traces of its foundations will be obliterated. Beyond the Tower estate, the wall is again found but is lost just before reaching Sprague Street. Between this street and Greenlodge Road the line is clearly defined by the wall. The wall does not continue on the other side of the road, and there is nothing to mark the position of the line, until about a third of the distance to the Canton Road (formerly Purgatory Road) is passed. The wall then begins again and continues quite a distance through the woods. The set-off of ten rods to the southeast was a short distance northerly of the Canton road. This road traversed the region known as the "great ragged plaine". Beyond the Canton road was the turn of one point to the south. The line here formed the northwesterly boundary of the "Hawk Tree Farm," recently owned by Charles W. Wolcott, and is now well defined. The "little hill" mentioned is undoubtedly the ridge partly in said farm; and on this hill stood the "Hawk Tree," formerly an important bound in the line, which gave the name to this farm.3 Doubtless the exact location of the wall beyond this point can easily be determined. In Norwood the line touched the Neponset River at its bend near Morrill's Printing Ink manufactory. It formed a part of what is now the northwest boundary of Foxborough, and terminated at the angle tree before mentioned.

Those desiring to examine some of the evidence by which the location of the above corner and lines were determined may examine the following:A Plan of the "Twelve Divisions" and a Plan of the "Sprague Farm," both in the Registry of Deeds of Norfolk County. An ancient plan showing the dividing line between Dorchester "Old" and "New Grants" and the old corner of Dedham and Dorchester, in the office of the City Surveyor of Boston at Field's Corner. 2 Dorch. Rec. 82, 291. Suffolk Co. Deeds, Lib. 20, fol. 622; Lib. 28, fol. 101; Lib. 34, fol. 40; Lib. 35, fol. 97; Lib. 36, fol. 142; Lib. 37, fol. 172; Lib. 39, fol. 143; Lib. 40, fol. 147; Lib. 47, fols. 124, 125; Lib. 48, fol. 92; Lib. 50, fols. 106, 124; Lib. 90, fol. 252: Lib. 92, fol. 144. Norfolk Co. Probate Rec., Book 92, p. 1189. Norfolk Co. Deeds, Lib. 329, fol. 132.

Norfolk Deeds, Lib. 11, folio 58; Lib. 12, fol. 210; Lib. 32, fols. 214, 325; Lib. 50, fol. 147; Lib. 52, fols. 147, 152.

3 Norfolk Deeds, Lib. 557, fol. 287.

A

The following quaint return from the Dorchester Records of a perambulation made in 1670, shows how soon uncertainty arose concerning the line.

A returne of thos yt run ye line between Dedham & us in ye year 70. According to appointment we met wth Dedham men as weer Chosen to goe ye line between or Towne & Dedham and then first wee went ye head line from ye heape of stones at thoer sid ye pond on this sid ye mille & from thence to Mr. Stoughtons ffarme, & from thence we went ye line & Came to Ragged plaine wher wee weer enformed of a setting off, but whether it weer to set off some rods or on another point of ye Compas we could not certainly learne, but one of Dedham who was most acquainted said it run upon another point of ye Compase, and soe wee went on & found marks until we came to ye bounds of purgatory,' and then could find noe marks & therfore we went & fetcht ye line by setting up stakes & Came downe to ye swamp & then it was pretty nigh night & soe we consulted together whether it weer best to goe further, but they told us that was run ye last time & this was not & thinking it would be Charge and trouble to goe further & so we returned home both sids satisfied. [2 Dorch. Rec. 82.]

The changes in the lines of Dedham and Dorchester caused by the incorporation of Wrentham in 1673, and of Walpole in 1724, and the subsequent annexations to each, do not come within the scope of this article. There was no change in townships along the northerly part of the old Dedham and Dorchester line, heretofore defined,until Stoughton was incorporated from the territory of Dorchester, December 22, 1726.2

Stoughton was bounded on the north by the line between the "old" and "new grants" to Dorchester, which was a straight line from the top of the great Blue Hill to the old northeast corner of Dedham heretofore defined; and on the west or northwest by the old Dedham and Dorchester line.3 The town of Stoughton thus embraced a substantial part of present Dedham, and nearly half of what is now Norwood.

So commonly called as early as 1658. 1 Dorch. Rec. 126.

