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C!rolUctions of tlie ^povdjf^tcr Antiquarian antr 
 
 NUMBER T AV . 
 
 ANNALS OF THE TOWN OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 BY JAMES BLAKE. 
 
 1750, 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DAVID CLAPP, JR. 
 
 Over 184 Washington Street. 
 
 1846. • 
 

 At a stated meeting of the Resident Members of the Dorchester Anti- 
 quarian and Historical Society, held, pursuant to Notification, at the resi- 
 dence of William D. Swan, in Dorchester, April 25, 1845 : on motion, the 
 following preamble and resolutions were adopted by unanimous vote : — 
 
 Whereas a Manuscript bearing the title of the " Annals of the Town of 
 Dorchester," by James Blake, has long been acknowledged as an authentic 
 and faithful sketch of the ecclesiastical and civil history of this ancient 
 town ; and whereas the publication of said manuscript would be of essential 
 service in the diffusion of a knowledge of early New England history ; it is 
 
 Resolved, That a Committee of three be elected and empowered to collate 
 the " Annals" with the Records of the Church and Town of Dorchester ; 
 and to make such annotations by way of Appendix or otherwise as shall 
 render more useful and interesting the valuable MS. above mentioned. 
 
 Resolved, That the same Committee be authorized to take such order for 
 the publication of said work, as, in their judgment, may be deemed expe- 
 dient. 
 
 Voted, That Ebenezer Clapp, jr., James M. Robbins and Edward Holden 
 constitute the Committee of Publication. 
 
 Attest, 
 
 EDWARD HOLDEiN, Uhrarian. 
 
 OCT 25 1915 
 
 Entered, According to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 
 
 David Clapp, Jr. 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 

 
 PREFACE 
 
 A JUST appreciation of the expressions of interest and 
 favor which marked the issue of the first Number of our 
 Society's Collections, has prompted still further efforts on 
 the part of the Association, for the difRision of our histori- 
 cal treasures. There are yet, doubtless, many rare MSS. 
 which record the history of the foundation and progress of 
 our Colony, Province and Commonwealth ; the more valu- 
 able of which, it is to be hoped, will, in due time, be sub- 
 jected to the preserving and difiusing power of the press. 
 In prosecuting this work, in the limited sphere which we 
 have assigned to ourselves, we now present to our readers 
 a volume which, though modest in its pretensions and local 
 in its character, will, doubtless, be hailed with delight in 
 numerous parts of New England. 
 
 The original manuscript, from which this publication is 
 furnished, is still extant, and is in a good state of preserva- 
 tion. The esteem in which the work has long been held, 
 has frequently prompted its transcription by those who 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 have been so fortunate as to gain access to the MS. It Is 
 gratifying to know, that Jive correct and complete copies 
 are still preserved. 
 
 It may properly be remarked here, that the only title 
 attached to the original work is that which forms the cap- 
 tion of the first page of the text ; the usual title-page and 
 running title being wholly omitted by the author. Aware, 
 as we are, of the general desire, that the New England 
 historical writings of the last century may be preserved 
 in their integrity, the Committee have determined to give 
 as correct a copy of the MS. as could well be made with 
 type ; and, as the result of that detennination, the reader 
 will notice a too frequent use of capitals, a sparing inser- 
 tion of the points of punctuation ; with an orthography that 
 sometimes suffers by comparison with the modern standards 
 of the English lano;uao;e. Nevertheless, we are confident 
 that we shall never regret having allowed the testimony of 
 our Annalist to remain unaltered. 
 
 Many of our readers will probably desire an introduction 
 to the author before reading his Annals. To such we pre- 
 sent him, as briefly as we may do in the following sketch. 
 
 James Blake was a son of James -and Ruth ; a grand- 
 son of James and Elizabeth ; and a great grand-son of 
 William and Ao;nes, who were among; the first and most 
 distinguished of the settlers of Dorchester. He was born 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 at Dorchester, April 30, 1688, O. S. He held many 
 important stations in the service of the town ; — was for 
 many years Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and principal 
 Selectman of Dorchester ; in which offices he continued to 
 serve with ability until rendered incapable of active duty 
 by serious and long protracted disease, which finally re- 
 sulted in his death. Mr. Blake was an ingenious mathema- 
 tician and an accurate surveyor. He surveyed many farms 
 in Dorchester and other towns ; and once surveyed the 
 whole town of Dorchester, when its temtorial limits were 
 much larger than at present ; and his projections, skilfully 
 and elegantly made, are among the most interesting deposits 
 in the archives of his native town. For a more particular 
 account of the public services of Mr. Blake, the reader is 
 referred to his " Annals." This work is introduced by an 
 exhibition of the motives and projects of the first settlers, 
 and gives a minute account of the principal events and 
 transactions here for a period of one hundred and twenty 
 years, to the time of the author's death, which occurred 
 on December 4, 1750, O. S. The entries which occur 
 after this date are supposed to have been made by his son. 
 This work was for many years the principal authority for 
 all the early accounts, published, of the town of Dorchester. 
 
 For the purpose of rendering more complete several 
 parts of the original MS., annotations have been made and 
 
yi PREFACE. 
 
 appended to the work, among which may be found copies 
 of civil and ecclesiastical records of important acts, which 
 are but briefly mentioned or merely alluded to by our 
 author ; together with a relation of historical facts upon 
 points which are not subject to official record, but are sub- 
 stantiated by veritable history or unquestionable tradition. 
 
 In order that it may be still more valuable to the public, 
 and especially to the numerous descendants of the first 
 settlers of Dorchester, the publisher has been furnished 
 with many of their autographs, from a page of the first 
 book of Town Records, being the names of the male in- 
 habitants of the town in the year 1641, which he presents 
 to the reader as a lithographed Frontispiece. These names 
 are appended to an instrument conveying to the town of 
 Dorchester all rents and profits of Thompson's Island, for 
 the support of a Free School. 
 
 We now suffer the " Annals " to " appear " before the 
 public, with the hope that its reception may warrant a 
 continuance of labors in this part of the \\'ork in which we 
 are engaged. 
 
 Dorchester, September, 1845. 
 
AxNNALS OF THE TOWN OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 When many most Godly and Religious People that Dis- 
 sented from y^ way of Worship then Estahlished by Law 
 in y® Realm of England, in y*^ Reign of King Charles y^ 
 first, being denied y'^ free exercise of Religion after y*^ man- 
 ner they professed according to y*^ light of God's Word and 
 their own consciences, did under y*^ Incouragement of a 
 Charter Granted by y® S*^ King, Charles, in y^ Fourth 
 Year of his Reign A.D. 1628, Remoue themselues &: their 
 Families into y^ Colony of y'^ Massachusetts Bay in New- 
 England, that they might Worship God according to ye 
 light of their own Consciences, without any burtliensome 
 Impositions, which was y® very motive h cause of their 
 coming ; Then it was, that the First Inhabitants of Dor- 
 chester came ouer, h were y^ first Company or Church 
 Society that arriued here, next to y^ Tow n of Salem who 
 was one year before them. 
 
 In y^ Year of our Lord 1629, Divers Godly Persons in 
 Devonshire, Somersetshire, Dorcetshire & other places, 
 Proposed a Remoue to New-England, among whom were 
 two Famous IMinisters, viz. Mr. John Maverick (^^ ho I 
 suppose was somewhat advanced in Age) and Mr. John 
 Warham (I suppose a Younger Man,) then a Preacher in 
 y® City of Exon, or Exeter, in y® County of Devon. 
 These good People met together at Plymouth, a Sea-port 
 
8 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Town in y® S** County of Devon, in order to Ship them- 
 selues h Families for New-England ; and because they 
 designed to liue together after they should arriue here, they 
 met together in the New Hospital in Plymouth and Asso- 
 ciated into Church Fellowship, and Chose y^ S^ Mr. Ma- 
 uerick and Mr. Warham to be their Ministe!^ and Officers, 
 keeping y^ Day as a Day of Solemn Fasting &, Prayer, and 
 ye gd Ministers accepted of y^ Call &: Expressed y^ same ; 
 the Revd. Mr. John White of Dorchester in Dorcet, (who 
 was an active Instmment to promote y*^ Settlement of New 
 England, and I think a means of procuring y'' Charter) 
 being present h Preaching y^ fore part of y*' Day, and in 
 "y^ latter part of y® Day they performed y® work aforesaid. 
 This People being too many in Number to come in one 
 Vessel, they hired one Capt. Squeb to bring them in a 
 large Ship of 400 Tons ; they set Sail from Plymouth y® 
 20th of March 1629-30, and arriued at Nantasket (now 
 Hull) ye 30th of May 1630, having a Comfortable tho' 
 long Passage, and having Preaching or Expounding of the 
 Scripture every day of their Passage, performed by their 
 Ministers. They had agreed v/ith Capt. Squeb to bring 
 them into Charles River, but he was false to his bargain 
 &i would not come any flirther than Nantasket, where he 
 turned them and their Goods ashore on y^ point, leaving 
 them in a forlorn Wilderness destitute of any habitation & 
 most other comforts of life. But it pleased God, they got 
 a Boat of some that had staid in y*^ Country (I suppose for 
 Trade, for there was some at Noddles Island h at Charles- 
 town that staid in y^ Country for Trade with y^ Natiues 
 before these adventurers came ouer, as likewise Moreton of 
 Merry-Mount at Brantrey) and put their goods in y® Boat, 
 and Instead of Sailing up to Charles River in a Ship were 
 forced (as I suppose) to Row up in a Boat, it being about 
 3 Leagues to y^ Mouth of y^ River. They went up y^ 
 River until it grew narrow •&£ Shallow, & then put ashore 
 & built a hut to shelter their Goods, Intending; there to set 
 down, it being about y® place where Watertown now is. 
 The Indians upon theii' arrival Mustered thick, they thought 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 9 
 
 about 300, but havino- with them an Old Planter as they 
 called him, one that had stayed in the Country h could speak 
 something of the Indian Language, (I suppose they took 
 him from Charlestown that now is, for they called there h 
 saw several Wigwams, &: one English Man in an House 
 where they ate boiled Bass, but had no Bread to eat with 
 it) they sent him to y*^ Indians, who were persuaded to keep 
 at a distance y^ first night, and y^ next morning when the 
 Indians appeared, they offered no violence but sent some 
 of their number holding out a Bass ; our people sent a man 
 with a Bisquet, & so they Exchanged, not only then but 
 often afterwards, a bisquet for a Bass, and y^ Indians were 
 very friendly to them, which our people ascribed to God's 
 watchful Providence ouer them in their weak beginnings ; 
 for all the Company were not gone up y*^ River, but about 
 Ten men to seek out y® way for y'^ Rest. They were now 
 landed upon y*^ Main Continent in a wild h unknown Wil- 
 derness, and they had brought Cattle with them which if 
 they put them ashore there would likely wander & be lost 
 &! themselves likewise in seeking them. They had not 
 stayed here at Watertown but a few days but y^ Rest of 
 their Company below had found out a neck of Land Joyn- 
 ing to a place called by y*' Indians Mattapan, (now Dor- 
 chester) that was a fit place to turn their Cattle upon to 
 prevent their straying ; so they sent to their friends to come 
 away from Watertown, and they settled at Mattapan, &£ 
 turned their Cattle upon y^ S'^' neck then called Matta pan- 
 nock, now called Dorchester-Neck. They began their 
 Settlement here at Mattapan y'^ beginning of June as I 
 suppose, or thereabout, A. D. 1630, and changed y^ name 
 into Dorchester, calling it Dorchester Plantation. Why 
 they called it Dorchester I never heard, but there was some 
 of Dorcet Shire, &, some of y*^ Town of Dorchester that 
 settled here ; and it is very likely it might be in Honour of 
 y® aforesaid Revd. Mr. White of Dorchester. Our People 
 were Settled here a Month or two before Governor Win- 
 throp &L y'' Ships that came a\ ith him arriued at Charles- 
 town, so that Dorchester Plantation was settled next to y*' 
 
10 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Town of Salem in y^ Massachusetts-Colony, being before 
 Charlestown or Boston: And y*^ Church of Dorchester 
 y^ oldest Church in y^ Colony Except Salem ; and I sup- 
 pose y® only Church that came over in Church Fellowship, 
 the other Churches being gathered here. The Indians 
 here at Dorchester were also kind to our People. 
 
 The first Inhabitants of Dorchester came chiefly from 
 y® S^ County s of Devon, Dorcet & Somerset, and I think 
 from some other places. They were a very Godly &; Reli- 
 gious people ; and many of them Persons of Note and 
 figure, being dignified with y*" Title of Master ; which but 
 few in those Days were. Their Ministers or Pastors were 
 y^ S*^ Revd. Mr. John Maverick and y*^ Revd. Mr. John 
 Warham ; others of Note were Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Ludlow, 
 Mr. Glover, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Terry, Mr. Smith, Mr. 
 Gallope, Mr. Hull, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Cogan, Mr. Hill, 
 Capt. Southcott, Capt. Lovell, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Pinney, 
 Mr. Richards, Mr. Way, Mr. Williams, Mr. Tilly &i others. 
 And among them came Capt. Roger Clap, a very worthy 
 Religious Gentleman, who was then a young man, &i to 
 him we are beholden for y*' knowledge of many of y® par- 
 ticulars before mentioned, he leaving them in writing among 
 y® Instructions he left to his Children. It seems many of 
 these people were Trading men, &i at first designed Dor- 
 chester for a place of Trade, and accordingly built a Fort 
 upon y® hill called Rock-hill, wherein were seueral Pieces 
 of ordinance, near y® Waterside ; but y^ Channel being 
 poor &. landing difficult, and Boston and Charlestown Har- 
 ber being far more commodious, they desisted from that 
 design &i many of them removed afterwards to Boston and 
 other places, so that many families about in the Country 
 had their first Rise from Dorchester, there not being here 
 a large quantity of Land to settle upon, that I suppose ye 
 Inhabitants are but little if any thing more numerous now, 
 than they were 50 or 60 years ago ; young people many of 
 them moving out as they grow up. 
 
 These first Settlers of y^ Town of Dorchester, took up 
 every one his spot to set down upon, pretty thick together 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 11 
 
 at y® northerly end of y^ To\\'n next to y^ aforesaid neck 
 of Land, &l on y^ Easterly side next to y® Sea, leaving 
 many Intervening Spots of Land between their Settlements. 
 
 1631 — 1632. 
 
 These years were spent in working themselues into Settle- 
 ments, &t Incorporating into a Body to carry on y® Publick 
 Affairs of y^ Plantation ; in Granting many Parcels of Land 
 &L Meadow to I suppose every particular Person ; but for 
 y® House-lots where they first Set down we have no Re- 
 cords of them, they being taken up as aforesaid. 
 
 In these years great was y^ Straits and Difficulties these 
 People met with for want of Provision for themselues & 
 Families ; and as Capt. Clap expresseth it, " Oh y*' Hunger 
 " that many suffered, and saw no hope in an Eye of Reason 
 "to be supplyed, only by Clams, &i Muscles, and Fish; 
 " and Bread was so very Scarce, that sometimes y^ veiy 
 " Cmsts of my Fathers Table would have been very Sweet 
 " unto me : And when I could have Meol &f Water &/■ Salt, 
 " boiled together, it was so good, who could wish better. 
 " And it was not accounted a strange thing in those Days, 
 " to Drink water, and to eat Samp or Homine without 
 " Butter or Milk. Indeed it would have been a strange 
 *' thing to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton or Veal ; 
 '' tho' it was not long before there was Roast Goat.'^ And 
 yet this people were very contented under their outward 
 wants so long as they could enjoy the worship of God 
 without any molestation : they did not meditate a Return 
 to England, but as y'^ S'^ Capt. Clap saith, " I do not Re- 
 " member that ever I did wish in my Heart that I had not 
 " come into this Country, or wish myself back again to my 
 " Fathers House ; Yea I was so far from that, that I wished 
 '' & advised some of my Brethren to come hither also ; 
 " which accordingly one of my Brothers and those two that 
 " married my two Sisters, sold their means and came hither. 
 " The Lord Jesus Christ was so plainly held out in ye 
 " Preaching of y^ Gospel to poor lost Sinners, and y^ Abso- 
 " lute Necessity of y^ New birth, and Gods Spirit in those 
 
12 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 u 
 
 Days was pleased to Accompany y*^ word with such effi- 
 cacy upon y^ Hearts of many ; that our Hearts were quite 
 taken off from Old England &< set upon Heaven. The 
 " Discourse not only of y® Aged, but of y^ Youth also, 
 " was not, Hoiv shall we go to England ? (though some 
 " few did not only so discourse but also went back again) 
 " but Hoiv shall ive go to Heaven 1 Haue I true Grace 
 " wrought in my Heart 1 Haue I Christ or no ? O how did 
 '' Men and Women, young and old. Pray for Grace, beg 
 " for Christ in those Days ; and it was not in vain : Many 
 " were converted, and others established in Believing ; many 
 "joined unto y*^ Several Churches where they lined." I 
 mention this to show what sort of people they were that 
 came first into this Country, what their Spirit & Design 
 was, what a fervent loue and zeal they had for God &: his 
 Instituted worship, how contented under their Straits and 
 Difficulties, while they enjoyed y*^ Gospel h y^ free Pro- 
 fession of their Religion. 
 
 16 3 3. 
 
 This Year they had a Meetinghouse for y*' Public wor- 
 ship of God, but we haue no Account when it was built. 
 This Year this Plantation began y^ Practice of Choosing 
 men, that we now call Selectmen or Townsmen. They 
 Chose 12 this year to order y^ Affairs of y*^ Plantation, 
 who were to have theii' Monthly Meetings, and their orders 
 being Confirmed by y® Plantation were of full force and 
 binding to y*^ Inhabitants. There were many orders made 
 this year concerning Cattle and Fences &:c., &i Penalties 
 annexed ; besides many grants of Land. This year a fort 
 was ordered to be built on y'' Rock upon Rock-hill, h 
 y^ Charge to be paid by a Rate. 
 
 This Year y^ Plantation Granted Mr. Israel Stoughton 
 liberty to build ^ Mill upon Neponsit River, which I sup- 
 pose was y® first Mill built in this Colony, and y® S'^ River 
 has been famous for Mills ever since. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 13 
 
 1634. 
 
 This Year they Chose 10 Selectmen to order y^ affairs 
 of y^ Plantation, namely Mr. Newbury, Mr. Stoiighton, Mr. 
 Woolcott, Mr. Duncan, Goodman Phelps, Mr. Hathorne, 
 Mr. Williams, Go. Minot, Go. Gibbes & JMr. Smith ; and 
 gaue any Seven of them power to make orders to bind y® 
 Inhabitants until Repealed by y*^ Inhabitants. This year 
 they also appointed a Bayliff, namely Nicholas Upsall. 
 There were also many grants of land this year. 
 
 16 3 5. 
 
 This Year were 9 Selectmen Chosen, namely William 
 Phelps, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. George Hull, Mr. Dimocke, 
 William Gaylard, Mr. Roger Williams, George Minot, John 
 Philips &L Mr. Newbery. And Walter Filer, Bayliff. Be- 
 fore this year the orders of y^ Plantation were Signed John 
 Maverick, John Warham, William Rockweh h William 
 Gaylord, or two of them ; from this year and for\\ ard that 
 method ceased. There were many Orders &l Grants of 
 Land this year. 
 
 This Year arriued here on Aug. 16th the Revd. Mr. 
 Richard Mather, that \\ as a long time after Pastor of this 
 Church, and with him a great Number of Godly people 
 that Settled here with him. There came with him 100 
 Passengers, h 23 Seamen, 23 Cows & Heifers, 3 Sucking 
 Calues, &i 8 Mares, h none Died by y^ way, though they 
 met with as terrible a Stonn as was almost ever heard of. 
 
 1636. 
 
 This Year were Chosen 12 Selectmen, namely Mr. 
 Stoughton, Mr. Glover, Henry Withington, Nathl. Duncan, 
 Geo. Minot, Rich. Collicut, John Holman, Mr. Hill, Will. 
 Gaylard, Christopher Gibson, John Pierce & Mr. Jones. 
 And afterwards they ordered that 10 men should be Chosen, 
 7 of whom should make orders & bind ye Inhabitants, being 
 first Published on a lecture Day & not being then disal- 
 lowed by y*^ Plantation. Joseph Flood, Bayliff. There 
 were many orders &i Grants of Land this year. This 
 2 
 
14 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 year made great alteration in y^ Town of Dorchester, 
 for Mr. Mather h j^ Godly people that came with him 
 from Lancashire wanting a place to settle in, some of y® 
 People of Dorchester were willing to remoue & make room 
 for them, &i so Mr. Warham &i about half y^ Church re- 
 moued to Winsor in Connecticut Colony, and Mr. Mather &6 
 his people came &l Joined with Mr. Maverick and that 
 half of y^ Church that were left, and from these people so 
 united are y*^ greatest part of y^ present Lihabitants de- 
 scended. When these two Companies of people were thus 
 united they made one Church, having y*^ S'^ Revd. Mr. 
 John Maverick, & y^ S'^ Revd. Mr. Richard Mather for 
 their Pastors, and entered into y^ following Covenant, viz. 
 
