  return  made  to  the  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  Oct.  3,  1699. 

The  last  record  for  this  year  is  as  follows: 

"Boston  13  December  1699.  . 
then  Received  of  Samll.  Read  forty  shillings  mony  in  full  for  Mendon 
County  Rate  In  ye  year  1696. 

Received        per        Jer.  Dumer. 

By  an  Act  of  the  General  Court  passed  March  20,  1699,  Wells, 
Kittery,  York,  Amesbury,  Haverhill,  Dunstable,  Chelmsford, 
Groton,  Lancaster,  Marlboro,  Brookfield,  Deerfield,  Mendon  and 
Woodstock*  were  declared  to  be  "Frontier  Towns." 

Of  those  who  were  settled  in  Mendon,  up  to  the  present  time, 
and  were  supposed  to  be  heads  of  families,  the  following  persons 
had  died,  viz: 

George  Aldrich March  1,  1682  Samuel  Shepherd Sept.  8,  1690 

John  Sprague April  6,  1683  Timothy  Winter May  2,  1694 

Daniel  Lovet Jan.  24,  1691  Walter  Cook Jan.  5,  1695 

John  Warfield April  12,  1692  Jacob  Aldrich Oet.  22,  1695 

John  Thomson,  sen. . .  .Nov.  9,  1685  Samuel  Tyler Dec.  17,  1695 

Dea.  Simon  Peck Mar.  27,  1688 


1700.  March  ye  4.  Chose  Samuel  Read,  sen.,  Ensigne  James 
Lovet,  Sergt.  William  Holbrook,  Samuel  Thayer  and  Benjamin 
Wheelock,  Selectmen;  Samuel  Read,  sen.,  Town  Clerk;  Sergt. 
Peter  Holbrook  and  John  Bridges,  Constables. 

' '  Att  the  above-said  Meeting  It  passed  by  vote  that  the  five  pound  that 
is  In  Capt.  Chapin's  hands  Received  ye  last  May  shuld  be  Improved  for  the 
use  of  procuring  a  new  drum  and  a  burying  cloth  and  the  Remainder  If  any 
be  for  procuring  Amunition  for  A  town  stock." 

John  Cook  was  granted  leave  to  exchange  his  land  at  Magor 
Miscok  for  land  elsewhere,  "provided  he  dus  it  within  a  fort- 
night," 

Mr.  Rawson  was  allowed  to  leave  his  land  upon  West  Hill,  on 
the  road  to  Eliazer  Wheelock's  house,  and  take  it  up  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Great  River. 

Capt.  Chapin  and  Ensigne  Lovet  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
give  allowance  and  lay  out  the  next  division  of  land. 

*  Now  in  Connecticut. 


1700.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  139 

Jonathan  Eichardson  was  granted  ten  acres  of  land  "adjoin- 
ing to  the  Great  Eiver  upon  the  east  side,  wheare  the  Mill  River 
Emptys  Itself  In  to  the  Great  River." 

When  it  is  understood  that  the  Mill  River  empties  into  the 
Great  River  (now  Blackstone)  below  Woonsocket  Falls,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  town  virtually  claimed  jurisdiction  beyond  any  of 
the  three  surveys  which  had,  at  that  time  been  made.  The 
southern  boundary  of  the  Colony  was  then,  and  for  a  long  time 
afterwards,  unsettled, 'and,  perhaps,  remembering  that  posses- 
sion is  held  to  be  nine  points  of  the  law,  our  shrewd  ancestors 
considered  it  the  part  of  wisdom  to  set  up  a  claim  sufficiently 
large  enough  to  cover  what,  in  the  final  adjustment  of  the  boun- 
dary line  they  might  be  obliged  to  surrender. 

About  this  time  beds  of  iron  ore  had  been  discovered  in  that 
part  of  the  town  now  Blackstone,  and  the  inhabitants,  fearing, 
it  is  supposed,  the  supply  for  home  consumption  would  run 
short,  on  the  17th  of  September  voted  "  that  noe  person  should 
carry  any  mine  or  iron  ore  out  of  or  from  the  Town's  Commons 
upon  the  penalty  and  forfeiture  of  twenty  shillings  a  load,  the 
one  half  to  the  Informer,  the  other  half  to  ye  use  of  ye  Towne. " 
The  iron  works  at  the  Falls,  which  have  been  mentioned  before, 
were  probably  furnaces  for  smelting  the  ore. 

At  the  same  time  the  timber  supply  became  a  matter  of  con- 
sideration, and  as  their  eyes  had  been  opened  in  regard  to  the 
value  of  things  under  the  earth,  it  was  quite  natural  for  them 
not  to  forget  the  prospective  value  of  things  upon  the  earth,  and 
hence  at  the  same  meeting  they  enacted  "  that  noe  person  shall 
fall,  Cut  or  Carry  away  any  Trees,  Logs  or  any  other  sort  of 
timber  Either  wrought  or  un  wrought  off  of  or  from  the  Towne's 
Commons  upon  the  penalty  and  forfeiture  of  twenty  shillings  a 
tree,  the  one  half  to  the  Informer  and  the  other  half  to  ye  use  of 
ye  Towne." 

Oct.  14.  Samuel  Thayer  had  liberty  to  dispose  of  or  carry 
away  the  iron  ore  that  had  been  dug  near  Jonathan  Richardson's 
land,  he  paying  twenty  shillings  to  Capt.  Chapin  within  three 
months,  for  the  town's  use.  Capt.  Chapin  was  to  settle  with 
those  "who  made  discovery  and  Report  of  the  digging  and  Re- 
move of  sd  mine  or  Iron  ore,"  and  "the  overplush  to  be  Re- 
turned to  the  town  if  any  be." 


140  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1701. 

This  year  William  Holbrook  killed  five  wolves  and  had  their 
ears  cut  off  by  the  the  Constable. 

Oct.  8.  A  County  rate  for  forty  shillings  was  made,  and 
John  Rocket,  the  Constable,  was  directed  to  collect  and  pay  the 
same  to  the  County  Treasurer,  at  Boston,  before  the  last  of  De- 
cember next. 

Nov.  28.  The  usual  rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary,  including 
the  forty  cords  of  wood,  was  made  this  day,  completing  the  re- 
corded doings  of  the  town  for  the  year. 


1701.  March  3.  Selectmen  for  this  year  were  Capt.  Josiah 
Chapin,  Samuel  Read,  Sergt.  Peter  Holbrook,  Sergt.  William 
Holbrook  and  John  Darling;  Town  Clerk,  Samuel  Read;  Con- 
stables, Thomas  White  and  Ebenezer  Staples.  Besides  Tithing 
Men  and  Fence  Viewers,  Joseph  Rocket  and  Jacob  Aldrich  were 
"  to  take  care  that  the  law  about  swine  be  put  in  execution." 

Ensign  Lovet,  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  John  Tyler  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  give  the  Selectmen  instructions,  and 
which  were  as  follows,  viz: 

Imprimis.  That  they  make  a  Rate  seasonably  for  the  payment  of  Mr. 
Rawson's  salary,  according  to  the  town's  agreement. 

21y.  That  they  forthwith  take  care  to  examine  all  men's  claims  of  debts 
owing  to  them  from  the  town  and  lay  them  before  the  town,  at  a  general 
town  meeting  warned  by  them,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  and,  upon  the 
town's  allowance  of  them,  to  emit  a  rate  for  the  discharging  them. 

31y.  That  they  make  orders  and  present  them  for  allowance  and  confir- 
mation, as  the  law  directs,  for  the  preservation  of  wood  and  timber  grow- 
ing on  the  town's  commons  and  for  the  preventing  of  carrying  out  of  town 
or  transporting  timber  or  iron  ore  from  the  town's  commons. 

41y.  That  they  make  effectual  orders  for  the  preserving  and  keeping  up 
the  bounds  of  particular  men's  lands  that  abut  upon  the  town's  commons 
and  take  care  that  if  any  person  or  persons  have  transgressed  by  mowing 
or  tilling  the  town's  commons,  without  towne  order,  that  they  be  effectually 
proceeded  with  and  made  to  lay  them  down. 

It  would  have  been  well  had  instructions  like  these  been  contin- 
ued to  the  present  day.  Honest  disbursing  officers  would  have  no 
objections  to  such  scrutiny,  and  dishonest  ones  should  be  watched 
for  the  public  good.  Had  this  watchfulness  been  continued 
until  the  present  day  our  ears  would  not  be  so  frecpiently  pained 


1701.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  141 

with  the  startling  revelations  of  defalcation  and  embezzlement  so 
often  brought  to  our  notice  by  the  daily  papers. 

At  this  meeting  the  Selectmen,  with  Mr.  Grindal  Rawson, 
were  instructed — 

"  To  Treat  with  Deacon  Warfeeld,  upon  his  refusal,  with  sume  other  per- 
son whom  they  shall  Judg  sutable,  to  be  A  schoole  Master  to  Teach  the 
Children  of  the  Towne  to  Read :  and  for  this  or  any  other  person's  Encour- 
agement In  said  work  the  Town  shall  pay  ten  pounds  In  good  Current  pay 
alt  money  price,  and  each  person  sending  children  to  schoole  to  pay  one 
penny  A  Week." 

THE    SECOND   TOWN    POUND. 

May  27.     The  Selectmen  agreed  with  Joseph  Plumley — 

"  To  erect  a  Pound  for  the  Town's  use,  of  thirty  foot  square,  of  six  rails, 
all  square  posts  and  the  Rails  tenanted  In  to  the  posts,  and  a  cap  framed  on 
upon  the  head  of  the  posts,  and  a  gate  of  four  feet  wide,  to  hang  the  gate 
and  finish  the  work  on  or  before  the  last  of  May  next  Insuing,  for  which  he 
is  to  be  paid  forty  shillings  out  of  a  town  rate." 

The  Pound  was  to  be  set  up  between  Joseph  White's  and 
Sergt.  Staple's  "by  or  in  the  ten  rod  highway."  This  designa- 
tion woitld  locate  it  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  Metho- 
dist meeting-house. 

At  the  above-said  meeting  (March  3)  the  Selectmen  agreed 
with  Deacon  Warfield — 

"  To  keep  scool  half  a  yeare  and  to  begin  on  munday  ye  14th  of  April 
Next,  and  for  his  pains  to  have  rive  pounds  In  good  Current  pay  att  money 
price,  and  one  penny  a  week  for  Every  Child  that  Corns  to  scoolle. " 

So  Deacon  Warfield  was  the  first  public-school  master,  and  by 
the  terms  of  his  contract,  he  was  simply  to  teach  his  pupils  to 
read.     Nothing  was  said  about  writing,  arithmetic  or  grammar. 

April  18.  The  Selectmen  met  and  gave  the  oath,  as  the  law- 
directs,  to  the  Town  Clerk,  Samuel  Read;  Thomas  Thayer,  Sur- 
veyor of  Highways;  John  Bridges  and  Joseph  Plumley,  Fence 
Viewers,  and  to  Samuel  Thayer  and  Thomas  White,  Constables. 

This  is  the  first  record  we  find  that  the  town  officers  made  oath 
to  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties. 

March  17.  The  Selectmen,  at  a  town  meeting  held  this  day, 
presented  a  schedule  of  claims  against  the  town,  and  after  they 
were  considered,  Ensigne  James  Lovet,  John  Tyler  and  Joseph 


142  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1701. 

Rocket  were  chosen  "  to  goe  about  the  town  and  Take  a  valua- 
tion and  bring  it  to  the  Selectmen  In  order  to  ther  making  of 
the  towne  Rate." 

Nov.  21.  Those  persons  who  had  neglected,  until  now,  to 
bring  in  to  Mr.  Rawson  their  proportion  of  wood,  were  directed 
to  do  so  by  the  first  day  of  December  next,  or  in  default  to  pay 
after  the  rate  of  four  shillings  a  cord  in  current  pay. 

Capt.  Chapin  declaring  his  inability  to  go  on  with  the  meas- 
uring of  the  lands,  Thomas  White  was  chosen  a  surveyor  "  to 
lay  out  Either  with  Capt  Chapin  or  without  111111." 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that — 

"  Samuel  Read,  sen.  for  his  service  in  keeping  of  the  towne  booke  and 
Recording  Towne  votes,  Rates  and  other  transactions  of  the  towne,  from  the 
first  beginning  of  his  keeping  them  (1680)  until  the  beginning  of  March 
next  Insuing  the  date  hereof,  shall  have  six  pounds  in  money  or  marchat- 
able  pay  at  money  price,  and  the  price  of  wheat  was  fixed  at  5s.  per  bushel, 
Rye  at  4s.  and  Corn  at  3s.  per  bushel." 

The  record  for  this  year  closes  with  the  entry  of  the  account 
of  Samuel  Read  and  the  annual  rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary. 

"  SAMLL.  READ,  CREDIT  1686. 

for  one  day  Running  Line  wh.  Sherborn  19th.  Ap £00  02  00 

for  money  paid  Mr  Adiugton  for  ye  towne  Deed 00  03  00 

for  transcribing  acts  of  Counsel  1687 00  03  06 

for  ten  shillings  money  Lent  to  prcuer  black  staff 00  10  00 

for  twenty-three  days  attending  ye  Court  1692 03  09  00 

for  money  paid  for  purches  of  land   of  Wansamoge  (Awas- 

samog.) 00  16  04 

for  four  days    time    about  said  Land  In  purchasing,  Deed 

possession  and  Running  ye  Line 00  08  03 

for  helping  to  lay  out  ye  Ministry's  dubling  &  great  Lot 00  02  06 

for  2  days  &  half  takin  ye  valuation  Jan.  1693-4 00  04  00 

for  expenses  of  ye  Selectmen  In  ye  year  1693 00  17  00 

Feb.    1694  for  Recording  the  Towne  deeds  and   Court  grants, 
Committees  Acts  and  ye  names  of  ye  proprietors  In  ye 

new  book  by  order  of  ye  Selectmen 00  08  00 

Dec.  1695,  to  Capt   Chapin  &  Serg.  Holbrook  in  money  when 

they  went  to  Court 00  06  00 

28  October  ,97  to  stating  the  bounds  betweene  the  pine  swamp 
and  Mr.  Emerson's  medow,  ye  Ministry's  medow  and  ye 
scooll  medow  and  Renewing  the  bounds  of  said  medow.. . .  00  02  00 
January  ,97  one  jurney  to  boston  by  order  of  the  Selectmen 
to  answer  the  towne's  presentment  for  the  hy way  between 
Metfeeld  and  Mendon • 00  12  00 


1701.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  143 

May  ,98  to  bounding  and  Laying  towne  byways,  2  days 00  04  00 

1697  to  my  girls  sweeping  ye  meeting  house  one  Quarter  of  ye 

year 00  04  00 

April  ,99  to  one  day  Running  tbe  line  from  the  North  Pond  to 

Sherborn  line  &  Recording  the  Returne 00  03  00 

for  expenses  of  the  Selectmen  1699 00  12  00 

for  one  day  with    the  Snrvayor   to    lay  out  ye  Ministry's 

great  Lott 00  03  00 

for  taking  care  of  ye  Towne  books    and  writing  of  Town 
votes  and  orders  In  tbe  first  book  from  the  year  1679  till 

March  1701 06  00  00 

for  expense  of  tbe  Selectmen  1701 00  18  00 


£16  08  00 

SAMLL.   READ,   debit. 

To   forty-five   Acres   of  Land  Granted  to  the   sd.    Read  by  tbe 

town  att  a  General  meeting  May  ye  1.  1693 05  00  00 

of  William  Holbrook,    Constable   1693  as  part  of  a  towne 

rate 01  16  00 


£6  16  00 


The  black  staff  for  which  Mr.  Eead  paid  ten  shillings  was  for 
the  Constable.  By  law  he  was  to  have  his  staff  with  him  when 
in  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  "so  that  none  could 
plead  ignorance."  What  its  length  and  size  were  cannot  now  be 
determined,  but  as  it  sometimes  proved  "inconvenient  by  giving 
oppertnnity  to  delinquents  to  escape,"  by  an  act  passed  May  12, 
1675,  it  was  allowed  to  the  Constable  "when  he  acted  by  virtue 
of  a  warrant  to  him  directed  from  authority,"  to  carry  his  staff 
or  not  as  he  might  choose. 

The  money  paid  Mr.  Addington  was  probably  for  recording 
the  deed  of  the  North  Purchase.  The  twenty-three  days  at 
Court,  he  was  probably  serving  the  town  as  Representative, 
although  no  record  is  found  of  his  election.  The  money  paid 
to  Capt.  Chapin  and  Serg.  Holbrook  was  when  they  were  sum- 
moned before  the  General  Court  for  contempt  about  the  assess- 
ment of  the  sixty-five  pounds. 

In  the  rate  for  Mr.  Eawson's  salary  this  year,  the  forty  cords 
of  wood  were  included,  each  man  being  assessed  the  proper 
number  Of  feet. 


144  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1702. 

1702.  March  ye  2.  Selectmen,  Josiah  Chapin,  Samuel  Read 
Sen..  James  Lovet,  John  Tyler  and  Joseph  Rocket;  Samuel 
Read,  Sen.,  Town  Clerk;  John  Cook  and  Thomas  Thayer,  Con- 
stables; Hay  wards  and  Field  Drivers  chose  for  the  first  time,  viz: 
John  Rocket  and  Joseph  Plumley. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  January,  1684,  the  town  made 
an  agreement  to  put  up  a  grist  mill,  with  Matthias  Puffer,  upon 
the  site  of  the  mill  burned  by  the  Indians,  being  the  mill  built 
by  Benjamin  Albee. 

By  the  following  proceedings  it  is  supposed  that  Puffer  had 
failed  to  keep  the  mill  or  dam  in  proper  repair  for  twenty  years, 
according  to  the  terms  of  his  contract  with  the  town.  It  is 
probable  that  the  dam  had  failed  and  that  the  pond  had  disap- 
peared, as  the  town  voted  "  to  prohibit  any  person  from  taking 
up  ye  Land  or  Pond  upon  any  Accounte. " 

For  building  the  mill,  Puffer  was  to  have  fifteen  pounds, 
which  he  was  to  refund  to  the  town  if  he  failed  to  fulfil  any  por- 
tion of  the  agreement,  under  a  penalty  of  thirty  pounds.  Josiah 
Chapin  and  Simon  Peck  were  chosen  to  see  that  the  agreement 
with  Puffer  was  fulfilled.  In  the  meantime,  Deacon  Peck,  hav- 
ing deceased  May  27,  1688,  Samuel  Read  was  now  chosen  "to 
Joyne  with  Capt.  Chapin  in  the  Management  of  ye  Agreement 
with  Matthias  Puffer  about  the  Grist  Mill." 

Whether  Puffer  refunded  the  fifteen  pounds,  or  whether  he 
repaired  the  dam  or  mill  is  not  known. 

Denice  Darling,  William  Holbrook,  Thomas  Taft  and  Peter 
Holbrook  had  liberty  to  leave  land  in  one  place  and  take  it  up 
in  another. 

Jonathan  Richardson  had  land  laid  out  on  Quick  Stream, 
where  it  empties  into  Mill  River,  a  portion  of  which  is  now 
overflowed  by  the  factory  pond  of  the  late  Edward  Harris,  of 
Woonsocket. 

Dec.  ye  11-  The  Selectmen  agreed  with  Samuel  Read  to  take 
care  of  Ephraim  Peck,  who,  it  is  supposed,  was  feeble-minded. 

This  year  William  Holbrook  killed  two  wolves,  and  Ebenezer 
Thayer  one,  and  their  ears  were  duly  cut  off  by  the  Constable, 
"in  the  presence  of  sum  of  ye  Selectmen." 

A  schedule  of  the  town's  debts,  which  had  accrued  between 
the  18th   of  January,  1694,  and  the   21st  of  January,  1702, 


1703.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  145 

amounting  to  £27.19.05,  was  presented,  and  a  rate  was  ordered 
for  their  payment.  Upon  the  hack  of  the  Constable's  warrant 
was  written  the  names  of  the  creditors  and  the  amount  to  be  paid 
to  each. 

A  County  tax  for  £00.01.04  was  also  assessed  this  year,  as  well 
as  the  usual  one  for  Mr.  Rawson'js  salary. 

Besides  these,  a  second  County  tax  was  assessed,  pursuant  to  a 
warrant  from  Addington  Davenport,  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  the 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  for  the  sum  of  £02.00.00.  The 
warrant  was  dated  Boston,  November  14,  "In  ye  first  year  of 
her  Majesty's  (Queen  Anne)  Reigne  annocpie  Domini  1702."  In 
this  rate,  sixty-two  persons  were  taxed  in  various  sums,  ranging 
from  one  shilling  and  eight  pence  to  two  pence. 


1703.  March  1. .  Capt.  Chapin,  Samuel  Read,  Ensign  Lovet, 
John  Darling  and  Samuel  Thayer  were  chosen  Selectmen; 
Samuel  Read,  Town  Clerk,  and  William  Holbrook  and  John 
Farnum,  Constables. 

In  1674,  the  town  had  voted  that  all  the  land  betweeen  Muddy 
Brook  and  Mill  River  "  shuld  lye  for  perpetuale  comon,"  but  at 
different  times  the  town  had  allowed  land  to  be  taken  up  within 
the  prohibited  limits,  and  the  attention  of  the  town  having  been 
now  called  to  the  fact,  it  was  voted  that  the  title  to  the  lands 
already  granted  should  not  be  disturbed,  and  that,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  straightening  their  fences,  they  might  take  in  such  cpian- 
tity  of  land  as  the  Committee  on  Allowance  for  the  Fourth  Di- 
vision should  deem  proper. 

John  Jones,  of  Hull,  was  granted  twenty  acres  of  land  near  to 
Seth  Chapin's  land,  provided  he  improve  it  for  Ms  house  Jot. 
Here  he  built  his  house,  upon  the  east  bank  of  Mill  River.  It 
was  the  first  house  in  what  is  now  known  as  Hopedale,  in  the 
town  of  Milford.  This  grant  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
Jones  family  until  a  late  period,  and  the  house  was  taken  down 
in  1874. 

At  this  meeting  the  Selectmen,  with  Mr.  Taft  and  James 
Albee,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  devise  a  way  "  for  the  Inlarg- 
ment  of  ye  seats  and  making  more  room  for  the  present  conve- 

19 


146  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1704. 

nience  of  ye  poeple  in  ye  meeting  house,"  and  they  were  to  see 
that  the  matter  was  speedily  attended  to. 

William  Holbrook  or  any  other  person  or  persons  had 'liberty 
to  build  horse  sheds  near  the  Meeting  house,  in  the  highway, 
provided  they  build  them  on  the  east  side  of  the  way,  "  close  to 
the  fence. "  Close  to  the  f ence„  indicates  that  the  ten-rod  high- 
way was  not  to  be  embarrassed  by  obstructions. 

Although  there  is  no  record  of  the  choice  of  a  Representative 
to  the  General  Court,  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin  served  the  town  in 
that  capacity,  as  the  following  record  will  show:  April  23,  the 
town  voted  that  "  Capt.  Chapin  should  have  his  pay  for  his  ser- 
vices as  Representative  to  the  General  Court  for  the  Town  in 
March  1703,  it  being  £3. 10s,  out  of  the  money  in  his  hands  that 
came  from  Jonathan  Richardson  towards  his  Lott." 

A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  ascertain  the  total  indebted- 
ness of  the  town  and  present  the  same  for  audit  and  adjustment. 

May  24.  The  town  voted  that  horses  and  sheep  that  are  not 
unruly  "might  goe  att  Liberty  this  yeare,"  and  that  the  Hay- 
wards  should  be  indemnified  for  any  costs  resulting  from  the 
abeyance  of  their  official  duty.  The  principal  difficulty  about 
this  arrangement  seems  to  be  the  unruly  horses  and  sheep. 

Sept.  27.  A  country  rate  (State  tax)  was  assessed  for  £36. 15. 00, 
and  "John  Arnold  and  ye  rest  of  ye  owners  in  ye  saw  Mill"  were 
taxed  three  shillings.  This  was  the  saw  mill,  without  doubt, 
built  by  Samuel  Comstock  at  the  Falls  on  the  Great  (Blackstone) 
River.  Another  country  rate  for  the  same  amount  was  also 
made,  as  well  as  a  county  rate  for  twenty-six  shillings  and  two 
p'ence,  in  which  Capt  Josiah  Chapin  was  set  at  nine  pence,  ami 
Benjamin  Albee  at  one  penny. 

The  usual  rate,  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary,  was  also  made,  in- 
cluding a  separate  rate  for  the  forty  cords  of  wood. 


1704.  Jan.  14.  The  following  accounts  were  audited  and 
allowed,  viz: 

Capt.  Chapin  to  have  the  balance  in  his  hands  paid  him  by 
Jonathan  Richardson,  for  a  part  of  what  is  due  him  for  services 
at  the  General  Court. 


1704.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  147 

The  Selectmen  to  hare  forty  shillings  for  their  expenses  for 
1702  and  1703. 

Samuel  Read,  Ehenezer  Staples  and  Christopher  Winter  to 
hare  seven  shillings  "for  earing  Kitt  Portengall  to  Marlbor- 
ough." Kitt  must  have  been  a  hard  customer  to  recpiire  the 
services  of  three  men  to  transport  him  from  Mendon  to  Marl- 
borough. 

John  Rocket  and  Daniel  Lovet  to  have  four  shillings  and  six 
pence  for  running  the  line  between  us  and  Sherborn  in  1702. 

William  Holbrook  to  have  ten  shillings  for  his  "jurney"  to 
Boston  as  Commissioner  (of  assessment)  in  May,  1703. 

John  Darling  and  Samuel  Thayer  to  have  five  shillings  "dewe 
to  them''  for  repairing  the  seats  in  the  Meeting  house  in  1703. 

Joseph  White  to  have  twenty  shillings  and  ten  pence  for 
sweeping  and  taking  care  of  the  Meeting  house  in  1702  and 
1703. 

The  town  then  voted  to  raise  and  appropriate,  to  pay  these 
debts,  the  sum  of  eight  pounds  four  shillings  and  eight  pence, 
and  ordered  the  same  to  be  paid  "in  Marchantable  Corn;  wheat 
at  four  shillings  per  bushill,  rye  att  three  shillings  and  Indian 
corn  att  two  shillings  per  bushill." 

March  6.  Chose  Capt.  Chapin,  Sergt.  William  Holbrook. 
John  Cook,  Thomas  White  and  Samuel  Read  for  Selectmen; 
Samuel  Read,  Town  Clerk,  and  Ehenezer  Thayer  and  Daniel 
Taft,  Constables. 

It  was  voted  the  Selectmen  should  have  twenty  shillings  an- 
anully  for  their  time  and  services. 

March  6.     William  Holbrook  was  paid  for  four  grown  wolves. 

The  following  copy  of  an  official  record  will  explain  the  status 
of  Ephraim  Peck: 

Suffolk  ss.  Anno  Regina. 
Att  her  Majesty's  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  Begun  and  held  att 
Boston,  for  and  within  the  County  of  Suffolk  Aforesaid  on  Tuesday  the 
second  of  May,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  four,  upon 
Reading  the  Petition  of  the  Select  Men  of  Mendon,  Therein  showing  forth 
that  Ephraim  Peck,  son  of  Simon  Peck,  Deceased,  an  In  habitant  In  there 
Towne  is  so  Defective  in  his  under  standing  as  that  he  is  incapacitated  to 
Manage  his  Estate  and  in  no  sort  Able  to  take  care  for  himself,  so  will  soon 
become  a  Towne  Charge,  If  not  timely  prevented.  And  further  that  the 
said  Ephraim  Peck  hath  sunie  Real  Estate  in  sd  Towne,  the  Income  of 


148 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1704. 


which  is  In  considerable,  that  it  will  doe  little  Towards  his  subsistence: — 
Wherefor  Pray  that  they  may  be  Impowered  to  make  sale  of  the  Real  Es- 
tate of  the  sd  Ephraim  Peck  In  order  for  his  maintenance  and  Paying 
the  Charges  on  that  be  halfe  all  Redy  Expended.  Its  Therefore  Con- 
sidered by  the  Court  (Pursuant  to  an  Act  for  the  Relief  of  Ideots  &c.) 
That  the  Select  Men  of  Mendon  be  and  are  hereby  Impowered  to  make  sale 
of  the  Real  Estate  of  the  sd  Ephraim  Peck  for  the  ends  and  uses  Aforesaid 
and  Pass  and  Execute  good  and  sufficient  Deeds  and  Conveyances  In  the 
law  for  the  same. 

December.  A  County  rate  for  £01.06.02,  and  a  Town  rate 
for  £04.10.00,  as  well  as  the  usual  rate  for  Mr.  Rawson's  salary, 
was  made  and  committed  to  the  Constable. 

It  seems  the  recent  rate  for  the  payment  of  town  debts  did  not 
comprise  all  its  indebtedness,  as  the  Selectmen  met  the  25th  day 
of  December  and  issued  their  warrant  (the  first  one  of  which 
mention  is  made,  though  not  recorded)  "to  Constable  Thayer  to 
warn  all  the  Inhabitants  to  meet  on  the  29tb  instant,  and  to 
bring  in  their  demands  against  the  town,  so  that  a  town  rate 
could  be  made  to  discharge  the  same." 

This  "' recent  rate '' was  made  Jan.  17,  and  as  no  further  as- 
sessments are  found  matters  of  record,  and  as  new  names  are 
being  added  and  familiar  ones  dropped  out,  the  rate  is  here  in- 
serted, with  the  names  of  the  several  persons  among  whom  the 
Constable  was  to  distribute  the  amount  of  the  rate. 


Capt.  Joseph  White £00 

02  08 

04  10 

Capt.  Josiah  Chapin 

05  02 

Sergt 

Peter  Holbrook. . . . 

06  06 

04  02 

Sergt 

William  Holbrook.. 

09  06 

Robert  Taft 

03  05 

Samuel  Hay  ward .  . . 

06  00 

02  10 

Benje  Wheelock,.  .. 

06  01 

John  Tyler 

04  10 

James  Albee 

04  01 

John  Thomson 

05  03 

John  Rockit 

02  06 

Joseph  Plumley. . . . 

01  08 

Thomas  Thayer. . .  . 

04  00 

Aleixander  Plumley 

01  05 

Saml.  Thayer 

05  01 

John  Cook 

05  00 

Josiah  Thayer 

Ebenezer  Thayer . . . 

04  02 

Nicolas  Cook 

01  06 

02  06 

Samuel  Read  Jr.  .  .  . 

03  07 

Isaac  Thayer 

02  03 

Seth  Chapin 

02  11 

Joseph  Rockit 

02  06 

John  White 

01  00 

George  Pike 

01  00 

Danil  Taft 

01  06 

00  11 

John  Post 

01  08 
01  06 

Eben  Read 

01  03 

Willi  Cheny 

01  03 

Eben  White 

01  00 

Joseph  Taft 

01  01 

1704.] 


:.  |                             ANNALS    OF 

MENDON. 

14H 

Samuel  Thomson. .. 

01  00 

Benje  Thayer 

03  03 

Woodland  Thomson 

00  10 

Benje  Albee 

01  01 

Jacob  Aldrich 

01  09 

Saml.  Cook 

02  08 

Abell  Aldrich 

01  01 

Willi  Hay  ward.  .  .  . 

02  07 

Seth  Aldrich 

01  11 

Denice  Darling.  .  .  . 

01  06 

Samuel  More 

01  06 

John  Darling 

03  08 

Joseph  White 

03  04 

Danill  Darling 

00  10 

John  Farnum 

03  08 

John  Lovet 

01  08 

Thomas  Taft 

02  02 

Benje  Wheelock  Jr 

01  10 

Kobert  Taft  Jr 

02  00 

John  Albee 

01  02 

Tim  Winter 

01  02 

Saml.  Warfeeld... 

00  10 

01  01 

Elihue  Warfeeld. . . 

00  10 

Thomas  White 

02  01 

Philip  Amidown. . 

01  00 

01  07 

Ebenezer  Staples.  . 

03  08 

James  Emerson .... 

01  04 

Ebenezer  Sumner. 

01  00 

01  08 

Joseph  Sumner.  . . . 

01  00 

Decon  Warfield. . . . 

00  11 

William  Sprague . . 

01  00 

£10  05  01 

William  Holbrook,  the  Constable,  (collector)  was  directed  to 
pay  the  following  persons  the  several  sums  set  against  their 
respective  names: 


Capt.  Chapin £01  10  00 

Saml.  Read 03  02  00 

Joseph  White 01  10  00 

Willi  Holbrook. ...  00  17  00 
Heirs  of  Chris.  Win- 
ter    00  03  00 

Eben  Staples 00  01  04 

Denice  Darling 00  01  00 

Thomas  Thayer 00  01  00 

Josiah  Thayer 00  01  04 

John  Cook 00  00  08 

Eben  Thayer 00  01  00 

Samll.  Read  Jr 00  04  00 


Em 


Lovet 

Joseph  Rocket. 
John  Tyler. . . . 
John  Darling. . 
Samll.  Thayer. 
John  Rockit. .. . 
James  Albee 
Isaac  Thayer . . . 
Benje  Thayer. . 
John  Thomson. 
Seth  Chapin.  . . 


.£00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

.  00 

Peter  Holbrook 00 


02  03 

03  03 
05  08 
02  06 
02  06 
01  04 
01  00 
01  00 
01  00 

00  08 

01  00 
01  00 


£8  15  06 


The  General  Court,  by  an  act  passed  June  14,  published  June 
30,  1704,  entitled  "An  act  directing  that  the  militia  of  the  fron- 
tiers be  provided  with  snow  shoes,"  '•'  for  the  more  ready  and  bet- 
ter pursuit  after  the  Indians  in  the  winter,  upon  the  snow," 
provided  that  so  many  of  the  soldiers  in  each  company  in  the 
frontier  towns  (of  which  Mendon  was  one),  as  the  commanding 
officers  shall  judge  most  able  and  of  best  estate  (being  not  less 


150  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1705. 

than  one-half  of  the  company),  shall,  each  of  them,  at  his  own 
charge,  be  provided  with  a  pair  of  good  serviceable  snow-shoes 
and  mogginsons  at  or  before  the  10th  of  November  next,  under 
a  penalty  of  ten  shillings  and  ten  shillings  for  every  three  months' 
neglect  afterwards,  and  the  fines,  in  case  of  neglect,  to  be  levied 
by  distress. 

The  soldiers  were  to  keep  the  snow-shoes  and  mogginsons  in 
good  repair  and  fit  for  service,  and  if  upon  inspection,  they  were 
found  in  good  order,  they  were  to  be  reimbursed  three  shillings 
out  of  the  next  poll  tax. 

This  act  was  to  continue  in  force  during  the  present  (Indian) 
war,  and  not  afterwards. 

The  "  present  Indian  war  "  was  with  the  eastern  Indians,  when 
Major  Waldron  was  killed  and  the  fort  at  Pemmaquid,  with  a 
hundred  prisoners  was  taken  by  the  Indians. 

Since  1699,  when  the  known  deaths  of  the  early  settlers  were 
noted,  it  is  found  that  Abraham  Staples,  Sen.,  Abraham  Staples, 
Jr.,  Christopher  Winter  and  Samuel  Thomson  had  died.  Chris- 
topher, the  son  of  Timothy  Winter,  and  Samuel,  the  son  of 
John  Thomson.  Probably  some  others  had  died,  but  whose 
deaths  were  not  recorded.. 


1705.  March  5.  At  a  general  town  meeting,  Capt.  Josiah 
Chapin,  Samuel  Read,  Ensign  James  Lovet,  John  Darling  and 
Josiah  Thayer  were  chosen  Selectmen;  Town  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer (the  latter  for  the  first  time),  Samuel  Read;  and  Ebenezer 
Read  and  Benjamin  Thayer,  Constables. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  his 
successors  should  "•enjoy  the  Mill  Pond"'  so  long  as  he  should 
keep  it  in  repair  and  serviceable  for  the  town's  use  and  no  longer, 
and  keep  within  fence. 

By  the  following  it  will  be  seen  that  Mendon  claimed  jurisdic- 
tion to  the  Blackstone  River,  as  its  southern  boundary,  for  they 
granted  Samuel  Cook  six  or  eight  acres  of  land  near  Dedham 
(now  Bellingham)  line  on  the  east  side  of  the  Great  River. 

William  Cheney  had  liberty  to  leave  some  land  on  Magor  Miscok 
and  take  some  instead,  "  Neer  to  Seth  Chapin  house  Neer  the 


1706.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  151 

Road  Leading  to  Sherborn."  Magor  Miscok  is  the  ridge  of  land 
on  the  east  side  of  the  valley  of  Mill  River. 

June  6.  Robert  Hall  and  his  " '  heyres ''  forever  had  forty  acres  of 
land,  bounded  easterly  by  Androses  brook,  northerly  upon  Men- 
don  north  line,  and  westerly  and  southerly  upon  the  town's  com- 
mon land;  provided  he  should  once  in  two  or  three  years  run  the 
bounds  with  some  of  our  town  from  our  North  Meadow  to 
ye  Northwest  corner.  This  corner  was  one  hundred  rods  west 
of  the  Great  (Blackstone)  River,  in  what  is  now  the  to.wn  of 
Northbridge. 

The  Selectmen  having  met  a  Committee  of  Providence,  and 
conferred  with  them  about  their  claim  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Great  River,  made  their  report  to  the  town  September  11th,  upon 
which  the  town  directed  Capt.  Chapin  *'  to  trans  mitt  ye  above 
Report  or  Complaint  to  the  General  Court  and  to  transact  that 
Affair  with  sd  Court." 

Rev.  Mr.  Rawson  was  granted  fifteen  acres  of  meadow  upon 
the  third  branch  of  Charles  River,  that  we  pass  over  in  going  to 
Medfield;  provided,  at  his  own  charge,  he  defends  the  claim 
which  Sherborn  makes  to  the  same,  and  carry  the  same  from 
Court  to  Court  until  the  title  shall  be  confirmed. 

The  closing  record  for  the  year  was  the  allowance  of  an  account 
of  John  Darling,  in  which  was  a  charge  of  four  shillings  and  six 
pence  "for  hewing  timber  for  ye  wach  hous." 


1706.  March  4.  Chose  Samuel  Read,  James  Lovet.  Sergt. 
William  Holbrook,  Sergt.  Peter  Holbrook,  and  Sergt.  John  Dar- 
ling, Selectmen;  Samuel  Read,  Clerk,  and  Samuel  More  and 
Jacob  Aldrich,  Constables. 

March  21,  In  pursuance  of  an  order  from  the  Superior  Court, 
at  Boston,  the  Selectmen  met  at  John  Peck's  house  to  divide  the 
land  devised  by  the  will  of  Simon  Peck,  to  John  and  Ephraim, 
his  sons.  To  John  was  adjudged  the  south  side,  next  to  Samuel 
More's  lot,  with  the  house,  barn  and  orchard.  To  Ephraim  was 
given  the  north  side,  next  to  George  Sumner's  lot,  thirty  rods 
wide,  and  in  length  from  the  ten  rod  highway  to  Joseph  Plum- 
ley's  and  John  Bridges'  home  lots.  The  division  of  some  out 
lands,  and  the  agreement  of  John  to  keep  his  brother,  Ephraim, 


152  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1707. 

from  April  8,  1706,  to  April  8,  1707,  for  forty  shillings,  closes 
the  record  for  the  year. 


1707.  'Ian.  0.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day  the  follow- 
ing accounts  were  audited  and  allowed: 

Sergt.  William  Holbrook  for  serving  as  the  Town's  Representa- 
tive 61  days  and  money  expended £09  05  00 

Corperall  Joseph  White  for  sweeping  the  meeting  house 00  15  00 

Sergt.  Peter  Holbrook  for  one  jurney  to  boston 00  09  00 

Saml.  Read,    senior,    for   money  expended  of    Repairing    the 
glass   and   procuring   naills    for    fastening  the  same   att   the 

meeting  house 02  08  06 

Saml.  Read,  senior.     The  Town's  allowance  to  the  Selectmen. . .  01  00  00 

Benje  Thayer  10  shillings  paid  for  Rumsey's  Rate 00  10  00 

£14  07  06 
FIFTH    DIVISION    OF    LAND. 

The  first  division  of  hmd  was  without  recourse  to  the  drawing 
of  lots  for  choice.  The  second,  heretofore  tabulated,  and  the- 
choice  decided  by  lot,  was  for  a  division  of  swamp  land.  The 
third  was  for  completing  the  amount  of  upland,  and  the  fourth 
for  taking  up  the  meadows. 

In  the  fifth  division  two  hundred  acres  were  granted  to  a  forty- 
acre  lot,  and  all  other  lots  in  like  proportion.  Previous  to  this 
division,  large  tracts  were  voted  to  lay  ''for  perpetual  common." 
Certain  rules  were  adopted  to  govern  the  division,  as  that  the 
proprietors  should  draw  lots,  "as  it  shall  be,  by  Divine  Provi- 
dence, Disposed  to  them  "  that  the  land  should  be  be  taken  in 
not  more  than  two  places,  that  care  should  be  taken  to  lay  out 
their  lands  in  manner  and  form  "as  may  not  Spoill  the  Lands 
and  make  it  In  convenient  for  such  as  follow,"  and  for  poor  land 
the  Committee  were  authorized  "  to  make  It  up  In  Quantity  by 
giving  two  acres  for  one  or  Les  If  they  Judge  It  sufficient."  The 
committee  were  to  take  care  that  convenient  highways  were  to 
be  left,  and  alter  the  line  ''wheare  the  way  Cannot  so  conve- 
niently ly  by  the  sides  or  ends  of  the  Lotts."  When  -one's  turn, 
by  lot,  should  come,  he  shall,  in  three  days,  if  in  town,  or  upon 
one  week's  notice,  if  out  of  town,  proceed  to  lay  out  his  share, 
and  should  he  so  neglect,  he  shall  lose  his  turn,  and  so  on  so  long 
as  he  neglects.     The  Surveyor  was  to  give  each   man    timely 


1707.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


153 


notice  of  his  turn,  so  that  the  devidant  may  not  be  hindered  from 
proceeding,  and  proprietors,  by  needless  delay,  kept  from  their 
right.  Any  two  of  the  Selectmen,  with  the  Surveyor,  were  con- 
stituted a  committee  to  oversee  the  division. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  next  day,   Feb.   4, 
1707,  when  the  lots  were  drawn  as  follows,  viz: 


1. 

Benjc  Thayer. 

39. 

John  Thompson,  jr., 

2. 

James  Emerson. 

40. 

Joshua  Lazell. 

3. 

Peter  Holbrook. 

41. 

John  Peck. 

4. 

John  Sprague. 

42. 

Ebenezer  Staples. 

5. 

Woodland  Thomson. 

43. 

Joseph  Plumley. 

6. 

Danil  Taft. 

44. 

Mr.  Grindal  Rawson. 

7. 

Saml.  Read. 

45. 

Joseph  White. 

8. 

Saml.  Cook. 

40. 

James  Albee. 

9. 

Saml*  Tyler. 

47. 

Saml.  Thayer. 

10. 

Timothy  Winter. 

48. 

Nicolas  Cook. 

11. 

Jonathan  Thayer. 

49. 

Ebenezer  Thayer. 

12. 

John  Farnum. 

50. 

Joseph  Rocket. 

13. 

John  Rockit. 

51. 

Saml.  Hayward. 

14. 

Savill  Simpson. 

52. 

Ebenezer  White. 

15. 

Thomas  Taft. 

53. 

Ebenezer  Sprague. 

16. 

Thomas  White. 

54. 

Robert  Taft. 

17. 

Benjamin  Wheelock. 

55. 

Ephraim  Staples. 

18. 

ye  daughters  of  John  Sprague. 

56. 

Jacob  Staples. 

19. 

John  Jones. 

57. 

John  Bridges. 

30 

George  Sumner. 

58. 

Saml.  Read,  Jr., 

21. 

Ephraim  Chapin. 

59. 

Saml.  More. 

22. 

Joseph  Chapin. 

60. 

Abraham  Staples. 

23. 

John  Cook. 

61. 

Ephraim  Peck. 

24. 

William  Sprague. 

62. 

Jacob  Aldrich. 

25. 

Nathaniel  Morse. 

63. 

Angell  Torrey.. 

26. 

John  Corbet. 

64. 

John  Staples. 

27. 

John  White. 

65. 

William  Hayward. 

28. 

Benjamin  Wheton. 

66. 

Benjamin  Wheelock,  jr 

29. 

Isaack  Thayer. 

67. 

Decon  Warfeeld. 

30. 

Jonathan  Richardson. 

68. 

Jonathan  Hayward. 

31. 

John  Thomson. 

69. 

The  Ministry  Lot. 

32. 

Thomas  Thayer. 

70. 

Ebenezer  Read. 

33. 

John  Green. 

71. 

John  Post. 

34. 

John  Albee. 

72. 

John  Darling. 

35. 

Saml.  Hayward,  jr. 

73. 

Elxsander  Plumley. 

36. 

Josiah  Thayer. 

74. 

Seth  Chapin. 

37. 

Capt.  Josiah  Chapin. 

75. 

The  Scool  Lot. 

38. 

James  Lovet. 

30 

154  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1707. 

Previous  to  this  division  the  town  set  apart  large  tracts  of 
land  "  to  Lye  for  perpetuall  common  for  the  town's  use,"  as  fol- 
lows, viz: 

1.  All  that  laud  from  the  West  River  at  Abraham  Staples' 
meadow  to  Wigwam  Hill,  then  to  Chestnut  Hill,  including  both, 
then  to  the  lower  end  of  Hopp  brook  meadow  and  then  home 
to  the  Mill  River,  "to  lye  for  perpetuall  common  for  the  use  of 
the  Proprietors,  their  heyres  and  suck  sessors,  except  that  land 
is  all  Redy  granted,"  home  to  the  centre  of  the  town. 

2.  All  the  land  between  the  several  places  before  mentioned 
and  the  Great  River,  except  land  already  laid  out  or  may  be 
taken  up,  in  the  fifth  division. 

3.  All  the  land  from  Mill  River  to  Quick  Stream  and  from 
thence,  by  our  line,  to  Dedham  tree  at  Second  Bridge  (Charles) 
River  and  so  home  to  the  town,  except  what  is  already  granted. 

4.  All  the  land  from  Second  Bridge  River,  at  the  mouth  of 
Beaver  Pond  brook  to  the  upper  end  of  Beaver  Pond  meadow, 
thence,  taking  in  Bare  Hill,  to  the  upper  end,  then  home  to 
Sherborn  road,  by  Ensigne  Lovet's  plain,  home  to  the  centre  of 
the  town,  except  what  is  already  granted. 

5.  All  that  land  east  from  the  Mill  River,  at  John  Jones' 
house,  one-half  mile  wide,  to  the  town  line;  also,  all  the  land  from 
the  Mill  River  at  the  upj)er  end  of  the  North  Meadow  over  to 
the  south  side  of  Hungry  Hill,  thence  to  the  falls  upon  the  saw 
mill  brook,  then  home  to  the  West  River,  then  down  said  river 
to  Abraham  Staples'  meadow,  home  to  the  centre  of  the  town, 
except  what  may  already  be  granted. 

March  3.  For  Selectmen,  Saml.  Read,  Robert  Taft,  John 
Darling,  Saml.  Thayer  and  Josiah  Thayer.  Clerk,  Saml.  Read. 
Constables,  Ephraim  Chapin  and  Benjamin  Wheelock,  jr. 

It  seems  the  contract  made  with  Mr.  Rawson  (the  minister) 
to  prosecute  and  defend  the  Sherborn  claim  against  a  piece  of 
meadow,  had  been  annulled  and  set  aside;  (probably  by  mutual 
agreement)  and,  in  consequence,  the  town  took  action  upon  the 
matter,  as  follows  viz:  "Voted  that  Capt.  Chapin  shuld  In  the 
behalf  of  the  towne  discourse  with  and,  If  he  think  It  be  for  the 
Town's  Interest,  to  Retaine  a  Lawyer  to  Manig  our  Afaire  with 
Sherborn  concerning  the  Claime  they  make  to  our  Meadow  Within 
their  Line."     This  dispute,  without  doubt,  arose  from  the  Gen- 


1708.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  155 

eral  Court's  grant,  May  19,  1669,  of  ninety  acres  "without  our 
line."  How  the  controversy  was  terminated  neither  record  or 
tradition  informs  us.  As  the  coveted  meadow  was  within  the 
territorial  limits  of  Sherborn  it  is  not  probable  the  matter  was 
adjusted  without  resort  to  the  law. 

At  this  meeting  the  Selectmen  were  instructed  "to  take  ac- 
count of  the  former  Treasurer  of  what  money  he  had  disposed 
of  of  the  town's." 

The  only  record  we  have  of  the  choice  of  a  Treasurer  is  in 
1705,  when  Saml.  Eead  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer. 

While  Sherborn  men  were  vexing  us  on  the  east  side  of  the 
town  other  troubles  were  brewing  on  the  west  side,  as  is  learned 
by  the  following  action  of  the  town.  Oct.  17th,  it  was  voted 
"that  Capt.  Chapin  shuld  have  money  out  of  the  Towne  stock 
for  the  carrying  on  of  the  Afaire  about  our  Land  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Great  River,  that  is  now  in  controversy  with  the 
Providence  men." 

Oct.  20th.  A  road  was  laid  out  from  the  country  road,  a  lit- 
tle beyond  the  School  meadow  brook,  to  the  land  of  Saml.  More, 
on  the  pine  plain,  on  this  side  of  West  River.  The  old  Streeter 
road. 

The  road  from  Nathan  R.  George's  old  house  over  Muddy 
Brook  and  Neck  Hill  to  the  road  leading  to  the  mill,  near  where 
Lewis  B.  Gaskill  now  lives,  as  also  the  road  now  known  as  Gas- 
kill  street  were  laid  out  this  year. 


1708.  February  6.  At  a  toAvn  meeting  held  this  day  Capt. 
Josiah  Chapin  was  chosen  Commissioner  of  Assessments  and 
Ensigne  Lovett,  William  Holbrook  and  John  Tyler,  Trustees  to 
take  a  valuation. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  town  debts  were  found  as  follows, 
viz: 

To  Sergt.  William  Holbrook  for  service  at  the  General  Court, 

seventy-five  days £11  07  00 

To  Joseph  White  for  sweeping  the  meeting  house,  1707 00  15  00 

To  Selectmen  the  Towne's  allowance  for  ye  yeare  1707 01  00  00 

To  the  Town  Clerk  for  1706-7 01  00  00 

To  Capt.  Chapin  for  the  charge  of  11  men  to  Shokalog 01  02  00 


156  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1708. 

To  Capt.  Chapin  and  4  men  to  boston  &  7  horses  3  days 01  14  00 

To  Capt.  Chapin  &  4  men  to  boston  att  the  Superior  Court 02  00  00 

To  Robert  and  Joseph  Taft  in  Recompence  for  being  carryed  to 

Providence 00  12  00 

To  Sergt.  Darling  and  Thomas  White  for  running  the  line  be- 
tween Dedham  and  Mendon  00  04  06 

To  the  Towne  for  two  pounds  drawn  out  of  the  towne  stock 
by  order  of  the  town  to  defray  the  charges  about  Providence 
men 02  00  00 


£21  14  06 


The  Selectmen  were  ordered  to  make  a  town  rate  to  pay  the 
debts  above  stated. 

The  charges  of  Capt.  Chapin  and  of  Eobert  and  Joseph  Taft 
undoubtedly  had  reference  to  the  then  existing  controversy  about 
the  boundary  line  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island. 
Inasmuch  as  Eobert  and  Joseph  Taft  were  to  be  recommenced  for 
the  carrying  them  away  into  Rhode  Island,  it  is  presumed  they 
were  made  prisoners  during  the  campaign  about  Shokalog  under 
Capt.  Chapin.  How  long  they  were  held  in  durance  vile,  over 
the  border,  we  do  not  know,  but,  as  their  charges  for  the  indig- 
nities they  were  subjected  to  were  moderate,  we  presume  their 
sojourn  in  the  enemies'  country  was  not  of  long  duration. 

March  1.  The  town  chose  for  Selectmen,  Ensign e  James  Lov- 
et,  Sergt.  John  Darling,  Thomas  Thayer  and  Saml.  More;  Town 
Clerk,  Saml.  Read;  Constables,  Robert  Taft,  jr.,  and  Isaac 
Thayer. 

About  this  time,  it  is  supposed  that  the  increasing  number  of 
the  inhabitants  led  them  to  the  consideration  of  the  timber  supply 
for  the  future.  One  would  suppose  that  the  extent  of  territory 
which  must,  at  this  period,  have  been  covered  with  forest  would 
not  be  likely  to  impress  upon  the  people  the  danger  of  a  timber 
famine.  Be  that  as  it  may  the  town  voted  "that  no  more 
Cedar  swamp  should  be  laid  out  in  any  division  of  land,  and  also 
that  any  one  transporting  shingles  or  clapboards  out  of  town, 
or  selling  them  to  any  one  out  of  town,  should  forfeit  three  shil- 
ings  and  six  pence  for  each  hundred  of  clapboards  and  five  shil- 
lings for  each  thousand  of  shingles  so  transported  or  sold." 

Capt.  Chapin,  William  Holbrook  and  Thomas  Wbite  were 
chosen  to  give  the  Selectmen  instructions  for  this  year. 


1709.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  157 

John  Peck  was  to  have  fifty  shillings  for  keeping  his  brother, 
Ephraim,  from  Feb.,  1707,  to  April  8,  1708. 

Mendon,  Sept.  27,  1708. 
Received  of  the  several  Constables,  or  their  order,  According  to  Town 
Agreement,  the  whole  of  the  Annual  Salarys  due  to  me  by  the  town  vote, 
until]  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  five  for 
which  this  is  the  discharge  of, 

Grindal  Rawson. 


1709.  Jan.  8.  At  a  public  town  meeting  it  was  voted  to 
erect  a  school  house  twenty  feet  in  length,  sixteen  feet  wide  and 
seven  feet  between  joints. 

This  was  the  first  school  house  built,  and  was  situated  upon 
the  hill  below  Deacon  Warfield's  house,  being,  as  near  as  can  be 
ascertained,  upon  the  site  of  the  family  cemetery  of  the  Messrs. 
George.  Serg.  Peter  Holbrook,  John  Tyler  and  Saml.  Thayer 
were  chosen  as  the  Building  Committee  and  were  instructed  to 
have  the  house  finished  by  the  last  day  of  June  next. 

March  7.  Selectmen,  Deacon  Peter  Holbrook,  John  Tyler, 
John  Darling,  Saml.  More  and  Saml.  Read,  jr.;  Town  Clerk, 
Saml.  Read,  sen.;  Constables,  James  Emerson  and  John  Albee; 
Town  Treasurer,  Ensigne  James  Lovet;  Highway  Surveyors, 
Tithing  men,  Fence  Viewers  and  Field  Drivers  were  also  chosen. 

This  year  the  assessment  for  wood  for  Mr.  Rawson  could  be 
paid  in  wood  or  money  at  the  option  of  the  tax  payer. 

The  persons  living  on  Mr.  Rawson's  farm  had  liberty  "to 
build  a  place  for  their  Relief  upon  the  Sabbath  day,  between 
the  meeting  house  and  the  town  pound."  Mr.  Rawson's  farm 
was  in  what  is  now'Uxbridge,  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  mills 
of  C.  A.  &  S.  M.  Wheelock.  The  place  of  Relief  was  what,  in 
later  times,  was  called  a  Noon  House.  It  consisted  of  one  room 
with  a  large  hearth  in  the  centre  and  a  square  hole  in  the  roof 
immediately  over  the  hearth.  When  the  weather  required  it  a 
fire  of  charcoal  was  kindled  upon  the  hearth  in  the  morning,  and 
the  baskets  and  pails  containing  the  dinners  were  arranged  upon 
its  outer  edge.  At  noon  the  room  would  be  found  warm  and  com- 
fortable, and  the  occupants,  having  eaten  their  frugal  meal,  re- 
turned to  the  meeting  bouse  to  partake  of   the  spiritual  food 


158  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1709. 

furnished  by  the  afternoon  service.  As  riding  upon  horse-back 
was  the  principal  mode  of  conveyance,  the  inevitable  horse- 
block always  stood  near  the  door  of  the  Noon  House. 

Deacon  Warfield  was  installed  as  school  master  in  the  new 
school  house  this  year,  and  was  to  be  paid  (salary  not  stated)  out 
of  the  first  town  rate. 

March  10.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  from  March  7th,  it  was 
voted  to  "  Inlarg  the  present  Meeting  hous  the  full  breadth  of 
sd  house,  and  ten  feet  down  street  and  ten  feet  up  street,  the 
full  bight  of  the  body  of  the  house.  A  Rooff  to  cripple  on 
upon  the  Ruff  of  the  former  house  att  each  end."  Galleries 
were  to  be  built  in  both  the  new  ends  with  stairs.  To  cover  the 
expense  an  appropriation  of  fifty  pounds  was  made. 

Whether  the  carpenter  was  to  have  the  fifty  pounds  in  addi- 
tion to  ' l  what  is  useful  of  the  timber  and  bords  of  the  present 
house,"  the  record  furnishes  no  intimation.  The  following  was 
the  vote  of  the  town: 

' '  That  what  is  useful  of  the  timber  and  bords  of  the  present  house 
should  be  his  that  doth  the  work,  by  finding  Nails  for  the  whole,  and  Re- 
move and  sett  up  the  windows  to  be  Removed  In  the  places  In  sd  New 
ends  and  find  sleepers  &  bords  for  and  Lay  the  floores  and  to  Carry  the 
body  of  the  seats  so  far  as  to  make  it  flush  at  the  outside  of  ye  present 
house  and  to  make  the  seats  in  both  new  ends  below." 

A  Latin  School  Master. 

"  Where  as  A  scoole  Master  is  wanting  to  teach  the  Children  to  Reed, 
writ  and  cifer,  as  the  Law  Diricts;  and  Mr.  Rawson  offering  the  Towne 
that  if  the  Towne  would  Retain  A  Latin  Scoole  Master  for  four  years  he 
would  give  said  Scooll  Master  his  bord  all  the  said  time,  therefore  voted 
that  the  Towne  accept  of  sd  offer  and  doe  Resolve  to  Retaine  a  Latin 
scoole  Master  for  sd  Towne  for  four  years  and  to  give  Twenty  pounds  A 
year  for  that  service. " 

Whether  a  Latin  school  master  was  retained  by  the  town  is  a 
matter  of  some  uncertainty  as  no  further  mention  is  made  of 
the  subject. 

Aug.  29.  Further  alterations  were  directed  to  be  made  in 
the  meeting  house.  The  front  gallery  was  to  be  removed  to  the 
same  breadth  with  the  new  gallery  and  new  floored,  seated  and 
fronted  as  the  new  ones  are  to  be  and  that  Mr.  Evans  was  to 
have  ten  pounds  and  sixteen  shillings  for  making  the  alteration. 


1710.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  159 

Mr.  Rawson  and  Mr.  Coffin  each  had  liberty  to  build  a  pew  in 
the  meeting  house. 

Nicholas  Cook  had  liberty  to  leave  two  acres  "  Near  Brak  neck 
hill."  This  Brak  Neck  Hill  is  now  called  Pond  Hill,  and  lies 
upon  the  north  side  of  Mendon  Pond,  formerly  called  Nipmuck 
Great  Pond. 


1710.  March  ■  6th.  For  Selectmen  the  town  chose  Lieut. 
James  Lovet,  Samuel  Thayer,  Saml.  Eead,  jr.,  Seth  Chapin  and 
Samuel  More;  Town  Clerk,  Saml.  Read,  sen.,  and  Saml.  Read, 
jr.,  to  take  care  of  the  Day  Book  in  his  father's  absence;  Con- 
stables, Danil  Hill  and  Eliazer  Daniels;  Treasurer,  James  Lovett. 

The  absence  of  Saml.  Read,  sen.,  was  occasioned  by  being 
Representative  at  the  General  Court,  at  Boston,  where  he  served 
fifty-six  days,  for  eight  pounds  and  eight  shillings. 

It  seems  that  there  was  something  unusual  in  the  conduct  of 
swine,  this  year;  as  the  town  voted  they  should  be  "yoked  and 
wringed  as  the  law  directs,"  and  then,  fearing  their  vote  would 
not  be  duly  observed,  or  that,  being  yoked  and  wringed,  would 
not  afford  sufficient  protection  against  their  depredations,  a  com- 
mittee of  thirteen  good  men  and  true  were  charged  with 
the  faithful  execution  of  their  order.  The  names  of  this  com- 
mittee were  Samuel  Cook,  Seth  Chapin,  Danil  Taft,  Joseph 
Rockit,  Eliazer  Daniels,  John  Darling,  jr.,  Francis  Green,  Alex- 
ander Plumley,  Joseph  White,  jr.,  Timothy  Winter,  Nathan 
Tyler,  Banjamin  Albee  and  Benjamin  Darling. 

The  practice  of  instructing  the  Selectmen  was  still  kept  up, 
aud  this  year,  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  Robert  Taft,  sen.,  and 
Thomas  White  were  chosen  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

For  the  first  time  we  find  that  repairs  of  the  highway  were  to 
be  defrayed  by  a  tax.  By  this  we  learn  that  "standing  out  the 
highway  tax  "  is  not  an  innovation  of  modern  times;  for,  when 
the  town  voted  the  highway  tax,  they  gave,  as  a  reason,  for  the 
novel  procedure,  "  that  every  man  may  know  and  doe  his  pro- 
portion of  work  seasonably." 


160  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1711. 

171 1.  March  5.  Lieut.  James  Lovet,  Samuel  Read,  jr., 
Samuel  More,  Thomas  Thayer  and  Thomas  Sanford  were  chosen 
Selectmen;  Samuel  Read,  Town  Clerk;  James  Lovet,  Town 
Treasurer,  and  Danil  Lovet  and  Ebenezer  Sumner,  Constables. 

John  Thomson,  John  Corbit  and  others,  had  liberty  to  build 
a  saw  mill  on  the  town's  common,  "on  Second  Bridge  (Charles) 
River,"  below  the  Dedham  Tree.  This  tree  was  upon  a  bend  of 
Charles  River,  a  little  north  from  the  house  of  Ellis  Bullard  in 
Bellingham.  Dedham  trees  were  also  mentioned  at  other  points 
on  the  line  between  Dedham  and  Mendon.  The  saw  mill  was  on 
the  north  bank  of  Charles  River,  a  short  distance  to  the  north- 
west from  the  Bellingham  Station  on  the  Air  Line  Railroad. 

George  Pike  had  twenty  acres  of  land  granted  him  upon  the 
west  side  of  Mumford's  River,  southerly  from  Ebenezer  Read's 
grist  mill. 

The  late  Judge  Rawson,  of  Barrington,  R.  I.,  gave  me  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  origin  of  the  name  given  to  this  river.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  Mumford,  journeying  from  Brookfield  to 
Mendon,  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  was  drowned  in  attempting  to 
ford  it  during  a  freshet.  This  was  before  there  was  any  settle- 
ment in  the  westerly  part  of  Mendon,  now  Uxbridge.  The 
body  was  recovered  in  due  time,  and,  as  the  body  was  fast  de- 
composing, and  the  weather  warm,  a  chestnut  tree  was  cut  down 
and  the  bark  removed,  at  a  suitable  length,  for,  a  coffin.  In  this 
the  body  was  placed  and  strongly  bound  with  withes.  It  was 
buried  upon  the  site  of  the  present  public  house  in  Uxbridge; 
and,  many  years  afterwards,  when  a  cellar  was  dug  at  the  place, 
the  remains  of  the  coffin  and  the  bones  of  Mumford  were  found. 
The  mystery  was  soon  explained,  as  a  man,  living  in  Mendon, 
remembered,  when  a  boy,  riding  on  a  horse  behind  the  Coroner 
to  view  the  remains.  The  drowning  of  Mumford  had  already 
given  the  river  its  name  and  the  finding  these  relics  satisfac- 
torily identified  his  place  of  burial. 

It  seems  the  controversy  with  Sherborn  about  the  meadows 
had  not  been  amicably  adjusted,  as  the  town  voted  "  to  stand 
by  benjemin  Thayer  In  the  Defence  of  his  meadow  within 
Sherborn  Line."  Benjamin  Thayer's  meadow  was  undoubtedly 
a  portion  of  the  ninety  acres,  "without  our  line,"  granted  by 
the  General  Court  in  1669. 


1-711.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  161 

Samuel  Read  was  to  have  six  acres  of  land  "  In  ye  pine 
plaine  or  upon  Mumford's  river,  in  full  for  services  as  Town 
Clerk  for  three  years,  viz.  for  1708,  1709  &  1710." 

About  this  time  the  enlargement  of  the  meeting  house,  we 
suppose,  was  nearly  or  quite  completed,  as  the  town  chose  a 
committee  of  nine  "  to  seat  the  meeting  house."  This  seating 
the  meeting  house  undoubtedly  meant  the  assignment  of  seats 
to  the  congregation,  as  no  one  had  a  pew  except  Mr.  Rawson 
and  Mr.  Coffin.  The  seating  the  meeting  house  was  probably  a 
delicate  matter,  as  we  find  this  committee  was  made  up  of  the 
leading  men  in  the  town,  consisting  of  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq., 
Samuel  Bead,  James  Lovet,  Robert  Taft,  William  Hollbrook, 
Seth  Chapin,  Samuel  Thayer,  Joseph  White  and  Thomas 
Sanford. 

Mr.  Rawson  was  allowed  to  build  a  pew  for  the  use  of  his 
family,  "between  the  two  middle  posts  wheare  the  Great  door 
is,"  the  town  to  allow  him  thirty  shillings  for  his  present  pew. 
Robert  Evans  was  to  have  six  acres  of  land  for  building  two 
pews,  one  on  each  side  of  Mr.  Rawson's  pew.  The  forty  cords 
of  wood  to  be  furnished  Mr.  Rawson,  annually,  were  commuted 
by  the  addition  of  ten  pounds  to  his  yearly  salary,  thus  lessening 
the  military  duty  of  the  train  band,  by  the  amount  of  time  and 
manual  exercise  it  would  take  to  prepare  the  forty  cords  for  the 
fire. 

Samuel  Warfield  had  an  acre  and  a  half  adjoining  his  other 
land,  "near  the  old  Saw  Mill  upon  Fall  brook."  The  name  of 
Fall  brook  is  not  elsewhere  mentioned  in  the  records,  and  as  the 
farm  now  (187G)  improved  by  Richard  G.  Gaskill,  had,  until 
recently,  long  been  in  possession  of  the  Warfield  family,  the 
most  reasonable  presumption  seems  to  be  that  the  "old  saw  mill 
upon  Fall  brook  "  stood  near  the  machine  shop  of  Mr.  Westcott, 
familiarly  known  as  Spindleville. 

Abel  Aldrich,  Seth  Aldrich  and  Jonathan  Richardson  were 
this  year  exempted  from  "the  meeting  house  rate,  and  also  their 
pole  money  to  the  minister  rate  for  the  future. "  As  no  reasons 
are  given  for  this  action  of  the  town,  we  can  only  conjecture 
that  they  had  become  converts  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Friends  in 
this  regard. 

From    a   settlement   with   James   Lovet    we   learn    that    the 

21 


162  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1712. 

enlargement  of  the  meeting  house  cost  forty-nine  pounds  and 
ten  shillings. 


1712.  March  3.  Chose  for  Selectmen  and  Assessors,  Josiah 
Chapin,  Esq.,  Samuel  Read,  William  Hayward,  John  Jones 
and  Samuel  More;  Town  Clerk,  Samuel  Read;  Town  Treasuer, 
James  Lovet;  Commissioner,  William  Holbrook;  Constables, 
John  Thomson  and  Alexander  Plumley. 

"In  answer  to  a  paper  presented  to  the  Towne  att  this  time  by  William 
Hopkins  bearing  Date  third  day.  Concerning  sum  Iron  Mines  wh  sd 
Hopkins  and  Daniel  Jenks  call  theirs,  within  our  bounds,  the  towne  att  sd 
meeting  pased  A  vote  In  answer  to  the  sd  paper,  and  forthwith  sent  them 
this  Answer,  that  all  the  mines  that  was  in  the  towne's  Comon  was  pro- 
hibited from  being  transported  att  a  public  towne  meeting  Sept.  1700,  and 
as  for  any  that  was  In  Impropriated  Lands  they  might  repair  to  the 
owners." 

These  iron  mines  were  in  the  south  east  part  of  what  is  now 
the  town  of  Blackstone,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mill  River. 

At  this  meeting  the  Cedar  and  other  swamps  to  the  amount 
of  nine  hundred  acres  it  was  voted  should  be  divided  by  the  fol- 
lowing rule:  A  forty  acre  lot  should  have  thirty  acres,  and  other 
lots  in  the  same  ratio. 

A  road  was  laid  out,  this  year,  from  the  country  road  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Great  River  to  the  saw  mill  and  corn  mill  on 
Mumford  river,  being  the  present  road  leading  from  Taft's 
bridge  to  Uxbridge  centre. 

Jabez  Bellows  had  twenty  acres  of  land  granted  him  in  Shoc- 
olog  Woods,  near  Shocolog  Pond.  This  is  in  the  southerly  part 
of  Uxbridge. 

Dec.  22.  At  a  public  town  meeting,  called  for  the  purpose, 
the  following  accounts  were  audited  and  ordered  to  be  paid: 

To  Josiah  Chapin  Esq.  for  7  days  at  Court  and  2  days  Laying 

highways £01  05  00 

To  David  Thompson  for  sweeping  the  meeting  house 01  00  00 

To  Saml.  Read  for  56  days  att  Court 08  08  00 

And  service  as  Clerk  and  laying  highways  and  other  service,  02  02  00 

To  our  School  Master's  Salary  from  ye  1  December  to  1  May, ...  05  00  00 

To  his  bord  ye  said  time 04  00  00 

To  William  Hayward 00  10  00 


1713.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  163 


To  John  Jones 00  14  00 

To  John  Tyler  for  4  days  about  ye  Ministry  and  Scool  lots 00  10  00 

To  Thomas  White  4  days  laying  out  sd  lots  &  2  days  running 

lines 00  18  00 

To  Saml.  Read  Jr.  for  4  days  about  sd  lots 00  10  00 

To  Saml.  More 01  01  00 

To  Ebenezer  Read  for  one  Journey  of  his  horse  to  boston 00  03  00 

To  Lieut.  Lovet  to  1  day  running  line 00  02  00 

To  John  Thomson  to  1  day  running  line 00  02  00 

To  Daniel  Lovet  for  20  s.  Lost  by  John  Elice  & still,  their 

rates 01  00  00 

£27  13  08 

Colonial  tax  for  this  year £99  14  00 

County  tax                "        15  00  06 

Minister's  salary       "         66  00  00 

Town  rate                 "         27  19  08 


£208  14  02 


Deacon  Warfield  having  retired  from  his  position  as  the  Jirst 
school-master  of  the  town,  the  following  action  was  had  in  rela- 
tion to 

A    NEW    SCHOOL-MASTEK. 

"MendonNov.  12.  1712  the  Select  men  mett  In  order  to  Procure  a 
Scoole  Master,  the  Towne  being  destitute  of  one,  and  being  Informed  of 
one  Robert  Husse  att  boston,  who  had  been  formerly  Imployed  In  that 
service  att  Eastham  and  of  his  termes:  Agreed  to  Indever  the  obtaining  of 
him,  ordered  the  Clerk,  In  their  name,  to  send  him  word  and  desire  him 
to  be  In  Redynes  when  soever  A  hors  was  sent  for  him  to  come  up,  which 
was  don  the  Next  day;  but,  weather  preventing,  the  hors  was  not  sent 
until  the  10th.  of  December  and  he  came  to  Mendon  the  12th.  of  sd 
Month :  ye  13th.  the  Select  men  mett  to  conclude  of  his  farther  proceeding 
and  that  his  time  shall  begin  the  first  of  December  and  end  ye  first  of  May, 
for  which  he  shall  have  five  pound  paid  him  for  his  service  and  his  Diet 
the  sd  time,  and  to  begin  at  John  Farnum's  and  ther  continue  untill  the 
28th  of  January." 


1713.  March  2.  Chose  Robert  Evens,  Thomas  Sanford, 
Saml.  Thayer,  Saml.  Cook  and  Ebenezer  Sumner,  Selectmen; 
Saml.  Read,  Town  Clerk;  Robert  Evens,  Saml.  Cook  and 
Thomas  Sanford,  Assessors,  and  Daniel  Thurston  and  Setli  Al- 


1G4  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1713. 

drich,  Constables.  Seven  Surveyors  of  Highways,  four  Tithing 
men  and  six  Fence  Viewers  were  also  chosen. 

March  23.  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Commissioner  of 
Assessments,  and  James  Lovet  Town  Treasurer,  and  "to  have 
ten  shillings  a  year  for  ye  four  years  past." 

Moses  Aldrich  had  liberty  to  continue  his  shop  upon  the 
Common  "  so  long  as  he  Improves  the  Shop  for  Smithery 
work." 

It  seems  the  controversy  with  Sherborn  about  the  "meadows 
without  our  line  "  had  not  yet  been  adjusted,  as  will  appear  by 
the  following  vote: — 

"  Whereas  the  Town  of  Sherborn,  In  the  County  of  Middlesex,  Pretend 
an  Interest  In  Meadows  Granted  to  this  Towne,  It  is  Necessary  that  A 
Tryall  be  made  in  the  Law  to  Defend  the  Towne's  Interest,  other  ways  to 
accommodate  the  Difference  being  found  fruitless,  it  was  voted,  that  if 
Benjamin  Thayer,  who  claims  a  portion  of  the  disputed  meadows  would 
make  a  test  case,  the  town  would  guarantee  him  their  proportion  of  the 
costs  of  the  law-suit. " 

The  Committee  of  Nine,  chosen  in  1711,  "to  seat  the  meet- 
ing house,"  did  not  succeed  in  making  satisfactory  assignments, 
as  we  find  that  Deacon  Tyler,  Deacon  Jones  and  Deacon  San- 
ford  were  deputed  to  see  if  a  more  satisfactory  arrangement 
could  be  devised. 

Before  proceeding  to  lay  out  the  "  Cedar  and  other  swamps," 
it  was  voted  to  divide  300  acres  of  the  Cedar  swamps — ten 
acres  to  a  forty  acre  lot  and  others  in  the  same  proportion. 
Every  man  was  to  lay  out  his  proportion  of  Cedar  swamps  first, 
before  "the  other  swamps " — to  draw  lots  for  choice — to  notify 
the  man  who  came  next  after  him,  and  to  layout  his  share  within 
three  days  after  notice,  or  else  stay  "untill  all  other  Lotts  "  are 
laid  out,  (except  hindered  by  Providence)  "then  to  fall  in  the 
next  opportunity." 

THE    DRAUGHT   OF   THE    SIXTH    DIVISION. 


1. 

Mr.  Grindal  Kawson. 

7. 

Daniel  Lovet. 

2. 

Ebenezer  Staples. 

8. 

Benjamin  Wheelock  jr 

3. 

John  Farnum. 

9. 

Danil  Taft. 

4. 

John  Corbit. 

10. 

Moses  Aldrich. 

5. 

Jacob  Aldrich. 

11. 

Benjamin  Thomson. 

6. 

Samuel  Bridges. 

12. 

Benjamin  Wheelock. 

1713.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


165 


13. 

Abraham  Staples. 

58. 

Benjamin  Wheaton. 

14. 

Ebenezer  Cooke. 

59. 

Jabez  Bellows. 

15. 

Sylvanua  Holbrook. 

60. 

Abell  Aldrich. 

16. 

Josiah  Thayer. 

61. 

Joseph  Chapin. 

17. 

Benjamin  Albee. 

62. 

John  Arnold. 

18. 

Seth  Chapin. 

63. 

Joseph  Sumner. 

19. 

Woodland  Thomson. 

64. 

James  Albee. 

20. 

James  Emerson. 

65. 

John  Aldrich. 

21. 

Robert  Taft. 

66. 

Ebenezer  Tyler. 

22. 

Joseph  Taft. 

67. 

Samuel  Cook. 

23. 

Ebenezer  White. 

68. 

Thomas  Taft. 

24. 

John  Darling,  sen. 

69." 

Elihue  Warfeld. 

25. 

Thomas  White. 

70. 

Samuel  More. 

26. 

John  Thomson  jr. 

71. 

Ebenezer  Thayer. 

27. 

John  Daniels. 

72. 

John  Cook,  junior. 

28. 

Obadiah  Wheelock. 

73. 

John  White. 

29. 

Joseph  White. 

74. 

Joseph  Rockit. 

30. 

Richard  Holbrook. 

75. 

John  Sprage. 

31. 

John  Holbrook 

76. 

Seth  Aldrich. 

32. 

John  Thomson,  sen. 

77. 

William  Hayward. 

33. 

John  Cook,  sen. 

78. 

Joseph  Plumley. 

34. 

Alexander  Plumley. 

79. 

35. 

James  Lovet. 

80. 

Holbrook. 

36. 

Thomas  Prentice. 

81. 

John  Jones. 

37. 

Capt.  Josiah  Chapin. 

82. 

Peter  Aldrich. 

38. 

Samuel  Thayer. 

83. 

Jonathan  Hayward. 

39. 

John  Peck. 

84. 

Robert  Evens. 

40. 

Peter  Holbrook. 

85. 

Thomas  White. 

41. 

Mary  Warfield. 

86. 

Samuel  Warfeld. 

42. 

Samuel  Read  jr. 

87. 

Benjamin  Hayward. 

43. 

David  Aldrich. 

88. 

Samuel  Thayer. 

44. 

Robert  Taft  jr. 

89. 

Benoni  Benson. 

45. 

Benjamin  Taft. 

90. 

Danil  Hill. 

46. 

Jonathan  Thayer. 

91. 

Isaac  Thayer. 

47. 

Jonathan  Richardson. 

92. 

Joseph  White  jr. 

48. 

John  Green. 

93. 

Benjamin  Darling. 

49. 

John  Albee. 

94. 

Ebenezer  Read. 

50. 

Wilson  Rawson. 

95. 

James  Albee  jr. 

51. 

Philip  Amydowne. 

96. 

John  Sprage's  Children 

52. 

Ebenezer  Sumner. 

97. 

Joseph  Holbrook. 

53. 

Nicolas  Cooke. 

98. 

Daniel  Thurston. 

54. 

Nathaniel  More. 

99. 

Timothy  Winter. 

55. 

John  Post. 

100. 

John  Gardner. 

56. 

Ephraim  Peck. 

101. 

David  Thomson. 

57. 

Thomas  Thayer. 

102. 

John  Darling  jr. 

166  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1713. 

103.  Jethro  Coffin.  107.  Jonathan  Cook. 

104.  Saml.  &  Wm.  Holbrook.  108.  Edmond  Rawson. 

105.  Ephraim  Chapin.  109.  Benjamin  Thayer. 

106.  William  Sprage. 

May  12.  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court  "for  ye  yeare  Insuring."  This  is  the  first 
record  of  the  choice  of  a  Representative;  but  that  others  had 
been  chosen  before  we  learn  from  their  accounts  rendered  to  the 
town  for  such  service.  Timothy  Winter,  Josiah  Chapin,  Wil- 
liam Holbrook  and  Samuel  Read  had  already  served  the  town  in 
that  capacity.  William  Holbrook,  who  served  in  1707,  was  paid 
£11.07,  for  seventy-five  days,  that  being  the  length  of  the  ses- 
sion. 

Rev.  Grindal  Rawson,  for  some  time  before  his  death,  was 
unable  to  supply  the  pulpit.  We  learn  this  from  the  following 
record:  "Nov.  23.  1713.  Josiah  Chapin  Esq.  was  to  have  three 
pound  paid  him  for  bording  Mr.  Joseph  Adams  for  one  quarter 
of  a  year  past  and  fifteen  shilling  for  keeping  of  his  hors." 
Deacon  Tyler  "was  also  authorized  to  take  money  out  of  the 
town  treasury  to  pay  Mr.  Adams  for  his  Labor  the  two  last  Sab- 
baths; and  If  sd  money  conies  In  by  Contry  bution,  within  one 
month,  then  to  Return  the  same  to  the  Treasurer,  otherwise  to 
lie  made  up  by  the  Towne." 

Upon  examination  of  the  Cedar  swamps  they  were  found  to 
fall  far  short  of  giving  to  each  proprietor  ten  acres,  as  the  town 
had  formerly  voted.  In  this  dilemma  Thomas  White,  the  Sur- 
veyor, Left.  Robert  Evens,  Thomas  Thayer  and  Ebenezer  Read 
were  chosen  a  committee  "to  take  a  Cir  cumferance  of  the 
Cedar  Swamps  "  and  to  apportion  to  each  of  the  proprietors 
their  proper  number  of  acres,  according  to  their  several  rights  as 
their  lots  are  already  drawn. 

John  Gardner's  ear  mark  (the  first  one  on  record)  was  as  fol- 
lows, viz:   "A  fork  in  the  Right  Eare." 

Nov.  23.  The  town's  debts,  incurred  during  the  present  mu- 
nicipal year,  and  for  the  payment  of  which  a  rate  was  made, 
was  found  to  be  as  follows,  viz: — 

To  pay  the  Scool  Master, 20  00  00 

To  build  the  Scool  house ; 15  00  00 

To  Josiah  Chapin  Esq.  for  serving  as  Representative 12  03  00 


1713.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  167 


To  the  Assessors 01  12  O9 

To  the  Town  Clerk 00  10  00 

To  Mr.  Coffin  for  hinges  for  doors  in  ye  Meeting  house 00  06  00 

To  John  Thomson  for  sweeping  the  Meeting  house 01  00  00 

Money  In  the  Treasurer's  hands 04  11  03 


£55  02  09 


How  long  Mr.  Adams  supplied  the  pulpit  is  not  known,  and 
whether  any  one  else  was  called  to  Mr.  Rawson's  assistance  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  in  1715,  the  records  are  silent;  but  as  his 
salary  was  voted  in  1714,  it  is  probable  that  he  continued  his 
ministerial  labors  to  within  a  short  time  of  his  death. 

MASTS   FOR   THE   KING. 

To  his  Excellency  the  Governor  and  General  Assembly  of  her  Majesty's 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New  England,  at  Boston  the  27th.  of 
May  1713. 

The  Petition  of  Jethro  Coffin,  of  Mendon, 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  whereas  the  General  Court  of  the  late  Colony  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  the  year  1672,  did  Grant  unto  your  Petitioner's  Father,  Peter 
Coffin,  Esq.  two  hundred  Acres  of  upland  and  about  Thirty  or  Forty  Acres 
of  Meadow,  which  Grant  your  Petitioner's  said  Father  was  pleased,  by 
deed,  to  give  and  make  over  to  your  Petitioner,  who  herewith  presents  a 
Piatt  of  the  Taking  up  and  laying  out  of  the  same  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Township  of  Mendon, 
And  humbly  prays  your  Excellency  and  Honors  Confirmation  therefor, 
And  as  in  duty  bound  he  shall  pray, 

Jethro  Coffin. 
In  Council  May  2.  1713. 
Bead  and  Granted  a  confirmation  of  the  Land  contained  in  the  Piatt  so 
that  it  be  free  from  any  former  grant. 

Isaac  Addington,  Sec. 
Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

In  the  House  of  Bepresentatives  June  13.  1713. 
Bead  and  Concurred. 

John  Burrill,  Speaker. 

•  In  the  Colonial  Records,  book  3d,  p.  709,  may  be  found  the 
grant  made  to  Peter  Coffin,  as  follows: 

At  the  Second  Session  of  the  General  Court  for  Elections  held  at  Boston 
8th.  day  of  October  1672  on  their  adjournment. 

Wee  the  Subscribers  being  appointed  by  the  Honorable  General  Court 
May  15  1672  to  Examine  and  State  Lieut.  Peter  Coffin's  account  Belating  to 


168  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1714. 

the  Masts  Contracted  for  with  him  Anno  1666  by  a  Committee  Appointed 
for  that  end;  which  Masts  were  sent  a  present  to  his  Majesty  Anno  1668, 
having  examined  the  same  do  finde  one  hundred  pounds  Due  to  him  from 
the  Country  (colony)  besides  his  own  care  and  paines  in  procuring  the  said 
Masts,  which  he  Leaving  to  the  pleasure  of  the  General  Court,  Wee  do  pre- 
sent to  the  Consideration  the  Allowing  him  Two  Hundred  Acres  of  up 
Land  and  about  Thirty  or  Forty  Acres  of  Meadow  where  he  can  find  not 
yet  laid  out,  which  we  Suppose  he  may  well  deserve  and  will  be  no  less 
satisfactory  to  him. 

Dated  in  Charles  Town  June  11,  1672. 

John  Leverett, 
Richard  Russell, 
Lawrence  Hammond. 
The  Court  approves  of  this  Returne  and  orders  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Country  (Colony)  to  make  him,  the  said  Peter  Coffin,  satisfaction  accord- 
ingly, and  the  Land  Desired  is  Granted  unto  him 
Copy  as  of  Record, 

Isaac  Addington,  Sec. 

A  survey  and  plat  of  this  grant  was  made  by  Thomas  White, 
Surveyor  of  the  town  of  Mendon,  April  1,  1713,  and  the  same 
may  be  found  in  the  Archives  of  Massachusetts — "Ancient  Plans, 
Grants  &c.  1641  to  1715  p.  241." 

Mumford's  River  and  the  west  line  of  Mendon  are  designated 
upon  this  plat.  The  present  village  of  Whitinsville  is  situated 
upon  the  northeastern  portion  of  this  tract.  A  road  called  the 
French  Road  passed  the  northeastern  corner. 


1714.  March  1.  Lieut.  James  Lovet,  Capt.  Seth  Chapin, 
Dea.  John  Jones,  Dea.  Thomas  Sanford  and  Ebenezer  Read  were 
chosen  Selectmen;  Josiah  Chapin,,  Esq.,  Commissioner  of  As- 
sessments; Samuel  Read,  Town  Clerk,  James  Lovet,  Treasurer, 
and  John  Corbet  and  John  Post,  Constables. 

March  3.  The  Selectmen  agreed  with  Martin  Pearse  to  keep 
school  at  seventeen  pounds  for  one  year,  "with  board  and 
Dyett." 

July  20.  It  was  voted  that  the  school  be  kept  six  months  in 
the  centre  of  the  town  and  the  other  other  six  months  "upon 
the  out  scirts  of  the  town. " 

John  Post  was  chosen  Constable  at  the  annual  meeting,  and 
then  refused  to  serve;  but,  as  such  refusal  subjected  him  to  a 
fine  of  five  pounds,  as  set  forth  in  a  Province  law,  passed  Nov. 


1714.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  169 

16,  1692,  it  is  supposed  that  John  Post  reconsidered  the  matter 
and  presented  himself  before  John  Chandler,  Esq.,  one  of  her 
Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  and 
took  the  oath  of  Constable  for  the  ensuing  year. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Sept.  ye  21.  1714,  the  following  ac- 
counts were  audited,  and  they  were  ordered  to  be  paid,  viz: — 

To  Mr.  Rawson's  Salary £65  00  00 

To  the  School  Master's  Salary  &  subsistence 12  00  00 

To  Josiah  Chapin  for  9  days  attendance  at  the  General  Court  & 

(1)  one  copy  of  record 01  08  00 

To  Capt.  Seth  Chapin  2  days  about  ye  North  Purches 00  04  00 

To  Joseph  Holbrook  for  1  day  running  with  Sherborn 00  02  00 

To  Samuel  Read  for  1  jurney  upon  the  account  of  the  North  Pur- 
ches, to  proove  ye  deed  and  to  brantry .. .  00  10  00 

To  Thomas  White  for  his  first  survey  of  ye  Cedar  swamps 01  01  00 

To  Thomas  White,  for  surveying  and  plotting  ye  North  Purches.  00  06  00 

To  Ser.  Joseph  White  to  boston  to  prove  ye  deed 00  06  00 

To  Thomas  White  for  4  days  sur  cumfrencing  Cedar  swamps  and 

running  line  with  Sutton  2  days 01  01  00 

To  pay  our  Representative  for  this  year,  1714 08  00  00 

To  the  Committee  for  sur  comfering  the  Cedar  swamps. ........ 

To  Lieut  Evens  4  days 00  10  00 

To  Thomas  Thayer,  3  days 00  07  00 

To  Ebenezer  Read,  4  days. 00  10  00 

To  the  Towne  Treasurer 00  15  00 

To  the  Selectmen 01  00  00 

To  Thomas  Sanford  for  1  jurney  to  boston 00  06  00 

To  Thomas  White  and  benje  Green  1  jurney  to  Marlborough 00  06  00 

To  Woodland  Thomson,  for  sweeping  the  meeting  house. .......  01  00  00 

To  the  Town  Clerk 00  10  00 

£95  02  00 

Before  this  it  seems  that  Thomas  Taft  had  built  a  bridge  over 
the  Great  (Blackstone)  River,  and  attempts  had  been  made  to 
get  a  road  laid  out  to  it  from  the  town.  This  bridge  is  supposed 
to  have  been  in  an  easterly  direction  from  the  house  of  the  late 
Hon.  Bezaleel  Taft,  but  the  land  damage  demanded  by  Thomas 
Taft  was  thought  to  be  excessive,  and  so  the  project  of  building 
a  road  to  it  was  abandoned. 

This  year  the  town  lines  between  Mendon  and  Sherburne,  and 
Mendon  and  Sutton  were  perambulated  by  committees  from  each 
town.     Between  Mendon  and  Sutton  for  the  first  time. 

22 


170  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1715. 

1715.  Jan.  11.  The  Proprietor's  held  a  meeting  this  day, 
pursuant  to  a  warrant  from  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  one  of  his 
Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  and 
chose  Capt.  Seth  Chapin  Moderator,  and  Samuel  Bead,  Sen.,  for 
Clerk. 

At  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  all  were  proprietors;  that 
is,  all  the  unappropriated  land  was  held  in  common.  Out  of 
this  common  land,  when  a  new  comer  desired  a  grant,  if  he  were 
to  become  a  proprietor,  the  words  "entitled  to  his  share  in  all 
future  divisions  of  land,"  would  be  embodied  in  the  vote  of  con- 
cession; if  this  phrase  was  not  found  in  the  vote,  the  grantee  ac- 
quired no  interest  in  the  unappropriated  lands — he  did  not  be- 
come a  proprietor. 

Although  lands  were  disposed  of  in  town  meetings,  it  is  pre- 
sumed that  such  votes  were  only  passed  by  the  proprietors. 

It  may  be  seen,  from  time  to  time  who  were  proprietors,  by 
consulting  the  record  of  the  various  divisions  of  land. 

The  Rev.  Grindal  Rawson,  after  a  ministry  of  thirty-five  years, 
died  Feb.  6,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  From  these  figures 
we  learn  that  he  began  to  preach  at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 

Mr.  Rawson  was  the  twelfth  and  youngest  son  of  Edward 
and  Rachel  (Perne)  Rawson,  and  was  born  Feb.  1,  1659,  accord- 
ing to  the  inscription  on  his  grave  stone,  in  the  burying  yard  at 
Mendon.  The  Rawson  Memorial,  by  E.  B.  Crane,  gives  Jan. 
23,  1659,  as  his  birth-day. 

Edward  Rawson  was  born  in  Gillingham,  in  Dorsetshire,  Eng- 
land, and  came  to  New  England  in  1636,  or  1637,  and  settled  in 
the  town  of  Newbury,  in  the  County  of  Essex.  He  was  one  of 
the  grantees  of  that  town,  and  its  second  Town  Clerk,  and  which 
office  he  held,  by  successive  annual  elections  from  1638  to  1647. 
He  was  chosen  as  Representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1638, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  He  was  at  other  times  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body  until  1650,  when  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the 
Colony.  This  office  he  held  until  the  usurpation  of  Andros, 
when  Randolph  succeeded  him,  in  1686.  He  removed  to  Boston, 
upon  being  chosen  Secretary,  and  lived  in  Rawson's  lane,  after- 
wards known  as  Bromfield  street. 

Rachel  Perne  was  a  grand-daughter  of  John  Hooker,  whose 
wife  was  sister  to  Edmund  Grindal,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 


1715.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  171 

in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Hence  the  names  of  Perne, 
Hooker,  Edward  and  Grindal  often  occur,  as  Christian  names, 
in  the  families  of  the  Rawsons. 

Grindal  Rawson  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1678,  and 
studied  divinity  with  his  hrother-in-law,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Torrey, 
of  Weymouth.  He  married  Susanna  Wilson,  daughter  of  Eev. 
John  Wilson  of  Medfield.  He  began  to  preach  in  Mendon,  Oct. 
4,  1680,  and  was  permanently  settled  April  7,  1684. 

At  his  graduation,  President  Oakes,  when  conferring  the  de- 
grees, made  special  mention  of  John  Cotton,  Cotton  Mather  and 
Grindal  Rawson.  Mr.  Rawson  was  an  excellent  scholar  and  a 
learned  divine,  as  the  General  Court,  it  is  said,  sometimes  re- 
ferred grave  and  knotty  questions  of  ecclesiastical  polity  to  him 
for  solution. 

He  published  a  work,  entitled  "'Confession  of  Faith,"  in  the 
English  and  Indian  languages.  He  preached  an  Artillery  Elec- 
tion sermon  in  1703,  and  also  an  Election  sermon  before  the 
Governor  and  the  General  Court  in  1709,  and  they  were  both 
printed.  In  1698,  in  conjunction  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dan- 
forth,  of  Taunton,  pursuant  to  instructions  from  the  Commis- 
sioners for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  he  made  an  extended  tour 
among  the  Indians.  An  interesting  report  of  this  mission  may 
be  found  in  the  First  Series  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Col- 
lections, vol.  10. 

Mrs.  Rawson  long  survived  the  death  of  her  husband.  She 
continued  to  reside  at  Mendon,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

The  following  epitaphs  are  copied  from  the  tablets  erected  to 
their  memories,  in  the  old  burying  yard: 

Here  Lyeth  Interr'd 
the  body  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 

GRINDAL  RAWSON, 

The  late  faithful  and  learned  Pastor 

of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Mendon, 

who  died  April  6.  1715, 

and  entered  6  days  into  ye  57  year 

of  his  age  Deceased  the  35th 

year  of  his  Ministry. 

The  memory  of  the  Just  is  Blessed. 


172  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1715. 

Here  lies  inter'd  ye 
Remains  of  Mrs.  Susan- 
na Rawson  Relict  of 
ye  late  Rev.  Mr.  Grindal 
Rawson  Pastor  of  ye 
Church  of  Christ  in 
Mendon  and  daughter 
to  ye  Rev  Mr.  John  Wil- 
son 1st.  Minister  of  ye 

Gospel  in  Medfield 

Who  departed  this  life 

July  8th.  A.  Domini  1748 

In  ye  84th.  year  of  her  age." 

March  7.  Thomas  Sanford,  Samuel  Thayer,  Sergt.  John 
Thomson,  Capt  Seth  Chapin  and  Samuel  Read,  Jr.,  were  chosen 
Selectmen;  Thomas  Sanford  Town  Clerk;  James  Lovet,  Town 
Treasurer;  Justice  Chapin,  Commissioner;  and  John  Holbrook 
and  Benjamin  Taft,  Constables. 

As  usual,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  instruct  the  Selectmen, 
but  their  instructions  were  not,  as  formerly,  made  the  subject  of 
record. 

March  28.  Justice  (Josiah)  Chapin,  Elder  Read,  Deacon 
Tyler,  Samuel  Thayer  and  Thomas  Sanford  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee "to  take  care  to  jirovide  a  Minister  for  the  Town,  from 
time  to  time,  until  they  shall  provide  a  man,  so  far  to  the  Town's 
acceptance,  as  to  give  a  call  to  settlement."  Whether  this  com- 
mittee were  sufficiently  diligent  in -the  discharge  of  their  duty, 
we  do  not  know,  but  up  to  September  no  one  had  been  found  to 
the  town's  acceptance  for  a  call  to  settlement;  and  so,  on  Sept. 
8,  the  town  chose  Sergt.  Joseph  White  and  James  Emerson  "  to 
strengthen  the  Committee  to  provide  a  Minister." 

At  this  meeting  sixty  pounds  were  raised  to  pay  town  debts 
and  contingent  charges  "  so  far  as  it  will  extend." 

Thomas  Hill  had  his  tax  of  seven  shillings  and  six  pence 
abated,  "  provided  ye  sd  Hill  never  Return  into  ye  towne  again  as 
an  Inhabitant." 

June  21.  It  was  voted  "for  the  first  Minister  that  shall  settle 
in  this  towne  one  hundred  pounds,  or  the  Ministry  Lot,  in  said 
town,  and  for  a  yearly  salary  seventy  pounds  in  money. 


1716.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  173 

1716.  Jan.  28.  A  town  meeting  having  been  warned  for  this 
clay,  the  inhabitants  met,  and  (for  some  reason  not  mentioned) 
without  transacting  any  business,  adjourned  until  the  next  day 
at  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  when  the  road  and  "the  bridge  that  Taft 
built,'"  being  called  up,  the  town  voted  that  all  directions  here- 
tofore given  to  the  Selectmen  to  lay  out  said  road  "should  be 
hereby  Recalled  and  forever  stand  Repealed  in  the  Town  Book.'' 

March  5.  Thomas  Sanford,  Lieut.  Eobert  Evens,  Robert 
Taft,  Jr.,  Josiah  Thayer  and  Jacob  Aldrich  were  chosen  Select- 
men; Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  Josiah 
Chapin,  Commissioner,  and  John  Marsh  and  John  Gardner, 
Constables. 

This  year,  instead  of  choosing  a  committee  to  instruct  the  Se- 
lectmen, the  town  simply  voted  that  those  functionaries  "should 
secure  ye  towne  from  the  penalties  of  The  Law  for  ye  ensuing 
year. " 

A  committee  was  also  chosen  "  to  vew  the  accommodation  of 
a  way  from  the  Iron  Works  to  Declham  Line." 

The  Iron  Works  were  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  Avhat  is 
now  the  town  of  Blackstone,  known  as  Lower  Canada  or  East 
Blackstone.  The  contemplated  road  was  undoubtedly  the  road 
leaving  the  main  or  Rehoboth  road  at  the  Seth  Kelly  house,  and 
running  to  Bellingham. 

It  seems  there  must  have  been  a  contest  about  the  road  to 
Taft's  bridge,  as  August  13th  the  town  chose  Thomas  Sanford, 
Josiah  Thayer  and  Jacob  Aldrich  a  committee  "to  go  to  the 
Great  River  to  view  &,  if  They  see  cause,  to  lay  out  a  way  over 
the  Great  River  and  to  agree  with  the  owners  of  the  land  the 
Road  may  go  through,  Either  over  the  Taft's  bridge  or  Down 
streem  by  the  Scull  Rock,  as  they  shall  see  fit." 

This  road  left  the  old  road  to  Uxbridge  a  little  to  the  east  of 
West  River  and  ran  southerly  by  the  factory  of  Samuel  Scott. 
It  is  wholly  in  the  town  of  Uxbridge  and  Blackstone. 

At  this  meeting  the  Selectmen  were  instructed  to  prefer  a 
petition  to  the  General  Court  "Relating  to  the  Settling  the 
Province  Line." 

SETTLEMENT  OF  REV.  JOSEPH  DORR,  THE  FOURTH  MINISTER. 
Feb.  9.     "Atta  publick  Town  Meeting  Leagally  warned  for  Choice  of  a 


174  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1716. 

Minister,  as  the  law  directs,  it  was  then  proposed  to  the  Town  to  Bring  in 
their  votes  for  Their  Concurrence  in  the  Church's  choice  of  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Dorr  to  Be  Their  Pastor,  which  was  accordingly  Don  and  voted  to  he  the 
Town's  Minister." 

Feb.  20.  "Att  A  Publick  Town  Meeting  Leagally  warned  to  agree  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr,  when  both  the  Church  and  Town  have  allredy 
Made  choice  of  for  their  Minister  (both  Relating  to  his  Settlement  and  Sal- 
ary) it  was  voated  to  add  unto  the  one  hundred  pounds  heretofore  granted 
to  the  first  Minister  that  shall  settle  among  us  and  Confirme  the  same  on 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr  the  sum  of  Sixty  pounds  to  be  paid  in  Labour 
and  Materials  Towards  building  him  a  house,  in  said  Town,  as  there  may 
be  occasion  thereof.  Also  to  add  to  the  sixty  pounds,  as  aforesaid,  and  the 
same  confirmed  unto  the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr  so  long  as  he  shall  remain 
the  Town's  Minister,  the  sum  of  five  pounds  per  annum." 

A  committee,  consisting  of  Justice  (Josiah)  Chapin,  Elder 
Read,  (Samuel)  Deacon  John  Tyler,  Samuel  Thayer  and  Thomas 
Sanford,  were  chosen  by  the  town  Feb.  24th,  "  To  settle  and 
Confirm  the  above  mentioned  Agreements  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Joseph  Dorr  and  enter  the  same  upon  Record  in  the  Town  Book, 
and  They,  together  with  him,  to  signe  the  Agreement." 

Mendon,  Feb.  24,  1716. 

Att  a  General  Town  Meeting  for  Election  of  a  Minister  on  ye  9th  Day  of 
February  Current  (Voated)  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr  to  settle  among  us  in  The 
work  of  the  Ministry,  we  whose  names  are  hereunder  written,  being  a 
Committee  Chosen  by  the  Town  at  a  Public  Town  Meeting,  upon  the 
Twentieth  Day  of  february  Current  (in  the  Town's  behalf)  To  Confirm  the 
agreement  by  voat,  made  with  him  Relating  to  his  Settlement  and  Sallery 
which  are  as  follows,  do  Agree. 

Imprimis.  That  they  will  give  him  for  a  yearly  Sallery  The  sum  of 
seaventy-five  pounds  per  annum,  after  ye  first  year  &  the  first  year  sea venty 
pounds  To  be  paid  in  money.  The  one  Moiety  to  be  Collected  and  paid 
in  unto  the  Town  Treasurer  on  or  before  ye  last  day  of  October  yearley 
and  The  other  Moiety  on  or  before  The  first  day  of  March  yearly,  and  the 
Treasurer  to  Issue  and  make  up  his  accompt  with  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr  on  or 
before  the  last  day  of  March  annually.  The  above  sd  Sallery  to  be  and 
continue  unto  him  so  long  as  he  shall  carry  on  The  work  of  the  Ministry 
in  and  for  the  Town. 

2ndly.  That  they  will  give  for  Settlement  or  Encouragement  the  sum 
of  One  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  One  hundred  pounds  in  money.  The 
one  Moiety  To  be  assessed,  Collected  and  paid  in  unto  the  Last  day  of 
November  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1716,  and  the  other  moiety  on  or  before 
that  day  twelve  mouth  and  Sixty  pounds  to  be  paid  in  Labour  &  materials 
for  and  towards  the  building  of  him  an  house  amongst  us,  to  be  assessed 
and  paid  in  unto  him  as  There  shall  be  occation  Thereof. 


1716.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  175 

3dly.  That  the  time  of  Mr.  Dorr's  Sallery  to  begin  to  Commence  The 
first  of  April,  1716. 

Committee,  Josiah  Chapin, 

Saml.  Read, 
John  Tyler, 
Thos.  Sanford. 

The  Proposals  Above  written  I  accept  And  freely  Acquiesce  in,  In  order 
to  the  End  therein  Specified,  the  Day  and  year  above  written. 

As  witness  my  hand 
Signed  in  presence  of  us,  Joseph  Dorr. 

Seth  Chapin 

his 
Josiah    /    Thayer. 

mark. 

Mr.  Dorr  was  the  youngest  son  but  one  of  the  Rev.  Edward 
and  Elizabeth  Dorr,  and  was  born  in  Roxbury  about  1689  or 
1690,  the  day  of  his  birth  is  not  found  upon  the  Church  Records 
of  Roxbury.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  Grindal  Raw- 
son,  his  predecessor  in  the  ministry,  April  9,  1724,  and  contin- 
ued in  the  ministry,  at  Mendon,  until  his  death  March  9,  1768, 
aged  79. 

Mr.  Dorr  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1711  and  received 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  course.  His  wife  was  the  great  grand- 
daughter of  the  Rev.  John  Wilson  the  first  minister  in  Boston. 

Tradition  corroborates  the  truth  of  the  inscription  on  his 
tombstone  in  the  ancient  burying  yard  at  Mendon,  and  which 
is  as  follows:  "  He  was  endowed  with  good  sense.  His  tem- 
per was  mild  and  placid.  He  excelled  in  the  virtues  of  meek- 
ness, patience,  temperance,  sobriety,  gravity,  benevolence  and 
charity;  was  a  good  scholar,  a  learned  Divine  and  exemplary 
christian." 

Sept.  6.  At  a  town  meeting  it  was  voted  to  raise  money  by 
contribution  to  prepare  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr, 
and  that  Deacon  Nathan  Tyler,  Mr.  James  Keith  &  Nathaniel 
Rawson  be  men  appointed  by  the  town  to  take  care  of  the 
provision  &  attend  at  Mrs.   Rawson's  thereabouts,  &c. 

Also  voted  that  those  "that  went  jorneys  from  time  to  time 
to  provide  ministers  for  the  town,  since  Mr.  Rawson's  decease, 
should  have  their  Reasonable  expenses  of  money  allowed  them 
by  the  town." 


176  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1717. 

At  this  meeting  forty  pounds  were  raised  to  defray  town 
charges,  and  sixty  pounds  to  build  Mr.  Dorr's  house,  and  it  was 
also  voted  that  the  Selectmen  should  repair  the  meeting  house. 

Mr.  Dorr's  house  was  built  near  the  present  house  of  James 
J.  Nutter,  nearly  opposite  the  road  leading  to  Northbridge. 

The  last  record  for  the  year  was  the  doings  of  a  Proprietors' 
Meeting,  held  Dec.  24,  when  they  voted  that  all  the  Proprietors 
should  furnish  the  Clerk  (of  the  Proprietors)  with  an  account 
of  their  several  rights  so  as  to  have  the  same  recorded  by  the 
middle  of  January  next. 

The  falling  short  of  the  cedar  swamps  and  the  failure  to  enter 
at  the  Clerk's  office  many  tracts  already  laid  out,  had  hitherto 
prevented  the  laying  out  of  the  Sixth  Division  already  voted. 
It  was  now  decided  that  "  none  of  the  sixt  Devision  shuld  be 
Laid  out  untill  the  Next  June  Insuing  the  date  hereof. 


171 7.  It  seems  the  Proprietors  were  careless  in  heeding  the  vote 
passed  as  above,  for,  at  a  meeting  held  Feb.  12,  1717,  they  voted 
"  that  all  former  Devisions  of  Land,  that  are  not  put  upon  the 
record  before  the  Middle  of  May  Next  after  this  date,  shal  be 
Acounted  for  C onion  and  be  Liable  to  be  Laid  out  in  the  sixt 
Devision,  to  any  of  the  Proprietors  of  sd  Towne." 

March  4.  Lieut.  Eobert  Evens,  Thomas  Sanford,  Lieut. 
Saml.  Thayer,  Sergt.  John  Thomson  and  Samuel  Eead,  jr., 
were  chosen  Selectmen;  Elder  Samuel  Eead,  Town  Clerk; 
Thomas  "Sanford  Treasurer;  Joseph  Hay  ward  and  Jonathan 
Hayward,  of  the  town,  Constables. 

"Hogg  Constables"  chosen  for  the  first  time,  and  Joseph 
Balkcom,  Benjemin  Taft,  Thomas  White,  the  third,  Jonathan 
Thayer,  John  Thomson,  jr.,  and  Alexander  Plumley  were  the 
successful  candidates. 

May  28.  A  Proprietors'  meeting  was  held,  and  was  adjourned 
to  the  3d  Tuesday  in  October  next,  at  8  o'clock,  A.  M.,  "  upon 
the  Consideration  that  the  Province  Line  yett  Eemains  unset- 
tled." 

Aug.  6.  The  Selectmen  were  instructed  to  lay  out  a  road 
from  Thomas  Taft's  house  to  Scull  Eock  and  so  over  the  Great 
Eiver  to  the  road,   on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  that  leads  to 


1718.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  177 

the  corn  mill.     This  corn  mill  was  at  the  centre  of  the  present 
town  of  Uxbridge. 

At  the  close  of  this  year  it  is  found  that,  since  the  year  1099, 
when  a  record  of  previous  deaths  was  made,  the  following  per- 
sons had  died. 

Serg.  Abraham  Staples,  Oct.  20, 1703.  Ebenezer  Bead,  Nov.  11, 1709. 

Christopher  Winter,        Jan.    9,  1704.  Dea.  Peter  Holbrook,  May    3,  1712. 

Samuel  Thomson,  Oct.  10, 1704.  Samuel  Hay  ward,  sen,  July  29, 1713. 

Capt.  Joseph  White,       Mar.  23, 1706.  Ens.  William  Holbrook,  Nov.  19,1714 
Benjamin  Thayer,           Feb.  23,  1708. 

It  is  not  to  be  understood  that  the  above  were  the  only  deaths 
which  had  occurred  in  the  time  specified,  bat  that  they  were 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  town. 


1718.  Jan  24.  A  town  meeting  was  held  this  day  "  To 
Chose  a  Town  Clerk  &  Take  care  of  ye  Town  Books,"  Samuel 
Read,  sen.,  the  Town  Clerk,  having  died  January  10th. 

Elder  Bead  was  first  chosen  Clerk  in  1674  and,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years,  held  the  office  to  the  day  of  his  death, 
thus  holding  the  office  for  the  long  period  of  forty-two  years. 

The  Town  Clerk's  office  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Thomas 
Sanford. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Thayer,  Ensign  John  Thomson  aiid  James 
Keith  were  chosen  a  Committee  "  to  Beceive  and  Take  Care  of, 
from  ye  heirs  of  Elder  Samuel  Bead,  Dec'd,  the  Town's  Book 
&  wrightings  of  the  Town's  Concerns  which  were  in  their  hands 
as  Executors  To  Their  Father's  Estate,  &c,  and  on  the  Beceipt 
and  over  Looking  Thereof  to  deliver  to  ye  Clerk  for  the  Town's 
use." 

Up  to  this  time  the  divisions  and  sales  of  land  were  made  by 
the  Proprietors,  who  still  retained  the  ownership  of  all  the  land 
yet  unappropriated. 

Town  meetings  were  sometimes  called  "  legal  town  meetings" 
or  "town  meetings  legally  warned,"  and,  sometimes  "general 
or  public  town  meetings."  The  first  were  supposed  to  be  meet- 
ings of  the  Proprietors  ;  the  latter  were  meetings  of  all  the  in- 
habitants for  the  transaction  of  the  ordinary  municipal  business. 

Feb.  10,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  it  was  voted  "that 

23 


178  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1718. 

hence  forth  They  Resolve  Themselves  into  ye  way  of  a  Town  as 
They  were  originally,  according  to  ye  town  grant  and  To  manage 
Their  Proprietary  Interest  according  to  ye  Laws  for  the  Regula- 
tion of  Townships." 

Sergt.  Thomas  White,  Samuel  Read  and  Lieut.  Samuel  Thayer 
were  then  chosen  a  Committee,  with  ye  Clerk  "to  Receive 
the  Town's  (Proprietors?)  Books  and  such  Loose  papers  as  were 
in  ye  former  (Proprietors)  Clerk's  (Samuel  Read)  hands,  not  Re- 
corded and  examine  all  such  loose  wrightings  if  they  ought  to  he 
Recorded  &  Them  together  with  ye  Town's  Books  to  Commit  to 
ye  Town  Clerk  for  the  Town's  use. " 

The  town  voted  again  to  lay  out  the  sixth  division,  and  no 
lands  were  prohibited  except  the  Mill  pond  the  Burying  place 
and  the  Training  field. 

The  Surveyor  was  to  have  3s  6d  per  day  and  each  committee 
man  2s  6d  per  day,  and  all  were  to  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  their  duties. 

The  inhabitants  were  still  negligent  in  making  return,  to  the 
Clerk,  of  the  lands  they  had  laid  in  former  divisions,  and  so,  as 
a  last  resort,  the  town  voted  "that  all  who  did  not  make  return 
to  the  Town  Clerk  should  have  no  land  laid  on  to  them  in  the 
Sixth  Division." 

James  Keith  had  liberty  "  to  lay  down  eight  score  and  two 
acres  of  land  on  ye  west  side  ye  Great  River,  after  the  middle  of 
May  1718  provided  the  Colony  Line  be  not  settled  Before  That 
Time." 

March  3.  Selectmen  for  this  year,  Thomas  Sanford,  James 
Keith,  Samuel  More,  Corp.  John  Holbrook  and  Serg.  Thomas 
Thayer;  Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk;  Samuel  More,  Treas- 
urer; Robert  Taft  and  Samuel  Rich,  Constables,  and  they  were 
severally  sworn  "before  the  Selectmen." 

FISH    TO    COME    UP    PAWTUCKET    FALLS. 

March  17.  William  Sargent  to  have  twenty  acres  of  land, 
between  the  Little  Pond  and  Caleb's  Hill  "  when  he  hath  fin- 
ished his  work  at  the  Falls,  so  as  the  fish  may  come  up  Paw- 
tucket  (Blackstone)  River,  he  bringing  from  John  Arnold's 
hand  that  y8  work  is'  Don  at  his  judgment.". 

May  6.     Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative   to 


1718.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  179 

the  General  Court,  and  June  23,  Jethro  Coffin  was  chosen 
"granjuriman,"  being  the  first  notice  of  such  an  election.  He 
was  the  son  of  Peter  Coffin  of  Dover,  N.  H. 

At  this  time  further  regulations  were  made  for  the  Sixth  Di- 
vision, and  the  titles  of  all  lands,  "according  to  ye  Records  in 
ye  Town  Booke  "  were  duly  confirmed.  A  Committee  was  also 
chosen  to  renew  the  bounds  of  the  school  lands  and  to  see  that 
the  income  derived  from  them  "be  Improved  for  ye  Ends  for 
which  sd  land  was  granted. "  A  wood  lot  of  twenty  acres  was 
also  granted  to  "  our  Pastor  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr.'" 

The  Selectmen  were  directed  "  to  take  care  that  four  posts  be 
set  up  at  the  Town's  charge,  viz:  One  at  ye  parting  of  ye  ways 
by  John  Albee's,  one  at  ye  parting  of  ye  ways  by  ye  School  House, 
one  in  the  Street  Leading  to  Sergt.  Joseph  White's,  a  Little  dis- 
tance from  ye  Country  Road  and  one  at  the  parting  of  ye  ways  by 
Joseph  Plumley's,  and  that  a  Notification  by  the  Constables  be- 
ing set  up  on  each  of  said  posts,  Ten  days  beforehand,  according 
to  ye  tenure  of  ye  warrant  for  a  Town  Meeting  Committed  to 
him  to  warn,  shall  be  a  sufficient  warning  for  any  Town  Meeting." 
It  was  also  voted  that  any  person  "have  liberty  to  pull  Down 
any  Notification  set  up  at  ye  Meeting  House  Relating  to  Strays.*" 

Aug. -20.  Voted  to  take  a  valuation  to  raise  money  to  pay 
the  School  Master  and  £35  to  pay  town  debts  and  procure  a  town 
stock  of  ammunition. 

Having  settled  with  Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Treasurer,  for  ye 
years  1716  and  1718,  the  Selectmen  then  agreed  with  William 
Boyce  to  be  "y6  Town's  School  Master  from  ye  day  of  ye  date 
hereof  until  ye  fourth  Day  of  March  Next,  to  keep  sd  school  at 
ye  direction  of  ye  Selectmen  and  that  ye  Selectmen  pay  ye  sd  Boyce 
after  ye  Rate  of  twenty-eight  pounds  a  year,  and  likewise  after 
that  rate  for  the  Time  ye  sd  Boyce  has  kept  School  in  ye  said 
Town  of  Mendon  from  ye  Twelveth  day  of  May  last  to  ye  day 
of  ye  date  hereof ;  the  sd  Boyce  giving  account  to  ye  Selectmen 
what  time  he  hath  lost  or  shall  Loose  from  sd  School  to  ye  ex- 
piration of  ye  Term  aforesaid  and  to  Deduct  so  much  out  of  his 
wages,  and  the  sd  William  Boyce  is  hereby  obliged  to  keep  ye 
School  as  aforesaid. 

Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk,  in 
behalf  and  by  Order  of  ye  Selectmen. 
William  Boyce.  Schl.  Master." 


180  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1719. 

Nov.  17.  The  Selectmen  met  and  went  and  warned  out  of 
town  sundry  newcomers,  viz:  Daniel  Macmains  and  his  family 
and  Joseph  Wiley  and  his  family,  who  came  to  sojourn  in  ye  town 
on  ye  19th  day  of  September,  1718;  and  William  Noble  and 
family,  Robert  Patrick  and  his  family,  John  Carmichel  and 
family,  Malkam  Henry  and  family  and  Robert  Malkam  and 
family  who  came  into  the  town  Oct.  17,  1718.  At  this  period, 
and  for  many  years  afterwards,  a  residence  in  a  town  for  a  year, 
without  being  warned  out,  gave  the  party  a  settlement  there. 

Dec.  22,  1718.     Then  Received  of  Deacon  Thomas  Sanford  the  sum  of 

Two  hundred  and  forty-five  pounds  which  is    in  full  of  all  sums  due 

to  me  for  my  settlement  and  Sallery  for  the  Years  one  thousand  700  sixteen 

and  seventeen,  I  say  received  by  me. 

Joseph  Dorr. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  the  roads  were  laid  out  in 
common  land,  or,  when  granted  or  sold,  reservations  for  roads 
were  frequently  made. 

The  first  claims  for  damages  for  roads  were  made  this  year. 
A  road  had  been  laid  out,  from  the  Rehoboth  road,  near  Eleazer 
Daniels  to  Hop  Brook,  passing  over  lands  of  Eleazer  Daniels, 
Josiah  Thayer  and  Lieut.  Samuel  Thayer.  They  demanded 
damages  and  were  paid  in  land,  two  acres  for  one  taken  up  by 
the  road,  if  the  land  was  valuable,  but  in  rough  land  not  to  ex- 
ceed three  acres  for  one. 


1719.  Feb.  16.  Being  a  Public  Towne  Meeting  Legally 
warned,     Thomas  Sanford  was  chosen  Moderator. 

This  meeting  was  taken  up  in  framing  rules  and  regulations 
for  completing  the  Sixth  Division  and  in  drawing  lots  for  the 
Seventh  Division. 

"An  account  of  ye  Lots  as  Drawn  for  ye  Seventh  Devision." 

1.  Daniel  Lovet.  9.  Josiah  Wood. 

2.  SethAldrich.  10.  Joseph  Taft. 

3.  11.   William  Sargent 

4.  Ebenezer  Thayer.  12.  Thomas  Taft. 

5.  Benjamin  Albee.  13.  John  Emerson. 

6.  Ens.  John  Thomson.  14.  Thomas  White  3d. 

7.  15.  James  Emerson. 

8.  Isaac  Thayer.  16.  Thomas  White,  senr. 


1719.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


181 


17. 

Mr.  Joseph  Dorr. 

63. 

John  Aldrich. 

18. 

Ebenezer  Staples. 

64. 

Daniel  Hill. 

19. 

John  Arnold. 

65. 

John  Albee. 

20. 

John  Darling. 

66. 

John  Thomson,  jr. 

21. 

William  Hayward. 

67. 

James  Harres  (Harris.) 

22. 

John  Joans. 

68. 

23. 

John  Tiler. 

69. 

Alexander  Plumbley. 

24. 

70. 

William  White. 

25. 

John  Peck. 

71. 

William  Rutter. 

26. 

72. 

James  Bick. 

27. 

73. 

y  Ministry  Lot. 

28. 

74. 

29. 

Oliver  Hayward. 

75. 

Ebenezer  Read. 

30. 

Josiah  Thayer. 

76. 

Benjamin  Rockwood. 

31. 

Wilson  Rawson. 

77. 

Joseph  Emerson. 

32. 

Daniel  Thurston. 

78. 

Peter  Holbrook. 

33. 

David  Tiler. 

79. 

34. 

Simon  Peek. 

80. 

Benjamin  Darling. 

35. 

Richerd  Rockwood. 

81. 

36. 

Lt.  Samuel  Thayer. 

82. 

Jonathan  Richardson. 

37. 

John  Gardner. 

83. 

38. 

84. 

Nathaniel  Morse. 

39. 

Jethro  Coffin. 

85. 

Ebenezer  Wood. 

40. 

Thomas  (illegible.) 

86. 

Thomas  White,  jr. 

41. 

Samuel  Rockwood. 

87. 

John  Cook. 

42. 

Abraham  Staples'  heirs. 

88. 

Elihue  Warfield. 

43. 

Thomas  Sanford. 

89. 

James  Wood. 

44. 

Joseph  Plumbley. 

90. 

45. 

Josiah  Chapin. 

91. 

46. 

Jonathan  Thayer. 

92. 

Richerd  Holbrook. 

47. 

Samuel  Wheaton. 

93. 

Samuel  Read. 

48. 

Josiah  Rockwood. 

94. 

Benjamin  Hayward. 

49. 

Eliphalet  Holbrook. 

95. 

Ephraim  Staples. 

50. 

John  Holbrook. 

96. 

John  Daniels. 

51. 

David  Thomson. 

97. 

Joseph  White. 

52. 

98. 

Ebenezer  White. 

53. 

99. 

54. 

100. 

Ebenezer  Sumner. 

55. 

101. 

56. 

Benjamin  Thayer. 

102. 

Samuel  Bridges. 

57. 

103. 

James  Keith. 

58. 

Solomon  Wood. 

104. 

John  Far  num. 

59. 

Samuel  Cooke. 

105. 

Roger  Corrary's  heirs. 

60. 

Benjamin  Taft. 

106. 

Sylvanus  Holbrook. 

61. 

107. 

Robert  Tiler. 

62. 

108. 

Timothy  Winter. 

182 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1719. 


109. 

The  Scool  Lott. 

130. 

110. 

Deacon  Tiler. 

131. 

William  Holbrook. 

111. 

132. 

112. 

Sanill.  Warfield. 

133. 

Joseph  Taft,  jr. 

113. 

Capt.  Seth  Chapin. 

134. 

Benjamin  Thomson 

114. 

135. 

115. 

John  Green. 

136. 

Capt.  Robert  Evans. 

116. 

Jonathan  Hayward. 

137. 

Lt.  Thomas  Thayer. 

117. 

Ebenezer  Cooke. 

138. 

Joseph  Sumner. 

118. 

Obadiah  Wheelock. 

139. 

John  Corbet. 

119. 

Joseph  Chapin. 

140. 

Thomas  Tenney. 

120. 

Lieut.  John  Darling. 

141. 

John  Rawson. 

121. 

142. 

Samuel  More. 

122. 

Benjamin  Wheelock. 

143. 

Nathan  Tiler. 

123. 

Jonathan  Cook. 

144. 

Seth  Chapin,  jr. 

124. 

Joseph  Rockwood. 

145. 

125. 

James  Emerson,  jr. 

146. 

Ebenezer  Thomson. 

126. 

Woodland  Thomson. 

147. 

John  Post. 

127. 

John  Rockwood. 

148. 

Joseph  White,  jr. 

128. 

149. 

Mary  Warfield. 

129. 

150. 

Robert  Evens  was  chosen  Surveyor  and  Capt.  Seth  Chapin, 
James  Keith  and  Jacob  Aldrich  a  committee  to  oversee  the  lay- 
ing out  the  seventh  division.  The  Surveyor  was  to  have  3s.  fid. 
and  the  committee  each  2s.  fid.  per  day. 

March  2.     Annual  Town  meeting  for  the  choice  of  officers. 

Capt.  Robert  Evans,  Moderator,  being  the  second  man  chosen 
to  that  office. 

Chose  for  Selectmen,  Sergt.  Thomas  White,  Samuel  Moore, 
Lieut.  Samuel  Thayer,  Robert  Evans  and  Robert  Taft,  Jr. ; 
Town  Clerk,  Sergt.  Thomas  White;  Town  Treasurer,  Samuel 
Moore;  Constables,  Sergt.  Joseph  White,  Jr.,  and  James  Keith. 
Seven  persons  were  chosen  Tithing  men,  who,  by  the  act  of 
March  3,  1694,  were  to  be  fined  forty  shillings  each  if  they 
refused  to  serve.  They  were  to  carry  a  black  staff  two  feet  long, 
tipped  at  one  end  with  brass  about  three  inches,  as  a  badge  of 
their  office. 

May  25.  It  is  supjjosed  that,  at  this  time,  there  had  arisen 
one  of  the  periodical  agitations  about  the  boundary  line  between 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island;  and  that  fears  of  a  settlement 
of  the  question  adverse  to  the  interests  of  the  town  were  enter- 
tained,   as    May    25.       Thomas    Sanford,  Samuel    Thayer   and 


1719.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  183 


Thomas  White  were  chosen  a  committee  to  petition  the  General 
Court  for  a  recompense  for  what  the  Province  Line  takes  off 
from  our  Town. 

INCORPORATION    OF    BELLINGHAM. 

Nov.  IT.  The  following  petition  was  laid  before  the  General 
Court: 

To  his  Excellency  Samuel  Shute  Esq.  Capt.  General  and  Governor-in- 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Magesty's  (George  1st.)  Province  of  ye  Massachusetts 
Bay  in  Newengland,  and  to  ye  Honorable  Council  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, in  General  Court,  convened  at  Boston, 

To  Petition  of  the  Inhabitance  of  a  Tract  of  Land  belonging  to  Dedhain, 
westward  of  Wrentham  and  ye  Inhabitance  of  a  Considerable  Farm  ajoyn- 
ing  thereto,  granted  to  Edward  Rawson,  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  and  ye 
Inhabitance  of  a  small  corner  of  ye  Township  of  Mendon  a  jacent  thereto 
(to  ye  number  of  four  families), 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  Whereas  ye  above  sd  Inhabitance  are  Situated  at 
a  Remoat  Distance  from  ye  Respective  Towns  where  they,  at  present, 
belong,  viz : — The  Inhabitance  of  the  Town  of  Dedham  to  ye  number  of 
three  and  twenty  families  are  about  Twenty  miles  Distant  from  the  Town 
where  they  belong  and  do  duty  &  being  very  Remoate  from  ye  Public  Wor- 
shipe  of  God  &  The  Inhabitance,  to  the  number  of  13  families,  of  the 
above  said  Farms  being  six  or  seven  miles  Distance  from  ye  place  of  public 
worshipe  &  ye  Inhabitance  of  Mendon  afore  sd  being  about  four  miles  Dis- 
tance: and  Considering  our  Remoatness  &  ye  Inconveniencys  we  Labour 
under  by  Reason  of  The  same :  and  that  ye  uniting  and  Incorporating  the 
said  Tracts  &  making  of  Them  a  Town  may  put  us  into  a  way,  in  Some 
Convenient  Time  to  obtain  ye  Settlement  of  ye  Gospel  among  us  &c.  (the 
uniting  of  ye  abov  sd  Tracts  of  Land  Together  will  make  a  Town  of  a  boute 
seven  Miles  Long  &  Three  miles  &  half  wide.)  And  further  Considering 
yl  the  Inhabitance  of  ye  abov  sd  Tract  of  Dedham  Land  and  ye  Farms  are 
already  Incorporated  into  a  Training  Companie  and  that  they  have  Little 
or  no  Benefit  of  Town  Priviledges  or  by  haveing  Benefit  of  ye  Schools  we 
do  Respectively  Pay  to.  The  whole  Number  of  Families  belonging  to  ye 
above  sd  Tract  being  Forty  &  Land  already  Laid  out  to  accommodate  20  or 
30  more:  The  Inhabitance  of  Dedham  Land  being  voated  off  by  ye  Town 
for  that  end. 

Our  Prayer  Therefore  is  That  your  Honours  would  Graciously  plase  to 
Consider  our  Difficult  Circumstances  and  grant  us  our  petition  which  is 
That  ye  abov  Mentioned  Tracts  of  Land  (as  by  one  Piatt  hereto  affixed 
and  Described)  may  be  Incorporated  to  geather  &  Made  a  Town  &  Invested 
with  Town  Privelidges,  That  so  we  may  be  Enabled  in  Convenient  time 
to  obtain  ye  Gospel  &  Public  Worship  of  God  Settled  &  our  Inconveni- 


184  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [^1719. 

ences  by  Reason  of  our  Remoatness  be  Removed :  granting  us  such  Time 
of  Dispence  from  Public  Taxes  as  in  Wisdom  you  shall  Think  Convenient 
&  in  your  so  Doing  you  will  greatly  oblige  us  who  are  your  Humble  peti- 
tioners; and  for  your  Honours,  as  in  conscience  we  are  Bound,  Shall 
forever  Pray, 
Dated  ye  17th  clay  of  November  1719. 
John  Darling  Zuriel  Hall 

Nicholas  Cook  Daniel  Corbet 

Pelatiah  Smith  William  Hayward 

Tho.  Burch  James  Smith 

Jolin  Thomson  Nicolas  Cook  jr. 

Ebenezer  Thayer  Jonathan  Hayward 

Cornelius  Darling  Seth  Cook 

Samuel  Hayward  Samuel  Thomson 

John  Marsh  Samuel  Darling 

Oliver  Hayward  Joseph  Thomson 

Samuel  Rich  Nathaniel  Weathersby 

John  Thompson  jr.  Samuel  Smith 

Isaac  Thayer  The  Inhabitance  of  Mendon. 

Ebenezer  Thayer  John  Holbrook 

Richard  Blood         •  John  Corbet 

Joseph  Holbrook  Peter  Holbrook 

Eliphalet  Holbrook. 

There  was  a  Plat  of  the  Township,  as  prayed  for,  upon  a  scale 
of  one  mile  to  the  inch,  and  which  may  be  found  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Archives  among  "Ancient  Plans,  Grants,  &c." 

In  the  House  of  Representatives, 
Nov.  26.  1719  Read  &c. 

Ordered  That  the  Prayer  of  this  Petition  be  Granted  &  That  a  Township 
be  Erected  &  Constituted  according  thereunto  &  the  Piatt  above,  Provided 
They  Procure  &  Settle  a  learned  orthodox  Minister  within  the  space  of 
three  years  next  coming. 

And  that  John  Darling,  John  Thomson  and  John  Marsh  be  Impowered  to 
Call  a  Town  Meeting  any  time  in  March  next  to  choose  Town  officers  & 
manage  the  other  prudential  affairs  of  the  Town.  The  name  of  the  Town 
to  be  Westham. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence. 

John  Btjrrill,  Speaker. 
In  Council  Nov.  27.  1719. 
Read  and  Concurred  with  this  vote,  excepting  the  name  to  be  Belling- 

ham. 

Jos.  Hiller,  by  order. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives 

Nov.  27.  1719,     Read  &  agreed. 

John  Burrill  Speaker. 


1719.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  185 

Mendon,  however,  did  not  consent  to  be  shorn  of  a  por- 
tion of  her  territory  without  a  protest;  as  we  find  that,  at 
a  town  meeting  held  soon  after,  they  directed  the  .Selectmen  to 
petition  the  General  Court,  "for  that  part  of  our  town  they 
have  taken  from  us  and  laid  to  Bellingham." 

THE    FARMS. 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  learn  something  of  the  history 
of  "  The  Farms,"  mentioned  in  the  above  act  incorporating  the 
town  of  Bellingham.  They  were  located  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  town,  and  were  north  of  Charles  River.  They  were 
purchased  of  the  Natick  Indians  by  Edward  Bawson,  Secretary 
of  the  Colony  and  father  to  Grindal  Bawson,  then  the  Minister 
of  Mendon,  as  the  following  evidence  will  show. 

In  the  5th  Volume  of  the  Records  of  Massachusetts,  1674  to 
1686,  p.  531,  may  be  found  a  power  of  attorney  from  John 
Awosomog,  "now  not  likely  to  continue  long  before  his  de- 
cease," to  Thomas  Awossomog,  his  son,  empowering  him  to  sell 
"  any  of  the  land  the  Indian  title  of  which  do  yet  belong  to 
me,"  to  any  English  person  or  persons.  This  Instrument 
was  signed  by  John  Awosomog  and  witnessed  by  Obadiah  Morse 
and  Peter  Ephraim,  Dec.  1,  1684. 

Jan.  21,  1685.  John  Awassomog,  Samuel  Awassomog,  John 
Mooqua,  Peter  Ephraim,  and  Eleazer  Pegan  assigned  to  Thomas 
Awassomog  all  the  right,  title  and  interest  claimed  by  the  Natick 
Indians  in  "  that  tract  of  land  lying  between  the  bounds  of  Natick, 
Charles  River,  Marlborough  and  a  point  of  Blackstone  River, 
beyond  Mendon."  This  assignment  was  signed  by  the  Indians 
above-named,  and  witnessed  by  Edw.  West  and  Benonj  Learned, 
the  day  above  written.  It  was  acknowledged  before  a  Court 
held  at  Natick  by  Daniel  Gookin,  Feb.  18,  and  recorded  by  Ed- 
ward Rawson,  Secretary  of  the  Colony  April  21,  1685. 

April  21, 1685.  Thomas  Awassamoag  and  Abigail  Awassamoag 
sold  two  thousand  acres  of  this  tract  to  Edward  Rawson.  The 
deed  was  witnessed  by  Hopestill  Leland  and  Jonathan  Fairbank, 
and  acknowledged  before  Samuel  Seawall,  assistant,  on  the  day 
of  its  date.  It  was  recorded  June  4,  1685,  by  Edward  Rawson 
(the  grantee),  Colonial  Secretary,  having  been,  on  the  same  day, 

24 


186  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1719. 

confirmed  to  him  by  the  General  Court,  as  may  be  seen  in  Vol. 
5,  Mass.  Records,  p.  485. 

By  the  following,  we  shall  learn  that  the  administrators  of  Mr. 
Eawson's  estate  had  sold  the  tract  to  different  persons,  as  thir- 
teen families  were  now  settled  there. 

It  seems  that  up  to  this  time  they  had  paid  public  and  coun- 
try taxes,  but  not  county  or  town,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing petition: 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  of  her  Majesty's  Province  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  now  sitting  in  Boston  May  31.  1710. 

The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon,  In  the  Name  and  on  the  be- 
half of  the  said  Town, 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  there  are  a  few  families  settled  on  a  large  Farme,  con- 
sisting of  near  two  Thousand  Acres  of  land  and  meddow,  formerly  Granted 
(purchased  first  of  the  Indians  for  fourteen  pounds)  to  Mr.  Edward  Raw- 
son,  of  Boston,  deceased,  by  the  General  Court  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
and  purchased  of  the  Administrators  of  his  estate,  which  adjoins  to  us,  and 
the  said  Families  Generally  attend  the  public  worship  of  God  with  us, 
being  nearer  to  our  Public  place  of  "Worship  than  to  any  other  where  they 
can  attend.  They  have  paid  publique  and  Country  taxes  with  us,  but  as 
to  County  and  Town  charges  are  exempt.  We  have  been  been  forced  to 
enlarge  our  Meeting  House  the  last  year,  the  Old  one,  being  built  by  us,  by 
reason  of  our  Poverty,  very  streight  and  the  public  charge  heavy  on  us, 
considering  the  disadvantage  of  our  ffrontier  &  exposed  Condition,  We 
humbly  (pray)  they  may  be  laid  to  us  to  the  support  of  the  Gospel  Ministry 
amongst  us  and  our  other  Country  &  Town  charges;  and  if,  at  any  time 
hereafter,  they  can  be  provided  with  better  accommodations  as  to  the 
means  of  Grace  nearer,  We  shall,  in  no  sort  desire  to  obstruct  their  comfort 
therein  &  in  the  meantime  rest 

Your  Honours  most  humble  Servants, 

James  Lovet 


Samll.  Thayer 
Samll.  Moore 
Samll.  Read 
Seth  Chapin 


-  Selectmen. 


In  the  House  of  Representatives 
•     Read  &c. 
Ordered  That  the  prayer  of  the  above  Petition  be  so  far  Granted  as  that 
the  abovementioned  Tract  of  Land  shall  be  annexed  to  the  Town  of  Men- 
don &  be  esteemed  Part  thereof  until  this  Court  shall  order  otherwise. 

John  Clark,  Speaker. 
June  7,  1710  Sent  up  for  Concurrence. 
June  28,  1710    In  Council  Read  and  Concurred. 

Isaac  Addington,  Secy. 


1720.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  187 

When  the  persons  living  on  this  territory  were  "  hetter  accom- 
modated as  to  the  means  of  grace  nearer/'  the  people  of  Mendon, 
it  is  presumed,  "  in  no  sort  desiring  to  obstruct  their  comfort 
therein,"  quietly  yielded  the  right  of  eminent  domain,  and  the 
Farm  became  an  integral  portion  of  Bellingham. 

JOSIAH   CHAPIN'S    TWO    HUNDRED    ACEES. 

May  31,  1719.  Josiah  Chapin  had  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
laid  out  "on  the  west  side  of  the  township  of  Mendon,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Killingly."  These  two  hundred 
acres  have  a  somewhat  curious  history.  May  18,  1664,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  granted  to  Samuel  Chapin,  of  Springfield,  for  services 
rendered  the  Colony,  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  "where  he  can 
find  it  not  granted  to  person  or  towne."  In  the  Massachusetts 
Archives,  "Ancient  Plans,  Grants,  &c,  164  to  1715,  Vol.  1,  p. 
71, "  a  plat  of  these  two  hundred  acres  may  be  found.  It  was 
laid  out  by  Joseph  White  and  Benjamin  Alby,  of  Mendon,  May 
11,  1669,  and  included  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  present  site  of  the 
town  of  Woonsocket,  K.  I.,  north  of  the  Blackstone  River. 

Samuel  Chapin  never  removed  from  Springfield,  and  June  24, 
1668,  by  a  deed,  gave  his  son  Josiah  Chapin,  of  Braintree,  all 
his  right  and  title  to  the  grant  above  mentioned.  This  deed  was 
witnessed  by  Elizur  Holyoke  and  John  Pynchon,  and  acknowl- 
edged before  John  Pynchon,  Assistant. 

In  1716  the  General  Court  granted  Josiah  Chapin,  of  Mendon, 
liberty  to  lay  down  this  piece  of  land,  and  to  take  it  up  else- 
where. May  31,  1719,  Joseph  White,  Surveyor  of  Mendon.  at 
the  order  of  Samuel  Chapin,  laid  out  the  same  and  made  a  plat 
of  it.  It  was  200  rods  long  and  160  rods  wide,  and  June  11, 
1717  the  General  Court  confirmed  the  title  to  Mr.  Chapin. 


1720.  March  7.  Being  the  annual  Town  Meeting,  Lieut. 
Samuel  Thayer,  was  chosen  Moderator. 

For  Selectmen,  Lieut.  Samuel  Thayer,  Capt.  Robert  Evens, 
Jacob  Aldrich,  Daniel  Taft  and  Jethro  Coffin;  Constables,  Moses 
Aldrich  and  Saml.  Thayer,  Jr.;  Town  Clerk,  Thomas  White; 
Treasurer,  Samuel  Moore;  Leather  Sealer,  Thomas  Sanford,  and 
School  Master,  William  Boyce. 


188  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1720. 

We  have  seen  that  the  "  Farms"  had  become  incorporated  in 
the  new  town  of  Bellingham  (named  after  Gov.  Bellingham), 
and  at  this  meeting  the  inhabitants  petitioned  the  town  "  to  Re- 
imbnst  or  pay  back  to  them  the  money  they  had  paid  towards 
Mr.  Dorr's  settlement,  and  the  Town  did  not  see  cause  to  grant 
it  att  present. " 

At  this  time  the  inhabitants  in  the  west  part  of  the  town  (now 
Uxbridge)  began  to  agitate  the  question  of  dividing  the  town  or 
of  being  allowed  to  be  a  precinct  by  themselves;  but  upon  their 
petition  to  that  effect  the  town  took  no  action. 

In  April,  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  recommended  towns 
to  choose  collectors  "to  gather  the  Minister's  salary  distinct 
from  the  Constables,"  but  the  town  voted  not  to  follow  the 
recommendation  of  the  Court. 

May  10.  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court,  which  met  on  the  25th  day  of  May,  and,  after 
a  session  of  five  days,  in  which  nothing  was  done,  was  dissolved 
by  Gov.  Shute. 

June  13.  Being  a  public  town  meeting  to  choose  a  Repre- 
sentative, "after  desolving  ye  Court,"  and  chose  Josiah  Chapin, 
Esq.,  Representative,  and  Thomas  White,  Grand  Juryman. 

May  ye  19.  1720.  the  General  Court  having  granted  a  part  of  Mention  in 
order  to  make  another  Town  which  was  called  Bellingham,  on  the  day 
above  sd  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon  and  the  Committee  of  Bellingham  mett 
and  stated  the  line  according  to  ye  Court's  grant,  Beginning  at  Deadham 
Tree  so  Running  up  stream,  with  Second  Bridge  River,  one  mile  and  an 
half  to  John  Rockwood's  ford  way,  thence  Running  East  31  degrees  north 
to  the  norwest  corner  of  the  Farm  at  Mendon  East  line  at  ye  corner  of 
Sherbond  Township,  which  line  was  agreed  on  By  Both  Committees  and 
Run  by  Robert  Evens,  Surveyor. 

Samuel  Thayek  ~i  John  Corbet  1     Committee 


Thomas  White    I    Selectmen  Samuel  Hayward  V  of 


Daniel  Tapt  of  Mendon.  Joseph  HolbrookJ    Bellingham. 

Jacob  Aldrich  J 

It  seems  the  Province  line  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island  had  not  yet  been  settled,  at  least  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  people  of  Mendon,  as  the  following  vote  will  show: 

Dec.  10.  Voted,  that  Thomas  Sanford,  Samuel  Thayer  and 
Samuel  Read  be  a  committee  "  to  make  search  after  the  Court's 


1721.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  189 

confirmation  of  our  towne  platt  as  itt  was  Returned  by  Joshua 
Fisher  and  to  endeavour  to  gett  Recompence  for  what  the  Pro- 
vince Line  takes  from  our  township." 

In  pursuance  of  this  vote  the  Selectmen  petitioned  the  Legis- 
lature to  reverse  their  orders  on  the  petition  of  Samuel  Comstock 
and  John  Foster,  and  to  stay  any  further  proceedings  thereon 
until  the  petitioners  be  heard. 

The  Legislature  then  ordered  that  a  hearing  be  had  at  the 
next  session  of  the  Court  in  May,  1721.  "  The  adverse  party 
being  Served  with  a  Copy  of  this  Petition  and  order  thereon 
Seasonably,  Provided  that  the  Town  of  Mend  on  be  at  the  charge 
of  a  Skilful  Surveyor  to  go  to  Mendon  &  make  a  Platt  of  the 
Township,  conformable  to  the  Return  of  Joshua  Fisher  on  the 
General  Court's  Grant  to  Mendon  May  15.  1667  and  then  Con- 
firmed; and  that  Capt.  William  Ward  be  the  Surveyor." 

Nothing  appears  upon  the  town  or  colony  records  to  show 
that  the  town  put  in  an  appearance  at  the  time  appointed  for  a 
hearing. 

The  town  tax,  including  Mr.  Dorr's  salary,  for  this  year  was 
£131  03  04. 


1721.  The  annual  town  meeting  was  convened  and  forth- 
with adjourned  to  the  14th  of  March.  No  reason  was  given  for 
this  adjournment,  and  this  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  21st 
of  March,  also  without  any  reasons  given. 

March  21.  Thomas  Sanford  was  chosen  Moderator;  Thomas 
Sanford,  Samuel  Read,  Josiah  Thayer,  John  Farnum  and  Daniel 
Lovet,  Selectmen;  Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk;  Saml.  Read. 
Town  Treasurer,  and  Sergt.  Seth  Chapin  and  Nathaniel  Raw- 
son,  Constables. 

April  17.  The  Selectmen  appointed  Capt.  Seth  Chapin  Sealer 
of  Weights  and  Measures. 

May  11.  Perambulated  the  boundary  line  between  Belling- 
ham  and  Mendon,  and  renewed  the  bounds  and  marks. 

May  17.  Thomas  Sanford  chosen  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court. 

The  act  for  "  making  and  emitting"  fifty  thousand  pounds  in 
Bills  of  Credit  was  passed  March  31.     These  bills  were  to  serve 


190  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1721. 

as  "a  medium  of  exchange  in  the  merchandize,  trade  and  busi- 
ness of  the  Province."  They  were  to  be  distributed  among  the 
towns  in  proportion  to  their  respective  proportion  in  the  last 
Province  tax,  but  it  was  optional  with  the  voters  of  the  town 
whether  they  would  receive  their  proportion  or  not.  Trustees 
were  to  be  appointed  in  each  town  to  loan  out  the  town's  pro- 
portion at  interest,  on  good  real  estate  or  personal  security.  The 
Trustees  were  to  be  sworn,  and  were  to  have  a  reasonable  com- 
pensation for  their  services.  As  a  fund  for  the  redemption  of 
these  bills  a  tax  of  £50,000  was  granted  "the  King's  most  ex- 
cellent majesty,"  to  be  paid  in  annual  instalments  of  £10,000 
until  the  whole  should  be  paid.  These  bills  when  redeemed 
were  "  to  be  burnt  to  ashes." 

In  the  schedule  of  distribution  Mendon  was  set  down  at 
£313. 10s.,  and,  on  May  17,  they  voted  they  would  receive  it, 
notwithstanding  Joseph  Taft,  sen.,  Benjamin  Taft,  Joseph 
Taft,  jr.,  Samuel  Read,  Seth  Aldrich,  Ebenezer  Read  and  Nathan 
Tyler  entered  their  protest  against  the  measure. 

Thomas  Sanford,  Cornet  Josiah  Thayer  and  Daniel  Taft  were 
chosen  Trustees,  and  were  directed  to  loan  these  Bills  of  Credit 
in  sums  of  not  above  twenty  nor  less  than  five  pounds,  the  rate 
of  interest  to  be  five  per  cent. 

William  Boyce  was  hired  to  keep  a  "Reading  and  Wrighting 
School  during  the  year,  unless  the  Town  should  be  presented 
for  want -of -a  Grammar  School,  when  he  was  to  cease  keeping  at 
ye  Selectmen's  order." 

If  the  schoolmaster  was  not  disturbed  by  the  grand  jury  he 
was  to  keep  through  the  year.  If  he  kept  constantly  at  the 
school  house  he  was  to  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  £28  per  annum; 
if  he  kept  a  moving  school  he  was  to  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  £30 
per  annum,  and  if  he  kept  the  school  throughout  the  year  he 
was  to  be  paid  three-fourths  in  money  and  one-fourth  in  pro- 
visions at  money  price.     Any  lost  time  was  to  be  "  Reducted." 

Mendon  Sept.  ye  8th.  1721  being  a  Town  meeting  Leagally  warned  to 
take  an  account  of  Town  Depts  and  to  agree  about  a  Town  Rate, 
Thomas  Sanford  was  chosen  Moderator. 

Then  took  an  Account  of  and  allowed  the  Several  accompts  hereafter 
specified,  viz: 

To  Jacob  Aldrich  for  keeping  Peter  Frost  (a  pauper) £2  10  00 

To  Daniel  Lovet  for  1  day's  service  &  Repairing  the  Pound 04  00 


1721.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  191 


To  Thomas  White  for  2  days  service  to  Survey  land  taken  from 
the  Town  by  ye  Province  Line  &  1  day  to  lay  out  a  way 12  00 

To  Samll.  Read  for  2  days  to  measure  Land  taken  off  from  ye 

Town  as  aforesaid  &  1  day  to  Cambridge  for  ye  town 12  00 

To  Cornet  Thayer  for  2  days  to  measure  ye  above  sd  Land  and  one 

day's  journey  to  Cambridge  for  ye  town 12  00 

To  James  Keith  for  2  days  to  Measure  ye  Land  and  1  day  to  per- 
ambulate with  Bellingham 08  06 

To  justice  Chapin  1  journey  to  Cambridge 06  00 

To  Thomas  Sanford  for  3  days  time  spent  in  boston  to  wait  on  ye 
Secretary's  office  to  obtain  Coppies  for  the  town's  use  .10s.  to 
ye  Coppies  5s.  to  one  day  to  lay  cut  a  highway  2s 17  00 

To  Thomas  Sanford  serving  the  Town  as  Representative,  with 
journeys  to  and  from  ye  Court  from  the  30th.  day  of  May  to  yc 
21st  day  of  July,  53  days 10  12  00 

To  £12  .00  00  for  ye  support  of  ye  poor  that  are  a  town  charge. . .  12  00  00 

To  £15  00  00  to  pay  a  School  Master 15  00  00 

To  £6  00  00  to  Defray  ye  succeeding  charges  with  Respect  to  a 

Representative 06  00  00 

To  £75  00  00  for  Mr.  Dorr's  salary 75  00  00 

Amounting  to  £124  14  00 

In  1709  it  was  voted  that  if  Mr.  Taft  (Robert?)  and  his  sons 
would  build  a  bridge  over  the  Great  River  to  their  land  on 
the  west  side  of  sd  river,  they  should  be  released  from  working 
on  the  highway  ''until  other  men's  work  Come  to  be  propor- 
tionable to  theirs  in  working  on  the  byways." 

Up  to  1721  Mr.  Taft  and  sons  had  done  no  work  on  the 
highways  save  what  they  had  done  to  the  bridge,  and,  at  this 
time,  a  Committee  was  chosen  "to  Discourse  with  Mr.  Taft  and 
sons  with  reference  to  their  falling  in  with  the  Town  to  work  on 
the  highways,  and  to  report  to  the  Town  their  terms." 

Sept.  21.  The  Surveyors  were  instructed  to  repair  the  bridge; 
"  the  Reparations  to  be  done  by  hy way  work  as  ye  Repairing 
of  other  byways  &  bridges." 

"The  Town  also  proposed  to  ye  Tafts  to  Chuse  a  man  to  joyn  with  ye 
Man  the  Town  chuse  to  adjust  the  accounts  with  them  about  their  build- 
ing a  bridge  over  the  Great  River,  but  said  Tafts  refused  to  choose  as  afore- 
said. " 

Whereupon  it  was  voted  that  Mr .  Taft  and  his  sons  who  had  been  freed 
by  the  town  from  working  on  the  highways  on  account  of  building  the 
above  sd  bridge,  Do  henceforth  work  atye  highways  Equal  with  the  rest  of 
ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  town,  and  that  ye  Surveyors  warn  them  to  work  at  the 


192  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1722. 

highways  as  other  men,  and  on  their  refusal,  to  prosecute  them  for  their 
Neglect  as  ye  Law  Directs  and  that  the  town  will  stand  by  them  in  their 
prosecution. 


1722.  Jan.  9.  It  seems  the  Trustees  of  the  town's  propor- 
tion of  the  £50.000  of  Bills  of  Credit  had  met  with  some  diffi- 
culty in  the  discharge  of  their  duties;  as,  this  day,  the  town 
chose  a  Committee  of  seven  to  consider  the  subject.  At  the 
same  meeting  the  Committee  reported  that  the  Trustees,  "first, 
Let  out  none  of  said  Bills  to  any  man  without  sufficient  securi- 
ty, and  2nd.  that,  in  their  opinion,  it  was  Most  Conveniant  to 
Let  no  sums  of  money  above  ten  pounds  nor  under  five." 

Feb.  26.  The  road  or  allowance  for  a  way,  that  leads  out  of 
the  County  road  leading  towards  ye  Great  River  from  the  ten 
rod  way  by  Joseph  Plumley's,  northward  towards  Deacon  Tiler's, 
was  discontinued.  This  road  led  from  the  northerly  terminus 
of  what  is  now  Washington  street  to  near  the  barn  of  Luther  E. 
Taft,  on  what  was,  formerly,  the  estate  of  the  late  Watee 
Davenport. 

After  the  warrant  for  the  meeting  had  been  disposed  of,  the 
following  record  was  made  by  the  Town  Clerk  "  The  aforesaid 
Moderator,  viz:  Daniel  Taft,  assumed  to  himself  the  power  to 
appoint  and  warn  a  town  meeting  (without  any  writing  from  ye 
Selectmen  to  order  ye  same,  which  is  contrary  to  law,  nothing 
being  inserted  in  ye  warrant  for  calling  said  meeting  to  that 
purpose)  for  the  choice  of  Town  Officers,  which  time  he  ap- 
pointed to  be  ye  first  Monday  in  March  next,  and  calling  for  a 
vote  thereupon  obtained  ye  same  by  ye  holding  up  ye  hand  of  the 
superior  number  of  them  that  were  present  at  said  meeting." 

As  the  next  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  12th  of  March  it  is 
plain  the  meeting  was  not  held  as  it  was  adjourned  by  Daniel 
Taft. 

March  12.  At  the  meeting  this  day  Daniel  Taft  was  chosen 
Moderator  and  then  adjourned  to  the  26th  instant  at  8  o'clock 
A.  M. 

March  26.  Selectmen,  Thomas  Sanford,  Dea.  John  Jones, 
Ebenezer  Read,  Lieut.  Thomas  Thayer,  and  Daniel  Taft;  Town 
Clerk,  Samuel  Read;  Town  Treasurer,  Capt.  Seth  Chapin;  Con- 


1722.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  193 

stables,  Peter  Aldrich,  who  refusing  to  serve  or  pay  his  Hue  had 
his  name  referred  to  the  General  Sessions,  and  John  Cook  was 
then  chosen  for  this  end  of  the  town  and  Thomas  Thayer,  jr., 
for  the  lower  end*of  the  town. 

March  30.  The  school  to  be  kept  in  four  places  viz:  "  at  the 
school  house,  over  the  Mill  River,  at  ye  south  end  of  the  town 
and  about  the  Great  River,"  William  Boyce  to  he  the  school 
master. 

May  16.  Thomas  Sanford  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

July  19.  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  and  Cornet  Josiah  Thayer 
were  added  to  the  Committee  "to  endeavour  to  defend  the 
Town's  Rights  against  ye  Providence  Petitioners  &c."  The  Se- 
lectmen were  also  instructed  to  repair  the  meeting  house. 

It  seems  that  there  was  some  uncertainty  about  the  vote  agree- 
ing to  take  the  allotment  of  the  bills  of  credit  assigned  to  the 
town,  as  we  find  a  meeting  was  afterwards  called  by  warrant  of 
the  Selectmen  (being  the  first  warrant  upon  record)  "to  Con- 
sider and  Resolve  what  further  to  do  "  about  the  £313. 10s  of  the 
bills  of  credit  &c.  At  this  meeting  it  was  again  voted  to  receive 
the  £313. 10s  of  the  bills  of  credit  and  Thomas  Sanford,  Daniel 
Taft  and  Jacob  Aldrich  were  chosen  Trustees. 

Sept.  5.  Voted  to  raise  £52  including  the  loan  money  being 
the  interest  on  the  bills  of  credit,  to  pay  town  charges. 

Oct.  16.  The  inhabitants  of  the  western  part  of  the  town  ob- 
jecting to  being  assessed  for  repairs  to  the  meeting  house,  the 
toAvn  voted  they  would  reimburse  them  provided  they  are  set  off 
as  a  precinct  or  a  town  within  the  space  of  three  years. 

William  Boyce  still  continues  the  schoolmaster  at  £30  a  year 
in  bills  of  credit,  one-half  in  November  and  one-half  in  March; 
and  to  keep  the  school  one  quarter  at  the  south  end  of  ye  town 
(now  Blackstone),  the  second  quarter  over  Mill  River  (now  Mil- 
ford)  the  third  about  ye  Great  River  (now  Uxbridge)  and  ye 
fourth  at  the  school  house. 

Ebenezer  Staples,  John  Darling  and  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq., 
were  appointed  by  the  Selectmen  as  guardians  of  Ephraim 
Staples,  they  adjudging  him  to  be  "  non  compis  mentice." 

25 


194  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1723. 

1723.  March  4.  The  annual  town  meeting  was  held  and 
Daniel  Taft  was  chosen  Moderator. 

Chose  for  Selectmen  Daniel  Taft,  James  Keith,  William 
Boyce,  Ebenezer  Eead;  Town  Clerk,  Samuel  Eead;  Town  Treas- 
urer, Capt.  Seth  Chapin;  Constables,  Ebenezer  Cook  and  John 
Thompson. 

March  5.  The  Town  Treasurer  was  directed  to  call  in  the  in- 
terest on  the  loan  money  (bills  of  credit)  and  give  a  discharge 
for  it  for  1722. 

A  committee  of  thirteen  were  added  to  the  committee  already 
chosen  to  make  a  new  measurement  of  the  township. 

April  6,  1723.  The  town  was  surveyed  by  Samuel  Thaxter  by 
order  of  the  General  Court;  and  by  his  plan,  as  may  be  seen  in 
"Ancient  Plans,.  Grants  &c  1716  to  1734,  vol.  2,  p.  97,"  the 
town  contained  60,896  acres.  By  this  plan  the  western  bound- 
ary was  10  miles  and  110  rods,  while  the  eastern  was  10  miles 
and  90  rods  long,  whereas  the  original  grant  was  8  miles  square, 
giving-  40,960  acres  as  the  area  of  the  town. 

June  24.  Jacob  Aldrich  was  chosen  grand  juryman;  and  it 
was  also  voted  "to  build  two  new  windows,  one  in  each  end  of 
the  meeting  house  and  to  have  them  set  above  the  beams  of  said 
house." 

It  seems  the  action  of  Daniel  Taft,  Moderator  of  the  town 
meeting  held  Feb.  26,  1722,  and  the  record  of  the  Town  Clerk, 
at  that  time,  had  given  rise  to  a  controversy  in  the  town  as  the 
following  action  of  the  toAvn  testifies. 

"  Whereas  at  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Mendon  on  the  26th  day  of  february  in  the  year  1722,  Daniel  Taft 
of  said  Mendon  was  chosen  Moderator  of  said  Meeting  and  a  Record  made 
thereof,  together  with  an  entry  thereunto  annexed  and  inserted  in  the  Town 
Book  by  the  Town  Clerk  of  that  year;  said  Entry  tending  to  the  Defama- 
tion of  him  the  aforesaid  Moderator,  by  saying  that  he  unto  himself  as- 
sumed Power  to  Call  for  a  Vote  of  the  Town,  which,  in  said  entry  is  men- 
tioned his  obtainment  of  by  holding  up  the  hand,  and  it  not  appearing  to 
the  Town  of  Mendon  afore  sd  y*  ye  Moderator  did  unto  himself  assume 
Power  as  afore  sd  expressed  but  by  and  at  ye  motion  unto  him  sd  Moderator 
made  by  a  considerable  number  of  ye  persons  at  sd  Meeting  qualified  and 
the  Town  having  considered  the  dangerous  Consequences  that  attend  such 
an  unordered  Entry  doth  hereby  disaprove  of  and  Utterly  Make  Null  and 
Void  the  afore  sd  Entry,  Rendering  the  same  to  be  improper  and  out  of 
Joynt  any  thing  therein  to  the  Contrary  Contained  Notwithstanding." 


1723.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  195 

Why  the  record  of  the  Town  Clerk  should  have  been  found 
fault  with  does  not  appear,  as  it  is  not  charged  that  the  facts 
were  not  as  he  recorded  them.  At  any  rate  the  town  meeting 
appointed  by  Daniel  Taft  was  not  held,  which  goes  to  show  that 
the  meeting  if  held  would  not  have  been  legal. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  19th,  "it  was  voted  that  the  Town 
will  agree  to  Confirm  Ten  Hundred  Acres  of  Undevided  Laud 
Bounded  upon  the  Province  Line  where  it  is  now  stated  and  upon 
the  West  Line  in  the  southerly  part  of  our  Township  unto 
Samuel  Comstock  of  Providence  and  his  Associates  (William 
Jenks  representing  the  same  company)  for  the  Nine  Hundred 
Acres  of  Land  granted  by  the  General  Court  to  be  laid  out  in 
the  Country  Land,  Provided  it  may  put  a  final  issue  to  all  the 
Controversies  that  are  or  may  arise  Between  Samuel  Comstock 
and  his  Associates  and  the  Town  of  Mendon  forever  about  sd 
farms.'' 

All  the  trouble  with  Samuel  Comstock  and  Company  arose 
from  the  error  which  the  people  of  Mendon  entertained  that  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  town  was  identical  with  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  Province,  whereas  there  was,  at  least,  the  width 
of  a  mile  between  them. 

A  perusal  of  the  action  of  the  General  Court  in  this  matter, 
which  will  be  found  in  the  following  extracts  from  the  Colonial 
records,  will  set  the  controversy  with  the  Providence  petitioners 
in  a  clearer  light  than  can  be  gathered  from  the  records  of  the 
town.  Believing  that  the  truth  of  history  should  be  verified, 
and  that  it  will  be  interesting  to  know  how  such  matters  were 
conducted  in  the  olden  time,  the  doings  of  the  General  Court  in 
the  premises  will  be  found  in  the  following  pages. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  June  (!,  1705,  the  town  chose  a  com- 
mittee to  confer  with  a  committee  of  Providence,  and  "  if  they 
Com  or  send  over  concerning  our  Land  they  claim  on  the  Weast 
side  of  the  Great  River  take  theire  account  and  present  the  same 
to  the  town." 

Sept.  11.  1705.  The  Conference  Committee  made  their  report 
to  the  town,  which  we  infer  was  not  satisfactory,  as  they  voted 
that  "a  Complaint  should  be  made  to  his  Excellency  and  the 
General  Court,  and  Capt.  Josiah  Chapin  was  chosen  a  Committee 
to  trans  Mitt  ye  abov  mentioned  Report  or  Complaint  to  ye  abov 
sd  Court  and  to  Transact  that  Afair  with  sd  Court." 


196  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1723. 

This  complaint  was,  without  doubt,  based  upon  the  claim  of 
Samuel  Comstock  to  the  900  acres  granted  him  by  the  town  of 
Providence,  which,  it  was  affirmed,  encroached  upon  the  bounds 
of  the  town. 

The  General  Court's  answer  to  the  complaint  may  be  found  in 
the  8th  volume,  p.  253,  of  the  Colonial  Eecords: 

"Nov.  6,  1706.  Upon  reading  this  day,  at  the  Board,  a  Complaint  ex- 
hibited by  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon  of  Encroachments  and  a  Claim  made 
by  the  Inhabitants  of  Providence,  on  Pretense  of  an  Indian  Deed,  to  near 
one  half  of  the  Township  of  Mendon  and  other  lands  lying  within  this 
Province." 

"Ordered  that  Nathaniel  Bytield,  Nathaniel  Payne  Esq.,  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Blagrow,  Major  Samuel  Thaxter  and  Capt.  John  Ware,  or  any  three  of 
them,  be  a  Committee  to  go  upon  ye  ancient  stated  line  of  the  boundaries 
between  this  Province  and  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence 
Plantations  to  the  extent  of  the  late  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  ac- 
cording to  the  Grant  and  the  Royal  Charter  of  this  Province,  and  to  renew 
the  Bound  Marks  where  they  shall  be  needed ;  and  that  his  Excellency,  the 
Governor,  be  desired  to  write  to  the  Government  of  Rhode  Island  and  ac- 
quaint them  with  the  Court's  appointment  of  a  Committee  for  the  service 
afore  said,  that  they  may  appoint  persons  on  the  part  of  that  Government, 
if  they  see  fit,  to  attend  at  the  Time  and  Place,  to  be  agreed  upon  by  ours, 
to  see  and  take  knowledge  of  our  Line,  That  their  Government  may  give 
the  necessary  orders  to  restrain  their  poeple  from  Making  any  Encroach- 
ment or  Disturbance.  The  said  Committee  to  make  Report  of  their  Doings 
to  this  Court,  at  the  next  session,  after  they  have  performed  the  said  ser- 
vice. 

Wch  Order  being  sent,  the  Representatives  was  agreed  to  by  that  House 
And  is  consented  to  by 

J.  Dudley,  Govr. 

Maj.  Thaxter,  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee,  surveyed 
the  township  April  6,  1723.  Upon  his  plat  "Ancient  Plans, 
(< rants,  &c,  1716,  to  1734,  vol.  2,  p.  97,"  we  find,  first,  the 
Patent  line  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island;  second, 
and  north  of  this  line,  another  line  being  the  line  as  between 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  extended  across  Maj.  Thaxter's 
plat,  and  still  farther  north  a  dotted  line  eight  miles  from  the 
1 1 <  irthern  boundary. 

Colonial  Records,  Vol.  12,  p.  21. 

"At  a  General  Court  held  Nov.  7,  1723  It  was  voted  that  Samuel  Corn- 
stock  might  have  the  900  acres  provided  the  Government  of  Rhode  Island 


1723.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  197 


and   Providence   Plantations  quitclaim  a  mile  northward   of  the  Colony 
Line." 

Colonial  Records,  Vol.  12,  p.  304. 

"Paul  Dudley,  from  the  Committee  of  both  Houses  gave  in  their  Report 
upon  the  Petition  of  William  Jenks  of  Providence  and  his  Associates,  are 
of  opinion  that  the  Nine  hundred  Acres  of  Land  mentioned  in  the  petition 
should  he  confirmed  to  the  Petitioners  by  the  Court,  Provided  that  this 
Government  or  those  claiming  by  or  under  them  be,  in  no  wise,  at  any 
time  hereafter,  Defeated  or  Molested  in  their  Rights  and  Possession  of  the 
Mile  of  Land,  described  in  the  Petition,  which  was  formerly  Granted  to  the 
Colony  of  Rhode  Island  but  lately  quit-claimed  by  them  to  this  Govern- 
ment, in  consideration  of  the  Petitioners  having  their  900  acres  confirmed 
to  them  by  this  Court,  Provided  also  that  the  Petitioners  make  satisfaction 
to  such  persons  as  may  have  entered  upon  any  part  of  the  said  900  acres 
for  any  buildings,  fences  or  other  Improvements  by  them  made  upon  the 
premises,  the  value  thereof  to  be  appraised  by  three  persons,  viz: — the 
Surveyor  to  be  appointed  by  the  Court  and  two  others  to  be  chosen  by  the 
Petitioners  and  Occupants  respectively,  and  whereas  it  appears  by  a  late 
survey  (Major  Thaxter's)  that  the  Town  of  Mendon  have  extended  their 
Line  beyond  their  original  grant  from  this  Court,  and  the  platt  of  said 
Township  is  said  to  have  been  burnt  in  the  Town  House  in  Boston,  for  it 
cannot  be  found  in  the  Public  Records  of  the  Province,  wherefore  some 
Difficulties  and  Controversies  might  arise  in  and  to  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Town  of  Mendon,  for  the  quieting  &  Remedying  thereof  it  is  proposed  that 
the  Southern  Bounds  of  the  said  Township  of  Mendon  should  extend  Home 
to  the  Colony  Line  Saving  the  property  of  the  Nine  Hundred  Acres  as  afore 
sd  to  the  Petitioners, 

In  the  name  by  order  of  the  Committee 

Paul  Dudley. 

In  Council  Read  it  Ordered  that  this  Report  be  accepted. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read  &  Concurred. 

Consented  by  Wm.  Dummer,  Govr." 

The  burning  of  the  plat  in  the  Town  House  at  Boston  may 
have  taken  place;  but  as  all  the  plats  mentioned  in  the  town 
records  can  be  found  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives,  it  is  sup- 
posed the  report  of  the  burning  may  have  been  a  mistake. 

There  are  four  plans  of  the  Township  of  Mendon  to  be  found 
in  the  Archives  at  the  State  House.  The  first  one  is  the  original 
plan,  by  Joshua  Fisher,  of  Dedham,  and  may  be  found  in  "An- 
cient Plans,  Grants,  &c,  Vol.  1643  to  1715,  p.  54."  The  second 
was  made  by  Joseph  White  and  Samuel  Read  in  Nov.  1674,  accord- 
ing to  the  grant  of  the  General  Court  to  mend  our  line,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  direction  of  the  man  that  sold  the  land,  he  being 


198  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1723. 

present.  (Ancient  Plans,  Grants,  &c,  1643  to  1715,  p.  93.) 
The  third  was  made  by  Samuel  Thaxter,  April  6,  1723,  on 
account  of  the  difficulty  about  Mr.  Jenks'  900  acres,  and  the 
fourth  was  made  (by  whom  not  known)  in  1727,  at  the  incorpo- 
ration of  Uxbridge. 

Colonial  Records,  Vol.  12,  p.  319,  Friday,  Dec.  14,  1724. 

"In  the  H.  of  R.  Ordered  that  John  Chandler  Esq  be  the  Surveyor 
and  he  is  hereby  fully  Authorized  and  Impowered  to  take  a  Survey  of  the 
Nine  Hundred  Acres  of  Land  petitioned  for  by  William  Jenks,  of  Provi- 
dence, and  his  Associates  and  granted  to  them  by  this  Court,  passed  the 
Eleventh  day  of  this  Instant  December,  and  to  do  all  things  Directed  and 
Ordered  to  be  done  by  the  said  Surveyor  &  by  said  vote 
In  Council  Read  &  Con. 

Consented  to  Wm.  Dttmmer." 

Colonial  Records,  Vol.  12.     Friday,  June  11,  1725. 

John  Chandler,  Esq.,  gave  in  the  following  report  of  the  sur- 
vey of  lands  near  Mendon,  granted  to  Wm.  Jenks  and  his  as- 
sociates, viz: 

"  Pursuant  to  an  Order  of  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  Assembly  of 
the  18th.  of  December  last  past,  I,  the  Subscriber  have  laid  out  to  Wm. 
Jenks  Esq.  and  his  Associates  the  Nine  Hundred  Acres  of  Land  granted 
them  within  this  Province  on  the  11th.  day  of  said  December;  wch  said 
Land  lies  in  six  pieces  and  were  shown  unto  me  by  the  Grantees.  The 
said  Tracts  lay  formerly  (as  was  supposed)  within  the  Township  of  Provi- 
dence in  the  Woods  called  Shacanoc'k  (Shokolog)  now  in  the  Township  of 
Mendon,  the  Surveys  &  Plans  whereof  are  hereunto  annexed.  The  work 
was  performed  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  April  and  the  first  day  of  May  fol- 
lowing. There  assisted  the  sundry  persons  who  claimed  the  Lands,  who 
brought  with  them  from  the  Records  of  the  town  of  Providence,  Attested 
Copys  of  the  former  Surveys,  also  James  Walling  and  Jona.  Sprague  Jr. 
who  declared  on  oath  that  they  were  upon  the  original  Surveys.  And  the 
sundry  Tracts  now  Surveyed  we  laid  out  in  the  same  place  as  formerly  as 
near  as  may  be.  But  the  Measure  being  large  the  said  Tracts  were  reduced 
to  a  just  and  true  Measure.  The  said  Jonathan  Sprague  and  William 
Chandler  were  appointed  Chairmen  &  I  put  them  on  Oath  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  their  Trust. 

Four  of  said  Tracts  happen  to  have  no  improvement  upon  them  viz: — 
John  Arnold,  Hezekiah  Comstock,  Capt  Sylvanus  Scott  and  Capt.  Daniel 
Abbott,  There  are  Considerable  Improvements  within  the  bounds  of 
Daniel  Comstock's  Land  but  no  house.  The  occupant  of  the  Land  brot 
no  person  to  Set  a  valuation  on  his  Labour,  although  Mr.  Comstock  brot 
one  on  his  part  viz:  Capt,  Foster,  who  was  present  for  that  service.  But 
the  parties  concerned  seemed  induced  to  agree  among  themselves. 


1724.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  199 

On  Mr.  Jenk's  Tract  there  is  a  House  built  &  Land  under  Improvement 
done  by  Mr.  Seth  Aldrich,  whose  son  lives  on  it,  and  although  Mr.  Jenks 
sent  word  for  Mr.  Aldrich  to  come  and  see  the  Survey  and  bring  a  man  to 
assist  in  valuing  the  Labour  Yet  we  heard  nothing  from  him  &  have  as  yet 
made  no  valuation,  all  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 
Your  most  Dutiful  Servant 

John  ('handler,  Surveyor. 
Boston  June  2.  1725. 

June  11.  In  Council  Read  ifc  Ord.  that,  this  Report  be  accepted  and  that 
the  Land  Mentioned  therein  be  confirmed  to  William  Jehks  and  his  Asso- 
ciates According  to  the  Survey  thereof  made  and  Returned  by  John 
Chandler  Esq. 

In  H.  of  R.     Read  and  Non  Concurred. 

June  19,  1725  The  H.  of  R.  reconsidered  their  vote  of  non  concurrence 
upon  the  Petition  of  William  Jenks  passed  June  11  iiist.  and  then  con- 
curred with  the  Council  with  this  amendment,  "If  it  do  not  interfere  with 
any  grant  made  to  the  Town  of  Mendon." 

In  Council  R.  &  C. 

Consented  to  W.\r.  Dummek. 

The  controversy  about  William  Jenks'  nine  hundred  acres 
being-  brought  to  a  close,  the  Town,  like  all  parties  at  the  end  of 
a  law  suit,  set  themselves  about  the  business  of  raising  funds  to 
defray  its  cost.  To  this  end  they  sold  to  Seth  Aldrich  twenty 
acres  at  nine  shillings  per  acre;  to  Peter  Aldrich,  Benjamin  Taft 
&  Solomon  Wood  ten  acres  each,  at  ten  shillings  per  acre. 

To  Edmond  Rawson,  Ebenezer  Read  and  Joseph  White  ten 
acres  each  at  ten  shillings  and  six  pence  per  acre. 

This  year  the  boundaries  between  Mendon  and  Hopkinton 
were  perambulated  by  Seth  Chapin  and  Daniel  Lovet  of  Mendon, 
and  John  How  and  Jacob  (libbs  of  Hopkinton,  and  "renewed 
what  marks  tliev  could  find." 


1724.  Jan  13.  "A  Committee  was  chosen  to  sue  for  and 
Receive  Pay  for  Damage  done  or  may  hereafter  be  done  to  the 
Pine  or  Cedar  Swamps  belonging  to  the  Town." 

It  was  voted  "that  David  How  and  his  heirs  and  assigns 
should  have  the  Improvement  of  the  Mill  Pond  so  Long  as  he  or 
they  shall  keep  and  maintain  the  Corn  Mills  for  the  use  of  the 
inhabitants  and  to  their  satisfaction."     The  two  corn  mills  were 


200  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1725. 

probably  two  run  of  stones  in  the  same  building,  and  were  located 
where  Benjamin  Albee  built  the  first  mill. 

Robert  Benham,  William  Rutter  and  Benjamin  Hayward  had 
their  taxes  forgiven  them. 

Feb.  3.  A  committee  of  nine  were  chosen  to  consider  the 
subject  of  selling  the  ministry  land,  and,  if  thought  expedient, 
in  what  way  and  manner  to  dispose  of  the  same. 

Feb.  17.  Voted,  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  for 
the  first  year  shall  have  twenty  shillings  for  their  service,  and 
afterward  "as  the  Town  shall  agree." 

Then  voted  the  Trustees  should  have  one-fourth  of  the  inter- 
est accruing  from  the  loans  of  the  Bills  of  Credit,  they  giving 
security  "  for  Endemnyfying  the  Town  from  any  Charge  or  Dif- 
ficulty." 

March  3.  Chose  John  Brown,  Thomas  Thayer,  Samuel  Read, 
William  Boyce  and  Joseph  Taft  for  Selectmen;  Capt.  Seth  Cha- 
pin,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Samuel  Thayer  and  Joseph  Taft,  Jr., 
Constables.  As  no  record  is  made  of  the  choice  of  a  Town 
Clerk,  it  is  presumed  that  Samuel  Read  continued  in  that 
office. 

Aug.  19.  Oliver  Coller  and  family  and  David  Provender  and 
family,  and  on  Oct  19,  Felsha  were  severally  warned  to  depart 
and  leave  the  town. 


1725.  Jan.  4.  Being  a  "  Public  Town  Meeting  to  Manage 
our  Land  Concerns,"  the  town  added  four  more  to  the  commit- 
tee already  chosen  to  manage  the  land  concerns  against  the  Prov- 
idence petitioners. 

Notwithstanding  the  General  Court  had  surveyed  and  con- 
firmed the  900  acres  to  Jenks  &  Company,  and  notwithstanding 
Maj.  Thaxter's  survey  shewed  that  the  boundaries  claimed  by 
the  town  gave  20,000  acres  more  than  the  eight  miles  square  in 
the  act  of  incorporation,  still  the  town  did  not  give  up  the  idea 
that  William  Jenks  and  his  associates  were  interlopers,  and  were 
attempting  to  seize  a  portion  of  their  goodly  heritage,  hence 

Jan.  18.  It  was  voted  ''that  Capt.  William  Ward  should  be 
the  Surveyor,  with  liberty  to  appoint  the  chain  men,  to  New 
Run  the  bounds  of  the  Town." 


1726.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  201 

Whether  any  survey  was  made  by  Capt.  Ward,  the  further 
records  of  the  town  furnish  no  evidence,  nor  is  any  plan,  drawn 
by  him,  to  be  found  in  the  Massachusetts  archives. 

March  ye  1st.  Annual  Meeting,  John  Brown  chosen  Moder- 
ator. 

Chose.  John  Brown.  Thomas  White,  Ebenezer  Read,  Eleazer 
Daniels  and  Daniel  Taft,  Selectmen;  Thomas  White,  Town 
Clerk;  Jacob  Aldrich,  Town  Treasurer;  and  Wm.  Boyce,  School- 
master.    No  record  of  the  choice  of  Constables. 

July  10.  A  complaint  was  made  by  several  persons  living  in 
the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Great 
River,  "about  the  place  where  a  way  was  formerly  laid  out  over 
the  Great  River."  and  a  committee  was  chosen  "to  vew  sd  way 
and  the  River  thereabouts,  att  the  charge  of  the  nebourhood 
there  dwelling,  and  so  make  Report  to  the  town  where  they 
think  the  way  may  be  most  convenient  for  the  Intrest  of  the 
Town  and  good  of  the  nebarhood." 

Aug.  3.  The  Treasurer  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  £39, 15s. 
in  full  for  lands  sold  Seth  Aldrich,  Peter  Aldrich,  Benjamin 
Taft,  Solomon  Wood,  Edmond  Rawson,  Ebenezer  Read  and 
Joseph  White,  to  pay  the  costs  arising  in  the  Providence  contro- 
versy. 

Aug.  30.  Voted  to  raise  £42,  to  defray  town  charges  this 
year. 


1726.  March  4.  Being  the  annual  town  meeting,  chose 
John  Brown,  Thomas  Sanford,  Thomas  Thayer,  Seth  Chapin, 
Jr.,  and  Ebenezer  Read.  Selectmen;  Thomas  White,  Town 
Clerk;  Daniel  Lovet,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Thomas  Tenney  and 
Daniel  Darling,  Constables.  John  Boyce  was  continued  as 
Schoolmaster. 

March  26.  •"After  debate  concerning  Mr.  Dorrs  salary,'' 
voted,  not  to  alter  his  salary,  but  to  make  quarterly  contribu- 
tions for  his  relief  this  present  year. 

Voted  to  accept  the  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  from 
Scull  Rock  bridge  to  the  iron  works  on  the  east  side  of  the  Great 
River. 

Voted  to  allow  a  penny  per  head  "for  the  great  sort  of  birds, 


202  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1727. 

that  is  so  many  as  are  killed  between  April  1st.  and  the  middle 
of  June." 

May  ye  9th.  John  Brown  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Sept.  5.  After  taking  the  valuation  of  those  who  were  pres- 
ent, "  considering  the  great  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  said 
town  who  by  reason  of  sickness  could  not  attend."  the  meeting 
was  adjourned  to  Oct.  18. 

What  this  sickness  was  neither  record  or  tradition  informs  us. 
During  the  supposed  period  of  its  prevalence  the  only  recorded 
deaths  were  Ebenezer  White,  son  of  Joseph  White,  Benjamin 
Wheaton  and  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.  Quite  likely  other  deaths 
may  have  occurred,  but  whose  names  were  not  recorded. 

Sept.  16.  After  choosing  Ebenezer  Wood,  Grandjuryman,  the 
only  other  business  transacted  was  to  vote  ""  that  considering  the 
great  sickness  which  is  now  in  the  town,  swine  should  be  allowed 
to  run  at  large  the  remainder  of  the  year,  being  yoked  and 
ringed  as  the  law  directs." 

Sept.  ye  28th.  Sarah  Green  and  her  son  were  warned  "to  de- 
part &  leave  the  town,"  and  afterwards  John  Lindsey  and  wife, 
Oliver  Watson  and  family,  Elizabeth  Dobbinna,  Frank  Allen 
and  Mary  Cormick,  "  intruders  in  the  town  of  Mendon,"  were 
warned  out. 

Oct.  ye  18th.  Voted  to  raise  £50  to  defray  town  charges  this 
year. 

Dec.  ye  14th.  Chose  Josiah  Thayer,  James  Keith  and  Seth 
Aldrich  a  committee  "  to  see  that  the  highways  in  our  town  are 
not  incroached  upon  or  straitened  by  fences  or  other  incom- 
brances. " 

At  said  meeting,  in  answer  to  our  western  inhabitants  peti- 
tioning to  be  set  off  as  a  town  or  precinct,  the  vote  passed  in 
the  negative.  This  was  the  first  mention  of  the  agitation  which 
finally  resulted  in  the  division  of  the  town  and  the  incorporation 
of  Uxbridge. 


1727.  March  0.  Chose  Thomas  Sanford,  Thomas  Thayer, 
Joseph  White,  jr.,  Seth  Chapin,  sen.,  and  James  Keith,  sen., 
Selectmen;  Thomas  White,  Town  Clerk;  Benjamin  Green  and 
Benjamin  Darling,  Constables,  and  then  adjourned  till  to-mor- 


1727.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  203 

row  morning,  and  then  chose  Daniel  Lovefct,  Town  Treasurer  &c. 
Although  the  disagreement  between  Bellingham  and  Mendon 
in  regard  to  a  portion  of  the  boundary  line  between  the  towns 
lias  been  recently  settled  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Court  in  favor 
of  the  claim  of  Mendon,  that  Charles  River,  from  the  bridge  at 
Bellingham  factory  to  the  monument  north  of  Ellis  Bullard's 
(formerly  the  Dedham  Tree),  still  it  will  not  be  uninteresting  to 
know  how  that  matter  was  regarded  by  the  two  towns  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  ago. 

Bellingham  April  ye  24th,  1727.  Wee  the  subscribers  Being  apointed 
By  the  selectmen  of  Bellingham  to  preambulate  with  Mendon,  we  accord- 
ingly met  Jacob  Aldrich  and  Nathaniel  Rawson,  sent  by  the  select  men  of 
mendon.  We  Began  at  the  farm  corner  of  Mendon  line  and  so  marked 
eight  trees  on  four  sides,  ye  first  a  walnut  tree,  ye  second  a  white  oak  tree, 
ye  3d  a  walnut,  ye  4th.  a  white  oak,  ye  5th.  a  walnut,  ye  6th.  a  Black  oak, 
ye  7th  a  White  oak  and  ye  8th.  a  white  oak  near  Second  Bridge  River  Be- 
low John  Rockwood's  house  and  so  down  said  River  to  Dedham  Tree  and 
from  thence  to  the  Great  River.  Renewing  the  Bounds  upon  said  line. 

John  Thomson, 
Joseph  Holbrook, 
Jacob  Aldrich 
JNathaniel  Rawson. 

March  31.  After  debate  concerning  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr's  sal- 
ary it  was  voted  "  to  have  a  monthly  contribution  for  his  sup- 
plyment  the  present  year." 

Also  voted,  after  the  reading  of  the  petition  of  the  western 
inhabitants  of  the  town  for  a  division  of  the  town,  that  the 
boundaries  should  be  as  follows,  viz:  Beginning  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  town  at  the  Province  line,  thence  east  four 
miles  with  said  line,  thence  turning  north  and  running  parallel 
with  the  west  line  of  the  town  until  it  comes  to  a  small  brook 
running  westerly  between  West  and  Misco  Hills,  thence  down 
said  brook  to  the  West  river,  thence  up  said  river  to  Andruss's 
brook  and  thence  up  said  Andruss's  to  the  township  line. 

In  the  Massachusetts  Archives  "  Towns  vol.  113,  p.  714,'' 
may  be  found  the  act  for  incorporating  the  town  of  Fxbridge, 
and  which  is  in  the  following  words: 

Anno  Regni  Regis  Georgii  Decimo  Tertip. 
An  Act  for  dividing  the  Town  of  Mendon  and  Erecting  a  new  town  by 
the  name  of  Uxbridge. 


204  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1727. 

Whereas  the  westerly  part  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  in  the  County  of 
Suffolk  is  completely  filled  with  Inhabitants  who  labour  under  great  diffi- 
culties by  their  remoteness  from  the  place  of  Public  Worship  &c,  and 
have  thereupon  made  application  to  the  said  Town  of  Mendon  and 
have  likewise  addressed  this  Court  that  they  may  be  set  off  as  a  distinct 
and  separate  Town  and  be  vested  with  all  the  powers  and  privileges  of  a 
town;  and  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon  having  consented  to  their  being  set 
off  accordingly : 

Be  it  Therefore  Enacted  by  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  Council  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same, 
that  the  westerly  part  of  said  Town  of  Mendon  is  hereby  set  off  and  con- 
stituted a  separate  Township  by  the  name  of  Uxbridge,  the  bound  of  said 
Town  to  be  as  f olloweth ;  That  is  to  say,  Beginning  at  the  South  West  cor- 
ner of  the  Town  of  Mendon  at  the  Province  South  Line,  thence  to  run  four 
miles  east  with  the  Province  line,  then  North  a  parallel  with  the  West  line 
of  the  said  Town  until  that  line  meets  with  a  small  Brook  that  runs  be- 
tween West  Hill  and  Misco  Hill,  then  ye  said  Brook  to  be  the  bounds  to 
the  West  River,  then  the  West  River  to  be  the  bounds  to  a  brook  known 
by  the  name  of  Andreu's  brook,  which  brook  shall  be  the  bounds  to  the 
north  line  of  the  Township. 

And  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Lands  as  before  described  and 
bounded  be  and  hereby  are  invested  with  the  powers,  privileges  and  immu- 
nities that  the  Inhabitants  of  any  of  the  Towns  of  this  Province  are  or 
ought  by  law  to  be  invested;  Provided  the  Grant  of  the  sd  Township  be 
not  construed  to  Affect  the  Rights  and  privileges  of  any  Persons  to  lands 
within  the  same. 

Provided  also  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Town  of  Uxbridge  do 
within  the  space  of  two  years  from  the  Publication  of  this  Act,  Erect  and 
finish  a  suitable  House  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God  and  procure  and 
settle  a  learned  Orthodox  Minister  of  good  conversation  and  make  provis- 
ion for  his  comfortable  and  honourable  support  and  that  they  set  apart  a 
Lot  of  not  less  than  one  hundred  acres  of  Land  in  some  convenient  place 
in  said  town  near  the  meeting  House  for  the  use  of  the  Ministiy  and  like- 
wise provide  a  School  Master  to  Instruct  their  youth  in  writing  and  reading. 

In  Council  June  21,  1727  Read. 

June  22.     Read  a  second  time  &  Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

J.  Wtllard,  Secj'. 

Passed  to  be  Engrossed. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  23,  1727. 

Read  a  first  time.  The  24th.  Read  a  second  time  and  passed  in  con- 
currence with  amendment. 


Dele  x&     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

Wm.  Dudley,  Speaker. 
Agreed. 

The  Council  passed  the  bill  with  the  following  words  inserted 
after  "  reading"  at  the  end. 


1727.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  205 

"  And  that  thereupon  they  be  discharged  from  any  further  payment  for 
the  maintainance  of  the  Ministry  and  School  in  the  said  Town  of  Mendon 
for  any  estate  lying  within  the  said  Town  of  Uxhridge. 

This  the  Rep9  struck  out  by  the  Dele  $$£  " 

The  Lieutenant  Governor,  acting  at  the  time  of  the  passage 
of  this  act,  was  William  Dummer.  Gov.  Slmte,  after  a  long  and 
acrimonious  quarrel  with  the  General  Court,  suddenly  left  the 
country  Jan.  1,  1723,  and  until  July,  1728,  when  Governor  Bur- 
net arrived  at  Boston,  Mr.   Dummer  acted  as  Governor. 

At  this  period,  for  the  first  time,  we  find  the  record  of  a  war- 
rant for  a  town  meeting. 

Aug.  28.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day  the  warrant  con- 
tained the  following  articles: 

1.  To  give  in  a  valuation  of  the  rateable  estates. 

2.  To  ascertain  the  Town  debts  and  provide  for  their  liquidation. 

3.  To  choose  another  Selectman. 

4.  To  settle  the  line  with  Uxhridge. 

5:  To  see  whether  they  would  build  a  new  meeting  house. 

At  this  meeting  the  town's  debts,  amounting  to  £5.  lbs. .  were 
found  to  be  due  to  the  following  persons,  viz: 


Thomas  Thaver 

09  00 

Nat  hi.  Rawson 

04  00 

James  Keith 

15  06 

Nathan  Tiler 

16  00 

Thomas  White 

11  00 

04  00 

03  00 
17  06 

07  06 

07  06 

One  hundred  pounds  were  raised  and  appropriated  to  pay  Mr. 
Dorr's  salary  and  the  ordinary  town  charges. 

Jacob  Aldrich,  Thomas  Sanford  and  Oapt.  Thomas  Thayer 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  settle  the  line  with  Uxhridge. 

Voted  not  to  build  a  new  Meeting  House  and  then  dissolved 
the  meeting. 

DAVID    HOW'S    PETITION    ABOUT   THE    MILL    POND. 

The  Petition  of  David  How  humbly  sheweth  as  the  Town  of  Mendon  in 
times  past  hath  Been  pleased  to  propagate  and  incourage  persons  who  have 
been  oficious  in  their  service  By  gratuity  &c,  and  your  petitioner  having  a 
purpose  to  erect,  set  up  and  maintain  another  Grist  mill  near  to  where  the 
present  fulling  mill  now  standeth  which  may  render  the  matter  convenient 


206  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  |  1728. 

for  Grinding  of  corn  in  a  scarcity  of  watter,  that  you  Gentlemen  would  be 
pleased  to  grant  your  petitioner  his  heirs  and  assigns  the  full  liberty  and 
peaceable  possession  &  improvement  of  the  present  Mill  Pond  which  to  the 
town  is  now  appertaining  so  that  he  your  said  petititioner  his  heirs  and 
assigns  as  aforesaid  may  draw  off  the  aforesaid  pond  in  the  spring  and  sum- 
mer time  viz:  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  May  until  the  first  day  of 
October  and  make  improvement  thereof  for  mowing  if  he  or  they  shall 
see  fit  so  to  do,  for  such  a  time  and  not  longer  than  your  said  petititioner 
his  heirs  and  assigns  shall  do,  well  and  truly  keep  up  and  maintain,  at  his 
and  their  own  and  proper  cost  and  charge  the  aforesaid  Corn  mill  or  mills 
for  the  accommodable  use  of  the  town  of  Mendon  aforesaid  for  the  grind- 
ing of  their  corn,  is  the  prayer  and  Request  of  your  humble  petitioner. 

David  How. 

This  petition  was  dated  in  1723,  but  whether  it  was  then  pre- 
sented cannot  now  be  determined.  Following  its  record  in  1727, 
the  town  voted  that  its  prayer  be  granted  and  be  entered  upon 
the  Record. 

atest  Thomas  Sanford,  moderator  for  sd  meeting. 

Nov.  29.  The  subject  of  building  a  new  meeting  house  was 
again  brought  before  the  town,  and,  "after  a  considerable  De- 
bate,"'  it  was  voted  "to  dismiss  ye  article  until  a  new  sum- 
mons." 

At  this  meeting  the  rates  of  Capt.  Robert  Evens,  the  two  Lin- 
seys'  rates  and  the  rate  of  Joseph  Emerson  were  foregone,  pro- 
vided the  Constables  could  not  collect  them.  The  rates  against 
the  widow  Brown,  widow  Rawson,  Isaac  Benson,  Nathan  Gaskill 
and  Joseph  Chilson  were  foregone  without  condition. 


1728.  March  ye  4.  For  Selectmen,  Thomas  Sanford,  Capt. 
Thomas  Thayer,  Daniel  Taft,  Seth  Chapin,  jr.,  and  Nathaniel 
Rawson;  Town  Clerk,  Thomas  White;  Town  Treasurer,  Daniel 
Lovet,  and  Jonathan  Thayer,  sen.,  and  John  Tiler,  jr.,  for  Con- 
stables. 

Voted,  that  sheep  might  run  at  large  without  a  shepherd. 

The  Board  of  Assessors  at  this  period  consisted  of  the  Com- 
missioner of  Assessments  and  a  majority  of  the  Selectmen.  By 
the  Act  of  the  General  Court,  passed  Nov.  16,  1693,  a  Commis- 
sioner of  Assessments  was  to  be  annually  chosen;  but,  since 
1716,  when  Josiah  Chapin,  Esq.,  was  elected   to  that  office,  we 


1728.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  207 

do  not  find  that  the  record  of  another  choice  was  made.  As 
Josiah  Chapin  died  in  1726,  it  is  presumed  that  .some  one  was 
appointed  in  his  stead. 

Sept.  26.  1728.  The  Selectmen  met  and  agreed  with  Mr.  Grindal  Raw- 
son  to  keep  school  in  and  for  the  Town  for  six  months  from  and  after  the 
24th  day  of  October  next  att  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen,  and  to  make 
up  such  time  as  he  shall  loose  until  the  six  .months  are  completed,  and  as  a 
recompence  the  Selectmen  in  behalf  of  the  Town  have  iugaiged  to  pay  him 
the  sum  of  twenty-two  pounds  and  ten  shillings  as  witness  our  hands 

acquiesed  therewith.  Thomas  Sanford      1 

Grindal  Rawson.  Thomas  Thayer  „  , 

„  -Selectmen. 

Seth  Chapin 

Nathaniel  Rawson  ] 

The  schoolmaster  above  contracted  with  was  the  eleventh 
child  of  the  Rev.  Grindal  and  Susanna  (Wilson)  Rawson.  the 
third  minister  of  the  town.  He  was  born  Sept.  6.  1707,  and 
was  probably  the  first  person  to  graduate  from  Harvard  College. 
He  graduated  in  1728.  He  afterwards  taught  here  in  1729  and 
1730. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Crane,  in  his  Rawson  Family  Memorial,  was  mis- 
taken in  supposing  that  Grindal  Rawson  taught  the  first  public 
school  in  Mendon.  John  Warfield,  William  Boyce  and  others 
had  taught  the  public  schools  for  some  years  prior  to  the  advent 
of  Mr.  Rawson,  Deacon  Warfield  having  been  chosen  schoolmas- 
ter many  years  before.  According  to  the  town  records,  neither 
Deacon  Warfield,  Mr.  Boyce,  or  the  others,  instructed  the 
scholars  in  any  branch  beyond  reading  and  writing. 

There  being  but  one  school-house  as  yet  in  the  town,  the 
schools  were  kept  in  different  portions  of  the  town,  and  were 
called  moving  schools. 

Mr.  Rawson.  being  the  graduate  of  a  college,  was.  without 
doubt,  hired  to  teach  something  besides  reading  and  writing; 
and  so.  if  he  was  not  hired  to  teach  the  first  public  school,  his 
was  the  first  of  an  advanced  grade. 

By  this  time  the  subject  of  a  new  meeting  house  was  again 
agitated. 

Feb.  (J,  1728.  The  town  "  voted  to  build  a  new  meeting 
house  and  it  passed  by  a  clear  vote  to  sett  sd  meeting  house 
within  twenty  Rods  of  the  place  where  the  meeting  house  now 


208  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1728. 

stands;  this  vote  was  tryed  By  dividing  the  house  and  number- 
ing the  poles." 

At  this  meeting  a  disagreement  in  regard  to  the  line  between 
Mendon  and  Uxbridge  began  to  be  mooted,  and  although  at- 
tempts were  made,  from  time  to  time,  to  settle  the  question  of 
boundary,  yet  no  final  adjustment  was  made  until  1754.  At 
this  meeting  it  was  asked  whether  the  town  would  grant  the 
town  of  Uxbridge  "sixt  Rod  for  Sagg  of  Chain,"  and  the  vote 
passed  in  the  negative. 

Thomas  Sanford  protested  against  the  vote  fixing  a  location 
for  the  meeting  house,  and  James  Keith  protested  against  the 
whole  doings  of  the  meeting. 

This  meeting  was  adjourned  to  March  25,  when  the  town  met 
and,  after  "a  considerable  discourse,"  about  what  does  not  ap- 
pear upon  the  record,  again  adjourned  to  the  25th  of  August, 
and  at  that  time  "it  passed  by  a  clear  vote  that  every  article 
that  was  acted  on  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  bearing  date  February 
ye  19,  1728  is  and  shall  Be  and  Remain  for  ever  to  be  of  no  value 
nor  virtue  Butt  shall  forever  be  accompted  to  be  of  no  force  nor 
virtue." 

The  General  Court  having  voted  to  issue  £60,000  in  Bills  of 
Credit,  Capt.  Seth  Chapin,  Jacob  Aldrich  and  Nathan  Tyler 
were  chosen  Trustees  to  manage  the  share  of  Mendon,  which  was 
£270. 

May  15.  Daniel  Taft  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  it  was  again  voted  "to  build  a  new  meeting 
house  within  twenty  rods  of  the  place  where  the  meeting  house 
now  stands." 

July  12.  Thomas  Sanford,  Thomas  Thayer  and  Jacob  Aldrich, 
a  committee,  met  John  Farnum,  Solomon  Wood  and  Joseph 
Taft,  a  committee  of  the  town  of  Uxbridge,  and  run  the  line 
betAveen  the  two  towns,  as  is  recorded  by  the  town  clerk.  It  is 
not  found  that  this  committee  made  any  report  of  their  doings, 
and  so,  it  is  supposed,  the  controversy  was  held  still  in  abeyance. 

August  30.     Town  debts  were  audited  as  follows: 

Thomas  Sanford £2  01  00    Jacob  Aldrich £1  16  00 

Capt.  Thomas  Thayer. . .    1  03  00    Thomas  White 1  10  00 

Philip  Leasure. 0  04  00     Capt,  Seth  Chapin 0  05  00 

Voted  to  raise  £40  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 


1729.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  200 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  lay  out  200  acres  of  land  for  the 
proprietors,  but  for  what  purpose  does  not  appear,  inasmuch  as 
the  proprietors  owned  all  the  unappropriated  lands. 

About  tin's  time  a  division  of  the  County  (Mendon  still  be- 
longed to  the  County  of  Suffolk)  began  to  be  agitated,  but  Men- 
don "  voted  not  to  come  in  with  Johnson's  petition  for  a  new 
county." 

The  interest  for  the  school  money  this  year  was  nine  pounds. 
as  receipted  for  by  Daniel  Lovet,  Town  Treasurer. 


1729.     March  3.     Chose  Daniel  Taft  Moderator. 

Chose  Samuel  Thayer.  Daniel  Lovet,  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer, 
Thomas  Sanford  and  Nathaniel  Rawson,  Selectmen,  and  then 
adjourned  until  to-morrow  at  11  o'clock  A.  M.,  Deacon  John 
Tiler  and  Thomas  White,  Town  Clerk,  protesting  against  irregu- 
larities in  the  choice  of  town  officers. 

March  4.  The  town  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  when, 
"  after  some  discourse  and  in  a  tumult,"  the  Moderator  (Daniel 
Taft)  adjourned  sd  meeting  until  March  11th. 

March  8.  The  following  record  shows  that,  although  they 
usually  kept  the  bonds  of  peace,  the  inhabitants  did  not  always 
work  together  in  the  spirit  of  unity. 

For  some  reason,  though  not  stated,  the  Town  Clerk  refused 
to  record  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  held  March  3d,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  following  order: 

"March  8.  Thomas  White,  Town  Clerk  of  Mendon;  these  are  to  order 
you  to  record  all  the  votes  passed  in  our  town  meeting  for  the  choice  of 
Town  officers  on  March  ye  third  current  and  continued  by  the  town  ad- 
journment to  March  the  fourth  current  and  also  by  whom  said  meeting  was 
ajorned  to  sd  fourth  day  of  March  current  and  likewise  Record  this  order 
therewith 

pr  us        Thomas  Thayer         | 

Thomas  Sanfokd  Select 

Nathaniel  Rawson  '•  men 

Samuel  Thayer        I    0f  Mendon." 
Daniel  Lovet  J 

March  11.  At  this  meeting  Capt.  Seth  Chapin,  Daniel  Taft, 
Capt.  William  Rawson,  Jacob  Aldrich  and  Nathan  Tiler  were 
chosen  Selectmen;  Thomas  White,  Town  Clerk;  Ebenezer  Staples, 


210  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1729. 

Town  Treasurer,  and  James  Wood  and  John  Legg  for  Asses- 
sors. As  showing  the  increase  of  the  length  of  roads  in  town, 
nine  Highway  Surveyors  were  chosen. 

