On the 8th of September, 1636, the General Court ordered that the plantation to be settled above the Falls of Charles River shall have three years immunity from public charges, as Concord had, to be accounted from the first of May next, and the name of said plantation to be Dedham; to enjoy all that land on the southerly and easterly side of Charles River not formerly granted to any town or particular persons, and also to have five miles square on the other side of the river.

This was the original grant, as appears in the first volume of the Records of Massachusetts, of that tract of land which includes the present townships of Dedham, Medfield, Wrentham, Needham, Bellingham, a part of Sherborne, a part of Natick, Franklin, Medway (which was attached to Medfield until 1781),Walpole, a part of Foxborough, Norfolk and Norwood.

In about the year 1647 the Records of Dedham say that John Dwight and Francis Chickering gave notice of hopes of a mine near certain ponds, thirteen miles from town. It is probable that at the date of this grant of the General Court the inhabitants of Dedham had little knowledge of this part of their township. But it must have been somewhat explored before the year 1649, as we learn that in that year on account of the scarcity of grass in Dedham the inhabitants went to Wollomonuppoag to cut grass from the meadows there.

But the earliest movement regarding the occupation of Wollomonuppoag of which any record is found was made in the year 1660. It is as follows: "Dedham 22, 4, 1660, at a meeting of the Selectmen there Lieut. Fisher, Serg't. Fuller, Richard Wheeler, Ensign Fisher are deputed to view the land, both upland and meadow, near about the ponds by George Indians' wigwam, and make report of what they find to the Selectmen in the first opportunity they can take." This was in obedience to the desire of the inhabitants expressed "formerly in a lecture day."

The Selectmen reported on the 31st of 10th month (Dec'r.), 1660, that they had deputed men to search and view the place, whose returns encouraged them "to depute two men to endeavor to compound with such Indians as have a true right there," and they approved of the establishing a plantation there on this careful language, viz.: "to us it seems that it might be helpful to conduce to public and particular good that the place might be planted with meet inhabitants in due time." They also suggested that the present care thereof be left to a committee to explore the place further, and to consider what measures are proper in the premises, and "propose them to the town on some public meeting to be considered and resolved as the case may require.

At a town meeting in the following month a committee was chosen in" respect of Wollomonuppoag."

On the 27, 1, 1661 (March), at a general town meeting, the question being put whether there should be a plantation erected or set up at the place called Wollomonuppoag, it was answered by a vote in the affirmative, The question being further put, whether the town would lay down six hundred acres of land at the place before named for the encouragement to the plantation, it was answered by a vote in the affirmative, This vote, however, was not unanimous, Thirteen voters dissented, and their names were entered upon the record.

In case the committee should reject applicants the right of appeal to the town was reserved to them.

It will be noticed that in this legislation in the Dedham town meeting it was especially provided that the Indian title to the lands at the place intended for the new plantation should be extinguished by purchase. As early as 1629 the Governor of the New England Company advised the Governor and Council for London's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay that "if any of the savages pretend rights of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you endeavor to purchase the title that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion. And in a second communication similar advice was repeated. In the year 1652 the General Court solemnly resolved that what lands any of the Indians within this jurisdiction have by possession or improvement by subduing of the same they have just right thereunto according to that in Genesis 1 and 28, and chapt. 9, 1, and Psalms 115:16."

In 1662 Timothy Dwight and Richard Ellis made a report to their doings in extinguishing the Indian title to the Wollomonuppoag lands. The substance of this report was that by the assistance of Capt. Willitt they had obtained under the hand and seal of the Sagamore a release from the Indians of their title to six miles square of land, the Captain making the payment of the consideration on behalf of Dedham. Upon reading of this report the town voted a letter of thanks to the Captain for his kindly services, and that he be requested to procure a deed signed by the Sagamore that may be sufficient according to our laws. It was also voted that a rate be made upon cow commons to pay the Captain 24 £. 10s. for the purchase of the lands.

