"Before the union of the territories and colonies into one province, by the name of the Massachusetts Bay, in NewEngland,* the proprietors of undivided or common lands in some of the towns and precincts, had adopted the practice of stating on their records, each one's proportion thereof, and of voting according to their several interests."

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By the statute of 4 William and Mary, sec. 3d, 1692‡ this practice, before that time well known, is expressly sanctioned by the legislature of the Province,that is to say, where proprietors of undivided or common lands" in towns or precincts in the province, had stated their several proportions, each one's proportion being known, the voices to be collected according to interests," and where such proprietors had not stated their proportions, as aforesaid, they were by the same statute, to be governed by the Major part of such proprietors, until they should make such statement, and proportionment."‡

In consequence of the act of the Legislature in 1692, the common lands were divided into four parts, called first, second, third and fourth division. The management of them, fell into the hands of proprietors, who adjusted their several rights and stated their proportions acording to some principle of Justice agreed upon among themselves. The first Book of Proprietors' Records, was burnt with the house in which they were kept, about the year 1715. The only Book now extant begins about 1716.

New-Meeting House—1710.

AFTER much conversation and several public deliberations upon the subject of a new meeting house, it was at length agreed to build a house of the following dimensions. Fifty feet long; forty two broad and twenty two between joints. It was aMay 17. greed further to give for the building of Nov. 14. this house 3301. in current money with the old meeting house, which was not to be taken down until the new one was finished. It was *See charter of William and Mary Oct. 7, 1691, third year of their reign.

+ See Province Laws, page 19.

M. S. Letter of Hon. James Prescot, Esq. Judge of Probate, for the county of Middlesex.

also stipulated that the town should be at the expense of raising the Meeting-house. It was erected in 1711, finished and accepted by the town 1712. It was afterwards determined to build a small house by itself of 12 feet square and 14 high, "to hang the bell in," and to set it on the south west corner of the ground, on which the old meeting-house stood. But on consultation held with Mr. Snow, carpenter, of Woburn, it was agreed to build a turret on the roof of the meeting-house instead of a separate house for the above purpose.

BEGAN the long struggle for a separation of the 1713. west part of Chelmsford, into a precinct or parish. After various fruitless efforts for 14 years, they were incorporated into a parish for the purpose of religious worship. In the interim several families in the south west part of the town, were by an act of the legislature united with Littleton in supporting the gospel. But when the west part of Chelmsford was formed into a precinct, or parish, these families were restored to their former standing by a repeal of the aforesaid law.

First School House-1718.

We now come to a very important transaction, the building of the first School-house. Hitherto their schools had been kept in their dwelling houses. In 1718, Oct. 27, Wm. Fletcher gave and secured to

*Joshua Fletcher, Josiah Whitney, Benjamin Robins, Moses Foster, Joseph Hildreth, John Reed and Samuel Chamberlin.

1711.-Maj. Tyng was wounded by the Indians between Groton and Concord, carried to Concord and there died. Family Records, in possession of Robert Brinley, Esq. Tyngsboro.

Hubbard and Hutchinson say that Maj. Tyng was killed in Chelmsford. They were doubtless in an error.

1720. Saml. Goold and wife, who came from Dunstable to Chelmsford, were the first persons, maintained at the public expence. The town gave for their maintenance 8s per week.

And in 1727 a horse was provided for them to ride to meeting, when they were able to attend. These were the only paupers in town, until 1747, almost a century from the first settlement.

the subscribers three rods and a half of land, abutted and bounded as follows. Eastwardly at the most eastwardly corner of the burying ground, upon a stake and heap of stones; southwardly upon the burying place; west to a stake and heap of stones, which is the most southwardly corner; on the westerly corner, to a stake and heap of stones; on the northerly corner to a stake and heap of stones; and then to the hounds first mentioned.

Nov. 28, 1718-These presents declare that I, Wm. Fletcher, above said, do give the three rods and a half, above laid out at the northerly corner of the burying place, on which the school-house stands, to them that built it; to them their heirs and assigns forever, and to that use forever.*

In presence of

1724.

WM. FLETCHER-his seal.