March  18.  At  a  town  meeting  "  for  compleating  the  choice  of 
officers  &c"  legally  warned, 

James  Keith  was  chosen  Moderator  by  44  votes. 

Thomas  Sanford  was  then  chosen  Town  Clerk  by  40  votes; 
Daniel  Lovet  was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  by  36  votes;  Nathan 
Penniman  was  chosen  Constable  for  the  south  end  of  the  town, 
and  William  Hay  ward,  Tershus,  for  the  north  end  of  the  town. 
All  the  minor  offices  were  then  filled. 

April  4.  The  records  of  the  General  Court,  Vol.  XIV.,  pp. 
212,  226  and  227,  will  set  forth  the  end,  if  they  do  not  explain 
the  nature  of  the  irregularities  of  the  town  meetings  in  March. 

On  page  212  may  be  found  a  reference  to — 

"A  Petition  of  Thomas  Sanford,  Clerk  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  com- 
plaining of  sundry  Irregularities  Committed  by  Daniel  Taft  Esq.,  Modera- 
tor of  their  late  meeting  in  March  last  and  of  others  at  the  said  meeting,  as 
particularly  set  forth  in  said  petition  (Petition  not  found)  by  which  means 
great  Confusions  are  brought  on  the  said  Town  Praying  that  this  Court 
would  please  to  interpose  their  Authority  and  direct  to  some  proper  method 
for  Redress  and  Relief  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town. 

In  Council  Read  and  Ordered  That  the  Petitioners  serve  Mr.  Daniel  Taft, 
Moderator  of  the  late  Town  Meeting  at  Mendon  and  Mr.  Thomas  White 
(chosen  Town  Clerk  on  the  11th  of  March)  with  copies  of  this  Petition  so 
that  they  may  put  in  their  answer  thereto  on  Fryday  the  11th.  current. 

April  15.  In  the  House  of  Representatives  Read  again  the  Petition  of 
Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk  of  Mendon,  with  the  answer  of  Daniel  Taft 
Esq.  and  the  same  being  fully  considered,  voted  that  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Town  of  Mendon  at  their  meetings  on  the  third  and  eighteenth  days  of  March 
last  be  and  are  hereby  declared  regular,  legal  and  valid,  and  the  Proceed- 
ings of  the  said  Town  on  the  fourth  and  eleventh  days  of  March  are  declared 
null  and  void." 

The  irregularity  of  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  in  part,  at  least,  was 
his  adjournment  of  the  town  meeting  to  March  11th  without  a 
vote  of  the  town.  What  the  other  irregularities  were  that 
created  the  "'great  confusions''  in  the  absence  of  the  petition, 
Ave  fail  to  discover. 

May  17.  Being  a  meeting  for  the  choice  of  a  Representative 
to  the  General  Court,  after  four  trials  there  was  no  choice,  and 
the  meeting  adjourned. 


[1729.  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  211 

August  27.  Being  a  town  meeting  legally  warned,  Daniel 
Taft  was  chosen  Moderator.  After  the  meeting  was  opened 
there  was  some  debate,  but  about  what,  the  record  is  silent,  and 
then  the  meeting  adjourned  for  half  an  hour.  Being  called  to 
order,  after  some  debate  (about  what,  is  still  in  the  dark),  the 
Moderator  offered  to  the  town  in  order  for  a  vote,  saying,  "You 
that  are  of  a  mind  not  to  act  any  thing  on  the  warrant,  Signifie 
it  by  holding  up  your  hands,"  which  vote  passed  in  the  affirma- 
tive by  them  that  were  present,  and  then  said  Moderator  with- 
drew and  carried  away  the  warrant,  and  so  the  meeting  ended. 

Dec.  3.  The  Selectmen  agreed  with  William  Rawson  to  keep 
school  for  three  months,  at  the  rate  of  forty-five  pounds  per 
annum. 

('APT.   WILLIAM    RAWSON. 

This  William  (afterwards  ('apt.  William)  was  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Anne  (Glover)  Rawson.  and  the  grandson  of  Edward, 
for  a  long  time  Colonial  Secretary.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  in 
Bromfield  street,  then  called  Rawson' s  lane,  Dec.  2,  1682,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1703.  In  1689  he  removed, 
with  his  father,  from  Boston  to  Dorchester,  and,  not  along  time 
afterwards,  to  Braintree.  In  1710  he  married  Sarah  Crosby,  of 
Billerica  and  settled  in  Mendon.  and  there  died  in  October,  1769. 
He  was  the  eighth  of  a  family  of  twenty  children.  He  was  a 
cousin  of  Rev.  Grindal  Rawson.  who  was  born  Sept.  6,  1707, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1728,  and  settled,  for  life,  in  the 
ministry  at  East  Haddam,  Connecticut,  where  he  died  March  27. 
1777,  *.  70.  William  Rawson  succeeded  him  as  the  fourth 
school-master  of  Mendon. 

He  was  chosen  one  of  the  Selectmen  March  11,  1729,  but  the 
General  Court  declared  all  the  doings  of  that  meeting  null  and 
void.     March  1,  1731,  lie  was  chosen  Town  Clerk. 

The  town  granted  £22. 15s  to  cover  the  expense  of  the  recent 
appeal  to  the  General  Court  about  the  March  meetings,  and  £50 
to  defray  town  charges  over  and  above  Mr.  Dorr's  salary. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Trustees  for  the  town's  share 
of  the  bills  of  credit,  issued  by  the  Province,  were  under  bonds 
for  a  proper  management  of  the  same.  They  were  to  loan  tho 
money  upon  proper  security  and  collect   the  interest.     It  seems 


-12  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1729. 

they  had  failed  in  their  duty  in  this  regard  as  the  Town  Treas- 
urer was  directed  to  sue  the  Trustees,  their  heirs,  executors  and 
administrators  for  the  interest  due  on  the  bills  of  credit. 

Dec.  10.  It  was  voted  to  add  ten  pounds  to  Mr.  Dorr's  salary 
for  the  present  year.  It  was  also  voted  ''that  they  that  have  any 
sheep  in  their  Custody  that  are  not  their  own  shall  bring  such 
sheep  to  the  pound  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  December,  annually, 
or  give  the  marks  of  such  sheep  to  Jacob  Aldrich  on  that  day. " 

The  subject  of  a  new  meeting  house  was  again  brought  up  as 
will  appear  by  the  following  votes. 

It  was  proposed  to  the  town  "  wheither  they  would  Build  a  new 
meeting  House  for  the  accommodation  of  the  town  in  General 
Both  for  a  place  of  Public  worship  and  also  for  a  place  for  the 
Town's  public  Conventions  to  Manage  their  Civil  affairs,''  and  it 
passed  in  the  affirmative. 

' '  Voted  to  submit  the  fixing  of  a  site  for  the  new  meeting  house 
to  a  Committee  of  indifferent  persons  not  residents  of  Mendon," 
and  then  adjourned  to  Monday,  the  15th,  current  at  10  o'clock 

a:  m. 

Dec.  15.  At  the  town  meeting  this  day  Dea.  John  Tiler, 
Eleazer  Taft,  Samuel  Torrey  and  Daniel  Hill  entered  their  pro- 
test against  choosing  a  committee  "for  stating  the  jilace  for  the 
Meeting  House.*' 

Notwithstanding  the  protest  the  town  chose  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Stone,  of  Newton,  Jonathan  Ware,  Esq.,  of  Wrentham,  Eben- 
ezer Ward,  Esq.,  of  Southborough,  Capt.  Edward  Clark,  of 
Medway,  and  Capt.  Nathan  Brigham,  of  Marlborough,  a  quo- 
rum of  whom  were  to  establish  the  site  for  the  meeting  house. 

Jacob  Aldrich,  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer,  James  Keith  and  Seth 
Chapin,  jr.,  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  notify  the  Committee 
above  chosen  and  request  them  to  attend,  and  also  "to  accom- 
panie  them  and  Inform  ym  of  the  Circumstances  of  the  Town 
Relating  to  the  Business. " 

To  make  the  matter  more  sure  the  town  "voted  they  would 
Stand  to  and  Abide  the  Judgment  of  the  Committee,  or  the 
major  part  of  them  that  should  attend  said  service." 

The  Committee  were  to  meet  "  at  the  house  of  Thomas  San- 
ford,  on  Wednesday,  the  31st,  current,  in  order  to  proceed  to 
business,  where  they  are  to  be  entertained,  at  free  cost  to  the 


1729.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  2l3 

Town,  the  First  night,  the  second  night  at  Dea.  John  Tiler's,  the 
third  night  at  Capt  Thomas  Thayer's  on  free  cost  as  the  first 
night.'* 

It  seems  various  parties,  in  town,  had  incurred  divers  ex- 
penses about  the  matter  of  the  meeting  house  and  that  the  town 
had  assumed  the  charges  of  those  living  at  the  south  end  of  the 
town,  but,  for  reasons  not  known  had  refused  to  asssume  the  ex- 
penses of  those  living  at  the  north  end  of  the  town. 

The  first  Friends'  Meeting  House  in  Mendon  was  built  tins 
year. 

By  the  kindness  of  friend  Richard  Battey,  of  Smithfield,  E. 
I.,  I  am  enabled  to  give  the  following  account  of  its  erection 
and  of  its  final  removal. 

In  a  note  dated  12th,  22d,  1878,  he  says  the  first  record  con- 
cerning the  erection  of  this  house,  dated  10th  of  ye  7th  mo  1729, 
is  in  the  following  words:  "The  Undertakers  of  Mendon  Meet- 
ing House  are  desired  to  bring  in  an  account  to  next  Monthly 
Meeting  of  their  proceedings  therein.'' 

The  second  and  last  record,  relating  to  its  building,  is  in  the 
following  words:  "  The  4th  of  ye  12th.  mo.  1729,  Samuel  Thayer 
having  ballanced  his  account  about  Mendon  Meeting  House 
there  is  due  him  the  sum  of  £9.12.7." 

From  the  completion  of  the  house  "A  Meeting  for  Public 
Worship  was  held  there,  at  the  regular  stated  times,  until  3d 
mo.  1841,  when  it  was  discontinued  by  Smithfield  Monthly 
Meeting." 

This  house  was  sold  to  Col.  Israel  Plummer,  of  Northbridge. 
in  1850,  who  took  it  down  and  with  its  timbers  a  depot  was 
built  on  the  line  of  the  P.  &  W.  railroad  in  Northbridge,  at  the 
granite  quarry. 

The  present  Friends'  Meeting  House  in  Blackstone  (then 
Mendon)  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1812  and  was  known  as 
South  Mendon  Meeting  House. 

The  following '■'testimony,''  of  Smithfield  monthly  meeting, 
concerning  Moses  AM  rich  of  Mendon,  is  in  the  following  words: 
"  He  was  born  in  Mendon  4th  mo.  1690;  united  himself  with 
Friends  about  the  21st  year  of  his  age  and  four  or  five  years  af- 
terwards engaged  in  the  service  of  the  ministry,  in  which  work 
he  was  well  approved. 


214  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  1730.] 

Iii  1722  he  visited  the  Island  of  Barbadoes  laboring  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  In  1730  lie  visited  most  of  the  Colonies 
on  this  continent  going  as  far  south  as  the  Carolinas.  In  1734  he 
again  visited  Barbadoes.  and  in  1^39  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
spent  the  most  of  two  years  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  in  the 
service  of  truth. 

He  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  cheerful  mind,  pleasant  in  con- 
versation, of  exemplary  life  and  endowed  with  a  sound  under- 
standing as  a  man. 

In  his  last  sickness,  noticing  that  his  children  were  troubled 
at  the  apparent  near  approach  of  death,  he  said  "  mourn  not  for 
me,  but  mourn  for  yourselves:  it  is  well  with  me  and  as  well  to 
depart  now  as  to  live  longer."  He  retained  his  senses  to  the  last 
and  died  the  9th  of  9th  mo.  1761,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  buried  in  Friends'  Burying  ground  in  Mendon. 

He  was  the  son  of  Jacob  and  the  grandson  of  George  Aldrich, 
who  came  from  England,  and  was  one  of  the  First  settlers  of 
Mendon.  The  late  Waitee  Davenport  was  one  of  his  grand- 
daughters." 


1730.  Feb.  15.  Upon  a  report  of  a  Committee  previously 
chosen  for  that  purpose,  the  town  ''voted  to  Build  the  Meeting 
House  fifty  feet  long,  forty-five  feet  wide  and  twenty-four  feet 
high  and  the  house  to  be  a  studded  house." 

Mr.  Joseph  Sumner,  Mr.  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  Mr.  Na- 
thaniel Bawson  were  chosen  a  Committee  and  ''Impowered  to 
agree  with  workmen  to  Build  sd  House  and  to  have  yeover  sight 
of  ye  work  until  sd  House  be  raised." 

Voted  also  "to  Raise  by  a  Tax  the  sum  of  Two  hundred 
Pounds,  the  one  half  to  be  paid  into  the  Town  Treasury  on  or 
before  the  last  day  of  October  next  and  the  other  half  on  or  be- 
fore the  last  day  of  December  following;  and  to  be  drawn  out 
thence  by  the  above  sd  Committee  or  their  Successors  in  sd 
Trust  to  be  Imploied  and  Improved  for  and  towards  the  Building 
and  setting  up  the  fraim  of  sd  House  and  to  provide  Meterials 
for  Covering,  Enclosing  and  finishing  sd  House  so  far  as  sd 
Money  will  extend." 

Upon  the  petition  of  certain   inhabitants  011   the  east  side  of 


1730.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  215 

Mill  River,  provided  that  the  land,  or  any  pari  of  the  same,  on 
the  easterly  side  of  said  river,  should  be  set  off  as  a  particular 
town  within  ten  years,  then  the  town  voted  "to  Reinburst  to 
the  Petitioners  so  Much  Money  as  shall  be  their  part  or  propor- 
tion of  money  as  shall  be  assessed  on  them  for  and  toward 
Building  the  Present  Meeting-  House  for  the  Town." 

At  this  meeting,  at  the  request  of  John  Tiler  and  others,  it 
was  put  to  vote  whether  the  town  should  repair  the  old  meeting 
house  or  the  town  be  divided,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative; 
whereupon  Samuel  Torrey,  Gapt.  Seth  Ohapin,  Benjamin  Green, 
Nathan  Tiler.  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  William  Torrey,  Eleazer  Taft, 
Ebenezer  Wood,  Deacon  John  Joans,  Samuel  Moor.  John  Sad- 
ler, Deacon  John  Tiler,  Robert  Tiler.  Thomas  Beard,  Jr., 
Thomas  Tenney,  John  Perry,  Abraham  Jones,  John  Tiler,  Jr., 
Joseph  Tiler,  Israel  Taft,  William  Green,  John  Rawson,  Thomas 
Beard,  William  Johnson.  Ebenezer  Wood,  Jr.,  Moses  Tenney, 
Samuel  Wood  and  Samuel  Nelson  entered  their  protests  against 
"  Building  a  Meeting  House  on  the  Spot  which  the  Committee 
had  stated  as  the  place  and  against  any  money  to  Build  the 
same. " 

March  ye  2,  1730.  Being  a  legal  towiT  meeting  for  the  choice 
of  town  officers,  &c,  at  said  meeting  Mr.  James  Keith,  by  a 
majority  of  votes,  was  chosen  Moderator,  and,  after  some  demur, 
chose  Capt.  Seth  Ohapin,  Jr.,  Moderator,  and  "after  some  fur- 
ther Demur  the  poeple  went  away  and  the  meeting  ceased.'' 

March  15.  Voted  not  to  send  a  Representative  to  the  General 
Court  this  year,  forty-three  to  thirty-nine. 

The  Selectmen,  it  is  presumed,  presided  at  the  choice  of  a 
Representative,  as  the  Moderator  was  not  chosen  until  after  that 
question  had  been  decided. 

Jacob  Aldrich  was  now  chosen  Moderator,  and,  after  the  war- 
rant was  amended,  the  following  motions  were  submitted,  and. 
seriatim,  severally  defeated:  to  build  a  new  meeting  house  within 
twenty  rods  of  the  old  one;  to  build  two  meeting  houses;  to 
repair  the  old  one.  and  to  divide  the  town. 

March  1G.  Jacob  Aldrich,  Deacon  John  Jones,  Joseph  Sum- 
ner, Lieut.  Daniels  and  David  How  were  chosen  Selectmen: 
Capt.  William  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Lovet,  Town 
Treasurer,  and  John  Sadler  and  John  Legg,  Constables. 


216  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1730. 

April  6.  Voted,  that  five  feet  be  taken  from  forty-five  feet 
in  the  width  of  the  new  meeting  house,  and  two  feet  from  the 
twenty-four  feet  in  the  height,  when  the  meeting  was  adjourned 
for  the  space  of  half  an  hour.  After  being  called  to  order,  it 
was  put  to  vote  "wheather  the  Town  would  Alter  the  Scituation 
of  the  New  Meeting  House  layd  out  by  the  Committee,  and  it 
passed  in  the  Negative." 

Mr.  Grindal  Rawson  was  again  chosen  to  keep  school  for  one 
year. 

Notices  for  town  meetings  were  directed  to  be  set  up,  ten 
days  before  the  meeting,  at  Philip  Chase's,  at  Capt.  Rawson's 
house,  at  David  How's,  and  at  Samuel  Thompson's  mill. 

The  town,  it  seems,  was  not  satisfied  with  the  failure  to  elect 
a  Representative  in  March,  as,  July  3,  they  chose  Thomas  San- 
ford  and  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  "  to  Prefer  a  Petition  to  the  House 
in  order  to  obtain  a  Precept." 

The  subject  of  a  new  county  again  began  to  be  agitated  about 
this  time,  and,  Aug.  27th,  the  town  voted  "to  prefer  a  Petition 
to  the  Honorable  General  Court  to  grant  a  new  County  at  the 
west  end  of  our  County,  (Suffolk)  and,  if  not  granted,  not  to 
carry  us  out  of  our  County." 

Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovet  were  sent  to  treat 
with  those  gentlemen  whe  were  appointed  to  meet  at  Mr.  Le- 
land's,  in  Hasanamisco,  concerning  a  new  county. 

Sept.  8.  At  a  town  meeting  the  question  of  a  new  meeting 
house  was  again  brought  up  for  consideration.  Motions  were 
made  to  build  a  new  meeting  house  within  twenty  rods  of  the 
old  one;  to  make  void  all  votes  passed  contrary  to  the  first  vote 
concerning  a  new  meeting  house,  and  to  divide  the  town,  all  of 
which  were  again  defeated. 

Sept.  17.  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovet,  Nathan  Tyler  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Thayer  were  chosen  a  committee  to  treat  with  the  Ux- 
bridge  committee  concerning  the  ministry  and  school  laws,  and 
report  to  them. 

Oct  20.  The  new  meeting  house  being  still  the  subject  for 
consideration,  and  Jacob  Aldrich  having  been  chosen  Moderator, 
the  town  meeting  Avas  adjourned  for  half  an  hour,  then  to  meet 
at  the  old  meeting  house. 

Tbe  following  motions,  in  succession,  were  then  made  and 


1730.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  217 

severally  failed  of  an  affirmative  vote,  viz:  To  set  the  new  meet- 
ing house  by  the  heap  of  stones  made  by  the  committee  chosen 
by  the  town;  to  set  it  up  within  six  or  eight  rods  of  the  same 
place;  to  build  two  meeting  houses  and  give  the  minister  liberty 
to  preach  in  which  he  will,  and  to  set  off  a  part  of  the  north  end 
of  the  town  to  join  with  Hopkinton. 

It  was  then  voted  to  set  the  new  meeting  house  at  the  westerly 
end  of  the  burying  place,  where  the  timber  lies. 

Deacon  John  Tiler,  Capt.  Seth  Ghapin,  Ebenezer  Wood,  Na- 
than Tiler,  John  Green,  Benjamin  Green,  John  Saddler,  Deacon 
Samuel  Moor,  Joseph  Tiler,  Jabez  Bellows,  Thomas  Beard,  Jr., 
William  Torrey  and  William  Johnson,  protested  against  build- 
ing a  meeting  house  any  nearer  the  burying  place  than  within 
twenty  rods  of  the  old  meeting  house,  and  against  allowing  any- 
thing more  or  less  for  raising  the  same,  except  it  be  within 
twenty  rods  of  the  old  meeting  house. 

Notwithstanding  this  protest  the  town  '"voted  that  money  be 
raised  by  a  Rate  to  defray  the  Charge's  of  raising  the  meeting 
house  as  to  the  provision  part.''  No  instructions  were  given  as 
to  the  quantity  or  quality  of  the  provisions  to  be  furnished,  ex- 
cept what  may  be  learned  by  the  following  vote: — 

Voted,  that  "the  Town  provide  a  barrel  of  Rhuni  towards 
the  Raising  the  New  Meeting  House."' 

Capt.  Thomas  Thayer,  Lieut  James  Lovett  and  David  How 
were  then  chosen  a  committee  "to  take  care  of  the  Victuals  and 
Drink  &  other  materials  Necessary  for  Raising  the  New  Meeting 
House." 

In  the  mean  time  the  General  Court  had  been  appealed  to  by 
the  opponents  to  the  new  meeting  house,  as  by  the  following 
record  will  appear: 

Dec.  1.  Deacon  Thomas  Sanford,  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovet  and 
Nathaniel  Rawson  were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  answer  Samuel 
Moor's  petition,  in  defence  of  the  Town." 

Court  Record,  Vol.  XIV.,  p.  441. 

Oct.  28.  1730,  A  Petition  of  Samuel  Moor  and  fifty  others,  Inhabitants 
of  Mendon,  Shewing  that  there  are  great  divisions  among  them  as  to  the 
Place  for  setting  up  their  Meeting  House;  that  a  disaffected  party  have 
prevailed  so  far  as  to  obtain  a  vote  for  setting  it  in  a  very  inconvenient 
place,  Therefore  praying  that  this  Court  would  appoint  a  Committee  to  re- 
28 


218  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1730. 

pair  to  Mendon  and  state  the  place  they  may  think  most  convenient  for 
erecting  their  Meeting  House. 

In  Council,  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  serve  the  Town  of 
Mendon  with  a  Copy  of  this  Petition,  that  so  they  may  give  their  answer 
thereto  on  the  first  Thursday  of  the  next  Session,  and  that  they  desist 
from  raising  the  Meeting  House  in  the  mean  time. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Read  &  Concurred. 

Consented  to      J.  Belcher. 

Notwithstanding  this  injunction  of  the  General  Court,  "  the 
disaffected  party"  (being  a  majority  of  the  voters)  stood  upon 
their  dignity,  (another  name  for  squatter  sovereignty,  we  sup- 
pose,) to  say  nothing  of  the  regard  they  might  have  for  the 
"victuals  and  drink"  to  be  provided  for  the  occasion,  forth- 
with raised  the  meeting  house,  whereupon  Deacon  Moore  and 
others  again  appealed  to  the  General  Court,  as  may  be  seen  in 
the  Court  Records,  Vol.  XIV  p.  US. 

Dec.  17,  1730  A  Memorial  of  Samuel  Moore  and  divers  Inhabitants  of 
Mendon  complaining  of  the  great  Neglect  &  Contempt  cast  on  the 
Order  of  the  Court  (passed  on  the  28th.  day  of  October  last.)  for  staying 
the  proceedings  of  the  said  Town  in  building  their  Meeting  House,  by  the 
Selectmen  and  others  there,  who  have  prdceeded,  notwithstanding  said 
Order,  to  raise  the  said  Meeting  House.' 

In  Council.  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon  attend 
this  Court  on  Wednesday  the  twenty  third  instant  at  ten  of  the  clock  in  the 
Fore  noon  there  to  answer  the  Contempt  (alleged  therein  to  be)  by  them 
cast  on  the  Order  of  this  Court  within  referred  to,  and  the  memorialists 
notify  them  of  this  Order  accordingly. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Read  &  Con. 

Court,  Vol.  XIV.,  p.  452. 

Dec.  23.  This  Day  being  appointed  for  the  Hearing  of  the  Selectmen  of 
Mendon  to  answer  the  Complaint  of  Samuel  Moore  and  others  for  their 
Casting  Contempt  on  an  Order  of  this  Court  referring  to  the  Meeting 
House  there,  and  only  three  of  the  five  attended,  the  other  two  neglecting  to 
appear. 

The  following  vote  was  passed  in  the  affair,  viz: — 

In  Council,  Whereas  David  How  and  Joseph  Sumner  two  of  the  Select- 
men of  the  Town  of  Mendon  have  not  attended  this  Court  according  to 
Order  to  answer  a  Complaint  of  Samuel  Moore;  Ordered  that  the  said  David 
How  and  Joseph  Sumner,  with  Jacob  Aldrich  and  Eleazer  Daniels  (two 
other  Selectmen  of  the  same  Town,)  attend  this  Court  without  fail  on 
Wednesday  the  thirtieth  Instant  at  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  Fore  Noon  then 


1731.  |  ANNALS    OF    MEN  DON.  219 

to  answer  to  the  Complaint  of  the  said  Moore  for  Showing  Contempt  to  the 
Order  of  this  Court. 

In  the  H.  of  R.     Read  and  Con. 

Consented  to,      J.  BELCHER. 

Court.  Vol.  XIV..  p.  4.-)!). 

Dec.  31,  1730.  The  Selectmen  of  Mendon  having  attended  yesterday  to 
answer  the  Complaint  of  Samuel  Moore,  the  following  vote  was  passed,  on 
the  said  affair,  at  the  Board  and  sent  down  to  the  House,  viz: — 

In  Council,  whereas  upon  a  hearing  had  upon  a  complaint  of  Samuel 
Moore  of  Mendon,  It  appears  that  said  Selectmen  have  heen  guilty  of  a 
Great  Contempt  of  the  Authority  of  this  Court,  Except  Mr.  Jones  who 
fully  acquitted  himself  thereof, 

Voted  that  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  he  desired  to  Reprimand  the 
said  Selectmen  for  their  said  offence  &  that  the  said  Selectmen  pay  the 
charge  of  this  Complaint  to  Mr.  Moore,  the  Complainant,  and  thereupon 
he  discharged  from  their  attendance. 


1731.  About  this  time  warrants  for  town  meetings  began 
to  be  recorded,  and  they  were  issued  "  in  his  Majesty's  name." 

Jan  25.  Seth  Chapin  Jim.,  was  chosen  a  Deputy  for  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  be  held  at  Boston  on  the  10th  day  of  February 
next. 

Daniel  Taft  was  then  chosen  Moderator. 

Then  voted  that  the  town  would  not  go  on  and  finish  the 
Meeting  House;  and  when  the  vote  was  "scrupled"  the  house 
was  divided,  and  the  vote  was  still  found  to  be  in  the  negative. 

After  voting  out  the  other  articles,  the  Moderator  dissolved 
the  meeting. 

March  1.     Daniel  Taft  was  chosen  Moderator. 

For  Selectmen,  Thomas  Taft,  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovet,  Ensign 
Seth  Chapin  and  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer;  Town  Clerk,  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Rawson;  Town  Treasurer,  Capt.  Seth  Chapin,  and  for  Con- 
stables, Thomas  Thayer,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Warfield. 

A  motion  was  made  to  set  off  a  part  of  the  town  known  by  the 
name  of  Mill  River,  and  the  motion  was  lost. 

Although  Mendon  had  once  agreed  to  the  creation  of  a  new 
County,  when  it  was  found  that  a  new  county  was  to  be  created, 
they  voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  that  the  town  might 
continue  to  lie  a  portion  of  the  County  of  Suffolk;  but  as  no 
further  steps  were  taken  in  the  premises,  it  is  presumed  the 
question  was  not  further  controverted. 


220  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  |~1731. 

THE    COUNTY    OF  ^WORCESTER. 

In  the  Massachusetts  Archives,  Colonial,  Vol.  VI.  pp.  10  to 
21,  may  be  found  the  following  record: 

Auno  Reguii  Regis  Georgii  2do  Quarto. 
The  following  Towns  made  the  County  of  Worcester  Feb.  18  1730 (o.  s.) 

J.  Quincy,  Speaker  H.  of  R. 
J.  Willard,  Secy.  Council. 
Worcester,  Lancaster,  Westborough,  Shrewsbury,  SouthboroUgh,  Leices- 
ter, Rutland,  and  Lunenburg,  all  in  the  County  of  Middlesex;  Meudon, 
Woodstock,  Oxford,  Sutton,  including  Hassanamisco,  all  in  the  County  of 
Suffolk;  Brookfield  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  and  the  South  Town  laid 
to  the  Narragansett  Soldiers,  with  all  other  lands  lying  within  said  Town- 
ships with  the  Inhabitants  thereon,  shall,  from  the  10th.  day  of  July  1731 
be  the  County  of  Worcester,  with  the  Town  of  Worcester  for  the  shire 
town. 

May  18.  Oapt.  Thomas  Thayer  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court. 

Daniel  Lovett^was  then  chosen  Moderator,  when  a  motion  was, 
made  to  choose  a  committee  and  "Impower  them  to  Agree  with 
ITxbridge  Committee  and  to  conclude  what  Uxbridge  shall  have 
for  their  part  of  the  School  Money  and  it  passed  in  the  Nega- 
tive." 

The  location  of  the  new  meeting  house,  although  raised,  was 
not  yet  satisfactorily  settled,  as  a  motion  was  made  to  apply  for 
a  committee  of  the  General  Court  to  state  a  place  for  the  new 
meeting  house,  and  said  motion  was  lost. 

A  motion  was  then  made  to  raise  money  to  finish  the  new 
meeting  house  where  it  now  stands,  and  the  motion  was  "Tryed 
by  Hand  Votes  but  not  determined  by  reason  Several  of  the 
House  Scrupled  ye  vote,  which  was  further  Tryed  by  Dividing 
the  House  and  it  passed  in  ye  Affirmative  for  Raising  Money  to 
finish  sd  House." 

June  21.  Voted  to  allow  Uxbridge  two  hundred  pounds  out 
of  the  money  the  school  land  sold  for,  with  the  interest  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  already  in  their  hands,  in  full,  for 
their  right  in  said  land,  to  be  improved  by  them  for  the  use  of 
their  school,  as  it  has  been  heretofore  in  Mendon. 

The  meeting  house,  in  face  of  the  injunction  of  the  General 
Court,   was  raised  some  time  in  November,    1730,  but  as  yet 


1732.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  221 

nothing  had  been  done  towards  finishing  it.  The  opposition  was 
not  yet  appeased,  as  we  find. 

Aug.  30.  After  scrupling  the  vote  and  dividing  the  House, 
it  was  voted  to  finish  the  house,  and  Lieut.  Eleazer  Daniels, 
Lieut.  Daniel  Lovett  and  Benjamin  Darling  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee for  that  purpose. 

As"  a  last  resort,  other  methods  than  dividing  the  House  had 
been  resorted  to  by  some  of  the  disaffected,  as  will  appear  by  the 
following  vote: 

Voted  whether  the  town  would  choose  a  committee  "to  See  if 
they  could  find  out  who  hath,  by  cutting,  damnified  the  Meeting 
House,  and  it  passed  in  the  Negative."  This  last  vote  shows 
that  the  friends  of  ti.  e  new  meeting  house  were  willing  to  "bury 
the  hatchet;"  and,  it  is  believed,  that  it  had  the  effect  that  acts 
of  kindness  usually  have,  as  we  hear  of  no  more  opposition  to 
the  completion  of  the  meeting  house.  The  damnification  was 
made  by  an  abortive  attempt  t.o  cut  off  the  southwest  corner  post, 
as  was  verified  when  the  structure  was  taken  down  in  1846. 

Sept.  13.  The  affair  of  the  meeting  house  having  come  to  a 
conclusion,  the  town,  at  this  meeting,  began  to  audit  and  allow 
accounts  and  bills  that  had  been  held  in  abeyance  by  the  recent 
troubles.  Oapt.  Thomas  Thayer,  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovet  and  Na- 
than Tiler  were  allowed  three  shillings  each  for  treating  with 
the  Uxbridge  Committee  about  the  school  lands;  six  others  had 
eighteen  pence  each  for  laying  out  highways;  Gapt.  Thomas 
Thayer,  Oapt.  William  Eawson  and  Ensign  Seth  Chapin  had 
half  a  crown  each  for  agreeing  with  the  Trustees  concerning  the 
loan  money;  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovett  had 
four  shillings  each  for  meeting  some  gentlemen  at  Hassanamisco 
about  the  new  County,  and  thirty  pounds  were  added  for  school 
purposes. 

After  refusing  to  add  to  Mr.  Dorr's  salary  for  the  present 
year,  and  foregoing  a  few  taxes,  among  which  was  one  against 
"ye  owners  of  the  Saw  Mill  in  Mendon  adjoining  to  Providence 
Line,"  the  transactions  of  the  year  were  brought  to  a  close. 


1732.     March  (!.     Chose  for  Selectmen,  Jacob  Aldrich.  Wil- 
liam Torrey.   Daniel  Brown,   Benjamin  Wheelock  and  Ensign 


222  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  |  1732. 

Seth  Chapin;  Town  Clerk,  William  Rawson;  Town  Treasurer, 
Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  for  Constables,  Benjamin  Green  and 
William  Hayward. 

Mar.  7.  Adjournment  from  yesterday.  Voted  against  setting- 
off  about  thirteen  families  with  parts  of  other  towns  to  be  a  new 
town.     Where  the  thirteen  families  were  located  does  not  appear. 

Voted  not  to  allow  the  present  Town  Clerk  to  put  a  former 
vote  on  record  presented  by  Mr.  Thomas  White.  What  subject 
was  embraced  in  the  vote  does  not  appear.  Collectors  of  taxes, 
in  the  olden  time,  were  sometimes  slow  in  their  collection,  as  well 
as  the  collectors  of  later  days,  and  hence  the  former  Treasurers 
were  directed  to  sne  the  former  Constables  (collectors)  who  were 
delinquent  in  completing  their  collections. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  principal  roads  were  originally 
laid  out  ten  rods  wide,  so,  it  is  inferred,  that  an  ox  cart  could 
be  driven  in  the  road  without  hindrance  from  rocks  and  trees. 
But  as  times  progressed,  and  the  roads  were  improved,  it  was 
found  that  their  width  might  be  abated;  and  hence,  about  this 
time,  the  town  began  to  sell  off  portions  of  the  road  to  the  abut- 
ters. A  strip  thirty-five  rods  long  was  at  this  time  sold  to 
Eleazer  Taft. 

May  15.     Capt.  Thomas  Thayer  was  chosen  Representative.    . 

Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Daniel  Lovett  and  Nathan  Tyler  were 
chosen  a  committee  "to  finish  that  affair  with  Uxbridge  about 
the  school  money  according  to  the  former  vote." 

One  hundred  pounds  were  raised  to  repair  highways  and 
bridges. 

For  work  on  the  highways  the  town  voted  to  allow  eight  shil- 
lings per  diem  to  a  man  with  a  team  of  three  cattle,  from  May 
15th  to  the  last  of  September,  and  to  a  single  man  four  shillings 
per  diem,  within  the  time  mentioned,  and  to  begin  at  8  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  From  October  1  to  March  1  six  shillings  for  a 
man  and  team  and  three  for  a  single  man. 

Voted  to  choose  "  School  Dames  (for  the  first  time)  to  keep 
School  in  the  Out  Skirts  of  the  Town,"  and  thirty  pounds  was 
raised  for  that  purpose. 

Voted  that  for  every  ram  running  at  large,  contrary  to  a  town 
vote,  the  owner  should  pay  five  shillings,  "or  not  have  him" 
and  six  pence  a  week  for  keeping  him. 


1732.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  223 

May  16.  Joseph  Haven  and  and  Paul  Langdori,  Selectmen  of 
llopkinton,  and  Seth  Chapin,  Jr.,  and  John  Jones,  Selectmen 
of  Mendon,  perambulated  the  line  between  the  the  two  towns, 
beginning  at  a  heap  of  stones  near  Deer  Brook,  at  Mendon  old 
town  line,  and  so  home  to  Uxbridge  line. 

At  this  time  Samuel  Thompson  owned  a  grist  mill  on  the 
island  in  the  Blaekstone  River  at  what  is  now  Millville,  but  there 
was  no  bridge  from  the  east  bank  of  the  river  to  the  island. 
Now,  if  the  town  would  build  a  bridge  on  the  east  side,  Samuel 
Thompson  bound  himself,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  or  so 
long  as  the  town  shall  see  cause,  to  finish  and  maintain  a  bridge 
from  the  island  to  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  Pursuant  to  this 
agreement,  the  town,  Feb.  7,  1732,  laid  a  road  from  the  east 
bank  of  the  river  to  the  island,  and  thence  to  the  common  land 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  On  the  east  side  the  road  was  to 
be  three  rods  wide,  and  on  the  west  two  rods. 

June  1.  The  committee  chosen  to  make  a  settlement  with 
Uxbridge  had  a  conference  this  day  with  the  committee  of  Ux- 
bridge, and  which  resulted  in  the  following  receipt  in  full. 

Mendon  June  1st.  We  the  Subscribers  being  a  Committee  chosen  by  the 
Town  of  Uxbridge  on  April  4.  1732  to  Receive  our  part  of  the  School 
Money  granted  us  by  ye  town  of  Mendon  June  21.  1731,  Mett  with  Mendon 
Committee  and  Received  said  Money  According  to  the  true  Intent  of  said 
Grant  Which  we  have  Received  as  our  part  in  full  of  the  school  lands  in 
Mendon  and  Uxbridge. 

As  witness  our  hands,  John  Farnum      )  r,      .. 

Ebenezer  Read  \  ^om  lee- 

July  3.  The  town  voted  to  pull  down  the  old  meeting  house, 
and  chose  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Nathan  Tyler  to  be  added 
to  the  former  committee  (Eleazer  Daniels,  Daniel  Lovet  and 
Benjamin  Darling)  to  see  the  new  meeting  house  finished. 

Voted  that  the  above  committee — 

"  Deliver  to  the  Workmen  to  do  the  work  for  the  Finishing  the  New 
Meeting  House,  Such  part  of  the  Old  Meeting  House  as  may  or  Shall  be 
necessary  for  the  Finishing  the  New  Meeting  House,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  Old  Meeting  House  the  said  Committee  to  Sell  and  Dispose  of  at  the 
best  advantage  they  can  &  the  money  arising  by  said  Sale  or  Sales  to  be 
returned  and  paid  in  to  the  Town  Treasurer  for  ye  use  and  benefit  of  the 
Town." 

Notifications  for  town  meetings  were  to  be  set  up  ten  days  be- 


224  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1732. 

fo^'e  the  meeting  at  William  Rawson's  house,  at  Thomas  Baker's, 
at  William  Sheffield's  and  at  Samuel  Thompson's  mill  for  this 
present  year. 

"  Mendon  August  25th.  Anno  Domini  1732. 

A  list  of  the  Quakers  Names  that  are  freed  by  Law  from  paying  any 
Rates  Towards  the  Support  of  our  Minister  or  the  Building  of  any  Meeting 
House. 

Moses  Aldrichj*  Benjamin  Boyce, 

Samuel  Thayer,  Ebenezer  Cook, 

John  Cass,  Eliphalet  Whartield, 

Benjamin  Thayer,  John  White, 

Daniel  Boyce,  Stephen  Swett. 

Certified  by 

Jacob  Aldrich,      "| 
Benja  Wheelock,  I    Selectmen 
William  Torrey,  y        of 
Seth  Chapin,  Jr.,   |    Mendon. 
Daniel  Brown.     J 

Sept.  6.  The  following  accounts  were  audited  and  allowed  in 
open  town  meeting: 

William  Rawson  (T.  C.)  entering  highways £00  05  00 

David  Brown,  irons  for  the  Town  Stocks 00  04  06 

Jacob  Aldrich  7  days  perambulating  &  laying  out  roads 01  08  00 

Seth  Chapin  6       "  "  "  01  04  00 

John  Jones  perambulating  a  day 00  04  00 

Jonathan  Hayward    do.  "     00  04  00 

William  Torrey  do.  "     00  05  00 

Daniel  Brown,  do.  "     00  04  00 

Daniel  Lovett,  8  days,  journey  to  Boston,  perambulating  c%c 02  12  00 

Nathan  Tyler,  treating  with  Uxbridge  about  School  money 00  04  00 

Benjamin  Wheelock,  taking  care  of  powder  &c 00  04  00 

Daniel  Taft  Esq.  for  three  days  service r ! 00  10  06 

Philip  Lesure,  for  mending  School  House 00  10  00 

Hannah  Rawson,  for  service  by  her  husband,  deceased 00  08  00 

Thomas  White  measuring  land 00  03  00 

Nathan  Penniman,  himself  and  horse  11  days 01  10  00 

Daniel  Lovett,  service  as  Town  Treasurer,  2  yrs 03  10  00 

To  defray  Town  charges 20  10  00 

Towards  ye  finishing  of  our  New  Meeting  House 150  00  00 

Addition  to  Mr.  Dorr's  salary  this  year 25  00  00 

Oct.  3.  Voted  not  to  provide  a  Minister  to  preach  with  us 
while  Mr.  Dorr  remains  sick.  James  Wood  and  Ebenezer  Wood, 
Jr.,  had  liberty  to  build  a  dam  over  Rock  Meadow  Brook,  which 

*See  p.  213. 


1733.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  225 

dam  is  now  (1880)  improved  by  Perry  Wood  for   irrigating  por- 
tions of  his  land. 

Oct.  27.  Voted  not  to  hire  a  minister,  at  the  town's  charge, 
or  to  have  Mr.  Terry*  preach  upon  a  free  contribution,  but  to 
hire  a  minister,  out  of  town,  by  a  free  contribution. 


1733.  -bin.  29.  Oapt.  Thomas  Thayer,  Deacon  Thomas 
Saiiford  and  Mr.  Thomas  White  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
look  after  the  school  money  and  make" report  to  the  town. 

The  Committee  on  the  New  Meeting  House  were  instructed  to 
report  at  the  next  town  meeting  "how  the  money  voted  for  that 
purpose  had  been  expended." 

March  6.  Selectmen  chosen  were  Deacon  Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son, John  Albee,  Nathan  Tyler,  Ensign  Seth  Chapin  and  Robert 
Taft;  William  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  Ebenezer  Staples,  Town 
Treasurer,  and  William  Torrey  and  John  Sanford,  Constables. 

The  Committee  on  Sale  of  School  Lands  reported  that  the  sum 
amounted  to  £380. 

The  Committee  on  the  Meeting  House  were  instructed  "to 
finish  as  soon  as  possibly  they  can;  to  ceil  it  with  boards  to  the 
lower  girt,  below  and  from  the  upper  girt  to  the  bottom  of  the 
windows  above." 

Voted  to  repair  the  roads  by  a  rate,  and  for  this  purpose 
raised  £100.  Voted  that  those  who  did  not  work  out  their  high- 
way rates  last  year  might  work  them  out  this  year  at  ye  bridge 
by  Samuel  Thompson's  Mill  (Millville)  or  pay  in  money. 

Heretofore  the  money  accruing  from  the  sale  of  the  school 
lands  had  been  in  the  hands  of  a  committee,  but,  for  some  rea- 
sons, it  was  now  placed  in  the  custody  of  the  Treasurer,  and  he 
was  authorized  to  sue  for  the  same,  if  necessary,  at  the  cost  of 
the  town. 

It  was  proposed,  at  this  time,  to  set  off  ''part  of  the  North 
End  poeple  to  join  with  part  of  Sutton  and  part  of  Hopkinton," 
providing  ye  General  Court  consent,  but  the  consent  of  the  town 
was  not  procured. 

July  IT.     The  school  was  to  be  kept  the  three  summer  and  the 


*  School  master,  1733. 
27 


226  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1734. 

three  winter  months  at   the   school  house,  and  the   other  six 
months  where  the  Selectmen  should  direct. 

"  Sept.  ye  1st,  The  Selectmen  met  and  agreed  with  Mr.  Samuel  Terry  to 
keep  a  Grammar  school  in  said  town  for  four  months  next  coming  after 
the  ninth  current  and  for  his  Reward  to  give  him  Twenty  pounds. 
As  witness  our  hands 

Seth  Chapin,  Jr.,         )  Selectmen 
Ebenezer  Thompson,  j-  of 

Nathan  Tyler.  )  Mendon. 

Consented:  Samuel  Terry. 

Aug.  21.  Voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  to  lay  them  to  a 
new  county,  petitioned  for  by  Dedham,  Medfield  and  other  towns 
adjacent,  if  the  General  Court  shall  erect  a  county  there.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  agitation  for  a  new  county  which,  in 
1738,  resulted  in  the  creation  of  the  county  of  Norfolk. 

Sept.  11.  Dr.  John  Corbet,  of  Bellingham,  was  allowed  16s. 
for  services  to  James  Thompson  during  his  sickness;  John  Hay- 
ward  10s.  for  keeping  James  Thompson  eleven  days,  during  his 
sickness,  and  Daniel  Brown  2s.  G,  for  conveying  James  Thomp- 
son out  of  town.  So  far  as  the  records  show  these  were  the  first 
bills  paid  on  account  of  paupers. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr  had  twenty-five  pounds  added  to  his  salary 
this  year. 


1734.  For  some  reason,  not  stated,  it  was  agreed  by  both 
parties  that  Samuel  Terry,  at  the  end  of  three  months,  "do  not 
keep  school  and  that  he  sink  five  pounds  of  what  ye  agreement 
was."  This  transaction  was  dated  Feb.  13,  1734,  and  signed  by 
both  parties. 

March  4.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Jacob 
Aldrich,  Nathan  Tyler,  Daniel  Brown  and  William  Torrey; 
Town  Clerk,  William  Rawson;  Town  Treasurer,  Ebenezer  Sta- 
ples, and  for  Constables,  Nathaniel  Morse  and  Joseph  Pen- 
niman. 

May  21.  Daniel  Lovett  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court. 

By  the  following  vote  we  learn  that  measures  were  being  inau- 
gurated for  the  incorporation  of  Upton. 


1735.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  227 

Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Oapt.  Eleazer  Daniels,  Mr.  Jacob  Aldrich, 
Ensign  Nathan  Tyler  and  Mr.  Daniel  Brown  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee, one  of  which  was  to  assist  the  Eepresentative  in  the 
General  Court  in  the  matter  of  John  Hazeltine's  petition  for  a 
new  town,  afterwards  Upton. 

Aug.  27.  It  was  voted  that  £25  be  added  to  Mr.  Dorr's  salary 
this  year;  also,  that  Mr.  Daniel  Brown  be  allowed  £3. 14s.  for  a 
journey  to  and  services  at  Boston  to  answer  to  John  Hazeltine's 
petition  for  a  new  town. 

Voted,  that  the  town  would  not  build  pews  in  the  new  meet- 
ing house,  or  allow  individuals  to  do  so. 

Oct.  7.  Jonathan  Hayward  and  Benjamin  Green  were  chosen 
and  impowered  "to  take  care  of  the  youth  of  this  Town  &  to 
make  complaint  of  any  disorders,  if  any  there  be,  on  the  Sabbath, 
till  next  March." 


1735.  Jan.  20.  Lieut.  Seth  Chapin  was  chosen  to  attend 
the  Inferior  Court  at  Worcester  on  the  4th  day  of  February 
next,  to  make  answer  to  the  petition  of  John  Harwood,  of  Ux- 
bridge.  The  petition  set  forth  that  Mendon  was  held  liable  to 
contribute  towards  the  building  and  repairing  of  bridges  in  Ux- 
bridge.  From  the  fact  that  nothing  further  is  heard  of  Har- 
wood's  petition,  it  may  be  reasonably  inferred  that  its  allegations 
could  not  be  established. 

Feb.  11.  William  Sheffield's  request  that  he  might  be  allowed 
to  draw  off  his  mill  pond  for  five  months  in  the  year  was  denied. 

March  3thd.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Capt.  Daniel  Lovett, 
Capt.  Eleazer  Daniels,  Lieut.  Seth  Chapin,  Mr.  Nathan  Penni- 
man  and  Capt.  Eobert  Taft;  Town  Clerk,  Thomas  Sanford; 
Town  Treasurer,  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  James  Wood  for  ye 
north  end  of  ye  town  and  Benoni  Benson  for  y°  south  end  of 
ye  town  for  Constables. 

It  seems  the  General  Court,  upon  the  petition  of  John  Hazel- 
tine,  had  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  the  matter  and  perhaps 
to  visit  the  town,  as  we  find  that  at  this  time  (March  3,)  the  town 
chose  Jacob  Aldrich,  Seth  Chapin  and  Daniel  Brown  a  com- 
mittee to  meet  the  General  Court's  committee,  and  "to  give  in 
their  reasons  why  John  Hazeltine's  petition  should  not  be 
granted." 


228  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1735. 

May  25.  Capt.  Daniel  Lovett  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court,  and  Mr.  John  Field,  the  present  schoolmas- 
ter, was  continued  for  three  months. 

Lieut.  Seth  Chapin,  Samuel  Thayer  and  Benjamin  Wheelock 
were  chosen  a  committee — 

' '  To  Treat  with  William  Sheffield  with  Respect  to  his  Breaking  up  the 
Damm  Enclosing  the  Town's  Mill  Pond  and  thereby  Rendering  the  said 
Sheffield's  Corn  Mill  unserviceable  to  Grind  Corn  for  the  Town's  use ;  and 
for  Instructions  to  said  Committee  the  Town  then  voted  that  the  said  Com- 
mittee as  soon  as  they  can  Repair  to  the  said  Sheffield  and  Treat  with  him 
Relating  to  the  premises  and  Advertise  the  said  Sheffield  to  make  a  repair 
of  the  Breaches  he  hath  made  in  said  Damm  &  that  he  Do  the  Best  he  can 
to  git  his  said  Mill  into  a  posture  fit  to  Grind  Corn  for  the  Town's  use,  accord- 
ing to  the  ancient  agreement  made  by  &  with  the  Town  Relating  to  ye  said 
Mill  and  Milpoud;  and  also  to  advertize  ye  sd  Sheffield  that,  at  ye  next  Town 
meeting  he  appear  and  make  his  peace  with  the  Town  for  the  Damage  he 
hath  Done  in  the  premises,  and,  if  said  Sheffield  refuse  to  hear  ye  said  Com- 
mittee, then  ye  said  Committee  forthwith  make  Report  thereof  to  the  Se- 
lectmen." 

UPTON    INCORPORATED. 

The  opposition  to  Hazeltine's  petition  proved  of  no  avail,  for, 
June  14,  1735,  the  General  Court,  "  setting  forth  that  the  out- 
lands  of  the  several  towns  of  Mendon,  Uxbridge,  Sutton  and 
Hopkinton  are  completely  filled  with  Inhabitants,  and  by  reason 
of  their  remoteness  from  the  places  of  public  worship  in  said 
town,  thereupon  incorporated  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Up- 
ton." By  the  act  the  whole  of  Nathan  Tyler's  farm  was, 
although  included  within  the  bounds  of  Upton, -to  be  and  re- 
main forever  in  the  town  of  Mendon,  as  heretofore.  The  people 
of  the  new  town  were  to  build  a  place  of  public  worship,  and 
settle  a  learned  orthodox  minister  within  three  years,  and 
provide  for  his  comfortable  and  honorable  support. 

Aug.  25.  At  this  time  there  was  but  one  school  house  in 
town,  as  it  was  this  day  voted  that  the  school  be  removed  some 
part  of  the  time  into  some  remote  parts  of  the  town. 

A  new  committee  was  chosen  to  finish  the  meeting  house; 
twenty-five  pounds  were  added  to  Mr.  Dorr's  salary,  and  forty 
pounds  were  raised  to  pay  town  debts  and  the  schoolmaster. 

Oct.  3.  Deacon  Thomas  Sanford,  Capt.  Daniel  Lovet  and 
Lieut.  Seth  Chapin  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  joyn  with  the 


1735.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  229 


Reverend  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr,  to  lease  out. the  Ministry  Land," 
and  the  following  Quakers  were  exempted  from  ministerial 
charges,  viz:  Samuel  Thayer,  Moses  Aldrich,  John  Cass,  Benja- 
min Boyee,  Ebenezer  Cook  and  David  Boyce. 

The  success  which  had  attended  the  petition  of  John  Hazel- 
tine  in  procuring  the  incorporation  of  Upton,  it  is  supposed, 
encouraged  the  inhabitants  living  on  the  easterly  side  of  Mill 
River  to  apply  to  the  General  Court  for  another  new  town,  as 
may  be  learned  from  the  following  record  from  the 

Mass.  Records,  Court,  Vol.  XVI.,  p.  216. 

Nov.  28.  1735.  A  Petition  of  Samuel  Wheelock  &  a  Great  Number  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  Mention  living  on  the  East  side  of  Mill  Eiver,  Setting 
forth  the  difficulty's  these  are  under  in  attending  the  Public  Worship  of 
God  at  the  Meeting  House  in  said  Town,  by  reason  of  the  distance  and  the 
badness  of  the  roads,  and  forasmuch  as  the  said  Town  of  Mendon  is  large. 
Therefore  Praying  that  all  the  lands  in  Mendon  on  the  East  side  of  Mill 
River  to  the  Country  Road  by  Sheffield's  Mill,  and  lying  between  the  towns 
of  Hopkinton,  Bellingham,  Holliston  and  Mendon  may  be  set  off  and  erect- 
ed into  a  separate  Township. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  Serve  the  Town 
of  Mendon  with  a  copy  of  the  Petition  that  they  Shew  Cause  on  Thursday 
the  18th.  day  of  December  next,  if  the  Court  be  sitting,  if  not,  on  the  first- 
Thursday  of  the  next  sitting  of  the  Court,  why  the  Prayer  thereof  should 
not  be  granted. 

In  Council  Read  &  Concurred 

Consented  to,         J.  Belcher. 

The  notice  being  served  upon  the  town  by  the  petitioners, 
Dec.  10.  The  town  chose  Thomas  Sanford,  Jacob  Aldrich. 
Eleazer  Taft,  Jonathan  Hay  ward,  Jr.,  and  James  Keith  "a  Com- 
mittee who  were  to  depute  two  of  their  number  to.  go  to  Boston 
and  joyn  with  Capt.  Daniel  Lovett,  the  Town's  Representative, 
to  make  answer  to  the  Petition  of  Sundry  of  the  Inhabitants  on 
the  East  side  of  Mill  River  with  Reference  to  their  being  set  off 
as  a  Town." 

The  parties  were  heard  at  the  appointed  time,  and  with  what 
result  the  following  doings  of  the  General  Court  will  show: 

Dec.  20.  1735. 

On  the  Petition  of  Samuel  Wheelock  and   other    Inhabi- 
tants of  the  East  part  of  Mendon  praying  as  above,  Nov.  28th  ult. 

In  Council.  Read  again  together  with  the  answer  of  the  Town  of  Men- 
don, the  Petition  of  Obadiah  Wheelock  and  fourteen  other  Inhabitants  on 


230  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1736. 

the  East  side  of  Mill  River  and  within  the  bounds  mentioned  for  to  be  a 
Township,  praying  this  Petition  may  be  granted;  and  the  parties  being 
heard  at  the  Board  and  the  matter  fully  considered,  the  question  being  put 
whether  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  should  be  granted,  and  it  passed  in  the 
Negative,  and  therefore  ordered  that  the  Petition  be  dismissed. 
In  the  H.  of  R.     R.  &  C. 

Consented  to        J.  Belcher. 


1736.  March  1.  Chose  Capt.  Daniel  Lovett,  Lieut,  Seth 
Chapin,  William  Torrey,  Lieut.  Thomas  Thayer  and  Capt, 
Robert  Taft,  Selectmen;  Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk;  Town 
Treasurer,  Daniel  Taft,  Esq. ;  John  Joans  and  William  Thayer, 
Constables.     Jacob  Aldrich  was  chosen  Surveyor  of  Hemp. 

March  8.  John  Field  was  continued  as  schoolmaster  for  this 
year,  and  to  keep  six  months  in  the  town  and  six  months  in  the 
outskirts  of  the  town. 

The  meeting  house  was  not  yet  completed,  as  the  town  voted 
to  raise  £100  to  pay  John  Lyon,  "when  he  hath  finished  the 
Meeting  House." 

For  the  accommodation  of  persons  living  at  a  distance,  liberty 
was  granted  that  stables  might  be  built  near  the  meeting  house, 

Oct  o 

at  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen. 

At  the  same  time  it  was  voted  to  enclose  the  burying  place 
with  a  stone  wall,  and  also  to  oppose  the  petition  of  fifteen  of 
the  inhabitants  on  the  east  side  of  Mill  River  to  be  set  off  as  a 
separate  town. 

May  17.  Chose  Capt,  Thomas  Thayer  Representative  to  the 
General  Court, 

At  this  meeting  the  petition  of  Thomas  Tenney  and  fifteen 
others  to  have  that  part  of  the  town  east  of  Mill  River  set  off  as 
a  Precinct,  was  denied. 

At  the  same  time  a  motion  was  made  to  choose  a  committee 
to  join  with  a  committee  of  Uxbridge  to  confer  about  the  min- 
istry land,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative,  "nemine  contra 
dicente." 

Mr.  John  Field,  the  schoolmaster  for  the  present  year,  was  to 
have  £45  for  his  services. 

Among  other  appropriations  were  the  following,  viz: — 


1737.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  231 

For  paying  John  Fish  for  hinges  for  the  table £00  05  00 

do      do     William  Torrey,  mending  the  Pound 00  06  00 

do      do     Daniel  Darling  for  1500  feet  of  plank   for  the 

bridge  over  the  Great  River,  (sawing  the  plank, )  2  12  00 
do       do      the  Committee  which  made  answer  to  the  petition 

of  Samuel  More  &  others,  in  Dee.  1730 8  00  00 

do       do      Mr.  Dorr's  salary,  additional 25  00  00 

do      do      Town  debts  and  contingent  charges   50  00  00 

do      do        do        do    additional 20  00  00 

do       do      The  Committee  which  made  answer  to  the  petition 

of  Samuel  Morse  &  others  for  a  division  of  the 

Town 10  00  00 

Oct.  25.  Voted  not  to  build  pews  in  the  meeting  house,  nor 
ttllow  "  particular  persons  to  do  so." 

It  was  then  voted  to  sell  the  Pew  Room  in  the  meeting  house, 
and  chose  Benjamin  Wheelock,  Eleazer  Taft,  William  Torrey, 
Benjamin  Darling  and  Robert  Taft  a  committee  to  appraise  the 
rooms.  "  The  Elderly  men  that  Bear  the  most  considerable 
Charge  in  Town  to  have  the  first  offer  to  buy  the  same,  and  if 
the  Elderly  men  refuse  to  Bye,  then  such  persons  as  the  Com- 
mittee Shall  judge  proper  and  will  pay  for  the  same.  The  Com- 
mittee to  guarantee  the  sale  and  the  money  to  be  paid  into  the 
town  treasury." 

Nov.  26.  Capt.  William  Eawson  was  hired  to  keep  a  gram- 
mar school  for  three  months.  This  Capt.  William  Eawson  was 
the  son  of  William  Eawson,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1703.  His  father,  William,  was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and 
was  settled  in  England;  his  son,  Capt.  William,  was  a  lawyer, 
and  settled  in  Mendon,  being  the  first  one  of  that  profession 
who  settled  in  the  town. 


1737.  March  7.  Chose  Benjamin  Wheelock,  William  Tor- 
rey, Eleazer  Taft,  Robert  Taft  and  Benjamin  Darling  Select- 
men; William  Eawson,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Taft,  Es<p,  Town 
Treasurer,  and  Nathaniel  Nelson  and  John  French,  Constables. 

April  25.  The  Selectmen  agreed  with  William  Eawson  to 
keep  a  grammar  school  for  ten  months  at  the  rate  of  £50  per 
annum. 

"  Voted,  that  those  poeple  of  ye  town  who  send  their  children 
to  school  shall  also  send  wood." 


232  ANNALS  OF  MEN DON.  [1738. 

Whether  the  town  had  heretofore  provided  a  Sheepherd  to 
watch  the  sheep  on  the  common  land  is  not  known  for  a  cer- 
tainty, but  inasmuch  as  this  year  they  voted  not  to  choose  one, 
it  is  presumed  such  had  been  the  case  heretofore. 

May  18.     Chose  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer  Representative. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  Dorr  was  allowed  £25,  old  tenor,  as  an 
addition  to  his  salary. 

Raised  £60  to  pay  the  schoolmaster  and  town  debts,  and  also 
£40  to  let  the  fish  up  Pawtucket  Falls,  provided  other  towns  will 
pay  in  proportion,  and  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  was  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  attend  to  that  matter. 

Dec.  6.  The  Selectmen  laid  out  a  road  from  the  Falls  (Woon- 
socket)  to  Bellingham,  as  prayed  for  by  William  Arnold,  Esq. ; 
"provided  Ebenezer  Cook,  through  whose  land  the  road  was 
mostly  laid,  would  bind  himself  to  pay  back  the  £40,  which  was 
allowed  him  for  damages,  within  a  year  after  said  farm  shall 
fall  into  Rhode  Island  Colony,  if  it  ever  should  be  so." 

This  year,  for  the  first  time,  we  find  roads  laid  out  by  any 
other  authority  than  that  of  the  town.  This  year  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions  of  the  county  of  Worcester  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to' view  Ebenezer  Cook's  farm,  in  order  to  lay  out  a  road 
across  the  same.  The  town  chose  Daniel  Lovett,  David  Al- 
drich  and  Samuel  Thayer  to  meet  the  Court's  committee,  and 
give  in  the  reasons  why  the  town  is  not  willing  to  have  a  road 
laid  out  across  said  farm  at  the  town's  cost.  This  is  the  road 
that  leads  from  Woonsocket  to  Bellingham  by  the  Social  factory. 
The  location  of  this  road  was  returned  to  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions,  at  Worcester,  and  may  be  found  in  the  Mendon  Re- 
cords, Vol.  2,  p.  71.  Whether  Ebenezer  Cook  ever  refunded 
the  £40  allowed  for  damages,  after  the  annexation  of  Woon- 
socket to  Rhode  Island,  is  a  matter  of  doubt. 


1738.  March  6.  Lieut.  Seth  Chapin,  Ensign  Nathan  Tyler, 
Deacon  Jacob  Aldrich,  John  Legg  and  Lt.  Thomas  Thayer  were 
chosen  Selectmen;  Thomas  Sanford,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Taft, 
Esq.,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Benjamin  Albee,  Jr.,  and  Samuel 
Thayer,  Constables.     During  all  these  years  the  minor  offices  of 


1739.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  233 

Surveyors  of  Highways,  Tithing  Men.  Fence  Viewers,  Hog 
Reaves,  &c,  were  always  filled. 

March  13.  The  road  was  laid  over  Dam  Swamp,  and  James 
Muzzey  and  Joseph  Verrey  were  allowed  to  put  up  gates  where 
the  road  passes  through  their  lands,  for  one  year,  *' so  that,  in 
the  mean  time,  they  may  have  opportunity  to  measure  how  far 
said  way  runs  through  their  land." 

Josiah  Marshall,  A.  M.,  was  hired  to  keep  school  for  six 
months  "according  to  the  direction  of  the  Province  Laws,"  for 
£30  old  tenor,  in  bills  of  credit  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay. 

May  22.  Benjamin  Wheelock  was  chosen  a  Representative  to 
the  General  Court,  and  refused  to  serve.  Mr.  Ehenezer  Merriam 
Avas  then  chosen,  and  there  is  no  record  that  he  refused  to  serve. 

Thomas  Sanford,  Daniel  Lovett  and  Seth  Chapin  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  settle  the  bounds  of  the  Ministry  home  lot,  and 
contest  the  same  in  law  with  the  abutters,  if  they  refuse  to  join, 
so  that  the  bounds  may  be  established  and  be  put  upon  record. 

Aug.  28.  Nathan  Tyler  was  chosen  Grand  Juryman  and 
Thomas  Thayer  and  John  Legge  for  the  Jury  of  Tryals,  and  the 
Town  Treasurer's  salary  for  the  year  was  fixed  at  £1  10s. 

Sept.  11.  Allowed  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr  £75,  old  tenor,  over 
and  above  his  stated  salary. 

Among  other  bills  that  were  audited  and  allowed  by  the  town, 
at  a  town  meeting  held  Sept.  18th — 

Timothy  Clark  was  allowed  for  canying  Mary  Thoit  out  of  town.. £00  10  00 
Daniel  Lovett,   Seth  Chapin  and  Thomas  Sanford  for  services 

about  the  Ministry  Land  &  Copies  &c 05  11  06 

Da n  ief  Lovett  and   Samuel  Thayer  service  and  expense  about 

Ebenezer  Cook's  Road 04  10  00 

Town  charges,  the  Schoolmaster  &.  Ebenezer  Cook 88  00  00 


1739.  Jan.  8.  The  town  met  and  chose  Capt.  Daniel  Lovett 
Moderator,  and  after  some  debate  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
the  16th  instant. 

Jan.  10.'     Voted  to  sell  that  twenty  acres  of  land  that  was  the 

Ministry  Home  Lot,  or  first  division  in  said  town,  to  the  highest 

bidder,  but  not  under  three  hundred  of  the  old  tenor;  and  that 
30 


234  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1739. 

the  money  arising  from  said  sale  "shall Lye  in  bank  upon  inter- 
est for  the  ends  and  uses  that  the  said  land  was  granted  for,  for- 
ever. The  interest  to  be  paid  out  by  orders  from  the  Selectmen 
of  the  town,  for  the  time  being,  to  and  for  the  support  of  a  Con- 
gregational Minister  or  Ministers  that  are  or  may  be  regularly 
settled  in  said  town  of  Mendon,  forever,  and  to  no  other  use  for- 
ever; except  the  said  town  shall,  hereafter,  think  it  best  to  buy 
a  piece  of  land  with  the  principal  and  establish  it  for  the  ends 
and  uses  aforesaid,  forever." 

Thomas  Sanford,  Daniel  Lovett  and  Seth  Chapin  were  author- 
ized to  sell  the  land  and  to  give  a  sufficient  title  thereto,  by  deed, 
in  the  town's  behalf. 

It  is  presumed  that  the  burying  place  was  not  yet  "fenced 
with  a  stone  wall,"  pursuant  to  a  former  vote,  as  a  committee 
was  chosen  at  this  time  "to  state  and  settle  the  bounds  thereof." 

March  5.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  William 
Torrey,  Jonathan  Hay  ward,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  John 
French;  for  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  for  Town  Treasurer, 
Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  for  Constables,  Uriah  Thayer  and  George 
Bruce;  for  Schoolmaster,  Josiah  Marshall,  A.  M. 

It  was  voted  that  town  meetings  be  warned  by  posting  up 
notices  of  the  same  fourteen  days  before  the  day  of  meeting,  at 
the  Meeting  house,  at  Capt.  William  Kawson's  and  at  Samuel 
Thompson's  mill. 

Aug.  ye  28th.  Upon  reckoning  with  Daniel  Taft,  Town  Trea- 
surer, it  was  found  by  the  Selectmen  that  the  town  was  indebted 
to  him  in  the  sum  of  £5.14.03,  he  having  disbursed,  on  the 
town's  behalf,  that  amount  more  than  he  had  received. 

May  21.  Voted  to  repair  the  roads  by  a  rate,  and  that  a  man 
should  have  six  shillings  a  day,  and  a  man  and  team  twelve  shil- 
lings per  day,  old  tenor. 

It  was  then  voted  that  every  man  should  have  notice  to  work 
out  his  rate  by  the  last  day  of  October,  and  that  the  names  of  all 
those  who  had  failed  to  do  so  on  or  before  that  day,  should  be 
reported  to  the  Assessors,  when  they,  the  Assessors,  should  issue 
out  their  warrant  on  the  back  side  of  the  rate  list,  and  deliver 
the  same  to  the  Constables  to  collect  the  same  in  money. 

May  21.  It  seems  that  Mendon  was  entitled  to  more  than  one 
Eepresentative,  as,  at  this  meeting,  it  was  put  to  vote  whether 


1740.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  235 

the  town  would  choose  more  than  one  Representative,  and  they 
voted  to  send  but  one. 

Ebenezer  Merriam  was  chosen,  "by  a  clear  vote,"  Representa- 
tive. 

The  petition  of  John  Joans  and  others  was  presented  to  the 
town  praying  that  the  easterly  side  of  Mill  River  be  set  off  "a 
particular  town  by  themselves,"  and  it  was  voted  in  the  nega- 
tive. The  vote  being  "scrupled,"  it  was  tried  by  dividing  the 
House,  and  it  still  passed  in  the  negative. 

A  motion  was  made  to  sell  the  remainder  of  the  Ministry  land, 
but  the  town  voted  it  should  not  be  sold. 

Dec.  7.  Lieut.  Thomas  Thayer  and  Ensign  Nathan  Tyler 
were  chosen  to  take  care  for  the  preservation  of  deer,  pursuant 
to  Chap.  3,  Sec.  4  of  the  Acts  of  1739,  passed  July  10th.  This 
act  provided  that  whoever  should  kill  any  buck,  doe  or  fawn,  or 
having  the  flesh  or  raw  skin  of  such,  after  the  10th  day  of  De- 
cember till  the  first  day  of  August,  shall  for  each  buck,  doe  or 
fawn,  and  for  each  skin  or  flesh  found  in  his  possession,  pay  the 
sum  of  ten  pounds.  By  Sec.  4,  any  town  which  neglected  to 
choose  two  meet  persons  to  enforce  the  law,  was  liable  to  a  fine 
of  thirty  pounds.  Make  what  laws  we  will,  the  deer,  as  well  as 
the  Indian,  will  always  be  found  only  in  advance  of  the  frontier 
line  of  civilization. 

The  Province  Treasury,  it  seems,  was  bankrupt  at  this  time, 
as,  upon  motion  of  Ebenezer  Merriam,  Representative  at  the 
General  Court,  the  town  voted  to  pay  him,  he  promising  to  re- 
fund the  amount,  provided  the  General  Court  should  make  pro- 
vision for  the  same. 

Sixty  pounds  were  granted  this  year  for  town  charges. 

The  burying  place,  notwithstanding  former  votes,  was  not  yet 
enclosed,  as  we  find  the  Selectmen  were  ordered  to  let  out  the 
same  "to  some  good  man  or  Men,"  for  a  term  not  exceeding 
thirty  years,  providing  he  or  they  will  "  fence  it  with  good  stone 
wall  according  to  law  and  erect  a  good  gate  with  iron  hinges." 

Josiah  Wilkson,  his  wife  and  children,  were  warned  out  of 
town,  and  Benjamin  Thayer  was  warned  "to  entertain  them  no 
longer." 


1740.     March  3.     Chose  Deacon  Jacob  Aldrich,  Capt.  Robert 


236  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1740. 

Taft,  William  Hay  ward,  Lieut.  Thomas  Thayer  and  Jonathan 
Hay  ward,  Selectmen;  Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Taft, 
Esq.,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Samuel  Torrey  and  David  Thayer, 
Constables. 

Capt.  Daniel  Lovett,  Nathan  Penniman,  Joseph  Chapin,  Ben- 
jamin Green,  John  Fish  and  John  Green,  Gentlemen  were  cliosen 
In  keep  order  on  the  Sabbath  Days.  Mr.  Josiah  Marshall  was 
cliosen  Schoolmaster,  and  William  Torrey  and  Benjamin  Dar- 
ling, Deer  Beaves. 

Voted  that  those  who  were  delinquent  in  working  their  high- 
way rate  last  year  may  work  them  out  this  year,  and  that  those 
who  did  overwork  last  year  shall  be  abated  the  amount  this  year. 

Voted  that  Doctor  Samuel  Morse  have  liberty  to  shut  up  the 
road  between  the  land  of  Bev.  Mr.  Dorr's  and  Eliphalet  Wood's 
land  to  Muddy  Brook. 

May.  19.  Edmund  Morse  was  chosen  Bepresentative  to  the 
General  Court. 

A  motion  was  made  to  grant  the  petition  of  sundry  inhabitants 
on  the  easterly  side  of  Mill  Biver,  dated  April  10,  1740,  praying 
the  town  to  set  off  the  land  east  of  the  Mill  Biver  into  a  separate 
town;  "  those  who  'were  in  favor  of  the  motion  having  placed 
themselves,  by  direction  of  the  Moderator,  on  the  women's  side 
of  the  house  and  those  who  were  opposed  on  the  men's  side  of 
the  house  and  a  count  having  been  made,  it  was  found  there  ap- 
peared a  clear  vote  in  Negative  by  25  poles." 

Aug.  2.6.  Among  other  bills  that  were  audited  and  allowed  at 
this  meeting,  Mr.  John  Lyon  had  £8  for  building  a  new  pound; 
and  the  Selectmen  10s.  for  rum  to  raise  the  pound.  Uriah 
Thayer  for  "taking  men  for  the  highway  rate,"  had  £1. 

Baised  and  appropriated  £75  as  an  addition  to  Mr.  Dorr's 
salary,  £70  to  defray  town  charges,  and  £400  for  highways. 

The  "taking  for  the  highway  rate/'  it  seems,  was  a  distraint 
for  non-payment-  of  highway  taxes,  and  resulted  in  a  complaint 
to  the  Courts,  as  we  find  that,  Oct.  31,  Samuel  Thayer  and 
Uriah  Thayer  (the  Constable.)  were  chosen  to  answer  and  de- 
fend any  case  against  the  town  in  the  next  Superior  Court,  to  be 
holden  at  Worcester,  relating  to  a  distraint  made  by  Uriah 
Thayer. 


1741.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  237 

1741.  March  2.  Selectmen,  Lieut.  Thomas  Thayer,  Lieut. 
Eleazer  Taft,  Capt.  William  Rawson,  Capt.  Robert  Taft  and 
Ebenezer  Merriam;  Town  Clerk,  William  Rawson;  Town  Treas- 
urer, Deacon  Jacob  Aldrich,  and  for  Constables,  William  Shef- 
field and  John  Thayer.  Josiah  Marshall  was  chosen  School- 
master. 

At  this  time  there  appears  to  have  been  much  dissatisfaction 
in  the  church,  as  an  ex  parte  Council  had  been  called  and  a 
judgment  bad  been  rendered  against  the  minister  relating  to  his 
administration. 

At  this  meeting  the  two  following  votes  were  passed,  being 
proposed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr. 

"Gentlemen,  In  as  much  as  an  opposing  party  in  this  Town  have  Ob- 
tained a  judgment  of  a  Council  Against  the  Minister  of  the  Town,  without 
a  Tryal,  Relating  to  his  administration  viz: — of  a  Council  Chosen  by  them 
Selves  in  so  private  a  manner  that  the  Pastor  of  the  Church  had  No  Coppy 
of  the  Letters  Missive  until  after  the  Letters  were  Sent  out  to  the  Churches — 
If  you  Judge  that  the  Minister  of  this  Town  Ought  to  be  defended  against 
Such  Proceedings  and  you  will  defend  him  Signify  it  by  Lifting  up  your 
hands. 

Gentlemen,  if  you  will  choose  three  persons  as  a  Committee  chosen  by 
the  Church,  or  by  that  part  of  it  that  adheres  to  the  Pastor  to  advise  and 
concur  with  them  in  the  choice  of  a  Council,  if  they  shall  think  fit,  to 
judge  of  the  Result  of  the  late  Council  Chosen  by  the  opposite  party  here 
by  Lifting  up  your  hands." 

The  foregoing  votes  both  passed  in  the  affirmative.  The 
meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  March  16,  instant,  the  following 
persons  protesting  against  the  adjournment  as  well  as  against 
the  votes  passed  upon  the  motion  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr: 

Daniel  Taft  Esq.,  Samuel  Rawson, 

Capt.  Daniel  Lovett,  Benjamin  Green, 

Ens.  Nathan  Tyler,  John  French, 

Samuel  Thayer,  Thomas  White, 

Dea.  Nathaniel  Nelson,  Samuel  Hayward, 

William  Torrey,  George  Aldrich, 

Jonathan  Hayward,  Robert  Aldrich, 

Josiah  Adams,  Ichabod  Robinson, 

John  Chapin,  David  Tafi, 

John  Rockwood,  Josiah  Chapin. 

Attest,  Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk. 

March  16.  Ye  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr  came  into  the  Meeting  and  Proposed  to 
the  Town  to  choose  three  Gentlemen  as  a  Committee  to  joyn  with  ye 


238  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1741. 

Church  Committee  in  order  to  Choose  a  Council  to  judge  of  the  Result  of 
the  Late  Council,  Relating  to  ye  Difference  in  ye  Church  in  Mendon  &c. 

Lieut.  Eleazer  Taft,  Lieut.  Thomas  Thayer  and  Capt.  Robert 
Taft  were  chosen  as  said  committee. 

What  the  troubles  in  the  church  were  does  not  appear  from 
the  records,  but  as  Mr.  Dorr,  continued  the  minister  until  his 
death,  in  1768,  the  difficulties,  whatever  they  were,  were  soon 
adjusted. 

Voted,  not  to  sell  any  part  of  the  Ten  Rod  Highway  or  of  any 
of  the  roads  in  town.     Also  voted  not  to  sell  the  Ministry  Land. 

March  30.  Voted  that  the  money  "Called  Land  Banck" 
should  pay  the  interest  that  is  due  to  the  town  for  the  school 
land,  and  town  debts  for  this  year. 

This  money  called  the  "Land  Banck"  is  supposed  to  be  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  ministry  and  school  lands. 

May  18.  The  town,  as  usual,  voted  to  choose  but  one  Repre- 
sentative, and  Capt.  Robert  Taft  was  chosen  to  attend  the 
General  Court. 

The  inhabitants  on  the  easterly  side  of  Mill  River  (now  Mil- 
ford)  again,  by  their  petition  of  May  4,  1741,  prayed  the  town 
to  support  their  minister  in  a  mutual  way,  (supposed  by  volun- 
tary contribution,)  or  "  give  them  leave  to  go  off  as  a  Particular 
Precinct;"  but,  although  it  must  have  been  a  hardship  for  the 
petitioners  to  attend  public  worship  at  Mendon,  the  town  still 
refused  either  to  relieve  them  from  ministerial  taxes  or  allow 
them  to  set  up  for  themselves. 

We  have  seen  that  Capt.  Robert  Taft  was  chosen  Representa- 
tive for  this  year,  May  18,  and  June  29,  under  a  new  warrant, 
he  was  again  chosen  Representative  for  this  year.  No  explana- 
tion is  found  in  the  town  records  of  this  procedure. 

But,  upon  consulting  the  Province  Laws  of  1741,  p.  1102,  we  shall 
find  that  the  General  Court,  which  was  convened  on  the  26th  of 
May,  was  dissolved  on  the  next  day  by  Gov.  Belcher,  no  acts  being 
passed,  and  a  new  assembly  was  called  to  meet  on  the  8th  day  of 
July.  On  this  account  another  town  meeting  was  called  July 
29,  and  Capt.  Robert  Taft  was  again  elected  Representative. 

Court  Records,  1741  to  1743,  pp.  15  and  16. 

July  16.  A  Petition  of  Thomas  Tenney  and  a  great  number  of  other  In- 
habitants of  Mendon,  setting  forth  the  Controversies  they  have  had,  and 


1741.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  239 

still  have,  with  their  Minister,  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr,  upon  which  they  have 
had  the  advice  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Council,  which  the  said  Mr.  Dorr  re- 
fuses to  comply  with  or  to  do  anything  to  give  the  Petitioners  reasonable 
satisfaction,  and  therefore  praying  that  they  may  be  set  off  as  a  separate 
Precinct  or  otherwise  relieved  in  the  premises. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  serve  one  or  more 
of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  with  a  Copy  of  this  Petition  that 
they  may  shew  cause,  if  any  they  have,  on  Tuesday  the  28th.  day  of  July 
current  why  the  prayer  thereof  should  not  be  granted. 

In  Council  R.  &  C. 

Consented  to        J.  Belcher. 

July  18.  The  town  chose  Eleazer  Taft,  Nathan  Penniman 
and  Samuel  Morse  a  committee  to  "'Make  Answer  to  a  Petition 
put  into  the  General  Court  by  those  who  have  stiled  themselves 
A  grieved  in  sd  Mendon.'' 

Court  Records,  1741  to  1743,  p.  42. 

Wednesday,  July  19,  1741.  On  the  Petition  of  Thomas  Tenney  and 
others  of  Mendon  praying  as  entered  July  16  instant, 

In  the  H.  of  R.  read  again,  together  with  the  answer  of  Samuel  Morse 
and  others,  Agents  for  the  Town  of  Mendon,  and 

Ordered  that  Mr.  Speaker  Fairfield,  Capt.  Choate,  Dr.  Hale,  Capt.  Watts, 
Mr.  Walker  and  Col.  Minot,  with  such  as  the  Hon.  Council  shall  join  be  a 
Committee  to  hear  the  parties  and  forthwith  Report  thereon. 

In  Council  Read  and  Con.  and  John  Jeffries,  Anthony  Stoddard,  Jere- 
miah Moulton,  Richard  Bill  and  John  Greenleaf  are  joined  in  this  affair. 

Court  Records,  1741  to  1743,  p.  68. 

Aug.  8.  1741.  On  the  Petition  of  Thomas  Tenney  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  Mendon  with  the  Report  of  a  Committee  of  both  Houses  thereon, 

In  Council,  Read  and  Ord.  that  this  Pet.  be  accepted. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read  and  Non  concented  and  Ordered  that  this  Petition 
with  the  Report  thereon  be  referred  to  the  Fall  Sessions  for  further  consid- 
eration. 

In  Council  Read,  R.  &  Non  Con.  &  the  Council  adhere  to  their  own 
vote. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read,  R.  &  Non  Con.  and  the  House  insist  upon  their 
own  vote. 

In  Council,  Read  and  unanimously  Non  Con. 

Sept.  14.  Among  other  accounts  audited  and  allowed  was 
one  of  Uriah  Thayer's  of  £3. 09s.  for  time  and  expenses  for  dis- 
training on  some  persons  in  the  Gore  for  their  rates.  At  this 
meeting  it  was  also  voted  not  to  sell  or  let  the  ministerial  land. 


240  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1741. 

All  the  town  lines  were  perambulated  this  year,  and  the  several 
charges  for  the  service  were  ordered  to  be  paid. 

Sept.  22.  Voted  to  forego  Richard  Rubey's  rate  for  1739. 
Query.  Did  he  marry  Sherebiah,  daughter  of  Grizzel  Gurney, 
mentioned  in  her  will.     See  1675. 

Voted  not  to  allow  David  Thayer's  account,  it  being  £6.1(3.06, 
for  carrying  a  certain  woman  and  child  out  of  this  town,  and 
delivering  them  to  the  Uxbridge  constable. 

Voted  not  to  allow  the  accounts  of  Eleazer  Taft,  Nathan  Pen- 
niman  and  Dr.  Samuel  Morse,  for  services  at  the  General  Court 
to  answer  Thomas  Tenney's  petition,  it  being  £54.19.06. 

At  this  meeting  the  town  voted  that  the  territory  east  of  Mill 
River  might  be  set  off  as  a  separate  town,  but  that  they  would 
not  allow  the  new  town  any  portion  of  the  ministry  or  school 
land  or  of  the  money  accruing  from  the  sale  of  any  part  of  the 
same. 

Mass.  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  Vol.  12,  pp.  194,  5,  6,  7. 

MILL   KIVER   MADE    A    PRECIKCT. 

Nov.  25.  Sundry  inhabitants  of  Mendon  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  be  set  off  as  a  town  or  precinct,  as  follows: 

To  his  Excellency  William  Shirley  Esq,  Capt.  General  and  Governor  in 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  &c.  and 
to  the  Honble  the  Council  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  sd  Province  in 
General  Court  or  Assembly  this  25th.  day  of  November  1741. 

The  Petition  of  Sundry  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  in  sd  Pro- 
vince thereunto  subscribing, 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  the  said  Town  of  Mendon,  in  answer  to  a  Petition  of  Sun- 
dry Inhabitants  on  the  Easterly  side  of  Mill  River  in  sd  Town,  at  their 
meeting  on  Sept.  22,  1741,  voted  their  consent  that  the  land  in  sd  Town- 
ship lying  on  the  Easterly  side  of  Mill  River  to  the  County  road  by  Shef- 
field's Mill,  then  bounding  on  said  road  to  Bellingham  &  bounding  on  Bel- 
lingham,  Holliston  and  Hopkinton,  with  all  the  lands  and  Inhabitants  who 
dwell  on  those  lands  within  said  lines  be  a  Township. 

That  the  said  Lands  set  off  as  a  Town  as  aforesaid  with  the  Polls  and 
Estates  ratable  to  the  support  of  the  Ministry  &  being  within  said  boun- 
daries are  not  (as  your  Petitioners  Conceive)  more  than  about  one  third  part 
of  said  town  considered  as  by  the  Polls  and  Estates. 

That  there  are  five  families  on  the  Westerly  side  of  said  Mill  River  who 
choose  to  Congregate  with  your  Petitioners  &  to  be  laid  to  them,  whose 


1741.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  241 


Lands  also,  at  least  some  of  them,  will  be  much  incommoded  by  remaining 

in  the  old  Town,  which  families,  if  Added  to  your  Petitioners,  as  your 
Petitioners  hope,  will  render  the  charge  of  maintaining  the  Gospel  feasible. 

Your  Petitioners  Are  Nevertheless  humbly  of  Opinion  That  it  would  be 
more  conducive  to  the  Peace  and  Welfare  of  the  whole  That  yr  Petitioners  & 
others  living  within  the  bounds  as  aforesaid,  with  the  addition  of  these  few 
families,  be  Enacted  a  Separate  Precinct  rather  than  a  Separate  TovmsMp; 
and  that  it  would  be  more  So  if  the  Ministry  of  both  the  Churches  &  Con- 
gregations in  said  Town  may  be  supported  by  a  joint  Stock  &  every  one 
attend  the  Ministry  that  is  the  most  Convenient  and  Agreeable. 

Your  Petitioners  humbly  Pray  Your  Excellency  and  this  Honble  Court 
That  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon,  dwelling  on  the  Easterly  side  of  Mill 
River  and  adjoining  as  aforesaid  to  Bellingham,  Holliston  and  Hopkinton 
with  their  lands  in  said  Township  with  other  lauds  on  the  westerly  side  of 
Mill  River  up  to  a  Road  called  the  Eight  Rod  Road  and  Including  Nathan 
Tyler's  House  &  Lands  up  to  Upton  Line  may  be  Enacted  a  Separate  Town 
or  Precinct;  Or  That  the  public  Ministry  of  both  the  Churches  and  Con- 
gregations in  the  Town  of  Mendon  be  supported  by  a  Tax  or  Assessment 
upon  the  whole  Town  As  Yr  Excellency  &  Honrs  shall  Judge  most  Meet 
and  Convenient. 

And  Yr  Petitioners  shall  Ever  Pray. 

Samuel  Scammell,  Habijah  French, 

Joseph  Jones,  James  Godman, 

Ephraim  Daniels,  Moses  Gage, 

Moses  Tenney,    "  William  Legg, 

Joshua  Underwood.  Ichabod  Thayer, 

Dearing  Jones,  Amos  Binney, 

James  Sumner,  Nathaniel  Nelson, 

John  Thwiug  jr. ,  Thomas  Chaddock, 

Josiah  Chapin,  Abraham  Jones, 

Eliphalet  Wood,  John  Chapin, 

John  Jones,  William  Cheney  jr., 

William  Cheney,  Nehemiah  Nelson, 

Nathaniel  Jones,  Benjamin  Hayward, 

John  Binney,  Samuel  Hayward, 
Ebenezer  Boynton. 

And  we  whose  names  are  hereunder  written  (being  the  owners  of  the 
Lands  of  the  5  families  above  mentd)  humbly  pray  we  wth  or  Lauds  may  be 
annexed  to  the  New  Town  or  Precinct  unless  the  Ministry  be  jointly  sup- 
ported. Nathan  Tyler, 

John  Thwing, 
Thomas  Waire. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Nov.  27.  1741     Read  and  in  answer  to  this  Petition,  Or- 
dered that  the'prayer  thereof  be  so  far  granted  as  that  the  Petitioners  be 
31 


242  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1741. 

allowed  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  a  Township  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  Town 
of  Mention  at  their  meeting  Sept.  22,  1741. 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

J.  Hobson,  Speaker. 

In  Council  Read  and  Concurred  with  the  amendment  at  A. 
Sent  down  for  Concurrence. 

J.   Willard,  Secy. 

In  H.  of  R.    Read  and  Non.  Con.  and  the  House  insist  on  its  vote. 

J.  Hobson,  Speaker. 
In  Council  Nov.  30.     Read  &  Non  Con. 

J.  Willard,  Secy. 

In  Council  Dec.  4,  1741.  Upon  a  motion  made  by  a  Message  from  the 
Honll,e  House  of  R.  that  the  Board  would  reconsider  their  vote  above,  the 
vote  was  accordingly  reconsidered  and  the  Question  being  put,  whether 
the  Board  will  concur  with  the  vote  of  the  House  on  this  Petition,  It 
passed  in  the  Negative,  and  the  Board  adhere  to  their  own  Amendment. 
Sent  down  for  Concurrence. 

J.  Willard,  Secy. 
In  the  II.  of  R.  Dec.  16.  1741  R.  &  Non  Con. 

J.  Hobson,  Speaker. 

The  Amendment  at  A,  is  not  found  in  the  Court  Records. 
It  will  be  seen  that  the  House  voted  the  Petitioners  liberty  to 
bring  in  a  Bill  for  a  Township,  and  that  the  Town  had  not  been 
heard.  The  amendment  might  have  reference  to  one  or  both  of 
these  facts. 

Dec.  14.  The  town  having  been  cited  to  make  answer  at  the 
General  Court  to  a  petition  to  make  Mill  River  a  precinct,  chose 
Lieut.  Eleazer  Taft,  Deacon  Thomas  Sanford,  Mr.  Joseph  John- 
son, Mr.  John  Jones,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  John  Fish  a  committee  to 
draw  up  reasons  why  the  prayer  of  the  Mill  River  petition  should 
not  be  granted,  and  directed  that  Lieut.  Eleazer  Taft  and  Mr. 
John  Jones,  Jr.,  should  present  said  reasons  to  the  General 
Court,  and  make  answer  to  said  petition. 

In  the  II.  of  R.  Dec.  22d  1741.  Read  again  with  the  answer  of  the  Town 
of  Mendon  &  thereupon  voted  that  the  prayer  of  the  Petitioners  be  so  far 
granted  as  that  the  Inhabitants  of  Mendon,  with  their  Estates,  lying  on 
the  Easterly  side  of  Mill  River  and  bounded  by  said  River,  Bellingham, 
Holliston  and  Hopkinton,  including  the  Families,  with  their  Estates,  on 
the  West  side  of  said  River  to  the  Eight  Rod  Road  as  expressed  and  de- 
scribed in  the  Petition,  together  with  Nathan  Tyler  and  his  lands,  Samuel 
Rawson,  Daniel  Lovett,  William  Hayward,  Thomas  White,  Danl.  White, 
William  Hovey,  Josiah  Adams,  Benj.  Green,  Samuel  Green  and  Ebenezer 
Albee,  with  their  Estates  in  the  old  or  standing  part  of  said  Town,  or  so 


1742.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  243 

many  of  them  as  shall  joyn  with  the  Petitioners  in  building  a  Meeting 
House  and  settling  a  Minister,  are  hereby  Erected  into  a  Distinct  and  Sep- 
arate Precinct,  and  the  Inhabitants  thereof  be  invested  with  the  same- 
Powers  and  Privileges  as  other  Precincts  do  enjoy. 

Saving  Nevertheless  that  Jonathan  Hay  ward,  John  Green,  Obadiah 
Wheelock,  Jas.  Albee,  Jos.  Corbit,  Thomas  Beard,  Benjamin  Albee,  Jr., 
Jno.  Kilburn,  Jno.  Hayward,  William  Sprague  Jr.  and  Jno."  White,  liv- 
ing within  the  above  mentioned  bounds,  or  so  many  of  them  as  shall 
desire  it,  together  with  their  Estates,  may  continue  to  the  standing  part  of 
sd  Town,  so  long  as  they  attend  the  public  worship  there  in  a  stated  way 
and  no  longer.  Also  Provided  that  the  said  Inhabitants  so  set  off  shall, 
within  the  space  of  2  years  from  this  time,  Erect  a  Convenient  Meeting 
House  &  settle  a  learned  and  Orthodox  Minister  for  the  Public  Worship  of 
God. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

J.  Hobson,  Speaker. 
In  Council  Dec.  23.  1741     Read  and  Con, 

J.  Willard,  Secy. 
Consented  to,        W.  Shirley. 

This  year  Mr.  Dorr  was  allowed  an  addition  to  his  salary  of 
£75,  and  £100  were  raised  to  defray  town  charges. 

The  vote  heretofore  passed,  appropriating  the  Land  Bank 
money  (the  income  from  the  sales  of  the  ministry  and  school 
lands,)  for  the  payment  of  town  charges,  was  reconsidered. 

Dec.  20.  1741.  We  the  Subscribers  in  assessing  the  Ministerial  Rates 
have  Excluded  ye  Persons,  as  f olloweth,  that  is  to  say  as  the  Anabaptists ; 
and  the  bind  of  Nicholas  Cook  of  Bellingham. 

David  Aldrich,  Henry  Bozworth, 

Edward  Pickerin.  Benjamin  Force, 

William  Sprague,  William  Phillips, 

Samuel  Thompson,  Peter  Aldrich. 

William  Rawson,    )       a  e  . , 

Ebenezek  Meriam,  -  /assessors  of  the. 
Thomas  Thayer.  Town  of  Mendon. 


1742.  Jan.  4.  Mr.  Dorr  was  allowed  £18,  " over  and  above 
what  had  been  paid  him,"  being  the  income  of  the  Ministerial 
land. 

Eleazer  Taft  and  Dr.  Samuel  Morse,  with  what  had  been 
allowed  them  before,  were  allowed  a  further  sum,  making  in  the 
whole  £40: 

March  1.     Chose  Nathan   Penniman,  Samuel  Thayer,  Uriah 


244  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1742. 

Thayer,  Capt.  Daniel  Lovett  and  Jonathan  Hay  ward,  Jr.,  for 
Selectmen;  Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Taft,  Esq., 
Town  Treasurer,  and  Daniel  Hazeltine  and  William  Hayward, 
Constables. 

March  17.  At  a  meeting  held  this  day  the  following  "  Be- 
quest" was  presented: 

"To  the  Freeholders  &  Other  Inhabitants,  of  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
Qualified  by  Law  to  Vote  in  Town  affairs  in  Lawfull  Townmeetting  As- 
sembled, by  Ad  journment  from  March  17.  1742. 

Wee  the  Subscribers  Your  Friends  and  Neighbors  of  the  Society  of  Poe- 
ple  Called  Quaquers  for  our  Selves  and  Others  of  our  Society  finding  the 
Yard  belonging  to  our  Meettinghouse  Too  Little  for  Our  Conveniancy, 

Request  ye  favour  of  Some  Enlargement,  Particularly  that  you  will 
please  to  Allow  us  Two  Rod  of  ye  Ten  (Rod)  Road  at  the  Front  of  Our  sd 
Meetting  house,  to  Run  an  equal  length  with  Our  Own  Land  to  the  same 
belonging,  Or  otherwise  as,  in  your  Judgement  and  good  Neighbourhood 
you  shall  think  convenient  in ;  and  Your  Kindness  to  Us  therein  will  Oblige 
Our  Love  and  Gratitude. 

The  foregoing  Request  was  granted  by  a  Clear  Vote  Always  Provided  ye 
Rod  mentioned  in  width  Doth  not  Extend  More  than  fourteen  Rod  Long  or 
fourteen  Rod  and  a  half  in  Length  at  Farthest." 

Who  the  subscribers  were  to  the  foregoing  request  does  not 
appear,  as  the  names  were  not  copied  into  the  town  record. 

The  yard  that  was  enlarged  by  the  above  addition  is  still  owned 
by  the  Eriends,  and  within  its  inclosure  are  quite  a  number  of 
graves,  but  except  in  one  instance  there  are  no  monuments  to 
designate  the  name  or  age  of  the  sleeper  beneath.  The  meeting 
house  that  stood  in  the  yard  has  long  since  disappeared,  having 
been  taken  down  and  removed  in  1850. 

July  5.  Josiah  Marshall,  A.  M.,  was  hired  by  the  Selectmen 
to  keep  school;  "that  is  the  Grammar  School  in  said  Town,"  for 
one  year  for  £19  lawful  money  or  in  bills  of  the  last  emission  or 
in  other  bills  equivalent  thereto.  This  contract  is  signed  by 
Josiah  Marshall  and  Daniel  Lovett,  Nathan  Penniman  and 
Samuel  Thayer,  Selectmen  of  Mendon. 

May  21.  Capt.  Bobert  Taft  was  chosen  Bepresentative  to  the 
General  Court. 

At  this  meeting  James  Albee,  Joseph  Bockwood,  Benjamin 
Bockwood,  Nathaniel  Thayer  and  others  petitioned  the  town  to 
be  set  off  to  Bellingham,  they  living  in  the  south  part  of  Men- 
don, but  the  town  refused  to  grant  their  request. 


1742.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  245 


Upon  this,  John  Holbrook  and  others  of  Bellingham,  and 
James  Albee  and  others,  of  Men  don,  appealed  to  the  General 
Court. 

Mass.  Archives,  Court  1741  to  1743,  p.  395. 

"A  Petition  of  John  Holbrook  and  others  of  the  Town  of  Bellingham 
and  James  Albee  and  others  of  the  Town  of  Meudon,  Shewing  that,  by 
reason  of  the  great  number  of  Sectaries*  in  Bellingham,  the  remaining  part 
are  not  able  to  Support  a  Gospel  Minister,  and  that  the  Petitioners  of  Men- 
don  are  commodiously  situated  for  Bellingham,  and  therefore  praying  that 
part  of  Mendon,  particularly  described  in  the  petition  may  be  set  off  from 
that  Town  and  joined  to  the  said  Town  of  Bellingham. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read  and  Ord.  that  the  Petitioners  serve  the  Town  of 
Mendon  with  a  copy  of  this  Petition  that  they  show  cause,  if  any  they 
have,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  the  next  session  of  this  Court  why  the  prayer 
thereof  should  not  be  granted. 

In  Council  Read  &  Con.  June  8.  1742. 

Consented  to,  W.  Shirley. 

Court,  1743  to  1745,  p.  143. 

"Sept.  3.  1742,  The  Petition  of  John  Holbrook,  James  Albee  and  others 
of  Bellingham  and  Mendon,  praying  as  entered  June  8.  1742 

In  Council  Read  again  together  with  the  answer  of  a  Committee  of  the 
Town  of  Mendon,  and  the  matter  being  fully  considered,  the  question  was 
put,  Whether  the  prayer  of  the  Petitioners  should  be  granted,  and  it  passed 
in  the  Negative ;  Whereupon  Ordered  that  the  Petition  be  dismissed, 
In  H.  of  R.  Read  and  Con. 

Consented  to,  W.  Shirley." 

The  committee  appointed  to  settle  with  Ebenezer  Staples, 
Town  Treasurer  for  1733  and  1734,  reported  that  they  "find 
difficulty"  (what  difficulty  the  record  saith  not),  and  that  "he 
hath  Complyed  to  pay  to  the  Town  for  a  Discharge  y"  sum  of 
five  pounds  in  the  Old  Tenor  Bills  of  Credit,  as  is  Complyed  with 
by  both  Parties."  The  Treasurer  having  paid  the  five  pounds, 
the  town  voted  to  confirm  the  settlement. 

OLD    AND    NEW   TENOE. 

For  some  years  past  the  General  Court  had  issued  Bills  of 
Credit,  as  they  were  called,  to  serve  for  its  presefit  necessities,  to 
be  redeemed  at  a  definite  time.  After  paying  its  present  in- 
debtedness, the  balance  of  the  issue  was  loaned,  in  various  sums, 
to  the  towns,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  trustees.     The  trustees 

*The  Anabaptists  supposed  to  be  the  Sectaries. 


246  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1743. 

again  loaned  it,  bnt  not  in  large  amounts,  to  the  inhabitants, 
taking  security  for  the  principal  and  interest'.  When  a  new 
issue  was  made  it  was  called  New  Tenor,  the  one  previously 
issued  was  called  Old  Tenor.  When  an  issue  of  Bills  of  Credit 
was  made  the  General  Court  fixed  their  value.  Thus,  in  1742, 
they  issued  £30,000,  and  by  the  second  section  of  the  act,  they 
"enacted  that  any  debt  of  four  shillings,  heretofore  contracted, 
may  be  discharged  by  one  shilling  of  the  bills  hereby  to  be  emit- 
ted, specialties  and  express  contracts  in  writing  excepted,  and 
so,  pro  rata,  for  a  greater  or  less  sum." 

•The  bills  were  printed  in  the  following  form  and  signed  by  a 
Committee  of  the  General  Court  appointed  for  the  purpose. 
Their  denominations  ranged  from  two  pence  to  forty  shilllings. 

(No.         )  -  •      Twenty  Shillings, 

This  bill  of  twenty  shillings,  due  to  the  possessor  thereof,  from  the  Pro- 
vince of  Massachusetts  Bay,  shall  be  equal  to  three  ounces  of  coined  silver, 
Troy  weight,  of  sterling  alloy,  or  gold  coin  at  the  rate  of  four  pounds 
eighteen  shillings  per  ounce;  and  shall  be  so  accepted  in  all  payments,  and 
in  the  Treasury.    Boston  1742.    By  order  of  the  General  Court  or  Assembly. 

-    Committee. 
— and  so,  mutatis  mutandis,  for  a  greater  or  less  sum. " 

Raised  £45  to  defray  town  charges  this  year. 


1743.  March  7.  For  Selectmen,  Major  Daniel  Lovett,  Daniel 
Taft,  Esq.,  Mr.  William  Torrey,  Mr.  John  Legg  and  Coroner  Wil- 
liam Rawson;  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  Town  Treasurer, 
Daniel  Taft,  Esq.;  Constables,  William  Hay  ward  and  Samuel 
Daniels,  Jr. ;  Assessors,  William  Torrey,  John  Legg  and  William 
Rawson. 

At  this  meeting  the  town  voted  to  dismiss  the  article  from  the 
warrant,  ''Signifying  they  would  Defend  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr 
against  his  opposers."  It  is  not  certain  what  the  difficulty  with 
Mr.  Dorr  was.  The  extensive  religious  agitation,  the  ''Great 
Awakening,"  as»  it  was  called,  of  1740,  about  which  men  were 
divided  in  opinion,  may  have  given  rise  to  the  coldness  of  some 
of  his  parishioners,  as  it  is  related  that  Mr.  Dorr  strongly  sympa- 
thized with  that  movement.  The  struggle,  which  resulted  in 
the  erection  of  the  Mill  River  Precinct,  may  also  have  given  rise 


1743.]         .   ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  247 

to  or  intensified  the  ''recent  unpleasantness,"  but,  as  we  hear  no 
more  of  the  opponents  of  Mr.  Dorr,  it  is  presumed  that  the 
autonomy  granted  the  Mill  Kiver  people,  in  matters  ministerial, 
or  the  subsidence  of  the  Great  Awakening,  one  or  both,  con- 
tributed to  the  return  of  a  lasting  peace. 

Voted  not  to  hire  a  Schoolmaster  this  year. 

March  25.  Maj.  Daniel  Lovett,  Mr.  Benjamin  Wheclock  and 
Mr.  George  Bruce  were  chosen  a  committee  to  treat  with  Ux- 
bridge  or  their  committee  concerning  the  Ministry  land.  What 
was  the  question  about  the  Ministry  land  does  not  appear. 

May  16.  Oapt.  Robert  Taft  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Aug.  29.  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Major  Daniel  Lovett  and  Dea- 
con Jacob  Aldrich  were  allowed  £1.15  each  for  five  days  work 
and  Major  Lovett  and  Deacon  Aldrich  3s.  6d.  each  for  half  a 
day's  work  in  selling  the  Ministry  land.  The  surveyor  of  the 
Ministry  land  was  allowed  £1.05  for  the  survey,  and  Major 
Daniel  Lovett,  Mr.  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  Mr.  George  Bruce 
Avere  allowed  £1.10  for  treating  with  the  Uxbridge  Committee. 
These  several  sums  were  to  be  paid  out  of  the  money  arising 
from  the  sale  of  the  land,  or  the  interest  due  therefrom.      "   . 

Among  other  accounts  audited  and  allowed  was  one  of  £12  to 
Sergt.  William  Hayward,  for  a  road  through  his  land,  bought  of 
Dr.  Wilson. 

Raised  £50  to  defray  town  charges. 

All  the  grants  for  this  year  were  in  Old  Tenor. 

There  was  an  article  in  the  warrant  to  see  if  the  town  will  be 
at  any  charge  in  "  Joyning  to  Lett  up  the  fish  in  the  Grate 
River,"  but  it  was  not  acted  on,  and  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 

The  East  Precinct  in  Mendon  was  created  by  the  General 
Court  Dec.  23,  1741,  and  it  Avas,  without  doubt,  soon  afterward 
organized.  It  seems  that  from  some  irregularities  in  the  man- 
ner of  voting  the  legality  of  the  Precinct  meetings  were  called  in 
question,  and  we  find  that  in  1743  they  applied  to  the  General 
Court  for  relief.  To  this  end  Deacon  Daniel  Corbett  and  Mr. 
Jonathan  Hayward  were  chosen,  on  the  23d  of  August,  1743, 
"  to  the  General  Court  to  Desire  Relief  and  Direction  under  our 
present  Difficulties."  They,  in  the  behalf  of  the  Precinct,  peti- 
tioned the  General  Court  as  follows: 

Mass.  Arch.  Towns,  Vol.  115,  p.  168, 


248  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1^43. 

" To  his  Excellency  William  Shirley  Esq.,  Capt.  General  and  Governor 
in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  the 
Honorable  his  Majesty's  Council  &  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  assembled  Sept.  1743. 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  Precinct  in  Mendon 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  yr  Petitioners,  at  their  General  Meeting  in  March 
1743  were  so  ill  advised  as  to  permit  a  considerable  number  of  persons  not 
duly  qualified  by  Law  to  vote  at  that  meeting  &  have  so  continued  to  do  at 
all  other  meetings  since,  being  induced  thereto  by  an  apprehension  that  it 
would  be  a  means  of  preserving  peace  and  unity  among  ourselves;  but  in- 
stead turns  to  the  contrary,  for  now  divers  of  our  Society  refuse  to  pay  any 
of  the  taxes  levied  for  building  a  Meeting  house  &  Supporting  a  Minister, 
giving  for  reason  that  all  the  votes  passed  at  said  meeting  and  all  other  suc- 
ceeding ones  are  null  and  void  because  passed  by  unqualified  persons;  so 
that,  by  this  means,  we  are  likely  to  be  in  the  greatest  confusion  imagina- 
ble, without  the  aid  of  the  Great  and  Honourable  Court;  Therefore  Yr  Pe- 
titioners humbly  pray  Yr  Excellency  and  Honours  would  be  pleased  to 
confirm  all  the  votes  passed  at  said  Meetings  to  this  time  and  by  yr  order 
make  them  as  effectual  as  if  all  the  voters  were  lawfully  qualified,  or  other- 
wise relieve  us  in  the  premises  as  in  your  Goodness  you  shall  think  best  & 
as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

Daniel  Corbett         )  In  the  Name  &  Behalf  of  the  East 
Jonathan  Hayward  [  Precinct  of  Mendon. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Sept,  9.  1743  Read  and  Ordered  that  the 
prayer  of  the  Petitioners  be  so  far  granted  as  that  the  respective  Parish 
Meetings  held  in  the  Easterly  Precinct  in  Mendon  since  the  year  1740  be 
deemed  and  hereby  are  declared  Valid  &  Legal;  and  all  affairs,  votes, 
Grants,  Assessments  and  other  things  passed  or  transacted  at  any  such 
meeting,  or  in  consequence  thereof  is  declared  good  in  Law,  and  all  per- 
sons concerned  are  hereby  required  to  conform  themselves  thereto  any  De- 
fect in  said  Meetings  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

T.  Cushing,  Spkr. 

In  Cdnncil  Read  &  Concurred  with  the  amendment  as  taken  into  a  new 
draft,  viz: — 

Whereas  it  appears  to  this  Court  the  irregular  proceedings  within  men- 
tioned were  not  in  wilful  Contempt  of  the  Law,  but  through  Inadvertance, 
and  Inasmuch  as  rendering  void  the  same  would  greatly  perplex  their 
Affairs,  if  not  prove  destructive  to  them  in  their  weak  and  infant  state. 

Therefore  Ordered  that  the  several  meetings  held  there  &  every  thing 
done  or  in  consequence  thereof  be  &  hereby  declared  valid  &  all  persons 
concerned  or  that  may  be  concerned  are  hereby  directed  to  conform  them- 
selves thereto  any  defect  in  their  proceeding  notwithstanding. 
Sent  down  for  Concurrence 

T.  Willard,  Secy. 


1744.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  240 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Sept.  12.  1743. 
Head  and  Concurred 

T.  Gushing,  Spkr. 
Consented  to        W.  Shirley. 

The  second  Precinct  in  Mendon  (now  Milford)  was  organized 
in  1741.  and  the  Eev.  Amariah  Frost  was  ordained  over  the 
Church  Dec.  21,  1743.  He  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Rice)  Frost,  and  was  born  in  Framingham  Oct.  4,  1720.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1740,  and  continued  in  the 
ministry,  at  Milford,  until  his  death,  March  14,  1792,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two. 

Mr.  Frost  was  thrice  married,  for  his  second  wife,  marrying 
Susanna,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr,  of 
Men  do  u. 

Mr.  Frost  was  reputed  an  excellent  man,  and  one  of  the  most 
popular  preachers  of  his  time.  It  is  a  sufficient  indication  of  his 
reputation  and  of  his  attainments,  to  state  that  he  was  exten- 
sively resorted  to  as  an  instructor  of  young  men,  fitting  for  col- 
lege and  for  the  ministry. 


1744.  March  (i.  Major  Daniel  Lovett,  Deacon  Nelson, 
Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Jonathan  Hayward  and  Lieut.  Thomas 
Thayer  were  chosen  Selectmen;  Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk; 
Daniel  Taft,  Escp,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Daniel  Taft,  Jr.,  and 
John  Chapin,  Constables. 

Daniel  Taft,  Esq. ,  Major  Daniel  Lovett  and  Sergt.  John  Legg 
were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  order  a  Monument  over  ye  Grave 
of  the  Revd  Mr.  Grindal  Rawson,  Late  Minister  of  Mendon." 

Mr.  Josiah  Marshall,  A.  M.,  was  again  chosen  schoolmaster. 

A  motion  was  made  to  build  a  new  school  house,  but  it  passed 
in  the  negative.  The  next  motion  found  more  favor,  as  it  was 
passed  in  the  affirmative,  being  a  motion  that  the  Second  Pre- 
cinct (Milford)  should  have  the  old  law  book  during  the  town's 
pleasure. 

May  18.  Chose  John  Tyler  and  John  Thayer  "  to  Take  Care 
for  the  Preservation  of  ye  Deer." 

Capt.  Robert  Taft  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  General 
Court, 

32 


250  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1745. 

It  was  voted  that  the  amoitnt  of  interest  money  derived  from 
the  sale  of  the  ministry  land,  for  the  present  year,  shall  be 
equally  divided  between  the  first  and  second  Precincts. 

Granted  £30  in  order  to  complete  the  Town's  stock  of  ammu- 
nition. 

Samuel  Davenport's  rates  for  1741  were  forgiven,  he  not 
having  removed  to  this  town  at  that  time. 

Aug.  31.  Various  bills  were  audited  and  ordered  to  be  paid, 
among  others,  Peter  Thayer's,  for  looking  after  a  child, 
£15.00.00. 

If  the  account  of  Peter  Thayer  could  be  found,  perhaps  we 
should  get  some  further  light  upon  the  reasons  of.  this  extraor- 
dinary entry,  and  if  the  General  Court  would  create  a  new  office, 
the  incumbent  of  which  should  be  provided  with  suitable  books 
of  record,  and  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  note  all  events,  other 
than  official  doings,  occurring  in  the  town  or'  elsewhere,  that 
would  aid  in  elucidating  the  history  of  the  town,  we  should  have 
a  far  better  understanding  of  our  public  records,  and  besides 
have  our  town  histories,,  without  any  great  labor  at  revision, 
ready  at  all  times  for  publication. 

The  grant  for  the  disbursement  of  town  charges  this  year  was 
£127. 

The  records  says  all  the  grants  were  to  be  paid  in  old  tenor. 

At  the  close  of  the  town  records  for  1744  the  following  entry 
is  made: — 

Mendon,  March  16.  1743,  Then  Received  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  such 
sums  of  Money  which  I  accept  in  full  satisfaction  of  my  Salaiy  and  Prof- 
fitts  of  Ministry  Lauds  from  the  time  of  my  first  Settlement  to  the  Date  of 
these  Presents.  I  say  Received  by  the  hands  of  Daniel  Taft  Esq.  and 
Town  Treasurer,  by  me  Joseph  Dorr, 

Minister  of  the  Town. 

The  town  lines  with  Upton,  Hopkinton,  Holliston  and  Bel- 
lingham  were  perambulated  this  year,  but  the  committee  for 
Bellingham,  for  some  reason  which  does  not  appear,  refused  to 
sign  the  certificate. 


1745.       March   ye   4.       Chose   for   Selectmen    Major    Daniel 
Lovett,  John  French.   William  Thayer,  Thomas  Tenney,  and 


1745.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  251 

Nathaniel  Nelson;  for  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  Town 
Treasurer,  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  for  Constables,  Eliphalet 
Warfield  and  David  Daniels. 

THE   TRAINING    FIELD. 

Mendon,  April  13.  1744 
Then  the  Selectmen  mett  and  Measured  the  Training  Field,  beginning 
att  a  heap  of  Stones  Bounded  Northerly  twenty  Rods  upon  Major  Daniel 
Lovett's  Land;  then  Bounded  Easterly  Thirty  five  Rods  on  Phinehas 
Lovett's  Laud ;  Then  Bounded  Southerly  Upon  Ebenezer  Merriam's  Land 
Nineteen  Rods;  then  Bounded  Westerly  Upon  the  Ten  Rod  Road  Thirty 
five  Rod  to  the  first  Bound,  the  whole  containing  four  Acres  and  a  Quarter 
and  two  Rod  &  a  half. 

Daniel  Taft  Esq.,      ) 
Jonathan  Hayward,  [•  Selectmen. 
Thomas  Thayer.         ) 

March  19.  Voted  to  sell  to  Phinehas  Lovett  a  portion  of  the 
Training  Field,  on  the  east  side,  adjoining  his  other  land,  thirty- 
five  rods  in  length,  seven  rods  at  the  sonth  end  of  the  Training- 
Field,  and  six  rods  at  the  north  end,  containing  one  acre,  three 
score  and  eight  rods.  The  consideration  was  £5.00.00,  old 
tenor. 

The  interest  of  the  ministry  land  was  voted  one  half  to  the 
First  Precinct  and  the  other  to  the  Second  Precinct. 

The  bill  of  Dr.  Daniel  Hews  for  doctoring,  and  the  bill  of 
William  Hayward  for  nursing  Elizabeth  Nox  or  Eose?  was  disal- 
lowed. 

March  19.  Voted,  That  all  the  roads  that  are  reputed  to  be 
more  than  four  rods  wide  in  the  town  of  Mendon,  be  reduced  to 
four  rods,  and  the  Selectmen  state  the  roads. 

Sept.  23.  The  committee  to  reckon  with  Daniel  Taft,  Esq., 
Treasurer,  reported  that  they  find  due  him  the  sum  of 
£30.13.11,  old  tenor.  They  also  find  in  former  constables  hands 
£13,  old  tenor,  and  interest  due  on  school  money  £13,  old  tenor 
— in  the  whole  £33.10.02,  and  about  £33  in  last  year's  orders 
unpaid. 

The  committee  to  review  Ebenezer  Staples'  account  as  Treas- 
urer for  1733  and  4,  find  due  him  £1.15.7,  and  that  a  note  of 
£5.00.00,  given  by  him  on  a  former  settlement,  should  be  given 
up  to  him. 

1st  Tuesday  in  October,  Nathaniel  Nelson  was  allowed  £2.07 


252  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1746. 

for  a  journey  to  Worcester  to  answer  a  presentment  against  the 
town,  and  for  laying  out  roads.  This  presentment  probably 
had  its  origin  in  an  alleged  claim  of  the  town  of  Uxbridge  that 
Mendon  was  held  to  contribute  to  the  maintenance  of  a  bridge 
over  the  Great  (Blackstone)  River. 

William  Hay  ward,  Constable  (collector)  was  allowed  £0.11.08 
for  rates  in  1743,  "on  Account  of  Men  Living  in  ye  Gore." 

Raised  to  pay  town  debts  £150,  old  tenor. 


1746.  March  17.  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Benjamin  Whcelock, 
Jun.,  Uriah  Thayer,  Jonathan  Hay  ward  and  Samuel  Scammell 
were  chosen  Selectmen;  Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel 
Taft,  Esq.,  Town  Treasurer,  and  Samuel  Rawson  and  Ichabod 
Robinson  were  chosen  Constables. 

The  vote  passed  March  19th,  1745,  to  reduce  the  roads  to  four 
rods  wide  was  reconsidered. 

Crownr  (Coroner)  William  Rawson  was  chosen  Grand  Jury- 
man. 

May  22.  The  Selectmen  were  instructed  to  hire  a  school- 
master. 

Samuel  Thayer,  Deacon  Nelson,  John  French,  Capt.  Robert 

Taft,  Jonathan  Hayward,  Thomas  Thayer  and  George , 

were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  consider  the  affair  of  building  a 
School  House  or  School  Houses  and  make  a  Report  at  the  next 
Town  meeting." 

Capt.  Robert  Taft  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

Voted,  that  "the  interest  of  the  money  the  Ministry  Land 
sold  for  should  be  divided  equally  between  the  1st.  &  2nd.  Pre- 
cinct." 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  see  "if  any  one  wishes  to  buy  any 
part  of  the  Ten  Rod  Road  And  See  what  they  will  give  for  it," 
and  report  to  the  town. 

Sept.  22.  Voted  to  pay  Dr.  John  Scammell  £8.10  "for  his 
Doctrin  Bethiah  Bridges." 

Voted  "to  raise  £133.00.00  to  defray  town  Debts." 

At  the  same  meeting  the  following  votes  were  passed: 


1747.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  253 

"  The  Selectmen  having  reduced  the  roads  more  than  four  rods  wide,  by 
metes  and  bound,  to  the  width  of  four  rods,  it  was  voted  to  accept  of  the 
Report  of  the  Selectmen. 

Voted  that  Nathan  Penniman  and  Abraham  Staples  be  a  Committee  to 
take  an  account  of  the  land  adjoyning  to  each  particular  person  that  is 
ajoyning  to  the  roads  or  highways  Reputed  to  be  more  than  Four  Rods 
wide,  in  order  to  Sell  the  same ;  that  is  all  above  four  rods  wide  in  said 
roads  and  report  at  the  next  town  meeting. " 

Voted  that  Mr.  George  Brace  and  Cr.  William  Eawson  be 
a  committee  to  refer  tlie  said  return  of  said  road  to  the  Court  of 
the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  in  and  for  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester for  a  confirmation. 

In  December  following,  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  William  Torrey 
and  Edmund  Morse  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  a 
"Draught''  of  all  land  which  is  to  he  disposed  of  as  above  said, 
in  order  for  the  town  to  act  on  at  their  next  meeting. 


1747.  March  2.  Selectmen,  John  French,  Maj.  Daniel 
Lovett,  Deacon  Nathaniel  Nelson,  George  Bruce,  and  John 
Chapin;  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  Town  Treasurer,  Daniel 
Taft,  Esq. ;  Constables,  George  Aldrich  and  John  Fish. 

March  30.  It  seems  that  the  town  did  not  think  it  best  to 
have  any  school  this  year,  as  they  voted  not  to  hire  Mr.  Josiah 
Marshall  as  Schoolmaster. 

May  26.  Maj.  Daniel  Lovett  and  Lieut.  William  Sheffield 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  assist  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Town  Trea- 
surer, "To  Look  After  the  Money,  Both  principal  and  Interest, 
Arising  by  virtue  of  the  Saile  of  the  Ministry  and  School  Land 
in  Mendon." 

Aug.  31.  This  meeting  was  occupied  by  auditing  and  allow- 
ing various  bills  and  foregoing  taxes,  among  which  was  one  in 
the  following  words:  "Voted  to  forego  £2.14.05.3  New  Tenor 
which  is,  in  old  Tenor,  £10.17.11,  in  Constable  David  Daniels' 
Rate  in  ye  year  1747,  which  was  Rated  to  men  in  the  Gore,','  known 
afterwards  as  Attleboro  Gore. 

To  defray  town  charges,  £150,  old  tenor,  was  raised. 

Tbe  Town  Clerk  was  directed  "  to  Send  to  the  Selectmen  of 
Bellingham  to  give  the  Reason,  if  any  they  have,  why  they  will 
not   sign  the  Preambulation  between  Mendon   and  Bellingham 


254 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1747. 


According  as  the  Line  hath  been  Preambulated  by  both  Parties 
for  Several  years  past  and  that  by  fair  Meets  &  Bounds." 

The  old  school  house  was  sold  to  Samuel  Thayer  for  £14,  old 
tenor. 

This  year  the  roads  were  reduced  to  four  rods  in  width,  and 
sold  to  the  abutters,  as  by  the  following  schedule: 

Jonathan  Wadsworth 1  Acre  &  14  rods. 

George  Bruce 1 

Moses  Aldrich 4 

Benjamin  Green 

Seth  Chapin's  heirs 

William  Torrey 

Nathaniel  Nelson. 1 

Ebenezer  Chapin 

John  Post 

John  White 1 

George  Aldrich   

Eliphalet  Wharfield 

Elihu  Warfield 

Daniel  Lovett,  Esq 

Nathan  Tyler 4 

Jonathan  Wadsworth 

Samuel  Green 1 

George  Bruce 1 

Samuel  Torrey 2 

Benjamin  Green 

Thomas  Rawson 

Grindal  Rawson 

Mary  Morse 

Rev.  Joseph  Dorr 1 

William  Torrey 2 

Ebenezer  Chapin 2 

Samuel  Thayer : 1 

Joseph  Chapin 2 

Ichabod  Anmidown 

Ebenezer  Staples. 1 

Moses  Aldrich  and  Samuel  Thayer* 

Moses  Aldrich 

Maj.  Daniel  Lovett 1 

Phiuehas  Lovett 4 

Benjamin  Meriam 2 

Edmund  Morse 3 

Joseph  Penniman 2 

Samuel  Rawson 3 


•e  &  14  rods 

£  1  10  00 

"   54  " 

2  00  00 

"  114  " 

7  02  00 

105  " 

1  00  00 

140  " 

1  07  06 

146  " 

1  18  00 

"   40  " 

1  17  00 

120  " 

1  02  06 

30  " 

0  05  00 

"      98  " 

2  08  00 

3  00  00 

140  " 

1  06  00 

108  " 

1  00  00 

124  " 

2  08  00 

"   00  " 

10  Rod  Road  6  00  00 

2  10  00 

"   69  " 

6  00  00 

"  100  " 

12  00  00 

'•   27  " 

10  16  10 

65  " 

2  08  09 

24  " 

19  00 

135  " 

3  07  06 

148  " 

11  11  00 

"   32  •' 

5  18  09 

"   76  " 

14  16  00 

"   18  " 

10  11  03 

"  120  " 

15  11  00 

•'   70  " 

12  07  06 

112  " 

7  00  00 

"  120  " 

6  00  00 

30  " 

2  00  00 

72  " 

5.    "      3  00  00 

"   92  " 

6  05  00 

"   00  " 

20  00  00 

12  00  00 

"   40  " 

20  00  00 

"   80  " 

6  00  00 

"   40  " 

8  00  00 

♦Friends  Meeting  House  yard,  2  rods  on  each  6ide. 


1748.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  255 

Sarah  Daniels  (Wid.  of  Saml.)..  .  1  Acre.  1(1  Rod  Road     3  10  00 

John  AJbee 4  Acres  100  rods.  "  23  00  00 

Lieut.  William  Sheffield 1      "    120  "                "  4  10  00 

Joseph  Corbitt "  3  00  00 

Capt.  Eleazer  Taft 4      "  "  10  00  00 

Elilme  Whartield 142  "  "  5  00  00 

Cro.  William  Rawson 3       "  "  10  00  00 

Joseph  Aldrich 1       "      20  "                "  •      4  10  00 

JosephAllin 3       "  "  12  00  00 

The  following  record  is  found  in  the  latter  end  of  the  second 
volume  of  the  Town  Records,  the  book  being  turned  upside 
down: 

January  yc  13,  1747.  After  choosing  a  Committee  to  audit  the  Treasu- 
rer's account  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  March  meeting,  then  to  the 
25th.  of  May,  then  to  the  last  Monday  in  August  and  then  to  the  21st  day 
of  September,  no  business  being  transacted  until  the  last  adjournment. 

At  this  lust  meeting  the  town  voted  to  build  one  new  school 
house,  and  to  set  it  "on  ye  Training  Field  where  it  will  be  most 
Accommodable,  that  is  at  ye  North  End  of  Said  Training  Field, 
adjoyning  to  the  road."  It  was  also  voted  that  "  the  School 
House  should  be  twenty  foot  in  Length  and  sixteen  foot  in  width 
and  Seven  foot  Studd  betwixt  Joynts."  Major  Daniel  Lovett, 
Mr.  Samuel  Thayer  and  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  build  the  house. 

This  was  the  second  and  only  school  house  in  town,  at  the 
time,  the  old  one  having  been  sold  to  Samuel  Thayer.  The  old 
school  house  stood  on  the  road  at  the  north  side  of  the  Friends 
meeting  house.  The  new  one  was  to  stand  near  where  the  barn 
of  Albert  W.  Gaskill  now  stands. 

The  money  accruing  from  the  sale  of  portions  of  the  roads  was 
to  be  paid  into  the  Town  Treasury,  and  so  much  as  may  be 
necessary  was  appropriated  for  building  the  school  house. 


1748.  March  7.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  William  Torrey,  Na- 
than Tyler,  Thomas  Thayer,  Daniel  Corbett  and  Phinehas 
Lovett;  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  Town  Treasurer,  Daniel 
Taft,  and  Constables,  Daniel  Taft,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Corbitt. 

March  21.  Josiah  Marshall  was  chosen  Schoolmaster  for  the 
current  year. 


256  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1749. 

May  17.  Deacon  Nathaniel  Nelson  was  chosen  Representative 
to  General  Court. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  "for  Time  to  Come  Lodg  the  yearly 
valuations  and  other  papers  Serviceable  to  the  Town's  use  in  the 
Clerk's  Office." 

Aug.  29.  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer,  Ensign  John  Legg  and  Cr. 
William  Rawson  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  Examine  the  Ac- 
counts of  the  Committee  Chosen  to  Build  a  School  house  for 
y'Town  and  report  at  the  adjourned  meeting;  and  also  to  reckon 
with  the  Treasurer." 

The  income  from  the  Ministry  land  to  be  equally  divided  be- 
tween the  First  and  Second  Precincts. 

The  town  voted  they  would  have  but  one  school,  and  that  but 
for  four  months.  Raised  £100,  old  tenor,  for  town  charges,  and 
£8  to  mend  Trask's  bridge. 


1749.  March  ye  6th.  Selectmen,  Abraham  Staples,  William 
Thayer,  George  Aldrich,  Ensign  John  Rockwood  and  Benjamin 
Wheelock;  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  Town  Treasurer, 
Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  and  Phinehas  Lovett  and  Moses  Gage  for 
Constables. 

Ensign  John  Legg  and  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer  were  chosen  "to 
take  care  of  the  Deer." 

All  the  abutters  on  the  roads  had  not  yet  agreed  to  purchase 
against  their  lands,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  treat  with 
them  and  agree  with  them,  if  they  can,  "according  to  the  Gen- 
eral Proceedings  of  the  Town  in  that  Affair." 

In  the  early  laying  out  of  the  divisions  of  land,  in  many  places, 
a  way  for  a  road  was  reserved.  Some  of  these  reservations  had 
been  used  and  others  had  not.  The  town  now  voted  that  Capt. 
Thomas  Thayer  and  Lieut.  William  Sheffield  be  directed  "to 
sell  the  Allowance  for  Roads  where  there  is  No  occasion  for 
Roads." 

They  also  voted  "that  the  Grammar  School  should  not  be 
kept  in  the  School  House."  This  school  heretofore  had  been 
kept  a  portion  of  the  time  in  the  old  school  house. 

May  22.     Nathaniel  Nelson  was  chosen  Representative. 

Warrants  for  town  meetings  were  to  be  posted  at  the  meeting 


1749.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  257 


house  in  Mendon;  at  the  Second  Precinct  meeting  house;  at 
Sheffield's  Mill,  and  at  Trask's  mill. 

Voted  to  raise  £300,  old  tenor,  to  defray  town  charges. 

It  will  he  remembered  that,  in  the  divisions  of  the  common 
lands,  the  school  and  the  ministry  were  both  reckoned.  For 
some  reason  laying  out  of  some  of  the  divisions  of  land  belong- 
ing to  the  ministry  had  been  neglected,  and,  at  this  meeting, 
Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  and  Deacon  Jacob  Aldrich  were  directed 
"to  Lay  out  the  Remainder  of  the  Ministry  Land." 

Voted  that,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr,  Present 
Minister,  Abraham  Fletcher  Have  the  Use- of  the  Ministry  Meadow  belong- 
ing to  the  Town  of  Mendon,  for  Twenty  years  from  the  date  hereof,  Pro- 
vided he,  the  said  Fletcher,  Shall  Clear  up  all  the  said  Meadow  and  finally 
Subdew  the  same  within  the  Space  of  three  years  from  the  date  hereof  and 
have  the  same  under  good  and  sufficient  fence  and  Leave  it  under  good 
Leagal  Fence  at  the  end  of  said  Time;  and  further  the  Said  Abraham 
Fletcher  is  (for  the  Use  of  Said  Meaddow)  to  mow  and  make  all  the  Grass  or 
produce  of  said  Meadow  yearly,  and  seasonably  and  Deliver  the  one  third 
part  of  the  Hay  to  the  said  Mr.  Dorr  at  his  barn  yearly,  the  said  Mr.  Don- 
continuing  to  be  the  Minister  in  this  place;  but,  and  if  the  said  Mr.  Don- 
Discontinue  to  be  Minister  in  this  Place,  before  the  said  Time  be  Expired 
then  the  said  Fletcher,  or  his  order,  Shall  Deliver  to  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
or  their  order,  the  said  third  part  of  the  Hay,  as  they  shall  order  the  same 
not  exceeding  the  same  distance  from  the  town. 

Deacon  Nelson,  Benj.  Wheelock,  Abraham  Staples  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Thayer  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  reckon  with  the 
Committee  to  build  the  School  House,  and  to  view  the  School 
House  and  to  Except  (accept)  or  noun  except  the  same  to  Re- 
port at  the  next  meeting." 

August  yc  24.  1749.  As  we  hear  no  more  about  the  school 
house,  it  is  supposed  the  committee  found  it  properly  construct- 
ed. The  settlement  they  made  with  the  Treasurer  is  as  follows, 
viz: — 

Then  Wee  the  Subscribers  met  and  Reckoned  with  the  Town  Treasurer 
(Daniel  Taft  Esq.)  and  found  due  to  him,  in  Old  tenor, 

The  sum  of £41   10  00 

And  wee  found  to  Several  others,  in  Old  tenor GO  00  00 

£101  10  00 
And  we  find  due  to  the  Town  (from)  Particular 

Persons,  viz:  upon  ye  School  Bonds,  about. £8  00  00 

and  in  Constable  Taft's  hands 10  00  00 

33 


258  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1750. 

In  Esq.  Taft's  hands  Intress  money 8  00  00 

In   debt   (to)  the  Town  for  Laud  on  (side)  of  the 

Roads 12  00  00  38  00  00 

The  Town  remains  in  debt,  Old  tenor £63  10  00 

Daniel  Taft,  Town  Treasurer. 

John  Rockwood,      "] 
Abraham  Staples,  |  Selectmen  of 
George  Aldrich,     f     Mendon. 
Benj.   Wheelock.    J 

The  above  Reckning  was  Excepted  (accepted?)  by  the  Town  at  their 

meeting 

Attest,         Edmd  Morse,  Town  Clerk. 


1750.  March  ye  5th.  Chose  Oapt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Daniel 
Sumner,  George  Bruce,  Icliabod  Robinson  and  William  Rawson, 
Selectmen;  Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Taft,  Esq., 
Town  Treasurer,  and  Ebenezer  Chapin  and  David  Pond,  Con- 
stables. 

May  o.  It  was  voted  to  have  a  grammar  schoolmaster,  but 
voted  they  would  not  have  Mr.  Foster  "  by  the  whole  town  save 
one." 

May  25.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  "  Voted  and  chose 
Mr.  Dorr's  son  Joseph  and  Cant.  Eleazer  Taft's  son  Moses  to  Keep 
School  by  tipetts  as  they  can  agree  with  them  at  a  reasonable 
rate,  for  this  present  year." 

Chose  Nathaniel  Nelson  Representative  to  the  General  Court. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted — 

' '  To  Sett  the  Town  Pound  on  the  Land  of  Ebenezer  Chapin,  in  the  Cor- 
ner by  ye  Road  leading  to  John  Post's,  He  the  said  Chapin  giving  the  land 
to  Sett  said  Pound  on,  and,  on  said  Pound  being  sett  up  on  said  Lands  as 
aforesaid,  by  the  Town,  the  said  Chapin  or  his  heirs  or  order,  is  Obliged  to 
Maintaine  the  said  Pound,  a  good  and  Lawful  Pound,  for  the  Town's  use, 
During  ye  Term  of  Fifteen  years,  from  the  date  hereof,  at  his  own  cost  and 
charge.  Said  Ebenezer  Chapin  being  present,  freely  CoDsented  to  ye  fore- 
going vote  and  Promised  to  Preform  ye  same." 

Voted  "  to  build  a  School  House  near  the  East  Precinct  Meet- 
ing House  for  ye  use  of  the  Town,  and  that  the  interest  money 
arising  from  the  sale  of  the  School  lands  be  erpially  divided  be- 
tween the  two  precincts." 


1750.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  259 

Dr.  Scammell  was  paid  £2.14.00  "for  Looking  after  Eunice 
Wilson  and  Marthay  Bridges." 

Raised  £40,  lawful  money,  to  defray  town  charges. 

MR.    KAWSON'S    FAEM. 

Iii  1685,  Secretary  Rawson  bought  of  the  Natick  Indians  a 
tract  of  land,  afterward  annexed  to  Mendon  by  the  General 
Court,  containing  about  2,000  acres.  The  consideration  in  the 
deed  was  £14,  lawful  money. 

The  following  document  continues  the  history  of  this  pur- 
chase, although  we  are  still  left  in  the  dark  how  the  controversy 
was  finally  adjusted. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. 

To  the  Honourable  Spencer  Phipps  Esq.  Lieut.  Governor  and  Comman- 
der in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
in  New  England,  the  Honourable  his  Majesty's  Council  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, in  General  Court  Assembled  at  Boston  this  twenty  second  day 
of  January  A.  D.  1750. 

The  Petitioners  of  The  Proprietors  of  Rawson's  Farm  in  Bellingham, 
Humbly  Sheweth. 

That  about  Sixty  years  ago  Mr.  Rawson,  a  Secretary  of  this 
Province  having  a  Grant  of  the  General  Court  of  1840  acres  according  to  a 
Plan  drawn  on  Parchment,  by  Capt.  Thomas  Thurston  of  Medfleld;  sd 
Rawson  and  son  sold  sd  Farm  to  William  Haward,  Thomas  Sanford  & 
others,  who  agreed  each  to  Build  a  house  and  live  therein,  which  they  did 
after  some  time,  &  sd  Purchasers  formed  themselves  into  a  Propriaty,  Chose 
a  Clerk  &  a  Committee  to  Devide  said  Farm  not  into  Equal  parts  but  ac- 
cording to  the  different  sums  Each  Paid  purchase  money,  from  one  acre 
lots  to  100  acre  lots;  and  from  year  to  year,  as  the  Committee  made  returns 
of  their  Devisions,  the  Clerk  recorded  them  in  a  Book  Provided  for  that 
end. 

That  about  20  years  since  James  Smith,  as  he  sales,  was  chosen  Clerk  & 
the  Original  Deed  from  sd  Rawson  &  Plan  Both  drawn  on  Parchment  & , 
scaled  and  fasned  together  and  sd  Book  of  Records  Came  into  said  Smith's 
hands  with  the  papers  belonging  to  the  sd.  Propriaty,  the  Number  of  which 
is  Uncertaine,  the  first  Purchasers  being  all  Ded  but  one  &  he  is  removed 
at  a  Distance  from  us,  and  sd  Books  &  Papers  &c.  being  very  much  Secreted 
by  sd.  Smith. 

That  about  15  years  ago  there  were  several  Bounds  of  sd.  Devision  lost 
&  there  was  like  to  have  been  a  law  suite  by  reason  of  one  selling  to  Bounds 
contrary  to  sd.  Records;  sd  Smith  was  applyed  to  for  copyes,  but  he  said 
he  was  chosen  Clerk  of  sd.  Proprietors,  But  his  choice  was  not  recorded 
neither  was  he  sworn  and  that  he  could  not  attest  copys. 


260  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1750. 

That  soone  after  the  Proprietors  met  &  chose  Joseph  Holbrook  their 
Clerk  who  went  to  James  Smith  &  Desired  sd.  Book  &c.  of  him,  but  said 
Smith  Put  him  off  from  time  to  time  by  saying  he  wanted  to  make  him 
copyes  from  said  Book  of  his  own  Interest;  at  other  times  that  he  had  the 
gout  and  Rumatism  in  his  hand  &  as  soone  as  he  was  well  he  would  copy 
what  he  wanted  and  Deliver  the  Book  &c.  the  above  sd  difference  being 
made  up  &  the  Proprietors  hoping  he  would  Deliver  the  Book  &c.  and, 
being  loth  to  see  them  out  of  his  hands,  let  them  remain  there. 

That  last  Winter  sd  Smith  sold  a  number  of  pine  trees  to  several  Mendon 
poeple  out  of  a  lot  of  land  claimed  by  another  man.  About  that  time  tres- 
passes were  committed  in  another  place  on  sd  Farm,  the  lots  not  to  be 
known  but  by  sd  Book,  which  said  Smith  secreted :  which  Drove  the  Pro- 
prietors to  their  action  against  said  Smith.  But  in  April  he  non  suited 
them. 

That  in  July  his  attorney  made  Several  pleas  in  abatement  which  were 
Overruled  in  the  Inferiour  Court  at  Boston  &  a  Plea  in  Bar  (that  the  cause 
of  action  did  not  arise  within  three  years  of  commencing  his  action)  which 
was  an  action  Detinu,  the  judges  of  the  Inferiour  Court,  as  we  understand, 
were  of  opinion  that  the  law  of  limitation  referred  to  was  not  Intended  to 
Extend  to  Real  actions  and  they  gave  judgment  that  sd  Smith  Deliver  the 
Book,  Plan  and  Papers  sued  for  in  fourteen  Days  after  entering  up  the 
same  judgment  &  Pay  Costs,  or  in  Default  thereof  the  Proprietors  afore  sd 
shall  recover  judgment  against  the  said  James  Smith  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds,  lawful  money  &  Costs  of  sute;  from  which  judgment  sd  Smith 
appealed  to  the  Superior  Court  in  August.  When  sd  action  was  tried  there 
were  4  judges  Present  who  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  as  the  act  of 
Detinue  made  no  distinction  between  Real  and  Personal  actions,  that  this 
action  was  Included  and  gave  judgment  that  the  action  afore  sd  be  barred 
and  that  sd  Smith  Recover  his  costs  against  sd  Proprietors. 

Which  has  put  sd  Proprietors  into  the  utmost  concern,  for  that  there  is 
now  on  sd  Farm  16  or  17  families  that  sd  Smith  witholds  from  them  the 
Original  Title  to  their  lands  and  all  their  bounds  being  no  where  recorded 
but  in  said  Book  of  Records. 

That  sd  Smith  is  by  his  indolence  and  Tavern-spending  reduced  from  a 
fair  Estate  and  that  his  Estate  is  accounted  Insolvent. 

That  he  has  neither  family  nor  any  cattell — lives  at  a  Tavern — kept  said 
Book  etc  with  him  in  Boston  jail  about  8  months,  as  he  has  told  some  of  us 
lately  &  we  fear  is  sulied  if  not  spoilt  aired}'. 

That  he  has  threatened  to  burn  said  Book  &c. 

That  we  are  without  Relief  at  Common  Law. 

Your  Petitioners  therefore  Repaire  to  this  Honourable  Court,  Praying 
Relief  as  in  such  cases  is  Equitable  &  just,  and  that  you  would  order  the 
said  James  Smith  to  Deliver  sd  Book,  Original  Deed,  Plan  &  Papers  to 
Joseph  Wight  Jr.  of  sd  Bellingham  for  the  use  of  sd  Proprietors  and 

That  sd  Proprietors  may  be  released  from  paying  to  sd  Smith  the  above 
sd  Costs  of  sute,  and 


1751.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  261 


That  your  Honours  would  order  said  Proprietors  to  recover  against  said 
Smith  their  costs  as  if  judgment  had  been  for  them  at  the  above  sd  Supe- 
rior Court;  or,  that  you  would  grant  the  Proprietors  a  Review  of  the  case 
at  the  Superior  Court  for  Suffolk  County  in  Feb.  next,  and  said  action  to 
stand  as  though  brought  in  due  time  &  that  execution  be  stayed  in  the 
mean  time,  or  other  waies  Relieve  us  as  in  your  Superiour  Wisdom  shall 
judge  Best. 

And  Your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  Round  shall  Ever  Pray. 
The  Subscribers  interest  is  as  follows. 

Samuel  Wiswall,       295  acres. 
Elezer  Hay  ward,       290     " 
Peter  Thomson,         130     " 
Elnathan  Wight,       100     " 
Thomas  Baxter,  60     " 

Ebenezei~Hayward,  150     " 
John  Metcalf,  180     " 


Petitioners  interest.  1205  " 

In  Council  Jan.  22.  1750,  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  serve 
James  Smith,  the  adverse  party  with  a  Copy  of  this  Petition  that  he  may 
shew  cause,  if  any  he  hath,  on  Friday  the  25th  Last,  why  the  Prayer  thereof 
should  not  be  granted. 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence 

Samuel  Holbrook,  Depy.  Sec. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  Jan.    22.   1750     Read   and  Nou  Con- 
curred and  Ordered  that  this  Petition  be  dismissed. 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence. 

T.  Hubbard,  Secy. 
In  Council  Jan.  22.  1750 

Read  and  Concurred 

Saml.  Houbrook,  Depy  Sec. 
Consented  to. 


1751.  "Jan.  10.  Being  a  Town  Meeting  (legally  called)  Principally 
to  Consider  of  the  Demur  which  has  Lately  a  risen  Conserning  a  Line  or 
Bounds  which  ought  to  be  Settled  Betwixt  the  Township  of  Mendon  and 
the  Township  of  Uxbridge;  and  after  Debate  on  the  Premises,  the  Town, 
by  several  votes  Chose  a  Committee  of  Nine  Men,  viz: — Capt.  Nathan 
Tyler,  Capt  Robert  Taft,  William  Torrey,  Edmund  Morse,  John  Chapin, 
George  Bruce,  Ichabod  Robinson,  Samuel  Thayer  and  Corp;  David  Taft, 
and  they  were  impowered  to  joyn  with  the  Town  of  Uxbridge,  or  their 
Committee  to  Preambulate  a  Line  Between  the  Town  of  Mendon  and  the 
Town  of  Uxbridge  if  there  be  any  Such  Line  to  be  found  agreeable  to  the 
Grant  Made  to  ye  town  of  Uxbridge  and  the  Court's  Sanction  thereon  But 
if  there  Be  no  such  Line  to  be  found,  Then  the  Said  Committee  be  Impow- 
ered  to   joyn  with    Said  Uxbridge  or  Committee  to  Run,  Make  and  Es- 


262  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1751. 

tablish  A  Line  between  the  said  Towns  agreeable  to  said  Grant  to  Said 
Uxbridge.  But  if  the  said  Town  of  Uxbridge  will  not  Comply  to  Settle  a 
Line  according  to  said  Grant  &c.  then  the  Said  Committee  or  such  Man  or 
Men  out  of  Said  Committee  as  they  shall  Order  or  Depute  May  Do  and  Act 
any  thing  or  things  Advisable  in  the  Law,  or  by  applying  to  any  Legal 
Authority  for  their  Assistance  In  Or  Der  to  Make  a  final  Settlement  of  said 
Line  Betwixt  the  said  Towns  &c. 

Attest,  William  Torrey,  Moderator, 

Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk. 

March  27  (warrant  says  28.)  At  a  town  meeting  held  this 
day,  Capt.  Thomas  Thayer,  William  Torrey,  David  Taft,  John 
Chapin  and  Jonathan  Whitney  were  chosen  Selectmen;  Edmund 
Sanford,  Town  Clerk;  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  Town  Treasurer,  and 
James  Sumner  and  Samuel  Green,  Constables. 

May  20.  Voted  "y*  Mr.  Dorr's  son  should  be  the  Town 
School  Master  as  soon  as  he  can  be  had,  and  when  he  cannot  be 
had,  then  Mr.  Taft's  son  to  be  ye  Town's  School  Master."  Mr. 
Dorr's  son  was  Joseph,  who  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1752,  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was 
afterwards  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  County  of  Worcester,  and 
died  at  Brookfield.  Mr.  Taft's  (Eleazer)  son  was  Moses,  who 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1751,  married  Mary  Dorr  (sister 
to  Joseph)  Aug.  15,  1753,  studied  divinity,  settled  at  Randolph, 
Massachusetts,  and  had  four  sons,  who  all  graduated  at  Harvard 
College. 

Elder  (Nathaniel)  Nelson  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Aug.  25.     The  following  appropriations  were  made,  viz: 

To  Daniel  Taft  Esq.  services  as  Treasurer,  for  1749  &  1750 £  1  00  00 

1 '  James  Sumner,  Constable,  for  carrying  out  of  Town  Robert 

Macfarling  &  Alexr  Claton  and  their  families 2  00  00 

For  Town  Charges 15  00  00 

These  appropriations  were  in  lawful  (sterling)  money,  not  old 
tenor. 

Voted  to  forego  Thomas  Seaben's  rate  bills,  being  £1.07.04, 
for  double  money.  By  double  money  is  meant  that  the  property 
had  been  taxed  to  another  person,  as  it  is  found  more  clearly 
expressed  in  other  places. 

Benjamin  Wheelock,  George  Aldrich  and  David  Taft  were 
chosen  "to  reckon  with  the  Committees  formerly  chosen  to  Sell 


1751.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


263 


(lit1  Land  Lying  in  t lie  Reputed  Ten  Rod  Roads  or  other  Roads 
more  than  four  Rods  wide,'"  and  make  a  report  at  a  future 
meeting-. 

REPORT    OF    A    COMMITTEE. 

Wee  the  Subscribers  Chosen  by  the  Town  of  Mention  to  Reckon  with  the 
Committee  Chosen  by  the  Town  to  Build  a  Shool  House  Mett  and  Viewed 
said  School  house  and  wee  Excepted  (accepted)  The  Said  House  to  be 
finished  according  to  the  Agreement  the  said  Committee  made  with  Ed- 
mund Morse. 

As  for  the  Account  of  the  said  Committee,  appointed  to  Build  Said 
House,  it  is  as  followeth  viz: — 

Mendon  Oct.  7.  1751  Wee  ye  Subscribers  whose  names  are  annexed  to.our 
Account,  as  it  here  stands,  have  Recd  full  satisfaction  for  our  Labour  etc. 

Maj.    Daniel  Lovett £  8  16  00        Phinehas  Lovett. 

('apt.   Nathan  Tyler 4  14  00         Nathan  Tyler. 

Jona.  Wadsworth 2  05  00        Jona  Wadsworth. 

Jacob  Aldrich 5  00  00        Jacob  Aldrich. 

Benjamin  Merriam 4  15  00        Benjamin  Merriam. 

Joseph  Allen 4  00  00        Joseph  Allen. 

Benjamin  Thayer 1  16  00        Benjamin  Thayer. 

John  Legg 14  18  00        John  Legg. 

Moses  Aldrich 15  00        Moses  Aldrich. 

Joseph  Corbitt 1  00  00        Joseph  Corbitt. 

Ebenezer  Merriam ..  . 13  00        Ebenezer  Merriam. 

Phins  Lovett 12  00        Phinehas  Lovett. 

George  Aldrich 1  00  00        George  Aldrich. 

Edmund  Morse 134  12  00        Edmd.  Morse. 

Samuel  Thayer 28  00  00        Samuel  Thayer. 

£212  11  00 

Capt.  Thomas  Thayer,     ") 

Ens.  John  Legg, 

El.  Nathaniel  Nelson,  [r  Committee. 

Benjamin  Wheelock,      | 

Abraham  Staples.  J 

If  the  accounts  of  our  public  servants  were  always  subjected  to 
as  searching  a  scrutiny  as  was  the  committee  for  building  this 
insignificant  school  house,  we  should  hear  little  of  ring  thieves 
and  less  of  peculation  from  the  public  treasury. 

THE    MENDON"    ASSOCIATION. 

-Mr.  Dorr,  was,  with  three  others,  the  founder  of  the  Mendon 
Association  of  Congregational  Ministers,  as  will  appear  by  the 


264  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1752. 

following  extract  from  the  record  of  the  proceedings  of  its  first 
meeting: 

"A  number  of  the  Pastors  of  chhs.  viz.,  of  ye  1st  chh  of  Christ  in  Men- 
tion, of  ye  chh  of  Christ  in  Uxbridge,  of  ye  3d  Church  of  Christ  in  Mendon, 
of  ye  ch.  of  Christ  in  Upton,  being  conven3  at  ye  house  of  ye  Revd  Mr  Frost 
in  sd  Mendon  (now  Milford)  Nov  ye  8th.  1751 

Being  thotful  that  it  might  tend  to  the  Advancement  of  ye  Glory  of  Christ 
and  of  his  Kingdom  and  Interest  in  this  Vicinity  for  them  to  Associate 
have  thot  it  duty,  and  Accordingly 

1st.       Voted  themselves  associated,  and 

2nd.     Voted  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr  the  Moderator  of  the  Association. 

3thd.    Mr.  Webb  ye  scribe  for  the  pres' Meeting." 

At  this  meeting  David  Thurston,  a  graduate  at  Princeton  in 
the  Class  of  1751,  was  licensed  to  preach,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  certificate: 

"This  may  Certify  that  we,  the  Subscribers,  Associated  Pastors  of  chhs. 
of  Christ,  Have,  upon  the  application  of  Mr.  David  Thurston,  admitted 
him  to  examination  in  order  to  his  Regular  Introduction  to  the  preaching 
of  the  Gosp1;  and  upon  a  proper  Examination  Respecting  his  Moral  Char- 
acter, his  Learning,  his  Orthodoxy  in  the  Doctrines  of  the  Gosple  and 
Christian  Experience  in  Religion  are  Well  Satisfied  as  to  his  qualifications 
for  or  Entrance  upon  ye  Gosple  Ministry,  and  can  very  freely  recommend 
him  to  ye  churches  and  Poeple  of  God  as  a  suitable  person  to  preach  the 
Gosple,  wheresoever  he  shall,  by  ye  Providence  of  God,  be  calld. 

Joseph  Dorr 
Nathan  Webb 
Amariah  Frost 
Elisha  Fish. 
Mendon  Nov.  8.  1751." 

Thus  Mr.  Thurston  was  the  first  Licentiate  of  the  Mendon 
Association.  He  was  the  son  of  David  and  Deborah  (Pond) 
Thurston,  of  Wrentham,  where  he  was  born,  May  9,  1726.  He 
Avas  ordained  over  the  church  in  West  Med  way,  June  23,  1752. 
After  he  had  been  settled  seventeen  years,  owing  to  ill  health 
and  the  troubles  growing  out  of  the  revival  of  1740,  he  asked  a 
dismission,  and  was  never  resettled. 

The  Mendon  Association  still  keeps  up  its  organization,  and 
has  occasional  meetings. 


1752.     March  ye  2d.  Anno  Domini  1752.    Chose  for  Selectmen, 
William  Thayer,  Samuel  Wheelock,  James  Sumner,  Benjamin 


1753.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  265 

Crag-gin  and  Ebenezer  Chapin;  Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse; 
Town  Treasurer,  Lieut.  William  Sheffield;  Constables,  Samuel 
Penniman  and  Samuel  Green.  Deacon  Jacob  Aldrich  was 
chosen  Clerk  of  the  Market.  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that 
swine  should  not  run  at  large,  but  March  1G,  they  were  allowed 
the  liberty  of  the  town. 

"  Mention  April  ye  7.  1752.  Taken  up  the  fifth  Day  of  April  Instant  A 
Leather  Purs  of  Money  amounting  to  Three  pounds  Fifteen  Shillings  and 
seven  pence,  Lawful  Money,  found  in  Mendon  Streets,  by  Hannah  Lovett, 
Daughter  of  Phinehas  Lovett,  of  Mendon.  Jonathan  Foster  owned  the 
above  mentioned  money  and  had  the  same  delivered  to  him." 

May  15.  Chose  William  Torrey,  Ens.  John  Legg,  Phinehas 
Lovett,  Samuel  Thayer  and  Cor' (Cornet)  David  Taft,  a  com- 
mittee to  settle  and  establish  a  line  between  the  town  of  Mendon 
and  Uxbridge,  in  conference  with  a  committee  of  Uxbridge,  ac- 
cording to  the  grant  made  to  Uxbridge  by  the  General  Court; 
and  the  committee  to  be  continued  until  the  last  Monday  in 
October  next. 

May  18.  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court. 

The  Ministry  money,  as  usual,  was  divided  equally  between 
the  First  and  Second  Precincts.  Daniel  Taft,  Esq.,  was  allowed 
£3  for  his  services  as  Town  Treasurer,  and  £20,  lawful  money, 
was  raised  and  appropriated  to  defray  town  charges. 


*7 '53-  March  5.  Selectmen,  Thomas  Thayer,  Ichabod  Robin- 
son, Samuel  Hay  ward,  Samuel  Thayer,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Thayer; 
Town  Clerk,  Edmund  Morse;  Town  Treasurer,  William  Shef- 
field; Constables,  Josiah  Chapin  and  William  Hay  ward. 

March  26.  Voted  to  choose  four  more  Selectmen,  and  chose 
Elder  Nathaniel  Nelson,  William  Rawson,  Esq.,  Benjamin  AVhee- 
lock  and  John  French. 

Trash's  (formerly  Samuel  Thompson's)  mill  was  situated  on 
an  island  in  the  Great  (now  Blackstone)  River,  at  what  is  now 
Millville,  and,  it  seems,  there  were  at  this  time  no  bridges  con- 
necting the  grist  mill  with  either  bank  of  the  river,  or,  if  there 
were  any,  they  had  become  unsafe  for  use. 

34 


266  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1753. 

At  this  meeting  the  town  voted  they  would  neither  build  a 
bridge  over  the  Great  River  or  erect  more  school  houses.  As 
there  was  no  school  house  west  of  the  Blackstone  River,  it  seems 
probable  that  the  people  living  there  had  asked  for  building  the 
bridge  over  the  river,  and,  in  default  of  that,  for  a  school  house, 
as  otherwise  there  would  be  no  other  way  to  go  to  mill  or  to 
school  except  by  a  ferry  across  the  river. 

Voted  to  raise  £150,  old  tenor,  to  mend  the  highways,  and 
that  a  man  should  have  two  shillings,  and  a  man  and  team  five 
shillings  a  day  for  labor  on  the  roads. 

Town  meetings  were  to  be  warned  by  notices  posted  at  the 
Town's  Meeting  House,  at  the  East  Precinct  Meeting  House, 
and  at  Oargill's  Mill,  now  East  Blackstone. 

Capt.  Robert  Taft  was  chosen  Grand  juror  man. 

May  14.  The  town  again  voted  against  allowing  the  East  Pre- 
cinct to  be  set  off  as  a  distinct  town,  and,  on  the  same  day,  chose 
Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Representative  to  the  General  Court. 

August  20.  Raised,  to  defray  town  charges,  £26.13.04,  law- 
ful money. 

As  usual,  the  income  of  the  Ministry  lands  was  ecpially  divided 
between  the  two  precincts. 

William  Sheffield,  Town  Treasurer,  was  instructed  to  collect 
the  amount  due  for  lands  sold  out  of  the  highways,  and  convert 
the  same  to  the  town's  use. 

"Mendon  Oct.  7.  1753. 
Wee,  the  Subscribers,  being  a  Committee  Chosen  by  the  Town  of  Men- 
don to  Reckon  with  the  Committee,  formerly  chosen  by  the  Town  to  sell 
the  Land  or,  at  least,  to  Despose  of  the  Land,  in  Reputed  Ten  rod  Roads 
and  other  Roads  in  town  more  than  four  rods  wide,  Mett  and  Reckoned 
with  said  Committee,  which  is  as  followeth,  viz: — 
Wee  find  in  Daniel  Taft  Esq.'s  hand,  one  of  the  said  Commit- 
tee, due  the  Town,  old  tenor £  6  00  00 

In  William  Torrey's  hand,  one  of  the  Committee,  old  tenor 14  03  03 

Received  of  William  Torrey  sundry  Notes  viz : — 

One  Note  due  from  George  Bruce  old  tenor  14  00  00 

"      do.      "       "      Samuel  Torrey "        10  16  10 

"      do.       "       "      Rev.  Mr.  Dorr "  5  18  00 

"      do.      "       "      Joseph  Allen..* "  5  00  00 

In  Edmund  Morse's  hands  a  balance  of 7  1110 

Note  of  Joseph  Corbett,  old  tenor 2  00  00 

do.     "  Weddow  Sarah  Daniels  old  tenor 3  15  00 


1753.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  267 


Cash  of  Phinehas  Lovett  due  the  town 1  00  00 

Due  from  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler 05  00 

In  David  Taft's  hands  we  find 6  00  00 


Total,  old  tenor.     £76  09  11 

Benjamin  Wheelock  ) 

David  Taft  [■  Committee. 

George  Aldrich         ) 

Voted  the  above  Reckoning  be  Excepted  (accepted)  as  it  now  stands." 

The  above  account  stands,  footed  in  the  record,  at  £84.09.11. 
It  is  probable  that  an  item  of  £8  was  left  out  in  copying. 

The  committee  chosen  to  confer  with  the  committee  of  Ux- 
bridge in  regard  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  towns,  find- 
ing they  could  come  to  no  satisfactory  settlement,  petitioned  the 
General  Court  for  an  adjustment  of  the  controversy,  as  follows: 

Mass.  Archives,  Towns,  Vol.  116,  pp.  509,  510  and  511. 

"  To  his  Excellency,  William  Shirley  Esq.  Captain  General  and  Governor 
in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England  and  the  Honble  his  Majesty's  Council  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives Convened  and  Sitting  in  General  Court  or  Assembly  for  said 
Province  December  ye  4.  1753. 

The  Petition  of  Samuel  Thayer,  William  Torrey,  John  Legg,  David  Taft 
and  Phinehas  Lovett,  a  Committee  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  Town  of  Men- 
don  in  said  Mendon, 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  whereas  the  Grant  to  the  western  Inhabitance  of  Mendon  on 
their  request  to  said  Town  in  order  to  make  a  Township,  which  is  now 
Uxbridge,  was  as  followeth  viz : — To  Begin  their  Bounds  at  the  Southwest 
Corner  of  Mendon  at  the  Province  South  Line ;  Thence  to  Run  four  Milles 
East  on  sd  Line ;  Then  to  turn  a  North  Line  parallel  with  the  West  Line  of 
sd  Town  until  that  Line  meett  with  a  small  Brook  Called  Mischo  Brook, 
and  so  on  said  Brook  and  other  Bounds  Mentioned  in  said  Grant  to  the 
North  Line  of  said  Town,  The  which  Grant  the  Honble  Court  was  pleased 
to  confirm  to  the  Town  of  Uxbridge;  whereupon  the  Town  of  Mendon 
Chose  a  Committee  to  joyn  Uxbridge  Committee  in  order  to  make  and  set- 
tle a  Line  Between  The  Said  Towns  According  to  said  Grant,  But  said 
Committee  Did  not  bring  any  return  of  what  they  Did  Relating  to  sd  Line 
to  the  Town  of  Mendon,  for  their  Exceptance  (acceptance)  nor  yet  ever 
Signed  any  Return  as  we  can  find.  But  the  Surveyor  who  was  employed 
to  assist  sd  Committees  in  Settling  said  Line  was  then  Town  Clerk  of  Men- 
don, who  was  pleased  to  make  an  entry  of  what  the  Committee  Did  (as  he 
saith  in  his  Entry)  was  according  to  said  Grant,  How  Ever  the  sd  Towns 
Made  no  fourther  Search  in  that  Day  but  since  then  Made  Several  Attempts 


268  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1754. 

to  preambulate  according  to  said  Entry  or  reputed  Bounds  But  found  Diffi- 
culty ye  said  Bounds  being  uncertain. 

And  in  the  year  1750  Uxbridge  Selectmen  Denied  the  Old  Reputed  Bounds 
on  the  Spot. 

And  afterwards  one  of  their  Principle  Gentlemen,  then  one  of  the  Select- 
men of  Uxbridge,  Come  into  our  Public  Towne  Meeting  and  openly  De- 
claired  for  him  Self  and  the  others  of  them  Selectmen  that  they  would  Not 
Preambulate  as  heretofore  and  that  there  was  no  reguler  Bounds  according 
to  the  Grant  &c. 

Tbereupon  wee  were  Oblidged  to  make  further  Tryal  And  that  feeling  in 
Deed  there  was  not  any  just  Line  Betwixt  said  Towns  Neither  by  Length  of 
Lines  nor  by  Point  of  Compass  Wee  friendly  offered  the  Town  of  Uxbridge 
to  Joyn  and  Measure  and  Settle  a  Line  or  Bounds  Betwixt  said  Towns 
According  to  said  Grant  which  they  Utterly  Refused  although  they  first 
Denied  ye  Line  &c. 

Wherefore  in  order  to  prevent  any  further  Difference  or  Perplexing  Lawr- 
sutes  that  might  arise  here  after  it  is  the  Humble  Request  of  your  Petition- 
ers That  Your  Excellency  and  Honors  would  Be  pleased  to  take  into  your 
wise  Consideration  And  Send  a  Committee  in  Order  to  make  and  Establish 
a  Line  or  Bounds  Betwixt  the  Town  of  Mendon  and  the  Town  of  Uxbridge 
according  to  the  Grant  above  said. 

As  your  petitioners  in  Duty  Bound  shall  ever  pray. 

Samuel  Thayer,     "] 

William  Torrey,     | 

John  Legg.  J- Committee. 

David  Taft, 

Phinehas  Lovett,   J 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Dec.  14,  1753. 

Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  Serve  the  Town  of  Uxbridge  with 
a  Copy  of  this  Petition  that  they  Shew  Cause  (if  an}'  they  have)  on  the 
Second  Thursday  of  the  Next  Sitting  of  the  Court  why  the  prayer  thereof 
should  not  be  granted. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

T.  Hubbard,  Spkr 
In  Council  Dec.  15.  1753     Read  and  Concurred. 

Thomas  Clarke,  Deputy  Secy. 


1754.  March  ye  3d.  1754.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  George  Al- 
drich,  Habijah  French,  Benjamin  Merriam,  Jasper  Daniels  and 
Silas  Wheelock;  Town  Clerk,  Edmond  Morse;  Town  Treasurer, 
George  Aldrich,  and  for  Constables,  Nathaniel  Rawson  and 
Daniel  Holbrook. 

The  General  Court  being  in  session  the  petition  of  the  Select- 


1754.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  269 


men  of  Menclon  was  again  brought  up,  and  the  following  action 
was  had  thereon : — 

In  Council  March  29.  1754. 

Whereas  by  the  Order  upon  the  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Men- 
don  the  Town  of  Uxbridge  were  directed  to  make  answer  to  said  Petition 
on  the  Second  Thursday  of  the  present  Session  of  this  Court,  and  whereas 
the  Public  Fast  has  been  appointed  to  be  kept  on  that  Day;  Therefore  Or- 
dered that  the  said  Town  of  Uxbridge  give  in  their  answer  thereto  on 
Wednesday  the  tenth  day  of  April  next  to  which  time  the  consideration  of 
the  aforesaid  petition  is  referred. 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence, 

Thomas  Clarke,  Dep'y  Secy. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  March  29.  1754 
Read  and  Concurred 

T.  Hubbard,  Spk' 
In  Council  April  10.  1754. 

Read,  and  it  appearing  that  the  Towns  of  Mendon  and  Uxbridge  have 
agreed  in  Relation  to  the  boundary  Line  betwixt  them,  Ordered  that  this 
Petition  be  dismissed. 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence, 

Thomas  Clarke,  Depty  Secy. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  April  10.  ,1754 
Read  and  Concurred, 

T.  Hubbard,  Spkr 
Consented  to  W.  Shirley. 

BOUNDARY    LINE    BETWEEN    MENDON    AND    UXBRIDGE    SETTLED. 

Memorandum  of  an  Agreement  made  at  Mendon  this  Second  Day  of 
April  1754,  Between  Samuel  Thayer,  William  Torrey,  John  Legg,  David 
Taft  and  Phinehas  Lovett,  as  a  Committee  for  ye  Town  of  Mendon  on  ye 
one  part  and  John  Harwood,  Josiah  Taft  and  Nicholas  Baylies,  as  a  Com- 
mittee of  ye  Town  of  Uxbridge  on  ye  other  part  as  follows,  viz : — Whereas 
there  is  Risen  a  Dispute  or  Difference  between  said  Towns  do  mutually 
agree  in  order  to  accommodate  and  make  a  final  end  of  sd  aforesaid  Dis- 
pute do  agree  on  ye  following  conditions,  viz :  That  we  the  aforesaid  Com- 
mittees in  behalf  of  the  aforesaid  Towns  do  agree  to  acknowledge  and 
Confirm  ye  heap  of  stones  near  a  place  called  Benson's  Sellar  to  be  ye  South 
East  Corner  of  ye  Town  of  Uxbridge,  and  from  thence  to  run  Northly  a 
Direct  Line  to  a  Maple  Tree  Marked  for  Uxbridge  Corner  on  Misco  Hill 
Brook,  called  Uxbridge  Jogg,  and  also  to  run  and  measure  and  make  and 
Erect  Bounds  from  said  South  East  Corner  of  Uxbridge  to  ye  above  sd 
Maple  Tree  and  further  we  mutually  a  Gree  to  go  and  perambulate  and  make 
ye  above  Bounds  on  Wednesday  ye  3d  Day  of  this  Instant  April  and  to 
meet  on  sd  Day  at  ye  hour  of  Eight  o'clock  in  ye  morning  at  sd  South  East 
Corner  of  Uxbridge,  near  Benson's  Sellar  &  do  ye  above  work  &  to  finish 
directly  &  then  to  make  return  of  said  Perambulation  and  bounds  above 


270  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1754. 

sd.  in  a  joint  Petition  to  ye  General  Court  &  to  Desire  and  Request  of  ye  sd 
Honourable  Court  to  Confirm  and  Enact  and  Establish  ye  above  sd  Corners 
and  Bounds '  we  shall  then  erect  to  be  Corners  and  Bounds  between 
said  Towns  of  Mendon  and  Uxbridge;  and  further  do  agree  to 
withdraw  all  Petitions  &c.  to  ye  General  Court  and  all  other  Differ- 
ences and  Disputes  that  have  already  Risen  between  sd  Towns,  and 
also  it  is  a  Greed  that  ye  Compass  shall  be  carried  by  John  Harwood  Esq. 
&  Wm,  Torrey  or  either  of  them — it  is  further  agreed  that  ye  above  sd  work 
shall  be  accomplished  by  Monday  ye  Eighth  Day  of  this  April  Instant  and 
to  be  mutually  agreed  to  &  Signed  by  us  ye  above  sd  Committee  in  a  Peti- 
tion to  the  General  Court  for  their  Confirmation. 

In  Confirmation  of  ye  above  sd  Agreement,  we  ye  said  Committees  in 
behalf  of  ye  above,  sd  Towns  do  Mutually  sign  this  Agreement  ye  day  and 

year  above  sd. 

Samuel  Thayer,  1 

William  Torrey,  I  Committee  in  ye  behalf 

Test.  David  Taft,  J  of  ye  Town  of  Mendon. 

Chas.  Brigham,  Phinehas  Lovett.  J 

Wm.  Rawson  Jr.  John  Harwood  j  Committee  in  ye  behalf 

N    bTylieI  fofrTownofUxbridge. 

To  His  Excellency  William  Shirley  Esq.  Capt.  General  &  Governor  in 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Majastie's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New 
England  and  to  ye  Honourable  Council  and  the  Honered  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled  ye  10th  day  of  this  Instant  April 
1754. 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  we  ye  Petitioners  being  a  Committee  for  ye  Towns 
of  Mendon  aud  Uxbridge,  in  order  to  settle  ye  Dispute  between  said  Towns 
Relating  to  the  Dividing  Line  have  been  agreeable  to  ye  foregoing  Agree- 
ment &  have  acknowledged  and  confirmed  the  heap  of  Stones  near  a  place 
called  Benson's  Cellar  to  be  ye  South  East  Corner  of  ye  Town  of  Uxbridge, 
and  so  Northerly  a  direct  Line  to  a  heap  of  Stones  about  a  Rod  East  of 
John  Darlings  Dam,  so  called,  thence  Northerly  to  a  heap  of  Stones  on  ye 
North  side  of  ye  Road  between  John  Fish  jr.  and  Ebedezer  White's,  thence 
Northerly  to  a  heap  of  Stones  in  ye  Road  about  18  Rods  West  of  ye  house 
formerly  George  Patterson,  thence  Northerly  to  aheap  of  Stones  on  a  Rock 
ye  north  side  ye  Road,  called  ye  upper  West  Hill  Road,  a  little  East  of  ye 
Land  formerly  Ebenezer  Read's,  thence  Northerly  to  a  Maple  Tree,  formerly 
Markt,  on  Misco  Hill  Brook',  being  a  Corner  called  Uxbridge  jogg.  All 
which  Corners  and  Bounds  above  Mentioned  we  pray,  with  humble  sub- 
mission, of  this  Honourable  Court  may  be  the  Corners  and  Bounds  between 
said  Towns  of  Mendon  and  Uxbridge. 

Wch  in  Duty  Bound  wee  Ever  Pray 

William  Torrey,  }  Committee  for  John  Harwood,  )  Committee  for 
David  Taft,  [•   the  Town  of  Josiah  Taft,        [-   the  Town  of 

Phinehas  Lovett,  i       Mendon.  N    Baylies.         )      Uxbridge. 


1755.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  271 

In  Council  April  10.  1754.  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Prayer  of  the 
foregoing'  Petition  be  granted  and  that  the  Boundary  Line  between  the 
Towns  of  Mendon  and  Uxbridge,  as  described  in  the  afore  written  Agree- 
ment, be  and  the  same  is  hereby  established  to  all  Intents  and  Purposes 
whatever 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence 

Thomas  Clarke,  Dep'r  Secy. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives,  April  10.  1754. 

Read  and  Concurred,  T.  Hubbard,  Spkr. 

Consented  to  W.  Shirley. 

May  20.  Voted  to  raise  £100,  lawful  money,  to  mend  the 
highways. 

Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  town  had  reduced  the  roads  to 
four  rods  wide,  and  had,  in  many  instances,  sold  to  the  abutters 
the  quantity  of  land  beyond  the  stipulated  width.  But  others, 
it  seems,  had  fenced  in  portions  of  the  road  without  consent  or 
purchase  of  the  town,  and  the  committees  chosen  by  the  town  to 
negotiate  with  the  trespassers  had  accomplished  little  or  nothing 
in  that  direction;  hence  the  town  directed  the  Selectmen  "to 
prosecute  in  a  regular  way  or  manner  as  may  be  advisable  to  get 
the  said  Roads  so  fenced  up,  opened  to  their  former  width  and 
So  to  Ly  open  for  the  Town's  use." 

Voted  to  raise  £70  to  defray  town  charges. 


1755.  March  3.  Chose  Edmond  Morse,  Thomas  Taft,  Nehe- 
miah  Nelson,  Capt.  Robert  Taft  and  Josiah  Chapin,  Selectmen; 
Edmund  Morse,  Town  Clerk;  George  Aldrich,  Town  Treasurer, 
and  Nathaniel  Rawson  and  David  Holbrook  for  Constables. 

The  Ministry  money  divided,  as  usual,  between  First  and 
Second  Precincts. 

Voted  "'that  Dea.  Edward  Rawson  have  Liberty  to  Shut  up 
the  Road  between  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr's  land  and  his  land  to  Muddy 
Brook  the  Present  Year  for  one  dollar."  This  is  the  first  time 
the  word  dollar  occurs  in  the  Town  Records. 

May  19.  Capt.  Phinehas  Lovett  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 


272  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1755. 

Aug.  25.  Raised  £50,  lawful  money,  to  defray  town  charges 
this  year. 

So  far  as  the  Town  Records  are  to  be  relied  on,  no  evidence  is 
found  that  Mendon  furnished  any  soldiers  for  the  French  war; 
and  this  seems  the  more  strange,  as  it  is  found  that,  quite  prob- 
able, Mendon  furnished  her  full  quota. 

MENDON    IN    THE    FRENCH    WAR,    1755. 

The  war  against  the  French,  for  this  year,  was  known  and 
recorded,  in  the  Muster  Rolls,  as  the  Expedition  to  Crown  Point. 
But  one  battle  was  fought,  and  that  near  the  south  end  of  Lake 
George.  The  campaign  closed  Sept.  8,  when  the  French  were 
sorely  defeated,  and  Baron  Dieskau,  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 

In  this  expedition  the  names  of  the  following  men,  purporting 
to  belong  to  Mendon,  may  be  found  upon  the  Muster  Rolls  in 
the  State  Archives: 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  95,  p.  203. 

Iu  Capt.  Nathl.  Thwing's  Com.  Col.  Gridley's  Reg.  (Boston.) 

NAMES.  TIME  OP  SEKVICE.      "VV.  A.  PAY. 

Nathan  Tyler  Jr.,  1st  Lieut Feb.  18  to  Dec.  23  38  6  £39  14  07 

Joseph  Clark,  Sergt.  (died  in  service) .  Nov.  30  to  Nov.  26  34  2  16  08  07 

Peter  Aldrich,    do.     (do.   "     do.).  ,  .Apr.  21  to  Nov.  20  30  4  14  13  00 

Eliphalet  Wood,  Corp "      22  to  Dec.  3  32  2  13  10  05 

William  Hutchins,  do "      22  to     "  3  32  2  13  10  05 

John  Watkins,    Private,  Drummer, 

Servant  to  Jos.  Johnson "      19  to     "  3  32  5  13  14  00 

Joseph   Aaron,    Private    Servant    to 

David  Daniels Mar.  17  to     "  3  37  3  14  19  06 

William    Barron,   Private,   (died    in 

service.) Ap.     12  to     "  7  25  4  10  04  07 

Benjamin  Blake,  Private,  (Servant  to 

Daniel  Taft,  Jr.) Mar.    1  to     "  3  39  5  15  17  09 

Thomas  Bryan,     Private Mar.    1  to     "  3  39  5  15  17  09 

Joseph  Clark,  Jr.,      "      "    30  to     "  3  35  4  14  07  07 

David  Davidson,         "      "      5  to     "  3  39  1  15  13  02 

AsaDaniels.                "      Ap.    22  to     "  3  32  2  12  18  04 

JohnHolden,              "      Mar.     1  to     "  3  39  5  15  17  09 

Stephen  Johnson,       "      "        1  to     "  3  39  5  15  17  09 

Neal  McNeal,              "      Apr.  22  to     "  3  32  2  12  18  04 

John  Passmore            "      Mar.  25  to     "  3  36  2  14  10  04 

William  Rawson,       "      "       1  to     "  3  39  5  15  17  09 


1755.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


273 


John  Spawford,    private Sept.  7  to  Jan.     4  17  1  6  17  02 

Stephen  Johnson,       •'      Ap.    22  to  Dec.     3  32  2  12  18  04 

John  Vickery,  Private  (died  in  the 

service) Mar.  23  to  Sept.  11  24  5  9  17  09 

Aaron  White,  Private,  (died  in  the 

service) Apr.  16  to  Oct.      5  24  5  9  17  09 

£325  12  07 
Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  95,  p.  205. 

In  Capt  Wm.  Bacon's  Co.  (Dedham)  Col  Gridley's  Reg. 
Eleazer  Thayer  (son  of  Uriah  Thayer) 

(died) Ap.    22  to  Oct.     29  £10  18  03 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  94,  p.  21. 

In  Capt.  John  Jones'  Co  (Bellingkam) 

Ahner  Aldrich,  Sergt Apr.    5  to  Dec.    17  36  5  £15  12  10 

Joseph  Clark,       do "       5  to  Oct.      6  26  3  1105  02 

Uriah  Thayer,  Corp "       5  to  Nov.     3  30  3  11  06  11 

John  Timing,  Drummer "       5  to     "       12  315  1110  07 

Ebenezer  Thayer,  Centinal "       5  to  Oct.       6  26  3  8  16  00 

John  Gage,                    do "       5  to     "         6  26  3  8  16  00 

Daniel  White,               do "       5  to     "       25  29  1  9  14  00 

Asa  Daniels                  do "       5  to     "       20  28  3  9  09  00 

Eleazer  Thayer             do "       5  to  Nov.  12  315  10  1106 

Marmaduke    Williams,     servant    to 

Saml.  Hayward "       5  to     "        5  30  5  10  04  10 

Joseph  Cody,  servant  to  Saml.  War- 
ren    "       5to     "      12  315  10  1106 

John  Gage  Jr.  servant  to  Ebenr  Taft  "       5  to     "      12  315  10  1106 

JosiahTenney    do.      Moses  Tenney  "       5  to  Oct.    24  29  0  9  13  04 

A sel  Thayer        do.      Jona.  Thayer.    "       5  to  JNov.  12  315  10  1106 

John  Marsh,  private,                              "       5  to     "        5  5  30  10  04  10 

Ebenezer  Wheelock,  private,                 "       5  to     "      11  314  10  10  07 

John  Hill,  private,  "       5  to  Sept.     8-  22  3 

do.  do.     Sergt.                                  Sept.  9  to  Dec.    17  14  2  13  11  04 


Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  95,  p.  66. 

In  Capt.  John  Fry's  Co.  (Sutton)  Col.  Willard's  Res 

Nathan  Tyler,  Ensign Aug.  8  to  Nov.     5 

Elijah  Tyler,  Sergt July  16  to  Dec.    24 

Thomas  Howard,  Corp "     16  to     "       24 

Joseph  Woodbury,     pr.  (taken  sick)  "     10  to     "      14 

Simeon  Evans,  "  "     23  to  Nov.  27 

Fortune  Bnrne,  "  Aug.  18  to  Dec.  12 

Jones  Parkes,  " July  16  to  Nov.  27 

35 


£193  17  05 

12  6 

£  6  17  02 

21  5 

9  05  00 

21  5 

8  01  11 

18  2 

6  01  11 

16  5 

5  11  05 

19  2 

6  08  07 

274 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1755. 


Daniel  Davidson, 
Jeremiah  Thayer 
Thomas  Byon 


pr July  16  to  Dec. 

"  "    16  to     " 

"  "     26  to     " 


21  5 
21  5 
20  2 


7  04  09 
7  04  09 
6  15  03 


Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  94,  p.  50. 
In  Capt.  Andrew  Dalrymple's  Co.  (Petersham.) 

William  Rawson,  private May  5  to  May 

Clerk "     16  to  Dec. 

Joseph  Rawson,  private Mar.  30  to     " 

Oliver  Thayer,  Corp "    28  to     " 

Jonathan  Cook,  private "     30  to     " 

Joseph  Darling,         "     Apr.  22  to  Oct. 

Jonas  Dyer,  "     Mar.  22  to  Dec. 

"        "         .          "    promoted. .  .Dec.  17  to  Mar. 
Joseph  Jackson        "     Mar.    9  to  Dec 

do.         do.  "     promoted Dec.  17  to  Mar. 

Ebenezer  Thayer,     ' '     promoted  —  Mar.  27  to  Dec. 

do  do         "     Dec.  17  to  Mar. 

John  Thayer,  "     Apr.    2  to  Sep. 

Abner  Hazeltine       "     Aug.   9, 

Moses  Benson,  "     Aug.  19  to 

John  Williams,         "      Deserted. 


£63  10  09 

16 

1  5 

£00  13  09 

19 

31  1 

14  18  06 

19 

37  6 

15  02  11 

19 

38  1 

15  19  06 

19 

37  6 

15  02  11 

7 

25  4 

10  14  07 

19 

39  0 

22 

13  6 

15  12  00 

10 

40  6 

9 

12  0 

16  06  11 

19 

38  2 

27 
21 


14  4 
23  2 


13      16  5 


15  06  04 
9  06  03 

5  11  06 


£134  15  02 
Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  95,  pp.  121  and  122. 
In  Capt.  Philip  Richardson's  Com. 

Abraham  Thayer,  Jr Apr.  22  to  Dec.  2,        32  1     £12  17  02 

Jonathan  Wheelock May    4  to  June  9,  5  2         2  02  04 

£14  19  06 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  95,  p.  142. 

In  Capt.  David  White's  Co.  of  Douglass. 

Joshua  Thayer,  pr.  Died  in  service.  .Mar.  30  to  Sep.  26,  25  6  12  06  10| 

John  Gage,  "    "  28  to  Nov.  3,  314  12  12  07 

Elijah  White,        "  Died  in  service. .     "  30  to  Oct.  17,  28  6  11  10  10* 

Abner  Thayer,      "    "  30  to  Nov.  3,  31  2  12  10  03* 

John  Gage  Jr. ,  apprentice  to  Eliazer 

Taft,  died  in  service "  28  to     "    28,  35  1  14  0101* 

£63  01  09i 

This  year  another  expedition  was  undertaken  against  the 
French  in  Nova  Scotia.  The  Massachusetts  troops  were  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  John  Winslow,  of  Mansfield,  great  grand- 
son of  Gov.  Winslow,     His  commission  was  dated  Feb.  10, 1755. 


1755.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  275 

By  the  middle  of  June  the  French  forts  were  reduced,  and  the 
English  were  masters  of  the  country.  The  inhabitants  had 
been  settled  in  the  country  of  Acadie,  as  it  had  been  called,  for 
more  than  two  hundred  years.  They  were,  originally,  emi- 
grants from  France  and  were  Roman  Catholics.  They  were  an 
agricultural  people.  They  were  represented  by  contemporary 
historians  as  a  peaceable  inoffensive  race,  and  had  taken  no  part 
in  the  present  war,  and  were  recognized  by  the  English  as 

FRENCH    NEUTRALS. 

Even  by  the  laws  of  war  we  do  not  see  how  the  subsequent 
treatment  of  the  Acadians  could  be  justified.  They  had  not 
resisted  the  conquest  of  their  country — had  not  borne  arms 
against  their  invaders,  but  remained  in  their  homes,  peaceable 
and  quiet.  Nevertheless,  when  the  power  of  the  French  had 
been  overcome,  they  were  treated  as  captives,  and  their  forcible 
expatriation  Avas  determined  upon — they  were  not  allowed  the 
privilege  of  voluntary  emigration.  During  the  succeeding 
winter,  to  the  number  of  seven  thousand,  they  were,  distributed 
to  the  various  sea  ports  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  New  Hamp- 
shire to  Georgia. 

At  the  opening  of  winter  about  one  thousand  were  landed  at 
Boston,  without  the  means  of  support,  many  of  them  being 
aged  and  broken  down  in  health  and  spirits  by  the  unjustifiable 
treatment  to  which  they  had  been  subjected. 

The  Colonial  Legislature  soon  took  the  case  in  hand,  as  we 
shall  see  by  the  following: — 

Mass.  Archives,  Court,  Vol.  21,  p.  51. 

Dec.  29.  1755  Monday.  In  the  House  of  Representatives.  Whereas  a 
considerable  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Nova  Scotia  (Acadia)  arrived 
the  26th.  instant,  being  removed  by  the  Governor  and  Council  of  that 
Province,  for  the  security  thereof,  and  no  provision  being  made  for  their 
support  here,  they  are  in  great  danger  of  suffering  during  this  rigorous 
season,  without  the  interposition  of  this  Court. 

Ordered  that  Mr.  James  Russell,  Mr.  Cooper  and  Mr.  Hall  with  such  as 
the  Honble  Board  shall  join,  be  a  Committee  to  provide  for  the  Support  of 
such  inhabitants  of  Nova  Scotia,  until  advice  may  be  had  from  Gov.  Law- 
rence (of  Nova  Scotia)  and  his  orders  concerning  them,  or  until  there  may 
be  an  opportunity  of  applying  to  his  Excellency,  General  Shirley,  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  his  Majesty's  Forces  in  North  America,  for  his  dircc- 


276  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1756. 

tions  concerning  them.  And  the  Committee  are  to  dispose  of  them,  in  the 
meantime,  in  such  Towns,  in  this  Province,  as  they  shall  judge  least  incon- 
venient to  the  public;  and  the  Selectmen  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the 
several  Towns  to  which  they  may  be  sent  as.  aforesaid,  are  hereby  author- 
ized and  required  to  receive  them  and  employ  or  support  them  in  such 
manner  as  shall  incur  the  least  charge :  and  the  said  Inhabitants  of  Nova 
Scotia  being  so  received  and  entertained  in  any  town  shall  not  be  construed 
or  understood  to  be  an  admission  of  them  as  inhabitants;  the  Court  relying 
upon  it  that  some  provision  will  be  made  for  them  without  any  expense  to 
this  Government. 

In  Council  P.  &  C.  and  Samuel  Watts  and  William  Brattle,  Esqs  are 
joined  in  the  affair. 

How  many  of  the  French  Neutrals  were  assigned  to  Mendon, 
and  how  long  airy  of  them  remained  in  town,  the  town  records 
furnish  no  evidence.  As  late  as  1764  five  of  them  were  still 
living  in  Mendon. 

In  1761  there  may  be  found  in  the 

Mass.  Archives,  Court,  Vol.  23,  p.  725, 

A  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon,  Setting  forth  that  the  Commit" 
tee  appointed  to  Distribute  the  French  Neutrals  (so  called)  in  the  County 
of  Worcester  have  (for  want  of  due  information  as  they  apprehend)  assigned 
to  the  Town  of  Mendon  such  only  as  are  soon  like  to  be  a  public  charge, 
and  praying  that  said  Committee  may  be  impowered  to  reconsider  the 
matter  and  make  such  alteration  in  the  distribution  as  they  shall  judge 
proper. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Read  and  Orel,  that  the  prayer  of  the  petition  be  so  far 
granted  that  the  Committee  mentioned  in  the  petition  be  impowered,  at  the 
charge  of  the  petitioners,  to  new  apportion  the  French  Inhabitants  in  the 
County  of  Worcester  if  they  judge  reasonable. 
In  Council  R.  &  Con. 

Consented  to  by  the  Governor. 

So  far  as  is  known  nothing  came  of  this  petition,  and,  as  the 
petitioners  were  to  pay  the  charges  of  a  new  distribution  by  the 
committee,  and  as  some  of  the  French  neutrals  were  found  here 
some  years  afterwards,  it  is  quite  probable  nothing  further  was 
done. 

Of  the  seven  thousand  .  that  were  taken  away  from  .Nova 
Scotia,  many  of  them  found  their  way  to  St.  Domingo,  while 
the  balance  of  them  settled  in  the  Southern  States. 


1756.     March  ye  1st.      Chose  for   Selectmen,  John    French, 


1757.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


277 


William  Sheffield,  Ichabod  Amidown,  Ichabod  Robinson  and 
Daniel  Darling;  Town  Clerk,  Edmond  Morse;  Town  Treasurer, 
George  Aldrich;  Constables,  Noah  Cook  and  Nathaniel  Jones. 

The  ministry  money  was  divided  equally  between  the  two 
Precincts. 

May  3.  Capt.  Phinehas  Lovett  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Voted  to  raise  £200,  lawful  money,  to  repair  highways. 

As  yet  it  appears  there  were  but  two  school  honses  in  town, 
viz:  one  in  each  Precinct.  At  this  meeting,  upon  motion  made, 
it  was  voted  to  build  no  more  school  houses. 

Aug.  30.     Raised  £8,  lawful  money,  for  town  charges.' 


QUAKEKS    IN    MENDON. 


Benjamin  Cook, 
Samuel  Thayer, 
Benjamin  Thayer, 
Joseph  Allen, 
Moses  Aldrich, 
Luke  Aldrich, 
Aaron  Aldrich, 
George  Aldrich, 
Jacob  Bartlett, 

A  true  List 


John  Smith, 
John  Cass, 
Jonathan  Cass, 
Samuel  Gaskill, 
Ebeoezer  Gaskill, 
Benjamin  Gaskill, 

Anthony  Chase, 
Samuel  Cook, 

James  Cargill, 
pr.  me  Moses  Aldrich 


Daniel  Southwick, 
Daniel  Southwick,  Jr., 
Lawrence  Southwick, 
Jonathan  Southwick, 
Benjamin  Southwick, 
Edward  Southwick, 
George  Smith, 
Ehenezer  Cook. 


Josiah  Ball  is  certified  as  belonging  to  the  Anabaptist  Church 
in  Leicester,  and  Joseph  Darling  as  "usually  attending''  the 
Anabaptist  meeting  in  Bellingham. 

Perambulation  of  town  boundaries  were  made  this  year,  be- 
tween TJxbridge,  Upton,  Hopkinton,  Bellingham  and  Mendon. 


1757.  March  ye  7th.  Chose  Daniel  Taft,  Jr.,  Joseph  Jones, 
Samuel  Green.  Aaron  Thayer  and  Nathaniel  Rawson  for  Select- 
men; Edmund  Morse  for  Town  Clerk,  and  Town  Treasurer; 
David  Daniels  and  Isaac  Tenney  were  chosen  Constables,  but  it 
is  found  that  Jasper  Daniels  served  the  Selectmen's  warrants  as 
Constable.  Robert  Taft  and  Gershom  Chapin  were  chosen  Deer 
Reives. 

Voted  to  leave  the  "  affair  of  a  Schoolmaster,"  for  this  year  in 
the  hands  of  the  Selectmen. 


278  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1757. 

Voted  to  lodge  indentures  of  children  bound  out  by  the  town 
in  the  Town  Clerk's  hands  for  the  future. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon,  for  the  time  being  or 
time  to  come,  shall  not  have  liberty  "  to  Draw  Orders  on  the 
Town  Treasurer  of  Mendon  to  pay  Them  selves  as  Selectmen." 

John  French  was  chosen  Grand  Juryman. 

The  road  from  the  Ten-rod  highway  to  Muddy  Brook,  be- 
tween the  lands  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr  and  Deacon  Edward  Raw- 
son,  about  which  there  seems  to  have  been  a  long-standing  con- 
troversy, was  again  brought  before  the  town  meeting,  by  a 
motion  to  open  the  same,  but  which  motion  was  not  carried. 
Upon  this  a  motion  was  made  and  carried  that  Deacon  Rawson 
have  the  use  of  the  road  the  present  year  for  eight  shillings. 

Upon  this,  James  Lovett  entered  his  protest  against  the  vote, 
"and  Declared  he  would  apply  to  the  Court  for  Relief  if  the 
Town  did  not  open  the  Said  Road  Down  to  Muddy  Brook  for 
his  Cattle  to  come  at  the  water  in  ye  Summer. " 

Voted  to  raise  £200,  lawful  money,  to  mend  the  highways  this 
year. 

Voted  that  a  man  shall  have  two  shillings  a  day  for  work  on 
the  highways  and  a  man  and  team  four  shillings  per  day,  pro- 
vided they  begin  their  work  by  eight  o'clock  A.  M. ;  and  a  cer- 
tificate from  the  Surveyor  that  any  one  had  worked  out  his  rate, 
should  authorize  the  Constable  forthwith  to  cross  out  said  rate. 

A  vote  was  passed  to  sell  the  remainder  of  the  Ministry  land, 
but  the  vote  was  afterward  reconsidered  on  the  22d  of  August. 

Voted  to  sell  the  pew  in  the  Easterly  Precinct  Meeting  house, 
which  the  town  bought  of  Oliver  Hayward,  to  Samuel  Wheelock 
for  the  sum  of  £5.06.08,  lawful  money,  in  order  to  support  said 
Oliver  Hayward  and  his  family,  as  the  Selectmen  shall  order  the 
same. 

Aug.  22.  Voted  to  dismiss  the  committee  heretofore  ap- 
pointed to  sell  the  Ministry  land. 

Last  Monday  in  September  Noah  Cook  was  chosen  "to  serve 
on  the  Grand  Jury  the  Next  Superior  Court." 

Raised  £20,  lawful  money,  to  defray  town  charges. 

The  war  with  France  still  continued,  and,  but  for  the  Muster 
Rolls  in  the  State  Archives,  we  should  not  know  that  Mendon 
furnished  any  soldiers  for  this  year's  campaign.     They  saw  no 


1757.  I  ANNALS    OF    MEN  DON.  279 

active  service,  however,  except  a  forced  march  for  the  relief  of 
Fort  William  Henry,  as  far  as  Westfield,  whence,  learning  that 
Col.  Munro  had  been  obliged  to  surrender  the  fort  to  the  French, 
they  were  ordered  home  by  Gov.  Pownal,  who  was  then  at 
Springfield. 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  95,  p.  545. 

A  Muster  Roll  of  the  company  under  the  command  of  Phine- 
has  Lovett,  belonging  to  the  Regiment  whereof  Abraham  Wil- 
liams is  Colonel,  that  marched  on  the  alarm  for  the  relief  of 
Fort  William  Henry  in  August  1757.  Arrived  at  Westfield, 
they  heard  of  the  surrender  of  the  fort  to  the  French  and  In- 
dians, and  so  returned  home. 

Days 

Miles         at  Whole  Pay 

travel.  West-  time  per     Horse.         Pay. 

field,  out.  day. 

Phinehas  Lovett,  Capt.  March*  Aug.  16. .   165  3  14  5s.0d  2     £3  12  00 

William  Thayer,  Lieut,                    "        ..  do.  3  14  3  09  2        2  14  06 

Samuel  Wheelock,  Ensign               "        ..  do.  3  14  3  00  2        2  04  00 

Samuel  Hay  ward  Sergt.                   "        .     do.  3  14  2  10  2        2  01  08 

Joseph  Daniels        "                        "        ..  do.  3  14  2  10  2        2  0108 

Edward  Rawson do.  3  14  2  10  2        2  0108 

Samuel  White do.  3  14  2  08  2        110  04 

Gershom  Nelson do.  3  14  2  09  118  06 

Silas  Aldrich  do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

Elias  Staples do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

John  Holden(N  Tyler  Esq.  Master)....  do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Joseph  Marsh do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

Ebenezer  Marsh do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Turner  Ellis do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

George  Bruce do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

Stephen  Johnson do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

John  Craggin do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

Gershom  Chapin do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

John  Perry do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Moses  Gage do.  3  14  2  08  1  17  04 

Daniel  Wedge do.  3  14  2  08  1  17  04 

Benjamin  Atwood do.  3  14  2  08  2        1  19  04 

William  Legg do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

Peter  Brown  do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Calvin  Smith do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Joseph  Benson do.  3  14  2  08  117  04 

Abraham  Thayer do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Joseph  Darling do.  3  14  2  08  1  17  04 

Moses  Thayer do.  3  14  2  08  2        119  04 

Jonas  Sartell do'.  3  14  2  08  117  04 


280  ANNALS    OF    MENUON.  [1758. 

Besides  these  thirty  names  against  which  is  entered,  in  the  Muster  Roll 
the  amount  paid  to  each,  the  names  of  twenty-nine  others  are  borne  on  the 
Roll,  as  follows,  viz : — Robert  Kelly,  Zebulon  Goss,  William  French,  John 
Watkins,  John  Crooks,  Elisha  Hale,  Paul  Rawson,  Asa  Fletcher,  Joseph 
Jackson,  Moses  Tenney,  Nathaniel  Rawson,  Josiah  Wheelock,  Gideon 
Albee,  Isaiah  Corbett,  Nathaniel  Cheney,  Ebenezer  Sumner,  John  Chapin, 
Seth  Thayer,  Jesse  Sumner,  Jonathan  Whitney,  Jonathan  Sterns,  Samuel 
Warren,  Benjamin  Hayward,  Hezekiah  Hayward,  Abner  Thayer,  Jonas 
Dyre,  Bezaleel  Jones,  Daniel  Thompson  and  Edward  Hunt. 
Errors  Excepted 

Phinehas  Lovett. 
Suffolk  ss.  Boston  Jan  3,  1759. 

Capt.  Phinehas  Lovett  made  oath  that  the  above  is  a  True  Roll  of  a 
company  under  his  command,  in  the  time  of  the  Alarm. 

Before  me  Jacob  Wendell,  Just.  Peace. 

The  probable  reason  why  the  jurat  was  delayed  so  long  was 
that  the  war  expenses  were  to  be  discharged  by  the  British  Gov- 
ernment;  and  so,  after  the  expenditure  of  the  necessary  quantity 
of  red  tape,  the  voyage  from  Boston  to  London  and  back  per- 
formed, the  muster  rolls  properly  made  out  and  sworn  to,  the 
soldier  finally  got  his  pay. 


1758.  March  6.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Daniel  Taft,  Jr., 
Jasper  Daniels,  Ebenezer  Chapin,  Ichabod  Thayer  and  Peter 
Wheelock;  Town  Clerk,  Edward  Rawson;  Town  Treasurer,  Ed- 
mond  Morse;  Constables,  Joseph  Bruce  and  John  Thayer;  Deer 
Reeves,  Benj.  Wheelock  Jr.,  and  Stephen  Torrey. 

HIGHWAY   AND    SCHOOL   DISTRICTS. 

Up  to  this  time  the  town  had  not  been  divided  into  highway 
or  school  districts.  At  this  meeting  Edward  Rawson,  Daniel 
Taft,  Jr.  Samuel  Penniman,  James  Sumner  and  Nathaniel 
Rawson  were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  divide  the  whole  Town 
Into  Districts  To  be  Stated  for  the  Better  Convenience  For 
Mending  The  Highways  and  Schooling." 

Benjamin  Merriam  was  chosen  Grand  juryman. 

May  8.  Benjamin  Craggin,  Edward  Rawson  and  Ebenezer 
Chapin  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  VieAV  the  Burying  Place 
by  the  Brook  which  Capt.  Phinehas  Lovett  petitions  to  purchase 
of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  and  said  Committee  to  view  the  Sir- 


1758.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  281 

cumstance  thereof  and  Sett  a  Value  thereon  and  Report  to  the 
Town." 

May  22.  Voted  to  raise  £150,  L.  M.,  to  mend  the  highways 
this  year. 

Voted  "to  sell  Capfc.  Phinehas  Lovett  fifteen  Rods  of  the 
Burying  Place  Lying  North  of  his  own  Land  to  the  Bank  of  the 
Brook  for  the  sum  of  £3.10.00  Old  Tenor,  the  Said  Lovett  To 
Agree  with  Lieut.  Ichabod  Ammidown  for  the  said  Land  During 
the  term  of  Ammidown's  Lease." 

Lieut.  John  French  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

May  31.  Voted  not  to  divide  the  town  into  districts  this 
year. 

Aug.  23.     Voted,  to  raise  £50,  L.  M.  to  defray  town  charges. 

Chose  Ichabod  Ammidown  Grand  jury  man  for  the  Superior 
Court. 

The  war  with  France  still  dragged  its  slow  length  along. 
Three  expeditions  for  the  reduction  of  Canada  were  inaugurated 
this  year.  In  the  one  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Abercrombie 
the  muster  rolls  furnish  evidence  that  Mendon  furnished  some 
of  the  soldiers  for  that  unfortunate  campaign.  The  following 
names,  credited  to  Mendon,  may  be  found  in 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  97,  p.  -248. 

In  Capt.  Andrew  Dalrymple's  Co.  (Petersham)  Col.  Preble's  Reg.  in  the 
Expedition  to  Canada,  1758. 

