EARLY RECORDS 
m OF 
Groton. Massachusetts. 
1662-1678. THE 
Town Records of Groton, 
MASSA CHUSETTS. 
1662-1678. 
EDITED BY 
SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D. 
GROTON: 
1879. University Press: John Wilson & Son, 
Cambridge. TO 
(ZTbe iflemorj) 
OF 
RICHARD SAWTELL, 
JAMES FISKE, 
WILLIAM LONGLEY, 
JOHN PAGE, 
RICHARD BLOOD, 
JOHN MORSE, 
AND 
JAMES PARKER, 
®be Jirst Srbett Sofoit Clerks of Proton, 
THIS COPY OF THEIR RECORDS IS INSCRIBED 
By THE EDITOR EARLY RECORDS 
OF 
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
' I 'HE town meeting is an outgrowth of New-England life. 
It had its origin with the first settlers, and has been 
kept up by their successors. Each town was incorporated, 
and the freemen came together in public meeting to discuss 
and settle questions of general interest. They also chose 
town officers, to whom was delegated the power to manage 
their civil affairs. 
The following records of the town of Groton are the earliest 
extant, and were probably the first made of any meeting held 
within its limits. They are copied from the only book of 
records kept during the Indian wars ; and, from the fact that 
the book was for a time preserved rolled up, it acquired the 
name of “The Indian Roll.” The cover has long since been 
lost; the leaves are loose and much worn, and a few of them 
are missing. These records extend from the year 1662 to 
1707, and contain many interesting facts in regard to the town. 
They include the names of families that have been in the 
neighborhood through many generations, even to the present 
time. Forty pages of “The Indian Roll” are here printed, 
and they cover the period ending with the re-settlement of the 
town in 1678, two years after its destruction by the Indians. 
The pages of the record-book are not numbered, and some- 
times the entries are made out of place, but the paging is 6 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
indicated, as far as practicable, by the figures enclosed within 
brackets. 
The first town clerk was Richard Sawtell, an original pro- 
prietor of Groton and the possessor of a twenty-acre right. 
He came from Watertown, where he was living as early as 
the year 1636. He wrote a good hand for his day, and held 
the office during three years. He died August 21, 1694, at 
Watertown, where he went, doubtless, in the spring of 1676, 
when Groton was burned by the Indians. 
Att a generall towne meet[ing] June. 23. 1662. 
It was agreed vppon that the house for the Minister should be set 
vppon the place where it is now framinge. 
Also that the meetinge house shall be sett vpon the right hand of 
the path by a small whit Oak, marked at the souwest side with two 
notches & a blaze 
At a genenerall Towne meeting December, the twenty fourth it is 
agreed that Richard Sawtell being chosen to be the Towne Clark shall 
have six penc for Recording & giving a Transcript of every twenty 
Acars of land to the severall propriators 
Decern : 24. At a generall Towne meeting its agreed that all the 
lands that are or here after shall be granted shall be recorded with 
these expressions following, viz : To such a one or such a one &c : 
Ten or: Twenty Acars so & so bounded be it estemed more or 
lesse 
Decem. 24 Its agreed by the Towne at a generall meeting That 
the wood & Timber that is in the hie-way against any mans house 
shall be his provided that he shall not [upon] the penalty of paying halfe 
a Crown a tree falle any trees upon the Com[mon] except it apeareth 
they have not amon[gst] these trees such tree or trees as will suit their 
necessitie provided also that when they falle they shall not let lie to 
the prejuduice of the Towne or any or any [jzk] one of the inhabitants 
by hindering the pass [age] of Carts or Horses &c vpon the penalty 
of halfe a Crowne if vpon. six dayes warning they shall neglect (within 
the said tim of warning.) to cleare the way for full & free passage 
Liberty is granted to Timothy Allen to set his House vpon a knole 
with out side of his fenc & land is granted him there unto not exceed- 
ing an Acar GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
7 
Decern. 24 It is agreed that Deacon James Parker James Knop 
& John Page shall lay out acording to their discretion the Towne hie 
way & the land which any inhabitant wan[ts] of his grant 
Deacon James Parker John Lawr[ence] [Wm.] Martin Ric : Blood 
& James ffi[ske are] chosen Selectmen for this [year &] are to draw 
vp som direction [s for the] Towne [1] 
W'.n Lakin Ralph Reed. Joh. Page & Joh Nuttin are chosen Sur- 
veyors of the hie wayes. this year, decern. 24. (6[2.] 
At a generall Towne meeting. March 18. 1663. It was generally] 
agreed, as folloeth 
first. That M' Millar is by by the Consent of the Towne ma[ni]- 
fested by vote to be desired if God moue his hart there unto to con- 
tinve still with vs for our further edificat[ion.] Richard Blood desents 
from this in regard of the time of or desiring him. wc he would have 
to be after the gen : Court. 
2lY That Mf Miller shall haue a Twenty Acar lot layd out to him 
acording to the Townes grant to him 
Thomas. Tarbole. Senior vpon his request was granted by the Towne 
to haue a knole of vpland containing about an Acar towards the vper 
end of Broad Medow wc is thought Advantagious to him for the fensing 
of his medow 
[Ju]ne 21 [16] 63 Its agreed by the Towne & manifested by vote 
that Mf Willard if he accept of it shall be their minester as long as 
he lives wc Mr Willard accepts Except a manifest providenc of God 
apears to take him off 
These persons folloing doe desent from this former vot. Richard. 
Sawtell. Samuell Woods. James Parker: John Nutting James fifiske 
Its agreed by the major part of the Towne that Mr Willard shall 
haue their interest in the house &. lands that was devoted by the 
Towne for the minestry suckcessively. provided they may meete in 
the house on the lords day &. vpon other ocasions of the Towne on 
metings : And these persons Hollowing desent from their act 
James Parker Ric. Sawtell Willia"1 Longley John nutting Tho. Tar- 
bole. Jun. 
Richard Blood and John Clary att present James fifiske. John long- 
ley. Joh laranTce] Joseph laranc [21 
[Date torn off?\ 
... to excercise am . . . all Edification in the ways . . . glory & 
or owne everlasting goo ... vs And further desiring ye Lord to . . . 8 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
what hath been herein any way offensive] vnto him and to help 
euery one of vs to forg[et] & forgiue what hath been any way offen- 
siue [to] each other as we desire the Lord to forgiue vs 
[Sep.] io i : It is agreed by ye Consent of the Towne & mani- 
fested by vote that M" Willard shall haue for this year forty pounds 
and if God be pleased so to despose of his & our hearts to continue 
together after the expiration of the yeare (w[e] hope) by or aproving 
of him & he of vs we shall we shall [sic] be willing to ad vnto his 
maintenanc as [God] shall blesse vs. expecting allso that he shall 
render vnto our pouerty if God shall please to deny a blessing vpon 
our labours 
2. It is agreed & voted his yeare shall begin the first day of July 
last past 
Sep. 21 : 63 It is agreed by ye Towne wth John Nuttin & voted that 
he the said John shall keepe cleane the meeting house this ye[ar] or 
cause it to be kept cleene & for his labour he is to h[ave] fourteen 
shillings 
Novem 1. (63) with the consent of Anthony Pierce its granted 
by the Tow[n] that his son Daniell Pierce shall haue the one halfe 
of his said ffathers deuission of land viz. ten Acars of his sa[id] lot 
on that side lying next Ralph Reeds & ten of [meadow?] . . . 
seurall percells whereof lieth in Broade medow Halfe-moone medow. 
& the South medow and the rem[ainder] of his said fathers Hous lot 
to be reserued and added to the said Daniell in his next deuision if so 
much falle to hi[m] & if it proue lesse then his share he is to haue it 
made vp where else at the Towns descresion And hereby it is [de]- 
clared that the said Anthony is no propriator in Groton yet if God in 
prouidenc shall make way for him & mov h[is] heart to com & reside 
with vs the towne doth promise wi[th him] to acomadate him as con- 
veniently as they can 
[Date tom 
John Mosse of Ipswitch is accepted by the Towne to pay the alot- 
ment of John Lawranc Junh 
Its agreed that when all men hav their full allowan of medow. The 
residue shall be devided to the prsent inhabitants by lot acording to 
every mans proportion GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
9 
By the Towne its joyntly agreed & manifested by vote That every 
man of this Town shall bring a note of all his lands or their lands 
Bounded & abutted vnto ye Town-Clark being subscribed by two 
that helpt to lay them out and then the said dark shall record them in 
the Town Book and giue to each [one] a Transcript of his lands acord- 
mg to the Towns record which shall be vieued by the Select m[en] 
both originall & coppy and if ye originall Town Record & ye Tran- 
script be found to agree then each mans Transcript shall be sub- 
scribed by the Town Clark 
For as much as y' it apeareth that Richard Sawtell his [la]nd was 
not equivalent for goodness to other mens . . . who had the same 
quantitie. The Towne . . . have consented & by vote manifested 
that ... he shall haue that scragy shrubbs . . . vnto Indian hill . . . 
som times a . . . Indian hill . . . [3] 
. . . Towne from . . . penc provided he th . . . person that shall 
here after . . . make any just demand with respect to . . . ve men- 
tioned prmises what ever shall be by him . . . them so demanded 
Due to Ric Blud & Joh. Lakin for laying out the hie-way to Lank- 
ester twenty shillings when they have perfeted the work wc they Engage 
to Doe soone 
3 Due to James ffisk &. Joh. Nuttin twenty shillings for laying out 
the hie-way to Chelmsford when they haue perfeted the work wc they 
promise to doe as soone as they can 
4 Due to Ric. Sawtell five shillings for service done for the Towne 
at Cambridg twice 
5 Due to Jams Parker. Jam Knop &. Joh. Page, six shillings for 
laying out the Townes hie-wayes & & satisfing men for their land 
when it fell so that the hie-way went over any man’s propriety 
[Nov]em ... 63 
1 William Martin Sergeant James Parker Ric. Blud Wm Lakin & 
John Nuttin are for this yeare Chosen Select men 
2 Sam. Davis Sam. Woods Ellis Barns & John Lakin are chosen 
surveyers of the hie-ways for this yeare 
3 To view fences this year are chosen Jams Knop Wm Greene 
And Joseph Gilson 
4 Ric. Sawtell is chosen Towne Clark for this year 
November. 23. 1664. John Page is chosen to be Constable this 
yeare at a generall meeting. 10 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
2 James Parker William Lakin James ffisk William Martin & Rich- 
ard Blood are chosen Select men this yeare 
3 Sergeant James Parker Joseph Parker Richard. Blud Tho. Tar- 
bole. & Sam Woods are chosen & impowred by the Towne to lay out 
all the hie wayes In the Towne & if there be an absolute necessiti 
apearing for them to Run the hie way into any mans propriety they haue 
full powr to satisfie them out of the Towns land to their best con- 
venienc 
4 ffor the surveyers of the hiewayes this yeare are chosen Joh. 