 " Dorchester Church Covenant made y^ 23c? Day of y^ 
 
 6 Month 1636. 
 
 '' We whose names are subscribed being called of God to 
 Join ourselues together in Church Communion ; from our 
 Hearts acknowledgeing our own unworthiness of such a 
 priviledge, or of y^ least of Gods mercies ; and lilcewise 
 acknowledgeing our disability to keep Covenant with God, 
 or to perform any Spiritual Duty which he calleth us unto, 
 unless y^ Lord Jesus do enable us thereunto by his Spirit 
 dwelling in us ; Do in y^ Name of Christ Jesus our Lord, 
 & in trust and Confidence of his free Grace assisting us, 
 freely Covenant &: Bind ourselues. Solemnly in y^ presence 
 of God himself, his Holy Angels, and all his Servants here 
 present ; That we will by his Grace Assisting, endeavour 
 constantly to walk together as a Right Ordered Congrega- 
 tion of Christ, according to all y^ Holy Rules of a Church 
 Body rightly established, so far as we do already know it 
 to be our duty, or shall further understand out of God's Holy 
 Word : Promising first & aboue all to cleaue unto him as 
 our Chief and only Good, and to our Lord Jesus Christ as 
 our only Spiritual Husband & Lord, &l our only High 
 Priest &L Prophet & King- And for y^ furthering of us to 
 keep this blessed communion with God &i his Son Jesus 
 Christ, & to grow up more fully herein ; , we do likewise 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 15 
 
 promise by his Grace assisting us, to endeavour y^ Estab- 
 lishing amongst ourselues all his Holy Ordinances which 
 he hath appointed for his Church here on Earth, and to 
 obseme all h euery of them in such sort as shall be most 
 agreeable to his Will, opposing to y*' utmost of our power 
 whatsoever is contrary thereunto, and bewailing from our 
 Hearts our own neglect hereof in former times, and our 
 pointing ourselues therein with any Sinfull Invention of 
 men. 
 
 " And lastly, we do hereby Covenant h promise to further 
 to our utmost power, the best Spiritual good of each other, 
 & of all and every one that may become members of this 
 Congregation, by mutual Instruction, Reprehension, Ex- 
 hortation, Consolation &i Spiritual watchHilness over one 
 another for good. And to be subject in and for y® liord 
 to all y® Administrations & Censures of y^ Congregation, 
 so far as y^ same shall be Guided according to y'^ Rules of 
 Gods most holy word. Of the Integrity of our Hearts 
 herein, we call God y^ Searcher of all Hearts to Witness ; 
 Beseeching him so to bless us in this & all our Enterpiises, 
 as we shall sincerely endeavour by y® assistance of his 
 Grace to obserue his Holy Covenant in all y*' branches of 
 it inviolable for ever ; and where we shall fail, there to wait 
 upon y*^ Lord Jesus for Pardon and acceptance &, healing 
 for his Name's sake. 
 
 " Richard Mather, Natha'l Duncan, 
 
 George Minot, Henry Withington, 
 
 Thomas Jones, John Pope." 
 John Kinsley, 
 
 This Year y® General Court made a Grant to Dorches- 
 ter of y^ old part of y^ Township, as far as y^ great Blew- 
 hill ; and y® Town took a Deed of Kitchamakin Sachem 
 of y® Massachusetts for y^ same. 
 
 1637. 
 
 The 10 Selectmen were Mr. Glover, Nathl. Duncan, 
 
16 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Mr." Jones, Mr. Bates, Rich. Collicut, Mr. Holman, Edwcl. 
 Clap, Roger Clap, Wm. Sumner. 
 
 This year y^ Gen. Court made a second Grant to y^ 
 Town home to Plymouth tine, called y*^ new Grant. 
 
 In some part of this Year the Town Chose 20 men to 
 order y^ affairs of y^ Plantation ; and veiy many orders 
 were made for y*^ disposal of small pieces of Land & Marsh 
 Sic, and a List of those that were to haue Land in y^ Di- 
 vision of y*^ Neck, & other Lands, consisting of about 104 
 Names. 
 
 16 3 8. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. Glover, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. Adderton, 
 Mr. Jones, Ch. Gibson, Jos. Philips, Mr. Bates, Wm. 
 Sumner, Nich. Upsall &: John Capen. 
 
 Raters or Assessors, Mr. Bates, Roger Clap, Ch. Gibson, 
 Barnabe Four, John Capen. And in y® latter part of y® 
 year were Chosen 7 men to order y*^ affairs of y^ Planta- 
 tion, for y^ Remainder of y^ year, for sometimes they Chose 
 twice a year. About this time the Neck &i y^ three Di\Ti- 
 sions of y'' Cow walk was laid out. 
 
 16 3 9. 
 
 This year Thomsons Island was appropriated for y® bene- 
 fit of a School, but afterward y® Town were Sued out of 
 y*' Possession of S'^ Island, &: y^ Gen. Court Granted 1000 
 acres of wild land in lieu of it.* 
 
 This year was an order for Mounting y^ Great Guns at 
 Mr. Hawkins's or Rock-hill. 
 
 There is no Account of y^ Selectmen this Year, Except 
 y^ 7 men mentioned in y*^ latter end of y^ last year were 
 they, who were Mr. Glover, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Duncan, 
 Mr. Adderton, Mr. Jones, John Wiswell, John Pierce. 
 
 1640. 
 
 There is no Record of y'^^ Selectmen this year, nor is 
 there much business Recorded. 
 
 * See Appendix, Note F. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 17 
 
 1641. 
 
 Selectmen, Nathl. Duncan, Sargent Atherton, Mr. Clark, 
 Rich. Colllcut, John Holland, Roger Clap, John Pierce. 
 
 This year Aug. 9, Died Mr. Jonathan Burr, Assistant 
 to Mr. Richard Mather. 
 
 1642. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. John Glover, Bro. Breck, Ens. Holman, 
 Bro. Bates, Bro. Gibson, Bro. Upshall, Thos. Clark. Bay- 
 lifF, Geo. Procter. 
 
 This year it was ordered that every person that had any 
 matter to offer to y® Town must first acquaint y*^ Selectmen 
 with it, or else it was not to be debated on under a penalty ; 
 agreeable to y® present Law requiring all y^ matter of y® 
 meeting to be expressed in y*' warrant. 
 
 From 38 to 42, Mr. Nathl. Duncan & Serj. Hum. Ather- 
 ton were Treasurers. 
 
 1643. 
 
 This year there is no Record of y^ Officers, nor (I think) 
 of any other thing, there being Several Pages missing in 
 that place. 
 
 16 4 4. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. Glover, Mr. Patten, Mr. Howard, Thos. 
 Wiswell, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Jones. 
 
 This year there was Wardens appointed to take care of 
 &i manage y^ affairs of y*^ School ; they were to see that 
 both y^ Master & Schollar performed theu' Duty, & to 
 Judge of h End any difference that might arise between 
 Master &t Schollar, or their Parents, according to Sundiy 
 Rules h Directions there set down. The first Wardens 
 were Mr. Howard, Dea. Wiswell, &i Mr. Atherton. 
 
 1645. 
 
 This year they agreed upon y^ Building of a new Meet- 
 ing-house, and Granted a Rate of £250 ; the Committee 
 Mr. Glover, Nathl. Duncan, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Jones, 
 
 2* 
 
18 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Dea. Wiswell, Dea. Clap &i Mr. Howard ; Raters, Edwd. 
 Breck, Wm. Sumner, Thos. Wiswell, William Blake & 
 Roger Clap. 
 
 Selectmen for this year were Humphrey Atherton, Roger 
 Clap, John Wiswell, Thos. Jones, Hopestill Foster, Geo. 
 Weeks &: Wm. Blake. Bayliff, Serjant Sumner. 
 
 This year was Composed and Recorded an Instrument 
 called the Directory, wherein were many good orders fc 
 Rules which y® Inhabitants bound themselves to observe, 
 in their orderly managing their Town Meetings : Some of 
 which were, that althings should be aforehand prepared by 
 y® Selectmen, that all Votes of Importance should be first 
 drawn in writing and have 2 or 3 distinct Readings, before 
 y^ Vote was called for. That every man should haue 
 libertie to speak his mind meekly and without noise ; that 
 no man should speak when another was speaking ; that all 
 men would Countenance &: Encourage all y*^ Town Offi- 
 cers in y*^ due Execution of their Offices, and not fault or 
 Revile them for doing their Duty, &tc. This Directory 
 used to be Read at y'' opening of y^ Town Meetings after- 
 wards, as y^ La\N s of Reformation are ordered to be Read 
 now. This year was also an Order made, that at all Town 
 Meetings the Selectmen were to appoint one of themselues 
 to be Moderator, near Conformable to y*^ present Law of 
 the Province. There were also this year &t before & after, 
 divers orders about Fences, Cattle, Swine, Marking of Cat- 
 tie, he, much like what y^ Province Law now requireth : 
 as also for manaoeino; of Common Fields &:c. which orders 
 had penakies annexed, &l men appointed to see them Exe- 
 cuted, and y® fines destreined by y® Bayliff. . 
 
 1646. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. Glover, Mr. Jones, Edwd. Breck, John 
 Wisw^ell, John Holland, Edward Clap h Wm. Clark. 
 
 1647. 
 
 Selectmen, John Wiswell, Thos. Jones, Wm. Blake, 
 Wm. Clark, Joseph Farnworth, Wm. Sumner h Geo. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 19 
 
 Weeks. Raters, Nicholas Clap, Richard Baker h John 
 Capen. BaylifF, John Kinsley. 
 
 1 648. 
 Selectmen, Capt. Atherton, John Wiswell, John Glover. 
 Roger Clap, &i Thos. Jones. Bayliff, John Smith. Raters, 
 Geo. Weeks, Hopestill Foster, & John Kinsley. 
 
 1649. 
 
 This year there Is no Record of y^ Town Officei-s to be 
 found. 
 
 1650. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. John Glover, Lievt. Clap, Ens. Foster, 
 Serjant Clark &, John Smith. BaylifF, James Humfrey. 
 Raters, Mr. Jones, John Capen, Richard Baker. 
 
 1651 . 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Atherton, Wm. Blake Senr., Mr. 
 James Bates, Mr. Jones, & Mr. Howard. Raters, John 
 Capen, Thos. Dickerman, Wm. Sumner Senr. BaylifF, 
 Richard Hall. 
 
 This Year the Bridge built over Neponsit River by 
 Henry Whites. 
 
 1652. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Humphrey Atherton, Wm. Sumner 
 Senr., Robt. Howard, Thos. Jones & Ensign Foster. 
 BaylifF, Bro. Gurnet. Raters, Serjant Capen, Thos. Wis- 
 well, Serj. Clark. This year was a Collection in Dor- 
 chester, for y^ maintenance of y^ President, Fellow s, & 
 poor Schollars of Harvard Colledge. Robert Howard 
 Chosen Clerk of y® Writs untill Dea. Wisw ell's Return 
 from England. 
 
 1 653. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Humphrey Atherton, Richard Baker, 
 Richard Leeds, Mr. Patten &t Lievt. Clap. Bayiiii', John 
 Wales. Raters, Serj. Capen, John Minot h John Smith. 
 
20 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 1654. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Roger Clap, Mr. Nathl. Patten, Dea. 
 John VViswell, Ens. Foster and Mr. Thos. Jones. Raters, 
 Serj. Capen, John Minot, John Smith. BaylifF, Thos. 
 Bird. 
 
 16 5 5. 
 
 Selectmen, John Wiswell, Ens. Foster, Edwd. Breck, 
 Nathl. Glover, h Nathl. Patten. Raters, John Smith, 
 John Minot &i Wm. Clark. BaylifF, Henry Gamsey. 
 
 1656. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. Patten, Edwd. Breck, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
 Jones, &. Nathl. Glover. Raters, Serjt. Capen, Wm. 
 Clark & Roht. Badcock. Baylift', Thos. Lake. This year 
 Wm. Blake Sen. was Chosen Recorder for y^ Town, &i 
 Clerk of y'^ Writs for y^ County of Suffolk ; he was to haue 
 20s. per year, h be Ratefree. 
 
 1657. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. Jones, Mr. Pat- 
 ten &i Edwd. Clap. Raters, Joseph Farnworth, Wm. 
 Clark &i Rich. Withington. BaylifF, Lawrence Smith. 
 This Year there was also Two Constables Chosen, viz. 
 John Capen ^ Wm. Trescott. 
 
 This Year y® Town at y*' Request of y^ Revd. Mr. John 
 Eliot Granted Punkapuog Plantation for y^ Indians, and 
 appointed men to lay it out, not exceeding 6000 acres, and 
 at y'^ same time 500 acres to Lt. Roger Clap, h 1000 
 acres to be laid out for y® School of Dorchester. 
 
 The Records of Births & Deaths that was before this 
 Year is S*^^ to be accidentally burnt in Thomas Millet's 
 house, and so are all lost, except a few Families that kept 
 y® Account of their Childrens Births, entered them in y^ 
 next Book of y*^ Records of Births. 
 
 This Year there is Recorded 19 Births & 17 Deaths. 
 
 1658. 
 Selectmen, Majr. Atherton, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 21 
 
 Jones &t Mr. Patten. Raters, John Capen, Wm. Sumner, 
 &t Win. Robinson. BaylifF, Clement Maxtield. Consta- 
 bles, James Blake h Hugh Batten. 
 
 This Year was an Order for all Persons to o-iue in Acct. 
 of their Ratable Estate, &; no person to Receiue into Town 
 any Stranger without acquainting y^ Selectmen. 
 
 Births 31. Deaths 9. 
 
 1659. 
 
 Selectmen, Majr. Atherton, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
 Patten, & Mr. Jones. Raters, Edward Breck, John Capen 
 & Wm. Sumner. Bayliff, Jacob Hewins. Constables, 
 Wm. Robinson h Wm. Pond. Births 18. Deaths 7. 
 Geo. Weeks &: Jos. Faniworth died this year. This Year 
 was given y*^ 400 Acres of Land to y® use of y® Ministry, 
 &i 500 Acres to ye Non-Commoners. • 
 
 1 660. 
 
 Selectmen, Majr. Atherton, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. 
 Patten &; Mr. Jones. Raters, Wm. Sumner, John Capen, 
 & Wm. Robinson. BaylifF, Thos. Andrews Senr. Con- 
 stables, none. Births 29. Deaths 6. 
 
 In 1660 y^ 3:^ Divisions, and y*^ 6 Divisions Laid out 
 about this time. 
 
 1661. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Clap, Ens. Foster, Mr. Patten, Mr. 
 Jones, &i Wm. Sumner. Raters, Richard Baker, Wm. 
 Robinson h John Minot. BaylifF, Wm. Turner. Con- 
 stables, Thos. Tolnian &; Enoch Wiswell. Births 19. 
 Deaths 7. 
 
 This year Died y^ Honble. Major General Humphrey 
 Atherton : upon whose Tomb is written as follows. 
 
 Here lies our Captain, & Majr. of Suffolk was withall ; 
 
 A Godly Majestrate was he, & Major Generall, 
 
 Two Troops of Horses with him here came, such worth his loue did 
 
 craue ; 
 Ten Companies of Foot also mourning march'd to his Graue. 
 
22 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Let all that Read be sure to keep ye Faith as he hath done. 
 
 With Christ he liues now Crown'd, his name was Humphrey Atherton. 
 
 He Died ye 16th of Sepr. 1661. 
 
 Note by y*' Records it was y^ 17th day. 
 
 He was killed by a fall from his Horse at y^ S° end of 
 Boston as he was coming homewards (I think in y® Even- 
 ing) his Horse either Running over, or starting at a Cow 
 that lay down in y*" way. 
 
 1662. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Wm. Sumner, Mr. 
 Jones, h John Minot. Raters, Serjt. Hall, Serjt. James 
 Blake, &, Wm. Pond. BaylifF, John Blackman. Con- 
 stables, Nicholas Clap, Mr. James Minot. Births 23. 
 Deatjjs 5. This year Milton was set off from Dorchester 
 a Township by themselues.* 
 
 1663. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Mr. Jones, Wm. 
 Sumner, & John Mmot. Raters, John Capen, Daniel 
 Preston &£ Lawrence Smith. Bayhffs no more. Cons. 
 Richard Baker, &i James Humfrey. This year they Chose 
 Commissioners which had power by Law to try &i Issue 
 Small Causes, much as Justices now. The Commissioners 
 Chosen this Year were, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, and Wm. 
 Sumner. Deputies, Capt. Clap h Lt. Foster. This 
 year Wm. Sumner was Chosen Clerk of y^ Training-band. 
 And this year Capt. Clap was authorized to Join Persons 
 in marriage, and from this time forward many Persons were 
 married by him. This year there is but 5 Births Recorded. 
 Deaths 5. This year Died Mr. William Blake, who had 
 been Clerk of y*^ Writs for y*' County of Suffolk, k, Re- 
 corder for y^ Town near 8 years. He was also Clerk of y® 
 Training-band. He Died y« 25th of y« 8th mo. 1663, in 
 y® 69th Year of his Age. 
 
 * See Appendix, Note G. 
 
 \ 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 23 
 
 1664. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Mr. Jones, Wm. 
 Sumner, & Anthony Fisher Senr. Raters, John Capen, 
 John Minot & Richard Hall. Deputies, Capt. Roger 
 Clap &, Lt. Hopestill Foster. Commissionei-s to end small 
 Causes, Capt. Roger Clap, Lt. Hopestill Foster, h Wm. 
 Sumner Senr. Constables, Clement Maxfield and Richard 
 Leeds. Births 18. Deaths 8. 
 
 This year Died Deacon Edwd. Clap, on y^ 8th 11th 
 month. He was brother to Capt. Roger Clap. 
 
 1665. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Hopestill Foster, Anthony Fisher Senr., 
 Thomas Jones, Wm. Sumner &£ John Minot. Raters, 
 Ens. Capen, Rich. Hall & Wm. Pond. Commissioners, 
 Capt. Clap, Lt. Foster, Wm. Sumner. Deputies, Capt. 
 Clap, Lt. Foster. Constables, Stephen Minot, Thomas 
 Trott. Births 29. Deaths 5. This year Died Lawrence 
 Smith, often Selectman &.c. The Summer of this year 
 Capt. Davenport, Capt. of y® Castle, was killed with Light- 
 ning at y** Castle, which is within y*^ bounds of this Town ; 
 and in y'^ month of August Capt. Roger Clap was appointed 
 by y*^ General Court to Supply his place. 
 
 1666. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Wm. Sumner, John Minot, 
 Anthony Fisher, &; Dea. Capen. Raters, Serjt. Hail, 
 Serjt. Clap, Serjt. James Blake. Deputies, Lt. Foster, 
 Wm. Sumner. Commissioners, Lt. Foster, Wm. Sumner, 
 Anthony Fisher. Constables, Daniel Preston, Henry 
 Gamsey. Births 13. Deaths 6. This year died Elder 
 Henry Withington, aged 79. 
 
 This year was a Vote that there should be a Recorder 
 yearly Chosen at y® same time with y*' Selectmen, and 
 Deacon John Capen was Chosen Recorder for this year. 
 
 1667. 
 
 Selectmen, John Minot, Wm. Sumner, Saml. Clap, John 
 
24 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Capen Senr. &t Ensign Hall. Raters, James Blake, Will. 
 Pond, & Timo. Mather. Deputies, Capt. Foster, Wm. 
 Sumner. Commissioners, Capt. Foster, Wm. Sumner and 
 John Minot. Const. Joseph Holmes & Saml. Robinson. 
 Recorder, John Capen Senr. Births 26. Deaths 5. 
 This year Thos. Bird Senr. died, aged 54 years ; & Henry 
 Way aged 84 years ; h Mr. Thos. Jones, often Selectman, 
 died aged 75 years. 
 
 1668. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, John Minot, Ens. 
 Hall &i Serjt. Samuel Clap. Recorder, Lt. John Capen. 
 Raters, Wm. Sumner, Serjt. James Blake, h Serjt. Wm. 
 Pond. Deputies, Capt. Foster &; Wm. Sumner. Com- 
 missioners, Capt. Foster, Wm. Sumner &t John Minot. 
 Constables, Timothy Mather and Jacob Hewins. Births 
 20. Deaths 5. 
 
 1 669. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Serjt. Clap, Lt. Capen, Ens. 
 Hall h James Blake. Raters, Mr. Timothy Mather, Ste- 
 phen Minot & Daniel Preston. Recorder, Lt. Capen. 
 Deputies, Capt. Foster h William Sumner. Comrs. Capt. 
 Foster, Wm. Sumner, &t John Minot. Constables, James 
 White &t Saml. Rigbee. Births 22. Deaths 6. 
 
 mm. m 
 
 This year died y*^ Revd. Mr. Richard Mather, Teacher 
 of this Church of Dorchester. L^pon his Tomb is written 
 as follows. 
 
 DoM : Sacer. 
 
 Richardus Hie Dormit Matherus., 
 (Sed nee Totus, nee mora Diuturna) 
 Laetatus genuise Pares. 
 Incertum est utrum Doctioran melior. 
 Anima & Gloria non queunt Humari. 
 
 Divinely Rich & Learned Riehard Mather ; 
 Sons like him Prophets great, rejoyced this Father. 
 Short time his Sleeping dust here's covered down, 
 Not his ascended Spirit or Renow^n. 
 
 V. D. M. in Ang. 16 Ans. in Dorc. 
 N. A. 34 Ans., Ob. Apr. 22, 1669. 
 
 ^t. Sue 73. 
 
^ 
 
 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 25 
 
 1670. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, Ens. Hall, Serjt. 
 Clap, & Serjt. Blake. Recorder, John Capen Senr. 
 Raters, Wni. Sumner, VVm. Pond & Daniel Preston. 
 Deputies, Capt. Foster &t Wm. Sumner. Commiss. Capt. 
 Foster, Wm. Sumner & Lt. John Capen. Const. Thomas 
 Davenport & Obediah Haws. Births 23. Deaths 4. 
 
 This year Squamaug Sachem of y*' Massachusetts, Con- 
 firmed unto Dorchester, y^ Purchase of y*^ New-Grant (so 
 called) that was before had from Josie^ Chickkatabut, in 
 1666, and engaged for a more full and ample Deed in 1669, 
 but was Slain in y^ wars by y® Mawhauks before it was 
 accomplished, which S^^ Squamaug gaue an ample Deed of: 
 He Ruling as Sachem during y*^ minority of Jeremy 
 Chickkatabut, Son of y*' S^' Josias Chickkatabut : and a 
 Rate of £28 to pay for it, Levyed on y*^ Proprietors. 
 