Lieut,  Ahner  Aldrich Mar.  13  to  Nov.  30,  9  mos.  11  days.  £75  03  11 

Drummer,  Ebenezer  Trask . .  Apr.  19  to  "  6,  6  "  8  "  15  08  08 

Private,  Joseph  Clark "     14  to  "  7,7  "  18  "  13  1104 

Charles  Scott "      5  to  "  6,  7  "  24  "  14  02  11 

Aimer  Thayer Mar.  29  to  "  8,  8  "  3  "  14  11  11 

Eben  Thayer "     29  to  "  8,  8  "  3  "  14  1111 

Moses  Thayer Apr.  14  to  "  10,7  "  15  "  13  1104 

George  Thayer "    21  to  "  10,7  "  8  "  13  02  04 

Nathaniel  Farrow "      5  to  "  10,7  "  24  "  14  02  11 

Nathanil  Freeman "      5  to  "  7,7  "  24  "  14  02  11 

Benjamin  Hay  ward Mar.  29  to  "  7,  8  "  3  "  14  1111 

Dependence  Hay  ward "    29  to  "  7,  8  "  3  -  14  1111 

£231   13  00 

Suffolk  ss.     Boston,  Feb.  1.  1759,     Capt,  Dalrymple  was  sworn  before 

36 


282  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1758. 

the  Committee  on  Accounts  to  make  true  answers  to  such  questions  as  they 
shall  ask  him  on  this  Roll. 

Jacob  Wendell,  Jus.  Pac. 

Muster  Eolls,  Vol.  96,  p.  495. 

In  Capt.  Simon  Slocomb's  Co.  Col.  Jos.  Williams'  Reg.  Reduction  of 
Canada. 

Seth  Jones Apr.  11  to  Oct.    9,  6  mos.  14  days.  £11  14  00  Wages 

Moses  Tenney "     11  to  Aug.  4,  4     "      4     "  7  09  02 

Josiah  Tenney May    2  to  Nov.  21,  7     "      8     "         12  19  08 

£32  02  10 
Boston,  Feb.  20,  1759.     Sworn  to 

S.  Slocomb. 

The  above,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  muster  rolls  of  1759,  does 
not  include  all  the  soldiers  from  Mend  on,  that  were  out  in  1758. 
Although  a  search  was  made  for  the  rolls  containing  their  names, 
they  were  not  found. 

About  this  time,  it  will  be  seen  by  the  following  list,  that  the 
number  of  non  combatants  living  in  Mendon  was  on  the  increase: 

THE    QUAKEE   LIST. 

To  Edward  Rawson,  Town  Clerk  of  the  Town  of  Mendon ;  The  follow- 
ing List  of  the  Names  of  Those  called  Quakers  within  the  Military  Com- 
panies in  Mendon. 

IN   CAPT.    PHTNEHAS   LOVETT's   COMPANY. 

George  Aldrich,  Joseph  Allen,  Luke  Aldrich,  Moses  Aldrich,  Benjamin 
Thayer,  Charles  Aldrich  and  Dan  Aldrich. 

IN  CAPT.    WILLIAM    THAYER'S    COMPANY. 

Benjamin  Cook,  John  Wilson,  Samuel  Cook,  Joseph  Southwick,  Job 
Handy,  Samuel  Bassett,  Daniel  Cook,  Jacob  Bartlett,  Ebenezer  Callum, 
George  Smith,  Jonathan  Southwick  jr.,  Daniel  Southwich  3d.,  Edward 
Southwick,  Ebenezer  Cook,  John  Smith,  Daniel  Southwick,  Larrance 
Southwick,  Daniel  Southwick  jr.,  Jonathan  Cass  jr.,  Ebenezer  Gaskill, 
Anthony  Chase,  Benjamin  Gaskill,  Jonathan  Southwick  and  Larrance 
Southwich  jr. 

IN   CAPT.    THOMAS   WISWALL's   COMPANY. 

Aaron  Aldrich. 

We  The  Subscribers  do  Verily  Believe  that  Those  Persons  whose  Names 
are  above  written  are  sincerely  of  the  Perswasion  of  the  Poeple  Called 


1759.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  283 


Quakers,  and  that  they  usually  attend  our  meeting  of  Worship  on  ye Lord's 
Day.  Moses  Aldrich, 

Moses  Farnum, 
Joseph  Allen. 
Seth  Aldrich. 

Mendon  March  ye  27.  1758. 

Mendon  July  26.  1758. 

The  acct.  of  Ichabod  Ammidown,  Vittelling  Soldiers  Returning  Back  to 
the  Lake,  by  his  Honour  Thomas  Hutchinson's  order. 

In  Capt.  Gamaliel  Bradford's  Company. 
Wait  Bradford,  Benj.  Bryant,  Nehemiah  Bosworth  jr. 

Lemuel  Dellano,  Isaac  Weston,  Jos.  Morse, 

Joshua  Pratt,  Dominicus  Hove}',       Jos.  Barlo, 

Jacob  Wright,  Amasa  White,  Silas  Burges. 

John  Meggs,  Charles  Foster, 

Nathl.  Cole,  Lot  Co  well, 

Edward  Cole,  Ishmael  Tripp, 

Ephr.  Waterman,  Eben.  Dexter, 

John  Sno,  Nathl.  Bassett, 

Benias  Samson,  Wrilliam  Cobb. 

In  Capt.  Josiah  Thatcher's  Company. 
Obed  Hatch, 
Eben  Parker. 

In  Capt.  James  Andrews'es  Company. 
John  Rouse,  Josiah  Drew, 

Eben  Barrows,  Josiah  Perkins. 

here  is  the  account  of  sundry  of  the  same  soldiers  which  eat  the  nex 
morning. 

Dominicus  Hovey,  Lot  Cowell,  Amasa  White,  Josiah  Drew,  Eben 
Barrus,  Jos.  Rouse,  Ishmael  Tripp,  Isaac  Weston,  Josh.  Pratt,  John  Sno 
and  Obid  Hatch. 

Suffolk  ss.  Boston  Dec.  7.  1758  The  above  Forty  three  meals  sworn  to 
by  Mr.  Ichabod  Ammidown  to  be  true. 

Coram,        John  Phillips,  Just.  Pacis. 


1759.  March  5.  Chose  Capt.  Robert  Taft,  Josiah  Chapin, 
John  Albey,  Jonas  Parkhurst  and  Peletiah  Darling,  Selectmen; 
Edward  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  Edmond  Morse,  Town  Treasurer, 
and  James  Simmer  and  Edward  Rawson,  Constables. 

After  the  choice  of  Constables  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
March  19,  when  the  choice  of  Town  officers  was  completed  by 
the  choice  of  Peter  Wheelock  and  Eli  Partridge  Deer  Reeves. 

"Voted  that  the  Destricts  in  the  Town  of  Mendon  be  Sett  of  for  School- 


284  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1759. 

ing  and  Mending  Highways  as  they  are  drawn  by  the  Committee  Chosen 
for  That  Purpose  in  the  year  1758." 

This  is  the  first  time  we  hear  of  school  or  highway  districts. 
The  committee  who  reportedthem  undoubtedly  fixed  meets  and 
hounds,  hut  their  report  not  being  recorded,  and  the  report 
itself  lost,  we  know  nothing  of  the  number  or  size  of  each. 

Raised  £200  for  highways  and  £60  to  defray  town  charges. 

May  21.  "  That  the  List  Drawn  for  jury  men  and  Read  in 
Town  Meeting  shall  be  put  into  the  Jury  Box  for  jurymen." 
This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  list  of  jurors  or  of  a  jury  box. 

Ebenezer  Ohapin  was  chosen  Grand  juryman. 

John  French  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  General  Court. 

Although  most  accounts  at  this  date  were  still  kept  in  pounds, 
shillings  and  pence,  we  find  that  dollars  and  cents  began  to  be 
mentioned  occasionally.  For  instance,  Samuel  Thayer  was 
allowed  to  have  the  use  of  a  piece  of  road  this  year  for  fifty 
cents,  and  Nathan  Tyler  another  piece  for  half  a  dollar. 

Jacob  Aldrich  was  appointed  Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures 
by  the  Selectmen,  and  sworn  before  Nathan  Tyler,  Esq. 

The  campaign  this  year  for  the  invasion  of  Canada  ended  in 
the  conquest  of  Quebec  by  the  army  under  the  command  of 
Wolfe,  on  the  13th  of  September,  and  the  capture  of  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point  by  the  forces  under  the  command  of 
Lord  Amherst.  The  soldiers  furnished  by  Massachusetts  were 
attached  to  the  army  of  the  latter  General.  The  names  of 'Men- 
don  soldiers  are  found  in  the 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  97,  the  following  on  p.  95. 

Return  of  men  enlisted  or  impressed  for  his  Majesty's  Service  within  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  Col.  Whiting's  Regiment,  under  the 
Command  of  Jeffrey  Amherst,  Gen.  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  his 
Majesty's  Forces  for  the  Invasion  of  Canada. 

Ezra  Thompson Apr.  2,  1759.  Out  in  1758  at  Crown  Point,  Age  23 

Moses  Tenney "  2,  1759.  Yes.  53 

Jolm  Marsh "  2,1759.  do  41 

Eliphalet  Wood "  2,1759.  do  43 

Peter  Brown "  2,  1759.  do  27 

Ezra  Marshall "  2,  1759.                            do  19 

Thomas  Hay  ward "  2,1759.  do  38 

Silas  Rawson "  2,  1759.  do  19 


1759.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


285 


Joseph  Day Apr.  33 

.     "      6 


1759. 

Joseph  Wheelock "      6,  1759. 

Joshua  Daniels "      6,  1759, 

Beth  Warren "      6,  1759. 

Saml.  Hay  ward.  Sergt.     "      6,  1759. 

Daniel  Davidson "       6,1759. 

Nathaniel  Rawson "      6,1759. 

John  Gage f . . .  Mar.  29,  1759.     Out  in 

Joseph  Clark , Apr.    2,  1759. 

Joseph  Darling Mar.  24,  1759. 

Daniel  Darling Apr.    6,  1759. 

Eheneze'r  Trask Mar.  28,  1759. 

Gideon  Arnold "    26,  1759. 

William  Darling Apr.    6,1759. 

Edward  Pickering "      6,1759. 

Aaron  White "      6,  1759. 

Ben  Benson. "      2,  1759. 

Simeon  Thayer Mar.  21,  1759. 

New  Marlborough  April  10.  1759. 
A  true  Return, 

In  John  Jones  Esq's  Reg.  under  Lord  Amherst's  Ex.  to  Canada. 
John  Galloway Mar.  21,  1759.     At  Lake  George  in  1758. 

347. 


Not  out  in  175S. 

22 

do 

17 

do 

17 

do 

17 

Impressed. 

40 

Hired. 

40 

Impressed. 

40 

1755     Crown  Point 

57 

do 

19 

do 

23 

Not  out. 

24 

Out. 

24 

do 

21 

do 

28 

do 

27 

do 

18 

do   Son  of  Jos.  Benson, 

18 

do  Son  of  Uriah  Thayei 

,  19 

Abraham  Williams,  Colonel. 


Aace  27 


Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  97,  p 

In  Capt.  John  Furness'  Com.  (Boston)  to  Crown  Point  from  March  31  to 
Dec.  20  1759.     (Cost  of  whole  Company,  112  in  number  was  £1841.08.03) 
The  following  of  Mendon,  viz: 

John  Holden,  Sergt Mar.  26  to  Dec.    3,        36  weeks  1  day     £19  09  03 

26  to     "      3,         36      "      1     "        19  09  03 

2  to      "      3,        35      "       1     ••     •  16  19  00 

26  to      "     10,        37      "       1     "        17  18  03 

2  to  Nov.  30,        34      "      5     "        15  12  06 

3  to  Dec.     3,        35      "      0      '        15  15  06 
2.     Deserted. 
2  to  Dec.     4, 


Ezekiel  Hunt,     do  " 

Benj.  Stewart,  Corp Apr. 

John  Watkins,    do  . . .  .Mar. 

Jonathan  Allen,  pr Apr. 

Thomas  Baker,  pr " 

Peter  Brown,  pr " 

Moses  Comstock,  pr " 

Joseph  Day.  pr Mar.  23  to 

Joshua  Daniels,  pr Apr.    6  to     " 

Asa  Fletcher,  pr "     11  to     " 

John  Hooper,  pr Mar.  26  to     " 

Thomas  Hay  ward,  pr.  .Apr.    2  to     " 
Joseph  Jackson,  pr. . .  .Mar.  26  to     " 

David  Liudsey,  pr Apr.    2  to  Nov. 

James  Long,  pr Mar.  30  to  Dec. 


Samuel  Morse,  pr. 
Timothy  Madding 
John  Marsh 


.  "  26  to 
.  "  28  to 
.Apr.  2  to 


3, 
4, 
3. 
3, 

12, 
3. 

29, 
8, 
3, 
3. 
3, 


35 
36 
34 
33 
36 
36 
36 
34 
36 
36 
36 
35 


15  17  07 

16  09  02 
15  12  06 

15  04  09 

16  05  04 
16  11  07 
16  08  04 

15  11  02 

16  06  07 
16  05  04 
16  02  09 
15  16  09 


286 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1759. 


Ezra  Marshall Apr. 

Samuel  Pond. Mar. 

William  Parsons Apr. 

William  Rawson Mar. 

Silas  Rawson Apr. 

Elias  Rawson,  s.  of  Nathl.    " 

Joshua  Thornton Nov. 

George  Thayer " 

Gideon  Taft Apr. 

Israel  Taft Apr. 

Ezra  Thompson Apr. 

Moses  Tenney Apr. 

Thomas  Wood Apr. 

John  Wilson,  (Gun)  —  Apr. 

Nathan  Wood  Apr. 

Samuel  Wright Apr. 

Eliphalet  Wood Apr. 

John  Wheelock Apr. 

Seth  Warren Apr. 

John  Wright Apr. 

Daniel  White Apr. 

Ephraim  Warfield Apr. 


£594  12  06 
Boston  March  6.  1760,  Errors  Excepted. 

Suffolk  ss.  Boston  March  6,  1760,  Capt.  John  Furness  made  oath  that 
the  foregoing  is  a  True  Roll  of  a  Company  under  his  Command  in  the 
service  of  the  Province. 

Before  me,  Jacob  Wendell,  Just.  Pac. 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  97,  p.  376. 

In  Capt.  Timo.  Hamant's  Co.  (Medfield)  Expedition  against  Canada  from 
May  4,  1759  to  Jan.  2.  1760. 

William  Thayer,  Lieut May  17  to  Dec.  16.     7  mos.  18  days     £38  04  03 

Jesse  Darling,  pr May    8  to  Dec.  15.     7  mos.  26  days       14  05  05 

Abner  Darling,  pr May    8  to  Dec.  15.     7  mos.  26  days       14  05  05 

Ralph  Hay  ward,  pr Apr.  27  to  Dec.    3.     7  mos.    6  days 

(Gun)  s.  Benj.     14  04  02 

Edward  Trask Apr.  30  to  Dec.  16.     8  mos.  17  days       14  17  00 

Ebenezer  Thayer May  17  to  Nov.  27.     6  mos.  27  days       12  10  09 


2  to   Oct. 

19, 

28  vv 

reeks  5  days, 

12  18  06 

26  to  Nov. 

27, 

35 

"      2     " 

15  17  07 

2  to  Dec. 

2, 

35 

"      0     " 

15  15  00 

2  to      " 

8, 

36 

„      4     « 

16  09  02 

2  to      " 

3, 

35 

<<        1       '! 

15  16  04 

6  to  Oct, 

28, 

29 

"      3     " 

13  14  11 

26  to  Dec. 

3, 

36 

"      1     " 

16  15  04 

26  to     " 

3, 

36 

"      1     " 

16  15  04 

6  to     " 

3, 

34 

<<      4     •< 

15  11  02 

2  to     " 

7, 

35 

"      5     " 

16  01  06 

2  to  Nov. 

29, 

34 

-      4     - 

15  11  02 

2  to  Dec. 

3, 

35 

"      1     " 

15  16  04 

6  to  Dec. 

4, 

35 

"      5     " 

15  12  06 

2  to  Dec. 

7, 

35 

"      5     " 

16  01  06 

2  to  Dec. 

3, 

35 

"      1     " 

15  16  04 

6.     Deserted. 

2  to  Dec. 

4, 

35 

"      2     " 

15  17  07 

6  to  July 

14, 

14 

"      2     " 

6  08  07 

6  to  Dec, 

8, 

35 

"      2     " 

15  17  07 

6.     Deserted. 

2  to  Dec. 

3, 

35 

"      1     " 

15  16  04 

6  to  Dec. 

7, 

35 

"      1     " 

15  16  04 

Boston  Feb.  9.  1760 
Sworn  to  Before  me, 
Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  97,  p.  382. 


£108  07  04 


Timothy  Hamant 
Jacob  Wendall,  Just.  Pac. 


1759.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  287 

In  Capt.  William  Jones'  Com.-(Holliston)  Ex.  to  Crown  Point,  from  May 
7  1759  to  Jan.  4.  1760. 

W.     D. 

Ebenezer  Cheney,  Sergt Apr.  27  to  Nov.  26        30    4        £16  09  03 

Stephen  Thompson,  Corp Apr.  26  to  Dec.  10        32    5  15  15  07 

Caleb  Cheney        pr Apr.  27  to  Nov.  27        27     1  12  04  04 

Isaiah  Corbett,       do May    9  to  Nov.    2        25    3  1108  11 

Daniel  Davidson,  do May    1  to  Nov.    2        26    4.        1119  02 

Ichabod  Marshall  do  s.  of  Josiah  Apr.  29  to  Nov.    2        26    6  12  0109 

Ichabod  Robinson  do Apr.  26  Rejected  (not  found)  ser- 
vant to  Nathl  Nelson. 

Ebenezer  Read       do Apr.  28  to  Nov.    2        27    0  12  03  00 

Joseph  Wheelock  do Apr.  27  to  Nov.  26        30    4  13  12  12 

£105  14  02 
Boston  Feb.  26.  1760. 

Sworn  to,  Before  m.  Jacob  Wendell,  Just.  Pac, 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  97,  p.  390. 

In  Capt.  Abijah  Hall's  Com.  (Wreutham)  Ex.  to  Crown  Point  from  May  9 
1759  to  Jan.  12.  1760. 

W.     D. 

Ebenezer  Taft  1st.  Lieut May  9  to  Dec.  16  31  5  £39  12  06 

Jacob  Aldrich,  Sergt May  4  to  Dec.  10  31  4  16  19  05 

Gideon  Aldrich,  Corp Apr.  21  to  Sept.  26  22  5  10  19  01 

Benj.  Blake,  pr.  (Danl  Taft,  Guar- 
dian)  May  1  to  Dec.  10  32  0  14  08  00 

Stephen  Benson,  pr.,  (s.  of  Benoni)  May  9  to  Dec.  16  31  5  14  05  06 

Jonas  Dyer,  pr., May  1  to  Dec.  10  32  0  14  08  00 

ObedRutter,  pr.,  (s.  of  William).  Apr. 22  to  Dec.  16  34  0  15  07  04 

Edward  Wood,  pr.,  (s.  of  James). May    3  to  Oct.    5  22  2  10  00  07 

£136  00  05 
'     Boston  Feb.  23.  1760. 

Sworn  to  Before  me 

Jacob  Wendell,  Just.  Pac. 

The  commission  of  Gov.  Pownall  to  Lieut.  Hayward  is  in- 
serted here  as  a  relic  of  olden  time.  The  original,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  true  copy,  was  kindly  loaned  me  by  Mrs.  Ariel 
Cook,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Lieutenant: 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 

THOMAS  POWNALL,  Esq;  Captain  General  and  Governor  in  Chief,  in 
and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New-Eng- 
land, and  Vice- Admiral  of  the  same  &c. 

To  Samuel  Hayward  Gentleman  Greeting. 
By  Virtue  of  the  Power  and  Authority  in  and  by  His  Majesty's  Royal 


288  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1760. 

Commission  to  Me  granted  to  be  Captain  General,  &c  over  this  His  Majes- 
ty's Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  aforesaid  I  do  by  these  Presents 
(reposing  especial  Trust  and  Confidence  in  your  Loyalty,  Courage  and  good 
Conduct)  constitute  and  appoint  You  the  said  Samuel  Hayward  to  be  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  second  military  foot  Company  in  the  Town  of  Mendon  under 
the  Command  of  Captain  Samuel  Wheel ock  in  the  third  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  Counties  of  Middlesex  and  Worcester  whereof  Artemas  Ward 
Esq.  is  Colonel. 

You  are  therefore  cai'efully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  Duty  of  a 
Lieutenant  in  leading,  ordering  and  exercising  said  Company  in  Arms 
both  inferior  Officers  and  Soldiers  and  to  keep  them  in  good  Order  and 
Discipline  and  they  are  hereby  commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  Lieutenant 
and  you  are  your  self  to  observe  and  follow  such  Orders  and  Instructions,  as 
you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  Me  or  the  Commander  in  Chief 
for  the  time  being  or  other  your  Superior  Officers  for  his  Majesty's  Service 
according  to  Military  Rules  and  Discipline  pursuant  to  the  trust  reposed  in 
you. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  Seal  at  Arms  at  Boston,  the  Seventeenth  Day 
of  October,  In  the  thirty  third  Year  of  the  Reign  of  His  Majesty 
King  GEORGE  the  Second,  Annoq;  Domini,  175'J. 
By  His  Excellency's 

Command, 
Tho8.  Clarke  Dp".  Secry.  T.  Pownall. 


1760.  March  3.  For  Selectmen,  Oapt.  Phinelias  Lovett, 
Elder  Nathaniel  Nelson,  Mr.  John  Fish,  Dr.  William  Jennison 
and  Lieut.  Samuel  Penniman;  Town  Clerk,  Edward  Rawson; 
Town  Treasurer,  Edmond  Morse,  and  Joseph  Bruce  and  Nathan 
Very  for  Constables. 

Raised  £200  for  repairing  the  highways. 

Voted  to  forego  James  Eead's  rates,  provided  if  the  Constable 
"  can  Git  The  Rates  of  said  Read  he  shall  pay  them  back  again." 

Alio-.  25.  Voted  "  that  the  Scholls  in  Mendon  be  Divided 
Into  Districts  as  they  are  Stated  for  Mending  the  Highways,  this 
Present  year,  and  that  Every  District  Shall  have  as  Much  Money 
Appropriated  to  them  for  the  Use  of  Schooling  as  they  Pay  to 
the  School  Tax  this  Present  year." 

Aug.  25.  Raised  £50,  lawful  money,  for  schooling,  and  £100, 
lawful  money,  including  the  interest  of  the  school  money  bonds, 
to  defray  town  charges.  The  school  money  bonds  were  the  notes 
of  those  persons  who  had  bought  portions  of  the  school  lands. 


1760.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  289 

By  the  vote  above  recorded  it  is  seen  that  the  Highway  Districts 
and  the  School  Districts  were  identical,  and  if  but  one  Surveyor 
of  Highways  was  chosen  to  a  District  there  were  eleven  School 
Districts,  and  Each  District  drew  just  the  amount  of  money 
they  paid  to  the  appropriation  for  schools. 

About  this  time  the  question  of  a  workhouse,  where  the  poor 
should  he  kept,  began  to  be  mooted;  but  a  motion  at  this  meet- 
ing to  build  a  workhouse  passed  in  the  negative,  as  the  phrase 
was  in  the  olden  time,  when  a  motion  failed  to  be  carried. 

The  war  with  France  still  continued,  and  Mendon  still  contin- 
ued to  furnish  her  quota  to  the  army  under  Lord  Amherst.  The 
campaign  this  year  virtually  closed  the  war,  so  far  as  America 
was  concerned,  and  the  surrender  of  Montreal,  by  the  Marquis 
de  Yaudreuil,  completed  the  conquest  of  Canada. 

The  following  copies  from  the  Muster  Rolls  gives  the  number 
of  men  furnished  by  Mendon,  in  the  campaign  for  this  year: 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  98,  p.  279. 

In'Capt.  Ebenezer  Taft's  Co.  (Mendon)  From  Feb.  14  to  Dec.  19,  1760 

(120  m.  home.) 

w.    D. 

Ebenezer  Taft.  Capt Feb.     14  to  Dec   19  44  2  £99  02  10 

Samuel  White,  Sergt  June  11  to  Nov.  29  24  4  13  04  08 

Adam  White,  Drummer June  16  to  Nov.  23  23  0  11  01  10 

Daniel  Hill,         pr June    1  to  Nov.  29  24  4  11  01  02 

Silas  Thayer,      do June  26  to  Nov.  22  22  3  10  01  11 

£145  02  05 
Boston  Feb.  12,  1761,  Sworn  to,  Before  me 

T.  Hubbakd,  Jus.  Peace. 
Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  98,  p.  302. 

In  Capt.  Wm.  Jones'  Com.  (Holliston)  From  Feb.  14  to  Dec.  26,  1760 
(120  miles  home) 

Ichabod  Marshall  pr.  Apr.  3  to  Dec,  3,  35  weeks  0  days £15  15  00 

Boston  Feb.  12.  1761.     Exd  T.  Hubbard. 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  98,  p.  311. 

In  Capt,  Timo.  Hamant's  Com.  (Medfield)  from  Feb.  14  to  Dec.  26,  1760 
{one  sheet  missing)  W5  m.  home 

W.     D. 

Luke  Lesure,  pr.  dead  (son  of  Philip)  Mar.  25  to  May  15  7  2  £03  06  11 
Ichabod  Robinson,  pr.,  servt.  to  N. 

Nelson Mar.  25  to  Nov.  30       35     6       16  02  09 

Moses  Ramsdell,   pr.,  dead  (son   of 

Moses) Mar.  25  to  Oct.  10      28    4       12  17  02 

37 


200 


ANNALS    OF    MEN DON. 


176] 


Joseph  Sprague,  pr. . 
Stephen  Taft.  pr 


..Mar.  25  to  Dec.    4 
.  Mar.  27  to  Dec.    4 


36 
36 


16  07  11 
16  05  04 

€64  17  00 

T.  HUBBAKD. 


Boston  Feb.  10  1780  Ex. 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  98,  p.  311. 

In  Capt.  John  Dunlap's  Com.  (Westboro')  from  June  10  to  Uee  26  1760. 
Nathl.  Corbett,  pr.  June  13  to  Dec.  3,  24  weeks  6  days,  servant  to 

Lem  Perham  (120  m.  home) £11  03  09 

Boston  Feb.  10.     Ex.  T.  Hubbard. 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  98,  p.  325. 

In   Capt.  Daniel  Reed's  Co.  (Abington)  From   Feb.  14  to  Dec.  30,  1760. 
Jonathan  Shores  of  Taunton  is  also  set  down  in  the  Boll  as  Captain. 


John  Watkins,  Sergt. 
Nathan  Aldrich  do. 
John  Holden,  do. 
Samuel  Morse,  Corp. 
EbenrAmmidown  pr. 
John  Hooper,  pr. 
George  Thayer,  pr. 
Joshua  Thornton  pr. 


Mar.  14  to  Dec.  3  37  6  ( 120 miles  home)£20  07  00 


John  Watkim 


pr. 


Mar.  14  to  Dec.  3  37  6 
Apr.  25  to  Dec.  3  31  6 
Mar.  14  to  Dec.  3  37  6 
Mar.  14  to  Dec.  3  37  6 
Mar.  14  to  Dec.  2  37  5 
Mar.   14  to  Dec.  3  37  6 


to  IchabOd 


s.  of  David 


20  07  09 

17  03  02 

18  15  02 
17  00  09 

16  19*06 

17  00  09 


Mar.  14  to  Dec.  3  37  6   servant  to  Josiah 

Adams 17  09  00 

Mar.  14  to  Dec.  10  38  6  dead,  son  to  Pa- 
tience W 17  09  09 


Boston  March  5th.  1761. 
Sworn  to  before  me. 


£162  05  04 
E.  E.  Daniel  Bead. 

T.  Hubbard. 


1761.  Jan  5.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day  the  assessors 
were  ordered,  by  a  majority  of  three  votes,  to  assess  the  soldiers 
that  were  out  in  the  last  campaign  that  belong  to  Mendon,  "  In 
The  Taxes  Laid  on  and  Arising  in  this  Town  the  present 
year." 

Capt.  Robert  Taft  and  William  Rawson,  Esq.,  entered  their 
protests  with  the  Town  Clerk  that  the  proceedings  were  illegal. 

March  2.  Selectmen,  Benjamin  Wheelock,  Daniel  Chapin, 
Edward  Rawson,  David  Daniels  and  Samuel  Torrey;  Town 
Clerk,  Edward .  Rawson;  Town  Treasurer,  Edmond  Morse; 
Constables,  Peter  Penmman  and  Joseph  Bruce;  Joseph  Darling 


« 


1761. "I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  291 

and  Josiah  Darling,  Deer  Reives;  John  French.  Nathl.  Nelson. 
Win.  Sheffield  and  Pelatiah  Darling,   Wardens. 

Raised  £150,  "to  be  worked  out  on  the  Highways  and  £35  to 
defray  the  Charge  of  the  Small  Pox  In  John  Gage's  Family  last 
year." 

May  20.  Nathaniel  Nelson  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

August  31.  Voted  "  to  raise  £70  L.  M.  to  defray  town 
charges  and  £30  for  Schooling  this  year:  and  each  District  may 
draw  out  the  amount  they  respectively  pay  to  the  amount  raised, 
and  may  expend  it  for  schooling  in  such  manner  as  they  shall 
see  fit.'5 

In  case  any  person  came  into  town  to  abide  therein,  the  law 
was  imperative  that  the  Selectmen  should  he  immediately  notified 
by  the  person  who  entertained  them.  Robert  Morton  and  family 
had  removed  to  Mendon,  and  was  residing  with  Eliphalet  Whar- 
lield,  and  he,  having  neglected  to  give  notice  to  the  Selectmen. 
the  town  voted  that  Lieut.  John  French,  Edmond  Morse,  Elder 
Nathaniel  Nelson,  Edward  Rawson  and  Nathan  Tyler  should  be 
a  committee  "  to  proceed  against  the  Estate  of  Eliphalet  Whar- 
iield,  Dec*  for  his  bringing  in  Robert  Morton  and  his  Family 
and  not  giving  notice  to  the  Selectmen  as  the  law  directs,  which 
family  are  now  become  a  Town  charge." 

Although  the  law  creating  the  office  of  Warden  was  enacted 
in  17<)0,  the  town  of  Mendon  had  never  elected  men  to  that 
office  until  this  year.  These  Wardens  were  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  and  formerly  were  appointed  by  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  the  Selectmen.  It  was  made  their  duty,  by  the  law  of  1700, 
to  govern,  inspect  and  take  care  of  all  persons  of  the  same  town 
employed  at  the  work  house,  or  sent  thither  by  two  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  quorum  uiiiis,  to  be  kept  at  work  there,  to  he  held 
and  kept  strictly  to  work ;  and  that  all  idle  and  disorderly  per- 
sons, and  such  as  do  not  duly  perform  such  reasonable  task  or 
stint  as  shall  lie  set  them,  he  punished  by  moderate  whipping  or 
setting  in  the  stocks. 

Although  the  whipping  post  and  the  stocks  are  no  longer 
invoked  in  the  administration  of  justice,  still,  if  some  means  could 
be  devised  by  which  the  fnt/i/j)*  who  now  patrol  the  country  by 
day  and  encamp  in  our  poor  houses  by  night,  could   be  held  to 


292  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1762. 

the  performance  of  some  appropriate  labor  in  exchange  for  the 
supper,  lodging  and  breakfast,  neither  party  would  be  the 
worse  off. 

Although  the  French  war,  so  far  as  America  was  concerned, 
was  virtually  ended  by  the  capture  of  Quebec  and  Montreal,  still 
the  war  continued  between  England  and  France  until  the  treaty 
of  peace  in  1763. 

The  forces  which  had  been  raised  by  the  Colonies  to  aid  in  the 
conquest  of  Canada,  were  not  entirely  disbanded  until  the 
declaration  of  peace  in  1763.  So  far  as  the  muster  rolls  show, 
however,  but  few  of  the  Mendon  soldiers  remained  in  the  field 
after  1760.     The  following  are  found  on  the 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.   99,  p.  113. 

In  Capt.  Thomas  Cowdine's  -Com.  (Worcester)  in  Col.  Saltonstall's  Reg-, 
from  April  18  to  Dec.  29,  1761. 
John  Darling  pr July  1  to  Dec.  1.        22  weeks.         £9  IS  00 

In  Capt,  John  Dunlap's  Com.  (Westboro)  from  May  22.  1701  to  Jan.  4. 
1762. 

Samuel  Morse,  Corp.  May  22,  1761  to  Jan.  4,  1762  8  mos.  4  days,  £15  14  02 
George  Thayer,  pr. .  .May  22,  1761  to  Jan.  4,  1762  8     "     4      "        14  13  02 

In  the  Massachusetts  Archives,  Court.  Vol.  24,  p.  92,  may  be 
found  the  following  petition: 

A  Petition  of  Jacob  Aldrich  Jr.  of  Mendon,  Setting  forth  That  in  the 
year  1758  he  Enlisted  as  a  Soldier  in  the  pay  of  the  Province,  and  carried 
hi*  own  gun  with  him,  but  that  being  taken  sick  he  was  sent  to  the  Hos- 
pital, at  Albany,  where,  being  in  a  debilitated  state,  he  could  not  take  care 
of  his  gun  and  so  lost  it,  and  praying  for  an  allowance. 

In  the  II.  of  Rep.  Read  and  Ordered  that  the  sum  of  Two  pounds  be 
paid  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Nelson  (Representative 
for  the  use  of  the  Petitioner  in  full. 

In  Council  July  10,  1761     R.  &  C. 

Consented  by  the  Governor. 


1762.  Jan.  25.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  Messrs. 
James  Sumner,  John  French  and  Ebenezer  Ohapin  were  chosen 
a  committee  "to  Reckon  with  Capt.  Phinehas  Lovett  and  make 
a  final  settlement  with  him." 

March  1st.  ('hose  Peter  Wheelock,  Daniel  Sumner,  Joseph 
Benson,  Capt.  Samuel  Wheelock  and  Josiah  Adams,  Selectmen; 


1702."]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  293 

Edward  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  Edniond  Morse,  Town  Treasurer, 
and  James  Lovett  and  Joseph  Thayer,  Constables. 

This  year  perambulated  town  lines  with  Bellingham,  Hollis- 
ton,  Hopkinton,  Upton  and  Uxbridge. 

Raised  £150  "to  mend  the  Highways  this  year;  and  that  2s. 
be  allowed  for  a  man  and  4s.  for  a  man  and  team  per  day  and 
that  the  Highway  Rate  shonhl  be  made  in  April/' 

Dr.  Joshua  Wood  was  allowed  20s,  lawful  money,  for  doctor- 
ing William  Dolbear  and  his  widow,  in  1761. 

David  Daniels  "may  build  a  New  Pound,  Provided  lie  will 
build  it  Thirty  feet  Square  and  according  to  law."  According 
to  law.  it  is  supposed,  meant  that  the  pound  should  be  so  high 
that  no  animal  could  scale  its  walls,  and  the  rails  so  close  to- 
gether that  no  animal  could  escape  between  them. 

It  seems  that  David  Daniels  was  to  build  a  pound  at  his  own 
charge;  and,  once  before,  Ebenezer  Chapin  had  liberty  to  build 
one,  find  the  land  for  its  site  and  take  care  of  it  for  fifteen  years, 
without  charge  to  the  town.  The  fees  of  the  pound  keeper  for 
impounding  stray  animals,  it  is  supposed,  furnished  satisfactory 
compensation  to  those  who  built  the  pounds. 

May  15.  Oapt.  Phinehas  Lovett  was  chosen  Representative 
by  a  majority  of  one  vote. 

Oct.  25.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon  "Shall  Lay 
Their  Accounts  Before  The  Town  for  their  Acceptance  for  the 
future." 

Aug.  30.  Voted  to  raise  £70,  lawful  money,  to  defray  town 
charges,  and  £40  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  give  the  Town's  Old  Law  Book  "to  the  First  Precinct 
in  said  Mendon  for  their  Future  Benefit."  Some  years  before 
this  the  Old  Law  Book  had  been  loaned  to  the  Second  Precinct 
for  their  benefit,  but  for  some  good  reason  the  town  now  saw  tit 
to  reclaim  it. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  of  Mendon  still  in  the  service. 

Muster  Rolls,  Vol.  99,  p.   215. 

In  Capt.  Ebenezer  Cox's  Com.  (Hardwick)  from  May  4  to  Dec.  29.  1762 

Nicholas  Trask,  pr Mar.  31  to  Nov.  13    8  mos.  4  days.     £14  13  02 

Edward  Trask,     " Mar.  31  to  Nov.    1     7     "    20     "  13  17  09 

In  Capt.  Timo.  Hamant's  Co.  (Medway)  Nov.  2.  1762  to  July  218.  763. 
Aaron  Comstock  pr.  .Nov.  2  4762  to  June 9.  1763  7  mos.  7  days,  £13  01  00 


294  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1763. 

The  treaty  of  peace  with  .France  secured  Canada  to  the  pos- 
session of  England,  and  henceforward  the  Indians,,  who  had 
heretofore  made  frequent  and  bloody  raids  upon  the  frontiers  of 
!Sew  England,  became  peaceable  and  quiet. 


1763.  March  7.  The  town  meeting  was  opened,  and  Lieut. 
John  French  was  chosen  Moderator,  and,  without  any  reason 
mentioned,  immediately  adjourned  to  March  21,  inst. 

March  21.  Chose  Lieut.  John  French,  Lieut.  Josiah  Chapin, 
Joseph  Allen,  Capt.  Thomas  Wiswall  and  Benoni  Benson,  Se- 
lectmen; Edward  Bawson,  Town  Clerk;  George  Aldrich,  Town 
Treasurer,  and  Moses  Aldrich  and  Benjamin  Wheelock,  Con- 
stables. 

Voted  to  build  a  Work  House  this  year,  but'  upon  further 
consideration — 

Voted  "  to  hire  a  House  for  a  Work  House,  in  some  Conve- 
nient place  in  town  and  put  it  in  Bepair  fit  for  That  Building;"1 
and  the  subject  was  referred  to  David  Daniels,  George  Aldrich, 
Ebenezer  Chapin,  Jasper  Daniell  and  Samuel  Torrey  to  report 
at  the  next  town  meeting. 

Voted  to  raise  £90  to  repair  highways  this  year.  A  man  to 
have  2s.  and  a  man  and  team  4s.  a  day  from  April  1  to  Sept.  30. 

The  School  Districts,  it  seems,  did  not  always  draw  out  their 
portions  of  the  school  money  during  the  year  in  which  the 
appropriation  was  made,  and,  from  the  following  vote,  it  is  sup- 
posed they  sought  to  have  interest  allowed  on  the  sums  which 
had  not  been  drawn  from  the  Treasury;  be  that  as  it  may, 
the  town  voted  not  to  allow  interest  in  such  cases,  intending  the 
school  money  should  be  expended  during  the  municipal  year  in 
which  it  was  raised. 

Raised  £20,  lawful  money,  "to  Provide  Stock,  Tools  and 
Material  to  Set  the  Poor  at  Work  and  that  the  rate  be  made 
forthwith." 

Aug.  29.     Baised  £70  for  town  charges  and  £40  for  schooling. 

As  no  record  is  found  of  the  choice  of  a  Representative  it  is 
presumed  the  town  was  not  represented  in  the  General  Court 
this  year. 


17(U.  I  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  2!*.") 

1764.  March  5.  George  Keith.,  Samuel  Warren,  Capt.  Jo- 
seph Daniels,  Dr.  Samuel  Scammell  and  Noah  Cook  were  chosen 
Selectmen;  Edward  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  George  Aldrich, 
Town  Treasurer,  and  Ebenezer  Holbrook  and  Moses  Aldrich, 
Constables. 

Raised  £100  for  mending  highways  this  year. 

Voted  "  to  pay  a  debt  for  Oliver  Hay  ward  to  Dr.  Corbett  14)011 
a  Note,  of  the  sum  of  two  pounds,  which  Note  Corbett  hath  now 
against  him."  it  will  lie  remembered  that  the  town,  as  trustees, 
held  the  estate  of  Oliver  Hayward  for  the  support  of  himself 
and  family. 

Voted  to  raise  £20  to  hire  a  house  and  buy  materials  "  to  set 
the  Poor  to  work  on.*' 

Voted  to  buy  a  book  for  the  Selectmen  to  keep  the- town's 
account  in  for  the  future. 

May  23..  Chose  Joseph  Dorr,  Jr.,  Representative  of  the 
General  Court,  which,  after  being  prorogued  by  Gov.  Bernard, 
from  month  to  month,  was  finally  called  to  meet  at  Concord. 
The  General  Court  held  that  the  Court,  should  have  been  held 
at  Boston,  and  they  denied  the  right  of  the  Governor  to  change 
the  place  of  meeting. 

Aug.  30.  Raised  £60  for  schooling  and  £40,  lawful  money,  to 
defray  town  charges  for  the  present  year. 

A  list  of  jurors  were  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  put  in  the 
jury  box. 

The  Selectmen  who  served  last  year  were  voted  twelve  shillings 
each,  "  tho  there  was  Nothing  in  the  Warrant  for  That  busi- 
ness." 

Pursuant  to  a  vote  of  the  town  the  Selectmen  made  the  fol- 
lowing return: 

The  Names  of  Persons  that  have  been  Warned  out  of  Mendon. 
John  Wilson,  Sarah  his  wife  and  two  children  from  Wrentham;  William 
Froleigh  and  his  son  Hezekiah  from  Boston;  Charles  Phillips  from  West- 
terly,  in  the  Colony  of  R.  I.;  Zebulun  Swift,  his  wife  Rebecka  and  eight 
children  from  Bellingham;  Mary  Bolster,  from  Uxbridge;  Nathan  Free- 
man, his  wife  Anne  and  one  child  from  Bellingham;  Mary  Eames,  from 
Hopkinton;  Benjamin  Head,  from  Uxbridge;  Stephen  Powers,  his  wife 
and  one  child,  from  Grafton;  Benjamin  Blake,  his  wife  Sarah  and  one 
Child,  from  Uxbridge.  These  in  1763.  Isaac  Bates',  Martha,  his  wife  and 
lour  children,    viz:  Olive  Bates,  Lucretia  Bates,  Laban   Bates  and  Micah 


296  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1764. 

Bates  from  Bellingham ;  Robert  Taft,  Deborah,  his  wife  and  six  children, 
viz:  Elizabeth,  Dorothy,  Mary  and  Hannah,  their  Daughters,  Lovett  their 
son  and  Abigail  their  Daughter. 

John  French,      ] 
Josiah  Chapin,     !    Selectmen 
Joseph  Allan,     f  of  Mendon. 
Benoni  Benson,  J 

Attest,     Edward  Rawson,  Town  Clerk. 

"Mass.  Archives,  Miscellaneous,  1048  to  1775,  p.  2o2. 

Worcester  ss.  Whereas  his  Excellency,  the  Governor  (Bernard)  by  his 
order  to  me  directed,  that  the  Great  and  General  Court  did,  on  the  second 
day  of  February  last  pass  an  Order  "  That  the  Select  Men  of  each  Town 
and  District  in  this  Province,  to  be  chosen  for  the  year  1764,  do,  as  soon  as 
conveniently  may  be,  take  an  exact  Account  of  the  Number  of  Dwelling 
Houses,  Families  and  Poeple  in  their  respective  Towns  and  Districts, 
agreeable  to  the  Schedule  thereto  annexed,"  and  hath  required  me  forth- 
with to  make  out  a  precept  directed  unto  the  Select  Men  of  each  respective 
town  or  District  within  my  Precinct  requiring  to  Take  an  exact  account  of 
the  Number  of  Dwelling  Houses,  Families  and  Poeple  as  aforesaid  and  to 
return  the  same  unto  the  Secretary's  Office  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  De- 
cember next. 

In  Observance  of  the  said  Order  to  me  directed, 

These  are  to  will  and  require  you,  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  to 
take  an  Account  of  the  Number  of  Dwelling  Houses,  Families  and  Poeple 
within  Your  Town,  including  as  well  Indians  civilized,  Negroes  and  Mo- 
lattos,  as  White  Poeple  and  Females  as  well  as  Males,  distinguishing  them 
in  the  form,  as  on  the  other  side  hereof,  agreeable  to  the  said  Order  of  the 
Great  and  General  Court:  And  make  Return  of  this  Precept  to  me,  so  that 
the  same  may  be  transmitted  into  the  Secretary's  Office,  on  or  before  the 
last  Day  of  December  next.     Hereof  you  are  not  to  fail. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Worcester,  the  sixth  of  August,  In 
the  Fourth  Year  of  his  Majesty's  Reign,  Annoq.  Domini  1764. 

Gaud"  Chandler,  Sheriff.     (L.  S.) 
To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  Greeting. 

MENDON. 

Houses 284 

Families 336 

White  Poeple  under  Sixteen  years Males,  466 

do        do         "            do        do    Females,  425 

White  Poeple  above      do        do    Males,  441 

do        do        "            do        do      Females,  497 

Negroes  and  Molattoes Males,  5 

do           "        do         Females,  4 

Indians 0 


1765. j  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  297 

French  Neutrals  under  Sixteen  years Males,  1 

do  do  "  do  do    Females,       2 

French  Neutrals,  above    do  do    Males,  1 

do  do  "  do         do    Females,       1 

Pursuant  to  the  above  Precept,  We  have  taken  an  Exact  account  of  the 
Number  of  Dwelling  Houses,  Families  andPoeple  in  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
and  do  Certify  that  the  foregoing   Schedule  contains  a  True  and  exact 
Account  of  the  same. 
Dated  in  Mendon  aforesaid  the  Seventeenth  Day  of  December,  1764. 

Geo.  Keith,  "1 

Samuel  Warren,     |    Selectmen 
Noah  Cook,  V 

Samuel  Scammell,  |  of  Mendon. 
Joseph  Daniels.     J 


1765.  March  4.  Selectmen,  Ens.  Ebenr  Chapin;  Ens.  Samuel 
Torrey,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  Peter  Penniman;  Town 
Clerk,  Edward  Rawson;  Town  Treasurer,  George  Aldrich,  and 
Samuel  Warren  and  Joseph  Bruce,  Constables. 

May  20.  Although  but  two  school  houses  had,  as  yet,  been 
built  in  the  town  (one  in  the  First  Precinct  and  one  in  the 
Second),  and  although  nine  of  the  eleven  School  Districts  were 
without  school  houses,  still  the  town,  at  this  meeting,  voted  they 
would  build  no  more. 

Chose  Joseph  Dorr,  Jr.,  Representative  to  the  General  Court. 

Aug.  26.  Raised  £40  for  defraying  town  charges  and  £40  for 
schooling. 

Voted  to  build  a  new  pound  thirty  feet  square  and  seven  feet 
high,  and  to  be  set  on  the  Training  Field,  the  location  to  be 
designated  by  the  Selectmen. 

Lieut.  John  French,  George  Aldrich  and  James  Sumner  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  build  said  pound,  and  were  instructed  as 
follows,  viz: — 

"  To  Build  said  Pound  with  sufficient  large  Stones  six  feet  high  and  then 
put  on  a  Chestnut  Logg  hewn  one  foot  square  and  Locked  in  the  Corners, 
and  make  a  Good  Gate  and  Mortis  the  Studs  into  the  Loggs  that  are  to  be 
laid  on  said  wall :  and  Build  Said  Pound  at  the  Cheapest  Lay  or  Rate  it  can 
be  done,  and  Lay  all  the  Charge  of  Building  Before  the  Town,  when  said 
Pound  is  Finished  For  the  Town's  Acceptance." 

With  instructions  so  full  as  these,  the  committee  would  be 
under  no  necessity  to  consult  an  engineer  or  architect. 

38 


298  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1765. 

To  defray  the  cost  of  the  pound,  the  town  raised  and  appro- 
priated the  sum  of  £4,  lawful  money. 

Some  years  hef  ore  this  time  Abraham  Fletcher  leased  a  portion 
of  the  Ministry  land  for  twenty  years,  conditioned  to  clear  it  and 
subdue  the  bushes.  In  the  meantime  he  had  died,  and  the 
probability  is  that  his  heirs  found  the  bargain  a  hard  one;  and, 
at  this  meeting,  the  town  released  them  from  all  obligations 
under  the  lease. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  for  1764  shall  have  two  dollars  for 
their  services. 

The  Stamp  Act  became  a  law  on  the  22d  clay  of  March  of  this 
year.  In  August,  Andrew  Oliver  was  appointed  a  Distributor  of 
Stamps  for  Massachusetts,  and  on  the  8th  of  the  same  month  he 
was  hung  in  effigy  from  a  limb  of  the  Liberty  Tree,  which  stood 
at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Essex  streets,  in  Boston.  This 
was  followed,  on  the  26th,  by  the  sack  of  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchin- 
son's house.  From  this  time  excitement  ran  high,  not  only  in 
Massachusetts,  but  through  all  the  Colonies. 

Oct.  14.  A  town  meeting  was  legally  warned  in  Menclon  to 
consider  the  subject  of  the  Stamp  Act  and  some  part  of  Gov- 
ernor Bernard's  speech. 

Nathan  Tyler,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Moderator. 

1.  Voted  to  Give  Mr.  Dorr  Jr.  the  Representative  of  said  Town,  Instruc- 
tions Respecting  his  Conduct  at  the  Great  and  General  Court,  Relating  to 
the  Stamp  Act  and  some  part  of  the  Governors  Speech. 

2.  The  Town  voted  to  stand  by  the  Charter  Privelidges. 

3.  Voted  that  they  would  not  comply  with  the  Stamp  Act. 

4.  Voted  they  would  not  make  any  Compensation  to  the  sufferers  in 
Boston  by  Mobbs. 

5.  Voted  to  choose  a  Committee  of  Five  men  to  draw  up  and  put  the 
Town's  Instructions  in  order  for  the  Representative : — The  five  men  chosen 
were  Edward  Rawson,  James  Sumner,  Ichabod  Ammidown,  Peter  Pcnni- 
man  and  Joseph  Johnson. 

This  committee  undoubtedly  furnished  the  Kepresentative 
with  instructions  pursuant  to  the  above  vote,  but  as  they  were 
not  recorded,  we  can  only  judge  of  their  tenor  by  supposing  that 
the  committee  were  in  full  sympathy  with  the  sentiment  of  the 
meeting. 

STATE    PAUPERS. 

Mass.  Archives,  Miscellaneous. 


1765.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  299 


To  His  Excellency  Francis  Bernard  Esq.  Capt.  General  and  Governor  in 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New- 
England  and  Vice  Admiral  of  the  same  and  to  the  Honourable  his  Majesty's 
Council  at  Boston  October  ye  23d.  1765. 

The  Select  men  of  Mendon  in  the  County  of  Worcester  humbly  show  to 
your  Excellency  and  Honours  that  one  John  Cole,  A  Regular  Soldier  (as 
he  says)  as  he  was  on  his  journey  from  Boston  to  New  York  with  his  wife 
and  two  children,  on  the  twenty  ninth  day  of  July  last,  was  Taken  Sick, 
in  This  Town  of  Mendon,  of  a  fever,  and  he,  being  a  poor  person,  made 
Application  to  us  for  Relief  in  his  sickness  for  things  Necessary  for  him- 
self and  for  support  for  his  Family;  and  that  he  was  supported  by  us,  at 
the  expense  of  this  Town  both  himself  and  family  Twenty  One  Days:  and 
he  and  his  family  being  Transient  Persons,  not  belonging  to  any  Town 
within  this  Province,  We  your  Humble  Petitioners  pray  that  the  expense 
we  have  been  at  for  him  in  his  sickness  and  for  supporting  his  family  may 
be  allowed  a  Province  Charge  by  your  Excellency  and  Honours  and  pray 
that  we  may  be  allowed  the  same;  as  soon  as  he  recovered  he  leftsd  Town. 

The  Accompt  in  Particular  is  as  Followeth, 
Paid  John  Rawson  for  Providing  a  house  and  bedding  and  for 

Sundries  he  found  them £2  14  00 

Paid  Dr.  Thomas  Steel  for  Doctoring  him  in  his  Sickness 1  05  04 

For  providing  Necessaries  for  him  and  for  fetching  the  Doctor, 

sundry  times,  which  we  did  ourselves 12  00 

£4  11  04 
A  True  Accompt  Errors  Excepted. 

Ebenezer  Chapin,        ] 
Benjamin  Wheelock,  |      Selectmen 
Samuel  Torrey,  V  of 

Josiah  Wheelock,        |        Mendon. 
Peter  Penniman.         J 

Mendon  August  ye  19.  1765  The  Town  of  Mendon  to  John  Rawson  Dr. 
To  Nursing  John  Cole  &  Boarding  his  Wife  and  two  Children  and 
finding  them  House  room  and  bedding  and  necessaries  for  him- 
self when  sick  &  for  his  wife  and  Children,  at  2s.  lid.  pr.  Day 

for  21  days £2  14  00 

A  True  account  Errors  Excepted,  pr.  John  Rawson. 

August  ye  19,  1765.  Then  Recd  the  above  Accompt  of  the  Selectmen  of 
Mendon,  I  say 

pr.  me.  John  Rawson. 

The  Selectmen  of  Mendon  to  Thomas  Steel  Dr.  for  John  Cole. 

1765  July  31.     To  Visit.  Spt.  nit  dul.  Tine,  croc  camphorata £  0  2  03 

Aug.  1.      "     do.     Emet.  &  cathart.  Syr.  croc.  &c 0  2  08 

2.       "     do.     Elect.  Pectoral.  Lac.  ammon  &c 0  3  04 

"      3.       "     do.     Pulv.  febrif.  Spt,  nit.  dul 0  2  02 

"      4.       "     do.     Haust,  Purg.  Elix.  asthmat.  Lac.  ammon 

&c 0  3  00 


300  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.                              [1766. 

Aug.  6.     To  Visit  Cardiac  Julep 0  1  03 

"      7.       "do.     Spt.  nit.  dul.  Pulv.  febrif 0  2  00 

"      9.  "do.     Rasur.  C.  C.  Icthyocol.  Ball.  Polychrest.     0  3  08 

"     10.       "     do.     Ingred.  Corrobrat 0  2  00 

"13.  "    do.     Pil.  coch.  Gra  Man.  Emet.  Venae  Sect...     0  3  00 


£1  5  04 
Menclon  Feb.  3.  1766.     Then  recd  of  the  above  sd.  Selectmen  this  Ac- 

conipt  in  full.  Thomas  Steel. 

Feb.  12.  1766.     This  account,  by  order  of  the  HonbI.  Col.  Lincoln  hath 

been  perused  &  examined  by  me  the  Subscriber  and  the  same  I  judge  to  be 

reasonable. 

W.  Brattle. 


1766.  March  3.  Selectmen,  David  Daniels,  Ebenezer 
Chapin,  Samuel  Torrey,  Gershom  Nelson  and  Benoni  Benson. 

Voted  to  raise  £150  to  mend  the  highways  this  year. 

Voted  to  allow  Abigail  Wheat  £1.18.08,  being  the  amount 
which  the  Selectmen  took  into  their  hands  in  1764,  when  she 
became  a  town  charge.  It  is  not  often  that  paupers  pay  their 
way  and  have  a  balance  in  their  favor. 

Voted  to  grant  £3  towards  building  the  bridge  over  the  river 
at  Wilson's  Mill,  (now  Millville).  This  was  probably  from  the 
island  to  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  as  before  this  the  town  had 
refused  to  build  one  there. 

"  Voted  that  the  Highway  Rates  shall  be  made  in  the  month  of  April 
next  and  Committed  to  the  Constables  to  Collect,  but  not  to  begin  their 
Collection  until  the  15th.  day  of  October  next  following,  and  that  each 
Surveyor  shall  have  a  copy  of  his  respective  District  Rates,  and  each  of  the 
Inhabitants  shall  have  liberty  to  work  his  respective  proportion  of  sd  As- 
sessment, Provided  he  or  they  shall  faithfully  work  out  the  one  half  of  his 
proportion  of  said  Assessment  before  the  last  day  of  June  next,  at  such 
place,  on  the  Highways,  where  his  respective  Surveyor  shall  order  him,  at 
3  shillings  per  day  for  a  man  with  suitable  tools  for  said  work,  and  3  shil- 
lings per  day  for  a  team  of  3  cattle  and  cart:  And  the  other  half  by  the 
15th.  day  of  October  next,  at  2s.  6d.  per  day  for  a  man  and  2s.  6.  per  day 
for  a  Team  as  aforesaid,  and  that  a  receipt  from  his  respective  Surveyor 
shall  be  accepted  by  the  Constable  for  his  proportion  of  said  Assessment  or 
any  part  thereof:  And  that  the  Assessors  shall  deliver  a  Warrant  to  the 
Constables  to  gather  the  sum  of  Said  Rate  Bills  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
January  next  and  pay  the  money  that  shall  be  gathered  into  the  Town 
Treasury,  and  that  the  same  be  drawn  out  and  paid  to  the  Surveyors,  by 


1766.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  301 

order  of  the  Selectmen,  to  pay  for  what  they  shall  hire  in  lieu  of  those  that 
are  delinquent  &  do  not  procure  receipts  of  their  Respective  Surveyors." 

May  26.  Chose  Joseph  Dorr,  Jr.,  Representative  to  the 
General  Court,  he  having  112  votes,  and  Elder  Nathaniel  Nel- 
son 44  votes. 

Voted  that  they  would  not  build,  but  would  hire  a  work- 
house this  year. 

July  7.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  it  is  recorded  that 
the  town  brought  in  their  votes  for  a  Register  for  the  County  of 
AVorcester,  but  for  whom  or  how  many  votes  were  cast  does  not 
appear  on  the  record. 

Voted  they  would  have  no  more  Pounds  than  one,  even 
though  "  Perticular  Persons  should  build  them  at  their  own 
charge." 

Aug.  25.     Raised  £30  for  town  charges  and  £30  for  schooling. 

Voted  "that  the  Representative  of  this  Town  may  act  dis- 
cretionary at  the  Great  and  General  Court,  Respecting  the  Suf- 
ferers in  Boston." 

The  sufferers  in  Boston  were  Mr.  Story,  the  Deputy  Register, 
whose  office  was  broken  open,  and  from  whence  the  records  of 
the  Vice  Admiralty  Court  were  taken  and  burnt;  Mr.  Hallo- 
well,  the  Comptroller  of  the  Customs,  whose  house  was  ravaged, 
and  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson,  whose  house  was  ransacked  and 
whose  furniture  and  plate  was  thrown  into  the  street. 

After  many  discussions  in  the  General  Court,  a  bill  of  indem- 
nity for  the  sufferers  was  passed  in  December  by  a  vote  of  53  to 
35,  but  in  which  bill  was  incorporated  a  full  and  free  pardon  to 
the  rioters. 

Sept.  1.  At  a  town  meeting  this  day  it  was  voted  "  to  Recon- 
sider the  vote  passed  at  the  last  meeting,  relative  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Dorr,  present  Representative,  acting  discretionary  at  the  Great 
and  General  Court,  Relating  to  the  Sufferers  in  Boston."  This 
vote  left  the  Representative  instructed  to  vote  against  the  in- 
demnity bill  which  had  been  offered  in  the  General  Court. 

Copies  of  this  bill  were  directed  to  be  sent  to  all  the  towns, 
and, 

Oct.  27,  the  town  of  Mendon  passed  the  following  vote: — 

That  with  regard  to  those  Gentlemen  who  suffered  by  said  disturbance 
on  the  26th  of  August  A.  D.  1765,  upon  application  of  said   Sufferers  to 


302  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1767. 

the  General  Assembly,  in  a  parliamentary  way,  the  Representative  of  the 
said  Town  of  Mendon  be  directed  and  is  hereby  accordingly  directed,  in  his 
best  discretion,  to  use  his  influence  that  such  losses  be  made  up,  as  far  as 
may  be,  in  a  manner  the  most  Loyal  respecting  his  Majesty  and  the  most 
Constitutional  and  Safe  with  Respect  to  the  Just  Rights  and  Privilidges  of 
British  Subjects. 

Dec.  24.  Then  it  was  put  to  vote  "to  See  if  the  Town  would 
vote  off  the  Easterly  Precinct,  according  to  the  bounds  thereof, 
to  be  a  Separate  Town  by  Themselves,"  and  there  was  but  one 
hand  held  up. 

The  motion  to  allow  the  said  Precinct  to  become  a  District 
was  negatived  by  ten  votes. 

THE    SOUTH    PRECINCT. 

Colony  Laws,  1762  to  1770,  Vol.  II,  p.  304. 

By  a  vote  of  the  General  Court,  passed  Nov.  8,  1766,  the 
south  part  of  the  First  Precinct  in  Mendon  was  made  a  separate 
Precinct  by  the  name  of  the  South  Precinct.  Nathan  Tyler 
was  to  call  the  first  meeting. 

BOUNDS    OF   THE    SOUTH    PRECINCT. 

Beginning  at  the  SW.  corner  of  Mendon,  then  on  Uxbridge  3  miles  128 
rods  to  stake  and  stones  (:!:)  on  Capt.  Daniel  Taft's  farm;  thence  turning 
and  running  E  8°  S  to  stake  and  stones  ( : ! :)  by  road  leading  from  Thomas 
Taft's  to  John  Boyce's;  continuing  the  same  course  to  a  (:!:)  by  road  lead- 
ing from  Dam  Swamp  to  Ens.  Benjamin  Darling's;  continuing  the  same 
course  to  a  (:!:)  on  the  east  side  of  Rehoboth  road,  S  of  Darius  Daniels' 
orchard,  then  the  same  course  to  a  pine  tree  at  Bellingham  line,  with 
Daniel  Taft's  and  Joseph  Day's  farms  on  the  N.  side  of  Line. 

This  Precinct  has  since  become  the  Town  of  Blackstone. 


I767.  PETITION    OF    THE    EAST    PRECINCT. 

Court,  Vol.  26,  p.  355. 

Feb.  3.  1767.  A  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  of  the  Eastwardly  Pre- 
cinct in  Mendon  Setting  forth  That  they  have  been  set  off  as  a  Precinct 
about  twenty-five  years,  but  find  it  very  inconvenient  for  them  by  reason  of 
their  distance  and  other  reasons  to  remain  a  part  of  said  Town  and  praying 
that  they  with  their  Lands  and  Estates  may  be  erected  into  a  separate  Dis- 
trict, agreeable  to  the  boundaries  of  said  Precinct  and  that  they  may  be 
assigned  to  them  their  proportionable  part  of  the  Ministry  Land  and  Money 
and  Town  Stock  of  Arms  and  Ammunition. 


1767.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  303 


In  the  House  of  Representatives  Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  notify  the 
Town  of  Mcndon,  by  serving  the  Town  Clerk  with  a  copy  thereof,  to  shew 
cause,  if  any  they  have,  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  this  instant  February  why 
the  prayer  should  not  be  granted. 

In  Council    Read  and  Concurred. 

Feb.  16.  Then  the  Town  voted  unanimously  to  Send  Reasons  into  the 
Great  and  General  Court  to  Shew  Cause  why  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  Precinct  in  Mendon  should  not  be  granted. 

Then,  by  a  vote,  chose  Nine  men  for  a  Committee  to  draw  up  the  Town's 
reasons,  in  the  Town's  behalf.  The  men  choseu  were  Messrs.  Edmond 
Morse,  Edward  Rawson,  John  French,  Joseph  Benson,  William  Torrey, 
Benoui  Benson,  George  Aldrich,  William  Sheffield  and  Peter  Penniman. 

Then  the  town,  by  a  vote,  chose  Edward  Rawson,  Samuel  Green  and 
William  Sheffield  for  a  Committee  or  Agents  for  the  Town  of  Mendon,  to 
carry  in  the  Town's  Reasons  into  the  Great  &  General  Court  and  make 
answer  to  a  petition  of  a  Number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  Pre- 
cinct in  said  Town  and  Shew  Cause  in  the  Town's  behalf  why  the  Prayer 
thereof  should  not  be  granted. 

Feb.  24.  1767.  A  Petition  of  sundry  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  Precinct 
in  Mendon,  praying  to  be  erected  into  a  separate  District  as  entered  the  3d. 
day  of  February  inst. 

In  Council  Read  again  together  with  the  answer,  and  Ordered  that  Jere- 
miah Powell  Esq.  with  such  as  the  House  shall  join  be  a  Com.  to  take  said 
Petition  into  Consideration,  hear  the  parties  and  report. 

In  H.  of  R.  R.  &  C.  and  Capt.  Sherman  and  Capt.  Farley  are  joined  in 
the  affair. 

Feb.  25.  Jesse  Penniman,  Nathan  Tyler  &  others,  George  Aldrich  & 
others  and  Samuel  Aldrich  pray  to  be  set  off  from  the  E.  Precinct  to  the 
Town  of  Mendon,  and  their  petitions  are  referred  to  the  above  Com. 

In  Council  May  4.  1767  Ordered  that  the  Pet.  of  sundry  Inhabitants  of 
the  East  Precinct  in  Mendon  together  with  the  petitions  of  J.  Penniman, 
N.  Tyler,  G.  Aldrich  and  Aaron  Aldrich  of  said  Mendon,  with  the  papers 
accompanying  the  same,  be  referred  to  the  next  session  of  this  Court. 

March  6.  1767.  The  following  Order  passed  on  the  Petition  from  Men- 
don which  was  recommitted  the  4th  inst.  viz : — 

In  Council  the  Com.  appointed  upon  the  within  petition  reported  that 
they  had  heard  the  parties  and  well  considered  the  matter  prayed  for,  and 
that,  upon  the  whole,  they  were  of  opinion  the  Petition  ought  to  be  dis-. 
missed.  Therefore  Resolved  that  the  said  Petition  be  dismissed  accord- 
ingly. 

In  the  H  of  R.  R  &  C. 

March  2d.  Chose  Aaron  Thayer,  Ichabod  Thayer,  Benjamin 
Staples,  Peter  Darling  and  William  Sheffield,  Selectmen;  Ed- 


304  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1767. 

ward  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  George  Aldrich,  Town  Treasurer; 
and  Joseph  Bruce  and  Benoni  Benson,  Constables. 

Voted  not  to  build  or  hire  a  work  house  this  year. 

Voted  to  accept  the  new  Pound  in  the  place  it  is  now  built. 
By  a  former  vote  it  was  to  be  located  on  the  Training  Field, 
between  the  present  barn  of  Albert  W.  Gaskill  and  the  house 
of  Austin  A.  Taft.  John  and  Thomas  Legg  were  allowed 
£5.17.04  for  building  it. 

Voted  "to  pass  over  the  article  in  the  Warrant  to  see  whether 
the  Town  would  make  the  Country  Road  from  Dr.  Thomas 
Steel's  to  Uxbridge  line,  or  to  make  the  Bridge  over  the  Great 
River  by  Wilson's  Mill,  a  town  charge  for  the  future." 

May  21.  Chose  Joseph  Dorr,  Jr.,  Representative  to  the 
General  Court,  to  represent  the  town  of  Mendon  at  the  Court 
House,  in  Boston,  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  May  current. 

Voted  "to  help  the  Inhabitants  that  Live  near  to  Israel  Wil- 
son's Mills  respecting  the  Charge  of  the  Bridge  for  the  future." 

The  subject  of  setting  off  the  East  Precinct  into  a  separate 
town  or  district  was  again  brought  before  the  town,  and,  upon 
motion  made  to  that  effect,  it  was  voted  not  to  set  off  the  said 
Precinct.  The  vote  being  scrupled  the  house  was  divided  by 
the  Moderator,  and,  upon  a  count,  it  was  found  that  there  were 
57  in  the  affirmative  and  64  in  the  negative. 

The  Selectmen  were  voted  two  dollars  each  as  pay  for  their 
services  for  the  year. 

Lieut.  Ichabod  Ammidown,  it  will  be  remembered,  some  years 
before  this  had  hired  the  burying  yard  of  the  town,  and  as  some 
doubts  had  been  raised  whether  he  had  fulfilled  all  the  con- 
ditions of  his  lease,  Edmond  Morse,  Edward  Rawson  and  John 
Tyler  were  chosen  a  committee  to  treat  with  Lieut.  Ichabod 
Ammidown  "  to  See  whether  he  had  kept  close  to  his  Agreement 
with  the  Town  of  Mendon  Respecting  the  Burying  Place. " 

At  this  date  the  British  Parliament  were  endeavoring  to 
establish  their  claim  to  tax  the  Colonies  without  their  consent. 
The  Stamp  Act  had  been  repealed,  as  well  as  duties  on  all  other 
articles  except  tea. 

Upon  this  fact  becoming  known  the  leading  merchants  of 
Boston,  in  which  they  were  joined  by  the  great  mass  of  the 
people,  entered  into  an  agreement  that  they  would  not  sell  or 


1768.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  305 

use  any  article  upon  which  the  British  Parliament  should  lay  a 
duty. 

Sept.  7.  The  town  voted  to  concur  with  the  Town  of  Boston 
in  the  foregoing  agreement. 

Voted  to  raise  £00  for  schooling,  including  the  interest  of  the 
school  bonds  in  the  sum. 

Raised  £00  to  defray  town  charges. 

ANABAPTIST   CERTIFICATE. 

To  the  Assessors  of  Mendon,  Gent.  men. 

These  may  Enform  you  that  Joseph  Darling  doth  usually  attend  the 
public  worship  of  God  with  us  and  we  believe  he  is  conscienciously  of  our 
opinion  &  that  he  doth  belong  to  us. 

Bellingham  July  23.  1767. 

Hezekiah  Herenden  )  Signed  by  3  of  the  principal  mem- 
Hezekiaii  Cook  >■  hers  of  the  Anabaptist  Church  in 

Samuel  Scott  )  Bellingham,  South  End. 

Copy  Examined,  Attest,  James  Sumner,  Town  Clerk. 


1768.  March  ye  7.  Peter  Wheelock,  Ensign  Samuel  Torrey, 
Benoni  Benson,  Luke  Aldrich  and  Joseph  Penniman  were 
chosen  Selectmen;  James  Sumner,  Town  Clerk;  George  Aldrich. 
Town  Treasurer,  and  Samuel  Warren  and  Jonathan  Wheeleck, 
Constables. 

May  10.  Voted  that  the  South  Precinct  in  Mendon  have  the 
privilege  of  building  a  pound  in  said  precinct,  at  their  own  cost, 
and  ''to  be  Stoiled  the  Town  Pound." 

Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  James  Sumner  and  Dr.  William  Jennison 
were  chosen  a  committee  "to  Give  Reasons  to  the  General  Court 
why  the  Lancaster  Petition  Should  not  be  Granted,  with  Respect 
to  one  half  the  Courts  for  the  County  of  Worcester  being  held  at 
Lancaster." 

It  was  tried  by  a  vote  of  said  Town  whether  the  town  would 
send  a  person  or  persons  to  Represent  them  in  the  Great  and 
General  Court  of  this  Province,  and  the  town  made  no  choice. 

Aug.  29.  Raised  £60  for  schooling,  and  allowed  the  accounts 
of  Dr.  Daniel  Hews  and  Dr.  John  Corbett  for  doctoring  Oliver 
Hayward. 

June  27.  In  a  settlement  with  some  of  the  Selectmen  there 
39 


306  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1769 

was  found  due  from  Joseph  Benson  II  which  was  carried  in  the 
statement  as  £2  5s.,  old  tenor,  thus  showing  that  the  paper 
money  of  the  Province  had  become  so  far  depreciated  that  £2  5s. 
was  only  worth  one  dollar  in  silver. 

Leicester  Sept.  5.  1768 
This  may  Certify  To  all  Poeple  to  Whome  it  may  Concern  That  Josiah 
Ball  of  Mendon  doth  Belong  to  the  Anabaptist  Church  of  Christ  in  Leices- 
ter Under  the  Pastoral  Care  of  Elder  Thomas  Green  and  he  Does  Usually 
&  Frequently  Attend  the  Anabaptist  meeting  and  he  desires  the  Liberty  the 
Law  Gives  in  being  Cleared  from  Payiug  of  Rates  for  the  Support  of  those 
of  other  Principles. 

We  who  are  chosen  by  the  Church  to  give  Certificates  to  such. 

Thomas  Green, 
Thomas  Holman, 
Samuel  Green. 
Copy  examined,  pr.     James  Sumner,  Town  Clerk. 

Sept.  19.  A  motion  to  sell  the  Ministry  land  was  again  passed 
in  the  negative,  as  was  also  a  motion  to  divide  the  Ministry 
money  and  bonds  (notes  for  land  already  sold)  equally  among  the 
three  precincts. 

Raised  £100  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 


1769.  March  6.  For  Selectmen,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Wheelock, 
Dr.  William  Jennison,  Benoni  Benson,  Lieut.  Calvin  Smith  and 
Ensign  Samuel  Torrey;  Town  Clerk,  James  Sumner;  Town 
Treasurer,  George  Aldrich,  and  Peter  Penniman  and  Samuel 
Warren  for  Constables. 

It  seems  there  was  much  difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to 
disposing  of  the  Ministry  land,  for  although  a  vote  was  passed  at 
the  last  meeting  not  to  sell  the  Ministry  land,  it  was  now  voted 
to  sell  the  Ministry  land  and  meadow,  not  already  sold,  to  the 
highest  bidder  or  bidders,  the  principal  to  be  kept  in  bank  (at 
interest)  forever  and  the  interest  to  be  paid  annually  for  and 
toward  the  support  of  a  Congregational  minister  or  ministers 
that  have  been  or  may  hereafter  be  settled  in  said  town.  Nathan 
Tyler,  Esq.,  James  Stunner  and  Pelatiah  Darling  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  sell  the  lands  and  also  authorized,  in  behalf  of  the 
town,  to  make  and  execute  a  lawful  deed  or  deeds  to  convey  the 
same. 


1769.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  307 

It  was  also  voted  to  divide  the  interest  money  arising  from  the 
Ministry  lands  already  sold,  or  that  may  hereafter  be  sold, 
equally  among  the  three  precincts. 

REV.  JOSEPH    WILLARD,    FIFTH    MINISTER. 

April  14,  1767.  Mr.  Dorr,  being  now  well  stricken  in  years, 
and  of  infirm  health,  gave  his  consent  to  the  choice  of  a  colleague, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  proposals  made  to  the  Precinct, 
and  which  proposals  were  duly  accepted: 

Mendon  April  ye  14th.  Anno  Dom.  1767 
To  the  First  Precinct  in  Mendon,  in  Precinct  meeting  assembled  by  ad- 
journment. 

Whereas  the  Precinct  at  their  meeting  on  the  6th.  instant  Chose  a  Com- 
mittee to  confer  with  me  and  to  see  what  sum  I  would  accept  of  annuall}' 
during  my  Natural  Life  and  to  report  to  the  Precinct  at  their  adjournment, 
the  said  Committee  having  attended  that  Service  and  desiring  me  to  Give  in 
my  Proposals  to  the  Precinct  in  writing:  I  have  Duly  Considered  the  Same 
and  accordingly  Propose  as  follows,  viz.  Considering  the  difficulty  you 
Labour  under  and  to  preserve  Peace  aMong  you  and  to  enable  and  encour- 
age you  to  proceede  with  Unanimity  and  Chearfulness  to  the  Settlement  of 
another  Gospell  minister,  I  find  in  myself  a  freedom  to  accept  of  the  sum 
of  Thirteen  Pounds,  Six  Shillings  and  Eight  pence,  Lawful  Money,  Annu- 
ally, During  my  Natural  Life,  tho  at  the  same  time,  as  my  Worldly  Estate 
is  small,  Labour  dear  and  I  am  unable  by  reason  of  my  great  age  and  In- 
firmitees  to  manage  my  affairs  to  advantage,  I  am  apprehensive  that  said 
sum  will  fall  short  of  a  Necessary  Support,  yet  Considering  the  Long  Term 
of  years  I  have  Laboured  among  you  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  I  am  Per- 
suaded, my  Brethren,  you  will  not  See  me  suffer  with  Extreem  want.  I 
can  therefore  Trust  in  the  Providence  of  God  and  Rely  on  your  Generosity 
for  what  further  support  may  be  neeessary :  Now  that  the  Spirit  of  Wis- 
dom may  rest  upon  you  to  Direct  you  and  succeede  you  in  all  your  Im- 
portant Transactions,  and  that  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom  may  be  Advanced 
and  Abundantly  flourish  in  this  place  is  the  Sincere  Desire  and  Prayer  of 

your  Servant  in  Christ. 

Joseph  Dorr. 

Post-Script.  Upon  the  Precinct  Accepting  this  Proposal,  that  I  Acquit 
the  Precinct  from  my  whole  Stated  Salary  when  they  shall  Improve  another 
Minister  in  the  Service  with  me. 

June  ye  27,  1767,  a  Mr.  Balch  was  hired  to  preach  two  or 
three  months  by  22  votes.  He  afterward  was  settled  over  the 
South  Parish,  now  Blackstone. 

March  11,  1768.     There  was  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  a 


308  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1769. 

precinct  meeting,  to  see  if  they  would  hire  Mr.  Messenger  to 
preach  beyond  the  four  Sabbaths  already  agreed  for,  and,  upon 
this  article,  it  was  voted  "  not  to  act  upon  it." 

At  a  precinct  meeting  held  March  8,  1769,  the  nineteenth  day 
of  April  next  was  appointed  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Willard, 
Mr.  Edmond  Morse  offering  "to  dine  the  Council  and  ordained 
Ministers,  Gentlemen  of  Liberal  Education  and  Mr.  Willard's 
Relations  after  the  Ordination  was  over,  upon  his  own  cost  and 
charge." 

This  decision  of  the  Precinct  was  arrived  at  after  a  Mr.  Mes- 
senger, a  Mr.  Penniman  and  Mr.  Willard  had  been  heard  as  can- 
didates, Mr.  Willard  being  chosen  by  "Thirty  written  votes" 
majority.  From  the  Precinct  Records,  we  learn  that  the  con- 
tract with  Mr.  Willard  was  made  two  days  before  his  ordination, 
as  follows,  viz: 

Mendon  First  Precinct  April  ye  17.  1769. 
We,  the  Subscribers,  being  chosen  a  Committee  to  agree  with  Mr.  Joseph 
Willard  in  the  Precinct's  behalf,  Relating  to  his  Settlement  and  Sallary  so 
long  as  he  shall  Carry  on  the  work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry  in  said  Precinct, 
Do,  in  behalf  of  sd.  Precinct,  agree  with  sd.  Mr.  Joseph  Willard  to  give 
him  one  hundred  thirty  and  three  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  pence,  one 
half  part  thereof  to  be  paid  to  him  in  one  year  from  the  time  that  his  call 
was  completed  which  will  commence  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  November 
next  in  the  year  1770,  as  an  encouragement  to  settle  among  us  in  the  Ministry. 
And  also  to  pay  him  annually  from  the  Nineteenth  day  of  April  Current, 
the  sum  of  Sixty  pounds  Lawful  Money,  and  the  Interest  of  the  Ministry 
money  and  Lands  belonging  to  this  Precinct,  for  his  stated  Salary  so  long 
as  he  shall  Carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  us  in  this  Precinct, 
agreeable  to  said  Precinct's  votes  on  record  Nov.  ye  16.  1768  and  February 
ye  6.  1769  and  March  ye  8th.  1769,  and  Provided  Mr.  Willard  should  be 
taken  off  from  his  Ministerial  Labours  a  mong  us  by  sickness  or  any  other 
Providence,  in  that  case  we  will  viz.  that  the  sd  Precinct  will  do  what  is  or 
shall  be  Judged  Just  according  to  the  Rules  of  the  Gospel. 

In  witness  whereof  we  hereunto  Set  our  Hands  the  Day  and  year  above 
written. 

Nathan  Tyler     1 

Edward  Rawson  | 

Joseph  Dorr  V  Committee. 

John  Albee 

Caleb  Taft.  J 

To  the  above  written  Agreement  I,  the  Subscriber,  do  concur. 

Josep  Willard. 

The   Rev.  Mr.  Dorr  died  March  9,  1768,  and  Joseph  Dorr, 


1769.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  309 

Esq.,  was  the  executor  of  his  will.  The  length  of  Mr.  Dorr's 
ministry  was  fifty-two  years.  At  his  decease,  the  Precinct  was 
indebted  to  him  in  the  sum  of  £31.2.7,  and  which  was  paid  to 
the  executor  April  10,  1770. 

As  early  as  1771,  discontent  began  to  show  itself  in  the  Pre- 
cinct, by  the  number  whose  ministerial  taxes  were  foregone,  and 
by  an  action  brought  by  Thomas  Taft  against  the  Precinct  As- 
sessors. 

March  13,  1777.  This  day  Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  being  pres- 
ent, freely  gave  ten  pounds  to  the  First  Parish  toward  the  war. 

Oct.  19,  1778.  At  a  Precinct  meeting  a  motion  was  made  to 
dismiss  Mr.  Willard  from  his  pastoral  relation  with  the  Precinct, 
but  the  motion  failed.  A  motion  was  then  made  and  carried  to 
give  Rev.  Joseph  Willard  three  hundred  pounds  "to  case  his 
grievances  the  present  year."  So  the  meeting  broke  up  without 
acting  on  any  other  of  the  articles  in  the  warrant  or  being  dis- 
solved by  said  Precinct  properly.  Edward  Rawson,  Levi  Rawson 
and  James  Lovett,  the  Clerk  of  the  Precinct,  entered  their  pro- 
test against  the  proceedings,  but  without  assigning  reasons. 

Nov.  2.  It  was  voted  "  to  recall  all  the  votes  Passed  on  the  1 9th 
of  October  Respecting  raising  Mr.  Joseph  Willard's  Sallery.  Then 
it  was  further  voted  further  not  to  act  any  other  matter  or  thing 
respecting  Mr.  Joseph  Willard's  Sallery,  and  so  they  rapt  it  up, 
and  the  meeting  was  Desolved." 

The  troubles  with  Mr.  Willard,  supposed  to  have  arisen  prin- 
cipally from  the  difficulty  of  raising  his  salary,  were  now,  for  a 
while,  held  in  abeyance,  as  we  find  that,  Jan.  23,  1780,  the  Pre- 
cinct voted  to  raise  twelve  hundred  pounds  for  Rev.  Mr.  Wil- 
lard's support  for  the  present  year.  This  was  undoubtedly  in 
the  depreciated  Continental  currency  of  the  day,  as  in  1781,  they 
raised  sixty  pounds  of  the  new  emission  of  this  Commonwealth 
for  Mr.  Willard's  support  the  present  year.  In  1781  sixty 
pounds  "in  hard  money"  was  raised.  It  seems  his  salary  for 
1780  Avas  not  yet  paid  or  collected,  as  Jan.  15,  1782  they  voted 
that  the  sixty  pounds  for  1780  should  be  assessed  with  the  sixty 
pounds  for  1782. 

The  difficulties  in  the  Precinct  finally  culminated  in  the  dis- 
missal of  Mr.  Willard,  Dec.  4,  1782,  when  the  Precinct,  in  con- 
currence with  the  church,  accepted  the  result  of  the  council 


310  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1769. 

recommending  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Willard.  On  the  same  day 
the  Precinct  chose  Ezra  Whitney,  Esq.,  of  Douglass,  Capt. 
►Samuel  Warren,  of  Milford,  and  James  Hawes,  Esq.,  of  West- 
borough,  as  arbitrators  "to  settle  all  pecuniary  matters  between 
the  Eev.  Joseph  Willard  and  the  First  Parish  in  Mendon." 

The  choice  of  arbitrators  did  not  succeed  in  effecting  a  settle- 
ment with  Mr.  Willard,  as  we  find,  soon  after,  that  he  brought 
an  action  against  the  Parish  (precinct)  for  the  arrears  of  salary 
claimed  to  be  due  him.  Aug.  14,  1783,  the  parish  voted  to  de- 
fend the  suit,  and  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Capt.  John  Tyler  and 
Levi  Rawson  were  chosen  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  The 
Precinct  Records  furnish  no  information  in  regard  to  the  suit  of 
Mr.  Willard,  except  that  Sept.  3,  1785,  it  was  voted  to  raise 
£16.10  to  discharge  Peter  Wheelock's  execution  against  the  Pre- 
cinct, and  that  the  committee  give  orders  to  those  persons  "that 
paid  in  the  average  that  was  made  to  discharge  the  execution 
that  Mr.  Willard  had  against  the  Inhabitants." 

May  22.  Mr.  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  and  deputed  to  rep- 
resent the  town  at  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  the  Province 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  controversy  about  the  road  between  the.  land  of  Deacon 
Edward  Rawson  and  land  improved  by  the  Widow  Mary  Dorr 
(relict  of  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr),  whether  it  be  shut  up  or  remain 
open  down  to  Muddy  Brook,  was  still  unsettled.  Having  been 
shut,  it  was  now  voted  that  it  should  be  opened.  This  road 
divided  the  lands  now  owned  by  Homer  W.  Darling  and  James  J. 
Nutter. 

The  poll  tax  for  the  year  1768  was  3s.  8d.,  as  we  find  that 
Israel  Wilson's  rate  was  foregone  to  that  amount,  he  being  rated 
for  one  poll  which  he  had  not. 

It  seems  the  road  from  Jacob  Aldrich's,  Jr.,  to  Uxbridge  line 
had  been  complained  of  to  the  Grand  Jury,  and,  at  this  meeting, 
the  town  refused  to  raise  any  money  to  amend  the  same. 

Aug.  28.  Raised  £40,  lawful  money,  to  defray  town  charges, 
and  £60,  lawful  money,  including  the  interest  accruing  from  the 
school  notes,  for  schooling. 

The  town  again  refused  to  raise  any  money  to  repair  the  road 
leading  from  Jacob  Aldrich's  to  Uxbridge  line. 

The  Selectmen  of  1768  were  allowed  12s.  each  for  their  services. 


1770.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  .*>  1  1 

Sept.  14,  1708,  the  Rev.  Balch  was  settled  over  the  South 

or  Third  Parish,  which  had  been  incorporated  in  1766,  at  a  salary 
of  £100  a  year,  to  which  private  persons  made  an  addition  of 
£20  a  year,  "  to  be  paid  in  Provisions  and  other  Necessaries  of 
Life,  to  continue  until  he  should  have  a  Farm,  and  then  to  be 
done  in  Labour  on  his  Farm  till  the  Parish  should  raise  his  Sal- 
ary to  £50  L.  M." 

Soon  after  his  settlement,  however,  according  to  a  pamphlet 
published  by  "an  Inhabitant  of  said  parish  and  printed  in  Bos- 
ton in  1773,"  troubles  began  to  occur  in  the  Parish.  Mr.  Balch 
demanded  that  his  wood  should  be  given  him  and  brought  to  his 
door.  This  demand,  so  the  pamphlet  says,  "was  so  extraordin- 
ary that  it  was  very  dissatisfactory  to  some  of  the  principal  In- 
habitants, by  Means  of  which  there  arose  some  Discourse  between 
him  and  them,  in  which  they  say  he  said  many  Things  they 
look  upon  not  reconsileble  with  Truth."  From  this  time,  dur- 
ing his  ministry,  there  was  but  little  concord  between  him  and 
the  Parish.     His  ministry  closed  in  1773.     The  pamphlet  says: 

"  On  Saturday  Morning  March  27.  1773  before  it  was  Light  (as  it  after- 
ward appeared)  Mr.  Balch  went  off,  carrying  away  one  of  his  Children  with 
him,  and  on  Monday  following  he  sent  Teems  to  carry  off  his  Goods  to 
Dedham,  having  sold  his  House  and  Land  to  a  Quaker." 


1770.  March  5.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Capt.  Silas  Wheel  ock 
James  Sumner,  Ens.  Peletiah  Darling,  John  Fish  and  Josiah 
Nelson;  Town  Clerk,  James  Sumner.  No  record  is  found  of 
the  choice  of  a  Town  Treasurer.  John  Tyler  and  Joseph 
Thayer  were  chosen  Constables. 

Dr.  Aaron  Wight  was  voted  12s.  for  doctoring  Oliver  Hay- 
ward,  now  dead. 

Voted  "  to  sell  the  Ministry  Common  Rights  in  said  town, 
being  a  Twenty  acre  Right,  from  and  after  the  Eleventh  Di- 
vision, and  the  money  said  Rights  shall  draw  since  said  Division, 
to  the  highest  bidder,  and  Mr.  William  Torrey,  James  Sumner 
and  Ens.  Peletiah  Darling  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  Set  up 
Said  Rights,  to  vendue  the  same  to  the  Highest  bidder  and  to 
Report  to  the  Town  at  the  next  town  Meeting." 

Voted  "that  Mr.  Benoni  Benson  have  liberty  to  set  up  a  Grist 


312  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1770. 

Mill  a  little  beyond  the  first  Bridge  over  the  Great  Eiver  Near 
where  Samuel  Thompson's  Grist  Mill  stood  provided  he  doth 
not  damnify  the  road,  as  said  Mill  will  stand  a  Little  part  on 
the  road."  This  first  bridge  was  the  one  from  the  east  bank  of 
the  river  to  the  island  at  Millville. 

About  this  time  there  was  trouble  again  about  Sheffield's  grist 
mill,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  inquire  why  Mr.  Sheffield 
did  not  keep  his  mill  in  repair  for  the  benefit  of  the  town, 
agreeable  to  original  agreement  made  with  Benjamin  Albee, 
his  heirs  and  assigns.  Once  before  Mr.  Sheffield  was  complained 
of  for  not  keeping  his  mill  in  order,  but  the  matter,  it  is  be- 
lieved, was  soon  adjusted. 

■  Then,  upon  complaint  made  to  the  town  by  Mr.  John  Hay- 
ward,  that  a  Hogreave  was  very  necessary  in  his  neighborhood, 
Mr.  John  Hayward  was  chosen  Hogrieve. 

Lieut.  Ammidown's  lease  of  the  burying  yard  being  about  to 
expire,  Capt.  Silas  Wheelock,  Capt.  William  Torrey  and  Lieut. 
Samuel  Penniman  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  of  and 
report  what  method  should  be  adopted  in  regard  to  its  future 
care. 

May  24.  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  Representative  "  by  a 
Were  Vote." 

The  committee  on  Sheffield's  mill  reported  "that  his  Grist 
Mill  is  not  in  Eepare  to  Grind  the  Town's  Grain  according  to 
the  former  Contract;  and  then  the  Town  voted  to  disist  pro- 
ceeding against  Lt.  Sheffield  till  an  other  Town  Meeting  in 
order  that  he  may  have  convenient  time  to  Repare  said  Grist 
Mill." 

Dec.  3.  The  town  meeting  assembled  at  the  Meeting  House, 
but  immediately  adjourned  to  the  house  of  Mr.  George  Keith, 
innholder  in  said  Mendon,  by  reason  of  the  coldness  of  the 
weather,  having  first  chose  Edward  Rawson,  Moderator. 

The  town  then  voted  "to  make  Defence  against  the  Petition 
of  the  Town  of  Brookfield,  Relative  to  one  Zebiah  Allen."  This 
is  supposed  to  relate  to  the  settlement  of  a  pauper.  The  town 
then  voted  "  to  Send  Two  Agents  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions 
of  the  Peace,  and  chose  for  sd  Agents  Mr.  Edward  Rawson  and 
Joseph  Dorr  Esq.  who  were  instructed  to  Give  in  the  Town's  rea- 
sons why  the  Petition  of  the  Town  of  Brookfield  should  not  be 


1771.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  313 

granted/'     If   they   saw    fit    they    were   authorized    to   employ 
counsel. 


1771.  Selectmen,  Caleb  Tuft,  James  Sumner,  Joseph  Thayer, 
Joseph  Bruce  and  Nehemiah  Nelson;  Town  Clerk,  James  Sum- 
ner; Treasurer,  George  Aldrich,  and  Joseph  Benson  and  Joseph 
Bruce,  Constables. 

Chose  Capt.  Joseph  Daniels,  Lt.  Benjamin  Wheelock  and 
Ens.  Benjamin  Merriam  a  committee  "  to  Lease  out  the  Burying 
Ground  in  the  first  Precinct,  Not  for  a  Longer  time  than  ten 
years,  and  to  let  or  lease  it  to  the  highest  bidder,  and  that  the 
walls  be  Kept  up  in  Good  Repair,  the  Bushes  to  be  kept  down 
&  not  to  be  fed  for  any  other  use  than  feeding  Calves  and 
Sheep." 

The  record  says  that  the  votes  were  then  brought  in  for  a 
County  Register;  but  how  many  votes  or  for  whom  they  were 
cast  we  have  no  information. 

For  two  dollars,  Benjamin  Merriam  was  sold  a  strip  of  land 
at  the  south  end  of  the  Training  Field,  two  rods  wide  on  the 
road,  and  running  to  a  point  on  the  other  end. 

May  22.  The  warrant  for  the  meeting  to  choose  a  Represent- 
ative to  the  General  Court  was  addressed  to  the  "Freeholders 
and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  that  have  an  estate  of  free- 
hold in  land  within  this  province  or  territory  of  forty  shillings 
per  annum,  or  other  estate  to  the  value  of  forty  pounds." 

Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  Representative  by  108  votes  to  7 
scattering.  The  General  Court  was  appointed  to  be  kept,  for 
his  Majesty's  service,  in  Cambridge,  at  Harvard  College. 

Voted  "  that  the  town  would  raise  no  more  money,  beside 
the  £20  already  voted,  to  repair  the  bridges  at  Benony  Ben- 
son's Grist  Mill,  the  bridge  being  Rifted  or  destroyed  by  the  late 
rains  last  winter." 

Sept.  2.  Voted  to  raise  £60,  lawful  money,  to  defray  town 
charges  the  current  year,  and  £60,  including  the  interest  of  the 
school  notes,  for  schooling. 

There  had  been  a  long  dispute  about  repairing  the  road  over 
Pond  Hill  to  Uxbridge,  the  town  having  refused  to  raise  any 
money  for  that  purpose.  After  an  attempt  to  have  the  town 
40 


314  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1772. 

indicted,  the  Court  of  the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  new 
located  the  road  or  ordered  special  repairs,  which,  for  a  time, 
the  town  refused  to  make.  At  this  meeting,  however,  the  town 
withdrew  its  opposition  by  dismissing  the  article  from  the  war- 
rant relating  to  the  laying  out  of  a  road  from  Thomas  Rist's,  in 
Uxbridge,  to  Ichabod  Ammidown's,  in  Mendon. 

A  general  perambulation  of  town  lines  was  made  this  year. 

TOWN    VALUATION. 

Mass.  Archives,  Valuation  of  Towns,  Vol.  133,  p.  181. 

Annual  worth  of  Real  Estate  in  Mendon  without  any  deduc- 
tion for  more  than  ordinary  repairs,  1771   £1160  15  02 

Acres  of  Tillage  in  Mendon 708 

Money  at  interest £2558  05  04 

Ratable  Polls 403 

John  Tylek      ) 
James  Sumner  i-  Assessors. 
Benj.  Read.      ) 
Sworn  to  Sept.  9.  1771 

Before        Joseph  Dorr,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

At  this  meeting  Edward  Rawson  and  John  Tyler,  gentlemen, 
were  chosen  agents  to  take  out  an  execution  against  the  town  of 
Brookfield  for  costs  relating  to  the  case  of  Zebiah  Allen,  a 
pauper. 

Whether  the  Town  Clerk  had  any  misgivings  as  to  the  ballot 
at  the  next  annual  town  meeting,  we  cannot  say,  but  he  closed 
his  record  for  the  year  as  follows: 

"Finis!  wishing  Much  joy  to  the  Next  Town  Clerk." 


1772.  March  ye  2.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  John  Tyler,  Daniel 
Sumner,  Joseph  Day,  Peter  Penniman  and  Seth  Nelson;  Town 
Clerk,  (notwithstanding  his  valedictory,)  James  Sumner;  Town 
Treasurer,  George  Aldrich;  Joseph  Benson,  Joseph  Bruce  and 
John  Jones,  Constables. 

March  16.  Raised  £200  for  repairing  roads,  and  the  tax  was 
to  be  levied  on  the  valuation  of  1771,  as  heretofore  recorded, 
and  made  by  April  1.  Three  shillings  a  day  were  allowed  for  a 
man  and  three  shillings  a  day  for  cart  and  oxen  before  July  1, 


1773.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  315 

and  two  shillings  a  day  for  a  man  and  two  shillings  a  day  for  a 
cart  and  oxen  in  September,  work  to  begin  at  8  A.  M. 

May  18.  Edward  Eawson  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
Great  and  General  Court,  to  be  held  at  Harvard  College,  in 
Cambridge,  May  27th  instant. 

A  list  of  jurors  was  accepted,  and  one  quarter  part  to  serve  at 
the  Superiour  Court,  were  selected  by  the  town  and  put  in  one 
box,  and  the  remainder  in  another  box,  for  the  Superiour  Court 
— one  hundred  and  fifty  in  all. 

The  long  controversy  about  opening  or  closing  the  road  be- 
tween the  lands  of  Deacon  Edward  Rawson  and  the  estate 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr,  quite  probably  gave  rise  to  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  lay  out  a 
road  from  near  the  house  of  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorr 
through  the  East  Precinct  to  Holliston  line,  and  Peter  Penni- 
man  and  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  were  chose  to  oppose  the  location. 
The  road  was  not  laid  out. 

Sept.  7.  Raised  £60  for  schooling,  including  the  interest  of 
the  school  money,  and  £80  for  town  charges. 

Oct.  5.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  assist  the  Town  Treasurer 
in  renewing  the  bonds  and  notes  due  the  town  for  Ministry  lands 
and  rights  sold,  and  that  they  all  be  made  payable  or  out  on  or 
about  the  first  day  of  January,  agreeable  to  a  former  vote  of  the 
town. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1770  and  1771.  the 
floods  in  the  Great  River  had  carried  away  the  bridges  near 
Benoni  Benson's  grist  mill,  and  the  town  had  voted  £20  for  new 
bridges.  This  sum,  it  is  supposed,  was  not  sufficient  for  the 
purpose,  as  the  town  was  called  upon  for  another  appropriation. 
This  they  refused,  and  also  voted  that  the  inhabitants  in  the  Sixth 
Highway  District  (in  which  district  the  bridges  were  located) 
should  not  be  excused  from  other  charges  for  bridges,  provided 
they  would  build  the  bridges  in  the  Sixth  District,  nor  should 
they  be  relieved  from  paying  their  proportion  of  the  £20  already 
appropriated.     The  bridges,  however,  were  rebuilt. 


1773.     In  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held  Feb.  10, 
1773,  the  second  article  is  in  the  following  words,  viz:   "To  see 


316  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1773. 

what  the  town  will  act  relative  to  the  Letter  of  Correspondence 
from  the  Town  of  Boston  to  this  Town." 

At  a  town  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Mendon,  legally  qualified,  warned  and  assembled,  at 
the  First  Precinct  Meeting  House,  in  said  Mendon,  February 
ye  10th,  1773,  Mr.  John  Tyler  was  chosen  Moderator. 

Then  was  laid  before  the  meeting  the  letter  or  pamphlet  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the  town  of  Boston,  "  Shewing, 
in  Sundry  Respects,  where  sundry  of  our  Invaluable  Charter 
Rights  and  Privileges  were  Infringed  upon,  by  sundry  late  Acts 
of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  Imposing  Duties  or  Taxa- 
tions on  the  Colonists  in  America  and  the  Province  or  Colony  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  particular." 

It  was  tried  by  a  vote  if  the  town  would  act  on  the  important 
matter,  and  voted  in  the  affirmative. 

Then  voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven  freeholders  of  said 
town  "  to  Consider  a  matter  of  so  Great  Importance  and  prepare 
Resolves  proper  for  said  meeting  to  Act  and  Resolve  on,  at  the 
adjourment  of  this  meeting.'' 

Chose  for  said  committee  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  James  Sumner, 
John  Tyler,  Deacon  Edward  Raw  son,  Lieut.  Joseph  Johnson  and 
William  Torrey,  when  the  meeting  was  adjourned  until  the  first 
day  of  March  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  at  the  meeting  house. 

March  1.  At  a  town  meeting  by  adjournment  from  Feb.  10, 
1773,  the  chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  to  prepare  re- 
solves to  be  laid  before  the  town  for  their  consideration  at  this 
time,  relative  "to  our  Rights  and  Privileges  as  Men,  Christians 
and  Subjects,  and  the  Infringement  of  them  by  Sundry  Acts  of 
the  British  Parliament,  acquainted  the  Moderator  that  he  was 
ready  to  make  Report  and  read  the  same  as  follows,  viz: 

1.  Resolved,  That  all  men  have  naturally  an  Equal  Right  to  Life,  Liberty 
and  Property. 

2.  Resolved,  That  all  just  and  lawful  Government  must  necessarily 
originate  in  the  free  Consent  of  the  Poeple. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Good,  Safety  and  Happiness  of  the  Poeple  is  the 
great  end  of  Civil  Government,  and  must  be  considered  as  the  only  rational 
object  in  all  Original  Compacts  and  Political  Institutions. 

4.  Resolved,  That  a  principle  of  Self  Preservation,  being  deeply  planted 
by  the  God  of  Nature  in  every  human  breast,  is  as  necessary  not  only  to  the 
well  being  of  Individuals,  but  also  to  the  Order  of  the  LTniverse,  as  Attrac- 


1773.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  317 

lion  and  Cohesion  are  to  the  preservation  of  material  1  todies  and  the  order 
of  the  Natural  World,  Therefore 

5.  Resolved,  That  a  Voluntary  Renunciation  of  any  Powers  or  Privileges, 
included  or  necessarily  connected  with  a  principle  of  Self  Preservation  is 
necessarily  acting  counter  to  the  Great  Author  of  Nature,  the  Supreme 
Legislator,  Therefore, 

6.  Resolved,  That  a  Right  to  Liberty  and  Property  (which  is  one  of  the 
Natural  Means  of  Self  Preservation)  is  absolutely  unamenable,  and  can 
never,  lawfully,  be  given  up  by  ourselves  or  taken  from  us  by  others. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  claim  of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  to  the 
power  of  Legislation  for  the  Colonies,  in  all  cases  whatever,  is  extremely 
alarming  and  threatens  the  total  deprivation  of  every  thing  that  is  dear  and 
valuable  in  life,  and  is,  we  humbly  conceive,  abhorrent  from  the  spirit  and 
genius  of  the  British  Constitution  which  is  Liberty;  destructive  of  the 
Immunities  and  Privileges  granted  us  in  our  Royal  Charter,  which  assures 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  all  the  Liberties  and  Immunities  op 
free  and  natural  born  subjects  of  England  ;  and  in  reality  is  not 
reconcilable  to  the  most  obvious  principles  of  Reason,  as  it  subjects  us  to  a 
State  of  Vassalage  and  denies  those  essential  Natural  Rights,  which, 
being  the  gift  of  GOD  ALMIGHTY,  is  not  in  the  power  of  man  to  alienate. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  late  Revenue  Act,  by  which  the. Commons  of 
Great  Britain  have  assumed  and  exercised  a  Power  of  Giving  and  Granting 
to  his  Majesty  the  property  of  the  Colonists,  without  their  consent,  is  a 
grievous  Infringment  of  the  Right  of  disposing  of  our  own  Estates. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  unlimited  power  vested  in  the  Commissioner  of 
the  Customs  of  creating  inferior  Officers  and  Collectors  and  the  exhorbitant 
power  to  these  under  officers  and  Ministers  to  enter,  at  pleasure,  any  houses 
or  other  places  and  to  break  open  trunks,  chests,  &c.  upon  bare  suspicion 
of  goods  concealed,  is  a  grievous  Violation  of  the  Sacred  Right  of  Do- 
mestic Security. 

10.  Resolved,  That  introducing  and  quartering  Standing  Armies  in  a  free 

country  in  times  of  peace,  without  the  consent  of  the  People,  is  a  violation 
of  their  rights  as  Free  Men. 

11.  Resolved,  That  the  enormous  Extension  of  the  Power  of  the  Courts 
of  Vice  Admiralty,  in  a  great  measure  deprives  the  Poeple  in  the  Colonies 
of  the  Inestimable  Right  to  Trials  by  Juries. 

12.  Resolved,  That  the  Act  passed  in  the  last  session  of  Parliament,  en- 
titled "An  Act  for  the  better  preserving  his  Majesty's  Dock  Yards,  Maga- 
zines, Ships,  Ammunition  and  Stores,"  by  virtue  of  which  Act  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Colonies  may,  for  certain  supposed  offences  committed  against 
said  Act,  be  arrested  and  carried,  from  their  families,  to  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  there  to  be  tried,  is  an  Infringement  not  only  of  our  Constitutional 
Privileges  as  Colonists,  but  of  our  Natural  essential  Rights  as  Men. 

13.  Resolved,  That  the  Acts  for  prohibiting  Slitting  Mills  for  manufac- 
turing our  own  iron  and  restraining  the  Manufacture  and  Transportation  of 
Hats,  as  they  deprive  us  of  the  natural  advantages  of  our  own  climate,  the 


318  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1773. 

produce  of  our  own  country  and  the  honest  fruits  of  our  own  Labour  and 
Industry  are  very  unreasonable  and  injurious. 

14.  Resolved,  That  the  Act  restraining  the  transportation  of  Wool  (the 
produce  of  our  own  Farms)  even  over  a  ferry,  subjects  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  Province  to  a  great  an  unreasonable  Expense,  and  a  violation  of  our 
Charter  Privileges,  whereby  all  Havens,  Rivers  &c.  are  expressly  granted 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Province  and  their  Successors,  to  their  own  proper 
use  and  behoof  forever. 

15.  Resolved,  That  the  fixing  a  Stipend  to  the  Office  of  the  Governor  of 
this  Province,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  American  Revenue,  rendering  him  in- 
dependent of  the  free  Grants  of  the  Poeple,  has  a  necessary  tendency  to 
destroy  that  Balance  of  Power  which  ought  to  exist  between  the  several 
branches  of  the  Legislature. 

16.  Resolved,  That  the  affixing  Stipends  to  the  offices  of  the  judges  of 
the  Superiour  Court  of  Judicature  and  rendering  them  independent  of  the 
Poeple  and  dependent  on  the  Crown  for  Support  may  hereafter  (consider- 
ing the  depravity  of  human  nature,)  be  improved  to  purposes  big  with  the 
most  fatal  consequences  to  the  good  Poeple  of  this  Province. 

17.  Resolved,  That  the  wresting  out  of  our  hands  Castle  William,  the 
principal  fortress  of  this  Province,  and  garrisoning  it  with  his  Majesty's 
regular  Troops  is  a  violation  of  our  Charter  Privileges. 

18.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  mind  and  desire  of  this  Town  that  the 
judges  of  the  Superiour  Court  of  Judicature  and  all  other  Officers  who 
receive  grants  from  the  Province  should  have  an  honourable  support 
agreeable  to  the  dignity  and  importance  of  their  respective  stations. 

19.  Resolved,  That  the  Representative  of  this  Town  be  and  he  is  hereby 
instructed  to  use  his  utmost  endeavours,  in  a  constitutional  manner,  for  the 
Redress  of  the  aforementioned  grievances ;  and  that  he  in  no  wise  consent 
to  the  giving  up  of  any  of  our  Rights,  whether  derived  to  us  by  nature  or 
by  Compact  or  Agreement. 

Finally,  When  we  reflect  on  the  arduous  enterprize  of  our  Forefathers 
in  transporting  themselves  to  the  wilds  of  America,  the  innumerable 
fatigues  and  dangers,  the  vast  expense  of  treasure  and  blood  that  attended 
their  beginning  and  carrying  on  a  Settlement  here  among  the  Savages  of  the 
Desert  and  at  the  same  time  consider  the  prodigious  accession  of  wealth 
and  power  to  the  mother  Country  from  their  extended  settlements,  it  still 
sets  a  keener  edge  on  a  sense  of  our  numerous  grievances  and  we  cannot 
help  viewing  the  late  rigorous  and  burdensome  Impositions  laid  on  us  by 
the  hand  of  the  Parent  country,  as  a  departure  from  those  truly  noble  and 
magnanimous  Principles  of  Liberty  which  used  heretofore  to  add  a 
distinguishing  Lustre  and  Glory  to  the  British  Crown. 

Voted  that  the  foregoing  Resolves  be  entered  in  the  Town  Book  that  our 
Children,  in  years  to  come,  may  know  the  sentiments  of  their  Fathers  in 
Regard  to  our  Invaluable  Rights  and  Liberties. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  be  directed  and  he  is  accordingly  directed  to 
transmit  a  fair  attested  copy  of  the  foregoing  Resolves  and  proceedings  of 
the  Town  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Boston. 


1773.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  319 

The  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  report  on  the  subject  of  a 
work  house  reported  in  favor  of  building  one,  and,  upon  the 
acceptance  and  adoption  of  their  report,  the  vote  was  a  tie,  but, 
upon  a  second  trial,  27  voted  in  the  affirmative  and  21  in  the 
negative. 

March  1.  George  Aldrich,  James  Sumner,  Levi  Aldrich, 
Abraham  Staples  and  .Samuel  Warren  were  chosen  Selectmen; 
Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  and  John  Albee. 
Joseph  Jones  and  Seth  Kelly,  Constables. 

March  18.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  Feb.  10,  "to 
Build  a  Work  House." 

Raised  £200  to  repair  highways,  and  that  2s.  6d.  per  day  be 
allowed  a  man  and  the  same  for  a  team  in  the  months  of  May 
and  June,  and  that  Is.  8d.  per  day  for  a  man  and  the  same  for 
a  team  in  the  months  of  September  and  October. 

Voted  not  to  grant  Mr.  Dix's  petition,  but  neither  the  war- 
rant or  the  proceedings  inform  us  what  Mr.  Dix  prayed  for. 

The  road  from  the  County  Road  to  Muddy  Brook,  between 
the  lands  of  Deacon  Edward  Rawson  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr's 
heirs,  came  up  again  for  consideration.  A  committee  reported 
that  since  1758,  Deacon  Rawson  had  had  the  use  of  the  road,  (the 
same  being  shut  up,)  and  that  for  the  rent  he  was  indebted  to 
the  town  five  pounds.  Deacon  Rawson  presented  his  account 
against  the  town  and  a  balance  of  seven  shillings  and  eleven 
pence  was  found  due  the  town. 

John  Chapin,  objecting  to  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen, 
from  his  house  to  Ellis's  Mill,  (recently  R.  Gr.  Graskill's)  the 
subject  was  mutually  referred  to  Timothy  Rockwood  of  Bel- 
lingham,  Deacon  Samuel  Scott  of  Bellingham,  and  Col.  John 
Spring  of  Northbridge,  who  located  the  road,  awarding  John 
Chapin  £11  and  Stephen  Chapin  £1  10s.  as  damages. 

May  7.  Chose  Deacon  Edward  Rawson  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Aug.  30.  Voted  to  raise  £120  for  town  charges,  and  £00, 
exclusive  of  the  interest  of  the  school  fund,  for  schooling. 

Committees  were  chosen  to  consider  what  repairs  should  lie 
made  to  the  bridge  over  Mill  River,  near  Seth  Kelley's,  and  also 
to  the  bridge  near  Eliphalet  Wood"s. 


320  ANNALS    OF    MEN  DON.  [1774. 

1774.  March  7.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Henry  Penniman, Gideon 
Albee,  Joseph  Benson,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Wheelock,  Jr.,  and  Azariah 
Newton;  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  and 
Peter  Penniman,  Samuel  Warren  and  Joseph  Benson,  Jr.,  Con- 
stables. Benjamin  Staples  was  chosen  Tithingman  for  the  First 
Precinct,  Caleb  Boynton  for  the  second,  and  Aaron  Everett  for 
the  third;  Ens.  Benjamin  Merriam  and  John  Crooks,  Deer 
Reives. 

Voted  not  to  set  off  Ebenezer  Hbl  brook  to  Bellingham. 

The  road  between  Deacon  Edward  Rawson  and.  widow  Mary 
Dorr,  is  again  up  for  consideration,  and  this  time  the  town 
accepted  the  laying  out  a  road  four  rods  wide,  located  by  the 
Selectmen  Oct,  13,  1773,  from  the  County  Road  across  Muddy 
Brook  to  the  Eight  Rod  Road,  and  voted  not  to  rent  the  same 
to  Mrs.  Mary  Dorr,  who  desired  to  have  the  same.  This  road, 
from  the  County  Road  to  Muddy  Brook,  was  between  the  farms 
at  present  owned  by  Homer  W.  Darling  and  James  J.  Nutter. 

May  16.  Upon  a  motion  made,  ''Voted  that  the  Inhabitants 
of  Mendon  do  not  approve  of,  but,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power, 
will  discountenance  all  Mobbs,  Riots  and  disorderly  assemblies, 
and  especially  night  mobbs."  It  is  probable  that  the  sacking  of 
Governor  Hutchinson's  house  in  the  night  time  by  a  mob, 
although  it  occurred  eight  years  previous,  must  have  been  the 
occasion  of  the  passage  of  this  vote. 

Deacon  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

July  14.  A  legal  town  meeting  was  held  this  day  and  Deacon 
Gideon  Albee  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  then  passed. 
By  whom  they  were  proposed  the  record  does  not  inform  us. 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  having  taken  into  serious  con- 
sideration the  precarious  state  of  the  Liberties  of  North  America,  and  more 
especially  the  present  distressed  condition  of  this  Province,  embarrassed  as 
it  is  by  several  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  tending  to  the  entire  sub- 
version of  our  Natural  and  Charter  Rights,  among  which  is  the  blocking 
up  the  Harbor  of  Boston:  and  being  fully  sensible  of  our  indispensible 
Duty  to  lay  hold  on  every  means  in  our  power  to  recover  and  preserve  the 
much  injured  Constitution  of  our  Country,  and  conscious,  at  the  same  time, 
of  no  alternative  between  the  Horrors  of  Slavery  or  the  Carnage  and  Deso- 
lation of  a  Civil  War,  but  the  suspension  of  all  Commercial  Intercourse 


1774.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  321 

with  the  Island  of  Great  Britain,  We  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  of  Men- 
don  do  come  into  the  following  Resolutions: 

1.  Resolved,  That  from  henceforth  we  will  suspend  all  Commercial  In- 
tercourse with  the  Island  of  Great  Britain  until  the  said  Act  for  Blocking 
up  the  said  Harbor  of  Boston  be  Repealed  and  a  Restoration  of  our  Charter 
Rights  be  obtained. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  will  not,  knowingly,  purchase  or  sutler  any  one 
under  us  to  purchase  or  consume,  in  any  manner,  any  goods,  wares  or 
merchandize  we  shall  know  or  have  good  reason  to  suspect  to  be  imported 
into  America  from  Great  Britian  aforesaid  from  and  after  the  last  day  of 
August  next  ensuing. 

'3,  Resolved,  That  if  any  persons,  preferring  their  own  private  interest  to 
the  Salvation  of  their  now  perishing  Country,  shall  still  continue  to  import 
goods  from  Great  Britain  or  shall  purchase  of  those  who  do  import,  they 
shall  be  looked  upon  and  treated  by  us  as  persons  inimical  to  their 
country. 

Voted  to  choose  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  to  correspond 
with  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  of  the  several  towns 
within  the  Province,  or  with  the  Committees  of  Correspondence 
of  other  Governments. 

COMMITTEE    OF    COKKESPONOENCE. 

Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Deacon  Edward  Rawson,  Mr.  James 
Sumner,  Elder.  Nathaniel  Nelson  and  Mr.  Benoni  Benson. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  make  such  addition  to  the  town 
stock  as  in  their  judgment  they  think  necessary.  By  the  town 
stock  was  undoubtedly  meant  arms  and  ammunition,  thus  get- 
ting ready  for  the  4th  of  July,  1770! 

Sept.  28.  Deacon  Edward  Rawson,  was  chosen  Representa- 
tive to  the  General  Court,  to  meet  at  Salem,  Oct.  5,  but,  before 
t  hat  day,  the  General  Court  was  dissolved  by  Governor  Gage. 
Notwithstanding  this  action  of  the  Governor,  those  who  had 
been  chosen  as  Representatives  met  on  the  appointed  day  and 
resolved  themselves  into  the  first  Provincial  <  'ongress.  On  the 
7th,  this  Congress  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  John  Hancock 
as  Chairman,  and  Benjamin  Lincoln,  Clerk,  and  provision  was 
made  to  open  the  daily  sessions  with  prayer.  The  Congress 
was  then  adjourned  to  meet  the  next  Tuesday  at  Concord,  being 
Oct.  11th. 

It  seems  to  have  been  determined,  before  the  dissolution  of 
the  General  Court,  that  a  Provincial  Congress  should  be  held  at 

41 


322 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


1774. 


Concord  on  the  11th  day  of  October,  for  on  the  same  day  (Sept. 
28th),  when  Deacon  Rawson  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  was  chosen  a  Delegate  to 
attend  the  Provincial  Congress  to  he  held  at  Concord  on  the 
11th  of  October  next. 

This  Congress  recommended  the  towns  "to  see  that  each 
minute  man  should  be  immediately  equipped  with  an  effective 
lire  arm,  bayonet,  pouch,  knapsack  and  thirty  rounds  of  cart- 
ridges and  balls,  and  be  drilled  three  times  a  week."  Before  the 
adjournment,  provision  was  made  for  calling  a  future  Congress, 
and  Henry  Gardner  was  appointed  Treasurer  and  Receiver  Gen- 
eral of  the  Province. 

At  this  meeting  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Doct.  William  Jeunison 
and  Mr.  Benoni  Benson  (one  from  each  Precinct)  were  chosen. a 
committee  to  report  what  sum  would  be  necessary  for  the  public 
defence,  at  this  time,  and  to  report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Then  Doct.  Jeunison  proposed  to  make  a  present  to  the  town 
of  a  six-pounder  field  piece;  the  town  voted  to  accept  of  the  same, 
and  also  voted  the  thanks  of  the  town  to  Doct.  Jennison  for  his 
donation. 

Voted  to  purchase  a  twelve-pounder  field  piece,  with  carriage 
for  the  same  and  equipments,  and  Doct.  Jennison,  Capt.  Joseph 
Daniels  and  Mr.  Henry  Penniman  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
procure  the  same. 

The  sixth  article  in  the  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  Town  will 
allow  any  that  are  or  may  be  employed  in  the  Town's  service  any 
wages  therefor. " 

"Voted  that  the  sixth  article  subside." 

Elder  Nelson,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Mr.  James  Sumner,  Capt. 
Tyler  and  Ens.  Peletiah  Darling  were  chosen  a  committee  to  give 
instructions  to  the  Representative  to  the  General  Court. 

The  vote  to  purchase  a  twelve-pounder  field  piece  was  recon- 
sidered, and,  in  lieu  thereof,  to  purchase  two  six-pounders,  and 
Doct.  Jennison,  Capt.  Joseph  Daniels  and  Mr.  Peter  Penniman 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  purchase  the  field  pieces,  fire  arms 
and  ammunition. 

Voted  that  one-third  part  of  the  soldiers  on  the  military  list 
be  enlisted  as  Minute  Men,  and  that  Lieut.  Smith,  Lieut.  War- 
ren and  Mr.  Henry  Penniman  be  a  committee  to  provide  sup- 


1774.  I  ANNALS  OF  MKNDON.  323 

plies  for  the  Minute  Men,  if  called  to  march  on  an  expedition. 

Sept.  5.  Raised  £100  to  defray  town  charges,  and  £60,  in- 
cluding the  interest  of  the  school  money,  for  schools. 

The  Treasurer  was  directed  to  collect  the  interest  on  the  Min- 
istry money,  and,  if  payment  was  delayed,  then  to  call  in  the 
principal. 

The  fifth  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  dismissed, 
and  which  was,  "  to  see  if  they  would  allow  the  South  Precinct 
to  draw  their  portion  of  the  interest  of  the  Ministry  money  when 
they  do  not  have  a  minister." 

Nov.  7.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day  for  some  reasons, 
which  do  not  appear  upon  the  record,  after  some  "  filibuster- 
ing-;'" the  meeting  was  adjourned  "to  this  day  come  sev'  night 
at  10  o'clock  a.  m." 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  although  there  was  no  article  in 
the  warrant  for  that  purpose,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  was  chosen  a 
Delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  which  was  to  meet  at  Cam- 
bridge, Feb.  1,  1775.  Deacon  Edward  Rawson  was  also  directed 
to  attend  the  Convention,  agreeable  to  the  instructions  already 
given  him  as  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  which  met 
at  Salem  on  the  28th  of  September  last.  This  was  the  second 
Provincial  Congress,  and  was  soon  adjourned  to  Concord. 

The  "filibustering"  at  the  meeting  Nov.  7  may  have  been 
occasioned  b}T  the  efforts  of  Timothy  Ruggles,  of  Hard  wick, 
who  was  endeavoring  to  develop  the  loyal  sentiment  in  the 
Province  by  circulating  papers  in  every  town,  "calling upon  the 
friends  of  Government  to  form  Associations  to  counteract  the 
designs  of  the  Provincial  Congress."  The  fillibustering  con- 
sisted in  efforts  to  dismiss  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  to 
dissolve  the  meeting  and  to  reconsider  the  votes  passed  at  a  for- 
mer meeting;  but,  as  the  malcontents  met  with  little  success,  no 
further  attempt  was  made. 

Nov.  14.  At  a  meeting  specially  held  to  consider  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Provincial  Congress  passed  Oct.  28th  ultimo. 
when  Henry  Gardner  was  appointed  Treasurer  and  Receiver 
General,  the  town 

Voted,  That  the  public  Provincial  monies  uncollected  or  such 
monies  as  are  in  the  hands  of  the  Constables  of  said  town,  be 
paid   Henry  Gardner,  Esq..  Receiver  General,  agreeable  to  the 


324  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1774. 

resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  that  the  sums  of  money 
as  were  granted  at  the  last  session  of  the  General  Court  he  as- 
sessed and  paid  in  as  aforesaid. 

Voted,  that  the  respective  Constables  (collectors)  he  directed, 
and  they  are  hereby  directed,  to  collect  and  pay  in  the  Provin- 
cial tax  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  and  that  the  town  will  indem- 
nify the  Constables,  agreeable  to  a  resolve  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress. 

Dec.  27.  Voted  to  order  the  present  assessors  to  assess  the 
sum  of  £113. 10s,  reported  by  the  committee  Sept.  28  last,  to  pur- 
chase field  pieces,  fire  arms,  &c,  as  expressed  in  said  report. 

Chose  Deacon  Edward  Rawson,  Col.  Silas  Wheelock,  Capt. 
Gershom  Nelson,  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Capt.  Jasper  Daniels, 
Lieut.  Samuel  Warren.  Capt.  Samuel  Green,  Lieut,  Benoni  Ben- 
son and  Capt,  John  Tyler,  "to  look  into  the  state  of  the  Soldiery 
with  regard  to  arms  and  to  view  said  arms." 

In  consequence  of  shutting  up  the  harbor  of  Boston  and  other 
tyrannical  measures  of  Gov.  Gage,  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  and 
Chaiiestown  had  come  to  be  in  straightened  circumstances,  some 
of  them  being  in  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  In  consequence 
of  the  recommendation  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  many  towns 
took  up  contributions  for  their  relief.  Mendon  made  choice  of 
Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Doct.  William  Jennison  and  Capt.  Joseph 
Daniels  as  a  committee  to  receive  the  collection  for  the  towns  of 
Boston  and  Charlestown. 

Voted  that  a  Committee  of  Inspection  of  seven  persons  be  ap- 
pointed "to  carry  the  Association  Resolve  into  Execution,  agree- 
able to  the  lOtli.  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress  for  Inven- 
torying Goods  imported  from  Great  Britain  from  and  after  the 
first  day  of  December  current  to  the  first  day  of  February  next, 
and  to  make  sale  of  the  same,  if  need  be,  agreeable  to  the  Re- 
solves of  Congress  respecting  the  same." 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  committee,  viz:  Joseph 
Dorr,  Esq.,  Mr.  Josiah  Wheelock,  Lieut  Benoni  Benson,  Deacon 
Edward  Rawson,  Mr.  James  Sumner,  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  and 
Ensign  Pelatiah  Darling. 

Voted  to  choose  one  delegate  "to  represent  this  town  in  a  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  to  be  held  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  day  of 
February  next,  or  at  such  other  time  and   place  as  the  delegates 


1774.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  325 

of  Oharlestown,  Cambridge,  Roxbury,  Brookline  and  Dorches- 
ter, or  a  major  part  of  them,  shall  appoint,  agreeable  to  the 
recommendation  of  the  last  Provincial  Congress." 

Chose  Deacon  Edward  K.a\vson,  Delegate.  But  it  will  be  seen 
that  Deacon  Rawson  was  unable  to  attend  the  Congress  and 
another  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

Voted  unanimously  "  that  the  Town  do  approve  of  the  Resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress  passed  at  Philadelphia  in  September 
last." 

In  the  journal  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  p.  319,  may  be 
found  the  "Journal' of  the  Convention  of  the  Committees  of 
Correspondence  and  Delegates  of  Worcester  County,  Aug.  0. 
1774." 

From  Mendon  were  Capt.  Nathan"  Tyler,  Deacon  Edward 
Rawson,  Mr.  James  Sumner,  Elder  Nathaniel  Nelson  and  Mr. 
Benoni  Benson. 

A  committee  of  ten,  of  which  Deacon  Rawson  w.as  one,  and 
Timothy  Bigelow,  of  Worcester,  was  chairman,  was  chosen  "  to 
send  a  Letter  to  all  the  Towns  and  Districts  in  the  County, 
which  have  not  Chosen  Committees  of  Correspondence;  desir- 
ing them  to  choose  such  Committees  or  send  Delegates  to  rep- 
resent them  at  the  adjournment  of  this  Convention." 

The  following  Circular  Letter  was  their  report: 

Worcester  August  9.  1774. 
Friends  and  Brethren 

The  Committees  of  Correspondence  from  a  majority  of 
the  Towns  in  this  County  have  now  convened  at  Worcester,  in  order  to 
consult  and  determine  upon  the  most  regular  steps  to  be  taken  and  recom- 
mended, to  the  several  Towns  in  this  County,  at  this  truly  critical  and 
alarming  crisis;  when  it  no  longer  remains  a  doubt  that  the  acts  annihi- 
lating our  free  Constitution  are  actually  come  authenticated,  attended  with 
three  more  transports  and  a  ship  of  war,  and  the  Council,  appointed  by 
his  Majesty,  are  about  to  take  the  oaths  required  for  that  office.  • 

In  the  first  place  we  beg  leave  to  observe  that  a  considerable  number  of 
Towns,  in  this  County,  have  not  yet  chosen  Committees  and  by  that  means 
may  not  have  received  the  letter  notifying  the  Convention :  therefore  we 
earnestly  recommend,  as  brethren  and  fellow-sufferers,  when  all  that  is 
valuable  in  this  life  is  at  stake,  that  you  choose  Committees  of  Correspon- 
dence, or  such  other  Delegates  as  you  may  think  proper,  to  meet  this 
Convention  at  their  adjournment,  when  the  united  wisdom  and  aid  of  the 
whole  is  wanting  to  oppose  the  torrent  of  tyranny  rushing  upon  us 


326  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  |  1774. 

In  order  to  avoid  a  second  disappointment,  by  having  our  Letters  fall 
into  unfriendly  hands,  and  you  thereby  deprived  of  a  proper  notification, 
we  shall  be  careful  to  have  them  transmitted  by  such  of  our  members  as 
live  nearest  those  Towns  which  have  not  sent  their  Committees. 

Tbis  Convention  stands  adjourned  to  the  last  Tuesday  of  August  instant 
at  the  House  of  Mrs.  Mary  Sternes,  Innholder,  in  Worcester,  at  10  o'clock 
before  noon. 

By  Order  of  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  in  Convention. 

Timothy  Btgelow. 

Jour.  Prov.  Congress,  p.  643. 

"  At  the  adjournment  every  Town  and  District  was  represented  by  130 
members  of  Committees  of  Correspondence  beside  a  number  of  Delegates 
and  Gentlemen  from  several  towns. 

On  the  31st,  of  August  the  Convention,  prefaced  by  a  stirring  and 
eloquent  preamble,  setting  forth  the  tyrannical  attempt  of  the  Parliament 
of  the  British  Government  to  usurp  absolute  dominion  over  us — that  no 
power  on  earth  hath  a  right,  without  the  consent  of  this  Province,  to  alter 
the  minutist  tittle  of  its  charter,  or  abrogate  any  Act  whatever,  and,  as  the 
sittings  of  the  Courts  in  this  County,  conducted  in  conformity  to  the  late 
Acts  of  Parliament  may  insensibly  lead  the  good  poeple  of  this  County  to 
submit  to  the  chains  of  Slavery  forged  by  our  enemies;  therefore 

Resolved,  that  we  recommend  the  poeple  of  this  County  to  attend  in 
person  at  the  next  sitting  of  the  Court  on  the  6th.  of  September  next; — that 
suitable  and  proper  officers  be  chosen  in  each  town  to  regulate  the  move- 
ments of  the  Poeple  on  the  occasion: — that  they  depute  fit  persons  to  repre- 
sent them  in  One  General  Convention  at  Concord  on  Oct.  2d.,  Tuesday 
next,  to  devise  ways  and  means  to  resume  our  original  mode  of  govern- 
ment, whereby  the  most  dignified  servants  were,  as  they  ought  to  be,  de- 
pendent on  the  poeple  for  their  existence  as  such : — that  the  several  Towns 
should  indemnify  their  Constables  for  neglecting  to  return  a  list  of  jurors: 
— that,  as  the  ordinary  course  of  justice  must  be  stayed,  every  inhabitant 
of  this  County  should  pay  his  just  debts  as  soon  as  may  be  possible  with- 
out any  disputes  or  litigation: — that  as  the  dark  and  gloomy  aspect  of 
affairs  has  thrown  this  Province  into  great  convulsions,  we  recommend  to 
every  one  and  engage  ourselves  to  suppress  all  riotous  and  disorderly  pro- 
ceedings in  our  respective  towns." 

This  Convention  also  voted  that  if  any  town  should  he  at- 
tacked, the  Committee  of  Correspondence  should  send,  by 
express,  posts  to  the  towns  adjoining  that  they  come  armed  and 
accoutred  to  protect  and  defend  the  place  attacked. 

They  also  recommended  the  towns  to  pay  no  attention  to  the 
late  Act  of  Parliament,  which,  among  other  things,  undertook 
to  regulate  the  calling  of  town  meetings,  hut  to  proceed  in  their 


1774.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  327 

usual  manner;  to  detain  all  money  due  the  Province  Treasury 
until  the  public  tranquillity  is  restored; — to  ascertain  what 
number  of  guns  are  wanting  to  arm  the  people  in  case  of  inva- 
sion, and  that  each  member  of  this  Convention  will  purchase  at 
least  two  pounds  of  powder  in  addition  to  any  they  have  on 
hand,  and  recommend  his  neighbor  to  go  and  do  likewise. 

In  the  Statutes  at  Large,  British  Parliament,  Vol.  30,  p.  381, 
to  be  seen  at  the  State  Library  at  Boston,  may  be  found  the  late 
Act  of  Parliament  above  referred  to. 

An  Act  for  the  better  regulating  the  Government  of  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. 
Anno  decimo  quarto  Georgii  III. 

1.  After  April  1.  1774  the  Charter  to  be  void. 

2.  Couueillors  to  be  appointed  by  the  King,  not  more  than  i>0  nor  less 
than  12. 

3.  Councillors  to  hold  office  during  the  King's  pleasure. 

■1.  The  Governor  to  appoint  and  remove  judges  and  other  officers. 

5.  The  Governor  to  appoint  Sheriffs  without  consent  of  the  Council. 

(5.  No  Town  Meetings  to  be  called  except  for  the  election  of  Town  Officers 
and  Representatives  to  the  General  Court,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Governor,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  Lieut.  Governor,  in  writing,  and  then 
no  business  be  acted  on  except  what  may  be  mentioned  in  the  warrant. 

7.  Jurors  not  to  be  elected,  nominated  or  appointed  by  the  Freeholders  or 
inhabitants,  nor  summoned  or  returned  by  the  Constables,  but  to  be  sum- 
moned and  returned  by  the  Sheriffs,  to  whom  all  venires  shall  be  issued. 

8.  Constables  to  return  to  the  Sheriffs  the  names  of  all  persons  qualified  to 
serve  as  jurors. 

With  such  an  act  of  tyranny  hanging  over  their  heads,  is  it 
strange  that  our  fathers  became  rebels,  or  that  Gov.  Gage  should 
write  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  that  in  Worcester  "  they  keep  no 
terms,  openly  threatening  resistance  by  arms — have  been  pur- 
chasing arms  and  preparing  them,  casting  balls,  providing  pow- 
der and  threaten  to  attack  any  troops  that  dare  oppose  them." 

Sept.  6.  Pursuant  to  the  recommendation  the  Convention 
met  and 

Voted  that  the  Court  should  not  sit  on  any  terms. 

Voted  "  that  the  b*>dy  of  the  Poeple,  about  six  thousand, 
being  now  present  in  town,  assemble  on  the  Common." 

Then  chose  a  committee  of  three  to  inquire  of  the  Committees 
of  Towns  how  long  before  the  determination  of  the  towns  respect- 
ing the  Courts  and  Judges  would  be  known,  and  adjourned  to 
the  Green  beyond  Mr.  Salisbury's. 


328  ANNALS    OF    MBNDON.  [1774. 

They  then  chose  a  committee  of  three,  viz:  Capt.  Mundell,  of 
Hardwick,  Deacon  Rawson,  of  Mendon,  and  Samuel  Jennison  to 
inform  the  Grand  Jurors  of  thecletermination  of  the  Convention 
as  to  the  Courts  being  held. 

The  Convention  met  in  the  afternoon  and  again  adjourned  to 
the  Green  '"to  attend  the  body  of  the  Poeple." 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  "to  inquire  of  the  occa- 
sion of  the  delay  of  the  Judges  in  making  their  appearance  be- 
fore the  body  of  the  Poeple." 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  "to  acquaint  John 
Chandler,  Esq.  and  the  other  protestors  that  they  must  follow 
after  the  Judges,  through  the  ranges  of  the  body  of  the  Poeple, 
and  that  they  go  immediately  after  the  Judges  and  read  their 
recantation."  The  protestors  here  mentioned  were  John  Chand- 
ler, Esq.,  and  forty-two  others,  of  Worcester,  who  entered  a  pro- 
test against  some  resolutions  of  the  town,  and  which  was  recorded 
by  the  Town  Clerk  without  authority.  '  The  Clerk  was  after- 
wards compelled,  in  open  town  meeting,  to  expunge  the  same, 
and  the  pen  marks,  not  being  deemed  sufficient,  he  dipped  his 
lingers  in  the  ink,  and  so  completely  obliterated  the  protest. 

Voted  "to  thank  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chaplin  of  Sutton  (the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Conklin  prayed  the  first  day);  to  recommend  the  Mili- 
tary officers  to  resign  their  commissions  to  the  Colonells  of  Regi- 
ments; the  Field  officers  to  resign  their  offices  and  publish  the 
same  in  all  the  Boston  newspapers;  to  Towns  to  choose  officers; 
to  provide  themselves  with  Field  pieces,  ammunition  and  gun- 
ners; to  take  notice  of  those  Judges  who  aspersed  the  poeple  in  a 
late  letter  to  Gov.  Gage;  that  the  recantation  of  the  principals  in 
the  protest  shall  be  accepted  for  those  who  signed  them;  that 
four  men  be  desired  to  attend  in  addition  to  those  who  are  to 
walk  with  Col.  Gardner  Chandler,  Sheriff  of  the  County,  through 
the  ranges  of  the  Poeple." 

Voted  that  Deacon  Rawson,  Mr.  Asa  Whitcomb  and  Dr. 
Crosby,  a  Delegate,-  be  a  committee  to  wait  on  a  number  of  Jus- 
tices and  give  them  an  opportunity  to  sign  the  Declaration  which 
has  been  signed  by  the  Justices  and  officers  of  the  Inferior  Court, 
and  is  as  follows: 

Worcester  Sept  6.  1774. 

Worcester  ss.     The  Justices  of  the  Iuferiour  Court  aud  Justices  of  the 


1774. J  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  329 

Court  of  the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Worcester,  to 

the  Poeple  of  the  County  now  assembled  at  Worcester. 

Gentlemen,  You  have  desired,  and  even  insisted  upon,  that  all  Judicial 
proceedings  be  stayed  by  the  Justices  of  the  Court  appointed  to  be  held  this 
day,  by  law,  in  Worcester,  within  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  on  ac 
count  of  the  unconstitutional  Act  of  the  British  Parliament,  respecting  the 
administration  of  Justice  in  this  Province,  which  if  effected  will  reduce  the 
Inhabitants  thereof  to  mere  arbitrary  rule,  do  assure  you  that  we  will  stay 
all  such  Judicial  proceedings  of  said  Courts  and  will  tfot  endeavour  to  put 
said  Act  in  execution 

Thomas  Steel,  Chas  Bigelow,  Saml.  Wilder, 

Joseph  Wilder,  Robert  Goddard,  Joshua  Upton, 

Art.  Ward,  Francis  Whipple,  John  Chandler  Jr.. 

Timo.  Paine,  Joshua  Willard,  Daniel  Oliver, 

John  Chandler,  Ezra  Taylor,  Joseph  Dorr, 

Daniel  Henshaw,  John  Caldwell,  Ezra  Houghton, 

Abel  Willard,  Ephm.  Wilson,  Nathan  Tyler 

We  the  Officers  of  the  Court  do  for  ourselves  give  the  Poeple  the  same 
assurance  as  above. 

Gardner  Chandler,  Sheriff, 

Rufus  Chandler, 

John  Sprague, 

Nathl.  Chandler,  Attornies. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  nine  to  draw  up  a  form  of  vote 
for  administering  justice  and  to  psotect  the  Justices  in  the  exe- 
cution of  their  offices. 

Chose  Oapt.  Samuel  Ward,  Lancaster;  Capt.  Joseph  Henshaw, 
Leicester,  Dea.  Edward  Eawson,  Mendon;  Ee v.  Joseph  Wheeler, 
Harvard,  Samuel  Jennison,  Douglass;  Lieut.  Joseph  Baker, 
Delegate;  Capt.  Paul  Mandell,  Hardwick,  Timothy  Bigelow,  of 
Worcester,  and  Lieut.  Jona.  Holman,  of  Bolton,  as  the  aforesaid 
committee. 

This  committee  was  to  confer  with  the  Justices  to-morrow, 
and  to  them  was  committed  the  Justices'  address  to  Gov.  Cage. 

Thomas  Steel,  Joseph  Wilder,  Timothy  Paine,  John  Chand- 
ler, Abel  Willard,  Joshua  TJpham,  Duncan  Campbell,  Jedediah 
Marcy,  Fras.  Whipple,  Ezra  Houghton  and  Isaac  Barnard,  Jus- 
tices, declared  they  precipitately  entered  into  the  measure,  and 
were  sorry  for  it. 

The  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County,  except  Timothy 
Ruggles,  John  Murray  and  James  Putnam  are  requested  to  con- 
tinue in  the  discharge  of  their  offices. 

42 


330  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.         .  [1775. 

Gardner  Chandler,  Sheriff,  was  called  upon  and  recanted  his 
signature  to  the  address  to  Gov.  Gage. 

The  Convention  adjourned  to  March  28,  inst. 

This  account  of  the  mass  meeting  at  Worcester  is^  introduced 
for  two  reasons.  First,  because  it  was,  at  the  instance  of  the 
Worcester  Committee,  that  the  Boston  Committee  called  a  meeting 
of  the  different  Committees  of  Correspondence  to  meet  at  Faneuil 
Hall  in  Boston,  on  the  20th  of  August,  when  it  was  resolved 
that  a  Provincial  Congress  was  necessary  "  to  counteract  the  sys- 
tem of  despotism" — that,  previous  to  the  meeting  of  such  Con- 
gress, the  Courts  ought  to  be  opposed,  and  the  officers  holding 
them  branded  as  traitors,  and  that  the  military  art  ought  to  be 
attentively  practised.  Second,  because  Mendon  was  fully  repre- 
sented in  the  Worcester  Convention  of  Aug.  9,  and  one  of  its 
Delegates,  Deacon  Edward  Bawson,  was  one  of  the  leading  spirits 
of  the  meeting. 


1775.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  by  adjournment, 
being  Jan.  17th, 

Voted  that  the  Captains  of  the  several  companies  in  this  town 
use  their  utmost  endeavors  that  the  delinquent  men  in  their 
respective  companies  be  speedily  equipped  with  arms  and  ammu- 
nition. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  to  take  up  the  Collection  for  the 
Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  be  directed  to  convey  the 
same  to  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Boston. 

Henry  Penniman  having  offered  to  present  the  town  with  a 
four-pounder  field  piece,  the  vote  passed  Sept.  28th  to  purchase 
two  six-pounders  was  reconsidered,  and  the  money  then  appro- 
priated to  pay  for  the  six-pounders  was  now  appropriated  as  fol- 
lows, viz:  £10.17.09  to  pay  for  powder  heretofore  purchased,  and 
the  balance  of  the  £113.10  was  to  be  expended  in  purchasing,  as 
soon  as  possible,  firearms,  lead,  flints,  powder,  iron  balls  for  two 
field  pieces,  and  carriages  to  mount  the  same. 

Voted  to  accept  of  a  four-pounder  field  piece  in  lieu  of  a  six- 
pounder,  offered  by  Dr.  Jennison. 

Capt.  Nathan  Tyler,  Capt.  Nelson  and  David  Daniels  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  purchase  small  arms  as  soon  as  may  be, 


1775.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  331 

and  that  they  procure  carriages  and  mount  the  field  pieces  as 
soon  as  possible. 

Feb.  6.  Voted  to  send  a  Delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 
now  sitting  at  Cambridge,  in  the  place  of  Deacon  Edward  Raw- 
son,  who  is  unable  to  attend  by  reason  of  sickness. 

Chose  Dr.  William  Jennison  as  a  Delegate,  and  that  Joseph 
Dorr,  Esq.,  and  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  should  give  him  instruc- 
tions the  same  in  substance  as  those  voted  for  Deacon  Rawson. 

March  6.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Joseph  Gribbs,  Mr.  Henry  Benson,  Ens.  Seth  Taft  and  Mr. 
Ichabod  Thayer;  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq. ; 
Constables,  Darius  Daniels,  Joseph  Benson,  Jr.,  and  Josiah 
Nelson. 

Raised  £100  for  repairs  of  highways  this  year,  and  any  rate 
not  worked  out  by  October  1,  to  be  collected  by  the  Constable 
in  money.  One  shilling  and  six  pence  per  day  for  a  man.  and 
one  shilling  and  six  pence  per  day  for  a  team  were  allowed. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  May  meeting,  when 
the  votes  relating  to  the  highway  were  reconsidered;  and  then 
voted  to  allow  the  Delegates  who  attended  the  Congress  at  Cam- 
bridge and  Concord  four  shillings  per  day  for  attendance,  and 
five  shillings  for  a  journey  to  Concord  and  five  shillings  for  a 
journey  to  Cambridge  each  session. 

March  20.  Under  a  new  warrant  Lieut.  Benjamin  Wheelock 
was  chosen  Moderator. 

Voted  "  that  this  town's  part  of  the  Provincial  Tax  for  the 
year  1774  be  paid  to  Henry  Gardner  Esq.  who  is  appointed 
Receiver  General  for  the  Province  by  the  late  Provincial 
Congress." 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  for  1774  "be  directed  and  they  are 
hereby  directed  to  make  out  warrants  to  the  several  Constables, 
in  this  town,  to  pay  their  respective  collections  of  the  Province 
tax  to  Henry  Gardner  Esq.  Receiver  General,  recently  appointed 
by  the  Provincial  Congress." 

Voted  to  choose  a  County  Treasurer,  but  who  he  was  or  how 
many  votes  he  had  the  record  saith  not. 
Voted  not  to  choose  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 


332 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1775. 


BATTLE    OF    LEXINGTON. 

April  19.  This  day  occurred  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  and, 
upon  the  general  alarm  which  followed,  Mendon  furnished  the 
following  Minute  Men.  Their  names  may  he  found  on  the 
muster  rolls  in  the  State  Archives,  at  Boston,  and  were  copied 
by  the  late  Maj.  Dexter  F.  Parker,  of  Worcester,  who  was  col- 
lecting materials  for  a  history  of  the  County  of  Worcester.  By 
the  kindness  of  Mrs.  Parker,  T  am  allowed  the  privilege  of 
co) tying  from  his  minutes. 


Capt.  John  Albee, 
Lieut.  Joseph  Bruce, 
Lieut,  Seth  Taft, 
( 'lcrk,  William  French, 
Serg.  Beuj.  Wheeloek, 
Serg.  John  Penniman, 
Serg.  Philip  Ammidown, 
Corp.  Peine  Rawson. 
Corp.  Seth  Chapin, 
Corp.  Silas  Richardson, 
Corp.  Edmund  Merriam, 
Dr.  Zuriel  Albee, 
Dr.  John  Crooks, 
Prs.  Barlow  Carpenter. 
Samuel  Gage, 


FIRST    COMPANY. 

John  Hill, 
Ralph  Hayward, 
Stephen  Legg. 
Aaron  Legg, 
Douglass  Marsh, 
Eben  Merriam. 
Stephen  Johnson, 
Josiah  Penniman, 
Levi  Rawson, 
Mark  Rawson, 
Edmund  Rawson,  4th., 
Thomas  Staples, 
Caleb  Taft, 
Stephen  Torrey. 
John  Tyler, 


William  Torrey  jr. 
Seth  Taft  jr., 
Calvin  Wheeloek, 
Jesse  Wheeloek, 
Grindall  Wood, 
Benjn.  White. 


Capt.  Willian  Jennison. 
Lieut,  Caleb  Cheney, 
Sergt.  Jones, 

Corp.  Josiah  Brown. 
Pr.  Saml.  Bowditch. 
Joseph  Gibbs, 
John  Hayward, 
Jesse  Hayward, 
Jona.  Hayward, 
Jacob  Hayward, 
Joshua  Hayward, 
Warfield  Hayward, 
Joseph  Jones  jr. . 
John  Jones. 


SECOND   COMPANY. 

Abraham  Jones,  jr. , 
Eli  Patridge, 
Seth  Thayer, 
Josiah  Wheeloek, 
William  Ward, 
Daniel  White, 
Benjn.  Vickery, 
Enlisted  in  the  Army. 
Lieut,  Samuel  Cobb, 
Serg.  Adams  Chapin, 


Corp.  William  Lesure, 
Drummer.  Saml.  French, 
Fifer,  Daniel  French, 
Pr.  Edmond  Bowker, 
Samuel  Davis. 
Ebenr  Davis, 
Aaron  Davis, 
William  Cheney, 
Benjn  Norcross, 
Henry  Nelson, 


Serg.  William  Jennison  jr.,  Amos  Shefferson, 
Serg.  John  Gibbs,  Abraham  Stevens. 

Corp.  Sheffield  Partridge.    Eli  Whitney  jr., 
Corp.  Asa  Albee,  Samuel  Warren. 


1775.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


333 


Capt.  Joseph  Daniels, 
Lieut.  Benoni  Benson, 
Lieut.  Peter  Penniman, 
Serg.  Abraham  Staples. 
Serg.  Moses  Thayer, 
Serg.  John  Darling, 
Corp.  Stephen  Benson, 
Asa  Fletcher, 
Benj.  Thayer, 
William  Thayer, 
Ebenezer  White, 
Thomas  Legg, 
Abner  Benson, 
Benj.  Thayer  jr., 
Nahor  Staples, 

Capt.  Gershom  Nelson, 
Lieut.  Jesse  Whitney, 
Lieut.  Josiah  Nelson, 
Serg.  Moses  Chapin, 
Serg.  Simeon  Wiswell, 
Serg.  Joseph  Cody, 
Serg.  Nathl.  Parkhurst, 


THIRD   COMPANY. 

Preserved  Baker, 
Benjamin  Blake, 
Silas  Aldrich. 
Pa.  Thayer, 
Benoni  Benson, 
Caleb  Wheelock. 
Increase  Thayer. 
Elijah  Darling, 
Turner  White, 
Joshua  Lazed? 
Benj.  Jones, 
Benj.  Pickering  jr. 
Oliver  Fisher? 
James  Thayer  jr. 

FOURTH    COMPANY. 

Elisha  White, 
John  Robinson, 
Aaron  Merrifleld, 
Stephen  Chapin, 
Daniel  Wedge, 
Ichabod  Corbett, 
Daniel  Hayward, 


Corp.  Eph'm  Parkhurst,  James  Albee, 


Corp.  Levi  Thayer, 
Corp.  Daniel  Legg, 
Corp.  Ichabod  Nelson, 
Pr.  Gershom  Legg, 
Robert  Corbett, 
Ebem  Read, 
Jonas  Parkhurst, 


Ephr.  Chapin, 
Enoch  Parry, 
Darius  Sumner, 
Levi  Hayward, 
Nathan  Beal, 
Gershom  Twitched, 
Levi  Legg, 


Seva  Pond? 
Nathl.  Taft, 
Moses  Daniels, 
Saml.  Freeman, 
Danl.  Thompson, 
Seth  Hayward, 
Hezekiah  Fletcher, 
Oliver  Morse? 
James  Blake, 
John  Hayward, 
John  Benson, 
Benj.  Hayward, 

old  soldier. 
Joseph  Wood, 

died  July  21. 

Samuel  Jones, 
Daniel  Chapin, 
Josiah  Kilborn, 
Isaac  Littlefield, 
Moses  Gage, 
Isaac  Chapin, 
Daniel  Chapin, 
Samuel  Thayer, 
David  Legg  jr. , 
Alexander  Wheelock. 
James  Sprague, 
James  Twitched, 
Darius  Holbrook, 
Silas  Brook? 


May  29.  Capt.  Thomas  Wiswall  was  chosen  Delegate  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  to  set  at  Watertown  May  31,  current. 

Oapt.  John  Tyler,  Mr.  James  Sumner  and  Lieut.  Benson  were 
chosen  a  committee  "  to  inquire  back  as  far  as  1770  and  ascer- 
tain what  Province  money,  collected  or  uncollected,  there  may 
l»e  in  the  hands  of  the  Constables  or  Deputy  Sheriffs,  and  report 
what  measures  may  be  necessary  to  compel  said  Constables  and 
Sheriffs  to  pay  the  same  to  Henry  Gardner  Esq.  the  present 
Receiver  General  instead  of  Harrison  Gray  the  Eeceiver  General 
appointed  by  the  Governor,  under  the  late  act  of  Parliament." 

Adjourned  to  this  day  fortnight,  (June  12,)  at  2  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 


334  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1775. 

The  committee  chosen  May  29th,  report  this  day,  June  12th, 
"  that  they  find  Monies  in  the  several  Constables  hands  and  in 
the  hand  of  George  Bruce,  Deputy  Sheriff,  together  with  money 
assessed  and  uncollected,  to  the  amount  of  £291.17.04,"'  where- 
upon, 

Voted  "  that  the  several  delinquent  Constables,  of  said  town, 
and  George  Bruce,  Deputy  Sheriff,  pay  in  to  Henry  Gardner 
Esq.,  Receiver  General  for  Massachusetts  Bay,  the  several  sums 
of  the  public  monies,  in  their  hands,  without  delay." 

Voted  "  that  said  Constables  and  Sheriff  paying  the  above- 
said  monies  as  before  expressed  and  producing  said  Receiver  Gen- 
eral his  receipt  therefor,  be  and  hereby  are  indemnified,  by  said 
town,  in  so  doing." 

Voted  that  James  Sumner,  Deacon  Rawson  and  Peletiah  Dar- 
ling be  a  committee  to  examine  the  accounts  of  sundry  persons 
who  found  provisions  for  and  were  employed  in  the  service  of 
our  soldiers  who  were  called  forth  in  the  late  alarm.  The  late 
alarm  was  undoubtedly  the  battle  of  Lexington,  April  19th. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  July  10th,  Deacon  Edward  Rawson, 
Capt.  Nelson  and  Capt.  John  Tyler  were  chosen  a  committee 
''to  repair  to  Mr.  George  Bruce  and  desire  his  attendance,  im- 
mediately, in  this  meeting.''  Mr.  Bruce  attended  accordingly, 
and  offered  to  deliver  up  the  notes  which  he  had  in  his  hands, 
for  the  Province  money,  to  the  town  or  their  order. 

Then  Henry  Penniman,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  and  Peter  Penni- 
man were  chosen  a  committee  to  receive  the  notes,  collect  the 
same  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  pay  it  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,. or 
his  successor  or  successors  in  the  office  of  Receiver  General,  and 
to  take  his  or  their  receipt  for  the  same. 

It  seems  that  Sheriff  Bruce  hesitated  about  paying  over  the 
Province  money,  but  whether  on  account  of  loyalist  notions  or 
fear  of  pecuniary  accountability  is  not  now  known. 

Sept.  4.  Voted  £100  to  defray  town  charges,  and  £60,  in- 
cluding the  interest  on  the  School  bonds,  for  schooling  the  pres- 
ent year. 

Deacon.  Edward  Rawson  was  allowed  £12. 13. 08  for  his  services 
at  the  General  Court  and  at  the  Provincial  Congress. 

Dr.  William  Jennison  was  allowed  £2.05.00  for  his  services  at 
the  Provincial  Congress,  and  then  the  vote  was  immediately  re- 
considered. 


1775.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  335 

Capt.  Wiswall  was  allowed  £7.06.00  for  his  services  at  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  at  Watertown. 

Lient.  Benjamin  Wheelock  and  Capt.  Nelson  were  added  to 
the  committee  "to  examine  the  accounts  of  certain  persons  who 
found  provisions  for  our  soldiers  in  the  late  alarm  in  April  last, 
and  also  for  conveying  said  provisions  to  camp,  and  report  at  the 
next  meeting." 

Adjourned  to  the  last  Monday  in  October. 

Voted  that  the  committee  last  above  chosen,  when  they  shall 
have  completed  the  accounts  of  certain  persons,  &c,  transmit 
the  same  to  the  General  Court  for  allowance,  and  to  pray  that 
what  may  be  allowed  may  be  made  payable  to  the  Selectmen  of 
Mendon,  or  their  order,  for  the  Town's  use. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen,  when  they  shall  have  received  the 
abovesaid  money,  shall  deliver  the  same  to  the  abovesaid  commit- 
tee, and  said,  committee  pay  out  the  same  to  those  persons  to 
whom  it  shall  be  found  due. 

The  committee  transmitted  the  accounts  to  the  General  Court, 
and  in  Vol.  205,  p.  290,  Revolutionary  Resolves,  may  be  found 
the  following  action  of  the  Court: 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Watertown  Sept.  27,  1775. 
Resolved,  that  there  be  paid  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  fifteen  pounds  to 
Dea.  Edward  Rawson,  for  the  use  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Men- 
don, in  full  for  Six  small  Arms,  delivered  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  by 
the  hand  of  Stephen  Patridge  for  the  use  of  the  Army,  as  appears  by  the 
receipt  of  July  13.  1775,  amounting  to  that  sum. 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

J.  Warren,  Speaker. 
In  Council,  Read  and  Concurred 

Perez  Morton,  Depty.  Secy. 
Consented  to  by  J.  Palmer  and  fourteen  others  of  the  Council. 

Journal  of  Com.  of  Safety  and  Supplies.  Journal  Prov.  Con- 
gress, p.  516. 

April  18.  1775. 

Voted  that  all  the  Ammunition  be  deposited  in  Nine  different  towns  in 
this  Province,  that  Worcester  be  one  of  them,  that  Concord  be  one,  that 
Lancaster  be  one  (Col.  Whitcomb  is  there)  that  Groton,  Stoughtonham, 
Stow,  Mendon,  Leicester  and  Sudbury  be  the  others.  Also  (p.  517)  two 
Medecine  Chests  at  Mendon,  also  (p.  518)  1100  Tents  to  be  deposited,  in 
equal  parts,  in  Worcester,  Lancaster,  Groton,  Stow,  Mendon,  Leicester  and 
Sudbury. 

Journal  Provincial  Congress,  p.  77, 


336  ANNALS    OF    MEN  DON.  [1775. 

May  1.  1775.  Meadon  to  take  76  of  the  5000  indigent  persons  of  Boston 
whom  Gen.  Gage  has  permitted  to  remove — said  persons  not  to  be  consid- 
ered the  poor  of  the  towns  to  which  they  remove.  Accounts  to  be  kept  and 
laid  before  Congress. 

May  25.  A  Committee  report  that  Mendon  could  spare  2£  bbls.  of 
Powder. 

May  31.  The  Third  Provincial  Congress  met  in  the  Meeting  House  at 
Watertown.     Capt.  Thomas  Wiswall,  Delegate  from  Mendon. 

Journal  Prov.  Con.,  p.  335. 

Towns  advised  to  deposite  Fire  arms  with  the  Town  Treasurer  for  the 
use  of  the  Army.     Mendon  to  deposite  24.  June  15.  1775. 
Form  of  a  Receipt  for  the  same. 

The  day  of  1775. 

Recd  of  A.  B.         firelock  to  the  use  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  of  the  value  of  £    s.     d.  which  sum  the  Receiver  General  of  said  Col- 
ony is  directed,  in  40  days  after  the  date  hereof,  to  pay  to  the  said  A.  B.  or 
order,  in  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  Colony. 
Form  of  a  receipt  for  Powder. 

The  day  of  1775  Recd  of  A.  B., 

Selectman  of  the  Town  of  the  Town  stock  of  Powder,  contain- 

ing lbs  weight,  to  the  use  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  which 

powder  is  to  be  replaced  again,  as  soon  as  the  Colony  Magazine  will  admit 
of  it,  or  paid  for  in  money. 

Jou.  P.  C,  p.  431.  July  5.  In  the  apportionment  for  coats, 
with  pewter  buttons,  for  the  soldiers,  Mendon  was  to  furnish 
eighty-eight  coats. 

This,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  just  after  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker Hill,  when  the  whole  country  was  in  a  state  of  great  alarm, 
and  hence  the  effort  to  strengthen  the  army  by  the  accumulation 
of  munitions  of  war  and  clothing  for  the  soldiers. 

Jou.  P.  C,  p.  431.  Mendon  "to  take  30  of  the  poeple  of 
Charlestown;"  the  town  having  been  burned  during  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill. 

July  10.  Deacon  Edward  Kawson  was  chosen  Representative 
to  the  General  Court. 

Revolutionary  Letters,  Vol.  193,  p.  88. 

Circular  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  to  the  Towns. 
Gentlemen, 

The  barbarous  Murders  committed  on  our  innocent  Brethren  on 
Wednesday  the  19th.  inst.  have  made  it  absolutely  necessary  that  we  imme- 
diately raise  an  Army  to  defend  our  wives  and  children  from  the  butcher- 


1775.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  337 

ing  hands  of  an  inhuman  Soldiery,  who,  incensed  at  the  obstacles  they  met 
with  in  their  bloody  progress  and  enraged  at  being  repulsed  from  the  field 
of  slaughter,  will,  without  the  least  doubt,  take  the  first  opportunity  in  their 
power  to  ravage  the  country  with  fire  and  sword. 

We  conjure  you  therefore,  by  all  that  is  sacred,  that  you  give  all  assist 
ance  possible  in  forming  an  Army;  our  all  is  at  stake — Death  and  Devasta 
tion  are  the  certain  consequences  of  delay — every  moment  is  infinitely  pies 
ions — an  hour  lost  may  deluge  your  country  in  blood  and  entail  perpetual 
Slavery  upon  the  few  of  your  posterity  who  may  survive  the  carnage.  We 
beg  and  intreat  as  you  will  answer  to  your  country,  to  your  consciences 
and,  above  all,  as  you  will  answer  to  God  himself,  that  you  will  hasten  and 
encourage,  by  all  possible  means,  the  enlistment  of  men  to  form  an  army 
and  send  them  forward  to  head  quarters,  at  Cambridge,  with  that  expedi- 
tion which  the  vast  importance  and  instant  urgency  of  the  affair  demands. 

Mendon  to  take  30  of  the  poeple  of  Charlestown. 

Rec.  Prow  Congress,  Vol.  31,  p.  137. 

The  Prov.  Congress  adjourned  this  day  from  Concord  to  meet  the  same 
day  at  Watertown,  at  4  o'clock  P.  M. 

Dea,  Edward  Rawson  was  chosen  to  wait  on  the  Rhode  Island  Congress 
to  inform  them  of  our  Resolutions  and  request  their  concurrence. 

In  the  H.  of  Representatives  Nov.  8.  1775. 

Resolved  that  there  be  paid,  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  of  this  Colony, 
to  Edward  Rawson  the  sum  of  £1.17.06  in  full  of  his  Account  for  a  journey 
to  Providence  by  order  of  Congress. 

The  following  is  an  answer  to  the  request  of  the  Commit  tec  of 
Supplies  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress: 

Mendon  June  15.  1775. 
Rouble.  Gentlemen 

Agreeable  to  your  Request  we  have  collected  and  sent 
down  a  Load  of  Grain.  Another  load  may  be  had  but  not  without  cash, 
which  (as  the  times  are)  we  are  not  able  to  command.  If  the  Receiver 
General  would  order  our  Constables  to  pay  us  a  sum  of  money  for  that 
purpose  perhaps  we  may  procurse  it.  We  have  also  sent  203  lbs.  weight  of 
gunpowder;  more  we  could  not  well  spare,  as  we  have  been  obliged  to  fur- 
nish our  Soldiers  with  a  large  quantity  out  of  the  town  stock;  two  of  the 
casks  are  new,  for  which  the  town  gave  6s.  which  you  may  keep  or  send 
back  as  suits  best. 

The  Selectmen  live  at  a  great  distance  from  each  other  and  could  not  be 
gotten  together,  without  considerable  trouble,  in  order  to  certify  with  respect 
to  the  price  of  the  above  articles  and  the  carriage  of  them,  but  as  the  bearer 
is  a  Selectman  and  worthy  of  credit 

I  am  Gentleman  your  very  Humble  and  Obt.  Servant 

J.  Dork,  one  of  the  Selectmen  of  Meudon. 
43 


338  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1775. 

COL.    EZRA   WOOD   AND   LIEUT.    ELIJAH   TAFT   COMPLAINED   OF. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Inspection  of  Cumberland,  Wren- 
tham,  Medway,  Bellingham,  Hopkinton,  Holliston,  Mendon,  Upton,  Ux- 
bridge  and  Smithfield,  convened  at  the  House  of  Dr.  John  Corbett,  in  said 
Bellingham,  on  ye  18th.  day  of  September  1775,  and  continued  by  adjourn- 
ments to  the  16th.  day  of  October  1775;  upon  the  complaint  of  Col.  Joseph 
Read  against  Col.  Ezra  Wood  and  Lieut.  Elijah  Taft  for  Carrying  Pro- 
visions to  Rhode  Island,  and  said  it  was  suspected  that  he  sold  the  same  to 
the  Tories,  whereby  said  Provisions  were  conveyed  to  the  enemy  at  Boston, 
and  said  Read  desired  me  to  inform  of  the  same  to  the  Committee  of 
Inspection  forthwith  that  the  affair  might  be  inquired  into. 

Edward   Rawson. 

Oct.  16,  1775. 

On  the  Above  Complatnt, 

Voted  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Body  that  the  said  Wood  and 
Taft  have  not  done  anything  that  is  inimical  to  the  American  Cause. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes 

Nathan  Tyler,  Clerk. 

The  following  letter  is  introduced  in  this  place  because  its 
author  was  a  native  of  Mendon,  and  because  it  belongs  to  the 
history  of  the  times. 

Alexander  Scammell  was  born  in  Mendon  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  College,  1769.  Studied  law  with  Gen.  Sullivan,  and 
was  appointed  Brigade  Major  in  New  Hampshire  in  1775,  and 
Colonel  of  a  New  Hampshire  regiment  in  1776.  He  was  wound- 
ed at  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  in  1777,  and  became  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  Continental  Army  in  1780.  In  1781  he  was 
taken  prisoner  September  30,  while  reconnoitering,  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown,  mortally  wounded  after  he  surrendered,  and  died 
at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  Oct.  6.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
the  confidential  friend  of  Gen.  Washington. 

Portsmouth,  May  3.  1775. 
Hon.  Sir, 

Your  leaving  New  'Hampshire  at  a  time  when  your  presence  was 
so  extremety  necessary  to  cherish  the  glorious  ardor  which  you  have  been 
so  instrumental  in  inspiring  us  with,  spread  a  general  gloom  in  Durham 
and,  in  some  measure,  damped  the  spirit  of  liberty  through  the  Province, 
and  nothing  but  the  important  business  in  which  you  are  embarked  would 
induce  to  dispense  with  your  presence,  with  any  degree  of  patience  or  per- 
severance. But  when  the  horrid  din  of  civil  carnage  surprised  us  on  the 
20th.  of  April,  the  universal  cry  was,  "Oh!  if  Major  Sullivan  was  here — 
I  Avish  to  God  Major  Sullivan  was  here "  ran  through  the  distressed 
multitude. 


1775.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  339 

April  Court,  which  was  then  sitting  adjourned  immediately.  To  arms! 
to  arms!  was  breathed  forth  in  sympathetic  groans.  I  went  express  to 
Boston,  by  desire  of  the  Congressional  Committee  then  sitting  at  Durham, 
proceeded  as  far  as  Bradford  (Mass.)  where  I  obtained  credible  information 
that  evening.  Next  morning  I  arrived  at  Exeter  where  the  Provincial 
Congress  was  assembling  with  all  possible  haste. 

Here  I  reported  what  intelligence  I  had  gained;  that  the  American  Army 
at  Cambridge,  Woburn  and  Charlestown  was  more  in  need  of  provisions 
than  men ;  that  fifty  thousand  had  assembled  in  thirty  six  hours,  and  that 
the  Regulars  who  had  retreated  from  Concord  had  encamped  on  Bunker's 
Hill  in  Charlestown. 

The  Congress,  upon  this  report,  resolved  that  the  Durham  company,  then 
at  Exeter,  (armed  complete  for  an  engagement,  with  a  week's  provision,) 
should  return  home  and  keep  themselves  in  constant  readiness.  All  the 
men  being  gone  from  the  westward  and  southward  of  Newmarket,  and 
Men-of-war  expected  hourly  into  Portsmouth,  it  was  with  the  greatest  dif- 
ficulty your  Durham  soldiers  were  prevailed  on  to  return. 

Six  or  seven  expresses  arrived  at  Durham  in  the  night  after  our  return ; 
some  desiring  us  to  march  to  Kittery,  some  to  Hampton  and  some  to 
Ipswich  &c.  which  places,  they  said,  sundry  Men-of-war  were  ravaging.  The 
whole  country  was  in  a  continual  alarm,  but  suspecting  that  the  Marines, 
at  Portsmouth,  might  take  advantage  of  the  confusion  we  were  then  in  and 
pay  a  visit  to  Durham  we  thought  proper  to  stand  ready  to  give  them  a 
warm  reception ;  and  supposing  that  your  house  and  family  would  be  the 
first  mark  of  their  vengeance,  I  kept  guard  to  defend  your  family  and  sub- 
stance to  the  last  drop  of  my  blood  *  *  *  *  Men,  women  and  children  were 
engaged,  day  and  night  in  preparing  for  the  worst.  Many  towns  in  this 
Province  have  enlisted  Minutemen  and  keep  them  under  pay,  and  the  Con- 
gress before  this  would  actually  have  raised  an  army  had  they  not  waited 
for  the  General  Court,  which  sits  to-morrow,  in  order  to  raise  as  much 
money  as  they  can  to  pay  off  their  army  when  raised.  I  am  extremely 
mortified  that  I  am  unable  to  join  the  Army  at  Cambridge. 

The  particulars  of  the  skirmish  between  the  Regulars  and  Americans 
will,  long  before  this,  have  reached  you.  In  longing  expectation  your  safe, 
happy  and  speedy  return  is  hoped  for  by  all  your  friends,  but  by  none 
more  sincerely  than 

Your  dutiful,  humble  servant 

Alexr  Scammelt- 

To  John  Sullivan  Esq.  Philadelphia  or  New  York. 

The  four  companies  which  responded  to  the  alarm  on  the  19th 
of  April  from  Mendon,  except  those  who  enlisted  for  three 
months,  soon  returned  home. 

The  Muster  Eolls  at  Boston  credit  Mendon  with  the  following 
three  months  men.  whose  service  expired  in  August,  1775: 


340 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1776. 


THREE    MONTHS    MEN,    1775. 


Lieut.  Levi  Aldricli, 
Serg.  Rufus  Aldricli, 
Nehemiah  Aldricli, 
Phineas  Aldricli, 
Amasa  Aldricli, 
Alexr  Aldricli, 
Jabez  Albee, 
Eleazer  Albee, 
Asa  Albee, 
Jacob  Ammidown, 
Peter  Brown, 
Silas  Brown, 
Samuel  Boyce, 
Jona.  Boyce, 
Serg.  Jeremiah  Battles, 
Justus  Battles, 
Timothy  Bruce, 
Edmund  Bowker, 
Serg.  Samuel  Craggin, 
Eli  Craggin, 
Amos  Craggin, 
Capt.  Samuel  Cobb, 
Cor.  Peter  Corbett, 
Cor.  William  Cheney, 
Lt,  Joseph  Cody, 
Ser.  Adam  Chapin, 
Isaac  Chapin, 
Josiah  Chapin, 
Peter  Daggett, 
Joshua  Daggett, 
John  Deming? 
William  Drown, 
Lt,  William  Darling, 
Enoch  Darling, 
Job  Darling, 
Peter  Darling, 
Levi  Darling, 
Drum.  Aaron  Davis, 
Samuel  Davis, 


Serg.  Turner  Ellis, 
Maxwell  Ellis, 
Ser.  Samuel  French, 
David  French? 
Cor.  Saml.  Fairbanks, 
Cor.  Simeon  Fish, 
Amariah  Ford, 
Hezekiah  Fletcher, 
John  Green, 
John  Gibbs, 
Darius  Hoi  brook, 
Reuben  Holbrook, 
Samuel  Hill, 
John  Hunt, 
William  Hall, 
Cor.  David  Legg, 
Cor.  Caleb  Legg, 
Moses  Legg, 
David  Legg,  Sr., 
William  Legg, 
William  Lesure, 
Levi  Lesure, 
Moses  Lovett, 
Joshua  Lazell, 
Ichabod  Maynard, 
Robin  Meinyo, 
Henry  Nelson, 
Daniel  Norcross, 
Benjn  Norcross, 
Benjn  Oliver, 
Capt.  Andrew  Peters, 
Cor.  Sheffield  Partridge, 
Amariah  Partridge, 
Eben"'  Partridge. 
Joseph  Passmore, 
Edward  Pickering, 
Ser.  Benjamin  Read, 
Aquilla  Ramsdell, 
Arthur  Rawson, 


Jonathan  Rawson, 
Amos  Shepardson, 
Alex1"  Sterns, 
James  Sprague, 
Fifer,  Jesse  Smith, 
Calvin  Smith, 
Simeon  Staples, 
Jona.  Staples, 
Enos  Taft, 
Ebenr  Taft, 
Artemas  Tafi, 
Amos  Thayer, 
Amasa  Thayer, 
Samuel  Thayer, 
Joel  Thayer, 
Nathl.  Torrey, 
Jonas  Twitchel, 
Benjn  Vickery, 

Vose, 

Amariah  Vose, 
Bethuel  Washburn, 
Samuel  Washburn, 
Theophilus  Waterman, 
West  Waterman, 
Serg.  Benjn  Walker, 
Benjn  White, 
Daniel  White, 
Gideon  White, 
Daniel  Ward? 
Josiah  Wood, 
Stephen  Wood, 

Wood, 

Lt.  George  Whipple, 
Alexr  Wheelock, 
Jonathan  Whitney, 
Elias  Whitney, 
Joseph  Woodward, 
Capt.  Samuel  Warren. 


1776.     March  4.     Chose  for  Selectmen,  Lieut.  Peter  Penni- 
111  an,  Mr.  Jonathan  Jones,  Mr.  Samuel  Fairbanks.  Ensign  Pele- 


1776.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  341 

tiah  Darling  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Sumner;  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq., 
Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  John  Penniman,  Ichabod  Thayer, 
Jr.,  and  Jesse  Darling,  Constables;  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence, Inspection  and  Safety,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Lieut.  Joseph 
Gibbs,  Deacon  Joseph  Day;  Capt.  John  Albee  and  Deacon 
Gideon  Albee. 

Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  leading  by  the  Widow  Huhlah 
Thayer's  to  the  road  leading  by  Elisha  Thompson's  to  Arnold's 
mills,  at  Winesokett. 

Voted  to  sell  the  powder  sent  to  the  Colony  Magazine  at  5s. 
per  pound. 

Voted  to  allow  the  First  Precinct  the  profits  and  benefit  of 
the  burying  place  in  said  Precinct,  said  Precinct  keeping  the 
fences  about  the  same  in  suitable  repair. 

Adjourned  to  the  May  meeting. 

Voted  to  allow  the  Selectmen  for  1775,  30s.,  cash  in  full. 

Voted  to  allow  the  Selectmen  two  dollars  for  a  blanket,  which 
they  purchased  for  Edward  Pickering,  20s.,  which  Capt.Wiswall 
gave  the  town,  and  15s.  more  to  make  up  the  sum  which  the 
Selectmen  lost  in  blankets,  and  for  which  they  never  got  any 
pay. 

Voted  to  allow  Ichabod  Thayer,  Edward  Rawson,  Jr.,  and 
Stephen  Benson  20s.  each  for  carting  the  baggage  for  Capt. 
John  Tyler's  company  to  the  lines  at  Roxbury  in  December  last. 
This  was  probably  at  the  time  when  it  was  expected  that  the 
British,  from  Boston,  would  attack  the  lines  at  Eoxbury. 

Rev.  Resolves,  Mass.  Archives,  Vol.  209,  p.  163. 

In  the  House'of  Representatives  May  9.  1776. 
Resolved  that  it  he  and  is  herehy  recommended  to  each  Town  in  this 
Colony  which  shall  send  a  member  or  memhers  to  the  next  General  Assem- 
hly,  fully  to  possess  him  or  them  with  their  sentiments  relative  to  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independency  of  the  United  Colonies  of  Great  Britain  to  he  made 
by  Congress,  and  to  instruct  them  what  conduct  they  would  have  them  oh 
serve  with  regard  to  the  next  General  Assembly  instructing  the  Delegates 
of  this  Colon}'  on  that  subject. 

Passed.  Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

Samuel  Freeman,  Secy.  P.  T. 
In  Council  May  10.  1776. 

Read  and  Non  concurred, 

Perez  Morton.  Dep.  Sec 


342-  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

The  warrant  for  the  last  town  meeting  was  the  last  one  called 
in  his  Majesty's  name.  His  Majesty's  name  and  the  year  of  his 
reign  had  heretofore  been  inserted  in  every  warrant  for  a  town 
meeting,  from  the  date  of  incorporation  in  16G7. 

It  now  reads,  "in  the  Name  of  the  Government  and  Poeple  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay.'"'" 

May  27th,  being  a  meeting  called,  as  above,  for  the  choice  of 
a  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  to  meet  at  Watertown, 
May  29th  hist.,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  non-concurrence  of  the  Council  with 
the  House  of  Representatives,  as  before  recited,  the  town  in- 
structed their  Representative  in  the  following  patriotic  and  elo- 
quent terms: 

"Voted  that  the  town  advise  and  instruct  their  Representative  to  acquaint 
the  General  Assembly,  That  if  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress 
shall  think  it  for  the  Benefit  and  Safety  of  the  United  American  Colo- 
nies, to  Declare  them  Independent  of  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  said 
Town  will  approve  the  measure,  and,  with  their  Lives  and  Fortunes,  sup- 
port them  therein." 

Voted  that  Lieut.  Joseph  Bruce,  Lieut.  Joseph  Gibbs  and 
Lieut.  Benoni  Benson,  as  a  committee,  be  directed  to  look  after 
those  persons  who  took  ammunition  out  of  the  town  stock,  on  the 
alarm  of  last  year,  and  have  not  returned  the  same.  This  com- 
mittee were  allowed  to  compound  with  those  who  make  no  return 
of  ammunition  at  3s.  per  pound  for  powder  and  the  common 
price  for  lead  and  flints. 

Voted  to  allow  those  persons  who  transported  provisions  .to 
Cambridge  and  Roxbury  on  the  alarm  in  April,  1775,  £2.01.10, 
which  was  deducted  out  of  the  Selectmen's  account  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  for  the  same. 

The  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British,  on  the  17th  of  March, 
transferred  the  theatre  of  war  from  Massachusetts  to  New  York, 
and  a  new  call  was  now  made  for  reinforcements  for  the  army. 

As  in  all  wars,  the  patriotic  ardor  which  the  first  call  to  arms 
inspired  in  the  masses  began  to  cool,  and  volunteers  came  in 
slowly. 

July  8.  The  following  circular  letter  of  the  General  Court 
was  read  in  a  town  meeting  this  day.  It  may  be  found  in  the 
Massachusetts  Archives. 


1776.1  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  343 


CIRCULAR   TO    THE    COMMITTEES    OF   THE    SEVERAL   TOWNS. 

The  General  Court  have  received  from  his -Excellency,  General  Wash- 
ington a  pressing  Letter  that  the  Troops  destined  for  New  York,  may  be 
sent  with  all  despatch,  as  he  is  well  informed  that  General  Howe  is  arrived 
from  Halifax  at  the  Hook.  You  will  please  communicate  this  to  your 
brethren  that  you  and  they,  with  all  possible  expedition,  may  raise  and 
march  the  Troops  going  from  your  county.  The  General  Court  expect 
you  will  not  let  any  thing  prevent  their  marching  as  fast  as  possible  as  you 
see  the  emergency  of  the  case  requires. 

By  Order  of  the  General  Court. 

To  the  Chairman  of  the  Committe  for  raising  men. 

Upon  this  the  town  voted  "to  allow  those  persons  who  shall 
enlist  in  this  Town  into  the  service  of  the  United  Colonies,  at 
New  York,  six  pounds  per  man,  except  Commissioned  Officers; 
also,  that  those  now  in  the  service,  as  well  as  those  who  served 
eight  months  last  }rear,  shall  be  exempted  from  a  poll  tax.1' 

Here  follows,  in  the  Town  Record,  a  copy  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  It  is  engrossed  in  the  bold  and  beautiful 
hand  writing  of  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq. ,  the  Town  Clerk. 

The  following  is  a  literal  transcript  from  the  Record: 

In  CONGRESS,  July  4.  1776;  A  DECLARATION  by  the  REP- 
RESENTATIVES of  the  UNITED  STATES  of  AMERICA  in  GEN- 
ERAL CONGRESS  Assembled:  When  in  the  Course  of  Human  Events  it 
becomes  necessary  for  a  Poeple  to  dissolve  the  Political  bands  which  have 
connected  them  with  another  and  to  assume,  among  the  Powers  of 
the  Earth,  the  separate  and  Equal  Station  which  the  Laws  of  Nature 
and  Nature's  God  entitle  them,  a  decent  respect  to  the  Opinions  of 
Mankind  requires  that  they  should  declare  the  Causes  which  impel  them  to 
the  Separation. 

We  hold  these  Truths  to  be  self-evident;  that  all  Men  were  created  equal; 
that  they  are  indued,  by  their  Creator,  with  certain  unalienable  Rights: 
that  among  these  are  Life,  Liberty  and  the  Pursuit  of  Happiness; — That  to 
secure  these  Rights  Governments  are  Instituted  among  Men,  deriving  their 
just  Powers  from  the  Consent  of  the  Governed;  that  when  any  Form  of 
Government  becomes  destructive  of  these  Ends,  it  is  the  Right  of  the 
Poeple  to  alter  or  abolish  it,  and  to  institute  new  Government,  laying  its 
Foundation  on  such  Principles  and  organizing  its  Powers  in  such  Form  as 
to  them  shall  seem  most.likely  to  effect  their  Safety  and  Happiness. 

Prudence  indeed  will  dictate  that  Governments  long  established  should 
not  be  changed  for  light  and  transient  causes;  and,  accordingly,  all  Expe- 
rience hath  shown  that  Mankind  are  more  disposed  to  suffer  while  Evils 
are  sufferable  than  right  themselves  by  abolishing  the  Forms  to  which  they 
are  accustomed-     But  when  a  long  Train  of  Abuses  and  Usurpations,  pur- 


344  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

suing  invariably  the  same  Object,  evinces  a  Design  to  reduce  them  under 
absolute  Despotism,  it  is  their  Right,  it  is  their  Duty  to  throw  off  such 
Government  and  provide  new  Guards  for  their  future  Security.  Such  has 
been  the  patient  sufferance  of  these  Colonies,  and  such  is  now  the  Neces- 
sity which  constrains  them  to  alter  their  former  systems  of  Government. 

The  History  of  the  Present  King  of  Great  Britain  is  a  History  of  repeated 
Injuries  and  Usurpations  all  having  in  direct  object  the  Establishment  of 
an  absolute  Tyranny  over  these  States.  To  prove  this  let  Facts  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  candid  world. 

He  has  refused  his  Assent  to  Laws  the  most  wholesome  and  necessary 
to  the  public  good. 

He  has  forbidden  Governors  to  pass  Laws  of  immediate  and  pressing  im- 
portance unless  suspended  in  their  Operation  until  his  assent  should  be 
obtained,  a'nd  when  so  suspended  he  has  utterly  refused  to  attend  to  them. 

He  has  refused  to  pass  other  Laws  for  the  Accommodation  of  large  Dis- 
tricts of  Poeple  unless  those  Poeple  would  relinquish  the  Right  of  Repre- 
sentation in  the  Legislature,  a  right  inestimable  to  them  and  formidable  to 
TYRANTS  only. 

He  has  called  together  Legislative  Bodies  at  Places  unusual,  uncomforta- 
ble and  distant  from  the  Depository  of  their  public  records,  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  fatigueiug  them  into  Compliance  with  his  Measures. 

He  has  dissolved  Representative  Houses  repeatedly  for  opposing,  with 
manly  Firmness,  his  Invasions  on  the  Rights  of  the  People. 

He  has  refused  for  a  long  time,  after  such  Dissolution  to  cause  others  to 
be  elected,  whereby  the  Legislative  Powers,  incapable  of  annihilation,  have 
returned  to  the  Poeple  at  large  for  their  exercise,  the  State  remaining,  in 
the  meantime,  exposed  to  all  the  Dangers  of  Invasion  from  without  and 
Convulsions  within. 

He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  Population,  for  that  purpose  obstructing 
the  Laws  for  Naturalization  of  Foreigners;  refusing  to  pass  others  to 
encourage  their  Migrations  hither  and  raising  the  conditions  of  new  Appro- 
priations of  Lands. 

He  has  obstructed  the  Administration  of  justice,  by  refusing  his  assent  to 
Laws  for  establishing  judiciary  Powers. 

He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  Will  alone  for  the  Tenure  of  their 
Offices  and  the  amount  and  payment  of  their  Salaries. 

He  has  erected  a  multitude  of  New  Offices  and  sent  hither  Swarms  of 
Officers  to  harrass  our  Poeple  and  eat  out  our  Substance. 

He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  Peace,  Standing  Armies  without  the 
consent  of  our  Legislatures. 

He  has  affected  to  render  the  Military  independent  of  and  superior  to  the 
Civil  Power. 

He  has  combined,  with  others,  to  subject  us  to  a  jurisdiction  foreign  to 
our  Constitution  and  unacknowledged  by  our  Laws,  giving  his  assent  to 
their  Acts  of  pretended  Legislation. 

For  quartering  large  Bodies  of  armed  Troops  among  us. 


1776.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  345 


For  protecting  them  by  a  mock  Trial  from  any  punishment  for  any  Mm 
ders  they  should  commit  on  the  Inhabitants  of  these  States. 

For  cutting  off  Trade  with  all  parts  of  the  World. 

For  imposing  taxes  upon  us  without  our  Consent. 

For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  Benefits  of  Trial  by  jury. 

For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for  supposed  offences. 

For  abolishing  the  Free  System  of  English  Laws,  in  a  neighboring 
Province,  establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  Government  and  enlarging  its 
boundaries,  so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  Example  and  fit  Instrument  for 
introducing  the  same  absolute  Rule  into  these  Colonies. 

For  taking  away  our  Charters,  abolishing  our  most  valuable  Laws  and 
altering,  fundamentally,  the  Forms  of  our  Governments. 

For  suspending  our  Legislatures  and  declaring  themselves  invested  with 
Power  to  legislate  for  us  in  ALL  CASES  WHATSOEVER. 

He  has  abdicated  Government  here  by  declaring  us  out  of  his  Protection 
and  waging  war  against  us. 

He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  Coasts,  burnt  our  Towns  and 
destroyed  the  lives  of  our  Poeple. 

He  is,  at  this  time,  transporting  large  Armies  of  foreign  Mercenaries  to 
Complete  the  Works  of  Death,  Desolation  and  TYRANNY  already  begun, 
with  circumstances  of  Cruelty  and  Perfidy  scarcly  paralleled  in  the  most 
barbarous  Ages  and  totally  unworthy  the  Plead  of  a  Civilized  Nation. 

He  has  Constrained  our  Fellow  Citizens,  taken  Captive  on  the  high  Seas 
to  bear  arms  against  their  Country;  to  become  the  Executioners  of  their 
Friends  and  Brethren,  or  to  fall  themselves  by  their  hands. 

He  has  excited  Domestic  Insurrections  among  us  and  has  endeavoured  to 
bring  on  the  Inhabitants  of  our  Frontiers  the  Merciless  Indian  Savages, 
whose  known  Rule  of  Warfare  is  an  undistinguished  Destruction  of  all 
Ages,  Sexes  and  Conditions. 

In  every  Stage  of  these  Oppressions  we  have  petitioned  for  Redress  in  the 
most  humble  Terms ;  our  repeated  Petitions  have  only  been  answered  by 
repeated  Injury !  A  Prince,  whose  character  is  thus  marked  by  every  Act 
which  may  define  a  TYRANT,  is  unfit  to  be  the  Ruler  of  a  FREE 
POEPLE. 

Nor  have  we  been  wanting  in  attention  to  our  Brethren.  We  have 
warned  them,  from  time  to  time,  of  Attempts  by  their  Legislature  to  extend 
an  unwarrantable  jurisdiction  over  us;  We  have  reminded  them  of  the 
Circumstances  of  our  Emigration  and  Settlement;  We  have  appealed  to 
their  native  magnanimity  and  we  have  conjured  them  by  the  Ties  of  our 
Common  Kindred,  to  disavow  these  Usurpations  which  would  inevitably 
interrupt  our  Connexions  and  Correspondence.  They  too  have  been 
deaf  to  the  Voice  of  Justice  and  Consanguinuity.  We  must  therefore 
acquiesce  in  the  Necessity  which  announces  our  separation  and  hold  them, 
as  we  hold  the  rest  of  Mankind,  Enemies  in  War,  in  Peace  friends. 

We  therefore,  the  REPRESENTATIVES  of  the  UNITED  STATES  OF 
AMERICA  in  GENERAL  CONGRESS  assembled,  appealing  to  the  SU- 

44 


346  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

PREME  JUDGE  of  the  World  for  the  rectitude  of  our  Intentions,  do,  in 
the  Name  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  good  Poeple  of  these  Colonies,  sol- 
emnly publish  and  declare  that  these  United  States  are  and  of  Right  ought  to 
be  FREE  AND  INDEPENDENT  STATES :  that  they  are  absolved  from 
all  Allegiance  to  the  British  Crown  and  that  all  Political  Connexion  be- 
tween them  and  the  State  of  Great  Britain  is  and  ought  to  be  totally  dis- 
solved, and  that  as  FREE  AND  INDEPENDENT  STATES  they  have 
full  Power  to  carry  on  War,  Conclude  Peace,  to  Contract  Alliances,  estab- 
lish Commerce  and  to  do  all  other  Acts  and  things  which  INDEPENDENT 
STATES  may  of  Right  do. 

And  for  the  Support  of  this  Declaration,  with  a  firm  Reliance  on  the 
Protection  of  DIVINE  PROVIDENCE,  We  mutually  pledge  to  each  our 
LIVES,  our  FORTUNE  and  our  SACRED  HONOR. 

Signed  by  ORDER  and  in  BEHALF  OF  CONGRESS. 

JOHN  HANCOCK,  President. 
ATTEST.  CHARLES  THOMPSON,  Secy. 

In  Council,  Watertown,  July  17,  1776. 
ORDERED  That  the  Declaration  of  Independence  be  printed  and  a  copy 
sent  to  the  Minister  of  each  Parish  of  every  Denomination  within  this 
State,  and  that  they  severally  be  required  to  read  the  same  to  their  respec- 
tive Congregations,  as  soon  as  Divine  Service  is  ended  in  the  afternoon,  on 
the  first  Lord's  Day  after  they  shall  have  received  it : — And  after  such  Pub- 
lication thereof  to  deliver  the  said  Declaration  to  the  Clerks  of  their  several 
Towns  or  Districts,  who  are  hereby  required  to  record  the  same  in  their 
respective  Town  or  District  Books,  there  to  remain  as  a  perpetual  MEMO- 
RIAL thereof. 

In  the  Name  and  by  Order  of  the  Council. 

R,  DERBY,  Juu.  President. 
A  true  Copy,  Attest,  JOHN  AVERY,  Dep.  Secy. 
A  true  Copy,  Attest,  JOSEPH  DORR,  Town  Clerk. 

At  this  time  Congress  had  called  for  recruits  for  the  expedi- 
tion to  Canada,  but  the  enlistments  progressed  slowly;  and  con- 
temporary historians  tell  us  that  one  reason  was  that,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, they  felt  they  were  not  secure  from  a  return  of  the 
British,  as  a  portion  of  their  fleet  were  still  at  anchor  in  the 
lower  harbor;  and  another  reason,  that  weighed  heavily  with 
many,  was  that  the  troops  east  of  the  State  of  New  York  were 
not  treated  with  the  same  consideration  as  those  who  were  drawn 
from  the  Southern  States. 

The  General  Court  had  voted  to  raise  five  thousand  men  for 
six  months,  and,  to  encourage  enlistments,  offered  a  month's  pay 
in  advance. 


1776.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  347 

The  following  items  arc  considered  of  sufficient  interest  to 
merit  an  insertion  in  these  annals: 

Records  of  the  Provincial  Congress  (Mass.  Archives),  Vol.  34, 
p.  705,  April  17,  1776. 

In  the  H.  of  R.  Resolved  that  there  he  paid  out  of  the  Public  Treasury 
of  this  Colony  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  £38.04.04  in  full 
of  their  account  for  provisions  and  transporting  the  same  to  Head  Quarters, 
in  April  last  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

Court  (Mass.  Archives),  Vol.  34,  p.  859,  May  7,  1776. 

In  II.  of  R.  Resolved  that  there  he  paid  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  of 
this  Colony  to  Edward  Rawson  the  sum  of  £6.00.00  for  the  use  of  Daniel 
Druce  in  full  for  his  Pension  granted  to  him  by  the  General  Court  in  the 
year  1772. 

Court,  Vol.  35,  p.  109,  June  29,  1776. 

A  letter  was  received  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Mendon, 
giving  information  against  one  George  Gage,  of  Mendon  for  Mai  Conduct ;&c. 

Read  and  Committed,  with  the  papers  accompanying  the  same,  to  Joseph 
Cushing  and  David  Sewall  Esqrs.  with  such  as  the  HonbIe  House  shall  join. 

What  became  of  this  last  matter  is  not  now  known. 

July  22.  The  Town  of  Mendon  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  £10 
to  each  man  who  shall  voluntarily  enlist  in  the  public  service  in 
the  Northern  or  Canada  Department. 

The  Selectmen  were  directed  to  borrow  a  sufficient  sum  of 
money  to  pay  the  bounties  offered. 

Sept.  11.  Voted  to  raise  £40  for  schooling,  exclusive  of  in- 
terest arising  from  the  school  bonds,  and  £380  to  defray  town 
charges,  including  bounties  to  the  soldiers. 

Henry  Benson  was  chosen  one  of  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, &c,  in  the  room  of  Deacon  Joseph  Day,  in  the  service. 

Up  to  this  time  recruiting  for  the  army,  as  every  fifth  man 
enrolled  in  the  militia  was  called  for,  was  progressing  at  a  tardy 
pace.  To  expedite  the  matter  the  town,  Sept.  16,  voted  to  allow 
each  soldier  and  non-commissioned  officer,  who  shall  march  to 
New  York,  on  the  present  alarm,  20s.  each,  and  20s.  per  month 
so  long  as  they  shall  continue  in  the  service  as  militia. 

Sept.  30.  A  County  Register  and  County  Treasurer  were 
chosen,  and,  as  usual,  no  record  is  made  of  the  names  of  the 
successful  candidates. 

The  subject  of  a  State  Government  had  by  this  time  very  gen- 


348  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

erally  engaged  the  attention  of  the  people,  and  hence,  in  the 
warrant  for  a  town  meeting,  to  he  held  Sept.  30,  the  following- 
article  is  found: 

"  To  see  if  the  Male  inhabitants  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards, 
being  free,  will  give  their  Consent  that  the  present  Representatives  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  together  with  the  Council,  if  they  consent  in  one  body, 
may  agree  on  a  Form  of  Government  for  this  State,  pursuant  to  a  Resolve 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  17th.  instant." 

Upon  the  consideration  of  this  article,  the  town  voted  in  the 
negative,  and  chose  a  committee  of  nine  persons  to  instruct  our 
Representative  (Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.)  relative  to  the  form  of  civil 
government. 

Chose  for  the  committee  James  Sumner,  Edward  Rawson, 
Esq.,  Ensign  Pelatiah  Darling,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Holbrook,  Oapt. 
Peter  Penniman,  Mr.  Aaron  Everett,  Lieut.  Seth  Nelson,  Capt. 
John  Tyler  and  Maj.  Joseph  Daniels. 

This  committee  was  to  report  a  draft  of  their  instructions  at 
the  next  meeting.  They  made  a  report  as  directed,  but  it  was 
not  recorded,  nor  is  the  same  to  be  found  in  the  archives  of  the 
town. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  not  to  allow  an  Inoculating  Hos- 
pital for  the  small-pox  to  be  opened  in  the  town. 

Oct.  14.  The  town  again  voted  they  would  not  impower  the 
present  General  Court  to  form  and  establish  a  Constitution  of 
Government  for  the  State. 

After  accepting  the  report  of  the  Committee  of  Nine,  chosen 
above,  whatever  it  was,  they  voted  an  approval  of  the  Resolves  of 
the  town  of  Stoughton  relative  to  the  manner  of  proceeding  in 
forming  a  Constitution  of  Government. 

The  Resolves  of  the  town  of  Stoughton  are  as  follows,  and  for 
a  transcript,  from  which  they  are  a  copy,  I  am  indebted  to  the 
kindness  of  Henry  C.  Kimball,  the  Clerk  of  that  town: 

We  the  Subscribers  being  chosen,  by  this  town,  at  a  Town  Meeting  legally 
assembled  at  Stoughton  on  the  30th.  of  September  last,  a  Committee  to  draft 
a  vote  upon  an  article  in  ye  Town  Warrant  respecting  Choosing  the  Present 
General  Court  to  form  a  Plan  of  Government  for  the  State,  have  attended 
that  service  and  beg  leave  to  report  the  Following  Resolutions,  viz : — 

1.  Resolved,  that  Good  Government  is  the  Basis  of  Liberty  and  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  ye  safety  and  well  fare  of  a  poeple. 

2.  Resolved,  that,  as  the  End  of  Government  is  ye  happiness  of  ye  poe- 


1776.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  349 


pie,  so  ye  sole  power  and  right  of  forming  and  establishing  a  Plan  thereof 
is  Essentially  in  the  poeple. 

3.  Resolved,  that,  as  this  State  [is]  at  present  Destitute  of  a  fixed  and 
Established  form  of  Government,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  one  be  im- 
mediately formed  and  Established,  agreeable  to  the  Recommendations  of 
the  Grand  Congress. 

4.  Resolved,  that,  as  the  present  House  of  Representatives  have  passed  a 
Resolve  to  see  if  the  several  Towns  in  this  State  would  Empower  them  the 
sd  House,  together  with  the  Council,  to  enact  a  form  of  Government  for 
this  State,  it  appears  to  us  unadvisable  and  irrational  and  a  measure  that 
ought  not,  by  any  means,  to  be  complied  with,  for  these  reasons,  viz: — 
that  we  are  totally  unacquainted  with  the  capacities  and  Patriotism  and 
Characters  of  ye  members  that  compose  the  sd  House  and  Council,  Except- 
ing our  own  members;  also  because  they  were  never  elected  by  the  poeple 
for  that  purpose  and  also  because  the  present  Embarrassed  state  of  our 
public  affairs  calls  for  the  steady  attention  of  every  member  of  sd  House. 

5.  Resolved,  that  it  is  the  Duty  and  Interest  of  this  Town  immediately  to 
Choose  one  or  more  members  to  join  with  the  members  of  the  other  Towns 
in  this  State  to  form  and  publish  a  plan  of  Government  for  said  State. 

6.  Resolved,  that  in  order  to  Carry  the  aforegoing  resolution  into  execu- 
tion as  soon  as  the  importance  of  ye  matter  may  admit,  it  appears  to  us 
best  that  the  members  of  the  several  towns  in  each  county  in  this  State, 
chosen  for  the  Express  purpose  aforesaid,  should  meet  together  in  County 
Conventions  and  when  so  met  should  draft  a  form  of  Government  for  ye 
whole  State.  Then  that  the  members  of  the  several  Towns  of  this  State 
should  meet  together  by  themselves,  or  by  their  Committees  in  a  State 
Convention  or  Congress  and  compare  the  several  forms  of  Government 
together  whereby  the  wisdom  of  the  whole  State  may  be  collected  and  a 
form  of  Government  may  be  extracted. 

7.  Resolved,  that  it  appears  to  us  absolutely  necessary  for  the  Liberty 
and  Safety  of  the  State  that  the  Plan  of  Government  when  formed  and 
published  should  not  be  Established  till  the  Poeple  of  this  State  have  had 
time  and  opportunity  of  thoroughly  examining  the  same  and  consent  that 
it  be  established  by  the  said  State  Convention  or  Congress.  All  which  is 
humbly  submitted  by  us. 

John  Kenny,  1 

Chrisr  Wadsworth,  I 
Jonathan  Capen,       [  Committee. 
Abner  Crane, 
Elijah  Dunbar.        J 
Stoughton  Oct.  y«  2.  1776. 

On  motion  made  that  the  foregoing  Report  be  published  in  the  Public 
newspapers,  it  was  then  voted  in  ye  affirmative,  Nomine  Contradicente 
Attest,     Theophtlus  Lyon,  Town  Clerk,  pro.  tern. 
A  true  Copy  from  the  Records  of  the  Town  of  Stoughton. 

Attest,     Henry  C.  Kimball,  Town  Clerk. 
Stoughton,  Aug.  9.  1875. 


350  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

As  near  as  can  be  ascertained  the  three  months  men  recorded 
on  page  340,  remained  in  the  service  until  January  1776,  when, 
upon  a  new  call  for  4,308  men,  the  quota  for  Mendon  was  thirty- 
three  for  three  months.  In  June  another  call  was  made  for 
1,136  men,  and  the  quota  for  Mendon  was  set  down  at  forty 
for  eight  months.  The  names  of  these  last  quotas  are  not  found, 
as  the  muster  rolls  at  the  State  House  have  been  mislaid  or  lost. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1775,-  it  seems  that  there 
had  been  an  election  of  field  officers  in  the  3d  regiment  of  the 
militia,  and  that  the  election  of  Joseph  Chapin  as  Lieut.  Colonel 
and  Caleb  Whiting  as  second  Major,  of  Uxbridge,  had  given 
rise  to  great  dissatisfaction,  and,  at  last,  resulting  in  the  follow- 
ing appeal  to  the  General  Court: 

Revolutionary  Resolves,  Vol.  209,  p.  168,  et  sequitur. 

The  Petition,  address  and  Remonstrance  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Uxbridge,  assembled  this  8th.  day  of  February  1776, 
at  the  House  of  Ezekiel  Wood,  Innholder,  in  said  Uxbridge  at  the  desire 
of  Col.  Wood. 