In 1661 the boundaries of the plantation were established at a general meeting of the town (Dedham) as follows: "It is ordered that the bounds of the plantations at Wollomonuppoag shall be upon Stop River towards the east beginning at Medfield bounds, and so all along, as the river lies up stream, until it comes about half a mile above the falls in that river, near about where the path of that place at present lies, and from thence southward to Dorchester line; and the west bounds shall be at or about the end of five miles from one of the ponds in Wollomonuppoag, to be a line running parallel with the line at the east end of the plantation, always provided that it extend not to any lands but such as are at present our own; and the south bounds shall be Dorchester line, and the north bounds shall be Medfield bounds in part and Charles River in part."

Dorchester at this time extended from its northern line at Boston nearly to Rhode Island: and Rehoboth included Attleborough and Cumberland now in Rhode Island. It is said that the above-named south line ran from the southwest corner of the present township of Walpole southwesterly, south of the Major Mann house (now S.W. Grant's), and northerly of Turner's Mill (now Wilkinson's), crossing Thurston street north of Mr. Hodges house, and Madison street a little south of Mrs. Gages' house. and then continuing in the course over line hill to the end of Dorchester line as above.

This was the line until 1753, when a gore of land on the southeast line was annexed to Wrentham.

In this same year, 1661-2, the proprietors voted to sell their rights to lands in Wollomonuppoag for £160, to persons fit to carry on the work in church and state, provided the plantation be entered on within two and a half years.

Wollomonuppoag seemed now in a fair way of being planted. Two years had now elapsed since the good people of Dedham began to agitate the question. The place had been viewed, as they expressed it; favorable report had been made, and the fathers of the town had giveth it their cautious improvements, and these were recognized in after divisions of the land. It seemed, therefore, that the settlement had really begun to exist.

But difficulties were started, and those who had intended to go from Dedham to live at Wollomonuppoag asked for a meeting of the proprietors, "that then and there such questions may be answered as shall be proposed."

Accordingly, a meeting is called for the 12th of 11th mo., 1662 (Jan'y), "to attend the propositions of such brethren and neighbors as have intended to go to Wollomonuppoag." The proprietors "presented a paper of some considerations." A conference ensued between the proprietors and the proposed colonists. The committee of the latter were: Anthony Fisher, Robert Ware, Richard Ellice (Ellis), Isaac Bullard. Their statement was that ten men had been accepted by them to go to Wollomonuppoag, and had agreed with the proprietors about their rights there; but that this number is not sufficient for encouragement to go on, they will pay the money rate of any of the proprietors who remain in Dedham with whom they have agreed or can agree, and that they "are not in a capacitie to settle rights of those who have not subscribed." And all things considered as they are now circumstanced they cannot go on to make a plantation as the town intended... that although they are not free," yet they are not desirous to leave the world altogether, "but are willing to proceed if the town will enable us to proceed in a safe way;" that they have been at charges in making improvements there, and are not able to bear burthens here (Dedham) also and desire the town would relieve them,. The proprietors in answer propose to lay out to each proprietor in town his part proportionably in that 600 acres for a plantation as first intended, by which means they say possibly they, the colonists, may be supplied, each man being left to "bargain for himself." And secondly, that payment should be made for their improvements of their improved parcels should fall to others in the drawing of lots or compounded some other equal way or they be allowed to retain those parcels with the lots they might draw. Thereupon others who had intended "to go to Wollomonuppoag" did disown what the four men (committee) had subscribed unto and accounted themselves not at all engaged thereby, "but agreed to sit down by the advice of the major part of the proprietors." These were: Nath. Whiting, John Kent, Nath. Stearns, Dan. Makiah, Sam'l Fisher, Job. Littlefield, Job Perry, Sam'l Parker, Cornelius Fisher. It thus appears that the whole number of men who proposed to settle at Wollomonuppoag was twenty-three. But they conceived they had poor encouragement from the parent town. Their isolated condition in this wilderness was intensely real to them, and they gave utterance to their feelings in the declaration that they "did not wish to leave the world altogether." Moreover, Capt. Willett's bill had not been paid, although the Selectmen, being also a committee having charge of the Wollomonuppoag affairs, on the 27th of February, 1662, "doe judge it meet that the case should speedily come to an issue, and resolution, that so the engagement to Capt. Willett may be performed, and our future power be settled and continued." On the 2d of March, 1663, the proprietors resolved by unanimous vote that they "could not advise these parties to proceed to make it a plantation, all things considered, as they are now circumstanced." But they voted "that the charges of those persons who had been accepted by the committee which they had necessarily expended upon breaking up of lands at Wollomonuppoag, should be reasonably and equally satisfied." Thus it seems the first attempt at settlement had failed.