213 Gen. Ct. Rec. 249, 272. 2 Provincial Laws, 408.

There was a house belonging to Israel Stoughton in the part of Dorchester westerly of the Neponset River and southerly of Mother Brook, as early as 1638. [1 Dorch. Rec. 41.] But this locality was not settled to any extent until soon after 1720, although the extensive meadows were places of resort at a very early date.1 It was far more convenient for the new settlers to attend church and perform the duties of citizenship in Dedham than in distant Dorchester, or in Stoughton, from which they were separated by the river and broad meadows. As a result, the town lines were adjusted by various acts to meet the changed conditions.

On November 29, 1732, James Draper, Henry Crane, Robert Swan, John Eaton, Ebenezer Draper, Jeremiah Whiting and Thomas Witherly [Witherby] of Stoughton, petitioned the General Court

Setting forth their great Difficulties in attending upon the publick Worship of God, as well as on Civil & Military Duties by reason of the great Distance & praying that they with their Families & estates may be set off from Stoughton & annexed to the Town of Dedham for which they are very conveniently situated.

A committee was appointed to view the locality and hear the parties, and reported April 25, 1733.

The committee appointed by this Court to repair unto Stoughton to view & Consider the Circumstances of the Inhabitants dwelling on ye north westerly side of Neponset River, having been there & heard the parties concerned are humbly of Opinion that the Petition of James Draper & others be so far Granted as that ye Petitioners & their estates in their own possession on the north-westerly side of sd River be to all Intents and Purposes annexed unto and deemed a part of Dedham upon their Admission into that Town upon a legal meeting therefor, they to do Duty & enjoy Privilege there as others the Inhabitants of Dedham.

'Worthington's History of Dedham, 10.

(To be continued.)

སུ་ལྷུག།

EXTRACTS FROM THE AMES DIARY.

BY SARAH BRECK BAKER.

(Continued from page 16.)

JANUARY, 1759.

1 My Chum went home. Howard came for me.

2 I could not go home, had the Rash.

9 good skating, Craft here.

11 read Roman History.

14 King of Prussia routed by Count Daun in the Night.
22 Sent Rackets1-Money-Island.

FEBRUARY.

1 small shock of an Earth-quake this night.

2 Measels thick about.

9 Vacancy Prolonged 3 weeks on account of the Measels.

20 Nazrow & Daniel gone to Boston.

23 Dean & Williams at our house.

24 Harry Appleton came to our house from the West Indies.
28 Vacancy out.

MARCH.

1 Mr Barnet drank Tea with my Chum.

7 Went to Ordination of Mr Lock.

16 Bob gone home with Joe & Bob.

17 Sent to Boston for Linn Nat Gardiner.

19 found a letter with Money in my Linnen.

20 Gink Hooper Dead.

29 Thanksgiving, did not go Meeting.

30 somewhat tired after my Ride home with my Chum, Danl Oliver & Bliss on ye 29.

2 Training.

APRIL.

4 The Comet appears in ye morning as expected and is going from the [ ] according to Mr. Winthrops observations.

6 A Regiment from York by reason of contrary wind, came in at Providence and begun to March through Dedham the 6 of April & ended the 10th, the Colonel was Burton, Captn St. Lager, Captn of the Light Infantry.

8 Sr John Coburn's Compy 6 whipt at our house.

9 4 Companys March to-day.

10 3 Companys March to-day.

'See Forbes's "Hundreth Town-Westborough," pp 200-201.

CANTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

11 Straglers come along.

12 Recruiting Parties come along.

13 Officers from Boston.

14 20 of the Train March up to York.

19 Freshmen placed last Friday.

20 went see the Drummer acted at Hows.

21 The Orphan Acted ye 13th inst.

24 begun Locke, my Chum bottled Cyder.

27 went to Boston & Castle, got my new coat.

29 Comet appears the second time, seen 1st time April 4th.

30 Coln Barton's Ragiment exercise on the Common at Boston.

11 went a fishin took breakfast at ye Lighthouse.

15 officers gave up their commissio.

20 the Recruiting Officer Acted by ourselves then Public. 27 went home this evening returned with Minot.

28 Fast Day Mr. Minot Preached.

29 Valedictory Trumble Orator.

JULY.

6 the Revenge acted my Father came.

15 advanced a seat in ye meeting house.

18 Commencement very hot.

AUGUST.

1 Ticonderoga and Crown Point taken [July 26].

'10 Good News by wholesale & retail.

21 Leonard & Gay went down.

22 Vacancy out.

28 disputed in Hancock's Chamber. A Report Quebeck was just gone, two thirds of their City Walls being destroy'd. But it holds out longer than People think.

30 Flag came last night.