To  the  Honorable  Council  and  Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  now  sitting  at  Watertown,  We  Humbly  and  Dutifully 
beg  Leave  to  Lay  before  you  our  unhappy  Situation  Respecting  the  affair 
of  Field  Officers  for  the  Regiment  we  belong  to  and  to  acquaint  you  with 
matters  of  fact  Respecting  the  same.  About  the  19th.  of  October  Last,  a 
few  of  the  Officers  met  at  Mendon  and  went  to  Col.  Wheelock  and  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  Give  out  a  Notification  to  assemble  all  the  Officers  of  the 
Regiment.  First:  At  Mendon  at  one  side  of  the  Regiment.  2udly.  Sd 
Notification  artfully  drawn  for  the  Col.  to  Sign,  Not  setting  forth  one 
word,  what  the  business  of  the  day  was  to  be,  but  in  a  private  way  inform 
Some  So  that  their  Clamor  Gave  Strength  to  the  Designing  party.  3dly. 
And,  in  order  to  carry  their  pint  first,  past  a  previous  vote  that  he  that  had 
the  most  votes  Should  be  the  person  to  be  Recommended  Whether  he 
had  one  quarter  of  the  votes  or  not.  4thly.  The  Notification  was  not  dis- 
covered to  Some  of  the  officers  till  it  was  time  to  set  out  for  Mendon,  for 
fear  the  minds  of  their  constituents  would  be  had ;  and  it  is  easy  to  see  that 
a  few  Designing  persons  beginning,  and  being  Kerful  to  admit  none  but 
their  own  Seek,  by  taking  a  few  at  first  and  Gradually  Growing  Larger 
may  prevail  upon  a  large  body  at  Last  and  Get  the  Greater  part  to  Lean 
that  way.  If  both  branches  of  the  Honourable  Court  have  put  in  the 
Officers  without  their  works  of  Recommendation  and  it  had  been  Never  So 
mortifying  we  should  have  endeavored  to  have  been  Submissive  and  Duti- 
ful under  it  and  with  all  Submission  we  humbly  beg  Leave  to  have  the 
Man  Commissioned  from  Uxbridge,  which  the  Court  has  appointed,  whome 
we  understand  is  Capt.  Joseph  Chapin.     If  that  is  denied  we  pray  that  the 


1776.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  351 

Town  may  have  Liberty,  by  your  direction,  and  so  have  a  fuller  attendance 
and  Recommend  one  to  be  Commissioned — if  that  is  denied  we  humbly 
pray  we  may  be  Laid  to  the  Regiment  that  Sutton  belongs  to,  and  so 
be  separated  from  Mendon,  tbe  cause  of  all  our  Difficulty,  together  with 
two  of  our  pretended  Officers  who  were  Chose  only  for  one  year,  which 
time  expired  Long  ago,  and  we  wholly  Disown  them  and  the  hand  bill 
Sent  to  our  Town  for  a  new  Choice  wholly  secreted. 

These  matters  we  suppose  to  be  the  cause  why  the  Men  Lately  sent  for 
Did  not  Go,  but  if  our  humble  Petition  Can  be  Graciously  Received  and 
we  Relieved.  Send  a  new  order  for  the  Men,  that  was  last  sent  for  and  you 
shall  have  them  immediately.  When  the  Last  men  were  marched  out  of 
Uxbridge,  which  through  a  mistake  was  double  our  Shair,  our  two  pre- 
tended abovesaid  officers  followed  the  Drum  and  used  their  influence  and 
could  prevail  upon  but  [one]  person  to  Go  with  them,  but  when  Capt.  Cha- 
pin,  whose  Sircumstances  would  not  allow  him  to  be  Gone  from  home, 
was  desired  to  turn  out  the  men  to  there  full  Number  followed  him  Im- 
mediately. Respecting  the  man  in  Uxbridge  that  they  Recommended,  we 
humbly  refer  your  Honours  to  Many  of  your  brethering  who  are  members 
of  the  House  which  belong  Nither  to  Mendon  or  Uxbridge  who  attended 
the  County  Convention  and  heard  what  he  had  to  offer,  if  they  have  forgot 
we  will  send  you  matters  of  fact  Respecting  the  affair.  If  we  are  laid  to 
Sutton,  officer  or  no  officer,  we  will  be  Content  if  you  cannot  be  persuaded 
to  relieve  us  no  way,  which  [is]  as  Reasonable  as  any  petition  that  Ever 
went  from  North  America  to  Great  Britain,  then  with  the  same  Reluctancy 
that  they  Contend  with  Briton,  we  must  with  Sorrow  and  Grief  inform 
you  that  Nothing  is  to  be  Expected  from  us  but  a  passive  obedience  and 
Non  Resistance. 

Signed  by  Ezekiel  Wood  and  62  others. 

COUNTER   PETITION. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Council  and  Honourable  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives for  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  General  Court  assem- 
bled:— 

We  the  subscribers,  Members  of  the  Third  Regiment  in  the  County  of 
Worcester  once  more  crave  your  Honour's  indulgence  to  lay  before  you  the 
present  unsettled  and  unhappy  State  of  our  Regiment  &  pray  that  you  will 
kindly  exert  the  power  and  authority  we  acknowledge  to  be  vested  in  you, 
to  restore  that  Peace  and  Harmony  among  the  Regiment  with  Regard  to 
Field  Officers,  which  we  earnestly  wish  to  enjoy.  We  humbly  hope  that 
your  Honours  will  not  impute  it  to  a  turbulent,  factious  disposition  that 
we  thus  petition  you:  Such  is  the  Difficulty  if  not  impossibility  of  settling 
the  Regiment  in  Peace  and  Quietness  under  the  present  arrangement  of 
Field  Officers  and  such  the  Exigency  of  the  times  and  Necessity  of  every 
Regiment  being  in  the  best  Posture  for  action  and  Defence,  that  we  find 
ourselves  under  the  disagreeable  Necessity  of  doing  what,  in  ordinary 
times,  might  be  deemed  a  violation  of  the  Rules  of  Decency,  viz:— A  Peti- 


352  ANNALS  OF  MEN  DON.  [1776. 

tioning  for  an  Alteration  in  the  Appointment  of  Field  Officers  for  said 
Regiment  even  after  Commissions  are  made  out.  We  beg  your  Honours 
would  permit  us  speak  our  sentiments  freely — we  mean  to  do  it  with  De- 
cency. The  poeple  of  Uxbridge  in  the  last  remonstrance  which  they  sent 
into  the  Court  against  the  proceedings  of  the  Regiment  had  the  assurance 
to  assert  that  all  the  uneasiness  in  the  Regiment  arose  from  the  poeple  of 
Mendon  and  one  or  two  pretended  Officers  in  Uxbridge,  which  (to  say  the 
best  of  it)  is  a  barefaced  misrepresentation.  The  truth  is  a  little  knot  of 
Poeple  in  Uxbridge  who,  for  years  past,  have  been  notorious  for  party 
spirit  in  Town  affairs,  and  the  set  of  poeple,  actuated  by  the  same  Spirit, 
affect  to  take  the  lead  in  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  Regiment.  When 
the  Militia  Officers  of  the  Regiment  first  met  for  the  purpose  of  Recom- 
mending to  your  Honours  such  persons  as  they  judged  best  qualified  for 
Field  Officers,  these  were  the  poeple  who  began  the  opposition  and  took  it 
upon  themselves  to  nominate  persons  according  to  their  own  humour. 
And  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Honble.  General  Assembly  have  paid  so 
much  Attention  to  them,  (we  think  more  than  they  merit)  while  the  repeated 
petitions  and  general  voice  of  the  Regiment  has  been  disregarded.  We  will 
not  however  tell  your  Honours  as  the  above  said  Remonstrants  (we  think 
indecently)  did,  viz:  That  unless  you  think  proper  to  gratify  us  in  this, 
that  and  the  other  particular,  that  nothing  is  to  be  expected  but  passive 
Obedience  and  non  resistance,  yet  we  are  constrained  to  say,  that  while  we 
possess  the  True  Spirit  and  Liberal  Sentiments  of  Englishmen,  we  can 
never  contentedly  submit  to  be  led  and  governed  by  a  junta  of  sixty  six, 
which  is  about  the  fourteenth  part  of  the  Regiment.  We  think  we 
merit  as  well  of  the  Public  as  the  persons  who  oppose  us;  we  have 
been  always  ready  to  risk  our  lives  and  Fortunes  for  its  defence  in  the 
present  dispute.  We  even  vie  with  the  most  zealous  in  this  matter  which 
our  ready  obedience  to  the  Requisitions'  of  the  Honorable  Court  and  large 
drafts  of  our  men,  now  in  the  field,  clearly  demonstrate,  which  our  Neigh- 
bours, who  would  fain  be  thought  so  high  in  the  cause  of  Liberty,  have 
been  greatly  deficient  in  furnishing  their  Quota  of  Men  for  the  Public  Ser- 
vice at  a  time  when  they  were  greatly  needed.  As  we  are  well  acquainted 
with  the  Character  and  Abilities  of  Gentlemen  in  our  own  Regiment,  we 
recommended  those  to  your  Honours,  at  first,  of  whose  attachment  to  the 
General  Cause  of  Liberty  we  have  the  most  assured  confidence,  and  in 
whose  Military  Abilities  &  Accomplishments  we  are  entirely  satisfied,  and 
who,  all  things  considered,  we  must  believe  are  the  most  suitable  Persons 
to  fill  the  several  Departments  to  which  they  were  recommended.  We  still 
hope  your  Honours  will  be  disposed  to  gratify  the  Regiment  in  this  Regard, 
as  we 'doubt  not  your  wisdom  will  enable  you  to  do  it  in  a  way  consistent 
with  your  own  Dignity.  If  your  Honours  still  remain  unsatisfied  with  our 
Representations  of  these,  we  would  beg  this  favour  viz: — That  your  Hon- 
ours would  appoint  a  Committee  of  Gentlemen  from  some  other  County, 
with  orders  to  convene  either  the  officers  of  the  Regiment  or  the  whole 
Regiment  as  may  be  thought  most  proper,  in  order  to  satisfy  yourselves 


17 76.  J  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  353 

more  fully  in  Regard  to  its  true  State;  or  that  your  Honours,  in  your  great 
wisdom,  would  devise  some  other  way  and  means  to  restore  peace  and  har- 
mony to  the  Regiment.     And  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 
March  15.  1776. 

Signed  by  John  Albce  and  630  others  of  the  Regiment. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  May  3.  1776. 
Read  and  referred  to  Brigadier  Godfrey  and  Deacon  Stickney  with  such 
as  the  Honorbl  Board  shall  join. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence, 

Samuel  Freeman,  Speaker  pro  tern. 
In  Council  May  4.  1776. 
Read  and  Concurred  and  Edad  Taylor  Esq.  is  joined. 

Perez  Morton,  Dep.  Secy. 

The  Committee  above  mentioned  forthwith  made  the  following  Report. 

The  Committee  of  both  Houses  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
foregoing  Petition  beg  leave  that  they  are  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  ex- 
pedient that  a  Committee  of  both  Houses  be  appointed  to  repair  to  Mendon 
before  the  next  meeting  of  the  General  Court  and  hear  the  Petitioners  upon 
the  subject  matter  of  their  Petition  and  that  they  take  such  measures  as 
shall  appear  to  them  most  salutary  to  Restore  to  the  Third  Regiment  in  the 
County  of  Worcester  that  Peace  &  Harmony  which  is  necessary  at  all  times 
and  more  especially  at  this  time,  when  the  aid  of  every  member  of  this 
Community  is  needed  to  repel  the  force  of  our  enemies.  The  said  Com- 
mittee to  make  a  Report  of  their  doings  herein  on  the  Second  day  of  the 
next  Session  of  the  General  Court. 

All  which  is  humbly  Submitted 

Eldad  Taylor,  pr.  ord. 
In  Council  May  4.  1776. 
Read  and  Accepted  and  Ordered  that  Jabez  Fisher,  with  such  as  the 
Honorable  House  shall  join  be  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  mentioned  in 
the  above  Report. 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence 

Perez  Morton,  Dep.  Sec. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  May  4,  1776. 
Read  and  Concurred  &  Josiah  Stone  and  Stephen  Metcalf  Esq.  are  joined. 

J.  Warren,  Speaker. 

REPORT   OF   THE   COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  of  both  Houses  appointed  at  the  last  Session  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  repair  to  the  Town  of  Mendon  to  hear  a  number  of  Petition- 
ers on  the  subject  matter  of  their  Petition,  Having  attended  to  that  service 
Beg  leave  to  Report. 

Notice  being  given  to  the  Petitioners  and  all  others  concerned  in  the 
Regiment  of  our  appointment  and  the  Order  of  Court  respecting  the  same, 
two  Committees  from  the  Company  in  the  Town  of  Uxbridge  and  a  Com- 
mittee from  each  of  the  other  seven  companies  in  the  Regiment  were  pres- 

45 


354  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

cnt  before  your  Committee  and  were  severally  heard  fully ;  after  which  it 
appeared  to  your  Committee  that  six  of  said  Companies  and,  at  least,  one 
half  of  the  Company  in  Uxbridge  appeared  much  dissatisfied  with  ye  ap- 
pointment of  Mr.  Joseph  Chapin  for  Lieut.  Colonel  and  Mr.  Caleb  Whiting 
for  Second  Major  in  said  Regiment,  who  were  recommended  without  the 
knowledge  and  contrary  to  the  inclination  of  said  Regiment. 

The  Officers  had  met  and  agreed  to  recommend  Capt.  Nathan  Tyler  for 
Lieut.  Col.  &  Ezra  Whiting  Esq.  for  Second  Major,  which  they  appeared 
to  be  highly  in  favor  of.  The  other  part  of  the  Company  in  Uxbridge 
appeared  well  pleased  with  the  appointment  of  Messrs.  Chapin  and  Whiting 
and  doubtless  will  be  uneasy  should  their  appointment  be  superseded. 
The  remaining  eighth  company,  being  the  South  Company  in  Douglass,  it 
appeared  to  your  Committee  that  they  were  somewhat  divided  but  not 
strenuous.  This  being  the  state  of  the  facts,  as  near  as  your  Committee 
have  been  able  to  collect  and  there  being  more  than  seven  to  one  dissatisfied 
with  the  present  appointment  of  Lt.  Col.  and  2nd  Major,  your  Committee 
are  humbly  of  opinion  that  the  most  likely  method  to  restore  harmony  to 
the  Regiment  will  be  to  indulge  the  petitioners  with  a  new  appointment 
of  Lt.  Col.  and  2d  Major  agreeable  to  their  request,  and  in  case  that  part 
of  the  Company  in  Uxbridge  who  are  against  a  new  appointment,  should 
renew  their  request  to  be  joined  to  the  Regiment  to  which  Sutton  belongs, 
that  they  be  indulged  in  that  request  and  be  joined  accordingly. 
All  which  is  humbly  submitted 

Jabez  Fisher,  pr.  order. 

In  Council  June  4.  1776. 

Read  and  sent  down, 

John  Lowell  Depy.  Secy.  P.  T. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  June  5  1776, 

Read  &  accepted  &  sent  up  for  concurrence, 

J.  Warren,  Speaker. 
In  Council  June  6,  1776. 

Read  &  Concurred  by  15  of  the  Council. 

John  Lowell,  Depy.  Secy.  P.  T. 

From  Barry's  History  of  Massachusetts,  Vol.  3,  p.  122,  we 
learn  that  from  June  10th  to  the  17th,  privateers  from  Marble- 
head  and  elsewhere,  had  captured  four  or  five  transport  ships, 
from  England  and  Scotland,  each  having  on  board  from  eighty 
to  one  hundred  Highlanders.  Soon  after  this  we  find  some 
Highlanders  were  sent  to  Mendon  on  parole,  and,  quite  proba- 
bly, they  were  a  portion  of  those  who  had  recently  been  captured 
at  sea,  as  there  had  been  no  battle  on  the  land  where  they  could 
have  been  made  prisoners. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  Massachusetts  Archives  and 


1776.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  355 

Letters  will  furnish,  if  nothing  more,  an  amusing  account  of 
their  stay  in  Mention: 

Revolution  Council  Papers  (Mass.  Archives),  Vol.  1G5,  p.  22. 

COLONY    OF    MASSACHUSETTS    BAY. 

Council  Chamber,  June  20,  1776, 
Ordered  that  Colin  McKenzie,  Colin  McKenzie,  Peter  Fraser,  Colin  Mc- 
Kenzie,  Alexr  McTavish,  Dngald  Campbell  and  Donald  McBean;>  Officers 
belonging  to  the  Highland  Regiment  which  have  lately  been  made  prison- 
ers of  war  by  the  Forces  of  the  United  Colonies  in  North  America,  be  put 
under  the  parole  agreed  upon  this  day  by  the  Council  and  that  they  shall 
be  destined  to  the  Town  of  Mendon,  in  the  County  of  Worcester  there  to 
remain,  or  within  six  miles  of  the  place  agreed  upon  for  their  residence  in 
said  town  during  the  present  war  between  Great  Britain  and  said  Colonies, 
or  until  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  or  the  Assembly  or  Council  of 
the  said  Colony  of  Massachusetts  shall  order  otherwise;  and  that  each  of 
said  Officers  shall  have  liberty  to  take  one  servant  with  him,  who  shall  be 
under  the  same  restrictions  as  the  Officers.  Each  officer  to  be  accountable 
for  the  conduct  of  his  servant. 

John  Lowell,  Depy.  Se<;y.  P.  T. 

Watertown  June  20.  1776. 
Gentlemen 

The  Council  have  ordered  seven  officers,  lately  taken  prisoners  by 
the  American  Forces,  to  the  Town  of  Mendon,  there  to  reside  till  further 
order.  You  are  therefore  directed  to  afford  said  Officers  your  aid  and  as- 
sistance in  procuring  them  some  suitable  lodgings.  We  enclose  you  the 
Resolves  of  Congress  respecting  Prisoners  by  which  you  will  find  that  such 
as  are  officers  are  to  supply  themselves  and  are  allowed  to  draw  bills  to  pay 
for  their  subsistence  and  clothing. 

In  the  Name  and  by  the  Order  of  the  Council. 

Council  Chamber  June  20.  1776. 

Ordered  that  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  be  and  hereby  is  di- 
rected to  employ  some  proper  persons  to  conduct  the  Officers,  lately  taken 
prisoners  of  War  by  the  American  Forces,  to  the  several  towns  to  which 
they  are  destined. 

John  Lowell  Dep.  Secy.  P.  T. 

terms  of  the  parole. 

We  Capt.  Colin  McKenzie,  Lieut.  Colin  McKenzie,  Ens.  Peter  Frazer, 
Colin  McKenzie,  Alexr  McTavish,  Dugald  Campbell  and  Donald  McBean, 
volunteers  in  the  71st.  Regiment  of  Highlanders,  being  made  Prisoners  of 
War  by  the  Forces  of  the  Thirteen  United  Colonies  in  North  America,  do 
promise  and  engage  on  our  Words  and  Honors  and  on  the  Faith  of  Gentle- 
men to  depart  from  hence  to  Mendon,  in  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  and  to  remain  there  or  within  six  miles  of  the  place  of  our  residence 


356  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

in  said  Town  during  the  present  War  between  Great  Britain  and  the  said 
United  Colonies,  or  until  the  Congress  of  the  said  United  Colonies  or  the 
Assembly  or  Council  of  the  said  Colony  shall  order  otherwise :  and  that  we 
will  not,  directly  or  indirectly  give  any  intelligence  whatever  to  the  enemies 
of  the  United  Colonies,  or  do  or  say  any  thing  in  opposition  to  or  in  preju- 
dice of  the  measures  and  proceedings  of  any  Congress  for  the  said  Colonies, 
during  the  present  troubles,  or  until  we  are  duly  exchanged  or  discharged. 
And  each  of  us  engage  that  our  servants,  being  under  the  same  restric- 
tions by  Order  of  the  Council,  as  we  ourselves  are,  shall  severally  observe 
the  same. 
Given  under  our  hands  this  twenty  second  day  of  June  A.  D.  1776. 

Colin  McKenzie,  Captain, 
Colin  McKenzie,  Lieut., 
Peter  Fraser,  Ensign, 
Colin  McKenzie,  Volunteer, 
Alexr  McTavish,  Volunteer, 
Dugald  Campbell,  Volunteer, 
Donald  McBean,  Volunteer. 

Revolutionary  Letters,  Mass.  Archives,  vol.  195,  p.  193. 

Mendon  20th.  of  August  1776. 

Sir, 
Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Scotch  Officers  to  this  Town,  pursuant  to 
the  Orders  of  the  Honbie  Board,  we  wrote  a  few  lines  to  your  Honor  request- 
ing a  solution  of  certain  cpiestions  relative  to  the  manner  of  conducting 
ourselves  with  Regard  to  said  Officers  and  their  Servants.  One  of  the  Se- 
lectmen was  ordered  to  sign  said  Letter  in  the  name  of  the  rest,  but,  it 
seems,  inadvertently  omitted  it,  and  which,  we  suppose  might  be  the  reason 
of  our  not  being  favoured  with  an  answer,  and  by  way  of  excuse  that  we 
were  not  apprized  of  the  abovementioned  omission  (at  least  most  of  us)  till 
a  few  hours  ago.  And  as  the  same  difficulty  still  remains  on  our  minds  we 
are  under  a  Necessity  of  troubling  your  Honor  with  another  Epistle  on  the 
subject. 

As  we  observed  in  our  former  Letter  there  are  two  large  Roads  pass 
through  this  Town,  one  leading  from  Worcester  to  Providence  R,  I.,  the 
other  from  New  York  and  Connecticut  to  Boston.  The  latter  of  these  has 
for  many  years  been  called  the  Middle  Post  Road.  Now  these  Officers,  at 
least  some  of  them,  are  desirous  of  boarding  in  the  center  of  the  Town, 
where  these  roads  intersect  each  other.  The  Selectmen  were  not  willing  to 
gratify  them  in  this  request,  thinking  it  would  not  be  altogether  agreeable 
to  the  Spirit  of  the  Resolves  of  Congress.  The  Officers  take  it  as  an 
abridgement  of  the  Liberty  granted  them  and  insist  that  have  a  right  to 
board  where  they  like,  in  any  part  of  the  town.  We  beg  to  be  instructed 
in  this  matter.  Another  difficulty  lias  arisen  with  regard  to  these  Officers- 
Servants  or  Waiters.  They  have  brought  five  men  servants  and  two  women, 
wives,  they  say,  to  two  of  their  men  servants.     The  Resolves  of  Congress 


1776.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON. 


357 


make  no  provision  for  Servants,  nor  did  your  Honor  mention  anything 
concerning  them  in  your  Letter  to  the  Selectmen.  The  officers  refuse  to 
pay  for  their  board  and  we  cannot  find  any  one  willing  to  trust  to  any  other 
pay.  A  Difference  having  arisen  between  one  of  said  Officers  and  his  Ser- 
vant, the  Officer  has  left  the  house  where  he  used  to  board  and  left  his 
servant  behind,  refusing  to  pay  his  board.  The  Entertainer,  to  secure  his 
pay,  detains  the  Officer's  Trunk  and  part  of  his  clothing.  We  must  entreat 
your  Honor  to  explain  our  Duty  to  us  in  these  matters. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest,  your  Honor's  most  Obedient,  humble  servant, 

Peter  Penniman,  in  the  Name  and  by 
Order  of  the  Selectmen. 

This  letter  was  undoubtedly  directed  to  John  Lowell,  Dep. 
Sec.  P.  T.  of  the  Council.  Rec.  Council  Papers,  (Mass  Ar- 
chives) vol.  165,  p.  143. 

The  following  order  was  passed  upon  the  reception  of  a  letter 
(the  first  one  lost)  from  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon. 

Council  Chamber,  Aug.  23,  1776. 

The  Board  thinking  it  proper  that  the  Officers,  viz:  Colin  McKenzie, 
Capt.,  Colin  McKenzie,  Lieut.,  Peter  Frazer,  Ensign,. and  Colin  McKenzie, 
Alexr  McTarish,  Dugald  Campbell  and  Donald  McBean,  Volunteers,  with 
their  Servants,  Prisioners  of  War,  who  were  sent  to  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
in  the  County  of  Worcester,  should  be  removed  to  the  Town  of  Grafton  in 
said  County. 

Ordered  that  the  Sheriff  of  the  aforesaid  County  be  directed,  Immedi- 
ately, to  remove  the  said  Officers  and  their  Servants,  except  the  one  who 
has  been  dismissed,  to  the  said  Town  of  Grafton  and  deliver  them  to  the 
care  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Inspection ;  and  he  is  further  Ordered 
to  deliver  to  said  Officers  their  Parole  for  their  residence  in  Mendon  upon 
their  signing  a  like  Parole  for  their  tarrying  in  Grafton. 

For  some  reason,  which  does  ndt  appear,  the  order  failed  to 
reach  the  Sheriff,  as  will  appear  by  the  following: 
Rec.  Letters  (Mass.  Ar.)  vol.  205,  p.  353. 

Mendon  Nov.  13.  1776. 
Sir, 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  &c.  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  have 
reed,  a  Letter  from  the  Honble  Council  of  this  State  informing  us  that  they 
have  ordered  your  Honor  to  remove  all  the  Prisioners  in  Mendon  to  the 
Town  of  Grafton,  and  the  Committee  have  been  waiting  impatiently  for 
their  removal,  for  the  following  reasons,  that  is  that  they  have  got  ac- 
quainted with  all  parts  of  the  town,  or  the  people  in  all  parts  of  it;  and  some 
persons  in  said  town,  seem  to  favour  their  cause,  and  further  persons  from 
different  Neighboring  Towns  come  lurking  round  them,  for  what  reason 
we  are  not  able,  at  this  time,  to  assign,  but  we  believe  for  no  good  intent. 


Committee  of  Correspondence, 

Inspection  and 

Safety, 

For  the  Town 


358  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

and  we  think  it  best  for  the  Good  and  Safety  of  the  State  that  they  be  re- 
moved from  this  Town  immediately,  to  some  other  Town.  In  so  doing 
you  will  oblige  yrs,  &c.  , 

John  Tyler, 

JOS.   GlBBS, 

John  Albee, 
Gideon  Albee, 

Henry  Benson,  j  of  Mendon. 

To  Simeon  Dwight,  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Worcester,  Dlr.  these. 

Western  Nov.  16,  1776.    ■ 

To  the  Honble  Council  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay: 

I  send  you  Inclosed 
a  letter  I  received  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  &c.  &c.  of  the 
Town  of  Mendon  wherein  your  Honors  may  observe  that  they  Inform  me 
that  your  Honors  have  Informed  them,  by  a  letter,  that  you  have  ordered 
me  to  remove  the  Prisoners  in  Mendon  &c. 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  your  Honors  that  I  have  received  no  such  Order, 
but  shall  be  ready  to  obey  when  I  shall  receive  it. 

I  am  your  Honor's  most  Obedient  and  most  Humble  Servant. 

Simeon  Dwight. 

Rec.  Council  Papers  (Mass.  Ar.)  vol.  166,  p.  12. 

Gentlemen 

I  take  the  liberty  of  appealing  to  your  justice  from  the  Ignorance 
and  Brutality  of  the  Committee  and  Selectmen  of  this  Town  which  have 
reduced  the  British  Prisoners  on  their  Parole  here  to  a  situation  which 
(to  borrow  an  expression  of  your  late  proclamation)  is  less  a  favor  than  the 
Grave.  Notwithstanding  our  utmost  endeavours  to  live  on  good  terms  with 
the  people  we  have  been  constantly  insulted  from  the  very  day  of  our  ar- 
rival. Their  threats  of  Assassination  we  have  overlooked  as  the  least 
considerable  in  the  whole  Catalogue  of  our  Grievances,  the  idea  of  Death 
being  familiar  to  Soldiers.  We  have  been  restricted  to  houses  unfit  to  pro- 
vide for  us  and  to  bounds  far  narrower  than  those  prescribed  by  Congress. 
I  do  not  mean  to  involve  all  the  Inhabitants  in  an  indiscriminate  censure. 
Some  few  there  are  of  a  more  ingenuous  nature,  but  they  must  be  cautious 
of  showing  any  symptoms  of  sympathy,  unless  they  choose  to  be  branded 
as  Enemies  of  America.  It  is  the- conduct  of  our  Prosecutors  which  mil- 
itates, in  every  view,  against  the  cause  they  pretend  to  support. 

One  of  our  Gentlemen  was  sent  to  jail  the  other  day  for  saying,  if  he 
was  clear  of  his  parole  and  at  the  head  of  a  thousand  Tories  and  four  hun- 
dred Highlanders  that  he  thought  he  could  force  his  way  to  a  sea  port ;  and 
even  this  expression  (which  never  can  be  construed  into  a  breach  of  his 
parole)  he  was  provoked  to  by  the  most  indecent  reflections  on  the  Brit- 
ish Troops.  Two  soldiers  were  imprisoned  at  the  same  time  for  Crimes  too 
trifling  to  be  mentioned.  Another  of  our  Gentlemen  had  a  narrow  escape, 
having  been  accused  of  saying  that  he  held  fast  his  integrity  and  I  was  on 


177().  |  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  359 

the  Briuk  of  being  brought  to  Trouble  for  threatening  to  set  the  North 
River  on  Fire.     Such  are  our  judges!     May  they  never  be  so  judged. 

A  jail,  such  as  the  British  jail  at  Quebec  has  been  described  to  me  by 
American  prisoners,  who  have  passed  some  time  there,  were  a  welcome 
Asylum  to  the  miseries  we  feel ;  but  Worcester  Jail  is  only  another  name 
for  Horror!  A  wretched  pittance  of  the  most  wretched  provisions,  a  total 
want  of  fire,  bedding  and  every  other  comfort  and  deprivation,  in  some 
degree,  of  the  blessed  light  of  heaven,  constitute  only  the  most  tolerable 
part  of  the  accumulated  calamities  of  those  unhappy  men  who  are  on  the 
Brink  of  falling  victims  to  Barbarity  in  that  Mansion  of  Despair.  Reflect, 
Gentlemen,  how  hard  such  usage  as  we  meet  must  bear  on  men  fostered  in 
the  bosom  of  British  Liberty.  That  you  are  ignorant  of  our  sufferings,  I 
firmly  believe,  nor  is  it  to  be  supposed  you  could  bear  the  thoughts  of  ad- 
dressing the  All  Seeing  Deity,  on  the  approaching  occasion*  under  the  con- 
sciousness of  so  enormous  a  Breach  of  the  Laws  of  God  and  Dictates  of 
Humanity!  We  seek  not  to  interest  your  passions — we  implore  not  your 
Pity,  but  we  appeal  to  your  Justice — from  that  we  expect  an  immediate 
alleviation  of  our  Hardships. 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be  with  all  due  Respect, 
Gentlemen 

Your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  Servant, 

Colin  McKenzie,  Capt. 
in  the  71st  Regt  Foot. 
Mendon,  Nov.  3,  1776.     The  Pres.  &  Council. 

Memorandum  RecM  by  the  Ticonderoga  Post,  Dec.  16,  1776. 

State  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

Council  Chamber,  Dec.  17,  1776. 
Ordered  that  the  Secretary  be  and  he  is  hereby  directed  to  serve  the  Se- 
lectmen and  Committee  of  Correspondence  &c.  for  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
with  an  attested  copy  of  a  letter,  now  before  the  Board,  signed  by  Colin 
McKenzie,  Captain  in  the  71st  Reg.  of  Foot  dated  Dec.  3,  1776  and  also  a 
Copy  of  this  Order,  and  said  Selectmen  and  Committee  are  hereby  directed, 
immediately,  to  make  answer  to  this  Board  to  the  contents  of  said  Letter. 

Although  nothing  was  found  in  the  State  Archives  at  Boston 
of  the  doings  of  the  Council  upon  the  appearance  of  the  Select- 
men and  the  Committee,  still  it  is  presumed  a  hearing  was  had, 
as  may  be  inferred  by  the  following  letter. 

Rec.  Council  papers,  vol.  166,  p.  170. 

Gentlemen, 

I  yesterday  received  the  Honour  of  your  Letter  of  the  17th. 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  I  acknowledge  the  ready  Condescension  with  which 
you  have  considered  my  complaint  against  the  Selectmen  and  Committee 

♦Thanksgiving. 


360  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1776. 

of  this  place.  I  might  have  greatly  swelled  the  charge,  by  informing  you 
of  their  confining,  without  any  cause,  the  Master  of  a  Transport*  who 
came  here  to  visit  us,  and  sending  him  to  Boston,  under  a  Guard  of  their 
own  Members,  after  having  extorted  money  from  him  by  threatening  to 
commit  him  to  Worcester  Jail;  of  their  searching  the  country,  in  the  gen- 
uine spirit  of  the  Inquisition,  for  Women  whom  they  might  persuade  to 
swear  a  Rape  againt  uss;  of  their  assaulting  our  Lodgings  at  Midnight  with 
a  Mob ;  of  their  obliging  us  to  quit  a  house  in  which  we  were  civilly  treated 
for  that  of  a  Man  whom  they  knew  to  be  of  an  infamous  character  as  well 
as  to  have  constantly  discovered  a  particular  Inveterancy  against  us. 

These  and  some  further  particulars  of  the  same  kind  I  might  have  enu- 
merated, as  well  as  added  many  aggravating  circumstances;  but  I  confined 
myself  to  what  I  judged  sufficient  to  engage  your  Interposition  in  our  Fa- 
vour, and  which  we  seem  already  to  have  experienced  the  good  effects,  for 
we  have  lately  been  Enlarged  from  close  confinement  to  which  we  had  been 
hauled  away  from  our  Lodging  in  the  Night  Time  without  any  reason  as- 
signed for  such  usage.  We  have  also  obtained  a  privilege  of  which  we 
apprehend  neither  the  Congress  nor  you  ever  thought  of  depriving  us,  that 
of  choosing  our  own  Lodgings  in  which  we  have  yet  met  no  disturbance, 
so  that,  if  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  abstain  from  further  Injuries  we 
are  willing  to  forget  the  past. 

Indeed  I  never  meant  to  enter  into  any  contest  with  such  unreason- 
able Men,  much  less  to  trouble  you  with  calling  to  an  Account  Men  who 
seem  not  to  have  been  designed  by  Nature  for  accountable  beings.  Some 
of  the  Excesses,  they  would  have  us  believe,  they  were  compelled  to  by 
the  Inhabitants,  but  this  wretched  Apology  of  those  unhappy  men,  is  flatly 
contradicted  by  the  respectable  part  of  the  Inhabitants,  who  e'ntertain  too 
great  contempt  for  their  Meanness  and  Incapacity  to  countenance  their  Pro- 
ceedings. That  men  of  their  own  stamp  should  concur  in  their  Enormities 
is  natural  enough. 

I  now  take  the  liberty  of  soliciting  your  Honorable  Boards  Approbation 
and  concurrence  upon  a  proposal  which  has  just  been  made  to  me  from 
Capt.  Simeon  Thayer  of  the  Continental  Troops,  now  on  his  Parole  at 
Providence,  of  an  exchange  betwixt  him  and  me.  And  that  you  may  have 
no  further  Trouble  in  the  Transaction  I  beg  leave  to  propose  that  I  may  be 
permitted  to  go  to  Rhode  Island,  on  my  parole,  in  order  to  conclude  it.  If 
an  exchange  cannot  be  effected,  my  next  wish  is  to  be  sent  to  Rhode  Island, 
New  York  or  Halifax,  on  the  same  terms  on  which  so  many  American  Of- 
ficers have  been  dismissed  by  our  Generals.  Your  extending  this  indul- 
gence to  the  rest  of  the  Gentlemen  will  be  an  additional  obligation  on  all  of 
us  particularly  on 

Gentlemen 

Your  much  obliged  humble  Servant, 

Colin  McKenzie,  Capt.  17th  Regt.  Foot. 

Mendon,  Dec.  31,  1776. 

The  Honbie  President  and  Council. 

*Huc;h  Walker. 


1777.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  361 


The  following  extract  from  the  "Record  of  the  Boston  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety,  May  to  Nov. 
1776,"  now  (April,  1880,)  being  published  in  the  N".  E.  His.' and 
Gen.  Register,  will,  at  least,  settle  the  matter  that  Hugh  Walker 
and  the  Master  of  the  Transport,  mentioned  in  Capt.  McKen- 
zie's  letter,  was  the  same  person. 

Boston  Com.  of  Correspondence  &c.  p.  58. 

"  The  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety  for  the 
Town  of  Mendon,  acquaints  this  Committee  by  a  printing  on  file,  that  they 
had  sent  one  Hugh  Walker  to  this  Town,  who  was  taken  up  at  Mendon  as 
a  Stroller  &  corresponding  with  Capt.  McKenzie,  an  officer  placed  in  that 
Town  on  Parole — and  they  pray  that  proper  care  may  be  taken  of  him  by 
this  Committee. 

Mr-  Thomas  directed  to  order  said  Walker's  attendance  to-morrow  Even- 
ing at  this  place. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety, 
at  the  Council  Chamber,  September  24th. 

Mr-  Hugh  Walker  attended  according  to  order,  and,  being  inquired  of 
respecting  his  business  at  Mendon ;  he  assured  the  Committee  that  his  being 
in  that  Town  was  in  order  to  settle  an  Account  and  receive  a  balance  to  him 
from  Capt.  McKenzie.  Mr-  Walker  was  dismissed,  being  first  cautioned 
against  leaving  this  town  without  a  permit  for  his  doing  it  being  obtained 
from  this  Committee." 


1777.     In  Council  Jan.  8,  1777. 

The  above  Letter-  Read  and  Committed  to  Richard  Derby  Esq.,  to  con- 
sider the  same  and  report. 

John  Avery,  Depy.  Sec. 

State  of  Massachusetts, 

Council  Chamber,  Apr.  16,  1777. 
Ordered  that  Capt.  Colin  McKenzie  be  and  he  is  hereby  permitted  to  go  to 
New  York  to  procure  the  Liberation  of  Capt.  John  Johnson  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  detained  a  prisoner  aforesaid,  Giving  his 
Parole  and  engaging  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  obtain  the  exchange  or  return 
himself  within  five  weeks  from  the  date  hereof.  Said  Capt.  McKenzie  to 
go  with  Capt.  Thomas  Jenner  Carnes  to  the  Lines  at  or  near  New  York. 

State  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

Council  Chamber,  April  16,  1777. 
I,  Colin  McKenzie,  Captain  of  a  Company  in  the  71st  Regiment  of  Foot, 
a  prisoner,  being  permitted  to  depart  this  State,  by  the  Honble  Council  to 

46 


362  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1777. 

go  to  New  York  to  procure  the  exchange  of  John  Johnson,  Captain  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  giving  my  Parole  of  Honor  and  engaging  to 
do  all  in  my  power  to  procure  the  liberation  of  said  Johnson,  if  he  is  yet 
detained  as  a  prisoner  in  New  York,  if  not,  and  he  is  already  exchanged,  I 
promise  upon  my  Honor  to  procure  the  liberation  of  some  other  officer  of 
equal  rank  with  myself,  or  will  return  within  the  term  of  five  weeks  from 
the  date  hereof,  and  that  I  will  not  directly  or  indirectly  give  any  intelli- 
gence whatever  to  the  Enemies  of  the  United  States,  or  do  or  say  any  thing 
in  opposition  to  or  in  prejudice  of  the  Measures  and  proceedings  of  any 
Congress  or  Assemblies  for  the  said  States  during  the  present  war  or  until 
I  am  duly  discharged. 

Colin  McKenzie,  Capt.  71s.  Regt.  British. 

G.  Patridge, 

Wm.  Greenleaf,  Jr. 

State  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

Council  Chamber,  Apr  16,  1777. 
Ordered  that  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  be  and  he  is  hereby 
directed  to  take  into  custody  and  safely  keep  the  body  of  Colin  McKenzie, 
now  a  prisoner  in  this  State  and  upon  his  parole  of  Honor,  so  that  he  may 
be  had  before  this  Board  tomorrow  morning  at  ten  o'clock  to  answer  for 
his  conduct. 

It  is  presumed  that  the  Colin  McKenzie  who  was  ordered 
under  arrest  by  the  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  County,  to  be  produced 
before  the  Council  the  next  day  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
was  the  Colin  McKenzie,  Captain,  who  had  just  given  his  parole 
in  the  Council  Chamber.  Something  had  come  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Council,  after  the  acceptance  of  hie  parole,  which 
led  to  the  order  for  his  arrest. ' 

What  became  of  the  matter,  or  how  long  any  of  the  prisoners 
remained  at  Mendon  is  not  known. 

March  3.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Edward  Rawson,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Seth  Nelson,  Jonathan  Cass,  Maj.  Joseph  Daniels  and  Moses 
Chapin;  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.;  Samuel 
Fairbanks,  Eben'r.  Sumner  and  Seth  Taft,  Jr.,  for  Constables; 
Committee  of  Correspondence,  Edward  Rawson,  Esq.,  Capt. 
Samuel  Warren,  Ens.  Henry  Benson,  Maj.  Joseph  Daniels  and 
Ebenezer  Holbrook.     Deer  Reeves  and  Wardens  still  chosen. 

Voted  that  each  military  company  shall  have  the  disposal  of 
the  fines  incurred  during  the  late  levy.  From  this  it  would 
seem  that  there  had  been  a  draft,  and  that  the  service  required 
could  be  commuted  by  the  payment  of  a  fine. 


1777.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  363 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  grant  every  non-commissioned 
officer  and  soldier  who  shall  voluntarily  enlist  into  the  Continen- 
tal service,  for  the  defence  of  the  American  States,  the  sum  of 
£12  until  the  town's  quota  be  completed. 

Voted  that  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Capt. 
Samuel  Warren,  Mr.  Henry  Benson,  Lieut.  Seth  Nelson,  Mr. 
James  Sumner  and  Lieut.  Philip  Ammidown  be  a  committee  "to 
inquire  what  persons  in  the  town  have  done  more  than  their 
proportion  towards  the  War  and  make  an  average  between  them 
and  those  who  have  done  less.  And  that  said  Committee  use 
their  utmost  endeavours  to  Inlist  soldiers  into  the  Continental 
Service  upon  the  additional  encouragement  voted  by  the  town." 

March  12.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  borrow  £12  for  each 
man  who  shall  enlist  to  make  up  the  town's  quota  in  the  Conti- 
nental Army,  and  to  pay  that  sum  upon  their  passing  muster, 
and  take  their  receipt  for  the  same. 

Voted  to  pay  the.  Soldiers  that  marched  in  the  Militia  to  New 
York,  in  the  month  of  September  last  (1776)  for  two  months 
and  eight  days,  at  the  rate  of  20s.  per  month,  and  the  Selectmen 
to  borrow  the  money. 

March  17.  Voted  to  pay  Henry  Benson  for  extraordinary 
services  on  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  1776,  £2.07.07. 

March  31.  It  seems  recruiting  went  on  a  slow  pace,  as,  at  a 
town  meeting  held  this  day,  it  was  voted  to  add  £18  per  man  to 
the  £12  already  granted  to  encourage  soldiers  to  enlist  into  the 
Continental  service  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 

Voted  that  the  Militia  officers  be  desired  to  convene  their 
respective  companies,  and  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  promote  the 
enlistment  of  their  men. 

In  the  olden  time,  before  vaccination  had  been  introduced, 
hospitals  would  be  opened  for  inoculation  for  the  small-pox. 
At  this  time  Dr.  Samuel  Willard,  of  Uxbridge,  and  his  brother, 
Dr.  Levi  Willard,  of  Mendon,  had  opened  a  hospital  in  Mendon, 
located,  as  learned  from  tradition,  a  little  way  north  from  the 
house  of  Thomas  J.  Nugent.  It  seems,  however,  the  town  was 
averse  to  a  pest  house,  as  the  hospital  was  called,  and  at  this 
meeting  it  was 

Voted  "that  the  Inoculating  Hospital  carried  on  by  Dr. 
Samuel  Willard  and  Dr.  Levi  Willard  be  immediately  discontin- 


364  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1777. 

ued,"  and  to  make  the  matter  sure,  voted  not  to  have  an  inocu- 
lating hospital. 

May  23.  Lieut.  Seth  Nelson  and  Oapt.  John  Tyler  were 
chosen  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 

The  second  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  reads  as 
follows,  viz: — 

"To  choose  by  ballot  some  meet  person,  who  is  firmly  attached  to  the 
American  Cause  to  procure  and  lay  before  the  Court  (described  in  An  Act, 
entitled  an  Act  for  securing  this  and  the  other  United  States,  against  the 
Dangers  to  which  they  are  exposed  by  the  Internal  Enemies  thereof)  the 
evidence  that  may  be  had  of  the  Enemical  Disposition  toward  this  army 
of  the  United  States,  of  any  Inhabitant  of  this  town  who  shall  be 
charged  by  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  said  Town,  in  manner 
mentioned  in  said  Act,  of  their  being  persons  whose  Residence  in  this  State 
is  dangerous  to  the  public  Peace  and  Safety." 

Under  this  article  Maj.  Joseph  Daniels  was  chosen  by  ballot, 
as  the  meet  person  to  procure  evidence,  if  any  there  be,  to  lay 
before  the  Special  Court  of  Sessions. 

At  this  time  we  find  the  first  recorded  petition  for  a  town 
meeting,  praying  the  town  to  put  a  stop  to  any  further  inocu- 
lating for  the  small-pox  in  the  Widow  Rachel  Taft's  house;  to 
prevent  any  who  may  have  been  inoculated  from  being  kept  in 
any  other  house  in  town  except  the  Pest  House  and  to  put  a 
stop  to  any  one  freopienting  the  Pest  House  except  on  particular 
business.  At  the  town  meeting  the  prayer  of  the  petition  was 
granted. 

At  a  town  meeting  June  30,  the  second  article  in  the  warrant 
was  in  these  words:  "To  choose  3,  5  or  7  persons  to  be  put 
under  oath  to  Prosecute  all  Breaches  of  the  Acts,  made  by  au- 
thority of  the  State,  for  Preventing  Monopoly  and  Oppression 
that  shall  come  tc  their  knowledge." 

Upon  this  article  the  town  voted  "to  suspend  action  for  the 
present." 

The  town  again  voted  they  would  not  have  a  work  house. 

Sept.  1.  Voted  that  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Tyler, 
Coroner  James  Sumner,  Mr.  Aaron  Everett  and  Capt.  Gershom 
Nelson  be  a  committee  to  draft  a  petition  to  the  General  Court 
to  give  reasons  why  the  town  should  not  be  held  to  raise  an  ad- 
dition of  men  to  those  raised  for  one-seventh  part  of  the  militia 
last  summer,  177G. 


1777.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  365 

At  the  time  of  the  call  for  one-seventh  of  the  militia  in  1776, 
there  were  four  companies  in  Mendon,  commanded  respectively 
by  Captains  John  Albee,  William  Jennison,  Joseph  Daniels  and 
Gershom  Nelson,  and  numbering  one  hundred  and  sixty-three 
men.  One-seventh  of  this  number  is  twenty-three,  and  which 
number,  it  is  supposed,  had  been  duly  mustered  into  the  service. 

Sept.  15.  Voted  to  raise  £2,000  to  pay  the  soldiers  and  other 
town  charges  for  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  £60  for  schooling,  exclusive  of  the  interest  of 
the  school  bonds. 

Voted  to  allow  Capt.  John  Tyler  £1  for  his  expenses  for  two 
journeys,  viz: — One  to  Worcester  and  one  to  Watertown  on  ac- 
count of  the  British  prisoners. 

Nov.  24.  Voted,  as  the  minds  of  the  town,  that  the  late  act 
of  the  General  Court  for  calling  in  the  State  money  and  issuing 
Treasury  notes  on  interest  ought  to  be  repealed;  and  Maj.  Dan- 
iels, Ens.  Pelatiah  Darling,  Lieut.  Joseph  Johnson,  Mr.  Nehe- 
miah  Nelson  and  Mr.  Samuel  Fairbanks  were  instructed  to  draw 
up  a  remonstrance  against  said  act,  and  present  the  same  to  the 
General  Court. 

Chose  Capt.  John  Albee,  Lieut.  Seth  Thayer,  Mr.  John  Ben- 
son, Mr.  Samuel  Fairbanks  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Read  to  provide 
for  the  families  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  now  in  the  army- 
Voted  to  raise  £600,  in  addition  to  the  sum  already  raised,  for 
the  disbursement  of  town  charges. 
Rev.  Court  Papers,  Vol.  173,  p.  182, 

STATE    OF   MASSACHUSETTS     BAY. 

Council  Chamber  May  9.  1777. 
Ordered  that  the  Commissary  General  of  this  State  be  and  he  is  hereby 
directed  immediately  to  forward  one  ton  and  a  half  of  lead  and  Five  thou- 
sand flints  to  the  Town  of  Mendon  and  deliver  the  same  to  Ichabod  Ammi- 
down,  Inholder,  to  be  by  him  delivered  to  Governor  Trumbull's  order 
Read  and  accepted — 

John  Avery,  Depy.  Secy. 

MENDON  SOLDIERS. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  Mendon  men  who  enlisted  for 
three  years.     Second  Company  (Mill  River)  19: 


366  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1778. 

Joseph  Passmore  James  Battles  Amariah  Albee 

Joel  Thayer  Henry  Nelson  Boyce  Kimball 

Phineas  Tanner?  Isaac  Chapin  Ebenr  Thompson 

John  Brown  Jonan  Whitney  Oliver  Chapin 

Wm.  Lesure  Josiah  Chapin  Simeon  Smith 

Stephen  Lesure  John  Hayward  Silas  Brown 

David  or  Daniel  Cutler. 
Note.     The  above  said  Oliver  Chapin  is  one  of  Gen  Washington's  Life 
Guards,  and  the  above  said  Simeon  Smith  is  in  the  Corps  of  Artillery  under 
Lieut.  Thomas  Bailey. 

The  following  men  enlisted  in  the  cavalry:  Ezra  Marshall, 
Elijah  Stockier,  Wm.  Taylor,  Noah  Smith,  Thomas  Goodwin, 
Thomas  Welch,  Jack  Allen,  Joshua  Dix  or  Dise,  and  Eben1' 
Wheelock. 

On  the  roster  containing  the  above  names  is  the  following  en- 
try: "John  or  Jacob  East,  seaman,  taken  prisoner  in  the  Vixen 
and  brought  into  Boston  1777." 

On  another  roster,  the  following  names  are  found,  being  "the 
names  of  men  whose  terms  of  service  will  expire  in  1780,  viz: — 
Benj.  Hayward,  Gustavus  Aldrich,  John  Albee,  Levi  Darling, 
Peter  Darling,  Jona.  Boyce,  Jabez  Albee  or  Allen,  and  Wm. 
Phillips." 


1778.  Jan.  6.  Maj.  Joseph  Daniels,  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq., 
Coroner  James  Sumner,  Mr.  Joseph  Benson,  Jr.,  and  Edward 
Rawson,  Esq.,  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  instruct  each  of  the 
Representatives  in  the  General  Court,  in  regard  to  each  article 
in  the  Confederation  proposed  by  Congress,  and  sent  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  each  town  in  the  State;  and  report  to  the  town  at 
the  adjournment  of  this  meeting. 

At  the  adjournment  of  the  meeting  held  Jan.  12,  the  Com- 
mittee probably  made  a  report  although  none  appears  on  the 
record. 

The  town  then  voted  to  approve  the  thirteen  articles  of  Con- 
federation proposed  to  the  United  States  for  a  perpetual  Union, 
and  also  of  eight  resolves  passed  in  Congress.  The  Representa- 
tives were  instructed  to  vote  for  the  articles  whenever  they  came 
up  in  the  General  Court,  and  the  Clerk  was  directed  to  furnish 
each  Representative  with  a  copy  of  this  vote. 


1777.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  367 

Voted  that  the  town  would  assess  themselves  with  their  pro- 
portion of  the  £400,000  voted  hy  the  General  Court,  and  the 
Assessors  were  directed  to  assess  the  same  forthwith.  Instead  of 
£400.000  the  sum  raised,  as  may  be  seen  in  a  foot  note  in  Bar- 
ry's History  of  Massachusetts  vol.  3,  p.  147,  was  £314,520.01.09 
of  which  sum  £8883.07.06  was  appropriated  to  pay  the  Repre- 
sentatives to  the  General  Court  for  1776. 

Valuations  vol.  161,  p.  158,  Mass.  Ar. 

The  following  is  an  Account  of  the  Number  of  Male  Inhabitants  in  the 
Town  of  Mendon,  in  the  County  of  Worcester  &  State  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  who  were  Sixteen  years  old  and  upwards,  on  the  first  day  of  January 
1777,  taken  by  us  the  Subscribers  in  observance  of  a  Resolve  of  the  Great 
&  General  Court  of  this  State,  dated  Dec.  9,  1776. 

The  whole  Number  is  Five  Hundred  and  Seventy  Two. 
In  which  number  are  included  four  Negroes,  and  also  Fifty  Males  of  the 
Denomination  of  Christians  Called  Quakers,  which  were  so  reputed  before 
the   19th  day  of  April  1775,  though  they  have  never  produced  certificates 
according  to  law,  but  have  always  refused  to  do  military  duty. 

There  are  also  included  in  the  above  number  the  following  persons  viz: 
John  Torrey  and  his  son  Joseph  Torrey  and  William  Torrey  and  Jonathan 
Williams  all  of  Boston.  Eliezer  Dunton  from  Newport,  Rhode  Island  and 
Clemence  Peckham,  Apprentice  to  said  Dunton. 

Peter  Penniman     "] 
Jonathan  Jones        |   Selectmen 
Peletiah  Darling   V         of 
Samuel  Fairbanks  |     Mendon 
Ebenezer  Sumner  J 
Mendon,  Jan  31,  1777. 

Worcester  ss.  11th  Feb.  1778. 

I  certify  that  the  above  named  Selectmen  of 
Mendon  for  the  year  1776,  previous  to  making  the  above  Return  of  the 
Number  of  Male  Inhabitants  in  said  Town  of  Mendon  which  were  Sixteen 
years  old  and  upwards  on  the  first  day  of  January  1777,  personally  appear- 
ed and  made  oath,  that  in  the  performance  of  said  trust  they  acted  with 
faithfulness  and  impartiality,  and  that  the  foregoing  Return,  according  to 
the  best  of  their  knowledge  contained  a  true  account  of  the  number  of 
Male  Inhabitants  in  said  Town  which  were  Sixteen  years  old  on  the  first 
day  of  Jan.  1777. 

Joseph  Dorr,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

March  2.  Chose  for  Selectmen  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Dea.  John 
Chapin,  Mr.  Stephen  Benson,  Mr.  John  Penniman  and  Mr.  Ich- 
abod  Thayer,  Jr.;  for  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Joseph  Dorr, 
Esq. ;  Constables,  Levi  Eawson,  Jonathan  Jones  and  Ens.  Pele- 
tiah Darling.    Dea.  Josiah  Adams  was  chose  Grand  Juryman. 


368  ANNALS  OF  MEN DON.  [1778. 

March  16.  Voted  that  the  Assessors  and  those  chosen  to  as- 
sist them  in  taking  the  valuation  should  have  10s..  per  day. 

Voted  not  to  build  a  Work  House,  but  to  hire  one,  and  chose 
Maj.  Joseph  Daniels,  Capt.  Samuel  Warren  and  Mr.  James 
Blake,  Overseers  of  the  Poor.  This  is  the  first  election  of  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  the  Wardens,  heretofore,  performing  that 
duty. 

Maj.  Daniels,  Capt.  Warren  and  Mr.  James  Blake  were  chosen 
a  Committee  to  provide  for  the  families  of  the  Continental  sol- 
diers that  went  out  of  this  town. 

By  the  following  vote  we  shall  learn  that,  at  this  time,  Men- 
don  had  seventy-five  men,  in  actual  service,  in  the  Continental 
army. 

Voted  to  procure  one  pair  of  shoes,  one  pair  of  stockings  and 
one  shirt  for  each  Continental  soldier  for  this  town,  viz:  75  pairs 
of  shoes,  75  pairs  of  stockings  and  75  shirts,  and  then  voted  to' 
double  the  number  of  shirts  and  stockings. 

Lieut.  Philip  Ammidown,  Mr.  Josiah  Wheelock  and  Mr.  John 
Benson  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  procure  the  aforesaid  arti- 
ticles  and  bring  in  their  account  to  the  Selectmen  who  were  in- 
structed to  allow  and  pay  the  same. 

The  shirts  were  to  be  made  of  good  tow  cloth,  whitened, 
seven-eighths  in  width,  three  and  one  half  yards  in  a  shirt.  The 
stockings  to  be  made  of  good  large  size  white  yarn  and  well 
knit.  The  shoes  to  be  made  of  good  neat  leather  and  soles  of 
well  tanned  leather  with  straps  for  buckles.  The  articles  were 
to  be  got  ready  by  April  1,  and  the  Committee  was  to  agree  with 
some  one  to  convey  them  to  the  soldiers. 

Mass.  Arch.  Rec.  and  Miscel',  vol.  141,  p.  232. 

May  1,  1779,  the  following  account  of  the  town  of  Mendon 
for  supplies  was  allowed  and  paid  to  the  Selectmen,  viz: 

75  Shirts  at  43s £161.05.00 

75  Prs.  of  Shoes  at  48s  180.00.00 

75    "      •'  Stockings  at  33s 123.15.00 

40  Miles  transportation 6.00.00  Total  £471.00.00 

Receipted  for  by  JosEPn  Dorr 

Nov.  26,  1779.  The  following  account  was  directed  to  be 
paid,  viz: 


1778.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  36!) 

75  Shirts  at  120s £450.00.00 

75  Prs.  Shoes  "  144s 540.00.00 

75     "     Stockings        "  80s  292.00.00 

12  Miles  transportation 15.00.00 

Allowed  Selectmen 33.00.00  £1330.00.00 

It  is  presumed  that  the  difference  in  price  of  the  same  articles 
from  May  to  November  was  the  rate  of  the  depreciation  of  the 
Continental  currency  between  the  two  periods. 

April  13.  The  steel  belonging  to  the  town  was  sold  this  day 
by  public  auction  to  Capt.  Philip  Paine  at  8s.  6d.  per  lb.  Capt. 
Paine,  it  is  presumed,  lived  at  Woon socket,  as  he  was  taxed  in 
Khode  Island. 

At  the  same  time  the  town  voted  that  they  would  not  insist  on 
his  paying  a  tax  for  £800  in  this  town  for  which  he  is  taxed  in 
Providence,  E.  I. 

The  subject  of  a  Hospital  for  Small-pox  was  again  brought  up 
for  consideration,  but  the  town  adhered  to  their  former  refusal. 

May  11.  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  .Tames  Sumner,  Peletiah  Dar- 
ling, Edward  Eawson,  Esq.,  Samuel  Jones,  James  Lovett,  Aaron 
Everett,  Nehemiah  Nelson  and  Levi  Aldrich  were  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee to  make  an  estimate  of  the  service  of  all  the  men  who 
have  done  a  Tour  in  the  War,  since  the  commencement  thereof. 

Capts.  Samuel  Craggin,  Nelson  and  Penniman,  Samuel  Green, 
Levi  Aldrich,  Samuel  Warren,  John  Tyler,  and  Lieuts.  Seth 
Nelson  and  Abraham  Staples  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  hire 
the  several  quotas  of  men  the  town  may  be  called  to  furnish 
from  time  to  time. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  to 
supply  said  committee  in  the  town's  behalf. 

Voted  to  raise  £2000  to  defray  town  charges  and  that  the  same 
be  assessed  immediately. 

May  21.  .  A  meeting  of  the  male  inhabitants,  twenty-one 
years  of  age  and  being  free,  was  held  this  day  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  draft  of  a  constitution  which  had  been  framed  by 
the  General  Court  of  May  28,  1777.  At  a  previous  meeting  a 
committee,  of  which  Josejjh  Dorr,  Esq.,  was  Chairman,  was 
chosen  to  consider  the  subject  and  report  to  the  town  at  the  May 
meeting. 

The  report  of  the  committee  having  been  read,  but  of  which 

47 


370  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1778. 

no  copy  is  found,  the  Moderator,  Edward  Rawson,  Esq.,  took  a 
vote  on  the  Constitution,  as  follows:  "  Those  members  of  the 
meeting  who  approve  the  Constitution  or  form  of  Government 
are  desired  to  repair  to  the  west  end  of  the  Meeting  House,  and 
those  who  do  not  approve  of  the  Constitution  or  Form  of  Gov- 
ernment-are desired  to  move  to  the  east  end  of  the  Meeting 
House;"  and  upon  counting  the  members  upon  each  side  it  ap- 
peared there  wer.e  two  members  who  approved  and  fifty-seven 
who  disapproved  said  Constitution. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  attest  the  report  of  the  committee, 
and  that  the  same  be  sent  to  the  General  Court,  that  the  Court 
may  be  informed  in  what  particulars  the  town  dislike  said  Con- 
stitution. Just  what  the  town's  objections  were  Ave  have,  at  this 
day,  no  means  of  knowing,  as  the  Town  Clerk  (Joseph  Dorr, 
Esq.,  and  who  was  also  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  very 
probably  drew  up  the  report)  failed  to  enter  it  in  the  record  of 
the  meeting.  In  this  regard  the  Town  Clerks  of  later  days  are, 
in  most  cases,  equally  at  fault.  The  reading  of  the  report  served 
its  purpose  at  the  time,  but,  considering  the  subject  and  the 
ability  of  its  probable  author,  it  would  undoubtedly  have  been 
an  interesting  document  for  the  reader  of  the  present  day. 

May  21.  Edward  Rawson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  this  day  Repre- 
sentative to  the  General  Court. 

Voted  to  raise  £15,000,  including  £2,000  raised  before  for 
town  charges,  and  £300  for  schools.  These  sums  were  undoubt- 
edly in  the  depreciated  Continental  currency  of  the  day. 

Chose  Capt.  John  Albee,  Deacon  Albee  (supposed  Gideon)  and 
James  Sumner  a  committee  to  look  up  the  matter  of  Puffer's 
land  and  grist  mill. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  there  was  an  original  grant  of  fifty 
acres  of  land  to  Benjamin  Albee,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  provided 
he  or  they  should  always  keep  up  a  grist  mill  for  the  town's  use. 
The  probability  is,  that  at  this  time  the  present  owner  had  let 
the  mill  fall  out  of  repair,  and  hence  the  present  action  of  the 
town. 

Sept.  21.  Voted  to  accept  the  estimate  and  average  last  pre- 
pared by  the  committee,  of  the  time  served  by  the  soldiers  in  the 
war,  &c. 

Dec.  16.     Voted  that  the  committee  who  formed  the  last  aver- 


1778.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  371 

age  of  the  services  done  (by  the  soldiers)  .and  money  paid  by  in- 
dividuals since  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  be  ordered 
to  furnish  the  several  [Constables]  in  the  town  with  a  list  of  the 
names  of  all  the  persons  who  are  entitled  to  receive  their  part  of 
the  estimate  or  average  and  what  part  each  individual  is  to 
receive. 

Voted  that  the  Constables  [collectors  also]  in  the  town  be  and 
they  are  hereby  directed  to  pay  each  individual  or  order  the  sums 
set  against  their  names  respectively  in  said  lists  delivered  to  them 
by  the  committee. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  purchase  what  guns  the  town  is 
allowed  to  purchase  of  the  Board  of  War  and  sell  them  to  the 
inhabitants,  but  not  more  than  one  gun  to  any  one  man. 

Till-:   TORIES. 

For  the  better  understanding  of  the  following  petition,  it 
should  be  stated  that  the  British  were  in  possession  of  Newport, 
in  Rhode  Island,  and,  without  doubt,  there  were  some  persons 
in  the  towns  adjacent  to  Rhode  Island  who  still  remained  loyal 
to  the  British  Crown,  and,  when  occasion  offered,  might  some- 
times furnish  aid  and  comfort  to  their  friends.  We  believe, 
however,  that  there  were  but  few  in  Mention,  as  tradition  has 
brought  down  the  names  of  only  one  or  two  who  were  suspected 
of  dealing  with  the  enemy. 

Rev.  Petitions,  Vol.  184,  p.  3:38. 

To  the  Honorable  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  General  Court  assembled. 

We  the  subscribers,  Committees  of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and 
Safety  of  the  Towns  of  Mendon,  Hopkinton  and  Holliston,  Beg  leave  to 
represent  to  your  Honors  that,  in  the  course  of  their  Inspection  they  have 
conceived  strong  suspicions  that  sundry  persons  (either  Inimically  disposed 
to  the  Freedom  of  the  United  States,  or  who,  for  the  sake  of  Aggrandizing 
themselves  with  a  little  Sordid  gain,  tho'  perhaps,  at  the  expense  of  their 
own  and  their  Country's  Freedom)  have,  in  a  Traitorous,  Clandestine  man- 
ner (as  we  have  reason  to  fear)  carried  on  a  Commercial  Correspondence 
with  our  most  cruel,  Insidious  and  Merciless  Enemies,  by  purchasing  and 
Conveying,  all  the  Necessaries  of  life  that  lie  in  their  power,  to  the  Towns 
and  places  near  Rhode  Island,  and  other  parts  of  this  State,  which,  we 
have  too  much  reason  to  fear  are  conveyed  from  thence  to  our  Cruel  and 
Merciless  Invaders,  thereby  not  only  encouraging  and  Feeding  those  who 
arc,  ny  every  artifice  and  low  cunning  in  their  power,  endeavouring  to 


372  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1778. 

carry  Fire  and  Sword  into  the  Bowels  of  these  Infant  States,  but,  as  we  fear 
will,  if  not  speedily  prevented,  prove  very  distressful,  if  not  distructive  to 
the  good  people  of  this  State,  not  only  by  advancing  the  price  of  provisions 
at  an  enormous  Rate,  but,  in  our  opinion,  Highly  Threatens  Poverty  and 
Famine  to  the  good  people  of  this  State. 

Whereupon  your  Informants  have  been  frequently  called  upon,  by  well 
Affected  Persons  and  by  their  own  observation  to  exert  themselves  in  their 
capacity  to  the  utmost  of  their  Power  to  put  a  stop  to  such  pernicious  prac- 
tices. But  upon  due  examination  of  the  Resolutions  of  the  Legislature  of 
this  State  thereon,  cannot  find  the  Laws  of  this  State  do  afford  your  In- 
formants sufficient  Support  therefor;  Wherefore  as  friends  to  our  much 
injured  and  bleeding  Country  whose  Distress  loudly  calls  on  all  her  Friends 
and  Servants  to  use  every  precaution  in  their  Power  to  save  her  from  Im- 
pending Ruin,  and,  as  we  esteem  Freedom  far  Superior  to  any  other  earthly 
enjoyment,  we  do  now  appeal  to  your  Honors  as  the  Chief  Guardians  (next 
under  Heaven)  of  our  Liberties  and  privileges  and  in  whose  hand  are  in- 
trusted the  most  weighty  affairs  of  State,  Humbly  Pray  your  Honors  would 
take  this  Information  into  Consideration  and  enact  such  laws  or  give  such 
directions  to  your  Informants  and  others  in  like  capacity  as  your  Honors 
in  your  great  wisdom  shall  judge  proper  to  prevent  such  Dangerous  prac- 
tices from  being  carried  any  Further  into  Execution,  and  your  Informants 
as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

James  Lovett,  '    Joshua  Heminway,  Jacob  Gibbs, 

James  Brattle,  James  Perry,  Abel  Fisk, 

Ebenr.  Read,  Drury  Fairbanks,  Samll.  Daniels, 

Robert  Mellen,  Timothy  Rockwood  Jr. 

Holliston  Jan.  15.  1778. 

This  petition,  it  appears  was  referred  by  the  General  Court  to 
a  committee,  who  made  the  following  report: 

Boston  Feb.  1778. 

< 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Jacob  Gibbs  and  others,  Beg  leave  to 
Report  that  it  is  their  opinion  that  a  bill  should  be  brought  in  to  prevent 
the  carrying  on  a  Commercial  Correspondence  with  persons  inimical  to  the 
United  States.  It  is  our  opinion  that  no  person  or  persons  should  have 
liberty  to  purchase  any  of  the  necessaries  of  life  in  any  Town  within  this 
State  without  first  obtaining  a  Certificate  from  the  Selectmen  or  Commit- 
tees of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety  of  the  Town  to  which  they 
belong  that  they  are  Persons  Friendly  Disposed  to  the  United  States. 

How  State  Paupers  were  determined  in  1778. 

STATE    OF   MASSACHUSETTS   BAY. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  said 
State  at  Roxbury  Assembled  April  ye  13,  1778. 


1778.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  373 


The  Petition  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  iu 
the  County  of  Worcester  in  said  State, 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  in  the  year  1775  one  Elizabeth  Cummings,  a  Tran- 
sient person,  came  to  reside  within  the  said  Town  of  Mendon,  who  informs 
us  that  about  1770  she  came  from  Ireland,  passenger  with  Capt.  Harry  Bow- 
ers and  Mr.  Caldwell  who  bound  her  out  to  Mr.  Joshua  Hayward  of  East 
Town,  for  the  term  of  four  years,  to  pay  her  passage,  she  then  being  about 
14  or  15  years  old.  That  in  ye  said  year  1775  as  aforesaid  she  came  to  re- 
side in  the  Town  of  Mendon,  that  since  that  time  she  has  been  delivered  of 
two  Male  Bastard  Children.  She  not  being  able  to  support  herself  and 
children,  threw  her-self  on  the  Town  for  the  maintenance  of  herself  and 
Chidren;  and  she  not  having  gained  a  settlement  in  any  town  within  this 
State  the  Town  of  Mendon  have  been  at  Great  cost  for  her  support. 

We  the  Subscribers  in  our  capacity  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor  in  said 
Town,  Pray  that  your  Honors  would  take  this  affair  into  your  wise  and  im- 
partial consideration  and  order  payment  of  the  account  herewith  exhibited 
by  said  Town  and  order  that  the  said  Elizabeth  and  her  two  children  be 
made  a  State  charge  for  the  future ;  the  Town  of  Mendon  not  having  pow- 
er to  remove  her  to  any  other  Town  before  they  were  born,  and  one  of  the 
men  charged  to  be  the  father  Inlisted  into  the  Continental  service,  the  other 
a  Prisoner  of  war. 

The  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  To  the  Town  of  Mendon.         Dr. 
To  Supporting  Elizabeth  Cummings  and  boys  at  the  Widow  Bethiah  Taft's 

from  ye  23d.  of  Sepf-  to  Oct,  14th  at  18s.  pr.  week £2  14  00 

For  her  nursing  &  lying-in  charge  &  boarding  children  @,  30s  pr 

week 7  16  00 

Nov.   23.     Paid  Caleb  Wilder  for  keeping  said  Elizabeth  and 

children  4  days  at  4s  per  day •. . . .  16  00 

Paid  John  Holden  for  8  days  at  4s.  per  day 1  12  00 

Paid  Seth  Wheelock  for  5  days  at  4s.  pr.  day 1  00  00 

Paid  Philip  Ammidown  for  20  days  at  4s.  pr.  day 4  00  00 

Paid  Jonathan  Cass  for  6  weeks  &  1  day  at  30s.  pr.  week 9  12  03 

Paid  Joseph  Blake  for  5  weeks  &  2  days  at  30s.  pr.  week 7  18  07 

Paid  Philip  Ammidown  for  tremoving  her  and  two  children  5 

miles  in  the  Winter  &  Bad  Travelling 1  00  00 

£36  08  10 
The  above  account  being  thirty-six  pounds,  eight  shillings  and  ten 
pence  which  the  Town  of  Mendon  have  paid  for  ye  said  Elizabeth  Cum- 
mings and  her  two  children  for  which  we  pray  allowance  and  pray  that 
the  same  may  be  made  payable  to  Capt.  John  Tyler  or  Mr.  Seth  Nelson  for 
the  use  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,   as  your  Humble  Petitioners  in   duty 

bound  will  ever  pray.  ■ 

Joseph  Daniels,     \  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
Samuel  Warren,  [•      of  the  Town  of 
James  Blake.         )      Mendon. 


374  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1778. 

Worcester  ss.  April  ye  13,  1778.  Personally  appeared  Messrs.  Joseph 
Daniels,  Saml.  Warren  and  Jas.  Blake,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town 
of  Mendon,  and  made  solemn  oath  that  the  foregoing  Account  is  just  and 
true  in  all  its  parts  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge. 

Before  me,  Edward  Rawson,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Rev.  Resolves  (Mass.  Ar.)  vol.  218,  p.  342. 

STATE    OF    MASSACHUSETTS    BAY. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  April  29,  1778. 

On  the  Petition  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
praying  that  the  charges  they  have  been  at  in  Maintaining  and  Supporting 
Elizabeth  Cummings  and  her  two  children  may  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of 
the  Public  Treasury  of  this  State  to  Mr.  Seth  Nelson,  and  that  she,  the  said 
Elizabeth  Cummings  and  her  two  children  be  made  a  State  charge  for  the 
future  for  reasons  set  forth  in  said  Petition. 

Resolved,  that  the  Prayer  of  said  Petition  be  Granted  and  that  there  be 
paid  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  of  this  State  to  Mr.  Seth  Nelson,  the  sum 
of  Thirty  six  pounds  eight  shillings  and  ten  pence  L.  M.  for  the  charges 
the  town  of  Mendon  have  been  at  in  maintaining  and  supporting  the  said 
Elizabeth  Cummings  and  her  two  children,  he  the  said  Nelson  giving  his 
receipt  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  for  the  same :  and  it  is  further  Resolved 
that  the  said  Elizabeth  Cummings  and  her  two  children  be  made  a  State 
charge  for  the  future. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

J.  Pitts,  Speaker  P.  T. 

In  Council  April  29,  1778. 

Read  and  Concurred, 

John  Avery,  Depy.  Secy. 

Consented  to,  Jer.  Powell,  A.  Ward,  T.  Oushing,  John  Whetcomb,  D.  Hop- 
kins, Josiah  Stone,  A.  Fuller,  Jabez  Fisher,  Benj.  Austin,  of  the 

Council. 

(Warrant  drawn.) 

It  seems  the  town  had  some  doubts  whether  the  estimate  and 
average  which  had  been  made,  of  money  advanced  and  personal 
service  rendered,  conlcl  be  maintained  by  existing  laws  and  hence 
they  petitioned  the  General  Court  to  recognize  their  doings  as 
valid  and  legal. 

Rev.  Petitions  vol.  184.  p.  269. 

To  the  Honble  the  Council  and  the  Honble  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  Gen.  Court  Assembled. 

The  Petition  of  us  the  Subscribers,  Selectmen  of  Mendon  Shews, 
That  the  said  Town  of  Mendon  having  considered  that  many  of  its  In- 
habitants, who,  in  the  course  of  the  present  war,  have  been  called  forth  as 


1778.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  375 

Soldiers  into  the  service  of  this  and  the  other  United  States,  and  have,  in 
conjunction  with  others,  been  exposed  to  great  Perils,  fatigues  and  Hard- 
ships and  performed  great  and  Essential  services  for  their  Country,  whose 
wages  and  pay  (by  Reason  of  the  advanced  price  of  the  various  Articles  of 
Commerce,  especially  of  the  Necessaries  of  Life)  have  fallen  far  short  of  an 
adequate  reward. 

The  town  having  considered  further  the  great  Inconveniances  and  une- 
qual Burthens  that  many  Individuals  have  been  subjected  to  by  being- 
drafted  to  serve  in  the  War,  especialty,  in  some  instances,  where  heads  of 
families  have  been  drafted  and  obliged  to  procure  others  to  serve  for  them, 
or  to  lie  considered  Soldiers  themselves;  which  reduced  them  to  the  unhap- 
py alternative  either  of  leaving  their  families  or  of  giving  an  exhorbitant' 
sum  demanded  of  them  to  hire  others  to  serve  in  their  stead. 

To  prevent  which  Inconveniences  the  Town  came  to  a  Resolution  that 
all  Men  that  should  be  sent  for  in  future  and  ordered  into  the  service  as  the 
Town's  quota  of  Soldiers  should  be  hired  at  the  expense  of  the  Town,  by  a 
Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

But  it  was  perceived  that  from  this  Measure  another  Inconvenience  would 
result  viz  That  those  who  had  done  already  more  than  their  proportion 
either  in  personal  service  or  by  their  money  would  be  involved,  in  common 
with  others,  in  supporting  the  expense. 

To  the  Intent  therefor,  that  the  Burden  of  War  should  bear  as  nearly  as 
possible,  with  equal  Weight  on  all  the  Inhabitants,  the  Town,  at  a  regular 
meeting  for  that  purpose  on  the  Uth  day  of  May  last,  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  of  and  Estimate  the  services  of  all  who  had  done  duty  in 
the  war  since  the  commencement  thereof,  either  by  personal  service  or  by 
money,  so  that  a  tax  might  be  granted  and  levied  in  order  that  those  who 
had  done  more  than  their  proportion  might  receive  an  equivalent  for 
their  service  and  those  who  had  been  deficient  might  be  brought  upon  an 
average. 

Said  Committee  have  carefully  attended  to  the  subject,  have  made  an 
Estimate  or  Average  of  said  services  and  Reported  the  same  to  the  town 
which  Estimate  was,  at  a  meeting  on  the  21st  day  of  September  last  ac- 
cepted by  the  Town,  and  at  said  Meeting  a  Tax  was  granted  to  be  levied  on 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  for  the  payment  of  the  same. 

But  inasmuch  as  Doubts  have  arisen  whether  said  Estimate  or  Average 
falls  fully  within  the  Intent  and  Meaning  of  the  Resolve  of  the  General 
Assembly  for  enabling  Towns  to  grant  money  to  tax  themselves  for  hiring 
Soldiers  to  carry  on  the  war,  and  to  prevent  any  Disputes  or  Difficulties 
that  might  otherwise  arise  in  collecting  said  Tax,  the  Town  thought  it  con- 
venient that  application  should  be  made  to  the  Great  and  General  Court  to 
establish  the  doings  of  said  meeting,  and  have  directed  us,  the  Selectmen  of 
said  Town  to  make  application  accordingly. 

We  Therefore,  the  said  Selectmen,  in  behalf  of  said  Town,  Pray  that 
your  Honors  would  take  the  matter  into  your  wise  Consideration,  and 
would  be  pleased  to  confirm  and  Establish  the  Doings  of   said  Town  at 


376  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1778. 

their  meeting  on  the  said  21st  day  of  September  last,  relative  to  said  Esti- 
mate and  the  Tax  granted  to  pay  the  same. 
And  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

Joseph  Dorr 
John  Penniman 
Stephen  Benson. 
Mendon  Oct.  14.  1778. 

MENDON  SOLD1EKS. 

Although  the  rosters  in  the  State  Archives  make  no  mention 
of  Mendon  soldiers  in  the  year  1776,  the  Town  Kecords  attest 
that  during  that  year  there  were  many  persons  from  Mendon  in 
the  army.  During  the  year  indicated  there  were  two  special 
calls  for  troops,  one  for  New  York  and  one  for  the  Northern 
Army,  to  both  of  which  the  Town  Kecords  show  Mendon  re- 
sponded. 

For  1778  the  rosters  give  the  names  of  eight  and  nine  months' 
men,  and  also  of  those  serving  during  the  war,  but  of  these  last, 
it  is  not  certain  whether  they  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1778  or 
before  that  time. 

The  following  are  set  down  as  nine  months'  men  for  the  Ehode 
Island  service,  viz: — 

John  Brown  John  Howard*  Abijah  Legg 

Joseph  Chapiu*  Samuel  Holden  Ezra  Haskell* 

Isaac  Chapin  Boyce  Kimball  Elijah  Stodder* 

David  Cutler  David  Legg  Jared  Smith 

Zelek  Darling  Nathan  Legg  Ebenr  Thompson 

Laban  Fairbanks  Wm.  Lesure  Benj.  White. 

The  following  are  also  nine  months'  men,  without  designation 

as  to  their  place  of  service,  probably  to  reinforce  the  Northern 
Army: 

Calvin  Smith  Darius  Holbrook  Jonan  Pickering 

Wm.  Foster  Asa  Albee  Artemas  Cheney 

Moses  Lovett  Caleb  Holbrook  John  Dewing 

John  Torrey  Jonan  Kimball  Wm.  Cutting 

Joel  Legg  John  Pickering. 

The  following  are  eight  months'  men,  and  were  drafted : 
Levi  Darling  Joel  Aldrich  John  Phipps 

Jesse  Darling  Thomas  Taft  John  Wilson. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  had  enlisted  for 
service  during  the  war: 

♦Dead  in  Service. 


1778.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  377 

Gustavus  Aldrich  Benj.  Hayward  Jonathan  Rawson 

Jona"  Boyce  Nathan  Jackson  Samuel  Ramsdell 

Silas  Brown  John  Martindcll  Jona"  Taft 

John  Clark  Henry  Nelson  Joel  Thayer 

Aaron  Davis  Amariah  Partridge  Samuel  Thayer 

Paul  Davis  Joseph  Passmore  Jona"  Whitney  (killed). 
Solomon  White 

Besides  the  foregoing,  on  the  same  page,  the  following  names 
are  found: 

Amariah  Albee,  3  yrs.  dead.  Oliver  Chapiu,  Dragoons;  Amariah  Vose, 
Art.  and  Amasa  Aldrich. 

The  following  served  as  three  months'  men  at  Dorehester: 

Serg.  Beuj.  Pickering,  Corp.  Levi  Albee,  Barak  Bullard,  Josiah  Nelson 
and  Samuel  Twiss. 

The  following  names  are  set  down  as  serving  in  1T78,  at  Rhode 
Island,  but  the  time  of  service  not  stated: 

Jesse  Davis  Drum.  George  Staples  Stephen  Torrey 

Douglass  Marsh  Silas  Aldrich  Samuel  Tucker 

Jesse  Darling  Eleazer  Daniels  Joseph  Torrey 

Serg.  Elijah  Darling  Elias  Jones  Jona.  Holbrook 

Serg.  Artemas  Taft  Nat  Torrey  Jona.  Hayward. 

In  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment  were  the  following  men 
from  Mendon,  viz: — Capt.  John  Holden,  John  Clark,  Jared 
Smith.  Samuel  Ramsdell,  Calvin  Smith  and  Serg.  Samuel  Hol- 
den? No  date  was  given  of  this  entry.  It  must  have  been  later 
than  1778,  as  Calvin  and  Jared  Smith  both  served  in  the  nine 
months  service  of  that  year. 

The  men.  who  enlisted  to  reinforce  the  Northern  Army,  were 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  March  Chase,  of  Sutton. 

An  extract  from  the  Rev.  Council  Papers,  Vol.  174,  p.  375, 
will  complete  the  record  of  the  year: 

ELECTION    DINNER. 

1778.  To  Dressing  the  Election  Dinner  for  the  Couucle  (Gen.  Court?)  id' 
This  State. 

To  250  Dinners,  («)30s £375  00  00 

To  144  Bottles  of  Madare  Wine,    @24s 172  16  00 

To  80  Double  Bowles  of  Punch,    @20s 80  00  00 

To  2  Doz.  of  Glass  Brock  or  Stole 7  04  00 

To  2  Large  Dish  &  9  Fine  Plates  Brock 10  10  00 

'  48 


378  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1779. 

To  Making  Tables  &  Cleaning  Hall 17  10  00 

£663  00  00 
Deduct  $2.00  or  12s.  per  dinner £150  00 

&     4s  pr.  Bottle  of  Wine 28  16  178  16  00 

£484  04  00 
Boston  July  13.  1778,  Errors  Excepted 

John  Marston. 


1779.  March  1.  Chose  for  Selectmen  Capt.  John  Tyler, 
Samuel  Jones,  Deacon  Aaron  Everett,  Jesse  Wheelock  and  Oba- 
diah  Wood;  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Town  Clerk;  Peter  Penniman, 
Town  Treasurer;  John  Albee,  Joseph  Cody  and  Joseph  South- 
wick,  Constables.     Jonathan  Jones  was  chosen  Grand  Juryman. 

Captains  John  Albee,  Samuel  Warren,  Gershom  Nelson,  Levi 
Aldrich  and  Samuel  Craggin  were  chosen  a  committee  to  revise 
the  School  Districts  and  report  necessary  alterations. 

The  eighth  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  "  to 
see  if  the  Town  would  order  the  Selectmen  or  Treasurer  to  refuse 
payment  of  certain  Notes  given  to  certain  men  who  engaged  as 
part  of  the  Town's  quota  for  six  weeks  service  in  Rhode  Island 
and  who  deserted." 

Voted  that  the  committee  chosen  last  year  to  hire  soldiers  be 
a  committee  to  report  on  this  article. 

Voted  March  15.  That  the  notes  which  the  Selectmen  gave 
to  James  Sprague  and  Joseph  Pierce  in  1778,  for  engaging  as 
part  of  the  town's  quota  for  the  six  weeks'  service  in  Rhode 
Island  in  August  last,  be  not  paid,  and  that  the  town  will  indem- 
nify and  save  them  harmless  against  any  suits  which  may  be 
brought  against  them,  as  these  men  were  probably  deserters. 
Thus  we  see-there  were  bounty  jumpers  in  ye  olden  time  as  well 
as  in  modern  times. 

Voted  that  the  Easterly  Precinct  (now  Milford)  may  be  set  off 
as  a  separate  town,  there  being  67  in  the  affirmative  and  60  in 
the  negative. 

Voted  not  to  set  off  the  South  Precinct  (now  Blackstone)  into 
a  separate  town. 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Maj.  Joseph  Daniels,  Capt.  Samuel 
Warren  and  Mr.  James  Blake,  were  allowed  £6  each  for  their 
services. 


1770.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  379 

The  Assessors  were  allowed  20s.  per  day  for  taking  the  valua- 
tion; Capt.  John  Tyler  twenty-four  days,  and  James  Sumner  and 
Aaron  Everett  eighteen  days  each,  at  12s.  per  day.  For  assess- 
ing tax  each  ten  days. 

Allowed  the  Committee  who  formed  the  Average  or  Estimate 
15s.  per  day  each. 

Nehemiah  Nelson,  8  days.  .£6  00  00  Aaron  Everett,  8i  days.  .£6  07  06 
Peletiah  Darling,  6£-  "  ..41706  James  Lovett,  7£  "  ..  51206 
SamnelJoues,  8£  "     ..    6  07  06         Joseph  Dorr  Esq.  7  "     ..    5  05  00 

Levi  Aldrich,  6£  "    ..    4  17  06 

£39  07  06 

The  report  of  the  above  committee  must  have  heen  an  inter- 
esting paper,  hut  as  it  was  not  recorded,  and  if  filed,  long  since 
lost,  we  can  only  conjecture  the  value  of  its  contents.  It  was 
plainly  an  effort  to  adjust  the  burdens  of  the  war  so  that  they 
should  bear  equally  upon  all. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  shall  constitute  "the  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety  for  the  present  year. 

March  22.  Met  by  adjournment  from  March  loth,  but  there 
being  a  severe  storm  and  few  in  attendance,  the  meeting  was 
again  adjourned  to  the  29th  inst. 

March  29.     Voted  to  allow— 

('apt.  Green  for  going  to  Northbridge   twice  and  to  Providence 

once £9  00  00 

Capt.  Tyler  for  going  to  Worcester  with  the  Continental  men.  ...    5  10  00 

Capt.  Penniman  do.  "  "     3  00  00 

The  Committee  for  hiring  men  the  year  past 5  00  00 

The  Selectmen  for  1777,  except  John   Cuss,  £15.00.00.  each 
for  1778,  £7.00.00  each. 

Chose  Lieut.  Philip  Ammidown,  Abraham  Jones,  Daniel  Taft, 
Samuel  Fairbanks,  Caleb  Cheney  and  Moses  Thayer  a  committee 
to  hire  soldiers  the  ensuing  year;  and  the  Selectmen  were  in- 
structed to  furnish  the  committee  with  money,  if  needed. 

April  12.  The  second  article  in  the  warrant  was  "To  see 
whether  the  town,  in  consideration  of  the  People  called  Friends 
or  Quakers,  their  paying  their  part 'of  the  Average  or  Assess- 
ment (for  equalizing  the  cost  of  the  war)  for  the  year  1778,  will, 
in  case  of  said  Quakers,  should  hereafter  be  assessed  or  taxed, 
as  a  Distinct  body,  by  a  Resolve  of  Congress  or  an  Act  of  the 


380  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1779. 

General  Court  or  Assembly,  towards  defraying  the  expenses  of 
the  war  prior  to  this  day,  that  in  such  case  the  Town  will  bear 
an  equal  part  with  said  Quakers  in  the  payment  of  such  Conti- 
nental or  State  tax." 

Upon  this  article  the  town  voted  in  the  affirmative. 

William  French,  Daniel  Corbett  and  Benjamin  Boyce  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  provide  for  the  families  of  the  soldiers  in 
the  service. 

Capt.  John  Tyler,  Peter  Penniman  and  Deacon  Aaron  Ever- 
ett were  chosen  a  committee  to  confer  with  a  committee  of  the 
Second  Precinct  (Milford),  to  see  how  and  in  what  manner  said 
Precinct  shall  be  set  off  as  a  town. 

The  Second  Precinct  chose  Jonathan  Jones,  Seth  Nelson  and 
Ichabod  Thayer,  Jr.,  as  a  Committee  of  Conference  on  their  part. 

May  3.     The  Joint  Committee  made  the  following 

REPORT. 

We  the  subscribers,  being  a  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town  of  Mendon 
at  their  last  town  meeting  to  meet  a  Committee  of  the  2nd  Precinct  of  said 
Mendon  to  consult  and  agree  with  said  Committee  on  such  conditions  and 
articles  as  would  be  proper  for  said  Town  and  Precinct  to  come  into  in 
case  said  Precinct  should  be  set  off  by  the  General  Court  of  the  State  into 
a  distinct  Town,  and  to  make  report  of  our  doings  at  the  next  meeting  of 
said  Town  for  the  choice  of  a  Representative ;  We  have  attended  to  said 
Service  with  the  Committee  of  the  2nd.  Precinct,  chosen  for  that  purpose, 
and  have  agreed  upon  the  following  articles  viz: 

Article  1.  That  the  Meadow  or  Land  usually  flowed  by  the  Mill  Pond 
formerly  occupied  by  Lieut.  William  Sheffield,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
County  road,  belonging  to  said  Toavii  shall  remain  and  continue  the 
Property  of  said  Town  of  Mendon  although  the  said  2nd  Precinct  should 
become  a  separate  town;  and  in  case  said  Town  of  Mendou  should  have 
occasion  to  eject  Jeremiah  Kelley  the  present  occupier  of  said  Pond  or  any 
other  person  or  persons  who  may  hereafter  occupy  said  Lands  from  the 
possession  of  said  premises  by  reason  that  he  or  they  shall  not  keep  a  good 
Grist  Mill  in  repair  at  or  near  the  premises,  agreeable  to  the  Original  Agree- 
ment between  said  Town  and  Mathias  Puffer  and  David  How,  then  the 
said  2nd.  Precinct,  although  they  shall  become  a  separate  Towm,  shall 
have  the  three-eighth  part  of  what  the  said  Town  of  Mendou  shall  recover, 
they  the  said  2nd.  Precinct  paying  the  three-eighth  part  of  the  cost  and 
charge  that  may  accrue  in  recovering  the  same. 

Article  2.  That  the  said  2nd.  Precinct  draw  their  equal  proportion  of 
the  School  Money  according;  to  the  valuation  of  said  Town  also  one-third 


1779.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  381 

part  of  the  Ministry  money  belonging  to  said  Town  also  their  equal  pro- 
portion of  the  Town's  stock  of  Arms. 

Article  3d.  That  the  said  2nd.  Precinct  take  their  equal  proportion  of 
the  Poor  maintained  by  the  Town  according  to  the  Tax  said  2nd.  Precinct 
pays,  and  also,  if  after  said  2nd.  Precinct  is  set  off  as  a  separate  town, 
there  shall  be  any  Poor  sent  to  this  town  from  proper  authority  to  be  main- 
tained by  this  town,  and  it  shall  appear  that  the  persons  so  brought  were 
the  usual  original  inhabitants  of  said  2nd.  Precinct,  then  the  said  2nd.  Pre- 
cinct shall  receive  and  maintain  them  as  their  poor. 

Article  4.  That  the  said  2nd.  Precinct  pay  their  equal  proportion  of  all 
the  charges  that  have  or  shall  arise  within  the  Town  of  Mendon  prior  to 
their  being  incorporated  as  a  separate  Town,  of  whatever  name  or  nature. 

Article  5.  That  if  there  appear  to  be  a  surplusage  of  money  over  and 
above  paying  all  the  town's  costs  and  charges  when  they  the  2nd.  Precinct 
shall  become  a  separate  town,  then  the  said  2nd.  Precinct  to  draw  their 
equal  proportion  according  to  their  valuation. 

All  which  is  submitted  to  the.  Town. 

John  Tyler  )  Committee 

Peter  Penniman  >         of 
Aaron  Everett.  )  Mendon. 

We  the  subscribers,  being  a  Committee  chosen  by  the  2nd.  Precinct  in 
Mendon  to  meet  the  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town  of  Mendon  to  consult 
and  agree  with  said  Committee  on  such  condition  and  Articles  as  would  be 
proper  for  said  Town  and  Precinct  to  come  into  in  case  said  Precinct 
should  be  set  off,  by  the  General  Court  of  this  State  into  a  distinct  town, 
we  have  this  day  attended  said  service  with  said  Committee  and  have 
agreed  upon  all  the  foregoing  Articles,  and  in  case  the  said  Town  of  Men- 
don should  accept  the  foregoing  Report,  we,  in  behalf  of  the  said  2nd. 
Precinct  ingage  that  all  the  foregoing  Articles  shall  be  punctually  fulfilled 
on  said  2nd.  Precinct's  part  after  they  shall  be  set  off  as  a  Town. 

Jonathan  Jones  )  Committee  of  the 

Seth  Nelson  [-  Second  Precinct 

Ichabod  Thayer,  Jr.  \       of  Mendon. 
Mendon  May  8,  1779. 

Voted  that  the  boundary  line  between  the  town  of  Mendon 
and  the  Easterly  Precinct,  when  set  off  into  a  separate  town,  be 
the  middle  of  the  Eight  Rod  Road  (so  called)  to  Upton  line. 

June  21.  Voted  to  raise  £3000  to  hire  soldiers,  and  for  other 
town  charges. 

Voted  that  the  average  money  (being  a  tax  granted  to  equalize 
the  burdens  of  the  Avar)  be  paid  in  by  the  Constables  to  the  Town 
Treasurer,  and  the  Treasurer  to  pay  such  sums  as  are  allowed  to 
any  of  the  soldiers  to  their  wives,  or  any  part  thereof  as  they 
stand  in  need  of,  taking  their  receipt. 


382  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1779. 

TROUBLE   WITH   AN    INFLATED    CURRENCY. 

Voted  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  are  determined,  to  the 
utmost  of  their  power,  to  support  the  credit  of  the  Continental 
currency,  and  are  desirous  to  come  into  any  salutary  measures 
that  may  be  adopted  by  the  community  in  general  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  earnestly  wish  that  such  measures  may  speedily  take 
place;  and,  for  the  present,  we  are  resolved  that  no  kind  of  pro- 
duce or  article  of  commerce  shall  be  sold  at  a  higher  price  than 
has  hitherto  been  usually  given  for  such  article  or  produce;  and 
that  said  inhabitants  will  exert  themselves  to  carry  into  execu- 
tion "An  Act  of  this  State  entitled  an  Act  against  Monopoly  and 
Forestalling; "  that  the  practice  of  buying  and  selling  silver  and 
gold  at  such  discount  [premium?]  as  to  disparage  and  lessen 
the  credit  of  the  Continental  currency  shall  be  effectually  dis- 
couraged among  us. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  nine  to  see  the  foregoing  vote 
and  resolution  put  in  execution,  and  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Capt. 
Gershom  Nelson,  Lieut.  Benoni  Benson,  Capt.  Alhee,  Capt. 
Samuel  Penniman,  Capt.  Aldrich,  Lieut.  Philip  Ammidown, 
Samuel  Jones  and  Capt.  Read  were  chosen  as  the  committee. 

July  28.  Voted  to  accept  the  Resolves  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion held  at  Concord,  July  14,  1779. 

The  Convention  was  held  at  the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Boston,  "  to  take  into  consideration  the  present  dis- 
tressed situation  of  the  people  at  large;  and  especially  the  ex- 
cessive high  prices  of  every  article  of  consumption,  and,  by 
tracing  to  their  causes  these  evils,  to  discover  and  point  out  the 
safest  and  best  remedies."1 

This  Convention  was  composed  of  27  members  from  the  coun- 
ty of  Suffolk,  19  from  Essex,  65  from  Middlesex,  5  from  Hamp- 
shire, 6  from  Cumberland,  10  from  Plymouth,  8  from  Bristol 
and  34  from  Worcester,  being  174  in  all.  The  Hon.  Azor  Orne, 
of  Marblehead,  was  chosen  President,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles, 
of  Boston,  Secretary. 

This  Convention  fixed  the  highest  price  for  which  twenty-four 
of  the  leading  articles  of  produce  and  merchandise  were  to  be 
sold  in  the  sea  ports,  and  the  tenth  day  of  August  was  fixed  as 
the  day  when  the  regulation  should  go  into  effect.  Capt.  John 
Tyler  was  the  delegate  from  Mendon. 


177!).  I  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  .'58.3 

The  Convention  resolved  Unit  those  who  should  refuse  to  ac- 
cept its  recommendations,  "under  any  pretense  whatever,  should 
be  held  and  deemed  as  enemies  to  this  country,  and  treated  as 
such." 

But  it  seems  the  Resolves  of  this,  Convention  failed  of  their 
intended  effect,  and  Capt.  John  Tyler  was  chosen  a  delegate  to 
attend  the  Convention  to  be  held  at  Concord  in  October  next, 
and  Dea.  Aaron  Everett,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  and  Mr.  Jona- 
than Jones  were  chosen  a  committee  to  give  him  instructions. 

This  Convention  met  October  6,  and  by  adjournment,  October 
14,  added  110  articles  to  the  24  to  which  they  had  affixed  the 
highest  prices,  at  which  they  should  be  sold,  in  July.  A  few 
examples,  with  the  highest  prices  attached,  will  answer  for  the- 
whole:  Indian  corn  or  meal  was  to  be  sold  not  higher  than 
£4. 04s.  per  bushel,  rye  and  rye  meal  at  £5. 14s.,  wheat  flour  at 
£80  per  hundred,  beef  at  5s.  per  pound,  butter  at  12s.  per 
pound,  W.  I.  rum  at  £5. 14s.  per  barrel  or  hogshead,  per  gallon, 
and  a  single  gallon  at  £6. 06s.  Of  this  Convention,  W.  Spooner 
was  President,  and  Thomas  Lloyd  Halsey,  Secretary. 

August  3.  A  County  Convention  was  held  at  Worcester, 
''for  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  the  several  interesting 
and  important  measures  first  recommended  by  Congress  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  United  States,  and  since  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  State  by  a  Convention  of  their  delegates  at  Concord,  on  the 
14th  of  July  last.'"  Col.  Joseph  Reed,  of  Lancaster,  was  chosen 
Chairman,  and  Capt.  Phineas  Upham,  of  Brooktield,  Clerk. 

This  Convention,  in  the  main,  adopted  the  prices  agreed  upon 
by  the  Convention.  A  few  new  articles,  however,  are  intro- 
duced. Lodging  was  to  be  charged  not  exceeding  3s.  per  night, 
West  India  flip,  15s.  per  mug,  West  India  toddy,  15s.  per  bowl, 
New  England  flip  or  toddy,  12s.  per  mug  or  bowl,  cider,  3s.  per 
mug,  &c,  &c. 

The  third  resolution  of  this  Convention  was  in  the  following 
words:  "Resolved,  that  it  be  recommended  to  each  town  to 
choose  large  committees  in  their  respective  towns,  and,  by  all 
means,  such  men  as  have  ever  proved  themselves  the  most  firmly 
attached  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  to  see  that  these  resolves  be 
effectually  carried  into  effect." 

Lieut.  Seth  Nelson  was  the  delegate  to  this  Convention. 


384  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1779. 

May  it  not  be  safely  inferred  that  the  high  prices,  for  every- 
thing, which  ruled  in  1780,  was  the  legitimate  result  of  a  re- 
dundent  paper  currency,  then  known  by  the  name  of  Continental 
money?  Have  we  not  reason  to  fear  that  an  unlimited  issue  of 
paper  money  in  1880  would  react  to  the  same  calamitous  result 
which  the  experiment  did  a  hundred  years  ago?  If,  in  1780, 
the  fiat  of  Congress  could  not  keep  the  Continental  money  at 
par  with  gold,  what  reason  have  we  to  believe  that  the  fiat  of 
any  future  Congress  can  noat'an  unlimited  issue  of  paper  money, 
at  par  with  gold,,  with  the  word  irredeemable  printed  across  its 
face  ? 

Voted  to  choose  a  delegate  to  meet  in  County  Convention,  at 
Worcester,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  August  next,  in  order  to  reg- 
ulate the  price  of  labour,  &c,  and  chose  Lieut.  Seth  Nelson, 
delegate. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  nine  to  assist  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety,  to  put  said  Resolves 
(resolves  of  the  Concord  Convention  it  is  supposed)  into  execu- 
tion. The  committee  chosen  were  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Capt. 
Samuel  Warren,  Capt.  Read,  Lieut.  Philip  Ammidown,  Mr. 
Caleb  Cheney,  Lieut.  John  Benson,  Capt.  Albee,  Ichabod  Thayer 
and  Asa  Thompson. 

Voted  that  three  of  the  committee  chosen  above,  or  three  of 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety,  when 
the  committee  in  general  are  not  together,  or  cannot  conveniently 
be  called,  be  a  quorum  to  act  to  put  the  Eesolves  into  execution. 

DELEGATES    TO    THE    FIRST    CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTION. 

Voted  to  choose  two  delegates  to  attend  the  Convention  at 
Cambridge,  on  the  1st  day  of  September  next,  for  the  sole  pur- 
pose of  forming  a  new  Constitution,  and  the  votes  being  brought 
in.  sorted  and  counted,  it  appeared  that  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  and 
Capt.  Peter  Penniman  were  chosen  delegates. 

August  30.  Voted  to  raise  £5000  to  defray  town  charges  the 
present  year,  and  £600,  exclusive  of  interest  on  the  School  bonds, 
for  schooHng. 

Capt.  John  Tyler  was  chosen  delegate  to  the  Convention  to  be 
held  at  Concord   on  the  first  Wednesday  in  October  next,  and 


1779.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  385 

Dea.  Aaron  Everett,  Capt.  Peter  Penninian  and  Mr.  Jonathan 

Jones  were  chosen  a  committee  to  give  him  instructions. 

Voted  to  accept  the  regulations  that  were  drawn  up  by  the 
committee  to  be  additional  regulations  for  the  town.  These 
regulations  had  reference  to  the  act  against  Monopoly  and  Fore- 
stalling. Through  the  neglect  of  the  Clerk  to  record  the  com- 
mittee's report,  or  its  loss  if  put  on  tile,  we  know  not  what  the 
regulations  were. 

Oct.  27.  Voted  to  accept  the  Resolves  of  the  late  Convention 
at  Concord,  Oct.  6,  instant,  and  chose  Lieut.  Seth  Chapin,  Capt. 
Cershom  Nelson,  Capt.  Levi  Aldrich,  Mr.  Otis  Whipple,  Dea. 
John  Chapin,  Mr.  Benjamin  Blake,  Samuel  Fairbanks,  Elijah 
Thayer  and  John  Darling. 

Rev.  Council  Papers,  vol.  170,  p.  413. 

(  OMMITTEE    OF   THE    CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTION. 

The  Convention  to  draw  up  a  State  Constitution  met  at  Cam- 
bridge on  the  first  day  of  September,  1779,  and  chose  a  commit- 
tee to  report  a  Constitution  of  Government  for  the  State.  The 
following  is  the  Roll  of  the  Committee,  the  days'  attendance, 
wages  per  day,  and  amount  of  compensation  for  the  service: 

For  the  Co.  of  Suffolk,  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 


John  Adams,        " 

18  days  at  72s. 

£64  16 

Essex. 

Theophilus  Parsons  Esq. 

12     " 

43  04 

Jona.  Jackson, 

18     " 

64  16 

Saml.  Phillips,           -  " 

16     " 

57  12 

Middlesex, 

James  Sullivan, 

Eleazer  Brooks, 

19     " 

68  08 

Nathl.  Gorham, 

Hampshire, 

Noah  Goodman, 

15     " 

54  00 

Mr. 

Ezekiel  Smith, 

23     '• 

82  16 

Mr. 

John  Billings, 

10    •• 

36  00 

Worcester, 

Jedediah  Foster  Esq. 

Joseph  Dorr, 

23     " 

82  16 

Israel  Nichols, 

23     " 

82  16 

Plymouth, 

John  Cotton, 

Rev. 

Gad  Hitchcock 

22     " 

79  04 

Bristol, 

Robert  T.  Paine  Esq. 

15     " 

54  00 

Rev. 

Samuel  West, 

24     " 

86  08 

York, 

David  Sewall  Esq., 
Benj.  Chadbourne, 

19 


386 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


1779. 


Berkshire, 


Barnstable, 


Dukes  Co.  & 
Nantucket. 
At  Large, 


Capt.  William  Walker 
James  Harris  Esq. 
Enoch  Hallett  " 
Mr.  Samuel  Small, 
Mr.  Benj.  Brainerd, 


22  days  at  72s. 
24     " 


£79  04 

86  08 


Samuel  Adams,  16     "  57  12 

John  Pickering,  21     "  "  75  12 

Caleb  Strong,  24     "  "  86  08 

In  Council  Oct.  1,  1779  Bead  and  Ordered  That  a  Warrant  be  drawn  on 

the  Treasury  for  £1259.12  in  full  of  this  Boll. 

John  Avery,  Depy.  Secy. 

The  following  vote  was  quite  probably  plain  enough  to  those 
who  were  present  at  the  meeting,  but,  at  this  late  clay,  we  are 
left  somewhat  in  the  dark  as  to  the  precise  amount  voted. 

Voted  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  which  shall  amount  to  as  much 
as  the  sum  of  the  late  State  tax,  including  what  is  already  raised 
in  said  town  and  county  tax. 

Voted  to  allow  Ichabod  Thayer,  Jr.,  £15  for  transporting  the 
soldiers  clothing  to  Brookfield,  in  1778. 

SOLDIERS    IN    THE    AVAR    IN    1779. 
9  months  Men,  in  Rhode  Island  service,  under  Capt,  Samuel  Hamant. 


Caleb  Legg, 
Reuben  Legg, 
Joel  Legg, 
David  Marsh, 
Darius  Holbrook, 
Jona,  Kimball, 
Wm.  Cutting, 
Arthur  Bawson, 
Aaron  Taft, 
Alii  jab  Legg. 
Serg.  Jesse  Chapin, 


John  Pickering, 
Jotham  Pickering, 
Artemas  Cheney, 
John  DewingV 
Calvin  Smith, 
AVm.  Foster, 
Moses  Lovett, 
Marvel  Taft, 
Samuel  Tucker, 
Seth  Johnson, 
AVm.  Johnson, 


John  Torrey, 
Jesse  Davis, 
Douglass  Marsh, 
Jesse  Darling, 
Asa  Albee, 
Caleb  Holbrook, 
Joel  LeggV 
Moses  Bamsdell, 
Samuel  Thayer, 
Moses  Parkhurst, 
John  Leug. 


It  seems  quite  probable  that  Mendon  furnished  more  soldiers 
for  this  year  than  are  enumerated  above,  although  the  Rosters 
at  the  State  House  give  only  the  above  names  as  being  in  the 
service.  The  Rosters,  it  should  be  remembered,  are  imperfect, 
some  of  them  missing,  and  others  without  date  and  without 
specifying  the  date,  time  or  place  of  service. 


1780.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  387 

The  following  Act  of  the  General  Court  will  complete  the 
memoranda  of  the  year. 

Rev.  Resolves  (Mass.  Ar.)  vol.  221,  p.  297. 

STATE    OF    MASSACHUSETTS    BAY. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Feb.  25,  1779. 

On  the  Petition  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Mendon. 
setting  forth  that  they  have  an  opportunity  to  put  out  the  eldest  son  of 
Elizabeth  Cummings,  a  State  pauper,  until  he  is  twenty  one  years  old,  they 
paying  thirty  pounds:  And  also  to  allow  them  to  draw  the  money  that 
they  have  expended  for  said  Elizabeth  Cummings  and  her  two  children,  as 
per  account  exhibited  with  said  petition. 

Resolved  that  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted  and  that  the  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  be  and  hereby  are  empowered  to 
put  out  said  boy,  and  that  there  be  paid  thirty  pounds  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  they  giving  a  receipt  for  said  money;  and  also  four  pounds  and 
eight  shillings  in  full  of  the  account  exhibited  with  said  petition. 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

John  Pickering,  Speaker. 
In  Council  Feb.  26,  1779. 
Read  and  Concurred 

John  Avery,  Depy.  Sec. 

Consented  to.  Jer.  Powell,  B.  Greenleaf,  T.  Gushing,  Jed1'  Preble,  P. 
Austin,  Moses  Gill.  J.  Stone,  B.  White,  N.  Cushing,  A. 
Fuller,  Sam  Niles,  J.  Simpson,  John  Pitts  and  E.  Brooks. 
Councillors. 


1780.  March  0.  Chose  for  Selectmen  Mr.  Stephen  Torrey. 
Lt.  Jesse  Whitney.  Lt.  John  Benson,  Lt.  William  Thayer  and 
Mr.  Caleb  Cheney;  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq..  Town  Clerk;  Mr.  Peter 
Penniman,  Town  Treasurer;  and  for  Constables.  John  Albee, 
Benjamin  Read  and  Levi  Rawson. 

Voted  to  allow  Peter  Penniman  for  services  as  Treasurer,  £100. 

Voted  to  allow  John  Tyler,  as  delegate  to  the  Concord  Con- 
vention, for  time  and  expenses,  £00. 

Voted  to  allow  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  his  expenses  at  two  sessions 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention.  £50;  for  his  time,  17  days  at 
£3  per  day,  £51. 

Voted  to  allow  Peter  Penniman  his  expenses  at  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention,  £85;  for  his  time,  20  days  at  48s.  per  day,  €4S. 

Voted  to  allow  the  Selectmen,  £30  each;  Assessors.  €50  each. 


388  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1780. 

Capt.  John  Tyler  was  chosen  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor  and  a 
Committee  man  to  provide  for  the  soldiers  families,  in  the  place 
of  Moses  Aldrich,  who  ceased  to  hold  office  in  Mendon  by  reason 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  East  Precinct  into  a  separate  town. 

INCORPORATION   OF   MILFORD. 

STATE   OF   MASSACHUSETTS    BAY. 

In  the  year  of  Our  Lord  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  Eighty. 

An  Act  for  Incorporating  the  Easterly  Precint  in  the  Town  of  Mendon 
in  the  County  of  Worcester,  into  a  Separate  Town  by  the  name  of  Mil  ford. 

Whereas,  it  appears  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  Precinct  in  the 
Town  of  Mendon  in  the  County  of  Worcester  labour  under  many  Difficul- 
ties in  their  present  Situation,  for  Remedying  of  which  they  earnestly  re- 
quest they  may  be  Incorporated  into  a  Separate  Town. 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  Assembled,  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  same,  that  the  East- 
erly Part  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  bounded 
as  follows,  Viz':  begining  at  a  heap  of  Stones  on  Bellingham  Line,  on  the 
North  side  of  the  Country  Road  then  running  West  and  bounded  South 
on  said  Road  until  it  comes  to  a  Rpad  called  the  eight  rod  Road,  now 
reduced  to  four  rod  Road,  then  North  and  bounded  westerly  on  said 
Road,  as  it  is  now  Stated  by  the  Town  of  Mendon  until  it  comes  to  Upton 
Line,  thence  on  Upton  Line,  to  Hopkinton  Line,  thence  on  Hopkinton 
Line  to  Holliston  Line,  thence  on  Holliston  Line  to  Bellingham  Line, 
thence  on  Bellingham  Line  to  the  Bounds  first  mentioned  be  and  here- 
by is  Incorporated  into  a  Town  by  the  Name  of  Milford,  and  that  the 
Inhabitants  thereof  be  and  they  are  hereby  Invested  with  all  the  powers, 
Privileges  &  Immunities  which  the  Inhabitant  of  the  Towns  in  this  State 
do  or  may  by  Law  enjoy. 

And  Provided  Nevertheless,  and  be  it  further  Enacted,  that  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  said  Town  of  Milford  shall  be  held  to  take  and  maintain  their 
Proportionable  part  of  the  Poor  of  said  Town  of  Mendon  that  are  now 
maintained  as  such  or  that  shall  hereafter  Returned  from  any  other  town 
as  belonging  to  said  Mendon  before  the  said  Town  of  Milford  was  Incor- 
porated. 

And  be  it  further  Enacted  that  the  Inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Milford 
shall  be  held  to  pay  their  proportionable  part  of  all  Town,  County  and 
State  Taxes  that  are  already  raised  or  granted  to  be  assessed  on  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  said  Town  of  Mendon  or  that  shall  be  granted  to  be  assessed  on 
said  Town  of  Mendon  during  the  present  Sitting  of  the  Great  and  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  be  held  to  repair  and  Build  one  half  of  the  Bridges,  and 
mend  and  repair  one  half  of  the  Roads  on  which  they  are  bounded,  lying 
in  the  said  Town  of  Mendon  forever. 

And  Be  it  further  Enacted,  that  all  the  Proprietors  belonging  to  the  Pro- 


1780.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  389 

priety  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  that  shall  be  Incorporated  into  the  Town 
of  Milford  shall  hold  all  their  Common  Rights  in  the  Common  and  Undi- 
vided Lands  in  the  Propriety  of  the  former  Township  of  said  Mendon  as 
though  they  had  not  been  set  off  into  a  Separate  Town.  And  their  Propor- 
tionable part  of  the  Ministry  and  School  Money  belonging  to  said  Town  of 
Mendon  that  have  accrued  to  them  by  the  sale  of  the  School  and  Ministry 
Lands. 

And  Be  it  further  Enacted  That  Joseph  Dorr,  Esqr  be  and  he  is  hereby 
directed  and  impowered  to  issue  his  Warrant  directed  to  some  Principal  In- 
habitant of  said  Town  of  Milford  requiring  him  to  warn  the  Inhabitants  of 
said  Town  of  Milford  qualified  by  Law  to  vote  in  Town  affairs  to  Assem- 
ble and  meet  at  some  suitable  time  and  Place  in  said  Town  to  choose  all 
such  Officers  as  Towns  by  Law  are  required  and  impowered  to  choose  in  the 
month  of  March  annually,  and  to  transact  all  other  matters  &  Business  nec- 
essary to  be  done  in  said  Town. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  April  11,  1780.  This  Bill  having  been 
read  three  several  times  pass'd  to  be  enacted.     John  Hancock,  Speaker. 

In  Council,  April  11th,  1780.  This  Bill  having  had  two  several  readings, 
passed  to  be  enacted.  John  Avery,  D.  See-'y. 

We  consent  to  the  enacting  of  this  Bill. 

Jeri  Powell,  T.  dishing, 

Artemas  Ward,  Jabez  Fisher, 

Walter  Spooner,  Moses  Gill, 

S.  Adams,  B.  White, 

T.  Danielson,  H.  Gardner, 

Tim.  Edwards,  A.  Fuller, 

Sam1  Niles,  Jno.  Pitts. 

Noah  Goodman. 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 

Secretary's  Department, 

Boston,  February  6,  1877. 
A  true  copy  of  the  original  act. 

Witness  the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Henry  B.  Peirce, 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

STATE    CONSTITUTION. 

April  24,  1780.  The  Address  of  the  Convention,  the  Declara- 
tion of  Rights  and  the  Constitution,  or  Frame  of  Government, 
for  the  People  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  was  first  distinctly  read. 

Then  it  was  voted  that  one  or  more  persons  in  every  School 
District  in  the  town  should  he  appointed  to  receive  for  his  or 
their  District  one  printed  copy  of  said  Constitution,  or  Frame 
of  Government,  to  the  end  that  every  member  of  the  town  may 


2nd 

do., 

3thd. 

do.. 

4th. 

do.. 

5th. 

do., 

6th. 

do.. 

7th. 

do.. 

gth. 

do.. 

9th. 

do.. 

10th. 

do., 

11th. 

do., 

390  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1780. 

come  to  the  knowledge  of  and  have  the  opportunity  and  advan- 
tage of  duly  weighing  and  considering  the  same  in  the  interval 
between  this  and  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting,  and  the  per- 
son so  appointed  to  return  the  copy  which  he  receives  to  the 
person  from  whom  he  received  it.  The  persons  chosen  were  as 
follows,  viz: — 

1st.  School  District,  Capts.  Philip  Amidown  &  Peter  Penniman  &  Lt. 
Abraham  Staples. 
Major  Thompson. 

Mr  Jonathan  Jones  and  Mr.  Caleb  Cheney. 
Capt.  Samuel  Warren. 
Lieut.  Seth  Thayer. 
Dr.  Penniman. 

Mr.  Joseph  Allen  and  Mr.  Joseph  Bates. 
Lieut.  Joseph  Johnson. 
Capt.  Benjamin  Bead. 
Ens.  Pelatiah  Darling. 
'    Lt.  Peletiah  Thayer  &  Capt,  Levi  Aldrieh. 

Voted  to  adjourn  for  three  weeks  from  this  day.  Then  met 
and  adjourned  to  the  May  meeting. 

May  25.  Met  and  adjourned  to  Monday  next  at  9  o'clock  A. 
M.  These  adjournments  were  made,  as  the  record  says,  "to 
give  further  time  for  the  consideration  of  the  Constitution." 

At  the  appointed  time  the  inhabitants  met  and  the  Constitu- 
tion being  taken  up.  the  following  votes  were  passed: 

As  will  be  seen,  the  Constitution  was  voted  on  Chapter  by 
Chapter,  Section  by  Section,  Article  by  Article. 

Chapter  1.  Sec.  1  Article  1  is  accepted,  Art.  2nd.  15  for  21  against, 
Art,  3.  accepted.     Art,  4,  20  for  17  against, 

Chap.  1  Sec.  2,  Art  1.  amendment  proposed  viz:  The  Senate  to  consist 
of  19  members,  36  for  2  against  it,  The  Governor's  Council  proposed  to 
consist  9  men  25  for  11  against  it, — that  there  be  not  more  than  1  Coun- 
cillor elected  out  of  any  one  County,  37  for  and  1  against  it,  Art. 
2d.  Voted  with  amendment,  but  amendment  not  on  record.  Art,  3.  20  for  8 
against.  Art.  4.  12  for  1  against  it,  Art,  5,  16  for  2  against  it,  Art.  6, 
accepted.  Art.  7,  accepted.  Art.  8  accepted  with  the  amendment  of  11 
for  a  quorum  instead  of  16. 

Chap.  1.  Sec.  3.  Art,  1,  accepted.  Art  2  not  accepted  and  in  lieu 
thereof  voted  that  the  Bepresentative  body  of  this  Commonwealth  do  not 
exceed  the  number  of  150 — that  the  whole  Commonwealth  be  divided  into 
equal  Districts,  each  to  send  one  Bepresentative,  making  in  the  whole  150. 
The  3.  4.  5.  6  &  7  articles  unanimously  accepted.     8th.  Art,  accepted  with 


1780.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  391 

the  amendment  of  40  instead  of  00.  Art.  10  accepted.  Art.  11,  8  for  2 
against  it. 

Chap.  2.  Sec.  1.  Art.  13  for  3  against  it.  Art.  2  voted  with  the  amend 
ment  of  Protestant  instead  of  Christian.     Articles  3.  4  &  5  accepted. 

Voted  to  adjourn  to  Wednesday  next  at  1  P.  M. 

Met  and  proceeded  with  Chap.  2,  Sect.  1.  Articles  7.  8  &  *J  accepted. 
Art,  9  accepted  with  this  amendment  viz: — That  Judges,  and  Registers  of 
Probate  and  Registers  of  Deeds  be  appointed  by  the  several  towns,  ami  that 
all  Probate  business  and  the  Registry  of  Deeds  be  done  in  every  town,  and 
that  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  towns  both  approbate  and  license  Taverners 
and  Retailers  of  Spirituous  Liquors.  Arts.  10.  11.  &  12  accepted.  Art.  13 
not  accepted,  and  Voted  reasonable  and  adequate  grants  for  their  respec- 
tive services  be  annually  made  to  the  Governors  and  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court,  according  to  the  discretion  of  the  General  Court  for 
the  time  being. 

Chap.  2.  Sec  2.    Articles  1.  2  &  3  accepted. 

Chap.  2.  Sec.  3.  Articles  1.  2  &  3  accepted.  Art.  4  not  accepted  and 
voted  as  before  not  more  than  one  Councillor  to  be  chosen  out  of  any  one 
County,     Articles  5.  6  &  7.  accepted. 

Chap.  2.     Sec.  4.     Articles  1  &  2  accepted. 

Chap.  3  Art  1.  not  accepted  and  voted  that  judiciary  Officers  shall  not 
hold  their  offices  exceeding  5  years  unless  appointed  anew.  Art,  2.  Ac- 
cepted.    Art.  3,  voted  with  the  amendment  of  5  years  instead  of  7  years. 

At  this  point  we  find,  by  a  reference  to  the  meeting  of  June 
19th,  that  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  June  1.  As  there  is 
no  record  of  any  meeting  on  June  1st,  it  is  not  known  what 
business  was  then  transacted;  but,  it  is  supposed,  the  remaining 
chapters  of  the  Constitution  were  acted  on,  and  that  there  was 
no  record  by  the  Clerk  remains  a  mystery. 

May  25,  held  under  a  new  warrant,  Ebenezer  Thompson, 
Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  Great  and  General  Court 
or  Assembly  appointed  to  be  convened,  held  and  kept  for  the 
Government  service  at  the  State  House  in  Boston,  in  the  County 
of  Suffolk,  on  Wednesday  the  thirty  first  day  of  May  current  and 
so  do  die  in  diem  during  their  Session  or  Sessions. 

Chose  Edward  Rawson  a  Delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention to  attend,  at  their  next  session,  in  the  room  of  Joseph 
Dorr  Esq.  and  Peter  Penniman  who  have  hitherto  attended. 
No  mention  is  made  of  the  declination  of  Messrs.  Dorr  and 
Penniman.  The  coming  session  of  the  Convention  is  supposed 
,  to  be  held  simply  to  count  the  votes  which  had  been  given  for 
and  against  the  Constitution. 


392  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1780. 

Chose  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Ens.  Peletiah  Darling,  Gapt.  John 
Albee,  Capt.  Levi  Aldrich  and  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  a  com- 
mittee to  settle  and  adjust  matters  between  this  Town  and  the 
Town  of  Milford. 

Voted  to  allow  Constable  John  Albee  seventy  dollars  to 
make  up  his  loss  sustained  in  receiving  counterfeit  money  for 
taxes. 

June  1!).  Voted  to  leave  it  discretionary  with  the  Com- 
mittee for  hiring  Soldiers,  how  much  to  give  or  engage  to  give 
in  Paper,  Silver  or  Produce  as  they  can  agree  with  the  soldier. 

Voted  to  raise  £10,000  to  defray  town  charges,  and  that  the 
same  be  assessed  immediately.  *  The  immediate  assessment  was 
probably  directed  on  account  of  the  rapid  depreciation  of  the 
Continental  currency. 

June  29,  1780.  This  day  the  committees  of  Mendon  and 
Milford  met  and  agreed  on  a  division  of  the  roads  between  the 
two  towns,  as  to  what  parts  each  town  should  mend  and  keep  in 
repair  for  travelling,  viz: — 

Mendon's  part  beginning  at  Belliughaui  Line  at  the  middle  of  the  bridge 
upon  the  Country  road  between  Dr.  John  Corbett's  and  Lieut.  Samuel  Pen- 
niman's  and  so  the  whole  of  the  road  till  it  comes  opposite  to  Lieut. 
Samuel  Penniman's  house. 

Then  Milford  to  keep  the  whole  of  the  Country  Road  and  bridge  over 
the  Mill  River,  so  called,  till  it  comes  to  a  large  Rock  near  John  Sprague's 
house. 

Then  Mendon  to  mend  and  keep  in  repair  the  Country  Road  until  it 
comes  to  the  Eight  Rod  Road. 

And  the  Division  of  the  Eight  Rod  road  is  as  follows  viz :  Mendon  to 
begin  at  Upton  line  by  the  east  corner  of  the  land  belonging  to  the  heirs  of 
Micah  Bates,  late  of  Upton,  deceased;  thence  to  mend  the  road  until  it 
comes  to  where  the  Eight  Rod  Road  (so  called)  meets  with  the  road  that 
leads  from  Milford  to  Upton. 

Then  Milford  to  take  and  mend  the  road  from  thence  until  they  shall 
complete  one  half  of  the  said  Eight  Rod  Road ;  that  is  to  say,  one  full  half 
of  the  distance  from  Upton  line  to  the  above  said  Country  Road. 

Then  Mendon  to  mend  the  remainder  of  the  sd  Eight  Rod  Road,  after 
Milford's  part  ends. 

John  Tyler,  ) 

John  Albee,  j-  Com.  for  Mendon. 

Peter  Penniman.         ) 

Samuel  Warren,  ) 

Ichabod  Thayer,  Jr.,  '-Com.  for  Milford. 

Samuel  Jones,  ) 


1780.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  393 

FIRST    STATE    ELECTION    UNDER    THE    CONSTITUTION. 

Sept.  4.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  no  warrant  being 
recorded,  the  following  State  officers  were  voted  for,  viz: — 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock,  had  23  votes. 

do.        do.        James  Bowdoin,       "      1     " 
Lieut.Gov.,       James  Bowdoin,       "    24     " 

do.         do.         John  Hancock,         "      1     " 

FOR   SENATORS   AND   COUNCILLORS. 

Hon.  Moses  Gill         had  21.  Brig.  Gen.  Warren,  had  12. 

Hon.  Samuel  Baker     "    15.  Col.  Read,  "      1. 

Maj.  Seth  Washburn  "    15.  Joseph  Dorr  Esq.        "    20. 

Sept.  11.     Voted  to  raise  £1500  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  £1000  hard  money  to  pay  the  six  months  men 
and  3  months  men  hired  by  the  committee. 

Voted  to  raise  £4150  "to  pay  for  Continental  Horses  pur- 
suant to  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court." 

Voted  to  raise  £10,400  in  the  present  currency  to  defray  town 
charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  allow  Mr.  Edward  Rawson  £180  for  his  expenses  at 
the  late  Constitutional  Convention  and  £4.10  per  day  for  twelve 
days  attendance  at  the  Convention,  £54. 

Voted  to  forego  Baruch  Bullard's  Rate £10.03.00 

"     Daniel  Callum's       "     44.11.10 

"     John  Wilson's         "     44.05.04 

Oct.  11.  Edward  Rawson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative 
to  the  General  Court. 

Voted  to  pay  the  men  who  went  to  Tiverton  on  the  Alarm 
eighty  dollars  per  day,  exclusive  of  State  pay. 

Voted  that  the  Militia  officers  return  the  number  of  men  who 
went,  in  order  for  an  assessment  for  the  money. 

Voted  to  raise  £13,000  to  purchase  the  town's  quota  of  beef 
for  the  Army.  As  the  requisition  for  this  beef  was  probably 
issued  before  Milford  was  set  off,  it  will  be  understood  that  both 
towns  were  to  be  held  for  the  supply.  The  quota  of  beef  for 
Mendon  to  furnish,  as  is  found  among  the  Revolutionary  ar- 
chives, was  26,962  pounds.  Levi  Rawson  and  Increase  Thayer 
were  a  committee  to  purchase  this  beef;  the  first  was  allowed 
eighty  dollars  per  day  for  services  and  expenses,  and  was  em- 

50 


394  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1780. 

ployed  for  ten  days.  Mr.  Thayer  was  employed  two  and  a  half 
days,  at  seventy  dollars  per  day. 

Dec.  4.  Town  meeting  by  an  adjournment  from  Nov.  27. 
Met  and  adjourned  to  Landlord  John  Hill's  (Tavern),  to  meet 
in  one  quarter  of  an  hour. 

In  the  meantime,  a  new  warrant  was  issued  for  a  meeting  on 
Dec.  25,  and  under  that  warrant  it  was  voted  to  raise  £25,000 
to  purchase  beef,  pursuant  to  a  requisition  of  the  General  Court 
of  Dec.  4,  1780. 

Capt.  Philip  Ammidown  and  Capt.  Benj.  Read  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  purchase  the  beef,  or  pay  the  money  to  the  Super- 
intendent of  Purchases,  as  shall  appear  most  to  the  advantage 
of  the  town.  The  £25,000  was  to  be  immediately  assessed  and 
collected,  and  no  town  orders  were  to  be  received  by  the  Collec- 
tor for  any  part  of  the  tax. 

Chose  a  committee  of  sixteen,  to  hire  men  for  the  town's 
quota  of  soldiers  to  fill  up  the  Continental  battalions.  The 
names  of  the  committee  are  as  follows,  viz: — 

Capt.  Amidown,  Lieut.  Increase  Thayer, 

Capt.  B.  Bead,  Col.  Craggin, 

Capt.  John  Tyler,  Mr.  Nahum  Taft, 

Mr.  Henry  Penniman,  Mr.  Joseph  Thayer, 

Lieut.  John  Benson,  Ens.  Turner  Ellis, 

Capt.  Levi  Aldrich,  Mr.  Peletiah  Penniman, 

Mr.  Stephen  Torrey,  Mr.  Levi  Bawson  & 

Mr.  John  Hill,  Mr.  Benj.  Thayer. 

As  this  Committee  was  instructed,  each  one,  to  procure  a  sol- 
dier, it  is  supposed  that  16  was  the  quota  for  Mendon.  Massa- 
chusetts was  called  on  for  4240  men  for  3  years;  and  Dec.  2,  the 
quotas  were  determined  and  the  different  towns  notified  to  fill  up 
their  respective  quotas.  The  number  set  clown  for  Mendon  was 
27;  but,  as  in  war  matters,  the  separation  of  Milford  was  not  yet 
recognized,  we  may  suppose  that  of  the  27,  Mendon  was  to  sup- 
ply 16  and  Milford  11  men. 

The  Committee  was  chosen  Jan.  1,  1781,  to  which  day  the 
meeting  of  Dec.  25  was  adjourned. 

MEMORANDA    FOR    1780. 

Court  (Mass.  Ar.)  vol.  40,  p.  232. 

The  petition  of  Edward  Rawson  [of  Mendon]  and  others  of 


1780.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  395 

Hartford,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  praying  for  a  permit  to 
transport  goods  to  the  said  State  Jan.  6,  1780. 

Resolved  that  John  Caldwell,  Theodore  Hopkins  and  George  Merrill  be 
and  they  hereby  are  permitted  to  Transport  out  of  the  State  from  Otis 
Whipple's  Store  in  Mendon,  3  tierces  of  N.  E.  Rum,  1  do  of  salt,  and  from 
Peter  Reeds  store  in  Douglass,  12  tierces  and  2  hhds.  of  N.  E.  Rum  and  2 
Casks  of  salt  into  the  State  of  Ct.  for  the  reasons  mentioned  in  the  Petition, 
any  Act  or  Law  of  this  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 
In  Council  R.  &  C. 
Consented  to  by  15  of  the  Council. 

As  the  Council  "  concurred,"  it  is  evident  that  the  House  of 
Representatives  had  previously  granted  the  prayer  of  the  peti- 
tion. 

At  this  time  Councillors  were  chosen  by  the  Legislature  from 
those  who  had  been  elected  Senators  by  the  people.  Joseph 
Dorr,  Esq.,  having  been  chosen  a  Councillor,  the  following  is  a 
copy  of  his  letter  of  acceptance  of  that  office. 

Mass.  Arch.  Rev.  Letters  vol.  202,  p.  245. 

Mendon,  5th  of  June  1780. 
Sir, 

By  your  Official  Letter  of  the  1st.  inst.  I  am  informed  of  my  having  been 
elected  a  Member  of  the  Honble  Board  of  Councillors  for  the  year  ensuing. 
I  am  very  sensible  of  the  dignity  conferred  upon  me  by  this  Election, 
and  feel  the  warmest  emotions  of  Gratitude  to  the  Honble  Gentlemen  of  the 
General  Assembly  for  their  suffrages  on  the  occasion ;  at  the  same  time, 
conscious  of  .my  Inability  to  discharge  the  important  Duties  of  this  ele- 
vated station  with  that  benefit  and  real  service  to  the  public  as  I  could  ear- 
nestly wish,  I  shall  enter  upon  this  arduous  business  with  great  Diffidence 
and  some  degree  of  Reluctance. 

The  circumstances  of  my  Family  &  domestick  Affairs  are  such  as  will 
render  my  Constant  attendance  at  Court  extremely  inconvenient.  I  doubt 
not  therefore  that  the  Houble  Board  will  readily  grant  me  all  reasonable  In- 
dulgence, and  excuse  my  absence  when  the  urgency  of  my  affairs  shall  re- 
quire my  Particular  attention.  The  next  week,  being  the  term  of  holding 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  at  Worcester,  will  prevent  my  giving  so  early 
an  attendance  at  the  Board  as  I  should  otherwise  have  done. 
I  have  the  Honor  to  be  Sir, 

With  every  sentiment  of  Duty  &  Respect 
To  the  Honble  General  Assembly 

Your  most  Obed1.  Humble  Serv't, 

Joseph  Dorr. 
Hon.  Samuel  Adams  Esq..  Secretary. 


396 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1780. 


HON.    JOSEPH    DORR,    JR. 

Hon.  Joseph  Dorr,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Mendon  May  24,  1730. 
He  was  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Joseph  Dorr.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1752  and  received  the  degree  of  A.  M,  in  course. 
He  preached  occasionally  for  several  years  but  was  never  or- 
dained. He  early  turned  his  attention  and  energies  to  the  polit- 
ical affairs  of  the  times  and  became  an  earnest,  unceasing  and 
vigorous  co-laborer  with  the  earliest  patriots  of  the  Revolution. 
It  was  said  of  him  that  he  devoted  himself  three  hundred  days 
of  each  year,  from  1773  to  1780,  to  the  public  service,  and  with- 
out compensation. 

Mr.  Dorr  filled  many  important  offices.  He  was  Town  Clerk 
and  Treasurer,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Member  of  the  Committees 
of  Safety  and  Correspondence,  one  of  the  Committee  chosen  to 
call  upon  the  Mandamus  Councillors  and  demand  the  surrender 
of  their  commissions.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  and 
of  the  Governor's  Council,  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  (was  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  at  the  time 
of  his  election  as  Councillor)  and  Judge  of  Probate,  which  latter 
office  he  held  to  near  the  close  of  life.  Judge  Dorr  died  in 
Brookiield,  Dec.  6,  1808,  to  which  town  he  had,  a  few  years 
before,  removed,  aged  78  years. 


MENDON   SOLDIERS   IN   THE   WAR   IN    1780. 


William  Torrey, 
Nat  Torrey, 
Lemuel  Green, 
David  Green, 
Cyrenus  Rawson, 
Jonathan  Taft, 


Seth  Johnson, 
John  Hayward, 
Daniel?  Stone, 
Caleb  Legg, 
Joseph  Passmore, 
Samuel  Ramsdell. 


John  Pickering, 
Elisha  Chase, 
Zelek  Darling, 
David  Legg,    • 
Benj.  Hayward, 


The  foregoing  names  are  taken  from  a  Roster  entered  as  six 
months  men. 

It  is  believed,  however,  that  there  were  other  men  at  this  time 
serving  in  the  Continental  army.  A  paper,  without  date,  is 
found  among  the  Archives  of  the  war  containing  the  names, 
arranged  in  alphabetical  order,  of  more  than  a  hundred  men  as 
serving  at  some  time  in  the  army.  The  dates  or  places  of  their 
service  is  not  mentioned. 


1780.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


397 


THE   ROSTER   WITHOUT   DATE. 


Burg's  Mate  Jos.  Adams,  Nehemiah  AUlrich, 
Lieut.  Samuel  Cobb,        Phineas  Aldrich, 
Lieut.  Wm.  Darling,        Eleazer  Albee, 
Adj.  John  Holden,  Amasa  Aldrich, 

Qr.  Mas.  "Wm.  Jennison,  Abraham  Aldrich, 
Capt.  Andrew  Peters,  Jacob  Ammidown, 
Maj.  Calvin  Smith,  Silas  Brown, 

Surg.  Stephen  Wilkins,  Ed.  Bowker, 
Capt.  Levi  Willard,  Timothy  Bruce, 

Lieut.  Samuel  Warren,    Justus  Battles, 
Lieut.  Levi  Aldrich 


Asa  Albee, 
Serg.  Rufus  Aldrich, 
Ebenf.  Craggin, 
Saml.  Davis, 
Ebenr.  Davis, 
John  Deering, 
Drum.  Aaron  Davis, 
Lieut.  Enoch  Darling, 
Job  Darling, 
John  Daniels, 
Joshua  Daggett. 
Peter  Darling, 
Levi  Darling, 
Serg.  Turner  Ellis, 
Fifer,  Marvel  Ellis, 
Corp.  Simeon  Fish, 
Corp.  Saml.  Fairbanks, 
Amariah  Force? 
Hez\  Fletcher, 
David  French, 
Serg.  Saml.  French, 
Cleophas  Green, 
Ichabod  Hay  ward, 
Darius  Holbrook, 
William  Hall, 
Benj.  Vickery, 
Joseph  Woodward, 
John  White, 
Benj.  White, 
Jabez  Albee, 


Ichabod  Bosworth, 
Oliver  Chapin, 
Isaac  Chapin, 
Arthur  Corey, 
Wm.  Chase, 
Josiah  Chapin, 
Lieut.  Joseph  Cody. 
Serg,  Adam  Chapin, 
Corp.  Peter  Corbett, 
Corp.  Wm.  Cheney, 
Benj.  Clark, 
Amos  Craggin, 
Corp.  Eliphalet   Phil- 
brook, 
Serg.  Benj.  Read, 
Fifer  Jona  Rawson, 
Edward  Rawson, 
Arthur  Rawson, 
Aquilla  Ramsdelk— lared 

Smith, 
Master, 
Calvin  Smith, 
Saml.  Smith, 
Simeon  Staples, 
Jona.  Staples, 
Amos  Sheparson, 
Abraham  Stearns, 
Enos  Taft, 
Ebenr.  Taft, 
Artemas  Taft, 
Saml.  Thayer, 
Joel  Thayer, 
Jonas  Twetchel, 
Nat  Torrey, 
Amasa  Thayer, 
Corp.  Sheffield  Patridge,  Aaron  Thayer, 
Saml.  Washburn,  Ens.  Art.  Amariah  Vose? 

Serg.  Benj.  Walker,         Elias  Whitney, 
Corp.  Thomas  Watson     Stephen  Wood. 
Jona.  Whitney, 
Jonathan  Boyce, 


Serg.  Jere.  Battles, 
Samuel  Boyce, 
Samuel  Hill, 
Reuben  Holbrook. 
John  Hunt, 
Winsor  Jones, 
Joshua  Lazell, 
Moses  Lovett, 
Moses  Legg, 
William  Legg, 
Wm.  Lesure, 
David  Legg  Jr. , 
Corp.  David  Legg, 
Corp.  Caleb  Legg, 
Gideon  Lesure, 
Levi  Lesure, 
Robin  Meinyo, 
Henry  Nelson, 
Daniel  Norcross, 
Benj.  Norcross, 
David  Owen, 
Benj.  Owen, 
Amos  Patridge, 
Eli  Patridge, 
Joseph  Passmore, 


Return  of  Clothing  for  the  Town  of  Mendon,  under  a  requi- 
sition of  May  4,  1780.  (Rev.  and  Miscellaneous,  Vol.  141,  pp. 
292,  293.) 


398 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1781. 


Dec.  28. 


33  Shirts, 

33  prs.  Shoes, 

34  "     Stockings. 
16    "    Blankets, 
26  Miles  travel, 

7  Days  out, 


£40 £1320  00  00 

40.. 1320  00  00 

24 816  00  00 

100 1600  00  00 

104  00  00 

243  00  00 


£5403  00  00 


Stephen  Torre y. 


Receipted  for  by 
Rev.  and  Mis.,  Vol.  141,  p.  331. 

Allowed  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon: 

Mileage  paid    6  men  to  Rhode  Island,  60  miles £18  00  00 

Also,     "     10  men  to  Springfield,       70      "     70  00  00 

Also,     "      10  men  to  Boston,  37      "     37  00  00 

Also,     "     20  men  to  Claverick,        180      "     360  00  00 

Also,     "       6  men  to  Rutland,  30      "     18  00  00 


£503  00  00 


Rev.  &  Mis.,  Vol.  141,  p.  437. 

Allowed  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon : 

For  6  Horses  and  expense  in  procuring  &  transporting 

Old  Money  £5865  00  00 in  the  new, £146  12  06 

Rev.  &  Mis.,  Vol.  141,  p.  205. 

The  following  Table,  showing  the  depreciation  of  the  Conti- 
nental money,  will  explain  the  high  prices  found  in  the  preced- 
ing pages: 

DEPRECIATION   TABLE. 
MONTHS.  1777- 

Jauuaiy 105 

February 107 

March 109 

April 112 

May 115 

June 120 

July 125 

August 150 

September 175 

October 275 

November 300 

December. ... 310 


1778. 

1779. 

1780. 

1781. 

325 

742 

2934 

7400 

350 

868 

3322 

7400 

375 

1000 

3736 

7500 

400 

1104 

4000 

400 

1215 

4600 

400 

1342 

6400 

425 

1477 

6900 

450 

1630 

7000 

475 

1800 

7100 

500 

2030 

7200 

544 

2308 

7300 

634 

2593 

7400 

1 781.     Feb  6.     Voted  to  choose  thirty-two  men  in  addition 


1781.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  399 


to  the  former  Committee  of  Sixteen  ehosen  to  hire  soldiers  for 
the  army.     The  mimes  of  the  Committee  are  as  follows,  viz: 

Ebenezer  Merriam,  Lt.  James  Lovett,  Aaron  Thayer  Jr. , 

Benoni  Benson,  Moses  Smith,  Jos.  Bates, 

Saml.  Fairbanks,  Jesse  Wheelock,  Lt,  Abraham  Staples, 

Phineas  Aldrich,  Col.  Silas  Wheelock,  James  Blake, 

Seth  Taft,  Peter  Wheelock,  John  Crooks, 

Jepthah  Clark,  Dea.  Josiah  Adams,  Moses  Thayer, 

Lt,  Seth  Wheelock,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  John  Penniman, 

Benj.  Boyee,  Benj.  Ellcry  Esq.,  Zebulon  Goss, 

Lt.  Seth  Chapin,  Ens.  Peletiah  Darling,  Daniel  Taft. 

Lt.  Peter  White,  Robert  Lawton, 

Feb.  6,  1781.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  of  this  town  give  security  to  any 
three,  or  less  number  of  men,  chosen  as  a  Committee,  by  this  town,  for  the 
purpose  of  hiring  this  town's  quota  of  men  now  raising  for  the  Continen- 
tal Army,  pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  of  this  Common- 
wealth of  the  2nd  of  December  1780,  who  shall  produce  proper  certificates 
that  they  have  hired  such  men  to  enlist  into  the  army  as  aforesaid,  and 
have  given  him  such  a  sum  or  sums:  said  security  to  be  given  similar,  with 
regard  to  manner  and  time  of  payment,  with  those  said  town's  Committee 
may  have  given  to  the  soldier,  and  be  worded  agreeable  to  the  following. 

Mendon,  Feb.  1781. 

In  behalf  said  Town  of  Mendon  I,  the  subscriber  do  hereby  promise 
and  oblige  myself  and  successors  in  the  office  of  Treasurer  of  said  town, 
to  pay  unto  A.  B.  the  sum  of  pounds  in  Spanish  milled  dollars,  or 

gould  to  the  value  thereof,  it  being  for  his  or  their  paying  same  to  C.  D. 
for  enlisting  in  the  Continental  Army,  as  one  of  said  town's  quota  of  men 
now  raising  pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  this  Commonwealth  of  the  2d.  of 
December  last 

Witness  my  hand  E.  F.  Treasurer. 

March  5.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Dan.  Aldrich,  Lt.  Reuben 
Thayer,  Turner  Ellis,  Nairn  in  Taft  and  James  Lovett;  Levi 
Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  George  Aldrich,  Treasurer;  Constables, 
Lt.  Increase  Thayer  and  Peter  Darling. 

Voted  that  one-third  of  the  Town  Meetings  be  held  at  the 
South  Parish  Meeting  House  in  future. 

Voted  to  allow  the  Selectmen  for  the  year  past  three  hard  dol- 
lars, or  paper  money  equivalent,  for  their  services.  The  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  and  the  Assessors  were  allowed  two  hard  dol- 
lars and  the  Treasurer  20s  hard  money.. 

April  2.     State  Election. 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock  had  26  votes. 

For  Lt,  Governor,  Thomas  Gushing  had  22  votes. 


400  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1781. 

For  Senators  and  Councillors,  Moses  Gill,  Samuel  Baker,  Joseph  Dorr, 
Seth  Washburn  and  Israel  Nichols,  Esqrs.  had  27  votes  each. 

SETTLEMENT   WITH   THE   TOWN   OP   MILFORD. 

We  the  Subscribers,  being  Committees  chosen  by  the  Towns  of  Mendon 
and  Milford  to  settle  sundry  affairs  between  said  Towns  have  attended  that 
service  and  have  divided  the  Poor  Peopel,  which  were  supported  by  the 
town  of  Mendon  before  the  Town  of  Milford  was  incorporated  into  a  town, 
to  each  of  said  Towns  their  proportionable  part  of  said  Poor.  Also  we  have 
divided  that  part  of  the  Country  Road  and  the  Eight  Rod  Road  (so  called) 
which  is  between  the  said  town  of  Mendon  and  Milford  to  each  town  then- 
equal  half,  to  mend  and  keep  in  repair  forever  and  have  committed  a  writ- 
ten division  of  said  Poor  (not  now  found)  and  said  Roads  with  Town  Clerks 
of  each  town,  to  be  recorded,  they  being  signed  by  the  Chairman  of  each  of  ■ 
the  abovesaid  Committees. 

We  the  Committee  of  Mendon  have  delivered  said  Committee  of  Milford 
their  part  of-the  Arms  and  Ammunition  belonging  to  said  town  of  Mendon 
before  said  Milford  was  set  off  and  have  taken  their  receipt  therefor 

We  have  also  found  that  the  Town  of  Mendon  owes  the  Town  of  Milford 
the  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds  old  emission  and  also  said  Town  of  Mil- 
ford's  proportionable  part  of  two  State  Notes,  one  dated  Dec.  1,  1779  for 
£1169.09,  two  years'  interest  paid,  the  other,  dated  April  1,  1778  for  £1234.04, 
one  year's  interest  paid,  they  the  said  Town  of  Milford  pa}ing  or  discharg- 
ing the  said  Town  of  Mendon  from  the  several  debts  which  said  Town  of 
Mendon  owes  to  the  several  persons  hereafter  named,  viz : 

Mr.  Ichabod  Thayer's         Note  dated  Aug.  19,  1776   for £15  00  00 

Capt.  Ichabod  Thayer's  "         "     Apr.  25,  1779     " 30  00  00 

Elijah  Stoddard's  "        "     May   23,1777     " 18  00  00 

Ezekiel  Bates'  "         "        "      27,1778     " 50  00  00 

Boyce  Kimball's  "         "        "      31,1777     " 30  00  00 

Saul  Ramsdell's  "         "     Apr.  22,  1777     " 18  00  00 

Capt.  Gershom  Nelson's        "         "     Mar.   12,  1777     " 30  00  00 

Ebenezer  Read's  "        "     Aug.    1,1778     " 20  00  00 

Obadiah  Wood's  "         "     May  1777     " 30  00  00 

We  say  that  in  case  said  Town  of  Milford  discharged  the  abovesaid  debts, 
then  the  Town  of  Mendon  owes  the  Town  of  Milford  Two  Thousand  Pounds, 
Old  Emission,  to  be  on  interest  until  paid,  and  also  their  proportionable  part 
of  the  abovesaid  State  Notes, 

And  in  case  there  should  any  more  debts  appear  against  said  Town  of 
Mendon  that  were  due  before  said  Town  of  Milford  was  incorporated  into 
a  Town  then  said  Milford  is  still  held  to  pay  their  proportionable  part  save 
that  there  is  in  the  Treasury  of  said  Town  of  Mendon  six  hundred  pounds 
to  be  adjusted. 

And  also  we  have  delivered  to  the  said  Town  of  Milford  their  proportion- 
able part  of  the  Ministry  Money  and  School  Money  which  formerly  belonged 
to  the  said  Town  of  Mendon  before  Milford  was  set  off  as  a  town. 


1781.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  401 

The  Town  of  Mcndon  is  to  pay  and  discharge  the  following  debts  that 
were  contracted  before  the  Town  of  Milford  was  incorporated  viz: 

To  Col.  Andrew  Peters,  the  sum  of £156  00  00 

Edward  Rawson  Esq.  "         168  12  07 

Josiah  Nelson  3  Notes,        "         140  00  00 

Widow  Rawson  "         39  00  00 

LeviAlbee  "        36  00  00 

Capt.  Samuel  Green,  "  15  00  00 

Samuel  Twiss  "         24  00  00 

Henry  Penniman  "         12  00 

Relative  to  the  Town  of  Mendon  owing  the  Town  of  Milford  $2000,  as 
also  said  Town  of  Mendon  and  said  Town  of  Milford  discharging  the  above- 
said  is  submitted  to  said  Towns. 

Peter  Penniman, 

John  Albee,  Committee  of 

Samuel  Warren,  Mendon 

Jonathan  Jones,         f  and 

Ichabod  Thayer  Jr.  Milford. 

Saml.  Jones,  J 

Mendon  26th.  March  1781. 

Milford  March  19,  1781.  Then  we  the  Subscribers  in  behalf  of  the  Town 
of  Milford  Rec'd  of  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  the  whole  of 
sd.  Town  of  Milford's  part  of  the  Ministry  Bonds  and  School  Bonds  which 
Belonged  to  the  Town  of  Mendon  before  sd  town  of  Milford  was  incorpo- 
rated into  a  town. 

Saml.  Warren, 


irBo'oTHAVER  Jr.    I*  Committee  of  Milford. 
Saml.  Jones.  J 

May  30.  Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  for 
settling  affairs  with  Milford,  provided  that  the  town  of  Milford 
receive  the  £2000,  old  emission. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  go  and  make  immediate  payment  of 
the  aforesaid  £2000. 

Maj.  Thompson,  Capt.  Penniman  and  Dan.  Aldrich  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  search  into  the  state  of  the  town  respect- 
ing their  debts. 

At  an  adjournment  of  this  meeting  it  was  voted  not  to 
instruct  the  Constable  to  proceed  in  collecting  "the  old  paper 
money." 

At  this  time  the  Continental  money  became  worthless,  as  the 
last  quotation  was  7500  for  one  hundred  dollars  in  silver. 

May  14.  Capt.  Benjamin  Read  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court. 

51 


402  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1781. 

The  warrant  for  this  meeting  (which  was  held  at  Chestnut 
Hill,)  was  to  see  if  the  town  would  elect  one  good  and  lawful 
man  to  represent  the  town  in  the  General  Court,  "agreeable  to 
the  Directions  given  in  the  Constitution."  This  warrant  was 
dated  in  the  fifth  year  of  American  Independence. 

April  2.  .Voted  to  raise  £370,  silver  money,  and  that  the 
assessors  immediately  assess  the  same,  to  be  jmid  into  the  Treas- 
ury to  discharge  the  first  third  of  the  money  borrowed  to  pay 
the  soldiers  who  enlisted  for  three  years;  £500  for  the  second 
third,  to  be  assessed  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  1783, 
and  the  remaining  third  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January, 
1784. 

July  2.  Chose  Col.  Samuel  Craggin,  Lt.  Increase  Thayer. 
Jr.,  and  Lt.  John  Benson  a  committee  to  procure  the  town's 
quota  of  beef  for  the  army.  The  quota  for  Mendon  is  set  down 
in  Archives  of  the  War,  at  the  State  House,  at  6782  pounds, 
and  Milford  at  4375  pounds. 

Chose  Capt.  Philip  Amidown,  Mr.  Nahum  Taft  and  Lt.  Seth 
Chapin  a  committee  to  hire  soldiers,  when  called  for,  the  pres- 
ent year. 

AN    INFLATED    CURRENCY. 

Voted  that  the  Constables  proceed  forthwith  to  collect  the  remainder 
part  of  the  Town's  paper  money  rates  (old  emission)  and  to  collect  them  in 
the  new  money  (new  emission),  and  to  make  distress  on  all  that  neglect 
payment,  and  to  sell  it  (the  property  levied  upon)  for  new  money  only; 
and  that  the  Constables  be  indemnified  in  that  proceedure,  and  that  the 
Town  Risque  all  the  cost  and  charge  that  may  be  brought  upon  the  Con- 
stables in  consequence  of  said  vote,  and  that  the  Town  will  clear  the 
Constables  from  any  costs  that  may  come  upon  that  account. 

July  23.  Voted  to  allow  5s.  per  bushel  for  Indian  Corn  and  6s.  per 
bushel  for  Rye,  on  Grain  notes. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  help  John  Hayward  to  some  corn  or  money 
directly. 

Voted  to  raise  £474  silver  money  to  pay  the  men  now  gone  for  three 
months,  and  the  Town's  quota  of  Beef  for  six  months,  with  three  yoke  of 
Oxen  on  hand,  not  paid  for. 

Aug.  29.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  Dan  Aldrich 
being  chosen  Moderator,  then  Capt.  Amidown,  Lt.  William 
Thayer,  Lt.  Increase  Thayer  and  Henry  Penniman,  of  Mendon 
and   freeholders,   came  before   the   meeting  and  scrupled  the 


1781.]  ANNALS    OF    MENTION.  403 

fidelity  of  Dan  Aldrich  and  Lt.  Reuben  Thayer,  to  whom  the 
oath  of  allegiance  was  tendered,  and  said  Aldrich  put  it  off  for 
further  consideration,  but  said  Thayer  took  the  oath. 

Then  Lt.  Reuben  Thayer,  Jesse  Tourtelotte,  William  Darling, 
Peletiah  and  Gideon  Thayer,  of  Mendon,  freeholders,  ques- 
tioned the  fidelity  of  Capt.  Tyler,  Capt.  Amidown  and  Gapt. 
Benj.  Read,  and  they  took  the  oath;  and  Dan  Aldrich  being 
disqualified,  Turner  Elis  was  chosen  Moderator  and  took  the 
oath,  and  then  the  town  went  on  business. 

Sept.  10.  Voted  to  raise  £520,  silver  money,  to  discharge  old 
debts  the  town  owed,  £40  for  the  support  of  the  poor  the  pres- 
ent year  and  £54  for  the  support  of  the  soldiers'  families,  being 
£G14  in  the  whole,  all  in  "  silver  or  gould." 

Dec.  17.  Voted  to  raise  £30  in  addition  to  the  sum  already 
raised  to  procure  the  three  years'  men  not  yet  hired. 

Voted  not  to  raise  any  money  for  schools  this  year. 

At  this  time  it  was  found  that  there  was  due,  for  taxes  uncol- 
lected from  the  Constables  of  1777,  1778,  1779  and  1780  the 
sum  of  £1029.09.03,  whereupon  the  town  voted  that  the  Town 
Treasurer  order  all  the  delinquent  Constables  to  pay  in  their 
respective  balances  immediately. 

Voted  that  the  committee  for  settling  affairs  with  Milford 
make  a  final  settlement  with  them  of  the  £2000,  old  emission, 
due  said  Milford. 

Mendon  19th.  of  Dec.  1781. 

Then  the  Committees  of  Mendon  and  Milford  that  were  to  adjust  and 
settle  all  Accounts  between  said  Towns  met  and  settled  and  paid  said  Mil- 
ford £2000  that  Mendon  owed  Milford  in  the  former  Report,  and  adjusted 
the  several  debts  as  follows,  viz : — For  the  Town  of  Milford  to  pay 
John  Battles  two  notes,  dated  Aug.  2,  1778,  each  for £22  00  00 

The  Town  of  Mendon  to  pay  the  following  debts,  viz : — 

Lydia  Taft,  two  notes  dated  Mar.  12.  1777,  each  for £18  00  00 

Caleb  Boynton  jr.'s  note  "     May  18.  1778,         "       50  00  00 

Joiia  Boyce's  '    26.1778,         '■       3116  00 

Laban  Fairbanks'       "      "        "    30.1777,         "      18  00  00 

JonN  Tyler,  ^| 
John  Albee,  Committees 

Peter  Penniman,  [  ,. 

Samuel  Jones,  I()1 

Samuel  Wahken,  |  Mendon  &  Milford. 
Jonathan  Jones. 


404  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1781. 

Milford  Feb.  22.  1782. 
The  Committees  of  Mendon  and  Milford  met  and  adjusted  the  several 
debts  following  viz : — The  Town  of  Milford  to  pay 

Jeduthan  Rttwson's  Note  dated  May  30.  1777  for £30  00  00 

The  Town  of  Mendon  to  pay 

Lt.  Solomon  White's  Note,  dated  May  30.  1777  for £30  00  00 

Benj.  Blake's  "         "      Aug.  5.  1776  for 1100  00 

Three  pounds  being  endorsed  thereon. 

And  the  Town  of  Mendon  to  pay  the  Town  of  Milford  £2.11.00,  by 
reason  that  the  abovesaid  Note  to  Jeduthan  Rawson  is  more  than  their  part 
to  pay.  And  the  abovesaid  £2.11.00  to  be  paid  when  the  Town  of  Milford 
shall  call  for  it. 

John  Tyler,  ) 

John  Albee,  [-  Com.  for  Mendon. 

Peter  Penniman,         ) 

Samuel  Warren,         ) 

Ichabod  Thayer,  Jr.,  VCom.  for  Milford. 

Samuel  Jones.  ) 

MENDON    SOLDIEKS    IN   THE    WAR    OF    1781. 

Three  months  men  at  West  Point. 

Serg.  Nathl.  Torrey,  Daniel, Holbrook, 

Stephen  Nelson,  Ichabod  Benson, 

Marble  Taft,  Peter  Holbrook, 

Isaac  Bates,  Jona.  Taft, 

Benj.  Hayward,  Saul  Ramsdell. 

Sixth  Mass.  Regiment  1781. 

Capt.  John  Holden,  Samuel  Ramsdell, 

John  Clark,  Calvin  Smith, 

Jared  Smith,  Serg.  Samuel . 

N.  B.  Joseph  Wood  died  in  the  service. 

The  call  for  Massachusetts  of  June  30,  was  for  2700  men  for 
three  months,  and  the  quota  for  Mendon  and  Milford  was  21. 

REVOLUTIONARY    MEMORANDA. 

Rev.  and  Mis.,  Vol.  141,  p.  293. 

Mendon  Return  for  Cloathing  for  1781,  viz: — 

March  8,  23  Shirts  @  10s £11  10  00 

27  prs.  Shoes    "    10s 14  10  00 

27  prs.  Hose     "     6s 8  02  00 

5  Days 2  02  00 

30  Miles  travel : 

£36  04  00 
Receipted  for  by    James  Lovett. 

Rev.  &  Mis.  vol.  141,  p.  12,  (Mass.  Archives.) 


1781.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  405 

Apr.  11,  1781.     Allowed  John  Passmore  of  Mendon  for  sundry  Cloathing 

lost  in  a  neccessary  Retreat  from  New  York  Sept.  15,  1776  as  pr.  account 

rendered  and  sworn  to  amounting  to  £13.16  hard  money  equal  to  £25.17.00 

in  paper. 

April  13,  1781.  Allowed  Cyrenius  Rawson,  on  his  receipt  as  a 
six  months  soldier  for  the  use  of  his  blanket  in  the  New  Cur- 
rency   £0  07  00 

Apr.  16,  1781.  Allowed  Caleb  Legg,  of  Mendon,  on  his  receipt 
as  a  six  months  soldier,  for  the  use  of  his  blanket,  in  the  new 
currency 0  07  06 

Apr.  27,  1781.  Allowed  Samuel  Tucker,  of  Mendon,  on  his  cer- 
tificate of  Bounty  and  use  of  gun  and  blanket  the  sum  of  sev- 
enty pound  in  the  Old  Emission,  equal  in  the  New  to 1  15  00 

May  10,  1781.  Allowed  Seath  Johnson,  of  Mendon,  on  his  cer- 
tificate, the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds  in  the  old  emission,  equal  in 
the  New,  to 7  10  00 

Aug.  17,  1781.  Allowed  William  Foster,  of  Mendon,  for  the  use 
of  blanket,  he  being  a  soldier  in  the  service  to  Reinforce  the 
Continental  Army  for  Nine  Months  in  1779,  Sixty  pounds  old 
emission,  equal  in  the  New  to 1  10  00 

Allowed  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon  on  their  Acct.  for  Mileage  paid 
13  men  to  Springfield,  distance  70  miles  at  6s.  pr  mile  in  the 
Old  Currency,  equal  in  amount  in  the  New  Currency  to 6  16  06 

Also  for  22  men  to  Claverick  (N.  Y.)  distance  170  miles,  at  6s.  per 
mile  in  the  Old  Currency,  equal,  in  the  New,  to. 28  01  00 

making  in  the  whole  £34  17  06. 

VALUATION   OP   MENDON   IN    1781. 

296  Polls. 

165  Houses  @  45s  £375  05  00 

136  Barns  "18s •.    122  08  00 

75  Stores,  &c.  "     6s 22  10  00 

8  Distill  Houses,  Mills  &c.    "12s 28  00  00 

891  Acres  &  parts  of  an  Acre.  English  Mowing,  @  12s 534  12  00 

643  Barrels  of  Cider  '    "     2s.  6d. . . .      80  07  06 

900  Acres  of  Tillidge  Land  "     8s 360  00  00 

1104  do.      "  Salt  &  Fresh  meadow,  "     6s 331  04  00 

4000  do.      "Pasturing  "     3s 600  00  00 

8857  do.      "  Wood  &  unimproved  Land,  "30s 265  15  00 

£1000  Money  on  interest  &  on  hand £1000  00  00 

£250    Amt,  Goods,  Wares  &  Merchandize  250  00  00 

127  Horses,  @    £6 762  00  00 

179  Oxen,  "       7 1253  00  00 

688  Cows,  "       4 2752  00  00 

764  Sheep  &  Goats,  "  6s 229  04  00 

130  Swine,  12s 78  00  00 

£100  Coaches,  Chaises  &c 100  00  00 

Income, 


406  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1782. 

4  Ounces  of  Gold,  coined  or  not  coined 20  06  08 

300  do.      "  Silver  coined  or  not  coined 100  00  00  392  16  10 

€3108  18  04 
Mass.  Archives  vol.  178  p.  290. 

To  His  Excellency  the  Governor  and  the  Honb,e  Council  for  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts. 

We,  the  Subscribers  beg  leave  to  exhibit  our  Accompt  for  supporting- 
James  Thompson  a  Native  of  who  is  a  State  Charge. 

Paid  for  Boarding  James  Thompson  from  the  twentieth  day 

of  March  last  to  the  twenty  sixth  of  Sept.,  26  weeks £8  02  00  silver. 

More  to  two  Shurts 06  08 

To  Mending  Shews  &  Shurts 104  00       " 

To  one  pare  of  Shews 12  00 

$10  04  08 
Mendon  Sept.  ye  26,  1781. 

James  Lovett,       1 
Reuben  Thayer,    I   Selectmen 
Turner  Ellis,        f  of  Mendon. 
Nahum  Taft.         J 
Worcester  ss.  Sept.  26,  1781. 

Personally  appeared  the  above  named  James  Lovett,  Reuben  Thayer, 
Turner  Ellis  &  Nahum  Taft,  Selectmen  of  Mendon,  and  made  solemn  oath 
that  the  above  Account,  by  them  exhibited,  is  a  Just  and  True  Account,  in 
all  its  parts,  According  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge. 
Sworn  before  me, 

Edward  Rawson,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
In  Council  Feb.  7,  1782,  Read  and  advised  that  a  Warrant  be  drawn  on 
the  Treasurer  for  £10.04.08  in  full  for  the  above  Acct. 

John  Avery,  Secy. 
Capt.  Benj.  Read. 


1782.  March  1.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Capt.  John  Tyler, 
Capt.  Levi  Aldrich,  Wm.  French,  Lt.  John  Benson  and  Benja- 
min Smith;  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Capt.  Philip  Amidown, 
Jr. ;  Constables,  Lt.  William  Thayer  and  Daniel  Taft.  The  Se- 
lectmen to  be  the  Committee  of  Correspondence. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen,  for  the  future,  shall  make  a  fair 
record  of  alb  the  orders  they  shall  draw  on  the  Town  Treasurer, 
setting  forth  who  they  are  to,  what  they  are  for  and  when  given; 
and  that  they  transmit  to  the  Town  Treasurer  once  every  three 
months  a  list  of  all  the  orders  they  have  given  out,  setting  forth 
who  they  are  to,  the  date  and  the  sum  of  each  order. 


1782.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  407 

April  1.  Voted  that  the  town  would  not  act  anything  for  tak- 
ing off  the  Excise  (tax)  on  spirituous  liquors. 

Voted  that  the  annual  March  meetings,  for  the  future,  be  held 
at  the  First  Precinct  Meeting  House,  and  that  one  third  of  all 
other  meetings  be  held  at  the  Second  Precinct  Meeting  House, 
adjournments  excepted. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  6th  article  in  the  warrant,  which  was, 
"  To  see  if  the  Town  will  bring  in  their  votes,  for  any  person  in 
town,  for  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  order  the  Selectmen  to  rec- 
ommend the  same  to  the  Governor  and  Council  for  a  Commis- 
sion." 

Also  voted  to  pass  over  the  8th  and  9th  articles.  The  8th  was 
to  see  if  the  town  would  choose  a  Committee  to  audit  accounts 
before  they  were  laid  before  the  town;  and  the  9th  Avas  to  see  if 
the  town  would  allow  the  Constable  to  receive  orders  on  the 
Treasurer,  in  payment  of  rates. 

Voted  that  the  committee  to  settle  accounts  between  Mendon 
and  Milford  shall  have  2s.  per  day  for  their  services  while  on 
that  business,  viz: — 

Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  13  days  at  2s.  per  day  is £1  06  00 

Capt.  John  Tyler,  11     "         "         "        "     102  00 

Capt,  John  Albee,  11     "        "         "         "     1  02  00 

Ens.  Pelatiah  Darling,     4     "         "         "         "     00  08  00 

Capt.  Levi  Aldrich,  5     "         "         "         "     00  10  00 


£4  08  00 

Voted  that  Lieut.  James  Lovett,  Ens.  Pelatiah  Darling  and 
Edward  Rawson  shall  have  2s.  per  day  for  their  services  as  a 
committee  chosen  by  the  town  to  collect  some  objections  against 
the  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Lt.  James  Lovett  2  days  at  2s.  per  day  is £0  04  00 

Ens.  Pelatiah  Darling       "  "         "  0  04  00 

Edward  Rawson  "  "        "  0  04  00 

May  29.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  1781  have  two  silver  dol- 
lars each  for  their  services. 

Voted  to  forego  Michael  Callunrs  rates  in  Mr.  Levi  Rawson's 
rate  bills  for  1780,  which  is  10  shillings  silver  money,  and  99 
pounds  8  shillings  in  paper  money,  old  tenor. 

March  25.     Voted  that  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Capt.  Philip 


408  ANNALS  OF  MBNDON.  [1782. 

Amidown,  Capt.  Levi  Aldrich  be  a  committee  to  hire  the  five 
men  for  the  Continental  Army,  pursuant  to  a  resolve  of  the 
General  Court,  passed  March  8,  1782. 

Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Capt.  John  Tyler  and  Lieut.  John 
Benson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  inquiry  why  there  is 
so  much  old  Continental  money  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  George 
Aldrich,  and  in  the  hands  of  the  last  year's  Selectmen. 

Voted  to  choose  one  Delegate  to  join  in  Convention  at  Wor- 
cester on  the  second  Tuesday  in  April  next,  pursuant  to  a  Cir- 
cular Letter  from  the  town  of  Hardwick,  and  Capt.  Peter 
Penniman  was  chosen  Delegate. 

This  Convention  met  April  9th,  and  was  organized  by  the 
choice  of  Caleb  Curtice  as  Moderator  and  Timothy  Whiting  as 
Clerk. 

The  Convention  complained  that  they  were  not  satisfied  with 
the  manner  the  numerous  sums  of  public  money  which  have 
been  assessed  upon  the  people  have  been  disposed  of.  Among 
the  remedies  they  proposed,  they  urgently  recommended  that  an 
immediate  settlement  should  be  made  with  the  State  Treasurer 
and  all  other  disbursing  officers,  and  immediate  measures  adopt- 
ed to  recover  all  monies  found  in  the  hands  of  delinquents. 
They  recommended  to  the  several  towns  in  the  county  to 
instruct  their  Representatives  to  bring  the  matter  to  the  notice 
of  the  General  Court,  and  should  no  effectual  methods  be  taken 
to  accomplish  the  above  purposes,  the  Representatives  were  to  be 
instructed  to  withdraw  from  their  attendance  on  the  Court. 

The  Convention  resolved  that  those  in  the  public  service 
should  not  receive  extravagant  compensation,  and  that  the  fees 
of  the  gentlemen  lawyers  should  be  reduced;  that  the  Court  of 
Probate  should  be  held  in  four  different  places  in  the  county; 
that  justices  may  be  empowered  to  determine  all  actions  of 
twenty  pounds  and  under;  that  the  people  could  supply  beef 
and  other  articles  for  the  support  of  the  army  easier  than  to  be 
assessed  in  money;  that  the  State  should  urge  a  settlement  with 
Congress,  and  that  in  future  we  should  not  be  called  on  for 
more  than  our  just  proportion  for  the  support  of  the  Govern- 
ment. 

Voted  that  Mr.  Isaiah  Thomas,  printer  of  the  Massachusetts 
Spy,  be  requested  to  publish  them  in  his  next  paper. 


1782.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  409 

After  choosing  Peter  Whcelock,  Lieut.  Jos.  Johnson  and  John 
Brooks  to  give  the  Delegate  instructions,  it  was  then  voted  that 
the  Delegate's  attendance  at  the  Convention  should  be  free  of 
charge  to  the  town. 


STATE    ELECTION. 

April  1,  1782.  After  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the 
Selectmen,  "  they  repeatedly  called  for  votes  for  Governor,  Lt. 
Governor  and  Senators  &  Councillors,  but  no  votes  were  brought 
in  when  called  for." 

May  13.  The  first  business  of  this  meeting  was  for  the  choice 
of  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  but  as  no  votes  were 
brought  in  when  repeatedly  called  for,  the  meeting  proceeded  to 
the  consideration  of  the  other  articles  in  the  Warrant. 

After  excusing  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  from  attending  the 
Convention  at  Worcester,  and  choosing  Lt.  Joseph  Johnson  in 
his  stead,  a  committee  consisting  of  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Joseph  Johnson,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Dan  Aldrich  and  Capt. 
Benjamin  Read,  were  chosen  to  render  reasons  why  the  town 
did  not  choose  a  Representative  the  present  year.  What  the 
reasons  were  neither  the  record  or  tradition  furnish  any  intima- 
tion. Neither  do  we  learn  from  any  source  why,  at  the  State 
election,  in  April,  no  votes  were  given  in  for  Governor,  Lieut. 
Governor,  Senators  and  Councillors. 

Voted  that  Philip  Amidown,  Jr.,  Town  Treasurer,  with  the 
advice  of  the  Selectmen,  issue  executions  against  the  delincjuent 
Constables,  and  also  call  in  all  other  debts  due  the  town  as 
conveniently  may  be. 

Nov.  18.  Voted  to  act  upon  a  Circular  Letter  from  the  town 
of  Boston. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  men  to  assist  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety  in  detecting  all 
illicit  trade  with  our  present  enemy. 

The  committee  chosen  were  Philip  Amidown,  Capt.  Benjamin 
Read  and  Capt.  John  Albee. 

Voted  that  we  will  exert  ourselves  individually  to  detect  and 

52 


410  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1782. 

bring  to  clue  punishment  all  persons  who  trade  or  import  goods 
or  any  manufactures  from  any  post  held  by  the  British,  our 
enemies. 

It  is  not  known  that  Mendon  furnished  any  men  for  the  Con- 
tinental Army  in  1782,  other  than  those  who  had  enlisted  for 
service  during  the  war,  and  whose  names  are  as  follows,  viz: — 

Gustavus  Aldrich,  John  Clark,  Benj.  Hayward, 

Jonathan  Boyce,  Aaron  Davis,  Nathan  Jackson, 

Silas  Brown,  Paul  Davis,  John  Martindale, 

Henry  Nelson,  Said  Ramsdell,  Jon'th'n  Whitney  (killed), 

Amariah  Partridge,  Jonathan  Taft,  Solomon  Whitney, 

Joseph  Passmore,  Joel  Thayer,  19. 

Jeduthan  Rawson,  Samuel  Thayer, 

It  will  be  remembered  that  some  of  the  Rosters  are  sivpposed 
to  be  lost,  and  thus  it  is  not  absolutely  certain  that  the  names 
of  all  the  men  who  served  in   the  different  quotas  for  Mendon  # 
have  been  preserved. 

The  war  being  virtually  ended  in  1782  may  account  for  the 
fact  that  Mendon  was  called  upon  for  only  five  men.  It  is  sup- 
posed they  were  furnished,  although  a  second  committee  of  five 
men  was  chosen  to  fill  the  quota,  the  five  first  chosen  having 
failed  to  do  so. 

So  far  as  may  be  learned  from  the  Archives  at  the  State 
House,  the  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  died  in  the 
service,  viz: — 

Amariah  Albee,  John  Hayward,  Elijah  Stoddard, 

Joseph  Chapin,  Ezra  Marshall.  Jonath'n  Whitney,(killed) 

Joseph  Wood,  died  July  21,  17—  in  Capt.  Batcheller's  Co.  7. 

The  old  emission  of  Continental  money  having  become  worth- 
less in  March,  1781,  a  new  emission  was  made,  which  however, 
almost  immediately  fell  below  par.  For  a  better  understanding 
of  the  state  of  the  currency  at  this  time,  the  following  table  is 
introduced.  It  may  be  found  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives, 
Rev.  and  Mis.,  Vol.  Ill,  upon  the  last  page. 


1783.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  411 


A    TABLE   TO    REDUCE    THE    NEW    MONEY    INTO    SPECIE,   1782. 
100  £  is  £53  06  08  100  £  is    £  53  06  08  18  £  is      £  9  12  00 


90  •' 

48  00  00 

200  " 

106  13  04 

19  " 

10  02  08 

80  " 

42 

13  04 

300  " 

ICO  00  00 

20  " 

10  13  04 

70  " 
60  " 

37 

32 

06  08 
00  00 

400  " 
500  " 

213  06  08 
266  13  04 

10  s.  is 

s.  5  04  0 

50  " 

26 

13  04 

600  " 

320  00  00 

9  " 

4  09  I 

40  " 

2t 

06  08 

700  " 

373  06  08 

8  " 

4  03  o 

30  " 

16 

00  00 

800  " 

436  13  04 

7  " 

3  09  0 

20  " 

10 

13  04 

900  " 

480  00  00 

6  " 

3  02  $ 

10  " 

5 

06  08 

1000  " 

533  06  08 

5  •' 

2  OS  0 

9  " 

8  " 

4 

4 

16  00 
05  04 

4  " 
3  " 

2  01  i 
1  07  0 

10  £  is 

£  5  06  08 

7 

3 

14  08 

11  " 

5  17  04 

2  " 

1  01  0 

6  " 

3 

00  00 

12  " 

6  08  00 

1  " 

06  4 

5  " 
4  " 

0 

13  04 
02  08 

13  " 

14  " 

6  18  OS 

7  09  04 

2 

3  " 

1 

12  00 

15  " 

8  00  00 

2  " 

1 

01  04 

16  " 

8  10  08 

1  '• 

10  08 

17  " 

9  01  04 

1783.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt.  Benj. 
Read,  Benjamin  Smith,  Lt.  John  Benson  and  Joseph  Bates, 
also  to  serve  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor;  Philip  Amidown,  Town 
Clerk  and  Treasurer;  Moses  Smith  and  David  Daniels,  Con- 
stables. 

Voted  to  forego  part  of  Nathaniel  Ingraham's  rates  for  1780, 
£06.00.00. 

Voted  to  scale  Nathan  and  Nehemiah  Beals'  rates  according 
to  the  scale  for  the  month  of  September,  1780;  that  is,  £'100 
silver  worth  £7100  currency,  old  emission. 

Last  Monday  in  March,  by  adjournment. 

Voted  to  allow  each  of  the  Selectmen  and  Assessors  $2.00  for 
their  services  in  1782. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

April  2.     For  Governor,  Benjamin  Lincoln,  Esq.,  had 24  votes. 

"       %    "  James  Bowdoin,  Esq.,  had 2  " 

Wm.  Heath,  Esq.,  had 1  " 

For  Lieut.  Governor,  Nathaniel  Gorliam,  Esq.,  had. 24  " 

"         "  "  Thos.  Cushing,  Esq.,  had  .  . .  .   1  " 

For  Senators,  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  had 20  " 

Moses  Gill,  Esq.,  had 20  " 

Samuel  Baker,  Esq.,  had 20  " 

Jonath".  Warner,  Esq.,  had 20  " 

Nathan  Tyler,  Esq.,  had 20     " 


412  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1783. 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  state,  in  this  place,  that  no 
person  could  be  elected  to  the  offices  of  Governor  and  Lieuten- 
ant Governor  unless  they  had  been  inhabitants  of  the  State  for 
seven  years  preceding,  and  unless,  at  the  same  time,  they  were 
seized,  in  their  own  right,  of  a  freehold  within  the  Common- 
wealth of  the  value  of  one  thousand  pounds,  and  unless  they 
declare  themselves  to  be  of  the  Christian  religion. 

Senators  were  to  be  seized  in  their  own  right  of  a  freehold 
within  the  Commonwealth  of  three  hundred  pounds  at  least,  or 
possessed  of  personal  estate  to  the  value  of  six  hundred  pounds 
at  least,  or  of  both  to  the  amount  of  the  same  sum,  and  to  have 
been  an  inhabitant  of  the  Commonwelth  for  five  years  preceding 
their  election,  and  at  the  time  of  their  election  an  inhabitant  of 
the  district  for  which  they  shall  be  chosen. 

Representatives  were  to  be  inhabitants  at  least  one  year  pre- 
ceding their  election,  be  seized  in  their  own  right  of  a  freehold 
of  the  value  of  one  hundred  pounds  within  the  town  they  should 
be  chosen  to  represent,  or  any  ratable  estate  to  the  value  of  two 
hundred  pounds;  and  they  shall  cease  to  be  representatives  im- 
mediately on  ceasing  to  be  qualified  as  aforesaid. 

To  be  qualified  as  voters,  every  person  must  be  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  a  resident  of  the  town  where  he  claims  the  right  to 
vote  for  one  year  preceding,  have  a  freehold  estate  within  the 
same  town  of  an  annual  income  of  three  pounds,  or  any  estate 
of  the  value  of  sixty  pounds. 

The  qualification  of  voters  will,  in  a  measure,  account  for  the 
thin  vote  at  the  election  of  State  officers,  as  above. 

May  14.  Dan  Aldrich,  Nathan  Very,  Levi  Aldrich,  Capt. 
John  Albee,  Philip  Amidown  and  Lieut.  Benoni  Benson  were 
chosen  a  committee  "to  look  into  the  circumstances  of  certain 
persons  of  whom,  it  is  said  by  the  Constables,  they  cannot  pay 
their  Rates." 

"Voted  to  allow  Samuel  Fairbanks  for  a  counierfeiUhirty  six  shilling 
bill  Sirord  in  Hand  Money." 

Why  called  sword  in  hand  money  will  be  seen  by  an  inspection 
of  the  plate  on  next  page.  It  was  first  issued  in  1775.  An 
emission  in  177G  differed  from  the  first  only  that  the  word 
Independence  was  substituted  for  the  word  Magna  Cliarla.  I 
am  indebted  to  Mr.  Barton,  Assistant  Librarian  of  the  Ameri- 


1783.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


413 


414  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1783. 

can  Antiquarian  Society,  for  the  loan  of  the  bill  from  which 
this  fac  simile  was  produced.  From  him  I  learn  that  the  ori- 
ginal plate  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Natural  History  and 
Antiquarian  Society  of  Montrose,  Scotland. 

May  14.  Chose  Peter  Penniman,  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court;  and  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt.  Benj.  Read,  Benjamin 
Smith,  Peletiah  Darling  and  Nathan  Terry  were  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee to  give  him  instructions. 

This  meeting  was  adjourned  to  meet  May  26th  inst.  at  the 
house  of  John  Hill,  Innholder,  at  which  place,  without  the 
transaction  of  any  business,  the  meeting  was  dissolved.  John 
Hill's  tavern  stood  upon  or  near  the  site  now  occupied  by  David 
Adams'  house. 

Jnne  16.  Voted  to  forego  John  CI.  White's  Rate  in  Constable, 
Wm.  Thayer's  rate  bills  for  1782.  This  is  the  first  instance, 
since  the  settlement  of  the  town,  when  airy  person  was  recorded 
as  having  more  than  one  given  name. 

July  7.  Philip  Amidown,  Capt.  John  Tyler  and  Capt.  Benj. 
Read  were  chosen  a  Committee  "to  prosecute  and  recover  of 
James  Lovett  and  other  Selectmen  for  1781,  all  the  securities 
which  they  unjustly  withhold  from  the  said  Town  of  Mendon." 

Sept.  1.  At  this  time,  as  appears  by  the  record,  the  School 
and  Highway  Districts  were  identical,  and  were  seven  in  num- 
ber. A  Committee  of  fourteen  was  chosen  to  new  arrange  them, 
but  no  report  is  found  of  their  doings. 

Sept.  Voted  to  raise  $30  to  build  a  Trussell  under  the  Great 
Bridge,  near  Nullum  Taft's  Mill  (Millville);  and  115  to  repair 
the  road  over  Pond  Hills. 

Oct.  6.  Voted  to  raise  £200  including  £13.10  already  raised, 
to  defray  town  charges  this  present  year. 

Joseph  Dorr  and  others  having 'petitioned  the  General  Court 
to  be  incorporated  as  the  First  Congregational  Society  in  the 
First  Parish  in  Mendon, 

Nov.  10.  The  Town  voted  "  that  the  Town  of  Mendon  have 
no  objection  to  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  being  granted,"  and, 
on  the  same  day,  the  Parish  also  voted  their  consent. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  record  all  the  warrants  given  out 
to  warn  persons  out  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  and  also  the  ser- 
vices of  said  warrants. 


1783.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  415 


Voted  that  the  care  of  the  action  commenced  by  James  Lovett, 
against  the  Town  of  Mendon,  he  committed  to  the  care  of  the 
Selectmen. 

MEMORANDA. 

Mass.  Archives,  Court  vol.  15,  p.  162. 

In  the  H.  of  K,  July  17.  1783.  On  the  Petition  of  Joseph  Dorr  and  oth- 
ers, Inhabitants  of  the  First  Parish  in  Mendon,  praying,  amongst  other 
things  to  be  incorporated  into  a  Society  by  the  name  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Society  in  Mendon. 

Ordered,  that  the  prayer  of  said  Petition  be  so  far  granted  that  the  Peti- 
tioners be  and  are  hereby  authorized  to  notify  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Mendon,  by  serving  the  Town  Clerk  of  the  said  Town  and  the  Parish 
Clerk  of  the  1st  Parish  in  said  town  of  Mendon,  to  appear  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  the  next  sitting  of  the  General  Court  (the  said  Notice  to  be 
given  15  days  before  said  Tuesday)  and  shew  cause,  if  any  they  have,  why 
the  prayer  of  said  Petition  should  not  be  granted. 
In  Senate  Read  &  Concurred. 

Laws  of  Mass.  vol.  1,  p.  100. 

March  16,  1784.  Joseph  Dorr,  Peter  Pennimau,  John  Tyler,  Henry  Pen- 
niman,  John  Albee,  John  Penniman,  Zebulon  Goss,  William  Thayer  Jr.,  In- 
crease Thayer,  Calvin  Smith,  Josiah  Adams,  Samuel  Fairbanks,  Stephen 
Torrey,  Abraham  Staples,  Jacob  Ellis,  Andrew  Peters,  Hezekiah  Hayward, 
John  Hayward,  Levi  Rawson,  William  Torrey,  Joseph  Adams,  John  Hay- 
ward  Jr.,  Philip  Amidown,  Otis  Whipple,  Joseph  Adams  Jr.,  Beth  Whee- 
lock,  John  Crooks,  Josiah  Penniman,  Saul  Ramsdell,  Moses  Smith,  Calvin 
Smith  Jr.,  Peter  Thayer  Jr.,  Aquilla  Robbins,  Matthew  Hill,  Alexander 
Thayer,  Stephen  Wood,  Grindall  Wood,  David  Ellis,  Barlow  Carpenter, 
Thomas  Rawson,  Nathaniel  Torrey,  Stephen  Johnson,  Seth  Davenport, 
Samnel  Fairbanks  Jr.,  Elijah  Hayward,  George  Staples,  John  Craggin,  Seth 
Taft,  Artemas  Taft,  John  Torrey,  Benjamin  Staples,  Jacob  Aldrich  Jr.  and 
John  Hill,  together  with  their  estates  which  they  now  have  or  may  hereaf- 
ter have  and  possess  in  their  own  right  in  the  First  Parish  in  Mendon  be  and 
are  hereby  incorporated  into  a  Society,  by  the  name  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Society  in  Mendon. 

In  the  act  Peter  Penniman,  John  Tyler  and  Henry  Penniman 
were  made  Trustees  of  the  Fund,  which,  at  the  time  of  the  in- 
corporation, was  £1321. 

The  interest  of  the  Fund,  or  so  much  as  the  Society  may  di- 
rect, to  be  paid  to  "  a  minister  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
resident  and  officiating  in  the  work  of  the  Ministry  in  said  Town 
forever." 


416  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1783. 

The  town  and  the  parish  granted  the  Meeting  House  and 
ground  properly  appertaining  thereto  to  the  Society,  reserving 
the  right  of  all  "  to  meet  in  said  Meeting  House  for  Public  Wor- 
ship and  also  for  Town  Meetings." 

The  Ministry  Money  (so  called,  arising  from  the  sale  of  the 
Ministry  Land)  was  granted  to  the  Society  by  the  Town,  of 
which  however  they  could  only  expend  the  accruing  interest. 

By  the  terms  of  the  act,  if,  at  any  time,  the  annual  income 
of  the  fund  should  be  more  than  enough  to  pay  the  minister 
then  the  overplus  was  to  be  put  at  interest  to  repair  or  build 
a  new  Meeting  House;  and  if  the  annual  income  should  be  more 
than  enough  then  the  overplus  shall  be  for  the  support  of  a  school 
for  the  benefit  of  said  Society.  The  3thd.  Wednesday  of  May  to 
be  the  annual  meeting. 

For  some  reasons,  it  seems,  after  a  few  years,  the  corporators 
became  dissatisfied  with  the  transaction  of  business  under  the 
act  of  incorporation,  and  finally,  in  1792  petitioned  for  its  re- 
peal which  was  accomplished  by  An  Act  to  repeal  an  Act  entitled 
An  Act  for  incorporating  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
First  Parish  in  Mendon,  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  into  a  So- 
ciety by  the  name  of  the  "  First  Congregational  Society  in  Men- 
don," passed  March  16,  1784. 

Whereas  the  Act  above  mentioned  "  does  not  produce  those 
salutary  effects  which  were  expected,"  therefore  the  same  is  here- 
by repealed  and  made  null  and  void. 

The  Society  was  held  to  pay  all  its  debts  heretofore  contracted, 
and  the  subscribers  to  the  fund  to  pay  the  interest  due  on  their 
obligations  at  the  first  day  of  June,  1792. 

Samuel  Fairbanks,  Joseph  Adams  and  Stephen  Johnson,  the 
present  Trustees  of  said  Society,  or  any  two  of  them  were  au- 
thorized to  collect  all  debts  due  from  persons,  not  members  of 
the  Society,  for  the  use  of  the  members;  and  directed  to  return 
to  the  Members  of  the  Society  the  bonds,  notes  or  other  proper- 
ty they  may  have  or  receive  into  their  hands  belonging  to  said  So- 
ciety; and  the  said  Society  shall  account  with  the  First  Parish 
in  Mendon,  or  any  individual  thereof  for  any  monies  or  proper- 
ty which  said  Society  have  received,  and  which  did  belong  to 
them  before  the  act  of  incorporation. 

This  Act  may  be  found  in  the  Mass.  Special  Laws,  vol.  1,  p. 
393. 


1784.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  417 

1784.  At  this  time,  the  war  having  just  come  to  an  end,  and, 
by  the  treaty  of  Paris  of  Sept.  '.),  1783,  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  haying  been  acknowledged  by  Great  Britain,  we 
rind  the  country  deeply  in  debt  and  suffering  under  the  evils 
of  a  depreciated  paper  currency.  The  old  emission  of  Conti- 
nental bill  had  become  worthless  and  the  new  emission  was  fast 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  its  predecessor.  Relieved  from  the 
pressure  of  the  war  and  struggling  along  under  the  Articles  of 
Confederation,  the  General  Government  could  do  little  or  noth- 
thing  to  relieve  the  general  distress.  With  such  a  state  of  af- 
fairs it  was  not  strange  that  the  prevalence  of  a  general  feeling 
of  discontent  should  soon  manifest  itself;  culminating,  at  last, 
in  1786,  in  Massachusetts,  in  the  Shay's  Rebellion. 

The  good  people  of  Mendon  were  not  exempt  from  this  wide 
spread  dissatisfaction  with  the  condition  of  public  affairs,  and 
hence, 

Jan.  22.  They  voted  "  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Town 
that  the  pay  of  the  Commutation  (so  called)  will,  if  taxed  on 
the  peojde,  be  an  insupportable  burden,  together  with  other  bur- 
dens already  laid  upon  us;  and  we  think  (it)  unconstitutional. 
and  not  supported  by  Confederation:  and  it  is  further 

Voted,  that  our  Representative  use  his  utmost  endeavours  that  the  He- 
solve  of  Congress  of  the  22d.  of  March  last,  so  far  as  it  respects  the  Com- 
mutation be  repealed,  and  that  he  use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  obtain  an 
Act  of  restriction,  or  a  total  repeal  of  the  impost  Act;  and  also  use  his  en- 
deavours that  no  money  be  granted  into  the  Fund  of  Congress  whereby 
the  said  Commutation  may  be  paid. 

Not  satisfied  with-  the  preceding  Protest  and  Instructions,  the 
town,  in  May  afterwards,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a 
redress  of  grievances. 

Mass.  Ar.  Mendon,  p.  ■*  1322,  Case  II.  L. 

COMMONWEALTH.  OF    MASSACHUSETTS. 

To  the  Hon.  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Courl 

assembled : — 
The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  Humbly  Sheweth; 

That  notwithstanding  the  good  people  of  this  Commonwealth  have  [by 
the  hand  of  a  kind  Providence  |  been  preserved  through  a  long  &  distress- 
ing war,  which  is  now   happily  terminated,  and   the  Blessings  of  Peace 
restored  to  our  borders.      Although  partaking  of  divers  other  Blessings, 
53 


418  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1784. 

both  public  &  private,  Yet  there  are  certain  matters  of  grievances  which 
we  labor  under  and  look  up  to  this  Honorable  Court  for  a  redress  of  some, 
among  which  we  beg  leave  to  mention  the  following  viz: 

1.  The  granting  an  Impost  to  Congress  for  their  sole  use  and  improve- 
ment, and  paying  the  same  into  their  hands,  we  conceive  to  be  unconstitu- 
tional and  dangerous. 

2.  We  conceive  the  half  pay  or  commutation  to  the  officers  of  the  Con- 
tinental army,  to  be  a  public  grievance,  and  pray  that  the  Honorable  Court 
will  take  every  constitutional  measure  to  prevent  the  payment  of  the  same. 

3.  The  burden  of  large  sums  of  Continental  Currency,  lying  on  the 
hands  of  the  good  people  of  this  Commonwealth  in  general  &  the  neglect 
of  other  States  to  redeem  their  proportion  of  the  same  we  regard  as  a  griev- 
ance and  pray  that  this  Court  will  still  continue  their  exertions  to  have  it 
taken  off  our  hands,  and,  if  further  neglected,  to  stop  a  sufficiency  of 
appropriations  to  Congress  for  the  redemption  of  the  same. 

4.  The  good  people  of  this  Commonwealth  are  greatly  distressed  for 
want  of  a  circulating  medium,  by  means  of  which  a  part  of  the  community 
become  a  prey  to  the  avarice  and  extortion  of  others ;  we  therefore  pray 
that  every  possible  means  may  be  used  to  increase  the  quantity  of  circula- 
ting medium  to  prevent  the  mischief  that  will  otherwise  come. 

In  the  name,  and  by  order  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon. 

Philip  Amidown,  Town  Clerk 
Mendon,  May  24.  17«4. 

March  1.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt. 
Benjamin  Eead,  Philip  Amidown,  Lt.  John  Benson  and  Lt. 
Increase  Thayer;  Philip  Amidown,  Town  Clerk;  Capt.  Peter 
Penniman,  Town  Treasurer;  Benjamin  Thayer  and  David 
Daniels,  Constables;  Seth  Chapin  and  John  Darling,  Wardens, 
and  John  Crooks,  Deer  Reave. 

Upon  a  report  of  Peter  Penniman,  Benjamin  Read  and  John 
Albee,  (all  Captains,)  a  committee  chosen  for  the  purpose, 

"  The  Town  voted  to  raise  £150  for  the  purpose  of  mending  Highways, 
building  and  repairing  Bridges  and  keeping  the  Roads  and  Bridges  in  good 
repair  through  the  present  year;  and  that  the  Assessors  of  the  Town  assess 
the  Inhabitants  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  May  next  in  the  sum  above- 
said,  and  that  lists  of  said  assessment  be  committed  to  the  respective  Con- 
stables of  the  town,  with  a  Warrant  to  collect  the  same,  each  Inhabitant 
having  liberty  to  work  out  the  sum  assessed  on  him  at  the  prices  hereafter 
set,  viz.  each  man  to  be  allowed  3s.  per  day  until  the  first  day  of  Sept. 
next  and  3s.  for  a  team,  and  from  that  time  2sh.  per  day  until  the  first  day 
of  Nov.  next  and  the  same  for  a  team,  viz :  a  yoke  of  good  Oxen  and  cart. 
Each  person  so  assessed  and  producing  a  certificate  from  the  Surveyors  of 
the  sum  or  sums  they  may  have  worked  out  as  abovesaid,  shall  discharge 
so  much  of  said  tax,  and  said  Surveyors  are  directed  to  give  said  certificates 


1784.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  419 

as  abovesaid :  and  in  case  said  Inhabitants  shall  refuse  or.neglect  to  work 
out  their  rates  as  aforesaid  by  the  first  day  of  November  and  the  said  cer- 
tificates shall  not  be  produced  and  delivered  to  the  said  Constables,  then 
the  said  Constables  shall  proceed  to  collect  and  pay  in,  as  their  warrant 
directs,  all  and  every  part  of  the  assessment  not  worked  out  as  aforesaid." 

Voted  that  Capt.  John  Tyler  he  a  Delegate  to  attend  the  Con- 
vention at  Worcester  on  the  3d  Tuesday  of  March,  inst. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Read  and  Dan  Aldrich  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  settle  all  matters  in  dispute  between  James  Lovett  and 
the  town  of  Mendon.  This  dispute  was  about  the  settlement  of 
his  account  as  a  former  Treasurer,  and  Lovett  had  commenced  a 
suit  at  law  against  the  town. 

The  committee,  it  appears,  immediately  entered  upon  the 
duty  assigned  them,  and  soon  brought  the  matter  to  a  final  set- 
tlement, as  the  following  receipt  will  show: — 

Mendon,  March  8.  1784. 
Received  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  two  pounds  four  shillings  and  eight 
pence,  in  full  of  all  demands,  accounts,  debts,  dues  or  services  done  for 
said  town  at  any  times  before  this  date,  especially  for  all  services  done,  as 
a  Selectman,  for  said  Town  in  the  year  1781,  and  cost  brought  of  any  name 
or  nature  soever  from  the  Beginning  of  the  World  to  the  End  thereof 
Witness  my  hand, 

James  Lovett. 
Joseph  Sibley 
Robert  Taft. 

N.  B.  Mr.  Lovett's  part  of  pay  for  hiring  a  three  years  man  is  not  in- 
cluded in  the  above  receipt. 

March  9,  Voted  to  allow  Amariah  Vose  forty-five  dollars  as 
Town's  Bounty,  due  him  for  enlisting  into  the  army  in  the  late 
war. 

Voted  to  allow  Jonathan  Boyee  forty-five  dollars  upon  his 
giving  up  a  note  he  holds  against  the  town,  given  him  by  the 
(Selectmen.  This  was  probably  a  note  given  him  at  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  in  the  army. 

It  seems  that,  at  this  time,  there  was  some  dispute  about  the 
line  between  Mendon  and  Milford  and  Upton,  as 

Capt.  John  Tyler,  Dea.  Josiah  Adams  and  Stephen  Johnson 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  settle  the  line  at  and  near  the  north- 
erly part  of  Mendon  with  Milford  and  Upton.  The  matter  was 
probably  amicably  adjusted,  as  no  further  mention  is  made  of 
the  subject. 


420  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1784. 

Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt.  Benj.  Read 
and  Lt.  Reuben  Thayer  were  chosen  a .  committee  to  divide  the 
Bonds  for  the  Ministry  money  between  the  First  Congregational 
Society  and  the  South  Precinct  in  said  Mendon. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

April  5.     For  Governor,  John  Hancock  had  18  votes. 
"            James  Bowdoin  had        5      " 

ForLt.Gov.      Thomas  Cushing  had  LI 

For  Senators  and  Councillors: 

Moses  Gill  had  18  votes. 

Seth  Washburn  had  18      " 

Jonathan  Warner  had  18      " 

Caleb  Amidown  had  17      " 

Samuel  Curtis  had  11      " 
Israel  Nichols  had  6      ' ' 

Samuel  Baker  had  2      ' ' 

Having  disposed  of  the  election  of  State  officers  the  foil  owing- 
town  business  was  then  transacted: — 

Voted  that  all  the  Notes  and  Orders  now  taken  up  by  the  Treasurer  and 
Selectmen  and  properly  settled  for  be  deposited  in  the  First  Parish  Meeting 
House  in  Mendon,  and  under  lock  and  key. 

Voted  that  no  orders  or  notes  be  settled  with  the  Treasurer  but  such  as 
arc  recorded  in  his  book  and  properly  receipted  for. 

May.  11.  Voted  to  allow  Capt.  John  Tyler  eighteen  shillings 
for  his  service  in  attending  the  Convention  at  Worcester,  and 
that  the  Selectmen  and  Assessors  should  be  paid  twelve  shillings 
for  their  services  in  1788. 

Voted  to  allow  Capt.  Benj.  Read  eighteen  shillings  for  hunt- 
ing up  a  Beef  Receipt  that  was  lost,  This  receipt  was.  probably. 
one  for  beef  bought  for  the  army  in  1  782. 

Capt.  Peter  Penniman  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt. 
Benjamin  Read,  Dan  Aldrich  and  Peletiah  Darling  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  give  him  instructions. 

By  the  following  vote  we  learn  that  certain  suits  at  law  had 
been  brought  against  the  town,  but  for  what  reasons  or  by  whom 
the  record  is  silent: — 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  take  care  of  the  suits  brought  against  the 
Town  trvahle  at  the  June  term  next. 


1784.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  421 

August  24.  Voted  to  allow  Joseph  Southwick  the  value  of 
158,  paper  money,  which  he  took  when  Constable  that  proved 
to  he  counterfeit. 

Voted  to  forego  David  Killey's  rates  in  said  Southwick's  hills, 
iu  paper  £2.05.00'  or  in  silver  £0.06.00. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  wait  on  Mr.  Abraham  Redwood* 
and  desire  him  to  pay  the  money  or  work  out  his  highway  rate 
on  the  Pond  Hills,  (so  called)  and  that  Ensign  Seth  Taft  take 
charge  of  the  workmen  while  employed. 

Voted  to  raise  £200  to  discharge  town  debts  and  support  the 
poor  of  the  town  the  present  year. 

Sept.  13.  Voted  that  Daniel  Kalham  (Callum)  may  give  his 
note  of  hand,  payable  in  one  year,  for  his  rates  in  Daniel  Taft's 
and  David  Daniels'  bills. 

Voted  that  Reuben  Legg,  procuring  a  note  against  Benjamin 
Smith,  or  any  other  good  man,  to  the  satisfaction  of  Daniel 
Taft,  payable  in  two  months,  said  Taft  shall  cross  out  said  Legg's 
rates. 

Voted  that  Daniel  Taft  shall  cross  out  John  King's  rate,  pro- 
vided said  King  shall  procure  Jonathan  Cass'  note  for  the 
amount,  payable  in  six  months. 

Vote  for  County  Register: 

Capt.  Benjamin  Read  had  70  votes. 

Timothy  Paine  Esq.,  had    6      " 

Jos.  Dorr  Esq. ,  had  1  .  " 

('apt.  Ben  j.  Hey  wood,  had  1 

Oct,  18.  Voted  that  Dr.  Joseph  Adams  and  Dan  Aldrieh  lie 
a  committee  to  examine  Dr.  Dupee's  account  for  doctoring  the 
poor  of  the  town. 

Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt.  Levi  Aldrieh,  Philip  Amidown,  Dan 
Aldrieh  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Read  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
meet  a  committee  from  TTxbridge  and  Douglass,  in  order  to 
petition  the  General  Court  for  a  lottery  to  defray  the  expense  of 
repairing  the  road  through  said  towns. 

It  seems  there  was  no  choice  for  County  Register,  (Register 
of  Deeds)  and  hence  a  new  choice  was  ordered,  with  the  follow- 
ing result: — 

Capt.  Benjamin  Read,  had  44  votes, 

Timothy  Paine  Esq.,  had   2      " 

*  Mr.  Redwood  removed  to  Mendon  from  Newport,  R  I.,  during  the  war.    lie  finally 
returned  there,  and  founded  the  "Redwood  Library     in  that  city. 


422  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1785. 

Dec.  (!.  George  Aldrich,  Oapt.  Peter  Penniman  and  Oapt. 
Benjamin  Read  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  a  settlement 
with  Philip  Amidown,  former  Treasurer. 


1785.  The  committee  chosen  Oct.  18,  ultimo,  to  consult  with 
committees  of  the  towns  of  Uxhridge  and  Douglass  in  regard  to 
a  lottery  for  repairing  the  road  through  said  towns,  met  and 
agreed  upon  the  following  petition  to  the  General  Court,  and 
which  petitition  may  he  found  in  the 

Mass.  Ar.  Mendon,  p.  JJ  1697,  case  H.  4. 

COMMONWEALTH   OP   MASSACHUSETTS. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 

Court  assemble. 

The  Petition  of  the  Subscribers  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  Towns  of 
Mendon,  Uxhridge  and  Douglass  for  the  purpose  of  preferring  a  Petition 
to  your  Honors  in  behalf  of  said  Towns  for  the  Grant  of  a  Lottery, 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

The  Inhabitants  of  said  Towns  have  been  and  still  (every 
year)  at  great  expense  in  mending  the  Road  and  repairing  the  bridges 
which  leads  from  Boston,  through  said  Towns,  to  Hartford,  called  the 
Middle  Post  Road,  it  running  nearly  20  miles  through  the  abovesaid  towns, 
and  a  great  part  of  said  road  unfit,  at  present  for  travelling;  and  the  said. 
Towns  having  large  roads  leading  through  them  to  Providence,  with  great 
expense  in  building  and  repairing  other  large  bridges;  and,  wishing  to  ac- 
commodate every  part  of  the  public,  are  desirous  to  mend  said  Post  Road 
and  build  and  repair  such  bridges,  over  the  rivers  crossing  said  Road,  as  to 
make  it  safe  and  easy  for  travellers  to  pass  them  at  all  seasons  of  the  -year 
(as  some  of  them,  at  this  time,  are  unsafe  and  almost  impassable)  and  our 
resources  are  so  much  exhausted  in  supporting  our  part  of  the  late  cruel 
war,  that  we  feel  ourselves  unable  to  make  such  reparations  on  said  Road 
as,  otherwise,  we  should  feel  a  willingness  to  do: — and  being  unwilling  the 
Publick  should  suffer  the  loss  of  such  an  extensive  benefit,  as  such  a  road 
being  rendered  unfit  for  travelling,  are  bound  in  duty  to  ask  the  assistance 
of  the  Honorable,  the  Legislative  Authority  of  the  Commonwealth  that 
they  would  be  pleased  to  grant  us  the  sum  of  £750,  to  be  raised  by  a  Lot- 
tery, for  the  sole  purpose  of  mending  and  repairing  said  Road  from  Belling- 
ham  Line,  through  said  Towns  to  Connecticut  Line,  and'  building  such 
bridges  over  the  rivers  crossing  said  road  as  shall  make  the  travelling  safe 
and  easy,  which  sum,  we  think,  (with  such  assistance  as  the  Inhabitants  of 
said  towns  are  able  to  afford)  will  be  adequate  to  make  the  reparations 
thereon,  and  paying  the  charge  and  expense  of  said  Lottery;  and  also  to 
appoint  such  Gentlemen,  Managers  of  said  Lottery,  as  you  in  your  wisdom 


1785.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  42.'> 

shall  see  meet;  or  make  such  other  grants  or  provisions  for  mending  or 
repairing  said  Roads  and  Bridges  as  you,  in  your  great  wisdom,  shall  think 
best  for  the  public  good. 

All  which  your  Humble  Petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray, 

John  Tyler,  j 

Benj.  Read,  -  Com.  for  Mendon. 

Phil.  Amidown.  ) 

Abner  Rawson,  ) 

Saml.  Read  Jr.,  -  Com.  for  Uxbridge. 

Benj.  Green.  ) 

Josiah  Read,  ) 

Elijah  Moore,  j-  Com.  for  Douglass. 

Isaac  Martin.  ) 
Jan.  31.  1785. 

Mass.  Ar.  Mendon,  p  H  1613,  case  H.  4. 

House  of  Representative  Feb.  17,  1785. 

On  the  Petition  of  John  Tyler  and  others,  committee  of  the  Towns  of 
Mendon,  Uxbridge  and  Douglass,  praying  for  leave  to  raise  £750  by  a  Lot- 
tery for  the  purpose  of  repairing  their  Roads  and  Bridges, 

Resolved,  that  the  Petitioners  have  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  agreeable  to  the 
prayer  of  said  Petition. 

As  nothing  more  is  heard  of  this  lottery  it  is  supposed  the 
project  was  abandoned. 

Jan.  3,  Oapt.  Peter  Penniman,  Capt.  John  Tyler  and  Capt. 
Benjamin  Read  were  chosen  a  committee  to  confer  with  a  com- 
mittee of  the  town  of  Milford  "in  order  to  settle  matters  in 
regard  to  the  Poor  brought  into  Milford  and  this  town,  and  to 
settle  the  cost  that  has  already  risen  with  those  Poor  that  have 
already  been  brought  into  the  abovesaid  towns." 

January  18,  1785. 

The  Committees  appointed  by  the  Towns  of  Mendon  and  Milford  to 
settle  all  disputes  between  said  Towns  respecting  the  Poor  that  have  been 
brought  back  to  said  towms  from  other  towns;  have  agreed  that  the  town  of 
Mendon  should  take  and  maintain  Luther  Easting,  son  of  Rhoda  Easting  as 
their  poor  and  pay  to  the  town  of  Milford  forty  rive  shillings,  and  acquit  the 
town  of  Milford  from  all  the  charge  the  said  town  of  Mendon  has  been  at 
in  supporting  and  transporting  the  said  Rhoda  Easting  and  her  children,  at 
any  time  before  this  date:  and  the  town  of  Milford  to  take  the  daughter, 
or  other  child,  of  the  said  Rhoda  Easting  and  support  it  as  their  poor,  and 
to  acquit  the  town  of  Mendon  from  all  costs  and  charges  they  have  been  at 
in  supporting  and  transporting  the  said  Rhoda  and  children  at  any  time 
before  this  date. 

And  that  Priscilla  Dolbear  be  supported  by  the  said  town  of  Milford, 
and  that  Hannah  Arnold  and  Abigail  Hews  be  supported  by  the  town  of 
Mendon. 


424  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1785. 

And  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that  the  original  Agreement  made 
between  the  towns  before  the  town  of  Milford  was  set  off,  be  and  remain  in 
full  force  with  this  explanation  thereon,  that  is  to  say,  that  all  persons 
brought  back  to  either  town  of  said  towns,  those  born  in  either  town  shall 
return  to  the  town  in  which  they  were  born;  and  those  brought  back 
which  have  otherwise  gained  a  residence  in  either  of  said  towns,  then  they 
shall  return  to  the  town  in  [which]  they  last  gained  a  lawful  residence  and 
to  be  accordingly  maintained,  and  also  all  persons,  old  and  young,  shall  be 
supported  in  and  by  the  town  in  which  they  lived  or  had  their  home  when 
the  Town  of  Milford  was  set  off  into  a  separate  town. 

Seth  Nelson,  ) 

Samuel  Jones,        :-  Com.  for  Milford. 

Samuel  Wakren.    ) 

Peter  Penniman,  ) 
John  Tyler,  .-  Com.  for  Mendon. 

Ben.t.  Head.  i 

Adopted  by  Milford. 

Voted  to  accept  the  above  report  provided  the  town  of  Milford  has  or 
shall  accept  of  the  same  and  that  it  be  so  understood  relative  to  the  sup- 
porting Hannah  Arnold  that  the  town  of  Mendon  shall  be  at  all  the  cost  the 
said  Towns  of  Mendon  and  Milford  has  or  may  be  at  for  her  support. 

March  7.  There  being  no  choice  for  Register  of  Deeds  at  the 
last  trial,  a  ballot  this  day  resulted  as  follows,  viz : 

Capt.  Benjamin  Read  105  vote  being  all  the  votes  cast. 

Chose  for  Selectmen,  Luke  Aldrich,  Daniel  Taft,  Seth  Daven- 
port, Jonathan  Cass  and  Benjamin  Thayer;  Seth  Chapin,  Town 
Clerk;  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Town  Treasurer;  Constables, 
David  Daniels  and  Benjamin  Thayer. 

Voted  that  Capt.  John  Tyler  and  Stephen  Johnson  have  12s. 
each  for  burying  William  Kenny,  Avho  died  of  small  pox  in  the 
year  1777. 

April  4.  Voted  that  David  Daniels  be  a  Selectman  in  the 
room  of  Jonathan  Cass. 

April  4.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  James  Bowdoiu  had  26  votes. 

"  Thos.  dishing  had     16      " 

Lieut.Gov.,      Thomas  Cushing  had  22      " 

Senators,  Artemas  Ward,   Moses  Gill,   Samuel  Baker,  Jonathan 

Warner  and  Seth  Washburn  had  29  votes  each  and  Israel  Nichols  2. 

April  2.5.  Voted  to  accept  of  the  report  of  a  committee  chosen 
to  "new  lay  out"  the  districts  for  work  and  for  schooling,  and 


1786.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  425 

that  the  same  be  entered  in  the  town  book.  By  tins  report  we 
find  the  town  was  divided  into  thirteen  districts,  the  highway 
and  school  districts  being  identical. 

May  11.  Chose  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  Representative  to  the 
Great  and  General  Court. 

As  the  lottery  scheme  for  repairing  the  road  through  Mendon. 
Uxbridge  and  Douglass  had  failed  to  become  a  law,  we  learn  by 
the  following  vote  that  application  had  been  made  to  have  it 
relocated  as  a  county  road,  for,  at  this  meeting, 

George  Aldrich,  Capt.  John  Tyler  and  Nathan  Very  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  meet  the  Committee  of  the  Court  of  the 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  at  the  house  of  Ezekiel  Wood,  in 
Uxbridge,  who  were  deputed  "  to  view  a  place  for  a  new  County 
road." 

Sept.  5.  Moses  Smith,  it  seems,  had  money  in  his  hands  be- 
longing to  the  town,  which  he  is  unable  or  unwilling  to  refund, 
as  it  is  found  this  day  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman 
and  Capt.  Benjamin  Read  were  chosen  a  committee  to  hear  any 
proposals  said  Smith  shall  see  tit  to  make  to  the  town. 

Whether  Moses  Smith  was,  at  this  time,  in  jail  or  not  cannot 
now  be  determined,  but  we  find  that  he  was  there  retained  in 
the  December  following,  as  there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant 
for  a  meeting  Dec.  12,  "  To  see  if  the  Town  will  do  any  thing- 
relative  to  releasing  Moses  Smith  from  jail,  upon  the  conditions 
mentioned  in  said  Smith's  letter,  dated  the  first  day  of  Decem- 
ber instant,  or  any  other  way  that  shall  or  may  be  proposed  at 
said  meeting."  At  the  meeting,  however,  the  subject  was  not 
acted  upon. 

At  this  meeting,  Sept.  5,  it  was  voted  to  raise  £80  to  defray 
town  charges,  and  £40  for  schooling. 

Dec.  12.  The  Representative  was  instructed  to  use  his  en- 
deavours that  the  General  Court  pass  "An  Act,  making  Real 
and  Personal  estate  a  tender  for  the  settling  of  Executions  and 
other  debts." 


1786.     March  <J.     Chose   for   Selectmen,   Stephen   Johnson, 
John  Darling,  Seth  Wheelock,  Joseph  Thayer  and  Simeon  Fish; 
54 


426  ANNALS    OF    MBNDON.  [1786. 

Sethi  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Capt.  Peter  Penniman,  Treasurer, 
and  Dan  Aldrich  and  Benjamin  Blake  for  Constables. 

Voted  to  hire  the  Constables  the  present  year,  they  procuring 
bondsmen  to  the  town's  satisfaction. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  hire  a  Workhouse  the  present  year 
to  put  the  poor  of  the  town  into,  and  for  the  Selectmen  to  take 
care  of  them  and  set  them  to  work. 

Voted  that  Joseph  Taft  have  liberty  to  put  his  son  out  to  learn 
a  trade  if  the  Selectmen  think  it  best. 

The  Selectmen  were  voted  12s.  each  and  the  Assessors  Us. 
each  for  their  services  in  1785. 

Voted  to  raise  £150  for  repair  of  highways  and  bridges  the 
present  year. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  put  off  the  old  Continental 
money  now  in  his  hands  to  the  best  advantage  for  the  town  he 
can. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Read,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Col.  Andrew  Peters, 
Dan  Aldrich  and  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  see  what  sum  Moses  Smith  can  make  out  towards 
discharging  the  taxes  due  from  him  to  the  State  and  to  the  town. 
The  taxes  were  undoubtedly  the  State  and  town  taxes  committed 
to  him  to  collect. 

March  20.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence for  the  present  year. 

Voted  that  all  delinquent  highway  taxes  of  this  year  shall  be 
added  to  the  highway  taxes  of  the  next  year. 

Dan  Aldrich  was  voted  two  pence  on  the  pound  for  collecting 
the  taxes  this  year,  he  procuring  his  father  and  Edward  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  for  his  bondsmen. 

Benjamin  Blake  was  allowed  the  same  commission  for  collec- 
tion, he  procuring  Stephen  Benson  and  Lt.  Peletiah  Darling  as 
bondsmen. 

A  ballot  was  taken  this  day  for  Register  of  Deeds,  and 

Daniel  Clapp  had  42  votes. 

April  3.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  James  Bowdoin        24  votes, 
do.  Samuel  Holton  3      "  " 

"  Lt.    do.  Thomas  Cushino-      22 


1786.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  427 

For  Senators,  Moses  Gill,  Seth  Washburn,  Abel  Wilder  and  Samuel 
Curtis  had  twenty  two  votes  each,  Amos  Singieterry  eight  and  Artemas 
Ward  14. 

April  12.       REV.   CALEB  ALEXANDER,  SIXTH   MINISTER. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  born  in  Northfield  July  22,  1755.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1777,  and  studied  Theology  with 
Rev.  Ephraim  Judson,  of  Taunton.  He  was  ordained  at  New 
Marlborough  Feb.  28,  1781,  and  dismissed  June  28,  1782, 
and  was  installed  at  Mendon  April  12,  1786.  In  1801  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society  to  visit  the 
churches  and  Indians  in  Western  New  York.  Upon  his  return 
he  was  dismissed  from  his  charge  in  Mendon  Dec.  7,  1802,  and 
re-entered  the  western  field  as  a  teacher,  for  which  work  he  was 
eminently  fitted.  He  was  first  located  in  Fairfield,  Herkimer 
Comity,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  elected  Preceptor  of  Fairfield 
Academy,  which  had  recently  been  erected.  Under  his  direc- 
tion the  Academy  soon  became  a  prominent  resort  for  education. 
In  1812  he  removed  to  Onondaga,  Onondaga  County,  and  took 
charge  of  a  newly  established  academy  there.  He  was  also 
greatly  instrumental  in  founding  Hamilton  College  and  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary.  During  all  this  time  he  preached  almost 
every  Sunday  in  the  adjoining  towns,  and  gathered  many  now 
flourishing  churches  in  that  region. 

Mr.  Alexander  died  at  Onondaga,  N.  Y.,  April  12,  1828,  aged 
72  years,  8  months  and  20  days.     His  epitaph  is  as  follows: — 

His  Industry  and  Zeal, 

In  the  Cause  of  Literature  and  Religion 

were  untiring  and  benevolent. 

"Preeious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints." 

Mr.  Alexander  published  many  books.  Among  these  are  an 
Essay  on  the  Deity  of  Christ,  with  strictures  upon  Emlyn,  1701; 
Translation  of  Virgil,  Latin,  Greek  and  English  Grammars,  and 
several  Occasional  Sermons. 

May  13.  The  ballots  for  a  County  Treasurer  this  day  were  as 
follows,  viz: — 

Samuel  Flagg  and  Nathan  Perry  each  had  IS  votes. 

The  second  article  in  the  warrant  was,  "  To  see  what  measures 


428  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1786. 

the  town  will  come  into  in  order  to  obtain  the  Estate  of  Robert 
Trask,  an  Absconding  Person,  supposed  to  be  in  the  hands  of 
Jesse  Darling." 

Upon  this  the  town  chose  Edward  Thompson.  Esq.,  and  Na- 
than Very  a  committee  "  to  see  if  they  can  accomodate  a  settle- 
ment with  Jesse  Darling." 

What  the  claim  was  which  the  town  had  upon  Robert  Trash's 
estate  does  not  appear. 

Col.  Benjamin  Read  having  been  chosen  this  day,  May  loth. 
Representative  to  the  General  Court,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Capt. 
Peter  Penniman,  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  Capt.  Philip  Ammi- 
down  and  Capt.  Levi  Aldrich  were  chosen  a  committee  to  give 
him  instructions,  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting. 

May  22.  This  committee  made  a  report,  which  was  adopted, 
and  the  Town  Clerk  was  directed  to  sign  it.  When  the  meas- 
ures to  come  before  the  Legislature  are  definitely  known,  would 
not  a  revival  of  the  practice  of  instructing  the  representative, 
inasmuch  as  he  would  thereby  learn  the  will  of  his  constituents, 
be  of  no  inconsiderable  aid  in  the  matter  of  legislation? 

Voted  to  raise  £80  to  defray  town  charges. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  provide  a  Grammar  School  so  far  as 
to  clear  the  town  from  any  fine. 

The  committee  respecting  the  matter  of  Robert  Trask  (the  ab- 
sconding person,)  were  instructed  to  prosecute  the  matter  in  the 
law,  unless  it  could  be  settled  some  other  way,  and  Col.  Benja- 
min Read  was  added  to  the  committee  for  that  purpose. 

May  0.  Then  voted  to  choose  two  more  members  "  to  joine 
the  County  Convention  to  meet  at  Leicester  on  the  loth  hist." 

Although  no  record  is  found  that  a  Delegate  had  already  been 
chosen  to  the  Leicester  Convention,  still  such  had  been  the 
case,  as  we  find  afterwards  that  Capt.  John  Tyler  was  paid 
£2. 14s.  and  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  £2. 12s.  for  attending  the 
former  Convention,  (the  one  at  Leicester,)  as  an  adjournment 
was  afterwards  held  at  Leicester  the  last  Tuesday  in  September. 
Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  and  Lt.  Joseph  Johnson  were  chosen 
as  the  ''two  more  members." 

A  committee  of  five  were  chosen,  of  which  Col.  Benj.  Read 
was  chairman,  to  give  instructions  to  the  Delegates. 

Tbe  Convention  at  Leicester  was  composed  of  Delegates  from 


1786.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  429 

thirty-seven  towns,  who,  after  voting  that  their  meeting  was  "a 
lawful  and  constitutional  affair,"  set  forth  in  a  memorial  issued 
to  the  public,  a  list  of  grievances  which  they  desired  to  have 
abated : 

1.  The  sitting  of  the  Gen.  Court  in  Boston. 

2.  The  want  of  a  circulating  medium. 

3.  The  exhorbitauce  of  the  lawyers'  fee  table. 

4.  The  present  mode  of  administration  by  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

5.  The  appropriation  of  the  impost  and  excise  duties  to  the  payment  of 
the  interest  of  the  State  debt. 

(?.  The  grants  made  by  the  Gen.  Court  to  the  Attorney  General  &  others. 

7.  Too  many  office-holders  and  their  salaries  too  large. 

8.  The  State  furnishing  money  to  Congress  while  our  account  with  Con- 
gress l'emains  unsettled. 

This  Convention  was  adjourned  until  the  last  Tuesday  in  Sep- 
tember, and, 

Sept.  18.  The  town  voted  that  the  Delegates  which  attended 
the  first  Convention  should  also  attend  at  the  adjournment,  viz: 
Capt.  John  Tyler  and  Edward  Thompson,  Esq. 

The  town  voted  to  approve  of  the  doings  of  the  Convention,  and 
Col,  Benjamin  Read,  Capt.  Levi  Aldrich,  Ens.  Peletiah  Darling, 
Capt.  Peter  Penniman  and  Dan  Aldrich  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  give  the  Delegates  to  the  Convention  and  the  Repre- 
sentative in  the  General  Court  instructions. 

What  these  instructions  were  are  neither  found  on  record  or 
on  file,  and  hence  we  are  left  in  ignorance  of  the  mode  or  manner 
by  which  the  committee  proposed  to  redress  the  grievances  com- 
plained of  by  the  Convention. 

Voted  to  indemnify  and  keep  harmless  the  Assessors*of  the 
town  in  case  they  are  presented  by  the  Treasurer  of  this  Com- 
monwealth for  neglecting  to  assess  the  inhabitants  for  money 
due  from  Moses  Smith  to  said  Treasurer. 

Chose  Col.  Benj.  Read,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  and  Capt. 
John  Tyler  a  committee  to  take  care  of  the  matter  of  the  execu- 
tion which  the  Town  Treasurer  has  issued  against  Moses  Aldrich. 
It  seems  Moses  Aldrich,  as  Constable  (Collector)  had  become  a 
defaulter  in  the  matter  of  the  State  tax,  and  that  the  Town 
Treasurer  had  issued  an  execution  against  him,  and  that  the 
Assessors  were  threatened  by  the  State  Treasurer  for  neglect  of 
dutv.  as  understood  by  that  officer. 


430 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1786. 


MEMORANDA. 


Mass.  Arch.  Valuations,  Vol.  163,  p.  310. 


Ratable  Polls  257.     Not  ratable  but  not  supported  by  the  town 

53 

n  a  king 

Not  ratable         7      supported  by  the  town. 

[310.    ' 

160  Dwelling  Houses,     3  bouses, 

163  houses,    i 

E2  10  00 

£407 

11  00 

4  Shops,                        12  Shops, 

16  Shops, 

14  00 

11 

04  00 

121  Barns,                         12  Barns, 

133  Barns, 

17  00 

113  01  00 

0  Grist  &  Saw  Mills,    1  Mill, 

.7  Mills, 

3  00  00 

21 

00  00 

13  buildings  £5  value,  30  Buildings 

43  Buildings, 

04  00 

8 

12  00 

508  Acres  tillage,             300 

808  Acres, 

08  06 

343  08  00 

806    do.     English,           60 

866    do. 

10  06 

454 

13  00 

1060    do.     Fr'shMe'dow 

05  00 

269 

00  00 

2371    do.     Pasture,           1500 

3871  do. 

03  09 

580 

13  00 

866  Bbls  Cyder, 

00  02± 

8  02  04f 

2693  Acres  Woodland  )    qr.^    ,  „- 
5832  do.  Unimproved  f    00/S0  <u  aos> 

£14  918  15  00- 

-2  pr.  ct. 

298  07  05 i 

1697  do.  Unimprovable, 

Nothing. 

155  Horses,                      3  Years  old, 

@.06  00 

£46 

10  00 

7  Colts,                         2        do. 

.04  024- 

1 

09  03i 

10    do.                            1        do. 

.02  04f 

1 

03  1U 

163  Oxen,                          4        do. 

.05  04* 

43 

19  06f 

82  Neat  Cattle,              3        do. 

.03  07 

9 

16  054 

145        do.                        2        do. 

.02  04f 

17 

07  04f 

96        do.                         1         do. 

.01  02± 

11 

10  00 

676  Cows 

.03  07 

121 

02  04 

286  Swine,                        6  months 

.00  09 

10 

14  06 

£1040  debts  due, 

6  per  cent. 

62 

08  00 

Potash  AVorks, 

.02  10 

'     o 

10  00 

Tan  House, 

£3  00  00 

3  00  00 

Ounces  of  Plate.                40  oz 

12  06  OS  @  6 

pr.  cent. 

13  Hi 

Monies  on  hand.             £40  00  00 

do. 

£ 

o 

08  00 

1 

2269 

11  04f 

Add  Is.  on  a  thousand. 

180  00  00 

£2449  11  04| 
SHAYS'   RERELLION. 

Although  the  town  sent  Delegates  to  the  conventions  at  Lei- 
cester, which  put  forth  a  list  of  grievances  under  which,  in  their 
opinion,  the  country  was  suffering,  it  is  not  known  that  any 
citizen  of  the  town  was  engaged  in  any  of  the  overt  acts  which 
constituted  what  is  called  Shavs'  Rebellion. 


1786. 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


431 


The  fifth  dav  of  September  was  the  day  appointed  for  the 
sitting  of  the  Court  at  Worcester;  hut.  on  that  day,  the  Court 
House  was  surrounded  by  a  mob  of  two  hundred  persons,  with 
arms  in  their  hands,  who  debarred  the  entrance  of  the  judges. 
The  Chief  Justice  (Ward)  remonstrated  in  vain,  and  the  Court 
was  compelled  to  adjourn. 

Dec.  3.  The  Court  House,  at  Worcester,  was  again  taken 
possession  of  by  the  disaffected.  The  judges  met  at'  the  Sun 
Tavern,  but  could  not  proceed  to  business.  The  Governor  had 
previous  to  this  issued  his  orders  to  the  officers  of  the  militia  to 
have  their  men  armed  and  equipped  to  take  the  held  at  the 
shortest  notice.  Troops  were  called  into  service  at  once  upon 
tiiis  new  outbreak. 

Mass.  Arch.  Shays'  Rebellion,  Vol.  11)2,  p.  155. 

A  Pay  Roll  of  Capt.  William  Torrey's  Company,  in  the  Third  Regiment, 
in  the  County  of  Worcester,  commanded  by  Col.  Benjamin  Read,  in  the 
service  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  in  the  month  of  Dec.  inst. 
agreeable  to  orders  from  Gen.  Warner,  to  march  to  Worcester  Dec.  4,  1786. 


NAMES. 

Kut.Ser. 

Discligd. 

Time. 

per  mo. 

Pay.       Rat's. 

Hat. 

Total 

William  Torrey,  Capt., 

Dec.  4, 

Dec.  7, 

4  days. 

£8.00  00  £1.01.04     : 

12 

.07.06  £1.08.10 

Saml.  Fairbanks,  Lieut., 

4, 

7, 

4 

5.06.08 

.14.02 

8 

05.04 

.19.06 

Elijah  Penniman,  Sergt, 

4, 

6, 

3 

2.08.00 

.04.10^ 

3 

.02.00 

.06.10^ 

Peter  Holbrook,  Sergt., 

4, 

6, 

3 

2.08.00 

.04.10^ 

3 

.2.00 

.06.10^ 

Esek  Wheelock,  Corp., 

4. 

6, 

3 

2.04.00 

.04.10^ 

3 

.2.00 

.06.04^ 

David  Davenport,  Corp., 

15, 

7, 

2 

2.04.00 

.02.11}^ 

2 

.1.04 

.04  03 

John  Tyler,           Private. 

4, 

6, 

3 

2.00.00 

.04.00 

3 

.2.00 

.06.00 

Stephen  Johnson,      do. 

4, 

6, 

3 

200  00 

.04  00 

3 

.2.00 

.06.00 

John  Tyler,  Jr  ,         do. 

4, 

7, 

4 

2.00.00 

.05.04 

4 

.2.08 

.08.00 

David  Kingman,        do. 

6, 

7, 

a 

2.00.00 

.02.08 

2 

.1.04 

.04.00 

Joseph  Torrey,           do. 

6, 

7, 

o 

2.00.00 

.02.08 

o 

.1.04 

.04.00 

Thomas  Stone,           do. 

(3. 

7, 

o 

2.00.00 

.02.08 

2 

.1.04 

.04.00 

Rowland  Latham.      do. 

C, 

7, 

2 

2.00.00 

.02  08 

2 

.1.04 

.04.00 

Jos.  Mc.  Clintock,     do. 

0, 

7, 

2 

2.00.00 

.02  08 

2 

.1.04 

.04  00 

Seth  Hastings,           do. 

6, 

7, 

2 

2.00.00 

.02.08 

2 

.1.04 

.04.00 

£5.16.08 
William  Tohrey,  Capt. 

Endorsed  Capt.  William  Torrey's  Pay  Roll  Dec.  4.  1786.  Examined 
and  found  due,  £5.16.08,   per        Johx  Fkost. 

Mass.  Arch.  Shay's  Rebellion,  Vol.  192,  p.  49. 

A  Pay  Roll  of  the  Field  and  Staff  Officers  in  the  Third  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  commanded  by  Col.  Benjamin  Read, 
in  the  service  of  this  Commonwealth,  Sept.  6  and  Dec.  2.  1786,  agreeable 
to  the  orders  of  Mai.  Gen.  Warner. 


432 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1787. 


NAMES.                              S 

Ent. 
ervice. 

Dis- 
missed. 

Days 

Rations 
Detained, 

Amt.  of 
Rati'ns. 

Pay  per 
Mouth, 

Amount 
of  Pay. 

Amount 

Benj.  Read,  Col., 

Sept. 
6, 

Sept. 

2, 

12 

.08.00 

£15.00.00 

£1.00.00 

£1.08.00 

Philip  Ammidown,  Lt.  Col 

6, 

7. 

2, 

10 

.06.08 

12.00.00 

.16.00 

1.02.08 

Ben.j.  Read,  Col., 

Deer, 
o 

Deer. 

6, 

36 

1.04.00 

15.00.00 

3  00.00 

4.04.00 

Philip  Ammidown,  Lt.  Col 

,  4, 

7, 

4, 

20 

.13.04 

12.00.00 

1.12.00 

2.08.04 

David  Bachelor,  Maj., 

4, 

7, 

4, 

16 

.10.08 

10.00  00 

1.06  04 

1.17.00 

Lemuel  Green,  Adjt., 

4, 

6, 

3, 

6 

.04.00 

6.13.04 

.13.04 

.17.04 

Jona.  Adams,  Qt.  Master, 

4, 

6. 

3, 

6 

.04.00 

6.13.04 

.13.04 

.17.04 

Henry  F.  Dupee,  Surgeon, 

4, 

6, 

3, 

10 

.08.04 

11.00.00 

1.02.00 

1.10.04 

John  Torrey,  Sur.  Mate, 

4, 

6, 

3, 

3 

.02.00 

2.14.00 

.05.04 

.07.04 

£1204.04 

Benj.  Read 

,  Col. 

The  Original  sworn  to  before  Mr.  Justice  Cranch. 
Mass.  Arch.,  Vol.  162,  p.  254. 

Number  of  Polls  and  Income  in  the  Co.  of  Worcester  171: 


TOWNS. 


Polls. 


Worcester 357 

Lancaster 304 

Mendon 310 

Brookfield 666 

Oxford 228 

Charlton 392 

Sutton 640 

Leicester 240 

Northborough 156 

Shrewsbury 421 

Lunenburg  297 

Fitchburg 207 

Uxbridge 281 

Harvard 306 

Dudley 220 

Bolton 216 

Upton 184 

Sturbridge 347 

Leominster 359 

Hardwick 340 

Holden 233 

Western 192 

Douglass 231 

Spencer .  308 


Income. 
£     eh.  d. 
4794  04  10 
2799  11  02* 
2269  11  04* 
6337  12  04* 
1363  12  02^ 
2683  19  08* 
5278  01  07* 
2941  18  11| 
1319  02  08* 
3976  11  06 
2603  16  03* 
1698  15  03i 
2370  01  10 
2529  00  08* 
1841  14  08| 
1894  08  07 
1245  03  07± 
2735  07  02 
1945  19  09| 
3773  16  05* 
1762  14  07* 
1911  07  10 
1239  09  08 
2175  08  07| 


TOWNS. 

Rutland 268 

Paxton 145 

Oakham 161 

Barre 373 

Hubbardston. ...  163 
New  Braintree. .  203 
Southborough..l86 
Westborough .  .  .222 

Grafton 225 

Petersham 349 

Royalston 196 

Westminster. .  ..291 

Templeton 274 

Princeton 198 

Ashburnham ....  197 

Northbridge 95 

Ward  ...108 

Athol 193 

Milford 195 

Sterling 339 

Berlin 118 

Winchendon.  ..231 


Polls.        Income. 
£      sh.  d. 
3230  09  01* 
1382  15  09f 
1167  18  04 
3922  13  08£ 
1288  10  06 
1714  01  09£ 
1484  01  06  £ 
2064  06  00* 
2009  08  08* 
3147  19  02i 
1201  14  06 
2511  06  09 
2204  01  07± 
2258  03  05 
1205  08  01 
697  11  03 
1219  02  10± 
1686  07  08f 
1973  16  01* 
3044  10  04  i 
956  11  08 
1538  08  04 1 


Polls— 12,165  £105,490  18  01* 


1787.     Jan.   11.     At   a  town  meeting  held  this  day  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  give  the  Representative  in  the  General 


1787.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  433 

Court  further  instructions.  The  committee  were  Edward  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  DanJAldrich,  Lt.  John  Benson, 
and  Capt.  Levi  Aldrich. 

This  meeting  was  opened  at  the  South  Parish  Meeting  House, 
but  was  immediately  adjourned  to  Lieut.  John  Benson's  house, 
being,  it  is  presumed,  on  account  of  a  cold  day. 

Jan.  22.  The  second  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting 
was,  "To  see  if  the  Town  would  choose  a  Committee  to  treat 
with  General  Linkham  (Lincoln)  to  inform  him  of  the  senti- 
ments and  disposition  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  respect- 
ing the  requisition  of  Government  for  a  number  of  militia  that 
were  conformable  to  order."  The  Selectmen,  with  Lt.  Joseph 
Johnson,  Lieut.  William  Thayer  and  Dr.  Joseph  Adams  were 
constituted  a  committee  to  treat  with  Gen.  Lincoln. 

As  this  committee  made  no  report,  (or  if  they  made  one  it 
escaped  record,)  we  have  no  means  of  knowing  the  result  of  their 
labors  with  the  General. 

It  seems  they  did  not  have  a  personal  interview  with  General 
Lincoln  as,  immediately  upon  the  passage  of  the  vote  choosing 
the  committee,  it  was  voted  that  Lieut.  Daniel  Taft  be  desired 
to  carry  whatever  the  committee  shall  see  fit  to  send. 

Jan.  29.  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  to  attend  as  a 
Delegate  the  County  Convention,  which  stands  adjourned  to 
meet  at  Mr.  Patch's,  in  Worcester,  on  the  first  Friday  in  Feb- 
ruary next. 

Voted  to  allow  Capt.  John  Tyler  for  his  time  and  expenses  in 
attending  the  former  Convention  £2.14.00,  and  Edward  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  for  the  same  service,  £2.12.00. 

Voted  to  postpone  the  reading  of  the  address  of  the  General 
Court  to  the  next  meeting. 

This  address  was  an  appeal  to  the  people  to  refrain  from  vio- 
lence, and  assuring  them  that  in  case  of  resistance,  all  the 
insurgents  would  be  dealt  with  in  a  summary  manner.  The 
rebels  under  Shays  had  just,  by  force  of  arms,  prevented  the 
sitting  of  the  Court  at  Springfield,  and  the  Government  hesitated 
no  longer.  Orders  were  at  once  issued  to  raise  4400  men,  with 
four  regiments  of  artillery,  to  be  commanded  by  Maj.  Gen.  Lin- 
coln.    Twelve  hundred  of  these  troops  were  called  for  from  the 

55 


434  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1787. 

County  of  Worcester,  and  Mendon  had  been  called  to  furnish 
her  quota. 

From  the  fact  that  the  address  of  the  General  Court  was 
refused  a  reading,  and  that  a  committee  was  chosen  to  treat 
with  Gen.  Lincoln,  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  people  of  Men- 
don were  not  exempt  from  the  very  general  discontent  which 
pervaded  the  Commonwealth.  But  the  re})ulse  of  Shays,  in  his 
attack  upon  the  Springfield  Arsenal,  by  the  troops  under  Gen. 
Shepard,  and  the  general  dispersal  of  the  insurgents  by  Gen. 
Lincoln  in  January  and  February,  put  an  end  to  the  insurrec- 
tion. That  the  people  had  a  just  cause  of  complaint,  and  that 
there  were  grievances  which  should  be  redressed,  there  was  no 
doubt. 

As  Mendon,  as  will  be  seen,  furnished  her  quota  of  men,  it  is 
presumed  that  the  inhabitants  were  averse  to  the  endeavour  to 
procure  a  redress  of  the  grievances  under  which  they  labored  by 
an  appeal  to  the  arbitrament  of  arms. 

At  this  meeting,  Jan.  29,  voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  meet 
and  consult  Avith  a  committee  from  Uxbridge,  Upton  and  Mil- 
ford,  and  report  at  an  adjournment  of  the  meeting.  As  there 
was  no  article  in  the  warrant  authorizing  the  choice  of  this  com- 
mittee, and  as  the  committee  (Stephen  Johnson)  made  no  report, 
Ave  are  left  in  the  dark  about  the  Avhole  matter. 

The  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  give  instructions  to  the 
Representative  to  the  General  Court  made  their  report,  and  the 
same  Avas  accepted.  These  instructions  may  have  been  directed 
to  Col.  Benjamin  Eeed,  Representative  for  1786,  and  we  find 
they  Avere  also  directed  to  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  avIio  Avas 
not  elected  Representative  until  the  May  folloAving,  as  will  be 
seen.  These  instructions,  it  Avas  voted,  should  be  signed  by  the 
Town  Clerk  in  behalf  of  the  toAvn. 

It  was  also  voted  to  accept  of  the  instructions  reported  by  a 
committee  chosen  for  that  purpose  to  the  Delegate  to  the  County 
Convention.  As  the  Toavii  Clerk  failed  to  record  the  instruc- 
tions, and,  in  that  regard,  failed  as  we  think,  to  discharge  his 
whole  duty,  we  are  left  in  ignorance  of  their  import. 

April  2.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  had  124  votes. 
"    Lt.     do      Thos.  Cushing,  Esq,,  had  107      " 


1786.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  435 

For  Senators,  Joseph  Stone,  Peter  Penniman,  Jonathan  Grout,  Nathan 
Adams  and  Samuel  Curtis  had  96  votes,  and  Seth  Washburn,  Abel  Wilder, 
John  Fessenden  and  Bezaleel  Taft  had  3. 

Chose  for  Selectmen,  Dan  Aldrich,  Darius  Daniels,  Moses 
Daniels,  Lt.  John  Benson  and  Dr.  Joseph  Adams.  Dan  Aldrich 
and  Darius  Daniels  neglecting  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
Israel  Mowry  and  Oliver  Carpenter  were  chosen  in  their  stead. 
This  oath  was  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  and  was  designed  by  the  General  Court  to  secure 
the  magistracy  from  the  feigned  repentance  of  those  who  had 
been  compromised  by  Shays'  Rebellion.  For  Town  Clerk,  Seth 
Chapin;  Town  Treasurer,  Capt.  Peter  Penniman;  Constables, 
Benjamin  Thayer,  provided  Lt.  Seth  Wheelock  be  his  bondsman, 
and  Benjamin  Blake,  provided  Lt.  Peletiah  Thayer  be  his 
bondsman. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  provide  some  suitable 
house  or  houses  for  the  reception  of  the  poor  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  £60  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  give  one  shilling  as  a  bounty  upon  every  crow  that 
shall  be  killed  by  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  before  the 
first  day  of  July  next,  and  shall  deliver  the  same  to  the  Select- 
men. 

May  14.  Voted  to  raise  £150  to  be  worked  out  on  the  roads 
and  bridges  the  present  year.  The  Assessors  were  to  assess  the 
tax  immediately  and  furnish  each  Constable  with  a  list,  and  on 
the  first  clay  of  November  a  certificate  from  the  Highway  Surveyor 
that  the  whole  or  such  part  of  each  man's  tax  ajs  had  been 
worked  out,  should  be  received  by  the  Constables  in  payment. 

The  Assessors  of  this  year  were  to  have  12s.  each  for  their 
services. 

Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court  and  May  28,  was  instructed  by  the  town  as  fol- 
lows, and  which  instructions  may  be  found  in  the  Massachusetts 
Archives  "  Mendon,  V.  'J?  2708^  Case  H.  4."  They  were  not 
found  in  the  towrn  record: — 

To  Edward  Thompson  Esq. 

Your  constituents  having  chosen  you  to  represent  the  Town  of  Men- 
don in  the  General  Court  the  present  year,  think  fit  to  give  you  some  hints 
(by  way  of  instructions,)  of  what  we  apprehend  might  be  beneficial  to  the 
public. 


436  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1787. 

•  1st.  To  use  your  influence  to  have  the  General  Court  removed  out  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  to  some  convenient  inland  town  as  soon  as  may  be. 

2nd.  That  you  use  your  influence  that  the  Troops  raised  by  order  of  the 
Government  and  now  under  pay,  be  immediately  discharged. 

3dly.  That  you  use  your  influence  that  a  free  pardon  and  indemnity  be 
granted  to  all  those  that  have  been  any  ways  concerned  in  the  late  Insur- 
rection in  this  Commonwealth,  so  long  as  they  demean  themselves  quiet 
and  peaceable  subjects,  without  exception. 

4thly.  That  you  use  your  influence  to  have  all  those  acts  repealed  known 
by  the  name  of  Disqualifying  Acts,  as  we  conceive  they  are  unnatural,  un- 
just and  oppressive. 

5thly.  That  there  be  a  Bank  of  paper  money  emitted  upon  as  good  foot- 
ing as  can  be. 

Gthly.  That  you  use  your  influence  that  all  public  securities  be  scaled  at 
the  going  price. 

7thly.  That  you  use  your  influence  that  all  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  be 
entirely  abolished  and  some  other  mode  be  adopted  in  lieu  thereof  that  is 
more  agreeable  and  less  chargeable. 

Sthly.  That  the  Probate  business  be  done  in  each  Town  and  likewise  a 
Register  of  Deeds  be  appointed  in  each  of  said  Towns;  also  that  all  licensed 
persons  obtain  their  licenses  in  the  towns  where  they  dwell,  from  the 
Selectmen. 

9thly.  That  there  be  a  large  Duty  or  impost  laid  on  all  foreign  articles 
imported,  except  Salt,  Cotton,  Wool  and  Warlike  Stores,  and  that  all  ex- 
cise be  collected  by  the  respective  towns  where  such  excise  shall  become 
due,  free  from  any  charge  to  the  State. 

lOthly.  That  all  monies  arising  from  Impost  and  Excise  be  appropriated 
to  the  payment  of  the  foreign  debt  only. 

1  lthly.  That  the  Salaries  of  all  public  officers  of  Government  be  reduced 
in  proportion  as  Country  produce  has  fallen  since  such  salaries  were 
granted. 

12thly.  That  all  encouragement  be  given  to  raising  Sheep  and  Flax  and 
Manufacturing  the  produce  of  our  own  Country. 

lBthly.  That  a  settlement  of  accounts  with  Congress  be  obtained  as  soon 
as  possible,  so  as  this  State's  Quota  of  the  Continental  debts  may  be  ascer- 
tained. 

14thly.  That  some  other  mode  of  taxation  be  adopted,  and  that  the  tax 
be  not  laid  so  high  on  the  landed  interest,  and  that  all  Polls  under  the  age 
of  21  years  be  exempted  from  taxation. 

lothly.  That  there  be  a  completion  of  the  Revision  of  the  Laws  so  that 
we  may  have  a  code  of  laws  of  our  own. 

We  further  instruct  you  to  move  for  leave  that  the  instructions  given  by 
each  town  be  read  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  order  that  the  Court 


1787.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  437 

may  know  what  are  the  minds  of  the  people  at  large,  and  you  give  your 
constant  attendance  while  the  Court  sits  and  not  depart  without  said  Court 
is  Prorouged,  adjourned  or  dissolved. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Town. 

Dan  Aldrich,  Moderator. 
Attest,        Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk. 
Mendon  May  28.  1787. 

Aug.  27.     Voted  to  raise  £40  for  schooling  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  allow  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  and  Col.  Benjamin 
Read  3s.  per  day,  cash,  for  services  in  settling  with  Col.  Philip 
Amidown,  late  Treasurer. 

A7oted  to  allow  Capt.  Peter  Penniman  £1.10s.  for  his  services 
as  Treasurer  the  past  year. 

Voted  to  allow  the  Selectmen  for  the  year  past,  for  their  ser- 
vices, 12s.  each. 

Voted  to  allow  Stephen  Johnson  12s.  and  John  Darling  Gs. 
for  their  extraordinary  services  as  Selectmen. 

Oct.  3.  Monday.  Voted  to  allow  Edward  Thompson,  Esq., 
12s.  for  attending  the  Convention  at  Worcester  in  March  last. 

Voted  to  join  with  Capt.  Hayward  and  Esq.  Paine,  of  Wor- 
cester, in  carrying  on  a  suit  against  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  of  the  County  of  Suffolk,  or  the  Sheriff  of  the 
County  of  Worcester,  respecting  Moses  Smith's  matter. 

Moses  Smith  had  heen  a  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  having  failed 
to  account  for  the  proceeds,  was  in  jail  on  that  account  in  Dec. 
1785.  The  town  records  furnish  no  evidence  of  the  character  of 
this  suit,  but  it  is  supposed  to  be  connected  in  some  way  with 
Smith's  defalcation  and  imprisonment. 

Dec.  17.  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  a  Delegate  to 
the  State  Convention,  to  be  held  at  Boston  on  the  second  Wednes- 
day in  January  next,  for  the  purpose  of  ratifying  or  rejecting 
the  Continental  Constitution,  or  Frame  of  Government,  agreed 
on  by  the  late  Federal  Convention. 

shays'  rebellion. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  Mendon  soldiers  who  were 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  Commonwealth,  under  Maj. 
Gen.  Lincoln,  for  the  overthrow  of  the  rebellion.  The  follow- 
ing Pay  Rolls  are  copied  from  the  Mass.  Archives,  Shays'  Rebel- 
lion. Vol.  191,  p.  07. 


438 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1787. 


A  Pay  Roll  of  Capt.  William  Torrey  and  two  officers  with  him  in  the 
service  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  in  the  months  of  January 
and  February  1787,  in  Col.  Lowell's  Regiment. 


Names. 


William  Torrey, 
Bezaleel  Guild, 
Elisha  Murdock 


Capt. 
Lieut. 
Ens. 


> 
p  o 


Jan.  29    Feb. 


•D 

:  &> 

7  £7.00.00 

£1.17.04 

14 

.9.04 

£2.06.08 

5   5.06.08 

.17.08^ 

10 

.6.08 

1.04  04J4 

5   4.10.00 

.15.00 

10 

.6.08 

1.01.08 

A  Pay  Roll  of  Capt.  Rufus  Aldrich's  Company  in  Col.  Lowell's  Regi- 
ment for  service  done  for  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  in  January 
and  February  1787. 


Names. 


Rufus  Aldrich, 

Samuel  Fair- 
banks, 

Nathaniel  Park- 
hurst, 

Amariah  Preston, 

Nathan  Tyler, 
Daniel  Hill, 
Ichabod  Keith, 
JosiahPenniman, 
Joseph  Torrey, 
Joel  Sibley, 
Paul  Nelson, 
Isaac  Bates, 
Josiah  Fuller, 

Comfort  Martin, 
Israel  Taft. 
Nathan  Goldth- 

wait, 
Joseph  Goldth- 

wait, 
Joshua  Slocomb, 
Joseph  Cleveland, 
Paran  Batcheler, 
Aaron  Batcheler, 
Nathaniel  Brown, 
Thomas  Aldrich, 


a    w 


Capt.  Jan 

1st 

Lieut. 

2  do. 
Serg't. 
Maj. 
Clerk 

Sergt. 


Corp. 


Drum 

Maj. 

Priv. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


.  30  Feb.  20  22  £8.00.00  .05.04      £5.17.04    9  .0  08  .6.00   £6.03.04 


"22     5.06.08  .03.06J6     3.18  02    6 
11    13     4.10.00  .03.00        2.06.02    6 


20 

12 

2.1400 

.01.09J4 

1.19.07 

" 

22 

2.14.00 

.01.09^ 

1.19.07 

" 

22 

2.08.00 

.01.07 

1.14  02 

10 

13 

2  08.00 

.01.07 

1  09.09 

30 

22 

2.08.00 

.01.07 

1.14.02 

11 

13 

2.04.00 

.01.05J4 

.19.01 

20 

22 

2.04.00 

.0105)4 

1.12.03 

" 

22 

2.04.00 

.01.05^ 

1  12  03 

92 

2.04  00 

.01.05}$ 

1.12.03 

» 

22 

2.08.00 

.01.07 

1.15.02 

22 

2.00.00 

.01.04 

1.09.04 

.4.00     4.02.02 

.4  2,10.02 

.2  2.01.07 

2.01.07 
1.17.02 
1.02.09 
1.17  02 
1.01  01 
1.14.03 
1.14.03 
1.14.03 

1.17.02 
1.11.04 


1787.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


439 


£-     W      so 


Perry  Chapiu, 
Asa  Darling. 
Amos  Hayward, 
Seth  Nelson, 
Alpheue  Stone, 
Jesse  Whitney, 

Nathan  Keith,  do. 

Zibu  Hill,  do. 

Ebenezer  Read,  do. 
Edward  Seagrave    do.    '. 

Samuel  Craggin,  do 

Comfort  Claflin,  do. 

David  Chase,  do. 
Thomas  Bigelow,  do. 
Aaron  Balcom,  do. 
Aaron  White,  do. 

Barna  Howell,  do. 
Jabcz  Comings,       do. 

John  Amidown,  do. 
David  White,  do. 

Elijah  Bailey,  do. 

Keith  Taft,  Sergt. 

Leonard  Taft,  Cap. 

Joseph  Daniel,  Priv. 
Nathan  Hall,  do. 

Micajah  Taft,  do. 
Josiah  Taft,  do. 

Gideon  Thayer,  do. 

Jacob  Taft,  do. 

Aaron  Taft,  do. 

Stephen  Benson,  do. 

Samuel  Warfield,  Corp. 

John  Holbrook,  Priv. 

John  Jefferson,  Sergt. 

Phinehas  Wood,  Priv. 
Cyrenus  Rawson,  do. 
Ephraim  Taft,         do. 


Sworn  to 


Capt.  Jan.  30  Feb.  30  22     2.00.00  .01.04         1.09.04     3    .9.08   2         1.11.04 


6 
6 
10 
9 
9 
9 
10 
10 
10 
10 


2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00  00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01  04 
2.00.00  .01  04 
2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 


2.08.00  .01.07 
2.04.00  .01.05^ 
2.00.00  .01.04 


2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 
2.04  00  .01.05^ 
2.00.00  .01  04 
2.08  00  .01.07 
2  00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 
2.00.00  .01.04 


.16.00 
.14.08 
.17.04 

.09.04 
1.02.08 
.02.08 
.02.08 


.02.02 
.02.11 

.02  08 


.04.00 
.04.00 
.02.08 
.04.00 
.04.04 
.04.00 
.03  02 
.02.08 
.02.08 
.02  08 


.18.00 
.16  08 
.19.04 
.10  08 
1.04  00 
.04.00 
.04.00 


.04.06 
.04.03 
.04.00 


o 

.06.00 

** 

.06.00 

M 

.04.00 

2 

.06.00 

" 

.06.04 

" 

.06.00 

y* 

.04.06 

" 

.04  00 

" 

.04.00 

" 

.04.00 

£66.13.10^ 

Rufus  Aldrich,  Capt. 


Before  Mr.  Justice  Read. 

It  is  supposed  the  above  roster  comprised  the  whole  Company; 
but  that  only  those,  thirty-five  in  number,  who  were  paid  off, 
were  mustered  into  the  service. 

Amount  of  provisions  delivered  by  Mendon,  to  Major  Joseph 


440  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1788. 

Rogers  and  Major  James  Prince,  Deputy  Commissary  Generals 
to  the  Army  raised  for  the  Support  of  Government,  under  the 
command  of  the  Hon.   Map   Gen.   Lincoln  in  Jan.,  Feb.   and 
March,  1787. 
Bread  414  lbs.     Pork  267  lbs.     Beef  63  lbs.     Pease  &  Beans  1  barrell. 


1788.  April  7.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Seth  Chapin,  Lt.  John 
Benson,  William  French,  Lt,  Peletiah  Thayer  and  Aquilla  Rob- 
bins;  for  Town  Clerk,  Seth  Chapin;  for  Town  Treasurer,  Hon. 
Peter  Penniman;   Beuj.   Thayer  and  Benj.  Blake,   Constables. 

Voted  to  raise  £120  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges,  and 
that  those  who  did  not  work  their  highway  taxes  the  last  year 
may  work  them  out  this  year  by  the  first  clay  of  June. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  list  of  persons,  recommended  by  the 
Selectmen,  for  the  Jury  box. 

Chose  Benjamin  Read,  agent  or  attorney  for  the  town,  to 
prosecute  any  suits  brought  by,  or  defend  any  suits  brought 
against  the  town. 

STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock,  27.  For  Lieut.  Governor,  James  War- 
ren, 71.         Elbridge  Gerry,  50.         Samuel  Adams,  3.        Benj.  Lincoln,  2. 

Senators,  Hon.  Peter  Penniman,  49.  Jonathan  Grout,  48.  Amos 
Singleterry,  49.         Dr.  John  Taylor,  33.         John  Fessendeu,  49. 

Moses  Gill,  Samuel  Peckham,  Abel  Wilder,  Bezaleel  Taft,  Samuel 
Baker,  Samuel  Curtis,  Seth  Washburn,  Dr.  Samuel  Willard  &  Jona.  War- 
ren had  from  one  to  thirteen  each. 

May  12.  Voted  to  allow  the  Treasurer  £1.10  for  his  services 
the  past  year,  "  the  whole"  of  the  Selectmen  £3,  and  the  Asses- 
sors 9s.  each. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  inquire  respecting  two  orders  which 
Capt,  John  Albee  and  Esq.  Penniman  hold  against  the  town, 
and  also  a  receipt  held  by  Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose Dan  Aldrich  and  Doct.  Joseph  Adams  were  joined  with  the 
Selectmen. 

Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

May  26.  The  taxes  against  Amasa  Aldrich,  Samuel  Hill, 
John  Cook,  Samuel  Brown  and  John  Pickering  were  foregone. 


1789.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  441 

June  16.  Capt.  John  Albee  was  allowed  five  dollars  for  his 
order,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  committee. 

Aug.  29.  Voted  to  raise  £70  to  defray  town  charges  this 
year. 

"  It  was  put  to  vote  to  see  if  the  town  would  raise  any  money  for  school- 
ing the  present  year  and  the  vote  passed  in  the  Negative." 

Nov.  26.  It  seems  the  household  furniture  of  Dr.  Steel  had 
been  attached  for  debt,  and  the  Dr.  being  absent,  the  town  voted 
"that,  provided  there  can  be  a  quantity  of  Miss  (Mrs.)  Steel's 
furniture  appraised  that  she  have  them  and  the  Selectmen  are 
directed  to  give  security  for  them  in  behalf  of  the  town,  she 
giving  a  note  signed  in  her  husband's  name  for  the  same." 

It  is  supposed  Dr.  Steel  gave  the  name  to  the  Dr.'s  Dam,  on 
the  old  road  west  from  the  present  town  Pound. 

Dec.  18.  Met  and  adjourned  to  Col.  Amidown's  tavern  at  5 
o'clock  P.  M. 

Voted  to  allow  Capt.  John  Albee  £2.05  for  an  order  he  holds 
against  the  town. 

Dec.  18.  Pursuant  to  a  warrant  for  the  purpose,  the  town 
voted  for  a  Representative  in  Congress,  and  for  two  persons  as 
Electors  for  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States, 
being  the  first  election  held  under  the  Constitution.  The  votes 
were  as  follows,  viz : — 

For  Representative  in  Congress,  Jonathan  Grout,  Esq.,  14  votes.  John 
Sprague,  Esq.,  12  votes.         Timothy  Paine  1  vote. 

For  Electors,  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  17  votes.  Timothy  Paine,  Esq.,  17 
votes..        Joseph  Dorr,  Esq.,  11  votes.  Timothy  Newell,  Esq.,  9  votes. 

Abel  Wilder,  Esq.,  2  votes. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  restore  the  annual  town  meet- 
ing to  the  first  Monday  in  March. 


1789.  Jan.  29.  Voted  to  sell  the  road  between  the  land  of 
Dr.  Levi  Willard  and  the  Pond  to  said  Willard,  and  Dan  Aldrich, 
Benj.  Thayer  and  Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  contract  with  said  Willard  on  the  price  of  said  land,  and 
report  at  the  next  annual  meeting. 

The  Meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  Lt.  John  Ben- 
son's at  6  o'clock  P.  M. 

56 


442  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1789. 

Representative  to  Congress,  Timothy  Paine  6.         Jonathan  Grout  31. 

It  seems  there  was  no  choice  of  a  Representative  at  this 
election. 

March  2.     A  ballot  was  again  taken,  and  resulted  as  follows: 

Jonathan  Grout,  Esq.,  had  65,  and  Timothy  Paine  1. 

At  the  same  time  the  following  town  officers  were  chosen, 
viz:  Seth  Chapin,  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.,  Zebulon  Goss,  Ben- 
jamin Blake  and  Dr.  Joseph  Adams,  Selectmen;  Seth  Chapin, 
Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  Simeon  Fisk  and  John  Benson, 
Constables. 

Voted  to  raise  £140  for  mending  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  respecting  the 
road  between  the  Pond  and  the  land  of  Dr.  Levi  Willard  and 
which  is  as  follows,  viz: — 

Mendon,  Jan.  30.  1789. 

We  the  Subscribers,  being  a  Committee  appointed  by  said  Town  to  con- 
tract with  Dr.  Levi  Willard  and  agree  with  him  on  the  price  of  the  land 
voted  by  said  town  on  the  29th  of  this  present  month  to  sell  to  the  said 
Willard,  have  attended  that  service  and  rind  there  to  be  about  four  acres  of 
land  lying  between  the  Pond  and  said  Willard's  land,  and  said  Willard 
agrees  with  your  Committee  to  give  the  town  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds 
and  keep  up  good  gates  or  bars  and  that  no  other  incumbrance  shall  be  in 
the  way  to  hinder  passiug  and  repassing  at  all  times  forever  hereafter. 

Benjamin  Read     ) 
Dan  Aldrich         j-  Committee. 
Benjamin  Blake.  ) 
I  hereby  agree  to  the  above  contract  and  will  fulfill  the  same. 

Levi  Willahd. 

Voted  that  the  abovesaid  road  be  discontinued. 

April  6.  Voted  three  shillings  per  day  for  a  man,  and  three 
shillings  a  day  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart,  for  work  on  the 
highway,  until  the  last  of  September,  and  after  that  two  shil- 
lings a  day  for  each. 

Voted  to  raise  £100  to  defray  town  charges. 

Voted  to  allow  the  Selectmen  and  Assessors  twelve  shillings 
each  for  their  services. 

STATE   ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock,  Esq.,   57.        James  Bowdoin  5. 

Lt.  Governor,  Samuel  Adams  44.         Benj.  Lincoln  19. 

Senators — Amos    Singletery,    Esq.,    25.         John    Fessenden,    Esq.,    25. 


1790.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  443 

Peter  Penniman,*  Esq.,  22.  Israel  Nichols,  Esq.,  2."i.  David  Bigelow, 
Esq.,  22.  Moses  Gill,  Esq.,  21.  Samuel  Baker,  Esq.,  22.  Abel 

Wilder,  Esq.,  24.  Andrew  Peters,  Esq.,  19.  Jonathan  Warner,  Esq., 
21.  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  4.  Timothy  Paine,  Esq.,  2.  C'apt,  Jo- 
siah  Sterns,  2. 

May  13.  Benjamin  Read,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  call  in  £19.13.07  of  the  £100 
voted  to  be  raised  March  2,  1789,  and  pay  the  same  to  the 
County  Treasurer,  in  order  to  pay  so  much  that  is  due  to  said 
Treasurer  out  of  the  hills  that  were  committed  to  Moses  Aldrich 
to  collect  in  the  year  1783. 

Voted  to  sell  the  road  leading  from  the  county  road,  near 
Seth  Chapin's  house,  to  the  Eight  Rod  Road,  now  known  as 
Post's  Lane.     Sold  to  Seth  Hastings,  Esq. 

Aug.  26.  Raised  £G0  for  schooling,  and  £30  for  town  charges 
for  the  current  year. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  divide  the  school  money  among  the 
several  districts  according  to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each 
district  between  the  ages  of  three  and  twenty-one. 

At  this  meeting  Benjamin  Read,  Esq.,  Dan  Aldrich  and 
Darius  Daniels  were  chosen  a  committee  to  inquire  into  the 
matter  "respecting  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
for  the  County  of  Suffolk." 

This  matter  with  the  Court  is  supposed  to  have  reference  to 
the  State  tax  for  1783,  in  the  hands  of  Moses  Smith,  Collector 
for  that  year,  which  he  failed  to  pay  over. 


1790.  March  1.  Chose  for  Selectmen,  Seth  Davenport. 
Capt.  Rufus  Aldrich,  Benjamin  Thayer,  Ichabod  Cook  and 
Darius  Daniels;  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Andrew  Peters, 
Esq.,  Town  Treasurer;  John  Benson  and  Ezra  Thayer,  Consta- 
bles; John  Crooks  still  continued  to  be  chosen  Deer  Rieve. 

County  Treasurer,  Nathan  Perry  had  thirty-nine  votes;  when 
the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  April  5,  when  the  meeting  was  fur- 
ther adjourned  to  May  6. 

March  29.  state  election. 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock  Esq.,  50  votes.  For  Lt,  Governor,  Sam 
nel  Adams,  Esq. ,  49  votes. 


444  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1790. 

Senators,  Moses  Gill,  John  Fessenden,  David  Bigelow  and  Jeremiah  Lam- 
ed had  40  each,  Amos  Singletery  30,  John  Tyler  9  and  Peter  Penniman  and 
Abel  Wilder  had  2  each. 

May  6.  Voted  to  raise  £150  to  defray  town  charges  the  pres- 
ent year,  and  £50  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Seth  Davenport,  Philip  Amidown,  Luke  Aldrich,  Joseph  Al- 
len, Benjamin  Thayer,  Edward  Thompson,  Lt.  Abraham  Staples, 
Darius  Daniels,  Lt.  Daniel  Taft,  Joab  Aldrich,  Benjamin  Blake, 
Benjamin  Thayer  and  Asa  Smith  were  chosen  a  Committee  to 
make  a  new  arrangement  of  the  School  Districts  for  the  hotter 
accommodation  of  the  schools. 

At  this  time  there  were  thirteen  Highway  and  thirteen  School 
Districts  in  town. 

Voted  to  sell  the  old  school  house  that  stands  on  the  Training 
Field,  "  for  the  most  it  will  fetch."'  This  school  honse  stood 
near  the  house  of  Andrew  Peters,  and  not  far  from  the  present 
barn  of  Albert  W.  Gaskill. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  procure  a  house  for  the  poor  of  the 
town  if  they  think  it  expedient. 

May  11.  Chose  Benjamin  Read,  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court. 

May  26.  Raised  £140  to  repair  highways  and  bridges,  at  -3s. 
a  day  for  a  man  and  the  same  for  oxen  and  cart  from  June  1  to 
Sept.  30;  and  2s.  a  day  after  that  date  until  the  1st  day  of 
March. 

Voted  not  to  divide  the  school  money  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  scholars  between  the  ages  of  three  and  twenty-one. 

Voted  the  Highway  Surveyors  have  warrants  of  distress  against 
those  who  refuse  to  work  out  their  Highway  Tax  in  their  respec- 
tive districts;  and  that  the  money  collected  be  laid  out  in  their 
respective  districts. 

July  5.  Made  choice  of  Benjamin  Read  as  agent  to  carry  on 
the  cause  against  the  town  of  Wrentham  for  the  support  of 
Adolphus  Cook  now  at  the  charge  of  the  town  of  Mendon. 

Aug.  30.  Taxes  were  foregone  against  Nathaniel  Scott,  Elea- 
zer  Albee,  Jeduthan  Rawson,  Calvin  Smith,  Gustavus  Aldrich. 
Turner  Ellis  and  Ichabod  Bosworth. 

Voted  to  divide  the  school  money  equally  between  the  scholars 
between  the  ages  of  three  and  twenty-one. 


1791.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  445 

Oct.   4.  REPRESENTATIVE    IN    CONGRESS. 

Nathan  Tyler  33,  Jonathan  Grout  18,  John  Sprague  5  and  Artemus  Ward 
and  Timothy  Paine  one  each,  no  choice  at  March  12  being  made. 


1791.  March  7.  Selectmen,  Dr.  Joseph  Adams,  Benjamin 
Thayer,  Jr.,  Oliver  Carpenter,  Jacob  Taft  and  Oapt.  William 
Torrey:  Town  Clerk,  Seth  Chapin;  Town  Treasurer,  Andrew 
Peters  Esq.;  Constables,  Ezra  Thayer,  Benj.  Blake  and  Edward 
Thompson. 

Voted  to  raise  £100  to  defray  town  charges,  £50  for  schools  and 
£140  for  repair  of  highways  and  bridges  for  the  current  year. 

Chose  Benjamin  Bead  Esq.  Agent  for  the  town  this  year. 

County  Register,  Daniel  Clapp  had  29  votes.     Samuel  Flagg  15  votes. 
County  Treasurer,  Samuel  Allen  had  34.     Nathan  'Perry  2,  and  Benjamin 
Hay  ward  1. 

April  4.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Gov.  John  Hancock  Esq. ,  42. 

"     Lt.  Gov.  Samuel  Adams  Esq.,  42. 
Senators,  Moses  Gill  38,  Samuel  Baker  35,  Abel  Wilder  37,  John  Fessen- 
den  37,  Benjamin  Read  30,  Samuel  Curtis  2,  Jonathan  Grout  4,  Nathan  Ty- 
ler 1  &  Timothy  Newell  7. 

Instead  of  auditing  accounts  against  the  town  in  town  meet- 
ing, as  had  usually  been  done  heretofore,  the  Selectmen  were 
instructed  to  examine  and  allow  the  accounts  against  the  town. 

May  11.  The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  new  arrangement 
of  the  School  Districts  was  recommitted  for  further  examination 
and  amendment  should  the  Committee  think  necessary,  and  the 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  Aug.  22. 

Chose  Benjamin  Bead,  Esq.,  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

Aug.   22.  REPORT    OF    A    COMMITTEE. 

We  the  Subscribers  being  appointed  a  Committee  to  make  a  new  arrange- 
ment of  the  Districts  in  said  town,  for  the  better  accommodation  of  said 
town  for  Schooling  have  met  and  maturely  considered  the  matter  and  do  re- 
port as  follows. 

1st.  District.  North  on  Upton  line,  East  on  Milford  line  till  it  comes  to 
Sherborn  Boad  (so  called)  then  westerly  by  the  south  side  of  said  road  to 


446  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1791. 

Amariah  Vose's  house,  thence  to  William  Maynard's  excluding  him,  thence 
with  a  direct  line  to  Uxbridge  line,  thence  north  on  Uxbridge  line  to  North- 
bridge  line,  thence  on  Northbridge  line  to  Upton  line. 

2nd.  District.  Beginning  at  Muddy  Brook  (so  called)  where  it  crosses  the 
Sherborn  Road  and  bounded  westerly  on  the  line  of  the  first  District  to  Ux- 
bridge line,  thence  to  the  south  side  of  the  County  road  (so  called)  thence 
on  the  south  side  of  said  County  road  to  Jacob  Aldrich's  including  him, 
thence  to  a  heap  of  stones  on  the  road  back  of  the  Pond  thirty  rods  south, 
thence  across  the  Pond  to  Dr.  Levi  Willard's  including  him,  thence  to  Asa 
Penniman's  including  him,  thence  to  Increase  Thayer's  including  him, 
thence  to  Ebenezer  Streeter's  including  him,  thence  to  George  Aldrich's  in- 
cluding him,  thence  to  first  bound. 

3rd.  District.  Beginning  at  Asa  Penniman's  excluding  him,  thence  to 
the  house  where  Israel  Hill  lives  including  him  and  including  Dan  Aldrich, 
thence  to  the  Widow  Margaret  Daniels's  including  her,  thence  easterly  on 
Mill  River  up  to  Capt.  John  Albee's,  thence  to  Win.  French's  including 
him,  thence  to  the  bound  first  mentioned. 

4th.  District.  Beginning  at  Milford  line  where  the  Mill  river  crosses  said 
line,  thence  down  said  river  until  it  comes  directly  east  of  George  Smith's, 
it  being  the  whole  of  the  inhabitants  on  the  east  side  of  said  river. 

5th  District,  Beginning  at  the  Wid.  Margaret  Daniels's  excluding  her, 
thence  east  on  the  Mill  River  to  where  David  Handy  lives  including  him, 
thence  to  Hop  Brook  bridge  (so  called)  on  Smithfield  road,  thence  to  Benja- 
min and  Nicholas  Thayer's  including  them,  thence  northward  to  the  first 
bound. 

6th  District.  Beginning  at  Hop  Brook  bridge,  thence  to  Anthony  Chase 
including  him,  thence  to  Cumberland  line,  thence  to  Belliugham  line,  thence 
to  Jotham  Pickering's  including  him,  thence  to  Ichabod  Pickering's  includ- 
ing him,  thence  to  Seth  Kelly's  including  him,  thence  to  first  mentioned 
bound. 

7th.  District,  Beginning  at  Asa  Penniman's  excluding  him,  thence  to 
Ensign  Seth  Taft's  including  him,  thence  to  Laban  Fairbanks'  including 
him,  thence  to  John  Craggin's  including  him,  thence  to  the  house  where 
Levi  Lesure  now  lives  including  him,  thence  to  Thomas  Taft's  including 
him,  thence  to  the  house  where  David  Southerland  lives  including  him, 
thence  to  Col.  Silas  Wheelock's  including  him,  thence  to  the  first  mentioned 
bound.  It  is  meant  to  include  Lt,  Keith  and  Samuel  Fairbanks  in  the  above 
District, 

8th.  District.  Beginning  at  Silas  Aldrich's  including  him,  thence  to  Ux- 
bridge line  including  Acpiilla  Robbins  and  Barlow  Carpenter,  thence  south 
to  Darius  Daniels  including  him,  thence  to  Laban  Fairbanks,  thence  to  the 
Pond,  thence  to  first  mentioned  bound. 

9th.  District,  Beginning  at  Nathaniel  Taft's  including  him,  thence  to 
Col.  Joseph  Chapin's  old  house  including  that,  thence  to  Uxbridge  line  to 


1791.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  447 

Jacob  Tuft's  including  him,  thence  to  Levi  Young's  including  him,  thence 
to  Jesse  Tourtelotte's  including  him,  thence  to  first  mentioned  bound.  The 
remainder  of  the  9th.  District  bounded  as  follows.  Beginning  at  Timothy 
Alexander's  including  him  and  Simon  Alexander,  thence  to  David  Legg's 
including  him,  thence  on  Uxbridge  line  until  it  comes  directly  west  of  the 
Widow  Warfield's  house,  thence  to  Asa  Blake's  including  him,  thence  to 
Benjamin  Blake's  including  him  and  his  son  Zaccheus,  thence  to  the  first 
mentioned  hound. 

10th.  District.  Beginning  at  Uxbridge  line  directly  west  of  the  Widow 
Warfield's  house,  thence  to  Benjamin  Blake's  excluding  him,  thence  to 
Mathew  Darling's  including  him,  thence  south  to  the  Great  River  (Black- 
stone,)  thence  up  stream  said  river  till  it  comes  to  Uxbridge  line,  thence  to 
first  mentioned  bound. 

11th.  District  Beginning  at  Dam  Swamp  road  where  the  Parish  line 
crosses,  thence  to  Timothy  Alexander's  excluding  him,  thence  to  Benja- 
min Blake's  excluding  him,  thence  to  the  road  south  of  said  Benjamin 
Blake's  house,  thence  to  Gideon  Thayer's  including  him,  thence  east  to 
Hop  Brook  bridge,  thence  up  stream  said  brook  to  the  first  mentioned 
bound. 

12th.  District.  Beginning  at  George  Gaskill's  including  him,  thence  to 
Conwell  (Cogswell)  Chase  including  him,  thence  up  stream  to  the  Great, 
river  until  it  comes  south  of  Mathew  Darling's  house,  thence  to  Jacob  Al- 
drich's  including  him,  thence  to  Gideon  Thayer's  excluding  him,  thence  to 
first  mentioned  bound. 

13th.  District.  Beginning  at  Uxbridge  line  where  it  crosses  the  Great 
river,  thence  down  stream  the  Great  river  to  the  Colony  line,  thence  west 
on  said  Colony  line  to  Uxbridge  line,  thence  on  Uxbridge  line  to  the  bound 
first  mentioned. 

N.  B.  Upon  the  petition  of  a  number  of  Friends  hereafter  named,  we 
report  that  they  draw  their  proportion  of  the  School  money  and  school  the 
same  agreeable  to  their  own  discretion.  The  names  of  the  petitioners  are 
as  follows,  viz:  Daniel  Cook,  Josiah  Shove,  Edward  Southwick,  Daniel 
Southwick,  Jacob  Bartlett,  Benedict  Remington,  Seth  Kelly,  George  Smith, 
Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Southwick  jr.,  Jonathan  Fowler,  John  Southwick, 
Asa  Smith,  George  Smith  jr.  Lawrence  Southwick's  family  to  be  schooled 
with  the  petitioners. 

Signed  by  the  Committee,  Joseph  Allen,  Edward  Thompson,  Benjamin 
Thayer,  Benjamin  Blake,  Daniel  Taft,  Abraham  Staples,  Jacob  Aldrich, 
Benjamin  Thayer  jr.,  Asa  Smith  and  Luke  Aldrich. 

May  11.  Benjamin  Read  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
Great  and  General  Court. 

Sept.  19.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  loan  the 
money  that  arises  from  the  sale  of  the  State  .Securities,  he  being 
under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen, 


448  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1792. 

Voted  not  to  build  a  school  house  in  each  district. 
Voted  to  pay  Dr.  Levi  Willard  for  doctoring  the  poor  of  the 
town. 

Dr.  Willard  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  bv  Dennis  Holeran. 


1792.  March  5.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Dr.  Jo- 
seph Adams,  Capt.  Daniel  Taft,  Enos  Taft,  Ichabod  Cook  and 
John  Hayward,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Peters,  Esq.,  Treasurer; 
Capt.  Wm.  Torrey  and  Benjamin  Blake,  Constables;  Tithing- 
men,  James  Lovett  and  Edward  Thompson;  John  Crooks,  Deer 
Reeve;  Luke  Aldrich,  Surveyor  of  Hemp,' and  Seth  Davenport, 
Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures.     Adjourned  to  April  2. 

April  2.  Voted  to  raise  one  hundred  pounds  to  repair  high- 
ways and  bridges  in  said  town  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted  that  Dr.  Joseph  Adams,  as  a  Selectman,  together  with 
the  Town  Clerk,  be  directed  to  search  the  records  to  see  if  there 
was  any  allowance  for  a  road  through  the  land  of  Ensign  John 

Legg,  late  of  ,  deceased,  that  has  been  taken  up  by  the 

town,  and  make  report  at  the  adjournment  of  the  meeting. 

The  reason  of  this  vote  was  that,  in  the  original  laying  out  of 
lands  to  individuals,  reservations  for  roads  were  sometimes  made, 
should  the  town  see  fit  at  any  time  to  locate  a  road  over  the 
grant. 

At  this  time  the  Highway  and  the  School  Districts  were  iden- 
tical, and  as  at  this  meeting  the  Seventh  District  was  divided, 
there  were  fourteen  Highway  and  School  Districts  in  the  town 
at  that  time. 

Made  choice  of  Levi  Albee  as  Pound  Keeper,  being  the  first 
person  chosen  to  that  office. 

Voted  to  give  the  powder  that  was  drawn  out  of  the  town's 
stock  by  the  militia  officers  of  this  town,  and  burnt  by  the  sol- 
diers at  the  general  muster  in  September  last. 

Dr.  Joseph  Adams  was  chosen  agent  to  carry  on  a  suit  against 
the  town  of  Uxbridge  for  the  support  of  Job  Keith's  family. 

CHOICE    OF    STATE    OFFICERS. 

For  Governor,  Samuel  Phillips  Esq.  had  35. 
"  "  John  Hancock  Esq.       "      5. 

■•  Lt.    "  Samuel  Adams  "    46. 


1793.]  ANNALS  OF  MENUON.  449 

Senators,  Samuel  Baker,  27.  Abel  Wilder,  29.  Jona.  Warren,  29. 
Timo.  Newell,  13.  Beuj.  Read,  8.  Nathan  Tyler,  2.  Dwight  Foster,  15. 
Andrew  Peters,  18.     Josiah  Sterns,  1.     Moses  Gill,  2. 

May  16.  Chose  Benjamin  Read,  Esq.,  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Voted  £40  for  town  charges,  and  £100  for  schooling. 

Aug.  23.  Chose  Andrew  Peters,  agent,  to  oppose  the  accept- 
ance of  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Court's  committee,  from  the 
burying  ground  to  the  house  where  Levi  Albee  now  lives.  At 
this  time  the  Court  of  Sessions,  exercised  the  authority,  as  re- 
garded roads,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  County  Commissioners. 

Sept.  17.  Voted  not  to  allow  a  small  pox  hospital  to  be  set  uj) 
in  the  town. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  call  upon  Edward  Rawson,  Esq.,  of 
Leicester,  (he  having  removed  to  that  town,)  to  deliver  up  all 
the  papers  in  his  hands  belonging  to  the  Town  of  Mendon. 

Nov.  2.  Federal  Representatives  and  Electors  chosen  by 
general  tickets,  and  the  votes  given  in  were  as  follows,  viz: — 

For  Representatives  to  Congress — William  Heath,  Esq.,  32.  Jonathan 
Warner,  Esq.,  32.  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  32.  Samuel  Lyman,  Esq.,  32. 
Theodore  Sedgwick,  Esq.,  32. 

For  Electors  of  President  and  Vice  President — Abel  Wilder,  Esq.,  21. 
Beuj.  Read,  Esq.,  20.  Wm.  Shepard,  Esq.,  25.  David  Smeed,  Esq.,  25. 
Thomas  Skinner,  Esq.,  25.  Seth  Davenport,  Esq.,  5.  Caleb  Ammidon, 
Esq.,  5. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  call  in  the  interest  due  on  the  bonds 
that  were  given  in  Dec.  last,  and  loan  it  to  such  persons  as  the 
Selectmen  shall  direct. 

Voted  that  inoculation  for  the  small  pox  may  be  carried  on 
under  the  restrictions  required  by  law,  and  that  Dr.  Josepb 
Adams  have  the  care  of  the  hospitals. 

Voted  the  time  for  inoculating  be  sixty  days  from  the  time  it 
begins. 


1793-  J;l11-  14.  Agreeable  to  a  precept  from  His  Excellency 
John  Hancock,  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  at  a  town 
meeting  held  this  day,  for  two  members  of  Congress, 

Samuel  Lyman,  for  the  County  of  Hampshire,  had  36  votes. 
Dwight  Foster,  for  the  District  at  large,  had  35  votes. 

57 


450  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1793. 

It  is  presumed  that  this  meeting  was  to  fill  vacancies  hy  fail- 
ure to  elect  at  the  first  election,  as  Samuel  Lyman  was  a  candi- 
date at  both  elections. 

March  4.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Dan  Aldrich, 
John  Benson,  Seth  Chapin,  Benj.  Thayer,  Jr.,  and  Oliver  Car- 
penter, Selectmen;  Andrew  Peters,  Esq.,  Town  Treasurer;  Wil- 
liam Torrey  and  Benj.  Blake,  Constables. 

May  6.  Raised  £120  for  town  charges,  £80  for  schooling,  and 
£150  for  highways  and  bridges.  Work  to  be  three  shillings  per 
day  until  Oct.  1;  after  that  to  be  two  shillings  per  day. 

April  1.  VOTES    FOR    STATE    OFFICERS. 

For  Governor,  John  Hancock  had  40  votes: 

Elbridge  Gerry     "      1      " 
For  Lt.  Governor,  Samuel  Adams  had  54  votes. 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Moses  Gill  had  47  votes.     Samuel  Baker 
had  18  votes.     Jonathan  Warner  had  53  votes.      Timothy  Newell  had  53 
votes.     Elijah  Brigham  had  22  votes.     Benjamin  Read  had  30  votes.     Jo- 
siah  Sternes  had  27  votes.     Philip  Amidown  had  5  votes. 

Having  failed  to  fill  the  vacancies  in  the  Congressional  dele- 
gation at  the  meeting  in  January,  the  town  again  voted,  and 
with  the  following  result: 

Samuel  Lyman  had  63  votes.        D wight  Foster  had  72  votes. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  a  committee  of  fifteen,  of  which 
Dr.  Joseph  Adams  was  chairman,  concerning  the  division  of  the 
school  money,  and  which  is  as  follows,  viz: — 

"  Provided  £100  be  raised  for  schooling,  that  £10  be  struck  off  and  that 
£90  be  divided  according  to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  District,  and 
that  the  £  1 0  struck  off  shall  be  added  to  the  Districts  which  are  or  may  be 
injured  by  the  way  of  dividing  it  by  the  number  of  scholars,  or  so  much  of 
that  sum  as  may  do  them  justice,  and,  if  any  remain,  then  to  be  equally 
divided  by  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  District,  by  the  Selectmen." 

Voted  to  hire  a  house  for  the  poor  the  ensuing  year. 

May  6.  Chose  Benjamin  Read,  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

Voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  to  have  the  line  straight- 
ened between  Mendon  and  Upton,  and  Andrew  Peters  to  make 
a  plan  showing  the  proposed  alteration,  and  report  at  an  ad- 
journed meeting. 


1794.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  451 

May  26.     Chose  Seth  Ohapin  and  Col.  Philip  Ammidown  a 

committee  to  present  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  for  the 
alteration  of  the  Mendon  and  Upton  line. 

August  26.  Voted  to  raise  £15  to  make  the  road  recently 
laid  out  by  the  Court's  committee,  by  Col  Peters'. 

Voted  to  raise  £60,  £25. 13s.  to  be  assessed  on  the  polls  and 
estates  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  balance  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
interest  money  due  the  town.  By  a  note  upon  the  back  of  the 
warrant  it  is  found  that  this  sum  of  £60  was  to  pay  Mr.  Ellery 
and  George  Aldrich  for  land  damages  by  reason  of  the  location  of 
the  road.  This  road  extended  from  nearly  oppposite  the  old 
house  of  N.  E.  George  to  opposite  the  house  of  Austin  A.  Taft, 
and  is  the  present  travelled  road. 

Benjamin  Read  Avas  chosen  agent  to  settle  with  Dr.  Richard- 
son for  the  support  of  Lyman  Thayer,  one  of  the  poor. 

Taxes  against  Nathaniel  Scott,  Isaac  Lawrence,  Wheelock 
Wood  and  Daniel  Cook  to  the  amount  of  £1.10s.  Td.  were  fore- 
gone. 


1794.  March  3.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Seth 
Chapin,  Lt.  John  Benson,  Oliver  Carpenter,  Benj.  Thayer,  Jr., 
and  Baruch  Penuiman,  Selectmen;  Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  Treas- 
urer; Dr.  Joseph  Adams  and  John  Darling,  Constables. 

Raised  £150  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges,  and  voted 
that  a  man  shall  have  three  shillings  a  day  and  three  shillings  a 
day  for  a  yoak  of  oxen  till  the  last  of  September,  and  then  two 
shillings  a  day  until  March  1,  next. 

Voted  to  raise  £600  to  build  a  school  house  in  each  District, 
and  that  the  Selectmen  shall  order  the  Assessors  to  assess  the 
same  immediately. 

Voted  that  each  District  shall  draw  their  own  money  that  they 
pay  towards  the  abovesaid  £600,  towards  building  or  repairing  a 
school  house. 

Seth  Davenport,  Philip  Ammidon.  Oliver  Carpenter,  Moses 
Daniels,  Aaron  Thayer,  Ichabod  Cook,  Saml.  Fairbanks,  Enos 
Taft,  Darius  Daniels,  Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  Lt.  John  Benson, 
George  Gaskill.  Ebcnr.  Taft,  Alexander  Wilson  and  Asa  Smith 
were  chosen  a  committee  "to  inspect  the  School  houses  that  are 


452  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1794. 

built  in  said  Town  and  also  those  that  shall  hereafter  be  built, 
and,  in  case  any  District  cannot  agree  upon  the  spot  to  set  their 
School  House  on,  this  Committee  shall  fix  the  spot  upon  which 
the  School  House  shall  be  built.  The  School  houses  are  to  be 
completed  by  the  last  day  of  November  next." 

Adjourned  to  April  meeting. 

April  7.  Voted  to  raise  £100  to  defray  town  charges,  and  £80 
for  schooling. 

Adjourned  to  May  12th  next,  at  the 

STATE    ELECTION. 

Vote  for  Governor,  Lt.  Governor  and  Senators: 
For  Governor,  Samuel  Adams,  Esq.,  had     39. 
"         William  Gushing,  Esq.,  had  27. 
Lt.Gov.  Moses  Gill,  Esq.,  had  45. 

"  Samuel  Adams,  Esq.,  had      10. 

Senators — Moses  Gill,  44.  Samuel  Baker,  61.  Jona.  Warner,  61.  Jo- 
siah  Sterns,  61.  Beni  Read,  55.  Andrew  Peters,  5.  Bezuleel  Taft  1,  and 
Daniel  Bigelow  17. 

Chose  Benjamin  Eead,  Esq.,  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at -the  March  meeting  to 
raise  £600  for  building  school  houses. 

Voted  then  to  raise  £300  for  the  purpose  of  building  or  repair- 
ing school  houses. 

Voted  not  to  sell  the  old  road  from  the  Potash  up  to  George 
Aldrich's.  Jr.,  being  the  road  on  the  south  side  of  the  Friends" 
Burying  Yard.  The  Potash  was  at  the  east  end  of  this  road,  on 
land  now  owned  by  Albert  W.  Gaskill,  where  the  site  can  be 
plainly  distinguishtd.  By  the  word  Potash  was  meant  a  manu- 
factory of  that  article. 

Aug.  22.  In  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  this  day,  the  sec- 
ond article  in  the  warrant  for  the  .meeting  reads  thus:  "  To  see 
if  the  town  will  pay  their  quota  of  men  ordered  to  be  raised  by 
Congressj  the  ninth  of  May  last,  any  thing  in  addition  to  their 
Continental  pay.*' 

Upon  this  article  it  was  "voted  to  make  each  man's  pay  three 
pounds  pr.  month,  with  their  Continental  pay,  provided  they 
march." 

It  was  also  "voted  to  allow  each  soldier  twelve  shillings  that 


1794.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  453 


will  enlist  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  for  three 
months." 

No  cause  can  be  assigned  for  this  call  of  troops  by  the  General 
Government,  unless  it  was  the  fear  that  the  whiskey  insurrec- 
tion, then  in  progress  in  Pennsylvania,  should  extend  to  other 
sections  of  the  country. 

Sept.  11.  Chose  Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  Seth  Chapin,  Lt.  John 
Benson  and  Benj.  Thayer,  Jr.,  a  committee  "  to  carry  into  effect 
the  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  of  the  26th.  of  June  last 
respecting  making  a  Survey  of  the  Town  of  Mendon." 

At  this  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  fix  on  the  site  for 
a  Pound,  and  agree  with  some  person  to  build  the  same.  After 
seven  adjournments,  finally,  on  May  0,  1795,  the  town  voted  to 
raise  £10  to  build  a  Pound. 

Nov.  3.  Voted  to  give  the  powder  that  the  soldiers  drew  out 
of  the  town's  stock  for  the  General  Muster  on  the  8th  of  October 
last. 

For  Representative  to  Congress — Levi  Lincoln,  Esq. ,  had  all  the  votes,  40. 

Luke  Aldrich,  Seth  Chapin  and  Col.  Philip  Ammidon  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  join  with  a  committee  that  may  be  chosen 
by  the  Town  of  Milford,  to  establish  the  line  and  set  up  bounds 
between  the  two  towns,  and  Nov.  27  the  two  committees  met 
(the  committee  of  Milford  being  Ephraim  Chapin  and  Ichabod 
Thayer,)  and  agreed  to  the  following 

REPORT'. 

Mendon  Nov.  27,  1794  Then  we,  the  subscribers,  Committees  of  the 
towns  of  Mendon  and  Milford  met  and  settled  the  line  between  the  town  of 
Mendon  and  the  town  of  Milford,  (over  the  North  Hill,  so  called)  begin- 
ning at  a  heap  of  stones  being  the  Southeast  corner  of  Paul  Nelson's  land, 
thence  North  37+°  East  40  rods  to  a  walnut  tree  with  a  heap  of  stones  round 
it,  thence  South  26^°  East  196  rods  to  a  Avhite  oak  tree  being  the  northwest 
corner  bound  of  Seth  Davenport's  land,  on  the  South  side  of  the  road  lead- 
ing from  the  Widow  Tyler's  to  Milford. 

Philip  Ammidon,     ) 

Seth  Chapin,  [  Com.  for  Mendon. 


Luke  Aldrich, 

Ephraim  Chapin, 
Ichabod  Thayer. 


;-  Com.  for  Milford 


454  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  (1795. 

1795.  March  2.  Seth  Ohapin,  Town  Clerk;  Oliver  Carpen- 
ter, Lt.  John  Benson,  Ebenr.  Chapin,  Jr.,  Benj.  Thayer,  Jr., 
and  Nahor  Staples,  Selectmen;  Seth  Hastings,  Treasurer;  Seth 
Davenport  and  John  Darling,  Constables;  Joseph  Torrey,  Pack- 
er of  Beef. 

Voted  to  raise  £100  to  defray  town  charges,  £100  for  school- 
ing and  £150  for  repair  of  highways  and  bridges.  The  price  for 
labor  on  the  highways  to  be  3s.  per  day  for  a  man  and  3s.  per  day 
for  a  team  from  May  1st  to  Oct  1  and  then  2s.  per  day  for  each. 

Voted  to  raise  £150  in  addition  to  what  has  already  been  raised 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  school  house  in  each  district. 

April  6.  Voted  to  let  swine  run  at  large  the  ensuing  year  they 
being  yoked  and  ringed  according  to  law. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  directed  to  call  on  the  Surveyors 
of  Highways,  the  present  year,  to  make  return  of  all  delinquents 
who  have  not  worked  out  their  highway  tax. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Samuel  Adams  had  65  votes. 
"    Lt,  Governor,  Moses  Gill  "     68     " 

For  Senators — Samuel  Baker  20,  Jonathan  Warner  59,  Daniel  Bigelow  57, 
Josiah  Sterns  62,  Benj.  Read  58,  Elijah  Brigham  3,  Levi  Lincoln  3,  Beza- 
leel  Taft  4,  and  Salem  Towne  43. 

May  6.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  call  upon  all 
those  persons  that  have  moved  out  of  town  and  hold  any  of  the 
town's  money,  to  pay  in  the  same  by  the  third  day  of  December 
next. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  March  2d  last  for  raising 
£150  in  addition  to  £600  for  building  school  houses. 

REVISION    OF   THE    CONSTITUTION. 

Upon  the  question  "  of  the  necessity  and  expediency  of  revis- 
ing the  State  Constitution,'"  there  were  60  yeas,  and  no  nays. 

May  6.  Benjamin  Read,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to 
the  General  Court. 

It  seems  the  road  from  near  William  French's  to  Muddy  Brook 
had,  for  some  time,  been  a  source  of  contention,  and  that,  at  this 
time  there  were  fears  that  the  town  would  be  indicted.  The  road 
had  been  made  but  not  accepted,  and  hence  the  report  of  the 
Committee  which  follows,  viz: 


1796.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  45") 

"  Mendon  Nov.  27,  1795.  The  Committee  appointed  to  view  the  road  by 
William  French's  house  have  attended  that  service  and  are  of  opinion 
that  the  road  now  made  is  good  and  will  be  accepted  by  the  public,  if  ap- 
plied for,  and  their  opinion  is  to  apply  to  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  a  com- 
mittee to  view  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the  Town,  and  prevent,  if  pos- 
sible, any  presentment  against  the  town,  and  that  a  Committee  or  Agent  be 

appointed  for  that  purpose." 

Benjamin  Read  ) 

Benjamin  Thayer  Jk  [-  Com. 
Bakuch  Penniman        ) 

Pursuant  to  the  report  Benjamin  Read  was  chosen  agent. 

Voted  that  the  town  consent  that  the  town  of  Harvard  be 
taken  from  the  County  of  Worcester  and  set  to  the  County  of 
Middlesex. 


1796.  March  7.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Ebenezer 
Chapin,  Jr.,  John  Benson,  Aaron  Thayer;  Benjamin  Thayer, 
Jr.,  and  Samuel  Fairbanks,  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treas- 
urer; John  Darling  and  Benjamin  Blake,  Constables. 

THE    FIEST    SCHOOL   COMMITTEE. 

Peter  Penniman,  Seth  Hastings,  Benj.  Bead,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Thayer  and  Baruch  Penniman. 

Voted  to  raise  $400.  to  defray  town  charges,  $400.  for  school- 
ing, $500  for  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  one  thousand  dollars  in  addition  to  the  sum  of 
£600  already  raised,  to  be  immediately  assessed  upon  the  old  val- 
uation. 

Voted  that  one  quarter  part  of  the  money  belonging  to  the 
town  be  called  in,  at  the  close  of  this  year,  and  loaned  to  other 
inhabitants  as  the  Selectmen  may  direct. 

This  "town  money"  was  what  the  town  had  taken  at  the 
different  issues  of  Bills  of  Credit,  as  they  were  called,  which 
were  loaned  by  the  State  to  the  towns,  the  interest  of  which  was 
to  be  appropriated  to  defray  town  charges. 

Old  tenor  money  was  when  the  General  Court  enacted  that  an 
ounce  of  silver  should  be  reckoned  Gs.  8d.  or  an  English  crown, 
and  that  fifty  shillings  should  be  equal  to  (Js.  8d.  or  an  ounce  of 
silver.  After  March  3,  1750,  it  was  established  that  all  business 
transactions   should  be  conducted  upon  the   basis  that   three 


456  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [17(J6. 

ounces  of  silver  should  be  reckoned  as  £1  or  twenty  shillings. 
This  was  called  lawful  money. 

April  4.  STATE   ELECTION. 

For  Gov.  Samuel  Adams        had  55  votes. 
Increase  Sumner,      "      1 
Senators. — Benj.  Read  64,  Jonathan  Warner,  Daniel  Bigelow  and  Salem 
Towne  65  each,  Josiah  Stearns  64  and  Elijah  Brigham  and  Samuel  Jones  1 
each. 

Voted  to  forego  Simeon  Hay  ward's  rate  5s.  7d.,  Isaac  Adams 
Greene's  rate  2s.  2d.  and  John  Green  White's  rate  Is.  7d. 

Benjamin  Blake  chosen  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  to  collect  the 
same  for  115.00  for  the  present  year,  provided  he  procure  suffi- 
cient bondsmen. 

Benjamin  Blake  was  also  chosen  Constable. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  settle  with  Benj.  Blake  for  collect- 
ing the  loan. 

This  loan  money  was  money  received  from  the  State  to  be 
loaned  to  the  inhabitants,  the  interest  of  which  could  be  used  to 
defray  municipal  charges. 

May  11.  Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

The  second  article  in  the  warrant  was  in  these  words: 

"  To  see  if  the  Town  will  petition  the  Representatives  in  Congress  to  car- 
ry the  Treaty  made  by  the  Supreme  Executive  of  the  United  States  with 
the  King  of  Great  Britain  into  fair  and  honorable  effect,  agreeable  to  a  re- 
quest of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston." 

Upon  this  article  it  was  voted  to  pass  it  over  which  was  equiv- 
alent to  its  rejection,  as  it  was  not  again  called  up. 

After  an  adjournment  of  ten  min  ales  it  was  voted  to  raise  £30  in 
addition  to  what  had  already  been  raised  to  defray  town  charges, 
and  that  the  Selectmen,  at  their  discretion,  might  shut  up  any 
part  of  the  road  from  William  French's  to  the  house  where  Israel 
Hill  lives,-  and  then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 

August  8.  Chose  Philip  Aminidon  and  Seth  Hastings  Esqrs. 
to  proceed  to  Ashford  in  the  State  of  Connecticut  or  elsewhere 
in  said  State  to  meet  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  that  State 
to  survey  and  lay  out  a  road  from  Hartford  to  the  line  of  this 
Commonwealth  or  to  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.      This  was  the 


1796.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  457 

beginning  of  the  Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike,  which  was  af- 
terwards continued  in  this  State  pursuant  to  the  petition  of  Phil- 
ip Ammidon,  Ben].  Read,  Aaron  Marsh,  James  Mellen,  Moses 
Whitney,  Samuel  Willard,  Benj.  Adams,  Paul  Dudley,  Benj. 
Craggin,  John  Miller,  David  Farnum  Jr.,  Adolphus  Spring, 
Samuel  Bead,  John  Capron,  Asa  Thayer,  Job  Knapp,  Seth 
White,  Timothy  Craggin,  Ebenezer  Spring,  Peter  White,  Fred- 
eric Taft,  Daniel  Carpenter,  Daniel  Tillinghast  &  Co.,  Israel  Aid- 
rich,  John  Whiting,  Daniel  Day,  Benj  Thayer,  Abijah  Keith? 
Benj.  Wood,  Obadiah  Wood,  Seth  Rawson,  Ezekiel  Wood,  Asa 
White,  Abel  Aldrich,  Benj.  Thwing,  Benj.  Thwing  Jr.,  Stephen 
Williams,  Joel  Sibley,  Joseph  Rist,  Benj.  Legg,  Benj.  Thayer  2d, 
Amory  Wood,  and  their  associates  who  were  organized  under 
the  laws  of  this  State,  as  the  "  Ninth  Massachusetts  Turnpike 
Corporation,"  to  build  a  road  from  the  Connecticut  line,  at 
Thompson,  to  the  east  line  of  the  Town  of  Bellingham,  with 
the  privilege  of  two  toll-gates,  one  near  the  house  of  Dr.  John 
Scammell  in  Bellingham,  east  of  the  Taunton  road,  and  the  oth- 
er a  little  west  of  the  meeting  house  in  Douglass. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  year  1785  the  towns  of 
Douglass,  Mendon  and  Bellingham  petitioned  the  General  Court 
for  the  grant  of  a  lottery  to  repair  the  Hartford  road  through 
those  towns.  That  project  failed,  for  although  the  petitioners, 
at  a  General  Court  held  Feb.  17,  1785,  had  leave  to  bring  in  a 
bill,  it  is  not  learned  that  they  did  so.  It  was  proposed  to  raise 
£750  by  this  lottery. 

The  Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike  (the  Uth  Mass.  Turnpike) 
was  built  about  this  time,  but  it  is  understood  that  the  stock- 
holders never  received  a  dividend  in  Massachusetts.  In  1826 
there  was  a  toll  gate  near  the  house  where  Moses  Aldrich  now 
lives,  but  as  the  turnpike  was  not  kept  in  good  repair,  travellers 
sometimes  failed  to  pay  the  toll,  and  the  franchise  was  soon 
afterwards  abandoned  and  the  road  was  laid  out  by  the  County 
Commissioners  of  AVorcester  County  as  a  county  road.  As  the 
town  of  Milford  was  not  notified  when  the  turnpike  was  laid  out 
and  accepted  as  a  county  road  by  the  Commissioners,  that  por- 
tion of  the  turnpike  within  the  limits  of  that  town  is  supposed 
to  be  all  that  is  left  of  the  Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike  in 
Massachusetts. 

58 


458  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1796. 

Oct.  3.  A  town  meeting  was  called  to  see  if  the  town  would 
furnish  powder  to  the  militia  to  he  used  at  the  regimental  re- 
view, to  be  held  October  6th. 

Peter  Penniman  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  meeting,  and 
the  town  voted  that  each  soldier  should  have  six  ounces  for  the 
occasion. 

Nov.  7.  For  an  Elector  of  President  and  Vice  President — Levi  Lincoln 
had  44  votes.     Joseph  Allen  had  1  vote. 

For  Representative  to  Congress — Levi  Lincoln  had  41  votes.  Dwight  Fos- 
ter had  3  votes. 

At  this  meeting  Benj.  Thayer,  Jr.,  was  chosen  to  expend  120 
in  repairing  the  bridge  by  Jesse  Darling's  mills. 

Ownership  in  a  pew  in  the  church  can  now  be  transferred  by 
an  ordinary  bill  of  sale.  It  was  not  so,  however,  eighty  years 
ago,  as  may  be  learned  by  a  perusal  of  the  following  Deed: 

"Know  all  People  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come: — Greeting. 

Know  ye  that  I,  Thomas  Stone  of  Mendon,  in  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  Hatter,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  three  pounds  Lawful  Money  to  me  in  hand,  before  the  ensealing 
hereof  well  and  truly  paid  by  Peter  Thompson  and  Pardon  Aldrich  of  the 
same  Mendon  &c.  yeomen,  the  receipt  whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge 
and  myself  therewith  fully  satisfied  and  contented,  and  thereof,  and  every 
part  and  parcel  thereof,  do  exonerate,  acquit  and  discharge  them  the  said 
Thompson  and  Aldrich  their  heirs,  executors  &c.  forever  by  these  presents 
have  given,  granted,  bargained,  sold,  aliened,  conveyed  and  confirmed,  and 
by  these  presents  do  truly  and  absolutely  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  alienate, 
convey  and  confirm  to  them  the  said  Thompson  and  Aldrich  their  heirs 
and  assigns,  forever,  one  moiety  or  full  half  part  of  a  certain  Pew,  situate 
in  the  First  Parish  Meeting  House,  in  said  Mendon,  and  is  bounded  as  fol- 
lows viz: — northerly  by  the  north  side  of  said  house,  westerly  by  a  pew 
belonging  to  John  Penniman  and  the  heirs  of  John  Penniman,  late  of  said 
Mendon,  decd,  southerly  by  the  alley  or  pass  way  leading  from  the  north 
door  of  said  house  to  the  east  gallery  steps  of  said  house  and  easterly  by  a 
pew  belonging  to  Zebulun  Goss,  and  it  is  the  intent  and  meaning  of  the 
grantor  to  sell  and  convey  the  east  half  of  the  above  described  pew  and  to 
have  and  to  hold  the  said  granted  and  bargained  premises,  with  all  the  ap- 
purtenances, privileges  and  accommodations  to  the  same  belonging  or  in 
any  wise  appertaining  to  them  the  said  Peter  Thompson  and  Pardon  Al- 
drich their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  their  own  proper  use,  benefit  and 
behoof  forever,  and  I,  the  said  Thomas  Stone  for  myself,  my  heirs,  execu- 
tors and  administrators  do  covenant,  promise  and  grant  to  and  with  them 
the  said  Thompson  and  Aldrich,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  that  before  the 


1797.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  459 

ensealing  hereof  I  was  the  true,  sole  and  lawful  owner  of  the  above  bar- 
gained premises  and  was  lawfully  siezed  of  and  possessed  of  the  same  in 
my  own  proper  right  as  a  good,  perfect  and  absolute  estate  of  inheritance, 
in  fee  simple,  and  have  in  myself  good  right,  full  power  and  lawful  authori- 
ty to  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey  and  confirm  said  bargained  premises 
in  manner  aforesaid,  and  that  they  the  said  Peter  Thompson  and  the  said 
Pardon  Aldrich  their  heirs  and  assigns  shall  and  may,  from  time  to  time, 
and  at  all  times  and  forever  hereafter,  by  force  and  virtue  of  these  presents, 
lawfully,  peaceably  and  quietly  have  hold,  use,  occupy,  possess  and  enjoy 
the  said  demised  and  bargained  premises  with  all  the  appurtenances,  free 
and  clear  and  freety  and  clearly  exonerated,  acquitted  and  discharged  of 
from  all  and  all  manner  of  former  or  other  gifts,  grants,  bargains,  sales, 
leases,  mortgages,  judgments,  executions  &c  of  what  name  or  nature 
soever,  that  might,  in  any  measure  or  degree  obstruct  or  make  void  this 
present  deed: — furthermore,  I  the  said  Thomas  Stone  for  myself,  my  heirs, 
executors  &c.  do  covenant  and  engage  the  above  demised  premises  to  them 
the  said  Thompson  and  Aldrich,  their  heirs  and  assigns  against  the  lawful 
claims  or  demands  of  any  persons  whatsoever  forever  hereafter  to  warrant, 
secure  and  defend  the  same  by  these  presents. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  thirteenth 
day  of  April  seventeen  hundred  and  ninety  six. 

Thomas  Stone  [l.  s.  ] 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in 

presence  of  Joseph  Fox 

Philip  Ammidon 

Worcester  ss.  Feb.  6.  1797 

Thomas  Stone  acknowledged  the  within  written  instrument  to  be  his  free 
act  and  deed 

Before  me,  Petkr  Penniman,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Received  at  Mention  Feb.  6.  1707  and  Recorded  by  me 

Attest,  Seth  Ohapin,  Town  Clerk. 


1797.  March  6.  At  a  town  meeting  chose  Seth  Ohapin, 
Town  Clerk;  Philip  Ammidon,  Benj.  Read,  Oliver  Carpenter, 
Samuel  Warfield  and  Nahor  Staples,  Selectmen;  Oliver  Car- 
penter, Treasurer,  and  Benj.  Blake,  Constable. 

Voted  to  hire  a  Collector  the  present  year,  and  to  give  Augus- 
tus Neat  $15. 00  for  collecting  the  taxes  the  current  year.  For 
some  reason  Augustus  Neat  did  not  collect  the  taxes  as  after- 
wards Benjamin  Blake  was  chosen  to  collect  them  for  $25.00. 

Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  was  chosen  agent  to  maintain  an  action 
brought  hv  Mention  against  the  town  of  Bellinsdiam. 


460  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1797. 

April  3.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  James  Sullivan  had      38  votes. 
"         Increase  Sumner  had     18     " 
"    Lt.  Gov.     Moses  Gill  had  52     ■' 

For  Senator* — Salem  Town,  Daniel  Bigelow  and  Levi  Lincoln  had  47 
each.  Elijah  Brigham,  46.  Benj.  Read,  34.  Bezaleel  Taft,  13,  and  Sam- 
uel Flagg  and  Josiah  Stearns,  1  each. 

In  years  past  appropriations  had  been  made  for  building  school 
houses  in  the  several  districts,  and  it  is  supposed  they  were 
nearly  or  quite  completed.  Enos  Taft.  Peter  Penniman  and 
Benjamin  Thayer,  Jr.,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  audit  the 
accounts  of  the  committees  in  the  several  School  Districts,  who 
have  built  the  school  houses  in  the  same,  and  also  to  see  whether 
the  money  has  been  laid  out  in  a  proper  manner,  and  to  report 
to  the  town  at  the  next  meeting  what  further  sum  may  be  neces- 
sary to  complete  them. 

Voted  to  give  Benjamin  Blake  twenty-five  dollars  for  collect- 
ing the  taxes  the  present  year,  he  procuring  sufficient  bondsmen 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  that  service. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  schooling  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  the  Surveyors  of  Highways  be  the  collectors  of  high- 
way taxes  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  allow  4s.  per  day  for  a  man,  and  the  same  for  a  yoke 
of  oxen  and  cart;  that  one  half  the  tax  lie  worked  out  by  the 
first  day  of  July  next,  and  the  remaining  half  by  the  first  day  of 
October  next,  and  that  ten  hours  be  considered  a  day's  work. 

May  1.     Voted  to  raise  $800  to  defray  town  charges. 

Voted  to  allow  William  French  seven  dollars  for  damages  for 
the  road  laid  out  through  his  land  by  the  town's  committee. 

Voted  to  raise  $666  in  addition  to  the  various  sums  heretofore 
raised  for  the  purpose  of  building  and  finishing  school  houses  in 
said  town. 

Voted  that  Benjamin  Read  Esq.,  Philip  Ammidon,  Esq., 
and  Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  be  a  committee  to  meet  the  Court's 
committee,  that  are  appointed  by  the  General  Court  to  view  the 
several  roads  from  the  Connecticut  line  to  Boston. 

Voted  to  take  all  the  money  now  loaned  by  the  town,  both 
interest  and  principal,  to  defray  town  charges,  which  will  be- 


1798.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  461 

come  due  Dec.  1,  next,  excepting  two  thousand   dollars,  which 
shall  he  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer. 

FOR    REPRESENTATIVE   TO   THE    GENERAL   COURT. 

Benjamin  Read  had         53  votes. 
Philip  Ammidon  had      38     " 

This  is  the  first  instance  when  there  was  more  than  one  candi- 
date for  Representative,  so  far  as  the  record  shovs. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  view  the  several  roads 
in  the  town  that  are  encroached  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
and  proceed  so  far  in  the  matter  as  they  shall  think  best. 

Oct.  6.     The  second  article  in  the  warrant  was  as  follows,  viz: 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  give  any  sum  or  sums  of  money  to  the 
soldiers  now  to  be  '  draughted,' by  order  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  as  wages  or  bounty,  to  encourage  them  to  march  or  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  march." 

John  Adams  was  at  this  time  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  our  relations  with  France  were  so  uncertain,  especially  after 
Jay's  treaty  with  England,  that  it  Avas  thought  best  to  be  pre- 
pared for  the  belligerent  attitude  of  the  French  Directory. 
Hence  this  call  for  men;  but,  so  far  as  is  known,  none  were 
called  to  march. 

Upon  this  article  the  town  first  voted  its  indefinite  postpone- 
ment, but  afterwards,  at  the  same  meeting,  that  vote  was  recon- 
sidered, and  it  was  voted  "to  give  each  soldier  that  shall  muster, 
on  muster  day,  one  dollar,  and  nine  dollars  to  each  soldier  that 
shall  march  into  actual  service."  At  this  time  party  feeling  ran 
high.  Mr.  Adams  was  supposed  to  be  more  favorable  to  Eng- 
land, although  he  had  issued  the  call  for  troops,  than  to  France, 
and,  upon  this  point,  the  country  was  divided.  The  first  vote 
of  indefinite  postponement  was  probably  carried  by  those  favor- 
able to  France,  but,  upon  further  consideration,  the  vote  was 
reconsidered  and  the  bounty  and  pay  was  agreed  to. 


1798.  March  5.  Seth  Chapin  was  chosen  Town  Clerk; 
Philip  Ammidon,  John  Benson,  Luke  Aldrich,  Jr.,  Seth  Kelley, 
Jr.,  and  Ezra  Allen.  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treasurer; 


4G2  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1798. 

Benjamin  Blake  and  Doct.  Joseph  Adams,  Constables;  Dr. 
Joseph  Adams,  Collector,  and  to  be  paid  for  that  service  twenty- 
four  dollars. 

Voted  to  raise  $700  for  repair  of  highways  and  bridges,  and  to 
allow  seventy  cents  per  day  for  work. 

Voted  that  the  school  money  be  divided  in  each  district  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  district. 

Voted  that  all  persons  chosen  and  employed  by  the  town  shall 
exhibit  their  accounts  to  the  town  for  allowance. 

Voted  that  any  person  having  any  of  the  town's  money  in  their 
hands,  who  shall  neglect  to  pay  in  the  annual  interest  and  such 
part  of  the  principal  as  the  town  shall  see  fit  to  call  in  at  the 
day  the  year  is  out,  the  Treasurer  shall  be  ordered  to  prosecute 
said  bonds  and  collect  them  in  and  loan  to  other  persons;  and 
said  persons  so  prosecuted  are  to  be  prohibited  from  ever  having 
any  of  said  money  afterwards. 

Voted  that  town  meetings  shall  hereafter  be  warned  by  posting 
up  notifications  at  each  parish  meeting  house. 

Voted  that  every  person  having  demands  against  the  town 
shall  apply  for  settlement  within  one  year. 

April  2.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Increase  Sumner  had     13  votes. 
"  "         James  Sullivan  had       37     " 

"    Lt.Gov.     Moses  Gill  had  31     " 

William  Heath  had        22     " 
For  Senators — Josiah  Stearns  and  Salem  Towne  had  43  each.     Levi  Lin- 
coln, 33.      Bezaleel   Taft,  46.      John  Sprague,  29.      Benjamin   Joslin,   15. 
Benj.  Blake,  6,  and  Thomas  Hale,  12. 

On  a  proposition  to  divide  the  County  of  Worcester  the  vote 
was  found  as  follows,  viz:  Yeas  68,  nays  2. 

May  7.  Col.  Chose  Philip  Ammidon  Representative  to  the 
General  Court. 

Dr.  Joseph  Adams  to  collect  the  taxes  the  present  year  for  the 
sum  of  twenty-four  dollars,  he  procuring  satisfactory  bondsmen. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year, 
and  $400  for  schooling. 

Swine  were  still  allowed  to  run  at  large,  being  yoked  and 
ringed  as  the  law  directs. 

April  23.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  the  second  article 
was — 


1798.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  4(i3 

"  To  see  if  said  Inhabitants  will  express^their  minds  on  the  Great  Ques- 
tion before  Congress  respecting  arming  merchant  ships,  and  to  supplicate 
Congress  to  pass  an  act  against  arming  merchant  ships,  as  your  Petitioners 
deprecate  the  Horrors  of  War." 

Voted  to  adopt  the  Lancaster  petition  and  the  memorial  to 
Congress  respecting  arming  merchant  ships,  and  Peter  Penni- 
niitn,  Benj.  Read,  Dr.  Joseph  Adams,  John  Benson  and  Capt. 
William  Torrey  were  chosen  a  committee  to  forward  the  same  to 
Congress. 

It  seems  that  the  petition  of  Lancaster  and  Mendon  did  not 
prevail  with  Congress,  as  by  a  vote,  on  page  344  of  Barry's  His- 
tory of  Masssachnsetts,  it  is  found  that  Congress,  about  this 
time,  ordered  the  building  of  three  frigates,  (the  Constitution, 
United  States  and  Constellation,)  and  that  letters  of  marque 
had  been  issued  to  3G5  private  armed  vessels,  mounting  2,723 
guns  and  manned  by  6,874  seamen. 

The  "Horrors  of  War  "  Avere  happily  averted  by  a  successful 
negotiation  with  France,  she  agreeing  to  indemnify  the  United 
States  for  the  spoliations  she  had  made  upon  our  commerce. 
France  was  dilatory  in  the  settlement  of  the  claim  and  they  were 
not  liquidated  until  the  administration  of  Gen.  Jackson. 

The  doings  of  the  town,  in  this  matter,  were  directed  to  be 
published  in  the  Boston  Chronicle  and  the  Worcester  papers. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  should  get  a  guardian  appointed  over 
Jonathan  Pickering. 

NOV.  5.  FOR    REPRESENTATIVE    IX    CONGRESS. 

For  Levi  Lincoln  Esq.,      24  votes, 
"    Dwight  Foster,  Esq.,  16     " 

Voted  to  allow  John  Darling  rive  dollars  for  collecting  the 
school  house  tax. 

Col.  Philip  Ammidon,  Peter  Penniman  Esq.,  and  Luke  Aid- 
rich  were  chosen  a  committee  to  view  the  proposed  land  to  be  ex- 
changed with  Col.  James  Mellen,  and  report  at  the  next  meeting. 

Nov.  7.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  this  day  the  Commit- 
tee made  the  following  report: 

"That  the  land  proposed  by  said  Mellen  for  exchange  begin  at  a  stake 
aud  stoues  at  the  northwest  corner  of  his  land  on  the  West  road  thence  run- 
ning easterly  twelve  and  a  half  rods  to  a  stake  and  stones  in  the  wall  on  the 


464  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1799. 

east  road,  and  including  all  the  laud  southward  of  the  above  mentioned  line 
and  between  the  said  East  and  West  road,  containing,  by  the  estimation  of 
your  Committee,  one  hundred  and  nine  rods. 

In  exchange  for  the  above  piece  of  land  your  Committee  conceive  it  ex- 
pedient that  the  town  should  convey  to  the  aforesaid  James  Mellen  a  piece 
of  the  north  part  of  the  Training  Field,  bounded  as  follows,  viz :  Beginning 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  said  Mellen's  laud  on  the  east  road,  thence  run- 
ning southwardly  nine  rods  and  three  feet  to  a  stake  and  stones,  thence  east- 
wardly  thirteen  rod  to  a  stake  and  stones  adjoining  said  Mellen's  land  north- 
wardly then  and  bounded  on  said  Mellen's  land  seven  and  one  half  rods, 
thence  westwardly  and  bounded  on  said  Mellen's  land  thirteen  and  one  half 
rods  to  the  first  mentioned  bound." 

Which  is  submitted  by 

Philip  Ammidon,    )  ,,  ... 

Peter  PENNiMAN,!"CommilteC- 

Upon  this  report  the  Selectmeu,  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  were 
empowered  to  give  said  Mellen  a  quit-claim  deed  of  the  above 
mentioned  piece  of  land  and  also  take  a  quit-claim  deed  of  said 
Mellen's  land. 


1799.  March  i.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Dr. 
Joseph  Adams,  Lt.  John  Benson,  Capt.  Aaron  Thayer,  Seth 
Kelly,  Jr.,  and  Ezra  Allen,  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treas- 
urer; Seth  Davenport,  and  Ahaz.  Allen,  Constables  and  Collect- 
ors; Seth  Hastings,  Dr.  Joseph  Adams,  Baruch  Penniman,  Benj. 
Bead,  Esq.,  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  John  Benson  and  Ichabod  Cook, 
School  Committee. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges  and 
that  70  cents  shall  be  allowed  for  a  day's  work. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  list  of  names  reported  by  the  Selectmen 
to  be  put  in  the  jury  box. 

Aroted  that  Col.  James  Mellen  shall  have  the  privilege  of  pur- 
chasing the  land  which  the  town  is  to  receive  of  him  in  exchange 
for  part  of  the  training  field,  provided  the  town  shall  ever  sell 
said  land,  at  the  price  the  other  part  of  the  training  field  may  be 
sold  for  according  to  the  quality  thereof. 

April  1.  Voted  to  raise  $400  for  defraying  town  charges,  and 
$400  for  schooling. 

Seth  Davenport  to  have  six  dollars  for  collecting  the  town  tax- 


1800.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  465 

es  in  the  First  or  North  Parish  and  Ahaz  Allen  to  have  ten  dol- 
lars for  collecting-  in  the  2nd.  or  South  Parish. 
Voted  to  allow  Oliver  Carpenter's  account,  viz: 
Nov.  23,  1795.     An  account  of  labor  done  in  making  the  road 
by  William  French's. 

Eleazer  Daniels  3  days  his  Oxen  4  days  @  2s £0  14  00 

Ahaz  Allen  4  days  &  his  oxen     4     "           "   16  00 

Nahum  Wheelock  5  days  Ins  Oxen  one      "  0  12  00 

to  2  qts.  of  Rum  bought  of  Augustus  Neat 3  04 

"(5    "    of  Rum       "         "  Solomon  Johnson  10  06 

"  use  of  Wm,  Thayer's  Plow  to  plow  down  the  hill 6  00* 

"  Myself  and  Oxen  5  days  and  boarding  part  of  the  men 1  00  00 

Errors  and  omissions  excepted £4  01   10 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Increase  Sumner,  had  4o  votes. 

William  Heath,       "33      " 
"'     Lt.  Governor,    Moses  Gill,  "32      " 

For  ISenatovs — Josiah  Stearns  46,  Salem  Towne,  Bezaleel  Taft  and  Thomas 
Hale  had  44  each,  Nathl.  Paiue  31,  Elijah  Brigham  13,  Benj.  Read  1,  Sam- 
uel Jones  5,  Benj.  Joslin  2,  Peter  Penniman  5  and  Ezra  Wood  1. 

May  G.  Col.  Philip  Ammidon,  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

The  Selectmen  were  directed  to  supply  any  deficiency  in  the 
town's  stock  of  powder  which  the  town,  by  law,  is  required  to 
keep. 

Aug.  14.  Chose  Seth  Hastings  and  Philip  Ammidon.  Esqrs., 
to  defend  the  suit  brought  by  the  town  of  Uxbridge  against  the 
town  of  Mendon  to  determine  the  habitancy  and  support  of  Cuf- 
fee  Bushee  and  of  Cuffee  Darling  and  his  wife. 


1800.  March  3.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Lt.  Joseph 
Adams,  Moses  Daniels,  Andrew  Dexter,  Benj.  Blake  and  David 
Davenport.  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treasurer,  and  Levi 
Kawson  and  John  Benson,  Constables  and  Collectors,  the  first 
for  the  North  Parish  and  second  for  the  South  Parish,  each  to 
have  eight  dollars. 

Voted  to  raise  1500  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

59 


46(i  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1800. 

and  to  allow  eight  cents  an  hour  for  a  man  and  the  same  for  a 
yoke  of  oxen  and  cart. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  schooling  the  present  year. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  supply  a  sufficient  quantity  of  Stamp 
Papers  to  supply  the  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  give  no  orders  to  any 
School  Master,  that  may  keep  school  in  said  town,  not  qualified 
as  the  law  directs. 

April  7.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq.  had  71  votes. 

Caleb  Strong  Esq.  "19 

"    Lt.    Governor,  William  Heath  Esq.         "58       " 
Moses  Gill  Esq.  "10 

For  Senators  &  Counsellors  —  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  49.  Hon.  Salem 
Towne  77.  Hon.  John  Whiting  &  Hon.  Samuel  Flagg  54  each.  Hon. 
Samuel  Jones  56.  Hon.  Elijah  Brigham,  Hon.  Bezaleel  Taft  &  Hon. 
Thomas  Hale  20  each.     Hon.  Josiah  Stearns  14  and  Hon.  Joseph  Wood  7. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  town  charges  the  current  year. 

May  5.  Chose  Philip  Ammidon  Representative  to  the  General 
Court. 

The  qualification  of  voters  was  defined  in  the  warrant  for  this 
meeting  as  follows,  "'a  freehold  estate  within  the  Commonwealth 
of  the  annual  income  of  ten  dollars  or  any  estate  to  the  value  of 
two  hundred  dollars.'' 

Benj.  Read,  Seth  Kelley,  Ezra  Allen,  Joseph  Adams  and 
Benj.  Thayer,  Jr.,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  some  new 
arrangement  in  the  Districts  for  highways,  and  report  at  the 
next  meeting. 

This  committee  reported  thirteen  Districts  and  gave  the  boun- 
daries to  each,  and  exempted  the  Second,  Third,  Seventh,  Eighth 
and  Fifth  Districts  from  making  any  repairs  upon  the  Boston 
and  Hartford  Turnpike,  Avhich  passed  through  said  districts. 
The  committee  also  reported  that  George  and  Luke  Kelly  and 
Dr.  Parkman  be  assessed  in  the  '*'3thd.  District,  and  that  Naa- 
man  Aldrich  shall  be  assessed  in  the  9th.  District  for  highway 
taxes."     These  j)ersons  were  non-residents. 

May  5.  The  following  roads,  which  had  been  laid  out  by  the 
Selectmen,  were  accepted,  viz: — 


1800.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  467 

A  road  from  Northbridge  line  near  where  John  Walker  lately  lived  to 
the  County  road  leading  over  School  hrook  to  West  Hill. 

Another  road  from  Quisset  hrook  (so  called)  to  the  road  leading  by  Ezra 
Allen's. 

Another  of  two  rods  wide  from  Asa  Fletcher's  to  the  road  leading  over 
Wigwam  Hill  (so  called). 

June  5.     The  only  article  in  the  warrant  was — 

"To  see  if  the  town  would  oppose  the  acceptance  of  a  road,  laid  out,  by 
the  Court's  committee,  from  Mendon  to  Milford." 

Benjamin  Read,  Esq.,  was  chosen  an  agent  to  oppose  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  road  leading  from  Mendon  to  Milford.  This 
was  the  road  now  leading  from  the  house  of  Silas  Dudley  to  the 
corner  at  Henry  L.  Patrick's  store,  by  the  house  of  Samuel 
Walker. 

REPRESENTATIVE    TO    CONGRESS. 

The  qualifications  of  voters  for  this  election  were  stated  in  the 
warrant  to  he  that  the  person  claiming  to  vote  must  be  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  a  resident  of  the  town  for  one  year  next  pre- 
ceding the  day  of  election,  to  be  possessed  of  a  freehold  within 
the  town  of  the  annual  income  of  three  pounds,  or  any  estate  to 
the  value  of  sixty  pounds. 

The  votes  were  for  Levi  Lincoln,  Esq.,  G6.  Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  18. 
Pliny  Merrick,  Esq.,  1.     Bezaleel  Taft,  Esq.,  1. 

This  election  was  held  to  supply  a  vacancy  consequent  upon 
the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  1) wight  Foster,  who  had  been  elected 
a  Senator  in  Congress. 

Aug.  25.  No  choice  having  been  made  at  the  first  trial, 
another  trial  was  had  this  day  and  with  the  following  result: 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  68  votes.  Hon.  Seth  Hastings  had  22  votes. 
Hon.  Salem  Towne  had     1  only. 

Nov.  3.  Voted  Lt.  John  Benson,  Benj.  Thayer,  Jr.,  and 
Ezra  Allen  be  a  committee  to  repair  the  bridge  by  Jesse  Dar- 
ling's mills,  to  get  what  subscriptions  they  can,  to  get  out  the 
timber  next  winter,  and  to  see  how  cheap  they  can  get  the 
bridge  built  by  the  job. 

Voted  that  the  selectmen  be  directed  to  compromise  the  matter 
with  Benjamin  Legg,  Luke  Aldrich,  Simeon  Staples  and  Naaman 


468  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1801. 

Aldrich,  in  relation  to  damages  on  account  of  roads  laid  over 
their  lands. 

THIRD   TRIAL    FOR    REPRESENTATIVE   TO    CONGRESS. 

No  choice  having  heen  made  at  the  second  trial,  at  this  elec- 
tion 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  110  votes.  Hon.  Seth  Hastings  had  18  votes. 
Hon.  John  Upham  had  1  vote.     Hon.  Salem  Towne  had  1  vote. 

Dec.  15.  Again  there  was  no  choice,  and  a  meeting  held  this 
day  the  votes  were  as  follows,  viz: 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  78.         Hon.  Seth  Hastings  had  1  only.     • 

This  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  to 
represent  the  Fourth  Western  District,  as  it  was  then  called,  in 
Congress. 


1801.  March  2.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  John  Benson,  Thomas  Taft,  Ichabod  Cook  and  Ahaz 
Allen,  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treasurer;  Nairn  m  Whee- 
lock,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  to  allow  Nahiim  Wheelock  17.00  for  collecting  the 
taxes  in  the  First  Parish  and  $7.50  for  collecting  taxes  in  the 
South  Parish. 

Voted  to  raise  $300,  and  to  take  $100  of  interest  due  the  town 
for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  repair  of  highways  and  bridges, 
and  that  eight  cents  an  hour  be  allowed  for  a  man  and  eight 
cents  an  hour  for  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  cart. 

April  6.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  had  90  votes. 

"         Hon.  Caleb  Strong  had  25 

"  "         Edward  H.  Kobbins  had  2      " 

"    Lt.  Gov.     William  Heath,  Esq.,  had  88      " 

Edward  H.  Bobbins,  Esq.,  had  17 
Samuel  Phillips,  Esq.,  had  '4 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Elijah  Brigham,  Josiah  Strong,  Bezaleel 
Taft  and  Thomas  Hale,  Esqs  ,  had  22  each.  Salem  Towne  23.  John  Whit- 
ing, Esq.,  85.  Saml.  Jones,  Esq.,  84.  Jonathan  Grout,  Esq.,  83.  Josiah 
Wood,  Esq.,  17.  Edward  Bangs,  Esq.,  84.  Daniel  Henshaw,  Esq.,  61. 
Josiah  Stone,  Esq.,  2,  and  Daniel  Bigelow  1. 


1802.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  4b'9 

May  6.  For  Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Joseph  Adams  had 
68  votes.  Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  had  49  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurher  had  3 
votes. 

May  4.  Voted  to  appropriate  $400  of  the  money  that  the 
town  has  on  loan  over  and  above  the  $100  (already  appropriated 
for  schooling),  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  in  addition  to  the  above  sum  to  defray 
town  charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  that  Mr.  Dexter,  pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  a 
committee  heretofore  appointed,  have  the  old  road  by  his  land, 
he  paying  the  sum  of  four  dollars  for  the  same. 

June  22.  The  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  having  resigned  his  seat  in 
Congress,  an  election  was  held  this  day  to  choose  his  successor, 
and 

Gen.  John  Whiting  had  63  votes.       Hon.  Seth  Hastings  had  13  votes. 

No  choice  being  effected  at  this  trial  another  meeting  was 
called. 

Aug.  24.     At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day, 

Hon.  Setli  Hastings,  Esq.,  had  44  votes.  Gen.  John  Whiting  had  82 
votes. 

At  this  trial  Hon.  Seth  Hastings,  of  Mendon.  was  elected. 


l802.  March  1.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Ichabod  Cook,  Chas.  Allen,  Henry  S.  Benson  and  Jo- 
tham  Taft,  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treasurer;  and  Nahum 
Wheelock,  Constable. 

Benjamin  Read  was  chosen  agent  to  defend  an  action  brought 
against  the  town  by  John  Cooper. 

April  1.  STATE    ELECTIOX. 

For  Governor,         Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  had        90  votes. 
"  "  Hon.  Caleb  Strong  had  33      " 

"    Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  William  Heath  had         92      " 
Hon.  Edward  H.  Bobbins  had  30      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — John  Whiting,  Edward  Bangs  and  Pliny 
Merrick,  Esqrs. ,  had  99  each.     Moses  White  and  Samuel  Jones,  Esqrs.,  98. 
Elijah  Brigham,   Salem  Towne,  Bezaleel  Taft,  Thomas  Hale  and  Daniel 
Bigelow,  Esqrs.,  32  each,  and  William  Putnam,  Esq.,  1. 


470  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1802. 

April  5.  Voted  to  accept  of  the  list  of  voters  presented  by 
the  Selectmen,  qualified  to  vote  for  Governor,  Lieut.  Governor, 
Senators  and  Representatives  in  the  General  Court  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  Congress. 

William  Torrey,  Benj.  Read  and  Moses  Daniels  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  sell  or  let  any  useless  pieces  of  road. 

May  3.     For  Representatives  to  the  General  Court, 

Dr.  Joseph  Adams  had  90  votes.         Benj.  Read,  Esq.,  had  2  votes. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $300  for  the  support  of  schools,  and  that  $100 
be  taken  from  the  loan  money,  in  addition,  for  the  same  purpose. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  repair  of  highways  and  bridges,  and 
that  eight  cents  an  hour  for  a  man  and  the  same  for  a  yoke  of 
oxen  and  cart  be  allowed. 

The  bridge  at  Darling's  Mills,  (now  Millville),  notwithstand- 
ing the  examination  and  report  of  two  or  three  committees,  and 
notwithstanding  the  town  had  voted  to  have  "the  string  pieces 
cut  in  the  winter,"  still  remained  unbuilt.  A  new  committee, 
consisting  of  Darius  Daniels,  Ezra  Allen  and  John  Benson,  were 
directed  "to  make  some  proposals  to  some  person  or  persons  to 
repair  the  bridge  by  Darling's  Mills  and  report  to  the  town  at 
some  future  meeting.''  It  seems  this  committee  failed  to  accom- 
plish anything,  at  any  rate  they  failed  to  build  the  bridge,  and 
August  30,  the  town  chose  a  new  committee  by  an  addition  to 
the  old  one  of  Enos  Taft,  Benjamin  Read,  James  Paine  and 
Moses  Daniels,  who  were  instructed  to  view  the  bridge,  make  an 
estimate  of  its  probable  cost,  get  the  lowest  terms  they  can,  and 
report  to  the  town. 

Voted  to  raise  $300  to  he  laid  out  for  repairing  the  bridge  at 
Darling's  Mills,  and  that  the  committee  contract  with  some 
person  to  do  the  work  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $300. 

Sept.  6.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  enter  into 
writings  with  the  abovesaid  committee,  or  any  other  persons 
who  shall  undertake  to  rebuild  the  abovesaid  bridge,  and  "to  be 
as  explicit  as  they  can  in  what  Construction  the  abovesaid  bridge 
shall  be  rebuilt." 

Voted  to  petition  the  Court  of  Sessions  (which,  at  this  time, 
exercised  the  same  powers  over  roads  as  that  hoav  discharged  by 


1803.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  471 

the  County  Commissioners,)  to  grant  that  further  time  be  al- 
lowed for  opening  the  new  county  road  (to  Milford)  just  estab- 
lished, and  Peter  Penniman  and  Benjamin  Read,  Esqrs.,  were 
chosen  agents  for  that  purpose. 

Nov.  1.  The  committee,  it  seems,  did  not  succeed  with  the 
Court  of  Sessions,  as  on  this  day  the  town 

Voted  to  take  $500  of  the  money  the  town  has  on  loan  to  pay 
for  the  damages  assessed  for  the  New  County  Eoad,  and  that  the 
Treasurer  be  directed  to  call  upon  individuals  to  each  pay  in  his 
proportion  of  that  sum,  according  to  their  bonds. 

An  election  for  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Worces- 
ter South  District  took  place  at  this  time.  The  State  having 
been  redistricted  during  the  administration  of  Gov.  Gerry,  the 
Fourth  Western  District  had  become  the  Worcester  South  Dis- 
trict. This  revision  of  the  Congressional  Districts  was  claimed, 
by  the  opponents  of  Governor  Gerry,  as  a  device  to  increase  the 
Democratic  vote  in  Congress,  and  hence,  by  way  of  derision,  the 
State  was  said  to  have  been  Gerrymandered.  The  vote  at  the 
election  was  as  follows,  viz: 

Edward  Bangs,  Esq.,  had  60  votes.       Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  bad  46  votes. 

and  Mr.  Bangs  was  elected,  there  being  a  Democratic  majority 
in  the  District. 


1803.  March  7.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Ichabod  Cook,  Ahaz  Allen,  Caleb  Thayer  and  Baxter 
Johnson,  Selectmen;  Oliver  Carpenter,  Treasurer;  Benj.  Blake 
and  Nahum  Wheelock,  Constables. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  "to  look  into  the  state  of  the 
School  Districts  "  in  the  town,  and  report  at  the  adjournment  of 
this  meeting. 

One  from  each  District  was  chosen,  viz:  Joseph  Adams,  Ahaz 
Allen,  Aaron  Thayer.  Nahor  Staples,  Caleb  Thayer,  Nathan 
Very,  Benj.  Read,  Moses  Daniels,  James  Paine,  Solomon  Wood. 
Jacob  Southwick,  George  Gaskill  and  Nathl.  Capron. 

April  4.     Met  and  adjourned  to  May  2. 

Under  another  warrant  for  April  4,  the  inhabitants  met  for 
the 


472  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1803 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Gov.,  His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  bad  38  votes 

Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  had  104      " 

For  Lieut.  Governor,  James  Bowdoin,  Esq.,  bad  98      " 

Edward  H.  Robbins,  Esq. ,  bad  27      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — John  Whiting  and  Pliny  Merrick,  Esqrs., 
had  88  each.     Samuel  Jones,  Esq.,  and  Edward  Bangs,  Esq.,  had  89  each. 
Daniel  Bigelow  and  Thomas  Hale,  Esqrs.,  27  each.     Bezaleel  Taf t  25.    Eli- 
jah Brigharn  23,  and  Salem  Towne  2. 

May  2.  For  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Doct.  Joseph  Adams 
had  47  votes.     David  Davenport  had  29  votes. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  "  to 
look  into  the  state  of  the  School  Districts,"'  which  is  as  follows, 
viz: — 

"  To  divide  the  School  money  the  present  year,  one  half  to  be  divided 
according  to  the  valuation  and  one  half  according  to  the  number  of 
scholars." 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges,  and 
to  allow  eight  cents  per  hour  for  a  man  and  the  same  for  one  yoke 
of  oxen  and  cart. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  to  defray  town  charges  and  $400  for 
schooling. 

Voted  to  forego  the  taxes  of  Samuel  Smith,  George  Harris, 
Abraham  Wilson,  Paul  Whitcomb  and  Morris  Twitchel. 

Voted  that  Benjamin  Blake  be  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  he  be 
paid  fourteen  dollars  for  that  service. 

May  23.  Voted  to  discontinue  the  Old  County  Road,  (so 
called)  from  Mendon  to  Uxbridge,  that  is  not  used  by  "  the 
Corporation,"'  meaning  the  Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike,  it  is 
supposed. 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  Post  Road  (now  Post  Lane,)  to 
Milford. 

Voted  to  sell  and  dispose  of  the  Old  County  Road  leading 
through  Mendon  from  Uxbridge  to  Bellingham,  and  Moses 
Daniels,  James  Mellen  and  Benj.  Read  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee for  that  purpose. 

The  above  proceedings  were  transacted  under  the  March  meet- 
ing warrant  by  adjournments  from  time  to  time. 

In  a  warrant  for  a  meeting,  May  23,  the  qualifications  for  a 


1804.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  473 

voter  were  .stated  as  follows,  viz:  "Such  as  pay  to  one  single 
tax,  besides  the  poll  or  polls,  a  sum  equal  to  two  thirds  of  a 
single  poll  tax." 

Voted  to  sell  the  piece  of  land  set  off  to  the  town  by  virtue  of 
an  execution  against  Nathan  Aldrich. 

Voted  that  the  selectmen  call  upon  Benoni  Benson  and  Asa 
Fletcher  to  renew  their  old  School  Bonds  (so  called).  These  are 
supposed  to  have  been  given  as  securities  for  lands  heretofore 
assigned  for  the  benefit  of  the  schools. 

The  Selectmen  having  reported  to  the  town  a  list  of  names 
for  the  jury  boxes,  thereupon  it  was 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  select  out  one  third 
of  the  names  to  be  put  in  the  Superior  box,  one  third  in  the 
Inferior  box,  and  the  remaining  third  to  be  laid  aside  as  the 
law  directs. 

Voted  that,  in  future,  the  Constable  give  personal  notice  to 
the  Selectmen  and  Town  Clerk  to  attend  "'the  appointment  of 
jurymen."' 


1804.  April  2.  Chose  Seth  Chapin,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Nathan  Very,  Aaron  Thayer,  Benj.  Pickering  and  Na- 
hum  Wheelock,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer,  and  Benj. 
Blake  Constable  and  Collector.  No  Tithing  men  or  Deer  Rieve 
chosen. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  raise  1400  for  schooling,  and  to  divide  the  school 
money  according  to  the  number  of  scholars,  deducting  $33. 33 
from  the  whole  sum  to  be  sub-divided  by  the  Selectmen  among 
such  districts  as  they,  in  their  wisdom,  shall  think  just. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  ninth  article,  which  was,  "  To  see  if 
the  town  will  erect  a  work  house  for  the  Poor  of  the  town." 

Voted  to  inspect  the  Selectmen's  and  Treasurer's  accounts, 
and  chose  Benj.  Read,  Dan  Aldrich  and  David  Davenport  a 
committee  for  that  purpose. 

STATE    ELECTIOX. 

For  Governor,         James  Sullivan,  Esq.,  had  Gti. 

Caleb  Strong,  Esq.,  had  32. 

••    Lt.  Governor,  William  Heath,  Esq.,  had  78. 

Edward  H.  Robbing,  Esq.,  had  21. 

00 


474 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1804. 


For  Senators  and  Councillors — Edward  Bangs,  John  Whiting,  Moses 
White  and  Samuel  Jones  had  76  votes  each,  and  Salem  Towne,  Daniel 
Bigelow,  Elijah  Brigham  and  Thomas  Hale  22  votes  each. 

This  was  the  first  State  election  when  there  were  no  scattering 
votes. 

May  7.  For  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Doct.  Joseph  Adams 
had  59  votes.     David  Davenport  had  20  votes. 


Nov, 


ELECTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  AND  VICE  PRESIDENT. 


i  Hon.  David  Cobb,  Gouldsborough  Dist.,  Me.,  32  votes. 

Electors  at  large,  -j  Hqq   0Hver  Wendell;  Boston  District,  Mass.,  32  ' 

Suffolk  District— Hon.  John  Coffin  Jones,  Boston,  Mass.,  32  " 

Essex  South  District — Hon.  Benj.  Goodhue,  Salem,  Mass.,  32 

Essex  North  District— Bailey  Bartlett,  Haverhill,  Mass.,  32  " 

Middlesex  District — Eleazer  Brooks,  Lincoln,  Mass. ,  32 

Hampshire  South  District — William  Shepard,  Westtield,  Mass.,  32 

do         North  District — Ebenezer  Mattoon,  Amherst,  Mass.,  32 

Plymouth  District — William  Seaver,  Kingston,  Mass.,  32  " 

Barnstable  District — Ebenezer  Bacon,  Barnstable,  Mass.,  32  " 

Bristol  District — George  Leonard,  Norton,  Mass.,  32  " 

Worcester  South  District — Joseph  Allen,  Worcester,  Mass.,  32 

do        North  District — Josiah  Stearns,  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  32  " 

Berkshire  District — David  Rossiter,  Richmond,  Mass.,  32  " 

Norfolk  District— Cotton  Tufts,  Weymouth,  Mass. ,  32  " 

York  District— John  Lord,  Berwick,  Me..               District,  32  " 

Cumberland  District — Isaac  Parker,  Portland,  Me.,         "  32 

Lincoln  District — Thomas  Rice,  Wiscasset,  Me.,              "  32  " 

Kennebeck  District — Samuel  S.  Wilde,  Hallowed,  Me.,"  32  " 

The  foregoing  composed  the  Federal  ticket. 

c  James  Sullivan,  of  Boston,  Mass..  Ill  votes. 

Electors  at  large,  -j  Elbridge  Geny   of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Ill  » 

Suffolk  District — James  Bowdoin,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  Ill  " 

Essex  South  District — John  Hathorne,  of  Boston,  Mass,  111  " 

do    North  District — Thomas  Kittredge,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  Ill 

Middlesex  District — James  Winthrop,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Ill  " 
Hampshire  South  District — Jonathan  Smith,  of  West  Springfield, 

Mass.,  Ill  " 

do         North  District — Edward  Upham,  New  Salem,  Mass,  111  " 

Worcester  North  District — Gen.  John  Whiting,  Lancaster,  Mass.,  Ill  " 

do        South  District — Timothy  Newell,  Sturbridge,  Mass.,  Ill  " 

Plymouth  District — James  Warren,  of  Plymouth,  Mass,  111 

Bristol  District — Josiah  Deane,  of  Raynham,  Mass.,  Ill  " 

Barnstable  District— John  Davis,  of  Barnstable.  Mass.,  Ill  " 


180f).  |  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  475 

Berkshire  District — Jolm  Baron,  of  Stockbridge,  Mass.. 
Norfolk  District— William  Heath,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.. 
York  District — John  Woodman,  of  Buxton,  Me.,         Dist 
Cumberland  District — Charles  Turner,  of  Turner,  Me., 
Kennebeek  District — Thos.  Fillebrown,  of  Hallowell,  Me.,' 
Lincoln  District — John  Farley,  of  New  Castle,  Me.,  ' 

For  Representative  in    Congress — Edward   Bangs,    Esq., 
Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  had  35  votes. 

Nov.  2o.  The  Selectmen  of  Mcndon  and  the  Selectmen  of 
Bellingham  perambulated  the  line  between  the  towns  and  agreed 
to  the  bounds. 


111 

votes. 

111 

■' 

rict, 

111 
111 
111 
111 

" 

had 

104 

votes. 

1805.  March  4.  Cho.se  Joseph  Torrey,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Artemas  Thayer,  Aaron  Thayer,  Benj.  Pickering  and 
Xahum  Wheelock,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer,  and  Par- 
don Aldrich,  Constable  and  Collector,  and  he  to  he  paid  118.50 
for  collecting  the  taxes. 

Voted  to  raise  1500  for  schooling,  to  be  divided  among  the 
number  of  scholars,  except  £10,  which  is  to  be  distributed  by 
the  Selectmen  as  they  shall  see  tit. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges,  and 
to  allow  eight  cents  an  hour  for  a  man  and  the  same  for  a  yoke 
of  oxen  and  cart. 

Voted  that  swine  and  neat  cattle  may  run  at  large,  the  swine 
being  yoked  and  ringed  according  to  law. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  "'look  into  the  matter  respecting 
hiring  a  house  to  put  the  Poor  of  the  town  in  the  present  year, 
and  report  at  the  time  of  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting.'" 

April  1.  STATE    ELECTION'. 

For  Governor,         James  Sullivan  had  144  votes. 

Caleb  Strong  had  42      ' ' 

For  Lt.  Governor,  William  Heath  had  142      " 

Edward  H.  Bobbins  had       44      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — EdWard  Bangs,  John  Whiting,   Samuel 
Jones  and  Pliny  Merrick,  Esqrs.,  had  145  each.      Salem  Towne,   Elijah 
Brigham,  Daniel  Bigelow  and  Thomas  Hale  had  42  votes  each. 

April  1.  Chose  Joseph  Adams,  Joseph  Torrey  and  Benj. 
Read  a  committee  to  sell   Post   Lane,    (so  called)  and  the  Old 


47fi  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1805. 

County  Road  from  Joseph  McClintock's  and  so  on  over  Pond 
Hills,  (so  called),  that  is  useless.  Also  the  road  leading  from 
the  new  County  Road  to  Post  Lane. 

Voted -to  raise  1400  for  defraying  town  charges  the  current 
year. 

May  6.  Votes  for  Representative  to  the  General  (hurt — Dr.  Joseph  Adams 
had  84  votes.     David  Davenport  had  12  votes. 

KEY.    PRESERVED    SMITH,    THE    SEVENTH    MINISTER. 

The  Rev.  Preserved  Smith  succeeded  Mr.  Alexander,  and  was 
installed  Oct.  2,  1805.  over  both  Parishes,  preaching  alternately 
at  the  old  meeting  house,  (which  was  sold  to  Holland  Allbe, 
Sept.  20,  1843,  and  taken  down  by  him  soon  afterwards,)  and  at 
the  meeting  house  at  Chestnut  Hill,  now  in  Blackstone. 

He  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  June  25,  1759,  and  was  the 
son  of  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith,  who  was  for  many  years  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Church  in  that  town,  and  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  90. 

At  the  age  of  10  he  entered  the  army  and  served  five  cam- 
paigns during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  at  the  surren- 
der of  Burgoyne.  Leaving  the  army  at  the  age  of  19  he  bought 
his  time  of  his  father  and  set  out  in  the  world  for  himself. 
Purchasing  a  few  acres  of  land,  he  was  enabled  to  pay  for  the 
same  from  the  proceeds  of  his  first  crop  of  grain,  and  soon  after 
sold  it  at  a  handsome  advance.  He  now  commenced  preparing 
himself  for  college  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard. 
of  Shelburne.  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Murdoch,  of  Pawlet,  Yt.,  teach- 
ing school  in  the  winter  and  working  for  his  board  in  the 
summer. 

He  had  not  only  to  struggle  with  penury,  but  with  the  oppo- 
sition of  his. parents  and  relatives,  who  belonged  to  the  Baptist 
denomination — a  denomination  which,  at  that  period,  believed 
that  preaching  was  a  special  gift,  not  to  be  acquired  by  "college 
larninV  They  used  to  say  that  they  who  wrote  their  sermons 
went  to  college  to  learn  that  r-e-a-d  spelled  preach.  Our  Baptist 
friends  have  long  since  outgrown  this  idea,  and  no  longer  dis- 
regard the  advantages  of  the  academy  and  the  college  in  their 
preparation  for  the  ministerial  office. 

He  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  1782,  and  at  the  close  of  the 


1805.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  477 

academic  year  dissolved  his  connection  with  that  institution, 
and  entered  a  year  in  advance  at  Rhode  Island  College,  (now 
Brown  University),  graduated  in  1786,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  divinity  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Conway,  Mass. 
It  is  probable  that  the  Baptist  dogmas,  in  which  he  had  been 
educated  under  the  parental  roof,  had  been  gradually  losing  their 
influence  over  him  during  his  collegiate  course 

In  the  spring  of  1787  he  was  appointed  to  preach  by  the 
Hampshire  Association,  and  in  November  following  was  settled 
in  the  ministry  at  Rowe,  Mass.  In  January.  1788,  he  married 
Miss  Eunice  Wells,  daughter  of  Col.  David  Wells,  of  Shelburne. 
Of  this  lady  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  all  who  knew  her  could 
bear  a-  willing  testimony  to  her  social  and  domestic  virtues  and 
her  Christian  character. 

In  the  summer  of  1780  Mr.  S.  made  a  visit  to  Niagara  Falls 
on  horse  back.  This  journey  occupied  six  weeks,  and  sixty 
miles  of  the  way  was  made  through  an  unbroken  forest,  fording 
rivers,  encamping  on  the  ground  at  night,  and  often  meeting 
the  wild  deer  and  wilder  savage.  On  his  return  he  published  an 
account  of  his  trip  in  the  Greenfield  Gazette. 

Mr.  Smith  remained  at  Rowe  as  the  minister  until  May,  1804. 
One  of  the  deacons  became  estranged  "from  him.  and,  although  a 
large  majority  of  the  church  adhered  to  him  still,  he  thought 
best  to  sever  his  pastoral  connection  with  the  people  with  whom 
he  had  so  long  labored.  His  farewell  discourse  was  preached 
from  the  10th  verse  of  the  loth  chapter  of  Proverbs,  which  is  in 
these  words,  "  Better  is  a  dinner  with  herbs  where  love  is.  than 
a  stalled  ox  and  hatred  therewith."  In  this  discourse  something- 
was  said  which  irritated  the  good  deacon,  who  afterwards  sought 
his  revenge,  while  Mr.  S.  was  preaching  in  Mendon,  by  causing 
a  pamphlet,  containing  slanderous  accusations  against  him,  to 
be  distributed  there.  Whatever  the  libels  were,  they  failed  of 
disturbing  the  kindly  relations  subsisting  between  Mr.  S.  and 
the  people  of  Mendon. 

During  Mr.  Smith's  residence  in  Mendon,  besides  a  prompt 
attention  to  all  his  parochial  duties,  he  taught  school  and  fitted 
a  number  of  young  men  for  college. 

In  1812,  after  a  service  of  eight  years  here,  the  people  of  Rowe 
gave  him  a  unanimous  call  to  return  and  be  resettled  with  them. 


478  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1805. 

This  rare  and  novel  circumstance  in  the  history  of  New  Eng- 
land churches  may  properly  be  quoted  as  an  ample  refutation  of 
the  charges  made  by  his  quondam  deacon,  who  died  soon  after 
their  publication.  This  invitation  he  was  led  to  accept  in  con- 
sideration that  the  pastoral  care  of  two  parishes  was  becoming 
too  onerous  for  its  faithful  discharge,  and  that  if  he  resigned 
one  of  the  parishes,  the  other  did  not  have  the  means  to  provide 
the  necessary  support  for  himself  and  family. 

Mr.  .Smith,  while  in  Mendon,  was  an  Arminian,  although  he 
did  not  reject  the  Divinity.  He  afterwards,  about  1820,  reject- 
ed that  doctrine  and  became  a  Unitarian,  though  he  preferred 
the  simple  name  of  Christian. 

After  sustaining  the  relation  of  pastor  to  the  people  of  Rowe 
a,  second  time,  for  the  period  of  twenty  years,  and  having  com- 
pleted a  ministry,  at  Rowe  and  Mendon,  of  forty-five  years,  he 
felt  Clod,  in  his  providence,  had  called  him,  like  Aaron  of  old, 
to  lay  aside  his  sacerdotal  robes  to  be  worn  by  another.  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  W.  L.  Stearns. 

Although  Mr.  S.  was  an  industrious  student  and  an  indepen- 
dent thinker  through  life,  he  committed  but  very  little  to  print. 
He  published  a  farewell  sermon  and  two  Masonic  discourses, 

A  distinguishing  feature  of  Mr.  Smith's  character  was  his  love 
of  truth.  So  strong  was  this  element  developed  that  he  seemed 
instinctively  to  revolt  from  anything  like  hypocrisy  and  cant. 
With  his  cordial  and  affectionate  nature,  the  shake  of  the  hand 
and  the  friendly  salutation  meant  what  they  ought  to  mean,  as 
outward  tokens  of  inward  feelings. 

After  the  close  of  his  resettlement  at  Rowe  in  1832,  the  follow- 
ing spring  he  went  to  reside  with  his  son  in  Warwick,  Mass.,  the 
Rev.  Preserved  Smith,  who  was  then  pastor  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  and  Society  in  that  place.  Here  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  August  15,  1834,  when, 

"  Like  him  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch  around  him, 
And  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams," 

he  quietly,  at  the  age  of  75,  yielded  up  his  spirit  to  God  who 
gave  it,  with  the  assured  faith  in  the  blessedness  of  the  new  life 
to  come. 


1806.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  479 

1806.  March  3.  Joseph  Torrey  was  chosen  Town  Clerk; 
Joseph  Adams,  Artemas  Thayer,  Aaron  Thayer,  Benj.  Picker- 
ing and  Henry  Sweeting,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer, 
and  Pardon  Aldrich,  Constable,  and  Luke  Aldrich,  Constable 
and  Collector. 

Voted  to  raise  lb'00  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  April. 

April  7.     Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted  to  the  Collector,  Luke  Aldrich,  $24.50  for  collecting 
taxes  this  year. 

Voted  to  allow  eight  cents  an  hour  for  a  man,  and  the  same 
for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart  for  work  on  the  highways. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  raise  1500  for  schooling. 

Adjourned  to  the  May  meeting. 

April  7.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,   Caleb  Strong,  Esq.,  47  voles. 

James  Sullivan,  Esq.,  131      •' 

Lt.  Governor,     Edward  H.  Bobbins,  Esq.,       43      " 
William  Heath,  Esq.,  135      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Edward  Bangs,  Pliny  Merrick  and  Samuel 
Jones  had  133  each.     Moses  White,  133.     Salem  Towue,  Daniel  Bigelow, 
Thomas  Hale  and  Elijah  Brigham  had  47  each,  and  John  Whiting,  Esq  1. 
For  County  Treasurer — Samuel  Allen,  Esq.,  had  49  votes. 

Voted  to  accept  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  beginning 
near  Lt.  Seth  Wheelock's  house,  &c,  and  through  Ahaz  Allen's 
land. 

May  5.     Adjourned  April  meeting. 

Voted  to  take  so  much  of  the  town's  money  arising  from  the 
sale  of  the  old  roads  as  to  furnish  each  soldier  with  twenty-four 
rounds  of  cartridges,  and  said  cartridges  to  be  kept  in  the  public 
town  store  and  be  renewed  yearly  as  the  property  of  the  traini no- 
soldiers. 

May  5.  Voted  to  sell  such  useless  roads  as  the  committee  that 
may  be  hereafter  chosen  for  that  purpose  may  think  proper  to 
sell,  and  Seth  Davenport.  Aaron  Thayer  and  Moses  Daniels  were 
chosen  the  Committee. 

Voted  to  forego  Ealph  Freeman's  tax,  $3,73;  Wilder  Johnson's 
tax.  $1.36;  Calvin  Alexander's  tax,  $1.00;  Amasa  Holden's  tax. 
$1.00. 


480  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  | 1807. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Joseph  Adams  had  78  votes. 
David  Davenport  had  8  votes. 

Nov.  3.  For  Representative  in  Congress,  Tenth  District — Edward  Bangs, 
Esq.,  had  92  votes.     Jabez  Upham  had  39  votes. 

Nov.  11.  This  day  the  Selectmen  perambulated  (by  their 
committee)  the  town  line  between  Mendon  and  Upton  and  Men- 
don  and  Northbridffe,  with  the  Selectmen  of  those  towns. 


1807.  March  2.  Chose  Joseph  Torrey,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Elijah  Thayer,  Aaron  Thayer,  Nathan  Very  and  Warren 
Rawson,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer;  Hezekiah  Fletcher, 
Constable  and  Collector. 

The  town  had  been  divided  into  thirteen  School  Districts, 
and  this  year  the  School  Committee  consisted  of  one  member 
from  each  District,  as  follows,  viz: 


1st  I) 

'istrict, 

Joseph  Adams. 

8th  District, 

Obadiah  Wood. 

2d 

do. 

Warren  Rawson. 

9th 

do. 

Elijah  Thayer. 

3d 

do. 

Ahaz  Allen, 

10th 

do. 

Mussey  Southwick, 

4th 

do. 

Moses  Daniels. 

11th 

do. 

Nathan  Very. 

5th 

do. 

Amos  Thayer. 

12th 

do. 

Benedict  Remington, 

6th 

do. 

Setli  Kelley. 

13th 

do. 

Archelus  Smith. 

7th 

do. 

Thomas  Taft. 

No  further  business  wras  transacted  at  this  meeting,  except  to 
aeeept  of  the  list  of  jurors  reported  by  the  Selectmen,  and,  for 
first  time  for  many  years,  to  vote  that  swine  should  not  ran  at 
large. 

April  6.     At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  this  day. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  repair  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  pay  Hezekiah  Fletcher  for  the  collection  of  taxes 
$24.50. 

Adjourned  to  the  May  meeting. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,       Caleb  Strong,  Esq.,  had  53  votes. 

James  Sullivan,  Esq.,  had  156      "      Elected. 

FovLt.  Governor,  Edward  H.  Robbins,  Esq.,  had     51      " 

Levi  Lincoln,  Esq.,  had  156      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Pliny  Merrick,  Edward  Bangs,  Samuel 
Jones  and  Moses  White,  Esqrs.,  had  149  votes  each;   and  Salem  Towne, 


1808.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  481 

Elijah  Brigham,  Thomas  Hale  and  James  Kendall,  Esqs. ,  had  49  vote- 
each. 

Voted  to  raise  $000  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $300  for  rebuilding  the  bridge  near  Darling's 
Mills. 

Voted  that  Moses  Daniels,  Israel  Mowry  and  Elijah  Thayer 
be  a  committee  to  see  if  it  is  expedient  to  allow  Stephen  Cook 
to  shut  up  the  road  from  near  his  house  to  the  north  end  of  the 
pond,  provided  he  will  build  another  road  farther  west. 

Elijah  Thayer,  Nathan  Very  and  Nathaniel  Capron  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  repair  the  bridge  by  Oapron's  Mill. 
(Darling's). 

The  fourth  article  in  the  warrant  was,  "  to  see  if  the  town 
will  encourage  the  uniforming  the  militia  in  said  town." 

Voted  "  not  to  do  anything  to  that  end/' 

May  4.  For  Repi'esentative  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Joseph  Adams  had 
80  votes.     Nathan  Very,  Esq.,  had  12  votes. 


1808.  March  7.  Chose  Joseph  Torrey,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Seth  Kelley,  Aaron  Thayer.  John  Southwick,  2d,  and 
Warren  Rawson,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer,  and  John 
Thayer  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  repair  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Chose  Warren  Rawson,  Moses  Daniels,  Ahaz  Allen,  Elijah 
Thayer  and  Nathan  Very  a  committee  to  revise  the  Highway 
Districts,  and  "make  return  accordingly." 

Voted  that  $33.33  of  the  school  money  shall  be  apportioned 
among  such  school  districts,  after  the  rest  of  the  school  money 
has  been  divided,  as  the  Selectmen  shall  judge  proper. 

The  eleventh  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  as 
follows,  viz: — 

"To  see  if  the  town  will  grant  to  the  soldiers  of  the  two  companies  in  this 
town,  who  volunteered  their  services  for  the  support  of  their  country  on 
the  late  requisition  a  sum  of  money  and,  if  any,  what  sum,  out  of  the 
money  remaining  in  the  treasury  unappropriated  or  otherwise?" 

Upon  this  the  town 

"  Voted  that  every  person  who  volunteered  his  services  on  the  late  emer 

131 


482  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1808. 

gency  of  our  country,  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning,  who  shall  person- 
ally appear,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  three  dollars,  as  a  bounty  out  of 
any  unappropriated  money  now  in  the  treasury." 

For  some  time  past  the  relations  between  the  United  States 
and  England  had  assumed  a  somewhat  belligerent  character, 
especially  after  the  unprovoked  attack  made  upon  the  frigate 
Chesapeake  by  the  British  frigate  Leopard,  June  23,  1807.  In 
November,  1807,  Congress  made  a  requisition  for  100,000  men 
to  be  held  in  readiness  when  wanted.  The  volunteers  here 
spoken  of  were  a  part  of  that  call.  This  alarm  soon  subsided, 
in  a  measure,  and  the  war  was  put  off  until  1812. 

April  4.  Voted  that  the  Collector,  John  Thayer,  be  paid  ten 
dollars  for  his  services.  As  twenty-four  dollars  and  fifty  cents, 
for  collecting  the  year  before  was  paid,  it  is  supposed,  as  now, 
(1880)  the  collection  of  the  taxes  was  given  to  the  one  who  would 
collect  them  for  the  least  sum. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  town  charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  schooling,  reserving  $33.33  to  be  dis- 
tributed as  before  provided. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,       James  Sullivan,  Esq.,  had        143  votes.     Elected.* 
"        do  Christopher  Gore,  Esq.,  had      54 

"        do  Levi  Lincoln,  Esq.,  had  1 

"  Lt   Governor,  Levi  Lincoln.  Esq.,  had  138      " 

do  Daniel  Cobb,  Esq.,  had  54      " 

"  do  James  Sullivan,  Esq.,  had  1 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Pliny  Merrick,  Edward  Bangs,  Samuel 
Jones  and  Moses  White,  Esqrs.,  had  135  each.  Salem  Towne,  Elijah  Brig- 
ham,  Thomas  Hale  and  Jonas  Kendall,  Esqrs.,  had  56  each. 

May  2.  Vote  for  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Joseph  Adams 
had  85  votes.     Nathan  Very,  Esq.,  had  7  votes. 

Sept.  12.  The  disposal  of  such  portions  of  the  roads  as  had 
become  useless  seems  to  have  been  a  difficult  matter,  as  numer- 
ous committees  heretofore  chosen  had  been  unable  to  accomplish 
that  object. 

At  this  meeting  another  attempt  was  determined  upon,  and 
Ahaz  Allen,  Levi  Rawson  and  Seth  Chapin  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  sell  the  Eight  Rod  Road  (so  called);  the  remainder  of 
Post  Lane;  a  road  leading  from  Muddy  Brook  (so  called)  through 

*Died  Dec.  10. 


1809.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  483 

lands  of  Stephen  and  William  Torrey  to  the   Right  Rod  Road, 
and  also  the  Old  County  Road  (so  called)  over  the  Pond  Hills. 

Vote  for  Representative  in  Congress — Edward  Bangs,  Esq.,  had  120  votes. 
Jabez  Upham,  had  35  votes. 


1809.  March  6.  Joseph  Torrey  was  chosen  Town  Clerk; 
Joseph  Adams,  Elijah  Thayer,  Warren  Rawson,  Asa  Kelley  and 
Amos  Thayer,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer,  and  John 
Thayer,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  to  pay  the  Collector  $10.50  for  collecting  the  taxes. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  to  defray  town  charges;  1600  for  school- 
ing, and  $800  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  restrain  neat  cattle  and  horses  from  running  at  large. 

April  3.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,       Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  183  votes.    . 

Hon.  Christopher  Gore  had        60      "        Elected. 
"  Lt.  Governor,  Joseph  Varnum,  Esq.,  had       175     " 
do         David  Cobb,  Esq.,  had  61      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Edward  Bangs,  Samuel  Jones,  Pliny  Mer- 
rick and  Moses  White,  Esqrs.,  had  166  votes  each,  and  Salem  Towne,  Elijah 
Brigham,  Thomas  Hale  and  Jonas  Kendall,  Esqrs.,  had  59  votes  each. 

May  8.  For  Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Joseph  Adams,  Esq., 
had  111  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  82  votes.  Moses  Daniels  had  16 
votes.     Elijah  Thayer  had  12  votes. 

This  is  the  first  year  when  the  town  sent  two  Representatives. 
Joseph  Adams  and  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  the  successful  candi- 
dates, were  both  Democrats. 

Adjournment  of  the  April  meeting. 

May  8.  The  eighth  article  in  the  warrant  was,  "  to  see  if  the 
town  would  raise  a  sum  of  money,  and,  if  any,  what  sum  to  pa}' 
the  soldiers  of  the  two  Companies  of  this  town  who  volunteered 
their  services  in  November  last." 

Upon  this  article  the  record  by  the  Town  Clerk  is,  "it  was 
not  noticed  by  the  meeting." 

Chose  Richard  George,  Esq.,  to  prosecute  or  defend  any  suits 
which  may  be.  brought  by  or  against  the  town. 

Voted  to  accept  of  Artemas  and  Henry  Thayer  as  bondsmen 
for  the  Collector,  John  Thayer. 

May  8.     Under  a  new  warrant. 


484  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1810. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  second  article,  which  is  in  these  words: 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  give  Nahum  Taft  seventy  dollars  by  his 
giving  bonds  sufficient  to  indemnify  the  town  against  his  or  his  wife  ever 
coming  to  said  town  for  any  further  support  hereafter. " 

For  some  reason  the  proposed  arrangement  of  Nahum  Taft 
did  not  succeed;  but,  could  satisfactory  indemnifying  bonds  be 
furnished  the  town  at  this  time  (1880),  seventy  dollars  per 
capita,  we  think,  would  be  considered  a  profitable  investment 
by  the  town  to  be  relieved  from  all  further  support  of  its  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $35  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Pound,  and 
Ahaz  Allen,  Moses  Daniels,  Aaron  Thayer  and  Enos  Taft  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  contract  for  its  erection. 

Voted  to  forego  the  following  taxes,  viz: — John  Brown's, 
$1.46;  Eben  Pickering's,  $1.40;  Calvin  Alexander's.  $1.00,  and 
Amasa  Holden's,  $1.00. 

Nov.  11.  Joseph  Torrey,  as  agent  for  the  town  of  Mendon. 
and  Samuel  Nelson,  Pearley  Hunt  and  Amasa  Parkhurst,  Select- 
men of  Milford,  this  day  perambulated  the  line  between  the  two 
towns,  giving  course  and  distance;  and  the  same  may  be  found 
in  the  fifth  volume  of  the  Mendon  Records,  under  the  foregoing 
date,  the  pages  of  this  volume  not  being  numbered. 


l8lO.  March  5.  Joseph  Torrey  Avas  chosen  Toavu  Clerk; 
Warren  Rawson,  Elijah  Thayer,  Amos  Thayer,  John  Thompson 
and  Obadiah  Wood,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer,  and 
Edward  Rawson,  "2nd,  Constable  and  Collector,  he  agreeing  to 
collect  the  taxes  for  the  sum  of  $14.50. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  schooling  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $700  for  repairing  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  swine  and  neat  cattle  shall  not  run  at  large. 

Adjourned  to  April  meeting. 

To  vote  for  town  officers  and  the  ordinary  business  of  the 
town,  the  person  claiming  to  vote  must  have  resided  in  the  town 
six  months,  be  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  pay,  besides  a  poll 
tax,  a  sum  equal  to  two-thirds  of  a  single  poll  tax.  To  vote  for 
State  offices  and  Representative  to  Congress,  must  be  twenty- 
one  years  of  age;  must  have  a  freehold   within  the   Common- 


1810.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  485 

wealth  of  an  annual  income  of  three  pounds  or  any  estate  to  the 
value  of  sixty  pounds,  and  have  resided  in  the  town  one  year 
preceding  the  election. 

April  2.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Hon.  Christopher  Gore  had        61  votes. 

Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  had  170      "         Elected. 

William  Gray  had  1      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  David  Cobb  had  50 

Hon.  William  Gray  had  169      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Elijah  Brigham,  Jonas  Kendall,  Hon. 
Seth  Hastings  and  Francis  Blake,  Esqrs.,  had  45  votes  each.  Hon.  Pliny 
Merrick,  Moses  White,  Edward  Bangs  and  Samuel  Jones,  Esqrs.,  had  161 
votes  each,  and  Charles  A.  Smith,  Nathan  Aldrich,  Asa  Fletcher  and  Na- 
than Streeter  had  one  each. 

The  adjourned  meeting  met,  and 
Voted  to  raise  1-400  for  defraying  town  charges. 
Voted  to  pay  the  Collector,  Edward  Rawson,  2nd,  $14.50  for 
collecting  the  taxes  the  present  year. 
Adjourned  meeting. 

May  7th.     Election  of  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 
Voted  to  send  two  Representatives. 

Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  94  votes.  Elijah  Thayer  had  61  votes.  Wil- 
liam Torrey  had  25  votes.  Dr.  Gustavus  D.  Peck  had  4  votes.  Warren 
Rawson  had  7  votes. 

Adjourned  to  May  meeting. 

Voted  to  forego  the  following  taxes,  viz: — Stephen  Tourtelotte, 
$1.55;  Dexter  Westcott,  $1.17;  George  Turner,  $1.17;  John 
Thompson,  .45;  Reuben  Shove,  $1.17;  and  Richard  Buffum,  .45. 

Voted  to  raise  $100  in  addition  to  the  $400  already  raised  to 
defray  town  charges. 

Voted  to  chose  a  committee  to  make  some  new  arrangement 
in  the  highway  districts. 

('hose  Thomas  Taft,  Moses  Daniels  and  Joseph  Adams  as  the 
committee. 

Chose  Richard  George,  Esq.,  as  agent  to  prosecute  any  action 
which  the  town  may  commence,  and  to  defend  any  action  that 
may  he  brought  against  the  town  the  ensuing  year. 

Sept.  18.  The  Hon.  Jabez  Upham  having  resigned  his  seat 
in  Congress,  an  election  was  held  this  day  to  supply  the  vacancy, 
and 


48G  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1811. 

Gen.  John  Spun-  had  61  votes.        Joseph  Allen,  Esq.,  had  14  votes. 

At  this  election  there  was  no  choice,  and 

Nov.  5.     Another  meeting  was  held  with  the  following  result: 

Gen.  John  Spun-  had  83  votes.        Hon.  Elijah  Brigham  had  17  votes. 

At  this  meeting  the  Collector,  Edward  Rawson,  2nd,  having 
removed  out  of  the  Commonwealth,  Thurber  Warfield  was 
chosen  Collector  and  Constable,  and  agreed  to  collect  the  taxes 
for  114.50. 


l8ll.  March  4.  Joseph  Torrey  was  chosen  Town  Clerk; 
Warren  Rawson,  Elijah  Thayer,  Obadiah  Wood,  Moses  Daniels 
and  Ariel  Cook,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer,  and  Thurber 
Warfield,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  to  pay  the  Collector  $26.50  for  collecting  the  taxes. 

Enos  Taft,  Nathan  Very,  Esq.,  Johnson  Legg,  John  South- 
wick,  2d,  and  Moses  Aldrich  were  chosen  a  committee  to  revise 
the  School  Districts. 

Adjourned  to  April  meeting. 

April  1.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  had        135  votes.     Elected. 

Hon.  Christopher  Gray  had       33      " 
William  Gray,  Levi  Lincoln  and  William  Philips  had  one  vote  each. 
For  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  William  Gray  had       126  votes. 

Hon.  William  Philips    had    27      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Pliny  Merrick,  Edward  Bangs,  Samuel 
Jones  and  Moses  White  had  118  votes  each,  and  Hon.  Jonas  Kendall,  Seth 
Hastings,  Francis  Blake  and  Silas  Holman  had  26  each. 

The  adjourned  April  meeting  was  again  adjourned  to  the  May 
meeting. 

May  6.  Voted  to  raise  $500  to  defray  town  charges  the  cur- 
rent year. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  accept  Andrew  Penniman  and  Daniel  Hill  as  bonds, 
men  for  Thurber  Warfield  as  Collector. 

Joseph  Torrey,  Ahaz  Allen,  Moses  Daniels,  Aaron  Thayer, 
Asa  Kelley,   Obadiah  Wood,    Elijah  Thayer,  Jacob  South  wick 


1812.]  ANNALS  OF  MEN  DON.  487 

and  Esek  Pitts  were  added  to  the  committee  heretofore  chosen 
to  revise  the  School  Districts,  and  to  report  at  the  adjournment 
of  this  meeting. 

For  Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  73  votes. 
Elijah  Thayer  had  77  votes.     Capt.  William  Torrey  had  7  votes. 

Sept.  2.  Then  met  and  voted  to  accept  and  adopt  the  follow- 
ing report  of  the  committee  above  chosen,  and  which  is  as 
follows,  viz: — 

"  Your  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
expediency  of  Revising  the  School  Districts,  after  being  duly  notified  by 
their  chairman  have  attended  that  service  and  beg  leave  to  report  that  it  is 
the  opinion  of  your  Committee  that  the  10th.  and  13th  districts  constitute 
hut  one  district  to  he  called  the  tenth  District,  with  the  following  excep- 
tions, that  Alexander  Wilson,  Timothy  Engley  and  David  Andrews  be  set 
to  the  11th.  district  with  liberty  to  be  set  back  to  the  10th.  if  they  choose 
after  there  is  a  school  house  erected  in  said  10th.  district,  that  Ruth  Dar- 
ling he  set  to  the  9th.,  and  that  that  part  of  the  12th  district  called  the  Vil- 
lage, the  property  of  the  Blackstoue  Manufacturing  Company,  he  set  off  as 
a  District  to  he  called  the  13th.  district. 

All  which  is  cheerfully  submitted  by 

Enos  Taft,  Chairman." 


l8l2.  March  2.  Chose  Joseph  Torrey,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Elijah  Thayer,  Johnson  Legg,  John  Thayer  and  Nairn m 
Bates,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen  Treasurer,  and  Benj.  Blake,  Con- 
stable and  Collector. 

Voted  to  pay  the  Collector  $20  for  collecting  the  taxes. 

Chose  Ahaz  Allen,  Moses  Daniels,  Nathan  Very,  Aaron 
Thayer  and  Caleb  Thayer  a  committee  to  consider  the  matter  of 
dividing  the  school  money. 

Voted  not  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen  March 
4-,  1811,  to  revise  the  Highway  Districts.  As  the  report  is  not 
recorded,  its  purport  cannot  be  ascertained. 

Voted  to  hold  one  half  of  the  town  meetings  at  the  South 
Parish  Meeting  House  for  the  future. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  fifteenth  article  in  the  warrant,  which 
was  "to  see  if  the  town  would  purchase  a  hearse." 

Adjourned  to  April  6. 

Voted  that  Joseph  Torrey  be  excused  from  serving  as   Town 


488  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  f_1812. 

Clerk,  and  Warren  Rawson  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  in  his  stead. 
Adjourned  to  May  6. 

April  6.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Goveruor,        Elbridge  Gerry  had  198  votes. 

Caleb  Strong,  Esq.,  had      74      "        Elected. 
For  Lt.  Governor,  William  King  had  195      " 

William  Philips  had  73      " 

Far  Senators  and  Councillors — John  Spurr  had  196.  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr., 
195.     Bezaleel  Taft  73.     Francis  Blake  73. 

Elbridge  Gerry  had  been  chosen  Governor  in  1810,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1811.  During  the  last  year  of  his  administration, 
the  State  was  districted  anew  for  the  election  of  Senators,  which 
gave  the  Democrats  a  majority  in  the  Senate,  the  Federalists  still 
holding  a  majority  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  By  this 
new  arrangement  Mendon  belonged  to  a  district  which  was  en- 
titled to  two  Senators  instead  of  five. 

At  this  election  Caleb  Strong  was  elected  Governor  by  1,370 
majority. 

May  4.     Representative  to  the  General  Court. 

Voted  to  send  two  Representatives. 

Dr.  Joseph  Adams  had  58  votes.  Elijah  Thayer,  Esq.,  had  53  votes. 
Nathan  Very,  Esq. ,  had  29  votes.     Johnson  Legg,  had  3  votes. 

Adjournment  from  April  G. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  raise  1600  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  repair  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Warren  Rawson,  Esq.,  was  chosen  agent  to  attend  to  any  law 
suits  brought  by  or  against  the  town. 

Forty-three  persons  had  taxes  foregone,  mostly  poll  taxes, 
amounting  to  $55.61.     The  poll  tax  appears  to  have  been  $1.11). 

The  fifteenth  article  in  the  warrant,  "  to  see  if  the  town  would 
buy  a  Hearse,"  and  the  seventeenth,  "  to  see  if  the  town  would 
accept  of  any  roads  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,"  were  dismissed 
from  the  warrant,  and  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 

June  5.  Voted  to  set  off  all  the  inhabitants  on  the  west  side 
of  Blackstone  River,  except  Esek  Pitts,  Daniel  Southwick  and 
Nathaniel  Capron,  as  a  school  district,  and  that  it  be  numbered 
and  constitute  the  14th  District. 


1812.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  489 

Voted  to  refer  the  third  article  in  the  warrant  which  is  ''to 
see  if  the  town  will  make  any  alteration  in  the  division  of  the 
school  money  among  the  several  Districts,"  to  a  committee  of 
one  from  each  school  district,  and  the  committee  was  constituted 
as  follows,  viz: — 

District  No.  1.  Seth  Davenport,  Jr.       District  No.  8.  Obadiah  Wood. 

2.  Warren  Rawson.  9.  Caleb  Thayer. 

3.  Ahaz  Allen.  "  10.  Isaac  Silsby. 

4.  Moses  Daniels.  11.  Nathan  Very. 

5.  Aaron  Thayer.  il  12.  Peter  Gaskill. 

6.  James  Paine.  "  13.  Samuel  Remington. 

7.  Elijah  Taft.  "  14.  Pascho  Cook. 

Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  from  near  John  Thayer's  store 
(known  as  the  Five  Corners,)  to  the  Ehode  Island  line  at  Black- 
stone  village,  the  Blackstone  Manufacturing  Company  agreeing 
to  give  the  land  from  the  Ehode  Island  line  to  the  old  road  near 
Washington  Hunt's  house,  and  fence  both  sides  of  the  same. 

June  22.  Voted  that  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  School  Dis- 
tricts shall  hereafter  form  one  school  district. 

August  25.  Voted  to  choose  one  or  more  agents  to  claim  and 
prosecute  an  appeal  from  the  decree  of  the  Judge  of  Probate  in 
the  matter  of  Seth  Hastings  as  guardian  to  John  Hill. 

Dr. .  Joseph  Adams  was  chosen  agent,  and  instructed  to  use  his 
endeavors  to  submit  the  matter  to  men  respecting  Seth  Hast- 
ings' account  as  guardian  of  John  Hill,  which  was  allowed  by 
the  Judge  of  Probate,  and  if  he  will  not  submit  it  to  men  on 
honorable  terms,  then  prosecute  an  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Probate. 

Voted  to  allow  the  militia  lately  detached  in  this  town  seven 
dollars  per  month  in  addition  to  their  pay  allowed  by  law,  pro- 
vided they  are  called  into  actual  service. 

Nov.   2.  CHOICE    OF    PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTORS. 

William  Walker  had  102  votes.         Benj.  Haywood  had  65  votes. 

Pliny  Merrick  had  102      "  Eleazer  James  had  65      " 

Moses  White  had  102      "  George  Bliss  had  65      " 

Thomas  Shepard  had  102     ."  Ephraim  Williams  had  65      " 

Solomon  Smead  had  102      "  Isaac  Maltby  had  65 

Jeremiah  Stebbins  had        102      "  John  W.  Hurlbert  had  65 

Nov.  2.  For  Bepreseatative  in  Congress — Hon.  Elijah  Bingham  had  6.1 
votes.     Estes  Howe,  Esq.,  had  128  votes. 

62 


490  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1813. 

Nov.  27.  Voted  not  to  reconsider  a  vote  passed  at  the  last 
town  meeting,  respecting  a  division  of  the  school  money,  which 
was  that  sixty  dollars  should  he  distrihnted  among  the  largest 
districts  at  the  discretion  of  the  Selectmen,  and  the  remainder 
be  equally  distributed  among  all  the  districts. 

Voted  that  the  Constable  post  notices  for  town  meetings,  in 
addition  to  other  places,  at  Blackstone. 


1813.  March  1.  Chose  Warren  Eawson,  Town  Clerk;  Jo- 
seph Adams,  Caleb  Thayer,  Johnson  Legg,  Artemas  Thayer  and 
William  Gordon,  Selectmen;  Ahaz  Allen,  Treasurer;  Benjamin 
Blake,  Constable,  and  Joseph  Bates,  Collector  and  Constable. 

After  the  choice  of  town  officers  no  other  business  was  trans- 
acted, except 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  old  road  leading  through  the  lands 
of  Nathan  Very,  Esq.,  late  of  Mendon,  deceased,  relinquishing 
the  same  to  the  heirs  of  said  Very  in  compensation  for  the  new 
road  laid  out  through  said  lands  over  and  above  the  damage 
assessed. 

Adjourned  to  April  5,  proximo. 

April  5.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Caleb  Strong  had  74  votes.     Elected. 

"  "  Joseph  B.  Varnum  had   165 

William  Phillips  had  2      " 

"  William  King  had  1 

"    Lt.  Governor,  William  Phillips  had        72      " 
"  "  William  King  had  158      " 

Caleb  Strong  had  2      ' ' 

"  Ruf us  King  had  1      " 

For  Senators — Bezaleel  Taft  and  Francis  Blake  had  75  votes  each.  Levi 
Lincoln  had  2  votes.  Pliny  Merrick  and  Sumner  Bastow  had  152  votes 
each. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  March  meeting  to 
choose  Overseers  of  the  Poor.  In  which  case  the  Selectmen  be- 
came Overseers. 

Voted  to.  raise  $800  to  defray  town  charges. 

Voted  to  raise  $700  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges. 


1814.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  491 

Voted  to  restrain  swine  and  neat  cattle  from  running  at  large 
without  a  keeper. 
Adjourned  to  May  3. 

May  3.     Choice  of  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 

Voted  to  send  two  representatives,  and  to  choose  them  on  sep- 
arate ballots.  Joseph  Adams  had  52  votes  and  Elijah  Thayer  40 
votes  and  were  elected. 

Voted  to  give  Joseph  Bates  $20  for  collecting  the  taxes  he  pro- 
curing satisfactory  bondsmen, 

Chose  Joseph  Adams,  Esq.,  as  agent  to  prosecute  or  defend 
any  action  which  may  be  commenced  by  or  brought  against  the 
town. 

Caleb  Thayer,  Enos  Taft,  Moses  Daniels,  Amos  Thayer  and 
Elijah  Taft  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  consider  the  matter  of 
making  any  alteration  in  the  boundaries  of  the  School  Districts 
and  make  a  report  at  some  future  meeting. 

In  a  new  warrant  for  a  meeting  the  2nd.  Article  was  "  to  reg- 
ulate the  Jury  Box  as  the  late  law  directs." 

Voted  that  the  following  be  a  list  of  Jurors  whose  names  are 
to  be  put  in  the  Jury  box,  viz : 

William  Torrey.*  Henry  Sweeting.*  Stephen  Wood.*  Enos  Taft.* 
Samuel  Fairbanks.*  Obadiah  Wood.*  Elijah  Taft.*  Samuel  Gaskill.* 
Alexander  Thayer.*  Johnson  Legg.*  Aaron  Thayer.*  Amos  Thayer.* 
Ahaz.  Allen.*  Andrew  Penniman.*  Thomas  Taft,*  Caleb  Thayer.* 
Artemas  Thayer.*  Nathan  Very.*  Elijah  Thayer.*  John  Southwick.* 
Nicholas  Thayer.*  Asa  Kelly.*  William  Gordon.  John  Benson,  Jr. 
Aaron  Burden.*  Samuel  Silsby.  Joseph  Thayer.*  Esek  Pitts.*  John 
Thompson.*    Henry  Thayer.* 


1814.  March  7.  Chose  Warren  Rawson,  Town  Clerk;  Joseph 
Adams,  Caleb  Thayer,  Samuel  Smith,  Andrew  Penniman  and 
John  Southwick,  Selectmen;  Elijah  Thayer,  Treasurer,  and 
Thurber  Warfield,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  not  to  accept  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen  through 
Solomon  Wood's  land  and  others,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1814. 

Adjourned  to  April  4. 

*Dead  1880. 


492  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1814. 

April  4.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Hon.  Samuel  Dexter  had  175  votes. 

His  Ex.  Caleb  Strong  •«      75      "  Elected. 

William  Gray         "3      " 
Joseph  Story  "        1 

For  Lt.  Governor       Hon.   William  Gray  "    179      " 

Hon.  William  Phillips     "      72      " 
For  Senators  &   Councillors.  —  Moses  White,  Joseph    Adams,  Edmund 
Cushing,  and  Sumner  Bastowhad  156  each.     Francis  Blake,  Silas  Holman, 
Benjamin  Adams,  and  Moses  Smith  had  67  votes  each  and  Levi  Lincoln  Jr. 
and  Samuel  Dexter  had  one  each. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $900  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  pay  Tlmrber  Warfield  $25  for  collecting  the  taxes  the 
current  year. 

Voted  to  postpone  the  consideration  of  the  10th.  article  in  the 
warrant  ("to  see  if  the  town  will  build  a  Powder  House  ")  to  the 
1st,  Monday  in  November. 

Voted  that  Nathaniel  Capron,  Daniel  Southwick  and  Esek 
Pitts,  with  their  estates,  be  annexed  to  the  10th.  School  District. 

THE    FIRST    BOARD    OF    HEALTH. 

Voted  to  choose  a  Board  of  Health  and  that  it  consist  of  five 
members,  viz:  John  S.  Eddy,  Aaron  Burden,  James  Paine, 
Obadiah  Wood  and  Peter  Thompson. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  March  meeting  re- 
jecting a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen  and  Toted  now  to  accept 
the  same. 

This  road  was  laid  out  from  near  the  house  formerly  occupied 
by  Caleb  Mowry  (afterwards  purchased  of  him  for  a  Poor  Farm) 
to  the  Boston  and  Hartford  Turnpike  (now  a  County  road)  near 
the  house  of  Henry  M.  Goldthwait. 

May  2.  For  Mepresentatives  to  the  General  Court — Joseph  Adams  Esq. 
and  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  59  votes  each.     Enos  Taft  had  40  votes. 

May  11.  Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  of  4  rods  wide  (being  the 
westerly  side  of  the  8  rod  road  (so  called)  beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Seth  Davenport's  Milford  Pasture  (so  called), 
thence  running  southeasterly  parallel  with  and  bounding  north- 


1814.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  493 


easterly  upon  the  line  between  the  towns  of  Milford  and  Mendon 
to  a  heap  of  stones  by  the  Turnpike  (now  County  road)  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  town  of  Milford. 

Voted  to  choose  an  agent  to  prosecute  and  defend  any  action 
which  may  be  commenced  by  or  brought  against  the  town,  and 
Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  was  chosen  agent. 

Voted  to  forego  the  following  taxes,  viz:  Samuel  Eamsdale 
$1.31,  Elkanah  Spear  $1.42,  Ellis  Albe  $1.32,  Nathan  Picker- 
ing $1.11  and  Silas  Wheeler  $1.32,  amounting  to  $0.78. 

Adjourned  to  the  next  legal  town  meeting. 

August  13.  Voted  to  postpone  the  consideration  of  the  2nd. 
article  in  the  warrant,  which  was  "to  see  if  the  town  will  vote 
to  raise  the  monthly  pay  of  those  soldiers  that  are  detached  and 
those  that  may  hereafter  be  detached." 

John  Benson,  Jr.,  Andrew  Penniman,  Johnson  Legg,  Caleb 
Thayer,  Obadiah  Wood,  John  Thompson  and  Washington  Hunt 
were  chosen  a  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  forego- 
ing the  collection  of  any  taxes  in  any  of  the  Collectors  tax- 
bills,  and  report  at  the  next  town  meeting. 

Joseph  Adams,  Moses  Daniels,  Caleb  Thayer,  Andrew  Penni- 
man and  Johnson  Legg  Avere  chosen  a  Committee  to  report,  at 
some  future  meeting,  whether  any  alteration  should  be  made  in 
the  School  Districts. 

Adj.  to  Nov.  7.  The  Committee  in  the  matter  of  foregoing- 
taxes,  then  reported  that  the  following  taxes  should  be  foregone, 
viz: 

In  Tlmrber  Warfleld's  bills  for  1610  and  1811,  the  taxes  against  William 
Braley,  Aaron  Fuller,  Daniel  Hopkins,  Ebenr  Handy,  John  King  2  polls, 
Benedict  Mann,  Dickson  Morris,  DavidTlumer,  Arnold  Remington,  Wil- 
liam Tomkins,  Elias  Whiting,  Elihue  Chapin,  Seth  Davenport,  Thomas 
Low,  Baley  Legg,  Israel  Mowry  Jr.,  Adam  Wheelock,  Isaac  Silsby,  Amasa 
Albee,  Ira  Aldrich,  David  Legg,  William  Bushee,  Constant  F.  Daniels,  Na- 
than Green,  Henry  Green,  Clark  Hunt,  David  Hopkins,  Joseph  Hayward, 
William  Johnson,  Wid.  Susannah  Legg,  Gideon  Mowry,  Elijah  Perrin, 
George  Riddle,  Samuel  Remington,  Samuel  Taft,  Samuel  Taber,  Philip 
Wakefield  and  Nathan  Pickering. 

The  above  were  mostly  poll  taxes,  amounting,  in  1810,  when 
the  poll  tax  was  $1.11,  to  $22.81,  and  in  1811,  when  the  poll  tax 
was  $1.20  to  $21.92;  in  both  years  to  the  sum  of  $17.81. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  foregoing  report. 


494  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1814. 

The  Committee  also  recommended  that  the  collection  of  the 
following  taxes,  in  Joseph  Bates'  tax  bills  for  1813,  be  foregone, 
viz: 

The  taxes  against  Israel  Mowry,  Josiah  Brown,  Duty  Cook,  Richard 
Mann,  Albion  Cook,  Dana  Perry,  Roswell  Potter,  Daniel  Burchard,  Leon- 
ard Allen,  Amos  Albee,  Luther  Ebeberendon,  Asahel  Warner,  Paul  Kim- 
ball, John  Aldrich,  Ellis  Albee,  Lemuel  Berry,  Thomas  Cheney,  Nathan 
Pickering,  and  William  Aldrich,  amounting  to  $32.51. 

The  poll  tax  for  this  year  was  $1.64. 

Voted  not  to  raise  the  monthly  pay  of  the  soldiers  that  are  now 
or  may  hereafter  be  detached  for  actual  service. 

Under  a  new  warrant,  at  a  meeting  held  this  7th  of  November, 
the  following  votes  were  given  for  a 

Representative  in  the  lith  Congress. — Hon.  Elijah  Brigham  had  34  votes. 
Gen.  John  Spurr  had  64  votes. 

THE    WAR    OF    1812. 

War  was  declared  by  the  United  States  against  Great  Britain 
July  18,  1812.  William  Pinckney,  then  Attorney  General,  drew 
up  the  declaration,  and  for  which  the  following  reasons  were  as- 
signed: 

1.  The  impressment  of  American  seamen  by  British  ships  of  war. 

2.  Their  doctrine  and  system  of  blockade. 

3.  The  adoption  and  continuance  of  the  Orders  in  Council  which  oper- 
ated disastrously  upon  our  commerce. 

4.  An  unsatisfied  demand  for  remuneration  for  depredations  on  the  law- 
ful commerce  of  the  United  States. 

The  cjuota  of  Massachusetts  of  the  100,000  men  ordered  to  be 
raised  by  Congress  was  10,000.  Caleb  Strong,  then  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  declined  to  call  out  the  militia,  at  the  requisition 
of  Gen.  Dearborn,  who  commanded  the  United  States  troops  in 
Massachusetts,  but  issued  orders  that  they  should  be  in  readiness 
to  march  for  the  defence  of  the  inhabitants,  agreeable  to  the  direc- 
tion of  their  immediate  officers.  In  consequence  of  this  decision 
of  the  Governor  it  was  only  after  a  negotiation  of  many  years 
that  the  account  for  the  services  of  the  Massachusetts  soldiers 
was  allowed  by  the  general  government.  At  the  settlement  the 
rosters  of  the  Massachusetts  soldiers  were  taken  to  Washington 
and  lodged  in  the  office  of  the  Third  Auditor  of  the  Treasury, 
by  whom  the  following  list  is  certified  to  be  correct: 


1815.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  495 

"List  of  names  of  a  company  of  Massachusetts  Militia  in  the  war  of 
1812,  commanded  by  Capt.  Wright  Curtis,  in  the  Regiment  commanded  by 
Lt.  Col.  Valentine,  in  service  Sept.  and  Oct.,  1814. 

Wright  Curtis,  Capt.  Isaac  Silsby,  Lt.  Jared  Benson,  Ens.  Sargts. — 
Ethan  Tourtelotte,  Danl.  Southwick  3d,  Thaddeus  Curtis.  Privts. — Wil- 
lis Ahlrich,  Stephen  W.  Cook,  Collins  Capron,  John  Cass,  Jr.,  Amos  Dan- 
iels, Elbridge  G.  Daniels,  Smith  Daniels,  Riley  Daniels,  Moses  Daniels,  Jr., 
Newton  Darling,  Sutton  Gillson,  Ebenezer  Kingman,  Stephen  Lieuett, 
Richard  Mann,  George  Merriam,  John  Merriam,  Alvah  Paine,  Allen  Rich- 
ardson, Washington  Rhodes,  Thompson  Thayer,  Willard  Wilson,  Stephen 
Tourtelotte,  Horace  Parkhurst,  David  Boyden.  Svt. — Noah  Cook.  Saml. 
Brown. 


1815.  March  6.  Andrew  Penniman  was  chosen  Town  Clerk; 
Joseph  Adams,  Caleb  Thayer,  Samuel  Smith,  Ahaz  Allen,  and 
John  Southwick  2nd,  Selectmen;  Elijah  Thayer,  Treasurer,  and 
Lewis  Allen,  Constable  and  Collector  of  Taxes,  he  agreeing  to 
collect  the  same  for  $20.50. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  the  agents  to  prosecute  and  de- 
fend for  and  in  behalf  of  the  town  should  occasion  require. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  con- 
dition of  the  Town's  Bonds  and  report  at  the  April  meeting. 

Moses  Daniels,  Ahaz  Allen  and  Asa  Kelley  were  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee to  view  the  highway  districts  and  report  whether  any  al- 
teration of  their  boundaries  be  expedient. 

Adjourned  to  April  3,  and  then  met  and 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  collect  $600  of  the  loan  money. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  shall  decide  who  shall  pay  their  part 
or  parts  of  the  above  sum  and  what  part. 

Voted  that  they  pay  one-half  of  their  several  sums  in  three 
months  and  the  other  half  in  six  months. 

Voted  to  build  a  Powder  House  and  Richard  George,  Aaron 
Burdon,  Moses  Daniels,  Enos  Taft  and  Caleb  Thayer  were  chosen 
a  Building  Committee. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  reading  of  the  laws  until  the  May 
meeting. 

STATE   ELECTION. 
For  Governor,        Hon.  Caleb  Strong,  had  61  votes.  Elected. 


496  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1816. 

For  Governor,         Hon.  Samuel  Dexter      had  207  votes. 
"    Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  William  Phillips,     "      61       " 
Hon.  William  Gray,  "205       " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Silas  Holman,  Benjamin  Adams, 
Moses  Smith  and  Oliver  Crosby,  Esqrs.,  had  61  each.  And  Moses  White, 
Joseph  Adams,  Edmund  Gushing,  and  Jonas  Sibley,  Esqrs. ,  had  208  votes 
each. 

Adjourned  to  the  May  meeting. 

May  1.     Voted  to  raise  $1000  to  defray  town  charges  this  year. 

Voted  to  forego  the  taxes  of  Abijah  Adams,  Moses  Herrin, 
Newell  Whitney,  Moses  Aldrich,  Isaac  Aldrich,  Freeman  Ar- 
nold, Wm.  Aldrich  2nd,  Collins  Aldrich,  James  Couples,  Moses 
Haskell,  Wm.  Bushee,  Dana  Perry,  Caleb  Potter,  Robert  Thay- 
er, David  Smith,  Samuel  Tabor  and  Silas  Wheeler,  amounting 
to  $23.62. 

Nov.  4.  The  Selectmen  of  the  two  towns  perambulated  tiie 
line  between  Bellingham  and  Mendon. 

The  following  petition  is  the  first  indication  of  a  desire  for  the 
division  of  the  town. 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon. — We  the  subscribers,  free- 
holders in  the  town  of  Mendon,  desire  yours  Honors  to  call  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  town  to  act  upon  the  following  articles,  to 
wit: 

1.  To  see  if  the  inhabitants  will  vote  to  have  the  South  Parish  set  off  into 
a  town  by  itself. 

2.  To  choose  a  Committee  to  agree  upon  the  division  line  of  said  town. 

3.  To  act  upon  any  other  business  relative  to  said  division  that  the  town 

shall  see  fit. 

John  Pond,  Lewis  Allen, 

Henry  Thayer,  Daniel  Darling, 

John  Thompson,  Timothy  Chase, 

Smith  Daniels,  Nicholas  Thayer, 

Elisha  Thompson,  Luther  Warfield. 

Upon  this  petition  the  Selectmen  issued  their  warrant  for  a 
town  meeting  to  be  held  on  the  1st.  day  of  January,  1S1G,  at 
the  Second  Parish  meeting  house. 

The  meeting  was  accordingly  held  at  the  time  and  place  ap- 
pointed.    Joseph  Adams,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  only  vote  recorded  is  the  following: 

"  Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  without  day." 

KEY.   SIMEON    DOGGETT,  THE    EIGHTH    MINISTER. 

The  Rev.  Luther  Bailey,  having  declined  a  call  for  settlement, 


1816.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  497 

at  Mendon,  the  Rev.  Simeon  Doggett  was  ordained  Jan.  17, 
1815,  and  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  Dec.  4,  1830.  He 
was  a  graduate  at  Brown  University  in  1788,  where  he  remained 
as  tutor  until  179G.  While  in  Mendon  many  young  men  were 
attendant  upon  his  instruction,  quite  a  number  becoming  mem- 
bers of  Colleges.  Mr.  Doggett  was  a  native  of  Middleborough, 
and  removed  to  Raynham,  at  his  dismissal  from  Mendon,  and, 
for  some  years,  was  engaged  in  the  ministry  there.  He  died  in 
1852. 


1816.  March  4.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk; 
Ahaz  Allen,  Aaron  Burden,  Caleb  Mo  wry,  Asa  Kelly  and  John 
S.  Eddy,  Selectmen;  Elijah  Thayer,  Esq.,  Treasurer,  and  Joseph 
Bates,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Joseph  Adams  was  chosen  agent,  to  prosecute  and  defend  ac- 
tions which  may  be  brought  by  or  against  the  town. 

Voted  to  raise  $1200  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  allow  10  cents  an  hour  for  a  man  and  the  same  for  a 
yoke  of  oxen  and  cart  for  work  on  the  highway. 

Swine  and  neat  cattle  were  not  allowed  to  run  at  large. 

Voted  to  forego  the  taxes  against  twenty-eight  persons 
amounting  to  the  sum  of  $27.89. 

Vote  for  Register  of  Deeds — Oliver  Fiske,  Esq.,  had  all  the  votes,  being  39. 

Adjourned  to  the  April  meeting. 

April  ] .  Voted  to  commit  the  collection  of  the  taxes  to  the 
lowest  bidder. 

Joseph  Bates,  being  the  lowest  bidder,  he  offering  to  collect 
the  taxes  for  twenty-seven  dollars  ($27.00)  was  thereupon  chosen 
Collector  and  Constable. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  choose  a  Committee  to  make  some  alteration  in  some 
of  the  highway  districts,  if  required,  and  Capt.  Caleb  Thayer, 
Capt.  Aaron  Burden  and  Col.  Warren  Rawson  were  chosen  said 
committee. 

Voted  that  two-thirds  of  the  town  meetings  be  held  at  the 
First  Parish  Meeting  House,  and  the  annual  March  meeting  over 
and  above. 

Adj.  to  the  next  town  meeting. 

63 


498  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1816. 

April  1.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Hon.  Samuel  Dexter        had  173  votes. 
"  "  Hon.  John  Brooks  "      49      "        Elected. 

"   Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  Wdliam  King  "    173 

Hon.  William  Phillips       "      43      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors  —  Joseph  Adams,  Edmund  Gushing,  Jonas 
Sibley  and  Zadock  Gates  had  173  votes  each,  and  Timothy  Whiting  1. 
Silas  Holrnau,  Oliver  Crosby,  Daniel  Waldo  and  Thomas  H.  Blood  had  49 
votes  each  &  Daniel  Crosby  1. 

May  6.     After  filling  vacancies  among  the  town  officers, 
Voted  to  raise  $1200  to  defray  town  charges. 

CHOICE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  TO  THE  GENERAL  COURT. 

