Hill's New Hampshire Patriot, which they published till 1847. He also published the Farmers' Monthly Visitor during the last fifteen years of his life. He died at Washington, D. C., March 20, 1851, aged sixty-three. lature, he failed of an election to the United States | In 1840, with his two oldest sons, he established Senate. In 1829 President Jackson appointed him Second Comptroller of the United States Treasury. He was elected United States Senator 1830 to 1836, and Governor of New Hampshire 1836 to 1839. He was Sub-Treasurer at Boston 1840 to 1841, and for a long time Pension Agent. BILLERICA. BY FREDERICK P. HILL. HE little colony first established by the Puritan fathers at Salem, within ten years after the arrival of Governor Winthrop and his company had stretched itself along the shore to the northward, had touched hands with its sister colony of Plymouth, and, finding the immediate vicinity of the coast insufficient for the wants of its increasing population, had begun settlements on the frontier, at Concord, Sudbury, and Woburn. The country in the vicinity of the Shawshine River was prospected as early as the year 1637 by order of the General Court; and five years later1 a grant was made to the town of Cambridge, of "all the land upon Shawshin River, and between that and Concord River, and between that and Merrimack River, soe that they erect a village there within five years, and soe as that it shall not extend to prejudice Charlestown village or y village at Cochittuate nor ye farmes formerly granted to the now govenour of 1,260 acres, and to Thomas Dudley Esq. 1,500 acres, and 3,000 acres to Mrs. Winthrop." Little effort was made to establish the desired settlement, and in the following year the court made an unconditional grant to Cambridge of the described territory, excepting only such lands as had previously been given to "the artilary company or others, provided the church and present Elders continue at Cambridge;" but it was not until some seven years later that the beautiful meadows and wooded hill-tops which were the 1 This renewed a grant of 1641 of similar tenor.-ED. portion of Billerica began to come under the dominion of the settler's scythe and axe. The country thus granted was called Shawshine, said to signify meandering, from the stream so named by the aborigines in describing its course. It is evident, however, that the pioneers preferred the more familiar, homelike name of Billerica, in remembrance of the old town in Essex, England, whence some of them are believed to have come; for in 1650 reference was made by residents of Woburn to lands "on the east side of Billerica," and a petition from the inhabitants to the General Court in 1654, asking for a further grant of land, especially requested that the settlement might bear the name of "Billericay." From this time the growth of the infant settlement was assured. The inhabitants were so far increased in number as to form a body politic, and adopt suitable measures for their government and the care of life and property. The earliest records of the town in existence bear date from this year, and evince by their simple and vigorous style, their wise and careful apportionment of public duties, and their regard for civil and religious rights, the sterling character of the men who founded this ancient town of Billerica. In 1655 the inhabitants again petitioned the General Court, "requesting Immunities and freedome from all publick rates and charges at Cambridg," and that the land might belong entirely to them, for "y better encouragment and carrying on publick charges that will necessaraly there fall out." An agreement was made between the town of Cambridge and the progressive inhabitants of the young settlement, and on the 29th of May, 1655, the court confirmed the arrangement and | ored ex-governor, the land which had been given granted the petitioners' request. him by the General Court, consisting of fifteen hundred acres; and this tract was taken as a basis, or measure, to reckon from in the distribution of meadows, woodlands, and other rights. The names of those who signed the propositions on the part of the new town were "Ralph Hill, Sen'., Willm ffrench, John Sternes, Willm pattin, george ffarley, Ralph Hill, Ju'., John Croe, James Parker, John Parker, Jonathan Danforth, Henery Jeifts, Willm Chamberlin and Robert Parker," who were "the present inhabitants." The territory thus granted was of great size, almost unexplored, surrounded by unknown and treacherous savages, made up of rocky hills, rank swamps, verdant meadows, rippling brooks, and slowly winding streains. Additional grants were made to the town in 1656 of lands on the Concord River, known as the "Blood Farms," and of eight thousand acres lying at Natticott on the Merrimack. This last large tract of land was soon after sold to William Brenton, and the proceeds used to purchase the land in town owned by the non-residents. The years immediately succeeding the incorporation the records show to be full of action. Town orders were passed regulating the division of lands, according equitable privileges on common property, fixing the rates for town and county taxes, prescribing the limitations and rights of those who wished to become inhabitants, laying out the highways, settling minor questions of where the cattle should be driven to feed, and ordering how the swine should be "yoaked and rung." No person was permitted to take from the common land more than one twelfth part of this farm, to consist of one hundred and thirteen acres of upland and twelve of meadow; and only such persons as owned a share or less were termed proprietors with the right to general distribution. It was agreed, also, that the land owned by any inhabitant should not be sold or given away, even to his children, without the consent of the town; thus more perfectly to secure the peace and safety of their little community. Besides the grants mentioned there had been given, before the settlement, extensive farms to Harvard College, the church of Cambridge, Mr. Richard Daniel, Mr. Thomas Oakes, and other prominent men of the time. was It was in the vicinity of these farms, on the borders of the pleasant Shawshine, that the first settlers had erected their simple homes. But now, in properly laying out the town, the high land overlooking the placid waters of the Concord-in the Indian, Musketaquid, or river of the grass-ground chosen, and time has proved the wisdom of the selection. Billerica then was of great size, including within its bounds the present town of Tewksbury, portions of Bedford and Carlisle, and that part of Lowell called Belvidere; yet the "township," so distinguished for the reservation of home-lots, was of comparatively small extent. It was laid out from the north line of Mr. Dudley's farm, the boundary of