*

m'. Johnson, Geo. Hull, Will. Phelps, Eltwid Pumry and Giles Gibbes. It is generally agreed, that m'. Israel Stoughton shall build a water mill, if he see cause.†

It is agreed, that their shall be a decent buring place, ‡ bounden in

The surname only, of Mr. Johnson, is given on the records. He may have been Edward Johnson who went to Roxbury.

The veritable Blake in his Annals of Dorchester, under date of 1633, says-This Year y Plantation Granted Mr. Israel Stoughton liberty to build a Mill upon Neponset River, which I suppose was y⚫ first Mill built in this Colony, and ye Sa River has been famous for mills ever since."

Lynn. We are informed, in the History of Lynn, that on the 12th of July, 1633, "the inhabitants made a grant to Mr. Edward Tomlins, of a privilege to build a corn-mill, at the mouth of the stream which flows from the Flax Pond," the mill mentioned by Wood, we presume, in 1634. "This was the second mill in the colony, the first having been built at Dorchester the same year." In reference to this Lynn corn-mill, depositions were taken June 3, 1678; among them, one by Clement Coldam, son of Clement, of which the following is an extract:-" This I, Clement Coldam, aged about 55 years, doe testitie, that the grant of the old mill was in July ye 12, 1633, to Edward Tomlins, which was the second mill in this colony." If Coldam's statement be correct, the Lynn grant precedes the Dorchester agreement nearly four months. This need not, necessarily, raise a doubt as to the priority of Stoughton's "grinding" operations. Lewis's Lynn, 2d edition, pp. 81, 82; Lewis and Newhall's History of Lynn, page 143.

Plymouth.-Stephen Deane was allowed by Plymouth Colony, in 1632, "to set up a water worke to beate Corne uppon the brooke adjoining to the town of Plymouth for the benefit of the Commonwealth." "Afterwards he was allowed to erect a grinding mill, but to surrender up his beating mill." Register, iii. 378; Thacher's Plymouth, 1st ed. p. 86.

Rorbury.-Newbury.-Ellis says that "a water mill was built at Roxbury, in 1633, by one Duminer." (History of Roxbury, p. 82.) Savage informs us that this was Richard Dummer. He erected the first grist mill in Newbury in 1636. Winthrop's Journal, i. 196; Gage's Rowley, p. 411. Wood, in his New England's Prospect (1634), says of “ Roxberry:" "a quarter of a mile to the North-side of the Towne, is another River, called Stony-river ; upon which is built a water-milne."

66

Watertown." Neither the exact date nor the builder of the first mill in Watertown has been ascertained; but it was probably built in 1634, by Edward How, at the joint expense of himself and Mr. Matthew Cradock. It was built at the first fall, at the head of tide water, on Charles river, on Mill Creek." "It is probably the oldest artificial mill race or canal in this country that has continued in uninterrupted use." Bond's Watertown, p. 1038. Ipswich." In 1635, R. Saltonstall had leave to set up a grist mill, with the right, if the town shall need another, to erect it if he choose." Felt's Ipswich, p. 95.

Salem." In 1636, a water mill for grinding corn was erected by William Trask, on the North River, in Salem, above what is commonly known as Frye's Mills." Felt's Annals of Salem, ii. 165.

Duxbury.-In 1639, Thomas Hilier and George Pollard agreed to set up a grist mill in Duxbury, "as also stampers to beate Indian corne at." Previous to this date, the inhabitants of the town had been obliged to procure their grist from Plymouth, which was very inconvenient. Winsor's Duxbury, p. 43.

Medford.-Mr. Brooks, in his History of Medford, p. 392, says :-"The building of a mill required more iron and stone work than our fathers in Medford were at first prepared to carry through; they therefore adopted the Indian's mill; which was a rock hollowed out in the shape of a half-globe, and a stone pestle. The mortar held half a bushel, and the pestle weighed forty or fifty pounds. A small, flexible tree was bent down, and the pestle so tied to its top as to keep it suspended immediately over the mortar. When the pestle was in motion, the elastic spring of the tree would continue its blows on the grain for a minute or more.

"They found a mill driven by wind, cheaper than one driven by water; nevertheless, the water power here was sufficient, and so convenient that it soon became serviceable."