The  record  says  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  and  Joseph  Adams  were 
chosen,  without  giving  the  number  of  ballots  cast. 

In  a  new  warrant  for  a  meeting  this  day  the  second  article  was 
as  follows,  viz: — 

"To  see  what  measures  the  town  will  take  to  pay  their  debts  on  account 
of  their  Collector  (Lewis  Allen)  absconding." 

The  meeting  was  accordingly  held,  and  after  the  choice  of 
Ahaz  Allen,  Moderator, 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting  without  day. 

It  is  believed  that  this,  with  one  other  (Moses  Smith),  are  the 
only  instances  in  the  history  of  the  town  where  any  of  its  officers 
had  embezzled  the  funds  entrusted  to  their  care.  Happy  the 
town  that  can  say  that  through  its  transactions  of  two  hundred 
years  it  has  met  with  but  two  defaulters. 

June  7.     Under  a  new  warrant, 

Voted  to  choose  a  Collector  to  perfect  the  collection  of  Lewis 
Allen,  and  Joseph  Bates  was  chosen. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  make  a  warrant  in  due  form  of  law 
to  Joseph  Bates  to  perfect  the  collection  of  Lewis  Allen's  tax 
bills. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  call  in  the  town's 
money  (bonds)  that  they  have  loaned  out,  one  half  to  be  paid 
in  in  three  months  and  the  other  half  in  six  months. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  receive  town  orders 
dated  after  April  1,  181G,  in  pay  for  the  loaned  money  above 
mentioned. 


1816.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  499 

At  a  meeting  held  the  same  day,  (June  7,)  by  an  adjournment 
from  the  March  meeting,  it  was 

Voted  not  to  accept  the  bondsmen  brought  forward  by  Joseph 
Bates  as  surety  to  the  town,  for  his  receiving  and  collecting  tbe 
tax  bills  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  April  meeting- 
respecting  the  places  of  holding  the  town  meetings. 

Voted  to  hold  all  the  town  meetings  at  the  South  Parish  Meet- 
ing house. 

Adjourned  for  one  week. 

June  14.  Voted  to  hire  a  Collector  in  the  room  of  Joseph 
Bates. 

Johnson  Legg  agreed  to  collect  the'  taxes  for  $37.00,  and  to 
procure  satisfactory  bondsmen  to  secure  the  town. 

Johnson  Legg  was  then  chosen  Collector  of  Taxes. 

Johnson  Legg  was  chosen  a  Selectman  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa- 
sioned by  the  resignation  of  Col.  John  S.  Eddy,  about  to  remove 
from  the  town. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  meeting  respect- 
ing the  places  of  holding  the  town  meetings. 

Voted  that  one  half  of  the  town  meetings  shall  be  held  at  the 
North  Parish  Meeting  House  and  the  other  half  at  the  South 
Parish  Meeting  House. 

August  26.  Votes  for  Representative  in  Congress — For  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Esq. ,  42  votes.     Benjamin  Adams,  Esq  ,  14  votes. 

This  election  was  held  to  fill  a  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  Hon.  Elijah  Brigham,  who  was  elected  Nov.  7,  1814. 

Votes  for  County  Register — Oliver  Fiske,  Esq.,  had  24  votes.  B.  Kimball 
8.      J.  Wilson  23,  and  S.  Allen  1. 

Nov.  4.  No  election  for  a  member  of  Congress  having  been 
effected,  a  meeting  was  held  this  day  for  another  trial,  and  with 
the  following  result: 

Abraham  Lincoln,  Esq.,  had  27  v.otes.  Benjamin  Adams,  Esq.,  had  6 
votes.     Levi  Lincoln,  Esq.,  had  1  vote. 

No  County  Begister  (Begister  of  Deeds)  having  been  elected 
at  the  first  trial,  another  meeting  Avas  held  this  day,  and  the 
votes  given  in  were  as  follows,  viz: — 

Oliver  Fiske,  Esq.,  had  42  votes.  Benj.  Kimball,  Esq.,  had  1  vote. 
James  Wilson,  Esq.,  had  1  vote. 


500  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1817. 

1817.  March  3.  Town  Clerk,  Andrew  Penniman;  Select- 
men, Capt.  Esek  Pitts,  Amariah  Taft,  Capt.  Jared  Benson, 
Capt.  Elisha  Wood  and  James  Southwick;  Andrew  Penniman, 
Treasurer;  Moses  Daniels,  Jr.,  Constable. 

After  completing  the  choice  of  the  remaining  town  officer's, 
the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  April  7. 

April  7.  Moses  Daniels,  Jr.,  bid  off  the  collection  of  the 
taxes  at  $28.50,  and  to  procure  a  bond  satisfactory  to  the  Select- 
men. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $1200  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  swine  and  neat  cattle  do  not  run  at  large. 

Chose  Dr.  Joseph  Adams,  agent,  to  prosecnte  and  defend,  &c. 

Moses  Daniels,  Thomas  Taft  and  Darius  Smith  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  make  alterations,  if  any  are  wanted  in  any  of  the 
school  districts. 

Caleb  V.  Allen,  Johnson  Legg  and  Seth  Davenport  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  make  alterations,  if  any  are  wanted  in  the 
highway  districts. 

Warren  Kawson,  Johnson  Legg,  Richaard  George,  Elijah 
Thayer  and  Seth  Davenport  were  chosen  a  committee  to  con- 
sider the  subject  of  providing  a  house  for  the  poor,  or  any  thing- 
respecting  the  poor,  and  make  a  report  at  the  next  town 
meeting. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $13.12. 

Voted  to  hold  the  annual  March  meeting  at  the  North  Parish 
Meeting  House,  and  other  town  meetings  one  half  at  the  North 
and  the  other  half  at  the  South  Parish  Meeting  House. 

Voted  to  reject  the  laying  out  of  a  road  through  land  of 
Nathan  Very  and  Ichabod  Thayer  to  Washington  Hunt's  house. 

Adjourned  to  May  5. 

April  7.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         His  Ex.  John  Brooks  had        47  votes.     Elected. 
"  "  Hon.  Henry  Dearborn  had      120      " 

"    Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  William  Phillips  had       46 

Hon.  William  King  had         120      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Oliver  Crosby,  Daniel  Waldo,  Thomas 
H.  Blood  and  Gen.  James  Humphrey  had  46  votes  each.      Joseph  Adams, 
Edmund  Gushing,  Jonas  Sibley  and  Zadock  Gates,  Esqrs.,  had  118  votes 
each. 


1818.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  501 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  rejecting  the  laying  ont  of  a  road 
from  Nathan  Very's  to  Washington  Hunt's  house. 

Voted  to  accept  the  said  road  as  reported  by  the  Selectmen 
Dec.  23,  1816,  and  to  pay  Nathan  Very  $34.08,  Ichabod  Thayer 
$83.00  and  the  heirs  of  the  widow  Very  $50.07  as  land  damages. 

May  5.  Voted  to  raise  $2,000  to  defray  town  charges  this 
year. 

Joseph  Adams  and  Elijah  Thayer  were  chosen  Representatives 
to  the  General  Court. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  April  meeting  in 
regard  to  the  places  of  holding  town  meetings. 

Voted  that  one  half  of  the  town  meetings  be  held  at  each 
Parish  meeting  house,  the  annual  March  meeting  to  be  held  at 
the  North  Parish  Meeting  House  out  of  their  half. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $10.35. 

Adjourned  to  June  10. 

June  10.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  accepting  the  location 
of  a  road  from  Nathan  Very's  to  Washington  Hunt's  house; 
also,  a  vote  accepting  a  road  through  Nathaniel  Taft's  land  and 
others. 


I8l8.  March  2.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk; 
Esek  Pitts,  Seth  Davenport,  Aaron  Burden,  Caleb  V.  Allen  and 
Asa  Kelly,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and 
Ephraim  Lee,  Collector  and  Constable. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  advertise  for  proposals  for  support- 
ing the  poor  the  ensuing  year. 

Adjourned  to  April  meeting. 

April  0.     Voted  to  raise  $000  for  schooling  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  pay  Ephraim  Lee  $23  for  collecting  the  taxes. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  $80  be  reserved  from  the  $000  for 
schooling,  and  be  apportioned  by  the  Selectmen  among  the  larger 
districts. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $12.57. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  heretofore  chosen 
to  consider  the  subject  of  supporting  the  poor,  and  which  is  as 
follows,  viz: — 


502  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1818. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  that  Article  in  the  warrant  of  last 
year  respecting  the  Poor  of  said  town,  have  attentively  considered  the  sub- 
ject committed  to  them  and  beg  leave  now  to  Report,  that  they  find  the 
expenses  of  supporting  the  Poor  have  been  rapidly  increasing  for  a  number 
of  years  and  have,  for  the  year  past,  arisen  to  a  most  enormous  sum.  In 
searching  for  the  causes  of  this  great  and  growing  evil  they  are  of  opinion 
that  the  principal  one  is  the  present  method  of  supporting  the  Poor.  Now 
they  are  boarded  out  separately,  by  individuals,  each  at  a  weekly  sum. 
This  mode  your  Committee  conceive  is  liable  to  many  weighty  objections. 
It  tends  to  increase  the  number  of  paupers,  and,  as  they  increase  in  townx 
boarding  will  then  consequently  be  higher.  They  therefore  are  strongly  of 
opinion  that  some  other  way  of  supporting  them  be  adopted,  at  least,  to  try 
the  experiment  for  one  or  two  years.  Among  the  number  of  opinions  that 
have  been  suggested  no  one,  at  this  time,  presents  fewer  objections  and 
difficulties  than  that  of  putting  out  all  the  Poor,  collectively,  to  the  person 
in  town  who  will  take  them  at  the  least  sum  by  the  year. 

The  Committee  think  this  way  will  not  only  lessen  the  number  of  pau- 
pers but  will  also  deter  others  from  asking  assistance  from  the  town,  and 
will  also,  as  is  believed,  diminish  the  expenses  of  supporting  them  one  third 
or  one  half.  The  Committee  therefore  recommend  that  the  town  direct 
their  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  for  this  year,  to  enter  into  contract,  under  the 
direction  of  the  town,  with  some  person,  at  the  best  terms  they  can,  to  pro- 
vide for  and  support  all  the  Poor  of  the  town  for  one  year;  the  said  person 
to  have  suitable  accommodations  for  all  the  poor — to  be  obligated  to  take 
good  care  of  them  in  sickness  and  in  health — to  furnish  them  sufficiently 
with  fire  wood  and  good  wholesome  provisions — to  provide  them  with  com- 
fortable lodgings  and  clothing;  and  also,  if  thought  best  and  finally,  said 
Overseers  to  make  such  rules,  regulations  and  conditions  as  they  may  judge 
most  proper  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  and  the  comfort  of  the  Poor. 

All  which  is  submitted 

Seth  Davenport, 

Johnson  Legg, 
Warren  Rawson. 
Mendon  March  2,  1818. 

Voted  not  to  make  any  alteration  in  the  places  for  holding 
town  meetings. 

Adjourned  to  the  May  meeting. 

April  G.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        His  Ex.  John  Brooks,  had  31  votes.     Elected. 

"  "  Hon.  Benj.  Crowningshield  had  112      " 

"    Lt.  Governor,  William  Phillips,  Esq.,  had  30      " 

Thomas  Kittredge,  Esq.,  had        112      " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Joseph  Adams,  Edmund  dishing,  Jonas 
Sibley,  Zadock  Gates,  Esqrs.,  had   112  votes  each,  and   Oliver  Crosby, 


1819.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  503 

Daniel  Waldo,  James  Humphreys  and  Stephen  P.  Gardner,  Esqrs.,  had  21 
votes  each. 

May  4.  Met  pursuant  to  adjournment  from  the  March  meet- 
ing. 

Voted  to  raise  #1,400  to  defray  town  charges  this  year. 

Voted  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Fourth  Highway  District 
divide  their  highway  work  agreeable  to  their  own  minds. 

I  find  no  report  of  the  amount  of  work  done  in  this  district. 
'   Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  meeting,  divid- 
ing the  school  money,  and  that  $G0  instead  of  $80  be  distributed 
among  the  larger  districts. 

Voted  to  accept  the  laying  out  of  a  road  from  Bellingham  line 
to  the  road  from  the  Five  Corners  to  Woonsocket  Falls,  by  the 
houses  of  Ichabod.  Cook  and  Seth  Kelley.  The  [road  to  be  two 
rods  wide  and  the  damages  were  appraised  as  follows,  viz: — 
Amos  Thompson,  $15.00;  Ichabod  Cook,  Jr.,  130.00;  Seth 
Kelly,  $15.00;  Joseph  and  Nicholas  Thayer  L$10. 00,  and  Asa 
Kelly,  $10.00. 

May  4.  For  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had 
68  votes.     Obadiah  Wood  had  3  votes. 

Voted  that  the  names  reported  by  the  Selectmen  be  put  in  the 
jury  box,  as  follows,  viz: — 

Elijah  Taft,  Caleb  V.  Allen,  Amos  Thayer,  Henry  Thayer,  Enos  Taft, 
Johnson  Legg,  Seth  Davenport,  George  Southwick,  Ahaz  Allen,  Aaron 
Burden,  Simon  Thornton,  Andrew  Penniman,  Asa  Kelley,  Nathan  Very, 
Samuel  Bills,  Benjamin  Drake,  James  Paine,  Esek  Pitts,  Ephraim  Lee, 
Jared  Benson,  Samuel  Gaskill,  Obadiah  Wood,  Benjamin  Davenport,  Na- 
than Fisher,  Elijah  Thayer,  George  Wall,  Washington  Hunt,  Caleb  Thayer, 
Luther  Warfield,  Ariel  Cook. 

Nov.  2.  For  Representative  to  Congress — Sumner  Bastow,  Esq.,  had  36 
votes.     Benj.  Adams,  Esq.,  had  21  votes. 

Dec.  7.  Seth  Davenport,  of  Mendon,  and  Ezra  Wood  and 
Daniel  Holbrook,  of  Upton,  in  behalf  of  the  Selectmen  of  their 
respective  towns,  perambulated  the  dividing  line  between  said 
towns. 


1819.     March    1.     Chose   Andrew  Penniman,   Town    Clerk; 
Esek  Pitts,  Obadiah  Wood,  Elijah  Thayer,  Johnson  Legg  and 


504  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1819. 

Amos  Thayer,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and 
Thurber  Warfield,  Constable  and  Collector  of  Taxes. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

Chose  Johnson  Legg,  Nairn m  Bates  and  James  Paine  a  com- 
mittee to  make  alterations  in  the  school  districts,  if  any  are 
wanted. 

Seth  Hastings,  Esq.,  Warren  Rawson,  Esq.,  Richard  George, 
Esq.,  Asa  Kelley  and  Caleb  V.  Allen  were  chosen  a  committee 
on  the  subject  of  providing  a  poor  house. 

Caleb  Hayward,  Ahaz  Allen  and  Arthur  Cook  were  chosen  a 
committee  on  the  petition  of  Preserved  Pickering. 

Voted  to  let  horses  and  neat  cattle  run  at  large  this  year. 

Voted  to  divide  the  school  money — one  half  equally  among 
the  school  districts  and  one  half  equally  among  the  scholars. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  schooling. 

Adjourned  to  April  meeting. 

April  5.  Met  and  voted  to  give  Thurber  Warfield  $20.50  for 
collecting  the  taxes  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  petition  of 
Preserved  Pickering  as  follows,  viz : 

' '  That  the  town  allow  him  fifty  cents  per  week  as  an  act  of  charity  dur- 
ing the  term  of  one  year,  for  the  support  of  his  aged  father,  provided  said 
gratuity  do  not  invalidate  the  bond  of  said  Preserved  Pickering  gave  the 
town  for  the  maintenance  of  his  father." 

Johnson  Legg,  George  Wall  and  Ahaz  Allen  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  abate  taxes. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         His  Ex.  John  Brooks  had    36  votes.  Elected. 

"  "  Hon.  Benj.  Crowningshield     "    173      " 

"  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  William  Phillips  37      " 

Hon.  Benj.  Austin  172      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Jonas  Sibley,  Joseph^  Adams,  Edmund 
Cashing,  and  Zadoc  Gates,  Esqrs.,  had  171  votes  each,  and  Stephen  P. 
Gardner,  Aaron  Tufts,  Lewis  Bigelow  and  Samuel  Eastman  had  36  votes 
each. 

May  3.     Voted  to  raise  $1200  to  defray  town  charges. 
Representative  to  the  General  Court— Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  was  chosen  hav- 
ing 57  votes. 

Nov.  8.  Voted  to  discontinue  the  road  that  was  lately  laid 
out  through  Nathaniel  Taft's  land. 


1820.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  505 

Voted  to  forego  the  taxes  of  Hon.  Jonathan  Russell  for  the 
years  1818  and  1819. 

Chose  Esek  Pitts,  Esq.,  as  town  agent  to  prosecute,  &c. 

Voted  to  accept  the  bridge  and  causeway  recently  built  at 
Blackstone,  as  a  town  bridge  and  causeway. 


1820.  March  G.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  Esek 
Pitts,  Obadiah  Wood,  George  Wall,  Ahaz  Allen  and  Amos  Thay- 
er, Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and  Dan  Hill, 
Constable. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

A  committee  of  ten  were  appointed  to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  accepting  the  road  laid  out  from  Jesse  Tourtelotte's  to 
the  road  between  Thomas  and  Nathaniel  Taf  t's.  Richard  George 
■Esq.,  Warren  Rawson,  Esq.,  Nathan  Fisher,  Maj.  Washington 
Hunt,  Moses  Daniels,  George  Wall,  Enos  Taft,  Seth  Davenport, 
Nathan  Very  and  Andrew  Penniman  constituted  the  committee. 

Swine,  horses  and  neat  cattle  were  restrained  from  running  at 
large. 

Adj.  to  the  April  meeting. 

April  3.     Voted  to  raise  $800  for  schooling  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  7th.  article  from  the  warrant,  which  was, 
"  To  see  what  method  the  town  will  adopt  for  the  support  of 
the  Poor." 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        His  Ex.  John  Brooks        had    37  votes.     Elected. 
.     "   .  Hon.  William  Eustis  "131 

"  Lt.  Governor,  Hon  William  Phillips         "      37 

"  Hon.  Benj.  Austin  "    131       " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Stephen  P.  Gardner,  Aaron  Tufts, 
Samuel  Eastman  and  Lewis  Bigelow,  Esqrs.,  had  37  votes  each.  Levi  Lin- 
coln, Jr.,  Calvin  Willard,  James  Estabrook. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  town  charges  the  present  year. 

Dan  Hill  was  chosen  Collector  and  to  collect  the  taxes  for 
$25.00. 

Voted  to  discharge  the  Road  Committee  of  Ten  and  to  accept 
the  road  from  Jesse  Tourtelotte's  to  the  road  between  Thomas 

64 


506  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1820. 

and  Nathl.  Taft's  provided  no  land  damages  shall  be  claimed. 
Adj.  to  the  next  town  meeting. 

May  1.  Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Hon.  Jonathan  Russell,  Dr. 
Daniel  Thurber. 

No  record  of  the  number  of  votes  given. 

Voted  to  allow  Preserved  Pickering  40  cents  per  week  for  the 
support  of  his  father,  Jonathan  Pickering. 

Aliaz  Allen,  Capt.  Caleb  Thayer  were  chosen  a  committee  "to 
see  if  the  town  will  make  any  alteration  in  the  highway  districts 
or  any  alterations  in  the  roads,  in  particular  in  the-  districts  in 
which  George  Wall  and  Jonathan  Russell  live." 

Voted  that  whatever  may  be  the  decision  of  the  above  com- 
mittee, it  shall  be  valid  for  one  year,  by  their  reporting  to  the 
town  clerk,  to  be  recorded. 

Suppose  this  committee  had  altered  every  district  and  road  in 
town,  it  would  have  been  valid  for  one  year.  Committees  are 
not  often  entrusted  with  such  plenary  power. 

Aug.  21st.  In  the  warrant  there  was  but  one  article  which 
was  "  Is  it  expedient  that  Delegates  be  chosen  to  meet  in  Con- 
vention for  the  purpose  of  Revising  or  Altering  the  Constitution 
of  Government  of  this  Commonwealth." 

The  votes,  113  in  number,  all  in  the  affimative. 

Voted  to  raise  1400  in  addition  to  the  $800  already  raised  for 
town  charges. 

Oct.  16.  Voted  to  choose  two  Delegates  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention. 

Chose  Hon.  Jonathan  Russell,  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber. 

Nov.  6,  Representative  to  Congress — Hon.  Jonathan  Russell  had  123  votes. 
Hon.  Benjamin  Adams  had  18  votes. 

VOTE   FOR  ELECTORS   OF   PRESIDENT    AND   VICE   PRESIDENT. 

For  Electors  at  Large — Hon.  Benj.  W.  Crowningshield  had  101  votes. 
Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  101  votes. 

For  Worcester  South  District — Jonas  Sibley,  Esq.,  had  101  votes.  Hon. 
Seth  Hastings  had  24  votes.     Richard  George,  Esq.  had  1  vote. 

THE    NEW    MEETING    HOUSE. 

The  Old  Meeting  House  getting  dilapidated  and  also  entirely 
out  of  fashion,  having  no  spire,  tower  or  bell,  the  question  of  a 
new  meeting  house  began  -to  be  mooted,  and 


1820.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  507 


Nov.  24,  1819,  a  meeting  was  called  "  to  consider  the  subject 
of  building  a  New  Meeting  House." 

Hon.  Jonathan  Russell  was  chosen  Moderator.  Benjamin 
Davenport,  Clerk. 

At  this  meeting  committees  were  chosen  to  report  a  suitable 
site  and  the  cost  of  the  building  whether  built  of  brick  or  wood; 
and  also  to  canvass  for  subscriptions  to  defray  the  cost. 

Dec.  3.  Hon.  Jonathan  Russell  offered  the  Society  one  and  a 
half  acres  of  land,  opposite  his  house,  for  the  site  for  the  house 
and  to  fence  it  without  expense  to  the  Society,  and  to  add  $-400 
to  his  subscription. 

Dec.  4.  Hon.  Seth  Hastings  offered  to  give  one  acre  and  tAVo 
rods  (being  the  present  location)  and  raise  his  subscription  to 
$600. 

The  offer  of  Mr.  Hastings  was  accepted  and  the  meeting  pro- 
ceeded to  choose  a  Building  Committee,  as  follows,  viz:  Hon. 
Jona.  Russell,  Hon.  Seth  Hastings,  Enos.  Taft,  Richard  George, 
Esq.,  Seth  Davenport,  Andrew  Penniman,  Caleb  V.  Allen,  Caleb 
Hayward,  Benjamin  Davenport,  Amariah  Taft  and  Elijah  Taft. 
William  S.  Hastings  was  chosen  Treasurer. 

Dec.  11.  The  following  is  the  subscription  paper  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Meeting  House. 

Whereas  it  has  become  necessary  to  erect  a  New  Meeting  House  for  the 
uxe  of  the  Congregational  Society  in  the  First  Parish  in  Mention,  and  whereas 
a  Committee  consisting  of  the  following  persons,  viz:  Seth  Hastings,  Jona- 
than Russell  and  Richard  George,  Esqrs. ,  Enos  Taft,  Seth  Davenport,  Ben- 
jamin Davenport,  Caleb  V.  Allen,  AndreAV  Penniman,  Elijah  Taft,  Ama- 
riah Taft  and  Caleb  Hayward  were  duly  chosen,  by  the  majority  of  the  sub- 
scribers, for  the  purpose  of  contracting  with  some  skilful  architect  to  erect 
said  house  and  of  making  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  completion  of 
the  same: — 

Now  be  it  known,  in  consideration  said  Committee  shall  contract  with 
some  skilful  architect  for  the  erection  and  completion  of  said  building  and 
make  themselves  personally  liable  for  the  amount  of  the  consideration  to 
be  paid  to  said  architect  for  the  erection  and  completion  of  said  building, 
we  the  Subscribers  do  hereby  promise  and  agree,  severally  and  not  jointly, 
to  pay  the  sums  of  money  set  to  our  respective  names  to  any  person  duly 
authorized  by  said  Committee  to  receive  the  same.  And  we  do  hereby  fully 
authorize  said  Committee  to  make  all  necessary  contracts  for  the  erection 
and  completion  of  said  Meeting  House. 

And  we  do  also  empower  said  Committee  to  collect  such  instalments  on 
the  amount  of  money  hereunto  subscribed,  as  shall,  from  time  to  time,  be 


508 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1820. 


necessary  to  the  erection  and  completion  of  said  building,  in  due  propor- 
tion upon  each  subscription,  and  we  do  hereby  promise  to  pay  the  same  on 
demand  to  any  person  didy  authorized  by  said  Committee  to  receive  the 
same. 


Jonathan  Russell $830 

Seth  Hastings 650 

Benj.  Davenport 650 

Seth  Davenport. 625 

Richard  George 500. 

Caleb  V.  Allen 300 

Caleb  Hay  ward 250 

AmariahTaft 225 

Andrew  Penniman 150 

Joseph  Prince 125 

Daniel  Childs... 125 

John  Fisher 100 

Warren  Rawson 125 

Ephraim  Lee 100 

EnosTaft 100 

ElishaWood 100 

Benj.  Peirce 50 

Daniel  R.  Newhall 100 

Henry  Russell 50 

Moses  T.  Chapin 50 

Stephen  Willard 50 

Henry  Goss 50 

Saml.  D.  Torrey  by  B.  Daven- 
port   100 


Moses  Davenport 

Zalman  Green 

Joseph  Adams 

Stephen  Wood 

Anna  Torrey 

Horatio  Stone 

Chloe  Davenport 

Peter  Holbrook . '. 

Alexander  Thayer,  Jr 

Nancy  Rawson.    

Lendol  Staples 

Verville  Taft 

David  Legg 

Asa  Legg 

Elijah  Taft 

Nathan  Hay  ward 

Phebe  Keith  by  Jas  Mellen. 

James  Mellen 

William  S.  Hastings - 

Jabez  Aldrich 


$50 

75 

100 

100 

50 

10 

100 

20 

100 

50 

50 

15 

50 

10 

125 

100 

25 

25 

50 

50 


Amount $6,460 


At  a  meeting-  of  the  Building  Committee,  held  June  17th,  it 
was  voted  that  no  person  be  permitted  to  sell  spirituous  liquors 
on  the  Meeting  House  Common,  or  on  the  public  highway  near 
it,  on  the  da)Ts  of  raising  said  House,  and  that  the  committee 
shall  prosecute  any  one  who  shall  violate  this  rule. 

Voted  that  the  Clerk  give  notice  of  the  last  mentioned  vote 
by  posting  up  a  copy  of  the  same  at  each  of  the  stores  and  taverns 
in  this  vicinity. 

The  meeting  house  having  been  raised  and  the  structure  ap- 
proaching completion,  the  Building  Committee,  Sept.  15,  were 
authorized  to  procure  a  bell.  For  this  purpose  a  committee  to 
solicit  subscriptions  was  raised,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Russell, 
George,  Hay  ward,  A.  Taft,  and  W.  S.  Hastings. 

The  subscriptions  for  the  bell  were  made  subject  to  the  same 


1821.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


509 


conditions  with  those  for  the  Meeting  House,  and  were  as  fol- 
lows, viz: — 

Amariah  Taft $25 

Stephen  Torrey 5 

Warren  Rawson 10 

Joseph  Prince 10 

Gustavus  Aldrieh,  2nd 5 

Thomas  Stone,  Jr 5 

Luke  Aldrieh 10 

Jos.  G.  Davenport 5 

Nathl.  Torrey 5 

Benoni  Staples 5 

Welcome  Staples 5 

Abijah  Hall,  in  iron  work 5 

Sumner  Ballou 2 

Joseph  Allen 2 

Alexander  Thayer 5 

Winsor  Wheelock 5 

Henry  Mowiy 5 

Saml.  W.  Doggett 5 

Stephen  Willard 5 

Simeon  Doggett,  (Rev.) 50 

John  L.  Doggett 25 

Daniel  Thurber,  (Dr.) 20 

Samuel  Gaskill 5 

Alex'.  H.  Allen 10 

Alexander  Thayer,  Jr.,  (Dr.). . .  10 

Henry  Russell 3 

John  Hay  ward 5 

Lyman  Daniels 6 

William  Green 5 


EnosTaft $  2 

Caleb  Hayward 30 

Elijah  Taft 10 

Seth  Davenport 40 

Benj.  Davenport 40 

Seth  Hastings 40 

Andrew  Penniman 10 

Jonathan  Russell 60 

Grindal  Wood 10 

Israel  Mowry 20 

George  C.  Branch 5 

Alonzo  Taft 5 

Samuel  R.  Beals 5 

Horatio  Stone 5 

Zaccheus  Taft 5 

Wm.  S.  Hastings 10 

Chloe  Davenport 12 

Plrila  Baker 3 

Hezekiah  Fletcher 5 

Rufus  Coffee 1 

Dennis  Wheelock 5 

Zebulon  Goss 5 

George  L.  Davenport 5 

SethR  Adams 10 

Daniel  Childs 10 

Abram  Staples 3 

Nahum  Wheelock 5 

Richard  George 25 

Abijah  Staples 3 

George  W.  Taft 1 

George  Wood 7 


Amount $665 

The  Meeting  House  having  heen  completed,  the  bell  hung  in 
the  belfry  and  the  communion  table  in  its  place,  the  edifice  was 
formally  dedicated  to  the  public  worship  of  God  Thursday,  Nov. 
30,  1820. 


l82I.  March  5.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  Esek 
Pitts,  Obadiah  Wood,  George  Wall,  Ahaz  Allen  and  Amos 
Thayer,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and  Dan 
Hill,  Constable. 


510  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1821. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  view  the  road  leading  from  Kelly  & 
Paine's  factory  to  the  Smithfield  road,  by  Benj.  Pickering's 
house,  and  make  such  alteration  of  the  hounds  of  said  road  as 
they  shall  think  best,  and  report  at  the  next  town  meeting. 

Voted  to  adjourn  to  the  April  meeting. 

April  2.  Voted  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  look  into  the 
case  of  Preserved  Pickering  and  report  at  the  May  meeting. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        William  Eustis,  had  128  votes. 

"  "  Levi  Lincoln  had  126      " 

"    Lt.  Governor,  His  Ex.  John  Brooks  had  12      "         Elected. 

Hon.  William  Phillips  had  12      " 

As  John  Brooks  was  elected  Governor  from  181 G  to  1823,  the 
Clerk  made  a  mistake  in  his  record,  and  the  names  of  Brooks 
and  Lincoln  should  be  transposed. 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — James  Sihley,  Warren  Rawson,  James  Es- 
tahrook  and  Moses  Thomas  had  129  votes.  Aaron  Tufts,  Salem  Towne, 
Jr.,  John  Shepley  and  Nathaniel  Jones  had  9  votes  each,  and  Seth  Hast- 
ings, Richard  George  and  Bezaleel  Taft  had  2  votes  each. 

Votes  for  County  Register — Artemas  Ward  had  51  votes.  Otis  Corbett  had 
25  votes.     Oliver  Fiske  had  2  votes. 

April  9.  A  town  meeting  was  held  pursuant  to  a  resolution 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  held  at  Boston  Nov.  15,  1820, 
to  vote  on  the  proposed  amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
Commonwealth. 

The  votes  on  the  several  amendments  were  as  follows,  viz: — 


Article  1, 

Yeas 

!     5 

Najrs 

103 

Article    8, 

Yeas  88 

N; 

ays  13 

Article  2, 

" 

74 

" 

38 

Article    9, 

"     11 

"     90 

Article  3, 

" 

61 

" 

42 

Article  10, 

"     13 

"     88 

Article  4, 

" 

13 

" 

98 

Article  11, 

"     32 

"     68 

Article  5, 

" 

1 

" 

109 

Article  12, 

"     35 

"     65 

Article  6, 

" 

73 

" 

37 

Article  13, 

"     47 

"     55 

Article  7, 

" 

14 

" 

93 

Article  14, 

"     67 

'-'     35 

Nine  of  the  preceding  Articles  were  adopted,  and  are  num- 
bered in  the  amendments  to  the  Constitution  from  one  to  nine 
inclusive. 

May  7.  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Chose  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber, 
Representative. 

Under  the  adjourned  March  meeting  warrant, 


1821.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  511 

Voted  to  raise  #800  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  11000  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Luther  Warfield  bid  off  the  collection  of  the  taxes  at  I1G.00, 
and  was  chosen  Collector  and  Constable. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  134.01. 

Voted  that  town  meetings  be  warned  by  posting  notices  at  the 
meeting  houses  of  the  North  and  South  Parish,  and  at  the  store 
of  Henry  Thayer,  at  the  Five  Corners. 

Voted  to  allow  Preserved  Pickering  forty  cents  per  week  for 
the  support  of  his  father,  and  the  meeting  was  then  dissolved. 

Esek  Pitts  and  George  Wall  for  Mendon,  and  Daniel  Day  and 
Nahum  Morse  for  "Oxbridge,  Selectmen,  perambulated  the  line 
between  the  two  towns  May  9. 

Nov.  21.  There  having  been  no  choice  for  Register  of  Deeds, 
another  meeting  was  held,  and  the  votes  were  as  follows,  viz: 

Seth  Hastings,  Esek  Pitts,  Obadiah  Wood,  Jobnson  Leggand 
A.  Thayer  were  chosen  to  count  the  votes. 

Hon.  Oliver  Fiske  had  2  votes.  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  had  56  votes. 
Mr.  Luther  Warfield  had  1  vote. 

Nov.  12.  The  report  of  the  committee  chosen  at  the  March 
meeting  to  revise  the  highway  districts  being  made, 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  revise  and  establish  the  high- 
way districts  in  said  town,  and  Seth  Davenport,  Jabez  Aldrich, 
Caleb  V.  Allen,  Moses  Daniels,  Nahum  Bates,  Seth  Kelley,  Eli- 
jah Taft,  Obadiah  Wood,  Jared  Benson,  George  Wall,  Nathan 
Very,  Washington  Hunt  and  Esek  Pitts  were  chosen. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  list  of  Jurors,  as  follows,  viz: 

*Caleb  V.  Allen.  *Amos  Thayer.  *Henry  Thayer.  *Johnson  Legg. 
*Seth  Davenport.  *George  Southwick.  *Ahaz  Allen.  *Aaron  Burden. 
*Audrew  Pennimau.  *Asa  Kelley.  *Sumuel  Bills.  *Esek  Pitts.  *James 
Paine.  *Ephraim  Lee.  *Jared  Benson.  *Samuel  Gaskill.  *Obadiah  Wood. 
*Benj.  Davenport.  *Elijah  Thayer.  *GeorgeWall.  *Washington  Hunt. 
*Caleb  Thayer.  *Luther  Warfield.  *Ariel  Cook.  *Artemas  Thayer. 
*Jabez  Aldrich.  *Caleb  Hayward.  *Luke  Aldrich,  Jr.  *Collins  Caprou. 
*Lebbeus  Gaskill.  *Daniel  Southwick,  2d.  *Jesse  Tourtelotte,  Jr.  Wil- 
lard  Wilson.  Stephen  Tripp.  *John  Kelley.  *Ichabod  Cook,  Jr.  *Na- 
hum  Bates.  *Peleg  Aldrich.  *Welcome  Thayer.  *Luke  Aldrich.  Anson 
Aldrich.  *Moses  Aldrich.  *Maucy  Thornton.  *Leonard  W.  Darling. 
*Arnold  Taft. 

*Dead  1879. 


512  ANNALS  OF  MEN  DON.  [1822. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  pay  the  widow  of  the  late  Henry  S. 
Benson  #15.00  for  a  cow  which  was  killed  by  Elijah  Ramsdell,  a 
pauper,  belonging  to  this  town. 


l822.  March  -4.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk; 
Elijah  Thayer,  Esq.,  Richard  George,  Esq.,  George  Wall,  John- 
son Legg  and  Nahum  Bates,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman, 
Treasurer;  Thnrber  Warheld,  Constable;  and  Alpheus  Free- 
man, Collector  and  Constable;  Caleb  Hay  ward,  Richard  George 
and  William  S.  Hastings,  School  Committee  for  the  North 
Parish,  and  Esek  Pitts,  George  Wall  and  Welcome  Thayer  for 
the  South  Parish. 

Esek  Pitts,  Obadiah  Wood,  Richard  George,  Seth  Davenport, 
Elijah  Thayer,  Amos  Thayer,  Caleb  Thayer,  Benjamin  Daven- 
port and  Caleb  Hayward  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider 
the  subject  of  purchasing  a  house  and  farm  for  the  support  of 
the  poor. 

Ahaz  Allen,  Esek  Pitts  and  Enos  Taft  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  inquire  into  the  encroachments  made  upon  any  of  the 
roads  of  the  town,  and  report. 

April  1.  Voted  to  raise  #1000  for  repair  of  highways  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $10  for  repair  of  the  old  meeting  house  in  the 
North  Parish,  in  consideration  of  the  use  of  the  house  for  hold- 
ing town  meetings  there. 

Voted  to  discharge  the  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  arrange 
the  highway  districts  from  further  service,  and  the  subject  was 
referred  to  Esek  Pitts,  Seth  Davenport  and  Washington  Hunt. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  acceptance  of  the  report  of  a  com- 
mittee made  in  November  last,  revising  the  highway  districts. 

STATE   ELECTION". 

For  Governor,        His  Ex.  John  Brooks  had  28  votes.     Elected. 

Hon.  William  Eustis  had  120      " 

Hon.  Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn  had    1      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  William  Phillips  had  28      " 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had  127      " 

Hon.  William  Gray  had  3      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Jonas  Sibley,  Edmund  Gushing,  James 


1822.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  513 

Easterbrook,  Warren  Rawson  and  David  Wadsworth  had  119  votes  each, 
and  Aaron  Tufts,  Salem  Towne,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Jones,  Beuj.  Adams  and 
Stephen  P.  Gardner  had  26  each.     Esek  Pitts  had  4  votes. 

May  6.  Alpheus  Freeman  bid  off  the  collection  of  the  taxes 
for  #16.00,  and  was  then  chosen  Collector  and  Constable. 

Esek  Pitts  was  chosen  Town  Agent. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  defraying  town  charges  this  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  accept  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen  from  a  town 
road  near  Otis  Taft's  to  the  road  near  James  and  Southwick 
llarkness'  house. 

The  Selectmen  were  instructed  to  consider  and  report  in  what 
method  the  roads  should  be  opened  the  proper  width. 

Voted  to  accept  the  Highway  Committee's  report,  but  as  the 
report  was  not  recorded,  nor  can  be  found,  it  is  uncertain  what 
committee's  report  is  meant. 

Representative  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  was  chosen. 

May  6.     Under  a  new  warrant, 

Voted  to  accept  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  from  near 
Maj.  Eufns  Aldrich's  to  the  widow  M.  Hill's  house,  provided 
said  road  is  made  and  fenced  without  expense  to  the  town. 

Voted  to  allow  Preserved  Pickering  forty  cents  per  week  for 
the  support  of  his  father. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  directed  to  furnish  the  Surveyors 
of  Highways  with  warrants  of  distress. 

Adjourned  to  the  next  town  meeting. 

June  11.  It  seems  there  had  been,  as  was  supposed,  some 
illegalities  in  the  doings  of  the  town;  and,  at  this  meeting,  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  petition  the  Legislature  to  have  the 
doubtful  proceedings  legalized. 

Hon.  Jonathan  Russell,  Joseph  Adams  and  Dr.  Daniel  Thur- 
ber were  chosen  the  committee,  and  Dr.  Thurber  was  consti- 
tuted agent  to  present  the  petition. 

Oct.  4.  Vote  for  Representative  in  Congress — For  Jonas  Sibley,  Esq.,  there 
were  68  votes.  For  Hon.  Seth  Hastings  there  were  22  votes.  For  Hon. 
Benjamin  Adams  there  were  4  votes. 

No  choice  for  a  Representative  having  been  effected  at  this 
trial,  another  meeting  was  called,  and  which  met  as  follows. 

65 


514  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1823. 

1823.  March  3.  A  second  trial  for  a  representative  in  Con- 
gress was  held  this  day  and  with  the  following  result: 

Hon.  Scth  Hastings,  had  23  votes.  Hon.  Benj.  Adams,  had  2  votes. 
Hon.  Jonas  Sibley,  had  117  votes.     Bezaleel  Taft,  had  1  vote: 

Under  another  warrant  the  following  business  was  transacted: 

Andrew  Pennimanwas  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Esek  Pitts,  John- 
son Legg,  Jared  Benson,  Jabez  Aldrich  and  Lnke  Aldrich  2d., 
were  chosen  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and  El- 
bridge  Cass,  Constable  and  Collector,  and  to  have  $13.00  for  col- 
lecting the  taxes. 

Esek  Pitts  chosen  Town  Agent  to  prosecute,  &c. 

Adj.  to  the  next  town  meeting. 

April  7.  Caleb  Hay  ward,  Ahaz  Allen,  Asa  Kelly,  Washington 
Hunt  and  Luther  Warfield  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  consider 
the  expediency  of  redistricting  the  Town  as  to  School  and  High- 
way districts. 

Voted  that  the  town  pay  Preserved  Pickering  $15.50  for  extra 
expenses  in  the  late  sickness  and  burial  charges  of  his  late  father, 
Jonathan  Pickering. 

Voted  that  Esek  Pitts,  Johnson  Legg  and  Ahaz  Allen  be  a 
Committee  to  repair  the  bridge  by  Wall  &  Capron's  mills,  if 
necessary. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  amounting  to  $45.77. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Hon  Harrison  Gray  Otis  had    27  votes. 

Hon.  William  Eustis,  "    212       "     Elected. 

"   Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  Daniel  Noble,  "      27 

"  "  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  "    207       " 

Hon.  William  Gray,  "        1       " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Aaron  Tufts,  Hon.  Benj.  Adams,  Hon. 
Stephen  P.  Gardner,  Nathaniel  Jones  and  Nathaniel  P.  Denny  had  27  votes 
each;  and  Warren  Rawson,  James  Estabrook,  Josiah  Howe,  Daniel  Gilbert 
and  Edward  D.  Bangs  had  205  votes  esch. 

May  5.  Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and 
bridges;  eight  hundred  dollars  ($800)  to  be  assessed  and  worked 
in  the  usual  way;  two  hundred  dollars  ($200)  of  the  above  sum 
of  $1000  to  be  assessed  according  to  law  and  be  paid  into  the 
treasury  in  money,  to  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  Selectmen 
who  are  to  apportion  it  among  the  several  highway  districts  as 
they  shall  see  fit. 


1823.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  515 

Voted  the  Selectmen  cull  on  the  Surveyors  of  Highways  for 
the  last  two  years  to  present  their  tax  bills  for  inspection  and, 
should  they  neglect  or  refuse  to  do  so,  to  prosecute  them. 

Voted  that  the  bridge  by  Wall  &  Capron's  Mills  be  rebuilt  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  Selectmen. 

Voted  to  reject  the  report  of  the  Committee  herefore  chosen 
on  the  reorganization  of  the  School  Districts. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  Article  for  the  division  of  the  6th.  School 
District. 

Voted  to  raise  $1200  to  defray  town  charges  the  current  year. 
It  should  be  remembered  that  among  town  charges  the  support 
of  the  Poor  was  a  large  sum. 

Under  a  new  warrant  the  2nd.  Article  of  which  was  in  these 
words,  "  To  see  Avhat  measures  the  town  will  adopt  or  recom- 
mend in  order  more  effectually  to  suppress  Intemperance  and 
immorality  and  their  consecpiences,  one  of  which  is  Pauperism.'" 

Voted  to  choose  a  Committee  of  one  from  each  School  Dis- 
trict, to  meet  the  Selectmen  to  consult  and  determine  on  some 
measure  that  may  be  expedient  to  adopt  for  the  suppression  of 
Intemperance  and  immorality  in  said  town.  This  Committee 
consisted  of  Seth  Davenport,  Seth  Hastings.  Ahaz  Allen,  Moses 
Daniels,  Nahum  Bates,  Asa  Kelly,  Thomas  Taft,  Obadiah  Wood, 
Aaron  Burden,  George  Wall,  Artemas  Thayer,  John  S.  Eddy 
and  Jonathan  M.  Shove.     No  Report  of  this  Committee  is  found. 

Voted  to  raise  $10  to  repair  the  Meeting  House  in  the  2nd. 
Parish. 

Voted  to  choose  a  Committee  to  report  on  a  road  laid  out  by 
the  Selectmen  from  near  Nathan  Very's,  Esq.,  house,  to  the 
road  near  Washington  Hunt's,  and  Caleb  Hayward,  George  Wall 
and  Asa  Kelly  were  chosen. 

Adj.  to  June  2. 

June  2.  At  this  meeting  the  above  Committee  made  a  report 
which  was  accepted,  rejecting  the  road. 

Under  a  new  warrant  June  2. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  2d.  Article,  calling  for  a  division  of  the 
Gth.  School  District,  from  the  warrant. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  remaining  article  in  the  warrant,  which 
was  to  see  if  the  town  would  sell  the  Training  Field,  near  Sam- 
uel Gaskill's. 


516  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1824. 

June  29.  Voted  to  divide  the  Gth.  School  District  into  three 
districts  agreeable  to  the  petition  of  the  residents  there. 

Voted  to  refer  the  road  from  Jesse  Tourtelotte's  to  road  by 
Thomas  Taft's  to  Caleb  Hayward,  Obadiah  Wood  and  George 
Wall,  to  report  at  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting. 

Adj.  to  Sept.  9. 

Sept.  9.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  dividing  the  Gth.  School 
District,  and  then  dissolved  the  meeting. 

Adjournment  from  June  28th  and  June  2. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  2nd.  Article,  "to  divide  the  Gth  School 
District." 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  Tourtelotte  road  as  it  is  now  travelled. 

Sept.  26.  A  new  meeting  was  called  for  Sept.  2G  with  two 
articles,  viz: 

1st.   "  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  be  divided  into  two  separate  towns." 

2d.    "To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  divide  the  6th.  School  District." 

Upon  the  1st.  Article  to  divide  the  town,  it  was  decided  as  fol- 
io #s,  viz:     Yeas  45.     Nays  62. 

Upon  the  2d.  Article,  to  divide  the  district,  it  was  decided  as 
follows,  viz:     Yeas  29.     Nays  43. 

Dec.  5.  Chose  Capt.  Caleb  Thayer,  Johnson  Legg  and  Luke 
Aldrich  2d.,  "  to  look  into  the  situation  of  the  School  Districts 
and  report  at  the  next  town  meeting."' 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  3d.  Article  which  was  as  follows,  viz: 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  allow  Thomas  Taft's  claim,  being  $17.50  being 
for  work  done  on  that  road,  as  he  says,  which  the  town  hired  Jesse  Tour, 
telotte,  Jr.,  to  make  and  paid  him  for  the  same." 


1824.  March  1.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk; 
Chose  Esek  Pitts,  Johnson  Legg,  Col.  Joseph  Ray,  Caleb  Hay- 
ward  and  Aaron  Burden,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treas- 
urer, and  Elbridge  Cass,  Constable;  Dau  Hill,  Collector  and  Con- 
stable, at  $29.00  for  collecting  the  taxes. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges. 

It  seems  that,  at  this  time,  the  school  districts  gave  the  town 
a  great  deal  of  trouble.  We  hear  of  no  report  from  the  com- 
mittee chosen  at  the  last  meeting  to  report  at  this,  and  so  the 
town  voted  to  choose  a  new  committee  "  to  arrange  anew  and 
fix  limits  to  the  several  school  districts." 


1824.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  517 

Nalium  Bates,  Col.  Joseph  Buy,  Ahaz  Allen,  Jabez  Aid  rich 
and  Esek  Pitts  were  chosen  the  committee. 

Richard  George,  Esek  Pitts,  Elijah  Thayer,  Benj.  Davenport 
and  Caleb  Hayward  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  the  sub- 
ject of  buying  or  hiring  a  place  whereon  to  support  the  poor. 

Adj.  to  April  meeting. 

April  5.     Voted  to  raise  $800  for  schooling  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $51.39. 

Voted  to  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the  poor. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven  to  make  said  purchase, 
and  Johnson  Legg,  Esek  Pitts,  Caleb  Hayward,  Richard  George, 
Ahaz  Allen,  Ichabod  Cook  and  Obadiah  Wood  were  chosen  said 
committee. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  second  article,  which  proposed  a  division 
of  the  town. 

Adj.  to  May  meeting. 

April  5.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         His  Ex.  William  Eustis  had      275  votes.     Elected. 
Hon.  Samuel  Lathrop  had  33      " 

"  Amos  Southwick  had  1 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  Marcus  Morton  had  275      " 

Hon.  Richard  Sullivan  had  33      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Edmund  Gushing,  Dr.  Daniel  Thur- 
ber,  Nathaniel  Houghton,  Joseph  Davis  and  John  Brown  had  275  each, 
and  Hon.  Aaron  Tufts,  Benj.  Adams,  Stephen  P.  Gardner,  Nathl.  P.  Den- 
ny and  Joseph  G.  Kendall  had  33  each. 

May  3.     Adjourned  from  April  meeting. 

Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  $1500  to  defray  town  charges. 

Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  Hon.  Jonathan 
Russell,  Warren  Rawson,  Esq. 

June  28.     Adjourned  from  March  meeting. 

Voted  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  north  branch  of  the  Black- 
stone  River  at  the  Mills,  and  Esek  Pitts  was  chosen  to  superin- 
tend its  erection. 

Johnson  Legg  was  chosen  agent  to  prosecute  or  defend  suits 
brought  by  or  against  the  town. 

Among  the  records  of  the  doings  of  the  town  for  this  year  will 
be  found  the  report  of  a  committee,  which  was  accepted,  fixing 
the  boundaries   of   the  highway  districts,   sixteen   in   number. 


518  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1824. 

The  report  is  signed  by  Joseph  Adams,  Johnson  Legg  and  Jabez 
Aldrich. 

At  the  same  place  may  be  found  the  report  of  a  committee, 
which  was  also  accepted,  fixing  the  boundaries  of  the  school  dis- 
tricts, fourteen  in  number.  This  report  is  signed  by  Nairn  m 
Bates,  Ahaz  Allen,  Jabez  Aldrich,  Joseph  Ray  and  Esek  Pitts. 

Nov.  1.  For  Representative  to  Congress — Hon.  Jonas  Sibley  had  88  votes. 
Sumner  Bastow  had  52  votes.  John  Davis  had  48  votes.  Richard  George 
had  1  vote. 

FOR   ELECTORS   OF   PRESIDENT   AND   VICE   PRESIDENT. 

At  large — Hon.  William  Gray  had 170  votes. 

"         Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  had 170 

"         Hon.  William  Baylies  had 42 

Hon.  William had 42      " 

Suffolk  District, Hon.  Thomas  L.  Winthrop  had 170      " 

Hon.  Samuel  Hubbard  had 42      " 

Essex  South  District Hon.  Nathaniel  Silsby  had 170 

Hon.  William  Sutton  had 42 

Essex  North  District  Dr.  Joseph  Kittredge  had 170 

David  Howe,  Esq.,  had 42 

Norfolk  District Hon.  John  Endicott  had 170      " 

Hon.  Benj.  Reynolds  had 42 

Plymouth  District Hon.  Thomas  Weston  had 170 

Benj.  Hobart,  Esq.,  had 42      " 

Worcester  North  District.  .Edmund  Cushing,  Esq.,  had 170 

Hon.  Solomon  Strong  had 42 

Worcester  South  District.  ..Gen.  Jonathan  Davis  had .  .170 

Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had 42      " 

Bristol  District Cornelius  Grinned,  Esq.,  had 170 

Hon.  John  M.  Williams  had 42      " 

Middlesex  District Augustus  Tower,  Esq.,  had  170      " 

Hon.  Edmund  Foster  had 42 

Barnstable  District Hezekiah  Barnard  had 170      " 

Nymphas  Marston,  Esq.,  had 42 

Berkshire  District Hon.  William  Walker  had 212      " 

Franklin  District Oliver  Smith  had 170      " 

Gen.  Samuel  Porter  had 42 

Hampden  District Enos  Foot,  Esq.,  had .170 

Dr.  Timothy  Horton  had 42      " 

Voted  that  it  is  inexpedient  that  a  road  should  belaid  through 
the  town,  beginning  near  the  house  of  Col.  Ezekiel  Preston,  in 
Douglass,  and  leading  to  Peter  Cook's  house,  in  Milford. 


1825.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENUON.  519 

Chose  "Caleb  Hayward  iigent  to  oppose  its  location.  The  road 
was  not  located. 

Voted  to  raise  $2800  by  a  loan,  provided  it  can  be  hired  for 
five  per  cent,  or  under,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  for  a  farm 
whereon  to  support  the  poor. 

Caleb  Hayward  was  chosen  as  agent  to  hire  the  money  in  be- 
half of  the  town  and  take  a  deed  of  the  farm. 

The  record  is  silent  as  to  where  the  proposed  farm  was;  but, 
as  this  vote  (as  we  shall  see)  was  soon  reconsidered,  it  is  of  little 
consequence  to  be  informed  of  its  location. 

Dec.  22.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  hire  12800  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  for  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the  poor. 

Johnson  Legg  and  Caleb  Hayward,  for  Mendon,  and  Ezra 
Nelson  and  Elijah  Warren,  for  Upton,  perambulated  and  renew- 
ed the  bounds  of  the  line  between  the  two  towns,  Oct  4. 


1825.  No  choice  for  Representative  in  Congress  having  been 
made  at  the  November  meeting,  another  trial  was  had  Jan.  3, 
and  resulted  as  follows,  viz: 

Hon.  Jonas  Sibley  had  68  votes.  John  Davis,  Esq.,  had  25  votes.  Sum- 
ner Bastow,  Esq.,  had  3  votes.     Bezaleel  Taft,  Esq.,  had  3  votes. 

March  7.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  Johnson 
Legg,  Elijah  Thayer,  Joseph  Ray,  Benj.  Davenport  and  George 
Wall,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and  Nathan 
Very,  Jr.,  Constable  and  Collector,  and  to  collect  the  taxes  for 
$25.50. 

In  a  new  warrant  for  a  meeting  this  clay, 

The  second  article  was,  "  to  see  if  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  will  request  the  Court  of  Sessions  to  cause  a  Ma})  of  the 
County  of  Worcester  from  actual  survey  to  be  made  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  County,  on  which  the  County  and  Turnpike  Roads 
shall  be  accurately  marked  together  with  such  other  things  as 
said  Court  shall  judge  necessary." 

Upon  this  it  was  voted  not  to  request  the  Court  of  Sessions  to 
make  a  map  of  the  County  of  Worcester. 

Voted  not  to  accept  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  from 
near  the  house  occupied  by  Capt.  William  Green,  to  near  the 
house  lately  owned  and  occupied  by  Henry  Thayer,  deceased. 


520  ANNALS    OF    MBNDON.  [1825. 

April  4.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Hon.  Levi  Lincoln        had  72  votes.     Elected. 

"  Hon.  Marcus  Morton       "    13       " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  Marcus  Morton       "70 
"  "  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  "    10 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Hon.  Nathl.  P.  Denny  had  32  votes. 
Joseph  G.  Kendall  53.  Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr.,  39.  Warren  Rawson  29. 
Nathl.  Houghton  51.  William  Crawford  and  William  Eaton  16  each. 
Richard  George  5.  Jonas  Sihley  8.  Sumner  Bastow  3.  Elijah  Thayer, 
John  Capron,  Peter  Farnam  and  Joseph  Davis  6  each.  Pearley  Hunt  8. 
Daniel  Thurber  10  and  John  Brown  1. 

No  election  resulted  from  the  last  ballot  for  Eepresentative  in 
Congress,  and  another  trial  was  made  this  day  as  follows,  viz: 

For  Representative  in  Congress — Hon.  Jonas  Sibley  had  93  votes.  John 
Davis  had  11  votes.     Sumner  Bastow  had  34  votes. 

Voted  to  accept  the  list  of  jurors  containing  fifty-six  names. 

May  10.  Esek  Pitts  chosen  Eepresentative  to  the  General 
Court. 

Chose  Hon.  Jonathan  Russell,  Hon.  Joseph  Rawson,  Asa  Kel- 
ley,  William  S.  Hastings  and  Ahaz  Allen,  Esqrs.,  to  view  the  con- 
templated new  road  from  Uxbridge  line,  near  Skull  Rock  (so  call- 
ed) to  Blackstone  Factory,  also  the  old  road  from  the  mills  (now 
Millville,  in  Blackstone,)  to  said  factory  and  report  whether  in 
their  opinion  it  is  expedient  to  be  built;  also  to  inquire  what  offer 
any  person  or  persons  may  make  for  defraying  the  expense  of 
constructing  said  road  and  report  at  the  next  meeting. 

May  16.  Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen 
May  10th,  provided  nothing  in  said  report  shall  be  construed  to 
oblige  the  town  to  be  at  any  extra  expense  for  repairing  the  old 
road  or  making  any  new  road  unless  said  new  contemplated  road 
be  wholly  extinguished. 

Chose  Warren  Rawson,  Esq.,  as  agent  to  oppose  the  contem- 
plated new  road   "in  every  stage  of  it." 

June  8.  Voted  that  Warren  Rawson,  as  agent  to  oppose  the 
location  of  the  road  from  Skull  Rock,  at  Uxbridge  line,  to  Black- 
stone Factory,  be  authorized  to  state,  to  the  locating  committee 
of  the  said  road,  that  Darling  Hill  shall  be  reduced  to  the  same 
grade  as  the  Southwick  Hill. 

Aug.  1.     No  Representative  in  Congress  for  the  South  Wor- 


1825.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  521 

cester  District,  being  yet  chosen,  a   new  election  was   held  this 
day,  when 

Hon.  Jonas  Sibley  had  7-t  votes.     John  Davis,  Esq.,  had  30  votes. 

Sept.  \2.  Voted  to  chouse  a  committee  of  ten  persons,  live 
from  each  parish,  to  take  into  consideration  and  consult  on 
measures  relative  to  a  division  of  the  town  and  make  report  at 
the  next  town  meeting. 

For  the  North  Parish  were  chosen  Seth  Hastings,  Johnson 
Legg,  Richard  George.  Benjamin  Davenport  and  William  S. 
Hastings. 

For  the  .South  Parish.  Ichabod  Cook.  Asa  Keller.  Elijah 
Thayer,  Nathan  Very  and  Esek  Pitts. 

Voted  to  make  a  survey  of  the  town  together  with  a  survey 
of  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  parishes,  and  William  S. 
Hastings  and  Elijah  Thayer  were  chosen  a  committee  for  that 
purpose. 

Oct.  3.  Voted  to  remonstrate  against  the  petition  for  a  divis- 
ion of  the  town;  and  that  the  number  of  votes  in  favor  and 
against  such  remonstrance  be  recorded. 

Upon  taking  the  vote  it  was  found  that  ninety  (U0)  were  found 
in  favor  and  forty  (40)  against  the  remonstrance. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  to  draft  a  remonstrance 
against  said  petition  (signed  by  Seth  Hastings  and  others)  and 
that  the  chairman  of  said  committee  be  agent  for  the  town  to 
present  said  remonstrance,  to  oppose  said  division  and  to  appear 
before  any  committee  that  is  or  may  be  appointed  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  this  Commonwealth  respecting  a  division  of  the  town 
of  Mendon. 

Hon.  Jonathan  Russell,  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  and  Elijah  Thay- 
er, Esq.,  were  chosen  as  the  committee. 

Oct.  17.-  Voted  not  to  raise  any  money  to  build  the  new  road 
lately  laid  out  from  TJxbridge  line,  near  Skull  Rock  to  Black- 
stone  Factory. 

Nov.  28.  Voted  not  to  choose  a  committee  to  impure  into  the 
inconveniences,  complained  of  by  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants, 
in  attending  town  meetings  and  transacting  the  municipal  affairs 
of  the  town. 

Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  second  article  in  the  war- 


522  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1825. 

mnt  which  was,  "  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  and  Assessors  to 
make  out  a  list  of  the  legal  voters  in  both  or  either  of  the  Par- 
ishes, with  the  valuation  of  taxable  property  set  against  each 
name,  and  to  complete  the  list  ten  days,  at  least,  before  the  first 
Wednesday  in  Jan.  next."' 

A  motion  to  adjourn  was  now  made  and  defeated. 

Voted  that  the  town  will  not  take  any  further  measures  to  op- 
pose the  incorporation  of  a  new  town  within  the  limits  of  the 
North  Parish  in  said  town,  but  will  cease  to  oppose  the  petition 
now  pending  before  the  Legislature  praying  for  such  incorpora- 
tion, and  direct  the  agents  and  committees  of  the  town  neither  to 
remonstrate  against  said  petition,  nor  to  appear  in  behalf  of  said 
town  in  opposition  to  said  petition,  nor  to  take  any  further  meas- 
ures in  relation  thereto. 

Voted  not  to  record  the  number  of  votes  that  were  given  on 
the  last  above  vote. 

Dec.  !).  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  inconveniences  complained  of  by  a  portion  of  the  inhab- 
itants in  regard  to  the  attendance  upon  town  meetings  and  the 
transaction  of  municipal  business,  and  to  report  at  the  next 
town  meeting. 

The  committee  chosen  were  Joseph  Adams,  Jonathan  Russell, 
Ahaz  Allen,  Moses  Daniels,  David  Thurber,  Asa  Kelley,  Len- 
-doll  Staples,  Obadiah  Wood,  Aaron  Burden,  Esek  Pitts,  Nathan 
Very,  Washington  Hunt,  Jonathan  M.  Shove  and  James  S. 
Warner. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  and  Assessors  make  out  and  deliver 
to  the  Clerk  of  said  town  a  list  of  all  the  legal  voters  in  the 
town  with  the  valuation  of  each  person's  estate  against  his  name, 
ten  days  before  the  first  Wednesday  in  January  next. 

Voted  unanimously  to  choose  two  agents  to  oppose  the  divis- 
ion of  the  town  of  Mendon  or  the  incorporation  of  a  new  town 
within  the  territorial  limits  of  said  town,  likewise  to  oppose  the 
petition  now  pending  in  the  General  Court  of  this  Common- 
wealth for  a  division  of  this  town,  and  Hon.  Jonathan  Russell 
and  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  were  chosen  agents. 

Dec.  15.  The  committee  heretofore  chosen  made  a  report, 
but  as  the  same  was  not  recorded  and  the  copy  said  to  have  been 
placed  on  file,  cannot  be  found,  its  purport  cannot  be  now  ascer- 


1 8 2 ( ) .  |  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  523 

tained.  That  it  was  in  opposition  to  a  division  of  the  town  is 
quite  certain. 

Voted  to  accept  the  first  article  in  said  report  by  ls.'J  yeas  to 
78  nays. 

Voted  to  accept  the  second  article  in  said  report. 

Voted  to  accept  all  the  report. 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 


1826.  March  (3th.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk; 
George  Wall,  Benj.  Davenport,  Joseph  Ray,  Arnold  Taft  and 
-Tared  Benson,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer,  and 
James  A.  Paine,  Constable  and  Collector,  and  to  be  paid  $30.00 
for  the  collection  of  the  taxes. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  schooling  the  present  year. 

Voted  that  Washington  Hunt  be  an  agent  to  call  on  the  Black- 
stone  Canal  Company  to  make  good  the  damage  done  to  the  road 
between  Fox  Brook  and  Rhode  Island  line. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  exhibit  at  the  May  meeting  a  de- 
tailed account  of  the  money  expended  the  preceding  year,  spec- 
ifying what  each  charge  was  for. 

April  3.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Levi  Lincoln  had  34  votes.     Elected. 

Marcus  Morton  "     78      " 

"  "  Samuel  Hubbard  "     11      " 

Aaron  Tufts  "       1       " 

For  Lt.  Governor  Thomas  L.  Winthrop   "     14      " 
Nathan  Willis  "61      " 

Samuel  Hoar,  Jr  "     15      " 

Elijah  H.  Mills  "       3      " 

William  Baylies,  Jonathan  Russell,  William  Craw- 
ford, Jr.,  and  Daniel  Thurber  had  2  votes  each,  and 
Alden  Bradford,    Aaron  Tafts,    Jonas    Sibley    and 
Levi  Lincoln  had  1  vote  each. 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Jonas  Sibley  had  77  votes.     Daniel  Thur- 
ber 72.     William  Eaton  83.     Nathl.  Houghton  78.     And  William  Crawford 
had  46  votes.     Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr.,  23.     Joseph  G.  Kendall  28  and  Josiah 
Howe  61.     N.  B.  Denny  9.     Benj.  Davenport  and  Esek  Pitts  8  each.    Jon- 
athan Wheeler  7.     Pearley  Hunt  4.     John  Capron  3  and  four  others  had  1 
each. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  to  repair  the  highways  and  bridges. 


524  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1826. 

Voted  not  to  dismiss  the  agent  to  oppose  the  location  of  a  road 
from  Uxbridge  line  to  Blackstone  Factory. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  sixteenth  article  in  the  warrant,  which 
was,  "  to  see  how  much  money  the  town  would  raise  to  build  the 
road  from  Uxbridge  to  Blackstone  Factory."' 

Adj.  to  May  meeting. 

May  1.     A7oted  to  raise  #3000  to  defray  town  charges  this  year. 

Chose  for  Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Esek  Pitts,  Esq.,  Dr.  Daniel 
Thurber. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  five  persons  to  attend  to  the 
duties  required  by  a  late  school  law  passed  by  the  Legislature  of 
this  Commonwealth,  and  the  following  persons  were  chosen  as 
said  committee,  viz:  Caleb  Hay  ward,  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber, 
George  Wall,  Dr.  Abel  Wilder  and  Dan  Hill. 

May  27.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  allow  and 
settle  all  claims  against  the  town  upon  the  principles  of  justice, 
equity  and  law. 

Voted  that  the  town  continue  to  oppose  a  division  of  said 
town,  and  that  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Russell,  their  agent,  take  the 
necessary  and  proper  measures  to  that  effect. 

Voted  that  the  town's  two  Representatives  use  all  honorable 
means  to  oppose  the  division  of  said  town. 

The  history  of  this  attempted  division  of  the  town  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

June  30,  1825.  Seth  Hastings  and  118  others,  petitioned  the 
General  Court  for  the  incorporation  of  a  new  town  to  include  the 
first  or  north  parish  in  Mendon. 

On  the  10th,  20th  and  21st  of  October,  1825,  a  hearing  was  had 
before  a  special  committee  who  had  visited  Mendon  and  viewed 
the  premises.  This  committee  reported  to  the  Committee  on 
Towns  Feb.  7,  1826,  with  the  recommendation  that  the  prayer 
of  the  petition  should  be  granted. 

March  2.  The  petition  was  referred  to  the  next  General 
( !ourt. 

Dec.  17,  1825.  Joseph  Adams  and  61  others  remonstrated 
against  granting  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners. 

Dec.  20.  James  S.  Warner  and  72  others  and  Rufus  Aldrich 
and  72  others  also  remonstrated. 


1827-)  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  525 

Jan.  9,  1820.  Jesse  Tourtelotte  and  30  others  remonstrated 
as  "centre  inhabitants." 

The  subject  of  a  division  of  the  town  was.  at  this  time  brought 
to  n  close,  as  will  appear  by  the  following  record: 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 

In  Senate,  June  Session,  1826. 
Upon  the  suggestion  of  the  Committee  on  Towns  that  the  Petition  of 
Beth  Hastings  and  others  for  a  new  town,  cannot  be  found,  it  was 

Ordered,  that  the  Committee  have  further  time  allowed  them  until  the 
next  Session  of  the  Legislature  to  report  on  the  subject  matter  of  said  Pe- 
tition and  that  the  Petitioners  have  leave  to  file  a  new  Petition,  in  the  mean 
time. 

Attest:        Pail  Willard. 

Tradition  affirms  that  this  petition  was  stolen,  but  whether 
stolen  or  not,  it  was  not  found,  nor  did  the  petitioners  file  a  new 
one,  and  so  the  subject  of  a  division  of  the  town  was  postponed 
for  twenty  years. 

No  new  petition  was  filed;  but  as  opportunity  had  been 
granted  to  do  so,  should  the  petitioners  see  fit,  the  subject  was 
not  wholly  put  at  rest  until  the  beginning  of  the  coming  year, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  proceedings. 


1827.  Jan.  12.  A  town  meeting  was  called  "To  see  if  the 
town  will  agree  upon  any  and,  if  any,  what  measures,  respecting 
a  division  of  the  town  and  the  Petition  therefor,  with  a  view  of 
saving  any  further  unnecessary  expense  in  relation  to  that  sub- 
ject," 

Hon.  Jonathan  Russell  was  chosen  Moderator. 

A  motion  to  adjourn  without  day  was  then  made  and  carried, 
by  a  vote  of  91  to  22, 

Another  meeting  was  immediately  called,  "  To  see  if  the  town 
will  adopt  any  further  measures  in  relation  to  the  proposed  di- 
vision of  the  town  or  give  any  instructions  to  their  Agent  or 
Representatives  respecting  the  Petition  therefor,  now  pending 
before  the  Legislature." 

Jan.  20.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day  Mr.  Nathan  Tyler 
submitted  the  following  motion:  "'That  a  Committee,  consist- 
ing of  an  equal  number  from  each  Parish  be  raised  to  take  into 


526  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1827. 

consideration  the  article  above  ({noted  and  report  at  an  adjourned 
meeting."' 

After  some  discussion,  Col.  Warren  Rawson  offered  the  follow- 
ing motion,  as  a  substitute:  '"'Inasmuch  as  the  town,  at  a  legal 
meeting  held  in  June  last,  by  their  vote,  directed  that  their 
Agents  and  Representatives  should  take  the  necessary  and  pro- 
per measures  to  oppose  a  division  of  the  town,  therefore  voted 
that  it  is  unnecessary,  at  this  meeting,  to  take  any  further  vote 
on  the  subject." 

The  motion  to  substitute  was  carried,  and  with  it  the  agita- 
tion on  the  subject  of  dividing  the  town  at  this  timeAvas  brought 
to  a  close. 

March  5.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  George 
Wall,  Amariah  Taft.  Joseph  Ray,  Arnold  Taft  and  Jared  Ben- 
son, Selectmen;  Aaron  Burden,  Constable;  Dr.  Abel  Wilder, 
Collector,  and  to  be  paid  $28.00  for  collecting  the  taxes,  and 
Caleb  Hayward,  Dr.  Abel  Wilder  and  Samuel  Allen  were  chosen 
School  Committee. 

Notices  for  town  meeting  were  directed  to  be  posted  at  the 
store  of  George  Wall,  at  the  store  in  Blackstone  village  and  at 
George  Bates'  store. 

April  2.  .STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Hod.  Marcus  Morton,  had  67  votes. 

"  "  His  Ex.  Levi  Lincoln,  "    43      "        Elected. 

"  "  Hon.  Harrison  Gray  Otis  "      9 

Mr.  Joseph  B.  Cook,  "      1      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Winthrop,     "    50 

"  Mr.  Collins  Capron,  "       1      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillor.? — Jonas  Sibley  had  84  votes.  Edmund 
Cashing  77.  Pliny  Merrick  82.  Joseph  Davis  122.  Aaron  Brooks,  Jr.. 
77.  Aaron  Tufts  42.  Jos.  G.  Kendall  44.  Joseph  Bowman  43.  John  W. 
Lincoln  42.  And  Jonas  Kendall,  Wm.  Eaton,  Nathl.  P.  Denny,  Richard 
George,  Rejoice  Newton,  Lewis  Bigelow  and  Benj.  Adams  had  one  vote 
each. 

May  7.     Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  schooling. 
Voted  to  raise  $2000  to  defray  town  charges. 
Voted  not  to  send  any  Representatives. 
Voted  to  dissolve  the  warrant. 
Voted  to  reconsider  the  last  vote. 
Voted  to  reconsider  the  first  vote. 
Voted  to  send  three  Representatives. 


182 7.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  527 

Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  was  chosen  a  Representative. 
Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  send  three  Representatives,  so 
far  as  that  it  shall  he  understood  that  we  send  hut  one. 

Voted  to  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the  poor  of  said 

toWll. 

Richard  George,  Ahaz  Allen.  George  Wall,  Washington  Hind 
and  Obadiah  Wood  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  look  out  said 
Farm  and  report  at  the  next  meeting." 

Warren  Rawson,  Esek  Pitts  and  Obadiah  Wood  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  oppose  the  location  of  a  road  from  Horatio  .Stone's 
Inn  to  John  Thompson's,  near  the  Five  Corners. 

June  30.  Chose  F^sek  Pitts  first  committeman  on  the  com- 
mittee to  purchase  a  poor  farm,  in  place  of  Richard  George,  who 
resigned. 

Ausr.  25.     First  choice  of  Prudential  School  Committees,  viz: 


Is 

t  District, 

Benj.  Davenport, 

8 

District, 

Simon  Thornton, 

2, 

do. 

Adam  Wheelock, 

9. 

do. 

Aaron  Burden, 

3. 

do. 

Sumner  Ballou, 

10. 

do. 

Edwin  D.  Sergent. 

4. 

do. 

John  Kelley, 

11. 

do. 

Artemas  Thayer, 

5. 

do. 

Nalmm  Bates, 

12. 

do. 

George  Hill, 

6. 

do. 

Samud  Cook, 

13. 

do. 

Joseph  B.  Cook, 

i . 

do. 

Benoni  Staples, 

14. 

do. 

James  S.  Warner. 

Voted  to  accept  the  location  of  a  road  laid  from  near  Jediah 
Wilson's  to  Rhode  Island  line  providing  the  whole  cost  shall  not 
exceed  $100.00. 

Voted  to  accept  the  location  of  a  road  laid  out  from  Benj. 
Pickering's  to  George  Gaskill's,  provided  the  whole  cost  does  not 
exceed  #450.00. 

Oct.  G.  Voted  to  purchase  the  farm  of  Anson  Aldrich  where- 
on to  support  the  poor,  provided  it  shall  not  cost  more  than 
#24.00  per  acre. 

Voted  to  hire  the  money  to  pay  for  said  farm. 

Voted  that  Esek  Pitts.  Ahaz  Allen,  George  Wall.  Washington 
Hunt  and  Obadiah  Wood  he  a  committee  to  buy  said  farm  and 
hire  the  money  to  pay  for  the  same. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  Caleb  Hay  ward  offered  the 
following  protest  to  the  Town  Clerk,  viz: 

•'  In  behalf  of  my  absent  fellow  citizens  and  myself,  I  do  hereby  solemn- 
ly protest  against  the  proceedings  of  a  town  meeting  of  the  town  holden 


528  ANNALS    OF    MEN DON.  [1828. 

by  adjournment  this  day  and  of  all  the  acts  and  proceedings  of  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  at  said  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  purchase  on 
behalf  of  the  town  of  the  Farm  belonging  to  Anson  Aldrich,  of  said  Men- 
don,  and  of  hiring  the  money  on  behalf  of  said  town  for  the  payment  of 
the  purchase  money  of  said  Farm. 

Because  said  meeting  was  very  small,  containing  but  about  forty-five 
voters  out  of  a  number  of  more  than  four  hundred  who  have  a  legal  right 
to  vote  in  our  town  meetings. 

Because  after  many  efforts  to  procure  an  adjournment  of  said  meeting, 
upon  the  ground  of  being  so  thin  and  of  giving  all  the  voters  of  the  town 
an  opportunity  to  better  understand  and  to  act  upon  the  important  subject, 
the  most  important  in  a  pecuniary  view,  that  was  ever  agitated  in  this 
town,  the  vote  in  favor  of  purchasing,  &c,  by  the  declaration  of  the  Mod- 
erator stood  twenty-two  in  favor  and  fifteen  against. 

And  because  the  said  proceedings  were  ex-parte,  unjust  and  oppressive. 
To  the  Town  Clerk  of  the  Town  of  Mendon. 

Caleb  Hayward." 

Oct.  20.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  votes  passed  at  the  last  town 
meeting  respecting  purchasing  Anson  Aldrich's  farm  and  hiring 
money  for  said  purchase. 

Voted  that  the  authority  of  the  committee  chosen  at  the  last 
town  meeting  be  revoked  and  that  said  committee  be  discharged 
from  any  further  duties. 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 


1828.  Feb.  9.  Benj.  Davenport,  George  Wall  and  Elijah 
Thayer  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
dividing  the  Sixth  School  District,  and  report  at  the  next  town 
meeting. 

March  3.  Upon  the  report  of  the  above  committee  the  sixth 
district,  after  many  trials,  was  finally  divided. 

Under  an  adjournment  from  Feb.  9  ultimo, 

Voted  that  the  deed  of  the  Anson  Aldrich  farm  be  produced 
in  town  meeting.     (Deed  not  produced.) 

Voted  not  to  keep  the  Anson  Aldrich  farm. 

Voted  that  Amariah  Taft  be  and  is  hereby  appointed  agent 
for  the  town  of  Mendon  to  deliver  to  Anson  Aldrich  aforesaid 
the  deed  said  Anson  has  made  to  said  town  of  Mendon  of  the 
farm  upon  which  he  now  resides,  situated  in  said  Mendon,  if 
.said  deed  can  be  obtained  by  said  agent  and  to  receive  of  said 


1828.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  529 

Anson  Aldrich  the  note  or  notes  made  to  him  by  Esek  Pitts, 
Esq.,  and  others,  in  behalf  of  said  town,  the  same  being  made 
and  given  to  the  said  Anson  for  the  consideration  named  in  said 
deed'. 

And  the  said  agent  is  also  hereby  fully  authorized  and  empow- 
ered in  the  name  and  on  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Meiidon,  to  make,  execute  and  deliver  to  the  said  Anson 
Aldrich,  upon  the  delivery  to  said  agent  said  note  or  notes,  a 
deed  of  release  and  quit-claim,  of  all  the  right,  title,  interest  and 
estate  which  the  said  inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Mendon  now 
have  or  ever  had  to  the  said  Anson  Aldrich's  farm  aforesaid  in  and 
by  virtue  of  bis  deed  to  said  inhabitants  as  aforesaid;  provided 
nevertheless  that  the  said  Anson  Aldrich  shall  pay  the  said  com- 
mittee for  their  services  about  said  purchase,  and  also  for  survey- 
ing said  farm,  and  all  the  necessary  expense  that  the  town  has 
been  put  to  relative  thereto,  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars. 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 

March  3.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  Aaron 
Burden,  Benj.  Davenport,  Joseph  Ray,  Amariah  Taft  and 
Joseph  B.  Cook,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer; 
Willard  Wilson,  Constable  and  Collector,  and  Dr.  Abel  Wilder, 
Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf  and  Dan  Hill,  School  Committee. 

April  7.     Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1500  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  (in  pursuance  of  a  recent  law)  that  the  inhabitants  of 
tin's  town  may  take  pickerel  out  of  the  ponds  and  rivers  in  said 
town. 

Voted  that  all  taxes  paid  before  the  first  day  of  January  next 
shall  be  entitled  to  a  discount  of  five  per  cent,  and  for  the  col- 
lection of  all  taxes  not  paid  by  that  time,  the  Collector  shall  re- 
ceive a  commission  of  four  per  cent.;  and  Willard  Wilson,  the 
Collector,  agreed  to  these  terms. 

Voted  to  accept  a  piece  of  road  between  Lendol  Staples'  and 
Dam  Swamp  bridge,  provided  the  petitioners  build  the  road 
and  pay  land  damages,  for  the  sum  of  $200. 

Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  laid  out  from  near  Nathan  Very's 
house  to  near  John  Mann's  house  provided  the  petitioners  build 
the  road  and  pay  all  land  damages  for  the  sum  of  $300. 

07 


530  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1828. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Levi  Lincoln  had  89  votes.     Elected. 

Marcus  Morton  "21 

"  "  Harrison  Gray  Otis       "     2 

Thomas  L.  Winthrop    "2      " 
"  "  Samuel  Hoar,  Jr.  "1 

For  Lt.  Governor,     Thomas  L.  Winthrop  "  89 

Nathan  Willis,  "21      " 

Aaron  Tufts,  "1      " 

William  C.  Jarvis,        "     1 
James  Draper,  "     1 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Joseph  Davis  had  29  votes.  Joseph  Bow- 
man 5.  Joseph  Estarbrook  83.  William  S.  Hastings  102.  Edmund  Gush- 
ing 114.  Jonas  Sibley  and  John  Brown  18  each.  Warren  Rawson  19. 
Samuel  Mixter  98.  John  W.  Lincoln  86.  Josiah  Howe  12.  Charles  Allen 
8.     Silas  Holmau  13  and  Joseph  Willard  1. 

In  the  warrant  for  the  State  Election  was  also  an  article  to  see 
and  "  ascertain  the  sense  of  the  town  "  whether  the  towns  of 
Royalston,  Winchendon,  Leominster.  Lunenburg,  Princeton, 
Hubbardston,  Phillipston,  Lancaster,  Bolton  and  Harvard  in  the 
County  of  Worcester,  and  Groton,  Shirley,  Pepperill,  Ashby  and 
Townsend  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  should  be  made  a  new 
county,  as  prayed  for  in  the  petition  of  Ivers  Jewett  and  others, 
and  the  vote  was  directed  to  be  taken  by  yeas  and  nays. 

The  records  furnish  no  evidence  that  this  article  was  taken 
into  consideration  by  the  town.  Considering  its  importance  it 
seems  hardly  probable  that  it  should  lie  overlooked.  Possibly, 
if  any  vote  was  passed  it  might  have  been  unintentionally  left 
out  when  the  Clerk  made  up  his  record. 

May  5.  The  Prudential  School  Committees  were  again  chosen 
by  the  town. 

Voted  not  to  send  any  Representative  the  present  year,  but  the 
vote  was  immediately  reconsidered  and  William  S.  Hastings  was 
chosen  Representative. 

Voted  that  the  territory  east  of  the  Blackstone  bridge  and  be- 
tween the  Rhode  Island  line  and  the  Blackstone  River  together 
with  ten  acres  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  be  a  new  School  Dis- 
trict. 

Voted  to  oppose  the  contemplated  road  about  to  be  laid  out 
from  near  Bezaleel  Taft's  house,  in  Uxbridge,  to  the  Rhode 
Island  line,  near  the  factory  of  W.  &  1).  D.  Fariium,  and  that 


1828.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  531 

the  Selectmen  be  constituted  agents  for  this  purpose.  This  lo- 
cation has,  once  before,  been  before  the  town  and  was  then 
known  as  the  Skull  Rock  route. 

Voted  that  the  Highway  Surveyors  exhibit  their  bills  to  the 
Selectmen  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  October  next,  and  in  de- 
fault thereof  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  20s. 

Jared  Benson,  Esek  Pitts,  Nahum  Bates,  Benjamin  Daven- 
port and  Abel  Wilder  were  chosen  a  committee  to  report  whether 
any  alteration  in  the  mode  of  dividing  the  school  money  is  ex- 
pedient. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  entitled  to  the  same  pay 
that  the  Selectmen  have  for  their  services  and  all  other  commit- 
tees to  have  nothing. 

Nov.  3. 

VOTE    FOR   ELECTORS    OF    PRESIDENT    AND    VICE    PRESIDENT. 

At  large— Hon  Thomas  L.  Winthrop,  of  Boston,  had 104  votes. 

Hon.  Samuel  Lathrop,  of  West  Springfield,  had 104     " 

Hon.  Nathan  Willis,  of  Berkshire,  had 72     " 

"  Hon.  David  Henshaw,  of  Suffolk,  had 72     " 

o  «  n  t>-  u-  *      i  Hon.  Jesse   Putnam,  Boston,  had 104     " 

Suffolk  District.  .-    tj  t    1       v-     c-  "D      *  r~o      " 

/  Hon  John  K.  Simpson,  Boston ra 

Essex  South  Dis-  \  Hon.  Stephen  White,  Salem 104  " 

trict "/  Col.  Josiah  Newhall,  Lynnfleld 92  " 

Essex  North  Dis-  j  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett,  Haverhill 104  " 

trict I  John  Russ,  Esq ,  Methuen 72  " 

Middlesex  Dis-      (Hon.  Nathan  Chandler,  Lexington 104  " 

trict /  Hon.  William  Austin,  Charlestown 72  " 

Worcester  South  \  Gen.  Jonathan  Davis,  Oxford 104  " 

District J  Hon.  Jonas  Sibley,  Sutton 72  " 

Worcester  North  (  Hon.  Silas  Holman,  Boston 104  " 

District. .    (  William  Willard,  Esq.,  Lancaster 72  " 

v       i  r     tv  *  •  *  (  Col.  Eliel  Gilbert,  Greenfield 104     '■' 

rranklin  District  -   T  ,      ^.            -^     '    r,  ,  -.„     ,« 

(  John  Drury,  Esq.,  Coleraine 72 

Hampden  Dis-      (  Hon.  Joshua  Frost,  Springfield 104  " 

trict i  Gen.  Joseph  M.  Forward,  Southwick 72  " 

Berkshire  Dis-      (  Samuel  Jones,  Esq.,  Stockbridge 104  " 

trict  (  Hon.  Phineas  Allen,  Pittsfield 72  " 

at    t  ii   n'  (  ■  .   I  Hon.  Edward  H.  Robbius,  Milton 104     " 

JNoitolk  District.  •  n        -p,                a              t>      i  ^o     <• 

I  Hon.  Ebenezer  Beaver,  Roxbury i2 

Plymouth  Dis-      \  Hon.  Seth  Sprague,  Duxbury 104     " 

trict I  Hon.  Peter  H.  Pierce.  Middleborough 72     " 

B,.;  *  i  tv  *  -„f      \  Hon.  Oliver  Starkweather,  Pawtucket 104     " 

Bristol  D  strict.  .-  T,,.,      ,-.         ..    -^         A  .., \            ,  „.-, 

(  Ehhu  Daggett,  Esq.,  Attleborough 72 

Barnstable     Dis-  <  Hon.  Braddock  Dimmick,  Falmouth 104     " 

trict j  John  P.  Norton,  Tisbury 72     " 


532  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1828. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  division 
of  the  school  money,  but  of  which  there  is  no  record. 

Representative  in  Congress — Hon.  John  Davis  had  104  votes..  Hon.  Jonas 
Sibley  had  53  votes. 

Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  to  Horatio  Stone's  Inn  and  then 
dissolved. 

Doc.  9.  Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  laid  out  from  Jillson  Dar- 
ling's to  the  road  leading  from  Millville  to  Blackstone. 

Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  laid  out  from  near  George  Graskill's 
house  to  the  road  from  Blackstone  to  Woonsocket,  at  the  follow- 
ing cost,  viz: 

To  Ariel  Thayer  as  land  damage  $40.00 

'•   George  Gaskill     "  "        12.00 

"   Peter  Gaskill        "  "        200.00 

Amount  of  damages $252 .  00 

"   Making  the  road 100.00 

Total  cost  of  road $352.00 

The  owners  of  land  having  signified  their  satisfaction  for  the 
damages  above  awarded,  Capt.  Aaron  Bunion  was  chosen  agent 
to  superintend  the  making  of  the  road. 

Taxes  abated  or  foregone  this  year  to  the  amount  of  $127.86. 

THE    NORTH    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

In  1828  two  members  of  the  First  Church  in  Mendon,  three 
members  of  the  Second  Church  in  Mendon,  together  with  seven 
others,  members  of  other  churches,  organized  themselves  into  a 
church  by  the  name  of  the  North  Congregational  Church  in 
Mendon. 

Before  this  they,  with  others,  not  members  of  churches,  had, 
for  some  time,  held  meetings  and  Rev.  Thomas  Riggs  had  been 
employed  as  their  spiritual  teacher.  They  adopted  the  shorter 
Covenant  which  had  been  used  in  the  First  Church  for  near  half 
a  century. 

An  Ecclesiastical  Council,  convened  at  the  Old  Meeting  House 
Aug.  13,  1828,  duly  recognized  Dea.  Seth  Chapin,  Br.  Nathan 
Tyler  and  others  associated  with  them  as  a  regular  Congrega- 
tional Church,  when  a  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant  was 
adopted.      The  Confession  of  Faith  was  very  plainly  Calvinistic. 


1828.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  533 

Meetings  were  held  until  Nov.  1831,  when,  on  the  9th  day  of 
that  month,  Rev.  John  M.  S.  Perry  was  ordained  ;is  pastor:  his 
father,  Rev.  David  L.  Perry,  of  Sharon,  Ct.,  preaching  the  or- 
dination sermon. 

June  13,  1834,  the  church  voted  to  admit  no  person  to  its 
membership  who  should  refuse  to  sign  a  pledge  of  total  abstin- 
ence from  the  use,  manufacture  or  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors. 
July  5,  1834,  they  also  voted  to  use  pure  water  at  the  commun- 
ion. Jan.  2,  1835.  Learning  that  Messrs.  Pomroy  &  Hull,  of 
New  York,  were  importing  pure  wine,  expressly  for  the  com- 
munion, they  directed  their  Deacons  to  procure  such  wine  im- 
mediately. 

May  11,  1835.  Mr.  Perry  (having  concluded  to  enter  into 
the  field  of  missionary  labor)  by  the  advice  of  a  Mutual  Council. 
was  dismissed  from  his  charge  at  Mendon. 

Mr.  Perry  and  his  wife  soon  afterwards  sailed  for  Ceylon, 
where,  after  a  short  residence,  they  both  died  of  cholera  and 
both  in  the  same  hour. 

Dec.  28,  1830.  Rev.  Thomas  Edwards  was  ordained  over  the 
church  and  Evangelical  Society,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  Ide  preach- 
ing the  ordination  sermon.  Mr.  Edwards  was  dismissed,  at  his 
own  request,  Feb.  15,  1840. 

He  was  born  in  London,  England,  and  was  the  son  of  Miles 
and  Ann  (Debenham)  Edwards.  He  was  afterwards  installed 
over  the  church  in  Acworth,  N.  H.,  Aug.  19,  1841,  and  dismissed 
Fel).  13,  1843.  Since  then  he  has  preached  in  Salem  and  other 
places. 

March  18,  1841.  The  Church  and  Society  unitedly  gave  Rev. 
Andrew  H.  Reed  a  call  to  the  ministry  here,  at  an  annual  sti- 
pend of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  the  use  of  the  par- 
sonage. Mr.  Reed  accepted  the  call  April  17,  and  a  note  of  the 
same  date  says  "  owing  to  particular  circumstances  the  question 
of  Installment  was  postponed  for  a  year."  During  his  minis- 
try, Mr.  Reed  was  never  installed  but  continued  to  preach  until 
he  closed  his  labors  April  1,  1848. 

Since  then  he  has  continued  to  reside  in  Mendon,  having  pur- 
chased the  parsonage  of  the  Society.  He  was  born  in  Rutland 
and  is  the  son  of  Silas  and  Elinor  (Hunter)  Reed,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Amherst  College  in  18^0  and  at  Andover  Theological 


534  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1828. 

Seminar}-  in  1829.  He  was  first  settled  at  Raymond,  N.  H.,  in 
1834  where  he  remained  until  1837,  and  was  installed  the  same 
year  at  Mason,  N.  H.      From  this  place  he  removed  to  Mendon. 

From  this  time,  for  nearly  six  years,  no  minutes  are  found  in 
the  church  records,  "owing,"'  as  the  records  say,  "to  the  neg- 
lect and  carelessness  of  those  in  whose  hands  the  Book  of  Re- 
cord was." 

From  memory,  as  the  subsequent  record  says,  the  following' 
facts  are  put  down.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Dwight  supplied  the  pulpit 
for  about  three  months. 

Rev.  Chas.  Chamberlin  remained  nearly  three  years,  until 
April  1,  1851. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  was  born  in  Holliston,  Mass. ,  and  was  the  son 
of  Enoch,  Jr.,  and  Lucy  (Hoi brook)  Chamberlin.  He  gradua- 
ted at  Brown  University  in  183G,  and  was  a  tutor  in  that  in- 
stitution during  the  years  1837  and  1838.  He  fitted  himself  for 
the  ministry  at  Andover,  in  part,  and  with  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  of 
Medway,  and  completed  his  course  of  study  at  the  Union  Topo- 
logical Seminary. 

After  laboring  two  years  at  the  West  as  a  missionary,  he  re- 
turned to  Massachusetts  and  was  ordained  over  the  church  in 
Berkley,  Mass.,  July  8,  18-12.  He  was  dismissed  in  1844  and 
afterwards  preached  in  New  York,  Freetown,  Mass.,  and  Men- 
don.    July  9,  1851,  be  was  installed  at  Auburn,  Mass. 

Then  a  majority  of  the  Society  voted  to  supply  the  pulpit 
with  a  Methodist  minister.  Against  this  act  the  Trustees  of  the 
meeting  house  remonstrated  as  a  violation  of  the  Deed  of  Trust; 
but  the  Society  continued  to  occupy  the  same  until  May  28, 
1853,  when  the  trustees  took  legal  possession  of  the  house  and 
closed  its  doors.  They  then  granted  the  use  of  the  house  "  to 
those  who  wished  to  have  orthodox  preaching."  June  5,  1853, 
the  Church  and  Society  commenced  to  hold  meetings,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Dennis  supplying  the  pulpit  for  a  few  Sabbaths. 

From  this  time  a  few  of  the  members  of  the  church,  at  vari- 
ous times  withdrew  from  the  communion;  some  of  them  to  join 
the  Methodist  church  which,  in  the  meantime,  had  been  organ- 
ized. 

Sept.,  1855.  The  Standing  Committee  were  instructed  to 
hire  the  Rev.   E.    Demond  for  six  months.      He  continued  to 


182!).  |  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  535 

preach  until  Oct.  31,  1858,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own 
request. 

From  this  time  but  few  meetings  were  held,  and  the  meeting 
house  was  finally  sold  to  the  Methodist  Society,  which  had  heen 
some  time  organized,  at  $650.00. 

The  meeting  house  was  built  in  1830  and  dedicated  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year. 


1829.  Jan.  31.  The  Selectmen  of  Bellingham  and  Mendon, 
this  day,  perambulated  the  line  between  the  two  towns.  From 
Cumberland  line  to  the  stone  monument  upon  the  south  bank  of 
Charles  River,  near  Ellis  Bullard's  house  (formerly  the  Dedham 
tree)  the  parties  were  agreed.  From  the  stone  monument  to  the 
bridge  over  Charles  River,  near  the  Bellingham  Cotton  and 
Woolen  Manufactory,  at  Milford  line,  the  Selectmen  of  Belling- 
ham claimed  a  straight  line,  while  the  Selectmen  of  Mendon 
claimed  that  the  river  should  be  the  line. 

The  perambulation  was  signed  by  Hamblet  Barber,  Stephen 
Lievett,  for  Bellingham,  and  by  Aaron  Burden,  Benj.  Daven- 
port, Amariah  Taft  and  Joseph  Ray,  Selectmen  of  Mendon.  As 
will  hereafter  be  learned,  the  General  Court  finally  established 
the  river  as  the  boundary  between  the  towns. 

March  'i.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  Aaron  Bur- 
don, Benj.  Davenport,  Joseph  Ray,  Jabez  Aldrich  and  James 
S.  Warner,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer;  Willard 
Wilson,  Constable  and  Collector,  without  compensation,  and  Dr. 
John  G.  Metcalf,  Amos  \Y.  Pitts  and  Dr.  Phineas  W.  Leland, 
School  Committee. 

Voted  to  rescind  all  the  votes  about  the  road  from  George 
Gaskill's  to  road  near  Fox  Brook. 

April  6.     Voted  to  raise  11800  to  defray  town  charges. 

Voted  to  raise  11100  for  schooling. 

Voted  to  raise  $1500  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  accept  the  list  of  Jurors  reported  by  the  Selectmen, 
as  follows,  viz: 

Caleb  V.  Allen,  Johnson  Legg,  Setli  Davenport,  Ahaz  Allen,  Aaron  Bur- 
don, Andrew  Penniman,  Asa  Kelley,  Samuel  Bills.  Esek  Pitts,  Jared  Ben- 
son, Obadiah   Wood,  Elijah   Thayer,  Nahuni  Bates,   Peleg  Aldrich,   Luke 


536  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1829. 

Aldrich,  Anson  Aldrich,  Leonard  W.  Darling,  Arnold  Taft,  Lendol  Staples, 
Benj:  Davenport,  George  Wall,  Elbridge  G.  Daniels,  Caleb  Mowry,  Joseph 
B.  Cook,  Henry  Goss,  Charles  A.  Smith,  William  Legg,  Daniel  Kimpton, 
Amariah  Taft,  Dan  Hill,  George  Wood,  Hezekiah  Fletcher,  Jonathan  M. 
Shove,  Alexander  Wilson,  Jr.,  Joseph  Ray,  David  Kelley,  Edwin  D.  Sar- 
gent, Nathan  Hayward,  Adam  Wheelock,  Abram  Staples,  Clark  Cook, 
Washington  Hunt,  Caleb  Hayward,  Luke  Aldrich,  Jr.,  Collins  Capron, 
Lebbeus  Gaskill,  Jesse  Tourtelotte,  Jr.,  Willard  Wilson,  John  Kelley,  Icha- 
bod  Cook,  Jr.,  Jotham  Hayward,  Elias  E.Thayer,  Caleb  Cook,  Moses  Dan- 
iels, Jr.,  Willard  Wilcox,  George  Southwick. 

April  G.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Levi  Lincoln  had  24  votes.     Elected. 

Marcus  Morton  "     72      " 

"  Harrison  Gray  Otis     "      2      " 

Henry  Spurr  "       2 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Thomas  L.  Winthrop  "     26 

Nathan  Willis  "     72      " 

William  Sullivan  "  2  " 
For  Senators  and  Councillors — Joseph  Thayer  had  71  votes.  Benj.  Adams 
4.  Lewis  Bigelow  25.  David  Wilder  28.  Austin  Denny,  Lovell  Walker 
and  John  Homans  had  2  each.  Jonas  Sibley  1.  Samuel  Mixter  28.  Jo- 
siah  Howe  74.  William  S.  Hastings  29.  Daniel  Thurber  74.  John  W. 
Lincoln  24.     John  Spurr  78,  and  Isaac  Davis  72. 

At  a  meeting  held  this  day,  "  to  see  if  the  town  would  direct 
the  Selectmen  to  estimate  the  cost  of  making  a  road  from  near 
George  GaskilFs  house  to  the  road  near  Fox  Brook;"  after  the 
choice  of  a  Moderator, 

Vote  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 

May  4.  Voted  to  send  three  Representatives  to  the  General 
Court. 

Chose  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  Capt.  Aaron  Burdou,  Col.  Warren  Rawson. 

Voted  that  all  taxes  paid  before  the  first  day  of  January  shall 
be  entitled  to  5  per  cent,  discount. 

Voted  to  raise  $100  in  addition  to  what  has  already  been 
raised  for  completing  the  road  from  Nathan  Verv's  house  to  the 
inn  recently  kept  by  John  Mann. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Guide  Boards  lately  ordered  by  the 
Selectmen: 

2  Boards  near  Josiah  Shove's  house.     2  Boards  near  N.  Yen's  Inn. 
2      do.       "  George  Cook's  "        2      do.       "  Wid.  Martha  Fairbank's 

house. 


1829.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  537 

2  Boards  near  Mellon  Benson's  house.    2  Boards  near  William  Green's  Inn. 
2      do.       "  E.  D.  Sargent's        "        2      do.       "    Lewis  Boyden's  house. 
1      do.       "  S.  Parish  Meeting    "        2      do.       "   Col.   Lebbeus  Gaskill's 

house. 

1  do.       "  Emor  Tourtelotte's  "        2      do.       "  Seth  Davenport's  house 

2  do.       "  Amos  Boyden's        "        2      do.       "  Upton  Line. 

1  do.       "  Thomas  Taft's  "        2      do.       "  Seth  Kelly's         house. 

2  do.       "  Simeon  Wheelock's "        2      do.       "  Benj.  Pickering's     " 

Hon.  William  S.  Hastings  was  chosen  agent  to  petition  for  a 
jury  in  the  case  of  the  road  recently  located  from  Uxbridge  line 
to  W.  &  D.  D.  Farnum's  Factory. 

Dec.  2.  At  a  meeting  this  day,  "  to  see  what  further  opposi- 
tion the  town  would  make  to  the  new  County  road  recently  lo- 
cated by  the  County  Commissioners  by  Pout  Rock,  being  the 
road  last  mentioned,"  it  was  voted  to  dismiss  the  warrant. 

Dec.  16.  At  this  meeting  the  vote  for  Moderator  stood  as  fol- 
lows, viz: 

For  Dr.  Abel  Wilder  there  was  130  votes.  For  Benj.  Davenport  there 
was  190  votes. 

At  this  time  there  was  cpiiite  an  excitement  about  building  the 
Pout  Rock  road,  and,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  vote  for  Moderator, 
the  meeting  was  very  fully  attended.  The  meeting  was  held  at 
the  hall  at  the  inn  of  Laban  Bates  in  the  South  Parish,  now 
Blackstone. 

The  first  action  of  the  town  was  to  vote  the  meeting  should  be 
held  out  of  doors,  as  there  was  not  sufficient  room  in  the  hall 
to  transact  business  correctly. 

It  was  then  voted  that  Darling  Hill,  (on  the  old  road  from  Mill- 
ville  to  Blackstone  Factory)  be  reduced  to  4|  degrees  —  that 
public  notice  shall  be  given  to  all  who  will  volunteer  their  ser- 
vices with  their  teams,  that  ten  cents  an  hour  will  be  paid  for  a 
man  and  the  same  for  an  able  yoke  of  oxen  with  a  cart  or  drag. 
Washington  Hunt  was  chosen  agent  and  was  authorized  to  buy 
powder,  procure  drills  and  such  things  as  may  be  found  neces- 
sary to  complete  the  work. 

Voted  that  the  agent  (William  S.  Hastings)  continue  to  pros- 
ecute the  application  for  a  jury  with  power  to  substitute  a  com- 
mittee instead  of  a  jury. 

Voted  that  a  committee  of  three  be  chosen  to  meet  and  confer 


538  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1830. 

with  the  General  School  Committee  of  the  present  year  relative 
to  the  financial  concerns  of  the  town  with  said  General  School 
Committee  and  with  the  booksellers  up  to  the  first  day  of  April, 
1829,  and  that  said  committee  file  immediately  a  statement  of 
the  state  of  the  accounts  with  the  Town  Clerk. 

Caleb  V.  Allen,  Amariah  Taft  and  Johnson  Legg  were  chosen 
as  the  committee. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  first  General  School  Commit- 
tee, under  the  then  recent  law  of  the  State,  was  chosen  in  1827, 
and  that  it  was  a  part  of  their  duty  to  determine  what  books 
should  be  used  in  school  and  to  furnish  them  to  the  scholars  at 
prices  barely  remunerative. 

Somehow  reports  were  put  in  circulation  that  the  matter  of 
the  purchase  of  school  books  had  got  into  confusion,  that  the 
committee  had  been  careless  in  keeping  their  accounts  and  were 
probably  in  debt  to  the  town  in  considerable  sums. 

Pursuant  to  a  notice  from  the  Investigating  Committee,  John 
G.  Metcalf,  of  the  School  Committee,  met  in  conference,  and, 
upon  due  investigation,  it  was  shown  that  there  was  no  defalca- 
tion as  had  been  reported,  but  that  there  was  a  credit  to  the 
town,  over  and  above  all  indebtedness  for  school  books,  in  the 
sum  of  $4.40. 


1830.  March  1.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk; 
Aaron  Bnrdon,  Benj.  Davenport,  James  Coinstock,  Jabez  Aid- 
rich  and  William  Legg,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treas- 
urer; Willard  Wilson,  Constable  and  Collector,  and  Dr.  John  G. 
Metcalf,  Amos  W.  Pitts  and  Arthur  Cook,  Jr.,  School  Com- 
mittee. 

The  School  Committee's  report  was  accepted  and  ordered  to  be 
placed  on  file  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 

Voted  that  the  School  Districts  may  choose  Prudential  Com- 
mittees. 

Voted  to  refer  the  sixth  article  in  the  warrant,  "  to  see  if  the 
town  will  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the  Poor,"  to  the 
Selectmen. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  ninth  article  of  the  warrant  which  was 
' '  to  see  if  the  town  would  build  a  town  house. " 


1830.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  539 

Vote  for  County  Treasurer — Samuel  Allen,  Esq.,  of  Worcester,  had  21 
votes,  being  all  that  was  cast. 

April  5.     Voted  to  raise  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $3000  to  defray  town  charges.  It  should  he 
remembered  that  this  included  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  that  the  Highway  Surveyors  be  directed  to  remove  all 
incumbrances  from  the  highways,  first  giving  ten  days'  notice  to 
any  and  all  persons  who  may  have  erected  any  fences,  stone-  walls 
or  other  incumbrances  upon  the  highways  or  commons  to  remove 
the  same. 

POOR   FARM   BOUGHT. 

Voted  to  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the  poor. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  Selectmen  recommending  the 
purchase  of  the  farm  of  Caleb  Mowry  for  a  Poor  Farm. 

Voted  to  raise  $100,  in  addition  to  $300  already  raised,  to  com- 
plete the  making  of  a  road  from  near  George  GaskilFs  house  to 
the  road  near  Fox  Brook. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  (Obadiah  Wood,  John- 
son Legg  and  Kufus  Paine)  be  authorized  and  directed  to  fur- 
nish the  farm  and  buildings,  which  the  town  have  this  day 
agreed  to  purchase  whereon  to  support  the  poor,  with  all  neces- 
sary stock,  farming  tools,  household  furniture  and  utensils,  with 
such  other  things  which  they  may  find  necessary  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  said  farm  and  the  maintenance  and  support  of  the  poor 
thereon. 

STATE   ELECTION". 

For  Governor,        Levi  Lincoln  had  123  votes.     Elected. 

'"                Marcus  Morton,  "  80  " 

"               John  Brooks,  "  1  " 

"             "                Harrison  Gray  Otis  "  2 

"                            Samuel  Hubbard,  "  1  " 

For  Lt,  Governor,  Thomas  L.  "Winthrop,  "  125 

Nathan  Willis,  "  83  " 

Marcus  Morton,  "  1  •■ 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — John  W.  Lincoln  and  Samuel  Mixter  had 
120  each.  William  S.  Hastings  121.  David  Wilder  119,  and  Lovell  Walk- 
er 118.  Daniel  Thurber,  Jonas  L.  Sibley,  Isaac  Davis,  Henry  Prentice  and 
Isaiah  Howe  92  each.     Pliny  Merrick  and  Bezaleel  Taft  had  1  each. 

Voted  to  purchase  the  farm  of  Caleb  Mowry  whereon  to  sup- 


540  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1830. 

port  the  poor  for  $3,400.00,  provided  said  Mowry  make  a  good 
and  sufficient  deed  of  the  same  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  take  a  deed  of  said  farm  and  be  au- 
thorized to  hire  the  purchase  money  provided  they  can  hire  it  at 
5  per  cent,  or  less,  giving  security  for  the  same  in  behalf  of  the 
town. 

Obadiah  Wood,  Johnson  Legg  and  Rufus  Paine  were  chosen 
Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

Under  this  date  was  made  the  following: 

MEMORANDUM. 

Voted  that  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  approve  so  much  of  the  re- 
cent law  passed  by  the  Legislature,  in  relation  to  the  Militia,  as  prohibits 
treating  with  spirituous  Liquors  at  the  Election  of  officers;  and  hereby  rec- 
ommend that,  in  future  elections  of  Representatives  and  town  officers  that 
the  practice  of  treating,  which  is  alike  dishonorable  to  the  Electors  and  the 
Elected,  be  entirely  discontinued  and  abolished. 

At  the  suggestion  of  many,  the  vote  being  unanimous,  the  above  was  re- 
corded, although  there  was  no  article  in  the  warrant  authorizing  its  passage. 

Attest        A.  Penniman,  Town  Clerk. 

May  3.  The  following  persons  were  chosen  Representatives  to 
the  General  Court,  viz:  Aaron  Burdon,  Benjamin  Davenport  and 
Caleb  V.  Allen. 

Voted  that  all  taxes  paid  by  the  first  day  of  August  shall  be 
allowed  a  discount  of  8  per  cent. ;  and  all  that  are  paid  by  the  first 
day  of  January  next  shall  have  a  discount  of  4  per  cent. ;  and  the 
Collector  to  make  return  to  the  Selectmen  and  Treasurer  the 
amount  collected  at  each  of  the  foregoing  days. 

Voted  the  Collector  (Willard  Wilson)  shall  have  one  per  cent, 
on  all  taxes  that  remain  unpaid  at  the  latter  date,  Jan.  1,  1831. 

Voted  to  raise  $1,200.00  for  the  support  of  highways  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  pay  Caleb  Mowry  $25.00  for  sowing  afield  of  rye  on 
the  farm  lately  purchased  of  him. 

Voted  that  all  applicants  for  town  aid  shall  be  provided  for  at 
the  Poor  House,  unless  life  would  be  endangered  by  their  re- 
moval. 

June  17.  Perambulated  town  lines  with  Northbridge,  Upton 
and  Bellingham. 

Nov.  1.      Vote  for  Bepresentatwt   in  the  22d  Congress. — Hon.  John  Davis 


1831.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  541 

had  89  votes.     Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  47  votes.     Pliny  Merrick,  Esq.,  had 
3  votes. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  oppose  the  discontinuance  of  the  9th 
Mass.  Turnpike,  in  this  town,  and  the  laying  out  of  the  same  as 
a  County  road,  and  Caleb  Hayward,  Obadiah  Wood  and  Esek 
Pitts  were  chosen  agents  for  that  purpose. 

Nov.  22.  Voted  to  rescind  the  doings  of  the  last  town  meet- 
ing in  reference  to  the  9th  Mass.  Turnpike. 

Perambulated  town  line  with  Uxbridge  June  18,  1830. 


1831.  March  7.  Chose  Andrew  Penniman,  Town  Clerk;  Ben- 
jamin Davenport,  James  Comstock,  Johnson  Legg,  Jared  Benson 
and  Collins  Capron,  Selectmen;  Andrew  Penniman,  Treasurer; 
Millins  Taft,  Constable  and  Collector,  at  $33.00;  School  Com- 
mittee, John  (t.  Metcalf,  James  S.  Benson,  Preserved  S.  Thayer, 
Stephen  Taft  and  Darius  D.  Farnum. 

Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer — Otis  Corbett  had  79  votes.  Anthony  Chase 
had  47  votes.  Chas.  G.  Prentice  had  19  votes.  William  Jennison  had  12 
votes.     Asahel  Bellows  had  6  votes. 

April  4.  Voted  the  subject  of  making  any  allowance  for 
breaking  out  roads  the  past  winter  be  referred  to  the  Selectmen, 
to  be,  by  them,  adjusted  on  the  principles  of  justice  and  equity. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Levi  Lincoln,  had  58  votes.     Elected. 

"  "  Marcus  Morton,  "    92 

"  '•  William  Baylies,  "      4      " 

"  William  Ingalls,  "      1      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Thomas  L.  Winthrop,     "    58 

Nathan  Willis,  "93      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — John  W.  Lincoln  had  54  votes.  David  Wil- 
der 58.  William  S.  Hastings  53.  Rufus  Bullock  61,  and  James  Draper  58. 
Daniel  Thurber  had  94  votes.  Jonas  L.  Sibley  80.  Isaac  Davis  80.  Henry 
Prentice  91  and  Josiah  Howe  92.  Samuel  Mixter  and  Aaron  Brooks  had  12 
votes  each.  Charles  Russell  had  4  and  Stephen  P.  Gardner,  Joseph  Davis, 
Adolphus  Spring  and  Tyler  Batchelor  had  3  votes  each. 

For  Register  of  Deeds — Artemas  Ward  19  votes.     All  that  were  cast. 

May  11.     Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  11200  for  schooling. 
Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $2000  to  defray  town  charges. 


542  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1831. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  repair  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  Benjamin  Dav- 
enport, Welcome  Farnum,  Dan  Hill. 

The  following  is  the  vote  on  the  tenth  article  in  the  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution  of  this  State,  the  same  having  been 
passed  by  two  successive  Legislatures. 

The  amendment  changed  the  beginning  of  the  political  year 
from  the  last  Wednesday  in  May  to  the  first  Wednesday  in  Jan- 
uary. 

Yeas  166.     Nays  15. 

Voted  that  the  Collector  collect  the  taxes  as  soon  as  the  money 
is  wanted. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  hire  a  sum  of 
money  sufficient  to  pay  for  so  much  of  the  road,  leading  from 
Uxbridge,  at  Skull  Rock,  to  W.  &  1).  D.  Farnum's  Factory,  as 
may  be  made  the  current  year,  and  also  the  expenses  incurred  in 
consequence  of  a  jury  on  said  road. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  direct  the  Collector,  in  their  warrant, 
to  collect  and  pay  in  to  the  Treasurer  11000  by  the  1st  day  of  Au- 
gust and  $500  by  the  1st  day  of  September  and  the  remainder  by 
the  first  day  of  December. 

May  21.  Voted  to  choose  three  persons  as  Auditors,  to  ex- 
amine the  accounts  of  the  several  town  officers,  and  Elijah  Thay- 
er, Asa  Kelley  and  Caleb  Hayward  were  chosen  by  ballot. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  instructed  to  inquire 
whether  any  alteration  in  the  manner  of  dividing  the  school 
money  is  expedient. 

Voted  to  establish  the  following  Bye-Laws  for  the  government 
and  regulation  of  the  inmates  of  the  Poor  House  in  said  town: 

1st.  No  person  shall  leave  the  premises  provided  by  the  town  whereon 
to  support  the  Poor  without  leave  from  the  Master  of  the  Poor  House. 

2d.  No  ardent  spirit  shall  be  brought  to  or  used  on  the  premises  without 
leave  of  said  Master. 

3d.  All  the  inmates  of  the  Poor  House  shall  be  under  the  direction  of 
the  Master  and  in  case  of  disobedience  of  his  orders,  he  is  authorized  to 
confine  such  disobedient  person  within  the  basement  room  of  the  small 
house,  at  his  discretion  and  put  them  on  such  diet  as  he  shall  think  proper. 
He  shall  report  the  same  to  some  one  of  the  Overseers  within  twenty-four 
hours  from  the  time  of  such  commitment. 


1831.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  543 

4th.  The  Master  of  the  Poor  House  shall  he  required  to  keep  a  record 
of  all  persons  maintained  in  the  house,  the  time  they  enter  and  when  they 
leave  or  die. 

May  28.  Voted  to  raise  $50  in  addition  to  a  previous  appro- 
priation to  make  the  road  from  Jediah  Wilson's  to  Rhode  Island 
line,  when  the  same  shall  he  completed  to  the  road  from  Slaters- 
ville  and  he  free  from  all  charge  for  land  damages.  To  be  made 
to  the  acceptance  of  the  town. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  report  of  the  School  Committee,  to 
whom  was  referred  the  division  of  the  school  money,  and  which 
is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  The  rule  as  it  now  stands  (in  which  an  alteration  is  asked)  is  that  "  no 
district  shall  draw  more  than  12  per  cent,  of  the  whole  sum  granted  hy  the 
town."  This  rule,  we  suppose,  was  made  expressly  for  the  14th  School 
District  (Blackstoue. )  Taking  into  consideration  the  great  number  of  schol- 
ars in  that  District,  which  is  about  400  that  draw  school  money,  and  about 
200  who  actually  attend  school ;  and  considering  that  the  same  advantages 
cannot  be  derived  from  their  present  proportion  of  the  school  money  that 
other  districts  draw,  we  recommend  that  this  rule  be  altered'so  as  to  read 
thus,  "No  District  shall  draw  more  than  14  per  cent,  of  the  whole  sum 
granted  by  the  town,  for  the  support  of  schools." 

John  G.  Metcalf,  for  the  Com. 

Voted  that  the  town  cease  opposition  to  the  Pout  Rock  Road 
(so  called),  from  Uxbridge,  at  Skull  Rock,  to  near  W.  &  D.  D. 
Farnum's  Factory,  provided  that  bonds  of  similar  tenor  and  of 
equal  amount  to  those  filed  before  the  last  jury  that  sat  upon  the 
case,  be  furnished  and  made  satisfactory  to  the  town's  agent,  at 
any  time  before  the  next  Session  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court 
in  this  County. 

Voted  to  raise  $150.00  to  repair  the  old  turnpike  road,  recent- 
ly laid  out  as  a  County  road  through  this  town,  and  that  the  Se- 
lectmen be  agents  to  make  suitable  repairs  on  the  same,  and  draw 
orders  for  the  payment  of  said  repairs  payable  in  six  months  with 
interest. 

Voted  that  the  owner  or  keeper  of  any  dog  in  this  town  shall 
restrain  his  or  her  dog  from  running  at  large  under  a  penalty  of 
ten  dollars,  unless  the  owner  or  keeper  of  such  dog  shall  obtain 
a  license  from  the  Selectmen  and  pay  into  the  treasury,  for  the 
use  of  the  town,  the  sum  of  two  dollars,  and  keep  a  collar  around 
such  dog's  neck  with  the  owner's  name  thereon. 


544  ANNALS  OF  MEN  DON.  [1831. 

This  vote  to  take  effect  next  Monday  and  continue  for  one 
year. 

Sept.  5.  Voted  that  the  Tenth  School  District  be  directed  to 
erect  a  school  house  in  said  district. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  $400  be  raised  in  the  Tenth  School  Dis- 
trict for  the  purpose  of  erecting  said  house. 

Oct.  22.  It  having  been  voted,  as  above,  the  Selectmen  were 
constituted  agents  to  contract  for  and  superintend  the  erection 
of  a  school  house  in  the  Tenth  School  District  The  Selectmen 
to  decide  the  location  for  said  house  unless  the  district  agree 
upon  a  site. 

Nov.  5.  Voted  to  accept  the  road  recently  laid  out  near  Maj. 
Rufus  Aldrich's  house  provided  it  shall  not  cost  the  town  more 
than  $32.00. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  pay  back  whatever  money  he  may 
have  received  for  licenses  for  dogs  to  run  at  large. 

Nov.   11.  STATE    ELECTION. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  date,  this  election  was  held  pursuant  to 
the  amendment  of  the  State  Constitution  adopted  on  the  11th 
of  May  last. 

For  Governor,  His  Ex.  Levi  Lincoln        had  133  votes.     Elected. 

Hon.  Marcus  Morton  "     168 

"  "  Samuel  Lathrop  "      50      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,    Thomas  L.  Winthrop        "     187      " 
John  Mills  "168      " 

For  Senators  and  Councillors — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  Jonas  L.  Sibley,  Isaac 
Davis,  Henry  Prentiss  and  Josiah  Howe  had  169  votes  each.  These  consti- 
tuted the  Democratic  ticket.  John  W.  Lincoln,  David  Wilder,  William  S. 
Hastings,  James  Draper  had  139  votes  each,  and  Rufus  Bullock  had  186 
votes.  These  constitute  the  Whig  ticket.  Stephen  P.  Gardner,  Pliny  Mer- 
rick, Tyler  Batchelor  and  Asaph  Rice  had  51  votes  each. 

It  seems  those  who  voted  for  the  last  ticket,  voted  for  Samuel 
Lathrop  for  Governor,  for  Thomas  L.  Winthrop  for  Lt.  Gover- 
nor and  for  Rufus  Bullock,  whose  name  was  on  the  Whig  ticket, 
for  Senator. 

The  following  rules  and  orders  to  be  observed  at  Town  Meet- 
ings, other  than  at  elections,  were  this  day  adopted,  viz: 

Article  I.  After  the  meetings  are  opened  every  person  shall  be  seated 
when  practicable  and  continue  so  unless  he  rises  to  address  the  Moderator, 
and  shall  set  down  as  soon  as  he  has  done  speaking. 


1831.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  545 

Article  II.  Every  person  shall  preserve  order,  propriety  and  decorum  at 
the  meetings  and  be  silent  except  when  addressing  the  Moderator  or  meet- 
ing on  the  business  before  the  meeting. 

Article  III.     No  person  shall  interrupt  another  while  orderly  speaking. 

Article  IV.  No  person  shall  speak  more  than  twice  on  one  question 
without  leave. 

Article  V.     No  personalities  or  personal  allusions  shall  be  used  in  debate. 

Article  VI.  All  questions  of  order  shall  be  decided  by  the  Moderator 
subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  meeting. 

Article  VII.  If  any  person  shall,  after  notice  by  the  Moderator,  persist 
in  this  disorderly  behaviour,  he  shall  be  prosecuted  by  the  Town  Treasurer 
for  the  recovery  of  the  penalty  prescribed  by  the  Statute  for  that  purpose. 

Nov.  14.  Choice  of  Representative!*  to  the  General  Court — Voted  to  send 
four  Representatives,  and  then  chose  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber,  Caleb  V.  Allen, 
Col.  Lebbeus  Gaskill. 

Then  voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  send  four  Representa- 
tives  and  to  send  but  three. 

Voted  that  Capt.  Jared  Benson  and  Caleb  V.  Allen  be  agents 
for  the  town  to  meet  the  County  Commissioners  and  act  in  be- 
half of  said  town  relative  to  the  contemplated  road  the  Commis- 
sioners are  about  to  locate  from  near  Clark  Cook's  house  to  Ux- 
bridge. 

REV.   ADIN    BALLOU,  THE    NINTH    MINISTER. 

Rev.  Adin  Ballon  commenced  his  ministry,  in  Mendon,  in 
'Feb.,  1831.  For  some  years  previous  he  had  been  the  minister 
of  the  Universalist  Society  in  Milford.  He  was  installed  May  3, 
1832,  Eev.  Bernard  Whitman,  of  Waltham,  preaching-  the  in- 
stallation sermon.  Before  Mr.  Ballou's  removal  from  Milford  he 
had  begun  the  publication  of  the  Independent  Messenger,  a  pa- 
per devoted  to  the  maintenance  and  propagation  of  liberal  views 
of  Christianity.  Upon  his  coming  to  Mendon  the  paper  was  re- 
moved and,  during  its  continuance,  was  printed  by  George  W. 
Stacy,  now  of  Milford. 

During  his  pastorate  in  Mendon,  Mr.  Ballon  published  an  ad- 
dress on  the  subject  of  Slavery,  which  was  republished  in  Eng- 
land. 

At  the  close  of  his  ministry  in  1842,  he,  with  others,  removed 
to  a  farm  on  Mill  River,  in  the  westerly  part  of  Milford,  where 
he  was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  organization  of  the  Hopedale 
Community.     Athough  the  Community  principle  has  been  aban- 


546  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1832. 

doned,  Hopedale  litis  grown  to  be  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
prosperous  villages  in  the  southern  part  of  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester. 


1832.  March  5.  Chose  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Town  Clerk; 
Johnson  Legg,  James  Comstock,  Stephen  Taft,  Willard  Wilson 
and  Luke  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Treasurer; 
Millins  Taft,  Constable  and  Collector,  at  $40.00,  and  James  S. 
Benson,  Rev.  Adin  Ballou  and  Preserved  S.  Thayer,  School  Com- 
mittee. 

April  2.  Voted  that  Benjamin  Davenport,  Esq.,  be  agent  for 
the  town  to  unite  with  the  agent  from  Uxbridge  to  petition  the 
County  Commissioners  (which  is  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  the 
County  of  Worcester)  to  discontinue  the  road  lately  laid  out  by 
their  honours,  from  near  Clark  Cook's,  in  Mendon,  to  near  Ux- 
bridge town,  being  part  in  Mendon  and  part  in  Uxbridge  and  not 
yet  made,  or  to  do  anything  said  agents  shall  think  proper  re- 
specting the  delay  of  making  or  the  discontinuance  of  said  road. 

After  choosing  one  committee  of  16  and  another  one  of  5  mem- 
bers, to  see  if  any  alterations  were  required  in  the  Highway  Dis- 
tricts, and  then  immediately  voting  that  they  be  discharged  from 
duty;  it  was  then  voted  that  the  Highway  Surveyors  shall  report 
at  the  next  town  meeting  the  length  of  road  in  each  district  and 
that  their  report  be  made  under  oath,  if  required. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $2000  to  defray  the  exjiense  of 
making  roads  now  under  contract  and  made  or  partly  made. 

Voted  to  raise  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools  this  year. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $600  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

This  is  the  first  instance  where  a  specific  appropriation  was 
made  for  the  support  of  the  poor;  the  expense,  heretofore  hav- 
ing been  paid  out  of  the  sums  appropriated  "to  defray  town 
charges. " 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $200  to  defray  the  incidental  ex- 
penses of  the  town,  the  first  instance  also  in  this  case. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Selectmen,  to  hire  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary 
to  defray  such  expenses  of  the  town  as  are  not  provided  for  by 
the  foregoing  appropriations. 


1832.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  547 

Voted  to  raise  I1G00  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges  this 
year. 

Voted  that  10  cents  per  hour  he  allowed  a  man  for  work  on 
the  highways  and  the  same  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart  while  at 
work — 10  cents  per  hour  for  oxen  while  plowing  and  5  cents  per 
hour  for  a  good  plow. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  issue  warrants  of  distress,  with  their 
bills,  to  the  several  Highway  Surveyors. 

Voted  to  hold  the  animal  town  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  in 
April,  in  future,  instead  of  the  first  Monday  in  March. 

No  mention  being  made  of  any  report  from  the  Highway  Sur- 
veyors who  were  directed  to  measure  the  roads  in  each  district, 
it  was 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  make  such  altera- 
tions in  the  highway  districts,  as  they  may  judge  equitable  and 
necessary,  without  reporting  the  same  to  the  town  for  its  accept- 
ance. 

Benjamin  Davenport  chosen  agent  for  the  town. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  paid  $10  each,  providing 
they  are  prompt  and  regular  in  visiting  the  schools  at  their  com- 
mencement and  close  and  as  much  oftener  as  is  convenient. 

Voted  that  the  agent  (Benjamin  Davenport)  chosen  to  meet 
the  agent  from  Uxbridge,  in  relation  to  a  road  from  near  Clark 
Cook's  to  Uxbridge,  cease  further  opposition  to  the  same,  until 
otherwise  directed  by  the  town. 

Adjourned  to  the  November  meeting. 

April  18.  Voted  to  accept  the  alteration,  made  by  the  Select- 
men, in  the  road  between  Leonard  W.  Darling's  house  and  Mill- 
ville. 

At  a  meeting  held  this  day  (under  a  new  warrant)  to  see  if  the 
town  would  raise  an  additional  sum  of  money  to  defray  town 
charges. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  warrant. 

Here  follows  (p.  22,  vol.  VI  of  the  Town  Records)  the  bound- 
aries of  the  Highway  Districts,  nineteen  in  number. 

June  16.     Voted  to  accept  the  following  list  of  Jurors,  viz: 

Nah urn  Bates,  Ichabod  Cook,  Jr.,  .Tared  Benson,  Seth  Davenport,  Caleb 
Mowry,  Andrew  Penuiman,  Seth  Kelley,  Luke  Aldrich  2d,  William  Legg, 
Arnold  Taft,  Henry  Goss,  Anson  Aldrich,  Asa  Kelley,  Luke  Aldrich,  Jo- 


548  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1832. 

seph  Ray,  George  Southwick,  Hezekiah  Fletcher,  Edwin  D.  Sargent,  Sam- 
uel Bills,  Abram  Staples,  Lebbeus  Gaskill,  Jesse  Tourtelotte,  Jr.,  Joseph 
B.  Cook,  Washington  Hunt,  Lendoll  Staples,  Horace  Chenery,  Jabez  Aid- 
rich,  Nathaniel  Torrey,  Alexander  Wilson,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Davenport,  Aaron 
Burdon,  Jotham  Hayward,  Collins  Capron,  Clark  Cook,  Amariah  Taft, 
Jona.  M.  Shove,  Dan  Hill,  Riley  Daniels,  Ariel  Thayer,  Joseph  G.  Daven- 
port, Welcome  Staples,  Thomas  Taft,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Chase,  George  Wood, 
Willard  Wilson,  Esek  Pitts,  Leonard  W.  Darling,  Moses  Daniels,  Caleb  V. 
Allen,  Obadiah  Wood,  Johnson  Legg,  James  Comstock,  Stephen  Taft, 
Millins  Taft,  Peletiah  Thayer,  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Reuben  Thayer,  Sam- 
uel Cook,  Emory  Scott,  Duty  Cook,  Preserved  S.  Thayer,  Adam  Whee- 
lock,  Willard  Wilcox,  John  Kelley,  Nathan  Hayward,  Elbridge  G.  Daniels, 
Elijah  Thayer,  Leonard  Taft,  Stephen  H.  Thayer,  Albert  Fairbanks,  Ebenr 
W.  Hayward,  Samuel  Gaskill,  William  Green,  Joseph  Carroll,  Jr.,  Solo- 
man  Pratt,  Nathan  George,  Moses  T.  Chapin,  Asa  Chilson,  Willard  Chil- 
son,  Joseph  Allen,  Simeon  Wheelock,  Caleb  Colvin. 

NOV.   12.  STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor,         Levi  Lincoln  had  156  votes.    Elected. 

Marcus  Morton  "  153      " 

"  "  Samuel  Lathrop  "     64      " 

"  "  Abner  Kneeland  "      1 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Samuel  T.  Armstrong       "  162      " 
John  Mills  "  156      " 

Timothy  Fuller  "60      " 

For  Senators— David  Wilder  165,  Wm.  S.  Hastings  165,  Samuel  Mixter 
165,  Ira  Barton  165,  Charles  Hudson  165,  Samuel  Lee  165.  Daniel  Thurber 
154,  Henry  Prentiss  156,  Jonas  L.  Sibley  156,  Isaac  Davis  156,  John  Brown 
156,  Moses  Wood  156.  Stephen  P.  Gardner  57,  Austin  Flint  57,  Abiel 
Jacques  57,  Thos.  Chamberlain  57,  Tyler  Batchelor  57,  Theodore  Jones  57. 

VOTE    FOR    PRESIDENTIAL   ELECTORS. 

Electors  at  large—  Middlesex  District — 

Charles  Jackson 171        Nathan  Brooks 171 

Nathan  Willis 159        Eliphalet  Case 159 

John  D.  Williams 48        Benjamin  Wyshall 48 

Suffolk  District —  Worcester  South  District — 

Thos.  H.  Perkins 171        Aaron  Tufts 171 

Charles  Hood 159        Richard  Olney  '. .  159 

Jacob  Hall. : 48        Pliny  Merrick 48 

Essex  South  District —  Worcester  North  District — 

Gideon  Barstow 171        Samuel  Lee 171 

John  Moriarty 159        Charles  Sibley 159 

Wm.  B.  Breed 48        Stephen  P.  Gardner 48 


1833.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  549 


Essex  North  District —  Franklin  District— 

Ebenr  Moseley 171        Ebenezer  Mattoon 171 

Amos  Noyes 159        Perley  Barton 159 

Thos.  Payson 48      '  Asa  Stebbins 48 

Hampden  District —  Plymouth  District — 

James  Byers 171        Jotham  Lincoln 171 

W.  W.  Thompson 156        Peter  H.  Pierce 156 

John  Chaffee 48        Zechariah  Eddy 48 

Berkshire  District —  Bristol  District — 

Henry  Shaw 171        Cornelius  Grinned 171 

Phineas  Allen 156        John  M.  Williams 156 

Jas.  W.  Robbins 48        Jos.  Ricketson 48 

Norfolk  District —  Barnstable  District — 

James  Richardson 171        Nymphas  Marston 171 

Ebenezer  Seaver 156        Samuel  Stimson 156 

John  Bailey 48        Benj.  Hallett 48 

REPRESENTATIVE   TO   THE    GENERAL   COURT. 

Voted  to  send  four  Kepresentatives  to  the  General  Court. 

1st  Ballot — Benjamin  Davenport  had  161  votes.  Daniel  Thurber  had  167 
votes.  Aaron  Burdon  had  54  votes.  James  Comstock  had  2  votes.  Wash- 
ington Hunt  had  1  vote.     No  choice. 

2d  Ballot — Daniel  Thurber  had  173  votes.  Benjamin  Davenport  155 
votes.  Aaron  Burdon  had  45  votes.  Jas.  Comstock  had  2  votes.  Pre- 
served S.  Thayer  had  1  vote.     No  choice. 

M  Ballot — Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  180  votes.  Benj.  Davenport  had  155 
votes.  Aaron  Burdon  had  45  votes.  James  Comstock  had  1  vote.  Leb- 
beus  Gaskill  had  1  vote.     No  choice. 

After  an  unsuccessful  motion  to  adjourn  until  to-morrow,  it 
was  voted  not  to  send  any  Representative  this  year  and  the  meet- 
ins:  was  then  dissolved. 


1833.  April  1.  For  Representative  in  Congress  in  District 
No.  IX. 

Henry  Alexander  Scammell  Dearborn  had  70  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber 
had  110  votes.     Ebenezer  Seaver  had  3  votes.     William  Jackson  had  1  vote. 

FOR   TOWN    OFFICERS. 

Chose  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Town  Clerk;  Johnson  Legg,  Ed- 
win D.  Sargent,  Luke  Aldrich,  Caleb  Colvin  and  Leonard  \Y. 
Darling,  Selectmen;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Treasurer;  Washing- 


550  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1833. 

ton  Hunt,  Constable  and  Collector,  for  125.00.  Rev.  Adin  Bal- 
lon, Eev.  John  M.  8.  Perry,  John  G.  Metcalf,  Emery  Scott, 
Daniel  W.  Allen,  Baruch  Southwick  and  Putman  W.  Taft, 
School  Committee. 

Voted  not  to  choose  Tythingmen  or  packers  of  beef. 

Voted  to  raise  $70  to  complete  the  school  house  in  the  Tenth 
School  District,  to  be  assessed  upon  and  paid  by  the  inhabitants 
of  said  district. 

Voted  to  raise  $1200  and  appropriate  the  same  for  support  of 
schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

April  15.  Voted  to  raise  $2500  for  the  payment  of  debts  now 
outstanding  against  the  town. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  the  poor  and  incidental 
expenses. 

Voted  that  the  next  annual  town  meeting  be  held  at  the  South 
Parish  meeting  house,  the  next  at  Laban  Bates'  Inn,  and  the 
next  at  the  North  Parish  meeting  house  and  so  on  in  this  order. 

Benjamin  Davenport  was  chosen  agent. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  paid  $4.00  per  annum  for  their 
services. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  School  Committee. 

The  Prudential  Committees  were  chosen  by  the  town  as  fol- 
lows, viz: 


1st  District, 

Zalman  Green. 

9th  District 

Thurber  Warfield. 

2        do. 

Enos  Goss, 

10 

do. 

E.  D.  Sargent. 

3        do. 

Robert  Allen. 

11 

do. 

Millins  Taft, 

4        do. 

E.  G.  Daniels. 

12 

do. 

Elijah  Hayward. 

5        do. 

Elijah  Taft. 

13 

do. 

S.  H.  Thayer. 

6        do. 

Duty  Cook. 

14 

do. 

James  S.  Warner. 

7        do. 

Nathl.  Iuman. 

15 

do. 

Lebbeus  L.  Wood. 

8        do. 

Jason  Staples. 

16 

do. 

Darius  D.  Farnum. 

Votes  for  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase  had  14  and  Otis  Corbett  had 
4  votes. 

April  15.  The  only  article  in  the  warrant  was,  "To  see  if  the 
town  would  accept  the  alterations,  made  by  the  Selectmen,  in  the 
road  from  the  Old  Turnpike  (now  County  road)  near  Adin  Bai- 
lors to  Millville." 

No  vote  was  had  upon  this  article  as  the  meeting  was  imme- 
diately dissolved. 


1833.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  551 

May  6.  This  meeting  was  called  "  to  see  if  the  town  would 
accept  a  road,  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  from  near  Seth  South- 
wick's  to  Nathan  Very's  Cider  Mill." 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  article  from  the  warrant. 

There  being  no  choice  for  Representative  to  Congress,  another 
trial  was  had  this  day  and  with  the  following  result,  viz: 

2d  Trial — Heury  A.  S.  Dearborn  had  74  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had 
81  votes.  William  Jackson  had  29  votes.  Win.  S.  Hastings  and  Ebenezer 
Seaver  had  1  vote  each.     No  choice. 

June  10.  Third  trial — Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn  had  57  votes.  Dr.  Daniel 
Thurber  had  78  votes.  William  Jackson  had  29  votes.  Hon.  William  El- 
lis had  1  vote.     No  choice. 

Article  second  of  the  warrant  was  "  a  notice  by  Thomas  Taft, 
Surveyor  of  the  7th  Highway  District,  that  the  road  across  the 
Tourtelotte  swamp  would  be  complained  of  unless  made  safe  by 
fencing  it."     The  article  was  dismissed. 

Aug.  12.  There  still  being  no  choice  for  a  Representative  in 
Congress,  a  meeting  was  held  this  day  and  with  the  following  re- 
sult, viz: 

4th  Trial — Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn  had  84  votes.  William  Jackson  had 
42  votes.     Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  133  votes. 

Sept  16.  Voted  to  accept  of  a  road,  laid  out  by  the  Select- 
men, from  the  road  opposite  the  meeting  house  in  Millville  to 
"Oxbridge  line. 

NOV.   11.  STATE   ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  John  Davis  had    90  votes.     Elected. 

Marcus  Morton  "    177     " 

John  Quincy  Adams  "      45     " 
"  '•  Samuel  C.  Allen         "      32     " 

"  "  Samuel  Lee  "        1     " 

For  Lt.  Governor,   Samuel  T.Armstrong  "     108     " 
James  Fowler  "     179     '' 

Samuel  Lathrop  "      40     " 

Sampson  V.  S.  Wilder  "  1  " 
For  Senators— Samuel  Mixter  108,  Charles  Hudson  108,  Ira  Barton  108, 
Samuel  Lee  108,  Charles  Russell  108,  Rejoice  Newton  108.  Henry  Prentiss 
179,  John  Brown  179,  John  Spun-  179,  Moses  Wood  179,  Payson  Williams 
179,  Joseph  Thayer  85.  Stephen  P.  Gardner  45,  Theodore  Jones  45,  Tyler 
Batcheller  45,  Thos.  Chamberlain  45,  Wm.  M.  Benedict  45,  Rufus  Mix- 
er 45. 


552  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1833. 

Votes  for  Representative  in  Congress,  5th  Trial — Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn  had 
95  votes.  William  Jackson  had  43  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had  178 
votes.     No  choice. 

FOR    REPRESENTATIVES    IN   THE   GENERAL   COURT. 

Voted  not  to  send  four  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 

Voted  to  send  three  Representatives. 

Chose  Lebbeus  Gaskill,  Warren  Ravvson  and  William  Legg. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  send  three  Representatives  and 
to  send  four. 

Chose  Jabez  Aldrich  as  the  fourth  Representative. 

While  balloting  for  Jabez  Aldrich,  Dan  Hill  entered  the  fol- 
lowing protest: 

The  undersigned  an  inhabitant  and  legal  voter  in  this  town  of  Mendon 
hereby  protests  against  the  meeting  proceeding,  at  this  time,  to  the  choice 
of  a  Representative  to  represent  this  town  in  the  next  General  Court  of  this 
Commonwealth,  because,  before  proceeding  to  the  choice  of  any  Repre- 
sentatives the  town  did,  by  their  vote,  decide  upon  the  number  that  should 
be  chosen  and  fixed  that  number  at  three. 

This  number  have  already  been  chosen  and  the  voters  had  right  to  sup- 
pose that  no  further  balloting  was  to  be  had  for  Representatives  and  many 
of  them  have  retired  from  the  meeting.  The  undersigned  also  protests  be- 
cause the  town  has  also  chosen  all  that,  by  law,  they  have  a  right  to  send. 

Nov.  11,  1833.  Dan  Hill. 

Nov.  23.  Voted  to  accept  a  road,  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen, 
on  the  westerly  side  of  the  road  leading  through  Millville  begin- 
ning at  a  point  one  and  one-half  rods  north  of  Willard  Wilson's 
sign  post  to  Uxbridge  line. 

Voted  not  to  accept  a  road  from  a  point  near  Ariel  Cook's 
house  to  a  point  a  little  south  of  Nathan  Hayward's  house. 

Afterward  the  County  Commissioners  laid  out  a  road  from  the 
road  passing  by  the  house  of  Samuel  G.  Wilcox  to  Bellingham 
line,  near  the  house  of  Ellis  Bullard,  being  now  the  direct  road 
to  Bellingham. 

Dec.  16.  Qth  Trial  for  a  Representative  in  Congress — Henry  A.  S.  Dear- 
born 34.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  66.  Wm.  Jackson  25  and  Eli  Warren  20 
votes,  and  there  was  no  choice. 

Voted  to  rescind  the  vote  accepting  the  road  from  near  Willard 
Wilson's  sign  post  to  Uxbridge  line.  Before  voting  Capt.  Wil- 
lard Wilson  protested  against  the  proceedings,  because,  as  he 


1834.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  553 

said,  there  was  not  a  sufficient  number  of  freeholders,  signing 
the  petition  to  the  Selectmen  for  the  insertion  of  the  article  in 
the  warrant  and  requested  that  his  objection  should  be  entered 
upon  the  record. 


1834.  Jan.  27.  There  still  being  no  choice  for  a  Representa- 
tive in  Congress,  a  meeting  was  held  this  day  for  the 

7th  Trial — Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn  had  37  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber  had 
57  votes.  William  Jackson  had  24  votes.  Eli  Warren  had  15  votes.  War- 
ren Rawson  had  1  vote.     No  choice. 

Voted  that  the  town  recommend  their  Selectmen  to  withhold 
their  approbation  from  such  persons  as  may  apply  for  a  license 
to  sell  and  retail  spiritous  liquors  in  said  town  the  ensuing  year. 

As  the  town,  by  the  above  vote,  had  granted  all  that  was  asked 
for  it  is  not  seen  why  they  should  "  indefinitely  postpone  the 
further  consideration  of  the  second  article  in  the  warrant." 

March  3.  8th  Trial  for  a  Representative  in  Congress — Henry  A.  S.  Dear- 
born had  2  votes.  William  Jackson  had  110  votes.  Dr.  Daniel  Thurber 
had  58  votes.     Eli  Warren  had  63  votes.    Adin  Ballou  had  1  vote. 

William  Jackson  was  chosen.  At  the  first  trial,  in  this  town, 
William  Jackson  had  one  vote. 

April  7.  TOWN    OFFICERS. 

Chose  Alexander  II.  Allen,  Town  Clerk;  William  Legg,  Steph- 
en Taft,  Caleb  Colvin,  Anson  Aldrich  and  Edwin  D.  Sargent, 
Selectmen;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Town  Treasurer;  Washington 
Hunt,  Constable  and  Collector,  at  $23.50;  Dr.  Moses  D.  South- 
wick,  Chas.  C.  P.  Hastings,  James  P.  Hayward,  Alexander  H. 
Allen,  Willard  B.  Johnson,  Daniel  W.  xlllen  and  Perry  Thayer, 
School  Committee. 

Voted  to  defer  the  further  consideration  of  the  annual  report 
of  the  Selectmen  to  the  adjourned  meeting  on  the  28th  inst. 

Voted  to  raise  12000  and  to  appropriate  one  half  of  said  sum  to 
the  payment  of  outstanding  debts  and  the  other  half  to  defray 
the  contingent  expenses  of  the  town. 

Voted  to  raise  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  to  repair  the  highways  and  bridges, 
to 


554  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1834. 

Warren  Rawson,  Aniariah  Taft  and  Lebbeus  Gaskill  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  see  whether  any  persons  have  trespassed 
upon  the  highways  or  lands  of  the  town  and  report  at  the  next 
town  meeting. 

The  same  committee  were  instructed  to  demand  and  receive  of 
Pearley  Hunt  the  records  and  papers  formerly  belonging  to  the 
ancient  proprietors  of  Mendon,  now  in  the  possession  of  the  said 
Pearley  Hunt,  who  was  the  last  Proprietors'  Secretary. 

Votes  for  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase  had  71  votes.  Major  Jack 
Downing  had  1  vote. 

April  28.  Voted  not  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  approbate 
any  innkeepers  to  be  retailers  of  rum,  brandy,  gin,  &c,  in  town 
during  the  present  year. 

June  28.  Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  fourth  article  "  in 
relation  to  the  refusal  of  the  Treasurer  to  give  bonds."  The  law, 
at  this  time  did  not  require  the  Treasurer  to  give  bonds. 

Aug.  18.  Samuel  Alien,  Asa  Kelly,  George  Southwick,  Ama- 
riah  Taf  t  and  Alexander  H.  Allen  were  chosen  a  committee  to  op- 
pose the  location  of  a  road  as  by  the  petition  of  William  S.  Hast- 
ings and  others,  to  the  County  Commissioners. 

Nov.   10.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,          John  Davis  had  103  votes.     Elected. 

Marcus  Morton  "103  " 

Saml.  C.  Allen  "     63  " 

John  Bailey  "     23  " 

"                Lyman  C.  Curtis  "       1  " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Saml.  T.  Armstrong  "  103  " 

Wm.  W.  Thompson  "164  " 

George  Odiome  "     23  " 

Gov.  Davis  having  been  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress,  resigned 
his  office  of  Governor  March  4,  and  Samuel  T.  Armstrong,  elect- 
ed as  Lieut.  Governor,  became  the  acting  Governor. 

For  Senators — Whig — Samuel  Mixter  104,  Chas.  Hudson  104,  Chas.  Rus- 
sell 104,  Chas.  Allen  103,  Geo.  A.  Tufts  102,  Waldo  Flint  104.  Democrat 
—Henry  Prentiss  144,  Jos.  Thayer  144,  John  Spurr  117,  Nathl.  Rand  144, 
Alexr  De  Witt  144,  John  Boyenton  144.  A.  S.— Stephen  P.  Gardner  23, 
Tyler  Batcheller  23,  Theodore  Jones  23,  Elijah  Stoddard  23,  Austin  Flint 
23,  Lovett  Peters  23. 

For  Representative  to  Congress — William  Jackson  44.     Dr.  Daniel  Thurher 


1835.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  555 

122.     Eli  Warren  39.     Win.   8.  Hastings  36.     Therou  Metcalf,  Sylvanus 
Holbrook,  Lebbeus  Gaskill,  William  Lcgg  and  Chas.  B.  Jenks  bad  1  each. 

REPRESENTATIVES  TO  THE  GENERAL  COURT. 

On  the  first  ballot,  Obadiah  Wood  was  chosen  by  5  votes, 
Johnson  Legg  by  8  and  Emory  Scott  by  1  majority.  Mr.  Wood 
was  the  author  of  a  bill  which  greatly  reduced  the  number  of 
Representatives  in  the  General  Court. 

Three  other  ballots  were  taken  resulting  in  the  election  of  Leb- 
beus Gaskill  as  the  fourth  Representative,  and  were  as  follows, 
viz : 

William  Hastings 58  57  49 

WilliamLegg 61  33  10 

Ichabod  Cook,  Jr 19  14  15 

Lebbeus  Gaskill 80  110  130 

Chas.  C.  P.  Hastings 1  1  1 

Seth  Davenport 2     Scat.      4     Scat,      6 

Emery  Scott 1 

Whole  number 238  247  243 

Necessary  to  a  choice 119  124  122 


1835.  April  6.  Amos  W.  Pitts  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  and 
Treasurer;  Edwin  D.  Sargent,  Obadiah  Wood,  Ichabod  Cook, 
Jr.,  Ebenezer  W.  Hay  ward  and  Nicholas  Thayer,  Selectmen; 
Washington  Hunt,  Constable  and  Collector,  at  #29.00,  and  Dr. 
Moses  D.  Southwick,  Chas,  C.  P.  Hastings,  Obadiah  Wood,  Jr., 
and  Danl.  W.  Allen,  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  instruct  their  Selectmen  not  to  appro- 
bate any  person  to  sell  ardent  spirits  during. the  ensuing  munici- 
pal year. 

The  reports  of  the  Selectmen  and  School  Committee  were  read 
and  put  on  file. 

Voted  to  raise  $3900,  and  appropriate  $400  for  the  support  of 
the  poor,  $800  for  incidental  expenses,  $1500  for  payment  of 
outstanding  debts,  and  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

Votes  for  County  Treasurer — Charles  G.  Prentiss  had  34  votes.  Anthony 
('base  had  2  votes, 

Voted  that  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  have  $20 


556  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  |  1835. 

and  the  other  members  of  the  Board  $8  per  year  for  their  ser- 
vices. 

Voted  that  the  Chairman  of  the  General  School  Committee 
he  allowed  #20  a  year  for  his  services,  he  performing  all  the  du- 
ties as  set  forth  in  the  report  of  the  School  Committee  made  this 
day. 

Voted  that  Dr.  M.  D.  Southwick  he  allowed  $5  for  extra  ser- 
vices, as  a  member  of  the  General  School  Committee  the  past 
year. 

Dan  Hill,  Warren  Eawson  and  Jared  Benson  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  prosecute  all  trespassers  upon  the  property  of  the 
town. 

May  4.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  allowing-  the  Chairman 
of  the  Selectmen  $20  and  his  associates  $8  each  per  year,  and 
that  they  all  be  allowed  $4  each  per  year  for  their  services. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  allowing  the  Chairman  of  the 
School  Committee  $20,  and  that -each  member  be  allowed  $4  per 
year. 

The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  having  been  recently  es- 
tablished, the  first  election  of  these  officers  took  place  this  day, 
and  with  the  following  result,  viz: 

For  Commissioners — Jared  Reed  had  43.  John  W.  Lincoln  32.  Ebenezer 
D.  Ammidon  31.  Obadiah  Wood  16.  William  Eaton  and  Zachariah  Shel. 
don  15  each.  Sylvanus  Holbrook  2.  Abiel  Jaques  and  Dan  Hill  4  each. 
Wm.  Crawford  3  and  Chas.  G.  Prentiss,  Chas.  C.  P.  Hastings,  Win.  H. 
Crawford,  Eli  Warren,  Wm.  Eijton,  Alexander  DeWitt,  Ebenezer  L.  Bar- 
nard, Newell  Nelson  and  Richard  Olney  1  each. 

For  Special  Commissioners — Ephraim  Stone  36.  Benjamin  Davenport  35. 
Artemas  Lee  and  Richard  Olney  15  each.  Alexander  DeWitt  and  Eli  War- 
ren 7  each  and  Dan  Hill,  Newell  Nelson,  Warren  Rawson,  Pearley  Hunt 
and  John  W.  Lincoln  1  each. 

Dan  Hill  from  the  committee  chosen  to  look  after  trespassers 
upon  the  town's  property  reported,  and  then 

Voted  that  Dan  Hill  be  authorized  to  commence  and  prosecute 
an  action  in  behalf  of  the  town,  in  such  form  as  he  may  see  fit, 
against  Henry  Chapin  of  Milford,  or  any  other  person,  for  wood 
and  timber  cut  and  carried  off  by  the  said  Chapin  or  other  per- 
son from  a  tract  of  land  in  town  known  as  the  "  Eight  Bod 
Road." 


1835.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  557 

June  1.  It  seems  that  there  was  no  choice  as  to  one  of  the 
Commissioners  at  the  late  election  and  hence  an  election  was  held 
to-day  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  road  from  Willard  Wilson's  sign  post  to  Uxbridge  road,  is 
not  yet  made  and  William  S.  Hastings,  Willard  Wilson  and  Dan 
Hill  were  chosen  a  committee  to  ascertain  upon  what  terms  the 
road  can  be  made,  whether  it  will  be  of  public  utility  and  wheth- 
er the  town  ought  to  be  at  any  expense  therefor. 

Voted  to  build  two  more  pounds,  to  be  erected  forthwith,  and 
at  such  places  as  the  committee  may  determine;  and  Jared  Ben- 
son, Aaron  Burdon  and  Obadiah  Wood  were  chosen  the  com- 
mittee. 

Voted  to  rescind  the  votes  passed  May  4th,  reducing  the  com- 
pensation of  the  Selectmen  and  School  Committee. 

June  8.  Voted  that  the  articles  in  the  warrant  relating  to  the 
"Sign  Post"  road,  so  called,  and  the  Elijah  Trask  road  be  dis- 
missed from  the  warrant. 

Voted  to  rescind  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  meeting  relating  to 
the  compensation  of  the  Selectmen  and  School  Committee,  and 
that  each  member  of  the  two  boards  have  $4  each  for  their  ser- 
vices, annually. 

June  22.  There  being  still  a  vacancy  in  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners,  no  choice  having  been  effected  at  the  last  trial,  a 
meeting  was  held  this  day  with  the  following  result,  viz : 

Jared  Weed  had  42  votes.     William  Crawford  had  31  votes. 

The  Sign  Post  road  and  the  Elijah  Trask  road  were  again  re- 
jected. 

Alexander  Hayward,  Carlisle  W.  Capron  and  Clark  Cook  were 
chosen  Pound  Keepers. 

The  petitioners  for  the  Sign  Post  Road  and  the  road  running 
from  nearly  the  same  point  (being  a  rival  route)  were  not  dis- 
couraged by  their  repeated  defeats,  but  immediately  petitioned 
for  another  meeting. 

Aug.  22.  Voted  to  accept  the  Sign  Post  road  and  dismiss  the 
article  relating  to  the  other. 

The  opponents  of  the  Sign  Post  road,  no  ways  discouraged, 
then  petitioned  for  another  meeting  which  was  held 

Sept.  26.  Then  voted  to  discontinue  the  Sign  Post  road  (78 
rods  in  length)  accepted  at  the  last  meeting. 


558  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1835. 

The  town  having  neglected  to  repair  the  Tourtelotte  road  (so 
called)  across  the  swamp,  flowed  by  the  mill  pond  of  Arnold  Taft 
and  Brothers,  the  same  was  indicted.     Upon  this  the  town 

Voted  that  the  road  complained  of  should  be  thoroughly  re- 
paired across  the  swamp. 

Dan  Hill  was  chosen  agent  to  assure  the  District  Attorney  that 
the  nuisance  complained  of  should  be  immediately  abated. 

NOV.   9.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Marcus  Morton  128. 

Edward  Everett  101.     Elected. 

"  "  Saml.  T.  Armstrong  4. 

Saml.  C.  Allen  1. 

James  F.  Armstrong         1. 
For  Lt.  Governor,  William  Foster  134. 

George  Hull  94. 

For  Senators— John  Spurr  had  128  votes.  Alexr  DeWitt  had  129  votes. 
Nathl.  Rand  had  129  votes.  John  Boyenton  had  129  votes.  Chas.  Sihley 
had  98  votes.  Joseph  Thayer  had  78  votes.  E  D.  Sargent  had  32  votes. 
Newell  Nelson  had  40  votes.  Dan  Hill  had  3  votes.  Ahiel  Jaques  had  1 
vote.  Chas.  Hudson  had  83  votes.  Chas.  Allen  had  84  votes.  Chas.  Rus- 
sell had  84  votes.  Waldo  Flint  had  81  votes.  Linus  Child  had  85  votes. 
Ethan  A.  Greenwood  had  84  votes.  Eli  Warren  had  4  votes.  Pearley  Hunt 
had  2  votes.     Adin  Ballou  had  1  vote.     Wm.  Crawford  had  1  vote. 

REPRESENTATIVE  TO    THE    GENERAL    COURT. 

Voted  to  send  four  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 

1st  ballot.  2d  ballot,  M  ballot.     4th  ballot,  5th  ballot. 

Dan  Hill 56  99  106  114  60 

Johnson  Legg 95  104  119  131  133 

Seth  Davenport 40  7  2  30 

William  Legg 23  11  4  6  14 

All  others 11  14  14  12  12 

On  the  5th  ballot  Johnson  Legg  was  chosen  by  5  majority.  Two 
other  ballots  were  had  at  this  meeting  resulting  in  no  choice. 

Another  meeting  was  held  Nov.  23  and  after  three  ballots  had 
been  taken  without  effecting  a  choice,  on  the  fourth  ballot,  Ed- 
win D.  Sargent  was  chosen  by  48  majority. 

Four  other  ballots  were  taken  but  resulted  in  no  choice.  Dan 
Hill  and  Ariel  Cook  were  the  leading  candidates;  on  the  last 
ballot.  Dan  Hill  had  101,  Ariel  Cook  100,  and  there  were  8  scat- 


1836.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  559 

tering.     Dan  Hill  lacked  4  votes  of  an  election.      The  meeting 
was  then  dissolved. 

In  the  record,  pp.  104,  105, 106  and  107  may  he  found  the  re- 
location of  the  road  from  Mendon  to  Millville. 


1836.  April  -4.  Chose  Amos  W.  Pitts,  Town  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer; Benjamin  Davenport,  Ariel  Thayer,  Dan  Hill,  Jared  Ben- 
son and  Clark  Cook,  Selectmen;  Washington  Hunt,  Constahle 
and  Collector  at  $29.00;  Amos  W.  Pitts,  Samuel  Allen,  Stephen 
Taft,  Daniel  W.  Allen  and  Arthur  Cook,  Jr.,  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  repair  the  bridge  over  the  Blackstonc 
River,  at  Blackstone  Village,  ''unless  it  shall  appear  to  them  that 
the  town  is  not  bound  to  maintain  it."' 

Register  of  Deeds — Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  had  5  votes.     Unanimous. 

April  25.  Voted,  pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the 
General  School  Committee,  that  the  Chairman  have  the  general 
superintendence  of  the  schools  and  which  he  is  to  visit  as  the  law 
requires;  his  four  associates  shall  each  attend  the  Chairman  when 
visiting  the  schools  in  his  section  of  the  town,  and  their  com- 
pensation shall  be  as  follows,  viz:  The  Chairman  shall  have  $20 
and  each  of  his  associates  $4  per  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $4500,  to  be  appropriated  as  follows,  viz:  $1500 
for  the  support  of  schools;  $400  for  the  support  of  the  poor; 
$2000  for  repair  of  the  roads  and  bridges  and  other  incidental  ex- 
penses, and  $600  for  the  payment  of  arrearages. 

In  relation  to  the  rejiort  of  the  Selectmen  in  regard  to  the  road 
passing  over  the  island,  in  the  river  at  Millville;  that,  in  1770, 
permission  was  given  for  a  grist  mill  (upon  the  island)  to  be  part- 
ly in  the  road,  and  that  the  road  between  the  mill  and  Thayer  & 
Fairbanks'  Factory  is  but  27^  feet  wide,  the  town  thereupon 

Voted  that  the  owners  of  the  aforesaid  buildings  be  notified  to 
forthwith  remove  them  without  the  limits  of  the  road. 

Voted  that  William  Soden  Hastings,  Esq.,  be  an  agent,  in  be- 
half of  the  town,  to  notify  the  owners  as  aforesaid,  and,  in  case 
of  their  neglect,  to  commence  and  prosecute  an  action  or  actions, 
in  such  form  as  he  may  see  fit. 


560  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1836. 

Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  from 
Blackstone  village  to  Rhode  Island  line;  and  that  they  be  au- 
thorized to  render  said  road  and  the  bridge  over  Blackstone  river 
passable  as  soon  as  practicable. 

Voted  to  accept  of  an  alteration  in  the  road  near  Timothy  Al- 
exander's house  as  reported  by  the  Selectmen. 

The  laying  out  of  these  roads  may  be  found  recorded  on  p. 
115,  vol.  VI. 

May  14.  The  discontinuance  of  the  Eight  Rod  road,  so  called, 
as  proposed  by  an  article  in  the  warrant  was  indefinitely  post- 
poned. 

Dan  Hill,  Esq.,  was  chosen  General  Agent. 

Voted  that  William  S.  Hastings,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  peti- 
tion the  County  Commissioners  to  lay  out  anew  the  road  in  Mill- 
ville,  leading  from  Mellen  Benson's  dwelling  house  over  Black- 
stone river  and  the  island  in  the  same,  to  the  dwelling  house  of 
Collins  Capron,  or  such  part  thereof  as,  in  their  judgment,  the 
public  convenience  may  require,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
the  boundary  lines  of  said  road. 

Nov.  14.  The  following  is  the  vote  on  the  twelfth  article  of 
the  amendments  to  the  State  Constitution,  which  lessened  the 
number  of  Representatives  in  the  General  Court.  This  amend- 
ment was  introduced  by  Obadiah  Wood,  a  Representative  from 
Mendon,  in  the  Legislature  of  1835  and,  having  been  passed  by 
the  Legislature  of  1836  was  now  before  the  people  for  confirma- 
tion or  rejection. 

For  the  Amendment  to  the  Constitution — Yeas  105.     Nays  69. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Edward  Everett,        114  votes.     Elected. 

"  Marcus  Morton,  214 

"  "  Samuel  Hoar,  3 

Samuel  C.  Allen,  1 

For  Lt.  Governor,  George  Hull,  119 

William  Foster,  214      " 

Senators— Chan.  Hudson  120  votes.  Chas.  Russell  120  votes.  Chas.  Allen 
119  votes.  Linus  Child  119  votes.  Ethan  A.  Greenwood  120  votes.  Wil- 
lial  Hancock  120  votes.  Alexander  DeWitt  213  votes.  John  Spun-  213 
votes.  Joseph  Knox  213  votes.  Sullivan  Sumner  213  votes.  Nathaniel 
Wood  213  votes.     Chas.  Sibley  213  votes. 


1837.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  561 

ELECTORS    OF    PRESIDENT    AND    VICE    PRESIDENT. 

For  Electors  at  Large — For  Nathaniel  Silsby  124  votes.  Edward  A.  New- 
ton 124  votes.     Nathan  Willis  217  votes.     Seth  Whitmarsh  217  votes. 

For  District  No—  For  District  No.— 

1.  Samuel  Appleton 124  votes  1.  Caleb  Eddy 217  votes 

2.  Leverett  Saltonstall. . .  124  ''■  2.  Robert  Rantoul 217  " 

3.  Benjamin  Walker. ..  .124  "  3.  Joseph  Kittredge 217  " 

4.  Loammi  Baldwin 124  "  4.  Francis  Tuttle 217  " 

5.  Joseph  G.  Kendall..  .124  "  5.  Samuel  Taylor 217  " 

6.  Samuel  Lee 124  "  6.   Samuel  C.  Allen 217  " 

7.  Thomas  Longey 124  "  7.  Joseph  Fitch 217  " 

8.  Isaac  C.  Bates 124  "  8.  Harvey  Chapin 217  " 

9.  Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr 124  "  9.  Benj.  P.  Williams. ..  217  " 

10.  Howard  Lathrop 124     "  10.  Nathan  C.  Brownell .  .217     " 

11.  Chas.  W.  Morgan. ...  124     "  11.  Thomas  Mandell 217     " 

12    Chas.  J.  Holmes 124     "  12.  Jabez  P.  Thompson.  .217     " 

For  Representative  in  Congress — William  S.  Hastings  of  Mendon  had  138 
votes.  Alexander  H.  Everett,  of  Newton,  had  212  votes.  Eli  Warren,  of 
Upton,  had  2  votes. 

Representatives  to  the  General  Court — Ariel  Cook,  Jared  Benson,  Clark 
Cook  and  Washington  Hunt  were  chosen  by  majorities  from  34  to  60. 


1837.  April  3-  Chose  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer;  Johnson  Legg,  Ariel  Thayer,  Luke  Aldrich,  Millins  Taft 
and  Scammell  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  Seneca  Hills  and  Ahab  Reed, 
Constables;  Stephen  Taft,  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  Daniel  W.  Al- 
len, David  Davenport  and  John  Cady,  School  Committee. 

Vote  for  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase  had  all  the  votes,  38  in  num- 
ber. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  give  a  satisfactory  bond  to  the 
acceptance  of  the  Selectmen. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer,  as  Collector,  shall  have  a  sum  not 
exceeding  $50  to  pay  a  deputy  or  deputies  which  he  is  hereby  au- 
thorized to  appoint,  for  the  collection  of  the  taxes. 

Voted  that  the  annual  meeting,  in  future,  be  held  on  the  first 
Monday  in  March. 

At  this  period  the  Government  of  the  United  States  found  its 
debts  all  paid  and  a  large  surplus  in  the  Treasury,  some  twenty 
millions  of  dollars. 

This  surplus,  by  an  act  of  Congress,  was  placed  on  deposit  with 
71 


562  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1837. 

the  several  States,  liable  to  be  refunded  when  Congress  should 
make  a  demand. 

The  State  of  Massachusetts  decided  to  deposit  its  portion  of 
the  "Surplus  Revenue,"  as  it  was  called,  with  the  several  towns. 

Mendon  agreed  to  receive  its  portion  (amounting  to  $6921.64, 
of  which  $4803.45  was  surrendered  to  Blackstone  at  the  time  of 
its  incorporation  in  1845,)  upon  the  following  terms,  the  motion 
being  made  by  William  S.  Hastings,  Esq. 

Voted  that  the  town  of  Mendon  hereby  agrees  to  accept  and  receive,  as  a 
deposite,  from  the  Treasurer  and  Receiver  General  of  this  Commonwealth, 
all  such  sums  of  money  as  said  town  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  by  vir- 
tue of  an  Act  entitled  an  Act,  "  Concerning  the  Deposite  of  the  Surplus 
Revenue  "  approved  March  31,  1837,  on  the  terms  and  for  the  purposes  in 
said  Act.     And  for  this  purpose 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  be  and  he  is  hereby 
authorized,  for  and  in  behalf  of  said  town,  to  receive  from  the  Treasurer 
and  Receiver  General  of  this  Commonwealth,  said  town's  proportion  of  the 
money  to  be  deposited  with  the  several  towns  in  this  Commonwealth,  by 
virtue  of  said  Act,  and  to  make,  execute  and  sign  as  Treasurer,  in  behalf 
of  said  town,  certificates  of  deposite  therefor,  in  such  form  as  shall  be  pre- 
scribed by  the  Treasurer  of  the  Commonwealth,  binding  said  town  in  its 
corporate  capacity,  for  the  repayment  of  the  money  that  shall  be  deposited 
with  the  said  town,  or  any  and  every  part  thereof,  from  time  to  time,  when- 
ever the  same  shall  be  required  by  the  said  Treasurer  and  Receiver  General 
of  this  Commonwealth,  to  be  by  him  refunded  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States,  as  provided  in  said  Act. 

Benjamin  Davenport,  Nathan  George,  Robert  Allen,  Nathan 
Hayward,  Moses  Daniels,  Moses  Kelly,  Arnold  Taft,  Luke  Al- 
drich,  Leonard  W.  Darling,  Alexander  Wilson,  Samuel  Very, 
Ariel  Thayer,  Willard  AVilson,  Anson  Aldrich  and  Abel  Wilder, 
being  one  from  each  School  District,  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
consider  what  disposition  should  be  made  of  the  portion  of  the 
Surplus  Revenue,  deposited  or  to  be  deposited  with  the  town,  as 
before  mentioned. 

April  17.  This  committee  made  a  report  this  day  (not  record- 
ed) which  was  not  accepted;  whereupon  upon  motion  of  Dan  Hill, 
Esq.,  it  was 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  is  hereby  authorized  to  loan  the  money, 
which  the  town  shall  receive,  as  their  portion  of  the  Surplus  Revenue,  to 
such  Freeholders,  in  this  town,  as  may  apply  for  the  same;  Provided  how- 
ever that  a  greater  sum  than  $1000,  nor  a  less  sum  than  $300  shall  not  be 


1837.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  563 

loaned  to  any  individual;  and  provided  also  that  each  individual  to  whom 
a  loan  shall  he  made  shall  give  to  said  Town  Treasurer  a  Note  payable  at 
some  future  time,  not  exceeding  one  year  from  the  day  of  the  loan,  and  the 
payment  thereof  secured  by  a  Mortgage  upon  real  estate  in  town  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  Selectmen. 

Voted  that  the  interest  arising  from  the  Surplus  Revenue,  be 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  Common  Schools. 

Voted  to  raise  11800  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  for  the  support  of  schools  the  current 
year. 

Voted  to  raise  1400  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $2000  to  defray  the  incidental  expenses  this  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  to  pay  outstanding  debts. 

Voted  to  appropriate  $75  for  the  reduction  of  the  grade  of  the 
Pickering  Hill. 

Voted  that  one-half  of  the  school  money  shall  be  divided  equal- 
ly among  the  districts,  and  the  other  half  equally  among  the 
scholars,  pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the  School  Com- 
mittee. 

June  17.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  appropriating  $75  to 
reduce  the  grade  of  the  Pickering  Hill. 

The  "Sign  Post''  road  was  now  located  by  the  County  Com- 
missioners and  damages  awarded  as  follows,  viz:  To  Collins  Ca- 
pron  $33.00,  Wm.  Capron$23.00,  and  to  the  heirs  of  Esek  Pitts, 
Esq.,  $185.00,  making  in  the  aggregate  $241.00. 

July  11.  Voted  to  accept  of  a  road,  laid  out  by  the  Select- 
men, from  the  road  near  Washington  Hunt's  to  the  road  leading 
by  Samuel  Prentice's  house. 

Voted  to  establish  the  Sixteenth  School  District. 

Aug.  29.  Charles  C.  P.  Hastings  was  chosen  General  Agent 
for  the  town  in  the  place  of  William  S.  Hastings  resigned. 

NOV.   13.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Marcus  Morton,  212. 

Edward  Everett,  145.     Elected. 

"  "  Saml.  T.  Armstrong,       1. 

For  Lt.  Governor,  William  Foster,  212. 

George  Hull,  14G. 

Senators — Chas.  Hudson  144.  Linus  Child  146.  Wm.  Hancock  146 
James  G.  Carter  145.     Thomas  Kinuicutt  143.     Artemas  Lee   146.     Pliny 


564  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1838. 

Merrick  2.     John  Spurr  212.      Sullivan  Sumner  212.     Nathl.  Wood  212. 
Charles  Sibley  212.     Jedediah  "Marcy  212.     Nathaniel  Rand  212. 

Voted  to  choose  three  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 

Ichabod  Cook,  Jr.,  by  a  majority  of  17  votes  in  a  poll  of  349; 
Hezekiah  Fletcher,  by  a  majority  of  12  in  a  poll  of  345,  and  Sam- 
uel Allen,  Esq.,  (after  a  2nd  ballot)  by  a  majority  of  6,  in  a  poll 
of  344,  were  chosen  Representatives. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  one  from  each  school  district 
to  consider  the  way  and  mode  of  dividing  the  school  money. 

Voted  to  reconsider  a  vote  passed  April  17,  1837,  concerning 
the  manner  of  loaning  the  surplus  revenue. 

Voted,  upon  motion  of  Dan  Hill,  Esq.,  that  the  Treasurer  be 
authorized  to  loan  the  residue  of  the  Surplus  Eevenue  in  the 
Town  Treasury,  in  the  same  manner  and  under  the  same  restric- 
tions as  voted  by  the  town,  March  17,  1837,  and  in  case  it  shall 
not  be  called  for  and  taken  in  the  course  of  the  present  month, 
the  Treasurer  shall  be  at  liberty  to  loan  the  whole  or  any  part 
thereof  upon  such  personal  security  as  a  committee,  now  to  be 
chosen,  shall  approve.  Amariah  Taft,  Elijah  Thayer  and  Dan 
Hill  were  then  chosen  as  the  committee. 

Rev.  David  Cushman  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  School  Com- 
mittee in  the  place  of  John  Cady,  resigned. 

The  County  Commissioners  relocated  the  road  across  the  Black- 
stone  river,  at  Millville,  crossing  the  Island. 


1838.  Jan.  15.  Voted  that  the  School  Committee  shall  have 
the  same  compensation  as  the  Selectmen  have. 

Voted  that  a  committee  of  one  from  each  School  District,  be 
chosen  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  subject  "  of  establishing 
a  School  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  town." 

Dan  Hill,  Esq.,  was  chosen  agent,  and  authorized  to  take  such 
measures  as  he  may  choose,  to  demand  and  receive  of  Washing- 
ton Hunt  all  moneys  in  his  hands  belonging  to  the  town. 

Feb.  2.  Nathan  Hayward  and  others  having  petitioned  the 
General  Court  to  be  set  off  to  the  town  of  Bellingham,  it  was 

Voted  to  choose  an  agent  to  oppose  the  granting  the  prayer  of 
the  petition,  and  Jared  Benson,  Esq.,  was  chosen. 

John  G.  Metcalf,  Johnson  Legg  and  Amariah  Taft  were  chosen 


1838.]  ANNALS    OF  .MENDON.  565 

a  committee  to  draw  up  a  remonstrance  against  the  prayer  of  the 
petition  aforesaid. 

March  5.  Chose  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk;  David  Daven- 
port, Emery  Scott,  Alexander  Wilson,  Welcome  Staples  and  Ri- 
ley Daniels,  Selectmen;  Stephen  Taft,  Treasurer;  School  Com- 
mittee, David  Davenport,  Louis  Cook  and  Arthur  Cook,  Jr. 
The  Treasurer  was  chosen  Collector  and  Ahab  Reed,  Constable. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  directed  to  issue  warrants  of  dis- 
tress to  the  Highway  Surveyors. 

April  2.     Choice  of  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase  had  30  votes. 

Commissioners — William  Crawford  200.  Samuel  Taylor  125.  Amory 
Holmau  122.     .Tared  Weed  77.     Thos.  Chamberlain  76.     All  others  3. 

Special  Commissioners — David  Davenport  123.  Zachariah  Sheldon  123. 
Sullivan  Thayer  76.     Hiram  Wheelock  75.     All  others  3. 

Voted  to  raise  $2000  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $2000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Elijah  Thayer,  Johnson  Legg  and  Amariah  Taft  were  chosen 
Auditors  of  Accounts. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $184.19,  being  mostly 
poll  taxes. 

June  18.  Ahab  Reed,  Constable,  having  removed  from  town, 
Willard  Wilson  was  chosen  Constable. 

July  2.     Taxes  were  forgone -amounting  to  $20.00. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  Selectmen  giving  the  bound- 
aries of  the  several  School  Districts,  seventeen  in  number. 

Dan  Hill,  Emery  Scott  and  Elijah  Thayer  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  petition  the  County  Commissioners,  in  behalf  of  the 
town,  to  discontinue  the  road  lately  located  on  the  petition  of 
William  S.  Hastings  and  twenty-one  others.  This  was  the  road 
now  in  use  from  near  the  house  of  Samuel  G.  Wilcox  to  Belling- 
ham  line  near  the  house  of  Ellis  Rullard. 

Oct.  31.  The  committee  above  chosen  were  authorized  to  ap- 
pear before  the  County  Commissioners  on  the  5th  day  of  Novem- 
ber next  for  the  purpose  of  opposing  the  petition  above  referred 
to. 

NOV.   12.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Marcus  Morton,  285. 

"  Edward  Everett,  199.     Elected. 


5GG  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1838. 


For  Governor, 

Saml.  C.  Allen, 

3. 

u 

Peter  Parley, 
Chas.  Allen, 

1. 

1. 

For  Lt.  Governor, 

Theodore  Sedgwick, 

286. 

.< 

George  Hull, 

Wm.  W.  Thompson, 

200. 
3. 

After  casting  a  few  votes  it  was  voted  that  the  voters  parade 
on  the  Common  (the  road — the  meeting  was  held  at  Coverdale's 
tavern)  and  that  the  Selectmen  pass  along  and  receive  the  votes, 
checking  the  names  as  they  vote. 

For  Senators — Linus  Child  160.  William  Hancock  161.  Thos.  Kinni- 
cutt  160.  Artemas  Lee  160.  James  G.  Carter  160.  James  Allen  160. 
Pliny  Merrick  86.  Amory  Holman  88.  Aaron  Brooks,  Jr.,  64.  Joseph 
Thayer  61.  Benj.  D.  Hyde  64.  Jubal  Harrington  64.  John  Spurr  241. 
Sullivan  Sumner  241.  Nathl.  Wood  241.  Chas.  Sibley  241.  Jedediah 
Marcy  242.  Nathl.  Rand  242.  Joseph  Davis  25.  Ephraim  Stone  25.  Otis 
Hay  den  25.     Samuel  Wood  25.     Dan  Hill  1. 

For  Representative  in  Congress — William  S.  Hastings  203,  elected.  Alex- 
ander H.  Everett  267.     Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr.,  1. 

For  County  Commissioners — David  Davenport  160.  Nathan  Heard  99. 
Sullivan  Thayer  21.  Seneca  Hills  1.  Gaius  Ticklepitcher  1.  Clark  Ellis 
3.     Emery  Scott  1. 

This  election  was  held  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  Board,  occa. 
sioned  by  the  resignation  of  Jared  Weed,  Esq. 

Voted  to  send  three  Kepresentatives  to  the  General  Court. 

First  Ballot— Emory  Scott  193.  Millins  Taft  110.  Ebenr  W.  Hayward 
64.     Moses  Kelly  28.     Seneca  Hills  35.     All  others  12.     No  choice. 

Second  Ballot— Emery  Scott  200.  Millins  Taft  114.  Ebenr  W.  Hayward 
46.  Moses  Kelley  22.  Seneca  Hills  24.  Dan  Hill  11.  LabanBates4.  All 
others  6.     No  choice 

Third  Ballot— -Emery  Scott  205.  Millins  Taft  120.  Ebenr  VV.  Hayward 
29.  Seneca  Hills  27.  Moses  Kelly  20.  Elias  Balcome  9.  Dan  Hill  3.  La- 
ban  Bates  2.     Lebbeus  Gaskill  2.     All  others  5.     No  choice. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  send  three  Kepresentatives. 

Voted  not  to  send  any  and  then  dissolved  the  meeting. 

No  election  of  Representatives  having  been  effected,  another 
meeting  was  called,  pursuant  to  the  fifteenth  article  of  the 
amendment  to  the  State  Constitution. 

Nov.  26,  (being  the  last  Monday  in  that  month)  a  meeting  was 
held  to  choose  Representatives. 

The  only  vote  passed  was  one  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 


1839.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  567 

Dec.  The  committee  on  the  division  of  the  school  money, 
made  ;i  report  in  which  they  recommended  that  the  school  money 
should  be  divided  as  follows,  viz:  No  district  shall  draw  more 
than  14  per  cent,  of  the  whole  sum  raised.  The  remainder  shall 
be  divided  among  the  remaining  districts,  one-third  equally 
among  the  districts  and  two-thirds  equally  among  the  scholars. 
That  all  districts  shall  make  an  accurate  return  to  the  Selectmen 
on  or  before  the  first  day  of  December,  annually,  of  the  number 
of  children  entitled  to  draw  school  money,  in  their  respective  dis- 
tricts; and  from  all  districts,  which  do  not  make  this  return,  ten 
per  cent,  shall  be  deducted  from  the  sum  they  would  have  drawn 
had  they  made  the  required  return,  and  the  amount  shall  be  di- 
vided among  the  other  districts  by  the  rule  above  recited. 

There  being  no  election  of  a  County  Commissioner,  at  the  last 
meeting,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Ja- 
red  Reed,  Esq., 

Dec.  31.     Another  meeting  was  held  with  the  following  result: 

Nathan  Heard  7.  John  W.  Lincoln  27.  Zachariah  Sheldon  19.  Sulli- 
van Thayer,  7.     Clark  Ellis  1 . 


1839.  March  4.  No  choice  for  County  Commissioner  having 
been  made  at  the  last  meeting,  voted  to-day  as  follows,  viz: 

Nathan  Heard  64.  John  W.  Lincoln  62,  William  N.  Green,  Esq.,  67. 
All  others  3. 

Chose  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  David  Daven- 
port, Jared  Benson,  Anson  Aldrich,  Alexr  H.  Allen  and  Joseph 
B.  Cook,  Selectmen;  David  Ross,  Constable,  and  Arthur  Cook, 
Jr.,  Alexander  H.  Allen  and  Rev.  William  H.  Fish,  School  Com- 
mittee.    The  Treasurer,  Collector. 

Voted  that  the  salary  of  the  Constable  be  ten  dollars  for  all  the 
services  he  may  perform  for  the  town. 

The  reports  of  the  Selectmen,  Treasurer  and  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  were  then  read,  accepted  and  put  on  file. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  on 
the  credit  of  the  town,  not  to  exceed  $1400,  to  meet  the  liabili- 
ties of  the  town. 

The  poll  was  then  opened  for  a  County  Treasurer,  and  An- 
thony Chase  had  59. 


568  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1830. 

April  1.  Voted  to  raise  $3500  and  appropriate  the  same  to  de- 
fray incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  for  the  support  of  the  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $2000  to  defray  the  repairs  for  highways  and 
bridges. 

Alexander  H.  Allen  was  chosen  agent  to  sell  a  certain  piece  of 
land,  now  common,  near  Samuel  GaskilPs  house,  being  the  same 
piece  of  land  conveyed  to  the  town  by  Col.  James  Mellen.  The 
same  was  purchased  by  Amariah  Taft  and  Samuel  Gaskill. 

Town  taxes  for  1838  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $84.54. 

School  taxes  in  the  Sixth  School  District  to  the  amount  of 
$37.90 

School  taxes  in  the  First  School  District  to  the  amount  of 
$3.77. 

Voted  that  any  one  driving  faster  than  a  walk  over  the  bridge 
at  Blackstone  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  $1.00,  and  the  Selectmen 
are  recpiired  to  carry  this  rule  into  effect. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  in  reference  to  the 
establishment  of  a  High  School  was  referred  to  the  School  Com- 
mittee. 

April  11.  The  rule  voted  by  the  town  in  regard  to  driving 
over  the  bridge  at  Blackstone,  was  approved  and  allowed  by  the 
the  County  Commissioners. 

May  G.  Voted  to  accept  of  the  road  located  near  the  house  of 
Caleb  Thayer,  and  also  of  a  road  located  near  Samuel  Prentice's 
house. 

Voted  to  refer  the  claims  of  Washington  Hunt,  for  a  full  set- 
tlement, to  the  Selectmen. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $2.26  in  bill  for  1838. 

June  3.  It  seems  the  vacancy  in  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners was  not  yet  filled  and  hence  another  trial  was  had  this 
day 

Nathan  Heard  had  7  votes.     John  W.  Lincoln  6.     Wm,  N.  Green  28. 

Johnson  Legg,  Abel  Wilder  and  Jared  Benson  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  division  of  the  highway 
districts. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $3.82. 

Voted  that  the  Collector  shall  commit  Almond  Ballon,  Arnold 


1839.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  569 

Eddy,  Daniel  Clifford,  Lorin  Munyan,  Parley  IL  Prentice  and 
John  Rowley,  Jr.,  to  the  County  Jail  provided  they  will  not  pay 
their  taxes  and  that  the  Collector  be  paid  all  necessary  charges 
and  the  Treasurer  to  furnish  money  to  pay  their  board  until  fur- 
ther orders  from  the  town. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  following  rules  and  regulations  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Poor  House. 

RULES   AND    REGULATIONS. 

1.  No  person  shall  leave  the  farm  without  permission  first  had  of  the  Su- 
perintendent or  his  wife,  and  shall  obey  the  said  Superintendent  and  his 
wife  in  all  reasonable  commands  or  requirements  at  all  times. 

2.  No  person  shall  bring,  or  cause  to  be  brought,  on  to  the  premises, 
without  leave  first  had  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  any  intoxicating 
liquors,  nor  shall  they  grant  any  leave  without  the  direction  of  a  regular 
physician. 

3.  If  any  person,  having  leave  of  absence,  shall  return  home  intoxicated, 
they  shall  not  have  leave  of  absence  for  three  months  thereafter. 

4.  Profane  or  immodest  language  shall  not  be  allowed  about  the  premi- 
ses on  any  pretence  whatever. 

5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent  and  his  wife  to  preside  at 
the  tables  of  their  respective  sexes  and  see  that  proper  decorum  by  each  in- 
dividual is  observed  and  that  each  one  has  their  proper  portion. 

6.  No  person  shall  be  kept  in  the  cell  to  exceed  three  hours  without  no- 
tice to  the  Overseers,  nor  shall  any  person  be  kept  in  the  cell,  during  the 
usual  hours  of  sleep,  under  any  circumstances,  but  may  be  put  in  again  if 
not  sufficiently  reformed  the  following  day. 

Arnold  Taft,     ) 

Elijah  Thayer,  >  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

Johnson  Legg,    ) 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  in  the  Thirteenth  School  District  to  the 
amount  of  $11.95. 

The  March  meeting  warrant,  which  had  been  adjourned  from 
time  to  time,  was  now  dissolved. 

NOV.   11.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Marcus  Morton,  284  votes.     Elected. 

Edward  Everett,  174      " 
"            "                 Robert  Itantoul,  Jr.,       2 

For  Lt.  Governor,   Nathan  Willis,  284      " 

George  Hull,  175      " 
Charles  Allen,  2      " 

For  Senators — John  Spurr  230  votes.     Nathl.  Wood  280  votes.     Jedediah 
72 


570  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1839. 

Marcy  280  votes.  Charles  Sibley  280  votes.  Benj.  Eastabrook  280  votes. 
James  Estabrook  280  votes.  James  G.  Carter  139  votes.  Thos.  Kinnecutt 
137  votes.  Artemas  Lee  139  votes.  Samuel  "Wood  169  votes.  James 
Allen  139  votes.  Chas.  C.  P.  Hasting  132  votes.  Pliny  Merrick  18  votes. 
Amory  Holman  37  votes.  Seneca  Hills  37  votes.  Otis  Hayden  37  votes. 
Aaron  Brooks,  Jr.  37  votes.     All  others  had  9  votes. 

Voted  to  choose  three  Representatives  on  separate  ballots. 

First  Ballot— Emery  Scott  had  181  votes.  Stephen  Taft  had  115  votes. 
Anson  Aldrich  had  49  votes.  Laban  Bates  had  19  votes.  Alexr.  H.  Allen 
had  9  votes.  Moses  Kelley  had  61  votes.  All  others  3,  and  there  was  no 
choice. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  choose  three  Representatives. 

Nov.  25.  A  new  meeting  was  called  for  the  election  of  Rep- 
resentatives to  the  General  Court,  being  the  fourth  Monday  in 
November,  as  provided  in  the  fifteenth  Amendment  to  the 
Constitution. 

Voted  to  choose  three  Representatives  to  the  General  Court. 

First  Ballot— Laban  Bates  2d  had  179  votes.  Moses  Kelley  had  81  votes. 
Stephen  Taft  had  60  votes.  Anson  Aldrich  had  29  votes.  Alexr.  H.  Allen 
had  5  votes.     All  others  had  20.     No  choice. 

Second  BaUot — Laban  Bates  2d  had  192  votes.  Moses  Kelley  had  72 
votes.  Anson  Aldrich  had  37  votes.  Stephen  Taft  had  28  votes.  George 
Southwick  had  21  votes.  All  others  had  14  votes.  Laban  Bates  2d  was 
chosen  by  9  majority. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  until  the  next  day  (Nov.  26) 
at  10  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Nov.  2G.  Voted  to  proceed  to  vote  for  a  second.  Representa- 
tive. 

Voted  that  the  meeting  be  adjourned  until  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  in 
order  if  ^tossible,  to  procure  the  check  list  of  voters. 

Two  o'clock  P.  M.  the  check  list  having  been  obtained,  the 
meeting  was  called  to  order  and  proceeded  to  vote  for  a  second 
Representative  and  it  was  found  that 

Leonard  Taft  had  151  votes.     Thomas  Taft  had  11  votes. 

Leonard  Taft  was  then  declared  to  be  chosen. 

Upon  a  second  ballot  Caleb  Thayer  had  126  votes.  George  Southwick 
had  18.     All  others  had  4. 

Caleb  Thayer  was  declared  to  be  chosen. 

As  the  fifteenth  article  of  the  amendments  gives  no  authority 


1840.]  ANNALS-  OF  MENDON.  571 

for  holding  a  meeting  for  the  choice  of  Representatives,  after  the 
fourth  Monday  in  November,  a  remonstrance  was  laid  before  the 
House  of  Representatives;  and,  in  due  season,  Leonard  Taft 
and  Caleb  Thayer  were  not  recognized  as  members  of  that  body. 
At  this  election,  Marcus  Morton,  of  Taunton,  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  Governor,  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  one  vote. 


1840.  March  2.  Voted  to  choose  five  Selectmen  on  one  bal- 
lot. Chose  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  Jared 
Benson,  Nathan  Hayward,  Benj.  Ray,  Samuel  Very  and  Benoni 
Staples,  Selectmen;  Francis  Kelly,  David  Davenport  and  Dr. 
Moses  D.  Southwick,  School  Committee,  and  David  Ross  Con- 
stable. 

This  meeting  was  held  at  Coverdale's  Tavern,  and  after  the 
choice  of  Moderator,  it  was  voted  "to  adjourn  from  the  hall  to 
a  room  on  the  ground  and  to  receive  votes  at  a  window  from  the 
common  in  front  of  the  house." 

Votes  for  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase  had  73  votes. 

Voted  that  the  Constable  be  paid  $10  for  his  services. 

April  G.     The  following  is  the  vote  upon  the  adoption  of  the 
thirteenth  article  of  the  amendments  to  the  constitution: 
Yeas  19.     Nays  39. 

No  election  (to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Jared  Weed  Esq.,) 
for  a  County  Commissioner  having  been  effected,  another  trial 
was  had  to-day. 

Nathan  Heard  had  30.  Adam  Harrington  had  83.  John  W.  Lincoln 
had  9.     All  others  had  4. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  for 
the  us.e  of  the  town  as  he  shall  find  necessary. 

Voted  to  direct  the  Assessors  to  issue  warrants  of  distress  to 
the  Highway  Surveyors. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $27.80  for  1831). 

Voted  to  raise  $3000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $(100  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 


572  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1840. 

Voted  to  raise  $1500  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 
This  tax  to  be  paid  in  labour  at  10  cents  per  hour  for  a  man, 
and  10  cents  per  hour  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart. 

May  1G.  Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $61.31  for 
1838  and  1839. 

Voted  that  the  Collector  shall  commit  to  the  county  jail  all 
who  have  not  paid  their  taxes  for  1839,  and  still  neglect  to  do  so. 

June  1G.  By  a  return  of  the  Assessors  made  to  the  Town 
Clerk  this  day,  it  was  found  that  the  enrolled  militia  were  505. 

August  19.  Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  enter  a  com- 
plaint against  the  dam  at  Millville  as  a  public  nuisance,  provided 
the  owners  do  not  let  down  the  water,  according  to  the  direc- 
tions of  the  Selectmen,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  bridge. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  for  1840  to  the  amount  of  $19.20. 

NOV.   9.  STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor,  Marcus  Morton,  323. 

John  Davis,  283.     Elected. 

"  "  George  W.  Johnson,      3. 

David  L.  Child,  1. 

For  Lt.  Governor,        Nathan  Willis,  319. 

George  Hull.  284. 

Abel  Bliss,  3. 

John  T.  Hilton,  1. 

For  Senators — John  Spurr  316.  Benj.  Easterbrook  316.  Aaron  S.  Gibbs 
316.  Adam  Harrington  316.  Ariel  Bragg  316.  Samuel  Wood  285.  Chas. 
C.  P.  Hastings  285.  Emory  Washburn  285.  James  Allen  285.  Amory 
Hoi  man  285.  Edward  Earl,  Isaac  R.  Barbour,  Asaph  Rice,  Cyrus  Pitt 
Grosvenor  and  Joshua  Titus  Everett  had  4  votes  each.  Edward  Clark 
1  vote. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Joseph  B.  Cook  had  289  votes. 
Stephen  Taft  had  279  votes.  Samuel  W.  Doggett  had  32  votes.  All  others 
had  3  votes. 

There  was  no  choice.  S.  W.  Doggett  (Democrat)  was  self 
nominated. 

For  Representative  in  Congress — Alexander  H.  Everett,  of  Roxbury,  had 
303  votes.  William  S.  Hastings,  of  Mendon,  had  295  votes.  Elected. 
Others  had  6  votes. 

ELECTORS   OF   PRESIDENT   AND   VICE   PRESIDENT. 

Electors  at  Large.     (Bern.)  Electors  at  Large.     (Whig). 

William  P.  Walker 305    Isaac  C.  Bates 301 

Ebenezer  Fisher 305    Peleg  Sprague 301 


1841.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


573 


1  Distr 

2 

do. 

3 

do. 

4 

do. 

5 

do. 

6 

do. 

7 

do. 

8 

do. 

9 

do. 

10 

do. 

11 

do. 

12 

do. 

For  Districts*. 

ict,  Caleb  Eddy 305 

Robert  Upton 305 

Nathaniel  Stevens. .  .305 
Timothy  Thompson .  305 
Samuel  D.  Spurr. . .  .305 

.       Caleb  Hubbard 305 

.       JohnLeland 305 

James  Fowler 305 

Artemas  Brown 305 

.       Nathan  C.  Brownell .  805 

.       Thomas  Mandell. . .  .305 

Jesse  Pierce 305 


For  Districts. 

1  District,  Richard  Horton 301 

2  do.  Stephen  C.  Phillips..  301 

3  do.       Rufus  Longley 301 

4  do.       Sydney  Willard 301 

5  do.       Ira  M.  Barton 301 

6  do.       George  Grennell 301 

7  do.  Thaddeus  Conway.  ..301 

8  do.       Samuel  Mixter 301 

9  do.       Thomas  French 301 

10  do.       Wilkes  Wood 301 

11  do.       Joseph  Tripp 301 

12  do.  John  B.  Thomas.... 301 


Electors  at  Large.     {Liberty.)  Electors  at  L^arge. 

Jesse  Wheaton 5     Henry  J.  Chapman 2 

Sylvester  Judd 5     Seth  Sprague 2 


Districts. 

1  District,  John  E.  Fuller 5 

Ebenr  Hunt 5 

George  Coggswell 5 

James  T.  Woodbury.. 5 

Thomas  W.  Ward 5 

Joel  Hayden 5 

George  W.  Sterling. . .  .5 
Chas.  Starkweather. ...  5 
Bucklin  F.  Holliston..5 

Benjamin  Burt 5 

Zenas  D.  Bassett 5 

Azel  Ames 5 


2 

do. 

3 

do. 

4 

do. 

5 

do. 

6 

do. 

7 

do. 

8 

do. 

9 

do. 

10 

do. 

11 

do. 

12 

do. 

Districts. 

1  District,  John  Rogers 2 

2  do.  John  Smith 2 

3  do.  Richard  Plummer 2 

4  do.  Calvin  Temple 1 

5  do.  Daniel  Paul 1 

6  do.  Asa  Howland 2 

7  do.  J.  W.  Robbins 1 

8  do.  John  M.  Fisk 2 

9  do.  Cyrus  Allen 1 

10  do.  Samuel  Shove 2 

11  do.  Andrew  Marcy 1 

12  do.  LorinW.  Reed  2 


Beside  the  above  tickets  I  find  the  following  record: 

No.  4,  Josiah  Bartlett  1.  No.  5,  Samuel  May  1.  No.  7,  Tyler  Thacher  1. 
No.  9,  Wm.  S.  Hastings  1.     No.  11,  Isaac  Austin  1. 

There  was,  during  the  whole  day  of  the  election,  a  very  heavy 
rain;  but,  notwithstanding,  it  was  the  largest  meeting  that  had 
ever  been  convened  in  the  town,  the  whole  number  of  votes  cast 
being  613. 

William  H.  Harrison  was  elected  President. 


1841.  Feb.  3.  It  being  supposed  that  Ezekiel  Wood,  of 
Uxbridge,  had  trespassed  upon  the  land  belonging  to  the  town, 
Arnold  Taft  was  chosen  an  Agent  to  prosecute  said  Wood  by 


574  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1841. 

process  of  law,  or  to  have  the  question  of  boundary  settled  by 
arbitration. 

March  1.  Stephen  Taft  was  chosen  Town  Clerk,  Treasurer 
and  Collector;  Arnold  Taft,  Thayer  Bellows,  Willard  Chilson, 
Laban  Bates,  2nd,  and  Welcome  Thayer,  Selectmen;  David 
Ross,  Constable,  and  Louis  Cook,  Francis  Kelly  and  David 
Davenport,  School  Committee. 

Voted  not  to  choose  Tithingmen. 

For  Register  of  Deeds,  Adam  Harrington  had  125  votes,  and 
Artemas  Ward  had  48. 

For  County  Treasurer,  Anthony  Chase  had  45  votes. 

April  5.  The  vote  for  County  Commissioners  was  as  fol- 
lows, viz: 

For  Commissioners — William  Crawford  118.  Samuel  Taylor  101.  Zach- 
ariah  Sheldon  101.  David  Davenport  50.  Charles  Thurber  51.  Ariel 
Bragg  32.     All  others  3. 

For  Special  Commissioners — Stephen  Davis  51.  Jerome  Gardner  50.  Adam 
Harrington  101.  Sullivan  Thayer  32.  David  Davenport  30.  Nathan 
George  1. 

The  following  list  of  Jurors  presented  by  the  Selectmen  was 
adopted: 

Adam  Wheelock,*  Francis  Kelly,*  Joseph  B.  Cook,  Alexander  H.  Allen,* 
Moses  T.  Chapin,*  Samuel  G.  Wilcox,  Jared  Benson,*  Samuel  Chase, 
Albert  Fairbanks,  Collins  Capron,  Emanuel  N.  Paine,  Millins  Taft,  Alan- 
son  S.  Freeman,*  William  Legg,*  Thomas  Taft,*  Joseph  Tucker,  Scam- 
mell  Aldrich,*  Jonathan  M.  Shove,  Anson  Aldrich,*  Samuel  Very,*  Abel 
Aldrich,  Jr.,*  Peter  Gaskill,  Jr.,*  Reuben  Thayer,*  Leonard  W.  Darling,* 
Stephen  H.  Thayer,  Lewis  Wood,  Henry  Coverdale,*  Perry  Wood,  Luke 
Aldrich,*  Ichabod  Cook,*  Eli  Kelley,  Jos.  G  Davenport,*  Abram  Staples,* 
Nathan  Hayward,*  Luke  Aldrich,  2nd,*  Ebenezer  Chase,  Laban  Bates, 
2nd,  Emory  Scott,*  Thayer  Bellows,  Daniel  S.  Southwick,  Rufus  Hay- 
ward,*  Naum  Gaskill,*  Nicholas  Thayer,*  Benjamin  Davenport*,  Jason 
Staples,*  Thurber  Warfield,  George  Bates,*  Laban  Bates,  Leonard  Taft,* 
Silas  Dudley,  Clark  Cook,*  Samuel  Thayer,*  Welcome  Thayer,*  Eliab  C. 
Perham,*  Ariel  Cook,  Jr.,  Carlisle  W  Capron,  Stephen  Taft,*  Nathan  C. 
Aldrich,*  Benoni  Staples,*  Andrus  Wheelock.* 

Voted  to  raise  $3000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $000  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

*Dead. 


1842.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  575 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  issue  distress  warrants  to  the  High- 
way Surveyors. 

May  3.  At  the  recent  trial  for  a  choice  of  County  Commis- 
sioners, but  one  Commissioner  was  chosen,  and  at  a  meeting 
held  this  day  a  ballot  was  taken  for  two  County  Commissioners 
and  two  Special  Commissioners,  as  follows: 

For  County  Commissioners — Samuel  Taylor  had  45  votes.  Zachariah 
Sheldon  had  45  votes.  Abiah  Jaques  had  8  votes.  Clark  Ellis  had  1  vote. 
David  Davenport  had  20  votes.  Charles  Thurber  had  28  votes.  Jared 
Weed  had  1  vote. 

For  Special  Commissioners  —  Adam  Harrington  had  45  votes.  David 
Davenport  had  31  votes.  Stephen  Davis  had  20  votes.  Jerome  Gardner 
had  20  votes.  Salem  Towne  had  8  votes.  Edmund  Gushing  had  8  votes. 
All  others  had  2  votes. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $25.40. 
The  Assessors  returned  the  number  of  the  enrolled  militia  at 
438. 

NOV.  8.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Marcus  Morton,  292. 

John  Davis,  197.     Elected. 

"  Lucius  Boltwood,  2. 

"  "  John  Q.  Adams,  1. 

For  Lt.  Governor,     Henry  H.  Childs,  292. 

George  Hull,  197. 

"  "  Ebenezer  Hunt,  2. 

For  Senators— John  Spurr  292.  Isaac  Davis  292.  Nathaniel  Wood  292. 
Adam  Harrington  291.  Benj.  Esterbrook  291.  Samuel  Wood  196.  James 
Allen  197.  Amory  Holman  196.  Emory  Washburn  198.  Alexr  DeWitt 
196. 

FOR    REPRESENTATIVE    TO   THE    GENERAL   COURT. 

Mendon,  by  the  recent  amendment  to  the  Constitution,  was 
entitled  to  but  one  Bepresentative  to  the  General  Court. 

Willard  Wilson  had  269  votes.  Joseph  B.  Cook  had  200  votes.  Others 
had  5  votes. 


1842.  March  7.  Chose  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk,  Treas- 
urer and  Collector;  Arnold  Taft,  Laban  Bates,  2nd,  Peter 
Gaskill,  Jr.,  Millins  Taft,  and  Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Selectmen; 
chosen  on  a  general  ticket;  David  Ross,  Constable. 


576  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1842. 

Benj.  Davenport,  Warren  Rawson,  Nahum  Bates,  Olney  Cook, 
Laban  Bates,  2nd,  Benj.  Ray,  Johnson  Legg,  Obadiah  "Wood, 
Jared  Benson,  Joseph  Tucker,  Milling  Taft,  Ariel  Thayer,  Dan 
Hill,  Abel  Wilder,  Luke  Aldrich,  2nd,  Rufus  Hayward  and 
Willard  Chilson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  the  sub- 
ject of  building  a  Town  House,  &c. 