Lawranc Joseph Parker & Jam Knop & Joseph Gilson 
5 To view ffences this year are chosen Walter Skiner & Nathaniell 
Lawranc & Jonathan Sawtell 
6 The towne has granted vnto John Shadock analotment contein- 
ing a single mans proportion vpon condityon th[at] he shall pay the 
Towne Charges both Ciuill & Eclia[sti]call that heretofore hath 
risen or here after [shall] arise as the due proportion of such an 
alotme[nt.] And. secondly the vse of two [acres] of medow lyng vpon 
Cow-pond Brooke i ... for seauen yeares. provided he abide . . . 
constantly & conscionably ... of the wants of each . . . they mak- 
ing .. . [4] 
[ Three lines much torn, and illegible. ] 
. . . other wise it is . . . disposed of at their plesur 
November 27 1664 Joseua Whetney and Christofer halle were this 
day chosen to joyn with Johnathan Sattell formerle chosen to vieue 
fences 
In the Rome of Walter Skenner and Nathanell larance whom ar 
herby Released 
2ly it was this daye voated and granted yf Mathias ffarnworth shall 
haue forty polle of land to be layd out agaynst his house next to James 
his Broke for a building place prouided [it] do not predgedise the hye 
way 
Richerd Blude William laken Mathias ffarnworth and James Kno[p] 
William Longley being chosen emparsall by the towne and John Law- 
rence sener to arbtrate a de[ed] betwen the above sayd John 
Lawrence and the town they haue and do her[eby] declare y' they do 
thus detarmen y‘ is to saye his pro.son of land being furst mad good 
acord to his gra[n]te we find ye remainder to be the towns land acord 
as it now bounded GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
11 
27 of January James fisk is now by the townes apaintment Re- 
corded the townes Clarke for this yeare 
James Fisk, the second town clerk, was an original pro- 
prietor of Groton, and the owner of a twenty-acre right. 
He wrote a good hand, and held the office during one year. 
[Not dated.'] 
It was this Day granted and by voate Decla[red] y* John Leaken 
shall haue a pece of lande as which is sixe acors mor or lesse bound- 
[ed] partly on the south and by tene acors of . . . land and aingeler 
east by his hethermost . . . and on the north by other tene acors of 
. . . lande on the west by the townes Comon As also ... on the 
east by the hye way [5] 
Here the record is considerably torn, and is probably of a 
town meeting held subsequently to the last date. 
It was . . . of Mr Willard our . . . declared by voate yl our time 
of . . . yerly so longe as god shall please to . . . gether shall begine 
and ende vpon the 29 [d]ay of September 
It is furthermor agreed and decleared by voate y* Mf Willerde shall 
be alowed in consideration of his labours amonste vs this next yere 
Inseui[ng] the full p’p’osion of fifteye pounds to be payd by euery 
Inhabitant acordinge to his p’p’osion and as nere as may be in 
y' which his nessety requir[es] and furthermor in consideriation of the 
tim being betwene the furste of July laste past and ye last of Septem- 
ber next we Do herby agree and promise vnto him y1 we will paye him 
twentey pounds for the first thirde parte of tim at or befor the last of 
September next and twentey pounds mor at or befor the furste of May 
next and twentey too pounds and 10 shilings more at or before the 
last of September next after which will be in ye yere 1666. 
At a town metting vpon The 21 of the 7 moth 1665 It was this 
Day agred and voated y‘ they will haue a metting house bult forth- 
with.] 
It was this day agreed and by voate declard y* Sargent James 
Parker and Richard Blood shall make the couenenant with the calen- 
ders for the caring one the worke p’uided yl noe other pay shall be 
Requrd of any man prouided he will pay his proposon in his labour 
giung the carpendars a wekes warng 12 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
It was this Day granted and by voate Declared y* John lawranc 
sen! shall quietly posese and Inioye a parselle of land in controuersey 
and allredey within his ffenc and a Joyning to his house lotte contin- 
ing too acors mor or lesse bounded west and south by the hye way and 
north and east by his own land & granted to him as a grantiuety 
It is also granted that eury Inhabetant shall haue the like priuledg 
proposonally 
It was thise Day granted and voated y‘ Richard Bloode haue lib- 
erty to exchang 20 30 or 40 accors of his land prouided he Do not 
take it vp agayne vpon prohibeted land nor to the predges of the hye 
way or any predgedes to [a]ny mans propriety 
so yl eury Inhabetant shall haue the li[ber]ty : of exchanging any 
parte of his land [prjouided it be not mor to the damedg of the town 
than priuledg to him y' Desir an exchang : in the aprehedsion of the 
commet[tee] chosen to lay it out [6] 
... & by votte D . . . Consent of the town yl noe . . . haue 
leberty ... to take vp any lande by [way] of exchange or other 
way vpon Sandey pond brooke and between y* and the magors 
brooke and South brooke till such tim as the milles acomodations 
be layd out 
The 10 of the 8 moth 1665. It was this Day voated and hereby 
Decleared at a leagell town metting y* thes persels of land namly, 
ye land Comonly called by ye name of the Indian hills as also all the 
comon lande between John Lauranc sen his hous lotte and William 
Grens and Samuell Woods ther medo as also a pece of Swamp betwen 
William Longlys and Johnathan Crespes ther lotts shall from this Day 
forth lye in comone for the vse of the towne and noe man shall haue 
leberty to take up any parte ther of as his P’prietey 
2 It was allso this Day agred and voated by the towne y* in Con- 
'sidration of a grattiaty formerly granted to eury Inhabitante ansera- 
ble to John lawranc sen his grante ye 21 of the seaventh moth 65 
y‘ eury man shall haue liberty to take vp 6 accors to a twentey accor 
house lote, and in case it Joine to his house eury man shall take vp 
P’posonabl ther vnto respectng such as haue eyther the holle or any 
part therof alredey, but if mor remote eury Inhabitant shall haue lib- 
erty] to take vp too for one 
It was this Day granted to Eleze baron yl he shall haue liberty to 
take vp three percels of medow contining too accor mor or lesse lying GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
13 
on the sowth of the Indeian hills bownded one all poynts by the towns 
comon 
The Country hye way being determined between this towne and 
Chel[ms]ford by a commitey chosen Respectiuly by both towns haue 
agreed and according layd out thes country hye way from ye metting 
house place in the ould carte way to Chelmsford metting house sixe 
Rode in width from place to pla[ce] this being testefyed vndr the laws 
the commitey at a towne mee[ting] the 10 of July 65 and excepted 
by the towne may be suficente to sattesfy aney home it may heraftr 
concern 
witnesse Jam ffiske in the nam o[f] 
the towne [7] 
The ii of the [10th month, 1665?] . . . Joseph Parker chosen 
Cons[table] . . . the next Insouin Sargent James Parker William 
Longley William Mearten William Leaken and Jam Knope ar chosen 
Selecte men for this next yer Inseuen Richerd Bloode Thom Tarball 
ar chosen survayers of the hye ways for next yere Inseuen Sergent 
James Parker Jam Knop and William Leaken wer chosen together 
with ym to Determen the seuerall Squadrants and horn shall worke at 
each squadron succesiuly 
William Longly is also chosen Clarke Danell Perse and Chresepher 
halle ar chosen to veue fences 
Att the same meeting it was, voted that there should be a high way 
left out of all and euery additionall lot or lotts for the towne use as 
occasion should haue cause to make use of from time : to time ; thear 
being lands alowed by the the suruayers [wjhen they laid out the 
seuerall additions prouided it be not aboue one high way and that the 
high way do not extend aboue foure poole wide 
A country rate for the year 1665 
the totall summe being n-6 5s 6d 
A county rate for the same yeare 
the totall summe being 15s 3d 
both, with rates committed into the hands of John Page to gather, by 
the order of the Select men 
William Longley was the third town clerk of Groton. He 
was among the earliest settlers of the town, and was the 
owner of a thirty-acre right. He was the son of Richard Long- 14 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
ley, of Lynn, where, in the town records, the name is some- 
times spelled Langley. His handwriting was creditable, and 
he held the office during the year 1666. He died on Novem- 
ber 29, 1680. A few years later his son, William, was chosen 
town clerk; and the two have sometimes been confounded 
with each other. 
A generall towns meeting held. 5 of march 1655-66 
Att the same meetting it was agreed and voted y‘ the there should 
be trees marked for shade for cattell in all common hy wayes : : 
A the same meetting it was agreed & voted that the marke should be 
a great T 
At the same meeting it was agreed and voted [th]at who euer shall 
fall or lop any shuth trees [markjed by the men apointed shall pay for 
eue[ry] . . . fallen or lopped shall pay for th . . . tenne shillings 
[8] 
16 of the io moth 1665 It was this Day agreed and by a vnanams 
voatte Declared y£ for as much as god by his p’uidanc haue setteled 
Mr Willard our Rauerante Pastor by sole[mn] Ingeagment amunst 
vs we do therf[ore] frely giue him y‘ acomadations formerle stated to 
the minestry to gether with the house and all other apartanances aper- 
tayni[ng] thervnto to him and his for eur from this day forth p’uided 
he do contineue with vs from this day forth till seaue[n] yere be xpired. 