 1671. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. Stoughton, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, 
 Ens. Hall, William Sumner. Recorder, John Capen. 
 Raters, Serjt. Pond, Serjt. Jas. Blake, Serjt. Preston. 
 Deputies, Capt. Clap, Lt. John Capen. Commissioners, 
 Capt. Foster, Lievt. Capen, Wm. Sumner. Constables, 
 Nathl. Clap & Timothy Tilestone. Births 27. Deaths 
 5. This year Died Mr. Anthony Fisher, in y^ 80th year 
 of his age : and Mr. Nathanael Patten. 
 
 This year Jeremy Chickkatabut, son of Josias Chickkata- 
 but, confirmed his uncles Squamaug Sale to y*^ Town of Dor- 
 chester. This year y^ Revd. Mr. Josiah Flint was ordained 
 Pastor of this Church, Dec. 27th, in y^ room of Mr. Mather 
 Deed. This year died Elder Geo. Minot abt. y^ 24th Dec. 
 
 1672. 
 
 Recorder, Lt^ Capen 
 Treasurer, Capt. Foster 
 
 C Serjt. Clap- 
 Raters^ Serjt. Wiswell 
 
 ^ Serjt. Preston 
 17 
 
 3 
 
 Selectmen. 
 
 Votes 
 
 Mr. Stoughton 
 
 29 
 
 Capt. Foster 
 
 24 
 
 Lt. Capen 
 
 29 
 
 Wm. Sumner 
 
 22 
 
 Ensign Hall 
 
 17 
 
26 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 T>w .• ( Capt. Hopestill Foster 
 Deputies < t^t ^ a 
 
 ^ ^ Wm. bumner 
 
 Constables, Obediah Swift h Samuel Paul. 
 
 Births 14. Deaths but 3 Recorded. This year died 
 Wm. Dier in y® 93d year of his age. This year y® Choice 
 of Commissioners to end small causes ceased. 
 
 This year Mr. James Blake.was ordained Deacon of this 
 Church June 30th, 1672. 
 
 1673. 
 Selectmen, IVIr. * Stoughton, Capt. Foster, Lt. John 
 Capen, Ensign Hall, & Wm. Sumner. Recorder, John 
 Capen Senr. Raters, Serjt. Clap, Serjt. Blake &: Serjt. 
 Pond. Deputies, Capt. Clap, Capt. Foster. Afterwards 
 in this year y® Court sent an order to choose another De- 
 puty in y^ Room of Capt. Clap, his presence being neces- 
 sary at y^ Castle because y® times were troublesome. The 
 person Chose was Lt. John Capen. Constables, Amiel 
 Weeks and Henry Leadbetter. Births 25. Deaths 6. 
 
 1674. 
 
 Selectmen, Mr. Stoughton, Capt. Foster, Lt. Capen, 
 Wm. Sumner, &i Ensign Hall. Recorder, Lt. John Capen. 
 Raters, Serjt. Clap, Dea. Blake, & Serjt. Preston. Depu- 
 ties, Capt. Hopestill Foster, &, Lievt. John Capen. Con- 
 stables, Thomas Pierce ^ John Capen Junr. Births 20. 
 Deaths 4. 
 
 This year Died Mr. William Pole, of whom y® Records 
 thus Speak. " Mr. William Pole, that sage, Reved. Pious 
 man of God, departed this life Febr. 24 th, 1674." He was 
 Clerk of y^ Writs & Regester of Births, Deaths &i Mar- 
 riages in Dorchester about 10 years ; and often Schoolmaster 
 in Dorchester. Upon his Tomb it is thus written. 
 
 " The Epitaph of William Pole, which he himself made while he 
 
 was yet living, in Remembrance of his own Death, and left 
 
 it to be Engraven on his Tomb, so that being Dead 
 
 he might warn Posterity. 
 
 *'Or a Resemblance of a Dead man bespeaking ye Reader." 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 27 
 
 " Ho Passenger 'tis worth thy Pains to stay 
 
 " And take a Dead mans Lesson by ye Way. • 
 
 " I was what now thou art, & thou shalt be 
 
 " What I am now, what odds 'twixt me & thee ! 
 
 " Now go thy way ; but stay, take one word more, 
 
 " TJiy Staff" for ought thou know'st Stands next ye Door. 
 
 " Death is ye Door, ye Door of Heaven or Hell : 
 
 "Be warn'd, be arm'd, Belieue, Repent, Farewell." 
 
 He Died Febr. 24th, 1674 ; Aged 81 years. 
 
 1675. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Serjt. Clap, Dea. James 
 Blake, Richard Withington, & Daniel Preston. Recorder, 
 Lt. John Capen. Raters, Wm. Pond, Mr. Mather h 
 Roger Billing. Deputies, Capt. Hopestill Foster &; Lt. 
 John Capen. Clerk of y*^ Writs, Wm. Weeks. Consta- 
 bles, Isaac Jones & John Withington. Births 37. Deaths 
 13. 
 
 1676. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Serjt. Clap, Dea. Blake, 
 Danl. Preston & Richard Withington. Recorder, Lt. John 
 Capen. Raters, Mr. Timothy Mather, Serjt. Pond & Serjt. 
 Wiswell. Deputies, Capt. Foster & Lt. John Capen. 
 Constables, John Bird k, John Breck. Births 34. Deaths 
 28. 
 
 This year Died Capt. Hopestill Foster Octr. 15, so 
 often Improved in y® Town &; Countrys Service. About 
 this Year the Meeting-house that now is was built, &t about 
 that time y*^ Elm Trees now about y*^ Meeting-house were 
 set by Mr. Thos. Tilestone. 
 
 The work of y^ Meeting-house was undertaken by Mr. 
 Isaac Royal h performed, I think, for £200. 
 
 1 677. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Daniel Preston, Richard 
 Withington, Serjt. Saml. Clap &: Dea. James Blake. Re- 
 corder, Lt. John Capen. Raters, Enoch Wiswell, John 
 Breck &i Saml. Robinson. Deputies, Lt. John Capen && 
 
28 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Dea. James Blake. Constables, James Bird &i Thos. Tol- 
 man Jum. Births 36. Deaths 12. This year Died Mr. 
 William Weeks, who had been Clerk of y^ Writs k, 'Regis- 
 ter of Births Marriages h Deaths for y^ Town of Dorchester 
 about 2 years : and Deacon James Blake was Chosen in 
 his Room. 
 
 1678. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Capen, Dea. Blake, Serjt. Clap, Wm. 
 Sumner, &. Serjt. Preston. Recorder, Lt. Capen. Raters, 
 Serjt. Wiswell, Serjt. Pond h John Breck. Deputies, 
 Lt. John Capen h Wm. Sumner. Constables, John Tol- 
 man k, John Baker. Births 33. Deaths 30. 
 
 This Year Died Quartermaster John Smith ; and Agnes 
 y« widow of Mr. Wm. Blake died July 22d. 
 
 1679. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. John Capen, Wm. Sumner, Dea. Blake, 
 Ens. Hall, k, Seijt. Clap. Recorder, Lt. Capen. Raters, 
 Serjt. Pond, Serjt. Wiswell k John Breck. Deputy, 
 Wm. Sumner. Const. Hopestill Clap k Saml. ToplifF. 
 Births 29. Deaths 1 8. This year No vr. 24th Died Nicho- 
 las Clap very suddenly in his Barn. 
 
 This year y« old Meeting-house sold for £10 to Isaac 
 Royal. 
 
 1680. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Capen, Dea. Blake, W^m. Sumner, En- 
 sign Richard Hall k Serjt. Samuel Clap. Recorder, 
 Lt. Capen. Raters, Serjt. Wiswell, John Breck k Saml. 
 Robinson. Deputy, Wm. Sumner. BaylifF, Clement Max- 
 field. Constables, Saml. Capen, k James Foster. Births 
 35. Deaths 8. 
 
 This year Sepr. 16th Died y^ Revd. Mr. Josiah Flint, 
 who had been Pastor of this Church almost 9 years. Upon 
 his Tomb is written as follows. 
 
 *' Here lies Interred ye Corps of Mr. Josiah Flint, late Pastor to 
 
 ye Church in Dorchester, Aged 35 years. 
 
 Deceased Sepr. 15th, 1680. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 29 
 
 *' A Man of God he was so great, so good, 
 
 *' His highest worth was hardly understood : 
 
 " So much of God & Christ in him did Dwell, 
 
 " In Grace & Holiness he did excell. 
 
 " An Honour & an ornament thereby, 
 
 " Both to ye Churches & the Ministry. 
 
 " Most zealous in ye work of Reformation, 
 
 " To save this self destroying Generation. 
 
 " With Courage Stroue 'gainst all this peoples sin; 
 
 " He spent his Strength, his Life, his Soul therein. , 
 
 " Consum'd with holy zeal of God, for whom 
 
 " He liu'd, and dy'd a kind of Martyrdom. 
 
 " If men will not lament, their Hearts not break, 
 
 " No wonder this lamenting Stone doth Speak. 
 
 " His Tomb-stojje cries Repent, and Souls to saue 
 
 " Doth Preach Repentance from his very Graue. 
 
 " 'Gainst Sinners doth a lasting Record lye 
 
 " This Monument to his Bless'd Memory. 
 
 "Psal. 112. 6. Prov. 10. 7." 
 
 1681. 
 
 Selectmen, Dea. Blake, Serjt. Clap, Wilm. Sumner, Lt. 
 Capen & Ens. Hall. Recorder, Dea. Blake. Raters, 
 Serjt. Pond, Serjt. Wiswell &£ John Breck. Deputy, 
 Wm. Sumner. Constables, John Payson, John Wales 
 Senr. Births 27. Deaths 17. 
 
 This year Died Mr. John Foster, Son of Capt. Hopestill 
 Foster ; School-master of Dorchester, and he that made the 
 then Seal or Anns of y*^ Colony, namely an Indian with 
 a Bow & Arrow &ic. 
 
 Upon his Tomb or Grave Stone is written as follows. 
 
 " The 
 
 " Ingenious 
 
 " Mathematition &, Printer 
 
 " Mr. John Foster. 
 
 " Aged Thirty three years ; Died Sepr. 9th 
 
 " 1681 
 
 " Apr. 1682. 
 
 "I.M. 
 
 " J. F. " Astra Colis vivens, moriens Super .^thera Foster, 
 " Scande Precor ; Caelum Metiri disce Supremum : 
 " Metior atque meum est Emit mihi divis Jesus : 
 " Nee teneor quicquam nisi gratis Solvere." 
 
 3* 
 
30 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 This year Febr. 6, 1681, James Blake Jun. was married 
 to Hannah Macy. 
 
 1 6^8 2 . 
 
 Selectmen, James Blake, Serjt. Wiswell, Serjt. Clap, 
 Timothy Tilestone, &i Ensign Hall. Raters, Wm. Pond, 
 Samuel Robinson &: John Breck. Recorder, James Blake. 
 Deputy, Dea. James Blake. Constables, Timothy Foster 
 h Nehemiah Clap. Births 38. Deaths 12. 
 
 This year y^ 28th of June the Revd. Mr. John Danforth 
 was Ordained Pastor of this Church, in Room of Mr. Flint 
 deceased. * 
 
 1683. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Hall, Ens. Clap, James Blake, Enoch 
 Wiswell &i Timothy Tilestone. Recorder, James Blake. 
 Collector of Ministers Rate, Capt. Capen. Raters, Wm. 
 Pond, Saml. Robinson h John Breck. Deputy, James 
 Blake Senr. Constables, Nathl. Glover and Joseph Leeds. 
 Births 28. Deaths 19. 
 
 This year died Hannah the Wife of James Blake Junr. 
 June 1st, & their Child Elizabeth y'^ Novr. before, being 
 about 12 Days old. 
 
 1684. 
 
 Selectmen, Ensign Clap, Lt. Hall, Dea. Blake, Serjt. 
 Wiswell h Wm. Sumner. Recorder, Dea. Blake. Raters, 
 Wm. Pond, Saml. Paul, John Breck. Dea. Blake, Col- 
 lector of.y*^ Minrs. Rate. Deputy, Wm. Sumner. Con- 
 stables, Eben. Williams, Barnard Capen. Births 24. 
 Deaths 8. 
 
 This year Died Mr. Timothy Mather Son of Mr. Richard 
 Mather, Janr. 14th, by a fall from a Scaffold in y*^ Barn. 
 Also Nehemiah Clap, Son to Dea. Edward Clap, &t Bro- 
 ther to Ezra Clap, h to Elder Blakes. wife, died Apr. 2d 
 this year : He was Edward Clap of Sudbury his Father. 
 This year July 8th James Blake Junr. h Ruth Batchelder 
 by Simon Broadstreet, Govr. were married. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 31 
 
 1685. 
 
 Selectmen, Ens. Clap, James Blake, Enoch Wiswell, 
 Lt. Hall, John Breck. Recorder, James Blake. Collector 
 [or Rather Treasurer] Capt. Capen. Raters, Wm. Pond, 
 Saml. Paul &; Saml. Topliif. Deputy, VVm. Sumner. 
 Constables, Hopestill Humlrey and Ebenezer Witliington. 
 Births 22. Deaths 4. 
 
 This year Sepr. 16 was born Hannah y® Daughter of 
 James Blake Junr. 
 
 1686. 
 
 Selectmen, Saml. Clap, Lt. Hall, Wm. Sumner, Serjant 
 Wiswell, John Breck. Recorder, Serjt. Wiswell. But 
 Serjt. Wiswell Refusing both, John Witliington was Chosen 
 Selectman, & Saml. Clap Recorder. Raters, Serjt. Pond, 
 Serjt. Tilestone, Samuel Topliff. Deputy, Wm. Sumner. 
 Constables, Daniel Preston Junr., Preserved Capen. Births 
 25. Deaths 7. 
 
 This year Octr. 2d Died Hannah y« Daughter of James 
 Blake Junr. This year Died Elder James Humfrey, whose 
 Tomb was repaired by his Grandson Mr. Jonas Humfrey, 
 &t upon it is written as follows. 
 
 Here lyes Interred ye Body of Mr. Jiimes Humfrey, one of ye 
 
 Ruling Elders of Dorchester, who departed this life 
 
 May 12th, 1686, in ye 78th year of his age. 
 
 I nclos'd within this shrine is precious Dust 
 A nd only waits for 4h' rising of ye Just. 
 M ost usefull while he liu'd, adorn'd his Station, 
 E uen to old age he Seru'd his Generation, 
 S ince his Decease tho't of with Veneration. 
 
 H ow great a Blessing this Ruling Elder he 
 U nto this Church & Town; & Pastors Three. 
 M ather he first did hy him help Receiue ; 
 F lint did he next his burthen much Relieue ; 
 R enowned Danforth he did assist with skill. 
 E steemed high by all : Bear fruit untill 
 Y ielding to Death his Glorious seat did fill. 
 
 1687. 
 
 Selectmen, Samuel Clap, Timothy Tilestone, Lt. Hall, 
 Wm. Sumner h Henry Leadbetter. Recorder, Samuel 
 
32 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Clap. Constables, James Blake & Isaac Royal. Births 
 33. Deaths 10. This Yeary'' Town Passed a Vote that 
 y^ Selectmen should be Raters this Year. This Year was 
 Drowned one John Douse of Charlestown, at Neponsit 
 Riuer on y^ '23d of No\t. and was found cast upon Thom- 
 sons Island Shore y^ 19th of March after. 
 
 There was no Deputies Chosen this Year, it being in 
 y® Time of Sir Edmond Andrew's Gouemment. This 
 Year Isaac Royal gaue a Receipt for £200 for y^ new 
 Meeting-house & was discharged of y^ work. 
 
 1688. 
 
 Selectmen, John Breck, Saml. Clap, Timothy Tilestone, 
 Henry Leadbetter, Saml. Robinson & John Withington. 
 Constables, John Minot, John Blake. There was no 
 Deputies nor Raters Chosen this Year. Births 32. Deaths 
 20. 
 
 This Year Apr. 30th James y^ Son of James Blake Junr. 
 was Bom. 
 
 1689. 
 
 Selectmen, Samuel Clap, Timothy Tilestone, John With- 
 ington, Henry Leadbetter & Richard Hall. Recorder, 
 Samuel Clap. Raters, Saml. Paul, James Foster & Saml. 
 ToplifF. Deputies, Samuel Clap & Timothy Tilestone. 
 Births 31. Deaths 13. This * Year Samuel Paul was 
 Chosen Clerk of y*^ Writs. There is no Record of any 
 Constables Chosen this Year. 
 
 1690. 
 
 Selectmen, Saml. Clap, Timothy Tilestone, Hopestill 
 Clap, Henry Leadbetter h James Foster. Raters, Saml. 
 ToplifF, John Minot &t Ebenezer Williams. Deputy, 
 Samuel Clap. Constables, Standfast Foster & Charles 
 Davenport. Births 15. Deaths 28. 
 
 This Year Apr. 4th Died Serjt. William Pond. And 
 this Year Febr. 17th Died Capt. John Breck, and Janr. 
 26th John Minot Died, of y« Small Pox. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 33 
 
 1691. 
 
 Selectmen, Samuel Clap, Hemy Leadbetter, Timothy 
 Tilestone, Hopestill Clap &: Saml. ToplifF. Deputy, Saml. 
 Clap. Constables, Desire Clap & Philip WIthlngton. 
 Births 26. Deaths 20. This Year June 23d Died Lt. 
 Richard Hall. There Is a memorandum In my Fathers 
 Book, which was y^ Account which he kept, that from y^ 
 first of April 1690, unto y*^ last of July 1691, that Is one 
 year & four months, there died in Dorchester 57 Persons, 
 33 of them of y'^ Small Pox, the Rest of a Feaver ; the 
 most of them of a middle age. About y® same time [that 
 is in 1690] lost at Sea 46 Soldiers* that went to Canada ; 
 in all 103. By which It appears that all y*^ Deaths were 
 not brought to Record these years, more especially in 1690. 
 
 1692. 
 
 Untill this year y^ Selectmen were Chosen In December, 
 but those that were Chosen In December 91, served untill 
 March 92-3, and then there was a new Choice for y*^ year 
 1693. Raters, none. Deputies, none. Constables, Wm. • 
 Royal, Isaac Humfrey. Births 21. Deaths 16. 
 
 This Year Died Capt. John Capen : he was also Dea- 
 con of y® Church, &i had been Selectman 16 years &l Re- 
 corder 13 years ; and wrote more in the Books than any 
 one man by far ; keeping y*^ Books in good order. He 
 wrote about 246 Pages in both Books. 
 
 1693. 
 
 Selectmen, Enoch WIswell, Saml. Robinson, John Tol- 
 man, James Bird, Increase Sumner. Town Clerk & Re- 
 corder, Robert Searl. Constables, Samuel Jones, James 
 Baker. Deputies, none. Births 35. Deaths 13. 
 
 This year July 29th Died Sarah y*^ widow of Clement 
 ToplifF, aged 88 years. And Thos. Trott Junr. by a fall 
 from his Cart, Janr. 13th. And Elizabeth y*^' wife of 
 Elder James Blake, Janr. 16, 1693-4. 
 
 *Soe Appendix, Note H. 
 
34 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 1694. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Tilestone Died June 24tli 1694, awd 83 
 years. 
 
 Selectmen, John Tohnan, John Bird, James Foster, 
 James White & Saml. Capen. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. 
 Note, when Assessors are not Chosen, the Selectmen are 
 Assessors. Constables, Samuel Wales, Increase Sumner. 
 Births 25. Deaths 12. Representatiue, Lt. Tilestone. 
 And Commissioner, Capt. Saml. Clap. This year y® 
 School-house that now is, was built, John Trescott Car- 
 penter, Cost 22 pounds. 
 
 1695. 
 
 Selectmen, John Tolman, James Foster, John Bird, 
 James White &l Samuel Capen. Tow^n Clerk, Robt. Searl. 
 Deputy or Repres. Capt. Clap. Constables, Robt. Spur 
 Junr. &: Eben. Jones. Births 31. Deaths 9. 
 
 This year Deer. 31st Died Mrs. Ann Pierce, Widow of 
 Mr. Robert Pierce, being about 104 years old. 
 
 1696. 
 
 Selectmen, Saml. Capen, Ens. Foster, John Bird, James 
 White, Dea. ToplifF. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. Con- 
 stables, Eben. Davenport, Joseph Withington. Repre- 
 sentatiue, Capt. Clap. Assessors, Capt. Saml. Clap, En- 
 sign James Foster & Deacon Topliff. Births 29. Deaths 
 7. This year Died July 28th Thos. Trott, aged 82 years. 
 And Purchase Capen was Killed by y^ accidental firing of 
 a Gun, Sepr. 9th, a young man about 20 or 21 years old. 
 
 1697. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Dea. ToplifF, Dea. Clap, Samuel 
 Capen, Ens. Foster. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. Town 
 Treasurer, Capt. Clap. Representatiue, none Recorded. 
 Constables, Ephraim Payson, Saml. Paul. Births 26. 
 Deaths 6. This year Aug. 9th Died Lt. Timothy Tiles- 
 tone. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 35 
 
 1698. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Dea. Clap, Dea. Topliff, Saml. 
 Wales, Samuel Capen. Clerk, Robt. Searl. Representa- 
 tiue, none Recorded. Constables, Saml. Payson, Oliver 
 Wiswell. Biiths 33. Deaths 7. This year Deer. 16th 
 Died Saml. Pierce, Son of Thos. Pierce Senr. with a broken 
 hegcr by y*^ fall of a Tree. He was a young man. 
 
 This year was Finished y*^ laying out y*^ 12 Divisions of 
 Land, so called, in y^ new Grant. 
 
 1699. 
 
 Selectmen, Dea. Toplift', Dea. Clap, Saml. Wales, James 
 Foster, Daniel Preston. Clerk, Robt. Searl. Representa- 
 tiue, Capt. Clap. Constables, Noah Beman, Samuel 
 Trott. Births 27. Deaths 11. This year Sepr. 11th 
 Died Wm. Trescot aged 84 years 8 months. And Wid. 
 Elizabeth George Novr. 8th, aged 98 years. Increase 
 Blake, Son of James Blake, born this year June 8th 1699. 
 