At this same meeting, however, March 2, 1663, the proprietors took a decisive step ( one consideration being Capt. Willett's bill yet unpaid, for the payment of which a tax had been ordered as before stated, some of the proprietors refusing to pay for them), viz,: they voted that "there shall be 600 acres of lands layed out at Wollomonuppoag for a general divident, that so every proprietor may have his proportion therein according to the general rule of divisions of lands, and the 600 acres to be layed out with as much convenience as may be with reference to a plantation, of the providence of God shall make way thereunto, viz.: that the 600 acres shall be such lands as to be so layed out for house lots and all highways, officers' lots, burial-place and training grounds, And all other lands necessary to be reserved and used for all public uses within the trat (tract) of the town shall be over and above the 600 acres before mentioned, and also all manner of rough lands, the circumference of the 600 acres to be taken before the last of this month." On the 23d of the same month the proprietors met to draw their lots in the Wollomonuppoag plantation, which it seems had been surveyed and platted. It was agreed "on behalf of them that have improvements there that they might take their lots they had already subdued and improved and not draw lots with the rest of the proprietors. The Persons who were thus allowed to choose were: Anthony Fisher, Jr.; Serg't Rich. Ellis, Robert Ware, Jam. Thoupe, Isa. Bullard, Sam'l Fisher, Sam'l Parker, Josh. Kent, and Job Farrington. These persons, with Ralph Freeman, Serg't Stearns and perhaps Daniel Makiah, were the first persons to break up and improve lands at Wollomonuppoag. The proprietors then proceeded to draw their lots, the same being numbered from one to thirty-four, inclusive. The first lot was "to be where the Indians have broken up land, not far from the place intended to build a mill at." This was undoubtedly in the neighborhood of the mill site now occupied by the Eagle Factory. This appears from the depositions of aged persons taken on 1824, who were then old enough to remember the early occupation of these house lots, and who say "that they were east or easterly of the mill pond, and that the first was James Drapers', the second Nathaniel Whiting's, who improved them several years, and many other lots there were improved by their owners." The first settlers beyond question located their improvements (so called) upon the easterly and southeasterly side of Whiting's pond or the Great pond, probably on what is now Franklin street and on South street. An ancient map (1738) showing the position of these first house lots confirms this supposition, showing also some lots occupied on what is now called East street. "The whole number of proprietors was 73. The number of lots drawn was 34, and the order and numbers given, but the boundaries were not determined. The shares were unequal, the divisions being made "according to the rule for dividing lands in Dedham."

In this year,1663, the first highway was confirmed by the Selectmen of Dedham, at the request of those who had drawn lots at Wollomonuppoag, "at the east end of their lots." This was the first authoritative recognition of a highway in this plantation, and was probably a part of a way now known as South street.

