Subject: Garrisons at Lancaster, MA 1704
Source: The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts 1643 - 1725 Edited by Henry S. Nourse, A.M. Lancaster, 1884
p.143 On ye east side of ye River John Moore & Jonathan Moore John Whetcomb Sen'r allowed a Josiah Whetcomb Jun'r Bear Hill John Priest Sen'r Simon Willard & Benjamin Bellows allowed a Benjamin Bellows Capt Thomas Wilder & John Houghton Sen'r allowed a John Houghton S'r Gamaliell Beaman On ye West Side Penicook River Joseph Wheelock Ensigne Peter Josllin a Garrison Will'm Divoll On ye west side Nashuway River Mr. Gardner At ye Corne Mill John Prescott Sen'r Leut Nath'll Wilder a Garison Sam'll Carter Jonathan Tyng [Copy of a document in possession of Dr. John S. H. Fogg of South Boston] p.145 1. Those in John Moore's garrison lived on the Marlborough road in the southeast part of Bolton, near the district now called Fryville. The graves of the brothers John and Jonathan Moore are in the burial ground on the old road to Hudson. 2. Those composing the Whitcomb garrison lived also in Bolton, toward the northeast corner. Families descended from them resided there until recently. 3. The Priest garrison was at the easterly side of Bare Hill in Harvard 4. The Josiah White garrison was upon the east side of the Neck where Edward Houghton now lives. 5. Those belonging to Peter Joslin's garrison lived along the highway from the Sprague Bridge to the North Village. "Hervey" is an error for Hewes. 6. Those forming the Simon Willard garrison dwelt along the road thru Still River village. 7. Capt. Thomas Wilder's garrison was on the Old Common north of the highway and, according to Joseph Willard, Esq., about twenty rods in rear of the house known as the Dr. David Steuart Robertson place. 8. The six men whose names are headed by that of Gamaliell Beman, had homes upon the east slope of Wataquadock Hill. In the description of their lands frequent mention is made of "the cold spring" and "the hill where Simon Pipo had a planting field." 9. Rev. Andrew Gardner lived by the well a few rods westerly from the house of the late Colonel Francis B. Fay; Samuel Prescott, across the road south; Thomas Sawyer, where his venerable descendant, Mrs. Sally Case resides; Nathaniel Sawyer and Jabez Fairbank, half a mile westerly in the Deer's Horns neighborhood. 10. The Prescott garrison site is in Clinton, southeast of and very near the crossing of High and Water Streets. 11. Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder's home was upon the slope of George Hill, next his father's home lot. His brother Ephraim Wilder lived near, and his brother-in-law, Samuel Carter, on the farm now owned by Frank D. Taylor. Thomas Ross lived half a mile north on the first lot of John Smith. On July 30 1704, Sabbath morning or Monday morning Indians invaded Lancaster - Killed 2 or 3 persons - burnt ye Meeting house and some other homes [Journal of Rev. John Pike]. |
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
Garrison's At Lancaster
Created July 20, 2001
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