This was the second place of interment, being a part of the present "old burial ground.” corner of Boston and Stoughton streets; that portion of it directly opposite the now residence of Mr. Samuel B. Pierce, 2d. It was ordered to be laid out five rods square, as appears by a vote of the town, Nov. 3, 1634. We have no information as to how soon after the laying out of this ground the burials were made. The oldest inscription extant, and with a single exception-so far as we can learn-the oldest in the United States, is the oft mentioned one of Mr. Barnard Capen, who died Nov. 8, 1638 (see Register, iv. 165), though the stone which contains it is comparatively modern. The oldest original stone in this ground bears the early dates of 1644 and 1648. Sec Register, ii. 381. See also, Barber's Historical Collections of Connecticut, p. 132, and Stiles's History of Windsor, p. 51, for the inscription on the monument of the Rev. Ephraim Huct, who died in Windsor, Sept. 4, 1644, supposed to be the oldest original monument in Connecticut, and cotemporary, as will be seen, with the oldest original one in Dorchester, from which town many of the early settlers in Windsor emigrated.

upon the knapp,* by Goodman Grenwayes, and that shall be done by the Raters aforesayde, and also a bare,† to carry the dead on.

It is order[ed, that a pound shall be] also made and set up, upon the knapp of ground, on [the right hand] of Walter ffilers and Goodman Hoskeines, out of the publique rate.

It is ordered, that such as desire to have lotts, shall upon the monethly meeteings manifest the same, and then the Company p'sent are to approve of the same, and in what quarter, and then they are to repayre to William Phelps and Ancient Stoughton, and they to set out the same. And such as desire lotts are to allowe in p'sent worke for their paynes, signed,

John Mavericke, John Warham, William Gaylard.

2d December, 1633. It is ordered, that such as have great lotts, they shall joyne this yeere in paling, and if they will not, then such as are beyond, if they will pale, are to remoove to the last that will pale, and he that will not, to go without; every one that will pale to give in his name by to morrowe sevennight, and they that p'mise to pale, it is agreed that there pales, posts, and Rayles, are to be in place by the last of ffebruary next, or elce forfeited their lotts to any one that the Plantation shall thinke fit to pale and enjoy it.

Item, ordered, that Rich: Rocket is to have an acre addition to his home lott, in consideration of removing his pale, in regard a publicke way is to be through his lott.

Item. It is ordered, that William Hosford shall have one of the Two great lotts that were captain Southcotts.§

The first burying ground in Dorchester is thought to have been nigh the first meeting house, that is, near the junction of what is now Pleasant and Cottage streets.

William Blake, in his Will of Sept. 3, 1661, proved Jan. 29, 1663, gives "vnto the towne of Dorchester, twenty shillings, to be bestowed for the repairing of the buring place"-this second ground-" soe yt swine and other vermine may not anoy the granes of the saints: prvided it be repaired within one yeare after my decease." Register, xii. 153.

On the 18th of March, 1694-5, the town voted to enlarge the burial ground. It was again enlarged in 1728. Ralph, son to Thomas and Mary Blackman, who died the 13th of October of that year, was "ye First that was buried in ye new Addition." See Register, v. 358. This ground has been extended at various times, until it now contains" (says Hist. of Dorchester, p. 655) "not far from three acres.'

According to Deacon James Humphreys, the enclosure was in the form of a wedge, running from near a point, by the west gate, opposite the present engine house, "in a straight line East of Gov. Stoughton's tomb." "Afterwards," he says, "an addition was made by a strip of land East and running nearly parallel somewhere about Col. Estes Hatch's tomb. The second enlargement runs parallel east of the row of tombs; the third, the land lying back of the late Capt. Edward Bird; the fourth, still eastward, in a straight line, about half an acre, running the whole length of the burying place." We do not know, precisely, how to reconcile the "wedge-shaped" land described by Deacon H., with the ground as laid out" five rods square." Possibly his statement may correspond with its form after the next enlargement.

As it may be of interest, in this connection, to read the old inscription in Fairfax County, Virginia, we quote the following from Howe's Hist. Coll. of Virginia, p. 261:

"The annexed epitaph was copied from a tombstone on the banks of Neabsco Creek, in October, 1837. It is, without doubt, the oldest monumental inscription in the United States. From the earliness of the date, 1608, it is supposed that the deceased was a companion of Capt. John Smith on one of his exploratory voyages."- Here lies ye body of Lieut. William Herris, who died May ye 16th, 1608: aged 065 years; by birth a Britain, a good soldier; a good husband and neighbor.''

Knap, the top of a hill or rising ground. Phillips's New World of Words.

+ Bier, beer, bier-balks, anglo saxon, baran, to bear; that which bears. Usually applied to that which bears a corpse to burial; by R. Gloucester. Richardson.

Thomas Stoughton, the Ensign, brother to Israel Stoughton. The word ancient is corrupted from Ensign; ancient, in war, was ensign bearer. Richardson.

Mr. Thomas and Mr. Richard Southcoate or Southcott, of Dorchester, both desired to be made freemen in 1630. Capt. Southcoate" took the oath in 1631. Not unlikely this was

Item, it is ordered, that after the decease of Every p'son that have seates in the meeteing house,* the officers of the church, in their discretion, to order who shall succeed in those seates, and to be sould, and the money expended for the reparations of the sayde meeteing house, signed,

John Mavericke, John Warham, William Gaylard.