 17 0. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Daniel Preston, Charles Dauen- 
 port, Samuel Wales, James Blake. Clerk, Robert Searl. 
 Deputy, none Recorded. Constables, Roger Billing, Hum- 
 phrey Atherton. 
 
 Births 34. Deaths 15. 
 
 This year June 28th Died Elder James Blake, aged 77 
 years. He w^as first a Deacon of y^ Church in Dorchester 
 about 1 1 years, h then a Ruling Elder of y® same Church 
 about 14 years, unto his death. 
 
 1701 . 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Clap, Daniel Preston, James Blake, 
 Samuel Wales &: Charles Davenport. Clerk, Robert 
 Searl. Representatiue, Mr. Samuel Robinson. Consta- 
 bles, Jonathan Hall, Humphrey Atherton. Births 35. 
 Deaths 19. This year July 26th Abby Christian was 
 drowned &z; Cast ashore upon Dorchester neck of Land. 
 
 This year Died Richard Withington Senr. Deer. 22 : 
 
36 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 aged about 84 years. This year July 7th Died y*' Honble. 
 Wm. Stoughton Esqr. Lt. Govr. &t Commander in Chief 
 of this Province : Upon his Tomb is thus written.* 
 
 GULIELMUS STOUGHTONUS, Armiger 
 Provincice Massachusettensis In Nova Anglia Legatus, 
 deinde Gubernator ; 
 Nec-non Curias in eadem Provincia Superioris 
 Justiciarius Capitalis, 
 Hie Jacet. 
 Vir Conjugij nescius, 
 Religione Sanctus, 
 Virtute Clarus, 
 Doctrina Celebris, 
 Ingenio AcuUis, 
 Sanguine et Animo pariter Illustris, 
 yEquitatis Amator, 
 Leguni Propugnator, 
 Collegij Stoughtoniani Fundator, 
 Literarum et Literatorum Fautor Celeberrimus, 
 Impietatis et Vitij Hostis Acerrimus. 
 Hunc Rhetores amant Facundiim, 
 Hunc Scriptores norunt Elegantem, 
 Hiinc Philosphi qnserunt Sapientem, 
 Hunc Doctores Laudant Theologum, 
 Hunc Pij Venerantur Austerum, 
 Hunc Omnes Mirantur ; Omnibus Ignotum, 
 Omnibus Licet Notum. 
 Quid Plura Viator ! Quern perdidimus-^ 
 Stoughtonum ! ' 
 
 Hen ! 
 Satis dixi, urgent Lachrymse, 
 Sileo. 
 Vixit Annos Septuaginta ; 
 Septimo Die Julij Anno Salutis 1701 
 Cecidit. 
 Heu ! Heu ! Qualis Luctus ! 
 
 *See Appendix, Note I. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 37 
 
 1702. 
 Selectmen, Dea. Hopestill Clap, Dea. Daniel Preston, 
 James Blake, Saml. Wales, Charles Davenport. Clerk, 
 Robert Searl. Deputy, Mr. Saml. Robinson. Constables, 
 John Blackman h Thomas Lion in y*^ Room of Eben. Bil- 
 ling who Refused to serue. Births 31. Deaths 14. 
 
 17 03. 
 
 Selectmen, James Blake, Charles Davenport, SamL 
 Wales, Dea. Clap, Dea. Preston. Clerk, R. Searl. Re- 
 presentatiue, Dea. Hopestill Clap. Constables, Samuel 
 Clap, John Minot. Births 35. Deaths 8. 
 
 This year Janr. 5th, 1702-3, Died Mrs. Foster, widow 
 of Capt. Hopestill Foster, aged 83 years. And Eben. Bird 
 by a fall from his Horse. And Robt. Spurr Died Aug. 16, 
 aged 93 years. And John White was killed with his Cart, 
 Novr. 3d. 
 
 1704. 
 
 Selectmen, Lt. Foster, Capt. Foster, Serjt. Capen, 
 Dea. Clap & James Blake. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. 
 Deputy, none Recorded. Constables, Nathl. Butt h John 
 Pierce. Births 40. Deaths 12. 
 
 1705. 
 
 Selectmen, Dea. Preston, James Blake, Dea. Clap, SamL 
 Capen, John Blake. Town Clerk, Robert Searl. Deputy, 
 none Recorded. Constables, Eben. Mawdsley, John Tol- 
 man, &i John Puffer for Punkapaog. Births 4 1 . Deaths 6. 
 
 This year Died Feb. 6th Old Mrs. Wlat, Widow, beino; 
 94 years of age, having as a Midwife assisted y^^ Birth of 
 one Thousand One Hundred &: odd Children. 
 
 1706. 
 
 Selectmen. 
 
 Votes. 
 
 
 Saml. Wales 
 
 58 
 
 'i'own Clerk, Robert Searl 
 
 Char. Davenport 
 
 43 
 
 Deputy, Dea. Clap 
 
 Capt. Spur 
 
 43 
 
 Ralph Pope ^ 
 
 Et. Paul 
 
 36 
 
 Jos. Leeds Jun. > Constables 
 
 Saml. Pay son 
 
 4 
 
 34 
 
 James Fales } 
 
38 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER* 
 
 Births 38. Deaths 10. 
 
 This Year Novr. 28th Died Mr. Enoch WiswelL 
 
 1707. 
 
 Selectmen. Votes. 
 Capt. Spur 6*2 Town Clerk, Robert Searl Senr. 
 
 Saml. Wales 59 Deputy, none Recorded. 
 
 Saml. Paul 49 Henry Leadbetter ) 
 
 Saml. Payson 47 Jonathan Clap / Constab. 
 
 Edwd. Breck 44 Eben. Billing Jun. ) 
 
 Births 31. Deaths 12. This year Died widow Max- 
 field, aged 86 years. And Dea. Preston Senr. 
 
 This year Punkapaog Plantation with some other of y® 
 Lihabitants of y*^ New-Grant were set off a Precinct by 
 themselues, as far as Mashapaog Pond &; IMoose-hill. And 
 y^ Meeting-house ordered to be sett where it now stands 
 upon Packeen Plain. 
 
 1708. 
 
 Selectmen, Capt. Robert Spur, Saml. Wales, Saml. 
 Paul, Edwd. Breck, Hopestill Humfrey. Town Clerk, 
 Robert Searl. Deputy, Dea. Hopestill Clap. Constables, 
 Increase Leadbetter, Nathl. Glover Junr.^ John Foster. 
 Births 33. Deaths 14. 
 
 This year Died Octr. 16th Elder Samuel Clap, who had 
 also been a long time Captain, &; often a Representatiue, 
 a very Vk orthy man ; he was Ruling Elder of y® Church of 
 Dorchester almost 7 years ; aged abt. 74 years. 
 
 1709. 
 
 Selectmen. Votes. Selectmen. Votes. 
 
 Serjt. Hopestill Humfrey 76 Char. Davenport 50 
 
 Saml. Wales 65 Ens. Edwd. Breck 41 
 
 Saml. Paul 65 
 
 Town Clerk, Samuel Paul. Representatiue, Elder 
 Hopestill Clap. Constables, Joseph Bird, Robert Field, 
 Thos. Tolman Jun., Robert Field & Thos. Tolman Refus- 
 ing Saml. Robinson Junr. & Henry White were Chosen. 
 Births 48. Deaths 1 L 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 39 
 
 This year Janr. 30th, 1709-10 Died Mr. Thomas Bird. 
 This year Dea. Hopestill Clap was Chosen Ruhng Elder 
 of y*' Church & Ordained. 
 
 1710. 
 
 Selectmen, Samuel Paul, Edward Breck, Hopestill 
 Humfrey, Saml. Wales, & Philip Withington. Town 
 Clerk, Saml. Paul. Deputy, Elder Hopestill Clap. Con- 
 stables, Ebenezer Clap, Abraham How for Capt. Tilestone, 
 Jacob Shepard. Births 39. Deaths 10. 
 
 1711. 
 
 Selectmen, Hopestill Humfrey, Edwd. Breck, Philip 
 Withington, Saml. Paul, Saml. Wales. Town Clerk, Saml. 
 Paul. Deputy, Hopestill Clap. Constables, Obediah 
 Swift, Joseph Weeks, Henry Crane. Births 35. Deaths 
 14. 
 
 17 12. 
 
 Selectmen. Votes. 
 
 Ensign Edwd. Breck 58 Town Clerk, John Blake 
 Serjt. Hopestill Humfrey 43 Repres. Mr. Hopestill Clap 
 Philip Withington 39 ( Joshua Pumery 
 
 Samuel Wales 33 Constables < Eben. Holmes 
 
 Samuel Clap 33 ( James Puffer 
 
 Births 38. Deaths 16. This year Mar. 9th Joseph 
 Bird died by a wound in his fore-head occasioned by his 
 Gun flying out of y^ Stock when he fired it at Fowl, being 
 upon y^ water in his Cannoo. And Saml. Wales died Janr. 
 20th. 
 
 1713. 
 
 Selectmen. Votes. 
 
 Seijt. Hopestill Humfrey 66 Town Clerk, Lt. Saml. Paul 
 
 Ens. Edward Breck 53 Deputy, Mr. Hopestill Clap 
 Serjt. Samuel Clap 54 ( Noah Beman 
 
 Capt. Thomas Tilestone 45 Constabl. \ James Trott 
 Fdisn, Char. Davenport 45 ( Rich. Hixon 
 
40 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Births 27. Deaths 13. This year Sepr. 3d Died Ens. 
 Edwd. Breck. And Novr. 11th Died James White. 
 
 This year Majr. Rohert Spur, Roger Bilhng, Capt. OU- 
 ver Wiswell, Capt. Thos. Tilestone & Capt. Saml. Paul 
 Committee, & James Blake Junr. Surveyor, began in y® 
 month of May to measure y^ Cedar Swamps he. This 
 year y® Proprietors, Incorporated into a distinct Body from 
 y« Town. And y*^ Colony Line Run h Settled by y^ 
 Gen. Court, 
 
 1714. 
 
 Selectmen. Votes. 
 
 Hopestill Humfrey 60 Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
 Sanutel Clap 56 Deputy, Eld. Hopestill Clap 
 
 Thomas Tilestone 46 ( Joseph Hall 
 
 Samuel Paul 43 Constables < John Robinson 
 
 Charles Davenport 41 ( John Wintworth 
 
 Births 36. Deaths 22. This year y^ line between 
 Dorchester & Wrenthem was Extended from Station Tree 
 y® most S. W. Bounds before made, unto near y^ Pattent 
 or Colony Line. 
 
 17 15. 
 
 Selectmen, Hopestill Humfrey, Saml. Clap, Capt. Thos. 
 Tilestone, John Blake, Nathl. Glover. Town Clerk, John 
 Blake. Represen. Eld. Hopestill Clap. Constables, 
 Smith Woodward & Joseph Hall in his stead, Joseph Blake, 
 Samuel Davis. Births 35. Deaths 13. This year Apr. 
 29 Died Mr. Saml. Blake at Barnstable. 
 
 1716. 
 
 Selectmen. Votes. Town Clerk, John Blake 
 
 Hopestill Humfrey 64 Deputy, Eld. Hopestill Clap 
 Capt. Paul 34 fThos.Mawdsley 
 
 Capt. Tilestone 31 ^. ,, J Thos. Trott 
 
 Mr. Nathl. Glover Jun. 40 ^onstaDies< g^^^^^^ Bullard 
 
 John Blake 61 |^ Saml. Lane 
 
 Births 47. Deaths 10. This year Febr. 7th, 1716-17 
 Died Robert Searl, v» ho ^^'as Town Clerk about 16 years. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 41 
 
 This year abt. y« 19th of Febr. fell y^ remarkable great 
 Snow, after a moderate Winter. 
 
 51 
 45 
 
 Consta. 
 
 1717. 
 
 Votes. Town Clerk, John Blake 
 52 Represen. Eld. Hopestill Clap 
 ''Remember Preston 
 I Saml. Leeds 
 I Obadiah Haws 
 I^Jona. Billing 
 This year Died Capt. Roger 
 Billing Janr. 27th, Capt. Eben. Billing Esqr. Janr. 25th, 
 and Mr. John Blake, who was Town Clerk about 4 years 
 at several times, k, Deacon of y« Church not many weeks, 
 died Mar. 2d, 1717-18. 
 
 Selectmen. 
 Philip Withington 
 John Blake 
 Hopestill Humfrey 
 Capt. Thos. Tilestone 38 
 Nathl . G lover Junr. 3 1 
 
 Births 28. Deaths 15. 
 
 Selectmen. 
 Hopestill Humfrey 
 Philip Withington 
 Thos. Tilestone 
 Saml. Paul 
 Saml. Capen 
 
 1718. 
 
 Votes. Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
 8 1 Deputy, Capt. Thos. Tilestone 
 "^ Preserved Capen 
 
 Consta. I i^^i"^ )J^^"f 
 Joseph lucker 
 
 Saml. Billinsf 
 
 90 
 79 
 
 78 
 74 
 
 Town Treasurer, Jonathan Clap. 
 Births 37. Deaths 23. This year Sepr. 16th Died 
 Mr. Saml. Robinson Senr. & John Minot Mar. 21st, and 
 Thomas Tolman Senr. Sept. 12th in y^ 85th year of his 
 age. 
 
 1719. 
 
 Selectmen &; Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Thomas Tilestone 
 
 97 
 
 '1 own Clerk, Saml. Paul 
 
 Samuel Paul 
 
 94 
 
 Deputy, Capt. Tilestone 
 
 Standfast Foster 
 
 76 
 
 
 "Matthew Pimer 
 
 Ebenezer Mawdsley 
 
 75 
 
 Consta. < 
 
 Edwd. Foster 
 
 Col. Robert Spur 
 
 69 
 
 Philip Liscom 
 
 Eben. Billing 
 
 50 
 
 
 John Hixson 
 
 Nathl. Hubbard Esqr. 
 
 47 
 
 
 4* 
 
 
 
 
42 
 
 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Births 34. Deaths 11. This year Febr. 1st Died 
 Charles Davenport often Selectman : And Elder Hopestill 
 Clap, often Selectman, h Representatiue about 15 years ; 
 and Dea. of y^ Church about 17 years, & Ruling Elder 
 about 10 years. Upon his Graue-Stone is written by his 
 Pastor Mr. John Danforth as follows. 
 
 " Here lies Interred ye Body of Mr. Hopestill Clap, who Deceased 
 
 Sepr. 2d, 1719, aged 72 years. 
 
 His Dust waits 'till ye Jubily, 
 Shall then Shine brighter than ye Sky j 
 Shall meet & join to part no more, 
 His Soul that's Glorified before. 
 Pastors and Churches happy be 
 With Ruling Elders such as he : 
 Present Useful, Absent Wanted, 
 Lir'd Desired, Died Lamented." 
 
 1720. 
 
 Selectmen &t Assessors. Votes. Votes. 
 
 Samuel Paul 89 Nathl. Hubbard Esqr. 73 
 
 Standfast Foster 
 
 Ebenezer Billing 
 
 65 
 65 
 
 Eben. Mawdsley 83 
 
 Thos. Tilestone 80 
 
 Col. Robt. Spur 74 
 
 Town Clerk, Samuel Paul. Representatiues, Majr. 
 Thos. Tilestone first, and at a new Court in June or July 
 Col. Robt. Spur. Constables, James Bird Junr., Israel 
 Leadbetter, Edwd. Bayley, Saml. Man. 
 
 Births 27. Deaths 8. Town Treasurer, Eben. Mawds- 
 ley. 
 
 Selectmen &i Assessors. 
 Ebenezer Mawdsley 
 Jonathan Clap 
 Samuel Capen 
 Hopestill Humfrey 
 Joseph Blake 
 
 1721. 
 
 Votes. 
 125 Town Clerk, Eb. Mawdsley 
 Town Treas. Jona. Clap 
 Deputy, Col. Robt. Spur 
 Robert Searl 
 Robt. Spur Jun. 
 Thos. Spur 
 John Gay 
 
 92 
 
 80 
 80 
 
 72 
 
 Consts. 
 
 & 
 Collec. 
 
 < 
 
 N 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 43 
 
 Births 53. Deaths 12. 
 
 This year y'^ Small Pox went through Boston, & It was 
 in 29 families in this Town, whereof 13 Persons Died, two 
 of them being Strangers. This year died Mr. Saml. Pay- 
 son, Si Nathl. Butt, h Edwd. Payson of y^ Small Pox. 
 
 17 2 2. 
 
 Selectmen &l Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Deacon Jona. Clap 
 Majr. Thos. Tilestone 
 Col. Robt. Spur 
 Capt. Paul 
 Joseph Blake 
 
 Consta. 
 
 76 Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
 70 Treasurer, Dea. Jona. Clap 
 67 Deputy, Col. Robt. Spur 
 65 r Robert Searl 
 
 46 ^ , Isaac How 
 Elias Monk 
 Jeremiah Ruggles 
 Births 43. Deaths 14. 
 
 This year July 6th Died Mrs. Elizabeth Danforth, y^ 
 wife of y*' Revd. Mr. John Danforth, in y® 59th year of her 
 age. And Apr. 20th Mr. Henry Leadbetter Senr. And 
 Octr. 12th Elder Samuel Topliff': He was a man of Piety, 
 parts &i worth, and was Ruling Elder in this Church about 
 21 years : he died in y® 77th year of his age. 
 
 1723. 
 
 Selectmen &i Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Jonathan Clap 
 Joseph Blake 
 Samuel Paul 
 Majr. Thos. Tilestone 
 Col. Robt. Spur 
 
 110 Town Clerk, Saml. Paul 
 110 Town Treasr. Jona. Clap 
 99 Repres. Col. Robt. Spur 
 95 f Eben. Williams 
 
 94 Q^^^^^^ ) Eben. Paul 
 
 ' * I Eben. Warren 
 (^Solomon Hews 
 Births 45. Deaths 22. 
 
 This year Died Dea. Jonathan Clap, Janr. 2d, and Lt. 
 Samuel Clap, Janr. 30, who was also Chosen Deacon but 
 Refused ; they were both of them very Pious and usefull 
 men &l much lamented. There died also Several other 
 middle aged Persons about y® same time of a Feaver, 
 
44 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 James Bishop, Barnard Capen, James Bird Sem*. h his 
 Wife &i Daughter, &ic. 
 
 1724. 
 
 Selectmen &t Assessors. Votes. Votes. 
 
 Joseph Blake 102 Saml. Paul 82 
 
 James Blake Jun. 89 Col. Robt. Spur 62 
 
 Majr. Tilestone 88 
 
 Town Clerk, Saml. Paul. Town Treasurer, James 
 Blake Junr. Repres. Col. Robt. Spur. Constables, 
 Samuel Withington, Charles Redman, Samuel Scott, Eben. 
 Williams for Francis Price. 
 
 Births 43. Deaths 15. 
 
 1725. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Votes. 
 
 James Blake Junr. 90 Joseph Blake refused ) 
 
 Majr. Thos. Tilestone 45 & Preserved Capen > 70 
 Philip Withington 30 Chosen ) 
 
 Joseph Hewins 30 Town Clerk, Jas. Blake Jun. 
 
 Treasurer, James Blake Junr. Deputy, Majr. Thomas 
 Tilestone. Constables, Benja. Bird, Robert Royal, Wm. 
 Crane, Eleazer Rhodes ; Robert Field k, Wm. Billing pd. 
 their fine. Births 53. Deaths 13. 
 
 This year died Richard Evans March 10th, aged about 
 86 years. And this year also Died Elder Daniel Preston 
 March 1 3th, 1 725-6. He was Ruling Elder about 6 years, 
 h Died in y*" 77th Year of his age. 
 
 The Elders of this Church have been, 
 Elder Henry Withington, Died Febr. 2d, 1666, aged 79 
 
 years. 
 Elder George Minot, Died about Deer. 24, 1671, aged 
 Elder James Humfrey, Died May 12th, 1686, in y« 78th 
 
 year of his age. 
 Eld. James Blake, Died June 28th, 1700, in y« 77th year 
 
 of his age. 
 Eld. Saml. Clap, Died Octr. 16th, 1708, aged about 74 
 
 years. 
 
Constables 
 
 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 45 
 
 Eld. Hopestill Clap, Died Sepr. 2d, 1719, in y^ 72d year 
 
 of his age. 
 Eld. Samuel ToplifF, Died Octr. 12, 1722, in y^ 77th 
 
 year of his age. 
 Eld. Daniel Preston, Died Mar. 13, 1725-26, in y« 77th 
 
 year of his age. 
 
 17 2 6. 
 
 Selectmen &i Assessors. Votes. 
 
 James Blake Junr. 105 Clerk, James Blake Junr. 
 
 Mr. Philip Witliington 77 Treasurer, Jas. Blake Jun. 
 Majr. Thos. Tilestone 60 Dep. Maj. Thos. Tilestone 
 Mr. Preserv^ed Capen 54 
 Mr. Eben. Clap 49 
 
 ( John Beighton 
 
 Abraham How, h he Removing to Boston 
 
 Matthias Evans chosen in his Room 
 
 Samuel Hartwell 
 
 James Draper 
 
 John Andrews, Paid his fine 
 ^ Richard Withington, Paid his fine 
 Births 44^ Deaths 9. This year Died Aug. 25th Capt. 
 Saml. Paul, who had been often Selectman, &i he was 
 Town Clerk 11 years. 
 
 This year Punkapaog or y^ South Precinct with y*^ Lands 
 beyond it in y*^ Township of Dorchester were sett off a 
 Township by themselues, by y^ Name of Stoughton, leaving 
 Dorchester but a Small Town, being narrow, and but about 
 9 or 10 Miles in length, y^ upper part being wood land &l 
 unsettled ; which before was about 35 miles in length & in 
 some places 6 or 8 miles wide ; the length being Reckoned 
 from Dorchester-neck to Angle-Tree, as y® Road goeth. 
 
