Barnes's to the top of the hill, and all the land to the northward of that range shall be for a perpetual common or training place, never to be granted any part thereof, but lay perpetually for the public and common benefit.

1711.-A plan for forming an oyster bed in Plymouth harbor was projected by a company of thirty-one persons, whose names are on record. Oysters were procured and deposited in a certain place, deemed the most eligible, with the hope that they might be thus propagated; but it was ascertained by the experiment, that the flats are left dry too long for their habit, which requires that they be covered at all times by water.

1715. March 21, at a town-meeting it was proposed to build a cart bridge over Jones's river, near Jacob Cook's. Major John Bradford proposed to give towards the building said bridge what stone were on his land that were suitable for said work, and set his hand thereunto. Jacob Cook likewise offered that those that did the said work should have the stones they could get off his land, in case they would take as many loads of 'cobbling stones as of binding stones for said work; Jacob Mitchell also made the same offer. The town voted to build a cart bridge over the said river, and chose agents to have the work executed. This year died James Warren, Esq. He was taken suddenly ill as he was going to the general assembly. He was a gentleman of great integrity and capacity, was sheriff of the county, and held other responsible offices. He left a son, James Warren, of Plymouth.

1716. Sundry inhabitants of the north part of the town near Jones's river, petitioned to be set off a town, which was negatived by a large majority, and Major John Bradford and others were chosen to appear in the general court to show the town's reasons for opposing the petition. In 1717, they renewed their request, and being 48 families, they were set off as a separate parish, by the name of Jones's river parish.

March 1.-The town agreed with John Bradford, 'to take care and keep in good repair all hghways throughout the township of Plymouth, and to save the said town harmless from all trouble that may arise through the defect of any of the highways in said town, for the space of seven years, commencing from the day of date abovesaid, for twelve pence a man to be raised by rate upon the inhabitants of said town that are of able body, by law, to work at the highways, and is to be paid to said Bradford, his heirs or assigns yearly and every year during the said term of seven years above mentioned.'

Mr. Nathaniel Thomas and Mr. Abiel Shurtleff were chosen to meet agents from Barnstable, to agree in what manner to rebuild the bridge over Eel river. And the same persons were a

committee to inquire into the reasons why the heirs of Dr. Francis LeBaron have delayed to convey to the town the ninety acres of land which the Doctor gave to the town, for the use of the poor.

1718.-Complaints being made that the people suffer greatly by means of their corn being ground at the mill by a young lad incapable of the business, it was voted that Captain Church, the owner of the mill, be informed, that unless he remove the cause of complaint, and see that the business of grinding be properly attended to, the town will grant liberty to some other person to set up another mill on the town's privilege.

1721.-The town having suffered great distress by the small pox, and that fatal disease being now in the town, a committee of twelve persons was chosen to act and advise with the selectmen to prevent its spreading.

1722.-Haveland Torrey was legally chosen constable in full town-meeting, but he declared in the meeting that he would neither serve the town in that office, nor pay his fine for refusing, as the law directs. There having been several instances of such refusal, the town now made choice of Captain Ephraim Morton to prosecute the said Torrey at the next court of quarter sessions, for his refusing to serve the town. And the next year, Haveland Torrey, James Warren, Eleazer Churchill and Nicholas Drew refused to serve in the office of constable, and all paid their fine of five pounds in the meeting, as the law required.

1722-3.-February. Under this date the following was recorded by Elder Faunce: This day was a dreadful storm, which raised the tide three or four feet higher than had been known aforetime.' This is the storm of which Cotton Mather gave an account to the Royal Society; says Mr. Samuel Davis, it was on the 24th of February. In the year 1770, and again in 1785, were similar storms and tides, when the water was level nearly with the locks of the store doors on the wharves, and a quantity of salt and other goods were damaged.

1724.-The following is recorded in the town's book:

To the Hon. Isaac Lothrop, Esq.

Whereas the Province law makes provision that all births and deaths shall be registered by the town clerk in the several towns within said Province, these are to inform your honor that Josiah Sturtevant, of Plymouth, in the county of Plymouth, in New England, had a child born, in or about the month of April last past, and the said Sturtevant neglecteth to give notice thereof, as according to the directions of the law. I do, therefore, pray your honor to give forth a warrant to cause said Sturtevant to

appear before your honor, that he may be dealt withall as according to the directions of the law.

Plymouth, Dec. 30, 1724.

JOHN DYER, Town Clerk.

1725.-Kingston set off from Plymouth. The north or Jones's river parish renewed their petition to be set off as a town. It was negatived, and three agents were chosen to give in their reasons to the general court for their refusal. This petition was made a subject of animated discussion, which was continued at several town-meetings; and at length the following persons were chosen agents in behalf of the town: Josiah Cotton, Esq., John Watson, Esq., Mr. John Dyer, John Murdock, Esq., and Deacon John Foster. They were directed by the town to oppose to the utmost in their power the prayer of the petitioners being granted; but subsequently they were desired to meet a committee from the general court at Jones's river to determine the question. But the separation was strenuously opposed in town-meeting on the 9th of May, 1726. In that year, however, the point was decided, and Jones's river parish was incorporated by the general court into a town called Kingston.