But in cause he shall se cause to remoue from vs be for the seauen 
yere be xpired it is ag[reed] by our Rauerant paster one one par[t] and 
the town one the other yl he shall leaue the holle acomadations to the 
town and be aloued what it shall be judged by Indaferant men mu- 
tally ch[osen] on both parteys and so the hous and lan[d] to remayn 
the towns to despose of hauing aloued as aforsayd for what improu- 
ment he haue mad vpon it But if it shall pleas god to take him by 
death then the house and land ... to his eayers frely for euer 
and Hervnto we do enterchangebly sett to our hands the day and 
yer aboue wretten 
Samll Willard James Parker 
William Lakin 
James knop 
In the name and with the consent of the towne GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
15 
It was this day granted and by voate declare[d] that Sergent James 
Parker John Page Jam Knope and Thomas Tarball shall haue liberty 
to take vp a twentey accor acomadations of vpland and medovv the 
vpland in that place y* may sute them beste prouided they do not take 
it out of y' land which is alredey prohebeted and the medow partly out 
of yr which was apoynted for t[he] melle and the rest wher they can 
finde it in aney place or places that they shall make choyc of with all 
other priueledges apertayning the [reto] acording to other grants of 
lik . . . In considriation of the . . . mill as apere by ac . . . [9] 
Entered in the town book It is further ordered yl the . . . shall 
not be ratable . . . yere sixty and seauen 67 as ... ye mille shall 
stande Reatte fre for the full terme of twenty yeres ferthermor it 
is agreed by the consent of the towne y‘ noe man nor men shall haue 
liberty to build anye other mell or mels tell the full time be xpired 
expresed in the couenant vndr the hands of the vndertakers vnless 
anye man se cause to buld it vpon his own p’peritey and only for his 
own use 
The following two entries are in the handwriting of John 
Morse, the sixth town clerk, and belong probably about 1680. 
At a Towne meeting granted by the Towne a five acre acomada- 
tion of vpland and medow with priuledg of commonage to such a 
p’sell vnto Thomas Williams wife and children and soe to remaine 
theirs without any salle or alteration and if in case they leaue the town 
then it is to returne againe to the town the towne paying him for what 
nesisary charg hee hau bin at 
Upon an exact calculation found seaven hundred and forty acres 
of ratable meadow [ 10] 
The following entry is found out of its place, and is in the 
handwriting of William Longley, the third town clerk. 
6th 5m 1666 it was this day voted and declared by these foure men 
that are aboue mentioned in this order of granting lands to builde a 
mill haue also released the towns engagement unto them 
at a generall town meeting held 26 [probably 5th month, 1666.] 
... It was agreed and declared by vote that our re [verand] Pastor Mr 
Willard should haue sixty pounds al [lowed] him for this year Ensuing : 
beginning at the 29 of Semptember 1666 : 16 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
And also euery inhabited, is hereby ingaged to pay vnto our reuer- 
ent Pastor the third pt. of his pption in merchantable corne at price 
currant and also to cutt and Gar[t] to his house and there to Cord 
for him the aforesaid 30 cord of wood at flue-shilling'p cord, betwixt 
this & the 25th 10 ™ 
Att the same meetinge, Nathaniell Lawrenc and Samuell Woods 
now agreed with to lay the planks vpon the meeting and to Do them 
sufficiently, and they are to haue 4 s 6 : d p 000 alowed them in 
the meeting rat 
Att the same meeting, James Knapp & Ellis [Barron] were agreed 
with to make 2 doores for the meeting house & to mak 2 p of stares 
for i-£ and to lay the vpper floure for 4s 6 
At the same meating Will Greene and Joshua Whittney where 
cohosen, to he[lp] the Glassiar Goodm[an] Grant to bring vp his 
glasse and to be allowed for their tim in the meeting house rate 
Att a towns meeting held 11th : 10th j-666 Samuell Woods was 
Chosen Constable for the yeare Ensuing. 
Att the same meeting Sergeant James Parker John Lakins John 
Lawrence James Knapp & William Longley we[re] Chosen Select 
men for this yeare en[suing.] 
Att the same meetting William Longley was chosen town Clarke for 
the year Ensuing. 
John Longley of Grawton took the oath of fidelity this 24th of the 
2 month 1666 
before Daniell Gookin 
Att the same meeting the towne grant[ed] vnto John Morse that 
2 acres & a h[alfj that was layed out vnto Tho[mas] boydens in the 
general [field.] [11] 
11th: 10 1666 . . . the same meeting Benjamin [Crispe] did lay 
downe 2 acres & a halfe of wc he purchased of Thomas Boyden in 
the generall feild, and he had liberty by the towne to take it vp with 
his gratuity y* he purchased of Thomas Boyden and the* towne granted 
vnto the sd beniamin Crispe two acres and a halfe of vpland to be 
layed out with the rest abouesd : 
A true account of all the pticuler soms of all the work done to the 
meeting house frame and other charges as nailes hookes & hinges 
glasse and pulpit et: GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
17 
Inpr for Thatch 5 - 0 0 
It to John morsse for thathing and asetting withs 1 13 o 
It for wages for those did attend the thatcher 5 14 8 
It carting clay & stones for Dawing the wall & under 
pinning 3 00 
It the Dawbing of meeting house walls 4 12s 6 
It Laths and nailing on 200 
It for nailes 3 12 13 
It for nailling on the clap bords 7 10 8 
It for getting the sleepers and Laying of them 1 40 
It for planks 600 & halfe 2 18 6 
It fo seanson bords 700 & 5 foot 2 12 10 
It for laying of the lower flore at 4s 6d p 000 x 82 
It making Doores and two payres of stares 1 00 
It for laying 40382 of bords on the gallery floors 2 00 
It for shutts for the windotvs and making p’uison for 
Mr Willard to preach till we haue a pulpitt o 10 o 
It making a pulpitt 3 00 
It for glass for the windows 3 5 0 
It for 200 of bords and more nails and more work 
done by carting & laying seats &c 180 
50 16 10 
. . . f the meeting house rate Josiah Parker [12] 
Att a Town mee[tin]g held 24 iom [1666.] 
It was agreed & by vote Declared y‘ all the Lower seates in the new 
meeting house that now is : should be deuided six for men & six for 
women, And also the two front seats of the Gallery: the best 
prouision that the town can prouide both for the Minister and also for 
the people to sit upon, against the next Lords Day come seauenight 
and euery one to be placed in their places as they shall continue for the 
future 
Att a Generali Town meeting held 31th iom 1666 ffor better pceed- 
ing in setling seates for the women as well as for men It was agreed 
& by vote Declared that the ffront Gallery on the north side of the 
meeting house should be devided in the midle ; and the mens that 
shall be placed there ; their wiues are to be placed by their husbands 
as they are below 18 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
£ s d 
12 3 4 A rate made 13th 5™ 1666 and put in to the hands of 
Joseph to colect, to pay these debts follow 
Impms 1 pound 2 10 
It to seuerall men fo [r] laying out highwais and their 
time spent for the towne use 
It t[o] sergent Parker 1 30 
It to richard Bloo 00 18 4 
It John Lakins 00 12 o 
It Tho Tarball 00 18 o 
It John Page 00 16 o 
It James Knap 01 12 o 
It James ffisk 00 10 o 
It John Nutting 00 10 o 
It Joseph Parker 00 06 o 
It Joseph for the 12 o 
It Sam Woods 00 02 o 
It Will Longley 00 02 o 
It rich holdin 00 02 o 
It for the for the rate about first meeting falling 
short to pay the 16 o 
11 09 4 
It toe Clark staffe o 36 
It for beans, & a halfe bushell peck & halfe o 16 o 
12 810 
[13] 
Att a meeting of [the] Select men held 22th . . . [1667] It was 
agreed for the puenting vnnessary Charges y* might fall vpon the 
towne, by any Constable or any other men, that shall or may be au- 
thorized, by the towne, to gather towne rates yearly It is therefore 
ordered for the future, that any Constable or Constables that shall be 
Legally Authorized from the Towne to gather rates for the vse of the 
towne, being Comitted vnto him or them orderly; And after Due 
Demand made of each inhabitant of this towne, that now are or after 
shall be from time to time : who euer they shall be that shall refuse to 
make payment, or to satisfy the Constabls their respectiues sumns so 
demanded the sd Constable or Constables are hereby Impowered to GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
19 
Leuy a distresse vpon the goods or chattells of any man or men rusing 
or non paying theirs dues as afores'1; And the sd Constable is to take 
two shillings for euery distresse so leuyed for his fees always puided 
that he or they make but one distresse of any one pson for any one 
rate, and this order was appued of by the towne to stand in force till 
the Towne so cause to repleale the same 
Att a generall Towns meetings held 8th 3™ 1667 The Towne hav- 
ing further agitations about a Mill vnderstanding that Captaine Clerke 
of Boston had manifested his willingnesse to build a mill for the Towne ; 
It was agreed & by vote Declared : that There should be three men 
chosen to go to Mr Clerke and power giuen vnto them at the same 
meetings to make a firme agreement with sd Capt Clerke in the behalfe 
of the Towne, and the Towne did by vote declare to stand to con- 
firme what should be inacted by them, puided they attended to the 
Instructions then agitatted by the Towne the Three men chosen by 
the towne as the Trustees are These Sergeant James Parker Corporall 
James Knapp & Beniamin Crispe 
Att the same meetings it was declared by vote that the Towne Clerke, 
should in the behalfe of the town signify vnder his hand by writing vnto 
Captaine Clerke that the sd three men now chosen by the the towne 
and had full power Committed vnto them to make a firme & full agree- 
ment with him about his building a mill for the towns use [14] 
[At a tojwns mee[ting h]eld 6'!1 6m 1667. [The tjowne hauing 
another meeting about a mill [it] was agreed & by vote Declared y‘ 
the lands & meadows granted to John Prescott: for to build the towne 
a mill; namly the 500 acres of vpland and twenty of meadow, to- 
gether with the mill should be freed from all towns charges whatso- 
euer for the space of twenty years : and this was the vote of the 
major part of the towne that was present at this meeting: these fouer 
men as folloeth, manifested their Descent at y‘ time 
Richard Blood 
Will Longley 
James ffiske 
Thimo Allen 
At the same meeting: James Parker, James Knapp John Page 
& Ellis Barron were chosen, by the major p‘ to agree with John Pres- 
cott & full power given them, to make a firme bargaine with him : 20 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
Att a generall towns meeting held 7th 8ra 166[7.] It was agreed & 
by vote Declared that the rate that was formerly made for amunition 
should be made voide : that order was given to the select men to make 
another and to add to the former i penny vpon the acer, and the pay 
to be such as it self Down to Charles Towne. 