 1727. 
 
 Selectmen &i Assessors. Votes. Votes. 
 
 James Blake Junr. 79 Mr. Ebenezer Clap 44 
 
 Majr. Thos. Tilestone 78 Elijah Danforth Esq. 36 
 Mr. Preserved Capen 55 
 
46 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Town Clerk, James Blake Jimr. Town Treasurer, 
 James Blake Jiinr. Representatiue, Majr. Thos. Tiles- 
 tone. 
 
 ['Thomas Evans 
 P t 1 1 J I^ichard Haws 
 
 } John Maxfield &t dismist 
 (^Thomas Bird &i paid his fine. 
 Births 28. Deaths 6. This year Octr. 29th about 10 
 of y® clock at night a terrible Earthquake, Continuing by 
 times for several months. See 1744. 
 
 17 2 8. ■ 
 
 Selectmen &t Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Majr. Thomas Tilestone 78 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 James Blake Junr. 78 Junr. 
 
 Benja. Bird 63 Town Treasr. James Blake 
 
 Thomas Trott 61 Junr. 
 
 Elijah Danforth Esq. ) - - Representatiue, Majr. Thos. 
 
 & Refused 5 Tilestone 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur Jun. 41 
 
 ^ , , 1 C James Foster Junr. 
 Constables < t^ • i rp i 
 
 I Daniel iolman. 
 
 Births 39. Deaths 10. 
 
 1729. 
 
 Selectmen &t Assessors. Votes. Votes. 
 
 Mr. Benja. Bird 69 Col. Thos. Tilestone 42 
 
 James Blake Junr. 68 Capt. Robt. Spur Junr. 40 
 
 Mr. Thomas Trott 57 
 
 Town Clerk, James Blake Junr. Town Treasurer, 
 James Blake Junr. Representatiue, Mr. Benjamin Bii'd. 
 Constables, Joseph Bass, Samuel Tolman, Ebenez. Jones 
 Junr. Paid his fine, Saml. Capen Junr. Paid his Fine. 
 Births 26. Deaths 9. 
 
 This year Aug. 4th Died Hannah y^ Widow of William 
 Blake, formerly y^ wife of George Lion, in y^ 91st year of 
 her age. 
 
 This year y*' Revd. Mr. Jonathan Bowman was ordained 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 47 
 
 Colleague Pastor with y** Revd. Mr. John Danforth (he 
 being aged) Novr. 5th. 
 
 1730. 
 
 Selectmen &; Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Mr. Benja. Bird 77 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 James Blake Junr. 78 Junr. 
 
 Lt. Thos. Wiswell 61 Treasurer, James Blake Jun. 
 
 Mr. Preserved Capen 55 
 
 Mr. John Robinson 45 
 
 Representatiue, Mr. Benja. Bird. Constables. John 
 Wiswell, John Trescot Junr., Humfrey Heman &l Paid his 
 fine, Eben. Withington & Paid his fine, John Capen &: 
 Refused h Paid his fine. Births 38. Deaths 11. 
 
 This year May 26th Died y*' Revd. Mr. John Danforth, 
 who had been Pastor of this Church about 48 years ; in 
 y^ 70th year of his age. He was S*^ to be a man of great 
 Learning, he understood y*^ Mathematicks beyond most men 
 of his Function. He was exceeding Charitable, &: of a 
 very peacefull temper. He took much pains to Eternize 
 y^ Names of many of y^ good Christians of his own Flock ; 
 And yet y^ World is so ungratefull, that he has not a Line 
 Written to preserue his memory, no not so much as upon 
 his Tomb ; he being buried in Lt. Govr. Stoughton's Tomb 
 that was covered with writing before. And there also 
 lyeth his Consort Mrs. Elizabeth Danforth. 
 
 173 1. 
 
 Selectmen &i Assessors. Votes. 
 
 James Blake Junr. 52 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Mr. Benja. Bird 47 Junr. 
 
 Mr. John Robinson 41 Treasur., James Blake Jun, 
 
 Lt. Thos. Wiswell 40 Deputy, Mr. Benja. Bird 
 
 Mr. Preserved Capen 37 
 
 Constables, John Wales, John Trescot. 
 Births 44. Deaths 16. This year Died Mar. 22d 
 1730-31, Mr. Hopestill Humfrey, often Selectman, in y^ 
 82d year of his age. And Rebecca y^ widow of Richard 
 
48 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Evans in y^ 85th year of her age. And Mrs. Susannah 
 Clap, widow of Elder Hopestill Clap, March 2d, 1731—32, 
 about 80 years of age. And y^ Honourable William Tai- 
 lor Esq., Lt. Governor &;c. Died March 1st, 1731—2, and , 
 was buried in Govr. Stoughton's Tomb. 
 
 1732. 
 
 Selectmen &l Assessors. Votes. 
 
 James Blake Junr. 42 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Lt. Thomas Wiswell 36 Junr. 
 
 Mr. John Robinson 30 Treasur., James Blake Junr. 
 
 Mr. Preserved Capen 29 Repres., Mr. Benja. Bird 
 
 Mr. Benja. Bird 28 
 
 Constables, John Blackman Junr., Hezekiah Barber, 
 Stephen Badiam & paid his fine, Ralph Morgain &t paid 
 his fine, Daniel Preston h paid his fine. Births 36. 
 Deaths 19. This year Octr. 4th Died Mr. James Foster, 
 often Commissioner &t Selectman, in y'^ 82d year of his age. 
 And his wife Mrs. Anna Foster died about 5 Days before 
 him. And this Octr. 22d Died Deacon James Blake, in 
 y*^ 81st year of his age, he having Languished about 7 
 years with an ulcerous Leg very painfull ; but at last 
 died of an Epedemical Cold that then carried off many 
 aged People. He was a Deacon in this Church about 23 
 years, and once Chosen Elder but Refused it. 
 
 Upon his Graue Stone is thus written. 
 
 " Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. James Blake, who departed this 
 
 Life Octr. 22d, 1732, Aged 80 years & 2 months. 
 
 He was a member in full Communion with ye Church of Christ in 
 
 Dorchester aboue 55 years, and a Deacon of ye Same 
 
 Church aboue 35 years. 
 
 Seven years Strong Pain doth end at last, 
 His wear}- Days & Nights are past ; 
 The Way is Rough, ye End is Peace ; 
 Short Pain giues place to endless Ease." 
 
 There died also Several other aged People this year — • 
 as Mr. Ephraim Payson, James Barber, Mrs. Royal widow 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 49 
 
 of Isaac Royal, Ebenezer Holmes his wife, and Mr. John 
 Bird Aug. 2d, aged 90 years h Six Months. 
 
 1733. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Voters 77. 
 
 James Blake 73 Town Clerk, Jas. Blake 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 66 Treasr. James Blake 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 59 Deputy, Mr. Benja. Bird 
 
 Col. Thos. Tilestone 42 
 
 Mr. John Robinson 42 
 
 Constables, John Brown, Nathl. Holmes ; and Lt. Joshua 
 Sever, Edwd. Capen, Consider Leeds, John Daman, 
 George Payson, Eben. Mawdsley Jun., Joseph Leeds Jun. 
 &i Samuel Humfrey paid their Fines. 
 
 Births 37. Deaths 13. This year died Mr. Samuel 
 Capen, often a Selectman, in y® year of his age. 
 
 1734. 
 
 Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 68. 
 
 James Blake 59 
 
 Col. Thos. Tilestone 48 Town Clerk, James Blake. 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 46 Treasurer, James Blake, 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 40 
 
 Capt. Robt. Spur Jun. 39 
 
 Representatiue, Col. Thos. Tilestone. Constables, Tho- 
 mas Glover, George Minot ; and Saml. Paul Paid his 
 fine. 
 
 Births 32. Deaths 15. From y« year 1657 to y« end of 
 this year there is 2416 Births, and 921 Deaths, that is in 
 y^ Space of 78 years ; which shows that many of y^ Peo- 
 ple that were Born in y® Town moved out &i Died not 
 here. And y^ number of Births in a year for 40 or 50 
 years past were not many less than they are now, (except 
 when Stoughton also belonged to this Town,) which shows 
 y® People are not much more numerous (if any thing) now, 
 than they were then. And in Capt. John Capen's time, 
 there is left a list of Persons Seated in y*' meeting-house 
 that now is, and y^ number of men then Seated were 171, 
 
 5 
 
50 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 and y® number of women were 180; which seems to be 
 as many as can sit in those seats now. 
 
 •9 
 
 This present year 17 3 5. 
 
 Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 77. 
 
 James Blake 72 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 62 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Col. Thos. Tilestone 60 Treasurer, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Robt. Spur Jun. 43 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 41 
 
 Constables, Samuel Butt, Joseph Weeks Jun. ; and John 
 Glover, Moses Billing, Henry Bird, Jonas Humfrey, Enoch 
 Wiswell, Jacob Humfrey, &i William Withington were 
 Chosen &: Refused, and are to pay their Fines. Repre- 
 sentatiue, Col. Thos. Tilestone. 
 
 Births 33. Deaths 18. This Year June 12th John 
 Clap, son of Mr. Eben. Clap, was drawing a heavy Log 
 upon a pair of Draughts, h y® Lever sliping loose y^ end 
 flew ouer & stmck him on y*^ Forehead, of which he died 
 in about 24 Hours, he being then at Stoughton. 
 
 1736. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Voters 77. 
 
 James Blake 67 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur Jun. 43 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Col. Thomas Tilestone 40 Town Treas'r, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 40 
 
 Lt. Thos. Bird 35 Voters 66. 
 
 Constables, Jonathan Davis, Edward Kilton ; and Capt. 
 Thos. Wiswell, Stephen Fowler, Thomas Evans Jun., 
 John Capen, Wm. Robinson, John Robinson Jun., Samuel 
 Durant, Timothy Tilestone Jun., &: Naphtali Pierce were 
 Chosen & Refused to Serue &: are to pay their fines. 
 
 Representatiue, Thomas Tilestone Esqr. 
 
 Births 41. Deaths 20. This Year Apr. 28th Died 
 Mr. Mather Withington, Son of Mr. Eben. Withington, in 
 y® 22d year of his age, a Candidate for y^ Ministry h had 
 begun to Preach. Also Octr. 8th Elijah Danforth Esqr., 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 51 
 
 (Son of our late Revd. Pastor Mr. John Danforth, Deed.) 
 in y® 53d year of his Age. He was a good and safe Phy- 
 sician, and had heen one of y^ Justices of y^ Peace for 
 y« County of Suffolk for many years together. Deer. 27th 
 Mr. Philip Withington, Grandfather of y*^ S^' Mather With- 
 ington, Deed, in y*^ 76th year of his age. He was some- 
 time Selectman, k, other wise Improved in y^ Town. 
 Janr. 4th Died Mr. Timothy Tilestone, in y^ 74th year of 
 his age. 
 
 This winter was very Cold &i long, & y^ Spring very 
 wet &i backward. 
 
 1737. 
 
 Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 47. 
 
 James Blake 37 
 
 Thos. Tilestone Esqr. 28 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur Jun. 28 Town Treasurer, James 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 26 Blake 
 
 Mr. Thomas Bird 24 
 
 Constables, Matthew Pimer & John Tolman Jun., also 
 John Blake, Richard Hall, Oliver Wiswell, Ichabod Jones, 
 & Samuel Clap, were Chosen Constables first, but Refused 
 to Serue &. Paid their Fine. 
 
 Representatiue, Mr. Benjamin Bird. 
 
 Births 32. Deaths 18. This Year Aug. 29th Died 
 Mrs. Dorothy Quincy, Consort of y® Honble. Edmund 
 Quincy Esq., Daughter of our former Pastor y® Revd. Mr. 
 Josiah Flint : she died at Brantrey in y** 60th year of her 
 age : and her mother Mrs. Esther Flint, Widow of y^ S'^ 
 Mr. Josiah Flint, died at Brantrey about a month or 5 
 weeks before her. 
 
 The aboue mentioned Edmund Quincy Esqr. quickly 
 after y® Death of his Wife undertook an agency to y^ Court 
 of Great Britain in behalf of y*^ Province about y^ Settle- 
 ment of y® Line between this Province &: New-Hamshier, 
 and set sail from Boston Deer. 20th, 1737, attended by 
 Govr. Belcher &l other Gentlemen below y^ Castle, where 
 y^ Cannon were Discharged as he passed by. He had a 
 
52 
 
 ANNALS OF DORCHESi 
 
 Comfortable & quick passage to London ; but he not having 
 had y*^ Small Pox & fearing he might take it y® Common 
 Way (it being then in y® City) was advised to take it by 
 Inoculation, which he did soon after his arrival, and Died 
 of y« same at London, Febr. 23d, 1737, in y^ 57th Year 
 of his Age. The Province were at y^ Expence of his Fu- 
 neral, and y® General Assembly gaue order to erect to his 
 precious memory a handsome Monument upon his Graue 
 in Bunhill-Fields, London, with an elegant Latin Inscrip- 
 tion, Englised as follows, viz. 
 
 " Here are deposited ye Remains of Edmund Quincy, Esqr. native 
 of y© Massachusetts-Bay in JYeio Kngiand^ a Gentleman of distin- 
 guished Piety, Prudence & Learning. 
 
 Who early merited Praise, for discharging with ye greatest Ability 
 & approved Integrity, the various Imployments, both in ye Civil and 
 Military Affairs that his Country Intrusted him v^^ith (these Espe- 
 eially) as one of His Majesty's Council, a Justice of y& Supreme Court 
 of Judicature, and Colonel of a Regiment of Foot. 
 
 The Publick Affairs of his Country so Requiring, he embarked their 
 Agent to ye Court of Great Britain in order to secure their Rights 
 and Privileges. 
 
 Being Seized with ye Small Pox» he died a premature Death, & 
 with him, the advantages expected from his Agency with ye greatest 
 prospect of Success: he departed the Delight of his own People, but 
 of none more than ye Senate, who as a Testimony of their Love & 
 Gratitude haue ordered this Epitaph to be Inscribed on his Pclonu- 
 ment.* He Died at London, Febr. 23d, 1737, in ye 57th Year of 
 his Age." 
 
 * The Monument itself was raised at ye Expense of ye Gorernment ; viz» 
 Twenty Pounds Sterling. . 
 
 17 3 8. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors, Votes. Voters 65. 
 
 James Blake 57 
 
 Thos. Tilestone Esqr. 46 
 
 Capt. Robt. Spur Jun. 41 
 
 Mr. Thos. Bird 36 
 
 Mr. Thos. Trott 34 
 
 Town Clerk, J. Blake 
 Town Treasur., J. Blake 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 53 
 
 Represeiitatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. Constables, 
 Joseph Hall Junr. &i Thomas Lyon Junr. ; and William 
 Clap, Samuel Durant h John Maxfield paid their Fine. 
 
 Births 48. Deaths 13. 
 
 This year Died in January 1738-9, Robert Spur Esqr. 
 in y^ 78th year of his age. He had been a long time one 
 of y^ Justices of y*^ Peace for y® County of Suffolk. He 
 had been also Lt. Colonel of a Regiment of Foot. And 
 also had served as a Selectman Eight years, &£ as Repre- 
 sentatiue Fine Years. All which Posts he managed with 
 fidelity &; applause. And a little before him, July 27th, 
 Died his Consort Mrs. Elizabeth Spur, in y^ 73d Year of 
 her age. Also this Year Died Mr. Joseph Blake, in y® 
 72d Year of his age. He had been a Selectman 4 Years : 
 and died Febr. 1st, 1738-9. Also Mary Pimer, Widow 
 of Matthew Pimer, Died Octr. 13th in y« 74th Year of 
 her age. 
 
 1739. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. 
 
 James Blake 50 
 
 Col. Thos. Tilestone 39 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur 38 Town Treasurer, James 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 36 Blake 
 
 Col. Estes Hatch 34 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 
 
 Constables, Samuel Blake, Robert Erskin. And Alex- 
 ander Glover paid his Fine. 
 
 Births 33. Deaths 21. 
 
 This Year March 6th, 1739-40, Died Priscilla Wife 
 of Mr. James Foster, in y® 47th year of her age. And 
 Janr. 26th Wni. Patten was drowned going ouer Neponsit 
 Riuer on y^ Ice. And War Proclaimed with Spain. 
 
 1740. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. 
 
 James Blake 57 > y . ^jn 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 33 5 ^^^^^^ ^^• 
 
 5# 
 
54 ANNALS OF DORCHESfE^^,- 
 
 Thos. Tilestone Esqr. 32} ^r /^r* 
 
 Mr. Thomas Bird ^g ^ Voters 53. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Trott 39 Voters 63. 
 
 Town Clerk, James Blake. Town Treasurer, James 
 Blake. Representatlue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. Consta- 
 bles, Humfrey Atherton Junr. k, John White ; and Elisha 
 Dauenport, Acquilla Tolman, Robert Searl Junr. paid their 
 Fine. 
 
 Births 41. Deaths 12. 
 
 In y^ fall of this Year the Revd. Mr. George Whitefield 
 an Itinerant Preacher came to Boston, & y® Towns here- 
 about, many of them, and Preached generally twice a 
 Day, sometimes in y^ Meeting-houses h often in y^ Fields 
 unto vast assemblies. He had Travelled thro' all y^ Eng- 
 lish Provinces in America, from Georgia (where I think he 
 hath a Church &l an Orphan House) down to York ; and 
 Preached in all or most of y« Towns he passed through. 
 And in his Return he took a Cii'cuit to Northampton, 
 Springfield &c., &: so through Connecticut Colony. When 
 he Preached his Farewell Sermon in Boston Common, it 
 was Judged by y^ space of ground taken up by y^ Auditory, 
 that there could not be less than 20 Thousand (which I 
 think is Mr. Whrtefield's own account in his Journal) and 
 some said 30 Thousand. He' is a very Powerful Preacher, 
 and has a Special Gift of Striking y^ Passions & Com- 
 manding y'' attention of his Hearers. The Minds of both 
 Ministers & People were generally much moued & Quick- 
 ened by his Preaching. After him in y^ Winter Came 
 another Itinerant, the Rev. Mr. Gilbert Tennant, (I think 
 from y^ Jerseys) who also Preached at Boston as y^ other 
 had done, h in Several Towns hereabout, and in his w^ay 
 down to York &; back again, but I think not in y*^ Fields. 
 
 I think Mr. Whitefield w^as Educated in y^ University of 
 Oxford, h there he entered into holy Orders according to 
 y^ Canons of y^ Church of England ; but he Preaches to 
 Christians of all Persuasions. It is now when I write this 
 aboue a year since Mr. Whitefield was here, it being now 
 Febr. 9th, 1741, and there hath ever since been an unu- 
 
ANNALS 01^ DORCHESTER. 55 
 
 Stial Impression upon y*^ Minds of People, gradually Increas- 
 ing &i Spreading from one Town h place to another, so 
 that y^ Common Conversation is upon matters of Religion, 
 k, of y*^ good work going on in y« Land by y« Extraordi- 
 nary Efflisions of y*^ Holy Spirit ; which some say was 
 never so before Experienced in tl]is Land, or they belieue 
 since y*^ Days of y*' Apostles. To be sure there is abun- 
 dance of Preaching by our Ministers ; some go to other 
 Towns &, Preach in private Houses as well as in Publick, 
 and evening Lectures are set up ; I think there is Four 
 Evening Lectures in Boston every week ; and there is a 
 wonderful disposition in people to hear. There lias also 
 in many places been very great additions to the Churches. 
 Doubtless there will ere long be some Printed Account of it. 
 
 And yet I am at present of Opinion that things are by 
 some Persons carried too far, contrary to y^ design of y^ 
 Holy Spirit ; as in some places where Laymen go about 
 Exhorting (as they call it) & people crowd in large Assem- 
 blies to hear them ; and many Cry out in y^ Assembly &t 
 are so struck (as they call it) that for a time they loose 
 their Senses & Reason, & y^ like. But these things I 
 must leave until time or further Light shall InfoiTn my 
 Judgment. 
 
 There was this Year an early frost that much Damni- 
 fied y^ Indian Corn in y'^ Field, and after it was Gathered, 
 a long Series of wet weather h a very hard frost upon it, 
 that damnified a great deal more, and so Spoiled it for 
 Seed that next Spring there was but little good Seed to be 
 had ; the most hereabout planting twice over, to y'' great 
 damage of y^ next Crop. 
 
 This Summer there went 5 Companies of Soldiers from 
 this Province of 100 men each, to war with Spain. They 
 went to Jamaica to Admiral Vernon, & so to Cartha^ena, 
 Cuba &ic. We hear many or y'^ most of them are dead. 
 
 This Winter 1 740 was very hard, beyond what has been 
 known this 40 Years ; It began early h was very cold, 
 attended with great Quantities of Snow. The Sea was 
 very much Frozen, h there was abundance of travelling 
 
56 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 upon y^ Ice. There was great Travelling from Boston to 
 Castle- William, and a Beaten Road in y^ Snow kept 
 Open, whereon in y^ way stood two Tents for Entertain- 
 ment : and Horses &; Slays as well as foot Folks were 
 Continually passing. And Sled-Ijoads of Hay came near 
 Straight up from Spectacle Island. The Snow lay long, 
 & made y*-' Spring backward ; I saw some drifts of Snow 
 upon y^ Islands, not quite Consumed, the 2d or 3d Day 
 of May following. Also this year a great number of per- 
 sons thro' y*^ Province Combined to make y^ Bills called 
 y^ Manufactory or Land-Bank-Bills. 
 
 1741. 
 
 Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 63. 
 
 Capt. Thomas VViswell 50 
 
 James Blake 46 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 37 Town Treasurer, James 
 
 Capt. Daniel Preston 36 Blake 
 
 Mr. Robert Oliver 32 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
 
 Constables, Thomas Pimer h Stephen Haws ; and 
 Josiah Blake, Ebenezer Clap Junr., Jonathan Clap, Ebe- 
 nezer Dauenport & Zebulun Pierce paid their fine. 
 
