History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

This territory, being deserted during the war by
the inhabitants, became a famous rendezvous for
the savages, whence they made raids upon tlie
neigliboring towns. Tradition says tliat the In-
dians once held a consultation upon Pompasitta-
cutt Hill, overlooking Concord and Sudbury,
relative to wliicli place they should destroy. Sud-
bury was decided upon, because one of the leading
warriors said, "We no prosper, if we burn Concord.
The Great Spirit love that people. He
tell us not to go there. They have a great man
there. He great pray." This allusion was to
Rev. Edward Bulkley, the Concord minister.
They feared his influence with the Great Spirit.
Hence Concord was saved, and Sudbury suffered.
Indians resided upon this territory for years after
its settlement and incorporation, and some of the
inlj^abitants now have deeds of land given by the
aborigines to their ancestors. Soon after the in-
corporation of the town a rate was made to pay
Ben Bowhugh, or Piphugh, and James Speeue and
others, for lands purchased of them.
Who was the first settler in Stow after Philip's
War is unknown. In 1681 we find a list of the
twelve allotments of land. Lot number one was
set apart for the first minister. The other eleven
lots were probably taken up in 1678 or 1679, and
were assigned to Boaz Brown, Gershom Heale,
JolinButtrick, Ephraim Heldreth, Thomas Stevens,
Stephen Hall, Samuel Buttrick, Joseph Ereeman,
Joseph Daby, Thomas Gates, and Sydrack Hap-
good. Subseciuently, and before the middle of
March, 16S6, house-lots were granted to twenty-
three other persons. The inhabitants having so
increased in mimbers as to be able to look after
their own affairs, the prudential committee, on the
11th of October, 1681, ajjpointed Thomas Stevens,
Boaz Brown, Thomas Gates, and Stephen Hall, to
take charge of the plantation ; and they were in-
vested with the powers of selectmen "for the carry-
ing on of such affaires as shall relate to the good
settlement of the place," subject, however, to in-
structions from the committee. This committee.
April 24, 1682, appointed John Hay ward, of
Boston, plantation clerk. In the early part
of 1683 the inhabitants became anxicms to take
their place among the towns of the colony, and
made known their wishes to the prudential com-
mittee, who on the 9th of April chose Tliomas
Stevens, of the plantation, as clerk, and directed
the iidiabitants to meet, and choose five selectmen
" to order and manage their Towne affaires, and
STOW. 351
a Constable for y" year Ensueing." The meeting
was held on the 19th of April, 1683, and Sergeant
Benjamin Bozworth, Thomas Stevens, Stephen Hall,
Boaz Brown, and Joseph Ereeman were chosen
selectmen, and Thomas Gates constable. Early
in the following May the citizens met, and pre-
pared a petition to the General Court, asking to
be made a town with " some suttable comly English
name," and to be freed " from Country pub-
lick Charges & Hates a while Longer," on account
of the great expense they would be at in support-
ing a minister, making bridges, and "other un-
avoidable heavye secular matters, y' will sorely
pinch a poore people in soe yong a plantation,
where they can not yet Raise competent ordinary
food & Rayment." On the 16th of May, 1683, the
General Court granted their prayer, and ordered
them to be a town by the name of Stow, and freed
them "from ye Country Rates for three yea res."
The town, thus constituted, was of very irregular
shape, extending from the ancient bounds of Sud-
bury to what is now Lunenburg. But portions
of it have been taken from time to time to form
the towns of Harvard, Boxborough, Shirley, Hud-
son, and Maynard. It now comprises only about
one third of its original area, and is bounded north
by Boxborough aiul Acton, east by Maynard, south
by Hudson, and west by Bolton and Harvard.
It has three villages,—the Lower Yillngc, where the
first meeting-house M'as erected, about a iiiilc easterly
of the Centre, and Rock Bottom, in the southerly
part. The principal stream is the Assabet River,
in the southeasterly part. Assabet Brook is the
next largest stream. The two noted hills, Pom-
piisittacutt and Shabbukin, are now respectively
within the limits of Maynard and Harvard. But
there are beautiful views from Sj)indle, Birch, and
Marble hills. In 1875 the jiopulation was 1,022.
Fccles/.usfl.cal Affairs. — As many of the early
settlers were from Concord, we presume that Rev.
Mr. Bulkley of that place preached to them occa-
sionally. But the first allusion on the records to
ministerial matters was in June, 1683, when a rate
of five pounds was made to pay Mr. Greene, who
had preached previous to that date. He jiroba-
bly remained but a few months. June 5, 1685, a
rate was made to pay Mr. Parris " for his pains
amongst us." This was Rev. Samuel Parris, subse-
quently so noted in eoimection with the Salem witchcraft
delusion. His stay was short. James Minot
(H. C. 1675), of Concord, preached about one
year, commencing in the autumn of 1685. At a