Att a meeting of the select 8th 8'nth 1667 : a rate made for amuni- 
tion and Committed in to the hands of Joseph Parker Constable to 
Colect, and procure the same for the Towne use su the totall 00 
Att a generall Towns meetting held 10th 9in 1667 It was agreed and 
by vote Declarded to giue vnto Mr. Willard our pastor for his mainte- 
nance for this present yeare beginning the 29th im should haue sixty 
pounds, to be paid at two payments the one halfe to be paid into to 
him, betwixt this and the Last of March next: and the other half 
of the pay to be paid vnto him by the Last of September next after 
the date here [of.] And for quality, the major pt of the Towne agreed 
y* one third pc each inhabitant shloud pay his third p£ of his propor- 
tion, in wheat at 5s p bushell or porke 3 pence p pound or butter at 
6 pence p pound fo . . . thirds in Indian corne at 3s p bushelle : or 
other ... at the price currant as it passeth betwixt . . . amongst 
ourseleues [15] 
At the same [meeti]ng it wa[s voted that] Sergeant James should 
. . . Inhabitant bring in his Just pportion . . . time and quality of 
pay as it is stated in the [forjmer order & that the sd James Parker 
shall haue full power giuen to him vnder the select mens hands to 
force any Inhabitant ta mak payment that shall not come vp to 
pforme his duty aft[er] due demand and all due means used to bring 
him or them as abouesd 
Att a generall Towns meetting held 11th 9mth 1667 The towne 
agreed with Thimothy Allen to swe[ep] the meetinge house & to 
puide water fifor the babtizing of the towns children from time to 
time, for this yeare ensuing, and the sd Thimothy alien is to haue 
twenty shillings allowed him for his labor in the next townes rate 
At the same meettinge it was agreed that the seats in the meetinge 
should be mad in a plaine and desent and comly manner, and euery 
seuerall company (that ar now present inhabitants and as they are 
now placed by the towne and the Committey formerly chosen,) they GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
21 
should build their seates at their owne charge, And all the fronteers 
both aboue and below, shall be at the Charge of the laying the founda- 
tion sills for the seates that are behind them ; And what euer any maior 
p‘ of any company that are placed together in any seat shall agree to 
build their seats the minor are hereby inioyned to pay with their 
neighbors and it was further agreed that whereas the seates are larger 
then the present inhabitants do fill vp then when any shall placed 
hereafter in any seate or seates y* then they are hereby enioyned 
to pay an equall pportion to be & with those that haue laid down the 
pay for the building of the seates 
Att meeting of the select men 21th 9th 1667 A rate made for our 
Pastor of 60 00 00 and put it into the hands of Serg James Parker 
to colect 
[At] the same meeting was a rate made for the land . . . acer ii 
and Committed into the hands [of] Joseph Parker to colect 
[16] 
... a meeting . . . men the [22 9 1667] Rekonde with Joseph 
Parker both for the towne rate of 3s 4 and for the Meeting house 
Rate being 19 - 00 - 06, he the sd Joseph : paying all the pticuler bills 
assigned to him by the select men or stated in the townes book to 
be paid as there remaine Due ; to the sd Joseph Parker 02-6 -15-04 
of wch summe io-£ 00 00 is due to him for 2 wolues heads that he 
paid to the to the Indians for the towne 
At the same meetinge was a towne rate made ffor to pay the 
Artest and the men that attended him and his diet for himself and 
his horse, and for two sheets of parchment, for him to mak two platts 
for the towne, and for Transportation of his pay all which amounts to 
about twenty pounds and to pay seuerall other town Debts that apear 
to us to be due ; which sd rate ariseth to 9 pence p acre vpon the 
meadow of each inhabitant of this towne, and Comitted vnto 
Joseph Parker now Constable to Colect, and to Discharge the aforsd 
Debts being ordered to him by the selectmen 
Due to John Lakin 01 00 o 
James Parker, for going to boston to search to Countey 
records and to Captain Clerke 00 15 00 
Due to Joseph Parker 02 15 00 
ffor two sheats of Parchment 00 05 00 
due James Knap for going to Cap Clerke 00 05 00 22 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
James Parker hath phrased to Discount that 2-C 5s thats 
due from him to the towne, in that wch is due from 
the town to him ; & therefore the rate was laid so 
much lesse vpon the towne : wch sume abousd is 
discounted attest Mithias farnwor[th] 
due to Thimothy Allen for sweeping the meetinge house 01 00 
ffor to build a seat ffor the deaco" and a seat ffor the 
Pastor wife 02 00 
At a towns meeting held the 11th iom 1667 Samuell Dauis was 
chosen Constable for the yeare Ensuing. [17] 
[James] Knop . . . [John] Nutting selectmen for the . . . 
Item, Jno Page chosen [Town] Clerke : 
Item. Rich : Blood & Tho Tarbol Senior surveyor for ye high 
wayes. 
Item, Tim : Allyn: Sam! Kempe, & Jno Ba[rron] chosen sur- 
veyors of fences. 
Item, Sam! Wood, & Nath. Lawrence chosen to s[ee] that hogs 
bee legall 
John Page was the fourth town clerk, and held the office 
during the year 1667. He was the son of John Page, of 
Watertown, and removed to Groton in the year 1662. He 
returned to Watertown in the spring of 1676. 
1668 Att a towne meeting held the n of . . . John Nutting was 
Chosen Constable for yeare insu[in]g 
Att the same meeting James Parker Wills longlye Beam Crispe 
Willa lakin Richard bl[ood] wheare Chosen select men for this yeare 
and Richard Blood towne Clark 
Att the same meeting Wills longlye Joseph Parker Nathaniell 
Law[rence] Richard blood wheare Chosen Oveseers for the high 
[ways.] 
At the same time Thomas Tarbell Junr williS greene Joseph gilson 
was Chosen oversears of fences and that swyne be ordered according 
to Court and towne order 
Joseph parker was agreed with for [to] keep the meeting house 
Cleane for this y[ear] for twenty shillings GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
23 
Richard Blood, the fifth town clerk, was the son of James 
and Ellen Blood, of Concord. He held the office during the 
year 1668, and lived in the district called “ Nod.” He was the 
largest proprietor in the town, — owning a sixty-acre right,— 
and was one of the first board of selectmen chosen by the 
inhabitants. He died on December 7, 1683. 
the 6 of the 10 moth in a towne meting it was voted that - . . 
Acommidations with all the visible estat of [the] towne is that which 
is to be Rated for the defraing of publick Charges Civill and ecle[si- 
astical.] 
Richard Blood Willi longlye with sum others refuse to Join with 
them but showing theire desent to the Contrarie 
The : 8 of the 10 moth It was this day voted by the majior part of 
the towne that the minist[er have] sixty fine pounds for this yeare 
beginning the twenty nine of September 68 shall shall be Raysed the 
one halfe vpon the Accomdations and the other halfe vpon all the 
visible estat of the towne will longley Richard blood and sum 
others declaring the Contrarie by voyt [18] 
[Gen]erall [town]e meting the ... It was this voted by the 
to[wn] . . . County Court shall be . . . from the Charges of ... so 
to other county to efect and to be chosen for that end 
At the same meting it was determined to buil[d a] bridg over 
Stonie brook fitting for Cart[s to] pass over, as also that James knop 
. . . lakin Richard blood ar mayd cho[ice] of to vew where the best 
place be for that end and what the Char[ge] may amount vnto 
and to haue ther . . . when sargent parker and Richard [Blood] 
hath theirs for going to the gener[al Court.] 
5 of the first moth 68 69 At a meeting of the sele[ct] men for the 
dividing of heards ar so divided as th . . . yeare onely Richard 
Blood and . . lakin shall heard ther Cattell with there neighbors ac- 
cording to a towne order formaly mayd in the yeare 62 
the 22 of March 68 69 Att a towne meting it was declared that 
the deaken should be satisfied for in the Ratt now put into the 
counst[able’s] hand which is tow pounds three shillings and six 
pence 2 — 3 24 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
the 19 of the second moth 1669 A Rate mayd by the select men 
for belerica bridg Contaying the sum [of] sixtene pounds put now into 
the h[ands] of John nuttinge Counstable 
At the same meting it was o[rdered] that sargent parker and so to 
. . . . lakin shall heard ther Cat [tie] together notwithstanding any 
order formalie to the Contrarie for this yeare [19] 
town meting the second ... by vote granted to Robert parish 
. . . [Park]er and timothy Couper that th . . . and now ar free 
Comoners for [w]ood and timber and for there owne cat[tle] as 
other men of this towne haue paying to all towne Charges accord- 
ing to there proportion 
[Sa]me [meeting formalie being an account taken of all the 
grants that had bine giuen and granted and the Comitties order being 
fulfiled the towne did solemlie determine to take in no more but 
a taylear and a smith and Consedering the great Charg that hath bine 
vpon the present inhabitants the do now by vote declare that by way 
of grant or gift directlie or indirectlie as a towne and the townes mind 
herein declared by vote the second of June 1669. onely a smith and 
no other 
same meting theise men gaue vnto Robert parish sum small grants 
of vpland as followeth 
sargent parker 4 accors 
will longlye 3 accors 
Richard Blood 4 acors 
John longlye 2 acors 
James knop 1 acors 
James fiske 1 acors 
matt farnworth 1 acor 
John baron 1 acor 
sargent lakin 1 acor 
Thomas tarball senior 2 acors 
this not giuen as a towne act but out of everie mans owne pertikuler 
Right provided hee Come and settell amongst vs a townes man and 
not other wayes 
it was voted that our pastors maintenance should be Raysed the one 
halfe vpon the Acomidations and the other halfe vpon the visible estat 
of the towne and the sum to be sixtie hue pounds as followeth first 
to pay 30 pounds in Corne and tenn pounds in provision and what is GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
25 
wanting in provision to be payd in Come and . . . twenty fiue pounds 
to be payd in . . . seasonnablelye or otherwayes in Corne [20] 
. . month [i06]p . . . Ratte mayd for the . . . eral townes dets 
the sume . . . pounds sixeteine shillings and . . . put into the hands 
of John nu[tting.] 
Att a meting of the select men the night moth 69 it is ordered that 
all and eu[ery] inhabitant shall from time to time ... his swine from 
doing his neighbor . . . either in Corne feilds medowes or . . . other 
pertikuler propritye but if any [man] or men shall neglect his or ther 
du[ty.] herein the shall for the first traspass ... Just damag ac- 
cording to Just valuation] for the second traspass the shall pay 
d[ouble] damag according to a Just valuation for a third traspass a 
trible damage a[s] aforesayd and that this order sha[ll] stand in force 
till this towne se . . . way to efert and prevent damag by swine 
A Countrie Ratte put into the h[ands] of John nutting Counstable 
for this yeare 1669 being the sum [of] tenn pounds sixtiene shil- 
lings 
the 10 of the 9 moth 69 att a towne meting James . . . was chosen 
counstable for [the] yeare next insuing 
At the same meting John M[orse] chosen towne clarke for the 
y[ear] insuing 
John Morse was the sixth town clerk, holding the office 
from the year 1669 to 1676, when the town was burned by 
the Indians, — and subsequently from 1679 to 1681. He 
was the son of Joseph Morse, of Ipswich, and a native of 
England. He wrote a handsome hand, and was an accom- 
plished man. He removed from Groton to Watertown about 
the year 1699. 