Voted  to  accept  a  road  near  Stephen  Tourtelotte's  provided  the 
whole  cost  shall  not  exceed  $155.00,  otherwise  that  it  be  not 
accepted. 

April  4.     Voted  to  choose  three  School  Committee  men. 

Chose  Louis  Cook,  when  a  motion  was  made  and  carried  not 
to  choose  any  more,  whereupon  Mr.  Cook  resigned.  It  was 
then  voted  to  postpone,  indefinitely,  the  choice  of  a  School 
Committee. 

Voted  that,  in  future,  one  half  of  the  town  meetings  be  held 
at  the  South  Parish  Meeting  House,  and  one  half  at  the  Inn  of 
Henry  Coverdale  (in  the  same  Parish). 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $3000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $700  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $1G00  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  accepting  the  "  Tourtelotte  road." 

April  30.  Voted  that  a  committee  of  three  be  chosen  to  ex- 
amine the  records  of  the  town  and  to  determine  if  any  of  them 
require  to  be  transcribed,  and  to  employ  some  suitable  person  to 
make  such  transcript  at  the  expense  of  the  town.  Dan  Hill, 
John  G.  Metcalf  and  Dr.  Moses  D.  Southwick  were  chosen  as 
the  committee,  to  which  the  Town  Clerk,  ex  officio,  was  joined. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  meeting  not  to 
choose  a  School  Committee,  and  now  chose  Louis  Cook,  Francis 
Kelly  and  James  Sherman. 

By  the  return  of  the  Assessors  the  enrolled  militia  were  found 
to  be  420. 

July  13.  Votes  for  Representative  in  Congress,  District  No.  9 — Ezra  Wil- 
kinson, of  Dedliam,  232  votes.  Samuel  G.  Goodrich,  121  votes.  William 
Jackson,  3  votes. 

Voted  that  the  Prudential  Committees  of  the  several  School 
Districts  return  the  number  of  children,  in  their  respective  dis- 
tricts, over  three  and  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  on  the  first 


1842.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  577 


day  of  May,  to  the  Selectmen,  who  shall  make  the  apportion- 
ment of  the  school  money,  in  the  month  of  July,  according  to 
the  rule  which  may  exist  at  that  time. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  certify  to  the  Selectmen,  on  or 
before  the  20th  day  of  July,  in  each  year,  the  total  amount  of 
money  to  be  expended  the  current  year.  The  Selectmen  shall 
then  apportion  the  money  among  the  several  districts  and  make 
return  thereof  to  the  Treasurer,  who  shall  then  pass  the  several 
sums  to  the  credit  of  the  proper  districts.  The  Treasurer  shall 
pay  all  bills  for  support  of  schools,  properly  receipted,  and  the 
same  shall  be  received  as  valid  in  the  annual  settlement  with  the 
Selectmen. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $34.15. 

Dan  Hill,  Dr.  Abel  Wilder  and  Silas  H.  Kimball  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  examine  the  bridge  over  the  Blackstone  Factory 
Pond  and  report  its  condition  at  the  next  town  meeting. 

Stephen  Tourtelotte  agreed  to  bnild  a  piece  of  road,  near  his 
house,  including  all  damages,  for  $155.00. 

Nov.   14.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  Marcus  Morton*       had  348  votes. 

John  Davis  "    215     " 

Samuel  E.   Sewall     "        7     " 
For  Lt.  Governor,    Henry  H.  Childs        "    348     " 
George  Hull  "     215     " 

William  Jackson  "  6  " 
For  Senators — John  Spurr  had  348  votes.  Isaac  Davis  had  348  votes. 
Nathl.  Wood  had  348  votes.-  Ben].  Estabrook  had  348  votes.  Ariel  Bragg 
had  349  votes.  Solomon  Strong  had  210  votes.  Alexander  DeWitt  had 
210  votes.  James  Allen  had  210  votes.  John  Wright  had  210  votes. 
Dan  Hill  had  210  votes. 

Votes  for  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Thomas  Taft  had  317  votes. 
Nelson  Cowen  had  183  votes.  Saml.  W.  Doggett  had  20  votes.  Nine 
others  had  20  votes. 

For  Representative  in  the  28th  Congress,  in  the  5th  District — Pliny  Merrick, 
of  Worcester,  had  341  votes.  Charles  Hudson,  of  Westminster,  had  213 
votes.     Phiueas  Crandall  had  8  votes.     Two  others  had  2  votes. 

For  Representative  in  the  27th  Congress,  in  the  9th  District — Ezra  Wilkinson 
had  340  votes.     William  Jackson  had  220  votes. 

*No  election  by  the  people,  and  Marcus  Morton  elected  by  the  Legislature  by  one 
majority. 

73 


578  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1843. 

This  last  election  was  to  fill  a  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  the  Hon.  William  Sodo.n  Hastings,  at  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs  in  Virginia,  while  a  member  of  the  27th  Congress. 

Dec.  19.  There  being  no  choice  of  a  Representative  in  the 
twenty-seventh  Congress,  another  trial  was  had  this  day  and 
with  the  following  result,  viz: 

Ezra  Wilkinson  had  215  votes;  Dem.  William  Jackson  had  79  votes; 
Whig. 

Feb.  13.  No  election  for  a  member  of  Congress  in  the  Fifth 
District  having  been  effected  at  the  last  trial,  another  meeting 
was  held  this  day,  when 

Pliny  Merrick  had  200  votes;  Dem.  Charles  Hudson  had  110  votes; 
Whig.     Phineas  Crandall  had  8  votes;   Anti-slavery. 

EEV.    LINUS    H.    SHAW,    THE   TENTH    MINISTER. 

Mr.  Shaw  was  engaged,  without  any  formal  settlement,  and 
commenced  his  ministry  in  April,  1842,  and  closed  his  parochial 
labors  May  1,  1844. 


1843.  March  6.  Stephen  Taft  was  chosen  Town  Clerk,  Treas- 
urer and  Collector;  Milliris  Taft,  Willard  Chilson,  Emory  Scott, 
Olney  Cook  and  Daniel  S.  Southwick,  Selectmen;  Rufns  Hay- 
ward,  Constable;  Rev.  Linus  H.  Shaw,  Francis  Kelley  and  Dr. 
Moses  D.  Southwick,  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Constable  be  paid  $10  for  all  services. 

Voted  that  800  copies  of  the  Treasurer's  report  be  printed  for 
the  use  of  the  Town.  This  was  the  first  instance  of  having  any 
report  printed. 

Anthony  Chase  had  91  votes  for  County  Treasurer.  The  vote 
Avas  unanimous. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  borrow  money  only  of 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  payable  in  current  bank  bills  at  an  in- 
terest not  exceeding  five  per  cent. 

April  3.  There  being  again  no  choice  of  a  Representative  in 
Congress  for  the  Fifth  Congressional  District,  another  election 
was  held  this  day,  when 

Charles  Hudson,  of  Westminster  had  102  votes;   David  Henshaw,  of 


1843.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  579 

Leicester  had  144  votes;  Phineas  Crandall,  of  Worcester  had  (5  votes;  Pliny 
Merrick,  of  Worcester  had  1  vote. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  to  repair  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $2000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  for  the  support  of  schools. 

The  money  for  highways  to  be  expended  as  heretofore — in  work. 

Voted  to  choose  seven  Tything  men,  and  Samuel  W.  Doggett, 
Washington  Hunt.  Nahor  Staples,  Peter  Bates,  Lyman  0.  Cur- 
tis, Silas  Dudley  and  Enos  Hayward  were  chosen. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Meetings,  in  future,  be  held  one-third  at 
the  South  Parish  Meeting  House,  one-third  at  the  Inn  of  Henry 
Coverdale,  and  one-third  at  the  Inn  of  Ebenezer  Marsh. 

The  fixing  the  place  of  meeting  at  Marsh's  Inn  was  occasioned 
by  the  sale  and  taking  down  of  the  old  Meeting  House  where 
Town  Meeting  had  formerly  been  held.  The  meeting  house  was 
sold  to  Holland  Allbe,  the  timbers  from  which  were  used  in  build- 
ing the  house  now  occupied  by  William  S.  and  Frederick  P. 
Kinsley,  at  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Hastings  streets. 

April  29.     Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $42.12. 

June  17.     Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $74.92. 

The  Fifth  School  District  divided  and  the  Eighteenth  School 
District  established. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $17.00. 

The  number  of  the  enrolled  militia  (being  between  the  ages 
of  18  and  45)  was  found  to  be  492. 

August  16.  Met  at  the  Inn  of  Ebenezer  Marsh,  in  the  North 
Parish,  and  voted  to  accept  of  an  alteration  in  the  road  leading 
from  Seth  Kelley's  to  Bellingham  line. 

Dan  Hill  was  chosen  General  Agent  for  the  remainder  of  the 
political  year. 

Nov.   15.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,            Marcus  Morton  had  327  votes. 

George  N.  Briggs  "    190  "           Elected. 

Samuel  E.  Sewall  "     10  " 

"                     Wm.  Lloyd  Garrison  "       1  " 

For  Lt.  Governor,      Henry  H.  Childs  "    327  " 

John  Reed  "190  " 

William  Jackson  "      10  " 

"                      George  Bradhurn  "        1  " 


580  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1843. 

For  Senators. — Isaac  Davis  315  votes.  John  Spun1  327  votes.  Ariel  Bragg 
327  votes.  Walter  A.  Bryant  327  votes.  Kilburn  Harwood  327  votes.  Levi 
Lincoln  191  votes.  Solomon  Strong  191  votes.  Linus  Child  191  votes. 
Alexander  DeWitt  191  votes.     Den  Hill  189  votes. 

Thomas  W.  Ward,  Gershom  Jones,  Nicholas  Jenks,  Joseph  Griggs  and 
Reuben  Whitcomb,  Jr.,  had  10  votes  each;  Anti-Slavery  ticket.  Five 
others  had  15  votes. 

Choice  of  Representative  to  the  General  Court. — Peter  Gaskill,  Jr.,  had  289 
votes.  Joseph  B.  Cook  90.  Adam  Wheelock  12.  Samuel  W.  Doggett  23. 
Samuel  Thayer,  David  Davenport,  Caleb  Thayer,  Francis  Kelly  and 
Alanson  Freeman  each  had  1. 

Peter  Gaskill,  Jr.  was  chosen  by  64  majority. 

Doc.  2.  About  this  time  the  subject  of  a  division  of  the  town 
began  to  be  pretty  freely  and  earnestly  discussed.  One  of  the 
reasons  was  that  there  was  no  convenient  place  near  the  centre 
of  the  town,  either  as  regarded  its  population  or  its  geography, 
for  the  holding  of  town  meetings.  Hence  the  town,  at  this 
meeting, 

Voted  that  the  town  proceed  to  build  a  Town  House. 

Voted  that  the  Town  House  be  built  in  Nicholas  Thayer's  pas- 
ture, where  a  road  from  Samuel  Very's  cider  mill  will  communi- 
cate with  a  road  from  Artemas  Thayer's  road  to  Millins  Taft's. 

Arnold  Taft,  Dan  Hill  and  Samuel  Very  were  chosen  a  Build- 
ing Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Building  Committee  construct  such  a  bouse 
as  they  may  think  the  convenience  and  necessity  of  the  town 
may  require. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  fixing  the  site  for  a  Town  House. 

Voted  that  the  Town  House  be  located  at  or  near  the  corner 
of  the  roads  by  Samuel  Very's  cider  mill. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  proceed  to  build  said  house  forth- 
with. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  116.66. 

Voted  that  the  Collector,  Abel  Aldricb,  be  directed  to  enforce 
the  collection  of  all  taxes  against  bankrupts,  and  that  the  town 
will  indemnify  him  for  all  costs  and  damages  that  may  be  in- 
curred. 

Dec.  16.  It  was  moved  and  seconded  to  reconsider  the  vote 
to  build  a  Town  House,  and  the  motion  was  not  carried. 

The  second  article  in  the  warrant  was  then  disposed  of,  when 


1844.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  581 

a  motion,  made  and  seconded,  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  build  a 
Town  House,  was  again  defeated,  and  the  meeting  was  then  dis- 
solved. 

Dec.  30.  The  meeting  was  held  this  day  at  the  Inn  of  Eben- 
ezer  Marsh,  in  the  North  Parish,  but  was  adjourned  to  meet  at 
Harrison  Hall,  forthwith. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  Dec.  2,  1843,  fixing  the 
location  of  a  Town  House  near  Samuel  Very's  cider  mill. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  second  clause  in  the  second  article  in 
the  warrant,  which  was  "to  sec  if  the  town  will  fix  upon  a  site 
for  a  Town  House  on  the  road  leading  from  the  Five  Corners  to 
the  Inn  of  Henry  Covcrdale,  or  at  either  of  the  places  before 
mentioned." 

Voted  to  discharge  the  Committee  chosen  Dec.  2,  to  build  a 
Town  House. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  fourth  article,  which  was  "to  see  if  the 
town  will  choose  a  Committee  of  one  from  each  School  District 
to  select  a  site  for  a  Town  House." 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  Dec.  2  inst.  to  build  a 
Town  House. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  sixth  article  in  the  warrant,  "to  see  if 
the  town  would  hire  Harrison  Hall,  in  which  to  hold  one-half 
of  the  town  meetings." 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  seventh  and  eighth  articles,  "  to  see  if  the 
town  will  vote  to  divide  the  town  into  two  separate  towns,  so  as 
to  do  justice  to  both  towns,  and  choose  all  necessary  committees 
to  effect  the  same." 


1844.  Jan.  26.  Voted  that  that  proportion  of  the  town  meet- 
ings which  have  heretofore  been  held  at  Ebenezer  Marsh's  Inn, 
be  held,  in  future,  at  Harrison  Hall,  in  the  North  Parish. 

Voted  to  strike  out  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  articles  from 
the  warrant,  which  were  "To  see  if  the  town  would  build  a  Town 
House,  fix  a  site  for  the  same  and  choose  all  necessary  commit- 
tees. " 

March  4.  Chose  James  P.  Ilayward  Town  Clerk,  Treasurer 
and  Collector;  Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Ebenezer  Chase,  Elbridge  (J. 
Daniels,  Oliver  Clapp  and  Leonard  Taft,  Selectmen;  PufusIIay- 


582  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1844. 

ward  Constable,  and  Rev.  Linus  II.  Shaw.  Dr.  Moses  D.  South- 
wick  and  Rev.  Michael  Burdett,  School  Committee. 

Voted  to  build  a  Town  House. 

Voted  the  site  for  said  house  be  near  the  corner  near  Samuel 
Very's. 

Voted  that  Arnold  Taft,  Dan  Hill  and  Samuel  Very  be  a  com- 
mittee to  select  a  site,  procure  the  materials  and  contract  for 
building  said  house. 

Voted  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  sufficient  to  build  said  house. 

Voted  to  hold  one-half  of  the  town  meetings  at  the  South 
Parish  meeting  house  and  one-half  at  the  Inn  of  Henry  Cover- 
dale. 

For  County  Treasurer,  Anthony  Chase  had  43  votes  and  Joseph 
Tucker  and  James  P.  Hay  ward  1  vote  each. 

Adjourned  to  Coverdale's  Inn. 

March  16.  Voted  to  reconsider  a  vote  passed  at  a  meeting 
held  at  the  South  Parish  meetinghouse,  on  the  4th  day  of  March, 
1844,  whereby  the  town  voted  to  locate  the  Town  House  near  the 
corner  near  Samuel  Very's,  by  a  vote  of  202  to  165. 

Voted  to  discharge  the  committee  chosen  at  that  time  to  build 
a  Town  House. 

Voted  to  dismiss  the  fourth  article,  which  was,  "To  choose  a 
committee  of  one  from  each  School  District  to  select  a  site  for  a 
Town  House.'' 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  fifth  article,  which  was,  "To  see  if  the 
town  would  make  any  alteration  in  the  places  for  holding  town 
meetings." 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  a  town  meeting  held  at 
the  South  Parish  meeting  house,  March  4,  1844,  whereby  the 
town  voted  to  hold  one-half  of  the  town  meetings  at  the  South 
Parish  meeting  house  and  one-half  at  the  Inn  lately  kept  by 
Henry  Coverdale  (now  Rufus  A  Young). 

Adjourned  sine  die. 

April  1.  About  this  time  petitions  began  to  be  circulated  to 
be  presented  to  the  next  Legislature,  to  meet  in  January,  1845, 
for  a  division  of  the  town. 

A  meeting  held  this  day  to  choose  County  Commissioners. 
The  following  was  the  result  of  the  ballot: 

For  Commissioners. — William  Crawford  had  73  votes.     Jerome  Gardner 


1844.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  583 

had  7'S  votes.  Joseph  Bruce  had  7!5  votes.  Adam  Harrington  had  166  votes. 
Warren  Humes  had  164  votes.  Gardner  Ruggles  had  165  votes.  All  others 
(8)  had  18  votes. 

Special  Commissioners. — Jason  Goulding  had  72  votes.  Stephen  Davis  had 
71  votes.  Dexter  Gilbert  had  167  votes.  Sullivan  Thayer  had  166  votes. 
All  others  (3)  had  5  votes. 

Voted  that  the  Prudential  Committees  shall  contract  with  the 
teachers  for  the  several  School  Districts. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  following  list  of  Jurors,  viz: 

Olney  Cook.  Laban  Bates.  William  Cook.  Otis  Thayer.*  Milieus 
Taft.  Jos.  G.  Davenport.*  Leonard  W.  Darling.*  James  P.  Hayward. 
Andrns  Wheelock.*  Emanuel  N.  Paine.  Luke  Aldrich..*  Eli  Kelley. 
Francis  Kelley.*  Stephen  Taft.*  Wm.  H.  Comstock.  Ariel  Cook,  Jr. 
Thomas  Taft,*  Bpaulding  Hervey. *  Adam  Wheelock.*  Stephen  H.  Thayer. 
Arnold  Taft.*  Aaron  Burdon.*  Moses  Kelley.  Lyman  Paine.  Alan- 
son  S.  Freeman.*  Washington  Hunt.*  Alexander  H.  Allen.*  Samuel  W. 
Doggett.  *  Louis  Cook.  Remington  Southwick.  Eli  Pond.  George  Bates.* 
William  Legg.*  Moses  Daniels.*  Daniel  Gunn.  William  Saunders.  Thayer 
Bellows.  Oliver  W.  Claflin.  Joseph  Logee.  Aaron  Marsh.  Josiah  Web- 
ster. Henry  Wheelock.  Henry  H.  Benson.  Jonathan  M.  Shove.  Daniel 
Southwick.  Collins  Capron.  Moses  Buffum.*  Remington  Aldrich.  Leb- 
beus  L.  Wood.  Enos  Hayward.  Manning  Wheelock.  Stephen  J.  Sher- 
man. Austin  Greenman.  Samuel  W.  Thayer.  Leonard  Taft,*  Timothy 
Ellis.     Holland  Allbe.     James  Comstock.* 

James  P.  Hayward  resigned  his  office  of  Town  Clerk,  Treasurer 
and  Collector,  and  Stephen  Taft  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

Henry  A.  Aldrich  refusing  to  serve  as  Selectman,  Stephen 
Taft  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

Voted  to  strike  the  eleventh,  twelfth,  thirteenth  and  four- 
teenth articles  from  the  warrant,  which  were  "To  provide  for 
the  erection  of  a  Town  House." 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  for  repairs  of  highways. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $1800  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes,  in  the  Second  School  Distriet,  to  the 
amount  of  $124.11. 

Voted  to  forego  town  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $19.00. 

Voted  to  hold  one-half  of  the  town  meetings  at  the  South 
Parish  meeting  house  and  one-half  at  the  Inn  of  Henry  Cover- 
dale. 

*Dead. 


584  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1844. 

April  22.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow 
money  at  five  per  cent,  to  pay  town  debts  that  are  at  six  per  cent. 

Voted  to  accept  a  road  near  Russell  Wilson's  house. 

June  15.     The  enrolled  militia  were  found  to  be  580  in  number. 

Aug.  31.  »Silas  Dudley,  Obadiah  Wood,  Johnson  Legg,  Benoni 
Staples  and  Leonard  Taft  were  chosen  a  committee  to  view  the 
proposed  road  from  Samuel  Very's  to  the  Dam  Swamp  road,  and 
report  the  best  possible  route  to  tbe  next  town  meeting. 

NOV.   11.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        George  Bancroft         had  337  votes. 

George  N.  Briggs  "229     "        Elected. 

"  "  Samuel  E.  Sewall  "      25     " 

"  Lt,  Governor,    Dr.  Henry  H.  Childs    "336     " 
John  Reed  "228     " 

"  "  William  Jackson  "     25     " 

For  Senators. — Democrats — Walter  A.  Bryant  had  336  votes.  Killlmrn 
Harwood  had  336  votes.  Adam  Harrington  had  336  votes.  Jared  Benson 
had  330  votes.  Amasa  Walker  had  335  votes.  Whig — Levi  Lincoln  had 
228  votes.  Linus  Child  had  228  votes.  Dan  Hill  had  225  votes.  John  G. 
Thurston  had  228  votes.     Joseph  Stone  had  228  votes. 

James  G.  Carter,  Otis  Brigham,  Gilman  Jones,  Elihu  Burritt  and  Phineas 
Bemis  had  25  votes  each;  Anti-Slavery  Ticket. 

For  Representative  in  the  General  Court. — Welcome  Staples  had  295  votes. 
Ebenezer  Chase  had  219  votes.  Willard  Chilson  had  32  votes.  Adam  Whee- 
lock  had  20  votes.     Three  others  had  4  votes. 

Welcome  Staples  (Dem.)  was  elected  by  15  majority. 
For  Representative  in  Congress  in  the  Fifth  Congressional  District. — Charles 
Hudson  (Whig)  had  233  votes.     Isaac  Davis  (Dem.)  had  332  votes.  Rodol- 
phus  B.  Hubbard  (Anti-Slavery)  had  26  votes. 

VOTES   FOK   ELECTORS   OF    PRESIDENT    AND    VICE    PRESIDENT. 

Electors  at  Large.     (Dem.)  Electors  at  Large.     (Whig). 

Gay  ton  P.  Osgood 322     Abbott  Lawrence 219 

Samuel  C.  Allen 322    Lewis  Strong 219 

District    1  Chas.  G.  Greene 322  District    1  Nathan  Appletou   ...219 

do.        2  Ebenezer  H.  Stacy  ..322  do.        2  John  Perry  Allen .  .    .219 

do.        3  Hiram  Plummer 222        do.        3  Homer  Bartlett 219 

do.        4  Chas.  Thompson  .  .  .  .322  do.        4  A.  11.  Thompson  .  .  .  .219 

do.        5  J.  S.  C.  Knowlton.  .  .322        do.        5  Charles  Allen 219 

do.        6  H.  G.  Newcomb 322        do.        6  Win.  B.  Calhoun 219 

do.        7  Orriu  Sage 322  do.        7  ChaunceyB.  Rising.  .219 

do.        8  Artemas  Brown 322        do.        8  Elijah  Vose 219 

do.        9  Peter  H.  Pierce 322        do.        9  William  Baylies 219 

do.      10  John  H.  Shaw 322        do.      10  Seth  Crowell 219 


1845.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  585 

Electors  at  La/rge.     (Anti-Sbtrery  Ticket. ) 

Joel  Hayden 28    John  G.  Whittier 28 

District  1  Timothy  Gilbert  28     District    6  J.  Dickinson,  Jr 28 

do.      2  Nathan  D.  Chase 28        do.        7  Edward  Laselle 28 

do.      3  Willard  Brown 28        do.        8  Jesse  Wheaton 28 

do.      4  John  Fletcher 28  do.        9  Laban  M.  Wheaton. .  28 

do.      5  Phineas  Crandall 28  do.      10  Gilbert  Richmond. . .  28 

Dec.  23.  The  meeting  was  held  this  day  at  the  South  Parish 
Meeting  House. 

Votes  for  Representative  in  Congress  for  the  5th  District — Isaac  Davis,  of 
Worcester,  had  116  votes.  Charles  Hudson,  of  Westminster,  had  111  votes. 
Rodolplms  B.  Hubbard,  of  Worcester,  had  13  votes. 

A^oted  to  build  a  Town  House. 

Voted  to  build  a  Town  House  on  Southwick's  Hill,  near  Ab- 
salom Daniels'  house,  if  a  site  can  be  had  free  of  expense  to  the 
town. 

Milling  Taft,  Obadiah  Wood,  Stephen  J.  Shearman,  Aaron 
Burdon  and  Willard  Wilson  were  then  chosen  a  committee  to 
obtain  the  site,  make  all  necessary  contracts  and  build  said  Town 
House. 

Voted  to  hold  one-third  of  the  town  meetings  in  Harrison 
Hall  in  the  North  Parish. 

Voted  to  forego  the  taxes  in  the  Second  School  District  to  the 
amount  of  19.03. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  following  resolutions  offered  by  John  G. 
Met  calf: 

1.  Resolved,  that  we  view  the  Annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States, 
as  involving  most  awful  consequences;  that  it  is  calculated  to  extend  and 
perpetuate  Slavery,  opposed  to  Republican  institutions  and  subversive  of 
the  foundation  principles  of  our  government. 

2.  Resolved  that  we  earnestly  request  our  Legislature  to  renew  its  pro- 
test, in  more  emphatic  terms,  if  possible,  against  the  annexation  of  Texas. 

3.  Resolved,  that  our  Representative  be  instructed  and  our  Senators  in 
the  General  Court  requested  to  use  all  their  influence,  by  vote  or  otherwise, 
against  the  foul  scheme  of  uniting  Texas  to  the  Union. 

As  will  be  seen,  these  resolves  were  rescinded  at  the  next  town 
meeting-. 


1845.     Jan  9.      The  committee  to  build  a  Town  House,  hay 
ing,  by  its  Chairman  (Millins  Taft),  made  a  verbal  report, 


586  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1845. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  rescind,  revoke  and  annul  the  votes  of 
the  town  passed  on  the  23d  day  of  Dec,  1844,  whereby  it  was 
voted  to  build  a  Town  House  on  Southwick's  Hill,  near  the  house 
of  Absalom  Daniels,  and  that  the  committee  chosen  at  that  meet- 
ing to  fix  upon  a  site  for  said  house,  and  to  contract  for  building 
the  same,  be  and  are  hereby  wholly  discharged  from  any  further 
service  under  said  vote. 

A  motion  was  then  made  to  adjourn  without  day,  but,  by  a  yea 
and  nay  vote,  the  motion  was  defeated,  when  it  was 

Voted  to  instruct  our  Representative  in  the  General  Court  to 
oppose  a  division  of  the  town  before  the  Legislature,  if  a  petition 
should  be  presented  for  that  purpose,  and  the  Town  Clerk  is  di- 
rected to  transmit  a  copy  of  this  vote  to  our  Representative. 

Voted  to  rescind  the  resolutions,  passed  at  the  last  town  meet- 
ing, respecting  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  Union. 

Inasmuch  as  the  Democratic  party  of  the  nation  had,  by  the 
election  of  James  K.  Polk  to  the  Presidency,  committed  itself  to 
the  annexation,  and  as  the  Democratic  majority  in  this  town  was 
amply  sufficient,  it  was  not  strange  that  the  vote  to  rescind  should 
be  carried. 

Jan.  30.  The  petition  for  a  division  of  the  town  having  been 
presented  to  the  General  Court,  and  the  order  of  notice,  usual  in 
such  cases,  having  been  served  upon  the  town,  it  was  then 

Moved  and  seconded  that  the  town  do  oppose  a  division  of  said 
town  and  choose  an  agent  for  that  purpose,  and  it  was  directed 
that  the  question  be  taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  with  the  result  that 
239  were  opposed  and  168  in  favor,  so  the  motion  was  lost. 

Voted  to  choose  four  agents,  by  nomination,  to  defend  the  pe- 
tition of  Joseph  G.  Davenport  and  others  for  a  division  now 
pending  before  the  Committee  on  Towns  of  the  Legislature. 

Washington  Hunt,  John  G.  Metcalf,  Aaron  Burdon  and  Henry 
A.  Aldrich  were  then  chosen  agents. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  a  former  town  meeting, 
directing  our  Representative  (Welcome  Staples)  to  oppose  a  di- 
vision of  the  town. 

Voted  to  instruct  our  Representative  in  the  General  Court,  to 
vote  for  a  division  of  the  town  of  Mendon. 

The  following  is  the  petition  for  the  division  of  the  town. 


1845.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  587 


To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts  to  assemble  in  Legislature  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  January,  A.  D.  1845. 

The  petition  of  the  undersigned,  qualified  voters  in  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
in  the  County  of  Worcester,  respectfully  represent  that  the  population  of 
the  town,  by  the  last  census,  was  3524,  since  which  time  it  has  greatly  in- 
creased; that  the  town  is  divided  into  two  Parishes,  viz:  the  First,  or  North 
Parish  and  the  Second  or  South  Parish  by  a  territorial  line  running  nearly 
east  and  west;  that  the  principal  portion  of  the  population  is  located  at  the 
extreme  north  and  south  parts  of  the  town;  that  the  town  has  no  Town 
House  nor  any  convenient  place  near  the  centre  of  the  town  to  hold  town 
meetings  or  to  transact  Town  business;  that  the  town  is  well  located  to  di- 
vide iifto  two  towns,  there  being  a  thin  population  along  the  dividing  line 
of  the  Parishes,  and  a  range  of  hills  and  wild,  uncultivated  land;  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  two  parishes  have  different  interests  and  are  engaged  in 
different  occupations,  and  that  it  will  greatly  accommodate  the  inhabitants 
if  the  town  was  divided  into  two  towns. 

Wherefore  your  Petitioners  pray  that  the  Legislature  will  cause  a  division 
of  said  town  to  be  made  by  setting  off  the  Inhabitants  and  their  estates  of 
said  Second  or  South  Parish  into  a  separate  town  by  itself,  and  as  in  duty 
bound  will  ever  pray. 

Jos.  G.  Davenport,*  Fras.  R.  Scixo,  Elias  Wood,*  C.  A.  Davenport, 
James  Grady,  Lendol  Staples,*  G.  L.  Davenport,*  Joseph  Henry,  Henry 
W.  Wood,  S.  T.  Davenport,*  Joseph  Miller,*  Jesse  F.  Alderman,  Stephen 
Leshuer,*  Albert  Staples,  Thomas  Child,  George  Capron,  Rufus  Tucker, 
Henry  Goss,*  George  Wood,*  Chas.  C.  P.  Hastings,*  John  Simonds,* 
George  H.  Wood,  Foster  Fay,*  Calvin  Turner,  Jr.,*  S.  W.  Doggett,*  Benj. 
Howard,  Chas.  A.  Smith.*  George  Bean,  Fras.  F.  Taft,  Warren  Rawson,* 
George  Rawson,  Samuel  Rockwood,  Silas  Dudley,  Silas  Leshuer,*  George 
Moore,  Benj.  D.  Williams,*  Charles  H.  Smith,*  Lyman  Cook,  William  T. 
Metcalf,*  Henry  A.  Aldrich,  J.  S.  Sadler,  Timothy  Ellis,  Wm.  IT.  Com 
stock,  Philo  W.  Brown,  Stephen  Cook,  2d,  Albert  Gould,*  L.  M.  Perham,* 
Alfred  H.  Hastings,*  Geo.  W.  Tucker,  Moses  T.  Chapin,*  Isaac  M.  Tuck 
er,*  Amos  Phipps,  Latimer  S.  Staples,*  Ezra  Leland,*  Lysander  Grow,  Na- 
than George,*  John  S.  Gaskill,  Henry  Rawson,*  John  G.  Metcalf,  Caleb  S. 
Pike,*  Thomas  Maguire,  Orson  R.  Wheelock,  John  Strickland,*  Orrin  G. 
Goodwin,  Lorain  P.  Cummings,  Elijah  Rockwood,  Alexander  Peters,*  Jo- 
seph Staples,*  George  A.  Streeter,  Augustus  Knights,  Lewis  Boyden,  Cal- 
vin Barber,  Jr.,  Benj.  Davenport,*  Micajah  C.  Gaskill,  Anderson  B.  Albee,* 
Ebenezer  Marsh,  Wdlard  I.  Allen,  Lewis  Stone,*  Seth  Hastings,*  Eliab  C. 
Perham,*  Elisha  Wood.*  Amos  Richardson,  Peter  Thompson,*  Andrew  H. 
Reed,  Liberty  Goss,  Benj.  Wheelock,*  Silas  Armsby,*  Nauru  Gaskill,*  Ben- 
jamin Bates,*  Scammell  Aldrich,*  Frederic  Gardner,  Simon  P.  Bicknell, 
Levi  Perham,*  Clark  Cook,*  John  Howe,*  Carlisle  W.  Capron,  Welcome 
Staples,*  Nathan  Hayward,*  Cyrus  C.  Dauiels,  Ira  W.  Cook,*  Samuel  P. 
Hay  ward,  Peter  Pickering,*  Aaron  C.   Cook.*  John  R.   Hayward,   Olney 


588  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1845. 

Cook,  Ellis  Cook,*  Nahum  Bates,*  Gilbert  Cook,  John  W.  Alexander,  Ca- 
leb Adams,  Aldrich  B.  Cook,  Holland  Albee,  Willard  Chilson,*  George 
Taft,  Jr.,  Amariah  Taft,*  Daniel  Lazell.  Ellis  Taft,  2nd,  Eli  Pond,  Jr.,  Ez- 
ekiel  Burr,  Elijah  Taft,*  Eleazer  H.  Foristall,  Willard  Wilcox,*  Alonzo 
Taft,*  Jotham  Hayward,*  Samuel  G.  Wilcox,  Alvin  Taft,*  Wm.  P.  Rus- 
sell, Clark  Cook,  2nd,  Simeon  Wheelock,*  George  Bates,  Lebbeus  Daniels,* 
Alanson  S.  Freeman,*  Joseph  Bates,  Ebenezer  Hawes,*  Jos.  Hallowell,  Ed- 
ward Woods,  Willard  Swan.*  James  Grant,  Rufus  Russell,  Daniel  Thur- 
ber,*  Thomas  J.  Reed,  Elijah  Warfield,*  Sumner  Ballon,  John  Hill,  Jas. 
M.  Warfield,*  Richard  E.  Mann,*  William  Smith,  Charles  Dewing,  Ezra 
Jenks,  Abel  Wilder,*  Elijah  Dewing,*  Chas.  A.  Taft,  George  Wilder,  Elijah 
Taft  2nd,*Ariel  Cook,  Jr.,  Jas.  M.  Hopkins,  Bennett  Wheeler,  John  Reming- 
ton, Wm.  B.  Arnold,  Jas.  T.  Howard,  David  Boyden,  Benj.  Ray,*  Ezekiel 
Phillips,  George  Britton,  Obed  Washburn,  John  Bates,  William  B.  Peet, 
Lyman  C.  Curtis,  Morris  Soule,  J.  Webster,  Abjah  Esty,  Daniel  Gunn, 
Wm.  Oongdon.Jr. ,  Amasa  Kimpton,  Francis  Kelly,*  Lewis  Warfield, Henry 
Thayer,  David  Ross,*  Michael  Burdett,  Rufus  A.  Benson,  Elbridge  G.  Phil- 
lips, Silas  II.  K.  Warfield,  Daniel  Manley,  Samuel  V.  Warfield,  Gershom 
Remington,*  Dan  A.  Comstock,  John  C.  Warfield,  Newton  Darling,*  Dud- 
ley Brown,  Adam  White,  Newbury  Darling,*  Benj.  A.  Potter,  Amaziah 
Harris,  Lewis  Darling,  Peleg  Carr,  Thomas  Wood,  Collins  Capron,  Lyman 
Emerson,  Jr.,  Samuel  Day,  George  Capron,  2nd,  Charles  L.  Harding,  Dan- 
iel Olney,  Lawson  Warfield,*  Alexander  B.  Hewett,  Henry  B.  Gladding,  A. 
B.  Williams,  Philander  Darling,  Jas.  A.  Baldwin,  Augustus  Williams,  Au- 
gustus Brown,  Stephen  H.  Tabor,  Albert  Fairbanks,  Thos.  Hendrick,  John 
Cady,  R.  H.  Townshend,  Levi  B.  Mowry,  John  Mann,  Atwood  Cady- 
Amasa  Taft,  Sem,  Matthias  M.  Nelson,  Arnold  Southwick,  Hiram  Gleason, 
William  Mann,  S.  A.  Aldrich,  Caleb  Legg,  Sen"-,  Moses  Buffum,*f  William 
H.  Paine,  Wm.  E.  Engley,  John  C.  Scott,  John  Leach,  Daniel'S.  Wheelock, 
James  O'Neil,  Jas.  M.  Gotham,  Nathan  B.  Clark,  Loring  Emerson,  James 
Iluid,  Joseph  Wheelock,  Thurber  Warfield,  Welcome  Farnam,*  Wm.  II. 
Morton,  Aaron  Burdon,*  Wm.  M.  Kimball,  M.  W.  Burlingame,  Estes  Bur- 
don,  Fred.  M.  Ballon,  William  Sturdy,  Emor  Tourtelotte,  Oliver  Clapp, 
Jeremiah  Keech,  Charles  Arnold,  J.  R  Walworth.  Mathew  C.  Salsbury, 
Stephen  Tourtelotte,  Channing  Smith, \  Reuben  R.  Studley,  Hiram  Metcalf, 
J.  W.  Wheelock,  Jonas  P.  Newton,  Jesse  Tourtelotte,  William  Sanders, 
Samuel  J.  France,  Albert  Tourtelotte,  Manning  Wheelock,  Daniel  Cross- 
man,  Squire  Shove,  Estus  Lamb,  Samuel  W.  Thayer,  M.  D.  Southwick.* 
Jos.  Hollowed,  Galen  G.  Lamb,  Reuben  Taft,  William  Phillips,*  William 
Kelley,  Saml.  W.  Gibson,  Horace  Ray,  Smith  J.  Studley,  Horace  Benson, 
Jefferson  A.  Smith,  Edward  Studley,  William  H.  Benson,*  Joseph  France, 
Euos  Hayward,*  William  H.  Brown,  Artemas  Gardner,  Thomas  J.  Reed, 
George  C.  Ross.f  Paris  T.  Taft,  Daniel  T.  Warfield,  Hiram  Adams,  Robert 
Steere,  Edward  Warfield,  John  Peavey,  Lewis  A.  Mowry,  Rufus  Keech, 
Esek  Phettyplace,  James  Darling,  Eliezer  Harris,  Samuel  Farley,  John 
Spring.f  George  W.  Cook,  Nahor  Staples,!  David  Munroe,  Benoni  Stone, f 


1845.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  589 

John  B.  Salsbury,  Ephraim  Day.f  D.  A.  Prentice,  Fenner  Phettyplaee.f 
Augustus  Maftitt.f  Oliver  B.Everett,*  Frederic  Miller,  Mathew  C.  Salsbury, 
Warren  Grant,  Charles  Dirk,  Win.  R.  Salsbury,  Chas.  A.  Thayer,*  Jas. 
Congdon,  Emmons  Hathaway,  Eliab  M.  Perham,*  Gilman  G.  Pierce,  James 
G.  Luke,  Simon  E.  Thornton,*  John  Woodworth,  Nathan  Day,  E.  G. 
Wood,  N.  B.  Hill,  Foster  Very,*  Edward  Greenman,*  Nathan  Day, \  Elisha 
Kinsley,  Samuel  Bills,*  Otis  Mann,  Stephen  Brown,  Henry  K  Stratford, 
Henry  Steere,  Phinehas  Briggs.f  William  Kelly,*  George  M.  Carr,  Jesse 
Darling,  Samuel  Nelson,  Horace  Parmenter,  Jonathan  A.  C'omstock,  George 
Davenport,*  Marvin  Gould, f  Rowland  Aldrich,  Isaac  Green,  Daniel  Barnes, 
Jr.,  A.  Staples,  George  Varney,  Hiel  Carr,  Remington  Aldrich,  Thomas 
Gardner,  Reil  Carr,  William  Aldrich,  Willard  I.  Allen,  William  Davis,  Lu- 
ther Warfield,  Cyrus  Boyden,  Stephen  Woodworth,  Benj.  Nichols,  Lewis 
F.  Gardner,*  Gardner  G.  Orswell.f  John  Sayles,  Charles  Turner,  Edwin  P. 
Dudley,  Scott  S.  Mowry,  William  G.  Hadley,  David  Davenport,*  Preserved 
S  Thayer,*  H.  G.  0.  Kimpton,  William  S.  Guild,  Daniel  T.  Howard,  Ly- 
man Paine,  David  W.  Bennett,  Merrill  S.  Smith,  William  A.  Kelley,*  Al- 
bert 0.  Bennett,  Euclid  Chadsey,  Eli  Kelley, f  Aldrich  Howard,  Oushman 
Thayer,  Preston  .VI.  Wood,  John  B.  Melleu,  Otis  Aldrich,  Caleb  Corey, 
Samuel  Thurston,*  Abijah  Esty,  Jr.,  Daniel  Darling,  Jr. ,  Francis  Hapgood,* 
Caleb  Whiting,  Hosea  Cook,  Davis  Bills,  Albert  Eugley,  Benjamin  Dyer, 
Henry  Wheelock,  Mellen  Benson,  Robert  Allen,*  Gilbert  Gaskill,  John 
Rowley,  Alvin  Allen,*  Stephen  Torre}r,*  Edwin  Rowley,  Samuel  Prentice, 
John  M.  Daniels,  Joshua  W.  Trask,  David  S.Paine,f  Ariel  Cook,*  Pre- 
served S.  Gunn,  Benjamin  Paine, f  Stephen  H.  Thayer,  William  McLel- 
lan,  Levi  S.  Ross,f  Wm.  Anthony,  Jonathan  M.  Shove,  Peter  Dunbar, 
Loring  Emerson,  Lyman  Emerson,  William  Horton.f  Stephen  S.  Bensou, 
Emanuel  N.  Paine,  J.  H.  Wing,  Remington  Southwick, Moses  Kelty,  J.  S. 
Keach,  A.  G.  Day.  John  H.  Slocum.f  Daniel  N.  Chace,  Seth  T.  Aldrich, 
Lyman  Sayles,  George  Aldrich,  Willard  Holbrook,  James  Hurd.fJas.  W. 
Russell, f  N.  C.  Aldrich,  Wm.  G.  Fry. 

The  whole  number  of  the  petitioners  was  767. 
The  remonstrance  of  Obadiah  Wood  and  others  was  as  follows, 
viz: 

To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts,  in  General  Court  assembled: 

The  undersigned,  freeholders  and  legal  voters  of  the  Town  of  Mendon. 
do  respectfully  and  urgently  remonstrate  against  the  division  of  the  town 
of  Mendon  into  two  towns  by  your  honorable  body  on  the  petition  of 
Joseph  G.  Davenport  and  others,  or  on  any  other  petition,  present  to  your 
honorable  body  the  following  reasons  for  so  remonstrating: 

1.  The  geographical  dimensions  of  the  town  is  not  above  the  average  of 
towns  in  our  county  of  Worcester,  being  21000i  acres  within  its  claimed 
boundaries. 

*  Dead,    t  Stricken  from  Petition. 


590  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1845. 

2.  Rhode  Island  claims  a  part  of  our  territory,  and  which  claim  is  now 
pending  for  adjudication  in  the  Supreme  Federal  Court. 

3.  The  division  of  the  town  will  cause  great  inconvenience  in  the  School 
Districts,  viz:  Between  numbers  three  and  five,  six  and  seventeen,  and 
seven  and  nine. 

4.  The  town  has  an  almshouse  establishment  amply  sufficient  for  the 
town,  as  it  now  is,  with  paupers,  which  may  lead  to  expensive  and  vexa- 
tious litigation  if  the  town  is  divided. 

5.  The  petitions  have  been  prematurely  presented  to  your  honorable 
body,  as  we  understand  the  Revised  Statutes,  Chap.  2,  sections  seven  and 
eight.  There  has  never  been  any  notice  served  upon  this  town,  up  to  this 
day.  Some  of  the  petitioners  for  a  division  (we  understand),  have  stated 
that  unfair  means  were  used  to  obtain  their  signatures.  Almost  all  our 
transient  male  population  (if  our  information  is  correct),  from  twenty-one 
years  upward,  have  been  induced  to  petition  for  a  division  of  the  town, 
and  whether  they  are  all  voters  is  very  questionable ;  and  we  think  that  more 
than  one-third  of  the  population  of  Mendon  are  transient  people,  leaving  a 
large  proportion  of  the  freeholders  to  defend  themselves  against  a  measure 
in  which  these  can  have  but  little  interest. 

Wherefore  your  petitioners  pray  that  the  prayer  of  said  petition  to  divide 
the  town  of  Mendon  may  not  be  granted. 

Obadiah  Wood,*  Benoni  Staples,*  Doten  Smith,  Stephen  Tourtelotte,* 
Elijah  Taft,*  Peletiah  Thayer,*  Charles  Benson,  Stephen  Cook,  Johnson 
Legg,*  Sullivan  H.  Taft,  Otis  Thayer,*  Abram  Staples,*  Otis  Marsh,  Francis 
E.  Wheelock,*  Joseph  Engley,  Putman  W.  Taft,  William  Leach,  Arnold 
A.  Taft.  Ebenezer  Taft,  Hezekiah  Fletcher,  *  Dudley  Taft,  Arnold 
'Taft,*  William  Fletcher,*  Zalman  G.  Wood,  Thomas  Taft,*  Aldrich  How- 
ard, Adam  Wheelock,*  Christopher  Daniels,  Perry  Wood,  Albert  Gardner, 
Marcena  Daniels,  Austin  Wood,  Andrus  Wheelock,*  Adolphus  Fowler, 
Lewis  Wood,  Lewis  W.  Taft,  Varville  Taft,*  Calvin  Wheelock,  Stephen 
Taft,*  George  Taft,  3d,  Andre  Southwick,  Ariel  Cook,  2d,  Ferd.  B.  An- 
drews, Russell  Bennett,  Jr.,  Gilbert  Cook,  Linus  B.  Staples,*  Augustus 
Remick,*  Aldrich  B.  Cook,  Seth  Southwick,*  Arnold  Aldrich,  Jr.  ,*Mowry 
Darling,*  Enos  T.  Albee,  Royal  M.  Wheelock,*  Ellison  Scott,*  John  W. 
Darling,*  Elbridge  G.  Daniels,*  John  M.  Daniels,  Dexter  Cole,  William 
Cook,  Henry  Coverdale,*  Lovell  Hayward,*  Elial  Barber,  S.  E.  Evans, 
Abraham  Fletcher,*  Calvin  Barber,  Willis  Southwick,  Harris  Fletcher, 
Austin  Fletcher,  Asa  Thompson,*  Adolphus  Daniels,*  George  H.  Payson, 
Micajah  Fuller,  John  M.  Daniels,  Nahor  Fletcher,*  Lansford  W.  Brock, 
Philo  W.  Brown,  Welcome  A.  Thayer,  William  Hayden,  Jason  Staples,* 
Caleb  Wheelock,  John  Luke,  Abijah  Staples,*  Charles  Fletcher,  Charles 
Metcalf,  James  M.  Staples,  Jas.  Burlingame,  Solomon  Pratt,  Simon  Corn- 
stock,  Welcome  Thayer,  John  B.  Kelly,  Thompson  Taft,  Daniel  Hill,  John 
Kelly,  Elisha  H.  Wilson,  Lyman  Sayles,  Laban  Bates,  2d,  Caleb  Taft,  Leon- 
ard Taft,*  George  W.  Colvin,  Samuel  W.  Gibson,  Spaulding  Hervey,  Peter 
Bates,  Jr.,  Amory  R.   Brown,  Moses  Daniels,*  Horace  Thayer,   Johu  J. 


1845.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  591 

Getchell,  Abel  Prince,  Eli  Bates,  James  Adams,  Anson  Darling,  Elijah 
Trask,  George  Gaskill,  Smith  Aldrieh,  Thomas  J.  Aldrieh,  Samuel  H.  Gas- 
kill,  Alison  Adams,  Jared  Benson,  Jr.,  Emory  Scott,*  John  H.  Slocuin, 
Abijah  Estey,  Luther  Evertou,  Jr.,  Josiah  F.  Gould,  Nathan  Southwick, 
William  Clark,  Iehabod  Cook,  David  W.  Southwick,  Ziba  Ross,  Rowland 
Rathbun,  John  R.  Smith,  Arthur  Cook,*  Russell  Estey,  Russell  Wilson, 
Samuel  Cook,*  Eli  Kelly,*  Ellis  Taft,  Albert  Gaskill,  James  Kurd,  Alvin 
Boutelle,  Daniel  Harrington,  Marvin  llowland,  Warren  Raw  son,  2nd,  Seth 
Harrington,  Otis  Joslin,  Willard  Wilson,  Samuel  B.  Pickering,  Lebbeus 
L.  Wood,  Willard  A.  Mowry,  David  Kelly,*  James  Comstock,*  Dexter 
Boutelle,  Otis  T.  Parkhurst,  Hosea  Cook,  Amasa  Taft,  George  Hill,  Benj. 
Pickering,  Eliel  Ballou,  George  Hill,  Jr.;  Jotham  Parkhurst,  Caleb  S.  Wil- 
son, Asa  Kelly,*  Willard  Wilcox,  Jr.,  Whitney  Alexander,  Zaccheus  Col- 
vin,  Andrew  Comstock,  Wm.  W.  Thayer,  Rufus  Jenks,  Daniel  Southwick, 
Joel  Glover,  Malcolm  S.  Scott,*  Jared  Benson,*  Arnold  Darling,  Benj. 
Stearns,  Daniel  S  Southwick,  John  Westhall,  Welcome  Jillson,  William 
Legg,  Caleb  Thayer,  Orrin  Sargent,  Elijah  Taylor,  Lyman  Holbrook, 
William  Spear,  John  Thompson,  Caleb  Sturtevant,*  Moody  B.  Fuller,  Ellery 
Thomas,  Alexander  Howard,  C.  W.  Underbill,  Job  Hart,  George  Prentice, 
Edmond  Kimpton,  N.  M.  Thayer,  Stephen  J.  Shearman,  Martin  D.  Boutelle, 
John  Carr,  Thomas  Rich,  Nelson  Holbrook,  Nahor  Staples,  John  Spring, 
Benedict  Shove,  Rufus  Keach,  M.  Gould,  Daniel  Kimpton,  Zebedee  Young, 
Peter  Gaskill,  Jr.,  Samuel  Very,*  Benoni  Stone,  David  Boyden,  James  P. 
Hayward,  Gardner  G.  Orwell,  Silas  Ballou,  Elisha  T.  Gaskill,  Augustus 
Moffitt,  Samuel  Day,  Fenner  Phettyplace,  John  Aldrieh,  Daniel  01ne}r,  Z. 
C.  Ross.  Samuel  Farris,  Levi  S.  Ross,  Wm.  A.  Burlingame,  Russell  Cross- 
man,  Anthony  Sweet,  Charles  Ross,  George  W.  Gaskill,  Thayer  Bellows, 
David  S.  Paine,  Stacy  W.  Fenner,  Abner  Wight,  Elbridge  G  Phillips, 
Jeremiah  Getchel,  Nicholas  Thayer,  Wellington  Hart,  Charles  Dirk,  Phin- 
ehas  Briggs,  Austin  Greenman,  Lemuel  Whitney,  John  Messenger,  Merrill 
T.  Spring,  John  G.  Robinson,  Augustus  Moffitt,  Oliver  Stone,  Willard  Hol- 
brook, Reuben  R.  Studley,  Rhodes  Hill,  Nathan  Day,  Reuben  Thayer,  Jr., 
Russell  Bennett,  Louis  Cook,  Stephen  Comstock,  Absalom  Daniels,  * 
Ephraim  Day,  Artemas  Thayer,  Jr.,  Ariel  Thayer,*  Elisha  Chase,  Samuel 
Everton,  Leonard  Thayer,  M.  H.  Warfield,  Artemas  Thayer,  Reuben 
Thayer,*  William  Cass,  Sumner  Thayer,  Gilbert  Gaskill,  James  Davis, 
Henry  Angell,  Daniel  Barnes,  Enos  Hayward,  James  T.  Hayward,  Hezekiah 
Harrington,  Elijah  Hayward,*  Edwin  G.  Davis.  Benj.  Paine,  Ariel  Thayer, 
Jr.,  George  W.  Haven,  Wm.  H.  Paine,  Peter  Gaskill,*  Daniel  T.  Thayer, 
Amos  C.  Albee,  Cornelius  Metcalf,  Joseph  H.  Logee,  Rufus  Hayward,* 
Samuel  Thayer,  Jesse  Darling,  Eber  K.  Brown,*  Seth  T.  Staples. 

Whole  number  of  remonstrants  314. 

Jan.  20,  1845. 

The  order  of  notice  on  the  petition  of  Jos.  G.  Davenport  and 
others  was  passed  Jan.  17  by  the  General  Court,  and  was  served 

*  Dead. 


592  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1845. 

upon  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk  of  Mention,  by  Charles  C.  P. 
Hastings,  Jan.  21,  1845. 

The  Committee  on  Towns,  after  visiting  the  town,  reported  a 
bill  for  its  division,  Feb.  26,  1845,  and  which  was  passed  by  the 
General  Court  and  became  a  law  by  the  signature  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, March  25,  1845. 

At  this  time  the  valuation  of  the  town,  as  certified  by  Pre- 
served S.  Thayer,  one  of  the  Assessors,  was  as  follows,  viz: 

Real  Estate  valued  at $927,673.00 

Personal  Estate  valued  at 503,416.00 

Total $1,431,089.00 

The  whole  number  of  polls  was  1015. 

Valuation  of  the  North  Pariah,  (Mendon.) 

Real  Estate  valued  at $379,374.00 

Personal  Estate  valued  at.    137,391.00 

$516,765.00 
Whole  number  of  Polls  was  319. 

Valuation  of  tlie  South  Pariah,  (Blackdone.) 

Real  Estate  valued  at $548,299.00 

Personal  estate  valued  at 366,025.00 

$914,324  00 
Whole  number  of  Polls  was  696. 

March  3.  Voted  to  pass  over  choosing  Town  Clerk,  Treasur- 
er and  Collector  until  the  adjourned  meeting. 

Arnold  Taft,  Daniel  Southwiok,  Andrus  Wheeloek,  Hezekiah 
Harrington  and  James  Comstock  were  chosen  Selectmen  and  Ru- 
fus  Hay  ward,  Constable. 

The  vote  for  County  Treasurer  was  for  Anthony  Chase  87. 

But  little  other  business  was  transacted,  and  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  April,  to  meet  at  the  South 
Parish  Meeting  House,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M. 

The  town  having  been  divided  by  the  act  of  March  25  (the 
South  Parish  having  been  made  a  town  by  the  name  of  Black- 
stone)  it  became  necessary  to  call  a  new  meeting;  and  as  there 
was  but  one  Constable  and  one  Selectman  chosen  at  the  March 
meeting,  living  in  Mendon,  Arnold  Taft  the  Selectman  chosen, 
upon  a  petition,  directed  his  Avarrant  for  a  meeting  to  be  held 
Apri  17,  to  John  G.  Metcalf,  one  of  the  petitioners,  to  warn  the 
meeting. 


1845.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  593 

The  meeting  was  held  at  Harrison  Hall  at  the  time  appointed 
and  Arnold  Taft,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Moderator. 

Chose  Stephen  Taft,  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  Arnold  Taft, 
Willard  Chilson  and  Leonard  Taft,  Selectmen;  James  Grady, 
Constable;  Amariah  Taft,  Collector,  and  to  be  paid  -M4.00;  Eev. 
Linns  H.  Shaw,  Andrew  H.  Eeed  and  Samuel  W.  Doggett, 
School  Committee.  S.  W.  Doggett  declining,  Chas.  C.  P.  Hast- 
ings was  chosen  in  his  stead,  and  June  14,  Rev.  Linus  H.  Shaw, 
having  removed  from  town,  John  G.  Metcalf  was  chosen  to  fill 
the  vacancy. 

Voted  the  Selectmen  be  a  committee  to  make  all  necessary  set- 
tlements with  the  town  of  Blackstone,  resulting  from  the  divis- 
ion of  the  town. 

Voted  that  warrants  for  town  meetings,  in  future,  lie  posted  at 
the  Post  Office. 

April  21.     Voted  to  accept  the  following  list  of  Jurors,  viz: 

Moses  T.  Chapin,*  Jason  Staples,*  Abram  Staples,*  Stephen  Taft,* 
Thomas  Taft,*  Fras.  E.  Wheelock,  *  Jesse  F.  Aldenian,  Otis  Thayer,*  Silas 
Dudley,  Nathan  George,*  Welcome  Staples,*  Ezra  Leland,*  Elijah  Dew- 
ing,* Olney  Cook,  Lewis  Stone,*  Scammell  Aldrich.*  Nathan  Hayward,* 
Alexr  H.  Allen,*  Andrns  Wheelock.* 

Chose  Charles  C.  P.  Hastings  as  agent  to  convey  the  real  es- 
tate of  the  town  (the  Poor  Farm)  when  sold. 

Voted  to  add  four  more  persons  to  the  committee  (the  Select- 
men) chosen  at  the  last  meeting,  to  make  all  settlements  with  the 
town  of  Blackstone. 

Chose  Amariah  Taft,  Joseph  G.  Davenport,  Scammell  Aldrich 
and  Welcome  Staples  as  additional  members  of  the  committee. 

Voted  that  the  committee  be  instructed  to  sell,  at  auction,  all 
the  property  directed  to  be  sold  by  the  act  incorporating  the' 
town  of  Blackstone,  to  the  highest  bidder,  on  or  before  the  third 
Monday  in  May  next  and  that  the  town  will  hold  them  harmless 
for  all  acts  done  in  good  faith. 

Chose  John  G.  Metcalf,  Jos.  G.  Davenport  and  Johnson  Legg 
as  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

The  committee  chosen  to  defend  the  petition  of  Joseph  G.  Da- 
venport and  others  for  a  division  of  the  town  before  the  Com- 

*Dead. 

75 


594  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1845. 

mittee  on  Towns  at  the  General  Court  made  a  report  which  was 
read,  accepted  and  put  on  file. 

The  reports  of  the  Treasurer  and  Selectmen  were  then  read,  ac- 
cepted and  placed  on  file. 

The  report  of  the  School  Committee  was  read,  accepted  and 
placed  on  file. 

Voted  that  the  agent  to  sell  the  town's  real  estate  be  held  harm- 
less for  all  acts,  in  relation  thereto,  done  in  good  faith. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  the  Surveyors  of  Highways  be  a  committee  to  bound 
anew  the  Highway  Districts. 

Voted  that  the  Prudential  Committees  be  a  committee  to  bound 
anew  the  several  School  Districts. 

The  enrolled  militia  were  found  to  be  202. 

June  14.  Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  directed  not  to  assess 
the  State  and  County  tax  and  that  the  town  will  hold  them 
harmless. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  be  directed  to  notify  the  State  and 
County  Treasurers  of  the  foregoing  vote  and  the  reasons  given 
by  the  meeting  for  passing  the  same. 

What  these  reasons  were  does  not  appear,  as  none  were  entered 
in  the  record  and  no  copy  of  the  Town  Clerk's  letter  was  pre- 
served. They  probably  had  reference  to  the  recent  division  of 
the  town. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  shall  open  all  future  town  meet- 
ings punctually  at  the  appointed  hour  named  in  the  warrant,  and 
that  the  Selectmen  shall  insert  the  word  "  punctually "  before 
the  hour  named  in  their  warrants. 

Voted  that  John  G.  Metcalf,  Stephen  Taft  and  Alexander  H. 
Allen  be  a  committee  to  examine  the  town  records,  and  transcribe 
or  cause  to  be  transcribed  such  of  said  records  as  they  shall  think 
best,  and  that  the  town  of  Blackstone  be  invited  to  join  in  doing 
the  same. 

The  town  of  Blackstone  declining  to  join,  nothing  further  was 
clone  in  the  matter.  Since  this  time  the  first  six  volumes  of  the 
records  have  been  substantially  rebound,  and  thus  their  preserva- 
tion has  been  assured. 


1845.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  595 

Abram  Staples,  Leonard  Taft  and  Scammell  Aldrich  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  view  such  farms  as  may  be  offered  for  a 
Poor  Farm  and  report  on  or  before  the  last  Saturday  in  Septem- 
ber next. 

Voted  that  town  meetings  be  warned  in  future  by  posting  up 
copies  of  the  warrant  at  the  Post  Office  and  at  the  school  houses, 
except  in  District  Number  Two. 

Voted  that  the  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  sell  the  proper- 
ty of  the  town,  be  directed  to  sell  the  Training  Field  and  give  a 
warranty  deed  of  the  same. 

Sept.  6.  Charles  C.  P.  Hastings,  for  the  committee,  reported 
a  new  arrangement  of  the  School  Districts,  made  necessary  by 
the  division  of  the  town.  His  report  may  be  found  in  vol.  VII, 
p.  475. 

Voted  that  the  school  money  be  divided  as  follows,  viz:  One- 
third  equally  among  the  districts  and  two-thirds  equally  among 
the  children  between  the  ages  of  three  and  twenty-one. 

Benjamin  Davenport  and  Welcome  Staples  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  purchase  a  hearse  and  harness. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  tender  to  the  agents  chosen  to  de- 
fend the  petition  of  Joseph  G-.  Davenport  and  others,  for  a  di- 
vision of  the  town  of  Mendon,  before  the  Committee  of  the 
Legislature  on  Towns,  ten  dollars  each,  for  attendance  before 
said  committee  and  to  each  a  travelling  fee,  equal  to  a  Represen- 
tative's travel,  to  and  from  Boston. 

These  terms  the  agents  did  not  accept,  and  finally  an  action 
was  brought  against  the  town,  and  the  agents  recovered  the  full 
amount  of  their  claim,  Avith  costs. 

Town  lines  were  perambulated  with  Uxbridge,  Blackstone, 
Bellingham,  Milford,  Upton  and  Northbridge. 

By  the  terms  of  the  division  of  the  town,  Mendon  and  Black- 
stone  were  to  vote  together  for  a  choice  of  Representative  until 
1850. 

Blackstone,  Nov.  10.  This  day  the  voters  in  the  towns  of  Men- 
don and  Blackstone  met  at  the  Town  House  in  Blackstone,  for 
the  choice  of  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  at  10  o'clock 
A.  M.     The  result  of  the  ballot  was  as  follows,  viz: 

Rufus  Hay  ward  of  Blackstone  had  163.  Alanson  S.  Freeman  of  Men- 
don had  96.     Charles  L.  Harding  of  Blackstone  had  75.     All  others  had  6. 

There  being  no  choice,  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


596  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1845. 

Mention,  Nov.  10.  The  voters  of  Mendon  met  at  Harrison 
Hall,- to  vote  for  the  remaining  State  officers,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M. , 
and  with  the  following  result,  viz: 

STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor,  Isaac  Davis  had  99  votes. 

George  N.  Briggs       "    39      "  Elected. 

Samuel  E.  Sewell      "21      " 
"  Lt.  Governor,         George  Savary  "99      " 

John  Reed  "39      " 

"  "  John  M.  Brewster      "21 

For  Senators. — Democrats — Walter  A.  Bryant  had  99  votes.  Adam  Har- 
rington had  99  votes.  Francis  Howe  had  99  votes.  Ivers  Phillips  had  99 
votes.  Orison  Underwood  had  99  votes.  Whig — John  G.  Thurston  had 
39  votes.  Joseph  Stone  had  39  votes.  Stephen  Salisbury  had  39  votes. 
Calvin  Willard  had  39  votes.     Jason  Goulding  had  39  votes. 

Thomas  W.  Ward,  Rodolphus  B-  Hubbard,  Joseph  Griggs,  Gil  man  Jones 
and  Charles  Adams,  Jr.,  (Anti-Slavery)  had  21  votes  each. 

Nov.  22.  Voted  that  any  person  chosen  by  the  town  as  Agent, 
Committee,  or  called  by  any  other  title,  (except  such  officers  as 
are  required  by  law  to  be  chosen  in  the  month  of  March),  shall 
be  paid  as  follows,  viz:  For  service  in  town,  four  cents  a  mile  for 
necessary  travel  each  way,  and  nothing  for  time.  For  service 
out  of  town,  not  to  exceed  one  dollar  per  day,  and  five  cents  a 
mile  for  travel.  The  Selectmen  may  allow  indispensable,  neces- 
sary cash  expenses,  consisting  only  of  food  and  lodging  for  him- 
self, and  feed  and  stabling  for  his  horse;  and  furthermore,  all 
persons  serving  the  town  are  to  consider  themselves  bound  by 
the  above  vote,  the  same  as  though  it  was  a  contract  made  at 
the  time  of  their  election. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  allow  the  agents 
chosen  to  defend  the  petition  of  Joseph  G.  Davenport  and  others 
before  the  Committee  of  the  Legislature  on  Towns  a  reasonable 
compensation  for  all  necessary  expenses  incurred  in  preparing 
evidence,  after  being  chosen  agents,  before  the  sitting  of  the 
Committee,  in  addition  to  the  former  vote  on  the  same  subject. 

Voted  to  pay  the  proprietors  of  Harrison  Hall  the  sum  of  $20 
for  the  use  of  said  Hall  to  hold  town  meetings  in,  up  to  tbe  first 
Monday  in  March  next,  inclusive. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $54.09. 


1846.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  597 

Nov.  24.     A  second  meeting  held  this  day  for  the  choice  of  a 

Representative  to  the  General  Court,  resulted  as  follows,  viz: 

Rufus  Hayward  had  191  votes.    Alanson  S.  Freeman  had  94  votes.    Clias- 
L.  Harding  had  22  votes.     All  others  had  27  votes. 
Rufns  Hayward  was  elected  by  23  majority. 


1846.  Jan.  24.  Voted  to  accept  the  road  laid  out  by  the  Se- 
lectmen from  near  Verville  Taft's  to  the  road  by  Nahor  Fletcher's 
house,  south  of  Enos  T.  Albee's  shop. 

March  2.  Chose  Putman  W.  Taft  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer; 
Leonard  Taft,  Elijah  Dewing  and  Ezra  Leland  Selectmen;  Aaron 
C.  Cook,  Constable^and  Collector;  Rev.  Andrew  H.  Reed,  John 
G.  Metcalf  and  Rev.  George  M.  Rice,  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  appoint  a  sexton  and  establish  his 
compensation. 

The  votes  for  County  Treasurer  were,  for  Anthony  Chase,  73 
votes. 

The  votes  for  Register  of  Deeds  were:  H.  Wilder  77.  J.  S. 
C.  Knowlton,  1. 

The  Assessors  were  instructed  to  issue  warrants  of  distress  to 
the  Highway  Surveyors. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  shall  offer  suitable  rewards  for  the 
detection  of  the  villains  who  are  in  the  practice  of  breaking  glass, 
damaging  property,  mutilating  trees,  &c. 

March  20.  Amariah  Taft  was  chosen  an  agent  to  confer  with 
the  agent  of  the  Town  of  Blackstone  upon  the  subject  of  the 
State  and  County  taxes. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $5.67. 

April  (5.  Voted  to  postpone  the  third  article  in  the  warrant 
of  March  20,  which  was  "To  see  what  measures  the  Town  will 
adopt  in  regard  to  the  memorial  of  the  Town  of  Blackstone  to 
the  Legislature  on  the  subject  of  the  division  of  the  surplus 
revenue."' 

The  report  of  the  School  Committee  was  read,  and  after  a  dis- 
cussion of  its  merits  and  demerits,  two  hundred  copies  were  or- 
dered to  be  printed,  being  the  first  time  a  report  of  the  School 
Committee  was  printed. 


598  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1846. 

Voted  to  raise  $1600  for  the  support  of  the  poor  and  for  inci- 
dental expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  to  be  paid 
in  labor  as  heretofore. 

The  number  of  the  enrolled  militia  was  found  to  be  205. 

Aug.  24.  John  G.  Metcalf,  Samuel  W.  Doggett,  Jesse  F. 
Alderman,  David  Davenport  and  Welcome  Staples  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  examine  farms  which  may  be  offered  for  a  Poor 
Farm. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $9.31. 

Adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  January  next,  (1847). 

Nov.  9.     Met  at  Harrison  Hall  pursuant  to  warrant. 

STATE    ELECTION. 
For  Governor,  Isaac  Davis  (Dem.)      had  104  votes. 

Geo.  N.  Briggs  (W.)     "      43      "      Elected. 
S.  G.  Sewall  (A.  S.)      "      23      " 
"  Lt.  Governor,    George  Hood  •"    104      " 

John  Reed  "      43  *  " 

Jas.  M.  Brewster  "      23      " 

For  Senators — Democrat — Otis  Adams  had  104  votes.  Francis  Howe  had 
104  votes.  Ivers  Phillips  had  104  votes.  Seth  Hapgood  had  104  votes. 
Alfred  Bragg  had  104  votes.  Whig — Stephen  Salisbury  had  43  votes.  Cal- 
vin Willard  had  43  votes.  Jason  Goulding  had  43  votes.  Nahum  F.  Bry- 
ant had  43  votes.     George  Denny  had  43  votes. 

James  G.  Carter,  R.  B.  Hubbard,  Joseph  Griggs,  Gilman  Jones  and 
diaries  Adams,  Jr.,  (Anti-Slavery)  had  23  votes  each. 

The  voters  of  Mendon  and  Blackstone  met  this  (Nov.  9)  at 
Harrison  Hall,  in  Mendon,  to  vote  for  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  voted  as  follows,  viz: 

Benjamin  Davenport  had  40.  votes.  Josiah  Webster  had  77  votes.  Arnold 
Taft  had  56  votes.  Sumner  Ballon  had  99  votes.  All  others  had  16  votes. 
No  choice. 

For  Representative  in  Congress,  Fifth  District. — Walter  A.  Bryant  of  Barre 
had  104  votes.  Charles  Hudson  of  Westminster  had  43  votes.  R.  B.  Hub; 
bard  of  Worcester  had  23  votes. 

Charles  Hudson  (Whig)  was  elected  in  the  District. 
Nov.  23.     At  a  meeting  held  this  day  at  Harrison  Hall, 
Voted  not  to  choose  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court, 
and  then 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 


1847.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  599 

1847.  Jan.  4.  The  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  examine 
farms  that  may  be  offered  for  a  Poor  Farm,  made  a  written  re- 
port, and  which,  being  accepted,  the  committee  was  discharged. 
As  the  report  was  not  recorded  nor  can  be  found,  its  contents 
are  not  known. 

Charles  0.  P.  Hastings,  Olney  Cook,  Silas  Dudley,  Henry 
Wheelock  and  Carlile  W.  Capron  were  then  chosen  a  committee 
to  view  and  examine  any  farm  which  may  be  offered  for  a  Poor 
Farm,  and  report  at  the  annual  meeting. 

March  1.  This  committee  reported  that  no  farm  had  been 
offered  for  their  examination  for  the  above  purpose,  whereupon 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 

Under  a  new  warrant  for  the  annual  meeting, 

Putman  W.  Taft  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer; 
Leonard  Taft,  Abram  Staples  and  Welcome  Staples,  Selectmen; 
Aaron  C.  Cook,  Constable;  Obed  P.  Thayer,  Collector,  and 
Andrew  H.  Peed,  Putman  W.  Taft  and  Joseph  Thayer,  School 
Committee. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $000  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges,  and  to  be 
assessed  separately,  in  money,  and  each  Highway  Surveyor  to 
draw  the  portion  assessed  in  his  district. 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  road  from  the  brick  house  (formerly 
the  school  house)  in  the  direction  of  Verville  Taft's  house. 

Alexander  H.  Allen,  Amariah  Taft  and  John  Gr.  Metcalf  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  ascertain  if  the  town  has  any  claim  upon 
the  mill  privilege  on  the  Alvin  Allen  place,  on  Mill  river. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Benjamin  Albee,  in  1664,  had 
granted  him  a  twenty  acre  house  lot  and  fifty  acres  on  the  Mill 
Plain,  if  he  would  build  a  corn  mill  for  the  use  of  the  town. 
The  "  Corne  mill  "  was  built  and  improved  for  many  years,  but 
about  this  time,  the  mill  having  got  out  of  repair,  was  neglected 
and  soon  became  a  ruin.  Its  last  occupant  was  Alvin  Allen. 
Considering  the  lapse  of  time  since  the  town  had  taken  any 
action  in  the  matter,  it  was  deemed  that  the  interest  of  the  town 
would  hardly  warrant  any  extended  litigation  in  the  case. 

Anthony  Chase  had  85  votes  for  County  Treasurer. 

Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $25.20. 


GOO  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1847. 

Voted  to  pass  over  the  tenth  article  in  the  warrant  relating  to 
the  paying  the  Selectmen  and  others  their  charges  for  appearing 
before  the  Committee  on  Elections  of  the  Legislature,  in  the 
case  of  Dan  Hill,  claiming  to  have  been  elected  a  Representative 
from  this  town. 

At  the  November  meeting  in  1846,  the  meeting  being  held  in 
Mendon,  (as,  by  the  act  incorporating  Blackstone,  both  towns 
were  to  vote  together  for  Representative  to  the  General  Court 
until  1850,)  after  the  choice  of  a  Moderator,  a  motion  was  made 
and  carried  to  dissolve  the  meeting.  Those  who  remained  chose 
a  new  Moderator,  reconsidered  the  vote  dissolving  the  meeting, 
and  voted  for  Dan  Hill,  Esq.,  as  a  Representative  to  the  General 
Court.  A  hearing  was  had  before  the  Committee  on  Elections, 
and  upon  their  report  Mr.  Hill  was  denied  a  seat. 

The  dissolution  of  the  November  meeting,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, must  be  regarded  as  rather  sharp  practice,  as  hut  few  of 
the  voters  from  Blackstone  had  arrived.  By  a  previous  vote 
of  the  town  of  Mendon  the  Selectmen  had  been  instructed 
to  insert  the  word  "punctually"'  before  the  hour  appointed  for 
town  meetings  in  their  warrants,  and  the  Town  Clerk  was 
directed  to  call  the  meetings  to  order  "  punctually"  at  the  hour 
named  in  the  warrant.  These  facts  were  sufficient  warrant  for 
opening  the  meeting  punctually,  but  proper  courtesy  would  have 
extended  the  time  for  taking  the  vote  for  dissolution. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  the  "  Selectmen  and  others"  were 
allowed  149.50  for  their  services  in  this  matter. 

April  5.         votes  for  county  commissioners. 

Commissioners — Nathaniel  Wood,  D.,  had  40  votes.  Wm.  P.  Marble  had 
39  votes.  Warren  Humes  had  38  votes.  Wm.  Crawford,  W.,  had  22 
votes.     Jerome  Gardner  had  21  votes.     Joseph  Bruce  had  21  votes. 

Special  Commissioners — Gardner  Ruggles  had  43  votes.  Otis  Adams  had 
43  votes.     Stephen  Davis  had  18  votes.     Jason  Goulding  had  18  votes. 

All  others  had  4  votes. 

Obed  P.  Thayer  was  excused  from  serving  as  Collector,  and 
Perry  Wood  was  chosen  in  his  place,  and  agreed  to  collect  the 
taxes  for  129.00. 

Voted  that  the  Highway  Surveyors  render  their  accounts  to 
the  Selectmen  on  the  first  day  of  September,  and  that  the  Se- 
lectmen issue  no  orders  for  labor  on  the  roads  and  bridges  but 


1848.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  60] 

upon  satisfactory  evidence  that  the  money  has  been  properly 
expended. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  he  authorized,  at  their  discretion, 
to  liberate  William  (1.  Fry  from  jail,  for  the  non-payment  of  a 
poll  tax. 

Voted  that  the  Prudential  Committee  be  authorized  to  con- 
tract with  teachers  for  the  Public  Schools,  as,  without  this  vote, 
that  duty  was  to  be  performed  by  the  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire  six  hundred 
dollars,  if  necessary,  at  5  per  cent. 

The  number  of  the  enrolled  militia  was  found  to  be  153. 

Sept.  14.      Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $18.45. 

Nov.   8.  STATE    ELECTION. 

Fbr  Representative  to  the  General  Court — George   Rawson   had   19   votes. 
James  P.  Hayward  had  35  votes.     William  Cook  had  70  votes.     Rev.  Beuj. 
D.  Peck  had  156  votes.     All  others  had  17  votes. 
For  Governor,  Caleb  dishing  had  79  votes. 

George  N.  Briggs  had  28      ' '        Elected. 

Samuel  E.  Sewall  had         16 
For  Lt.  Governor,  Henry  W.  Cushman  had    80 

John  Reed  had  28      ' ' 

John  M.  Brewster  had  16 
Senators — Dem. — Otis  Adams  had  80  votes.  Francis  Howe  had  80  votes. 
Ivers  Phillips  had  80  votes.  Seth  Hapgood  had  80  votes.  Arnold  Taft 
had  75  votes.  Whig — Nahum  F.  Bryant  had  28  votes.  George  Denny  had 
28  votes.  Alfred  D.  Foster  had  28  votes.  Alanson  Hamilton  had  28  votes. 
John  Brooks  had  28  votes.  James  G.  Carter,  Thomas  W.  Ward,  Charles 
Adams,  Jr.,  Gilman  Jones  and  Edward  B.  Bigelow,  Anti-Slavery,  had  16 
votes  each. 

This  meeting  was  held  at  the  Town  House,  in  Blackstone. 

At  the  same  time  Silas  Dudley  was  chosen  agent  to  defend  an 
action  brought  by  Stephen  Torrey  against  the  town  for  the 
recovery  of  taxes  paid  by  him. 

REV.    GEORGE    M.    RICE,    THE    ELEVENTH    MINISTER. 

Rev.  George  M.  Rice  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit,  and 
commenced  his  labors  April  20,  1845,  and  remained  until  July 
1,  1847. 


1848.     March  G.     Chose  William  H.   Aldrich,  Town  Clerk; 

76 


602  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1848. 

Alexander  H.  Allen,  Stephen  Cook,  2nd,  and  Elijah  Dewing, 
Selectmen;  Jesse  F.  Alderman,  Treasurer  and  Colleetor,  and 
Albert  Gardner,  Constable. 

Voted  to  accept  the  following  list  of  jurors  selected  by  the 
Selectmen,  viz: — 

David  Davenport.*  William  II.  Aldrich.  Perry  Wood.  David  W. 
Bennett.  Carlile  W.  Capron.  Elijah  Dewing.*  Willard  Chilson.*  Ar- 
nold Taft,*  Linus  B.  Staples.*  Stephen  Cook,  2d.  William  T.  Metcalf.* 
Seth  T.  Davenport.*  George  Rawson.  Andrus  Wheelock.*  Alexander 
II.  Allen.*     Sumner  Ballon.     Alanson  S.  Freeman.*     Henry  Wheelock. 

Voted  to  pay  the  Treasurer  and  Constable  ten  dollars  each  for 
their  services. 

Voted  to  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the  poor,  and 
Silas  Dudley,  Benj.  Davenport,  Welcome  Staples,  Charles  C.  P. 
Hastings,  Adam  Wheelock,  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Abram  Staples, 
Olney  Cook  and  John  S.  Gaskill  were  chosen  a  committee  for 
that  purpose,  and  to  report  at  an    adjourned  meeting. 

For  County  Treasurer,  (the  poll  having  been  previously 
opened,)  it  was  found  that  Anthony  Chase  had  all  the  votes, 
sixty-three  in  number. 

The  usual  vote  that  Prudential  Committees  may  contract  with 
teachers  was  then  passed. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $20.79. 

April  3.  Chose  Andrew  H.  Reed,  John  G.  Metcalf  and  Put- 
man  W.  Taft,  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  paid 
six  dollars  a  year  for  their  services. 

Elias  Alexander  was  chosen  Collector  and  to  be  paid  $22.50  for 
his  services. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  the  Public  Schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  highways  and  bridges, 
and  that  the  same  be  assessed  by  itself. 

The  committee  of  nine  chosen  at  the  last  meeting  making  no 
report,  it  was  moved  to  choose  another  committee  to  purclnise 
a  Poor  Farm,  but  the  motion  did  not  prevail. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  procure  a  place  in  which  to  hold  the 
town  meetings. 


'Bead  in  1880. 


1848.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


603 


The  enrolled  militia  were  found  to  number  178,  between  the 
ages  of  18  and  45. 

NOV.   7.  PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION. 

Electors  at  Large.— Levi  Lincoln  (W.),  13.  Samuel  Hoar  (A.  S.),  80.  Chas. 
G.  Greene  (D.),  92.  Edmund  Dwight  (W.),  13.  William  Jackson  (A.  S.), 
80.     Henry  H.  Childs  (D.),  92. 


District  No.  1— 

Albert  Fearing,  W 13 

Joseph  Willard,  A.  S 80 

James  Cheever,  D 92 

District  No.  2— 

David  Pingree,  W 13 

JohnB.  Alley,  A.  S 80 

Ebenezer  H.  Stacy,  D 92 

District  No.  3— 

Daniel  Adams,  W 13 

John  G.  Whittier,  A.  S 80 

Edwin  Lawrence,  D 92 

District  No.  4— 

Isaac  Livermore,  W 13 

Nathan  Brooks,  A.  S 80 

Timothy  Fletcher,  D 92 

District  No.  5 — 

Benj.  F.  Thomas,  W 13 

Alexander  DeWitt,  A.  S 80 

John  S.  C.  Knowlton,  D 92 


District  No.  6— 

Myron  Lawrence,  W 13 

James  Fowler,  A.  S 80 

Joseph  Smith,  D 92 

District  No.  7— 

Asa  Howland,  W 13 

Thomas  Robinson,  A.  S 80 

Samuel  Gates,  D 92 

District  No.  8— 

Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn,  W 13 

Benj.  V.  French,  A.  S 80 

William  Ellis,  D 92 

District  No.  9— 

William  Baylies,  W.    .. 13 

Philo  Leach,  A.  S 80 

Foster  Hooper,  D 92 

District  No.  10— 

William  R.  Easten,  W 13 

Isaac  C.  Taber,  A.  S 80 

James  D.  Thompson,  D 92 


Nov.  13.  Ballot  for  a  Representative  in  tlie  General  Court. — Henry  A.  Al- 
drich  had  137.  Alanson  S.  Freeman  had  65.  James  P.  Hay  ward  had  114. 
Richard  Batty  had  33.     All  others  5,  and  there  was  no  choice. 


FOR    GOVERNOR    AND    SENATORS. 


For  Governor, 


78  votes. 
64  " 
21  " 
78  " 
64  " 
21      " 


Elected. 


Caleb  Gushing,  D.,  had 

Stephen  C.  Phillips,  A.  S.,  had 

George  N.  Briggs,  W. ,  had 
For  Lt,  Governor,  Henry  W.  Cushman,  D.,  had 

John  Mills,  A.  S.,  had 

John  Reed,  W.,  had 
For  Senators. — Democrat — Otis  Adams  had  78  votes.  Francis  Howe  had 
78  votes.  Seth  Hapgood  had  78  votes.  Ivers  Phillips  had  78  votes.  John 
Erskine  had  78  votes.  Anti-Slavery — Alexander  DeWitt  had  64  votes. 
Moses  Wood  had  64  votes.  Cyrus  Gale  had  64  votes.  Edward  B.  Bigelow  had 
64  votes.  Amasa  Walker  had  64  votes.  Whig — John  Brooks  had  21  votes. 
Alexander  H.  Bullock  had  21  votes.  Ebenr  D.  Ammidown  had  21  votes. 
Paul  Whitin  had  21  votes.     Ebenezer  Torrey  had  21  votes. 


604  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1849. 

For  Representative  to  Congress. — Isaac  Davis,  D.,  had  76.  Charles  Allen, 
A.  8.,  had  67.     Charles  Hudson,  W.,  had  19. 

Nov.  27.  Second  Trial  for  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court. — Henry 
A.  Aldrich  217.  Calvin  Barber,  Jr.,  21.  Samuel  V.  Stone  245.  A.  S. 
Freeman  16.     All  others  had  28,  and  there  was  no  choice. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Constitution  provides  for  the 
election  of  the  members  of  the  General  Court  to  be  made  on  the 
Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November;  or  should  no  one 
be  elected  on  that  day,  another  meeting  may  be  held  on  the  fourth 
Monday  of  the  same  month.  Failing  of  any  choice  on  the  last 
mentioned  day,  the  towns  of  Menclon  and  Blackstone  were  not 
represented  in  the  Legislature  of  1849. 

Dec.  9.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  take  possession  of  all  pro- 
perty (mortgaged)  within  thirty  days  after  the  annual  interest 
has  become  due. 

Voted  that  Nathan  George  and  Benjamin  Davenport  be  added 
to  the  committee  having  in  charge  the  settlement  between  the 
towns  of  Mendon  and  Blackstone  (growing  out  of  the  division 
of  the  town). 

Voted  that  the  committee  be  directed  to  notify  the  town  of 
Blackstone,  or  their  agents,  to  meet  them  at  some  stated  time 
and  place,  and  if  they  refuse,  to  commence  a  suit  forthwith, 
and  that  the  committee  be  authorized  to  take  legal  counsel. 

Jesse  F.  Alderman,  Benjamin  Davenport  and  Henry  A.  Al- 
drich were  chosen  a  committee  to  consult  with  the  Proprietor  of 
Harrison  Hall  in  regard  to  its  purchase  by  the  town,  and  to  re- 
port what  repairs  may  be  necessary. 

The  State  having  furnished  the  town  with  a  new  set  of  Stan- 
dard Weights  and  Measures,  the  Treasurer  was  directed  to  sell 
the  old  Weights  and  Measures  at  the  next  town  meeting. 


1849.  Jan.  1.  Voted  that  Arnold  Taft,  Esq.,  be  added  to  the 
committee  already  chosen  to  consult  in  regard  to  the  purchase 
of  Harrison  Hall  for  a  Town  House. 

Voted  that  this  committee,  if  they  do  not  succeed  in  their 
negotiations  with  the  Proprietors  of  said  Hall,  shall  request  the 
Selectmen  to  insert  an  article  in  their  next  warrant  for  a  town 
meeting,  to  see  if  the  town  will  purchase  a  site  and  erect  a  Town 
House  thereon. 


1849.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  005 

There  having  been  no  election  for  a  Representative  to  Congress 
from  this  district  (Fifth),  another  trial  was  had  this  day,  and 
with  the  following  result,  viz: 

Isaac  Davis  (Dem.)  had  39  votes.  Charles  Allen,  (A.  S.)  had  46  votes. 
Charles  Hudson  had  11  votes. 

March  5.  Chose  William  H.  Aldrich  Town  Clerk;  Amariah 
Taft,  Jesse  F.  Alderman  and  Henry  Wheelock,  Selectmen;  Jesse 
F.  Alderman,  Treasurer;  George  Staples,  Constable,  and  Ama- 
riah Taft,  Collector,  and  to  have  120.50  for  that  service. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $20.18. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  1500  be  raised  and  worked  out  on  the 
Highways  as  formerly,  and  that  1200  be  raised  and  paid  in  money, 
to  be  laid  out  under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen,  without  re- 
gard to  district  limits. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  incidental  expenses,  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted  to  raise  $750  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  the  Public  Schools. 

Voted  to  take  up  the  seventh  article  of  the  warrant  relating  to 
Dogs. 

At  a  town  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
holden  at  Harrison  Hall,  March  5,  1849,  it  was 

Voted  that  all  persons  keeping  one  or  more  dogs  in  the  town 
of  Mendon  shall  on  or  before  March  15,  1849,  have  all  such  dogs 
securely  muzzled  with  good,  substantial  wire  muzzles  over  the 
mouth,  with  a  strap  or  collar  about  the  neck,  with  the  owner's 
name  plainly  written  or  engraved  thereon;  and  for  the  privilege 
of  keeping  dogs  so  muzzled,  for  a  term  of  one  year  from  said 
fifteenth  day  of  March,  shall  on  or  before  the  time  fixed  as  afore- 
said, pay  the  sum  of  two  dollars  to  the  Treasurer  of  said  town; 
and  all  dogs  found  running  at  large,  off  the  premises  of  the 
owners  thereof,  after  the  said  fifteenth  of  March,  without  being- 
muzzled  as  aforesaid,  may  be  lawfully  killed. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  be  directed  to  do  whatever  may  be 
required  to  be  done  in  order  to  establish  the  above  as  one  of  the 
Bye-Laws  of  the  town. 

Attest:   William  H.  Aldrich,  Town  Clerk. 

Worcester  ss:  March  7,  1849. 

Approved.     Thos.  Hopkinson,  Judge  C.  C.  Pleas. 

A  copy. 

Attest:    Charles  W.  Hartshorn,  Clerk. 


GOG  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1849. 

April  2.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  purchase 
62  shares  of  Harrison  Hall,  with  a  quit  claim  deed  from  Silas 
Dudley  of  the  site  upon  which  the  School  House  in  the  Second 
School  District  stands,  the  Hall  being  the  second  story  of  said 
house,  and  that  they  purchase  the  remaining  5  shares  at  a  price 
not  to  exceed  $5  per  share. 

Alexander  H.  Read,  John  G.  Metcalf  and  Putrnan  W.  Taft 
were  chosen  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Collector  be  instructed  to  complete  the  collec- 
tion of  the  taxes  for  the  present  year,  previous  to  the  31st  day 
of  December. 

George  Rawson  was  chosen  Sexton  for  the  ensuing  year. 

April  18.  Voted  that  the  town  purchase  a  Fire  Engine  with 
a  5-inch  cylinder,  together  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  hose  and 
fire  apparatus  for  the  same  for  the  use  of  the  town.  Yeas  84. 
Nays  65. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing the  Engine  which  the  town  have  voted  to  procure. 

Voted  that  the  town  purchase  a  site  for  and  erect  an  Engine 
House  30  feet  long  by  20  feet  wide  and  two  stories  high,  or  pur- 
chase some  suitable  building  for  the  safe  keeping  of  said  Engine. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $700  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing a  site  and  erecting  an  Engine  House;  or  for  purchasing 
some  suitable  building  for  that  purpose. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire,  upon  the  credit 
of  the  town,  the  sum  of  $700,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  an 
Engine  House  or  purchasing  a  suitable  building  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Voted  a  committee  of  three  be  chosen,  by  ballot,  to  purchase 
the  engine,  hose  and  other  apparatus. 

Chose  John  G.  Metcalf,  Joseph  G.  Davenport  and  William  H. 
Comstock  as  the  committee. 

A  Building  Committee  was  then  chosen,  consisting  of  Benja- 
min Davenport,  Nathan  George  and  William  T.  Metcalf. 

At  an  adjournment  of  the  March  meeting  the  town  chose 
Prudential  Committees  as  follows,  viz: 

District  No.  1,  Seth  T.  Davenport.  District  No.  2,  A.  H.  Allen.  Dis- 
trict No.  3,  Daniel  Thurber.  District  No.  4,  Nathan  Hayward.  District 
No.  5,  Saml.  P.  Hayward.  District  No.  6,  Henry  Wheelock.  District  No. 
7,  Arnold  Taft. 


1849.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  607 

April  26.  Voted  not  to  hear  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
chosen  at  the  last  meeting  to  purchase  a  Fire  Engine. 

It  was  then  voted  to  reconsider  and  rescind  all  the  votes  passed 
at  the  last  meeting  relative  to  the  purchase  of  a  Fire  Engine  and 
the  erection  of  an  Engine  House. 

Then  voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  consideration  of  the 
seventh  article  in  the  warrant,  which  was  "To  see  if  the  town 
would  raise  and  appropriate  1500  towards  purchasing  an  Engine, 
provided  the  balance  be  raised  by  subscription." 

In  the  meantime  the  committee  had  purchased  an  engine  of 
Hunneman  &  Co.,  Boston,  and  so  another  meetingwas  called  and 
an  effort  made  to  raise  the  money,  but  with  no  better  success. 

Hunneman  &  Co.  now  commenced  a  suit  against  the  town, 
and  the  town,  Sept.  13,  voted  to  instruct  the  Treasurer  to  take 
the  advice  of  counsel,  and  if  it  should  be  found  the  proceedings 
of  the  committee  were  legal,  then  to  consult  Hunneman  j&  Co. 
and  learn  upon  what  terms  they  will  take  back  the  Engine. 

Hunneman  &  Co.  refused  to  negotiate  with  the  Treasurer, 
and 

Sept.  21.  The  town  directed  the  Selectmen  to  settle  with 
them,  and  dispose  of  the  engine. 

The  engine  was  sold  to  the  town  of  Milford  at  a  loss  to  the 
town  of  Mendon  of  about  $450. 

Nov.  12.  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Emory  Scott,  D.,  40. 
James  P.  Hay  ward,  W.,  88.  Millins  Taft,  53.  Dan  A.  Comstock,  64.  All 
others  4. 

There  was  no  choice  and  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  George  S.  Boutwell,  D.,  99. 

Stephen  C.  Phillips.  F.  S.,        35. 
George  N.  Briggs,  W. ,  24.     Elected. 

Samuel  E.  Sewall,  F.  S.,  1. 

For  Lt.  Governor,    Henry  W.  Cushman,  D.,  99. 

John  Mills,  F.  S.,  36. 

John  Reed,  W.,  23. 

Elihu  Burritt,  F.  S.,  1. 

For  Senators — Free  Soil— Pliny  Merrick,  124.  Alexander  Be  Witt,  123. 
Edward  B.  Bigelow,  123.  John  Raymond,  124.  Amasa  Walker,  123. 
Whig — Alexander  H.  Bullock,  24.  Paul  Whitin,  24.  Ebenezer  Torrey, 
24.     Joseph  White,  24..    George  Davis,  24. 


608  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1850. 

Walter  A.  Bryant,  Ivers  Phillips,  John  Erskiue,  Horace  Armsby  and 
Cephas  Haughten,  Dem.,  1  each.     All  others  had  3  votes. 

KEV.    GEO.    G.    CHAINING,    THE    TWELFTH    MINISTER. 

Rev.  George  G.  Charming,  brother  of  Rev.  William  Ellery 
Charming,  began  a  supply  in  October,  1847,  and  concluded  his 
labors  Dec.  1,  1849. 


1850.  March  4th.  Chose  William  H.  Aldrich,  Town  Clerk; 
Alexander  H.  Allen,  Thomas  Taft  and  Olney  Cook  were  chosen 
Selectmen;  Jesse  F.  Alderman,  Treasurer;  George  Staples,  Con- 
stable, and  Aaron  C.  Cook,  Collector,  at  124.00. 

Anthony  Chase  had  73  votes  for  County  Treasurer,  and  was 
the  only  person  voted  for. 

The  Selectmen  were  to  act  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  to 
have  two  dollars  each  for  their  services  in  addition  to  their 
salaries  as  Selectmen. 

Rev.  Charles  C.  Chamberlain,  Stephen  Taft  and  Rev.  A.  H. 
Reed  were  chosen  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  pay  out  of  the  Seventh  School  Dis- 
trict's proportion  of  school  money,  for  the  time  being,  any  bill 
made  and  certified  by  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  Chestnut 
Hill  School  District,  in  the  town  of  Blackstone,  and  approved 
by  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  Seventh  School  District,  in 
Mendon,  for  the  schooling  actually  received  by  any  scholar  living 
in  the  houses  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Andre  and  George 
Southwick,  Reuben  Taft  and  Thompson  Taft,  provided  it  does 
not  exceed  the  amount  drawn  by  each  scholar  in  said  Seventh 
District. 

Voted  that  hereafter  Harrison  Hall,  (now  the  property  of  the 
town)  shall  be  known  as  the  Town  Hall. 

April  1.  The  reports  of  the  committee  to  effect  a  settlement 
with  the  town  of  Blackstone,  (growing  out  of  matters  connected 
with  the  division  of  the  town),  the  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  School  Committee  and  the  Town  Treasurer  were  then 
read,  accepted  and  placed  on  file  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  the  support  of  the  poor.. 

Voted  to  raise  1800  for  the  support  of  schools. 


1850.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  (509 

Voted  to  raise  #500  for  the  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  1400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  appoint  one  of 
their  own  number  or  any  other  person  as  a  Janitor  for  the  Town 
Hall. 

Voted  that  he  (the  janitor)  open  the  Town  Hall  free  for 
lectures  on  all  Political,  Literary,  Scientific  and  Philanthropic 
subjects,  always  excepting  heating,  lighting  and  cleaning  of  the 
Hall. 

Voted  that  the  Hall  be  open  for  cotillion  parties  and  shows 
and  exhibitions,  not  having  things  immoral  in  their  tendency, 
for  a  reasonable  consideration. 

Voted  that  when  any  person  or  persons  apply  for  the  use  of 
said  Hall,  his  or  their  authority  for  occupying  the  same  shall  be 
a  certificate  from  the  Janitor,  stating  for  what  purpose,  when 
and  how  long  it  shall  be  occupied. 

Choice  of  County  Commissioners — Otis  Adams,  D.,  of  Grafton,  had  63 
votes.  Bonum  Nye,  D.,  of  North  Brookfield,  had  38  votes.  Asaph  Wood, 
D.,  of  Gardner,  had  62  votes.  David  Davenport,  W.,  of  Mendon,  had  44 
votes.  Jerome  Gardner,  W. ,  of  Harvard,  had  21  votes.  Joseph  Bruce, 
W.,  of  Grafton,  had  21  votes. 

Special  Commissioners — Stephen  Davis,  W  ,  of  Oxford,  had  21  votes. 
Jason  Goulding,  W.,  of  Phillipston,  had  21  votes.  E.  II.  Hemenway,  D., 
of  Worcester,  had  62  votes.  Thomas  Billings,  D.,  of  Lunenburg,  had  62 
votes. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $28.37. 
April  9.     Voted  to  accept  the  list  of  jurors  as  reported  by  the 
Selectmen,  as  follows,  viz: — 

Henry  A.  Aldrich.  Leonard  Taft.*  Royal  M.  Wheelock. *  Andre  South- 
wick.  Stephen  Taft.*  Jason  Staples.*  Elijah  Dewing.*  David  Daven- 
port.* Stephen  Cook,  2d.  Welcome  Staples.*  Willard  Chilson.*  Perry 
Wood.  William  T.  Metcalf.*  Jesse  F.  Alderman.  Silas  Dudley.  Geo. 
Rawson.     Labau  Bates.*    Samuel  G.  Wilcox.     Aaron  C.  Cook.* 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $4.11. 

April  29.  Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  second  article  in 
the  warrant,  which  was  "  to  see  if  the  town  would  accept  a  road 
laid  out  by  the  Selectmen  from  the  S.  W.  corner  of  William  H. 
Comstock's  land  (now  the  land  of  Mary  D.  Bartlett,)  to  the  road 

*Dead.     1880. 

77 


610  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1850. 

opposite  the  house  of  Benj.  Davenport  (now  of  G-ustavus  B. 
Williams)." 

This  road  was  afterward  laid  out  and  made  by  the  order  of 
the  County  Commissioners. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  instructed  to  loan  any  monies  in 
his  hands  belonging  to  the  "Surplus  Revenue  "on  satisfactory 
security. 

May  30.  The  number  of  the  enrolled  militia,  over  18  and 
under  45  years  of  age,  was  found  to  be  245. 

June  11.  Voted  to  accept  an  alteration,  made  by  the  Select- 
men, in  the  road  near  the  house  of  Arnold  and  Stephen-  Taf t. 

July  4.  William  H.  Aldrich,  the  Town  Clerk,  being  absent 
from  town,  John  George  Metcalf  was  appointed  by  the  Select- 
men Clerk  pro  tempore,  during  the  absence  of  said  Aldrich. 

August  3.  William  H.  Aldrich  having  resigned  his  office  as 
Town  Clerk,  John  George  Metcalf  was  appointed  by  the  Select- 
men Clerk  pro  tempore,  until  a  new  election  shall  be  made  by 
the  town  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

August  31.  At  a  town  meeting  held  this  day,  Putman  W. 
Taft  was  chosen  Town  Clerk,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by 
the  resignation  of  William  H.  Aldrich. 

Nov.   11.  STATE    ELECTION.       • 

For  Governor,         George  S.  Boutwell,  D.,  had         90  votes. 
George  K  Briggs,  W.,  had  28      " 

Stephen  C.  Phillips,  F.  S.,  had    49      " 
Francis  Cogswell,  F.  S.,  had  9 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Henry  W.  Cushman  had  99      '' 

John  Reed  had  28      " 

Amasa  Walker  had  48      " 

For  Senators.— 1>.  &  F.  S.— Alexander  DeWitt  had  149  votes.  Edward 
B.  Bigelow  had  149  votes.  Moses  Wood  had  149  votes.  Francis  Howe 
had  143  votes.  Giles  H.  "Whitney  had  143  votes.  Emory  Washburn  had 
28  votes.  Joseph  White  had  28  votes.  George  Davis  had  28  votes.  A.  G. 
Hill  had  28  votes.     Francis  Deane  had  28  votes. 

For  a  Representative  to  Congress,  Fifth  District. — Ira  M.  Barton  had  23 
votes.     Charles  Allen  -had  56  votes.     John  S.  C.  Knowlton  had  96  votes. 

FOR  REPRESENTATIVE   TO    THE    GENERAL    COURT. 

First  Ballot—  Francis  E.  Wheelock,  D.,  had  65  votes;  Stephen  Taft,  D., 
had  54  votes.  Scammell  Aldrich,  W.,  had  23  votes.  All  others  had  7.  No 
choice. 


1851.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  611 

Second  Ballot — Francis  E.  Wheelock  had  68  votes.  Stephen  Taft  had  42 
votes.     Scammell  Aldrich  had  19  votes.     All  others  had  10.     No  choice. 

Third  Ballot— Francis  E.  Wheelock  had  70  votes.  Stephen  Taft  had  31 
votes.  Scammell  Aldrich  had  21  votes.  Six  others  had  8  votes,  and  Francis 
E.  Wheelock  was  elected. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  furnish  the  Town  Hull 
with  suitable  seats  and  apparatus  for  heating  and  lighting,  at  an 
expense  not  to  exceed  $125.00. 

REV.   WILLIAM  H.   KINSLEY,  THE   THIRTEENTH    MINISTER. 

Mr.  Kinsley  succeeded  Mr.  Channing,  and  was  installed  in  the 
pastoral  office  in  June,  1850,  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Gannett,  D.  D., 
preaching  the  installation  sermon.  Mr.  Kinsley  continued  to 
supply  the  pulpit  until  his  death,  Sept.  7,  1851.  He  died  of 
Bright' s  disease. 


1851.  When  the  Legislature  met,  in  January,  it  Avas  found 
that  no  election  of  Governor  had  been  made  by  the  people,  and 
that  the  Democrats  and  Free  Soilers  had  a  majority  in  the. Leg- 
islature. It  was  soon  understood  that  Mr.  Boutwell  should  be 
made  Governor  and  that  Charles  Sumner  should  be  elected  to 
the  United  States  Senate.  The  first  part  of  the  programme  was 
immediately  carried  out,  and  Mr.  Boutwell  was  duly  inaugurated 
as  Governor;  but  the  election  of  Mr.  Sumner  was  only  accom- 
plished after  many  repeated  ballotings,  continued  far  into  the 
session.  Mr.  Wheelock,  the  Representative  from  Mendon,  (Black- 
stone,  by  the  act  of  its  incorporation,  this  year  choosing  a  Rep- 
resentative of  its  own)  remained  faithful  to  the  coalition,  voting 
for  Mr.  Sumner  at  every  ballot. 

Jan.  20.  No  election  of  a  member  of  Congress  for  the  Fifth 
District  having  been  effected  at  the  November  election,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  this  day  for  another  trial  and  with  the  following 
result,  viz: 

John  S.  C.  Knowlton,  Dem.,  had  51  votes.  Charles  Allen,  F.  S.,  had 
30  votes.     Ira  M.  Barton,  W.,  had  8  votes. 

Voted  that  an  appropriation  of  130  be  made  in  addition  to  the 

$125.00  voted  at  the  last  meeting  for  furnishing  the  Town  Hall. 

Voted  that  any  citizen  of  the  town  may  have  the  use  of  the 


612  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1851. 

Town  Hall  free  of  any  charge,  except  the  expense  of  warming, 
lighting  and  cleaning  the  same,  for  all  purposes  not  prejudicial 
to  the  public  morals,  except  for  halls,  dancing  parties  and  other 
amusements,  recreations  and  exhibitions  where  an  admission  fee 
is  demanded,  provided  also  that  no  Religious  Society  shall  now 
or  hereafter,  by  virtue  of  this  vote,  be  allowed  the  free  use  of 
the  Town  Hall  for  weekly,  public  religious  worship. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Hall  shall  hereafter  be  lighted,  warmed 
and  cleaned  by  the  town,  and  that  no  one  entitled  to  the  free 
use  of  the  Hall  shall  be  allowed  to  furnish  his  own  materials  for 
lighting  and  warming,  but  shall  pay  the  janitor  for  the  same. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  forthwith  provide  a  place  for  storing 
the  fuel. 

To  do  this  the  stairs  were  removed  to  the  outside  of  the  build- 
ing, and  their  place  inside  utilized  for  a  wood  room. 

March  3.  Chose  Samuel  Thayer,  Jr.,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander 
H.  Allen,  Willard  Chilson  and  George  Staples,  Selectmen;  Jesse 
F.  Alderman,  Treasurer;  George  Staples,  Constable  and  Collec- 
tor, appointed  by  the  Selectmen,  (Benj.  D.  Williams,  chosen  at 
the  meeting  in  April,  declining  to  serve),  and  Eev.  William  H. 
Kinsley,  A.  H.  Reed  and  John  G.  Metcalf  were  chosen  School 
Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  paid  $6.00  each  for 
their  services. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $150  to  be  assessed  in  money,  and  to  be  expended 
under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen,  upon  the  highways,  be- 
fore the  first  day  of  July. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  and  care  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  the  Public  Schools. 

Vote  for  County  Treasurer— Anthony  Chase  had  all  the  votes,  97  in  num- 
ber. 

Vote  for  Register  of  Deeds— Alexander  H.  Wilder  had  all  the  votes,  93  in 
number. 

Nathan  George,  David  Davenport  and  Alexander  H.  Allen 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  report  Bye-Laws  for  the  protection 
of  the  property  of  the  town,  and  report  at  a  future  meeting. 

Voted  to  accept  and  put  on  file  the  Report  of  the  School  Com- 
mittee, and  on  account  of  it  being  nearly  illegible,  voted  to  re- 


1851.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  613 

commit  such  portions  as  regards  the  statistics  of  the  town  as 
would  answer  the  law. 

Taxes  due  from  Rufus  Coffee  and  thirteen  others  foregone. 
No  record  of  the  tax  against  each  or  of  the  amount. 

Voted  to  discontinue  so  much  of  the  Quaker  Lane  (so-called) 
as  lies  between  the  southwest  corner  of  the  burying  ground  and 
the  road  leading  from  the  house  of  Amariah  Taft  (now  Austin 
A.  Taft)  to  the  road  by  Benj.  D.  Williams'  house. 

No  choice  of  a  member  of  Congress  for  the  Fifth  District  hav- 
ing been  effected  at  the  last  trial,  another  attempt  was  made  this 
day,  and 

John  S.  C.  Knowlton  had  66  votes.  Charles  Allen  had  48  votes.  Ira 
M.  Barton  had  8  votes. 

Voted  that  Amariah  Taft  and  Jesse  F.  Alderman  be  author- 
ized and  empowered  to  make  a  complete  and  final  settlement 
with  the  town  of  Blackstone  of  all  unadjusted  matters  growing 
out  of  the  recent  division  of  the  town  of  Mendon,  upon  such 
terms  as  shall  appear  to  them  just  and  reasonable,  and  that  they 
be  instructed  to  forthwith  notify  the  Selectmen  of  Blackstone 
of  their  appointment,  and  of  their  readiness  to  meet  any  officer, 
boards  of  officers,  committee,  agent  or  agents,  that  said  town  of 
Blackstone  shall  clothe  with  adequate  power  and  authority  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid.  And  that  they  be  further  instructed,  in 
case  of  failure  to  make  a  settlement  as  aforesaid,  to  notify  the 
Selectmen  of  Mendon  in  sufficient  season  to  assemble  the  town 
for  the  choice  of  any  committee  or  agent  that  may  be  necessary 
to  defend  the  town  against  any  suit  the  town  of  Blackstone  has 
commenced  or  may  commence  for  the  recovery  of  any  money 
alleged  by  said  town  to  be  due  from  the  town  of  Mendon. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  pay  the  bills  for 
schooling  in  future,  instead  of  the  Treasurer. 

April  30.  Voted  to  discontinue  the  road  from  the  house  of 
Scammell  Aldrieh,  (now  Warren  Esty,)  over  the  hill  commonly 
called  Caleb's  Hill. 

Voted  to  raise  1500  for  incidental  ex})enses. 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  road  from  the  house  of  S.  T.  Daven- 
port to  Milford  line. 

Voted  that  Alexander  H.  Allen  be  added  to  the  committee  to 
settle  with  the  town  of  Blackstone. 


614  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1851. 

Voted,  to  accept  the  resignation  of  Amariah  Taft  as  a  member 
of  the  above  committee. 

May  26.  By  the  return  of  the  Assessors  the  enrolled  militia 
were  fonnd  to  be  203  in  number. 

June  7.     Voted  to  discontinue  the  Eight  Rod  Road,  so  called. 

Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Alexander  H.  Allen,  George  Staples  and 
Lysander  Grow  were  added  to  the  committee  heretofore  chosen, 
to  paint  and  repair  the  Town  Hall. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $150  to  paint  and  repair  the 
Town  Hall. 

August  21.  Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  procure  a 
fire-proof  safe  for  the  preservation  of  the  publie  records. 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  road  from  near  the  house  of  Joseph 
Cummings  to  Milford  line. 

^Oct.  4.  Voted  to  reconsider  a  vote  passed  April  30th,  discon- 
tinuing the  road  from  the  house  of  Seth  T.  Davenport  to 
Milford  line,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  repair 
said  road. 

Voted  to  raise  an  additional  sum  of  $20  to  paint  and  repair 
the  Town  Hail,  should  the  sum  already  appropriated  be  insuf- 
ficient. 

NOV.   10.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  George  S.  Boutwell,  D.,        06.     Elected. 

Robert  C.  Winthrop,  W.,      31. 
John  G.  Palfrey,  F.  S.,  63. 

For  Lt,  Governor,    Henry  W.   Cushman,  D.,      96. 
George  Grinnell,  W.,  32. 

Amasa  Walker,  F.  8.,  62. 

Senators — D.  and  F.  S. — John  S.  C.  Knowlton,  154.  Albert  Alden,  155. 
Moses  Wood,  151.  Freeman  Walker,  151.  Elmer  Brigham,  151.  Whig 
Charles  Thurber,  33.  George  Davis,  33.  Joseph  White,  33.  Augustus 
G.  Hill,  33.  Francis  Deane,  33.  Alanson  Hamilton,  Jared  Weed,  James 
Whitcomb,  Sullivan  Fay  and  Dan  Hill  had  one  each. 

FOR    REPRESENTATIVE   TO    THE    GENERAL   COURT. 

First  Ballot— Henry  A.  Aldrich,  D.,  had  72.  Arnold  Taft,  D.,  had  60. 
A.  H.  Reed,  W.,  had  28.     Five  others  had  9  votes.     No  choice. 

Second  Ballot— Henry  A.  Aldrich  had  70.  Arnold  Taft  had  56.  A.  H. 
Reed  had  25.     Four  others  had  9  votes.     No  choice. 

Third  Ballot— Henry  A.  Aldrich  had  88.  A.  H.  Reed  had  23.  Four 
others  had  11  votes.     Henry  A.  Aldrich  chosen. 


1852.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  615 

On  the  Question  for  a  Convention  to  Revise  the  State  Constitution— Yeas,  107. 

Nays,  35. 

Voted  that,  if  George  F.  Allen  shall  attempt  to  avoid  the  pay- 
ment of  the  tax  for  which  he  has  recently  heen  imprisoned,  by 
taking  the  Poor  Debtors  Oath,  the  Assessors  and  Collector  be 
instructed,  if  satisfied  of  the  legality  of  the  tax,  to  use  all  legal, 
fair  and  honorable  means  to  prevent  the  same;  and  that  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  directed  to  furnish  the  jailor,  from 
time  to  time,  with  such  sums  of  money  as  shall  be  necessary  to 
defray  the  expense  of  boarding  said  Allen  there  for  the  term  of 
one  year,  or  until  said  Allen  shall  be  released  from  jail  in  clue 
process  of  law,  or  until  they  shall  be  otherwise  directed  by  a 
vote  of  the  town;  or  if  said  Allen  shall  institute  any  suit  against 
the  Assessors  for  assessing  said  tax,  or  against  the  Collector 
for  imprisoning  him  for  the  non-payment  of  the  same,  that  the 
town  will  defend  and  save  harmless  all  and  either  of  said  officers 
from  all  costs  and  expenses  that  may  arise  by  reason  of  the  com- 
mencement of  any  such  suit  or  suits. 

Perambulations  of  town  boundaries  were  made  this  year. 


1852.  Feb.  1-4.  Alexander  H.  Allen  was  chosen  an  agent  to 
oppose  the  road  now  pending  before  the  County  Commissioners, 
as  prayed  for  by  Joseph  G.  Davenport  and  others,  from  the  road 
(now  known  as  Maple  street,)  passing  by  the  Meeting  House  of 
the  First  Parish  to  the  road  leading  by  John  G.  Metcalf's  honse, 
(now  known  as  Hastings  street). 

March  1.  Jesse  F.  Alderman  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Alex- 
ander H.  Allen,  George  Staples  and  Laban  Bates,  Selectmen; 
Jesse  F.  Alderman,  Treasurer;  Hamilton  B.  Staples,  David  Da- 
venport and  Samuel  P.  Bates,  School  Committee,  and  George 
Staples,  Constable. 

Anthony  Chase,  for  County  Treasurer,  had  70  votes,  being  all 
given  in. 

The  committee  chosen  to  settle  with  the  town  of  Blackstone 
on  matters  growing  out  of  the  division  of  the  town,  made  a 
report,  which  was  accepted  and  put  on  file. 

March  24.  Alexander  H.  Allen  was  chosen  agent  to  appear 
before  the  Committee  on  Towns  of  the  Legislature  and  oppose 


616  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1852. 

the  prayer  of  George  Southwick,  to  be  set  off  from  Menclon  to 
the  town  of  Blackstone. 

April  5.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow 
money,  not  to  exceed  five  hundred  dollars,  for  the  use  of  the 
town. 

Silas  Dudley  was  chosen  a  Special  Constable,  to  be  present  at 
all  lectures  and  exhibitions  in  the  Town  Hall,  to  preserve  order 
and  protect  the  public  property,  and  for  compensation  to  have 
fifty  cents  for  a  day  or  evening. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  to  repair  highways  and  bridges  the  ensu- 
ing year. 

Voted  to  raise  $600  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  town. 

Voted  to  raise  $300  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  the  highway  taxes  be  paid  in  labor. 

Amount  of  taxes  foregone  $23.85. 

A  new  road  (now  Elm  street,)  laid  out  two  rods  wide  and  36 
rods  and  15^  links  in  length.  No  damages  were  awarded  the 
land  owners. 

May  1.  The  enrolled  militia  were  returned  by  the  Assessors 
.218  in  number. 

June  12.  Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  furnish  two 
rooms  in  the  Town  Hall  suitable  to  transact  town  business  in. 

Chose  Aaron  C.  Cook  Collector. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $13.68. 

Nov.   2.  PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION. 

Electors  at  Large—  Stephen  C.  Phillips,  of  Salem,  had  53  votes.  James 
Fowler,  of  Westfield,  had  53  votes.  Rohert  C.  Winthrop,  of  Boston,  had 
44  votes.  George  Bliss,  of  Springfield,  had  44  votes.  Chas.  G.  Greene,  of 
Boston,  had  84  votes.     James  S.  Whitney,  of  Conway,  had  84  votes. 

1st  District—  7th  District- 
John  H.  Shaw,  Nantucket 53  Samuel  E.  Sewall,  Stoneham. .  .53 

J.  H.  W.  Page,  New  Bedford.  .44  George  Cogswell,  Bradford. . .  .44 

S.  B.  Phinney,  Barnstable 84  Ebeur  H.  Safford,  Haverhill. . .  84 

2nd  District—  8th  District— 

fm.  H.  Wood,  Middleboro'. .  .53        John  W.  Graves,  Lowell. 53 

George  A.  Crocker,  Taunton. .  .44        Jacob  Coggin,  Tewksbury 44 

Edward  Cazneau,  Hinoham 84  Walter  Fessenden,  Townsend  .84 


1852.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  617 

3d  District—  9th  District- 
Edward  L.  Keyes,  Dedham 53        Charles  Mason,  Fitchburg 53 

John  Gardner,  "         44        Ebenr.  Torrey,  44 

Caleb  Stetson,  Braiutree 84  J.  S.  C.  Knowlton,  Worcester.  .84 

4th  District—  10th  District- 
Timothy  Gilbert,  Boston 53        R.  B.  Hubbard,  Sunderland 53 

Amos  Lawrence,       "       44        Ruf us  Bullock,  Royalston 44 

Isaac  Adams,            "       .'. 84  O.  P.  Ingram,  South  Hadley.  .  .84 

5th  District—  11th  District- 
John  G.  Palfrey,  Cambridge 53        Joel  Hayden,  Williamsburg 53 

Robert  G.  Shaw,  Boston 44        Ezekiel  Holt,  Pittsfield  44 

Benj.  P.  Hallett,       "       84        Jona.  E.  Field,  Stockbridge 84 

6th  District- 
John  G.  Whittier,   Amesbury . .  53 

Daniel  C.  Baker,  Lynn 44 

Jona.  Narjou,  Amesbury -.84 

Nov.   8.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,       Horace  Mann,  Newton,  F.  S.,  had  69  votes. 

John  H.  Clifford,  New  Bedford, W.,  had  36     ' '    Elected. 
Henry  W.  Bishop,  Lennox,  D.,  had       85     " 
For  Lt.  Governor,  xVmasa  Walker,  No.  Brooktield,  had      69     " 
Elisha  Huntington,  Lowell,  had  35 

Jas.  P.  Thompson,  New  Bedford,  had  82  " 
For  Senators— J.  S.  C.  Knowlton,  Worcester,  had  146  votes.  I  vers  Phillips, 
Fitchburg,  had  145  votes.  Freeman  Walker,  No.  Brookfield,  had  145  votes. 
Sullivan  Fay,  Southboro',  had  145  votes.  Elisha  Murdock,  Winchendon, 
had  145  votes.  Chas.  Thurber,  Worcester,  had  35  votes.  George  Davis 
had  35  votes.  Joseph  White  had  35  votes.  Enoch  Perkins  had  36  votes. 
Fras.  Deaue,  Jr.,  had  35  votes.     Jos.  Whitman.  Milford,  had  5  votes. 

R&presentaUw  to  Congress,  District  Ko.S. — Charles  Francis  Adams,  Quincy, 
had  68  votes,  F.  S.  J.  Wiley  Edmunds,  Newton,  had  35  votes,  W.  Orison 
Underwood,  Milford,  had  75  votes,  D. 

FOR   REPRESENTATIVE   TO    THE    GENERAL   COURT. 

First  Ballot— Alexander  H.  Allen  had  70  votes.  George  Staples  had  50 
votes.    J.  F.  Alderman  had  42  votes.    Four  others  had  4  votes.    No  choice. 

Second  Ballot— Alexander  H.  Allen  had  71  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  48 
votes.     George  Staples  had  46  votes.     Scattering  3.     No  choice. 

Third  Ballot—  Alexander  H.  Allen  had  76  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  53 
votes.     George  Staples  had  33  votes.     No  choice. 

Fourth  Ballot— Alexander  H.  Allen  had  67  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had 
45  votes.     George  Staples  had  27  votes.     No  choice. 

The  contest  was  now  given  up  and  the  article  dismissed  from 
the  warrant. 


618  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1853. 

Upon  the  question,  "Is  it  expedient  that  Delegates  should  be 
chosen  to  meet  in  convention  for  the  purpose  of  revising  or  alter- 
ing  the  Constitution  of   Government  of  this    Commonwealth. . 
The  ballots  were: 

Yeas  141.     Nays  41. 

Nov.  22.  A  second  meeting  was  held  this  day  for  the  choice 
of  Representative  to  the  General  Court  and  with  the  following 
result: 

First  Ballot— A.  H.  Allen  had  81  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  77  votes. 
Olney  Cook  had  40  votes.     Scattering  4.     No  choice. 

Second 'Ballot — A.  II.  Allen  had  85  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  87  votes. 
O.  Cook  had  24  votes.     Scattering  4.     No  choice. 

Third  Ballot— A.  H.  Allen  had  89  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  90  votes. 
O.  Cook  had  21  votes.     Scattering  4.     No  choice. 

Fourth  Ballot— A.  H.  Allen  had  86  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  82  votes. 
O .  Cook  had  24  votes.     Scattering  3.     No  choice. 

In  the  history  of  elections  there  can  hardly  be  found  an  in- 
stance where  the  candidates  were  so  equally  sustained  through 
so  long  a  contest,  or  where  there  were  so  few  scattering  votes. 

Dec.  7.  No  choice  for  a  member  of  Congress  having  been 
effected  at  the  last  trial,  another  meeting  was  held  this  day  with 
the  following  result: 

Charles  Francis  Adams,  A.  S.,  of  Qnincy  had  62  votes.  J.  Wiley  Ed- 
munds, W.,  of  Newton  had  32  votes.  Edward  Avery,  D.,  of  Dedharn, 
had  21  votes.  Arthur  W.  Austin,  D.,  of  W.  Roxbury,  had  2  votes.  J. 
Wiley  Edmunds  was  elected. 

REV.    ROBERT    HASSALL,    THE    FOURTEENTH    MINISTER. 

Mr.  Hassall  began  his  ministerial  labors  in  Mendon  April  1, 
1852,  and  dissolved  his  connection  with  the  parish  in  January, 
185G,  to  take  charge  of  the  Unitarian  Society  in  Haverhill, 
Mass.  After  a  few  years  Mr.  Hassall  retired  from  the  ministry 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  now  living  in 
Keokuk,  Iowa.  During  his  residence  in  Mendon  he  visited 
England,  of  which  he  was  a  native. 


1853.     March  7.     Jesse  F.  Alderman  was  chosen  Town  Clerk 
and  Treasurer;  J.   F.   Alderman,  George  Staples  and  John  S. 


1853.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  ()19 

Gaskill,  Selectmen;  David  Davenport,  Silas  Dudley  and  A.  H. 
Reed,  School  Committee,  and  George  Staples,  Constable. 

FOR  DELEGATE   TO   THE   CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTION. 

First  Ballot—  Arnold  Taft  had  65  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  48  votes. 
■A.  H.  Allen  had  22  votes.     Scattering  5.     No  choice. 

Second  Ballot—  Arnold  Taft  had  80  votes.  J.  F.  Alderman  had  36  votes. 
A.  EL  Allen  had  7  votes.     Scattering  1.     Arnold  Taft  chosen. 

Taxes  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $62.53. 

Vote  for  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase,  of  Worcester  had  71  votes. 
Levi  Barker,  of  Worcester,  had  42  votes. 

April  4.  Vote  for  County  Commissioners — Otis  Adams,  of  Grafton,  had 
58  votes.  Bonum  Nye,  of  Brookficld,  had  58  votes.  Asaph  Wood,  of 
Gardner,  had  58  votes.  David  Davenport,  Mendon,  had  15  votes.  Amory 
Holman,  Bolton,  had  15  votes.  Alanson  Hamilton,  West  Brookfield,  had 
15  votes. 

Vote  for  Special  County  Commissioners — Edward  H.  Hemenway,  of  Wor- 
cester, had  58  votes.  Thomas  Billings,  of  Lunenburg,  had  58  votes. 
Charles  Brigham,  of  Grafton,  had  14  votes.  Seth  Tucker,  Jr.  of  Winchen- 
don  had  14  votes. 

April  22.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  have  discretionary  power 
to  borrow  money  not  to  exceed  one  thousand  dollars,  at  six  per 
cent. 

Chose  John  G.  Metcalf  to  confer  with  Holland  Allbe  in  regard 
to  the  damages  claimed  by  him  in  consequence  of  a  road  (now 
Elm  street)  laid  over  his  land,  and  then  adjourned  until  Dr. 
Metcalf  returns. 

Upon  his  return  he  reported  that  Mr.  Allbe  says  the  matter  is 
in  the  hands  of  his  counsel. 

David  Davenport  was  then  chosen  agent  to  oppose  Holland 
Allbe's  claim  for  damages. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $900  for  the  repair  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  payment  of  town  debts  and  inci- 
dental expenses. 

Voted  that  the  money  for  repair  of  highways  and  bridges  be 
paid  in  labor  at  ten  cents  per  hour,  and  the  bills  for  work  be 
returned. 

Taxes  were  fore°;one  to  the  amount  of  $19.88. 


620  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1853. 

Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  purchase  a  fire-proof  safe 
for  records,  and  a  book  case  for  books. 

June  9.     The  enrolled  militia  were  found  to  number  1G4. 

N"0V.   14.  STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor.,  Henry  W.  Bishop,  D.,  of  Lennox,  had         90  votes. 

Henry  Wilson,  F.  S.,  of  Natick,  had  67      '"' 

Emory  Washburn,  W.,  of  Worcester,  had   42 

Elected. 

Bradford  L.  Wales,  D.,  of  Randolph  3     '• 

For  Lt.  Governor,     Levi  A.  Dowley,  of  Worcester,  had  90      " 

Amasa  Walker,  of  North  Brookfleld,  had     67      " 

W.  C.  Plunket,  of  Adams,  had  42      " 

George  Osborne,  of    ,  had  3      " 

For  Senators — Elisha  Murdock,  of  Winchendon,  had  141  votes.  Jos. 
Whitman,  of  Milford,  had  141  votes.  Alvin  Bugbee,  of  Charlton,  had  141 
votes.  Jos.  W.  Mansur  of  Fitchburg,  had  155  votes.  Isaac  Davis, 
of  Worcester,  had  155  votes.  Henry  S.  Washburn,  Worcester,  had  42 
votes.  A.  C.  Mayhew,  Milford,  had  42  votes.  John  Eddy,  Dudley, 
had  42  votes.  Eph.  Murdock,  Winchendon,  had  42  votes.  Win.  Park- 
hurst,  Petersham,  had  42  votes.     Another  ticket  had  3  votes  each. 

FOR    REPRESENTATIVES   TO   THE    GENERAL    COURT. 

First  Ballot— John  S.  Gaskill  had  87  votes.  Alexr  H.  Allen  had  63  votes. 
J.  F.  Alderman  had  33  votes.     Scattering  5,  and  there  was  no  choice. 

Second  Ballot— John  S.  Gaskill  had  38  votes.  A.  H.  Allen  had  59  votes. 
J.  F.  Alderman,  35.     Scattering  3,  and  no  choice. 

Ihird  Ballot — John  S.  Gaskill  had  85  votes  and  was  elected.  A.  H.  Allen 
had  53  votes.     J.  F.  Alderman  had  29  votes. 

Votes  given  for  the  proposed  amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
as  recommended  by  the  Convention,  held  the  first  Wednesday 
in  May,  1853,  viz:— 

Shall  Proposition  No.  1,  containing  the  Preamble,  Declaration  of  Rights 
and  form  of  Government,  stand  as  the  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts?     Yeas  155;  nays  55. 

Shall  Proposition  No.  2  stand,  respecting  the  habeas  corpus?  Yeas  154; 
nays  55. 

Shall  Proposition  No.  3  stand,  respecting  the  rights  of  jurors?  Yeas 
141;  nays  69. 

Shall  Proposition  No.  4  stand,  respecting  claims  against  the  Common- 
wealth?    Yeas  154;  nays  55. 

Shall  Proposition  No.  5  stand,  respecting  imprisonment  for  debt?  Yeas 
145;  nays  64. 


1854.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  621 

Shall  Proposition  No.  6  stand,  respecting  sectarian  schools?  Yeas  158; 
nays  50. 

Shall  Proposition  No.  7  stand,  respecting  the  creation  of  corporations? 
Yeas  154;  nays  55. 

Shall  Proposition  No.  8  stand,  respecting  the  security  of  bank  bills? 
Yeas  153;  nays  55. 

All  these  proposed  amendments  were  rejected  by  the  voters  of 
the  State. 


1854.  March  6.  Alexander  H.  Allen  was  chosen  Town 
Clerk  and  Treasurer;  George  Staples.  William  T.  Metcalf  and 
George  Rawson,  Selectmen;  George  Staples,  Samuel  H.  Taft. 
and  Elijah  Taft,  Constables. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  $850  for  the  support  of  public  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  the  money  raised  for  repairs  of  highways  be  paid 
in  labor,  at  the  following  prices,  viz:  twelve  and  one-half  cents 
per  hour  for  a  man,  and  the  same  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart; 
fifty  cents  per  day  for  a  plow;  and  the  Assessors  were  directed 
to  commit  the  tax  bills  only  to  surveyors  qualified  according  to 
law. 

Anthony  Chase  had  all  the  votes,  79,  for  County  Treasurer. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  oppose  the  formation  of  a  new  county, 
as  prayed  for  in  the  petition  of  Aaron  C.  Mayhew  and  others; 
and  that  our  Representative  in  the  General  Court  be  instrncted 
to  oppose,  by  all  suitable  and  honorable  means,  the  prayer  of 
said  petition. 

April  13.  Rev.  Robert  Ilassall,  John  G.  Metcalf  and  Andrew 
H.  Reed  were  chosen  School  Committee. 

Angnstus  Knights,  he  being  the  lowest  bidder,  was  chosen 
Collector  at  thirty-five  dollars. 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  Prudential  Committees  for 
the  several  school  districts,  viz: 

District  1,  Jos.  G.  Davenport.  District  2,  John  G.  Metcalf.  District  3, 
Saml.  G.  Wilcox.  District  4,  Charles  Dewing.  District  5,  Clark  Cook,  2d. 
District  6,  Perry  Wood.     District  7,  Arnold  Taft. 

Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $70.04. 


622  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1854. 

The  third  article  in  the  warrant  was  "to  see  what  measures 
the  town  will  adopt  in  regard  to  the  bill  now  pending  before 
Congress  to  organize  the  Territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska." 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  offered  by  Dr.  John 
CI.  Metcalf,  were  unanimously  adopted: 

Whereas,  a  Bill  is  now  pending  before  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
organizing  the  Territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska;  and  whereas,  by  a 
provision  in  said  Bill,  it  is  proposed  to  open  a  vast  extent  of  territory,  once 
consecrated  to  Freedom,  to  Slavery ;  and  whereas,  no  free  man  can  absolve 
himself  from  the  obligation,  to  remonstrate  against  the  consummation  of  a 
measure  which  deliberately  violates  the  solemnly  plighted  faith  of  the 
nation  and,  by  its  reckless  disregard  of  the  common  laws  of  humanity, 
invites  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  the  civilized  world,  therefore 

1.  Resolved,  that  we,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  in  the  county 
of  Worcester  and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  in  legal  and  open  town 
meeting  assembled,  do  hereby  solemnly  and  earnestly  PROTEST  against 
the  passage  of  the  proposed  Bill,  while  it  retains  any  provision  that  disre- 
gards the  treaty  obligations  of  the  United  States;  or  that,  by  inference  or 
implication  or  cavil  can  be  tortured,  by  the  most  subtle  ingenuity,  into  a 
permission  even  for  the  possibls  extension  of  Slavery. 

2.  Resolved,  that  we  dare  not  subject  ourselves  to  the  hazard  that  our 
silence  may  be  construed  into  a  consent  to  its  iniquitous  propositions,  when 
it  is  openly  and  shamelessly  conceded  that  this  Bill  necessarily  involves 
the  repudiation  of  our  national  obligations  to  the  Indians,  and  the  violent 
infraction  of  the  most  solemn  agreements  deliberately  made  with  that  noble 
though  abused  and  down-trodden  race. 

3.  Resolved,  that  the  COMPACT  made  between  the  North  and  the 
South  (usually  termed  the  Missouri  Compromise.)  that  no  portion  of  the 
territory,  acquired  by  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  north  of  the  latitude  36° 
30',  should  ever  be  given  up  to  Slavery,  shall  never  be  surrendered,  by  any 
consent  of  ours,  to  any  argument  of  political  expediency,  any  reqnirement 
of  party  necessity  or  to  any  threat  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Union. 

4.  Resolved,  that  while  we  demand  that  the  law  admitting  Missouri 
into  the  Union  (known  as  the  Missouri  Compromise,)  shall  be  acknowledged 
by  the  South  as  a  sufficient  GUARANTY  that  Freedom  shall  be  held 
sacred  according  to  the  cotemporaueous  and  universal  exposition  of  that 
agreement  at  the  time  of  its  completion;  still  our  allegiance  to  truth  and 
our  convictions  of  duty  do  not  allow  us  to  withhold  the  declaration  that 
our  utter  and  uncompromising  abhorrence  of  Slavery  would  be  a  sufficient 
reason,  alone,  for  the  rejection  of  this  Bill  of  abominations. 

•  5.  Resolved,  that  should  the  measure,  against  which  we  remonstrate, 
become  the  law  of  the  land,  and  thereby  our  doubt  be  ripened  into  con- 
viction that  Freedom  can  have  no  surety  from  Slavery  for  the  fulfillment 
of  its  recorded  obligations,  thenceforth  REPEAL  shall  be  the  watchword 
for  the  rescue  of  Freedem,  until  that  institution,  for  the  security  of  which. 


1854.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  (i23 

even  a  slaveholder  has  confessed,  "  no  attribute  of  God  Almighty  could  be 
invoked,"  shall  cease  to  be  protected  by  Constitution  and  Laws,  and  our 
Country,  our  whole  country,  become  in  deed  as  in  name,  the  land  of  the 
Free. 

6.  Resolved,  that  we  urgently  recommend  that  meetings  in  every  town, 
bolden  according  to  the  forms  and  solemnities  of  law,  and  mass  meetings 
in  every  Congressional  District  in  every  State  yet  free  from  the  curse  of 
Slavery,  be  forthwith  convened,  so  that  one  united  and  potential  voice  of 
remonstrance  and  warning  shall  be  heard  in  the  Halls  of  our  National  Leg- 
islature against  this  fearful  and  disastrous  measure. 

7.  Resolved,  that  a  copy  of  these  Resolutions,  together  with  the  Pream- 
ble, signed  by  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting  and  attested  by  the  Town 
Clerk,  be  forthwith  transmitted  to  the  Hon.  J.  Wiley  Edmunds,  our  Repre- 
sentative in  Congress,  and  that  he  be  requested  to  bring  them  to  the  notice 
of  the  House  of  which  he  is  a  member. 

8.  Resolved,  that  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  enter  these  Resolutions  and 
Preamble  ' '  In  the  Town  Book,  that  our  children,  in  years  to  come,  may 
know  the  sentiments  of  their  fathers  "  in  regard  to  this  momentous  issue, 
and  thereby  be  strengthened  in  their  LOVE  OF  LIBERTY  and  HATRED 
OF  SLAVERY. 

May  1.  The  enrolled  militia,  between  the  ages  of  18  and  45, 
was  found  to  be  178,  as  by  the  return  of  the  Assessors. 

NOV.    13.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Emory  Washburn,  W.,  Worcester,     15  votes. 
H.  W.  Bishop,  D.,  Lennox,  24      " 

Henry  Wilson,  F.  S.,  Natick,  23      " 

Henry  J.  Gardner,  K.  N.,  Boston,     117      "     Elected. 
Chas.  Allen,  Worcester,  2 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Wm.  C.  Plunket,  W.,  Adams,  15      " 

Caleb  Stetson,  D.,  Braintree,  24      " 

Increase  Sumner,  F.  S. ,  G.  Barringt'n,  24  ' ' 
Simon  Brown,  K.  N.,  Concord,  117  " 
For  Senators. — Whig — Henry  S.  Washburn,  Worcester,  15  votes.  Aaron 
C.  Mayhew,  Milford,  14  votes.  John  Eddy,  Dudley,  15  votes.  Ephraim 
Murdock,  Winchendon,  15  votes.  Wm.  Parkhurst,  Petersham,  15  votes. 
Democratic— Geo.  W.  Bentley,  Worcester,  24  votes.  Geo.  A.  Vinton,  South- 
bridge,  24  votes.  Luke  Houghton,  Barre,  24  votes.  Sullivan  Sumner, 
Milford,  24  votes.  Levi  Hay  ward,  Gardner,  24  votes.  Free  Soil — Augus- 
tus Morse,  Leominster,  24  votes.  Israel  Plummer,  Northbridge,  19  votes. 
Aurin  Bugbee,  Charlton,  24  votes.  George  Swan,  Hubbardston,  24  votes. 
Charles  White,  Worcester,  24  votes.  Know  Nothing — Henry  W.  Benchley, 
Worcester,  116  votes.  Albert  A.  Cook,  Milford,  116  votes.  Jabez  Fisher, 
Fitchburg,  116  votes.  Edward  Denny,  Barre,  116  votes.  A.  G.  Under- 
wTood,  Oxford,  116  votes. 


624  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1855. 

Alexr  H.  Allen,  Meudon,  had  4  votes.  Royal  Cummings,  Meudon,  had 
1  vote. 

For  Representative  in  Congress — Nathl.  F.  Safford,  W.  Dorchester,  15 
votes.  Edward  Avery,  D.,  Quincy,  12  votes.  Wm  S.  Damrell,  K.  N, 
Dedham,  118  votes.     Edward  L.  Keyes,  F.  S.,  Dedham,  7  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court — John  S.  Gaskill,  D.,  had  22  votes. 
Stephen  Taft,  F.  S.,  had  19  votes.  Jesse  F.  Alderman,  W.,  had  12  votes. 
Alexander  H.  Allen  had  3  votes.  Royal  M.  Wheelock,  K.  N,  had  105  votes. 

For  Comity  Commissioner — Zadoc  Taft,  of  Uxbridge,  had  110  votes.  Otis 
Adams,  of  Grafton,  had  58. 

Nov.  28.  Voted  to  pay  Catharine  Taft  $20  for  damage  by  lay- 
ing out  of  a  new  road,  now  known  as  Elm  street. 

Voted  that  the  consideration  of  the  third  article  in  the  war- 
rant, relating  "To  the  purchase  of  a  Poor  Farm,"  be  indefinitely 
postponed. 


1855.  March  5.  Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer; George  Staples,  Henry  0.  Steward  and  Austin  Wood,  Se- 
lectmen; George  Staples,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  to  raise  11000  for  the  support  of  public  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  and  care  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  build  a  receiving  tomb  for  the  use  of  the  town. 

John  G.  Metcalf,  Amariah  Taft  and  Perry  Wood  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  erect  said  tomb,  at  an  expense  not  to  exceed  $200, 
and  to  have  it  completed  by  August  1  of  the  present  year. 

For  County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase  had  63  votes.  Alexander  H.  Allen 
and  J.  S.  C.  Kuowlton  had  1  vote  each. 

May  23.  The  following  are  the  votes  on  the  ratification  of  the 
XIV.,  XV.,  XVI.,  XVII. ,  XVIII.  and  XIX.  articles  of  amend- 
ments to  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  the  same  having  been 
adopted  by  the  Legislatures  of  1854  and  1855. 


Article  XIV., 

Yes, 

11 

No,  13 

Article   XVII., 

Yes,  20 

No,    7 

do.      XV., 

" 

21 

6 

do.       XVIII., 

"      28 

"      1 

do.     XVI., 

" 

20 

7 

do.       XIX, 

"      15 

"    10 

May  24.     By  return  of  the  Assessors  this  day,  the  number  of 
enrolled  militia  was  found  to  be  218. 

Sept.  28.     Taxes  abated  to  the  amount  of  $4.97. 


1856.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  625 

Nov.   6.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        H.  J.  Gardner,  K.  K,  Boston,  had  61  votes.  Elected. 

Julius  H.  Rockwell,  R,  Pittsfield,  85  " 

E.  D.  Beach,  D.,  Springfield,  had  43  " 

S.  H.  Walley,  W.,  Boston,  had  5  " 

For  Lt,  Governor,  H.  W.  Benchley,  K.  K,  Worcester,  01  " 

Simon  Brown,  R.,  Concord,  had  85 

Caleb  Stetson,  D.,  Braintree,  had  42  " 

Moses  Davenport,  W.,  Newburyport  6  " 

Pursuant  to  the  seventeenth  amendment  to  the  Constitution, 
the  offices  of  Secretary  of  State,  Attorney  General,  Auditor  of 
Accounts  and  Treasurer  were  filled  by  a  popular  election,  and  the 
votes  for  the  candidates  of  each  party  very  generally  coincided 
with  those  cast  for  the  gubernatorial  candidates. 

The  votes  cast  for  Senators  of  Worcester  county  were  as  fol- 
lows, viz: 

Republican — Fras.  H.  Dewey,  Worcester,  had  85  votes.  Artemas  Lee, 
Templeton,  had  85  votes.  Velorous  Taft,  Upton,  had  85  votes.  Salem 
Towne,  Charlton,  had  85  votes.     Jabez  Fisher,  Fitchburg,  had  85  votes. 

Democratic — John  G.  Thurston,  Lancaster,  had  48  votes.  John  S.  C. 
Knowlton,  Worcester,  had  48  votes.  Nathaniel  Wood,  Fitchburg,  had  48 
votes.  George  A.  Vinton,  Southbridge,  had  48  votes.  Alvin  Cook,  Ux- 
bridge,  had  48  votes. 

Know  Nothing — Edward  Denny,  Barre,  had  61  votes.  Chas.  L.  Putnam, 
Worcester,  had  61  votes.  Wilder  S.  Thurston,  Lancaster,  had  61  votes. 
Fred.  M.  Parker,  Templeton,  had  61  votes.  L.  C.  Boynton,  Uxbridge,  had 
61  votes. 

For  Register  of  Deeds — Alexander  H.  Wilder  was  elected  unanimously, 
receiving  196  votes. 

County  Commissioner — Asaph  Wood,  R.,  Gardner,  had  85  votes.  Cyrus 
Thurston,  K.  1ST.,  Fitchburg,  had  55  votes.  Wm.  Bennett,  Jr.,  D.,  Hub- 
bardston,  had  48  votes. 

County  Treasurer — Anthony  Chase,  R. ,  Worcester,  had  87  votes.  Pearley 
Hammond,  Worcester,  had  61  votes.  John  A.  Dana,  Worcester,  had  48 
votes. 

It  was  voted  not  to  choose  a  Kepresentative  to  the  General 
Court. 


1856.     March  3.     David  Adams  wTas  chosen  Town  Clerk  and 
Treasurer;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Austin  Wood  and  Gluey  Cook, 
79 


626  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1856. 

Selectmen;  Aaron C.  Cook,  Constable,  at  IG.00  for  salary,  and 
Samuel  H.  Taft,  Collector,  at  134.00. 

John  Gr.  Metcalf,  Perry  Wood  and  Arnold  Taft  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  gather  information  "relative  to  adopting  a  new 
mode  of  repairing  our  highways,  town  ways  and  bridges,"  and 
report  at  an  adjourned  meeting. 

After  amendments  the  following  list  of  Jurors  was  adopted, 
viz: 

Alexander  H.  Allen,*  Philo  W.  Brown,  Olney  Cook,  Aaron  C.  Cook,* 
Elijah  Dewing,*  Silas  Dudley,  Timothy  Ellis,  Chauncey  Aldrich,  Nathan 
George,*  Micajah  C.  Gaskill,  Lysander  Grow,  Henry  Rawson,*  Welcome 
Staples,*  Leonard  Taft,*  Samuel  H.  Taft,  Perry  Wood,  Gilbert  Cook,  Saml. 
W.  Doggett,*  Joseph  Gumming,  Austin  A.  Taft,  Arnold  Taft,*  David  W. 
Bennett. 

Voted  to  raise  $800  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  $1000  for  the  support  of  tbe  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  $400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $51.55. 

March  31.  Voted  Willard  H.  Swan  have  liberty  to  raise  the 
road  near  his  shop  and  use  the  same  as  a  dam,  provided  he  have 
a  waste  way  30  feet  wide,  and  indemnify  the  town  against  all 
damages  which  may  accrue  to  said  roadinconseqnence  of  raising 
the  same;  and  that  he  have  leave  to  shut  up  such  part  of  said 
road  as  may  be  necessary  while  said  road  is  being  raised. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  and  Treasurer,  in  future,  have  their 
annual  reports  printed  and  ready  for  distribution  one  week  before 
the  time  of  the  annual  March  meeting. 

The  committee  to  whom  the  subject  of  repairing  the  highways 
was  committed,  made  a  written  report,  which  is  recorded  on  pp.- 
279,  280,  281  and  282,  vol.  7,  of  the  town  records,  and  which 
report  concluded  with  the  following  specific  recommendations, 
and  the  same  were  adopted,  viz: 

1.  The  highway  tax,  hereafter,  to  be  paid  in  money. 

2.  The  money  to  be  expended  under  the  general  superintendence  of  the 
Selectmen  or  such  other  agents,  as  the  town  may  choose. 

3.  The  Selectmen  or  agents  shall,  for  the  present  year,  forthwith,  and 
hereafter,  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  April  in  every  year,  con- 
trrct  with  some  suitable  person  or  persons,  to  work  with  and  oversee  those 
who  may  be  placed  under  his  or  their  charge  upon  the  road,  and  give  him 
or  them  such  instructions  as  they  may  deem  necessary. 

*Dead  1880. 


1856.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  627 

4.  The  Selectmen  or  other  agents  shall  furnish  the  Overseers  with  such 
a  number  of  men,  oxen,  implements  and  tools  as  economy  and  the  interest 
of  the  town  may  require. 

5.  That  the  sum  of  $900  be  raised  for  the  repair  of  the  highways  and 
bridges  the  ensuing  year. 

Olney  Cook  declining  to  serve  as  Selectman,  Samuel  W.  Gil- 
bert was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

John  G.  Metcalf,  Stephen  Taft  and  Samuel  W.  Gilbert  were 
chosen  School  Committee. 

The  enrolled  militia  were  found  to  be  177. 

Nov.  4.     Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  144.35. 

Aaron  C.  Cook,  Lewis  Wood  and  Luther  E.  Taft  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  protect  the  Pickerel  fishery  in  the  ponds  and 
streams  of  said  town,  and  directed  to  post  up  notices,  respecting 
the  same,  adjoining  the  pond. 

PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION. 

Electors  at  Large— Rep.—  Julius  Rockwell,  Pittsfield,  had  180  votes. 
Thomas  Colt,  Pittsfield,  had  180  votes.  Dem.— N.  J.  Lord,  Salem,  had  47 
votes.     Whiting  Griswold,  Greenfield,  had  47  votes.     Scattering,  2. 

District  No.  1—  District  No.  7— 

John  Vinson,  Edgartown,  R. . .  .180    Jas.  M.  Usher,  Medford,  R 180 

A.  H.  Howland,  N.  Bedford,  D. ..  47     Edward  Riddle,  Charlestown,  D.  47 

District  No.  2—  District  No.  8— 

A.  B.  Wheeler,  N. Bridge wat'r,  R.180    John  Nesmith,  Lowell,  R 180 

.Tared  Pratt,  Middleboro',  D 47    Jas.  C.  Abbott,       "       D 47 

District  No.  3—  District  No.  9— 

G.  R,  Russell,  W.  Roxbury,  R.  .180  J.  S.  C.  Knowlton,  Worcester,  R.180 

B.  L.  Wales,  Randolph,  D 47  Geo.  W.  Bentley,            "          D.  47 

District  No.  4—  District  No.  10— 

George  Odione,  Boston,  R 180  C.  E.  Forbes,  Northampton,  R.  .180 

Patrick  Riley,         "         D 47     A  V.  Blanchard,  Palmer,  D 47 

District  No.  5—  District  No.  11— 

Lucius  B.  Marsh,  Boston,  R 180  Franklin  Ripley,  Greenfield,  R.  .  180 

David  Draper,           "         D 47  Thos.  F.  Plunkett,  Pittsfield,  D. .  47 

District  No.  6— 

Geo.  H.  Devereaux,  Salem,  R. .  .180  The  scattering  votes  were  2. 
Win,  Hammond,  Marblehead,  D.  47 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,       Josiah  Quincy,  Boston,  R.,  86  votes. 

Henry  J.  Gardner,  Boston,  K.  N.,  83     "      Elected. 

Erasmus  D.  Beach,  Springfield,  D.,  42     " 

F  or  Lt.  Governor,  H.  W.  Benchley,  Worcester,  R.  &  K.  N.  172     " 

Albert  Currier,  Newburyport,  D.,  42 


628  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1857. 

For  Secretary  of  State— Fras.  DeWitt,  Ware,  R.  &  K.  N.,  176.  Jona.  E. 
Field,  Stockbridge,  D.,  42. 

For  Treasurer— -Moses  Tenny,  Jr.,  Georgetown,  R.  &  K.  N,  176.  Sted- 
man  Butrick,  Concord,  D. ,  42. 

For  Attorney  General— John  H.  Clifford,  New  Bedford,  R.  &  K.  N.,  178. 
Ezra  Wilkinson,  Dedham.  D.,  42. 

For  Auditor— C.  R.  Ransom,  Roxbnry,  R.  &  K.  N,  176.  G.  R.  Whitney, 
Winchendon,  D.,  42. 

For  Councillor,  Second  District— LabanM.  Wheaton,  Norton,  R.  &  K.  N, 
150.     Jona.  P.  Robinson,  Roxbury,  D. ,  40. 

For  District  Attorney— -P.  Emory  Aldrich,  R.  &  K.  N.,  124.  Jos.  W. 
Mansur,  D.,  41.     E.  B.  Stoddard,  D.  56. 

For  Representative  to  Congress,  Third  District — William  S.  Damrell,  Ded- 
ham, R.  &  K.  N.,  181;  Elected.     Arthur  W.  Austin,  W.  Roxbury,  D.,  45. 

For  Senators.— Geo.  F.  Hoar,  Velorous  Taft,  Ohio  Whitney,  William 
Mixter  and  J.  F.  Hitchcock,  R.,  had  123  votes  each.  Ichabod  Washburn, 
W.  S.  Thurston,  R.  S.  Denny,  Fred.  Parker  and  Henry  S.  Mansfield,  K. 
N,  had  55  votes  each.  James  Estabrook,  Luke  Houghton,  George  A.  Vin- 
ton, Timothy  S.  Wilson  and  John  Erskine,  D. ,  had  42  votes  each. 

For  County  Commissioners — Wm.  Bennett,  D.,  had  43  votes,  James  Allen, 
R.,  123,  and  D.  F.  Parmenter,  K.  N,  had  56  votes. 

For  Special  Commissioner — Alvin  Cook  and  Simeon  Lamb  had  43  votes 
each.  Thos.  Billings,  R.,  had  179  votes,  Constant  Southworth,  R.,  123, 
and  John  B.  Pratt,  K.  N.,  had  56  votes. 

REPRESENTATIVE   TO    THE    GENERAL   COURT. 

Micajah  C.  Gaskill,  R.,  had  70  votes.  H.  B.  Staples,  D.,  had  11  votes. 
Alexander  H.  Allen,  R.,  had  137.     Scattering,  3. 

REV.    STILLMAN    BARBER,    THE    FIFTEENTH    MINISTER. 

Mr.  Barber  began  his  ministry,  in  Mendon,  May  18,1856,  and 
closed  it  in  18G0. 


1857,  March  2.  Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk  and 
Treasurer;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Austin  Wood  and  Samuel  W. 
Gilbert,  Selectmen;  Eev.  Elijah  Demond,  Rev.  Stillman  Barber 
and  Rev.  Gilbert  Bent,  School  Committee;  George  W.  Thayer, 
Constable,  and  Elijah  Dewing,  Collector,  at  $42. 

April  6.  Voted  that  the  money  raised  and  appropriated  for 
the  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges  be  expended  under  the 
supervision  of  Perry  Wood,  Aaron  C.  Cook  and  Laban  Bates,  in 
the  same  manner  as  last  year,  but  the  money  to  be  expended  on 
or  before  Oct.  10,  1857. 


1857.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  629 

Voted  to  raise  Jind  appropriate  $900  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $700  for  repairs  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  jurors  adopted  by  the  town  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  Selectmen: 

David  Adams,  Arnold  Taft,*  Gilbert  Cook,  Silas  Dudley,  Lysander 
Grow,  David  W.  Bennett,  Micajah  C.  Gaskill,  Austin  A.  Taft,  Henry  Raw- 
son,*  Chris.  Daniels,  Philo  W.  Brown,  Welcome  Staples,*  Saml  H.  Taft, 
Leonard  Taft,*  Chauncey  Aldrich,  Nathan  George,*  Alanson  S.  Freeman,* 
Jason  Staples,*  Laban  Bates,*  Austin  Wood,  Elijah  Taft.* 

April  15.  Voted  to  reconsider  all  action  under  the  fifth 
article  of  the  March  meeting  warrant,  and  that  the  money  raised 
and  appropriated  April  6,  for  the  repairs  of  highways  and 
bridges,  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  several  Highway 
Surveyors. 

April  18.  Voted  to  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  appropriate  the  surplus  revenue  money  towards  pay- 
ing for  a  farm,  and  Stephen  Taft,  Silas  Dudley,  Perry  Wood, 
Amariah  Taft  and  Lewis  Wood  were  chosen  a  committee  for 
that  purpose. 

May  1.  The  three  following  Amendments  to  the  State  Con- 
stitution, being  the  XX.,  XXI.  and  XXII.,  having  been  adopted 
by  the  Legislatures  of  1856  and  1857,  were  ratified  by  the  people 
May  1,  1857,  as  follows,  viz: — 

Article  1.  Voters  to  read  the  Constitution  in  the  English  language. 
Yeas  92 ;  noes  38. 

Article  2d.  The  State  to  be  divided  into  240  Representative  Districts. 
Yeas  121 ;  noes  10. 

Article  3d.  The  State  to  be  divided  into  40  Senatorial  Districts. 
Yeas  131;  noes,  none. 

Hamilton  B.  Staples  having  been  chosen  Moderator, 
Voted  that  the  vote  "  to  reconsider  all  action  at  a  former 
meeting  under  the  fifth  article  of  the  (March  meeting)  warrant, 
passed  at  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  18th  day  of  April  last  past, 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  rescinded  and  made  utterly  null  and 
void." 

♦Dead,  1880. 


630  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1857. 

Voted  that  the  vote  "  that  the  money  raised  and  appropriated 
for  the  repair  of  highways,  townwaysand  bridges,  to  be  expended 
under  the  supervision  of  the  several  Highway  Surveyors,"  at  a 
town  meeting  held  on  the  18th  day  of  April  last  past,  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  rescinded  and  made  utterly  null  and  void. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  now  choose,  by  ballot,  some  suitable 
person,  not  having  charge  of  nor  disbursing  any  monies  of  the 
town,  to  be  Auditor  of  Accounts;  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
make  a  detailed  report  on  the  financial  affairs  of  the  town  at  the 
annual  meeting,  and,  on  or  before  the  day  of  said  meeting,  to 
cause  a  sufficient  number  of  copies  thereof  to  be  printed,  at  the 
expense  of  the  town,  to  supply  one  copy  to  each  tax  payer. 

John  G.  Metcalf  was  then  chosen  Auditor  of  Accounts  for  the 
ensuing  municipal  year. 

Voted  that  the  Collector,  Treasurer,  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
Selectmen,  and  all  other  persons  or  person  having  charge  of  or 
disbursing  any  monies  of  the  town,  shall  make  a  full  return  of 
their  doings  and  exhibit  all  the  vouchers  for  their  disburse- 
ments to  the  Auditor  of  Accounts  ten  clays  before  the  annual 
meeting. 

May  4.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  pay  the  town  debts,  provided  it  can  be  hired  at  a  rate 
not  exceeding  6  per  cent,  per  annum. 

Voted  to  strike  the  sixth  article  from  the  warrant,  which  was 
"to  see  if  the  town  would  allow  a  discount  on  all  taxes  paid 
before  a  specified  time." 

Voted  that  the  vote  passed  on  the  18th  day  of  April  last,  "  to 
appropriate  the  surplus  revenue  towards  paying  for  a  Poor 
Farm,"  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  rescinded  and  made  utterly 
null  and  void.     The  vote  was  declared  thus: — Yeas  50;  noes  10. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  without  day. 

May  23.     Under  a  new  warrant, 

Voted  that  the  town  do  purchase  the  farm  of  Millins  A.  Taft 
as  an  Asylum  for  the  Poor. 

Voted  that  the  town  hereby  authorize  and  instruct  the  Treas- 
urer to  hire  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  pay  for  said  farm,  at  a 
rate  of  interest  not  to  exceed  6  per  cent,  per  annum. 

Voted  that  the  town  hereby  authorize  and  instruct  the  Treas- 
urer, out  of  the  monies  raised  for  incidental  expenses,  to  pay 


1857.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  631 

the  interest  on  the  sum  of  money  he  may  hire  for  the  purchase 
of  said  farm,  together  with  #100  of  the  principal,  annually. 

Arnold  Taft,  Leonard  Taft,  John  CI.  Metcalf,  Perry  Wood 
and  Elijah  Taft  were  then  chosen,  by  ballot,  to  be  a  committee 
to  purchase  the  farm  of  Milling  A.  Taft,  to  take  a  good  and 
sufficient  deed  of  the  same,  providing  the  sum  asked  and  the 
terms  of  payment  be  satisfactory  to  said  committee. 

Voted  that  the  town  hereby  authorize  and  instruct  the  com- 
mittee chosen  to  purchase  the  farm  of  Millins  A.  Taft,  out  of 
the  money  raised  and  appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  pour, 
to  provide  all  things  necessary  and  proper  for  the  management 
of  said  farm,  and  for  the  support  of  the  poor  thereon. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  whenever  they  shall  be 
notified  by  the  aforesaid  committee  that  the  Asylum  for  the 
Poor  is  ready  for  their  reception,  be  and  they  are  hereby  in- 
structed to  contract  with  some  suitable  person  to  manage  said 
farm,  and  have  the  care  and  oversight  of  the  poor. 

The  number  of  enrolled  militia  was  found  to  be  143. 

July  10.  At  a  meeting  .of  the  Selectmen  for  the  purpose,  David  Adams 
was  appointed  Agent  for  the  Sale  of  Spirituous  Liquors  in  said  town  for 
Medicinal,  Mechanical  and  Manufacturing  purposes  for  one  year  from  the 
date  hereof  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  Selectmen.  Said  liquor  to  he 
kept  and  sold  at  said  Adams'  dwelling  house  and  he  is  to  receive  as  com- 
pensation therefor  the  sum  of  fifteen  Dollars  and  to  give  bonds  as  the  law 
directs. 

Alexander  H.  Allen,  j  Selectmen 
Austin  Wood,  [-         of 

Samuel  W.  Gilbert.     )    Mendon. 

NOV.   3.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  N.  P.  Banks,  R,  had  83  votes.     Elected. 

H.  J.  Gardner,  K.  N.,  had  55 
E.  D.  Beach,  D.,  had  41      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Eliphalet  Trask,  R.,  had      81 

Alexr.  DeWitt,  K.  K,  had   54      " 
Albert  Currier,  D.,  had        41      " 
For  Councillor  for  District  JVo.  6 — Charles  R.  Train,  R.,  Framiugham,  had 
83  votes.     A.  A.  Lawrence,  D.,  Brookline,  had  52  votes.     A.  H.  Ward,  K. 
N.,  Newton,  had  40  votes. 

By  the  XX.  and  XXL  amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
ratified   by  the  people  May  1,   1857,   the  Commonwealth   was 


632  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1858. 

divided  into  two  hundred  and  forty  Representative  Districts  and 
forty  Senatorial  Districts. 

This  was  the  first  election  held  under  the  new  rule.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  result  in  the  several  towns  composing  the  Worcester 
South  East  Senatorial  District,  viz: — 


Mention 

Sutton 

Blackstone 

Douglass 

Milford 

Northbridge 

Uxbridge 

1126  958  703 

The  twentieth  Worcester  Representative  District  comprised 
the  towns  of  Mendon  and  Uxbridge.  The  vote  in  Mendon  was 
as  follows,  viz: 

Samuel  W.  Scott,  Uxbridge,  R  ,  had  83  votes.  C.  A.  Messenger,  Ux- 
bridge, K.  N.,  had  49  votes.  Samuel  G.  Wilcox,  Mendon,  D.,  had  39 
votes.     Samuel  W.  Scott  was  elected  in  the  District. 


J.  G.  Metcalf, 

E. 

II. 

B.  Staples. 

I). 

ll. 

S.  Mansfield,  B 

Mendon. 

Mendon. 

Blackstone. 

84 

38 

55 

196 

65 

67 

136 

190 

145 

90 

156 

70 

356 

322 

210 

137 

59 

103 

127 

128 

53 

1858.  March  1.  After  voting  to  adopt  the  reports  of  the 
Treasurer,  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Auditor  of  Ac- 
counts, the  Committee  on  Highways,  and  the  Committee  to 
Purchase  an  Asylum  for  the  Poor, 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Andrew  H.  Reed, 
Treasurer;  Stephen  Taft,  John  S.  Gaskill  and  Willard  H.  Swan, 
Selectmen,  and  George  Staples,  Constable.  Amariah  A.  Taft 
was  chosen  Collector  for  $24.00. 

Under  a  new  law  John  G.  Metcalf  was  chosen  one  of  the 
School  Committee  for  three  years,  Samuel  W.  Gilbert  for  two 
years  and  Davis  Bills  for  one  year. 

Voted  to  strike  the  eleventh  article  from  the  warrant,  which 
was  "to  see  if  the  town  would  appropriate  the  surplus  revenue 
money  to  pay  for  the  Poor  Farm,"  recently  purchased  of  Millins 
A.  Taft. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  the  support  of 
schools. 


1858.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  633 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $000  for  the  repair  of  roads 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  the  Constable  have  $10  for  his  services  for  the 
year. 

Perry  Wood,  Aaron  C.  Cook  and  Laban  Bates  were  chosen  to 
superintend  the  repairs  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Taxes  Were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $121.94. 

Voted  to  accept  the  following  list  of  Jurors  presented  by  the 
Selectmen,  viz : — 

David  Adams,  Lysander  Grow,  Aaron  C.  Cook,*  Stephen  Taft,*  Zalmon 
G.  Wood,  Welcome  Staples,*  Samuel  H.  Taft,  Amariah  A.  Taft,  M.  C. 
Gaskill,  George  Staples,*  George  Bates,  Nathan  George,*  A.  S.  Freeman,* 
Laban  Bates,* Silas  Dudley,  Austin  Wood,  Elijah  Taft,*  R.  M.  Wheelock,* 
O.  R.  Wheelock,  Alexr.  H.  Allen,*  Wm.  T.  Metcalf.* 

April  5.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen,  Treasurer  and  Overseers 
of  the  Poor,  for  the  present  and  for  each  succeeding  year,  be 
instructed  to  complete  their  annual  reports  in  sufficient  season 
to  be  printed  and  ready  for  distribution  among  the  legal  voters 
of  the  town  three  days  at  least  before  the  time  of  holding  the 
annual  meeting;  and  to  lodge  a  sufficient  number  of  copies  of 
their  reports,  bound  together,  at  the  Post  Office  at  South  Mil- 
ford  and  such  other  places  as  they  may  deem  convenient  for  the 
early  circulation  and  distribution  among  the  legal  voters  of  the 
town. 

May  1.  The  number  of  persons  liable  to  be  enrolled  in  the 
militia  in  the  town  was  returned  by  the  Assessors,  and  is  192. 

August  18.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  instructed  to  hire  a 
sum  of  money  not  to  exceed  $900,  at  6  per  cent.,  to  pay  town 
debts. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  give  the  Collector  an  indemnifying 
bond,  so  far  as  the  collection  of  the  dog  tax  is'  concerned,  and 
that  the  Collector  proceed  forthwith  to  collect  all  dog  taxes 
remaining  unpaid. 

Nov.  2.     Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $57.24. 

*Dead  1880. 


634  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1859. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  N.  P.  Banks,  Waltham,  R. ,  had  83  votes. 

Elected. 

Amos  A.  Lawrence,  Brookliue,  K.  N.,  had  20  " 

E.  D.  Beach,  Springfield,  D.,  had  35  " 

For  Lt.  Governor,    E.  Trask,  Springfield,  R.,  had  83  " 

Increase  Sumner,  G.  B.,  K.  K,  had  20  " 

Chas.  Thompson,  Charlestown,  D.,  had  35  " 

The  candidates  for  Secretary  of  State,  Treasurer,  Auditor  and 
Attorney  General  had  the  same  number  of  votes  as  the  Governor, 
and  were  elected. 

FOR   SENATOR,   WORCESTER    SOUTH-EAST    DISTRICT. 

J.  G.  Metcalf,  R.        Alvin  Cook,  D.   Chas.  F  Chapin,  K.N. 

Mendon.  Uxbridge.  Milford. 

Blackstone 191  186  86 

Douglas 161  137  00 

Mendon 82  33  23 

Milford 473  451  24 

Northbridge 157  51  44 

Sutton 162  43  13 

Uxbridge  191  115  8 

1417  1016  198 

Representative  for  the  Twentieth  Worcester  District — Alanson  S.  Freeman, 

R,  Mendon,  had  81  votes.      A.    H.  Reed,  K.  N.,  Mendon,  had  23  votes. 

Joshua  Garside,  D.,  Uxbridge,  had  35  votes.     A.  S.  Freeman  elected. 
For  Representative  in  Congress — Chas.  Francis   Adams,  of  Quiucy,  R., 

had  81  votes;  elected.     Moses  G.  Cobb,  of  Dorchester,  K.  N.,  had  21  votes. 

Arthur  W.  Austin,  of  West  Roxbury,  D.,  had  35  votes. 

At  this  election  John  J.  Piper,  of  Fitehburg,  was  chosen  Reg- 
ister of  Probate;  Alex'r.  H.  Wilder,  of  Worcester,  Register  of 
Deeds;  Anthony  Chase,  of  Worcester,  County  Treasurer,  and 
Asaph  Wood,  of  Gardner,  County  Commissioner. 

Dec.  4.  Alex'r.  H.  Allen  was  chosen  agent  to  defend  the  suit 
now  pending  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Douglas 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Mendon,  relative  to  the 
settlement  of  a  pauper. 


1859.     March  7.     The  reports  of  the  Treasurer  and  Selectmen 
were  accepted  and  placed  on  file. 


1859.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  635 

The  Report  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  was  laid  on  the  table, 
and,  upon  motion  of  Alexander  H.  Allen,  the  report  was  com- 
mitted to  three  auditors,  with  instructions,  with  power  to  send 
for  persons  and  papers,  and  to  report  at  the  next  town  meeting 
on  the  following  matter,  to  wit:" — 

1.  The  specific  items  of  the  reported  expenditures  that  go  to  make  up 
the  sum  of  fill. 27,  contained  in  their  printed  report  as  the  cost  of  support- 
ing paupers  away  from  the  town  the  past  year. 

2.  The  specific  items  that  go  to  make  up  the  sum  of  $576.40,  as  the 
reported  cost  of  supporting  the  paupers  on  the  farm  the  past  year. 

3.  The  specific  items  that  go  to  make  up  the  sum  of  $400.07,  reported 
as  paid  on  bills  contracted  last  year. 

4.  The  specific  items  that  go  to  make  up  the  sum  of  $299.07,  reported  as 
the  amount  of  produce  sold  from  the  farm  the  past  year. 

5.  The  nature  and  amount  of  services  rendered  by  R.  H.  Harback,  for 
which  services  the  sum  of  $22.50  is  reported  to  have  been  paid. 

6.  The  amount  of  cash  paid  out  by  the  Overseers,  as  charged  in  their 
several  bills,  together  with  the  specific  items  of  services  rendered  by  said 
Overseers,  as  charged  in  their  report. 

Amariah  Taft,  John  8.  Gaskill  and  Arnold  Taft  were  then 
chosen  to  audit  the  report  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  pursuant 
to  the  foregoing  instructions. 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Reed,  Treas- 
urer; Scammell  Aldrich,  Sumner  Ballon  and  Stephen  Taft, 
Selectmen;  Lewis  Wood,  John  M.  Fowler  and  Arnold  Taft, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable. 

The  following  list  of  jurors  was  accepted  viz: — 

*Aaron  C.  Cook,  *George  Staples,  *  Amariah  A  Taft,  Samuel  H.  Taft, 
Silas  Dudley,  Orson  R.  Wheelock,  *Wm.  T.  Metcalf,  David  Adams,*  Laban 
Bates,  *Welcome'Staples,  Austin  Wood,  Zalmon  G.  Wood,  Saml.  G.  Wil- 
cox, Enos  T.  Albee,  *Elijah  Taft,  Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill,  *Stephen  Taft,  John 
S.  Gaskill,  George  Bates.  *Jason  Staples,  *Andrus  Wheelock. 

April  4.  Heard  the  Report  of  the  Auditors  chosen  to  investi- 
gate the  Report  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  voted  the  same 
be  laid  on  the  table. 

Alanson  S.  Freeman  was  elected  School  Committee  for  three 
years. 

Chose  Elijah  Dewing  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  he  to  have  125 
for  his  services. 

*  Dead  1880. 


636  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1859. 

Perry  Wood,  Aaron  0.  Cook  and  Laban  Bates  were  again  chosen 
to  superintend  repairs  of  highways  and  bridges. 

The  Report  of  the  Auditors  of  the  Overseers'  Report  was  taken 
from  the  table,  and  then  voted  that  they  have  further  time  and 
report  at  the  next  town  meeting. 

May  9.  Heard  the  Auditors  report,  as  above,  and  then  voted 
that  the  Auditors  be  discharged  from  any  further  duties. 

Then  voted  that  John  G.  Metcalf,  Arnold  Taft  and  Elijah 
Dewing  be  Auditors  to  examine  the  Report  of  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  and  make  their  report  at  a  future  meeting. 

Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $32.21. 

Upon  motion  of  John  CI.  Metcalf  the  following  By-Law,  con- 
cerning Dogs,  was  adopted,  viz: 

Pursuant  to  the  fourteenth  section  of  an  act  "concerning  Dogs,"  ap- 
proved April  6,  1859,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  do  ordain 
and  establish  the  following  additional  By-Law,  viz: 

Section  1.  All  Dogs  owned  or  kept  in  the  town  of  Mendon  shall  wear  a 
strong  and  sufficient  muzzle  made  of  iron  wire. 

Section  2.  Any  person  may,  and  every  Police  Officer  and  Constable  shall 
kill,  or  cause  to  be  destroyed,  all  Dogs  going  at  large  and  not  muzzled  ac- 
cording to  the  foregoing  section. 

Section  3.  Every  Police  Officer  and  Constable  refusing  or  neglecting  to 
perform  the  duties  imposed  by  the  preceding  section,  shall  be  punished  by 
a  fine  not  exceeding  ten  dollars,  which  shall  be  paid  into  the  town  treasury. 

Section  4.  Whoever  keeps  a  Dog,  not  muzzled  according  to  the  first  sec- 
tion of  this  By-Law,  shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  to  be  recovered  to 
the  use  of  the  town. 

Section  5.  This  By-Law  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  the  sixteenth 
day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1859. 

Voted  that  the  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  repair  the  Town 
Hall,  be  authorized  to  purchase  suitable  furniture  for  the  same. 

The  twenty-third  article  of  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of 
the  State,  "defining  the  right  to  vote  and  the  eligibility  to  office 
of  persons  of  foreign  birth,"  having  been  adopted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  1858  and  1859,  was  ratified  by  the  following  vote: 

Yeas  39.     Nays  26. 

The  number  of  men  liable  to  enrollment  was  found  to  be  162. 

Nov.  8.     Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  directed  to 

use  their  best  endeavours  for  the  removal  of  Mary  Marsh,  now  in 


I860.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  637 

the  Insane  Hospital,  at  Worcester,  to  the  Asylum  for  the  Poor, 
in  the  town  of  Mendon. 

Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $54. 75. 

The  Auditors  chosen  May  9,  to  examine  the  Report  of  the 
Overseers  of  'the  Poor,  having  read  their  report,  it  was 

Voted  that  the  same  he  emhodied  in  the  annual  printed  report 
of  the  Selectmen. 

STATE   ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        N.  P.  Banks,  Waltliarn,  R,  had    62  votes.     Elected. 

Benj.  F.  Butler,  Lowell,  D.(  had    81      " 
For  L.t.  Governor,  Eliphalet  Trask,  Springfield,  had  63     " 

S.  C.  Bemis,  Springfield,  had        83      " 

The  ballots  for  other  State  and  County  officers  varied  but  little 
from  the  numbers  cast  for  Governor. 

For  Councillor,  District  No.  6— Aaron  C.  Mayhew,  of  Milford,  R.  had  63 
votes.     A.  H.  Ward,  of  Newton,  D. ,  had  80  votes. 

For  Senator,  South-east  Worcester  District — Simon  "Woodbury,  of  Sutton, 
R,  had  63  votes.     Alvin  Cook,  of  Uxbridge,  D.,  had  81  votes. 

Alvin  Cook  elected  by  17  over  Simon  Woodbury. 

Fbr  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  District  No.  20 — Scott  Seagraves, 
Uxbridge,  R,  had  61  votes.  Sumner  Ballon,  Mendon,  D.,  had  86  votes, 
and  elected. 


i860.  March  5.  Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Sumner 
Ballon,  Henry  A.  Aldrich  and  Alex'r  H.  Allen,  Selectmen;  John 
G.  Metcalf,  Treasurer;  A.  H.  Allen,  School  Committee  for  three 
years,  and  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  to  be  allowed  $10 
for  his  services. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  allowed  $10  for  his  services. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  allowed  $6  each  for 
their  services. 

John  S.  Gaskill,  Solomon  Pratt  and  Lewis  Stone  were  chosen 
Agents  to  superintend  the  repair  of  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  the  Board  of  Assessors  consist  of  three  persons,  to  be 
voted  for  on  one  ballot.  A  few  votes  having  been  cast,  it  was 
discovered  by  the  presiding  officer  that  the  voters  were  not  voting 
for  the  persons  that  they  designed  to  vote  for,  therefore  it  was 
voted  "That  the  contents  of  the  ballot-box  be  poured  out,  and 
commence  again  to  vote  for  Assessors." 


638  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1860. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $600  for  repairs  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  all  taxes  paid  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  in 
December  shall  be  entitled  to  10  per  cent,  discount. 

March  31.  Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen 
to  repair  and  furnish  the  Town  Hall,  and  that  it  be  placed  on 
file. 

The  reports  of  the  Liquor  Agent  and  Highway  Surveyors 
(agents)  were  also  accepted  and  placed  on  file. 

Voted  to  strike  the  eighth  article  from  the  warrant,  "  To  see 
if  the  town  will  alter  the  mode  of  dividing  the  school  money." 

Voted  to  strike  the  fourteenth  article  from  the  warrant,  "To 
see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  appropriate  a  sum  of  money  equal  to 
one  dollar,  more  or  less,  for  each  poll,  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  Public  Library  for  the  use  of  the  town." 

Voted  to  strike  out  the  fifteenth  article  of  the  warrant,  "To 
see  if  the  town  will  instruct  the  Liquor  Agent  not  to  sell  any 
spirituous  and  intoxicating  liquors  to  any  except  an  inhabitant 
of  the  town,  and  also  to  prosecute  all  cases  of  fraud  and  decep- 
tion employed  to  obtain  liquor  from  him." 

Voted  to  accept  the  list  of  Jurors,  as  follows,  viz: 

*  Welcome  Staples,  *Wm.  T.  Metcalf,  * Jason  Staples,  *Elijah  Taft, 
♦Stephen  Taft,  *Andrus  Wheelock,  David  Adams,  Enos  T.  Albee,  Zalmon 
G.  Wood,  *George  Staples,  John  S.  Gaskill,  Ezekiel  T.  Gaskill,  Gilbert 
Cook,  Sumner  Ballon,  *Ira  W.  Cook,  O.  R.  Wheelock,  *Seth  H.  Hayward, 
Elias  T.  Bates,  Waterman  Taft,  John  R.  Hayward,  M.  C.  Gaskill. 

The  XXVth  and  XXVIth  Articles  of  Amendment  to  the  State 
Constitution,  in  regard  to  vacancies  in  the  Senate  and  Council, 
were  ratified  as  follows,  viz: 

XXV.  Article.     Yeas  12.     Nays  4.     XXVI.  Article.    Yeas  13.     Nays  3. 

April  27.  This  day  the  Selectmen  appointed  David  Adams, 
Liquor  Agent,  and  fixed  his  salary  at  $20.00. 

June  30.  Alanson  Taft  was  appointed  Collector  of  Taxes, 
and  to  be  paid  $24.50,  he  being  the  lowest  bidder. 

*Dead  1880. 


I860.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


639 


Voted  that  the  'Selectmen  be  instructed  to  enforce  the  law 
(pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  General  Court),  entitled  "  An  act 
concerning  Contagious  Diseases  among  Cattle,"  to  its  full 
extent. 

The  List  of  persons  enrolled  in  the  militia  May  1,  I860,  as 
certified  by  the  Assessors,  was  found  to  be  180. 


Nov.  (J 


PK  ES 1 1 )  E  XT1 A  L    ELECTION. 


Electors  at  Large — George  Mowry,  Boston,  R.,  had  157  votes.  R.  A. 
Chapman,  Springfield,  R.,  had  157  votes.  Scattering,  8  votes.  Isaac  Da- 
vis, Worcester,  D. ,  had  47  votes.  Charles  Hubner,  Lee,  D. ,  had  47  votes. . 
Scattering  8  votes. 

District  No.  1.  District  No.  7. 

Alfred  Macy,  Nantucket,  R 157     George  Cochrane,  Methuen,  R. .  .157 

Alex'"  Baxter,  Yarmouth,  D 47    G.  W.  Dike,  Stoneham,  D 47 


No.  2. 
J.  M.  Mitchell,  E.  Bridgewater.R.  157 
B.  G.  Chase,  Somerset,  D 47 

No.  3. 

Jno.  M.  Forbes,  Milton,  R 157 

Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Mendon,  D..   47 

No.  4. 

Chas  B.  Hall,  Boston,  R 157 

W.  J.  Reynolds,  Roxbury,  D. .. .  47 

No.  5. 

P.  W.  Chandler,  Boston,  R 157 

K   S.  Chaffee,  Cambridge,  D. . . .  47 

No.  6. 
John  G.  Whittier,  Amesbury,  R.  157 
George  Upton,  Salem,  D 47 

For  Representative  in  Congress,  Third  District. — Charles  Francis  Adams, 
Quincy,  had  154  votes;  elected.  Leverett  Saltonstall,  Newton,  had  61 
votes. 


No   8. 

Jno.  Nesmith,  Lowell,  R 157 

Ambrose  Sloper,  Natick,  D 47 

No.  9. 
Amasa  Walker,  N.Brooktield,  R.  157 
Levi  Barker,  Worcester,  D 47 

No.  10. 

Chas.  Field,  Athol,  R 157 

S.  C.  Bemis,  Springfield,  D 47 

No.  11. 
Chas.  Mattoon.  Greenfield,  R  ...157 
Phineas  Allen,  Pittsfield,  D 47 


STATE    ELECTION. 


For  Governor, 


John  A.  Andrew,  Boston,  R.,  had  152  votes. 

Elected. 
E.  D.  Beach,  Springfield,  D.,  had  47      " 

ForLt.  Governor,    John  Z.  Goodrich,  Stockbridge,  R.,  had  152      " 
Chas.  Thompson,  Charlestown,  D.,  had    47      " 

Candidates  for  other  State  officers  had  about  the  same  number 
of  ballots. 

For  Senator,  Worcester  South-east  District — Winslow  Battles,  Milford,  R., 
had  146  votes;  elected.     Francis  Deane,  Uxbridge,  D.,  had  68  votes. 


640  ANNALS    OF    MENUON.  [1861. 

Representative  to  the  General  Court,  District  No.  XX. — Newell  Tyler, 
Uxbridge,  R,  had  154  votes.  Girdon  K.  Spaulding,  Uxbridge,  D.,  had  58 
votes.     Newell  Tyler  was  elected  by  200.majority. 

Sept.  Perambulations  of  the  various  town  lines  with  the  ad- 
joining towns  were  made  during  the  month  by  the  Selectmen. 


l86l.  March -4.  Chose  for  Town  Clerk,  David  Adams;  Alex- 
ander H.  Allen,  Henry  A.  Aldrichand  Austin  Wood,  Selectmen; 
John  G.  Metcalf,  Treasurer  and  School  Committee  for  three  years; 
George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  Aaron  C.  Cook,  Collector, 
at  $23.00. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  the  support  of 
schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $700  for  repair  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $20.64. 

Voted,  upon  motion  of  Alanson  S.  Freeman,  that  all  taxes 
paid  before  the  first  day  of  July,  of  the  present  year,  shall  be 
entitled  to  an  abatement  of  6  per  cent,  upon  the  amount  so 
paid;  all  taxes  paid  before  the  first  day  of  August  to  5  per  cent. ; 
all  before  the  first  day  of  September  to  4  per  cent. ;  all  before 
the  first  day  of  October  to  3  per  cent. ;  all  before  the  first  day  of 
November  to  2  percent.,  and  all  before  the  first  day  of  Decem- 
ber to  1  per  cent. ;  and  all  taxes  remaining  unpaid  on  the  first 
day  of  December  the  Collector  is  hereby  instructed  to  collect 
forthwith. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  second  section,  Chapter  83,  of  the  General 
Statutes,  as  follows,  viz: 

"  Whoever  takes  or  catches  any  Pickerel  or  Trout  in  any  Rivers,  Streams 
or  Ponds,  in  any  other  manner  than  by  hooks  and  lines,  or  takes  or  catches 
any  Pickerel  from  the  1st  day  of  December  to  the  1st  day  of  May,  shall 
forfeit  one  dollar  for  every  pickerel  or  trout  so  taken,  and  if  he  is  a  minor 
his  guardian  shall  be  liable  to  said  forfeiture." 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire  a  sufficient 
sum  of  money  to  pay  Millins  A.  Taft  the  note  he  holds  against 


1861.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  641 


the  town,  (for  the  Poor  Farm,)  at  a  rate  not  exceeding  6  per 
cent. 

The  reports  of  the  Treasurer,  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  Highway  Surveyors  and  Liquor  Agent  were  severally  read 
and  accepted. 

The  number  of  persons  between  the  ages  of  l.S  and  45,  and 
liable  to  enrollment  in  the  militia,  was  found  to  be  18G. 

NOV.  FOR  REPRESENTATIVE  IN  CONGRESS,  THIRD  DISTRICT. 

Hon.  Charles  Francis  Adams,  having  been  appointed  Minister 
to  England,  a  meeting  was  held  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  his 
resignation,  and  with  the  following  result,  viz: — 

Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  of  West  Roxbury,  R.,  had  37  votes.     Elected. 
Eleazer  Beal,  of  Randolph,  D.,  had  1  vote. 

Upon  motion  of  Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf,  the  following  votes 
were  unanimously  adopted: 

Whereas,  the  Inhabitants  oi*  the  Town  of  Mendou,  fully  according  with 
the  sentiments  of  loyalty  and  patriotism  which  find  such  unparalleled 
unanimity  of  expression  in  all  the  States  still  true  to  the  Union  and  the 
Constitution,  and  fully  believing  it  to  be  their  duty  to  use  all  the  means  in 
their  power  to  sustain  the  Government  of  the  United  States  until  the  pres- 
ent unprovoked  and  wicked  rebellion  against  its  rightful  authority  is 
effectually  overcome, 

Therefore  voted  that  the  sum  of  Five  thousand  dollars  be  raised  and  ap" 
propriated,  and,  if  necessary,  the  same  be  applied,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Selectmen,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  one  dollar  per  week  for  the  aid  of 
the  wife  and  the  sum  of  one  dollar  per  week  for  the  aid  of  each  of  the 
children,  under  sixteen  years  of  age,  of  any  of  their  inhabitants  who,  as  a 
member  of  the  volunteer  militia  of  this  State  may  have  been  mustered  into 
or  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  United  States ;  and  the  further  sum  of  one 
dollar  per  week  for  each  parent,  brother,  sister  or  child  who,, at  the  time  of 
his  enlistment,  was  dependent  on  him  for  support. 

This  vote  was  based  upon  Chapter  223  of  the  Acts  of  1861, 
passed  May  23,  1861,  being  "  An  Act  in  aid  of  the  families  of 
Volunteers,"  &c. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  assessment  and  collection  of  the  said  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars, 
whenever  thereto  notified,  in  writing,  by  the  Selectmen,  to  hire  in  behalf 
of  the  town,  such  sums  of  money  as  the  Selectmen  shall,  from  time  to 
time,  judge  necessary  to  carry  into  effect  the  preceding  vote,  not  to  exceed, 
in  the  whole,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars. 
81 


642  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1862. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire  a  sum,  not  to 
exceed  five  hundred  dollars,  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the 
town. 

Nov.   5.  STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         John  A.  Andrew,  Boston,  R. ,  had  88  votes.  Elected. 

Isaac  Davis,  Worcester,  D.,  had  59      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  John  Nesmith,  Lowell,  R.,  had  87      " 

Edwin  C.  Bailey,  Boston,  D.,  had  59      " 

The  other  State  and  County  officers,  except  those  of  Council- 
lor, Clerk  of  the  Courts  and  Register  of  Deeds,  had  about  the 
same  number  of  votes  as  the  Governor.  The  votes  for  James 
Ritchie  for  Councillor,  for  Joseph  Mason,  Clerk  of  the  Courts, 
and  for  Alexander  H.  Wilder,  for  Register  of  Deeds,  were  unani- 
mous. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court  20th  District — William  T.  Metcalf, 
Mendon,  R. ,  had  83  votes.  Sumner  Ballou,  Mendon,  D.,  had  63  votes. 
George  Cisco,  Mendon,  had  1  vote. 

Wm.  T.  Metcalf  chosen  by  102  majority  in  the  district. 


1862.  March  3.  The  Reports  of  the  Town  Officers  were  read 
and  severally  adopted. 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Treasurer;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Henry  A.  Aldrich  and  Austin 
Wood,  Selectmen;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable;  Alanson  S. 
Freeman,  School  Committee  for  three  years,  and  Francis  F. 
Wheelock,  Collector,  at  $28.00. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $600  for  repair  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  incidental  expenses. 

A  motion  was  made  and  lost  to  repair  the  roads  and  bridges  as 
last  year,  that  is,  the  highway  appropriation  to  be  paid  in  money, 
and  the  same  expended  under  the  direction  of  Agents. 

It  was  then  voted  that  the  appropriation  for  repair  of  roads 
and  bridges  be  assessed  and  be  paid  in  labor  and  materials. 

Voted  that  ten  cents  an  hour  be  allowed  for  a  man  and  the 


1862.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  643 

same  for  a  cart  and  oxen,  and  five  cents  an  hour  for  a  plough 
while  in  use. 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Highways  in 
the  several  Districts  into  which  the  town  was  formerly  divided. 
viz: 

District  1,  Joseph  Cummings;  District  2,  Leonard  Taft;  District  3,  Fras. 
F.  Taft;  District  4,  Lewis  Stone;  District  5,  Milton  Aldrich;  District  6, 
George  Mowrey;  District  7,  Luther  E  Taft;  District  8,  Benjamin  Bates; 
District  9,  Christopher  Daniels;  District  10,  William  Wood;  District  11, 
Eli  Bates;  District  12,  John  S.  Gaskill;  District  13,  Lyman  Darling. 

Taxes  to  the  amount  of  $105.36  were  then  foregone. 

Voted  that  the  same  abatements  be  made  in  the  payment  of 
taxes  as  last  year,  provided  the  Collector  shall  satisfy  the  Treas- 
urer that  the  abatements  have  been  made  to  the  persons  whose 
taxes  have  been  paid. 

Voted  that  Mrs.  Catharine  Taft  (she  having  received  no  tidings 
from  her  husband  for  many  years)  lie  regarded,  in  future,  in  the 
matter  of  the  assessment  of  taxes  on  her  real  estate,  as  a  Widow. 
thus  exempting  her  estate  from  taxation  to  the  amount  of  five 
hundred  dollars. 

The  following  list  of  Jurors  was  accepted,  viz: 

Silas  Dudley,  Wm.  T.  Metcalf,*  David  Adams,  Enos  T.  Albee,  Ira  W. 
Cook,*  Charles  Fletcher,  JohnR.  Hay  ward,  Micajah  C.  Gaskill,  Davis  Bills, 
Willard  Wilcox,  Aaron  C.  Cook,*  Eli  Bates,  Alanson  Taft,  R.  M.  Whee 
loek,*  Orson  R.  Wheelock,  Perry  Wood,  E.  P.  Gaskill,  Gilbert  Gaskill, 
Philo  W.  Brown. 

June  6,  The  number  of  persons  liable  to  enrollment,  as  re- 
turned by  the  Assessors  this  day,  was  185. 

July  21.  Order  No.  26  of  Gov.  Andrew,  calling  upon  the 
town  to  furnish  eighteen  recruits,  as  its  quota  to  answer  the  call 
of  the  President  for  300,000  men,  being  under  consideration. 

The  following  Preamble  and  Resolutions  were  offered  by  Dr. 
John  C  Metcalf,  which,  after  amending  the  second  resolution, 
by  making  the  bounty  one  hundred  and  fifty  instead  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  were  almost  unanimously  adopted: 

Whereas,  the  States  of  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Ala- 
bama, Florida,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Mississippi,  and  portions  of 
Tennessee  and  Virginia  are  now  in  open  and  flagrant  rebellion  against  the 

*  Dead  in  1880. 


644  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1862. 

Government  of  the  United  States,  with  the  avowed  intention  of  substitut- 
ing in  its  stead  a  government  based  on  Human  Slavery ;  and 

Whereas,  the  President  of  the  United  States  (Abraham  Lincoln),  in  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duty,  and  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  said  Rebel- 
lion to  a  speedy  close,  and  thereby  re-establishing  the  supremacy  of  the 
Government  over  those  portions  of  the  country  now  held  by  the  armed  oc- 
cupation of  Rebels  and  Traitors,  has  issued  his  call  for  three  hundred 
thousand  volunteers,  to  reinforce  the  armies  of  the  Union  now  in  the  field ; 
and 

Whereas,  a  prompt,  unhesitating  and  patriotic  response  to  the  call  of  the 
President  will  be  the  surest  means  to  accomplish  the  certain  and  triumphant 
overthrow  of  the  present  wicked  and  inexcusable  rebellion,  therefore 

1.  Resolved,  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Mendon,  in  town  meet- 
ing legally  assembled,  do  hereby  solemnly  and  unitedly,  with  all  the  means 
which  God  has  placed  in  our  hands,  pledge  ourselves  to  sustain  said  call; 
and,  to  that  end,  will  use  our  utmost  endeavors  to  furnish  the  quota  of 
volunteers  allotted  them  by  Order  No.  26,  of  the  Governor  of  this  Common- 
wealth, in  the  shortest  possible  period  of  time. 

2.  Resolved,  that,  having  the  fullest  confidence  in  the  patriotism  of  its 
citizens,  but  taking  into  consideration  the  great  and  increasing  demand  for 
labor  at  the  present  juncture,  and  as  the  present  is  a  season  of  the  year 
when,  especially  in  an  agricultural  community,  men  cannot  so  readily  fore- 
go their  ordinary  avocations,  the  Town  do  hereby  promise  to  pay  a  Bounty 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  each,  to  such  able  bodied  volunteers  as 
shall  promptly  enlist  into  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  pursuant  to  the 
call  above  mentioned. 

3.  Resolved,  that  the  Treasurer  of  the  Town,  in  its  behalf  and  upon  a 
pledge  of  its  credit,  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized,  empowered  and 
directed  to  hire  a  sufficient  sum  of  money,  not  exceeding  twenty-seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  bounties,  as  provided 
in  the  preceding  section. 

4.  Resolved,  that  when  any  number  of  persons,  not  exceeding  eighteen 
in  number,  shall  volunteer  their  services  to  make  up  the  quota  required  of 
this  town,  by  the  order  before  mentioned,  and  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to 
the  Selectmen  that  such  persons  have  been  duly  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  they  are  hereby  directed  to  make  out  and  give  to  each 
of  such  persons  as  shall  volunteer  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  August 
next,  or  to  some  one  by  them,  in  writing,  authorized  to  receive  it,  an  order 
on  the  Treasurer  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  and  to  such 
as  shall  volunteer  after  that  date,  to  fill  up  the  quota  required,  or  to  any 
one,  by  them,  in  writing,  authorized  to  receive  it,  an  order  on  the  Treasurer 
for  one  hundred  dollars. 

5.  Resolved,  that  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  are  hereby  requested  to 
communicate,  if  necessary,  with  the  proper  authorities,  and  to  use  their 
best  endeavors  to  place  in  Camp  John  E.  Wool,  at  Worcester,  at  the  earliest 
practicable  day,  the  full  complement  of  volunteers  allotted  to  this  town. 


1862.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  645 

6.  Resolved,  that  we  remember  with  emotions  of  the  profoundest  grati- 
tude, the  unselfish  and  patriotic  sacrifices  of  those  who  have  gone  out  from 
our  midst,  to  do  battle  with  traitors,  for  the  preservation  of  our  dearest 
rights  as  freemen;  and,  as  the  most  significant  and  practical  expression  of 
that  gratitude,  we  hereby  pledge  our  utmost  and  united  efforts  until  the 
speedy  and  efficient  reinforcement  of  the  armies  in  which  they  are  serving 
shall  be  fully  accomplished. 

7.  Resolved,  that  we  affectionately  tender  to  the  relatives  and  friends  of 
George  W.  Wilcox,  Samuel  Hall,  Juba  F.  Pickering  and  Alanson  Bath- 
rick,  Volunteers  from  this  town,  and  who  have  laid  down  their  lives  in  the 
present  conflict,  the  warmest  expression  of  our  condolence  and  sympathy, 
commending  them,  in  their  bereavement,  to  the  care  and  keeping  of  Him 
who  doeth  all  things  well. 

8.  Resolved,  that  we  heartily  endorse  the  recent  legislation  of  Congress, 
whereby  a  bill  "  To  suppress  insurrection,  to  punish  Treason  and  Rebel- 
lion, to  seize  and  confiscate  the  property  of  Rebels  and  for  other  purposes," 
has  become  the  law  of  the  land;  and  believing  it  can  be  used  as  the  most 
efficient  means  to  overthrow'  rebellion  and  restore  peace  to  the  country,  we 
hereby  invoke  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  carry  the  same  into  full 
and  immediate  effect. 

Voted,  on  motion  of  Alexander  H.  Allen,  that  out  of  the 
money  appropriated  by  the  town,  by  a  vote  passed  June  11, 
1861,  (for  raising  five  thousand  dollars,)  to  aid  the  families  of 
volunteers  from  this  town,  the  Selectmen  pay  the  widow  and 
children  of  any  deceased  volunteer  the  sum  per  month  they 
would  be  entitled  to  receive  under  said  vote,  and  the  Treasurer 
be  directed  to  provide  funds  to  pay  the  same  as  specified  in  said 
vote. 

August  10.  Voted  that  the  town  offer  a  bounty  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars  to  each  person  who  may  volunteer  and  be  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  fill  up  the  quota  which 
may  be  allotted  to  the  town  of  Mendon  in  the  draft  of  300,000 
men  lately  ordered  by  the  President. 

Voted  that  the  town  raise  and  appropriate  a  sufficient  sum  of 
money  to  pay  to  each  person,  who  may  volunteer  and  be  mus- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  United  States  to  fill  up  the  quota 
which  may  be  allotted  to  the  town  of  Mendon  in  the  draft  of 
300,000  men  lately  ordered  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  sum  of  $200. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  issue  their  order  to 
the  Treasurer  to  pay  the  sum  of  #200  to  each  person  who  may 
volunteer  to  fill   up  the  quota,  as  mentioned  in  the  preceding 


646  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1862. 

vote,  upon  satisfactory  evidence  that  such  volunteer  has  heen 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  use  their  endeavours 
to  procure  a  sufficient  number  of  volunteers  to  fill  up  the  quota 
before  mentioned,  and  for  this  purpose,  if  they  see  fit,  they  are 
hereby  empowered  and  authorized  to  appoint  an  agent  to  act  in 
their  behalf,  and  under  their  direction. 

August  30.  The  vote  passed  at  a  town  meeting  held  August 
19th,  inst.,  "to  raise  and  appropriate  a  sufficient  sum  of  money 
&c,"  was  now  reconsidered,  and  the  following  substitute  was 
adopted,  viz: — 

Voted  to  authorize,  empower  and  direct  the  Treasurer,  in  behalf  of  the 
town  and  upon  a  pledge  of  its  credit,  to  hire  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to 
pay  to  each  person  who  may  volunteer  (and  be  mustered  into  the  service  of. 
the  United  States,)  to  fill  the  quota  of  this  town  which  may  be  allotted  to 
it  under  the  Order  of  the  President  for  a  draft  of  300,000  men,  the  sum  of 
$200. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  issue  their  order  to  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Town,  to  pay  the  sum  of  $200  to  each  person  who  may  volunteer  to 
fill  up  the  quota  as  mentioned  in  the  preceding  vote,  upon  satisfactory 
evidence  that  such  volunteer  has  been  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States. 

October  1.  It  having  been  now  ascertained  that  the  quota  for 
Mendon,  in  the  draft  for  $300,000  men,  ordered  by  the  Presi- 
dent, was  twenty-eight  in  number,  and  inasmuch  as  it  was  in- 
tended to  pay  bounties  only  to  those  who  should  be  credited  to 
the  town  of  Mendon,  the  following  votes  were  now  passed: 

Voted  that  the  town  will  pay  the  sum  of  $200  each  to  those  who  have  or 
may  volunteer  and  be  sworn  and  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  for  nine  months,  pursuant  to  the  late  call  of  the  President,  not  ex- 
ceeding 28  in  number,  provided  it  shall  appear  that  such  persons  will  be 
credited  to  the  town  of  Mendon. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  instructed  and  authorized  to  hire  a  sufficient 
sum  of  money  to  pay  $200  to  each  one  who  has  or  may  volunteer  and  be 
sworn  and  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  not  exceeding  28 
in  number,  provided  it  shall  appear  that  they  will  be  credited  to  the  town  of 
Mendon. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  issue  their  orders  pursuant  to 
the  preceding  votes. 

October  9.     At  this  meeting  two  letters  were  received  from 


1863.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  647 

Alexander  H.  Allen  and  Henry  A.  Aldrieh,  resigning  their  of- 
fices as  Selectmen. 

Voted  that  said  letters  be  placed  on  file. 

Voted  to  choose  two  selectmen  on  one  ballot  to  till  the  vacan- 
cies occasioned  by  the  resignations  of  A.  H.  Allen  and  H.  A. 
Aldrieh. 

John  Gr.  Metcalf'and  Ira  W.  Cook  were  chosen  Selectmen. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,  John  A.  Andrew,  Boston,  R,  had      128  votes.  Elected. 

do.  Chas.  Devens,  Worcester,  D.,  had       55      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,    Joel  Hayden,  Williamsburg,  R.,  had  128 

Thos.  F.  Plunkett,  Pittsfield,  D. ,  had  55      " 

All  the  other  candidates  for  State  and  County  offices,  except 
the  District  Attorney  and  Comity  Commissioner,  received  just 
the  same  number  of  votes  as  were  cast  for  the  candidates  for 
Governor. 

P.  Emory  Aldrieh,  of  Worcester,  for  District  Attorney,  and 
Amory  Holman,  of  Boston,  for  County  Commissioner,  had  all 
the  votes  cast,  183  in  number,  each. 

For  Senator,  Worcester  South-east  District — William  R.  Hill,  of  Sutton, 
R.,  had  128  votes;  (elected).      Warren  Hunt,  of  Douglas,  D.,  had  55  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  District  No.  XX. — William  C.  Ca- 
pron,  of  Uxbridge,  R.  had  127  votes.  Charles  E.  Whitin,  of  Uxbridge,  D., 
had  56  votes.  Wm.  C.  Capron  had  in  the  District  (Meudon  and  Uxbridge,) 
131  majority. 


1863.  March  %.  Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alex- 
ander H.  Allen,  Henry  0.  Steward  and  John  S.  Gaskill,  Select- 
men; John  G.  Metcalf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable; 
Ira  W.  Cook,  Collector,  at  $24.75,  and  Davis  Bills,  School  Com- 
mittee for  three  years. 

Voted  to  choose  thirteen  Highway  Surveyors. 

Voted  the  highways  and  bridges  be  repaired  the  same  as  last 
year. 

Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $226.46. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  not  abolish  the  School  Districts.  This 
vote  was  taken  pursuant  to  section  4,  Chap.  39,  of  the  General 
Statutes,  which    required   that   the  question  of  abolishing  the 


648  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1863. 