After this the affairs of the plantation were very quiet until the year 1666-67, when the proprietors voted that the meadows "appertayning to that place" be all measured, and appointed a committee for that purpose , Lieut. Joshua Fisher being named as measurer; and he was directed to "lay out all the lots that are granted and drawn in succession together." For the preservation of wood and timber a penalty of 2s, 6d. was imposed upon the transgressor for each tree by him felled without the consent of Lieut. Fisher and Serg't Ellis. And in 1667 a committee was appointed to define the east boundary of the plantation upon the suggestion that there was some mistake about it. At a general meeting in the town of the 4, 11, 1668, the proprietors, upon the request of Indian Sarah of Wollomonuppoag, "grant her one parcel of upland near a pond about two miles westward from the situation of Wollomonuppoag in exchange for that land the said Sarah, her son, or George, her brother, possessed or claimed there, to be set out to her by Robert Ware and Samuel Fisher, estimated at ten acres, and she to have liberty to take fencing stuff, and is enjoined to keep it sufficiently fenced." The Indian Sarah and George, her brother, and John, her son, being all present, do all declare themselves to accept of this grant upon these conditions as above expressed. The pond to which Sarah went is supposed to be the small one which we call Uncas pond, now in Franklin. The men of Dedham thus determined to recompense this Indian woman for the loss of her claim, although they had purchased the land of her sovereign. In 1668, upon complaint made by Sam'l Sheeres, a committee was appointed to repayre to Wollomonuppoag" to settle the lines between his lot and those of John Alders(Aldis) and Job Farrington."

Sheeres was at this time an inhabitant of Wollomonuppoag, having come here to live, according to Rev. Mr. Man's record, about the year 1666. He says, under date of Aug. 12, 1709, "Old Goodman Sheeres died ; a man 80 years and some what more--the first English inhabitant in this town, and who had lived here about 43 years." The first birth recorded at Wollomonuppoag was that of "Mehitabel Shears, the daughter of Sam'l Shears, and Mary, his wife," who was born the first day of February, 1668. Some have supposed that Shears lived on the place now occupied by Mr. Isaac F. Bennett on South street, and that in 1668 John Ware also built on the Bean place, and Sam'l Fisher on the Luther Fisher place (Mr. Barnes'); John Littlefield also is supposed to have built about this time.

About this time some of the proprietors sold their interests in the lands to such persons as wished to go there and remain as inhabitants or engage in the settlement of the plantation. Sheeres does not appear to have been named as one of those who joined on the first attempt at settlement; but he now became a purchaser He lived in Dedham, but was not a proprietor. John Thurston, of Medfield, also purchased rights in lands at Wollomonuppoag, as it is said, and became active in promoting the settlement. As the proprietors at Dedham conveyed their rights to others these purchasers of course became independent of them. The proprietors of Dedham and the proprietors of Wollomonuppoag were no longer the same.

In order to understand the nature of the land titles here, and the meaning of the words (often met) "according to the rule for the division of lands," some further explanation may be necessary. Mr. Worthington, in his history of Dedham, gives a history and an explanation of this matter substantially as follows: The second grant of the General Court in 1636 for a plantation was made to nineteen persons. These grantees were sole owners until they admitted new associates. At first these were admitted without asking any compensation, lots of land being freely granted them; and after the house lots of the inhabitants were cleared of wood, leave was asked to cut it from the common lands. In 1642 two hundred acres were made a common tillage field, in which each proprietor's share should be assigned to him by seven men chosen for that purpose, These men proceeded, not upon any arbitrary rule, but upon the various considerations of personal merit, usefulness, ability to improve, or the amount of taxes paid. Thus the minister had 23 acres set off to him, while the deacons had 14 acres each, and Maj. Lusher modestly received 13; other inhabitants taking from eight to one acre each. In 1645 they divided 375 acres of woodland on the same plan. But in 1656 they ceased to make free grants to strangers of the common lands. This led to the adoption of some rule for division of those lands among the proprietors and their heirs. No one pretended that all should have an equal share. They agreed on this principle, that each man's share should be proportioned to the valuation of his property. They then found that the number of acres in the herd walks or cow commons was 532, and the number of cattle fed thereon somewhat less; and that by allowing one cow common for every eight pounds (£8) valuation of estate the whole number of cow common rights of shares would be four hundred and seventy-seven (477). And this would make the number of cow commons the nearest to their number of cattle.

Five sheep commons were equal to one cow common, and were used as fractions of a whole right. This rule bearing hardly on several poor persons, the proprietors so far departed from it as to give them twenty-five more cow common rights, which added to the former number made five hundred and two common rights or shares.