The 15 of the 10 month 69 At a town meeting chussen [se]lect 
men for this year insu[ing] will martin Sergent Parker Benjamin 
crisp John nutting John Page James knop John morse 
[A]t the Same meeting for the same year chosen for commissioners 
William martin Sergent Parke[r] william Longly 26 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
for surveyers Joseph Parker Thomas Tarball senior [21] 
for veiwers of fences W Blood and John Barro[n] 
. . . Iso at the same tim were chosen Pe[leg Lawr]ance and Joshua 
whitney for [looking after swine to be acording to orde[r. At] the 
Same meeting were chosen [John P]age and John Nutting by the 
[town] to see that Mr Willard haue maintenance duly and truly payd 
him and that they bring the towne a generall acquitance : 
Agreed with Timothy Allen for the keeping the meeting house 
cleane for twenty shillings and to be payd in his town charges 
The Towne voted that the men shold be payd for the laying out of 
John Prescots land 
and also agreed vpon at the same meeting that the select men shall 
haue power to petition to the Court for one to marry persons in our 
towne 
At a meting of the Select men the 27 December 1669 
[I]t is orderd that all and euery Inhabitant of the Towne shall 
bring in a tru invoyce [o]f their pticuler estat to any one of the select 
men whensoeuer it is called for (or else it must be left to the discre- 
tion of the select men) or to a town meeting deputed for that end 
endepted to the towne from James ffisk Thirteen shillings 
sixpence o 13 6 
This acknowledged to be payd by John nutting 
At a meeting of the Select men Decern 27 1669 Agreed vpon that 
you are to make a Sufficient cart bridge ouer Sandy brook and also 
a Sufficient horse bridg ouer stony brook with a Raille of one side 
and to make a firm goeing in and out for a cart at the same brook 
and to mend such countrey hyewayes as doe nesisarily fall in and for 
pticuler hyewaye working all such as are behind are to be called vpon 
by the surveyers to work their due proportion answerable to those 
that haue wrought before and that euery man work proportionabley 
according to his estat and that the wayes are to be mended in the 
seuerall anggells of the towne and if any man or men shall willfully 
neglect working in any part of the hyeway after three dayes warning 
by the Surveyers they shall have power to hire any one in the roume 
of th[ose] that doe soe neglect and to mak them to pay three shill 
a day for euery such defect giuing the man they hire 2- 6- for his 
day and reseruing the other 6- for the towns vse. [22] GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
27 
. . . meeting of the select men Ja io i[66g Orjder about fences 
[T]o the intent that we may preserue loue and peace in the towne 
and preserue our corne from onnesisary beeing destroyed It is 
ordered according to power giuen to the select men to male orders 
according to their best discretion as in pag 11 sexion 6 we order that 
all the out sid fences about all cornfeilds orchards and gardens in the 
towne shalbe a sufficient five Raill fence or that that is in the judg- 
ment of the veiwers of the fences eqvivolent theirto and if any man 
refuse or neglect to male such fences and theirby occasion either his 
own or his neighbours cattell to an ill haunt which otherwise would be 
orderly shall forfeit to the towne for every such default legally proued 
as a fine ten shillings and we doe expect that the veiwers of the fences 
shold atend their dutyes herin according to the law and towne order 
according to that law concerning swine in page 74 for the presenting 
our medowes from damage as much as may be from s[wine] that goe 
vpon the commons shalbe sufficiently ringed from three months old 
and vpward with two sufficiently ring[s] in each swines nose well put 
in and to be ringed by the first of Aprill from tim to tim and 
to [be] continved so ring[ed] till the last of September and to that 
end that they may goe sufficiently r[inged] doe order that the man or 
men [who] are to look after swine shold have sixp[ence] a swine for 
every swine that he or they find vnringed in the towne that is abo[ve] 
three months old and mak it apear le[gal]ly that he or they haue ringed 
them alre[ady] according to the intent of this order 
4 we order that if any mans swine in the towne tak any mans 
cornfeild beeing legally proued the owners of thes swine shall forth- 
with sufficiently yo[ke] them or shut them vp vpon the penalty of 
paying double damag at the first time of damag beeing done 
The owners of those swine that goe unri[nged] shall pay the 
sixpence to thos men that a[re] to look after the svvin after legall 
demand 
At the same meeting The select men of haue ordered for the 
dividing of the heard in to three heards one to begin at Wilm 
Martins and to Nathaniell Larances taking in peleg Larance and 
Will greenes The second from samvell woods to Mathias ffarn- 
worths taking in Richd holden and Joshua Whitney and his neigbours 
the Third from Will Ellaes to Jam[esj Robersons and Timothy cooper 
for the preseruing of wood and ... it is ordered that for euery tr[ee] 28 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
. . . that ar feeld excepting p . . . within half a mile of [23] . . . 
body and top within one ... is not set up or caried away . . . feit 
four shilling for euery such ... for the towns vse and half to the 
inf[or]mer and euery such tree or trees shalbe ... for any man to 
take and for any pine tr[ee] that is fallen crosse the high way and is 
not taken away with a week he shalbe lyeable to the same penalty and 
these foure men chosen to look after these defects Joseph Parker 
Nathaniell Loranee Daniell pearse and Thomas Tarball Junior 
At a generall towne meeting 12 of the 11th month 1669 agreed 
vpon voted and agreed vpon that all publik charges excepting the 
ministers shold be raised vpon the accomedations till the towne see 
good to repeall it 
At ye Same meting The Town haue voted and agreed vpon that 
Mathias ffarnworth shall mak a sufficient cartbridg ouer James Brook 
beneath his ovvne house in that place wheir the Surveyers shall Judg it 
most convenient and to mak the way sufficient as far as Benjamins 
crisp[s] house with a whele against his barn in consideration for which 
he is to have a parsell of land of Simon Stones from the run to rock 
medovv path till it come to his own line leauing a highway thorow it 
of six polle wid till it com to the mill way and that way that did 
formerly run thorow Simon Stones is now deserted and become his 
owne propriety 
[T]he 11th o[f] Aprill [i]670 At a meeting of the select men 
agreed with Sargent James Parker for himself and his Son John and 
with James Knop to run the line betwene chelmsford and our towne 
with chelmsford men and they are to hau for the perfecting of the 
same sixteene shilling 0160 
At a generall towne meeting Novem 1 [i]67o It is this day agreed 
vpon and voted that Mr. Willards maintenance and all other Towne 
charges shalbe raised for this present yeare the one halfe vpon accom- 
odations and the other halfe vpon visible estate 
At the same meeting agreed vpon that Mr. Willard should haue 
sixty five pound for this present yeare and a sixth pt shalbe payd in 
flesh provision that is to say in merchentable pork beef butter and 
cheese betwixt this and chrismas merchentable wheat five shill per 
bush barley 4s per bush rye 4s pease 4s and Indian cor[n] flesh meat 
to be payd . . . per pound and butter at 6 . . . [24] GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
29 
Town meeting held the 12th 10 m [1670] chussen for constable James 
Knopp for the yeare ensuing 
for select men Serg James Parker William Martin William Longley 
John Nutting John Pag James Knopp John Morsse 
for down dark was chussen John Morsse for the same year ensue- 
ing 
for Surueyers 
Thomas Tarball 
John lakin 
Seni 
for veiwers of fences Ellis Barron : Thomas Tarball Juni Janies 
Roberson and to see that swine be according to town and court 
order are chussen Natha lawranc Samuell kemp 
At the same meeting agreed with Timothy Allen to keep the meet- 
ing housse cleane for this following year for twenty shill — i o o. 
