Wollomonuppoag History

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History Of The Wollomonuppoag

   At a General Court holden at Newe Towne, Sept. 2, 1635, it was ordered "that there shall be a plantation settled about two miles above the Falls of Charles River on the northeast side thereof, to have ground lying to it on both sides of the river, both upland and meadow to be laid out hereafter as the Court shall appoint."

   On the 8th of September, 1636, the General Court ordered that the plantation to be settled above the Falls of Charles River shall have three years immunity from public charges, as Concord had, to be accounted from the first of May next, and the name of said plantation to be Dedham; to enjoy all that land on the southerly and easterly side of Charles River not formerly granted to any town or particular persons, and also to have five miles square on the other side of the river.
1.This was the original grant, as appears in the first volume of the Records of Massachusetts, of that tract of land which includes the present townships of Dedham, Medfield, Wrentham, Needham, Bellingham, a part of Sherborne, a part of Natick, Franklin, Medway (which was attached to Medfield until 1781),Walpole, a part of Foxborough, Norfolk and Norwood.

   In about the year 1647 the Records of Dedham say that John Dwight and Francis Chickering gave notice of hopes of a mine near certain ponds, thirteen miles from town. It is probable that at the date of this grant of the General Court the inhabitants of Dedham had little knowledge of this part of their township. But it must have been somewhat explored before the year 1649, as we learn that in that year on account of the scarcity of grass in Dedham the inhabitants went to Wollomonuppoag to cut grass from the meadows there.

   But the earliest movement regarding the occupation of Wollomonuppoag of which any record is found was made in the year 1660. It is as follows: "Dedham 22, 4, 1660, at a meeting of the Selectmen there Lieut. Fisher, Serg't. Fuller, Richard Wheeler, Ensign Fisher are deputed to view the land, both upland and meadow, near about the ponds by George Indians' wigwam, and make report of what they find to the Selectmen in the first opportunity they can take." This was in obedience to the desire of the inhabitants expressed "formerly in a lecture day."

   The Selectmen reported on the 31st of 10th month (Dec'r.), 1660, that they had deputed men to search and view the place, whose returns encouraged them "to depute two men to endeavor to compound with such Indians as have a true right there," and they approved of the establishing a plantation there on this careful language, viz.: "to us it seems that it might be helpful to conduce to public and particular good that the place might be planted with meet inhabitants in due time." They also suggested that the present care thereof be left to a committee to explore the place further, and to consider what measures are proper in the premises, and "propose them to the town on some public meeting to be considered and resolved as the case may require.

   At a town meeting in the following month a committee was chosen in      "respect of Wollomonuppoag"

   On the 27, 1, 1661 (March), at a general town meeting, the question being put whether there should be a plantation erected or set up at the place called Wollomonuppoag, it was answered by a vote in the affirmative, The question being further put, whether the town would lay down six hundred acres of land at the place before named for the encouragement to the plantation, it was answered by a vote in the affirmative, This vote, however, was not unanimous, Thirteen voters dissented, and their names were entered upon the record. In case the committee should reject applicants the right of appeal to the town was reserved to them.

   It will be noticed that in this legislation in the Dedham town meeting it was especially provided that the Indian title to the lands at the place intended for the new plantation should be extinguished by purchase.

   As early as 1629 the Governor of the New England Company advised the Governor and Council for London's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay that "if any of the savages pretend rights of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you endeavor to purchase the title that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion. And in a second communication similar advice was repeated. In the year 1652 the General Court solemnly resolved that what lands any of the Indians within this jurisdiction have by possession or improvement by subduing of the same they have just right thereunto according to that in Genesis 1 and 28, and chapt. 9, 1, and Psalms 115:16."

   In 1662 Timothy Dwight and Richard Ellis made a report to their doings in extinguishing the Indian title to the Wollomonuppoag lands. The substance of this report was that by the assistance of Capt. Willitt they had obtained under the hand and seal of the Sagamore a release from the Indians of their title to six miles square of land, the Captain making the payment of the consideration on behalf of Dedham. Upon reading of this report the town voted a letter of thanks to the Captain for his kindly services, and that he be requested to procure a deed signed by the Sagamore that may be sufficient according to our laws. It was also voted that a rate be made upon cow commons to pay the Captain 24 £. 10s. For the purchase of the lands.