This arrangement as thus far made became permanent.

But the proprietors went further, and voted that non-resident owners of land should not have any right to put cattle into the cow commons, although they should have dividends in the lands. Henry Phillips and some other non-resident owners made complaints. The General Court appointed referees to settle this dispute, the contending parties agreeing. These gentlemen made an award which they support by quotations of Scripture, giving to Phillips and other aggrieved persons 12 more cow common rights, and to the church 8 more, making the whole number 522. The parties acquiesced in this decision, and the Selectmen assigned to the 80 proprietors their due shares. The commissioners further decided that the majority in interest should hereafter govern.

After this decision there were two distinct bodies--the proprietors and inhabitants, including non-proprietors. But for many years the distinction existed only in theory, for there were not for many years people in town who were inhabitants and at the same time non--proprietors. In process of time the two separate bodies had meetings on the same day, and their doings were recorded in the same book. The number of shares determined the number of cattle each could pasture on the common lands, but this privilege was limited to those who belonged to this body of proprietors, which was a sort of a corporation; other persons might be inhabitants of Dedham without having any interest in the common lands. They could acquire an interest in those lands by purchasing of some proprietor. The proprietors had the ownership and power to convey and manage the undivided lands, while the inhabitants took the management of their town affairs upon themselves.

These rules regarding the division of lands were of course applied throughout the whole township of Dedham, and of course included the lands at Wollomonuppoag.

It will be remembered that Dedham had through Capt. Willett paid the Sagamore Philip in the year 1662 for his right and title to the lands at Wollomonuppoag £24. 10s. But Philip now, in 1669, set up a claim to a tract said to be within the limits of his former grant. He addressed the following letter to two of the principal men of Dedham:

"Philip Sachem to Major Lusher and Lieutenant Fisher.

"Gentlemen: Sirs, thes are to desire you to send me a holland shirt by this Indian the which at present I much want and in consideration whereof I shall and will assuredly satisfie you to content between this and the next Michelmas for then I intend to meet with you at Wollammanuppogue that we may treat about a tract of land of four or five miles square which I hereby promise and engage that you shall have ye refusall of and I make no doubt but that we shall agree about said tract of land which I shall sell you for ye use of your town of Dedham. I pray fail not to send me a good holland shirt by the bearer hereof for I intend next week to be at plimoth Court and I want a good shirt to goe in. I shall not further trouble you at present but subscribe myself your friend,

"Philip Sachem's P mark."

Mount Hop, Ye 25 May, 1669.

We are not informed whether the liberality or the fears of the good men of Dedham provided Philip with the holland shirt in which he wished to appear before the wise men of Plymouth; but we find that on "the 8th of the 9th mo., 1669, upon notice from Philip Sagamore yt he is now at Wollomonuppoag, and offers a treaty about sale of his rights in yea lands yr. within the town bounds not yet purchased, a committee was appointed, viz. : Timothy Dwight, Anthony Fisher, Robert Ware, Richard Elise, and John Thurston, to repair to Wollomonuppoag on the morrow and treat with the said Philip, in order to a contract with him to clear all his remaining rights within the town bounds, provided he make his right appear, and to secure our town from all other claims of all other Indians in the land contracted for."

It seems that a contract was made, for on the 15th of the same month (November, 1669) a rate was made for the payment to Philip "for his right lately purchased." The sum thus assessed was £17.0s. 8d., to be paid in money. "Tradition informs us that Philip in the second treaty showed the northern boundaries of his kingdom, being the southern boundary of the Sachemdom of Chickotabot, in Walpole; and that the shape of the land was somewhat like that of a new moon, enclosing a part of the first grant within its horns." (Worthington's History) Seventy-nine persons were assessed to pay this rate. Ensign Chickering's tax being 8s. 9d. This tax was assessed upon the cow commons of the proprietors. Adding this, £17., 11s, 8d., to the sum previously paid through Capt. Willett, We find the whole amount paid to Philip for his title to Wollomonuppoag was £41. 10s 8d.