ROBERT RICHARDSON,
SAMUEL HOWARD.

We have already mentioned the unsuccessful attempt of the west part of the town to become a distinct parish or precinct. This year they again stated their inconveniences and complaints to the General Court, who granted them leave to be erected into a separate religious society by the name of the west Precinct, of Chelmsford. This act passed in May. In Dec. following a com

*This land was laid out on the right of Rev. Moses Fiske of Braintree, son of Rev. John Fiske of Chelmsford, and heir to his estate after the death of his brother John, who died childless.

It was an early established regulation that towns of 50 families should be provided constantly with a school-of a hundred families with a grammar school. Doug

1716.-More than three thousand pine trees were loaned at 2-6d per hundred for the purpose of extracting turpentine.

1717. The burying ground enclosed by a wall, made for 6-4d per rod, equal to 3 according to scale of depreciation.

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mittee was chosen by the town to make an equitable division between the old town and the new precinct. The court ordered that the town should pay 100l. to the west parish for their proportiona ble expence in building the meeting-house.

In 1727, they obtained leave of the town, for an entire separation, and were incorporated by the name of Westford, Sept. 23, 1729. They received by act of court their proportion of the ministerial land and ammunition, which belonged to the town.

Capt. Lovewell's fight at Pigwacket, May 8, 1725.

Among the 33 heroes, who engaged Paugus and his company, consist ing of about 80 Indians, were two natives of Chelmsford-viz. Lieut, Jona. Robbins, born in that part of Chelmsford, which was afterwards annexed to Carlisle and from thence removed to Dunstable, from which he set out on the fatal expedition--and John Chamberlin, who also had left Chelmsford and resided in Groton-Lieut, Robbins, was wounded in the first attack. When they assembled themselves at mid-night, after the enemy had withdrawn from the field of battle, he was found unable to travel; he desired his companions to charge his gun, and leave it with him, which they did; he declaring, 'that as the Indians will come in the morning to scalp me, I will kill one or more of thein, if I can.'

'John Chamberlain was well acquainted with Paugus. In the course of the engagement Paugus and Chamberlain discoursed familiary together. Their guns being foul from frequent firings, they washed them at the pond, when Chamberlain assured Paugus, that he should kill him ; Paugus also menaced him, and bid defiance to his threats. When they had prepared their guns, they loaded and discharged them, and Paugus fell."* Rev. J. Symms.

*There is a traditionary report, that after preparing their guns, Paugus said to Chamberlain, It is you, or 1.' Chamberlain gaining a little time in loading, fired first, and Paugus fell.

l'augus was sachem of the Pigwacket tribe.

1722.-John Bates and family had the small pox; and most of them

died.

1727.-Dec. 15, Rev. Willard Hall, ordained Pastor over the 2d parish in Chelmsford, the Rev. Mr. Stoddard preached on that occasion,

A TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF CHELMS FORD.

CHELMSFORD is situated twenty three miles north west of Boston, on the post-road to Amherst and Windsor. It is bounded on the north by Merrimack river, on the east by Concord river, southeast by Billerica, south by Carlisle; west by Westford, and north west by Tyngsborough. By a measurement in 1781, it was found to contain 13838* acres; 2063 of which are in roads, ponds and sunken lands. It is remarkably diversified by meadows and swamps, uplands and forest trees of various kinds; and intersected by brooks and rivulets. Few townships in the Commonwealth have a greater variety of soil, or possess greater facilities to a profitable market for their various productions. Upon the Merrimack and Concord, much of the land is alluvial and fertile. Thence proceeding south west,lies a pine plain, called Carolina plain, upwards of a mile wide, intersecting the north east and south west part of the town. The soil is shallow and sandy; and of little use except for raising rye. It produces a crop of about ten bushels per acre triennially.The flour is of a quality superior to that raised on a richer and more fertile soil. The natural growth of this plain is white and yellow pine. It lies in the vicinity of Middlesex canal; and makes advantageous additions to the farms bordering upon it.—The wood is an article of great domestic use, and finds a ready market at the Glass Manufactory.

*6 miles square contains nearly 23,000.