 Births 44. Deaths 12. This year Janr. 22d Died Mr. 
 John Trescott, in y*^ 91st year of his age. And on Aug. 
 1st before, Rebecca his Wife, in y*^ 90th year of her age. 
 
 This year there v* as a Scarcity of Grain of all sorts : 
 Wheat Sold for 30s. per Bushel, Rye 22s., &l Indian 
 Corn for 20s. per Bushel paper Currency ; which is about 
 one fourth of y^ Value of Proclamation Money. 
 
 1742. 
 
 Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters 49. 
 
 James Blake 43 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 31 Town^Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Daniel Preston 31 Town Treasurer, James 
 
 Capt. Preserved Capen 27 Blake 
 
 Capt. Robert Oliver 25 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 57 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
 
 Constables, Samuel Bishop &i John Pierce Junr. ; and 
 Preserved Baker, Nadianael Clap, John Trott, John Hum- 
 frey, James Baker, Benjamin Everenden &i Thomas Baker 
 Refused and paid their fines. 
 
 Births 35. Deaths 10. 
 
 This year Sept. 19th Died Mrs. Sarah Billing, Widow of 
 Capt. Roger Billing, in y^ 85th year of her age. 
 
 This year there was many Suits against some of y*^ Part- 
 ners in y® Land-bank Scheme, by Virtue of an Act of 
 Parliament, abolishing y*^ S"^ Scheme, and Subjecting y^ 
 Partners or any one of them to y^ Suit of any person that 
 Should be possessed of y*" S^' Bills &: Demands them to be 
 Exchanged for lawful Money, and y*^ demand be Denied 
 or delayed, I think for y*^ space of Ten Days. This Win- 
 ter was very moderate &i but little Snow ; I think we did 
 not go out of y^ Lane for y*^ Snow all Winter. 
 
 1743. 
 
 Selectmen &, Assessors. Votes. Voters. 
 
 James Blake 45 ) 
 
 1 
 
 'i'own Clerk, James 
 
 Capt. Robert Sp^jr 35 > 
 
 56 
 
 Blake 
 
 .Capt. Thomas Wiswell 34 ) 
 
 1 
 
 Town Treasurer, 
 
 Capt. Joseph Bass 35 ) 
 
 51 
 
 James Blake 
 
 Mr. Thomas Trott 28 
 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
 
 Constables, Thomas Wiswell Junr. &, Salter Searl ; and 
 Collector of Taxes, Thomas Lyon Junr. 
 
 Births 40. Deaths 12. 
 
 This year July 7th Died Mrs. Relief Leadbetter, Widow 
 of Mr. Henry Leadbetter, in y^ 93d year of her age ; a 
 Very Pious Woman, and much respected. This year on 
 y'^ 29 and 30th Days of June, our new Meeting-house was 
 Raised ; and on y*^ last of S'' Days Ephraim Wales, Son of 
 Jerijah & Sarah Wales, a young man of about 19 or 20 
 years of age, assisting in y'^ Raising, fell from one of y® 
 Cross Beams down upon y'' lower floor, (about 26 feet) 
 and was taken up Speechless, and to appearance Senseless^ 
 
58 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 and so he remained from about 11 or 1 2 of y^ clock to 
 about 8 or 9 of y*^ same day at night & then Died ; his 
 Body being bruised & his Scull Fractured. The S'' Meet- 
 ing-house is 68 feet h 46 feet broad, besides a Steeple at 
 y^ v/est end of 14 feet Square, and about 52 feet high to 
 y® top of y^ Tower, and 52 feet higher to j^ Vane ; with a 
 Porch at y*' East End of 14 feet Square. The Committee 
 appointed by y*^ Town to Build y*' S^ House are Mr. James 
 Foster, James Blake, Benja. Bird Esqr., Mr. Thomas Bird 
 and Capt. Thomas Wiswell ; who agreed with Mr. Edwd. 
 Kilton, Mr. Robert Royal & Mr. Saml. Gore, Carpenters, 
 to undertake y*^ Building, &; to find all y® Materials h do 
 all y^ workmanship, (Except y^ Charge of Provisions for 
 Raising, & some other Conditions about y*' price of Boards 
 &1C.) for y^ Sum of 3300 pounds old Tenor, h to be 
 finished by October 1744. 
 
 1744. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Voters. 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur 35^ Town Clerk, James 
 
 Mr. Thomas Trott 34 I .^ Blake 
 
 James Blake 33 ( Xown Treasurer, 
 
 Capt. Thomas Wiswell 30 J James Blake 
 
 Capt. Joseph Bass 19 32 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 
 
 Constables, Edwd. Breck &; Nathl. Langley. 
 
 Births 33. Deaths 15. 
 
 hi y*^ Spring of this Year War was Proclaimed with 
 France. 
 
 This year Apr. 4th Danl. Preston Junr. Son of Capt. 
 Daniel Preston, being at Thomson's Island (with others) 
 a Gunning, a Gun lying in a Cannoo with y*^ muzzle upon 
 y^ head board, accidentally went off, without any ones 
 touching it, &£ he being either in another Cannoo, or on 
 the Shore, was shot in y*' head h died Immediately, in 
 y*' 23d year of his age. 
 
 In the Fall of this year Mr. Whitefield arriued from 
 England, first at Portsmouth, h then came to Boston, 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 59 
 
 where he staid 'till next Spring, Preaching often in Seiieral 
 Meeting-houses in Boston, as Dr. Colmans, Mr. Webbs, 
 Mr. Gees, Mr. Moreheads, h once or twice at Dr. Sewals ; 
 as also in Seueral Towns about Boston, as far as (I think) 
 Attleborough ; and in all places where he could be Re- 
 ceiued : But Ministers k. People were generally Offended 
 with his Conduct &t manner of Preaching, but some were 
 most firmly attached to him, and endeavoured to defend 
 all that he either said or did ; which caused much Writino- 
 and Disputing; and many Letters were by the Publick 
 Prints sent to Mr. Whitefield, Charging him with many 
 faults in his Preaching & Conduct that he has never as yet 
 cleared himself of. 
 
 Tills year June y*' 3d on a Sabbath day morning a little 
 before our meeting began (I being then in y^ Meeting- 
 house) was a Considerable Shock of an Earthquake, that 
 shook y*^ Meeting-house much, & throwed down some 
 stone wall near by, as well as at other places, & I think 
 some Chimnies at Boston ; but not so terrible as that on 
 Oct. 29th, 1727, when y'^ ground broke at Newbury h 
 Hampton & I think other places ; and was often repeate'd 
 tho' in a lesser degree than y^ first Shock, for several 
 months together. 
 
 This year Deer. 2d, Sabbath Day, we met first in y^ 
 new Meeting-house, the House being quite or very near 
 finished. The whole Cost of y^ House that was paid for 
 in money, (besides y*= time that y^ Committee gaue) 
 amounted to £3567 10 11. Mr. Bowman Preached a 
 Sermon Suitable to y^ Occasion on Psal. 84. 1. as likewise 
 upon leaving y^ old house y^ Sabbath before on Rev. 3. 3. 
 
 1745. 
 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Votes. Voters. 
 
 James Blake 56 84 
 
 Mr. Thos. Trott 51 Town Clerk, James Blake 
 
 Capt. Robt. Spur 51 Town Treasurer, James 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 49 Blake 
 
 Capt. Joseph Bass 45 
 
60 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thos. Wiswell. 
 
 Constables, Zebadiah Williams &i Saml. Pierce, 
 
 Births 35. Deaths 1 6. 
 
 This year Octr. 21st Died Thos. Tilestone Esqr., aged 
 70 years &i 2 Days. He had been a Justice of y*^ Peace 
 for I suppose 7 or 8 years ; and before that he had gone 
 through I think all the Military steps from an Ensign to 
 Lievt. Colonel, and had been often out in y^ Service. He 
 had been Representatiue about Ten years, though not all 
 successively ; and a Selectman by times 24 years. 
 
 This year y*^ Province of y^ Massachusetts-Bay having 
 y® winter before Projected an Expedition against the French 
 Settlements at y® Island of Cape Britton, and Raised about 
 3000 men, with several Vessels of War, Transports, and 
 all sorts of Warlike Stores, with y*^ assistance of about 1000 
 men more from New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode 
 Island &ic. ; ours set sail from Boston y^ 24th of March, 
 1744—5, &: after waiting at Canso for y*^ Removal of y*' Ice 
 arrived at Cape Britton y*^ first day of May, where meeting 
 with Commodore Warren with about 7 or 8 Men of War 
 that were Ordered there from Several parts, they besieged 
 the City & Forts of Lovisburgh ; the Men of War blocking 
 up y® Harbour, and taking many Vessels bound there, 
 some of them from y® East Indies &; y^ South Sea exceed- 
 ing Rich, and among y^ Rest one of y® French Kings 
 Ships of War of 64 Guns h 500 men, called y*' Vigilant ; 
 a fine new Ship : and y® land army at y^ same time Can- 
 nonading h Bombarding y^ Town, which held out till 
 y® 17th of June 1745, and then Capitulated, delivering all 
 but their Personal Estates into the hands of y® English, and 
 were themselves transported home to France. There were 
 but very few of our Men slain in Battle Considering y^ 
 great Strength of the place &t y® desperateness of y® adven- 
 ture ; but after our men had taken Possession of y® City 
 & Island, a mortal Fever Seized them, and Continued all 
 y® Summer and most part of y'' Winter following, that 
 carried off multitudes ; most that went from hereabouts that 
 I knew either died there, or in their passage home, or soon 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 61 
 
 after they came home ; 'tis said there died of our New 
 England Forces about 1500 men. 
 
 Our Forces kept the place until May following and then 
 were Relieved by Forces from England, except those that 
 Listed there. Wm. Pe]">eril Esqr. was General of our 
 Land Forces, who for his good service was made a Baronet, 
 and both he &: Govr. Shirley were made Colonels of the 
 two Regiments that were to be raised in America, &, 
 Joyned with y*^ old English Forces, for y*^ Garrisoning 
 & defending the place. A more full Account (and I sup- 
 pose y*^ best Extant) may be seen in Mr. Prince's Printed 
 Sermon, Preached on y^ Thanksgiving Day for that Vic- 
 tory, Thursday, July 18, 1745. 
 
 1746. 
 
 Selectmen & Assessors. 
 James Blake 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur 40 \\r. /?^ 
 
 Mr. Thos. Trott "^ ^ ^ ""^^^^^ ^'* 
 
 Mr. Thos. Bird 
 
 Mr. Richard Hall 42 ' Voters 65. 
 
 Town Treasurer, James Blake. Town Clerk, James 
 Blake. 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
 Births 32. Deaths 13. 
 
 Constables, Thomas Kilton & Timothy Foster. 
 This Summer & Fall proved very troublesome, not only 
 by y^ Indians (oftentimes led on by y^ French) coming in 
 many small parties, &; sometimes in Considerable numbers 
 of Several Hundreds, & falling upon our frontier Planta- 
 tions, from East to West, and Surprizing, &: in a Barbar- 
 ous manner (many times) Butchering, killing & leading 
 Captive a Consideraljle number of Men, Women and 
 Children, (tho' not without some loss to themselves) ; but 
 also by a strong French Fleet coming from France against 
 us, consisting of about 30 Men of War, &i 67 Transports, 
 besides Land Forces, Forty thousand Arms, 25 Mortars, 
 50 Brass Field Pieces &ic. ; many, &i I suppose y^ greatest 
 
 6 
 
62 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 part of them, arrived at Jebucta in Nova Scotia about y^ 
 middle of September, having set sail from Rochel or Roch- 
 ford June y^ 11th. There being also about 2000 French 
 & Indians assembled at Menis. Fourteen of y^ Men of 
 War were Ships of y*^ Line from 50 to 74 Guns. They 
 had on Boarcl about 8000 Disciplined Troops, besides 
 those assembled at Menis, and manv more of y^ French in 
 Nova Scotia would have Joyned them. This Powerful 
 Armament spread its Terror in all y^ English Northern 
 Colonies, &l especially in y^ Massachusetts & New Hamp- 
 shire. Great preparations were made to Receive them ; 
 as Repairing y^ Batteries at Boston & at Castle William ; 
 and the work was Judged so necessary that it was prose- 
 cuted even on the Sabbath Days : Hulks were prepared 
 to stop up y® Channel by sinking them therein : And y^ 
 Militia in y^ Country (I suppose generally about one half 
 of y® Regiments) di'awn into Boston and y^ lower Towns. 
 Great Expectation there was of Admiral Lesstock with a 
 large Fleet from England, to follow y^ Enemy and Relieve 
 us, but by means of contrary winds that great Expectation 
 &; our high-raised Hopes failed us. But tho' outward 
 means failed us, yet God in his Providence was pleased to 
 work wonderfully for our Preservation, and defeat y^ well 
 concerted designs of our Enemies, and to turn their wise 
 Counsels into foolishness. He sent sickness among them 
 that carried off many of their men, & their Chief Comi- 
 mander &: (I think) y*' Second also died : He also sent 
 Terrible Storms both before their Arrival, &, after their 
 Sailing again out of y*^ Harbour of Jebucta, that Cast away 
 some of their Ships & disabled others, so that being dis- 
 pirited they Returned to France without striking one blow, 
 or doing anything of Consequence (Except taking some 
 Merchant Vessels upon their Passage) and that in a poor 
 shattered condition ; many of their Vessels as well as Men 
 coming short home. For which deliverance God's name 
 be praised. The best Account of this Affair that I know 
 of is in a Thanksgiving Sermon Preached by Mr. Prince, 
 Novr. 27, 1746, and afterwards Printed, to which I Refer. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 63 
 
 This year an Expedition was formed against Canada, &t 
 many Soldiers in this h other Provinces Listed for y^ Kings 
 Service, but y^ Fleet in England designed for that service 
 being Imployed other ways, the Expedition was laid aside, 
 &t y^ men dismissed in y^ fall 1747. 
 
 Voters 74- 
 
 Voters 74, 
 
 1747. 
 
 Selectmen &: Assessors. 
 Mr. Richard Hall 
 ]Mr. Thomas Bird 
 James Blake 
 Capt. Robert Spur 
 Mr. Thos. Trott 
 
 Town Clerk, James Blake. 
 
 Town Treasurer, James Blake. 
 
 Constables, Joseph Wales & SamL How. 
 
 Representatiue, Capt. Thos. VViswell. 
 
 Births 30. Deaths 26. 
 
 The last winter 1746, some of y^ members of this Church 
 that had Separated from it, upon y*^ Commotion that Mr. 
 Whitefield &l those Itinerants that followed him had raised 
 in y^ Country about Religion ; and for their Separation, & 
 Injurious Treatment of y'^ Minister the Revd. Mr. Jona. 
 Bowman and y^ whole Church, were laid under the Censure 
 of Admonition, &, forbid to come to Communion until 
 Repentance & Reformation ; Pressed y® Church to Joyn 
 with them in calling a Council of Churches to Hear & 
 Advise upon their matters of Complaint & Grievance ; 
 which after several debates y*^ Church agreed to, h also to 
 bear all y® Charge of y^ Council. The members were 
 Isaac How, Edward Foster, Ebenezer Withington, Timo- 
 thy Tilestone, Naphtali Pierce &: Eben. Davenport, toge- 
 ther with Benja. Bird Esqr., who had been excommuni- 
 cated by y® Church for Intemperate drinking, & thought 
 himself very hardly dealt with, as also did y^ Separate 
 Brethren, of whose party y'^ S*^ Mr. Bird was, and a Chief 
 Leader among them. It was agreed between y^ Church 
 &; y^ S^ Brethren, that there should be Ten Churches sent 
 
64 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 to, and that each party should Choose five, (where they 
 pleased) & if any of one side failed, y^ same No. of y^ 
 other side should be taken off; h that y« Churches should 
 be desired to send their Elder k, one Messenger. Accord- 
 ingly ye Church Chose Mr. Walter of Roxbury, Mr. 
 Barnard of Marblehead, Mr. Prescott of Salem, Mr. Gay 
 <::^ iiingham, &l Mr. Tailor of Milton ; and y^ other party 
 Chose Mr. Leonard of Pl}^mouth, Mr. Weld of Atde- 
 borough, Mr. Hobby of Reading, Mr. Rogers of Ipswich, 
 & Mr. Cotton of Halifax ; (Three of whom, viz. Leonard, 
 Weld &L Cotton, had at y^ desire of y^ S'^ Party, assembled 
 in a Private Council at one of their Houses several times 
 before this), who together with their Delegates (Judge 
 Dudley being with Mr. Walter) accordingly met at Dor- 
 chester, Tuesday, May 19th, 1747, all but Mr. Rogers 
 of y® agrieved Brethrens part (as they called themselves), 
 and Mr. Gay went off upon y^ Churches side to keep y^ 
 number equal. The Council being formed sat chiefly in 
 the Meeting-house where was a Publick Hearing, & a 
 great throng of People, many from other Towns. Mr. 
 Walter was Moderator, but Mr. Barnard was his Assistant, 
 who chiefly managed, by reason of y^ Infimiities of old age 
 rendering y^ business too tedious for Mr. Walter. The 
 Council sat 4 Days, beginning on Tuesday &; ending on 
 Friday. They Patiently heard all that y*' Parties had to 
 say, and in their Result, Justified Mr. Bowman h y^ 
 Church in all their actions, h Condemned y^ S'^ Party & 
 advised them & y^ S^ Mr. Bird to Submit h Return to 
 y^ Church &;c. Since which j^ Church has been quiet, 
 which before was continually disturbed with I^etters &i 
 Charges from y*' S^ Brethren, &; many Church meetings 
 thereabout. But none of y*^ S^ Party haue yet followed 
 y^ advice of the Council, but have till lately continued 
 their Meetings at y^ House of y'^ S*^ Eben. Withington ; 
 where the S'^ Mr. Bird's Son (a young man that had staid 
 3 years at y^ College &i y® 4th year was Expelled being 
 of their party) Preached to them until last Fall, and now 
 is ordained (as we hear) by two New-Light Ministers, (as 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 65 
 
 they are called) over a Separate party in Dunstable. I 
 think at this present our Separate party have no Constant 
 Meeting. And two days ago, viz. March 9th, 1747, the 
 S'^ Ebenezer VVithington at whose House they use to meet 
 Deceased. I think y*' Charge of y*^ Council cost y® Church 
 something more than One Hundred Pounds old tenor. 
 
 This last Summer 1747, two or three Men of War 
 came to Bay- Vert (between Cape Bretton and y® Mouth 
 of Canada River in Nova-Scotia) and Landed Cannon, 
 Mortars &:c., for an attack (it is said) upon Annapolis 
 Royal, Expecting a Fleet from France to Joyn them. 
 But God in his Providence wrought for our Preservation, 
 and again wonderfully delivered us from y*^ Distresses such 
 a Fleet might have brought upon us. For on y® 3d of 
 May, 1747, the Admirals Anson & brave Warren with a 
 Squadron of about 14 or 15 Ships of y*^ Line, met with 
 ye gd pieet off Cape Finisterre, Consisting of 38 Ships, 
 and took 6 Men of War, &: 6 East Lidia Ships of force, 
 besides many of y*^ Transports, and so wholly frustrated 
 their design upon us. 'Tis said that y^ French Men of 
 War w ent to Convoy y^ French East India Fleet to a 
 certain Latitude, and then with a number of Transports 
 Loaded with all sorts of warlike stores were to proceed to 
 Canada, (or Bay- Vert) in order from thence to fit out an 
 Army with those they carried with them, to Joyn y^ S'^ 
 Fleet in Attacking Cape Bretton, or rather Annapolis 
 Royal, or some of our Settlements. About 7 or 8 ofy*^ 
 Transports wdth their Soldiers arrived at Canada, the rest 
 were taken by y*^ Admirals aforesaid, with a vast Treasure 
 in y'' East India Ships, and carried into England. Some 
 accounts mention above Thirty Tons of Silver, and other 
 Treasure beyond account. 
 
 Also on y® 14th of October, brave Admiral Hawk, with 
 a Squadron of 14 Ships of y*^ Line, near Cape Finisterre, 
 met with a French Fleet of Merchant-Men, about 180 
 Sail, bound to y^ West Indies, Guarded by 8 French Men 
 of War of y® Line, and took six of them, besides many 
 Transports, and Immediately sent Express to our Men of 
 6* 
 
66 ANlSfALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 War in y® West India Islands, who with many Privateers 
 Immediately Sail'd and Intercepted h took abundance of 
 them. The News Papers this latter part of y*^ winter are 
 filled with accounts of y^ S'* Fleets disaster, h how many 
 are carried into one place &i another, both in Europe ^ 
 America. The 2 French Men of War that Escaped were 
 one of 80 Guns h one of 74, &i both returned to France, & 
 left y® Merchant Men to shift for themselves. The French 
 Men of War taken were ships of 74 Guns Three of them, 
 Two of them 64 &z; one 50. It is said y® French fought 
 bravely as long as they were able to stand it. 
 
 17 4 8. 
 
 Town Officers Chosen March 14th, 1747, for the Year 
 1748, are as follows : 
 
 Selectmen &£ Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Mr. Richard Hall 85^ 
 
 James Blake 57 I y^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 Capt. Robert Spur 55 ( 
 
 Mr. Thos. Bird 55 J 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 43 Voters 74. 
 
 Town Clerk, James Blake. 
 
 Tov, n Treasurer, James Blake. 
 
 Constables i ^^P^still Withington, 
 ( Henry Payson. 
 
 May, 1748, Representatiue, Capt. Robert Spur. 
 
 Births about 33. Deaths about 10. 
 