At a meeting of the sellect men janev 2 1670 concerning swine to 
that end that our medowes and cornfeilds may be preseued from 
damag as much as may be we doe order that all swine that goe vpon 
the commons shalbe sufficiently yoked and ringed from three months 
old [and] vpward from the first of aprill to the last of September and 
that the owners of the swine shall keep them soe during the wholle 
time and those men that are chusen to se that they be according to 
the order shall haue six pence p head for eu[ery] tim that they find 
them vnyoked and six pence euery time they find them vnringed half 
for them selues and the other half [for] the vse of the towne prouided 
they giu the owners of thos swine seasonable warning excepting such 
swine that are turned ou[er] the riuer if the towne see good 
At the same meeting and agreed vpon by the towne That all and 
euery inhabitant of the towne shall pay their due and full proportion 
to our Reuerd pastor in the seuerall kinds of it according to the agre- 
ment of the town the first half year payment to be payd at or befor 
the 25 of march and the other halfe to be payd at or before the 29 of 
Septem : and they are to bring in their accounts to the Decon or to 
the men chusen for y* end within the ti[me] prefixed or else they shalbe 
accounted delinquents 
Ja 11 1670 At a towne meeting chussen for [that] end Ser: Will 
Lakin and Nath Lawranc [25] 
[F]eb 8 1670 At a meeting of the Sel[ect]men agreed withall 
an . . . meet with Boston Gentlemen for the renewing of the line 30 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
betwene our town and their farmes in Massabog woods and between 
mashobo and our town (viz Sergent James Parker and James knop 
and they are to hau 3s p day and with Joseph Parker Senior and 
John Parker, and they to haue 2d — 6s p day and they are to hau 
two qvarts of Liquors to be giuen them for their refreshment vpon the 
towns account 
At a generall towne meeting held febr 13 1670 It is this day 
agreed vpon and voted that these severall psells of land here 
specifid shall for euer hence forward to lye common — (viz a peice 
of comon land about the meeting house that ly from John nuttings 
Samuell kemps James Robersons Timothy cooper unto Walter Skin- 
ners and the hye way 
A swamp that lye bounded vpon the land of Wills Longleys Richard 
Blood and John page and the hye way that ly bye John Longleys 
A peice of land from Samvell Dauis Willa Ellues Willa longley 
Jonathan Sawtells Richd holden and John Mors 
A peice of land that lye between Samvell Woods broad medow 
Jonathan Sawtell and the bay hye way 
A peice of land that lye from that was Ralph Rieds lot of both 
sides ye brook called James brook till we com to the high way that 
run from Wills Ellues to the pine medow 
All the swamp land lye common between Timothy Allen Josep 
gilson Willa laken and the bridg y* run to half moon medow 
All the common land that lye from Richard blood to the generall 
feild that is their layd down from the river to nashaway Road 
feb 17 At a meeting of the select men for the stating and 
recording the hye wayes Lanchester hye way from our meeting 
house to James his brook sixe poll wide as the Road now lye ouer 
James his brook Bridge and soe to continue 6 po[ll] wide to nashaway 
meeting house according to the committees order 
. . . high way from this countrey Road . . . [26] 
At a meeting of the select men febr 24 1670 Agreed vpon for the 
diuision of the heard into three heards one to begin at Mr. Willards 
to Mathias ffarnworths taking in Thomas Boydon and Jackob ongs 
and Nathaniell Lawrance and they ar to goe out with their heard 2 
dayes in the week by James ffiske 2 dayes by Ellis barron and 2 daySs 
by Matthias ffarnworth and so to Rock medow GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
31 
The second heard to begin at Sergent parkers to william Lakins 
taking in John Lakin Richard Blood and James blods 
The third to begin at Timothy cooper and James Robersons to 
William Ellues taking Richard holdens the walk the second heard is 
to goe out by nathaniell Lawrancs and by Sergent lakins and Richd 
bloods and into vnquetenorset woods all these seuerall angles of the 
town are to heard if they can agree to hire a heards man the major 
p' so agreeing 
At a generall towne meeting febr 27 70 Agreed vpon and voted 
that this last order about swine made by the select men shalbe made 
voyd and of noe effect 
*Also agreed vpon at the same meeting that all thos seats that are 
yet to build in the meeting house shalbe built in a generall way also a 
commitee chussen to treat with thomas Boydon to build them (viz) 
Sergent James Parker corporall Knop John Pag Ellis Barron and 
Nathaniell lawrance 
At a town meeting held the 23 6m 1671 It was agreed and by vote 
declared that Samuell Scriptur shalbe an inhabitant amongst vs and 
for his Incoridgment these men haue giuen him some Small grants of 
vpland as followeth 
Wilia Martin 1 acre 
Serg parker 2 acres 
Rich Blood 2 acres & half 
Wills Ixmgley 1 acre 
Ellis Barron 1 acre 
John Page 1 acre 
Christo hall 1 acre 
John Longley half an acre 
At the same meeting agreed vpon that vpon the warning of any 
town meeting the seuerall perticulers that shalbe agetated vpon and 
that shalbe the work of that day shalbe brought in in writing and read 
by the dark at the begining of the meeting [27J 
At a Generall towne meeting held October 16 1671 This day 
agreed vpon by the towne and voted that Mr. Willard shall haue sixty 
five for this year ensueing and that he shall hau his wholl yeares pay by 
the latter end of december and the maner of his pay as followeth one 32 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
third p‘ of his pay in prouision and english corne and those that can- 
not pay in prouision and in english corne they are to pay their Indian 
corne at two Shill and three pence the bushell soe as to answer that 
third pt of their pay which was to be payd in English corn and pro- 
uision and the rest of their pay they are to pay at prise currant (that 
is) their Indian corne — 3s per bush wheat at per bush'11 — pease Rye 
barley at 4s per bush and pork and beeffe at 3- per pond and for the 
maner of their payment to be raised as it was the last year the one 
half vpon the accommodations and the other vpon the estate 
At the same meeting were chusen Sergent william lakin and 
nathaniell lawrance and that they shall se that Mr Willards pay 
shalbe brought in and faithfully payd to him according to the agree- 
ment of the towne 
At a Generali towne meeting held Decern 11 1671 chussen for con- 
stable Ellis Barron for that yeare Ensuing 
And for select men Sergent James Parker William Martin William 
Lakin John Page James knop Elis Barron John Morsse and for town 
dark John Morsse 
for surveyers Nicolas cady Thomas Tarball Juni Jonathan Sawtell 
and Natha Blood 
for veiwers of fences Daniell Pearse Thomas Smith Jonathan Morss 
Joseph Lawrance 
At the same meeting the towne reserued in their own hands for the 
ordering of the heards And for sweeping the meeting house agreed 
with timothy Allen for Twenty shillings for this following yeare Also 
agreed vpon at the same time and voted that ye envoyce shalbe taken 
the first week of the sixth month and so to stand for the making of 
all town and ministers rates 
At a meeting of the Sellect men janevary 18, 1671 Concerning the 
Surveyers agreed vpon by the select men for the diuiding of their 
seuerall sqvadrons and for the calling out of their men to work that is 
within their seuerall sqvadrons as is exprest in their seuerall papers 
The dayes they are to work is four dayes for this year excepting they 
can mak it apear that they . . . [28] 
At a towne meeting held Sept 16 1672 It was agreed vpon and by 
vote declared that their shalbe a commitee chusen by the towne which 
committee shall haue power to seat euery man according to their best GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
33 
Discretion and that euery man shall pay to the value of the seat they 
sit in the seates also beeing valued according to their proportion and 
disproportion by this committee chussen and the committee chussen 
and the names of the men are these 
Sergent Parker 
Sergent Lakin 
ThO: Tarball 
and 
James knop 
John Morsse ) 
Att a generall Towne meeting held Octo 14 1672 It was this day 
agreed vpon and by vote declared that Mr Willard shall haue for this 
present year eighty pound and the maner of his pay as followeth a 
third part of his pay a followeth In english come and prouision 
wheat at five shil p bushell Rye barley and pease at four shill pe 
bushell pork and beefe at 3d p pound and all such as cannot pay his 
third part of his pay in english corn and prouision they shall pay In 
Indian corne at 2 shill p bushell and the remainder of his pay In 
Indian Corn at 3 shill p bushell his fire wood also above his eighty 
pound 
and furder these persons here set downe doe promise and Ingage 
to git Mr Willard hay mowing making and fetching home for eight 
shilling p load at a seasonable time (viz) in the midle of Jully 
Sergent Parker 
Rich= Blood 
James ffiske 
Tho= Tarball Se 
Sergent Lakin 
holden 
Timothy Allen 
Ellis Barron 
Thomas Smith 
John Morsse 
Joseph gilson 
Pelleg Lawrance 
and 
At the same meeting and by vote declared that Major Willard shalbe 
a fre commoner amongst vs for feed for cattell wood and timber 
At a generall towne meeting held The 7th of the 9th month 1672 
It was this day agreed vpon and by vote declared that all Inhabitans 
in the towne shalbe seated in the meeting house according to a rulle of 
proportion impartially (by the towne or by a committee chussen by 
the towne) according to their best discretion and the seates to be 
valued and each man to pay according to the seat they sit in and 
they are to place in the seats below in the body of the meeting house 
sixe persons in a seate and to fill vp the first and second seat first and 34 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
to sit fiv persons vnder the window and five persons in a seat in the 
front gallery and eight persons in a seat in the east and west gallery— 
the persons that are first to be seated are maried persons and also 
such single persons as may and ought according to a rulle of propor- 
tion be seated with them and the other young persons to be seated 
till they have filled vp all the seates that are [29] already builded 
and all such persons as want seates after this done they have liberty 
granted to them by the towne at the sam meeting to build them them- 
selves or their parents for them at their owne cost and charge in such 
a place or places as are thought most meete and convenient by the 
towne and those that are to build them and the towne have voted to 
submit to the coihitees order herein 
and the commitee chussen by the towne at the same time the per- 
sons are as followethe 
Sergent Parker 
Richard Blood 
Joseph Parker 
James Knop 
John Morsse 
and 
At a Generali towne meeting held Nouember 13 1672 It was this 
day agreed vpon and by vote declared that the remainder of the pay 
that is still behind for the building the seates in the meeting house 
shalbe raised in a generall way notwithstanding all other actes done 
to the contrary either by towne or commitee 
William Longley Seni descenting 
At a meeting of the select men no 13 72 A Towne rate made 
for the defraying of seuerall towne depts and put into the constables 
hand to gather (viz) 
for shuts for the windows of the meeting house 100 
for pay for the coihitee chussen to se that non Incroach 
vpon the towne common 1 16 o 
for pay for a woalfes head to John Nutting 010 o 
for taking an Invoyse 030 
And for Timothy Allen 050 
And for expenses for towne and countrey 015 0 
At a Generali town- meeting Decern 10 1672 chussen for constable 
for this next year Richard Holden 
And for the sellect men GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
35 
' Major Willard 
Sergent Parker 
William Longley 
James ffiske 
John Page 
James knop 
John Morsse 
- and 
for surueyers Thomas Tarball Seni- Nathaniell Lawrance 
for veiwers of fences Joseph Gilson & Jacob Onge 
