prian

Daniel gains

Roger formner ohne Prentice

John Seweis William Kerley

Jart wher

uner

накату калас

Simon willard.

John Houghton Fame Ther.

EARLY RECORDS

OF

LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE

so called act of incorporation of Lancaster, dated May 18, 1653, as copied by Master John Tinker, forms the first page of the town's records. The leaf is badly torn, and many words have crumbled away. It has slight verbal differences from the original in the records of the general court, and from an official copy by Secretary Edward Rawson, in Massachusetts Archives, cxII, 54-55.

COPPIE OF THE COURT'S GRANT.

At a Genl Court of Election held at Boston the 18th of May 1653.

I. In answer to the Peticon of the Inhabitants of Nashaway the Court finds according to a former order of the Genl Court in Anno 1647 no 6: 95: That the ordering and disposeing of the Plantation at Nashaway is wholly in the Courts power

2. Considering that there is allredy at Nashaway about nine ffamilies and that severall both freemen and others intend to goe and setle there some whereof are named in this Petition the Court doth Grant them the libertie of a Towneshipp and orders that hensforth it shall be called Lan

caster

3. That the Bounds thereof shall be sett out according to a deede of the Indian Sagamore, viz. Nashaway Riuer at the passing ouer to be the Center, fiue miles North fiue miles south fiue miles east and three miles west by such Comissioners as the Courte shall appoint to see theis Lines extended and their bounds limitted

4. That Edward Breck, Nathaniell Hadlocke, William Kerley, Thomas Sayer, John Prescot and Ralph Houghton, or any foure of them, whereof the maior parte to be freemen to be for present the prudentiall men of the said Towne both to see all allottments to be laid out to the Planters in

due proportion to theire estates and allso to order other Prudentiall afaires vntil it shall Appeare to this Court that the Place be so farr seated with able men as the Court may Judg meet, to give them full liberties of a Townshipp according to Lawe.

5. That all such Persons whoe haue possessed and Continued Inhabitants of Nashaway shall haue their Lotts formerly Laid out confirmed to them provided they take the oath of fidellitie

6. That Sudbery and Lancaster Lay out highwaies betwixt Towne and Towne according to order of Court for the Countries vse and then repaire them as neede shalbe

7. The Court Orders That Lancaster shall be rated wthin the County of Midlesex and the Towne hath Liberty to choose a Constable.

8. That the Inhabitants of Lancaster doe take care that a godly minester may be maintained amongst them and that no evill persons Enemies to the Lawes of this Coñonwealth in Judgment or Practize be Admitted as Inhabitants amongst them and none to haue Lotts Confirmed but such as take the oathe of fidellitie

9. That allthough the first Undertakers and partners in the Plantacon of Nashaway are wholy Evacuated of theire Claimes in Lotts there by order of this Courte yet that such persons of them whoe haue Expended either Charge or Labor for the Benefitt of the place and haue helpped on the Publike workes there from time to time either in Contributing to the minestrie or in the Purchase from the Indians or any other Publike worke, that such persons are to be Considered by the Towne either in proportion of Land or some other way of satisfaction as may be Just and meete. Provided such Persons do make such theire expences Cleerly Appeare within Twelue monethes after the end of this Sessions for such demandes and that the Interest of Harmon Garrett and such others as were first vndertakers or haue bin at Great Charges there shalbe made good to him them his or theire heires in all Allottments as to other the Inhabitants in proportion to the Charges expended by him and such others aforesaid. Provided they make Improuemt of such Allotmts by building and Planting wthin three yeares after they are or shalbe Laid out to them, otherwise theire Interest hereby Provided for to bee voyde, And all such Lands soe hereby Reserved to be thencforth at the Townes Dispose: In further Answer to this Peticon the Court Judgeth it meete to Confirm the aboue mentioned Nine perticulers to the Inhabitants of Lancaster, and order that the bounds thereof be Laid out in proportion to eight miles square.

Following this, by the same hand, were nineteen numbered pages, of which only the last twelve are now extant. It will be noticed that in dates the name of the month is

sometimes found. After Governor John Winthrop's time this new method began to be observed by some, but usually the heathen names of months and days were carefully avoided, and the ordinals used, March being the first month.

OF THE COVENT; CHURCH Land; meeting HOUSE, LOTTS 10: &C:

1653 18: 8 m. The bond to binde all comers. Memorandum, That wee whose Names are subscribed, vppon the Receiueing and acceptanc of our severall Lands, and Allottments wth al! Appurtinances thereof, from those men who are Chosen by the General Court to Lay out and dispose of the Lands within the Towne of Lanchaster heertofore Called by the name of Nashaway doe hereby Covenant & binde ourselues our heires Executs & Assignes to the observing and keepeing of these orders and Agreements hereafter mentioned and Expressed.

Church Lands. ffirst ffor the maintainanc of the minestree of Gods holy word wee doe Allowe Covenant and Agree that there be laid out Stated and established, and we doe hereby estate and establish as Church Land with all the priuilledges and Appurtinances therevnto belonging for ever, thirty acors of vppland and fortie acors of Entervale Land and twelue acors of meddowe with free Libertie of Commons for Pasture and fire wood, The said Lands to be improved by the Plantation or otherwise in such order as shalbe best Advised and Concluded by the Plantation without Rent paying for the same, vntill the Labours of the Planters or those that doe improue the same, be ffully sattisfied. And wee doe agree that the Plantation or Sellect men shall determine the time, how Longe every man shall hold and Improue the said Lands for the proffit thereof. And then to be Rented according to the yearly vallue thereof and paid in to such persons as the Plantation or Sellectmen shall Appoynt to and for the vse of and towards the maintainanc of the minester Pastor or Teacher for the time being, or whomesoever may bee stated to preach the word of God among vs or it may be in the Choyce of the minester to Improue the said Lands himselfe.

Meeting house. And ffurther wee doe Covenant and Agree to build a Convenient meeting house for the Publique Assembling of the Church and People of God, to worshipp God according to his holy ordinances in the most eaquall and Convenient place that may be Advized and Concluded by the Plantation.

Ministers house. And to Build a house for the Minester vppon the said Church Land.