The 6th January, Mooneday, 1633. It is ordered, that their shall be a fort made upon the Rocke,† above m'. Johnson's, and that the chardge thereof shall arise out of p'te of the publicke rate now made in the Plantation, and to that end, the sayde rate is to be dobled, which is to be payd to Thommas fford, and Roger Clapp, who are appoynted to receave the same, and payment to be made before the first day of ffebruary next, at the house of the sayde Thommas fford.

It is agreed, that the great lotts, from m'. Rosciters to John Hills lott, tow[ards] Naponset, in bredth, and eight score in length, shall be forthwith enclosed by good sufficient Pale, and that the pale shall be set up and finished by the 20 of March next, and whosoever fayles, shall forfeit his sayd lott: And [these] Pales to be sixe foote long, and the rayles to be not above 10 foote betweene the Postes.

Item. It is ordered, that the marsh and swamp before Goodman Hosford and davy Wil[ton] shall be devided among themselves and Symon Hoyte.

Item. It is ordered, that all trees that are now felled out of the lotts, or shall be hereafter, and not vsed w'hin three moneths, all men who have occasion to vse them may take them, Provided, m'. Israel Stoughton, for the p'sent, is given 12 months tyme for such trees as he hath now felled for his house, and the mill which he is to build at Naponset.

Item. It is ordered, that m'. Israell Stoughton shall have the pri valadge of a wearet at Naponset, adjoyning to his mill, and shall injoy it from the sayd weare to the bridge, where now it is, over the sayde Naponset, without interruption, as also betweene the sayde weare and the salt water, that none shall crosse the river with a nett or other weare to the p'judice of the sayd weare.

And the sayd m'. Stoughton is to sell the alewives § there taken, to

Richard. In July, 1631, Capt. Southcoate had liberty from the Court "to goe for England, p'miseing to returne againe wth all convenient speede." Probably he did not return to Dorchester, as his name is not found afterwards on the records, and his land was alloted to others.

* This first meeting house was probably erected in 1631; the second, in 1646; the third, in 1678; the fourth, in 1744; and the fifth, in 1816, which is the present meeting house of the first church and society.

This was probably at what is now Savin Hill, near the summit of which is still to be seen a large flat rock.

"A place or engine for catching or keeping fish (Somner); also a dam, to keep up, keep back the flow of water." Richardson.

"Wear or Ware, a Stank, or great Dam in a River, fitted for the taking of Fish, or for conveying the Stream to a Mill." Phillips's New World of Words.

Alewives, a well-known kind of fish much like herring. Wood, in his New England's Prospect (see the beautiful re-print by the Prince Society, page 41), says, in 1634, that Dorchester is the greatest Towne in New England; well woodded and watered; very good arable grounds, and Hay-ground, faire Corne-fields, and pleasant Gardens, with Kitchingardens: In this plantation is a great many Cattle, as Kine, Goats and Swine. This plantation hath a reasonable Harbour for ships; here is no Alewife-river [he had just mentioned one in Weymouth] which is a great inconvenience. The inhabitants of this towne were the first that set upon the trade of fishing in the Bay, who received so much fruite of their labours, that they encouraged others to the same undertakings."

*

the plantation, at 5s..p' thousand; And that all fish, besides, that is taken there, the Plantation to have at reasonable rates, before any other plantation. And the sayd m'. Stoughton is to afford the sayd all uives at a lower rate then 5 shillings p' Thousand, if he cann. Item. the sayd m'. Stoughton doth p'mise not to sell away the sayd mill to any, without the consent of the plantation first had and obtayned.

Item. It is ordered, that moses Mavericke shall have the lott that was allotted for Edward Ransford.

Item. It is ordered, that m'. Hillt shall have that p'cell of ground adjoyneing to his former lott, betweene it and John Iles, signed, John Mavericke, John Warham.

Mooneday, the 5th, 1634. It is ordered, that for all the pale above the Plantation, if any trespasses be done by swine that are not deemed to be vnlawfull, hee y ownes the pale shall pay the trespas, whose corne soever it be, signed,

Saturday 17th, 1634. It is ordered, that such as are to make the fences of pale in the new feild, toward Naponsett, and they do not do it by Tuseday night next, whosever doth the same shall have fower shillings a goad for his labour, signed,

John Mavericke, John Warham, Will. Gaylard. The 20th of May, 1634. It is ordered, that after Two nights, for any pale that is not done, there shall be 20s. for every goad vndone.

It is ordered, that within these Two dayes, all pig sties shall be removed [from] all the pales of the feilde, upon payne of 20s. a day for every day that [such] piggs sties so stand, not demolished.