for to look after swine to se that they be according to order James 
Blood & Joseph morsse [30] 
At a meeting of the sellect men Janevary 10 1672 a committe 
chussen to meet with concord committe chussen by the generall 
court to shew them the South line and the line runing between 
groaten and the new plantation and the nam[es] of the men are 
these 
Sergent Parker = James ffiske 
James knop 
At a Generall towne meeting held Janevary 13 1672 This day 
agreed vpon and by vot declared that their shalbe a commit chossen 
for to seat the persons in the meeting house according to their best 
discretion and at the sam time a commitee chosen and their names 
are thess 
Maior Willard 
Sergent Parker 
James fiske 
Sergent Lakin 
John Lakin 
and 
and at the same meeting it was agitated and voted that all the pro- 
hibitated land shalbe proportioned and layd out to the severall Inhab- 
itants now in beeing proportionable according to what they pay in their 
publik charges as shall apear in mr willards rate only Cornelius church 
Peleg Lawrance John Cooil and Samuell Scriptur are to haue a pro- 
portion out of it the surveying of it and the laying of it out is com- 
mited into the hands of a committe and they ar as followeth 
Sergent Parker Richard Blood 
and John Lakin 
Agreed vpon at the same meeting that those men that layd out the 
hye wayes shalbe payd 2—6 per day 
At a meeting of the sellect men febr 121672 It was this day agreed 
vpon that their shalbe three heards the catell shalbe diuided into three 36 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
heards the one Reaching from Matthias ffarnworths and so long the 
neck to James fiskes and along till we come to Pelleg Lawrances 
which heard is to goe out by Indian hill by James ffisks and the south 
side of Rock medow 
The second heard to begin at Samuell Woods taking nath = Law- 
rances and thomas Smith[’s] and to goe along till we come at 
Thomas Williams and William Longley taking in John Lakins and 
his neighbors catell and they are to goe out with their heard by 
Nathaniell Lawrances and into vnquetenorset woods by Serg lakins 
and William Longleys and Richard bloods 
The third heard to begin at timothy [Coo]pers and along the west 
sid of broad medow to Jonathann Sawtells taking in the catell of 
Richard holden and Justin and they likewise are to goe into vnquete- 
norset woods if the se case [31] These severally angles are to hire 
their heards man if the major part of any company agreeing theirto 
the minor are to submit 
At the Same meeting it to that end our medowes and corn-feilds 
should be preserued from damage it is ordered that all swine that 
goe vpon the common from three months old and vpvvard shalbe 
ringed with two sufficient rings in each swines nose well put in and 
to be ringed by the tenth of march and so continue from time to 
time till the last of September and to that end they may be soe we 
doe furder order that those men that are chusen to look after swine 
shall haue sixepence a swine for euery swine that they find vnringed in 
the towne from three months old and vpward and mak it apeare 
legally that he or they have ringed them already according to the in- 
tent of this order 
And furder we doe order that if any mans swine in this towne tak 
any mans cornfield beeing legally proued the owners of these swine 
shall forthwith sufficiently secure them by yoking them or shuting 
them vp vpon the penalty of paying double damage after the first 
time of damage beeing done 
Concerning Swine 
At a meeting of the sellect men febr 26 72 Agreed vpon by the 
sellect men that this division of land which is granted by the towne to 
the seuerall Inhabitants shalbe as followeth by proportion their shalbe 
one acre to one shill=: disbursement in mr Willards Rat and we doe GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
37 
also agree that of this land that was prohibited shalbe only Indian 
hill and the hill behind Nath= Lawrances 
and we doe furder agree that euery Inhabitant shall haue an equall 
proportion in these lands according to disbursements in mr Willard 
rat and for the rest of their proportion shalbe elsewheir wheir it is 
most convenient for them either Joyning to their medowes or of Oake 
land on this sid the Riuer 
only Mr Willard shall haue a proportion to a forty shilling disburse- 
ment — the town consenting hereto 
Also agreed vpon by the sellect men at the same meeting that all 
such as haue taken in any of the towns land by Incrachment as haue 
bin determined by the commitee chussen for that end they shall turne 
it out to the coition again by the 25 of march next after the date 
heirof vpon the penalty of all charges that they shall put the town to 
for the vindecating their own right 
and a committe chussen for that end to see it done is Sergent Lakin 
Corporall Parker and Daniell Pearsse 
At a meeting of the select men Janeuary 10 1672 a commite chus- 
sen to meet with concord men chelmesford men and Robert Blood to 
lay out the way to the bay betwene this and the spring wheir it is most 
passable and the commite are maior willard sergent parker James knop 
The maior hailing not tim to atend it Richard Blood is chussen by the 
towne in his roume at a towne meeting march 17 72-73 [32] 
At a Generali towne meeting held March 7 1672-73 It was this 
day agreed vpon and by vote declared that diuisions of land shalb[e] 
according to our first grants that all publik charges from this day for- 
ward shalbe raised in that way according to the commites order 
and our first seauen years payment 
Richard Blood and William Longley Senior descenting 
Also agreed vpon and by vote declared that these seuerall psels of 
land here specified shall from hence forward-lye coition 
1 A peice of coiTion land about the meeting house Bounded by 
John Nuting Samuell Kemp James Roberson Timothy cooper Walter 
Skinner and the hye way 
2 A swamp that lye by John Longley Bounded by the land of 
William Longley se- Richard Blood John Page and Lanchester hye 
way 38 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
3 A peice of land that lye Bounded by Samuell Woods Broad 
medow Richard Sawtell and the Bay hye way 
4 All the Swamp that lye Bounded by Joseph Gilson Timothy Allen 
William Lakin and ye Bridge that Run to halfe moone medow 
At a meeting of the sellect men Wheiras by the prouidence of 
god the Goodwife Onge beeing in a sad condition and her case requir- 
ing constant care and Inspection with present charge and wheras the 
select men in whose car it lyes liuing remote and hard on all ocasions 
to be caled together theirfor we doe desire and impowre Sergent 
parker and James ffiske as a commitee to-Inspect and tak care vpon 
nesisary ocasions of the woman and her child and in case more then 
ordinary herein they are to acquaint the rest of the select men that 
so this sade prouidence of god may bee caryed on with Christianity 
and as much ffrugalitye as may be for the towns ease 
This 5‘l1 4th mo 1673 
At a meeting of the ssellect men may 28 73 Sergent Parker and cor- 
perall knop wer chussen a comitte to meet with lancaster men for the 
altering the high way to lancaster [33] 
Wedensday 4 of June 1673 
fforasmuch as the countrey hye way as it was formerly layd out by 
Lankaster and groaten vpon seuerall yeares triall proued to be 
very insufficient and very difuccult to be made passable in regard it 
was for the most part lyeing in the Intervailes wheirin their are seuerall 
soft places and litle brookes vpon which bridges and other mater for 
making the same passable is apt to be raised and torne vp by floods 
and vpon experiance of the same Lancaster made aplication to 
groaten for Remouing of the said way to Run more vpon the vpland 
which was Readily atended and John Prescott senL and Roger Sum- 
ner for Lancaster and Sergent Parker and corperall knop for groaten 
wer chuse committe by both to townes to lay out the said hye way 
as aforsaid which was atended the day aforsaid as followeth (viz) 
first within the bounds of groaten they toke their begining at their 
meeting house to the mille of Jonas prescott by Matthias ffarnworths 
his house sixe Rods wide turning of out of the common mill way 
near twenty Rod abue the mille and then it Runs 4 Rode wid 
through the land of the aforsaid Jonas Prescott acording as it is GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
39 
described by trees marked by the men aforesaid and from the said 
Jonas prescotts land to penicooke Riuer in Lancaster through swan 
swamp 6 Rod wide as it is already marked out by the comitte 
aforsaid and from the way aforsaid butting vpon Penicook near 
to the night pasture wading place, they tak the way as it is left .in 
width through the Intervayle and ouer nashaway bridge and soe to 
the meeting house and as it is to be vnderstood that the way within 
lancaster bounds Runes neare the mideway betweene the brook medow 
and plumtrees medowes ouer a hill called Mahaneknits hill and 
soe along on the vpland to the pond path as it Runes near to 
the Still Riuer medow and Josiah Whits medow vntill it come to the 
Swan Swamp path as aforsaid and to the confirmation hereof the 
comitte aforesaid haue here vnto put their hands the day and 
year aboue said 
John Prescott 
Roger Sumner 
James Parker 
James knop 
The Twenty Shillings due to andrew the Indian from the towne 
for his warre at stonny brook assigned by the sd Indian to Richard 
Blood the sd Richard Blood assigne it ouer to Leiftennant James 
parker 
At a towne meeting no 19 1673 By the agrement of the towne 
Jonas Prescot is to grind the towns corne for the towne euery 
second day and euery sixth day in euery weeke [34] 
At a Generali Towne meeting held no : 191673 This day agreed 
vpon and by vote declared that Mr Willard rat shalbe raised ptly by 
vissible estat and partly by accomodations whatsoeuer votes have past 
formerly to the contrary as also it was agreed vpon that euery man 
henceforward shall haue their draughts of land according to their 
disbursements and those y‘ haue them not shall haue them mad vp 
and that he shall haue eighty pound for this present yeare and a fourth 
part of this payment to be payd in money and the other sixty pound 
to be payd in all sorts of graine at price currant as the court haue de- 
termined and in prouision — and ten pound for his firewood which is 
to be payd in by tim preffixd and if not then to pay their proportion 
in corne or prouision and also agreed vpon that this twenty pound in 40 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
money is to be payd in to Capt Parker and to Richard Blood by the 
last of August or the first of septem- next — as also henceforward he 
shall haue a quarter of his payment in money yearly 
At a Town meeting nouem= 24 1673 Graunted vnto Alexander 
Rousse by the Towne ten acres of vpland 
At a Generall Town metting December io 1673 ffor constable 
William Longley Seni 
ffor Select men 
Major Willard 
Capt parker 
Leif Lakin 
Serg ffisk 
John morss 
Serg knop 
John page 
and 
ffor Surveyers 
Richard holden 
John Page 
and 
Serg Lakin 
John nutting Se 
ffor veiwers of fences Corperall Cady Joseph Morse Timothy Allen 
Justin holden 
ffor to look after swine that they be according to law and towne 
order Jonathan Sawtell Samuell kemp 
At the same meeting their was a finall agreement betweene the 
towne and Samuell Davis concerning the differance that was about his 
lands that is to say thus that samuell Davis hau Ingaged to rest satis- 
fied and mak noe more disturbance about his lands prouided the 
bounds doe continue as they were befor they were defaced by the last 
committe to wit Richard blood and John pag and that he doe Inioy 
those three psells of land in the generall feild in the South Squadron 
of lots namely that which was John nutting and James knops and 
Thomas Tarballs seni and simon stones that he had of captain parker 
and that samuell Dauis is to shew the commite the markes of these 
lots the last specified and they are to renew them and this bein[g] 
done samuell Dauis doe acknowledge [himjselfe fully satisfied for all 
diuision lands that was due to him from the begining of the towne to 
this present [35] 
. and now we doe agree to giu him a Record of his lands 
