Wamesit - became Lowell, Massachusetts Source: History of Chelmsford, Mass. By the Wamesit Purchase the Indians relinquished forever, to their white neighbors, their ancient possessions upon the south Side of the Merrimack and west of the Concord rivers. Here from immemorial time their wigwams had dotted the landscape and their frail canoes had glided over the waters of the Merrimack. They hunted the noble game of the forest and plied their rude arts all unconscious of the mighty changes to be wrought upon their native haunts by the white man's civilization. Through the kind offices of the apostle John Eliot, this tract had been reserved to the Indians by an act of the General Court in 1653. Their title now passed to other hands and their home from henceforth was in the northern wildeness. It was such a movement as has since become somewhat familiar in Indian history. Allen* states that a few Indian families still "remained at Wamesit several years; and others were occasionally there on hunting and fishing parties and for the purpose of visiting their English friends and former neighbors." Several families lingered upon the Dracut side - of the river as late as 1820. Two Indian pilots were employed about that time, to guide the log rafts down the river, one at Wickiseck and the other at Hunt's falls. (The rafts were taken apart above Pawtucket falls and the logs floated around by way of the canal and Concord river). But from the time of King Philip's war the Indians had practically abandoned their Wamesit "plantation" and in 1685 the people of Chelmsford took steps looking to the purchase of their title. *History of Chelmsford, . 151, L. Hamblet, Esq. 512 HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD The Wamesit purchase was consummated by Jonathan Tyng, Esq., of Dunstable, and Maj. Thomas Hinchman of Chelmsford the same year, and conveyed by them - the year following, to fifty proprietors living in Chelmsford. The conveyance from Tyng and Hinchman was by separate deeds one from each conveying to the fifty associates one moiety, or half part of one fiftieth of the entire purchase, to each purchaser. The original deeds, executed upon scrolls of buckskin, * are now in the possession of a descendant of one of these proprietors now living in this city. The Wamesit purchase conveyed to these 50 Chelmsford proprietors: Thomas Hinchman, John fisk, Josiah Richardson senr and to their associates, Mr Moses ffisk, of Brantry, Mr Tho clarke, Josiah Richardson Junr Jeriluneel Bowers, James Richardson, Thomas Parker, Solomon Keys Junr, Joseph Parkiss senr Joseph Hide, Edward Spaldin Senr Samuel ffietcher, Steuen Peirse, Benjamin Parker, Moses Parker, Andrew Spalden, Eliazar Browne, William Underwood, Nathaniel Howard, John Wright Junr John Perrum, John Spalden Junr Josiah ffletcher, Benjamin Spaldin, Joseph Spalden, Joseph ffarwell, Solomon Keys Senr Peter Talbott, John Kidder, William ffletcher, Samuel ffoster Junr Edward ffoster, Sam ffoster Senr John Steuens, Nathaniel Butterfield, Samuel Butterfield, Joseph Butterfield, John Spaldin Senr John Shipley, Mr Cornelius Waldo Senr George Robbins, John Parker, John Bates, Gersham Proctor, Peter Proctor, Isaack Parker, Abraham Parker, to each of them and to every one of them, their heires and assignes, and to each and Every of their heirs and assignes, for ever, to their only proper use and behoove, one moiety or half part of weymesit lands which were solid by ye Indians of said Weymesit to the said Jonathan Ting, by a deed of sale baring date, the sixth day of Septembr last past, the moiety or half of said Weymesett lands being at ye same time and by ye same instrument Conveyed to Maj: Hinchman aforesaid, this above said grant contained in this instrument, containes the one half of the wholl purchase which was joyntly, made by the afore sd Thomas Hinchman and Jonathan Ting, the wholl purchase containing all that part of Indian plantation called Weymesitt, & lying on ye west side of Concord River, but not taking any part of the Indian field that is within fence and ditch, by Concord River side, but said land is bounded eastward, by said field & Concord River, from the most southerly Corner, (which is at Chelmsford corner stake, where Billerica, Chelmsford & Weymesitt land meet all at one stake, by ye river side) until you come to the mouth of Concord River by Merimacke, bounded Northward by Merimack riuer & Westward by Wanalansits old field, and Maj: Hinchmans land, formerly purchased by him of the indians, and on ye South West it is bounded by Chelmsford according to a former exchange between said Towne, & said Weymesitt Indians. Also five hundred acres more of wilderness land lying on the Northside of Merimack, bounded by Pawtucket falls southward & by Bever brooke, eastward, according as it was granted by ye Generall Court to said plantation & laid out to them be the same more or less. The indians by said deed reserving to them selves, their heires and associates for ever, their ancient priviledges of all fishing places in said land for their owne use as formerly they have made use of it, as also free liberty of - fire wood & timber upon said wholl Tract of land on both sides Merimack (not making any strip and waste of said wood & timber, but to cleare all they cut downe) to them ye said Weymesitt inhabitants their heirs and associates forever. Now it is the one half only that is sold by said Jonathan Ting by this instrument. To Have and to Hold the above granted and bargained moiety or halfe part of said purchase of Weymesitt with all the priuiledges and appurtenances to the same appertaining or in any wise belonging to, them the said Tho Hinchman to each individual person, one fivtieth part of ye wholl moiety to be enjoyed by euery and each Person afore- said,. their and euery of their heires and assignes forever to theire and their only Proper use and behooffe. And he, the said Jonathan Ting, for himself his heires and adinstrators do covenant, promise, and grant to and with the said Thomas Hinchman, John ffisk, and Josiah Richardson Senr and with their heires & assignes by these Presents, as Trustees for and in behalfe of the rest of the aboue Named Persons, that he, the said Jonathan Ting, Now is and at the ensealing and deliuery here of shall stand and Bee lawfully and rightly sole seized in his demeanes of the aboue granted premises, of a good and indefeasable estate of inheritance, in fee simple by good right and lawfull authourity, absolutely without any manner of condition, or mortigage or limitation of use or uses, to alter change or determine the same. And that he, the said Jonathan Ting hath in himselfe good right full power and lawfull authority the premises to grant bargaine and confirme to them and to each and every of them named Persons, and to their heires and assignes for euer. Allen states that "The first English settlements made on the Indian plantation were on the borders of Concord River, upon a plot of ground much resembling a heater, which gave rise to the name Concord River Neck." Here lived Solomon Keyes, (son of Solomon and Frances, b. June 24,1665) as early as 1714, and his hardy son Solomon (b. May 11, 1701) who later was one of the heroes of the famous Lovewell's fight. Among the original proprietors of the Wamesit Purchase, Benjamin Parker was the only one whose possessions there have continued in the hands of his descendants to the present time. He was a son, of Jacob and Sarah Parker, (b. July, 1663). *See "The Wamesit Purchase." (above) THE WAMESIT PURCHASE. BY HENRY S. PERHAM, CHELMSFORD. READ BEFORE OLD RESIDENTS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, LOWELL, MASS., FEBRUARY 16, 1897. History of Chelmsford, Mass. Edited by Janice Farnsworth **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! 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