It is ordered, that m'. Woolcott, m'. Johnson, and Walther filer, shall veiwe the pales of the great lotts, and if they find any pale in sufficient, they shall forthwith give notice to him that is to impall, who, if he doth not amend with in one day after, he shall pay 10 shillings a day for the tyme it standes insufficient, and the sayde p'tyes shall report or deeme the pale sufficient.

Afterward, he whose swine are taken trespassing in the sayd lotts shall make good any trespas shall be by them committed; and the sayde p'tyes or any other, shall amend any pale after the sayd notice, they shall have 5s. p' goad for amending them.

John Mavericke, John Warham, William Gaylard.

24th May, 1634. It is ordered, that Thomas fford, and John Phillips, shall veiwe the pales of the East feild, toward the South, and if they find any defect in the pale, to give notice to the delinquent, and the same penalty and conditions of the order of the 20th of May to stand in force, to all intents and purposes.

Westfeild. It is ordered, that Mathew Graunt, George Phillips and John Moore, shall do in like manner, and the like conditions as aforesayd.

Northfeild.-John Hoskeines, and Symon Hoyte to do the like in that feild, and the same conditions in that feild also to stand, signed, John Mavericke, John Warham, William Rockewell.

Similar votes were passed by the General Court in 1634, in favor of Mr. Stoughton, and were also confirmed by the Court.

+ John Hill.

Second June, 1634.-It is ordered, that Goodman Witchfeild and Goodman Hoyte shall have to be devided betweene them the marsh that lies in the north side of the necke, towardes Bosto", over agaynst m'. Rainsfords house,* in Boston, being for 8 acres, by estimation. Item. John Hoskeines senior to have four acres of medow in the necke, where the dogg was killed.

Item. Thommas Geofry to have the lott was m'. Egelstones. m'. Hathorne.

by

It is ordered, that the captin shall have 301. p'annum, to begin at the beginning of January last, and that m'. Rosciter and George Hull. Ancient Stoughton, Richard Collicott, m'. Williams, § John Pearce, John Bursly, shall make a rate to levy the same. m'. Hathorne 2 acres is to have in the dead Swamp.

It is ordered, that Richard Collecott may have a roome to build an house in the place called the church yeard.

William Gaylard, William Rockewell.

The first of September, 1634. There is graunted to Alexander Miller, servant to m'. Stoughton, 3 acres of ground, lyeing without John Phillips lott, toward naponsett..

John Grenway is to have 2 acres and halfe of medow, to make up his medow at home, adjoining to the necke where his 8 acres was formerly graunted.

It is ordered, that the lott which was graunted formerly to John. Rockett, shall be transferred to Robert Elway.||

It is ordered, that m'. Nathaniell Hall, shall have 3 acres which was formerly graunted to m'. Captin Lovell.

It is ordered, that m'. Johnson shall have Twelve acres neere his medowe, upp naponsett.

Item, it is ordered, that Bray Clarke and John Allen shall build an house upon the Rocke, by John Holman.

It is ordered, that within of Plantation, none shall take upp a lott before his tyme be determined with his M., within a moneth or Two.

Item, John Nile, ffran. Tuchill, John Levit, Thom Rawelines, John Knite, Bray Clarke, John Allen, Thom Tilestone, Aron Cooke, shall have 3 acres a peece, upp Naponset. . Andrew Pitcher.

Item, it is ordered, that m'. Newbery shall have 30 acres for his accommodation in the Plantation.

Edward Rainsford lived in Boston, on the north side of the cove which bounded him on the south. He left Dorchester, we may suppose, previous to Jan. 6, 1633, when land that had been alloted him, was then granted to Moses Maverick. (See ante.)

+ It is generally thought that Mr. Bagot Egglestone went to Windsor after this, in 1635 or 1636, but his land being now transferred to another person is a strong indication that he was not at the above date an inhabitant, or that he had given up his right to the allotment. See a genealogy of the Egglestone family in Stiles's Windsor. His first name is variously

written.

This was the afterwards celebrated Capt. John Mason, so conspicuous in the Pequod war and elsewhere; a true soldier, a man of great courage and daring, a very useful and prominent citizen. He commanded the "Dorchester Band," Nov. 1633; Israel Stoughton, ensign. See the record for Dec. 29, 1631; Hist. of Dorchester, p. 65.

Roger Williams emigrated to Windsor.

Robert Elwell, says Savage, removed to Salem in 1638, went thence to Gloucester, was a selectman there in 1648, &c. See an extended notice of Mr. Elwell and his family in Babson's Hist. of Gloucester, pp. 87-90.

This name is written Tuchill, Tuchel and Tuchine, on the Dorchester Records. See Register, ix. 344. It is now called Twitchell. See genealogy of the family in Morse's Genealogy of the Descendants of several Ancient Puritans, pp. 247-358.