   In 1661 the boundaries of the Wollomonuppoag Plantation were established at a general meeting of the town (Dedham) as follows:

   "It is ordered that the bounds of the plantations at Wollomonuppoag shall be upon Stop River towards the east beginning at Medfield bounds, and so all along, as the river lies up stream, until it comes about half a mile above the falls in that river, near about where the path of that place at present lies, and from thence southward to Dorchester line; and the west bounds shall be at or about the end of five miles from one of the ponds in Wollomonuppoag, to be a line running parallel with the line at the east end of the plantation, always provided that it extend not to any lands but such as are at present our own; and the south bounds shall be Dorchester line, and the north bounds shall be Medfield bounds in part and Charles River in part."

   Dorchester at this time extended from its northern line at Boston nearly to Rhode Island: and Rehoboth included Attleborough and Cumberland now in Rhode Island. It is said that the above-named south line ran from the southwest corner of the present township of Walpole southwesterly, south of the Major Mann house (now S.W. Grant's), and northerly of Turner's Mill (now Wilkinson's), crossing Thurston street north of Mr. Hodges house, and Madison street a little south of Mrs. Gages' house. and then continuing in the course over line hill to the end of Dorchester line as above.

   This was the line until 1753, when a gore of land on the southeast line was annexed to Wrentham.

   Native people were being crowded into tongues of land where they could be controlled and watched. The Wampanoag sachem Massasoit had died in 1661. The English referred to his sons Wamsutta as Alexander and Metacom as Philip. Alexander succeeded his father, but after meeting with the Plymouth authorities he died of a fever. Metacom suspected his brother had been poisoned. And succeeded his brother that year.

   Dedham had through Capt. Willett paid the Sagamore Philip in the year 1662 for his right and title to the lands at Wollomonuppoag £24. 10s.

   In 1663, the first highway was confirmed by the Selectmen of Dedham (rte 1A), at the request of those who had drawn lots at Wollomonuppoag, "at the east end of their lots." This was the first authoritative recognition of a highway in this plantation, and was probably a part of a way now known as South street.

   The first birth recorded at Wollomonuppoag was that of "Mehitabel Shears, the daughter of Sam'l Shears, and Mary, his wife," who was born the first day of February, 1668. Some have supposed that Shears lived on the place now occupied by Mr. Isaac F. Bennett on South street, and that in 1668 John Ware also built on the Bean place, and Sam'l Fisher on the Luther Fisher place (Mr. Barnes'); John Littlefield also is supposed to have built about this time.

Philip was summoned before the Court in August 1664. Two years later Metacom (King Philip) dictated a letter to officials on Long Island that Chief Ninigret was planning to exact tribute from natives there. Rumors that Metacom was going to cooperate with the Dutch and the French against the English in 1667 caused the magistrates to collect his arms; but no evidence was found, and his arms were returned. Yet they made him pay £40 for their expedition.Almost twice what he recieved for Wollomonuppoag. In 1668 the people of Dedham began settling on the land they had purchased from Metacom at Wollomonuppoag; but they found that there were still Native People planting crops there.

Philip now, in 1669, set up a claim to a tract said to be within the limits of his former grant. He accepted £5 as a down payment in August 1669. He addressed the following letter to two of the principal men of Dedham:

Philip's letter:

   "Philip Sachem to Major Lusher and Lieutenant Fisher."
"Gentlemen: Sirs, thes are to desire you to send me a holland shirt by this Indian the which at present I much want and in consideration whereof I shall and will assuredly satisfie you to content between this and the next Michelmas for then I intend to meet with you at Wollammanuppogue that we may treat about a tract of land of four or five miles square which I hereby promise and engage that you shall have ye refusall of and I make no doubt but that we shall agree about said tract of land which I shall sell you for ye use of your town of Dedham. I pray fail not to send me a good holland shirt by the bearer hereof for I intend next week to be at plimoth Court and I want a good shirt to goe in. I shall not further trouble you at present but subscribe myself your friend,"