 In y^ Summer of this year a Cessation of Arms with 
 France (without Day) was Published here, and in y® fall 
 of y^ Year the same with Spain. The War with Spain 
 began Anno 1739, and y*' War with France began Anno 
 1744, in y*^ Spring, when y® French from Cape Bretton 
 supprized h took Canso, before the Garrison at Canso was 
 apprized of y^ War. And ye next Summer, 1745, New- 
 England provoked thereby took Cape Bretton. See Anno 
 1745. 
 
 This year Grain Vv'^as Scarce &: Dear. Indian Corn 
 sometimes 32s. per Bushel ; Rye 46s. & Wheat about 3 
 
Voters 68. 
 
 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 67 
 
 pounds per Bushel ; Flour about 10 pounds per Hund., 
 in old tenor Bills, which now are about y'^ 7th part y'^ value 
 of Proclamation Money. The reason of y^ high price of 
 grain was S^ to be y*^ sending it off to y^ French Planta- 
 tions upon y^ cessation of arms. This year Capt. Spur 
 was made Just. Peace. 
 
 1749. 
 
 Town Officers Chosen March 13th, 1748, for the year 
 1749, are as follows : 
 
 Selectmen &i Assessors. Votes. 
 
 Mr. Richard Hall 60"^ 
 
 Capt. Thos. Wiswell 38 
 
 Mr. Thos. Bird 37 > 
 
 Robt. Spur Esqr. 36 J 
 
 Mr. Thos. Trott 43 Voters 80. 
 
 Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 
 Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 
 Constables, David Clap h Saml. Jones ; and Hopestill 
 Leeds paid his fine. 
 
 May, 1749, Representatiue, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
 
 Births 36. Deaths 19. 
 
 In November last, I Relapsed into a Chronical Disease 
 I have laboured under for (I think) aboue 30 years since 
 it first began ; occasioned at first (as I conclude) by over 
 heats, wet &t cold, in my laying out y^ wild &; unimproved 
 Lands belonging to y*^ Proprietors of this Town, now part 
 of y® Town of Stoughton ; and gradually prevailing upon 
 me at times ; and sometimes bringing of me weak &, low, 
 &L confined for a considerable time together : but none of 
 my Paroxysms have brought me so weak & low as this ; 
 I having been brought near unto y^ gates of y^ Grave, and 
 am yet but weak h low, and have been ever since confined 
 to my Room ; it being now when I write this March 22d, 
 1748 : And how it will still please God to deal with me I 
 know not, but pray that I may have Grace to yield not 
 only sincere active obedience to his Will, but also passive 
 obedience ; and that he will fit & prepare me for his good 
 
68 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Will and Pleasure. My Disease is very Painful, attended 
 with a grievous Stomach sickness, and Casting up large 
 quantities of Water Sic. The Seat of it is in y^ Stomach, 
 by some called the Cardialgia. 
 
 By Reason of this my sickness I was forced to be absent 
 from this last Anniversary Town-Meeting, which I had not 
 been before (as I suppose) for y® space of 30 years or 
 more. And the Town left me out of all Publick business, 
 after I had served them (I hope I may say faithfully accord- 
 ing to my ability) as a Town Treasurer, Selectman and 
 Assessor for y^ space of 25 Years successively, and as 
 Town Clerk for y^ space of 24 Years successively ; I having 
 in that time wrote in the second Book of y^ Towns Records 
 208 pages which finished the Book ; and have begun the 
 Third Book of Records, & wrote therein 119 pages ; besides 
 making Tables for both y« t\\ o first Books of Records, in 
 an Intire Book by itself. I have also in the Treasurers 
 business made, begun h wrote out, two large folio Books 
 of Accompts, Containing about 224 folios or 448 Pages 
 each ; and the major part of the Third Folio Book of 
 about y^ same bigness. Besides large Bundles of Tax 
 Lists, Tables to make Rates by, Warrants for Town Meet- 
 ings, Divisions of y^ Highways, Plans of Land sold by y^ 
 Town &ic. All which is more (I suppose) by many times 
 over than any one man before me has w rote & done for 
 the Town. When I first came into y^ business, I found 
 many things in poor order ; but I set myself Industriously 
 (according to my ability) to Reform and Methodise things 
 in y® best order I could. And though the Business was 
 not profitable ; I spending a great deal of time, &: doing a 
 great many things I was never paid for, especially in former 
 years : yet since I spent the prime of my time in y^ Towns 
 service, when I might have Imployed it more Profitably 
 otherways, &; now am advanced in years, & so infirm & 
 weakly, as not to be able to do any other Business ; to 
 leave me out (not for any suggestion of male-administration, 
 but) only to help a young man to some Business ; I cannot 
 but look upon as ungratefull in y^ Town : and yet I would 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 69 
 
 not Impute it to y'' whole Town, the matter being carried 
 chiefly (as I suppose) by a discontented Factious party. 
 
 This year May 10th, Peace with France &z: Spain was 
 Proclaimed at Boston. 
 
 And this Summer July 12th Cape Bretton was Restored 
 to y*' French again. And y^ French Govr. at Cape Bret- 
 ton sent to Jebucta & took up the Body of the Duke de 
 Anville, Commander of the French Jebucta Fleet before- 
 mentioned, and on y*' 23d of August Buryed it with great 
 Pomp and Solemnity at Lovisbourg. 
 
 Sepr. 11. Govr. Shirley sailed in y*' Boston Man of War, 
 Capt. Pierce Commander, for London, and Returned 
 again Aug. 7th, 1753. 
 
 Sepr. 18th. Arrived here Capt. Montague *^n the Mer- 
 maid Man of War, being 5 Weeks from England, and 
 brought this Provinces money to reimburse y® Charges of 
 taking Cape Bretton, being £183649 2 7 J Sterling; 
 some Charges and the Insurance for bringing to be paid 
 out of it. 
 
 This Summer was the Severest Drought in this Country. 
 as has ever been known in y*^ Memory of y® oldest Persons 
 among us. It was a dry Spring, and by y^ latter end of 
 May the grass was burnt up so that y*^ ground looked 
 white ; and it was y^ 6th Day of July before any Rain 
 (to speak of) came. The Earth was dried like Powder 
 to a great depth, and many Wells, Springs, Brooks &. 
 small Rivers were dried up, that were never known to fail 
 before. And the Fish in some of y^ Rivers died. The 
 Pastures were so scorched that there was nothing green to 
 be seen, and the Cattle waxed poor, h by their lowing 
 seemed to call upon their Owners for Relief, who could 
 not help them. Although the dry Grass was Eaten so 
 close as that there was but a few thin spires to be seen, 
 yet several Pastures took fire, and burnt fiercely. My 
 Pasture took fire near y*^ Barn (by a Boys dropinga Coal 
 of fire, as he was carrying fire to y^ water-side) and tho' 
 there seemed to be so little Grass, yet what there was, 
 and y'' ground, was so dry that it blazed and flushed like 
 
70 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Gun-Powder, and run very fast along y^ ground, and in 
 one place burnt some fence ; and we were forced to work 
 hard to keep it from y^ Barn, &t to extinguish it ; having 
 y^ help of sundry men that happened to be here. It spread 
 over about half an Acre of Ground before we could stop 
 it ; and \\ here there was lumps of Cow-dung it would burn 
 till y® whole lump was Consumed, &z: burn a hole in y^ 
 ground ; and we were forced to use much water to quench 
 it. There was a great scarcity of Hay, being but a very 
 litde cut, of y® first Crop ; &, salt marsh failed near as 
 much as the English Meadow. English Hay was then 
 sold for £3 h £3 10 old tenor per Hundred. Barley & 
 Oats were so Pinched that many had not much more than 
 their seed ag^in, &: many cut down their S^^ Grain before 
 it was ripe for Fodder. Flax almost wholly failed, as 
 also Herbs of all sorts ; and Indian Com Rolled up &: 
 wilted ; and there was a melanchoUy prospect of the 
 greatest Dearth that ever was known in this Land. In 
 the time of our fears &; Distress, the Government ordered 
 a Day of Public Fasting & Prayer ; and God was gra- 
 ciously pleased to hear & Answer our Prayers, even in a 
 very remarkable manner : for about y^ 6th of July the 
 course of y^ weather altered ; and there came such plenti- 
 ful & seasonable Rains, as quite altered y*^ face of y^ Earth ; 
 and that Grass which we generally concluded was wholly 
 dead, and could not come again under several Years, was re- 
 vived, and there was a good second Crop of Mowing ; it 
 looking more like y® Spring than that season of y*^ Year ; and 
 y® Indian Corn recovered, &i there was a very good Harvest. 
 And whereas it was thought in y^ fall of the Year that a 
 multitude of Cattle must Die for want of Meat, insomuch 
 as they sent h fetched Hay from England ; yet God in his 
 Providence Ordered us a moderate Winter, and we were 
 carried comfortably through it ; and I did not hear of many, 
 if any. Cattle that died. But by reason of so many Cattle 
 being killed off last fall. Beef, Mutton h Butter are now 
 in May, 1750, very dear : Butter is 7s. 6d. old tenor per 
 Pound. Upon y^ Coming of y*' Rains h Renewing of 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 71 
 
 y*' Earth last fall, the Government appointed a Day of 
 Puhlick Tiianksgivlng. 
 
 This Summer June 18th was said to be y^ Hottest Day 
 that was ever known in y^ Northerly part of America. 
 
 This Year Apr. 12, Died Thomas Mawdsley in y-^ 83d 
 year of his age. And Content Mason, Widow^ of John 
 Mason, in y^ 89th or 90th year of her age, Apr. 27th. 
 And Janr. 8th Henry Payson Died by Suicide : Hanged 
 himself in his Cider-Mill. 
 
 Town Officers for y*^ Year 1750. 
 Selectmen &. Assessors. Votes. Voters. 
 
 Mr. Richard Hall 60 ) ^ 
 
 Capt. Thomas Wiswell 46 i ^-^ 
 
 Mr. Edward Breck 52 ) ^^ 
 
 Mr. Noah Clap 46 S ^^ 
 
 Mr. Samuel How 39 68 
 
 Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. ' 
 Constables, Roger Clap &l Jonas Tolman ; and Edward 
 White &L Purchase Capen paid their Fines. 
 Representative, Capt. Thomas Wiswell. 
 Births 36. Deaths 37. 
 
 This Year Died Mr. James Blake, who wrote this Book 
 thus far, on y^ 4th Day of December, between 8 & 9 of 
 y*^ Clock in y*^ Evening, in y^ 63d Year of his Age : he 
 had been in a very poor state of Health, ever since his 
 Relapse mentioned in y*^ Year 1749. He was a very 
 useful & serviceable man &, often Tinployed in y^ Town 
 h Proprietors Business, h did a great deal for them, as 
 !nay be seen by what he wrote himself in y*' aforesaid Year, 
 1749. He was much Esteemed by men of Leamino- for 
 jiis Learning h Piety. 
 
 This Year Mr. Richard Hall was Chosen Deacon of 
 this Church h accepted. And Mr. Samuel Pierce &t 
 Mr. Edward Preston were Chosen before & Reflised. 
 
72 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Town Officers for y® Year 1751. 
 Selectmen &l Assessors. Votes. Voters. 
 
 Mr. Edward Breck 41"^ 
 
 Mr. Noah Clap 40 ! ^^ 
 
 Dea. Richard Hall 39 f ^ ' 
 
 Mr. Samuel How 33 
 
 Capt. Thomas WIswell 34 63 
 
 Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 Constables, John Wales & Samuel Withlngton Junr. ; 
 and James Trott, Elisha Tilestone, Caleb Bradly, Thomas 
 Bh'd Junr., Jonas Humfrey Junr., Pelatiah Hall & Joseph 
 How paid their Fines. 
 
 Representatiue, Mr. Thomas Trott. 
 Births 24. Deaths 29. 
 
 This Year Deer. 10th Died Mrs. Mary Tilestone, 
 Widow of Col. Thomas Tilestone. And Dea. Nathaniel 
 ToplifFDecr. 15th, in y*^ 60th Year of his Age. 
 
 In y^ latter part of this Year &l y^ beginning of y^ next 
 was a very Dying time in Dorchester, with a Pleurisy & 
 Nervous Fever, few living that were Seized with it. 
 
 This Year there was an Act of Parliament for alterino; 
 y^ Style from old to new, and that y^ 1st Day of January 
 should be y^ first Day of y® Year. The 1 1 Days odds 
 were taken from Sepr. 1752. 
 
 17 5 2. 
 
 This Year Janr. 11th about 5 in the Morning, Died Mrs. 
 Ruth Blake y*^ Widow of Dea. James Blake, in y^ 90th year 
 of her age. She had no Distemper, but died of old age. 
 
 Janr. 23d, 1752, was kept by y^ Church in Dorchester 
 as a Day of Prayer h Fasting, upon y^ Account of y® 
 Sickness & Mortality that prevailed amongst us. It was a 
 Pleurisy h Nervous Fever together ; when y^ Pleurisy went 
 off, y*^ Nervous set in, & very few Recouered. There died 
 15 Persons with it in less than 2 months, besides what 
 Died of other Distempers, y® most of them well hearty 
 Persons h many of them in their middle age. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. - 73 
 
 Some time last Year there was a Petition put in to y® 
 General Court by John Foster Esqr. & others of Attle- 
 borough, Norton k, Easton, Praying that y*^ Court would 
 Run y^ Colony Line from Accord Pond to a Stake as they 
 said set up by Nathanael Woodward &i Solomon SafFery. 
 The Proprietors of Dorchester & Stoughton Chose Robert 
 Spur Esqr., Mr. James Foster &t Samuel Blake a Com- 
 mittee to Defend against their Petition, who in Conjunc- 
 tion with y^ Committees from Stoughton & Wrentham 
 drew up a Reply to their Petition h put it in to y® Honble. 
 Board, who Voted a Hearing of all Parties, who on y^ 9th 
 of Janr., 1752, were admitted, & heard by Counsel for & 
 against y^ Petition h then withdrew, and y® Honble. 
 Board after some Debate thereon Voted almost to a man 
 to Dismiss their Petition, and sent y® Vote down to y^ 
 Honble. House for Concurrence, who also Voted a Hear- 
 ing, & on y® 11th of Janr. y*^ Parties were admitted, & 
 heard by Counsel, and y^ House after a large Debate Voted 
 to Dismiss their Petition also, by a very Clear h full Vote, 
 which was a very mortifying stroke to y^ Petitioners, they 
 being very sure of having their Petition Granted, which if 
 they had had would have given them many Thousands of 
 Acres of Land from Stouditon & Wrentham, for from 
 Angle Tree where y*^ Colony Line now runs to, to y*" place 
 where they Petitioned to haue it run to, is as it is said aboue 
 Two miles, so that had they brought y*^ Colony Line 2 
 miles Northward from Angle Tree it must Consequently 
 have taken a very large Quantity of our Land & given it 
 to them. 
 
 Town Officers for y^ Year 1752. 
 Selectmen & Assessors. Votes. Voters. 
 
 63 
 
 Dea. Richard Hall 60^ 
 
 Mr. Edward Breck ^^ 1 
 
 Mr. Noah Clap 
 
 Mr. Samuel How 
 
 Robert Spur Esqr. 32 62 
 
 Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 
 7 
 
74 ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 
 
 Constables, John Baker h William Marion ; and Thomas 
 Harris, Edward Preston & A^bijah White, paid their Fines. 
 Representatiue, Mr. Thomas Trott. 
 Births 33. Deaths 44. 
 
 June 18th, 1752. The new Bell * was hung in Dor- 
 chester Meeting House ; It was a Gift of the Proprietors 
 of y® Common & undivided Lands late in y^ Township of 
 Dorchester, and now in y^ Township of Stoughton, to 
 y*' Town of Dorchester ; it arrived from Bristol in England 
 y^ week before. It weighs 785 Pounds, or in Gross weight 
 701 Pounds ; it cost y*^ Proprietors Fifty Pounds, Sterling 
 money. The Committee Chosen to Purchase it were 
 Robert Spur Esqr., Mr. James Foster & Samuel Blake. 
 This Year y® Small-Pox went through Boston, which it 
 had not done for 21 Years before, so that there were many 
 Thousands to have y® Distemper. There Died of it there 
 561 Persons, 31 by Inoculation h 530 y^ common way. 
 Of those that were Inoculated there Died about one out of 
 85, and of those that took it y^ natural way hardly one out 
 of Ten ; it did not spread much in y'' Country Towns 
 (except Charlestown) though it was in many of them ; 
 there were Seven Persons had it in this Town, one of 
 whom Died, namely Robert Searl, a man about 80 Years 
 of acre. There were accordino; to Accounts Two Thou- 
 sand Persons Removed out of Boston, into y^ Country 
 Towns to escape y® Distemper, which was far more than 
 ever were known to Remove at any time heretofore. 
 
 This Year Novr. 24th Died Capt. Thomas Wiswell, 
 often a Representative &i Selectman, in y^ 61st Year of 
 his age. 
 
 Town Officers for y^ Year 1753. 
 Selectmen h Assessors. Voters. 
 
 Dea. Richard Hall 
 Edward Breck 
 
 Robert Spur Esqr. [> 46 
 
 Noah Clap j 
 
 Samuel How J 
 
 See Appendix, Note J. 
 
ANNALS OF DORCHESTER. 75 
 
 Town Clerk, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 
 Town Treasurer, Mr. Noah Clap. 
 
 Constables, Samuel Bradley, who removing out of Town, 
 John Beighton was hired to serue for y^ whole Town ; and 
 Joseph Clap, Daniel Tolman Junr., Ebenezer Tolman, 
 Desire Tolman, John Preston & John Robinson Junr., 
 paid their Fines. 
 
 Representatiue, Robert Spur Esqr. 
 
 Births 36. Deaths 19. 
 
 This Year Febr. 12th Died Mrs. Ruth Spur y« Wife 
 of Mr. John Spur, in y^ 32d Year of her age. And May 
 22d Died Mrs. Wait Blake y^ Widow of Mr. James Blake, 
 in y^ 69th Year of her age. 
 
 Septr. 23d, 1753. Began to Read y^ Scriptures in 
 Dorchester Meeting House. 
 
 Octr. 7th. Ebenezer Cox going off from y^ Shore near 
 y® Wharf in Dorchester in a small Canoo, to go aboard a 
 Boat lying off, in his return back overset y^ Canoo & was 
 drowned. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 [CF In consequence of delay attendant upon the collection of ma- 
 terials for the Appendix, the earlier points illustrated here are not 
 noted in their proper place in the body of the work, but the references 
 to each will readily be found on noting the years under which the 
 annotations occur. 
 
 NOTE A. 1630. 
 
 The very important part taken by the people of Dorchester 
 m England, in colonizing Massachusetts Bay, renders super- 
 fluous all speculation in regard to the selection of that name 
 for one of the first Bay towns. As early as 1624 some per- 
 sons belonging to Dorchester sent over fishermen, and made 
 provision for a fishery at Cape Ann, and two years after, 
 say 1626, this company of Dorchester fishermen removed 
 up t« Naumkeag (now Salem). In 1627 Sir Henry Ros- 
 well, John Endicott, Sir John Young, Thomas Southcote, 
 John Humphrey and Simon Whitcomb, all of Dorchester 
 and vicinity, obtained from the Plymouth Council a grant of 
 the whole of Massachusetts Bay. Mr. John White, a zeal- 
 ous Clergyman of Dorchester, writes to the Salem people 
 to remain, promising to send them more men and provisions; 
 and Mr. Endicott, one of the Dorchester patentees, with a 
 large number of planters and servants, arrived at Naumkeag 
 in 1628. Roswell, Young and Southcote had in view trade 
 with the Indians, fisheries and other purposes of profit ; 
 
 but when it was concluded to make it a religious settlement, 
 7* 
 
78 APPENDIX. 
 
 they are no more heard of; but we find Mr. White, in 1627, 
 at London, very active in enlisting Crudock, Sahonstall, 
 Venn and others in the undertaking ; and in March, 1628, 
 Charles I. granted a charter to this company- All these 
 well known facts prove that Dorchester, in Dorset, was the 
 mother of the Bay colony; and the great emigration of 
 1630 included many persons from that town. 
 
 NOTE B. 1632. 
 
 As the record of the first public act in relation to temper- 
 ance in Dorchester, will be found interesting to many of our 
 readers, we give the following copy from the Records of 
 the Court : — 
 
 " A Court holden at Boston, August 7, 1632." " It is 
 ordered that v^ remainder of Mr. Allen's Stronsf- Water, 
 being estimated aboute 2 Gallandes, shall be delivered into 
 y^ handes of the Deacons of Dorchester for the benefit of 
 the poore there, for his selling of it dyvers tymes to such as 
 were drunke by it, he knowing thereof." 
 
 NOTE C. 1633. 
 
 The first Meeting-House of Dorchester was built in 1631, 
 and was situated near the corner of Pleasant and Myrtle 
 Streets, on " Allen's Plain," at the North part of the Town. 
 It was one story, or about twelve feet in height. As the 
 best houses of the colonists were constructed of loj^s, and 
 thatched, it may be fairly inferred that their house of wor- 
 ship was of the same material. It was surrounded by 
 palisadoes ; was the depository of military stores, and a 
 place of resort in case of alarm from the Indians. A senti- 
 nel was kept at the gate every night ; and thither the people 
 carried their plate and most valuable articles ev^ery evening 
 
APPENDIX. 79 
 
 to be preserved in safety. On Nov. 3, 1634, an order 
 was passed " to build stairs on the outside, and the loft to 
 be laid, and a window in the loft." — Town Records. 
 
 NOTE D. 1633. 
 
 " An Agreement made hj the whole consent and vote of 
 the Plantation, made Mooneday 8th of October 1633. 
 
 " Imprimus. It is ordered, that for the generall good and 
 well ordering of the afTayres of the plantation, there shall 
 be every Mooneday before the Court by eight of the clocke 
 in the morning, and presently upon the beating of the drum, 
 a generall meeteing of the inhabitants of the plantation, at 
 the Meeting House, there to settle and sett downe such 
 orders as may tend to the generall good as aforesayd, and 
 every man to be bound thereby without gainsaying or resist- 
 ance." — Toivn Records, Vol. 1, p. 6. 
 