School  Districts  should  be  acted  on  by  the  towns  once  in  three 
years. 

The  following  list  of  Jurors  was  adopted,  viz: 

Alexander  H.  Allen,*  David  Adams,  M.  C.  Gaskill,  Wm.  T.  Metcalf,* 
Willard  Wilcox,  Aaron  C.  Cook,*  Eli  Bates,*  Alanson  Taft,  Perry  Wood, 
Gilbert  Gaskill,  Adoniram  J.  Dawley,*  John  S.  Gaskill,  Andre  South  wick, 
Henry  O.  Steward,  Austin  Wood,  Labau  Bates,  David  W.  Bennett,  An- 
drew H.  Reed,  Linus  B.  Staples,*  Nathl.  A.  Iumau,  Austin  A.  Taft. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire  a  sum  of  money, 
not  exceeding  1600,  in  anticipation  of  the  collection  of  the  taxes. 

Voted  to  discontinue  a  road  laid  out  by  the  County  Commis- 
sioners, August  23,  1860,  upon  the  petition  of  Joseph  Cum- 
mings. 

Chose  a  Highway  Surveyor  for  each  of  the  thirteen  Highway 
Districts. 

Voted  that  all  taxes  paid  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July 
shall  be  entitled  to  a  discount  of  six  per  cent.,  and  that  all  taxes 
remaining  unpaid  on  the  first  day  of  December,  shall  be  put  in 
process  of  collection  by  law,  and  that  the  town  will  indemnify 
the  Collector  for  the  costs  of  such  collection. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $600  for  repair  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $900  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  interest  on  the  town 
debt. 

April  6.  On  motion  of  Henry  A.  Aldrich  it  was  voted  that 
the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to 
pay  the  present  indebtedness  of  the  town,  provided  it  can  be  pro- 
cured at  a  less  rate  of  interest  than  six  per  cent.,  it  being  under- 
stood that  preference  in  making  loans  shall  be  given  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Mendon. 

On  motion  of  Henry  A.  Aldrich  it  was  voted  that  the  Select- 
men be  authorized  and  directed  to  draw  their  order  on  the  Treas- 
urer for  the  payment  of  one  dollar  per  week  each  to  the  widow, 
children,  parent,  brother  or  sister,  pursuant  to  chapter  76  of  the 
Acts  of  1863,  not  exceeding  twelve  dollars  per  month  to  any  one 

*Dead  1880. 


1863.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  649 

family;  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  empowered  to 

hire  on  behalf  of  the  town  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  pay  the 
orders  as  above  directed. 

The  committee  chosen  March  2,  ultimo,  "To  see  if  the  town 
can  be  more  equally  divided  into  Highway  Districts,"  made  a  re- 
port which  was  accepted. 

Tbey  recommend  to  divide  the  town  into  live  Highway  Dis- 
tricts, the  boundaries  of  which  may  be  found  in  vol.  8,  pp.  12, 
13  and  14,  and  that  to  equalize  the  Districts,  Nos.  2  and  3  should 
be  paid  fifteen  dollars  and  No.  4  twenty-live  dollars.  John  S. 
Gaskill  for  District  No.  1,  Erastus  Hill  for  No.  2,  Laban  Bates 
for  No.  3,  Alanson  S.  Freeman  for  No.  4,  and  Perry  Wood  for 
No.  5,  were  then  chosen  Highway  Surveyors. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  choosing  thirteen  Highway  Sur- 
veyors, passed  March  2d  ult. 

AMENDMENT   TO    THE    STATE    CONSTITUTION. 

The  Article  of  Amendment  being  the  XXVIth,  "Relating  to 
the  right  to  vote  and  their  eligibility  to  office  of  persons  of 
foreign  birth,"  having  been  adopted  by  the  Legislatures  of  1862 
and  1863,  was  ratified  by  the  following  vote: 

For  the  Amendment — Yeas  49.     Nays  1. 

April  11.     Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  112.04. 

Voted  that  a  vote  passed  March  2  ult.,  allowing  a  discount  of 
six  per  cent,  on  all  taxes  paid  on  or  before  July  1,  1863,  be  re- 
considered. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  remaining  unpaid  after  the  15th  day  of 
July  of  the  present  year,  interest,  at  the  rate  of  one  percent, 
per  month  shall  be  added  thereto  until  paid. 

May  2.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  and  he  is  hereby  author- 
ized and  directed  to  issue  Bonds,  upon  the  credit  of  the  Town, 
for  a  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  Eighteen  Thousand  Dollars, 
for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  present  indebtedness  of  the  town, 
at  a  rate  of  interest  not  exceeding  five  per  cent,  per  annum;  said 
Bonds  not  to  be  sold  at  less  than  their  par  value,  and  to  be  re- 
deemed at  the  office  of  the  Treasurer  in  five  and  ten  years. 

Voted  the  Treasurer  be  and  he  is  hereby  directed  to  advertise 
for  proposals  for  said  loan  in  sums  of  fifty,  one  hundred  and 
five  hundred  dollars  each,  each  proposal  to  be  made  in  writing 

82 


(350  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1863. 

and  sealed,  stating  the  amount  desired,  with  the  terms  and  time. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and 
directed  to  issue  bonds,  at  the  rate  and  for  the  time  above  speci- 
fied, for  such  sums  as  may  be  necessary  to  defray  the  future  lia- 
bilities of  the  town  on  account  of  the  present  war. 

June  5.  The  Assessors  returned  that  the  enrolled  militia  were 
128,  and  that  Orrin  Cook,  John  B.  Rockwood,  Albert  Cook. 
Martin  S.  Howe,  Frederic  Bates,  James  C.  Moore,  John  F.  Moore. 
George  Wilbur,  Alderman  C.  Cook,  Benj.  H.  Smith,  Wm,  D. 
Cole,  Jacob  B.  Gurley,  Abel  Weatherhead,  Lucius  Lowell,  Ed- 
win M.  Wheelock,  Nathan  Wheelock,  Lowell  C.  Cook,  Freeman 
Cole,  Herbert  A.  Bennett,  John  Cross,  Waterman  Taft,  Edward 
L.  Staples,  Franklin  Freeman,  George  H.  Payson,  John  II.  Taft. 
Elias  A.  Adams,  Henry  Bates  and  James  W.  Wilson  (28  in  num- 
ber), were  found  serving  in  the  army. 

General  P.  Taft,  John  P.  Sannders,  Capt.  Francis  A.  John- 
son and  Otis  E.  Thayer  were  found  discharged. 

Capt.  Johnson's  family  had  recently  removed  from  Milford. 

David  Adams  was  reappointed  Liquor  Agent  for  twelve  months. 

Sept.  26.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  March  2,  1803, 
discontinuing  the  road  laid  out  by  the  County  Commissioners, 
Aug.  23,  18G0,  and  appropriate  not  exceeding  $250  for  repair  of 
said  road,  provided  the  County  Commissioners  will  consent  there- 
to.    This  is  the  Cummings  road. 

STATE    ELECTION. 
For  Governor,        John  A.  Andrew,  Boston,  R. ,  had      77  votes.'    Elected. 

Henry  W.  Paine,  Cambridge,  D.,  had  37 
For  Lt.  Governor,  Joel  Hayden,  Williamsburg,  R.,had  77 

Tlios.  F.  Pluukett,  Pittsiield,  D. ,  had  37     ' ' 

The  other  candidates  for  State  offices  received  the  same  num- 
ber of  votes  as  the  candidates  for  Governor. 

For  Councillor,  Sixth  District — Jonathan  D.  Wheeler,  Grafton,  R.,  had  74 
votes.     Win.  Mixter,  Hardwick,  D.,  had  37  votes. 

For  Senator,  Worcester  South-east  District — Winslow  Battles,  Milford,  R, 
had  75  votes;  Elected.    Daniel  Sonthwick,  Blackstone,  D.,  had  37  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  District  No.  20 — Scott  Seagrave, 
Oxbridge,  R.,  had  75  votes.     Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Mendon,  D.,  had  32  votes. 

Scott  Seagraves  had  108  majority  in  the  District  (Mendon  and  Uxbridge). 

John  G.  Metcalf  having  been  chosen  Moderator, 
Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $08.01. 


1863.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  651 

Voted  to  reconsider  a  vote  passed  Sept.  2Gth  ult.,  whereby  the 
town  voted  not  to  accept  a  road  from  near  the  house  of  James 
M.  Staples  to  connect  with  the  Quissett  road  (so-called). 

Voted  to  accept  of  said  road,  as  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen, 
between  the  termini  as  above  mentioned,  and  that  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  dollars  be  appropriated  for  building  said  road  and 
repairing  the  Quissett  road. 

Dec.  12.  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven,  one  from 
each  school  district  in  town,  to  aid  the  Selectmen  in  filling  the 
quota  under  the  late  call  of  the  President  for  300,000  men  for 
the  army. 

District  1.  Austin  D.  Davenport.  District  5.  Clark  Cook, 

do       2.   Lewis  Stone,  2nd.  do       6.  Saml.  H.  Taft. 

do       3.  Addison  Aldnch.  do       7.  Royal  M.  Wheelock. 
do       4.  Laban  Bates. 

On  motion  of  John  G.  Metcalf,  it  was  voted,  as  instructions 
to  the  Selectmen  and  Treasurer,  and  as  explanatory  of  the  vote 
passed  June  11,  1861,  that  in  computing  the  disbursements 
under  said  appropriation  ($5000)  only  the  excess  of  the  sum  dis- 
bursed in  each  year  for  the  aid  to  families  of  volunteers,  over 
the  sum  reimbursed  by  the  Commonwealth  for  the  same,  shall 
be  charged*as  the  annual  expenditure  under  said  appropriation*; 
and  that  all  monies  reimbursed  by  the  Commonwealth  to  the 
town,  for  aid  furnished  the  families  of  volunteers,  shall  be  added 
to  said  appropriation  and  paid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  agreeable 
to  the  provisions  of  said  vote,  until  the  full  sum  of  rive  thou- 
sand dollars,  exclusive  of  the  monies  so  reimbursed,  shall  have 
been  paid  out. 

Voted  that  the  town  will  pay  the  same  amount  (per  week  or 
month),  of  money  for  aid  to  any  of  the  families  of  any  of  its 
inhabitants  who  may  be  drafted  into  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States,  as  is  paid  to  the  families  of  volunteers. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  such  sums 
of  money,  from  time  to  time,  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  into 
effect  the  preceding  vote. 

REV.    WILLIAM    TATE    PHELAN,    THE    SIXTEENTH    MINISTER. 

The  Rebellion  breaking  out  in  1861,  the  people  finding  them- 
selves  heavily,  though   willingly,  taxed  for   the   support  of  the 


652  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1864. 

government,  abated  somewhat  in  their  customary  support  of  pub- 
lic religious  worship,  and  for  three  years  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
only  occasionally. 

In  May,  1863,  Mr.  Phelan  was  engaged  to  fill  the  pastoral 
office,  and  continued  to  discharge  its  duties  until  April  27, 
1866,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  Since  then  he 
has  acceptably  filled  the  office  of  Minister-at- Large  in  the  city  of 
Portland,  Me. 


1864.  March  7.  The  reports  of  the  Treasurer,  Selectmen, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  Licpior  Agent,  were  severally  made 
and  accepted. 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen, 
Dan  Hill  and  John  S.  Gaskill,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer  and  Lewis  Stone,  2nd,  Constables, 
and  Perry  Wood,  Collector"  at  $32.00. 

Gustavus  B.  Williams  was  elected  School  Committee  for  three 
years. 

Voted  to  add  three  members  to  the  School  Committee,  and 
chose  Joseph  Thayer  for  one  year,  David  Adams  for  two  years, 
and  M.  C.  Gaskill  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  same  method  as  last  year  for  the  collection 
of  the  taxes. 

Voted  to  allow  fifteen  cents  an  hour  for  labor  on  the  high- 
ways, the  same  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart,  and  ten  cents  au 
hour  for  a  plough. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  the  support  of 
schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $550  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repair  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  payment  of  interest 
on  the  public  debt. 

Voted  to  forego*  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $42.90. 

Lysander  Grow  and  Timothy  Ellis  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  examine  the  hearse  and  report  what  repairs  are  necessary. 


1864.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  653 

A  motion  made  by  Perry  Wood  that  the  school  money  be 
divided,  one-balf  by  the  number  of  the  districts  and  one-half  by 
the  number  of  scholars,  received  four  votes  and  eighteen  against 
the  motion. 

The  list  of  Jurors  was  adopted  by  the  town  as  follows,  viz: 

*Alanson  S.  Freemau,  *Andrus  Wheelock,  Gilbert  Cook,  Putmau  W. 
Taft,*  Laban  Bates,  *A.  J.  Dawley,  Andrew  H.  Reed,  John  S.  Gaskill, 
*Wm.  T.  Metcalf,  Willard  Wilcox,  David  Adams,  D.  W.  Bennett,  Eli 
Bates,  Andre  Southwick,  Henry  O.  Steward,  Austin  Wood,  Natbl,  A. 
Inman,*  Alexr.  H.  Allen,  M.  C.  Gaskill,  Perry  Wood,  Alansou  Taft. 

April  2.  Silas  Dudley,  Perry  Wood  and  Seth  T.  Staples  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  repair  the  hearse. 

The'  School  Committee  were  required,  by  vote,  to  choose  a 
Superintendent  of  the  Public  Schools,  and  Gastavus  B.  Williams 
was  appointed. 

Voted  to  discontinue  that  part  of  the  road  leading  from  the 
house  of  Timothy  Ellis  to  the  Milford  road,  leading  from  the 
house  of  Silas  Dudley,  which  lies  against  the  land  of  Elbridge 
G.  Cook. 

Voted  to  refer  the  fifth  article  in  the  warrant,  "  relating  to 
truant  children,  &c,"  to  the  School  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  make  such  repairs  or 
additions  to  the  Asylum  as  the  present  wants  and  future  com- 
forts and  convenience  of  its  inmates  may  seem  to  them  to 
require. 

May  28.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  March  7,  to 
choose  three  Selectmen,  and  then  voted  to  add  two  more  to  the 
Board. 

Samuel  H.  Taft  and  Albert  W.  Gaskill  were  chosen  Select- 
men. 

Voted  to  appropriate  a  sum  of  money,  not  to  exceed  four 
thousand  dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  the  town's  pro- 
portion of  the  quota  of  volunteers  in  the  military  service,  under 
any  order  or  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  issued 
after  the  first  day  of  March,  1864,  and  before  the  first  day  of 
March,  1865. 

This  vote  was  passed  in  accordance  with  Chapter  120  of  the 
Acts  of  1864. 

*Dead  in  1880. 


654  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1864. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  aud  directed  to  hire  a 
sum  of  money,  upon  the  credit  of  the  town,  not  to  exceed  $4000, 
in  such  sums  as  may  be  needed  for  procuring  recruits  to  till  the 
quotas  of  Mendon,  under  any  call  of  the  President  between 
March  1,  1864,  and  March  1,  18G5. 

By  the  Act  above  mentioned  the  bounty  could  not  exceed 
$125. 

Julius  A.  George  was  chosen  a  Selectman,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
made  by  the  resignation  of  Dan  Hill. 

Voted  that  the  seventh  article  in  the  warrant,  which  was  "to 
see  if  the  Town  would  purchase  a  New  Hearse,"  be  stricken  from 
the  warrant. 

August  15.  A  motion  was  made  by  Perry  Wood  "that  the 
town  pay  in  gold  the  sum  of  $125  already  voted  to  be  paid  to 
volunteers." 

Upon  this  motion  a  point  of  order  was  raised  by  Alexander  H. 
Allen,  that  inasmuch  as  the  motion,  as  well  as  the  article  in  the 
warrant,  affirmed  that  the  town  had  voted  $125  to  each  volun- 
teer, when  they  had  not  done  so,  therefore  the  motion  was  not 
in  order,  and  upon  this  asked  for  the  decision  of  the  Chair. 
The  Moderator  (John  G.  Metcalf,)  decided  that  the  point  was 
well  taken,  and  ruled  that  the  motion  was  not  in  order.  Upon 
this  decision  an  appeal  was  taken,  when  the  decision  of  the 
Chair  was  unanimously  sustained. 

Nov.  8.  Voted  that  the  town  do  pay  the  families  of  persons 
not  residents  of  said  town,  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  a  part  of  the  town's  quota,  a  sum  not  exceeding 
twelve  dollars  per  month  for  each  family;  and  that  the  Treas- 
urer be  directed  to  hire  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  required 
to  carry  out  said  vote. 

Austin  Wood,  Silas  Dudley  and  William  T.  Metcalf  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  confer  with  a  committee  of  the  Second 
School  District  to  consider  and  determine,  first,  whether  the 
Town  or  the  District  is,  at  present,  legally  obliged  to  keep  the 
roof  over  the  Town  Hall  (being  the  second  story  of  the  school 
house,)  and  School  House  in  repair.  Secondly,  if  the  District 
is  so  obliged,  then  for  them  to  consider  whether,  upon  the  princi- 
ples of  justice  and  equity,  the  town  should  not  assume  some 
part,  or  all,  of  the  expense  of  repairing  said  roof;  and,  thirdly, 


1864.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  (if) 5 


whether  said  roof  can  he  suitably  repaired  except  by  being  newly 
shingled,  and  report  at  the  next  meeting-. 

PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION. 

For  Elector*  at  Large — Edward  Everett,  R.,  Boston,  had  158  votes.  Whit- 
ing Griswold,  R.,  Greenfield,  had  158  votes.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  D., 
Boston,  had  80  votes.     Erasmus  D.  Beach,  D.,  Springfield,  had  80  votes. 

District  No.  1.                                          District  No.  6. 
Richard  Borden,  Fall  River,  R.  .158    George  L.  Davis,  N.  Andover,  R.158 
A.  II.  Rowland,  N.  Bedford,  D. .  80    J.  H.  Carletou,  Haverhill,  D 80 

No.  2.  No.  7. 

Artemas  Hale,  Bridgewater,  R. .  158     StephenM.  Weld.W.  Roxbury, R.158 
Wm.  D.  Swan,  Dorchester,  D. . .  80     Leverett  Saltonstall,  Newton,  D.   80 

No.  3.  No.  8. 

George  Putnam,  Roxbury,  R. . .   158    Levi  Lincoln,  Worcester,  R 158 

Andrew  Pierce,  Jr.,  Boston,  D.  .  80    Isaac  Davis,  Worcester,  D 80 

No.  4.  No.  9. 

J.  M.  S.  Williams,  Cambridge,  R.158     William  S.  Clark,  Amherst,  R..158 
Abram  Jackson,  Boston,  D 80    William  H.  Fuller,  Whately,  D.   80 

No.  5.  No.  10. 

John  G.  Whittier,  Amesbury,  R.  .  158     John  Wells,  Chicopee,  R 158 

S.  E.  Peabody,   Salem,  D 80     Abram  Paige,  Springfield,  D 80 

For  Governor,  John  A.  Andrew,  Boston,  R. ,  had       156  votes.    Elected. 
Hemy  W.  Paine,  Cambridge,  D.,  had    80      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Joel  Hayden,  Williamsburg,  R.,  had  156  votes. 
Thos.  F.  Plunkett,  Pittsfield,  D.,  had    80      " 

The  other  candidates  for  State  and  County  offices  had  the  same 
number  of  votes  with  the  above. 

For  Representative  to  Congress,  Eighth  District — John  D.  Baldwin,  Worces- 
ter, R,  had  155  votes;  Elected.     George  Hodges,  Oxford,  D.,  had  80  votes. 

For  Senator,  Worcester  South-east,  District — Dr.  Moses  D.  Southwick,  Black- 
stone,  had  155  votes.     James  H.  Barker,  Mill'ord,  had  80  votes. 

Dr.  Southwick  was  elected  in  the  District. 

For  lie  pre  sent)  dice  to  the  General  Court,  District  No.  20 — Micajah  Collins 
Gaskill,  Mendon,  R.,  had  147  votes.  Amariah  Taft,  Uxbridge,  D.,  had  87 
votes. 

M.  C.  Gaskill,  elected  in  the  District  (Mendon  and  Uxbridge),  by  15(5 
majority. 

Nov.  26.  The  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  confer  with  a 
committee  of  the  Second  School  District,  in  relation  to  the  re- 
pairs of  the  roof  of  the  Town  Hall,  made  a  report,  which  was 
laid  on  the  table,  and  Saml.  H.  Taft  and  Laban  Bates  were  added 
to  the  committee,  and 

Voted  that  the  committee  report  at  the  next  meeting. 


656  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1865. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  he  instructed  to  mend  or  repair  the 
roof  over  the  Town  Hall  and  school  house  as,  in  their  judgment, 
it  may  seem  to  require. 

Nov.  23.  On  motion  of  Samuel  H.  Taft,  it  was  voted  that 
the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  pay  bounties  to  volunteers  to  the 
number  of  twenty  men,  the  bounty  not  to  exceed  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars  a  man. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  directed  to  borrow 
a  sufficient  sum  (of  money)  in  addition  to  the  unexpended  por- 
tion of  the  appropriation  ($4000)  of  May  28,  1864,  to  carry  out 
the  preceding  vote. 


1865.  March  6.  Voted  to  pay  Mrs.  Marcia  Gassett,  wife  of 
Win.  G.  Gassett,  the  sum  of  one  dollar  per  week  from  the  time 
of  the  enlistment  of  her  son,  Alton  G.  Gassett,  until  the  time 
she  commenced  to  draw  pay  from  the  town. 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  John 
S.  Gaskill  and  William  H.  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Met- 
calf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable;  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Collector,  at  $60.00. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $550  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  the  payment  of  in- 
terest. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $5000  to  reduce  the  town  debt. 

Voted  that  the  highway  tax  be  assessed  by  itself,  to  be  paid  in 
labor,  at  the  same  prices  as  last  year. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  shall  appoint  a  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  and  Eev.  William  T.  Phelan  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  remaining  unpaid  after  the  10th  day 
of  August  of  the  present  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be 
added  thereto  until  paid. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  second  section  of  chapter  83  of  the  Gen- 
eral Statutes  relative  to  the  taking  of  Fish,  and 

Chose  Henry  W.  Wood,  Lewis  Wood  and  Aaron  C.  Cook  a 
committee  to  enforce  the  law. 


1865.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  657 

A  Draft  having  been  ordered,  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be 
authorized  to  pay  the  exjmises  of  getting  struck  from  the  en- 
rollment list  the  names  of  all  such  as,  in  their  judgment,  are 
unlit  for  military  service. 

March  25.  The  Board  of  the  School  Committee  having  re- 
signed, it  was  voted  the  committee  consist  of  three,  and  Gusta- 
vus  B.  Williams  was  chosen  for  three  years,  John  G.  Metcalf  for 
two  years,  and  Micajah  0.  Gaskill  for  one  year. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  to  make  arrangements 
for  celebrating  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Incor- 
poration of  the  Town. 

Chose  John  G.  Metcalf,  Nathan  George  and  Silas  Dudley  as 
the  committee. 

Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  not  to  permit  any  School  Dis- 
trict to  draw  from  the  Treasury  any  money  beyond  the  amount 
standing  to  its  credit  upon  the  books  of  said  Selectmen. 

April  1.  Voted  that  the  Provisions,  Arrangements  and  By- 
Laws  concerning  Habitual  Truants  and  Absentees  from  School, 
reported  by  the  School  Committee,  be  accepted. 

Pursuant  to  section  fourteen  of  chapter  eighteen  of  the  Gen- 
eral Statutes,  these  By-Laws  were  submitted  to  Judge  B.  F. 
Thomas,  the  Superior  Court  not  sitting,  and  by  him  were  re- 
turned ■without  Ms  approved. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  March  25,  relative  to  the 
disbursement  of  money  to  the  School  Districts. 

Voted  that  the  salary  of  Superintendent  of  Schools  be  $36.00 
for  the  past  year. 

Voted  to  abolish  the  present  Highway  Districts  (five  in  num- 
ber) and  re-establish  the  former  thirteen  Highway  Districts,  as 
they  were  formerly  bounded. 

Voted  that  all  highway  taxes  not  paid  by  labor  or  money,  shall 
be  assessed  in  money,  and,  when  collected,  be  expended  for  re- 
pairs in  the  District  in  which  it  was  originally  assessed. 

Taxes  were  foregone  to  the  amount  of  $16.99. 

April  22.  Alexander  H.  Allen  and  Silas  Dudley  were  chosen 
Agents  to  oppose  the  laying  out  of  a  road  as  prayed  for  by  Joseph 
Cummings  and  others. 

Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  do  not  loan  any  books  of  the  Town 
for  a  longer  period  than  twenty-four  hours. 

83 


658  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1865. 

Voted  to  reject  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen  at  a  former 
meeting  to  confer  with  a  committee  of  the  Second  School  Dis- 
trict relative  to  the  repairs  of  the  roof  of  the  Town  Hall. 

The  warrant  for  this  meeting  having  been  issued  two  days 
before  the  ASSASSINATION  of  President  Lincoln,  Dr.  John 
Gr.  Metcalf,  by  unanimous  consent,  offered  the  following  reso- 
lutions, which  were  unanimously  adopted  and  ordered  to  be 
entered  on  the  Town  Eecords: 

Whereas,  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  beloved,  honored,  and  faithful  President 
of  the  United  States,  while  in  the  discharge  of  his  constitutional  duties,  has 
fallen  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin;  therefore,  we,  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Mendon  in  public  town  meeting  assembled,  desiring  to  place  upon 
permanent  record  our  condemnation  of  the  horrible  crime  which  has  filled 
the  whole  land  with  the  voice  of  lamentation  and  mourning,  do  hereby 
adopt  the  following  Resolutions: 

1.  Resolved  that  Slavery  is  justly  chargeable  with  the  inauguration  and 
continuance  of  the  present  most  wicked  and  inexcusable  rebellion,  that  has 
brought  desolation  to  every  household  in  the  land,  and  to  which  no  dark 
page  in  the  annals  of  history  can  furnish  a  parallel  to  its  crimes  and 
enormities. 

2.  Resolved  that  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln  and  the  attempted 
murder  of  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State,  is  but  the  natural  out- 
growth— the  legitimate  and  logical  sequence  of  that  covert  treason,  in  the 
loyal  States,  which  has  been  allowed  to  arraign  every  effort  of  the  Govern- 
ment to  put  down  the  rebellion,  as  unconstitutional  and  wicked  and  to 
denounce  its  chief  executive  magistrate  as  a  tyrant. 

3.  Resolved  that,  as  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  by  God's  blessing, 
have  overthrown  the  Rebellion  in  the  conflict  of  arms,  to  which  it  was 
challenged  by  traitors,  we  confidently  trust  that  no  act  of  the  civil  govern- 
ment, in  any  possible  contingency,  will  recognize  the  rebel  as  a  party  to  be 
consulted  in  the  reinstatement  of  its  authority  over  the  rebel  States. 

4.  Resolved  that  the  demands  of  impartial  justice  to  the  living  and  to 
posterity ;  the  memory  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  that  noble  company  of 
martyrs  who  have  freely  offered  up  their  lives  upon  the  altar  of  patriotism, 
that  we  might  enjoy  the  blessings  of  free  government,  require  that  traitors 
should  not  be  allowed  to  escape  that  condign  and  certain  punishment  justly 
due  to  the  enormity  of  their  crimes. 

5.  Resolved  that  every  pardoned  rebel  will  owe  his  enjoyment  and  exer- 
cise of  any  future  political  rights,  not  to  any  claim,  either  in  law  or  equity, 
which  may  be  set  up  in  his  behalf,  but  wholly  to  the  clemency  of  the  gov- 
ernment and  the  humane  spirit  of  the  loyal  people. 

6.  Resolved  that  though  the  President  dies  the  Republic  still  lives;  and 
as  Andrew  Johnson  has  become  its  constitutional  representative,  having 
full  faith  in  his  unimpeachable  loyalty,  in  his  undoubted  integrity  and  his 


1865.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  659 

acknowledged  firmness  of  purpose — praying  he  may  be  imbued,  in  full 
measure,  with  the  practical  wisdom  of  his  thrice  honored  and  immediate 
predecessor,  and  that  God  will  support  and  protect  him  in  the  discharge  of 
all  duty,  we  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  stand  by  and  sustain  his  adminis- 
tration as  becomes  an  intelligent  and  loyal  people. 

May  30.  Voted  that  the  town  do  raise  and  appropriate  such 
sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  to  pay  and  refund  any  money 
which  lias  already  been  paid  and  applied  by  this  town,  or  con- 
tributed by  individuals,  in  aid  of  and  for  the  purpose  of  filling 
its  quotas  or  furnishing  men  for  the  present  war  under  any 
requisition,  order  or  call  of  the  President  or  War  Department  of 
the  United  States  during  the  year  1864. 

The  vote  having  been  taken  by  a  show  of  hands,  it  was  de- 
clared, by  the  Moderator,  that  there  were  eighty-four  in  the 
affirmative  and  eighty-four  in  the  negative. 

It  was  then  ordered  by  the  Moderator  (Nathan  George)  that 
the  vote  be  taken  by  written  ballots,  yea  and  nay,  and  it  was 
found  that  there  were  eighty-six  in  the  affirmative  and  eighty- 
four  in  the  negative. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  two  thou- 
sand dollars  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  to  exceed  seven  and  three- 
tenths  per  centum  per  annum. 

August  7.     Voted  to  rescind  the  above  votes,  passed  May  30, 
1865,  and  the  vote  was  taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  as  follows,  viz: 
Yeas  110.  Nays  76. 

Xov.  7.     Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $31.01. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Alex.  H.  Bullock,  Worcester,  R,  had  73  votes.    Elected, 
do  Maj.  Gen.  Darius  W.  Couch,  Taun- 

ton, D.,  had  34      " 

For  Lt  Governor,  William  Claflin,  Newton,  R.,  had        73      " 
do  Thos.  F.  Plunket,  Pittsfield,  D.,  had  34      " 

Candidates  for  other  State  and  County  offices  had  the  same 
number  of  ballots. 

For  Senator,  Worcester  South-east  District — Dr.  Moses  D.  Southwick, 
Blackstone,  R,  had  72  votes;  (elected).  James  H.  Barker,  Milford,  D., 
had  35  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  XXth  Worcester  District — Rev. 
Rushton  D.  Burr,  Uxbridge,  R.,  had  67  votes.  Samuel  Gaskill,  Meriden, 
D.,  had  37  votes.     Mr.  Burr  elected  by  95  majority. 


660 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1865. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   SOCIETY. 

,  Oct.  30.  At  a  meeting  in  the  Town  Hall,  under  a  warrant 
issued  by  Nathan  George,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  the  Society 
was  organized  by  the  election  of  the  following  officers,  viz: 

Nathan  R.  George,  President.  David  W.  Bennett,  Vice  President. 

Royal  Peters,  Secretary.  Royal  Peters,  Treasurer. 

MENDON    IN    THE    EEBELLION. 

The  flight  of  Jeff.  Davis  from  Richmond,  April  2,  and  the 
surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomatox  Court  House,  on  the  11th,  vir- 
tually brought  the  war  to  an  end.  In  the  following  pages  I 
propose  to  give  some  account  of  the  men  who  filled  the  various 
quotas  of  the  town  during  the  Rebellion. 

The  following  is  a  complete  roster  of  the  names  whose  resi- 
dence was  credited  to  Mendon  in  the  "Record  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Volunteers,"  published  by  the  authority  of  the  General 
Court,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Adjutant  General  of  the 
State. 

In  the  first  column  will  be  found  the  page  in  the  "  Rebellion 
Record"  (in  the  Town  Clerk's  office.)  where  the  date  of  the 
enlistment,  &c,  &c,  may  be  found,  and  in  the  second  the  page 
in  "the  Record  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteers,"  where  the 
name  may  be  found  with  the  corps  to  which  the  party  belonged, 
&c,  &c. 

They  are  put  down  in  alphabetical  order  as  a  matter  of  con- 
venience in  referring  to  the  various  facts  connected  with  their 
service  in  the  army. 


Adams,  Elias  A 38  370.1 

Aldrich,  Addison 46  140.1 

Albee,  Chas.  H 48  151.1 

Anthony,  Moses  H ....  46  774. 1 

Barrows,  Lewis  H 50  516,1 

Barrows,  William  E..50  576.1 

Barrus,  Charles 32  680. 2 

Bates,  Henry 24  185.2 

Bathrick,  Alanson. .  .  .26  452.2 

Bennett,  Herbert  A ...  28  472, 2 

Bent, Ferdinand  A.  des.80  166. 1 

Blaisdell,  Geo.  E 56  430.2 

Bolster,  Geo.  W 56  224.2 

Brown,  Francis  A.  . .  .50  151.1 

Burns,  James 46  474.2 

Byrnes,  Martin 38  370. 1 

Barnes,  John 58  961.2 


Brown,  David.     (Navy.) 

Channell,  Moses  J. . .  56  678. 1 

Chase,  Augustus.     (Navy.) 

Cole,  Freeman 34  377.2 

Cole,  William  D 34  430  2 

Cole,  Edwin  L 34  430.2 

Coleman,  Horace  U.  .  .36  370.1 

Congdon,  Moses  C ....  38  370. 1 

Cook,  Lowell  C 22  2d  R.  I. 

Cook,  Alderman  C...  28  474.2 

Cook,  Albert 30  474.2 

Cook,  Lyman 34  430.2 

Cook,  OrrinC 42  260.1 

Cook,  Marcus  M 50  596. 1 

Corey,  Pardon  H 52  529.1 

Cosgrove,  William ...  .26  735. 1 

Crosby,  Bernard 58  604. 1 


1865.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


661 


Cross,  John 32  474.2 

Cummings,  Walter  C . .  50  151.1 

Curley,  John 38  370.1 

Davenport,  Daniel  D.  .28  474.2 

Despeanx,  Orrin  T. . .  .50  151.1 

Do^o-ett,  Lawrence  B.26  408.2 

Doggett,  Philetns  W . .  38  370. 1 

Drake,  Ariel  B 32  720.2 

Dinegan,  Daniel 60  594. 1 

Dodge,  Lewis  P 60  610.1 

Donahue,  John 60  416. 1 

Ellis,  Joseph  M 28  474.2 

Everton,    Samuel 44  535.1 

Fales,  Francis  H 54  593. 1 

Farrar,  Thomas 26  475.2 

Fernald,  Stephen  L. .  .38  370.1 

Fletcher,  Royal  H ....  50  151.1 

Forbes,  James  M 32  3d  R.  I. 

Ford,  Georoe  R 48  140. 1 

Freeman,   Franklin . .  .38  370. 1 

Gaskill,  Leonard  T.  ..30  474.2 

Gaskill,  Edwin  C 30  475.2 

Gassett,  Alton  G 36  765. 2 

Grady,  Michael 38  370.1 

Gurley.  Jacob  B 42  261.1 

Harrington,  Daniel... 24  409.2 

Harrington,  Alonzo. .  .46  140.1 

Hall,  Samuel 26  477.2 

Hastings,  C.  C.  P 48  140.1 

Hastings,  William  S..48  140.1 

Hazard,  Rufus 44  749.1 

Henry,  Edward 52  596.1 

Hill,  "Davis  52  596.1 

Howard,  Whitman ... 52  964. 2 

Howe,  Martin  S 32  3d  R.  I. 

Huntress,  John 22  42  2 

Inman,   Dexter 44  524  1 

Jacobs,  H.  F. ,  deserted.  34  387. 2 

Kolb,  Christian   52  551.1 

Leland,  Edward  J. . .  .36  765.2 

Looby,  M. ,  deserted ...  32  667. 1 

Lovewell,  Baron   P... 24  408.2 

Lowell,  Lucius 36  764  2 

Ludy,  Simon 24  40th  K  Y. 

Ludy,  Timothy 40  371.1 

Livermore,  William... 60  582.1 

Mallon,  John  E. 

Mclntyre,  Orlando.  . .  .22  215.2 

McKiiiney,  Michael.  ..46  908.2 

McGaw ,  Bern'rd .  (Garr)  52  537. 1 

McKenney,   Edward     54  581.1 

McSheney,  Bernard  ..56  473.2 

Moore,  Peter 44  371.1 

Moor,  J.  F. ,  deserted . .  32  231 . 2 

Moor,  J.  G,        "        ..30  221.4 

Moore  Henry 60    U.S.H.A. 

Newhall,  James  M. . .  .32  3d  R.  I. 

Nichols,  Stephen  D. .  .36  431.2 


O'Keefe,  Cornelius. .  ..36  329.2 

Pay  son ,  George  H ....  50  151.1 

Pickering,  Juba  F.  . .  .24  387.2 

Remiek,  Augustus. . .  .44  261.1 

Remick,  Henry  A. . .  .42  261.1 

Rockwood,  John  B...30  475.2 

Ryan,  James 40  371.1 

Rawson,  William  H . .  .58  964.2 

Saunders,  John  P 36  497. 2 

Sawyer,  Thomas  H.  .  .42  236.1 

Scisco,  Stephen  H. . .  .44  859.2 

Scisco,  George  W 46  775.-1 

Seymour,  James 54  603.1 

Shaw,  Burrows 58  1072.2 

Sheridan,  Patrick 52  371 . 1 

Sidney,  Alexander. ..  .58  1011.2 

Shore,  G.  O.,  deserted. 56  224.2 

Sloan,  Peter  S 54  581.1 

Spear,  Seth 60  3d  R.  I. 

Spencer,  Charles  H..  26  475.2 
Smith,  Caleb  V.  A... 24 

Smith,  Lewis  W 28  475.2 

Smith,  Benj.  H 34  431.2 

Smith,  Eugene 40  371.1 

Smith,  Stephen  W. . .  .56  222.2 

Staples,  Edward  L. . .  .40  371.1 

Staples,  Gust.  A.,  Reg. 58  431.2 

Steere,  Charles  L 40  371. 1 

Suba,  Stephen 58  1074.2 

Taft,  Rufus 32  3d  R.  I. 

Taft,  Waterman 36  370. 1 

Taft,  JohnH 40  371.1 

Taft,  General  P 40  371.1 

Taft,  Frank 48  141.1 

Taft,  Anthon  C 52    '        129.1 

Taft,  Arnold  A 54  605. 1 

Tenor,  Columbus 58  1074. 2 

Thayer,  Otis  E 42  261.1 

Thurber,  David  S 22  190.2 

Tourtelotte,  Benj.  H.  .54  605.1 

Tucker,  George  P. . .  .44  367.1 

Underwood,  Daniel  P. 42  371.1 

Underwood,  Fisher  E .  36  43. 2 

Wakefield,  Clark 54  595  1 

Walden,  Charles  H ...  42  371 . 1 

Walden,  Charles  H...48  150.1 

Wallace,  Patrick  ....30  487.2 

Wallace,Pat'k,(Wallis)34  487.2 

Weatherhead,  Abel... 24  409.2 

Weatherhead,  Frank  B.48  141.1 

Wheelock,  Charles  H.22  215.2 

Wheelock,  Edwin  M.  .28  475.2 

Wheelock,  Nathan.  ...28  475.2 

Wheelock,  Henry  M . .  26  409. 1 

Wheelock,  Lorenzo  S.56  222.2 

Wilber,  George 42  371.1 

Wilber,  George 24  Rej. 

Wilcox,  Franklin 22  40.2 


662  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1865. 

Wilcox,  George  W. .  .22       2d  R.  I.     Winters,  G.  F., (Navy). 74 

Williams,  John 54  785.1     Wood,  Joseph  M 22       2d  R.  I. 

Wilson,  James 34  419.2    Walker,  Emory, Navy. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  reported  in  the  "Record  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteers  "  as  having  re-enlisted :  John  Huntress,  probably 
in  R.  I. ;  Orlando  Mclntyre,  20th  Reg.  Mass.  Vols, ;  John  P.  Saunders, 
credited  to  Milf ord ;  Thomas  Farrar,  25  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  Chas.  H.  Spencer, 
25  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  Edwin  M.  Wheelock,  25  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  Nathan 
Wheelock,  25  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  Joseph  M.  Ellis,  in  R.  I. ;  John  B.  Rock- 
wood,  credited  to  Milford;  James  M.  Forbes,  U.  S.  Army;  Robert  Wallace, 
25  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  William  D.  Cole,  23  Reg.  Mass.  Vols  ;  Edwin  L.  Cole, 
23  Reg  Mass.  Vols. ;  Benj.  H.  Smith,  23  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  Elias  A.  Adams, 
19th  Unat.  Co.  Inf. ;  Martin  Byrnes,  Co.  B.  2d  Reg.  H.  Art  ;  John  Curley, 
57th  Reg.  Mass.  Vols. ;  George  H.  Payson,  19th  Unat.  Co.  Inf. ;  John  H. 
Taft,  Co.  E.,  4th  Reg.  H.  Art.;  Charles  H.  Walden,  19th  Unat.  Co.  Inf.; 
Henry  A.  Remick,  Patrick  Sheridan,  credited  to  R.  I. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  were  born  in  Men- 
don  or  were  resident  there  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion, 
credited  to  other  towns,  enlisted  out  of  the  State,  or  rejected 
after  enlistment  here: 

Franklin  B.  Wilcox,  credited  to  Westminster;  David  S.  Thurber,  credited 
to  Boston;  Henry  Bates,  John  F.  Moor,  James  C.  Moor,  Milford;  George 
W.  Wilcox,  Lowell  C.  Cook,  Joseph  M.  Wood,  2d  Reg.  R.  I.  Vols. ;  Simon 
Ludy,  40th  Reg.  N.  Y.  Vols. ;  Caleb  V.  A.  Smith,  James  M.  Forbes,  Rufus 
Taft,  Martin  S.  Howe,  James  M.  Newhall,  3d  R.  I.  Art, ;  Henry  Moore, 
11th  U  S.  H.  Art. ;  Seth  Spear,  3d  R.  I.  Art,;  Gustavus  A.  Staples,  re- 
jected; George  Wilbur,  rejected. 

The  following  are  the  military  organizations  among  which  the 
aggregate  of  Mendon  soldiers  were  distributed: 

Second  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — John  Huntress,  Fisher  E.  Under- 
wood, Co.  E. ;  Franklin  B.  Wilcox,  Co.  D,  to  Westminster. 

Thirteenth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — David  S.  Thurber,  Co.  D.,  to 
Boston;  Henry  Bates,  Co.  B.,  to  Milford. 

Fifteenth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — George  W.  Bolster,  Co.  K;  Or- 
lando Mclntyre,  Co.  E;  John  F.  Moor,  James  C.  Moor,  Co.  H;  George  O. 
Shore,  K;  Stephen  W.  Smith,  Co.  H;  Charles  H.  Wheelock,  Co.  E;  Loren- 
zo S.  Wheelock,  Co.  H. 

Nineteenth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — John  E.  Mallon,  Co.  G. ;  Cor- 
nelius O'Keefe,  unattached  recruit. 

Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Infantry,  %  years — Freeman  Cole,  Co.  A;  Henry 
F.  Jacobs,  Juba  F.  Pickering,  Co.  G. 

Ttpenty-second  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — Lawrence  B.  Doggett,  Daniel 
Harrington,  Baron  P.  Lovewell,  Abel  Weatherhead,  Henry  M.  Wheelock, 
Co.  G;  James  Wilson,  unattached  recruit. 


1865.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  663 

Twenty-third  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years— George  E.  Blaisdell,  Lyman 
Cook,  William  D.  Cole,  Edwin  L.  Cole,  Stephen  D.  Nichols,  Benjamin  H. 
Smith— Co.  E. 

Twenty-fourth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  '6  years — Alanson  Bathrick — Co.  D. 

Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — Herbert  A.  Bennett,  James 
Burns,  Alderman  C.  Cook,  John  Cross,  Albert  Cook,  Daniel  D.  Daven- 
port, Joseph  M.  Ellis,  Thomas  Farrar,  Leonard  T.  Gaskill,  Edwin  C.  Gas- 
kill,  Samuel  Hall — Co.  B.  Bernard  McSherrey,  Co.  A.  John  B.  Rock- 
wood,  Lewis  W.  Smith,  Charles  H.  Spencer,  Patrick  Wallace,  Robert 
Wallace,  Edwin  M.  Wheelock,  Nathan  Wheelock— Co.  B. 

Twenty-sixth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — John  P.  Saunders.     Band. 

Thirty-second  Regiment  of  Infantry — Charles  Barrus — Co.  B. 

Thirty-fourth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — Ariel  B.  Drake — Co.  C. 

'ihirty-sixth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — Alton  G.  Gassett,  Edward  J. 
Leland,  Lucius  Lowell — Co.  F. 

Forty-second  Regiment  of  Infantry,  9  months — Thomas  B.  Sawyer — Co.  B. 

Forty-third  Regiment  of  Infantry,  9  months — Orrin  C.  Cook,  Jacob  B.  Gur- 
ley,  Augustus  Remick,  Henry  E.  Remick,  Otis  E.  Thayer — Co.  K. 

Fifty-first  Regiment  of  Infantry ,  9  months — Elias  A.  Adams,  Martin  Byrnes, 
Horace  U.  Coleman,  Lieut.,  Moses  C.  Congdon,  John  Curley,  Philetus  W. 
Doggett,  Stephen  L.  Fernald,  Franklin  Freeman,  Michael  Grady,  Timothy 
Ludy,  Peter  Moore,  George  H.  Payson,  James  Ryan,  Patrick  Sheridan, 
Eugene  Smith,  Edward  L.  Staples,  Charles  L.  Steere,  Waterman  Taft,  John 
H.  Taft,  General  P,  Taft— Co.  K;  George  P.  Tucker— Co.  G;  Daniel  P. 
Underwood,  Charles  H.  Walden,  George  Wilber — Co.  K. 

Fifty-fourth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — Stephen  H.  Scisco — Co.  G. 

Fifty-seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry,  3  years — John  Curley,  Co.  D;  Michael 
McHenry,  Co.  C. 

Sixtieth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  100  (htys — Anthon  C.  Taft,  Co.  G. 

Sixty-first  Regiment  of  Infantry,  1  year — James  Barnes,  Co.  H;  Whitman 
Howard,  William  H.  Rawson — Co.  K. 

Nineteenth  Unattached  Co.  of  Infantry,  100  day* — Alonzo  Harrington,  Ad- 
dison Aldrich,  Frank  Taft,  George  R.  Ford,  Charles  C.  P.  Hastings, 
William  S.  Hastings,  Frank  B.  Weatherhead. 

Nineteenth  Unattached  Co.  of  Infantry,  1  year — Charles  H.  Walden,  Elias 
A.  Adams,  Charles  H.  Albee,  Francis  A.  Brown,  Walter  C.  Cummings, 
Orrin  T.  Despeaux,  Royal  H.  Fletcher,  George  H.  Payson. 

Second  Regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery,  3  years — Martin  Byrnes,  Co.  B ;  Par- 
don H.  Cory,  Co.  E;  Samuel  Everton,  Co.  G;  Dexter  Inman,  Co.  C;  Chris- 
tian Kolb,  Co.  M;  Bernard  McGaw,  Co.  G. 

Third  Regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery,  3  years — Edward  McKinney,  Co.  L; 
William  Livermore,  Co.  M;  Peter  S.  Sloan,  Co.  L. 

Fourth  Regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery,  1  year — Lewis  H.  Barrows,  William 
E.  Barrows,  Marcus  M.  Cook,  Edward  Henry,  Davis  Hill — Co.  F.  Francis 
H.  Fales,  Daniel  Dinegan,  Clark  Wakefield — Co.  E.  Bernard  Crosby, 
James  Seymour,  Benjamin  H.  Tourtellotte,  Arnold  A.  Taft — Co.  K. 


664  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1865. 

Fifth  Regiment  of  Heavy  Artillery,  U.  S.  Army — Barrows  Shaw,  U.  S.  col- 
ored troops;  Stephen  Suba,  U.  S.  colored  troops. 

First  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  3  years — Michael  Looby,  unattached  recruit. 

Second  Regiment  of  Cavalry  3  years — Moses  J.  Channel,  Co.  B. 

Third  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  3  years— "William  Cosgrov'e,  J.  Tyler  Read's 
Co. ;  Columbus  Tenor,  U.  S.  colored  troops. 

Fourth  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  3  years — Rufus  Hazard,  Co  E. 

Fifth  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  3  years— George  W.  Scisco,  Moses  H.  Anthony, 
Co.  E;  John  Williams,  Co.  M. 

Eighth  Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  6  months — Ferdinand  A.  Bent. 

Veteran  Reserve  Corps — Alexander  Sidney. 

Second  Regiment  of  Infantry  R.  I.  Volunteers,  3  years— George  W.  Wilcox, 
Lowell  C.  Cook.  Joseph  M.  Wood— Co.  I. 

Ihird  Regiment  of  Artillery,  R.  I.  Volunteers — John  M.  Forbes,  James  M. 
Newhall— Co.  D.     Martin  S  Howe,  Rufus  Taft,  Seth  Spear— Co.  M. 

Fortieth  Regiment,  of  Infantry,  JY.  Y.  Volunteers — Simon  Ludy,  Co.  A. 

Eleventh  Regiment  Colored  Heavy  Artillery,  U.  S. — Henry  Moore,  Co.  D. 

Bounties  were  paid  to  the  volunteers  for  the  different  quotas 
by  the  town,  State  and  the  United  States,  as  follows: 

Town. 

Thomas  Farrar 

Charles  H.  Spencer 

Edwin  M.  Wheelock 

Nathan  Wheelock 

Edwin  C.  Gaskill 

John  B.  Rockwood 

Michael  Looby f  150  00 

Ariel  B.  Drake l.r>0  00 

John  Cross 150  00 

Robert  Wallace  150  00 

Freeman  Cole 150  00 

Henry  F.  Jacobs 150  00 

Lyman  Cook 150  00 

William  D.  Cole 150  00 

Edwin  L.  Cole 150  00 

James  Wilson 150  00 

Benjamin  H.  Smith 150  00 

Stephen  D.  Nichols 150  00 

Cornelius  O'Keefe 150  00 

Fisher  E  Underwood 150  00 

Alton  G.  Gassett 150  00 

Lucius  Lowell, 150  00 

Edward  J.  Leland 150  00 

Horace  U.  Coleman 200  00 

Waterman  Taft 200  00 

Elias  A.  Adams 200  00 

Martin  Byrnes 200  00 

John  Curley 200  00 

Moses  C.  Cono-don 200  00 


State 

aiid  U.  S. 

$325  00 

325  00 

407 

32 

407 

99 

325 

no 

395 

33 

243 

32 

325 

00 

325 

(10 

325  00 

242 

00 

50  00 

325 

00 

1865.]                             ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  665 

State 

Town.  and  U.  S. 

Stephen  L.  Fernald $200  00  

Franklin  Freeman. 200  00  

Michael  Grady 200  00  

Timothy  Ludy 200  00  

George  H.  Pavson 200  00  242  00            

James  Ryan.: 200  00  

Eugene  Smith 200  00  

Edward  L.  Staples 200  00  

Charles  L.  Steere 200  00  

John  H.  Taft 200  00  197  99            

General  Putnam  Taft 200  00  

David  P.  Underwood 200  00  

George  Wilber 200  00 

Charles  H.  Waldron, 200  00  242  00            

Thomas  H.  Sawyer 200  00  

Orrin  C.Cook 200  00  

Jacob  B.  Gurley 200  00  

Otis  E  Thayer 200  00  

Henry  E.  Remick 200  00  

Augustus  Remick 200  00  

George  P.  Tucker 200  00  

Peter  Moore 200  00  

Stephen  H.  Scisco 325  00            

Samuel.  Everton 325  00            

Dexter  Inman 50  00            

Rufus  Hazard 325  00            

George  W.  Scisco 325  00            

Moses  H.  Anthony 325  00               

Michael  McKenney 325  00            

James  Burns 325  00             

Alonzo  Harrington 65  32             

Addison  Aldrich 65  32             

Frank  Taft 65  32             

George  R.  Ford 65  32            

Charles  C.  P.  Hastings 65  32             

William  S.  Hastings 65  32            

Frank  B.  "Weather-head 65  32            

Chas.  H.  Albee 100  00  142  00            

Francis  A.  Brown 100  00  142  00             

Walter  C.  Cummings 100  00  142  00             

Orrin  T.  Despeaux 100  00  142  00             

Royal  H.  Fletcher 100  00  142  00            

Lewis  H.  Barrows 325  00  197  99 

William  E.  Barrows 325  00  197  99 

Edward  Henry 325  00  100  00 

Marcus  M.  Cook 325  00  199  99 

Davis  Hill 325  00  179  99 

Pardon  IL  Corey 400  00  199  33 

Christian  Koll 325  00  100  00 

Whitman  Howard 200  00  89  33 

Anthon  C.  Taft ' 80  00 

Edward  McKenney 325  00 

Peter  S.  Sloan 325  00 

Francis  H.  Fales 300  00  200  66 

Clark  Wakefield : 325  00  240  00 

84 


m> 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1865. 


State 

Town.  and  U.  S. 

James  Seymour  $325  00 

Benj.  H.  Tourtelotte 325  00 

John  Williams 300  00 

Arnold  A.  Tcift 225  00 

Bernard  McSheney 125  00 

Moses  J.  Channell 190  00 

John  E.  Mallon 125  00 

Bernard  Crosby  325  00 

Columbus  Tenor 

Burrows  Shaw 

Stephen  Suba 

John  Barnes 100  00 

William  H.  Rawson 200  00 

Alexander  Sidney 240  00 

William  Livermore 325  00 

Daniel  Dinnegan 325  00 

Henry  Moore 

Lewis  P.  Dodge 325  00 

David  Brown 240  00 

George  F.  Winters 240  00 

Lowell  C.  Cook 125  00 

Joseph  Simpson  (paid  by  town) 125  00 

Elijah  Ward,  "      "      "     '. 125  00 

Amount  of  bounties  paid 

"        reimbursed  by  the  State,  Dec.  3,  1863 


$191)  99 
199  99 
182  00 
199  99 
325  00 

107  33 
325  00 
199  99 
325  00 
325  00 
325  00 
100  00 

108  66 
325  00 
201  99 
201  33 
300  00 


$30,425  76 

4,700  00 

$25,725  76 

In  the  preceding  statement  I  am  not  certain  that  I  have,  in 
all  cases,  credited  the  bounties  to  the  proper  source.  Schouler, 
in  his  "  Massachusetts  in  the  War,"  puts  down  Mendon  as  pay- 
ing bounties  to  the  amount  of  $19,675.  The  full  amount  of 
bounties  paid  to  the  different  quotas  for  Mendon,  as  found  in 
the  "  Kecord  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteers,"  is  $30,425.70. 
Of  this  sum  it  is  found  that  Mendon  paid  $21,145.70.  Of  this 
sum  the  State,  Dec.  9,  1803,  reimbursed  $4,700.00,  and  $300.00 
were  returned  by  recruiting  agents,  thus  leaving  the  sum  of 
$16,085.76  paid  by  the  town.  Of  this  sum  the  town,  in  its 
corporate  capacity,  paid  $13,575.00,  leaving  the  amount  of 
$2,510.76  to  be  accounted  for  some  other  way.  This  sum  was 
raised  by  the  voluntary  and  patriotic  subscriptions  of  its  citizens; 
but  as  the  town  refused  to  avail  itself  of  the  law  allowing  its 
reimbursement  to  the  subscribers,  the  exact  amount  of  the  con- 
tribution paid  by  each  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  The  data  for 
this  statement  were  gathered  from  the  Town  Eecords,  the  "  Ke- 
cord of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteers,"  and  the  "Rebellion 
Record,"  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 


1865.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  667 

THE  ROLL  OF  THE  MARTYRS. 

1.  Franklin  B.  Wilcox,  the  son  of  Willard  Wilcox,  and 
brother  of  George  W.  Wilcox,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain,  Va.,  August  9,  1862.     The  body  not  recovered. 

2.  George  W.  Wilcox  was  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Va.,  and 
escaped  unhurt,  but  was  killed  March  12,  1862,  by  the  accidental 
explosion  of  a  shell,  while  in  camp  at  Prospect  Hill,  Va.  Body 
brought  home  and  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Blackstone  (East). 

3.  Charles  H.  Wheelock,  son  of  Calvin  and  Mary  Ann  Whec- 
lock,  was  in  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  and  saved  himself  by  swim- 
ming to  Harrison  Island.  Afterwards  killed  at  Antietam,  Md., 
Sept.  17,  1862.  m  The  body  not  recovered. 

4.  David  S.  Thurber,  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  Thurber, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Sept.  17,  1862.  The  body 
brought  home  and  buried  at  South  Milford.  Removed  to  Ne- 
cropolis, Mendon. 

5.  Juba  F.  Pickering  enlisted  from  Blackstone  in  the  Mendon 
quota,  and  was  killed  at  Camden,  N.  C,  (near  Elizabeth  City,) 
April  19,  1862.     Body  not  recovered. 

6.  Lawrence  B.  Doggett  was  missing  at  the  passage  of  the 
Rapidan,  just  before  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Va. ;  taken 
prisoner,  carried  to  the  "Slaughter  Pen,"  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 
where  he  died  Aug.  13,  186-1,  of  chronic  diarrhoea.  The  num- 
ber of  his  grave  is  5,501. 

7.  Alanson  E.  Bath  rick,  supposed  to  be  a  native  of  Westboro', 
but  had  resided  in  Mendon  many  years.  He  died  in  the  Hos- 
pital at  Newbern,  N.  C,  May  18,  1862.     Body  not  recovered. 

8.  William  Cosgrove  was  the  son  of  John  and  Catharine  Cos- 
grove,  and  was  born  in  Ireland.  He  died  of  fever  at  Carrollton, 
La.,  Sept.  9,  1862.     Body  not  recovered. 

9.  Samuel  Hall  was  mortally  wounded  while  storming  a  fort 
on  Roanoke  Island,  N.  C,  March  5,  1852.     Body  not  recovered. 

10.  Albert  Cook  was  the  son  of  Lyman  Cook,  who  lived  in  the 
east  part  of  Mendon.  Was  mortally  wounded  May  9,  1864,  in 
an  attack  upon  the  Petersburg  and  Richmond  Railroad,  and 
died  the  next  day.  May  10,  1864,  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.  Body  net 
recovered. 


668  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1865. 

11  John  B.  RoeTcwood,  son  of  Samuel  and Rockwood. 

Died  in  the  hospital  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  Nov.  24,  1863. 

12.  Patrick  Wallace  was  born  in  Ireland.  While  relieving  a 
picket  in  the  night,  got  lost  and  went  beyond  the  picket  line, 
and  finally  approached  the  picket  he  was  to  relieve  from  the 
direction  of  the  rebels.  When  challenged,  in  his  confusion,  he 
was  not  able  to  give  the  countersign,  was  fired  upon  by  the 
sentry,  and  was  mortally  wounded.  He  died  at  Newbern,  N. 
C,  Oct.  24,  1862.     Body  not  recovered. 

13.  Martin  S.  Howe,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Howe.  He 
died  of  quick  consumption  at  Morris  Island,  Nov.  23,  1863. 
Body  not  recovered. 

14.  Robert  Wallace,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  was  brother 
of  Patrick  Wallace  (ante).  Was  mortally  wounded  in  a  skirmish 
near  Petersburg,  Va.,  May  6,  1864,  and  died  May  8,  1864.  Body 
not  recovered. 

15.  Samuel  Everton,  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  N.  C, 
carried  to  Andersonville,  and  there  died  in  August,  1864.  Body 
not  recovered. 

16.  Benjamin  H.  Smith,  was  taken  prisoner  at  Drury's  Bluff, 
Va.,  May  16,  1864,  and  carried  to  Andersonville,  Ga.  He  died 
on  an  open  car,  in  the  night,  near  Groldsborough,  N.  C,  on  his 
return  to  be  exchanged.  During  the  night  on  which  he  died  he 
gave  a  diary,  which  he  had  kept  during  his  imprisonment,  to  a 
fellow  prisoner,  with  a  request  that  he  should  endeavour  to 
place  it  in  the  hands  of  some  Massachusetts  soldier.  As  the 
train  stopped  for  a  moment  at  Annapolis  Junction,  Md.,  the 
diary  was  given  to  William  D.  Cole,  a  member  of  the  same  com- 
pany and  a  neighbor  of  Smith,  and  by  him  was  transmitted  to 
Mrs.  Smith.  This  was  sometime  in  the  spring  of  1865,  and  was 
the  first  tidings  that  had  been  received  from  Smith  since  he  was 
taken  prisoner,  May  16,  1864.  The  Commissioner  of  Pensions, 
not  being  satisfied  with  the  proof  of  the  death  of  Smith,  upon 
her  petition,  the  name  of  Nancy  Smith,  his  widow,  was  put 
upon  the  pension  roll  by  a  special  act  of  Congress.  Body  not 
recovered. 

17.  Franklin  Freeman  was  the  son  of  Alanson  S.  and  Caro- 
line Freeman.     He  was  drowned  while  bathing,  at  Newbern,  N. 


1865.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  669 

0.,  June  15, 18G3.     The  body  was  recovered  and  buried  at  Albee- 
ville. 

18.  James  Burns.  Died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  battle,  June  19,  1864.  Body  not  recovered.  Born  in 
County  Clare,  Ireland,  Dec.  14,  1845. 

19.  Anthon  C.  Taft  was  the  son  of  Putman  W.  and  Hannah 
Taft.  He  was  mustered  into  service  Aug.  1,  1864,  in  the  60th 
Regiment  for  one  hundred  days,  and  died  Nov.  19,  1864,  of 
typhoid  fever,  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.  He  held  the  warrant  of  a 
corporal.     Body  recovered  and  buried  in  Mendon. 

Rev.  Nahor  Augustus  Staples,  although  not  serving  in  the 
quota  of  Mendon,  in  the  war,  was  a  native  of  the  town,  and  de- 
serves a  place  on  the  roll  of  those  who  gave  up  their  lives  for 
the  salvation  of  their  country. 

He  was  the  son  of  Jason  and  Phila  (Taft)  Staples,  and  was 
born  in  Mendon  Aug.  24,  1830.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant 
from  Sergt.  Abraham  Staples,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
town.  After  attending  the  district  school  and  a  few  terms  at 
the  Uxbridge  Academy,  he  entered  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Westfield,  from  whence  he  graduated  in  1850. 

In  the  autumn  of  1851  he  entered  the  Meadville  Theological 
School,  Pa.,  and  graduated  in  1854.  He  was  soon  afterwards 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in 
Lexington,  Mass.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  was  called  to  the  newly 
organized  Unitarian  Church  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  soon  drew 
around  him  a  strong  and  enthusiastic  body  of  people,  giving 
himself  to  his  duties,  as  pastor  and  preacher,  with  ardent  devo- 
tion. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  being  chosen  Chap- 
lain of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin  Regiment,  he  gave  up  the  charge  of 
the  church  and  marched  with  the  regiment  to  the  battle  fields  in 
Virginia.  Here  he  showed  the  same  earnestness  and  enthusiasm 
in  his  work  as  characterized  his  labor  in  the  ministry.  But  the 
exposure  and  hardships  of  camp  life  proved  too  severe  for  a  con- 
stitution which,  though  originally  strong,  had  already  begun  to 
show  symptoms  of  breaking  down.  After  a  long  and  severe 
illness,  from  which  he  never  fully  recovered,  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  Third  Unitarian  Church 


670  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1865. 

in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  A  most  inviting  field  of  labor  was  opened 
to  him  here,  and  his  life  was  bright  in  promise  and  achievement. 
But  the  dark  shadow  of  disease  was  silently  and  steadily  deepen- 
ing upon  him.  While  his  intellectual  and  spiritual  life  glowed 
with  intense  fervor,  his  physical  life  was  gradually  fading  away. 
In  the  third  year  of  his  ministry  his  physical  energies  became 
utterly  prostrated,  and,  his  devoted  people  granting  him  a  leave 
of  absence,  he  began  to  make  preparations  for  a  sea  voyage. 
But  it  was  too  late,  and  he  quietly  passed  away  at  his  house  in 
Brooklyn,  Feb.  6th,  1864,  in  the  33d  year  of  his  age. 

His  body  was  brought  to  Mendon,  where  funeral  services  were 
held  in  the  Unitarian  Church,  Eevs.  Eobert  Oollyer  and  Samuel 
Longfellow  officiating.  He  was  buried  in  the  Necropolis,  (new 
Cemetery)  and  a  simple  and  appropriate  monument  was  erected 
to  his  memory  by  his  Brooklyn  friends. 

Eev.  Carlton  A.  Staples,  an  elder  brother  of  the  deceased,  is 
pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
while  Henry  E.  Staples,  a  younger  brother,  resides  on  the  old 
paternal  homestead. 

STATE  AID. 

Seventy-eight  families  have  received  State  Aid  to  the  amount, 
at  this  time,  (Sept.  17,  1880)  of  $18,602.67.  At  present  but  four 
families  are  receiving  the  bounty  of  the  State,  to  the  extent  of 
$20.50  per  month. 

Of  those  who  served  in  the  quota  of  Mendon,  all  were  honor- 
ably discharged,  except 

Edward  McKenney,  who  was  dishonorably  discharged,  March 
1,  1865,  and 

Henry  F.  Jacobs,  who  deserted  Aug.  30,  1863, 

Ferdinand  A.  Bent,  who  deserted  Aug.  30,  1862,  and 

Geo.  O.  Shore,  who  deserted  Oct.  17,  1862. 

I  have  now  brought  the  history  of  "Mendon  in  the  Rebel- 
lion "  to  a  close.  Although  the  war  entailed  a  burdensome  debt 
upon  the  town — although  it  caused  the  voice  of  lamentation  and 
mourning  to  be  raised  in  many  of  its  households,  still,  its  crown- 
ing success  in  the  overthrow  and  abolition  of  American  Slavery 
is  accepted  as  a  compensation  for  its  manifold  privations  and  suf- 
ferings. 


1866.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  671 

1866.  March  5.  The  annual  reports  of  the  several  town 
officers  were  presented  in  print,  and  after  consideration  were  sev- 
erally accepted. 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  II.  Allen, 
John  S.  Gaskill  and  William  II.  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  John  G. 
Metcalf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  Calvin 
Butler  Collector  of  Taxes,  at  135.00. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  1550  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  1500  for  repairs  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  pay  the  interest  on  the  town  debt 
from  the  money  deposited  in  bank  and  in  hand. 

Voted  that  the  balance  of  cash  remaining  in  the  Treasury,  not 
otherwise  appropriated,  be  appropriated  toward  the  payment  of 
the  town  debt. 

March  17.  M.  C.  Gaskill  chosen  a  member  of  the  School  Com- 
mittee. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  meeting  to  raise 
$800  for  incidental  expenses,  and  now  voted  to  raise  $200  for  the 
same. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  required  to  choose  a 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  that  his  salary  be  thirty-six  dol- 
lars, and  Gustavus  B.  Williams  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  upon  all  taxes  remaining  unpaid  after  the  10th  day 
of  September,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be  added  thereto 
until  paid. 

The  committee  heretofore  chosen,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
subject  of  celebrating  the  Bi-Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  In- 
corporation of  the  Town,  submitted  the  following  recommenda- 
tions: 

1.  That  the  town  designate  the  15th  day  of  May,  1867,  to  be  observed 
with  appropriate  festivities  and  exercises,  for  celebrating  the  Two  Hun- 
dredth Anniversary  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Town. 

2.  That  a  Committee  of  Arrangements  be  now  chosen  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  consider  what  appropriate  exercises  and  festivities  will  be  proper 
for  celebrating  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Incorporation  of 


672  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1866. 

the  Town,  and  to  recommend  what,  in  their  judgment,  will  be  a  sufficient 
sum  of  money  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  same,  and  report  at  an  adjourned 
meeting. 

John  G.  Metcalf, 
Silas  Dudley. 

Voted  to  accept  and  adopt  the  foregoing  report. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  consist  of  twenty- 
five  members,  two  of  which,  at  least,  shall  be  chosen  from  each 
School  District. 

The  committee  chosen  were  as  follows,  viz: 

District  1,  Putman  W.  Taft  and  Charles  A  Davenport;  2,  John  G.  Met- 
calf and  •  Silas  Dudley ;  3,  Samuel  G.  Wilcox  and  Andrus  Wheelock ;  4, 
Lahan  Bates  and  John  R.  Hay  ward;  5,  Clark  Cook  and  Adoniram  J.  Daw- 
ley  ;  6,  Perry  Wood  and  Davis  Bills ;  and  7,  Alanson  S.  Freeman  and  Ar- 
nold Taft. 

Voted  the  committee  now  chosen  choose  the  eleven  members 
required  to  complete  the  full  committee  of  twenty-five. 

Voted  that  the  committee  have  power  to  fill  all  vacancies  oc- 
curring in  their  number. 

Voted  that  the  following  list  of  Jurors  be  accepted,  viz: 

Alanson  S.  Freeman,*  Andrus  Wheelock,*  Gilbert  Cook,  Putman  W. 
Taft,  Laban  Bates,*  A.  J.  Dawley,*  Andrew  H.  Reed,*  Win.  T.  Metcalf,* 
Lysander  Grow,  David  Adams,  David  W.  Bennett,  Eli  Bates,  Andre  South- 
wick,  Silas  Dudley,  Jr.,  Austin  Wood,  Nathan  R.  George,  M.  C.  Gaskill, 
Perry  Wood,  Alanson  Taft.  » 

April  7.  Voted  that  the  town  accept  the  bridge  over  the  trench 
near  Samuel  G.  Wilcox's  box  shop,  built  by  him,  and  keep  the 
same  in  repair. 

A  committee  heretofore  chosen  to  consider  the  subject  of  the 
division  of  the  school  money,  made  a  report  and  the  same  was 
rejected. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  authorized  to  divide  the 
money  raised  and  appropriated  for  schools  the  present  year,  to- 
gether with  the  interest  of  the  surplus  revenue  and  the  dividend 
from  the  State  School  Fund,  among  the  several  School  Districts 
in  such  a  manner  that  the  school  or  schools  in  Districts  No.  2 
and  No.  7  shall  be  kept  seven  months,  and  all  the  other  schools 
six  months;  and  that,  should  there  be  a  deficit  after  making  the 

*Dead.    1880. 


1866.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  673 

division  as  hereby  provided,  the  Selectmen  tire  authorized  to  draw 
their  order  on  the  Treasurer  for  a  sufficient  sum  to  cover  it. 

At  this  meeting,  under  an  article  in  the  warrant,  the  question 
came  up  whether  the  town  would  vote  to  reimburse,  to  indi- 
viduals, such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as  they  had  contributed  for 
the  purpose  of  filling  the  quotas  due  from  Mendon,  under  any 
call  of  the  President  or  of  the  War  Department,  during  the 
year  1864,  pursuant  to  Chapter  152  of  the  Acts  of  1865. 

After  a  lengthy  and  at  times  an  acrimonious  discussion,  with- 
out coming  to  a  direct  vote,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  sine  die, 
by  a  vote  of  129  in  the  affirmative  to  92  in  the  negative. 

June  23.  The  second  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  meeting 
was  in  these  words: 

' '  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  to  raise  and  appropriate  any  money  pur- 
suant to  Chap.  172  of  the  Acts  of  1866,  for  the  aid  of  disabled  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  and  their  Families  and  for  the  Families  of  the  slain." 

Voted  that  the  town  do  appropriate  money  for  the  purpose 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  article,  and  that  the  Treasurer  be 
authorized  and  empowered  to  raise  the  same,  by  borrowing  from 
time  to  time  upon  the  credit  of  the  town,  upon  the  best  terms 
he  can,  and  for  a  term  of  time  not  exceeding  two  years,  such 
sums  as  may  be  required  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  the  whole 
sum  to  be  borrowed  under  this  vote  not  to  exceed  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars. 

Nov.  6.  Voted  that  the  further  sum  of  $300  be  appropriated 
for  the  support  of  the  schools  the  present  year,  provided  the 
Second  and  Seventh  Districts  have  seven  months  only,  and  the 
other  Districts  have  six  months  only  for  the  length  of  the 
schools. 

Voted  that  Gustavus  B.  Williams,  John  S.  Gaskill  and  Perry 
Wood  be  a  committee  to  buy  a  hearse,  reported  to  be  for  sale  in 
Woonsocket,  E.  I.,  or  repair  the  hearse  now  owned  by  the  town, 
as  they  shall  judge  will  be  for  the  best  interest  of  the  town. 

STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor,        Alex'r  H.  Bullock,  "Worcester,  had  108  votes.     Elected. 
"        do  Theodore  H.  Svveetser,  Lowell,  had    38      " 

"    Lt.  Governor,  William  Claflin,  Newton,  had  108      " 

"  do     -       Horace  A.  Lee,  Springfield,  had         38      "' 

85 


674  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1867. 

The  other  State  and  County  officers  had  the  same  number  of 
votes,  except  Joseph  Mason,  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  whose  vote  was 
147,  being  unanimous. 

For  Representative  in  Congress  Eighth  District— JohnD.  Baldwin,  Worces- 
ter, had  109  votes;  Elected.  William  A.  Williams,  Worcester,  had  38 
votes. 

Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — George  S.  Ball,  Upton,  had  108  votes; 
Elected.     Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Mendon,  had  39  votes. 

FOR    REPRESENTATIVES,    FIFTEENTH    WORCESTER    DISTRICT. 

The  State  having  been  new  districted,  Mendon,  "Oxbridge, 
Blackstone  and  Milford  composed  the  Fifteenth  District,  with 
three  Eepresentatives. 

George  W.  Stacy,  Milford,  had  107  votes.  James  H.  Putnam,  Milford, 
had  108  votes.  John  S.  Needham,  Blackstone,  had  108  votes.  Lucius  M. 
Thayer,  Milford,  had  39  votes.  John  C.  Baxter,  Uxbridge,  had  39  votes. 
Mellens  Taft,  Blackstone,  had  39  votes. 

The  three  first  named  were  elected  in  the  District  by  650  majority. 

REV.    RICHARD    COLEMAN,    THE    SEVENTEENTH    MINISTER. 

Eev.  Richard  Coleman  succeeded  Mr.  Phelan  and  began  his 
ministry  July  1,  1866.  He  continued  to  supply  the  pulpit  until 
February,  1868,  when  he  removed  to  New  Hampshire. 


i857.  March  4.  The  Town  Officers'  reports  were  presented 
in  print,  and  severally  accepted  and  placed  on  file. 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  II.  Allen, 
John  S.  Gaskill  and  William  H.  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  John  G. 
Metcalf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  Charles 
C.  P.  Hastings,  Collector,  at  $40.00. 

Chose  thirteen  Highway  Surveyors  and  voted  that  the  high- 
way tax  be  paid,  in  labor,  viz:  20  cents  per  hour  for  a  man,  and 
the  same  for  oxen  and  cart. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  repairs  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 


1867.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  675 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $700  to  pay  interest  on  town 
notes. 

Voted  to  abolish  the  present  five  highway  districts  and  estab- 
lish the  thirteen  highway  districts  into  which  the  town  was 
formerly  divided. 

Voted  that  a  committee  of  three  be  chosen  to  consider  the 
subject  of  erecting  a  Monument  in  memory  of  the  soldiers  be- 
longing to  this  town  who  have  died  in  the  service  of  our  coun- 
try in  the  war  for  suppressing  the  Slave-Holders'  Rebellion,  in 
accordance  with  Chap.  100  of  the  Acts  of  1804,  and  to  report  at 
a  future  meeting. 

Austin  Wood,  Henry  A.  Aldrich  and  John  G.  Metcalf  were 
then  chosen  said  committee. 

March  16.  Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  an  additional  sum 
of  1124.25  to  pay  interest  on  town  notes. 

David  Adams  was  elected  a  member  of  the  School  Committee 
for  three  years,  and  Gnstavus  B.  Williams,  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  at  $36.00. 

Voted  that  the  report  of  the  Treasurer,  in  the  case  of  Eli  as 
A.  Adams,  which  was  that  the  town  pay  to  said  Adams  the 
amount  of  his  tax  on  a  deposit  in  a  savings  bank,  and  adopted 
the  same. 

Voted  that  the  Fifth  School  District  be  united  to  the  Fourth 
District,  and  that  the  consolidated  districts  be  known  as  the 
Fourth  School  District. 

April  1.  Voted  that  the  Sixth  School  District  be  hereafter 
known  as  No.  5,  and  the  Seventh  as  No.  6. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $300  additional  for  the  support 
of  schools. 

It  was  certified  by  the  Assessors  that  the  number  of  persons 
liable  to  enrollment  was  163. 

BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION  OF   THE  INCORPORATION 
OF    MENDON. 

March  25,  1865.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  town  chose 
John  G.  Metcalf,  Nathan  George  and  Silas  Dudley  a  committee 
to  make  arrangements  for  celebrating  the  Two  Hundredth  Anni- 
versary of  the  Incorporation  of  the  Town. 

March  17,  1866,  the  committee  made  a  report  recommending 


676  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1867. 

"May  15,  1867,  as  the  day  for  the  celebration,  and  that  a  com- 
mittee of  arrangements  be  chosen,  which  shall  have  the  charge 
of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  celebration." 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  as  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements, viz : 

Put  man  W.  Taft,  Chas.  A.  Davenport,  Austin  D.  Davenport,  John  G. 
Metcalf,  John  S.  Gaskill,  Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Lysander  Grow,  Gilbert  Gas- 
kill,  Willard  H.  Swan,  Samuel  Gaskill,  Laban  Bates,  Perry  Wood,  Austin 
Wood,  Silas  Dudley,  Jr. ,  Gustavus  B.  Williams,  Olney  Cook,  Scammell 
Aldrich,  Alanson  Taft,  Edward  B.  Taft,  John  R.  Hayward  .and  David 
Adams. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  committee,  the  Eev.  Carlton  A.  Staples,  of 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  was  chosen  to  deliver  an  address,  and  the  Hon. 
Henry  Chapin,  of  Worcester,  a  poem  on  the  day  of  the  celebra- 
tion. 

Mr.  Staples  was  a  native  of  Mendon,  and  Mr.  Chapin  of 
Upton. 

In  the  discharge  of  their  duties  the  committee  held  meetings, 
from  time  to  time,  at  which  the. various  arrangements  were  made 
and  the  sub-committees,  for  their  execution,  designated. 

Mr.  William  Tufts,  of  Boston  was  engaged  to  furnish  a  tent 
for  twelve  hundred  persons.  During  a  squall,  on  Sunday,  the 
tent  blew  down  and  another  was  substituted  in  season  for  the 
celebration  on  Tuesday. 

The  committee  completed  their  labors  in  the  matter  of  arrange- 
ments by  the  following  election  of  officers  of  the  day,  viz: 

President— Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf. 

Vice-Presidents — Ebenezer  W.  Hayward,  Uxbridge;  William  Knowlton, 
Upton;  Paul  Whitin,  Northbridge ;  John  S.  Gaskill,  P.  W.  Taft,  Perry 
Wood,  Asa  Pickering,  Bellingham ;  Aaron  C.  Mayhew,  Milf ord ;  James  K. 
Comstock,  Blackstone;  Laban  Bates,  Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Lysander  Grow. 

Committee  of  Reception — Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Perry  Wood,  Lysander  Grow, 
P.  W.  Taft,  John  S.  Gaskill,  A.  W.  Gaskill. 

Chief  Marshal— Gen.  William  F.  Draper. 

Assistant  Marshals — Col.  James  H.  Barker,  Capt.  A.  S.  Tuttle,  Capt. 
William  Emery,  Lucius  Lowell,  Charles  H.  Spencer,  Herbert  A.  Bennett, 
Nathan  Wheelock,  Hiram  O.  Gilson  and  Henry  Bates. 

Toast  Master — Henry  A.  Aldrich. 

The  early  morning,  on  the  day  of  the  celebration,  opened  with 
a  clouded  sky  and  prospects  of  rain,     Very  soon,  however,  the 


1867.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  677 

clouds  broke  away  and  the  appearance  of  the  sun  gave  assurance 
of  the  propitious  day  which  followed. 

Large  delegations,  with  bands  of  music,  soon  began  to  arrive 
from  Bellingham,  Uxbridge,  Upton,  Milford,  Northbridge  and 
Blackstone,  which,  with  those  outside  of  the  family  circle, 
swelled  the  number  of  those  present  until  by  the  estimation  of 
competent  observers,  from  four  to  five  thousand  had  arrived.  , 

At  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  a  procession  was  organized  by  the  Chief 
Marshal  and  his  Aids,  and  marched  through  some  of  the  princi- 
pal streets  to  the  Unitarian  Church,  where  the  address  was  to  be 
delivered.     The  programme  of  the  procession  was  as  follows: 

American  Brass  Band,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 

Milford  Encampment  of  Knights  Templar. 

Chief  Marshal  and  Aids. 

Military 

Firemen. 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Selectmen  of  Mendon. 

President  of  the  Day,  Vice-Presidents,  &c. 

Orator,  Poet  and  Invited  Guests. 

Citizens  of  Bellingham,  incorporated  1719. 

Citizens  of  Uxbridge,  incorporated  1724. 

Citizens  of  Upton,  incorporated  1735. 

Citizens  of  Northbridge,  incorporated  1772. 

Citizens  of  Milford,  incorporated  1780. 

Citizens  of  Blackstone,  incorporated  1845. 

Citizens  of  Mendon  on  foot. 

Carriages. 

Arriving  at  the  church  the  services  were  continued  in  the  fol- 
lowing order  of  exercises: 

1.  Opening  Address  by  Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf,  President  of  the  day. 

2.  Voluntary  by  the  American  Brass  Baud. 

3.  Reading  of  the  Scriptures  by  Rev.  Augustus  Caldwell,  Pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Society. 

4.  Anthem  by  the  choir. 

5.  Prayer  by  Rev.  Adin  Ballon,  of  Ilopedale,  (Milford). 

6.  Hymn — "  Come  thou  Almighty  King." 

7.  Address  by  Rev.  Carlton  A.  Staples,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

8.  Original  Hymn,  by  Rev.  Adin  Ballou.     Tune — "  Auld  Lang  Syne." 

9.  Music  by  the  baud. 

10.  Benediction  by  Rev.  Richard  Coleman,  Pastor  of  the  Unitarian 
Society. 


678  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [18G7. 

The  church,  having  been  recently  thoroughly  repaired,  seated 
among  the  stately  elms  and  evergreens  with  which  it  was  sur- 
rounded, presented  a  pleasing  prospect.  Its  interior  was  decorat- 
ed with  beautiful  flowers  and  evergreens.  The  words  "  Welcome 
Home,"  in  large  letters,  inscribed  upon  the  arch  in  the  rear  of 
the  pulpit,  furnished  a  felicitous  motto  for  the  opening  address 
by  the  President  of  the  day. 

At  the  close  of  the  services  in  the  church  the  procession  was 
then  reformed  and  marched  to  the  spacious  tent  opposite  the 
cottage  of  Amariah  A.  Taft,  where  twelve  hundred  persons  sat 
down  to  a  substantial  repast.  A*  proper  discussion  of  the  various 
items  in  the  bill  of  fare  having  been  accomplished,  the  Hon. 
Henry  Chapin,  of  Worcester,  then  read  a  poem,  carrying  us 
back  in  verse,  as  the  orator  of  the  day  had  in  prose,  through  the 
two  hundred  years  of  our  municipal  life. 

The  address  of  Mr.  Staples  was  replete  with  matters  of  his- 
toric interest,  interspersed  with  suggestion  and  sentiment, 
kindling,  it  is  hoped,  in  all  our  hearts  a  more  persistent  and 
reverent  love  of  home. 

Short  addresses,  in  response  to  sentiments,  were  made  by  Rev. 
Adin  Ballon,  of  Milford,  Francis  Deane,  Esq.,  of  Uxbridge, 
Hon.  E.  B.  Stoddard,  of  Worcester,  (for  Upton,)  Rev.  Lewis  F. 
Clark,  of  Northbridge,  M.  D.  Southwick,  M.  D.,  of  Blackstone, 
Gen.  John  M.  Thayer,  Senator  in  Congress  from  Nebraska,  (for 
Bellingham),  Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton,  of  Worcester,  and  Dr. 
George  B.  Loring,  of  Salem. 

In  answer  to  the  toast,  "The  early  settlers  of  Mendon," 
response,  in  a  humorous  and  witty  poem,  was  made  by  Putnam 
W.  Taft,  of  Worcester. 

Letters  excusing  their  absence  were  received  from  Gov.  Bul- 
lock, Ex-Govs.  Lincoln,  Boutwell,  Washburn  and  Clifford, 
Judge  Devens,  Isaac  Davis,  Benj.  F.  Butler,  Stephen  Salisbury, 
J.  S.  C.  Knowlton,  Enos  N.  Taft  and  Samuel  P.  Bates,  Esqrs. 

The  proceedings  at  the  celebration  were  published,  and  copies 
may  be  found  in  the  libraries  of  the  American  Antiquarian  So- 
ciety, the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  the  1ST.  E.  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Society,  and  the  Worcester  Society  of  An- 
tiquity. 

Nov.  5.  Taxes  were  foregone  during  the  year  to  the  amount 
of  $52.25. 


1868.]  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  679 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Alexander  H.  Bullock,  Worcester,  had  115  votes. 
Elected. 
"            do             John  Quincy  Adams,  Quincy,  had  59      " 

"   Lt.  Governor,  "William  Claflin,  Newton,  had  122      " 

do         George  M.  Stearns,  Chicopee,  had  52 

The  remaining  State  and  County  officers  had  the  same  num- 
ber of  votes. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — Jonathan  D.  Wheeler,  Grafton, 
had  95  votes;  (elected).     Wm.  F.  Slocumb,  Grafton,  had  78  votes. 

For  Representatives,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — A.  A.  Cook,  Mil  ford, 
had  80  votes.  Estes  Lamb,  Blackstone,  had  80  votes.  Chas.  A.  Whee- 
lock,  Uxbridge,  had  80  votes.  Isaac  H.r  Stearns,  Milford,  had  89  votes; 
elected.  Moses  Farnum,  Blackstone,  had  28  votes.  Darius  Bennett, 
Blackstone,  had  79  votes.  Charles  Wing,  Uxbridge,  had  99  votes.  An- 
drew J.  Sumner,  Milford,  had  13  votes.  Samuel  Taft,  Uxbridge,  had  1 
vote. 


1868.  The  several  town  officers  having  made  their  reports, 
and  the  same  having  been  considered  and  accepted — 

David  Adams  was  elected  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen, 
John  S.  Gaskill  and  William  H.  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  John  G. 
Metcalf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  Marcus 
M.  Aldrich,  Collector,  at  $41.00. 

Gustavus  B.  Williams  chosen  School  Committee  for  three 
years. 

Voted  that  the  highway  tax  be  paid  in  money. 

Voted  that  a  committee  of  three  he  appointed  and  authorized 
to  purchase  tools  and  teams  and  hire  men  by  the  month  to  keep 
the  roads  and  bridges  in  repair. 

Perry  Wood,  Erastus  Hill  and  Aaron  C.  Cook  were  chosen 
the  Committee  and  Highway  Surveyors,  and  were  to  receive  a 
fair  compensation  for  their  services  while  engaged  in  that 
business. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repairs  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1500  for  the  support  of 
schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $600  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 


680  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1868. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $825  for  interest  on  the  town 
debt. 

Voted  that  the  town  authorize  the  Treasurer  to  borrow  a  suf- 
ficient sum  of  money  to  meet  the  demands  against  the  town. 

Voted  not  to  abolish  the  existing  school  districts  in  town. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  and  Gustavus  B.  Williams  was  appointed. 

Voted  to  accept  the  following  list  of  jurors. 

*Andrus  Wheelock,  Putman  W.  Taft,*  Laban  Bates,  *A.  J.  Dawley,  A. 
H.  Reed,  Charles  Fletcher,  *Linus  B.  Staples,  *Wm.  T.  Metcalf,  Perry 
Wood,  John  S.  Gaskill,  M.  M.  Aldrich,  Win.  P.  Wood,  David  Adams, 
*Alexr.  H.  Allen,  David  W.  Bennett,  Andre  Southwick,  Gustavus  B.  Wil- 
liams, Austin  Wood,  Austin  D.  Davenport,  M.  C.  Gaskill,  *Royal  M. 
Wheelock. 

Heard  a  verbal  report  from  the  committee,  heretofore  chosen 
to  repair  the  hearse,  and  voted  that  the  committee  be  discharged, 
and  immediately  voted  to  reconsider  the  vote,  and  then  voted 
that  the  committee  be  instructed  to  repair  the  hearse. 

THE   TRAMP   QUESTION. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  authorized  to  provide 
for  transient  persons,  who  may  call  for  temporary  assistance,  at 
other  places  besides  the  Town  Asylum,  at  the  expense  of  the 
town. 

March  2G.  Voted  that  the  Highway  Surveyors  of  the  present 
year  call  upon  those  persons,  Avhose  highway  taxes  were  not 
worked  out  last  year,  and  superintend  the  working  out  the 
same  in  those  districts  where  the  taxes  were  assessed. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  for  the  present  and  succeeding  year 
prepare  an  abstract  of  the  valuation  and  the  amount  of  taxes 
assessed  upon  each  tax-payer,  and  have  the  same  published  with 
the  annual  town  reports. 

April  6.  Voted  that  the  Superintendent  of  Schools  for  the 
present  year  be  paid  $36.00. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  second  section,  Chapter  83,  of  the  General 
Statutes,  relating  to  the  taking  fish  from  the  ponds  and  rivers. 

Voted  that  Lewis  Wood,  Aaron  C.  Cook  and  Ezekiel  P.  Gas- 
kill, together  with  Selectmen,  be  a  committee  to  enforce  the 
fishing  law. 


1868.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  681 

The  subject  of  a  watering  basin,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Post 
Office,  was  referred  to  the  Highway  Surveyors. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  allow  fifteen  cents 
per  hour  for  a  man,  and  the  same  for  a  yoke  of  oxen,  while  em- 
ployed in  breaking  out  the  roads  and  clearing  them  from  snow, 
who  were  assessed  the  present  year,  and  twent}^  cents  per  hour 
to  those  who  work  to  pay  their  taxes  of  last  year. 

May  4.  Voted  to  establish  a  High  School,  to  be  kept  for 
the  benefit  of  all  the  inhabitants. 

Voted  to  appropriate  $400  of  the  money  raised  and  appropri- 
ated at  the  March  meeting  for  the  support'  of  the  schools,  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  High  School. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  and  the  School  Committee  provide 
a  suitable  room  and  furnish  the  same  and  provide  the  wood,  and 
that  the  expense  be  paid  from  the  money  raised  for  incidental 
expenses. 

A'oted  that  the  town  authorize  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  to 
pay  the  widow  Catharine  Cosgrove  for  rent  of  room  and  taking- 
care  of  Benjamin  Wheelock,  one  year  from  date,  the  sum  of 
fifty  dollars. 

Voted  that  the  leasing  of  Mendon  Pond  be  referred  to  the 
Selectmen. 

August  10.  Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  consideration 
of  the  fourth  article  in  the  warrant,  which  was  "to  see  if  the 
town  would  vote  to  reconsider  and  rescind  the  vote  establishing 
a  High  School." 

Alexander  H.  Allen  was  chosen  agent,  and,  under  the  advice 
of  competent  counsel,  instructed  to  settle  with  Mrs.  Mary  M. 
Taft,  or  defend  the  suit  brought  by  her  against  the  town,  on 
account  of  a  tax  against  her,  as  in  his  judgment  will  best  pro- 
mote the  interest  of  the  town. 

Voted  that  the  fourth  article  in  the  warrant  (a  new  one)  be 
indefinitely  postponed,  which  was  "to  see  if  the  money  raised 
for  schooling  should  be  divided  in  specific  sums  among  the 
several  School  Districts." 

Nov.  3.  Taxes  were  foregone  during  the  year  to  the  amount 
of  $06.44. 


682  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1868. 


PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION. 

Electors  at  Large — David  Sears,  of  Boston,  had  157  votes.  John  H.  Clif- 
ford, of  New  Bedford,  had  157  votes.  Josiah  G.  Abbott,  of  Boston,  had 
57  votes.     John  R.  Briggs,  of  Sheffield,  had  57  votes. 

District  1.  District  No.  6. 

11.  L.  Pease,  Edgarton 157    G.  Coggswell,  Bradford 157 

I.  T.  Jones,  Sandwich 57    J.  K.  Tarbox,  Lawrence 57 

No.  2.  No.  7. 

William  Mason,  Taunton 157    J.  W.  Edmands,  Newton 157 

S.  B.  Thaxter,  Arlington 57    W.  F.  Salmon,  Lowell 57 

No.  3.  No.  8. 

Wm.  Whiting,  Boston 157    Paul  Whitin,  Northbridge 157 

James  M.  Keith,  Boston 57    L.  Barker,  Worcester 57 

No.  4.  No.  9. 

F.  B.  Fay,  Chelsea 157    C.  A.  Stephens,  Ware 157 

E.  C.  Barnes,  Chelsea 57    J.  O.  Hale,  Hubbardston 57 

No.  5.  No.  10. 

J.  N.  Buffum,  Lynn 157     A.  B.  Whiting,  Westfield 157 

Jona.  Nayson,  Amesbury 57    H.  W.  Bishop,  Lennox 57 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         William  Clafliu,  Newton,  had  154  votes.      Elected. 

John  Q.  Adams,  Quincy,  had  61 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Joseph  Tucker,  Lennox,  154 

Reuben  Noble,  Westfield,  had  61 

Candidates  for  other  State  and  County  offices  had  the  same 
number  of  votes. 

For  Representative  in  Congress,  Eighth  District — George  F.  Hoar,  Wor- 
cester, had  157  votes.     Henry  H.  Stearns,  Dudley,  had  60  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — Albert 
A.  Burrill,  Milf ord,..  had  157  votes.  Thos.  G.  Kent,  Milford,  had  156  votes. 
Alex'r  H.  Allen,  Mendon,  had  149  votes.  Leonard  Wakefield,  Milford, 
had  59  votes.  Edward  McGowan,  Milford,  had  59  votes.  Jeremiah  Get- 
chel,  Blackstone,  had  57  votes. 

The  three  first  named  were  elected  in  the  District  by  469  majority. 

REV.    DAVID    P.    LINDSLEY,    THE    EIGHTEENTH    MINISTER. 

Mr.  Lindsley  began  his  service  April  1, 1868,  and  sustained  the 
pastoral  office  until  March  31,  1871.  He  was  the  author  of  a 
manual  on  Tachygraphy,  and  has,  since  leaving  Mendon,  been 
engaged  in  teaching  the  art. 


1869.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  G83 

1869.  Jan.  23.  Voted  that  John  (I.  Metcalf  and  Perry 
Wood  be  a  committee  to  appear  before  the  Comity  Commission- 
ers, in  the  case  of  the  appeal  of  Stephen  Torrey  for  an  abatement 
of  taxes  recently  assessed  on  him  as  administrator,  de  bonis  non. 
of  the  estate  of  Benjamin  Davenport. 

March  1.  After  the  usual  disposition  of  the  reports  of  the 
various  town  officers, 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Gustavus  B.  Williams, 
Linus  B.  Staples  and  Albert  W.  Gaskill,  Selectmen;  John  G. 
Metcalf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  Calvin 
Butler,  Collector,  at  $44.00. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1650  for  the  support  of 
schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  1500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repairs  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1001  to  pay  the  interest  on 
the  town  debt,  now  amounting  to  $16,055.00. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  borrow,  in  behalf  of 
the  town,  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  to  redeem 
the  town  bonds  which  will  fall  due  the  present  municipal  year. 

Chose  Laban  Bates,  Austin  D.  Davenport  and  John  S.  Gas- 
kill,  Surveyors  of  Highways. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  not  abolish  the  existing  school  dis- 
tricts; the  vote  standing  yeas  23,  nays  64. 

Voted  that  the  High  School  be  continued. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  consist  of  two  from  each 
district. 

Chose  Calvin  Butler,  John  W.  Murray,  John  B.  Hayward  and 
Linus  B.  Staples  for  three  years. 

Perry  Wood,  Sullivan  H.  Taft  and  Eli  Bates  for  two  years. 

George  W.  Cromb,  Joseph  Bates  and  E.  P.  Gaskill  for  one 
year. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  before  the  first  day  of  Septem- 
ber of  the  present  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be  added 
thereto  until  paid. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  required  to  appoint  a  Su- 


684  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1869. 

perintendent  of  Schools,  with  a  salary  of  $30.00  per  year,  and 
Gustavus  B.  Williams  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  the  fifteenth  article  he  indefinitely  postponed. 
This  article  proposed  the  abolition  of  the  present  mode  of  repair- 
ing the  roads  and  bridges  with  three  surveyors,  and  re-establishing 
the  thirteen  districts  into  which  the  town  was  formerly  divided. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  pay  twenty  cents  per  hour  for  shov- 
elling snow  the  past  year,  and  make  up  the  pay  to  those  already 
settled  with  at  fifteen  cents  'per  hour  at  the  same  rate. 

John  S.  Gaskill,  George  W.  Cromb  and  Perry  Wood  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  learn  at  what  terms  a  stone  crusher  can 
be  procured. 

April  IT.  By  Chapter  110  of  the  Acts  of  1869,  the  School 
District  system  in  this  Commonwealth  was  abolished.  By  the 
second  section  of  the  Act  it  became  the  duty  of  the  town,  forth- 
with, to  take  possession  of  all  the  school  houses,  lands  and  other 
property  owned  and  used  by  the  several  school  districts;  to  have 
the  same  appraised  and  a  tax  levied  upon  the  whole  town  equal 
to  the  amount  of  said  appraisal.  It  was  also  provided  that  there 
should  be  remitted  to  the  tax-payers  in  each  district  the  said 
appraised  value  of  its  property  thus  taken;  provided  that  the 
appraisal  of  the  school  property  in  any  district  or  the  amount  to 
be  remitted  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  that  has  been  actually 
raised  by  taxation  in  such  district  for  such  property. 

Pursuant  to  this  act,  the  town  voted  to  choose  a  committee  of 
one  from  each  district  and  one  at  large,  to  make  the  required 
appraisal  of  the  school  property  in  the  six  school  districts  into 
which  the  town  Avas  divided. 

Then  chose  for  District  No.  1,  David  W.  Bennett;  No.  2, 
William  T.  Metcalf;  No.  3,  Olney  Cook;  No.  4,  Laban  Bates; 
No.  5,  Perry  Wood;  No.  G,  Royal  M.  Wheelock;  and  Silas  Dud- 
ley at  large. 

May  8.  Majority  and  minority  reports  were  made  by  this 
committee,  and  the  town  accepted  the  report  of  the  majority, 
and  which  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  following  is  the  value  of  school  property  in  each  School  District,  viz: 

District  No.  1 $    275  00     District  No.  4 $365  00 

do.         "     2 1,350  00        do.         "     5 288  00 

do.        "     3 463  00        do.        "     6  444  00 

Total  value  of  school  property $3,185  00 


1869.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  GS5 

Without  further  action  of  the  town  the  assessment  of  the 
ahove  appraisal  and  its  subsequent  remission  to  the  tax  payers  in 
each  district  was  made. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  appear  and  defend 
the  suit  of  Freeborn  I).  J.  Barney,  of  Bellingham,  for  alleged 
injury  by  reason  of  a  defect  in  the  highway. 

The  result  of  this  was  that  the  damages  recovered  and  the 
costs,  amounted  to  the  sum  of  $514.76. 

The  following  list  of  Jurors  was  reported  and  adopted,  viz: 

*Royal  M.  Wheelock,  Micajah  C.  Gaskill,  Charles  Fletcher,  Samuel  W. 
Wilcox,  Austin  D.  Davenport,  Perry  Wood,  Austin  Wood,  Gustavus  B. 
Williams,  Elias  T.  Bates,  John  R.  Hayward,*  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Calvin 
Butler,  Audre  Southwick,  David  Adams,  *Linus  B.  Staples,  Samuel  H. 
Taft,  John  S.  Gaskill,  William  P.  Wood.  *AaronC.  Cook,  Willard  Wilcox. 

August  14.  Voted  that  the  town  instruct  the  agent  chosen  to 
defend  the  suit  brought  by  Mary  M.  Taft,  to  settle  with  her  by 
paying  over  to  her  the  amount  of  taxes  paid  in  1865  and  1866. 
with  interest  on  the  same,  provided  she  will  abandon  the  suit 
and  pay  her  own  cost. 

Nov.  2.     Amount  of  taxes  foregone  during  the  year,  $73.49. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  take,  from  the 
amount  raised  for  incidental  expenses,  the  amount  that  will  be 
sufficient  for  the  necessary  repairs  of  the  school  houses  and  fur- 
nishing the  same. 

STATE    ELEG'TIOX. 

For  Governor,         William  Claflin,  of  Newton,  had        54  votes.     Elected. 
John  Q.  Adams,  of  Quincy,  had        27     " 
E.  M.  Chamberlain,  of  Boston,  had  54     " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Joseph  Tucker,  of  Lennox,  had         54 

S.  O.  Lamb,  of  Greenfield,  had  27     " 

Jas.  Chattaway,  of  Springfield,  had  54 

The  other  State  and  County  Officers  had  the  same  number  of 
votes. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — Charles  A.  Wheelock,  Uxbridge, 
had  54  votes;  Elected.  J.  Henry  Wood,  Grafton,  had  27  votes.  Prescott 
West,  Milford,  had  54  votes. 

For  Representatives,  ffifteenth  Worcester  District — John  C.  Scott,  Black- 
stone,  had  55  votes.  Bainbridge  Hayward,  Milford,  had  53  votes;  Elected. 
A.  A.  Sherman,  Uxbridge,  had  53  votes;    Elected.     S.  J.  Onion,  Milford, 


686  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1870. 

had  54  votes.  Harrison  C.  Whitmore,  Uxbridge,  had  79  votes;  Elected. 
Patrick  Cook,  Blackstone,  had  54  votes.  Leonard  Wakefield,  Milford, 
had  27  votes.     Dennis  McMullen,  Blackstone,  had  27  votes. 

Nov.  24.  Linus  B.  Staples  was  chosen  an  agent  to  oppose  the 
laying  out  of  the  road  (Mendon  to  Hopedale),  described  in  the 
petition  of  Charles  A.  Davenport  and  others,  to  the  County  Com- 
missioners. 


1870.  March  7.  The  several  reports  of  the  town  officers  hav- 
ing been  presented  in  print,  discussed  and  accepted,  then 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Samuel  H.  Taft,  Austin  D. 
Davenport  and  Edward  H.  Taft,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  and  Francis  Eaton 
Wheelock,  Collector. 

Chose  for  School  Committee,  Edward  H.  Taft,  David  Adams, 
Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill  and  John  W.  Jennison  for  three  years,  and 
Samuel  W.  Wilcox  for  two  years. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1650  for  school  purposes. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  1600  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  1400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  11100  for  interest  on  the  town 
debt, 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1500  for  roads  and  bridges. 

On  motion  of  Calvin  Butler,  voted  that  the  appropriation  for 
roads  be  assessed  in  a  separate  tax  upon  the  polls  and  estates. 

That  we  elect  thirteen  Highway  Surveyors  in  the  old  thirteen 
highway  districts. 

That  the  Highway  Surveyors  have  charge  of  the  roads  and 
bridges,  and  see  that  the  money  is  judiciously  expended. 

That  if  any  of  the  Highway  Surveyors  neglect  or  refuse  to 
serve,  the  others  shall  see  that  the  money  is  judiciously  expended. 

That  the  Selectmen,  upon  petition  of  the  Highway  Surveyors, 
shall  select  and  lay  any  lot  or  lots  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  get- 
ting earth  or  gravel  for  the  repairs  of  the  roads,  as  provided  in 
Chap.  237  of  the  Acts  of  1869,  and  the  damages  awarded  for 
such  lot  or  lots  shall  be  taken  out  of  the  money  raised  for  repair 
of  roads  and  bridges. 


1870.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  687 

Highway  Surveyors  were  then  chosen  for  the  thirteen  districts. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  and  Gustavus  B.  Williams  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  Sept.  10,  one  per 
cent  per  month  shall  he  added. 

Voted  to  continue  the  High  School. 

Alexander  H.  Allen,  John  G.  Metcalf  and  David  Adams  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  examine  the  condition  of  the  town  Records 
and  make  a  report  at  the  adjourned  meeting. 

Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Samuel  H.  Taft  and  Marcus  M.  Aldrich  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  .repair  the  inside  of  the  Town  Hall  and 
establish  the  price  for  the  use  of  the  Hall,  and  report  at  the  ad- 
journed meeting. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  consider  the  subject  of  build- 
ing a  new  school  house  in  the  First  District,  and  report  at  an 
adjourned  meeting. 

There  having  been  some  difference  of  opinion,  heretofore, 
about  the  use  of  the  school  rooms,  under  the  Town  Hall, 

Upon  motion  of  Nathan  George,  it  was  voted  that  the  School 
Committee  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  be  and  said  committee  is 
hereby  authorized,  instructed  and  directed,  upon  receiving  from 
the  party  or  parties  applying  therefor,  reasonable  assurance  that 
all  damage  done  the  school  rooms  of  the  school  house  of  the 
former  Second  School  District  in  Mendon,  their  furniture,  school 
books  and  other  equipments  (beyond  the  ordinary  wear  and  tear 
thereof)  shall  be  immediately  made  good  by  or  at  the  expense 
of  the  party  or  parties  aforesaid,  and  upon  the  further  reasona- 
ble assurance  that  intoxicating  liquors  shall  be  prohibited  in  said 
school  rooms,  to  open  and  allow  said  school  rooms  to  be  used  as 
ante-rooms  whenever  the  Town  Hall  shall  be  used  for  fairs, 
dancing  parties  or  other  social  gatherings,  the  applicant  or  appli- 
cants paying  for  the  use  thereof  one  dollar  per  night. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow,  in  behalf 
of  the  town,  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  to  meet 
the  current  expenses,  in  anticipation  of  the  collection  of  the 
taxes. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  borrow,  in  behalf  of 
the  town,  the  sum  of  eighteen  hundred  dollars  to  pay  for  bonds 
becoming  due  the  current  year. 


688  ANNALS    OF    MEN DON.  [1870. 

INLAND    FISHERY. 

By  tin  act  of  the  Colonial  Legislature,  in  the  olden  time,  all 
ponds  with  an  area  exceeding  twenty  acres  were  declared  to  he 
the  property  of  the  State.  April  1,  1870,  the  Fish  Commis- 
sioners on  Inland  Fisheries  leased  Mendon  Pond,  '•'for  the  cul- 
tivation and  maintenance  of  useful  fishes,"  for  the  period  of 
twenty  years,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  Indenture,  viz: 

This  Indenture  made  this  first  day  of  April  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  by  and  between  the  Commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, party  of  the  first  part,  acting  by  Theodore  Lyman  of  Brookline 
in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  and  Edward  A.  Brackett  of  Winchester  in  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  two  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  on  Inland  Fish- 
eries of  said  Commonwealth  duly  empowered  and  authorized  by  section 
nine  of  Chapter  Three  Hundred  and  Eighty  four  of  the  Acts  of  the  year 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty  nine,  and  Leonard  J.  Wilson  of  Milford  in  the 
County  of  Worcester  and  John  Bliss  of  Newton  in  said  County  of  Middle- 
sex, parties  of  the  second  part,  witnesseth : 

That  said  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  doth  hereby  demise  and  lease 
unto  said  parties  of  the  second  part  a  certain  great  pond  situate  in 
Mendon  in  said  County  of  Worcester,  exceeding  twenty  acres  in  area,  and 
commonly  known  as  Mendon  Pond,  for  the  purpose  of  the  cultivation  of 
useful  fishes. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  same  for  the  term  of  twenty  years  from  the  day 
of  the  date  hereof,  yielding  and  paying  therefor  unto  the  Treasury  of  said 
town  of  Mendon,  during  the  first  six  years  of  the  period  embraced  by  this 
lease,  rent  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  per  annum,  and  during  the  next  thir- 
teen years  rent  at  the  rate  of  fifty  dollars  per  annum,  said  rent  being  in  each 
case  payable  on  the  first  day  of  April  in  each  year. 

And  the  said  Lessees  hereby  covenant  with  said  Commonwealth  and  its 
assigns,  that  they  and  their  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  will  pay 
said  rent  in  manner  aforesaid;  that  they  will  not  occupy  more  than  one 
tenth  part  of  the  premises  aforesaid  with  the  enclosure  and  appliances 
necessary  for  the  taking  and  culture  of  fishes  as  aforesaid;  that  they  will 
not  avail  themselves  of  the  privileges  of  this  lease  to  the  prejudice  of  any 
public  right  other  than  the  taking  and  cultivation  aforesaid,  and  they  will 
not  debar  ingress  to  and  egress  from  said  premises,  at  proper  places  and  at 
proper  times;  that  they  will  not  without  the  consent  in  writing  of  said 
Board  of  Commissioners  on  Inland  Fisheries  or  their  successors,  assign  this  ( 
lease  or  underlet  their  right  to  take  and  cultivate  as  aforesaid,  as  to  the 
whole  or  any  part  of  said  premises;  that  they  will  allow  said  Commission- 
ers and  their  successors  personally  or  by  their  deputies,  at  all  times  to  enter 
on  said  premises  to  inspect  the  same  and  to  take  fishes  for  purposes  con- 
nected with  fish  culture  and  scientific  observation;  that  they  will  observe 
all  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  relating  to  Inland  Fisheries  and  that 


1870.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  689 


which  year  no  rent  is  hereby  reserved,  they  will  not  take  nor  capture  any 
useful  fishes  nor  suffer  the  same  to  be  captured  or  taken  within  the  limits 
of  said  premises. 

Provided  always  that  these  presents  are  upon  this  condition,  that  in  case 
of  the  breach  of  any  of  the  covenants  to  be  observed  on  the  part  of  the 
Lessees  or  in  case  the  estate  hereby  created  shall  be  taken  from  the 
Lessees  or  their  representatives  by  process  of  law,  proceeding  in  bankruptcy 
or  otherwise,  the  said  Commissioners  or  their  successors  may,  while  the 
default  or  the  neglect  continues  or  at  any  time  after  such  taking  by  process 
of  law,  without  any  notice  or  demand,  enter  upon  said  premises  and  there 
by  determine  the  estate  hereby  created  and  expel  and  remove,  forcibly  if 
necessary,  the  lessees  and  those  claiming  under  them  and  their  effects  and 
all  fishes  artificially  cultivated  and  maintained  by  said  Lessees  on  said 
premises  and  not  removed  by  them  at  the  expiration  of  the  nineteenth 
year  of  this  lease  shall  become  the  absolute  property  of  said  Common- 
wealth. 

In  witness  whereof  to  this  and  another  instrument  of  like  tenor,  the  said 
Lessees  individually  set  their  hands  and  seals,  and  the  said  Lyman  and  said 
Brackett,  Commissioners  as  aforesaid,  to  the  same  set  their  hands  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth  to  be  affixed. 

The  pond  hereby  leased  contains  107  acres. 

April  4.  Heard  the  report  of  the  School  Committee  on  the 
subject  of  a  new  school  house  in  the  First  School  District.  They 
recommend  the  building  of  a  new  one. 

Voted  that  all  bills  for  breaking  out  roads  and  clearing  them . 
of  snow  shall  be  paid  when  approved  by  the  Surveyor  of  the 
district  where  the  labor  was  performed. 

REPORT    OF    A    COMMITTEE. 

The  committee  chosen  at  the  March  meeting  "to  consider 
what  measures,  if  any,  should  be  adopted  for  the  preservation 
of  the  Town  Records,  and  for  authenticating,  legally,  any  tran- 
scripts of  such  portions  of  the  same  as  have  been  heretofore 
made,"  respectfully  submit  the  following  report: 

The  first  volume  of  the  records  beginning  with  the  first  town  meeting  in 
1667,  though  with  some  loose  leaves  and  one  cover  gone,  is  still  complete, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  words  at  the  bottom  of  the  first  four  leaves, 
and,  when  one  has  mastered  its  quaint  chirography,  may  be  readily  read. 

The  second  and  third  volumes  are  getting  somewhat  loose  in  their  covers 
and,  if  much  longer  neglected,  will  require  rebinding.  To  guard  against 
the  contingency  of  loss  or  mutilation,  by  a  longer  delay,  your  committee 

87 


690  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1870. 

recommend  that  volumes  one,  two  and  three  be  suitably  and  substantially 
rebound  and  lettered. 

In  regard  to  the  first  volume  although  we  have  a  transcript  which  is  be- 
lieved to  be  a  true  copy,  still  it  has  never  been  legally  authenticated.  The 
transcript  of  Births,  Marriages  and  Deaths  is  in  the  same  category.  These 
transcripts  may  be  authenticated  by  the  oath  of  the  Town  Clerk,  by  com- 
paring the  blind  and  antiquated  hand  writing  of  the  original,  in  many  in- 
stances to  be  deciphered  with  great  difficulty,  with  the  copy.  This  mode 
will  require  much  time  and,  consequently,  be  attended  with  considerable 
expense. 

Your  Committee  have  supposed  that,  upon  the  oath  or  affidavit  of  the 
persons  employed  for  the  purpose,  that  the  transcripts  were  true  copies  of 
the  original  records,  they  might  be  authenticated  by  a  special  act  of  the 
Legislature.  This  would  be  a  more  expeditious  and  less  expensive  mode 
of  procedure  than  that  by  comparing  the  copies  with  the  originals  by 
the  Clerk. 

In  regard  to  the  first  volume,  although  it  has  been  copied  and,  when  duly 
authenticated,  will  be  a  legal  record  of  the  town,  we  nevertheless  regard  it 
as  a  treasure  of  great  value  on  account  of  its  antiquity.  We  should  remem- 
ber that  its  initial  record  was  made  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago ;  that 
it  was  preserved  through  the  disasters  and  casualties  of  King  Philip's  War, 
when  the  town  was  deserted  and  burned ;  that  it  was  carried  away,  in  the 
autumn  of  1675,  when  the  inhabitants,  for  the  safety  of  their  lives,  returned 
to  Braintree  and  Weymouth,  and  brought  back  in  season  for  the  record  of 
the  next  town  meeting,  July  19,  1680. 

It  is  presumed  that  few  towns,  whose  acts  of  incorporation  date  back  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  have  preserved  their  records  so  complete  as  ours, 
and  when  we  remember  that  their  loss  or  mutilation  would,  in  various  ways, 
result  in  pecuniary  loss,  beside  the  break  it  would  make  in  the  historical 
chain  which  connects  the  present  with  the  generations  that  have  gone  be- 
fore us,  we  cannot  be  too  careful  of  their  preservation. 

The  fourth  section  of  Chap.  29  of  the  General  Statutes  makes  it  impera- 
tive upon  the  Selectmen  to  provide  suitable  fire-proof  safes,  at  the  expense 
of  the  town,  of  sufficient  capacity  to  hold  all  its  records  and  valuable 
papers.  In  the  opinion  of  the  committee  the  present  fire-proof  safe  has 
not  sufficient  capacity  to  hold  all  its  records  and  papers,  which,  by  law, 
are  required  to  be  secured  from  the  contingency  of  loss  by  fire. 

We  feel  it  a  duty  to  bring  this  subject  to  the  notice  of  the  town,  believ- 
ing there  can  be  no  difference  of  opinion  in  the  matter  of  the  safe-keeping 
of  the  public  records.  It  should  also  be  borne  in  mind  that,  by  the  thir- 
teenth section  of  the  chapter  before  quoted,  of  the  General  Statutes,  towns 
are  liable  to  a  fine  of  twenty  dollars  per  month  for  each  and  every  month 
they  may  neglect  to  provide  suitable  fire-proof  safes  for  the  purpose  above 
mentioned. 

In  conclusion  the  committee  recommend  that  the  town  choose  a  commit- 
tee to  procure  the  authentication  of  such  portions  of  its  records  as  have 


1870.]  ANNALS  0F  MENDON.  691 

been  transcribed;  and  also  consider  and  report,  at  the  next  town  meeting-, 
such  measures  as  they  shall  judge  meet  and  proper  in  the  matter  of  provid- 
ing additional  room  for  the  safe-keeping  of  its  records  and  papers  of  value. 

Alexander  H.  Allen,  ) 
David  Adams,  -     Committee. 

John  G.  Metcalf,  ) 

Voted  that  the  foregoing  report  he  accepted  and  adopted. 

Voted  that  the  above  committee  he  authorized  to  carry  the 
recommendations  of  their  report  into  effect. 

Voted  that  for  the  use  of  the  Town  Hall  in  future,  when  occu- 
pied by  citizens,  except  for  balls  and  dances,  or  when  an  entrance 
fee  is  asked  for  individual  benefit,  there  shall  be  paid  for  its  use 
one  dollar  in  winter  and  fifty  cents  in  summer.  For  balls  and 
dances  the  sum  of  five  dollars  shall  be  charged. 

May  28.  Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  laid  out  on  Wigwam  Hill, 
northerl}r  from  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Taft,  and  running  easterly 
to  intersect  with  the  road  from  Mendon  to  Millville,  and  to  dis- 
continue that  part  of  the  road  over  Wigwam  Hill,  lying  northerly 
of  the  point  of  beginning  of  the  above  new  road. 

By  the  return  of  the  Assessors  there  were  144  persons  in  town 
liable  to  do  military  duty. 

June  23.  Henry  A.  Aldrich,  John  G.  Metcalf,  Perry  Wood. 
Alexander  H.  Allen  and  David  Adams  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  designate  portions  of  the  public  highways  as  streets,  and  affix 
and  establish  names  by  which  they  shall  hereafter  be  known  and 
called. 

Subsequently  the  committee  made  a  report,  and  the  same  was 
adopted,  as  follows:  Main  street  from  the  old  cemetery  towards 
Worcester;  George  street  from  Main  street  by  the  house  of  B. 
D.  Williams;  Gaskill  street  from  George  street  to  the  house  of 
Austin  A.  Taft;  Blackstone  street  from  Main  street  by  the  house 
of  Gilbert  Gaskill;  Emerson  street  from  Blackstone  street  to 
Maple  street,  opposite  Washington  street;  Washington  street 
from  Maple  street  north;  Maple  street  from  Main  street  by  the 
Unitarian  Church  to  Emerson  street;  Hastings  street  from  Main 
to  Maple  street;  Elm  street  from  Maple  to  Hastings  street. 

Sept.  6.  Voted  no  person  be  allowed  to  sell  ale,  porter,  strong 
or  lager  beer  in  the  town  of  Mendon. 

Nov.  8.  Voted  to  forego  taxes  to  the  amount  of  $47.44  dur- 
ing the  year. 


692  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1870. 

Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  fourth  article  in  the  war- 
rant which  was  "  To  see  if  the  town  would  re-establish  the 
former  school  districts." 

Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  fifth  article  in  the  warrant, 
which  was  "To  see  if  the  town  would  build  a  school  house  in 
the  former  School  District  No.  1." 

Voted  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  sixth  article  in  the  warrant, 
which  was  "To  see  if  the  town  would  build  a  chimney  in  the 
school  house  of  the  Second  School  District." 

David  Adams,  John  G.  Metcalf  and  Alexander  H.  Allen  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  report,  at  a  future  meeting,  the  probable 
cost  of  indexing  the  records  of  births,  deaths,  marriages  and  in- 
tentions of  marriages. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        William  Claflin,  Newton,  had      63  votes.     Elected. 

John  Q.  Adams,  Quincy,  had      24  " 

Wendell  Phillips,  Boston.-had     37  " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Joseph  Tucker,  Lennox,  had       63 

Jas.  Chattaway,  Springfield,  had  24  " 

Eliphalet  Trask,         "  had   24  " 

Henry  W.  Bishop,  Lennox,  had  30 

The  votes  for  the  other  State  and  County  Officers  varied  but 
little  from  the  above. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District—  Charles  E.  Whitin,  Nortkbridge, 
had  59  votes.  J.  H.  Wood,  Grafton,  had  55  votes;  Elected.  George  S. 
Ball,  Upton,  had  9  votes. 

For  Representative  in  the  General  Court,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — Bain- 
bridge  Hayward,  Milford,  had  68  votes;  Elected.  Henry  E.  Fales,  Milford, 
had  63  votes.  Lyman  Paine,  Blackstone,  had  67  votes ;  Elected.  Patrick 
Mnlloy,  Blackstone,  had  16  votes.  Lawrence  Reade,  Milford,  had  23  votes; 
Elected.  Wm.  J.  McLaughlin,  Milford,  had  52  votes.  George  W.  Stacy, 
Milford,  had  5  votes.  Prescott  West,  Milford,  had  32  votes.  Waterman 
Taft,  Blackstone,  had  2  votes. 

Nov.  26.  The  subject  of  a  new  school  house  in  District  No. 
1;  of  building  a  chimney  in  the  school  house  in  District  No.  2; 
of  the  re-establishment  of  the  former  school  districts,  &c,  were 
contained  in  the  warrant.  Nothing  was  done  but  to  adjourn 
sine  die. 

During-  December  the  various  town  boundaries  were  nerambu- 
lated  by  the  Selectmen  of  the  different  towns. 


1871.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  693 

1871.  March  G.  The  usual  disposition  of  the  annual  reports 
of  the  town  officers  having  been  made,  proceeded  to  the  choice 
of  town  officers. 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Albert 
W.  Gaskill  and  Marcus  M.  Aldrich,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Met- 
calf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  at  $10  for  his 
services,  and  Francis  E.  Wheelock,  Collector,  at  $49.75. 

Chose  Gustavus  B.Williams,  School  Committee  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  same  manner  as  was  followed  last  year  for 
repairing  the  highways  and  bridges,  and  Surveyors  for  the  thir- 
teen highway  districts  were  then  chosen. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1 700  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $400  for  incidental  expeuses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1100  for  interest  on  the  town 
debt. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1500  for  repair  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  instructed  to  choose  a 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  Kev.  George  F.  Clark  was  ap- 
pointed. 

Voted  to  continue  the  High  School  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted  not  to  re-establish  the  former  school  districts  in  town. 

Yeas  75.     Nays  67. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  to 
meet  the  current  expenses. 

March  18.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  audit  the  accounts  of 
the  Treasurer  and  the  several  Collectors  since  1803  in  the  matter 
of  percentage,  and  print  their  report  with  the  annual  reports  for 
1872. 

Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Austin  Wood  and  L.  B.  Staples  were  elected 
Auditors. 

Voted  that  the  Highway  Surveyors  be  required  to  expend  80 
per  cent,  of  the  money  raised  for  repairing  roads  before  the  first 
day  of  July. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  the  tenth  day  of 
September,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be  added  until  paid. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  directed  to  hire, 


694  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1871. 

in  behalf  of  the  town,  the  sum  of  $1300.00  for  the  redemption 
of  bonds  becoming  due  the  current  year. 

Voted  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  subject  of  a  new  school  house  at  the  North  End  (for- 
merly District  No.  1),  and  report  what,  in  their  opinion,  should 
be  the  size,  where  the  site,  and  its  approximate  cost,  and  also  the 
probable  number  of  pupils  to  be  accommodated  in  the  same. 

Chose  John  L.  Davenport,  Perry  Wood,  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Edward  H.  Taft  and  Silas  Dudley  as  the  committee. 

Voted  that  the  Sexton  be  authorized  to  purchase  a  pall  and 
bier  for  the  use  of  the  town. 

The  committee  chosen  Nov.  8,  1870,  reported  that  the  records 
of  births,  deaths,  marriages  and  intentions  of  marriages  should 
be  provided  with  indexes. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  required  to  have  the  recommenda- 
tions of  said  report  carried  into  effect. 

Voted  that  the  town  authorize  the  Selectmen  to  petition  the 
Legislature  to  re-define  and  re-establish  the  line  between  the 
town  of  Mendon  and  the  town  of  Bellingham. 

The  town  of  Bellingham  claimed  that  that  portion  of  the  line 
running  north  from  the  monument,  on  the  bank  of  Charles 
River  (formerly  known  as  the  Dedham  Tree),  should  be  a  straight 
line  to  the  bridge  over  Charles  River,  near  the  ruins  of  the  Bel- 
lingham Factory,  while  Mendon  claimed  that  the  Charles  River 
should  be  the  boundary. 

By  Chap.  60  of  the  Acts  of  1872,  approved  March  7,  1872, 
the  Legislature  established  the  centre  of  Charles  River,  between 
the  points  above  mentioned,  as  the  boundary  line  between  the 
towns  of  Mendon  and  Bellingham. 

May  2.  Voted  no  person  shall  be  allowed  to  sell  ale,  porter, 
strong  beer  or  lager  beer  in  this  town  for  one  year  from  this  date. 

Voted  to  pass  the  over  fifth  article,  relating  "to  alterations  in 
roads  and  specific  repairs  to  the  same,"  as  prayed  for  by  Silas  Dud- 
ley and  others,  and  Perry  Wood  and  others.  The  petition  of  Silas 
Dudley  had  reference  to  the  direct  road  to  Milford,  and  that  of 
Perry  Wood  to  the  Milford  road  by  Gaskill's  mill,  now  known  as 
Spindleville.  The  repairs  on  the  direct  road,  afterward  directed 
to  be  made  by  the  County  Commissioners,  cost  $6950.00. 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  "Salt  Box  "road   (so-called)  from 


1871.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  695 

the  dwelling  house  of  the  late  Seth  T.  Davenport  to  Milford  line. 

Voted  that  the  price  for  the  use  of  the  Town  Hall  for  danc- 
ing parties,  when  not  used  after  twelve  o?clock  (midnight)  be  re- 
duced to  $3.00  per  night. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  to  enforce  the  liquor 
law,  and  Gustavus  B.  Williams,  Marcus  M.  Aldrich  and  George 
W.  Thayer  were  chosen  as  the  committee. 

Voted  (under  the  March  meeting  warrant)  to  raise  and  appro- 
priate the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  towards  paying  for  the 
road  recently  laid  out  by  the  County  Commissioners,  from  near 
the  house  of  the  late  S.  T.  Davenport  to  Milford  line,  in  the 
direction  of  Hopedale. 

June  13.  The  Assessors  certify  that,  on  the  first  day  of  May, 
there  were  158  persons  liable  to  enrollment,  between  the  ages  of 
18  and  45. 

Nov.  7.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow, 
from  time  to  time,  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  for 
constructing  and  repairing  the  road  (recently  laid  out)  from  the 
dwelling  house  of  Silas  Dudley  to  Milford  line. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  construct  a  chimney 
for  the  Town  Hall  and  the  Primary  School  below  said  Hall. 

The  sixth  article  of  the  warrant,  "To  see  if  the  town  would 
vote  to  sell  the  Poor  Farm,"  was  referred  to  the  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  with  Perry  Wood  and  John  S.  Gaskill  as  a  committee,  for 
consideration  and  report. 

Amount  of  taxes  foregone  during  the  year,  $50. 69. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  following  Report  of  a  Committee  chosen 
March  18,1871,  relative  to  a  school  house  at  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  formerly  the  First  School  District. 

REPORT  OF    A    COMMITTEE. 

The  committee  chosen  at  a  former  meeting  to  which  was  referred  the  sub- 
ject of  building  a  school  house  at  the  north  part  of  the  town,  formerly 
known  as  the  First  School  District,  have  attended  to  that  duty  and  now 
respectfully  ask  leave  to  submit  the  following  report : 

The  committee  recommend  that  the  town  erect  a  school  house  near  the 
site  of  the  present  house,  thirty-seven  feet  long  and  twenty-eight  feet  wide, 
and  that  it  be  set  on  underpinning  stone,  split  one  foot  and  six  inches  wide. 
That  the  posts  be  eleven  feet  long;  that  it  be  a  studded  house  and  be  set 
with  the  end  to  the  road,  with  a  suitable  jet  upon  the  rafters  facing  the 
road.     That  there  shall  be  four  windows  upon  each  side,  to  be  placed  and 


696  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1871. 

of  the  size  as  represented  in  the  accompanying  plans,  and  which  plans  are 
to  be  received  as  a  part  of  our  report.  That  the  partitions,  platforms, 
doors,  desks  and  seats,  shall  be  arranged  as  set  forth  in  the  plan  of  the 
ground  floor  beneath  herewith  submitted,  and  which  will  furnish  desks  and 
seats  for  fifty-six  scholars.  That  the  chimney  shall  be  built  at  the  farther 
end  of  the  house.  That  the  outside  covering  of  the  house  shall  be  of  the 
first  quality  of  lumber,  and  that  for  the  inside  shall  be  of  a  quality  suitable 
for  the  several  purposes  for  which  the  house  is  designed.  That  the  outside  of 
the  house  shall  be  painted  with  two  coats  of  white  lead  paint,  and  the  in- 
side with  paint  of  suitable  shade. 

Mr.  Joseph  Albee  having  offered  to  sell  the  town  one-quarter  of  an  acre 
of  laud  adjoining  the  site  of  the  present  house,  for  ten  dollars,  the  commit- 
tee recommend  that  an  additional  quarter  of  an  acre,  should  the  town  con- 
clude to  build  the  house  upon  the  location  proposed,  be  purchased  of  Mr. 
Albee  at  such  equitable  terms  as  may  be  agreed  on. 

Having  now  stated  such  leading  points  as  have  occurred  to  the  commit- 
tee, in  the  erection  of  the  proposed  school  house,  and  presuming  that  the 
town  would  hardly  find  time  to  settle  the  various  matters  of  detail  in  re- 
gard to  its  construction,  they  recommend  the  passage  of  the  following  vote : 
'Voted  a  Committee  of  five  persons  be  now  chosen  whose  duty  it  shall  be, 
after  completing  the  specifications  necessary  for  carrying  out  the  plan 
hereby  proposed,  to  contract  with  some  competent  and  suitable  person  or 
persons  for  the  erection  of  the  School  House  hereby  proposed;  the  same  to 
be  completed  and  finished  to  the  acceptance  of  the  Committee  on  or  be- 
fore the  1st  day  of  November,  1872. 

Chose  John  L.  Davenport,  Perry  Wood,  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Edward  H.  Taft  and  Silas  Dndley  as  the  above  committee. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        William  B.  Washburne,  Greenfield,  had  73  votes. 
Elected. 

"        do  Edwin  M.  Chamberlain,  Boston,  had  27 

"         do  John  B.  Adams,  Quincy,  had  18      " 

"        do  Robert  C.  Pitman,  New  Bedford,  had  4 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Joseph  Tucker,  Lenox,  had  71      " 

do  Allen  Deane,  Westfield,  had  27 

do  S.  O.  Lamb,  Greenfield,  had  18      " 

"  do  Eliphalet  Trask,  Springfield,  had  5      " 

The  other  candidates  for  State  offices  had  the  same  number  of 
votes. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — Samuel  M.  Griggs,  Westboro',  had 
75  votes;  Elected.  J.  H.  Wood,  Grafton,  had  45  votes.  George  F.  Clark, 
Mendon,  had  5  votes. 


1872.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  697 

For  Representatives  to  the  General  Court,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — 
George  B.  Blake,  Milford,  had  74  votes;  (Elected.)  Wm.  H.  Aldrieh. 
Mendon,  had  77  votes;  (Elected.)  George  W.  Hobhs,  Uxbridge,  had  76 
votes;  (Elected).  Win.  J.  McLaughlin,  Milford,  had  27  votes.  Edward 
H.  Taft,  Mendon,  had  34  votes.  Wm.  F.  Byrne,  Blackstone,  had  27  votes. 
Lawrence  Read,  Milford,  had  16  votes.  Edward  J.  Kelley,  Uxbridge,  had 
10  votes.  Jeremah  Getchel,  Blackstone,  had  16  votes.  C.  W.  Redding, 
Milford,  had  4  votes. 

EEV.    GEOKGE   T.    CLAKK,    THE    NINETEENTH    .MINISTER. 

Rev.  George  F.  Clark,  late  minister  at  Castine,  Me.,  was 
called  to  supply  the  pulpit,  and  began  his  labors  in  June,  181 1. 
He  still  (1880)  continues  to  discharge  his  parochial  duties  to  the 
general  acceptation  of  the  Parish. 

The  Parish  has  beeu  Unitarian  since  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
Alexander  in  1802.  No  Parish  tax  has  been  made  since  1827; 
the  support  of  the  ministry  being  provided  for  by  voluntary 
yearly  contributions. 


1872.  Jan.  G.  Being  an  adjourned  meeting  from  Nov.  7, 
1871. 

Voted  that  the  report  of  the  committee  (now  made)  relative 
to  selling  the  Poor  Farm  be  accepted; 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  authorized  to  lease 
the  farm  (called  the  Asylum  for  the  Poor,)  for  one  year  from  the 
first  day  of  April.  1872,  and  that  said  Overseers  be  required  to 
make  provision  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  now  at  said 
asylum. 

Voted  that  this  meeting  be  now  adjourned  to  the  time  and 
place  of  the  annual  March  meeting. 

March  4.  After  the  usual  annual  reports  of  the  town  officers 
Avere  disposed  of  by  being  severally  accepted,  the  Selectmen 
made  a  Special  Report  on  the  subject  of  "  Percentage  "  charged 
on  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  any  time  fixed  by  the  town,  as 
follows,  viz : — whereupon, 

Voted  that  the  Assessors,  in  future,  be  directed  to  procure, 
for  the  use  of  the  Collectors  of  taxes,  books  ruled  with  two  par- 
allel columns  for  the  entry,  against  each  person's  tax,  of  the  date 
of  payment  and  the  amount  of  percentage,  if  any,  is  collected; 


698  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1872. 

and  that  Collectors  be  directed,  in  all  cases,  to  make  the  appro- 
priate entries  against  each  tax. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  examine  the  Collectors'  books 
monthly,  and  ascertain  and  report  to  the  Treasurer,  from  time 
to  time,  the  amount  of  percentage  collected. 

Voted  that,  in  all  cases,  the  Treasurer,  in  his  receipts  to  the 
Collectors,  specify  the  amount  that  is  received  as  percentage, 
and  that  he  be  directed  to  charge  all  Collectors  with  the  per- 
centage so  receipted  for  at  the  time  of  receiving  the  same,  and 
should  the  Collectors,  after  the  monthly  return  to  the  Treasurer 
by  the  Selectmen,  of  the  amount  of  percentage  due,  neglect  to 
pay  over  the  same  to  the  Treasurer,  they  shall  be  charged  one 
per  cent,  a  month  for  the  same  until  paid. 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Al- 
bert W.  Gaskill  and  Thomas  B.  Staples,  Selectmen;  John  G. 
Metcalf,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  at  $15.00, 
and  Francis  E.  Wheelock,  Collector,  at  $-49.25. 

Chose  Andrew  W.  Judson,  School  Committee  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  11700  for  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  1500  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1300  for  payment  of  interest. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $2000  towards  paying  the  pub- 
lic debt. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  to 
pay  bonds  and  notes  that  become  due  the  current  year. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  and  Rev.  George  F.  Clark  was  appointed. 

Voted  to  accept  the  following  list  of  Jurors,  viz: — 

Albert  W.  Gaskill,  Charles  Fletcher,  Samuel  W.  Wilcox,  Austin  D.  Da- 
venport, Austin  "Wood,  Gustavus  B.  Williams,  Elias  T.  Bates,  John  R. 
Hay  ward,  William  S.  Hastings,  *Alexander  H.  Allen,  Andre  South  wick, 
David  Adams,  Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill,  Moses  Aldrich,  *Aaron  C.  Cook,  Gilbert 
Cook,  David  W.  Bennett,  Aldrich  B.  Cook,  John  W.  Jennison. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of 
September  of  the  present  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be 
added  until  paid. 

Voted  to  continue  the  High  School  another  year. 


1872.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  699 

Voted  to  authorize  the  Treasurer  to  borrow  money  to  pay  the 
current  expenses,  in  anticipation  of  the  collection  of  the  taxes. 

Chose  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Collector  of  Taxes,  in  place  of  Cal- 
vin Butler,  (removed  from  town,)  to  finish  the  collection  of 
1869. 

John  G.  Metcalf,  Samuel  H.  Taf t  and  Micajah  Collins  Gaskill 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  if  any  measures  are  required 
for  the  custody,  preservation  and  safe  keeping  of  the  Town  Re- 
cords, and  report  at  a  future  meeting. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  procure,  for  the  use  of  the  town,  one 
or  more  tire  engines  of  a  kind  that  makes  use  of  carbonic  acid 
as  an  extinguishing  power. 

Voted  that  Julius  A.  George,  George  W.  Cromb,  Austin  Wood, 
John  R.  Hayward  and  Stephen  C.  Taft  be  a  committee  to  inves- 
tigate the  matter  of  a  fire  engine  or  engines  for  the  use  of  the 
town,  and  report  at  a  future  meeting.  Said  committee  not  to 
purchase  without  further  authority  from  the  town. 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  a  former  meeting  to 
lease  the  farm  (called  the  Asylum  for  the  Poor.)  for  one  year. 

Voted  that  the  Overseers  of  the-Poor  be  authorized  to  sell  the 
farm,  stock,  tools  and  furniture  belonging  to  the  town. 

April  G.  Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $300  in  addition  to 
the  amount  already  raised  and  appropriated  for  the  support  of 
the  poor. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  $1800  for 
the  payment  of  a  school  house  in  the  former  School  District 
No.  1. 

REPORT    OF    A    COMMITTEE. 

Heard  the  report  of  the  committee  to  which  was  referred  the 
matter  of  the  custody,  preservation  and  safe  keeping  of  the 
Town  Records,  which  was  accepted  and  adopted  by  the  town, 
and  which  is  as  follows,  viz: — 

The  Committee  chosen  at  the  Annual  March  meeting,  "  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  custody,  preservation  and  safe  keeping  of  the  Town  Re- 
cords," respectfully  submit  the  following  Report: 

Upon  examination  they  find  that  the  present  Safe  will  not  contain  all  the 
Records  of  the  Town,  and,  in  their  opinion,  should  the  Town  Hall  (where 
the  Safe  is  now  kept)  be  destroyed  by  fire,  the  heat  would  be  sufficient  to 
destroy  the  contents  of  the  Safe.     Chap.  29,  Section  4,  of  the  General  Stat- 


700  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1872. 

utes,  makes  it  imperative  upon  the  Selectmen  of  towns  to  provide,  at  the 
expense  of  the  town,  fire  proof  Safes,  of  ample  size  for  the  preservation  of 
books  of  Record  or  Registry  and  other  important  documents  or  papers  be- 
longing thereto;  and  Section  13,  of  the  same  Chapter,  provides  that  "  for 
each  month  it  neglects  or  refuses  to  provide  suitable  Safes  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  its  Records  the  town  shall  forfeit  twenty  dollars." 

The  safe  keeping  and  preservation  of  the  Town  Records,  liable  as  they 
are,  at  any  time,  to  be  destroyed,  while  they  remain  in  their  present  loca- 
tion, is  a  subject  which  we  think  the  Town  cannot  longer,  for  prudential 
reasons,  neglect  to  consider.  The  loss  of  our  Records,  as  all  must  agree, 
would  be  an  irreparable  misfortune,  inasmuch  as  they  could  never  be  re- 
placed. The  pecuniary  loss  which  their  destruction  might  entail  especially 
in  determining  the  settlement  of  paupers,  in  certain  cases,  might  and  very 
likely  would,  before  the  lapse  of  many  years,  far  exceed  the  amount  of 
any  present  outlay  which  the  town  may  be  disposed  to  authorize  for  their 
safe  keeping. 

Believing  that  all  will  agree  that  the  present  location  of  our  Records  does 
not  insure  their  safety  from  the  hazard  of  fire,  and  assuming  that  no  one 
can  doubt  the  importance  of  their  preservation,  the  Committee  report  that 
they  have  carefully  examined  the  building  (formerly  the  Mendon  Bank) 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  McCarty,  with  a  view  to  the  expediency  of  its  pur- 
chase by  the  Town  as  a  safe  place  for  the  custody  and  preservation  of  its 
Records.  They  found  the  building  in  good  repair  except  the  roof  which 
requires  shingling.  The  cellar  is  of  the  size  of  the  building  and  its  walls, 
originally  strongly  built,  still  remain  in  proper  position.  The  vault,  for- 
merly used  by  the  Bank,,  has  been  removed  down  to  its  foundations  which  re- 
main intact.  There  are  brick  walls  upon  three  sides  of  this  foundation,  and, 
in  this  space,  should  the  future  necessities  of  the  town  require,  a  brick  vault, 
fire  proof,  might  be  erected  sufficient  to  hold  the  archives  of  the  town  for 
a  long  series  of  years.  The  Committee  learn  from  Mrs.  McCarty  that  she 
will  sell  the  buildiug  and  lot  for  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  seventy  five 
dollars  and  will  accept  in  payment  the  town's  note  with  interest  at  six  per 
cent,  per  annum.  Should  the  town  conclude  to  accept  the  offer  of  Mrs. 
McCarty,  the  Committee  believe  that  from  one  to  two  hundred  dollars 
wTould  pay  for  slating  the  roof  and  putting  the  building  in  suitable  repair 
for  its  future  use. 

They  close  their  report  by  offering  the  following  motion: 

"  That  the  town  do  purchase  the  estate  of  Mrs.  McCarty  for  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  and  seventy  five  dollars  and  that  that  sum  be  raised  and  ap- 
propriated to  defray  the  cost  of  the  same. " 

Signed  John  G.  Metcalf,       ) 

Micajah  C.  Gaskii.l,  (•  Committee. 
Samuel  H.  Tapt,         ) 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  he  authorized  to  borrow  the  sum  of 


1872.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  701 

four  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  to  pay  for  the  estate  of 
Mrs.  McCarty,  (formerly  the  Mendon  Bank,)  which  the  town 
have  voted  to  buy. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  the  repair  of  said  building. 

Voted  that  John  G.  Mefcalf,  Micajah  C.  Gaskill  and  Samuel 
H.  Taft  he  a  committee  to  carry  the  above  report  into  effect. 

Heard  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen  at  the  March  meet- 
ing, "  relative  to  purchasing  one  or  more  Fire  Engines  for  the 
town,"  and  the  same  was  accepted  and  adopted. 

REPORT    OF    A    COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town  at  the  Annual  March  meeting  "  to 
investigate  the  subject  of  Fire  Engines  using  Carbonic  acid  as  an  extin- 
guishing power  "  and  to  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  having  attended 
to  the  duty  assigned  them,  respectfully  submit  the  following  Report: 

Your  Committee  did  not  deem  it  necessary  for  the  purposes  of  this  in- 
vestigation to  visit  personally  any  of  the  towns  where  Engines  using  Chem- 
icals were  in  use,  but  considered  the  object  for  which  the  Committee  was 
chosen  could  be  attained  by  corresponding  with  prominent  gentlemen  in 
those  towns.  We  accordingly  addressed  letters  of  incpiiry  in  some  cases  to 
Postmasters  and  in  others  to  some  leading  citizen,  and.  in  almost  all  eases, 
receiving  a  prompt  reply. 

Your  Committee  considered  all  of  the  machines,  for  the  use  of  chemicals 
in  the  extinguishment  of  fire,  which  they  could  obtain  any  knowledge  of. 

1st.  We  would  mention  the  so  called  Gardner  Fire  Extinguisher,  made 
in  Philadelphia.  Your  Committee  found  this  to  be  only  another  form  of 
the  common  Portable  Extinguisher,  at  least  no  better,  costing  the  same 
and  having  the  decided  objection  attached  to  it,  that  its  proprietors  are  now 
engaged  in  a  lawsuit,  brought  against  them  by  the  American  Consolidated 
Extinguisher  Company,  for  infringement  of  its  patent,  and  should  this 
suit  be  decided  against  the  Gardner  Company,  all  purchasers  would,  of 
course,  be  liable  for  damages. 

2nd.  The  so  called  Chemical  Engine,  they  find,  does  not  meet  with  so 
much  favor  where  it  has  been  used  or  exhibited  as  they  were  led  to  believe 
from  the  representations  of  its  agents,  and  it  is  open  to  the  same  objections 
as  the  last,  that  is,  if  the  Carlier's  Patent  is  sustained  in  the  present  suit,  all 
purchasers  of  this  too  will  be  liable  for  damages. 

3d.  The  Portable  Extinguisher  No.  2,  the  same  as  exhibited  on  the  day 
of  the  March  meeting,  hardly  needs  commendation  from  this  Committee. 
Gentlemen  of  good  standing  in  their  communities,  all  over  this  and  other 
States  testify  to  its  merits  and  many  of  them  have  seen  for  themselves  that 
it  is  effectual  for  extinguishing  tire.  The  large  cities  and  towns  of  this 
State  are  using  them  in  connection  with  their  other  Engines  with  good  sue- 


702  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1872. 

cess.  The  city  of  Boston  runs  to  fires  express  wagons  loaded  with  these 
machines,  and  they  often  put  out  a  fire  before  the  arrival  of  any  engine  and 
prevent  a  serious  conflagration. 

They  are  made  and  sold  by  the  American  Consolidated  Extinguisher 
Company,  who  are  the  owners  of  the  Carlier  patent  so  that  no  one  incurs 
any  legal  risk  by  using  them.  These  can  be  obtained  at  20  per  cent,  less 
than  the  usual  prices,  that  is  for  iron  $40  and.for  copper  $44. 

4th.  The  Self- Acting  Fire  Engine  made  by  the  New  England  Fire  Extin- 
guisher Company,  we  find  to  be  in  successful  use  in  several  towns.  The 
replies  to  our  letters  of  inquiry  (any  and  all  of  which  will  be  read)  full}' 
confirm  the  claims  of  the  Manufacturers  and  the  good  opinion  your  Com- 
mittee had  previously  entertained. 

In  view  of  all  the  facts  your  Committee  recommend  that  the  town  do 
procure  for  the  use  of  the  town  one  Self  Acting  Fire  Engine  at  a  cost  of 
not  over  $800,  to  be  located  in  the  centre  of  the  Village  provided  that  the 
citizens  will  provide  suitable  care  and  storage  for  the  same  without  ex- 
pense to  the  town.  Also  that  the  town  procure  a  number  of  Portable 
Extinguishers  the  whole  cost  of  which  shall  not  exceed  five  hundred  dol- 
lars; and  that  the  same  be  distributed  under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen, 
or  of  a  Committee  at  convenient  points  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  pro- 
vided that  suitable  persons  will  guarantee  to  take  charge  of  and  lie  respon- 
sible for  the  same. 

Julius  A.  George,  "] 

S.  C.  Taft, 

G.  W.  Cromb,  }■  Committee. 

.].  R.  Hayward,        I 

Austin  Wood, 

Voted  that  the  above  committee  be  a  committee  to  purchase 
and  locate  one  Self-Acting  Fire  Engiire  in  the  centre  of  Mendon 
village,  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $800,  and  twelve  of  the  small 
portable  extinguishers,  to  be  located  by  said  committee  over  the 
said  town  of  Mendon,  at  different  and  convenient  points,  as  they 
in  their  judgment  may  think  best. 

.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  the  sum  of 
thirteen  hundred  dollars  for  the  pay  of  said  machines. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  authorized  to  make  such 
repairs  of  the  school  houses  as  they  may  deem  necessary. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  pay  a  bounty  of  ten 
cents  per  head  for  all  woodchucks,  he  having  satisfactory  evidence 
that  such  woodchucks  were  caught  and  killed  in  the  town  of 
Mendon. 

The  committee  chosen  to  contract  for  the  erection  of  a  school 
house  in  the  former  First  District,  reported  that  Perry  Wood, 


1872.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


703 


the  contractor  for  said  house,  had  failed  to  complete  said  struct- 
ure in  accordance  with  some  of  the  specifications  contained  in 
said  contract.     This  report  was  accepted,  and  then 

Voted  that  the  Building  Committee  be  instructed,  Mr.  Wood 
consenting,  to  refer  the  difference  between  them  to  the  Select- 
men, as  referees,  each  party  to  abide  by  their  decision. 

The  Selectmen  and  Mr.  Wood  met,  next  morning,  at  the 
school  house,  and  the  objections  of  the  Building  Committee 
were  not  sustained  by  the  referees. 

The  number  of  persons  liable  to  enrollment,  as  returned  by 
the  Assessors,  was  156. 


Nov. 


PB  KSI  DKXTIA  L    ELECTION. 


For  Elector*  at  Dirge — EbenezerR.  Hoar,  Concord,  had  89  votes;  Elected. 
John  M.  Forbes,  Milton,  had 89  votes;  Elected.  Chester  W.  Chapin,  Spring- 
field, had  50  votes.  Josiah  G.  Abbott,  Boston,  had  50  votes.  H.  D.  Cush- 
ing,  Boston,  had  2  votes.     E.  S.  Conant,  Randolph,  had  2  votes. 


District  No.  1. 

William  T.  Davis,  Plymouth 89 

George  Delano,  New  Bedford ....  50 
M.  W.  Nickerson,  of  So.  Dennis.  2 

No.  2. 

Harrison  Tweed,  Taunton 89 

James  E.  Carpenter,  Foxboro ...  50 
Nathan  Beal,  East  Abington 2 

No.  3. 

Alvan  Simonds,  Boston 89 

Chas.  A.  B.  Shepard,  Boston 50 

S.  W.  Hodges,  "      2 

No.  4. 

Edward  H.  Dunn,  Boston 89 

Joseph  Everdean,  Chelsea 50 

G.  H.  Vibbert,  East  Boston 2 

No.  5. 

Amos  F.  Breed,  Lynn 89 

Rich'd  Frothingham,  Charlestown.50 
A.  E.  Whitney,  Lynn 2 

No.  6. 

Luther  Day,  Haverhill 89 

John  A.  Bassett,  Salem 50 

J.  H.  Orne,  Marblehead 2 

STATE    ELECTION. 
For  Governor,         Wm.  B.  Washburne,  Greenfield,  had  92  votes.    Elected. 
Francis  W.  Bird,  Walpole,  had  47      " 


District  No.  7. 

John  C.  Hoadley,  Lawrence 89 

Wm.  H.  Clemeuce,  Lowell 50 

L.  D.  Barrows,  Lawrence 2 

No.  8. 

Aaron  C.  Mayhew,  Milford 89 

Henry  W.  Muzzey,  Cambridge ...  50 
W.  W.  Brown,  "  ...  2 

No.  9. 
Stephen  Salisbury,  Worcester. . .  .89 
Isaac  Davis,                      "         ...  .50 
George  F.  Clark,  Mendon 2 

No.  10. 

Levi  Stockbridge,  Amherst 89 

C.  H.  B.  Snow,  Fitchburg 50 

E.  F.  Coffin,  Orange 2 

No.  11. 
Henry  Alexander,  Jr., Springfield  89 

Charles  W.  Knox,  Chester 50 

Lucius  Holmes,  North  Adams. ...   2 


704  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1873. 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Thomas  Talbot,  Billerica,  had  92  votes.    Elected. 

Win.  L.  Smith,  Springfield,  had  49      " 

The  other  State  and  County  officers  had  about  the  same  num- 
ber of  votes. 

For  Representative  to  Congress,  Ninth  District — George  F.  Hoar,  Worces- 
ter, had  89  votes;  Elected.     George  F.  Verry,  Worcester,  had  50  votes. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — Samuel  M.  Griggs,  Westborough, 
had  86  votes ;  Elected.     Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Mendon,  had  47  votes. 

For  Representatives,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — George  B.  Blake,  Mil- 
ford,  had  91  votes;  Elected.  Henry  C.  Skinner,  Milford,  had  91  votes; 
Elected.  John C.  Scott,  Blackstone,  had 90  votes;  Elected.  Albert  Smith, 
Blackstone,  had  49  votes.  George  G.  Parker,  Milford,  had  49  votes.  P.  C. 
Callaghan,  Milford,  had  49  votes.  John  S.  Needham,  Blackstone,  had  2 
votes. 

Taxes  foregone  during  the  year,  $8.19. 


1873.  March  3.  After  hearing  and  accepting  the  reports  of 
the  town  officers, 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Albert 
W.  Gaskill  and  Thomas  B.  Staples,  Selectmen;  T.  B.  Staples 
declined,  and  May  26  Nathan  K.  George  was  chosen  in  his  place. 
John  G.  Metcalf  was  chosen  Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Con- 
stable, at  115,  and  Francis  E.  Wheelock,  Collector  at  $59.00. 

Homer  W.  Darling  and  E.  P.  Gaskill  were  chosen  School  Com- 
mittee for  three  years;  Elias  T.  Bates  for  two  years,  and  Lowell 
C.  Cook  for  one  year. 

Voted  to  accept  Chap.  158  of  the  Acts  of  1871,  relative  to 
Boad  Commissioners.  By  section  two  of  said  act,  said  "Road 
Commissioners  shall  have  and  perform,  exclusively,  all  the  pow- 
ers and  duties  now  vested  by  law  in  Selectmen  and  Surveyors  of 
Highways  concerning  the  laying  out,  altering,  making  or  discon- 
tinuing streets,  ways,  sidewalks,  sewers  and  drains." 

Chose  Perry  Wood  for  one  year.  George  D.  Whitney  for  two 
years,  and  Albert  W.  Gaskill  for  three  years,  Road  Commis- 
sioners. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1700  for  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repair  of  highways. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  support  of  the  poor. 


1873.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  705 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1500  to  pay  the  interest  on  the 
town  debt. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $400  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  #2000  towards  payment  of 
town  debt. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  choose  a  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  and  the  Rev.  George  F.  Clark  was  appointed. 

Voted  to  accept  of  the  list  of  Jurors  presented  by  the  Select- 
men. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  the  tenth  day  of 
September,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be  added  till  paid. 

Voted  to  continue  the  High  School. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  to 
pay  current  expenses  in  anticipation  of  the  collection  of  the 
taxes. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  dispose  of  the  old  school  house  in 
what  was  formerly  School  District  No.  1. 

March  15.  Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  the  sum  of  $300 
additional  to  the  sum  raised  at  the  last  town  meeting  for  repairs 
of  roads  and  bridges. 

Voted  that  the  Road  Commissioners  be  allowed  twenty  cents 
per  hour  for  their  services  while  employed  on  or  about  the  roads 
in  town. 

Voted  that  the  town  do  authorize  and  instruct  the  Treasurer 
to  borrow,  upon  the  credit  of  the  town,  the  sum  of  ten  thou- 
sand one  hundred  dollars,  ($1,100,)  to  redeem  such  outstanding- 
bonds  of  the  town  as  may  fall  due  during  the  current  municipal 
year. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  Road  Commissioners  relative 
to  the  acceptance  by  the  town  of  a  short  piece  of  road  from  near 
the  house  of  Roba  M.  Bennett  to  the  new  road  leading  to  Hope- 
dale. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  Road  Commissioners  laying 
out  several  parcels  of  land  for  procuring  earth  and  gravel  for 
repairing  the  roads. 

Voted  that  the  town  purchase  one-half  acre  of  land  for  the 
better  accommodation  of  the  former  Fifth  School  District. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  pay  a  bounty  of  ten   cents  per  head 

89 


706  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1873. 

for  all  woodchucks  brought  to  him  having  been  caught  and 
killed  in  this  town. 

Voted  to  discontinue  a  short  piece  of  road  leading  from  the 
road  near  the  house  of  Laban  Bates  to  Bellinghani  line. 

Voted  to  discontinue  the  road  leading  from  the  corner  of  the 
road  to  Milford,  easterly  of  the  house  of  John  8.  Gaskill,  to 
Milford  line,  over  Keck  Hill. 

Voted  that  the  matter  of  fencing  the  ground  around  the 
school  house  at  the  north  part  of  the  town  be  referred  to  the 
School  Committee  to  report. 

Voted  to  choose  three  Engineers,  who  shall  have  the  general 
charge  and  direction  of  the  machines,  the  apparatus,  fixtures 
and  everything  belonging  to  the  engines,  at  tires  and  meetings 
for  practice. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  choice  of  Engineers. 

Aug.  9.  A  meeting  was  held  "  to  see  if  the  town  would 
reconsider  the  votes  discontinuing  the  Quisset  road,"'  and  the 
meeting  was  dissolved  without  any  action. 

Nov.  4.  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  discontinuing  the 
Quisset  road. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Win.  B.  Washbnrne,  Greenfield,  had  57  votes.    Elected. 

•  William  Gaston,  Boston,  had  46 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Thomas  Talbot,  Bijlerica,  had  58      " 

William  L.  Smith,  Springfield,  bad    46      " 

The  other  State  and  County  officers  received  the  same  num- 
ber of  votes,  except  Alexander  A.  Wilder,  for  Register  of  Deeds, 
for  whom  the  vote  was  unanimous,  he  receiving  101  votes. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District— Charles  E.  Whitin,  Northbridge, 
K,  had  49  votes.   Jeremiah Gatchel,  Blackstone,  D.,  had  46  votes;  Elected. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — David 
M.  Gaskill,  Blackstone,  had  58  votes.  Henry  C.  Skinner,  Milford,  had  57 
votes.  James  M.  Farnum,  Uxbridge,  had  57  votes.  Lawrence  Reade,  Mil- 
ford, had  43  votes;  Elected.  Albert  Smith,  Blackstone,  had  45  votes; 
Elected.  George  W.  Taft,  Uxbridge,  had  43  votes;  Elected.  Henry  E. 
Fales,  Milford,  had  one  vote. 

Amount  of  taxes  foregone  during  the  year,  $76.94. 


1874.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  707 

1874.  March  2.  The  usual  reports  being  read  and  dis- 
posed of, 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Albert 
W.  Gaskill  and  Nathan  R.  George,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Treasurer;  George  W.  Thayer,  Constable,  at  $15,  and  Francis 
E.  Wheelock,  Collector,  at  $68.00.  George  W.  Thayer  having 
died  Oct.  23,  1874,  the  Selectmen  appointed  (his  son)  George  A. 
Thayer,  Constable  in  his  place. 

Rev.  George  F.  Clark  and  Lowell  C.  Cook  chosen  School 
Committee. 

Chose  Elias  T.  Bates,  Road  Commissioner  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1700  for  the  support  of 
schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1500  for  repairs  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1(300  for  payment  of  interest. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $2000  towards  payment  of  the 
debts. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  to 
pay  the  current  expenses,  in  anticipation  of  the  collection  of  the 
taxes. 

Voted  that  the  twelfth  article  in  the  warrant  be  indefinitely 
postponed. 

This  article  was  in  the  following  words: 

"To  see  if  the  town  will  take  any  measures,  by  appointing  and  instruct- 
ing a  Special  Agent,  or  otherwise,  towards  collecting  of  Perry  Wood  and 
Gilbert  Gaskill  (the  contractors  to  repair  the  road  from  the  house  of  Silas 
Dudley  to  Milford  line),  or  their  sureties,  the  amount  recently  recovered 
against  the  town  in  the  suit  of  D.  C.  Howard,  with  the  expenses  attending 
said  suit,  or  act  in  any  way  in  relation  to  said  suit." 

While  the  road  was  being  repaired  D.  C.  Howard  was  injured 
while  passing  over  it  in  the  night,  and  his  carriage  broken.  The 
amount  recovered  by  him,  as  damages  and  costs,  was  $400.79. 
As  the  road  had  been  accepted  by  the  County  Commissioners, 
and  the  contractors  had  been  paid  the  full  amount  of  the  con- 
tract, $0,950.00,  it  was  supposed  that  they  could  not  be  held 
responsible. 


708  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  |  1874. 

A  motion  was  made  to  revoke  the  acceptance  of  Chapter  185 
of  the  Acts  of  the  Legislature  for  1871,  providing  for  the  elec- 
tion of  Road  Commissioners,  but  the  motion  did  not  prevail. 

Voted  to  pay  the  Milford  Fire  Department  $40  for  their  ser- 
vices at  the  burning  of  Gustavus  B.  Williams'  barn,  March  3, 
1873.  Upon  the  arrival  of  their  Steam  Fire  Engine  the  barn 
had  burned  down  and  the  fire  was  subdued. 

Voted  to  continue  the  High  School. 

April  4.  Voted  that  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  and  Rev.  George  F.  Clark  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of 
September  of  the  present  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be 
added  until  paid. 

Voted  to  pay  Aaron  C.  Cook  five  dollars  for  damages  received 
on  the  highway. 

Voted  that  the  claim  of  William  H.  Comstock  for  damage  by 
lowering  the  grade  of  the  road  in  front  of  his  house,  be  referred 
to  the  Road  Commissioners. 

Voted  that  the  collection  of  the  taxes  for  1869,  now  due,  be 
committed  to  the  person  who  will  collect  them  for  the  lowest 
per  cent,  on  the  amount  collected,  exclusive  of  any  charge  for 
legal  services. 

Aaron  C.  Cook  bid  15  per  cent.,  and  he  being  the  lowest 
bidder,  the  collection  was  awarded  to  him,  and  he  was  then 
chosen  Collector. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  such  sums 
of  money  as  may  be  necessary  to  pay  outstanding  bonds  which 
may  become  due  the  present  year. 

Nov.  3.  Voted  that  the  town  pay  David  Adams  twelve  dol- 
lars for  the  storage  and  the  keeping  the  contents  of  the  tire 
engine  from  freezing  during  the  winter. 

Voted  to  choose  a  Collector  in  place  of  Aaron  C.  Cook,  de- 
ceased, who  was  to  complete  the  collection  of  the  tax  of  1869, 
originallv  committed  to  Calvin  Butler,  removed  from  town. 

Chose  Francis  E.  Wheelock,  Collector. 

Taxes  foregone  during  the  year  $38.69. 

STATE  ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         Thomas  Talbot,  Billerica,  R. ,  had       66  votes. 

William  Gaston,  Boston,  D.,  had        57      "        Elected. 


1875.|  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  709 

For  Lt.  Governor,  Horatio  G.  Knight,  Ea.stlnunpt.on, had  70  votes.    Elected. 
William  L.  Smith,  Springfield,  had    56      " 

Other  State  and  County  officers  received  about  the  same  num- 
ber of  votes. 

For  Senator  for  Second  Worcester  District — Thomas  G.  Kent,  Milford,  R, 
had  63  votes.     Jeremiah  Getehel,  Blackstone,  D.,  had  56  votes;  Elected. 

For  Representatives,  Fifteenth  Worcester  District — D.  Gilhert,  Ghapin,  Mil- 
ford,  R.,  had  71  votes.  James  H.  Putnam,  Milford,  R,  had  70  votes. 
Alanson  Taft,  Mendon,  R,  had  59  votes.  James  Bergen,  Milford,  D.,  had 
53  votes;  Elected.  Albert  W.  Gaskill,  Mendon,  D.,  had  65  votes;  Elected. 
Albert  Smith,  Blackstone,  D.,  had  57  votes;  Elected. 


1875.  March  1.  The  usual  disposition  of  the  reports  of  the 
various  town  officers  being  made, 

David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  H.  Allen. 
Albert  W.  Gaskill  and  Nathan  R.  George,  Selectmen;  John  G. 
Metcalf.  Treasurer;  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Constable,  at  $15,  and 
Francis  E.  Wheelock,  Collector,  at  #49.00. 

James  M.  Newhall  and  Samuel  H.  Taft  were  chosen  School 
Committee  for  three  years. 

Chose  Waterman  Taft,  Road  Commissioner  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1700  for  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1200  for  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $800  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repair  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  the  payment  of  the 
town  debt. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1400  for  payment  of  interest. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  be  required  to  appoint  a 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  Rev.  George  F.  Clark  was  ap- 
pointed. 

Voted  to  accept  the  list  of  Jurors  as  reported  by  the  Select- 
men, viz: — 

Charles  Fletcher,  Samuel  W.  Wilcox,  Sullivan  H.  Taft,  Elias  T.  Bates, 
Albert  W.  Gaskill,  Joseph  Bates,  Homer  W.  Darling,  George  D.  Whitney, 
David  Adams,  Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill,  Benj.  F.  Aldrich,  Lowell  C.  Cook,  *Ed- 
ward  L.  Staples,  George  W.  Jennison,  Aldrich  B.   Cook,  Hiram  P.  Butler. 


710  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  [1875. 

March  12.  Heard  the  report  of  the  committee  chosen  at  the 
last  meeting  relative  to  the  purchase  of  a  Poor  Farm. 

Voted  that  the  suhject  be  recommitted-  to  the  committee  for 
further  examination  of  farms.  The  following  persons  composed 
this  committee,  viz:  Samuel  H.  Taft,  Eli  Bates,  Ezekiel  P.  Gas- 
kill,  Benjamin  F.  Aldrich  and  Putman  W.  Taft. 

May  22.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  appear  before  the  County 
Commissioners  and  oppose  the  relocation  of  the  road  leading 
from  near  the  late  residence  of  Nathan  George,  deceased,  by  the 
residence  of  Hiram  Daniels,  in  Blackstone.  The  road  was  not 
relocated. 

Nov.  2.  Mrs.  Charlotte  A.  Joy,  widow  of  the  late  Hon. 
David  Joy,  who  had  resided  in  Mendon  a  few  years,  and  who 
had  recently  died  at  Ventnor,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  England, 
whither  he  had  gone  for  the  improvement  of  his  health, 
proposing  to  erect  a  watering  fountain  in  town,  to  the  memory 
of  her  late  husband,  John  S.  Gaskill,  Alanson  Taft  and  Edward 
H.  Taft  were  chosen  a  committee  to  confer  with  Mrs.  Joy  on  the 
subject. 

There  being  much  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  precise  loca- 
tion of  the  fountain,  Mrs.  Joy  made  arrangements  with  Mr. 
Silas  Dudley  to  have  the  fountain  located  at  the  intersection  of 
the  roads  near  Mr.  Dudley's  house,  he  obligating  himself  to  keep 
the  same  in  repair  for  the  term  of  fifteen  years. 

'       STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,         William  Gaston,  Boston,  had  48  votes. 

Alexander  H.  Rice,  Boston,  had         54      "        Elected. 

John  I.  Baker,  Beverly,  had  12      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  John  Q.  Adams,  Quincy,  had  42 

Horatio  G.  Knight,  Easthampton,  had  55      ' ' 

Ezra  S.  Conant,  Randolph,  had  12      " 

The  votes  for  the  other  State  and  County  officers  were  about 
the  same  as  above. 

For  Senator,  Second  Worcester  District—  Henry  E.  Fales,  Milford,  had  38 
votes.  Abraham  M.  Bigelow,  Grafton,  had  55  votes;  (Elected.)  Francis 
Fisher,  Southboro',  had  12  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  Second  Worcester  District— Demo- 
crat—George  G.  Parker,  Milford,  had  42  votes;  (Elected).  Patrick  Ken- 
nady,  Blackstone,  had  41  votes;  (Elected).     Charles  C.  Capron,  Uxbridge, 


1876.  |  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  711 

had  43  votes;  (Elected.)  Republicans — Nelson  Parkhurst,  Mil  ford,  had  55 
votes.  Zadoe  A.  Taft,  Uxbridge,  54  votes.  William  A.  Cole,  Rlackstonc, 
had  55  votes.  Prohibitionists — A.  A.  Cook,  Milford,  had  12  votes.  Ed- 
ward H.  Taft,  had  12  votes.     J.  I).  Hunt,  Milford,  had  12  votes. 


1876.  The  Hon.  Abraham  M.  Bigelow,  the  Senator  from  this 
(the  Second  Worcester  District,)  having  died,  a  meeting  was 
held  this  day  to  till  the  vacancy,  the  .Selectmen  presiding 

Aaron  C.  Mavhew,  Milford,  had  51  votes;  (Elected).  Jonathan  H. 
Wood,  Grafton,  had  2(5  votes.     Francis  Fisher,  Southboro',  had  3  votes. 

Alexander  H.  Allen  was  then  chosen  Moderator. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  lay  a  new  floor  in  the 
Town  Hall  of  Southern  hard  pine. 

March  (J.  The  Reports  of  the  town  officers  were  first  dis- 
posed of. 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Alexander  II.  Allen,  Al- 
bert W.  Gaskill  and  Nathan  Richard  George,  Selectmen;  John 
G.  Metcalf,  Treasurer;  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Constable,  at  $15, 
and  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Collector,  at  $-45.00. 

Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill  and  George  D.  Whitney,  School  Committee 
for  three  years. 

Albert  W.  Gaskill.  Road  Commissioner  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1700  for  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  support  of  the  poor. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1400  for  the  payment  of 
interest. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  payment  of  principal. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repair  of  highways 
and  bridges. 

Voted  that  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  and  Rev.  George  F.  Clark  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of 
September  of  the  present  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be 
added  until  paid. 

Voted  that  the  High  School  be  continued. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money  to 
pay  current  expenses,  in  anticipation  of  the  collection  of  the 
taxes. 


712 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON. 


[1876. 


It  was  a  remarkable  fact  that  it  was  not  found  necessary  to 
call  a  town  meeting  from  the  annual  March  meeting  until  the 
meeting  held  for  the  choice  of  State  officers. 

Nov.  7.  Voted  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  authorized  to 
take  such  measures  by  establishing  a  Lock-up,  or  otherwise  as 
may,  in  their  judgment,  seem  necessary,  in  order  to  abate  the 
tramp  nuisance. 

PRESIDENTIAL    ELECTION. 

Electors  at  Large — Thomas  Talbot,  Billerica,  R.,  had  129  votes;  Elected. 
Stephen  Salisbury,  Worcester,  R.,  had  129  votes;  Elected.  William  Gas- 
ton, Boston,  D.,  had  74  votes.  Edward  Avery,  Braintree,  D.,  had  74  votes. 
George  F.  Clark,  Mendon,  T.,  had  3  votes.  Henry  D.  Gushing,  Boston,  T., 
had  3  votes. 


District  No.  1. 
Warren  Ladd,  New  Bedford. ...  129 
James D.  Thompson,  N.  Bedford.  74 
John  Blackmar,  Provincetown .  .     3 

No.  2. 

Theodore  Dean,  Taunton 129 

Saml.  N.  Dyer,  Jr.,  Abington. . .  74 
C.  M.  Winchester,  Brockton 3 

No.  3. 

J.  Felt  Osgood,  Boston 129 

George  P.  Baldwin,  Boston 74 

Magnus  Vantres,  "       3 

No.  4. 

Martin  Brimmer,  Boston 129 

Charles  Levi  Woodbury,  Boston .   74 
James  M.  Brown,  Chelsea 3 

No.  5. 
Samuel  C.  Lawrence,  Medford.  .129 
Alpha  E.  Thompson,  Woburn. .  .   74 
William  S.  Oakman,  Boston  ....     3 

No.  6. 
George  W.  Morrill,  Amesbury. .  .129 

James  V.  Smiley,  Haverhill 74 

Chas.  P.  Wellman,  Marblehead. .     3 


District  No.  7. 

Carroll  D.  Wright,  Reading 129 

James  C.  Abbott,  Lowell 74 

Saml.  B.  Maynard,  Marlboro' ...     3 

No.  8. 
James  R.  Lowell,  Cambridge. .  .  .129 
Edwin  A.  Alger,  Cambridgeport.   74 
John  Tucker,  Watertown 3 

No.  9. 
John  C.  Whitiu,  Northbridge. .  .129 

Eli  Thayer,  Worcester 74 

Timothy  A.  Smith,  Westboro'. . .     3 

No.  10. 
W.  B  C.  Pearsons,  Holyoke. . .  .129 
Timothy  S.  Wilson,  Fitchburg. .   74 
E.  P.  Gibbs,  Dana 3 

No.  11. 

Richard  Goodman,  Lennox 129 

Cebra  Quackenbush,  Pittsfield..   74 
Solomon  F.  Root,  Hinsdale 3 


STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Alexander  H.  Rice,  Boston,  had       125  votes. 
Chas.  Francis  Adams,  Quincy,  had   75      " 
John  I.  Baker,  Beverly,  had  5      " 

For  Lt.  Governor,  H.  G.  Knight,  Easthampton,  had     125      '' 


Elected. 


1877.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  713 

For  Lt,  Governor,  Wm.  R.  Plunkett,  Pittsfield,  had      74  votes. 
Daniel  C.  Eddy,  Boston,  had  4      " 

"Win.  W.  Brown,  Cambridge,  had        1      " 

Other  State  and  County  officers  received  nearly  the  same  num- 
ber of  votes. 

For  Representative  to  Congress,  Ninth  District — William  W.  Rice,  Worces- 
ter, had  129  votes;  Elected.  George  F.  Verry,  Worcester,  had  74  votes. 
Edward  W.  Clark,  Westboro',  had  3  votes. 

For  Senator  to  the  General  Court,  Second  Worcester  District — Aaron  C.  May- 
hew,  Milford,  had  127  votes;  Elected.  Alvin  Hall,  Douglas,  had  73  votes. 
Edward  A.  Perry,  Milford,  had  5  votes. 

For  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  Second*  Worcester  District — William 
H.  Cook,  Milford,  had  128  votes;  Elected.  Augustus  S.  Tuttle,  Milford, 
had  126  votes;  Elected.  George  G.  Parker,  Milford,  had  73  votes.  Phillip 
A.  Gleason,  Milford,  had  71  votes.  George  F.  Clark,  Mendon,  had 4  votes. 
Joseph  D.  Hunt,  Milford,  had  4  votes.  Edward  H.  Taft,  Mendon,  had  1 
vote. 

Amount  of  taxes  foregone  during  the  year,  $33. GG. 


1877.  March  5.  The  reports  of  the  town  officers  were  dis- 
posed of  as  usual. 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Gustavus  B.  Williams,  Al- 
bert W.  Gaskill  and  Samuel  Harkness  Taft,  Selectmen;  John 
George  Metcalf,  Treasurer;  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Constable;  An- 
drew W.  Judson,  Collector,  at  $68.00;  John  E.  Hay  ward,  Road 
Commissioner  for  three  years;  and  Gustavus  B.  Williams  and 
Lowell  C.  Cook,  School  Committee  for  three  years. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1500  for  the  support  of  schools. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $500  for  incidental  expenses. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1400  for  the  payment  of  in- 
terest on  the  debt. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  $1000  for  repairs  of  roads  and 
bridges. 

Gustavus  B.  Williams,  Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill,  John  R.  Hayward, 
Eli  Bates,  Perry  Wood,  Albert  W.  Gaskill  and  Francis  F.  Taft, 
were  chosen  a  committee  and  authorized  to  purchase,  in  behalf 
of  the  town,  a  farm,  suitable  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor, 
and  it  was  voted  that  five  of  the  committee  should  be  unanimous. 


*  The  State  had  been  districted  anew. 
90 


714  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1877. 

Voted  tlnit  the  Road  Commissioners  shall  pay  not  to  exceed 
fifteen  cents  per  hour  for  labor  on  the  highway. 

Voted  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  and  the  Rev.  George  F.  Clark  was  appointed. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  not  paid  on  or  before  the  tenth  day  of 
September  of  the  present  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be 
added  until  paid. 

The  list  of  Jurors  was  adopted  as  follows,  viz: 

John  R.  Hay-ward,  Edward  S.  Wortlien,  Putman  W.  Taft,  William  W. 
Nelson,  John  C.  Wood,  F.  P.  Gaskill,  Benj.  F.  Aldrich,  Lowell  C.  Cook, 
Charles  Fletcher,  Aldrich  B  Cook,  Samuel  H.  Taft,  S.  W.  Wilcox,  A.  W. 
Gaskill,  Samuel  A.  Bennett,  George  F.  Lowell,  Silas  Dudley,  Jr.,  Hiram 
P.  Butler,  Alanson  Taft. 

Voted  to  continue  the  High  School  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  money,  if 
necessary,  for  the  payment  of  bonds  becoming  due  the  current 
year. 

March  17.  Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  pay  current  expenses,  in  anticipation  of  the  collection 
of  the  taxes. 

Voted  that  Perry  Wood,  Eli  Bates  and  Francis  F.  Taft  be  a 
committee  to  purchase  a  site  and  build  a  lock-up  upon  the  same, 
and  the  sum  of  1300  was  voted  to  be  raised  and  appropriated  for 
the  same. 

The  committee  purchased  the  law  office  of  the  late  Warren 
Rawson,  with  ground  attached  to  it,  and  fitted  the  same  for  the 
reception  of  Tramps.  Within  the  building  a  cell  was  constructed 
of  stone  and  iron,  for  the  safe-keeping  of  criminals. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  11000  for  the  support  of  the 
poor. 

The  committee  chosen  March  5,  upon  the  subject  of  a  farm, 
whereon  to  support  the  poor,  having  made  a  report, 

Upon  a  motion  made  by  Perry  Wood,  that  the  town  do  pur- 
chase the  farm  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  Eli  Bates,  the 
vote  stood  36  in  the  affirmative  and  37  in  the  negative. 

April  1.  Pursuant  to  Chap.  175  of  the  Acts  of  1873,  the 
Selectmen  appointed  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Keeper  of  the  Lock-up 
in  the  town  of  Mendon,  and  fixed  his  compensation  at  the  sum 
of  ten  dollars  per  year.  Mr.  Judson  was  then  duly  qualified, 
being  sworn  before  (1.  B.  Williams,  Esq. 


187T-]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  7  If) 

Oct.  13.  There  being  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  Collector  for 
the  years  1869,  1870.  1871,  1872,  1873,  1874  and  1875.  caused 
by  the  decease  of  Francis  E.  Wheelock,  collector  for  those  years, 
the  Selectmen,  according  to  law.  appointed  Andrew  \Y.  Judson, 
Collector  pro  tempore,  to  complete  the  collections  for  those  years. 
Mr.  Judson  was  duly  qualified,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the 
duties  of  his  office. 

Nov.  6.  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  he  instructed  and  directed, 
for  the  future,  not  to  issue  orders  in  payment  of  the  salary  or 
compensation  of  any  officers  of  the  town  before  they  have  fully 
discharged  all  the  duties  and  completed  all  the  services  which 
they  were  elected,  or  were  appointed,  or  were,  by  contract,  to 
perform. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  examine  the  tax  lists  of  Collector  of 
taxes  monthly,  and  by  actual  inspection  of  the  sums  of  interest 
collected,  if  any,  set  against  each  tax  payer's  name,  in  the  col- 
umns of  the  Collector's  book  for  that  purpose,  ascertain  whether 
such  sums  are  correctly  calculated  and  stated,  and  also  the  total 
amount  of  interest  on  taxes  collected  for  that  month,  and  report 
the  same  to  the  Treasurer;  and  all  other  provisions  defining  the 
duties  of  the  Collector  in  relation  to  interest  on  taxes  to  remain 
as  heretofore  established  by  the  town. 

Voted  that  whenever  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Collector,  or  Collec- 
tor pro  tempore,  shall  in  pursuance  of  the  powers  conferred  upon 
him.  by  law,  commit  any  person  or  persons  to  prison  for  non- 
payment of  taxes,  and  such  person  is  discharged,  the  town  do 
exonerate  him  from  the  liability  to  which  he  is  subjected  by  the 
General  Statutes,  Chap.  12,  section  1(3. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  settle  with  the  representatives  of 
Francis  E.  Wheelock,  deceased,  late  collector  of  taxes. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  1108.94  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1800. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  $10.81  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1870. 

'  Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  $21.00  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1871. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  $32.94  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1872. 


716  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1878. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  168.16  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1873. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  $81.06  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1874. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  $94.09  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1875. 

Voted  to  forego  the  sum  of  $63.05  in  A.  W.  Judson's  collec- 
tion for  1876. 

STATE    ELECTION". 

For  Governor,        Alexander  H.  Rice,  Boston,  had      95  votes.    Elected. 
William  Gaston,  "        had      60      " 

Robert  C.  Pitman,  Newton,  had      12 
For  Lt.  Governor,  H.  G.  Knight,  Easthampton,  had    97      " 
Wm.  R.  Plunkett,  Pittsfield,  had    60      " 
Elijah  A.  Morse,  Canton,  had         11      " 
Thomas  L.  Lathrop  had  1 

Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — William  Knowlton,  Upton,  had  96 
votes;  Elected.     Henry  A.  Aldrich,  Mendon,  had  64  votes. 

For  Representatives  to  the  General  Court,  Second  Worcester  District — William 
H.  Cook,  Milford,  had  98  votes;  Elected.  Charles  A.  Davis,  Upton,  had 
98  votes;  Elected.  George  G.  Parker,  Milford,  had  59  votes.  Thomas  J. 
Hall,  Upton,  had  59  votes.  Charles  C.  Johnson,  Milford,  had  10  votes. 
George  F.  Clark,  Mendon,  had  10  votes. 

Amount  of  taxes  foregone  this  year,  $510.18. 


1878.  March  4.  After  hearing  the  reports  of  the  various 
town  officers.  David  Adams  was  chosen  Town  Clerk;  Gustavus 
B.  Williams,  Albert  W.  Gaskill  and  Samuel  H.  Taft,  Selectmen; 
John  Gr.  Metcalf,  Treasurer;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Micajah  C. 
Gaskill  and  Linus  B.  Staples,  Assessors;  and  Andrew  W.  Jud- 
son,  Constable  and  Collector. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  the  sum  of  $7000.00  for  de- 
fraying town  charges  the  current  year. 

Voted  that  to  all  taxes  remaining  unpaid  on  the  tenth  day  of 
September  of  the  current  year,  one  per  cent,  per  month  shall  be 
added. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  be  instructed  to  print  and  distribute 
a  copy  of  the  valuation  and  assessment  of  taxes  for  the  present 
year. 


1878.]  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  717 

Mrs.  Bernette  H.  Williams  was  appointed  Superintendent  of 
Schools  by  the  School  Committee. 

USE    OF    THE    TOWN    HALL. 

March  16.  Voted  that  for  the  use  of  the  Town  Hall,  by  the 
citizens  of  Mendon,  when  no  entrance  fee  is  charged,  the  rent 
shall  be  one  dollar,  the  hall  to  be  closed  at  10  o'clock,  P.  M. 

That,  when  an  entrance  fee  is  charged,  and  the  proceeds  to  be 
applied  for  the  benefit  of  any  religions  society,  moral  reform 
movement,  .Sunday  or  public  schools,  in  town,  the  rent  shall  be 
two  dollars,  the  Hall  to  be  closed  at  11  o'clock,  P.  M. 

That  dancing  parties  closing  at  11  o'clock,  P.  M.,  shall  pay 
three  dollars. 

That,  in  all  other  cases,  when  an  entrance  fee  is  charged,  the 
Hall  to  be  closed  at  12  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  rent  shall  be  five  dollars. 

That  members  of  the  High  School  may  have  the  use  of  the 
Hall  one  night  in  the  year,  free  of  charge. 

Voted  that  the  Hall,  in  no  case,  shall  be  occupied  or  open 
after  12  o'clock,  P.  M. 

LIST    OF    JURORS. 

John  R.  Hayward,  Henry  G.  Bates,  Putman  W.  Taft,  William  W.  Nel- 
son, John  C.  Wood,  Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill,  Austin  Wood,  Lowell  G  Cook, 
Silas  Dudley,  Jr.,  Royal  M.  Wheelock,  *Linus  B.  Staples,  *  Austin  A.  Taft, 
Aldrich  B.  Cook,  Samuel  H.  Taft,  Samuel  W.  Wilcox,  Albert  W.  Gaskill. 
Samuel  A.  Bennett,  George  F.  Lowell,  Hiram  P.  Butler. 

STATE    ELECTION. 

For  Governor,        Thomas  Talbot,  R.,  109  votes. 

Benj.  F.  Butler,  G.,  33      " 

Josiah  G.  Abbott,  D.,  21       " 

Alonzo  A.  Miner,  Pro.,  5      " 

For  Lt,  Governor,  John  D.  Long,  112      " 

John  F.  Arnold,  29      " 

William  R.  Plunkett,  23      " 

George  C.  Ewing,  5      " 

Representative  f<>  Congress,  Ninth  District—  William  W.  Rice,  Worcester, 
R.,  114  votes.  Eli  Thayer,  Worcester,  Democrat  and  Greenback,  50  votes. 
Timothy  A.  Smith,  Westboro',  Pro.,  5  votes. 

Councillor,  Second  District — William  O  Taylor,  Boston,  R. ,  113  votes. 
George  A.  Shaw,  Boston,  D.  &  G.,  51  votes.  Timothy  A.  Smith,  Westboro', 
5  votes. 

Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — William  Kuowlton,  Upton,  112  votes. 


718  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1878'. 

Benj.  B.  Nourse,  Westboro',  35  votes.     Sylvester  G.  Fay,   Southboro',  5 
votes. 

Representatives  to  the  General  Court,  Second  Worcester  District — Isaac  N. 
Crosby,  Milford,  R,  117  votes;  Elected.  Homer  W.  Darling,  Mendon,  R., 
118  votes;  Elected.  William  H.  Scammell,  Milford,  22  votes.  Albert  W. 
Oaskill,  Mendon,  22  votes.  Theodore  N.  Sherman,  Milford,  22  votes.  Alex- 
ander H.  Allen,  Mendon,  23  votes.  Charles  C.  Johnson,  Milford,  4  votes. 
Delano  Patrick,  Milford,  4  votes. 

By  the  Assessors'  return  it  was  found  that  the  number  of  the 
enrolled  militia  was  132. 

Nov.  5.  At  a  meeting  held  this  day  it  was  voted  to  adopt  the 
following  Provisions,  Arrangements  and  By-Laws  of  the  Town 
of  Mendon  "concerning  Truant  Children  and  Absentees  from 
School." 

Section  1.  Any  of  the  persons  described  in  the  first  section  of  the  "  Act 
concerning  truant  children  and  absentees  from  school,  approved  May  2, 
1873,"  upon  conviction  of  any  offence  therein  described,  shall  be  punished 
by  a  fine  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  or  by  confinement  for  a  term  not 
exceeding  two  years  in  the  place  hereinafter  designated. 

Section  2.  The  School  Committee  shall  annually,  in  the  month  of  March, 
appoint  and  fix  the  compensation  of  two  suitable  persons  to  be  designated 
as  Truant  Officers,  who  shall  alone,  in  case  of  violation  of  these  By-Laws, 
be  authorized  to  make  complaint  and  carry  into  execution  the  judgment 
thereon. 

Section  3.  In  case  a  Truant  Officer  shall  find  any  person  between  the 
ages  of  seven  and  fifteen  years,  belonging  to  any  of  the  public  schools  in 
said  town  of  Mendon,  during  school  hours,  wandering  about,  in  or  near 
any  street,  square,  common,  lane  or  by-way,  or  any  public  place  of  resort 
or  amusement,  without  sufficient  excuse  for  his  absence  from  school,  he 
shall  apprehend  such  person  and  take  him  to  his  school,  in  case  he  shall 
not  deem  it  proper  to  file  a  complaint  against  the  offender,  and  shall,  forth- 
with, notify  the  parent  or  guardian  of  the  child  of  his  doings  in  the  prem- 
ises. 

Section  4.  The  Truant  officers  shall  keep  a  true  record  of  their  proceed- 
ings, of  the  number  of  offences  noticed,  complaints  made,  acquittals  or 
convictions  had,  the  punishments  awarded  therefor,  the  names  of  the  par- 
ties dealt  with,  together  with  the  names  of  their  parents  or  guardians,  a 
copy  of  which,  with  a  statement  in  detail  of  the  cost  to  the  town  of  their 
services  and  the  amount  of  fines  received,  shall  be  delivered  to  the  School 
Committee  annually,  on  or  about  the  fifteenth  day  of  February;  and  the 
School  Committee  shall  incorporate  the  substance  of  these  records  into 
their  reports,  for  the  information  of  the  town. 

Section  5.    The  Truant  School  established  in  the  city  of  Worcester  is 


1870.  I  ANNALS  OF  MENDON.  719 

hereby  assigned  and  provided  as  the  suitable  place  for  the  confinement, 

discipline  and  instruction  mentioned  in  section  one  of  the  act  aforesaid. 

Section  6.  The  Justice  of  the  court  having  jurisdiction  in  the  cases  aris- 
ing under  these  By-Laws  shall  receive,  for  his  services,  the  fees  allowed  by 
law  in  criminal  cases. 


1879.  March  3.  After  the  choice  of  Julius  A.  George,  Mod- 
erator, and  the  reading  of  the  reports  of  the  town  officers, 

Chose  David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Horace  C.  Adams,  Alexan- 
der H.  Allen  and  Albert  W.  Gaskill,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Met- 
calf,  Treasurer;  Alexander  H.  Allen,  Mieajah  C.  Gaskill  and 
James  J.  Nutter,  Assessors;  Andrew  W.  Judson,  Constable  and 
Collector,  and  Putman  W.  Taft,  Julius  A.  George  and  Walter 
M.  Wheelock,  Auditors. 

Voted  to  raise  for  schools $1200  00 

"       "      "     "  highways  and  bridges 900  00 

"       "      "     "  support  of  the  poor 1500  00 

"       •'      "     "  interest  on  town  debt 1100  00 

'  incidental 300  00 

"      "     "  payment  town  debt 1000  00 

"       "      "     "  repair  of  school  house 450  00 

$6450  00 
Voted  to  continue  the  High  School  for  the  benefit  of  all  the 
inhabitants,  and  that  the  School  Committee  appoint  a  Superin- 
tendent.    Rev.  Geo.  F.  Clark  was  appointed  to  that  office. 

The  Board  of  Eoad  Commissioners  having  been  abolished, 
thirteen  Highway  Surveyors  were  chosen. 

Nov.  4.  STATE    ELECTIOX. 

For  Governor,        John  D.  Long,  R,  had  109  votes. 

Benj.  F.  Butler,  G.,  had  60      " 

John  Q.  Adams,  D.,  had  10      " 

Daniel  C.  Eddy,  Pro.,  had         3      " 
For  Lt.  Governor,  Byron  Weston  had  109      " 

Albert  C.  Woodworth  had        58      " 
Win.  R.  Plunkett  had  14      " 

Timothy  K.  Earle  had  3      " 

Councillor,  Second  District— William  O.  Taylor  had  109  votes.  William 
A.  Hodges  had  69  votes.     Timothy  A.  Smith  had  3  votes. 

Senator,  Second  Worcester  District — William  Abbott,  Douglas,  R.,  had  109 
votes;  Charles  Bigelow,  Grafton.  D.  and  G.,  had  69  votes.  Sylvester  C. 
Fay,  Southboro,  Pro.,  had  3  votes. 


720  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1879. 

Representatives  to  the  General  Court,  Second  Worcester  District — Isaac  N. 
Crosby,  Milford,  R,  had  109  votes;  Elected.  Benj.  A.  Jourdan,  Upton,  R, 
109;  Elected.  Thos.  J.  Hall,  Upton,  D  ,  had  61  votes.  Thos.  J.  Hall, 
West  Upton,  D.,  had  3  votes.  Patrick  McGarry,  Milford,  had  33  votes. 
Jas.F.  Stratton,  Milford,  had  30  votes.  Danl.  Reed,  Milford,  had  5  votes. 
Ebenezer  Belknap,  Milford,  had  1  vote.  Ebenezer  Belknap  had  2  votes. 
Joseph  D.  Hunt,  Milford,  had  2  votes.     J.  D.  Hunt,  Milford,  had  1  vote. 

Alexander  H.  Allen  having  resigned  his  office  as  Selectman, 
the  following  resolutions,  offered  by  Saml.  H.  Taft,  were  unani- 
mously adopted: 

Resolved  that  the  voters  of  Mendou  receive  with  sincere  regret  the,  resig- 
nation of  Mr.  Alexander  H.  Allen  as  chairman  and  member  of  the  Board  of 
Selectmen  and  of  the  Board  of  Assessors  of  said  Town ;  that  they  tender 
him  their  hearty  thanks  for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  numerous  Town  Offices  that  have  been  confided  to  him  in 
the  course  of  a  long  series  of  years,  and  express  the  hope  that  he  may  be 
speedily  restored  to  health,  and  long  remain  one  of  our  inhabitants. 

2.  Voted  that  the  Clerk  be  instructed  to  place  upon  the  records  of  the 
town,  the  resolution  just  passed  and  forward  a  copy  thereof  to  Mr.  Allen. 

BY-LAWS   OF   THE   TOWN    OF    MENDON. 

March  15.     The  following  By  Laws  were  this  day  adopted: 

1.  If  any  person  shall  use  obscene  language  or  commit  any  manner  of 
mischief  or  otherwise  misbehave  in  a  disorderly  manner  in  any  street,  high- 
way or  gangway,  or  in  any  building  or  other  public  place  in  said  Town,  to 
the  disturbance  or  annojrance  of  the  peaceable  inhabitants  thereof,  or  any 
portion  of  them,  or  shall  aid,  assist,  encourage  or  promote  the  same  to  be 
done  by  any  other  person  or  persons  he  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  two 
dollars  nor  more  than  twenty  dollars. 

2.  If  any  person  shall,  with  the  alleged  object  of  celebrating  the  anniver- 
sary of  American  Independence,  or  on  any  occasion  of  public  or  party 
rejoicing,  or,  at  any  other  time,  when  peaceable  persons  are  thereby  an- 
noyed or  alarmed,  fire  or  discharge  any  gun,  fowling  piece  or  fire  arm,  or 
make  any  bonfire  or  other  needless  fire,  or  shall  aid,  assist,  encourage  or 
promote  the  same  to  be  done  by  any  other  person  or  persons  in  any  street 
or  public  place  within  one  half  mile  from  the  Post  Office  in  said  Town,  he 
shall  be  fined  not  less  than  two  dollars  nor  more  than  twenty  dollars. 

3.  If  any  person  shall  tie  or  fasten  any  horse,  cattle  or  team  to  any  of  the 
trees  planted  on  the  public  highways  or  streets  or  any  public  lands  in  said 
town  for  shade  or  ornament,  or  any  thing  put  up  for  their  protection,  he 
shall  forfeit  and  pay  for  each  offence  a  sum  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor 
more  than  ten  dollars. 

4.  If  any  person  shall,  maliciously,  wantonly  or  carelessly,  daub  with 
paint,  cut,  deface  or  otherwise  injure  any  public  trees,  fences,  buildings, 


1880.] 


ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  721 


furniture  therein,  or  other  objects  useful   or  ornamental   he  shall  be  fined 
not  less  than  two  dollars  nor  more  than  ten  dollars. 

5.  If  any  person  shall  throw  a  carcass  of  any  dead  animal  into  any  of  the 
ponds,  streams  or  waters  within  the  limits  of  said  town,  or  if  any  person 
shall  leave  any  such  carcass  of  any  such  animal  to  decay  on  the  surface  of 
the  ground  or  insufficiently  buried  therein,  near  any  building  or  road  or 
other  highway  in  said  town,  he  shall  pay  for  every  such  offence  a  sum  not 
less  than  five  dollars  nor  more  than  ten  dollars. 

6.  If  any  person  shall  coast  or  run  down  in,  into,  across  or  along  any  of 
the  streets  or  highways  in  said  town  on  any  other  thing  than  a  single  hand 
sled,  or  in  the  night  time  or  on  any  side  walk  in  said  town  upon  the  snow 
or  ice,  he  shall  for  each  offence  be  fined  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more 
than  five  dollars. 

7.  If  any  person  shall  play  at  ball  or  throw  balls  or  stones,  or  snow  balls, 
or  foot  balls,  or  throw  any  missiles,  by  hand  or  otherways,  on  or  within 
any  portion  of  any  street  in  said  town  opposite  the  land  of  an  abutter 
thereon  after  such  abutter  shall  have  forbidden  him  so  to  do,  he  shall  be 
fined  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more  than  five  dollars. 


1880.  March  1.  It  being  the  annual  meeting,  Julius  A. 
George  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  usual  town  officers  were  then  chosen  as  follows,  viz: — 

David  Adams,  Town  Clerk;  Gustavus  B.  Williams,  Albert  W. 
Graskill  and  Horace  C.  Adams,  Selectmen;  John  G.  Metcalf, 
Treasurer;  Mica  j  ah  C.  Graskill,  James  J.  Nutter  and  Charles  H. 
Allen,  Assessors;  Ezekiel  P.  Gaskill,  Liberty  Freeman  and  Gil- 
bert Graskill,  Overseers  of  the  Poor;  Mrs.  Melissa  U.  George  and 
Lowell  C.  Cook,  School  Committee  for  three  years;  Julius  A. 
George,  Putman  W.  Taft  and  Walter  M.  Wheelock,  Auditors; 
Liberty  Freeman,  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  Martin  Thayer, 
Constable. 

Voted  to  raise  and  appropriate  the  following  sums  of  money, 
viz: — 

For  the  support  of  Schools $1300.00 

"  repairs  of  Roads  and  Bridges 1000.00 

"  support  of  the  Poor 1000.00 

'•  interest  on  the  Town  debt  1100.00 

"  payment  on  account  of  town  debt 1000.00 

"  incidental  expenses 300.00 

"  publication  of  the  "Annals  of  Mendon," 1000.00 

"  furnishing  School  house  in  District  No.  5 75.00 

"  conveyance  of  children  to  and  from  school 75.00 

$6840.00 

91 


722  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  [1880. 

The  subject  of  the  publication  of  a  Town  History  was  referred 
to  a  committee,  and  Mieajah  C.  Gaskill,  Putman  W.  Taft,  Gus- 
tavus  B.  Williams  and  Julius  A.  George  were  then  chosen  as  the 
committee. 

March  loth.  The  committee  above  chosen  made  a  report 
recommending  the  publication  of  a  Town  History,  and  were 
then  instructed  to  ascertain  the  terms  and  conditions  on  which 
Dr.  John  G.  Metcalfs  manuscript,  entitled  ''Annals  of  Men- 
don,"  can  be  procured  for  publication  by  the  town,  as  well  as 
the  total  cost  of  publication,  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
to  be  held  April  3,  proximo. 

April  3.  The  committee  made  a  verbal  report  that  the  man- 
uscript history  of  the  town  by  Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf  could  be  had 
for  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars,  and  the  total  cost  for  the 
printing,  binding  and  selling  four  hundred  copies  would  be 
about  eight  hundred  dollars  more;  whereupon  the  town  passed 
the  following  votes  viz: — 

Voted — that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  directed  to  borrow,  on  the 
credit  of  the  town,  at  the  lowest  possible  rates  of  interest,  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  dollars  to  meet  the  expense  necessary  for  the  purchase  and  pub- 
lication of  four  hundred  copies  or  more  of  the  manuscript  history  of  Men- 
don  of  Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf,  entitled,  by  him,  "Annals  of  Mendon;"  and 
said  sum,  or  so  much  as  may  be  found  necessary  is  hereby  appropriated 
for  that  purpose.  The  note  or  notes  issued  under  this  vote  to  run  one  year 
from  the  date  thereof,  and  before  being  issued,  to  be  approved  by  a  majori- 
ty of  the  Selectmen  and  certified  by  them  to  come  within  the  limit  of  the 
sum  hereby  voted. 

Voted,  that  the  Committee  on  the  Town  History  be  authorized  and 
directed  to  purchase  the  Manuscript  History  of  Mendon,  of  Dr.  John  G. 
Metcalf,  entitled  by  him,  "Annals  of  Mendon,"  and  cause  four  hundred 
copies,  at  least,  of  the  same,  to  be  published  for  the  town  on  the  best  pos- 
sible terms  and  as  soon  as  practicable. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  on  the  Town  History  be  authorized  and 
directed  to  advertise  and  sell  the  edition  of  the  Town  History,  when  pub- 
lished, in  such  manner  as,  in  their  judgment,  is  most  for  the  interest  of  the 
town. 

Voted,  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  dispose  of  the  Surplus  Rev- 
enue Investments,  in  possession  of  the  Town,  and  apply  the  proceeds  to 
the  redemption  of  outstanding  Bonds  of  the  town  which  mature  during  the 
current  year. 


L880.1  ANNALS    OF    MENDON.  723 


GRADUATES    FROM    COLLEGES    AND    SCHOOLS. 

Grinds,]  Rawscra,  (Harvard) 1728 

Moses  Taft,  "       1751 

Joseph  Dorr,  "        1752 

Ezra  Thayer,  "        1754 

Alexander  Scammell,    "       1769 

Amariah  Frost.  "       1770 

William  Jennisou,        "       1774 

Samuel  Jennisou,  "        1774 

John  Eugene  Tyler,      "        1786 

Daniel  Peters,  "       1793 

Samuel  Dexter,  "        1801 

Warren  Ravvsou,  "        1802 

Seth  Chapin,  "        1808 

Peter  Wheelock,  "        1811 

Samuel  S.  Adams,         "        1812 

Preserved  Smith,  "       1812 

Samuel  Allen,  "        1814 

George  Taft,     (Brown  University) 1815 

William  Soden  Hastings,   (Harvard) 1817 

John  Locke  Doggett,  (Brown  University) 1821 

George  R.  Russell,  "  "  1821 

Charles  C.  F.  Hastings,      "  "  1825 

Moses  D.  Southwick,         "  "  1828 

Theophilus  P.  Doggett,     "  "  1829 

Nathan  George,  "  "  1830 

Edward  Freeman,  "  "  1833 

Eli  Thayer,  "  "  1845 

George  Capron,  "  "  1847 

Enos  N  Taft,   (Yale) 1850 

Samuel  P.  Bates,  (Brown  University) 1851 

Hamilton  B.  Staples,   "  "         1851 

Julius  A.  George,  (Lawrence  Scientific  School) 1860 

Carlton  A.  Staples,  (Meadeville  Theo.  School) 1853 

Nahor  A.  Staples,  "  "  "      1854 


EREATA. 

Page  16.     Candlewood  for  Coudlewood. 
"    20.     On  first  line,  1667  for  1777. 
"     21.     For  occumliet  read  occumbit. 

FINIS. 


978^