which is still known by the name of Churustaff Lane, and followed the course of the Concord about one inile, the river forming its western boundary. The common land spread beyond its northern and eastern limits, there being about one square mile in the home municipality. Particular care was given to prepare the way for the establishment of a church and ministry. It was thought needful to protect their dearly bought privilege of freedom in state and religion, and it was agreed that "What person or persons soever propounde themselves to be granted amongste us to Ptake of the privilidge of the comans divisions, if not knowne to us he or they shall bringe with them a sertificate from the place from whence they come such a testamoney as Shall be Satisfactory to The principal surveyor was Jonathan Danforth, of town or Selecte p'sons." This right to ad- although Ralph Hill, Sr., George Farley, and othmit or reject a proposed inhabitant was jealously ers occasionally made surveys. Danforth was one guarded for more than a century. The right of of the esteemed fathers of the town, a man of emisuffrage was also strictly cared for, and it was nent ability, of rare and sincere Christianity. To ordered that any person who should presume to him, perhaps more than to any other, was the town give his voice or his vote in "ordering of herds, indebted in those early days for wise and discrimischooles, or in ye dispose of any of of towne previ-nating judgment and devotion to its affairs. lidges," if he were not qualified, should be subject to a fine of five shillings. The town lots having been divided and homesteads built, the choice of a minister was the next Soon after the beginning of the settlement the important matter to be decided. The inhabitants, inhabitants bought of Thomas Dudley, their hon-in 1658, made provision for building a house for the minister, and suitable allotments of land, both | give evidence that the residents had made many for the ministry as glebe, and as a gift in settle- improvements in civil and religious affairs. Every ment, were carefully reserved. The house was built freeman was made to feel his personal responsibility under the direction of John Parker, one of the in the conduct of business, and a penalty of one most honored citizens, and among the charges shilling was ordered for non-attendance at each fifteen shillings were paid "to henry Jefts for briks town-meeting, which was set for the first second 300 for y° minister's Chimley." day" of every month," to begin: about the sunn one our and a halfe hy." In 1657 Jolin Parker had been "aprooved Clarke of y Witts." The next year William Tay was chosen town-clerk; and in the succeeding year Jonathan Danforth was ordered to keep the town's books. He continued for about twenty years to perform the duties of clerk, greatly to the advantage of all who have folflowed him in that office. Although it is probable that selectmen, or "townsmen," as they were frequently called, were chosen prior to 1660, no record of the fact is extant until that year, when John Parker, Lieutenant William French, Ralph Hill, Sr., Thomas Foster, and Jonathan Danforth were "chosen Selectmen for y° yere inseuinge." The choice of a minister fell upon the Rev. Samuel Whiting, a young man fresh from Harvard College, cultured, pious, and animated with the divine spirit of liberty. The invitation to Mr. Whiting was cheerfully accepted, and an agreements was made between the freemen, nineteen in number, and himself to settle him with them. A liberal arrangement was made for his support,-£40 for the first two years, £50 for the second, two, £60 for the third; and they further promised "to better his maintenance as the Lord should better the estates of his people." This was no idle promise, for the next year it was "agreed by the major pt of the Towne that Mr. Whiting shall have £50 for this yere for his maintenance and caring down corne and makinge a well and hovill for his catell: which is 10£ more than of agreement." In the course of the next year the difficult question of seating the people in the meeting-house was settled, and it was agreed that "ye Towne doe In the autumn of that year he came to live apoynt Left. Willm ffrench: and John Parker, Ralph among them, and continued in his sacred office be- Hill, senr., and William Tay to sitt in y Deacons loved and revered by all, until his decease, a period. of over fifty years. Seate and also ye Towne doe apoynte and impower thease four men joyned wth Mr. Whitinge to apoynt y reste of, y inhabitantes and proprietors, there severall places where they shall sitt in y meetinge method followed far into the next century was to seat according to age and the amount of rates paid, giving to age the preference., During the first few months it is supposed that the preaching was in private houses; but in 1659 the inhabitants agreed "that there shall be a meet-house, acordinge to there best discreteans." The inge hous built this winter follinge: thirty foote Longe: and: twenty and foure foot wide: and twelve foot hige: and the studs to be 3 foot asunder the sids and eands shall be covered wth bords: and the Roof wth thatch." The location selected was a little east of the present edifice of this venerable parish, the land having once been granted to Captain Daniel Gookin, superintendent of the Indians, but exchanged by him for a farm in the southern part of the town. The meeting-house was built, therefore, in the winter of 1660, but it was not until the 27th of April, 1663, that the church was regularly organized, "when ye Counsell of Elders Very soon after the first locating a military and messingers from other churches" were present, company was organized, of which all able-bodied and not until November 11, nearly seven months men between the ages of sixteen and sixty were later, that the ceremony of ordination was per- members. In 1660 "Simon Burd: was sworne: formed, and the pastor solemnly installed after the Clarke of of Trayne bande, by Captin Gookin," simple but impressive manner of the Puritan faith. and a slight fine was imposed for "not trayning " A decade had passed since the morning greeted upon persons who were absent on the regular field the smoke from the first heartli-places in the valleys days. The higher officers were appointed by the of the Shawshine and Concord, and the records | General Court, and it was considered a great With that regard for the morals of their children characteristic of the Puritans, the fathers of the town ordered "y Leiftenet Willm ffrench and Ralph Hill, sen, doe take care and examin the sevr" families in o' town, whether there childern and Servantes, are, Taught : in y pricepts, of: relidione in readinge and Lerninge there Caticise acording to ye law of y cuntry," and from time to、 time this injunction was repeated. |