John morsse in the name of the towne 
Samuell Dauis — GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
41 
At the same meeting Timothy Alen was agred withall by the towne 
to swep the meeting house for the year following for twenty shil 
Decern 13 73 The Towne committe haue condescended vpon 
Samuell Dauises request to enterchang two psells of land specified in 
the former agreement to wit that which he had of Thomas Tarball 
Senior and simon stone and they are to be Ioyned to the south sid of 
the line of that diuision of land lyeing by his house from the hye way 
on the east sid soe downe to the River 
Samuell Dauis 
John morse dark 
William Longley 
John Page 
Richard holden 
marke R 
Justin houldin 
At a meeting of the sellect men Janeva 13 16 It was then 
agreed vpon and by vot declared that all such towne hye wayes regu- 
lerly layd out and marked out with the townes marke all the wood 
and timber vpon these hye wayes soe marked from halfe a foote and 
vpward at the Stub walnut trees and pine trees only exempted shalbe 
reserued for mending of hye wayes and other publik work and that 
noe man shall ffel any such tree or trees vpon the penalty of ten 
shillings 
It is furder agreed vpon that that order concerning swine bearing 
date the year 69 shall stand for this present yeare 
And to the end that each Inhabitant of this towne may Injoy the 
benefit of his own medow and prevent censuring of and beeing 
troubled each with others for the eating vp each others medows we 
doe order that if any of our Inhabitants shall haue nead to let their 
catell goe out to feed befor their be grasse vpon the vpland that they 
shall keep them vpon their owne medows or any of the towns coition 
and not vpon any mans medow that is in propriety without their leaue 
who is the proprietors their of vpon the penalty of paying sixepence a 
beast euery time that any catell be found vpon any mans medow 
either vnder the hand of a keeper or otherwise and this to continue 
till the later end of haytime 42 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
for hearding of Cattell the agreement of the sellect men it is that 
the catell in the towne shalbe diuided into three heards as it was the 
last yeare and what euer the maior pt of any company agree vpon the 
minor part is to consent theirto 
At a generall towne meeting held Janevary 16 1673 
At the same meeting William Longley seni was fred and Jonathan 
morss was chussen constable [36] 
At the same meeting Cap* Parker Leiftenant Lakin and Serg knop 
were chussen for a commitee to lay out the diuisions of land on the 
other sid of the Riuer both of vpland and enteruaill to euery man 
their proportions and to butt it and bound it ssufficiently and to mark 
it so as they may see from mark to marke and they are to haue for 
their labour one half penny an acre for the vpland and one penny 
half penny for the enteruaille 
At a Generali Towne meeting helde December 11 1674 William 
Longley sene chusen constable for the year ensueing 
capt Parker serge ffisk serge knop ensine Lawrance Matthias ffarn- 
worth serge Lakin John Morsse chussen for sellect men 
John Morsse chussen Towne Clark 
Chussen for ssurveyers Thomas Tarball sen and Samuell woods 
for veiwers of fences John Nutting sene and William Greene 
At a Generali Towne meeting decern 21 74 Granted to William 
Longley ju= that he shall haue liberty to fell those trees that stand by 
his fence shading his corn to the sume of 3 or 4 and tha he will giu 
the Towne as many trees for mending hye way worke 
A Rate made for the countrey treasurer the sume con- 
taining 14—10 — o 
and commited into the constable Jonathan Morses his hand to gather 
and to giu an account of the principle and how he discharged the 
bills to the sellect men to bring an acquitance 1674 
A Rat made for the county treasurer the sume containing 4—1—5 
and commited into the hands of the constable William Longley se to 
gather and to return the rest of the pay back again to the towne 
Captain Parker payd ten pound & the barell of powder discharging 
Timothy Allen — 1 — o — o 
for sweeping the meeting house and his own bill discharged at a 
meeting of the sellect men 30 iom° — 1674 GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
43 
At a meetting of the sellect men febr 11 74 for hearding of cattell 
It was then agreed vpon that euery Inhabitant shall heard their catell 
that is to heard according to law and that they shalbe diuided into 
three heards 
The first heard beginning at Samvell Woods reaching to William 
Longley and to serg Lakin and his neighbours taking in Nathaniell 
bloo[dJ with the rest of those that liue their with Ensigne Lawrance 
and Thomas Smith 
The second heard begining at Sergent ffiske and Driuing out by 
Pelleg Lawrance taking in cattell belonging to the neck to matthias 
ffarnworth taking in the catell of John Barron 
The third heard to begine at Timothy cooper and along the west 
side of Broad medo[w] to Jonathan sawtell takin in the catell [ofj 
Richard holden and Justin [37] and that these seuerall angles shall 
heard prouided they doe their best endeavour to hire a heardsman 
and in case they cannot hire a heardman for 12 shill p week that 
company is at their liberty whither they will heard or how prouided 
their cattell doe not exceed abou a 100 
At a meeting of the Sellect men febr 22 74 concerning swine It 
was then agreed vpon that the same order that was made in the year 
69 shall stand for this present year 
At the same meetting at the request of Matthias ffarnworth thir was 
a committe chussen to veiw a peice of land that he desire by way 
of exchaung with the towne or otherwis that may be for his con- 
venience and to bring the report to the towne and the land lye from 
the Bridg by his own house along his own land to Justin holdens land 
on both sids James Brook and he is to satisfie the committe for their 
paynes if they desir any thing 
and the names of the committe are Sergeat knop Thomas Tarball 
sen= Benjamin Crispe Ellis Barron se= Daniell Pearse 
as also It is agreed vpon that noe man shall put away any of their 
catell from any of these seuerall companyes as they are now stated by 
the Sellect men vntill they haue done their best endeavour to hire a 
heardsman as before for twelue shill p week vpon penalty of paying 
the full prise as the "rest of their neighbours for specya and tim 
At a Towne meeting March 3 74-75 granted vnto Nicolas cady a 
small peice of land by way of exchaung at brown loaf plaine adjoyning 44 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
to his owne land yl he had of captain parker for a peice of land the 
same quantyty at brovvne loaf medow 
At the Same meeting graunted to Thomas Smith a peice of land of 
forty poll by way of exchaunge below his house adjoyning to his own 
land in the corner next to Samuell Woods and William Greenes land 
At a meeting of the sellect men march 3 1674-75 chusen captain 
Parker serg knop and Justin holden to renew the bounds between 
moshobo and our bounds And also chusen to lay out a hye way 
betweene Dunstable and this Towne captain Parker and serg knop 
At a meeting of the sellect men Jully 2 Jully 22 75 a rat made for 
the defraying of the charg of the ware and put in to the hand of 
William Longley constable to gather the sume 23k 14-4 added 7 shill 
more then the Just proportion [38] 
At a Generali Town meeting held October 20 1675 Agreed vpon 
and by vote declared that our Reuerand Pastor shall haue eighty 
pound for this present year sixty 1 in Corne prwisi[on] and forty 
pound of it to be payd betwixt this and y twenty flue of December 
next ensueing and the other 20I to be payd in the spring of the yeare 
vnlesse god by some speciall prouidence Doe preuent and the other 
20I to be payd in money the last of august or the first of September 
in the year 1676 
and 40 cord of wood to be proportioned according to euery mans 
proportion to be caryed in now presently 
At a Generali Towne meeting held no- 8 1675 It was this day 
agreed vpon and by vote declared that their should be a committe 
chussen to treat with Mr willard about sending down to the generall 
court to Enforme and supplicat to them that we may have payd to vs 
what is our due from the countrey and also that the Billit of the soul- 
diers may be vpon the countreys account and also agreed vpon that 
if this would not doe for to stand it out at law with them 
and the commitee chussen was Cap1 Parker Leiftenant Lakin William 
Longley seni= John Page 
At a Generall Towne meeting held Decern 9 *75 It was this day 
agreed vpon and by vot declared that the soldiers that are still re- 
maining in the town shalbe continued in the towne at the town 
charg till such tim as we hear a returne from the army goei[ng] GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
45 
against the naroganset and then the tovvne to meet againe to consider 
what is furder to be done 
At a Generali Towne meeting held Dec io 1675 Chussen for con- 
stable for that yeare following William Greene 
for sellect men Cap' Parker: Leiftenant Lakin William Longley se= 
Serg' ffisk John morsse 
for Surueyers Thomas Tarball sen= Samuell Woods 
for veiwers of ffences John nutting sen= corporall cady [39] 
At a generall town metting of the inhabitants of groaton warned 
by Captin Parker leftenant lakin insine lorranc and Goodman morse 
and asembled at Concord the (12th) of the (10th) month: 1677: 
Such as wear present did then and thear agree that if the proui- 
denc of god preuent not by death or sicknes or by the enimy that 
then we will goo vp in the spring follooing and begin to Repayer 
our habitations againe if" god parmitt and for the true purphormans of 
this agrement we doe ingeage the forfiture of our wholle Right in 
groaton unto those that doo goe vp and cary on the work and to 
this agrement we heaue hear sett to our hands 
James Parker sen 
Richard Blood 
William Lakin 
NATHANNIL LAWRENCE 
Jonathan Sawtell 
John Morsse 
James knap 
Samuell Wood 
his i— mark 
Nathanell Blud 
his b mark 
Thomas Tarball 
John tarbell 
John Parish 
Peleg Lorranc 
Voated that all publick charges for this present year insuing shall 
be Raysed vppon the furst deuision of land grantted or acomidation 
of lands 46 
EARLY RECORDS OF 
chosen to warn a town metting goodman blud Leftenant lakin Sar- 
gant knop Insine lorranc & thomas tarball Seneyer this metting 
to be the furst thuseday in marche and this metting . . . town offi- 
sers to nominat . . . other publick charges this metting to be at 
groaten [40] 
|'date torn off7\ 
At a general towne meeting of the inhabitants of Gro[ton] warned 
we did therein and thar agre and by desair that the publick charges 
should be raised for this present year upon furst deuishan of medow 
and in whaus handes soeuer ye furst deuishan shall apeer to be he 
or thay shall pay ye charges that dus arise upon them 
Jonathan Morses desent 
That pees of land that lyes betwen Samuell Wodes land and the 
high way yl goes to ye bay and the highway that gos to Sargent 
knapes end is granted to Jonas prescot or his brother Jonathan 
prescot prouided ether of them come and buld and liue up on it 
betwen this and next winter and ther is to be a cart way in it to 
broad medow: 
James Parker sen. 
in the name of the select men. 
James Parker, one of the original proprietors of Groton and 
a distinguished man in his day, was the town clerk during 
1678, the year of the return of the inhabitants who had been 
driven off by the Indians. He was one of the first board of 
selectmen chosen by the inhabitants, at which time he is 
called Deacon ; subsequently he is styled Sergeant and after- 
wards Captain. His house lot lay on both sides of the prin- 
cipal street in the village, just south of the small stream which 
to this day is called James’s Brook, named after him. The 
house was one of the garrisons during King Philip’s War, and 
it was with Captain Parker that the Indian chief, on the night 
of March 13, 1676, talked, as mentioned in Hubbard’s “ Nar- 
rative.” In advanced life he married for the second time, and 
had a daughter born after he was eighty years old. He died 
in 1701, aged about eighty-four years.