In town-meeting, December 25, 1727, a petition was presented from the town of Kingston requesting the town of Plymouth would repair wholly or in conjunction with them the bridge over Jones's river, which was rejected. In the same year, the town voted that an alms-house be built for the benefit of the poor. of the town, and a committee was chosen to advise with the selectmen about building the said house.

1726.—March 13, voted in the town-meeting, that a reward of ten shillings shall be given to any person belonging to the town, who shall kill a wild cat within the township; and John Watson, Esq. and Mr. John Murdock were appointed to receive the heads, and give orders on the treasurer for the payment of the money. The next year twelve pounds were paid for wild cats' heads.

1727.-In town-meeting the selectmen with Mr. Watson, Mr. Murdock, Mr. John Barnes and Mr. Stephen Churchill were chosen a committee to provide a suitable place upon the common to erect a gallows for the execution of the condemned prisoner, Elizabeth Colson, a mulatto woman, for murdering her infant child; and she was executed in May.

1728.-May 13th, voted that the town will take their proportionable part of the sixty thousand pounds lately emitted by the general court, which is five hundred and eighty three pounds and five shillings, and that it be let out to the inhabitants of the town, on personal security to the trustees with a sufficient surety,

and to have it at 6 per cent. per ann. No person to have more than 30 nor less than 20 pounds. The money to be let out according to the discretion of the trustees, who are to be allowed ten shillings for letting out, and twenty for receiving in every hundred pounds.

1729. It was voted that every householder shall be provided with a ladder reaching from the ground to the ridge-pole of his house, and have a hogshead full of water in his yard, in case of fire.

1730. The alewive fishery at the brook in this town, had long been considered as of considerable importance, and proper regulations were from time to time provided to prevent the destruction of the fish. This year it was ordered, that, in order to prevent obstructions to the alewives going up the pond to spawn, no person shall take more fish from the town brook, or Agawam river, than are absolutely necessary for their families' use, and no person to take any for a market, on a penalty of 20 shillings for each barrel. A committee was appointed to see that families were reasonably provided for, and the poor supplied.

1731.-November 9. The inhabitants of Monument Ponds petitioned to be set off as a parish, and after due consideration, it was voted December 9th, that the inhabitants of Monument Ponds be a separate parish, and their bounds were surveyed and described accordingly.

A mortal fever prevailed in Plymouth; there was an instance of eight in the connexion of one family who died at that time.

1731-2.-John Watson, Esq. expired September 9th, aged about 43 years. He was a useful and respectable inhabitant of the town, transacting much business, and affording employment to a large number of poor people. He was supposed to possess the largest estate of any person in the county, and was charitable to the poor and destitute. Mr. John Watson, son of the above, died in January, 1753, at the early age of 37 years; and his wife having died before, they left three orphan children, two sons and a daughter. One of the sons was the late John Watson, Esq., the second President of the Pilgrim Society.

The town voted, this year, to choose a committee to procure a new bell, the old one being cracked. It was agreed that the bell should weigh about 300 pounds, and at the meeting, John Murdock, Esq. offered to give the town 50 pounds weight in the bell, in addition to what the town had voted.

The following mark of a run-away whale was recorded by Benjamin Rider.

The said whale was struck by Joseph Sachemus, Indian, at Monument Ponds, November 25th, 1735. There were several:

irons put into her; one was a backward iron on her left side, and two irons on her right side. The iron on the left side was broke about six inches from the socket. She carried away one short warp with a drag to it, and a long warp without a buoy; one of the drag staves was made with white birch, &c.

1738.-May 8th. The inhabitants of Agawam, within the township of Plymouth, petitioned to be a separate parish, which was granted, and at a town-meeting, March 1st, 1738-9, it was voted that the plantation at Agawam, with all the inhabitants thereon, be set off from this town, and be a township, adjoining the easterly part of Rochester, according to their purchase deed from the town of Plymouth. This is now Wareham.

The town voted that three pence per head, shall be paid out of the town Treasury for every full grown rat that may be killed in the town, three pence for every black bird, and six pence for every crow. And in 1744, a vote passed, that every male head of a family shall procure ten grown rats' heads, or ten black birds' heads, and each male head of a family who shall fail, shall be assessed the sum of six pence, old tenor, per head, for each head that he shall fall short of said number, and the assessors are ordered to add each delinquent's fine to his next town tax.

A man named Crimble was indicted at Plymouth for forging a bond, but for want of evidence, was only convicted for a cheat, and was ordered to wear said bond, with a piece of paper over it, with the word cheat written thereon; and to stand on the courthouse steps half an hour. This year square-toed shoes went out of fashion, and buckles began to be worn.

A blacksmith while working at his forge was sportively beset by a young man, and the smith unfortunately struck him with a hot iron, which wounded the jugular vein, (it must have been the carotid artery,) so that he bled to death in six minutes.

1741.-On the Sabbath, March 30th, the town of Plymouth was alarmed during divine service, by Joseph Wampum, a native, who gave information that eight Spaniards had landed at his house, situated four miles distant from Buzzard's Bay. War existed at that time between England and Spain. This information, therefore, justly excited an universal panic. The drums beat to arms, and the militia were ordered out, but it proved to be a false alarm, and was ever after called Wampum's war.

1742. The General Court granted a sum of money to the town of Plymouth for the purpose of erecting a battery or breast work, and the town chose a committee consisting of 18 persons, to determine and report as to the most suitable place for the said battery. The committee reported in favor of Cole's hill, and the town accepted the report.