 The form of municipal government or Town organization, 
 which has prevailed throughout New England for more 
 than two centuries, contributing greatly to the well being 
 and good order of society, is believed to have had its origin 
 in Dorchester, in the vote transcribed above. — It may be 
 remarked here, that the first General Court, by delegates, 
 was holden at Boston, May 14, 1634, O. S., on which 
 occasion Dorchester sent three members, viz. Israel Stough- 
 ton, William Phelps and George Hull. 
 
 NOTE E. 1633. 
 
 "Monday, 3d Nov., 1633. It is generally agreed that 
 Mr. Israel Stoughton shall build a Water Mill if he see 
 cause."— T. R., Vol. 1, p. 7. 
 
 " 6th January, Mooneday, 1633-4. Item. It is ordered 
 
80 APPENDIX. ' 
 
 that Mr. Israel Stoughton shall have the priviledge of a weare 
 at Naponset adjoyning to his mill, and shall enjoy it from 
 the sayd weare to the bridge where now it is over the said 
 Naponset without interruption ; as also between the sayde 
 weare and the salt water ; that none shall crosse the river 
 with a net or otherwise to the prej udice of the said weare ; 
 and the s*^ Mr. Stoughton is to sell the Alewives there taken 
 to the Plantation at 5s. per thousand ; and that all fish 
 besides that is taken thence the plantation to have at reason- 
 able rates before any other plantation. And the said Mr. 
 Stoughton is to afford the said alewives at a lower rate than 
 5s. per thousand if he can. Item, the said Mr. Stoughton 
 doth promise not to sell away the sayd mill without the 
 consent of the plantation first had and received." 
 
 T. R., Vol. I. p. 9. 
 
 NOTE F. 1639. 
 
 Thompson's Island, in Boston Harbor, was first occupied 
 in 1624, by David Thompson, a Scotchman, sent over with 
 others to Piscataqua (now Portsmouth) by Gorges and Ma- 
 son the year before, to establish a fishery at that place. 
 Thompson had become acquainted with this Island during 
 a trip to Plymouth. He left Piscataqua and took up his 
 abode upon it six years before the Bay was settled ; and 
 after the Colony was fully established he procured a con- 
 firmation of his title to the Island from the General Court. 
 
 * 
 
 Saggamore of Aggawam''s Deposition concerning Thomp- 
 son's Island. 
 " I Saggamore of Aggawam testify that in the yeare 
 1619 or thereabouts as I remember, I went in my owne 
 person with Mr. David Thom.pson and then he took pos- 
 session of the Hand before Dorchester, he likeing no other 
 
APPENDIX. 81 
 
 but that because of the smale Riuer, and then no Indians 
 upon it or any Wig^vam or planting, nor hath been by any 
 Endians inhabitted or claymed since, but two years agoe by 
 Harmben an old Endian of Dorchester. Witness my hand, 
 this 13th of July, before Mr. Greenleafe, 1620/50. 
 
 " Witness, Edmund Greenleafe. 
 
 " Sagamore- -^^of Aggawam." 
 
 " This is a true copy, compared with its originall on file, 
 as attests Edward Rawson, Sec'?/." 
 
 Archives of Salem. ^ 
 
 The subsequent grant of the Island, to the Town of Dor- 
 chester is thus recorded. 
 
 " Tomson's Hand is granted to the Inhabitants of Dor- 
 chester, to inioy to them and their heirs and successors 
 which shall inhabit there forever, payinge the yearly Rent 
 of twelue pence to the Treasurer for y® time beinge. — At 
 Newtowne by a generall Court held there 2d, 9th, 1637." 
 
 T. R., Vol. 2, p. 37. 
 
 Petition from Dorchester to the General Court. 
 
 " To the honoured Generall Court now assembled at Bos- 
 ton, the humble petition of the Town of Dorchester. 
 
 " Whereas this honoured Court formerly granted unto 
 the Towne of Dorchester the Hand called Thompson's 
 Hand, and the inhabitants of the said Towne long since 
 granted the same towards the maintenance of a free schoole 
 there forever : And whereas this Court at the last Session 
 thereof vppon the petition of Mr. John Thompson- for the 
 said Hand (Mr. Mavericke testifying on his behalfe, that in 
 the yeare 1626 Mr. David Thompson his father took pos- 
 session thereof as a vacuum domicilium, and dyeinge, the 
 
82 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 said John Thompson when he came to age demanded the 
 same) granted unto the said John Thompson the said Hand 
 forever. The which we thinke this Court would not have 
 so granted unto him before tne Towne had been called, 
 and libertie given them to have answered and pleaded or 
 otherwise dealt with the said John Thompson about the 
 said Hand; but that the jurisdiction thereof, or some other 
 important reasons for common good, moved the Court there- 
 unto : We therefore, not doubting of the justice and favor 
 of the Courte towards vs and the furtherance of a free 
 schoole amongst vs (which otherwise is like to faile) doe 
 humblie desire this honoured Courte to grant vs some Hand 
 (within the Courte 's power to grant) which may help vs 
 towards the maintenance of a free schoole in lieu of that 
 which is now taken away, and not only wee but posteritie 
 while time shall last will have cause to bless you, your 
 justice and piety in advancing learninge. 
 " And so we rest 
 
 " Your humble Petitioners, 
 
 " The Inhabitants of Dorchester." 
 
 " Subscribed for them all by the Selectmen, 
 
 John Wiswell, 
 Thos. Jones, 
 William Blake, 
 • Geo. Weekes, 
 
 Joseph Farnworth, 
 William Clarke, 
 William Sumner." 
 1648. 
 
 On the Petition is written what follows, viz. : 
 
 " The Dept's are willing to answer this pet. when the 
 
APPENDIX. 83 
 
 Towne presents that which is fit to be given and before our 
 honoured Magistrate's consent therevnto." 
 
 NOTE G. 1662. 
 
 " The 7. 1. 1661-2. 
 
 " The day above sayd it was voted whether there should 
 be a Committee chosen for to consider what may be best to 
 be done both for the Towne of Dorchester and our neigh- 
 bours at Unquetie,'^ in reference to a township amongst 
 themselves, and the vote was affirmative. At the same 
 time there was chosen for the Committee, William Sum- 
 ner, John Capen, John Minott." 
 
 T. i?.. Vol. 2, p. 48. 
 
 NOTE H. 1691. 
 
 It is believed that the 46 soldiers alluded to under the 
 date 1690, included inhabitants from Dorchester, Milton, 
 and what is now Stoughton, Canton, Sharon and Foxbor- 
 ough ; as Major Walley, who commanded the land forces 
 under Sir William Phipps, states the whole number of sol- 
 diers at 1300. Walley speaks of a Capt. Minott (a Dor- 
 chester name), but the General Court, in granting to the 
 Dorchester people the Township of Ashburnham, state the 
 grant to have been made in consideration of services of 
 soldiers under Capt. John Withington in 1690. 
 
 NOTE I. 1701. 
 
 The following is nearly a literal translation of the cele- 
 brated epitaph on Governor Stoughton's tomb-stone. There 
 are very few of the inhabitants of Dorchester who have not 
 
 * Now Milton. 
 
84 APPENDIX. 
 
 perused the Latin inscription on the well-known marble 
 monument; and to them, as well as to others, it is thought 
 this English version of it will be acceptable. 
 
 Here lies ^ 
 
 WILLIAM STOUGHTON, Esquire, 
 
 Lieutenant, afterwards Governor, 
 Of the Province of Massachusetts in New England, 
 
 also 
 Chief Judge of the Superior Court 
 
 in the same Province. 
 A man of wedlock unknown, 
 Devout in Religion, 
 Renowned for Virtue, 
 Famous for Erudition, 
 Acute in Judgment, 
 Equally Illustrious by Kindred and Spirit, 
 A Lover of Equity, 
 A Defender of the Laws, 
 Founder of Stoughton Hall, 
 A most Distinguished Patron of Letters and Literary Men, 
 A most strenuous Opponent of Impiety and Vice. 
 Rhetoricians delight in Him as Eloquent, 
 Writers are acquainted with Him as Elegant, 
 Philosophers seek Him as Wise, 
 Doctors honor Him as a Theologian, 
 
 The Devout revere Him as Grave, I 
 
 All admire Him ; unknown by All ' 
 
 Yet known to All. i 
 
 What need of more. Traveller .'' Whom have we lost — 
 
 Stoughton ! 
 Alas ! 
 X have said sufficient, Tears press, i 
 
 I keep silence. 
 
 He lived Seventy Years ; d 
 
 On the Seventh of July, in the Year of Safety 1701 
 
 He Died. 
 Alas ! Alas ! What Grief ! 
 
APPENDIX. 85 
 
 NOTE J. 
 
 " At a Town Meeting the 9th (12th) 1668. The same 
 day Nicholas Bohon did agree to tend y^ meeting-house to 
 keep it in decent order and to ring y^ Bell y^ yeer insewing ; 
 for which he is to have £3, of which 10s of it in money if 
 it can be gott, or otherwise to have 3d upon y^ shilling for 
 that 10s. Jno. Capen and Samuell Clap made the agree- 
 ment with him, being thereunto appointed by y^ Selectmen 
 
 at their meeting y^ day before." 
 
 T. R., Vol. I. p. 202. 
 
 " At a Meeting of the Selectmen the 12 March, 1687-8, 
 
 Sergt. Leadbetter was ordered to speak to Isaac Riall to 
 
 make a way up to the Bell." 
 
 r. R., Vol. I. p. 441. 
 
 " At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants 
 of the Town of Dorchester on y^ fifth day of March, Anno 
 Domini 1732, Legally Warned ; 
 
 " Voted, That there be allowed & Paid out of the Town 
 
 Treasury the sum of Three Pounds Ten Shillings, towards 
 
 y<^ Ringing of y® Bell on the evenings at nine of the clock 
 
 y® Year Ensuing." 
 
 T. R.y Vol. II. p. 343. 
 
 NOTE K. 
 
 As an accompaniment to the list of Town Clerks of 
 Dorchester from 1630 to the death of Mr. Blake, as given 
 in the Index, the following catalogue of his successors is 
 added, with the year of their election. 
 March 13, 1748, N. Clap. 
 March 6, 1786, Saml. Coolidge. 
 March 2, 1789, N. Clap. 
 8 
 
86 APPENDIX. 
 
 March 4, 1799, Ebenezer Tolman. 
 April 7, 1806, Edw. W. Baxter, pro tern. 
 May 26, 1806, Ebenezer Tolman. 
 March 7, 1814, James Everett. 
 March 4, 1816, Ebenezer Tolman. 
 March 7, 1826, Thomas J. Tolman. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page 
 
 Arrival of adventurers at Nantasket ..... 8 
 
 Accounts of Rateable Estate to be returned (Dec. 1, 1658) . 21 
 
 Arms of the Colony of Massachusetts ..... 29 
 
 Assessors, first election of in Dorchester .... 16 
 
 Assessors, ex-qficio ......... 34 
 
 Adventures w^ith the French and Indians .... 61 
 
 Atherton, Maj. Gen. Humphrey, death of .... 21 
 
 his Epitaph ... 21 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 
 Bailiffs, first chosen . . . 
 Bailiff", office abolished ..... 
 Bell, new,* hung in Dorchester Meeting-House 
 " donation of the, and its weight and cost . 
 Bird, Ebenezer, accidental death of 
 Bird, Joseph, accidental death of . . . 
 Births from 1657 to 1735 .... 
 
 Blake, Increase, nativity of .... 
 
 Blake, James, ordained Deacon 
 
 " " marriage of .... 
 
 Blake, James, Jr., marriage of . . . 
 Blake, James, Elder, death of . 
 
 " " " offices of . __. 
 
 Blake, James, Deacon, his death 
 
 « " " his Epitaph 
 
 Blake, James (author of the Annals), nativity of 
 surveys the Cedar Swamps 
 elected Selectman 
 
 " Town Treasurer 
 " Town Clerk . 
 severe sickness of . 
 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 (( 
 
 C( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 
 . 13 
 22 
 
 74 
 . 74 
 
 37 
 . 39 
 
 49 
 . 35 
 
 26 
 . 30 
 
 30 
 . 35 
 
 35 
 . 48 
 
 48 
 iv. 32 
 
 40 
 . 44 
 
 44 
 . 44 
 
 67 
 
 * The same bell now occupies the belfry of the Meeting-IIouse of the First 
 Parish.— See Note J. 
 
88 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Blake James, (author of the Annals), lamentation of 
 
 enumeration of public services of . 
 
 his reflections on action of the Town 
 
 death of . 
 
 public services of . . . . 
 
 *' " character of .... . 
 
 Bowman, Jonathan, Rev. ordination of . . , 
 Bridge built over Neponset river,* 1651 
 Burr, Jonathan, Rev. his death . , . . , 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 t( 
 
 (( 
 
 t( 
 
 (( 
 
 68 
 68 
 68 
 71 
 71 
 71 
 46 
 19 
 17 
 
 Canada, expedition against 
 
 " " relinquished 
 
 Canadian troubles renewed 
 Cannon mounted on Rock Hill (Oct. 31, 1639 
 Capen, John, death of . 
 
 " " public services of 
 
 Capen, Purchase, accidentally killed 
 Chickatabut, Jeremy, sale of land confirmed 
 Christian, Abby, drowned 
 Church gathered at Plymouth 
 Church troubles at Dorchester 
 Church, disafli'ected members of, separate . 
 Clap, Edward, Deacon, death of 
 Clap,. Hopestill, chosen Ruling Elder 
 Clap, Deacon Jonathan, death of . 
 
 " " " his character 
 
 Clap, John, accidental death of 
 Clap, Nicholas, death of ... . 
 Clap, Roger, his arrival at Dorchester 
 
 " " his character .... 
 
 " " his Memoirs quoted . 
 
 " " authorized to solemnize matrimony 
 
 " " appointed Captain of the Castle 
 
 Clap, Samuel, Elder, death of . 
 
 " " civil and ecclesiastical offices of 
 
 Clerk, Town, or Recorder^ first chosen 
 " Deacon VViswell 
 
 (( 
 
 Records) 
 
 63 
 63 
 65 
 16 
 33 
 33 
 34 
 25 
 35 
 8 
 63 
 64 
 23 
 39 
 43 
 43 
 50 
 28 
 10 
 10 
 11 
 22 
 23 
 38 
 38 
 19 
 20 
 
 * See Note E, 
 
^ 
 
 Y ^ 
 
 A 
 
 -^ i^ ^ "^ 
 
 Missing Pages 
 
 These missing pages will be inserted at a future date., 
 
Hr ii 
 
 Missing Pages 
 
 These missing pages will be inserted at a future dat. 
 
^ 5i- -^ "S 
 
 s 
 
 Missing Pages 
 
 These missing pages will be inserted at a future date. 
 
tr if 
 
 Missing Pages 
 
 These missing pages will be inserted at a future date, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 93 
 
 Orders, method of authenticating 
 subject to revision . 
 for division of lands . 
 
 (( 
 
 13 
 13 
 16 
 
 Patent Line, Petition for alteration of the 
 Peace with France and Spain proclaimed 
 Pepperiil, Gen. William, Baroneted . 
 Pierce, Samuel, death of 
 Poole, William, his death 
 " " his character 
 
 " " his epitaph 
 
 Pleurisy, epidemic, in Dorchester . 
 Preaching in Dorchester in 1632 
 Preston, Elder Daniel, death of 
 Preston, Daniel, Jr., sudden death of 
 Proprietors of Dorchester incorporated 
 Punkapaog Township set off 
 
 called Stoughton . 
 
 Plantation set off 
 
 Constable chosen for 
 
 limits of . 
 
 (( 
 
 C( 
 
 (( 
 
 C( 
 
 (( 
 
 Meeting-House located 
 
 73 
 
 69 
 61 
 35 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 72 
 11 
 44 
 58 
 40 
 45 
 45 
 38 
 37 
 38 
 38 
 
 Quincy, Edmund, Agent to Great Britain . 
 " " his departure for England 
 
 " " his sudden death . 
 
 " " his monument and epitaph 
 
 51 
 51 
 
 52 
 
 52 
 
 Raters chosen ..... 
 
 " the election of omitted 
 Records of Doi-chester, a hiatus therein 
 
 " of Births and Deaths burnt 
 Recorder, first choice of . . . 
 
 " to be chosen annually 
 
 Reimbursement of Expenses of War . 
 Removal from Nantasket to Watertown 
 
 " of Mr. Warham to Winsor 
 Representatives or Deputies . 
 
 " election of omitted 
 
 . 16 
 
 32,33 
 
 . 17 
 
 20 
 
 . 20 
 
 23 
 
 . 69 
 
 8 
 
 . 14 
 
 24 
 
 32, 35 
 
94 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Restoration of Cape Breton to France 
 
 Rock Hill, Cannon mounted on . 
 
 Royal, Isaac, discharged of work on Meeting-House 
 
 Royal, Widow, death of .... . 
 
 69 
 16 
 32 
 
 48 
 
 
 School, Land appropriated for a . 
 School Wardens, first choice of . 
 
 " " their powers and duties 
 
 School House built ..... 
 
 " its cost ...... 
 
 Scriptures read in Dorchester Meeting-House 
 Selectmen first chosen ..... 
 
 *' their powers and duties 
 
 second election of . 
 power of seven of the board 
 their orders subject to revision 
 their powers further defined 
 one of the board to be Moderator . 
 appointed Raters, ex-qfficio 
 time of their election altered 
 appointed Assessors, ex-qfficio 
 Settlers, motives of in leaving England 
 Separation in Dorchester Church 
 Shirley, Governor, his departure for London 
 " " return of . . . 
 
 Small Pox, numerous deaths by . . . 
 '* *' its ravages in Boston and Dorchester 
 " " in Boston and vicinity . 
 Snow, remarkable 
 Soldiers, loss of at sea ..... 
 
 " Provincial, sent to West Indies . 
 Spain, War proclaimed against 
 " cessation of Arms with 
 Spurr, Capt., appointed Justice of the Peace . 
 Squamaug confirms purchase of New Grant 
 Squeb, Capt., his perfidy .... 
 
 Stoughton, I., licensed to build a Mill* (Nov. 3, 
 
 • • 
 
 1633) 
 
 16 
 17 
 17 
 34 
 34 
 75 
 12 
 13 
 13 
 13 
 13 
 13 
 18 
 32 
 33 
 34 
 
 7 
 63 
 69 
 69 
 33 
 43 
 74 
 41 
 33 
 55 
 53 
 66 
 67 
 25 
 
 8 
 12 
 
 * See Note E. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 95 
 
 Stoughton set off from Dorchester ..... 
 
 Stoughton, Lt. Gov. Wm., death of 
 
 " " " " his epitaph .... 
 
 Strangers not to be received without notice 
 Style, New, established by Parliament .... 
 
 Taylor, Lt. Gov. Wm., death of . . . . . 
 
 Tax levied in Dorchester ...... 
 
 Tennant, Gilbert, his arrival at Boston . . . . 
 
 Thanksgiving for revival of vegetation .... 
 
 Thomson's Island appropriated for the support of a School 
 
 " " its possession withdrawn . 
 
 ToplifF, Dea. Nathaniel, death of .... . 
 
 Treasurers, first, of Dorchester ..... 
 
 Votes, to have two or three readings before passage 
 
 War with Spain proclaimed ...... 
 
 War with France proclaimed ...... 
 
 War, Expenses of reimbursed ..... 
 
 Wardens of School first chosen ...... 
 
 Warham, Mr. John, Teacher of the Church in Dorchester 
 Warham, Rev. Mr., his removal to Winsor 
 Warrants, Town, to express all matters of debate * . 
 Watertown, removal of adventurers to ... , 
 White, John, accidental death of . 
 Whitefield, Mr. Geo., his arrival at Boston 
 
 " " " his preaching .... 
 
 his auditory . . . . . 
 
 effects of his preaching 
 
 Author's reflections on . 
 
 his second visit .... 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 li 
 
 C( 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 « 
 
 li 
 
 II 
 
 Winter, tedious ..... 
 
 '' moderate • . . . . 
 Withington, Elder Henry, death of . 
 Withington, Mather, death of 
 Wrentham and Dorchester line extended 
 
 45 
 . 36 
 
 36 
 . 21 
 
 72 
 
 . 48 
 
 12 
 . 54 
 
 71 
 . 16 
 
 16 
 . 72 
 
 17 
 
 . 18 
 
 53 
 . 58 
 
 69 
 . 17 
 
 10 
 . 14 
 
 17 
 . 8 
 
 37 
 . 54 
 
 54 
 . 54 
 
 55 
 . 55 
 
 58 
 51,55 
 
 57 
 . 23 
 
 50 
 . 40 
 
 *■ " 18 lOmo. 1642. Every person offending against tills order sliall forfeit for the 
 same six pence for every suc-.li offence, to be levied by distress fur the use of the 
 Town." — Toivn Records, Vol. I. p. 54. 
 
No. 1 of the COLLECTIONS OF THE DOR- 
 CHESTER ANTIQUARIAN AND HISTORICAL 
 SOCIETY. MEMOIRS OF ROGER CLAP. — This 
 work was published in 1844. The Memoirs, written by 
 Roger Clap himself, tog-ether with an Introduction by the 
 Rev. Mr. Prince, and some account of Capt. Clap's family 
 by Mr. Blake, the author of the preceding Annals, were re- 
 printed from the first edition, issued in 1731. Some fur- 
 ther account of his descendants by the Publishing Commit- 
 tee of the Society is also prefixed to the work, and there is 
 added a copy of the inscription on his grave-stone as now 
 seen in the Chapel Burying Ground in Boston. 
 
 For sale by the Publisher of the Annals, over 184 Wash- 
 ington street, Boston. Price 25 cents. 
 
 
 , JViAa ^4^iyU.: 
 
 ■I 
 
 c.«ssa.- 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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