   We find that on "the 8th of the 9th mo., 1669, upon notice from Philip Sagamore yt he is now at Wollomonuppoag, and offers a treaty about sale of his rights in yea lands yr. within the town bounds not yet purchased, a committee was appointed, viz. : Timothy Dwight, Anthony Fisher, Robert Ware, Richard Elise, and John Thurston, to repair to Wollomonuppoag on the morrow and treat with the said Philip, in order to a contract with him to clear all his remaining rights within the town bounds, provided he make his right appear, and to secure our town from all other claims of all other Indians in the land contracted for."
It seems that a contract was made, for on the 15th of the same month (November, 1669) a rate was made for the payment to Philip "for his right lately purchased." The sum thus assessed was, to be paid in money.

   "Tradition informs us that Philip in the second treaty showed the northern boundaries of his kingdom, being the southern boundary of the Sachemdom of Chickotabot, in Walpole; and that the shape of the land was somewhat like that of a new moon, enclosing a part of the first grant within its horns." (Worthington's History) Seventy-nine persons were assessed to pay this rate. Ensign Chickering's tax being 8s. 9d. This tax was assessed upon the cow commons of the proprietors. Adding this, 11s, 8d., to the sum previously paid through Capt. Willett, We find the whole amount paid to Philip for his title to Wollomonuppoag wa 10s 8d.

   In March 1671 Hugh Cole of Swansea reported to Plymouth that he saw the Narragansetts repairing guns and making weapons at Mount Hope, where Metacom (King Philip) lived. Plymouth forced Metacom to make a treaty at Taunton in April, and after a trial at Plymouth in September he had to surrender his arms, pay £100 within three years, and could only sell land with the colony's approval. The Wampanoags turned in seventy muskets and agreed to pay an annual tribute of five wolves' heads and not to engage in war without permission. In 1671 the Plymouth colony summoned the squaw-sachem Awashonks and ordered her to put her lands under the authority of the colony and pay the English £50 compensation. The settlers' horses and hogs did so much damage to the crops of the Indians that in 1671 Plymouth appointed committees in eleven different towns. That year Metacom was required to deposit the guns of his people with the Court, which decided they were forfeited and distributed them to the colonists. In Connecticut towns were refusing to pay their taxes, and in 1671 a law was passed penalizing anyone who spoke out in a town meeting against paying assessments. The next year they elected Quakers as magistrates, and free debate was restored.

Information for this page was gathered from both

bryant2.bryant.edu/~ehall/history.htm,
and from
http://san.beck.org/11-7-NewEngland1664-1744.html

"In the year 1652 the General Court solemnly resolved that what lands any of the Indians within this jurisdiction have by possession or improvement by subduing of the same they have just right thereunto according to that in Genesis 1 and 28, and chapt. 9, 1, and Psalms 115:16."In case the committee should reject applicants the right of appeal to the town was reserved to them. "Philip Sachem to Major Lusher and Lieutenant Fisher."
"Gentlemen: Sirs, thes are to desire you to send me a holland shirt by this Indian the which at present I much want and in consideration whereof I shall and will assuredly satisfie you to content between this and the next Michelmas for then I intend to meet with you at Wollammanuppogue that we may treat about a tract of land of four or five miles square which I hereby promise and engage that you shall have ye refusall of and I make no doubt but that we shall agree about said tract of land which I shall sell you for ye use of your town of Dedham. I pray fail not to send me a good holland shirt by the bearer hereof for I intend next week to be at plimoth Court and I want a good shirt to goe in. I shall not further trouble you at present but subscribe myself your friend,"

"Philip Sachem to Major Lusher and Lieutenant Fisher."

"Gentlemen: Sirs, thes are to desire you to send me a holland shirt by this Indian the which at present I much want and in consideration whereof I shall and will assuredly satisfie you to content between this and the next Michelmas for then I intend to meet with you at Wollammanuppogue that we may treat about a tract of land of four or five miles square which I hereby promise and engage that you shall have ye refusall of and I make no doubt but that we shall agree about said tract of land which I shall sell you for ye use of your town of Dedham. I pray fail not to send me a good holland shirt by the bearer hereof for I intend next week to be at plimoth Court and I want a good shirt to goe in. I shall not further trouble you at present but subscribe myself your friend,"